Photo credit: Erin Simkin/Hulu

From Harper's BAZAAR

WARNING: Spoilers for Little Fires Everywhere ahead!

With its eighth and final episode, Hulu's Little Fires Everywhere bows out with a bang: Elena Richardson (Reese Witherspoon) unsolicitedly divulges Mia Warren's (Kerry Washington) past to her daughter, Pearl (Lexi Underwood); a court verdict concludes a contentious custody battle between two mothers; and pent-up tensions erupt in a life-altering family meltdown.

With no plans for a second season (yet), that's officially a wrap on the miniseries based on Celeste Ng's hit 2017 novel. But how exactly did the ending reflect that of its source material? Here, we briefly lay it all out.

Who Starts the Fire?

In the show: It's the Richardson kids. In the final moments, Izzy, the youngest of the Richardson siblings, is broken after learning Mia and Pearl are moving out of town. Mia, a rule-breaking artist, had become a mentor and mother figure to Izzy, who felt like an outcast in her own mother's strict, rule-abiding, and idealistic household. Losing Mia, on top of her mother's resentment and the bullying she endures at school, pushes Izzy to her limits. Desperate to start anew, she takes a can of gasoline and plans to set her roomand her houseon fire, but her siblings stop her before she can do so. The confrontation escalates into a screaming match between Izzy and her mother, Elena, who ultimately admits, "Do you think I wanted a daughter like you? I never wanted you in the first place." Izzy then decides to run away.

Her siblings, Lexie, Trip, and Moody, are disgusted by their mom's ugly revelation. They realize they don't want to end up like her. They finish what Izzy started, setting each of their rooms on fire, but they make sure their mother gets out of the house safely. When a fire chief asks Elena who started the blaze, she covers for her kids and says it was her.

In the book: Izzy starts it all. Like she is in the show, Izzy is dejected after learning that Mia and Pearl have left, and that her family is to blame. One night, she dumps a can of gasoline onto her sister Lexie's bed (Lexie is staying at a friend's house), strikes a match, lets the house burn, and runs away.

Story continues

Photo credit: Erin Simkin/Hulu

What Happens with Mirabelle/May Ling?

In the show: The judge sides with the McCulloughs. After a brutal court battle, Linda and Mark McCullough win custody of baby May Ling, whom they adopted after her birth mother, Bebe Chow, abandoned her at a fire station. Bebe is crushed and Mia comforts her at her apartment. Later that night, after the McCulloughs go to bed with May Ling (renamed Mirabelle) at home, Linda wakes up in the middle of the night to find that the baby is gone. A later scene finds Bebe in a car, reunited with May Ling.

In the book: The McCulloughs also win custody of Mirabelle/May Ling, but it's unclear that Bebe kidnaps her. Her last appearance in the book notes that she watches her daughter from outside the McCulloughs' house, waiting for the lights to turn off.

Photo credit: Erin Simkin/Hulu

How Lexie's Abortion Is Revealed

In the show: During the court case, Elena is determined to find dirt on Bebe Chow to help her friend Linda's case. She goes to a Planned Parenthood, hoping to learn if Bebe had visited the facility while pregnant. While snooping through documents, she discovers "Pearl Warren" had an abortion, but doesn't know that it was actually her daughter, Lexie, using Pearl's name as an alias. She visits Mia to break the news, but Mia tells her what really happened: that Lexie had the abortion under Pearl's name then stayed with the Warrens after the procedure while Elena was out of town. Elena kicks Mia and Pearl out of the apartment. Later that night, during the Richardsons' big family argument, Lexie confirms to her mother that she had an abortion.

In the book: Mia doesn't tell Elena what Lexie did. But she does leave hints of it behind after she and Pearl leave Shaker. After the Richardsons' house burns down, they shack up in the rental apartment where the Warrens stayed. They find artworks that Mia left behind, reflecting each Richardson family member. Lexie's piece includes part of the pink medical slip from her Planned Parenthood appointment. (In the series, Mia's parting art piece is a whited-out model town of Shaker with a giant golden bird cage in the center, holding one of Izzy's earrings inside.)

Photo credit: Erin Simkin/Hulu

Where Do Mia and Pearl Go?

In the show: Mia's childhood home. After Elena's tense visit, Mia tells Pearl the truth about her birth father and mother, and Mia's late brother. They pack up their things and leave. Per Pearl's suggestion, Mia drives to her parents' house, where she grew up, so Pearl can meet her grandparents for the first time.

In the book: It's unclear exactly where they go, but the book notes that part of their journey includes driving through Iowa, which is west of Ohio, and in the opposite direction of Mia's home in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Photo credit: Erin Simkin/Hulu

Where Does Izzy Go?

In the show: It's unclear. After her explosive face-off with her mother, she leaves in the night. She dreams that while hitchhiking, Mia and Pearl find her and pick her up, but she wakes up in a nondescript bus. Showrunner Liz Tigelaar considered the idea that at age 15, it's likely Izzy returns home to her family after a few days.

In the book: To Pittsburgh. She takes a Greyhound bus and has the address to Mia's parents' home, which she found in her mother's things.

Photo credit: Erin Simkin/Hulu

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As Britain's coronavirus death tally edges closer to 20,000:

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The World Health Organization said there was currently 'no evidence' that people who have recovered from COVID-19 and have antibodies are protected from a second coronavirus infection;

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The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said on Tuesday 1,000 people died in care homes in the week to 10 April.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC), which regulates care homes in England, has produced preliminary data for April 11-15, suggesting there were a further 1,000 deaths linked to Covid-19.

They also say there may be a significant increase.

New figures are expected to be published on April 28, once they have been verified.

The Adult and Social Care Action Plan adds: 'Timely discharge is important for individuals so they can recuperate in a setting appropriate for rehabilitation and recovery  and the NHS also needs to discharge people in order to maintain capacity for acutely ill patients.'

It was subsequently updated with the following guidance: 'We can now confirm we will move to institute a policy of testing all residents prior to admission to care homes.

'This will begin with all those being discharged from hospital.'

But it says people coming from their own homes will not yet be tested prior to admission; 'For individuals coming from the community, we will move to these residents being tested prior to admission.

'The majority will have come from isolation in their own homes given social distancing and shielding policies.

'After discussion with the new resident and family, the care home may wish to isolate the new resident for a 14-day period following admission.'

A Whitehall source told the Telegraph that the policy was 'designed as a 'stiff broom' to free up capacity in hospitals.'

Dr Jamie Wilson, founder of Hometouch, which provides care to people in their own homes, told the Telegraph: 'I'm astonished at the lack of foresight of these policies.

'To mandate that care homes should take back Covid-positive patients with such a high risk of cross infection and high mortality rate in vulnerable residents seems unfathomable.'

This comes as it was revealed ministers are looking at whether to relax the strict 'stay at home' advice to let small groups of households 'cluster' together.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: 'Social care is on the frontline of our fight against coronavirus and the safety of staff and residents is our top priority.

'All care home residents discharged from hospital will be tested before being admitted into their care home. For those who have tested positive, care homes should follow guidance on effective isolation strategies or cohorting and where this isn't possible alternative accommodation should be found through local authorities for the remainder of their isolation period.

'To further help control the spread of the virus within social care we have also strengthened our advice around isolation for asymptomatic residents discharged into care homes and are using our increased testing capacity to test all symptomatic care home residents, care staff, and their families.'

Who will be in your lock-down 'bubble'?: Government considers relaxing 'stay at home' rules to let small groups meet for meals, share childcare and to reunite couples who live apart

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In an idea reminiscent of BT's 'Friends and Families' scheme, people would nominate a small list of those they want to be able to see, drawn from no more than one or two households.

Those involved would then be able to meet for meals and other social activities. But neither group would be allowed to mingle with others outside the 'cluster'.

Ministers are still grappling with how to enforce the new system and prevent a free-for-all that could allow the coronavirus epidemic to take hold again.

A Whitehall source said: 'If we can find a way to allow a bit more flexibility without risking transmission of the disease running higher then we will do it.'

Health Secretary Matt Hancock yesterday warned the government would not ease lockdown restrictions until ministers were certain they could prevent a deadly second wave of infection.

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Health Secretary Matt Hancock, pictured, yesterday warned the government would not ease lockdown restrictions until ministers were certain they could prevent a deadly second wave of infection.

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Mr Hancock said the lockdown could not be eased until ministers have the preliminary results of an Office for National Statistics study looking at how widespread the disease is in society.

Downing Street said it was 'conceivable' this could be ready ahead of the May 7 review of the lockdown.

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'The UK government now needs to recognise that the time is now,' he said.

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Single care home where 11 out of Isle of Man's 15 coronavirus deaths has its licence suspended after director blasted government over lack of PPE gear

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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.

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.

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ISTANBUL (Reuters) - The Turkish government's steps to support the economy in the face of the coronavirus pandemic have reached a value of 200 billion lira ($28.7 billion), Finance Minister Berat Albayrak said on Saturday.

President Tayyip Erdogan initially announced a 100 billion lira package to support the economy on March 18, postponing debt payments and reducing tax burdens in some sectors. Since then, Ankara has gradually widened such measures.

Turkey's confirmed cases of COVID-19 increased by 3,122 on Friday with the death toll rising to 2,600.

With the pandemic forcing businesses to furlough or lay off millions of staff, the government has also stepped in to top up income or pay daily stipends, while small businesses are being given access to fresh loans.

"The total value of the steps we have taken so far has reached 200 billion lira," Albayrak said in a video posted on his Twitter account.

Among the measures, financing amount to 107.4 billion lira has been provided to some 120,000 companies to support them during the outbreak, he said. An additional 16.8 billion lira has been provided in support to traders.

Also, 1,000 lira in financial support has been paid to each of 4.4 million families, with a total of 22.3 billion lira set aside to meet the basic needs of some 4 million citizens, Albayrak said.

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Fissures in Election Commission; Chairman Deshapriya at odds with Commissioner member Hoole

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If not for Ratnajeevan Hoole, a member of the Election Commission (EC), parliamentary elections would have been gazetted for May 28.

The draft gazette notification with this date was handed to Hoole for approval at the EC office in Battaramalla last Monday. This was after the other member, Nalin Abeysekera, had already endorsed it. Hoole read through the document and said, This is not the date we decided upon. It was only then that Abeysekera too realised it was a mistake for him to have placed the word ok on the draft.

Both members went to Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya to point out the wrong date, perhaps one during which a parliamentary election would be impossible in the light of a spike in Covid-19 cases. This has led to the isolation of infected cases, tracing people whom they have been in touch with for quarantining and ensuring social distancing. A discussion ensued and a new draft with the polls date as June 20 was signed last Monday evening.

Needless to say, that even June 20 hinges on the degree of return to normalcy. Chairman Deshapriya declared on Monday that if conditions did not permit a poll on this date, the Commission would have to promulgate another date. At Mondays meeting of the EC, Hoole was strongly opposed to an election in May. So was his colleague Abeysekera. Ahead of their meeting, he ,in fact wrote to Chairman Deshapriya. The latter was annoyed that the letter had been released to the media even before the meeting. Not surprisingly. Two letters written by Deshapriya to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had also been issued to the media.

Ahead of the meeting, in a signed article, Hoole said, certain parties want us to think that elections will, be held on May 28 while saying Election Commission will decide. He charged that high profile consultants are carefully chosen to arm twist the Commission into agreeing to May 28 for elections. Because of the constitutional quorum of 3 out of 3, I state there was no meeting to take these momentous decisions choosing these consultants and what they will be consulted on, without my presence.

Calling upon the Election Commission to refrain from fixing a date for the election, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) declared there can be no effective exercise of democracy in the form of an election in the midst of a pandemic.

It said in a statement last week: Unless local and global health experts clearly indicate that it is safe to do so, conducting an election in the present circumstances will be extremely dangerous and irresponsible. The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress Secretary, Nizam Kariapper, noted that persons or parties interested would take up issue before a court of law.

Hence, the SLMC urged the EC not to publish a notice with the date of the polls. These two groups were adding their voice to previously stated positions by the Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB), the United National Party (UNP) and even the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP). Mano Ganesans Tamil Progressive Front (TPF) and Rishad Bathiuddins All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) also expressed similar views. Almost all representations by political entities, barring the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), are not to announce the date for polls.

They are now consulting each other to reach consensus on going to the Supreme Court to challenge the EC notification. TNAs M.A. Sumanthiran, a prime mover, has handed over to both the SJB and the UNP a document, the draft of an appeal all opposition parties want to jointly make. A copy is to be handed over to the JVP too. This appeal calls upon the President to re-convene Parliament and assures that they would support votes for additional funds. One source said this was a prelude to legal action. The idea is to say that their appeal too has been turned down. The move came as military personnel took charge of security in the outer perimeter of Parliament.

SJB General Secretary Ranjit Madduma Bandara told the Sunday Times, We are opposed to the polls being held on June 20. We cannot conduct a cohesive campaign. This is not the time for polls but to look after the welfare of the people. He said the alliance was consulting lawyers since there were several constitutional issues in the current situation. He charged that the Police Chief had not given them permission to summon a meeting of party leaders of the SJB. This is at a time when the ongoing curfew is illegal since there is no state of emergency, he added.

JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake argued that if Parliament could not be re-convened, then the Prime Minister and the present Cabinet of Ministers should quit. They had come through Parliament. He told the Sunday Times, We are not saying the Parliament should re-convene. The President should decide. If he cannot, he should go without the Premier and the Cabinet. We are opposed to an early election whilst the coronavirus is spreading.

A meeting of the Constitutional Council fuelled speculation that the June 20 polls would come up for detailed discussion at its meeting last Thursday at the Speakers official residence. There was only a passing reference. That was a remark by former Speaker, Karu Jayasuriya, about what he would have to do if the Supreme Court (SC) were to direct him to re-convene Parliament. He was alluding to moves by groups to petition the SC. The remarks did not gain any traction and the issue ended there. On another issue, when asked whether he was still Speaker, Jayasuriya had replied that he was not. Sumanthiran, an attorney-at-law had opined elsewhere that the Speaker could have continued in office until his successor assumed office.

JVPs Bimal Ratnayake sought a briefing from Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa on the current situation of the deadly coronavirus outbreak. He replied that the situation was well within manageable limits. He said that a close watch was being maintained in the districts of Colombo, Puttalam and Kalutara. He noted that a fish vendor in Piliyandala, who was quarantined, was found not infected by the virus. So was another person from Piliyandala. He also referred to Bandaranayake Mawatha (Hulftsdorp) where the number of those affected by the virus had increased. When the question of Police transfers was raised, Premier Rajapaksa replied that it was a matter for the Police Commission. Jayasuriya functioned as the Chairman during the CC meeting. The appointment of a Reparations Committee was referred to the Ministry of Defence so they may consult civil society groups.

The SLPP-led government believes that the demand by different parties to put off a date for parliamentary elections is two-fold  to pressure the government to re-convene Parliament. Such a move would have annulled automatically the proclamation issued by the President dissolving Parliament on March 2 and calling for elections on April 25. The other is to seek fresh nominations on the basis that the re-opening of the new Parliament on June 18, as constitutionally required before June 2, would have lapsed. This is amidst backchannel moves to revive political alliances.

On the other hand, opposition parties argue, that elections should be put off until the situation stabilises in the country. They also contend that the government would have no sanction to utilise public funds after April 30 since Parliament has not given approval for such funding. It is only through the re-convening of Parliament, they say, such approval can be obtained with their support. The question is what happens if such a motion is rejected by Parliament.

Premier Rajapaksa told the Sunday Times, Declaring dates for the polls is not our business. It is in the hands of the Election Commission. It must decide. Once a date is chosen, our position is, that the President would announce a date on which the new Parliament will convene, he added. That effectively rules out the re-convening of Parliament.

On May 3, the Election Commission is due to allot numbers for candidates for the parliamentary polls. Such a move is a signal that the polls campaign could begin though the reality is somewhat different. This puts candidates in a dilemma. Whilst allotting the numbers, the Election Commission is also expected to lay down a set of guidelines with regard gatherings at meetings.

Though he avoided the print media and news conferences, EC Chairman Deshapriya has been giving a string of television interviews. They are not necessarily to the national electronic media most but to those who edit packages and post them on the You Tube. It appears that he has become alive to a changing media landscape where such short television story packages have become popular. This is with the print media being compelled to halt production due to the lockdown and resorting to web and e-paper. The visual packages are within ones reach with most people carrying smart phones. Most Sri Lankans with overseas connections are joining Zoom, an encrypted video conferencing service. They are now updating their security against interruptions and hacking.

In one such interview, Deshapriya deflected questions over serious differences of opinion with his one-time friend, EC member Ratnajeevan Hoole. The relevant Q & A reflects the present position.

Q: There are rumours that the elections will not be held on June 20 and this date is not confirmed.

A: No, we have decided that it should be held on June 20 and we have announced it officially. There is an uncertainty in any election. That is why we are empowered to put off elections. The three members of the Commission are empowered to take decisions.

Q: There are reports of serious differences between you and fellow member

Hoole. Your comments.

A: There are no issues between us. There are differences of opinion between us. However, we always argue. All three of us signed the document calling for parliamentary elections on June 20. The three members appointed to the EC will naturally have varied views.

Q: What about some of your internal discussions ending in the public domain.

A: We never talk normal matters outside. Even Prof. Hoole would not do that. However, he is a person who writes about his views to newspapers. You should ask him about his views and actions. Not me.

Q: Did you decide on parliamentary elections on June 20 because it is President Gotabaya Rajapaksas 71st birthday?

A: That is something known by the family. We do not memorise birthdays of politicians. We never send birthday greetings.

Election Commission Bickering has now become public knowledge. Yet, by agreeing to a date (June 20), the Commission has made clear it had the authority to fix a date. That way, in the event this date is put off, another date would be announced. It will, however, be under a different environment, with the allotment of numbers. The government was forced to take a step backwards after announcing plans to relax curfew in the Western Province. Several establishments, both in the public and private sectors, had planned to resume functioning. However, an unexpected spike in Covid-19 cases put paid to it. This week, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa was meeting officials to determine whether a partial relaxation is possible to allow time for public to transact business. In the Colombo District this may exclude areas which are regarded as hot spots.

The Presidents Office on Friday gave a timeline of the Covid-19 outbreak. Here are the highlights:

December, 2019

The first case of the COVID-19 was reported from Wuhan in China.

Mid-January, 2020

The Chinese Government warned the world about this virus.

January 26, 2020

The National Task Force was established bringing the Health Ministry, Tri-Forces, Police, Intelligence and other related disciplines together. Their primary task was to advice the Government on the steps to control the epidemic.

January 27, 2020

The first COVID-19 patient was identified from Sri Lanka. She was a Chinese tourist.

February 01, 2020

A special flight was sent to bring back 34 Sri Lankans and their immediate families who were studying in Wuhan. As soon as they landed, they were quarantined in the Diyatalawa Army Camp. Thereby, the virus was prevented from spreading into the country.

February 10, 2020

It was decided that arrivals from Italy, Korea and Iran to be sent to a quarantine centre.

February 16, 2020

It was decided that everyone who arrives in Sri Lanka must be quarantined.

February 19, 2020

The Chinese lady who was found infected with the virus on January 27 fully recovered and left for China.

March 11, 2020

The first Sri Lankan infected with COVID-19 was identified. He was admitted to the IDH. Since then, almost every day new patients were identified. Out of them, 38 were those who had come from abroad and were already in quarantine centers. Since then, another 79 from quarantine centers had been tested positive for COVID-19. Also found another 139 outside quarantine centers, who had got infected in various ways.

March 12, 2020

Every school, university, and education centre for vacations was closed. While the schools and universities were physically closed, a separate Task Force was established to facilitate distance learning.

March 18, 2020

All arrivals from the Airport were stopped. A special flight was sent to bring back home 900 pilgrims who got stranded in India. They were sent to a quarantine centre.

March 20,2020

An All Island curfew was imposed.

March 27, 2020

The first work from home week for public servants was declared from March 20 to March 27.

Since March 27 to date, Sri Lanka has lost seven people to COVID-19. Fluctuating numbers of new cases continue to add to the total number of infected cases almost on a daily basis. At the same time, a steady number of recoveries are also increasing almost daily.

President Rajapaksa has appointed his special envoy, Basil Rajapaksa, to a second Task Force that will deal with economic matters. The members of this Task Force are Nandalal Weerasinghe, (Deputy Governor, Central Bank of Sri Lanka), Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva, (Chief of Defence Staff, Commander of the Army), C.D. Wickremeratne (acting Inspector General of Police), Major General (retd.) Shantha Dissanayake, Chairman, Consumer Affairs Authority, J.A. Nushad M. Perera (Chairman, Lanka Sathosa), Susantha Ratnayake (Chairman, Board of Investment of Sri Lanka), Jayantha de Silva, (Chairman, Information and Communication Technology Agency), Himali Fernando (Chairperson, Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority), Jayampathy Molligoda (Chairman, Sri Lanka Tea Board), Prabath Subasinghe (Chairman, Export Development Board), A. Wimalaweera (Commissioner General of Labour), S. Singapuli (Commissioner of Co-operative Development), Rear Admiral (reetd) Ananda Peiris (Director General, Department of Civil Defence), Major General (retd.) Vijitha Ravipriya (Director General, Sri Lanka Customs), Bandula Thilakasiri (Director General, Department of Commodity Development), Sanjaya Mohottala (Director General, Board of Investment of Sri Lanka), Major General (retd.) Sudantha Ranasinghe (Director General, Disaster Management Centre), Mahesh Gammanpila (Director, Fertilizer Secretariat), Buddhika Madihahewa, (General Manager, Ceylon Petroleum Corporation), Rohan Seneviratne (Additiional General Manager, Ceylon Electricity Board), Mano Sekaram (Director, Board Member, Information and Communication Technology Agency), Major General (retd.) Sumedha Perera, Sanjiva Gunawardena (Executive Officer, E.B. Creasy & Company, Samantha Kumarasinghe (owner, Natures Secret), Mahesh Amalean (Chairman, Mas Holdings), Ravi Liyanage (Chairman and CEO, the Kingdom of Raigam), Padmalal Vithanage (Managing Director, Sanmit Group of Companies, S.B. Divaratne (retired Deputy Secretary to the Treasury),

Also in the Committee are the Secretary to the Prime Minister and the Secretaries to the Ministries of Finance, Economic and Policy Development, Roads and Highways, Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government, Plantation Industries and Export Agriculture, Industries and Supply Chain Management, Power and Energy, Women and Child Affairs, and Social Security, Mahaweli, Agriculture, Irrigation and Rural Development, Water Supply and Housing Facilities, Defence, Internal Trade, Food Security and Consumer Welfare.

Government sources said that the Task Force on economy will formulate a new strategy after consulting different stakeholders. They will also review the unemployment situation caused by the crippling effect the deadly virus has caused. Coupled together with this is the retrenchment of Sri Lankans in some West Asian countries.

Trade chambers in different sectors are still not included in this Task Force. Earlier, President Rajapaksa named Basil Rajapaksa to a 40-member Task Force primarily to ensure food distribution during the lockdown and to adopt measures to ensure agriculture and industrial sectors return to normal and essential services are operational. This functions with Governors in charge of provinces overlooking activity.

The coming weeks no doubt will be incredibly challenging to the government leaders. On the one hand, they would have to ensure normalcy so the parliamentary election could be held. Last Mondays unexpected fallout led to cancellation of all plans. On the other, the opposition is increasing the heat with a demand that Parliament be reconvened. They are bent on going to the Supreme Court to challenge the June 20 notification issued by the Election Commission. The longer the polls are delayed, the longer it would be agonising for the government.

ST Political Editor rubbishes Colombo Telegraph article, sends letter of demand to editor The Sunday Times Political Editor has through his lawyers has a letter of demand to the London-based web portal Colombo Telegraph for carrying several defamatory and malicious articles about him, including a April 22, 2020 report headlined Journalist Iqbal Athas Exposed In Poison-Pen Propaganda Operation. David Benson Solicitors appearing for Mr. Iqbal Athas have sent the Editor of Colombo Telegraph, Mr. Uvindu Kurukulasuriya a Letter of Demand inter-alia denying the allegations made in the said article, stating that a false screenshot purported to be from Mr. Athas has been published accompanying the said article and for damages caused by intentionally bringing disrepute to his professional standing by the publication thereof. Athas is Consultant Editor and Political Editor of the Sunday Times said that several malicious reports about him have appeared in this website which is operating without an address or registration under UK laws. His attorneys, David Benson Solicitors in London, have told Mr Kurukulasuriya that Mr Athas has neither created nor circulated documents or notes and that the article they posted was false. He has said it has long become the practice of the Colombo Telegraph to publish news articles without an iota of proof insidiously abusing the territory of the United Kingdom to vilify opponents in other countries. The British law firm said our client did not create the purported note and did not circulate it as claimed by this controversial website. They asserted there is no documentary or other evidence to suggest proof of the allegation. It added: The article refers to a word document screen shot which is not conclusive evidence. The screen shot does not suggest what the document is. Our client asserts that he has not created any document/notes, which were referred to in the said article. They have claimed Sterling Pounds 30,000 as damages. Athass attorneys have said linking other articles under the latest report is showing express malice on the part of the Colombo Telegraph and Editor Uvindu Kurukulasuriya. See also https://bit.ly/2Y4phyL
Sri Lankan President Gotabhaya Rajapakse declared on Monday night that he plans to use the military and police to impose discipline on Colombo, the countrys largest city, after the government lifts its coronavirus lockdown.

The curfew, he said, was in order to enable social distancing. Sections of the police and the military will be needed to ensure that the situation remains under control, as it was during the war, and ensure that people would not make unnecessary visits and that they act in a disciplined manner.

Rajapakses remarks were made during an hour-long interview, monitored by one of his advisors, and relayed through the electronic media. The event was held in order to create the impression that the government had done everything possible to control the virus and to promote its moves to reopen the economy in the face of rising COVID-19 infections in Sri Lanka and internationally.

The government previously planned to lift the curfew in the Western Province, which includes Colombo district, last Monday. This was changed after the sudden increase of infections in the district. The curfew will now be lifted this coming Monday.

Rajapakses threatening statement is a warning to the entire working class. Deploying military has nothing to do with social distancing but is in preparation for the suppression of any unrest in the working class.

Sri Lankan industrialists and big business interests have declared that they plan to cut jobs by 30 percent and slash pensions and other social benefits.

Over the past week, several factories in free trade zones located in the Western Province and other parts of the country were reopened with about 20 percent of their previous workforce.

The World Bank has predicted that Sri Lankas economic growth this year will contract to 3 percent amid lower growth rates in South Asia of between 2.8 and 1.8 percent. Facing mounting debts and an economic decline, the Rajapakse government is preparing ruthless attacks on workers and the poor. It initially plans to call back a section of the public sector to run state services.

President Rajapakses war reference is to Colombos brutal three-decade conflict against the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. He was defence secretary during the final years of the conflict that ended in May 2009.

Under his watch, according to UN estimates, tens of thousands of Tamil civilians were killed during the last months of Colombos bloody military operations. Sri Lankas current defence secretary, retired Major General Kamal Gunaratne, and Army Commander Lt. General Shavendra Silva were in the forefront of this murderous campaign. Rajapakse denies that any war crimes were committed.

During the conflict, Colombo used its repressive Emergency Regulations and the Prevention of Terrorism law, not just in the North and East but throughout the entire country. Hundreds of abductions occurred along with murders and physical attacks against political opponents and journalists, including the killing of Sunday Leader editor Lasantha Wickrematunge and the disappearance of journalist Prageeth Eknaligoda.

After the war, the military and police were used to suppress demonstrations of workers and the poor. In 2011, the police shot one worker when 40,000 Katunayake Free Trade Zone workers protested against pension cuts. In 2012, a fisherman was killed by police commandos at a protest in Chilaw, and in 2013, the military gunned down three young people during a demonstration demanding clean water at Weliweriya in the suburbs of Colombo.

After his election as president last November, Rajapakse quickly appointed senior military officers to fill key government posts, and, following the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, further militarised his administration. This included the elevation of an Army Commander to head the National Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 and the appointment of retired Air Marshal Roshan Gunatilake as the Western Province governor.

During Mondays interview, Rajapakse boosted the military and highlighted, in particular, the role of state intelligence. Sri Lankas chief of intelligence, he declared, played a major role in this process, together with me. State intelligence was used to collect information on those infected, trace their contacts and ensure that these individuals were sent to quarantine centres. These, and other measures, are in preparation to implement government and big business demands to force people back to work in unsafe conditions.

Several senior medical experts, along with health workers and related personnel, have publicly criticised the governments return-to-work agenda. Despite this, Rajapakse claimed in his interview that economic experts are of the view that if we further delay this [return to work], the economy will face a massive problem. Daily wage workers, he said, have been very badly affected, adding that the Western Province contributes more than 50 percent to the Sri Lankan economy.

Rajapakses concern about the plight of daily wage workers is bogus. The government has only provided meagre relief packages for low-income workers and the poor while ensuring that the Central Bank hands over billions of rupees to big business and banks.

Like other world leaders who ignored decades of warnings by medical scientists, Rajapakse falsely claimed that his government understood the danger of this epidemic early on, and took decisive steps to control it.

The truth is that Rajapakse rejected calls for a total lockdown declaring, Other countries may have the best medical facilities, but we managed to cure infected people with our efforts. This statement was based upon a single infected individuala Chinese touristdiscovered in Sri Lanka who was treated and recovered from the disease.

No mass testing, however, was begun, as recommended by the World Health Organisation and called for by Sri Lankan medical specialists. In fact, in the past two months just on 6,000 people have been tested. The Director of Health has admitted to the media, moreover, that these tests were restricted by funding problems and the limited numbers of health workers.

This Rajapakse administration, like previous governments, presides over a rundown and poorly funded health service. Apart from meagre funding for existing hospitals, no new funds have been provided to overhaul the health system. Health workers still do not have adequate personal protection equipment and are risking their lives and those of their patients.

Rajapakse admitted during his interview that tourism, small and medium industries, apparel industry and others that earned foreign exchange have faced severe setbacks Even if we bring our economy to a satisfactory level through systematic measures, we will still face difficulties unless the global economy becomes normal.

But this crisis, he continued, is a good opportunity for us to change economic strategy and direct it towards the indigenous economy  [but] we cannot only be self-sufficient in agriculture, we can also export our agricultural products to other countries.

Rajapakses nationalist demagogy is to cover up the fact that his government is unleashing class war and plans to impose the burden of this crisis onto the backs of workers and the poor.

The working class must take the presidents return-to-work measures and threats to use the military seriously. It must respond by mobilising independently from every faction of the ruling class, rallying the rural poor and the oppressed, and uniting with the international working class to fight for a socialist program.
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The Navy recommended to Defense Secretary Mark Esper that Capt. Brett Crozier be restored to command of the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier on Friday, according to an administration official.

Esper was not prepared to immediately accept the recommendation from Admiral Michael Gilday, the Chief of Naval Operations after being briefed on the investigation into the circumstances around Crozier's removal, telling top Navy officials he wanted more time to review their recommendations, two defense officials told CNN.

The defense officials told CNN that the Navy intended to announce its recommendation at a press conference Friday afternoon but it was canceled after Esper did not immediately endorse it.

They added that the expectation had been Esper would accept the recommendation.

The New York Times was first to report the decision.

The Navy's recommendation is just the latest development in the ongoing saga involving the outbreak aboard the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, developments that have included a dire warning about the spread of the pandemic, the ouster of the ship's commanding officer and the resignation of the Navy's top civilian official over his handling of the affair.

The chairman of the House Armed Services Committee called on Esper to reinstate Crozier.

'The Secretary of Defense needs to reinstate Captain Brett Crozier as commanding officer of the USS Theodore Roosevelt,' Democratic Rep. Adam Smith of Washington state said in a statement Friday.

'While Captain Crozier's actions at the outset of the health crisis aboard the TR were drastic and imperfect, it is clear he only took such steps to protect his crew,' Smith said, adding, 'Crozier should be reinstated to his command immediately.'

After news of the Navy's recommendation was reported, the Pentagon issued a statement saying that Esper had been briefed on the investigation but had not yet endorsed the Navy's recommendations.

'This afternoon, Secretary Esper received a verbal update from the acting Secretary of the Navy and the Chief of Naval Operations on the Navy's preliminary inquiry into the COVID-19 outbreak on the USS Theodore Roosevelt,' Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman said.

'After the Secretary receives a written copy of the completed inquiry, he intends to thoroughly review the report and will meet again with Navy leadership to discuss next steps,' Hoffman added.

Earlier on Friday Hoffman told reporters that Esper 'is generally inclined to support Navy leadership and their decisions but he will go into it with an open mind,' saying he expected to provide the press with 'an update on what the investigation's conclusions were' following Friday's meeting between Esper and the Navy leadership.

The Navy later issued a statement saying that 'Gilday has presented recommendations to the Acting Secretary of the Navy James McPherson,' and that McPherson 'is continuing discussions' with Esper.

'No final decisions have been made,' the statement added.

A Defense Department official told CNN that 'the Navy's inquiry covered a complex timeline of communications between naval officers, as well as response efforts spanning a dozen time zones and multiple commands.'

'All this information was briefed verbally today in a meeting scheduled for one hour. Given the importance of the topic and the complex nature, the secretary is going to read the full written report,' the official added.

Asked if top lawmakers on the House and Senate Armed Services committees have been notified of the Navy's recommendation, a Senate aide said they were expecting individual calls Friday from the Navy and Esper but that those calls were postponed, then canceled and ultimately rescheduled for next week.

Crozier was fired earlier this month for what the then-acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly said was poor judgment by too widely disseminating a warning about the spread of virus aboard his vessel, a warning that eventually made its way into the press.

Modly resigned days later over his handling of the incident, actions which included a $240,000 trip to Guam where he slammed Crozier and admonished sailors for giving Crozier a rousing send off in public remarks to the crew.

While Modly publicly accused Crozier of sending his letter of warning to 20 to 30 people, the email to which the letter was attached shows that Crozier sent it to 10 people including his direct superior, according to a copy of the email obtained by The Washington Post.

'I believe if there is ever a time to ask for help it is now regardless of the impact on my career,' Crozier wrote in his email, the contents of which a US official directly familiar with the message confirmed to CNN.

The email was addressed to Rear Adm. Stuart Baker, the commander of the carrier strike group of which the USS Theodore Roosevelt is a component and Crozier's immediate commanding officer.

The email was also addressed to Adm. John Aquilino, the commander of US Pacific Fleet; and Vice Adm. DeWolfe Miller, another senior officer in the Pacific responsible for overseeing Naval Air Forces.

The message was also copied to seven Navy captains, all of whom were either serving aboard the aircraft carrier or working as aides to the admirals addressed in the email.

Following his ouster Crozier was initially reassigned to the headquarters of the Naval Air Forces Pacific command in San Diego but has remained in Guam where he is completing a mandatory quarantine period.

After he was fired Crozier was replaced as commanding officer of the aircraft carrier by the ship's former captain, Rear Admiral select Carlos Sardiello.

Cases on ship have skyrocketed

The number of coronavirus cases aboard the Roosevelt have skyrocketed in recent days, with 856 sailors testing positive as of Friday, and four sailors have been hospitalized in Guam where they are being treated for coronavirus symptoms.

One sailor from the aircraft carrier has died due to contracting the virus.

The Navy has evacuated more than 4,200 sailors from the ship, representing more than 85% of the Roosevelt's crew, and moved them into quarantine or isolation on Guam, an evacuation that was urgently called for by Crozier in his letter.

On Friday morning, a US Navy official told CNN that a second US warship had been hit by an outbreak of at least 18 cases of the virus.

The Pentagon later confirmed that there has been an outbreak on the USS Kidd which has a crew of around 330.

On Wednesday another senior Navy official told CNN there were coronavirus cases on 26 Navy warships, and another 14 have been hit by the virus but the crew members impacted have recovered.

While President Donald Trump initially criticized Crozier for writing his letter of warning, he later expressed sympathy for the captain following his ouster, citing his accomplished record as a helicopter and F/A-18 jet pilot.

'I'm going to get involved and see what is going on there because I don't want to destroy somebody for having a bad day,' Trump said.

Asked last week about the investigation last week, Esper did not rule out reinstating Crozier and the Navy has repeatedly said nothing is off the table and that no final decisions have been made with regard to the investigation.

The Navy's top admiral told reporters earlier this month that he is 'taking no options off the table' as he reviewed the investigation and that he was under no pressure from Pentagon or administration officials to drive toward a particular outcome.

'I am taking no options off the table as I review that investigation I think that that's my responsibility to approach it in a way with due diligence to make sure it's completely fair and unbiased as I can possibly make it,' Gilday told a small group of reporters on a conference call.

Gilday also said that he has not spoken to Crozier and that he is under no pressure in terms of the investigation.

'I'm under no pressure from anybody in terms of my pace or in terms of any kind of influence, nobody has talked to me about that investigation -- you're the first people that I'm talking to about the investigation outside of my office,' Gilday said.

This story has been updated with comments from Rep. Adam Smith and Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman.
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Agartala/Imphal, April 25 : With the recovery of the second Covid-19 patient in Tripura on Saturday, four of the eight northeastern states - Tripura, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim -- had become coronavirus free, officials said on Sunday.

According to the health officials, there are 15 active nCoV cases in Assam, 11 in Meghalaya and one in Mizoram, besides a 33-year-old trader from Dimapur, Nagaland, undergoing treatment at the Guwahati Medical College and Hospital since April 12.

There has been no fresh COVID-19 cases in any of the N-E states in the past 24 hours.

Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb said the second and last Covid-19 patient of Tripura was released from hospital (on Saturday) amid the applause of the healthcare staff. "He expressed satisfaction for the treatment and thanked doctors and medical staffs," said Deb, who also holds the Health and Home portfolios.

Tripura's Covid-19 surveillance officer Dip Debbarma told IANS the second patient, 32-year-old Tripura State Rifles jawan from UP, was discharged from the government-run Govind Ballabh Pant Medical College and Hospital on Saturday and he would remain in 14-day quarantine as per the protocol.

Debbarma said the first patient (a woman) was discharged from the hospital on April 15.

In Imphal, a 23-year-old woman, who had returned from the UK last month, become the first coronavirus case. She was also the first Covid-19 patient to recover in the northeast.

Manipur became second state after Goa to become coronavirus free after the state's second and last patient was discharged on April 21. The 65-year-old man had attended the Tablighi Jamaat's congregation in Delhi's Nizamuddin last month.

The second Covid-19 patient of the state after testing negative second time and showing improvement in his diabetic status was discharged from the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences hospital in Imphal late on Tuesday, Manipur Health and Family Welfare Department's Additional Director Khoirom Sasheekumar Mangang told IANS.

Arunachal Pradesh, bordering China, become the third coronavirus free state after the lone patient, a 31-year-old man, was discharged from hospital on Friday. The Arunachal man from Medo village had attended the Tablighi Jamaat congregation.

He tested positive for coronavirus infection on April 1 and since then was kept in an isolation ward at the Tezu Zonal Hospital.

While no positive case was reported from Sikkim, the other seven N-E states have so far reported 55 coronavirus cases, including Nagaland's lone case.

Assam leads the tally with 36 cases and one death, followed by Meghalaya (12 cases and one death), Manipur and Tripura (2 cases each), and Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram (one case each).

Of Assam's 36 cases, 35 are directly or indirectly linked to the Tablighi Jamaat congregation. Besides the 55 cases in northeast, eight from Tripura, four each from Assam and Mizoram also tested coronavirus positive in Mumbai, Delhi, Rajasthan, UP and Meghalaya.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
A paper recently published by the US-based National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) is bringing considerable comfort to policy makers here. Chief Economic Advisor KV Subramanian was the first to draw attention to the research and others like it on the Spanish flu pandemic (1918-1920) because he finds several lessons that the management of that pandemic holds for the Indian government. And if history were to repeat itself, he suggested, maybe Indias economic recovery after the crisis could be V-shaped.

Subramanian presented his findings at the Finance Commission advisory council meeting on Friday where he said because Indias economy resembled the US economy at the time of the Spanish Flu, its study can provide a reasonable guesstimate about what will happen in the Indian scenario. He was also present at the Prime Ministers meeting with economists on Wednesday.

The Spanish flu emerged in 1918 and claimed 39 million lives till 1920. The Spanish flu infected 1/3rd of the population in the US and had a mortality rate of 6%. So, by itself, the percentage of people that are infected by Covid-19 is much less as here the mortality rate is just 3%, Subramanian told Hindustan Times, adding that important lessons can be derived by looking at the economic impact of the flu in 1920.

There are several similarities that the US economy at the time and the Indian economy now have. For example,the proportion of urban population in the US was 45% while Indias, some say, could be closer to 45% (now), he said.

Subramanian also points out that the proportion of various sectors like manufacturing, agriculture and services at that time in the US are similiar to the Indian economys numbers now. There are some differences like Indias services sector is 5% greater than what the USs was and the agri sector -- Indias is at a much lower share now than US was at the time. But at the macro level, there are similarities.

And there are learnings, he added.

The first and most important one, is the beneficial impact of the lockdown. Back then, some counties (like our districts) enforced lockdown-like restrictions called Non Pharmaceutical Interventions (NPIs), he said. This involved shutting churches and schools. It turns out that the counties that had stricter NPIs had lower mortality. They also were able to bounce back economically soon. That means that jaan hai, aur jahaan bhi hai (lives and livelihoods were both saved), he said riffing off the PMs phrase during his second address to the nation.

The second lesson for Subramanian is the one on GDP. While many research firms expect Indias growth this year to fall to near-zero, the CEA is taking heart from US numbers post-Spanish flu -- they dropped to 3.5% but went to 7.5% soon after. Its the V-shaped recovery, he said.

However this analysis has to come with the caveat that we are dealing with enormous uncertainties, Subramanian added.
In order to distribute one kg of pulses to about 20 crore households for three months in the country, a massive operation for transport and milling of pulses is underway. In order to meet the protein needs of people during this crisis, the Central government had decided to provide one kg of milled and cleaned pulses to each NFSA household for three months under the PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY).

Executed by NAFED under the guidance of the Department of consumer affairs of the Central government, this operation entails lifting of un-milled pulses from the godowns of Central or state warehousing corporations, getting the pulses milled or cleaned as per quality standards prescribed by FSSAI and then reaching the milled pulses to the states. Thereafter, the milled pulses are carried to state government godowns and then to PDS shops for distribution.

The millers are selected on the basis of Out Turn Ratio (OTR) bids by NAFED through online auctions. In OTR bidding, empanelled millers are required to quote percentage of milled pulses for every quintal of raw pulse considering the expenses involved in cleaning, milling, packing, transportation both inward and outward. Packing is in 50 kg bags. No milling charges paid to the millers. Millers are grouped in clusters. In producing states, locally available raw material and millers are preferred. All costs in distribution including incidental charges to ration shops are being met by the Central government.

The scale of this operation is massive and far more complex than food grain movement. Each kg of pulse goes through at least three (in many cases four) trips by truck and as many cycles of loading and unloading. While for long distances, transport is being done through goods train, in most cases transportation is by road through trucks. About 8.5 lakh MT of un-milled pulses will be moved in this process to distribute about 5.88LMT milled / cleaned pulses to citizens. Government has allowed the use of its stocks lying in about 165 NAFED godowns across the country for this scheme. Over 100 dal mills across the country have been pressed into service by NAFED so far.

Each month, 1.96 LMT of pulses are required to be distributed to NFSA households in the country through rations shops. About three-fourth of the milled / cleaned pulses (over 1.45 LMT) have already been offered to the state governments / UT administrations. The several states that have dal mills within their jurisdictions have been asked to lift the milled pulses by themselves to speed up the process.

The states and UTs have taken one-third of the monthly requirement to final destinations for distribution. 17 states and UTs, namely - Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Andamans, Chandigarh, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Telangana have begun distribution.

Several other states and UTs have decided to distribute pulses along with food grain distribution in the first week of May for reasons of social distancing and public safety. While, as on date, about 30,000 MT of pluses have been distributed, but this would speed up in the first week of May. Many states / UTs, particularly the smaller ones such as Andamans, Chandigarh, Dadra Nagar Haveli, Goa, Ladakh, Puducherry, Lakshadweep and even Punjab have been provided milled / cleaned pulses for all three months in one go.

Department of Consumer Affairs has with the help of Ministry agriculture and farmers welfare set up five groups of officers headed by Joint Secretaries to coordinate with states and UTs, NAFED, Dal mills and warehousing corporations. Secretary, agriculture and secretary, consumer affairs have been jointly reviewing progress on a daily basis and sort out ground level bottlenecks. The Cabinet Secretary is personally monitoring the distribution on a day to day basis.

This is the first time that the department of consumer affairs is carrying such a massive operation of pulses. This operation would involve about two lakh truck trips and loading and unloading operation over a period of 4 weeks. It is ambitious in normal times but is very challenging during lockdown with many of the dal mills and godowns located in the hotspot areas. Managing operations safely in such areas is crucial. In such areas, the availability of trucks and labour for loading and unloading has been a huge problem.

Most of the beneficiaries will receive the quota for the first month within April or latest by the first week of May. Several states and UTs would be able to distribute pulses for all three months in the first go itself. For the remaining states, the efforts are being made to complete the distribution for all three months within May itself, preferably within the third week of May. Preparedness of the states and UTs was reviewed by Secretary, consumer affairs on April 24, 2020. Expressing satisfaction on the preparedness, Secretary, consumer affairs thanked the states and UTs for their cooperation and support and hoped that the distribution would be stepped up in the coming week.
By Louis Michael Manzo

In my early days as chief of Jersey Citys Health Department, one of my duties was to handle disease outbreaks. Epidemiology was a required course of study for licensing. After watching the feds and our states response to this new strain of flu outbreak, Im tempted to burn all the books from which I learned.

I consider the response an overreaction driven by panic and, in some instances, doing more harm than good.

Todays public health workers rely on modeling for forecasting the path of a virus and determining strategies to fight it. It is obvious that the federal governments modeling did not pan out -- cases and deaths were way overestimated -- yet, they keep relying on the same professionals to produce additional inaccurate models, from which they continue to draw inaccurate conclusions on a daily and ongoing basis.

No matter what strains of influenza hit, they all have similar characteristics: They thrive in attacking dense populations and can be fatal to those with compromised health conditions, especially the elderly.

This virus was likely hitting New Jersey in December and was then being seriously misdiagnosed as a common cold or seasonal influenza.

That would mean there are far more numbers of people who were infected, and who are currently not recorded in the existing data base for morbidity, mortality, and infection rates. The just completed Stanford University study of antibody testing in Santa Clara County in California underscores this point.

After adjusting statistics to reflect the countys demographics, that study determined that between 2.49% and 4.16% of the countys residents had likely been infected, suggesting that the real number of infections was as many as 80,000, or more than 50 times as many as viral gene tests had confirmed and it implies a low fatality rate, according to published reports. That means the disease was hitting California potentially earlier than January.

This information additionally means that New Jersey is continuing to make decisions based on modeling that is still reliant on false and incomplete data. Hence, the overkill and draconian measures that keep compiling in the governors unending emergency executive orders.

New Jersey should be requiring all school districts to report to the state the number of absences for the current school year that were attributed to seasonal flus and colds. This same reporting requirement must be made for seasonal flu and cold diagnoses made by all doctors, community health clinics, nursing homes, and hospitals.

The state should then order and prepare to give these individuals antibody tests so it can be determined if, in fact, they had COVID-19 and were misdiagnosed.

From what has been reported and relying on the public timeline of events, I believe New Jersey had its initial COVID-19 peak sometime between December and February. When any misdiagnosed cases are added into the March and April data and factored out, I believe it will be found out that between 30 and 50 percent of residents were already infected.

January and February are when Dr. Anthony S. Fauci was telling Americans that the new strain of virus emanating from China was nothing to worry about. Within a matter of weeks, the same Dr. Fauci was sounding the alarm and urging the country to take drastic measures to prepare for high mortality.

Dr. Faucis statements were responsible for the mad panic that ensued. Without social distancing measures yet in place, stores all over the state were mob scenes and a timebomb for spreading the virus.

Standard protocol and saner public health strategy would call for isolating the at-risk population -- not the population en masse. Nursing homes should have been required to report all staff that were working in other healthcare facilities in order to ensure that precautions could be taken for limiting their contact with nursing home residents. Possibly quarantining, for two weeks, the New Jersey residents who work in New York would be prudent.

Currently, as cases subside, there should be an immediate designation of specific hospitals in regions of the state to handle future COVID-19 testing, diagnoses and treatment. Allowing every hospital to admit cases only enhances the ability of the virus to infect more individuals and heightens exposure to the overall healthcare resources of the state.

The governor should immediately re-open state and county parks. Closing that open space creates additional negative density issues that help influenzas to thrive. The governor should additionally direct local governments to open local parks that were closed, and boardwalks and beaches that were closed.

New Jersey and its neighboring states' regional approach for reopening is not good for New Jersey. The few cases reported in western regions of Pennsylvania have nothing in common with the epicenter of the outbreak in New York City. New Jerseys outbreak fits somewhere in the middle. If many seasonal New Jersey businesses cant get opened for the coming summer season that starts on Memorial Day weekend, then this state is going to suffer another economic blow.

Lastly, the states pharmaceutical industry should immediately be enticed to massively expand into manufacturing all of the medicines currently being produced in China. This could be a real economic shot in the arm.

Louis Michael Manzo, now a resident of Belmar, represented Jersey City in the state Assembly and is the author of several books, including "Ruthless Ambition: The Rise and Fall of Chris Christie'' and "An Irish Lullaby.''

Send letters to the editor and guest columns for The Jersey Journal to jjletters@jjournal.com.
Additional reporting by PA

Twenty-one people have died in one Dublin care home since the Covid-19 crisis began.

The HSE has confirmed the deaths at St Mary's Hospital in the Phoenix Park.

The facility provides care for older people and has 198 residents.

The health authority has also confirmed a number of residents and staff have tested positive for the virus and the figure is changing daily.

The Health Minister has offered his sympathies to the families of those who have passed and to staff working there.

Simon Harris said efforts are being made to support the facility.

"I understand the HSE has given this a lot of attention," he said.

"I spoke to David Walsh yesterday, the National Director for Community Services in relation to the supports.

"I understand that has included the redeployment of staff from other areas in the HSE."

Health minister Simon Harris

Meanwhile, 52 more deaths related to Covid-19 have been announced.

The latest figures mean the total number of deaths related to the virus has risen to 1,063.

Figures announced by the National Public Health Emergency Team revealed a further 377 confirmed new cases of the virus.

That brings the total number of cases to 18,561.

Mr Harris noted that there were 118 people with Covid-19 in intensive care units in Ireland on Saturday, compared to 160 earlier this month.

He told RTE there were still too many people in ICUs and too many people seriously sick.

Health chiefs have also expressed concern over complacency about restrictions designed to curb the spread of the infection.

The health minister has been consulting with medical leaders via videolink at the Department of Health.

He said it was an important chance to engage with some leading experts in general practice, critical care and infectious diseases.

Chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan has said if the situation remained like this, he would not be able to recommend the restrictions be relaxed.

Chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan

The Government has imposed restrictions on movement  limiting journeys to essential errands like getting food.

A two-kilometre limit for exercise has been decreed.

Gardai have mounted checkpoints near holiday spots in a bid to encourage social distancing.

The restrictions are due to be reviewed by medical experts next week.
After the initial bravado over facilitating the homecoming of migrant workers once the lockdown is lifted, the Odisha government seems to have developed cold feet. With the realisation that the magnitude of returneesover seven lakh migrant workers, students and professionals stranded in other stateswould be difficult to handle in terms of infrastructure capacities and risks involved, it has requested the Centre to get them tested before they come back. But ensuring everyone is properly screened before they set foot in the state will be tough.

Bracing for the situation, Odisha has started building quarantine centres at the village level and empowered sarpanchs with collectors powers. Every returnee will be mandatorily registered and stamped with indelible ink on return, and have to compulsorily undergo a 14-day quarantine before being allowed to go home. But going by the states experience in the north coastal districts, which have witnessed a surge in Covid cases mostly induced by returnees from West Bengal, the apprehensions cannot be washed off.

The sarpanchs and administration officials are anxious about the institutional capability to handle the returning masses. And ensuring their adherence to isolation will be tougher. There are already incidents of quarantined people attacking panchayat representatives or escaping from isolation centres. Besides, a far more serious problem could develop, if the workers return en masse after May 3. Hit hard by the lockdown, the employers might not let a minute go waste, which could lead to the unemployment of many returnees.

Odisha, under CM Naveen Patnaik, has done an exceedingly good job so far. Bringing natives back is no doubt a prime duty but the risks should be properly assessed. Helping willing migrants come back in phases is one option. The government could also form teams of ministers and officials to visit places with high migrant concentration to ensure their well-being and protection of their employment, with assurances of having their back at all times, rather than making everyone return.
TDT | Manama

Al-Fateh Grand Mosque Imam yesterday called on all to stay at home and perform prayers there during Ramadan for ensuring the safety and health of their own and everyone else in the Kingdom. Its important to show commitment to the directives of the authorities to stay at home and perform prayers there, he said as these measures are aimed at protecting the safety and health of everyone.

Shaikh Adnan bin Abdulla Al-Qattan was giving a sermon, during the Friday congregational prayers, in the presence of a limited number of worshippers. The prayer, held in compliance with government guidelines on social distancing amidst the coronavirus outbreak, was approved by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa based on the opinion of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs. Shaikh Adnan extended deepest congratulations to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, HRH Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Premier, as well as to the Bahraini people, marking the holy month of Ramadan, wishing Bahrain and all countries further progress and safety from evils and diseases.

The duty requires us to address a message of thanks, appreciation, gratitude and pride to HM the King, HRH Premier and HRH Crown Prince for their sound directives and wise management of the COVID-19 crisis, he said. Shaikh Adnan paid special tribute to the National Taskforce for Combating Coronavirus, led by HRH the Crown Prince as well as to the Health Ministrys medical and nursing staff among others for setting the best examples of patriotism, dedication and sacrifice protecting the citizens and residents. Shaikh Adnan extended thanks to governors, top Bahraini officials, charity societies, contributors to the Feena Khair Campaign, citizens and residents for standing united behind the leadership during the crisis the nation is going through as a result of the pandemic.

He prayed to Allah the Almighty to bless Bahrain with ever-lasting security, stability, unity and prosperity, under its leadership
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Thousands of Californians flocked to open beaches during a heatwave Friday despite Gov. Gavin Newsom's pleas for them to stay home.

The nation's most populous state recorded its deadliest day yet in the pandemic, with 115 fatalities in the 24 hours from Wednesday to Thursday. As of Thursday there were more than 40,000 confirmed cases in the state; the death toll stands at 1,597.

But Californians locked down for weeks during the coronavirus pandemic came back to local beaches as the weather warmed, prompting Gov. Newsom on Friday to plead for social distancing during the continued heat wave expected this weekend.

Newsom tweeted Friday: 'Its going to be nice outside this weekend. You might be feeling cooped up. Ready for life to go back to normal. But cant stress this enough: CA can only keep flattening the curve if we stay home and practice physical distancing. You have the power to literally save lives.'

California has been under a mandatory stay-at-home order since March 19.

Pictures taken in Huntington Beach, an Orange County city, on Friday show crowds gathering to enjoy as the state roasted in a spring heat wave. Dozens of locations reached 90 degrees Fahrenheit or higher well before noon, the National Weather Service said, and officials are bracing for even larger crowds this weekend.

Thousands of people in Huntington Beach seemingly ignore social distancing guidelines during the coronavirus outbreak

Hungtingon Beach Officer Angela Bennett told ABC7 : 'We're trying to ask people to maybe put themselves in our residents' position and think about the fact that our residents also have limited parking'

Groups of people flocked to the beach during a heatwave Friday despite Gov. Gavin Newsom's pleas for them to stay home

The nation's most populous state recorded its deadliest day yet in the pandemic, with 115 fatalities in the 24 hours from Wednesday to Thursday but this did not stop beach goers heading out to enjoy the sunshine in Huntington Beach Friday

Above-normal temperatures were forecast for much of the rest of the state into next week, with some brief interruptions.

'A below normal snowpack exists over the Sierra Nevada and it's likely to diminish during the next several days due to unseasonably warm weather,' the Hanford National Weather Service office said in social media posts.

This week in Huntington Beach as well as the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve, surfers could be seen in the water on either side of a closed pier as sunbathers watched from the sand and joggers used pedestrian paths.

Lifeguards at Huntington Beach's main stretch of shoreline counted about 9,000 people on the sand and in the water on Thursday, according to local CBS television affiliate KCBS.

Up to 40,000 people are said to have headed to Newport beach Friday.

Many of those pictured Friday did not appear to be keeping six feet apart in line with social distancing guidelines and few were in face coverings.

As of Thursday there are more than 40,000 confirmed cases in the state; the death toll stands at 1,597

Californians locked down for weeks during the coronavirus pandemic came back to local beaches as the weather warmed, prompting Gov. Newsom on Friday to plead for social distancing during the continued heat wave expected this weekend

Parking lots are not open and so many of those enjoying the sunshine parked in nearby neighborhoods, according to local reports.

Hungtingon Beach Officer Angela Bennett told ABC7: 'We're trying to ask people to maybe put themselves in our residents' position and think about the fact that our residents also have limited parking.'

On Thursday Newsom appeared to concede that the state's beaches would be an irresistible lure to residents, who have been largely confined to their homes since mid-March.

'We're walking into a very warm weekend. People are prone to want to go to the beaches, parks, playgrounds and go on a hike, and I anticipate there will be significant increase in volume,' the governor said.

'But I also think if there is and people aren't practicing physical distancing, I'll be announcing again these numbers going back up,' Newsom said, referring to a slight downward tick in new hospitalizations and admissions to intensive-care units.

Newsom tweeted: 'Its going to be nice outside this weekend. You might be feeling cooped up. Ready for life to go back to normal. But cant stress this enough: CA can only keep flattening the curve if we stay home and practice physical distancing'

Pictures taken in Huntington Beach Friday show crowds gathering to enjoy as the state roasted Friday in a spring heat wave

Dozens of locations reached 90 degrees Fahrenheit or higher well before noon, the National Weather Service said

This week in Huntington Beach as well as the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve, surfers could be seen in the water on either side of a closed pier as sunbathers watched from the sand and joggers used pedestrian paths

Newsom has been credited with taking early action to lock down the state as cases of COVID-19 spread in early March, and California has seen fewer cases than New York and other East Coast states.

California's beaches are under a patchwork of state and local jurisdictions, which means some have remained open while others were shut.

Los Angeles County closed all its beaches - including parking lots, bike paths, showers and restrooms - during the coronavirus outbreak, but leaders in neighboring Orange County voted to keep some open.

Amid a debate over whether residents are safer in open spaces such as the beach, officials in San Clemente in southern Orange County voted this week to reopen city beaches that they closed two weeks ago, the Orange County Register reported.

. Lifeguards at Huntington Beach's main stretch of shoreline counted about 9,000 people on the sand and in the water on Thursday, according to local CBS television affiliate KCBS. The area is pictured Friday

Newsom has been credited with taking early action to lock down the state as cases of COVID-19 spread in early March, and California has seen fewer cases than New York and other East Coast states

California's beaches are under a patchwork of state and local jurisdictions, which means some have remained open while others were shut. Los Angeles County closed all its beaches - including parking lots, bike paths, showers and restrooms - during the coronavirus outbreak, but leaders in neighboring Orange County voted to keep some open

Los Angeles Police Department Chief Michel Moore urged residents to avoid flocking to beaches and trailheads as summery weather returns, the Los Angeles City News Service (CNS) reported

The number of infections in the state is likely much higher because many have not been tested

Los Angeles Police Department Chief Michel Moore urged residents to avoid flocking to beaches and trailheads as summery weather returns, the Los Angeles City News Service (CNS) reported.

'Save police the awkwardness of us having to admonish you and advise and direct you for something that you already know,' CNS quoted Moore as saying. 'With that, our men and women can stay focused on public safety.

Taxpayers will pay restaurants to make meals for millions of California's seniors during the coronavirus pandemic, an initiative that could pump billions of dollars into a devastated industry while generating sales tax collections for cash-strapped local governments, Gov. Newsom also announced Friday.

The number of infections in the state is likely much higher because many have not been tested, and studies suggest people can be infected without feeling sick.

Newsom has said hospitalizations and patients in intensive care units are key statistics for deciding when to loosen stay-at-home orders. Both numbers have been essentially flat for much of the week.

Newsom has said hospitalizations and patients in intensive care units are key statistics for deciding when to loosen stay-at-home orders. Both numbers have been essentially flat for much of the week

Many of those pictured Friday did not appear to be keeping six feet apart in line with social distancing guidelines and few were in face coverings

Parking lots are not open and so many of those enjoying the sunshine parked in nearby neighborhoods
A brightly lit Times Square, Central Park filled with tourists, the constant honk of New York City's iconic taxi cabs.

Jess Esperti, a critical care nurse from Arizona, imagined her first trip to New York City to be just like it looks in the movies. It's not even close.

"There's nothing to do with everything closed; it's nothing like I pictured," Esperti says.

But she is busy.

Esperti is a volunteer nurse working in the intensive care unit of Elmhurst Hospital in Queens -- one of the hospitals hardest hit by the novel coronavirus.

She is one of thousands of volunteers from across the country who answered the call to help, as the city continues to be the epicenter of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Her days consist of leaving her Times Square hotel to make a 6 p.m. bus, which is full of other volunteers. She's dropped off at the hospital, where she works a 12-hour overnight shift, before returning to her hotel to sleep. She estimates she gets about an hour a day for time to herself. She'll repeat that schedule for the next month.

Esperti says during her time at Elmhurst, she "hasn't seen a single non-covid patient."

"It's horrible, it's awful, it's a pandemic. I never thought I'd see one in my life, but here it is right in front of me. It's not just Elmhurst, it's all the hospitals," she says.

Esperti explains the worst part of the job is not being able to fully connect with the patients who, in the ICU, are typically on ventilators.

She recalls connecting with one patient over his shoes.

"They were the coolest pair of Nike's I had ever seen. (Here) is this guy who's vented, can't talk to me, can't answer my questions, but man, we like the same shoes." She added, "It connects you as human beings. I take those little things and run with it."

Explore other inspiring stories about police and other first responders who go beyond the call

Tomas Diaz, an ER physician from San Francisco, is also volunteering on the front lines for the next month.

He is among 200 healthcare workers who raised their hand when UCSF Health called for volunteers to travel cross country. Twenty made the trip last weekend and are currently spread out working shifts in the New York Presbyterian hospital system.

"There was a fair amount of survivor's guilt being on the opposite coast and in a position of relative safety that prompted me and others who wanted to help," says Diaz, who is working at Weill Cornell Medical Center in Manhattan.

Camaraderie among health care volunteers

All of the volunteers are putting their lives on hold to assist the nurses and doctors in New York City who, in a lot of cases, have contracted the virus themselves or are on quarantine.

"I think the providers here are understandably pretty exhausted, so the relief that I am able to provide by taking over a few shifts is, I think, really helpful," says Diaz.

Back in Arizona, Esperti's four children are staying with family members, but she says she has "no regrets" about her decision, as it's serving as a life lesson to them.

"I tell them all the time. If you see someone in need, you help them. You give them all you've got," says Esperti.

Esperti says the volunteers share their lives with each other to get a break from the chaos of the hospitals. They share pictures of their families, or wedding pictures, or she says they've helped an engaged volunteer with important wedding planning decisions.

They also learn from each other.

"Being at the hospital with nurses from all over the country is amazing because people bring all sorts of different ideas, different ways that they do things at their hospital," Esperti says.

Feeling the love

After a particularly tough night, Esperti took a video diary in her hotel room, explaining what she was going through and what her temporary life was like. She posted it on Facebook and the response from people across the country was overwhelming.

"Someone compared it to 9/11. When (that) happened, the country came together and supported each other and that is what's happening now."

Esperti has received care packages, filled with food like energy bars; personal items like compression socks and headbands; stationary so volunteers can write home; and essential oils so their face masks, which they reuse, smell nice.

She's had so many deliveries that the hotel where she is staying dedicated an entire room for the packages.

"It's absolutely amazing ... what we really need are the bunny suits, we need respirators, shoe covers, hair covers," says Esperti, talking about the vital personal protection equipment used by hospital staff when treating patients.

The volunteers are also grateful for the nightly cheers they hear coming from New Yorkers still on lockdown -- a show of gratitude to all those on the front lines.

"All of that stuff makes all the difference in the world, especially when we're missing our loved ones and especially when sometimes we think what we're doing isn't working and we can't do it anymore. It's all that support that literally pushes us through," says Esperti.

So keep it up, they can hear you.
Lauren Leander wasn't scheduled to work, but she dressed in her scrubs anyway.

The Banner Health nurse heard that anti-lockdown protesters were planning a rally at the Arizona Capitol building in downtown Phoenix. As she was a nurse in the city, she wasn't far from the building and decided she would attend the rally, dressed in her scrubs and a mask; a silent protest within a protest.

Ms Leander, 27, called a few colleagues and invited them to join her quiet act of defiance.

"That was the kind of action we could take against something like this," she told The Arizona Republic.

Nurses from across the country have stood up to the rallygoers. Ms Leander had seen the pictures of nurses being screamed at or surrounded by protesters who were demanding that business restrictions be lifted.

Ms Leander knew she was unlikely to receive a warm reception at the rally.

As she and fellow healthcare workers stood silently on the steps of the state Capitol, arms crossed and faces covered by masks, the group was bombarded by accusations and insults from the rally-goers.

Some people belittled her, others suggested she was a paid actor or was a healthcare professional who had no direct involvement with the treatment of Covid-19. Others accused her of being an abortion doctor.

"It was heated, people were very fired up about what they had to say," she told CNN. "A lot of the top comments we got were about us being fake nurses, there was a huge majority of them that still believe this virus is fake, that it's a hoax and not real at all. They were convinced that we're fake nurses and that's why we weren't talking."

Quite the opposite of a fake nurse, Ms Leander volunteered to work at her hospital's Covid-19 unit full time, and has been on the front line working with infected patients for the past month.

According to the outlet, most of the protesters were ignoring social distancing guidelines and were walking around without masks. Ms Leander stood her ground, refusing to engage directly with the protestors.

Though she'd seen the anger directed at other nurses, she was surprised by the intensity of the vitriol directed towards her.

A local caregiver counter protester, right, points to a protester to keep a safe social distance at a rally at the capitol to 're-open' Arizona against the governor's stay-at-home order due to the coronavirus Monday, April 20, 2020, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) (Associated Press)

She was a local nurse, and they were local people. If any of them became ill  for whatever reason  it could very well be that she would ultimately be caring for them.

"Whether you believe in the virus or not, we're the people who are going to take care of you one way or the other," she told The Arizona Republic. "It was disheartening to have those kinds of comments thrown in my face."

She later told CNN that, regardless of what the rally-goers' opinions of her, her colleagues or the virus are, "if these people show up in my ICU, we will take care of them, one way or another."

The protesters' suspicions that Ms Leander and her friends were simply actors meant to promote a government agenda was echoed by a former Arizona lawmaker.

Kelli Ward, a former state Senator who once launched a primary challenge against John McCain, posted a tweet attempting to delegitimise the nurses who attended the rally.

"EVEN IF these 'spontaneously' appearing ppl at protests against govt overreach (sporting the same outfits, postures & facial expressions) ARE involved in healthcare - when they appeared at rallies, they were actors playing parts #Propaganda #FakeOutrage," Ms Ward wrote.

Though Ms Ward is accusing the nurses of being tools of "fake outrage," recent investigations have shown that many of the websites and social media groups that have served as the central organising tools for the anti-lockdown protests are owned by a singular group of brothers.

The Dorr brothers are a group of real-life brothers who run anti-gun control social media pages and generate social unrest to drive pageviews to their sites.

Speaking to Cleveland.com last year, Iowa state Representative Matt Windschitl  a Republican who helped push through a 2017 bill creating a Stand Your Ground law in the state and allowed Iowans to sue the government for creating gun-free zones  called the Dorrs' ostensible activism a "scam."

"They are not motivated by a genuine appetite for advancement of Second Amendment virtues," Mr Windschitl said. "They are there to stir the pot and make as much animosity as they can, and then raise money off that animosity."

The animosity they're stirring  and that influential people, like Ms Ward, are signal boosting  have left front-line workers like Ms Leander frustrated.

"I wish [Ward] could be in my shoes for a day, I'd have her put on a pair of scrubs and walk with me," Ms Leander said.

Recommended Nurses read names of colleagues killed by virus in White House protest

The reality of the coronavirus and the toll it takes on those infected has all but dominated Ms Leander's life for the last month. She has not seen her family since joining the Covid-19 unit, and is daily confronted with the suffering of both the infected and their families.

She recalled one patient who grabbed her hand and asked her to "tell me I'm not going to die here."

"A human being having to pass away via FaceTime because their family is not allowed in the hospital during the crisis, it's the most heartbreaking thing you will ever see," she said.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-25 22:18:04|Editor: huaxia

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NAIROBI, April 25 (Xinhua)-- Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta on Saturday confirmed seven new COVID-19 cases, which brought the country's total to 343.

Kenyatta said that the government has contained the spread of the virus due to mitigation measures that have been put in place.

"While we mourn the 14 that have succumbed to the disease, we also celebrate the 98 recoveries," Kenyatta said in a televised news conference in Nairobi. Three more patients recovered in the last 24 hours.

Kenyatta said that so far 17,492 samples have been tested since the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak in the country, which is proceeding with mass targeted testing.

According to Kenyatta, the tests are giving medical experts the data and insight to guide policy decisions on COVID-19.

Kenyatta announced the formation of a National Hygiene Program that will be launched next week to create jobs while making the environment healthier.

He said that the first phase of the program for the next 30 days will employ 26,148 workers, and the number will eventually grow to over 100,000 youth.

"The inaugural cluster of employment will involve residents in 23 informal settlements, spread across seven counties," he said.

To demonstrate the principles of this approach, Kenyatta said the making of face-masks will be undertaken by 4,048 tailors residing in those settlements.

For their neighborhoods, he said, they will make up to 250,000 masks per day and will stimulate local economy while advancing the war against the coronavirus.

The president directed the National Response Emergency Response Committee to map out the economic sectors and activities on the basis of infection risk.

"This mapping exercise when combined with increased testing and more exact contact tracing will inform how we reopen the economy progressively. We will reopen this economy but it must be in a way that does not endanger many thousands of lives," he added.

He said that a few restaurants will be allowed to undertake mini operations in towns that have been hard hit by the pandemic.

"The owners will have to meet the requirements laid down by the ministry of health," he added. Enditem
With Hyderabad emerging as a Covid-19 hotspot accounting for nearly half of the total number of positive cases in Telangana, a five-member Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) made an extensive study of the ground situation in the city and interacted with various officials.

The team led by Arun Baroka, additional secretary in the Union ministry of Jal Sakthi and comprising senior public health specialist Dr Chandrashekhar Gedam, National Institute of Nutrition director Dr Hemlatha, director of ministry of consumer affairs S S Thakur and associate professor in National Institute of Disaster Management Shekhar Chaturvedi met Telangana chief secretary Somesh Kumar in the evening to discuss the steps being taken to contain the spread of the virus.

Follow coronavirus latest updates here.

An official release said the chief secretary made a detailed presentation on the efforts made by the state government to contain the disease. He told the central team members that all the departments had been working as a team with a uniform Covid-19 management.

He explained in detail the various steps being taken such as treatment being given to the positive patients in Gandhi Hospital, enforcement of lockdown in containment zones, maintenance of quarantine centres, hospital preparedness, surveillance and testing etc,

He also told the members about operation of helpline, procurement of medical equipment, supply of rice to white ration card holders, relief measures to migrant workers and running of Annapurna canteens and shelter homes.

He said chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao had ordered extension of lockdown till May 7 so that there was no laxity on the part of the government in preventing the spread of the disease. No relaxations had been given whatsoever in any part of the state, particularly in Hyderabad.

The central team appreciated the initiatives taken by the state government to contain the spread of the virus in the state, the official note said.

In the morning, the central team inspected the 1,500-bed Covid-19 hospital  Telangana Institute of Medical Sciences (TIMS) at Gachibowli. The team members made a thorough enquiry of the availability of doctors, supporting staff, testing kits, PPEs and masks.

The team members also inspected Annapurna free meals distribution centre at Gachhibowli circle and interacted with the beneficiaries. They also visited the kitchens of Akshaya Pathra foundation at Kokapet and Narsingi.

On Sunday, the team members are expected to meet Director General of Police M Mahender Reddy and other top police officials including commissioners of police of Hyderabad, Cyberabad and Rachakonda, apart from senior officials of the health department to understand how Covid-19 had spread so rapidly in Hyderabad in the last three weeks.

According to the official statistics, out of 983 Corona virus positive cases registered in Telangana till Friday night, as many as 485 cases were reported within the limits of Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) limits that encompass three districts  Hyderabad, RangaReddy and Medchal (Malkajgiri).

The number of cases has been alarmingly rising in the densely populated areas of GHMC where the chances of virus spread to others is high. However, the numbers have been coming down in the last two days  only 12 cases have been reported since Thursday, a GHMC official said on condition of anonymity.

Health minister Etala Rajender told reporters that a massive contact tracing exercise by the state government had revealed that as many as 268 positive cases in the GHMC limits were related to only 44 families.

For example, six people from the Talab Katta region in the old city were responsible for the spread of the disease in as many as 61 others, he pointed out.

The Telangana government has declared entire Hyderabad as a Red Zone and enforcing lockdown very strictly. The chief minister directed that the GHMC officials concentrate more on Hyderabad by segregating the city into several zones and to appoint Special Officers to each zone considering each zone as a unit.

Till the third week of April, as many as 139 containment clusters had been identified in Hyderabad out of the 221 clusters in Telangana where entry and exit are totally prohibited with high barricades and heavy police deployment. The government machinery has been supplying essential commodities to people inside.

On Friday, as many as 45 containment zones in the GHMC were brought into safe zone, as no fresh cases were reported from these areas. If this trend continues, we will be able to control the spread of the coronavirus, the health minister said.

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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- As New York coronavirus (COVID-19) hospitalizations and deaths continued to decrease on Saturday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the state would dramatically increase testing capacity by utilizing approximately 5,000 independent pharmacies to collect samples.

The pharmacies will be responsible for collecting samples for diagnostic  not antibody  testing, Cuomo said at Saturdays press conference, adding that those samples will be sent to labs throughout the state to retrieve results.

Cuomo said New York state is currently processing approximately 20,000 tests per day at about 300 laboratories, which led to the decision to increase collection sites. The states goal is to reach 40,000 tests a day with a federal partnership, he said.

Because of the increase in testing sites, we can open up the eligibility for those tests, Cuomo said, announcing that the state would expand testing criteria to include a wider swath of first responders, health care workers and essential employees.

In addition to emergency first responders and a sweeping list of health care workers  both in hospitals and senior care facilities  essential workers, including teachers, social workers, grocery store workers and an expansive list of others will also be available for testing.

A list of essential workers Gov. Andrew Cuomo said would be eligible for diagnostic testing. (Screenshot of Gov. Cuomo press conference).

ANTIBODY TESTING

Antibody testing will be conducted among four hospitals and health care systems in New York City beginning today, along with four other agencies starting next week, Cuomo announced.

NYC Health+Hospitals Elmhurst and Bellevue campuses, Montefiore and SUNY Downstate Health Sciences Universities will have health care workers tested for antibodies, Cuomo said.

Comprehensive testing would begin for the NYPD, NYSP, MTA and the AFL-CIO Local Union 100  which represents transport workers in New York.

Were going to be doing significant antibody testing there, Cuomo said of the four separate agencies.

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

Recent tests conducted by the state Health Department revealed significantly high rates of antibody levels within New York City residents; however, multiple agencies, including the World Health Organization and the citys Health Department, warned against the use of antibody tests to determine overall immunity  which is currently uncertain.

Serologic (antibody) tests should not be used to diagnose acute or prior SARS-CoV-2 infection, nor should they be used to determine immune status to SARS-CoV-2. They may produce false negative or false positive results, the consequences of which include providing patients incorrect guidance on preventive interventions like physical distancing or protective equipment, the citys Health Department wrote in a letter.

Borough Hall recently announced a partnership with a Long Island lab approved by the FDA under an emergency use authorization to conduct serological antibody tests for the boroughs nursing homes.

21 DAYS OF HELL

The latest numbers provided by the state Health Department showed that New York state returned to hospitalization levels from 21 days ago.

While mentioning that the aforementioned results were positive, Cuomo said it has been 21 days of hell, and said the state is still well short of its goals relative to new hospital admissions.

Approximately 1,100 new patients entered hospitals with coronavirus, he said, which is more than wed like, but less than we have seen in 21 days," Cuomo wrote on Twitter.

We have been through hell and it's not over yet.



Yesterday we had ~1,100 people enter the hospital with COVID, which is more than wed like but less than we have seen in 21 days.



Our efforts are working. But we must keep it up if we want the curve to decline faster.  Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) April 25, 2020

Cuomo said 437 people died in New York state over the past 24 hours, including 418 in hospitals and 19 in nursing homes.

This is a terrible experience to go through ... but what youre doing is actually saving lives, he said of New Yorkers staying home and abiding by state measures.

Thats not rhetorical. Youre saving lives, he said.

Every expert  every one of them projected that it would be at least 100,000 more serious infections in the state of New York, he said, referencing various studies that originally projected higher rates of infection in New York state than have recently been seen.

Personal opinion, I believe everything we did was worth it, he said.
Delta College has only a handful of essential employees working on-site. Its buildings are closed, online only courses will continue through spring/summer semester and the resumption of in-person classes for fall semester is uncertain. There is, however, help on the way in the form of $5.1 million Delta has been allocated as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Security Act (CARES). The educational portion of this relief package (roughly $14 billion nationwide) is aimed at ensuring colleges and universities can continue to serve students during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Delta President Jean Goodnow announced the grant during the colleges April Board of Trustees meeting, noting that college presidents and universities were notified of the relief funding in a letter from Betsy DeVos, U.S. Department of Education Secretary. Half of Deltas payment must go directly to students and half can be used by the college to prevent, prepare and respond to coronavirus, officials said.

Leanne Govitz, Deltas director of marketing & public information, said the college is working on its plans for the money. Goodnow said it appears Delta will have a year to spend the funding, half of which will help students cover expenses related to the disruption of campus operations, due to COVID-19.

In her correspondence, DeVos encouraged higher education leaders to use some of the CARES Act dollars to expand its remote learning programs, build IT capacity to support such programs, and train faculty and staff to operate effectively in a remote learning environment. DeVos added that if institutions already have effective distance learning systems in place, they may want to consider providing additional emergency funding to students.

Delta continues to work on converting face-to-face and blended courses to an online format. Officials remind students that if they have enrolled in a face-to-face course, it will now be reformatted to allow for distance learning.

Midland Business Alliance planning free webinar

The Midland Business Alliance has joined forces with its partnering economic development organizations to present a free webinar headlined by Consumers Energy Executive Lauren Youngdahl Snyder. On Tuesday, April 28, from 8 to 9 a.m., Snyder is expected to share some of the ways Consumers Energy is helping small businesses and communities weather the COVID-19 crisis.

As Michigans largest energy provider, Consumers Energy has a responsibility to do its part to help slow the spread of this virusand to help the states small businesses and communities prosper, officials said.

From flexible energy bill payments and payment plans to connections to state and federal funding and support, participants will come away from this webinar with a list of viable sources they can tap to help their business prosper, according to webinar organizers. Online registration is required and can be done on the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce website at www.baycityarea.com

The MBA, Bay Future, Inc., Saginaw Area Chamber of Commerce and Saginaw Future, Inc. are co-presenting the free presentation.

MBS to rehabilitate main taxiway

There may be precious few flights in and out of MBS International Airport these days, but the business of running the Freeland-based airstrip is still ongoing. At its recent monthly meeting, the MBS Airport Commission awarded a $340,000 design contract to RS&H in connection with the rehabilitation of its main taxiway.

Jeff Nagel, MBS airport manager, said the work is similar in scope to last years runway project.

Its a pretty extensive project, he said. The taxiway is not as wide as the main runway but a lot of the same work will be done.

The design contract calls for RS& H to provide all environmental reporting, a geometric analysis of the taxiway and a pavement analysis, among other services. In addition to pavement improvements, new lighting and signage is planned for the taxiway.

This is our most used taxiway here for our main runway, said James Cander, assistant airport manager. The good news is that all Federal Aviation Administration-funded projects in 2020 will be 100 percent federally-funded, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. There is no local match required.

Typically MBS would be on the hook for 5% of the costs for these types of projects.

 Compiled by Jon Becker for the Daily News
'No time to blame the messenger' warns UN rights chief, amidst media clampdowns surrounding COVID-19

24 April 2020 - The coronavirus pandemic has spawned new threats to press freedom in some countries, according to the UN human rights chief, who declared on Friday that "credible, accurate reporting is a lifeline for all of us".

Against the backdrop of restrictive measures against independent media imposed by several States, as well as the arrest and intimidation of journalists, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, expressed alarm over clampdowns that are stifling the free flow information, vital in getting the COVID-19 under control.

"Some States have used the outbreak of the new coronavirus as a pretext to restrict information and stifle criticism", she said. "A free media is always essential, but we have never depended on it more than we do during this pandemic, when so many people are isolated and fearing for their health and livelihoods".

Don't blame the messenger

The UN human rights chief maintained that some political leaders have created a hostile environment, which compromises the safety and ability of journalists and media workers to do their job.

"This is no time to blame the messenger", she said. "Rather than threatening journalists or stifling criticism, States should encourage healthy debate concerning the pandemic and its consequences".

According to the International Press Institute, since the start of the outbreak there have been more than130 alleged violations of basic press freedom, including more than 50 reported instances of restrictions on access to information, censorship and excessive regulation of misinformation.

Moreover, nearly 40 journalists have reportedly been arrested or charged in the Asia-Pacific, the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, for stories critical of government responses to the pandemic or for questioning the accuracy of official numbers of COVID-19 cases and deaths. And the actual number of media violations and arrests is probably far higher, the Press Institute said.

The UN human rights office zeroed-in on reports of journalists disappearing after publishing coverage critical of the coronavirus response with several news outlets even being ordered closed by the authorities over their reporting.

"People have a right to participate in decision-making that affects their lives, and an independent media is a vital medium for this", underscored Ms. Bachelet.

"Being open and transparent, and involving those affected in decision-making, builds public trust and helps ensure that people participate in measures designed to protect their own health and that of the wider population and increases accountability".

Misinformation epidemic

Independent media provides a platform for medical professionals and experts to freely share information with each other and the public.

Echoing the Secretary-General's concerns over a "dangerous epidemic of misinformation" surrounding the pandemic that is generating confusion and more ill-health, Ms. Bachelet paid tribute to independent media journalists whose fact-checking provides truth and clarity.

"Journalists are playing an indispensable role in our response to this pandemic, but unlike the grave threats posed to other essential workers, the threats media workers face are entirely avoidable", the UN human rights chief said. "Protecting journalists from harassment, threats, detention or censorship helps keep us all safe".

Press briefing

Responding to journalists at a press conference in Geneva, the UN human rights spokesperson, Rupert Colville, said that the leaders criticizing journalists were often those who had previously behaved similarly, refusing to tolerate criticisms of their policies.

He noted, however, a worrying trend of attacks against journalists that included instances in China, Saudi Arabia and the United States, amongst others.

When asked about President Trump's media briefings on responding to the pandemic, Mr. Colville upheld that journalists play an important role, especially in the complex issues surrounding the pandemic  such as when and how it was safe to ease restrictions  saying, "such issues required a public debate".

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London: US President Donald Trump`s musings on whether injecting disinfectants might treat COVID-19 horrified medical professionals on Friday and raised fresh concerns that his stream-of-consciousness briefings could push frightened people to poison themselves with untested treatments.

An international chorus of doctors and health experts urged people not to drink or inject disinfectant after Trump on Thursday suggested that scientists should investigate inserting the cleaning agent into the body as a way to cure COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the new coronavirus.

Trump on Friday sought to portray his remarks as sarcasm.

"I was asking a question sarcastically to reporters like you just to see what would happen," Trump told reporters at the White House. His remarks during his daily media briefing on Thursday, directed at doctors in the room who serve on his coronavirus task force, did not come across as sarcasm.

Medical experts denounced Trump`s suggestions and leading Democrats blasted the Republican president.

"It is unfortunate that I have to comment on this, but people should under no circumstances ingest or inject bleach or disinfectant," American Medical Association President Patrice Harris said in a statement. "Rest assured when we eventually find a treatment for or vaccine against COVID-19, it will not be in the cleaning supplies aisle."

Trump said on Thursday that scientists should explore whether inserting ultraviolet light or disinfectant into the bodies of people infected with the coronavirus might help them clear the disease.

"Is there a way we can do something like that by injection, inside, or almost a cleaning?" Trump asked. "It would be interesting to check that." Pressed repeatedly about the issue on Friday, Trump said he was not encouraging people to ingest disinfectant.

Trump also has promoted an anti-malaria drug called hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID-19 even though its effectiveness is unproven and there are concerns about heart issues. The US Food and Drug Administration on Friday cautioned against using hydroxychloroquine in COVID-19 patients outside of hospitals and clinical trials, citing risks of serious heart rhythm problems.

Reckitt Benckiser, a British company that manufactures the household disinfectants Dettol and Lysol, issued a statement warning people not to ingest or inject its products.

The American Cleaning Institute, representing the U.S. cleaning products industry, said in a statement, "Disinfectants are meant to kill germs or viruses on hard surfaces. Under no circumstances should they ever be used on one`s skin, ingested or injected internally."

There were early signs that at least some Americans were preparing to act on Trump`s comments. A spokesman for Maryland`s governor wrote on Twitter that the state`s Emergency Management Agency had received more than 100 calls about the use of bleach to treat COVID-19.

House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the top Democrat in the U.S. Congress, said she doubted that the Republican president was being sarcastic, telling MSNBC sarcastically "it seemed like he was speaking from his usual great authority on every subject."

Joe Biden, Trump`s presumptive Democratic challenger in the Nov. 3 U.S. election, wrote on Twitter, "I can`t believe I have to say this, but please don`t drink bleach."

TORRENT OF RIDICULE

Trump`s suggestion unleashed a torrent of ridicule online, with one comedian on social media app TikTok miming the action of injecting bleach into her veins like a drug.

On Twitter, journalists shared a video of Deborah Birx, the coordinator of the White House task force on the coronavirus, who appeared to look down, hunch her shoulders, and blink rapidly as Trump told the briefing that disinfectant "does a tremendous number on the lungs."

The White House initially on Friday said critics were taking Trump`s remarks out of context. At an Oval Office event later on Friday, as Trump sought to walk back his comments he also returned to the notion that disinfectants and sunlight might help within the body.

Health professionals have been encouraging people to wash their hands thoroughly with soap or to use hand sanitizer to combat the spread of the virus.

"I do think that disinfectant on the hands could have a very good effect," Trump said.

"Sun and heat and humidity wipe it out. And this is from tests - they`ve been doing these tests for ... a number of months. And the result - so then I said, `Well, how do we do it inside the body or even outside the body with the hands and disinfectant I think would work.`"

While ultraviolet rays are known to kill viruses contained in droplets in the air, doctors say there is no way UV light could be introduced into the human body to target cells infected with the coronavirus.

"Neither sitting in the sun, nor heating will kill a virus replicating in an individual patient`s internal organs," said Penny Ward, a professor in pharmaceutical medicine at Kings College London.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-26 01:02:59|Editor: huaxia

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WARSAW, April 25 (Xinhua) -- The Polish government said on Saturday that a full re-opening of borders" is probably still a long way away," after sporadic protests against border restrictions broke out in several frontier towns.

"The government will discuss this issue next week and will probably make decisions on the dates," government spokesperson Piotr Mueller was quoted as saying by Polish Press Agency (PAP).

"But don't forget that behind our borders, for instance in Germany, the situation concerning infections is much more difficult," Mueller said.

Hundreds of people took to the streets on Saturday in Cieszyn, a town bordering with the Czech Republic to protest against restrictions that cut them off from their jobs.

Around 300 to 400 people walked along the Polish side of the River Olza, keeping their distance and wearing masks as a gesture of compliance with COVID-19 related restrictions. They brandished banners with slogans reading "We want to go to work!" and "Let us travel to work and return home!"

On Friday, similar protests broke out in a number of Polish towns along the German and Czech borders including Rosowek, Gubin, and Chalupki.

Many Poles living in frontier towns cross the border to work every day. On March 13, the Polish government introduced restrictions on cross-border traffic, including a 14-day quarantine requirement for all Poles crossing the border back to Poland.

However, the restrictions have left many local residents jobless, or stranded on the other side of the border as they were trying to keep their jobs and provide a livelihood for their families. Enditem
Apoorva Lakhia, the man behind massy entertainers such as Shootout At Lokhandwala and Mission Istanbul, says he is excited about his first web series "Crackdown" and hopes the show will be liked by the audiences.

The Voot Select series features a cast of Saqib Saleem, Shreya Pilagonkar, Iqbal Khan, Rajesh Tailang, Waluscha De Sousa and Ankur Bhatia.

Lakhia said unlike movies, web format is altogether a new world and he had a great time working on the series.

"It was a different experience for me, I had fun doing this series. It is a very interesting format, especially the scripting process, there are eight episodes and you need to have enough substance to keep the person hooked every time.

"I hope we have managed to sustain the level of interest of viewers, the way we have made it we are hoping people will binge watch it," Lakhia told PTI.

The filmmaker said that while in films there are song sequences to dazzle the audiences, there is no such thing in series and it is only the content that will keep them hooked.

"There is so much content (on the web) that if it is not up to the mark then a person can easily switch off. I hope we have managed to crack the code with our show.

"In movies you can have your pace, songs, but in this (web) you can't have songs and other stuff. The whole idea is to keep the person glued with great content, that's the formula one needs to crack. All this is a challenge."



Lakhia described "Crackdown" as a fast moving show with a lots of twists and turns.

"It is a RAW based, whodunit spy-thriller. It is interesting, fast moving and has lots of twists and turns. We had shot it in seven to eight locations."



The director said he had finished shooting for the web series a while back but there is a lot of work to be done.

"In this period, the maximum we can do right now is edit the show but that is also taking time, like what would normally take three days is now taking ten days. This is the only process that can happen now.

"It is still going to take time for the series to come out because actors will have to dub, the post production studios are shut, so special effects work and etc is still pending."



Lakhia hopes the web-series will come out on Voot Select in June or July.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Macquarie University Hospital has defended its decision to push ahead with hip and knee replacements during a national ban on elective surgery.

High-profile orthopaedic surgeon Munjed Al Muderis, an associate professor at the teaching hospital, supervised a surgical list in mid-April when a number of hip and knee replacement procedures were approved by the hospital's Surgical Decisions Committee.

High-profile surgeon Munjed al-Muderis said the operations he supervised were emergencies and "needed to be done". Credit:Tim Bauer

At the time, all category three surgeries were banned by the national cabinet made up of Prime Minister Scott Morrison, state and territory premiers and state and federal health ministers, to preserve critical personal protective equipment needed to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

As part of the move to halt non-urgent elective surgeries, the Morrison government pledged $1.3 billion to guarantee the ongoing viability of private hospitals that would lose income, as part of a 50-50 rescue package with the states and territories.
Russia's hybrid military forces on April 24 mounted 10 attacks on Ukrainian army positions in Donbas, during which two Ukrainian soldiers were wounded in action (WIA), the press center of the Joint Forces Operation (JFO) has reported.

"Over the past day, the enemy again violated the ceasefire obligations and fired at the positions of the Joint Forces 10 times. On April 24, the enemy used 120mm and 82mm mortars, which were forbidden to be placed on the contact line, as well as grenade launchers of various systems, heavy machine guns and small arms... As a result of enemy shelling, two Ukrainian soldiers were wounded in action," the JFO staff said in its update on Facebook Saturday morning.

Ukrainian positions near the towns of Pavlopil, Lebedynske, Starohnativka, Shyrokyne, Orikhove, Khutir Vilny, Novotoshkivske, and Novozvanivka came under attacks.

According to Ukrainian intelligence, on April 24, Ukrainian servicemen were injured one fighter of illegal armed groups.

"From the beginning of this day, Russia's hybrid military forces fired three times at our defenders, who perform tasks as part of the Skhid task force. At positions near the city of Avdiyivka, Russian mercenaries opened fire from 120mm and 82mm mortars, as well as grenade launchers of various systems and heavy machine guns. In response, our military personnel quickly used duty fire weapons. There are no losses among Ukrainian defenders since the beginning of the day," the JFO headquarters said.
Thiruvananthapuram, April 25 : A month after the lockdown, Kerala Finance Minister Thomas Isaac on Saturday said that the state has been reeling under huge financial crisis as all what the state government could raise in April was a mere Rs 250 crores.

"If we include what the Centre would give is in all we will be able to touch Rs 2,000 crores. For payment of salaries along we require Rs 2,500 crores," said Isaac to the media here.

"Then a way out is to draw from the Ways and Means and including overdraft it will come to Rs 2,500 crores. After that what happens would be, the treasury would be closed. Such is the situation that we are in," the Finance Minister said.

Isaac was peeved in the way the various staff organisations attached to the Congress led UDF strongly opposed the suggestion that he Aput forward by requesting all state government employees to contribute one month's salary to the CM Covid Relief Fund.

"We are at a loss to gauge the mentality of such people who opposed our request. We demanded it, so as to help our people who are suffering. Since they have opposed, we could not go forward with it. Hence we have decided to cut the salary of all and it would happen from next month, when six days salary every month will be cut for five months," said the economist turned Finance Minister, Isaac.

"We have decided that this is the only way out and we will collect that money and the state government can always contribute to the CM's fund. This money would be used for the needs of the sufferings. We will repay the money," he added.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
New Delhi, April 25 : Pointing out that the Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (MSMEs) contributes one third to the nation's economy, Congress interim chief Sonia Gandhi, here on Saturday, wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the grave economic crisis facing the nation and demanded a package to give liquidity and confidence to the sector.

In a letter to the Prime MInister, Sonia Gandhi said, "The last five weeks have brought our nation face to face with several challenges. As we continue our fight against Covid-19, I felt it essential to highlight an economic concern that needs immediate attention and intervention. If ignored, this issue has the potential of having a devastating and expansive ripple effect on our economy." She wrote the MSMEs contributed close to one third of the nation's gross domestic product (GDP), accounted for almost 50 per cent of exports and employed over 11 crore people.

"At this moment, without appropriate support, more than 6.3 crore MSMEs stand on the verge of economic ruin," she said.

Stating that every single day of the lockdown is costing Rs 30,000 crore to the sector, the Congress leader said nearly all MSMEs had lost sales orders, seen complete cessation of work, and had revenue negatively impacted.

"Most worrying of all, 11 crore employees are at the risk of losing jobs as MSMEs struggle to pay wages and salaries. The government needs to introduce a series of measures to meet this crisis head-on or risk a much large economic crisis down the road," she said.

She urged the government to announce Rs 1 lakh crore MSME wage protection package and set up a Rs 1 lakh crore credit guarantee fund.

She said the actions taken by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) must get reflected in banks' measures to ensure adequate, easy and timely credit supply to MSMEs. "These measures need to be supported by an expansion and extension of the RBI's moratorium on payment of loans for the MSMEs beyond the stipulated three months," she said.
Percept joined the fight against the Coronavirus pandemic by undertaking a series of Pro Bono Public Service Communication campaigns for Government agencies across the country. The objective of the Films was to create mass public awareness on the importance of Social Distancing and ensuring that citizens follow the Stay at Home rules in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic that has swept the country.

The very first Public Service film conceived and produced by Percept was for the Mumbai Police titled "Mumbai FirstTogether We Can" was launched on 30 March 2020 on the official Mumbai Police Social Media handles. The film aimed at instilling confidence in Mumbaikars that the Mumbai Police is committed to their safety with an appeal to citizens to help them win the war against CV-19 by strictly following the Stay at Home Government directive. The campaign emphasized that Mumbai can only win the Covid-19 battle collectively by following rules, while pointing out that the massive infrastructure of Mumbai would function seamlessly during the lockdown due to the sacrifice, dedication and tireless efforts of the Mumbai Police.

The next poignant Public Service Film created by Percept for the Pune Police titled Stay Home Stay Safe...Will Do More....Together We Can highlighted the exemplary dedication, commitment and selfless service of Pune Police personnel to the city, and appealed to Punekars to abide by the rules to ensure that the multiple precautionary measures installed and implemented during this pandemic are successful to ensure their joint victory against the virus.

Both the films generated positive feedback from the citizens of Mumbai and Pune. The emotive and collaborative tone supported with hard hitting visuals highlighting the sacrifices of the ground forces helped position both Mumbai Police and Pune Police personnel as their friends who would do everything in their power to safeguard citizens.

Percept also joined hands with the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), Pune Cantonment Board (PCB) and Kumar Properties to create an emotive Hindi Film titled Hum gharpe surakshit hai kyon ke kuch log apna farz din raat nibhate hai". The film focused on the selfless efforts of the PMC and PCB workers in their tireless execution of duty as they fight the Covid-19 pandemic and appeals to the mass public to help them win this war by collectively maintaining the Stay At Home directive. The film showcases the multiple measures undertaken by PMC & PCB to ensure thorough sanitization in every area of Pune to ensure the security of Punekars and acknowledges the heroic efforts of all the Doctors, Medical care staff, Sanitation workers on the streets, Water and Electricity supply departments, Fire Brigade Units and all the other visible and invisible Karmacharis (service providers) who are committed towards performing their invaluable role in this combined fight against COVID-19.

A Senior Official from Percept Limited said, It is vital for the Citizens of our Country to understand the gravity of the current situation and maintain faith and confidence that our Government is doing everything possible to safeguard us from the threat of COVID-19. Our Government agencies have been putting in extraordinary efforts towards ensuring that all of us remain safe. It is important that their heroic efforts be recognized and communicated to the citizens of our country. As a member of the media fraternity it is our duty to create public awareness and drive home the message on the importance of Social Distancing and maintaining the Stay At Home directive. Stay Home, Stay SafeOnly Together Can We win this battle.

Percept had also recently conceptualized and produced a touching Film for OPPO titled Stronger With Hope. The OPPO CSR initiative thanked the frontline warriors for their courage, strength, resilience and efforts to keep all citizens safe during this difficult time. Through poignant images and a strong narrative OPPO saluted the frontline workers for their bravery for spearheading the battle against #Covid19 with Hope.

Percept is currently working on multiple CSR Films and campaigns for the Government. A work-in-progress film for Nashik Police is focused on appeals for Social Distancing while another film for the Pune Collector highlights the diligent and assiduous efforts of the frontline Doctors and Healthcare Staff. These films are scheduled to roll out across Digital media platforms in the coming week.
Seoul, April 25 : South Korea has unveiled a set of guidelines to better implement an "everyday life quarantine" amid a slowdown in new coronavirus cases.

The latest guidelines unveiled on Friday are detailed virus prevention instructions introduced by the government earlier this week that communities and individuals should follow when the country initiates the "everyday life quarantine", a scheme allowing people to engage in a certain level of economic and social activities while maintaining distance, reports Yonhap News Agency.

Health authorities said 12 government Ministries have prepared prevention hygiene guidelines on 31 areas, covering almost every situation that people would face in their daily lives.

The guidelines call for people to stay home when they show symptoms of COVID-19, such as fever, or have gone overseas in the past two weeks.

Regardless of place, people are advised to keep a distance of 2 metres when they meet others and follow basic personal hygiene routines, such as washing hands.

At work, people were urged to minimize face-to-face occasions and focus on their disinfection routine.

For store owners or small business operators, the government asked them to limit mass-gathering events. Those who plan to attend religious activities are advised to wear face masks.

The government said these guidelines do not have legal power, as they are "recommendations", but for some core instructions, it is considering imposing penalties on violators.

Health officials said they decided to unveil the guidelines before the country makes its transition to the "everyday life quarantine" because such a system requires earning a social consensus, Yonhap News Agency reported.

"These guidelines were created with a purpose of balancing people's daily lives and quarantine activities and aim to begin with people's understanding and participation," Vice Health Minister Kim Ganglip said.

"The guidelines are also prepared with a mind that they can be upgraded with people's creative ideas." South Korea reported 10 additional coronavirus cases on Saturday, bringing the total number of patients to 10,718, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).

The death toll remained at 240 for the third consecutive day, with no report of new fatalities for the past two days.
Washington

President Donald Trump's comment that disinfectants perhaps could be injected or ingested to fight COVID-19 received heavy pushback from health and other officials Friday and even prompted the maker of Lysol to warn its product should never be used internally.

"As a global leader in health and hygiene products, we must be clear that under no circumstance should our disinfectant products be administered into the human body (through injection, ingestion or any other route)," said the statement from Reckitt Benckiser, parent company of the maker of Lysol and Dettol.

The White House claimed Trump's comment was misrepresented, but government agencies also leaped in to caution the nation.

The Surgeon General's office tweeted Friday: "A reminder to all Americans- PLEASE always talk to your health provider first before administering any treatment/ medication to yourself or a loved one. Your safety is paramount, and doctors and nurses are have years of training to recommend what's safe and effective."

Trump noted Thursday researchers were looking at the effects of disinfectants on the virus and wondered aloud if they could be injected into people, saying the virus "does a tremendous number on the lungs, so it would be interesting to check that."

The White House accused the media of taking Trump's comments out of context.

Trump has acknowledged that he's "not a doctor," but has previously suggested various ideas for fighting the novel coronavirus. Earlier, he repeatedly promoted the drug hydroxychloroquine.

On Friday, the Food and Drug Administration warned people should not take chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID-19 outside of a hospital or formal clinical trial, citing reports of "serious heart rhythm problems."

Trump's comments on disinfectants came after William Bryan, who leads the Science and Technology Directorate at the Department of Homeland Security, spoke at Thursday briefing about how researchers are testing the effect of disinfectants on virus-laden saliva and respiratory fluids in the laboratory. They kill the virus very quickly, he said.

"And is there a way we can do something like that, by injection inside or almost a cleaning," Trump said. "Because you see it gets in the lungs and it does a tremendous number on the lungs. So it would be interesting to check that. So, that, you're going to have to use medical doctors with. But it sounds  it sounds interesting to me."

Bryan said injections weren't part of the disinfectant research.
The Progress MS-14 cargo spacecraft blasts off from the launch pad at Russias space facility in Baikonur, Kazakhstan (Roscosmos Space Agency Press Service/AP)

An unmanned Russian cargo capsule has arrived at the International Space Station with more than two tons of supplies for the three-man crew.

The Progress MS-14 spacecraft docked at 0512 GMT on Saturday, about three-and-a-half hours after blasting off from Russias Baikonur launch complex in Kazakhstan.

Expand Close The Progress MS-14 cargo spacecraft blasts off from the launch pad at Russias space facility in Baikonur, Kazakhstan (Roscosmos Space Agency Press Service/AP) / Facebook

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Whatsapp The Progress MS-14 cargo spacecraft blasts off from the launch pad at Russias space facility in Baikonur, Kazakhstan (Roscosmos Space Agency Press Service/AP)

The ship was carrying fuel, water, food, medicine and other supplies.

There are three astronauts on board the space station  Russias Anatoly Ivanishin and Ivan Vagner, and Chris Cassidy of the United States.
Spoilers Ahead. You have been warned.

Sam Hargrave's latest Netflix movie, Extraction, starring Chris Hemsworth, Randeep Hooda, Pankaj Tripathi in the lead roles is perhaps the action-packed film you're looking forward to this weekend. For those of you who have watched it already, you're probably still a little taken aback by how fluently Hemsworth speaks Bengali.

The action-packed film is based in Dhaka, which interestingly was supposed to be the original title. Chris plays the role of a mercenary who will stop at nothing to rescue the son of an international crime lord who's been imprisoned.

At least 90 minutes into the film, after what seemed like relentless fight and chase sequences and action just for the sake of it, the movie ends ambiguously leaving the viewers wanting for more.

During one of the scenes, when Tyler Rake (Chris' character) is being questioned, he asks for proof and asks for it in fluent Bengali. He says, "Proman Dao (Give me proof.)" Of course, Chris does speak with an accent, not even Thor can master everything.

Watch the 14 second clip here:

The dialogue, which seemed like a jolt out of the blue, is enough to get Bengalis around the world riled up. This is what they have to say.

@chrishemsworth every Bengali flipped out when you said "proman dao". Loved Extraction  Fardin Raj (@FardinRaj3) April 24, 2020

@chrishemsworth I saw Extraction it was amazing I am from Bengal the sweetest part of India.....and when you spoke bengali 'Proman dao' I was like wow Thank you for such an amazing Performance I love you  WrognGuy (@RomitChoudhury) April 24, 2020

Chris hemsworths proman dao BROOOOO  dias halal for a month (@footlettucetae) April 24, 2020

Just finished watching #ExtractionNetflix @chrishemsworth Man "proman dao" cutest moment for all bengalis  Swagata (@Swagata_pogo) April 24, 2020

Proman dao!!! Loved it :)Perfect.  Even @RandeepHooda nice performance.Little dissapointd with Priyanshu. sudeshna pande (@sudeshna_pande) April 24, 2020
A U.S. Joint Forces bearer team carries the casket of Harry Reid into the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol. (AP)

The former Senate majority leader was remembered as a pragmatic dealmaker who became a political force across two presidencies.
A large chicken processing company was forced to kill 2 million of its chickens earlier this month because of covid-19-related workforce shortages, according to the Delmarva Poultry Industry.

The Georgetown, Delaware, trade organization said the company, which it did not name, took the step as a last resort because of reduced employee attendance because of virus cautions.

The chicken depopulation took place "on several farms in both Delaware and Maryland using approved, humane methods," the poultry group said in a statement.

The methods were the same as those "approved for depopulation in cases of infectious avian disease . . .[and] are accepted by the American Veterinary Medical Association," the statement said.

"With reduced staffing, many plants are not able to harvest chickens at the pace they planned . . . before any COVID-19 quarantine and social distancing measures took effect," the statement said.

"This leads to more birds waiting on chicken farms to be harvested than plants have capacity to harvest and process," the statement said. "If no action were taken, the birds would outgrow the capacity of the chicken house to hold them."

Reduced employee attendance has hit "every chicken company processing plant on Delmarva," the statement said.

The Baltimore Sun, which first reported this story, identified the company as Allen Harim Foods, a South Korean-owned firm in Seaford, Delaware. The company could not be reached for comment.

The trade organization has 1,800 members in Delaware and on the Maryland and Virginia Eastern Shore. In 2019, the Delmarva chicken industry produced 609 million chickens and $3.5 billion in value.

The loss of 2 million chickens represents about 0.3 percent of Delmarva chickens produced last year, said James Fisher, a spokesman for the trade organization. "So any effect on chicken availability is very, very small," he said in an email.

But the action comes as farmers across the country are forced to dump huge quantities of milk and vegetables because of virus concerns and lack of customers, while many Americans wait in line for food handouts.
They have been self-isolating together in their family abode.

And Christine Lampard was spotted stepping out to her car with husband Frank and daughter Patricia, 19-months, in London on Friday during the UK COVID-19 lockdown.

The Irish presenter, 41, cut a casual figure in black gym leggings, trainers and khaki green jacket.

Stepping out: Christine Lampard was spotted stepping out to her car with husband Frank and daughter Patricia, 19-months, in London on Friday during the UK COVID-19 lockdown

Christine styled her brunette locks into a sweptback ponytail and added a blue surgical face mask.

Meanwhile husband Frank, 41, opted for a pair of navy blue gym leggings with a pair of black shorts over the top and a grey jacket.

Christine looked every inch the doting mother as she cradled Patricia, 19-months, in her arms.

Daddy duties: Frank, 41, got stuck into parenting duties as he was seen holding his daughter's nappy bag and lunch box

While Frank also got stuck into parenting duties as he was seen holding his daughter's nappy bag and lunch box.

The couple are currently adhering to strict governmental policies regarding outdoor activity and social distancing in the ongoing fight against COVID-19.

While Frank remains at home instead of plotting Chelsea's path through his first Premier League campaign in charge of the club, Christine also has time on her hands following the suspension of ITV daytime show Loose Women.

Lockdown life: The couple are currently adhering to strict governmental policies regarding outdoor activity and social distancing in the ongoing fight against COVID-19

She did however return to the show for a recent one hour special from home, during which the panel discussed their love for the NHS.

The Irish presenter broke down in tears as she thanked her childhood friend Rachel Small for working on the frontline in an intensive care unit at Ulster Hospital in Dundonald, Northern Ireland.

She told her fellow panellists: 'I want to give every bit of love I possibly can to my sister's best friend. A girl I have known since she was a little girl. Her name is Rachel Small.

'This is a young girl, same age as my sister in her late 30s. She's a daughter, wife, mother of two young boys and there she is going to work every day.

'It gets me emotional thinking about it as they're putting their lives at risk all the time, for us.'

Struggling through tears, Christine went on: 'I just get so emotional every time I think about it.

'I find it so difficult to think they have to worry about their little children and yet all I have to do is stay inside my house and it just puts it all into perspective.'
1. Bollywood Road Movies - Karwaan (2018)

2. Bollywood Road Movies - Piku (2015)

3. Bollywood Road Movies - Finding Fanny (2014)

4. Bollywood Road Movies - Highway (2014)

5. Bollywood Road Movies - Queen (2013)

6. Bollywood Road Movies - Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011)

The road movie genre hasnt seen widespread usage in Bollywood. It is only in the last 10-15 years or so that filmmakers have been approaching this genre. And barring aside such obvious names as Farhan Akhtar, his sister Zoya Akhtar, and Imtiaz Ali, this form of narrative treatment hasnt really found many takers in the mainstream Bollywood cinema. Its an exciting genre nevertheless and lends itself to lots of possibilities. Currently, when our movement is restricted because of the COVID-19 crisis, were sure you would like to watch someto appease your wanderlust.Director: Akarsh KhuranaCast: Irrfan Khan, Dulquer Salmaan, Mithila PalkarWere used to seeing the North in Hindi films and the lush beauty of South India offers a pleasant contrast to that and reminds us how beautiful our country really is in totality. Avinash Aruns cinematography gives the film a picture-postcard quality. The film is a laugh riot which will keep you in splits from the first frame itself. Unlike life, death doesn't offer a second chance, however. We can only learn from the tragedy and move on, perhaps to take more chances, perhaps to let go of our inhibitions and lead a healthier, fuller life. Avinash (Dulquer Salmaan), loses his father in a road accident up North. Tanya (Mithila Palkar) loses her grandmother in the same accident but the coffins get swapped. Avinash travels from Bangalore to Kochi in the van of his friend Shaukat (Irrfan Khan) and picks up Tanya on the way from her hostel at her mother's insistence. They keep getting into one misadventure after another and somehow get out of them unscathed. Theends with them finding closure from each other and from their own selves as well.Director: Shoojit SircarCast: Amitabh Bachchan, Deepika Padukone, Irrfan Khan, Moushumi Chatterjee and Jisshu Senguptais the story of a dutiful daughter who takes her father to Kolkata from Delhi via road because he cant fly. Piku Bannerjee (Deepika Padukone) is an architect living in Delhi who loves her widowed father Bhaskhor Bannerjee () but at the same time is constantly irritated by him because of his eccentricities. He suffers from acute constipation and tends to relate everything in his life to his bowel movements. He wants to go to Kolkata to visit his ancestral home and Piku reluctantly agrees to take him there. She takes the help of Rana Chaudhary (Irrfan Khan), who runs a taxi business. As no driver is available, Rana decides to drive them to Kolkata himself. They experience several misadventures on the way. Rana is constantly irked by Bhaskhors eccentric ways but soon begins to see past the exterior. He begins to like Piku as well. The three develop a bond, which makes Rana decide to spend some time with the family in Kolkata. Her maternal aunt (Moushumi Chatterjee) too joins them there. Bhaskhor takes a bike ride around Kolkata noticing the various changes and finally finds closure within himself, dying peacefully in the night.Director: Homi AdajaniaCast: Naseeruddin Shah, Dimple Kapadia, Pankaj Kapur, Deepika PadukoneArjun KapoorHomi Adajania tells an absurd tale about human relationships with this road movie set in Goa. Ferdinand 'Ferdie' Pinto (Naseeruddin Shah), comes to know that the love letter he wrote to the love of his life, Stefanie 'Fanny' Fernandes (Anjali Patil), never really reached her. He wants to travel to her last given address in order to narrate his true feelings to her. Angelina 'Angie' Eucharistica (Deepika Padukone), a young widow living next door and a family friend, decides to help him. They are joined in this journey by her mother-in-law Rosalina 'Rosie' Eucharistica (Dimple Kapadia), Angie's childhood friend Savio Da Gama (Arjun Kapoor) and an artiste Don Pedro Cleto Collaco (Pankaj Kapur) who develops the hots for Rosie. Savio and Angie too rediscover lost love on the way and get a chance to reconnect. Ferdie, in the end, does find where Fanny lives but he has come too late. The much-married Fanny has passed away and the group reluctantly joins the funeral. It was a film full of eccentric characters ruminating on the true nature of love and life and had several dark moments as well. In the end, however, this motley crew of characters do accept the truth about themselves and become better people because of the journey they took together.Director: Imtiaz AliCast: Randeep Hooda, Alia BhattThe film is primarily the story of two characters from vastly different backgrounds who take a road trip across six states in a truck. Imtiaz Ali reportedly made the film on the go, letting the locations, the scenery dictate whats going to happen next.was shot on highways of Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and Kashmir. Veera Tripathi () is the daughter of a rich Delhi-based businessman. One day before her wedding, shes kidnapped from a petrol station. While her abductors initially panic after coming to know of her fathers high connection, they nevertheless agree to follow what they had planned. They move her from city to city in a truck to avoid getting detected by the police. Veera comes close to the leader of the gang, Mahabir Bhati (Randeep Hooda), and even develops romantic feelings for him. Hes initially sceptical by this change but in the end, comes to accept it as one of lifes insoluble puzzles. He instinctively understands she must have gone through emotional trauma in the past just like him. Unfortunately, hes killed in a police shootout but the road trip and the time she had spent with him gives her the courage to speak about being abused by her uncle as a child. She leaves the house and sets up a small business in the mountains, finally being at peace with herself.Director: Vikas BahlCast: Kangana Ranaut, Rajkummar Rao, Lisa HaydonThe film was shot extensively in Paris and Amsterdam and centres around a young womans solo trip. The film was made on a limited budget and hence the actors used to live in modest hotels. As the film was shot over multiple locations, the cast and the crew literally had a road trip experience rushing from one place to the other. When Rani Mehras (Kangana Ranaut) fiance Vijay (Rajkummar Rao) cancels their marriage one-day prior to the wedding date, a devastated Rani plans to go ahead with her honeymoon in Europe as everything has been pre-booked. Rani meets Vijayalakshmi (Lisa Haydon), a bohemian woman, who takes her around the real Paris hot spots and with whom she has adventures aplenty. She then takes a train to Amsterdam and is forced to live in a hostel, where she quickly makes friends with a trio of international visitors. She romps through Amsterdams famous Red Light district, not completely understanding what its famous for. She also ends up impressing a renowned chef with her culinary skills. She gains enough confidence from the trip to formally chuck Vijay out of her life for goodDirector: Zoya AkhtarCast: Hrithik Roshan, Abhay Deol, Farhan Akhtar, Katrina Kaif, Kalki KoechlinThe film was a two-hour long advertisement for Spain. The La Tomatina festival of Bunol was re-created for the song Ik junoon. The flamenco song Senorita was filmed in Alajar, a town in the province of Huelva. The climax of the film, which features the Running of the bulls, was filmed at Pamplona, which has traditionally been the centre for the sport.centred around a road trip taken by three friends, Arjun (Hrithik), Kabir (Abhay) and Imran (Farhan). While Kabir works for his familys construction business, Arjun is an investment baker and Imran is a copywriter. They plan a three-week road trip across Spain before Kabirs marriage and make a pact that each will pursue a thing that they were afraid of doing during the length of the trip. Kabir chooses underwater diving and Arjun who doesnt know how to swim gets to spend time with diving instructor Laila (Katrina Kaif). Arjuns choice is skydiving, where Imran initially struggles because of his fear or heights. The last adventure, chosen by Imran, is that of taking part in the Running With The Bulls race. The road trip helps the three friends to find fresh perspectives about their own life and about each other.
Doctors and family members of patients from the private psychiatric clinic at the centre of a COVID-19 outbreak in Melbourne are outraged by what they call "appalling" communication and a lack of transparency, raising concerns over Victoria's management of future outbreaks.

After the outbreak at the Albert Road Clinic near Melbourne's CBD was announced on Friday, another inpatient was diagnosed with COVID-19 on Saturday, taking cases linked to the centre to 15. Three are in hospital, including one in intensive care.

Deputy Chief Health Officer Annaliese van Diemen defended Victoria's management of the outbreak on Saturday. Credit:AAP

A psychiatrist from Albert Road Clinic tested positive to COVID-19 on March 24, however many healthcare workers at the 80-bed facility were not informed until April 7. Others said they only found out on Friday via media reports.

One woman, who spoke to The Sunday Age on the condition of anonymity, said her 74-year-old mother checked into the clinic on Tuesday then left on Friday once she heard about the COVID-19 cases.
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Wyoming rose by 13 on Saturday to 362.

Another five new probable cases were also reported.

Ten of the newly confirmed cases come from Fremont County. Three come from Laramie County.

It's the first time since April 10-11 that double-digit Wyoming cases have been confirmed in consecutive days. Seventeen cases were confirmed here Friday  13 of which were in Fremont County.

Six new confirmed coronavirus recoveries were also announced, alongside seven probable recoveries.

Probable cases are defined by officials as close contacts of lab-confirmed cases with symptoms consistent with COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.

A patient is considered fully recovered "when there is resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications and there is improvement in respiratory symptoms (e.g. cough, shortness of breath) for 72 hours AND at least 7 days have passed since symptoms first appeared," according to the Wyoming Department of Health.

There are now 491 cases  362 confirmed and 129 probable  and 334 recoveries  241 confirmed and 93 probable  recorded in the state, as well as seven deaths.

More than two-thirds of confirmed patients have recovered, a number that grows to 68 percent when factoring in probable figures.

Officials caution that the reported numbers are low, even with the addition of probable cases. Natrona County health officer Dr. Mark Dowell said the decreased rate of new cases is "falsely low."

On April 2, the Wyoming Department of Health began restricting testing to six priority categories; potential patients who don't fall in one of those categories now must be tested by private laboratories. However, the department announced Thursday that it would be able to resume testing patients outside of those six categories, although priority patients' samples will remain at the front of the line.

Patients have tested positive for coronavirus in 21 of Wyoming's 23 counties. Only Platte and Weston counties are without confirmed cases. Wyoming has the lowest recorded number of coronavirus deaths of any state. Alaska has the second fewest deaths related to the virus, with nine, according to the New York Times.

More than 14 percent of Wyoming's cases required a hospital stay. In nearly 10 percent of the cases, health officials don't know if the patient was hospitalized.

In 44.8 percent of the cases, the patient came in contact with a known case. In another 16.6 percent of the cases, the patient had traveled either domestically or internationally. Community spread has been attributed to 14.1 percent of the cases. In 14.1 percent of Wyoming's cases, health officials don't how the person was exposed to the virus.

The state's per capita case ranking has fallen in recent weeks; Wyoming has more cases per 100,000 people than five states, a number that was once as high as 20, according to the Times.

Cases in Wyoming by county (probable in parentheses)

Albany: 6

Big Horn: 1 (1)

Campbell: 14 (9)

Carbon: 4

Converse: 10 (6)

Crook: 5

Fremont: 76 (7)

Goshen: 3 (1)

Hot Springs: 1 (2)

Johnson: 11 (4)

Laramie: 86 (38)

Lincoln: 6 (3)

Natrona: 39 (10)

Niobrara: 1 (1)

Park: 1

Platte: 0

Sheridan: 12 (4)

Sublette: 1 (2)

Sweetwater: 10 (6)

Teton: 64 (31)

Uinta: 6 (1)

Washakie: 5 (3)

Weston: 0

Deaths in Wyoming by county

Fremont: 4

Johnson: 1

Teton: 1

Rate of spread

This graph shows the rate at which confirmed and probable cases in Wyoming have been announced, as well as the number of patients who have fully recovered.

Keep in mind, however, that state and medical officials say the true number of COVID-19 cases is surely higher than the official numbers due to testing limitations.

Testing statistics

The Wyoming Department of Health has published the following data:

As of Saturday, there have been 8,360 tests performed for COVID-19 in Wyoming.

Wyoming Public Health Labratory: 4,064

Commercial labs: 4,295

CDC: 1

National cases

There have been more than 926,000 cases nationally, with about 47,000 deaths, according to the New York Times' running count.

Know the symptoms

COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, is a respiratory illness. Its symptoms include cough, fever and shortness of breath. Symptoms appear within two weeks. If you have contact with a person who has COVID-19, you should self-isolate for 14 days.

Follow the Wyoming Health Department's tips

Stay home when sick and avoid contact with other people unless you need medical attention.

Follow advice from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on what to do if you think you may be sick.

Follow current public health orders.

Follow commonsense steps such as washing your hands often and well, covering your coughs and sneezes, and cleaning and disinfecting.

Nursing homes, assisted living facilities and other healthcare facilities should closely follow guidelines for infection control and prevention.

Older people and those with health conditions that mean they have a higher chance of getting seriously ill should avoid close-contact situations.
Tattoo artist Dara Firman was one of many people who found themselves temporarily unemployed when COVID-19 restrictions were announced.

Within a week he had resolved to use his creative talent to honour the hard working frontline staff at our hospitals, particularly his mother, Ingrid Frost, who works as a nurse in University Hospital Waterford.

'Once the restrictions were announced, I was one of the first to have to stop working because of the whole close contact thing. It was a bit of a struggle,' he said.

With his tattoo studio in Wellingtonbridge closed, he had time on his hands. Dara (30), from Clongeen, said he has seen first hand the sacrifices that nurses make.

'My mother works as a nurse in Waterford and a young girl I know, Donna O'Grady, also works in the healthcare service. I was at home and on Facebook and there was a lot of negativity,' Dara said.

Having lost his sister Eppie to suicide in July 2018, Dara said he wanted to do something positive for people during this time of high anxiety. Using artist's graphite pencils he has created several drawings on A4 size paper featuring nurses, including one wearing an army helmet, another of a nurse wearing a facemask and gloves and one with a nurse as an angel.

'Healthcare workers are away from their families. They have a lot of stress and when they come home from work often they can't even see their family up close. My mother is able to come home but she is more or less isolated. My two brothers live away in Canada and Dublin.'

Dara said everyone who knows him will see little visual cues in his paintings that can be traced back to Eppie, who encouraged him to pursue his career as a tattoo artist. 'I started making these as a way to reach out to my mother. It was very emotional for her when she saw them and when they were displayed on wards in the hospital.'

He said some of the drawings are inspired by the Covid-19 battle being waged by doctors and nurses at hospitals across Ireland and the world.

'In a time when everything is bad and negative, I am trying to find the positives in things. It seems to me that while the whole world is in lockdown the world is slowly improving environmentally. One of my drawings is of a woman looking over the world with all plants growing up. Another features a woman listening to music, which, in itself, is positive.'

He has been surprised by the level of interest in the drawings which have been liked and shared a lot on Facebook. 'They are being shared around, including to artists in South Africa. It's a very lonely time but this keeps my mind at peace to get through this and it's bring people a lot of happiness. I did this to boost nurses working on the frontlines.'

Dara is looking forward to returning to work in the coming months and can be reached on 085 8478134.
After nearly 16 months in office, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo knows that criticism comes with the job  and she has shown she can handle it.

But the backlash that Hidalgo has received since issuing an order that will require county residents to start wearing face coverings or masks in public beginning Monday is objectionable.

Her ability to lead in the public health crisis caused by COVID-19 is being baselessly questioned by partisans, some of whom seem to have issues with the authority of the 29-year-old Democrat as chief executive of Harris County.

Hidalgo on Wednesday announced a mandatory mask order for Harris County, under which everyone over the age of 10 will be required to wear a simple cloth face covering while out in public places, unless theyre, for example, exercising. The order takes effect Monday and will last 30 days. Violations could be punishable by fines of up to $1,000  although Hidalgo and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner have said law enforcement officers will focus on distributing masks, not issuing citations.

ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM:

Police, deputies to give masks to those who violate Hidalgo order

The move comes as the number of COVID-19 cases in the Houston area continues to rise, although hospitalization rates suggest the curve is flattening, thanks in part to social distancing measures. Gov. Greg Abbott plans to reopen the state economy over the coming weeks and will issue an executive order to that effect Monday.

Public health experts have warned that the Houston area isnt ready for that yet. Hidalgo called for continued vigilance.

If we get cocky, we get sloppy, we get right back to where we started, and all of the sacrifices people have been making have been in vain, Hidalgo said. Lets not get complacent.

Some Republicans were quick to take offense.

These kind of confused government policies fuel public anger  and rightfully so, tweeted Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, the former radio and TV broadcaster. The Republican described the order as ultimate government overreach.

I support common-sense encouragement of face coverings. But NOT a fine up to $1000 for not wearing one, tweeted freshman Houston-area Rep. Dan Crenshaw, who is up for re-election this November. There is no need to threaten citizens during a crisis.

Harris County GOP Chairman Paul Simpson blasted Hidalgos decision as unnecessary and excessive and reflective of her inexperience. Hidalgo was a first-time candidate for public office when she narrowly defeated Republican incumbent Ed Emmett in 2018.

Judge Hidalgo should focus on solutions that provide relief, help people get back on their feet and support Gov. Abbott's effective decision-making and leadership, rather than issue her own misguided, irresponsible orders, Simpson scolded.

And GOP activist Steve Hotze hopes to take Hidalgo to court: On Thursday, he filed a lawsuit alleging that the facial covering mandate violates the Texas Constitution and conflicts with Abbotts directives on the subject. He also led a small rally against the mask order outside Harris County offices.

Presumably, all of these men would rather focus on the potential missteps of a local Democratic elected official than try to explain those of, say, President Donald Trump. The president on Thursday speculated, bizarrely, that Americans who confront the Invisible Enemy might be able to treat their symptoms by drinking or injecting cleaning products. (Just to be clear, doctors vehemently reject this hypothesis, as do the makers of Lysol. Trump on Friday maintained that he was being sarcastic.)

Community organizer Tony Diaz is among the Houstonians whove noticed that Texas Republicans have turned their sights on Hidalgo specifically.

It seems they are miffed because she is moving with conviction, implementing a clear plan that will obviously keep people healthy, he said, adding: This is unlike President Trumps actions combating the virus.

And it was hard not to notice a certain troubling subtext to some criticism of Hidalgo on social media.

I do think some of the vitriol has hints of sexism and potentially racism, too, said political consultant Keir Murray. When you see a caricature comparing her to Dora the Explorer  that is what it is on its face, right?

He added that Hidalgos youth helps explain why shes a convenient foil for Republicans who might otherwise be tasked with defending Trump: I dont think we see the kinds of criticism of young men in those roles, as we do of young women. There is a double standard there.

Elsa Alcala, an attorney and longtime Harris County judge, argued that Republicans who are criticizing Hidalgo, rather than Trump, are basing their decision on things other than intelligence, talent and capability.

Hidalgo, the first Latina and woman to serve as Harris County judge, has been thrust into the role of leading the nations third-most populous county through a historic public health crisis.

She has demonstrated poise and sound judgment, so far. She was quick to close restaurants and bars after it became apparent that the deadly virus was spreading in the community and followed that up with a stay-home order that some of her suburban counterparts initially balked at  then joined. The goal was to avoid a situation like that in New York City, where more than 10,000 people have died.

Republicans should stick to the facts and pay more attention to the risk of misleading the general public about the progress weve made against the novel coronavirus. The mandatory mask order is unprecedented. But the pandemic weve been navigating for the past few months has imposed a new normal on all of us.

And Hidalgo is not the first local leader to require masks in public. Laredo became the first city in the country to adopt a mandatory mask policy, at the beginning of April. Since then, similar guidelines have been issued in Bexar, Dallas and Bastrop countes  the last of which is led by a Republican county judge, Paul Pape.

Hidalgos order isnt ultimate government overreach, as Patrick put it. Its a reasonable precaution to take, according to public health experts, and the type of order that other local leaders have lawfully issued while dealing with a disaster like this one.

Lets get Harris County through the pandemic with as little loss of life as possible before ratcheting up the political rhetoric.

erica.grieder@chron.com
Chinese military medical team arrives in Pakistan to help fight COVID-19

ISLAMABAD, April 24 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese military medical expert team on Friday arrived here to join Pakistan's efforts to battle the current COVID-19 pandemic in the South Asian country.

The 10-member medical expert team was received at the Islamabad International Airport by Pakistan's Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Nadeem Raza, as well as Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Yao Jing.

The military medical experts also brought COVID-19 prevention materials to Pakistan.

According to the Ministry of National Defense of China, the People's Liberation Army of China dispatched three medical expert teams respectively to Pakistan, Myanmar and Laos on Friday.
Earlier this year, Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle rocked the royal family to its core by dropping the bombshell announcement othat they were stepping down as senior royals. According to reports, the rest of the royal family were "blindsided" by the Sussexes decision, especially Queen Elizabeth II.

But after summoning her grandson for a crisis meeting and discussing the arrangement with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's exit, the 94-year-old monarch still expressed her support for their decision to lead a private and independent life.

In a statement, Queen Elizabeth II expressed that she and the royal family were saddened with Meghan and Harry's decision to quit as senior royals, but she said that the couple and their 11-month-old son Archie would remain valuable members of the family.

Now roughly a month after Meghan and Harry's official exit, a royal expert believes that the Queen sees Harry as a "prodigal son" who will eventually come back running home to her.

Speaking to Sky News, Majesty magazine editor-in-chief Ingrid Seward said that she thinks Queen Elizabeth will welcome Harry with open arms in case he decided to come back home.

Seward claimed that the Queen's religious beliefs will play a huge role in her relationship with her grandson.

"The one thing that has really carried the Queen through her long life is her Christianity and her deep religious beliefs, and one of the Christian teachings is forgiveness," Seward said.

"I think she's looking at Harry like the prodigal son, that he will come home, and she will welcome him home with open arms."

While Queen Elizabeth will act like a loving and forgiving mother to Harry, the royal expert also believes that Her Majesty will keep her feelings to herself. Seward said she thinks that the Queen is not voicing out her opinion about Meghan and Harry's exit to avoid shaming them -- even to the people closest to her

"I think she's very loathed to criticize anything he's doing," Seward said.

"Privately, she might feel very sad about it, but she will never ever comment on it, even probably to her family. She would keep her feelings very much to herself."

Currently, the Sussexes had set up their permanent base at Meghan's native city in Los Angeles, California. While the family is managing to stay lowkey, Meghan and Harry could not help but continue their philanthropic acts and did some volunteer works for those affected by the COVID-19 lockdown.

Just like what they promised during their last and final Instagram post: "While you may not see us here, the work continues."

Meghan and Harry partnered with the non-profit charity called "Project Angel Food" and helped out distributing meals for residents in West Hollywood, especially those people living with critical illness.

Project Angel Food director Richard Ayoub said that Meghan and Harry approached them to help relieve the workloads from the drivers.

Meghan also extended help to the people in the United Kingdom affected by the health crisis. She requested members of Hubb Community Kitchen to set up a food service to help families affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
Nigerian governors have advised President Muhammadu Buhari to relax the lockdown that has been in place in parts of the country in the last month in an effort to curb the spread of coronavirus.

They advised the president to impose interstate restriction but allow intra state movement. They also recommended continued restriction on large gatherings and compulsory use of face masks in public places.

The call is coming as the nation expects further action from Mr Buhari as a four-week lockdown imposed on Abuja, Lagos and Ogun States by the president draws to a close on Monday.

Several governors also declared lockdowns in their respective states.

Their recommendations are contained in an April 24 memo to the Secretary to Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha.

The letter, seen by PREMIUM TIMES, was signed by the Ekiti State governor and chairman of the governors forum, Kayode Fayemi.

Mr Fayemi said the memo followed a teleconference meeting with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on April 22, where governors were asked to suggest what they want reflected in the expected presidential pronouncement, to have a coordinated response across the country.

Recall at that meeting, it was agreed that the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) articulates the issues that it would want to be included in the next Presidential Pronouncement on Covid-19 so as to have a Uniform and Coordinated Policy on Covid-19 at both the national and sub-national levels, he wrote.

The governors called for nationwide inter-state lockdown that excludes movement of essential supplies  foods, beverages, medical and pharmaceuticals, petroleum supplies and agricultural products.

They also recommended internal free movement but with restrictions on large gatherings and assemblies overnight curfews, lockdown of flights, and compulsory use of face masks/coverings in the public.

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Sources familiar with the matter told PREMIUM TIMES that the forum had during the virtual meeting with Mr Osinbajo called for the decentralisation of the activities of the COVID-19 response from federal to local governments to curtail further spread.

After a month under lockdown, many Nigerians have advised against extending total restriction to minimize suffering.

It is not clear if Mr Buhari would accept the governors recommendations if passed to him.

Willy Bassey, who speaks for the SGF, said he was not aware of the letter.

As at 11:30 p.m on friday, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control announced that 28 states in Nigeria have confirmed cases of coronavirus totalling 1095 index cases with 208 discharged persons and 32 deaths.
US senators unveil bill to impose sanctions against Russia

EU wants to help Lebanon avoid economic collapse

CSTO to approve Kazakhstan peacekeepers withdrawal order

German president calls for thorough discussion on mandatory vaccination

Andranik Hovhannisyan elected UN Human Rights Council vice-president

Aliyev: Peace treaty with Armenia not a guarantee for avoiding war

Russian Foreign Ministry: Further NATO enlargement involves risks

Aliyev not to let OSCE deal with the Karabakh conflict

Ex-Mayor of Yerevan invited to police

Boris Johnson apologizes for attending party during lockdown

Global COVID-19 cases rise by 55% percent, deaths stable

Thailand introduces $9 tourist fee

Erdogan vows to tame Turkish inflation as scepticism grows

Turkey's Turkic world ambitions face reality check in Kazakhstan

Teacher in Baku beats student

NEWS.am daily digest: 12.01.22

Turkish FM expresses concerns to Chinese counterpart

OSCE Chairman-in-Office speaks on situation along Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Iran cancels travel ban on common borders

CSTO defense ministers council special session to be held Thursday

Dollar loses value in Armenia

Which NGOs, extra-parliamentary forces to be included in Armenia Constitutional Reform Council?

4,391 foreign nationals visit Artsakh in 2021

China calls on US to immediately close Guantanamo prison

State Department says more progress must be made to salvage nuclear deal

Measure ensuring implementation of law on addendum to law on Armenia state border is approved

Davit Minasyan is sworn in as new mayor of Armenias Parakar enlarged community

World Bank: Armenia economic growth expected to be 4.8% in 2022 and 5.4% in 2023

Azerbaijani Defense Minister receives new commander of Russian peacekeepers in Karabakh

Biden names Kamala Harris as US president during Atlanta speech

Ombudsman: Azerbaijan is launching provocations in Armenia territories where it earlier invaded

Russia-NATO Council meeting kicks off in Brussels

Serdar Kilic is appointed Turkey special representative for Armenia

Armenia ambassador to Georgia informs Switzerland envoy about Azerbaijan's gross ceasefire violation

Economy minister: Armenia government was guided by political considerations when lifting sanctions on Turkey goods

Turkey defense minister expresses support for Azerbaijan in another military aggression against Armenia

Pashinyan, Putin discuss Karabakh, Kazakhstan

Toivo Klaar: Deeply worried by reports of renewed incidents and casualties on Armenia-Azerbaijan

Germany: A record 80,430 COVID-19 cases detected per day

3 more persons die of coronavirus in Artsakh

Criminal case launched into 3 Armenia soldiers killing by Azerbaijan shootings

Copper rises in price

One of main tasks of Armenia peacekeepers in Kazakhstans Almaty is to prevent water supply system poisoning

About 80 Americans cannot fly from Afghanistan

Turkey parliament ex-deputy speaker: Armenia must fulfill 4 preconditions

Border situation in Armenias Gegharkunik Province was calm at night

French FM says talks on Iranian nuclear deal are progressing slowly

289 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Gold slightly rises in price

North Korea says it successfully tested another hypersonic missile

OSCE calls on Azerbaijan, Armenia to refrain from the use of force

Oil is trading without a single dynamic

US State Department welcomes announcement on CSTO forces withdrawal from Kazakhstan

Newspaper: Ex-ministers are summoned to Hayastan All Armenian Fund parliamentary inquiry committee

MOD: Armenia soldiers dead body found at midnight after Azerbaijan provocation

Newspaper: Casualties of Armenia PM Pashinyan's 'era of peace'

US concerned about EastMed natural gas pipeline project

Giant fish sold at auction for over 16 million yen

German Marshall Fund: It Is not too early to think about political change in Turkey

Armenian Foreign Ministry: We call on Azerbaijani authorities to refrain from provocations

Armenia's Geghamasar community head: The situation is stable now

Queen Elizabeth II's favorite fast food revealed

Human Rights Defender: Azerbaijani troops open fire on Armenian sovereign territory

World Economic Forum: Cybersecurity and space pose new risks to the global economy

Defense Ministry confirms Armenian side has 2 victims

Satanovsky on sending Armenian servicemen to Kazakhstan

Unofficial data: 2 servicemen killed as a result of Azerbaijan provocation

CSTO and Kazakh Defense Ministry developing plan

WHO thinks it's too early to consider COVID-19 pandemic

European Commission to require Poland to pay fine of nearly EUR 70 million

White House announces $308 million humanitarian aid for Afghanistan

Erdogan angry at minister after efforts to strengthen lira failed

Armenian FM has phone call with US Assistant Secretary of State

India imposes one-week quarantine even for vaccinated tourists

Armenian ex-president expresses condolences on poet Razmik Davoyan's death

Traction Programme to showcase 8 startups during the Digital Demo Day

Azerbaijan uses artillery and UAVs, 3 Armenian soldiers wounded

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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

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Turkish authorities sanction arrest of 33 suspected FETO ties

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Mexico's President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador had been given a lot of criticisms in the early parts of the pandemic due to his series of embraces and close contact with supporters instead of promoting social distancing, says a recent article.

On April 21, as the COVID-19 spreads further in the country, AMLO declares that the country is entering 'Phase Three,' the highest level of dealing with COVID-19. On 'Phase One,' the 129 million citizens of the country were asked to prepare. On 'Phase Two,' everyone was ordered to follow safety measures such as the ban of nonessential activities.

An advantage that Mexico can claim against the COVID-19 pandemic is that it has a young population since severe cases of COVID-19 are seen among the elderly. However, a drawback is the high obesity and diabetes rate in the country.

Due to the weak healthcare system of the country, the country is now struggling to win the battle against COVID-19.

How did Mexico get into a 'Phase Three?' Here are some of the past events that have significantly impacted the COVID-19 status of the country:

1st COVID-19 Case

Before the first COVID-19 cases in Mexico, the country had implemented a preemptive measure against the illness. The first COVID-19 case in the country was reported on February 27.

Not Taking the Crisis Seriously

Since the beginning, AMLO has restrained the seriousness of the COVID-19 pandemic. He even dismissed social distancing guidelines on March 4 by hugging and being in close contact with his supporters.

Travel Restrictions and Reporting First COVID-19 Death

As the authorities announced that there was no scientific evidence that restricting travel can help protect the people. This resulted in many tourists entering the country.

On March 18, the country had reported its first COVID-19 death.

On March 23, many tourist destinations in the country were still filled with guests.

Declaring Phase Two

The Mexican government declared Phase Two on March 24. This meant that the SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, was spreading in unchecked communities. This led to the closure of nonessential businesses, ban of mass gatherings, and implementation of social distancing guidelines.

Lack of Tests

The lack of tests being administered in the country became apparent by the end of March. The Mexican government failed to test all potential COVID-19 cases.

Health Emergency

Mexico declared a health emergency on March 31. During this time, there were 1,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country.

Early Parts of April

The weak healthcare system of Mexico allowed had become apparent in the early parts of April. There were multiple reports of the insufficiency of medical equipment and supplies.

Check these out:

Phase Three

On April 21, Mexico announced that it would be entering 'Phase 3.' AMLO ensures everyone that they will get through the COVID-19 crisis together and win over the outbreak.

Escalating COVID-19 Cases

On April 22, Mexico reported 10,000 COVID-19 cases. It took only nine days to double its 5000 COVID-19 cases.

Record-Breaking Day

On April 23, Mexico reported 1,000 new COVID-19 cases in one day. This is the highest new COVID-19 cases in one day in Mexico.
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'

57-year-old constable is first Mumbai cop to die of COVID-19

India

oi-Deepika S

Mumbai, Apr 25: A police constable, aged 57, who had been diagnosed with COVID-19 passed away at a private hospital in Mumbai on Saturday, officials said. This is the first known case of a police personnel dying due to coronavirus infectionn in Maharashtra.

The constable was attached to a police station in western suburbs. He lived in Worli Naka area in south Mumbai.

A total of 96 police personnel, including 15 officers, have contracted coronavirus infection in Maharashtra so far, officials had said earlier in the day.

Mumbai has emerged as the epicentre of the Covid-19 outbreak in Maharashtra, the state with the most number of confirmed cases of infection in India.

Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope on Friday said that the state has 6,817 confirmed cases of Covid-19. This figure includes 857 recoveries and 301 casualties.

Similarly, police officers on the frontline of India's efforts to contain the pandemic have tested positive for the infection in various parts of the country. An assistant sub-inspector posted at the

Delhi Police Crime Branch office at Kotwali was diagnosed with Covid-19 on Thursday. A total of 21 Delhi Police personnel have tested positive for Covid-19 to date.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Saturday, April 25, 2020, 23:03 [IST]
The Publishing Certificate Program at the City College of New York was founded in 1998 with the help of novelist Walter Mosley, with the goal of training those seeking careers in book publishing. The program aims to help minority students, in particular, find work in the industry, which is struggling to diversify. While it welcomes students of all backgrounds, PCP is able to attract students of color due to the nature of the CCNY student body.

PCP students take courses in the editorial process, marketing, and design (in print and digital publishing) taught by veteran publishing professionals. And to graduate and receive certification, each student must complete an internship at a publishing house or book-related business.

In the 20182019 academic year, 24 students completed the PCP course work and had paid or unpaid/credit internships at such houses as Hachette, Norton, Open Road, Penguin Random House, and Scholastic, as well as at the Ayesha Pande, Curtis Brown, and MacIntosh & Otis literary agencies. The 20192020 academic program expects to have 30 students matriculatinga record number. In light of the coronavirus outbreak, all current classes are being conducted virtually, and the PCP faculty has revised its syllabi for online teaching.

PCP assistant director Retha Powers said that 175 graduates have gone on to work in publishing for at least a year since the program was founded. She added that while the program receives varying levels of financial support from the major publishers, paid internships are the most critical support it can get. Theyre a game changer. Our students dont usually have a personal entryway into the industry. We, the PCP, are a stand-in for that industry person.

Powers said all of the Big Five publishers offer paid internships, but not enough to go around. And while unpaid interns receive college credits, she noted that its often not possible for PCP students to take that route, meaning that some students are forced to skip a graduation cycle until they get paid positions. Others take unpaid positions and, she said, wait tables or do other work at night. Thats how passionate our students are.

PCP director David Unger also emphasized the need for paid internships. Competition is intense, he said. And though we believe corporate heads and human resources people are committed to diversity, it doesnt always carry over when senior editors, publicists, and production managers make their summer hires.

PCP also receives support from the Association of Authors Representatives, which provides two annual grants of $2,500 to students, and the nonprofit Womens Media Group, which has provided grants that supported 16 female PCP grads since 2009. In addition, Unger said, the program receives funding for the Bernard Mazel Opportunity Scholarships it awards to students in financial need.

PCPs faculty, Powers said, includes former PRH editor Carol Taylor, literary agent and editor Tanya McKinnon, and former One World senior editor Melody Guy, among others. Our students understand the industry and how it works, and they know where they want to work, more so than most college students, she added.

Indeed Jennifer Baker, managing editor at Random House Childrens Books and the 2019 PW Star Watch Superstar, is a PCP graduate. Daniel Vazquez, another PCP graduate, is now an assistant editor at Farrar, Straus and Giroux after interning at Sterling Publishing and Spiegel & Grau. The program prepared me with a thorough understanding of the various departments and how they work with each other, giving me the confidence to speak to my desire to become an editor, Vazquez said.

Kristoff Ramsamujh, who graduated from PCP in 2019, interned at PW and was later hired as an administrative assistant at the magazine. He said he is troubled by the lack of diversity in the industry and was inspired by studying the issue while in the program. He believes that unless publishers recruit genuinely diverse staffs, its unlikely that they will attract diverse authors or serve diverse readerships. I looked at myself, a queer South Asian kid, and thought about the stories I write, Ramsamujh said. Then I looked at my class of mostly black and brown kids and thought about the stories they write, and I realized I didnt trust the publishing world enough to believe they would give our stories the care and recognition they deserved.

Looking ahead, Powers said the program plans to work with the CCNY MFA program to launch an Introduction to Publishing course for graduate students. But the program must first deal with the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on its graduates and their job prospects.

Unger said PRH is suspending its 2020 summer internship program, noting that it will deeply hurt PCPs students. He expects that several students slated to intern at Hachette will be able to do so remotely. But he also hopes to be able to place students at Princeton University Press, Simon & Schuster, and several literary agencies, including WME and Ayesha Pande.

The coronavirus pandemic is obviously a big blow to anyone involved in the book publishing supply chain, Unger said. But the greatest danger is to those individuals most recently hired, who will be the first to lose their jobs. This could have a negative impact on the issue of diversity, which is of crucial concern to the PCP.
Sheep have been seen grazing on the streets of a housing estate during the coronavirus lockdown.

The adventurous sheep ventured out to take over the grass veges of a housing estate in Whitworth, near Rochdale in Greater Manchester.

One sheep was seen walking in the middle of a road, now almost empty because people are staying home.

Two sheep are pictured above in a residential housing estate in Whitworth, near Rochdale, Greater Manchester

In one heartwarming picture, the two sheep are seen walking down a path together side-by-side.

But they weren't the only sheep to take advantage of Britain's empty roads.

A flock of sheep this week gathered outside a McDonald's drive-thru in Ebbw Vale, south Wales.

But these farm animals didn't have much luck as the fast food chain has temporarily closed all of its stores.

In one heartwarming picture, two sheep are seen walking down a path together side-by-side

It comes as Britain has spent more than a month in lockdown due to the pandemic.

The Government has urged Britons to stay home to slow the transmission of the deadly virus.

The number of confirmed coronavirus deaths in the UK has now topped the 20,000 mark.

One sheep was even walking the middle of a road, now almost empty because people are staying home
The last light of the day is dipping over the hill as shepherdess Emma Gray mounts her quad bike to head home.

With her young son, Len, strapped to her back, she makes one last round of her fields before calling it a night.

Its been a long day for the 34-year-old, who has spent the past three weeks welcoming 700 lambs into the world.

Gray, who grew up on her parents farm in Scotland, went on to become the first female winner of the prestigious Northumberland Sheepdog Trials League and wrote a book about her isolated life. Then, in 2018, despite living 20 miles from the nearest town, she finally found love with Scottish firefighter Ewan Irvine, 41

For while the rest of the UK has been in coronavirus lockdown, life  and death  have continued on Grays remote 150-acre farm, near Morpeth, Northumberland.

She is a woman used to challenges. At 23, a split from her fiance prompted her to take up sole tenancy of the National Trust farm she calls home, making her Britains youngest  and loneliest  shepherdess.

Gray, who grew up on her parents farm in Scotland, went on to become the first female winner of the prestigious Northumberland Sheepdog Trials League and wrote a book about her isolated life.

Then, in 2018, despite living 20 miles from the nearest town, she finally found love with Scottish firefighter Ewan Irvine, 41.

He now works at the farm alongside her, and last spring they welcomed a son, Len.

Here, her diary entries reveal the highs and lows of the lambing season.

March 23: Now we wait

As Britain prepares to go into lockdown, lambing season is about to begin, and it feels like the calm before the storm.

The sheep ultrasound-scan man (yes, that is a profession) has already scanned all the sheep to tell us which ewes are in lamb and with how many.

We colour-coded each expectant mum: blue for triplets, red for singles and no mark for twins. Now all we can do is wait.

One of the lambs was rejected by her mother. It was cold so I brought her in  its not something I do a lot, but I didnt see any other option

March 26: The first births

So it begins. Up at 5am, fed Len and headed out on my rounds. I found the first two lambs with their mother as the sun came up. All were healthy and happy.

Its been an odd start to the lambing. Normally we have lots of problems with pregnant ewes, but the sheep have been very quiet. I cant help feeling unsettled by how well behaved they are. One day down, three weeks to go.

March 27: A tragic start

A ewe was slow to lamb, and on closer inspection I discover both lambs have died inside her. This makes them harder for both me and the ewe to deliver.

The ewe was a bit sickly afterwards. I gave her a Lucozade to perk her up. Worked wonders!

She was revived by the afternoon. I could give her orphan lambs but its better she has the summer to recover.

March 28: The virus threat looms

Just heard of a Covid-19 case not far from the farm. Until now its been something weve seen on the news. Its scary to know it has struck close to home.

The family affected send their child to the same childminder as our little boy. We just hope that neither of us gets sick during lambing.

There are only the two of us, and if we are struck down with it, theres no one to help.

March 29: A house guest

One of the lambs was rejected by her mother. It was cold so I brought her in  its not something I do a lot, but I didnt see any other option.

On the upside, Len is having great fun playing with her, but its like having a second child  so many bottles. Shell stay with us for about a week until I can find a ewe to give her to.

Just before lockdown one of the dogs had a litter of puppies, so today we had a puppy photoshoot with Len

March 31: A great escape

Looked out of the window this morning and the sheep werent there and the gate was flapping in the wind.

Walkers must have been through and left it open. There is a lot of land and its full of trees, so the sheep will be difficult to find. Ewan took Len out on the quad bike to find them, while I had to contend with the lambing ewes.

It took him a while but he managed. Really annoying. If the sheep had been out much longer we would never have got them back. There are 4,000 acres of trees and no fences.

Ewan did great, but he had other jobs he could have been doing, rather than chasing our sheep through the trees.

April 1: Puppy love and puppy snaps

Just before lockdown one of the dogs had a litter of puppies, so today we had a puppy photoshoot with Len.

I find puppies really frustrating to photograph when young; they are always wriggling about and looking the wrong way.

So we added a wayward one-year-old into the mix to liven things up. Len thinks theyre little teddies.

In other news, we have a lamb with a black mark above its mouth that looks like a moustache.

April 2: Everything goes wrong

Disaster day. Len woke up at 4am and there seemed no sense in going back to sleep, so I headed off to an even earlier start.

It was just as well because today was rough. One of our heifers managed to put her head through a gate, lift it clean out of the fence and throw herself down a deep embankment.

By the time I got to her, she was pretty out of it with no fight left. I had to ring for Ewan to come and help get her out.

We cut her out and sat her up. Thankfully shes alive, but thats about all I can say about her.

Ewan managed to hit a deer on the way to rescue the heifer, and then I snapped the fan belt in our little off-road Suzuki Jimny van. Then I had to lamb another pair of dead lambs out of a ewe.

Relieved when the day ended and a glass of wine was waiting.

April 3: A bad dose of mummy guilt

Ive hit a lambing wall. Im really tired at the minute. It can be difficult finding a chance for any time to yourself with all the lambs and puppies, as well as a toddler running around.

I leave the sheep at 8pm every night and arrive at 5am the next morning and its amazing how much damage they can do in that time. It can be quite a scene.

Weve also had a worrying few days waiting to see if Len has contracted coronavirus after the family in the village who go to the same childminder developed symptoms.

Juggling farm work and looking after Len is tough, although we love to get him involved. But to make things worse he fell over and nearly knocked out his tooth yesterday.

Im feeling terrible mother guilt. I asked Ewan to step in so I could spend some time with Len and gather my thoughts.

Ive invited my sister, Caroline, down to help with childminding duties because Ewan and I cant be in two places at once. And its not like we can just work from the house.

Shes been in isolation as her dog-grooming business in Hawick has closed, so its safer than using a professional childminder whos in contact with lots of children. I dont see what other option we have.

Life and death always go together on the farm, with 95 per cent of all sheep mortality happening at lambing time. Its just something you have to deal with [File photo]

April 4: The magic of Lucozade

Back at it today and having some problems with an older ewe. Shes decided she doesnt want to be a mother and is butting her lamb away. It happens sometimes.

Ive put her in a head collar, which is basically just a bit of string which attaches her to a fence. It means she cant dip her head and knock the lamb away.

On a positive note, the ewe I revived with Lucozade has now made a full recovery, which Im delighted with. It makes me proud of myself and her instinct to survive. Sheep are the toughest creatures you will meet.

April 5: Some corona blues

About halfway through now. We have 400 ewes and each will have roughly two lambs, so thats a lot of work for me, Ewan and the dogs.

Life and death always go together on the farm, with 95 per cent of all sheep mortality happening at lambing time. Its just something you have to deal with.

I was looking at some photos taken just before the lambing season of Ewan, Len and me outside the house. It wasnt that long ago, but coronavirus was hardly even on the radar then. Now not an hour goes by that we dont think about it.

A ewe on our neighbours farm needed a C-section and he had to tie her to a gate lying down so the vet could do the section while observing social distancing.

Were lucky that we live in an isolated lambing bubble and wouldnt be seeing many people anyway.

My parents are only 20 miles away, in lockdown in Hawick, but cant visit. We keep in touch with them online, but I know they miss Len.

Its a shame because hes changing so much at the moment and I dont want them to miss out on that.

April 7: The cow bullies

The heifer who got stuck in the fence is looking much better today. Im more hopeful she will make a good recovery, but the other cows are bullying her.

Im not sure if thats because she smells different, or because she is weaker. It could also be because shes in season, which might explain her putting her head through the gate in the first place looking for Mr Right.

April 8: Brought in from the cold

There was a bit of a frost this morning and a couple of lambs that were born during the night became hypothermic.

They didnt get up to feed on their mothers milk, so we had to bring them in and put them in a warming box and give them glucose.

It was surprising how quickly they rallied.

The heifer who got stuck in the fence is looking much better today. Im more hopeful she will make a good recovery, but the other cows are bullying her [File photo]

April 9: The lamb pincher

So we have a hormone-crazy wannabe mother called a pincher. This happens occasionally when a ewes maternal instincts overwhelm her and she wants to mother any lamb in sight.

Shell steal the lambs of other mothers, especially younger ewes. It can be frustrating for us because sometimes a pincher will be working at night, and well come down in the morning and shell be standing with five lambs, none of them her own.

Weve put this one in a different field so she can concentrate on lambing her own.

Thankfully, we are nearly there now. Only about 50 ewes left to give birth out of 400. I might even put some make-up on later for the first time in weeks to mark the occasion.

April 10: A perfect way to end...

Len turned one today. A perfect way to end the lambing season. Its been hectic but weve come out the other side.

Lambing is pretty much like spinning plates. You just need to keep going all the time and you cant ever stop.

At the end of lambing, I feel euphoric. Its such a relief to be finished and get a good result.

It also feels a little like getting out of jail. Im no longer living, breathing, working, thinking about sheep all day, every day, and we can get back to a bit of normality.

And in these grim times, there is no better sight than a field full of contented ewes and frolicking lambs.
Nervous market-watchers arent ready to call it a housing crisis yet, but the echoes of 2008 can already be heard. The economy has been placed in shutdown, but rent and mortgage payments are still due  and hundreds of thousands of households across Connecticut have no idea how theyll make their next payment.

Only the federal government can provide aid at the scale necessary to prevent another housing crisis, and the window of opportunity is closing. The first stimulus bills have not provided the aid needed to prevent the mass evictions, foreclosures and homelessness that would result from a second housing crisis. As discussion on a next stimulus bill continues, the Trump administration and Congress must act to subsidize rent and mortgage payments for the millions of households that need them.

Weve already experienced a massive economic shock as a result of coronavirus-related closings, and the economy is unlikely to fully open up before the summer. Over 350,000 Connecticut residents have filed for unemployment in the last month  nearly twice as many filings as there were in all of 2019. Many businesses across the state have already announced permanent closures. Rather than deluding ourselves into believing these jobs will all come back in a three-month time span, we need to build a safety net to mitigate the worst risks of a protracted recession.

Stable, healthy housing has always been a human necessity  and our economy is strongest when quality housing is affordable and accessible to all. The COVID-19 crisis makes that point even more obvious. A stable housing market is needed to guide America through COVID-19; unfortunately, early reports suggest that the current situation is anything but stable.

One report from the National Multifamily Housing Council found that over 30 percent of renters nationwide were unable to pay Aprils rent in the first week of the month. Meanwhile, Reuters has reported that requests to delay mortgage payments rose by over 1,900 percent in the second half of march March.

The housing market is like an ecosystem in distress  the fates of renters, landlords and homeowners are all connected. If renters are unable to pay their rent, it increases the likelihood that rental property owners will be forced to go into foreclosure, potentially taking affordable housing units off the market forever.

To be clear, the state of Connecticut has taken extraordinary steps to ensure housing stability during COVID-19 and should be lauded for doing so. Gov. Lamont and the Legislature have worked to provide deferrals on rent and mortgage payments, a moratorium on evictions and foreclosures, and decompression of homeless shelters (i.e. moving homeless people to hotel rooms and affordable housing units in order to ensure proper social distancing). The state of Connecticut, working with shelter providers and property owners, has done an unbelievable amount of good on housing in the last few weeks.

But no state  not Connecticut, nor New York, Texas or California  is able to avert a housing crisis on its own. Renters and homeowners need direct financial support to stay afloat, and only the federal government can provide the resources at the scale necessary to do so. Analysis from the Urban Institute estimates that, in a worst-case scenario, 29 million households nationwide will need financial assistance to remain stably housed for the next six months. The price tag for doing so is $162 billion  less than half of what the government spent on small-business loans in the last stimulus package. Weve recognized that keeping local business afloat is a good idea during an economic downturn. Keeping households afloat is just as necessary.

In more normal times, the state wisely collaborates with nonprofit providers and advocates in its efforts to end homelessness in Connecticut. Likewise, it has made investments in the billions over the last decade to finance the construction of affordable housing and the provision of mobile housing vouchers. We are far from finished in ensuring all of Connecticut is stably housed, but the state knows how to get it done and will know how to avert a COVID-19 real estate crisis. But it needs more resources than Connecticut taxpayers can provide.

Sean Ghio is policy director at the Partnership for Strong Communities, a Hartford-based policy and advocacy nonprofit dedicated to ending homelessness and promoting housing affordability in Connecticut.
The death toll due to COVID-19 rose to 779 and the number of cases climbed to 24,942 in the country on Saturday, registering an increase of 56 deaths and 1,490 cases since Friday evening, according to the Union health ministry.

The 56 deaths were the maximum reported in the country in a span of 24 hours, the ministry said.

The number of active COVID-19 cases stood at 18,953, while 5,209 people have been cured and discharged, and one patient has migrated, it added.

"So far, around 20.88 per cent people have recovered in the country," the ministry said.

The total number of cases includes 111 foreign nationals.

Of the 56 deaths reported since Friday evening, 18 were in Maharashtra, 15 in Gujarat, nine in Madhya Pradesh, three each in Delhi and West Bengal, two each in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh and one each in Punjab and Kerala.

Of the total 779 COVID-19 deaths, Maharashtra accounts for the highest number of 301 fatalities, followed by Gujarat (127), Madhya Pradesh (92), Delhi (53), Andhra Pradesh (31) and Rajasthan (27).

The death toll reached 26 in Uttar Pradesh as well as in Telangana, 22 in Tamil Nadu, while Karnataka and West Bengal have reported 18 deaths each, the ministry said.

Punjab has registered 17 fatalities so far, Jammu and Kashmir five, Kerala four, while Jharkhand and Haryana have recorded three COVID-19 deaths each.

Bihar has reported two coronavirus deaths, while Meghalaya, Himachal Pradesh, Odisha and Assam have reported a fatality each, according to the ministry data.

There has been a lag in the Union health ministry figures, compared to the number of deaths announced by the states, which officials attribute to procedural delays in assigning the cases to individual states.

According to the health ministry data updated in the evening, the highest number of confirmed cases in the country is from Maharashtra at 6,817, followed by Gujarat (2,815), Delhi (2,514), Rajasthan (2,034), Madhya Pradesh (1,952) and Uttar Pradesh (1,778).

The number of COVID-19 cases has gone up to1,755 in Tamil Nadu, 1,061in Andhra Pradesh and984 in Telangana.

The number of cases has risen to 571 in West Bengal,489 in Karnataka, 454 in Jammu and Kashmir, 451 in Kerala,298 in Punjab and 272 in Haryana.

Bihar has reported 228 coronavirus cases, while Odisha has 94. Fifty-nine people have been infected with the virus in Jharkhand and 48 in Uttarakhand.

Himachal Pradesh has 40 cases, while Chhattisgarh and Assam have registered 36 infections each.

Chandigarh has 28 cases, while there are 27 COVID-19 patients in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Twenty coronavirus cases have been reported from Ladakh, 12 from Meghalaya, while Goa and Puducherry have registered seven COVID-19 cases each.

Manipur and Tripura have two coronavirus patients each, while Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh have reported a case each.

"Forty-nine cases are being assigned to states for contact tracing. Our figures are being reconciled with that of the the ICMR," the ministry said on its website.

State-wise distribution is subject to further verification and reconciliation, it added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The St. Charles facility, a dry sausage plant that employs 325 people, already was in the process of instituting rolling closures, according to a company news release earlier this month. Before the health department order, the companys plan was to halt incoming raw materials from April 19 to May 2, close two of three departments between April 22 to May 3 and close the final department from May 7 to May 9.
UK becomes 5th country to pass grim milestone but actual toll is higher as figure does not include deaths at care homes.

The number of people to have died in hospitals in the United Kingdom after testing positive for coronavirus has surpassed 20,000, according to official data.

The latest figures on Saturday showed that the UK had become the fifth country in the world to pass the grim milestone, but its actual toll could be much higher when deaths in the community are taken into account, particularly at care homes.

Its a very sad day for the nation; 20,000 deaths is clearly 20,000 too many, Stephen Powis, the medical director of the National Health Service (NHS) in England, told a news conference on Saturday.

This is a deeply tragic and moving moment, added UK Home Secretary Priti Patel.

Earlier, the Department of Health said in a statement that 20,319 patients infected with the coronavirus had died in hospitals, with the country recording 813 new deaths in the last 24 hours.

Overall, more than 148,000 people have tested positive, out of almost 518,000 tests carried out.

Missed target

The announcement came some six weeks after the governments chief scientific adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance, said on March 17 that keeping the death toll below 20,000 would be a good outcome in terms of where we would hope to get with this outbreak.





This target was later also repeated by Powis, who said the country would have done well if it came through with fewer than 20,000 deaths.

Earlier on Saturday, it was reported that for the second day in a row, coronavirus tests available through a government website ran out before the end of the day.

The website was set up for healthcare staff and key workers as the government aims to reach 100,000 tests a day by the end of the month, a target local media reported authorities were likely to miss.

The BBC reported that home-testing kits ran out within 15 minutes and appointments at drive-through clinics were fully booked within an hour.

Questions over lockdown

Officials also urged people to comply with the lockdown, in place since March 23, and stay at home as the weather becomes increasingly warm and sunny. The lockdown was extended on April 16 and is due for review on May 7.

The government has been under pressure to relax physical distancing rules, but Home Secretary Patel said ministers would not yet give a date for any relaxation in the regulations.

Weve made a great deal of progress, but actually were not out of the woods yet, we really are not, she said.

There have been growing calls from the opposition parties, and figures within the ruling Conservative party for the government to provide more information on how the country will exit the lockdown.

Saturdays toll was an increase on the 684 deaths reported the previous day and comes after the government claimed the virus had hit its peak.

However, there was some optimism since those diagnosed as having contracted the virus fell by 473 to 4,913, according to the same health department figures.

University of Oxford analysis also showed that the numbers dying in England may be on a downward spiral as it said a third of the 711 additional deaths recorded in the latest government figures on Saturday occurred more than a week ago.

The other four countries to have exceeded the threshold are the United States, Italy, Spain and France.

The pandemic has killed some 200,000 people, with total infections exceeding 2.85 million, while more than 802,000 have recovered, according to figures compiled by US-based Johns Hopkins University.
A customer taste tests a beer before ordering a growler to go at Harlem Public in northern Manhattan. April 24, 2020 Spencer Kimball | CNBC

Just when Kal Narvilas thought his loan applications were about to get approved, his bank delivered the bad news  there was no more money left.



The $349 billion Paycheck Protection Program, ostensibly set up to help small businesses and their employees through the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic, was depleted in a matter of days. Narvilas is now left waiting for assistance as the bills pile up while the doors of his restaurants remain shuttered amid a lockdown in New York City.



Narvilas had spent hours sifting through months of paperwork to complete PPP applications for his independent restaurants  Uptown Garrison and Saggio in northern Manhattan, and Cent'Anni and Midwood Flats in Brooklyn. Though the process was tedious, he managed to file shortly after the program's launch, and his correspondence with TD Bank suggested his applications were heading toward approval, he said.



"I was at the precipice of getting approved and getting this money and the door was shut in my face, so that was a little demoralizing for me," Narvilas said. He hopes his applications are at the top of TD Bank's stack when the next round of federal funding comes through and the program is back up and running.



Congress approved another $310 billion for PPP loans and $60 billion for disaster loans this week, but there's doubt about whether that's enough to cover the demand in the coming days. Only 20% of submitted applications have been fully processed with money sent to borrowers, according to the National Federation of Independent Businesses. The program is set to resume Monday at 10:30 am ET, according to the Small Business Administration. "We're sitting around in an imaginary line hoping there's money to fund all of us," said David Helbraun, founding partner at Helbraun Levey, a law firm that represents more than 1,000 clients in New York City's hospitality industry. The loans are a critical lifeline for restaurants and bars, which are at the center of the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic. The industry lost 417,000 jobs after establishments shuttered their doors to comply with social-distancing rules and stay-at-home orders. That's about 60% of the 701,000 jobs lost nationwide in March.



"They're some of the toughest people you'll ever meet, and I've never seen my clients so much on the edge of their seat and nervous," Helbraun said. One of the biggest issues for restaurant and bar owners since the lockdown begam has been the confusion and uncertainty surrounding the approval process for the PPP loans, he said.

'Funds could run out quickly'

Lauren Lynch, one of Helbraun's clients, filed loan applications for her three restaurants and bars in Harlem through Chase Bank after the first round of funding had already run out. Lynch received an email from Chase last weekend notifying her there were 100,000 applications ahead of hers. Despite the massive backlog, she's optimistic the loans will come through for her businesses  Harlem Public, The Honeywell and At The Wallace. "I think that the pot has been filled enough," Lynch said. "There's been enough scrutiny that the small businesses are going to receive more of this money than what happened last time  I think the big banks are more prepared this time around."



During the first round, several publicly traded chain restaurants received PPP loans, which many independent restaurant owners believe violates the spirit if not the letter of the law. Ruth's Chris Steakhouse said it would return a $20 million loan and Shake Shack said it would return a $10 million loan after public controversy. Other public companies are The Small Business Administration issued new guidance Thursday aimed at discouraging publicly traded companies from receiving money this time.

James Lee, the owner of three restaurants in northern Manhattan, is not as optimistic as Lynch. He filed with Fountainhead the day the loan program launched, and the lender acknowledged his three applications had been received. About a week later, Lee received a bulk email from Fountainhead notifying him there was a surge of applications. It asked him for notification if he decided to remove himself from the queue and apply at another bank.



Lee saw the writing on the wall at Fountainhead and applied with Chase on April 16, the day federal funding ran out. On Wednesday, Chase sent a bulk email to Lee and other applicants saying the second round of PPP "funds could run out again quickly." The bank told Lee there was "an extremely large volume" of applications ahead of his, and it was providing him with this information in case he wanted to try applying with another lender.



"Applying for these loans is like trying to win concert tickets," said Lee, the owner of 181 Cabrini, Buddha Beer Bar and Buddha Taco Bar.

The Consumer Bankers Association, which represents the nation's big retail banks, estimates it will take $1 trillion to meet the demand from small businesses. Richard Hunt, the association's CEO, expects the second round of funding to run out in about four days, and that's if the system doesn't break down due to the huge demand. He expects 1.3 million loans will go to the SBA for approval, on top of the 1.6 million that were approved before funding ran out last time. "This is an unprecedented situation  the demand for this product is off the charts," Hunt said.

Small business owners that did not apply during the first round are not as likely to get funding this time due to the backlog of applications, Hunt said. He understands the frustration among small business owners, but said the banks are working as quickly as they can to process all the applications. "We have moved heaven and earth over the last three weeks working in round-the-clock shifts 24/7 to get the process up so people are helped during this crisis," Hunt said.

'There's a ton of confusion'
Punjab Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu on Saturday said that Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh will decide whether or not the coronavirus lockdown in the state will be extended.

Sidhu said that the chief minister will consult all the departments and there could be a state cabinet meeting over the same.

The 21-day nationwide coronavirus lockdown was extended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 14. The lockdown will now come to an end on May 3.

Telangana was the first state that decided to extend the Covid-19 lockdown beyond May 3.

It depends on the Chief Minister, he will consult all the departments. There could be a state cabinet meeting over it: Balbir Singh Sidhu, Punjab Health Minister on if lockdown will be extended in Punjab #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/N9AA3I7Snd  ANI (@ANI) April 25, 2020

The cabinet has decided to extend the lockdown in the state till May 7. The cabinet will take stock of the situation on May 5, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao said last week.

This comes when the Union Home Ministry, in its order issued late Friday night, allowed some shops to open as part of easing of lockdown restrictions.

All registered shops regd (registered) under Shops & Establishment Act of respective States/ UTs, including shops in residential complexes, neighborhood & standalone shops exempted from #lockdown restrictions, the order read.

Later in the day, the government clarified that only standalone shops - those not a part of any market complex, a cluster of shops, or those inside malls - shall be allowed to open.

Delhi said it will not implement easing of restrictions on the opening of shops in the national capital while Assam said a decision in this regard would be taken on April 27.

In Uttar Pradesh, the administration has decided not to allow any public gatherings till June 30.
There has been a high calibre of contestants in this series of Britain's Got Talent.

And judging by new images, Saturday's episode looks like it won't disappoint either as an Elton John impersonator, West End star and daredevil are set to perform.

A contestant - known only as Elite Elton - takes to the stage in a glittering feathered red ensemble reminiscent of something the pop icon, 73, has previously worn.

Exciting! Judging by new images, Saturday's episode looks like it won't disappoint as an Elton John impersonator, West End star and daredevil are set to perform

The flamboyant performer appears to be joined by backing dancers as he performs at a grand piano, wearing a boater hat and a pair of circular shades.

According to the Metro, head judge Simon Cowell will be seriously impressed by West End performer Fayth Ifil following her audition on the show.

The youngster, who sings Tina Turners Proud Mary, has previously appeared as young Tina in the musical as well as acting in the School Of Rock stage show.

Rising star: According to the Metro , head judge Simon Cowell will be seriously impressed by West End performer Fayth Ifil following her audition on the show

That's show business! A contestant - known only as Elite Elton - takes to the stage in a glittering feathered red ensemble reminiscent of something the pop icon has previously worn.

Powerhouse! The youngster, who sings Tina Turners Proud Mary, has previously appeared as young Tina in the musical as well as acting in the School Of Rock stage show

Elsewhere, dance troop The Coven look set to put on an eerily good display as they hope to impress judges Simon, Alesha Dixon, Amanda Holden and David Walliams.

Kevin Quantum, leaves the judging panel gobsmacked with his fiery stunt.

With hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly left fearing for Kevin's life and a show medic put on standby just in case.

Spooky: Elsewhere, dance troop The Coven look set to put on an eerily good display as they hope to impress judges Simon, Alesha Dixon, Amanda Holden and David Walliams

Wow: The group look set to put on a very dramatic display on Saturday's edition of the show

Fiery: The dance group will incorporate fire into their performance

Kevin reveals he has made a giant invention based on Newton's cradle and he is going to set each cannon ball on fire before walking through it.

He menacingly warns: 'Simon, we know you love a bit of drama well tonight I'll be setting these cannon balls on fire.'

'They will take out literally anything and anyone, I will attempt to walk through them without being struck. I need complete faith in science to make this work,' he adds.

Kevin then gets into position and puts a black mask over his face, so he can't see his surroundings, while a crew member sets the cannonballs on fire and lets the loose.

Danger zone: Kevin Quantum, leaves the judging panel gobsmacked with his fiery stunt

Uh oh! With hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly left fearing for Kevin's life and a show medic put on standby just in case

Magic! Kevin reveals he has made a giant invention based on Newton's cradle and he is going to set each cannon ball on fire before walking through it

Set to impress? Choir Class Dynamix are hoping they did enough to wow the judges

Yet Ant and Dec are left concerned over the invention and worry it isn't going to plan, as they panic: 'That's not right is it, is that right?'

While a grinning Simon jokes: 'He's crazy!'

The spoiler video sees Kevin goes to step forward while judge David is left recoiling in fear over the next move, which will be revealed during Saturday's episode.

And that's not the only audition leaving the judges with goosebumps as Billy and Chantelle perform a stunning synchronised and interpretive dance routine to Belinda Carlisle's Heaven Is A Place On Earth.

Class act: Allan Finnegan will also appear during the upcoming episode

Keep them guessing! It is yet to be revealed what Alan's act is

Amazing: And that's not the only audition leaving the judges with goosebumps as Billy and Chantelle perform a stunning synchronised and interpretive dance routine to Belinda Carlisle's Heaven Is A Place On Earth

Graceful: The audition sees the youngsters perform an array of gravity-defying and flexible moves while keeping in time with each other

The audition sees the youngsters perform an array of gravity-defying and flexible moves while keeping in time with each other.

Alesha is left amazed over the routine while the audience is equally left stunned with one member remarking that she has 'goosebumps'.

BGT filmed their auditions earlier this year before the COVID-19 lockdown, and it has since been confirmed that the live shows will be postponed until later this year.

Britain's Got Talent continues on Saturday at 8pm on ITV.

Dapper: Contestant Bhim Niroula looked smart as he spoke to the judges
Bhubaneswar, April 25 : To dodge lockdown restrictions, a group of 38 persons from Odisha and Andhra Pradesh undertook a five-day journey from Chennai along the sea route to return to their native villages.

However, after reaching Patisunapur coast in Odisha's Ganjam district, the district administration, which had prior information about the sea voyage, put them in a quarantine centre on Saturday evening.

The fishermen, including 29 from Odisha and nine from Andhra Pradesh, had taken a boat for about Rs 2 lakh to reach their destination, said sources.

They took the sea route on April 20 and reached on Saturday evening.

"It took us five days to reach here. After we faced difficulties in Chennai, we decided to move to our states," said a fisherman.

The officials said that 29 fishermen from Odisha are residents of Rangeilunda and Chikiti blocks.

"Their personal details are being registered after which they will be sent to 14-day quarantine. Health check-up will also be done," said Hara Prasad Bhoi, Chikiti Tahasildar.

Ganjam District Collector Vijay Amruta Kulange said their swab samples will be collected for testing of COVID-19.

"We will take them to a quarantine centre, where they will stay for 14 days. As a precautionary measure, the swab samples of the fishermen will be collected and tested for COVID-19," said Kulange.
The rumors were true. U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds and Navy Blue Angels flight teams are collaborating on a joint flyover to salute the essential personnel doing battle with the coronavirus on a daily basis.

The two demonstration teams will fly over areas of the country hardest hit by COVID-19, in an operation called America Strong, starting next week. Joint and individual team flights will be held every one-to-two days until mid-May, according to a statement from the U.S. Department of Defense.

Were excited to fly over cities across America as our way of saying thanks to the healthcare workers, first responders, and all the people who selflessly run into the breach working to keep America strong, General Dave Goldfein, Chief of Staff of the Air Force, and Admiral Michael Gilday, Chief of Naval Operations said in a joint statement. This is also our way of showing that we are all in this together and that Americas spirit will prevail.

The department did not say whether New Jersey would be one of the areas that the jets will fly over, but it continues to have the second-most COVID-19 cases and deaths among American states, second only to neighboring New York.

CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Businesses that are open | Homepage

Rumors of a flyover for Philadelphia and New York City circulated on social media and were shared by police departments earlier this week, but the Navy and Air Force did not confirm any plans at the time.

The department of defense said the Blue Angels and Thunderbirds will work with local media to provide exact times and locations of their flyovers, but nothing had been sent to NJ Advance Media as of 7 p.m. on Friday.

The two teams typically fly at more than 30 air shows each year to demonstrate American military aviation, but both have been forced to cancel many performances due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the department.

The Air Force and Navy have partnered with local governments to make sure spectators follow U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention social distancing guidelines, officials said.

The Thunderbirds recently did similar tributes in Las Vegas and Colorado earlier this month and both events were publicized in advance, including posting flight paths on social media.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription.

Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com.
Alleging non-cooperation by the West Bengal government, two central teams visiting the state to assess the COVID-19 situation on Saturday took umbrage at a top bureaucrat's remark that officials cannot waste time by accompanying them and wondered whether the ruling dispensation would take responsibility of their members' safety.

IMAGE: The inter-ministerial Central team visits the quarantine center of Rajarhat during the nationwide lockdown imposed in the wake of coronavirus pandemic, in Kolkata. Photograph: ANI Photo

In a fresh set of letters to Chief Secretary Rajiva Sinha, the two teams which are in Kolkata and in Siliguri in North Bengal flagged several instances of non-cooperation regarding providing logistical support and other relevant information.

The inter-ministerial central team, led by senior bureaucrat Apurba Chandra, said it is yet to receive a response from the state government to the letters it has written to Sinha since its arrival in the city on Monday.

Chandra also sought details about testing, quarantine and contact tracing of the Tablighi Jamaat meet returnees from Delhi's Nizamuddin area, based on the data provided by the Union government.

"Four letters have been written to the state government till today. No response has been received till date... The chief secretary of West Bengal has been widely reported in the media to have stated that the IMCT is free to visit anywhere, and the state government cannot waste its time by accompanying them.

"The above stand is a violation of the order by the Union home ministry and the state government is expected to provide logistics support and facilitate all field visits," Chandra said in one of the two letters to Sinha on Saturday.

"The stand of the state government on facilitating the visits of the IMCTs and ensuring the safety and security of the team members as also providing information and records may be made clear through a written communication, rather than through the media," he added.

The central team has made queries on 10 aspects of the health department, including quarantine and lockdown measures. Although a presentation was made, a hard copy of that has not been furnished yet, he said.

In another letter to Sinha, the team in North Bengal, led by senior bureaucrat Vineet Joshi, said a larger number of field officers is required to monitor and provide feedback about the effectiveness of various measures undertaken by the state government.

"As an immediate measure, it is suggested that stricter implementation of lockdown is absolutely necessary to avoid any further outbreak...," Joshi said.

He said additional details were sought during discussions with divisional commissioner, district magistrate and CMO Darjeeling on April 22 and April 23, but are yet to be provided.

"A meeting sought with the police commissioner could not materialise as requested. The IMCT would still request you to facilitate the meeting. Lot of details are required from his side regarding implementation of the lockdown... I shall be grateful for an immediate response as larger public interest is involved," Joshi said.

"The IMCT is thankful to you for extending support to visit a few places today (Friday), albeit late afternoon which forced the IMCT to change its plans," the letter by Joshi to the chief secretary said.

The central team had written to the West Bengal government on Friday, seeking a detailed report on the functioning of the coronavirus death audit committee and a meeting with its members, expressing displeasure at the arrangements in hospitals and quarantine centres.
MBABANE  Experienced economist Mbongiseni Nkambule has been appointed the new General Manager of Eswatini Post  a division of the Eswatini Posts and Telecommunications Corporation (EPTC).



His last place of employment was with the Central Bank of Eswatini, where he held the position of General Manager Financial Regulation. He is a financial economist who studied finance both at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.



He attained a number of postgraduate finance qualifications from ACI in France, Wits Business School and the South Africa Institute of Financial Markets, among others.



Nkambule completed a Bachelor of Business Administration, majoring in Finance, at Solusi University, Zimbabwe in 2001. He capped this with a Masters in Finance and Investments from the University of Witwatersrand in South Africa.



EPTC Corporate Communications Manager Nqobile Magagula described Nkambule as an avid student of finance whose latest interest is in the new phenomena called Financial Technology, widely known as Fin Tech.



We wish to take this opportunity to welcome Nkambule in his new role at EPTC as General Manager Eswatini Post and wish him a blessed and favourable stay within the organisation as he assists in growing it in leaps and bounds, Magagula said.



Nkambule expressed excitement at joining the EPTC executive team and his gratefulness for the opportunity to learn from his colleagues.

He said his hope was to assist EPTC to leverage on its technology platforms and deliver financial services to rural Eswatini and assist in the national financial inclusion agenda. My contribution would mainly be, but not exclusively, to the migration and unbundling of the organisation by looking at other sectors to diversify income stream and modernising the postal services space, the new GM said.



Focus on financial servicers

He highlighted that he would work specifically at growing the financial services side of the business, which he hopes is going to contribute to the bottom line of EPTC.

Globally we have seen technology companies moving towards financial services, which the organisation has embraced, and that is also an area of expertise that I am looking forward to tackling with utmost zeal and diligence, Nkambule said.

His work experience spans from whence he started working in the NGO sector as a Business Consultant with LULOTE (BMEP) for about two years; thereafter he joined the banking sector where he worked for Nedbank as Dealer in the Treasury Department before joining Central Bank of Eswatini.

While working at the Central Bank of Eswatini, he was seconded to the Rand Merchant Bank where he spent about a year in Johannesburg before re-joining the Central Bank of Eswatini.

Subsequent to that, he moved to the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) as a Registrar of Capital Markets mandated to set up the capital markets division. In terms of his experience, it is everything finance; from Investment Management or Portfolio Management, Corporate Finance, Financial Regulation, Capital Markets, Money and Banking, Financial Technology and more.

During his previous job at the Central Bank of Eswatini as GM Financial Regulations and Manager Financial Markets, he was responsible for managing the countrys reserves and regulating all the local banking and credit institutions.

This was almost similar to his responsibilities at FSRA, where he was regulating the non-banking institutions such as asset managers, stock exchanges, investment advisors and more. At Eswatini Post, he replaces Phumelela Dlamini who died in a fatal road traffic accident in Middelburg, South Africa, on April 26 last year. He was returning from EPTC duties in Mauritius.



revamp for Post sector

Meanwhile, Magagula said Eswatini Post had a leading role to play in the advancement of financial inclusion in the economy of Eswatini.

She said they had refashioned themselves into a modern, digitally innovative brand that is one of Eswatini Posts foremost goals going forward. This will be done all inclusively without losing touch with the history and legacy that has made Eswatini Post a trusted brand in the Eswatini culture, she said.

She stated that Eswatini Post had a large physical network with 33 post offices located all over the country and had a good leverage in terms of distribution of services.

Magagula said using the postal network to deliver financial services was not a new idea as it has been pursued successfully in the region and globally.

Although the business model of the posts financial services has remained unchanged for a long time, we have seen an era whereby the increasing use of digital communication technologies and falling mail volumes has created a great opportunity for businesses such as Eswatini Post to re-think our overall business strategy and diversify our product offerings. As a result Eswatini Post has used its existing network to expand the number of financial services that we offer, she said.

She added that given the widespread presence of Eswatini Post in rural and poor areas, the organisation had played an important role in providing access points to financial services.

Eswatini Post continues to leverage on her large physical network to reach the most marginalised citizens of Eswatini by bringing financial services closer to them at an affordable rate, Magagula said.






MUMBAI: While the Maharashtra Police is trying hard to arrest those responsible for the lynching of three men, including two saints Kalpavriksha Giri Maharaj, Sushil Giri Maharaj, in Maharashtra's Palghar on April 16, Zee News ground report on the incident points to a bigger conspiracy behind the victims killing.

Zee News Editor-in-chief Sudhir Chaudhary, in his extremely popular show DNA, raised several answered questions related to the alleged killing of the three men in Maharashtras Palghar. The Zee News show also gave an eyewitness account to ascertain the truth behind the whole incident.

The Zee News team spoke to Chitra Chaudhary, the Sarpanch of Garh-Chinchle village of Dahanu area, an eyewitness of the gruesome incident. She had first reached the place where two sadhus along with their driver were beaten to death in front of the police on that day.

"Around 8:30 pm, we 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, a mob gathered there and 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.

The Garh-Chinchle village sarpanch has claimed that the three men were killed due to political reasons.

While trying to collect evidence, the Zee News team came to know that liquor plays an important role in this tribal region and most political parties use it as a tool to mobilise popular support. All those, including social workers and seers, who oppose this are treated as ''enemies'' by those who have massive influence and control liquor trade in the region.

The Zee News team also spoke to many social organisations which have been working here for long. They revealed how Palghar has become a battleground for political and religious supremacy due to rivalry between Christian missionaries and right-wing outfits.

Insiders told Zee News that the Christian missionaries active here have full support from the Left-wing groups and they are involved in the conversion of tribals, due to which they face stiff resistance from the Hindu religious outfit.

Over the years, Palghar and the surrounding area has become a big flashpoint between the Christian missionaries and the Hindu outfits over religious conversion.

Besides, these missionaries have full support from other political parties like NCP, which is evident from the fact that one Kashinath Chaudhary, who is the district panchayat member of NCP, was also among the mob which killed the two men. He has been accused of instigating the mob. A video has also resurfaced showing several local leaders and activists of NCP, as well as CPM, were in the crowd during the alleged mob lynching of the three men.

All this raises the suspicion that the two Hindu seers - Kalpavriksha Giri Maharaj, Sushil Giri Maharaj  might have been killed for political reasons.

There has been a rumour in this tribal area that thieves come and take the children away. The same rumour was attributed to the killing of the sadhus. But in her testimony, the Sarpanch claimed how the mob suddenly got infuriated after seeing the elderly monk with policemen and went berserk after that.

The sudden mood swing of the mob hints that the real motive was to kill the sadhus by labeling them as thieves and that too in front of several policemen.

Interestingly this tribal belt in Maharashtra, including Palghar, is also known for worshiping demon king Ravana and organising events glorifying him. This has also led to several incidents of clashes between the pro-tribal groups and the right-wing organisations.
About 35 people gathered in downtown Casper on Friday to protest state-issued orders designed to slow the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

The rally was the first in Casper since an April 9 protest with about 20 participants. Both were held at Pioneer Park.

A Tuesday post on the Rally for Choice to Work Facebook page invited demonstrators to a Rally to Reopen Wyoming. The post referred to the state restrictions, which include the closure of schools and many businesses where people tend to congregate, including bars, gyms and hair salons. Restaurant dining rooms have also been ordered closed, though takeout and delivery are still permitted.

The orders also bar gatherings of 10 or more.

Protesters on Friday held signs with slogan such as Open WY now, Quarantine the vulnerable, Free the healthy, Wyoming wants to work and Freedom to self-govern is essential. A truck with a flatbed trailer circled the block with banners reading "Liberty" and "Campaign for Liberty: Reclaim the public restore the constitution."

On Monday, more than 100 protesters gathered outside the state Capitol in Cheyenne -- the largest demonstration so far in Wyoming. During that event, Gov. Mark Gordon came out of the Capitol to speak with demonstrators.

On Thursday, Gordon and State Health Officer Dr. Alexia Harrist presented a plan to loosen restrictions. Gordon has stressed that the reopening of the state will be dictated by data rather than an arbitrary date.

Follow arts & culture reporter Elysia Conner on twitter @erconner

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Almost a month ago, Tara Reade went public with her claim that, when she worked on Joe Bidens staff in 1993, Biden sexually assaulted her by pushing her against a wall, putting his hand up her skirt, and thrusting his finger inside of her. Reade also said that, when this event happened, she told her mother, her brother, and a friend, and that she complained to her superiors, but without success. While her brother and her friend corroborate her story, her mother passed away in 2016.

For more than two weeks, the mainstream media assiduously ignored Reades allegations. Then, in mid-April, the New York Times deigned to address Reades assertions. It did so, though, not to inform its readership that Biden, famous for publicly groping little girls and grown women, was the subject of a #MeToo sexual assault claim. Instead, the New York Times assured its readers that they were not to worry because Reades story simply wasnt credible.

One of the points the Times made was that Reade hadnt introduced reliable contemporaneous evidence. The fact that her brother and her friend said that theyve known about the assault since 1993 was inconsequential. (Astute readers will note that the Times applied a different standard to Christine Blasey-Ford, who not only had no contemporaneous evidence against Kavanaugh but also claimed as a witness someone who rejected her story.)

The Times and its media brethren may soon have a harder time with that contemporaneous evidence argument. It turns out that, when Reade gave an interview to Glenn Greenwalds The Intercept, she mentioned that, back when Biden first assaulted her, her mother, a San Luis Obispo resident, had called The Larry King Show to talk about what happened to Reade:

Reade told The Intercept that her mother called in asking for advice after Reade, then in her 20s, left Bidens office. I remember it being an anonymous call and her saying my daughter was sexually harassed and retaliated against and fired, where can she go for help? I was mortified, Reade told me.

Unfortunately, Reade had no idea when her mother had phoned or who Larry Kings guests were. Enter the miracle of crowd-sourcing.

Ryan Grim, to whom Reade told the story about her Moms embarrassing call to Larry King, repeated the story to Katie Halper, who had first broadcast Reades allegations. One of Halpers listeners managed to find a Larry King show from August 1993 during which a woman identified as a caller from San Luis Obispo, asked for advice about help for her daughter, who had been victimized by a prominent senator, but had been unable to get anyone to act on her complaint. Reade has since confirmed that the voice belongs to her mother:

KING: San Luis Obispo, California, hello. CALLER: Yes, hello. Im wondering what a staffer would do besides go to the press in Washington? My daughter has just left there, after working for a prominent senator, and could not get through with her problems at all, and the only thing she could have done was go to the press, and she chose not to do it out of respect for him. KING: In other words, she had a story to tell but, out of respect for the person she worked for, she didnt tell it? CALLER: Thats true.

Of course, we all know that #MeToo and Believe all women were merely vehicles to attack Kavanaugh and Trump. Even if someone were to unearth security footage of Biden attacking Reade (or anyone else for that matter), the drive-by media would dismiss it as meaningless. Or at least, they would dismiss it as unimportant until they could figure out a way to dump the increasingly incoherent Biden and substitute a potentially winning candidate in his place. (There are many loud voices currently raised to draft Michelle Obama. Thats unnerving because, for reasons that are not clear to me, that endlessly angry woman is popular.) Still, people outside the media might be less inclined to dismiss a story that's increasingly looking unassailable.
And the two spoke. And they both wondered:

Do these people really get it!

Behold Mr President, uneasy lies the head that wears the crown, they say. So, I'm urging you to be bold and steady. Don't yield to the stubborn in your country.

Stay your ground and keep focused.

My days in Egypt, Cannan and beyond witnessed horrifying plagues, troubles and hardships. Some days, I felt like crumbling. Toasted! The pressure from my people was palpable. My people were stubborn and stiff-necked. They wouldn't listen to me.

They disregarded the ordinances. They appeared to be high on something, that I'd no clue. Simply, they were allergic to admonition, until Yahweh took the wheels from me..Leading Israel from Egypt to the Promised Land gave me a migraine. You didn't know that right?

I touch wood Mr President, a potential monster storm appears to be looming. Its influence, power and strength could go beyond Accra--the capital city, Tema, Kasoa and Kumasi. Its antennas would touch the four corners of Ghana. Those in Hamle would see it and feel it. Axim, Aflao and Tuobodom would experience it too.

Is it like Katrina?

No, Katrina was different. Katrina was Katrina.

Would it be like 'Sasabosam'? No. You know Sasabonsam would come as a lonely guy.

So, how would this one look like?

This storm is a legion.

It would come in battalions. This one would pass the partial lockdown. Indeed, this one mimics the Jerry Rawlings hurricane in the early 1980s.

Those that lived through it felt it. Those that lived in small towns and villages received the news trembling in their clothes and those that bore the brunt still recall.

People were literally caged. Men crawled like lizards to hide under their beds. Children cried hysterically and women wailed. The dared-devils remained silent.

They couldn't raise their voices!

A 6 pm curfew had been put in place. The nation was under total lockdown. There were no routes even for mosquitoes to escape. Teams of camouflaged soldiers were deployed across the country. They combed every quarter and gown and enforced the law en masse.

The language then was single and simple. Do before you complain. In other words, remain silent and suck everything in. In fact,, people knew the upshot of being out past curfew was terrible. And the punishment was horrible.

Mr President is this what your people want?

Or they think it'd be like the partial lockdown?

I'm surprised they're behaving like my people having read it all in the OT (Old Testament Books).

This is why I beseech thee to remain steady and don't succumb to the emotive pleas of these attention-seeking Latter-Day 'Saints'.

Were they not the same group that said, suspend the partial lockdown? How'd they turnaround and put up this melodrama?.

Moses, they were upset!

Yes, I know they were livid when you imposed the partial lockdown.

But I wonder how they'd cope or react to a total curfew, should their stubborn behaviours compel you to unleash that. I bet, the hermit would even hit the street with them to showcase their hysteria.

No kidding, Mr President, I lived through it with biblical Israel. They were very stubborn. And stubbornly they displayed their stubbornness. As you are aware the situation in Egypt was insane. They knew they lived under dire situation in Pharaoh's land. They cried for help, they cried for freedom. Yet, in no time they forgot about that hellish experience. They revolted. The experience in exodus taught as a lot. Lots of my people learned it the hard way. And I think your people would also learn more from this pandemic--- COVID-19.

I still wonder Mr President.

If a partial lockdown was that bad, to tick off the group why would they want to see another one that looks like hell?

Indeed I can only imagine the hysteria that would greet most of your people should or must you decide to impose a total curfew.

I'm reminded of a particular British humorous statement. It says: If a cobbler has enough leather to cobble an animal that has four feet, then that cobbler definitely has a surplus. In the wake of the dreadful pandemic, some people have been comparing Ghana with the US, China and others. And who told them some western countries didn't impose lockdowns on their people. In apropos, they have the means.

But even with that advanced stuff, this pandemic has exposed them. 'Obia nye obia'.

Ghana has done remarkably well so far.

But she can't afford to throw caution to the wind.

Ko' pong is right, if people continue to be stubborn or engage in irresponsible behaviours, the nation would see a total lockdown or a curfew. And I think as a messenger he is passing on to the people what his boss had asked him to do.

Ghanas Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has hinted that Ghanaians could witness a curfew. It's a matter of time.

"If they flout other measures put in place to stop the spread of the virus and there is a spike of infections, a more stringent measure will be enforced," he said.

Also, he said, government will cease the distribution of free food. We will pray for manna, i could hear one stiff-necked retort.

What could trigger this?

According to the minister,, if people do not adhere to social distancing, use hand sanitizers and wear the face mask then government will have no option than to introduce a total lockdown and curfew.

If government observes an increase in the cases of infected persons the measures outlined above will be implemented as soon as possible.

What if the people do things right? I will say, Bingo or Hallelujah!

Oppong Nkrumah says:

"If we continue adhering to the other measures, we dont expect a spike of infections.

But if people keep being stubborn, and there is a spike, a lockdown and a curfew will be imposed."

Mr Oppong Nkrumah made the assertions on Peace FMs primetime programme 'Kokrokoo' hosted by Kwame Sefa Kayi, revealing that all the other 14 regions where there were no lockdown didn't see a spike.
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 They must have felt like nightmares, those plagues of the past. When sickness came, it seemed to come from nowhere, carving off huge swathes of the population as if at random. Was it divine intervention, an internal imbalance, ill-humoured vapours rising from the Earth? By the late 19th century, scientists had found and named the culprit. Invisible though they are to the naked eye, microbes have killed more people throughout history than war. They are the tiny invaders (germs such as viruses and bacteria) that unleash disease. Theyve led us to riot and murder but also to art and innovation. Much of modern medicine, from vaccinations to germ theory itself, took root in the panic of a pandemic. In cities such as Venice, where the quarantine measures we now know so well were born under the medieval waves of the Black Death, plague paintings still soar overhead in churches built by its survivors. Some outbreaks, such as influenza, malaria and HIV, now linger in our lives; others, notably smallpox, have been beaten into extinction or somewhere near it. This time, the disease on the loose is less deadly than the first dangerous coronavirus to emerge in the modern era, SARS, but its also more infectious. While SARS made it into less than 30 countries before it was stamped out (over nine anxious months) in 2003, it took COVID-19 less than 12 weeks to morph into the first major pandemic to hit the world since Spanish flu a century ago. So what can we learn from the outbreaks of the past? What clues do they leave us about how COVID-19 will end? And is humanity really getting better at handling infectious disease? During the plague of London in 1665, a doctor in 17th-century personal protective equipment slides bodies into a grave. The rat-borne bacteria that cause bubonic plague are in colour. Credit:Getty Images. Composite: Mark Stehle When did pandemics start happening? Disease has always stalked humanity but pandemics  the significant worldwide spread of a pathogen  are a modern phenomenon, says Professor Frank Ruhli, who heads the Institute for Evolutionary Medicine at the University of Zurich in Switzerland. Hed know  a lot of his work days are spent poring over ancient mummies to crack the cold cases of diseases past. The molecular proof of a germ tends to break down fast in fossils, Ruhli says, but, even in prehistory, there were outbreaks. The difference was that because we lived spread out in small groups of hunter-gatherers, the new pathogen of the day tended to fade just as quickly as it emerged, having run out of people to infect.

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Loading Then, as the world opened up to large-scale trade and travel roughly 6000 years ago, Ruhli says, viruses suddenly had an easier way to cross borders, countries, even continents. Now, today, a virus can get on a plane and go global within 24 hours." Sir Richard Evans, provost of Gresham College in London, is a leading authority on the great plagues of our past. He says you dont need a magic number of people before a pandemic can take hold; rather, you need a way for a disease to reach unfamiliar populations, perhaps marched in by an invading army, hitching a ride on a railway or docking with a ship from another land. "In 1492, Christopher Columbus took smallpox to the Americas and returned to Europe with syphilis," Evans says. (Columbus, it turned out, came off better  the pox had long ravaged European populations but left survivors immune, giving them an advantage over the Indigenous peoples of the Americas and even Australia, where "the speckled monster" wrought a devastating toll.) Even today, well-established diseases can "break out" again when long-isolated communities in remote corners of the world at last collide with modern civilisation. During the 1950s and '60s, a group of Yanomami people living in Brazil were nearly decimated by measles after making contact with the outside world; a Yanomami teenager has now tested positive for COVID-19 as fears grow for Indigenous people across the world. The Black Death wiped out more than a third of Europe's population over just four years. As we are seeing in the case of COVID-19, much about how a pandemic unfolds is up to the germ. Does it jump from person to person, travel through the air or thrive in contaminated food or water? But the lifestyles and responses of those afflicted  even the accidental kind  play a role too. One of the world's earliest plagues, likely of typhoid, bred in the cramped, squalid conditions of a city under siege as Sparta attacked Athens around 430BC. Seeing the smoke from funeral pyres rising over the walls, those invading troops very smartly went home (possibly to self-isolate). While the contagion did return again, and again, it did not spread far beyond Greece.

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Then, in the fifth century, the Roman Emperor Justinians conquest of Mediterranean brought a tiny bacteria all the way out of Egypt and into the heart of Europe, igniting what is often considered the worlds earliest pandemic, the first wave of the bubonic plague. Its toll was so devastating some even credit it with bringing down the Roman empire. Having wound its way out of Asia along the Silk Road, it would return for at least two more pandemic hits, including the Black Death that wiped out more than a third of Europe's population over just four years in the 14th century. Overall, the bubonic plague remains historys biggest killer  between 75 million and 200 million people were felled by it before the 20th century, and even today it rears its head from time to time. But we know its secret now: the disease is spread by bacteria that live on the backs of rats, and we have both antibiotics and a vaccine (of limited availability) to treat it. At the Hyde Park Inoculation Depot in Sydney a man is vaccinated against H1N1 virus that caused Spanish flu. Credit:Getty Images. Composite: Mark Stehle How have societies reacted to past pandemics? Down the pandemic records, much of humanity's responses have been guided by instinct if not science, Ruhli says, a memory gene deep. Just as our body tells us to run when we see a tiger stalking through the jungle, we also know to keep away from the sick as much as we can. In some parts of medieval Europe, whole cities were built around the idea of isolation. "It was recognised by the Renaissance period that diseases did travel," Evans says. To stop it, ships arriving in Venice during a wave of plague in the 15th century were forced to sit at anchor under the first quarantines  a period of 40 days or quaranta giorni in Italian, hence the word quarantine. "It's why you see people [panic] buying toilet paper now, there's a selfish evolutionary imperative to protect yourself," Ruhli says. "But humans also live together in groups so there's altruism built in too. In this pandemic, we are seeing the whole range of behaviour from the idiot who steals masks and hand sanitiser to the healthcare worker risking their life to care for the sick."

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Even the pharaohs of ancient Egypt were not immune. The same infectious bugs that struck down commoners took out their kings too. Often pandemics were blamed on outsiders or on poverty and the "great unwashed" poor. Bad hygiene, a common concern in slums where people are packed in close together without access to proper sanitation, does play a role in most infectious disease transmission. Contaminated food and water carried the great cholera outbreaks throughout history, Evans notes. But disease does not discriminate by class or race. Even the pharaohs of ancient Egypt, revered as gods, were not immune. Ruhli has found the same infectious bugs that struck down commoners took out their kings too. Evans notes authorities have never coped particularly well with pandemics, even when authoritarian states already had extensive powers to control people's movement. "There's always been a tension in government between fear of economic disaster and fear of epidemics," he says. "In almost every pandemic, authorities initially refused to report the outbreak, in case it led to panic on the exchange, or the crippling of trade." In Hamburg in 1892, he says, the refusal of the Senate to report deaths on the waterfront from cholera saw 10,000 people die in just six weeks. Loading In the early days of COVID-19, China tried to cover up and downplay the outbreak  as it did, to a much greater extent, during the SARS epidemic 20 years earlier. Then, this time, as the new coronavirus exploded, China did something without precedent in our modern era  it locked down more than 10 million people in an effort to starve the virus of new hosts. That move, while fairly successful so far, has proven challenging to replicate in democratic societies. Italy hesitated long enough to give the virus a foothold; by March, its hospitals were overrun. Still, even when governments have tried to follow the medical dogma  with case isolation and social restrictions  it hasn't always been well received. Russia sealed off its slums when cholera hit during its second great pandemic of 1829. That slowed the spread but the sick (and sometimes even those who weren't) were largely left to fend for themselves. In 1831, as rumours swirled that the lockdowns were a Tsarist plot to kill off the poor, violent riots broke out, with doctors the main targets. Evans notes that, in Hamburg, where respected medical scientist Robert Koch helped deliver the message on the need for containment, the streets were quiet. Meanwhile, there were also riots in London as authorities struggled to contain the disease. Graverobbing scandals involving scientists  and revelations of two serial killers selling bodies to a local anatomy school  fuelled stories that cholera victims were being taken away to be murdered for experiments. In the end, an appeal from another respected doctor calmed people. Riots have also broken out alongside more recent outbreaks - such as in 2010 when UN peacekeeping troops brought cholera to Haiti.

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The cholera bacteria superimposed on riots over quarantine measures in Astrakhan, Russia in 1892. Credit:Getty Images. Composite: Mark Stehle How did past pandemics end? Most diseases, once loose, tend to linger in some form in humans. But there are two main ways a pandemic wave comes to an end, says Nobel Prize-winning immunologist Professor Peter Doherty. The old road of early history saw infections burn out once enough people had either died or recovered with natural immunity then encoded into their cells. The other way is intervention  quarantine and, today, medicine. Back in the Middle Ages, when the plague kept returning, there wasn't a choice. Without a treatment or an inoculation, survivors could only avoid the sick via quarantines and hope (and pray) they would be spared next time the Black Death came to call. Their DNA helped shaped the evolution of the human immune system. But scientists stress that we still don't know how long or even if survivors of COVID-19 will likewise become immune. This is a "virgin soil" pandemic, Doherty notes, brand new to humanity. So "letting the virus rip" in order to build up a faster "herd immunity" against it, could be catastrophic, especially given its mortality rate seems at least 10 times that of seasonal flu. In the case of the other main killer in history, smallpox, the turning point came in 1796. The virus is from the same family as the less severe cowpox and monkeypox and is thought to have first emerged around the time humans began domesticating animals (it was found in the tombs of ancient pharaohs, Ruhli says). Last century, it became the first human disease to be wiped off the face of the Earth. How? English doctor Edward Jenner had observed that milkmaids with cowpox tended not to be stricken by smallpox. He took fluid from a cowpox lesion and injected it into the arm of a nine-year-old boy before exposing him to various viruses. The boy didn't ever catch smallpox and so the modern method of engineering immunity against disease began. But it would take almost another 200 years to drive out the pox altogether as some countries held out against mandatory inoculations. Edward Jenner who discovered vaccination against smallpox (seen here in colour). Credit:Getty Images: Composite Mark Stehle

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Text equivalent Front view of two Next Generation dosimeters that are placed side by side with the right dosimeter positioned slightly below the left one. Both dosimeters are rectangular and dark blue in color. The dosimeter on the left has a narrow black rectangular name label centered at the top with the name J.L. Picard printed in white font. Below this, also in white font, is the group number A12345, Whole body and date 2014.12.01. The dosimeter on the right has a narrow white rectangular name label, centered at the top with the name J.L. Picard printed in black font. Below this, also in black font, is the group number A12345, Whole body and date 2014.12.01. On each dosimeter, below the name label and on the left side of the dosimeter is a separate square white label with the acronym NDS/SND and Canada logo. To the right of the acronyms and logo is a square silver foil adhesive tape. Apertures appear on the top and bottom of each dosimeter. The dosimeter on the right has a metal and black vinyl fastening clip attached to the top.

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Need a budget-friendly new spot? Though apartment hunting can be challenging, don't despair just yet  there are deals to be had. So what does a cheap rent on a rental in the Heights look like these days  and what might you get for the price?

According to Walk Score's assessment, the neighborhood is quite walkable, is convenient for biking and has some transit options. It also features median rents for a one bedroom that hover around $1,225, compared to a $1,229 one-bedroom median for Houston as a whole.

A look at local listings in the Heights via rental sites Zumper and Apartment Guide offers an overview of what price-conscious 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.

900 N. Durham Drive

Listed at $890/month, this 620-square-foot one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment, located at 900 N. Durham Drive, is 27.3% less than the $1,225/month median rent for a one bedroom in the Heights.

The building features on-site laundry; in the unit, expect hardwood flooring, a walk-in closet and a dishwasher. Pet lovers are in luck: This rental is both dog-friendly and cat-friendly. There's no leasing fee required for this rental.

(See the complete listing here.)

513 Ridge St.

This one-bedroom, one-bathroom address, situated at 513 Ridge St., is listed for $900/month for its 600 square feet.

The residence has hardwood flooring; the building offers garage parking. For those with furry friends in tow, this rental is pet-friendly. The rental doesn't require a leasing fee.

(See the complete listing here.)

2121 Ella Blvd.

Here's a one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment at 2121 Ella Blvd., which is going for $1,045/month.

Building amenities include on-site laundry, outdoor space and additional storage space. Also, expect to find a balcony and a walk-in closet in the unit. This rental is cat-friendly. Future tenants needn't worry about a leasing fee.

(See the full listing here.)

935 Byrne St.

Check out this one-bedroom, one-bathroom dwelling at 935 Byrne St., listed at $1,100/month.

The building offers on-site laundry and a gym. The listing also promises a deck and stainless steel appliances in the residence. Good news for pet lovers: This rental is both dog-friendly and cat-friendly.

(Here's the listing.)

1202 Archer St.

This one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment, situated at 1202 Archer St., is also listed for $1,100/month.

You'll find a renovated kitchen and high ceilings in the unit. Pet owners, inquire elsewhere: This spot doesn't allow cats or dogs. The building has garage parking.

(See the listing here.)

This story was created automatically using local real estate data from Zumper and Apartment Guide, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Additionally, read on for five marketing tips for real estate agents to showcase local market expertise.

Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.
By Akbar Mammadov

The United Nations have circulated a document that condemns illegal elections held in Azerbaijans occupied Nagorno-Karabkah conflict, Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Leyla Abdullayeva said on 24 April.

The document is based on the letter sent by Azerbaijans Permanent Representative to the UN Secretary-General on April 15 and has been circulated as UN General Assembly and Security Council documents under agenda items 32, 37, 68, 70, 75 and 83 under titles Protracted conflicts in the GUAM area and their implications for international peace, security and development, "The situation in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, "Elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance", "Promotion and protection of human rights", "Responsibility of States for internationally wrongful acts" and "The rule of law at the national and international levels".

The document points out to the fact the so-called elections in Nagorno-Karabakh was held 31 March  the Day of Genocide of Azerbaijanis, commemorated in Azerbaijan in memory of those thousands of civilians killed as a result of Armenian offensives in 1918.

No doubt, such an ostentatious and cynical action will serve for nothing but to deepen mistrust and narrow the already elusive prospects of peace and reconciliation", the letter reads.

The letter says that the elections were held despite the COVID-19 pandemic, thus once again vividly demonstrating that Armenia subordinates the well-being and safety of residents under occupation to political expediency, in total disregard of public morality and in violation of international humanitarian law.

"As a consequence, the first coronavirus cases in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan were reported immediately after these so-called elections, it said.

"The very fact of the statement made by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia is yet another proof that the elections in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan were staged by Armenia in an attempt to give the puppet regime it has set up in those territories the appearance of some kind of legitimacy. Evidently, this attempt has failed", reads the document.

The document also stresses that the elections were held in an environment of total illegitimacy, which stems from the continuing military occupation and ethnic cleansing of the territories of Azerbaijan and a clear violation of the Constitution and legislation of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the norms and principles of international law.

"The international community once again has overwhelmingly reaffirmed its consistent and principled position of collective non-recognition of the situation resulting from the occupation of the territories of Azerbaijan by rejecting and invalidating the so-called elections, which thus have no effect whatsoever", the letter reads.

"Armenia must realize the lack of any prospect of its attempts to mislead the international community as to the essence, causes and consequences of the war it unleashed, refrain from wasting time to make irrelevant and out-of-context statements in the future and engage faithfully in the conflict settlement process", Azerbaijani Representative concludes.

---

Akbar Mammadov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AkbarMammadov97

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Cadbury has spent hundreds of thousands of pounds on a new logo that looks just like the old one.

The much-loved British chocolate maker has ditched some of the words thickness and slightly re-moulded their tilt.

Its designer said this 'puts the humanity back' into the signature, which has gone unchanged for 50 years. But critics say this is simply a fudge.

Cadbury logo will change for the first time in 50 years from next month, but the revamped logo will not reach the UK until 2021

New logo has been panned by critics for looking very similar to the old one despite the price

Cadbury is also planning to shift the glass and a half full logo to show milk being poured into a chocolate chunk, rather than an i.

PR expert Mark Borkowski told The Sun the re-brand, by agency Bulletproof, could easily have cost 1million. Cadbury disputed this, saying it was less than half that figure but would not confirm the exact amount.

Borkowski said the national favourite was right to keep the changes subtle to avoid alienating customers.

Cadbury is rolling out the new logo in Australia from next month, but it won't reach the UK until 2021.

Cadbury's eggs pictured in Tesco's in the reduced to clear section of the supermarket

The chocolate giant said the change, to be plastered on bars of Dairy Milk along with other favourites, will make them 'look and feel more natural, authentic and high quality'.

'The revitalisation of the Cadbury wordmark drew inspiration from the hand of founder John Cadbury himself to create a beatifully crafted signature with a more contemporary feel,' they said.

Cadbury has used the signature of director William Cadbury since 1921, but did not stamp it on chocolate bars until 1960.

John Cadbury founded the chocolate company in Birmingham in 1824.

A Cadbury spokesman said: 'The Cadbury logo redesign is part of a much wider brand refresh which began over a year ago and touches all Cadbury visual assets.

'The cost of this work to the UK market was nowhere near the 1million figure that has recently been suggested and reported in the press.'
Canada's worst mass shooting erupted from an argument between the gunman and his girlfriend, who survived the attack, police said. Royal Canadian Mounted Police Supt. Darren Campbell on Friday said the weekend shooting rampage started with an assault by the suspect on his girlfriend and ended with 22 people dead in communities across central and northern Nova Scotia.

"She did manage to escape. That could well have been the catalyst of events," Campbell said.

Authorities are also not discounting the suspect planned some of the murders.

Campbell said the girlfriend hid overnight in the woods from the suspect, who has been identified as 51-year-old Gabriel Wortman.

Police have said Wortman acted alone in the shooting spree that killed 22 people in more than 16 crime scenes in several rural communities.

Campbell said they found 13 deceased victims in the rural community of Portapique, a quiet community of 100 residents where the suspect lived part time.

He said when police arrived, they discovered a man shot. The man reported he was driving when someone in what looked like a police car shot him. He survived and was transported to hospital.

They were several homes on fire, including the suspect's, when police arrived in the community.

Campbell said the suspect had a pistol that was acquired in Canada and several long barreled guns that were obtained in the United States.

Police found several people who were deceased, some of which were lying in the roadway.

Authorities initially thought the suspect might have committed suicide and was in one of the homes that was on fire, he said.

Campbell said at about 6.30 am, Wortman's girlfriend emerged from hiding in the woods, called 911 and gave police detailed information about the suspect including that he was driving a mock police car and was in police uniform.

Police later started receiving 911 calls more than 35 miles away. Campbell said the suspect killed two men and a woman and set their house on fire. He knew at least two of them.

He then approached another residence in that area where he knew people, and knocked on the door. But the people inside did not answer and he left.

The occupants called 911 and confirmed the suspect was armed and was driving what looked like a police car.

He then shot a woman on the street and pulled cars over and shot and killed people, Campbell said. He later shot and injured a male police officer in his car. The officer managed to escape and survived.

Campbell then said there was a collision between a female officer's police car and the gunman's mock police car. He shot and killed the officer and took her gun and set fire to the cars. Campbell said he also killed a passerby and took their SUV.

He then drove to a house and killed a woman he knew before removing his police uniform and stealing her car. He then drove to get gas and was shot by a police officer who happened to be at the gas station refuelling.

The suspect was shot to death at 11:26 am on Sunday, about 13 hours after the attacks began.

There seems to be a trail of individuals who had problems with Mr. Wortman, Campbell said.

Police have said Wortman carried out much of the attack disguised as a police officer in a vehicle marked to seem like a patrol car.

Campbell said he had a few cars that police believe were former police vehicles. Campbell said the suspect's girlfriend is recovering and continues to cooperate with police.

He said it would have been a lot worse had she not told them he was driving a car made to look like a police vehicle.

John Hudson, who had known Wortman for about 18 years, said Wortman was sometimes openly controlling and jealous of his long-time girlfriend.

I didn't see him hitting her or anything like that. But I know they fought, Hudson said.

Hudson recalled a bonfire party about 10 years ago when an argument between the two left the woman locked out of their home in rural Portapique.

I was with her, trying to get her stuff out of there, Hudson said. People had been drinking ... and it was a crazy night ... and he didn't want her to leave, but he wouldn't let her in the house.

Hudson said at one point, Wortman removed the tires from the woman's vehicle and threw them into the ditch to prevent her from leaving.

So, I went to get (her clothes) and what he said to me was: 'I don't want anyone in my house. If you come in my house, I'm just telling you, I've got guns in here.'"

Hudson said his neighbour had been purchasing used police vehicles at auctions.

Wortman, who owned a denture practice in the city of Dartmouth, near Halifax, lived part time in Portapique, according to residents.

His Atlantic Denture Clinic had been closed the past month because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Nova Scotia, meanwhile, issued an emergency alert to cell phones warning residents to shelter in place and refrain from travel as police are on scene in a wooded area of Halifax in relation to a report of shots fired.

They also said there is also an additional report of shots fired in another area of Halifax.

RCMP in Nova Scotia later said investigations into reports of shots fired continue in two locations while a third incident was noise from a construction site.

The province and police were criticised for not sending out an emergency alert during Wortman's 13-hour rampage. Mass shootings are relatively rare in Canada.

The country overhauled its gun control laws after Marc Lepine shot 14 women and himself to death at Montreal's Ecole Polytechnique college in 1989. Before the weekend rampage, that had been Canada's worst mass shooting.

Two years ago, a man drove a van along a busy Toronto sidewalk and killed 10 people and injured 16. The suspect, who is awaiting trial, said he carried out the attack in retribution for years of sexual rejection and ridicule by women.
yorkfoto/iStockBy ALISA WIERSEMA, ABC News



(WASHINGTON) -- The ongoing coronavirus pandemic has already thrown the 2020 primary season into disarray, but now with just over six months until November, the aftershocks of the spread of COVID-19 threaten to rock the general election, leaving states grappling with a slew of underlying logistical hurdles embedded in the administration of the voting process.



Filings submitted by states and territories to the U.S. Elections Assistance Commission as part of the CARES Act -- a $2 trillion economic stimulus package President Donald Trump signed into law last month -- indicate that election officials are already scrambling to address inevitable changes ahead, but given the decentralized nature of U.S. elections, each state seems to be angling at different solutions to mitigate voting amid the pandemic.



The outlined tactics include a myriad of issues including tangible solutions -- like using the funds to purchase cleaning supplies and personal protective equipment for poll workers -- to more nuanced endeavors, like bolstering vote-by-mail efforts and absentee voting procedures. Some states even specify plans to dedicate a portion of their granted funds to run communications campaigns aimed at educating Americans about any newly-implemented changes to the voting process.



According to the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, all 50 states submitted funding request letters for grants apportioned through the $400 million included in the Help America Vote Act, which was a component of the CARES Act. As of April 7, the Election Assistance Commission says it had obligated 100% of the funds, and as of April 20, it had disbursed 75% to the states. The funds are disbursed within four or five days of receiving a states request letter.



Although the current set of submitted request descriptions serve as broad outlines for how states may ultimately end up using the first tranche of funds, they also provide an early glimpse into which elements of the voting process states are currently examining ahead of November.

Most states show a focus on expanding voting methods



A review conducted by ABC News of requests submitted by states as of Tuesday to the Election Assistance Commission, indicates at least 32 states and the District of Columbia explicitly note a component of the received federal funding would in some way go toward bolstering either vote-by-mail efforts or absentee voting, which typically happens by mail.



The notion of strengthening the infrastructure to fund such methods seems to stretch across the countrys geopolitical regions, with states that are traditionally considered safely partisan grounds for both sides of the aisle echo similar priorities, despite Trumps recent pushback on voting by mail.



Mail ballots are a very dangerous thing for this country, because they're cheaters. They go and collect them. They're fraudulent in many cases, Trump alleged at a press conference earlier this month, as a debate over the dangers of holding in-person voting amid the coronavirus pandemic seeped into the voting process of the Wisconsin primary election.



Election experts and secretaries of states where elections are conducted by mail voting largely disagree with the idea that mail ballots are more prone to tampering or fraud. Even so, the process of conducting an all-mail election presents a series of detailed steps.



During a panel discussion on the topic of holding elections in the time of the coronavirus pandemic hosted by the Center for American Progress earlier this month, Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold described the typical mail voting process in her state. Colorado is currently one of five states conducting all elections by mail, along with Hawaii, Oregon, Utah and Washington.



Griswold said when mail ballots are returned in her state, they are delivered in sealed, tract boxes to county processing centers where they are opened by a bipartisan team of election judges and sorted into trays. After that, a different team of bipartisan election judges conducts signature comparisons on the ballots.



"If there are any discrepancies a voter is contacted, and if they do not cure those discrepancies, the ballot is actually referred to a district attorney for prosecution," Griswold said, adding that prosecution rates in Colorado are "extremely low."



Even so, election experts advise that states hoping to bolster similar methods need to be wary of the human error that often comes with first-time mail voters.



If there's a public service announcement that I could do, it's that everybody who's going to vote by mail needs to read the instructions very carefully and follow those instructions to make sure that your ballot will be counted, says Michael McDonald, an elections expert and political science professor at the University of Florida.



You don't want to go through the whole process of requesting a ballot, filling it out, mailing it back in, only to have it rejected because you fail to do an important step in the process, McDonald said in an interview with ABC News.

Some states already indicate a need to educate 2020 voters



In addition to failing to read instructions, McDonald says some voters make other well meaning errors like sending multiple ballots in one envelope from all members of a household.



The tribulations McDonald describes highlight the need for a strong voting communications infrastructure, which some states seem to already have on their to-do lists ahead of November based on initial funding requests sent to the Election Assistance Commission.



According to federal funding requests reviewed by ABC News, a handful of states -- including Illinois, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, Wyoming, West Virginia, as well as the District of Columbia -- noted that they would use some of the allocated funds to run communication campaigns aimed at voters in hopes of informing them about potential changes or updates in their states' respective voting processes.



Experts also note that a crucial component of administering effective voter communication would include informing people of any changes to the voter registration process well ahead of November.



[States] are going to need to upgrade their voter registration systems so they can do online registration and so they can have remote access for people who can't access online voter registration [portals], Wendy Weiser, a vice president and director at the Brennan Center for Justice Democracy Program told ABC News in an interview.



Three states, including California, Maryland, Wyoming, along with the District of Columbia, specifically mentioned using the funds to approach voter registration, at least in some capacity, in their federal funding requests.



McDonald said that a lagging focus on registration by states could also present an opportunity for political groups to fill the void, especially with people who are not currently registered voters. Groups who are unregistered in larger numbers tend to be younger people, people of color and people who tend to be on the lower end of the economic spectrum, according to McDonald.



You're going to have the parties and campaigns act as backstops for what the election officials are doing, he said.



Funding requests show polling places will still exist



Day-to-day lifestyle changes due to the coronavirus pandemic also loom large in ABC News' analysis of provided funding requests.



At the time of review by ABC News, least 32 states and two territories explicitly noted they would use the funds to purchase sanitizing materials or personal protective equipment, further indicating an expectation that in the months ahead, both voters and poll workers will be inclined to follow health safety measures that are currently in place.



Election experts agree that physical polling places will still need to exist regardless of current pandemic conditions in order to accommodate certain groups within the electorate, like people with disabilities.



Some states were really adamant about the fact that you can't do away completely with in-person voting, I agree with that, McDonald said.



Weiser also backed that sentiment, saying, We're still going to have polling places, no matter what and we still need to have them.



Still, these experts also note that states will likely face a myriad of adjustments as they proceed with administering the 2020 election, which will require election officials to address newfound safety concerns along the way. As medical experts contemplate the possibility of the virus resurgence closer to November, any unexpected hurdles could lead to a need for more funding.



The potential for additional costs looms large



The cost of holding a fully secure and safe presidential election amid a pandemic would run about five times more than the amount that has been disbursed so far. According to a March estimate calculated by the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University Law School, states would need an estimated total of $2 billion to adequately prepare, staff and organize the voting process in time for the November election.



Experts at the nonpartisan think tank warned that costs could balloon even more than their original estimates given updated safety guidance from health officials that calls on people to protect themselves and those around them by wearing masks.



There's a range of other innovations that are happening right now that will add significantly to the cost of running the election that we did not cost out, Weiser said, adding, [The estimate] should be viewed as a floor, not as the entirety of it, but I think it was to add some real concreteness to the kinds of expenses that states were going to have.



Weiser said states would need to factor in adjustments to virtually every step of administering the election process, including the actual counting and processing of individual ballots. Weiser argues that the current federal sum of $400 million distributed among states is not enough to run a fair and credible election this November.



At the very least, we will see, you know, the kinds of problems we saw in Wisconsin play out across the country, Weiser says.



The latest stimulus package signed by Trump on Thursday aims to help small businesses, hospitals and first responders, and bolstering nationwide coronavirus testing, and did not address further funding the election or election security. On Friday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Democrats are moving ahead with crafting the next coronavirus relief package, which she says will aim to help states.



Earlier in the week, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer indicated that election funding was going to be among the top priorities for Democrats in the next round of negotiations, but as the legislative process inches along, experts say time is running out.



[States] are going to run out of time at some point -- the printers that have said that if the orders don't come in by early summer -- and in some cases it's even earlier -- they're not going to be able to print those ballots on time by November, Weiser says. So it's, you know, it takes time.



Copyright  2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
China has approved its third coronavirus vaccine for the second phase of clinical trials as it reported 12 new COVID-19 cases, taking the total number of infections in the country to 82,816.

China has approved three coronavirus vaccines, including the one developed by Chinese military, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) for clinical trials.

An "inactivated" vaccine developed by Wuhan Institute of Biological Products under the China National Pharmaceutical Group (Sinopharm) and the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) started its clinical trials, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

An "inactivated" vaccine consists of virus particles, bacteria, or other pathogens that have been grown in culture and then lose disease producing capacity. In contrast, live vaccines use pathogens that are still alive.

WIV has been in the eye of the storm in recent weeks as US President Donald Trump and top American officials alleged that the coronavirus may have escaped from there and demanded a probe into it. An official of the WIV denied it, terming the allegation "entirely based on speculation".

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 total of 96 persons in three age groups have received the vaccine in the first phase of clinical trial as of April 23. The vaccine has shown good safety results so far and vaccine receivers are still under observation, said the Chinese pharmaceutical company Sinopharm.

The randomised, double-blind and placebo-controlled clinical trials of the inactivated vaccine are conducted in Jiaozuo, central China's Henan Province, and the second phase of clinical trial will focus on the vaccination procedure, it said.

The vaccine will also go through the third phase of the clinical trial, and it may take about one year to complete the clinical trial before finally reaching the conclusion on the vaccine's safety and efficacy, it said.

China has approved three COVID-19 vaccine candidates for clinical trials.

An adenovirus vector vaccine, developed by Institute of Military Medicine under the Academy of Military Sciences, was the first to be approved to enter a clinical trial.

The first phase of the clinical trial was completed at the end of March, and the second phase started on April 12.

Meanwhile China's National Health Commission, (NHC) said on Saturday that 12 newly confirmed COVID-19 cases were reported in the country on Friday, of which 11 were imported.

The other one was domestically transmitted in Heilongjiang Province bordering Russia.

The death toll in the country remained at 4,632 people as no fatalities were reported due to coronavirus on Friday, it said.

The overall confirmed cases on the mainland had reached 82,816 by Friday, including 838 patients who were still being treated and 77,346 people discharged after treatment.

The total number of imported cases of the coronavirus in China increased to 1,629 on Friday, of this 909 had been discharged from hospitals after recovery, and 720 were being treated with 25 in severe conditions, it said.

Also on Friday, 29 asymptomatic cases were reported. So far, 983 suspected asymptomatic cases, including 150 from abroad, were still under medical observation, it said.

Coronavirus' first epicentres Hubei and its capital Wuhan had 553 asymptomatic cases under medical observation, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

The asymptomatic cases were a cause of concern as the government has lifted over two-month lockdown in Hubei and Wuhan after cases abated.

Asymptomatic cases refer to people who are tested positive for the coronavirus but develop no symptoms such as fever, cough or sore throat. They are infectious and pose a risk of spreading to others.
The Union government has promised to take immediate measures to bring back stranded expatriates in West Asia because of the impact of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) outbreak, Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said on Saturday. The Centre would also bring in necessary changes in the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) directives to bring back bodies of those from Kerala, who died due to Covid-19 in Persian Gulf countries, he added.

The state is ready to take back its people. The evacuees will have to spend at least 14 days in quarantine on their arrival. Weve made adequate arrangements for their stay and healthcare needs, the CM said. Around 18 lakh people from Kerala are working in the Gulf nations. But, there are reports that at least two lakh of them, primarily blue-collar migrant workers, pregnant women, senior citizens, and students, are ready to come back home.

Remittances from the Gulf nations are Keralas mainstay. Many expatriates from the state, who are working in the Gulf countries, are reportedly peeved with the government citing poorer nations such as Pakistan and the Philippines that had evacuated their nationals, but Keralites were left in the lurch amid the pandemic.

Coronavirus outbreak: Full coverage

Vijayan said that seven new Covid-19 cases were reported on Saturday, taking the total count to 457. So far, 342 have recovered and discharged from hospitals and another 116 are still undergoing treatment. The total number of people under observation has come down to 21,044 from over 2 lakh. Kerala has conducted 22,360 Covid-19 tests to date, the CM added.

Vijayan also welcomed the MHAs latest directives allowing the opening of small and neighbourhood shops. Itll ease some pressure. Well allow these shops to open only after disinfecting them. Similarly, theyve to clean their neighbourhoods. We wont allow any overcrowding at these shops and the police will keep a strict vigil on them, he added.

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The holiest month on the Islamic calendar is about to start, but coronavirus containment measures mean many Muslims will have to adapt their traditions to life under lockdown: Families, mosques and governments around the world have been preparing to take Ramadan online. As Euronews writes, breaking the fast as a family is an important tradition during Ramadan and Muslims are now planning virtual Iftars (the evening meals with which they break their daily fast) and Suhoors (the early morning meals they have before fasting) using videoconference tools.

The Ramadan Tent Project, which has in recent years held giant Iftar events across London  bringing together hundreds of people in iconic locations such as Trafalgar Square, Westminster Abbey and Wembley Stadium  is now organising "Open Iftars" online to keep the tradition alive despite the context.

"We use Ramadan and the Iftar meal to bring communities together to better understand each other. And what weve found is that now more than ever theres a bigger need for that spiritual, social and human connection," the charity's head of operations Amad Afzal told Euronews.

Online Iftars with a theme

Zainab Gulamali, spokeswoman for the Muslim Council of Britain, praised organisations for stepping up to the challenge and helping people make the most of Ramadan whilst under lockdown.

"There has been a real drive across the world, particularly spiritually, within mosques and Islamic centres, to make sure that they put as many of their services online as possible," Gulamali told Euronews.

"And because everyone is doing this, you can be in London and tune in to a speaker that you really like in the US for example, and people across the world are able to access more religious services than ever before."

Gulamali said people were being creative and setting up online Iftars on a variety of subjects. "There will be people sitting around the laptop on Zoom breaking their fast together and then having a discussion about different things  from sustainability to writing groups, having Iftars whilst doing some work  and also lots of games and sessions organised for children, who would usually be spending time in the mosque together," she said.

Looking after your health during Ramadan

The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) suggests preparing menus in advance to limit shopping trips and avoid contact with others.

Fasting under these conditions has also raised concerns in many communities. The World Health Organization has recommended that COVID-19 patients consider not fasting and the Muslim Council for Britain has issued special guidance.

"Healthcare workers wearing PPE (personal protective equipment) or doing long shifts can be at real risk of dehydration or making clinical errors because of this, so they're exempt from fasting because this could impact on their health or the health of others," Gulamali told Euronews.

"Similarly, those who are physically or mentally unwell are always exempt from fasting, and this year because of the pandemic it's important for those who are unwell to make sure they take the necessary precautions and don't fast."

'Quality over quantity'

For those who are fasting, the MCB advises people to drink lots of water during their workdays. It also recommends eating high energy, slow-burn foods for Suhoor (right before the start of their fast) to remain energised throughout the workday, "especially as we can experience heightened levels of anxiety during these times".

The Council also stresses the importance of looking after your mental health.

"Life can be full, and we try to fill it with more worship during Ramadan. We all want to pray more and this can help with anxiety but it is important to be good to yourself  sometimes it is quality over quantity".
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Days after United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for peace in Libya, the foreign ministers of Germany, France and Italy along with a top diplomat from the European Union have made a joint call for a humanitarian truce in the war-torn African nation. In 2014, a civil war ensued between the Libyan National Army led by Marshal Khalifa Haftar and Tripolis Government of National Accord, led by Fayez al-Sarraj for control of resources and territory. According to reports, the statement signed by Joseph Borrell, Jean-Yves Le Drian, Luigi di Maio and Heiko Maas called on Libyan actors to get inspired from holy Ramadan and engage in resuming talks for a genuine ceasefire.

We want to unite our voices to those of the U.N. Secretary-General (Antonio) Guterres and his Acting Special Representative for Libya, Stephanie Turco Williams, in their call for a humanitarian truce in Libya, the statement said.

Last month, Stephane Dujarric, the spokesperson for the Secretary-General, said that the Secretary-General calls on the parties to accept the draft ceasefire agreement emanating from the 5+5 Joint Military Commission talks facilitated by the United Nations in Geneva in February. Guterres hoped positive response to the calls for a humanitarian pause to stop the fighting will be translated into an immediate and unconditional cessation of hostilities.

Political and humanitarian crisis

Read: Hifter Supporters Rally Amid Tensions In Libya

Libya has been facing a political and humanitarian crisis after the self-styled Libyan National Army, headed by Khalifa Haftar, launched a battle against the Tripolis UN-recognised government. Thousands of Tripoli residents have been displaced due to the shelling that started earlier this year targeting the outskirts of the Libyan capital.

Read: 'Love Grows By Sharing': Chimpanzee Shares Apple With Tortoise, Watch

Both parties came to a truce agreement on January 12 which marked reduction of hostilities in Tripoli, providing a much-needed respite to civilians. However, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Haftar was continuing attacks with all his resources even after the ceasefire agreement. The pressure on bringing both the parties together has been so much that earlier this month, United Nations Special Representative to Libya Ghassan Salame stepped down from the responsibility citing immense stress due to the nature of the job.

(Image credits: AP)

Read: UN In Libya Warns Of Possible War Crimes As Fighting Rages

Read: UN Chief Urges Warring Libyan Parties To Accept Draft Ceasefire Deal

(With inputs from agencies)
Sri Lanka Tourism cushions industrys financial crisis By Sunimalee Dias View(s): View(s):

Sri Lankas tourism regulator is seeking a monetary push to the now-devastated tourism industry, facing a financial crisis with not a single traveller in sight, to help pay wages of part of its workforce.

Sri Lanka Tourism Chairperson Kimarli Fernando addressing a webinar hosted by Advocata on COVID Impact on Tourism on Tuesday stated that they were in talks with the International Monetary Fund and was working with the Bank of Ceylon as coordinator to provide support to workers earning less than Rs.40,000. At present there are about 80,000 direct employees in the sector.

In addition support in the form of a one-off payment for drivers and tour guides will be made including restaurant owners and establishments that have registered with the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), she explained.

Further financial impetus is being worked out through the UNDP for an assessment of the way forward for the industry.

Currently with the pandemic we are talking with the UNDP to have a 3-stage strategy on the situation assessment, impact assessment and roadmap for the way forward, Ms. Fernando said.

Another Euro 3.5 million has been allocated by the European Union but this is not for hand-outs and would serve for other work of the industry, she said.

Moreover, she called on banks to stand by the industry and assist them to overcome the crisis they were faced with as they have contributed sizeably to the incomes of the financial sector as well.

I appeal from you to help us, she said adding that the respective associations of the industry should send a list of the assistance required by them with names of banks as has been done by the tour guides already in order for the authorities to assist them.

In addition, the authorities are looking at working with the SMEs since they are the worst affected in this crisis and in this respect, Ms. Fernando noted they were faced with some challenges but will look at the classifications and will work with the land registry and Pradeshiya Sabha to work out a financial assistance for them as well.

Eventually people will travel

Optimistic of the future recovery, the chairperson noted that: Eventually people will travel when the traveller is comfortable with the place they are staying in and the airline they travel in and the countrys health system.

In this respect, she noted that some airlines have already started their process of carrying out health checks on their passengers prior to going onboard.

And the time is right to ask the question on the yield per tourist and market targeting the senior citizens that visit destinations for longer periods, Ms. Fernando said.

In this respect, the health and safety factors would be essential and in fact the visa process will need to change as everyone will be requested to take a test as a voluntary or mandatory requirement depending on the regulations of the health authorities, she explained.

Further regulations would have to be brought in to introduce visas that are currently only for single entry to be extended for a 5-year period, it was noted.

Moreover, hotel bookings need to be made prior to arrival in Sri Lanka and upon entry to the country tourists considered healthy will be given an app to which tourists will need to register giving all details of the visitor to ensure authorities are aware of the travel arrangements.

New business model for SriLankan

The national carrier is currently working out a new business plan to take the ailing airline forward by internally working out a route map and the opportunities they have for the short and medium term, CEO of SriLankan Airlines Vipula Gunatilleka said during the seminar.

I wouldnt see tourism returning in the near future, he explained adding that tourism depends on the economic well-being of its passengers.

He noted that it is expected that some of the developed countries in the European region might start travelling by November this year.

Mr. Gunatilleka explained that airlines fixed costs were its lease costs and when the aircraft were grounded they face problems so SriLankan Airlines has obtained some concessions from the lessors under the circumstances.

The companys monthly payroll amounts to 25 per cent that would be $7-8 million and lease cost attributing 40 per cent of fixed monthly cost at around $14 million, the CEO said.

Aviation is a capacity-driven business and in this respect, the airline needs to look at a new business model and reinvent the current model and focus on ecommerce, he noted.

In this respect, the carrier will reconsider moving into destinations they had earlier dropped like Frankfurt, Sydney and Paris, he said.

India may not be a route they could move into easily. One of the worrying factors for me is India as it is one of the worst affected countries and no one knows the magnitude of the persons affected by the coronavirus, he said.

If markets dont recover in six months we will have to look at new opportunities, he said.

On the other hand, he pointed out how domestic carriers in China and the US had recommenced operations; similarly they expect South Korea and Japan to bounce back.

Not gloom and doom

Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO) President Mahen Kariyawasam said they hope the government will assist them with some soft loans, else they would be compelled to initiate staff cuts.

He pointed out that the financial package offered by the government need to ensure that SMEs were not requested to give collateral as these smaller firms would be unable to cope.

In addition, the VAT component that was reduced for the tourism sector in December last year was not passed down to the tour operators and this needs to be worked out.

Most of our members will not be able to pay the VAT instalment going forward, he said adding that they will have to look at a new business model with new markets and more stringent health and safety measures adopted.

SLAITO has 200 members with about 4000 workers but under the coronavirus outbreak they would have to go for reductions since the tourism industry is unlikely to revive within one year, Mr. Kariyawasam said.

With the global promotional campaign receiving Cabinet approval, the country needs to work out new terms of reference and ensure the marketing takes place as people have saved up and will be ready to travel, he noted.

Hotels Association Chairman Sanath Ukwatte said that the prices in the industry fell by nearly 60 per cent and occupancies dropped by 40 per cent last year when the Easter Sunday attacks occurred but recovery was happily taking place this year in January and February.

As a capital intensive industry with a fixed cost on payroll and maintenance and with nearly 6500 additional rooms there seems to be a glut in the market, he noted. This is an unprecedented situation.

Most member hotels were compelled to go for pay cuts with a majority of the staff staying at home, he said.

But its not gloom and doom  we are confident that the industry will recover, Mr. Ukwattte noted.

In terms of wages, a minimum could be Rs.13,000 plus service charge that could vary from Rs.15-17,000 per month and 2018 recorded the highest service charge payment at Rs.50,000.

At present hotels run on the new guidelines with social distancing norms practiced and an essential staff running plant and machinery and conducting maintenance, household duties and security. But once the business opens they will have to refurbish the hotel, Mr. Ukwatte said.

He also noted that they have been receiving inquiries for tentative bookings for January and with companion-free deals the industry needs to work together with them and airlines to launch the country onto the world audience.

The webinar was moderated by JB Securities CEO Murtaza Jafferjee.
Saudi Arabia is reportedly ending flogging as a form of punishment and will instead resort to prison sentences or fines, or a mixture of both, according to a document from the kingdoms top court. The decision was taken by the General Commission for the Supreme Court, as it said that flogging was punishment without a codified system of law that comprised of Syariah, or the Islamic law, and individual judges might interpret texts and pronounce their own sentences, the document confirmed, as per news agency report.

Further, the document reportedly said that the decision was the extension of the human rights reforms which was introduced under directives issued by King Salman in accordance with the supervision of Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman. Flogging has long been employed in the history of Saudi Arabia to yield punishments to umpteen offenders for a range of crimes such as public intoxication, harassment, and extramarital sex. Although, the right groups have reportedly been critical of the punishment as they documented several cases in the past in which Saudi judges pronounced flogging for minor offenses.

Read: Amnesty International Raises Concerns Regarding Saudi Arabia Take Over Of Newcastle United

Read: Coronavirus Crisis Presents Opportunity For Saudi's Newcastle Project

In line with human rights norms

Awwad Alawwad, the president of the state-backed Human Rights Commission, was quoted as saying that the reform was a momentous step forward in Saudi Arabias human rights agenda, and merely one of many recent reforms in the kingdom. Furthermore, Adam Coogle of Human Rights Watch reportedly said that the decision was a welcome change but should have happened years ago. He added that there was nothing now standing in the way of Saudi Arabia reforming its unfair judicial system.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabias supreme court said that its latest reforms in the law were intended to bring the kingdom into line with international human rights norms against corporal punishment, a leading media outlet reported. This, however, does not outlaw other capital punishments pronounced under the regular law such as beheading for terrorism crimes or murder.

Read: Premier League Caught In Geopolitical Storm Amid 300m Newcastle Saudi Takeover: Report

Read: 11 Indians Succumb In Saudi Arabia Due To Coronavirus; India's Embassy Issues Statement


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Two men have been charged with conspiracy to import Class A drugs after cocaine worth 3 million was discovered in a purpose-built hide in a lorry that had come by ferry from France to Dover.

The National Crime Agency said lorry driver Gary Sloan, 50, from Magheralin in Northern Ireland, and Jason Bunce, 57, from Kingswood in Kent, were appearing at Canterbury Magistrates' Court on Saturday.

A 40-year-old man from Dover, who was detained at a haulage yard in the town, has been released under investigation.

Officers from the National Crime Agency and UK Border Force discovered cocaine, pictured, hidden in a secret compartment of a truck which had just arrived on a ferry from France in Dover on Thursday night

Two men, r Gary Sloan, 50, from Magheralin in Northern Ireland, and Jason Bunce, 57, from Kingswood in Kent, have been charged in connection with the seizure which was made in Dover on Thursday, file photograph

At least 36 kilogrammes of cocaine was recovered by NCA investigators and Border Force officers in the operation on Thursday night.

Sloan was arrested after the discovery and Bunce was detained after being stopped near Dover, the NCA said.

Officers from the NCA and the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) also carried out searches of properties in Northern Ireland's County Derry and County Armagh.

NCA regional head of investigations Gerry McLean said: 'This was a significant seizure of class A drugs which would have generated a large amount of profit for criminals involved in drug supply.'

'Crime groups involved in drugs supply are also involved in violence and exploitation, so cutting off their profits reduces the harm they can cause for our communities.

'Working with partners like Border Force and the PSNI we are determined to do all we can to disrupt and dismantle gangs involved in drug trafficking.'

The arrest came days after the NCA warned that criminals including drug traffickers were continuing their activities despite the coronavirus pandemic.

Last week officers found cocaine worth more than 1 million hidden in a consignment of protective face masks in a Polish-registered van en route to the UK through the Channel Tunnel.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-26 03:12:39|Editor: huaxia

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OTTAWA, April 25 (Xinhua) -- Police are currently dealing with a possible active shooter in an unfolding dynamic situation in Cape Dorset of the Canadian territory of Nunavut, said a news release by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Saturday.

After getting reports of a possible gun shot, Cape Dorset police asked residents to stay at home, and tried to locate the suspect.

No casualty has been reported. Enditem
A San Diego federal judge blocked Californias law that requires a criminal background check to purchase ammunition, which had been the only law of its kind in the country.

U.S. District Judge Roger Benitez issued the ruling, in response to litigation from the California Rifle & Pistol Association. The ammunition background check law had entered into effect in July, and often made it impossible for law abiding gun owners to purchase ammunition due to the lengthy background process involved.

This isnt the first California gun control law that Benitez has overturned. The San Diego judge previously overturned the states ban on standard capacity rifle magazines, although his ruling on the matter was promptly reversed by a higher court of appeals.

Benitez slammed the ammunition regulation in a forceful 120-page ruling, explaining that it was a clear cut violation of the Second Amendment.

The experiment has been tried. The casualties have been counted. Californias new ammunition background check law misfires and the Second Amendment rights of California citizens have been gravely injured.

Criminals, tyrants, and terrorists dont do background checks. The background check experiment defies common sense while unduly and severely burdening the Second Amendment rights of every responsible, gun-owning citizen desiring to lawfully buy ammunition.

Benitez cited data that indicated the woefully executed law ended up denying ammunition purchases to lawful gun owners at least 16% of the time they attempted an ammunition purchase.

California had also been banning the importation of ammunition from other U.S. states, a clear violation of interstate commerce laws.

The onerous gun control law may find a way to survive if the state appeals the ruling to a higher court, but Californias gun-grabbing state government was quite decisively walloped in Judge Benitezs courtroom.
Anzac Day is observed on 25 April every year and honours members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (Anzac) who lost their lives in foreign conflicts.

Originally inaugurated to mark the anniversary of Anzac troops entering the fray against the Ottomon Empire at Gallipoli in the First World War, the scope of this national day of remembrance has since been broadened out of respect for those killed during the Second World War and on subsequent peacekeeping missions around the globe.

In addition to Australia and New Zealand, Anzac Day is also marked in the Cook Islands, Niue, the Pitcairn Islands and Tonga and by ex-pats across the world.

The Gallipoli campaign in 1915 saw 8,709 Australian troops and 2,721 New Zealanders killed in the Allied attempt to recapture the peninsula and open up the Black Sea en route to claiming Constantinople and disabling a key German ally.

The fight against Kemal Ataturks forces was brutal and both sides endured terrible hardships.

Gallipoli campaign remembered: In pictures Show all 16 1 /16 Gallipoli campaign remembered: In pictures Gallipoli campaign remembered: In pictures Australian infantrymen head towards the beach at Gallipoli in 1915 LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Gallipoli campaign remembered: In pictures Australian 4th Battalion land at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915 UIG via Getty Gallipoli campaign remembered: In pictures Australian troops disembark at Gallipoli in April 1915 AFP/Getty Gallipoli campaign remembered: In pictures Troops at Gallipoli, 1915 Getty Gallipoli campaign remembered: In pictures Australian Major Sam Butler holds a white flag as he leads a blindfolded Turkish officer through Anzac lines to a bunker where they will arrange a temporary truce to bury their respective dead Getty Gallipoli campaign remembered: In pictures British troops advance at Gallipoli later in the campaign Getty Gallipoli campaign remembered: In pictures The signal tent at the division headquarters in Gallipoli Getty Gallipoli campaign remembered: In pictures New Zealand soldier W J Batt with his regiment's mascot dog at Walker's Ridge, Gallipoli in 1915 Getty Gallipoli campaign remembered: In pictures Soldiers in a trench on Walker's Ridge, Gallipoli in April 1915 Getty Gallipoli campaign remembered: In pictures Troops land from the ship 'River Clyde' at the Suvla Bay in Gallipoli, 1915 Getty Gallipoli campaign remembered: In pictures Troops land at Anzac cove in Gallipoli, 1915 Getty Gallipoli campaign remembered: In pictures Anzac forces land at Gaba Tepe, April 1915 Getty Gallipoli campaign remembered: In pictures Allied forces construct a landing pier at Gallipoli Getty Gallipoli campaign remembered: In pictures Australian medics in Cairo attend to casualties arriving from Gallipoli in 1915 PA Gallipoli campaign remembered: In pictures Troop ship the 'River Clyde' en route to Gallipoli Getty Gallipoli campaign remembered: In pictures Then chancellor of the exchequer Winston Churchill carries a wreath down Whitehall on Anzac Day in 1927 PA

Ataturk would later welcome the first Antipodeans to visit the Gallipoli battlefields and Anzac Cove  where the soldiers first landed  in 1934 by reciting a poem, the words of which are now inscribed on a monolith at Ari Burnu Cemetery on the beach and at memorials in Canberra and Wellington.

The ultimate sacrifice made by Anzac soldiers on behalf of the Commonwealth had a profound impact on both countries and the Anzac spirit of the period is still invoked to stir national unity.

To honour that tradition, commemorative services have been held on 25 April in both countries since 1916, when ex-servicemen first marched in remembrance of their late friends.

These are staged at dawn in tribute to the time of day Anzac forces first launched their attack, a custom first introduced at the Sydney Cenotaph in 1927.

Royal Australian Air Force cadets take part in the Anzac Day march in Sydney (EPA)

Wreaths are laid, hymns read and prayers spoken. The national anthems of both countries are sung and red poppies commonly placed beside the names of the dead at war memorials.

The Last Post is also sounded by a regimental bugler and lines recited from Laurence Binyons 1914 poem For the Fallen, an ode written for those killed on the Western Front at the battles of Mons and Marne:

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning,

We will remember them.

These observances are followed by military parades and further services throughout the day at major cities.

Another distinctive feature of the day is the Anzac biscuit, made according to a traditional recipe using oats, golden syrup and butter and served as a tangible connection to the past - the treat commonly sent by heartsick housewives to their men serving on the frontline as a hardy reminder of home.

The first Anzac Day was held in 1916 (Getty)

The gunfire breakfast, entailing coffee with rum, is also served after many dawn services as a similar nod to the final repast many soldiers tasted before landing at Gallipoli, never to return.

Anzac Days popularity waned somewhat from the late 1960s over disillusionment about the Vietnam War and criticism of its political exploitation, but has since experienced a revival as many feel it serves as an important moment of national reflection and an opportunity to celebrate the best of Australian and New Zealand culture.
A coronavirus survivor and his family in Bihars Siwan district is facing social boycott days after the patient was cured and his family completed 14-days of quarantine apart from testing negative for the disease, not once but thrice. The ostracized family says they do not venture out of the home to avoid questioning glaze and said something must be done to prevent social distancing from turning into social discrimination.

Only a coronavirus survivor and his/her family members can understand the kind of social stigma we face these days. Its painful and depressing, a cousin of the coronavirus survivor said.

The coronavirus survivor had returned from Dubai just before the lockdown was announced. He was screened and stamped at the Lucknow airport before being quarantined at his village home under Angauta Panchayat in Nautan block of Siwan district. After he tested positive, he was taken to Nalanda Medical College and Hospital (NMCH) and 13 of his family members were sent to a quarantine centre in Patna.

It has been 39 days since his test results came. The patient is completely fit now and back home. The family members were also found negative in all the three test reports, the cousin quoted above added.

However, back home, our neighbours failed to maintain common courtesy. People are not ready to even look at us. Their kindness will boost our morale and will help us get over the physical pain and the mental trauma, he said.

People in other areas (Tola) of the village, he said, consider the entire area as a prohibited zone.

Theres a rumour in the village that our family got into trouble because of black magic and some unseen forces, he said.

Its the hostile response which has forced my cousin to remain under home quarantine despite being declared fit by the doctors. Even the members of the family avoid going out, he added.

The family was hurt so much that it rarely stepped out of their home even for necessary errands, the cousin said.

I do not go out to buy grocery or vegetables to avoid the questioning gaze of people. Even the store owner does not want me to come there. Its time some eminent village residents send a message that the disease is not a stigma, but only an infection and that social distancing should not be turned into social discrimination, he said.

Shastri Ram, the husband of the Panchayat mukhiya, said there were reports of social discrimination from the coronavirus survivors area. Its mainly because of fear and lack of knowledge about the disease among the residents. We are trying to stop it, he said.

For Coronavirus Live Updates

He said the family was provided food grains and other essential items.

Sohila Gupta, zila parshad and a member of the All India Progressive Womens Association (AIPWA) from Nautan block, Siwan, said there was a need to raise awareness among people, especially in rural areas, about the disease.

They need to be explained the difference between social distancing and discrimination, she said.

Sunil Kumar, DDC, Siwan, said that people often fail to understand that after a patient is declared negative for coronavirus, there is no need to fear or avoid him/her.

To clear this confusion, once a patient recovers, he or she is declared a coronavirus survivor and is given a grand welcome by the Panchayat Mukhia and others, he added.

The HT Guide to Coronavirus COVID-19

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An Indian-American university chancellor has been elected to the prestigious American Academy of Arts and Sciences for her contributions in the fields of and academic leadership.

Renu Khator, 61, joins more than 250 exceptionally accomplished artists, scholars, scientists and leaders in the public, nonprofit and private sectors as members of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (AAAS) class of 2020 announced this week.

Born in Uttar Pradesh, Khator is the University of Houston System chancellor and the varsity's president. She is the first woman chancellor and the first Indian immigrant to head a comprehensive research university in the United States.

Khotar, who has been at the current position since 2008, was elected in the field of Educational and Academic Leadership.

"While recognition from this esteemed organisation is personally very gratifying, I am even more pleased with the honour it brings to the University of Houston and UH System, which has given me such a valuable opportunity to develop my leadership skills," Khator said.

"Being included with such an array of eminent individuals is humbling, and I am proud to join my fellow UH Cougars in the Academy," she said.

Khator earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Kanpur, her master's and Ph.D degrees in political science and public administration from Purdue University in the US.

The AAAS represents innovative thinkers in every field, including more than 250 Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winners. Khator joins three other faculty members from Houston University in the prestigious ranks of AAAS membership.

Khator oversees a four-university organisation at Houston University that serves nearly 71,000 students.

She also lends her expertise to matters of national and international importance in areas of higher education, business and policy though appointments and membership to various boards and advisory groups, such as the Board of Governors of the NCAA, the Indian Prime Minister's Empowered Expert Committee and the Advisory Board of the Texas Medical Center.

The American Academy of Arts & Sciences was founded in 1780, during the American Revolution, by John Adams, John Hancock, and 60 other scholar-patriots to honour exceptionally accomplished individuals and engage them in advancing the public good.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A ban on gatherings in an effort to check the spread of coronavirus has left mortuaries in Lagos filled as relatives are unable to hold funerals, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has said.

Mr Babajide said this at a press briefing on Saturday, saying the mortuaries need to be decongested urgently.

The governor said the state of the morgues are not related to COVID-19 but as a result of the inability of people to gather for funerals.

He attributed the situation to the lockdown directive which caused many families and households to suspend or put off funeral plans.

Because of this inability to hold funerals, occasioned by the restriction on movement, the mortuaries in Lagos State are now full and in urgent need of decongestion. Let me make it clear at this point that these are not Covid-19 deaths, he said.

I am now constrained to make this appeal to all Lagosians who have the corpses of loved ones in the mortuaries, to please go ahead and schedule these funerals.

The mortuaries in Lagos are not full because of Covid-19 deaths the total number of Covid-19 deaths in Lagos as at today is 20; the only reason the mortuaries are full at this time is because funerals are not being held, and have not been held for most of the last two months, Mr Sanwo-Olu added.

The governor said he needed to make it clear that funerals are on the list of activities exempted from the lockdown restrictions.

He said Lagosians can hold or attend funeral ceremonies in the state as long as they comply with the requirements of the state, which are as follows:

 The total number of persons at the funeral, including officiating religious leaders, must not exceed 20.

 Physical distancing must be maintained at the funeral ceremony.

 All attendees/mourners must use masks and ensure they wash their hands after the

ceremony.

 There must be no receptions or parties to accompany the funerals.

Mr Sanwo-Olu emphasised that as long as these directives are fully complied with, funerals will be allowed and encouraged to take place.

If we are unable to see a decongestion of the mortuaries across the state in the next two weeks, the Lagos State Government will be compelled to carry out mass burials to achieve this. We do not want to be forced to do this, which is why we are asking for your cooperation in this regard, he said.
Before you head out for a run, should you put on a face covering?

"I think its probably not necessary unless you're in an area where theyre in close contact with other individuals," said Dr. Chaz Langelier, an assistant professor of infectious diseases at UC San Francisco.

Langelier, a runner himself, said he sticks to uncrowded wilderness areas where he can easily keep more than six feet from others and therefore not have t0 wear a mask.

For those living in more urban areas where socially distancing can be trickier on a neighborhood run, he suggests sticking a mask in your pocket and pulling it out as needed. He said wearing the mask throughout the entire run isn't practical because it's uncomfortable.

"I think the important thing to think about is whether or not someone is effectively spaced from another person," he said. "If youre running on a sidewalk by yourself then its not going to be transmitted by anyone. If its a crowded sidewalk that could potentially be an opportunity for transmission. It comes down to how crowded the area is where someone is running."

While runners are faced with whether to wear a mask, those individuals who they pass by have another question: Does someone who is jogging and infected with COVID-19 shed more virus and spew mucous particles farther than six feet?

Langelier said this remains an unanswered question as more research needs to be done, but some experts are saying that because there's more air exchange while jogging  meaning a more rigorous pulling in of oxygen and pushing out of carbon dioxide  a runner is wise to stay even farther than six feet from others.

"If you're running and you happen to be infected, you might release more virus into the air than if you're walking because you're breathing harder," Linsey Marr, a Virginia Tech professor with an expertise in airborne disease transmission, told NPR. On the other hand, Marr said that because a runner is disturbing the air through fast movement, the virus particles may become more diluted. Regardless, she recommends keeping at least 10-feet distance.

MORE FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

Amy Graff is a digital editor with SFGATE. Email her: agraff@sfgate.com.
An international pressure group has accused the Rwandan security forces of killing, raping and arresting people since a coronavirus lockdown came into force.



Human Rights Watch says at least two people have been shot dead in the southern Nyanza district.



It says those accused of breaking lockdown rules have been detained in stadiums, and women raped by men in military uniforms.



Journalists and bloggers who have reported on the alleged abuses have been detained.



The Rwandan military says it has opened an investigation into the alleged incidents and detained five suspects.

Source: BBC









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After weeks of health experts urging Americans to upgrade their masks to protect against the omicron COVID-19 variant, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday that it was planning to update its mask guidance to "best reflect the multiple options available to people and the different levels of protection they provide." The move by the CDC would be the first significant update to its mask guidance since last July when it urged all Americans to return to wearing masks, after the delta variant proved so transmissible that research found even vaccinated people could transmit the virus. While vaccinated people are considered infectious for a shorter period of time than someone who is unvaccinated, and they are considerably less likely to end up hospitalized, the CDC urged everyone to return to masking indoors to prevent community cases from rising.
HANOI (Reuters) - Vietnam reported on Friday two new COVID-19 cases, taking the tally to 270, its health ministry said, after the nation's lockdown order was lifted a day earlier.

Both of the new cases are Vietnamese citizens, who returned from Japan on April 22 and were under quarantine upon arrival, the health ministry said in a statement. The country had stayed clear of the virus for seven days and has reported no deaths.

(Reporting by Phuong Nguyen; Editing by Edmund Blair)
Migrant workers stranded in various states will be able to move out of or back to Rajasthan in a phased manner with mutual consent of the states, said Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Saturday.

These workers will be able to reach their home only after getting necessary permission from the concerned state government and proper arrangements, Gehlot said in a statement.

Holding a video conference, the chief minister asked officials to make concrete arrangements for smooth movement of such workers.

He said migrant workers desiring to return home will have to register on helpline number 18001806127 or eMitra Rajasthan portal or e-Mitra mobile app or e-Mitra kiosk.

After registration of the workers, the state government will obtain consent from the concerned state government. According to the number of registered migrants and workers, they will be allowed to go to their homes on the scheduled date and time.

He said the person who wants to come back to Rajasthan on his own vehicle has to mention it during his registration.

No person shall come out on streets on his own free will, he said, adding migrants and workers would be quarantined after reaching the designated place to prevent coronavirus infection.

He asked officials to ensure proper arrangements so that migrants arrive at their respective places safely in the next few days following measures such as social distancing and other health protocols.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
One-fifth of all global ocean cruise ships were infected with coronavirus, leaving at least 2,592 crew and passengers infected and killing at least 65, according to research.

Shocking new data reveals that cases of the deadly virus can be directly linked to at least 54 cruise ships, as they continued to travel the waters while the pandemic ravaged communities on land.

All four of the world's largest cruise lines - Carnival, Royal Caribbean Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings and MSC Cruises - were struck by outbreaks, as well as several smaller lines.

At least 922 of those infected and 11 who died were crew members working on the ships.

Passengers stranded on board the coronavirus-stricken Grand Princess off the coast of San Francisco in March. New research shows that one-fifth of all global ocean cruise ships were infected with coronavirus, leaving at least 2,592 crew and passengers infected and killing at least 65

A worker in protective gear checks a passenger after she disembarked the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Yokohama in February

The stark findings, collated into a study by the Miami Herald using data from the CDC, cruise companies and passenger testiminies, show that the situation on board ships was far worse than official figures reveal.

It also raises further questions over whether the decision to issue a no-sail order came too light from the lines and the CDC.

As coronavirus cases and deaths increased worldwide, cruise ships fast became hotbeds for the killer disease and several ships were turned away by ports refusing to allow sick patients to disembark.

The study shows that being stuck on board a cruise ship was one of the most dangerous places to be as the pandemic worsened.

'Here's a situation where you have a global pandemic, and you're running a business where you essentially have self-contained environments where this disease can proliferate quickly,' Dr. Roderick King, CEO of the Florida Institute for Health Innovation, told the Herald.

King accused the big cruise lines of 'closing your eyes' to the dangers as they continued to pursue voyages as the crisis ramped up.

'By closing your eyes to it, it's not only detrimental to your business model and ability to bounce back, but it has huge implications on the broader population,' he said.

The cruise industry has come under fire for its slow response amid the pandemic as it continued to send ships out to sea even after a series of outbreaks on board and repeated warnings from health experts that the high numbers of people in contained spaces on the ships can make them breeding grounds for the virus.

It was early February when the doomed Diamond Princess was ordered to stay at sea off the coast of Japan for two weeks after a deadly outbreak struck passengers and crew.

In the worst cruise ship crisis so far, 712 people tested positive and 13 died after being on board the ship.

Passenger Steven Smith goes through a health screening after leaving the Grand Princess cruise ship in California on March 11. Shocking new data reveals that cases of the deadly virus can be directly linked to at least 54 cruise ships

Grand Princess passengers wait to leave the ship.All four of the world's largest cruise lines - Carnival, Royal Caribbean Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings and MSC Cruises - were struck by outbreaks, as well as several smaller lines

But despite the warning signs, on March 7 it was still business as usual with companies citing extra cleaning measures were being taken and Vice President Mike Pence telling Americans it was 'safe for healthy Americans to travel.'

The next day - around a month after the Diamond Princess outbreak - the CDC issued guidelines that Americans do not travel on cruise ships.

Several ships still set sail after this time, with the Herald analysis showing that these risky moves led to another eight outbreaks on ships, including 309 cases and 3 deaths.

On March 11 - the day the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic - around 550,000 passengers were on cruises.

On March 13, more than 50 cruise lines finally announced they were suspending operations to and from US ports for 30 days and the CDC issued a no-sail order in US waters the following day.

Even then, cruise ships already at sea were still able to continue their voyages beyond this date.

It emerged last month that some companies had even deliberately downplayed the risks of coronavirus to customers in order to not have to issue refunds to worried passengers.

The Florida Attorney General launched an investigation in March into Norwegian Cruise Line after leaked emails revealed managers were giving sales staff phrases to tell customers dismissing the risk of contracting coronavirus on board ships to try to flog more holidays.

The emails, leaked to Miami New Times by a whistleblower, showed that staff in the Miami headquarters were being told to say phrases like: 'the only thing you need to worry about for your cruise is do you have enough sunscreen,' and 'the coronavirus can only survive in cold temperatures, so the Caribbean is a fantastic choice for your next cruise'.

Rescue workers transport patients after they disembark the Zaandam and Rotterdam cruise ships at Broward Health Medical Center in Fort Lauderdale. Cruise ships fast became hotbeds for the killer disease and several ships were turned away by ports refusing to allow sick patients to disembark

Passengers and crew leave the Zandaam. Companies continue to downplay risks, with Carnival CEO Arnold Donald saying passengers 'are at far less risk in a cruise environment than other environments'

Even now the major companies have downplayed the risk on board their ships.

Arnold Donald, CEO of Carnival, the world's largest cruise company where 17 percent of ships have been infected, said last week that 'very few' ships have been affected by coronavirus and said passengers 'are at far less risk in a cruise environment than other environments.'

'We have really high standards on cruise ships in dealing with any kind of health risk,' he said in an interview with CNBC on April 15.

'You don't go to many places where you have medical records, where there is temperature scanning, there's lots of deep cleaning going on often and all the time.'

Passengers on board the ships tell a different story.

One passenger who set sail on Carnival's Costa Luminosa cruise in Fort Lauderdale on March 5 said the company refused to give out refunds before the voyage despite the increased risks so he and his wife decided to go ahead with their holiday.

Emilio Hernandez told the Herald three days into the cruise a sick passenger had to leave the ship and be hospitalized in Puerto Rico with COVID-19.

In the worst cruise ship crisis so far, 712 people tested positive on the Diamond Princess after Japanese authorities imposed a two-week lockdown in Yokohama

A passenger waves as she walks with others on the deck of the Diamond Princess cruise ship in February. Japan was widely criticised for its handling of the ship, with one disease expert saying the quarantine was 'completely inadequate' after viewing the conditions on board

The ship was then refused to dock in Antigua and people were kept on board the virus cluster, which resulted in four passengers and one crew member dying.

Hernandez, 51, and his wife Barbara, 46, both caught coronavirus and his wife was hospitalized before recovering.

'If the cruise ships don't learn now, how many more people are going to die?' Hernandez told the Herald.

'They need to be held accountable for what they've done to their passengers and their crews. They decided that taking their asset back to Italy was more important than my health and the health of all the passengers. That decision has cost people their lives.'

One of the fatalities was Tom Sheehan, 69, who also boarded the ship in Fort Lauderdale on March 5 and died on March 30.

'If the ship had told everyone what was going on, my dad and stepmom would have gotten off in Puerto Rico and flown home,' his son Kevin Sheehan told the Herald. 'But they didn't tell them. So they stayed on the ship.'

Several crew members have also been killed after they were left with no choice but to keep turning up for work on the floating deathtraps.

Pujiyoko, 27, a Royal Caribbean housekeeper from Indonesia, became the youngest person in South Florida at the time to die from the virus on April 12.

Fears first mounted for cruise ship passengers and crew in February when in the worst cruise ship crisis so far, hundreds tested positive on the Diamond Princess after Japanese authorities imposed a two-week lockdown in Yokohama.

Passengers were confined to their cabins during the lockdown but several countries eventually lost patience with Japan and airlifted their citizens home.

Japan was widely criticised for its handling of the ship, with one disease expert saying the quarantine was 'completely inadequate' after viewing the conditions on board.

Japan had initially impounded the ship after a passenger who left the ship in Hong Kong in January subsequently tested positive.

At least 13 people have died after they were taken to hospital from the doomed vessel and 712 have tested positive.

Weeks later another Princess ship was struck by an outbreak, when two passengers and 19 crew members on the Grand Princess cruise ship tested positive for coronavirus in early March.

The ship docked in Oakland, California, on March 9 with 3,500 on board and people were repatriated and sent to army bases for quarantine.

At least 100 cases have been linked to the Grand Princess and at least two deaths.

In March, the Holland America Zaandam was stuck at sea after it set sail on March 7 and people began showing symptoms of coronavirus.

The ship was turned away by several ports in Latin America and Florida.

The Zandaam and its sister ship the Rotterdam - which had met the infected ship and taken healthy patients on board - were finally allowed to dock in Florida on April after Donald Trump waded into the matter.

Four people had died and more than 190 had flu-like symptoms by the time passengers and crew were allowed to disembark.

The CDC has since extended its halting of cruise voyages until late July.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Saturday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to announce a financial package for the revival of the MSME sector, saying if ignored, the problem can have a devastating and expansive ripple effect on the country's economy.

In a letter to Modi, Gandhi also made some suggestions for the revival of the



Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), which is reeling under the adverse impact of the coronavirus lockdown.

She urged the prime minister to announce a Rs 1 lakh crore "MSME Wage Protection" package as also a credit guarantee fund of an equivalent amount, besides a 24X7 helpline for helping them out of this crisis.

While highlighting the crisis, she said MSME sector is suffering around Rs 30,000 crore loss every day due to the lockdown and efforts should be made to help revive them as they are the backbone of the economy.

"If ignored, this issue has the potential of having a devastating and expansive ripple effect on our economy," she said in the letter.

She also added that as the nation continues to fight against Covid-19, it essential to highlight an economic concern that needs immediate attention and intervention.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Los Angeles: The former US police officer who shot dead Australian life coach Justine Ruszczyk Damond in an alley behind her Minneapolis home claims his murder conviction "debased the criminal justice system".

Former Minneapolis police officer Mohamed Noor reads a statement before being sentenced in June. Credit:AAP

Mohamed Noor, who is serving a 12.5 year prison sentence after a Minneapolis jury found him guilty a year ago of third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter, filed an appeal on Friday.

The 34-year-old is requesting a new trial.

"Noor's prosecution was a sordid series of events that debased the criminal justice system," Noor's legal team wrote in a 69-page appellant's brief filed in the Minnesota Court of Appeals.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un attends a politburo meeting of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea in Pyongyang, in this April 11, 2020, file photo provided by the North Korean government. AP



China has dispatched a team to North Korea including medical experts to advise on North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, according to three people familiar with the situation.



The trip by the Chinese doctors and officials comes amid conflicting reports about the health of the North Korean leader. Reuters was unable to immediately determine what the trip by the Chinese team signaled in terms of Kim's health.



A delegation led by a senior member of the Chinese Communist Party's International Liaison Department left Beijing for North Korea, Thursday, two of the people said. The department is the main Chinese body dealing with neighbouring North Korea



The sources declined to be identified given the sensitivity of the matter.



The Liaison Department could not be reached by Reuters for comment late Friday. China's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment, also late Friday.



The Daily NK, a Seoul-based website, reported earlier this week that Kim was recovering after undergoing a cardiovascular procedure, April 12. It cited an unnamed source in the North.



South Korean government officials and a Chinese official with the Liaison Department challenged subsequent reports suggesting that Kim was in grave danger after surgery. The South Korean officials said they had detected no signs of unusual activity in North Korea.



On Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump also downplayed earlier reports that Kim was gravely ill. "I think the report was incorrect," Trump told reporters, but he declined to say if he had been in touch with North Korean officials.






Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-25 21:09:02|Editor: huaxia

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BEIRUT, April 25 (Xinhua) -- France on Saturday donated to Lebanon biological protection gears and equipment to detect COVID-19 infection, the National News Agency reported.

The donation took place through an agreement signed between the Internal Security Department at the French Embassy and the Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Commission at the Lebanese Presidency of the Council of Ministers.

Head of the commission Bilal Nsouli and First Counselor at the French Embassy Salina Grenet Catalano signed a memorandum of understanding on the sidelines of the regular meeting of the commission, aiming at giving an overview of the latest developments about COVID-19.

Catalano spoke of the "fruitful cooperation that has existed for years between the Commission and the French embassy", stressing the importance of French assistance and the cooperation of the embassy since the outbreak of COVID-19 in Lebanon. Enditem
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The Congress on Saturday bemoaned the Central government's "conspicuous silence" on the Disaster Management Act (DMA), 2005, and asked it to formulate a national plan for handling the coronavirus crisis, saying it's time the government rethink the lockdown measures."

"You cannot have a lockdown of people and a lockout of the economy. That's not the way to formulate a policy. We are not criticising. We are only saying it is time to rethink. We are with the government. This is constructive criticism," said senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal at a press conference via video-conferencing.

He said that as per the DMA, the Union government was duty-bound to formulate the national plan to deal with Covid-19, but "strangely, the government has maintained conspicuous silence".

The Union government, in the absence of a national plan to deal with Covid-19, seems to have delegated its responsibilities under the DMA to state governments.

"Without the necessary infrastructure, both human and physical, and adequate financial resources, state governments are not in a position to effectively deal with this pandemic," he said.

"Our Prime Minister's limited role, so far as we can see, is addressing the nation from time to time. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) made no preparations to put in place a plan despite the WHO declaring the virus to be a public health emergency towards the end of January," he said.

"Why were detailed plans not made within seven weeks of the WHO declaration? Only on March 24, the Prime Minister announced a national lockdown," said the Congress leader.

"We are in the fourth week of April and there is no plan in place even now". The Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), presumably presiding over the National Executive Committee (NEC) under the Act, is issuing directions to state governments to deal with the situation," he said.

Sibal also highlighted the plight of the migrant workers stuck in various states amind the nationwide lockdown.

"We would like the Prime Minister to inform the people about the minimum standards of relief that are required to be provided to persons affected by the disaster. Instead of discharging its solemn responsibilities to provide succour to the poor and helpless stranded migrants, the Union government has chosen to shift the onus to state governments to do what they can without a plan and without guidelines prescribing minimum standards of relief," he said.

Hitting out at Modi for setting up PM-CARES Fund, Sibal said, "It is ironic that instead of using the provisions of the Act for grant of relief, the Prime Minister has set up a Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance Relief in Emergency Situations (PM-CARES) fund asking people to generously donate."

He said that is precisely the money that should go to the NDRF for relief and rehabilitation of those affected by the lockdown. "The purpose of setting up of PM-CARES should be made public when private donations can be made to the NDRF," he said, adding that otherwise, the motive for setting of PM-CARES may evoke suspicion.

He also called upon the judiciary to evolve a policy to ensure that the justice delivery system is considered an essential service during such a crisis.
Beijing/Seoul: China has dispatched a team to North Korea including medical experts to advise on North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, according to three people familiar with the situation.

The trip by the Chinese doctors and officials comes amid conflicting reports about the health of the North Korean leader. Reuters was unable to immediately determine what the trip by the Chinese team signaled in terms of Kim's health.

A delegation led by a senior member of the Chinese Communist Party's International Liaison Department left Beijing for North Korea on Thursday, two of the people said. The department is the main Chinese body dealing with neighbouring North Korea.

The sources declined to be identified given the sensitivity of the matter.

The Liaison Department could not be reached by Reuters for comment late on Friday. China's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment late on Friday.

Daily NK, a Seoul-based website, reported earlier this week that Kim was recovering after undergoing a cardiovascular procedure on April 12. It cited one unnamed source in North Korea.

South Korean government officials and a Chinese official with the Liaison Department challenged subsequent reports suggesting that Kim was in grave danger after surgery. South Korean officials said they had detected no signs of unusual activity in North Korea.

On Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump also downplayed earlier reports that Kim was gravely ill. "I think the report was incorrect," Trump told reporters, but he declined to say if he had been in touch with North Korean officials.

On Friday, a South Korean source told Reuters their intelligence was that Kim was alive and would likely make an appearance soon. The person said he did not have any comment on Kim's current condition or any Chinese involvement.

An official familiar with U.S. intelligence said that Kim was known to have health problems but they had no reason to conclude he was seriously ill or unable eventually to reappear in public.

A U.S. State department spokeswoman had no comment. U.S. Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, when asked about Kim's health on Fox News after Trucoronavirus, Covid-19, pandemic, lockdown

mp spoke said, "I dont have anything I can share with you tonight, but the American people should know we're watching the situation very keenly."

North Korea is one of the world's most isolated and secretive countries, and the health of its leaders is treated as a matter of state security. Reuters has not been able to independently confirm any details on Kim's whereabouts or condition.

North Korea's state media last reported on Kim's whereabouts when he presided over a meeting on April 11. State media did not report that he was in attendance at an event to mark the birthday of his grandfather, Kim Il Sung, on April 15, an important anniversary in North Korea.

Kim, believed to be 36, has disappeared from coverage in North Korean state media before. In 2014, he vanished for more than a month and North Korean state TV later showed him walking with a limp. Speculation about his health has been fanned by his heavy smoking, apparent weight gain since taking power and family history of cardiovascular problems.

When Kim Jong Un's father, Kim Jong Il, suffered a stroke in 2008, South Korean media reported at the time that Chinese doctors were involved in his treatment along with French physicians.

Last year, Chinese President Xi Jinping made the first state visit in 14 years by a Chinese leader to North Korea, an impoverished state that depends on Beijing for economic and diplomatic support.

China is North Korea's chief ally and the economic lifeline for a country hard-hit by U.N. sanctions, and has a keen interest in the stability of the country with which it shares a long, porous border.

Kim is a third-generation hereditary leader who came to power after his father Kim Jong Il died in 2011 from a heart attack. He has visited China four times since 2018.

Trump held unprecedented summits with Kim in 2018 and 2019 as part of a bid to persuade him to give up North Koreas nuclear arsenal.
Queen Elizabeth II and her son Prince Charles share the same passion for one hobby. However, Prince William seem concerned about what the two have in common, especially amid the ongoing global health crisis.

A Mad Hobby

The Queen is an avid walker herself, much like her son Prince Charles. They both like walking their dogs daily and find comfort in the presence of their beloved pets.

However, Prince William got very honest about why he does not agree that these two older members of the royal family should be walking at this time at all.

In his interview with BBC News, William expressed his concern about his father's recent diagnosis. It seems as if William knew exactly how the Prince of Wales contracted the virus.

It was common knowledge how much the Queen herself loved to walk around with her corgis in tow. In fact, he referred to the Queen and Prince Charles' shared activity as a "mad" hobby.

"I have to admit, at first I was quite concerned, he fits the profile of somebody, at the age, he is at, which is fairly risky, and so I was a little bit worried.

However, he said that his father has had many chest infections over the years, which made William a bit confident that the COVID-19 won't be the virus that would beat him.

"And so, I thought to myself, if anybody is going to be able to beat this, it's going to be him. And actually, he was very lucky, he had mild symptoms."

The son of the heir to the throne added that his father was mad about walking. It was something he truly missed while he was self-isolating.

"He is a mad walker. Loves just waking. So I think he found it quite difficult, especially concerned about his mental health, not being able to walk for a long time," William added.

This came after news came out confirming that the 71-year-old Prince of Wales had contracted the dreaded coronavirus. It left Prince William worried.

Another Royal Heartbreak

The Duke of Cambridge, however, reassured everyone that they were doing their best to protect his grandparents -- the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh who are both in isolation at Windsor Castle.

"Obviously I think very carefully about my grandparents - who are at the age they're at, we're doing everything we can to make sure they're isolated and protected from this," Prince William said.

The Queen's celebration this year was a rather momentous one, as she had to cancel previous plans to follow social distancing and self-isolation measures that were put in place by the authorities.

Queen Elizabeth II turned 94 this year, but she had a rather muted celebration of her birthday. She believed that it was inappropriate to celebrate at the time of the coronavirus pandemic. She also canceled the gun salute, which was a yearly tradition to mark another year of her life.

The other members of the royal family, however, did wish her the best on her special day via video call.
The Karnataka government on Saturday commenced clinical trials of convalescent plasma therapy to treat coronavirus patients in critical condition.

Karnataka Medical Education Minister Dr.K Sudhakar, along with Health and Family Welfare Minister Sriramulu inaugurated clinical trials of the Therapy at Victoria hospital here.

"This is a historic moment for the state and I am confident that Plasma therapy will help serious COVID-19 affected patients to recover.

I have always maintained that Plasma treatment is very effective for patients in critical condition and am relieved when we got permission for trials and able to commence trials in just 3-4 days after receiving permission from the Centre," Sudhakar was quoted as saying in a release.

The Minister, who is leading the government's efforts against COVID-19 in Bengaluru and is in charge of the state war room, also thanked the person who fully recovered from COVID-19 and volunteered to donate plasma cells, as he urged successfully treated patients to come forward to donate plasma and help in recovery of patients in Intensive Care Units.

Trials for treatment of patients on ventilators will start next week, he added.

According to officials, patients who have recovered from COVID-19 have been requested to come forward as donors, as antibodies of cured patients will be used to treat critically ill under this therapy.

In this treatment, plasma cells from a COVID-19 patient who has recovered from the disease is transfused into a cornonavirus patient who is in critical condition by infusing plasma therapy.

According to the last update, five COVID-19 patients are in ICUs in the state.

Health Minister Sriramulu expressed the hope that the Convalescent Plasma Therapy will be a torchbearer in the fight against the virus.

"Karnataka has taken a lead role as we initiate Phase I clinical trials to use Convalescent Plasma Therapy for severe COVID-19 infected patients.

BMC Victoria hospital took the first step today. We are determined to vanquish this enemy of mankind," he said in a tweet.

The Directorate of Public Health under Union Government recently accorded permission for using plasma therapy for the treatment of COVID-19 patients in Karnataka.

Dr Vishal Rao of the Bangalore Institute of Oncology was given permission to conduct clinical trail on this.

Plasma therapy was effectively used in the past during Ebola and Spanish flu pandemic.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The administration of French President Emmanuel Macron is aggressively promoting a full reopening of the economy on May 11 that will directly lead to thousands of additional coronavirus deaths. The government is relying on the trade unions to suppress widespread opposition in the working class to the end of confinement and force workers back to their jobs.

The government has announced that it will provide more details about its plan for an end to confinement early next week, most likely on Tuesday. Last Thursday, in a call with local elected officials across the country, Macron clarified that the reopening of schools on May 11 would not be obligatory for all, but would be done voluntarily, with parents given the choice of keeping their children at home.

This only ensures that those who return their children to school come mainly from the working class and the poorest segments of the population, who will not have the choice to work from home beginning on May 11, or conduct homeschooling or of otherwise minding their children. The government is cynically exploiting the fact that thousands of families depend on 1-euro subsidized lunch programs provided by school cafeterias to feed their children. They will have little choice but to send them back to school to eat.

Over the past week, the government has stepped up its propaganda agitating for a reopening of schools. Macrons Health Minister Olivier Veran gave an interview on France Inters morning program yesterday that was remarkable only for the number of lies he was able to fit into a 10-minute segment.

Although the role of children as asymptomatic carriers of the virus remains undetermined by scientists, Veran downplayed the potential impact of reopening classes. There is the question of whether children are contagious or not, he said. This question has been asked often for many weeks. Here too there are arguments both for and against (emphasis added). The latest scientific arguments that have come to me say that for children under 10 transmit the virus less than adults. ... That is why we are working with measures that are very operational, which will permit us to provide for safe teaching of the students.

When the journalist asked him to specify the measures he was referring to, Veran refused, declaring instead that children must return to the school.  At a certain point, they will have to return progressively to a school setting. At another point in the interview, he argued that small children were very good at learning social distancing measures. He added that, in any case, reopening schools was necessary to combat inequality, with first priority for a return to classes for those children in difficulty, those in trouble at home, and we have to provide the means, and  pose the conditions that would permit children to return to school.

Veran said that while it would be many months before a vaccine could be created and reliably mass produced, In the meantime, we will have to live with the virus.

In other words, the virus and its deadly toll must come to be seen as a part of daily life. The maintenance of confinement is a complicated question, he continued. We cannot confine half the planet for six months or a year, until there is a vaccine; and since we are not sure that a confinement would stop the spread of the virus.  We are obliged at each step to measure what we are doing in order to have a major positive health impact for France, but without having too much of an impact on the other side.

Veran had directly contradicted his own claim that a prolonged confinement may not stop or severely limit the spread of the virus, earlier in the same interview, when he said he accepted a new model released by a mathematical team in France this week, estimating that at least 60,000 additional lives in the country had been saved due to the confinement.

However, his comment that a confinement may have too much of an impact on the other side means, in plain language, that although tens of thousands of lives would be saved, these must be weighed against the potential damage to French corporate profits due to a prolonged shutdown of the economy.

As for Verans statement that nonessential production could not be stopped until a vaccine is produced, this is simply based on the premise that capitalist property and the financial elites monopolization of social resources must remain inviolable. The wealth of the 40 wealthiest individuals in France on Forbes 2019 rich list totaled over 288 billion eurosmore than 10 times the amount allocated by the Macron administration toward limited unemployment payments in the past three months.

Veran admitted that the government had no clear idea of the number of cases in France, which means that it has no idea how quickly the virus will spread with the end of the confinement. I do not know exactly how many French people are infected, he said. We have models, we have studies, but Ive learned with this virus to remain extremely cautious towards data that isnt set in stone.

Anger is growing in the working class over the criminal policies of the Macron administration. Yesterday, the weekly Le Canard Enchaine cited a letter written April 18 by Georges-Francois Leclerc, the police prefect of Seine-Saint-Denis, north of Paris, stating that 15,000-20,000 workers were unable to feed themselves properly due to the administrations refusal to provide adequate support throughout the lockdown, with children and students who rely on school programs most at risk. Leclerc reportedly warned of mass riots and a social explosion, saying: What was achievable in a month of confinement cannot be maintained for two.

This week has already seen the eruption of protests and unrest in the impoverished suburbs around Paris and other major cities against police violence and social inequality.

The Macron administration is depending upon its close collaboration with the trade unions to suppress the opposition in the working class and force workers back to work.

While making empty criticisms of the return to work, the CGT is supporting it in practice and closely collaborating with Macron. Yesterday, CGT President Philippe Martinez gave an interview with Sud Radio in which he declared that he believed schools should not be opened until September because it would be unsafe for teachers because of the propagation of the virus.

Asked by radio host Patrick Roger if he would therefore call on teachers to refuse to open schools, Martinez scoffed and replied, No, no, I think I have already explained it clearly: We are calling on people to work insofar as the conditions are safe. The CGT is already overseeing the return to work of autoworkers, with Toyota reopening one of its assembly lines in Onnaing on Thursday.

Calling for further collaboration with Macron, Martinez said that even though during this period we have had a bit more contact with the government, in any case I hope that after this crisis the government and the president of the republic will consider that the trade unions are useful.

The fight against a return to work cannot be conducted through the trade unions, which are the allies of the government and the employers against the working class. Workers need their own organizations, independent action committees, to organize an industrial and political offensive against any return to work in industries that are nonessential for the fight against the virus. This must be connected to a socialist program for a workers government, the expropriation of the capitalist class and devotion of societys resources toward the fight against the pandemic, including the guarantee of decent living conditions to all workers and safe working conditions in essential industries.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-26 03:30:20|Editor: huaxia

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KIGALI, April 25 (Xinhua) -- Rwanda has not let up efforts to prevent malaria infection in the country despite the ongoing fight against COVID-19, an official said Saturday.

"Even with more efforts dedicated to contain COVID-19 in the country, we continue to scale up efforts to fight malaria in the country," Aimable Mbituyumuremyi, the malaria and other parasitic diseases division manager at the Rwanda Biomedical Centre, said in comments on World Malaria Day while appearing on national Radio Rwanda.

"In prevention measures distribution of treated mosquito nets has continued and has so far reached 13 districts. The distribution will continue next week for the remaining districts," he added.

The government plans to give out more than 7.5 million bed nets by the end of April across 30 districts, said the official.

Indoor residual spraying also continued in high risk malaria areas with nine districts so far covered, Mbituyumuremyi said, adding that the remaining districts will be covered next week.

Some of the 12 high risk malaria areas covered by indoor residual spraying include Bugesera, Ngoma, Kirehe, and Huye districts.

In nearing services to people, he noted that community health workers continued to treat malaria patients.

Statistics released by the Ministry of Health in March showed that malaria related deaths in Rwanda reduced from 663 annually in 2015/16 to 264 cases in 2018/19, attributable to community health workers.

Community health workers handle 57 percent of the 3.5 million cases registered each year, according to the ministry.

Statistics also showed that home-based malaria rates increased from 50 percent in 2018 to 57.1 percent in 2019.

Last month, Rwanda launched tech-driven fight against malaria, using drones to spray mosquito lava in their habitants before they mature.

The World Malaria Day was marked Saturday under the theme "Zero malaria starts with me."

The World Health Organization (WHO) has set 2030 as the year for malaria elimination.

There were an estimated 405,000 malaria deaths in 2018 globally, according to the WHO 2019 report released last December. Enditem
Booksellers, publishers, librarians, and agents are encouraged to look at the 47 self-published titles below. Each appears with a list of retailers that are selling the book and a description provided by its author. Some of these writers are waiting to be discovered; others have track records and followings and are doing it on their own. If you are a self-published author interested in listing titles in this section, please visit publishersweekly.com/pw-select for more information.

Fiction

20/20

B. Shawn Clark. First Run Books. $24.95 hardcover (235p), ISBN 978-1-73430-830-3; $2.99 e-book, ISBN 978-1-73430-831-0

Amazon, BN.com, Better World Books

A story told by a man of the future, who reminisces about his life as a boy suffering Steinbeck-esque travails during the environmental and economic turmoil of the 2020s.

Big Red

Robert Liddell. Austin Macauley Publishers. $10.50 paper (88p), ISBN 978-1-78878-833-5

Amazon

Follow Big Red and her family as they struggle for survival in the vast Australian landscape dealing with both mankind and nature, from the northern forests to the grasses of the inland.

Exposure: Unnecessary

Adam Cliff. Dyna-Form Publish. $27.95 hardcover (404p), ISBN 978-1-73450-890-1; $17.95 paper, ISBN 978-1-73450-891-8

Amazon

A Midwestern family faces peril at every turn as they attempt to deliver photos taken near Dealey Plaza on Nov. 22, 1963, to a researcher.

Flagstaffs Forgotten Cowgirl: The Journals of Lizzie Hoffman

J.K. Hoffman. Xlibris. $19.99 paper (282p), ISBN 978-1-984541-10-9; $3.99 e-book, ISBN 978-1-984541-09-3

Amazon

Follow Lizzie Hoffman as she navigates untrodden paths and unsavory people, finding new friends and romance along the way, leading to one last tragic encounter.

My Little China Girl: A Blottoblogography

Gordon MacRae. Gordon MacRae. $3.47 e-book, ASIN B083WDZ42V

Amazon, BN.com, Google Play, Indigo

Over the course of a decade, a young man traipses about Asia on a series of benders and blowouts, making friends and mistakes, in search of the stability of love.

The Ninjans Omnibus

Dave Kwan. Dave Kwan. $21 paper (249p), ISBN 979-86-12-48832-3

Amazon

In this collection of a three-book series, the ancient East meets the Wild West as the NinjansNative Americans trained in martial arts and ninjutsuovercome challenge and adversity in the Wild West, the American Northwest, and modern Japan.

An Unsilent Partner: An Original Screenplay

Nathaniel H. Echols Jr. AuthorHouse. $14.99 paper (146p), ISBN 978-1-5049-1039-2

Amazon

This story follows business executives Royce Donovan and Michael Ridgeway. When Royce approaches Michael regarding a partnership deal, Michael is faced with a monumental decision.

Waiting for Someone?

Stan Davies. Balboa Press. $8.99 paper (74p), ISBN 978-1-5043-1855-6

Balboapress.com, Amazon, BN.com, Eurobooks

This book is an account of two peoples lives, from age 17 to mature adulthood.

Wish upon a Tree

Naomi Schulz. AuthorHouse. $17.23 paper (232p), ISBN 978-1-72839-467-1; $4.99 e-book, ISBN 978-1-72839-466-4

Amazon

Following the death of her parents, Blair moves back home, where she discovers a family riddle that leads to gold, but she must also deal with an abusive ex-boyfriend with violent intent.

Mystery/Thriller

Delusions of Clarity: A Novel of Intrigue and Perception

Vern Bryk. Mando Forte Books. $3.99 e-book, ISBN 978-1-73204-963-5

Amazon, Apple iBooks, BN.com, Kobo

A police psychologist struggles to disentangle contrary views of a tragic shooting. As he pursues the truth, he risks everything, and rediscovers his own past along the way.

Hypnosis: A Return to the Past

Maria Ines Rebelo. I Am Self-Publishing. $14.33 paper (332p), ISBN 978-1-912145-57-7

Rebelomariaines.com, Amazon

Marcus Beling has practiced hypnosis and past life regression for many years. One day, a young woman named Anne Pauline Roux comes into his office and shakes his convictions.

Passage: A Time Travel Thriller

S. Mandel Joseph. S. Mandel Joseph. $10.80 paper (289p), ISBN 978-1-65525-876-3

Amazon, BN.com, Indiebound

In this time travel thriller, a woman is sent into the past through hypnosis to prevent the murder of her mother, only to become the killers next target.

The Privilege of Men

Judith Mazzucco. Judith Mazzucco. $5.99 paper (67p), ISBN 978-1-70913-670-2; $2.99 e-book, ISBN 978-1-70913-670-2

Amazon

The relationships between men, women, and animals can be reprehensible, especially when ego and money are involved. When several girls go missing, Kendra discovers that its not the sex trade that's responsible, but an interspecies factory farm.

The Procurator Fiscal

Viktoria King. URLink Print & Media. $9.99 paper (176p), ISBN 978-1-64367-400-1

Amazon

Some jobs put good people in bad situations. This is what happens when horrid things happen to good people.

Reclaiming Our Own

Christopher Irons. Pants-free for Life. $10.99 paper (300p), ISBN 978-1-73349-760-2; $2.99 e-book, ISBN 978-1-73349-762-6

Amazon, BN.com

When his nephew is kidnapped, former Army Ranger Brett tries to intervene. When he is also taken hostage, he and his former Ranger team discover its all part of a deeper conspiracy.

Resurrection: A Supernatural Thriller

Rob Lockett. KDP. $6.99 e-book, ASIN B08693BMQ4

Amazon, Kobo

A supernatural thriller that sees the tragic downward spiral of a young man into madness and a world of terror.

SF/Fantasy/Horror

The Brotherhood of the Wone

Len Stage. Newman Springs. $7.48 paper (194p), ISBN 978-1-64531-245-1

Amazon

This is a story about a handyman who lived in a small town and was in just the right place when destiny came knocking on his door.

Canny Danny

Gerhard Dennis. Gerhard Dennis. $14.99 paper (492p), ISBN 979-86-21-51052-7; .99 e-book,

ASIN B085HSQ7SH

Amazon

In this erotic horror novel, a desperate writer teams up with a serial killer and his harem of otherworldly sex slaves.

Into the Labyrinth: An Isandra Mayham Adventure

Edwina Darke. Written House Publishing. $4.99 e-book, ISBN 978-1-949408-01-0

Amazon, Kobo, Payhip

Little sisters: cant live with them, cant let them sell their souls to evil faerie kings.

STAZRThe World of Z: The Dawn of Athir

Anay Ayarovu. STAZR. $6.99 e-book, ISBN 978-1-73455-650-6

Amazon, Apple iBooks, BN.com, Google Play

A naive writer, his talking swine, and a deceitful troupe of powerful mystics come together to hunt an ancient prophecy.

Unfathomable

Thomas Pryce. Thomas Pryce. $14.99 paper (347p), ISBN 978-0-9846691-3-4

Amazon, BN.com

Environmental peril and adventure on the high seas with eco-defender Jake Chee.

Romance/Erotica

No Romance Allowed

Kana Wu. Booklocker.com. $18.95 paper (314p), ISBN 978-1-64438-977-5

Amazon, Apple iBooks, BN.com, Books-a-Million, IndieBound, Kobo

Rory learns to coexist with roommate Peter, only to learn he has a secret that could be used to ruin her life.

Triple Attraction: A Love Story

Duke Dupree. Knight Books Press. $16.99 paper (220p), ISBN 978-0-578-63755-6

Amazon, BN.com, Books-a-Million

Ben and his sister Linda each discover the love of their life, but roadblocks and drama threaten to get in the way of love for both.

Nonfiction

Bankruptcy Didnt Break Me! How to Learn the Keys to Success to Increase Your Credit Scores

Kassondra R. Lewis. KGSL Enterprises. $9.99 paper (36p), ISBN 978-0-9986769-1-3; $2.99 e-book, ASIN B06XR6CP74

Amazon

This book is about how to recover more quickly from life events such as foreclosure and bankruptcy, offering steps to rebuild ones life and credit.

Bridging the Gap: A Spiritual Journey to Heaven and Back

Calvin Cassady. Inspiring Voices. $14.99 paper (202p), ISBN 978-1-4624-0495-7

Amazon, Google Play, Ingram

After a fiery car crash, Cassady uses his newfound spirituality to help troubled teens.

The Christian Man and Pornography: Why Most Fail But Can Succeed

Norman Hardman. AuthorHouse. $13.99 paper (110p), ISBN 978-1-72830-812-8; $6.99 e-book, ISBN 978-1-72830-811-1

Amazon

This book is intended to encourage men from all walks of life to take control of their minds and bodies in order to reach their full potential.

Contemporary Issues in the U.S. Healthcare Debate

Elisha Caldwell. AuthorHouse. $15.99 paper (116p), ISBN 978-1-72830-944-6; $9.99 e-book, ISBN 978-1-72830-943-9

Amazon

This book discusses the nature of the U.S. health-care system, including offering an alternative view of the health-care debate in Washington and detailing the underlying costs of health care.

Contentment Through Mindfulness (2nd ed.)

Robert Leihy. Xlibris. $15.99 paper (48p), ISBN 978-1-984528-33-9; $3.99 e-book, ISBN 978-1-984528-32-2

Amazon

This book elaborates on contentedness, delving into how one can achieve deep relaxation, calm, and still awareness of the immediate moment.

Girl with a Blue Diamond

Ashok Tamhane. Outskirts Press. $17.95 paper (298p), ISBN 978-1-977221-01-8

Amazon, BN.com, Outskirts Press

The book depicts the culture of New York City in the 1970s.

A Glass Half Empty?... or Half Full? A Childrens Book for Grown Ups

Dan Schuck. Archway Publishing. $15.99 hardcover (48p), ISBN 978-1-4808-6736-9; $3.99 e-book, ISBN 978-1-4808-6737-6

Amazon

In this self-help book, readers follow a fish living in a glass of water and attempt to emulate how it navigates life no matter whats in its glass.

Life

Richard Houdershell. Richard Houdershell. $17.66 paper (254p), ISBN 978-1-70913-476-0

Amazon

At 18, Houdershell killed a man and was sent to prison, not leaving a cell again until he was 33. Those years changed him, as demonstrated in this memoir.

Life Operated from Within

Rajdeep Umesh. AuthorHouse. $12.90 paper (72p), ISBN 978-1-72839-518-0; $4.99 e-book, ISBN 978-1-72839-517-3

Amazon

This philosophical study considers the ways in which people think about the events of their lives, and presents exercises designed to change those thought processes.

A Natural Mistake: Why Natural, Organic, and Botanical Products Are Not as Safe as You Think

James MacGregor. James MacGregor. $14.99 paper (244p), ISBN 978-1-73338-800-9

Amazon, BN.com

An authoritative discussion of the risks and benefits of natural foods, herbal medicines, and conventional products, including examples of unanticipated health issues.

Neither Do I Condemn You

Marie A. Tombow. Marie A. Tombow. $15 paper (86p), ISBN 978-1-08-272260-8

Amazon

The authors journey from a life of confusion to her newfound connection with God. It narrates how an early rejection led her to find acceptance with people outside family.

No One Has More Love Than This: Why We Remember

Warren Robinson. AuthorHourse. $13.99 paper (188p), ISBN 978-1-72834-552-9; $3.99 e-book, BO84WRNHX2

Amazon, BN.com

This is an eyewitness story of a veteran of the war in Vietnam.

Racism, Hypocrisy and Bad Faith: A Moral Challenge to the America I Love

Julius Bailey. Broadview. $25.95 paper (212p), ISBN 978-1-55481-498-5

Broadviewpress.com, Amazon, BN.com

Baileys latest book discusses the hypocrisy and mistrust he perceives in the American political system, particularly how they affect ethnic minorities and low-income groups.

Research Sub-contractor: Models for the Decline of the National Research and Innovation System

Mohammed Ahmad Al-Shamsi. Mohammed Ahmad S. AL-Shamsi. $8.99 e-book, ASIN B0855ZDNJH

Amazon

This book attempts to analyze and discover a unique national R&D system from within, unlike any other national system in the West or the East.

The Secret of Natures Alchemy: Unlock the Hidden Power Within You

Menete Hashipala. Austin Macauley Publishers. $16.63 paper (122p), ISBN 978-1-5289-3355-1

Askthesecretkey.com, Amazon

Hashipala attempts to tackle the quotidian problem of poverty by appealing to arcane secrets and the wisdom of the ancients.

The Sensory Compounding Workbook: Using Your Five Senses to Create Inner Peace and Calm

April Nelson. Balboa Press. $8.99 paper (66p), ISBN 978-1-982242-16-9

Balboapress.com

Based on conditioning (learning) theory, this workbook aims to engage readers to use all five senses in order to trigger peaceful and calm reactions.

Was Michael Jackson Murdered? You Be the Judge.

Everett Watson. Dorrance Publishing. $26 e-book, ISBN 978-1-4809-5567-7

Dorrancepublishing.com, Amazon, BN.com

Watson uses trial evidence as a basis for his argument that Michael Jacksons death was in fact a premeditated murder.

We Got This: Solo Mom Stories of Grit, Heart, and Humor

Marika Lindholm. She Writes Press. $17.95 paper (353p), ISBN 978-1-63152-656-5

Amazon, BN.com, Books-a-Million

Seventy-five solo mom writers discuss their livestheir hopes and fears, their resilience and setbacks, their embarrassments and triumphs.

Children/YA

Ellas Umbrella

Courtney Shannon Strand, illus. by Jennica Lounsbury. Kicky Cane Press. $18.99 hardcover (32p), ISBN 978-1-73427-890-3; $4.99 e-book, ISBN 978-1-73427-892-7

Apple iBooks

Ella hustles outside with her new umbrella and listens to the rain fall a cappella. Join Ella on her jazzy journey through the rain.

A Glow in the Forest

Jude Perera. Jude Perera. $2.99 e-book, ISBN 978-0-648-77060-2

Amazon, BN.com, Kobo

Five teenagers and a child living in a forgotten time embark on a journey of a lifetime, one in which they are ambushed by the wickedness and beauty of nature and man.

The Haunted Hanging Tree

David and Michael Krumboltz. Austin Macauley Publishers. $10.18 paper (162p), ISBN 978-1-5289-1923-4

Amazon

Two kids seek the truth behind the hanging of their grandfather in 1873. Theyll look for answers as they revisit Dry Gulch, Calif.

Time Machine Emergency

Dan Busby. Xlibris. $19.99 paper (182p), ISBN 978-1-79605-753-9

Amazon

A genius 22-year-old student makes an astounding discovery while working for a college professor.

Tru Untrue

Rachelle Jones Smith. Keepin Up Wit Press. $21.99 hardcover (184p), ISBN 978-0-578-62544-7; $14 paper, ISBN 978-0-578-61884-5

Amazon, BN.com, Books-a-Million, Onemorepagebooks.com

Tru could have it all: a new home, school, and identity. Then he meets Nell. While saving her will cost him, it would mean everything for her, and hes willing to risk it.

The Wonders of the Peculiar Parasol: A Dragonstone Story

Mark Even, illus. by Anna Canfield. Cresting Wave Publishing. $6.99 paper (150p), ISBN 978-0-9889048-2-8

Amazon

Three young cousins discover they descend from a powerful wizard. Upon activating an enchanted parasol, they are transported to a fantasy world, where they discover their innate magical abilities.
Protective medical masks sourced from the coronavirus pandemic's starting point in China rejected after they were offered to the federal government at inflated prices.

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt has said that a number of private companies had sought to sell medical supplies to the government.

In one case, an Australian company payed for 90 tonnes of medical supplies to come from Wuhan and tried to sell them to the government for a profit.

Protective medical masks sourced from the coronavirus pandemic's starting point in China, were offered to the federal government at inflated prices and knocked back

He said the government wanted to focus on long-term deals and had rejected one-off deals at inflated prices.

'What we offered and were able to secure was longer-term contracts for volume and time, not one-off inflated purchases,' he told the Sydney Morning Herald.

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt (pictured) has said that a number of private companies had sought to sell medical supplies to the government

The minister said that early in the spread of coronavirus, a procurement team together with high-level diplomatic efforts had locked in supply lines of masks, test kits and ventilators.

'This was tested, refined and endorsed through a rigorous National Security Committee process,' Mr Hunt said.

'We foresaw a great global rush for test kits and locked in our supply lines early. We also established procurement teams for masks, test kits and ventilators.'

Though the Australian government has not commented on any issues with the equipment they have received from overseas sellers, other countries have had issues.

The governments in Britain, Turkey the Netherlands and Span have all reported they have received defective testing kits from China.

In one case, an Australian company payed for 90 tonnes of medical supplies to come from Wuhan and tried to sell them to the government for a profit

In the private sector, the huge increase in demand has led to claims of profiteering, with prices for N95 masks rising sharply.

The impacts of high demand have seen prices for masks in pharmacies throughout NSW and Victoria to jump from $1.30 to $38.50.

A chemist in Sydney's Top Ryde, which has a large Chinese and Asian population, was allegedly selling a box of 50 face masks this week to $400 a pack in February.

While in April, a whistleblower revealed how he watched essential medical equipment being purchased from Australian pharmacies then shipped to China during the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic.
A prisoner in the Pilibhit district jail is painting the jail red -- quite literally.

According to the jail authorities, an inmate Anupam Trivedi has made two paintings on walls of the jail campus that depict the manner in which people can counter the coronavirus by resorting to minor but important lifestyle changes.

A commerce graduate, Anupam , 41, was sentenced to imprisonment for 10 years by the District and Sessions court on November 10, 2016, after he was convicted for killing his wife, Sandhya, for dowry.

Anoop Singh, the Superintendent of the district jail, said, Anupams artistic skill was first seen by jail authorities when he sketched a picture of Lord Shiva on a jail wall with a pencil. We then started showing him YouTube videos on painting techniques to embellish his skills. These efforts have transformed Anupam into a refined painter.

The inmate is now using his painting skills to spread awareness among prisoners about essential safety measures needed to prevent getting infected by novel coronavirus.

Officials said that Anupam plans to make some more paintings to depict the importance of social distancing and the moral duty of the masses to honour frontline corona fighters, as a token of gratitude to them for their struggle to protect the people from the pandemic.

He also plans to spread the message through his art that attacks on doctors and police personnel is an act of devilry.

The paint, brush and other material is being arranged by the jail officials.

A few days ago, Anupam had also composed a poem to inspire prisoners to collectively fight the virus pandemic.

(This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.)

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A 31-year-old man is due to face court after allegedly stabbing a six-year-old boy and a woman in a domestic attack in Sydney.

The boy and the 27-year-old woman are both stable in hospital after they were found with stab wounds at a North Parramatta unit shortly after midnight on Saturday.

Police said the woman underwent surgery for internal injuries.

A man who arrived at Parramatta Police Station after the attack has been released from hospital.

He was charged with two counts of wounding/grievous bodily harm to person with intent to murder, and two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
Four weeks ago, a client of mine whos a self-employed consultant was telling me how much she was looking forward to attending a conference, where she was going to be one of the keynote speakers.

The event was cancelled because of Covid-19 and of course she understands why, and completely gets why we have to practice social distancing. But being self-employed and the primary income earner in her household, shes become extremely anxious about how long her savings will last for, how long before shell start missing utility bills etc. because the gap between what her monthly outgoings are, and the 350 shes receiving each week from the state is quite large.

And its such an unusual position for her to be in, because up until now shes never had to worry about money, shes always been very comfortable, and always managed her finances the way she was told to i.e. saved hard, followed a monthly budget etc.

Applying for the Covid-19 unemployment benefit was a difficult thing for her to do. In her wildest dreams, she never thought that with her qualifications, employer history, work experience, existing client base, that it would ever come to this.

I mean, four weeks ago, she was turning down new business because she was so busy, and now shes applying for unemployment benefit.

And understandably, she isnt sleeping very well and has become anxious and frightened. Shes frightened of what the future holds because she was always the person in control, and that loss of control has now manifested itself into a feeling of stress, a feeling she never had before from a career or financial perspective.

To say what shes experiencing is normal would be an understatement. Hundreds of thousands of people in Ireland are feeling financially stressed, and millions more across the world.

On a very practical level, its stressful trying to cover day to day expenses when youre income has been reduced. Youre trying to stay positive, hoping things will return to some sort of normality soon, but that can be hard as well, and its easy to let your mind wander and begin to think, what if it doesnt, and what happens if your employer doesnt re-open when restrictions are lifted, how long will it take before you get a job, how will banks deal with missed mortgage repayments when things begin to return to normal? Are they going to be calling you and sending your threatening letters etc.

And theyre not, but its difficult to think otherwise, because with so much time on your hands, its easy to start thinking all sorts of terrible things will happen.

Making assumptions about the future, before they happen is the reason why people suffer from anxiety, and because there are lots of things swirling around in your head at the moment, I want to try help and try ease that worry, so Im going to give you some suggestions this week and next which Im hoping you wont find patronising because theyre so not meant to be. And Im hoping if you take heed of some of them, they may help.

As John Kabat Zinn, once said, you cant stop the waves, but you can learn to surf.

What Im about to suggest by the way, applies to everyone, whether theyre in, or out of employment at the moment.

And they fall under eight headings, with four this week, and the remaining four next week. I thought they were too important to try and cram into one article, hence the reason Im spacing them out over two weeks.

Know what benefits your eligible for

The government has put in place an emergency Covid-19 pandemic unemployment benefit, which is available to self-employed people and employees who have lost their job because of Covid-19. The payment amounts to 350 per week. The easiest and quickest way to apply for this payment, if you havent done so already is via MyWelfare.ie. When you do, all you need is your email address, PPS number and your bank account details.

There is also the Covid-19 wage subsidy scheme, which reimburses employers (subject to meeting certain criteria) who are willing and have an ability to continue to pay staff some or all of their income. Employers will be reimbursed by the state for payments made up to 85% of employees normal net weekly pay if their income is less than 24,000, and those earning between 38,000 and 76,000 can receive up to 350 per week.

Get help

If this is the first time something like this has happened to you, I would urge you to get help.

People often make the mistake of trying to solve problems on their own, and because they may never have experienced a loss of income or redundancy before, they make decisions based on opinions and hearsay rather than cold hard facts.

The Money Advice & Budgeting Service (MABS) are not providing one to one support at the moment, but they are via email, phone and Im sure they can arrange Zoom/Skype calls with you as well. And they are an excellent resource and one you should use, if youre feeling anxious or overwhelmed. They can help you with monthly budgeting and talk your through how to make contact with creditors and tell you what youll need to do, what to say etc.

And if you happen to be still in employment but worried about what the future might hold, your company might have an employee assistance programme (EAP) made available via its health insurance provider. They provide confidential counselling services to people in financially difficulty and it might be worth having a call with them.

Accept whats going on

Its unprecedented, incredible, shocking, crazy, mad, unbelievable. There are so many adjectives you could use to describe what were currently going through, but no matter how many we use, it wont change anything.

Weve got to accept that things might not go back to normal for some time, and maybe the world will never be the same again, who knows. We have to let things play out and trust the advice were being given and following is for everyones benefit. Governments all over the world are all working at finding solutions, and hundreds of pharmaceutical companies are working 24/7, trying to produce a vaccine, and they will be successful.

As individuals, we simply cant control whats going on, weve just got to accept it is what it is, and if we try and let it go, we can significantly reduce our stress levels.

Make one decision at a time

It can be difficult to find a starting point, when youre feeling anxious about money. And when youre faced with having to do things youve never encountered before, and you have to make multiple decisions, in a short space of time i.e. claim for C19 unemployment payment, contact bank, make a monthly budget etc. it can be overwhelming and only adds to your stress levels.

Research has shown that when this happens, your willpower, and energy levels drop, and you end up doing nothing or only half of what you should have done.

You can overcome this is by siting down and taking your time and mapping out what decisions you have or need to make. If that strategy works for you and it means deciding on a Monday, youre going to log online and file for C19 unemployment benefit, on Tuesday youre going to contact your mortgage provider, on Wednesday your Credit Union, on Thursday review your monthly budget etc. then great, do that.

Liam Croke is MD of Harmonics Financial Ltd,

based in Plassey. He can be contacted at liam@harmonics.ie or www.harmonics.ie
Los Angeles, April 25 : Hollywood star Scarlett Johansson confessed that she was "rejected constantly" in her professional life, adding that she has "made a career out of being second choice".

In an interview with Parade, the "Avengers" actress looked back at her career, reports dailymail.co.uk.

"Since a very young age, I've been rejected constantly ... the best call you can receive is after you are rejected for something and then you get it. You appreciate it more. I've basically made a career out of being second choice," she added.

Johansson became a household name with her role as Black Widow in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but she wasn't originally cast in the role. She got the part after Emily Blunt had to drop out due to scheduling reasons.

In the past, the Oscar nominee has expressed frustration at roles she had to turn down. She also stepped down from the project "Rub And Tug" after criticism that a transgender actor should have been cast as the trans character.

At that time, in an interview to As If magazine in 2019, she said: "You know, as an actor I should be allowed to play any person, or any tree, or any animal because that is my job and the requirements of my job. There are a lot of social lines being drawn now, and a lot of political correctness is being reflected in art." Johansson's next release will be "Black Widow", which is slated to release on November 6.
Photo: (Photo : Photo from the 1-108th Cavalry Facebook Page)

If recent studies show that most teens are online and busy video chatting with their friends, 18-year-old Brandon Merck is undoubtedly not part of "most" teens. Army National Guard Private First Class Merck is outside the comfort of his home and is serving the nation during the pandemic.





Called to serve

The eighteen-year-old Private from Georgia is a combat medic of the 108th Cavalry. He is the youngest, and his group has just finished their fundamental training. Despite that, he did not refuse to be at the frontlines when he was called to assist the medical teams at the North Fulton Hospital. He was only given a short notice but did not hesitate to answer quickly.

According to Lt. Col., Chris Powell, combat medics are very much in demand now that there is a pandemic. He added that even though he just came out of training, Private Merck is already able to perform well.





PFC Merck's parents were prepared

In an interview with Fox 5 Atlanta, Private Merck's parents, who are recently in Canton, said they were prepared for the moment that their son will be called during the pandemic to help at the frontlines. His dad, Andy Merck, knew at the back of his mind that it was just a matter of time before their teenage son will serve.

Both Private Mercks parents, Andy and Enid, are confident that their son will do a great job assisting medical teams because he had intensive training with the Georgia National Guard.

His mother, Enid, trusts that Merck will step up and do everything assigned to him with excellence.

It has been three weeks since Private Merck's parents have seen him, but they are thankful they have technology that seemed to narrow the distance between them.





Private Merck in action

Private Merck assists in a hospital by helping in drawing blood from patients and transporting some of the patients as well.

Also, just two days after arriving at the North Fulton Hospital, Private Merck already had his first Emergency Room patient, who came in because of cardiac arrest. There was no time for him to even ease up on his tasks.

Private Merck says that while assisting at the hospital, he felt all his training kicking in, especially while working with coronavirus patients.





National Guards assists during the COVID-19 pandemic

Aside from PFC Merck, 28,400 troops have been activated to assist efforts in mitigating the COVID-19 in the United States. The National Guards, in particular, has assistance that includes helping some testing sites, aiding logistical support, packaging and distributing food and other supplies, giving labor for call centers, creating intensified medical support, and sanitizing common spaces.

The National Guards is an organization activated by governors to respond to emergencies like natural calamities or, in this case, a pandemic like the coronavirus.

Military Times report that early this April, 349 guard troops already tested positive for the coronavirus.
Some things get easier the second time around. Not this. This is worse, Patricia Zammit says. And never in a million years did she see it coming again.

For a small cohort of airline industry veterans like Ms Zammit, the "stand-down" letter from Virgin bosses last month recalled the still-burning trauma she experienced with the collapse of Ansett Australia.

Patricia Zammit has worked for Virgin for 17 years and before that she worked for 17 years with Ansett. Credit:Penny Stephens

Ms Zammit had given 17 years to Ansett in nearly every customer-facing role before it collapsed in 2001.

By coincidence, or "jinx", this year also marks 17 years since Virgin Australia, then called Virgin Blue, offered her a second chance in the industry she loves.
AN entrepreneur from Henley has given 1million towards a project he launched to help small laboratories provide coronavirus testing for frontline healthcare staff.

Mike Fischer founded the Covid-19 Volunteer Testing Network with the aim of recruiting up to 200 volunteer labs across the UK to carry out 10,000 tests a day by the end of this month for GPs and NHS workers.

Mr Fischer, 69, wants the country to urgently expand its covid-19 testing capacity for frontline workers.

There are thousands of labs in the UK with the right equipment and expertise to run these tests but they are currently not being used.

The project aims to build an emergency volunteer network of labs willing to convert to covid-19 testing to supplement the governments existing facilities.

Mr Fischer is the director of SBL, an independent, non-profit medical research laboratory in Milton Park, Abingdon which has been converted to testing for covid-19.

It is now providing 500 tests a week to NHS staff at 15 GP practices, including the Hart and Bell surgeries in Henley, Nettlebed Surgery, Sonning Common Health Centre and Goring and Woodcote Medical Practice, with a half-day turnaround.

These tests are giving hundreds of staff an indication of their current health status and the knowledge required to keep fulfilling these vital roles. After seeing the impact that testing at SBL was having on the area, Mr Fischer wanted to encourage other labs to follow its example and create a testing network.

The Fischer Family Trust has committed 1million of seed funding to get the project going which Mr Fischer expects to last until the end of this month. This is available to support the purchase of consumables for the tests if labs are unable to cover these.

Mr Fischer told the Henley Standard he would donate another 1million to the project if he could find donors to contribute a further 4million. This, he hopes, will get the project to the point where it is funded by the Department of Health and Social Care.

The network is now carrying out 1,500 a tests a day with five labs already signed up, three of which began testing a week ago, with a further 50 labs due to come on board.

Mr Fischer, who is a patron of the Henley Festival with his wife Maria, said: If we are going to beat this pandemic, we need to employ every resource we can to make sure that our essential health care workers can go to work safely.

Even at our small facility  with just three full-time staff and two machines  we have been able to run up to 500 tests a week for NHS staff on a same-day basis.

By creating an emergency network of volunteer laboratories like ours across the UK, we can quickly and efficiently create the capacity we need to deliver tens of thousands of additional tests every single day.

We believe this can play a vital role in supporting the national effort, at no cost to the taxpayer.

We hope existing equipment can be used in situ with qualified staff volunteering to conduct the tests. We are able to provide guidance, protocols, documentation and reporting.

Mr Fischer, who is running the project with two other entrepreneurs, Caroline Plumb and Tim Perkin, added: If youre a GP, the number one thing you want to do is not to be infecting patients and, particularly in this phase, the only patients you see face-to-face are very seriously ill ones.

The right thing is to be testing GPs when they have no symptoms and frontline workers. Were testing staff between once and twice a week at those 15 practices. By doing that were picking up GPs who are positive before they show any symptoms.

If they tested negative and were returning to work, a second test would be carried out the next day to ensure it was safe for them to do so and that the system was absolutely bulletproof.

The same applies if someone tests positive, to confirm the infection.

Mr Fischer said: Ive got a very lucky pocket so Im funding all of the tests our lab does throughout the pandemic and I have donated 1million for the consumables for the network for the next few days.

My initial funding will probably run out by the end of April so were in discussion with the Department of Health for them taking over the funding. Ill put in another million if four other people can do the same so that will see us through to the point where its highly likely the government will be funding it.

Mr Fischer is the co-founder of Research Machines, a British microcomputer and then software company for the educational market, and of stock photography agency Alamy.

He said: Ive never done anything that has got such an incredibly rewarding response. When we started I had no idea whether wed get two labs, or one lab, but every practice we can support is worth it.

Dr Philip Unwin, the senior partner at the Hart Surgery in Henley, says it has benefited from SBLs shift to coronavirus testing.

He has been at the practice for 32 years and was due to retire this month but is staying on to help the surgery as a result of the pandemic.

The practice has 10,500 patients and is one of the first surgeries to get help from SBL for testing.

Dr Unwin said: Having a test is crucial in helping to stem the spread of this disease and help us at practices to keep fighting.

He said staff and nurses were having to self-isolate because they had encountered someone who may have had covid-19 and they couldnt be sure whether they had the disease or not.

The surgery couldnt also be sure that the GPs still at the practice were not infecting their patients and spreading the disease further.

The lack of testing was causing some staff with high-risk relatives to stay home, and others were wanting to come back to work but couldnt due to the lack of confirmation on whether they had the disease.

He said that swabbing was easy, pain-free and takes no time at all so that both staff in the GP practice and those self-isolating can conduct the swabs themselves.

The Covid-19 Volunteer Testing Network is being co-ordinated on an entirely voluntary basis and is looking for further labs to join the effort.

For more information on the testing network, to join or to provide funding for the initiative, visit www.covid19-testing.org

 A CONSULTANT at the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading died on Monday last week after contracting coronavirus.

Dr Peter Tun, 62, was an associate specialist in neurorehabilitation and his son Michael claimed he had a lack of personal protective equipment.

But the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust said it followed the strict national guidelines on the correct and appropriate use of PPE.
Mary, mother of Jesus, didnt ask that God select her to give birth to his son. But she did. She loved him, raised him and then watched him walk to his death. What does a mother do in that horrible moment?

Worry or pray?

Simon of Cyrene was innocently visiting Jerusalem for Passover festivities when he wandered into the raging crowd of crucifixion groupies. A battered Jesus was struggling to carry the weight of his cross any further. And of all people, the Roman soldiers selected Simon to help Christ finish the journey. How do we respond when innocently required to bear the burdens of another?

Worry or pray?

By the time he reaches the weeping women of Jerusalem, Jesus tells us exactly which choice has the best chance of making his kingdom more apparent here on earth. Weep not for me, he says, reiterating the idea that His kingdom, His plan and the difference that can be made is anything but of this world.

God puts us where he needs us, yes. But when we are truly doing Gods work, more often than not, the moments that are most likely to bring about the greatest change in the world will be the last places we want to be.
25.04.2020 LISTEN

K-1: KOO, long time no see!

K-2: Hey, don't come near me o!

I shouldn't come near you? What have I done?

Go'way you! Are you the only person who hasn't heard of the crowned king of all illnesses?

Crowned king of all illnesses? I thought the thing was called coronavirus or COVID-19?

Did you learn Latin in school? Corona means crown in English. Therefore, coronavirus means crown-virus (crowned king of all viruses.) And since a virus attack causes an illness....

Ok, so now that you've got the language bit done, what next?

I said don't come near me because you're not waaaaring a mathk!

Waaaariing? Mathk?

If you were waaaaring a mathk, you would realise that waaaaring a mathk intherfearth with the pronunthiation of thertain wordth.....

Oh My God! By the time this COVID monster has been expelled from our shores, it would have destroyed all our relationships; our economy; our self-respect and  and  the very words with which we can express our sorrow! What at all have we done to deserve this?

What have you done? Did you not sit down and fold your arms when your relatives and their Chinese friends took excavators into River Birem, and turned the riverbed upside down?

I am not from that part of the country!

Ok; you don't drink from Birem? What about Densu?

I don't  I mean  oh, yes --- W-W-Weija gets its water from Densu! Sorry.... My bad!!

Wasn't your wife raised on the waters of Tano Kronkron? Isn't your father's biggest cocoa farm watered by the Pra River? You think when your elders pour libation and call on these Rivers, they invoke their names for nothing? Even a single River can kill a whole country. Just imagine all the Rivers in a country getting together and combining their spiritual power to curse its inhabitants!

But the Corousivirus or whatever wasn't invented and unleashed here by our Rivers?

But don't you know that all the Rivers in the world converge in the Great Oceans of the world? The Yellow River in Wuhan consorts with the Hudson River in New York and the Thames in London, who send messages daily to their relatives, the Tiber in Rome, the Seine in Paris and the Main in Germany, who also send emails to the Ebro and the Douro in Spain, who maker contact with ArcticAntarticAtlantic....

Ok, ok, I get the picture. But if all these Rivers you have mentioned are on foreign soil, how did the pestilence they invented for their own people get imported here?

Hahaha! You don't know Rivers, do you? They control everything human. Your body is 75% made of hydrogen whioch equals [=] water. So if one River puts an idea into the head of another, it can travel from The Earth, be transmitted through the Solar System past t5he Milky Way and "Gallopxy" back, albeit in the form of an Asteroid! Now, you try and escape from an Asteroid!

Charlie, we done finish, abi?!

Now you done see? Why didn't the Chinese, the Europeans and all the people who first got the disease, think of us, but allowed people with the disease, or who were about to have the disease, to fly in aeroplanes to our country?

Maybe, they didn't know the passengers had the disease?

They didn't know? When they caught a fellow who wanted to blow up a plane he was travelling in, by exploding a device he had hidden in his shoes, what happened?

They made a rule that everyone should take his or her shoes off and have them examined by x-ray machines, before they could fly. That rule persists to this day, doesn't it?!

Oyiwa!! Yet they couldn't make a rule that every passenger's temperature should be tested before the passenger was allowed on a plane? Isn't a high temperature one of the signs of the coronationkillus?

I am beginning to get your drift! The Rivers conspired to make everybody in the world self-centred and thus caused the transmission of the disease from one end of the earth to the other?

You'd better believe that. The stupidity extends to some of the most powerful people on earth. One of them even wants people to be injected with antiseptic substances like Dettol and Bleach because -- these are known to kill germs and viruses! Unbelievable!

Another wants everyone in the world to get the disease so that everyone who doesn't die from it will get immunity from it!

HAHAHAHAHAHA! SUPPOSE EVERYONE DIES BEFORE THE IMMUNITY IS ESTABLISHED?

HAHAHAHAHA! You think we live in a sane world?

My friend, if you think of the world and its lack of common sense, you will commit suicide. Look at the Ghana Government deciding to give free food to people during the lock-down. And some people thought this was the moment to show that they were more macho than everyone else in their district!

Look at people going into the streets to take a reconnaissance look to find out whether there were soldiers and policemen about who would actually prevent them from going where they wanted to go!

Stay at home!....

Wash your hands often  with sanitizers if possible!....

Don't cough or sneeze on other people!......

Don't go more than six feet near anyone at a public place, mall or lorry station!

Simple, life-saving rules.....

And yet people want soldiers to beat them with whips and belts before they obey them?

Koo, I would resign from the human race if I could find someone to whom to deliver my resignation letter !.....!

KOO, don't worry. The life force ois strong in some people.I have seen on WhatsApp, a person wearing a mask -- made out of lettuce leaf!

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

www.cameronduodu.com
Africa: The outbreak of Corona that is getting increased suddenly takes the form of epidemic for the whole world. This virus has caught more than 196000 deaths so far. But still this death game has not stopped. This virus has rocked the whole world today.

Sri Lanka seeks help from India in Corona crisis, will make big deal with RBI

As of now, it is being said that soon there will be some treatment of this disease, but till now this matter has not been completely cleared. Day by day the epidemic is increasing in the world. Due to Coronavirus, there is increasing fear among the people, on the other hand, epidemic is also spreading rapidly in the homes of Karanj people of this virus.

Video: Maulana wept bitterly at Corona, apologized to Allah

Exemption from sanctions in South Africa next month: South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Friday that some relief could be given next month from sanctions imposed due to the Corona epidemic. He said, some small businesses can be relieved from May 1. But only one-third of these people will be allowed to work. Some schools can also be reopened, but the number of children will be determined by looking at the class size. Under the new plan, South Africa's alert level has been increased from level five to level four. In South Africa, about four thousand cases of infection have been reported and 75 people have died.

Donald Trump suggests to expose body to UV light to kill coronavirus, scientists call it 'dangerous'
A woman has named her newborn baby after the Delhi Police Constable Dayaveer Singh, who helped her reach the hospital in the city on Thursday.

Anupama said that within five to ten minutes the cop came to help her. I have named my child Dayaveer, said Anupama, the mother.

Dayaveer came to the rescue of the pregnant woman after the womans father-in-law called the police for help.

The cop took the woman to Hindu Rao Hospital after the family was waiting for an ambulance but it did not arrive for two hours.

News agency ANI also shared images of the cop and the newborn kid.

Delhi: A mother named her newborn baby after the name of a police constable, Dayavir Singh, who took her to hospital for delivery. Dayavir Singh says,"I am happy that I could help her in these times. I feel honoured." pic.twitter.com/ewvV4oCVv6  ANI (@ANI) April 24, 2020

The gesture tugged at heartstrings of people and its clear from the comments they made. Good, salute to Delhi Police, expressed a Twitter user. Touched, expressed another. Wow! thats great, wrote a third.

They were trying to arrange an ambulance. When the ambulance did not arrive, they called our SHO. I was asked to rush to the womans aid, said Dayaveer.

Ashok Vihar Police Station SHO Arti Sharma said that Constable Dayaveer went to help the woman as soon as the call was received. Delhi Police is ready to provide all help to the people amid the lockdown, she added.

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On March 12, Gov. Kate Brown held a press conference in Portland to answer questions about the states early coronavirus social distancing order.

Consideration of school closures will be a last resort, the governor said, reading from prepared remarks.

Before the day was over, she reversed course, with a whiplash-inducing late-night announcement of a statewide K-12 school closure that affected millions of Oregonians.

Its an example of the contradictory nature of Browns leadership during the pandemic: She has publicly debated what to do and often come off as indecisive, but she ultimately issued strict, sweeping social distancing policies on pace with or ahead of most other governors.

Eight weeks since Oregons first presumptive coronavirus case was made public, those measures have kept the virus in check enough to register one of the lowest death rates in the Western U.S. and avoid overwhelming the states healthcare system. Brown is now talking about baby steps to reopen shuttered sectors of the states economy.

That success, against the backdrop of a chaotic federal response to the pandemic, has earned the governor national attention that she has welcomed, making the rounds on cable news shows to talk up her decision to send ventilators to New York. Shes quick to mention Oregon was the first to do so and in an interview with The Oregonian/OregonLive Thursday, Brown cast herself as a responsive yet decisive leader whose carefully tailored coronavirus response is even the envy of Washington Gov. Jay Inslee.

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee has high approval ratings among residents of his state. Oregon Gov. Kate Brown said he envies her decision to allow construction, with its big impact on the economy, to continue in Oregon while he called it off in Washington. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)AP

He is certainly wishing he hadnt shut down construction, Brown said of Inslee, with whom she talks regularly about their states responses to COVID-19. Brown made a point of allowing construction and manufacturing, two of Oregons most vital industries, to continue as long as they made provisions to keep workers six feet apart or outfit them with protective garb, even as Inslee termed construction non-essential and ordered it to cease.

On Friday, Inslee announced construction can resume on projects where workers are able to maintain an appropriate distance.

Brown is well aware that observers often compare her to Washingtons governor, whose job approval rating remains higher than Browns.

I took very aggressive actions very early on in the timeline of this COVID-19 crisis, and the proof is in the pudding, Brown said on Thursday. Because Oregonians were making really tough choices and making incredible sacrifices, Oregon was the first state in the country to donate ventilators to New York. And as you know after I took that action, Gov. Inslee and (California) Gov. (Gavin) Newsom followed.

West Coast governors have generally received high marks for their policy responses to the pandemic, centered on stay home mandates for which surveys have shown high levels of public support.

But some missteps by Brown and her administration have marred her performance, particularly when it comes to protecting nursing home residents and the newly unemployed.

State officials bungled their response to a Health Care at Foster Creek, where emergency of coronavirus cases were kept secret and not prevented from spreading, leading to the deaths of 15 residents. Dave Killen / StaffThe Oregonian

About half of Oregons COVID-19 deaths have occurred among residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. But her administration was slow to disclose the cluster of deaths at a Yamhill County retirement home and also at a Southeast Portland nursing home, where state regulators were late to provide help despite early red flags. Ultimately, at least 71 workers and residents caught the virus and 14 elderly residents died.

And as Oregon layoffs skyrocketed, Brown did nothing to change the Employment Departments stance that Oregonians would need to forgo a first week of unemployment payments the federal government was willing to underwrite. Officials said it would be too time consuming to reprogram the 30-year-old computer system. Only after the states Congressional delegation unanimously inveighed against that stance did Brown commit to reversing it.

Overall, however, her strong edicts designed to prevent the spread of the virus have earned her staunch support. Although some rural Oregon residents and leaders have railed against those limits, which are wreaking havoc on employment and the economy, a poll released this week showed only 6% of Oregonians strongly oppose her stay-home order.

You might not think at a moment when the economy is disintegrating and people are sheltering for a pandemic that were headed in the right direction, said John Horvick, political director at DHM Research in Portland, which conducted the poll. Nonetheless, thats what a majority of Oregon survey respondents told the firm from April 17 to April 21.

Horvick noted that Inslee continues to outperform Brown in public opinion surveys  62% rated his coronavirus response as good or excellent in a recent Quinn Thomas and DHM Research poll, whereas 54% of respondents approved of Browns job performance last month. Thats true even though Washingtons death rate from coronavirus is 4  times as high as Oregons as of Friday.

However, Horvick said Browns 54% approval is actually the highwater mark since she came into office in 2015 following former Gov. John Kitzhabers resignation amid allegations he misused his office for personal gain. A large portion of Oregonians were initially unsure what to think of Browns job performance, Horvick said, but by October 2019 many had made up their minds and 54% of DHM Research survey respondents gave her a negative job rating.

Coronavirus in Oregon: Latest news | Live map tracker |Text alerts | Newsletter

A spike in the number of Oregonians saying the state is on the right track, plus the governor getting better ratings on managing COVID than her overall rating pretty recently, suggest there is support for her COVID efforts, Horvick said Wednesday.

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown has said she relies on other voices, from school superintendents to business owners to elected officials from around the state, to help decide timing and scope of measures she takes to protect against the spread of COVID-19.

Throughout the crisis, Brown has frequently pinned her decisions on other people. She explained her March 12 about-face on school closures by saying school superintendents who were absolutely adamant that schools stay open changed their position on the matter. On March 15, the governor told reporters she was consulting with local officials around the state before deciding whether to order the closure of bars and restaurants. And on March 20, she held a joint late-evening press conference with Portland area leaders during which she and Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler made contradictory statements about whether the state was about to issue a stay home order.

In each case, Oregonians were urging Brown to take action, whether it was Portland restaurateurs, bar owners and bakers pleading for Brown to force the industry to shut down or Oregon Health and Science University chief medical officer Renee Edwards and a group of mayors saying the state should adopt a shelter-in-place edict.

When an OPB reporter asked Brown during the March 20 press conference whether she was announcing a statewide order, the governor offered a confusing response: Were here tonight because were very serious about the need to practice social distancing.

What is the order component? the OPB reporter asked.

Wheeler jumped in. The answer to your question is yes, there is an order coming, the mayor said. Were in the process of developing the details. Were giving the public clear guidance that that order is forthcoming. Were telling people that the order will be along the lines of to stay inside your house unless absolutely necessary.

Minutes later, Brown said Wheeler was incorrect. At this point in time I am not planning an additional statewide order or directive.

Oregon Governor Kate Brown held multiple press conferences with state and local government officials to discuss coronavirus plans and protocols in the state. Beth Nakamura/Staff

Brown said Thursday that she spent the weekend talking with lawmakers, local officials and folks all around the state about what to do next, even as her chief of staff Nik Blosser worked with Wheelers deputy chief of staff Sonia Schmanski on a potential order. But the turning point for her was when Oregonians and Washingtonians ignored her stay-home message that very weekend and flocked to the coast. On Monday March 23, Brown announced she would order people to stay home except for essential work and tasks such as grocery shopping.

Neil Simon, vice president of Portland strategic communication and public relations firm Bighorn Communications, recently issued a report analyzing governors crisis communications during the pandemic.

There definitely was an appetite for more assertive and direct leadership on what the decisions were gonna be affecting people and businesses, Simon said in an interview Friday, while also noting Oregons ultimate success containing COVID-19. In a crisis, waiting over a weekend to make a decision doesnt convey the most confidence that the public would expect, especially in a public health crisis when every day can mean lives.

Browns deference to local officials, including Wheeler, contrasted with other governors even in states with major metro area outbreaks, including New Yorks Andrew Cuomo. You didnt see (New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio) wagging the dog in Albany, you saw Cuomo in charge of his state, Simon said. Likewise in California, Newsom is calling the shots and is aware of urban and rural challenges but is leading statewide.

In the interview this week, Brown acknowledged her response has been imperfect. One of many questions reporters have repeatedly raised is why she told Vice President Mike Pence on March 3 that the state did not need the federal government to send coronavirus test kits. At the time, Oregon had three presumed positive COVID-19 cases. A month later, the White House issued a report that Oregon had among the lowest per-capita testing rates in the nation, a hurdle the state must clear in order to reopen large sectors of the economy and increase public confidence.

When asked Thursday if she regretted that letter, Brown paused. Look, I am making the best decisions I can, with the information that I have at the time, the governor said. I think its really, really clear the federal government needs more testing capacity, and all of the states do as well. I think weve all learned a really hard lesson here.

This story has been updated to include the following correction due to incorrect information supplied to The Oregonian/OregonLive: Browns chief of staff Nik Blosser discussed the stay-home order with Wheelers deputy chief of staff Sonia Schmanski.

-- Hillary Borrud; hborrud@oregonian.com; @hborrud

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
Other than the number of COVID-19 tests administered in Hale County, few other details changed since the snapshot report released Thursday.

Fridays report, which reflects data reported to the Plainview/Hale County Health Department by 5 p.m. on Thursday, 135 coronavirus tests had been administered across Hale County and 112 of those yielded negative results. Results for 14 tests are still pending.

The test totals reflect only those conducted in Hale County health facilities. If a Hale County resident tests positive in a different county, the confirmed case is reflected in the number of confirmed cases in Hale County, but the test is not counted in the local testing totals.

There have been 19 confirmed coronavirus cases in Hale County since March 24. Eleven of those were reported in Plainview, five in Hale Center, two in Petersburg and one in Edmonson. There have been four reported deaths and nine recoveries.

Of the confirmed cases, seven were reported in individuals who are 61 years old or older, seven in individuals between 21 and 40 years old and five in individuals 41 to 60 years old.

Many of the confirmed cases were results of local transmissions. According to the snapshot report, 11 cases were transmitted within Hale County, five outside the county and the transmission location(s) of three remain unknown.

All six of the individuals with active coronavirus are in isolation at home.

With Thursdays update, which included the announcement of cases 17-19, local health officials again urged Hale County residents to stay home.

Hale County is currently under a stay-at-home order, which: discourages leaving home except for necessary activities; encourages maintaining a social distance of six feet between people when out in public; discourages gatherings; and encourages good hand hygiene. It is recommended to wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds at a time. If soap and water are not available, it is recommended to use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol content.

Hale County health officials also recommend wearing a facial cover when out in public. For information on how to make a mask from common household items or to learn more about COVID-19, visit http://www.plainviewtx.org/455/COVID-19-Information.
When Taoiseach and Minister for External Affairs Eamon de Valera called on the German Minister Eduard Hempel to express his condolences on the death of Adolf Hitler, he was expecting criticism. Even so, he must have been taken aback by the vehemence of the international outcry that was to come.

It was May 2, 1945 and Hitler, the man responsible for the murder of six millions Jews and millions of others, had died by suicide in a bunker two days before. The war in Europe was drawing to a close.

The swastika flew at half-mast at the German legation on Northumberland Road in Dublin. A spokesperson told the Irish Times that the legation had received many messages of sympathy and many callers.

The leader of a neutral country should certainly not be among them. Frederick Boland, the assistant secretary of de Valera's own department, had no doubt about that, and he begged de Valera not to pay his respects, warning it would be a "ghastly error".

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De Valera, though, was not for turning, and was later reported to have paid his respects at Hempel's official residence in Monkstown, rather than the legation.

He was stubborn and inflexible when it came to matters of protocol. He even admitted later that he might have avoided the controversy by pretending to be ill but, as he explained in a letter to Robert Brennan, Irish Minister to Washington: "I would scorn that sort of thing".

"I acted very deliberately in this matter," he continued. "So long as we retained our diplomatic relations with Germany to have failed to call upon the German representative would have been an act of unpardonable discourtesy to the German nation and to Dr Hempel himself. I certainly was not going to add to his humiliation in the hour of defeat."

The Irish newspapers reported the visit the following day, May 3, 1945, briefly and without comment, but when the news was wired around the world, it prompted a barrage of international condemnation.

Anger in America

In the US, the Herald Tribune commented: "Despite all preoccupation with greater events, there is still time for a glance and a gasp at the spectacle of the prime minister of Eire marching solemnly to the German legation to present his government's condolences on the death of Adolf Hitler."

The New York Times was also dismayed. While de Valera might simply have been observing protocol, there was clearly something wrong with a protocol if it expressed grief for a man with the character and record of Hitler, it wrote.

There were other more colourful outbursts from Irish-Americans enraged by de Valera's actions.

In New York, for example, Mary Murphy wrote in a letter: "The Irish people should tar and feather you, you dirty bum."

In another, Angela D Walsh, also of New York, wrote: "Have you seen the motion pictures of the victims of German concentration camps, de Valera?... Have you seen the living dead, de Valera? Skin stretched over bone, and too weak to walk?"

The full horror of Hitler's efficient murder machine was starting to emerge, a point made clearly in the UK by Leonard Woolf, writing in the New Statesman: "Mr de Valera in the previous week must have seen the photographs of Dachau and Buchenwald. In Mr de Valera's condolences, we can see the degradation of civilised beliefs which made Hitler and the Nazi regime possible."

During the war, Eamon de Valera had succeeded in steering a steady path to maintain Ireland's neutrality despite a very real threat, early in the war, of a German invasion.

Historians agree that he was tilted in favour of the Allies. He had, on a number of occasions, even openly criticised Hitler's actions. In May 1940, for example, he spoke out against the German invasion of Belgium and the Netherlands. Towards the end of the war, the German Minister Dr Hempel protested when de Valera said he hoped that Czechoslovakia's suffering would end soon.

Now, however, he was being painted as a Nazi sympathiser and put in the same category as the European dictators, Salazar in Portugal and Franco in Spain, who had both marked Hitler's death. Interestingly, Sweden and Switzerland, both neutral, had done nothing.

The atmosphere grew even more tense when, on May 13, British prime minister Winston Churchill criticised de Valera's refusal to allow Britain to use the ports and accused his government of "frolicking" with the German and Japanese representatives to their heart's content.

De Valera's response was restrained and dignified and helped him to regain a footing, at least at home.

Policy of neutrality

Even when international opinion continued to rail against him, he never admitted that he had done anything wrong. In the Dail some months later, he insisted he was sympathising with Dr Hempel as a representative of the German people, not endorsing his government's policies.

"He was, in his own eyes, extending the minimum diplomatic courtesies," David McCullagh, broadcaster and author of De Valera: Rule 1932-1975, explains.

He was a stickler for procedure, McCullagh adds. He had called on David Gray, the American envoy to Ireland, after President Roosevelt's death, so it would have been a personal slight not to show the same respect to Dr Hempel.

As de Valera himself wrote: "During the whole of the war Dr Hempel's conduct was irreproachable. He was always friendly and invariably correct - in marked contrast with Gray."

His already strained relationship with Gray - a man who "never missed an opportunity of showing his anti-Irish spleen", according to Dev's department secretary Joseph Walshe - got worse when the diplomat proposed withdrawing from Ireland in protest.

The acting US secretary of State, Joseph Grew, saw de Valera's act as "deplorable" but said it did not warrant Gray's withdrawal.

Whatever about his decision to condole with Dr Hempel, David McCullagh says de Valera performed brilliantly in the war, sticking firmly to the national policy of neutrality.

Historian Diarmaid Ferriter echoes that point, saying he held his nerve to maintain neutrality, which to him was the ultimate expression of independence, and he did so among the shadow language and shape-shifting of wartime when what was being said in public did not reflect what was being done in private.

As for the now infamous visit which would resonate for decades?

The author of Judging Dev: A Reassessment of the Life and Legacy of Eamon de Valera says that while most people consider de Valera's visit a great blunder, it must be remembered that he had a high personal regard for Hempel.

Also, he warns, it is dangerous to read the situation backwards. "It's very easy for us to hector people about the gaffes they made. It is very black and white now, but that is not how realpolitik works."
Detroit

Those lightly traveled freeways and streets could be putting a few dollar bills into your wallet.

With most states under stay-at-home orders from governors, traffic is down almost everywhere, and that means lower crash rates and fewer insurance claims.

As a result, most auto insurance companies are cutting rates, sending checks or offering credits on monthly bills.

But consumer advocates say the refunds and rate cuts in many cases aren't big enough to correspond with the falling number of crashes. In Washington and New York, for example, state police reported 30 percent fewer crashes in March than the same month a year ago. And stay-at-home orders in those and other states weren't imposed until late in the month.

Consumer groups say here's what to look for on your auto insurance bills:

Refunds and credits: Most major insurance companies have promised to send checks, credit future bills or reduce premiums because people are driving so much less. State Farm and American Family tied for top letter grades of "A" from the Consumer Federation of America. State Farm is offering credits on future bills amounting to 25 percent on premiums from March 20 through May 31. That's about $20 per month per vehicle. American Family is refunding $50 per vehicle, which is equal to 21 percent of premiums for April and May, the federation said. Some companies have made vague promises of future rate cuts, but that won't help owners who are out of work and need money now, the federation said. In most cases auto owners won't have to do anything to get the refunds, which will be automatic.

What if my insurer isn't playing? The Consumer Federation suggests calling your company and doing two things: Tell them you want a rate reduction because you're driving far less than you were when you signed up for the policy. Most insurers reduce rates when cars are driven fewer miles. The other thing is to ask if the company plans to offer credits or cut rates because overall crashes are down. If the company refuses to do this, protest on social media and threaten to take your business to another company that's offering lower rates, the federation said. If you are with a smaller company that's affiliated with a larger insurer, the smaller company may not be offering the refunds or rate cuts. Also, most insurers that serve low-income drivers haven't been offering anything, the federation said.

What else can i do to cut my payments? Most companies will work with customers to delay payments for a month or two, but customers need to ask for help, the federation said. Some, like Allstate, will defer payments for a couple of months and spread them out over the remainder of the policy term.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

Should i just cancel my insurance? Insurance companies and the consumer federation say no. Doug Heller, a federation insurance expert, said nearly all states require you to have insurance coverage, and if it lapses, in many states companies will charge you more when it restarts. "Insurance companies can punish you," said Heller. Insurers also say that weather or other events can damage a car, so you should keep it insured even if it stays parked in the garage.

As the lockdowns continue, what should i expect? In April, discounts should be larger because stay-home orders will have been in effect in many states for the entire month, the federation said. As some businesses gradually are allowed to reopen, traffic still will be down into the summer, and that should bring further discounts, the group said. But it remains to be seen if the discounts will grow or stay in effect longer.

"We'll have to see where the data takes us," said Glenn Shapiro, president of personal property and liability for Allstate, which is offering 15 percent discounts for April and May that amount to about $60 per customer. Passenger vehicle travel was down 48 percent nationwide the week of April 6 when compared to the final week of February, when automobile travel was normal, according to the traffic information firm Inrix. But Shapiro said lower traffic doesn't automatically translate to reduced costs for insurers. As the crisis goes on, the collision repair parts supply chain is being disrupted, driving up costs, he said. Allstate also incurs costs when payments are deferred, and it could see people switch to other companies after the two-month deferral period, he said.

Also, companies still have expenses such as claims departments, which won't be downsized even though crashes are down, because they'll be needed later, he said. "Accidents are only part of the expense of insurance," Shapiro said.
Trump, who has said the outbreak could have been contained with very little death if the WHO had done its job, reiterated his complaints during a Group of Seven conference call this month. World leaders cautioned that it would be unwise to switch horses in the middle of the race and that an investigation into mistakes could be conducted after the crisis subsides, European officials familiar with the conversation said. After the call, several G-7 leaders issued public statements in support of the WHO.
April 25

April 25, 1284  Edward II, who ruled from 1307-1327, is one of Englands less fondly remembered kings. His reign consisted of feuds with his barons, a failed invasion of Scotland in 1314, a famine, more feuding with his barons, the murders of his two male lovers and an invasion by a political rival that led to him being replaced rather gruesomely by his son, Edward III.

King Edward II is born in Caernavon Wales. Ancient Christianity had tolerated homosexuality (In the 12th century the king of France elevated his lover to high office) but by the mid 13th century life was harder on gays and Edward was made an example. His first lover Piers Gaveston ended in Gavestons murder by courtiers. After his death, Edward constantly had prayers said for [Gavestons] soul; and spent a lot of money on Gavestons tomb

His second affair, with Hugh le Despenser, ended with the Barons arresting and imprisoning them both. Le Despenser had his genitals cut off and burned in front of him and was then beheaded. Edward as forced to abdicate the throne and pass it on to his son, Edward, who was crowned Edward III in February 1327. The deposed king was murdered in September of that year by having a red-hot poker inserted in his anus.

April 25th, 1978  St. Paul, Minnesota votes to repeal its four-year old gay-rights ordinance by a margin of 2-1. Mary Richards was not happy.

April 25th, 1979  Jury selection begins in the trial of Dan White for the murder of S.F. Mayor George Moscone and gay activist Supervisor Harvey Milk. In a controversial verdict that led to the coining of the legal slang Twinkie defense, White was convicted of manslaughter rather than murder in the deaths of Milk and Moscone. White served five years of a seven-year prison sentence. Less than two years after his release, he returned to San Francisco and committed suicide. San Francisco Weekly has referred to White as perhaps the most hated man in San Franciscos history.

April 25th, 1993  The third March on Washington happened and has an estimated attendance one million people. Although gays in the military was the major issue of that march it also marked the first time that same-sex marriage gained some notice, as well. On the day before the march, the Rev. Troy Perry, founder of the Metropolitan Community Church, married 2,000 gay couples in a ceremony on the steps of the Internal Revenue Service building. Although the event was largely obscured by the march itself, for those who participated it was a transforming occasion.

I remember going down to escalators to catch the Metro to the IRS, recalls Aleta Fenceroy of Omaha, who married her partner Jean Mayberry at that ceremony, and the whole subway tunnel burst out with people singing Going to the Chapel. It was one of those moments that still gives me goose bumps when I think of it. Later that day, she and Mayberry walked around Dupont Circle with wreaths of flowers in their hair, receiving the congratulations of strangers.

April 25th, 1995  Lawrence, Kansas passes an ordinance prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation. The law, the culmination of a 7-year struggle, is the only one of its type in the state of Kansas.
The legal war between Prince Harry, Meghan Markle and some of the U.K's biggest publications intensifies after their recent virtual preliminary hearing on Friday (April 24).

In her lawsuit, Meghan Markle accused Mail on Sunday and MailOnline for allegedly "harassing," "manipulating" and "exploiting" his father Thomas Markle, which have caused their father-and-daughter relationship to drift apart.

It came after the 38-year-old ex-royal filed a case against the Associated Newspapers after publishing a "private and confidential" letter she gave to her estranged father during their royal wedding in May 2018.

With this, it was mentioned that Mail on Sunday has published two articles while MailOnline released three write-ups containing excerpts of the handwritten letters of the former "Suits" star to her father.

The civil lawsuit cites violation of Britain's data protection law, copyright infringement, and misuse of private information to satisfy the reader's "curiosity."

Associated Newspapers Slams Meghan's Wrongful Accusations

The publication, on the other hand, has denied all the allegations. The group is determined to fight the legal battle.

Associated Newspapers representative Antony White told Justice Warby -- representative of the Sussexes -- that the accusations of Meghan were irrelevant and have no proper legal grounds.

"In this context it appears that the claimant has seen fit to put these allegations on the record without having spoken to Mr. Markle, verifying these allegations with him or obtaining his consent (she admits ... that she has had no contact with him since the wedding)," White mentioned.

Moreover, White clapped back at Meghan's claims that the Associated Newspapers "acted dishonestly" when determining which parts of the letters should be published.

"It is extremely common for the media to summarise or edit documents when reporting current events, and that is not a basis for an allegation of dishonesty," White added.

Prince Harry And Meghan's Emotional Messages To Thomas Markle

Earlier this week, Meghan and Prince Harry's emotional text messages to Thomas were revealed as part of the 33-page response to Daily Mail.

On May 5, 2018, the Duchess of Sussex messaged her father to ask if everything was okay and if he needed any assistance. Meghan even tried to arrange security for her father's protection against the aggressive media before their royal wedding.

She never got a call or text from Thomas but learned that he was hospitalized after he issued a tell-all interview with U.S. gossip site TMZ.

The Pleading Prince

Days later, the 75-year-old Markle apologized that he would not be able to attend her daughter's nuptials.

The Sussexes tried to call Thomas, but he was unable to answer any of it.

Prince Harry then sent a text message saying that he and Meghan "understand the circumstances" and there's no need to apologize. He also advised his father-in-law not to issue any public statement as this "will only make the situation worse."

"If u love Meg and want to make it right please call me as there are two other options which don't involve u having to speak to the media, who incidentally created this whole situation. So please call me so I can explain. Meg and I are not angry, we just need to speak to you. Thanks!" Prince Harry added.
U.K. Says Iranian Military Satellite Launch 'Of Significant Concern'

By RFE/RL April 24, 2020

Britain says it is concerned over Iran's launching of a military satellite and urged Tehran to uphold a United Nations resolution on refraining from such activities.

"Reports that Iran has carried out a satellite launch using ballistic-missile technology are of significant concern and inconsistent with UN Security Council Resolution 2231," the Foreign Office said in a statement on April 24.

After months of failed attempts, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) announced on April 22 that it had launched a military satellite into orbit.

The IRGC said on its official website the satellite reached an orbit of 425 kilometers above the Earth's surface.

"The UN has called upon Iran not to undertake any activity related to ballistic missiles designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons," the British statement said.

"Iran must abide by this," the Foreign Office said, adding that it had "significant and long-standing concerns" about Tehran's ballistic-missile program, which poses a threat to regional security.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on April 22 that "Iran needs to be held accountable for what they've done."

Iran has repeatedly denied that it is pursuing a nuclear arms program and that such launches are cover for ballistic-missile development.

In a tweet on April 24, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif reiterated Iran's position that its missiles are not "designed" to carry nuclear arms, as required by the UN Resolution 2231.

"US has been bullying all against UNSC Resolution 2231 since 2017... Neither (Europe or the United States) can lecture Iran based on flimsy misreadings of UNSCR 2231," Zarif said in the tweet.

"Iran neither has nukes nor missiles 'DESIGNED to be capable of carrying' such horrific arms."

With reporting by AFP and Reuters

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/uk-says-iranian -military-satellite-launch-of- significant-concern-/30574930.html

Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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NASA has broadcasted chunks of a routine space mission earlier today, sending over three tons of food, fuel and other supplies to the residents of the International Space Station aboard Russian spacecraft Progress 75. While the mission was seemingly regular in nature for NASA, Roscosmos (the Russian space agency) and all other parties involved, it still makes for a highly interesting sight to follow for all space enthusiasts, and also shows the precise, minute calculations that are required for such missions. Amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, it also shows a sign of resilience as mankind battles on to maintain life as close to normal as possible.

LIFTOFF! The Russian Progress 75 has lifted off at 9:51 pm ET and is en route to the @Space_Station with almost three tons of food, fuel and supplies! Watch: https://t.co/rwkVjRB3DZ pic.twitter.com/t1Yo3JkSDA NASA (@NASA) April 25, 2020

The live broadcasts of the Russian Progress 75 spacecraft and its cargo mission began at 9:51PM ET (April 24), or 7:21AM IST earlier today. Sitting atop a Soyuz rocket, the mission took off sharp on time, and took a total of 3 hours and 21 minutes for the entire journey, including lift-off. What's interesting is how the entire process was broadcasted live on Twitter, with a pre-launch programme detailing the objective of the mission, as well as visuals of the Roscosmos and NASA control rooms that clearly showed social distancing norms being followed. The consignment was sent for ISS commander and NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy, and cosmonauts Anatoly Ivanishin and Ivan Vagner, who are the three residents of the ISS at the moment.

Docking confirmed! At 1:12am ET, the Russian Progress 75 cargo craft officially docked to the @Space_Station, bringing with it almost three tons of food, fuel and supplies! Watch: https://t.co/dVGwN9LdR7 pic.twitter.com/CDDhXALzDq NASA (@NASA) April 25, 2020

As with every space mission, the docking procedure of a spacecraft with the ISS has always been a matter of ultimate precision and control, and space enthusiasts can now get a prolific view of the entire process. The broadcasted also showcased the journey between the Earth's atmospheric layers and showed a full breakdown of the process that is followed for every routine space mission undertaken by the control stations on Earth.

While regular missions are deemed as routine checks on our platform in space, NASA is taking on a host of more exciting missions, including space telescopes that are expected to become functional by next year. NASA is also gearing up for more Mars missions, and readying its technical preparations for the upcoming Artemis missions later in the decade. Going forward, it remains to be seen how the Covid-19 pandemic affects future missions by NASA, Roscosmos, ESA, ISRO and the likes.
As the world continues to grapple with the worst global pandemic in living memory, economists everywhere are warning that we are witnessing the unraveling of something far grimmer than the 2008 financial crisis: the Great Depression 2.0.

The signs are legion: Unprecedented levels of job and capital destruction, decimated consumer spending, underperformance by nearly all major financial markets, and a breakdown in the world fiscal order.

Even giant economic powerhouses have not been spared, with California--one of the wealthiest states in the United States thanks to its booming tech sector--having obliterated all its job growth over the last decade in just two months.

But now a renewable energy think-tank says directing those stimulus dollars to renewable energy investments could not only help tackle global climate emergency but spur massive economic gains post-Covid-19 for decades to come.

The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)--an organization dedicated to promoting global adoption of renewable energy and facilitating sustainable use--says that it will cost the global economy $95 trillion to help return things to normal.

Investing $110 trillion in renewables could, on the other hand, potentially spur an even more robust economic recovery from COVID-19 by creating massive socioeconomic gains as well as generate savings of $50 trillion-$142 trillion by 2050.

Source: CNBC

The big question is: Will the worlds governments be willing to put their money where their mouths are?

A Deluge of New Jobs

IRENA alleges that channeling all those stimulus dollars into the renewable energy sector would grow global GDP about 2.4 percentage points faster than the currently recommended scheme and spur a 13.5% increase in global welfare indicators such as education and health. Related: This Oil Price Rebound Is Only Temporary

But heres the kicker: investing that amount of money in renewables could quadruple the number of jobs in the sector to 42 million as well as create tens of millions more in related industries. In other words, it could easily create more than double the 26 million jobs that the United States has so far lost to the pandemic.

IRENA director-general Francesco La Camera says COVID-19 has ...exposed deeply embedded vulnerabilities of the current system notably the fossil fuel sector which is finding itself in dire straits due to an epic collapse in demand amid a global lockdown. Francesco has opined that the world needs more than a kickstart and that accelerating renewables can potentially achieve multiple economic and social objectives that would help build a more resilient economy.

Beyond 2050 and over the long-term, the report identifies investments in five key pillars of decarbonization, namely electrification, renewable energy generation, system flexibility, green hydrogen, and innovation--as being necessary for the achievement of a near- or zero-carbon global economy.

Too Much Rhetoric

Not surprisingly, the renewable energy sector has lauded the report, with Ignacio Galan, CEO of Spanish power company Iberdrola, saying aligning economic stimulus with climate goals is crucial in enhancing the long-term viability of the global economy.

A previous report by the IEA aired pretty much similar views, with IEA executive director Fatih Birol saying some of the stimulus packages being rolled out by governments should be invested in the renewables sector:

We have an important window of opportunity. Major economies around the world are preparing stimulus packages. A well-designed stimulus package could offer economic benefits and facilitate a turnover of energy capital which will have huge benefits for the clean energy transition, he said.

The IRENA report has also come in for some panning, with Charles Donovan, executive director of the Centre for Climate Finance and Investment at Imperial College London, saying its long on facts and figures but short on actionable interventions that governments can undertake right now to bend the carbon emissions curve. Related: Shale's Decline Will Make Way For The Next Big Thing in Oil

But what are the chances that IRENAs ambitious Transforming Energy Scenario that aims to lower global CO2 emissions by 70% by 2050 through channeling stimulus dollars into clean energy will see the light of day?

Unfortunately, slim-to-none.

The report has already sounded a warning on the widening gap between rhetoric and action by governments regarding climate change.

In a past article, we reported that whereas COVID-19 has resulted in a significant reduction in CO2 emissions due to travel restrictions and depressed economic and manufacturing activity, it will end up being far more inimical to the sector.

The IEA has warned that governments are likely to deeply scale back on clean energy investments, with the current year set to record the first fall in solar energy growth in nearly four decades.

Meanwhile, EV sales are expected to come to a standstill for the first time in more than a decade as well as trigger a dramatic reversal in the incremental shift away from coal-fired power plants.

The unfortunate fact is that whereas governments everywhere have been paying lip service to climate change and clean energy, in reality, they are wont to go to much greater lengths to try and save the fossil fuel sector from collapse than invest in clean energy projects with much longer and unproven paybacks.

By Alex Kimani for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
The Jigawa Police Commissioner, Usman Gomna, on Saturday, said the command has commenced an investigation into the cause of the death of a ten-year-old boy.

The victim, Usman Abdulkadir, was allegedly hit by a stray bullet from the police enforcing the lockdown at Sankara Market in Ringim Local Government Area of Jigawa.

Earlier, the father of the victim, Abdulkadir Suleiman, told PREMIUM TIMES that his son, a primary five pupil, died while receiving treatment at Aminu Kano Teaching on Thursday.

The command spokesperson, Audu Jinjiri, said all the officers who participated in the lockdown enforcement at Sankara market are under investigation.

According to Mr Jinjiri, the police had obtained a medical report from Sankara health facility and Ringim General Hospital where the deceased was first diagnosed.

Also, we are going to obtain a medical report from Rasheed Shekoni Specialist Hospital in Dutse and Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital in Kano where the deceased was later referred, as part of the discreet investigation.

READ ALSO:

The command has no intention to cover any of its personnel found violating rules of engagement and the outcome of the investigation would be known publicly soon, the police spokesperson said.

PREMIUM TIMES broke the news on how the 10-year-old sustained a wound on his head following the alleged shooting.

The father of the victim, Mr Suleiman, and other residents in Sankara community identified the officer responsible for the shooting.

They said the officer is known for unprofessional conduct.
While most of the world hungers for a vaccine to put an end to the death and economic destruction wrought by COVID-19, some anti-vaccine groups are joining with anti-lockdown protesters to challenge restrictions aimed at protecting public health.

Vaccine critics suffered serious setbacks in the past year, as states strengthened immunization laws in response to measles outbreaks sparked by vaccine refusers. California tightened its vaccine requirements last fall despite protests during which anti-vaccine activists threw blood on state senators, assaulted the vaccine bills sponsor and shut down the legislature.

Now, many of these same vaccine critics are joining a fight against stay-at-home orders and business shutdowns intended to stem the spread of the coronavirus, which had killed more than 50,000 Americans as of Friday evening.

This is just a fresh coat of paint for the anti-vaccine movement in America, and an exploitative means for them to try to remain relevant, said Dr. Peter Hotez, a professor at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.

Hotez said anti-vaccine groups are seizing on the anti-government sentiment stoked by conservative-leaning protesters to advance their cause.

Unfortunately, their strategy may work.

A group calling itself the Freedom Angels, whose members last year stood on chairs and chanted at public hearings on the California vaccine bill, say governors are abusing their power by shutting down gun shops and other businesses.

Many anti-vaccine activists  who have claimed that diseases such as measles arent that serious  now contend the coronavirus isnt dangerous enough to justify staying home. They agree with President Donald Trump that the cure for the pandemic could be worse than the disease itself.

Thats led some vaccine foes to join the protesters  whom Trump has encouraged on Twitter  in staging demonstrations in state capitals to reopen America.

This is the time for people to take notice and really evaluate the freedoms theyre giving up, all in the name of perceived safety, said Freedom Angels co-founder Heidi Munoz Gleisner in a Facebook video.

The group organized a Monday rally in Sacramento called Operation Gridlock.

People need to get back to work, get back to life, get back into contact with their loved ones who theyre isolated from, they need to be able to have a paycheck, group co-founder Tara Thornton told The Sacramento Bee, which interviewed her during the demonstration. This is the grounds they will enslave us upon.

Freedom Angels did not respond to requests for interviews. The groups website mentions plans for additional rallies and includes photos from Mondays demonstration, such as one in which a protester holds a sign proclaiming No Mandatory Vaccines.

But after the Monday event, the California Highway Patrol announced it had revoked the groups permit for future protests because the gathering  which included dozens of people  violated the governors social distancing order. The highway patrol has now banned all group events at the Capitol during the pandemic to avoid spreading the coronavirus.

A big tent

The anti-vaccine movement has never been limited to one political party. Left-leaning vaccine critics  such as Childrens Health Defense, led by Robert F. Kennedy Jr.  include environmentalists who are suspicious of chemical pollutants, corporations and Big Pharma. The Kennedy groups website attacks Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, for rushing risky and uncertain coronavirus vaccines into development as part of a sweetheart deal for drug companies.

On the other side of the political spectrum, many anti-vaccine conservatives oppose state immunization requirements because they distrust big government.

A group called Texans for Vaccine Choice has called on the governor to promise that no one will be forced to get a coronavirus vaccine in order to go to work or school.

Posts on the Facebook page of Californians for Health Choice, which also opposed Californias vaccine laws, question stay-at-home orders and accuse government officials of refusing to admit the orders are a mistake.

In a video on the Freedom Angels Facebook page, its founders describe stay-at-home orders as an abuse of government authority, and the closure of California gun shops as an assault on the Second Amendment. The group notes that guns could be essential for protection from rioters and looters looking to steal food during the pandemic.

In many ways, the conservative arm of the anti-vaccine movement is a natural ally for those leading reopen America rallies, said Dr. David Gorski, an oncologist and managing editor of the Science-Based Medicine site. Both harbour suspicions about government authority.

Vaccine critics, for example, have long championed the false claim that vaccines cause autism, and that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has tried to cover up that information, Gorski said. Trump has at times linked vaccines with autism, although he came out strongly in favour of vaccinations during the 2019 measles epidemic.

Anti-vaccine groups are now rebranding themselves as advocates of medical freedom.

Protests against social distancing began in Michigan but have spread to state capitols in Texas, Colorado, Nevada, Maryland, Wisconsin and elsewhere, with more planned. Most protests have been small, limited to a few hundred or fewer people.

Yet the anti-vaccine movement doesnt speak for everyone on the right.

Stephen Moore, the senior economic contributor for FreedomWorks, a conservative advocacy group that has been helping publicize the protests, said hes unfamiliar with the Freedom Angels or their rallies.

Im personally provaccine, said Moore, a member of the White House council to reopen the economy. Especially when it comes to coronavirus.

And some heroes of the anti-vaccine movement say they support coronavirus lockdowns.

Dr. Jay Gordon, a Santa Monica, Calif., pediatrician popular among vaccine foes for downplaying the risks of measles, said the risk of COVID-19 is real. Gordon said he approves of the lockdown, and we have to keep it up.

Containing the pandemic

Dr. Richard Pan, a pediatrician and California state senator who has championed stronger vaccine mandates, described anti-vaccine and anti-lockdown protesters as essentially selfish because they put other people at risk.

One of the hallmarks of the anti-vaccine movement is this sense of selfishness and lack of concern for other peoples health, Pan said. They like to talk about rights and freedom. But what they really want is freedom without consequences.

Both anti-vaccine parents and those who want to relax social distancing assume that the medical system will come to their rescue if they become sick, said Pan, who noted that thousands of health care workers have died while fighting the pandemic.

Fauci has said that relaxing stay-at-home orders is dangerous as long as the virus  for which there are no approved treatments or vaccines  is actively spreading. Reopening businesses too soon could spark a second wave of infections.

More than 75 companies and research groups worldwide are trying to develop vaccines, which are seen as a key weapon against the novel coronavirus.

In the meantime, the CDC says that social distancing measures  such as working from home and avoiding large gatherings  are critical to slowing the spread of the coronavirus and preventing patients from overwhelming hospitals. Health leaders say it wont be safe to reopen the county until widespread testing shows the coronavirus has died down.

Americans overwhelmingly support vaccination, according to surveys, and polling by the Kaiser Family Foundation found that 80 per cent of Americans want lockdowns to continue. Only 19 per cent said social distancing orders placed an unnecessary burden on the economy. (Kaiser Health News is an editorially independent program of the foundation.)

Neither the anti-vaccine nor anti-lockdown demonstrators represent the opinions of most Americans, Pan said.

Lets put this movement into proper context, he said. Theyre loud, theyre noisy and theyre small.
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.
Dear Editor,

I'm reading your article about Patrick Doyle (Longford dad tells of terrifying train ordeal) and his terrible journey en route to Dublin.

What he experienced, unfortunately, is not uncommon.

In normal times I would be a regular traveller by train. I'm from Dublin and living in Newtownforbes, so I'm well used to anything that goes on while travelling. Unfortunately, this behaviour will continue on trains as long as passengers are allowed to bring alcoholic drink on board.

Once someone starts drinking, they don't seem to care whom they annoy or insult. Once I asked someone (cannot recall if it was a trolley person or ticket checker ) why booze is allowed on the trains? Because we sell alcohol via the trolley, was the answer. So, they feel they cannot prohibit booze being brought aboard. What? Then do the simple thing, and stop selling alcohol aboard. Simple. Ban the booze, just like cigarettes are banned.....

Yes, the catering company is a separate unit, but it is employed by "CIE" so surely the train company can stipulate that alcohol not be sold from trolleys. Then they can rightly forbid passengers from bringing beer and wine onto trains.

Also and most importantly, we need staff to be aboard to enforce by-laws, especially on journeys over two hours long. So, how do we, the general public get this message across to the heads of company policy at Iarnrod Eireann ?

In the past when annoyance has been caused, I simply moved to another carriage. I'm a fare-paying individual and should not have to do this in order to get some peace and quiet. The travelling public deserves better.

Sincerely,

Catherine Doyle
Chief ally China has sent a team including doctors to North Korea to check on its leader Kim Jong Un following reports last week that said the 36-year-old was critically ill.

The delegation is led by a senior member of the Communist Party of Chinas (CPC) international liaison department and left Beijing for Pyongyang on Thursday, a Reuters report said on Saturday.

The visit is set to trigger further speculation about the health of Kim Jong Un who is said to be a heavy smoker, appears overweight and has a history of cardio vascular problems in the family.

China is yet to confirm the visit.

Also Watch | North Koreas Kim Jong Un in critical condition? Watch Chinas reaction

Beijing is isolated and secretive Pyongyangs chief ally and economic benefactor and President Xi Jinping has met Kim several times in the last couple of years including during his first state visit to North Korea in 2019 after more than a decade.

Kim, according to earlier reports, was conspicuously absent from birthday celebrations on April 15 of his grandfather and state founder Kim Il Sung.

He has not been seen in public since a meeting on April 11, which fuelled speculation about his health.

The state-run Korean Central News Agency reported that Kim on Wednesday had sent a message to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

In North Korea, the health of its leaders is treated as a matter of state security.

According to the Reuters report, when Kims father Kim Jong-il, suffered a stroke in 2008, Chinese doctors were involved in his treatment along with French physicians.

US Media outlets had reported earlier that Kim had gone under a cardiovascular procedure, with CNN citing a US official with direct knowledge of the matter as saying that Washington was monitoring intelligence that Kim was in grave danger after a surgery.

On Tuesday, the Chinese foreign ministry said it was aware of reports about the health of North Korean leader but said it does not know their source, without commenting on whether it has any information about the situation.

Spokesperson Geng Shuang made the remarks during id not elaborate further during the daily briefing.
The loyalty of Georgia Republicans to President Donald Trump is unfailing, even if it means defending the president while he verbally tears down their governor.

In interviews Friday with a dozen Republicans in Georgia, GOP followers largely went out of their way to avoid criticizing the presidents strong disagreement with Gov. Brian Kemps decision to allow some businesses to reopen Friday. They chose instead to downplay Trumps approach even as it laid bare that their state governor did not have the presidents public support.

Scott Jay, who leads the Newton County GOP, said it was unfortunate that Trump decided to kind of take a swing at Brian.

I dont know what the problem was and why he wanted to spit back at Brian Kemp, Jay said. But lets let Brian do the job that he was voted in to do. And if he made a mistake, I guess we will all find out about it and the left will be more than happy to skewer him at the next roasting.

But moments later he was cheering Trump on, saying overall, I think hes done a most exceptional job.

The decision to try to restore a sense of normalcy at the state level has been a tense topic during the pandemic, and Georgias steps this week have produced a picture of Republicans at odds over how such a significant step forward should be handled.

Brian Kemp, who is serving his first term as governor, announced earlier this week that selected businesses could reopen Friday including gyms, barbers, massage therapists, hair salons and bowling alleys. Hes also said the businesses would face specific restrictions, including adherence to Minimum Basic Operations, social distancing, and regular sanitation.

That, along with the reopening of tattoo parlors, triggered Trump to publicly state he strongly disagreed with the governor. The president quickly hedged on that reprimand, however, saying, I want him to do what he thinks is right.

He was more stern during Thursdays coronavirus task force briefing, saying, If you ask me am I happy about it? Im not happy about it, and Im not happy about Brian Kemp.

Story continues

Trumps direct rebuke has put the states Republicans in the difficult position of trying to support the Republican at home while justifying Trumps targeting as just a matter of two differing opinions.

President Trump always says exactly what he thinks, said Abigail Safford, head of the Laurens County GOP. Hes not about trying to be politically correct or things of that nature.

Dying to Bowl: Georgia Flirts With Disaster as Lockdown Eases

Ginny Hall, the GOP chairwoman in Glynn County, praised Kemp for supporting constitutional rights and giving people a choice. But when it came to Trumps words, she tried to avoid them.

I support Trump 100 percent. I absolutely am not going to go down that road, Hall said. I think he is having to walk a fine line and hes probably, Im not speaking for Trump obviously, but I bet he is going to be very excited to see the positive things that are happening with the state of Georgia as people are allowed to get back to work.

Trump isnt alone when it comes to voices on the right questioning Georgias reopening push.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) publicly fretted on Twitter earlier this week that he was worried that our friends and neighbors in Georgia are going too fast too soon. He also tweeted support for Trumps calling out Kemp after the president did so at Wednesdays briefing.

On Fox News, Sean Hannity highlighted Georgias move on Thursday, lamenting that if he does this wrong, theyre going to bludgeon him and not want to open anything.

We dont need the tattoo parlors open yet, Hannity said. Thats a dumb idea. And some other of his ideas are pretty dumb.

Even Republicans who supported Kemps decision noted that the reopening comes with high stakes. The push by some Republican governors to roll out reopenings comes with the added gravity that the pandemic is not yet over, and people continue to get sick and die.

I do think Kemp has solid data on the ground and the fact that he's never shied from taking strong and controversial stances on things, so I take a little bit of comfort that he knows everyone is watching, said Diane Lewis, the former chairwoman of the Floyd County Republicans. And I think that probably bodes well for the likely outcome of this experiment.

For one county leader, it was much easier to find reason to worry in Kemps move, saying its a decision hes gotta live with.

I really wish hed taken it a lot slower, Kay Godwin, the GOP chairwoman in Pierce County, said. People say, hes not demanding that you do it, but in this society all you have to do is to give a little bit of opening and they take a mile.

Others didnt have such a hard stance on the business opening decision, but did share some harsh words for Kemps decision to appoint Kelly Loeffler to Johnny Isaksons old Senate seat over Trump favorite Rep. Doug Collins (R-GA).

Loeffler was a surprise choice for the Senate seat, and questionable stock sales in the leadup to the coronavirus largely shutting down the country has only made her a more divisive figure.

Kemps conflict with Trump over the reopening appears to only add another layer of difficulties between the two conservative leaders.

One prominent local Republican who supports Loeffler went as far as tying Trumps criticism of Kemp to the Senate appointment kerfuffle.

Its giving him the negative publicity which, quite frankly, I think the president might have wanted to impose on him because of the friction over the U.S. Senate choice, said Carvel Lewis, the Quitman County Republican chief who is also chair of the local county commission.

Three county chairs made clear in interviews Friday they supported Collins in the Senate race, with two showing greater concern with the Loeffler appointment than with Kemps reopening decision.

A lot of people are disappointed with (Kemp) and Im afraid hes going to be in political trouble the next election, said Larry Odum, the chairman of the Appling County Republicans whos sided with Collins.

Trumps handling of governors during the pandemic has been fraught with confusion, and his shifting tone has forced some Republican leaders to push back on the pronouncements coming from the nations leader.

The presidents approach has already forced him to make a rare embarrassing rollback after falsely claiming authority over governors reopening decisions.

Even so, Trumps rebuke of Kemp was still a surprise, since the president is fretting about the economic impact of the coronavirus. Hes also been more likely to scorn Democratic governors than directly challenge sitting Republicans.

The way I understood it was, he disagreed but, I mean, he doesnt have any plans of interfering, said Keith Hurley, chairman of the Pike County Republicans. I like that about Trump. Hes kept his word. So hes not going to step in and say anything or stop him.

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As the coronavirus pandemic continues to push medical supply chains to their breaking point, a decentralized community of engineers, designers and DIY hobbyists  commonly known as makers  has stepped in to find creative ways to fill the gaps. These are the folks retrofitting snorkeling masks into low-cost parts for ventilators, using 3D printers to produce plastic face shields for medical workers and creating at-home assembly lines for cloth face masks. They work within existing companies and academic settings or individually around the world, and Jose Gomez-Marquez, co-director of the MIT Little Devices Lab, believes that this kind of innovation could play a vital role in medical problem solving, even in a post-pandemic world.

The MIT Little Devices Lab has worked with the medical community to create low-cost solutions for more than a decade. But rather than simply providing solutions, the Little Devices Lab gives healthcare workers tools to solve the problems themselves. What we study is not how we solve things for healthcare, says Gomez-Marquez. We study how physicians and nurses on the frontline around the world solve problems  and then how do we make instruments to augment that solving ability?

MakerHealth, a spin-off company of the Little Devices Lab, takes that concept one step further by building an environment similar to the Little Devices Lab within the hospitals themselves. If youre treating respiratory patients on the seventh floor, you can hit the elevator and go to the second floor and access 3D printers, laser cutters and, more importantly, a medical materials library that allows you to do exactly what I do at MIT, Gomez-Marquez explains.

One project Gomez-Marquez and his colleagues are focused on is developing scalable testing for the coronavirus, which has been an ongoing need since the early days of the pandemic. The issue, as Gomez-Marquez sees it, is that traditional factories are not set up to pivot operations at the scale needed. If you have a company thats one day been making Wrigleys Spearmint gum and you want to turn it into a rapid diagnostics line, its a great thought experiment. In practice, its hard, he explains.

Story continues

A nurse at UnityPoint Health in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, prepares a stethoscope for laser cutting. (Rose Hedges/UnityPoint)

Instead, MakerHealth and the MIT Little Devices Lab have devised a set of modular, Lego-like reagents they call Ampli, which when assembled in a proper sequence can diagnose whether or not a patient is positive for the disease. The base of the blocks can be 3D printed with simple plastics, and the reagents that sit atop the blocks are biological compounds that can be grown from samples provided by Gomez-Marquez and his team. Our theory is that if you can distribute these to a million people, those million people can make ten of those, they can make a hundred of those if they want to in an afternoon. Thats how we get to scale, he says.

Ampli reagent blocks assembled to test for COVID-19. Dime for scale. (MIT Little Devices Lab)

However, Gomez-Marquez notes that the decentralized maker network is not without weaknesses of its own. A colleague of mine in an email exchange said, I think this a Dunkirk-moment for makers, Gomez-Marquez recalls, referring to the hastily organized evacuation carried out in part by civilians of Allied troops from France in 1940, but they dont know what to do. Just because you have a 3D printer, doesnt mean you know what youre doing.

[The maker community] has amazing self-organizing capability, but at the same time we have to find a way to pierce through the noise, he adds. And thats what were trying to do with our MakerHealth organization. We give doctors and nurses context-driven information where we dont just 3D-print 800 things. We 3D-print the things they think matter.

Giving the people at the frontlines the tools they need and theyll make it work, has been eminently proven, says Gomez-Marquez. Look at the Italians with their scuba masks. Look at the nurses in New York making PPE out of trash bags. In any other context, we would have seen those solutions as sub-par engineering, but the fact is those solutions are the ones that are saving lives.

In recognizing the ingenuity of healthcare professionals, Gomez-Marquez believes that by harnessing the tools embraced by the maker community, a major transformation is on the horizon. Not only will they come up with ideas, but they will act on those ideas, without me coming in and saving the day, he tells Yahoo News. Thats a new way forward, and I think its going to be one of those moments like when we stopped hiring computer people to work with the doctor and we just gave the doctor the computer.
ALBANY, NY (KCTV) - A letter from a Kansas farmer donating a mask to a health care worker is now getting national attention after being shared by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo. The letter, which the governor read during an update Friday and then shared online, was sent by a couple from northeast Kansas named Dennis and Sharon Ruhnke on March 26.
On Saturday, Boeing (NYSE:BA) terminated a $4 billion deal that would have given it control of the commercial aerospace operations of Embraer (NYSE:ERJ) after a Friday night deadline came and passed without the two sides ironing out final details.

In press release, Marc Allen, president of Boeing's Embraer partnership unit, called the decision "deeply disappointing" but said "we have reached a point where continued negotiation ... is not going to resolve the outstanding issues."

The termination, like the initial deal itself, is likely to be highly controversial, and the decision comes with both pros and cons for Boeing.

Why Boeing shareholders should rejoice

The world has changed a lot since these two longtime partners decided to join forces. In 2017, Boeing boasted a multi-year backlog, billions of cash on its balance sheet, and and a roadmap to further expansion. Archrival Airbus (OTC:EADSY) had acquired the small-jet C-Series line from Bombardier, and Boeing saw teaming with Brazil's Embraer as a way to counter the C-Series threat and better compete in the small-jet space.

Boeing agreed to pay $4.2 billion for an 80% stake in Embraer's commercial jet unit, a rich but fair valuation at the time. However, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has caused travel demand to evaporate and left airlines ill-positioned to buy new planes, Embraer's total market capitalization has fallen to about $1 billion.

As a result, heading into the weekend Boeing was nearing a deal to pay more than four times what investors currently feel the Embraer assets are worth. Even that Embraer valuation likely was inflated due to the pending deal. Embraer shares look set to plummet on Monday following Boeing's decision to walk away.

Boeing is also much less flush with cash than it was two years ago. International regulators' decision to ground the 737 MAX in March 2019 is likely to cost the aerospace giant more than $20 billion in added expenses, penalties to customers, and advanced payments to keep the supply chain running.

The pandemic has only added to Boeing's cash woes, causing the company to temporarily suspend operations and hurting demand for new planes. Boeing has suspended its dividend and has asked the U.S. government for $60 billion in support for the commercial aerospace sector. Given the scrutiny on the business right now, asking Washington for cash and then sending billions overseas to Embraer is probably a non-starter.

Buying Embraer, regardless of the price, is arguably a distraction Boeing doesn't need right now. Furthermore, buying Embraer at the agreed price would have been a tremendous drain on scarce cash resources.

Why Boeing shareholders should be disappointed

Nevertheless, Boeing's rationale for wanting to buy Embraer was solid. The deal falling apart leaves a gaping hole in Boeing's product offering.

In effect, Boeing pushed the C-Series into the arms of Airbus by aggressively attacking Bombardier's sales strategy, accusing the Canadian company of dumping the product in the U.S. at a below-cost price. The C-Series, rebranded the Airbus A220, has attracted significant interest from customers, including Delta Air Lines and JetBlue Airways.

In recent years Boeing has tried to convince airlines to go with the smaller versions of its 737 instead of a plane the size of the A220, in part because it has no real alternative. Embraer's new generation E2 jets would have slotted in below the 737, giving Boeing an attractive offering for customers looking for a plane that size.

Unfortunately for Boeing, smaller-sized jets seem likely to be big sellers in the years to come. Prior to the pandemic, global airlines were already shifting away from larger jets and toward smaller planes. That trend is likely to accelerate if air traffic demand remains below pre-pandemic levels for an extended period.

The A220's success has come in part because airline customers have been forced to wait and see what becomes of the Boeing/Embraer deal. Even combined, Boeing/Embraer faced an uphill battle selling the E2. Embraer is likely to find the challenge much more difficult on its own.

So how should an investor feel today?

Given all of the other issues facing Boeing, and the challenges of integrating massive, cross-border deals even in the best of times, existing investors should be glad this deal fell apart.

Ideally, the two sides can now return to the table and work out a compromise. However, that might be easier said than done. It appears the talks leading up to Boeing's decision to terminate were tense.

For its part, Embraer doesn't seem to be in a mood to compromise. The company issued a statement saying the deal was "wrongfully terminated" and pledging to "pursue all remedies" against Boeing.

"Embraer believes strongly that Boeing has wrongfully terminated the [master transaction agreement], that it has manufactured false claims as a pretext to seek to avoid its commitments to close the transaction and pay Embraer the $4.2 billion purchase price," the company said. "We believe Boeing has engaged in a systematic pattern of delay and repeated violations of the [master transaction agreement], because of its unwillingness to complete the transaction in light of its own financial condition and 737 MAX and other business and reputational problems."

Which means, in the near-term, Boeing has one more thing on its plate. For potentially the rest of the decade, Boeing's commercial fortunes largely will be dictated by the success of the still-grounded 737 MAX.

Boeing is focused on survival. Survival is good, but investors should be aware: the price for survival might be a lost decade in terms of commercial sales. My advice: stay clear of Boeing stock.
Nollywood actor, Yomi Fabiyi has volunteered to take up any job at the NCDC as a way of supporting the health agency during this period.

Speaking via a series of tweets he said he has a valid drivers licence and can drive an ambulance conveniently, among others.

Read Also: There Will Be Recession After Lockdown  Nollywood Actor Yomi Fabiyi

If you have link or access to the management, pls redirect. The situation is getting tougher, centres need more volunteers and support. Lagos in particular. I can drive an ambulance conveniently.

I am willing to drive an AMBULANCE or be a support worker at any unskilled department for @NCDCgov Lagos govt @jidesanwoolu during this pandemic on pro-bono. I dont want to engage the emergency number in other not to deny an urgent medical call. My Email: yomi.fabiyi01@gmail.com

If you have link or access to the management, pls redirect. The situation is getting tougher, centres need more volunteers and support. Lagos in particular. I can drive an ambulance conveniently. I have my driver's https://t.co/yltxVnUj4e  Yomi Fabiyi (@yomifabiyi) April 25, 2020
A surcharge added on to the work visas of overseas healthcare workers, including those from India, within the state-funded National Health Service, is under review as they battle against the coronavirus pandemic, UK Home Secretary Priti Patel said on Saturday.

The Indian-origin Cabinet minister, who led the daily Downing Street briefing, was asked about this long-standing demand within the medical community, which has been lobbying against the additional financial burden on doctors and nurses already contributing directly to the NHS.

"We have a range of measures that are, like most things in government, under review, and we are looking at everything including visa surcharge, she said.

The Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), introduced in April 2015, is imposed on anyone in the UK on a work, study or family visa for longer than six months in order to raise additional funds for the NHS. Earlier this year, it was further hiked from 400 pounds to 624 pounds per year.

The British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (BAPIO) are among the bodies lobbying against what has been branded as an unfair and discriminatory charge on overseas medics who pay their tax dues while contributing to the NHS.

Now, Patel has indicated that she is reviewing this along with her Cabinet colleague, UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock.

"That is something that obviously I am working with my colleague Matt Hancock in the Department of Health and Social Care because that is a joint policy with Matt's team, and we are looking at everything we can do to continue to support everyone on the front line in the NHS," she said.

The minister had earlier announced a free-of-charge visa extension for the NHS medics whose visa was set to expire by October, in order for them to have the "peace of mind" as they combat the deadly virus across the country's hospitals.

In her daily briefing on Saturday, Patel also urged the British public to continue to stay strong and abide by the lockdown measures in order to support the NHS in its fight against the spread of COVID-19.

She said: We must be sure that we can continue to protect the NHS. That there is a sustained and consistent fall in the daily rates of death we all have a role to play in pulling our country out of this crisis.

So, I urge you all to stay strong and embrace that spirit of national unity by continuing to follow the advice: to stay at home, to protect the NHS and save lives.

She also issued a warning to criminals looking to exploit the current lockdown situation, as she revealed that reported losses for coronavirus fraud now stands at 2.4 million pounds.

The minister said: Car crime, burglary and shoplifting are all lower than in the same period from this time last year. But we also know that the most sophisticated criminals continue to exploit and capitalise on this horrendous crisis.

So today, I have a message for them: our world-class law enforcement is also adapting, and they are onto you. And their efforts are paying off.
Bengaluru, April 25 : The Central government's midnight decision to reopen neighbourhood shops from Saturday in non-COVID-19 hotspot areas has not seen many takers in this tech city, as the public response was poor and transactions were few.

"We have not seen customers rushing to neighbourhood shops, as evident from a few transactions during the day. It may take time for better response, as the lockdown continues with curbs on vehicular movement," a pop and mom shopkeeper in the city's southeast suburb Kodathi told IANS.

Rows of shops selling groceries and provisions are shuttered with not many buyers hanging around a few shops open for business.

Except a few shops selling iron and cement for construction, some kirana stores and medical shops, the regular shops which used to buzz with customers in the initial lockdown days were also shut.

"Looks like people have gotten a little used to lockdown. Many have not opened their businesses inspite of government allowing them," Prakash, 21, a banana seller told IANS, whose shop is by the Sarjapura Road near the new Wipro Campus.

Kiran, a local resident zipping on his Yamaha RX 100 motorcycle on empty roads told that a few more shopkeepers may start opening businesses after the weekend from Monday.

Though a bunch of vegetables shops were open at the Kodathi junction, an intersection of roads leading to Sarjapura, Varthur, Bellandur and Silk Farm, just a handful of buyers were present.

A bustling chicken and mutton shop remained shut, including several such others.

"This difficult phase of low transactions may last for several months," said a local kirana store owner from Chittoor district in Andhra Pradesh.

A Hindustan Petroleum fuel filling station is left with three workers waiting for customers, a far cry from the pre-lockdown days when 20 workers used to pump 5,000 litres of petrol and 10,000 litres of diesel a day.

"Right now we have been reduced to just three workers and managing to sell only 1,000 litres of petrol and diesel together," said Santosh, 23, a worker at the petrol bunk.

Eight Point of Sale (PoS) machines used for swiping many a debit or credit cards are gathering dust on them in the petrol bunk's office.

A Swiggy delivery boy who came to pump petrol into his motorcycle lamented that he is delivering just five orders a day compared to the pre-lockdown period of 20 orders a day.

Similarly, the usual traffic cacophony at Kodathi has fallen silent with very few vehicles criss-crossing the junction.

A motorcycle repair shop opened for business three days ago with very few motorcycles coming for repairs or servicing.

Incidentally, some stores are opening for a couple of hours in the morning and evening, remaining shut for most of the day.

"I think many people and shopkeepers are yet to know that they can transact business," pointed out Santosh.

Interestingly, no policemen were around to enforce the lockdown, hinting that people in general are adhering to the restrictions without supervision.

Kodathi suburb is 30 km farther from Bengaluru's central business district.

(Sharon Thambala can be contacted at thambalasharon@gmail.com)
Elephants return home to Trang

TRANG: About 60 elephants have returned to their homes in Trang from major tourism provinces because the mahouts cannot afford to feed them in the absence of tourists, caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

animalsCoronavirusCOVID-19wildlifetourism

By Bangkok Post

Saturday 25 April 2020, 09:15AM

An elephant takes a bath in the Trang River. Many elephants and their mahouts that normally work the tourist circuit in Phuket, Krabi and Phang Nga provinces have returned to Trang and Phatthalung. Photo: Methee Muangkaew

Suchart Buakerd, chairman of the Trang elephants raisers club, said yesterday (Apr 24) that elephants which had been working in Krabi, Phang Nga and Phuket provinces had already returned to Trang province.

The mahouts feared catching the coronavirus if they stayed there. They also could not afford to feed their animals in the absence of income from tourists.

It costs B600-700 a day just to feed an elephant and the mahouts now had to pay for the food out of their own pockets  mainly fruit, and especially pineapples which cost B1 per kilogramme, said Mr Suchart.

Some had three to four elephants to care for and this involved a substantial daily cost.

He and other elephant owners decided to bring their animals back to Yan Ta Khao and Na Yong districts in Trang, and other areas in Phatthalung. He said 50-60 elephants had already arrived back in Trang.

Now, the mahouts had to find places for the elephants to stay. If they were kept near local peoples orchards or farms, this could cause problems. So they had decided to keep them near the Trang River, Mr Suchart said.

Before the outbreak of COVID-19, he had never brought his elephants back to his home province, as there was plenty of work entertaining tourists all year round in Phuket and nearby, he said.

Some elephants were still stranded in Phuket, where an elephant foundation was helping out, he said.

A source said authorities had asked four mahouts to return from Bang Khan district in Nakhon Si Thammarat and submit to quarantine for 14 days at the Thalae Song Hong National Boy Scouts Camp in Huai Yot district of Trang.
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A man from the Syracuse suburb of Baldwinsville was gunned down and killed while quarantining in Mexico.

Pat Landers of Baldwinsville is 32 years old and his girlfriend Karla Baca is from Mexico. They were fired upon about 30 times while driving in their jeep. The vehicle had New York license plates.

Police are investigating a motive for the attack and no suspects have yet been arrested. Friends of the couple said Landers was quarantining in Mexico with Baca. The two had been dating for three or four months.

The border city of Ciudad Juarez was infamous for its massacres at the height of Mexico's war of drug cartels.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-26 00:09:28|Editor: huaxia

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BEIRUT, April 25 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab said on Saturday that the government in Lebanon has lost, over the past years, the confidence of people because of its malpractices, LBCI local TV channel reported.

"The government has lost the confidence of people because officials worked on meeting their own interests instead of the interests of citizens," Diab was quoted as saying during his visit to the Directorate General of Internal Security Forces.

Diab emphasized the need for a government that works in a professional manner regardless of who are in power.

"The work of the government must not be impacted when political authorities are changed," he said.

Diab was appointed at the end of last year as new prime minister for Lebanon after the failure of previous governments.

He is currently working on a financial strategy aimed at saving the country from its current financial and economic crisis. Enditem




Haiti - Security : Review of the operations of the DCPJ and the DDO





Divisional inspector Gary Desrosiers Deputy spokesperson for the National Police of Haiti (PNH) presented this week the results of operations carried out by the Central Direction of the Judicial Police (DCPJ) and by the Departmental Directorate of the West (DDO) from the police from 5 to 22 April 2020.



He indicated that some 40 people were arrested on various counts including : illicit drug trafficking, illegal possession of firearms, armed robbery, assassinations and attempted assassinations. The agents of the Office for the Fight against Trafficking in Narcotic Drugs (BLTS) made major seizures during this period, including 128kg of marijuana and 12 kg of cocaine https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-30557-icihaiti-tabarre-major-seizure-of-marijuana-and-cocaine.html .



Large sums of money were recovered during searches carried out on the homes of certain drug traffickers. Several spare guns were also confiscated.



In addition, Gary Desrosiers, reported on the progress of the investigation into the gunshot murder of police officer Watson Fortune, at Carrefour Drouillard on April 17, https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-30582-icihaiti-pnh-visit-to-the-parents-of-watson-fortune-killed-in-the-exercise-of-his-functions.html . He said the police had already identified the network specializing in the hijacking of a freight truck, which was responsible for the crime.



Rameau Normil, the a.i. Director General of the PNH, has issued instructions to track down all those involved in the police murder, so that they will be tried according to law.



See also :

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-30582-icihaiti-pnh-visit-to-the-parents-of-watson-fortune-killed-in-the-exercise-of-his-functions.html

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-30557-icihaiti-tabarre-major-seizure-of-marijuana-and-cocaine.html



HL/ HaitiLibre


















New Delhi, April 25 : Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Saturday appealed to the government to move 6,000 Andhra Pradesh fishermen stranded in Gujarat in their fishing trawlers to relief camps.

"Over 6,000 fishermen from AP, stranded in Gujarat, have been confined to their tiny fishing trawlers for over a month, in unhygienic conditions with limited food & water. I appeal to the Govt to move my brothers to relief camps and ensure their well being," Rahul Gandhi said in a tweet.

He also attached a news report highlighting the plight of the fishermen staying in their fishing trawlers in Gujarat for over a month.

Several migrant workers and fishermen have been stranded in several parts of the country following the nationwide lockdown to combat the spread of novel coronavirus (Covid-19) as train, bus and airlines services have been suspended.

On Saturday, the total number of Covid-19 cases in India rose to 24,506 with 775 people losing their lives due to pandemic.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Five members of an Uttar Pradesh family were found dead under mysterious circumstances at their house in Shringarpur locality of Etah on Saturday morning.

The deceased included a retired clerk of the health department in Etah (70), his daughter-in-law (35), her two sons aged 10 and two years and her sister (25).

We are working on the case and bodies have been sent for post mortem. The reason behind the deaths is unknown and we are waiting for the post mortem report and other pieces of evidence before reaching a conclusion, said Sunil Kumar Singh, the senior superintendent of police (SSP) of Etah.

There was no forced entry into the house and we had to use gas cutters to enter. The doors were closed from inside, stated the SSP.

Investigations are on to work out the exact reason. We have found a bottle of sulphas, a poisonous substance and a bathroom cleaner. There is a cut mark on the right wrist of the daughter-in-law. A blade was also found near the body of the deceased, informed Sunil Kumar Singh.

We have taken a sample of milk placed in the kitchen and a forensic team was called to collect other evidence. We have collected CCTV footages from the nearby areas and have also asked for call details to reach some conclusion, added Singh.

The police official added that the son of the retired health official, who works for a Uttarakhand firm, was informed about the incident.

Relatives of the family reside in a lane near the house but they have no information about any enmity of the family which lost five of its members. Forty-year-old son of the retired health official works in Uttarakhand for a pharma company and was informed about the incident. He has reached home but is clueless about the incident, he said.

Locals informed that a milkman first reached the house on Saturday morning. When no one opened the gate despite repeated call, he informed the neighbours, who called the police.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Hemendra Chaturvedi Hemendra Chaturvedi is based in Agra serving as a Principal Correspondent, covering districts of Agra and Aligarh division of western Uttar Pradesh. He has been with HT since 1992 and has completed 25 year of association with HT. ...view detail
India completes a month in lockdown on Saturday. In this period, the country has slowed the spread of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) though many challenges still remain. Meanwhile, human trials of a vaccine developed by Oxford University has begun. An Indian company has started work on its local production so as to be ready in case the trial succeeds.

Month of lockdown impedes virus, a long battle lies ahead

On March 25, the first day of the lockdown, India had 606 cases and 10 fatalities before all transport was banned, offices and schools closed, and people told to stay indoors unless they were out for essential purchases or services. On April 24, across the country 1,408 new cases were reported and 57 more died on Friday  taking total infections to 24,404 and fatalities to 778.

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Self-reliance Indias biggest lesson from Covid, says PM

The coronavirus disease pandemic (Covid-19) has offered India a valuable lesson on the importance of self-reliance and self-sufficiency, and the country, each state within it, each district within every state, and each village within every district must aspire to attain the twin goals, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday.

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6 vaccines in human trials bring hope of early Covid-19 relief

Human safety trials of a coronavirus vaccine developed by Oxford University began on Thursday even as Indian company Serum Institute of India started work on making the vaccine locally so as to be ready in case the trial succeeds. This is the sixth coronavirus vaccine to enter the first phase of clinical trials, raising hopes of an antidote against the virus that continues to ravage the world.

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Covid-19: What you need to know today

Theres long been a theory that the number of people infected with the Sars-CoV-2 virus, which causes Covid-19, is actually higher than that reported. What else should you know about Covid-19 today?

Read More to find out

Central team finds lapses in Bengals Covid-19 response

One of the two Inter-Ministerial Central Teams sent to West Bengal to assess the on-ground situation there in terms of dealing with Covid-19 has highlighted several anomalies in its letter to West Bengal chief secretary Rajiva Sinha: a waiting period of at least five days for test results of patients in isolation wards; the possibility of dead bodies lying on beds in wards for four hours; and the lack of social distancing at hospitals.

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Inspection teams rushed to Gujarat, TN & Telangana to control Covid-19 spread

The Centre is deputing interministerial to three more states -- Gujarat, Telangana and Tamil Nadu -- to probe perceived lapses in efforts to control the coronavirus disease and violations of lockdown regulations, the home ministry said on Friday, amid a bitter row with West Bengal over the alleged targeting of opposition-ruled states .

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DRDO offers oxygen plants to far-flung hospitals

In its latest offering to combat the coronavirus disease, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has stepped forward to provide medical oxygen plants to hospitals in far-flung areas to generate their own oxygen supply, two government officials said on Friday.

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CMs wishlist: Interstate transport options, funds

Chief ministers, especially of non-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ruled states, are likely to discuss inter-state transport of migrant labourers, an increase in their borrowing capacity and food for work programmes when Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets them through video-conference on Monday.

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Uttarkashi official suspended for booking toddlers over quarantine violation

A government official on Covid-19 duty decided to investigate over phone a violation of home quarantine by a group of people who returned to their village in the Uttarkashi district from Haryana, and in the process booked a six-month-old and a three-year-old, resulting in widespread outrage -- and his suspension.

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Promising antiviral trial hits roadblock

Remdesivir, that had been thought to be a promising antiviral drug to treat the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), was found to offer no benefits to patients or prevent death, according the draft findings of clinical trials in China that were accidentally published by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on its website on Thursday.

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India, Gulf talk essentials supply, economic recover

Uninterrupted supply of food and essential items from India to West Asian states and the role of energy security in post-Covid-19 economic recovery figured in external affairs minister S Jaishankars recent conversations with his counterparts from several Middle East countries.

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Kerala shuts its borders with Tamil Nadu

Last month when north Kerala district Kasaragod turned into a coronavirus hotspot, Karnataka had closed all its border points with Kerala and the latter took the inter-state issue to the Supreme Court. However, now Kerala has closed its borders with Tamil Nadu after Covid-19 cases shot up in the neighbouring state.

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Covid-19 lockdown: Finance panel calls for extra support to small businesses

The advisory council of the 15th Finance Commission on Friday observed that the government needs to follow a nuanced approach in its fiscal response to fight the economic fallout of the Covid-19 pandemic and focus on designing a stimulus package as much as on the size of it.

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Trumps idea to inject disinfectant stuns world

US President Donald Trumps inquiry over injecting people with disinfectants to guard against the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) left medical experts and scientists across the world stunned on Friday, with many issuing warnings to not introduce bleach in the body in an attempt to kill SARS-CoV-2, which causes the infectious disease.

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After weeks of uncertainty the Department for the Gaeltacht has finally decided to cancel all the Irish courses planned for summer colleges in the Gaeltacht this year.

However, the Department has yet to clarify whether course organisers, or 'mna ti', who provide accommodation for the students will be compensated in any way for the investment they've made to get ready and the income they're going to lose out on this summer.

According to Donal O Laoire, the manager of Ireland's oldest Irish college, Colaiste na Mumhan in Beal Atha'n Ghaorthaidh, while this year is gone due to COVID-19, next year might also be at risk.

"There's no certainty the economy will be able to bounce back sufficiently to give the confidence needed to get parents to send their children to the Gaeltacht for the summer.

"On top of that, if there's no vaccine by then they will be cautious about it - and who would blame them."

While the Department has said course organisers and mna ti won't have to submit engineering and fire certificates for this year, as had been previously required, the work on securing the necessary certs has already taken place and payments made or due to be made to engineers.

"I've been working to get ready for this year's courses since last September and Colaiste na Mumhan has made a considerable investment already - will we be compensated for that," he asked. ''It would be good to get clarity on that question."
Samir Hussein/Getty

If you love The Daily Beasts royal coverage, then we hope youll enjoy The Royalist, an all-new members-only series for Beast Inside. Become a member to get it in your inbox on Sunday.

The war between Prince Harry, Meghan Markle and the British tabloids has rumbled for some time. Earlier this week, Harry and Meghan said they would no longer deal with four British papersThe Sun, Daily Mail, Daily Mirror, and Daily Expressin any way, shape, or form.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Reject U.K. Tabloids. The Tabloids Yawn.

Now the battles goes to court. Tomorrow, Friday, legal teams for Markle and the publisher of the Mail on Sunday will finally lock horns in person, after a lengthy shadow war which began when Meghan claimed the Mail broke an obscure point of copyright law when it published a private letter to her dad, and sued.

Associated Newspapers, which publishes the Mail, responded that Meghan had abdicated her right to privacy by briefing friends on the letter, who then gave an interview to People magazine publicizing its content.

Meghan hit back saying, to general amazement, that she had no idea her friends were doing the sit down with People. Meghan is suing Associated Newspapers for damages for misuse of private information, violating her right to privacy under Europes General Data Protection Regulation and infringing her copyright.

The stage is set for a blockbuster legal showdown at whichif it does not go her wayMeghan Markle, the wife of the sixth-in-line to the British throne, may stand accused of lying.

The case to date has been conducted largely through a series of written exchanges and publication of filings.

Tomorrow, the first actual oral hearing taking place, at which Associated Newspapers are attempting to strike out various particulars of claim filed by Meghans side.

Because of the Covid-19 crisis, journalists will be able to follow the opposing sides opening arguments on Microsoft teams.

Despite the somewhat academic nature of the proceedings tomorrow, this limbering up exercise may yet turn out to be a firework-filled first glimpse at the characters and arguments in what some are predicting could turn out to be one of the biggest train wrecks in court of all time.

Story continues

In Meghans corner: the attack dogs of London legal firm Schillings, who have made a name for themselves, despite some high-profile fails, as the litigator of choice for celebrities seeking to go after newspapers who have invaded their privacy.

In Associateds corner will be Adrian Speck and Antony White, two of the most feared barristers of their generation. White, in particular, is famed in the industry as a cross-examiner of exceptional ability, known for his clinical and unemotional destruction of witnesses.

Whites cross-examination skills should be of particular concern to Meghan given that her case may come down to an issue of character, specifically whether or not the judges believe that five of her most trusted friends sat down with People magazine and gave an extensive and lengthy interview without her knowledge, blessing or permission.

Meghan claims that Associated Newspapers broke the law when it published a letter she had written to her errant father, Thomas.

Prima facie, as lawyers like to say, Meghan would be assumed to prevail; by an ancient quirk of copyright law in the UK, one which is the bane of biographers, you cannot publish a letter without the authors permission, even if you happen to be the recipient or owner of the physical letter, or the owner of the physical letter gives you permission to do so. No such legislation applies in the USA.

The friends said in the interview they were seeking to defend their pal in the face of a tidal wave of unprecedented global bullying.

In the course of the interview, one of them talked at some length about the letter that Meghan had sent to her father.

One of these friends told People that after the wedding, Meghan wrote her troublesome father a letter saying: Dad, Im so heartbroken, I love you. I have one father. Please stop victimizing me through the media so we can repair our relationship.

The friend went on, He writes her a really long letter in return, and he closes it by requesting a photo op with her.

Thomas was sufficiently provoked by this interview to furnish copies of the letter in question to the Mail on Sunday, which went ahead and published it, provoking the copyright infringement lawsuit, which, with less than impeccable timing, was announced by Harry and Meghan at the tail end of what had up to then been a successful tour of Africa.

While copyright infringement seemed to many a curious cause to risk one's reputation and fortune for, there seemed little doubt at first that Meghan would win.

But Associated came up with a cunning defense. They are now arguing that Meghan effectively put the letter into the public domain herself by allowing those five friends to do the People interview. It is expected that more detail on this strategy will be revealed on Friday when the legal teams are required to publish the outline of their cases.

In one of the various filings lodged at the High Court, Associated responded to Meghans claims of privacy invasion by saying that the contents of the letter, were not private and confidential, because Meghan caused or permitted the friends to dish on the contents of the letter. They argued: Whatever the position may have been earlier, following the publication of the People interview neither the existence nor the contents of the letter were confidential.

Meghans response to this, filed last Friday, was to claim that she did not know that such an interview had been given or, more importantly, that any reference would be made to the letter.

Meghan points out, accurately, that the Mails case is underpinned by the allegations that she procured or authorized the reference in People magazine to the existence and content of the Letter she wrote and the response she received from her father, adding, The true position is that (she) did not procure or authorize this reference, and that she did not know that her friends were giving an interview to People magazine, let alone that one of them would refer to the Letter. Had she done so, she would not have agreed to such a reference.

The friends quoted were swiftly and widely identified by the media. The Sun, for example, claimed they were Meghans Pilates teacher Heather Dorak; friend Benita Litt, whose kids were pageboys at the wedding; Suits actress Sarah Rafferty; actress Janina Gavankar; and Northwestern University-era friend Lindsay Jill Roth.

Mark Stephens, a media lawyer at law firm Howard Kennedy, told The Daily Beast: To begin with it seemed she had a good case. The letter was private and it was not a public matter. But Associateds defense was astonishing. They essentially accused her of curating a media and briefing war against her father. She then denied this, but it stretches credulity to think that five of her friends would sit down with one media organization and discuss her relations with her father in this level of detail and that Meghan would not be aware of it.

Even if she wins on a technicality, the only person with anything to lose in this is Meghan. She has very little to gain if she wins, but if she loses, this could be one of the biggest train wrecks in court of all time.

Of course, its a frequent tactic of newspaper publishers, and Associated is well known for it, to intimate to the defendant that taking the case all the way is just not worth it reputationally.

For example, Meghan and Harry have already been forced to publish intimate text messages they sent to her dad, meaning we now know rather more about their relationship than we would have done had this case never been initiated.

Associated Newspapers would of course be perfectly happy for Harry and Meghan to give up or settle before the start of an actual trial (which would likely take place closer to Christmas or even in early 2021) at which Meghan would certainly be called as witness, and so would her father.

And while many observers harbor a deep suspicion that ultimately they will fold, Meghan and Harry have a deeply idealistic and stubborn streak.

They may just take it all the way.

They may even win.

But its hard to see for them a victory that would be anything other than deeply pyrrhic, and Fridays hearing will provide some clues as to just how much pain Associated Newspapers will try to inflict on the couple.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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A New Jersey mayor and an advocacy group are calling for the shutdown of an Amazon warehouse after a report of more than 30 employees infected with the coronavirus.

After Business Insider reported more than 30 employees at the Carteret Amazon fulfillment center tested positive for COVID-19, Mayor Daniel Reiman called on the Middlesex County and state department of health to temporarily close the facility, until all workers could be tested and the facility could be sanitized. Reiman also called on Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to ensure that the facility had the proper protective supplies.

By choosing profits over people, Amazon has now placed both in danger" said Reiman. These employees arent drones, they are people and Amazon treats them like herded sheep."

In a phone call, a spokeswoman for Amazon told NJ Advance Media the company never confirmed the number of employees who tested positive. But when asked, Amazon did not say how many of the employees at the Carteret facility tested positive for the virus.

We are supporting the individuals who are recovering, said Rachael Lighty, spokeswoman for Amazon. We are following guidelines from health officials and medical experts, and are taking extreme measures to ensure the safety of employees at our site.

CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Newsletter | Homepage

The wife of a worker at the Carteret facility, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation, said that conditions at the warehouse were subpar, including a break room that had no running water. Pictures she sent to NJ Advance Media show a crowded break room as recently as March 18, dust covered air vents and a break room sink with two signs that read DONT USE SINK and NO WATER.

Another picture shows a sign that reads Lets social distance together, above an email for human resources. Below the email, the words STOP LIE HR" are scrawled in pen.

The accusations regarding an unclean facility were simply unfounded, said Lighty.

As of April 2, there were four confirmed cases of the virus in the Carteret facility, said the workers wife, but nearly every day, her husband has received text after text notifying him of a new case. The messages do not specify how many new cases, merely saying We have additional cases of COVID-19.

We dont know, she said. Because they wont give us that information.

The company said that when a COVID-19 case was confirmed in any of their facilities, they would tell employees, including those who had not come in contact with those infected. But Amazon, after several requests, did not provide specific numbers.

The report comes little more than a week before May 1, when the company will end its unlimited unpaid time off for employees. In a note to employees, the company said that on May 1, it would be returning to our normal attendance policy. The company will extend $2 hour per hour wage increase to May 16.

The company is extending double overtime pay in the U.S. and Canada, said Lighty. It will also provide flexibility with leave of absence options, including expanding the policy to cover high-risk individuals or school closures, she said.

One after the other, employees at Amazon facilities across New Jersey have been reported as COVID-19 positive. Employees in Amazon facilities at Edison, Robbinsville and Teterboro have tested positive.

Workers rights organization Make The Road New Jersey joined Reimans call to shut down the Carteret facility, calling on Governor Phil Murphy to shutter the facility.

We call on Governor Phil Murphy to utilize his executive authority to temporarily shut down Amazons Carteret warehouse, because its clear this outbreak is beyond Amazons control, Adil Ahmed, the organizations director of worker organizing and policy, said in a statement.

The workers are not robots, Ahmed added. They are humans with families and loved ones, and we cannot afford to social distance on their backs.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription.

Rodrigo Torrejon may be reached at rtorrejon@njadvancemedia.com.
The West Bengal government has



issued a show cause notice to the authorities of a primary school in South 24 Parganas district for giving additional food items and soap bars along with rice and potatoes to guardians of students under the midday meal scheme amid the lockdown, a notification said.

The sub-inspector of schools, Bishnupur circle, had on Friday issued the show cause notice to Amgachhia Lal Bahadur Free Primary School, accusing it of violating the government order of providing only 3 kg each of rice and potatoes to guardians of the students from April 20 to 30, it said.

In addition to the fixed quota, the school authorities had also distributed a packet of flattened rice, biscuits and a bar of soap to each of the beneficiaries on April 23, the notification said.

The state government has asked the school authorities to give its explanation within three days of receipt of the notice, it said.

The administration sought to know who had given the school the right to decide on distributing the additional commodities by violating the standard practice, the notification said.

"You are instructed to give an explanation about such distribution from your school and whether you had taken any permission from the higher authority to do such distribution.

"An explanation should be given from your end within three days from receiving this letter," the notice, a copy of which was forwarded to the block development officer, said.

The school authorities, when contacted, refused to comment on the issue.

Rice and potatoes are being given to the beneficiaries across the state from April 20 under the midday meal scheme.

"Such instances of going beyond the brief of the government will not be allowed. This is a government project and there can be serious ramifications if we choose to ignore such instances," an official of the School Department said.

The distribution is going on smoothly in other parts of the state, he said.

minister Partha Chatterjee had earlier said any violation of government order -- ranging from not taking safety precautions to prevent the spread of novel coronavirus to altering menu -- will invite serious action.

Chatterjee, however, was not available for comment on the incident.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-25 19:18:07|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, April 25 (Xinhua) -- China is making progress in resuming hog production, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.

China's breeding sows in stock in 400 counties monitored by the ministry expanded by 2.8 percent month on month in March, growing for the sixth consecutive month, said the ministry.

Newly-born piglets in farms with over 500 pigs in stock saw a month-on-month growth of 7.3 percent last month.

A total of 28 provincial regions registered growth in the number of hogs in March, two more than those of February, data from the ministry showed.

Since last year, the country has implemented a string of policies to encourage hog production and stabilize pork prices affected by African swine fever and other cyclical factors.

To soften the impact of the novel coronavirus outbreak, China has ramped up financial support including subsidies and loans to major pig producing counties to restore production. Enditem
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
Editors Note: The Artfeel column returns to present art as a diversion during the COVID-19 crisis.

In Hughes Landing, behind Restaurant Row, lives artist Julie Speidels marvelous Fenris, Karale and Midgard Glaciers, an ancient yet modern looking group of stainless-steel boulders named after the glaciers of Greenland.

Speidel was inspired to create these artworks from her fascination with glacial erratics, a type of rock that once was carried inside glacial ice and traveled hundreds of miles sometimes across thousands of years to its current resting spot. These geologic wonders owe their erratic name to the Latin word errare which means to wander.

While homebound with newly COVID-created juggernauts of free time, I find myself traveling through time across myriad miles to my distant childhood memories. Last week, during a garage clean-out, I found Shel Silversteins The Giving Tree, a long-forgotten favorite book.

It was a delightful read and I have since placed it on our living room table hoping someone else might accidentally discover its powerful beauty. Last night, I screened Hot Stuff, a 1980s gem which starred and was directed by my first film crush, Dom DeLuise. This morning, I experienced a strange new joy slicing into a hefty semi-frozen Velveeta cheese block. Then, I used my hands to shape some of the chunky pieces into girthy circles, rectangles and triangles.

Subsequently, I spent time piercing and positioning these geometric forms onto an old set of shish-kabob skewers. Suddenly, these bite-sized spiritual totem poles drew forth memories from early pre-school days when simply the smell of a newly cracked open box of crayons or the sight of a heart-shaped PB&J sandwich in your lunchbox was all that was needed for inspiration and fuel for a great day.

I cant remember the last time I had either the time or the force of nature, like a glacial erratic, to wander so many miles.

How do Speidels Glaciers make you feel? Where do they take your mind to? What do you think of when you look at them?

For a map of public art in The Woodlands, check out

this handy online guide

:

 Nickole Kerner Bobley was the former arts columnist for The Villager before retiring in 2018. She has returned during COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic to offer thoughts on local art.
IITs online seminars in ICT help O/L and A/L students continue their exam preparations View(s):

In view of the ongoing lockdown in Sri Lanka caused by the COVID-19 threat, Informatics Institute of Technology (IIT), the pioneer in British higher education in Sri Lanka and the countrys premier IT and Business campus, has increased its ongoing series of online support seminars in ICT, that help prepare Ordinary Level (O/L) and Advanced Level (A/L) students for their examinations later this year.

With the COVID-19 pandemic bringing the country to a virtual standstill, students preparing to face the O/L and A/L examinations this year are greatly inconvenienced. Their school term was abruptly cut short disrupting their studies while they were restricted to their homes unable to attend school or tuition classes. As a responsible organisation that is always ready to help the young minds of the nation, IIT stepped forward to help these students continue their ICT studies. By utilizing its ICT expertise, IIT put together a series of informative online seminars that focused on the ICT subject for both O/L and A/L students.

IIT has been conducting these support seminars on a regular basis for several years with hundreds of schools and thousands of students across the island benefiting significantly. Given the current restrictions due to the lockdown, they provide the ideal platform for principals and teachers to educate their students in ICT thereby allowing them to continue with their studies without any disruptions and providing a much-needed boost to their attempts to cover their respective ICT subject syllabuses.

The 2-hour seminars cover topics such as Internet of Things (IoT), Programming, Flowcharts and several others. They are conducted by a highly-experienced academic member of IIT and are of two types. The first type is specifically tailored to educate the audience on a topic put forward by a single school based on their requirements of the ICT syllabus. On average, around 100 students from a school participate in these types of seminars at any given time. The second type is a general seminar that covers a wide variety of ICT topics and is open to students from all schools across the island. Approximately 400 students took part in each of these seminars.

Sharing his views, Prof. Jayantha Wijeyaratne  Director of IIT stated, These are trying times for the whole country and it is important that we all look at avenues to help each other in any way possible. The shutting down of schools was an important step in safeguarding our children from the COVID-19 disease but it does come at a price of disrupting their studies.

We, at IIT, recognised that we can help out during this crisis by using our experience and knowledge in ICT to provide these online support seminars in ICT for O/L and A/L students. I am happy to note that the seminars we have carried out so far have been very successful with students from all parts of the island coming on board to learn from our very own team member. We hope to continue these seminars and do our best to help these students perform well in the upcoming exams.

Prof. Wijeyaratne also emphasized, It is important that we all follow the instructions given by the authorities to the letter to overcome the huge challenges posed by this disease. We must all stay at home, practice good personal hygiene at all times and maintain social distancing. By being disciplined and carefully adhering to these instructions, I am certain we can beat this disease and eventually return to our normal lives, stronger and more united as a nation than ever before.

IIT was established in 1990 as the first private higher education institute that awards reputed British degrees in the field of ICT and Business. IIT is an award-winning campus offering internal postgraduate and undergraduate degrees from the University of Westminster, UK and the Robert Gordon University, UK. IIT has played a pivotal role in strengthening the IT and Business sectors in Sri Lanka over the years by producing world-class graduates. Since its inception in 1990, IIT has produced over 3,000 graduates that are now based in 25 countries.

These graduates have gone on to become successful entrepreneurs and IT/Business professionals in both local and international corporate and government entities.

They have played a pivotal role in empowering over 250 multinational and local blue-chip companies by holding key strategic positions while contributing immensely towards the growth of their respective organizations.

Further information on IITs Online Support Seminars in ICT and how a school can register for them can be obtained by contacting us through the official IIT Facebook page -

https://www.facebook.com/

iitsl or by calling 0766 760 760.
- The survivor claimed she contracted the virus from her boss's son who had travelled with COVID-19 symptoms from UK

- Oyindamola Oluwaseun Ajibare said she was stigmatised and even got sacked by her boss

- Her boss accused her of stealing her laptop

- The househelp recovered from the virus nine days after she tested positive

A caregiver who was diagnosed with COVID-19 has said that she was sacked by her boss after she contracted the virus.

Oyindamola Oluwaseun Ajibare, a caregiver in Lagos, Nigeria claimed she contracted the disease from her boss's son who had travelled back from the UK.

READ ALSO: COVID-19: Good news as Uhuru signs bill reducing tax on salaries

Oyindamola worries about the stigma that awaits a survivor after they've left the isolation centre.

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Uhuru Kenyatta extends dusk-to-dawn curfew by 21 days

Ajibare who recovered from the virus said her boss fired her while she was still admitted in an isolation centre.

"I suspect I got the virus from my boss's 11-year-old kid. I resumed work on Wednesday, March 11, and the boy returned from UK on Monday, March 23," said Ajibare.

"He had a severe cough and fever which prompted his mother to call the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC)," she added.

READ ALSO: Eldoret man composes song to encourage brother hospitalised with COVID-19

The caregiver said she was still in contact with the boy as his caregiver as they waited for his test results to be released.

While we waited for the result, the boy was always in his room, but as his caregivers, we always had contact with him. I suspect I got infected on the very day he arrived,' she said.

"The day NCDC came to the house to test the boy, I started feeling some symptoms, itchy eyes and aching joints, but I just attributed it to stress, she added.

The woman confessed that she faced stigma after her diagnosis but attributed her recovery to her individual immunity.

Oyindamola Oluwaseun Ajibare was isolated and tested negative nine days after admission. Photo: Oyindamola Oluwaseun Ajibare/Facebook.

Source: Facebook

READ ALSO: Popular Angolan polygamist who birthed 281 children from 49 wives dies

"A persons immune system and state of mind are necessary for fighting the virus. I faced stigma. I think your body fights this thing and also the state of your mind because I was never afraid of the virus and stayed positive," she said.

The caregiver disclosed she tested negative after nine days after she was isolated.

"I was the second person to be discharged from the centre. Before I was discharged, we had increased from six people to about 30, she noted.

READ ALSO: 99-year-old Tom Moore recognised by Guinness World Records for smashing global fundraising record

Her worst however, happened after she overcame the virus only to find out that she had lost her job and had to fight the stigma of having been a COVID-19 patient.

After she fired me, she sent me a message to say that I stole her laptop and she was going to put my story everywhere to make sure nobody employs me," Ajibare said.

The househelp said she was depressed after the employer maliciously called the agency that had deployed her lying that she had stolen her computer.

Do you have a groundbreaking story you would like us to publish? Please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690. Contact Tuko.co.ke instantly.

My 'husband' from Ghana was married to another woman for ten years and I had no idea | Tuko TV

Source: TUKO.co.ke
Anusha Ravi By

Express News Service

BENGALURU: Special KSRTC buses, manned by personnel in protective gear, brought back the 126 people accused of the Pandarayanapura violence from Ramanagara jail to Bengaluru on Friday. The governments quiet attempt at damage control after shifting the accused from a containment zone in Bengaluru to Green Zone Ramanagara came after five of the 126 detainees from Pandarayanapura tested positive for Covid-19. Amid an uproar by the Opposition and people of Ramanagara, all the accused, including the five patients shifted earlier, were packed into buses and sent back to be quarantined in Bengaluru. Ramanagara prison authorities too were quarantined, giving rise to fears of possible Covid cases in a district which had not reported a single case so far.

But even after moving the accused to Bengaluru, the governments headache was far from over. While the opposition lashed out at them all of Friday morning, BJP MLA from Yelahanka, Vishwanath, staged a protest in Bengaluru against the decision to quarantine the accused at a private hotel in his constituency. The MLA and his supporters staged a sit-in outside the hotel, demanding that the accused be moved out. The repercussions of lodging the accused from the containment zone in Bengaluru at Ramanagara are already showing. The state government eased restrictions on rural industries in nine districts unaffected by the virus, but Ramanagara was excluded.

This, former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy said, was a result of the governments foolishness to lodge high-risk contacts from containment zones. Opposition leaders accused the government of a lack of foresight for infecting a clean district. People of Ramanagara are paying the price for the governments stupidity. I had opposed moving the accused from Bengaluru to Ramanagara the very first day. Despite assuring me that they will reconsider the decision, the Chief Minister and home secretary went ahead with the move. The entire jail has to be sealed off and police personnel quarantined.

The governments lack of foresight has put the lives and livelihood of people of Ramanagara at risk. People will never forget the foolishness of the government and the officials, said an enraged Kumaraswamy. He said the Ramanagara DC well as senior police officers were forced to accept the accused from Bengaluru without proper protective equipment. While transporting the accused to Bengaluru on Friday morning, all safety measures were taken, including PPEs for drivers and police personnel.

Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai and Health Minister B Sriramulu defended the move. There was no ill-intent in moving the accused to Ramanagara. After Kumaraswamy raised objections, we are moving them back to Bengaluru, said Sriramulu, while accepting that the JDS leaders concerns were justified.

The accused were tested in jail and those who tested positive were moved to Victoria Hospital and other institutions for isolation in Bengaluru. There was no lapse on the part of the home department, Bommai said.

Congress MP DK Suresh, who represents Bengaluru Rural, demanded the resignation of Ramanagara district in-charge minister and Deputy CM Dr C N Ashwathnarayana. How did the district in-charge minister allow these accused to be sent to Ramanagara without testing them first? Local police have travelled with them and, after 48 hours in the jail, five people have tested positive, he lashed out.

Ashwathnarayana said this is not the time to politicise a healthcare crisis. All inmates were sent to Ramanagara after screening. We could not have lodged them in Bengaluru Central jail. Jail authorities were trained to handle the inmates and social distancing norms were maintained, he said.

Ashwathnarayana, responding to KPCC chief D K Shivakumars tweet, said the Congress allegations were immature. Why did the State Govt move Corona +ve people from a Red Zone to a Green Zone ensuring COVID reaches new geographical areas of Karnataka? Will CM @BSYBJP and the District in-charge Minister answer? Shivakumar had tweeted. Medical Education Minister Dr K Sudhakar questioned JDS leaders intent. Sudhakar took potshots on Twitter, Former PM has no opposition to people from Kasargod crossing over to Karnataka for treatment in Mangaluru. People who wrote to PM over the matter are today asking brothers from Pandarayanapura not to enter Ramanagara. How fair is this? Does State mean just Ramanagara district?
Public ceremonies to mark Anzac Day may have been cancelled in Australia this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

But that didn't stop some of the biggest names from posting heartfelt messages to the nation's servicemen and servicewomen on Saturday.

Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe and Michelle Bridges led celebrity tributes, with Andy Lee touching fans when he played a moving rendition of the Last Post from his balcony.

'We can't gather for dawn services but we still can express our gratitude': Hugh Jackman (pictured), Russell Crowe and Michelle Bridges led celebrity Anzac Day tributes on Saturday as Andy Lee touched fans with a moving rendition of the Last Post

Hollywood heavyweight Hugh, 51, revealed online that he had spoken to two people who had served, and encouraged his fans to call anyone they know who have done the same to say thanks.

He shared a sweet clip of himself sharing a video call with a woman named Kate and said: 'While we can't gather for the usual dawn services, we can still find ways to express our respect and gratitude for those who have served our country.'

'If you know someone who has served, like Alex and Kate, please call them and say thank you.'

Gratitude: In the video, he told the couple that it was a thrill to meet them and said: 'I want to thank you guys for your service... and I want to say thank you on behalf of everyone'

The Australian star - who is based in New York - added: 'Now more than ever we can empathise with their experience of being separated from those they love for the greater good of our society. Always a profound service. Stay safe, stay home.'

In the video, he told the couple that it was a thrill to meet them and said: 'I want to thank you guys for your service... and I want to say thank you on behalf of everyone.

He continued: 'The services mean a lot to all of us and ANZAC day has always meant a lot to me and I'm sure it does to you. Thank you.'

Commemorating the brave: Academy Award winner Russell Crowe (pictured) shared a simple and special tribute on his Twitter early on Saturday morning

Simple and meaningful: Russell wrote on Twitter, 'for the Fallen. Anzac Day. #LestWeForget'

Academy Award winner Russell Crowe shared a simple and special tribute on his Twitter early on Saturday morning.

He wrote: 'For the Fallen. Anzac Day. #LestWeForget'.

Meanwhile, Australian pop princess Kylie Minogue revealed on Twitter that she was taking part in the dawn service via live stream from her home in London.

She wrote: 'I just watched the #Anzacday dawn service live-streamed from Australia. How incredibly moving. Love and gratitude. #lestweforget.'

'How incredibly moving': Australian pop princess Kylie Minogue revealed on Twitter that she was taking part in the dawn service via live stream from her home in London

Gratitude: Kylie (pictured) said she was sending 'love' and 'gratitude'

Former Biggest Loser coach Michelle Bridges also posted a heartfelt tribute commemorating the servicemen and servicewomen, including a her late grandfather.

In the post, she shared a photo of herself with another older man named Peter, who served alongside her grandfather in Tobruk in Libya in World War Two.

She wrote: 'One of my most proudest days. Privileged to wear my Grampsy's medals on ANZAC day a few years back.'

Tribute: Michelle Bridges (pictured) also posted a heartfelt tribute commemorating the servicemen and women, including a her late grandfather. In the post, she shared a photo of herself with another older man who served alongside her grandfather in World War Two

Remembering fallen heroes: 'This year ANZAC day will be very different for all of us, however, it's the remembrance of all Australian and New Zealand military who serve and sacrifice,' she said (pictured with her grandfather as a child)

She continued: 'The gentleman beside me, Peter, served under my grandfather, who, according to Peter was known as the 'Black Mamba' amongst mates.'

Michelle, who also shared a photo of herself as a child with her grandfather said: 'This year ANZAC day will be very different for all of us, however, it's the remembrance of all Australian and New Zealand military who serve and sacrifice.

'And that can be done anywhere. You are in my heart Gramps. Lest we forget.'

'We Will Remember Them': Radio presenter and comedian Andy Lee (pictured) woke up early on Saturday to play The Last Post from his balcony at dawn. He shared a video of the touching moment

Radio presenter and comedian Andy Lee woke up early on Saturday to play The Last Post from his balcony at dawn.

He shared a video of the touching moment and wrote in the caption: 'We Will Remember Them.'

Andy said in the caption: 'There was a call for all brass players to sound The Last Post at 6am this morning.'

'Here is our contribution (swipe across). Bec and I are so grateful to all service men and women, past and present.'

Paying their respects: Hamish Blake and his wife Zoe Foster Blake also also woke up early to pay tribute to the Anzac heroes. He shared a video on Instagram of a bag piper playing The Last Post, he said of the moment: 'It sent absolute chills down the spine'

Andy's pal Hamish Blake and his wife also woke up early to pay tribute to the Anzac heroes and shared a video on Instagram of a bag piper playing The Last Post.

He wrote in the caption: 'Zo and I stood on the roof at dawn in quiet remembrance of those who serve and have served.'

'Then right on 6am a bagpiper started up nearby in the darkness. It sent absolute chills down the spine,' the Lego Masters host added.

PR maven Roxy Jacenko also paid tribute the fallen heroes by placing a wreath with sprigs of rosemary and a purple ribbon across it that read, 'Lest We Forget'.

A touching thought: PR maven Roxy Jacenko also paid tribute the fallen heroes by placing a wreath with sprigs of rosemary and a purple ribbon across it that read 'Lest We Forget'

Channel 9 and 2GB personality Ben Fordham shared a photo of his four-year-old son Freddy at the front of their home with a candle in his hand, along with the hashtag: 'Lest we forget.'

The Project's Lisa Wilkinson also shared a video of her candle as bagpipes played in the background.

She said in her caption: 'In our street there were about six groups standing silently with candles as we listened to The Last Post in the distance.

'Among other things it connected us as never before - to each other, to our country, to our history,' Lisa wrote, adding a special message of gratitude to past and present service people including her grandfather William Charles Wilkinson.

New generation: Channel 9 and 2GB personality Ben Fordham shared a photo of his four-year-old son Freddy (pictured) at the front of their home with a candle in his hand, along with the hashtag: 'Lest we forget'

Heartfelt: The Project's Lisa Wilkinson (pictured) also shared a video of her candle as bagpipes played in the background

Emotional: 'In our street there were about six groups standing silently with candles as we listened to The Last Post in the distance,' Lisa said online on Saturday

Channel Nine newsreader Deborah Knight posted photos of her children standing outside of their home with candles to commemorate Anzac day.

She wrote: 'The neighbourhood on this unusual Anzac Day.'

Married At First Sight's Seb Guilhaus shared a video of himself reading The Ode in tribute to the fallen and went on to encourage others to join in on honouring the Diggers from their driveways.

Together in spirit: Married At First Sight's Cameron Merchant and his pregnant wife Jules Robinson (far left) joined in with their neighbours for a dawn service on their shared drive way, in a photo shared on his Instagram

Married At First Sight's Cameron Merchant and his pregnant wife Jules Robinson joined in with their neighbours for a dawn service on their shared drive way, in a photo shared on his Instagram.

The former cricketer wrote: 'Whilst we're all going to be standing apart physically, we can still stand together in spirit to commemorate a special Anzac Day.'

The Morning Show's Kylie Gillies shared a photo of her dawn service at home with her teenage sons, Cadet Under Officer Gus Gillies and Cadet Lance Corporal Archie Gillies, dressed in their uniforms.

She said that they live streamed The Last Post at 6am and observed a minute's silence as a family.

'We honoured. We remembered': The Morning Show's Kylie Gillies shared a photo of her dawn service at home with sons, Cadet Under Officer Gus Gillies and Cadet Lance Corporal Archie Gillies, dressed in their uniforms

Familiar face: Kylie is pictured with co-host Larry Emdur on The Morning Show

'As Army Cadets, the boys would usually play a role in marches and ceremonies. But this is what we have this year. And it was quite special. We honoured. We remembered,' Kylie said in gratitude.

Former beauty queen Tegan Martin shared a photo of herself holding a sprig of rosemary alongside her mother Cherie and her boyfriend Luke Andrews.

She wrote: 'This years service looks a bit different but the community spirit remains the same. To Grandad Tom and to all of the fallen soldiers. Lest We Forget.'

Community spirit: Former beauty queen Tegan Martin (pictured) shared a photo of herself holding a sprig of rosemary alongside her mother Cherie and her boyfriend Luke Andrews. In her caption she paid tribute to her grandfather Tom who had served for Australia

Thankful: TV presenter and former Miss World Australia Erin Holland (pictured) paid a special tribute to her grandfather and great grandfather, who both served in the Australian airforce

Medals of honour: She shared photos of their respective medals and thanked them for their service to the country

TV presenter and former Miss World Australia Erin Holland paid a special tribute to her grandfather and great grandfather, who both served in the Australian airforce.

She shared photos of their respective medals and thanked them for their service to the country.

Comedian Dave Hughes shared a photo of an art piece that resembled a poppy and wrote in the caption, 'Lest we forget.'

Symbols of gratitude: Comedian Dave Hughes shared a photo of an art piece that resembled a poppy and wrote in the caption, 'Lest we forget'

'An emotional dawn service': Channel Nine sports presenter Erin Molan also woke up for the dawn service and shared a photo touching photo from her balcony of a person wearing what appears to be a service hat

Reflecting: 'The silhouette of the hat got me good... such an emotional dawn service,' Erin (pictured) said online

Channel Nine sports presenter Erin Molan also woke up for the dawn service and shared a photo touching photo from her balcony of a person wearing what appears to be a service hat.

She said of her photo: 'The silhouette of the hat got me good... such an emotional dawn service.'

Meanwhile all the way in Bologna, Italy, Kate Langbroek made sure to pay her respects to the fallen Anzac heroes back home, as well as Italian service people.

'We remember them': Meanwhile all the way in Bologna, Italy, Kate Langbroek (pictured) made sure to pay her respects to the fallen Anzac heroes back home, as well as Italian service people. She explained that Italy also shares the same commemoration day

She shared a photo of a memorial that showed photographs of fallen Italian service people.

Kate explained that Italy also shares the same commemoration day for their service people which they called Liberation Day, to remember the day the allied forces freed Italy at the end of World War two.

'And on this day, in these strange times, as we dream of our own liberation, we remember them: their bravery; their fear; their loss; their honour; their strength; their sacrifice. All that they gave us.'
This story was originally published by ProPublica.

Terrified residents, families and staff of the Queens Adult Care Center have watched helplessly as COVID-19 runs rampant. They say management lied about the extent of its spread. Here's how one daughter rescued her sick dad.

The voice on the message started out calm but soon faltered. Natasha Roland wanted to report what happened to her father at the Queens Adult Care Center, a home for some 350 low-income elderly and mentally ill adults that I'd described as an epidemiologist's nightmare in a story the previous week.

'They had been telling me since March that they didn't have any virus cases,' Roland said, her words quickening. 'They were telling me that my father was OK. When I went there to get my dad, he hadn't eaten in a week. My dad was dying. He couldn't move.'

Then her voice caught, sobs overcame her, and I felt a pang of panic myself.

'They were not giving him his medication. My dad is now at Presbyterian hospital. He tested positive for coronavirus,' she said. 'He is 82 years old. He is a diabetic. He has lung disease.'

Scroll down for video

Natasha Roland described how she tried to find out how her father, 82, was holding up at the facility because she wasn't allowed to visit. He hadn't eaten in a week and couldn't move when she rescued him from Queens Adult Center

Residents, families and staff of the Queens Adult Center say management lied about the extent of the coronavirus spread

As the coronavirus races through nursing homes and assisted living facilities across the country, many desperate family members are finding themselves like Roland, unable to learn the truth about what is happening inside.

In story after story, the owners of beleaguered facilities  because of greed, incompetence or fear  have kept the reality of circumstances murky or misleading. Many state health departments nationwide are refusing to provide up-to-date, or in some cases any, facility-specific numbers on COVID-19 deaths or infections to the family members of residents, to journalists or even to local politicians. And in New York, which has just begun releasing some information, state officials are relying on nursing homes to accurately report deaths and infections.

As a result, family members and local officials are turning into detectives and activists, forming alliances to track down clues about what's happening inside the homes and what, if anything, state health departments are doing about it.

The calamity at the Queens home has become particularly dangerous in part because of its unusual mix of frail, elderly residents and people with mental illness, who are all free to come and go as they please. I'd written about the home in 2018, and I started asking about it again in late March. By then the virus was already spreading inside. Experts predicted the worst.

Communications consultant Hank Sheinkopf told ProPublica on April 21 no one at the center had died from the virus because they hadn't died on the grounds

Since my April 2 story, those predictions appear to be coming true. But the New York Department of Health, which oversees the facility, won't release specific numbers. New York City Councilman Daniel Dromm said he was told by the city's Health Department that as of April 15, a dozen residents had died and 44 have tested positive for the virus. He said he has asked for an update from the city three times since but hasn't received one.

At least one worker at the facility and several residents estimate that nearly twice as many are dead and many more show symptoms but have not been tested. Residents also say that the facility is continuing to accept new occupants even as the virus infects more people inside it.

As I was reporting this story, the Queens Adult Care Center hired crisis communications consultant Hank Sheinkopf, who, on April 21, argued that no one at the center had died of the coronavirus, because no one had succumbed to the disease on the grounds of the facility. He would not say how many died in the hospital.

'Is there any other facility in the country that tracks what happens to their residents after they leave?' he said. 'I don't think that's fair.'

Residents, families and staff of the Queens Adult Center say management lied about the extent of the coronavirus spread

Terrified residents, families and staff of the Queens Adult Care Center have watched helplessly as COVID-19 runs rampant

Dromm said he got involved after hearing from a family member of a resident, who wanted to know how many deaths and infections occurred among residents. But he has found his calls for the state to investigate essentially ignored.

'I was shocked that they didn't respond to an elected official's emails with some urgency,' Dromm said. 'I still am not sure whether they have actually visited the site or not, and that concerns me deeply.'

The state's lack of action, he said, 'is going to cost lives.'

He shared an April 17 email from the Governor's office saying that the Health Department was 'aware of the issues being raised' and that it had contacted the Queens center administrators, who 'subsequently issued an alert to families and friends of residents regarding COVID-19 status at QACC.' On Wednesday, Dromm's office said the Health Department promised to investigate the home this week. The health department would not confirm whether it had done so.

Sheinkopf, the communications consultant, said that the Queens center has spent 25 hours making a 'manual call' to every 'listed family member in the facility.' He did not say what prompted the round of calls or what was said on them.

On April 22, two relatives I spoke to said they received an automated phone call, informing them that one resident had tested positive for coronavirus at a hospital the previous day and they would be notified if their family member was 'impacted.'

The call has done little to assuage what they say is a gut-wrenching predicament: They know the virus is raging through the facility  and hear that much of the staff has reduced care for the residents out of fear or sickness. But even if they could bring their loved ones home  and manage their medical issues  they risk their own health and that of their families. Moving can also be traumatizing, especially for those residents who may have lived in the center for decades.

'I want to remove my brother from the facility,' said Bruce Schoengood, whose brother is a longtime resident and has schizophrenia and whose roommate died of COVID-19. 'But I only want to remove him if he is negative or if he has the antibodies and he is now immune to it. I don't know if I can get him tested. I want to remove him until this blows over, but then I don't know if they will fill his bed there.'

In an April 12 statement, the Queens Adult Care Center said it is taking 'extensive precautions to ensure the well-being of each of its residents and employees,' providing protective equipment and 'encouraging social distancing amongst residents.' It said the staff checks on residents multiple times a day and looks out for 'even the slightest of potential symptoms' to identify those who may have contracted the virus in order to get them proper medical care.

Citing privacy restrictions, the home would not comment on individual cases, but it said that Roland's account of what happened to her father was 'baseless,' and that its 'staff routinely contacts family members' and is always available to answer their questions.

Elmhurst Hospital, which has made national news with its line of sick patients winding down the sidewalk, is just a block from the home. The neighborhood now has one of the highest concentrations of coronavirus cases in the city

Roland was told only one person had the virus at the center, and he'd likely contracted it at Elmhurst, where he was being treated

'To suggest otherwise would be a misrepresentation of our actions,' the statement said.

Family members and residents who spoke to ProPublica dispute that claim.

Roland's experience is especially distressing for anyone who has a family member living in such a facility. Ultimately, she had to execute a heart-pounding, dead-of-night rescue of her father, Willie Roland, after she said the administration lied to her for weeks about his health and the conditions of the home.

In a Skype interview, Natasha Roland, 35, said that when the coronavirus landed in New York, she was immediately concerned for her father, who'd lived as an assisted living resident in the home for more than a decade. By late March, it became clear that he was in the center of a hot spot. Elmhurst Hospital, which has made national news with its line of sick patients winding down the sidewalk, is just a block from the home. The neighborhood now has one of the highest concentrations of coronavirus cases in the city.

On March 26 or 27, she said she called Michael Younger, the administrator of the home, and asked if anyone there had COVID-19. If there was a risk, she said she told him, she'd come get her father. Younger, she said, told her not to worry. Only one person had the virus and he'd likely contracted it at Elmhurst, where he was now being treated.

But, as ProPublica reported, by then at least one resident had already died of the virus. By March 31, at least six residents had tested positive, according to the owner of the home and his lawyer. Workers were also calling out sick, either because they had coronavirus or were scared they might get it.

Roland said Younger did not disclose any of that information to her.

The next week, Roland said, Younger continued to say there were no coronavirus cases. But her father and his 63-year-old companion at the home, Annetta King-Simpson, began to complain of what sounded like symptoms. She had diarrhea. His legs ached. Both felt weak. King-Simpson told Roland that someone on her floor had in fact tested positive.

In emailed questions, ProPublica asked specifically about Younger's interactions with Roland and other relatives of Queens center residents. The facility did not respond to those questions.

Roland said she tried to see her dad, but the facility was under state instruction not to allow visitors. On Friday, April 3, she said she spoke to a nurse in the medication room, who repeated Younger's message that there were no cases.

But the following night, Roland said, a worker she was friendly with finally told her the truth: Many of the aides who helped people like her dad were petrified. They'd all but stopped going into the rooms of residents. Instead, they came to work and locked themselves in an office all day. Food trays were simply left outside in the hall.

'She was like, 'Girl, I don't want to lose my job, but look, you need to get your father out of here,' Roland said the worker told her.

Then, she said, the worker began to cry, saying she was scared to be at work herself but needed to earn money for her family  whom she'd quarantined herself away from.

Ambulances were at the home constantly, the worker told her, and the administration wasn't saying which residents were sick. Meanwhile, residents continued to wander in and out, even panhandling among the sick patients waiting outside the hospital.

In an interview, the worker recalled telling Roland about the dire circumstances in the home, but said she did not advise her to immediately remove her dad or that aides were not attending to residents.

Panicked, Roland began making arrangements for her father to come home that Sunday, April 5, but the staff said his medications wouldn't be ready until the following day. That same night, shortly after 11 p.m., King-Simpson called and said her father had stumbled up to her room in a stupor, barely able to breathe.

Roland and her brother jumped in separate cars from their homes, instructing King-Simpson not to let an ambulance take their dad to Elmhurst Hospital. If he didn't have the virus, they didn't want him getting it there.

When Roland arrived around 12:15 a.m., she said a staffer told her she was not allowed in but then added in a murmur, 'Go get your dad.' Roland, wearing a surgical mask and gloves, strode past the fluorescent lights of the lobby to her father's first-floor room.

She found him slumped against the door, gaunt, his face drawn and eyeballs bulging as he struggled to breathe beneath a surgical mask crookedly attached across his face. King-Simpson clung to him. Garbage overflowed from trash cans. The floors, Roland said, were filthy.

'I was in shock,' Roland said. 'I thought my father was going to die that second. This is how bad he looked.  And they were allowing my father to lay there and die because they didn't want to go in and check to see if he is showing symptoms for this virus.'

He looked, Roland said, 'like a ghost.'

With King-Simpson helping, Roland said she half-carried her father out to her car as he leaned on his walker. She and her brother rushed him to New York-Presbyterian Hospital in Manhattan, where he went for regular checkups.

The doctors there, Roland said, told her she saved his life. Her dad's medical charts show that he'd lost 15 pounds since his last visit less than a month earlier. He has tested positive for COVID-19. After several days hooked up to an oxygen tank, he stabilized and is now recovering in a rehabilitation facility, learning, Roland said, 'how to breathe again.'

The morning after the rescue, King-Simpson collapsed on the floor of the adult home. She was later taken to the makeshift hospital at the Javits Center.

Reached by phone, she said aides had stopped coming into Willie Roland's room about two and a half weeks before he was hospitalized. She said she had been taking care of him, feeding him and taking his blood pressure with her personal device.

'They were ignoring him because they suspected he had it,' she said. 'He started to get sick three weeks ago.' King-Simpson's sister, the Rev. Angela Harris, would like to take her in, but she wants some assurance that she is free of the virus first.

'Right now I have my grandchildren that come in and out of my house and I can't subject them to it,' she said. 'I shouldn't subject myself either,' said Harris, 67, who serves at Elmendorf Reformed Church in Harlem.

Other relatives of center residents said that they, too, were misled about conditions inside the Queens home.

Some, like the Rolands, believe the home should be shut down.

'I was so angry when I read that [ProPublica] story because it was like, 'Oh my God, they lied to me,' Roland said. 'They knew that this virus was in there. They knew people tested positive. Why would they lie to me?'

After her father began to recover, she called Younger again, angrily, telling him she was worried about other people there, including the staff.

'He hung up on me,' she said.

I tried to talk to Younger about his interactions with Roland. But it was Sheinkopf who returned my call. He said the home was responsive to Roland's concerns.

'We have spoken to Ms. Roland on many occasions in March and April and we have always answered her questions,' he said, adding that the staff initially offered to take her father to the hospital, but he refused to go. If Roland's father didn't want to go to Elmhurst Hospital, Sheinkopf said, they would have taken him somewhere else.

Other families also complained that the center has not been clear about the circumstances inside the home.

Schoengood said he is upset no one told him, especially since the facility knows he is deeply involved in his brother's care.

'The only information we get is anecdotally through him,' he said, referring to his brother. 'The administration gives us zero. Nothing whatsoever.'

Schoengood said he found out the roommate had died during a casual phone chat with his brother on April 1. The roommate had died roughly a week before that conversation. Schoengood said that when he contacted Younger, Younger told him it was 'an oversight' that he hadn't been told about the death.

Afterward, Schoengood wrote to Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Mayor Bill de Blasio, Dromm, The New York Times, a local ABC affiliate and a member of Congress.

Last week, the Health Department sent me a statement that did not answer any questions for this story, saying only that 'all long-term care facilities should follow all State Department of Health guidance, keep residents and their families informed about the situation with respect to COVID-19 in the facility and cancel communal dining and other activities that bring residents together without adequate spacing.'

King-Simpson's niece, Sequoia King, 31, compared the response to coronavirus at the Queens center with that of the Schulman and Schachne Institute for Nursing and Rehabilitation, where her 61-year-old father lives in Brooklyn.

Prior to the automated call, she said the Queens center had 'sent no communication out to families' while her father's facility has 'sent two or three different letters telling us how they are handling meals and social distancing and things like that.'

Another woman wrote to ProPublica to say her aunt had died at the Queens center on April 2, the day our story was published. 'She constantly complained and nothing seemed to improve. I miss her so much and keep wishing someone called to say they identified the wrong person,' she wrote. 'My heart breaks more and more every day. It's hard knowing she died alone, that I couldn't see her.'

Roland now wonders if her father made a bad bet on the Queens facility from the start.

She remembers how people stole clothes, cellphones and other things out of her dad's room over the years. He hated the food, which she called 'garbage.' She said he was once attacked by another resident, breaking his hip.

But the home had its comforts, like King-Simpson, who lived two floors above him. And her father preferred the independence the center offered him over something more restrictive, like a nursing home.

Of course, like almost all residents at the center and those in hundreds of homes like it throughout the state, he didn't have many options.

He still doesn't. Neither does King-Simpson, who has decided to move back into the home in part to look out for her friends who still live there.

As for his daughter, she spends time praying for her father and hoping he won't decide to go back to the only home he has known for more than a decade. But what bothers Roland most is whether she waited too long to act.

'I'm like, did I mess this up?' she said. 'They were telling me my dad is OK. They were telling me that my father is safe. But what's so crazy about this is that my father would have died.'
Dr. Mihaljevic acknowledges the necessity of the lockdowns to contain the virus, along with the urgent need for ramped-up testing and ongoing monitoring. But, he adds, we cannot hold our breath forever. The U.S. will not soon be able to test 330 million people. Effective therapies or vaccines may be long in coming. Covid-19 will be a disease we have to learn to live with.

That means accepting that the immediate goal of public policy cannot be to eliminate the risk of Covid-19. It is to mitigate, manage and frame expectations for it  while not losing sight of other priorities. In Ohio Dr. Mihaljevic says that Covid patients take up just 2 percent of hospital capacity, and the curve of new infections has been flat for more than two weeks. Yet there has been a dramatic decline in people seeking care for heart attacks, strokes, or new cancers, presumably out of fear of going to hospital.

The public conversation needs to be about the value of human life in its totality, Dr. Mihaljevic says. That includes fewer restrictions on activity for people at the low end of the risk spectrum, while taking additional care of those on the high end.

Right now, theres a lot of commentary coming from talking heads (many of them in New York) about the danger of lifting lockdowns in places like Tennessee. Perhaps the commentary needs to move in the opposite direction. Tennesseeans are within their rights to return to a semblance of normal life while demanding longer restrictions on New Yorkers.

I write this from New York, so its an argument against my personal interest. But I dont see why people living in a Nashville suburb should not be allowed to return to their jobs because people like me choose to live, travel and work in urban sardine cans.

Gina Raimondo, the Rhode Island governor, was on to something when, a few weeks ago, she wanted to quarantine drivers arriving from New York. The rest of America needs to get back to life. We New Yorkers prefer our own company, anyway.

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.
Any suggestion to ingest or inject any disinfectant is ill-advised and may cause harm or death.

That was the statement from Midland Memorial Hospitals chief medical officer after President Donald Trump asked the Department of Homeland Security to test whether injecting household disinfectants into the lungs would treat COVID-19 infections.

Dr. Larry Wilson said there are no injectable disinfectants that can kill the coronavirus. He added that the only therapy proven effective is plasma from a person who has recovered from COVID-19, which preliminary studies suggest has some benefit for infected individuals.

That (convalescent plasma) seems to help reduce symptoms and improve outcomes, but there is not a lot of solid information, he said in an email.

Trumps remarks came during a White House briefing Thursday, after the head of science with homeland security said the agency had tested how sunlight and disinfectants can kill the virus on surfaces. The president appeared to misunderstand the officials comments and suggested ultraviolet light and disinfectants could be used inside the body to fight infections.

Supposing we hit the body with a tremendous  whether its ultraviolet or just very powerful light, Trump said. And I think you said that hasnt been checked, but were going to test it? And then I said, supposing you brought the light inside the body, either through the skin or some other way.

And then I see the disinfectant where it knocks it out in a minute  one minute  and is there a way we can do something like that by injection inside, or almost a cleaning? he said. Because you see it gets in the lungs and it does a tremendous number on the lungs, so it would be interesting to check that.

Trumps comments were immediately met with pushback from medical experts and Democrats. The Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Surgeon General and the brand Lysol issued statements warning Americans against consuming disinfectants.

The president walked back his remarks on Friday and appeared to suggest they were a ploy to trick members of the news media.

I was asking a question sarcastically to reporters like you just to see what would happen, he said when prompted during a bill signing in the Oval Office.

Both ultraviolet lights and household disinfectants, including bleach, are widely accepted as harmful, even potentially fatal, to the human body. The link between UV rays and skin cancer has been well- documented.

Anyone who ingests a disinfectant is recommended to contact poison control immediately.
In Houston, fighting for your rights meant preparing a finely cooked filet mignon dinner - and serving it inside a restaurant - on Friday night.

Deciding stay-at-home orders are government overreach, Houston restaurant owner Matt Brice reopened Federal American Grill at 8731 Katy Freeway for in-dining service. He risked a $1,000 fine and up to six months in jail for defying Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgos order that closed many businesses, including dine-in restaurants and bars, until April 30.

Weve complied 100 percent until now, said Brice. What I dont like is that the government is picking and choosing which businesses win or lose. They are sinking the economy. We have to stand our ground and get people back to work.

CHECK ON THE PETS: How Houston dogs feel about all this extra company during COVID-19

Diners began showing up for dinner service at 5 p.m. While most had reservations, those who didn't were turned away. We are only taking up to 30 percent of the restaurants capacity for social distancing, said Brice.

Across the nation, some Americans are protesting state lockdown policies, even as polls show that most people support the restrictions to combat the spread of coronavirus.

In Austin, several dozen anti-lockdown protesters gathered outside the Capitol building on Saturday. In Washington, conservative groups protested at the State Capitol in Olympia on Sunday to pressure the overturn of state and local orders.

WILL YOU GO? What to know as Galveston beaches set to open Monday

Among the diners Friday was Houston resident Brenda Cheney. We are ready to get out and have some fun with our girlfriends. Ive read all the precautions (Brice) is taking, and I think its fabulous, she said.

Galleria-area resident Peggy Tuck brought a special face mask for the occasion. I made a happy hour mask. I put a split in it so that I can drink.

Renee Davis showed her support by standing outside the restaurant and holding up an anti-Hidalgo sign. The government has overstepped their bounds in not allowing people the choice to work, Davis said.

Adrienne and Charles Lyons drove from the Energy Corridor. They were among the first to dine.

It is not like (Brice) is trying to rebel. He is trying to keep his business alive and his people working, said Adrienne. We felt safe and everything was fabulous. To have someone bring you a drink and wait on you  it felt so nice.

Before reopening, Brice put together a list of safety measures. One death is too many. We are managing the situation here, he said.

His measures included temperature checks for all employees before their shifts. They were also required to wear a face mask and gloves, which they changed regularly.

An attendant stood in the entry to the restroom area, allowing only one person to enter at a time.

Several tables were left empty between parties for social distancing, and patrons were given the option to pay their bill hands-free via PayPal and Venmo.

Ive received tons of support from local restaurants and national restaurateurs, said Brice. But this is not about Federal American Grill. It never has been. I am doing this for all the small businesses.

Brice understands there are some who disagree.

That is your right. If youre a high risk or sick, if you feel like you shouldn't go out, then dont, he said. I am not trying to ruffle feathers but we have to survive.

Federal Grill will open from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. for dinner service daily. 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






The Congress on Saturday urged the government to formulate a national plan for handling the coronavirus crisis under the Disaster Management Act. Senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal said at a press conference via video-conferencing that it is time the government should rethink on lockdown measures as the country cannot have the "lockdown of people and lockout of the economy".

Follow latest updates on the COVID-19 pandemic here

"You cannot have a lockdown of people, and a lockout of the economy. That is not the way to formulate policy. We are not criticising, we are only saying it is time to rethink, we will support the government in every possible way,"he said.

Sibal also called upon the judiciary to evolve a policy to ensure that the justice delivery system is considered an essential service during such crisis. Sibal alleged that bureaucrats, who do not have any idea about ground realities, were formulating policy for the government during the lockdown.

The former union minister said as per the Disaster Management Act, 2005, the Union government was duty bound to formulate the National Plan to deal with COVID-19, but strangely the government has maintained "conspicuous silence" on the Disaster Management Act, 2005.

The Union government, in the absence of a National Plan to deal with COVID-19, seems to have delegated its responsibilities under the Disaster Management Act, 2005 to state governments, he alleged.

Without the necessary infrastructure, both human and physical, and adequate financial resources, state governments are not in a position to effectively deal with this pandemic, he noted. "Our prime ministers limited role, so far as we can see, is addressing the nation from time to time.

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) made no preparations to put in place a plan despite the WHO declaring the virus to be a public health emergency towards the end of January. "Why were detailed plans not made within seven weeks of the WHO declaration when on March 24, the prime minister announced a national lockdown? We are in the fourth week of April, yet there is no plan in place even now," Sibal said.

Also Read: Coronavirus India update: State-wise total number of confirmed cases, deaths

"We would like the prime minister to inform the people of this country about the minimum standards of relief that are required to be provided to persons affected by the disaster. Instead of discharging its solemn responsibilities to provide succour to the poor and helpless stranded migrants, the Union government has chosen to shift the onus to state governments to do what they can without a plan and without guidelines prescribing minimum standards of relief," Sibal alleged.

"It is unfortunate that even till date, there is no plan. We are all aware that the provisions in shelters are pathetic without adequate sanitation, medical cover, food and clean drinking water. States are not able to make available adequate food supplies to those affected," he said.

The secretary, Ministry of Home Affaires (MHA), presumably presiding over the National Executive Committee (NEC) under the Act, is issuing directions to state governments to deal with the situation as best as they can. He said the secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), presumably presiding over the National Executive Committee (NEC) under the Act, is issuing directions to state governments to deal with the situation as best as they can.

"Bureaucrats sitting in North Block are formulating policies. I am sorry to say they have no capacity to do that as they do not know what is happening on the ground. "This top-down approach would not work, it has to be a bottoms-up approach," the Congress leader demanded.

The Congress leader also said the impact of lockdown on small businesses has been devastating. Not only are their finances stretched but many of them do not have the capacity to pay, he said, adding if they do not, they are liable to be penalised and prosecuted.

He said Section 10(2) of the Act does not even authorise NEC to issue any such directions, leave alone the MHA. It envisages the constitution of a fund to be called the National Disaster Management Fund (Section 47), he said, adding that it is for projects exclusively for the purpose of mitigation. Sibal said one wonders whether laws enacted by parliament are meant to be followed or disregarded by governments. "Jettisoning laws passed by parliament is constitutionally impermissible.

Apart from the fact that the Union did not have a plan of action and foisted its responsibilities on state governments, the Unions outreach for saving lives and protecting human dignity reached rock-bottom," he said.

Public functionaries must conduct affairs of state in accordance with the constitution and the laws, he noted, adding that no one is above the law. "Rule through diktat by men belonged to another era. Our country deserves better," he said.
An appeals court judge has sided with Cambridge in its pursuit to give certified economic empowerment applicants a head start on opening marijuana businesses in the city.

Revolutionary Clinics, which has been selling medical marijuana in Cambridge since 2018 and wants to co-locate the business and add adult-use sales, sued the city in October over an ordinance that includes a two-year moratorium, allowing only economic empowerment businesses to receive a permit for a recreational marijuana store.

In January, a Middlesex Superior Court judge agreed with the marijuana companys motion for preliminary injunction and ordered that the city could no longer enforce the moratorium or take any action to prevent Revolutionary Clinics from applying to convert its location into a co-use medical and adult-use marijuana dispensary.

But on Friday, the appeals court vacated that decision.

As the Superior Court clearly erred in the grounds relied upon in granting relief, I reverse the preliminary injunction, wrote Associate Justice Joseph M. Ditkoff in a decision Friday.

Cambridges Cannabis Business Permitting Ordinance includes the two-year moratorium during which only certified economic empowerment applicants would be able to receive a Cannabis Business Permit for a retail dispensary. The ordinance is the citys attempt to ensure people of color and those negatively affected by the war on drugs have a fighting chance in the states marijuana industry, which already has barriers like access to capital.

Revolutionary Clinics argued that there were a number of grounds on which the citys ordinance created sharp conflict between the local and state provisions.

"The motion judge, however, relied upon only one, finding that the moratorium 'is in direct conflict with the CCCs priority applicant scheme, which provides that the CCC shall review applications from Priority Applicants on an alternating basis, beginning with the first-in-time-application received from either an MTC Priority Applicant or Economic Empowerment Priority Applicant, Ditkoff wrote.

But, Ditkoff ruled that nothing in the ordinance conflicts with the regulation regarding priority applicants.

The dispensary has made no showing -- or even suggested -- that the CCC has had an excess of Economic Empowerment Applicants over dispensaries, such that it has been forced to review multiple applicants from Economic Empowerment Applicants for want of applications from dispensaries. Even if it had, the regulation does not purport to regulate local ordinances or regulation; it merely governs the activity of the CCC. The CCC can act in accordance with this regulation whether or not there is ever an application to sell recreational marijuana in the city. Nothing in this regulatory scheme suggests that municipalities have any duty to ensure that equal numbers of Economic Empowerment Applicants and dispensaries apply to the CCC for a license, Ditkoff wrote.

The judge also wrote the evidence of economic harm was minimal.

The dispensarys chief executive officer stated that his best guess is that the Two-Year Moratorium, if permitted to stand, would cost [the dispensary] upwards of $700,000 in profits per month at each of its Cambridge stores. He stated that this number is based on our current medical-use sales and the increased sales we expect will occur once we commence adult-use sales, the decision reads.

Revolutionary Clinics said in a statement that it values the work of the courts but was disappointed with the decision.

Our team remains hopeful for future affirmative resolution as todays decision signals an invitation to seek reinstatement of the preliminary injunction based on other grounds. Most notably, the Single Justice stated Nothing in this order should be construed as constraining the [Superior Court] judge from issuing a preliminary or permanent injunction based on any other argument raised by the dispensary, of the other requirements are met, the statement said.

While Revolutionary Clinics firmly believes that the original decision of the Superior Court judge granting the preliminary injunction was absolutely correct and will ultimately be upheld, it intends, in keeping with the Single Justices language, to promptly ask the Superior Court to reinstate its preliminary injunction based on grounds other than the sole ground considered by the Single Justice, the statement continued.

Meanwhile, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Gov. Charlie Baker has banned non-essential businesses from operating, forcing the closure of recreational marijuana stores, but allowing medical marijuana dispensaries to stay open.

In a separate lawsuit, a judge ruled that Baker was acting constitutionally in his decision to shutter recreational businesses.

While closed for recreational sales, a number of marijuana companies, including Revolutionary Clinics, have been producing hand sanitizer to donate to local hospitals.

Earlier this week on April 20, the day recognized as a celebration of marijuana, Revolutionary Clinics donated $10,000 to the Cambridge mayors disaster relief fund. When the fund was announced, the dispensary pledged two percent of all sales between March 20 and April 20 to the fund.

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Home > Archives (2006 on) > 2020 > LETTER TO THE READERS - COVID 19 Lockdown Edition No.5

Today is April 24, 2020. Precisely a month ago, that is, on March 24, 2020, the PM had in an address to the nation on the Corona Virus crisis declared the Governments decision to impose a lockdown across the country to meet the danger of the pandemic that was threatening to assume serious proportions. Though it was doubtless a delayed response to a massive crisis, the announcement was unequivocally welcomed by several publications including this one which was not in the least oblivious of the manifold problems faced by persons in the lower rungs of society, suffering from joblessness, hunger, starvation and yet being forced to cover huge distances on foot on their way to their homes as there was no transport available on account of the lockdown.

A month has elapsed after this lockdown was set in motion. Reports today, based on figures collected on the last two days disclose the Corona Virus outbreak has spread to more than half the total number of districts in the country but remains concentrated in some areas as was revealed by a national newspaper today, "While districts in the COVID-19 map have more than doubled in the last three weeks - from 211 districts on April 1 to 429 on April 22 - the heavy load (of Corona virus) remains confined to 12 administrative districts that recorded over 200 cases each".

However, the corporate-controlled media do not or sparsely highlight the numerous difficulties being encountered by those in the lower rungs of society, several of whom breathed their last while trekking back home from one end of the country to another. It is the plight of these hapless citizens that need to be brought into focus in the trying conditions in which our countrymen are enduring the crisis today.

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Serious and long term covid-19 threat

The WHO and top officials of the US Centre for Disease Control have now warned that the Covid-19 world wide pandemic is still in its early stages and that it will be around for a considerable time. A powerful wave. of infections is expected in the winter of 2021. Also, there appear to be major shortcomings and underestimations in data on the pandemic related deaths released by national bodies. Data on China and also on some countries of Europe is being questioned by analysts. According to Financial Times report of 22 April (https://www.ft.com/content/67e6a4ee-3d05-43bc-ba03-e239799fa6ab?segmentid=acee4131-99c2-09d3-a635-873e61754ec6) the figures for coronavirus deaths in the UK should be more than double official figure given so far.

According to the WHO India is the worst affected country so far in the South-East Asian Region - which includes Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Timor-Leste & DPRK besides India: https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/56d2642cb379485ebf78371e744b8c6a

Chalta Hai and then Abrupt Lockdown Therapy

The first case of Corona virus in India was found in January 2020 but there was a lull in Governmental action and no planned counter measures visible to public till late March 2020. In Mid March 2020 the Health ministry issued an advisory saying that Covid-19 was not a serious health crisis.

While there was official silence the propaganda machines connected to the ruling BJP and the Hindu right-wing were circulating ridiculous messages on social media on the use of yoga, cow urine, dung, sunshine to deflate the corona virus. And then came the sudden announcement of a lockdown restricting movement of people and shutting down of economic activity as a one size fits all reckless strategysocial distancing was main idea; the elites and middle classes could stay confined in their homes and afford not to work but for the vast majority of citizens, labouring people, migrants and precarious informal labour being locked out of work with no money to survive was a non-option. It is obvious that have-nots are low priority in state policy. The lockdown triggered a massive exodus of migrant workers . showed the cluelessness of the bureaucracy  that the labour ministry officials failed to envisage a social crisis for the poor speaks for itself. It seems they now only recognise as workers those who have registered EPFO accounts and the millions of daily wage earners are not entitled of this recognition. The system is insensitive to the poor, as thousands of migrants walked on the highways, at places were baton charged as if they were criminals or got sprayed with chemical disinfectants. State officials gave written orders to convert stadiums into open prisons where migrating workers were to be held. The Prime Minister uttered a word or two of apology for the hardships faced by the migrating poor.

State response to this Covid 19 trigrered health and a humanitarian crisis has been two pronged. One is the Finance ministry relief measure package and the other is the controversial new PM Cares Fund, but India could take another route - Tax its rich to fund relief and renewal. India has nearly a 1000 families of billionaires, if a COVID-19 response levy of 3% or 4 % tax on monthly incomes was imposed on these high net worth households, we will have sufficiently large funds for relief, public health and social development programmes.

Strange ways of PM CARES: There have been umpteen natural disasters, threat of epidemics in the country in the past and in all these events people were encouraged to donate money into the PM National Relief Fund (PMNRF) (that has existed since the late 1940s) or to the province level Chief Minister relief fund . But come corona virus a totally new funding vehicle was created by the Modi regime called PM CARES - Prime Ministers Citizen Assistance & Relief in Emergency Situations) setting aside old PM National Relief Fund. What was the need for this new fund? Now many attempts seem underway at forcing peoples hands to donate into the PM Cares fund. A circular from the Department of Revenue, of the finance ministry, addressed to all staff to contribute their one days salary every month till March 2021 to the PM CARES Fund to aid the governments efforts to fight the coronavirus pandemic Donations for PM CARES fund are meant to be voluntary, reports show that direct deductions have been made from salaries. Those unwilling to donate were asked to submit their refusal in writing ... . The Delhi University Teachers Association has alleged that vice-chancellor has diverted a little over Rs 4 crore that had been collected from university staff for the PMNRF to PM-CARES fund without any consultation. In a bizzare situation the Jharkhand High court recently granted bail to accused in a case under Railways Act  but the bail condition imposed by the Jharkhand High Court was depositing money in (Rs. 35,000) the PM Cares Fund and show the proof of the same. Unlike such a deposit, the courts usually ask for bail bonds.

It is distressing to see the tax payer financed national broadcast networks Doordarshan and All India Radio do shoddy propaganda by repeatedly carrying clips of citizens seemingly made to praise the depositing of Rs 500 by the govt to the Jan Dhan accounts of citizens during lockdown .

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On April 22 this year, the world observed the 150th birth anniversary of Vladimir Ilyich Lenin, the architect of the first socialist revolution. As a token of our tribute to him, we convey the following written on Lenin by Jawaharlal Nehru and published in the Hindu, (April 5, 1928)



" I know a pair of eyes which have been for ever numbed by the burning sorrow of the Terror,  said Gorky of Lenin. This sorrow did not leave him to the end. It made him a fierce fanatic and gave him the strength of will to persevere and achieve. But sorrow for the misery of his fellowmen did not make him gloomy or reserved. He was  filled to the brim with the sap of life, and even in the unhappiest moments of his existence he was serene and always prone to gay laughter . ....

..... " I have worked with men who set themselves to very high and difficult responsibilities, yet we suffered painfully from the feeling that we were but amateurs. The more ashamed I am to confess this, the more bitter I feel towards those sham socialists who failed to realise that we were not lower the revolutionary to the level of the amateur,  Lenin wrote. With how much greater truth does it apply to all of us in India who dabble in politics !... ".... We have talked and written for Swaraj for years, but when Swaraj comes it will probably take us by surprise. We have passed the Independence resolution at the Congress and yet how many of us realise its full implications? How many belie it by their words and actions?... They talk of Swaraj and independence in their conferences and their councils but their minds are full of reservations and their acts are feeble and halting.

" In Russia also the revolutionaries of an older generation lived in a world of theory, and hardly believed in the realisation of their ideals. But Lenin came with his directness and realism and shook the fabric of old-time socialism and revolution. He taught people to think that the ideal they had dreamed of and worked for was not mere theory but something to be realised then and there. By an amazing power of will he hypnotized a nation and filled a disunited and demoralised people with energy and determination and the strength to endure and suffer for a cause." This was written 92 years ago and published in the Hindu on April 5, 1928 (five months, after Nehrus first visit to the Soviet Union along with his father to attend the tenth anniversary of the Russian Revolution).

April 24, 2020 The Editor
Iran vows to target U.S. warships if security threatened

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 08:34, April 24, 2020

TEHRAN, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Iran will target the U.S. military vessels in the Gulf if they threaten Iran's security, the chief commander of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) said Thursday, Tasnim news agency reported.

"We are fully determined and serious in defending our national security, maritime borders, maritime interests, maritime security and security of our forces at sea and any (wrong) move will trigger our decisive, effective and prompt response," Hossein Salami said.

"We have ordered our military units at sea that if a vessel or military unit of the navy of the U.S.' terrorist military seeks to threaten the security of our civilian ships or combat vessels, they should target that vessel or military unit," he added.

He also accused the U.S. "unprofessional and hazardous" behavior of causing the IRGC Navy vessels' confrontation with U.S. vessels last week.

Earlier, the U.S. Navy said in a statement that 11 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.

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.

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Photo taken on Jan. 30, 2020 shows the headquarters of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva, Switzerland. (Xinhua/Chen Junxia)

The U.S. has been smearing and attacking WHO without any factual basis. Its tactics of pressure and coercion will only draw greater disapprobation from the international community, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said.

BEIJING, April 24 (Xinhua) -- China hopes the United States will not choose to be "on the wrong side of the track from the international community," a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Friday.

"The U.S. assumes that WHO should do its bidding because it is the largest contributor. This is typical hegemonic mentality," Geng Shuang said at a press briefing. "At present, by supporting WHO, we will be able to contain the further spread of the virus. It is literally a matter of life and death. This is a consensus shared by the majority of countries and a sure choice anyone with conscience would make."

Geng made the remarks when asked to comment on media reports that U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said Washington may never restore funding to WHO.

The U.S. has been smearing and attacking WHO without any factual basis. Its tactics of pressure and coercion will only draw greater disapprobation from the international community, Geng said.

Led by Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO has been actively fulfilling its duties and playing an important role in coordinating international efforts to fight COVID-19 in an objective, fair and science-based manner, he said, noting that supporting WHO helps uphold multilateralism and safeguard the role and authority of the UN.

"In fact, support for WHO has recently poured in from the leadership of many countries and international organizations including France, Germany, the UK, Canada, Japan, and the UN. Headed by Director-General Tedros, WHO's leadership is also endorsed in the UNGA resolution and statements by the Non-Aligned Movement and the Group of 77 and China. In the statement of the recent G20 extraordinary summit, member states stressed that they fully support and commit to further strengthen the WHO's mandate in coordinating the international fight against the pandemic. All these facts demonstrate a common position and aspiration of the international community."

Geng said that as for the U.S. suspending funding to WHO, "We have offered China's response repeatedly. Here I would like to stress that WHO members have a legally-binding obligation to pay their assessed contributions, thus the U.S. suspending funding is a fundamental violation of its membership duties, which will definitely deliver a hard blow to the international anti-virus cooperation and probably entail serious ramifications.

"It will affect all countries, including the U.S., and particularly those with vulnerable health systems," he said.
: Civic authorities on Saturday turned down a plea for exhuming the body of a doctor who died of COVID-19 here and burying it in another cemetry, citing health experts' view that it was unsafe to do so.

Citing a request from the wife of the deceased doctor to allow exhumation and then re-burial at a cemetery in Kilpauk, the Greater Chennai Corporation said it sought a report from a committee of public health experts to ascertain the feasibility of entertaining her plea.

The spouse of the doctor had appealed to the GCC on April 22 to exhume and bury again her husband's body.

She had said that burial in the Kilpauk cemetry here was her husband's last wish and he had coveyed it to her before he was put on a ventilator.

The report of experts has said that "it is not safe" to exhume and again bury the body of a COVID-19 victim and hence "it is not possible to accept her request," the GCC said in an official release.

On April 19, a city based 55-year-old neurosurgeon died of coronavirus and his burial at the Velangadu crematorium here was marred by violence.

A mob which falsely feared that the burial may lead to the spread of contagion had attacked the corporation health employees and associates of the deceased doctor.

The doctor's wife and son also had to leave the burial ground in view of the violence.

The body was brought to Velangadu as people of Kilpauk area had opposed his burial there.

Over a dozen men involved allegedly in violence were arrested and remanded to judicial custody.

Later, in a video message, the surgeon's wife had said that it was her husband's last wish to be interred at the Kilpauk cemetry as per Christian rituals.

Chief Minister K Palaniswami and DMK president M K Stalin had spoken to her on Wednesday over phone and condoled her husband's death.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Manipur Police on Saturday



arrested at least 922 people for violating the curfew, ongoing lockdown and for not wearing masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19 pandemic, a senior officer said.

A state-wide curfew was declared in Manipur on March 24 after a woman had tested positive for the novel coronavirus. The nationwide lockdown was imposed from the next day.

The police also seized 740 vehicles for violating the ongoing lockdown and curfew, a statement issued by ADGP (Law and Order) L Kailun said.

The state police appealed to the people to follow the guidelines issued by the government and stay indoors for their own safety.

Manipur had reported two COVID-19 cases but both the persons have recovered from the coronavirus infection and have been discharged from the hospital.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Mumbai, April 25 : Bollywood actress Vidya Balan is donating a 1000 PPE kits for doctors and other medical staff who are battling at the frontline to keep us safe from the deadly COVID 19.

Vidya has also collaborated with celebrity shout-out platform Tring to raise donations to provide additional 1000 PPE kits, along with Manish Mundra of Drishyam Films and photographer cum film producer Atul Kasbekar.

Vidya Balan took to Instagram urging all to donate to the cause. She wrote: "Namaste, it is critical that we provide PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) kits to our healthcare workers for their protection in this #WarAgainstCovid19. I am donating 1000 PPE kits for our medical staff and have partnered with Tring to raise donation for another 1000 PPE kits which are in immediate need across India for our doctors and medical staff." The actress also announced a reward to whoever is donating. She wrote: "For your contribution, I will send you a personal thank you video message recognising your generosity." The "Mission Mangal" star also shared a video message on Instagram where she talks about the shortage of PPE kits in India's hospitals and explains why is it necessary to donate for the same.

In the video, Vidya says: "In the war against COVID 19, our healthcare professionals are like soldiers at the border fighting for our health and freedom. Just like we equip our soldiers for a battle, we must do the same with our medical staff." "There is a critical shortage of PPE that is personal protective equipment for our senior doctors, residents, nurses and ward boys in their daily work. They come into constant contact with affected patients and if one medico is affected, the entire unit of 8-12 healthcare workers is quarantined for 2-3 weeks. As a result, a lot of our hospitals are not functioning at full capacity. Join me in changing this now," she added.

Akshay Saini, co-founder of Tring stated: "We are very grateful to Vidya who has been very generous and has donated 1000 PPE kits in her individual capacity, in addition to the several other donations she is doing." Each PPE kit worth Rs 650 consists of one coverall laminated and waterproof, nitrile gloves, goggles, face shields, 3-ply surgical mask, and shoe covers, informed the actress.
Presidential pardon is not an acquittal from conviction By Tassie Seneviratne Policing the Police View(s): View(s):

A presidential pardon is not an acquittal from a court conviction. It only sets aside the sentence/punishment, but the conviction stands. The conviction can be set aside only by a superior court. Furthermore, there are criteria laid down to guide a presidential pardon. Allegedly, such criteria have not been followed in this instance.

Much disdain, however, has been expressed against the granting of a presidential pardon to Staff Sergeant Sunil Ratnayake of the Sri Lanka Army. In a letter addressed to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka has condemned the presidential pardon in unequivocal terms, stating inter alia: The granting of a presidential pardon to a person convicted of such a heinous offence and whose conviction was upheld unanimously by the Supreme Court sends a negative message that reinforces allegations of impunity and lack of justice for victims of violations in Sri Lanka. The Supreme Court judgment in the Mirusuvil case was considered a landmark judgment, similar to that in the Embilipitiya schoolboy murder case several years ago, both of which contributed in a significant manner to address the issue of impunity in the country. There have been very few such convictions. The granting of a presidential pardon to the convict of such judgment sets a very negative precedent.

The matter in issue is a case in which Corporal Sunil Ratnayake of the Sri Lanka Army was convicted of eight counts of murder by a Trial-at-Bar. The conviction was subsequently confirmed by a unanimous judgment of a five-judge bench of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka on April 24, 2019. The case arises from a typical serial killing of eight people, including three children on December 19, 2000 at Mirusavil in the Jaffna District.

As I write this it is learnt that Fundamental Rights petitions have been filed against the presidential pardon by a former member of the Human Rights Commission and several institutions acting in public interest, adding further dimensions to this episode.

The President would have done well if he subjected serial killer Sunil Ratnayake to a Corrective Service instead, and rehabilitated him before releasing him to merge with society. In fact, it is time that our Prison is converted to a Corrective Service in keeping with our culture. This will enable all prisoners to come out corrected and be useful to themselves and to society. This must be done without being selective and smacking of ulterior motives. The President will then be remembered by posterity for his act of mercy.

In the present scenario, Staff Sergeant Ratnayake will only serve the purpose of a hit-man. It is known the world over how young psychopaths are selected and brain washed driving the devil into them to generate a thirst for killing. This may have served a purpose in all-out war. But once the war is over, it is incumbent on the authorities to exorcise such men of the devil and rehabilitate them. Apart from being a merciful move, it would facilitate maintaining Law and Order.

It is also pertinent to state here that the Police Service which is tasked with the job of maintaining Law and Order has been systematically thrown into disarray. Failure to appoint a permanent Inspector General of Police, who would uphold the Rule of Law, has exacerbated the situation.

(The writer is a Retired Senior Superintendent of Police. He can be contacted at seneviratnetz@gmail.com)
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A PRISONER who allegedly threatened to cut and rape a female prisoner officer at Limerick Prison is to be prosecuted on indictment before the circuit court.

Thomas Cawley, 27, who has an address at Mona Terrace, Clare Street is also accused of causing thousands of euro worth of damage to a number of cells at the prison over a three-day period late last year.

Opposing bail, Detective Garda Pat Whelan said the defendant was remanded in custody to Limerick Prison on December 13, 2019 after he was charged in connections with a number of burglary and theft offences.

He said upon arrival he was placed in a close supervision cell and that it will be alleged he subsequently became extremely violent and caused significant damage to the cell

He effectively caused it to be written off, he said.

The detective told Judge Marian OLeary it will further alleged that having been moved to another empty holding cell Mr Cawley smashed a light which was the only thing that could be broken.

The defendant is alleged to have made a number of threats against a experienced female prison officer the following day after disciplinary proceedings were initiated in relation to the damaged cells.

He made obscene and serious threats, said Detective Garda Whelan who said it will be alleged Mr Cawley threatened to rape the woman and to cut her with a Stanley blade.

Objecting to bail, he expressed concerns the defendant would engage in serious criminal behaviour if released and that he may approach witnesses or the alleged injured party.

Judge OLeary was told the 27-year-old was shipped off to Cork Prison as a direct result of what is alleged to have happened.

Solicitor Darach McCarthy, said his client had not sought bail when he was first charged but that he was doing so as he has concerns for his family given the current health crisis.

He wants to be with his wife. She needs his assistance, he said adding that the father-of-three was willing to abide by any and all bail conditions if released.

Having considered the objection, Judge OLeary commented that the allegations before the court are very serious and that she was refusing bail.

The case was adjourned to later this month to facilitate the preparation of a book of evidence.

Mr Cawley also faces trial on indictment in relation to the burglary charges which relate to break-ins which are alleged to have happened at commercial premises in the city centre last December.
The US Food and Drug Administration on Friday (April 24, 2020) cautioned against the use of malaria drug hydroxychloroquine in COVID-19 patients even as President Donald Trump, who has touted it as a "game-changer" advocated for an additional review.

The drug, first approved in 1955, provided no benefit and a potentially higher risk of death for patients at U.S. veterans hospitals, according to an analysis that has been submitted for an expert review on Tuesday.

"You hear it both ways," Trump told reporters at the White House on Friday after the FDA announcement. "I`m not a doctor. A study has to be done. If it helps, it`s great. If it doesn`t work, don`t do it," he said.

Trump said he had just spoken with the president of Honduras, who had touted the drug when calling to ask for ventilators. "If it works I think everyone would be in favor of it... check with him, call him."

The FDA said on Friday it was aware of increased use of hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine through outpatient prescriptions and malaria drugs could cause abnormal heart rhythms and dangerously rapid heart rate.

COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, has no approved treatment or vaccine. But hydroxychloroquine has been widely used in an attempt to alter the course of the COVID-19 illness based on anecdotal reports that it may provide some benefit.

There are several randomized trials underway in the United States and elsewhere, with the National Institutes of Health last week starting a study to evaluate the safety and the effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine.

A research team in Marseilles, France, published data showing that out of 80 mild COVID-19 patients treated with hydroxychloroquine and antibiotic azithromycin, 93 percent had no detectable levels of the virus after eight days.

Doctors have questioned the value of the Marseille study and several papers from China as being too small or poorly designed to offer hard evidence of benefit.

The FDA`s announcement comes a day after the European Union`s drug regulator warned of the side effects of the drugs, urging medical professionals to closely monitor patients on the medicines.

The FDA has allowed healthcare providers to use the drugs for COVID-19 through its emergency use authorization, but has not approved them to treat the disease.

The heart rhythm risks may increase when the medicines are combined with other drugs, such as antibiotic azithromycin, as well as in patients with existing heart and kidney disease, the agency said on Friday.

Within hours of Trump`s initial endorsement on March 19, pharmaceutical supply chain experts reported shortages as doctors began prescribing hydroxychloroquine for themselves and their families. Patients have also pressured doctors to use the therapies.

Rick Bright, the ousted director of a US agency charged with developing drugs to fight the pandemic, said on Wednesday he was dismissed because he called for careful vetting of the therapies.
A standoff between the two largest nations in the European Union and Silicon Valley escalated on Friday as Apple and Google rebuffed demands by France and Germany to back their approach to using smartphone technology to trace coronavirus infections.

Countries are rushing to develop apps to assess the risk that one person can infect another with the coronavirus, helping to isolate those who could spread the COVID-19 disease.

In Europe, most countries have chosen short-range Bluetooth handshakes between devices as the best approach, dismissing the alternative of using location data pursued by some countries in Asia as intrusive.

But a rift has opened up between countries led by France and Germany that want to hold personal data on a central server, and others that back a decentralized approach in which Bluetooth logs are stored on individual devices.

Apple and Alphabets Google, whose operating systems run 99% of smartphones, have promised tweaks in May that would accommodate the decentralized approach. A trial version is due out next week.

That has added a political dimension to the standards-setting debate, with a senior French official saying it was time for Europe to stop caving in to pressure from the United States.

The European states are being completely held hostage by Google and Apple, said the official, who is involved in coordinating efforts to develop a French contact-tracing app called StopCovid.

BACKGROUND CHECK

Although Bluetooth-based smartphone contact tracing is untested technology and early results in countries like Singapore are modest, its development is already redefining the relationship between the state and individual.

Reversing a debate that normally pits privacy-conscious Europeans against a data-hungry U.S.-tech industry, it is Apple that has refused to allow Bluetooth monitoring of other devices to run in the background on its iPhones. Such monitoring would open the way to greater state surveillance, say, privacy experts.

That creates a problem for France and Germany as now, for their apps to work, a phone would need to be unlocked and have Bluetooth running in the foreground - a drain on the battery and an inconvenience for the user.

Germany also called on Apple to support the app being developed by research group Fraunhofer HHI for the Robert Koch Institute, the federal agency that is coordinating the national health policy response to coronavirus.

The federal government has great trust in the system that is being tested by Fraunhofer, government spokeswoman Ulrike Demmer told a news conference. With a decentralized system, you have to trust Apple and Google.

PRIVACY FIRST

Senior executives from Apple and Google said on Friday that they had jointly designed tools with the express goal of supporting decentralized contact-tracing apps they say provide the best privacy protection to users.

Those privacy principles are not going to change, Gary Davis, Apples global director of privacy and law enforcement requests, told a webinar hosted by the liberal Renew faction in the European Parliament.

They are fundamental minimum privacy principles that are needed to make this work.

Dave Burke, vice president for engineering at Google, endorsed the decentralized DP-3T protocol developed by a Swiss-led team of researchers, calling it the best privacy-preserving solution.

It was preferable, Burke said, to support a single standard to ensure that national contact tracing apps can talk to each other across borders.
Its tough be believe any news that comes out of communist-run North Korea, but some believe North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is dead, according to a Hong Kong broadcast network.

Citing a very solid source, the vice director of HKSTV Hong Kong Satellite Television, a Beijing-backed broadcast network in Hong Kong, claimed that Kim was dead.

Kim apparently had open heart surgery last week after fainting earlier this month.

Another Beijing source said that an operation to insert a stent went wrong because the surgeons hands were trembling so badly.

Earlier Saturday, Fox news reported that Japanese sources said Un, nicknamed the Rocket Man by President Donald Trump, was in a vegetative state following the botched operation.
A web radio, an interactive exhibition, a tree sculpture: three projects focusing on the role of Australian soldiers in France in World War One. In time for Anzac Day commemorations on 25 April, the Australian Embassy in Paris has announced the winners of this year's Sadlier Stokes Prize.

Now in its 31st year, the Sadlier Stokes prize was established by the Australian government to shine a light on a lesser known chapter of World War One history.

Between 1914 and 1918, 313,000 Australian soldiers were deployed on the Western Front. Some 33,000 lost their lives in France.

The prize pays homage to Lieutenant Clifford Sadlier and Sergeant Charlie Stokes, who fought in France on 25 April 1918 in the battle of Villers-Bretonneux in northern France (Somme).

This date is known in Australia is as Anzac day, an annual commemoration of the battles fought by Australian and New Zealand Army Corps overseas, complete with military parades and ceremonies across the country.

The competition is open to all schools across France. Three prizes of 1,500 euros are awarded, one in each category  primary, junior and senior school, using a medium of their choice.

The Sadlier Stokes Prize is usually presented to the winning schools on Anzac Day, but this year's awards were postponed due to the coronavirus lockdown.

Young generations pay tribute to bravery

In Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, northwest France (Manche), the students at the Gibert Zola primary school made a web radio which will have its public premiere this Anzac Day.

School director Laure-Amelie Dollon said the broad range of skills needed to put it together was excellent way of promoting cooperation among students, some of whom are Australian.

They gained hands-on experience in all aspects of radio production, from writing to interviewing, recording and presenting. All of that combined with their knowledge of the First World War with questions in English and French.

Over several months, they carried out research and vox pops with members of the community, and prepared interviews with public officials, including descendants of war heroes.

Story continues

There was even room for traditional dessert recipes, including Anzac biscuits.

It was such a popular exercise that the school has decided to use its prize money to buy equipment to set up a studio in the school so that the web radio can become a regular project.

Anzac Day Challenge exhibition

At College Ernest Jacques Barbot junior high school in Metz, eastern France, six classes of students aged 10-15 prepared an exhibition on Australia to share with their fellow students, teachers and parents.

"Anzac Day Challenge" displays colourful posters on all sorts of information about Australia, from the war effort, to the indigenous people, the animals, and the climate.

Over 400 students visited the two-week long exhibition and all participated in a quiz, which involved recognising the national anthem.

The recordings, as well as the WWI poem In Flanders Fields, by Canadian army doctor John McCrae, can be found on the school's blog Le Barbot Curieux.

Ode to peace

Teacher Frederique-Marie Zercher says the project became an ode to peace, especially in light of the history of the Alsace-Lorraine region which has known centuries of war between Germany and France.

"We are aware of the importance of peace and eager to pass on this message to the next generation," she tells RFI.

"We live in what we call the land of the three frontiers because we are in direct contact with Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany."

"We feel grateful for the Australian and New Zealand soldiers that volunteered to cross the world and help us regain our freedom."

College Ernest Jacques Barbot decided to spend the prize money on books in English for the school library.

Courage, friendship, memory

Finally, in the senior school category, 13 students from the Lycee JC Athanase Peltier, a technical school in Ham, northern France (Somme) joined forces to build a tree out of metal pipes, for a project entitled "Je suis courage, amitie et memoire" (I am courage, friendship, memory).

The tree itself represents life, its roots, a symbol of connected French-Australian history, while the branches represent the values of friendship and courage.

Painted red, blue and white representing the flag colours for both countries, it was decorated with 'leaves' made from paper and wood, covered with small photos and objects with information about the soldiers, their grades and their lucky charms.

"This project was a positive influence on the students and allowed them to bond," metal work teacher Brahim Allioua tells RFI. "The Australian soldiers they were researching were about the same age, and had a similar gregarious spirit."

He says the prize money will be put towards a school field trip to visit the war memorial at Villers-Bretonneux.
Chandigarh, April 25 : Authorities in Himachal Pradesh on Saturday said a decision is yet to be taken to reopen the shops providing non-essential goods and services across the state amid imposition of curfew as per the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) latest order.

The order needs review and clearance at the high level as the state is under imposition of curfew, an official said.

"The Chief Minister is holding a virtual meeting with all Deputy Commissioners and high-level health officials later in the day to review the situation. Any decision as per the MHA order will be taken in that meeting," a government spokesperson told IANS.

Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur in a meeting through video conference with Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Harsh Vardhan on Friday said no Covid-19 case has been reported in six out of 12 districts.

He said 8,847 people have been kept under surveillance in the state, out of which 3,210 people are still under observation. He said 3,994 persons have been investigated for coronavirus.

According to latest data, Thakur said 40 people have been found positive out of which 18 persons have been discharged after being cured.

Four people have gone for treatment outside the state and one has died. The remaining 17 persons are currently under treatment.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Reaching natural gas production of one billion cubic metres per day (Bcm/d) has been one of the three core hydrocarbons resource strategies of Iran since the Islamic Republic began to seriously develop the supergiant South Pars non-associated gas field in 1990, alongside producing 5.7 million barrels per day (bpd) of oil and building out a world-class petrochemicals sector. As highlighted by OilPrice.com, Iran is currently working quietly towards the oil output and petchems sector targets, but it also announced last week that it is finally to achieve its monumental and long-awaited gas production target this Iranian calendar year (ending on 20 March 2021). At the same time, it also announced that its flagship Persian Gulf Star Refinery (PGSR)  essential to Irans new-found gasoline self-sufficiency  is ramping up its refining capacity.

South Pars - the 3,700 square kilometer portion of the 9,700 square kilometer gas basin that Iran shares with Qatar (the North Dome field) - holds an estimated 14.2 trillion cubic meters (tcm) of gas reserves (8 percent of the worlds total and around 40 percent of Irans total estimated gas reserves of 33.8 tcm) plus 18 billion barrels of gas condensates. For at least two decades it has additionally accounted for around 60 percent of Irans overall gas production and is also central to Irans ambition of becoming a top-tier global player in the liquefied natural gas (LNG) market. Given the global significance of this resource, the South Pars field was, up until the re-imposition of sanctions by the U.S. in 2018, the focus of a superpower tug-of-war between NATO members and Russia, with both sides eager to put their best companies on the ground in one or more of the South Pars phases.

For Europe (and the U.S.) this opened up the opportunity of being able to significantly reduce the continents extreme dependence on Russian gas flows. Russia, understandably, was equally eager to retain its gas-centric power over Europe and instead to divert Iranian gas flows eastwards, to bolster its own gas arrangements with Asia in general and with China in particular. With the withdrawal of French oil and gas major Total from Phase 11 as a result of the new U.S. sanctions, Russia has the dominant position now in Iran (albeit with China working increasingly busily alongside it), although for the time being the enormous degree of its participation is disguised in the form of contractor-only work, as revealed by OilPrice.com.

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With Russia and Chinese money, equipment, technology, and expertise available as and when required, South Pars will exceed 750 million cubic meters per day of natural gas output by 20 March, in turn bringing the countrys total natural gas production capacity to one Bcm/d, according to a comment last week from Iran Petroleum Minister, Bijan Zanganeh. He added that the first major offshore development stage of Phase 11 (now under the leadership of Irans Petropars)  will be spudded within the next few weeks, with the Phases output destined to be pumped to refineries in Assaluyeh and Kangan in the Bushehr Province, and noted that the platform jacket for the Phase is in Qeshm Island ready for installation.

According to Petropars plans, Phase 11 is now scheduled to be developed in two integrated and consecutive stages, with each stage containing 15 wells and the aim being the production of 56 mcm/d of natural gas plus 75,000 bpd of gas condensate and other tangential products. In addition, Zanganeh said, two 32-inch pipelines jointly stretching over 270 kilometers will be constructed and installed to ensure the onward distribution of the gas to the intended refineries.

With around US$33 billion having already been spent on the development of South Pars as a whole, according to sources in Iran spoken to by OilPrice.com last week, a very high percentage of the work on all phases has already been completed, with just a handful not having a 95 per cent plus completion rating as of now. Of these relatively under-developed phases, Zanganeh stated earlier this year that Phase 14 would come online by the end of the current Iranian calendar year on 20 March 2020 and, according to a source who works very closely with the Petroleum Ministry, this objective was only missed because of the sudden onset of the coronavirus in Iran as elsewhere. As it stands, the third platform of the offshore field is already loaded for installation in its designated spot, and, once operational, the platform is designed to produce 14.1 mcm/d of natural gas.

Its adjunct phase  13 (SP13) - targeted to produce 56 mcm/d of gas on its own, saw two platforms (B and D) become ready for an operation just prior to this development and since then, according to its operator at the end of March  Irans Pars Oil and Gas Company  the last platform (13C) of the offshore project has been successfully installed in the Persian Gulf. In sum, 38 offshore wells have now been drilled in the offshore sector of SP13 located in the northwestern part of the gas field, with the delivery of gas to the onshore refinery scheduled to begin when an offshore pipeline becomes available. In preparation for this, a fourth train is now ready, allowing for the processing of up to the full 56 mcm/d of nominal gas capacity, which would then be fed into the Iran Gas Trunkline (IGAT) system.

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At the same time, the flagship of Irans enormously important gasoline sector  the PGSR (more generically known as the Bandar Abbas refinery)  that is fed by gas condensate produced from South Pars is now back to full operation following a similar slowdown caused by the coronavirus outbreak and is geared towards breaking new production records. Its importance to Iran is difficult to overstate, suffice it to say that for a resource-rich country such as Iran no element of previous U.S.-led sanctions was more galling to it than having to rely on international assistance to meet its day-to-day needs for gasoline. An indication of how important it was to Iran to become self-sufficient in gasoline is evidenced by the breakneck speed with which it moved on the development of the PGSR, with the original plan involving a 360,000 bpd three-phase refinery development, each designed to produce 12 million liters per day (ml/d) of Euro 5 gasoline, plus 4.5 ml/d of Euro 4 standard diesel, 1 ml/d of kerosene and 300,000 liters per day of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

To achieve these targets, the projects developers were given a 260 million additional loan from the National Development Fund of Iran, as part of the estimated total cost for the three stages of approximately US$3.4 billion. Phase 1 was officially inaugurated in April 2017, with the first shipment of gasoline delivered for distribution just one month later in June, and Phase 2 began producing Euro 5 standard gasoline shortly after its own official launch in February 2018, running at full capacity by the end of June that year. Phase 3 saw its official inauguration shortly after that.

Despite reaching its initial targets, plans for the PGSR have been extended and, according to a comment last week from the chief executive officer of the project, Mohammad Ali Dadvar, the PGSRs gas condensate refining capacity is set to increase to 480,000 bpd by September of this year. To this effect, according to Dadvar, air conditioning units for new cooling products and pumps, are already on-site and the construction of the required equipment is underway. Currently, an average of 45 million liters of petrol and 17 million liters of gasoil are being produced at the refinery on a daily basis, which will increase to about 54 million liters and 20 million liters per day, respectively, he said. In addition, he said, the refinery also now supplies 3.5 to 4 million liters per day of naphtha which is mostly exported or supplied to Tabriz and Arak petrochemical plants as feedstock. [Given] sanctions...nearly 70 percent of the Persian Gulf Star Refinerys output is petrol, which provides the lions share of the countrys demand for quality fuel, he underlined.

By Simon Watkins for Oilprice.com

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ALBANY  First-responders, frontline health care workers and essential workers can be tested at pharmacies for COVID-19 under an executive order Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo issued Saturday.

Were going to authorize all the independent pharmacists in the state to be collection sites for testing, Cuomo told reporters in a state Capitol news conference.

Cuomo said tests in the pharmacies will be diagnostic tests to determine whether people test positive or negative for the coronavirus. They will not be tests for antibodies.

You will be able to go into a pharmacy and get a test, Cuomo said. The parlance is the sample will be collected at the pharmacy. The pharmacy then sends it to a lab. The lab conducts the test. So the labs conduct, the pharmacy collects.

The governor announced the executive order along with numbers showing hospitalizations in New York have dropped to 1,100 new -- the same levels of 21 days ago, a sign of progress. But the states death toll from the coronavirus rose to 437, an increase from 422 one day earlier.

Just when you think youre going to have a good day, this reality slaps you in the face, noting the increase in the deaths. This is just terrible, terrible horrific news.

Overall, he said, numbers show that the state is on the the downside of the mountain in the battle against the virus.

The governor noted New York was already doing more tests per capita than any state or country. He said the states estimated 300 labs can now do more tests because they have increased their capacity with the addition of more equipment and supplies.

Cuomo said the state needed more places to collect on test days to be sent to the labs. As a result, he said, the states 5,000 or so pharmacies were chosen. He said some pharmaceutical chains were already testing.

If local drug stores can handle testing, it would quickly ramp up our collection capacity, the governor said.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

With more capacity, he said, it increases the eligibility for who can be testing. First responders, front health care workers and essential employees have been carrying the load and subjected to the public during the crisis, he said.

If theyre infected they could spread it to a large number of people, he said, explaining why they were chosen.

The National Community Pharmacists Association, representing over 21,000 independent pharmacies said it is grateful for Cuomos decision. Local pharmacies in New York and every state have been fighting for the authority to do testing because they know their patients, their communities, and the country needs them to have that capacity. We strongly urge other states to follow Governor Cuomos leadership, their statement said.

Cuomo, at the end of his press conference, said he understands how tough it is to deal with the pandemic. While it has been 56 long days, he noted that by comparison the pandemic of 1918 lasted for two years, World War I four years, the Great Depression for four years, World War II six years, Vietnam War eight years.

"I get 56 days is a long time and I get it's the worst thing that we have experienced in modern history. I get that," Cuomo said, "But just a little perspective. Not that it makes our situation any better , but it gives you a sense of perspective."
By Trend

The age of people dead from the coronavirus has been disclosed in Azerbaijan, Chairman of the Management Union of Medical Territorial Units (TABIB) Ramin Bayramli said.

Bayramli made the remark in Baku at the briefing at the Operational Headquarters under the Cabinet of Ministers on April 24, Trend reports.

One person in the 40-49 age group, eight people  in the 50-59 age group, three people  in the 70-79 age group, four people - older 80 have died, the chairman added.

Bayramli added that 13.16 percent of those infected in Azerbaijan are foreign citizens.

Over 50 percent of infections were recorded in Baku, the chairman added.
A former Dublin lord mayor was questioned by gardai who were investigating a suspected 'lock-in' at a city pub as part of an alleged breach of coronavirus regulations.

Last night, Councillor Nial Ring completely denied "any wrongdoing" and commended gardai for the "professional and polite" way they handled matters.

He insisted there had been no breach of Covid-19 rules.

The incident under investigation by Fitzgibbon Street gardai began at around 11pm last Friday when officers observed three men outside The Ref Pub in Ballybough in the north inner city.

Expand Close The Ref Pub in Ballybough. Photo by Steve Humphreys 24th April 2020 / Facebook

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Whatsapp The Ref Pub in Ballybough. Photo by Steve Humphreys 24th April 2020

Gardai tried to gain entry to the pub by knocking on the shutters for a period of time before a man who they understood to be the owner let them in.

"On entry five males were found to be present in an upstairs area and they were all sent home after their details were obtained," a source said.

There were no arrests and the case is being investigated under the tough anti-coronavirus regulations, which require that all non-essential businesses, including pubs, be closed.

Records from the Land Registry show Mr Ring and his business partner Liam McGrattan took out a mortgage on the building housing the pub, 70 Ballybough Road, with AIB in August 2006.

Mr Ring told Independent.ie he no longer owns the building.

Mr McGrattan is listed as the licensee for alcohol sales, according to Revenue Commissioners records.

When contacted by Independent.ie, the Independent councillor said: "There were five of us upstairs in my office, which is completely separate from the bar downstairs which I have no access to, when I answered the door to gardai.

"This is my work office and I was there with my business partner and a couple of his colleagues and we were each having a bottle of beer after completing an important business matter.

"We were all two metres apart and what we were drinking did not come from the pub downstairs.

"I think the gardai are doing a great job in policing the Covid crisis and they were very professional and polite when they entered the premises - I am 100pc behind their efforts.

"There was no breach of the regulations."
Suspected Militants Hurl Grenade at Security Personnel in Kashmir

Sputnik News

13:51 GMT 24.04.2020(updated 14:08 GMT 24.04.2020)

New Delhi (Sputnik): The Indian government earlier claimed that the number of terror activities in Jammu and Kashmir have decreased since the abrogation of Article 370, stripping the state of its special status. However, with the onset of summer, militants have intensified their activities.

Suspected militants hurled a grenade at a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) camp in the Dooniwari area of central Kashmir's Budgam district on Friday evening. Police sources told Sputnik that at least three security personnel of CRPF including an officer sustained splinter wounds in the attack.

The area has been cordoned-off while no casualties have been reported yet. The accused are probably on the loose.

The attack comes two days after the security forces gunned down four suspected terrorists in an overnight encounter. The number of terror incidents in Kashmir has increased in April as several suspected militants have been arrested as well.

On 13 April, militants killed two Special Police Officers (SPOs) in the Dachhan district of Kishtwar municipality. In April alone, at least 11 security personnel and 20 terrorists were killed in a dozen major terrorist attacks in the Valley.

The hostilities along the Line of Control with neighbouring Pakistan have also increased. On Friday, Indian and Pakistans troops engaged in massive artillery fire.

In March, the Indian government had reported that terrorist activities in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir had decreased following the abrogation of Article 370, which stripped the former state of its special status under the country's constitution. As per official data, only 79 terror-related incidents have occurred in Jammu and Kashmir since August 2019.

 Sputnik

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China hopes the United States will not choose to be "on the wrong side of the track from the international community," a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Friday.



"The U.S. assumes that WHO should do its bidding because it is the largest contributor. This is typical hegemonic mentality," Geng Shuang said at a press briefing. "At present, by supporting WHO, we will be able to contain the further spread of the virus. It is literally a matter of life and death. This is a consensus shared by the majority of countries and a sure choice anyone with conscience would make."

Geng made the remarks when asked to comment on media reports that U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said Washington may never restore funding to WHO.

The U.S. has been smearing and attacking WHO without any factual basis. Its tactics of pressure and coercion will only draw greater disapprobation from the international community, Geng said.

Led by Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO has been actively fulfilling its duties and playing an important role in coordinating international efforts to fight COVID-19 in an objective, fair and science-based manner, he said, noting that supporting WHO helps uphold multilateralism and safeguard the role and authority of the UN.

"In fact, support for WHO has recently poured in from the leadership of many countries and international organizations including France, Germany, the UK, Canada, Japan, and the UN. Headed by Director-General Tedros, WHO's leadership is also endorsed in the UNGA resolution and statements by the Non-Aligned Movement and the Group of 77 and China. In the statement of the recent G20 extraordinary summit, member states stressed that they fully support and commit to further strengthen the WHO's mandate in coordinating the international fight against the pandemic. All these facts demonstrate a common position and aspiration of the international community."

Geng said that as for the U.S. suspending funding to WHO, "We have offered China's response repeatedly. Here I would like to stress that WHO members have a legally-binding obligation to pay their assessed contributions, thus the U.S. suspending funding is a fundamental violation of its membership duties, which will definitely deliver a hard blow to the international anti-virus cooperation and probably entail serious ramifications."

"It will affect all countries, including the U.S., and particularly those with vulnerable health systems," he said.
When Miguel Hernandez died from complications with the coronavirus, his wife Maria never knew.

Her son Jose, who called her every day as her health deteriorated in Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, New Jersey, had shielded her from the truth, knowing it would serve only to worsen her condition. Three days later, Maria Hernandez, 80, succumbed to the same virus that had killed her husband of 37 years.

Now, with both parents gone in a matter of days, Jose Hernandez is struggling with another one of the virus cruelties: hefty funeral bills in a time when final services are limited to 10 people.

Im trying to stay strong, but its tough said Jose Hernandez, 36.

The coronavirus pandemic continues to rend families apart, often in swift and tragic succession. Last month, a Palisades Park couple died alone in the same hospital, a week apart. One New Jersey family from Freehold lost four members to the virus.

More than a month ago, Maria and Miguel had their flu shots, said Jose, and shortly after, the two complained of feeling sick. At first, it was a slight cough from Miguel that wouldnt go away, said Jose. Soon, he would stop drinking as much water as he used to and the cough would keep him awake at nights.

Eventually, the family, donning masks and gloves, decided to take Miguel to the hospital together.

Miguel, 77, had a history of health issues, including prostate cancer and heart issues, said Jose. His health was a concern for Maria and Jose, who worried that he was more vulnerable to the coronavirus, which attacks those past a certain age and with underlying health conditions more aggressively.

Hes got so many issues already, we thought it would be bad for him, said Jose. We were scared because if he doesnt have COVID, theres a good chance he might get it at the hospital.

Both Maria and Miguel were tested for COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus, said Jose.

With Miguel in the hospital, Jose and Maria returned to their Elizabeth home, where Jose lives with his wife and son in an adjacent apartment. The two would check on their father and husband, as he made progress, with doctors saying he was improving, said Jose.

But before Miguel could come home, Maria was having trouble, her son said. The slight cough started getting worse, more hoarse. She would have trouble catching her breath. The inhaler she would sometimes use for asthma did nothing, said Jose.

On April 4, Maria went to the same hospital where her husband had been for several days. The next day, without being able to see each other, Miguel left the hospital and returned home with his son.

On April 7 and 9, the test results came in, showing that both Miguel and Maria were positive for COVID-19, said Jose.

Jose Hernandez (left), his mother Maria Hernandez and father Miguel Hernandez. Maria and Miguel both died three days apart from complications with the coronavirus.

Older in life

Maria and Miguel Hernandez met each other at a time in their lives when they had all but given up on finding love, their son said. Both in their 40s, the two met at a shopping center in El Salvador, excited to find someone they felt such affection for.

But the excitement was tempered by doctors who told them that at their age, having a child was a far-flung prospect. In May 1982, the two were married. And the next year, Jose was born.

Like many immigrants before and after them, the Hernandez family decided to send one of them ahead to the United States to set about starting a life. When Jose was a one-year-old, Miguel ventured to a new country by himself.

He got things started for us, said his son. Got a foothold here for us.

A year later, Maria and Jose came over to settle in Elizabeth, and both parents took odd jobs to make a living. Miguel worked at warehouses and factories. Maria would clean houses and babysit.

But no matter what, the couple would stay close. At grocery stores. At church. The two would never stray far from each other.

They were always together, said their son. Always.

The last days

The remainder of Miguel and Marias lives were two timelines that wove through and past each other, missing each other by a matter of days. Although Miguel appeared to be healthier at home, his appetite was gone, even when Jose would make his favorite dishes. He soon became dehydrated, barely drinking any water.

Every day, as Jose bargained with Miguel to eat, he would call Maria, who asked about her husband, the man she met in El Salvador nearly 40 years earlier. The man who wouldnt let her be alone, even on quick runs to the pharmacy.

I kept in touch with her every day, said Jose. She would say she felt like she wasnt getting any better. She would ask about dad.

Both Miguel and Marias conditions took quick turns for the worst, with Maria having trouble getting oxygen, said Jose. Soon, Miguel once again had trouble breathing, with Jose staying up all night watching his father startle himself awake with his own labored breathing.

After days at home, Jose called the ambulance on April 9 to take his father back to the hospital where he had been just days before. As EMTs clad in head-to-toe suits and boots prepared to take his father away, Jose reassured Miguel one last time.

I tell him its going to be okay, dad, he said. That hes going to be home soon with mom.

Miguel Hernandez died April 13.

As doctors prepared to intubate Maria, she called her son to check in on Miguel. Her son never told her about Miguel, scared that it would take away the last hope she so desperately needed.

I couldnt tell her, said Jose. I already decided I wasnt going to tell her because it was going to cause a huge strain on her.

On April 16, Maria Hernandez died before she could be intubated.

Final services

The toll the virus has exacted on the Hernandez family is nearly too much to bear, and costs for a burial plot and final services are weighing heavily on the son they leave behind. Before she died, Maria never picked out a plot, and cremation was out of the question for the religious couple, said Jose.

A funeral home is charging $8,000 for its services which includes a wake in the parking lot, said Rosa Burgos, Joses cousin and Maria and Miguels niece. Other funeral homes wanted to charge as much as $7,000 for a one-hour viewing for each deceased person, said Burgos.

On top of that, the shared burial plot costs $2,500 and only Jose  who stopped working to take care of his parents when they became sick  will be allowed to attend. To help defray the costs for funeral services, Burgos has set up a GoFundMe.

As Jose struggles with the loss of his parents, he hopes to serve them proud, as they did for him.

They were loving, humble, hard-working people their entire lives, said their son. I hope I can surpass any expectations they may have had of me.

Rodrigo Torrejon may be reached at rtorrejon@njadvancemedia.com.
A la suite des 23 recommandations de lUnited Nations World Tourism Organisation, le gouvernement a mis un place un Joint Working Group qui reuni le public et la prive afin de trouver des facons de mitiger les effets de la crise du Coronavirus sur le secteur touristique a Maurice.

Cabinet has taken note of the actions initiated by the Ministry of Tourism to revamp the tourism strategy to mitigate the socio-economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the industry. The United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) has appealed to Governments to consider, in collaboration with the relevant stakeholders, a set of 23 recommendations, to support jobs and economies through Travel and Tourism.

In line with the UNWTOs recommendations to, inter alia, incentivise job retention, sustain the self-employed, and protect the most vulnerable groups, Government has already put in place schemes to support the economic sectors, including the Travel and Tourism sector namely, the COVID-19 Wage Assistance Scheme, the Self-Employed Assistance Scheme and the Loan Support Scheme. The Ministry of Tourism has already established a Joint Working Group, consisting of both public and private stakeholders, to brainstorm and propose a comprehensive recovery action plan to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Travel and Tourism.
This July, Instagram will celebrate its 10 birthday! Over the past decade, IG has grown into one of the largest and most influential social media sites on the planet, boasting over a billion active users worldwide. However, the sites road to modern ubiquity has not always been a smooth one. The companys sale to Facebook, for example, left early backer Jack Dorsey feeling betrayed and new owner Mark Zuckerberg second guessing himself at the prospect that his new acquisition would outshine the company that bought it.

But even during Instagrams halcyon days, founders Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger faced daunting challenges. Like what to name their fledgling company (since sticking with Codename simply wouldnt fly), what the program should actually do and, once those were decided, how to set the app apart from its competition. In the excerpt from No Filter: The Inside Story of Instagram below, author Sarah Frier recounts just how Systrom and Krieger hit upon the idea of offering stylish filters to their users, enabling even neophyte photographers to produce professional-quality pictures.

Simon & Schuster

From NO FILTER: The Inside Story of Instagram by Sarah Frier. Copyright  2020 by Sarah Frier. Reprinted by permission of Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved.

The founders took over a whiteboard in one of the Dogpatch Labs conference rooms and had a brainstorming session that would serve as the foundation for their entire leadership philosophy: to ask first what problem they were solving, and then to try and solve it in the simplest way possible.

Krieger and Systrom started the exercise by making a list of the top three things people liked about Burbn. One was Plans, the feature where people could say where they were going so friends could join them. Another was photos. The third was a tool to win meaningless virtual prizes for your activity, which was mostly a gimmick to get people to log back in.

Not everybody needed plans or prizes. Systrom circled photos. Photos, they decided, were ubiquitous, useful to everybody, not just young city dwellers.

Theres something around photos, Kevin [Systrom] said. His iPhone 3G took terrible pictures, but it was only the beginning of that technology. I think there will be an inflection point where people dont carry around point-and-shoots anymore, theyre just going to carry around these phones.

Everyone with a smartphone would be an amateur photographer, if they wanted to be.

So if photos were the killer feature of the app they should build, what were the main opportunities? On the whiteboard, Systrom and Krieger brainstormed three of the top problems to solve. One, images always took forever to load on 3G cellular networks. Two, people were often embarrassed to share their low-quality phone snaps, since phones werent nearly as good as digital cameras. Three, it was annoying to have to post photos in many different places. What if they made a social network that came with an option to deliver your photos to Foursquare, Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr all at once? Playing nice with the new social giants would be easier than competing with them. Instead of having to build a network from scratch, the app could just piggyback off already-established communities.

All right, Systrom said. Lets focus on photos, and on solving these three problems. They would make it an app for iPhone only, since Krieger was better at those. Systroms argument to Dorsey, that the trendy HTML5 coding language would be a helpful differentiator in the marketplace, turned out to be wrong. They would have to make the app useful first, and add Android later, if they were lucky enough to become that popular.

Their first prototype was named Scotch, a relative to bourbon. It allowed people to swipe through photos horizontally and tap to like them, similar to a Tinder before its time. They used it for a few days before going back to the Burbn idea, doubting their instincts. And then they tried a new concept that would allow people to scroll through photos vertically, showing the most recent post first, like Twitter.

All of the photos would use as few pixels as possible, so that they would load quickly, helping solve problem number oneonly 306 pixels across, the minimum required to display a photo on an iPhone with 7-pixel borders on each side. The photos would be square, giving users the same creative constraint for photography as Systroms teacher in Florence gave him. It was similar to how Twitter only let people tweet in 140-character bursts. That would help solve, but not fully solve, problem number two.

There were two different kinds of social networks one could build the Facebook kind, where people become mutual friends with each other, or the Twitter kind, where people follow others they dont necessarily know. They thought the latter would be more fun for photos, because then people could follow based on interests, not just friendship.

Displaying Followers and Following at the top of the app, the way Twitter did, made it just competitive enough that people would need to come back to the app and check their progress. People could also like something, appending a heart, similar to Facebooks thumbs-up. Liking was much easier on this new app, because you could do it by double tapping on an entire photo instead of looking for a small button to click. And unlike on Twitter and Facebook, nobody on this new app needed to come up with anything clever to say. They simply had to post a photo of what they were seeing around them.

If Systrom and Krieger wanted to fully copy Twitters concepts, it would be obvious, at this point, to add a reshare button, to help content go viral like the retweet did. But the founders hesitated. If what people were sharing on this app was photography, would it make sense to allow them to share other peoples art and experiences under their own names? Maybe. But in the interest of starting simple, they decided not to think about it until post-launch.

They picked a logoa version of a white Polaroid camera. But what to call it? The vowel-less alcohol theme was getting to be too cute. Something like Whsky wouldnt necessarily explain what the app was for. So they tabled the discussion, calling it Codename.

Soon after, Systrom and the girlfriend who would become his wife, Nicole Schuetz, whom hed met at Stanford, went on a short vacation to a village in Baja California Sur, Mexico, called Todos Santos, with picturesque white sand beaches and cobblestone streets. During one of their ocean walks, she warned him that she probably wouldnt be using his new app. None of her smartphone photos were ever goodnot as good as their friend Hochmuths were, at least.

You know what he does to those photos, right? Systrom said.

He just takes good photos, she said.

No, no, he puts them through filter apps, Systrom explained. Phone cameras produced blurry images that were badly lit. It was like everyone who was buying a smartphone was getting the digital equivalent of the tiny plastic camera Systrom used in Florence. The filter apps allowed users to take an approach similar to that of Systroms professor, altering photos after they were captured to make them look more artsy. You didnt have to actually be a good photographer. Hipstamatic, with which you could make your photos look oversaturated, blurred, or hipster vintage, would be named Apples app of the year in 2010. Camera+, another editing app, was another one of the most popular.

Well, you guys should probably have filters too, Schuetz said.

Systrom realized she was right. If people were going to filter their photos anyway, might as well have them do it right within the app, competition be damned.

Back at the hotel, he researched online about how to code filters. He played around on Photoshop to create the style he wantedsome heavy shadow and contrast, as well as some shading around the edges of the image for a vignette effect. Then, sitting on one of the outdoor lounge chairs with a beer beside him and his laptop open, he set about writing it into reality.

He called the filter X-Pro II, a nod to the analog photo development technique called cross-processing, in which photographers intentionally use a chemical meant for a different type of film.

Soon after, he tested his work on a photo he took of a sandy-colored dog he came across in front of a taco stand. The dog is looking up at Schuetz, whose sandaled foot appears in the corner of the shot. And that, on July 16, 2010, was the first-ever photo posted on the app that would become Instagram.
KAMPALA  This years Africa Vaccination Week started on Friday, April 24 as the COVID-19 pandemic is causing significant disruption to vaccination efforts and to the surveillance of vaccine-preventable diseases on the continent.

Prior disease outbreaks and humanitarian emergencies have underscored the importance of maintaining essential health services such as immunization. Even brief interruptions of vaccination activities make outbreaks more likely to occur, putting children and other vulnerable groups more at risk of life-threatening diseases.

Africa has been experiencing a resurgence of measles. Measles preventive mass vaccination campaigns in Chad, Ethiopia, Nigeria and South Sudan have been suspended because of COVID-19, leaving around 21 million children who would have been vaccinated, unprotected.

While the complexity and breadth of the Covid-19 response is unprecedented, we must continue to protect African children against vaccine-preventable diseases, said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Africa. Let us not be blind-sided by COVID-19 and let down our guard against measles and other childhood threats.

WHO has developed new guidelines on immunization in the context of COVID-19 that stress the need for a dynamic approach.

They recommend that countries temporarily pause preventive mass vaccination campaigns but they urge countries to prioritize the continuation of routine immunization of children as essential service delivery, as well as adult vaccinations such as influenza for groups most at risk.

The conduct of outbreak response mass vaccination campaigns will require a careful risk-benefit analysis on a case-by-case basis. For example, countries under total lockdown may not be able to fully implement routine health services at all sites, so they may opt to preemptively scale up routine services before the announcement of total lockdown, or to ramp up once the lockdown ends. If immunization services must be suspended, urgent catch-up vaccinations should be rescheduled as soon as possible, prioritizing those most at risk.

The 2020 Africa Vaccination Week theme is #Vaccines Work for All. The campaign will focus on how vaccines  and the people who develop, deliver and receive them  are heroes by working to protect the health of everyone, everywhere. The initiative  aims to promote the use of vaccines to protect people of all ages against diseases. As part of the 2020 campaign, WHO and partners aim to:

Demonstrate the value of vaccines for the health of children and communities even in the context of Covid-19.

Demonstrate that routine immunization is the foundation for strong, resilient health systems and universal health coverage.

Highlight the need to build on immunization progress while addressing gaps, including through increased investment in vaccines and immunization.

Moreover, as we promote Africa Vaccination Week this year, WHO honors nurses and midwives for their crucial role as early vaccine champions for new parents and parents-to-be, as we celebrate 2020 as the International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife.

Related
The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board will expand curbside pickup service to 389 more Fine Wine & Good Spirits locations across the state on Monday.

Beginning Monday, well have 565 Fine Wine & Good Spirits stores across Pennsylvania accepting orders by phone for curbside pickup, said PLCB Chairman Tim Holden in a news release. We acknowledge that Pennsylvanians are frustrated with busy signals and want broader access to wine and spirits, so after learning from our experiences this past week, weve made improvements to process orders faster, expand the hours we take orders by phone, and be more flexible in scheduling pickups, even the same day, if pickup appointments are available.

The updated list of stores can be found HERE.

Some local patrons reported frustration with the limited availability in the first week.

Two men who stopped by the Fine Wine & Good Spirits Premium Collection location on Baltimore Pike in Springfield at 11:30 a.m. Friday were agitated that they couldnt order at the store and said they would drive to Delaware to pick up a bottle.

Bob from Essington (who didnt want to give his last name) stopped by for a couple of bottles of Canadian whiskey. He said he had been trying all week to get through on the phone, but hadnt had any luck.

A manager did allow him to pay with his credit card at the store and gave him two bottles.

It reminds me of Boot Camp, said Bob. Nobody knows nothing.

Were making strides in expanding service to Fine Wine & Good Spirits customers, and we hope that adding hundreds more locations for curbside pickup will help us get through this surge of demand for wine and spirits, said Holden. Once again, we ask customers to remain patient, and were hopeful that the more e-commerce and curbside pickup orders we can process, over time, the better well be able to serve more and more Pennsylvanians through this pandemic.

Most stores will support curbside service Monday through Saturday, taking a limited number of orders on a first-call, first-served basis beginning at 9 a.m. each day and scheduling pickup appointments between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m., according to the release. Some stores will operate on more limited days and hours.

Each store will continue to accept the first 50 to 100 orders placed each day, according to the release, though fulfillment capacity is expected to grow as time goes on.

No orders will be accepted by email or voicemail and callers should have their credit cards ready when placing an order, as that is currently the only accepted form of payment.

Orders are limited to one per caller, per store, per day, with a six-bottle limit. Pickups will be scheduled between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. within a few days of order placement. At pickup, customers will be required to present valid identification to receive their order.

The PLCB also reported preliminary unaudited sales of $3.64 million on 38,145 orders in the first four days of curbside pickup. Stores conducted nearly 6,000 transactions Monday, reaping $569,000.

There were another 8,000 orders Tuesday for $756,000; 11,300 orders Wednesday for $1.05 million; and 12,800 orders for $1.27 million Thursday, according to the release.

The PLCB is not currently considering reopening stores to the public, although it did remind customers that there are still other ways to obtain alcohol in the state.

Nearly 1,000 licensed producers in Pennsylvania  such as breweries, wineries and distilleries  may still sell their own products for off-premises consumption, and restaurant and eating place licensees such as bars and supermarkets can sell up to 192 ounces of beer to go per transaction.

Restaurant licensees that also have wine expanded permits  including grocery stores and convenience stores  may also sell up to three liters of wine to go, per transaction, and beer distributors can continue sales for off-premises consumption.

Staff writer Pete Bannan contributed to this story.

Updated Delco Locations available Monday:

Fine Wine & Good Spirits #2302

128 South 69th Street

Upper Darby, PA 19082

(610) 853-9023

Fine Wine & Good Spirits #2304

Edgemont Square Shopping Center

4839 West Chester Pike

Newtown Square, PA 19073

(610) 723-4131

Fine Wine & Good Spirits Premium Collection #2305

315 West Baltimore Avenue

Media, PA 19063

(610) 480-5155

Fine Wine & Good Spirits Premium Collection #2310

149 Baltimore Pike

Springfield, PA 19064

(610) 938-9540

Fine Wine & Good Spirits #2312

920 East Baltimore Avenue

Lansdowne, PA 19050

(610) 284-7842

Fine Wine & Good Spirits #2317

12 East Hinckley Avenue

Ridley Park, PA 19078

(610) 595-3410

Fine Wine & Good Spirits# 2320

1305 West Chester Pike

Havertown, PA 19083

(610) 860-9410

Fine Wine & Good Spirits #2324

MacDade Plaza

2143 MacDade Boulevard

Holmes, PA 19043

(610) 534-6883

Fine Wine & Good Spirits #2325

Village Green Shopping Center

3486 Concord Road

Aston, PA 19014

(610) 497-7922

Fine Wine & Good Spirits Premium Collection #2327

789 East Lancaster Avenue

Villanova, PA 19085

(610) 525-1972

Fine Wine & Good Spirits #2329

Eddystone Crossings

1562 Chester Pike

Eddystone, PA 19022

(610) 619-3122

Fine Wine & Good Spirits Premium Collection #2331

5035 Township Line Road

Drexel Hill, PA 19026

(610) 860-9405

Fine Wine & Good Spirits Premium Collection #2332

Lawrence Park Shopping Center

1991 Sproul Road

Broomall, PA 19008

(610) 325-5248

Fine Wine & Good Spirits #2333

Barclay Square

1500 Garrett Road

Upper Darby, PA 19082

(610) 284-7840

Fine Wine & Good Spirits Premium Collection #2334

Brandywine Mills Shopping Center

1751 Wilmington Pike

Glen Mills, PA 19342

(484) 840-1241

Fine Wine & Good Spirits #2339

The Shoppes at Brookhaven

4934 Edgmont Avenue

Brookhaven, PA 19015

(610) 872-2405

Fine Wine & Good Spirits Premium Collection #2341

Ellis Preserve Town Center

3735 West Chester Pike

Newtown Square, PA 19073

(610) 325-2360

Fine Wine & Good Spirits Premium Collection #2342

Promenade at Granite Run

1083 West Baltimore Pike

Media, PA 19063

(610) 566-1549

Fine Wine & Good Spirits Premium Collection #2343

127 West Lancaster Avenue

Wayne, PA 19087

(610) 688-6154
There was no way to simply piggyback it on to the current computer programs that handle the state benefits, said Michael Wisehart, DES deputy director of employment and relief services.

There are entirely different eligibility criteria, he said.

For example, Arizona has financial requirements to have earned enough money in the past four calendar quarters. Those include having worked the equivalent of at least 30 hours a week at minimum wage for one of those quarters.

Also ineligible for the state program are those who have been self-employed, including workers in the gig economy and independent contractors. And those seeking only part-time work or those who have exhausted the 26 weeks of state benefits also do not qualify.

Deciding on a new system was necessary, and DES Director Tom Betlach said it made more sense to contract that out rather than do it in-house.

When you get some of these older systems, doing the programming and making the time to do that just becomes too expensive an exercise, he said.
New Delhi, April 25 : RSS' economic wing -- the Swadeshi Jagran Manch, will kickstart a campaign from Sunday to boycott Chinese products, it said.

Though it has been a stated position of the organisation for long, but it assumes new significance in view of worldwide allegations against China for not doing enough to warn about the coronavirus outbreak, besides sending out faulty testing kits.

The organisation said, all the supporters and activists of Swadeshi Jagran Manch will observe April 25 as Swadeshi Sankalp Diwas.

"On this day Swadeshi supporters and activists will light lamp at their respective homes between 6.30pm and 6.40 pm...and take a pledge that they will take all possible steps to boycott Chinese products by Indians," a statement by Ashwani Mahajan, the natioanal co-convenor of SJM read.

Blaming the whole world's "agony of disease and deaths caused by the coronavirus" on China, Mahajan said the lockdown and subsequent economic hardship as well as job losses are a result of the "Chinese virus". "...Economic activities of all types are getting impacted, causing huge loss to our economy and economies all around the world", he added.

"India will take pledge on Sunday that during lockdown and after the same is lifted, we will work towards encouraging Bhartiya industries, big and small by boycotting Chinese product and purchasing Bhartiya products and bring prosperity back to our country," the SJM said which has always advocated for Indian products. They feel Chinese products have been killing the small and medium industry of India.
The number of unemployed workers that filed for benefits in Florida between March 19 and April 21. There were only 13,002 claims filed during all of 2019. ( Orlando Sentinel  April 24, 2020)
The Karnataka government on



Saturday commenced convalescent plasma therapy clinical trials for 'severe' coronavirus patients in the state.

In a tweet, Medical Education Minister K Sudhakar said, "Happy to announce the commencement of Clinical Trials for Plasma Therapy that holds great promise to treat severely infected #COVID19 patients.

Health Min @sriramulubjp & I initiated this significant step at Victoria Hospital today morning."



The Minister, who is also leading government efforts against COVID-19 in Bengaluru and is in charge of the state war room had said Convalescent Plasma Therapy was only for patients who are critical, in intensive care units or on ventilator.

Donors have also come forward for this, he had said.

According to officials, patients who have recovered from COVID-19 have been appealed to come forward as donors, as anti-bodies of cured patients will be used to treat critically ill under this therapy.

According to last update, five COVID-19 patients are in ICU in the state.

Health Minister Sriramulu expressed hope that Convalescent Plasma Therapy will be a torchbearer in our fight against the virus.

"Karnataka has taken a lead role as we initiate Phase I clinical trials to use Convalescent Plasma Therapy for severe Covid 19 infected patients.

BMC Victoria hospital took the first step today. We are determined to vanquish this enemy of mankind," he said in a tweet.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
(Natural News) The Ancient Egyptians may have discovered the secret to having long-lasting, perfectly styled hair. Russian scientists identified a special kind of hair wax used by the Ancient Egyptians to preserve the shiny curls of their noblewomen for over 3,000 years.

In a recent study published in the Journal of Analytical Chemistry, a team from Moscows Kurchatov Institute described the contents of an Ancient Egyptian hair wax used in the preservation of mummies. They analyzed samples from three mummies whose hair had been meticulously styled and preserved in what must have been the popular hairstyle in Egypt in the first millennium BC.

It was astonishing to see their long hair being so meticulously styled, with no lock out of place, said Dr. Viktor Pozhidayev, a senior researcher at the institutes biotechnology and bio-energy department. We had the idea that special embalming compositions were used for their processing, and decided to find out their recipe.

Keeping an extra-firm hold for millennia

The scientists at the institute used mass spectrometry to detect and identify the organic substances used in the embalming mix on the hair of two female mummies and one male. They then recorded the infrared spectrum from the samples before and after treatment with solvents, and identified the substances based on the results.

The results showed that the mixture contained beef fat, castor oil and beeswax. Further analyses identified the presence of abietic acid and dehydroabietic acid. The latter is a well-known acid found in pine tree resin. The researchers also found that two of the three mummies had fragrant pistachio oil added to their hair balms.

The findings confirm a theory among Russian scientists that the Ancient Egyptians used a different balm to preserve hair from what they used to preserve the rest of the body. All three mummies were from the first millennium BC, a time when mummification was a process reserved only for the elite who could afford to pay for it. (Related: DNA from mummy tomb suggests ancient Egyptians consumed sweet watermelons similar to modern varieties.)

Additional mummy research

The hair balm discovery was announced partly in an effort to bring focus to a much larger study being done on the mummies at the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts in Moscow. There, scientists are using modern technology, such as positron emission tomography (PET) and computed tomography (CT) scans, to unwrap the ancient mummies without breaking them out of their cocoons.

The scans give clues not just about the mummies, but also about their wrappings and the processes the Ancient Egyptians used to preserve them. They also provide a glimpse of the objects the mummies had inside of them, such as fabric rolls and even some ritual accessories.

On the computer screen we can see that some parts of [the] body are filled with objects that were inserted during the mummification process, said Sergey Kartashov, a researcher at the Kurchatov Institute.

Other strange finds from the study include a mummy that was found to have had both feet chopped off during mummification. The scientists have yet to determine whether the mummy was male or female and why the mummys feet were severed.

Ancient Egyptians are believed to have started using natural mummification in the Neolithic era by placing the dead in shallow pits in the sand in a fetal position. The process was seen as a preparation for the afterlife. Artificial mummification was developed later on and involved specially trained artisans who conducted the complex and expensive rite.

Sources include:

DailyMail.co.uk

DailyStar.co.uk
(CNN)  The company that makes Lysol and Dettol is urging customers not to consume its cleaning products after President Donald Trump suggested the possibility of injecting disinfectants to protect people from coronavirus.

Reckitt Benckiser (RBGLY), a British company, warned Friday that human consumption of disinfectant products is dangerous. It issued the statement following "recent speculation and social media activity."

"As a global leader in health and hygiene products, we must be clear that under no circumstance should our disinfectant products be administered into the human body (through injection, ingestion or any other route)," the company said in a statement.

RB said products should only be "used as intended and in line with usage guidelines.

"We have a responsibility in providing consumers with access to accurate, up-to-date information as advised by leading public health experts," the company said.

The statement followed remarks from President Trump on Thursday on the use of disinfectants.

"And then I see the disinfectant where it knocks it out in one minute. Is there a way we can do something like that by injection inside or almost a cleaning ... it would be interesting to check that," Trump said. "It sounds interesting to me," he added.

CNN's Chief Medical Correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta was quick to point out that this is simply wrong.

"He also said it needs to be studied. Actually, it doesn't. I mean we know the answer to this one," he said on CNN's Anderson Cooper 360 on Thursday. "I think everybody would know that that would be dangerous and counter-productive."

Ingesting or injecting disinfectants is dangerous, according to a medical expert employed by the Trump administration. Food and Drug Administration chief Dr. Stephen Hahn told CNN's Anderson Cooper, "I certainly wouldn't recommend the internal ingestion of a disinfectant."

The US Food and Drug Administration regularly warns the public against drinking bleach, or even inhaling fumes from bleach. It's also irritating to skin.

On Monday, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said calls about poisonings with cleaners and disinfectants had increased more than 20% in the first three months of 2020 -- as coronavirus cleaning increased -- than from the same period a year earlier. Among cleaners, bleaches accounted for the largest percentage increase in calls from 2019 to 2020.

The CDC recommends using soap and water or bleach to kill the virus. Rubbing alcohol that's at least 70% alcohol will also kill it on surfaces; 60% for your hands.

This story was first published on CNN.com "Lysol maker: Please don't drink our cleaning products"
Angelyne is a master at the art of self-promotion, with an upcoming series inspired by her wild life.

And the LA icon is continuing to serve hot pink glamour around her city amid the growing coronavirus pandemic.

She made sure all eyes were on her Friday in a neon-colored display as she made a grocery run at Ralph's Market in Calabasas during a break from quarantine.

Grocery run: Angelyne made sure all eyes were on her Friday in a neon-colored display as she made a grocery run at Ralph's Market in Calabasas during a break from quarantine

The 69-year-old masked up with an elegant red silk scarf as she arrived at the store in her iconic pink Corvette.

She donned a light cropped fuchsia jacket, which was paired with a neon multi-colored mini dress.

Angelyne finished the ensemble with a thin pair of sunglasses and some pink platform wedges.

She signed on back in February as executive producer for the self-titled Peacock limited series based on her life.

Hot wheels: The 69-year-old masked up with an elegant red silk scarf as she arrived at the store in her iconic pink Corvette

Pretty in pink: She donned a light cropped fuchsia jacket, which was paired with a neon multi-colored mini dress

The billboard pinup will be portrayed by Emmy Rossum, who also serves as an executive producer.

Rossum gave a glimpse at her best Angelyne performance last week in the show's first teaser.

She portrays the titular blonde bombshell at the dawn of her celebrity, as well as during her modern cult status.

But the real Angelyne doesn't seem to be satisfied with her depiction, telling DailyMail.com last month that the show is 'fictionalized to the hilt' and 'completely untrue.'

She said: 'I don't think they want me to see it, and beyond that I don't want to see it... I just spoke to them about the way they portrayed me visually, because [Emmy] looks nothing like me at all.

True story: Angelyne signed on back in February as executive producer for the self-titled Peacock limited series based on her life

Leading lady: The billboard pinup will be portrayed by Emmy Rossum, who also serves as an executive producer

Not a fan: But the real Angelyne doesn't seem to be satisfied with her depiction, telling DailyMail.com last month that the show is 'fictionalized to the hilt' and 'completely untrue'

'She's tall, she's skinny, it's prosthetics. God bless her, she's going to do the best she can. But I've spoken to them about that, they're trying to make it look a little bit better.'

She continued: 'But nobody's going to look like me. There's only one Marilyn, there's only one Elvis, there's only one Michael Jackson and there's only one Angelyne. People can try to emulate but really there's only one.'

The miniseries is based on the 2017 Hollywood Reporter investigative piece about her true identity and origin story.

It revealed that her real name is Ronia Tamar Goldberg, and she immigrated from Poland with her parents, both Holocaust survivors.

Angelyne became a Los Angeles staple in the '80s when she appeared on billboards around town, ultimately becoming the first influencer years before Instagram.
By Byron Kaye and Colin Packham

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australians were strongly urged to sign up for a controversial mobile phone app that will track their movements as officials warned on Friday that public life could be constrained for another year because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said downloading the smartphone software, which has been criticised by civil liberties groups as an invasion of privacy, would initially be voluntary.

However, he declined to rule out making use of the "TraceTogether" app compulsory, stressing the ability to detect potential new outbreaks would be a key part of giving officials the confidence to begin winding back strict "social distancing" measures.

"I will be calling on Australians to do it, frankly, as a matter of national service," Morrison told radio station Triple M. "This would be something they might not normally do in an ordinary time, but this is not an ordinary time. If you download this app, youll be helping to save someone's life."

The government is planning to roll out the app within the next two weeks after finalising legal issues around privacy, Morrison said.

Australia has so far avoided the high numbers of coronavirus casualties reported around the world after closing its borders and imposing restrictions on public movement.

Restaurants, bars and other "non-essential" businesses have closed and public gatherings of more than two people are banned under the threat of fines and even prison, measures that are expected to double the unemployment rate by mid-year.

The daily growth rate of reported new infections has steadied in the low percentage single digits, or fewer than 50 per day, from about 25% several weeks ago. The country's most populous states reported 43 new cases on Friday, taking the total to 6,522, while the death toll rose by two to 65.

Morrison said this week that all social distancing measures will remain in place for at least another four weeks, and some would likely remain for up to a year.

Story continues

Any easing of the current limitations would not occur until Australia had increased testing capacity, strengthened contact tracing and readied local responses for further outbreaks, he said.

The smartphone app would be key to improving contact tracing by detecting whether people had spent more than 15 minutes with others who may have been infected.

Australia's Deputy Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly said at least 40% of people would need to be signed up to make it effective.

The TraceTogether app has been available in Singapore since March 20, but its success has been limited with less than one in five downloading the app, the city state's government said earlier this month.

SCHOOL'S OUT

Officials in the country's most populous state, New South Wales, on Thursday said they were considering imposing an ongoing roster system for children to return to school after the current Easter vacation.

Schools have been a source of division between the federal government, which has urged them to reopen, and the states and territories, which are responsible for their governance. Morrison has cited data showing the low risk of transmission posed by children, while state officials are dealing with a backlash from parents and teachers concerned about exposure to the virus.

"We are considering our options around a rostering system which will have some students go back on a particular day to increase that level of face-to-face," New South Wales (NSW) Premier Gladys Berejiklian told reporters. "The alternative is that unfortunately students could face up to a year or longer at home and we don't think that's appropriate."

For universities, which rely on fees from international students, the international border closure could cost them as much as A$19 billion ($12.09 billion), Victoria University said in an analysis released on Friday, forecasting a further A$38 billion hit to the broader economy.

In the neighbouring Pacific islands, Papua New Guinea Prime (PNG) Minister James Marape said he has been tested for COVID-19 after exposure to an infected employee at the country's emergency operations centre.

PNG has also introduced lockdown measures, including a nightly curfew, a ban on all public gatherings, the closure of public transport and the prohibition of the sale of alcohol, Marape said in an emailed statement.

($1 = 1.5713 Australian dollars)

(Reporting by Byron Kaye and Colin Packham; Editing by Jane Wardell)
Two Isis supporters have been jailed for sending thousands of pounds to jihadis through a man connected to central figures in the terrorist group.

Ayub Nurhussein and Said Mohammed admitted funding terrorism by transferring 2,700 in three instalments between April and July last year.

The Old Bailey heard that they hatched the plan after failing to travel abroad to fight for Isis themselves.

Mohammeds contact in Iraq, named only as Wassim, urged him to help raise funds from brothers from abroad to support Isis after its caliphate collapsed.

Wassim told him: The situation is bad, my brother. The situation is bad at all levels in Iraq.

Timeline of the Isis caliphate Show all 19 1 /19 Timeline of the Isis caliphate Timeline of the Isis caliphate ISIS began as a group by the merging of extremist organisations ISI and al-Nusra in 2013. Following clashes, Syrian rebels captured the ISIS headquarters in Aleppo in January 2014 (pictured) AFP/Getty Timeline of the Isis caliphate Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi declared the creation of a caliphate in Mosul on 27 June 2014 Timeline of the Isis caliphate Isis conquered the Kurdish towns of Sinjar and Zumar in August 2014, forcing thousands of civilians to flee their homes. Pictured are a group of Yazidi Kurds who have fled Rex Timeline of the Isis caliphate On September 2 2014 Isis released a video depicting the beheading of US journalist Steven Sotloff. On September 13 they released another video showing the execution of British aid worker David Haines Timeline of the Isis caliphate The US launched its first airstrikes against Isis in Syria on 23 September 2014. Here Lt Gen William C Mayville Jnr speaks about the bombing campaign in the wake of the first strikes Getty Timeline of the Isis caliphate Isis militants sit atop a hill planted with their flag in the Syrian town of Kobani on 6 October 2014. They had been advancing on Kobani since mid-September and by now was in control of the citys entrance and exit points AFP/Getty Timeline of the Isis caliphate Residents of the border village of Alizar keep guard day and night as they wait in fear of mortar fire from Isis who have occupied the nearby city of Kobani Getty Timeline of the Isis caliphate Smoke rises following a US airstrike on Kobani, 28 October 2014 AFP/Getty Timeline of the Isis caliphate YPG fighters raise a flag as they reclaim Kobani on 26 January 2015 VOA Timeline of the Isis caliphate Isis seized the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra on 20 May 2015. This image show the city from above days after its capture by Isis Getty Timeline of the Isis caliphate Kurdish forces are stationed on a hill above the town of Sinjar as smoke rises following US airstrikes on 12 November 2015 AFP/Getty Timeline of the Isis caliphate Kurdish forces enter Sinjar after seizing it from Isis control on 13 November 2015 AFP/Getty Timeline of the Isis caliphate Iraqi government forces make the victory sign as they retake the city of Fallujah from ISIS on 26 June 2016 Getty Timeline of the Isis caliphate Iraqi forces battle with Isis for the city of Mosul on 30 June 2017 AFP/Getty Timeline of the Isis caliphate Members of the Iraqi federal police raise flags in Mosul on 8 July 2017. On the following day, Iraqi prime minister Haider Al Abadi declares victory over Isis in Mosul Getty Timeline of the Isis caliphate Members of Syrian Democratic Forces celebrate in Al-Naim square after taking back the city of Raqqa from Isis. US-backed Syrian forces declare victory over Isis in Raqqa on 20 October 2017 after a four-month long campaign Getty Timeline of the Isis caliphate Female fighters of the Syrian Democratic Forces celebrate in Al-Naim Square after taking back the city of Raqqa from Isis. US-backed Syrian forces declare victory over Isis in Raqqa on 20 October 2017 after a four-month long campaign AFP/Getty Timeline of the Isis caliphate Trucks full of women and children arrive from the last Isis-held areas in Deir ez-Zor, Syria in January 2019 They were among the last civilians to be living in the ISIS caliphate, by this time reduced to just two small villages in Syrias Deir ez-Zor Richard Hall/The Independent Timeline of the Isis caliphate Zikia Ibrahim, 28, with her two-year-old son and 8-month-old daughter, after fleeing the Isis caliphate, on Saturday 26 January 2019 Richard Hall/The Independent

If there are brothers ... that would still give support, tell them this is a time of seriousness and this is a time when the mujahideen really need you.

Judge Rebecca Poulet QC said Wassim appeared to be associated with central figures within Isis, and the money was intended to assist activities to endanger life.

Sentencing Nurhussein and Mohammed on Friday, she said both men have deeply held radicalised beliefs and that they were, and possibly still are, committed to the cause of the proscribed organisation Islamic State.

It is quite clear that both men were wholehearted supporters of this terrorist cause and that both wished the funds to go to support the fighters of that organisation, she added, saying the most grave and alarming aspect of Nurhusseins case was his possession of bomb manuals.

He also shared Isis propaganda videos showing executions and beheadings, and encouraging support for its cause.

Even though a psychologist had found Mohammed to be easily compliant, Judge Puolet found he was committed to the cause of Isis and seeking to widen the group of financial supporters for the organisation at the behest of his contact Wassim.

Chicken shop delivery worker Nurhussein, 29, admitted funding terrorism, four charges of having terrorist manuals and three of sharing graphic propaganda with his landlord via WhatsApp.

The defendant, of Camberwell, southeast London, was jailed for nine-and-a-half years and will serve a further three-and-a-half years on extended licence.

Mohammed, 30, from Longsight in Manchester, was jailed for five years and three months after pleading guilty to funding terrorism.

The Old Bailey heard that both defendants were Eritrean asylum seekers.

 Suspected Isis fighter arrested in Spain

Nurhussein was granted asylum but Mohammed, who came into Britain via a refugee camp in Calais in 2008, was refused leave to remain and lived in the UK illegally.

Nurhussein was previously jailed in 2012 for robbery using an imitation handgun.

Prosecutor Alistair Richardson said the defendants became deeply radical and had supported Isis in whatever ways they could.

He told the court: They wished to travel to Isis territory to join them. From the UK, the two of them, together, offered their support financially.

They arranged for the provision of, and provided funds for, their mujahideen, or fighter, brothers, who remained in Iraq fighting for that organisation.

Mr Richardson said Wassim arranged for a go-between in Denmark to enable money to be sent to Isis with no problems.

On 20 April 2019, a transaction of 1,300 was made from an account in Manchester to a Western Union bank branch in Copenhagen.

A second transaction of 599 was made by Nurhussein on 5 June to the same bank and on 2 July the process was repeated for a further 800.

Counter-terror police started an investigation in 2018 and arrested the pair in coordinated raids on 16 July last year, where mobile phones and other evidence were seized.

Commander Richard Smith, head of the Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command, said: The Met works with other police forces and security services to provide a counter terrorism network, both at home and abroad, whose strength and effect is continually felt by those who conspire to commit acts of violence and terror.

Additional reporting by PA
OTSEGO, Minn., April 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Accurate Home Care today announced a $3,000 Welcome Bonus for nurses who are looking for new employment, especially those who have been laid off due to COVID19. The company is looking for both registered nurses (RN) and licensed practical nurses (LPN).

"Our nurses keep our patients out of the hospitals, providing one-on-one care in the patient's home," says Bill English, CEO of Accurate Home Care. "Yet at any given time, we'll have roughly 4,000 patient-hours that go unstaffed due to the nursing shortage here in Minnesota. Most nurses rarely consider home care as a viable career alternative to working in the hospitals: we're hoping this bonus will attract their attention."

The Welcome Bonus is designed to appeal to those nurses who:

Lost their employment due to COVID19;

Want to further their nursing careers, but don't want to be around COVID19 and other viruses and diseases that can be prevalent in hospitals;

Are graduating from school and need their first job in their nursing career;

Are looking for part-time work to supplement their current job;

Retired but would like flexible work that fits with their retirement plans; and/or

Want to work within a positive and healthy work culture.

The Welcome Bonus will be available to qualified nurses starting Monday, April 27, 2020. For more information on the Accurate Welcome Bonus, visit https://accuratehomecare.com/news/spring-hiring-event-with-welcome-bonus-announced/ or call Bill English, CEO, Accurate Home Care directly at 763-795-3794.

About Accurate Home Care: Founded in 2002, Accurate Home Care provides one-on-one health care services in the home of patients who need persistent, 24x7 private duty nursing care. Accurate also provides other needed services, such as personal care, home making, skilled nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy and mental health services. Accurate Home Care has (roughly) 400 patients and 750 Care Providers across the State of Minnesota. Accurate Home Care is a member of the Minnesota Home Care Association and was nominated in 2019 for the Minnesota Association for Corporate Growth's BOLD Award. Learn more at https://www.accuratehomecare.com

For more information, contact:

Bill English, CEO

Accurate Home Care

763-633-3800

[email protected]

SOURCE Accurate Home Care

Related Links

https://www.accuratehomecare.com


No shops will be open in six



out of 48 wards in Ahmedabad, Gujarat's worst coronavirus-hit city, as these are part of containment zones created to control the COVID-19 outbreak, civic officials said on Saturday, a day after the Centre allowed conditional opening of shops amid the nationwide lockdown.

The Gujarat government has allowed standalone shops to operate across the state from Sunday, except in areas declared cluster containment zones by local authorities.

"Six out of 48 wards in Ahmedabad city have been declared cluster containment zone, including four in central zone and two in south zone. Shops will not open in these six wards. The relaxations will be implemented in other areas with some restrictions. Teams will check if social distancing norms are being maintained and everyone is wearing masks," an official said.

Ahmedabad Municipal Commissioner Vijay Nehra said the number of COVID-19 cases in the city was doubling every eight days and at this rate, the number of patients could reach around 10,000 by May 15.

However, he added the city had readied infrastructure for such a number.

"If we slow down the doubling span to 12 days, then we may have 7,000-8,0000 cases by May 15," he added.

Nehra said the city had tested 20,801 samples, that comes to a rate of 3,300 per million, which is one of the highest in the country, he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Hollywood star Chris Hemsworth says he is excited to play veteran WWE wrestler Hulk Hogan in the biopic, which is currently in writing stage.

The Netflix film is set to be directed by Joker helmer Todd Phillips and the Australian actor has teased that the makers are planning to show a never-seen-before side of the wrestling industry.

I know it's being written now and worked on. I know very little about that. It's sort of in the process now.

"I'm just fascinated by that world, and I think they're pretty keen to show a side of the world that people haven't seen before. I'm as intrigued as you are," Hemsworth told ScreenRant.

The project was announced last year, with 8 Mile scribe Scott Silver and John Pollono attached to pen the script.

The film is expected to look into Hogan's rise from the Florida wrestling circuit to becoming the face of the World Wrestling Federation in the 1980s where he squared off with villain Andre the Giant.

The movie, however, will not delve into the legal battle between Hogan; Gawker Media and its founder, Nick Denton, over a sex tape that the online media company published featuring the former WWE star.

The project will be produced by Michael Sugar through his Sugar23's first-look Netflix deal along with Joint Efforts' Phillips and Bradley Cooper, Eric Bischoff, and Hemsworth.

Hogan will also serve as executive producer along with Sugar23's Ashley Zalta. Steve Desmond and Michael Sherman will serve as co-producers.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
More than 22 thousand police and military personnel will be involved in service during this period

Reinforced police patrols will be on duty near cemeteries across Ukraine today, which will ensure that people comply with quarantine restrictions and the ban on visiting the cemetery. The website of the Ministry of Internal Affairs reports that.

To prevent violations, more than 22,000 police and military personnel of the National Guard of Ukraine will be involved in service.

By the decision of the state commission on technogenic and environmental safety and emergency situations dated April 21, 2020, the chairmen of the regional and Kyiv city state administrations, with the participation of local governments, were instructed to prohibit citizens from visiting cemeteries and certain burial places on traditional funeral days, except in cases of burial.

Also, according to the decree of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine dated April 21, 2020 "Concerning counteracting the spread of coronavirus on funeral days", it is recommended that local authorities, local governments in order to counteract the spread of coronavirus in places of mass crowds, be closed for visiting cemeteries, except in cases of burial deceased subject to anti-epidemic rules.

Police officers along with the National Guard during the funeral days will ensure law and order and monitor compliance with quarantine restrictions. In particular, reinforced patrols will be on duty near cemeteries. At the same time, the main task of law enforcement officers is to conduct explanatory work regarding the ban on visits to burial places and the need to comply with all quarantine restrictions, because these measures are aimed at preserving the health and life of people.

The National Police urges citizens to adhere to time limits and to understand the work of law enforcement officers.

As we reported before, Interior Minister of Ukraine Arsen Avakov condemned the urge of Mayor of Ivano-Frankivsk Ruslan Martsynkiv to take Roma out of the city.
Asserting that China's Communist government needs to be held accountable for "lying" about the coronavirus pandemic, Republican politician Nikki Haley has launched an online petition urging the US Congress to act in this regard. More than 40,000 people had signed the 'Stop Communist China' petition by Friday night, hours after being launched by the Indian-American politician who has set a goal of getting 100,000 signatures.

Chinas Communist government needs to be held accountable for their role in lying about the Coronavirus pandemic, and the US Congress needs to respond  now, said Haley, a former two term Governor of South Carolina and former US Ambassador to the United Nations. Join us in our fight to stop China from gaining influence in America and around the world. Sign this petition and please share with your friends, she added.

Sign our petition to stop the Chinese Communist government's deception and manipulation. We need Congress to act NOW to prevent China's growing influence, the petition said.

Among other things, the petition urges members of Congress to probe whether China covered up the coronavirus outbreak, end the United States reliance on China for critical medical supplies and pharmaceuticals, make China pay its fair share to the United Nations, back Taiwan against China's bullying, and mandate all US colleges to disclose Chinese funding. Early this week, she called for an emergency Security Council meeting on China's involvement and knowledge of the virus. Haley has been a fierce critic of China.

As soon as the UN opens again, the US should call for an emergency Security Council meeting on China's involvement and knowledge of the virus. When did they know & decisions made. If ever the was a time to have a world discussion, it would be following this pandemic, Haley said in a tweet.

Responding to her tweet, the Chinese Ambassador to the UN Zhang Jun asserted that his country had nothing to hide.

All the facts are on the table. Epidemics may occur anywhere. The most important thing is to defeat the virus and save lives. China has done its job and is now working hard in helping others. Attempts of scapegoating or stigma go nowhere, Zhang said.

If that is the case, Haley argued than China would have no problem in a Security Council meeting on the coronavirus pandemic.
April 25 : Superstar Ajay Devgn just dropped a new single titled Thahar Ja, and it went viral within hours of its release. The actor is seen urging everyone to take care of themselves and also their loved ones by keeping their cool and staying at home.

Ajay dropped the song on his social media profile. He captioned it, Pause. Reflect. Pray. We will weather this storm together. Stay safe, Stay Happy. Apno ke liye #ThaharJa  #IndiaFightsCorona @narendramodi @PMOIndia @OfficeofUT @CMOMaharashtra #PraveenPardeshi @mybmc @Meena_Iyer @ADFFilms

The actor shot the song in his house and the essence of it is to sit back and "pause, reflect and pray". The video mostly comprises tight close-up shots of Ajay Devgn, who features in the video and has produced it.

Throughout the course of the video, Ajay urges his fans to slow down and stay home for the safety of their loved ones, in the wake of the ongoing corona virus pandemic. Ajay and Kajol's 9-year-old son Yug Devgn also makes a brief appearance at the end of the video. Also, he was the assistant director in the song.

The song is crooned by Mehul Vyas and it has been written by Anil Verma.

Meanwhile on the work front, Ajay Devgn will be seen in Bhuj: The Pride of India, which is helmed by Abhishek Dudhaiya. The film is set during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, it is about IAF Squadron Leader Vijay Karnik, the then in-charge of the Bhuj airport who and his team reconstructed the IAF airbase with the help of 300 local women.

The film also features Sanjay Dutt, Sonakshi Sinha, Nora Fatehi, Sharad Kelkar, Ammy Virk, Pawan Shankar and Pranitha Subhash.
KYODO NEWS - Apr 25, 2020 - 23:41 | All, Coronavirus, Japan

Coronavirus fears left shinkansen bullet trains and expressways deserted on the first day of the Golden Week holiday on Saturday as the pace of infection in Japan has yet to show clear signs of slowing.

Many of the shinkansen trains that left Tokyo Station were over 90 percent empty, operators said, despite Golden Week, a period made up of several closely spaced national holidays, being traditionally one of the busiest times of the year for the tourism industry.

Meanwhile, the Tokyo metropolitan government reported 103 new coronavirus infections on Saturday, bringing the total number of infections in the capital to 3,836.

"The train is empty as if one whole car is reserved just for me," said a 43-year-old woman as she boarded a train at Tokyo Station to go to Nagoya to see her parents.

"I work in the finance industry and Golden Week is almost the only time I can go back home."

One Yamagata Shinkansen train, which connects Tokyo with cities in the northeast, departed Saturday morning with no passengers on board, East Japan Railway Co. said.

(JR Tokyo Station on April 27, 2019 (top) and April 25, 2020.)

Meanwhile, the Ebina service area on the Tomei Expressway on the western outskirts of Tokyo was nearly empty, and there was little or no traffic congestion on expressways across the country, according to operators.

Airlines have also drastically reduced their services with 88 percent of domestic flights and 97 percent of international flights canceled during the holiday week.

Japan's state of emergency, declared on April 7 for Tokyo, Osaka and five other densely populated prefectures, was expanded to the entire country on April 16.

Under the state of emergency effective through the last day of Golden Week on May 6, prefectural governors can take powerful steps to prevent the spread of the virus as the central government aims for an 80 percent reduction in person-to-person contact.

However, some retail outlets and recreational facilities have started to see an increase in the number of people visiting despite the stay-at-home request, forcing local leaders to ask residents to make additional efforts to limit their outings.

Wednesday will be the first national holiday during this year's Golden Week period, but the Tokyo metropolitan government is asking companies to implement a 12-day holiday from Saturday to keep their employees from going to the office.

As of Saturday, Japan has confirmed more than 13,900 cases of coronavirus infection and 373 deaths as a result of COVID-19.

Related coverage:

Online theater launched to support virus-hit cinema industry

Mini-trampoline sales jump as Japan looks to stay active

What Japan's hikikomori can teach us about self-isolation
Welcome Guest! You Are Here:
A case has been referred to the British parole board to consider whether one of James Bulger's killers should be released from jail.

The two-year-old was tortured and killed by the man formerly known as Jon Venables, and Robert Thompson - who were both aged 10 - after they snatched him from a shopping centre in Bootle, Merseyside, in February 1993.

Venables and Thompson were jailed for life, but released on licence with new identities in 2001.

Venables (36) was sent back to prison in 2010 and 2017 for possessing indecent images of children.

He is currently serving a 40-month sentence and passed the half-way mark in October.

The parole board confirmed yesterday a review of his case had been referred and it would now determine whether a hearing needed to take place to decide if he should be released.

There is a suspected monthly backlog of more than 1,000 cases waiting to be heard by the board due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Efforts are being made to conduct remote hearings or decide cases "on paper" by considering documents where possible and appropriate.

However, the board is reluctant to determine certain cases - like those involving murderers, violent and sex offenders and terrorists - without a face-to-face hearing so these will most likely be delayed.

If there is no doubt that Venables should remain in jail, the case will be decided on paper.

But if there is any uncertainty, a hearing will need to take place to consider the risk he presents to the public and whether he can be released.

The decision on how to proceed is likely to take several weeks

Last August, the murdered child's mother Denise Fergus urged the board to deny Venables early release and "finally admit this man is a threat and danger to society".

She claimed he had shown "no remorse or any signs of being rehabilitated".

A parole board spokesman said: "We can confirm the parole review of Jon Venables has been referred to the parole board and is following standard processes.

"The job of the parole board is to determine if someone would represent a significant risk to the public after release.

"The panel will carefully look at a range of evidence, including details of the original case and any evidence of behaviour change.

"A parole review takes place with extreme care and public safety is our number one priority."

Since the beginning of March, the board has directed the release of 321 prisoners while refusing the requests of 1,771 others.

So far it has cancelled 39 hearings since the UK went into coronavirus lockdown on March 23.

Some 1,700 are being reviewed to determine whether a decision can be made on paper or with a virtual meeting.

It has made 2,393 decisions on paper and carried out more than 200 telephone or video hearings.
Jeremy Costa CCSO Booking Photo View Photo

San Andreas, CA  Hoping to keep a suspected stalker behind bars until his case can be prosecuted, law enforcement officials report there are new pending charges.

Calaveras County Sheriff Rick DiBasilio and District Attorney Barbara Yook were already requesting a bail enhancement  essentially a no bail hold  in recent charges against 40-year-old Jeremy Costa of San Andreas. He had been arrested by Angels Camp Police for stalking a teen victim and was released April 13 under a temporary COVID-19 emergency order by the Judicial Council that requires jails to assign a zero bail to those facing misdemeanors and lesser felonies.

A sore spot for most law enforcement officials, including the sheriff, who has openly opined as to the increased risk to public safety, he thinks this particular suspect is one whose actions indicate he should remain in jail.

On Friday, the sheriff reported that Costa, who could have been due in court sometime before 5 p.m., would now not be seen until probably next Tuesday due to the new charges. Asked if the offenses related to the existing ones on the books, DiBasilio replied, I have no other info other than he will stay in custody pending new charges.

Costas most recent arrest came out of incidents that occurred this past Tuesday night and early Wednesday after he was reported to be knocking on a homeowners door in San Andreas and refusing to leave. Responding deputies escorted him from the area but he returned within a few hours, initiating another disturbance. He was rearrested around 11:30 a.m. on California Street in San Andreas on the charges of stalking, trespassing, and probation violations.

He was subsequently transported and booked into the Calaveras County Jail and this time the Sheriffs Office requested a bail increase, which triggered the judge to issue a temporary no bail hold that allowed officials to hold him until his arraignment on Friday.

With the pending charges added, the sheriff reiterates that Costa will at least remain jailed until an arraignment possibly on Tuesday. Again, he says, it is up to the judge. In the meantime, his office and Angels Camp Police are now working in tandem with the District Attorneys Office to address the collective cases that are continuing to build against Costa.

DiBasilio calls the Judicial Councils emergency order not only detrimental to the justice system but a move than unnecessarily places both crime victims and witnesses into difficult and potentially dangerous situations. He says he is working with the other California sheriffs and the State Sheriffs Association to address the issues they see arising.
Every West Point class votes on an official motto.Most are then inscribed on their class rings. Hence, the pejorative West Point label ring knocker. (As legend has it, at military meetings a West Pointer need only knock his large ring on the table and all Pointers present are obliged to rally to his point of view.) Last August, the class of 2023 announced theirs: Freedom Is Not Free. Mine from the class of 2005 was Keeping Freedom Alive. Each class takes pride in its motto and, at least theoretically, aspires to live according to its sentiments, while championing the accomplishments of fellow graduates.

But some cohorts do stand out. Take the class of 1986 (Courage Never Quits). As it happens, both Secretary of Defense Mark Esper and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo are members of that very class, as are a surprisingly wide range of influential leaders in Congress, corporate America, the Pentagon, the defense industry, lobbying firms, big pharma, high-end financial services, and even security-consulting firms. Still, given their striking hawkishness on the subject of American war-making, Esper and Pompeo rise above the rest. Even in a pandemic, they are as good as their class motto. When it comes to this countrys wars, neither of them ever quits.

Once upon a time, retired Lt. Gen. Douglas Lute (Class of 75), a former US Ambassador to NATO and a senior commander in Iraq and Afghanistan, taught both Esper and Pompeo in his West Point social sciences class. However, it was Pompeo, the class of 86 valedictorian, whom Lute singled out for praise, remembering him as a very strong studentfastidious, deliberate. Of course, as the Afghanistan Papers, released by The Washington Post late last year, so starkly revealed, Lute told an interviewer that, like so many US officials, he didnt have the foggiest notion of what we were undertaking in Afghanistan. Though at one point he was President George W. Bushs Afghan war czar, the general never expressed such doubts publicly and his record of dissent is hardly an impressive one. Still, on one point at least, Lute was on target: Esper and Pompeo are smart, and thats what worries me (as in the phrase too smart for their own good).

Esper, a former Raytheon lobbyist, had particularly hawkish views on Russia and China before he ever took over at the Pentagon and he wasnt alone when it came to the urge to continue Americas wars. Pompeo, then a congressman, exhibited a striking preTrump era foreign policy pugnacity, particularly vis-a-vis the Islamic world. It has since solidified into a veritable obsession with toppling the Iranian regime.

Their militarized obsessions have recently taken striking form in two ways: The secretary of defense instructed US commanders to prepare plans to escalate combat against Iranian-backed militias in Iraq, an order the missions senior leader there, Lt. Gen. Robert Pat White, reportedly resisted; meanwhile, the secretary of state evidently is eager to convince President Trump to use the Covid-19 pandemic, now devastating Iran, to bomb that country and further strangle it with sanctions. Worse yet, Pompeo might be just cunning enough to convince his ill-informed, insecure boss (so open to clever flattery) that war is the answer.

The militarism of both men matters greatly, but they hardly pilot the ship of state alone, any more than Trump does (whatever he thinks). Would that it were the case. Sadly, even if voters threw them all out, the disease runs much deeper than them. Enter the rest of the illustrative class of 86
A Rajasthan High Court lawyer appeared in an online bail hearing in vest, drawing the ire of a judge.

Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma of the high court's Jaipur bench criticised the lawyer for not appearing in proper uniform during the hearing via video-conferencing on Friday.

Lawyer Ravindra Kumar Paliwal was appearing for accused Lalram, a Gurjar, according to the court order.

The judge wanted to dismiss the bail plea, but later accepted the public prosecutor's request to not punish the accused for aberration on part of the defence lawyer and postponed the hearing to May 5.

In view of the nationwide lockdown to check the spread of the novel coronavirus, the Rajasthan High Court has been hearing urgent matters online using the 'Jitsi Meet' application.

"This court has already observed that during this pandemic where court functioning is being done through video conferencing, lawyers must appear in proper uniform... keeping in view that the petitioner's counsel was not in proper uniform, the matter is adjourned," the court said.

The high court has issued a notification asking lawyers to appear for hearing in uniform after a similar incident earlier this month.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Italy's first coronavirus patient traveled from Wuhan, China, to Italy in late January and was admitted to the hospital with coronavirus symptoms days later. A recently published report shows that she had detectable traces of the virus in her eyes days after it had cleared from her nose.

The report demonstrates that the novel coronavirus can exist in an infected person's eye fluids at probable contagious levels, increasing the need for the everyday person to be cognizant about their hand hygiene and to keep their hands away from their face, experts say.

The 65-year-old woman, who is not named in the report, arrived in Italy on Jan. 23 after leaving the first epicenter of the virus. By Jan. 29, she was admitted to an isolation unit at an Italian hospital with a dry cough, sore throat, stuffy nose and conjunctivitis, an infection of the lining of the eye commonly known as "pinkeye," in both eyes. She tested positive for the virus.

Doctors collected eye swabs from the woman on her third day of admission because of her persistent conjunctivitis, and researchers found she had detectable infectious particles in her eyes.

Her pinkeye cleared up by her 20th day in the hospital, but traces of genetic material from the coronavirus dallied.

The woman's eye samples tested positive for traces of the virus for up to her 21st day under care, according to the report. For about five days, it wasn't detected, until it showed up again on Day 27 - days after it was undetectable in her nasal swabs.

Researchers performed additional tests and found that the virus in her eyes had been replicating, meaning that her eyes could be contagious.

The findings indicate that eye secretions of patients infected with covid-19 could be contagious, along with the importance of practicing good personal hygiene, according to infectious disease experts.

Viral conjunctivitis, or pinkeye, is extremely contagious, so the new report serves as no surprise that covid-19 could be found in the eyes, said Aaron Glatt, professor and chair of the department of medicine at Mount Sinai South Nassau, a hospital in New York.

Glatt, who is also the spokesperson for the Infectious Diseases Society of America, said the study's findings could affect public health but noted that more research like it will have to be performed to gauge how widespread the issue is.

The report mentioned that unprotected eye exposure was thought to be a source of infection at the Wuhan Fever Clinic in January. One covid-19 patient out of 30 with conjunctivitis at a Chinese hospital also had detectable amounts of the virus in their eyes.

"This has ramifications, but you can't make policy based on one patient," he said about the study, supporting the paper's message that more testing should be conducted.

The paper underscores how much scientists are continuing to learn about the virus, he said.

The findings also establish the connection between the nose and the eye that people don't always remember, said W. David Hardy, an infectious disease specialist and adjunct professor of medicine in the division of infectious diseases at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

Hardy said the nose and the eye act as a drainage system where viruses can travel up the nose and into the eye or the reverse, he said.

While the paper does verify that eye fluid can contain contagious traces of coronavirus, Hardy highlighted that the virus's favorite body cells are those that line the throat and the lungs, where it's known to inflict serious damage on its victims.

"The cells that are inside the eye are similar but not the same," he said. "When it gets into the eye, it doesn't cause nearly the same amount of destruction as it does to cells in the respiratory system."

The general public shouldn't rush out to purchase face shields because of the study's finding, but they should continue to practice good hand hygiene, experts say.

"The whole message that is important here is that you don't touch your face until you get home, wash your hands and make sure your hands are clean before touching your face," Hardy said. "You have to be extra vigilant and assume that everything out there could've been contaminated with fresh covid virus."
J K Cements has been granted permission by the appropriate Government authorities to commence Operations at Company's Cement manufacturing facilities situated in the State of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana and Gujarat (new project sites).

Operations partially resumed and/or being resumed at aforesaid Cement manufacturing facilities and new project sites after initiating all necessary safety measures for the workmen and employees working there as stipulated by appropriate Govt. Authorities.

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Saudi Arabia is ending flogging as a form of punishment, according to a document from the kingdoms top court seen by Reuters on Friday.

The decision by the General Commission for the Supreme Court, taken sometime this month, will see the punishment replaced by prison sentences or fines, or a mixture of both.

The decision is an extension of the human rights reforms introduced under the direction of King Salman and the direct supervision of Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, the document said.

Click here for the complete coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic

Flogging has been applied to punish a variety of crimes in Saudi Arabia. Without a codified system of law to go with the texts making up sharia, or Islamic law, individual judges have the latitude to interpret religious texts and come up with their own sentences.

Rights groups have documented past cases in which Saudi judges have sentenced criminals to flogging for a range of offences, including public intoxication and harassment.

Also Read: West Asia is staring at an economic crisis. India has to be prepared | Opinion

This reform is a momentous step forward in Saudi Arabias human rights agenda, and merely one of many recent reforms in the Kingdom, the president of the state-backed Human Rights Commission (HRC) Awwad Alawwad told Reuters.

Other forms of corporal punishment, such as amputation for theft or beheading for murder and terrorism offences, have not yet been outlawed.

This is a welcome change but it should have happened years ago, said Adam Coogle, Deputy Director of the Middle East and North Africa Division at Human Rights Watch. Theres nothing now standing in the way of Saudi Arabia reforming its unfair judicial system.
Dr. Alan Bandy, Rowena R. Strickland associate professor of New Testament, has accepted a position at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (NOBTS) as professor of New Testament and Greek.

OBU Professor Bandy to Join New Orleans Seminary April 24, 2020

Dr. Alan Bandy, Rowena R. Strickland associate professor of New Testament, has accepted a position at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (NOBTS) as professor of New Testament and Greek, occupying the Robert Hamlin Chair of New Testament Exposition.

He will be teaching masters and Ph.D. level courses on Greek and various New Testament writings and topics.

I have loved my decade plus of teaching at OBU, Bandy said. OBU not only transforms students lives, but it has also transformed my life. I have learned from my students and colleagues in ways I never expected when I started. Ive said for years that OBU has the best students in the country and I still believe that.

My students intelligence, passion, and sense of humor have astounded me time and again, he said. They have encouraged and inspired me in ways they dont even know. In fact, when I was first approached about going to NOBTS, I was very reticent to even consider leaving because I love my students so much. I want to thank all of them for coming to OBU, asking questions, sharing their stories, challenging presuppositions, traveling with me around the world, and for their willingness to live for Christ in an increasingly complex world.

Dr. Matthew Emerson, dean of the Hobbs College of Theology and Ministry and Floyd K. Clark Chair of Christian Leadership, is sad to see Bandy go, but excited for what he will do in New Orleans.

Dr. Bandy has served OBU for over 10 years as an exemplary colleague, an extraordinary classroom teacher, an accomplished scholar, and perhaps most important of all, a model mentor for our students. He will be sorely missed in the Hobbs College and on Bison Hill, but we know that the Lord will use him greatly for Christs Kingdom in New Orleans.

Because of our partnership with New Orleans, students could attend seminary and continue to learn from Dr. Bandy through our BA to MDiv agreement with the seminary. If students want to continue to study with Dr. Bandy or take classes with him for the first time, they still can.

OBU has similar agreements with several SBC and other evangelical seminaries. Through OBUs Hobbs College, the University partners with select seminaries to provide advanced tracks from OBU bachelors degrees to a Master of Divinity. Students can earn up to 25 percent of their MDiv through their bachelors degrees at OBU, which equals up to 27 hours or one year of MDiv work.

Students who complete a BA in biblical and theological studies, BA in Christian ministry, BA in cross-cultural ministry, or a BA in global marketplace engagement from OBU will have advanced standing for MDiv degrees from the six Southern Baptist seminaries, as well as other leading seminaries in the U.S. BA degrees in philosophy or philosophy/apologetics include classes that can be counted toward an MDiv as well through this partnership.

Bandy also pointed out OBUs partnership with NOBTS.

It's strange how God has opened the door for me at NOBTS and clearly guided me to go there at a time when I couldnt be more excited about the future of OBU, he said. Yet, I am equally excited by the new leadership at NOBTS and the opportunity to go there at a time I believe is perfect. What makes it even better are new the B.A. to MDiv partnerships that Dr. Thomas pioneered between OBU and several seminaries. This is a fantastic opportunity for students to expedite their education and save money as they advance from a bachelors to a masters degree. Students who take this track at Hobbs will not need to repeat several classes from OBU at the seminary level. I hope all Hobbs College majors will take advantage of this and seriously consider coming to NOBTS to complete their education.

OBUs President Dr. Heath A. Thomas feels that Dr. Bandys move to NOBTS is bittersweet.

On the one hand, we celebrate with Dr. Bandy and his family for this moment and affirm New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary's great gain, he said. On the other hand, we will sincerely miss Dr. Bandy's deep and abiding contribution to Bison Hill. I have known Dr. Bandy now for over a decade, worked closely with him and walked with him through this process. He is a scholar, a friend and a continued colleague in our effort to transform lives by equipping students. The silver lining for OBU students is the opportunity to continue to work with Dr. Bandy after graduating OBU through our OBU-NOBTS BA to MDiv partnership facilitated through the Hobbs College. We wish Dr. Bandy and his family God's richest blessings as they take this step into their future.

Prior to coming to OBU, Bandy served as the assistant director of the Ph.D. program at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, and an assistant professor of Christian studies at Louisiana College.

He earned a B.A. in ministry from Clear Creek Baptist College. He then went on to earn his M.Div. with an emphasis in biblical studies from Mid-America Seminary in Memphis, Tennessee. Bandy earned his Ph.D. in biblical studies from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Find out more about OBU's BA to MDiv partnerships.
Researchers set up new labs to help fight coronavirus at the University of Minnesota

By Reuters Staff

(Reuters) - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday cautioned against the use of malaria drug hydroxychloroquine in COVID-19 patients even as President Donald Trump, who has touted it as a "game changer," advocated for an additional review.

The drug, first approved in 1955, provided no benefit and potentially higher risk of death for patients at U.S. veterans hospitals, according to an analysis that has been submitted for an expert review on Tuesday.

"You hear it both ways," Trump told reporters at the White House on Friday after the FDA announcement. "I'm not a doctor. A study has to be done. If it helps, it's great. If it doesn't work, don't do it," he said.

Trump said he had just spoken with the president of Honduras, who had touted the drug when calling to ask for ventilators. "If it works I think everyone would be in favor of it... check with him, call him."

The FDA said on Friday it was aware of increased use of hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine through outpatient prescriptions and the malaria drugs could cause abnormal heart rhythms and dangerously rapid heart rate. (https://bit.ly/3cHvepp)

COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, has no approved treatment or vaccine. But hydroxychloroquine has been widely used in an attempt to alter the course of the COVID-19 illness based on anecdotal reports that it may provide some benefit.

There are several randomized trials underway in the United States and elsewhere, with the National Institutes of Health last week starting a study to evaluate the safety and the effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine.

A research team in Marseilles, France, published data showing that out of 80 mild COVID-19 patients treated with hydroxychloroquine and antiobiotic azithromycin, 93 percent had no detectable levels of the virus after eight days.

Doctors have questioned the value of the Marseille study and several papers from China as being too small or poorly designed to offer hard evidence of benefit.

Story continues

The FDA's announcement comes a day after the European Union's drug regulator warned of side effects of the drugs, urging medical professionals to closely monitor patients on the medicines.

The FDA has allowed healthcare providers to use the drugs for COVID-19 through its emergency use authorization, but has not approved them to treat the disease.

The heart rhythm risks may increase when the medicines are combined with other drugs, such as antibiotic azithromycin, as well as in patients with existing heart and kidney disease, the agency said on Friday. (https://bit.ly/2Y1gE8b)

Within hours of Trump's initial endorsement on March 19, pharmaceutical supply chain experts reported shortages as doctors began prescribing hydroxychloroquine for themselves and their families. Patients have also pressured doctors to use the therapies.

Rick Bright, the ousted director of a U.S. agency charged with developing drugs to fight the pandemic, said on Wednesday he was dismissed because he called for careful vetting of the therapies.
Some municipal court sessions will be able to proceed remotely starting Monday amid the coronavirus pandemic, but jury trials and grand jury proceedings will remain suspended for the time being.

The New Jersey Supreme Court issued an order on Friday that lifted its March 16 suspension of municipal court sessions. Proceedings in those courts can be held remotely beginning Monday, but only with the consent of all parties.

On May 11, municipal court sessions can resume by video or phone with appropriate notice to all parties, but to the extent possible based on facilities, technology, and other resources, the order read.

Jury trials and grand jury proceedings will continue to be suspended until at least May 31.

Landlord-tenant trials are also suspended until May 31, but settlement negotiations, case management conferences and motions will continue in an effort to resolve matters. Foreclosure motions or judgments that were received after March 1 will not be reviewed or recommended until further notice since Gov. Phil Murphy issued an executive order banning evictions.

Matrimonial early settlement panels and civil arbitration sessions will resume via phone and video on April 27. Disciplinary hearings for attorneys and fee arbitrations in relatively straightforward matters will resume remotely on May 11, the order said.

More than 12,000 court events have taken place remotely since March 16, the state Supreme Court said. More than 80,000 people have participated in those proceedings, which included detention hearings, motion hearings, settlement and status conferences, arraignments, and municipal appeals.

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Rebecca Panico may be reached at rpanico@njadvancemedia.com.
Lion Point Capital, run by alumni of Elliott Associates, Perry Capital and Starboard Value, struck an agreement this month with Sierra Wireless, a struggling telecom hardware maker that's trying to become a software company. We believe Lion Point has a good chance at getting its agenda implemented.

On April 16, 2020, Lion Point and Sierra entered into a cooperation agreement, pursuant to which, among other things, the company agreed to expand the size of the board to 12 and appoint three directors identified by Lion Point.

The company has historically been a manufacturer of hardware. In October of 2018, Sierra appointed Kent Thexton, a 15-year tenured board member of the company and former chief marketing officer of O2 plc (now part of Telefonica), as CEO. Thexton had a vision of becoming a small telecom operator and started the software and connectivity business. To build the business Thexton did several acquisitions that have not yet been fully integrated and hired many new people, including a salesforce of 150 people to focus on software and connectivity.

This has had several adverse effects on the company. First, that division loses $20 to $30 million per year, severely impacting company EBITDA. Second, it took away focus from the core businesses, resulting in a decline in revenue for the wireless modules business. Third, as part of this vision the company aggressively suggested that clients bundle the hardware and software, leading to losses in revenue in the hardware businesses. As a result, the two core businesses went from $615 million in revenue to $600 million and the company's EBITDA declined from $50 million to less than $10 million.

The first opportunity here is to fix margins. A small improvement in gross profit margin could be made to get the company back closer to 40% from 30% to 35% today. This could be done by moving away from an internal procurement model to an external procurer with more bargaining power and taking away the procurement forecasting from the sales department who generally overpredict demand. But the main margin improvement will come in operating margins. The wireless module business has low single digit operating margins, and should be closer to 9% to 11%; the gateway and router business is at 10% to 12% in operating margins and should be at the high teens. One way to improve margins would be from integrating the company's three or four ERP systems to give them more visibility to single client profitability. But the main opportunity here would be to close or sell the connectivity business, potentially to KORE Wireless or Aeris, who both do internet of things (IoT) connectivity.

Lion Point is well on its way to getting its way, we believe. Although it only has three of 12 directors, there are already directors on the board who we believe would be sympathetic to Lion Point's plan. On March 23rd, the Company added Greg Waters to the Board. Waters was appointed to Mellanox Technologies' board through a settlement with Starboard and although this was after Amoruso left Starboard, Waters certainly understands the value of a plan like this. More importantly, the company's chairwoman, Robin Abrams, serves on the board of Lattice Semiconductor, where Lion Point has three board seats. She certainly knows Amoruso and has worked constructively with him at Lattice.

Ken Squire is the founder and president of 13D Monitor, an institutional research service on shareholder activism, and the founder and portfolio Manager of the 13D Activist Fund, a mutual fund that invests in a portfolio of activist 13D investments.
Reality TV star Kim Kardashian has once again landed in a controversy, after she decided to wear the Indian traditional jewellery maang tikka in her look for a few pictures that she shared online. Soon after Kim shared the post on Instagram and Twitter, she was heavily trolled on both platforms for appropriating yet another culture.

In the pictures, Kim is seen in a body-hugging grey crop top and maxi skirt set, with a gold maang tikka and matching chunky bangles to complete her look.

One Twitter user even suggested that Kim should consider donating to the countries from which she takes fashion inspiration. Now that youve stolen from south asian culture to fit your aesthetics, why dont you donate to these countries if you appreciate their culture so much, Kim?, the user tweeted.

Also read: Milind Soman says Ankita Konwar was cool with his sex scenes in Four More Shots Please!: She was actually very excited

now that you've stolen from south asian culture to fit your aesthetics, why don't you donate to these countries if you appreciate their culture so much, Kim?   v / nsfr (@sourpinkcandy) April 23, 2020

Another user explained the accessory she used: if anyone is defending this bc shes half armenian- (her dad was a third gen wealthy armenian) armenians dont wear bindhis/bindhanis. not all brown people are allowed to wear the same things. were not all the same. bindhis are sacred to hinduism/south asian cultures.

if anyone is defending this bc shes half armenian- (her dad was a third gen wealthy armenian) armenians dont wear bindhis/bindhanis. not all brown people are allowed to wear the same things. were not all the same. bindhis are sacred to hinduism/south asian cultures.   mama sanddune  (@MeanutButter) April 23, 2020

Several Instagram users also flooded the comments section with their opinions. See below.

An Indian user was angry that Kim used her culture as style. As being someone who comes from a South Asian background seeing Kim Kardashian wearing a TIKKA pisses me off. My culture isnt your aesthetic or style so please show some respect and not use it for you to model in. Cultural appropriation is not okay, the user tweeted with a screengrab of Kims Instagram post.

As being someone who comes from a South Asian background seeing Kim Kardashian wearing a TIKKA pisses me off.

My culture isnt your "aesthetic" or "style" so please show some respect and not use it for you to model in.

Cultural appropriation is not okay. pic.twitter.com/1ZFPB2ihiE  Aisha (@RapidRashford10) April 23, 2020

.Another user wrote, During this pandemic Kim Kardashian decided to appropriate another culture.

During this pandemic Kim Kardashian decided to appropriate another culture  https://t.co/ybKdiw9U1e   (@fl1ght_r1sk) April 23, 2020

Kim has often been slammed for appropriating culture in her various public appearances and photoshoots. Last year, she was accused of cultural appropriation when she wore a maang tikka for a Sunday church service. In her picture, Kim was seen wearing a long white dress and a golden maang tikka on her forehead. Sunday Service Vibe, she captioned the picture. While some complimented Kim for her outfit, giving her two million likes for the picture, most accused her of appropriating Indian culture.

Follow @htshowbiz for more




Haiti - News : Zapping...





2nd delivery of hydro-alcoholic gel

The Haitian Pharmacists Association this week handed over to the government a second stock of 5,700 gallons of hydroalcoholic gel, which the government will distribute to health institutions across the country.



The OAS analyzes the impact of the Covid-19

"The Permanent Council, in virtual session, analyzed the impact of Covid-19 on the economies of the countries of the hemisphere. We must continue to work for the health and well-being of our people," said Ambassador Leon Charles, President of the OAS Permanent Council.



An online form for your initiatives and projects

For better coordination between Haitian initiatives using technology to respond to the Covid-19 pandemic, a form. These initiatives can be ideas or projects already underway. You can add your own. The list of initiatives with their relevant information will be public and can be consulted by any entity interested in collaborating or supporting. Access to the form : https://forms.gle/3hCEHuH2itEuTJnb8



Asset Declarations

Ministers of the Jouthe Government have declared their assets. The Minister of Culture Pradel Henriquez, made his declaration of assets on Friday, in accordance with the prescriptions of the law. Her statement is recorded in register 02 on page 156. Ms. Myriam Jean, Minister of Tourism also made her declaration.



Japan-Haiti cooperation

As part of a courtesy visit, Japanese Ambassador to Haiti Mitsuaki Mizuno met with Justice Minister Lucmane Delile. The two men spoke of cooperation between the two countries in the area of Justice and Security.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















Two students who were quarantined in Jaisalmer have reportedly been asked to make their own arrangements to return to their homes amid the national lockdown.

As per a report, however, their homes are nearly 2000 km away from Jaisalmer and taking a private taxi, if even possible, would cost around Rs 60,000. According to reports, the students who were pursuing a Masters course at Tehrans Allahmed Tabatabai University-- Minhaj Alam and Mohammad - were air-lifted from Iran and were quarantined at the facility for 40 days.

About the students

According to reports, while Minhaj Alam is from Uttar Dinajpur district of West Bengal, Mohammad's family is in Bihars Muzaffarpur district. Reportedly, according to one of the student, pilgrims and students from Kashmir who came with them are being sent home, but the two are asked to go on their own. Further, the cab services are demanding Rs 60,000 for the trip.

Read: 52 Kashmiri students airlifted from Jaisalmer after being tested negative for COVID-19

52 Kashmiri students airlifted

Around 52 Kashmiri students on Friday have been airlifted from Rajasthans Jaisalmer where they were under quarantine since their arrival from Iran on March 14. They were tested for Coronavirus and were declared negative. After landing here at Srinagar International Airport, these students were sent to their respective homes after conducting all formalities (screening and counselling).

Read: Imran Khan's desperate S.O.S lands Pakistan Covid dole; ADB adds $1.7 billion to IMF's 1.3

The Coronavirus crisis

According to the latest update from the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, the number of total Coronavirus cases in the country has climbed to 24,506, including 18,668 active cases. While 775 deaths have been reported overall, around 5,063 people have been cured/discharged/migrated. Meanwhile, Maharashtra and Delhi have the highest number of cases in the country.

Meanwhile, at present, there are around 2,832, 521 confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection across the globe and the disease has led to the death of around 197,343 people. In a ray of hope, around 807,051 people are also reported to have recovered.

Read: Indian Army Chief reviews quarantine facility at Jaisalmer for COVID-19 patients

Read: AIIMS chief decodes Plasma Therapy, says not enough antibodies in recovered persons
The student movement has closely monitored and learnt a lot from your passion and temerity to able to rid the nation and Africa of this novel Coronavirus. The student union wishes to commend your efforts; your bold, decisive and extraordinary leadership in these difficult times. We are even more proud to associate with your leadership, because, in 3 years, you have become an African and global icon.

These were the words of the President of the National Union of Ghana Students, Isaac J. Hyde, when he led a delegation made up of leaders of student unions across the country to honour an invitation by President Akufo-Addo, to Jubilee House on Friday, 24th April, 2020.

Appreciating the efforts of the President in the fight against COVID-19, he said, a few days ago in a conference of student unions across Africa, one thing was clear.

Ghana under your leadership gained commendation as a sub-regional force in adopting a comprehensive and aggressive model for fighting the Corona virus, he said.

According to him, this clearly means the future leaders of this country and Africa have endorsed your courageous leadership.

Occasioned at the behest of the President, the meeting also discussed the few concerns and recommendations about the new e-learning directives in the education sector which was introduced following the suspension of the normal school schedule due to the pandemic.

Acknowledging the support that the Ministry of Education has extended to the student union, he said the leadership of Dr Matthew Opoku-Prempeh has been forthwith with concerns from the students front, which has seen to the unity of the National Union of Students.

We also commend the Minister in charge of Tertiary Education, Hon Prof Yankah, for his efforts in engaging the student union. Barely a week ago, we presented a petition raising some concerns across the student front to the outfit of the Ministry of Education.

We were very amazed that, in less than 24 hours, we were called into a meeting so that we can put our issues up so that major stakeholders like the National Council for Tertiary Education, the Vice Chancellors Ghana and other relevant stakeholders were brought together as much as possible for our issues to be addressed, he added.

He indicated that though all the issues have not been completely dealt with, we are very hopeful.

The sort of attention and recognition given to the issues we presented to the Ministry told us that indeed this is a government that is very much concerned about our education.

---Daily Guide
The latest:

Despite risks, auto workers step up to make medical 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 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 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.

Spain, French prime ministers will announce easing strategies Tuesday



In a speech on Saturday evening, Spain Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced he will present his plan for the "de-escalation phase" in his country next Tuesday.

Sanchez told Spaniards that the country has had a small and modest victory, but there is a still a long way to go before they win the battle against the coronavirus.

French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, likewise, will present the government's plan to ease the countrys confinement measure to the French National Assembly on the same day, a spokesperson for the Prime Minister told CNN on Saturday.

FDA authorizes three more antibody tests



The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has authorized three new coronavirus antibody tests, bringing the total number of FDA-authorized tests to seven.

The tests were green-lit under emergency-use authorizations, a lower regulatory standard used when the FDA believes a tests benefits could outweigh any risks.

Three companies  DiaSorin, Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics and Autobio Diagnostics  received the authorizations. The tests were restricted to use in authorized laboratories, and the FDA cautioned that all three came with risks of false positives and negatives.

The tests would ideally allow for the detection of past infections  indicating if someone has had the virus, regardless of whether they showed symptoms. But the tests may be less useful for diagnosing recent or current infections.

A negative result may occur if you are tested early in your illness and your body hasnt had time to produce antibodies to infection, the FDA wrote in fact sheets accompanying the tests.

Countries risk easing lockdowns as global death toll surpasses 200,000



As the global death toll from the coronavirus surpassed 200,000 on Saturday, countries took cautious steps toward easing some lockdowns, while fears of infection made even some pandemic-wounded businesses reluctant to reopen.

The states of Georgia, Oklahoma and Alaska started loosening restrictions on businesses despite warnings from experts that such steps might be coming too soon. Some owners said they werent yet ready to reopen or were doing so only on a limited basis, worried about a second surge of COVID-19 infections.







Weve sacrificed so much already, said Shawn Gingrich, CEO and founder of Lions Den Fitness, who decided after the Georgia governors announcement that he would not be reopening his Atlanta gym right away. I feel like if we do this too soon, well see a spike in cases and were back to square one.

The worldwide death toll topped 200,000, according to a tally compiled by John Hopkins University from government figures. The actual death toll is believed to be far higher.



Florida to receive shipment of antibody tests by next week, governor says

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis says Florida should receive a shipment of antibody test kits on May 1.

The antibody testing kit company first had to send kits to New York before they could fulfill the order for Florida, DeSantis said.

We have now been confirmed that we will have the antibody tests that the state has ordered, DeSantis told reporters today at a press conference.

Florida has had at least 30,839 cases and 1,055 deaths due to coronavirus, according to a tally from Johns Hopkins University.

New York testing more per capita than any other country



New York is doing more tests per capita than any other country in the world, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said at a news conference Saturday.

Cuomo said the state is currently testing an average of about 20,000 people per day. This includes both diagnostic and antibody tests.

He said the goal is to expand testing even further with federal partnership to be able to conduct 40,000 tests per day.

Cuomo said President Trump "understood the federal government had a role" in testing and that they came up with a "division of responsibility" when the two leaders met at the White House on April 21.

"The states take responsibility for the labs in their state and getting those labs functioning," Cuomo said.

He said the states would regulate those labs while the federal government would ensure manufacturers were making enough supplies "to send to our labs so our labs can actually function," Cuomo said.

"We need the national manufacturers to have the reagents, the test kits and that's what the federal government is doing," he added.

The number of hospitalizations across New York, the state hit the hardest by the pandemic, continue to fall, Cuomo said.

Despite this positive development, 437 people died in New York yesterday from the virus, Cuomo added. That number is up from 422 on April 24.

"This number is, as you can see, call it flat, call it flat with a slight decline, if you're looking for a silver lining. But this is just terrible, terrible horrific news," Cuomo said.

In terms of hospitalizations, Cuomo said, "All the numbers are basically saying the same. That we are, in fact, on the down side of the mountain."



Does immunity exist?

The World Health Organization is warning that people who have had coronavirus are not necessarily immune by the presence of antibodies from getting the virus again.

There is no evidence yet that people who have had COVID-19 will not get a second infection, the WHO said in a new scientific brief.

The WHO is warning against governments issuing immunity passports to people who have had COVID-19, assuming they are safe to resume normal life.

At this point in the pandemic, there is not enough evidence about the effectiveness of antibody-mediated immunity to guarantee the accuracy of an 'immunity passport' or 'risk-free certificate,'" the brief said.

The WHO published the brief as guidance on adjusting public health and social measures for the next phase of the COVID-19 response.

People who assume that they are immune to a second infection because they have received a positive test result may ignore public health advice. The use of such certificates may therefore increase the risks of continued transmission," the WHO said.

The health agency says it is reviewing evidence on antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19-infection. The brief says most of the studies show that people who have recovered from infection have antibodies to the virus.

But as of yesterday, no study has evaluated whether the presence of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 confers immunity to subsequent infection by this virus in humans.



US fatalities make up quarter of global coronavirus death



Less than three months since the first known coronavirus death in the U.S., the country's fatalities make up more than quarter of the global death toll.

More than 52,000 Americans have died of the virus so far  a number that increases daily as a result of new fatalities and states reviewing previous deaths that had not been tied to the disease.

In the U.S., limited testing in early February was part of the reason California officials did not count two earlier deaths as coronavirus-related. This week, they confirmed the two victims  a 57-year-old woman who died Feb. 6 and a 69-year-old man who died Feb. 17 are the earliest known U.S. COVID-19 deaths.

New efforts by some states to trace more cases will give officials a better idea of the magnitude of the pandemic in the country. That, in addition to testing, which experts say is still not where it needs to be.

The U.S. has conducted about 5.1 million tests, but Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's leading epidemiologist, said this week the nation needs to ramp up testing. Two new reports from public health experts and economists highlight that in order to safely reopen states, the country needs to conduct millions of tests per week.

And as health officials race to get the virus under control, state leaders are setting the date they'll begin reopening their economies  decisions that President Donald Trump has said are entirely up to governors.



Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp on Friday opened some businesses, including barber shops and hair salons, tattoo parlors, gyms and bowling alleys. The state has recorded more than 22,491 infections and at least 899 deaths, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University.

The Associated Press and CNN contributed to this report.
New Delhi, April 25 : To ensure supply of essentials, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) opened the Rohtang Pass on Saturday, three weeks ahead of the schedule, senior BRO officers said.

The snow clearance for opening the 13,500-ft high Rohtang Pass, gateway to the Lahaul and Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh, is conducted every year as it remains snowbound for almost six months -- from mid-November to mid-May.

During these six months, the Lahaul and Spiti district remains isolated from the rest of the country and dependent on airways for external logistics and supplies.

On April 11, the Himachal Pradesh government approached the Ministry of Defence and the Director General (Border Roads) to expedite the snow clearance to facilitate return of farmers to start cultivation and movement of essential supplies and relief material to the Lahaul Valley in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic.

BRO deployed hi-tech machinery from both Manali and Khoksar sides. "Snow blizzards, freezing temperatures and frequent triggering of avalanches at Rahala Fall, Beas Nallah and Rani Nallah did delay the operations, but the snow clearance teams kept working with all Covid-19 precautions to provide relief to the residents of Lahaul Valley," said the BRO officer.

On April 25, Himachal Agriculture Minister Ram Lal Markanda, who represents Lahaul- Spiti in the state Assembly, led the first convoy of vehicles, carrying essential supplies and around 150 farmers to the Lahual Valley. They were guided by BRO thus officially opening the Rohtang Pass.

"The Rohtang Pass being opened three weeks ahead had brought relief among the locals," said BRO officer and added, it would facilitate transport of the much-needed relief and medical supplies.

Further, the BRO officer said the work on the 8.8 km long Atal Tunnel, below the Rohtang Pass, was also stalled when the lockdown came into force.

Since the tunnel's construction is at a critical stage, proactive measures were taken to restart work in coordination with the state government.

"Work on all critical activities at the Atal Tunnel has started with all necessary Covid-19 precautions in place to ensure its completion by September," said the BRO officer.

To augment the government efforts against Covid-19, all BRO personnel have contributed Rs 1 crore to the PM-CARES Fund over and above a day's salary.

Last year the Rohtang Pass was kept open till December 12.
Guest Column Did Myanmar Advance International Law in The Hague?

Myanmar State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi takes part in International Court of Justice hearings in December 2019. / ICJ

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, foreign minister of Myanmar, went to The Hague last December to defend her country against charges of genocide. By going, she also acknowledged that the international community has a legitimate interest in holding countries accountable for genocide and crimes against humanity. Obviously, this includes Myanmar, but as importantly it also includes every other country. By responding as she did, Myanmars foreign minister actually raised the bar for other countries accused of committing war crimes.

Myanmar is perhaps the first country to acknowledge the legitimacy of the international court, and the requirement that such serious accusations must be responded to. Indeed, such genocide charges are typically leveled only at already-defeated countries and deposed dictators. Or, as commonly, such crimes are not prosecuted at all. This has been the general policy for most of the other genocides that took place since the international genocide law was promulgated after World War II. By responding, Myanmar is in fact helping to establish new levels of accountability for not just its own army, but the larger community of nations.

Evolution of morality and law

The classical French sociologist Emile Durkheim once wrote that the response to crime is necessary to stimulate changes in morality. Meaning, the reaction of governments to criminal acts must occur if something is to become redefined as immoral and illegal. Notably, Durkheim did not mean that crime is desirable. Rather he meant that an all-powerful society must respond to an act for it to become criminal, even though it may not have been criminal in the past, but simply normal. Indeed genocide was normal in the prosecution of war and conquest in many minds until the Holocaust in World War II. Genocide was simply what nations did in the conduct of war. But it is no longer. Durkheim wrote about how such change occurs by referring first to a perfect society.

Imagine a society of saints, a perfect cloister of exemplary individuals. Crimes properly so called will there be unknown; but faults which appear venial to the layman will create there the same scandalIf the society has the power to judge and punish, it will define these acts as criminal and treat them as such.

Crime is then necessary; it is bound up with the fundamentals of all social life, and by that very fact is useful, because these conditions of which it is part are themselves indispensable in the normal evolution of morality and law.

For example, when the British occupied Burma, they defined challenges to its colonial authority as dacoity, a new crime that had never been heard of before. The acts became illegal, and those committing the act were imprisoned or hanged by the British, so all would know that challenges to British authority were defined as criminal, and punishable.

New genocide law

Genocide used to be something quite normal (just like the enforcement of censorship laws in Myanmar, as The Irrawaddy well knows). Before the International Genocide Convention was established in 1947, there was no international law against genocide, and powers around the world routinely issued orders to eliminate enemies living in a particular village, representing a particular faith or particular ethnicity. Only after the extreme horror of the Holocaust in Europe did the victorious Allies seek to make what the Germans did criminal for all governments, and write the genocide statute. They did this after conducting the Nuremberg and Tokyo War Crimes Trials, which were sometimes criticized as victors justice. By promulgating the genocide law, the hope was that genocide would be recognized as a crime against the community of all nations at all times, and separate from accusations of victors justice. But there was a problem. For genocide really to become illegal there must be a court with, as Durkheim wrote, the power to judge and punish, acts [defined] as criminal and treat them as such.

And thats how things stood for many decades. Because even though there was the 1947 Genocide Convention, the international community did not use it to redefine what nations did as criminal. Thus, after the law was written, the British suppressed the Mau Mau in Kenya, the French conducted colonial wars in Indochina, Algeria and elsewhere; the Americans had their wars in Korea, Vietnam etc.; the Chinese had their Cultural Revolution; and the Russians had their Gulags. There was also the Biafran Civil War, Indian Partition, Bangladesh Revolution, Indonesian massacre of Chinese, Ethiopian famines, Rhodesian Civil War, Cambodian massacres and so forth.

All such situations could be called out as genocide, as was done for the Rohingya. Except that the international community in the past seemingly did not do that to sitting members of the United Nations, particularly the permanent Security Council members with veto power. They were not called out because, as Durkheim might put it, genocide was still seen as normal in the context of international relations and the laws of war, and therefore not subject to prosecution. In fact, such mass killing did not become fit for prosecution until, as Daw Aung San Suu Kyi pointed out in The Hague, the statute was finally used in the late 1990s against the former Rwandan government that committed the 1994-95 genocide against the Tutsi. Since then, genocide laws have occasionally been used against weak countries like Sudan, Sierra Leone, Cambodia, Serbia and Liberia, usually after their civil wars resolved themselves, and the international community could assign blame for war crimes, typically to the defeated. Weak defenses were occasionally raised by defendants, but not on behalf of a sovereign nation.

The case against Myanmar

This was the context for the 2019 case made against Myanmar by The Gambia and its sponsors in The Hague. Myanmars security forces were accused of committing genocide by carelessly expelling Rohingya, and in the process brutally killing at least 10,000. The case was plausible under the genocide statute because the Rohingya were long-term residents from a minority group, they were expelled, and their citizenship status was denied. In other words, the complaint said that there was an attempt to eliminate violently a minority group as the genocide statute specified. This was, like the case of the Rwanda genocide, a chance for the international community to raise the standard for genocide prosecution, and thereby revive the genocide law. It also helped that Myanmar seemed poor and weak, and was already a long-time international outcast. From an international perspective it looked like a cheap way to raise again the problems of genocide, but without risking the wrath of powerful countries.

But a strange thing happened on the way to the International Court: Foreign Minister Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, decided to raise a defense on behalf of her long-term political foes, the Myanmar military. This was unusual. Most countries simply ignore such trials, asserting that international courts do not have jurisdiction over internal matters. Indeed, this is why the only people to be actually tried for war crimes are typically former governments, and not ones still ruling. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, however, turned the case on its head by responding to the indictment and actually going to The Hague. There she did three things. First, she acknowledged the jurisdiction of the court over governments who fail to prosecute for war crimes and/or genocide. Secondly, she asserted that Myanmar has the right to expel non-citizens, while admitting that the army had done so in a sloppy and cruel fashion. Thirdly she claimed that her political adversaries, the Myanmar military, had the capacity and right to prosecute soldiers and maintain discipline so that it was not necessary for the international court to become involved yet. The question for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi seems to be about who would respond; not whether a response was warranted. She acknowledged though that an international response is necessary.

This was actually tricky for the great powers. Myanmar is hardly the only country known for expelling masses of long-term residents, with innocents dying as collateral damage. Indeed, many countries have expelled peoples in recent decades. Poland and Czechoslovakia expelled Germans at the end of World War II; and India, Pakistan and Bangladesh exchanged populations between 1947 and 1973. China forcibly moved populations during the Cultural Revolution. Central African countries expelled refugees in 1996. The United States expelled, and is still expelling, its long-term Latin-American population today. Myanmars neighbor India is also seemingly in the process of excluding substantial portions of its Muslim population from citizenship.

But can Myanmars army really police itself? Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has in court given an affirmative answeran admittedly surprising response for someone who was herself a political prisoner for many years. But the more important answer Daw Aung San Suu Kyi gave is that sovereign nations are answerable to the wider world community when it comes to issues of genocide, war crimes and human rights. In this response she is raising the standard for what is criminal in the sense that Durkheim wrote about. In this fashion, she, as well as the court, are defining acts which have been normal for many yearsgenocide and the expulsion of populationsas matters that can be legitimately reviewed by international courts. She is doing this by using the mechanism Durkheim identified for creating a new morality that defines something that was formally normal, as newly immoral and illegal. Her response is that all nations are potentially answerable for the actions of their security forces to the international community. It will be interesting to see if other nations agree with her in the future.

Tony Waters is director of the Institute of Religion, Culture and Peace at Payap University in Chiang Mai, Thailand. He works with Burmese, Karen and other students in the universitys PhD program in Peacebuilding. He is also a professor of Sociology at California State University, Chico, and author of academic books and articles. He can be reached at [email protected].
London: The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have followed her case against a British newspaper by videolink from their new home in Los Angeles, as the High Court heard she has not spoken to her father in nearly two years.

Prince Harry and then-fiancee Meghan Markle before their marriage. Credit:AP

Meghan Markle tuned in from the US in the early hours of the morning on Friday (UK time) as her legal team began her attempt to sue The Mail on Sunday over the publication of a handwritten letter from her to Thomas Markle.

The court heard details of a "rift" in the Meghan's relationship with her father, with claims she could not know he felt "harassed, humiliated, manipulated and exploited" because she has not spoken to him since her wedding.

The hearing, in which the newspaper applied to strike out particular claims from the future trial, saw her legal team argue that Associated Newspapers had "stirred up" a "rift" between father and daughter, manipulating him into giving interviews.
They are the three Fs of face coverings: fit, fibers and (air) flow.

According to medical and environmental professionals, these are the primary factors that determine how effective a homemade mask is at limiting the transmission of the novel coronavirus.

The first wave of the virus throughout the state has infected more than 24,000 and led to about 1,800 deaths. It put stress on health care facilities and workers and precipitated stringent social distancing measures aimed at hindering the disease. And it has prompted Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont to require everyone in public to wear some sort of face covering when keeping a safe distance of 6 feet apart is not possible.

While most of the public does not have access to N95 or surgical masks, a question for many has become: What is the most effective face covering?

And not all homemade masks are created equal.

The best homemade mask is one that can fit tightly over your nose and mouth, has densely woven fibers in multiple layers, and that still allows you to breathe easily, said Summer Johnson McGee, dean of the School of Health Sciences at the University of New Haven. The more tightly woven the fabric in your face covering, the better it will be at preventing particles from getting through.

Knit fabrics, like scarves, have a loose weave and are not impermeable. Similarly, cotton masks, like bandanas, or bed sheets (depending on their thread count) might be too thin, unless theyre folded. On the other hand, while folding fabrics can strengthen the fibers of a mask, it also may reduce airflow.

Johnson McGee pointed to a recent commercial study that showed that, in addition to high-thread count bed sheets, denim, canvas and shop towels are among the most effective cloth materials for making masks.

But still, they are far from perfect.

Those materials do not keep the tiny viral particles from entering your breathing zone from behind the mask, said Diane Lauricella, a Norwalk-based independent environmental consultant and a former health and safety officer for the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

These homemade designs can also be bolstered, though, by adding additional low-cost, household screens, Lauricella said. Coffee filters, dress-maker facing, vacuum bags and feminine products can all be cut and fastened into a mask to provide additional protection. But these items may only slightly improve an imperfect mask. Lauricella said its incumbent on the government to advise people of the limitations of homemade masks.

If someone is wearing one of the loose, cotton face masks, they may think, Im invincible, without having the knowledge that this face mask is going to slow, but not prevent, transmission, Lauricella said.

According to Jacqueline Vernarelli, a nutritional epidemiologist at Sacred Heart University, the usefulness of a homemade mask depends less on the material of the covering and more on how its worn.

We know that asymptomatic individuals can unknowingly spread the illness, so telling everyone to wear a mask prevents accidental spread, Vernarelli said. Wearing any face covering, whether a bandana, a construction mask, a surgical mask, or even a neck buff, is better than nothing, provided it covers the nose and mouth.

Eduardo Meza, president of Norwalk-based Earth Environmental Consultants, said he hoped to clear up a misconception about masks: Because a homemade mask is not made to seal to a wearers face, it is not a reliable means of protecting the person from coming into contact with viral particles.

A mask will not necessarily protect you against a contamination, Maza said. But the mask is effective, not because it protects you, because the saliva from your mouth and your nose is not coming out. The mask is not to protect you, its to protect your neighbor.

Others stressed that there is still too much unknown about homemade masks and their reliability.

The short answer is, theres not good data to answer the question, said Dr. Patrick William Kelley, a distinguished fellow of Nursing and Health Studies at Fairfield University. The data they do present is nothing that instills a tremendous amount of confidence in me. Clearly, these masks can provide some protection, but it is humblingly less than what you would find with a mask manufactured by a company specializing in medical masks.

Before coming to Fairfield, Kelley worked for 13 years at the National Academy of Science, which recently published a study comparing the effectiveness of different types of masks.

According to the study, Kelley said, N95 masks provided 25 times the protection of surgical masks and 50 times the protection of cloth masks. The study also found that cloth masks reduced admitted particles by one-fifth, surgical masks reduced it by half and N95 reduced particles by two-thirds. Citing this data, Kelley said those wearing homemade masks should not feel overly comfortable when out in public.

Steve Schrag, a health and safety coordinator for the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), was even more skeptical. According to Schrag, there is not enough research available to substantiate claims made that homemade masks can help stem the transmission of the virus. He believes its caused some people to have a false sense of safety.

I think theyre absolutely perfect for Halloween, Schrag said. Other than that, they dont have much use.

justin.papp@scni.com; @justinjpapp1; 203-842-2586
President's secretary Sanjay Kothari on Saturday took over as the Central Vigilance Commissioner, ten months after the top post in the country's anti-corruption watchdog CVC fell vacant.

Kothari was sworn in by President Ram Nath Kovind at a ceremony attended by Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, among others, at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

He later assumed the charge as the chief of the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC), officials said.

Kothari, aged 63, will have a tenure till late June next year, when he completes 65 years of age.

"At a ceremony held today at 1030 hrs at Rashtrapati Bhavan, Sanjay Kothari was sworn in as the Central Vigilance Commissioner. He made and subscribed the oath of his office before the president," a communique issued by the Rashtrapati Bhavan said.

The name of Kothari was recommended by a high-level selection panel headed by the prime minister in February. The move was then opposed by the Congress that had termed the process adopted for the appointment of the Central Vigilance Commissioner "illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional" and demanded immediate scrapping of the decision.

Kothari's appointment to the top post of the probity watchdog now may further escalate a war of words between the ruling BJP and opposition Congress.

Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari had in February demanded initiation of a fresh process for appointing the Central Vigilance Commissioner by inviting applications again.

Kothari, a 1978-batch IAS officer of Haryana cadre, retired in June 2016 from the post of secretary, the Department of Personnel and Training. He was, in November 2016, appointed the chief of the government's head-hunter -- the Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB).

Kothari was in July 2017 named as the secretary to the president.

The post of the Central Vigilance Commissioner was lying vacant since June last year after K V Chowdary completed his tenure.

The Central Vigilance Commissioner is appointed by the president on the recommendation of the selection committee consisting of the prime minister as its chairperson, and the home minister and the leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha as its members.

The tenure of CVC chief is of four years or till the incumbent attains the age of 65 years.

The CVC can have a Central Vigilance Commissioner and two Vigilance Commissioners. At present, Sharad Kumar is working as the Vigilance Commissioner.

After Kothari's appointment, there is still a vacancy of a Vigilance Commissioner in the commission.

Meanwhile, the central government had on Monday appointed Kapil Dev Tripathi as the secretary to the president. Tripathi, a 1980 batch IAS (retired) officer of Assam-Meghalaya cadre, is the PESB chairman.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 25)  The Department of Energy said Saturday that payment for household electricity bills will be on a staggered basis, following the extension of the quarantine.

The DOE said customers will be given a grace period for bills due from March 15 until May 15.

"Ang ginawa po natin diyan, binigyan po natin sila ng panahon para bayaran ['yung electricity bills] after the ECQ (enhanced community quarantine) in four equal installments po," Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said in a public briefing.

[Translation: We will allow them to pay (the electricity bills) in four equal installments after the ECQ.]

"Para sa gano'n po naman, medyo hindi magipit 'yung ating mga kababayan sa pagbabayad nitong mga nakonsumong kuryente sa kanilang mga bahay-bahay po," he added.

[Translation: So that our citizens will not be short of money upon paying for electricity consumed in their houses.]

Energy, power sector workers are 'backliners' in COVID-19 fight

Meanwhile, the DOE highlighted the critical role of all its workers  from power supply and energy services, down to energy transmission and power distribution.

It said they are "backliners," who are important in ensuring the continuous operations of frontliners amid the pandemic.

"Kung meron po tayong frontliners, meron din tayong 'backliners' na nagsisiguro na 'yun pong mga kailangan ng ating mga frontliners, katulad ng power, transportation, eh, nabibigyan po natin ng serbisyo," Cusi said.

[Translation: If we have frontliners, we also have "backliners," who cater to the needs of our frontliners, such as power, transportation.]

"Pati 'yung mga oil station po, makikita ninyo na they continue to serve; they continue to provide the necessary services para naman po makakilos din po ang ating mga frontliners at ating mga kababayan," he added.

[Translation: Even those in the oil stations  they continue to serve; they continue to provide the necessary services for the benefit of our frontliners and citizens.]

The DOE said it is coordinating with some players of the industry to keep the health of its workers in check.

"We coordinate with the industry players na magsagawa rin po ng medical measures para sa ganon ay maprotektahan din ang health ng ating backliners," Cusi said.

[Translation: We coordinate with the industry players to provide medical measures for the protection of the health of our backliners.]

The Energy chief lauded the service of the backliners.

"Akoy nagpapasalamat sating energy, transmission, at distribution companies," he said.

[Translation: I'm thankful for our energy, transmission, and distribution companies.]
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Cameron Diaz has revealed she used to buy her red carpet outfits from the high street in the early days of her career.

Speaking on make-up artist Gucci Westmans YouTube series, the 47-year-old actor explained how different the red carpet is now compared to what it used to be.

For my premieres, I would just go to Barneys and buy clothes and go to my premiere, she said.

Diaz went on to explain how, nowadays, celebrities are judged far more harshly for their outfits than they once were.

Recommended Cameron Diaz opens up about motherhood during lockdown

It wasnt like a whole production where you got judged or, whats the word, rated or scored for how you look.

Diaz added that today, stars are objectified on the red carpet.

The Charlies Angels star went on to talk about her marriage to Good Charlotte star Benji Madden.

I love being married, she said.

I love that the best thing that ever happened to me was finding my husband, and our partnership and his friendship and all that.

Diaz, who retired from acting in 2014, was also asked by Westman whether or not she would return to the industry.

Im never gonna say never, she replied, because Im not a person who says never about anything.

Diaz recently gave birth to her first child, Raddix, and opened up about being a new mother in a recent Instagram Live.

The actor star said she was loving every minute of being with her three-month-old baby and paid tribute to Madden, who she described as amazing.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un makes his way to board a train to depart for North Korea at Dong Dang railway station

By David Brunnstrom and Josh Smith

WASHINGTON/SEOUL (Reuters) - A special train possibly belonging to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was spotted this week at a resort town in the country, according to satellite images reviewed by a Washington-based North Korea monitoring project, amid conflicting reports about Kim's health and whereabouts.

The monitoring project, 38 North, said in its report on Saturday that the train was parked at the "leadership station" in Wonsan on April 21 and April 23. The station is reserved for the use of the Kim family, it said.

Though the group said it was probably Kim Jong Un's train, Reuters has not been able to confirm that independently, or whether he was in Wonsan.

"The train's presence does not prove the whereabouts of the North Korean leader or indicate anything about his health but it does lend weight to reports that Kim is staying at an elite area on the country's eastern coast," the report said.

Speculation about Kim's health first arose due to his absence from the anniversary of the birthday of North Korea's founding father and Kim's grandfather, Kim Il Sung, on April 15.

North Korea's state media last reported on Kim's whereabouts when he presided over a meeting on April 11.

China has dispatched a team to North Korea including medical experts to advise on Kim Jong Un, according to three people familiar with the situation.

A third-generation hereditary leader who came to power after his father's death in 2011, Kim has no clear successor in a nuclear-armed country, which could present major international risk.

On Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump downplayed reports that Kim was ill. "I think the report was incorrect," Trump told reporters, but he declined to say if he had been in touch with North Korean officials.

Trump has met Kim three times in an attempt to persuade him to give up a nuclear weapons program that threatens the United States as well as its Asian neighbors. While talks have stalled, Trump has continued to hail Kim as a friend.

Story continues

REPORTS AND CONTROLS

Reporting from inside North Korea is notoriously difficult because of tight controls on information.

A Trump administration official said continuing days of North Korean media silence on Kim's whereabouts had heightened concerns about his condition, and that information remained scant from a country U.S. intelligence has long regarded as a "black box."

The U.S. State Department did not immediately respond to questions about the situation on Saturday.

Daily NK, a Seoul-based website that reports on North Korea, cited one unnamed source in North Korea on Monday as saying that Kim had undergone medical treatment in the resort county of Hyangsan north of the capital Pyongyang.

It said that Kim was recovering after undergoing a cardiovascular procedure on April 12.

Since then, multiple South Korean media reports have cited unnamed sources this week saying that Kim might be staying in the Wonsan area.

On Friday, local news agency Newsis cited South Korean intelligence sources as reporting that a special train for Kim's use had been seen in Wonsan, while Kim's private plane remained in Pyongyang.

Newsis reported Kim may be sheltering from COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus.

Kim, believed to be 36, has disappeared from coverage in North Korean state media before. In 2014, he vanished for more than a month and North Korean state TV later showed him walking with a limp.

Speculation about his health has been fanned by his heavy smoking, apparent weight gain since taking power and family history of cardiovascular problems.

(Reporting by David Brunnstrom in Washington and Josh Smith in Seoul; Additional reporting by Matt Spetalnick; Writing by Jonathan Landay and Makini Brice; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Sonya Hepinstall)
The Oyo state chapter of All Progressive Congress(APC) has chided the state government over move to return the rice donated to the state by the federal government.

The state government has described the rice as infected with weevils and as such unfit for consumption.

However, a statement by AbdulAzeez Olatunde, Oyo APC spokesman, said other states that received the same rice same day didnt complain.

He said:

Its very thoughtful of the federal government to have given the rice palliative to four states of Ekiti, Ondo, Osun and Oyo states, the same day, he said.

Read Also: Lockdown: Anyone Sharing Palliative Should Be Tactical About It  Oloye Akin Alabi

To God be the glory, none of the other three States that collected the rice consignment the same day had made similar complaints. This is another point to buttress our observations of unnecessary politicking of COVID-19 pandemic by the Oyo state government.

Also, because the idea of total lockdown came from APC, Oyo state, the government chose an ineffective curfew of 7pm to 6am, which has been criticised by all reasonable stakeholders in Oyo state which Nigeria Medical Association, Oyo state chapter chairman publicly knocked on a popular radio station.

The spokesman said the state government should give relief materials to the vulnerable in the state, fumigate all public places and desist from politicising the health of Oyo residents.
Marie Kondo is like many of us, riding out the pandemic at home. She's juggling household duties with her husband, Takumi Kawahara, co-founder and chief executive of KonMari Media, and caring for their two daughters, ages 3 and 4. Read more

Inviting Marie Kondo to your makeshift home office for an interview during a pandemic requires some damage control. I ripped the sticky notes off my laptop and readjusted my perfume bottle tray. But I soon realized that my Zoom chat with the decluttering guru would be better relocated to my tidier living room.

Kondo popped up on the screen dressed in a white sweater in a white room in her Los Angeles home, ready to talk, through an interpreter, about her latest book, Joy at Work: Organizing Your Professional Life, which she wrote with Scott Sonenshein, professor of management at Rice Universitys Jones Graduate School of Business.

Kondos name has become a verb, as in Kondo-ing, since her KonMari method of decluttering caught on around the globe. Her best-known work, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, was translated into English in 2014 and has sold more than 10 million copies. Kondo starred in last years Netflix series Tidying Up With Marie Kondo and is in the early stages of a new Netflix show that will follow Kondo and her team as they tidy a small U.S. town.

But for now, Kondo, like many of us, is riding out the pandemic at home. She is juggling household duties with her husband, Takumi Kawahara, cofounder and chief executive of KonMari Media, and caring for their two daughters, ages 3 and 4.

We talked about working and living at home, and how our homes can bring us joy, even in this period of self-quarantine and social isolation.

 READ MORE: With Philadelphias housing boom comes more stuff  and more self-storage locations | Inga Saffron

Reassess work-life balance

Kondo says that in this topsy-turvy time, we are all rethinking how we spend each day. We have this very rare opportunity to reflect on how we work and work itself and how we define it, she says.

She suggests writing down what you want to achieve professionally and what you want to achieve personally every day, so one aspect does not overpower the other. Kondo has reorganized her own calendar to make sure that she upholds her own philosophy of balancing and nurturing both work and wellness during this time at home.

 READ MORE: Home-improvement projects for coronavirus quarantine

Think about your senses

Kondo begins her workday by spritzing the air with an aromatherapy spray to clear her mind. (This particular day, she used a blend of cardamom and black pepper oils, lemon and sandalwood, which she sells on her website.)

I read somewhere that of our five senses, our sense of smell is very important and affects the brain and relaxes our mind, Kondo says. This ritual makes her feel as if shes shifting gears into a work mode.

Flowers in a small vase or a plant can bring a good vibe to your desk, she says, and she loves scented candles.

Reevaluate storage (but dont beat yourself up over old photos)

All this time at home can inspire us to consider better ways of storing our belongings, Kondo says. She realizes that most donation centers are not open now, but if you decide you dont want something, you can set it aside to donate later.

"You should realize what kind of house you want going forward," she says. "Then, the next step you may want to take may become much more clear to you."

Kondo says photographs are the hardest thing to sort through and winnow down. Because photos are such sentimental items, you should tackle the other home decluttering projects first and go through photos when your organizing and decision-making skills are a bit more honed. Try to gather photos all in one place as you clean. The important thing is that you should go through them one by one, Kondo says.

Take stock of your pantry

If you havent already, this could be a good time to go through all the food in your kitchen and to reflect on what you really need and enjoy. Take an accurate inventory, and look at the expiration dates, she says. Making a list can help prevent panic-buying and unnecessary trips to the store.

To keep a tidy refrigerator, Kondo says, be aware of how much food you have and make sure you can see it at a glance. This way, you wont overbuy, or let food go to waste. Toss out any items that are expired or past their prime. Next, throw out the items you never use, such as individual sauce or seasoning packets. When you have decided what to keep, organize by category. Avoid stacking items on top of one another.

Kondo recently participated in a virtual tidying of her own refrigerator with her Japanese fans. She unearthed some expired wasabi (which she tossed) but also found a treasure that she had forgotten: some yokan, a Japanese treat made of bean paste, agar and sugar.

This, said Kondo, was a tidying gift: I was overjoyed to eat it.
Canadas worst mass shooting erupted from an argument between the gunman and his girlfriend, who survived the attack, police confirmed Friday

Toronto: Canadas worst mass shooting erupted from an argument between the gunman and his girlfriend, who survived the attack, police confirmed Friday.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police Superintendent Darren Campbell said the weekend shooting rampage started with an assault by the suspect on his girlfriend and ended with 22 people dead in communities across central and northern Nova Scotia.

"She did manage to escape. That could well have been the catalyst of events," Campbell said.

Authorities are also not discounting the suspect planned some of the murders.

Campbell said the girlfriend hid overnight in the woods from the suspect, who has been identified as 51-year-old Gabriel Wortman.

Police have said Wortman acted alone in the shooting spree that killed 22 people in more than 16 crime scenes in several rural communities

Campbell said they found 13 deceased victims in the rural community of Portapique, a quiet community of 100 residents where the suspect lived part time. He said when police arrived, they discovered a man shot. The man reported he was driving when someone in what looked like a police car shot him. He survived and was transported to hospital.

They were several homes on fire, including the suspect's, when police arrived in the community. Campbell said the suspect had a pistol that was acquired in Canada and several long barreled guns that were obtained in the United States. Police found several people who were deceased, some of which were lying in the roadway.

Authorities initially thought the suspect might have committed suicide and was in one of the homes that was on fire, he said.

Campbell said at about 6.30 a.m., Wortman's girlfriend emerged from hiding in the woods, called 911 and gave police detailed information about the suspect including that he was driving a mock police car and was in police uniform.

Police later started receiving 911 calls more than 35 miles away. Campbell said the suspect killed two men and a woman and set their house on fire. He knew at least two of them.

He then approached another residence in that area where he knew people, and knocked on the door. But the people inside did not answer and he left. The occupants called 911 and confirmed the suspect was armed and was driving what looked like a police car.

He then shot a woman on the street and pulled cars over and shot and killed people, Campbell said.

He later shot and injured a male police officer in his car. The officer managed to escape and survived. Campbell then said there was a collision between a female officer's police car and the gunman's mock police car. He shot and killed the officer and took her gun and set fires to the cars. Campbell said he also killed a passerby and took their SUV.

He then drove to a house and killed a woman he knew before removing his police uniform and stealing her car. He then drove to get gas and was shot by a police officer who happened to be at the gas station refueling.

The suspect was shot to death at 11:26 on Sunday morning, about 13 hours after the attacks began.

There seems to be a trail of individuals who had problems with Mr. Wortman, Campbell said.

Police have said Wortman carried out much of the attack disguised as a police officer in a vehicle marked to seem like a patrol car. Campbell said he had a few cars that police believe were former police vehicles.

Campbell said the suspect's girlfriend is recovering and continues to cooperate with police. He said it would have been a lot worse had she not told them he was driving a car made to look like a police vehicle.

John Hudson, who had known Wortman for about 18 years, said Wortman was sometimes openly controlling and jealous of his long-time girlfriend.

I didnt see him hitting her or anything like that, Hudson said . But I know they fought.

Hudson recalled a bonfire party about 10 years ago when an argument between the two left the woman locked out of their home in rural Portapique.

I was with her, trying to get her stuff out of there, Hudson said. People had been drinking... and it was a crazy night... and he didnt want her to leave, but he wouldnt let her in the house.

Hudson said at one point, Wortman removed the tires from the womans vehicle and threw them into the ditch to prevent her from leaving. So, I went to get (her clothes) and what he said to me was: I dont want anyone in my house. If you come in my house, Im just telling you, Ive got guns in here.'"

Hudson said his neighbor had been purchasing used police vehicles at auctions.

Wortman, who owned a denture practice in the city of Dartmouth, near Halifax, lived part time in Portapique, according to residents. His Atlantic Denture Clinic had been closed the past month because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Nova Scotia, meanwhile, issued an emergency alert to cell phones warning residents to shelter in place and refrain from travel as police are on scene in a wooded area of Halifax in relation to a report of shots fired. They also said there was an additional report of shots fired in another area of Halifax.

RCMP in Nova Scotia later said there is no evidence of shots fired and gave an all clear in a tweet. One incident was noise from a construction site.

The province and police were criticised for not sending out an emergency alert during Wortman's 13-hour rampage.

Mass shootings are relatively rare in Canada. The country overhauled its gun control laws after Marc Lepine shot 14 women and himself to death at Montreals Ecole Polytechnique college in 1989. Before the weekend rampage, that had been Canadas worst mass shooting.

Two years ago Thursday, a man drove a van along a busy Toronto sidewalk and killed 10 people and injured 16. The suspect, who is awaiting trial, said he carried out the attack in retribution for years of sexual rejection and ridicule by women.
Salifu Saeed

25.04.2020 LISTEN

The Northern Regional Minister, Salifu Saeed has said the Guineans who tested positive for Covid-19 at the Tamale Teaching Hospital in Tamale in the Northern region will be handed over to the Guinean Embassy in Accra.

He indicated that the four Guineans who tested negative after the second test will be handled by the embassy whiles the 3 who tested positive will be referred to a health facility in Accra until they recover.

According to the minister, the Guineans cannot be repatriated to their country due to the border closure.

 Even though some of them have tested negative now , they can't leave the country even their own mother country have put in measures not to allow them in and out so it's a challenge we are working around to find lasting solution.

The seven Guineans who tested positive for Covid-19 at the Tamale Teaching Hospital in the Northern region threatened to leave the hotel where they are being quarantined.

They claimed they have not contracted the Covid-19 virus as speculated.

When DGN Online, visited the hotel, the Guineans were seen with their luggage in front of the hotel shouting on top of their voices.

They accused authorities for holding them due to the financial benefits that come with the Covid-19 virus pandemic.

A joint police and military officers have since taken over the hotel to restore calm.

Eight Guineans and two Burkinabes tested positive for Covid-19 in the Northern region.

The patients traveled from Burkina Faso and Togo respectively through unapproved routes into Ghana.

They then lodged at a hotel in Tamale for a couple of days before two of them were picked following a tip-off by residents.

The Northern Regional Minister, Salifu Saeed has said samples of the patients were sent to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) and the results came back positive.

Meanwhile, one of the Guinean covid-19 patients, a lady who tested positive in Tamale has reportedly escaped.

There is currently a manhunt by the security to arrest her after she scaled the wall of the guesthouse being used as a quarantine center.

---Daily Guide
A GM worker laser welds the ear loops onto the face masks, which is one of the most labor-intensive parts of the process. Michael Wayland | CNBC



It was another tough week for the U.S. economy as unemployment claims soared to 26 million, erasing all the job growth since the Great Recession. That number will likely continue to rise as state and local governments, left out of federal relief packages, now brace for layoffs as well. Though Congress approved and President Donald Trump signed another round of funding for small businesses, controversy still surrounds the Paycheck Protection Program. Publicly traded companies dipped into the fund, and while some have returned the money, others are refusing. Here are our best reads of the week.

Massive layoffs and pay cuts may hit state and local governments as federal aid goes elsewhere

State and local governments are warning of a wave of layoffs and pay cuts after getting left out of the federal coronavirus relief package passed by Congress this week.

Several public companies that took small business loans are keeping the cash

Despite outrage on Main Street and new pressure from the Treasury Department this week, several publicly traded companies that received payroll relief funds from the Small Business Administration oppose demands to return the cash.

Airbnb hosts say they're getting nothing or comically small payments from $250 million relief fund

Among the rare few who have received any money, some complain that Airbnb's policy of offering 25% of what they would normally have received under their cancellation policies is inadequate during the crisis. They are getting payments of tens or hundreds of dollars to cover losses in the thousands.

We went inside the GM plant making coronavirus face masks. Here's what it looked like

Making medical-grade level 1 face masks isn't as simple as it may seem. It's particularly challenging to do in a week. More than 30 engineers, designers, buyers and members of the manufacturing team were asked to help with product development, sourcing materials and equipment as well as planning the production process.

She got a forgivable loan. Her employees hate her for it.

One small business owner got a Paycheck Protection Program loan. Her employees are furious.

These high-risk Americans expect to shelter in place for a year or longer to avoid Covid-19

As states begin to allow nonessential businesses such as gyms and restaurants to open their doors, many Americans will cautiously emerge from their homes. Tayjus Surampudi, a Google employee, will not be one of them.

Sweden resisted a lockdown. Now its capital, Stockholm, is expected to reach 'herd immunity' in weeks

The strategy  aimed at allowing some exposure to the virus in order to build immunity among the general population while protecting high-risk groups like the elderly  has been controversial. Some health experts liken it to playing Russian roulette with public health.

These states received the most stimulus payments so far
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
On March 21, 2018, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg apologised for his company's handling of the Cambridge Analytica scandal, whereby the third-party company got access to user data which it is accused of having used to manipulate voters in the 2016 US election with targeted political ads.

San Francisco: US regulators on Friday welcomed a historic USD 5 billion settlement with Facebook over data privacy as the social network said it was already implementing the provisions of the deal.

The deal between the leading social network and the US Federal Trade Commission became official with the approval Thursday of a federal judge.

Along with the fine, the settlement announced last July requires Facebook to ramp up privacy protections; provide detailed quarterly reports on compliance with the deal, and have an independent oversight board.

Some privacy activists had challenged the deal claiming it let off Facebook too easy after the Cambridge Analytica scandal that allowed the hijacking of personal data of millions of users ahead of the 2016 US presidential election.

FTC chairman Joe Simons said in a statement he was pleased with the court approval, pointing out it was the largest monetary penalty ever obtained by consumer protection agency.

At the same time, the court also highlights that the conduct relief included in this settlement will require Facebook to consider privacy at every stage of its operations and provide substantially more transparency and accountability for its executives privacy-related decisions, Simons said.

The agreement goes beyond measures required by US law and should serve as a roadmap for more comprehensive privacy regulation, Facebook chief privacy officer Michel Protti said in a blog post.

We hope this leads to further progress on developing consistent legislation in the US and elsewhere, Protti said.

Ultimately, our goal is to honor peoples privacy and focus on doing whats right for people.

The FTC reopened its investigation of Facebooks data handling following revelations of the Cambridge Analytica scandal and other missteps by the California giant.

Facebook has created dozens of team devoted to privacy and has thousands of people working on privacy-related projects, according to Protti.

This agreement has been a catalyst for changing the culture of our company, Protti said.

Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter.
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As well as Canopy Growth (NASDAQ:CGC) has grown over the years, it has struggled to stay out of the red, burning through a lot of cash along the way. And that's why it's not surprising that shares of this top pot stock are down around 70% over the past year, which is only marginally better than the Horizons Marijuana Life Science ETF's 72% decline during the same time frame. There's been a lot of change happening at the company. In March, Canopy Growth announced that it would cut 500 jobs, and in April it said it would be shutting down its growing facility in Yorkton, Saskatchewan. The company's biggest move came nearly a year ago when it fired CEO Bruce Linton.

However, there's reason to be bullish on Canopy Growth's stock, and it's not only because it's so much cheaper than it was a year ago. The company's making moves that should set it up for better results in the future, and that could make the stock a very appealing investment today.

Canopy makes significant changes to global operations

On April 16, Canopy Growth announced that it would be scaling back its presence around the world. In Africa, the cannabis producer will be exiting its operations in South Africa and Lesotho. And while it's staying in Latin America, the company will shut down its cultivation facility in Colombia and said that it would be "moving to an asset-light model that leverages local suppliers for raw materials." Even in the U.S. market, Canopy Growth is going to cease farming operations in Springfield, New York as it says it produced more than enough hemp in 2019. While Canopy's not exiting the U.S., it's also not going to continue stockpiling hemp.

These are the first significant moves made by Canopy Growth's new CEO David Klein, who took over earlier this year. He previously served as the chief financial officer of Constellation Brands (NYSE:STZ), which invested $4 billion in the cannabis producer back in 2018.

Two of the areas that he's focused on improving are cash burn and the company's cost structure. The changes announced earlier this month will certainly help on both fronts. They allow Canopy Growth to focus more on its domestic market where the bulk of its operations are. In Colombia, the company will be more efficient with its production process. And while it may be appealing from a growth perspective to have a footprint in Africa, it's arguably far too early to be worrying about operations in Lesotho, a country with a population of only 2.1 million people. At 58 million people, South Africa is a much bigger and promising market, but it remains illegal to sell cannabis there and it's not clear when that might change.

Over the nine-month period ending Dec. 31, Canopy Growth generated 47.3 million Canadian dollars from international medical marijuana sales, which was 14.6% of its gross revenue of CA$324.6 million. In the prior-year period, international medical marijuana sales totaled just CA$8.3 million. And the company says that impressive growth came primarily due to its acquisition of the German pharmaceutical and cannabinoid company, C3. That suggests that the company's international medical marijuana sales and its presence in other parts of the world, outside of Germany, is still fairly insignificant.

The good news is that the recent decisions announced by Canopy Growth aren't likely to have a material impact on the company's growth or sales numbers this year or in the near future. But they could help cut costs and improve its bottom line -- the pot producer's reported a net loss in each of the past four quarters. That's why for investors, these are very good decisions that suggest the company's management is moving in the right direction to improve its financials which, in turn, should help the stock price gain some traction.

Why now could be a great time to buy Canopy Growth

Shares of Canopy Growth aren't at their 52-week lows, but the stock is still trading at a significant discount to where investors have valued it in the past. Here's how it looks in terms of its historical price-to-sales ratio:

The stock is a much cheaper buy today than it's been in the past. Another reason to be bullish is that sales may continue to be strong this year, even amid the coronavirus pandemic, which could help bring this multiple down even more. Data from the Ontario Cannabis Store is showing that demand in April is still strong as orders are nearly five times the levels they were before the outbreak of COVID-19. The data is from just one province, but it's an encouraging sign nonetheless.

With CA$1.6 billion of cash and cash equivalents as of Dec. 31, and a strong partner like Constellation Brands, Canopy Growth is in good shape to weather the storm ahead.

It's one of the safe bets in the industry to sustain itself during this pandemic. Buying the pot stock near its low today could set investors up for some strong returns when the Canadian and U.S. economies start getting back to normal and when the priority for cannabis investors is back to investing in pot stocks with strong growth prospects, rather than just ones with adequate cash flow. That may take a year or two to happen, but it wouldn't be all that surprising to see Canopy Growth's stock double in value from where it is today given the company's relatively low valuation and its opportunities for continued growth.
One sensed that things werent going well in Michigan when Detroit sent Rashida Tlaib to Congress. After all, Tlaib, shortly after being sworn into Americas legislative body, loudly announced, Were gonna go in there, and were gonna impeach the mother*****. Decorum and Tlaib do not exist in the same universe.

That was the first hint that theres trouble in Michigan.

The second hint was when Michigans governor viewed coronavirus as a license to be a tyrant. Gretchen Whitmer earned nationwide infamy for her excessive, arbitrary, and capricious lockdown orders:

This woman, in true dictator fashion, has told the citizens of Michigan what is and what is not essential. Major stores that sell food and other goods have had to cordon off all products she has deemed not essential: plant and vegetable seeds, appliances, baby car seats, etc. Its a long list. Just who is she to decide for the rest of her constituents what is essential?

Eventually, people noticed a theme: If it brought money into the state or supported leftist initiatives, it was a go. Thats why you could buy lottery tickets, pot, and alcohol, but couldnt provide outdoor landscaping services. You could have an abortion, but you couldnt get your hip replaced. Michigan now has the highest unemployment rate in America.

On Thursday, the Michigan legislature finally had enough. They announced a special session to strip Whitmer of her emergency powers. Whitmers response only enhanced her reputation for authoritarianism, for she said, Im not going to sign any bill that takes authority away from me.

JUST NOW: @GovWhitmer doubles down on tyranny as citizens protest her insane overreach:



"I'm not going to sign any bill that takes authority away from me..." pic.twitter.com/5IuwqWuU6O  Young Americans for Liberty (@YALiberty) April 24, 2020

Shes a tyrant, but at least shes upfront about it.

The third hint of trouble in Michigan is the treatment the Michigan Democrats plan to mete out to state representative Karen Whitsett. Whitsett, an African American and a Democrat, contracted the Wuhan virus. She believes that what saved her life was the hydroxychloroquine cocktail.

Governor Whitmer had originally banned the drug in Michigan (because Trump supported it) but backed down in the face of a public outcry. Whitsett is certain that it was Trumps cheerleading for the drug that led people to put pressure on the governor, thereby ensuring the drug was available to save Whitsetts life.

Whitsett felt such a sense of gratitude that she openly thanked President Trump. She also attended a meeting of Wuhan virus survivors at the White House with President Trump and Vice President Pence. Once there, Whitsett again gave credit to the Trump administration for saving her life.

Rep. Whitsett swiftly found out that, if youre a Michigan Democrat, both gratitude and free speech have no place in the party. Detroit Democrats want to censure Whitsett and cast her into political purdah by denying her any future party endorsements. Trump responded swiftly to the news and suggested that Whitsett might want to find a new political home:

And thats not the end of it. According to Rep. Whitsett, she received unpleasant texts from Governor Whitmer for daring to praise hydroxychloroquine:

Tucker Carlson asked Whitsett if the governor ever called the representative to simply say, "I'm so glad you didn't die?" "Actually, it was not as pleasant as that," Rep. Whitsett began, "and the text messages that we have had since then have not been as pleasant as well." Rep. Whitsett said she "didn't know 'thank you' belonged to one political party over another," and said she will continue to speak out against the governor or any other person who stands in the way of Michiganders getting access to the medicine and equipment they need to survive the disease.

Wow. Instead of working to get Michigan what it needs to fight the coronavirus, Gretchen Whitmer is harassing a COVID-19 survivor and getting lapdogs to censure members of her own partypic.twitter.com/rOYY2di41A  Elizabeth Harrington (@LizRNC) April 25, 2020

During the Watergate hearings, John Dean famously described the cover-up following the break-in as a cancer on the presidency. Dean was squirrely and corrupt, but its a great phrase and works perfectly to describe the political darkness that is descending on Michigan. It might be time for those Michigan Democrats who still believe in America and the Constitution to revisit their party allegiance before its too late.
- A BBC medical correspondent hinted researchers from Oxford University would conduct COVID-19 huma trials in Kenya should they get unexpected results in UK

- The reporter claimed Kenya's COVID-19 rate was not rampant but also rising and would be a suitable testing ground for the vaccine

- The reports sparked rage among Kenyans who trooped to social media sites to condemn the suggestion

- NARC Kenya Party Leader Martha Karua suggested senior government officials should be the first ones to undergo human vaccine trials if allowed in Kenya

Ever since reports indicating scientists from Oxford University in the UK were planning to carry out a coronavirus vaccine test in Nairobi ensued, Kenyans have been seething with rage and anger in protest of the plan.

NARC Kenya Party leader Marta Karua who was among the first Kenyan leaders to protest the idea has now suggested that top government officials be the first ones to undergo the test if at all it would be allowed in the country.

READ ALSO: Jamaa avalia gunia na kuandamana akitaka mkewe aliyesukumwa karantini kuachiliwa

Nark Kenya Party Leader Martha Karua has said top government officials should undergo UK vaccine tests first if allowed in Kenya. Photo: Martha Karua.

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Andrew Kibe says churches, mosques should be permanently closed after coronavirus pandemic

Through her Twitter handle on Saturday, April 25, Karua suggested that Cabinet Secretaries, elected leaders and their families should be subjected to the trialling before any other Kenyan is lined up for the same.

"Now that the Ministry of Health says Kenya is open to the testing of British vaccines in Kenya let them be tested on members of the cabinet and their families and thereafter all elected representatives and senior government officials," she said.

Fergus Walsh, the BBC medical correspondent, on Thursday, April 23, said the researchers were considering to take the vaccine trials to Nairobi should the results in UK laboratory delay.

"...if (scientists) they dont get early quick results from the UK, they are considering a trial in Kenya where the epidemic of the coronavirus will be on the rise," he said during an interview with the British broadcaster.

The government, however, denied the reports saying it was not aware of such plans.

Health CAS Rashid Aman said the State was not aware of such plans and no official communication had been received from the UK university to have the trialling of the vaccine on humans in Kenya.

He, however, said should such a request be made by the UK-based university, it would be subjected to scrutiny and consultation before a response is filed.

"At this point, we do not have any information on this and if this request comes to us, it will be subjected to the appropriate scrutiny before government responds to it.

Equally, there are proper laid down rigorous procedures of ethical review and approvals of any clinical trials- We have a very robust structure here under the pharmacy and poisons board that is responsible for regulating and reviewing clinical trials," he said.

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Health Ministry said that 39 Egyptians fully recovered and left isolation hospitals on Saturday, which brings the total number of recoveries from the virus so far to 1,114

Egypt's health ministry reported 227 new coronavirus cases on Saturday, bringing the countrys total number of confirmed cases to 4,319.

The ministry said in a statement that the total number of COVID-19 deaths has now reached 307 nationwide, with 13 new fatalities today.

Health ministry spokesmen Khaled Megahed said in the statement that the newly-detected 227 cases are all Egyptians and were detected through the ministrys investigation and contact tracing protocols.

Megahed also said that 39 Egyptians fully recovered and left isolation hospitals on Saturday, which brings the total number of recoveries from the virus so far to 1,114.

The number of people whose test results have turned from positive to negative, including the recoveries, has now reached 1,450.

According to Health Minister Hala Zayed, Egypt has carried out 200,000 rapid diagnostic tests for coronavirus and 90,000 polymerase chain reaction analyses through 27 central laboratories nationwide.

According to the statement, Zayed said the 27 labs have a total staff capacity of up to 900 individuals, including doctors, pharmacists, chemists, lab technicians, and administrators. They have been linked together via an electronic network to ensure the speedy arrival of results and the complete confidentiality of data.

The ministry recently introduced a new mobile application titled Egypt Health, as well as launched a WhatsApp messaging service (01553105105) and designated two hotlines (105 and 15335) to answer citizens' inquiries about the coronavirus and other infectious diseases.

Starting 24 April, the beginning of the Muslim month of Ramadan, the start of the nighttime curfew was pushed back to 9pm instead of 8pm.

In the ministrys statement, Minister Zayed thanked medical staff at the ministry's fever hospitals for their efforts in combating the coronavirus.

The minister said that fever hospitals have received more than 900,000 sick people, whether suffering from coronavirus or other conditions, with an average daily frequency of more than 15,000 patients since the emergence of the virus in Egypt.

The first case of COVID-19 in Egypt was confirmed on 14 February 2020.

Zayed said that the countrys 47 fever hospitals, which are equipped with 4,258 beds including 227 ICU beds, are sorting out pathological cases, taking swabs and providing medical care in accordance with the updated treatment protocol.

"These [fever] hospitals are gradually being prepared to serve as isolation hospitals, the minister said, adding that the hospitals will be conducting tests, diagnosing cases, providing treatment, following up on cases after recovery and discharge, and conducting scientific research.

Fifty training sessions have been held on infection control standards and protocols for dealing with suspected and infected cases of coronavirus, the minister said.

Zayed also thanked the employees of the General Administration of Quarantine at Egypt's airports and ports for their efforts in examining about half-a-million citizens coming from abroad from mid-January till international flights were suspended on 19 March.

"The Ministry of Health has received 3,229 Egyptians who were stranded in a number of countries after flights were suspended, she said.

Egypt began in March bringing back hundreds of its nationals stranded in various countries owing to the pandemic, and it has decided to quarantine all the repatriated citizens.

On Wednesday, President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi said that Egypt is committed to repatriating an estimated 3,500 Egyptians stranded abroad at the earliest opportunity.

"I assure all Egyptians [stranded abroad] who are listening to me, even if our circumstances are difficult, we will not leave you. As a state, we are obligated to bring home all stranded Egyptians, who are estimated at 3,500 citizens or slightly more, as soon as possible," El-Sisi said.

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Game of Thrones actor Sophie Turner thought it was necessary to clear out the ill advice given by US President Donald Trump in his latest statement. His latest musings include injecting disinfectants into people to fight Covid-19 infection, triggering an outcry around the world.

Taking to Instagram Stories, Sophie, who is reportedly pregnant with her first child, shared a video that showed her waking up from a nap with an important advice. Good morning everyone. Dont drink bleach like Donald Trump says. Hes a f*cking moron, she said.

Trumps offhand comment Thursday wondering if disinfectants could be injected or ingested to fight Covid-19 got intense blowback from doctors and other health officials on Friday. It also prompted blunt warnings from the makers of popular commercial products.

Trump suggested injecting cleansers like bleach and isopropyl alcohol because Bill Bryan, the head of Homeland Security Departments Technology Directorate said that bleach killed the virus in five minutes and alcohol in 30 seconds.

We must be clear that under no circumstance should our disinfectant products be administered into the human body (through injection, ingestion or any other route), said a statement from the parent of the company that makes Lysol and Dettol, Reckitt Benckiser. Bleach and other disinfectants are not suitable for consumption or injection under any circumstances declared the Clorox Co.

Also read: When Shah Rukh Khan warned Aamir Khan to not work with Kajol: She is very bad, unfocused

The novel coronavirus has already killed more than 50,000 Americans and infected more than 2.7 million people worldwide.

Earlier, Sophie had shared another video with husband Joe Jonas about the coronavirus pandemic and the need to stay at home. She even seemingly trashed actor Evangeline Lilly who was not taking the idea of social distancing seriously in the time of coronavirus outbreak.

Stay inside, dont be f***ing stupid, even if you count your freedom over -- I dont know, what is it -- your health, Turner said during an Instagram Live video. Lilly had said she values her freedom more than the safety measures such as isolation that have been suggested to fight the massive Covid-19 outbreak the world over, and also mentioned how she was taking her kids to gym camp.

I dont give a F about your freedom. You could be infecting other people, other vulnerable people around you, by doing this. So stay inside, guys. Its not cool and its not big and its not clever, Turner said.

(With AP inputs)

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Uber and Lyft drivers have long employed a number of secret strategies to help make ends meat. They are a group of workers who have seen a lot of pay cuts over the years, and every time, it seems like they come up with a whole new slew of strategies and scams.

Most riders are completely oblivious to the fact that drivers may be in some way taking advantage of them. In most cases, it doesnt result in any real harm to the rider, but in some cases it might. Here are some of those dirty secrets.

The problem with upfront pricing

When Uber implemented its upfront pricing plan a few years ago  drivers found out that riders were paying considerably more than the drivers were making from the fare. Ubers original deal with drivers was that they would pay them 80% of the fare. That was later dropped to 75% in most markets. But after upfront pricing was implemented Uber detached the driver's pay from the passenger fare  allowing Uber to increase fares without having to increase driver compensation.

This infuriated many drivers and tempted a lot of previously honest drivers to start acting in dishonest ways. Drivers figured that if the passenger was paying Uber $20 but Uber was paying them as if the fare had only been $10, then they were getting cheated. And indeed, under Ubers original terms of service, they were.

The way upfront pricing works is that when a passenger calls for a car, Uber will show them a final price, upfront. Uber will calculate this price on the longest, slowest possible route. But drivers will normally drive the shortest and quickest route, which is what they get paid for. Uber would pocket the difference and, in the process, basically cut the driver out of a share of the fare that they had originally promised to them.

When drivers realized what was happening, they decided that if Uber was charging for the longest, slowest route, then they would oblige and give customers the longest, slowest route. They could easily, with a few taps, view and select that route on their navigation app.

Story continues

As they saw it, the customer should get what theyre paying for, and the driver should get their 75-80% cut of the fare.

How they got away it: Most people will know if a driver is taking a longer, slower route. But out-of-towners and tourists usually don't know. Drivers quickly become experts in figuring out who's who. You can't fool a veteran driver even if you try. If you're from out of town and you think your driver doesn't know, you're kidding yourself. They know.

Drivers know that when they pick riders up at the airport theres a high chance theyll be from out of town, and they will quickly size up whether or not their passenger is a local who is returning home or an out-of-towner who is there for a visit.

Then, the driver will determine if they visit often and know the city, or if it's someone who isn't too familiar with the area. Drivers can easily do this through a little chit-chat. Simple questions like, "Where are you from?" or "What brings you to town?" can bring the driver a wealth of information. Passengers have no idea what they just revealed.

If the driver determines the passenger isn't familiar with the city, they will look at the various GPS route options. They will then select the longest and slowest one available. The passenger gets where they're going, albeit a few minutes later than necessary, but it hasn't cost them anything extra because Uber already gave them the price upfront, and they will not change that price unless the rider changes their destination.

Remaining in the airport queue  after leaving the airport

Because many trips are money-losing propositions for drivers, they feel forced to do every little thing they can to make a few extra cents here and there. A while back the rideshare giants found out their drivers were working a little scam at New York's three major airports. This scam, like the one I described above, didn't hurt passengers, but it did hurt other drivers.

Uber and Lyft both require that drivers be physically present at a specific location at the airport  known as the queue lot  in order to pick up a passenger there. But so many drivers would end up in the queue lot that it could literally take three to four hours before getting a call.

Obviously with wait times that long, it didn't really make sense to ever wait at the airport. If you get a call after waiting four hours and you make $15 on the trip, you've just made $3.75 an hour. You might wonder why they wouldnt just leave the airport and head back to town. The reason was most drivers just cant bear the thought of leaving the airport empty.

There were SUV drivers who would use their New York Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) credentials to enter the airport driver waiting area as if they were going to get in the queue and wait for a passenger. Instead of entering the electronic driver queue themselves, they set up the back of their SUVs as something that looked like a cell phone shop. They would then collect cell phones from other drivers plus $5 each to ostensibly charge the batteries.

Obviously drivers don't need to pay someone to charge their phones  they can charge them in their own cars like everyone else does. What they were really doing was much sneakier:

Most drivers originally signed up to drive for both Uber and Lyft, and they gave both companies their cell phone number. Both companies used the same number to connect with each driver.

For this scam to work, drivers had to get a second phone and number, and give that new number to just one of the companies.

Then after dropping a passenger off at the airport theyd head to the queue lot to get a return trip, but it could sometimes take several hours to get that trip, and drivers werent paid for their wait time.

Instead, they would give one of the phones to one of these "charger" guys. That guy would in fact plug their phone into a charger, but what they were really doing was letting the driver keep their place in the virtual queue with one company, say Lyft, while they would leave the area and take trips from outside the airport with Uber, using his other phone.

By utilizing this second-phone method, drivers were able to remain in the airport's virtual queue system on one service, like Lyft, while freeing themselves up to do other trips on Uber outside of the airport. The guy they paid to hold their phones physically at the airport would give them a call when it looked like their number would be up within the next hour. Then they would head back to the airport and hopefully get a long trip.

It was the kind of "scam" you almost have to admire, because it didn't really hurt anyone, and it helped drivers make more efficient use of their time.

In the end Uber and Lyft were probably wrong to allow so many drivers to pile up in the queue lot knowing they didnt need them. But Uber and Lyft didn't care  their only goal was to always have a driver available to pick-up each passenger. They didn't care if they had 200 more drivers than they needed.

But since New York City passed new rules recently requiring Uber and Lyft to guarantee a minimum pay floor per hour for each driver logged into their system, it now costs the companies big bucks if they have more drivers sitting around than they need. Now they do in fact limit the number of drivers they allow to enter the queue.

Real fraud that endangers riders

While most forms of drivers taking advantage of the system doesnt directly harm passengers there are some dirty secrets that actually do put passengers in harms way.

One of the most serious is account fraud where drivers share or rent out their driver account to another person who is not authorized and who has not been checked out by Uber or any of the other ride-hail companies.

An Uber spokeswoman told the Wall Street Journal in November that, We see so many different flavors of fraud in different markets.

In London, for example, it was rather common for drivers to rent out their Uber accounts to others. If a driver was going on vacation, he may rent out his credentials to another driver who couldnt otherwise pass the London background checks. The vacationing driver would then be able to earn a little money from his driving account even when he was gone and the renting driver would get to drive even though he wasnt otherwise qualified to. It was found that sometimes renting drivers couldnt even pass the driving exam and didnt have a drivers license. So yes, this particular scam is a real danger for riders.

The best way riders can avoid being picked up by someone who hasnt authorized to driver is to make sure their face matches the photo they see in the app  although thats not a guaranteed prevention because drivers have found creative ways to change the photo in the app to match whoever is driving the car.

In London, drivers are only allowed to change their profile photo when theyre in one of Ubers Greenlight Hub offices, so they have to be physically present in the in order to change their photo. But a lot of the scam drivers were able to use fake GPS apps where they could fool Ubers computers into thinking they were in the office when they really werent.

Our take

Scams come in all different varieties. Describing every scam would be impossible, as new scams are constantly invented.

The best way passengers can protect themselves, though, is by being knowledgeable as to the most common types of scams and looking out for variations of them.

Our best advice is if you feel at all uncomfortable, for any reason, about getting into an Uber once the driver has arrived, trust your gut and dont get in that car.

If you realize youre being scammed after youve already gotten in and the trip has begun, its best to keep that information to yourself and not complain to the driver, unless you are in a situation that could result in physical harm. In that case, deal with it is afterwards, once youve gotten safely out of the car. Then you can file a complaint with the rideshare company.

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The Nepal government on Saturday restricted the operation of international and domestic flights until May 15 as a precautionary measure against the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, an official said.

The decision was taken during a meeting of the high-level Coordination Committee for the Prevention and Control of COVID-19 chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Ishwor Pokharel at Prime Minister's Office, Singhadurbar.

A decision to extend the lockdown, which is set to expire on April 27, will be taken during the Council of Ministers' Meeting later.

Meanwhile, the coronavirus cases in Nepal reached 49 with a senior citizen getting infected from the deadly virus, the health ministry said.

The 62-year-old man in eastern Nepal's Jhapa district has tested positive for COVID-19, a ministry spokesperson said.

Two persons were discharged from hospital after successful treatment. So far, 12 people have been cured, the official added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Three of the nation's largest meat processors failed to provide protective gear to all workers, and some employees say they were told to continue working in crowded plants even while sick as the coronavirus spread around the country and turned the facilities into infection hot spots, a Washington Post investigation has found.

The actions by three major meat producers - Tyson Foods, JBS USA and Smithfield Foods - continued even after federal guidelines on social distancing and personal protective equipment were published March 9, according to 25 interviews with employees, elected officials, regional health officials, union leaders and federal safety inspectors as well as dozens of documents, including worker complaints filed with local and federal officials.

Because of outbreaks of the novel coronavirus, over the past several weeks Tyson, JBS and Smithfield have closed 15 plants, devastating rural communities and threatening the nation's supply of beef and pork. Industry analysts say production is already down by at least 25 percent.

Coronavirus outbreaks in more than 30 plants run by these companies and others have sickened at least 3,300 workers and killed at least 17, according to a review of news reports, county health reports and interviews with health officials and worker advocates.

According to workers, corporate policies contributed to the spread.

At a JBS beef processing plant in Colorado, employees claimed that managers encouraged them to report for shifts even when they appeared sick, according to workers and a letter from county health officials to the company reviewed by The Post.

At a Tyson pork plant in Iowa, local officials and workers said that some employees were using bandannas and sleep eyewear as facial coverings, while others wore no facial coverings at all.

And at a Smithfield distribution center in Indiana, three workers said supervisors told them - despite the science - that they were lucky to labor in frigid temperatures where the virus could not survive.

Workers at all the facilities said that personal protective equipment was not promptly distributed.

JBS confirmed that it did not receive masks for its employees until April 2 and did not mandate their use until April 13. Tyson said it wasn't until April 15 that it started requiring that all its workers wear masks.

Smithfield said masks are universally available to its workers, in compliance with guidance issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but the company would not say exactly when they became available. Smithfield workers said it wasn't until the past week or two. On Saturday, county health officials said they ordered Smithfield to close its plant in St. Charles, Illinois, until it can address issues related to employee safety and protective equipment.

"If you're not in a casket, they want you there," said Sonja Johnson, a former Smithfield worker at a packaging and distribution facility. "All they were worried about was making sure we were coming to work."

JBS, Smithfield and Tyson all strongly defended their efforts to protect their employees from the coronavirus. Smithfield and Tyson said they started taking preventive action in February, including educating workers about covid-19, the illness caused by the novel coronavirus. JBS said it took action in mid-March.

All three companies said they have stepped up sanitation, taken steps to ensure social distancing and are checking temperatures as workers report for their shifts. All say they are now requiring quarantines for employees who have tested positive for the coronavirus and for those in close contact with them.

Government officials have repeatedly praised the meat industry for its essential role in the national food supply during the crisis. Vice President Mike Pence has called the workers "heroes." And even as much of U.S. industry pulls back in the face of the pandemic, meat company officials have argued that they have a special responsibility to continue operations.

"It is impossible to keep our grocery stores stocked if our plants are not running," Smithfield chief executive Kenneth Sullivan said in a statement announcing the closure of the company's Sioux Falls plant this month.

The companies did not receive clear requirements about what they had to do. The guidance released by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration on March 9 said employers should offer surgical masks or respirators to workers who could be infected with the novel coronavirus, especially if they work within six feet of one another, a circumstance that is common for meat workers. But OSHA also said it would not enforce such regulations so as not to overly burden companies during the pandemic.

"This all could have been prevented. Workers are paying with their lives and their health because their industry decided not to implement basic safety precautions and OSHA decided to bury its head in the sand and tell workers 'You're on your own,' " said Debbie Berkowitz, a former senior OSHA official who is an expert on meat processing plants.

OSHA did not respond to a request for comment, but a spokesman for the Department of Labor, which oversees OSHA, said guidance specifically aimed at protecting workers in the meat processing and packing industries will be released in the coming days.

- - -

Modern meat processing is a model of efficiency. In plants operated by large companies including JBS, Tyson and Smithfield, as many as 1,000 workers report for each of two or three shifts that begin in the early morning hours and sometimes extend through the night.

Workers who process the meat - carving it into chicken wings, tri-tip steaks and pork chops - stand two to four feet apart. Because of the mechanical noise of industrial processing lines, workers must place their mouths within inches of supervisors' ears when they ask for bathroom breaks, because they have to be replaced immediately so that work continues uninterrupted.

The JBS beef processing plant in Greeley, Colorado, slaughters 5,400 head of cattle a day. Sergio Rodriguez had worked there for 40 years when, he said, he began feeling ill on March 20. As he performed his duties that Friday - handing out smocks and gloves to hundreds of co-workers - he said his head throbbed and his muscles ached. The 58-year-old says he pushed through to his lunch break that day, then asked a supervisor if he could go home because he was sick.

He was needed, he said he was told, so he stuck it out. That night, he went to urgent care and was told to isolate himself at home, according to a patient summary from UCHealth Urgent Care. His temperature was 104, and within days, he was hospitalized.

Ultimately, he was put on a ventilator, and his family held daily vigils outside his hospital window, praying for his recovery. He left the hospital on April 18.

"No one from JBS has called to check on him," said his daughter Crystal Rodriguez, 33, who also works at the plant, which employs more than 3,200. "He kept working even though he was sick, because that's what you do at JBS if you want to keep your job. "

JBS spokeswoman Nikki Richardson said a company official did call "Mr. Rodriguez but due to his illness, we were not able [to] connect directly."

The president of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 7, Kim Cordova, said her records show that Rodriguez worked March 20. Crystal Rodriguez said that by remaining at work, her father exposed hundreds of fellow workers to the coronavirus because he touched their gear and their hands as he distributed work equipment.

In a statement, JBS said the company paid Rodriguez for his sick leave, starting March 21. The company would not comment on whether he had to work March 20 while sick, but JBS spokesman Cameron Bruett said, "No one is forced to come to work and no one is punished for being absent for health reasons."

Rodriguez is among the more than 100 workers to test positive for the novel coronavirus at the Greeley plant, whose first case of covid-19 was confirmed on March 26. At least four have died, according to data from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

Health officials in Weld County, where Greeley is located, have also expressed alarm about the company expecting employees to work even if they were experiencing symptoms of coronavirus disease.

In an April 4 letter to JBS that was reviewed by The Post, Weld County health officials chastised the company for having a "work while sick" culture and said the county's analysis showed that 64 percent of workers who were covid-19 positive had "worked while symptomatic and therefore were contagious to others."

"The rapid nature of the spread of disease among JBS employees is very concerning, and the exponential spread of this disease across an employee population of several thousand would be devastating for both the employees and your company, and would quickly overwhelm the medical resources available in the hospitals and other health care providers in Greeley and surrounding communities," county officials told JBS in an April 10 order to close the plant, which they gave the company five days to implement.

County health officials also ordered the company to develop a sequestration housing plan for workers who test positive, use rigorous screening procedures to keep sick workers from entering the facility and implement measures that allow for social distancing. If they fail to do so, the letter said, JBS could be fined and company executives could face up to one year in the county jail.

Cordova, the union leader, said plant workers first received notice from JBS that masks would be distributed at the end of March - a few days after the first plant employee tested positive for the coronavirus. JBS said it ordered masks on March 19 and did not receive them until April 2. Wearing masks was not made mandatory until April 13, the company said. Face shields for those working on the slaughter line were distributed Friday when the plant reopened from its county-ordered closure.

JBS did not directly dispute the findings of county health officials. But in a statement to The Post, Bruett said plant managers encouraged workers with covid-19 symptoms to remain at home. In response to the county's order, Bruett said, the plant has "enhanced daily symptom and fever screening and testing procedures for workers before entering the facility."

JBS and the union have announced a $4 an hour pay increase for workers at all of JBS's plants because of the increased hazards the workers face. Hands-free temperature measuring devices are also being brought in.

JBS is the world's largest meatpacking company, with its U.S. operations including 60 beef, pork and poultry plants across the nation. Employees at Greeley, echoing the concerns of workers at other plants, have raised a host of additional issues with how the company communicated with employees about the viral outbreak.

On March 18, the company posted a notice on its Facebook page - the place it usually communicated with workers - that union president Cordova said many employees interpreted as an appeal from the federal government for them to report to work.

The company message said: "The U.S. Government has identified the food supply as a critical infrastructure industry and has stated we have a special responsibility to maintain normal work schedules on behalf of the Nation. We take this responsibility seriously."

On March 24, according to JBS' Bruett, educational materials were posted inside the plant, encouraging employees to stay home if they were ill and providing advice on correct hand washing and social distancing.

However, copies of the posters provided to The Post did not include instructions to workers to stay home if they had covid-19 symptoms. Such educational materials also were not posted on the company's Facebook page until after the plant was closed. Bruett said company supervisors were given covid-19 training in mid-March and were told to encourage workers with symptoms of the virus to stay home.

On the day of its first covid-19 detection - March 26 - JBS posted another announcement on its Facebook page, saying it would hand out a "FREE 5 lb. ground beef roll to every employee as your [sic] leaving work today. We want to say a big thank you to all of our employees that continue to come to work during this time to help feed the world."

The JBS Facebook page for the Greeley plant has been taken down. Company officials did not respond to a request for comment about its removal.

- - -

To Sheriff Tony Thompson, chair of the Emergency Management Commission in Black Hawk County, Iowa, Tyson's pork plant in the town of Waterloo was a covid-19 hot spot in the making.

More than 2,700 people work at the plant, which processes 19,500 hogs a day. When Thompson and other Black Hawk health officials visited the facility on April 10, they were initially satisfied with the company's efforts after a meeting with management. But when they toured the facility, he said, they saw workers using bandannas and sleep masks, or some were wearing no masks at all. They also saw little evidence of social distancing.

"They acknowledged they had at least three employees with covid-positive tests, and then we saw this minimal amount of [personal protective equipment] and no real direct guidance from corporate and plant management on how to utilize it," Thompson said. "Why on earth would they not be taking greater measures if what they're telling is true, that their greatest focus is on their employee safety?"

Waterloo Mayor Quentin Hart said in an interview that Thompson and Black Hawk County health officials who toured the plant on April 10 reported seeing a lack of social distancing and more substantial protective equipment.

Widespread demand for facial coverings has made it challenging for companies to acquire medical-grade masks for their workers. But Tyson said it began sourcing facial coverings for its employees before CDC guidance called for it. Since Thompson's tour, Tyson began requiring and providing surgical-style masks for its employees.

Thompson said that local health-care providers have been flooded with cases from Tyson's Waterloo plant and that the health department has had dozens of complaints from workers. Between April 9 and 18, Black Hawk County's covid-19 case count surged by nearly 900 percent, from 20 to 192.

Local officials attribute 90 percent of the total to outbreaks at Tyson. On Monday, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, a Republican, announced that 250 National Guard members were being activated to help with testing and contact tracing in the region.

In a letter to Tyson dated April 17, 20 local officials warned that the "outbreak at a facility of your size puts great risk to the safety and well-being [of] all residents in our community, especially the elderly and vulnerable." The Waterloo plant was closed indefinitely on Wednesday.

But before the plant's closure, workers registered a number of complaints about Tyson's handling of the outbreak - including two complaints filed with OSHA and more than two dozen filed with a local nonprofit organization and a state senator, Bill Dotzler, a Democrat.

The Post reviewed the complaints but was not able to see the identities of the workers or verify the contents. But the complaints echoed what workers at the plant in Waterloo said in interviews.

One worker said employees did not receive clear communication from Tyson when colleagues became ill.

"Everybody is just a number to a big corporation like this," said the Waterloo worker, who also said he tested positive for the coronavirus and has passed the infection to his family. "When people started getting sick, I had to find it out from my co-workers, not my supervisors, who should be looking out for me."

In one of the complaints filed with Dotzler, a contractor at Tyson's plant in Independence, Iowa, said workers there got in trouble for warning colleagues about exposure to positive cases.

"I work around these people every day and could not consciously let them work in an environment where they've been exposed by one person, possibly more and not be told," wrote the contractor who reported being reprimanded for informing Congolese and Mexican workers about positive cases. "I am now worried I will be terminated for reaching out to other human beings. (Something Tyson was not going to do.)"

The medical director at the Northeast Iowa Family Practice Center in Waterloo, Adam Roise, said that in the past week he has seen multiple patients from the Tyson plant who have tested positive for the coronavirus. Roise said the employees were confused as to how to notify the company about their cases and about when they would be allowed to return to work.

He said several of his patients also expressed concern about sick employees being told to continue working, and, confusion about how to protect themselves and their families in the pandemic.

"We obviously told them not to go back to work, but they had not received any communication from Tyson on what to do if they did test positive," Roise said. "They were looking to us to tell them what to do."

In written responses to questions, Tyson said that it started addressing covid-19 concerns in January and that in March it was one of the first food companies to start taking employee temperatures. It also said that essential visitors to plants must answer a questionnaire about possible exposure to the virus before being allowed to enter.

"We're working diligently to protect our people by taking their temperatures and are installing infrared scanners to help with this effort, we're requiring protective face coverings and are deep cleaning our facilities," wrote Hector Gonzalez, Tyson's vice president for human relations. "Since March, we've implemented social distancing measures, such as installing workstation dividers and providing more breakroom space. We have also relaxed our attendance policy to encourage workers to stay at home when they're sick. "

Dotzler said he is concerned that Tyson is reassigning workers from closed plants to plants that are operating. He said Waterloo clinics have seen multiple sick Tyson workers with addresses in Columbus Junction, nearly 130 miles away. Tyson's Columbus Junction plant was shut down on April 15 after more than 150 workers tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

"Their actions have created a catastrophic event in our community," said Dotzler, who also said he plans to request a federal Department of Labor investigation at Tyson's Iowa plants.

Tyson denied that it was reassigning workers from closed plants.

- - -

When Sonja Johnson realized that the cargo of hot dogs she was unloading from a truck had come from Sioux Falls, she said she refused to touch it. That was April 15. The 55-year-old Smithfield worker knew that, weeks ago, the coronavirus had found its way inside a sister plant in South Dakota, which is linked to more than 890 confirmed coronavirus cases. It is the country's biggest coronavirus hot spot.

She also knew there were confirmed cases where she stood in a Smithfield distribution center in Greenfield, Indiana. She hadn't felt safe at the plant in weeks. Touching the boxes was too risky, she told her supervisor, assuming she'd be reassigned. Hours later, she said, she was fired.

"They just want their food in and out the door, at whatever expense it might be," Johnson said.

Keira Lombardo, Smithfield's executive vice president for corporate affairs and compliance, said that Johnson's account of her termination was "not at all accurate."

"We would never terminate an employee for expressing concern about possible transmission of covid-19," Lombardo told The Post in an email.

Two other employees at the Greenfield location, who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of being fired, also told The Post that they were disciplined after raising concerns about their safety.

One shared a copy of a complaint to the human resources department about their job being threatened because they declined to handle Sioux Falls product - just as Johnson had been.

"Since I felt I had no other option as to do the load or lose my job I told them I would do the load butt [sic] only because I felt my job was in jeopardy," the worker told HR on April 21.

Johnson and the other two workers said that the company did not start providing effective protective equipment until this week and that management had allowed workers with fevers to complete their shifts after "cooling off" outside or in front of air conditioners. They also said higher-ups also told workers they were "lucky" to work in frigid conditions, claiming that the virus could not survive the cold.

Some employees also claimed they were given misleading information from management. One employee anonymously sent an email, seen by The Post, to the Hancock County Health Department on April 4 alleging that the employee was told that "by now everyone had been exposed" and that the person should come to work despite a positive coronavirus test.

In response, an official from the health department contacted the U.S. Department of Agriculture and recommended that the employee file a formal complaint with OSHA in Indiana.

OSHA and the Hancock County Health Department did not respond to requests from The Post for comment.

"I don't want to end up like the Tyson plant that was recently closed due to the coronavirus, but I fear that's where we're headed," the Smithfield employee told the Hancock County Health Department in the email.

Lombardo said the company "will not comment on hearsay" except to say that the conduct alleged in the email would be "completely and totally contrary to our covid-19 processes and protocols," which have been in place since February.

"We have absolutely no motivation - in fact, we are disincentivized - to have sick team members reporting to work," Lombardo said in an email. "We are constantly telling employees, in multiple languages, verbally, in print and via an employee communication app, 'Do not report to work if you are sick or exhibiting covid-19 symptoms. You will be paid.' "

Smithfield, which is owned by Hong Kong meat conglomerate WH Group, has closed plants in Martin City, Missouri, and Cudahy, Wisconsin, because of coronavirus outbreaks. Lombardo said the company has added hand-sanitizing stations, provided more personal protective equipment, installed physical barriers on production floors and instituted thermal scanning. She said the company is restricting nonessential visitors, requiring 14-day quarantines, with pay, for workers exposed to positive cases and has relaxed its attendance policies to "eliminate any punitive effect" for missing work because of covid-19.

Not having to go back to Smithfield hasn't made Johnson feel much safer. She was in close contact with workers who tested positive, although she was never formally notified of that fact, she said. Right now, she feels fine. But she knows symptoms can take weeks to surface.

"I'm in that age group of people that are dying of this," Johnson said. "I don't want to leave my family and friends sooner than I have to because of somebody's else's neglect."

- - -

The Washington Post's Julie Tate contributed to this report.
New Delhi, April 25 : After the Centre urged private schools across the country not to hike the annual fee and also discontinue collecting the fee quarterly during the lockdown, many of these schools have decided not to charge three months' tuition fee at a time.

Union HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank' said: "I have appealed to all private schools not to increase fees in view of the difficult circumstances of unprecedented health emergency." Nishank said, "I am happy that the education departments of all the states are working diligently to protect the interests of parents and schools. The fee situation will be followed by the state government." The Union Minister said, "Schools are mandated to pay salaries to their staff including the contractual ones. If they are short of funds, they can reach out to their parent organisation for funds." In this phase of the lockdown, arrangements are being made to provide training to teachers besides students.

Nishank said that apart from this, C-IET and NCERT have started a month-long webinar for the development of students, teachers and researchers from April 7. The webinar will cover topics related to the creation and dissemination of e-content, usage and mobile apps.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
The Portland Rose Festival is still planning a 2020 celebration, though the roses may be wilted by the time it arrives.

Organizers of Portlands traditional spring festival said Friday that they are still trying to hold events in 2020, despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic that has shut down public gatherings big and small.

If it happens, the Rose Festival this year could be a scaled-down version that still includes marquee events like the Grand Floral Parade, which would be a tribute to front-line workers who have helped support the community during the pandemic, said Jeff Curtis, CEO of the Rose Festival Foundation.

If the city gives us a green light for a modified festival later in the year, well have that, Curtis said. I hope we can do it, I think it would be good for Portland.

There are no firm dates right now, Curtis said, but the foundation is looking for a 10-day window sometime in September. Events could be pared down depending on public health needs or other restrictions that might be in place at that time.

Of course, theres no guarantee that public gatherings will be allowed even by then, or that Portlanders would feel safe attending the various parades, races and downtown events. Curtis said public health would be the top priority at a 2020 festival, and if officials deem the events unsafe, theyll simply put them off until 2021.

However, that would be a huge financial hit to the Rose Festival Foundation, which makes most of its money from sponsorships and the events themselves.

So far, the foundation has come out mostly unscathed by the economic collapse following the pandemic  only two seasonal employees have been placed on furlough. But if this years festival is canceled entirely, it will be a whole different situation.

Were in a good position for now, but the road map will be a challenge for us, Curtis said.

Right now, theyre looking at both a modified festival in September and a full cancellation, making plans for either scenario.

A modified festival could include the Grand Floral Parade, Starlight Parade and the Starlight Run. It could also include a smaller CityFair at Waterfront Park, with local vendors and performers.

Fleet Week might even be on the table. Rich Jarvis, spokesman for the Rose Festival Foundation, said the U.S. Navy has voiced interest in postponing its annual stopover in downtown Portland to align with new Rose Festival dates.

The Rose Festival Court, however, is in question. Some of this years princesses are high school seniors who may be away at college come September. Jarvis said several options are under consideration, including not holding a coronation ceremony at all, though he said a Rose Festival Queen will be crowned regardless.

Other smaller events like the Dragon Boat Race, Rose Cup Races and Milk Carton Boat Races face uncertain futures, Jarvis said. Decisions about those will likely be made once the festival works out its 2020 plans.

I think the key word for us is postponement, Jarvis said.

Senior Melyssa Okazaki was crowned as Central Catholic's princess on the 2020 Rose Festival Court on Friday at Lloyd Center.Portland Rose Festival

In the meantime, the Rose Festival will host two quarantine-friendly parades this spring: the Porch Parade and the Grand Petite Parade.

Portlanders will be asked to decorate their front porches, windows or lawns for the Porch Parade on May 23 and May 30. Entrants will be judged by a roving panel of festival staff and volunteers. A virtual map of participating houses will also be released to the public allowing Portlanders to drive by themselves.

The Grand Petite Parade will be a virtual parade featuring shoe box floats that will stream on Facebook Live on June 6. Members of the community are invited to create their own mini floats using any materials on hand. Photos or videos of the floats will be featured in the livestream.

People can register to enter the Porch and Grand Petite parades starting Monday. Details will be available at rosefestival.org.

The new parades show some of the creativity and innovation that has been necessary as Rose Festival organizers have navigated the coronavirus pandemic.

Jarvis said its just the latest in a long line of challenges the Rose Festival has faced in its 113-year history. The Vanport Flood in 1948, the Mount St. Helens eruption in 1980 and the violent political protests in 2017 all threatened to derail the festival, he said. It has only been completely canceled twice: once during World War I, and again during the construction of Civic Stadium.

Every single year its something new, and we just are accustomed to the fact that were going to face a new challenge, Jarvis said.

Rose Festival organizers have been keeping hope alive as they plan for a potential September event, and theyre also trying to offer hope to the community in a more tangible way.

On Friday, the Rose Festival Foundation unveiled an update to its iconic neon sign at Waterfront Park, adding the word hope beneath the rose as a message to the community as it continues to struggle amid the pandemic.

Curtis said the foundation came up with the idea after the festival was postponed, as a way to continue offering support. The sign is not permanent but will remain up as long as Portland still needs it, he said.

Festival organizers biggest hope right now is that Portland will be able to safely gather for a big community celebration this year, just as it has almost every year for over a century.

We just want to be a part of the healing process, thats what we do, Curtis said. That will be a driving thematic part of this festival.

--Jamie Hale; jhale@oregonian.com; 503-294-4077; @HaleJamesB

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New Delhi, April 25 (IANS) BJP MP Gautam Gambhir trained his guns on Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday over a letter written by a fair price shop owner who pleaded his inability to run his shop in the absence of corona testing facilities or financ Image Source: PK

New Delhi, April 25 : BJP MP Gautam Gambhir trained his guns on Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday over a letter written by a fair price shop owner who pleaded his inability to run his shop in the absence of corona testing facilities or financial aid in case of death due to the virus.

Using this letter and photo of a shuttered down ration shop, Gambhir alleged: "How much will you play with people's lives @ArvindKejriwal? Ration shopkeepers have blown the Delhi government's claims. Neither PPE Kits, nor tests and no treatment -- they have been fighting an unarmed battle for the past 1 month. Have they elected this government only for compensation that will be handed out after death? Shameful!" The letter tweeted by the BJP leader reads the concerned shop owner complain about alleged indifference towards fair price shop owner by the Delhi government. The letter alleged one such shop assistant in Delhi's Model Town area has been left to fend for himself after he caught COVID-19 on April 20.
New Delhi, April 25 : Every day 6,693 people in Delhi violates the complete lockdown imposed to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus, sources in Delhi Police said on Saturday. In fact over 300 of them move around without a mask that has been made mandatory to help fight the disease that has already claimed 50 lives here alone.

On an average every day, the city police have registered 521 cases so far for disobedience of order issued by Commissioner of Delhi Police S.N. Shrivastava and have also impounded 809 vehicles per day.

So far a total of 2.2 lakh people in the national capital have defied the government's order of lockdown since it was enforced on March 23.

"A total 2,20,873 people ignored the law enforcement agency's - Delhi Police - curfew order. These many people from March 23, 2020 to April 24, 2020 have disobeyed lockdown orders of the police," source said.

It was found that these people have been booked under section 65 of The Delhi Police Act, 1978. Section 65 states that when people resists, refuses or fails to comply with any direction given by a police officer in the discharge of his duties, they can be detained.

Between March 23 and April 24, the police have registered 17,216 cases under section 188 (Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the Indian Penal Code.

In one month, the police here has impounded a total 26,689 vehicles. The vehicles have been impounded under Section 66 in The Delhi Police Act, 1978. Under section 66, police to take charge of unclaimed property found lying in any public street, if the owner or person in charge of such property, on being directed to remove the same, refuses or fails to do so.

"Between April 10, 2020 and April 24, 2020, a total 5,726 cases of mask violations was reported from the national capital," the source said.

On April 9, Chief Secretary of Delhi Vijay Dev in an order made wearing of face masks mandatory when people leave their homes. Not wearing a mask while stepping out of your house in Delhi would land you in jail for up to six months, according to that order. It also invites fines between Rs 200 and Rs 1,000.

The chief secretary said violators will strictly be punished under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code. "No person/officer will attend any meeting/gathering without wearing masks. These masks may be standard masks available with the chemist or even homemade washable masks that can be reused after proper washing and disinfecting them," the order had stated.

(Sumit Kumar Singh can be reached at sumit.k@ians.in)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Home > Archives (2006 on) > 2020 > On high handed ways of law enforcement agencies in Jammu & Kashmir (...)

DOCUMENT

April 21, 2020

The Editors Guild of India has noted with shock and concern the high-handed manner in which the law enforcement agencies in Jammu & Kashmir have used the prevailing laws to deal with two Srinagar-based journalists, Masrat Zahra, a young freelance photographer, and Peerzada Ashiq, a reporter working for The Hindu. While only an FIR has been filed in connection with a report filed by Peerzada Ashiq, the authorities in the union territory have used the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act against Masrat Zahra.

Any recourse to such laws for merely publishing something in the mainstream or social media is a gross misuse of power. Its only purpose can be to strike terror into journalists. The Guild also believes that this is an indirect way of intimidating journalists in the rest of the country as well.

The journalists should be put to no harm or further harassment. If the government has any grievance against their reporting, there are other ways of dealing with such issues in the normal course. Mere social media posts of factual pictures cant attract the toughest anti-terror laws passed for hardened terrorists. And in the case of The Hindu reporter, the correct course was to escalate the complaint to the newspapers editor.

The Guild demands that the Union Territory administration of Jammu & Kashmir withdraw the charges forthwith.

Shekhar Gupta, President

AK Bhattacharya, General Secretary

Sheela Bhatt, Treasurer
The alumni association of St.

Xavier's College here has distributed 300 sets of personal protective gear to doctors and other medical staff of a private hospital in the city.

The PPEs have been procured from an authorised supplier and were made according to the standards of the World Health Organisation and the Centre, a spokesperson of the St. Xavier's College (Calcutta) Alumni Association said.

"We need to stand by the doctors and other frontline health service providers, who are extending yeomen service in this trying time.

"Our small effort will surely give a positive signal to that section of the society, which is trying to socially outcast the noble professionals," principal of the college and president of the association Rev. Fr. Dominic Savio said.

The PPEs were given to the health staff of the hospital, located in a congested area of central Kolkata, as a precautionary measure, he said on Friday.

The alumni association has also distributed food packets among people in eight villages, located around the rural campus of the college at Raghabpur in South 24 Parganas district earlier this week, he said.

St. Xavier's College has identified 16 villages in the district and distributed essential items among 3000 families, he said.

Meanwhile, the Presidency Alumni Association had come forward to distribute units of hand sanitiser and masks to casual employees, elderly parents of former students, and staff of the university, who have not been able to procure these items during the ongoing lockdown.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-25 09:46:02|Editor: huaxia

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RIO DE JANEIRO, April 24 (Xinhua) -- Corinthians would welcome back their former midfielder Willian with open arms, should he decide to return to his native Brazil, the club's president said on Friday.

Willian's contract with Chelsea expires on June 30 and the 31-year-old has said that he is open to offers from other clubs after talks over a new deal at Stamford Bridge broke down.

"If Willian wants to return to Brazil, his priority will be Corinthians," club president Andres Sanchez said in an interview broadcast on Brazilian television.

"Corinthians would be interested. We could pay him a little more than what we'd normally offer but less than what he currently earns. I don't agree with paying 1.5 million reais (around 300,000 U.S. dollars) to one player and 500,000 reais to another. That's not fair."

Willian began his professional career at Corinthians in 2006 before moving to Shakhtar Donetsk and then Anzhi Makhachkala.

He signed with Chelsea in 2013 and has made 329 first-team appearances for the London side.

Barcelona, Liverpool, Arsenal, Tottenham and Paris Saint-Germain are other clubs to have reportedly shown interest in the playmaker. Enditem
- A policewoman was praised by netizens after she breastfed a newborn baby

- The mom who gave birth no longer had sufficient milk for her newborn

- The kindhearted frontliner sat on a bench and fed the baby who was wrapped appropriately for protection

- Her act of kindness went viral, with many netizens praising her motherly gesture

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Frontliners are not only protecting the peace, but they also extend help whenever needed.

A policewoman recently caught the attention of netizens after she breastfed a newborn baby right outside the hospital because the mother lacked milk.

The frontliner was identified as Pat Adelfa Bachicha Dagohoy, and she did the kind act right outside the Samar Provincial Hospital where the baby was born.

The newborn was wrapped in a "lampin" and the post of Bhong David, shared on Facebook regarding Pat was shared thousands of times and has gotten thousands of reactions as well.

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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
Moldova's Pro-Moscow President Says Suspension Of Russian Loan Risks Economic Crisis

By RFE/RL's Moldovan Service April 24, 2020

Moldovan President Igor Dodon has accused the opposition of triggering an economic crisis during the coronavirus pandemic by blocking a 200 million-euro ($215 million) loan agreement with Russia.

The agreement was ratified by parliament on April 23, but the Constitutional Court blocked the deal after being petitioned by a pro-European opposition lawmaker.

Prime Minister Ion Chicu said the agreement reached in Moscow last week would help plug a rapidly growing budget deficit that is expected to double because of the coronavirus outbreak, reaching an estimated 7 percent of economic output.

The pro-Western opposition has criticized the 10-year loan saying that it poses a long-term "danger" because of obscure provisions that would channel the money toward unnecessary projects that favor Russian companies.

It has also said that Russia's motivation in providing the loan is to back the Moscow-friendly Dodon, who plans to run for a second term later this year.

"The opposition is worried that Moldova will receive a loan of 200 million euros from Russia," Dodon said on his official Facebook feed.

"They would like to provoke a crisis, bring people to the street, and return to power on this wave," Dodon added.

The court's decision to suspend the deal "pending a substantive review" makes the date for drawing funds from the credit uncertain. It also remains unclear as to when the court will rule on whether the loan is legal or not.

Sandwiched between EU member Romania and Ukraine, Moldova is one of Europe's poorest countries.

It has reported more than 2,900 coronavirus infections and 80 deaths so far.

With reporting by Reuters, TASS, and unimedia.md

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/moldovan-president-slams- suspension-of-russian-loan-/30574493.html

Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Tensions between Washington and Tehran flared up again on Wednesday as the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which is on the US foreign terrorist list, launched a satellite. This launch could be the start of the Regimes long-range missile program. This week 11 armed speedboats of IRGC in the Persian Gulf came too close to US fleets, and then President Donald Trump threatened to "shoot and destroy" any Iranian gunboats that interfere with naval vessels.

Experts have called the IRGC's launch of a spacecraft a secret military space program that could reveal the progress of Iran's ballistic missiles.

Iran's Fars News Service showed off their missiles in August 2019

In UN Security Council Resolution 2231, the Security Council requested Iran to not engage in any activity in line with the development of ballistic missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead.

"The Pentagon has carefully examined this launch," said John Hyten, US Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. "This missile traveled a very long distance and it could be a threat to other countries," Hyten declined to give classified details.

In the first official response from US, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo criticized IRGC's launch of a military satellite, calling it a violation of UN Security Council resolutions and saying the Iranian regime should be concerned about the comfort and security of its people. "I think Iran needs to be held accountable for what it has done," Pompeo told a news conference.

At the same time, Deputy Secretary of Defense David Norquist said, "This is further evidence that Iran's behavior is threatening and destructive to the region. Last week's naval interception in the Persian Gulf and the launch on Wednesday are along the same line.

The U.S. Space Force's 18th battalion in a tweet identified the tracking code of Noor Satellite and confirmed it had reached its orbit.

According to the US Space Force's 18th battalion, the body of the Ghased missile, and the Noor satellite are both in orbit. This battalion is responsible for intercepting satellite and space activities.

According to initial estimates, the body of Noor satellite is small and can capture low-resolution images.

Last May, The United States sent thousands of troops, including long-range bombers and a carrier, to the Middle East in response to what it called a growing threat of Iran's attacks on US interests in the region.

Iran has responded with a ballistic missile attack on a base in western Iraq where US troops were stationed. No Americans have been killed, but more than 100 have suffered minor brain injuries as a result of the blasts.

Senior Pentagon officials did offer any hint to any major change in Trumps military policy toward Iran.

Political experts see Iran's actions as a reflection of developments within Iranian society. They say Tehran has spent millions of dollars belonging to Iranian people on missiles instead of paying for treatment of Coronavirus patients (with 33,000 deaths, according to the opposition National Council of Resistance) and livelihoods of Iranian people who need to be quarantined. Also, due to the economic crisis and inefficiency in dealing with the Coronavirus crisis, after November and February uprisings in Iran and the killing of Qassem Soleimani, Tehran officials are terrified of the insurgency and unforeseen uprisings in Iranian cities.

Iran is pursuing these maneuvers, launching missiles, or harassing the US fleet in The Persian Gulf to divert public opinion inside Iran and to have an open hand to suppress the Iranian people, as evidenced by military and IRGC maneuvers inside the country, which have nothing to do with tensions with the United States. Tehran is saying that it sees the heavy US military presence in the Middle East as a threat to its security. By mentioning "security," it means danger of overthrow of its regime and has used it as a cover to suppress internal riots. Therefore, with great controversy and fuss, it announces the launch of a military missile into space. Tehran thinks in vain that with this show of power and international law-breaking act, it can repel and neutralize the revolts and uprisings that lie in wait.
Apple Inc. said it found no evidence of cyber-attackers exploiting newly discovered vulnerabilities in the Mail app for iPhone and iPad, software used by hundreds of millions of people worldwide.

The U.S. company is countering assertions by cybersecurity company ZecOps Inc. that software flaws may have allowed hackers to infiltrate iPhones and other iOS devices for more than a year.

Apple launched an investigation and said in a statement the mail issues were insufficient by themselves to allow cyber-attackers to bypass built-in security, adding it will issue a fix soon.

We have thoroughly investigated the researchers report and, based on the information provided, have concluded these issues do not pose an immediate risk to our users, the Cupertino, California company said.

The researcher identified three issues in Mail, but alone they are insufficient to bypass iPhone and iPad security protections, and we have found no evidence they were used against customers.

San Francisco-based ZecOps said Wednesday the vulnerability can be exploited when a specially crafted email is opened on the app by an iPhone or an iPad.

The flaws may have been used in attacks conducted by an advanced threat operator, it said in a report.

Among the victims were individuals from a Fortune 500 organization in North America and an executive from a carrier in Japan, as well as a journalist in Europe, ZecOps said.

The vulnerabilities may have been exploited by attackers since January 2018, according to ZecOps.

The bugs were disclosed publicly when Apple issued a beta update, and attackers will likely use the time until a patch is available to attack as many devices as possible, ZecOps predicted.
The coronavirus outbreak has forced the halt of thousands of construction projects in Japan, putting jobs of subcontractors and other workers at risk.

NHK surveyed 20 major construction companies and found that work has been suspended at about 3,000 sites across Japan. Some were put on hold after employees working at the site tested positive for the virus.

Shimizu Corporation was erecting a 12-story office building in central Tokyo that would have been completed by the end of next March. But the company decided to halt construction until May 6 after talks with the client.

Shimizu says it checked the workers' temperatures and implemented other anti-infection measures, but decided to suspend work after the government declared a state of emergency early this month.

An industry group says about 3.3 million people are working at construction sites across the country. Most of them are employees of small subcontractors or self-employed.

Without compensation or financial support from prime contractors, these small firms may be unable to pay wages or maintain jobs for their workers.

The land and infrastructure ministry is urging major construction firms to ensure that their subcontractors can continue business.
Social media has been flooded with emotional tributes as thousands of people across Australia and New Zealand commemorate ANZAC Day from the comfort of their homes.

Commemorations moved online this year after restrictions around social gatherings forced the cancellation of traditional ceremonies and dawn services.

Facebook, Twitter and Instagram have lit up with the hashtags 'lightupthedawn', 'istandatdawn, 'showusyourmedals' and 'Anzacathome' displaying the creative ways people have been paying their respects.

The Sydney Opera House livestreamed a poignant rendition of the Last Post on the Opera House steps

The traditional 'Dawn Service' was converted to a 'Lawn Service' with hundreds sharing selfies as they stood at the end of their driveway in their pajamas with a lit candle to remember the fallen.

Others stood to attention in full uniform with their medals.

Many shared photographs of the makeshift memorials they had set up outside their homes, showing off creative decorations like chalk artworks, hand-crafted poppies made of egg cartons and candles from old milk bottle.

RSL Services and musical performances were live streamed on Facebook and Instagram, including the a poignant rendition of the last post by a New South Wales police officer on the steps of the Sydney Opera House.

Air Vice-Marshal Joe Iervasi, AM, Air Commander Australia shared an image of his family taking part in the Light the Dawn initiative

Australians used social media to shared photographs of the makeshift memorials they had set up outside their homes

Many shared images of handcrafted candles they had made using plastic milk bottles and paint

Scouts Australia used Zoom to come together for the 'Light up the Dawn' service on their driveways on Saturday morning

An ANZAC Day tribute is painted across the skies of Sydney on Saturday April 25

Others shared videos of bonfires or photographs of their traditional 'gunfire breakfast'

Amateur musicians showed off their talent, recording themselves taking to the streets on trumpets, violins, harmonicas and even bagpipes to play their own rendition of the Last Post for the local neighborhoods.

An entire website was even set up to allow people to play Two Up with friends using Zoom or Facebook to keep the ANZAC tradition alive

Others shared videos of bonfires or photographs of their traditional 'gunfire breakfast'.

Communities like Scouts Australia came together via video messaging platform Zoom to share the dawn service together.

While others used the platform to take part in Anzac cookie baking tutorials, including an event which more than 150 Australians signed up to take part in.

An entire website was even set up to allow people to play Two Up with friends using Zoom or Facebook to keep the ANZAC tradition alive.

However many Australians were content to play the iconic game from the comfort of their own homes - dusting off their paddles to 'keep the tradition' going.

Zoom was used to hold virtual baking workshops for Anzac cookies

Many Australians played the iconic Anzac Day ritual 'Two up' from their own homes

One Instagram user even personalised their Two Up paddle with an inscription about COVID-19 for ANZAC Day 2020
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 25)  A public-private initiative has been launched to support efforts to expand RT-PCR testing for COVID-19 in the country, the Department of Health announced on Friday.

The Task Force T3, or Test, Trace, and Treat, will "identify the most urgent requirements for PCR machines, testing kits, and fixed and mobile labs, and install these in priority hotspots as soon as possible," said the DOH.

Considered by the DOH as the "gold standard" in COVID-19 testing, RT-PCR (real-time polymerase chain reaction) now accounts for around 4,500 a day being conducted in local health facilities.

With the Task Force T3 support, this number is targetted to reach 30,000 tests daily by May 30.

RT-PCR tests are used in confirmatory testing for the coronavirus, which helps medical authorities in isolating and treating patients and thereby preventing a wild spread of the virus.

There are currently 18 public and private laboratories across the country conducting RT-PCR tests.

READ: PH now conducts 4,500 COVID-19 tests per day with additional accredited laboratory

The expanded capacity, to be made possible by the new task force, will be spread among regions in order for test swabs to be delivered to the nearest laboratories, leading to the timely delivery of results, the department explained.

READ: Expert says PH must expedite mass testing with both rapid and PCR tests

The task force was convened by the department and Inter-Agency Task Force  National Task Force (IATF-NTF) with support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB). Its initial members from the private sector are Unilab, AC Health/Qualimed, MPIC Hospital Group, the Philippine Red Cross, and the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation.

"The DOH welcomes the private sector's support and participation in aggressively expanding testing capacity in the country, as well as in efforts to ramp up isolation and treatment," said Health Secretary Francisco Duque.

An aggressive push for testing can also mitigate the effects of the pandemic on the country's economic well-being, said COVID-19 chief response implementer Carlito Galvez Jr.

With this approach, the Philippines "can locate, isolate and care for COVID-19 carriers and those who are sick in order to keep our communities safe enough to resume a level of economic activities. This is to further avoid a humanitarian crisis," he said.

As the country continues its fight against the deadly coronavirus, President Rodrigo Duterte this week extended the enhanced community quarantine in Metro Manila, Central Luzon, and CALABARZON, and other "high-risk" provinces until May 15.

Prior to the extension, the strict enhanced quarantine covering all of Luzon island was scheduled to end on April 30.

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 10 percent.

All low-risk and middle-risk areas in Luzon and elsewhere in the country are placed under general community quarantine also until mid-May, which has less strict rules compared to the enhanced quarantine.

To date, the Philippines has 7,192 confirmed cases of COVID-19. 477 have died from the illness, while 762 have recovered.
Coronavirus Outbreak Updates:Nineteen more staffers of the Delhi government's Babu Jagjivan Ram Memorial Hospital in Jahangirpuri tested positive for coronavirus on Sunday, taking the total number of COVID-19 cases at the facility to 59, officials said.

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On Saturday, the nationwide count of confirmed cases climbed to 24,942 with 779 deaths with some states began easing some of the restrictions imposed since the country went on a nationwide lockdown on 25 march.

The Union Health Ministry on Saturday informed that there has been a marked improvement in the rate of spread of the novel coronavirus in India, even as the country registered 1,490 new COVID-19 cases and 56 deaths, the highest single day rise in confirmed cases and fatalities so far.

The COVID-19 toll in the United States has been the highest with 53,070 fatalities, followed by Italy with 26,384 deaths, Spain at 22,902, France at 22,614 and the United Kingdom had registered 20,319 deaths.

The death count due to the novel coronavirus worldwide has crossed 2 lakh, according to Baltimore-based John Hopkins University. In total, 202,832 deaths have been recorded including 122,171 in Europe, the hardest-hit continent, since the virus appeared in China in December.

In an exclusive interview with NDTV, Gadkari said, "I heard Yogi Adityanath's statement on running buses and I would request against it. I feel, at this point, we need to exercise caution. This is not the time. If someone contracts coronavirus, then it can become a big problem in Uttar Pradesh."

Warning an alert over Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath's plan to bring back migrant labourers from the state stranded across the nation due to the lockdown, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Saturday reiterated directions issued by the Centre to the states on tackling the workers' plight.

After the home ministry issued clarification on reopening of shops, Uttarakhand chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat on Sunday said standalone shops in colonies will be permitted to operate from 7 am to 6 pm in nine out of 13 districts that have been declared green zones in the state.

While two new cases reported on Saturday are from Khajpura in Patna, Arwal reported its first case with a person from Kurtha testing positive for the virus on Saturday.

As many as 28 fresh COVID-19 positive cases were reported in Bihar on Saturday, taking the overall count to 251 in the state. Of the total confirmed cases, 45 people have recovered while two have succumbed to the infectious disease. Currently, there are currently 204 active cases.

Of the overall count of COVID-19 cases, as many as 68 were active cases while the recovery rate was at 33 percent with 34 patients being cured of the virus.

The total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Odisha rose to 103, ANI quoted the state health department as saying. The infectious disease has claimed one live in the state so far.

"The government will explore all possible means required for the conduct of the yatras. However, all these developments are subject to review, in view of the COVID-19 crisis," Murmu said at a meeting with a nine-member delegation of Baba Amarnath and Buda Amarnath Yatri Niyas at the Raj Bhavan.

The 42-day-long yatra to the 3,880-metre high cave shrine of Amarnath in the south Kashmir Himalayas is scheduled to commence on 23 June.

Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor GC Murmu on Saturday said the upcoming Amarnath yatra was subject to a periodic review of the COVID-19 situation as comprehensive planning and execution are involved in the conduct of the annual pilgrimage.

Standalone shops and and shops in residential areas, including those selling mobile phones, garments and stationary items, will open with social-distancing strictly followed, the official added.

A Delhi government official said non-essential shops will be allowed to open, but not in coronavirus containment zones. "No activity will be allowed in containment zones," the official said. There are 95 containment zones in the National Capital.

The Delhi government on Saturday decided to implement the home ministry's latest guidelines on reopening of shops except in containment zones, officials said.

Telangana is the only state till now to have extended the lockdown till 7 May.

In the video conference meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi scheduled on Monday, Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray is likely to put out the request to extend the lockdown curbs in Mumbai and Pune beyond 3 May, News18 reported.

In the letter,Chandra alleged "insufficient cooperation" from the state and sought clarification on safety and security of key members.

Apurva Chandra, heading the Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT), has written a letter to chief minister Mamata Banerjee, asking the state government for adequate support to enable it to carry on its work.

"Have been getting several insightful inputs for this month's Mann Ki Baat. Do tune at 11 am tomorrow," Modi had tweeted on Saturday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation at 11am on Sunday in the 64th edition of his monthly programme Mann ki Baat amid the coronavirus pandemic in the country.

The Haryana government had on Monday ordered a probe after four samples reported positive for coronavirus by SRL Diagnostics tested negative in confirmation tests done at different government labs in the state.

A private laboratory which has been under the Haryana government's scanner for alleged discrepancies in COVID-19 test results on Saturday asserted that it stands by its findings and is open to getting these samples re-tested at any government lab.

"A discussion on extending the lockdown will be taken in the video conference with the Prime Minister on Monday. But if required, we will extend the lockdown for 15 more days after 3 May. It may only be for the containment zones, if not for all of Mumbai and Pune. A final call will be taken after deliberations on Monday," he said.

Maharashtra health minister Rajesh Tope on Saturday advocated the extension of the lockdown in the containment areas in Mumbai and Pune regions, which account for 92 percent of the total cases in the state, till 18 May.

Of the total, 19,868 are active cases while one patient was migrated. The recovery rate stood at 22 percent after 5,804 COVID-19 patients were cured.

India registered the highest single-day rise in COVID-19 fatalities in the past 24 hours with 49, taking the toll to 824. According to the data released by the Union Health Ministry, a spike of 1,990 fresh cases was witnessed, bringing the overall count to 26,496.

Of the new cases, 20 were reported in Nagaur, 15 in Jodhpur, 11 in Ajmer, seven in Jaipur, three in Kota, while one each in Hanumagarh and Jhalawar.

With 58 more individuals testing positive for the novel coronavirus in Rajasthan, the overall count in the state climbed to 2,141 on Sunday, said the state health department.

Of the overall count of COVID-19 cases in the state, Mumbai accounts for 4,870 of them. The financial capital of the country saw 281 new positive cases and 12 deaths on Saturday. The toll in the city stood at 191.

With 119 patients discharged after recovery, their number rose to 1,076 so far.

Maharashtra on Saturday reported 811 new confirmed COVID-19 cases, a single-day record for the state. The total number of positive cases in the state are now 7,628 and the toll rose by 22 to reach 323, a Health department statement said.

"A total of 118 more COVID-19 cases and one more death was reported in the National Capital in the last 24 hours. The total cases in Delhi now stand at 2,625, including 1,702 active cases, 869 recovered and 54 deaths," Delhi's health department said in a media bulletin.

The total number of confirmed cases in Delhi surged to 2,625 following an increase by 118 new cases of COVID-19 and one death in the National Capital.

As many as 13 COVID-19 patients have recovered in Jharkhand of the total 67 confirmed cases reported in state as of Saturday. According to the state health department, six patients have been cured in Ranchi, four in Bokaro, two in Hazaribagh and one in Simdega.

The letter read, "Some resident doctors stay in hostels allotted in the hospital campus while many stay at their homes in various locations. Many of them are anxious about the home quarantine, since most are staying with their families. There are aged family members as well as young children at home who are most vulnerable to the disease. The doctors themselves might be a source of infection. Therefore, it is necessary to provide separate accommodation for the resident doctors who are primary contacts, till they test negative for the virus."

Federation of Resident Doctors Association wrote to Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan on Sunday over accommodation facilities for resident doctors advised for home quarantine in response to COVID-19 pandemic.

India also reported 594 new COVID-19 recoveries. Tripura has now become the fourth state after Goa, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh to report zero active COVID-19 cases.

India reported 1,554 new COVID-19 cases since 5 pm on Sunday, the second highest single-day increase after 1,752 on 24 April. Maharashtra now has 7,628 COVID-19 cases, the highest number in India and the first state to cross 7,000 confirmed cases. The state has reported 811 more cases since last evening, its highest single-day increase yet.

He also hailed the contribution of state governments in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, adding that they have played a very active role.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the digital platform -- covidwarriors.gov.in -- which around 1.25 crore people, including doctors, nurses, NCC cadets and civil ociety organisations, have joined. "I urge you to join the portal and become a COVID warrior," he said.

Referring to the Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Ordinance 2020, which amends the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 and provides details compensation for injury to healthcare service personnel, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "Many health care workers have hailed the latest ordinance. This law was necessary to protect our doctors and nurses."

A bored truck driver's attempt to kill time by indulging in a game of cards with his friends and neighbours led to the infection of coronavirus in 24 people in one locality of Vijayawada city in Andhra Pradesh, Krishna district Collector A Md Imtiaz said on Saturday.

A data journalism portal called Health Check also reported that Mumbai was ready to conduct plasma therapy for eligible COVID-19 patients. The report citing BMC said that three units of plasma have already been collected.

According to the municipal corporation, the number of patients who have been cured of the infectious disease stood at 762. Therefore, the COVID-19 recovery rate in the city was at 15.6 percent.

Mumbai reported as many as 203 fresh COVID-19 cases on Saturday till 6 pm, thereby taking the total number of confirmed cases in the city to 4,870, said Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). The toll due to the novel coronavirus was 191.

The district also reported one more death due to the infectious disease on Saturday.

According to a report in The Hindu , Krishna district has turned out to be the third-worst affected district in the Andhra Pradesh after Kurnool and Guntur following a sudden spike in the number of positive COVID-19 cases in the past couple of days.

Till now, 107 people have been discharged after recovering from the viral infection, he said.

So far, 57 COVID-19 patients have died in Indore, which has emerged as one of the COVID-19 hotspots in the country, district chief medical and health officer Praveen Jadia said.

The number of coronavirus cases in Indore rose to 1,176 after 91 more people tested positive for the infectious disease in the Madhya Pradesh district during the past 24 hours, an official said on Sunday.

As many as 18 people succumbed ot the infectious disease in the state, while the recovery rate stood at 32 percent.

The new case was reported in Dakshin Kannada after a 47-year-old woman tested positive for the viral infection in the district.

Karnataka registered only one positive COVID-19 case since Saturday 5 pm, thereby taking the total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the state to 501, according to media reports.

The state on Saturday reported 811 new confirmed COVID-19 cases, a single-day record for the state. The total number of positive cases in the state are now at 7,628 and the toll rose by 22 to reach 323, a Health department statement said.

Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray will address the media at 1.30 pm on Sunday, assessing the COVID-19 situation in the state which has already been hit hard by the impact of the novel coronavirus.

The chief minister had last week announced that the easing of restrictions, allowed by the Central government from 20 April onwards, would not kick in in the National Capital.

Kejriwal further said that a decision on the way forward, after the current nationwide lockdown ends on 3 May, will be taken depending on what the Centre decides.

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal announced that no concession will be made in the lockdown guidelines in the National Capital till 3 May, except for allowing standalone shops to open outside containment zones.

"Last week, we had decided not to ease restrictions after the Centre's order on relaxing shutdown in non-affected areas. We had decided to review the situation again in a week (on April 27)," said Kejriwal.

Malls and markets in Delhi will continue to remain shut and only standalone neighbourhood shops will be allowed to open, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Sunday after the Centre allowed an ease in the nationwide restrictions over coronavirus pandemic in a late-night order on Friday.

Justice Najmi Waziri issued the direction to three private companies which had entered into an agreement to import 10 lakh test kits from China and distribute them here at a cost of Rs 600 each, the rate approved by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

COVID-19 test kits should be made available urgently at the lowest possible price so that the virus can be controlled and people's health can be safeguarded at a time when the country was facing an "unprecedented medical crisis", the Delhi High Court has said.

Uddhav Thackeray during the state address on Sunday appreciated the efforts by the Musim community for following the lockdown guidelines during the holy month of Ramzan.

Train services in Maharashtra cannot be started anytime soon, said Uddhav Thackeray during the briefing on Sunday, adding that such measures can lead to spike in number of coronavirus cases.

The chief minister further stated that the state has been successful in curbing the multiplication of COVID-19. "We have succeeded in stopping the multiplication of corona, we have certainly curbed that growth to some extent," he said.

Uddhav Thackeray mentioned the deaths of two Maharashtra constables who lost their lives due to the novel coronavirus. "Two police constables killed by coronavirus, they were martyred while fighting the virus," said Thackeray.

"I am working with state governments and central government on this and also on bringing back Maharashtra students stuck in Kota," he further said.

"I assure the migrant labourers that I am talking to the Centre and whatever is possible will be done soon," said Thackeray.

Working with both state and central governments to address the plight of migrant labourers, said Uddhav Thackeray, assuring that the issue will be dealt with immediacy.

"Thank you to Nitin Gadkari for appealing to all to stand behind the Maharashtra government and cooperate without politics, just as all castes and religions are united," said Thackeray.

Uddhav Thackeray expressed gratitude to Union Minister Nitin Gadkari for urging everyone to join forces in Maharashtra by posing a united front in its battle against COVID-19 pandemic without indulging in petty politics.

The Cenral teams in Mumbai and Pune has requested to distribute foodgrains to orange ration card holders at discounted rates for two days, said chief minister Uddhav Thackeray

"Even if the pace of COVID-19 growth slows down, don't be ignorant, this is a test of restraint, fortunately 80% of patients do not have symptoms," said Thackeray.

As soon as we bring relaxation in Mumbai, traffic congestion in the city will increase, said Uddhav Thackeray, stressing on the importance of being aware of the COVID-19 crisis.

We have 80% of patients who are asymptomatic and 20% are there who have mild, serious or critical symptoms. We have to see how these people are also saved. Those who are hiding it and not getting tested, if you have symptoms please go and get tested, said Uddhav Thackeray

He said the measures would be presented by the beginning of next week at the latest.

"We are working in these hours to allow the reopening of a good part of businesses from manufacturing to construction for 4 May," Conte told Italian daily La Repubblica.

Italy will start reopening its manufacturing industry on 4 May as part of plans to ease its coronavirus lockdown, and schools will reopen in September, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said in a newspaper interview on Sunday.

"After he tested positive for COVID-19, he was first taken to Beliaghata ID hospital and then to the Salt Lake private hospital. The doctor was suffering from respiratory distress and other co-morbidities and had been on ventilator since he was admitted to the hospital. He died at 1.20 am on Sunday," sources told PTI.

A senior government doctor involved in the fight against the novel coronavirus, succumbed to the infectious disease on Sunday. The 60-year-old doctor, posted as assistant director health services (equipment and stores), was initially admitted to Beliaghata Infectious Diseases hospital and later shifted to a private hospital in Salt Lake on 18 April, where he died of the virus.

The toll due to the novel coronavirus rose to 323 on Sunday with 22 deaths reported in past 24 hrs, while the number of confirmed cases saw a jump of 811 to go up to 7,628.

The COVID-19 mortality rate in Maharashtra stood at 4.23 percent after 323 fatalities were registered so far. On the other hand, the COVID-19 recovery rate in the state was at 14.11 percent after 1, 076 COVID-19 patients were cured of the infectious disease, according to the data released by the health ministry.

He also requested to offer financial assistance to the Maharashtra government to the tune of 1 lakh crores for FY 2020-21.

Pawar also suggested was an extension of RBIs new loan deferment policy to state debt too. "The state makes repayment of Rs 10,500 crore every year on account of the NSSF loan given by the Centre. It is requested to extend the two-year moratorium on loan repayment."

One of the steps he suggested was to enhance the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRBM) borrowing limit.

Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar has come up with economic suggestions for the Narendra Modi government to help states tackle the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bollywood singer Kanika Kapoor has released a statement on social media after she was discharged from the hospital from 6 April. "She said that no person she came in contact with has shown any symptoms of COVID-19 and all of them have tested negative."

440 new positive COVID19 cases and 19 deaths were reported in Maharashtra today, taking the total number of cases to 8,068 and death toll to 342, ANI quotes the state health department as saying. 1,188 patients have been discharged till now, of which 112 were discharged today, the health department said.

"Coronavirus is a new disease. We are getting to know more about it as we are getting closer to the disease. All efforts are being made to mitigate this problem," said Bhagwat in an online address on 'Current scenario and role.'

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday said that India never discriminates and is helping other countries with medicines during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Haryana health department has said that there are 296 cases of the novel coronavirus in Haryana, out of which 94 are active. Three people have lost their lives due to the disease so far. The doubling rate of cases stands at 18 days in the state.

One patient is critical and still on ventilator support, the medical bulletin said, adding that so far 18 people have succumbed to the infection in the state. It said 12 patients-eight from Mohali and four from Pathankot--were discharged from hospitals, taking the total number of cured cases to 84 in the state.

Of the remaining cases, 61 have been reported from Patiala, 25 in Pathankot, 20 in SBS Nagar, 18 in Ludhiana, 14 in Amritsar, 13 in Mansa, seven in Hoshiarpur, four in Moga, three each in Rupnagar, Sangrur, Kapurthala and Faridkot, two each in Fatehgarh Sahib and Barnala, and one each in Muktsar, Gurdsapur and Ferozepur.

Meanwhile, the number of infected patients soared to 313 with four more people testing positive for the infection. According to a medical bulletin, three of the fresh cases were reported from Jalandhar while one was detected in Ludhiana. Jalandhar district topped the COVID-19 tally in the state with 69 cases, followed by 63 in Mohali, the bulletin said.

A 48-year-old migrant worker died of coronavirus in Punjab's Jalandhar on Sunday, pushing the death toll to 18 in the state, reports PTI. The victim, who worked at a leather factory, had tested positive for coronavirus on Saturday, an official said, adding that he also suffered from pneumonia.

The total number of containment zones in Delhi now stands at 97 after two more areas were identified as containment zones in the city.

Personal protective equipment manufactured by Jagadhri railway workshop passed the test conducted by the DRDO on 5 April and has made 6,472 coveralls along with Kalka workshop till date. The achievement becomes significant as the Northern Railway has produced 10,000 such coveralls, while all the other zonal railways together made 20,000 during the ongoing lockdown period.

With the production of a record 1,500 personal protective equipment (PPE) on Sunday, Northern Railway workshops have made 10,000 such essential life-saving gear for its doctors and paramedics since the nationwide lockdown began, PTI quotes officials as saying. In a bid to meet the demand for PPE, the Northern Railway earlier this month got approval to make such coveralls from the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). PPE suits are required by the medical staff while treating COVID-19 patients as a measure to avoid direct contact.

He has now fully recovered and was discharged, the hospital said, adding that he will stay at home for another two weeks. Group medical director of Max Healthcare and senior director of the Institute of Internal Medicine Dr Sandeep Budhiraja said, "We can say that plasma therapy could have worked as a catalyst in speeding up his recovery. We cannot attribute 100 per cent recovery to plasma therapy only, as there are multiple factors which carved his path to recovery."

When the patient showed no signs of improvement, his family requested for administration of plasma therapy on compassionate grounds, it said, adding that the family arranged a donor for extracting plasma. The patient was administered fresh plasma as a treatment modality as a side-line to standard treatment protocols on the night of 14 April, the statement said. Subsequently, the patient showed improvement and by the fourth day, was weaned off ventilator support and continued on supplementary oxygen. He was shifted to a room with round-the-clock monitoring on Monday after testing negative twice within 24 hours, it said.

A private hospital in Delhi claimed that a coronavirus patient, who was administered plasma therapy for the first time in the facility, was discharged on Sunday after being completely cured. The 49-year-old man had tested positive for COVID-19 on 4 April and was admitted to Max Hospital, Saket, it said in a statement. As his condition deteriorated, he was put on ventilator support on 8 April, the hospital added.

The hospital is located in Jahangirpuri, which is one of the containment zones in the National Capital. "All the staff members are being screened for novel coronavirus. The hospital is being sanitised," the senior official said. "The hospital will be shut for new patients for the next three days," he said. Eleven doctors out of the 59 patients have tested positive so far.

Nineteen more staffers of the Delhi government's Babu Jagjivan Ram Memorial Hospital in Jahangirpuri tested positive for coronavirus on Sunday, taking the total number of COVID-19 cases at the facility to 59, officials said. Till Saturday, the number of staffers infected with the virus stood at 40. According to a senior official, 68 more samples are to be tested. "The critically ill patients will remain in the hospital. The hospital management will take care of them," North Delhi District Magistrate Deepak Shinde said.

Over 1,500 workers stuck in Haryana due to the coronavirus lockdown were brought to Uttar Pradesh on Sunday, PTI quotes an official as saying. They were brought in 62 buses to the UP border from where they were taken to their destinations, DM Sarvagya Ram Mishra said, adding that they were provided with food packets. He said a report about a suspected coronavirus patient, who was proceeding to Fatehpur from Karnal, has been sought from Haryana. He has been hospitalised and his two associates quarantined.

officials said. Most of the new patients are from Thane city, Kalyan Dombivali, Mira Bhayandar and Navi Mumbai areas, they said. In Palghar, an increase of nine coronavirus positive cases took the total to 138. So far, 19 people have died due to the infection in Thane, while 10 in Palghar district, the officials said.

With the addition of as many as 72 new COVID-19 patients on Sunday, the number of coronavirus positive cases grew to 687 in Thane district of Maharashtra,

Nearly 300 journalists who underwent medical examination in the city for coronavirus have tested negative for the disease, Department of information and public relation said on Sunday.

According to a report in the Times of India , there are 21 such quarantine centres in Agra, housing are 800 persons at present. As per the report, persons in the quarantine centre have also alleged that they havent yet been tested for the virus, a charge denied by the district administration.

A video which has gone viral on social media shows food and water being kept outside the gates of a quarantine centre in Agra and people reaching through the gate to access essentials. Social distancing, essential for those under quarantine, is totally absent in the visuals, with people under quarantine crowding behind the gate right next to each other. Firstpost has not been able to independently verify the video.

Two children of the nurse, who was deployed at the daycare facility of the cancer centre, have also tested positive for COVID-19. Besides, at least five more staffers, including two from the record section, a lab attendant and the personal assistant of a faculty at the Cardio-Neuro Centre of AIIMS have also tested positive recently, the sources said.

A security guard deployed at the office of OSD to the Union health minister at AIIMS and a nurse working in Dr B R Ambedkar Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital of the facility have tested positive for COVID-19, PTI quotes sources as saying. The security guard, posted at the office of officer on special duty (OSD) to Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan located in the teaching block of All India Institute Of Medical Sciences, was tested positive on Saturday, they said. According to the sources, the entire wing where the OSD office is located is being sanitised and several staffers, including the OSD, is learnt to have been advised self-quarantine. Their samples are also likely to be taken for testing.

Overall, Italy has registered 26,644 deaths of those with known coronavirus infections.

Italy has registered its lowest day-to-day increase in deaths of those infected with COVID-19 since the country was in its first week of lockdown in mid-March. The Health Ministry released new figures, including 260 deaths, for the 24-hour period ending Sunday. That daily grim statistic was last lower on March 14, when 175 deaths were registered. Premier Giuseppe Conte says on Facebook that later Sunday he will address the nation, eager to learn which restrictions will be eased in Italy's lockdown, which expires May 3.

Coronavirus Outbreak Updates: Nineteen more staffers of the Delhi government's Babu Jagjivan Ram Memorial Hospital in Jahangirpuri tested positive for coronavirus on Sunday, taking the total number of COVID-19 cases at the facility to 59, officials said.

With 293 new COVID-19 cases reported today in Delhi, the total number of positive cases in Delhi rises to 2,918 and death toll stands at 54, said the CMO. 37,613 tests have been carried out in the National Capital so far and 2094 have been conducted on Sunday.

102 new COVID-19 cases and 7 deaths have been reported in Rajasthan today, taking the total number of cases to 2,185 and deaths to 41, according to the 9 pm update by the state health department.

Dharavi reported 34 new cases on Sunday bringing its total to 275 cases including 14 deaths so far, said the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation.

The Haryana health department has said that there are 296 cases of the novel coronavirus in Haryana, out of which 94 are active. Three people have lost their lives due to the disease so far.

With 440 new positive cases and 19 deaths reported in Maharashtra on Sunday, total number of cases mounts to 8,068 and toll rises to 342, according to the state health department.

Tamil Nadu on Sunday reported 64 new cases of the novel coronavirus, pushing the total in the state to 1,885. One person also died of the disease and the toll now stands at 24. 60 persons were also cured of the disease taking the number of active cases in the state to 838.

Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Sunday said the coronavirus situation in the country is improving as many hotspot districts (HSD) are moving towards being non-hotspot districts (NHSD).

COVID-19 death toll in India has reaches 826, while the number of cases has climbed to 26,917, according to the latest update provided by the Union health ministry.

A total of 1,843 positive COVID-19 cases have been reported till date in Uttar Pradesh, of which 289 cases have been cured/discharged and a total of 29 deaths have been reported till now, ANI quotes Principal Secretary (Health) Amit Mohan Prasad as saying.

Six new COVID19 positive cases have been reported in Ranchi  a staff of Sadar Hospital, three persons in Hindpiri and two in Lowadih have tested positive.

44 staff members at Delhi's Babu Jagjivan Ram hospital have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, reports ANI."Test reports of other staff members are awaited. Hospital's medical services have been closed and hospital is being sanitized," ANI quotes the Delhi health department as saying.

Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar has come up with economic suggestions for the Narendra Modi government to help states tackle the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Taking to Twitter on Sunday, Pawar detailed the steps.

One of the steps he suggested was to enhance the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRBM) borrowing limit.

Pawar also suggested was an extension of RBIs new loan deferment policy to state debt too. "The state makes repayment of Rs 10,500 crore every year on account of the NSSF loan given by the Centre. It is requested to extend the two-year moratorium on loan repayment."

He also requested to offer financial assistance to the Maharashtra government to the tune of 1 lakh crores for FY 2020-21.

The COVID-19 mortality rate in Maharashtra stood at 4.23 percent after 323 fatalities were registered so far. On the other hand, the COVID-19 recovery rate in the state was at 14.11 percent after 1,076 COVID-19 patients were cured of the infectious disease, according to the data released by the health ministry.

The toll due to the novel coronavirus rose to 323 on Sunday with 22 deaths reported in past 24 hrs, while the number of confirmed cases saw a jump of 811 to go up to 7,628.

We have 80% of patients who are asymptomatic and 20% are there who have mild, serious or critical symptoms. We have to see how these people are also saved. Those who are hiding it and not getting tested, if you have symptoms please go and get tested, said Uddhav Thackeray

Train services in Maharashtra cannot be started anytime soon, said Uddhav Thackeray during the briefing on Sunday, adding that such measures can lead to spike in number of coronavirus cases.

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal announced that no concession will be made in the lockdown guidelines in the National Capital till 3 May, except for allowing standalone shops to open outside containment zones.

Kejriwal further said that a decision on the way forward, after the current nationwide lockdown ends on 3 May, will be taken depending on what the Centre decides.

The number of coronavirus cases in Indore rose to 1,176 after 91 more people tested positive for the infectious disease in the Madhya Pradesh district during the past 24 hours, an official said on Sunday.

So far, 57 COVID-19 patients have died in Indore, which has emerged as one of the COVID-19 hotspots in the country, district chief medical and health officer Praveen Jadia said.

Till now, 107 people have been discharged after recovering from the viral infection, he said.

Mumbai reported as many as 203 fresh COVID-19 cases on Saturday till 6 pm, thereby taking the total number of confirmed cases in the city to 4,870, said Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). The toll due to the novel coronavirus was 191.

According to the municipal corporation, the number of patients who have been cured of the infectious disease stood at 762. Therefore, the COVID-19 recovery rate in the city was at 15.6 percent.

A data journalism portal called Health Check also reported that Mumbai was ready to conduct plasma therapy for eligible COVID-19 patients. The report citing BMC said that three units of plasma have already been collected.

The total number of confirmed cases in Delhi surged to 2,625 following an increase by 118 new cases of COVID-19 and one death in the National Capital.

"A total of 118 more COVID-19 cases and one more death was reported in the National Capital in the last 24 hours. The total cases in Delhi n

Maharashtra on Saturday reported 811 new confirmed COVID-19 cases, a single-day record for the state. The total number of positive cases in the state are now 7,628 and the toll rose by 22 to reach 323, a Health department statement said.

With 119 patients discharged after recovery, their number rose to 1,076 so far.

Of the overall count of COVID-19 cases in the state, Mumbai accounts for 4,870 of them. The financial capital of the country saw 281 new positive cases and 12 deaths on Saturday. The toll in the city stood at 191.

India registered the highest single-day rise in COVID-19 fatalities in the past 24 hours with 49, taking the toll to 824. According to the data released by the Union Health Ministry, a spike of 1,990 fresh cases was witnessed, bringing the overall count to 26,496.

Of the total, 19,868 are active cases while one patient was migrated. The recovery rate stood at 22 percent after 5,804 COVID-19 patients were cured

The Delhi government on Saturday decided to implement the Centre's guidelines on reopening of neighbourhood and standalone shops during the lockdown, but said no activity will be allowed in containment zones, as the number of coronavirus cases rose to 2,625 in the National Capital.

After the home ministry issued clarification on reopening of shops, Uttarakhand chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat on Sunday said standalone shops in colonies will be permitted to operate from 7 am to 6 pm in nine out of 13 districts that have been green zones in the state.

"Liquor stores and barber shops will remain closed," said Rawat.

As many as 28 fresh COVID-19 positive cases were reported in Bihar on Saturday, taking the overall count to 251 in the state. Of the total confirmed cases, 45 people have recovered while two have succumbed to the infectious disease. Currently, there are currently 204 active cases.

A month into the lockdown, the Union Health Ministry on Saturday informed that there has been a marked improvement in the rate of spread of the novel coronavirus in India, even as the country registered 1,490 new COVID-19 cases and 56 deaths, the highest single day rise in fatalities so far.

On Saturday, the nationwide count of confirmed cases climbed to 24,942 with 779 deaths with some states began easing some of the restrictions imposed since the country went on a nationwide lockdown on 25 march.

India's rate of spread slows down

The average doubling rate of COVID-19 cases in the country is 9.1 days as of now; this was 7.5 days just five days ago, and 3 days on 21 March, when India had just 300 cases. The doubling rate is the rate at which India's Covid-19 cases are expected to double from today's figure.

Furthermore, from Friday 8 am to Saturday 8 am, India recorded a six percent growth in new cases, which is the lowest daily growth rate recorded since the country crossed 100 cases on 15 March, the government said on Saturday, according to PTI.

The recovery figures have also shown some improvement. As of now, 5,062 people have been cured with a recovery rate of 20.66 percent, which is an improvement from the 14.2 percent reported last Sunday (19 April) and 13 percent on 17 April, the ministry said.

The government also said that this is comparatively better than most of the countries and may be taken as a positive effect of the lockdown in the country, along with the cluster management and containment strategy.

In an announcement that underscored the scientific unknowns about the virus, the World Health Organisation said there is currently no evidence that people who have recovered from COVID-19 cannot fall sick again.

Maharashtra, Gujarat account for most cases and deaths

Of the total cases reported on Saturday, 18953 are active, 5,209 have been cured and discharged patients, one migrated while 779 have died, the health ministry said.

According to the health ministry data updated in the evening, the highest number of confirmed cases in the country is from Maharashtra at 6,817, followed by Gujarat (2,815), Delhi (2,514), Rajasthan (2,034), Madhya Pradesh (1,952) and Uttar Pradesh (1,778).

The number of COVID-19 cases has gone up to 1,755 in Tamil Nadu, 1,061 in Andhra Pradesh and 984 in Telangana.

The number of cases has risen to 571 in West Bengal, 489 in Karnataka, 454 in Jammu and Kashmir, 451 in Kerala, 298 in Punjab and 272 in Haryana.

Bihar has reported 228 coronavirus cases, while Odisha has 94. Fifty-nine people have been infected with the virus in Jharkhand and 48 in Uttarakhand.

Himachal Pradesh has 40 cases, while Chhattisgarh and Assam have registered 36 infections each. Chandigarh has 28 cases, while there are 27 COVID-19 patients in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Twenty coronavirus cases have been reported from Ladakh, 12 from Meghalaya, while Goa and Puducherry have registered seven COVID-19 cases each.

Manipur and Tripura have two coronavirus patients each, while Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh have reported a case each.

"Forty-nine cases are being assigned to states for contact tracing. Our figures are being reconciled with that of the the ICMR," the ministry said on its website. State-wise distribution is subject to further verification and reconciliation, it added.

Of the 56 deaths reported since Friday evening, 18 were in Maharashtra, 15 in Gujarat, nine in Madhya Pradesh, three each in Delhi and West Bengal, two each in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh and one each in Punjab and Kerala.

Of the total 779 COVID-19 deaths, Maharashtra accounts for the highest number of 301 fatalities, followed by Gujarat (127), Madhya Pradesh (92), Delhi (53), Andhra Pradesh (31) and Rajasthan (27).

The death toll reached 26 in Uttar Pradesh as well as in Telangana, 22 in Tamil Nadu, while Karnataka and West Bengal have reported 18 deaths each, the ministry said.

Punjab has registered 17 fatalities so far, Jammu and Kashmir five, Kerala four, while Jharkhand and Haryana have recorded three COVID-19 deaths each.

Bihar has reported two coronavirus deaths, while Meghalaya, Himachal Pradesh, Odisha and Assam have reported a fatality each, according to the ministry data.

States ease lockdown conditions, but no respite for Maharashtra

Some states, taking cue from a late Friday night order from the Union Home Ministry, said they are taking steps to open more categories of shops, including those selling garments, mobile phones, hardware and stationery items.

However, these relaxations would not be allowed for shops located in market places, malls and COVID-19 hotspots and containment zones. In rural areas, all shops barring those in malls have been allowed to open.

Liquor and cigarette shops would remain closed everywhere irrespective of their location, while sale of non-essential items through e-commerce platforms continue to remain shut. Restaurants, hair salons and barber shops will not be allowed to open as these render services and do not fall under the shop category.

The Delhi government said it will implement the Home Ministry order on opening of shops in the National Capital, but Maharashtra ruled out any immediate relaxation saying the lockdown guidelines will remain unchanged in the state till 3 May. In fact, there are also reports that the Maharashtra government is mulling to extend lockdown at least in the containment zones within hotspot districts Mumbai and Pune till at least 18 May. This came after 281 new positive cases and 12 deaths were reported in Mumbai on Saturday, taking the total number of cases in the city to 4,870.

Gujarat and the UT of Jammu and Kashmir, on the other hand, decided to follow the directive, while Assam said it will take a decision on Monday. Gujarat has the second highest number of active cases at 2,423 after Maharashtra.

Madhya Pradesh, another state hit hard by the novel coronavirus, too decided to ease the restrictions on neighborhood shops while also beginning the process of sending migrant labourers to their respective villages in the state. At least 8,000 migrant labourers were sent to their villages in the state in buses, the govt said on Saturday.

According to ANI, Madhya pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said on Saturday that the state govt has also launched efforts to bring Madhya Pradesh labourers stuck in other states, while announcing that at least 2,400 labourers have already left from Gujarat.

Last week, the govt also allowed manufacturing and farming to resume in rural areas to ease the economic plight of millions left jobless by the lockdown. Restrictions in the country have allowed people out of their homes only to buy food, medicine or other essentials.

Congress recommends steps to rejuvenate MSMEs

On the political front, Congress President Sonia Gandhi also wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking urgent steps to help the MSME sector, including a Rs 1 lakh crore 'wage protection' package. She said the MSME crisis has the potential of having a devastating and expansive ripple effect on our economy.

The BJP, meanwhile, hit out at the opposition party, alleging its leaders keep making new demands and claim that the nationwide lockdown has caused problems.

"The Congress is doing petty, abhorrent and negative politics. It is writing letters daily. It should go and work on ground. Its leaders don't do that but keep making new demands," Union minister Prakash Javadekar told reporters.

Instead of making new demands, the Congress should say what it has been doing to help people, Javadekar added.

Meanwhile, special teams sent by the Centre, in the meantime, assessed ground situations in Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Telangana, but a political stand-off continued in West Bengal on this front.

The team visiting West Bengal alleged that non-cooperation on the part of the state government over providing logistical support and other relevant information, while the state's ruling party Trinamool Congress described it as "India's Most Callous Team" and accused it of trying to spread the political virus "shamelessly".

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had earlier slammed the Centre for sending the teams to look into the state's preparedness for tackling the COVID-19 outbreak and alleged that faulty testing kits were dispatched to the state.

With inputs from agencies
David Brock, the freakish little Soros-financed far-left gnome who just can't quit Hillary Clinton, has got his name back into the news again:

According to Fox News:

The Patriots Foundation, a right-leaning ethics group, filed a complaint with the IRS claiming Brocks group is largely a political organization and therefore has violated tax laws. The complaint obtained by Fox News was first reported by Bloomberg. American Bridge has a super-PAC arm that can spend unlimited sums to influence elections. But the primary purpose of nonprofits organized under section 501(c)4 of the tax code like American Bridge cannot be politics. The complaint quotes material given to potential donors to the nonprofit arm in 2017 saying the organizations mission is to take on Donald Trump,' Bloombergs Bill Allison wrote. Brock, a longtime ally of the Clintons, has dedicated his career to combating conservatives and right-leaning media. Brock actually began his career as a conservative and has used extreme rhetoric to attack both sides throughout his time in the public eye. He once admitted to lying in a book in order to ruin Anita Hills credibility.

He's been at this for more than a decade.

While it's good that an organized legal group has gone after him for corruption, what's vivid is how long he's gotten away with it, with no challenge coming to fruition. He's been involved in questionable, politicized Soros deals and partnerships since at least 2007, back in the old days when I was writing about George Soros and Brock's name popped up. In every instance, he was claiming tax breaks based on his status as a nonpartisan 501(c)3 organization, but contrary to the law, was operating on a political basis. Yet nothing ever seems to happen to him.

Part of that, of course, has been his unseemly closeness to Hillary Clinton and her way of doing business. Shielding him? Probably. Here's what Brock had descended to by 2012:

Based on a cache of internal Justice Department e-mails obtained by the Daily Caller, Attorney Gen. Eric Holder's press staff has been collaborating all along with left-wing media "watchdog" Media Matters to smear any reporter asking uncomfortable questions, to discourage whistle-blowers, to discredit political watchdogs and to suppress damaging news about what's going on in the Obama administration. The Daily Caller found dozens of pages of e-mails between DOJ Public Affairs Director Tracy Schnakler and Media Matters staffers planning and discussing how to attack reporters who covered scandals such as the Black Panther voter suppression case, and the Fast and Furious scandal where DOJ sold thousands of guns to Mexico's notorious crime cartels  the truth of which DOJ didn't want to get out. These weren't just instances of over-sharing between political allies or a quest for access, such as the New York Times was caught doing when one of its reporters submitted an unpublished story to a CIA flack. This was the Obama administration planning and directing operations from on high in a grotesque example of the state with all its powers using an off-the-books nuisance organization to harass its critics.

Now he's exposed again as plying the same old games, this time in the Trump era, and one can only hope that this will be the case that brings the stop to it.
ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Ballots cast in person in Marylands special congressional election between Democrat Kweisi Mfume and Republican Kimberly Klacik will be quarantined for about 24 hours after poll close before being counted  to give any potential germs a chance to die to help protect election workers.

Its one of the safety measures thats being taken in an unprecedented Maryland election on Tuesday that will only have three places for in-person voting out of concern for the coronavirus, as election officials are strongly urging eligible voters to mail in their ballots in a single race to decide who will serve the rest of the term of the late U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings, who died in October.

In hopes of avoiding the lines seen in this months Wisconsin primary, roughly 484,000 ballots were mailed to registered voters in the district. More than 77,000 already have been turned in. More than half of the vote could be released on the state elections board website shortly after the 8 p.m. poll close on Tuesday.

Precautions due to the virus in this special election have thrust the candidates into unknown campaign territory in the time of a pandemic.

Fundraising has been tough. Candidates havent been able to reach voters with traditional techniques like door-to-door campaigning or large events. Both candidates say they have been trying to reach voters more through social media.

The majority-black district that includes a large portion of Baltimore as well as parts of its suburbs in Baltimore and Howard counties is heavily Democratic, with more than four Democrats for each Republican.

Klacik, the Republican who has appeared on Fox News and caught President Donald Trumps attention with her social media posts that prompted the president to describe the district as a disgusting rat and rodent infested mess, said the pandemic has made it difficult to campaign. But the 38-year-old believes she has an edge on the 71-year-old Mfume in the realm of social media.

I dont think he was really on social media platforms previously, so I felt like we had a little bit of an advantage that way, but, at the same time, he has such a big name, Klacik said. So, were basically trying to shout out loud on social media how we can make a positive impact against basically an incumbent, because he had the seat prior to Congressman Cummings.

Mfume, a former NAACP head who held the U.S. House seat for five terms from 1987 to 1996, said he also has been working hard on social media. The man who won his first race for Baltimore City Council in 1978 by three votes said hes not taking anything for granted in the uncertain times.

It probably concerns me more, because I recognize how elections can be close  even when you dont think that they are going to be, Mfume said.

Some of the leading issues both candidates have been campaigning on include health care, reducing crime and promoting job creation.

Mfume supports stronger gun-control measures and focusing on root causes of crime, like the inability of young adults to find jobs. He has been advocating for greater support for apprenticeships to develop skills for young people to find work.

Klacik has been advocating to help struggling parts of Baltimore through a federal program known as opportunity zones. The program, which is supported by Trump, focuses on increasing private investment in distressed communities with tax incentives for people who invest in real estate projects and operate businesses in designated low-income communities.

Only three in-person voting centres will be open Tuesday for voters who cant vote by mail, such as the disabled or the homeless, though other eligible voters can cast ballots in person if they choose.

Voting centres are being prepared to comply with social distancing guidelines.

Things will be very spread apart, said Nikki Charlson, the state election boards deputy administrator. The poll workers will be sanitizing the surfaces.

The winner will run as an incumbent in the states crowded June 2 primary for a full term. Ballots for the primary will be mailed to Maryland voters in early to mid-May, very soon after Tuesdays election.

That just seems a little strange and foreign. Its because it really is, Mfume said. Weve never had anything like this in the state before.
Prithviraj Sukumaran, the actor-filmmaker and his wife Supriya Menon, the journalist-turned-producer are one of the most adored star couples of Malayalam film industry. The couple has lead by example with their love, mutual respect, and unconditional support for each other. Prithviraj and Supriya celebrated the 9th wedding anniversary on April 25, 2020.

Unlike all these years, Prithviraj and Supriya were not together on their 9th wedding anniversary, as the actor is stuck in Jordan where he has been shooting for the upcoming ambitious project Aadujeevitham. But the star couple set major couple goals with the lovely wedding anniversary posts dedicated to each other, which they posted on their respective social media pages.

Prithviraj Sukumaran, who shared an unseen selfie that was taken during their New Year trip to London. '9 years  Apart for now..together forever! #LoveInTheTimeOfCorona', wrote the actor on his wedding anniversary post.

Supriya Menon, on the other hand, shared a picture from their wedding album, with an emotional note. 'Happy 9th Anniversary @therealprithvi! First time in 9 years that we are spending the day apart! But what do?! Waiting for you to come back soon and make this up to me! #LoveInTheTimesOfCorona#9DoneForeverToGo', wrote the former journalist.

Prithviraj Sukumaran recently resumed the shooting of Aadujeevitham, the upcoming Blessy directorial amidst the coronavirus crisis in Wadi Rum, Jordan. The actor has shed around 30 kilos for his character Najeeb Mohammed, who is an abused immigrant labourer who gets stranded in the deserts of Saudi Arabia.

Supriya Menon, on the other hand, made her debut as a producer with the 2019-released science fiction film 9, which featured Prithviraj as the central character. She later co-produced the recent blockbuster Driving License, which had featured Prithviraj and Suraj Venjaramoodu in the lead roles.

Also Read:

Aadujeevitham, Kaaliyan & More: Prithviraj Sukumaran Films To Watch Out For In 2020!
Bollywood actor Vicky Kaushal recently joined his fellow residents who gathered at the complexs entrance to welcome a COVID-19 warrior. The Raazi actor shared a video on his Instagram to share the glimpses from the moment.

Like a ray of sunshine on a gloomy day, our little warrior comes back Home! #WelcomeBackChamp, he captioned the video.

The news comes days later after it was reported that the stars Oberoi Springs building complex has been sealed temporarily after a resident was found to be coronavirus positive. The residential complex is also home to other stars, including Chitrangada Singh, Rajkummar Rao and Patralekhaa.

Vicky Kaushal, Rajkummar Rao's Housing Complex Sealed as 11-yr-old Tests Positive for Covid-19: Report

As per a report in SpotboyE, the patient resides in the C-wing of the housing complex. She is the 11-year-old daughter of a doctor.

After the case was highlighted, the BMC partially sealed the A and B wings and sanitized the entire complex. The residents were asked to take all the precautionary measures and stay in quarantine for a few days.

The film stars residing in the C-wing includes Arjan Bajwa, Rahul Dev-Mugdha Godse, Chahat Khanna and Prabhu Deva. Speaking to SpotboyE, Bajwa said, We are avoiding to go even till the lift. The rest of the wings- A and B- have also gone under strict quarantine.

Vicky is sharing messages of love and hopes to his Insta family through social media. The Sanju star also did a monetary contribution towards the PM-CARES and Maharashtra Chief Ministers Relief Fund.

Follow @News18Movies for more
Confidence has drained almost completely from the worlds airlines, as a combination of international flight bans, local lockdowns and passenger anxiety grounded the vast majority of aircraft.

But one of Europes leading budget airlines, Wizz Air, is to restart flights from its UK hub at Luton to 15 destinations  despite the continuing coronavirus pandemic.

From 1 May passengers can book to several European capitals: Lisbon in Portugal, Budapest in Hungary, Bratislava in Slovakia and Belgrade in Serbia.

There are also links to Tel Aviv in Israel, Kosice in Slovakia and eight cities in Romania  but not the capital, Bucharest.

The 15th route is to the key Spanish resort island of Tenerife.

Rumours this week have suggested Spains Canary Islands will remain closed to tourists until October, but these reports have not been substantiated.

The Independent is seeking greater clarity from the Spanish authorities.

Wizz Air said it would be taking measures to support physical distancing during boarding and enhanced cleanliness on board.

As part of the measures to protect the health of customers and crew, customers should check in and make any purchases online, such as paying for additional bags, to reduce non-essential interaction at the airport, the airline said.

Throughout the flight, cabin crew will be required to wear masks and gloves and will distribute sanitising wipes to each passenger.

Onboard purchases are encouraged to be made by contactless payment, to minimise physical contact.

Wizz Air will continue its stringent daily cleaning schedule, with the entire aircraft being disinfected overnight in line with official guidelines.

Owain Jones, managing director of Wizz Air UK, said: As we restart selected Luton flights to provide an essential service to passengers who need to travel, our primary concern is the health, safety and wellbeing of our customers and crew.

UK passengers who do not have an urgent need to travel will not be able to reach Luton airport under current lockdown restrictions.

While British Airways is continuing to fly to around 20 UK, European and long-haul destinations from Heathrow, easyJet has grounded its fleet until June.

Ryanair, Europes biggest budget airline, is running a skeleton service from the UK and Ireland. It plans to resume large-scale flying in late June or early July.
CALIFORNIA  Governor Gavin Newsom announced Friday a series of initiatives to support the most vulnerable who are isolated at home. The state is launching a first-in-the-nation meal delivery program, a partnership to make wellness check-in calls, and the expansion of Friendship Line California to help combat social isolation.

Taxpayers will pay restaurants to make meals for millions of Californias seniors during the coronavirus pandemic, an initiative that could pump billions of dollars into a devastated industry while generating sales tax collections for cash-strapped local governments, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Friday.

California has about 5.7 million people 65 and older and its not known precisely how many will be eligible, though Newsom said he expects it will be millions. To qualify, seniors must earn below 600% of the federal poverty level, which is $74,940 for an individual and $154,500 for a family of four. They also must have either been exposed to the virus, have a high risk for exposure or a compromised immune system.

A qualifying senior will get up to $66 per day for three meals at local restaurants that meet certain criteria. If 2 million people sign up and get all three meals a day, the price tag would be about $4 billion per month.

The federal government will pay for 75% of the cost. Local governments will pay for the rest. But the state government will cover 75% of the cost to local governments.

This will allow for the ability for restaurants to start rehiring people or keep people currently employed, Newsom said. We will provide an unlimited number of meals.

Local governments will choose which restaurants will make the food and get the money, decisions Newsom indicated would be based partly on nutrition. The program will favor independent restaurants and produce from local farms.

RELATED: Local restaurant & business guide

Newsom said this will also help provide jobs to local businesses and aid those in need. The program will be administered by local authorities and will serve older Californians who are ineligible for other nutrition programs.

The "Social Bridging Project" will mobilize more than 1,000 callers to proactively reach out to older Californians who are isolating at home. It will combat social isolation through direct, one-on-one communication with older adults, many living alone, and isolated.

Listos California is partnering with the California Department of Aging, United Airlines, Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT), and Sacramento State University to make calls to older Californians.

Lastly, Newsom announced the Friendship Line California is expanding to support lonely and isolated older Californians.

Callers will check on the individuals well-being, connect them to resources, and connect with them on a personal level. The line is toll-free and available to provide emotional support to older Californians facing loneliness, isolation, and anxiety. Contact the Friendship Line California at 1-888-670-1360.

People with additional questions may also call the state's COVID-19 line at 833-422-4255 (833-4CA-4ALL).

The governor has provided more information on these initiatives, Click Here for details.
The nationwide tally of coronavirus positive patients neared 25,000 on April 25 with fresh cases getting detected in Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh among other places, but the government said the daily growth rate has dipped to 6 percent and some states began relaxing some lockdown conditions by allowing more shops to open.

At least 56 more deaths have been reported since April 24 evening -- the highest so far in a span of 24 hours -- to take the death toll across the country to at least 779, according to the Union Health Ministry figures.

The total number of COVID-19 cases in India climbed to 24,942 on April 25. Of these, active COVID-19 cases stood at 18,953, while 5,209 people have been cured and discharged, and one patient has migrated, the ministry added.

Coronavirus LIVE updates

Globally, over 2.8 million confirmed cases and more than 198,400 deaths have been reported so far during the COVID-19 outbreak, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine  one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show

Here are the key developments of the day:

# President Donald Trump's executive order to temporarily halt issuance of green cards aims to "turn off the faucet" of new immigrant labour and is the beginning of a broader strategy to reduce the flow of foreigners into the US, architect of Trump's immigration agenda Stephen Miller has said.

# Sri Lanka has extended the nationwide curfew in four high-risk districts, including Colombo, till May 4 to stem the spread of the deadly coronavirus in the country, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's office announced, a day after the Island nation recorded the highest number of 49 infections in a single day.

# Britain's Indian-origin Finance Minister Rishi Sunak is drawing up a blueprint to gradually ease the strict social distancing measures in place to suppress the spread of the coronavirus and get workplaces across the UK up and running again, according to a media report.

# Singapore on April 25 reported 618 new cases of the novel coronavirus, taking the total number of infections to 12,693 with 12 deaths in the country, media reports said.

# China has approved its third coronavirus vaccine for the second phase of clinical trials as it reported 12 new COVID-19 cases, taking the total number of infections in the country to 82,816.

# Saudi Arabia has abolished flogging as a punishment, the Supreme Court announced, hailing the latest in a series of "human rights advances" made by the king and his powerful son.

# Congress President Sonia Gandhi has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking urgent steps to help the MSME sector, including a Rs 1 lakh crore 'Wage Protection' package. She said the MSME crisis has the potential of having a devastating and expansive ripple effect on our economy.

(With inputs from PTI)

Follow our full coverage here
(Newser)  Georgia business owners faced a dilemma Friday: to open or not to open? After Gov. Brian Kemp issued the nation's most aggressive order allowing non-essential businesses to reopen, some took advantage. "It's essential. It's like food," a customer tells the Wall Street Journal while waiting outside Candler Nails in suburban South DeKalb, along with 11 other women, mostly in masks. A barber-shop owner in suburban Atlanta also reopened after apparently burning through his savings to keep the shop afloatand business "hasn't stopped since we opened at 9am," he says. But the Journal sees income disparity playing a role in Atlanta, where affluent neighborhoods were mostly closed and poorer ones had a few "Open" signs.

story continues below

Another issue, of course, is health. President Trump criticized Kemp's order, saying "I wasn't at all happy," and Georgia resident Wendy Hamilton seems to agree: "It's just not a risk that I'm willing to take," the 45-year-old tells the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The beauty-salon owner (now homeschool teacher) calls it "insane" for high-touch industries to reopen this soon. Experts across America say lockdowns should only be lifted after case numbers have fallen and testing becomes widespread. But besides the financial hardship, there's a pining for regular life: "I miss living," says a barber-shop customer in Atlanta. "I miss my friends, I miss my family, I miss my co-workers." (While criticizing Kemp, Trump is also encouraging protests against stay-at-home orders.)
The Missouri State Auditor just released an audit of Jackson County's Community Backed Anti-Crime Tax (COMBAT) Fund. It's a doozy. The auditor uncovered that the county legislature failed to properly oversee spending, engaged in questionable real estate transactions, and misused funds. None of this should be a surprise to anyone who has been paying attention.




This is a round-up of some-breaking news in Nigeria, Today, Saturday, 25th, April 2020.

Coronavirus: What Osinbajo Discussed With Ministers

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Friday met with some Ministers in President Muhammadu Buharis cabinet to jointly develop a comprehensive policy for a Nigerian Economy functioning with COVID-19.

This was made known in a statement by Osinbajos Media aide, Laolu Akande.

Read more details here

Mamman Daura Reveals How Abba Kyari Almost Became Obasanjos VP

Alhaji Mamman Daura, a nephew of President Muhammadu Buhari, has claimed that Abba Kyari was among those considered for the position of Vice President to President Olusegun Obasanjo.

In a tribute to the late chief of staff to the President Muhammadu Buhari, Daura said this was in the run-up to the 1999 Presidential election when Obasanjo was the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Read more details here

If You Love Buhari, Your Sins Are Forgiven  Presidential Aide

Femi Adesina, Media aide to President Muhammadu Buhari has opened up on the personality of Mallam Abba Kyari, late Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari.

According to him, the late Chief of Staff had been the architect behind most of the significant projects of the Buhari administration.

Read more details here

APC State Chairmen Declare Position As Buhari Shop For Abba Kyaris Replacement

The All Progressives Congress (APC) Chairmen in the 36 States of Nigeria and the FCT has denied taking any position over President Muhammadu Buharis search for a new Chief of Staff.

Naija News recalls that Abba Kyari, whose death was announced last Friday, had died of complications from the deadly coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Read more details here

Bola Tinubu Most Trusted Aide Dies

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has lost his Chief Security Officer (CoS), Lati Raheem.

According to TheCable, Raheem was the most trusted aide of Bola Tinubu, a former Lagos State Governor.

Read more details here

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Rajiv Bansal has been elevated to secretary level at the Centre

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet recently approved the empanelment of 28 IAS officers for holding secretary-level posts at the Centre. Among them is Rajiv Bansal, chairman and managing director of the ailing public carrier Air India, which is still looking for a buyer.

Bansal is in his second stint as CMD of the airline, having taken over the reins from Ashwani Lohani in February. However, after his empanelment for a secretary-level post, there is some buzz about Bansal's future at Air India. The post of Air India CMD is an additional secretary-level position, whereas Bansal is now elevated to secretary level. Does this mean the airline will soon have a new CMD?

The question is of some import given that the government is keen to sell off Air India, a move that has been delayed due to the COVID-19 virus. Its earlier attempts to sell had failed, but now by offering 100 per cent stake, the government is hoping to succeed.

Support for chief secretary

Just last month Maharashtra's chief secretary Ajoy Mehta was given a second extension of three months as a special case considering the grave public health emergency due to the Covid-19 outbreak. Mehta has been spearheading the state government's fight against the pandemic.

However, it seems that not everyone is happy with Mehta continuing in his post, even for three months. Some leaders of the Congress, which is an alliance partner of the ruling Shiv Sena, have expressed displeasure over Mehta's alleged "style of functioning". They have complained about Mehta's proposal to provide cooked food in shelter camps instead of dry rations. However, a large section of the state bureaucracy has thrown its weight behind their chief secretary, saying that Mehta cannot reverse the decision taken by the state Cabinet.

Sources say that Mehta had brought the guidelines of the central government to the notice of the Cabinet and acted by the Cabinet's decision. It is being pointed out that providing dry rations in the shelter camps could lead to possible pilferage and corruption, and that chief minister Uddhav Thackeray had backed Mehta's view.

Blanket extension

In an exceptional, though widely expected decision, the Modi sarkar has extended the central deputation of all officers of the rank of deputy secretary to joint secretary, who are on central deputation and were due to complete their term this month-end. Their term has now been extended until June 30. The decision was taken by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) which is headed by the prime minister.

According to sources, the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has stated that the decision will not apply to those officials who are completing their tenure or extended tenure on superannuation.

The order may have given relief to joint secretary, director and deputy secretary level officers but it has left several additional secretary level officers in a dilemma, especially those who have either completed or about to complete five or seven years tenure under deputation. The move assumes significance as the country is under a nationwide lockdown.
MINSK, Belarus - More than 2 million Belarusians, including doctors and nurses, took part in a government-decreed national day of civic labour Saturday despite worries about the countrys sharply rising coronavirus infections.

The work, including painting, tree-planting and general clean-ups, was ordered by President Alexander Lukashenko, who has dismissed concerns about the virus even though Belarus has recorded more cases than neighbouring Ukraine, a county with four times as many people.

Lukashenko, a former collective farm manager, has retained many Soviet-era practices during his quarter-century in power, including the day of civic labour  known as a subbotnik from the Russian word for Saturday.

Subbotnik is the good that we took from the Soviet period, thats the whole ideology, Lukashenko said as he helped plant trees in southern Belarus.

The Belarusian government has not imposed social-distancing requirements or restricted public activities in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Of the hundreds of people working along with the president, none were seen wearing masks.

The government said late Saturday that a total of 2.3 million people took part, about a quarter of the countrys population.

The subbotnik order called for participation by all state employees  state enterprises and services account for about 55% of Belarus workforce  although doctors and nurses were given the option of forfeiting some of their wages, a loss of about $3 for a doctor.

Nurse Nina Yegorova chose to work.

No one protests, although everyone understands the absurdity of this situation, Yegorova said while she and her colleagues painted buildings at a hospital near Minsk, Belarus capital.

After mass prayers in the churches on Easter, we got an outbreak of the virus. Now there will be another wave, although there are already not enough beds in the hospital, she said.

Belarus reported 817 new virus cases Saturday, the countrys highest single-day increase. It has reported a total of 9,590 confirmed infections and 67 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University tally.

Andrei Kravchuk, a 27-year-old local official, saw nothing to fear as he planted a bush.

Im not afraid of the virus, and common work in the fresh air helps strengthen immunity and defeat the disease, he said.

Independent trade unions called for a boycott of the subbotnik and complained to the International Labor Organization about the use of forced labour.

The government neglects the health and life of its citizens, satisfies its own ambitions and forces hundreds of thousands of people to go on a cleanup during a pandemic, said Alexander Yaroshuk, head of the Belarusian Congress of Independent Trade Unions.

___

Follow AP news coverage of the coronavirus pandemic at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak
Memento Mori -The end: Bolsonaro commits political suicide

25. 4. 2020 / Fabiano Golgo

cas cteni 6 minut

Photo: Sergio Moro

Sergio Moro, the judge who is the most popular Brazilian in every poll since he condemned former president Lula to 12 years in jail for corruption, has shot a silver bullet against Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro. Moro has been Bolsonaro's Minister of Justice and is considered a hero for the vast majority of the population. He resigned this Friday and called the press for a speech in which he listed a lot of crimes committed by Bolsonaro while trying to convince him to manipulate the work of the Federal Police towards catching his three sons, who are involved in separate and very serious crimes that go from the murder of a political opponent, coordination of militias that extort money in the favelas, the use of public money and the presidential palace and computers to spread fake news, tunneling of public employees salaries, fraud, falsification and the list goes on. Basically, a mafia boss and his three capo sons took power of the fifth biggest country on Earth, the eighth economy of the planet.









Bolsonaro decided to change the president of the Federal Police and place a friend of his son in the position, which by law is required to be independent and free from political influence. Moro even mentioned that during the Worker's Party government of Dilma Rousseff, even though dozens of politicians who were in power and Lula were sent to jail, the president never even attempted to change the Federal Police's president. The institution counts with the highest numbers of credibility among all Brazilian institutions for many years.

In the middle of the night, Bolsonaro published on the digital Official Diary (a newspaper that for several decades is the place that by law all government nominations and official acts have to be published for them to become legal), the exoneration of the current Federal Police president, but it showed a digital signature of Sergio Moro, which the now former Minister of Justice said, categorically, he never signed. He accuses Bolsonaro of simply somehow frauding his computer to add the required by law signature of the Minister. Unbelievable the openly gangster-like modus operandi of Bolsonaro.

Moro declared in his press conference that Bolsonaro told him openly and unashamedly that he wants a president of the Federal Police who will give him full access to any investigation, records, documents, etc. Moro confessed he was perplexed by how open the president declared his illegal intentions.





"The President told me more than once that he wanted to have a person of his personal friendship [in the head of Federal Police], that he could call, collect intelligence reports. It really isn't the role of the Federal Police to provide this type of information. The investigations have to be preserved. Imagine if during the Lava Jato [Car Wash, the Federal Police operation that led to the unveilling of the biggest corruption scandal in the history of the planet, involving over 60 billion dollars, which led former president Lula to jail] itself, the Minister of Justice, or President Dilma, would be calling the president of the Federal Police to gather information about the ongoing investigations. The respect for the autonomy of law enforcement, whoever it is from, is a fundamental value that we must preserve under the rule of law. Ontem, conversei com o presidente, houve essa insistencia do presidente. Falei ao presidente que seria uma interferencia politica, ele disse que seria mesmo. - "Yesterday, I talked to the president, and he kept insisting on it. I told the president that this would be political interference [in the Federal Police], but he replied that yes, indeed, it would be."



The populist Christian fundamentalist president has seen an immediate freefall of his popularity, because Moro is even more loved by Bolsonaro's voters than the president himself.

Former president and Sorbonne Sociology Professor Fernando Henrique Cardoso (1996-2002) officially asked the president to resign and the vice-president to take his place immediately. A group of billionaires who had a formal group of support for Bolsonaro, led by Luciano Hang, owner of a chain of all-purpose stores, announced that they are taking away all support for Bolsonaro, who, they justified, has betrayed the nation, broke his promise of fighting corruption. The Supreme Court sent a mandatory request for the president of the Parliament, Rodrigo Maia, to manifest an official response to the 24 impeachment procedure requests from various institutions and politicians.





Desperate with the repercussion, Bolsonaro for the eight time in his administration convoked a forced media prison, which makes all radio and television stations to broadcast the president's speech. He had all his other ministers behind him, he improvised an emotional speech in which he said that as a soldier he made a pledge to die for the nation. He claimed that all he wanted was just to know what is going on with the investigation about Adelio Bispo da Silva, the man who tried to kill him with a knife during the presidential campaign. Adelio is incarcerated in a mental institution and it is not necessary to be a psychiatrist to notice that he suffers from serious schizophrenia, for which he was interned many times before. He said he also wanted information about the investigation of the murder of Marielle Franco, a Rio de Janeiro city counsellor who was shot by militiamen hired by no less than Bolsonaro's neighbor, who lives 7 meters from his house, whose daughter was Bolsonaro's youngest son's girlfriend!





Bolsonaro almost cried saying that it is not interference with the Federal Police the simple act of letting him know the details of investigations that involve his sons. That it is the obligation of any father. That his three sons are being persecuted by the media, that he has the right to want to look at what the police is doing.





Amazingly enough, Bolsonaro admitted all accusations against him, but always claiming he has the right to do that both because he is the president and because he is a father. Using a strategy also used by Donald Trrump, Bolsonaro is betting on stretching and shifting the Overton window. He ended his pronouncement saying that God is above all and Brazil above everybody.





Even after the speech, an agency that analyses tweets said that Bolsonaro had a swift change in status, because until yesterday he had 82% positive tweets, while today he had only 13%.





It is almost impossible for Bolsonaro to survive this. The only reason that impeachment procedures had not been opened was that he counted with a strong 30% of support from the population. Within the next days or perhaps hours it will be clear whether he gained back some support. If his numbers fall to under 15%, he is a dead man walking. In any case, he is no longer in charge. Governors have ignored his decrees and he has been totally isolated by the vast majority of politicians and authorities.





Brazil has a madman occupying the presidency (under the illusion he is a king).

































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Local officials thanked San Antonians for helping fight the spread of COVID-19 as the total number of confirmed cases crept up by just 28 Friday to 1,195 and no new deaths were reported.

But Mayor Ron Nirenberg and Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff cautioned against relaxing efforts too soon as the city prepares to begin reopening more businesses as early as next week.

Remember to wear your masks, Nirenberg said, and do your part to help protect your neighbors.

A joint meeting of the City Council and the Bexar County Commissioners Court will be held Tuesday, a day after Gov. Greg Abbott is expected to issue an updated emergency order allowing the state to continue resuming operations.

On ExpressNews.com: Leaders consider reopening as scientists warn of more COVID-19 waves

Wolff said the local Economic Transition Team he formed with Nirenberg will likely recommend practices already in use in industries such as health care, construction, transportation and manufacturing that have continued operating during the pandemic.

These are the key executives that are being helpful to us by telling us the steps they have taken while theyve been in business to protect their employees and protect their customers, Wolff said.

Nirenberg said he believes that the governor will unveil a plan for a public-health-guided transition. But he said it may leave some major decisions on specific governance issues to be decided by cities and counties.

We think that theres going to be a lot of gaps that local communities are going to have to account for, the mayor said. The absolute worst thing we could do is open in a careless manner.

Officials were upbeat about a continued decline in hospital resources being used in the pandemic, as Fire Chief Charles Hood announced that Bexar and Harris counties are the first in Texas to each receive a Battelle Critical Care Decontamination System.

On ExpressNews.com: Get the latest update on coronavirus and a tracking map of U.S. cases

The system, which uses vaporized hydrogen peroxide to sterilize N95 respirator masks used by medical personnel and first responders, was being set up Friday at Freeman Coliseum. By Monday, it could be sterilizing up to 80,000 of the specialty masks daily.

If you remember a month ago, we were scrambling for PPE equipment. Were going to have this system thats going to be able to recycle our N95 masks, Hood said. Were really happy about that.

Nirenberg said there were only 63 people with COVID-19 in the hospital, one less than Thursday. Of those, 32 were in intensive care and only 17 were on ventilators, down from 20 on Thursday.

Weve been seeing a downward trend for several days, Wolff noted.

Testing at jail

Wolff said he hoped that increased testing for COVID-19 of all inmates and personnel at Bexar County Jail would help control the spread of the disease after the county reported 21 more inmates in one unit tested positive, raising the total of inmates with confimed cases to 57.

So far, 31 deputies and 10 other workers at the facility have tested positive.

The jail was not built for something like this, so its a challenge, Wolff said.

Hood said his department performed a site assessment at the jail Friday to see how its mobile integrated paramedics can assist with testing.

On ExpressNews.com: Worries raised over cohorting plan for nursing homes

On another topic, Hood was optimistic about the designation of the River City Care Center as a place to house residents of local nursing homes who become ill with COVID-19, which could prevent another major outbreak like the one that swept Southeast Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, where 18 residents who tested positive for the disease have died.

Although East Side residents have voiced concerns about the designation, Hood said there are safeguards in place, including permits being expedited to fence in garbage containers.

The chief said River City, which has so far taken in six patients, is a half-mile from the citys largest fire station. It has 94 beds available but probably will not need to use them all because the most seriously ill patients will be hospitalized, he added.

Under a local control order, public health officials can inspect River City at any time, Hood said.

We want the residents of the East Side to understand that River City is safe, he said. Its the safest nursing home in the city.

On Friday, the Police Department had six confirmed cases among uniformed officers and two officers in quarantine, unchanged from Thursday. Eight civilians, up three from Thursday, were on quarantine. The last new confirmed case among the officers was reported April 15. Six officers who had been quarantined were cleared to return to work earlier this week.

Scott Huddleston covers Bexar County government and the Alamo for the San Antonio Express-News. To read more from Scott, become a subscriber. shuddleston@express-news.net | Twitter: @shuddlestonSA
Julie Racette, a Winnipeg resident from Ebb and Flow First Nation, died early April 11 after being taken to hospital.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 24/4/2020 (627 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Opinion

Julie Racette, a Winnipeg resident from Ebb and Flow First Nation, died early April 11 after being taken to hospital.

Initially, the cause of death of the 34-year-old was believed to be a medical problem. After an autopsy, police said she had been a victim of homicide and her husband, Wayne Melnychuk, 42, was charged with manslaughter.

FACEBOOK PHOTO Winnipeg police say 34-year-old Julie Racette, centre, a Winnipeg resident from Ebb and Flow First Nation, was the victim of a homicide on April 11. Her husband, Wayne Melnychuk, was charged with manslaughter.

Melnychuk disappeared a day after Racette died. He is described as 5-7 with a medium build, brown hair, and is Caucasian in appearance. Police warn the public not to approach him and call 911 if they see him.

Racette and Melnychuk were a couple for 14 years and have three children, aged 2, 11, and 14.

Chasity Almas, Racettes oldest sister, said the couple had been arguing more than usual due to "being locked down with the kids" during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This resulted in an "escalation" in tension because "they were getting on each others nerves," she said.

Domestic violence has been rising from day one of the COVID-19 pandemic. In Chinas Hubei province  where the virus began  domestic violence reports tripled after the lockdown was instituted. In France, domestic abuse has risen 36 per cent and, in Brazil, its up 40 per cent. In the United Kingdom, theres been a 25 per cent increase.

In Vancouver, calls to domestic violence shelters have tripled. In York, just north of Toronto, such complaints have risen 22 per cent.

We have learned the recent mass killings in Nova Scotia began with a domestic assault.

While most crime is decreasing because people are at home, domestic abuse is going up.

Its already alarmingly high. Domestic violence is consistently the top issue Winnipeg police respond to. Every year, these represent around 16,000 calls, or 44 each day.

Its too early in the pandemic to judge Winnipeg police statistics (a spokesman said there is "not a statistically significant change in domestic violence calls") but domestic violence prompted a 911 call to police on April 9. Officers who responded to the call from a home on Anderson Avenue shot 36-year old Jason Collins. The Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba is looking into the incident.

On March 24, Winnipeg police responded to a call that a two-year-old had been injured in his home. Brett White died two days later in hospital. Police charged his stepmother, Victoria Thiessen, with manslaughter.

A Manitoba Crown attorney told me this week that the amount of domestic violence cases he has seen during the pandemic is "unprecedented." Many are first-time charges against individuals with no record of domestic abuse.

Trauma, substance abuse, and stress brought on by the pandemic  aggravated by the order to stay home  have created a perfect situation for domestic violence to thrive.

If partners  most often women with children  leave, they are at the mercy of shelters and agencies whose funding and resources have been reduced.

While the Manitoba Association of Womens Shelters has been able to keep all 10 provincially funded womens shelters open alongside 10 other affiliated partners, critical spaces such as the North Point Douglas Womens Centre have had to reduce hours, staffing, and access to resources such as computers and food banks.

Overall, it appears Indigenous women and families are some of the hardest hit and deserve unique attention.

A report by the Manitoba First Nations Police Service, which polices six First Nations, for the weekend of April 10 to 13, shows half of the cases officers responded to were domestic disputes.

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.

Help is coming.

On April 4, the federal government announced $40 million for womens shelters and $10 million for Indigenous family shelters.

Still, concerns about social distancing, moving, and safety have resulted in womens shelters reporting reduced calls and fewer families in shelters, the Manitoba association said. In other words, the abuse is still there, but its riskier than ever for abused spouses to leave home.

Child welfare agencies have logged fewer reports of child abuse, but this is likely due to fewer witness accounts because school staff make up to 90 per cent of all reports of child abuse  and school is out.

This means the public is at the front line of domestic violence and child abuse. During this pandemic, we must also work to stop an epidemic of domestic violence. If you see, hear, or know of abuse, report it. The 24-hour domestic violence help line is 1-877-977-0007. The phone number for the Kids Help Phone is 1-800-668-6868.

niigaan.sinclair@freepress.mb.ca
The novel coronavirus has introduced us all to novel ways of experiencing life. We go through life collecting moments and encounters, future memories that we are sure to reminisce and derive pleasure from in our frailer and older years. But the virus has advanced us all to our retired future already in some ways and many of us are discovering newer interests to kill time with and being introduced to capabilities we didnt know we were in possession of before.

Novel discoveries

I for one have discovered that I am a passable cook and baker and that I have enough self-discipline to exercise and meditate every day if you take the temptations of the external world away from me.

But my most pleasing discovery during the lockdown has been my ability to sit still without the distraction of a book, a child, a dog or the phone for longer than I thought possible. Whats more, I can hear inanimate things speak to me and take me on exciting journeys without having to leave the couch. In other words, I have become the old woman I was meant to be one day in the distant future, the sort that hates domestic chores preferring instead, to sit around all day smiling to herself. This I can tell you isnt a bad experience, especially given the circumstances and in the knowledge that one-day when the confinement ends, my precious youth (read midlife) will be returned to me.

Novel memories

A few days ago, I introduced a new post-morning-tea ritual to my quarantined days. This involved sitting still on my favourite couch in the house doing absolutely nothing except allowing my gaze to move around the room and letting my mind travel unencumbered to many happy moments from the past.

I began to relive long-forgotten experiences and precious conversations as I considered some of the things around me. I looked at the imposing brass statue of a warrior Ganesha that my father had gifted to me as a house-warming present nearly 19 years ago. I could see him sitting across from me, telling me how he had someone buy it from Moradabad from where it had travelled to Dehradun and then to Bombay by train to me. It was mystifying that my father was so alive in my memory, I could see him, hear him, and touch him almost, but outside of my minds eye, he was gone. It made me think about life and the illusory nature of death that philosophers are always talking about. Realising that I was letting my mind slide into too heavy a territory, I moved my attention away from the tall brass Ganesha to the kilim on the floor.

I recalled the day it was bought as though it had happened only yesterday. Eleven years ago, on our second day in Istanbul, shortly after we had tried to feel impressed with the Blue Mosque, my husband and I went looking for a carpet shop to get away from the sudden rain shower. The shop had been recommended by the hotel concierge and it was on my list. Istanbul hadnt still become the popular destination that Indian tourists flock today but it was already thriving with sweet-talking salesmen who knew exactly how to seduce tourists like me into buying rotting pistachios, expired spices and carpets woven with hair from a camels gonads.

I warmed up to the smooth-talking and tragically self-effacing carpet seller so much that I refused to bargain him down to what I later learnt would have been a fair price. Luckily for me, it turned out to be a genuine wool carpet and not one made of matted hair from a camels nether regions. Despite my dogs treating it like dried grass they liked to ease themselves on as puppies, it continues to be in good condition.

The silver bird perched on the coffee table that invited my attention next, reminded me of the time I walked down the Portobello market in London with my mother on a beautiful Septembers day, two years ago. We were browsing around, buying knick-knacks we knew we werent likely to use ever when my eyes fell on this marvellous piece of British craftsmanship inside a silver shop. It wasnt cheap and I was about to walk away from it but my mother insisted I purchase it, telling me that it was too exquisite to let it go. I am glad I listened to her that day because that morning the bird took me back to our brief holiday in London. The mildly overcast sky, the cool breeze, the aroma of caramelised peanuts that pervaded the air, children on scooters, ice-cream trucks, my mothers laughter... the sights and smells of that moment came alive before my eyes.

Next, I looked at the red Sikkimese carpet at the other end of the room with a dragon woven across it. I grew up seeing the carpet at my parents home and was keen to inherit it but my father, who had bought it from Sikkim years ago, was too possessive about it to part with it.

Then one day, without informing him my mother packed it and brought it with her to Bombay. Every time my father visited us, I would roll it up and put it away. To be tricked easily by women is a fait accompli of all men in a house dominated by women. It was years before he realised that his beloved carpet had been smuggled out right from under his nose.

Entertained by my own memories and partly overwhelmed by them, I started moving around the house, stopping to consider objects and artefacts that had become a blind spot for me over the years. I tried to dredge up memories linked with them and it delighted me to know that so many of these lovingly collected objects around me had a story to tell.

The dead coral sphere that I keep near my plants in my balcony is something I had found adrift on a beach in Mauritius while on a brief holiday there with my husband. Our hotel owned a small private island that was a short boats ride away from the hotel premises and we decided to sail to it for pre-lunch drinks. Had we not been married for as long as we have, this might even have been a romantic excursion, but it had a more Robinson Crusoe and less Blue Lagoon vibe to it. Anyhow, we walked around the shoreline of the island, drink in hand as we collected shells and fossils to take back home to our children. The coral was the size of a large rock, a heavy item to fly back with by all accounts and my husband insisted I leave it behind. Standing in front of my balcony door and admiring it for its symmetry, I was glad that as always I did not yield to his exhortations.

On top of a Portuguese camphor chest in my drawing-room, sits an antique Turkish coin box of great aesthetic but little value, the outcome of a failed entrepreneurial exercise that has a funny story of its own. Years ago my friend Jaya wanted us to jointly do an exhibition of antiques she was sourcing from a mysterious and startlingly cheap vendor in Cochin. We could not muster much enthusiasm for its sale after the first consignment arrived. We are always buying things, we are only good at buying, not at selling, Jaya the shopaholic said to me. I ended up buying three of the 10 for myself, the rest of them Jaya was happy to keep.

In Kerala, earlier this year I made a beautiful purchase that is spread in front of my reading chair and one that I am particularly proud of. On a flight to Kozhikode, where I was attending a literature festival earlier this year, Air India lost my bags. Bereft of any decent clothes to wear for the writers dinner in the evening, I had no choice but to attend it in my destitute state, in track pants that I had been wearing since 5 am that morning and a locally-purchased T-shirt. To make up for how absolutely undignified I was looking in front of the mirror in the washroom at the dinner venue, I bought a vividly coloured Kashmiri rug from the hotel shop right outside the toilets. This did not save me from looking like a gatecrasher at the party, but I felt comforted in the knowledge that I was helping people from the locked-down state of Kashmir to make a living. Who buys a Kashmiri carpet in Kerala? my friend Jamal who was also speaking at the literature festival asked me. Someone who has been given rupees 2,000 by Air India for losing her bags, I told him. No doubt the carpet cost me a lot more than that princely sum discreetly handed out to me by the Air India personnel to recompense me until my bags arrived the next afternoon. Still, that carpet is something that lifts my spirits every single morning with its vivid reds and blues. As far as impulse purchases go, this is one of my best to date.

As I key in this story, I am thankful for the life I have lived and all these memories that have come alive, I cannot wait for Covid19 to be a thing of past so I can go out there and replenish them with newer experiences. Oh wait, but did they say the vaccine will take another year?

(Author bio: Shunali is an author and an avid traveller who has recently authored Love in the Time of Affluenza. Follow her on social media at @shunalishroff)

From HT Brunch, April 26, 2020

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A 27-year-old numismatist in Bhubaneswar with over 8 lakh old coins dating back to the time of emperors Ashoka and Chandragupta Maurya and Maratha king Shivaji is planning to auction at least 2 lakh of them., the proceeds of which he plans to donate to the state and central funds in their fight against coronavirus.

Debiprasad Mangaraj is quite well-known in Odisha for his massive collection of coins and had started collecting them for over 20 years now. He said the contribution to PMCares fund as well as CM Relief Fund of Odisha government was his attempt to help the governments in mounting a fight against the pandemic.

Everyday I see in newspapers and TV channels the surging deaths in India and countries outside due to Covid-19. This is the biggest crisis that humanity is encountering right now. So I decided to do something on my own, said Mangaraj, who recently completed his B. Tech degree.

Mangaraj said some people in Mumbai, where he is now staying with his filmmaker sister, had approached him for selling his coins and offered him several crore for his collection.

The thought of selling the coins never occurred to me. Rather I was collecting and buying coins all these years. But now I want to auction it for helping people, he said. The auction, to be held offline in Bhubaneswar, is scheduled sometime next month.

The numismatists collection is indeed a treasure- starting from coins from the period of emperors Ashoka and Chandragupta Maurya, the Gupta dynasty and the Maratha king Shivaji. Among British coins, he has several coins issued during the reigns of King George V, King George VI and Queen Victoria. Some of the coins are not even metals as they are made of baked earth. The youth has collected metal and paper currencies of US, the UK, Hong Kong, Belgium, France, Australia, Italy and Nepal.

I even have some coins that date back to the time when the barter system was used. There are also coins from around 20 different countries and coins made of plastic, gold and other precious metals, he said.

The decision of the numismatist to hold auction to help the government fight the pandemic has come at a time when everyone is coming forward to donate money to the relief funds of Centre and the state.

Earlier this month, a 9-year-old boy of Bhubaneswar broke his piggybank and donated the entire amount of 2020 to the PM CARES Fund and Odisha CMs Relief Fund. A 10-year-old boy in Soro block of Balasore district donated his entire pocket money to Chief Ministers Relief Fund putting his plans of buying a bicycle on hold.

...
P rince Charles said he was left utterly heartbroken by the tragic story of the 13-year-old Muslim boy who died alone after contracting coronavirus.

His comments were made in a video message to mark the start of the holy month of Ramadan when Muslims fast from dawn till sunset.

Charles said in his message: I was utterly heartbroken by the tragic story of Ismail Mohamed Abdulwahab, a previously healthy thirteen year old boy, who passed away without the comfort of having his family by his side.

Every bereavement, from whatever cause, is made even harder for families by the current restrictions on funerals. I can only too well understand how agonising this must be for those affected and I know their enormous sense of grief will be shared by countless others  including myself.

Under these appallingly challenging circumstances, my wife and I can only offer you all our kindest and most special wishes and stress just how greatly the contribution of Muslims to the life of the United Kingdom is appreciated and valued.

Ismail, of Brixton, south London, is thought to have been the first child in the UK to die after testing positive for coronavirus.

The youngster was admitted to Londons Kings College Hospital on March 26 and tested positive for Covid-19 the following day.

He was buried four days later, but his immediate family were unable to attend because they had to self-isolate.

In his message, Charles also praised those followers of Islam working in the NHS or as key workers, and sympathised with the families of Muslim doctors and nurses whose loved ones had died after testing positive for coronavirus.

With the country in Covid-19 lockdown, the message formed part of a virtual Iftar  the communal breaking of the fast.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-25 19:21:30|Editor: huaxia

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KATHMANDU, April 25 (Xinhua) -- The Nepali government on Saturday decided to extend the ongoing suspension of both domestic and international flights on its sky till May 15, as the threat of COVID-19 continues, a senior official of Nepali government said.

It is the third time that the Nepali government extended the deadline of international flight suspension after first imposing the measure from March 22 to March 31. Earlier, the government had decided to extend the deadline of international flight suspension until April 15, which was further extended till April 30.

Nepali government has also been suspending domestic flights as well, regularly to control the movement of people from one place to another.

"The High-Level Coordination Committee for the Prevention and Control of COVID-19, decided to extend the ongoing suspension of domestic and international flights by 15 more days to May 15 as time has not arrived to resume flights," Narayan Bidari, secretary at the Prime Minister's Office, told the media after the conclusion of a meeting of a high-level committee headed by Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Ishawar Pokharel.

During the international flight suspension, Nepal has not allowed international flights on its sky except for those which arrived for humanitarian grounds. A number of foreign airlines arrived in Nepal to evacuate foreign nationals from Nepal after Nepal enforced flight suspensions. Domestic airlines recently mobilized to evacuate foreign nationals who were stranded in different parts of the country after the nationwide lockdown was imposed since March 24.

Although the high level committee discussed whether to continue or relax the ongoing lockdown which will last till April 27, it could not reach any decision, according to Bidari. He said that the next cabinet meeting would take necessary decisions regarding the lockdown. During the lockdown, no surface transportation service has been allowed except for supply of essential goods and most of the businesses have been closed except the essential ones.

Although COVID-19 fears continue due to the rising number of cases in recent days, there is also growing call particularly from the business community and economists to enforce complete lockdown only in risky zones while letting economic activities take place in other locations.

Nepal has so far reported 49 confirmed cases of COVID-19. None of the infected persons has died so far while 12 have returned home after recovery, according to Nepal's Ministry of Health and Population.

"We are on right track in combating the Coronavirus so far," Bidari said. Enditem
Sometimes the world of crime and justice collides with the body politic. This is one of those times, although with all the news about the COVID-19 pandemic this item may have escaped widespread notice.

A police report, filed in Washington, D.C., in early April, accuses former Senator and Vice President Joe Biden of sexually assaulting one of his young staffers in 1993. There is now a police investigation underway even though the statute of limitations for prosecuting such a crime has expired.

Tara Reade, 56, of California, made the complaint. She says 27 years ago Biden physically assaulted her at the U.S. Capitol. She claims he pinned her against a wall, kissed her, thrust his hand up her skirt and penetrated her with his fingers. She reports that at the time, He said, Come on, man, I heard you liked me.'

Last year Reade told a tamer story about the encounter, joining seven other women who accused Biden of disturbing physical contacts like unwanted touching, kissing and even up-close-and-personal hair sniffing. Last month, during a podcast interview Reade gave a more detailed account of the alleged assault. She says she filed the police report after frightening attacks from Biden supporters.

Important note: Many sex crimes victims expand on the initial description of their assault once they feel their statements are being accepted. This isnt unusual.

When last we heard a similar decades-old allegation against a prominent Washington figure it resulted in House Democrats launching full-blown congressional hearings on the nomination of Republican Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court.

So wheres the #MeToo-fueled congressional indignation this time? To date, there are zero House committee investigations or calls for the accused to immediately step down.

Lets compare and contrast the two cases.

Kavanaugh, then in high school, was accused by Christine Blasey Ford of being drunk at a party, pinning her to a bed, groping her and pulling at her clothes. Kavanaugh firmly denied the charge.

Biden is accused of forcibly kissing and penetrating young Reade. The former veep has remained oddly silent about the matter. Only Kate Bedingfield, another young Biden staff member, has offered comment saying, This absolutely did not happen.

Kavanaughs case came down to a she-said, he-said claim. Ford seemed sincere and offered up four witnesses from the party, but each denied they were there. One friend flat-out declared Fords story just doesnt make sense.

Bidens accuser, on the other hand, says she contemporaneously told her mother, brother and a close friend about the disturbing attack. Reades mother has died, but the other two confirm they learned about the incident shortly after it was said to have happened. The brother told reporters, My mom wanted her to go to the police.

During the Kavanaugh hearings Ford had several credibility problems. She faltered on her fear of flying claim, which delayed the hearings, yet she ultimately admitted to annual plane trips to far-flung locales like French Polynesia. Her claim of installing a second front door in her home to counter her persistent post-Kavanaugh panic attacks proved untrue. The extra door was used by renters leasing a separate room in Fords home.

Look, under scrutiny Reades allegations against Biden might also uncover credibility problems. But I guess well never know the truth. Reade gets no public hearing. This is blatant political hypocrisy.

Long ago the enlightened  especially those in the Democratic party  firmly embraced the #MeToo sensibility that brave women who came forward with a sex harassment or sexual assault allegation should be heard.

Interestingly, during the Kavanaugh hearings Joe Biden declared, What should happen is the woman should be given the benefit of the doubt and not be, you know, abused again by the system. He spoke of treating women claiming sexual abuse with respect.

Well, then, shouldnt Tara Reade expect the same treatment as Kavanaughs accuser? Of course she should, but Id advise Reade not to hold her breath.

Some Democrats are claiming Reade has a political motive. Makes no sense as she is a lifelong Democrat who says shed never vote Republican. Lets face it, its probably not the politics of accusers we should worry about. Its the political games being played on Capitol Hill we need to recognize and condemn.

www.DianeDimond.com; email to Diane@DianeDimond.com.
The jobs will be advertised on www.usajobs.gov starting Monday.

Bitterroot National Forest fire management officer Mark Wilson plans to add up to 17 firefighters to his 80-person crew.

Unlike in past years when firefighters from all over the nation moved from one hot spot the next and large fire camps suddenly blossomed on school parking lots or empty meadows, the focus this year will be on keeping fire crews as local as possible and camps split up and small.

Were going to try to maximize the resources that we have locally as opposed to moving resources around as weve done in the past, Wilson said. We will be doing more dispersed camps. People wont see firefighters gathering in one spot. The camps will be more self-sufficient. People will be potentially be roughing it a little bit more. Theyll likely be eating MREs as opposed to having a full kitchen.

On the Bitterroot Forest, fire crews will be broke into modules of five to 10 firefighters who will work together as a unit and do their best to keep enough distance between themselves and other modules to reduce the potential spread of the virus.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-25 15:41:09|Editor: huaxia

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WUHAN, April 25 (Xinhua) -- A plane carrying medical supplies took off at 8:34 p.m. Friday and left Wuhan, a central Chinese city once hardest hit by COVID-19, for New York.

The flight was operated by China Southern Airlines and loaded with nearly 20 tonnes of medical supplies on board. It was the airlines' first passenger flight that was used for delivering cargos from the province.

The airlines also planned to operate more cargo flights from Wuhan to San Francisco, Rome, Paris, London and Frankfurt to send medical supplies produced by local companies to help with the coronavirus fight, said a source with the air company's Hubei branch.

The airlines decided to use passenger planes to deliver cargo on March 29 and sent 176,000 tonnes of cargo on the first converted flight from south China's Guangzhou to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on April 3.

As of Thursday, China Southern Airlines had run 255 converted all-cargo flights which sent 2,930 tonnes of cargos in total to 22 countries and regions, including Italy, France, Canada, Australia, Turkey, Kenya, Japan and the Republic of Korea. Enditem
A driver who police believe was wearing an N95 mask for several hours passed out Thursday while driving his car and crashed into a pole, according to a Facebook post from a New Jersey police department.

The driver, who was not severely injured, was the only person in car and passed out due to insufficient oxygen intake/excessive carbon dioxide intake, police said.

Motorists and the public alike are reminded that while masks should be used in public settings to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, they are not necessary outdoors when social distancing can be maintained, and especially not necessary when driving a vehicle with no additional occupants, the department said in the post.

Authorities said they have not ruled out another medical reason as a contributing cause to the crash, but said they did not find any evidence that the driver was under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

As it relates to this specific incident, we reiterate that police officers are not physicians and do not know the medical history of every person we encounter, police said in an updated post.

It was stated in the original post that we believed the excessive wearing of an N95 mask was a contributing factor to this accident. While we dont know this with 100% certainty, we do know that the driver had been wearing an N95 mask inside the vehicle for several hours and ultimately passed out while operating the vehicle.

Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com.
Chennai: Civic authorities on Saturday turned down a plea for exhuming the body of a doctor who died of COVID-19 here and burying it in another cemetry, citing health experts' view that it was unsafe to do so. Citing a request from the wife of the deceased doctor to allow exhumation and then re-burial at a cemetery in Kilpauk, the Greater Chennai Corporation said it sought a report from a committee of public health experts to ascertain the feasibility of entertaining her plea.

The spouse of the doctor had appealed to the GCC on April 22 to exhume and bury again her husband's body. She had said that burial in the Kilpauk cemetry here was her husband's last wish and he had coveyed it to her before he was put on a ventilator. The report of experts has said that "it is not safe" to exhume and again bury the body of a COVID-19 victim and hence "it is not possible to accept her request," the GCC said in an official release. On April 19, a city based 55-year-old neurosurgeon died of coronavirus and his burial at the Velangadu crematorium here was marred by violence.

A mob which falsely feared that the burial may lead to the spread of contagion had attacked the corporation health employees and associates of the deceased doctor. The doctor's wife and son also had to leave the burial ground in view of the violence. The body was brought to Velangadu as people of Kilpauk area had opposed his burial there. Over a dozen men involved allegedly in violence were arrested and remanded to judicial custody. Later, in a video message, the surgeon's wife had said that it was her husband's last wish to be interred at the Kilpauk cemetry as per Christian rituals. Chief Minister K Palaniswami and DMK president M K Stalin had spoken to her on Wednesday over phone and condoled her husband's death.

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.

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IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP)  Tyson Foods suspended operations Wednesday at an Iowa plant that is critical to the nation's pork supply but was blamed for fueling a massive coronavirus outbreak in the region.

The Arkansas-based company said the closure of the plant in Waterloo would deny a vital market to hog farmers and further disrupt U.S. meat supply. Tyson had kept the facility, its largest pork plant, open in recent days over the objections of alarmed local officials.

The plant can process 19,500 hogs per day, accounting for 3.9% of U.S. pork processing capacity, according to the National Pork Board.

More than 180 infections have been linked to the plant and officials expect that number to dramatically rise. Testing of its 2,800 workers is expected to begin Friday. Cases and hospitalizations in Black Hawk County have skyrocketed in recent days and local officials say the plant is the source of most infections.

In addition to those who have tested positive for the virus, hundreds of workers were staying home out of fear, and the plant had been running at reduced production levels.

Employers have struggled to contain the virus in meatpacking plants, where workers toil side by side on production lines and often share crowded locker rooms, cafeterias and rides to work. While plants have added safety measures, public health experts say social distancing is virtually impossible.

Several facilities have temporarily closed due to virus outbreaks, including a Smithfield Foods plant in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, a JBS USA plant in Worthington, Minnesota, and a Redwood Farms Meat Processors in Estherville, Iowa. Others have stayed open or resumed production after pauses for testing and cleaning.

On Wednesday, Tyson announced it would close a pork plant in Logansport, Indiana, and that its 2,200 workers would undergo testing after some became infected with the virus. The plant takes hogs from farmers across nine states.

In Texas, state health investigators said Wednesday they have identified 114 cases of COVID-19 associated with a JBS Beef plant and are working to determine whether theres an ongoing source of infection. Department of State Health Services spokeswoman Lara Anton said the company contacted the agency last week to ensure they were doing everything they should to protect staff at the facility in Cactus, in the Texas Panhandle. The plant has not closed.

JBS Beef spokesman Cameron Bruett said in an email there is no investigation to our knowledge but that the company would shut down its Cactus location if it was deemed unsafe.

Story continues

The company contacted the health department last week to ensure they were doing everything they should be to protect its staff, Anton said. Health officials visited the plant Wednesday and confirmed JBS implemented the departments recommendations and is following all of the best practices for an essential business to remain in operation, Anton said.

An estimated 25% of U.S. pork processing capacity has been closed or idled due to reduced operating speed over the past two days, said Steve Meyer, an economist with Kerns and Associates in Ames, Iowa.

As a result, prices are starting to increase and analysts warn that customers could soon see shortages of certain products at grocery stores. At the same time, hog prices are plummeting due to excess supply, devastating farmers.

In Kansas, a critical beef production state, an official said Wednesday that 168 meatpacking workers had tested positive to date. In Missouri, two rural counties that are home to several meatpacking plants reported huge spikes in infections.

Tyson Fresh Meats President Steve Stouffer said its Waterloo closure was driven by the combination of worker absenteeism, COVID-19 cases and community concerns. He warned of significant ramifications" for farmers, distributors and grocers in the supply chain.

Tyson said workers would be compensated during the shutdown and that the timing of reopening would depend on several factors, including testing.

Local officials, including Waterloo Mayor Quentin Hart and the Black Hawk County Board of Health, had called on Tyson or Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds to temporarily close the plant. They had warned that its continued operation would exacerbate the spread of the virus in the area and that the company was endangering its workers.

A 65-year-old employee in the plant's laundry department died Sunday after contracting the virus, the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reported.

The governor blocked local authorities from closing the plant in an April 16 order that banned social gatherings in northeastern Iowa. It granted the exclusive power to the Iowa Department of Public Health to shut down businesses over coronavirus concerns.

The governor and the department had been working with Tyson to keep the plant open.

Reynolds argued that the economic disruption caused by plant closures outweighed the health risks, warning that farmers might have to euthanize their pigs. She said that people are gonna get" the virus in large workplaces but most will experience mild or no symptoms.

While it's true that for most people, the virus causes mild or moderate symptoms that clear up in a few weeks, it can lead to more severe illness and even death for some, especially older adults and those with existing health problems.

Lawmakers said an earlier closure would have better protected public health and been less harmful economically. My concern is the impact this has had because we didnt act soon enough," said Democratic Rep. Ras Smith of Waterloo.

The governor didn't respond directly when asked Wednesday if the state should have intervened. She defended her overall response to the crisis but said, Theres always more we could have done.

Tyson resumed operations Tuesday at its pork plant in Columbus Junction, Iowa, which had been shut down for two weeks after an outbreak infected hundreds and killed two workers.

___

Associated Press writer David Pitt in Des Moines, Iowa, Jim Salter in St. Louis, Roxana Hegeman in Belle Plaine, Kansas, and Jake Bleiberg in Dallas contributed to this report.
National Theatre Live - National Theatre Live presents 'Jack Absolute Flies Again' on screen at Whale Theatre on Thursday, July 23, at 7pm.

Tickets are 17.50 at whaletheatre.ie.

The play, written by Richard Bean and Oliver Chris, is based on Richard Brinsley Sheridan's 'The Rivals', and is set in 1940s British summertime.

Bean and Chris transpose the wit of Sheridan's 18th-century comedy of manners to the year 1940, replacing aristocratic country gentlemen with RAF officers during the Battle of Britain. After an aerial dog fight, Pilot Officer Jack Absolute flies home to rejoin his fearless young Hurricane squadron at RAF Fontwell.

Once back on British soil, Jack is shocked to find his old flame, Lydia, on the base. Setting his sights on winning her heart, Jack's advances turn to anarchy when the young heiress demands to be loved on her own terms. With turbulence and hilarity never far away, his advances quickly turn to anarchy. Staged to coincide with the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, this joyous farce is directed by Thea Sharrock ('Me Before You') and features a cast including Caroline Quentin and Richard Fleeshman.

Horticultural Society

Delgany and District Horticultural Society will hold its rose show on Saturday, June 27.

The society's dahlia show will take place on Saturday, August 29.

Both events will take place at St Patrick's National School, Church Road, Greystones from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Delgany heritage

An appeal is being made for old photos, articles and documents for a website about the history and heritage of Delgany Village.

Wicklow County Council heritage department and the National Library of Ireland are developing the resource with Tommy MacMackin.

The site is due to go live soon and more material is needed to populate it in advance of the launch. The main headings are people, places and topics.

Anything provided needs to be suitable for publication on a website. Materials can be emailed to tommy.mackmackin@gmail.com.

Mass online

The Holy Rosary and St Kilian in Greystones is celebrating Mass online every day at 10 a.m. and 11.30 a.m. on Sundays. The streaming is available to access on greystonesparish.ie. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament will be available in each church in the pastoral area and online from the Holy Rosary from 1 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Saturday.

Dementia Support

Wicklow Dementia Support usually holds a number of events in the Greystones area, which are cancelled for the moment.

'Musical memories' takes place each Friday morning at St Patrick's Church Hall from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

There are often visiting musicians and there's usually a turnout of around 30 people, including people with dementia, their family carers and volunteers.

A family carers support group meets on the third Friday of each month, also at St Patrick's, from 11.30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

This is a facilitator-led, peer-to-peer support group.

Contact Wicklow Dementia Support at 089 4286928 for more information or details about any of the events.

Alzheimer Cafe

The Alzheimer Cafe is facilitated by the HSE/St Columcille's Hospital and primary care nurses.

It meets at the Glenview Hotel on the last Thursday of each month, from 2.30 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Events are cancelled for the moment.

Story time at the library

Children's story time takes place at 10.30 a.m. on Wednesday mornings at Greystones Library.

The session is suitable for babies up to children aged six years. No booking is required for the event.

Events at the library are cancelled as the library is closed due to the coronavirus. Storytelling videos are being uploaded to the Facebook page of Wicklow County Library Service.

Policing clinic in Kilcoole

Kilcoole policing clinic usually takes place each Wednesday evening at Kilcoole Community Centre, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Clinics are on hold for now.

Garda Corbett and/or Garda Thompson are usually in attendance. Drop in for crime prevention advice, get a form stamped and obtain most other garda station services.

Language groups

A German conversation group meets each week in Greystones. The library is closed, so these sessions are suspended for the moment. The group meets at the library on Saturday mornings at 11 a.m. A French conversational group meets on Thursday mornings, also at the library, at 11 a.m.

Exercise for over-50s

Exercise programmes for the over-50s take place each Wednesday at Shoreline Leisure at 12.30 p.m.

The sessions help with flexibility, strength, confidence, balance, coordination and mobility. Classes will resume in a number of weeks after the health issues are resolved.

Admission is 5 per session.

Country market

North Wicklow Country Market takes place each Saturday morning at Newcastle Community Centre. The market is not taking place during the current crisis. It normally takes place from 10.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m.

Badminton Club

Bray-Greystones badminton club welcomes new players every Thursday night at 8 p.m. in BIFE, Novara Road, Bray.

Family badminton takes place every Sunday from 4 p.m. till 6 p.m. Adults and children are welcome. If interested, contact Mary at 089 4132070.

There are no classes for the time being.

Active retired activities

Greystones Active Retirement's events and classes are currently on hold.

The association, based at Kilian House, usually holds keep fit classes from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. and art from 2.15 p.m. to 4.15 p.m. on Mondays.

It also holds aqua aerobics in the Shoreline from midday to 1 p.m.

On Tuesdays, there is bowling from 10.45 a.m. to 12.45 p.m., followed by bingo from 2.15 p.m. to 4.15 p.m.

On Thursdays, there's more bowling from 2.30 p.m. to 4.30 p.m.

Greystones Active Retirement Association also holds a coffee morning from 10.30 a.m. to midday on the last Friday of each month.

The booking office is open at Kilian House Family Centre each Tuesday from 10.30 a.m. to 11.30 a.m.

People can book tickets for events, become a member or renew membership at 20, and learn about coming events, trips and outings.

No activities will take place for the next number of weeks.

Sundays at the Hot Spot

Every Sunday from September to June, the Hot Spot Music Club hosts a weekly Sunday jam session from 4 p.m. Sometimes it's jazz, sometimes it's ukulele and sometimes it's just plain ol' roots. To participate, perform or promote, email hotspotmusiclubg@gmail.com.

Events are cancelled for the time being.

Older persons register

Greystones Community Policing Unit has an older persons register in operation.

Gardai ask that if anyone knows of an older person living alone who might be vulnerable, they send details to greystones.community@garda.ie.

Cancer Support

All classes and office opening hours are suspended until further notice but Greystones Cancer Support is still available to everyone via email on info@greystonescancersupport.com. They are providing classes via Zoom, relaxation audio files and mindfulness online.

There are also online support groups with Liz Gleeson and further supports. Email the organisation to register for supports as they arise.

Social dancing

There is social dancing to live music every Sunday night in Greystones. Dancing is cancelled for the moment.

The event starts each week at 8.3.0 p.m. in the Rugby Club.

Art competition

Hub 13 is holding a sculpture, poetry and film competition for young people. Entrants must live within six miles of Newtown, which includes Delgany and Greystones. Email competitions@hub13 for an entry form.
Uh-oh! It could be you, or it could be us, but there's no page here.
As many as 157 new cases of COVID-19 infection were reported in Uttar Pradesh on Saturday, taking the total in the state to 1,778, a senior government official said here.

With this, the number of active cases climbs to 1,504, Principal Secretary, Medical and Health, Amit Mohan Prasad added.

"Till now, 248 COVID-19 patients have been discharged in the state, while 26 deaths have taken place," he said.

Prasad added that 57 of the state's 75 districts have so far reported coronavirus cases.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)




Scientists recently reported new details about the second interstellar object ever seen passing through our solar system. It is a comet called 2I/Borisov.

Comets are made up of frozen gases, rock and dust that orbit stars. The Reuters news agency likens them to dirty snowballs. Comets leave behind a mix of gas and dust in space as they move.

2I/Borisov is different from other comets, scientists have observed.

Researchers reported on Monday that gas coming off 2I/Borisov had high levels of carbon monoxide - far more than comets formed in our solar system.

Carbon monoxide is poisonous to human beings. It forms as ice only in the coldest places. The presence of so much carbon monoxide, the researchers said, suggests 2I/Borisov was formed differently than comets from our solar system. It could have formed in a very cold part of its home star system or around a star cooler than the sun.

Dennis Bodewits is a planetary scientist at Auburn University in the United States. He was the lead author of one of two 2I/Borisov studies. Both appear in the publication Nature Astronomy.

We like to refer to 2I/Borisov as a snowman from a dark and cold place, Bodewits said. He noted that, comets are left-over building blocks from the time of planet formation. For the first time, we have been able to measure the chemical composition of such a building block from another planetary system while it flew through our own solar system.

Amateur astronomer Gennady Borisov was the first person to identify the comet in August of 2019. The comet is thought to be about 1 kilometer wide. It has flown through interstellar space after being forced out from its original star system.

Bodewits said the comet was born long ago in a mix of gas and dust circling around a newly formed star. He said it came from a place that must have been rich in carbon monoxide.

That star may have been what is called an M-dwarf, far smaller and cooler than our sun. M-dwarf stars are the smallest kind of star known to scientists, Bodewits said.

At first, researchers believed that 2I/Borisov was like comets made in our solar system. However, information gathered by the Hubble Space Telescope and an observatory in Chile showed differences.

The researchers also found a large amount of hydrogen cyanide at levels similar to comets from our solar system.

Martin Cordiner was the lead author of the second study. He said, This shows that 2I/Borisov is not a completely alien object, and confirms some similarity with our normal comets, so the processes that shaped it are comparable to the way our own comets formed.

Cordiner is an astrobiologist working for NASA, the U.S. space agency. He is with the Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland.

The only other interstellar visitor discovered in our solar system was a rocky object called Oumuamua. It was found in 2017.

I'm John Russell.

Will Dunham reported on this story for Reuters. John Russell adapted it for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.

________________________________________________________________



Words in This Story

interstellar  adj. existing or occurring between stars

solar  adj. of or related to the sun

author  n. a writer of a book or report

refer  v. to note or suggest

composition  n. the way in which something is put together or arranged

amateur  n. a person who does something (such as a sport or hobby) for pleasure and not as a job




How do you travel from Mumbai to Allahabad when there is a lockdown? Buy 25 tonnes of onions, load them onto a truck and hit the road.

Desperate to reach his ancestral village on the outskirts of Allahabad, Prem Murti Pandey, who works at Mumbai airport, says he did just that.

He spent the first phase of the lockdown in Mumbai, but then it seemed that the restrictions could go on for a while.

Actually Azad Nagar in Andheri East, where I live is a very congested area and there is a bigger risk there of coronavirus spreading, he told PTI.

Buses and trains don't run and flights are grounded during this lockdown to stop the spread of coronavirus.

I realised that the government had left one way open, Pandey said, referring to the relaxation on the movement of essential commodities like fruit and vegetable.

His plan also involved watermelons -- 1,300 kilos of them.

On April 17, Pandey hired a mini-truck for Pimpalgaon near Nashik, about 200 km way. There, he bought the watermelons for Rs 10,000 and sent the vehicle back to Mumbai with the consignment.

He had already struck a deal with a buyer in Mumbai.

Next, he studied the Pimpalgaon market for a good deal in onions.

Pandey said he bought 25,520 kilos of onions at Rs 9.10 per kg, shelling out Rs 2.32 lakh.

He then hired a truck for Rs 77,500 and set off on April 20 with the onions on a 1,200-km journey to Allahabad.

He reached there on April 23 and headed straight to the Mundera wholesale market on the outskirts of the city. Unfortunately, he couldn't find anyone who would pay cash for the load.

So Pandey took the truck to his village, Kotwa Mubarkpur, a couple of kilometers away. The onions were unloaded there.

TP Nagar police post in-charge Arvind Kumar Singh said Pandey came to Dhoomanganj police station on Friday and a medical team examined him. For now, he has been asked to quarantine himself at home.

As for the onions, Pandey still hopes to get a good deal.

Right now, the mandi is full of onions from Sagar in Madhya Pradesh. Once the Sagar supply is over, onions from Nashik will find buyers, he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Critics say system of dams that China built deprived millions of people from Southeast Asia of their livelihood.

Southeast Asian countries would have likely experienced a much less severe drought last year if it were not for Chinas dams, a new study says, prompting a pushback from the intergovernmental Mekong River Commission (MRC).

The 4,000-km (2,485-mile) Mekong is one of the worlds longest rivers  winding through China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam  and millions of people rely on it daily for food and income.

Based on satellite data, water resources monitor Eyes on Earth calculated the Mekongs water flow stemming from snow-melt, soil moisture, and precipitation.

Using information from 1997 to 2001 to compute representative flows under normal conditions, authors Alan Basist and Claude Williams found that although China saw slightly above-average water flow from the Mekong last year, the data from Thailands Chiang Saen gauge, the facility that monitors water level, showed that much less water had made it downstream.

Their findings show a variation between the height of the river under natural conditions, and the time that the dams started operating.

For example, in 2019, when the water level was expected to be at approximately 7.5 metres, the indicator showed that the water level only reached 2.5 metres.





Last year, the lower Mekong countries saw one of the worst droughts ever recorded  with disastrous consequences.

Cambodias Tonle Sap, a lake that relies on water pushing in from the Mekong during the rainy season, did not see the usual inflow. This took away breeding ground for fish, and fishermen said they brought in only a fraction of their usual catch.

In Vietnam, more saltwater than usual pushed into the river, killing aquatic life and rice fields in the surrounding area without fresh water for irrigation.

Unprecedented droughts

This, in part, was because was China holding back water upstream.

2019 was unprecedented. The whole natural pulse of the river was missing during the wet season, said Basist, a climatologist who has done extensive research on water and meteorology since the 1990s.

In 2012, when the Nuozhadu dam started operating in Chinas Yunnan Province, the 27,490 cubic-metre reservoir altered the flow and disrupted the natural cycle of the Mekong River.

After that, things radically changed. What was a natural flow before, is now very irregular, Basist said.

A total of 11 upstream dams are now operating in China.

The Mekong River fluctuates extremely each year, swelling during the wet season when snow and glacial water melts and monsoon rains hit the region.

Vital river cycle

Brian Eyler, director of Stimson Centers Southeast Asia programme, said the rivers cycle is vital.

The annual flood pulse is critically important to drive the natural resource base of the Mekong, which produces 20 percent of the worlds freshwater fish catch, and drives the livelihoods of tens of millions of people downstream, he said.

The latest study analysing Mekongs water flow has prompted Somkiat Prajamwong, secretary-general of the Office of the National Water Resources of Thailand, to call for increased cooperation among countries that benefit from the river.





Somkiat, who is also a member of the inter-governmental Mekong River Commission (MRC), said more studies were needed to understand droughts effectively.

We have to come to the table and discuss together, he said at a press conference on Thursday.

Pianporn Deetes, Thailands representative to International Rivers, told Al Jazeera that communities had observed the effects of Chinas dams over the last two decades.

The study confirms what locals, especially those living along the Mekong on Thai-Lao border in Chiang Rai, have experienced this for over two decades  unusual water fluctuations, she said in an email.

This includes both extended (and/or unseasonal) drought conditions and sudden water level rises.

Devastating impact on the ecosystem

The system of dams, she said, has disrupted downstream flows of water, sediment and vital nutrients, which in turn have had devastating impacts on the ecosystem and aquatic resources important for communities living in the Lower Mekong countries.

Chinas Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Geng Shuang, however, appeared to have partially dismissed the findings of the study.





Geng was quoted by the state-owned Xinhua news agency as saying the drought was caused by natural conditions. But he also promised to improve the sharing of information about the Mekong with countries downstream.

The MRC  a body consisting of representatives of Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Thailand  said more scientific evidence was needed to decide whether the 2019 drought was caused by water storage.

In a statement on Tuesday, the MRC said the drought had not been caused by dams, but rather by insufficient rainfall during the wet season as well as the warm weather brought about by El Nino.

While Basist agreed that weather conditions were the primary cause for the drought, he said the dam exacerbated the issue.

One-two punch

It was a one-two punch, he said. All this water that would naturally be flowing down was captured upstream.

The MRC also said researchers relied on calculated flows, while the actual flows from China were higher than typical for the dry season, according to their data.

But Basist said his study was based on real-time observations, pointing out that this did not contradict his findings. He said his study had showed that there indeed was above-average water flow during the dry season.

The Eyes on Earth study found that during last years wet season, China had above-average water, but that did not benefit downstream countries like Cambodia [File: Tang Chhin Sothy/AFP]

In contrast, the study found that during last years wet season, China had above average water, but that did not flow downstream to other countries.

Stimson Centers Eyler agreed.

He said Eyes on Earths model showed that the water upstream would have been enough to generate the rivers natural flood cycle.

If Chinas 11 dams were not there, much more water would have been available along the Mekong mainstream and in the areas that take water from the mainstream.

In a statement to Al Jazeera, the MRC Secretariat said the study should have processed the data on the basis of a daily, not monthly, average.

We strongly encourage the authors to submit their study for a rigorous, scientific peer-review process to validate the accuracy of the study and its findings, they said.

They added that the authors should qualify some of the broad statements that the report makes, without elaborating further.

But Basist said most of the criticism was unsubstantiated.

I dont know where the criticism comes from  I think I need to educate them more about what the wetness index is and what it isnt, he said. I only speak as a scientist. I stand behind the data.
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New Delhi, April 25 : India got its new Central Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) on Saturday in the form of Sanjay Kothari.

"At a ceremony held today at 10.30 hrs at Rashtrapati Bhavan, Shri Sanjay Kothari was sworn in as the Central Vigilance Commissioner. He made and subscribed the oath of his office before the President," a statement from the Rashtrapati Bhawan read.

Kothari has been the Secretary to the President and was earlier selected as the new Chief Vigilance Commissioner by a high-powered committee headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

He was selected with majority votes. However, the Congress had objected to his selection, during the meeting.

The Central Vigilance Commission is the anti-corruption watchdog with autonomous status. It is free of control from any executive authority. It also has the responsibility of monitoring all vigilance activities in the Central government.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
New Delhi, April 25 : A new way of life and work awaits workers and professionals in Gurugram as the administration has issued a standard operating procedure (SOP) for resuming operations, which includes maintaining six-feet distance, mandatory use of Aarogya Setu app, no overlap of shifts, doing away with cafeterias, mandatory temperature checking, removing door knobs, having a fixed seating plans and marking the floor with squares.

The Gurugram administration has issued the SOP with the caveat that since the district has a unique industrial and workforce mix, owning to its adjacency to Delhi and various NCR cities, the District Administration has decided to go for more stringent measures in a few domains to safeguard the interests of the various stakeholders.

"All organisations should hence always adopt more stringent measures, in case of any disparity among the Central, State and District Administration guidelines", it said.

Companies and industrial units have been asked to ensure regular deep cleaning and sanitisation of all common areas and touch points using Government of India approved disinfectants. In case of shifts, they have been asked to do this before every shift.

The establishments have been asked to conduct regular drills and trainings of the employees with recommended social distancing of at least six feet among all. They also have to make frequent announcements (using mikes or similar methods) on the work floor, telling the employees to be mindful of their actions.

The administration has said that there should be no overlapping of shifts. A minimum time of an hour should be there between two shifts for cleaning to happen.

Organisations have also been asked not to use biometric attendance systems. The floor of the office should be clearly marked with coloured tape (squares or circles) at every six feet. Employees should be allowed to walk strictly in those squares or circles.

"This will need a lot of reinforcement for everyone to get used to it. Other cues of social distancing should also be used; for instance, mark the edges of the walls and doors with colours such as red (use tape, if necessary) to discourage accidental touching," the administration said.

A fixed sitting plan should be put in place. The plan also mandates that stairs should be preferred over lifts. Lifts should have maximum as many people facing the walls (with clear markings to stand on the lift floor).

Door knobs and handles should either be removed or handled by dedicated staff, the SOP said.

The plan mandates that daily temperature scans must be carried out at the workplaces. Employees must check their temperature at home too, and should not turn up for work in case of fever or any other symptoms of flu.

"With the ICMR making initial estimates of about 80 per cent Covid-19 patients showing zero to mild symptoms, it will be a big risk to have employees that don't follow social distancing beyond work and don't actively promote it in their families, especially with the elderly and children," the plan said.

It is also mandatory for everyone to use the Aarogya Setu app, as per the plan.

The use of face mask may just be the single most differentiating factor in the fight against Covid-19, as per the plan. "Your employees may find it inconvenient, may say that they only took it off for a moment and may even complain of headaches, but this is simply not negotiable", the guidelines said.

It would augur well if an organisation provides face masks to its employees. Use of recyclable cloth masks should be encouraged.

Companies have also been asked to use technology to beat Covid-19. It will be good to invest in automatic doors and sanitiser dispensers, the SOP said.

Window/split ACs with HEPA-based air purifiers and exhaust fans are better than centralised ACs to manage Covid-19 risk. "If your office can manage this, it will be a worthwhile investment," the plan said.

"For job works requiring collaboration that would interfere with social distancing, redesign the production flow, even if it adds to production time substantially," the administration has said.

Employees can even travel on feet or by their own vehicles (one person per vehicle). In rare circumstances, a driver may be permitted for a car, provided there is an impermeable barrier between the driver and the passenger and the AC is not switched on.

Inter-state or inter-district travel of employees is not allowed (except for essential services, where also it is rationed), as per the SOP.
The Central government announced on Friday evening that certain shops like the ones registered under the Shops and Establishments Act, and outside the limits of municipalities will be allowed to operate provided they employ only 50 per cent of their employees and follow necessary precautions like wearing face masks and social distancing. However, the question remains whether liquor shops and bars will remain open.

Bars and liquor shops will not be allowed to serve or sell alcohol during the nationwide lockdown period. The government has made it clear that alcohol sale comes under a separate clause and not under the Shops and Establishment Act.

Also read: Coronavirus in India: Shops to reopen from today; what about cinema halls, malls?

Earlier, two states- Assam and Meghalaya allowed liquor shops to sell alcohol in the first phase of the lockdown, from March 25 to April 14. Liquor shops in the two states were, however, ordered to shut down from April 15. The central government in its April 15 order said that there should be a strict ban on the sale of gutkha, liquor and tobacco during the nationwide lockdown.

In keeping with its order issued on April 15, the MHA rejected the Punjab government's request to allow liquor shops in the state on April 23. Punjab government, however, is not the only one to advocate sale of liquor in their state. Raj Thackeray wrote an open letter to Maharashtra CM and his cousin Uddhav Thackeray batting for the sale of alcohol. In his letter, Thackeray said that the lockdown will not be over anytime soon and the ban of liquor sales shall have an adverse impact on state revenues. The MNS President also said in his letter that the state should not concern itself with moral issues.

Also read: 'Don't get caught in moral issues, open liquor shops': Raj Thackeray writes to Uddhav Thackeray

Expressing shock at Raj Thackeray's statement, AAP spokesperson Priti Sharma Menon said that in these dire situations, the priority needs to be placed on food and medical care for poor and to ensure that non-migrants are sent home safely and not liquor sales. Delhi government directed all hotels, restaurants, liquor vends and clubs in the national capital to not sell alcohol during the lockdown period. This order comes after the state Excise Department found out that some establishments were smuggling liquor from their premises.

Also read: Coronavirus: Govt allows local shops to reopen; check out what opens, what remains closed

Also read: Coronavirus India Live Updates: Govt clarifies reopening local shops order; country's COVID-19 tally-24,506
When we conducted this survey, we wanted to gather information that would be immensely beneficial to our readers, including consumers, marketer and HVAC contractors

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In recent news, the website announced it has released critical findings from its highly anticipated Residential HVAC Survey. This survey is the first residential HVAC survey of its kind, anywhere in the world, and focuses on key information consumers and contractors need to know about.

Information from the survey includes data in the areas of:

Brand reliability

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And other highly researched topics

When we conducted this survey, we wanted to gather information that would be immensely beneficial to our readers, including consumers, marketer and HVAC contractors, says Rene Langer, founder of PickHVAC. From the information we were able to gather, we were able to arrive at multiple key conclusions that will be of great help to all our readers.

For more information about PickHVAC, please visit https://www.pickhvac.com/. To read the results of the survey, please visit https://www.pickhvac.com/residential-hvac-statistics/.

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Wolfpack Publishing, a Las Vegasbased genre publisher with more than 90% of its business in digital book sales, is finding success with its direct-to-consumer focus during nationwide shelter-in-place orders. According to publisher Mike Bray, since mid-March, when people began staying at home because of the pandemic, sales have been up 32% over the same period last year. The press had $2.2 million in gross sales in 2019, and he thinks its on track to earn $3 million in 2020.

The difference between us and traditional publishers is that weve been marketing for consumers since day one, Bray said, whereas publishers are trying to learn the business-to-consumer model now.

Wolfpacks list focuses primarily on westerns, though Bray has been growing Wolfpacks footprint in adventure, mystery, and historical fiction. Around 70% of its catalogue is backlist titles that were once released by more traditional publishers, including genre fiction from novelists like L.J. Martin, Kat Martin, and Peter Brandvold.

Bray cofounded Wolfpack in 2013 with Martin, launching at the annual Western Writers of America conference. Bray had a long career in digital marketing before starting the press, and he left the conference with a dozen new authors and their backlists. The press now has an annual output of around 240 titles, and Bray hopes to double output in the next year.

Our editors are deep diving into the work and often turn around one manuscript every one to two weeks, said associate publisher Rachel Del Grosso, who manages seven editors and proofreaders.

With his marketing background, Bray takes the lead on that side of the business, along with two marketing employees. In all, Wolfpack has 14 employees.

Wolfpacks online marketing ability has been a selling point for both established and up-and-coming authors. I saw that Wolfpack was absolutely killing it with their sales figures, said Brandvold, a veteran western writer who started working with Wolfpack in 2019. Mike Bray has figured out how to get the right titles in front of the very people looking for them.

Brandvold now has nearly 60 books in the Wolfpack catalogue, both backlist and new series. Traditional publishers cannot hold a candle, he said, recalling how the relationship began with Once a Marshal, a western he published as a mass market paperback with Berkley in 1998. Back then, it didnt make anything compared to what Wolfpack has brought in for it now.

The press offers authors a 40% royalty rate, paid monthly, but, Bray said, we seldom pay an advance.

At any given moment, Wolfpack has 640 advertisements running on Amazon and 300 on Facebook, driving digital sales for the publisher. The press distributes its paperbacks through Ingram, but those sales make up less than 10% of its business. Beyond ads, Wolfpack cultivates an email list of 45,000 readers. Through that list, Bray has found more than 24 genre-specific readers who read digital ARCs and post reviews on Amazon.

Action and adventure has become an important genre for Wolfpack. Australian novelist Brent Towns had published westerns in the past but couldnt find a traditional publisher for his military thriller Retribution. Wolfpack published the novel in February 2019, and Towns has since published seven books with the press and his novel has become a series. I was an unknown entity for them, but they took a chance on someone with no proven track record for writing action and adventure, Towns said.

Series are an important part of Wolfpacks business model. Series are king, Del Grosso said. When we are approached by any author or agent, the first thing were looking at is how many titles the author is bringing to the table. We invest in an author, not a single book.

Brandvold pointed to the Covid-19 crisis as a reason for Wolfpacks recent sales uptick. We are living through a time of rugged individualism. When has each of us been more on our own than now? Its each of us against the fates. Isnt that exactly what the traditional western hero faces every day of his mythical life?
Albie Woodhouse has performed the Last Post in many different settings. But, until this morning, never the driveway of his Daceyville home.

Flanked by his family members holding candles in the soft dawn light, his solemn commemoration of those who made the ultimate sacrifice rang out across dewy suburban lawns.

Albie Woodhouse plays The Last Post on trumpet for a driveway dawn service . Credit:Cole Bennetts

Dotted along the street were his neighbours, many clutching candles of their own, all soaking in the minute's silence that followed from their own little patch of concrete.

"It was a lot more real," Woodhouse, a 17-year-old Newtown Performing Arts High School student, said.
Ceylon Tea gains on Indian lockdown By Sunimalee Dias View(s): View(s):

Sri Lankas tea industry is cashing on the new found opportunity with neighbouring India in lockdown as Ceylon Tea was seen making price gains for the second consecutive week.

The increase in prices at the tea e-auctions for orthodox black teas was ranging between Rs.50-400 per kg as more volumes were becoming increasingly available compared to the first half of this year when volumes were low due to the drought period that existed previously.

India has gone in for a lockdown since March 24 and in this respect tea markets have also closed for operations resulting in a total lack of tea from the subcontinent.

Sri Lanka stands to gain from this lockdown as more buyers continue to pick up larger volumes to make up for the lack of teas from the Indian market.

But this is likely to be short-lived as India has reportedly commenced production about a week back although the daily attendance of workers is said to be poor.

Tea Exporters Association (TEA) Chairman Sanjaya Herath told the Business Times that since plucking on the Indian estates has been stalled for about a month the fields are overgrown and that is unlikely to yield quality tea.

However, within about four to six weeks India is likely to get their act right and that would mean pressure on Ceylon Tea prices as they (India) too will commence exporting, he noted.

Sri Lanka still stands to gain since shipments out of Colombo take only four weeks compared to 6-8 weeks from India.

Moreover, with the lockdowns in the key markets, governments in countries like Iran had forced traders to release all their stocks into the market to allow consumers to purchase the teas.

But with Iran holding low stocks there has been increased buying of Ceylon Tea including from other markets like Russia as well.

Ceylon Tea has been holding out high prices for the better teas, Mr. Herath noted, which were selling well over Rs.1000 per kg especially the low growns.

We must get back to normalcy as soon as possible, he noted adding that with India likely to open up within two to three weeks things should return to normal especially with more vessels calling over as there is currently a drop as shipping lines try to consolidate the cargo.
SHANAS By

Express News Service

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In the initial days of the lockdown, the prime concern of the state government while dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic was how to handle its huge workforce from other states, who earned their daily bread by mostly doing blue-collar jobs. Massive unrest among them was potent enough to dent the governments action plan against the pandemic.

However, it was a slew of holistic measures such as reaching out to the labourers, setting up avenues for their recreation and most importantly, arranging medical assistance to the needy family members of the workers back home in a bid to earn their trust, that helped the state avert a massive agitation from brewing among migrant workers. Food was always going to be a problem.

To deal with the issue, the government set up community kitchens. But there was another hiccup as most of the migrant workers preferred their local cuisine to Kerala food being provided in the kitchens. They preferred roti, dal and their local variety of rice. This issue was resolved after the resenting workers were allowed to run their own version of community kitchen for which the essentials were provided by the authorities.

In fact, the authorities promoted the workers to run their own kitchen for a reason. Cooking food for a large group was a time-consuming process and the officials felt that it would wean them away from devoting time to fake messages being circulated on social media platforms. Thiruvananthapuram Police Range DIG Sanjay Kumar Gurudin, who is the nodal officer for the welfare of the migrant labourers, said the effort paid dividends as the workers prepared their own dishes and they did not spend too much on social media platforms.

There were a lot of rumours being circulated on numerous WhatsApp groups that they were members of. We intervened and began sending authentic information on those groups to counter the fake narratives, he added. Sanjay said most of the workers were worried about their safety and their families back home and wanted to return soon. The officials convinced them that transportation has been suspended all over the country and travelling is not possible.

Once they understood they will have to remain isolated for a month if they travel, many dropped their demand, Sanjay said. The officials also got in touch with their family members and convinced them to persuade their family members in Kerala to stay put. To drive home the point that the state is interested in their wellbeing, Sanjay got in touch with the respective nodal officers of the eastern states and arranged life-saving medicines for some of the family members of the workers. Issues of language barrier were solved by fielding 82 paramilitary people and numerous Home Guards having expertise in various languages, among the workers.

Sources said the biggest challenge they had faced was to make the workers stay indoors. For that, the cops with the help of NGOs and philanthropists donated television sets, carrom boards and playing cards to the camps for recreation. Despite these measures, a large number of workers was under immense stress and many of them were having suicidal thoughts. Around 100 counsellors were arranged from Tata Institute of Social Science (TISS) to provide psychological support to the workers.
An Australian surfer found dead in a swimming pool in a lavish Bali villa may have passed out from exhaustion underwater after jogging in blistering temperatures.

Rhodri Lloyd Thomas, 31, from the town of Mandurah in Western Australia, was pulled from the pool in the villa he shares with his girlfriend in the idyllic resort of Canggu on April 9.

It is now believed the sportsman may have gone jogging that morning, with local police fearing he later passed out from exhaustion and drowned while swimming.

His body was cremated this week, with his family now enduring the painstaking task of getting the remains sent back to Australia, which could prove impossible.

The coronavirus outbreak has brought travel bans and strict export regulations to stop the spread of the deadly virus, which has entered Australia from overseas.

Mr Thomas (pictured) was the founder of the JamJar travel app that offers holiday advice to tourists in Bali

Mr Thomas (pictured, left, with sister Angharad, right) was a popular surfer in Western Australia who moved to Bali in 2016

During the tragic incident, Mr Thomas' friend Alexander Hogan desperately tried to revive him while his distraught girlfriend Sara Mearsheimer watched on in horror.

It is understood his girlfriend and friend performed CPR on the surfer for 20 minutes until an ambulance arrived, a source told 9News.

He was then taken to Sanglah Hospital in Denpasar.

The popular surfer was honoured on Saturday night by the close-knit community in his hometown in Mandurah, 72km south of Perth.

'He was a lovely guy, so full of energy and always smiling,' one friend told the West Australian.

One friend wrote on Instagram: 'RIP legend. Really sad today brother. Hope youre ripping in heaven and making ridiculously stupid jokes non stop! Youll be missed mate.'

Rhodri Lloyd Thomas, 31, (pictured) from WA was found dead in a Canggu villa in Bali on April 9

Mr Thomas (pictured), known to friends as Tomas Rodd, had been living in Bali with his girlfriend and a friend in a villa

Mr Thomas (pictured, surfing), known to friends as Tomas Rodd, had lived in Bali for the last four years

North Kuta's chief detective, Androyuan Elim, said Mr Thomas had been swimming in the pool around 8am that morning.

'Mr Hogan heard the victim swimming at 8am and about an hour later, he no longer heard the sound of water in the pool. He then checked the pool for his friend,' Mr Elim told News Corp.

'The witness conducted CPR by giving artificial breath and pressing on the victim's chest. But the victim remained motionless.

'From the results of the post mortem examination at Sanglah hospital (Bali's main hospital), there was no sign of violence found on the victim's body.

Police fear the popular surfer (pictured, far left) may have passed out from exhaustion while swimming after a morning jog

Mr Thomas (pictured with a friend) also used to work as a bartender in Perth before moving to Bali

'We cannot confirm the cause of death because the autopsy was not approved by the victim's family.'

Ms Mearsheimer was reportedly in the kitchen when she saw Mr Hogan resuscitating her boyfriend before she collapsed in shock.

Mr Thomas had been living in Bali since 2016 and was a keen surfer in the popular Canggu area.

He is the founder of JamJar a travel app that delivers advice to holidaymakers in Bali.

Writing online Mr Thomas said he was a 'branding, design and marketing expert.'

Mr Thomas (pictured) had been living in Bali since 2016 and was a keen surfer in the popular Canggu area

Mr Thomas (pictured, second from right) had studied marketing and finance at the University of Western Australian

Mr Thomas had studied marketing and corporate finance at the University of Western Australia.

He had also worked as a bartender in Perth before developing the JamJar app.

The app gives tourists information on bars, restaurants and events in cities.

JamJar uses personal information from a user to determine places and events they may be interested in.

It also uses real time and weather factors to suggest ideas for tourists to explore.

Mr Thomas has developed the app in Perth but was also running it in Bali.

Mr Thomas had been living in Canggu (pictured), one of the most popular surf destinations in Indonesia

Groups of people are seen hanging out on the sand at a beach in Canggu (pictured) where Mr Thomas has resided for the last four years




Rights groups urge Dhaka to allow some 500 Rohingya stuck in the Bay of Bengal to come ashore.

Dhaka, Bangladesh  The Bangladesh government has refused to allow some 500 Rohingya refugees stranded on board two fishing trawlers in the Bay of Bengal to come ashore, drawing criticism from rights groups.

Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen told Al Jazeera on Saturday that the Rohingya refugees, who are believed to have been at sea for weeks, are not Bangladeshs responsibility.

Why you are asking Bangladesh to take those Rohingyas? They are in the deep sea, not even in Bangladeshs territorial water, Momen said, adding that there are at least eight coastal countries surrounding the Bay of Bengal.

Its your duty to ask Myanmar government first because those are their citizens, Momen told Al Jazeera.

The two trawlers  carrying an estimated 500 Rohingya women, men and children  are in the Bay of Bengal after being rejected by Malaysia, which has imposed restrictions on all boats in light of the coronavirus pandemic.

According to the United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR, the stranded Rohingya might have been at sea for weeks without adequate food and water.

Momen said that just weeks ago, Bangladesh rescued a total of 396 Rohingya people from a vessel that had been adrift for about two months after also failing to reach Malaysia.

Why should Bangladesh take the responsibility every time? Momen asked. Bangladesh has already taken more than a million of Rohingya. We are running out of our generosity now.

On Saturday, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said the government of Bangladesh should immediately allow stranded refugees ashore and provide them with the necessary food, water, and healthcare.

Bangladesh has shouldered a heavy burden as the result of the Myanmar militarys atrocity crimes, but this is no excuse to push boatloads of refugees out to sea to die, said Brad Adams, Asia director at HRW.

Bangladesh should continue to help those at grave risk and preserve the international goodwill it has gained in recent years for helping the Rohingya.

No such boats

Bangladeshs coastal authorities meanwhile, denied the presence of any trawlers carrying Rohingya refugees in its territorial waters.

Speaking to Al Jazeera, Lieutenant Commander Sohail Rana, Teknaf station head of Bangladesh coastguard said they had not seen any boats carrying Rohingya refugees in Bangladeshs territorial water in the past few days.

The areas that we patrol have no such boats, Rana said.

A Bangladeshi fisherman, however, told HRW that on April 20 he saw two trawlers full of Rohingya coming toward the shore while I was at sea in my fishing trawler with others.

The same day, a local resident posted on Facebook: Again, trawlers full of Rohingya are heading to Baharchara Union [in Coxs Bazar]. They are waiting at sea to enter into Bangladesh.

It is believed that most of the Rohingya refugees on board the trawlers had left refugee camps in Bangladesh in an attempt to reach Malaysia, according to HRW.

The organisation reported that it had spoken to 10 families who said their family members had left the camps and they had not heard from them since.

A mother from Kutupalong extension camp told HRW: One of my sons left the camp some two months ago. Around 20 days back, I got a phone call from my son to pay money to smugglers. We paid. But we have not heard anything since.

Bangladesh alone cant take responsibility

In a statement, HRW said, Bangladesh should continue to uphold its international obligations not to return refugees to places where they face persecution, and not to return anyone to where they would face a risk of torture or other ill-treatment.





HRW also said that all countries, including Malaysia and Thailand, have the responsibility under international law to respond to boats in distress, enact or coordinate rescue operations within their search and rescue operations, and not to push back asylum seekers risking their lives at sea.

Amnesty International last week called on Southeast Asian governments to launch immediate search and rescue operations for potentially hundreds more Rohingya refugees languishing at sea.

The COVID-19 pandemic, Amnesty International said, cannot be a pretext for governments to abandon their responsibilities towards 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. The fact that it is upholding its own obligations is not an excuse for others to abandon theirs, said Biraj Patnaik, South Asia director at Amnesty International.

The Bangladeshi foreign minister, however, pointed out that other countries need to come forward to help the Rohingya.

Please ask UN and other countries like USA, UK and Canada to shoulder some responsibility. We are ready to send Rohingya people to their country if they are willing to take them, Momen told Al Jazeera.
Canadas public health authority says around one million KN95 masks acquired from China failed to meet federal COVID-19 standards for ...





Canadas public health authority says around one million KN95 masks acquired from China failed to meet federal COVID-19 standards for use by frontline health professionals.





The KN95 is a Chinese model similar to the N95, which is a crucial type of personal protective equipment used to defend nurses, doctors and other health workers in the fight against COVID-19.





Eric Morrissette, a spokesman for the Public Health Agency of Canada, said as a result of this, the Canadian government did not dispense the non-complying masks to provinces and territories.





The failure of these masks to meet Canadian requirements is yet another challenge for the country as it fights to secure personal protective equipment (PPE) and medical supplies.

Canada has authorised the KN95 for use as part of the COVID-19 response, but individual shipments are being inspected.





China has become the source of around 70 percent of Canadas imports of PPE, with much of the rest coming from the US, Britain and Switzerland, POLITICO, a US publication, quoted a senior Canadian source as saying.





The international race for medical gear, fuelled by shortages around the world, has led countries to connect with new suppliers and manufacturers, Morrissette said.





The Public Health Agency of Canada, he added, has been verifying the quality of purchased and donated supplies to ensure they meet federal technical specifications for COVID-19.





Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said two planes sent to China to pick up shipments of needed medical products were forced to return to Canada on Monday empty.





Meanwhile, efforts are on to boost local production of medical supplies in Canada.





Jerry Dias, Unifors national president, announced on Friday that its workers will work with General Motors to begin manufacturing masks for health workers and for Canadians.





Unifor members in Oshawa are highly skilled and proud to step up and make whatever our country needs to get through this pandemic, Dias said.





The fact that Unifor members will help GM produce as many as a million fabric masks a month, for Health Canada at cost, is an example of what we can do when we work together.





The statement added that 50 Unifor members are expected to begin this work in a few weeks, working at the Oshawa facility in two shifts.





Unifor is Canadas largest union in the private sector, representing 315,000 workers in every major area of the economy.
Sixty-four scientists have said bats do not spread Covid-19 after reports of people requesting local authorities to clear trees over a fear of the colonies the winged mammals host.

The chiropterologists issuing the statement said they came together after reports of public requesting removal of bats, destroying bat roosts, bursting crackers or smoking them out and sealing crevices where bats and their pups roost came to them from various parts in India.

They argued in their statement on Friday that Sars-Cov-2 may have diverged from the closest coronavirus found in bats called RaTG13, about 40 to 70 years ago indicating that the bat virus cannot directly infect humans.

The coronavirus found in one species of bat was found to be the closest match to the novel Sars-Cov-2. However, studies show that it cannot bind efficiently to receptors in the human lungs. This suggests that the virus may have evolved in an intermediate host. At the moment, a lot of evidence points towards pangolins as being the intermediate host. However, there is, as yet, no scientific consensus, Rohit Chakravarty, a research scholar at Berlins Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, said.

Also read: Covid-19 not the last pandemic, world has to build resilience

This should not become a reason to demonise pangolins which are currently the worlds most trafficked animals. Instead, we must push for the increased protection of these rare and elusive animals, Chakravarty said.

A recent study by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) had found coronaviruses in two bat species in Indian but they are not the same as Sars-Cov-2 and cannot cause Covid-19, the scientists said.

The driving factor behind viruses jumping over from animals to humans is encroachment and destruction of wildlife habitats.

Also read: Maybe once in 1000 years, says ICMR on Covid-19 transmission from bats to humans

Human activities and encroaching upon wildlife habitats puts us at risk of encountering new viruses. These viruses may come from any wildlife species and not necessarily just bats. Thus, we need to modify human practices to prevent the emergence of new pathogens, Arinjay Banerjee, a postdoctoral researcher at McMaster University, Canada, who studies bat viruses.

Banerjee was a part of the team that isolated the Covid-19 virus.

Changing human-wildlife interface, global wildlife trade and industrial livestock farming are all suspects in causing zoonotic disease outbreaks like Covid-19, they underlined.

Six myth busters from the team of bat experts:

 The exact origin of Sars-Cov-2 or its precursor is not known yet

 Scientists strongly suggest that it is highly unlikely for Sars-like viruses to jump directly from bats to humans. Also, there is no evidence of humans contracting coronavirus or any such viruses through the excreta of bats.

 ICMR report on the discovery of bat coronaviruses (BtCoV) in two species of South Asian bats poses no known health hazard.

 Information on the current, and past zoonotic disease outbreaks suggest that global wildlife trade and/or large-scale industrial livestock farming play an important role in such events.

 Killing bats and other wild animals, or evicting them from their roosts in retaliation is counterproductive and will not solve any problems.

 Bats pollinate the flowers of some mangroves, and many other commercially and culturally important plants.

 Insect-eating bats are voracious eaters of pest insects in rice, corn, cotton and potentially, tea farms. Therefore, bats benefit ecological and human health and provide intangible economic benefits.

 South Asian countries should strengthen the legal framework to protect bats in view of their ecosystem services and their slow breeding capacity.

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The Federal Government has launched free e-learning portals for all students in primary and secondary schools following the closure of schools nationwide to prevent the spread of COVID-19 pandemic.

The Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, said this on Friday in Abuja during the daily briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19.

The federal government in March ordered the closure of all schools across the country to curtail the spread of coronavirus.

The minister said all students in Nigeria have now been granted free access to the follow e-learning portals: schoolgate.ng and mobileclassroom.com.ng.

These e-learning platforms have been declared subscription free for Nigerian students in primary and secondary levels during the period of this lockdown as necessitated by COVID-19 pandemic. Existing users of Airtel can start immediately while other telecoms institutions will be ready soon, he said.

He said the timetables for the online classes in the 36 states of the country are available on the website of the Federal Ministry of Education.

Parents, guardians and the students can check the timetable for each state on the website.

Collaboration

Meanwhile, Mr Nwajiuba said the Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Education, is collaborating with network providers to grant the students free access to the portals on their mobile phones.

He said the online learning is being coordinated by the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) in conjunction with the States Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs).

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According to the minister, the current challenge necessitated the need to explore other avenues to deliver lessons to students.

He also quoted the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu as saying Airtel Nigeria network users could already browse this e-learning platforms for free.

Other telecom service providers like MTN, Glo, and 9mobile are currently making a technical adjustment to their systems to accommodate this free access. This is the provision we have already made in relation to how you can access these platforms, he said.

He said online classes are the same as off-line classes, and you can download them and keep and learn them at your pace.

Online can be real-time if you are on the same wave and time when it is being taught.

Mr Nwajiuba, last week, had said 15 states had already commenced electronic learning for pupils on their local television and radio channels following the stay-at-home orders of the federal and some state governments.

He appealed to parents to cooperate with the government to ensure that their children were available to learn at the designated hours and channels.

About 15 states have already commenced learning via different channels that are available in their states, mostly local TV and radio, he said.
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The U.S.-led NATO alliance called on Friday for Afghanistan's Taliban militants to cut violence levels and join peace talks, saying prisoner releases should also be speeded up.

The Taliban have rejected an Afghan government call for a ceasefire for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, raising concerns about a peace process after Taliban and the United States struck a deal in February on the withdrawal of U.S.-led foreign forces.

"The current level of violence caused by the Taliban is not acceptable," alliance ambassadors in NATO's North Atlantic Council said in a statement on the peace efforts.

"We welcome the establishment of an inclusive negotiating team to represent the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. We call on the Taliban to enter negotiations with this team without further delay, which is considered a key element of the U.S.-Taliban agreement," the NATO statement said.

(Reporting by Robin Emmott)
Elaine Lindsay hasnt gotten paid in five weeks.

The hair care products left behind in La Ruche, the salon she and Jana Soulor own, have likely gone bad. In the past month, they have applied for small business loans from the federal government. They havent heard back.

The worst part? Neither the co-owners nor the other hairstylists at La Ruche could apply for unemployment until Monday. The Northborough business functions as a collective of independent hairstylists who set their own hours and keep nearly all the money they earn. A system that was designed to empower these workers, left them in a tight spot when the coronavirus pandemic shut down non-essential businesses.

Were falling through the cracks and were all self-employed, said Lindsay, 50, of Shrewsbury, who co-founded La Ruche seven years ago. As a stylist, Im also self-employed under our own business. Nobody that works in my salon has had any income since mid-March."

Self-employed people were not eligible for unemployment benefits under the traditional system. Congress extended benefits to self-employed workers who lost income, creating the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program under the CARES Act. The applications were supposed to open on April 11, but the state had to create a new unemployment database to process those requests. The new system went live on Monday.

In the first few days, Massachusetts received more than 200,000 PUA applications. Massachusetts received another 650,000 initial unemployment claims from laid off workers who qualified for benefits under the traditional system.

The hairstylists at La Ruche are the latest example of self-employed people in Massachusetts who have struggled to find relief during the state of emergency, but theyre also affiliated with a business that has sought assistance from the federal government with no avail. In Lindsays case, she said she applied for a disaster loan through the federal government but never heard back.

Multimillion-dollar companies and universities seem to have better luck with federal loans. The $349 billion Paycheck Protection Program ran dry by last week, but not before issuing millions of dollars in loans to Shake Shack, Ruths Chris Steak House and Potbelly.

Shake Shack, which received $10 million, has since said it plans to return the loan.

Harvard University received $8.6 million in education stabilization funding from one of the recent stimulus bills, despite its endowment of roughly $40.9 billion in 2019. The university decided to return the funds after facing backlash.

The funds ran out before Lindsay applied for a PPP loan. Even if she had applied and received the funds, self-employed recipients are mostly supposed to use the funds to cover payroll and certain other costs. The hairstylists arent on La Ruches payroll because theyre self-employed.

Theres no money left to get, so how does that benefit the small people, you know? asked Sherry Holly, a hairstylist who rents space at La Ruche.

Lindsay said her family is still making ends meet. Her husband, a police officer, is working at the DCU Centers COVID-19 field hospital, while Lindsay is home with their two children. Some of her cohorts, like Holly, are single parents.

Lindsay and Soulor started La Ruche in hopes of taking their work to the next level, making more money and empowering other hairstylists to become independent.

Before La Ruche, Lindsay was two decades into a career as a hairstylist earning less than half of the profits from her clients. At the salons where she used to work, Lindsay said 10% was taken off the top to cover the cost of the hair product, and she was paid a 50% commission of whatever was left.

When I got older and had a family, I realized how tough that was going to be, and that there was really nowhere to go and how unfair that was for someone like me who had been at it for 20 years and I loved it," Lindsay said.

They rented out a space of Southwest Cutoff in Northborough nearly eight years ago. Lindsays husband, who used to work in construction, helped renovate the space in the evenings.

Lindsay and Soulor went with the name La Ruche, which is French for the bee hive. The idea was to rent a chair to each hair stylist. They would pay rent for the hair and a flat feet for the hair product, keeping the rest of the money.

La Ruche has a couple of part-time employees on the payroll, but the rest, including the masseuse and the nail salon workers, are self-employed.

We want to help people. Weve done that. Were so proud of that," Lindsay said. "That is our greatest accomplishment.

Jose Torres, 43, was a barber for 15 years before renting a space at La Ruche. At his old job, he said, it was difficult to get time off to pick up his three kids from school.

Sometimes you just dont see eye to eye. The visions aint the same as the owners with no kids, Torres said.

A client mentioned his wife worked at La Ruche, and Torres reached out to Lindsay and Soulor.

A few months later, Torres is the first barber to join the salon. He sets his own hours and keeps most of the profits.

A client of Jose Torres, a barber at La Ruche, is photographed after his haircut.Courtesy of Jose Torres

In between clients, Torres is working on a menu for mens facials and masks.

Men today want to feel like getting pampered. Its no longer going to the shop and getting a buzz cut. Were trying to get past that. Were giving you a service, he said. I want to make it a great experience for men as well."

Since the salon closed, Torres has no income coming in. His wife, an account manager at a local company, works from home, but he said its tough dropping down to a one-income household. Theyve got a mortgage, car payment, insurance and five mouths to feed.

With time, youre able to put a little bit away for a rainy day, but you never anticipate something like what weve got today," he said. I never planned for a pandemic."

Sherry Holly, who has been a hairstylist for 27 years, is the sole provider for her younger daughter. (Her oldest lives with her fiancee and was planning for a wedding in May.) Being self-employed made it easier for her to juggle her clients, her family and her side projects.

You get to set your own prices, and you dont really have to answer to anybody," she said.

Holly loves coloring hair. She was developing a hair product with a company in Braintree before the business closures. The bills from the company, her insurance and other expenses are coming in. Shes using money left over from her late mother to cover the costs, but shes not sure how long that will last.

A coalition of hair stylists are pushing for an alternative to the business closures, which are supposed to last until at least May 4. They are asking Gov. Charlie Baker to make an exception for them and allow a soft opening, where only one client per stylist would be allowed in a salon as early as April 28. The petition has gotten more than 8,400 signatures as of Friday morning.

Baker said that type of work, where people are so close to one another, isnt safe to resume this early. Holly agrees. She doesnt want to risk getting sick and not being able to care for her daughter.

I know they want to get the world opened up and everything, but were directly on top of these people, Holly said.

The launch of the PUA site brought relief to these self-employed hairstylists this week. Holly went online after her accountant told her to file an application immediately. Lindsay told the others about the new PUA option.

Thats how I found out about the unemployment. If not, I never would have thought, Torres said.

On Thursday, he received an email with good news. He was approved for unemployment benefits.

Its going to take a week or two before I receive it, but this has been going on since March," he said. "I'm hanging in there."
We knew that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), mass incarceration, and racial profiling have left entire communities isolated and without protection.

We know this because it is the people who make up the base of our organizations, who sit in our congregations, and who live in our neighborhoods who have been bearing these injustices for so long.

Our state has weathered many storms. As with recent hurricanes, COVID-19 will inevitably hit already vulnerable communities the hardest people who have been marginalized, neglected and left behind by our General Assembly. To set our course toward a future that truly leaves no one behind, these are the people the General Assembly must prioritize now.

Now, more than ever, we must value people over profits. We must say to the nurses and grocery workers, delivery drivers and farm workers, EMTs and gas station attendants that we care more about them than we do about corporate interests. Without health, there is no wealth.
Bisma Whack, a preschool teacher who has two kids and lives in West Philadelphia, was furloughed from her job. Community Legal Services helped her apply for food stamps and medical assistance. Read more

Bisma Whack was already struggling to make ends meet when the coronavirus forced the closure of Chesterbrook Academy in University City, where she works as a preschool teacher.

Whack, 43, applied for food stamps when the school closed, afraid she would stop getting paid and wouldnt have enough money to feed herself and her two children. But after she was furloughed this month, her application was denied.

She spent hours on hold with state offices, seeking answers. Then Community Legal Services, a Philadelphia organization that had previously helped her get money to pay her utility bills, helped submit documentation of her furloughed work status. Whack received money from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) this week.

Without this pandemic, me and my children have already had not a lot of food, or skipped meals, she said. And then to finally receive some help when you really need it, its a blessing.

Whack is one of many Philadelphia residents who has reached out to Community Legal Services since the pandemic thrust workers into unemployment and economic instability. Other similar advocacy groups for the needy have also reported an increase in calls.

 READ MORE: Push is on to fight inequality and allow food-stamp recipients to have groceries delivered. Gov. Wolf demands red tape be cut.

One such organization, BenePhilly, normally answers about 80 calls a week but answered 323 calls  a 300% increase  during one week in early April. The Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger said it processed about 26% more applications in the last month than its average in the past year.

We are seeing people reach out who are now eligible for benefits who werent eligible before," said Maria Pulzetti, a supervising attorney with Philadelphia-based Community Legal Services.

The state Department of Human Services, which administers federal benefits to Pennsylvanians, reported only a modest increase in applications for SNAP and cash assistance during the March. But officials said they are bracing for a spike as the pandemic and the resulting economic crisis linger.

That spike in requests could be exacerbated by a struggle to process them. Like most offices, the assistance offices in each county responsible for processing benefit applications have been closed to the public. Applicants have had to endure technical issues with the online application system, long hold times at phone centers, and state employees working split or staggered shifts.

 HELP US REPORT: Are you a health care worker, medical provider, government worker, patient, frontline worker or other expert? We want to hear from you.

And while the state encourages applicants to use its online system to access benefits, not all do; only 45% submitted online requests in February, growing to 55% in March, according to DHS data.

Other states, including New York and New Jersey, saw benefit applications spike as high as 300% in March.

The states around us, they are struggling, said Lisa Watson, a DHS deputy secretary overseeing the office that determines eligibility for programs like Medicaid, SNAP, and cash assistance. I dont think any of the states are able to keep up with that volume."

Benefit applications may spike as time passes and people who lost their jobs are forced to wait for their unemployment benefits, Watson said.

 READ MORE: Pandemic has claimed 1.5 million Pennsylvania jobs, but a forecaster sees a temporary summer pop in rehiring

As the coronavirus began spreading in Pennsylvania in March, Watson said DHS sought to streamline the process, taking steps like not requiring interviews for benefit applicants.

Still, the call centers couldnt keep up with the flood of calls because of social distancing rules; answer rates dropped as low as 57% in as the state limited the number of workers in the office at one time. By April 15, Watson said the answer rate was back up to 96.7%.

Employees in county assistance offices have also expressed concern about their safety as workers tested positive for COVID-19 and others self-quarantined. DHS began allowing telecommuting this month, and as of Friday, more than 3,500 county-level employees were working from home, according to spokesperson Erin James, while others worked staggered shifts.

It has caused staffing shortages, people have been calling out," said Damon Allen, a supervisor at a Frankford Avenue office and Philadelphia chapter president of SEIU Local 668. "Theres been a couple times where people felt like, Its safer for me to be home, so they called out.

 READ MORE: Philly has handed out 72,000 free food boxes. Heres how they come together.

Kathy Fisher, policy director for the Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger, said that before the pandemic her organization typically started each week with requests from 10 to 15 people for help processing benefit applications or to find food.

This past week, that number was 341, she said.

Many of those people may have called multiple organizations and found help elsewhere, Fisher said, describing the system as a patchwork of resources.

I hope people out there, especially the newly unemployed, realize that they can apply, she said. For anyone newly in need, she said, it can be "daunting to figure out.

Whack, the West Philadelphia mother and teacher, recalled the long wait times she discovered when she first called the state a few weeks ago.

"I had been getting the runaround  hanging on the line for two to three hours just waiting for a customer service representative to just say hello, she said.

But this past week ended on a happy note: She planned a trip to the grocery store with the $610 she received in SNAP benefits.

It feels good, she said, to open my refrigerator and [see] theres food there.
In a country as homogeneous as the Czech Republic, the task of social integration can present itself as a nearly unsolvable riddle to many newcomers. Perhaps no one understands this better than the Vietnamese, the countrys third-largest minority.

With the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe, the Czech government was quick to implement strict measures to curtail the further spread of the virus. Following Austria and Hungary, it ordered a reinstalment of border checks with neighbouring countries.

Then, in a move that came as a surprise to many other EU capitals, Prague made it mandatory for everyone to wear a face mask in public. Although the usefulness of the measure was not immediately apparent to everyone, the Czechs had no choice but to comply. The problem was how. Although a small country of just over 10 million, the demand for face masks rapidly exceeded the supply by an enormous margin.

While some resorted to the use of home-made alternatives, others decided to put their skills to work to help increase supply. Particularly quick on their feet was a group of young Vietnamese mothers from an NGO called Lam Cha Me CZ (Vietnamese for: being a parent).

We are in close contact with doctors of Vietnamese origin that work at Czech hospitals. They told us how under-resourced the hospitals are, Ami Luong, a representative of Lam Cha Me, explained.

The Prague-based NGO was founded about two years ago by a group of young mothers from Vietnam living in the Czech Republic. The initial aim was to provide information to Vietnamese families about legal and administrative hurdles that many immigrants typically face in the Czech Republic.

However, the volunteer group was fast to adjust to the new circumstances. They created a Facebook group and invited anyone in their network with decent sewing skills and the necessary equipment. Soon, more than 1,000 people had responded to the call.

Out of those 1,000 members, there are around 200 to 250 people who are actively sewing face masks on a daily basis, Luong said. They are mainly tradeswomen who had to close down their businesses to comply with the government measures.

It did not take long before people started to notice. In a matter of days, the group of amateur seamstresses was flooded with requests for face masks from all over the Czech Republic.

To cope with the growing demand, the volunteers created a website where anyone could place an order. They have received requests from hospitals, retirement homes and city councils.

The Vietnamese are used to making their own clothes, so they are pretty quick, said Luong. The orders are coming in hundreds of thousands and we are working hard to deliver them all.

Strength in unity

According to the latest figures provided by the Czech Statistical Office, there are currently around 62,000 Vietnamese people living in the Czech Republic. Following the Slovaks and Ukrainians, they are the third-largest minority in the country.

Although many have lived in the Czech Republic for nearly 30 years, only a fraction have Czech citizenship.

As Vietnamese residents sometimes still struggle with linguistic and cultural barriers, many gravitate towards occupations with a high degree of economic self-sufficiency. This applies in particular to the first generation.

Anywhere between 70 and 80 percent of our parents have their own businesses, said Nguyen Manh Tung, the founder of the Association of Young Vietnamese Entrepreneurs in the Czech Republic.

Many of these businesses are restaurants, nail studios, convenience stores and outdoor markets.

On March 14, the Czech government issued a temporary ban on all retail and service sales with only a few exceptions, such as foodstuffs or pharmacies. The ban has been extended until April 31.

Although this and other measures aimed at slowing down the spread of the virus affect everyone more or less equally, they present a particular challenge to small business owners with no additional sources of income. This applies to the majority of the Vietnamese living in the Czech Republic.

Tung is not too worried. This crisis will affect everyone, but the Vietnamese have the advantage of being good at saving money, he explained. They came to the Czech Republic to provide a better life for their children and send money back to Vietnam to their parents. They have been saving since they first arrived here, he added.

Another advantage is the Vietnamese communitys cohesiveness; people tend to help one another get through the hard times.

We already were in a similar situation during the financial crisis of 2008, Tung said. Lots of Vietnamese lost jobs back then. They didnt even have enough money for food. And the community  those with enough financial reserves  helped them.

Waves of solidarity

But what the current health crisis has shown is that this solidarity extends beyond the Vietnamese community to the country as a whole.

Luong says that the volunteer seamstresses feel like it is their duty to help the country in times of crisis.

They told me that they see the Czech Republic as their second home, a home that needs help right now, she explained. Its not about money or nationality. They dont discriminate between Czechs and Vietnamese. They know that face masks are needed, so they go to work.

It is a message that appears to resonate with the majority of the Vietnamese living in the central European country. With only a small push on social media, a second wave of solidarity quickly emerged.

Tran Van Sang is a social entrepreneur and a social media star on the Vietnamese-language Czech internet scene. He uses his social media channels to provide the Vietnamese community with relevant information about Czech political life, such as the latest laws or government regulations, in their own language.

His Facebook page Sangu.eu has around 40,000 followers. He says that the content he posts on his social media channels eventually finds its way to about 90 percent of all Vietnamese living in the Czech Republic.

After the face masks sewing initiative was launched, my followers started telling me that the Vietnamese could do even more to help, Van Sang explained. I then came up with the idea of free snacks for the emergency services personnel.

Van Sang used his influence on social media to appeal to Vietnamese convenience store owners to provide refreshments free of charge for police officers, firefighters and medical personnel. He titled the Facebook post the Vietnamese help with a small heart symbol.

The initiative took off. Within a few days, thousands of Vietnamese vendors had decorated their shop windows with a heart, sending a message to the emergency services that they could get refreshments there free of charge.

A Vietnamese business owner in the Czech Republic expressing support for the hearts initiative [Photo courtesy of Sangu.EU Facebook Group]

Under the current circumstances, it is not very easy for us to get food during the day. So this makes a really big difference to us and we are extremely grateful, one firefighter told the Czech commercial broadcaster TV Nova.

The so-called heart initiative spread quickly and Van Sang says that a Czech man recently approached him, asking for permission to encourage non-Vietnamese to do the same.

Antonin Nevole, the Czech volunteer, created a website and printed about 5,000 heart stickers, distributing them to Czech restaurants and other establishments around the country.

Im just glad that this initiative spread among the Czechs as well, Van Sang explained.

There have also been reports about Vietnamese communities donating money to hospitals, schools and city councils.

Social impact

To keep track of all those different initiatives, and to connect those wanting to help with those in need, Nguyen Manh Tung of the Association of Young Vietnamese Entrepreneurs created a Facebook page titled the Vietnamese Help, later adding a website with the same name.

We wanted to create a unified information portal in the Czech language, he said. Anyone can visit the website and see exactly what the Vietnamese community does in their respective region.

Tung says that 60 to 70 percent of all Vietnamese living in the Czech Republic are helping in some way.

This wave of solidarity has put the Czech Vietnamese community in the spotlight, as Czech media run stories on the initiatives. The result has been to challenge the perception of the community as a self-contained socioeconomic unit with only a limited interest in the rest of society.

Vietnamese community? They are Czechs to me, they are integrated. They function here independently and accept our rules, one Facebook user commented.

Tung says that the Vietnamese community is generally considered to be particularly hard-working and generous. I hope that this campaign will help solidify this image, he added.

Luong would like to see the public image of the Czech Vietnamese community improve even further.

She says she was disappointed when a Czech online news portal that interviewed her referred to her just as a Vietnamese in its headline.

Luong, like many other second-generation Vietnamese immigrants in the Czech Republic, speaks flawless Czech and has both Czech and Vietnamese citizenship.

I hope that this will change over time. I hope that we will be seen as just fellow citizens.
The NUS-led team develops novel tool which identifies optimal drug combination therapies at unprecedented speed

As the COVID-19 crisis continues to develop, researchers around the world are attempting to find the most effective treatment to combat the poorly understood virus behind this disease.

Traditionally, when dangerous new bacterial and viral infections emerge, the response is to develop a treatment that combines several different drugs. However, this process is laborious and time-consuming, with drug combinations chosen sub-optimally, and selection of doses is a matter of trial and error. This costly and inefficient way of developing a treatment is problematic when a rapid response is crucial to tackle a global pandemic and resources need to be conserved.

With this in mind, Professor Dean Ho from the National University of Singapore (NUS) led a multidisciplinary team of researchers to come up with a pioneering artificial intelligence (AI) platform known as IDentif.AI (Identifying Infectious Disease Combination Therapy with Artificial Intelligence) to dramatically increase the efficiency of this development.

Their results were published in Advanced Therapeutics on 16 April 2020.

Drawbacks of traditional drug screening

Conventional selection of drugs for treatment involves examining virus or bacteria growth in response to different potential candidates. The drugs are given to the bacteria or viruses at increasing dosages until maximal prevention of their growth is observed. Additional drugs are then added together to amplify the effect. However, these methods become ineffective when several drugs are simultaneously studied as candidates. Also, these approaches often result in positive outcomes for in vitro studies, but are not observed in human studies.

If 10 or more drugs are examined, it is virtually impossible to study the effects of all the possible drug combinations and dosages needed to identify the best possible combination using traditional methods, explained Prof Ho, Director of The N.1 Institute for Health and Institute for Digital Medicine (WisDM) at NUS.

Furthermore, in traditional screening, if a drug from a pool of candidate therapies is shown to have no apparent effect on the pathogen, this drug will generally no longer be considered. However, if this drug is systematically combined with more drugs, each at the correct doses, this could very well result in the best possible combination. Unfortunately, this remarkable level of required precision cannot be arbitrarily derived, added Prof Ho, who is also the Head of the NUS Department of Biomedical Engineering.

Using artificial intelligence to optimise drug therapies

To avoid the drawbacks of traditional drug combination therapy development, Prof Ho and his team, together with collaborators from Shanghai Jiao Tong University harnessed the processing power of AI.

The research team carefully selected 12 drugs which are viable candidates for treating an infection in lung cells caused by the vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV). They then used IDentif.AI to markedly reduce the number of experiments needed to interrogate the full range of combinations and optimal dosages of these 12 drugs.

Using IDentif.AI, we took three days to identify multiple optimal drug regimens out of billions of possible combinations that reduced the VSV infection to 1.5 per cent with no apparent adverse impact. This speed and accuracy in discovering new drug combination therapies is completely unprecedented, said Prof Ho.

Importantly, the team saw that when the top-ranked drug combination was optimally dosed, it was seven times more effective compared to sub-optimal doses. This shows the critical importance of ideal drug and dose identification.

Similarly, when a single drug was substituted out from the top-ranked drug combination, and this new combination was administered at sub-optimal doses, the combination was 14 times less effective.

There is a notion in drug discovery that if you discover the right molecule, the work is done. Our results with IDentif.AI prove that it is critically important to think about how the drug is developed into a combination and subsequently administered. How do you combine it with the right drugs? How do you dose this drug properly? Answering these questions can dramatically increase efficacy at the clinical stage of drug development, shared Prof Ho.

In addition to validating IDentif.AI, this study also included insights by a team of experts in operations research and healthcare economics from NUS Business School and KPMG Global Health and Life Sciences Centre of Excellence, as well as global health security and surveillance experts from EpiPointe LLC and MRIGlobal. They concluded that strategies such as IDentif.AI, which can rapidly optimise drug repurposing under austere economic conditions amidst pandemics, could play a key role in improving patient outcomes compared to standard approaches.

Using IDentif.AI against COVID-19 and more

Having proved the effectiveness of IDentif.AI to rapidly provide treatments for infectious diseases, the team is currently setting their sights on COVID-19.

Prof Ho said, As the development of vaccines and antibody therapies for COVID-19 are ongoing, we will need a rapid therapeutic strategy that addresses the virus which may evolve over time. Our strength is that we can perform one experiment and come out with a list of drug combinations for treatment within days. And in time, if patients do not respond well to the first combinations of drugs, we can derive new combinations within days to re-optimise their care. Our platform is useful to address the possibility that patients will need different drug combinations depending on when treatment was initiated, and if downstream infection with a different strain occurs.

Furthermore, IDentif.AI could be immediately deployed to address any other infectious diseases in the future. Prof Ho concluded, When an aggressive pathogen hits, a rapid response is needed, and this response may need to evolve quickly as the pathogen evolves. Now, with IDentif.AI, we will be ready.
At least 35 more migrants have successfully crossed the English Channel in four inflatable boats today - bringing the total number arriving since Britain went into lockdown to 521.

The first boat, carrying 14 men and a woman from Iran, Kuwait and Iraq, was found off the Kent coast at 3.40am. By 6.35am another rigid-hulled inflatable boat (Rhib) arrived at Dover.

Some 13 men, who said they were Iraqi and Iranian, were detained. Two hours later, at 8am, seven men from the same two countries were stopped.

A fourth boat was also being dealt with by the Border Force on Saturday evening.

The first boat, carrying 14 men and a woman from Iran, Kuwait and Iraq, was found off the Kent coast at 3.40am. By 6.35am another rigid-hulled inflatable boat (Rhib) arrived at Dover. Pictured, a Dungeness Lifeboat with the dinghy that carried the migrants on the back

A Home Office spokesman said that the occupants were brought to Dover where they were transferred to immigration officials to be dealt with in line with immigration rules.

A total of 864 migrants, including those who arrived on Saturday, have made it to the UK so far this year.

More than half of these (at least 486) arrived in the last month, since the country went into lockdown on March 23, PA analysis of the figures indicates.

It is thought almost 2,000 migrants made it to Britain in 2019.

Minister for Immigration Compliance and the Courts Chris Philp said: 'We are using all the assets, legal and professional skills of BF (Border Force), the NCA (National Crime Agency), IE (Immigration Enforcement) and French law enforcement to dismantle and arrest the criminal networks who trade in people smuggling.

Around 60 migrants - including two young girls - were brought into Dover yesterday. The young girls are thought to be around three or four, it has been said

'Eleven people smugglers have been put behind bars this year as a result of Immigration Enforcement investigations.

'Assets on the ground in France have also been enhanced to provide 24/7 cover of the northern beaches ensuring more detections before boats are able to leave the shore, cutting the number of attempted crossings.'

Yesterday, more than 70 migrants - including a young girl wearing Disney-style 'Happily Ever After' pyjamas - were brought into Dover.

It means April will be a record month for crossings as the total could already exceed 400, compared to the previous record of at least 336 refugees known to have landed last August.

The total number of migrants believed to have crossed into the UK so far this year is at least 831 - fast approaching half of the 1,850 who made it to Britain throughout the whole of 2019 (pictured arriving in Dover yesterday)

At least three children - including two young girls - were seen being brought ashore as migrants continued to cross the Channel to Britain's south coast.

A charity described the news as 'heartbreaking' as it renewed calls for the Government to establish 'safe and legal routes' for those making the dangerous crossing to the UK amid the coronavirus outbreak.

The 76 migrants arrived from locations including Iran, Yemen, Syria and Kuwait between 1am and 8am and are now being assessed by immigration officials, a spokeswoman for the Home Office said.

The total number of migrants believed to have crossed into the UK so far this year is at least 831 - fast approaching half of the 1,850 who made it to Britain throughout the whole of 2019.

Two young children were among the migrants at the port of Dover this morning

Migrants are given warm clothing and transferred to a processing area at a port in Dover

Pictures show immigration enforcement officials wearing masks and gloves leading women and children ashore in Dover.

One young girl wearing pink Disney-style princess pyjamas - which bore the words 'Happily Ever After' - was helped out of a cabin by a woman wearing a mask as an official stood nearby, images show.

She was pictured in the pink PJs - which feature characters Cinderella, Belle and Sleeping Beauty - at the Port of Dover.

Both children were also snapped waving and putting their thumbs up with adults.

They were all wrapped in blankets, wearing purple beanie hats and face masks which were given to them.

Sea conditions were 'absolutely perfect' for crossing, with a gentle breeze and 'warmish' weather.

It is thought five boats carrying several migrants were intercepted by Border Force on Friday morning. The Home Office is yet to confirm details of the incident

Coastguard crew and the Dover Lifeboat have been helping Border Force vessels Vigilant and Speedwell in the rescue operation.

In a separate incident, French rescue teams were called out to sea after a group of 16 migrants were thought to have gone overboard.

But by 8am they were all found unharmed, having coming ashore on various beaches near Calais in the northern part of the French coast, the coastguard for the region, le Prefecture Maritime de la Manche, said.

Stephen Hale, the chief executive of charity Refugee Action, said: 'It's heartbreaking that people including young children are having to risk their lives to seek refuge in the UK due to a lack of safe and legal routes to get here.

'The Government must stop talking tough and start thinking smart.

'More routes for people to claim protection in the UK must be created, including a long-term commitment to resettle 10,000 refugees every year.'

A young girl wearing Disney-style 'Happily Ever After' pyjamas was among at least three children seen being brought ashore as migrants continued to cross the Channel to Britain's south coast

At least three young children were among the group, according to witnesses. Pictures show immigration enforcement officials wearing masks and gloves leading women and children ashore in Dover

An Immigration Enforcement officer carries life vests to a skip which were used by people thought to be migrants following a number of small boat incidents in The Channel earlier on Friday

More than 800 migrants have already reached the UK this year - four times the number for the same period last year, despite Home Secretary Priti Patel's promise of a clampdown on crossings

Minister for Immigration Compliance and the Courts Chris Philp said yesterday: 'We will not stand by whilst malicious criminals prey on the vulnerable.

'Criminal gangs are using false promises to take advantage of desperate situations and illegally smuggle people into the UK.

'We are determined to stop this criminal trade and stop these crossings.

'We will enforce the law and we will seek justice.

'The Home Secretary and her French counterpart have reaffirmed their joint commitment and dedication to tackling this exploitative crime.

'We are continuing to support the French to deploy extra patrols on French beaches, drones, specialist vehicles and detection equipment to stop these boats leaving European shores.

'To the criminals we say this  your heinous crimes will not be tolerated and we will work tirelessly to bring you to justice.'

The news comes a week after another 73 migrants made the crossing to Kent, prompting the Home Secretary Priti Patel to say she was 'determined' to stop illegal Channel crossings, adding: 'I will not stand by whilst malicious criminals prey on the vulnerable.'

But her pledge prompted charity leaders to call for the Government to rethink its approach, with one telling Ms Patel to 'stop chasing unicorns'.

A migrant wears a facemask as he is processed at the port in Dover. Dover MP, Natalie Elphicke, has called for those attempting to enter the country illegally to be sent back to France or be put in an immediate 14 day quarantine

Migrants are processed after arriving at Dover this morning. Officials wear facemasks while they work

More than 800 migrants have already reached the UK this year - four times the number for the same period last year, despite Home Secretary Priti Patel's promise of a clampdown on crossings

Earlier this week the Home Office announced the UK and Greece had signed a migration action plan, pledging to work together to tackle illegal migration in Europe.

The department refused to provide specifics of the plan, other than to confirm a Border Force cutter would continue to patrol the Aegean.

Since January 2019, over 155 people who entered the UK illegally on small boats have been returned to Europe.

Meanwhile, Dame Emma Thompson and other stars have backed calls for the Home Secretary to end restrictions which could prevent thousands of migrants in the UK from accessing financial support during the coronavirus crisis.

More than 800 migrants have already reached the UK this year - four times the number for the same period last year, despite Home Secretary Priti Patel's promise of a clampdown on crossings.

Those arriving last week were brought into Dover, Kent, around 7am and it is thought they may have all been crammed on one small boat despite the coronavirus crisis.

Border Force officers were seen fitting face masks to the migrants. Last week MailOnline confirmed that none of the migrants stopped since the outbreak of coronavirus have been tested.

Instead, the Home Office said it will observe asylum seekers for symptoms of the virus and isolate those were necessary.

Sea conditions were 'absolutely perfect' for crossing, with a gentle breeze and 'warmish' weather (pictured, the Border Force patrol the waters this morning)

Migrants are taken to the port in Dover this morning after they were caught crossing the Channel

Border Force officers are also understood to be intercepting a sixth vessel off the Kent coast this morning (pictured, dozens of migrants have already arrived)

Any person showing symptoms will be isolated, including those in detention centres, where special isolation areas have been set up, the Home Office say.

A spokesperson said the policy is in line with guidance from Public Health England (PHE).

It has sparked Dover MP, Natalie Elphicke, to call for those attempting to enter the country illegally to be sent back to France or be put in an immediate 14 day quarantine.

She said: 'France's lockdown means people need permission just to walk the dog. So how come hundreds of migrants can still pile into small boats and illegally motor into Britain?

'We know that the coronavirus has infected the French camps.

'The French have been paid tens of millions of pounds to stop these dangerous journeys being made - it's vital the Home Office make the French honour their obligations in order to stop the further spread of the virus into Britain.

'I have long said that anyone seeking to break into Britain should be immediately returned to France.'

The Home Office say that when migrants are stopped in the Channel and brought into the UK they are first assessed to see if they have any medical need

Those who arrive in Dover are taken to a special intake unit near the Kent town, where officers make immigration checks on those claiming asylum

Those who are likely to be eligible are moved into asylum accommodation, while those who are not, or are deemed a security risk, are moved to a detention centre, where immigration officers explore grounds for removing them from the UK

How are migrants dealt with when they arrive in the UK? The Home Office say that when migrants are stopped in the Channel and brought into the UK they are first assessed to see if they have any medical need. Those who arrive in Dover are taken to a special intake unit near the Kent town, where officers make immigration checks on those claiming asylum. To be eligible for asylum, the person must have left their country and be unable to go back because of fear of persecution. Those who are likely to be eligible are moved into asylum accommodation, while those who are not, or are deemed a security risk, are moved to a detention centre, where immigration officers explore grounds for removing them from the UK. Advertisement

She added: 'Given the public health risk, anyone arriving who is not returned must be immediately quarantined for 14 days to protect public health - and safeguard the Port of Dover's vital role in supplying the nation with food and medicines.'

Tony Eastaugh, Home Office director for crime and enforcement, said: 'These crossings are facilitated by criminals. We are doing everything in our power to bring them to justice and stop this illegal activity.

'We are working around the clock with the NCA and French law enforcement agencies to arrest and dismantle organised crime gangs. Since January 2019, 110 people smugglers have been convicted and imprisoned and over 155 people who arrived on small boats have been returned.

'And that's not all, there are now extra patrols on French beaches, drones, specialist vehicles and detection equipment to stop small boats leaving European shores.'

The new arrivals join at least 336 who crossed the channel in April alone.

This year's figure is approaching half of the 1,850-odd who made it to Britain throughout the whole of 2019.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 25

By Elnur Baghishov - Trend

Some 76 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 1,134 people got infected with the coronavirus over the past day.

Jahanpur added that the condition of 3,096 people is critical.

So far, more than 410,000 tests have been conducted in Iran for the diagnosis of coronavirus.

Iran is one of the countries heavily affected by the rapidly-spreading coronavirus. According to recent reports from the Iranian officials, over 89,300 people have been infected, 5,650 people have already died. Meanwhile, over 68,100 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.
Virginia Health Commissioner: Phase One of Reopening Will Last Two Years

Virginias health commissioner said the first, limited phase of reopening from the strict lockdown will last two years.

I, personally, think phase one will be a two-year affair, state Health Commissioner Norman Oliver told the Richmond Times-Dispatch. There are a lot of people working on this, and I hope they prove me wrong, but I dont see it happening in less than two years.

Like most states, Virginia went into lockdown in March in a bid to slow the spread of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, a novel coronavirus that emerged from mainland China last year that causes COVID-19. Unlike most governors, Gov. Ralph Northam said his strict orders would be in place until June 10.

I want to be clear: Do not go out unless you need to go out. This is very different than wanting to go out, the Democrat said at the time.

Protesters attempting to shut down the streets drive near the Virginia State Capitol in Richmond, Virginia on April 22, 2020. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

The overwhelming majority of governors have already begun reopening their states or planning their reopenings. Virginia officials told reporters at a press conference on Friday restrictions would begin to be lifted only if the daily increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations decline over a two-week period.

An increase in the capacity to test for the virus and trace contacts of people who test positive, along with a boost in the number of available hospital beds and personal protective equipment, is also required, Northam said.

When those benchmarks are met, the states phase one will allow some businesses that were forced to close in March to reopen. A number of others will have to stay closed.

Northam said he hopes to move into phase one by May 8.

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam gestures during a news conference at the Capitol in Richmond on April 8, 2020. (Steve Helber/AP Photo)

Oliver appeared to suggest the phase could last for years, or until medical countermeasures such as a treatment being proven to work against the CCP virus or the development of a vaccine.

Asked about the comments, a spokeswoman for the Virginia Department of Health told WRVA Radio, Dr. Oliver intended to say that the Commonwealth will likely be dealing with COVID-19 in some form until a vaccine is produced, not that phase one itself would take two years.

Besides having some businesses re-open with strict safety restrictions, phase one will include continued social distancing measures, a continued emphasis on having all workers who can, work from home, and a recommendation for people to wear masks or other face coverings in public.

Virginia officials on Friday reported 596 new confirmed cases, bringing the total to 11,594, and 410 total deaths from COVID-19, an increase of 38.
A 40-year-old man tested positive for Covid-19 in Nainitals Bhanbulpura area on Friday, taking the tally of total positive cases in Uttarakhand to 48. The man had come into contact with a jamaat attendee, health officials said.

JC Pandey, public relations officer, state health department, said the person hails from Bhanbulpura area of Nainital district where many jamaat attendees have already tested positive for coronavirus.

Pandey said that the mans samples were sent for testing after he came in contact with a jamaat attendee. The sample initially came out as negative. As a precautionary measure, he was quarantined at a facility on April 8. After completing 14 days, his sample was again sent for testing, which came positive on Friday, he said

Pandey said he has been sent to an isolation centre at Susheela Tiwari Government Hospital in Haldwani.

Out of 48 positive Covid-19 cases in the state, 30 are jamaat attendees. Maximum cases of coronavirus have been reported from Dehradun with a total of 25 cases, followed by 10 from Nainital district, 7 from Haridwar district, 4 from US Nagar and one each from Pauri Garhwal and Almora districts. Of these 48 positive cases, 25 have recovered and have been discharged.

There are 11 containment zones in the state including 7 from Dehradun district, 3 from Haridwar district and one from Nainital district.

On Thursday, one more person tested positive for Covid-19 from a containment area in Dehradun. The person hailed from West Bengal and had been staying at Azad Nagar Colony in Dehradun. Two close contacts of jamaat attendees had also tested positive from the area. The Dehradun district administration had sealed parts of Azad Nagar Colony on Monday after the cases were reported.
Senator Bernie Sanders fiercest backers are furious at senior officials and supporters of the Democratic Party over their silence in the face of sexual assault allegations made against the presumptive nominee Joe Biden by a former Senate staffer.

Biden, the former vice president, is being accused by Tara Reade of forcibly kissing her, groping her, and digitally penetrating her when she served as an aide to the then-senator from Delaware in 1993.

Biden has denied the allegations.

Reade filed an official criminal complaint against the now presumptive Democratic presidential frontrunner on April 9.

Supporters of Senator Bernie Sanders (left) of Vermont are demanding that Democratic Party officials remove Joe Biden (right) from the presidential race after a former Senate staffer of his alleged he sexually assaulted her in 1993

Former Biden staffer Tara Reade claims she was sexually assaulted by the then-senator from Delaware in 1993 when she was in her 20s. She claimed she complained to her superiors in Biden's office but got nowhere. A new clip with appears to show her mother speaking to Larry King after the alleged assault could back Reade's claims that she reported the assault in 1993

On Thursday, a 27-year-old clip from CNNs Larry King Live shows the talk show host taking a phone call from Reades mother which suggests that Reade told others at the time of the alleged assault.

The latest evidence to emerge shows Reade's mother Jeanette Altimus calling into Kings show in August 1993, the same month that Reade left Biden's staff, and anonymously asking a panel's advice on her daughter's 'problems' with a 'prominent senator.

There is no mention of sexual assault in the clip.

Reade, who was in her 20s at the time of the alleged assault, had previously revealed Altimus called into the show when she told her about the sexual assault claims 27 years ago but was unable to remember the exact date or year of the phone call.

When news of her official complaint against Biden first emerged, Reade said she had told her mother, brother and a friend about the assault at the time. She said her mother urged her to go to the police.

Shaun King, a Sanders surrogate, said on Twitter that prominent Democrats won't speak up in support of Reade because 'they think it will help Trump'

A professor who is an expert on sexual trauma tweeted that he found Reade's allegations 'credible' and that Biden should quit the race

Krystal Ball, a media personality and Sanders supporter, said the new revelations bolster Reade's credibility

Journalist Glenn Greenwald tweeted that 'liberals are destroying all the #MeToo progress right before your eyes in order to protect Biden and trash his accuser as an unstable liar'

Peter Daou, a Sanders supporter, called on Biden to withdraw from the race

Nathan Robinson, a journalist with left-wing outlet Current Affairs, called on Democrats to take Reade's allegations seriously

Briahna Joy Gray, Sanders' former national press secretary, tweeted: 'Corporate Democrats chose Biden'

Her brother Collin Moulton and the anonymous friend confirmed this, but Altimus died in 2016.

Sanders supporters who make up the progressive wing of the Democratic Party took to social media and demanded that Biden resign.

Biden is all but assured the nomination after Sanders, the senator from Vermont, dropped out of the race and endorsed the former vice president.

Sanders said he would remain on the ballot in the remaining primary states in order to boost his influence over the Democratic Party platform during this years convention.

On Twitter, where Sanders backers are considered most vocal, supporters of the senator reacted with fury over the latest revelations in the Reade story.

By Saturday afternoon, the hashtag #DropOutBiden was trending on Twitter.

Many point out that the Democratic Party mobilized en masse to try and derail the confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court after decades-old allegations of sexual misconduct surfaced.

The lack of attention given to the Reade allegations are likely due to the fact that Biden is ahead in polls against the incumbent, President Trump, and that defeating the Republican in November is paramount to anything else, observers say.

Glenn Greenwald, the journalist from The Intercept who is a critic of Biden and a supporter of Sanders, tweeted: Liberals are destroying all the #MeToo progress right before your eyes in order to protect Biden and trash his accuser as an unstable liar.

The 1993 clip shows an anonymous caller form California speak to Larry King about her daughter's problem with a 'prominent senator'. Reade said it is her mother's voice

The anonymous caller asked the panel whether her daughter should go to the press but they did not offer any advice. Reade had mentioned her mother's call in previous interviews

Nobody is going to tolerate sex assault accusations and Believe Women! dictates be weaponized & used so manipulatively for partisan ends.

Nathan J. Robinson, the editor of the left-wing magazine Current Affairs, tweeted: I am trying to WARN Democrats, before Biden has actually been nominated, that they face a potential huge problem in November.

Why do you think Trump hasnt mentioned this [allegation] yet?

He is smart enough to know he should wait to use it until Democrats cant replace Biden.

Peter Daou, a Sanders supporter and former adviser to ex-Secretary of State John Kerry, called on Biden to withdraw, tweeting: Credible rape accusations are disqualifying or we have NO moral standards.

'In 1993 the mother of Tara Reade was so disturbed by what her daughter told her @JoeBiden did to her, & the lack of help she said she got from his staff, that she called Larry King to talk about it the week Tara stopped working for him,' said activist and prominent Sanders surrogate Shaun King.

'TARA READE IS TELLING THE TRUTH', tweeted actress and #MeToo advocate Rose McGowan.

Others highlighted that the new clip provides evidence that Reade complained to Biden's office in 1993.

'This is an important piece of additional reporting further bolstering the claims of #TaraReade, and undermining the story that has been told by the Biden campaign that no one EVER complained of harassment in his office,' wrote The Hill reporter Krystal Ball.

'Will @UDelaware release the records??'

The University confirmed the records 'will remain closed to the public until two years after Mr. Biden retires from public life', according to journalist Rich McHugh.

Briahna Joy Gray, who was national press secretary for Sanders presidential campaign, tweeted: Progressives didnt make this happen. Corporate Democrats chose Biden.

The 1993 clip from Larry King Live was discovered by The Intercept and Reade confirmed that it was her mother's voice on Twitter.

'I remember it being an anonymous call and her saying my daughter was sexually harassed and retaliated against and fired, where can she go for help? I was mortified,' Reade told The Intercept.

The CNN clip does not reference sexual harassment or anyone being fired but features an anonymous woman asking if her daughter should go to the press because of problems with a senator.

The interview featured in a program King aired on August 11, 1993, titled, 'Washington: The Cruelest City on Earth?' and the caller was identified as a woman dialing in from San Luis Obispo, California.

Records show that August 1993 was he last month Reade worked with Biden's office and that Altimus was living in San Luis Obispo County at the time.

'I'm wondering what a staffer would do besides go to the press in Washington?' the caller asked.

'My daughter has just left there, after working for a prominent senator, and could not get through with her problems at all, and the only thing she could have done was go to the press, and she chose not to do it out of respect for him.'

The panel did not offer any suggestions or advice to the caller but talked about whether they would leak news on a rival to the press.

Reade responded to the clip on Twitter, identifying the voice as her mother's.

'This is my mom. I miss her so much and her brave support of me,' she wrote.

'I discussed the Larry King call w reporters last year and on Katie Halper publicly. Thank you for posting.

'I miss my mom as she died 4 years ago. Her indignation of how I was treated prompted her to reach out in 1993.

'Thank you to those who found the Larry King episode I told reporters about.

'My mother was so brave and supportive. It has been an emotional day to hear her voice again. How I wish she knew how much I appreciated her love hug your mother if you can.'

Tara Reade filed the complaint about the alleged assault with the Washington Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, D.C. on April 9 after going public with her story in March.

She revealed that the statute of limitations on the allegation had passed, but that 'there is justice in just being heard in a dignified way.'

Reade posted an image on social media of what she looked like in 1993, the year she alleged Biden sexually assaulted her. A new clip has emerged that appears to back her claims that she told her mother, brother and a friend about the alleged assault when it happened in 1993

Reade confirmed the voice on Larry King was her mother, Jeanette Altimus

Just before filing the complaint on April 9, Reade said in a tweet (pictured) that those who 'silence sexual assault & sexual harassment survivors' are complicit in the alleged abuse, without naming whom she was referring to. Biden has denied the accusations

Reade was among the women who came out last year alleging Biden was too handsy but did not make her allegation of sexual assault until speaking with journalist Katie Halper for her 'Katie Halper Show' podcast on March 25.

Reade told Halper that the assault occurred after she was told to deliver a gym bag to the then-senator. Reade said she tracked down Biden on Capitol Hill and he remembered her name.

'And then we were alone. And it was the strangest thing. There was no, like, exchange really, he just had me up against the wall,' she said.

She said she was wearing a work skirt, but no pantyhose.

'He just had me up against the wall and the wall was cold,' she said. 'His hands were on me and underneath my clothes. He went down my skirt and then up inside it and he penetrated me with his fingers. He was kissing me at the same time,' she said.

She said that when she 'pulled back,' Biden 'looked annoyed.'

Reade said Biden said to her, 'Come on man, I heard you liked me.'

'He implied that I had done this,' she told the podcast host.

At first Reade didn't want to mention the other quote that got stuck in her head, but then she told Halper what it was.

'You're nothing to me,' she claimed the senator said to her. 'Nothing.'

Reade said that she had attempted to bring up her concerns about the alleged assault to her superiors in Biden's office but got nowhere, a claim that the new clip of her mother appears to back.

She had previously said that in 1993 Biden, then still a senator from Delaware, touched her several times and made her feel uncomfortable.

Reade also said her duties were cut after she refused to serve drinks at an event. Biden, she claims, had wanted her serving because he liked her legs. The former staffer said she later felt pushed out and left in August 1993 after only nine months.

Former Vice President Biden has vehemently denied Reade's claims she was sexually assaulted

Biden and his campaign have fiercely denied the claims.

'Women have the right to tell their story, and reporters have an obligation to rigorously vet those claims,' Deputy Campaign Manager and Communications Director Kate Bedingfield said.

'We encourage them to do so, because these accusations are false.

'Vice President Biden has dedicated his public life to changing the culture and the laws around violence against women. He authored and fought for the passage and reauthorization of the landmark Violence Against Women Act. He firmly believes that women have a right to be heard  and heard respectfully,' she told Politico.

'Such claims should also be diligently reviewed by an independent press. What is clear about this claim: it is untrue. This absolutely did not happen.'

The newly discovered clip drew much attention on social media and was shared by the likes of Donald Trump Jr.

'OMG. Even today's media will have a hard time not covering this, but they will try desperately.' he wrote.

'Joe Biden isn't sheltering in place in his basement bunker because of the pandemic, he's hiding from Tara Reade.'
When the directors of Second Street Childrens School heard about the federal paycheck loans and SBA loans to help businesses weather the pandemic, they hoped to be able to keep supporting their 18 employees.

But by the time they tried to apply through the bank, all the money was gone.

I am really angry about the situation, Second Street director Jenny Barber Douglas said. I feel like this process was unfair.

More help is on the way for Tucson businesses like Second Street.

President Trump on Friday signed a $480 billion COVID-19 funding bill that among other things will provide $310 billion in new funding for the Paycheck Protection Program, which offers loans that can be forgiven if businesses rehire employees.

In response to criticism that large companies sapped the initial round of PPP funding, the second round sets aside $60 billion specifically for smaller institutions like credit unions and community banks, which tend to serve the smallest businesses.

While the new round of PPP funding is welcome, it is expected to go more quickly than the first round after the SBA re-opens the application process Monday morning, April 27  some experts say perhaps in as little as 48 hours.

If the SBA portal is working and processing applications without delay, it could go very quickly, said David Lyons, regional president at National Bank of Arizona, adding that the first round of funding would likely have gone a lot quicker if the SBA internet portal hadnt crashed repeatedly.
At a time when majority of Americans are working and learning from home, an effort is being underway to get them out of the house and looking up at the sky.

President Donald Trump announced this week the Air Forces Thunderbirds and the Navys Blue Angels will conduct flyovers of American cities.

What we are doing is paying tribute to our front-line health care workers confronting COVID, and its really a signal to all Americans to remain vigilant during the outbreak, Trump said Wednesday.

The U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Navy confirmed Friday that their demonstration squadrons will conduct a series of high-profile flyovers over the next two weeks.

Were excited to fly over cities across America as our way of saying thanks to the healthcare workers, first responders, and all the people who selflessly run into the breach working to keep America strong, said Gen. Dave Goldfein, Chief of Staff of the Air Force, and Adm. Michael Gilday, Chief of Naval Operations. This is also our way of showing that we are all in this together and that Americas spirit will prevail.

The Air Force and Navy said they would focus their schedules on areas of the country hardest hit by COVID-19, starting next week as both joint and individual team flights occurring every one-to-two days until mid-May.

The Department of Defense has yet to announce the schedule but Massachusetts remains one of the hardest hit states in the nation, with the third highest total of coronavirus cases behind New York and New Jersey.

Some cities will see flyovers from both the Blue Angels and Thunderbirds in their signature Delta formations while others will see only one of the squadrons.

The schedule is expected to be released in coming days.

The Air Force and Navy said it will partner with local organizations to ensure social distancing protocols are followed.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP)  More than a dozen Iowa elected officials on Friday implored Tyson Fresh Meats to close their Waterloo pork processing plant, saying the coronavirus is spreading among workers and is endangering both employees and the surrounding community.

Mayors, county officials and state legislators signed the letter that was sent to Tyson on Thursday. The 19 officials said at a Friday news conference they had only received confirmation from the company that it had received the letter but no other action.

Im really fearful that if Tyson management doesnt address this issue effectively, their workforce will either voluntarily stop coming to work or be too sick to work, Waterloo Mayor Quinten Hart said. Our hope was that in a time of crisis when were all made equal that we would inherently do the ethical, morally right thing that wasnt done."

Company spokeswoman Liz Croston said Tyson has been working with local, state and federal officials and is following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. She said worker temperatures are taken before entering the plant, masks are required and cleaning has been increased as has distancing between workers.

"Our primary focus is protecting our people while continuing to fulfill our critical role of feeding families in this community and around the nation, while providing market continuity for hundreds of area hog farmers, Croston said.

The Waterloo area officials also accused Gov. Kim Reynolds of misleading Iowans on the seriousness of the outbreak among the nearly 3,000 workers at the plant and for failure to take more aggressive action.

Hart said he contacted Reynolds' staff and the Iowa Department of Public Health on Wednesday morning seeking immediate closure of the plant. Reynolds contacted him that afternoon, Hart said, assuring him the state was taking proactive measures.

Reynolds said at her daily news conference Friday that the states goal is to avoid closing the plant, which can process 19,000 pigs a day. She said the state is working with Tyson to test employees at facilities in Columbus Junction and Waterloo, and to trace their connections to others to identify community spread.

Story continues

Testing was completed Friday in Columbus Junction, where Tyson officials said two workers had died following an outbreak where at least 148 workers have been infected. The plant has been closed since April 6 but the company hopes to reopen it next week.

Reynolds said 2,700 tests were sent to the Waterloo plant and they will be processed at a state laboratory over the weekend.

Iowa Department of Public Health Deputy Director Sarah Reisetter said the plant hasnt reached the point of requiring closure.

We will continue to keep an eye on the data but thats really the reason were helping the facilities with the surveillance testing because we do believe that the CEOs at these companies want to do the right thing, want to keep their employees healthy, Reisetter said.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.

The outbreak at the Waterloo plant comes amid similar problems that have forced the closure of meat processing plants across the country, including a pork plant in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where hundreds of workers have tested positive; a beef plant in Greeley, Colorado, where at least two workers have died; and several meat plants in Pennsylvania where many workers are ill.

On Friday, Tyson announced four workers had died at a poultry plant in Georgia after being infected with the coronavirus.

Also Friday, there were 19 reported cases of the coronavirus identified at a large JBS pork plant in Worthington, Minnesota, according to the union that represents most of the 2,000 workers at the facility. State health officials said seven cases have been confirmed and the number is expected to rise. The plant remains open.
Chief executive Don Meij said the company will look to source local ingredients from now on

Domino's will look to source Australian ingredients for their delicious pizzas in the wake of the coronavirus crisis, the company has revealed.

Chief executive Don Meij said that businesses all over the world will took to source products locally as they adopt a 'sovereign mindset' in a post-pandemic world.

The deadly virus has killed 198,000 people worldwide and disrupted supply chains as countries closed their borders in a bid to contain the spread of COVID-19.

'The disruption has made us think about our supply chains,' the 51-year-old told Fairfax.

'Australians are going to want more Australian-based products, Germans are going to want more German-based product.'

Mr Meij said the $4 billion company would seek to avoid over-reliance on government handouts.

'We're privileged enough to trade, so why would we be [taking stimulus]? Anything we take on just delays the future of the country and has to be paid back at some point,' he said.

Domino's is looking to use local products in their popular pizzas after the coronavirus wreaked havoc with global supply chains

The popular pizza franchise has continued to operate but stores close to universities and holiday locations have seen a drop in customers.

Domino's have propped up its struggling franchisees to ensure growth is 'evenly distributed across business'.

Other stores have asked for a reduce in rental spaces, while others sought the JobSeeker subsidies to keep them afloat.

But Mr Meij said 'not as many' stores required help as home-delivery pizza orders have soared due to the government restrictions.

Domino's hopes it can still increase their store numbers by up to 9 per cent in the medium term.

'We're continuing to look for leases, we're continuing to plan to open stores. And that's why we still believe in our outlook,' Mr Meij said.
The novel coronavirus Covid-19 may be a blessing in disguise for the Abiy Ahmed-led government in Ethiopia. Prior to the outbreak of the pandemic, the incumbent prime minister was facing the hardest of his times since assuming power two years ago. He was in a dire need to buy more time to make sure that his Medemer philosophy (To be together or Synergy in Amharic) was popularised in the nation; and second to ensure the basis for his new-born Prosperity Party was consolidated via regional offices nationwide. Before the pandemic, Abiys popularity was bottoming out every other day, and it was seemingly evident that his road to a popular mandate for imperial-like competencies he wanted to secure through the ballot box was bumpy enough.

Growing dissidence, particularly in Oromia, his own region, peaked out with a grenade attack, believed to be orchestrated by the Oromo Liberation Army, the armed wing of the once branded terrorist-turned-political party Oromo Liberation Front, on an election rally for the incumbent prime minister in Ambo, the epicentre of the Oromo revolution against the former Ethiopian government. Now, the only active player, given the status quo, is the incumbent government which rushed to seize the opportunity handed to it on a silver platter. General elections, which were previously postponed twice and later rescheduled to take place at the end of August this year, have been postponed once again: this time indefinitely. The National Election Board of Ethiopia has decided to delay the process citing its inability to follow through on its own timetable, on conducting the needed preparations for elections in different regions in the country.

The postponement was met with reservation by two major political parties in Oromia, namely the Oromo Federalist Congress, to which prominent activist Jawar Mohamed belongs, and the Oromo Liberation Front. The two parties wanted more consultations with the stakeholders but not a unilateral decision in that department. In a joint statement, the two parties explicitly voiced their fears that any directives aimed at stemming the pandemic should not be used as a pretext to further narrow the fragile political space in the country.

A crackdown on rival opposition officials, jamming TV stations affiliated to the Oromo opposition and blocking the Internet in some zones in Oromia, have shaken confidence in the incumbent government and raised doubts whether it is working on a transition to democracy. These policies have also reminded Ethiopians of the same tactics employed by the now-defunct Ethiopian Peoples Revolutionary Democratic Front, now in practice by the legitimate heir of the front: the newly formed Prosperity Party. In effect, a delay of elections means that the mandate of the incumbent government has expired, because based on the constitution of the country, the term of the House of Peoples Representatives (the parliament) is five years, which will officially come to a close very soon. In the absence of a constitutionally installed government, especially when there is no clear date set for the end of the pandemic, decrees and directives may be challenged as unconstitutional and may even trigger political unrest in the nation.

That is why the two major Oromo parties, which serve as a real threat to Abiys political future in terms of voters they can coax in Oromia, called for getting all political stakeholders engaged in the process of decision-making in the period to come, a dream which seems far from reach.

Though the spread of the virus is happening on a very limited scale in Ethiopia, the Abiy-led government has taken another step that sparked controversy, at least among active political stakeholders, as the country declared a state of emergency nationwide for five months. At the same time, and in another show of a more autonomous inclination, Tigray declared its own state of emergency for three months, political distancing from Addis Ababa.

It is now a high probability that elections may not take place this year at all. By the time the state of emergency is over, Abiy would have accomplished many goals. Though primarily imposed to contain the spread of the pandemic, the state of emergency may help Abiys government break the back of armed insurgencies in West Oromia frequented by the Oromo Liberation Army, where the authority of the federal government is forcefully resisted. Another blessing is the halt of ethnic violence that was threatening the very fabric of the nation, sending shockwaves that the country may be Balkanised should not the elections results appeal to some ethnicities. Most importantly, the federal governments presence will be heavily felt in such restive regions as Amhara and the Southern Nations Region, stemming a threatening pandemic to the competencies of the government: lax security.

At a regional level, the Ethiopian government may code its own win-win either by striking a deal with Egypt on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), or by starting to unilaterally fill GERDs reservoir by the next fall, and making use of it as another achievement to propagandise before elections. So, for Abiy, the situation may be Heads I win, tails you lose. A balanced deal with Egypt may flatten the curve of heightened tension between the two nations that had almost reached the point of talking war. In case not, unilateral filling of GERDs reservoir means the dream of finalising the colossal project is coming true, a step which would surely get the incumbent premier closer to regaining the confidence of voters, given intensive campaigns made to publicise the project as a symbol of national pride, dignity and sovereignty.

While the whole world will sustain huge losses, mainly financial and economic, amid the aftereffects of the coronavirus, Abiys legendary phoenix could arise from the ashes. When the spread of coronavirus slows in the nation, it will be a clear sailing for the government before elections which now only Abiy knows when to hold.

The writer is a former press and information officer in Ethiopia and an expert on African affairs.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 23 April, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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From the very first moment I stepped off the ferry and set foot on Nantucket Island (AKA 'The Grey Lady') about eight years ago, I knew I'd stepped foot onto a magical place.

It was captivating and I fell in love instantaneously. I cried so hard when my trip came to an end, and so on the plane journey back home I started writing a song about it.

Unfortunately the man sitting across from me wasn't as enthusiastic and asked me to be quiet. I lay down my pen and phone into which I was humming the melody into and left it. A few years passed and a few more journeys over to the island, I decided to pick up where I left off,' Clare Cunningham stated this week.

And her love of a place far from her native Collon has now seen that song come to fruition and become an anthem for the Palliative & Supportive Care Unit on Nantucket and a vital fundraiser in hard times.

Based in Nashville for the past number of years, Clare's link with Nantucket, an island paradise 50km from Cape Cod, in the U.S. state of Massachusetts, comes in the form of her sister, Laura, now resident there.

After learning about the small island from a few college friends, Laura came to Nantucket in the summer of 2010 to play music at a beach bar.

'I fell in love with the island right away and returned every summer to play music and waitress. I was studying film at the Institute of Technology in Tralee and returned once college was done to do an internship with "The Nantucket Project", where I met my now husband Chris Wendzicki.

'We started Yellow Productions (a digital marketing agency that specializes in video production) in 2014 and decided to make it home. Our son Liam was the last child born in the old hospital here on the island and the first child to enter the new one.

'While COVID-19 has left us, alongside many others without any income, we've really been appreciating the fact that we are healthy and that we have all this time with our 1 year old. We witnessed him taking his first steps, something we might have missed if we were working,' Laura states.

Her business is pretty quiet now, but she remarked, 'we decided during this "quiet" time to put our energy towards something positive instead of losing our minds over the reality of us losing everything we've worked for.'

They decided to back the local pallative care team at PASCON. 'They had to cancel their summer event in light of COVID-19. They rely on this event to be able to give their services for free to our island so we knew they needed help.

'We have an incredible community here on the island and while it's hard to know if this summer will happen, we wanted to create something to let people know that this isn't forever and it will pass.'

They did up a promotional video of the island and Clare delivered the soundtrack - 'Grey Lady'.

'Clare is an incredible musician and it's very generous of her to donate all proceeds from the song to PASCON. We approached some clients and real estate friends with the video and asked if they would match each download of the song to $1 and they agreed. I'm so proud to live here and be among people like that!

'I take after my father John, I love to keep active and busy. Being able to stay busy and focus my energy on a project like this has kept me sane and happy.'

Within 24 hours, the Collon-Nashville- Nantucket inspired project had raised $7,000.

Clare wrote 'Grey Lady' two years ago and recorded it with Floyd Kellogg on Nantucket.

'My amazing sister and her husband, both of whom own Yellow Productions and whom I have the pleasure of being a music producer for, came to me with the proposal of using the song as part of a visual gift that they created to help raise money for Palliative & Supportive Care of Nantucket,' she stated.

The rest is history. The song and video went 'live' last week and 100% of the proceeds are going to the charity.

'I am so proud of my sister Laura Cunningham and Chris Wendzicki Jr. for creating the most magical footage to capture the lyrics of this song.

'Their work will never cease to amaze me and I am honoured to work alongside you both! Nantucket will forever hold a place in my heart and it 'got a hold' of it the moment I stepped off the ferry the first time. its a magical place with magical people.'

The release of the song came the same week when Clare was nominated in a series of categories in the National American Music Awards.

Her song,with Pat McManus, 'Angel of the Emerald Isle' is also included in a list of the best songs of 2019.
Nick Cordero's wife Amanda Kloots had a positive update for her her husband's fans as he continues to recover from his extreme battle with COVID-19.

She revealed that his temporary pacemaker fitting went well and his heart rate was more consistent in a video shared to her Instagram Stories on Saturday.

Amanda also expressed optimism that the 41-year-old Broadway star could be taken off his ventilator if he continued to improve.

On the mend: Amanda Kloots revealed that her husband Nick Cordero, 41, was 'recovering well' after receiving a temporary pacemaker as he continues to recover from COVID-19

'He is recovering well and doing really well with the pacemaker, so thats good,' she began.

'His heart rate has been under control. If everything goes well this weekend  basically if today and tomorrow are nice, easy rest days for him  on Monday theyre gonna put a [tracheostomy] in, take the ventilator out, which will just make him more comfortable, which is really great,' she said.

A tracheostomy would be a hole cut into the front of Nick's neck into the windpipe that might allow him to breathe more comfortably than he could with the ventilator.

Amanda was also looking forward to more changes as he continued to recover.

Feeling better: 'His heart rate has been under control. If everything goes well this weekend ... on Monday theyre gonna put a [tracheostomy] in, take the ventilator out, which will just make him more comfortable, which is really great,' she said

Changes: She revealed their home's bathroom would need to be updated to accommodate him when he arrived, after his leg had to be amputated due to COVID-19 complications

'On Tuesday theyll put a feeding tube in, so thats their plan  as long as this weekend is kind of a steady, resting recovery weekend,' she continued.

'So lets hope for that, so that on Monday we can make him more comfortable with his neck and breathing, and then on Tuesday put a feeding tube in to start getting him some more nutrition.'

Though her husband was stuck in the hospital recovering, Amanda still carried on with home renovations the two had been working on for the kitchen.

She also revealed that their home's bathroom would need to be updated to accommodate him when he arrived, after his leg had to be amputated due to COVID-19 complications.

Amanda seemed to be pleased with her husband's improvements, and she shared a photo of herself and the couple's 10-month-old son Elvis as they both beamed ear-to-ear.

'I put on a dress today! I didnt iron it, but its on and Im proud of that,' she wrote. 'Im doing my best to keep Elvis happy so we are dancing and singing everyday till Nick comes home!'

Staying positive: Amanda seemed to be pleased with her husband's improvements, and she shared a photo of herself and the couple's 10-month-old son Elvis as they both beamed ear-to-ear

On Friday, Amanda had received more mixed news about Nick's condition.

The actor had his leg amputated on nearly a week earlier after suffering blood flow issues and the mother-of-one has been waiting for him to wake up after he was taken out of sedation almost three weeks ago.

But on a brighter note, Amanda said in an update on Instagram stories that Nick now seems to be rid of the virus.

'Good news, dada had two negative COVID tests! Yay!' She said in a video while holding Elvis.

No virus: Amanda said that Nick is now negative for COVID-19 after testing positive several weeks ago

'Which means we think the virus is out of his system and now we're just dealing with recovery and getting his body back from all the repercussions of the virus.'

She added: 'Hopefully the virus is out of Nick. Thank God.'

It took three COVID-19 tests for Nick to finally test positive a few weeks ago, after he was initially misdiagnosed.

In a second video on Friday Amanda said she got some more news from the medical staff at Cedars Sinai in Los Angeles, where Nick has been since being admitted to the ICU at the end of March with pneumonia.

Looking tearful in the selfie video, Amanda relayed a message she got from the doctor telling her Nick needs a pacemaker.

Bad news: In a later video Amanda said that Nick is going to need a pacemaker to stop his heart rate from dropping

Heart scare: 'His heart is functioning well but he has had dips in his heart rate for a little while now and this one last night apparently was enough that it requires them to do this procedure to put a temporary pacemaker in his heart'

'It looks like he had some irregular heart beating last night that scared them enough to want to place a pacemaker in Nick's heart.' she explained.

'His heart is functioning well but he has had dips in his heart rate for a little while now and this one last night apparently was enough that it requires them to do this procedure to put a temporary pacemaker in his heart, so that any time they move him or need to do some procedures in the future, they don't have to worry about his heart rate dropping again.'

Over the weekend Amanda said she is 'in a bit of a waiting game' as her husband 'should have woken up by now' after having his leg amputated Saturday.

The Broadway star has been hospitalized with COVID-19 for over three weeks and Amanda, 38, revealed he had the leg removed after 'blood flow issues' there.

However she assured well-wishers that 'there was nothing on the MRI that would show that he won't wake up, which is amazing news.'

Good and bad: It was a day of 'crazy' news for Amanda as she said it seems to happen on Fridays

Health battle: The actor had his leg amputated a week ago after suffering blood flow issues and Amanda is still waiting for him to wake up after being taken out of sedation 13 days ago

Latest: Amanda revealed she is 'in a bit of a waiting game' as her husband 'should have woken up by now' after having his leg amputated Saturday

Tough time: The Broadway star has been hospitalized with COVID-19 for over three weeks and Amanda, 38, revealed he had the leg removed after 'blood flow issues' there

She added: 'We are so happy about that, because that was a big worry for all of us. So great news on that. However, he hasn't woken up and it's been 12 days out of sedation. Today's the 12th day.'

Amanda shared: 'So, and the doctors do think that he should have woken up by now. However, they are saying that he was heavily sedated for 13 days before that.

She continued: 'So we are just, you know, hoping and praying everyday that Nick wakes up, and putting that energy and positivity out there because I do believe he will. He's on Nick time and when he wakes up we will all be here to celebrate it.'

Amanda went on: 'In the meantime what the doctors are thinking about doing is slowly trying to get him off the ventilator, which would be awesome, and maybe put in a trache to help him be more comfortable, which would be great, and they are slowly reducing his medications and the machines he's on.'

The fitness trainer shared: 'So he's completely off blood pressure medicine, which is great, and they are also trying to reduce the dialysis assistance, which is great. So as we are waiting for him to wake up, while he is still sleeping, they are slowly weaning his body off of assistance, which is just great, great news. Small little wins.'

A day after the amputation Amanda shared an Instagram video of herself and Nick dancing at their wedding and insisted 'we WILL dance again!'

On the mend: Amanda said last Sunday that her husband is 'recovering well' from having his right leg amputated Saturday

The pair twirled around the floor to Harry Connick, Jr.'s recording of It Had To Be You, with choreography by their pals Clyde Alves and Roby Hurder.

'I love dancing with you @nickcordero and we WILL dance again!' wrote Amanda with the video, in which her husband's Broadway training was on full display.

Amanda seemed close to tears with relief when she announced on her Insta Stories this Saturday that Nick survived the amputation.

She shared that 'I just got a call from the surgeon - he made it through the surgery, which is really big because obviously his body is pretty weak. So he made it through the surgery and they're taking him back to the room to recover and rest for the rest of the night so hopefully he'll just kind of relax and rest. But good news!'

Staying positive: On Sunday Amanda shared an Instagram video of herself and Nick dancing at their wedding and insisted 'we WILL dance again!'

On Sunday she told well-wishers that 'I just heard from the doctor and he's doing good, guys. For Nick he's doing the best that he possibly can right now, which is a huge hallelujah. Surgery went well. He's recovering well after surgery. The wound looks okay. He didn't lose a lot of blood. His blood pressure is okay. His heart is okay.'

She added: 'His even, his internal bleeding has kind of calmed down. So everything seems to be kind of like calmed down, which is so great 'cause this has been such a roller coaster. My brother said the other day he was like: "This Nick is really putting us on a roller coaster," and he is,' she said with a weak chuckle.

'Mental status is still super important and we're still rooting for him to wake up,' added Amanda, who has been giving regular updates on her husband's health.

The couple's friends Aimee Song, Jacey Duprie and Erin Silver started a GoFundMe for them this Saturday and donations have flooded in.

By 2pm PST on Sunday the fundraiser had raked in more than $299,000 of its $350,000 goal to help the couple with their expenses.

On Saturday as donations poured in Amanda appeared on her Insta Stories and fought back tears while thanking everyone for their generosity.

'It's just overwhelming. I really thank you so much. We have a new home that we're renovating right now, so there's gonna be some changes that need to be made and that is gonna really help us,' she said.

Friends in need: The couple's friends Aimee Song, Jacey Duprie and Erin Silver started a GoFundMe for them this Saturday and donations have flooded in

''And there's medical bills and you know what, we're gonna get Nick the best rehab that we possibly can now for his leg.'

She marveled that 'right now this is like a time where people don't even have their jobs and you're donating 10, 20 dollars, like I just like, that's blowing me away.'

She revealed this Saturday that the Tony-nominated actor was having a leg amputated amid his fight with COVID-19.

On Saturday she posted her latest message to well-wishers on her Insta Stories and informed them that 'the right leg will be amputated today.'

The 38-year-old fitness trainer said via Instastory from their Laurel Canyon home: 'FaceTiming him has been wonderful...I can see him fighting [while unconscious]. Today is a big day and we really need some heart and lung strength to come through' (pictured March 19)

'So we are on day 18 of Nick being sedated in the ICU. It is April 18. We got some difficult news yesterday,' she began.

'Basically we've had issues in his right leg with clotting and getting blood down to his toes and it just isn't happening with surgery and everything,' Amanda shared.

'So they had him on blood thinners for the clotting and unfortunately the blood thinners were causing some other issues - blood pressure and some internal bleeding in his intestines,' she said.

Battle: Nick is on a ventilator, a dialysis machine, and he had to be resuscitated earlier this month after undergoing emergency surgery to alleviate a blockage of blood flow to his leg (pictured February 14)

'So we took him off the blood thinners but that again was gonna cause some clotting in the right leg, so the right leg will be amputated today.'

Nick is on a ventilator, a dialysis machine, and he had to be resuscitated earlier this month after undergoing emergency surgery to alleviate a blockage of blood flow to his leg

Amanda and Cordero - who are parents to 10-month-old son Elvis - originally met while performing in the musical Bullets Over Broadway together at the St. James Theatre in Manhattan.

Kloots has urged her 98K Instagram followers to 'keep playing and dancing' to Elvis Presley's 1957 song Got a Lot o' Livin' to Do in honor of the Mob Town star.

Castmates: Amanda and Cordero originally met while performing in the musical Bullets Over Broadway together at the St. James Theatre in Manhattan
By Trend

Kazakhstan and Oman exempted holders of diplomatic, special and service passports from visa requirements, Trend reports with reference to Kazakhstans Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

This ministry said that on Apr. 23, 2020, an agreement between Kazakhstan and Omans Government on mutual exemption from visa requirements for holders of diplomatic, special and service passports, signed on Jun. 11, 2018, entered into force.

Thus, citizens one of the two countries holding valid diplomatic, special and service passports now have the right to enter and leave the other country without a visa, cross it and stay there for no more than 30 calendar days from the date of entry.

The ministry said that this agreement is a special event in the history of diplomatic relations the development between Kazakhstan and Oman.

The agreement will also provide an additional incentive to further strengthen mutually beneficial bilateral cooperation, the ministry said.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Saturday discussed the country's fight against COVID-19 and lockdown exit plans with former bureaucrats.

In a one-and-half hour long video conference, he briefed the former civil servants about the government's efforts in containing the pandemic in an effective manner so far.

"India has fared well ahead of many advanced countries in the world through pro-active measures to contain it," said Singh, the minister of state for personnel.

The minister held extensive discussions with ex-bureaucrats about India's fight against coronavirus and explored ways for an exit plan post lockdown, according to a Personnel Ministry statement.

In Saturday's discussion with the minister, the officers also appreciated the government's efforts in containing the pandemic through various measures and also shared their views on the possible exit plan post lockdown to kick start the economy, it said.

During the video-interaction, the officers also underlined the issues like, phased withdrawal of lockdown, more usage of technology in administration e.g. e-office, importance of building up immunity through Vitamin-C intake, fiscal stimulus to kickstart the economy, financial security to the poor, introduction of more online courses and exams to utilize the academic year, facilitation of migrant workers to reach their native places and development of vaccines and testing kits indigenously to give a fillip to Make in India concept.

Singh thanked the bureaucrats for their valuable suggestions on the subject and said that such kind of outreach will continue in future to get the distilled wisdom from all quarters to fight the menace of coronaVIRUS pandemic, the statement said.

Former IAS officers Sudhir Bhargava, Rama Sundaram, Rakesh Kumar Gupta, Satyananda Mishra, P Panneervel and K V Eapen, besides ex-IRS officers Sangeeta Gupta and Sheila Sangwan participated in the discussion.

The move assumes significance as many as 101 former bureaucrats had recently written to the chief ministers of states expressing anguish over the "harassment" of Muslims in some parts of the country.

They had termed as "misguided and condemnable" the action of Tablighi Jamaat in organising a meeting here but mentioned the "utterly irresponsible and reprehensible" action of a section of media in fuelling hostility towards the Muslims.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Kolkata, April 25 : West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress on Saturday launched a blitz attack on the visiting Inter-Ministerial Central Teams (IMCTs), as two ministers and two MPs accused the delegations of spreading political virus by speaking on the lines of the BJP and thereby disrupting the fight against the raging Covid-19 putbreak.

Trinamool Rajya Sabha leader Derek O'Brien claimed the IMCTs' visit has served no purpose as they are touring the districts with no hotspots.

"Their real aim is to spread political virus. They are doing it shamelessly. Blatantly," O'Brien said in a video message.

O'Brien also described the IMCT as "India's Most Callous Team" and "I Must Cause Trouble (in Bengal)".

The Centre has sent two IMCTs to Bengal to assess the Covid-19 situation and the effectiveness of the lockdown, after receiving reports of health norm violations and suppression of figures of the dead and affected.

While one is reviewing the situation in Kolkata and the adjacent districts, the other one is moving around North Bengal.

Another Trinamool Rajya Sabha member and Indian Medical Association (IMA) President Santanu Sen accused the IMCT of peddling "false information" in its letters to the sate Chief Secretary.

"As a doctor and head of the Indian Medical Association, I would like to state that the letters are full of wrong information. Yesterday they said the testing reports were being received after a long delay.

"They should also have said the reports got delayed as the test results were inconclusive time and again due to the faulty kits supplied by the NICED (National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases, a Kolkata-based associate of the Indian Council of Medical Research)," said Sen.

He accused the Central team of "constantly giving false information" about the number of ventilators and patients at the M.R. Bangur Covid-19 hospital here.

"They are trying to mislead the people by penning official letters full of false information and identical in tune to a political party and the state Governor," he said, demanding a public apology from the IMCTS.

Sen also expressed apprehension about the fallout of the "defective" Covid-19 test kits supplied to the state.

"What is the guarantee that the earlier kits were ok? Rapid tests have also been suspended for 72 hours due to these faulty kits. The Centre is saying Kolkata is a red zone. So conducting rapid tests is a must. Deferring the tests by a single day is nothing but pushing so many people into danger," he said.

State Minister for Urban Development and Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim accused the Central team and Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar of "parroting BJP propaganda".

"The old maxim goes 'what Bengal thinks today, India thinks tomorrow'. But now it is 'what BJP says today, the Governor and the Central government say tomorrow'," he said.

Minister for North Bengal Affairs, Rabindranath Ghosh, advised the Central team to focus its attention on other states where the Covid-19 disease was more prevalent.

"Our Chief Minister (Mamata Banerjee) is monitoring the situation round the clock. We are fine here. They are wasting the time of our officials by roaming around various places. Our fight against Covid-19 is getting disrupted," said Ghosh.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Hubble Space Telescope view of the "Pillars of Creation," towering formations of cosmic gas and dust that lie in the center of the Eagle Nebula.

Hubble is the people's telescope.

The iconic observatory, which was deployed into Earth orbit by the space shuttle Discovery 30 years ago today (April 25), has fundamentally changed astronomers' understanding of the universe.

For example, Hubble imagery showed that the universe's expansion rate is accelerating, a surprising discovery that led to the postulation of dark energy, a mysterious repulsive force now thought to make up most of the cosmos.

Related: The best Hubble Space Telescope images of all time!

But the Hubble Space Telescope's contributions extend far beyond the scientific sphere, into the everyday lives of regular people around the world. Anyone with an internet connection has probably seen at least a few of Hubble's amazing photos, which bring the beauty and mystery of the universe down to Earth like no instrument ever had before.

Take Hubble's famous "Pillars of Creation" shot, or its glorious portrait of the Crab Nebula. Even if you don't really understand what you're looking at  and most of us don't  you're probably moved in some way by such photos. You get a better appreciation of the wonders of the universe, even if you don't engage in any overt deep thinking.

Hubble's "spectacular images have captured the imagination for decades, and will continue to inspire humanity for years to come," Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator for science at NASA headquarters in Washington, D.C., said in a statement.

Hubble's considerable legacy includes other facets as well. Take the technical side: Hubble was the first big space-based optical observatory, and it remains a marvel of engineering.

For example, Hubble can stay locked on a target for long stretches with no more than 0.007 arcseconds of deviation. That's equivalent to a person on top of the Empire State Building in New York City keeping a laser pointer's beam focused on a dime taped to the side of the Washington Monument, 200 miles away (320 kilometers), for 24 straight hours, NASA officials said. And Hubble manages this while zooming around Earth at 17,500 mph (28,160 km/h).

Hubble, a joint project of NASA and the European Space Agency, was also the first telescope ever designed to be serviced in space by astronauts. And servicing is a huge part of the observatory's story.

Astronauts repaired or upgraded the telescope on five separate shuttle missions, in 1993, 1997, 1999, 2002 and 2009. The first was probably the most important, for it fixed a serious problem with the highly anticipated scope: Hubble launched with a flaw in its primary mirror, which the mission team didn't notice until the observatory was already aloft.

And that adds yet another layer to the legacy.

"This is just a great story," former NASA astronaut Mike Massimino, who took part in the final two Hubble servicing missions, told Space.com. "It's a comeback story, something everyone can relate to."

As you're soaking up Hubble images on this big anniversary weekend, take a moment to appreciate the mission and the thousands of scientists and engineers  and the handful of astronauts like Massimino  whose work made those photos possible.

And don't take all that cosmic beauty for granted. Though Hubble has stitched itself into our cultural fabric, it won't last forever.

Mike Wall is the author of "Out There" (Grand Central Publishing, 2018; illustrated by Karl Tate), a book about the search for alien life. Follow him on Twitter @michaeldwall. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom or Facebook.
Leaving Certificate students in Kerry have expressed their disappointment at the recent decision by the Department of Education to postpone their exams until late July/early August.

And while they understand why the decision had to be made, some feel that they will have no break between the end of second-level and the start of third level while and they have been deprived of a chance to earn money before college

"Personally I feel that by putting the exams out until July/August the majority of students have become a lot less motivated," said Peter O'Sullivan.

"In my opinion it was probably one of the worse options they had as most students won't get any break between second and third level education now. We also lose out on the possibility of making some money for college. We must endure a 12 month leaving cert year with minimal breaks and holidays due to their refusal to let go of a tradition," he said.

Peter also said that even the best-willed student will suffer from a lack of motivation caused by the postponement.

"At the moment I have little motivation to study at all and Most of my friends are in the same boat. Some of us are slow to get back to the books because we have such little clarity on the dates and circumstances. Right now in our minds there is no plan in place and the leaving cert is still in a position to be cancelled," he said.

Elsewhere, Precious Benjamin, a student in Presentation Secondary School in Tralee feels that the voices of her and her fellow students were neglected in making a final decision.

"I personally feel that the leaving cert being postponed was not an easy decision whatsoever but it wasn't exactly the fairest in my eyes either," she said.

I feel the students voice was neglected in the final decision, I as a member of Kerry comhairle na N'Og is always told that youth are the future and our voices need to be heard but in a situation like this you feel disheartened," she said.

"I and many other individuals who took the survey published by ISSU and I felt that the results of the survey was not considered by the Minister of Education nor Leo Varadkar. If they were looked at and really brought into consideration it would have been made known that a whooping 49 per cent of student voted for predicted grades," she said.

Finally, Precious echoes the sentiments expressed by many other LC students when she says that the delay is only going to increase stress levels for all students.

"I strongly feel that the exams being postponed is not of any advantage, I feel that it has in fact heightened and has increased stress levels amongst the students. I can even see this from conversations with my peers. I believe there's more pressure also because we supposedly have more time to enable us to 'do well' but Is this really true?

Another student, Diarmuid Cahill feels that they have left in the dark as to the exact nature of how everything is going to work.

"Like most others I am not very happy with the decision made on postponing the leaving cert, the students wanted clarity and quiet frankly didn't get that," he said.

"We got a vague set of dates at the end of July or start of August and got some sort of promise of two weeks of classroom time before the that. I think the sixth year students around the country were left with more questions than answers after Fridays announcement and didn't get the answers we were looking for. It is very hard to stay motivated when this is the "clarity" we are getting," he continued.

Expressing the same idea as Precious, Diarmuid feels that the students voices were not listened to properly.

I both agree and disagree with the decision, obviously there weren't many options surrounding the leaving cert in these unprecedented times and the decision was made with little other choice," he said.

"But I feel the students opinion wasn't even taken into account when making this decision and to make an announcement at 4:00 pm when the students union and other stake holders were "consulted" at 3:30 pm is very disheartening as a student as it makes you feel your opinion is invalid and the decision was made regardless of what we had to say," he said.

"The students had made their preference known, which was to use predictive grading, as we have seen put in place in other countries, and I personally feel this option was disregarded early on in the decision making process," he said.

Finally, Chris Carey, is taking a more measured approach to looking at it, by saying that the decision was taken with the health and safety of the students in mind.

"Personally, I am not very happy with the fact that our Leaving Certificate is pushed out until July / Early August, but our countries health and wellbeing is a lot more important. The Minister for Education has made a decision in my eyes that was advised by the Irish Department of Health and we must obey that," he said.

"Backlash on social media towards these announcement makers was truly uncalled for and irresponsible. These decisions will clearly save lives in the future and need to be respected," he continued.

"Clearly I am disappointed that I must wait another additional 7/8 weeks to begin my exams but unfortunately it is a life saving necessity. We are extremely unlucky for it to be occurring in a year that essentially determines our careers, but we must remember to knuckle down and keep the study and revision consistent until we get notified again.

"When I first heard the news I was deflated and immediately concerned about how we will mentally be able to study for an additional 7/8 weeks. I personally thinking that this may help us in recruiting processes etc in the future and hopefully we will get the Leaving Certificate done eventually," said Chris finishing up.
BLOOMINGTON  COVID-19 has brought more than sickness, death and loss of jobs to Central Illinois.

It's returned the issue of health care racial disparities to community conversations.

Of the 88 McLean County residents who had confirmed cases of coronavirus as of Saturday, 31 are black, according to the county health department. That's 35.2% of the people who have tested positive. Blacks make up 7.7% of McLean County residents. Hispanics and Asians each make up about 5% of the county population.

Statewide, the Illinois Department of Public Health said blacks, who make up 14% of the state's population, account for 23.5% of the state's confirmed cases and 36.9% of the deaths.

"That is so startling," said Carla Campbell-Jackson of Normal, first vice president of the Bloomington-Normal Branch of the NAACP. "These statistics are heart-breaking."

"This is not just a genetic issue," said Willie Holton Halbert of Bloomington, the branch's second vice president. "It relates to access to health care."

"It's time to start having these conversations and coming up with solutions," said branch president Linda Foster of Bloomington.

Health care providers agree.

"These statistics are alarming but not surprising," said Jessica McKnight, administrator of the McLean County Health Department. "They have brought to the forefront the long-standing racial disparities we see in health care."

Among other COVID patients in McLean County, two are Asian, five identified as "other," three as "unknown, and seven as Hispanic.

"What we are seeing with COVID-19 also mirrors what is being seen around the world  people that have chronic health conditions are at a higher likelihood of developing a serious infection or complications from the coronavirus," McKnight said.

"My first reaction is sadness that in 2020 any person is disproportionately impacted," said Lynn Fulton, president of OSF HealthCare St. Joseph Medical Center in Bloomington. "...We need to immediately ensure that every community has access to care. We are able to do that locally ... through OSF's Pandemic Health Worker Program."

Colleen Kannaday, president of Advocate BroMenn Medical Center in Bloomington and Advocate Eureka Hospital in Eureka, agreed the black community has been disproportionately affected by COVID-19. Advocate Aurora Health has reached out, using public service announcements, social media campaigns and targeted emails highlighting testing and treatment, she said.

"Locally, our Community Health Care Clinic continues to be an excellent resource helping patients better manage their chronic health conditions that can be underlying factors," Kannaday said.

Still, the NAACP and health care providers say more work is needed.

"There are many systemic racial issues that have gone unaddressed for too long ... that serve as the foundation for some of these issues," Campbell-Jackson said. "The NAACP does not blame the victims at all."

"We know there are underlying health care concerns, like high blood pressure, obesity and diabetes," Foster said. But when you are poor, don't live near a grocery store with access to fresh fruits and vegetables and don't make enough money to afford medicine, it's more likely that these conditions will develop, she said.

"The black community has also suffered poorer health outcomes than their white counterparts in several other disease processes: diabetes, hypertension, stroke, maternal death rates and even cancer," agreed Melissa Graven, health department communicable disease supervisor.

"Your health is determined by your wealth," Campbell-Jackson said.

"I can't tell you how many times I have talked with someone this year who can't afford their medications," Holton Halbert said.

"Our health outcomes are largely affected by social determinants of health or conditions in the places where we live, learn and work," McKnight said. "Taking measure to keep ourselves healthy, like eating well, seeing a doctor when we are sick and staying home to avoid exposure are things we can and know we should do but they may not always be possible due to lack of access to social and economic opportunities, resources and support systems," she said.

Conditions have worsened in recent weeks as people lose their jobs or have their work hours reduced because of the pandemic.

Some of the people who continue to work in jobs deemed essential  health care, nursing homes, sanitation, food service, the postal service and jails and prisons  are minorities, Campbell-Jackson said. Some of them have been exposed to the virus.

Long-term solutions include advocating for equal opportunities, Foster said.

"As a community, we need to support all of our community members, particularly those who might not have all of the services they need," Fulton said.

Another long-term solution is to advocate for quality education for blacks. "Quality education leads to meaningful jobs, which leads to quality health care," Campbell-Jackson said.

"In public health, we need to find ways to deliver the information and messaging to the black/African-American community that will be meaningful to them and from someone or something that they can trust," Graven said. "It is incumbent upon us as a society to fix these issues and develop an environment in which POC (people of color) communities feel safe, trust our health care systems, are valued and feel valued as an equal part of this community."

That includes asking the black community what it needs, what questions it has and what issues it's facing, and must include flexible workplace policies to allow people to stay home when they or their children are ill without fear of losing their jobs, Graven said.

Meanwhile, all essential workers should be rewarded with wage increases for their work and for putting themselves in harm's way, Foster said.

Immediately, COVID-19 testing should be expanded by setting up a walk-up testing site, accessible even to those without symptoms, Holton Halbert said.

"We know that a person can be asymptomatic and can spread the virus without knowing it," she said. If a person without symptoms tests positive, they can self-quarantine for 14 days and not spread the virus, Holton Halbert said.

The testing site at the McLean County Fairgrounds is for health care workers, first responders and for people with symptoms who can self administer the nasal swab. It's a drive-up site so people must arrive in a vehicle.

Meanwhile, the NAACP branch has worked to secure wi-fi access for some families during the shelter-in-place order and has collected donations of toiletries and hygiene products for Bloomington Housing Authority, District 87 and Unit 5 families in need.

"This is a complex and multi-faceted issue that will not be resolved with a COVID-19 response," Graven said. "COVID-19 has just magnified the problems that have always been there; however, we can utilize the strategies developed to respond to COVID-19 to keep the spotlight on the systemic hurdles POC communities face and collaborate to tackle the problems at their root, rather than on the surface."

"This requires a local, state and national movement with the input of the black/African-American community at the center of that movement," Graven said. "Nothing about us, without us."

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Contact Paul Swiech at 309-820-3275. Follow him on Twitter: @pg_swiech.

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The top officer in the Navy believes the former captain of the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier should be reinstated, after he was removed from his command earlier this month when an email he wrote to superiors warning of a coronavirus outbreak on the ship leaked to the public.

Admiral Mike Gilday told General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Defense Secretary Mark Esper this week that Navy Captain Brett Crozier should be returned to his ship, according to officials who briefed The Associated Press. Another official said Esper is considering the recommendation, which was delivered Friday morning.

Crozier sent his plea for help to numerous Navy personnel on March 29 as an unclassified email, which was published on the morning of March 30 by the San Francisco Chronicle, warning that decisive action is required. He was subsequently removed from his post, with former Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly then lambasting him in a speech to his former crew, calling the decision to send the letter a betrayal of trust.

While Modly initially said he stood by every word of his speech, he subsequently apologized and then resigned. President Trump initially agreed 100 percent with the firing of Crozier, but later expressed doubts about it.

Im going to get involved and see exactly whats going on there, because I dont want to destroy somebody for having a bad day . . . you have two good people and theyre arguing, and believe it or not Im good at settling arguments, the president said at the daily White House coronavirus briefing on April 6.

More from National Review
After initially opening its outdoor facilities for public use, Katy ISD has been told it must close the facilities until at least May 1.

Superintendent Ken Gregorski made the announcement in a news release posted on the districts webpage and email to students and parents.

ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: By the numbers: How the coronavirus pandemic has affected the restaurant industry

In an email to our Katy ISD community on Monday, I communicated that we would open our district outdoor facilities in alignment with Gov. (Greg) Abbotts announcement to re-open parks, Gregorski said. In making the decision to open outdoor facilities to our community members, I believed I was following the guidance and intent of the most recent executive order, which did not prohibit people from essential daily activities, such as engaging in physical activity and visiting parks, as long as the public takes the necessary precautions to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 and minimize in-person contact with those outside your same household.

Abbott allowed the reopening of state parks but his order did not address school facilities.

The governor today also directed state parks to reopen on Monday, April 20, with strict guidelines to reduce transmission of COVID-19  including requiring visitors to wear face coverings, maintain a six-foot distance from individuals outside of their party, and prohibiting the gathering of groups larger than five, according to a written statement from the governors office.

The district initially opened its facilities to the public with guidelines for social distancing  meaning staying at least six feet away from anyone who is not part of your group, limiting group sizes and calling for residents to wear face coverings.

MORE FROM ROY KENT: Mercedes-Benz of Sugar Land doles out bonuses

Today, I received a letter from Harris County that stated, after reviewing the (website) posting it has been determined by the Office of Lina Hidalgo, Harris County judge, that opening the above listed facilities are not in line with the orders of the governor of the State of Texas nor her office, Gregorski said in the post. As requested by the letter, Katy ISD will be closing all outdoor facilities throughout the district, effective immediately, with the exception of junior high tracks, which are allowed to remain open per the Harris County letter.

The current order calling on Harris County residents to stay home is scheduled to expire on April 30. If the order is allowed to expire and is not extended, Katy ISD will re-open all outdoor facilities on May 1, 2020.

Gregorski finished by saying, I sincerely apologize to our community for the misunderstanding.

For more information on Katy ISD, go to www.katyisd.org.

rkent@hcnonline.com
Portugal's parliament on Saturday held a ceremony to mark 46 years since the country's revolution as the nation remains in lockdown as part of measures to fight the coronavirus.

April 25 marks the Portuguese Carnation Revolution of 1974 when a peaceful military coup took down a decades-long dictatorship regime.

Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa evoked a spirit of ''homeland and democracy'' in his address to parliament amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Portugal is currently under a state of emergency, with most people confined in their homes.

As of Saturday Portugal had 23,392 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 880 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.
These are days when people have become accustomed to seeing unexpected sights.

Stamford residents out for some needed fresh air Saturday were greeted by a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter swooping out of the sky to land in Scalzi Park.
The Nigerian government on Friday said it had begun the process of ensuring agricultural products have easy access across the states.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Sabo Nanono, inaugurated the joint technical task team on emergency response to COVID-19 to ease the movement of agricultural inputs across Nigeria.

In a statement sent to PREMIUM TIMES, Mr Nanono said the team will facilitate the free and unhindered movement of agricultural products across the nation during the lockdown and 2020 farming season to avoid food crises.

To facilitate the free movement of food, livestock and agricultural inputs nationwide to avoid food shortages and ensure minimal impact of COVID -19 on this years farming season, he said of the team in the statement.

This development is coming after President Muhammadu Buhari directed Mr Nanono and other ministries to ensure that the lockdown does not affect the farming season.

The directive was issued during the declaration of the second phase of the lockdown in Abuja, Lagos and Ogun by Mr Buhari.

Mr Nanono said: Numerous reports have been received by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on the problem faced by transporters of food, livestock and agricultural inputs in different parts of the country.

He said a result of the unavoidable enforcement of restriction orders is food scarcity which negatively impacted on the nations agricultural production.

Mr Nanono said an emergency meeting with the Ministers of Defence, Interior and Police Affairs deliberated and articulated a common agenda towards ensuring minimal impact of COVID-19 on this years farming season in line with the directives of the President.

Responding on behalf of the team, its chairman, Assistant Inspector General of Police, (Operations), Austin Agbonlahor, pledged the committees commitment to the task ahead and promised to deliver on its mandate.

READ ALSO:

The Joint Technical Task Team is made up of the following members:

AIG Austin Agbonlahor, AIG P(Operations)  Chairman,

ACG Bunu Modu, Nigeria Security & Civil Defense Corps  Member,

Umar Farouk Mudi, National President, All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN)  Member, Representative

Nigeria Army  Member, Chris Isizuzo

National Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists(NUJ), Ibikunle Barruwa,

National President, NURTW  Member

Zubariu Abdullahi, Director, Planning and Policy Coordination ,FMARD  Secretary
By Express News Service

RAJANNA-SIRCILLA: The Vemulawada police on Friday registered cases against12 Indonesian citizens for violating visa norms and offering prayers at several mosques in Sircilla and Vemulawada towns last month. Two persons hailing from Uttar Pradesh, who accompanied the foreigners, have also been booked.

Vemulawada police sub-inspector Md Rafiq Khan said that they have also registered cases against four local residents for providing accommodation to foreigners which was illegal. According to sources, the Indonesian nationals had come to Sircilla before the arrival of 10 Islamic preachers, who later tested positive for COVID-19. The group had also gone to Karimnagar and visited mosques there.

After learning about the Karimnagar incident, the higher authorities started searching for similar cases and found that another batch of Indonesian citizens had visited Sircilla and Vemulawada earlier. Police sources said that they booked the violators after carrying out a thorough inquiry.

These Indonesian nationals came to India on tourist visas. However, it was found that they flouted the visa norms during their tour, the police sub-inspector said and added that the officials are also making arrangements to get them tested for coronavirus. Meanwhile, sources said that they have received information regarding another batch of Indonesian nationals who reportedly visited Jagtial district around the same time and added that they are looking into it.
Bengaluru, April 25 : Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa on Saturday pleaded with COVID-19 donors to transfer donations online, rather than meeting him personally with cheques to uphold physical distancing amid lockdown.

"It is my humble request to all Chief Minister's Relief Fund (CMRF) donors to please send over contributions online rather than to me in person by cheque," tweeted Yediyurappa.

Though the intention of meeting him personally and handing over the cheques is appreciated, Yediyurappa said such physical appearances will defeat the goal of physical or social distancing in COVID-19 times.

"Although your deed is greatly appreciated, meeting in person beats the purpose of social distancing," he said.

Yediyurappa promised that all donations will be acknowledged and brought to his notice even though contributed online sans physical appearance.

"Your donations will be acknowledged and brought to my notice through my team even when done online," he observed.

The CMRF website is also asking donors to tweet the details of their donations for an official government retweet.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, April 25, 2020 16:58 627 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd43f2da 4 News travel,tourism,coronavirus,COVID-19,foreign-tourists Free

Bali has seen an almost 100 percent decrease in foreign tourist arrivals in April amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bali Deputy Governor Tjokorda Oka Sukawati said Bali was one the regions hardest hit by the pandemic in Indonesia, as around 60 percent of its gross regional product (PDRB) comes from tourism.

"Other sectors have also been affected [by the decrease in tourists]," said Tjokorda during an online industry roundtable on Friday as quoted by kompas.com.

The agricultural sector in Bali has also been impacted, Tjokorda said, as farmers' harvests usually supplied the island's many hotels, which have up to 140,000 rooms. "This is no longer the case and farmers now have an oversupply."

Comparing the pandemic to the aftermath of the Bali bombings in 2002 and 2005, Tjokorda said the decreasing number of visits was the same but that in 2002 and 2005 the economy was still able to run as big businesses bore the brunt of the losses. "The informal sectors were still running. Now it's different."

According to Indonesian Tourist Industry Association (GIPI) data, Bali had recorded an 11 percent increase in foreign tourist arrivals in January. However, the number dropped 18 percent in February after flights from China were cancelled. The number then dropped 42.32 percent in March, as countries in Europe as well the United Kingdom and South Korea restricted flights to Bali. In April, the decrease was even more drastic, with foreign tourist arrivals down 93.24 percent.

All in all, the potential losses experienced by the tourism and meeting, incentives, conferencing and exhibition (MICE) sectors in Bali are estimated to be more than Rp 9 billion (US$628,367).

However, GIPI Bali chairman Ida Bagus Okanentru Agung Partha said that the low number of COVID-19 cases in Bali compared to other regions would help the sector rebound once the pandemic was over. "The well-run mitigation system in Bali is a [positive thing] to be promoted."

As of Friday, 177 confirmed COVID-19 cases had been recorded on the resort island with four deaths. Nationwide, 8,211 cases have been recorded with 689 fatalities. (kes)
US oil surged Friday and headed for a positive finish to a torrid week that saw prices drop below zero, as output cuts and US-Iran tensions lifted coronavirus-ravaged markets. US benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for June delivery was up 8.1 percent at $17.85 in afternoon Asian trade, after settling 20 percent higher on Thursday. International benchmark Brent for June was changing hands at $22.55 a barrel, up 5.7 percent. Oil prices have been hit hard as the virus pandemic strangles demand owing to lockdowns and travel restrictions, with US crude falling into negative territory for the first time Monday as storage space ran low. Earlier this month, exporting group OPEC and its partners agreed to cut output by almost 10 million barrels a day from May to shore up markets, bringing an end to a Saudi-Russia price war. ANZ said there were signs that oil producers had started cutting production, helping push prices up. "Kuwait said that it had already started cutting production ahead of the planned 1 May start of the recent OPEC+ supply agreement. Algeria also told OPEC it would be cutting immediately," the bank said in a note. There were also signs US output is beginning to fall -- the Energy Information Administration said American crude production fell slightly to 12.2 million barrels per day last week. In addition, tensions in the crude-rich Middle East gave a boost to markets. After President Donald Trump ordered the US Navy to destroy any Iranian boats that harass American ships in the Gulf, the Islamic Republic's Revolutionary Guards warned Thursday of a "decisive response". The Gulf is a major gateway for oil to reach international markets, and spikes in US-Iran tensions typically drive prices higher. Even though prices are stabilising, they remain at multi-year lows and analysts say that demand needs to pick up again for them to truly recover. AxiCorp global market strategist Stephen Innes said it was "probably rational to temper expectations as it's going to take more than a celestial alignment to get WTI to stick above $15 per barrel this month, let alone super tack to $20".
Donald Trump has claimed he will speak at the US Military Academy's 2020 commencement ceremony, which could force more than 1,000 cadets to return to campus, which has been closed during the coronavirus pandemic.

West Point confirmed the graduating class will return for the ceremony, which is scheduled for 13 June. The event will "look different from recent graduation ceremonies due to current force health protection requirements" during the public health emergency, the academy said in a statement.

The president announced he will deliver a commencement address during a White House briefing last week, which reportedly came as a surprise to officials who had yet to confirm his appearance.

He said: "I'm doing it at West Point, which I look forward to. I did it last year at Air Force. I did it in Annapolis. I did it at the Coast Guard Academy and I'm doing it at West Point."

The president said he "assumes" the academy in New York will have "some big distance" in place for the hundreds of cadets in attendance, though he said that he doesn't like "the look" of a socially distanced crowd.

His announcement arrived as Vice President Mike Pence was scheduled to appear in person at the US Air Force Academy's commencement in Colorado, despite schools, colleges and universities across the country abandoning traditional springtime ceremonies to prevent the spread of the virus as health officials urge states to ban group gatherings.

West Point's commencement could force hundreds of cadets now scattered across the US back to campus after it was closed in March.

Sue Felton, a West Point graduate and former chair of the academy's Board of Visitors, told The New York Times that Mr Trump is "the commander in chief, that's his call".

"Cadets are certainly excited about the opportunity to have something like the classic graduation, standing together, flinging their hats in the air," she said. "But everyone is leery about bringing 1,000 cadets into the New York metropolitan area for a ceremony ... It's definitely a risk."

Academy officials have not decided whether to allow visitors, including cadets' families, will be allowed to attend.

Returning cadets will be tested for Covid-19 before they're allowed on campus; if they test negative, they will be monitored for up to two weeks before graduation.

Cadets will "not intermix" and will have to wear masks, be confined to their rooms, and eat in segregated mess halls, according to The Times.

West Point's Lt Col Christopher Ophardt told The Times that at least 30 faculty and staff members have tested positive for the virus.
Have you checked out rush hour lately? There isnt one. When COVID-19 sent us home with our laptops and webcams, it did more to reduce gridlock than years of planning and advocacy. Weve all seen the photos of empty streets  meanwhile, satellite images have shown how drastically emissions of nitrous oxide, a major component of smog, have been reduced over cities with major outbreaks.

But while commuters everywhere are getting this forced reprieve, we know the combination of ultra low petroleum prices and fears about public transit will mean traffic and emissions will start rising again the moment economic activity resumes. Gridlock could return within days.

Heres the thing, though: We already have the technologies and tools needed to head off this problem. If we get smart and provide the right nudges, we could use tech to put a permanent dent in gridlock.

Flash back to our lives a few short weeks ago. The tech-driven disruption of auto transportation was mostly apparent in ride-hailing tools such as Uber and Lyft, which call their apps smart but actually serve to increase our congestion problems. One recent study showed that these services were generating 70 per cent more pollution than the trips they replaced. Thats why cities such as New York have started putting hard caps on the number of vehicles ride-hailing providers can deploy in dense urban cores. The companies themselves acknowledged that they were contributing to the problem.

To be clear, ride-hailing apps didnt create our gridlock headaches. They simply worked within the constraints of paved streets and highways connecting sprawling neighbourhoods and suburbs to shopping and working districts that couldnt be reached by other means. That car-friendly infrastructure was already reaching its limits.

Unfortunately, the tech didnt disrupt the infrastructure  it disrupted its business model. By making car trips cheaper, ride-sharing worsened the problem. Band-aid solutions, like Waze and other traffic navigation apps, had the same tendency.

We need to get smarter about the way we use and direct these technologies if were going to address acute and chronic congestion.

For example, what about those remote work tools weve rushed to adopt in recent weeks? Smart phones, laptops, email and virtual work platforms like Slack are almost second nature to most office workers now, but many of us are getting our first real taste of video conferencing. Ask your kids: Zoom, Google Hangouts, FaceTime and similar products were widely available long before COVID-19. Most of us already owned at least one of them.

Our forced experiment with working from home is simply showing how easily we could be conscripting them to tackle gridlock.

Speaking of commuting, once COVID-19 is under control and transit is safe again, we could get a lot smarter about how we use it. Im not just talking about subways, bike lanes and hyperloops. Those are contentious, big-ticket infrastructure projects, but some of the lowest-hanging fruit is right in front of us.

What about promoting first- and last-mile connections to transit stations using on-demand ride-sharing services? Ride-hailing services have been shown to boost rail ridership in large U.S. cities. A MaRS study indicated that increased ride-sharing of this kind around Toronto and Hamilton would have the same greenhouse-gas impact of taking about 25,000 passenger cars off the road for five years.

And what about those mapping apps that send drivers through alternative neighbourhoods? Theyre built on algorithms that optimize passenger pickups, drop-offs and traffic route  could cities run transit on the same model?

In fact, some already are. Belleville, Ont., and Rogers, Ark., are among a number of small cities in a pilot project that uses AI-driven software to manage and optimize bus fleets and routes. The software, created by Canadian company called Pantonium, lets passengers order transit on demand by app or phone, while its algorithm reroutes a bus for its most efficient route, getting riders around quicker while serving a wider area with fewer vehicles. The Belleville pilot increased ridership by 300 per cent  thats a lot of vehicles taken off the road.

And even if were never able to completely give up our cars, we could do more to offset the effects of the pollution their gridlock causes. Another Canadian company, Envision SQ, makes roadside noise barriers, the kind you see beside highways everywhere. Their barriers come with a proprietary chemical coating that breaks down and neutralizes up to half of nitrous oxide on contact. If we got smart about using them, wed see a dramatic reduction in smog when our economy begins to recover.

Thats the thing about technology  its often right in front of us, waiting for the right use. Just like weve instantly gotten smarter about using tech for remote work, we can get smarter about using it to solve our gridlock problem.

Sasha Sud is director of smart cities at MaRS Discovery District.

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New Delhi, April 25 : With the friction between BJP and TMC getting sharper by the day, BJP leaders from the state attacked the state government with Union Minister of State for Women and Child Development Debasree Choudhury alleging harassment by the West Bengal government.

"Seven police vans with seventy police personnel had come to my house to warn me that a quarantine notice was being pasted on my door. Next day, ASHA workers in large numbers came to my house. While the Bengal Chief Minister roams shroud and gives speeches through microphones. This is unfortunate," Chadhury said while addressing an online press conference.

She alleged BJP lawmakers are deliberately discriminated against and stopped from helping their constituents.

Meanwhile, BJP's Alipurduar MP John Barla alleged that when he went to meet the District Magistrate to talk about the strategy to tackle COVID-19 outbreak, he "sneaked out". He also alleged harassment at the hands of the police personnel during his efforts to reach out to those in need of essentials.

The car he was using to ferry the essentials was also seized, Barala said.

Even BJP's Jalpaiguri MP Jayant Roy cried discrimination. "I have been confined in my house. My gate is kept locked. While TMC leaders are roaming around," Roy alleged.

Jalpaiguri MP Sukanta Majumdar said when he was stopped from going out after completing voluntary 14-day of quarantine, Bengal's police force-stopped him on April 23. "Governor Jagdeep Dhankar directly spoke to the traffic officer. He told him that a member of Parliament cannot be stopped like that. But Majumdar was handed a notice to go back to quarantine for another 14 days," said the MP.

A war of words has been going on between the two political parties in West Bengal over the handling of the COVID-19 outbreak. In the latest, the West Bengal government's order banning mobile phones in Covid-19 hospitals 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 BJP has also alleged that the TMC-led West Bengal government has been "fudging" COVID data. In this war of words, even a Central government's inter- ministerial team was stopped from moving out when they went to inspect certain areas that witnessed a COID-19 outbreak. However, the matter was finally was resolved between the two governmnets, at least temporarily.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
A woman who allegedly escaped from an isolation centre in Abuja has been intercepted in Nasarawa State.

A source said, I received a call from security personnel in Abuja, that they tracked the contact of a lady who escaped isolation from Abuja, to Akwanga.

Immediately I got the call, I swung into action by calling my people in Kurmin Tagwaye village in Akwanga, and they traced the lady in a house, the source said.

The lady said to be from Ibadan was picked at the house of a deacon named Moses, behind ERCC Church, Kurmin Tagwaye along Wamba road in Akwanga and taken to the isolation centre at General Hospital.

Similarly, two other people with suspected cases of coronavirus have been isolated at the General Hospital Akwanga, in Nasarawa State.

Read Also: Wear Face Mask From May 1 Or Risk 14-Day Isolation  Governor Abiodun

According to a source at the Akwanga General Hospital, the first suspect was brought in on Thursday, while the second suspect was brought on Saturday morning.

Nasarawa State is yet to record an index case of Coronavirus or COVID-19.

The Commissioner for Health, pharmacist Mohammed Ahmed Yahaya said, We have isolated some people, they are all isolated as suspected patients of Coronavirus pending the outcome of the results.
A Dublin man has appeared in court on a weapons charge after it was reported to gardai that he was seen armed with a knife on the city quays.

Anthony McLoughlin (49) is alleged to have unlawfully had a knife on him when gardai searched him after investigating the report.

Judge Grainne Malone granted him bail on conditions and adjourned the case at Dublin District Court.

Mr McLoughlin, who lives at a north city centre hostel, is accused of possession of a knife at Merchants Quay.

The court heard gardai received information from a member of the public on April 15 that a man was armed with a yellow knife on Ormond Quay.

Officers were told he had "put the knife up" to another man.

Sorry

Gardai searched the area and found the accused, who matched a description they had been given.

Mr McLoughlin was found in possession of a yellow knife, it was alleged. He was arrested and taken to Store Street Garda Station.

When he was charged, he replied: "I'm sorry."

Gardai were not objecting to bail, subject to conditions.

The judge said the only charge before the court was possession of a knife.

She fixed bail in the accused's own bond of 100 with no cash lodgement required. He was told to stay out of Dublin 7 and 8.

When asked if he had any difficulty with that, the accused said his mother lived in Dublin 8, she was dying of cancer and had three months to live.

After a brief adjournment, the court heard he was able to abide by the bail conditions.

He must also notify gardai of any change of address.

Mr McLoughlin was remanded on bail to a date in July.
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: The Delhi Minorities Commission on Friday urged the AAP government to improve the condition of isolation facilities, claiming that two people have died due to the callous and uncooperative nature of officers and doctors at these camps and erratic supply of food.

Chairperson of the panel Dr Zafarul-Islam Khan said two diabetic inmates have died within ten days, the last being on April 22.

The commission requested CM Arvind Kejriwal and L-G Anil Baijal to carry out a probe in the matter and said the deaths took place due to erratic supply of food and denial of medicines and medical care.

The minorities panel alleged that the food being served to the inmates is hardly edible, therefore, causing stomach problems.The panel alleged that COVID-19 suspects from different parts of the country, are being housed with COVID-19 patients despite having tested negative for the infection.



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People kept at quarantine centres include the elderly with health issues who require special care and medical attention. They have completed 25 days in quarantine, much past the required 14 days. Out of 21 positive cases of Tablighis at Sultanpuri camp, only around four to five were reportedly taken to hospitals, the panel said

Meanwhile, In a separate earlier letter again to both Kejriwal and the L-G and CM, the Delhi Minorities Commission raised the issue of ban on Azaan.

The issue of azaan from mosques is very pressing due to the beginning of the month of Ramzan (beginning Saturday)when Muslims fast and break their fast on hearing the azaan at sunset, he said.

Khan said in a statement that in some cases policemen have even removed the loudspeakers from mosques. Delhi Police, meanwhile, said azaan is allowed but urged people to follow lockdown norms during Ramzan.
Southwest CEO: Airline will be 'drastically smaller' if business doesn't improve soon Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly, like his counterparts at other companies pummeled by the coronavirus crisis, has been fielding questions about the impact from anxious employees for nearly two months. The questions, which Kelly answers in videos sent to its 60,000 workers, have taken a sobering turn at perennially profitable and always upbeat Southwest, underscoring the industry's uncertain future.

The reality is that only a vaccine is going to improve air travel in the next couple of years as this town is now stuck with an airport that mostly belongs to an airline in major distress . . . Read more:
China is pumping millions of dollars into the World Health Organization, an action one expert describes as a political move meant "to boost its superficial credentials" in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic as the US pulls its own WHO funding. Business Insider in the article China is injecting millions into WHO as the US cuts funds. Experts say Beijing is trying to boost its influence over the agency and its 'deeply compromised' chief writes that China praises WHO and its leadership, saying the agency "had actively fulfilled its duties with objective, science-based and fair position."

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, Geng Shuang, told a Thursday news briefing that the country would be injecting an extra $30 million into the agency "in support of global efforts to fight COVID-19 and the construction of public health systems in developing countries." Last month, China already pledged $20 million to the organization, a move it said was meant to "help small and medium-sized countries with weak public health systems in particular to bolster their epidemic preparedness."

China's latest cash injection comes a week after the US announced plans to freeze $400 million in payments to WHO. Until then, the US was the largest financial contributor to WHO. According to publicly available data, as of the end of 2019, China contributed $86 million to WHO  $75.8 million in assessed contributions and $10.2 million in voluntary contributions  while the US gave $893 million  $236 million in assessed contributions and $656 million in voluntary contributions.

It's not clear whether the US will cut from the assessed or voluntary contributions. Other nongovernmental groups, like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, gave WHO $531 million in voluntary contributions in 2019.

President Donald Trump told a coronavirus press briefing last week that the organization had "failed to adequately obtain and share information in a timely and transparent fashion." Trump and other critics have accused WHO of assisting China in efforts to suppress information on the coronavirus, which originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan late last year. In particular, the Trump administration has criticized WHO's claim in mid-January that there was no known human-to-human transmission of the virus.

According to The Guardian, the tweet was posted because an official worried that a WHO expert was issuing warnings that deviated from China's messaging. (A WHO source told Business Insider the message was posted to "balance the science out," rather than for political reasons.)

Japan's deputy prime minister and finance minister, Taro Aso, also referred to WHO last month as the "Chinese Health Organization," referencing its close ties to Beijing.

Experts told Business Insider that China's contributions to WHO were not goodwill gestures but rather a series of political power moves to boost its global image.

"Beijing sees an opportunity to boost its superficial credentials as a global contributor to the pandemic following the US decision to halt funding to WHO," said John Lee, who served as a national security adviser to Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop from 2016 to 2018. Lee now works as a senior fellow at the United States Studies Center in Sydney and a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute in Washington, DC.

He said China's other altruistic measures, like sending medical teams and protective equipment to countries battling the coronavirus, were also tools meant to give China a political boost in the global arena.

Sophie Richardson, the China director at Human Rights Watch, previously told Business Insider's Alexandra Ma that China was trying to craft an image for itself as a global leader in the coronavirus fight rather than the country from which the virus originated. "Chinese officials and their propaganda machinery are in high gear worldwide trying to paint the Chinese government as the solution to the problem, rather than one of the sources of it," Richardson said.

WHO leaders 'captured' by China

Lee said that while science and health experts at WHO "do wonderful work on the ground in all parts of the world," the agency's leadership had become "captured by countries such as China," putting its credibility to the test. "When [WHO] leadership is called to make decisions of global health concern such as with the current pandemic, such decisions tend to be overly influenced by political rather than health priorities," Lee said.

WHO officials have hit back at accusations of the organization being "China-centric," saying its close relationship with China is "essential" in understanding the origins of the outbreak.

"It was absolutely critical in the early part of this outbreak to have full access to everything possible, to get on the ground and work with the Chinese to understand this," Bruce Aylward, a senior adviser to Tedros, told reporters earlier this month.

Tedros has also dismissed accusations of associating too closely with China, saying the agency was "close to every nation." "We are color-blind," he told reporters on April 8.
Seoul, April 25 : North Korean premier Kim Jae-ryong has visited various units in the country in recent days to boost production, according to a state-media report.

Kim, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, visited South Hwanghae province and urged local workers to revitalize production, Xinhua news agency reported on Saturday citing the KCNA as saying in the report.

When inspecting the Jangsong youth single-stage water pumping station and waterway for desalting Lake Kangryong, the premier stressed the need to ensure a full supply of equipment and materials to step up the project and protect its embankment by planting trees of good species, KCNA said, without specifying the date of the inspection.

This development comes as North Korean media outlets have remained quiet on leader Kim Jong-un's whereabouts without putting out any reports on his public activity amid persisting speculation over his health.

Speculation about his health problems spiked after a CNN report earlier this week, citing a US official, said that Washington was looking into intelligence that Kim Jong-un was in "grave danger" after a surgery, reports Yonhap News Agency.

But South Korea downplayed the report, saying that it had seen no unusual signs with regard to Kim's health.

Kim Jong-un was last seen in state media on April 11 presiding over a political bureau meeting of the ruling Workers' Party, calling for strict measures against the coronavirus pandemic.

But his absence from a key ceremony commemorating the 108th birth anniversary of Kim Il-sung on April 15 sparked speculation over his health.

He has never skipped his trip to the mausoleum since taking office in late 2011.
As the journalist whose reporting led to the discovery that an Australian resident had been wrongly held in immigration detention, I have some misgivings about the TV series, Stateless.

Its true that Stateless acknowledges at the start that it is "inspired" by real events  the message being that it will pick and choose from those events in late January 2005 for its drama. That it did most powerfully and emotionally through the side stories and dilemmas of its detention centre staff, refugee and bureaucrat characters. However, it didnt stray too far from reality with its main character, Sofie, so obviously drawn along the lines of Cornelia Rau.

A former Qantas flight attendant and Australian permanent resident (not a citizen, as the series has it), Rau was scandalously found to have been lost inside Queenslands prison system and then immigration detention. She spent a total of 10 months incarcerated without her worried family having any idea where she was or the authorities discovering who she was.

The disoriented and traumatised Rau refused to communicate, giving the impression before her arrest in far north Queensland that she was a German backpacker who might have overstayed her visa.
Trinity Grammar in Summer Hill is one of the first big private schools in Sydney to give a fee rebate to parents struggling to cope with the economic fallout of the coronavirus.

Up to 60 per cent of families at some independent schools have asked for fee relief, putting pressure on school budgets.

Trinity Grammar School is one of the first big private schools in Sydney to offer fee rebates due to coronavirus. Credit:Louise Kennerley

Most private schools are resisting blanket discounts for families, instead focusing on those doing it toughest and extending payment deadlines.

As schools prepare to transition back to face-to-face learning from mid-May, some are offering across-the-board relief; Trinity Grammar is giving a flat $1125 COVID-19 rebate, which will take the form of a credit on term two invoices. Shore has discounted term two fees by 10 per cent, parents said.
The lawyer for the 'Coughing Major' convicted of cheating on the TV quiz show Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? hopes that new scientific analysis of audio tapes could lead to his conviction being overturned, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.

The new evidence suggests that Charles Ingram's fellow contestant and alleged accomplice Tecwen Whittock, who a jury decided had guided former Army major Ingram to give correct answers, also coughed on numerous other occasions when his intervention could not have been of any use.

Also, the analysis, based on high-technology methods unavailable at the time of the trial 17 years ago, has identified further coughs on recordings of the show which might have helped Ingram  but could not have come from Whittock. Instead, they emanated from members of the studio audience.

BOUYED BY TV REACTION: Charles and Diana Ingram

The new research has been led by Professor Alyn Morice, the Head of Respiratory Medicine at Hull University Medical School, a world-renowned expert on coughing diseases and treatment.

The new hope for Ingram comes after ten million people watched Quiz, ITV's dramatisation of his story, earlier this month, in which viewers were led to believe the jury should have acquitted Ingram because the prosecution had failed to prove the case beyond reasonable doubt  the standard of proof used to convict people in Britain's criminal justice system.

Prof Morice told The Mail on Sunday that the new evidence may create 'reasonable doubt'. It is now likely to become part of a dossier which Ingram's solicitor, Rhona Friedman, intends to submit to the Court of Appeal later this year.

Ingram thought he had clinched the 1 million jackpot at a recording of the show on September 10, 2001, but the production company, Celador, withheld his cheque amid suspicions he'd cheated, in cahoots with his wife, Diana, and Whittock. After police were called in, the trio were tried for deception in 2003 at Southwark Crown Court in London, found guilty by a ten-to-one majority verdict, and given fines and suspended prison sentences.

Last night, speaking for the first time since Quiz was screened, Ingram said he and his wife were confident they could prove their innocence. He said: 'Our determination to clear our names has remained constant throughout the years.

Letting it go has never been an option. Our only regret is that righting this wrong has taken so long.'

This story  a parable of human ruin, supposedly driven by greed  has retained a lasting fascination.

Ingram, now 56, is the son of an RAF wing commander, and his Army record  he served with distinction in Bosnia  was unblemished.

An apparent personification of honour and integrity, he hoped to reach the rank of brigadier, which would have enabled him to retire last year with a healthy pension.

Charles Ingram on Who Wants to be a Millionaire. Last night, speaking for the first time since Quiz was screened, Ingram said he and his wife were confident they could prove their innocence

Instead, after the trial, he was forced to resign his commission, and his wife lost her job as a teaching assistant.

Public hate-figures, their house and car were vandalised, and their cat was attacked and badly wounded.

At one stage, Ingram came close to suicide  'I had 40 pills in one hand and a glass of water in the other,' he said in 2015, 'then something stopped me.' It was a text from one of the couple's three daughters, signed with three kisses, saying she still had faith in him.

The ITV drama's sympathetic portrayal of the Ingrams was partly based on Bad Show, a book by the investigative journalist Bob Woffinden in conjunction with James Plaskett, another Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? contestant, who won 250,000. Both were convinced the Ingrams were victims of a miscarriage of justice.

Rhona Friedman says she agreed to represent the Ingrams after Woffinden 'pitched me, as if he might have done to an editor, trying to sell a story. He desperately wanted someone to take it on.'

More than five years after that 'pitch' (and with Woffinden now dead) she, too, is convinced: 'I have no hesitation in saying I think this was a miscarriage of justice.'

Some of the reasons were laid out in the TV drama. The prosecution claimed Whittock had been in contact with Diana Ingram before the recording and he used coughs to direct the Major away from wrong answers and towards correct ones. Yet, they had never met.

Whittock was one of ten possible contenders for the Millionaire chair, sitting behind Ingram, waiting to compete in the show's 'fastest finger' introductory round. Like Diana Ingram, Whittock, the then-head of business studies at Pontypridd College, was part of a network of quiz aficionados, and they had spoken together by phone.

But he only found out he was due to be on the show at the same recording as her husband during the evening before. He and Diana spoke to each other for less than five minutes while the Ingrams were in their car.

Charles Ingram, Friedman points out, 'had never spoken to Whittock, and never heard him cough. So how could he have recognised it when he did?' As for Whittock, keen as he was on prize-show quizzes, he was not very good  and so, arguably, not an obvious choice to act as guide for a cheat.

He had already been on at least five programmes, but his best results had been to win 500 on a show called Beat The Bong and a copy of a world atlas from Sale Of The Century  having convinced his wife, he told the trial jury, he was about to win a car. Eventually, he was eliminated from Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? having won just 1,000.

Sian Clifford and Matthew Macfadyen as the Ingrams with Michael Sheen as Chris Tarrant in the TV drama Quiz

If Whittock had been issuing what the prosecution called 'significant coughs', the quizmaster Chris Tarrant, sitting very close to Ingram, did not hear them  as he freely admitted in an interview two months after the trial.

Moreover, there were loudspeakers in the contestant's chair, which pumped out steadily louder background music as each round of the contest became more tense, and the chair itself vibrated  'like a crazy massage chair at an airport', Friedman says.

As she began to work on the case, she began to focus on the provenance of what is known as 'Tape G', the VHS videotape version of the show which the prosecution relied on in court, in which, she says, the 19 'significant coughs' ring out 'like pistol shots'.

Like the show itself, the tape was made by Celador.

Indeed, on Tape G, the coughs are so loud that when Tarrant gave evidence in court that he didn't think at the time the show was being recorded that Ingram had been cheating, the jury burst out laughing.

However, Friedman has established there were at least 21 microphones in the studio  eight over different areas of the audience, and individual radio mics on Ingram, Tarrant, the ten 'fastest finger' contestants and Diana, who was in the audience.

Yet the lawyer says the original, raw recordings of the sound the microphones picked up before it was all edited together seem to have disappeared. Moreover, there were at least six other edited versions of the show prepared before the trial apart from Tape G. The originals of these appear to be missing, leaving only 'cloned copies'.

Crucially, Friedman says, there are 'important differences' between these versions and Tape G  and on some, the coughs are much less prominent.

Significantly, all the different versions were prepared by sound engineers who were not working for the police or the Crown Prosecution Service, but for Celador, who kept them in their possession until shortly before the trial began.

Friedman has commissioned more analysis, saying: 'Work is still ongoing to explain the apparent anomalies when you compare the different versions of the tapes.'

As for coughing expert Prof Morice, although he gave evidence at the trial for the defence, he was only able to state that Whittock suffered three chronic conditions  asthma, rhinitis and hay fever  that were likely to make him cough frequently. Back then, in 2003, it was not technically possible to say for sure whether an individual was the source of a particular cough.

But now, Prof Morice says, technological advances mean it is possible to make spectrograms  pictures of the sound made by an individual's cough. These, he says, 'are, in effect, their coughing fingerprint,' adding, 'this is based on peer-reviewed science and has become a recognised technique'.

He adds: 'The recording quality isn't perfect, but we've got enough information to see that some of the coughs which might have been said to be helpful to Ingram didn't come from the area where Whittock was sitting, but from another part of the studio.'

Prof Morice has produced a spectrogram of the person recorded coughing in the 'fastest finger' contestants' seats  almost certainly Whittock, although he cannot say it was definitely him, because he has not had a chance to take Whittock's coughing 'fingerprint'.

Morice says Whittock 'coughed at least as often at times that had no significance'  such as when Ingram didn't seem stumped for an answer  as he did when it might have been helpful.

And Friedman says: 'If Celador hadn't been so fixated on Whittock, they might have picked on some hapless member of the audience. It highlights the absurdity of the belief in this so-called coughing plot.'

Matthew MacFadyen as Charles Ingram in ITV's drama Quiz

Charles Ingram has already fought and lost an appeal against his conviction, which means the fresh application to the court will be made on behalf of his wife.

However, if she gets leave to appeal, the Criminal Cases Review Commission is expected swiftly to refer her husband's and Whittock's cases back to the court as well.

Diana said yesterday: 'We have been buoyed by the reaction to the TV drama, Quiz, and the play on which it was based. Many people convinced of our guilt have said their minds have been changed.'

Charles added: 'I am hopeful that advances in science will support my suspicions that evidence had been altered. If the Court of Appeal does become involved, then people will have to account for what has happened to key exhibits.'

For the Ingrams, a new hearing cannot come soon enough. Their lives since the trial have been tough.

A series of appearances on TV reality shows, including Celebrity Wife Swap (where he was incongruously paired with the Big Brother contestant Jade Goody), dried up years ago. Bankrupted several times, they make a precarious living in Bath, selling Murano glass jewellery designed and made by Diana.

Charles is still paying off his fine, now reduced from 15,000 to 5,000, and 10,000 legal costs. Whittock, now in his 70s, lost his job, too, and is thought to live abroad.

Diana says that despite her hopes of a fresh appeal, she has no illusions: 'There will always be a group of people at the heart of this case who can never publicly change their opinion because to do so would cause professional embarrassment at the very least. But we are realistic. Favourable public reaction and support in the Press, welcome though it is, will not sway a court.'

Celador  which launched the show in 1998 and has earned an estimated 25 million a year from it  declined to comment.
FILE PHOTO: A worker spreads rice for drying at a rice mill on the outskirts of Kolkata

By Rajendra Jadhav

MUMBAI (Reuters) - Indian rice traders are signing new export contracts again after a gap of nearly three weeks, four industry officials told Reuters on Thursday.

The resumption of shipments from the world's biggest exporter could cap global prices which surged after India suspended exports amid a nationwide lockdown to curb the spread of the coronavirus, allowing rival countries such as Thailand to rise prices and shipments.

B.V. Krishna Rao, president of the Rice Exporters Association (REA) said export operations had also resumed, despite India extending the lockdown on its 1.3 billion people until at least May 3 as the number of coronavirus cases exceeded 12,000.

The demand for Indian rice is huge as it has been offered at steep discount to rice from other countries, said a Mumbai-based dealer with a global trading firm, but others said it would take time for exports to return to normal levels.

"New contracts are getting signed but at a very low pace due to bottlenecks in the supply chain," Nitin Gupta, vice president of trader Olam India's rice business, told Reuters.

India was offering the 5% broken parboiled variety at around $375-$380 per tonne on a free-on-board basis. Thailand was offering the same grade at around $535 per tonne.

"Thai prices are likely to come down once Indian port operations become normal," the Mumbai-based dealer said. Labour shortages and logistics disruptions as a result of the lockdown have hampered deliveries.

Traders are mainly signing contracts for May and June shipments, expecting New Delhi to ease restrictions after May 3, said an exporter based at Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh.

"Some exporters are still not signing new contracts. They first want to execute stuck shipments," the exporter said.

About 400,000 tonnes of non-basmati rice and 100,000 tonnes of basmati rice, meant for March-April delivery, are either stuck at ports or in the pipeline due to the lockdown, exporters said.

Story continues

New Delhi mainly exports non-basmati rice to Bangladesh, Nepal, Benin and Senegal, and premium basmati rice to Iran, Saudi Arabia and Iraq.

India's rice exports in 2019 fell 18.1% from a year earlier to 9.87 million tonnes, the lowest in eight years, as demand moderated from key Asian and African buyers.

(Reporting by Rajendra Jadhav; editing by Kirsten Donovan)
113 families have contributed 43 per cent of the overall disease load in Telangana

Thirteen persons have tested positive for Covid-19 on Friday, taking the total number of patients suffering with coronavirus infection in Telangana to 983.

There are currently 663 active cases, and 29 patients were discharged during the day.

The state had 96 positive cases on March 31 and six deaths. It crossed the 250 mark on April 4, 500 cases on April 11 and the 750-mark on April 17, when the toll stood at 18.

Health minister Etala Rajender said that the hotspots were in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation area, Suryapet, Vikarabad and Gadwal.

An analysis by the state government has found that 44 families had 260 infected people in the GHMC zone, 25 families had 83 infected people in Suryapet, 14 families had 38 infected people in Vikarabad and 30 families had caused 45 cases in Gadwal.

In all, 113 families have contributed 43 per cent of the overall disease load in the state.

The minister, however, said officials have ensured that the infection was confined only to these families.

The containment zones will be under the surveillance of the health officials who are going to check for more infected cases. A panel was also set up to look into the deaths in TS.

It has been found that 15 people, who suffered from co-morbid conditions, were also counted as part of 25 coronavirus deaths.

Referring to some photos of unhygienic toilets and washbasins at Gandhi Hospital being circulated in the social media, the minister said some psychos were putting these pictures on social media and said hygiene is being maintained at the hospital.

The state government, which sought permission from the Central government to treat coronavirus patients using the plasma therapy, said they have got verbal permission to begin the therapy.

The minister said Union health minister Harsh Vardhan appreciated the government for developing the Gachibowli hospital within a short span of time.

Mr Rajendar asked all hospitals to look into respiratory problems which are not caused by coronavirus infections and treat them accordingly.
A driver who police believe was wearing an N95 mask for several hours passed out Thursday while driving his car in Lincoln Park and crashed into a pole, according to a Facebook post from the borough police department.

The driver, who was not severely injured, was the only person in car and passed out due to insufficient oxygen intake/excessive carbon dioxide intake, police said.

Motorists and the public alike are reminded that while masks should be used in public settings to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, they are not necessary outdoors when social distancing can be maintained, and especially not necessary when driving a vehicle with no additional occupants, the department said in the post.

CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Businesses that are open | Homepage

Authorities said they have not ruled out another medical reason as a contributing cause to the crash, but said they did not find any evidence that the driver was under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

As it relates to this specific incident, we reiterate that police officers are not physicians and do not know the medical history of every person we encounter, police said in an updated post.

It was stated in the original post that we believed the excessive wearing of an N95 mask was a contributing factor to this accident. While we dont know this with 100% certainty, we do know that the driver had been wearing an N95 mask inside the vehicle for several hours and ultimately passed out while operating the vehicle.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription.

Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com.
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Linkedin Moch. Fiqih Prawira Adjie (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, April 25, 2020 10:29 627 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd4299a1 1 National KPK,Corruption-Eradication-Comission,PPP,Romahurmuziy,Jakarta-High-Court,corruption-case,bribery-case,kasus-suap,Religious-Affairs-Ministry Free

The Jakarta High Court has ruled in favor of an appeal filed by former United Development Party (PPP) chairman Muhammad Romy Romahurmuziy, who was found guilty of accepting bribes, reducing his prison sentence to one year.

[The court] sentences the defendant to one year in prison and a fine of Rp 100 million which, if not paid, will be replaced with three months' imprisonment, the appellate court verdict read as quoted by Antara news agency on Friday.

The Jakarta Corruption Court initially found Romy guilty on Jan. 20 of receiving a bribe of Rp 346.4 million (US$22,220) from Religious Affairs Ministry officials in exchange for promotions within the ministry. The bench sentenced him to two years imprisonment and a fine of Rp 100 million  only half of the four years demanded by prosecutors.

The high court also echoed the corruption courts verdict of not requiring Romy to pay a restitution fee of Rp 46.4 million and not denying him political rights after serving his sentence.

Read also: KPK action puts Religious Affairs Ministry back in spotlight for graft

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) arrested Romy in March 2019 for allegedly accepting Rp 416.4 million in bribes from two Religious Affairs Ministry officials in return for his support for their promotions.

The two officials, Haris Hasanuddin and Muafaq Wirahadi, were both found guilty of bribery and sentenced to two years and 1.5 years in prison, respectively.

Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) spokesperson Ali Fikri said the antigraft bodys prosecutors would study the high court judges consideration upon the ruling and propose its next move to the commissions leaders.

It is indeed lighter than the prosecutors demands. However, we must respect the judges' decision, said Ali.

Read also: KPK arrested me due to my popularity on social media: Romahurmuziy

Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) slammed the Jakarta High Courts ruling, saying the court should give the former party chairman a heavier sentence.

The watchdog compared Romys verdict to rulings against other party chairmen convicted for corruption, such as Luthfi Hasan Ishaq of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), who was sentenced to 18 years in prison, Anas Urbaningrum of the Democratic Party (14 years), Romys successor Suryadharma Ali (10 years) and Setya Novanto of the Golkar Party (15 years).

Such a light sentence, however, is not a new occurrence as we recorded that the average prison sentence given to graft defendants last year was only two years and seven months. If it continues like this, Indonesias ambition to be free from corruption will never be achieved, Kurnia Ramadhana of ICW said.

He urged the KPK to file an appeal petition to the Supreme Court.
Tajikistan Tells Farmers To Avoid Ramadan Fast, Cites Disease And Need To Work

By RFE/RL April 24, 2020

Tajik President Emomali Rahmon has urged farmers in the predominately Muslim country not to fast during the holy month of Ramadan so they can stay healthy and work the fields.

The Central Asian nation claims not to have any coronavirus infections, but Rahmon said on April 23 that fasting makes people "vulnerable to infection from infectious diseases."

"Although this disease is not registered in our country, this does not mean that we should be careless and sit idle," Rahmon wrote on the eve of the Islamic holy month.

Despite claiming to have no COVID-19 cases, Tajikistan has closed its borders and taken other steps including closing mosques to keep the virus from spreading.

Citing Tajikistan's pro-government religious authorities, Rahmon asserted fasting harms "farmers, livestock breeders, and those who work hard."

"I urge everyone working in the fields...in the name of their health and that of their families, ensuring their households' welfare, to use this dispensation and delay the fast until a more favorable time," Rahmon said.

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom identifies Tajikistan as a "country of particular concern" for restrictions and crackdowns on religion.

"The government of Tajikistan seeks to meticulously control Muslim religious practice, regulating even small details of who may express religious belief, at what age, when, where, and how," it said in its 2019 report on religious freedom.

The Ramadan message focusing on food security comes as the former Soviet republic has asked international donors for emergency aid to help the country deal with the economic impact of the global coronavirus pandemic.

Tajikistan is likely to suffer foreign currency problems to pay for imports -- including some food items -- as remittances from migrant laborers in Russia slump due to the pandemic. Kazakhstan has also enforced quotas on wheat exports.

Around 65 percent of the Tajik workforce is involved in agriculture.

With reporting by AFP and Reuters

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/tajikistan-religion -ramadan-farming-/30573746.html

Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Home showings are down about 40% because of the shelter-in-place order, but sales have remained brisk, even during Easter week and despite a moratorium on open house displays, said Frances Pool, a real estate agent with Coldwell Banker Apex in Waco.

Coldwell Banker Apex has an extensive list of what we are doing now to keep the agents and our clients safe, Pool said. We clean doorknobs and light switches. I provide gloves and Purell. We dont ride in the same car and we ask people not to bring along extra people. But I guess what we are really seeing is that people who are looking at houses are serious about buying.

In the past month, an average of 12 new listings in Waco came on the market each day, and 12 to 15 went under contract every day, she said.

That is pretty consistent, Pool said.

According to March local home sales figures compiled by Ashton Gustafson, owner and broker of AG Real Estate and Associates in Waco, there were 291 homes sold in March, a 3% increase over last year. The average list price was $237,871, up almost 15% over last year, while the average time on the market was 71 days, down by three days. On average, homes sold for 98% of the list price.
The following editorial appeared in Saturday's Japan News-Yomiuri:

- - -

There have been moves in which authorities have suppressed antigovernment forces by taking advantage of the situation in which efforts to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus make it difficult for people to gather for protests. Ratcheting up authoritarian rule under the guise of dealing with the crisis cannot be overlooked.

Many countries have taken strict measures such as restrictions on going out. There is an aspect that restricting people's freedom and private rights to a certain level is inevitable in a time of emergency. However, stronger vigilance is needed regarding nondemocratic political systems and regimes led by autocratic leaders.

Since June last year, antigovernment demonstrations had intensified in Hong Kong. In the wake of the pandemic, gatherings of five or more people are currently prohibited.

Under such circumstances, Hong Kong authorities arrested 15 prominent pro-democracy figures who are critical of China. They include executive members of a group that organized the pro-democracy movement last year.

The Chinese government has allowed Hong Kong to have a high degree of autonomy based on the concept of "one country, two systems," but in reality it has stepped up its interference. It is suspected that Beijing is tightening its grip on Hong Kong at a time when it is difficult for residents to take to the streets to protest.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has expressed strong concern that freedom of assembly and expression has been infringed in Hong Kong. In September, a Legislative Council election is scheduled. Pro-democracy figures must not be unfairly oppressed or prevented from campaigning.

In Cambodia, lawmakers have passed legislation that will enable bans on movement and gatherings and the tightening of media regulations, among other things, if the government declares a state of emergency. It is said this law can be applied to situations other than outbreaks of infectious disease. Concern over potential abuse of the law cannot be dispelled.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has already dissolved the largest opposition party and established one-party rule. The European Union has decided to impose a sanction by partially suspending tariff preferences for the country, but China has strengthened economic assistance to it. It is feared that the Cambodian government may reinforce its authoritarian rule following the enactment of the law.

Hungary, an Eastern European country that has been under a state of emergency, has passed an unprecedented bill to extend Prime Minister Viktor Orban's expanded authority indefinitely. This has paved the way for Orban, who is known for his iron fist, to use the extra powers permanently.

The bill also includes a measure to imprison people who spread "false information" harmful to measures against the virus. This could be used to crack down on opposition forces and control the media. The EU has warned that emergency measures "must not last indefinitely."

The battle against the infectious disease is likely to continue for a long time. Efforts to secure freedom of speech and expression even at a time of crisis are essential. It is important for each country to try to exercise power in a restrained manner while the international community keeps an eye on authoritarian governments.
The underused hospital ship USNS Comfort, sent urgently to New York City last month to help local hospitals battle the novel coronavirus pandemic, will return to Norfolk, Virginia, possibly as early as next week to prepare for another COVID-19 mission if necessary, the Pentagon said Friday.

The Comfort's sister ship, the USNS Mercy, sent from San Diego to Los Angeles last month on a similar mission, will also likely be withdrawn soon, but there have not yet been approvals from California Gov. Gavin Newsom or Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, said Jonathan Hoffman, the Pentagon's chief spokesman, at a briefing.

Upon its return to homeport in Norfolk, possibly in the next week or two, the Comfort will undergo maintenance and be restocked "to prepare it for another mission, but that will be FEMA's call," Hoffman said, referring to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Related: How the USNS Comfort Helps Fight COVID-19

The Comfort arrived at Pier 90 on Manhattan's West Side on March 30 in what was then seen as a crucial step in efforts to help the city, the U.S. epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak with more than 16,640 deaths recorded as of Friday, according to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center.

To underline the importance of the Comfort's mission, President Donald Trump made a rare departure from the White House to attend the ship's sendoff from Norfolk.

However, as of Tuesday, the ship -- with 1,000 beds, 12 operating rooms and a medical staff of about 1,000 -- had treated a total of only 179 patients, with 56 on board that day.

The limited use could be partly explained by the shifting missions assigned to the Comfort. The ship had been intended to treat only non-coronavirus patients, but officials then decided that there was little need to cope with an excess of non-COVID-19 patients in a city in lockdown.

The ship was converted to treat only COVID patients, but that need also wasn't there with the conversion of the nearby Javits Convention Center into a 1,500-bed all-COVID facility.

Last week, the military decided that the best use for the Comfort's doctors, nurses and medical aides was to send them directly into city hospitals, rather than wait for patients to come to them.

On Tuesday, at one of his daily White House news briefings, Trump said he had asked New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio whether the Comfort could be withdrawn and they agreed.

"I asked Andrew if we could bring Comfort back to its base in Virginia, so we could have it for other locations, and he said we would be able to do that," Trump said.

At his own daily briefing Friday in New York, Cuomo said hospitalizations are down and pressure on local hospitals appears to be easing, but also noted the "heartbreaking" figure of another 422 deaths recorded in the past 24 hours.

-- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com.

Read more: Top Navy Leaders Want Crozier Reinstated as Roosevelt's Commanding Officer: Report
By Express News Service

BENGALURU: As the number of the Covid-19 cases in some states continues to surge, The Central Government on Friday appreciated Karnataka for adopting good practices that helped the state to contain the spread of the coronavirus. Twenty-nine new cases were reported in the state on Friday, taking the total number of positive cases to 474, including 18 deaths and 152 discharges. The total count is much less compared to other states.

Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan during a video conference with the Health and Medical Education Ministers from the states, asked other states to emulate good practices adopted by Karnataka. We have been asked to share our good practices with other states and we will do that soon, said Karnataka Medical Education Minister Dr K Sudhakar. He was part of the video conference by the Union minister to take stock of the situation across the country.

Extensive use of technology, testing protocols and strict enforcement of the lockdown were all appreciated during the meeting, Sudhakar said. He said Karnataka is extensively using the information technology for surveillance, contact tracing, isolation, monitoring those in quarantine, for creating a dashboard with heat-map of different areas, including those that have reported high number of cases. The state government also launched mobile application and a helpline Apthamitra that provides consultation over phone so that people do not rush to hospitals.

The Apthamitra application that was launched recently by the state has been linked to Aarogya Setu app, Sudhakar added. Apart from using technology, the state government has also taken measures for early identification of people with symptoms of Influenza-like Illness (ILI) and Severe Acute Respiratory Symptoms (SARI). Even the districts that have not reported any positive cases have been told to do tests to identify such cases. According to experts, early detection and treatment is the best way to handle ILI and SARI cases.
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 25/4/2020 (627 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

To mark Manitobas 150th anniversary in 2020, the Free Press will feature weekly an article from the archives of the Manitoba Historical Society.

When Winnipeg was incorporated as a city in 1873, it had a population of only 1,869. Development for a few years thereafter was slow, but the railway line to Winnipeg from the south, completed by December 1878, got things moving rapidly. The land boom was on and immigrants were coming in by the thousands; building lots in Winnipeg and in other communities were selling at high prices and being resold at ridiculous figures. Nearly everyone who had a little money to gamble with was in the maelstrom of speculation. Men talked in thousands and ten-thousands of dollars instead of hundreds as a few years before.

Principal George Grant of Queens University, Kingston, visiting Winnipeg in 1881, said, "Winnipeg is London or New York on a small scale. You meet people from all over the world."

When the Canadian Pacific Railway had completed its line to Winnipeg, lots in the city were selling at higher prices than in Chicago or New York. Land-hungry (or money-hungry) people were experiencing difficulty in finding sleeping accommodation. A visitor to Winnipeg at this time wrote "Winnipeg has 45 hotels, 300 boarding houses, and I defy any man twice out of five times to strike a nights lodging. The immigrants are pouring in. I got a very good room, but if I want to go up to it at 10 oclock in the evening I have to step over the sleeping forms in the halls and on the stairs. In the wood box, under the billiard tables, everywhere, you will find them, and yet there have only arrived three or four immigrant trains. There are seven more stuck in a snowbank near Chicago. I hope for my own convenience, they will remain there two or three weeks."

The early part of the winter of 1881-82 saw the boom at its height. The tide had continued to rise during November and December; cold had no effect on it. Money flowed in, especially from the cities and farms in Ontario. At this time, it was said that the demand for real estate was probably without parallel in any city in Canada. Each succeeding transaction sent the price booming upwards.

A lucid description of one family from Ontario when the boom was in full bloom, was given by the noted scholar, humorist and author, Stephen Leacock. From his book My Discovery of the West we quote:

"We on our farms in Ontario were in the throes of the Great Depression of the 1870s and everyone was talking about the great opportunities in the new country out west, which we called Manitoba. Just at that time there came to us from England my uncle, E. P. Leacock, still dimly remembered in Winnipeg as an outstanding character of the boom. He was an adventurous spirit, full of brains, and attraction, as visionary as a Tartarian, as loud as Falstaff, bearded and jovial as a Plantagenet. Nothing would do but my father must go with him to Manitoba. The Star of Empire he told us children, glitters in the West. So it was too, for a little while.

"So we had a sale at our farm, as countless other Ontario people did. The whisky for the sale cost more than the thin animals and broken implements brought in. But that didnt matter. The Star was glittering. My uncle wiped out all disappointment with a laugh and off they went. We children stayed behind to follow later. But my father and uncle hit Winnipeg just as the boom rose to its height, and my uncle at least rode on the very crest of it, triumphant. If ever there was a fools paradise, it sure was located in Winnipeg, men made fortunes  mostly on paper  and life was one continuous joy ride."

Further, "my uncle had a large career  went up like a rocket: was in everything  railway companies, land companies, and in the Parliament of Manitoba."

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One of the most successful, if unscrupulous, in the selling of real estate, was an Irish Canadian from Quebec named Jim Coolican. Before coming to Winnipeg, he had operated in various parts of the United States and Canada. His place of business here was a small building, formerly used as a store, at the northwest corner of Portage Avenue and Main Street. Dr. George Bryce, a resident of Winnipeg since 1871, in his History of Manitoba said, "Real estate agents are as plentiful as mosquitoes in fly time, and stories similar to the following were not uncommon: About five years before the boom a well-known citizen purchased five acres outside the limits of the city for a suit of clothes. He placed the property in his wifes name, thinking, it is supposed, that the land was of little value. The lucky lady sold the five acres during the boom for $1,250 and the purchaser turned down an offer for twice that amount."

The notable Jim Coolican had an abundance of wit, repartee and persuasive argument. He was also outstanding as a classy dresser and wearer of expensive jewelry. Dr. Bryce described him as "eloquent, aggressive, unscrupulous, and by advertising his sales without regard to the commonplace things called facts, undertook to stampede  to use the language of the plains  the Winnipeg community."

During this period of Manitobas history, lots were being sold in towns which never existed, except on paper; towns were mapped out by subdividing farms. The boom affected not only Winnipeg, but also towns all over the province and further west.

The boom built up by degrees, came to a rather sudden stop in the springtime of 1882. "Men who had lived in the winter of 1881-1882 in a dream of oriental magnificence, now dwelt in the winter of 1882-83 in the sad valley of humiliation."

The boom was over. Many men, sadder but wiser, turned to the task of paying off their accumulated debts. The failure of businesses sent stocks of goods on the market at bankrupt prices, making it difficult for those still operating to survive the onslaught. But the adventurous natives and immigrants turned their hands to more steady development of the city and province. In the course of the decade following the end of the boom, Winnipeg and all of Manitoba were proving that here there were unlimited opportunities for all.

For more information or to become a member of the Manitoba Historical Society, call 204-947-0559 or email: info@mhs.mb.ca. The MHS is on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram as manitoba-history.
Besides ensuring strict enforcement of the curfew amid the coronavirus outbreak, the Tarn Taran police are also doing its best to break the backbone of the drug smugglers in the district, which is among the worst drug-hit districts of Punjab.

The border districts police have freezed the assets of 16 drug smugglers, worth 8.6 crore, in the last one month. Besides, the police have prepared eight new cases for freezing property worth 16 crore belonging to various drug smugglers, including those from Havelian village, which is situated at a stones throw distance from India Pakistan border.

The property of the smugglers is being seized on the order of the competent authority (CA)  A statutory authority under the Smugglers and Foreign Exchange Manipulators (Forfeiture of Property) Act, 1976  and under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985.

On Tuesday, the police seized the property of two major drug smugglersNarinder Singh of Chinna Bidhi Chand village and Jagtar Singh of Dall village (both border villages). Jagtar was arrested in 2012 with 21-kg heroin while Narinder was arrested in 2015 with 5-kg heroin. Their agricultural land measuring around 5-acre each, residential houses, a tractor were among the assets seized by the police.

Though we have been engaged in enforcing curfew and ensuring the delivery of daily meal and ration to the poor people, but we are also considering the drug menace in the district as another big challenge. We dont want to give any chance to the drug paddlers and breaking their back bone is our prime motive, said senior superintendent of police (SSP) Dhruv Dahiya.

He said, In total, till now, we have seized the property of 51 drug smugglers, worth 54.46 crore. Our teams are working hard to identify many more cases of the drug smugglers. We are thinking that this is the best way to break the supply chain not only in the border area but also in Punjab.

Sources said among the new prepared cases, one is of a notorious smuggler belonging to Havelian village. We have identified the property of the Havelian villages smuggler in Jalandhar and Mohali, which is worth over 4 crore. His name will be disclosed once we get the order to freeze his property from New Delhi, said another senior police official.

Superintendent of police (SP-headquarters), Jagjit Singh Walia, said, We are ensuring the seizure of those all drug peddlers who are caught with commercial quantity of heroin.

Earlier in March, the police had seized around six marriage palaces after finding their owners involvement in drug peddling.
Rating: 4/5

Lets just start off saying that a series like Unorthodox on Netflix isnt one of your typical shows. Its a change from all the feel-good series one has been watching during the lockdown, because come on, how much of that over and over again can one take?

Based on a true story and adapted from Deborah Feldmans 2012 memoir Unorthodox: The Scandalous Rejection of My Hasidic Roots, the Netflix mini-series is a four-episode Yiddish one, that shows Esther Shapiro (played by Shira Haas), aka Esty, who leaves behind her extremely conservative Hasidic Jewish community to secure a life for herself in Berlin.

Shes a 19-year-old girl who has been trained from the very beginning that women are to be a certain way (read: get married, make plenty of babies and serve their man) and she was happy to do it all because she didnt know any better. It was only when she actually realised how unfair the whole system was to women that she decided to put an end to it.

She took the help of her ex-piano teacher (she has to quit because her new husband did not approve) to apply for German citizenship and fled to Berlin.

There she meets a group of music students who are hip, fashionable and too modern to anything shes ever seen. In fact, everything she experienced after her escapade was completely new to her and she embraces it all without any problem.

From shopping for jeans and realising she could show off her legs (her community required women to dress a certain way and stockings were a must), walking around without her well-maintained wig (it was customary for women to shave off their head after marriage and wear a wig at all time) to going to a club and dancing (in the presence of other men).

Etsy is shown to be vulnerable but shes not. She believes in feminism even though shes never had a chance to experience it.

In between all her exploration of her new self, her husband Yanky Shapiro (played by Amit Rahav) and cousin Moishe Lefkovitch (Jeff Wilbusch) have come to take pregnant Etsy back to New York, following the command of their rabbi.

When given a choice to either kill herself with a gun or come back to her traditional set-up, she stands her ground and auditions to join the music school her new friends are a part of.

In Berlin, she finds self-love, freedom and a voice that she longed for.

The series is thought-provoking, eerie, happy and powerful. It does not enforce the idea that religion/faith is bad; it just tells you that things dont always have to be the way it has been followed for generations, that its okay to let go once in a while, and that its okay to love.

Unfortunately, there wont be a part two for this mini-series.
It is a popular belief that if you ask any bachelor about his dream foreign destination, theres maximum probability that the answer would be Bangkok. But contrary to this, fact remains that its not just bachelors who long to visit the Thai capital, which has earned the reputation of being a paradise for those seeking fun and frolic during an international outing. And it becomes even more interesting when the one visiting Bangkok is a middle class Indian and on his first visit to a foreign land.

Such is the case with Bhai Sahab, the protagonist of Kahanikaar Sudhanshu Rais hilarious Hindi short story  Bhai Sahab Chale Bangkok. Being a simple teacher from Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh, it was a dream come true for him when father of one of his students gifted him a return ticket to Pattaya and Bangkok. The news of Bhai Sahabs scheduled visit to Thailand spread in the vicinity like a wildfire and soon became the talk of the town. But the changed looks and responses from the neighbours was something that kept him bewildered. Unfazed by it, Bhai Sahab chose to brush them aside as jealousy due to the opportunity showered upon him.

The real fun begins when the narrator of the story, Dabloo, met Bhai Sahab outside the airport in Bangkok when he was indulged in an argument with cops. And thus began the roller-coaster joyride of Bhai Sahab along with Dabloo, Mantu, Vicky and Chintu. The journey was full of hilarious moments, triggered mostly by the innocence of the protagonist. One thing that kept bothering Bhai Sahab throughout the trip was the expenditure. Miser that he was, he even refrained from going inside a temple citing the entry fee. But towards the end of the story, the miser turned out be a man with a golden heart.

Today when we cant even venture out of our doorstep, the story by Kahanikaar Sudhanshu Rai not just tickles our funny bone but also takes us through the foreign land and creates the imagery of the streets of Bangkok. The first journey of Bhai Sahab in the land outside motherland and from being a miser to one with a golden heart can be experienced when one listens to the tale.

Listen to the full story:

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A young lady has taken to Twitter to reveal why she is ending her 3-year-old marriage.

According to the lady, her husband had cheated on her during a business trip and in the process impregnated the woman.

Read Also: Dubai Suspends Marriage And Divorce Filings To Curb Spread Of COVID-19

Filing for my divorce soon, my husband of 3 yrs told me he cheated out of temptation on a business trip behind my back & ended up getting somebody pregnant. Now hes convicted, low in spirits, and depressed. Im leaving him in the dust. I enjoyed our marriage, he messed it up
Nokian Tyres plans to reopen its Dayton factory on Monday, May 4, with some employees returning on Monday.

Officials said, "We are launching this phased reopening process after closely monitoring local and federal guidelines, and in light of recent actions taken by the State of Tennessee to begin reopening the states economy. This marks the conclusion of a shutdown that began Friday, March 27.

"Nokian Tyres manufactures supplies that are vital to the transportation industry, which has been deemed essential by the state and federal governments.

Given the importance of that industry and out of a desire to provide stability for our employees, we feel it is important to reopen the factory at this time.

"We would not reopen the factory unless we were confident we could do our part to provide a safe working environment for our team. Our employees safety is a top priority. To that end, we will continue taking aggressive steps to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 at the factory."

Measures include:
In Maryland, so many callers flooded a health hotline with questions that the states Emergency Management Agency had to issue a warning that under no circumstances should any disinfectant be taken to treat the coronavirus. In Washington State, officials urged people not to consume laundry detergent capsules. Across the country on Friday, health professionals sounded the alarm. Injecting bleach or highly concentrated rubbing alcohol causes massive organ damage and the blood cells in the body to basically burst, Dr. Diane P. Calello, the medical ...
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, April 25, 2020 13:07 627 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd4346b9 1 Lifestyle Hari-Belanja-Brand-Lokal,shopping,online-shopping,micro-small-medium-enterprises,UMKM,local-brands Free

The first edition of Local Brands Shopping Day ( HBBL) is being held online until April 27.

Achmad Alkatiri, coinitiator of HBBL, said the online sales event featured more than 1,000 local brands in different categories, including beauty and fashion.

As many as 1,152 local brands are taking part in the event, Achmad said in a statement. Each offer interesting promotions  even discounts of up to 50 percent.

Brands in the event include Ria Miranda, Damn! I Love Indonesia, Torch, Brodo, Buttonscarves, Wearstatusquo, Berrybenka, This Is April and Suqma. Alongside discounts, a number of brands are also offering shopping vouchers and free delivery.

Customers can visit the brands official websites or visit HBBLs website to find out more about the promotions.

Read also: Big Bad Wolf to hold online book sale on Tokopedia

Pandu Rosadi, managing director Ria Miranda brand and coinitiator of HBBL, said the brands were also raising funds to help the fight against COVID-19. We're raising funds to produce personal protective gear and face masks for those who need them, Pandu said.

HBBL is initiated by local brands, namely Brodo, Torch, Ria Miranda, Cottonink, Monomom, Wearstatusquo, Sabine and Heem, Motiviga, Sparse Label, Soleram and Nona. The event aims to support the brands, including micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME), which have been hardly hit by the health crisis. Various brands have reported a 50 percent decrease in sales.

Now is a crucial time for us to unite and support each other. This initiative is more than just offering promotions to customers, it shows solidarity among local brands, Achmad said.

Brand registration for HBBL opened in early April for brands. In three days, 476 brands have registered, with 68 percent of them coming from the fashion sector. (wir/wng)
There are woodlands, marshes and miles of pristine beach and dunes that bring wildlife and tourists  especially each July when the ponies are herded across the channel between Assateague and Chincoteague islands and the foals are auctioned off to support the fire department and keep the herd size at about 150 ponies. Puddles of fresh water that attract migratory species of birds can get as hot as 100 degrees during the summer.
A 57-year-old head constable undergoing treatment at BYL Nair Hospital for Covid-19 died on Saturday, Manjunath Singe, deputy commissioner of police, zone 8, said.

Pranaya Ashok, deputy commissioner of police (operation), and spokesperson for Mumbai Police, said this is the first case of death among the citys police personnel. Ashok also said that until Saturday, 40 police personnel in Mumbai have been tested positive for coronavirus and are undergoing treatment at various hospitals.

According to the police, the head constable was attached to Vakola police station and was a resident of Prem Nagar Colony at Worli Naka. On April 22, he was admitted to Nair Hospital after he developed symptoms of coronavirus and began feeling uneasy. He was tested positive for coronavirus based on a swab test and was undergoing treatment. His condition however, worsened over the days, after which he was put on ventilator. On Saturday at 3.30pm, he was declared dead by the hospital, said an officer, who did not wished to be named.

It has not yet been established how he had contracted the infection, the officer added. Another police constable who was a close contact of the 57-year-old head constable had also been tested positive for coronavirus some days ago and has been undergoing treatment at Jogeshwaris Trauma Care Hospital.

Kailash Avhad, senior inspector of Vakola police station said, We have identified four more constables who were close contacts of the head constable and have asked them to remain in home quarantine.

The Mumbai Police has the highest number of cases of the total 96 cases reported in all the police departments in Maharashtra. Owing to the high number of cases, Mumbai Police has decided that police personnel with comorbidities and other health issues will not be posted at containment zones, where the chances of them getting infected by the virus are relatively higher.

We are avoiding the deployment of older and physically weak in front-line areas, Ashok said.
CLEVELAND, Ohio - Here's a roundup of coronavirus numbers and facts regarding Cleveland, Ohio and the rest of the world:

April 18: In New York, more than 660 members of the fire department are reported to have coronavirus.

April 19: The state's figures show Marion and Franklin counties have overtaken Cuyahoga County in the number of confirmed coronavirus cases.

April 20: Gov. Mike DeWine says K-12 schools will be closed for rest of the year. Ohio's death toll rises past 500. Nearly 13,000 people in the state are infected. In Cleveland, 24 cases are reported, bringing the citys total to 447 confirmed cases. There have been 13 deaths in Cleveland. Death count from the virus in Italy goes down for the first time.

April 21: The state reports 557 Ohioans have died from the virus, with five of the deaths coming in Cleveland - the most of any day since the pandemic began. Death toll in Cuyahoga County climbs to 69, the countys largest single-day increase in April. Ohio extends all state-issued drivers licenses until either 90 days after the states current declaration of emergency ends, or until Tuesday, Dec. 1, whichever comes first. WalletHub, a personal-finance website that breaks down Americans spending habits on a variety of topics, says nearly 160 million Americans are less than three months away from running out of money. The nations largest-known coronavirus hotspot isnt in New York; its in Marion Correctional Institution, a prison about 50 miles north of Columbus. So far, 2,011 inmates - more than 80 percent of the population prison - have tested positive. Donald Kennedy - former president of Stanford and editor of Science magazine - dies of coronavirus. He was 88.

April 22: DeWine asks Ohios hospitals and doctors to review any elective surgeries postponed amid the pandemic so they can start resuming those procedures. The state health department says 610 people have died of coronavirus. Two more Clevelanders have died. The city now has recorded 20 deaths resulting from the virus. Akron announced it is canceling all concerts and festivals at Lock 3 this summer, rescheduling them for 2021.

April 23: University Hospitals, citing a decline in emergency-room visits because of the pandemic, says it will temporarily close several ERs in Northeast Ohio to save costs. So far, 656 Ohioans have died of coronavirus, and nearly 14,700 have been infected. Another Clevelander dies from coronavirus, and the city is notified of 34 new cases - the most for any single day. The House of Representatives approves a $480 billion package for a small-businesses loan program. Experts warn against ingesting disinfectants, after President Trump suggests the possibility of injecting chemicals as a way to fight coronavirus.

April 24: National death toll is approaching 50,000. Today is the day Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp says his state will allow nail salons, massage therapists, bowling alleys and gyms to open, and in-person church services also can start again. President Trump says he was being sarcastic about Thursdays suggestion regarding the possibility of considering injecting chemicals.

Previous coverage Coronavirus timeline: Restrictions mount throughout Northeast Ohio

Coronavirus timeline March 21-27

Coronavirus timeline March 28-April 3

Coronavirus timeline April 4-10

Coronavirus timeline April 11-17

I cover food, beer, wine and sports-related topics. If you want to see my stories, heres a directory on cleveland.com.
JD(S) MLC KT Srikante Gowda, his son and three others were booked on Saturday for allegedly trying to obstruct a coronavirus test organised for journalists near his residence at Mandya in Karnataka

Bengaluru: JD(S) MLC KT Srikante Gowda, his son and three others were booked on Saturday for allegedly trying to obstruct a COVID-19 test organised for journalists at Mandya and man-handling media persons.

Gowda, his son Krishik and the others strongly objected to conducting COVID-19 test at Ambedkar Bhavan near his residence at Mandya, during which journalists were allegedly manhandled, leading to chaos, police said.

On the directive of the state government, the district administration, along with the Department of Information and Public Relations, had jointly organised the tests for journalists in the district.

The MLC expressed fears that the virus may spread in the locality where his house located as swab samples were being collected there, police said.

He also questioned why the venue was chosen.

The JD(S) MLC and others allegedly abused the officials and personnel deployed there, which the journalists strongly objected to.

This led to a minor scuffle, during which Krishik allegedly manhandled some journalists, police said.

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Following this Krishik was detained.

Police have registered an FIR against Gowda, his son and the the others under various sections of IPC and the Disaster Management Act-2005, officials said.
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Tripura government on Friday ordered a probe into allegations of embezzlement of state funds to purchase kits to prevent coronavirus disease (Covid-19) outbreak, as alleged by former health minister and sitting Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lawmaker Sudip Roy Barman, and urged a two-member panel to submit its report at the earliest.

Barmans allegations have also led to the removal of Dr. Debasish Basu, secretary, state health department, and Aditi Majumdar, director, National Health Mission, Tripura, from their current positions.

Two state government secretaries --- Tanushree Debbarma and Kiran Gitte --- have been entrusted with the responsibility to conduct the investigation into the alleged embezzlement estimated to be around 39.28 lakh.

Weve heard of the allegations about the misappropriation of funds. Our government has formed a two-member inquiry committee to investigate the matter and itll submit the report soon, state law minister Ratan Lal Nath told media persons.

Earlier, Roy Barman had alleged that a section of government officials are taking advantage of Covid-19 pandemic to line their pockets with ill-gotten wealth. He also alleged that the state health department authorities failed to make necessary data entry related to the stock of Covid-19 kits that have been received from government and private entities and also public sector undertakings.

Such items have been misplaced and also sold in the open market by a few health professionals in connivance with others, Roy Barman, who was stripped off the health portfolio in 2019 for his alleged involvement in anti-party activities, alleged. State chief minister Biplab Kumar Deb is holding the additional charge of the health portfolio.

Roy Barman has written a letter to the CM, drawing his attention to the alleged embezzlement. When the entire world has come together to fight Covid-19 -- the invisible and vicious enemy  when the Centre and other state governments have pledged to fight this common enemy together when our countrymen are generously donating in Prime Ministers Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations (PM CARES) Fund and CM relief funds during the topsy-turvy situation, its frustrating to see a section of officials are hand-in-glove with some nefarious traders to take advantage of this precarious situation in making money, he wrote in his letter to the CM.

Roy Barman has alleged that an additional 5.45 lakh was paid for the supply of 5,000 hand sanitiser bottles amid the ongoing nationwide lockdown restrictions, which have been imposed from March 25 to May 3, to contain the spread of Covid-19 outbreak.

The former health minister pointed out in the letter that the Central government has assigned a fixed rate for hand sanitisers ... not more than 100 per bottle of 200 milliliters (ml) and the prices of other quantities shall be fixed in the proportion of these prices.

The state NHM director placed an order of hand sanitisers, priced at 359 each for a 500-ml bottle, inclusive of Goods and Service Tax (GST), despite the Centres stipulated guidelines, he alleged.
Deon Lendore's journey to the top has been nothing short of inspirational. Apart from his ex
NEW DELHI: A few days after sealing the Delhi-Noida border to stop the spike in coronavirus COVID-19 cases, the District Magistrate of Gautam Buddh Nagar on Friday evening lifted the ban imposed on the movement of doctors and other para medical staff across the Delhi-Noida border.

In his tweet DM Suhas LY wrote: "It is clarified that movement of following medical personnel is allowed between Delhi and Noida as per exemption provision number 1 in the border closure order 21/4/2020 . We salute the corona warriors for their continuous effort, and request you to Stay Home Stay Safe."

The tweet clarified that doctors and paramedics who have COVID-19 duty passes issued by Govt Of India, Govt Of Delhi and Govt Of UP can be allowed to pass across the border.

Another exemption is if the vehicle bears a COVID-19 pass issued by the Govt of India/Delhi/UP, then ID card issued by the concerned hospital/Government organisation shall be sufficient to allow access for such workers.

Also, those working in medical Institutions like AIIMS, Safdarganj,RML, Military Hospital are also allowed under this provision.

It is clarified that movement of following medical personnel is allowed between Delhi n Noida as per exemption provision number 1 in the border closure order 21/4/2020

We salute the corona warriors for their continuous effort, and request you to Stay Home Stay Safe -DM and CP pic.twitter.com/ElXfI3krfe  DM G.B. Nagar (@dmgbnagar) April 24, 2020

On April 21, the Delhi-Noida border was completely sealed and only persons who were issued special passes were being permitted to move across the border. A spike in COVID-19 cases was cited as the reason for the decision.

The order had stated that most patients who had tested positive, had had some connections with Delhi, according to a report submitted by the doctors.

Meanwhile, the number of positive cases in Noida and Greater Noida has crossed over 100 with as many as 28 hotspots.
The Muslim holy month of Ramadan is a time for giving, with mosques and charities feeding thousands, but coronavirus has left many in the 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. He 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 don't know how we will cope," he added. So far, there have been 17 officially declared cases of coronavirus in the Gaza Strip, an enclave of roughly two million people. That's partly due to rapid measures taken by the local government, run by Islamist group Hamas, which has announced all mosques will remain closed throughout the holy month. Large public prayer gatherings will be banned, with people told to stay at home. Gaza's population is almost exclusively Muslim. During Ramadan, the faithful refrain from consuming food and even water during the day, breaking their fast at sunset with family and in large groups. Mosques and other charitable organisations feed thousands of poor people during the month, while individuals often give large sums of money to help the impoverished -- a donation known as zakat. But this year in the strip, large public meals are banned and no concrete announcements have been made about alternate arrangements. Donations are expected to be down due to the global economic crisis brought on by the coronavirus pandemic. Hamas announced this week it was giving $100 to 5,000 poor families in the strip ahead of Ramadan. Jibril's was not among them. He receives around 1,800 shekels ($500) every four months from the local ministry of social affairs. "It isn't enough to pay the electricity, water and gas bills, a well as the food and drinks, and medicine for when the kids are sick," he said. The family has no detergents or sterilisers. A small bar of soap on a broken sink is all they have to keep their home clean. Umm Mohammed, Jibril's wife, said she couldn't remember when they last had enough money to buy meat. "Corona(virus) is worse than a war," she said. Around 80 percent of the strip's residents rely on aid, according to the United Nations. Fifty-year-old father of seven Abdullah al-Omreen used to earn a meagre living selling fruit and vegetables in central Gaza, but is now unemployed. During Ramadan, "we receive alms from the rich and they also provide us meals daily. But this year the whole situation is different," he said. "It will be difficult for everyone. I am afraid no one will give us anything." The coronavirus crisis has increased calls for Israel to lift its crippling, almost 13-year-long blockade of the enclave that it insists is necessary to isolate Hamas. The Islamist group has fought three wars with Israel since 2008. The mood might be dampened, but many Gazans are still getting into the Ramadan spirit, putting up decorations on the front of their homes. "Despite the difficult economic situation due to the coronavirus, we decorate our homes with Ramadan lanterns," said Moeen Abbas, owner of an ice cream shop. "We want our children to feel the atmosphere of the holy month."
This July, Instagram will celebrate its 10 birthday! Over the past decade, IG has grown into one of the largest and most influential social media sites on the planet, boasting over a billion active users worldwide. However, the sites road to modern ubiquity has not always been a smooth one. The companys sale to Facebook, for example, left early backer Jack Dorsey feeling betrayed and new owner Mark Zuckerberg second guessing himself at the prospect that his new acquisition would outshine the company that bought it.

But even during Instagrams halcyon days, founders Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger faced daunting challenges. Like what to name their fledgling company (since sticking with Codename simply wouldnt fly), what the program should actually do and, once those were decided, how to set the app apart from its competition. In the excerpt from No Filter: The Inside Story of Instagram below, author Sarah Frier recounts just how Systrom and Krieger hit upon the idea of offering stylish filters to their users, enabling even neophyte photographers to produce professional-quality pictures.

No Filter cover art large

From NO FILTER: The Inside Story of Instagram by Sarah Frier. Copyright  2020 by Sarah Frier. Reprinted by permission of Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved.

The founders took over a whiteboard in one of the Dogpatch Labs conference rooms and had a brainstorming session that would serve as the foundation for their entire leadership philosophy: to ask first what problem they were solving, and then to try and solve it in the simplest way possible.

Krieger and Systrom started the exercise by making a list of the top three things people liked about Burbn. One was Plans, the feature where people could say where they were going so friends could join them. Another was photos. The third was a tool to win meaningless virtual prizes for your activity, which was mostly a gimmick to get people to log back in.

Not everybody needed plans or prizes. Systrom circled photos. Photos, they decided, were ubiquitous, useful to everybody, not just young city dwellers.

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Theres something around photos, Kevin [Systrom] said. His iPhone 3G took terrible pictures, but it was only the beginning of that technology. I think there will be an inflection point where people dont carry around point-and-shoots anymore, theyre just going to carry around these phones.

Everyone with a smartphone would be an amateur photographer, if they wanted to be.

So if photos were the killer feature of the app they should build, what were the main opportunities? On the whiteboard, Systrom and Krieger brainstormed three of the top problems to solve. One, images always took forever to load on 3G cellular networks. Two, people were often embarrassed to share their low-quality phone snaps, since phones werent nearly as good as digital cameras. Three, it was annoying to have to post photos in many different places. What if they made a social network that came with an option to deliver your photos to Foursquare, Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr all at once? Playing nice with the new social giants would be easier than competing with them. Instead of having to build a network from scratch, the app could just piggyback off already-established communities.

All right, Systrom said. Lets focus on photos, and on solving these three problems. They would make it an app for iPhone only, since Krieger was better at those. Systroms argument to Dorsey, that the trendy HTML5 coding language would be a helpful differentiator in the marketplace, turned out to be wrong. They would have to make the app useful first, and add Android later, if they were lucky enough to become that popular.

Their first prototype was named Scotch, a relative to bourbon. It allowed people to swipe through photos horizontally and tap to like them, similar to a Tinder before its time. They used it for a few days before going back to the Burbn idea, doubting their instincts. And then they tried a new concept that would allow people to scroll through photos vertically, showing the most recent post first, like Twitter.

All of the photos would use as few pixels as possible, so that they would load quickly, helping solve problem number oneonly 306 pixels across, the minimum required to display a photo on an iPhone with 7-pixel borders on each side. The photos would be square, giving users the same creative constraint for photography as Systroms teacher in Florence gave him. It was similar to how Twitter only let people tweet in 140-character bursts. That would help solve, but not fully solve, problem number two.

There were two different kinds of social networks one could build the Facebook kind, where people become mutual friends with each other, or the Twitter kind, where people follow others they dont necessarily know. They thought the latter would be more fun for photos, because then people could follow based on interests, not just friendship.

Displaying Followers and Following at the top of the app, the way Twitter did, made it just competitive enough that people would need to come back to the app and check their progress. People could also like something, appending a heart, similar to Facebooks thumbs-up. Liking was much easier on this new app, because you could do it by double tapping on an entire photo instead of looking for a small button to click. And unlike on Twitter and Facebook, nobody on this new app needed to come up with anything clever to say. They simply had to post a photo of what they were seeing around them.

If Systrom and Krieger wanted to fully copy Twitters concepts, it would be obvious, at this point, to add a reshare button, to help content go viral like the retweet did. But the founders hesitated. If what people were sharing on this app was photography, would it make sense to allow them to share other peoples art and experiences under their own names? Maybe. But in the interest of starting simple, they decided not to think about it until post-launch.

They picked a logoa version of a white Polaroid camera. But what to call it? The vowel-less alcohol theme was getting to be too cute. Something like Whsky wouldnt necessarily explain what the app was for. So they tabled the discussion, calling it Codename.

Soon after, Systrom and the girlfriend who would become his wife, Nicole Schuetz, whom hed met at Stanford, went on a short vacation to a village in Baja California Sur, Mexico, called Todos Santos, with picturesque white sand beaches and cobblestone streets. During one of their ocean walks, she warned him that she probably wouldnt be using his new app. None of her smartphone photos were ever goodnot as good as their friend Hochmuths were, at least.

You know what he does to those photos, right? Systrom said.

He just takes good photos, she said.

No, no, he puts them through filter apps, Systrom explained. Phone cameras produced blurry images that were badly lit. It was like everyone who was buying a smartphone was getting the digital equivalent of the tiny plastic camera Systrom used in Florence. The filter apps allowed users to take an approach similar to that of Systroms professor, altering photos after they were captured to make them look more artsy. You didnt have to actually be a good photographer. Hipstamatic, with which you could make your photos look oversaturated, blurred, or hipster vintage, would be named Apples app of the year in 2010. Camera+, another editing app, was another one of the most popular.

Well, you guys should probably have filters too, Schuetz said.

Systrom realized she was right. If people were going to filter their photos anyway, might as well have them do it right within the app, competition be damned.

Back at the hotel, he researched online about how to code filters. He played around on Photoshop to create the style he wantedsome heavy shadow and contrast, as well as some shading around the edges of the image for a vignette effect. Then, sitting on one of the outdoor lounge chairs with a beer beside him and his laptop open, he set about writing it into reality.

He called the filter X-Pro II, a nod to the analog photo development technique called cross-processing, in which photographers intentionally use a chemical meant for a different type of film.

Soon after, he tested his work on a photo he took of a sandy-colored dog he came across in front of a taco stand. The dog is looking up at Schuetz, whose sandaled foot appears in the corner of the shot. And that, on July 16, 2010, was the first-ever photo posted on the app that would become Instagram.
Books have long been a tool for helping children understand their world and calm their fears, especially in times of crisis. As families seek out ways to discuss the current coronavirus pandemic and encourage kids to embrace more vigilant hygiene practices, they can now turn to a title from popular British illustrator Tony Ross. On April 28, Putnam will release the U.S. edition of Rosss I Dont Want to Wash My Hands! as an e-book and a downloadable audiobook narrated by Zehra Naqvi, followed by a trade paperback edition publishing on June 2. Jen Klonsky, president and publisher of Putnam Books for Young Readers, made the deal for North American print, audio, and e-book rights with Liz White at Andersen Press.

Rosss picture book was originally published by Andersen Press in the U.K. in 2001 as part of his series starring the Little Princess. In I Dont Want to Wash My Hands! the Little Princess questions why she needs to wash her hands after playing outside or using the bathroom, and learns that doing so is the best way to be rid of germs and nasties that can cause illness. Over the past two months, Andersen Press has experienced unprecedented demand for the book and has seen sales increase more than 2,000%.

Whats happening in our world right now is difficult for any of us to process, and much more so for the youngest readers, Klonsky said in a statement announcing the project. We hope Tonys book gives caregivers another way to explain the importance of hand washing while also laughing with their children over the read.

Ross has been surprised and pleased about his books second life after its initial publication nearly 20 years ago. When I first wrote the story, it was about cleanliness at mealtimes, he said in a statement. Never in a million years did I think wed be in the public health crisis we are in and that people would be reading the book in this way! I just hope that it can help, and that all the little princesses and princes out there learn to wash their hands!
APORO, Mexico  The money would arrive like clockwork: $300 every couple of weeks, sent by her husband, a day laborer and undocumented immigrant living in Indianapolis.

It was the only source of income for Maria Alejandre and six other family members in Aporo, a small town in the western Mexican state of Michoacan.

But more than four weeks have gone by since Ms. Alejandres husband last sent money, and with his work opportunities drying up amid the coronavirus pandemic, Ms. Alejandre is deeply worried.

If the economy gets any more difficult, she said, well, we dont know how were going to eat.

The pandemic  and government measures to combat it  are snapping financial lifelines around the world. As millions of workers in the United States and elsewhere see their hours cut or lose their jobs entirely, many are no longer able to send money to relatives and friends back home who depend on these remittances to survive.
Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchans Marathi debut AB Aani CD saw a one-day run in theatres before cinema halls were closed on March 14 because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Producer Akshay Bardapurkar has now agreed to a an early digital release on May 1, given the extension of the lockdown. However, Akshay claims that if cinema halls open after May 3, the film will also get a theatrical release.

Akshay told Mid Day in an interview, Multiplex chains like PVR and Inox [have suggested] that they dont see [theatres] opening before September. Ours is a Marathi film, and Maharashtra [which is our biggest market] is severely affected [by the pandemic]. How much longer can we wait? If operations resume after May 3, we will release it in cinema halls anyway.

Also read: Neena Gupta asks why women are expected to be perfect: Women never have gas, acidity, they do not burp

He further told the tabloid, We lost box-office [of about Rs 5 crore, and another crore on advertising. The earnings (from digital rights) were to be a bonus; now, its a saviour.

Amitabh will be seen alongside theatre personality Vikram Gokhale in the film, directed and penned by Milind Lele. The 76-year-old actor will be playing himself in the film. Amitabh and Vikram have worked together in several films, including Khuda Gawah and Agneepath.

In the film, Amitabh and Vikram will be seen as childhood friends. They both start their journey together. Bachchan sir and Ghokale sir are school friends and they meet almost after 70 years for a birthday party, Akshay had earlier said in a press statement. He added, AB stands for Amitabh Bachchan and CD for Gokhales character, who is called Chandrakant Deshpande.

Meanwhile, Amitabh has Ayan Mukerjis much-delayed Brahmastra that features Ranbir Kapoor,Alia Bhatt, Mouni Roy and Nagarjuna. He will also be seen in Sairat fame Nagraj Manjules Hindi directorial debut, Jhund, and Shoojit Sircars family comedy, titled Gulabo Sitabo, in which Amitabh will be seen as the eccentric landlord of Ayushmann Khurranas character.

Follow @htshowbiz for more

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New Delhi, April 25 : A month after the imposition of the nationwide lockdown to check the spread of coronavirus, a high-level Group of Ministers (GoM) was on Saturday apprised that as of now, the death rate is around 3.1 per cent while the recovery rate is more than 20 per cent, which is comparatively better when compared to most of the other countries.

In the past few days, many senior officials have reiterated that the Covid-19 disease is under control, given the rate of doubling of cases, which has increased from 3 days to 9.1 days within a month.

Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan claimed that India has been saved from entering the Stage 3.

These recent statements, coupled with the Centre's recent decision to open shops with limited manpower, indicate a strong sense of confidence of having pulled the brakes on the spread of the infection.

The 13th meeting of the high-level Group of Ministers (GoM) on Covid-19 was held under the chairpersonship of Harsh Vardhan. The meeting was also attended by Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep S. Puri, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and other senior government functionaries.

The GoM was informed that the improved recovery rate coupled with 3.1 per cent mortality rate may be taken as a positive effect of the lockdown in the country, along with the cluster management and containment strategy.

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has also consistently maintained that India is not lagging behind in testing, and after having conducted over 5 lakh tests, the rate of positive cases is nearly 4.5 per cent, which has remained unchanged from before the imposition of the lockdown.

V.K. Paul, Chairman of the Empowered Group 1, said, "The country's testing strategy has stood the test of time, and the volume of testing has been adequate; despite increase in testing, proportion of positive cases has not increased. There's no need to fear the hidden spike in cases, the disease is under control." Sujeet Kumar, Director, National Centre for Disease Control, said, "We had started our surveillance mechanism even before the first Covid-19 case was reported in India; this played an important role in helping us contain the spread of the infection."

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Striving to care for the communities where it operates, Hongkong Land has been making medical donations across all the cities it operates in, starting from Wuhan, China to these latest donations here in Vietnam.

Hongkong Land donates ventilators and protective clothing to combat COVID-19

This donation is part of a wider effort in which the Jardine Group (the majority shareholder of Hongkong Land) has donated equipment to Cho Ray hospital and the Children's Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City and whose restaurants have been gifting contributing drinks and meals to frontline medical and support staff.

The company is appreciative of the governments swift actions in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, said a representative of Hongkong Land Vietnam.

In addition, we are thankful to all frontliners for their huge contributions and sacrifices," the representative added. "As a socially responsible company operating in Vietnam, this contribution is our support to the battle against this pandemic. Together, we are looking forward to brighter days ahead."

Cao Thi Ly Anh, general director of Doan Ket International Co., Ltd. (a joint venture between Hongkong Land, Chan Hung Investment Development Co., Ltd., and Manolis & Company Asia Ltd. to operate the Central Building high-end office building and 63 Ly Thai To, a high-end office building in Hanoi) said that not only is Hongkong Land trying to contribute to the wider medical effort but all subsidiaries have been proactively engaging their staff to mobilise cash contributions to the COVID-19 fund, keep morale high by starting a poetry competition which has brought laughter and fun during these serious times, directing all hands on deck to follow instructions and guidance on the prevention and containment of the pandemic.
Richard Hake, a WNYC news host, reporter and producer for the past 28 years, died on Friday at his home in Manhattan. He was 51.

Goli Sheikholeslami, the chief executive of WNYC, confirmed the death on Saturday. A cause of death was not yet known.

For all of us at New York Public Radio and in WNYCs listening community, Richard was one of the first voices we heard every morning, Ms. Sheikholeslami said, adding that he loved to say he woke up New York.

Mr. Hake produced and created live radio feature segments for WNYC that focused on breaking news, culture and artistic sound portraits.
WOOD RIVER  Madison County has confirmed clusters in several long-term care facilities.

Coronavirus is in our communities, Director of Madison County Health Department Toni Corona said. The groups of people most affected are, individuals over 60 years old, individuals with severe chronic medical conditions and individuals who are over 60 with severe chronic medical conditions.

Corona said during the past several weeks, Madison County has identified clusters of COVID-19 outbreak among residents at three congregate settings. These outbreaks have included: one facility with one resident testing positive and one case contact positive; one facility with 11 residents testing positive; and one facility with 54 residents testing positive including 12 residents who have died.

Our hearts are heavy for each life lost and for each person who suffers from this virus, Corona said.

Fridays announcement came as a large increase in reported cases were noted by the Illinois Department of Public Health, as noted by ZIP codes, in the Edwardsville and Glen Carbon areas.

Both areas showed dramatic increases in the number of positive cases since Monday. During that same time period, the number of COVID-19 related deaths in Madison County rose from eight to 15.

Madison County does not identify individual facilities, but the Illinois Department of Public Health has a daily update on COVID-19 outbreaks at long-term care facilities throughout the state.

The latest update, released on Friday afternoon by the Illinois Department of Public Health on its website at https://www.dph.illinois.gov/covid19/long-term-care-facility-outbreaks-covid-19, lists 47 reported cases and 10 deaths at Edwardsville Care Center and four reported cases and no deaths at Eden Village.

A spokesperson for Edwardsville Care Center, located at 401 St. Marys Drive, declined comment. A representative at Eden Village was unable to respond by Friday afternoon.

On Thursday, Stearns Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Granite City was listed as having two reported cases and no deaths, but it was not listed on the updated IDPH statistics released on Friday afternoon.

IDPH updates this website once per week. Data is provisional and subject to change.

The numbers from Madison County are larger because there is usually a lag of one or two days between the county posting its numbers and those statistics being posted by the IDPH.

Facilities are working with the health department to mitigate the situation and control exposure by screening and testing residents, providing infection control and outbreak management guidance, ensuring cleaning and disinfecting standards, ensure proper use of PPE and healthy hygiene practices, notify staff and residents, conduct contact tracing investigations, and adhere to infection control and disease outbreak guidelines.

The staff at these facilities are essential workers who also have families and still need to use essential services, Corona said. When the public is not abiding by the guidelines, it not only puts that person at risk and the staff at the essential service but also others who are there as well who may work in a hospital or long-term care facility.

Corona said she understands that it is a sacrifice and a challenge to live within the Shelter in Place Order and to restrict going out unless necessary.

It is absolutely vital that our community remembers that this virus spreads easily and continuing to follow the guidelines will help impact the health of our county, Corona said.

She said people should still comply with social distancing guidelines, practice healthy hygiene, and wear a mask when in public.

Reporter Scott Marion contributed to this story.
Jessica Monego got a plum promotion in early February when she was named nursing manager at Providence Portland Medical Centers emergency department.

The 41-year-old nurse didnt imagine the new job put her directly in the path of fast-approaching global pandemic.

Monegos life has been shaped by repeated instances of good timing and good luck. Her brother missed getting on one of the doomed 9/11 planes only because she was minutes late in getting him to the airport.

This time, however, Monegos timing seemed awful, even life-threatening. But she didnt hesitate. Like healthcare workers all over the state, she freely -- even eagerly -- joined the battle. Monego and her fellow nurses, doctors and clinicians put themselves into the hot zone with this mysterious new virus.

Monego worked 15 to 16 hours a day without break for much of the last seven weeks. She and her coworkers had few weapons at their disposal. COVID-19 is thus far incurable. They witnessed firsthand its frightening power to quickly overwhelm its victims.

A chronic shortage of face masks, respirators and other personal protective equipment increased the danger and the stress for all Oregon healthcare workers. At least 344 of them contracted the virus.

Some hospitals and health systems declined to implement widespread testing of employees. As the number of infected workers grew, some hospitals argued there was no evidence they were exposed at work.

For this, many got no bonuses, no hazard pay.

The frontline workers in Oregon hospitals battled COVID-19 to a standstill, largely because the predicted wave of new patients that threatened to overwhelm hospitals never materialized. Public health veterans warned that it is too early to congratulate ourselves.

Oregon appears to have had a strong first inning but it is a nine-inning game, said Dr. John Santa, a veteran physician and a member of the Oregon Health Policy Board. Coronavirus is a home run hitter who plays dirty, cheats and does everything possible to intimidate.

Indeed, the virus has jumped from the hospitals to Oregons nursing homes where it found a wealth of vulnerable targets and healthcare workers who have even less protective equipment and less training to fight it.

Santa and others worry about the mental and emotional toll on workers operating in dangerous, stressful conditions. Some nurses spoke of compassion fatigue, when sustained periods of stress and grief stress leave them numb and exhausted.

Wilfred van Gorp, a New York psychologist who counseled 9/11 first responders, said compassion fatigue is just a gateway to post-traumatic stress syndrome.

COVID-19 is quite different from 9/11, he said. This is not a one-time incident. Its ongoing. People are dropping like flies. The healthcare workers are seeing their patients die, theyre going into quarantine and isolation believing they may be infected.

Monego insists shes fine. If anything she was exhilarated at the way her staff at the Providence Portland emergency room performed under considerable pressure. Now, to her surprise, she and her fellow nurses are being celebrated. They are to the pandemic as the first responders were to 9/11.

Its been an amazing outpouring of support, Monego said. I think we feel a little bit guilty about being called heroes. As a longtime emergency room nurse, this is just what I do, what we do. Anybody working inside a hospital right now is a hero.

Its a vicious disease

Tiffany Simmons watched the struggling patient with a helpless feeling.

The nurse at St. Charles Medical Center in Bend had learned firsthand that against the new killer virus sweeping the globe, modern medicine has no answer.

Tiffany Simmons, a nurse at St. Charles Medical Center in Bend, shown here outfitted in personal protective equipment.

Theres no cure, theres no real medication we can give, Simmons said. It was a rapid decline in a couple hours.

As Simmons 12-hour shift came to an end she leaned close to her patient, who was trying to speak. Please, the patient said, bring the chaplain.

Later, the patient was wheeled to the St. Charles intensive care unit. Simmons never saw her again.

It was back in February that Simmons, 42, learned her unit would become a dedicated COVID-19 ward. All the units existing patients were moved to other hospitals or other floors. The nurses werent consulted.

It was a little bit unsettling, said Simmons, a member of the Oregon Nurses Association. But its not like its a democracy.

Soon there were 25 new patients in her unit. Simmons and her coworkers marveled at the unpredictability of the disease. To some, it was no worse than the common cold. For others it was a quick death sentence.

COVID-19 impacts the human body in so many different ways science is at a loss to explain it. The virus first attacks the lungs, like pneumonia. But it also can damage the heart, kidney and gut.

Some patients develop seizures and confusion, convincing researchers the virus also impacts the brain. It can even cause the immune system to go out of control and begin destroying normal healthy cells.

There's no middle ground with COVID, said Chris Bartlett, a nursing leader in the adult critical care and acute care unit at OHSUs hospital. When it hits their lungs, they have to be intubated. They can go from lucid to full total support in an hour. Its a vicious disease.

Even veteran healthcare workers hardened by years in emergency medicine were taken aback.

There was a lot of fear, Simmons said. Just seeing what the virus can do to people. The speed. I've never seen anything like it.

Homemade protections

Contributing to the fear were nagging issues with personal protective equipment.

Hospitals had nominal reserves. It wasnt their fault, they pleaded. Much of the worlds personal protective equipment, PPE, was made in China. When factories there shut down, supplies here dried up.

Workers felt they received little sympathy. Their employers are giant health systems that bring in millions or billions in annual revenue.

Many grew more suspicious when public health officials changed their guidance about how COVID-19 spread, essentially making the PPE requirements less strenuous.

People didnt accept that easily, there was definitely some push back, said Bartlett, the OHSU nurse. Were we emphasizing PPE conservation over the protection and safety of our front lines?

Healthcare workers were told to reuse respirators and other protective equipment for entire days, and even weeks, gear designed to be disposed of after a single use. Some hospitals required workers to clean their own safety equipment.

Nurses improvised. Some wore ski and swim goggles. Simmons, the nurse in Bend, got precious N95 respirators from friends in the construction and architecture fields. She bought her own goggles and a Tyvek protective suit to serve as a gown.

Home seamstresses and community groups began sewing new facemasks. Entrepreneurs and executives launched efforts to manufacture face shields and other protective gear.

Oregon OSHA, the states workplace safety agency, saw an unprecedented surge in complaints. It got 2,400 complaints in two weeks in March, more than it gets in a year normally.

Nearly all were from workers concerned about exposure to COVID-19. Healthcare generated more complaints than just about other sector. Over 30 employees from both Providence and Kaiser Permanente filed complaints.

Santa, the physician and state policy advisor, said it is unacceptable that hospitals were caught flatfooted.

The PPE shortage is just disgraceful, he said. Now realize we had AIDS in the 1980s, we had swine flu, we had Ebola. How can it be that pandemics and catastrophes like these are forgotten?

We dont know whats safe

COVID-19 raises important operational questions for every hospital.

Doctors fully outfitted in personal protection equipment may feel comfortable that theyre protected from the virus. But what about the people elsewhere in the hospital? What about the moms in the delivery rooms? The administrator checking in emergency room patients?

Dr. Maxine Dexter, a critical care physician at Kaiser Permanente, credits her employer for providing PPE that meets current safety standards. But COVID-19 is still so new, there is some uncertainty about whether those standards are adequate.

The fundamental problem is we dont know whats safe, Dexter said, emphasizing she was speaking only for herself. Dexter is also a candidate in the Democratic primary race for Oregon House District 33. Theres no standard of care on COVID-19. Were not even sure how it spreads.

And spread it did. COVID-19 breakouts began occurring within hospitals and nursing homes.

Seven pharmacy workers at Kaisers Westside Medical Center contracted the virus. Days later, there was another outbreak among OHSUs food service workers that infected eight.

OHSUs Bartlett spent one of her Saturdays informing 20 colleagues that they had been exposed to COVID-19. A patient treated for other issues unexpectedly tested COVID-19 positive. That forced Bartlett and others to conduct a mini-public health investigation, complete with contact tracing, to figure out who among OHSUs staff had been involved in his care.

The largest breakout to date came earlier this month at Healthcare at Foster Creek, a Southeast Portland nursing home. Fifty residents are COVID-19 positive. Fifteen have died.

Nursing home workers generally have less access to first-rate PPE than their peers in hospitals.

According to the Oregon Health Authority, 344 health care workers in total have contracted the virus. Thats about 18% of the statewide total and more than double what it was 10 days ago.

Its an alarming number, Bruce Goldberg, who is part of Gov. Kate Browns COVID-19 advisory team, told a Thursday press conference.

Its worrisome to all of us, he said. I have family in the healthcare sector. The degree to which theyre putting themselves in danger is really, really concerning.

Ironically, its not advanced technology or even dedicated healthcare workers who turned the tide in this initial run up against COVID-19. Rather, health professionals credit the governors stay-home directive.

I would shake her hand and thank her for putting out that order, Bartlett said.

Healthcare workers interviewed for this story were nearly unanimous in urging policymakers to extend the directive.

It really humbles you to realize the most effective public health strategy is (isolation,) which dates back to the flu pandemic in 1918, Dexter said.

Longer hours, lower pay

After weeks of running full-tilt, the nurses and doctors, respiratory therapists and others who fought at the front lines are getting some much-needed rest. Bartlett, the OHSU nurse, worked 21 straight days. She typically would spend all day at the hospital, go home for dinner, and then return for most of the evening.

Christine Bartlett helped manage intensive care units at OHSU. She would work all day, go home for a quick dinner, then return to work part of the night shift.

First responders, politicians and average Joes are giving them standing ovations, singing arias from balconies and handing over food and any piece of personal protective gear they can scrounge.

Some hospitals are also trying to recognize the frontliners.

They have done some nice things, Simmons said of her employer, St. Charles. Theyre going to give bonuses of about $1,200 hospital wide, theyre calling it a hero bonus. They also are giving us half-price discounts to the hospital cafeteria.

But COVID-19 keeps dishing out the pain.

The pandemic has taken a significant toll on the finances of Oregon hospitals, essentially wiping out most of the surgery business and large parts of their traditional operations. In response, many hospitals are cutting back. OHSU announced Thursday it will reduce the compensation of about 4,500 workers due to large revenue declines in March and April.

Bartlett is among those who will be earning less.

Honestly, it was shocking, she said. Intellectually I knew there might be some fallout. Surgeries are our bread and butter. And we werent doing surgeries. I thought I might not get a raise. But I never thought Id get a big pay cut.

For Monego, with Providence Medical Center, COVID-19 had a different kind of nasty surprise.

In mid-March, when Monego found time for a couple days off, her parents came to visit from their home in Bend. As they tried to talk and maintain proper social distancing, Monegos father said he didnt feel well. He developed a fever and dry cough.

Monego had a sinking feeling. She sent her parents home the next day and urged her father to get tested for COVID-19. She went back to work, in keeping with Oregon Health Authority guidelines.

Six agonizing days later, the results arrived. He had the virus.

Few knew better the nightmarish possibilities than Monego.

Here I am building out an emergency response, and Im seeing all these worst-case scenarios, she said. I was quite scared.

But the Monego karma came through again. Like her younger brother on 9/11, her father survived. His symptoms never really progressed beyond the initial fever.

Monego wants to hug her father and her entire family, for that matter. But thats not going to happen in the foreseeable future.

We are all keeping our distance, she said. Its too risky for me to see them.
MAGAZINE

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GOP memo urges anti-China assault over coronavirus

The Senate Republican campaign arm distributed the 57-page strategy document to candidates.

Donald Trump

President Donald Trump has repeatedly touted a ban on travel from China as a key success in curbing the spread of coronavirus. | Drew Angerer/Getty Images

By ALEX ISENSTADT

04/24/2020 04:41 PM EDT

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The National Republican Senatorial Committee has sent campaigns a detailed, 57-page memo authored by a top Republican strategist advising GOP candidates to address the coronavirus crisis by aggressively attacking China.

The memo includes advice on everything from how to tie Democratic candidates to the Chinese government to how to deal with accusations of racism. It stresses three main lines of assault: That China caused the virus by covering it up, that Democrats are soft on China, and that Republicans will push for sanctions on China for its role in spreading this pandemic.

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Coronavirus was a Chinese hit-and-run followed by a cover-up that cost thousands of lives, the April 17 memo states.

The document urges candidates to stay relentlessly on message against the country when responding to any questions about the virus. When asked whether the spread of the coronavirus is Trumps fault, candidates are advised to respond by pivoting to China.

Dont defend Trump, other than the China Travel Ban  attack China, the memo states.

Republicans have indicated they plan to make China a centerpiece of the 2020 campaign. Trumps reelection campaign recently released a web video painting Joe Biden as cozy with the authoritarian country. The pro-Trump super PAC America First Action has launched several TV commercials tying Biden to China.

Advisers to the president say polling shows China-focused attacks would be effective, and the reelection campaign has weighed a major TV ad campaign focused on the topic.

The NRSC memo shows that Republicans are also eager to make China an issue in down-ballot races. It was distributed by the Senate GOP campaign arm, though it was not explicitly drafted by or for the committee. It was authored by the political consulting firm of Brett ODonnell, a veteran Republican strategist who has advised Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton.

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Jesse Hunt, an NRSC spokesman, said: We routinely send campaigns different documents and sources of information dozens of times per week. Thats the role of the party committee, especially in these volatile times.

ODonnell declined to comment.

The memo includes guidance on what Republican candidates can say when asked whether blaming China for the pandemic incites racism. Candidates are urged to respond by saying that, No one is blaming Chinese Americans. This is the fault of the Chinese Communist Party for covering up the virus and lying about its danger. This caused the pandemic and they should be held accountable.

No one has suffered more from the murderous Communist Chinese Party dictatorship than the people of China, the memo adds. We stand with them against their corrupt government that caused this pandemic.

The GOPs planned China-focused assault, however, is complicated by Trumps occasional praise for President Xi Jinping. The liberal organization American Bridge recently launched a commercial which plays a clip of the president praising Xi and declares that Trump gave China his trust.MAGAZINE
Written by ACM





*Strasbourg/Angelo Marcopolo/- The Question becomes Inevitable, after seeing the latest Astonishing Facts on alleged "links" between Deadly CoronaVirus' Spread ...and new "5G" Networks, considering the Incredibly Clumsy Way with which tried to "Refute" them someone Anonymus inside our UNO's PressNews machinery, provoking UnExpected Concerns and Bad Surprizes to Astonished, objective People, instead of ReAssuring them !

A UNO's Press Release noted that "5G Phone Masts have reportedly been damaged or Destroyed in several European Countries", "particularly ...in the UK" and related EU Member States, "including Ireland (with Obvious links to the UK), Cyprus (which hosts 2 UK Military Bases, previously affected by an UnRelated issue about Giant Antennas and Inhabitants' Health, discussed also in the CoE), and Belgium (Geographically Neighbour to the UK, and notoriously related since Waterloo Battle). This "Problem" was "underlined when a Phone Mast ..., in the major British city of Birmingham, was reportedly Set Alight in April" 2020.

- It seems that this was Due to an alleged "Theory of a Link between 5G and COVID-19", which "is a Hoax that has No technical Basis", according to an "ITU Spokesmerson", "Monika Gehner", cited by UN News.

- But, "the Latest generation of Fast Broadband, commonly known as 5G, is in No way Responsible for the Spread of the COVID-19 Virus, the International Telecommunications Union (ITU)  the UNs agency for Information and Communication technologies  Confirmed", UNO reported : - "The coronavirus is Not being Spread by Radio Waves, Gehner stressed, Denouncing such views as "a real Shame" and "False Rumours".

+ "The Scale of the Problem prompted" even "the WHO ... to Add the 5G Conspiracy to its COVID-19 <<Myth Busters>>", UNO News added, under the Headline : "5G Mobile Networks DO NOT Spread COVID-19", with 2 Arguments cited as Proof :

(1) "Viruses canNot Travel (sic !) on Radio Waves/Mobile Networks",

(2) "COVID-19 is Spreading in Many Countries that do Not have 5G Mobile Networks".

"Eurofora" is InCompetent to Judge the 1st Argument, (Even if it's Obvious that it slightly Deviates from its Headlines, which Speak, Widely, about "Spread", while it speaks only about "Travel on", that is Not necessarily the Same Thing, since a Spread might, eventually, be Facilitated also through Other Various Ways, if not in this, at least in other cases).

But it's a Fact that, Obviously, WHO's 2nd Agument Flops, since there are Many, (if not Most) "Countries that do Not have 5G Mobile Networks", which are Exceptionally Less or almost Not seriousl Impacted by the Virus, until Nowadays... Including, f.ex., Cuba, Vietnam, Laos, Kambodia, Mongolia, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Slovakia, Montenegro, Malta, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal, Bhutan, Shri Lanka, Maldives, Myanmar, Syria, Libya, Jordan, Lebanon, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Jamaica, Uruguay, Bahamas, Haiti, Nicaragua, Kenya, Gabon, Madagascar, Togo, Uganda, Somalia, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Central Africa, Angola, Seychelles, (etc).

-----------------------

+ Most Important, that UNO's Press Release points Also at an Interesting official "Statement" of "the WHO", according to which, in General :

(A) to date, and after much Research performed, No Adverse Health Effect has been causally Linked with exposure to Wireless Technologies ;

(B) and, provided that the overall Exposure remains Below International Guidelines, No Consequences for public health are anticipated.

However, there is a Series of Problems with those Claims, (Published on "February" 2020) :

- The First speaks widely about "Exposure to Wireless Technologies" in General, while the Second, on the Contrary, is Limited Only to those cases where it is "provided that the overall Exposure remains Below International Guidelines". Obviously, these are Not the Same thing...

- The WHO Skips Any cases, of (Perhaps Numerous or not) eventual Coincidences between "Adverse Health Effects" and "Exposure to Wireless Technologies", at one or another area, If there is Not enough Proof yet that they are "Linked" with them, and even with an Analysed and clearly Explained "Causal(ity)". Otherwise, Even if there might be too many Sick People or Deaths in Proximity, it would Not Count here, under Pretext that No "Causal Link" was found and proven until now...

- But the Most Important is that Key reference to "International Guidelines" on the Level of "Exposure" to such Wireless Networks, Under which, People could, reportedly, be Safe, (Comp. Supra).

>>> Naturally, IF you Find Which might be those "International Guidelines"... Because, the Astonishing thing is that, UnExpectedly, it appears very Difficult, almost Impossible, Nowadays, to Find any clear and trustworthy Presentation of such Key "International Guidelines" on that crucial Level of "Exposure", Neither in UNO's nor ITU's, Not even in WHO's Official Websites !

Indeed, f.ex. :

* WHO simply promises to "conduct a Health-Risk Assessment from Exposure to RadioFrequencies, ...including 5G", which is Expected "to be Published by 2022", i.e. only After 2 Years...

Does this mean that the famous "Precautionary Principle" risks to be Thrown to the Waste-Basket, since 5G Deployment has Already Started since 2019, while Health Tests and Observations would Only emerge After 3 Years Later, while the entire Population would have, practically, played the role of Guinea Pigs ?...



But WHO had Already Promised, in the Past, since 2006, "a review on Cancer Risk from EF Fields in 2006-2007", "and ...an overall Health Risk Assessment for RF Fields in 2007-2008", (See: https://www.who.int/peh-emf/publications/facts/fs304/en/), the eventual Results of which are still Not Visible Anywhere Nowadays, on 2020 !

* UNO's Press Release Today (22 April 2020: https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/04/1062362) refers just to a Relevant WHO's "Statement Published on February" (2020), whose Headlines read : "5G Mobile Networks and Health".

Neverheless, even there, it's Impossible to Find Any useful reference to the Content of certain "International Guidelines" on the Level of "Exposure" nowadays !!... (See: https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/5g-mobile-networks-and-health).

It Only tells you that "5G", ..."the Latest Wireless Mobile Phone Technology" Started to be "First Deployed in 2019". That it "Will Extend into Higher Frequencies, around 3,5 GHz and up to a few Tens of GHz". "5G" will also that "employ Beam-forming Antennas, to Focus signals ...towards the Device in use, Rather than having the signal Spread in Broad directions, as in Current base station Antennas".

So that, while "Currently, Exposure from 5G infrastructures at around 3.5 GHz is Similar to that from Existing Mobile phone base stations", on the Contrary, "with the use of multiple Beams from 5G Antennas, Exposure could be More variable as a function of Location of the users and their Usage", (i.e. Up to "Tens of GHz" : Comp. Supra).

However, the real "Extent of any Change in Exposure to RadioFrequency fields is still UNDER INVESTIGATION", allegedly Because "the 5G Technology is Currently at an Early Stage of deployment" according to WHO (Ibid)...

Concerning Questions about "Potential Health Risks from 5G", Until "To Date", even if Not any "Adverse Health Effect" was ever "Causally Linked" (Comp. Supra) to the "Exposure to Wireless Technologies" in general, as WHO claims, nevertheless, "So Far, Only a FEW STUDIES have been Carried out at the Frequencies to be used by 5G", (i.e., apparently, between "3,5 GH" - "Similar to ... Existing Mobile phone base Stations"- and "TENS of GHz" : Comp. Supra), as the International Health Organisation Warns.

At any case, "as the Frequency Increases" (Comp. Supra), Human "Tissue Heating", by "RadioFrequency Fields", is expected to act "Less ...into the Body", but "More ... to the ... Skin and Eyes", according to the WHO.

* But, when it comes, at last, to the Crucial Issue of "the International Exposure Guidelines" (Comp. Supra), a series of Surprizes start :

- First and Above all, Curiously, WHO does NOT even Mention WHAT these "Guidelines" Say on the Level of Exposure which would be Safe for Human Health !

It Merely notes that "Many Countries currently Adhere to the Guidelines recommended by" "2 International Bodies" : One apparently steming from Private Industry Business (the "Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers", alias "IEEE"), and "the International Commission of Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection", alias "ICNIRP", "a non-governmental organization, formally RECOGNIZED by WHO", (as it Clarifies at anOther Page, dedicated on "ElectroMagnetic Fields" in general : https://www.who.int/peh-emf/standards/en/). It's only at a 3rd Page, that WHO provides, at least, a Web Link to such Documents, WORKING, however, Only towards "ICNIRP", that it "Recognises" (Comp. Supra), But Not towards the "IEEE"... (See : https://www.who.int/peh-emf/publications/facts/fs304/en/, about "Electromagnetic fields and public health").

- The Biggest and Worst Surprize is when it comes, precisely, to that "formaly Recognized" by the WHO, and the Only provided with a Web Link that Works (Comp. Supra), Organisation of "ICNIRP" : - It's a mere Reference to a Too OLD Text DATING FROM... "1998" (sic !)...

>>> But, on "1998" the Web had Just Started (since 1995-1996), the First Mobile Phones were only Beginning to Emerge, while "Smart-Phones" did Not even Exist Yet ! (One of the First, with Photo and Web Pages, was, on 2005, an Impressive NOKIA from Europe's Finland, with an UnForgetable Strange Look as an ...UFO, that "Eurofora" had the Chance to buy then, Before going to the USA for 2 UNO's Summits at New York)... As for Mobile Phones' Networks type "5G", People did Not even Know their Name then !

=> In Consequence, WHO's above-Mentioned, Unique "Recognized" and Workable Reference to an "ICNIRP" Report of "1998", (Comp. Supra), Claiming that it contained "International Guidelines" for "5G" Wireless Networks of 2020, cannot but be a Big Laugh !...

Such Facts could easily Explain, also, Why WHO curiously Ommits, Nowadays, Any concrete Mention of the Content of those supposed "International Guidelines" on the Level of "Exposure" Safe for Human Health (Comp. Supra)...

Sure, WHO had Warned that "Health-related Conclusions are drawn from Studies performed across the entire spectrum", with "So Far, Only a Few Studies ...carried out at the Frequencies to be used by 5G". And that "these Guidelines are Not Technology-Specific", but "they cover RadioFrequencies up to 300 GHz", (simply) "including the Frequencies under Discussion for 5G".

But, when some People's excessive Anxiety, amidst various Alarming Rumours withOut any Crystal-clear, Neither Convincing Answer, result even into Telecom Antennas going down amidst Arson Fires, as Recently in the UK and elsewhere, (Comp. Supra), then, in such Circumstances, some's Obviously too Clumsy, Irresponsible attempt, inside UNO's PressNews Service, to give so Vague and Hollow Pseudo-"Responses", in fact, so Empty as a Hoax, (Comp. Supra), is not just inefficiently "Playing the Fireman", But rather, behaving Dangerously, as a provocative ...PyroManiak !

UNO's overall Communication System certainly has the required Means in order to dispose of a much More Serious and Efficient Information policy and practice than that, even in the most complicated and/or thorny issues...

(../..)

("Draft-News")
World leaders have pledged to accelerate work on tests, drugs and vaccines against Covid-19 and share them around the globe, but the US did not take part in the launch of the World Health Organization (WHO) initiative.

French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa were among those who joined a video conference to launch what the WHO billed as a landmark collaboration to fight the pandemic which has till date claimed 195,000 lives.

The aim is to speed development of safe and effective drugs, tests and vaccines to prevent, diagnose and treat Covid-19, the lung disease caused be the novel coronavirus - and ensure equal access to treatments for rich and poor.

New Yorks new deaths rose slightly as Governor Andrew Cuomo said signs suggest the coronavirus is on the decline in the state. Italy posted the fewest fatalities in almost six weeks, and Frances deaths were the lowest in almost a month, reported Bloomberg.

More than 2,821,030 cases have been registered in 193 countries and territories. Of these cases, the US has the highest number of deaths with 51,949 out of 905,333 cases.

Italy is in second place with 25,969 deaths out of 192,994 cases, followed by Spain (22,902 deaths and 223,759 cases), France (22,245 deaths and 159,828 cases) and Britain with 19,506 fatalities and 143,464 cases.

China - excluding Hong Kong and Macau - has to date declared 4,632 deaths and 82,816 cases, just 12 more since Friday.

Europe has a total of 120,140 deaths and 1,344,172 cases. The United States and Canada have 54,278 deaths and 948,872 cases, Asia has 7,830 deaths and 193,796 cases, Latin America and the Caribbean have 7,416 deaths and 149,539 cases, the Middle East has 6,204 deaths and 147,530 cases, Africa has 1,330 deaths and 29,138 cases and Oceania has 105 deaths and 7,991 cases

In another development, WHO has said that there was currently "no evidence" that people who have recovered from Covid-19 and have antibodies are protected from a second coronavirus infection.

The United Nations heath agency in a statement warned against issuing "immunity passports" or "risk-free certificates" to people who have been infected, saying the practice may actually increase the risk of spread as they may ignore standard advice.

Chile said last week it would begin handing out "health passports" to people deemed to have recovered from the illness.

Once screened to determine if they have developed antibodies to make them immune to the virus, they could immediately rejoin the workforce.

According to Reuters, deaths slowed in Spain and Germany, a relatively encouraging sign as Europes leaders plan to relax economy-crushing lockdown measures. The UK is the fifth nation to exceed 20,000 deaths, it stated.

We are facing a common threat which we can only defeat with a common approach, WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said as he opened the virtual meeting.

Experience has told us that even when tools are available they have not been equally available to all. We cannot allow that to happen, Ghebreyesus was quoted as saying in a Reuters report.

During the H1N1 swine flu pandemic in 2009, there was criticism that distribution of vaccines was not equitable as wealthier countries were able to purchase more.

We must make sure that people who need them get them, said Peter Sands, head of the Global Fund to Fight on AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. The lessons from AIDS must be learned. Too many millions died before anti-retroviral medicines were made widely accessible.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that the objective at a global pledging effort on May 4 would be to raise 7.5 billion euros ($8.10 billion) to ramp up work on prevention, diagnostics and treatment.

This is a first step only, but more will be needed in the future, von der Leyen told the conference.
UPDATE: RingSide sells out of all frozen meats on Saturday.

RingSide Steakhouse, the 75-year-old Portland steakhouse, will sell its signature dry-aged steaks to the public for the first time this weekend, a chance to score some beef of a quality not typically available to the public.

Fans of the family-owned steakhouse can head to the restaurants West Burnside Street parking lot between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday to pick up boxes of frozen meat, including prime steaks dry-aged for around 30-35 days. Along with the beef, the restaurant is offering ground chuck, pork chops, bacon, chicken and more from Newport Meat, the California-based meat distributor that handles dry-aging for RingSide. Boxes range in price from $35 for 15 pounds of applewood smoked bacon to $205 for six 34-ounce dry-aged bone-in ribeyes.

Other Portland steakhouses including Laurelhurst Market have begun selling meat boxes and individual cuts of steak during their state-mandated dining room closures. Meat distributors such as Nicky USA and Columbia Empire have also begun selling directly to consumers, dropping their usual minimum purchase requirement. Many top steakhouses and meat purveyors dry-age their beef, a process that concentrates flavor and can add tenderness to beef.

This weekends dry-aged steak sale is the first taste Portlanders have had of one of the citys oldest and best-loved restaurants since the novel coronavirus began its spread through Oregon. The restaurant, now in its third generation of family ownership, has continued to pay benefits for furloughed staff through April. RingSide is also offering fans bonuses on gift cards good during the first 60 days after the restaurant reopens its dining room.

For RingSide, the parking lot sale is a chance to support a part of the restaurant supply chain that often goes unnoticed. And it becomes the latest restaurant to shift gears, joining other Portland restaurants offering fresh produce, seafood or pantry items to-go.

We want to continue to support the people who are less visible in the restaurant community, the people who drive the trucks and work in the warehouses and get all the stuff to where its needed to be, said RingSide General Manager Geoffrey Rich.

Customers arriving at RingSide, 2165 W. Burnside St., will be directed to a parking spot and handed a menu to fill out, then asked to turn on their headlights when theyre ready to place their order. Staff will be wearing masks and changing gloves between each customers. If all goes according to plan, RingSide hopes to expand the parking lot sale next week and could also being offering special wines in time Mothers Day.

So how do you cook it? Well, for my birthday last week, I called ahead to Laurelhurst Market and bought a two-pound bone-in ribeye. The weather was somewhat dicey, and I hadnt cleaned my Weber in a while, so I decided to cook the big steak indoors on my trusty cast iron pan instead of grilling outside. I seasoned the steak generously with salt and pepper, added a bit of butter and garlic to the pan, then used a spoon to baste the meat as it developed a nice brown crust over high heat, about four minutes.

After flipping the steak and letting it sear for another four minutes or so, I put the pan in a 350-degree oven to finish -- for too long, as it turns out. The steak came out a bit past medium, which was itself past the medium rare I wanted, but it was still delicious, with tender fat that melted on the tongue. I paired mine with a bourbon Manhattan, which was just fine.

-- Michael Russell, mrussell@oregonian.com, @tdmrussell

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
This is the fifth column in a series: 10 Good Things That Happened This Week, at Home and Around the World. Some of these things relate to the coronavirus and some dont. But none will make you feel worse than you already do.

1. It may be a long time before youre able to get lost in the bowels of an Ikea store again, but if you want to re-create the Ikea shopping experience at home (the meatball eating, not the fighting with your spouse), the Swedish retailer is here to help. Early this week Ikea published the recipe for its famous Swedish meatballs and iconic Swedish cream sauce, in the format of an instruction manual for free online. Apparently the meatballs are a lot easier to assemble than the furniture  and probably tastier too.

2. Scientists in England have high hopes that specially trained sniffer dogs can detect the coronavirus in human beings. Theres evidence to suggest dogs can sniff out other diseases in people (for example, Parkinsons disease). The aim, Dr. Claire Guest told the BBC on Wednesday, is that dogs will be able to screen anyone, including those who are asymptomatic, and tell us whether they need to be tested. The six bio detection dogs involved in the COVID-sniffing experiment (dogs are rewarded with treats when they successfully sniff out the virus among a series of scent-samples) include a cocker spaniel named Asher and a yellow lab named Star.

3. Costa Deliziosa, the last ship belonging to a major cruise line at sea amid the pandemic, has docked in Genoa, Italy. The ships docking not only marks the end of a long and terrifying chapter in the lives of its more than 1,500 passengers but an end to the saga of massive liners stuck out at sea all over the world. There were no known cases of coronavirus on board the Costa Deliziosa.

4. Muslims began observing the holy month of Ramadan on Thursday, an endeavour made more difficult by physical distancing measures. But many people are discovering new ways to worship and connect with family and community. For example, the website Virtual Ramadan will provide Canadian Muslims live streamed dinners and discussion sessions throughout the holy month.

5. Firefighters rescued one reptile and two cats from a Saskatoon house fire Tuesday morning. (The houses human inhabitants managed to escape the fire before first responders arrived.) Neither the cats nor the reptile were reported to have been in distress.

6. Michelle Obama kicked off her weekly read-aloud storytime series for kids at home in isolation. Mondays with Michelle Obama will stream on the PBS Kids network social media page every Monday at noon until May 11. This past Monday the former first lady read The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson. Next Monday shell read Theres a Dragon in Your Book by Tom Fletcher.

7. Fans of William Shakespeare celebrated the English poets unofficial birthday this week (though his exact date of birth is unknown, most choose to celebrate on April 23). Theatres in England streamed video-recorded productions of plays such as Twelfth Night, Hamlet and Antony and Cleopatra online to honour the legacy of a writer who is said to have written some of his best work holed up at home during a plague.

8. The federal government will offer substantial rent-relief for small and medium-sized businesses struggling because of COVID-19. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who made the announcement outside his house on Friday, says the new initiative will lower rents by 75 per cent for eligible businesses in April, May and June.

9. Post-secondary students can breathe a little easier too. On Wednesday, the federal government announced that from May to August students are eligible for a monthly government payment of $1,250 (or more if the student is caring for a dependent).

10. A 16-year-old engineering hobbyist named Luka Miljanov designed, produced, and delivered dozens of face shields to two Ontario nursing homes in need of personal protective equipment. A Grade 11 student at Dr. G.W. Williams Secondary School in Aurora, Miljanov is a self-taught builder of many things including racing drones. When the pandemic hit, he says, I was looking for ways to help and I thought well Ive got two 3D printers that are sitting around all day. Why not put them to good use? His initial face shield design took 12 hours to print, but he changed parameters and eventually got his printing time down to under an hour. In times when everyones panicking, he says, I like to relax and look at the bigger picture and just see how I can help. I think if we just stay calm and do what we can to help, thats the best way to go about it.

Emma Teitel is a columnist based in Toronto covering current affairs for the Star. Follow her on Twitter: @emmaroseteitel
GEORGIA  In spite of criticism from some of the state's mayors and even President Donald Trump, Georgia is reopening against the guidelines set by the White House and the coronavirus task force. Earlier in the week, Gov. Brian Kemp announced certain businesses could reopen on Friday.

For some business owners, including Michael Moon, who has owned the full service dry cleaner Express Cleaners in Johns Creek for nearly two decades, Kemp's decision is premature as coronavirus cases continue to rise across the state. But some restaurant owners who are struggling to keep afloat by doing takeout service planned to reopen right away.

"Understandably, the governor is in a tough spot and regardless of what he says, there will be people who disagree with what he chooses to do," Moon told Patch. "I am happy for my customers who own and work in hair salons, barber shops, and restaurants, as they will be getting a boost in income."

Fitness centers, barbers, hair salons, tattoo shops and bowling alleys are among the businesses allowed to resume operation on Friday. To reopen the services must continue social distancing and medical screenings. The list and explanation are here.



On Monday, movie theaters may open their doors and Georgia restaurants are allowed to resume in-house dining. Guidelines were released for restaurants, including no buffets, servers are required to wear face masks and limited capacity inside buildings.

See more: Reopening Guidelines Released For Restaurants: GA Coronavirus

As of Friday morning, the Georgia Department of Public Health said the state has a total of 22,147 coronavirus cases. To date, 4,221 patients have been hospitalized for COVID-19 treatment, and

892 deaths have been caused by the virus.

For John Capone, owner of Bradley's Bar & Grill and Dogwood Catering in Marietta, his operation has shifted to takeout options with about half of his usual business.



"We think our restaurant will be OK, but we are definitely worried about the catering," Capone said. "Half of the catering is meal plans on college campuses for fraternities, and the other half is private and corporate catering. We are brainstorming for ideas on what we can do to keep it going because we are not confident the private and corporate catering will come back that quickly."

Story continues

Capone said he never agreed with the business shutdowns in Georgia, and will reopen as soon as he is permitted to.

"We have everything we need, including standard COVID-19 things such as masks and gloves on staff, lots of Clorox wipes for customers, lots of wiping of door knobs, chairs, etc.," Capone told Patch. "We removed 75 percent of bar stools and chairs. We will still encourage curbside and delivery."

Moon's dry-cleaning business wasn't required to shutter, but that didn't keep the business, and the community, from feeling the strain of the coronavirus pandemic. With fewer people needing to dress up for work, special events being canceled and restaurants closing, Moon saw a sharp decrease in sales.



"The gradual decrease of sales meant we would have to start making touch decisions," Moon said. "Sadly, we have had to cut hours and subsequent pay to our staff. Through no fault of their own, they are having to make sacrifices. We tried applying for Small Business Administration disaster loans, Paycheck Protection Program, and the Facebook grant available to us. Pretty much any help we could find. So far, we are still waiting on these applications to provide a response, but we are not holding our breath."



Early on in the pandemic, Moon decided he would do everything possible to stay open and continue to serve the remaining customers that Express Cleaners still had.

"After all, a lawyer, doctor, or anyone else in essential businesses cannot work without the proper clean, sanitized attire," Moon said. "Thankfully, our efforts in wearing gloves, face masks, consistent and frequent disinfecting of surfaces, social distancing, and installation of acrylic barriers seem to be making a difference."

Even with additional safety measures in place, Moon said he is wary of the impact reopening will have on the public's perception that they can go about things as normal.



"I understand that there is a strong desire to get the economy back up, but the guidelines being set by the Trump administration have not yet been met based on numbers being reported in our state," Moon said. "I fear that opening businesses too soon will end up undoing the efforts we have put in so far to contain the spread of the virus and cause more hardship for businesses and their employees in the near future."

Other business owners aren't as optimistic as Moon, though.

Worries Of Second Lockdown

Dave Smith, owner of Blue Frog Imports in Woodstock, said he is worried the soft reopening will cause Georgia to have a second lockdown. There are strict restrictions businesses have been given in order to reopen, and Smith is worried those rules won't be enforced.

"I think it is one of the most ridiculous decisions a governor can make while in office," Smith said. "There are very few ways to contain the virus. Business owners that return to work will have to be stringent on following all safety rules. You can't tell me that Kemp has a task force to ensure that every business is going to follow these guidelines. The virus wins if we don't isolate with so many cases growing daily. Who will decide if and when customers visiting these businesses are infecting other people unnecessarily? I don't feel it is possible to be safe enough to go back to work now. I'm hoping people will come to their senses and not venture out."



Although Smith's business is permitted to reopen, he said Blue Frog Imports will not open for at least another month or two.

"We are not opening until sometime in June, as long as cases stop skyrocketing and there is a noticeable decline in cases," Smith said. "We are gathering supplies to be ready to open. We will survive. I try to take things one day at a time. To say the least, it is overwhelming. Not really sure about the future. A new way to run business will have to be developed with the utmost in safety in line."

Do Diners Feel Safe Coming Out?



Jennifer Tiberia and her husband own and operate two restaurants, including Sprig Restaurant in Decatur. She said between the two restaurants, they have lost 40-60 percent of sales, and had to furlough employees.



While her businesses will be able to open with new restrictions on Monday, Tiberia said her family is unsure it is the right decision.

"It will take a long time for guests to feel comfortable sitting in a restaurant with other guests and being waited on," she said. "I have mixed feelings. I would hope we could all rely on our elected officials to make the best decision of all of our business financially and safely. I dont think our customers are ready. So we will continue as we are. We will allow patrons to sit on our patio with their to-go orders. That way the ones who want to get out have a place to sit."

But her restaurant will not offer table service, and customers will not be allowed to eat in the restaurant until it feels safer. When that threshold is reached is unclear.

"I think Kemp and others are trying to make the best decisions for Georgia," Tiberia said. "I am just not sure they are. I truly believe no one knows what the right answer is."

See more:

This article originally appeared on the Canton-Sixes Patch
Amid a decline in the number of coronavirus cases in Italy, Serbia sent medical supplies through four aeroplanes to the European nation on April 25 to help tackle the pandemic. The medical supplies reportedly included gloves, face masks, and protective suits which will help Italy in its fight against coronavirus crisis.

The four medical supplies-laden planes departed from Nikola Tesla Airport in Belgrade, Serbia where President Aleksandar Vucic was also present. President Vucic was seen wearing a face mask and posing for the camera along with the pilot who was holding the package which read, Let's win together! Courage, Italy, Serbia is with you! The President reportedly said that four more planes laden with medical equipment will leave for Italy in the next two days.

Italy has reported nearly 193,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus out of which around 106,500 are still active. However, the member state of the European Union has registered a decline in daily new cases, and deaths due to COVID-19. More than 25,000 people have died in Italy owing to the contagious disease and reported 420 deaths on April 24.

Read: The Latest: Italy To Ease Lockdown On May 4, Give Free Masks

The medical supplies will help the Italian government in its decision to distribute free protective masks to nursing homes, many of which have been devastated by COVID-19 infections and deaths. Domenico Arcuri, governments commissioner for the pandemic, reportedly said that it is a gesture of solidarity, adding that it will also be distributed to public officials, transport workers and police.

Read: Italy: PM Conte To Announce 'Phase Two' Of COVID-19 Lockdown By The End Of The Week

Global death toll approaches 200,000

According to the latest report, over 2.8 million coronavirus cases have been confirmed worldwide with over 198,500 deaths, overwhelming the health care facilities across the globe. The United States, Italy, Spain and France are the worst-hit countries due to the pandemic with around 62 per cent of death toll reported from these four countries alone. However, the UK has now become the fifth country in the world to report more than 20,000 deaths due to the novel coronavirus.

Read: Italy's Sports Minister Says Decision Imminent On Return To Football

Read: Italy Records Lowest Count of New Coronavirus Cases With 2,256 Infections

(With inputs from agencies / Image: Twitter / @lo_cascio1)
Cambodian Facebook vendor jailed for 'pornographic' ads: A Cambodian woman was sentenced to six months in prison after a court ruled that her Facebook live streams selling clothing and cosmetics while wearing skimpy outfits amounted to pornography, women's rights groups said. Ven Rachna, 39, was arrested in February, two days after Prime Minister Hun Sen said in a speech that some online vendors were encouraging sexual assault and disgracing Cambodian culture by wearing scanty outfits. Rachna, jailed since her arrest, will go free early next month, local media reported, with the remainder of her sentence suspended. "The big issue here is not the amount of time she spends in prison, but the policies behind her being charged in the first place," said Ros Sopheap of the Gender and Development for Cambodia organization.
Dr. Fauci refutes conspiracy theory of lab-made coronavirus

People's Daily Online

(People's Daily Online) 08:22, April 24, 2020

In recent days, a number of US media outlets and Republican allies of President Donald Trump have been floating the conspiracy theory that the novel coronavirus "was manufactured in a Chinese lab". However, as more evidence is collected, this groundless theory has been rejected by an increasing number of scientists, including US top infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci.

At the daily White House press briefing on April 17, Fauci rejected the conspiracy theory that the novel coronavirus was created in and escaped from a Chinese lab, reported Business Insider.

"There was a study recently that we can make available to you, where a group of highly qualified evolutionary virologists looked at the sequences there and the sequences in bats as they evolve. And the mutations that it took to get to the point where it is now is totally consistent with a jump of a species from an animal to a human," Fauci replied.

Studies of the virus' genome, he added, have strongly indicated that it was transmitted from an animal to a human rather than created or enhanced in a laboratory setting, as a March 17 article in the scientific journal Nature Medicine found.

"We do not believe that any type of laboratory-based scenario is plausible," the article said. The study, led by computational biologist Kristian Andersen of the Scripps Research Institute in California, compared COVID-19 to the six other coronaviruses known to infect humans and concluded that SARS-CoV-2 "is not a purposefully manipulated virus."

As more evidence continues to emerge, the conspiracy theory has been debunked by medical communities worldwide. WHO spokeswoman Fadela Chaib told reporters on April 21 in Geneva that "all available evidence suggests the virus has an animal origin and is not a manipulated or constructed virus in a lab or somewhere else".

So far, scientists and authorities have not come to a firm conclusion about where the animal-to-human transmission first occurred and what role the wet market may have played, reported Business Insider.

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We at the Drogheda Independent received hundreds of messages on Facebook from the public, thanking the staff at Our Lady of Lourdes for their service. There are too many to print, but here's a selection and there's more on pages 30 and 31.

Annmarie Johansson: Thank you so much for all the hard work you do all year round. And thank you to every nurse, doctor, health care assistant, everyone in the labs, porters, cleaners, secretaries, X-ray scan, technicians, receptionists, security officers , chaplains, the people in the kitchens, dinner ladies, and all the emergency response people. I hope I haven't left anyone out (if I did please add the to the list ).

But if I did I apologise its is not my intention. I just want to say thank you all for potentially putting your lives at risk to save ours . Everyone single one of you should be paid a tax free cash bonus from the government for all your hard work .

For all the time you lose with your family and friends by being at work during this scary time. We appreciate your efforts. Good look to you all and please stay as safe as you can. As a country, we salute you our proud Irish virus freedom fighters.

Amanda Ni Mhorain: Thank you all so much for your amazing work, we salute you all and will continue to support and shine a light for you all as long as this continues... You are doing trojan work to help those suffering recover whilst trying to keep their loved ones updated.... Some super heroes wear gowns and PPE gear again thank you all so much and please keep safe. Our town and country needs you.

Linda Harding O Brien: Thank you very much to all staff in OLOL hospital from the doctors, nurses, carers , Porters, cleaning and clerical staff, you are all a credit, a massive bow you all should take.

Aishling O'Toole: To all the wonderful staff at OLOL thank you for all the hard work you put in every year, COVID-19 has shown us all just how hard our medical team really work in Ireland and the rest of the world. It's been a very tough few weeks but we'll all get there eventually. Not all our heroes wear capes, some wear scrubs. Stay safe and try stay positive x

Philip N Monica Tharp: I (Philip) was just treated in A&E at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital a few days ago. Every single person with whom I had contact was so helpful and compassionate. Thomas, (the doctor who saw me) was very thorough and treated me with respect and care. A big thank you to all the hospital staff. God bless you! My family and I and our whole church is praying for your good health and safety.

Thelma Hickey: You are amazing doctors and nurses, you are truly amazing human beings. You are not only heroes now you always were and always will be.

Emma Black: Thank you to all the staff in Our lady of Lourdes hospital. You are all doing an amazing job and we are all very grateful for all the hard work and sacrifices you are making .

Lorraine Carolan: A huge thank you to each & every person working in the Lourdes during this difficult time. Your hard work & dedication is so appreciated. #staysafe

Stephanie Gallagher: Thank you all so much for the continued excellence and compassion that you give to patients every day! From the cleaning staff, catering, porters,security, secretaries to student nurses, carers, nurses ,doctors and the many many more, Thank you for the sacrifices you all make and the risks that you take to care for all of the sick you encounter. You are the true heroes of the world. God bless you and keep you all safe xx

Joanne Thornton: You are all amazing thank you so much for all that you do each and everyday, we are very honoured and grateful to have you on the frontline fighting to keep everyone safe

Martina Manning Hanna: Thank you all so much to each and every worker who steps up every day to help save lives ... be proud of yourselves.

Gillian Harte: Thank you so much to each and every one of you for all your doing. I hope when all this is over you all get rewarded for the amazing work you do especially the underpaid nurses, doctors and nurses in direct contact with patients going out each day putting your own lives and those of you families at risk.You are simply fantastic people.

Deborah Farrell: Thank you to every single person working in the hospital. You are amazing and so brave and deserve the utmost respect now and when all of this is over. #superheroes.

Yvonne Rooney: We will never be able to repay the dedication and professionalism of all the frontline workers. Not only in hospitals but in our supermarkets and our pharmacies and in other departments we don't even know about. A huge thank you to them all because without them we could not function! We owe so much to these people.

Bernie Kane Kavanagh: All the staff of Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital work so hard,my mam was a patient there in the past and each and everyone of the staff treated her like a princess,what they are doing know is breathtaking, heroes is exactly what each and every one of them is,I really, really hope they one day they get recognised for all their hard work. Heroes they are.

Jean Byrne Reay: Wonderful staff in each and every role from doctors, nurses, carers, cleaners, security, kitchen staff, always wonderful and especially now with COVID-19. well done to you all stay healthy and safe and all your families I cannot fault this hospital especially under the circumstances always very good to me when I needed them.

Rose Toomey: Where would we be without you all. Everyone is amazing. Thank you all so much. Xx

Sandra Tully ;Thank you so very much for doing such a difficult and dangerous job at this time in helping COVID- 19 people. May God bless you and keep you safe ,

Ronke Osinowo: Thank you to all the staff of Our lady of Lourdes hospital. we pray for you all during this pandemic, stay safe

Christina Knowles Barron: To all the wonderful hard working staff in OLOL especially my sister Tammy Donnelly. We are all so proud of u all keep safe xx

Olga O'Brien: Thank you for everything that you do, not just now with COVID-19 but always. You are all true Earth Angels and often undervalued. Hopefully now people will recognise this. It's a true vocation, thank you. May you all stay safe and well.

Marie Matthews: To each and every staff member in Our Lady of Lourdes hospital, we have all crossed paths and some point in our lives, you are all a vital part of ours and the wider community, keep up the good work and we are praying for your safety.

Tony Byrne: They're always great in the Lourdes, not just during the COVID- 19 pandemic! When our little one was sick last year the staff on the fifth floor were absolutely brilliant.

Jenny Maguire: A big thankyou to all the staff on the front line in our lady of Lourdes hospital drogheda you are amazing and our heroes

Deirdre Whyte: Where would anyone of us be, without our heroic hospital staff! Thank you one and all.

Majella Taaffe: A massive thank you to all the staff on front line. Though you must be sick with worry and anxiety, you still turn into work putting your lives at risk. You are truly amazing people. I respect and applaud you #staysafe

Shane Mc Quillan: The staff at OLOL are heroes on a daily basis, the situation with COVID has highlighted just how much they do and how much they are worth to the people who need their help. Thank you to all the staff of the hospital for what you do every day and what you've been doing during this pandemic

Marian Clarke

All Kinds Of Angels

Hospitals are full of them

In different shapes and sizes

Working hard to help us all

They wear no disguises

From deep down in the basement

Up to the highest floor

Providing so much care for all

Behind the hospital doors

On other floors the doctors

And the nurses too

Put their own lives on the line

For the likes of me and you

Porters lab technicians

Nurses aids so caring

Sacrifices daily made

Behind the masks they're wearing

Catering staff provide the food

That's served with so much love

Angels don't always have wings

These days they're wearing gloves

The cleaners fight this virus

That threatens all our lives

All these special people

Are Angels in disguise

Marian Clarke, 30.3.2020

Joanna James Murphy: Thank you so much to all the Staff in OLOL you have looked after my husband and grandchildren and I on many occasions. You go above and beyond each and everytime thank you for your care and compassion you are. Our Heroes.

Angela Farrell: Thank you to everyone working in OLOL. You are all amazing. Without your input to our hospital we would be lost.

Nicola Tully: You are the real heroes. Thank you for all your hard work, patience and strength during this time. Can't imagine the stress you are under each day and yet all you hear is the kindness and compassion patients receive in your care. Hope you all keep safe and well and Simon and co reward your dedication when this is all over.

Kelly Byatt: Thank you to all the staff for all your hard work and dedication, to put your lives at risk to help others and to be away from your own families or even putting those at risk.
TLCs 90 Day Fiance franchise is the gift that keeps on giving. The popular spinoff 90 Day Fiance: The Other Way Season 2 returns with more juicy foreign romance drama and visa debacles on Jun. 1.

Until then, though, TLC has offered up a teaser trailer zand some tidbits about each of the six international couples whose stories well be following this summer. Each of the couplestwo of which are returning from the first season of 90 Day Fiance: The Other Wayconsists of one foreigner and one American whos taking a leap of faith and heading to another country to be with their sweetheart.

Deavan Clegg | Deavan Clegg via Instagram

Deavan Clegg and Jihoon Lee

Deavan Clegg and Jihoon Lee, who first appeared on the first season of 90 Day Fiance: The Other Way, quickly began fan favorites and are returning to continue their complicated international love story. Deavan, 23, and Jihoon, 29, met when Deavan headed to South Korea on a vacation from her home state of Utah. Deavan quickly wound up pregnant with her second child, and Jihoon proposed after the couple dated for a few months.

This season, Deavan and Jihoon will deal with jealousy over Deavans modeling career, language barriers, and stress over moneyas Jihoon allegedly isnt providing for the familywhile the mom of two makes the big move to South Korea.

Jenny Slatten and Sumit

Who can forget Jenny Slatten and Sumit from 90 Day Fiance: The Other Way Season 1? Sumit, 32, famously hid his love for Jenny, 61, from his strict familyand his wife, from an arranged marriage, from his American fiancee. This season, Jenny has (hopefully) wised up, and will be asking Sumit to provide proof that hes really divorced this time when she leaves her home state of California and heads back to India once again.

Armando and Kenneth

TLCs 90 Day Fiance: Before the 90 Days Season 3 featured the franchises first-ever same-sex couple, Erika Owens and Stephanie Matto. Armando and Kenneth will break another record this summer as the franchises first-ever gay male couple to share their story.

Kenneth (from Florida) and Armando are both fathers. In fact, thats how they met and fell in lovethrough an online support group for gay dads. But beyond that, they dont have much in common. Armando is just 31, while Kenneth is 26 years older, at 57. And while Kenneth is moving to Mexico to be with the love of his life, Armandos family isnt happy about his sexualityand doesnt even know about his relationship with Kenneth.

Kenneth | TLC via YouTube

Brittany and Yazan

Brittany, 26, hails from coastal Florida, while 24-year-old Yazan is from the country of Jordan. While Brittany calls herself independent and non-religious, Yazan is a devout Muslim from a conservative family.

They met online through Yazans sister and fell head over heels, leading Brittany to jet across the world to be with her faraway love. But their cultural, personal, and religious differencesas well as Brittanys secretcould tear them apart.

Brittany | TLC via YouTube

Melyza and Tim

29-year-old Melyza was working as an au pair in Texas when she met 34-year-old Tim at a bar. After the pair fell in love over drinks, she headed back to her home country of Colombia. But their relationship soured after Tim did something mysterious to anger his long-distance girlfriend.

Now, her mom doesnt approve, and she still doesnt know if she can trust her manbut Tim is moving to Colombia to try to make it work, come hell or high water.

Tim | TLC via YouTube

Biniyam and Ariela

28-year-old Ariela, from New Jersey, had just gotten a divorce and was looking to explore different sides of herselfand the worldwhen she met her 29-year-old boyfriend, Biniyam, in his home country of Ethiopia. But Ariela returned to the U.S. with more than just a long-distance relationship. She was pregnant.

Ariela | TLC via YouTube

While Ariela planned to move to Ethiopia so she and Biniyam could start their lives together as a family, she was shocked to discover the living conditions she might have to deal with when she arrived.
The Central pastor who defied the coronavirus stay-at-home order was placed on house arrest Saturday morning after refusing to tell a state district judge whether he would continue to hold religious services.

Judge Fred Crifasi of the 19th Judicial District Court put Rev. Tony Spell, the controversial pastor of Life Tabernacle Church, on house arrest at 9 a.m.

+12 Central pastor arrested, released after accusations he nearly hit protester with bus The leader of a Central church who's defied Louisiana crowd-size limits aimed at quelling the coronavirus outbreak vowed Tuesday to continue p

Spell was arrested Tuesday morning and booked into parish prison on misdemeanor counts after a protester accused the Pentecostal preacher of nearly hitting him on Sunday with one of the church's school buses along Hooper Road.

Spell has disputed the protester's story. He was released from Parish Prison midday Tuesday to joyous followers after his wife, Shaye, posted cash bail of $5,000.

However, one condition of Spell's release is that he "refrain from any and all criminal conduct, including but not limited to strictly abiding by the all emergency orders issued by the Governor of the State of Louisiana."

+2 Bail order for Central pastor Tony Spell bars him from holding religious services. Will he comply? A state district judge told a defiant Central pastor Friday that a condition of his bail from an arrest earlier this week bars him from holdin

District Attorney Hillar Moore III said Saturday that Spell did not clearly tell the judge whether he will continue to defy the governor's coronavirus stay-at-home order by having services at his Life Tabernacle Church on Sunday.

On Friday, Spell had a deadline of 5 p.m. to answer the judge about his intentions to hold services. It was extended to 5:45 p.m., but he only responded with a quote from the Bible.

Long said Spell cited 1 Peter 3:14 , which says: "But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled."

The judge then asked Spell directly if he intended to continue to hold services Sunday, in defiance of Gov. John Bel Edward's order, according to Moore. Spell did not respond, which the judge took as an indication he would preside over services this weekend.

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Spell's attorney, Joe Long, said he does not know whether Spell plans to hold services Sunday.

"As far as I know, there will be church, whether or not he participates," Long said. "I dont know whether he plans on doing it. Hes praying on it."

In a Saturday video posted by the Central City News from Spell's home, the pastor did not clearly say whether he would hold services, though he emphasized his right to worship as fundamental to his faith.

I promise you, I will continue to do what I do," Spell said. "This is not about me. This is about our religious liberties.

Right before he was fitted with the ankle monitor, administered by a man in personal protective equipment, Spell noted that he still had much to say, but that, "tomorrow at 12 oclock, my voice will be silenced for several months. You will not hear from me again.

He did not expand on his statement.

Spell has flouted state stay-at-home and social distancing orders aimed at limiting the novel coronavirus, saying the limits violate his and his congregants' First Amendment rights to assemble and practice their faith.

He has garnered international attention for his and his church's stand against the orders, attracting praise from some Christian groups but also plenty of criticism and a handful of regular protesters outside his church on Hooper Road.

Editors note: This story's headline was updated April 26 to reflect the condition of the Rev. Tony Spell's bond barred him from violating the governor's order by holding large church services.
A federal judge on Friday ruled that the Trump administration was again violating a longstanding agreement that compels the government to release migrant children detained at the border within 20 days and ordered the minors be released.

Plaintiffs represented by the Center for Human Rights and Constitutional Law have been challenging the child detention policies of the administration of President Donald Trump in Los Angeles federal court, where they've alleged the coronavirus crisis has caused further delays in the mandated release of migrant children.

The challenges are being waged under a 1997 settlement between immigrant advocates and the government known as the Flores agreement. It generally requires children detained at the border and kept in nonlicensed facilities to be released within weeks.

Los Angeles-based U.S. District Court Judge Dolly Gee oversees the settlement and issued a mixed ruling to enforce the Flores agreement and again ordered the government to "expedite the release" of children in its custody.

"This court order could very well prevent hundreds of children from becoming seriously ill with COVID-19 infection, and may even save some childrens lives," longtime plaintiffs' attorney Peter Schey said by email. "On behalf of the 5,000 detained children we represent, we are deeply grateful for the courts humane order."

The Flores agreement has faced multiple challenges since the Trump administration in 2018 enacted a policy of separating family members at the border as a means of dissuading illegal crossings. The administration backed down but was slow to reunite children when their parents.

Plaintiffs alleged the U.S. Office of Refugee Resettlement stopped releasing children to parents, relatives or potential guardians in New York, California and Washington to avoid becoming entangled in those states' stay-at-home rules during the pandemic.

They also argued the government was dragging its feet by halting the release process for some children because parents, relatives and potential guardians couldn't easily be fingerprinted for background checks.

Story continues

Plaintiffs said delays endangered children as the virus could spread in detention facilities, citing a nonprofit facility in Texas "placed under a 14-day quarantine order," according to Friday's ruling.

They also alleged that a teen turned 18 during "quarantine" and was released to ICE rather than going to a family placement program "already secured for him."

Gee did not agree with all those claims. But she concluded: "ORR and ICE shall continue to make every effort to promptly and safely release" children represented by plaintiffs.
My dad never wrote the lyrics, just the music, Marx said. He would get slogans that on paper looked (expletive) ridiculous, like Ask any mermaid you happen to see, whats the best tuna? Chicken of the Sea. How the (expletive) do you write a song from that? And yet he would, and you wouldnt be able to get it out of your head. I think I have that kind of ability in my DNA. I started writing songs at 15 and they were bad but they were melodic. You could call them commercial. Critics think people like me are premeditated in that commercialism, but its (expletive). They assume you dont take the craft as seriously as the guy who never had a hit but made influential records, but its (expletive expletive).
Health officials want to quickly learn as much as possible about each person infected with the new coronavirus  including where they live, their age and race, and what they do for a living  to help figure out how the disease is spreading and who is most vulnerable.
Helmerich & Payne (NYSE:HP) had an enviable dividend record, having increased its payment annually for an incredible 47 years. That put it in rare company, one of just 140 or so corporations that had managed to increase dividends for at least 25 years.

That all came crashing to a halt on March 31, 2020, when management announced a 65% dividend cut. Here's what went wrong at Helmerich & Payne, and what it may mean for the energy sector more broadly.

A tough market under normal conditions

Helmerich & Payne is an energy services company, building and operating oil and natural gas drill rigs for energy companies looking to exploit the resources they own. Oil prices, driven by supply and demand dynamics, are prone to swift and often sizable price swings, with upstream companies often pulling back sharply during downturns. When exploration and development activity dries up, demand for energy services, like those offered by Helmerich & Payne, usually goes with it. But the energy industry is a highly cyclical industry by nature, and the dynamics here reverse in a big way when energy prices rise.

This is one of the key reasons why Helmerich & Payne's dividend history was so impressive. Increasing dividends annually for 47 years in an industry prone to big ups and downs is no small feat. Its ability to achieve that record is partially thanks to its conservative and proactive culture. For example, Helmerich & Payne's financial debt to equity ratio is a very modest 0.10 times. That's well below the levels of its closest peers, and provides ample room on the balance sheet to work through hard times.

It also has demonstrated a long-standing commitment to maintaining a fleet of industry-leading rigs. Today it has more so-called "super spec" rigs, which are more efficient and functional than older options, than any peer in the U.S. drilling space. In fact, even as domestic drilling pulled back following the last deep price decline, Helmerich & Payne has actually increased its domestic market share from around 15% to 24%. The key differentiator is a focus on maintaining a leading-edge portfolio of rigs.

But Helmerich & Payne's business model didn't change on March 31. It still has low leverage and a great fleet of rigs. What changed was the market. And while it wasn't an overnight change, the hit to demand has come fairly swiftly.

The U.S. emerges and recedes

Helmerich & Payne's primary focus is serving U.S. onshore exploration companies. Roughly 90% of its rigs are in this market. This was a good focus to have as domestic oil output grew over the last decade or so. It had its ups and downs, as is usual for the oil sector, but demand for quality rigs was generally solid.

However, as the United States' oil production increased, it changed the global supply/demand balance. OPEC had been working to deal with this issue by curtailing output, but U.S. production simply filled the void left behind. Eventually OPEC and partner Russia ended up disagreeing over further cuts, and instead opened up the spigots. A price war broke out, and energy prices plummeted.

At roughly the same time, COVID-19 was starting to spread across the globe. In an effort to slow the virus down, countries enacted strict social distancing measures. The big-picture effect here was that economic activity the world over has come to a virtual standstill. That led to a rapid, practically overnight, drop in demand for oil. More oil at a time when demand was falling resulted in even lower prices. Worse, the extra oil has been put into storage. That surplus supply will have to be worked off before energy prices can recover in any material fashion.

Ups and downs in the energy industry are normal, but this confluence of events has resulted in an extreme situation. In fact, futures contracts for oil have actually gone below zero. This is a painful situation for oil companies, but it is also likely the quickest way to get the industry back on its feet: Exploration and production companies will be forced to pull back sharply on their drilling, and weaker players will go bankrupt. The end result will be a material decline in production that helps to balance out supply and demand. That, in time, will help to get oil prices rising again.

The near-term hit, however, is likely to be very painful. Expecting a drastic decline in demand for its services, Helmerich & Payne is acting proactively by reducing its capital spending plans and conserving cash. The roughly 65% dividend cut, for example, should save the company around $200 million a year.

Here's the thing, though: Helmerich & Payne is a financially strong industry leader and has long operated in a conservative manner. If these are the types of things it is doing to survive through this oil pullback, imagine what other companies that aren't in as good shape are going to face as U.S. onshore production rebalances.

A painful hit, with more to come

Helmerich & Payne's choice to cut the dividend was the right one for the company. Investors counting on the dividend won't appreciate it, of course, but the current oil downturn is going to be more brutal than normal because demand has basically fallen off a cliff.

This company's choice, however, should be viewed as a warning sign for the entire U.S. energy sector. If Helmerich & Payne is worried enough to end its 47-year dividend streak, there is likely to be a lot more pain ahead before things get better again. If you own energy companies or services firms, you may want to reassess your positions. It's time to stick with the biggest and strongest names, like Chevron or ExxonMobil.
By Trend

World leaders pledged on Friday to accelerate work on tests, drugs and vaccines against COVID-19 and to share them around the globe, but the United States did not take part in the launch of the World Health Organization (WHO) initiative, Trend reports citing Reuters.

French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa were among those who joined a video conference to launch what the WHO billed as a landmark collaboration to fight the pandemic.

The aim is to speed development of safe and effective drugs, tests and vaccines to prevent, diagnose and treat COVID-19, the lung disease caused be the novel coronavirus - and ensure equal access to treatments for rich and poor.

Leaders from Asia, the Middle East and the Americas also joined the videoconference, but several big countries did not participate, including China, India and Russia.

A spokesman for the U.S. mission in Geneva had earlier told Reuters that the United States would not be involved.

Although the United States was not in attendance at the meeting in question, there should be no doubt about our continuing determination to lead on global health matters, including the current COVID crisis, he said by email.

We remain deeply concerned about the WHOs effectiveness, given that its gross failures helped fuel the current pandemic, he later said.

U.S. President Donald Trump has lambasted the WHO as being slow to react to the outbreak and being China-centric and announced a suspension of funding.

Tedros has steadfastly defended the WHOs handling of the pandemic and repeatedly committed to conducting a post-pandemic evaluation, as the agency does with all crises.

Macron, Merkel, Ramaphosa, and Spains Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez were among those voicing strong support to WHO.

Macron urged all G7 and G20 countries to get behind the initiative, adding: And I hope well manage to reconcile around this joint initiative both China and the U.S., because this is about saying the fight against COVID-19 is a common human good and there should be no division in order to win this battle.

Merkel said: This concerns a global public good, to produce this vaccine and to distribute it in all parts of the world.

Ramaphosa, chairman of the African Union, warned that the continent - with its generally poor standards of healthcare - was extremely vulnerable to the ravages of this virus and is in need of support.
Kathmandu, April 25

A group of students of the Tribhuvan University in Kirtipur of Kathmandu has said some of its members were beaten up by unidentified locals in the town on Saturday morning.

The group says the members had gone to the local police station today demanding that they are provided security and relief support during the lockdown. However, a group of local youth assaulted them on the street, according to the leader of the group, Rup Narayan Shrestha.

During the clash, one named Lalit Jung Rawat has been injured and he has been rushed to a nearby hospital.

DSP Chhedi Lal Kamati, the chief of the Kathmandu Metropolitan Police Circle in Kirtipur, says two groups of youth had come to the streets defying the lockdown and they fought against each other. The situation was soon taken under control, according to him.
Separate central teams visited



Ahmedabad and Surat cities in Gujarat on Saturday to take stock of the COVID-19 situation in these two districts, officials said.

The teams held talks with senior officials, including collectors, civic chiefs, police commissioners in Ahmedabad and Surat, they said.

Both the inter-ministerial central teams (IMCT) are headed by Additional Secretary-level officers.

The visit comes a day after the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said that the coronavirus situation in Ahmedabad, Surat, Thane (Maharashtra), Hyderabad (Telangana) and Chennai (Tamil Nadu) is "especially serious".

Till Friday evening, Ahmedabad district reported 1,821 coronavirus positive cases, while the number of such patients in Surat district is 462. As many as 83 patients have died in Ahmedabad, while 14 others succumbed to the infection in Surat district.

"The central teams held discussions with senior officials of the local administrations in the two hotspot cities on issues like rising cases of coronavirus and implementation of lockdown measures," official sources said.

The Surat team held talks with state Chief Secretary Anil Mukim through video-conference, during which they discussed the condition of migrant workers stuck in Surat.

Surat Municipal Commissioner B N Pani said he took part in the meeting. However, he did not share any further details.

These central teams will visit some of the COVID-19 hotspot localities in Ahmedabad and Surat cities, the sources said.

The MHA has directed the central teams to make an on- the-spot assessment of the situation and issue necessary directions to the state authorities for its redressal and submit their report to the central government.

The teams are tasked with taking stock of different factors, like compliance and implementation of lockdown measures as per guidelines issued under the Disaster Management Act 2005, supply of essential commodities, social distancing, preparedness of health infrastructure, hospital facilities and sample statistics in the district.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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Linkedin Marchio Irfan Gorbiano, Ghina Ghaliya and Dian Septiari (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, April 27, 2020 09:09 625 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd43ef88 1 National democracy,freedom-of-expression,ravio-patra,freedom-of-speech,Jokowi,pandemic,COVID-19 Free

Activists have raised the alarm over a growing climate of fear in Indonesia following the arrests of a number of people critical of the government as it scrambles to weather the social and economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In Jakarta, a government critic was arrested and questioned for 33 hours after his WhatsApp account, which he claimed was hacked, broadcast an inflammatory message calling for nationwide looting. In Malang, East Java, three students were arrested on charges of vandalism and inciting people to fight against capitalism.

The incidents, the activists said, were indications that the state was now more inclined to resort to acts of repression and intimidation to silence critics, a trend that has put the President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's credentials as a democratic leader in time of crisis in question.

The Presidents commitment to upholding the democratic system during the [COVID-19] crisis should be evaluated, said Wahyudi Djafar, the deputy director of the Institute for Policy Research and Advocacy (ELSAM).

In the past few days, human rights groups have rallied behind Ravio Patra, an independent researcher known for his critical tweets and op-ed on government policies who was arrested by the police after reporting that his WhatsApp account had been hacked and found to have broadcast provocative messages.

Ravio and a Dutch citizen identified as RS were arrested by the Jakarta Police between 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. in Menteng, Central Jakarta, on Wednesday, shortly after he announced on his twitter account @raviopatra that his WhatsApp account had been hacked, although he later recovered it.

Read also: The curious case of Ravio Patra: Why Indonesian cyberspace is a dystopian nightmare

Human rights organizations believe the hacking was an attempt to frame Ravio as a provocateur calling for nationwide riots on April 30. Labor groups have previously threatened to protest the omnibus bill on job creation on the same date, although the plan was later cancelled.

National Police spokesperson Sr. Comr. Argo Yuwono confirmed the arrest of the two people in a press conference on Thursday evening, saying that Ravio was arrested as he was about to enter a vehicle belonging to the Dutch Embassy. Ravio was released on Friday but is still facing incitement charges, while the police are trying to trace his digital activities and authenticate his hacking claim.

Aldo Kaligis of Amnesty International Indonesia has called on the police to fully investigate the case. Ravios arrest is believed to be linked to his criticism of the government. If proven true, there should be an independent, in-depth investigation and legal action against the perpetrators of the hacking and his arrest, he said.

In Malang, three student activists, who often take part in Kamisan protests  a weekly silent protest held every Thursday to demand state action on human rights abuses  and who are involved in advocating for Tegalrejo farmers in Malang regency that are defending their land against a corporation, were arrested for vandalism.

The Surabaya Legal Aid Institute (LBH) criticized their arrest, saying they were apprehended by the police and named suspects based on mere speculation. "We demand the three activists be released immediately because their arrests were flawed. This is a violation of justice," he said.

In Yogyakarta, the local chapter of the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi Yogyakarta) in Kotagede, claimed that local authorities had dispersed one of their meetings on the grounds that it violated physical distancing rules.

The activists said the meeting had followed the prescribed protocols and was allowed to be held before locals and members of the police and the Indonesian Military (TNI) came to the office to disband them.

Yogyakarta-based charity group Jogja Food Solidarity (SPJ) has claimed that the police have been monitoring its charity work in distributing food, facemasks, health supplements and hand sanitizer to low-income informal workers in the province.

Researcher at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Noory Okthariza deplored law enforcement officials for what he called repressive action, arguing that the governments hostility toward its critics would only backfire.

These kinds of things only worsen the situation at a time when the police should focus on [enforcement of] large scale social restrictions [PSBB], adding that the incidents could reflect that the governments was learning toward a security focused approach to handle criticism of its policies to contain COVID-19.
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Linkedin Alban Sciascia and Anastasia Febiola Sumarauw (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, April 25, 2020 13:23 627 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd4357e9 3 Opinion COVID-19,pandemic,Navy,TNI-AL,TNI-angkatan-laut,military,Indonesian-Military Free

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to worsen in different regions, exhausted and overwhelmed medical staff are fighting to provide assistance for all infected patients. According to a recent study, approximately 20 percent of COVID-19 positive cases globally require critical treatment, while the availability of intensive care unit beds is very limited.



Several governments have decided to involve their militaries to maximize state capability in dealing with the outbreak. Armies are deployed to help secure hospitals and states quarantine policy. The air forces distribute medical supplies, transport and evacuate patients. To some extent, a number of governments have deployed their navies hospital ships or multipurpose vessels to provide additional medical support.



At least five navies in the world have deployed their assets, including hospital ships, to provide additional health capability in battling COVID-19. The United Kingdoms Royal Navy and Royal Marines Reservists have put their fleets on standby. The Royal Navy has also deployed Royal Fleet Auxiliary Argus to the Caribbean to support the British Overseas Territories in facing both the hurricane season and COVID-19 outbreak. In parallel, the Royal Netherlands Navy has deployed its landing platform dock (LPD) HNLMS Karel Doorman to support Dutch medical facilities in the Carribean.



The United States has deployed its US Naval Ship Mercy to Los Angeles and USNS Comfort to New York City to assist ground medics in treating COVID-19 patients. Spain deployed its Navys LPDs Galicia and Castilla to support the countrys medical capability in fighting the virus in the Spanish city of Melilla. The Galicia-class ships have multipurpose and amphibious capability as well as operating rooms and ICU beds.



French President Emmanuel Macron even launched Operation Resilience on March 26 to involve its military in fighting the pandemic. Moreover, France has deployed its famous Mistral-class amphibious assault ships (LHD) to provide assistance in the French Overseas Territories. The French Navy deployed LHD Mistral to support healthcare facilities in the Southern Indian Ocean (Reunion and Mayotte), LHD Dixmude to the French Caribbean and French Guyana, while LHD Tonnerre was sent to evacuate French COVID-19 patients from Corsica to Marseille.



In fact, the Mistral-class ship is often referred to as a naval Swiss Army knife for its multipurpose features and capability. More importantly, the Mistral-class LHD is designed with hospital capability meeting level 3 medical support concept of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

Its default design hospital infrastructure of 750 square meters include two operating rooms, x-ray and dental rooms, 19 post-operation and ICU beds and 50 medical beds. Its helicopter hangar is directly connected to the ships hospital and can shelter up to 16 12T-class helicopters.



Its well dock can accommodate two landing craft air cushion (LCAC) or four landing craft mechanized (LCM). This feature is vital, because the versatility of this class of LHD could be used in a large variety of operations, such as humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations, amphibious operations, power projection or evacuation of citizens abroad.



The Indonesian government has reallocated funds within the 2020 state budget for COVID-19 medical assistance, including the Defense Ministrys budget of Rp14 trillion (US$898.73 million) originally for defense equipment modernization. As in other countries contingency plans, Indonesias military could play a bigger role to assist medical operations, in the framework of military operations other than war under the 2004 Indonesian Military Law.



As medical treatment is the priority, the Health Ministry could involve the military to organize medical units, since the armed forces are trained  some if not all  with standard medical procedures and implementing quarantine policy.



Moreover, the armed forces capability could be maximized in COVID-19 relief missions, such as the Surya Bhaskara Jaya (SBJ) humanitarian aid. The SBJ operation involves the Navy and KRI Soeharso-990 hospital ship to treat patients within Indonesias territory.



Since the government has decided to set up treatment centers for COVID-19 patients in some areas including Jakarta and Galang Island in the province of Riau Islands, the roles of the Navy and the Air Force are critical. However, until now the Navys role in supporting the governments COVID-19 response has been limited compared to the other services. For instance, the Navys C-130 Hercules and CN-295 aircraft have been involved in various government missions, such as to deliver personal protective equipment, masks and logistics to the new COVID-19 hospital on Galang. The Navy also used its aircraft to deliver personal protective equipment and masks to South Kalimantan and North Sulawesi.



In contrast, Navys ships have only been publicly used to pick up hydroalcoholic gel in Singapore, to evacuate crew of the World Dream cruise ship and Indonesian migrant workers from Malaysia.



As the number of COVID-19 positive patients continue to spike in Indonesia, the government could make better use of Navy ships. Unfortunately, the Navy has only one hospital ship  KRI Soeharso, and thus limited capacity to operate effectively throughout the archipelago.



Reflecting on the previous outbreak of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), inclusiveness between only the government and health professionals resulted in overlapping measures. Indonesia did not experience SARS and the Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) as disastrous as the current pandemic. The last epidemics the country faced were the avian flu and swine flu with comparatively limited impact.



As positive cases have reached more than 5,000 in Indonesia, the government is urged to improve its risk management and consider the involvement in a more effective manner of its military assets. The archipelagic nature of Indonesia should lead the Defense Ministry and the Indonesian Navy to review their contingency plans and measures and to think about how to deploy versatile and effective assets to remote areas of the country.



It is also vital for the government to think several steps ahead. While the Navy is supposed to accept in service a second hospital ship in October 2021, a relevant measure should be to consider versatile ships that are not limited to countering the current outbreak but to offer to capacities to handle a large spectrum of operations.



While President Joko Jokowi Widodo mentioned last year that Indonesia needed at least three hospital ships, their limited capacities shows that the Navy should consider a long-term and effective solution.

______

Alban Sciascia is a contributor for Galatea and director of Semar Sentinel Pte Ltd, where Anastasia F. Sumarauw is a consultant.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post.
A New Jersey driver crashed into a pole after passing out from wearing an N95 mask for hours.

The unidentified person was driving in Lincoln Park, New Jersey, Thursday when their red vehicle crashed head-on into the pole.

'The LPPD responded to a lone occupant single car motor vehicle crash yesterday,' the Lincoln Park Police Department wrote on Facebook. 'The crash is believed to have resulted from the driver wearing an N95 mask for several hours and subsequently passing out behind the wheel due to insufficient oxygen intake/excessive carbon dioxide intake.'

The driver was taken to a hospital where they were treated for non-life threatening injuries and is expected to be okay.

An unidentified New Jersey driver crashed into a pole after passing out from wearing an N95 mask for hours

'The crash is believed to have resulted from the driver wearing an N95 mask for several hours and subsequently passing out behind the wheel,' LPPD said

'We also know that nothing was uncovered at the accident scene that would suggest that the driver was under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

'While we don't know [the cause] with 100% certainty, we do know that the driver had been wearing an N95 mask inside the vehicle for several hours and ultimately passed out while operating the vehicle,' the department added.

The department offered guidelines for safely protecting yourself from the coronavirus, which has ravaged the state of New Jersey and neighboring New York.

'Motorists and the public alike are reminded that while masks should be used in public settings to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, they are not necessary outdoors when social distancing can be maintained, and especially not necessary when driving a vehicle with no additional occupants,' the department said on Facebook.

They were driving in Lincoln Park, New Jersey, Thursday when their red vehicle crashed head-on into the pole

The LPPD updated its post after questions swirled about the safety of the N95 masks meant to protect from transmitting and contracting deadly COVID-19.

'Considering the overwhelming response this post has received, the following should be said. NJ residents should absolutely continue to follow the directives regarding face coverings put in place by our Governor.

'As it relates to this specific incident, we reiterate that police officers are not physicians and do not know the medical history of every person we encounter. We conduct accident scene investigations using training, experience and observations at the scene to determine a cause,' the post said.
Where are the patients? asked Dr. Steven Nissen, a cardiologist there. That cant be normal.

One of the few was a man who lives in Cleveland. According to Dr. Nissen, the man felt chest pain while doing push-ups, but feared going to the hospital because there might be coronavirus patients there. He stayed home for a week, growing weaker  out of breath with the slightest exertion, his legs swelling. Finally, on April 16, he went to the Cleveland Clinic.

What should have been an easily treated heart attack had progressed to a life-threatening disaster. He survived after a dicey operation and spent nearly a week in intensive care, including several days on a ventilator, Dr. Nissen said.

The inpatient stroke unit at Stanford University Medical Center in California usually has 12 to 15 patients, said its director, Dr. Gregory Albers. On one recent day in April, there were none at all, something that had never happened.

Its frightening, Dr. Albers said. Yet few Covid-19 patients have been admitted to the hospital, and people needing emergency treatment have little to fear.

We prepared for an onslaught, but it has not arrived, Dr. Albers said.

According to Dr. Samin Sharma, who heads the cardiac catheterization lab at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, the number of heart attack patients fell from seven in February to three in March. So far in April there have been only two.

Its not just the United States. Dr. Valentin Fuster, editor of the Journal of American College of Cardiology, said he is getting so many papers from around the world on the steep decline in heart attack patients in hospitals that he simply cannot publish them all.

A hospital in Jaipur, India, for example, that Dr. Sharma owns, treated 45 heart attack patients in January, he said. In February, there were 32, and in March, 12. In April, so far the number is just six.
He's just returned to his day job as a labourer on the Gold Coast, after his stint on Married At First Sight.

And on Friday, Jonethen Musulin enjoyed a refreshing afternoon dip at Miami Beach after a long day at work.

The 27-year-old tradie went shirtless for the swim, showing off his ripped physique and washboard abs.

Refreshing: Married At First Sight star Jonethen Musulin showed off his ripped physique as he took a dip at Miami Beach on the Gold Coast on Friday

The reality star wore a pair of cheetah-print board shorts in the water.

After jumping into the water, Jonethen washed off at a nearby shower, seemingly unbothered by the cold tap water.

He pulled his long locks into a trendy man-bun, with his signature facial hair returning after he received a mixed reaction to his clean-shaven look at the MAFS reunion dinner party earlier this year.

Back to it: He's just returned to his day job as a labourer on the Gold Coast, after his stint on Married At First Sight

Now that's a six-pack! The reality star went shirtless for his brief dip, showing off his muscular frame, only donning cheetah-print board shorts

On trend: He pulled his long locks into a man-bun after his swim

He appeared in high spirits on the outing and even stopped to take some photos as he sat on the sand.

Since his stint on the controversial show, Jonethen has returned to his job as a labourer on the Gold Coast.

Despite returning to his day job, Jonethen appears keen to cash in on his newfound fame.

Earlier this month, the newly single star told fans that he was hoping for a cosmetic surgery makeover.

But first! Before happily jumping into the cool water, Married At First Sight alum Jonethen grabbed an photo for his thriving Instagram

Interesting! Despite returning to his day job, Jonethen appears keen to cash in on his newfound fame. Earlier this month, the newly single star told fans that he was hoping for a cosmetic surgery makeover

Jonethen did a call-out to plastic surgeons on Instagram to see about fixing his crooked nose, asking them to 'hit him up'.

The plea came during a Q&A session on Instagram Stories, when Jonethen received a comment from a fan about his crooked nose.

'Please don't take offence to this, but your nose has been broken before,' the message read.

He wants a makeover: Jonethen did a call-out to plastic surgeons on Instagram to see about fixing his crooked nose, asking them to 'hit him up'

Single: Jonethen was unlucky in love during his time of Married At First Sight, after being matched with Connie Craydon

Having a tiff? While many fans fell for his happy-go-lucky personality, co-star Michael Goonan claimed earlier this week that Jonethen wasn't as he seemed on-camera

'Yes, it has. It goes this way quite a bit,' Jonethen explained while holding his nose to the right, before moving it back and forth.

'...Anyone got a plastic surgeon, hit me up!' he added.

Jonethen was unlucky in love during his time of Married At First Sight, after being matched with Connie Craydon.

Cool: Jonethen washed off at a nearby shower, seemingly unbothered by the cold tap water

While many fans fell for his happy-go-lucky personality, co-star Michael Goonan claimed earlier this week that Jonethen wasn't as he seemed on-camera.

'The biggest flog of the TV thing was Johnny [Jonethen Musulin]. He was so fake the whole time, it wasn't funny. He was siting on the fence so much he was getting splinters on his a**,' Michael said in a Facebook live interview with KOTNmedia on Friday.

The word 'flog' is a derogatory Aussie slang term to describe a person who is pretentious, conceited or foolish.

The company director claimed Jonethen didn't get his ideal woman on the show, but refused to be honest about it to 'wife' Connie Craydon or the cast.

Different opinions: While many fans fell for his happy-go-lucky personality, co-star Michael Goonan (pictured left) claimed earlier this week that Jonethen wasn't as he seemed on-camera. Pictured with former wife Stacey Hampton

Ouch: Michael called him a 'flog' in a live Facebook interview
The number of confirmed and probable deaths associated with COVID-19 at nursing homes more than doubled this week to 768, according to state data released Friday evening.

The distinction of probable deaths included those determined to be linked to the virus by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner but for whom a positive laboratory result is not available.

Nursing home residents now account for nearly half of the COVID-19-related deaths in Connecticut, Josh Geballe, the states chief operating officer, said late Friday afternoon.

The state data released April 16 reported 1,713 people had tested positive for COVID-19 at dozens of nursing homes and 375 people had died. The data released Friday showed 3,423 confirmed cases, 568 laboratory-confirmed coronavirus-associated deaths and 200 probable virus-related deaths.

Some of the data provided Friday showed decreases in the number of confirmed cases, and in some cases the number of deaths, without a clear explanation. State health officials could not be reached late Friday for more information.

Of the 215 nursing homes in the state, 105 had 10 or more cases.

Abbott Terrace Health Center in Waterbury  with 205 beds and 114 confirmed cases of the virus  reported 22 lab-confirmed and seven probable deaths linked to COVID-19 as of Friday.

In Windsor, Kimberly Hall North  with 150 beds and 36 confirmed virus cases  reported eight lab-confirmed and 26 probable virus-associated deaths.

In Stratford, there were 14 lab-confirmed and four probable virus-linked deaths at Lord Chamberlain Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, which has 190 beds and 37 confirmed cases.

At Evergreen Health Care Center in Stafford Springs, where there are 180 beds and 42 confirmed virus cases, there have been 14 lab-confirmed and two probable COVID-19-associated deaths.

Three Shelton nursing homes reported more than a dozen lab-confirmed virus-related deaths as of Friday.

Apple Rehab Shelton Lakes, with 106 beds and 50 confirmed cases, reported 14 lab-confirmed and three probable virus-associated deaths; up from 40 cases and 13 deaths last week.

Bishop-Wicke Health and Rehabilitation, which has 120 beds and 27 confirmed COVID-19 cases, reported 15 lab-confirmed and seven probable deaths linked to COVID-19. Last week, the facility reported 22 cases and 12 deaths.

At Gardner Heights Health Care Center, where there are 130 beds and 60 confirmed cases, there were 21 lab-confirmed and two probable coronavirus-related deaths. Last week, the state reported 42 cases and 15 deaths at the facility.

In Bristol, Sheridan Woods Health Care Center  with 146 beds and 68 confirmed cases  reported 22 lab-confirmed and two probable virus-linked deaths as of Friday. These numbers were down from 24 confirmed cases and seven deaths last week.

The figures released on April 16 were based on numbers gathered two days before and didn't include many deaths due to late or no reporting by some homes, according to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

A union representing 6,000 workers at nearly a third of the states 215 nursing homes, which has been the most vocal of the less than handful that represent these workers across the state, had issued warnings earlier in the week that union officials expected the death toll to exceed 700.

A count taken by union members who are working at the 69 homes the union represents throughout the state indicated that as of Thursday, 399 nursing home patients have died just in those homes, said Rob Baril, president of New England Health Care Employees Union, SEIU 1199.

The union blamed the death rate on a lack of proper personal protective equipment, including masks, gowns, gloves and face shields. Both state and nursing home officials refuted those claims.

Gov. Ned Lamont on Thursday issued an executive order requiring all managed residential communities, including assisted living facilities, and all nursing homes to provide daily status reports to the state. Those 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.

New York state was given a similar directive Thursday by Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

Lamonts order came one day after the Connecticut 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.

Western Rehabilitation Care Center in Danbury was among 15 nursing homes accused of staffing shortages by the union, although Victoria Walker, a spokeswoman for the nursing home, denied that the facility did not have adequate staffing.

The nursing home had 19 cases of COVID-19, eight lab-confirmed deaths and two probable deaths as of Friday, compared to 13 cases and seven deaths as of the April 16 report.

Of the $5,000 fine for violations, Walker said, We are happy to comply with all regulations that the State of Connecticut feel are necessary to invoke. We understand they, along with us, want to put the residents first.

Keisha Trowers, administrator for RegalCare at Torrington, said the facility has made a lot of changes to adjust to the needs during the coronavirus pandemic. The state data showed the nursing home had 20 cases and one lab-confirmed deaths as of Friday. Last week, the state reported nine cases and five deaths there.

The Torrington nursing home has hired temporary staff and supplied personal protective equipment for them, Towers said. She said she wasnt worried about the $5,000 fine for violations of the reporting mandate.

If you do what you gotta do, you shouldnt be worried about it... Were on top of it, Trowers said, noting that the introduction of fines is always a possibility.

RegalCare Management, the facilitys parent company, could not be reached for comment.

Meghan Friedmann contributed to this report.
Nestle contribution to COVID-19 battle reaches Rs. 50 mln View(s):

Vulnerable families needing support as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak and frontline workers battling the pandemic have received a total of Rs. 50 million in aid from Nestle Lanka.

In its second phase of relief efforts, Nestle will be joined by its employees, who are voluntarily contributing part of their salary to help those in need. The company will match all employee contributions on a one-to-one basis, it said in a media release on Tuesday.

We have been with Sri Lanka over the last 114 years, through good times and bad. We have always cared deeply about the welfare of our people, consumers, farmers, business partners, and community at large. Today, were continuing to stand with them by doing whatever is in our power to help fight this pandemic with resilience, courage and a caring heart, said Fabrice Cavallin, Nestle Lankas Managing Director.

The company has implemented comprehensive relief efforts to safeguard the well-being of its stakeholders across the value chain, as far as possible.

Nestle, in support of the community, has contributed PPE (personal protective equipment) and food and beverages worth Rs. 50 million. These were directed to vulnerable families whose livelihoods have been impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak, and to medical workers and the forces at the centre of fighting the COVID-19 pandemic  including the Infectious Diseases Hospital (IDH), Public Health Inspectors (PHIs), Army and Police.

Nestle is continuing to buy milk from its 14,000 farmers, to ensure their livelihoods are protected in these uncertain times. The company is also supporting other farmers unable to find buyers for their milk, by purchasing their milk where possible, to ensure they too continue to receive an income.

The release said the company is working closely with its suppliers to help them adapt their processes to work with minimal staff. To help minimise financial impact for its distributor partners, Nestle is helping them set up mobile stores and home delivery business models, and to supply to e-commerce sites. Nestle has closely followed health recommendations by the WHO and Sri Lankan health authorities to implement safe working arrangements for its employees. These include work segregation, social distancing, safe transportation, temperature monitoring, using sanitisers and masks, and working from home.

Were proud to not only be able to ensure our consumers continue to receive our products, but also to help take care of our people, farmers, suppliers and business partners, and help others most vulnerable in this situation. Were proud to be doing the best we can, added Mr. Cavallin.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will be giving USD 1.7 billion dollars to Pakistan to help them contain the Coronavirus crisis and its impact on the economy. According to reports, the announcement was made during a virtual meeting between ADB president Masatsugu Asakawa and Pakistan's Minister for Economic Affairs Khusro Bakhtiar.

Reportedly, the ADB will be providing USD 800 million by June, while USD 900 million will be provided by the end of the year. Earlier this month, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had approved USD 1.3 billion in emergency financing to Pakistan. Meanwhile, a relief package worth PKR 1.2 trillion (about INR 56,000 crore) was announced by the Pakistan authorities on March 24 to deal with the crisis.

The doles by the global institutions has come after significant appealing by Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, who has been at it continuously, seeking aid and debt waivers rather than taking measures to protect his citizens from Covid, as per his opponents.

My appeal to the international community, the UNSG & international financial institutions to respond positively to the dilemma confronting developing countries in the face of the COVID19 pandemic. #Global_Initiative_Debt_Relief pic.twitter.com/EfydRhfZhc  Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) April 12, 2020

Read: COVID-19 Update: Home ministry exempts registered shops from lockdown restrictions

COVID-19 in Pakistan

So far, Pakistan has reported 11,940 Coronavirus cases, out of which 253 people have succumbed to the infection till now. Meanwhile, 2,755 people have reportedly recovered. As the number of cases spiked, the country extended the partial lockdown on Friday by another two weeks till May 9.

Read: Mumbai police share 'savage' lockdown meme on Instagram, netizens hail 'underground memer'

Meanwhile, first detected in China's Wuhan, at present, there are around 2,830, 051 confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection across the globe and the disease has led to the death of around 197,245 people. In a ray of hope, around 798,772 people are also reported to have recovered.

Read: Pakistan Army trying to push terrorists into J&K amid the novel coronavirus outbreak

Read: Work on worlds longest immersed tunnel connecting Denmark & Germany to begin in Jan 2021

(With ANI Inputs)
NEW YORK, April 25, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Aarons, Inc. (Aarons or the Company) (NYSE: AAN) and certain of its officers. The class action, filed in United States District Court, for the Southern District of New York, and indexed under 20-cv-01796, is on behalf of a class consisting of all persons and entities other than Defendants who purchased or otherwise acquired Aarons securities between March 2, 2018, and February 19, 2020, both dates inclusive (the Class Period), seeking to recover damages caused by Defendants violations of the federal securities laws and to pursue remedies under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Exchange Act) and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder, against the Company and certain of its top officials.



If you are a shareholder who purchased Aarons securities during the class period, you have until April 28, 2020, to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlawfirm.com . To discuss this action, contact Robert S. Willoughby at rswilloughby@pomlaw.com or 888.476.6529 (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 7980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased.

[Click here for information about joining the class action]

Aarons was founded in 1955 and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. The Company operates as an omnichannel provider of lease-purchase solutions to underserved and credit-challenged customers, and also engages in the sale, lease ownership, and specialty retailing of various products.

Aarons operates in three reportable segmentsProgressive Leasing (Progressive), Aarons Business (AB), and Vive Financial, LLC (Vive). The Progressive and AB segments are subject to federal regulatory agency oversight and scrutiny, including the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

The Complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements regarding the Companys business, operational and compliance policies. Specifically, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose: (i) that Aarons had inadequate disclosure controls, procedures, and compliance measures; (ii) that, consequently, the operations of Aarons Progressive and AB segments were in violation of the FTC Act and/or relevant FTC regulations; (iii) that, consequently, Aarons earnings from those segments were partially derived from unlawful business practices and were thus unsustainable; (iv) the full extent of Aarons liability regarding the FTCs investigation into its Progressive and AB segments, Aarons noncompliance with the FTC Act, and the likely negative consequences of all the foregoing on the Companys financial results; and (v) that, as a result, the Companys public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.

On July 26, 2018, during after-market hours, Aarons filed a Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q with the Securities and Exchange Commission, reporting the Companys financial and operating results for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2018. That Quarterly Report disclosed that, in July 2018, Aarons received civil investigative demands (CIDs) from the FTC requesting the production of documents and answers to written questions to determine whether disclosures related to financial products offered by the Company through its AB and Progressive segments were in violation of the FTC Act.

On this news, Aarons stock price fell $5.38 per share, or 11.01%, to close at $43.47 per share on July 27, 2018.

On April 25, 2019, during pre-market hours, Aarons filed another Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q with the SEC, reporting the Companys financial and operating results for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2019. That Quarterly Report disclosed that, in April 2019, Aarons AB segment received an unrelated CID from the FTC focused on certain transactions involving the purchase and sale of customer lease agreements, and whether such transactions violated the FTC Act.

Then, on February 20, 2020, Aarons issued a press release announcing the Companys financial results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2019. Among other results, Aarons reported that the Companys Progressive segment had reached an agreement in principle with FTC staff regarding the CID from the FTC that Progressive received in July 2018. Aarons advised investors that [u]nder the proposed agreement, which requires final approval by FTC Commissioners and the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Progressive will make a payment of $175 million and enhance certain compliance-related activities, including monitoring, disclosure and reporting requirements.

On this news, Aarons stock price fell $10.70 per share, or 19.06%, to close at $45.45 per share on February 20, 2020.

The Pomerantz Firm, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Paris, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, the Pomerantz Firm pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 80 years later, the Pomerantz Firm continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomerantzlaw.com



CONTACT:

Robert S. Willoughby

Pomerantz LLP

rswilloughby@pomlaw.com
China filed a patent for a drug seen as one of the best potential weapons against coronavirus the day after it confirmed human transmission of the disease.

The revelation that it moved so fast fuels concerns about a cover-up of the pandemic when it erupted in Wuhan last year, and suggests that Chinas understanding of the virus was far advanced from the impression given by its public stance.

Last night, Tom Tugendhat, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, joined the growing global clamour for a full, independent inquiry into Chinas role.

It is quite clear there is an awful lot that we dont know about the emergence of this disease and the responses to it, he said. We all need to learn the lessons of the outbreak so the international community can respond better in the future.

Chinas Communist Party leaders face accusations that they suppressed data, blocked public health teams from investigating, silenced doctors seeking to warn the world about the epidemic and delayed admitting there was human transmission.

On January 21, a patent for commercial use of Remdesivir  a drug initially created by an American pharmaceutical firm to fight ebola  was filed in China (file photo)

The contagious nature of the virus was confirmed by President Xi Jinping on January 20. Leaked documents have shown that even after officials knew they faced an epidemic, they delayed warning the public for six days.

On January 21, a patent for commercial use of Remdesivir  a drug initially created by an American pharmaceutical firm to fight ebola  was filed in China.

The application was made by Wuhan Institute of Virology, the top-secret bio-laboratory at the centre of concerns about a possible leak of the disease from its research on bats, and the countrys Military Medicine Institute.

The contagious nature of the virus was confirmed by President Xi Jinping (above) on January 20. Leaked documents have shown that even after officials knew they faced an epidemic, they delayed warning the public for six days

The move was described as provocative by one website specialising in clinical research.

Gilead, the California-based developer of the drug, says it filed its own global applications for Remdesivirs use against coronavirus four years ago. Countries, firms and scientists around the world are collaborating in the race to find effective treatments and vaccines.

The winners will derive immense prestige  and would boost Chinas narrative that its response deserves praise, not opprobrium.

Gilead said it was aware of the Chinese move but had no influence over the patent offices decision and could not comment since precise details of the application would not be published until next year. Our focus at this time is on rapidly determining the potential for Remdesivir as a treatment for Covid-19 and accelerating manufacturing in anticipation of potential future supply needs, a spokesman added.

The drug, hailed as promising by US President Donald Trump after anecdotal reports that it had helped some patients, is already being given to certain coronavirus cases on compassionate grounds.

The drug, hailed as promising by US President Donald Trump after anecdotal reports that it had helped some patients, is already being given to certain coronavirus cases on compassionate grounds (file photo)

Stocks are in such short supply that it could not be included in the worlds biggest trial of possible treatments being run by Oxford University. One leading US epidemiologist said it offered hope but wont likely be a home-run drug. This was underlined last week by leaked results of an initial trial in China that raised concerns.

But Gilead argued this study was stopped due to low patient enrolment and said results of a major US government trial would be released next month. This study is designed to show if Remdesivir, when given to patients with a range of disease severity, improves outcomes such as length of hospital stay, need for mechanical ventilation and survival rates.

Professor Martin Landray, a leader of the Oxford study, said doctors would probably end up with a range of drugs to fight the virus, adding: It is unlikely we will get a wonder drug that will knock out the infection.

Prof Landray said drugs might be used in combinations to help reduce death rates.

He added: Even if you find a drug that reduces the death rate by one fifth, that would have meant we would have been able to save about 4,000 lives already in Britain.'
Islamabad: Everyone is worried today due to increasing crime and incidents. A case has surfaced, after which the people's soul has shivered. The case of abduction of two minor girls of minority Hindu family has come up in Sindh province of Pakistan. In this incident, the name of the brother of the influential leader of the area is said to be behind this incident. The victim's family is far from getting the help of the police, they are getting threats from the family of the abductee. The family has released a video demanding that their daughters- Sudhi and Shama be searched.

Manmohan Singh slams Modi Government over allowance deduction

The family alleges that the two sisters have been abducted by the brother of Pir Faisal Shah Jeelani, a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan. The victim's family is afraid that if the police resort to action, then the abducted sisters will be forcibly converted and get them married. Sindh province is known for such forced marriages. The Legislative Assembly has also demanded the government to enact a law to prevent such incidents. The United Nations Human Rights Commission has also asked the Government of Pakistan to put a stop to such incidents. But the proposal to make stringent legal provisions in the radical National Assembly of Pakistan is not allowed to pass.

Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh, helping America, running biggest relief campaign

Incidents of violence and harassment are continuously coming up against minorities in Pakistan. According to the Movement for Solidarity and Peace in Pakistan, every year about one thousand girls from Christian and Hindu communities are forced to marry Muslim youth. Not only this, when the whole world is coming together to fight against the coronavirus epidemic, then minorities in Pakistan are left alone on their own. Minority communities in Sindh have appealed to influential people and other governments to provide food to them as Pakistan is not helping them.

Thousands of Muslims gathered for Namaz violating lockdown
Though Night Lessons in Little Jerusalem is set during the Holocaust, it is not about the Holocaust, according to screenwriter-turned novelist Rick Held.

The novel's teenage protagonist, Tholdi, is an amalgam of Helds father and his father's first cousin, an internationally renowned conductor.

I think the Holocaust has been extensively covered in terms of the horror of concentration camps and genocide to the point where I think there's perhaps an overload, says the now Melbourne-based Held. This is about the relationship triangle between the hero, Tholdi, his boss, who is a Nazi collaborator, and the bosses mistress.

Rick Held, author of Night Lessons in Little Jerusalem. Credit:Chris Hopkins

While Held refers to 16-year-old Tholdi both in the book, and in our interview, as a hero, this seems more a cliche of screenwriting than a fair and nuanced description of a character whose integrity is challenged by the need to survive and his infatuation with the collaborators mistress.
RIO DE JANEIRO  President Jair Bolsonaro of Brazil was struggling to govern effectively long before the explosive resignation speech of his star cabinet minister, who basically called his soon-to-be former boss a criminal.

Mr. Bolsonaro became a president without a political party in November, after falling out with leaders of the Social Liberal Party, which had backed his presidential bid.

Several political allies  including two of Mr. Bolsonaros sons  are under investigation in a series of criminal and legislative inquiries. They include suspected money-laundering schemes and defamatory disinformation campaigns waged online.

In recent weeks, Mr. Bolsonaros strikingly dismissive response to the coronavirus pandemic, which he has called a measly cold that cannot be allowed to throttle economic growth, generated calls for impeachment at home and bewilderment abroad.
SHIAWASSEE COUNTY, MI -- Four cases of COVID-19 have been reported at The Lodges of Durand after the facility tested all residents and staff on Wednesday, April 22, the Shiawassee County Health Department says.

The senior living center and the Health Department said in a joint news release that prior to testing, no residents or staff displayed any symptoms of having contracted coronavirus.

After testing had been completed, one staff member and three residents tested positive, the joint statement says. All were asymptomatic. There have been no deaths at The Lodges of Durand from the COVID-19 crisis.

The employee who tested positive for the virus is self-isolating at home, and the residents are being isolated in a specially prepared COVID-19 positive unit, which is separated from the other residents, the news release says.

While we are saddened by the discovery of those persons found positive of the virus, we are heartened by the fact that by pro-actively testing everyone, we caught the virus early enough so that we can treat those infected early on in their process, and saved many more from being infected, Dean Solden, founder and co-owner of the Lodge, said in the statement.

The Lodges cases are the most recent to hit assisted living facilities in Shiawassee County.

On Tuesday, April 21, the Health Department reported four residents and two employees at The Meadows Assisted Living in Owosso had contracted COVID-19 after all residents and staff there were tested for the virus.

On April 17 the county reported 47 confirmed cases of coronavirus at Durand Senior Care and Rehab  26 residents and 21 employees.

New testing turns up six cases of COVID-19 at Owosso assisted living home

Coronavirus infections rise to 47 residents, workers at Shiawassee County senior center in Durand
Pakistan Prime Minister's hypocrisy against the country's religious minorities stood exposed even in the eyes of his own citizens after he extended Ramzan greetings without making any request to the people to adhere to social distancing norms and pray at home this time keeping in mind the COVID-19 pandemic - sharply in contrast to the Christian Easter celebration.

A comparison of Imran Khan's Ramzan tweet to his greetings on Easter a few weeks ago where he had strongly urged the 2 percent minority of Christians to celebrate Easter at home abiding by 'national safety protocols' lays his double-standards bare, and brings to light the plight of minorities in the neighbouring nation. This comes after the Pakistan government has permitted congregational prayers in Mosques for the month.

Read: 'They Were Abiding': Imran Khan's Rival Bhutto Says Pak PM Blundered Ramzan Covid Lockdown

Imran Khan's Ramzan wish:

Ramazan Mubarak to Muslims across the world. We in Pakistan must use this holy month to ask Allah for forgiveness for neglecting the poor & vulnerable in our society. We as a nation have been elite-centric in our policies, with no thought for these people, incl in the pandemic  Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) April 24, 2020

When we sought a total lockdown without thinking about the consequences for the daily wage earners, the street vendors, the labourers, all of whom face poverty & hunger for themselves & their families. May Allah forgive us our sin of neglecting our dispossessed & poor citizens.  Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) April 24, 2020

Let us also resolve as a nation, in this holy month of Ramazan, to lift our marginalised citizens out of poverty & mainstream them as our Prophet PBUH did in the world's first welfare state - Riyasat-i- Madina - and as China has done in lifting 700 m people out of poverty.  Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) April 24, 2020

And here's his Easter greeting:

Wishing all our Christian citizens a happy Easter. Please stay safe and keep your families safe during the COVID19 pandemic by praying and celebrating at home; & by observing the national safety protocols  Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) April 12, 2020

Hypocrisy galore. Couldn't tell the people to pray at home for Ramzan, while lectured the 2% to stay and pray at home on Easter. https://t.co/xe9csw14t7 pic.twitter.com/dNi1Mo30hU  Naila Inayat   (@nailainayat) April 24, 2020

Read: Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan Tests Negative For The Novel Coronavirus

Meanwhile, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Thursday slammed the Imran Khan-led Pakistan Government for allowing congregational prayers in the Mosques and for sending out "mixed messages". In an interview with a British broadcaster, Bhutto said that Imran Khan's logic and reasoning to change the restrictions which were already in place are beyond comprehension.

Several countries including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Algeria, Tunisia, Jordan, Kuwait, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon and Egypt have stopped congregational prayers. In several Arab countries, the azan (call for prayer) has been amended and now it urges people to pray in their homes.

Pakistan on Thursday reported 253 deaths from novel Coronavirus while the total number of cases surged to 11,940.

Read: Pakistan Extends Coronavirus Lockdown Till May 9; Cases Rise To 11,155

Read: Pakistan's Coronavirus Cases Rise To 11,155; 79% Cases Locally Transmitted
GLENDALE, Ariz.  The care packages, left outside closed apartment doors to curb the coronavirus, offer newly arrived refugee families a few items to ease their transition to life in the United States  canned goods, fresh produce and a short lesson in the importance of the census.

Refugee advocates would normally extend such assistance face to face, but the virus makes that impossible. Now advocacy organizations are concerned that the pandemic threatens not only the families health and safety but refugee participation in the national headcount, which will help determine how the government distributes some $1.5 trillion for refugees and everyone living in the areas where they settle.

To encourage refugees to take part, workers for the International Rescue Committee in suburban Phoenix include census instructions along with Swiss chard, fennel and green onions harvested from a refugee-run garden.

The newest arrivals dont know anything about the census. We have to educate them, said Muktar Sheikh, program coordinator for the Somali Association of Arizona, who has worked to get the word out among local refugees.

The government-ordered lockdowns to help stop the spread of the virus have put a damper on census efforts that typically thrive on personal contact, especially in hard-to-count communities where fresh arrivals are trying to get a foothold. Because of the virus, census officials postponed field operations until June 1 and moved the deadline for finishing the count to Oct. 31.

There is no question that the coronavirus knocked the wind out of census outreach, especially for communities that are harder to reach, said DVera Cohn, a census specialist with the Pew Research Center in Washington. But the good thing about everyone being home is that you know where to find them.

Refugees are somewhat different than other immigrants because the government approves them for resettlement before they arrive, often after they have fled conflicts back home. They also get more help from agencies like the rescue committee, which work to help them gain self-sufficiency so they can apply for permanent residency after a year.

Kristen Aster, who helps lead the rescue committees census efforts, said the outbreak makes the count more important for refugees, who often rely on cash assistance and other government aid during their first months in the U.S.

Even as we focus on the public health and safety of our communities, a fair and accurate census is a way we can support our communities for years to come, Aster said.

Kelly Percival, a census specialist at the Brennan Center for Justice in New York, said that every person who does not fill out the form translates into a loss of money for that community.

But she said she is hopeful about the refugee community because they are already in the system. The more records we have on someone, the better chance theyll have of being counted.

With the rescue committees Glendale office now closed, case workers are checking frequently on the health of refugees stuck at home but have not found anyone who has tested positive for the virus, said outreach coordinator Stanford T. Prescott.

They are also reminding refugees to fill out the census form. The rescue committees local Facebook page now features videos encouraging census participation in seven languages, including Farsi, Nepali and Kirundi.

The agencys San Diego office is calling nearly 10,000 clients from the last decade to ask about any needs regarding the virus and to remind them about the census. The Salt Lake City office is mailing postcards encouraging them to fill out the form.

Other groups are doing similar outreach.

Refugee & Immigrant Services Northwest in Everett, Washington, has been calling clients about their health weekly, and helping them fill out census forms, said Van Kuno, executive director. The National Network of Immigrant and Refugee Rights in Oakland, California, tells advocates they must support our communities to participate in the census despite social-distancing restrictions.

Those groups are trying to get coronavirus and census information to all categories of immigrants. Research has shown them to be at higher risk of being undercounted, and advocates worry that the unsuccessful push to add a citizenship question to the census may leave them wary of interacting with government officials.

President Donald Trumps decision to impose a historically low cap of 18,000 refugees for this year has complicated the resettlement program under policies closing the door to foreign-born people. A little over 7,000 refugees have been allowed into the U.S. so far, including 440 to Arizona.

The virus outbreak derailed the program further when resettlement was temporarily halted in March, disappointing families who have waited for years to come to the U.S. Many adult refugees already here have lost jobs in food service, hospitality and other industries disproportionately affected by the pandemic.

But refugees are among the groups that stand to benefit from recent legislation to ease the outbreaks effects. Lawmakers added $350 million to the State Departments budget for migration and refugee assistance and set aside $1.3 billion for community health centers and $450 million for food banks.

Advocates said any future government grants will depend on getting an accurate census count.

Rescue committee staff member Clay Cranford drove that message home in February, before the health crisis, when he told the Spanish- and Burmese-speaking students in his citizenship class that completing the census would prepare them to be good Americans.

Taking part will benefit your community. It will benefit your neighbor, he said.
Millions of Muslims around the world are now abstaining from eating and drinking from dawn until sunset to mark the holy month of Ramadan, which concludes in late May.

The Islamic month of fasting is when Muslims believe the Koran was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad and is about togetherness. It is marked by joyful group "iftars," where the faithful break their all-day fasts by feasting with family and friends and go to evening prayers at mosques.

But this year, Ramadan will be significantly different due to lockdowns and social-distancing protocols aimed at slowing the deadly coronavirus pandemic that has resulted in the closure of mosques and religious centers around the world.

It will force Muslims to give up some of those cherished Ramadan rituals to prioritize their health and refrain from actions that could lead to a further spread of the deadly coronavirus, which has killed almost 200,000 people worldwide as of April 24.

Instead, worshippers will pray at home and break their fasts in small groups. Others will join online prayer groups and Koran recitations.

In a few countries, including Pakistan, many mosques will remain open and communal prayers will take place despite fears about spreading the pandemic.

Iran

In the Middle Eastern country hit hardest by the coronavirus, restrictive measures have been eased recently to salvage a struggling economy that is under pressure from crippling U.S. sanctions.

But Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has instructed citizens to avoid gatherings and create a Ramadan-like experience at home.

"Because of being deprived of public prayers, speeches, and so on during Ramadan, we should create the same sense in our homes," Khamenei said in an April 9 speech.

Despite some new allowances for greater freedom to travel and the opening of shops, Iranian authorities have extended an order to close shrines and other religious centers until May 4.

Ahead of Ramadan, which is expected to begin in Iran on April 25, some clerics and Friday Prayers leaders have called on their supporters to follow their speeches and sermons on social media, including the popular Instagram.

Speaking earlier this week, President Hassan Rohani told Iranians to celebrate Ramadan while bearing in mind the country's "special circumstances" due to the coronavirus outbreak, which has killed more than 5,500 and infected more than 88,000, according to official figures as of April 25. The real figures are believed to be significantly higher.

"There will be no communal iftars," Rohani said earlier this week.

In many cities and provinces, charity groups and the paramilitary Basij force have said they will distribute food packages to those in need, an important part of charity during Ramadan.

WATCH: Muhammad Munir, a virologist at Lancaster University in the United Kingdom, says governments and public health officials need much more data before deciding when to relax lockdown restrictions.

Meanwhile, some health officials have said there are no indications that fasting raises the risk of contracting the coronavirus. "There's no research proving that fasting results in an increased risk of COVID-19," Health Ministry nutrition expert Zahra Abdollahi told the government news agency IRNA on April 24.

But she added that those at greater risk of contracting the virus -- including diabetics and cancer patients as well those who think fasting could damage their health -- should refrain from performing it until the pandemic is over.

Afghanistan

In neighboring Afghanistan, where the coronavirus has spread to some 30 of the country's 34 provinces -- killing 47 people and infecting 1,463 as of April 25 -- the Hajj and Endowment Ministry said on the eve of Ramadan that in areas under a lockdown people should pray in their homes and refrain from going to mosques.

But Hajj and Religious Affairs Minister Abdul Hakim Munib said people who wanted to perform their prayers in mosques should follow official health guidelines. "Those who want to want to go to mosques and pray with their community wont be blocked," Munib said. Our advice is to sanitize the mosques, perform ablution at home, respect social distancing during prayers while also wearing masks, he added at a press conference on April 22.

He also said the elderly and sick who are at greatest risk of contracting the coronavirus do not need to fast during Ramadan, adding that they can perform their religious duty when the pandemic has ended.

Kabul resident Shir Shah told RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan on April 22 that he will be respecting the guidelines while urging his fellow citizens to do the same. "Id like to ask everyone to respect the [official] health advice," he said. "Its been said that if sick people go to the mosques the virus will spread further."

Pakistan

The government in Islamabad, under pressure from influential clerics, has loosened restrictions on communal prayers at mosques. The decision has led to concern among health-care workers who have called on the government to reverse its decision.

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan told journalists on April 22 that people want to go to mosques during Ramadan to be closer to God. "Do we forcefully tell [the people] not to go to mosques? And if they go, will the police put worshippers in jail? This does not happen in an independent society," he said.

The comments came as doctors with the Pakistani Medical Association told Khan and clerics that lockdowns were needed to slow the spread of the COVID-19 outbreak, which has so far killed more than 250 people and infected more than 11,000 in the country as of April 25. Many think the actual numbers are even higher.

"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 journalists.

Worshippers have been told to bring their own prayer mats to the mosques, respect social-distancing measures, and perform their ablutions at home.

Russia

In Russia, the country's top Muslim cleric has said that mosques will be temporarily closed during Ramadan and that group prayers will not be held.

Russian Grand Mufti Talgat Tadzhuddin added, however, that imams will be online to lead prayers and read the Koran. He said Muslims in Russia -- where there are millions of migrant workers from predominantly Islamic countries -- will have a "unique month of Ramadan," while adding that "I believe that blessed Ramadan will still be solemn for everyone."

Russia has so far reported a COVID-19 death toll of more than 600 people and more than 68,000 infections as of April 25. Some critics believe those figures to be significantly undercounted.

Central Asia

In some of the five countries that make up Central Asia, officials and clerics have called on the faithful to pray in their homes, even in Tajikistan, where authorities claim -- amid widespread skepticism -- that there are no coronavirus infections. (Officials in Turkmenistan have also not reported any infections.)

"People should pray at home with their family members. The reason is to prevent gatherings. It is fine for [people] to pray [the evening prayers of] Taraweeh at home," Jamoluddin Khomushi, from the Tajik Islamic Ulema Council, said this week.

For his part, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon urged Muslims to abstain from fasting, saying it makes people "vulnerable to infection from infectious diseases."

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.

Tajikistan has for many years been criticized by the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom for restrictions and crackdowns on religion, which the government strictly controls.

Rahmon also urged farmers and manual workers to postpone the rituals. "Although this disease is not registered in our country, this does not mean that we should be careless and sit idle," he said on April 23.

In Kyrgyzstan, where many of those who have contracted COVID-19 are believed to be devout Muslims who traveled to Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and other countries for religious purposes, people have been urged to forego communal prayers and group fast-breaking ceremonies during Ramadan.

"This year the sacred month of Ramadan coincided with the coronavirus lockdown in our country, therefore Muslims must conduct all religious rituals -- prayers, Friday Prayers, and their iftar ceremony only at home," Kyrgyz Mufti Maksat Toktomushev said in a video statement on April 15. "Stay at home with your family members, follow quarantine rules until this is over."

Kyrgyzstan has reported 665 cases of coronavirus and eight deaths as of April 25.

In Kazakhstan, where 25 deaths and 2,482 coronavirus cases have been reported, Grand Mufti Nauryzbai Kazhy Taganuly has announced that Friday Prayers and special Ramadan prayers will not be performed at mosques due to the pandemic.

The mufti has said medical workers, police, and the military may postpone fasting this year, Inform.kz reported.

In Uzbekistan, where an increasingly stricter coronavirus lockdown has been imposed since first being announced in late March, the authorities have taken several measures that are designed to stop the spread of the virus and that will affect Ramadan.

Despite being hit relatively lightly by the pandemic thus far -- with 1,836 infections and just eight deaths as of April 24 -- Uzbekistan's mosques have been closed and will remain shuttered during the month of fasting.

Additionally, all special evening prayer events during the holiday have been canceled and large iftar parties forbidden.

The government also announced that special mobile food markets have been set up with subsidized prices to help the less fortunate buy goods.

With charity for the poor being a big part of Ramadan, officials have asked that all such donations be given to special centers instead of taking such charity to people's homes, to reduce person-to-person contact and thus the spread of the disease.

But should the worst occur to a Muslim worshipper, the official Uzbek Muslim board declared on April 13 that anyone who dies from the coronavirus will become a martyr.

Written by Golnaz Esfandiari based on reporting by RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service Director Venera Djumataeva, Uzbek Service Director Alisher Siddique, Tajik Service correspondent Tohir Safarov, and Radio Free Afghanistan's Abdolhamid Hakimi
Two Texas icons are coming together with some Texas musicians to support the future of the state's agriculture.

Billy Bob's Texas and Cavenders will host a free virtual concert Saturday at 7 p.m. to benefit the Texas FFA Foundation.

Youre Still Farming, Were Still Singing will feature performances from: Aaron Watson, Casey Donahew, Cleto Cordero, Cody Johnson, Jack Ingram, Josh Abbott, Kevin Fowler, Koe Wetzel, Mike Ryan, Neal McCoy, Parker McCollum, Pat Green, Randy Rogers, Tracy Byrd, Wade Bowen and William Clark Green.

All of the performers consider Texas their home, and several of them have a personal history and connection with the FFA.

ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Its too soon to say when Houston schools will reopen. Heres why

This opportunity to continue to involve our yearlong Billy Bobs Partners in a virtual concert for an organization that is benefiting kids in this western and agricultural industry is wonderful," said Katherine Kolstad Laramore, corporate partnerships at Billy Bobs Texas. "It is such a creative way for this tight-knit group to all stay connected and supportive as a community during this time apart."

The virtual concert is free to enjoy, but donations will be accepted to help provide scholarships and leadership development opportunities for students and agricultural science teachers.

Texas is blessed with three vital and renewable resources: youth, agriculture, and leadership, said Aaron Alejandro, Executive Director, Texas FFA Foundation. Our program empowers the dreams of our members today, ensuring they are dynamic influencers in the future. Together we will help our students be resilient today, so they will be stronger leaders tomorrow. Your support is helping make Texas a better place to live, work, and raise our families.
Nineteen people including 18 members of an extended family have tested positive for coronavirus in UPs Santkabirnagar district and have been admitted to hospital, a senior administrative officer said on Saturday.

A student of the Darul Uloom Deoband seminary who had come to the district last month had tested positive for coronavirus earlier this week. His family members and close relatives were subsequently kept in quarantine and their samples were sent for testing, of which 18 have been found to be positive, District Magistrate Ravish Kumar Gupta said.

One person from Tilathi village in Bakhira police station area has also tested positive for the virus, Gupta said.

This patient had recently returned from Mumbai. His sample was sent to Gorakhpur medical college and the report was received Saturday, the DM said, adding that his family members have been quarantine and their samples sent for testing.

The District Magistrate said with these new cases, the number of coronavirus positive patients in the district was now 21.

The areas from where these cases have been reported have been sealed off, he added.

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COLLINSVILLE  Illinois State Police (ISP) Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) Zone 6 officials arrested Kraig T. Appleton, 29, of East St. Louis, for first-degree murder.

The arrest occurred Thursday following an April 20 incident in the 2900 block of Converse Avenue in East St. Louis, where Appleton allegedly shot Kelli S. Farrell, 41, of East St. Louis, in the stomach causing her death. Appleton was formally charged with first-degree murder by St. Clair County States Attorney James A. Gomric on Friday. Appletons bond was set at $1 million, 10% to apply, and he is being held at the St. Clair County Jail.

The incident was jointly investigated by the East St. Louis Police Department and ISP DCI Zone 6. No additional information is being released reference this case.

The public is reminded that all subjects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
The following events are planned for the upcoming week throughout the region:  Jurassic Quest, featuring more than 100 life-like dinosaurs, dinosaur themed rides, live dinosaur shows and more, opens Saturday and runs through Jan. 23 at the Pennsylvania Convention...
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-25 19:24:33|Editor: huaxia

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DAMASCUS, April 25 (Xinhua) -- The Turkish forces and Turkey-backed rebels fired shells on residential areas in the northeastern province of Hasakah after midnight, state news agency SANA reported Saturday.

The shells targeted homes on the outskirts of the Tal Tamr town in the northern countryside of Hasakah, said SANA.

The shelling left damage to buildings with no reports yet on casualties.

The Turkish forces have repeatedly targeted areas where the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces are located. Enditem
UK: Iran's Ballistic Missile Programme is Destabilising for Middle East, Threatens Regional Security

Sputnik News

10:49 GMT 24.04.2020(updated 16:23 GMT 24.04.2020)

On 22 April, the Iranian military said that its first military satellite Noor (Light) had been successfully placed into an orbit located 425 kilometres (265 miles) above the Earth's surface, using a Qassed (Envoy) carrier. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo doubted the launch's compliance with UN resolutions.

An Iranian satellite that was launched on 22 April is inconsistent with a United Nations Security Council resolution, the UK's Foreign Office said in a statement.

"Reports that Iran has carried out a satellite launch  using ballistic missile technology  are of significant concern and inconsistent with UN Security Council Resolution 2231", a Foreign Office spokesman said.

"The UN has called upon Iran not to undertake any activity related to ballistic missiles designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons. Iran must abide by this", the spokesman added.

"We have significant and longstanding concerns, alongside our international partners, over Iran's ballistic missile programme, which is destabilising for the region and poses a threat to regional security", he said.

Iran successfully placed into orbit its first military satellite earlier this week.

In January 2019, Iran failed to place several satellites into orbit. This attempt was also condemned by some Western nations, who believe that Iran's actions violate United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231, adopted in 2015 to endorse the Iran nuclear deal.

The United States, as well as some other nations, sees the resolution as banning Iran from launching rockets. At the same time, Russia has stressed that the resolution only calls on Iran to refrain from developing ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons.

A Sputnik

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A US lawmaker has urged President Donald Trump to suspend the foreign workers programme, including H-1B, as more than 26 million Americans have lost their job because of the coronavirus pandemic.

In a letter to Trump, Congressman Paul Gosar sought additional suspension of the H-1B, H4, L1, B1, B2, Optional Practical Training Program, and further guest worker admissions in order to promote wages and opportunities for American workers during this period of rising unemployment.

The letter, dated April 23, was released to the media on Friday, a day after Trump issued an executive order that suspended issuing of new Green Cards for the next 90 days.

"At a time when more than 26 million Americans are out of work due to COVID-19, the very last thing we should be doing is authorising is additional foreign labor," Gosar said.

Trump's proclamation is a solid step to ensure we put American workers first, but the Secretaries of State, Homeland Security and Labour must recommend the suspension of additional guest worker visas and programmes that undercut the American workforce, he said, adding, "There has never been a better time to truly put America first."

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

On April 22, Trump issued the "Proclamation Suspending Entry of Immigrants Who Present Risk to the US Labor Market During the Economic Recovery Following the COVID-19 Outbreak."

Section 6 of the proclamation requires the Secretaries of Labor, Homeland Security, and State to recommend additional measures to ensure the prioritisation, hiring, and employment of United States workers.

I write to encourage consideration of additional measures by the Secretary of Labor, Secretary of Homeland Security, and Secretary of State, as described in Section 6 of the proclamation, within 30 days of the effective date to ensure the prioritization, hiring, and employment of United States workers., he said.

In another letter, Congressman Josh Harder urged Congressional Select Committee on the Coronavirus Crisis to take action to protect medical professionals who hold H-1B visas, especially as these workers are essential to confront and combat the current epidemic.

Harder is working on a bill to extend the 60-day grace period for an H-1B healthcare worker who loses his or her job to last for the duration of the Coronavirus crisis, so that even if their health center is struggling, they aren't forced to abandon the community they serve in the middle of a crisis.

I urge you to include my bill, which would solve this problem, in the next coronavirus relief package, Harder wrote.

More than 90 per cent of the US population is presently under a stay-at-home order.

Requiring people -- particularly healthcare workers -- to move, and in many cases use public transportation, during this time is irresponsible.

It could put them and the wide range of other essential workers with whom they would have to interact with at an unnecessary risk, he argued.

Immigrant doctors who are laid off because of budget shortfalls are required to find a new source of employment within two months or must leave the country.

Many Community Health Centers have already been forced to lay off personnel, meaning doctors on specialty visas could be forced to leave the country.

"With patient visits down, California health centers are losing about USD90 million a week. If trends continue, up to 77 health centers statewide may not be able to make payroll," said Golden Valley Health Centers Manager, Government Affairs, Yamilet Valladolid.

"These shortfalls could have an impact on H-1B visa holders who currently practice medicine at these facilities. We're already short on providers -- we need to keep these folks here," he said.

Doctors who are forced to return to their country of origin can return to the United States only after starting the visa application process from the beginning.

The H-1B Visa programme, designed to allow immigrants with specialty skills to work in the United States, has also stopped expedited processing, likely meaning the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) will have a backlog once the country begins to return to normal, Harder said.
A coalition youth led civil society groups have concluded plans to donate relief materials to residents of Osun state in south west Nigeria.

In a press release, the groups said the move became imperative considering the prevalent economic woes and vulnerability of many residents of the state and Nigeria at large.

The statement also read in part; Coronavirus Disease (COVID 19) pandemic has caused unprecedented disruption to human activities across the globe. Nations and international agencies are formulating measures to combat these changes, curtail the spread of the virus and proffer solutions to issues emerging from the disease.

In Nigeria, the Federal Government has been compelled by the severity of the spread of the disease to take the drastic measure of temporary lockdown across certain states of the federation. State governments have also commenced efforts to enforce the lockdown. Unfortunately, this decision, although necessary, has negatively impacted on the livelihood of millions of Nigerians, majority of whom depend on daily engagements for their financial sustenance.

Understanding the economic hardship resulting from the lockdown and the role of civil society in rising to the challenges of the day and of the people they seek to serve, Raising New Voices Initiative, My Voice My Future and YNAG will be collaborating on an initiative to provide palliative measures to combat the harsh effects of the lockdown in Osun State, Nigeria.

This initiative tagged Osun beats Covid-19 will be implemented by the New Voices Citizens Fellows in the State and will be focusing on providing relief materials and protective equipment for vulnerable residents of Osun State with a focus on youth and women.

Osun State is grappling with various challenges such as fiscal sustainability and poor infrastructure. The citizens of the State will need the support of everyone to cushion the adverse effects that Covid-19 has on the people of the state.

The youth groups also called on well-meaning Nigerians who are willing to donate to the initiative through their zenith bank account or via bit.ly/osunbeatscovid19 .
A 13-year-old-girl in Akwa Ibom on Saturday narrated how her father, Godwin Jeremiah, sexually assaulted her repeatedly in their home.

The victim spoke to journalists after the arrest of Mr Jeremiah, a bricklayer from Ikot Udota, by police officers from the Divisional Headquarters in Eket Local Government Area.

Amidst tears, she accused her father of forcefully having sex with her mainly in the night, and almost on a daily basis.

She said that her fathers friend, one Mr Michael, from Ikot Udoma village, also attempted to rape her, but he ran away when she raised alarm.

My father forcefully abused me sexually. This occurs almost on daily basis in spite of my resistance and the pains and injury I sustained from the ungodly act.

Initially, I reported the case to my stepmother who confronted my father, but she was beaten and this made her flee from my fathers house.

When the whole thing became unbearable for me, I ran and reported to the police, which led to his first arrest, but my aunt, who did not believe my story, intervened and he was released on bail.

The girl said after her fathers release, she did not have any option than to return to the house and stay with him.

The matter grew from bad to worse. It was the darkest moment in my life. This time my father did not allow me to sleep, he forcefully abused me throughout the night.

It was coming on daily basis. Since nobody was there to help, I decided to run away from my fathers house.

But fate led to my meeting a compassionate mother, Mrs Bright Archibong, and the President of FIDA who rose up to fight on my behalf, she said.

Detained for investigations

Sunday Digha, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), said the suspect started harassing his daughter sexually since last year and was arrested after she reported the case to the Divisional Police Headquarters, Eket.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the DPO was accompanied by the wife of the Eket Local Government Chairman, Bright Archibong, and President, International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), in Akwa Ibom, Emem Ette, to arrest the alleged suspect.

The suspect is currently being detained at the Divisional Police Headquarters in Eket, for further investigations, Mr Digha said.

He said that Mr Jeremiahs friend, who also allegedly attempted to rape the victim, was at large and the police were looking for him.

In his response, Mr Jeremiah said that his daughter, who used to sleep on the same bed with him, just decided to run away from the house without any reason.

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Also speaking, Mrs Archibong condemned the act, saying that the suspects arrest would serve as a deterrent to others.

It is the worst thing a person can do to a child, especially a father to his daughter. What could have caused a father to rape his daughter?

She said the girl was safe and now staying at a recognised government home, and had been taken to a doctor, who had checked to confirm her health status.

Mrs Ette, on her part, warned that every rapist would not go unpunished as they would be arrested and prosecuted accordingly.

She said that after police had concluded its investigations, the law would takes it full course.

We have also had lots of cases of women defiling their sons, this is the worst that can ever happen to a child, and we want to advise parents to desist from such acts, Mrs Ette said.

(NAN)
Nollywood actor Williams Uchemba has spoken on how he gets attention from women and manages this attention.

According to the actor;

Read Also: Actor, Williams Uchemba Reveals What He Has In Common With Billionaires

I love my female fans. Im used to it because I have been in the limelight for over 22 years, since I was a child. So, female attention doesnt come as a shock to me. All I have to do is dress well, smell nice, wear a smile and be kind to people. Though. some people can be insensitive.

Sometimes, they see you in a very serious situation and they just come in and interrupt you. But you have to be calm because most times, they (female fans) cant control themselves. I try as much as I can to keep my distance. Im a very strict person. I am disciplined. I keep boundaries always but then they are my people and I love them.

The actor, who was accused of fraud on social media, recalls how he was able to handle the embarrassing situation.

I was accused and they tagged me a fraudster. They said I defrauded some people in the United States and United Nations. When the guy that started the whole thing saw that it was false and apologized, why didnt the media carry it? Somebody even said to me, Williams, in three years, you wont have any movie job or endorsement deal.

But the following week, I got a deal as a real estate brand ambassador. It happened in December, I got the deal in January. So far, that year was the best of my entire career, he said.
Washington

The senior Department of Homeland Security official who was thrust into the spotlight by President Donald Trump to describe the effects of temperature on COVID-19 has been the subject of misconduct allegations for his previous government work.

A Department of Energy Inspector General investigation was still pending Friday based on evidence submitted by a whistle-blower that William Bryan abused his government position with energy consulting work in Ukraine.

It's unclear if Trump was aware of that investigation when he called on Bryan at his daily briefing Thursday.

Bryan has been acting undersecretary for the DHS Science and Technology Directorate, since May 2017. Before that, he was president of ValueBridge International's Energy Group, a consulting firm in Virginia, following previous work with the Department of Energy.

Trump nominated him to be the undersecretary of the directorate. But days after his Senate hearing in August, a government whistle-blower and his attorneys received a letter from the Office of the Special Counsel that information they provided about Bryan showed a "substantial likelihood of wrongdoing."

The letter said the Office of the Special Counsel had referred the matter to the Department of Energy Office of Inspector General, which opened an investigation.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

The allegations against Bryan center around his time as a senior adviser in the Office of International Affairs in 2016.

The whistle-blower alleged that Bryan used his DOE position to develop his business interests with ValueBridge.
The number of COVID-19 cases in Massachusetts now stands at 50,969, as health officials announce nearly 5,000 new cases of the virus.

Officials announced 4,946 new cases of the virus as of Friday, which they note is due to a reporting error made by Quest, a national commercial laboratory. The Department of Pubic health says there has been a backlog of nearly 10,000 patient results dating back to April 13 that has been incorporated into todays data.

Officials also announced 196 new deaths, bringing the statewide total to 2,556. The state also reported 20,137 new tests that have been carried out for the virus.

More than half of the reported deaths  1,429  were in long-term care facilities. The share of the death toll among the elderly in long-term care has been steadily increasing.

Suffolk County continues to have the highest rate of infection among all counties, with 1,320 per 100,000 residents, followed by Middlesex, Plymouth, Norfolk and Essex, with between 504 and 857 per 100,000.

Hampden County has the highest death rate, however, with 63 per 100,000 residents, followed by Norfolk, Suffolk and Franklin, with 52, 46 and 43, respectively.

The state began releasing more comprehensive data on the outbreak earlier this week, though there were number of statistics that had to be corrected. 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.

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. 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.

The latest figures come as Gov. Charlie Baker addressed the rising unemployment numbers during his administrations daily briefing. Baker on Friday touted the states Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program, which rolled out Monday, as a way of helping to provide relief to residents who arent eligible for traditional unemployment benefits, like the self-employed and so-called gig workers.

Baker said officials have already processed over 100,000 claims under the new program; that on top of the roughly 650,000 claims that have been filed under the traditional unemployment program, he said, since March 15. Thats four times as many people who filed for unemployment benefits in February.

Baker said the number of people out of work and requesting assistance is mind-boggling and concerning.

But many residents who are eligible to collect regular unemployment have not been receiving the additional $600 unemployment check promised through the federal stimulus bill on time after getting their first one. The supplemental $600 checks come through the CARES Act, and are available to those who are are collecting regular unemployment for a maximum of 39 weeks.

Here are the cases listed by county:

Barnstable County: 747

Berkshire County: 425

Bristol County: 2,697

Dukes County: 15

Essex County: 6,841

Franklin County: 217

Hampden County: 3,060

Hampshire County: 396

Middlesex County: 11,681

Nantucket County: 9

Norfolk County: 4,979

Plymouth County: 4,160

Suffolk County: 10,724

Worcester County: 4,227

Unknown location: 791

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Are you willing to take your people stuck overseas back? What kind of concessions would you want after May 3? How do we get migrant workers stranded outside their home states back?

These were some of the questions discussed at a meeting chaired by cabinet secretary Rajiv Gauba with chief secretaries of the states on Saturday -- two days before Prime Minister Narendra Modi is to meet with the chief ministers of states over video-conference, and some of the officials present at the meeting said that these may be indicative of the kind of issues that will be discussed at that meeting, the fourth such on issues related to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Also read| Heres something for you to do this Sunday: Bird

Thousands of Indians stuck abroad are eager to return, although there is no clarity when international flights will be allowed -- although theres been talk in some government circles of so-called rescue flights to bring back Indians after May 3, even if the skies arent opened.

And hundreds of thousands of workers , currently in migrant labour camps around India want to return home -- something not possible when no interstate travel is being allowed and passenger trains are not running. Several states have suggested running special trains to transport these workers. At Saturdays meeting some states including Punjab, Gujarat, Bihar and West Bengal asked the centre to set a protocol for such movements.

The brainstorming session was also attended by secretaries of key departments, Directors General of Police, and district magistrates. All the DMs were on listen-only mode.

Guidelines to start industries, shops and services outside the containment zones were allowed from April 20. But in opening speech, Gauba told the states that the instructions issued by the union home ministry have not been followed properly at the ground-level. According an official present in the meeting, Gauba said that local administrations were either far too lax or too strict, and some had ushered in a kind of inspector-raj.

The cabinet secretary underlined that although there has been a substantial improvement (in checking the spread of the virus) it was not uniform, this official added on condition of anonymity.

Also read: Delay in test results has Centre, states worried

He reiterated that there is a need to focus on containment even while relaxing restrictions further, indicating the Centres strategy after the lockdown ends. Gauba also stressed on the need for strong action on surveillance front to actively identify people and areas who are vulnerable to or have been infected by the virus.

Maharashtra chief secretary Ajoy Mehtarepresenting the state worst hit by the pandemicsuggested tougher norms. Home secretary Ajay Bhalla chipped in and said any state is free to impose additional measures over and above the Centres rules for so-called hot spots.

You should not lower your guard, Bhalla said.

Mehta also highlighted that many private labs are taking huge number of swab samples but are unable to test them and give reports in time. He suggested that ICMR must have an oversight on private labs, a suggestion well-received by union officials.

The migrant workers issue took much of the time in the meeting. Punjab chief secretary Karan Singh said that there are about 1.1 million daily wage workers from UP and Bihar working in Punjabs farms and as the harvest season is over, these workers want to return to their home states.

Several states including Bihar maintained that the states cant negotiate such tricky matters among themselves and the Centre needs to come up with a protocol. West Bengal home secretary Alapan Bandopadhyay claimed that everything is under control in his state till Bhalla reminded him of hundreds of loaded trucks stuck at the Indo-Bangladesh border in West Bengal that need to be unloaded for Bangladesh.

West Bengal and the Center have been sparring for days, most recently over a report by a central team that visited the state and found problems in its response to Covid-19.

Gujarat informed that it has allowed 28,000 industries to start in rural areas while asking the Centre to make arrangements for shifting migrant workers.

While many states spoke of the work done in their areas, only Karnataka demanded that liquor shops must be opened. Karnataka chief secretary TM Vijay Bhaskar said that liquor shops can be allowed to operate with strict social distancing norms in place as the state needs them for its budget-balancing exercise. Liquor sales are a major source of excise for all states.

On the question of bringing back Indians stranded overseas, Kerala was the most vocal. Its chief secretary Tom Jose said that the state government is under immense pressure to bring back 5 lakh Malayali workers and students stranded in West Asia.

Jose also explained the elaborate plan in place to quarantine expat Malayalis if the union government decides to bring them back.

Bandopadhyay and some other states didnt give any specific assurance to accept their domiciles from abroad. Bandopadhyay said he will have to talk to the chief minister. Foreign secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla pointedly responded to this and said a large number of Indians are stuck in a few neighbouring countries and states must come up with plans on how to deal with them if the Centre allows their return.

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Earlier this month, Glencliff Manor, an events space in Rustburg, Va., announced that it would put on free, socially distant weddings for couples whose wedding plans were upended by the virus. Ms. Moore applied right away.

I had been to weddings there before, and its beautiful, and our immediate families could still be there, so we considered that a blessing, she said.

Though Ms. Moore is just a few months past legal marriage age in Virginia, the couples youth has not been a concern among those who know them. Some people are like, Wow, youre really young, she said. But its not unheard-of to get married young in a rural area like this. And Brandon being in the military is something I think is very respectable.

Mr. Baez had been talking about joining the Navy since they met, when he was a senior at Liberty High and she was a sophomore. After his 2017 graduation, he worked at Safelite Auto Glass, then left for boot camp in 2019. That year, they navigated a long-distance relationship while Mr. Baez trained at a Navy base in Chicago and Ms. Baez finished high school. He proposed in December 2019, a month after he was sent to Dahlgren, where he is training in fire control. Ms. Moore had just completed her nursing program prerequisites at Central Virginia Community College.
Senior RSS leader H Somashekhar Bhatt received a call from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday enquiring about his health.

Bhatt got emotional hearing the Prime Minister's voice at the other end, family sources said.

The Prime Minister called at 8.30 AM and began the conversation with 'Somashekharji' and spoke for about six minutes. The 85-year-old veteran recalled how the Jana Sangh came to power in Udupi municipality under the leadership of V S Acharya in 1968 and about his association with the Sangh Parivar through the decades and his imprisonment during the Emergency.

Bhatt, former Udupi municipality president, later said it was a rare honour for him. "I am very glad that PM Modi called and spoke to me. I shared the experience of meeting him at the Jaipur session. Asked to take care of health and expressed concern," he said. The Prime Minister has been calling senior functionaries of the party who worked for the Sangh Parivar in the time of adversities to build up the BJP in its present form and seeking advice from them.

He had also called in recent days former MLA Ram Bhat who was elected from Puttur in Dakshina Kannada and D H Shankar Murthy, who was former chairman of the state legislative council, BJP state president Nalin Kumar Kateel tweeted.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-25 16:10:37|Editor: huaxia

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Students are in class at a middle school in Taiyuan, north China's Shanxi Province, April 25, 2020. Students in their final year of junior high school returned to school in Taiyuan on Saturday. (Photo by Chai Ting/Xinhua)
As Turkeys number of coronavirus cases creeped past 100,000, Turkeys health minister said Friday the capital of Istanbul was under control.

Turkeys Wuhan was Istanbul, Fahrettin Koca said in an interview with the pro-government Sabah newspaper, referencing the Chinese city where the virus first emerged in December.

On April 8, Wuhan lifted travel restrictions for residents and reopened its borders after 11 weeks in lockdown.

The Turkish health minister, who said last week the countrys coronavirus infection rate was stabilizing, credited the reportedly slowed rate of infections in Istanbul to contact tracing and early treatment.

The government was initially reluctant to share the locations of cases in Turkey. Not until early April did Koca confirm about 60% of cases were in Istanbul, Turkeys biggest city with a population of 16 million.

On Friday, Turkish health officials announced 109 more deaths from the virus, bringing the nationwide death toll to 2,600. With 104,912 cases, Turkey has overtaken Iran as the Middle East country with the highest number of confirmed infections.

The number also puts Turkey ahead of China, which previously had the most confirmed coronavirus cases outside of Europe and the United States.

A recent investigation from The New York Times suggests the number of cases in Istanbul is much higher than officials will admit. An examination of death certificates found the city recorded roughly 2,100 more deaths than normal during the period of March 9 to April 12.

Meanwhile, Turkeys most populated provinces are starting the Muslim holy month of Ramadan under curfew. The government announced a four-day lockdown on 31 provinces beginning this week, which are expected to continue for the next several weekends.

Earlier this week, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan predicted Turkey could return to business as usual after the end of Ramadan in late May.
Why is there such a wide disparity from place to place?

(TNS)  For New Jerseyans who are trying to get a handle on how widespread the coronavirus outbreak has been in their hometowns, there is some good news and some bad news.The good news: Some local and county health officials have been releasing daily updates on the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in each town, along with details on the age and gender of each patient. That is far more detailed than the daily updates from the state, which only lists cases by county.The bad news: Public officials in some towns and counties are keeping a tight lid on their coronavirus cases. And some of the most cooperative health departments at the start of the outbreak have become more restrictive in the release of their data during recent weeks.Blame New Jerseys adherence to home rule, which gives each municipality the power to make decisions for its residents. In essence, each town and each county with its own health department can set its own procedures and decide how much information it will release to the public.Some health officials have cited medical privacy regulations when asked why little information is being released, while others say their offices are simply overwhelmed with cases.The reasons also vary when it comes to why some government agencies in New Jersey have changed their policies on how much coronavirus information they will release to the public.Atlantic County, for example, was originally one of the few counties that did not offer a breakdown of cases in each town.Officials said they were worried advertising the countys relatively low case numbers in certain towns would encourage second homeowners from areas of outbreak to bring a flood of people that would create risk of further spread and possibly put a strain on town resources. However, amid criticism over a lack of transparency, officials relented and began to offer town-by-town numbers.Conversely, Burlington County originally offered full breakdowns of gender, age and town on a case-by-case basis but has lately offered only total case numbers and a town-by-town breakdown.They say the reasoning for this change is both the increase in sheer number of cases, and to keep their communicable disease staff focused on contact tracing. The focus for officials is on location  instead of a breakdown of age and gender  because they say they ultimately want everyone to be safe.In North Jersey, Sussex County has been one of the states most cooperative counties, providing case municipality, gender, age and fatality updates on a daily basis. Neighboring Warren County has provided the public with updates each day regarding new cases and patients who have recovered in each town. But the county has not released data regarding age, gender and fatalities.Bergen County is the states most impacted county. It is the first to hit the five-digit mark in cases and it leads the way in fatalities. The health department there has provided case totals by town along with the overall death toll, but has been too overwhelmed to go into detail beyond that.In Central New Jersey, where case numbers have been rising during recent days, Monmouth and Ocean counties have been sending out daily notices of positive coronavirus cases since early to mid-March. Each report gives a detailed breakdown by municipality, but no specific information about the number of cases.Middlesex County, for a long time, released the number of new cases per municipality each day but has since taken up posting totals online. Certain towns, like Edison and South Plainfield, used to provide specific details on cases, like age and gender, but have stopped doing so in recent days.Instead, Edison lists the age range of all cases each day. Monroe, Helmetta and Jamesburg have been more open, releasing ages and genders of infected residents each day.Despite the release of statewide totals, county totals and some town-by-town breakdowns, it is still difficult to get a complete picture of exactly how many people in New Jersey currently have COVID-19. That is because the state is testing only residents who are showing symptoms, and test results have been backed up for up days.In addition, the state is not reporting significant increases in daily testing, so it is unclear exactly how quickly the virus is spreading.With that in mind, our staff has put together a series of maps that provide at least a snapshot of how the coronavirus has been affecting each of New Jerseys 21 counties, and which towns have been hardest hit.The stats can be found in the three links below, broken up by region:
Boris Johnson will return to work in Downing Street on Monday, raising Conservative hopes of an end to the refusal to discuss how the UK will lift the lockdown.

Three weeks after being taken to hospital when his coronavirus symptoms worsened  he would need oxygen in intensive care, to ensure he survived  the prime minister is said to be raring to go.

He will mark his return by summoning cabinet ministers to provide him with face-to-face updates on the progress their departments are making on tackling the virus and its fallout.

It means he will be in place to take prime ministers questions in the Commons on Wednesday  where, last week, stand-in Dominic Raab was easily bested by Sir Keir Starmer, the new Labour leader.

One No 10 insider said: The PM has been doing all the right things and following his doctors advice to come back to work  and he is raring to go.

He has told the team he will be back at his desk on Monday morning. Its given everyone a huge lift.

The return, earlier than some medical experts expected, will fuel hope that the government will put behind it recent doubts about how to steer the next stage of the coronavirus crisis.

Conservative backbenchers have laid bare their frustrations at ministers batting away calls to set out options for easing restrictions.

On Saturday, when asked if such a plan should be published now, former Conservative chancellor Philip Hammond replied: Yes, I think that is the next step.

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

I understand the prime minister is going to be back in harness in Downing Street at the beginning of next week and I very much hope that will signal a clear step change.

Although Mr Raab has chaired cabinet and the crucial Covid-19 committee of senior ministers, the extent of his power to propose or make decisions has been unclear.

However, Tories and members of the public hoping for a partial release from the restrictions after the next review date, 7 May, are likely to be disappointed.

Mr Johnson, following his severe illness, is believed to side with the doves in the cabinet, led by health secretary Matt Hancock, who want the lockdown to stay in place for now.

Rishi Sunak, the chancellor, Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove, and Liz Truss, the trade secretary, are thought to be the leading hawks pushing for an earlier relaxation.

Mr Johnson revealed his imminent return during a three-hour summit with senior aides at Chequers, his countryside retreat for his recovery, on Friday.

In what was described as a tightening of grip from the prime minister, he met with Mr Raab, Mr Sunak and chief advisers including Dominic Cummings and Eddie Lister.

Until then, Mr Johnson had restricted his involvement to a series of telephone calls and Zoom video meetings with key figures.
Micheal Martin and Leo Varadkar are to write to Eamon Ryan in hopes of meeting next week as government formation plans take "positive shape".

The Green Party have submitted a six-page document to the Fianna Fail and Fine Gael negotiating teams, in response to the "policy framework" document distributed to the Greens, Labour and Social Democrats last week in an effort to tempt one or more of them into forming a government with the other two parties.

The Green's response was described as comprehensive and constructive and substantive to provide the foundations for meaningful discussions, by Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin.

Party leaders Leo Varadkar and Micheal Martin will now be seeking a meeting with Green's leader Eamon Ryan next week.

Fianna Fail and Fine Gael's negotiating team held conference calls on Friday, in which they prepared their input into the response to the Green document, which will be compiled into a joint letter from Varadkar and Martin to Mr Ryan.

"I expect if that's accepted, then the leaders will meet and hopefully agree a timeline for formation talks," a Fianna Fail source said.

In fairness what they put forward, their queries are reasonable, and they're seeking some clarification on issues.

Mr Ryan's party have made it clear that a 7% reduction in carbon emissions is a red line to enter government formation talks.

"It's up for discussion, that's the nature of these talks," the source added.

"Things like retrofitting and public homes on public land, we've been pushing for that too, so we see no difference there.

"I don't think anything they've put forward would be miles away.

"The Greens have responded positively, we hope others do as well."

The 72 seats held by Fianna Fail and Fine Gael are likely to be bolstered in government by the support of the regional independent group, who have made their willingness to join a coalition clear.

However, the possible coalition partners may have hit their first bump in the road, after convener of the regional independent group, Denis Naughten said the demand to slash Irelands carbon emissions is unachievable

I welcome the fact that they [the Green Party] have published that particular document, and hopefully it can help to move things forward," he said.

But personally, and from my own experience as Minister for Climate Action, the 7% annual reduction in carbon is unachievable.

Labour and the Social Democrats are also to send a number of queries to Fianna Fail and Fine Gael about their policy framework document.

It is understood both parties have queries over the cost of the policy promises, and how Fianna Fail and Fine Gael plan to avoid austerity post-Covid-19.

The two smaller parties held respective teleconferences to discuss the document over the last few days, and, like the Green Party will submit their requests for further detail over the next week.

It is understood that Fianna Fail and Fine Gael are optimistic that a government can be formed by late May.
Some members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), led by some of its Members of Parliament and national Executives together with some supporters have gathered at the City Escape Hotel in Accra over an alleged workshop being held by the Electoral Commission (EC).

The Ningo Prampram, Sam Nartey George MP, who is at the hotel, secured an injunction, albeit for a different venue, to stop the workshop meant to plan for the upcoming voter registration exercise.

The injunction is in place from April 24, 2020, to April 27, 2020.

But upon reports of the meeting taking place in Accra, the NDC filed a complaint at the Airport Police station .

Police were dispatched to the hotel to control the situation.

The Director of Operations of the Accra Regional Police Command, ACP Kwesi Ofori, appealed to the executives of the NDC to leave the premises of the hotel.

It is a civil matter on its own and lets respect that. In so far as they [the NDC] have gone to [report to] the police they can go back to the Airport District Commander and take it from there, he said.

The NDC executives present at the hotel included Joshua Akamba, Peter Otokunor, and Godwin Ako Gunn.

Mr. Ako Gunn, the Deputy Communications Officer of the NDC, said the NDC supporters will not leave until they get to the truth of the matter.

I will be very glad that the media also stays here with us so that when they finish, we will know the people who were in there, what they were doing and the number of people who were in there, he added.

He also suggested that the Presidency had sanctioned the alleged workshop.

If they dont have backing from the [presidency], I dont think this will be so difficult for a police commander to take action.

The EC was scheduled to hold a national planning meeting and a training workshop to prepare and plan for the upcoming voter registration exercise.

The programmes were scheduled to take place from Apri 24, 2020, to April 29, 2020, at the City Escape Hotel.

The meeting was to be held in three different batches in order to observe the social distancing protocols amidst the outbreak of the coronavirus in Ghana.

---citinewsroom
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New Delhi, April 25 : The Congress on Saturday bemoaned the Central government's "conspicuous silence" on the Disaster Management Act (DMA), 2005, and asked it to formulate a national plan for handling the coronavirus crisis, saying it's time the government rethink the lockdown measures." "You cannot have a lockdown of people and a lockout of the economy. That's not the way to formulate a policy. We are not criticising. We are only saying it is time to rethink. We are with the government. This is constructive criticism," said senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal at a press conference via video-conferencing.

He said that as per the DMA, the Union government was duty-bound to formulate the national plan to deal with Covid-19, but "strangely, the government has maintained conspicuous silence".

The Union government, in the absence of a national plan to deal with Covid-19, seems to have delegated its responsibilities under the DMA to state governments.

"Without the necessary infrastructure, both human and physical, and adequate financial resources, state governments are not in a position to effectively deal with this pandemic," he said.

"Our Prime Minister's limited role, so far as we can see, is addressing the nation from time to time. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) made no preparations to put in place a plan despite the WHO declaring the virus to be a public health emergency towards the end of January," he said.

"Why were detailed plans not made within seven weeks of the WHO declaration? Only on March 24, the Prime Minister announced a national lockdown," said the Congress leader.

"We are in the fourth week of April and there is no plan in place even now". The Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), presumably presiding over the National Executive Committee (NEC) under the Act, is issuing directions to state governments to deal with the situation," he said.

Sibal also highlighted the plight of the migrant workers stuck in various states amind the nationwide lockdown.

"We would like the Prime Minister to inform the people about the minimum standards of relief that are required to be provided to persons affected by the disaster. Instead of discharging its solemn responsibilities to provide succour to the poor and helpless stranded migrants, the Union government has chosen to shift the onus to state governments to do what they can without a plan and without guidelines prescribing minimum standards of relief," he said.

Hitting out at Modi for setting up PM-CARES Fund, Sibal said, "It is ironic that instead of using the provisions of the Act for grant of relief, the Prime Minister has set up a Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance Relief in Emergency Situations (PM-CARES) fund asking people to generously donate." He said that is precisely the money that should go to the NDRF for relief and rehabilitation of those affected by the lockdown. "The purpose of setting up of PM-CARES should be made public when private donations can be made to the NDRF," he said, adding that otherwise, the motive for setting of PM-CARES may evoke suspicion.

He also called upon the judiciary to evolve a policy to ensure that the justice delivery system is considered an essential service during such a crisis.

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-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
A study of 1,300 Northern California Kaiser patients who tested positive for the coronavirus last month found that nearly a third were hospitalized and almost 1 in 10 ended up in intensive care  and nearly as many young and middle-aged adults were admitted as people age 60 and over, according to results published online Friday.

The analysis is among the first large studies of people diagnosed with COVID-19 in the United States, and the first in California. More than 16,200 Kaiser patients across 21 hospitals in Northern California were tested for the coronavirus in March, and about 8% came up positive.

The study results were published in a brief letter in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

The purpose of the study was to help hospital administrators better understand the type of care patients with COVID-19 may need, which can help them prepare how many hospital beds, ventilators and other resources they may need for future outbreaks, the study authors said.

The whole point was to try to understand on a population level what resources are needed during this pandemic, said Dr. Laura Myers, lead author of the study and a Kaiser Permanente Division of Research research scientist.

But the age breakdowns in who was hospitalized were striking, Myers added. Across Kaisers Northern California medical centers, 377 people were hospitalized with the coronavirus in March, or 29% of all those who tested positive.

People age 60 to 69 made up a quarter of those patients  the single largest group. But people age 18 to to 59 made up 46% of all hospitalizations, compared to 54% for those 60 and older.

We found that the most common age group was in their 60s, but there were patients hospitalized in their 30s and their 90s, Myers said. We really emphasize that this is a disease that is affecting all ages.

About a third of hospitalized patients eventually were treated in the intensive care unit and almost all of them required mechanical ventilation. About half of the ICU patients died, the study found. Among all who were hospitalized, about 15% died. Fifty-six people remained hospitalized at the time the study was published.

Nearly 44% of hospitalized patients had been previously diagnosed with high blood pressure and 31% had diabetes. The most common symptoms they experienced when seen in the emergency department were shortness of breath, fever and a cough.

The Kaiser results align roughly with a study published in late March by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which found that about 30% of all COVID-19 patients were hospitalized and 5% to 12% were treated in intensive care. The CDC study also showed serious illness requiring hospitalization across all age groups.

Earlier studies in China and Italy had reported that older adults were more at risk of serious illness than younger people.

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This is not exclusively a disease of people older than 65 as was suggested by the data out of China, said Warner Greene, a senior investigator with the Gladstone Institutes who was not involved with the Kaiser research.

Myers added that the Kaiser results, along with other research of U.S. COVID-19 patients, suggests that public health policy, especially when it comes to social distancing measures, should not focus narrowly on older adults.

On a public health scale we have to target the whole population, and not just patients in their 60s, or patients over 65, because thats kind of an arbitrary cutoff, she said. Everyone is being affected.

Erin Allday is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: eallday@sfchronicle.com
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-25 03:19:37|Editor: huaxia

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Photo taken on April 24, 2020 shows the White House in Washington D.C., the United States. U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday signed into law a 484-billion-dollar relief package to boost funding for small businesses, hospitals and virus testing, as the country grapples with COVID-19 public health crisis and its economic fallout. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

WASHINGTON, April 24 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday signed into law a 484-billion-dollar relief package to boost funding for small businesses, hospitals and virus testing, as the country grapples with COVID-19 public health crisis and its economic fallout.

The bill will be "great for small businesses, great for the workers," Trump told reporters at the signing ceremony in the Oval Office of the White House, joined by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Republican lawmakers.

The latest relief bill expands funding for saving small businesses and protecting Americans' paychecks, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, said on Twitter shortly after the signing, noting that it also strengthens support for hospitals, healthcare providers, and testing.

The package will provide more than 310 billion dollars in additional funding for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) to boost small business lending, 60 billion dollars for small business disaster assistance loans and grants, as well as 75 billion dollars for hospitals and 25 billion dollars for virus testing.

The PPP, designed to provide loans for small businesses to keep their workers on the payroll during the COVID-19 outbreak, ran out of money last week. In a previously approved 2.2-trillion-dollar relief package, 349 billion dollars had been allocated to fund the PPP.

About 80 percent of PPP applicants said they are still waiting, and many do not know where they are in the application process, according to a survey released earlier this week by the National Federation of Independent Business.

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, who chairs the White House Coronavirus Task Force, said Thursday at a White House briefing that 4.93 million tests having been performed across the country so far.

According to a data-tracking tool developed by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University, over 880,000 cases have been confirmed across the country as of Friday afternoon, with over 50,000 deaths reported.

Anthony Fauci, the administration's top infectious diseases expert, said in a recent interview with Time magazine that the United States needs to "significantly ramp up" its testing capacity in order to effectively contain the spread of the virus.

In a tweet Friday morning, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat, urged the administration to deliver a concrete, nationwide strategy to expand testing.

The signing ceremony came one day after the House of Representatives approved the bill by a vote of 388-5. On Tuesday, the Senate swiftly cleared the legislation in a voice vote.

Calling the new bill "an interim emergency funding package," Democratic leaders have said they are disappointed that the administration has not agreed to more funding for state, tribal and local governments on the front lines of this crisis, pledging to advance a larger bill in the near future. Enditem
Hundreds of face masks have been delivered to some of the most vulnerable people in a community in the Portuguese capital to help protect them as the coronavirus pandemic continues.

The historic Mouraria district in Lisbon, where the traditional fado music was born, is home to hundreds of people, many of them within the most vulnerable group with regard to COVID-19.

With that in mind, the parish council of Santa Maria Maior decided to begin a door-to-door delivery of masks, to help curb the spread of the new virus.

With Saint George Castle high up on the hill looking down, council workers walk hours a day on a mission to deliver the reusable masks to every single resident that needs one.

On the first week of the initiative they have been flooded with requests and have already delivered 800 masks door-to-door.

Portugal has been under state of emergency for more than a month.

The country has so far reported 22,797 virus cases and 854 deaths, according to a running tally kept by Johns Hopkins University.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks.

For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death.
Several Asian countries have seen the coronavirus surge back after easing restrictions, despite their initial success in restraining the outbreak. As EU Observer writes, Ttis region has recently had more experiences with infectious diseases than Europe, which might be one of the reasons why some of these countries seem to have the coronavirus outbreak under control.

South Korea, for instance, was severely affected by the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) in 2015 and the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in 2003 - which also affected Vietnam, Singapore, Hong Kong, among others in the region.

Given that countries, such as South Korea or Taiwan, were seen as examples of how to handle the Covid-19 pandemic, their 'exit strategies' might also help European countries to ease restrictions.

Taiwan, with a population of about 23.8 million people, has been reporting just one to six new coronavirus cases per day.

While last week the island's authorities reported no coronavirus cases, restrictions have not been lifted - such as compulsory 14-day quarantines for all arrivals into the island, social distancing, limited indoor events and daily check on scholars for signs of fever.

According to Taiwan's vice-president and epidemiologist Chen Chien-jen, the best 'exit strategy' is to develop rapid diagnostics and anti-virals to treat milder cases, and protect close contacts from infections.

"In one or one-and-a-half years we may have the vaccine. Before that, we need to keep social distancing [while] living in a self-limited way but still semi-normally," he told in an interview with British media.

Additionally, Chien-jen warned that "all nations have to share data and make their outbreak status transparent" in order to coordinate international travelling.

South Korea, Hong Kong and Singapore initially managed to flatten their curves thanks to aggressive testing, targeting clusters and social distancing - but these countries have also imposed more restrictive measures from mid-March.

First South Korea, then Hong Kong and finally Singapore - with their 'circuit breaker' measures imposed on April 7 - all banned small gatherings and closed businesses to slow the spread of the virus.

According to Gabriel Leung, an infectious disease epidemiologist, Hong Kong's long-term strategy will be based on "suppression and lift" cycles during which restrictions are applied and relaxed.

So what does the EU copy?

Last week, the European Commission rolled out guidelines for member states on how to ease their lockdown measures while restarting the economy.

The commission set out three conditions, which are similar to the epidemiological advice of the World Health Organization: the disease must significantly decrease and stabilise for a sustained time, there should be sufficient health system capacity and large-scale testing must be put in place (including asymptomatic people).

The fear is that allthough around 50 percent of the global burden of Covid-19 pandemic is currently in Europe, member states are starting to loosen restrictions without having a 'concrete' example to learn from.

China made significant reductions in policy strictness, but people are still obliged to wear face masks, being massively tested and strictly-placed under quarantine - some even had magnetic strips and alarms installed on their doors.

App-phobia?

Meanwhile, another aspect that Europe should look at is how tracing app has worked so far in these Asian countries - as part of their 'exit strategies'.

While only a few countries, such as South Korea and Israel, use people's location data for contact tracing apps, governments across Europe, Latin America, Australia and Asia are calling for a less intrusive approach based on bluetooth connections.

However, this approach would require the majority of the population in a geographic to use such application to ensure its effectiveness.

In Singapore, where the first of these apps was launched and trust in the government is relatively high, only about one-in-five people have downloaded the tracing app TraceTogether.

On Tuesday, Singapore's prime minister Lee Hsien Loong announced new measures to stop the spread of the virus, saying that the country will need "everyone's cooperation to install and use" these apps - although he did clarify if their use would be mandatory, Reuters reported.
Undersea Warfare Center Begins Producing Safety Equipment for Naval Hospital

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS200424-08

Release Date: 4/24/2020 1:00:00 PM

By Nathanael Miller, Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division, Keyport Public Affairs

KEYPORT, Wash. (NNS) -- The Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Division, Keyport has signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with Naval Hospital Bremerton (NHB) to produce safety equipment for the hospital during the Coronavirus pandemic.

An MOA is a contract between two or more organizations for services and support, such as NUWC Keyport now using its additive manufacturing capabilities to produce protective equipment for the medical providers at NHB.

Johannes Schonberg, NUWC Keyport's director of engagement, said the MOA with NHB arose during NUWC Keyport's work getting the authority to produce Powered Air-Purifying Respirators (PAPR) hoods for CHI Franciscan' Harrison Medical Center in Bremerton.

"I was coordinating with the region's director of emergency management, and he put me in touch with the NHB Emergency Management office," said Schonberg. "As we were starting our efforts with PAPR hoods for CHI Franciscan, CHI alerted us that NHB used the same PAPR models and also needed support with their equipment. I leveraged the Emergency Management network to reach out to NHB."

Michael Pearson, NHB's Safety Manager and Environment of Care Council Team Leader, said the support from NUWC Keyport has enabled NHB to significantly increase Urgent Care Clinic (UCC) staff capabilities to provide safe and sanitary direct patient-centered care.

"Our MOA with Keyport provided much needed medical supplies such as face shields and now PAPR hoods to our front line first responders so they can provide expert medical care to Coronavirus victims," said Pearson. "This allows our first responders direct access to both military and civilian patients to provide the care needed in support of 'flattening the curve' of the spread of the Coronavirus."

Doug Stutz, NHB's Public Affairs Officer, said the partnership began with NUWC Keyport supporting NHB by producing face shields with its additive manufacturing capabilities.

"The face shields provided from Naval Undersea Warfare Center are being utilized to primarily protect our UCC team of doctors, nurses, and hospital corpsmen, so they in turn may care for those in need," said Stutz. "The face shields worn in our UCC have been implemented as part of our overall strategy having our staff, as well as patients and visitors, protect themselves and those around them by employing (other) protective measures such as hand-washing, social distancing, wearing face-cloth coverings if a minimum of six feet can't be maintained, and taking appropriate action if feeling ill."

Pearson also acknowledged the MOA expanding NUWC Keyport's support to also manufacturing PAPR hoods will improve NHB's ability to fulfill its mission. Pearson said the MOA gives NHB far more flexibility in its effort to care for the local military communityactive duty, dependent, and retired.

Capt. Jon H. Moretty, NUWC Keyport's commanding officer, said he has encouraged his team to seek out opportunities to leverage NUWC Keyport's capabilities in order to help fight the Coronavirus.

"Keyport is proud to be able to help the naval hospital," said Moretty. "My team keeps charging forward, finding innovative ways to reach out and provide support for our local medical community, both military and civilian. The more Keyport can leverage its resources to provide greater protection for our medical providers, the more our local military and civilian communities will have access to care should they need it. Ensuring our people here are safe and cared for means our warfighters standing on the tip of the spear can focus on their critical responsibilities by having confidence their loved ones back home are safe. This type of support is one of the best ways we can help continue expanding our advantage even while helping fight this pandemic."

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President Donald Trump lashed out at Democrats in a fiery tweet Saturday and insisted the coronavirus pandemic will end in a 'miracle'.

'The Do Nothing Democrats are spending much of their money on Fake Ads. I never said that the CoronaVirus is a 'Hoax', I said that the Democrats, and the way they lied about it, are a Hoax,' the president tweeted.

'Also, it did start with 'one person from China', and then grew, & will be a 'Miracle' end!' he added.

Trump did not elaborate on what kind of 'miracle' he was expecting nor did he call out specific Democrats by name.

Donald Trump lashed out at Democrats in a fiery tweet Saturday morning

Trump insisted that he never referred to the coronavirus a 'hoax' and called Democrats liars

The president spent much of Saturday morning on Twitter, and in addition to bashing Democrats, he blasted 'fake news,' boasting about the number of COVID-19 tests performed in the United States and said it was an 'honor' to send ventilators to Colorado.

The commander-in-chief sent out the string of tweets starting at 8am - including another in which he promised to send ventilators to Ethiopia - the morning after he abruptly exited his daily coronavirus press briefing without taking any questions.

Trump kicked off his morning by tweeting out that WWE star Triple H 'is a total winner', before he turned to address the coronavirus pandemic.

'Thank you to the people of Colorado for the warm and gracious notes and letters sent to me for all of the Ventilators we got for you. It was my great honor! @SenCoryGardner' he wrote in a second post at 8.45am.

The president's tweet storm comes after he was criticized for suggesting injecting disinfectants to treat coronavirus, later calling his comments sarcasm.

Reports claim that Trump's presence at daily coronavirus press briefings may be cut back as the White House looks to prevent him from alienating key voters in November.

In the absence of his campaign rallies, the president has relished the opportunity to take the lead during the televised afternoon updates, which have stretched for as long as two hours as Trump boasts achievements against the outbreaks and applauds the high television rating the briefings receive.

The White House has expressed concern, however, that Trump's presence may be causing more harm than good as his approval ratings slide back down into the 40s and recent polls show him to have fallen behind presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden in key states such as Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

Concerns for the impact of his presence grew after the president's dubious claims about injecting disinfectant into the body as a coronavirus cure on Thursday led to an angry walk-off from Friday's briefing, where no questions were permitted after a day of bad press.

Even close aides were said to be shocked by the 'off-the-cuff' disinfectant remarks that they blame on an eagerness from the president to present positive news, according to NBC.

The off-script remarks that people with the virus could be cured by UV rays or disinfectants 'by injection inside' has been universally rejected by health experts and led to a PR nightmare for the White House as Trump attempted to roll-back the comments as 'sarcasm'.

Officials believe he may have misinterpreted scientific information discussed with him before Thursday's briefing about the use of disinfectant on surfaces.

The plan was to stress the findings of the report but 'the president took it a couple steps further', one official told NBC, by suggesting it as a potential cure.

The blunder has now led to discussions underway within the White House looking to curtail the president's involvement to prevent further damage, according to four White House officials and Republicans close to the White House who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.
Representational Image

In a late night order, the government allowed opening of neighbourhood and standalone shops, including those located in residential complexes, in urban areas. However, the shops in market clusters will continue to remain shut till May 3, when the coronavirus lockdown ends. Read more

Here's the top news of the day:

1) Coronavirus: Plasma Therapy Yielding 'Positive, Encouraging Results', Says Delhi CM

REUTERS

Even as the total number of coronavirus cases in Delhi crossed the 2,500 mark on Friday, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said that plasma therapy trials on four COVID-19 patients has yielded "very encouraging" results. Read more

2) Baba Ramdev Claims 'If You Can Hold Your Breath For A Minute, You Don't Have Coronavirus'

PTI

Yoga guru Baba Ramdev claims he knows how one can know for sure if they are COVID-19 positive - if you can hold your breath for a minute, you don't have coronavirus. Read more

3) More Than 800 Covid-19 Patients Have Recovered In Delhi, 735 Of Them Cured From April 18-23

BCCL

Delhi, one of the hardest-hit by the coronavirus pandemic, is starting to see positive results as over 800 COVID-19 patients have been cured till Thursday, with 735 of them recovering from April 18-23, according to data shared by the city health department. Read more

4) As Mumbai Deals With COVID-19, BEST Buses Are Converted Into Ambulances To Ferry Patients

Twitter/@mybmc

As Mumbai is grappling with a rising number of coronavirus cases, the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking, the civic transport service, has converted seven of its AC mini buses into ambulances to ferry patients. Read more

5) Gujarat Beats Delhi To Become 2nd Worst-Affected State; Ahmedabad May Have 8L Cases By May End

BCCL

The number of coronavirus cases in Gujarat have reached 2,815 with 191 new cases and 15 deaths on Friday. With this figure, Gujarat has overtaken New Delhi and is now the second worst-affected after Maharashtra. Read more
- Uhuru said government agencies such as the Kenya Medical Research Institure (KEMRI) and the Kenya Primate Centre were working round the clock to manufacture a vaccine for coronavirus

- The Head of State asked Kenyan citizens not to panic as a solution was underway and the government would communicate once a vaccine was developed

- Fergus Walsh, the BBC medical correspondent, said Oxford University researchers were considering taking the vaccine trials to Nairobi sparking outrage

President Uhuru Kenyatta has said Kenyans will not be used as guinea pigs for COVID-19 vaccines following public uproar a number of foreign researchers were interested in using Nairobi as their testing ground.

Uhuru said government agencies such as the Kenya Medical Research Institure (KEMRI) and the Kenya Primate Centre were working round the clock to manufacture a vaccine for coronavirus.

READ ALSO: Kenya confirms 7 new cases of COVID-19, national tally rises to 343

Uhuru Kenyatta said Kenya was working towards developing its own vaccine. Photo: State House.

Source: Facebook

READ ALSO: Uhuru Kenyatta says he'll reopen economy if COVID-19 infections reduce

While speaking at State House, Nairobi, on Saturday, April 25, the Head of State asked Kenyan citizens not to panic as a solution was underway and the government would not hide anything on the same.

'Our institutions like KEMRI, and the Kenya Primate Centre are working with other teams to seek vaccine for this disease. When they tell us they have developed vaccines to a point that it will require human testing we will tell you,"

"They are involved in global effort and I assure you nothing will be done in the dark, we will tell you. So dont cause fear and panic to fellow Kenyans ," Uhuru said.

A sample coronavirus vaccine. Photo: Gen.

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Nakuru: Kijogoo atemwa na mke kwa kuchovya asali ya kijakazi wao

Fergus Walsh, the BBC medical correspondent, said Oxford University researchers were considering taking the vaccine trials to Nairobi should the results in the United Kingdom (UK) laboratory delay.

Walsh said Kenya was selected as a potential testing ground for the vaccine on the basis infection cases were likely to skyrocket in the country.

This was despite the fact the UK had more than 143,000 cases of COVID-19 and at least 19,000 deaths compared to Kenya's 343 cases and 14 deaths.

The revelation did not go down well with Kenyans who trooped to social media sites to condemn the suggestion.

Narc Kenya party leader Martha Karua had also tasked the government to come out clean and tell the country if there was such an agreement with the UK.

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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 country's 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 and Google, whose tracking software to alert users if they've come into contact with an infected person will be voluntary, mobile phone operators inherently need access to a subscriber's 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 they've 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 they're 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 won't 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 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 Berlin's 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.

"It's 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 they're 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 isn't subject to the EU's strict privacy rules - including user consent - since it's 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 encrypts and strips identifiers from the raw location data before sending it to Invenium Data Insights, 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 aggregates anonymized data of around 50,000 people and adjusts it to reflect the carrier's market share for predictions on the total population, according to Chief Technology Officer Mari-Noelle Jego-Laveissiere. Sweden's 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 isn't failsafe. While aggregating data provides another layer of safeguards, privacy lawyers and experts say clear industry standards don't 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 they've agreed to hand over aggregated data to the European Commission to help fight the propagation of the virus across the bloc, they've 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 won't 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.
Iran receives signals from military satellite, vows new surprises

Iran Press TV

Friday, 24 April 2020 6:48 AM

The Commander of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps Aerospace Division has said that the country is receiving signals from its recently launched Noor satellite and that it plans to launch a future satellite in higher orbit.

Speaking on Thursday, Brigadier General Amir-Ali Hajizadeh said that Iran had received the satellite's signals from stations near the capital Tehran and the southeastern cities of Zahedan and Chabahar following its launch.

"We received the latest signal last night," he added, explaining that the satellite orbits the earth every 90 minutes.

"The satellite's configurations will be fully set in a few days allowing the satellite to attain its full operational capacity," he added.

Iran's first military satellite, dubbed Noor-1 (Light 1), was launched into orbit some 425 kilometers above the Earth's surface on Wednesday.

Also in his remarks, Hajizadeh stressed the importance of space technologies in addressing Iran's civilian and military needs.

He added that the development of the satellite was a "super project" made possible by undertaking major leaps in the technology field.

The general added that the IRGC seeks to launch a future satellite "in a higher orbit and with better performance" in the "near future".

Explaining that Noor's satellite carrier  dubbed Qased (Messenger)  used a missile engine from Iran's existing missile arsenal operating on liquid fuel, the general said that future motors will be upgraded to work with solid fuel.

Solid fuel will allow for the production of smaller satellite carriers, he said.

Hajizadeh added that the Qased's structure had also been made of composite material, a "complex" and "state-of-the-art" feature decreasing the weight of the missile.

The general also noted that the Noor satellite's communication and telecommunication systems had been fully designed and manufactured inside the country.

Satellite launch 'caught western intelligence by surprise'

Also in his remarks, Hajizadeh said that the satellite launch had "caught western intelligence agencies by surprise".

"It is natural for them to be frustrated by what we've done," he added, stressing that the force will continue with its space operations "with force" to protect the country.

Hajizadeh added that Iran's military capabilities have allowed the country to focus on countering US economic sanctions imposed on the country without facing security disturbances.

Hajizadeh also noted how Iran's capabilities had successfully deterred Washington from further provocations after Iran responded to Washington's assassination of its top commander, Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani in January.

"During the Ain al-Assad operation we believed the Americans would respond and we had prepared 400 targets, but they did not," he said.

A few days following the assassination of General Soleimani, Iran launched salvos of missiles at two bases housing US troops in Iraq's western Anbar Province and Kurdistan regional capital, Erbil.

Despite the attacks leading to widespread destruction and casualties, Washington did not follow up on its vow to attack if Tehran targeted US assets in response to General Soleimani's assassination.

'New surprises on the way'

In a tweet on Thursday, Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Shamkhani also said that "new surprises are on the way" as the country battles US sanctions and pressure alongside the coronavirus outbreak in the country.

"The continuous production of power & use of up-to-date knowledge for security & welfare of Iran people from hospitals to space will continue. New surprises are on the way," he said.

The US claims that medical equipment and medicines are technically exempt from the sanctions, but their purchases and imports are blocked by bank's unwillingness to process payment over fears of heavy US penalties.

Iran has now stepped up the production of its own medical equipment, such as ventilators needed for COVID-19 patients.

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The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine at an extraordinary meeting on Friday created the energy crisis response team led by Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal.

"The Cabinet has created the energy crisis response team led by the prime minister," MP Oleksiy Honcharenko wrote in his Telegram channel.
ALLEGAN COUNTY, MI  Allegan County has reported its first death related to COVID-19.

County health officials said the person who died was hospitalized and had underlying health conditions that were likely a contributing factor in their death.

Officials declined to release additional information about the patient after announcing the death in a news release issued Friday, April 24.

We send our heartfelt condolences to the grieving family and friends during this time, said Allegan County Health Officer Angelique Joynes in a prepared statement.

This is a tragic reminder of why it is so important for everyone to continue to practice social distancing. We have to work together to protect each other and slow the spread of this virus.

There have been 61 positive cases of COVID-19, which stands for coronavirus 2019, identified in Allegan County as of Friday, according to data posted on the Allegan County Health Department website.

Ten percent of all submitted coronavirus tests have come back positive in Allegan County, health officials reported. There are 140 people currently being monitored by county health department.

One person in the county has recovered from the virus, according to countywide data.

Statewide, there were 1,350 new coronavirus cases reported Friday, bringing the statewide total to 36,641, according to data on Michigans Department of Health and Human Services website.

The number of deaths from COVID-19 rose to 3,085 Friday, statewide data showed.

Kent County reported 91 new positive cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the county to 906. There were two additional reported deaths, bringing the total to 29.

Kalamazoo County saw its largest one-day increase in the number of coronavirus cases Friday, reporting 37 new cases. There have been 266 positive cases and 11 deaths confirmed countywide.

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 Michigan coronavirus coverage here

More on MLive:

Friday, April 24: Latest developments on coronavirus in Michigan

New Kent County coronavirus cases top 90 for second highest daily total

Kalamazoo County reports 37 new coronavirus cases, its highest one-day spike

Michigan shares coronavirus data for hospitals, health systems for first time

Masks now required, motorboating is back and AirBnb rentals are banned: Heres what changed in Michigans latest stay-home order
For the first time, President Donald Trump cut off his daily coronavirus task force briefing on Friday without taking any questions from reporters. It may not be the last time.

There have been discussions within the White House about changing the format of the briefings to curtail the president's role, according to four White House officials and Republicans close to the White House who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to discuss the matter publicly.

The briefings often stretch well beyond an hour and feature combative exchanges between Trump and reporters.

Trump was angry after a day of punishing headlines on Friday, largely about his comment at the previous evening's briefing wondering if it would be helpful to inject disinfectant into people to fight the coronavirus.

That idea drew loud warnings from health experts who said the idea was dangerous and sharp criticism from Democrats.

Trump did answer questions from reporters earlier on Friday and claimed that his suggestion about disinfectant had been sarcastic." That doesn't square with a transcript of his remarks.

For weeks, advisers have been urging the president to scale back his appearances at the briefings, saying that he should come before the cameras only when there is major news or a positive development to discuss, according to the officials.

Otherwise, they suggested, he should leave it to Vice President Mike Pence and health officials to take the lead.

Trump has been reluctant to cede the spotlight at the briefings, which are the closest thing he currently has to his beloved political rallies.

He has talked up their robust television ratings and his ability to dominate the news cycle and drown out his likely general election opponent, Democrat Joe Biden.

But advisers have argued that while the briefings may appeal to his most loyal base of supporters, they could be alienating some viewers, including senior citizens worried about their health.

Officials at Trump's reelection campaign have also noted a slip in Trump's support in some battleground states and have expressed concerns that the briefings, which often contain inaccurate information, may be playing a role.

Trump, who is known for changing his mind, has not committed to any permanent change in the briefing format, the officials said.

It was unclear if Trump's decision not to take questions on Friday was connected to a kerfuffle in the briefing room moments before the task force presentation began.

A White House official had asked that two reporters switch seats, which would have sent the CNN correspondent farther back in the room. CNN is a frequent target of Trump's criticism. The reporters declined to move.
The coronavirus pandemic has grappled the United States and the country is scrapping to contain the virus as death toll topped the grim figure of 50,000 on Friday.

Yesterday, US recorded 1,258 COVID-19 deaths, the lowest daily toll in the country in nearly three weeks, according to a tracker maintained by Johns Hopkins University.

Reuters

According to the recent figures, the fatalities recorded in the 24 hours, bring the overall death toll to 51,017.



The US is the hardest-hit country, reeling under the devastating effects of the global pandemic. The country has the most confirmed infections and deaths, amounting to one fourth of fatalities in the world.

Despite the sharp drop in the death toll, down from 3,176 on Thursday, health experts have said confirmation of a downward trend in the country's outbreak would require a sustained decline in cases and deaths.

Reuters

The state of New York has suffered the most, with 263,460 cases and 20,982 deaths. In other hardest-hit states, New Jersey reported 5,426 fatalities, Michigan reported 2,977 deaths and Massachusetts recorded 2,360 deaths, the data showed.



Even when States is struggling to cope with the disease, President Donald Trump has been suggesting wild remedies like exposing the body to light, heat and disinfectants as a potential treatment for the coronavirus.

He has now gone on to say on record that he was being sarcastic. At a time when the entire country is reeling with the deadly outcome of coronavirus, the least its leader could do is instill hope onto its people.

Reuters

While the situation looks far from under control, the Trump administration is pressing for a return to some form of economic stability and a way to bring millions of jobless Americans back to work, several states have taken steps to ease lockdowns due to coronavirus.



"We're opening our country. It's very exciting to see," Trump told reporters on Friday.

It remains to be seen how and when the country will be able to have full control of the crisis as cases mount.
By Express News Service

HYDERABAD: Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan held a video conference with Registrars of State universities on Friday about the progress of online classes.

The Registrars said that around 70-80 per cent of students were attending the classes. A few had connectivity issues. They also informed the Governor that around 90% of syllabus for PG students and 80% for UG courses had been completed.
These are the top stories at 18.30 hrs



NATION



DEL26 LOCKDOWN-SHOPS-LD EXEMPTIONSStandalone shops of mobile phones, garments, hardware allowed to open during lockdown, but not marketsNew Delhi: Neighbourhood and standalone shops, including those selling garments, mobile phones, hardware and stationery items have been allowed to open but those located in market places, malls and COVID-19 hotspot and containment zones, will continue to remain shut till May 3.

DEL2 HEALTH-VIRUS-CASES



COVID-19 death toll rises to 775, cases climb to 24,506: Health Ministry



New Delhi: The death toll due to COVID-19 rose to 775 and the number of cases climbed to 24,506 in the country on Saturday, according to the Union Health Ministry.

DEL29 VIRUS-HEALTH MINISTRY



India records lowest daily growth rate in COVID-19 cases on Saturday since it crossed 100 cases



New Delhi: The average doubling rate of COVID-19 cases in the country is 9.1 days as of now and from Friday 8 am to Saturday 8 am, India recorded a six-per cent growth in new cases, which is the lowest daily growth rate recorded since the country crossed 100 cases, the government said on Saturday.

DEL39 HEALTH-VIRUS-RAPID-TESTS



COVID-19 rapid antibody test kit use put on hold, ICMR to check accuracy: Official source



New Delhi: States and Union Territories have been asked to put on hold the use of COVID-19 rapid antibody test kits till their accuracy is rechecked by apex health research body the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), official sources said on Saturday.

BOM5 MH-LOCKDOWN-SHOPS



Maha yet to take call on opening of shops



Mumbai: The Maharashtra government is yet to decide whether shops be allowed to remain open in view of the amended guidelines issued by the Central government.

DEL44 SONIA-PM



Sonia Gandhi writes to PM Modi; seeks economic package for revival of MSMEs



New Delhi: Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Saturday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to announce a financial package for the revival of the MSME sector, saying if ignored, the problem can have a devastating and expansive ripple effect on the country's economy.

DEL30 CONG-LD VIRUS



Formulate a national plan for handling coronavirus crisis: Cong to govt



New Delhi: The Congress on Saturday urged the government to formulate a national plan for handling the coronavirus crisis under the Disaster Management Act.

DEL35 UP-LOCKDOWN-LABOURERS



UP govt starts bringing back workers; Over 2,000 return from Haryana



Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh Government has started bringing back workers hailing from the state who were stranded in other parts of the country due to the lockdown and as many as 2,224 labourers have returned in the first phase, a senior official said on Saturday.

CAL9 VIRUS-BENGAL-TEAM



WB govt not providing logistical support, relevant info on COVID-19: Central team



Kolkata: A central team on a visit to West Bengal to assess the COVID-19 situation on Saturday flagged non-cooperation on the part of the state government over providing logistical support and other relevant information.

MDS9 KA-VIRUS-LD PLASMATHERAPY



Plasma therapy trials to treat coronavirus patients begin in Karnataka



Bengaluru: The Karnataka government on Saturday commenced clinical trials of convalescent plasma therapy to treat coronavirus patients in critical condition.

DEL47 CVC-3RDLD APPOINTMENT



President's secretary Sanjay Kothari takes over as Central Vigilance Commissioner



New Delhi: President's secretary Sanjay Kothari on Saturday took over as the Central Vigilance Commissioner, ten months after the top post in the country's anti-corruption watchdog CVC fell vacant.

DEL172 JK-LD ENCOUNTER



Two militants, associate killed in encounter with security forces in J-K



Srinagar: Two militants and a "hardcore" militant associate were killed in an encounter with security forces in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday, police said.

FOREIGN



FGN24 PAK-LD MISSILES



Pakistan Navy successfully test-fires anti-ship missiles



Islamabad: The Pakistan Navy on Saturday successfully test-fired a series of anti-ship missiles in the North Arabian Sea, a spokesman said. By Sajjad Hussain



FGN5 VIRUS-CHINA-VACCINE



China approves third COVID-19 vaccine for clinical trials



Beijing: China has approved its third coronavirus vaccine for the second phase of clinical trials as it reported 12 new COVID-19 cases, taking the total number of infections in the country to 82,816. By K J M Varma



FGN11 TRUMP-IMMIGRATION-REPORT



Trump's temporary Green Card ban aims to 'turn off the faucet' of new immigrant labour: report



New York: President Donald Trump's executive order to temporarily halt issuance of green cards aims to "turn off the faucet" of new immigrant labour and is the beginning of a broader strategy to reduce the flow of foreigners into the US, architect of Trump's immigration agenda Stephen Miller has said. By Yoshita Singh



FGN10 US-LD INDIAN



Indian-American woman elected to American Academy of Arts and Sciences



Houston: Renu Khator, an Indian-American university chancellor, has been elected to the prestigious American Academy of Arts and Sciences for her contributions in the fields of education and academic leadership. By Seema Hakhu Kachru



FGN19 SAUDI-FLOGGING



Saudi Arabia abolishes flogging



Riyadh: Saudi Arabia has abolished flogging as a punishment, the supreme court announced, hailing the latest in a series of "human rights advances" made by the king and his powerful son.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Axios

Democratic leaders have found a mechanism to enable them to bypass an initial Republican filibuster and debate the party's sweeping elections reform bills, according to a new leadership memo obtained by Axios.Why it matters: The strategy is the latest example of how Democrats are seeking new ways to try to bypass Senate procedures that are blocking their agenda. But the ultimate outcome will likely be the same: insufficient support to change the 60-vote threshold needed to pass sweeping voting r
It looks like Baghdad and Washington will try once again to settle their differences over the presence of US troops in Iraq. Both sides have agreed to resume talks in June to reframe their relationship.

The resumption of the strategic dialogue with the US is an important matter that the new government will undertake, Iraqi President Barham Salih told CNN on April 15. The new government he referred to is that of Prime Minister-designate Mustafa al-Kadhimi, director of Iraq's National Intelligence Service, who is expected to submit his Cabinet nominations for approval this week.

Salih said that US-Iraqi relations need to be put in the right context. His statement coincided with Kadhimi revealing April 15 his country's readiness for a serious dialogue with the US on the nature of its presence in Iraq.

Those remarks seem in line with those of US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who said during an April 7 news conference, "All strategic issues between our two countries will be on the agenda, including the future presence of the United States forces in that country, and how best to support an independent and sovereign Iraq."

In an April 12 article, Washington Institute senior fellow Michael Knights wrote that resetting ties under the 2008 Strategic Framework Agreement (SFA) is long overdue. He added, When US and Iraqi leaders gather under the rubric of the SFA later this year, their first priority should be an honest airing of grievances. This should then give way to recognition of mutual interests.

Speaking to Al-Monitor, Ihsan al-Shammari, head of the Iraqi Center for Political Thought, said, "The US request to discuss the future of the US-Iraqi relations is not something new. There were bilateral talks under Haider al-Abadi [who was prime minister from 2014 to 2018], and there was high-level understanding to the point that the US was convinced of the advantages of withdrawing its troops. Indeed, Washington scaled down its troops from 11,000 to 5,500.

He noted that this positive understanding deviated after Adel Abdul Mahdi assumed the premiership in 2018, and particularly when the United States assassinated Iran's Quds Force commander and the head of Iraq's Popular Mobilization Units in Baghdad in January.

Shammari anticipates that the two sides will now readjust the strategic framework agreement to their updated relations at all levels, and there will not be an end of US military presence as much as a redrafting of the agreements annexes. He added, "The Iraqi government will be keen on a common cooperation field, and will not ask for the US troops to fully withdraw, so as to maintain balanced relations between the two countries. That is unlike the Abdul Mahdi government, which, in Washingtons eyes, was behind the deteriorating relations as it failed to protect the missions and troops that are present in Iraq.

Shammari continued, "There is a chance for new strategic understandings in mid-June, as a new government with a different vision is being formed.  Iraq, which is governed by many equations, is going for permanent and strategic relations with Washington, as a powerful ally against the challenges terrorism causes.

Baghdad and Washington are worried about a possible revival of Islamic State (IS) forces in Iraq, and the United States also wants to maintain a presence there as its tensions build with neighboring Iran.

Parliamentarian Abdul Hadi al-Saadawi spoke to Al-Monitor about practical steps regarding the future of the US presence in Iraq." Those steps will include setting up a security committee that will revisit the SFA after the new government is formed, and amend its security provisions. "Thus, it will be deciding on whether the US troops will stay or withdraw," Saadawi added.

"Parliament perceives the multiple military bases [that host US forces] and huge number of US troops to be illegal, which is embarrassing for the US side.  Kadhimi, as an intelligence man with a good security team, is capable of negotiating the US presence with Washington and renewing the competences of the remaining troops in Iraq.

Abbas Abboud, former editor-in-chief of Iraqi newspaper al-Sabah, told Al-Monitor that Iraq has only made minor gains under the SFA, yet sustained major losses. "This is while Iran managed to fill the US vacuum in Iraq, he said.

Abboud also said, "The local equation favors the US military presence in Iraq.  The Sunnis welcome the presence of US troops, which ensures them greater interests and rids them of the Shiite domination they fear. Also, the Kurds are not [averse] to the US and welcomes [its presence], which gives them the strength to influence Baghdad.

The Shiite political forces are required to listen to the public. That is true particularly since, in addition to the Sunnis and Kurds, there are many Shiites who believe it's important not to risk Iraqi security and economic conditions to serve Iran's agenda, and that Iraqi security forces still need US support.
VIENTIANE, April 24 (Xinhua) -- A team of Chinese military medical experts, with materials aided by China's defense ministry, arrived in the Lao capital Vientiane on Friday afternoon to join Laos' fight against the COVID-19 epidemic.

The People's Liberation Army (PLA) of China COVID-19 epidemic prevention and control expert team was warmly greeted at the Wattay International Airport of Vientiane, by Lao Deputy Defense Minister Aesamay Leuangvanxay and other high-ranking army officers, as well as Chinese Ambassador to Laos Jiang Zaidong.

After a brief talk, the medical expert team handed over anti-epidemic medical materials to the Lao side. The materials were carried by cargo planes of the PLA Air Force and were donated by the Ministry of National Defense of China.
Parliamentary standing committee on labour, led by Biju Janata Dal MP Bhartruhari Mahtab, has said in its report that it is unjustifiable for owners to pay workers wages during natural calamities.

IMAGE: Migrant workers go back home following the imposition of the national lockdown to prevent the coronavirus pandemic from spreading. Photograph: Amit Dave / Reuters.

At a time when coronavirus has led to a big disruption in economic activity due to a national lockdown, a parliamentary standing committee has asked the government to revisit a clause in the labour laws. This clause allows workers to get layoff compensation in case businesses are disrupted by a natural calamity.

The standing committee has suggested to the government to allow bigger companies retrench workers, without the need to seek official nod from the government.

It asked the government to put a cap on the number of times firms can renew the contract of workers.

It has further struck down a proposal from the government for workers to give a 14-day notice before going on a strike across all sectors of the economy.

in case of natural calamities like earthquake, flood, super cyclone etc, which often result in closure of establishments for a considerably longer period without the employers fault, payment of wages to the workers (towards layoff compensation) until the re-establishment of the industry may be unjustifiable, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Labour, led by Biju Janata Dal MP Bhartruhari Mahtab, said in its report on the governments proposed Code on Industrial Relations Bill, made public on Friday.

This assumes significance, particularly in the current scenario where companies, which are struggling to meet their ends, cannot provide wages to its workers in many cases.

After the national lockdown was enforced on March 25, businesses, except those involved in production or services of essential items, shut shop across the country. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government urged employers to not layoff or retrench workers during the lockdown.

This was led by a strict follow-up of the advisories from the labour commissioners.

In fact, the government issued an order on March 29 directing companies not to reduce wages of workers during the lockdown period. This was challenged by some employers in the Supreme Court.

Though the government hasnt declared Covid-19 virus as a natural calamity, a labour law expert said the finance ministrys order in February, permitting companies to revoke force majeure clause for natural calamity, is a big signal that the pandemic can be treated as a natural calamity.

In labour law parlance, there is a slight difference between layoff and retrenchment. Layoff is temporary in nature, when workers cannot be given work for a temporary period of time, as against retrenchment.

Layoff can be for multiple reasons. For instance, shortage of coal, power or raw materials, breakdown of machinery or natural calamity -- factors usually beyond the control of workers -- under the present law.

In India, the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 governs the provisions for layoffs which itself is restricted to only registered plantation, mines and factories -- exempting services and construction sector, among others, from within its ambit.

Further, the layoff compensation is given only in case the size of a firm is 50 or more in terms of workforce. A worker, who is on the muster roll of a company and has completed 240 days of continuous service, is eligible to get 50 per cent of wages for 45 days as layoff compensation, under the present law.

Though the Union labour and employment ministry defended the natural calamity clause, the standing committee didnt accept their contention.
The Navy has accepted delivery of a next-generation stealth destroyer more than three years after its commissioning, the service announced Friday.

The destroyer Zumwalt has a working combat system and will move onto a new phase of developmental and sea testing, according to a news release from Naval Sea Systems Command. The ship was commissioned in 2016 and broke down a month later while passing through the Panama Canal.

The $4 billion ship has since faced other delays and cost overruns.

Related: Major Problems Persist With JLTV, Zumwalt Destroyer, GAO Finds

Navy officials are calling the delivery a "major milestone" for the Zumwalt, known as DDG 1000.

"The combat test team, consisting of ... sailors, Raytheon engineers, and Navy field activity teams, have worked diligently to get USS Zumwalt ready for more complex, multi-mission at-sea testing," Capt. Kevin Smith, a program manager with the Navy's Program Executive Office, Ships, said in a statement. "I am excited to begin demonstrating the performance of this incredible ship."

The Navy cut its original plans to buy more than two dozen of the new ships down to three. The Government Accountability Office last year slammed the Navy for ongoing problems with the 155mm deck guns that were planned for the Zumwalt-class destroyers.

In development, the service found the cost for a single round for the guns was about $800,000, leaving it essentially inoperable.

The Navy in 2018 changed the destroyers' primary mission from land attack to offensive surface strike. Modifications needed to make that switch cost about $1 billion, the GAO noted.

The Zumwalt is joining the U.S. Pacific Fleet and can officially count toward the Navy's ship totals. Its shape, structure and antenna arrangements "significantly reduce radar cross section, making the ship less visible" to enemies, according to the release.

"Every day the ship is at sea, the officers and crew learn more about her capability, and can immediately inform the continued development of tactics, techniques, and procedures to not only integrate Zumwalt into the fleet, but to advance the Navy's understanding of operations with a stealth destroyer," said Capt. Andrew Carlson, the Zumwalt's commanding officer.

Story continues

The second of the Zumwalt-class destroyers, the Michael Monsoor, is homeported in San Diego and is undergoing combat systems activation. The third and final ship of the class, the future Lyndon B. Johnson, is under construction in Maine.

-- Richard Sisk contributed to this report.

-- Gina Harkins can be reached at gina.harkins@military.com. Follow her on Twitter @ginaaharkins.

Read more: Top Navy Leaders Want Crozier Reinstated as Roosevelt's Commanding Officer: Report
India plans to fast track the review of some investment proposals from neigbouring countries such as China following concerns new screening rules could hit plans of companies and investors, three sources told Reuters on Saturday.

To avoid opportunistic takeovers during the coronavirus outbreak, India said this week that all foreign direct investment from countries sharing a land border would require prior government clearance, meaning they can't go through a so-called automatic route.

Advisers to Chinese firms have said they are concerned the process could take several weeks and hit deals and investment timelines. Auto firms such as SAIC's MG Motor and Great Wall, and investors Alibaba and Tencent have placed major bets on India.

The Chinese Embassy in New Delhi has called the new screening policy discriminatory.

A senior Indian government source who is involved in policy making told Reuters that New Delhi will try to approve any investment proposal in a non-sensitive sector within 15 days when the stake being bought is not significant.

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 official declined to elaborate on which sectors would be considered sensitive and what threshold of investment would be deemed significant.

"We will try to fast track investment proposals as soon as possible. It may be faster for some (sectors) and in others we might take some time," said the official, who did not want to be named due to the sensitivity of the discussions.

Two other sources familiar with the government's thinking confirmed that a fast track mechanism was being considered, with possible approval timelines of seven days to four weeks.

India's ministry of commerce and industry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

'CHINA IS CONCERNED'

While the fast track mechanism would be open to all India's neighbours with a land border, China would be the main beneficiary. Unlike Pakistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal and Bhutan, it has major existing and planned investments in India, which the Brookings research group estimated at $26 billion.

Dipti Lavya Swain, a partner at Indian law firm HSA Advocates which advises Chinese companies, said sectors such as telecoms, financial services and insurance were likely to be deemed more sensitive than others such as automobiles and renewable energy.

"Approvals should be a seamless process and anything between two to four weeks could still be bearable," Swain said. "Sectors which are already under severe financial distress and do not concern national security should also receive faster approvals."

The new Indian screening rules are designed to prevent fire sales of corporate assets during the coronavirus outbreak but government sources have said they will also apply to greenfield investments, as well as investments from Hong Kong.

Responding to Reuters questions this week, China's foreign ministry said it hoped for a better business environment as India had set up more barriers for some investors.

"China is concerned. In the face of the economic downturn caused by the epidemic, countries should unite to overcome difficulties," it said in a statement dated April 22.

Follow our full coverage of the coronavirus pandemic here
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, the SBA said. Any borrower that applied for a PPP loan prior to the issuance of this guidance and repays the loan in full by May 7, 2020, will be deemed by SBA to have made the required certification in good faith.
It was bitterly cold on March 8, 1932, when a fire broke out shortly before 5 p.m. at Miralago, an art deco nightclub and casino on the North Shore. Today, the site is occupied by the Plaza del Lago, a shopping center, and a cluster of high-rise apartment buildings along the Lake Michigan beachfront. But back then, the area where the nightclub stood was an unincorporated sliver of land squeezed in between Wilmette and Kenilworth. This community, known as No Mans Land, had neither fire engines nor the water capacity for fighting fires.
The global oil sector is reeling from a combination of negative oil prices, storage overload, demand destruction, and calls for a renewable energy revolution in the post-COVID-19 era.



US and European oil market analysts appear to be pinning their hopes on a rebound in oil demand from Asia. Even international financial institutions, such as the IMF, WB, ECB and OECD indicate that the future of economic and energy demand growth is inextricably linked to the future of China and, increasingly, India.



OPEC oil and gas producers, after decades of prioritizing Western economies, have been rerouting their investments and oil and gas strategies to capture these markets of the future. Before COVID-19, China was already a key global center for trade, investments and geopolitical influence. While some critical reports have been warning about the worrying economic and financial situation of China, mainstream investors and operators still had the country as their top investment target. Growing concerns about Beijings geopolitical aggression in the South China Sea and the negative impact of its One Belt One Road initiative were not enough to dissuade nations and global conglomerates from engaging economically with the Asian giant. Arab OPEC producers werent immune to Chinas influence either, with over 50 percent of their overall investments going to the country. China, the argument goes, would always be a vital partner due to its huge population and growing political-economic reach. Then came COVID-19. The unexpected implications of this global pandemic had only previously been discussed in thinktank reports and Hollywood horror films. Nobody, it seems, thought it would ever become a reality. Now that it has, the major potential fallout from this transformative disease is far bigger than most people think. Related: Goldman Sachs Expects Another Oil Price Crash

The true extent of the damage caused by COVID-19 is yet to be seen, mainly due to the trillions of dollars of government support that has been given to businesses. But geopolitical relations and trade routes have already changed drastically. Chinas web of influence is now unraveling as it has become clear just how dangerous it is to rely so heavily on just one country for international trade and security. The lack of resilience in the global economic system, especially when it comes to production and trade, is going to very negatively impact China in the coming years. A new resilience based on a diverse economic system will be needed to confront and mitigate future international crises or pandemics. For oil producers, especially the Arab OPEC producers and Russia, relying on China to consume a majority of their future production is a dangerous game. Just as US shale is far too heavily reliant on Cushing storage and paid the price when WTI prices crashed into negative territory as Cushing hit capacity, Arab producers have been hit hard by Chinese demand destruction.

The next development, one that is already visible within major OECD countries, will be to rethink future investment projects or current financing schemes, and set up new non-Chinese production centers or bring industry and production back home. This may sounds like Trumps America First policy, but it is seen by European parties as a necessary to counterweight to the ever-growing influence of China. A Make Europe Great Again (MEGA) policy, based on shortages of Chinese products, has already gained traction. The automotive, chemical and medical sectors are reconsidering their relationships with China. Discussions are clearly on the table to bring production facilities back home or to set up new ones in India, Egypt or other places, where high-tech, high education levels, and low costs are also available. Related: $110 Trillion Renewables Stimulus Package Could Create 50 Million Jobs

OPECs strategists should also take a step back and look beyond China when it comes to economic interests. A restructuring of production, supported by geopolitical, financial and operational issues, outside China will directly put a major damper on oil and gas supplies and demand in the Tiger State.

OPEC and Russia should assess the options that OECD countries, supported by others, are considering regarding the restructuring of their China policies. New emerging regions will be needed to increase the resilience of the global economy. This transformation will rapidly and dramatically influence future energy demand trade flows. Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar and Kuwait, must consider this before they are confronted by a fait-a-compli. COVID-19 has transformed international relations, nationalism has returned to influence the economic policies of two of the largest economic power players in the world, the USA and the EU. If it fails to act, OPECs oil and gas future will hit hard by lower Chinese demand. The oil cartel needs a new resilience-focused approach to its economic policies. The future of oil and gas demand will not be focused purely in China, and any nations with an interest in the industry should start to plan for that future now.

By Cyril Widdershoven for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
There is overwhelming evidence that the virus that causes COVID-19 jumped from animals to humans, rather than escaping from a laboratory, virus experts say.

Conspiracy theories suggest the virus escaped a Chinese lab due to lax security. The Trump administration is investigating that possibility, Fox News has reported.

But scientists have been warning for years another coronavirus was poised to jump from animals to humans and kickstart a pandemic.

Deforestation, urban sprawl and the climate crisis has been steadily increasing the risk of that happening.

"We have been warning about this for some time now," said Dr Joshua Hayward, a bat virus researcher at the Burnet Institute. "And I dont believe anyone has been listening."
Updates related to COVID-19 and its effects on Albuquerque and the rest of NM.

PICTURES





UPDATES

9:25 p.m.

Navajo Nation COVID-19 cases reach 1,637

The Navajo Nation reported 97 new COVID-19 cases Saturday, and one additional death. There are now 1,637 COVID-19 cases on the reservation and a total of 59 deaths.

The Navajo Department of Health, Navajo Area Indian Health Service and Navajo Epidemiology Center have reported a total of 7,393 negative tests.

The reservation will remain under a weekend-long curfew until Monday morning. The Navajo Nations stay-at-home order will remain in effect after the weekend curfew expires.

Navajo Nation COVID-19 cases by county:

 Navajo County, Ariz.: 395

 Apache County, Ariz.: 362

 Coconino County, Ariz.: 242

 McKinley County, N.M.: 398

 San Juan County, N.M.: 168

 Cibola County, N.M.: 16

 Socorro County, N.M.: 21

 Sandoval County, N.M.: 15

 San Juan County, Utah: 20

The Navajo Health Command Operations Center hotline is (928) 871-7014.

 Theresa Davis

12:22 p.m.

NM promises jobless system improvements

SANTA FE  Top New Mexico officials said Friday that they are improving the states unemployment system, after a tsunami of jobless benefit claims related to the COVID-19 outbreak swamped the state and left thousands of state residents fuming.

More than 10% of the states labor force filed initial unemployment claims during a recent roughly monthlong period, as state-ordered closures of businesses not deemed to be essential have led to widespread employee layoffs and furloughs.

Workforce Solutions Secretary Bill McCamley apologized Friday for the trouble New Mexicans have faced accessing their unemployment benefits.

We are very, very sorry for all of the frustration people have felt working through the unemployment system, McCamley said.

He also said the agency is working to put money in your pockets and make it easier for people to stay home and safe.

The department has added 145 staffers  many from other state agencies  to help run its unemployment insurance call center, which has expanded its daily hours of operation. More employees are also helping to determine eligibility to get jobless benefits.

In addition, the log-in process for filing for unemployment benefits online is being improved, and text message alerts will soon be sent to jobless benefit seekers, McCamley said.

The number of New Mexicans receiving unemployment benefits has exploded from 9,600 in January to 79,806 since mid-March. There are also 123,816 active applications.

Read More>>

 Dan Boyd, Stephen Hamway, and Dan McKay

6:05 a.m.

Navajo COVID-19 cases jump by 180, with 6 more deaths

The Navajo Health Command Operations Center reported 180 new COVID-19 cases Friday and 6 additional deaths. There are now a total of 1,540 COVID-19 cases on the reservation, and 58 deaths from the disease. The Navajo Department of Health and Navajo Epidemiology Center have reported a total of 6,473 negative tests.

In a news release Friday, Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez encouraged reservation residents to continue following public health guidelines. The reservation will have another 57-hour weekend curfew starting tonight at 8 p.m. Navajo residents are also required to wear masks in public.

With todays large increase in positive cases, its important to remember that it is partly due to more testing thats available, including rapid testing, Nez said in the release. On the upside, with more testing we now identifying those individuals who need to isolate themselves. We are working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to construct Alternative Care Sites to house positive patients to help prevent the spread.

A high school gym in Gallup has been converted into an isolation site, and sites are being constructed in Shiprock and in Chinle, Arizona.

New Mexico Department of Health data shows Native Americans make up 47.27% of the states COVID-19 cases. Native Americans represent about 11% of the states population. In Arizona, Native Americans represent 5% of the population and make up 13% of the states COVID-19 cases.

How to help.

 Theresa Davis
New Delhi

Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Saturday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to announce an immediate Rs 1 lakh crore wage protection package for the revival of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), warning that if problems of the sector are not addressed, it could have a devastating effect on the countrys economy.

In her letter to the Prime Minister, she also enumerated suggestions for the revival of the MSME sector, which is reeling under the onslaught of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic and the nationwide lockdown that ensued to contain it.

The last five weeks have brought our nation face to face with several challenges. As we continue our fight against Covid-19, I felt it essential to highlight an economic concern that needs immediate attention and intervention, Gandhi said.

She said MSMEs contributed close to one third of the nations Gross Domestic Product (GDP), accounted for almost 50% of exports, and employed more than 11 crore people.

At this moment, without appropriate support, more than 6.3 crore (63 million) MSMEs stand on the verge of economic ruin, Gandhi said.

She demanded an immediate Rs 1 lakh crore MSME Wage Protection package as also a credit guarantee fund of an equivalent amount, besides a 24X7 helpline for helping them out of this crisis.

The Congress chief said MSMEs are suffering losses of around Rs 30,000 crore every day due to the nationwide lockdown and efforts should be made to revive these as they are the backbone of the economy.

Nearly all MSMEs lost sales orders, seen complete cessation of work, and had revenue negatively impacted. If ignored, this issue has the potential of having a devastating and expansive ripple effect on our economy, the letter read.

Most worrying of all, 11 crore (110 million) employees are at the risk of losing jobs as MSMEs struggle to pay wages and salaries. The government needs to introduce a series of measures to meet this crisis head-on or risk a much large economic crisis down the road, she said.

She said the actions taken by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) must be reflected in banks measures to ensure adequate, easy and timely credit supply to MSMEs.

These measures need to be supported by an expansion and extension of the RBIs moratorium on payment of loans for the MSMEs beyond the stipulated three months, added Gandhi.

This is Gandhis seventh letter to the Prime Minister since March 23. In previous letters she has asked for a focus on migrant workers and people in rural areas, suspending the Rs 20,000 crore Central Vista project and transferring all money under the PM Cares fund to the Prime Ministers National Relief Fund (PM-NRF), to fight the pandemic.

Reacting to the letter, Union minister Prakash Javadekar said: At a time when everyone is fighting a severe crisis, and the people are joining bands with the PM, the Congress party is writing letters. They are busy in negative politics. They dont work on the ground. The whole world appreciates how India took timely steps to announce the lockdown. But while the whole world appreciates something, the Congress criticises it.

He addded: This government has taken care of the MSME sector; 14 crore (140 million) people have been given loans without any collateral. But that issue is not raised by the Congress. When PM Modi and Nitin Gadkari began to speak about the efforts being made, the Congress jumped in too. This government has ensured 20 crore (200 million) women are getting Rs 500 per month,80 crore (800 million) people are getting ration and 8 crore (80 million) farmers are getting money, but the Congress is raising only negative issues.
In April, the VDH started including probable COVID-19 cases and probable deaths in the states overall tally. Probable cases are people who are symptomatic with a known exposure to COVID-19, but have not been confirmed with a positive test.

The VDH said 157,957 COVID-19 tests have been conducted on Virginians, and there have been 3,211 hospitalizations.

In the Richmond area, there are 2,554 cases: 1,067 in Henrico County, 787 in Chesterfield County, 530 in Richmond and 170 in Hanover County.

Also, the region has 169 deaths attributed to the virus: 109 in Henrico, 26 in Chesterfield, 18 in Richmond and 16 in Hanover.

Fairfax County, the states most populous locality with more than 1.1 million people, has the most cases with 5,892 and 239 deaths.

There are coronavirus cases in 130 of Virginias 133 cities and counties. Only Bath, Bland and Dickenson counties dont have cases.

The VDH said there are 268 outbreaks in the state, 157 in long-term care facilities. These facilities also account for 489 of the states 827 deaths attributed to the virus.

The data broke down statewide cases by age group:
New Delhi: Bollywood actor Irrfan Khan's mother Saeda Begum, 95, breathed her last on Saturday morning (April 25, 2020). Saida Begum resided in the Beniwal Kanta Krishna Colony in Jaipur. She belonged to the Nawab family of Tonk, reports ANI.

The 95-year-old Saeda had not been keeping well for quite some time now.

Meanwhile, actor Irrfan Khan, who is currently not in the country as he is undergoing treatment abroad is finding it difficult to fly back to India amid the pandemic health crisis, as per a report in Spotboye.com.

The deadly coronavirus outbreak has resulted in a nationwide lockdown in place to fight its further spread in the country. All flights stand cancelled till May 3, 2020, as of now. Therefore, unfortunately, Irrfan won't be able to attend his mother's funeral in India.

The actor rushed back abroad after his latest release 'Angrezi Medium' shoot was over. He couldn't promote the film physically but industry friends made sure to proxy in and urge the audience to watch the entertainer.

Irrfan Khan is battling neuroendocrine tumour and is undergoing treatment for the same in London. After recovering well, the actor did return to India last year and completed his film shoot but again rushed to the United Kingdom for his medical treatment.

May her soul rest in peace!
At the Manitoba Legislative Building in the time of COVID-19, the functioning of government continues, but the atmosphere is subdued.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 24/4/2020 (627 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

At the Manitoba Legislative Building in the time of COVID-19, the functioning of government continues, but the atmosphere is subdued.

April is usually one of the busiest months at 450 Broadway, with the legislature sitting daily. The building is normally abuzz with MLAs and cabinet ministers, political and permanent government staff scurrying between meetings.

The broad corridors of the grand structure often teem with tourists and school groups  the visitors galleries inside the ornate legislative chamber frequently jammed with observers.

But during the pandemic, the massive century-old building is eerily quiet, the large parking lot that encircles it little more than half-full.

Due to coronavirus restrictions, visitors are currently barred from the peoples building, except by appointment, and MLAs are on hiatus from the oft-raucous chamber.

"Every day feels like a weekend (day at work)," a cabinet minister remarked this week, describing the quiet.

But that relative calm belies the momentous decisions being made  decisions that have shuttered countless workplaces, closed classrooms, restricted Manitobans movements, and, potentially, plunged the province into billions of dollars of debt.

RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS The massive century-old building is eerily quiet.

Premier Brian Pallisters news conferences, in a room in the basement, have become almost daily events. The difference is journalists listen in and ask questions remotely instead of in person.

Most MLAs and many government staff work from home. Cabinet ministers, however, spend most days in the office, as are their staff.

Pallister and his 14-member cabinet continue to meet in person most Wednesdays, but the location has changed. Instead of filing into the cosy meeting room next to the premiers office, they convene in a large committee room to observe physical-distancing guidelines.

Adding to the quiet is the absence of dozens of part-time staff who work only when MLAs sit. Theyve been laid off.

Many permanent legislative staff work remotely.

"After a lot of technological challenges, weve got the majority of our people set up at home with secure computer environments," said Speaker Myrna Driedger, who supervises a staff of more than 100, including part-time workers.

Education Minister Kelvin Goertzen says his workload hasnt eased during the COVID-19 pandemic, although it has changed.

Theres also been much more pressure on Goertzen and fellow cabinet ministers due to the magnitude of the crisis and the momentous decisions the government has had to make to contain the deadly virus.

"Theres no question that the consequences of the (governments) decisions are of a magnitude that none of us have experienced," said Goertzen, a 17-year MLA, who represents Steinbach.

RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Kelvin Goertzen meets with Matthew Penner from a distance.

"The closing of schools indefinitely, I dont believe, is something that any minister of education has done in Manitoba history. The enormity of some of those decisions definitely weighs on you, and Im sure it does for every cabinet colleague."

Pallister has not formed a special cabinet committee to deal with the crisis. Instead, there is a health incident command team, led by Dr. Brent Roussin, the provincial chief public health officer and Lanette Siragusa, chief nursing officer with Shared Health.

All cabinet ministers receive daily 10 a.m. briefings  via telephone conference call  from Roussin and emergency management officials.

"The principle were operating under is we dont want to have surprises," Goertzen said of the briefings. "Were already making decisions that are monumental and (made) quickly because they have to be made quickly. You dont want to add on top of that people being surprised, right?"

As for his workday, Goertzen holds fewer in-person meetings, but reaches out a lot more over the phone and via teleconferences.

Oddly enough, he said, hes "more connected now" with education stakeholders than before the pandemic.

In part, thats been out of necessity, he said, due to issues related to classes being suspended during the pandemic.

(JOHN WOODS / THE CANADIAN PRESS) Goertzen says he's "more connected now" with education stakeholders than before the pandemic.

Department workers are in daily contact with the school boards association, while Goertzen participates in weekly conference calls with various groups, including school superintendents, the Manitoba Teachers Society and the Manitoba Federation of Independent Schools.

"Before (the pandemic), you might not have done that because it seemed sort of impersonal to have a phone call, right?" he said. "Now... people are happy to have this conference call or phone call. So, in some ways, I think weve become more connected."

In addition to running a large government department, the 50-year-old Goertzen is house leader, with the responsibility to shepherd bills through the legislature.

With the legislative session suspended  MLAs have sat only one day, with limited numbers, since March 19  Goertzens house duties have been greatly diminished.

However, his constituency workload has mushroomed.

"The number of constituency emails and calls have probably gone up four-fold because there are just so many questions," he said.

On the other hand, as a politician who attends about 150 evening meetings and events every year, the prohibition on public gatherings of than 10 people has given him more time with his wife and son.

"The one noticeable difference for my personal life is that I notice that Im actually home in the evenings, at 7:30 or 8 oclock, which I havent really experienced for almost two decades," he said.

Gary Filmon also governed the province at a time of crisis  1997s Flood of the Century, which, at one point, threatened to inundate the entire city of Winnipeg.

Unlike the current emergency, there was no reason to shut down the legislature. So Filmon, unlike Pallister, was answerable for his actions in the chamber on a daily basis.

"We had question period every day, and then I had scrums following question period with the news media every day. It was quite different in that respect," the former Progressive Conservative premier said this week.

JEFF DE BOOY / FREE PRESS FILES Gary Filmon also governed the province at a time of crisis  1997's Flood of the Century.

Filmon can relate to the pressure Pallister and his cabinet must be feeling at the moment.

"This certainly is a time of high stress, high tension," he said.

Filmon recalls overseeing daily 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. meetings of the provinces emergency management committee, which included either ministers or deputy ministers of key affected departments, the heads of Crown corporations and representatives from Winnipeg police, RCMP and the Canadian Forces, which played a key role in the flood fight.

"I didnt get a lot of sleep. Ill tell you that," said Filmon.

"I didn't get a lot of sleep. I'll tell you that."  Gary Filmon on his time governing during the Flood of the Century

"Theres no question that theres an enormous responsibility placed on people to make the best decisions they can with the best information thats available to them," he said. "And sometimes you just literally have to sweep everything off your desk and concentrate on one problem."

One such occasion was when a retired engineer alerted officials that the huge wave of water heading Winnipegs way from North Dakota could get around flood fortifications via the La Salle River. That left the province with just six days to build the Z-dike near Brunkild.

Filmon was awakened in the middle of the night at one point in the crisis and told the dike protecting Ste. Agathe had burst, flooding the town. He feared the Red River Valleys other ring dikes were also vulnerable.

"There was a lot of tension. In the end, we felt so responsible; at least I felt so responsible," he said.

"It was difficult to spend any relaxed time. It was all a matter of keeping in touch with and keeping on top of all these critical issues."

Life has changed for the leader of the Opposition.

Before COVID-19, Wab Kinew would get up early, go for a run, walk his children to where they catch the school bus and then head to the legislature to meet with his staff to "hatch out a plan for how were going to take over the world that day."

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Wab Kinew works from home with his one-year-old, Tobasonakwut Kinew, on his lap.

There would be caucus meetings, stakeholder meetings, preparing for question period in the afternoon then, after the session, scrumming with reporters before attending community events most nights. Now, all of that has changed.

"The rubber-chicken circuit stopped entirely," Kinew said of the gatherings hed attend, something he enjoyed.

Now, the NDP leader works from home alongside his physician spouse, two school-age children, a toddler, two dogs and a cat.

"Ive made more meals at home in the past month and Ive enjoyed cooking," he said.

He may be working remotely from home but he said hes busier than ever.

His regular morning meetings are conducted by phone or on the Zoom app instead of in person at the legislature.

"We made the decision to work remotely," said Kinew, who doesnt have a home office.

Theres a spot in the living room he gravitates to for talking on the phone and teleconferencing with his caucus and community groups.

"Weve settled into a new routine," he said from his home, which has become a hive of activity. Two of his three sons are learning online and his wife is working both from home at and her clinic.

Although his constituency office has closed its doors for health and safety reasons, theres a growing demand on the phone and online from constituents needing help and answers to get through the pandemic, Kinew said.

"Its at least doubled," he said. "It is a lot of people reacting to whatever gets announced that day  the federal government announcing the (Canada Emergency Response Benefit) program, limiting refills of prescriptions to 30 days, the public-health orders; Can I stay open? What should I do?"

JOHN WOODS / THE CANADIAN PRESS The government has not consulted with the Opposition as it responds to COVID-19.

Kinew has heard from individuals and small business owners worried about how theyre going to make their rent payments.

The government has not consulted with the Opposition as it responds to COVID-19, he said, adding the NDP has pushed its ideas through press releases and social media with some success, notably the province prohibiting evictions for tenants because of unpaid rent during the pandemic.

The Opposition was also successful in pressing for amendments to bills during the one-day emergency sitting of the legislature on April 15.

"We can play a very constructive role," Kinew said.

On Wednesday, he called for the house to reconvene so the government can account for its response to COVID-19.

"I think we could improve the response by working across party lines," he said.

While the premier has been getting a lot of media attention by holding several news conferences each week, the Opposition has had to find ways to get its message out, the NDP leader said.

"I think the government has an important job to do and our job as Opposition is super-important. Were doing our job as best as we can while still trying to respect the need for social distancing."

Liberal Leader Dougald Lamonts house is getting pretty crowded. Both he and his wife are now working from the home they share with four children, who are learning online, and their dog.

"Im having to take calls and meetings in a bedroom or on the porch," said Lamont.

Like Kinew, the Liberal leader is also disappointed that the government hasnt involved the opposition parties in its response to the pandemic.

Instead, the response was, "Well send you an email every day with an update," he said.

JOHN WOODS / CANADIAN PRESS FILES Liberal Party of Manitoba leader Dougald Lamont is also disappointed that the government hasn't involved the opposition parties in its response to the pandemic.

The update arrives at the end of the day  sometimes after 6 p.m.  and contains COVID-19 numbers announced hours earlier by the chief provincial public health officer and summaries of previously announced government programs.

With the legislature not in session, the Liberals have had to find other ways to hold the government to account.

"Weve been putting out criticism and pointing out serious issues," Lamont said.

Liberals have been vocal about the burdensome costs of Manitobans having to pay pharmacy dispensing fees for medication refills every 30 days; filling larger quantities has been suspended due to drug-supply concerns. Theyre also raised concerns about a lack of personal protective equipment in hospitals and personal-care homes.

"From my point of view we need to get the message across that the situation, economically, is really serious," Lamont said. "Now is not the time to go back to the reflex of cutting and everything else."

While his government is preparing to reopen certain segments of society in the coming weeks, Pallister has not yet indicated when he may recall the legislature.

He brushed off the question Friday, saying it would be up to the house leaders to decide.

But the decision, ultimately, is his to make.

Earlier in the week, Goertzen said he wouldnt rule out the possibility of periodic sitting days, but he added that would depend on obtaining agreement from the other parties and the status of public-health orders.

Without the daily question period, opposition voices have been largely muted during one of the most critical times in the provinces history, unlike Filmon facing a daily barrage of questions about the flood.

And in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001, Gary Doers NDP government established an all-party committee that received briefings from provincial staff and had input in drafting legislation responding to that crisis.

JOHN WOODS / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES Manitoba premier Brian Pallister's main preoccupation appears to be to try to contain a ballooning deficit, which could reach $5 billion this year.

While Pallister has exhorted Manitobans to follow his chief public health officers hand-washing and physical-distancing directives, his main preoccupation appears to be to try to contain a ballooning deficit, which could reach $5 billion this year.

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Manitoba was one of the last provinces to offer any direct support for small business.

This week, Pallister falsely claimed that Manitoba was the most indebted province in Canada while defending criticism of ordered budget cuts to universities, certain government departments and Crown corporations.

This contrasts with other jurisdictions, where there has been greater emphasis on maintaining public-sector jobs and redeploying staff.

In bad times as well as good, Pallister appears unafraid to chart a course at variance with other provinces, always willing to take on public-sector unions, and always ready to marginalize his political opponents.

larry.kusch@freepress.mb.ca

carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca

Carol Sanders

Legislature reporter After 20 years of reporting on the growing diversity of people calling Manitoba home, Carol moved to the legislature bureau in early 2020. Read full biography
Economic Advisor to the President of the Russian Federation Maxim Oreshkin named the main problem of the Russian economy that right now is a priority for the authorities.

"The president constantly repeats that the authorities, government and Central Bank should monitor the unemployment rate and population incomes, as these are the most problematic issues for today, Oreshkin said in an interview to Russia-24 TV channel.
Al Pacino spent much of the Seventies in a drunken haze. The Oscar-winning star of the Godfather trilogy, Serpico, Scarface and Scent of a Woman has been teetotal for more than four decades now, and is about to soberly celebrate his 80th birthday. But he drank so much in his younger days that his brain was, in his own words, scrambled.

He would down beers along with martini chasers, the alcohol serving as an antidote to his natural shyness, a way for him to cope with the intense burden of being in the public eye. Drinking was part of the culture of his trade at the time, he would later explain, recalling that even a thespian as eminent as Sir Laurence Olivier cited the drink after the show as his favourite part of acting.

But by the time Pacino was 31, alcohol had begun to threaten his burgeoning career. His film credits were limited to a small role in Me, Natalie and a well-received lead in The Panic in Needle Park when he was spotted by Francis Ford Coppola, who insisted Pacino was perfect for a main role in 1972s The Godfather. Paramount Pictures were pushing for Robert Redford or Warren Beatty to play Michael Corleone, but the director stuck to his guns. I couldnt get Al out of my head, he said. Pacino nearly blew it, though. On the day of his first screen test, he was hungover and had not memorised his lines. He tried to ad-lib the scene, infuriating Mario Puzo, the author of the crime novel on which the film was based. It took a lot of persuasion for Pacino to land the role.

In the end, he was superb as the mafia boss, narrowly missing out on an Oscar for Best Actor, which went instead to his co-star Marlon Brando, who played his father Vito Corleone. The sudden fame and acclaim pushed Pacino into drinking even more heavily. Three decades later, Pacino told television host Larry King that he knew he was in trouble when cocktails began to seem more attractive than acting.

A true crisis point came in London in 1974, following the success of Serpico, when Pacino was staying at The Dorchester hotel. A depressed Pacino was exhausted after six months of filming for The Godfather Part II, on locations in New York, Nevada, Miami and Sparagonga, Sicily. He had already signed up to play Sonny Wortzik in Dog Day Afternoon, a film directed by Sidney Lumet, which dramatised the story of an inept robber who holds up a bank in Brooklyn to get the money for his partners gender confirmation surgery.

Pacino began to have second thoughts about the role. After a pub crawl in Londons West End, he backed out of the movie. It was during one of those episodes of drinking in London that I actually turned down Dog Day, he told Larry King Live in 2007. I said, I dont want to go rob a bank and do all of that stuff.

Lumet reluctantly accepted the actors change of heart and sent the screenplay to Dustin Hoffman. I quit. Dustin was going to do it, Pacino admitted. However, producer Martin Bregman pestered his friend to reconsider. Bregman was on me, on me, on me, recalled Pacino. I said, Marty, I dont want to do this. He said, Could you stop drinking for a while and read the script? I didnt drink for a couple of days and I read the script. It was clear. I said, Why am I not doing this? I should be doing this. I was very lucky I had him there.

King asked Pacino if hed ever acted under the influence of drink. Ive done it. I did with John Cazale. I didnt like that, Pacino confessed. The late Cazale, who played the tragic Fredo Corleone in The Godfather, became friends with Pacino in the mid-1960s. They acted together in Public Theatre productions of The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui and The Local Stigmatic. Cazale also starred as the oddball, longhaired sidekick of Pacino in Dog Day Afternoon.

Pacino was boozing during the production of Dog Day Afternoon. The star actually credits this with helping inspire one of his most creative brainwaves about how to play Wortzik. After watching reels of the first days shoot, he sat up all night thinking about the character, helped by drinking a half-gallon of white wine. He decided he was hitting false notes with his portrayal of the bank robber  that it was wrong for his character to wear glasses. Pacino decided that Wortzik was the sort of man who, on the day of a big heist, would forget to take his spectacles, because subconsciously he wants to be caught.

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Pacino played dysfunctional bank robber Sonny Wortzik in Dog Day Afternoon (Warner Bros)

Lumet agreed to re-shoot the scenes featuring Pacino in glasses, and the actor started to play the character with a vague squint. Dog Day Afternoon was a critical success. The real Wortzik (John Wojtowicz), who was serving time at a federal penitentiary in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, even wrote to The New York Times declaring that Pacino deserved an Academy Award. In the end, he earned a Best Actor nod, one of eight nominations (The Godfather, Serpico, The Godfather Part II, And Justice for All, Dick Tracy, Glengarry Glen Ross, The Irishman) that sit alongside his sole triumph, a Best Actor award for 1993s Scent of a Woman.

There are lots of reasons why people drink to excess, and the man born Alfredo James Pacino had his fair share. His childhood in the Bronx was extremely rough. Pacinos father, Salvatore, abandoned the family when his son was just two. Salvatore ended up running a bar in Covina, California, called Pacinos Lounge. Pacino called his fathers desertion the missing link of his life.

The consequences were dire. Money was tight for his single-parent mother Rose, who suffered from chronic depression. She even resorted to electric-shock therapy and eventually became addicted to barbiturates. She was only 43 when she died in 1962. Poverty took her down, Pacino said. His beloved maternal grandfather died a year after Rose. Pacino described this as the darkest period of his life. I went through some stuff. I had therapy five days a week for 25 years, he told The Hollywood Reporters podcast in December 2019.

Rose had done her best to encourage Pacinos youthful acting ambitions. She regularly took him to the cinema and he remembered the treat of being taken to see Tennessee Williamss Cat on a Hot Tin Roof on Broadway. Pacino was often coaxed into acting at home. The writer John Lahr said that one of Pacinos party pieces was imitating Ray Milland in The Lost Weekend. Pacino would throw open cupboard doors, pretending to search for a hidden stash of booze, just like the alcoholic writer in the film. I never understood why they were laughing, because I didnt think it was funny, Pacino told Lahr. But I knew it produced laughs.

Al Pacino: His 10 greatest films, from Scarface to Serpico Show all 10 1 /10 Al Pacino: His 10 greatest films, from Scarface to Serpico Al Pacino: His 10 greatest films, from Scarface to Serpico 10. Scarecrow (1973) A forgotten gem in Pacinos filmography, Scarecrow offers a bristling display of the actors full-range of talents. Here, director Jerry Schatzberg pairs him up with Gene Hackman for an odd-couple comedy about two drifters who travel from California to Pittsburgh to start a car wash business. Theyre at odds, but harmonious. Hackman plays the brutish lothario, while Pacino is the wounded clown. Hes jittery, but sweet and sensitive in ways he rarely got to explore in later roles. A traumatic event in the final act then destroys what scraps of innocence he still has left. The subsequent breakdown, which leaves him screaming and thrashing in waters of a public fountain, is a devastating spectacle. While the film was honoured at the Cannes Film Festival, its since largely drifted out of view. Its a shame. Scarecrow is a heartfelt eulogy to masculinity lost to the cavernous jaws of the American dream. Rex Features Al Pacino: His 10 greatest films, from Scarface to Serpico 9. Glengarry Glen Ross (1992) Its one of the great ensembles of Hollywood cinema: Pacino, Jack Lemmon, Alec Baldwin, Alan Arkin, Jonathan Pryce and Ed Harris  all of them locked in a vicious, bestial battle for corporate supremacy as the employees of a real estate agency. David Mamets screenplay, based on his own Pulitzer Prize-winning play, drips with linguistic poisons. And Pacino has a divine gift for delivering them. An insult as workaday as you stupid f***in c*** might seem like a cheap shot but, coming out of Pacinos mouth, its like an arrow to the head. As Ricky Roma, the offices top closer, the actor gets to play the most oil-slicked, crafty character of the entire film. His charisma is palpable, but so is his insatiable greed. No wonder he was the only cast member to earn an Oscar nomination. Rex Features Al Pacino: His 10 greatest films, from Scarface to Serpico 8. Scarface (1983) Its a stark indictment of Hollywoods diversity phobia that Pacino, an Italian-American, was cast by Brian De Palma as a Latinx immigrant not once, but twice (more on Carlitos Way later). But the actors take on Tony Montana, a Miami drug dealer who climbs to the top and immediately loses the plot, is the stuff of legend. Cocaine flows through this mans veins. His delusions have cemented into gilded kitsch. He thinks of a firearm as his little friend. Pacino delivers Tony in the same erratic cadence as Frank Slade in Scent of a Woman, but his exorbitance here is justified. Tony isnt a man; hes a symbol of total moral corruption. The fact hes since been adopted as an entrepreneurial cult hero is telling  so is the fact that the decades consumerist worship was so absurd that many critics failed to realise that De Palma was operating firmly in the role of satirist. Rex Features Al Pacino: His 10 greatest films, from Scarface to Serpico 7. The Irishman (2019) If the past couple of decades have seen Pacino dip into self-parody, The Irishman was his chance to reassert himself as one of the greats. The same was true of co-stars Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci  even director Martin Scorsese went out and proved hes still the undisputed master of the gangster genre. Its a deeply reflective, muted film that works both as a throwback to the golden era of these mens careers and a critical reexamination of their own legacies. Pacino, playing union president Jimmy Hoffa, reignites his firebrand charisma only to immediately ground it in a complex web of righteousness and moral indignation. It might not be the showiest performance of his career, but its a sublime return to form. Rex Features Al Pacino: His 10 greatest films, from Scarface to Serpico 6. Carlito's Way (1993) Carlitos Way never deserved its reputation as Scarfaces little sibling. Yes, the surface similarities are there  theyre both De Palma-directed stories that star Pacino as a Latinx criminal-type. But theyre tonally alien to each other. Scarface is the parody of masculinity, while Carlitos Way tackles the idea with far more sincerity. Its main character, Carlito Brigante, has vowed to go straight, but finds that the past is near-impossible to escape. And so Pacinos approach here is to go softer and more understated, underpinned by a sense of tragic inevitability. Carlitos clearly uncomfortable with this new skin hes crafted for himself. When his newfound dedication to morality backfires, audiences are sure to come away with a bitter taste in their mouth. Rex Features Al Pacino: His 10 greatest films, from Scarface to Serpico 5. Panic in Needle Park (1971) When Panic in Needle Park was first released, few paid attention to Pacinos nervy, heated performance as a New York drug addict. It was the second film he ever did, but it was also his co-star Kitty Winns screen debut  audiences fell hard for her raw vulnerability and for the way fear flickered in her eyes like a trapped moth. She won Best Actress at the Cannes Film Festival. Its a shame she never enjoyed a career like Pacinos. But Panic in the Needle Park is not only an important Pacino performance, its a mesmerising one  the actor here appears as a fully formed talent. Co-written by Joan Didion, the film navigates all the highs and lows of the addiction cycle, and Pacino readily embraces each emotional swing. He can express love in its purest form and at its most curdled. The films director, Schatzberg, would work with him again in Scarecrow, while it also landed him his career-changing role of Michael Corleone in The Godfather. Rex Features Al Pacino: His 10 greatest films, from Scarface to Serpico 4. Serpico (1973) Pacinos greatest performances are all concentrated in a single run of films, kicked off by 1971s Panic in Needle Park and concluding with 1975s Dog Day Afternoon. Tucked in-between the first two Godfathers is Sidney Lumets compelling cop-drama Serpico  a chance for Pacino to hop the moral fence and explore life as the good guy. It also gave him an opportunity to grow out a luscious head of hippie hair and a hefty beard. The film is based on the true story of NYPD officer Frank Serpico, a whistleblower who exposed rampant corruption in law enforcement and suffered greatly for it. But Pacino was able to bring the same qualities here as he did to his usual rogues gallery. Franks sanity is stretched on the rack until its at the maximum point of tension. But the anger here is righteous, at least. Rex Features Al Pacino: His 10 greatest films, from Scarface to Serpico 3. The Godfather (1972) The studio never wanted Pacino to play Michael Corleone. To them, he was far too screwy and intense  still the drug addict from Panic in Needle Park. What the Godfather needed was the strong jawline and starry charisma of a Robert Redford or a Warren Beatty. But Francis Ford Coppola recognised something in Pacino, which he described as, this striking magnetic quality, this smouldering ambience. Only he could faithfully portray a man robbed of his innocence by the invisible, but undeniable pull of familial duty. Michael is committed to living a normal, American life outside of the mob, but finds himself drawn back into the endless cycle of violence his family perpetuates. As Pacinos face hardens and grows colder, Michael comes to the realisation that not only can he not escape the sins of his father  there is nothing to do but embrace them. Rex Features Al Pacino: His 10 greatest films, from Scarface to Serpico 2. Dog Day Afternoon (1975) One of the quintessential Pacino scenes sees him pace and up down the sidewalk outside of a city bank like a caged tiger. Hes playing Sonny Wortzik, a bank robber up against the wall. The police have him surrounded. The media can taste blood. He knows that things will end badly. All he can do now is try to take some small control of the situation. And so he starts to cry Attica! Attica! Attica!, riling the crowd up by reminding them of the brute force law enforcement used in a riot at the Attica prison a year earlier. Pacino is filled with a kind of transcendent hysteria here. He spits the words out like hes exorcising a malevolent spirit from his body. Lumets film (his second collaboration with Pacino after Panic in Needle Park) is a captivating, sensory slice of 1970s New York. Pacino brings both texture and depth to that world. Rex Features Al Pacino: His 10 greatest films, from Scarface to Serpico 1. The Godfather Part II (1974) Michael Corleone is, undeniably, the greatest role of the actors career. What makes the difference between his performance in the first and second Godfather films (the third is probably best left unmentioned) is the extent of his transformation. He starts to fall in Part I, but becomes unrecognisable by Part II. Hes a man now willing to murder his own family in order to keep its sanctity. When he gives his brother Fredo (John Cazale) the kiss of death, his emotions shift so quickly between raptorial fury  theres a moment you think he might just crush Fredo with his own hands  and a profound sense of loss. Its one of Hollywood s great tragic arcs. And Pacino commits like his life depends on it  those eyes were so used to seeing filled with fiery rage are now also flecked with deep guilt and regret. Pacino was nominated for an Oscar for The Godfather Part II, but lost the award to Art Carney for Harry and Tonto. It still remains one of the Academys most outrageous blunders. Rex Features

Outside the home, Pacino, who was always called Sonny, was running wild. He began smoking at nine and was drinking hard liquor by the time he was 13. He was part of a street gang called The Red Wings. There are stories about Pacino squaring up to adults, even attacking one with a stick. He also punched a stranger who insulted his mother. He suffered a concussion after one brawl. I learnt defensive fighting at a young age, Pacino told Lawrence Grobel in Al Pacino: The Authorised Biography.

School was unenjoyable for Pacino, who said he was a dunderhead. He was consigned to a class for emotionally disturbed kids for a couple of days. After leaving Herman Ridder Junior High School at 15, Pacino took on a plethora of jobs, including shoe shining, working in a supermarket and working as a busboy. The hardest job, he said, was moving furniture. Perhaps his most noteworthy employment was as an office boy in the mailroom of the magazine Commentary.

During these grim days, he was still burning with the desire to be an actor. In 1967, at 27, Pacino met Charlie Laughton in a bar in Greenwich Village. The meeting changed his life. Laughton was an acting teacher at the Herbert Berghof Studio and persuaded him to enrol. He became Pacinos mentor, introducing him to great writers such as Joyce and Rimbaud. In those knockabout years, you could not find me without a book, said Pacino.

Even though he was always in bars at night, Pacino was working ferociously at his craft during the day, soaking up all he could at the Actors Studio. His first break was appearing in regional theatre in Boston. His Broadway debut came in 1969, the same year he made his film debut in Me, Natalie. Most importantly, he found his purpose. Acting is what Im meant to do, Pacino told The New Yorker. With this, everything suddenly coheres, and I understand myself.

Pacino drew on all the experiences and turmoil in his life to become one of the most empathetic actors of the modern age. He has brought his own magic to portrayals of some of cinemas most memorable characters, including mafia boss Corleone; the whistleblowing cop Frank Serpico; the drug lord Tony Montana in Scarface; bank robber Wortzik; the slick salesman Ricky Roma in Glengarry Glen Ross. Pacino is a genuine Hollywood great. I dont believe in God; I believe in Al Pacino, said Oscar winner Javier Bardem.

Pacino holds aloft the Best Actor Oscar he earned for his role in Scent of a Woman (AFP/Getty) (AFP via Getty Images)

Yet winning his battle with booze must rank as one of the greatest achievements of a remarkable life. Pacino credits Laughton with making him recognise his addiction. It was a powerful moment in my life I wouldnt have made it without Charlie, Pacino told Playboy. He has been sober since 1977.

Despite his meltdown in London, he remained fond of the UKs capital and returned to the city throughout his career. In 1984, he performed in David Mamets American Buffalo at the Duke of York Theatre. In 1996, he visited the Globe Theatre while he was making the documentary Looking for Richard III. That was the year, incidentally, that he was supposedly turned away from the Groucho Club after the receptionist mistook the actor, dressed in a large shabby overcoat, for one of Sohos down-and-outs.

Pacino, who always wears sunglasses outdoors to stay unrecognised, has consistently complained about the public attention his career has brought. He has talked wistfully about not being able to do normal things like riding the subway or go out in public with his three children. The spotlight is unlikely to go away, however, something demonstrated by the global publicity inspired by the recent remarks of his ex-lover, Meital Dohan. The 40-year-old Israeli actor said in February that she was leaving the elderly Pacino because the age gap is difficult.

James Caan, who turned 80 in March, says that his Godfather co-star has always been pretty complex. He says Hollywood knew in 1972 that a special talent had appeared on the scene. Although Pacino was the weird guy in the corner, I think we all knew at the time that the guy in the corner was mushrooming into probably one of the greatest talents of all time in our industry.
Business slowed and became more difficult after Uber and Lyft entered the scene nearly a decade ago, but Traore found a way to remain relevant. The taxi cooperative that he co-founded five years ago, and that finally took off two years ago, is 100 percent wheelchair accessible. Traore said the Anytime Taxi drivers arent competing with Uber or Lyft anymore because their customer base is a growing population of elderly and special needs residents. Many of his calls are to transport people with wheelchairs. He helps them get into his van and buckle up.
SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris will chair the union's negotiating committee (Vince Bucci / Invision / Associated Press)

SAG-AFTRA, Hollywood's biggest union, and the major studios have agreed to begin contract negotiations at a time when the industry has been roiled by the coronavirus outbreak.

The union, which represents 160,000 actors and performers, and an alliance of major producers, including Amazon and Apple, said they will begin negotiations Monday via teleconference. The union's current film and TV contract expires June 30.

"SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris will chair the union's negotiating committee and National Executive Director David White will serve as SAG-AFTRA's chief negotiator," the two groups said, adding that the talks will take place under a media blackout. Carol Lombardini, president of the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, will be the lead negotiator for the studios.

SAG-AFTRA is expected to seek improvements over what the Directors Guild of America was able to secure in a deal this year. Although the DGA negotiated increases to streaming residuals and minimum payments, SAG-AFTRA also will look to address issues such as how long an actor can be forced to work exclusively for one show.

Last summer Netflix, which is not part of the producers alliance, struck a deal with SAG-AFTRA, which applied a minimum salary and turnaround provisions for all Netflix programs and offered more flexibility in scheduling day performers and guest stars on episodic series.

The talks come amid heightened tensions between the AMPTP and the Writers Guild of America.

This week, Lombardini clashed with WGA lead negotiator David Young over the terms for beginning negotiations.

The sides have proposed extending the union's current three-year contract from May 1 to June 30, but the WGA wants any agreement to include a promise to tackle access to healthcare for its members who have lost work because of the Covid-19 pandemic.





Young called the group "despicable" after the AMPTP said it agreed to start talks May 11, while extending the existing contract to June 30, but without addressing the health insurance issues.

Lombardini said the group would consider the proposal but that any discussion should include the co-chairs of the union's health plan as well as its chief executive.
Muslims worldwide began Ramzan on Friday with dawn-to-dusk fasting, but many will have to forgo the communal prayers and family gatherings that make the holy month special, as authorities maintain lockdowns aimed at slowing the coronavirus pandemic.

This is too sad to be remembered in history, said Belm Febriansyah, a resident in the capital of Indonesia, the worlds most populous Muslim nation.

Jakarta is the epicentre of the outbreak in the country, which has reported more than 8,200 infections and 689 deaths. Passenger flights and rail services have been suspended, and private cars are banned from leaving the city.

Mosques in Indonesias deeply conservative Aceh province were packed, however, after its top clerical body ruled that it is not a red zone area and that prayers could continue. The province is governed by Islamic law under an autonomy agreement.

Muslim-majority countries began imposing widespread restrictions in mid-March, with many cancelling Friday prayers and shuttering holy sites. Saudi Arabia has largely locked down Mecca and Medina and halted the year-round umrah pilgrimage.

Muslim-majority Malaysia extended its own lockdown by two more weeks to May 12, although its daily virus cases have dropped significantly in the past week. The country now has 5,603 cases, including 95 deaths.

Malaysia, along with neighbouring Singapore and Brunei, has banned popular Ramzan bazaars, where food, drinks and clothing are sold in congested open-air markets or roadside stalls. The bazaars are a key source of income for many small traders, some of whom have shifted their businesses online.

In Pakistan, Prime Minister Imran Khan has bowed to pressure from the countrys powerful clerical establishment and allowed mosques to remain open, even as the number of new cases has recently doubled to between 600 and 700 every day.

Some clerics have ordered their followers to pack into mosques, saying their faith will protect them.

In Turkey, where cases have recently crossed 100,000, authorities have banned the tradition of setting up tents and outdoor tables to provide free meals to the poor.

Countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Libya, Tunisia and Algeria have partially eased the lockdown but Morocco has announced a night-time curfew for Ramzan as it steps up emergency measures to combat the virus.

The North African nations Council of Oulemas, the official religious body, called for confinement to be respected during Ramzan.

In Bangladesh, the fundamentalist Hefazat-e-Islam group criticised government moves to restrict access to more than 300,000 nationwide mosques and to ban iftar parties. Quotas on prayer attendance are against Islam, Mojibur Rahman Hamidi, a Hefazat official, said.
L.A. Public Officials List four Prerequisites needed to relax Safer at Home Order

Friday, April 24. Los Angeles Public Officials announced prerequisites to relax the Safer at Home Order. The L.A. County has been monitoring the spread and behavior of the coronavirus, they are moving very cautiously towards re-opening the economy. All decisions are dependent on the science and data behind COVID-19; Director of Public Health Barbara Ferrer released latest updates surrounding the coronavirus outbreak. Leaders of the city outlined the safety measures in place, as they strategize future recovery stages. There is a high risk for a surge in COVID-19 related deaths and positive cases once the order is lifted without precaution.

Barbara Ferrer, Director of Public Health shared the latest updates on the COVID-19 Virus. Ferrer shared Friday, April 24. there were 52 additional deaths, 43 of these individuals were between the ages of 65 and over, 34 of them with underlining health conditions. 7 people were between the ages of 41-65, with preexisting health concerns. There was 1 victim between the ages 18-40, with underlining health issues. This brings the total COVID-19 related deaths in the L.A. County to 848.

Ferrer disclosed as of April 24. There are 1,035 new coronavirus reports.

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These numbers reflect 518 positive cases in Long Beach and 293 COVID-19 reports coming from Pasadena. Within the unsheltered community, there were 100 positive coronavirus cases. This includes people who were staying at a shelter, they are now appropriately isolated. Approximately 25% of those infected with COVID-19 are hospitalized at some point. 91% of positive cases that died, had underlining health conditions. In summary there 18,517 positive COVID-19 cases in the Los Angeles region.

The ethnicity correlation with coronavirus death rates was disclosed; 15% were African American, 18% were Asian, 1% were Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, 37% were LatinX, 28% were white, and 1% identified who passed away, were from a different race or ethnicity. The disproportionate death rate within the African American and Asian communities was acknowledged.

There are four benchmarks that will measure the safety of lifting the stay at home order. The first is to maintain the capacity in hospitals, as well as primary and specialty care facilities. The data currently conducted by the Department of Health Service (DHS) indicates that the hospitals are in good standing.

Secondly, there is a need for protection of those who are most susceptible to contract the virus. There must be plans for the unsheltered community and those with underlining health conditions. Following that protection measurement, the third benchmark is to have the capacity to isolate people who contract COVID-19. There must be enough locations where patients can self-isolate if they test positive for the virus.

The final prerequisite is to maintain physical distancing and infection control. The County will provide businesses with educational materials and guidelines to adhere to social distancing. Supervisor Kathryn Barger stated,  Ultimately we want as many people to return to work safely and as quickly as possible, if we meet our guidelines I shared, we can prevent or limit the spread of COVID-19 when we loosen physical distancing measures.
Exile Groups Call For Muslims to End Silence on Uyghurs at Start of Ramadan

2020-04-24 -- Uyghur exile groups marked the start to the Muslim holy month of Ramadan on Friday by urging the international community to speak out on behalf of members of their ethnic group enduring persecution in northwest China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR).

Ramadan, a time when millions of Muslims around the world would normally gather with their families and friends, has been impacted by the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, forcing many adherents of Islam to remain confined to their homes.

On Friday, the Munich-based World Uyghur Congress (WUC) said that the difficulties of celebrating Ramadan during the outbreak highlight the importance of being able to practice one's religion freely, participate in community life, and enjoy basic rightsall of which are denied to the Uyghur people under 70 years of increasingly harsh Chinese rule.

"We urge Muslims all over the world to keep the Uyghur people in their thoughts and prayers during the holy month of Ramadan and to call on their respective governments to demand that China immediately ceases its religious persecution of Uyghurs," the group said in a statement.

"The WUC looks forward to a day when Uyghurs can join Muslims all over the world in observing Ramadan, unencumbered by CCP (Chinese Communist Party) repression."

The WUC noted that even the most basic expressions of religious sentiment are banned by the Chinese government in the XUAR and said authorities are trying to erode practice entirely through the mass arbitrary detention of Uyghurs in internment camps, the indoctrination of younger Uyghurs, and the launch of a campaign to "sinify" Islam in China.

"For years, Uyghurs in East Turkistan have not been able to fully observe Ramadan due to the heavy religious persecution and restrictions imposed by the Chinese government," the group said, using Uyghurs preferred name for the territory.

"The Chinese government has banned Uyghur civil servants, students and teachers from fasting during the holy month, providing food and water to students throughout the day. Access to mosques is more tightly controlled, restaurants have been ordered to remain open and in some cases Uyghur intellectuals have been arrested beforehand to silence criticism."

Uyghur retirees are also forced to pledge ahead of Ramadan that they won't fast or pray to set an example for the wider community and to assume responsibility for ensuring others also refrain, the group said, while those in the camps are prohibited from engaging in any religious activity.

But the WUC noted that Muslim-majority nations and leaders have been "shamefully silent" on the persecution of Uyghurs in the XUAR.

"For three years, Uyghurs have been waiting for the Muslim world to speak on our behalf and hold the Chinese government accountable," WUC president Dolkun Isa said.

"During Ramadan in 2020, we urge Muslim leaders around the world to reconnect with the beliefs and values they hold and to do what is right by demanding China stop its crimes against humanity against Uyghurs."

'Waging a war on Islam'

A day earlier, Washington-based Campaign for Uyghurs (CFU) urged the global community not to forget the up to 1.8 million Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities believed to have been held in the XUAR's vast network of internment camps since 2017, who it said have been "brainwashed to believe that this holy month is immoral and criminal."

"Ramadan is a time for Muslims to be with their familya luxury that many Uyghurs in diaspora do not have," the group said.

"Their daily lives are riddled with distress, fear, and worry for themselves, their families, and friends."

CFU noted that large numbers of Uyghur youths have been transferred from the XUAR into other parts of China where they are made to work in forced labor facilities and Uyghur children whose parents are detained in camps are regularly placed in state-run orphanages. Previous reports by RFA have documented these policies.

All the while, "China is waging a war on Islam," the group said, forcing Uyghurs to "forsake their religion, culture, language, and history."

"For Muslims, fasting reminds us of the suffering, struggle, and pain of otherswe put ourselves in the shoes of those less fortunate," it said.

"Therefore, we ask you to do the same. Remember the Uyghurs who are ripped away from their families, those who are persecuted for their peaceful religion, and those who continue to be prisoners with no crime."

The Washington-based Uyghur American Association (UAA) also offered its best wishes for a safe and peaceful Ramadan but said the holy month "reminds us of the critical importance of serving others, especially the most vulnerable, during these difficult times."

"During Ramadan, we hope that you will join us in praying for the safety and wellbeing of the Uyghur nation," the group said.

"Under Chinese Communist Party rule, Uyghurs are prohibited from fasting and praying during the holy month of Ramadan. Despite all of this, the world remains largely silent."

Dissident's wishes

The groups were also joined by Taiwan-based Uyghur dissident Orkesh Dolet, commonly known as Wu'erkaixi, in wishing a happy Ramadan to the Uyghur diaspora.

Speaking to RFA's Uyghur Service on Friday, the former prominent student leader of the June 4, 1989 Tiananmen Square protests noted that on holidays such as Ramadan "we miss our loved ones even more," adding that he would "pray for their wellbeing."

"These days, we definitely feel that our spirit is under pressure," he said. "Even so, we should lift our spirits during this holiday. I pray for you all to be safe during this pandemic."

Mass incarcerations in the XUAR, as well as other policies seen to violate the rights of Uyghurs and other Muslims, have led to increasing calls by the international community to hold Beijing accountable for its actions in the region, which also include the use of advanced technology and information to control and suppress its citizens.

Last year, at the Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom in Washington in July, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called the internment camps in the XUAR "one of the worst human rights crises of our time" and "truly the stain of the century."

Reported and translated by Alim Seytoff for RFA's Uyghur Service. Written in English by Joshua Lipes.

Copyright  1998-2020, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content April not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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Mary Silva, left, of the nonprofit group Pathways LA hands out diapers and hand sanitizer to Irma Juarez, who has two young children. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Irma Juarez peeled back her sunshine-colored curtains one drizzly recent morning to count cars at the 24-hour self-service laundry across the street from her Pico-Union apartment.

She would have to be quick: Weekends were always busy, and now only 10 people at a time were allowed in. Fights broke out over the washers. Fear hung like dryer exhaust in the air.

It was also the first time in weeks that she'd scraped together enough quarters for laundry, and her children were quickly running out of clean clothes. Recently, she'd picked the princess decal off 4-year-old Beatriz's outgrown shorts and inked a spider over them for her 3-year-old, Maximo to entice him to wear his sister's hand-me-down. The success was short-lived. Since she'd run out of diapers, nothing stayed dry very long.

"They just opened a store right here  they ran out of diapers like this," Juarez said with a snap, nodding to a market across from the laundry center. "I went down here to MacArthur Park, they didn't have any. I went to Costco, they didn't have any. I went to Target, sold out. I'm here with the kids, going store to store, and they didn't have any supplies."

In desperation, she began hand-washing dirty disposable diapers and hanging them to dry in the shower. At that point, she felt she had no choice.

"On that day, I started potty training him," she said.

Toilet training is difficult under the best of circumstances. But the pandemic has put unprecedented pressure on poor parents like Juarez, who pay about as much to diaper a child as an average L.A. family spends on their electric bill  about $80 a month. Here, as elsewhere, poverty extracts a premium, limiting where families can get supplies and their ability to buy in bulk, experts said. With store shelves stripped and more than half of Angelenos out of work, families like hers are scrambling to cut that cost.

Federal safety-net programs don't pay for diapers, and California's first-in-the-nation diaper assistance program is too limited to fill the yawning need. Those without cars now avoid public transit, meaning they must rely on local markets where inventory is tight and prices have soared.

Story continues

"The smaller markets on the corner, they're jacking the price of the Pampers up so you can only afford the six-pack instead of the 12-pack," said Alan-Michael Graves, national program director for the Good+Foundation, a nonprofit organization providing diapers in Los Angeles and New York. "If you add cost plus availability, it makes it very challenging for parents to provide these diapers to their kids."

Juarez counts herself luckier than most  her children attend a daycare center run by Pathways LA, a nonprofit that recently partnered with Children's Bureau and the boutique baby company Hello Bello to distribute 56,000 diapers to families like hers.

A recent drive-through distribution event started at 7:30 a.m., half an hour ahead of schedule, because the line of cars was already looped around the block. By 10 a.m., most sizes had run out.

"They're like gold to the families we serve," said Norah Weinstein of Baby2Baby, a local diaper bank that has partnered with the L.A. Unified School District to provide supplies to families in need. "Parents in our program are emptying out diapers, hanging them to dry and putting them back on their babies. They're using newspaper as a substitute for diapers, they're not eating so they can provide diapers and food for their children."

Baby2Baby distributes about 800,000 diapers a month. Since California's Safer-at-Home order came down in March, they've handed out more than 3.6 million.

"The need in L.A. is just astronomical," said Lisa Truong, co-founder of the Bay Area nonprofit Help a Mother Out, which runs the San Francisco Diaper Bank. "Theres a tsunami of need."

But she warned against rushing to potty train, as some L.A. families say they are doing now.

"If you're thinking about whether you're going to eat or diaper your baby, you probably don't have a lot of money to do your laundry every week," she said. "The families we serve, they're already dealing with so many stressors  [potty training is] the last thing we want to ask them to do."

That's because the path out of Pampers winds through the coin laundry, where cloth diapers are forbidden and potty-training accidents become costly extra loads. Like most children their age, both Beatriz and Maximo still wet the bed. Juarez has been washing her daughter's Frozen sheets and her son's Spiderman comforter by hand, but they don't really get clean without regular runs through the Speed Queen on hot.

"I had piles of clothes full of everything," Juarez said. "If I wash it, then the next day they're peeing on the bed. Then you have to wash everything all over again."

But the alternative to potty training  Maximo's soft toddler skin flecked with the crystallized filling from a reused disposable diaper, red and angry with rash  is unbearable to her.

"I have to change clothes for them two to three times a day," Juarez said. "I'm stressed, because what if I run out of diapers again?"

Irma Juarez does her laundry at a self-service laundry in her Pico-Union neighborhood. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

In environmentally conscious California, cloth diapers would seem the obvious answer. That was Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez's first thought when she began championing subsidized diaper programs in 2013.

"This is a struggle so many working-class women face all the time," the San Diego Democrat said. "I'm a big environmentalist, but I gave up that [cloth diaper] fight."

The reason is that the same families who can't afford disposable diapers also lack the resources that make cloth diapering possible. It's illegal to wash reusable diapers in a self-serve laundry, and publicly subsidized childcare centers like the one Juarez's children attend require low-income working parents to provide disposable ones.

"We would get hate mail" for distributing disposable diapers in San Francisco, Truong said. "But it's a position of privilege to have that option [of cloth]. I have a washing machine and a dryer. I'm not going to ask a mom living in an SRO [a rented room, often without appliances] in Chinatown to do cloth diapers."

California is also the only state that provides any public funding for diapers.

In San Francisco, families receiving CalFresh or CalWORKs benefits get free diapers through local distribution centers. Elsewhere in the state, such parents get $30 a month in diaper assistance, while food banks in Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange County and Fresno offer a limited number of state-funded supplies to families in need.

But those resources were stretched before the pandemic. Since coronavirus hit, the long-simmering crisis has boiled over.

"We wanted to have one more child, but diapers are expensive" Juarez said as she counted her quarters into the washer. "That was our main discussion, that it's just too much money with diapers. We said, forget it, we're not going to have any more."

Irma Juarez washes clothes and bedding at a coin laundry in her Pico-Union neighborhood. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

Like millions of others, Juarez lost her small business to the pandemic, and has watched her husband's work evaporate as stay-at-home orders were extended. Choosing between laundry and diapers with no money for either has put a strain on both parents.

"Sometimes we'll end up fighting because he doesn't have any [clean] clothes and he needs to go to work. He's stressing himself right now, not only with laundry, not only with diapers, but overall," she said.

There have been brief glimmers of hope  a diaper giveaway, an Angeleno card  but most are quickly snuffed out. Instead, she's turned to her faith, replacing lullabies with "Ave Maria" and praying the rosary with her children.

Juarez prays in the dark every night as Beatriz cuddles against her and Maximo drifts off to sleep.

She prays for the pandemic to end.

She prays that her husband finds work, that they'll have money for rent and to keep the lights on.

She prays that her children are spared from the virus.

She prays that they don't wet the bed.
One of the studies discussed was titled, Situational Analysis of Women Water Professionals in South Asia , published in 2009, looked at women in bureaucracy and decision-making in Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. The numbers were startling (it is unclear whether, and by how much, this has changed in the last decade). Women, as a percentage of employees in major water-related bureaucracies, accounted for somewhere between 2-5% of the staff. There were none in the most senior positions.

To make matters worse, in many places women are kept out of decision-making roles when it comes to water management  meaning their needs (and that of the households they manage) are often not taken into consideration when policies and plans are made. This has a direct impact on the lack of research on the subject. In 2012 ICIMOD convened the first conference of its kind in Bhutan in 2012, where researchers reviewed what little research already existed, and discussed anecdotal data on poverty and vulnerability of women.

Suman Bisht, senior gender specialist at the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) , laid out the challenges. The first and foremost being that the eight countries in the HKH region  Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, China, Bangladesh, and Myanmar  have difficult relationships and contested borders. This makes any work challenging, more so when it comes to marginalised communities within the region.

The current crisis has highlighted this like never before. COVID-19 seems particularly susceptible to soap and water . Not everyone, though, has equal access to water, and in the Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region, the burden of fetching and managing water falls on women. There is little understanding of how this plays out across the Himalayas for a variety of reasons, especially because cooperation across the region is limited.

By its very definition the impact of COVID-19 was difficult to anticipate. While the SARS and Ebola outbreaks had recently shown the world the dangers of epidemics linked to diseases migrating from animal to human hosts, each disease has its own way of spreading and its own fatality rate, making it difficult to anticipate how to respond beforehand. Nevertheless the one thing that was predictable was that access to clean water would be critically necessary to deal with any health emergency.

Representational image via The Third Pole/ Minket Lepcha

The absence of women in senior positions has an obvious impact on the maintenance of water because the roles of men and women are interpreted in starkly different terms. In a 2017 study, titled Gendered Responses to Drought in Yunnan Province, China these differences were clearly brought out. As the Yunnan region suffered 12 years of drought (2002-14) it led to male migration out of the region, but it also showed how the search for water became gendered. Both men and women responded to the crisis by focussing on water gathering, but:

Men understood gathering water to mean looking for new sources of water as old sources dry up, which is their main responsibility, while the actual carrying was primarily womens responsibility. In this situation, the men believed that they were the person responsible within the household for coping with a domestic water shortage; however, womens daily labour increased more substantially than mens although they were not seen as the person responsible for the additional task.

Impossibility of physical distancing

This task, onerous and time consuming, has another aspect. The long walk to the source of the water, and the inevitable contact time it creates, negates the very idea of physical distancing that is being prescribed to deal with the Covid-19 outbreak. Will this get the policy attention it needs?

It seems unlikely. Men were more likely than women to reach out to the authorities, possibly because decision-making was dominated by men. In the village of Haitang, where the Yunnan study was conducted, All the heads of the village groups are men. There is a womens group in the village, but they are not involved in community decision-making. And China is the country in the HKH where gender discrimination was the least, according to the Hindu Kush Himalayan Monitoring and Assessment Programmes comprehensive report.

As is inevitable there are other aspects of marginalisation which creep in. Chanda Gurung Goodrich, senior gender specialist at ICIMOD, pointed out that in Nepals low-lying Terai region, caste also plays a role. Upper caste families often have their own well, either in their houses, or in areas that are considered upper caste. These are often not accessible to Dalit women. Similarly lower representation in bureaucracies (where women are already so woefully under-represented) means that women from marginalised communities often lack access to government schemes. As a consequence they suffer from a variety of avoidable health problems, from uterus prolapse  from carrying heavy loads over long distances  or hygiene related issues, such as urinary tract infections, due to the lack of access to a regular water supply.

Female health workers on the front line

Speaking from her experience during her PhD, Goodrich also pointed out that women play a frontline role when it comes to the health bureaucracy, especially in India. These auxiliary nurses and midwifes are the first point of contact for villagers. They are often the lowest paid in the bureaucracy, and often widows, putting them even lower down the social ladder. They often have to deal with harassment and social stigma, more so in a pandemic. These women are often the states contact position on health, water, and gender  but their subordinate role in bureaucracy and society means that they have little leverage in changing the way the government works to deal with the issue.

A further issue is how bureaucracy responds to disease outbreaks. In South Asia a breakout of an epidemic means that district authorities have to take certain responsibilities, and they often prefer to downplay the problems to avoid this. Goodrich mentioned how outbreaks of cholera were sometimes dismissed as food poisoning from areas where locals had little socio-political power to gain the attention of the media and politicians. While this may have comparatively little impact when it comes to water-borne diseases such as cholera, for an infectious disease such as Covid-19, a culture of dismissing the health concerns of the socially marginalised can be disastrous.

Currently South Asia remains a global outlier when it comes to COVID-19 cases, with a very low number of confirmed cases, though this is steadily going up. But the long dry season is just about to begin, putting pressure on water resources. In moving forward as the cases rise and water availability goes down the HKH region has a choice: to deal seriously with its water problems, to involve women and marginalised communities in its decision-making, or to suffer the consequences of a health emergency boosted by a long neglect of its water policies.

It is not as if countries do not understand these concerns. Nepal has introduced water use master plans after the passage of its new Constitution, which explicitly mandates the inclusion of women and marginalised communities, such as repressed castes like Dalits. A study of the working of these by ICIMOD shows that this has made some difference, but social barriers still lead to less than inclusive results. For example, due to the unwillingness of powerful caste groups to share water sources with Dalits, the solution was to have different water sources. As a member of the Village Water Sanitation & Hygiene Coordination Committee of Koiralakot explained, We no longer have to deal with issues of untouchability in drinking water schemes. We now have our own taps and they (Dalits) have their own.

The COVID-19 crisis shows that diseases do not discriminate, but they may have a disproportionate impact on societies and states that do. It is past time for the HKH region to take the concerns of women and marginalised communities seriously, or pay a very high price.

***

Banner image: Nomad Chang Pa winter camp, women returning from water fetching in Ladakh. Image via The Third Pole/ Alamy

The Third Pole is a multilingual platform dedicated to promoting information and discussion about the Himalayan watershed and the rivers that originate there. This report was originally published on thethirdpole.net and has been reproduced here with permission.
As Muslims begin their Ramadan fasting, Speaker of the house of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila has charged them to use the opportunity to pray against the pandemic currently ravaging nations.

He made this known via a statement on his official Twitter handle on Friday.

He wrote:

Ramadan: Pray for Nigeria, end to COVID-19, Gbajabiamila urges

The Speaker of the House of Representatives Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila has urged Nigerians, especially Muslims, to use the Holy month of Ramadan in prayers for the country.

Read Also: Maltreatment Of Nigerians In China Has Been Resolved, Says Gbajabiamila

The Speaker also said they should use the Holy month to pray to Almighty Allah for an end to the COVID-19 pandemic and a return to normal life in the country & the world at large

In a message congratulating Nigerian Muslims for ushering in the Holy month of Ramadan peacefully

the Speaker also urged the faithful to use the period for sober reflection and to get closer to their Creator

He said the Holy month of Ramadan comes with a lot of lessons that if all Muslims would replicate the same for the rest of their lives, our society will be better for it

the Speaker also urged the faithful to use the period for sober reflection and to get closer to their Creator

He said the Holy month of Ramadan comes with a lot of lessons that if all Muslims would replicate the same for the rest of their lives, our society will be better for it

Gbajabiamila said Muslims should be their brothers keepers, including non-Muslims among them, noting that there is no better news than peaceful coexistence among all citizens.

As we all ushered in the Holy month of Ramadan, I pray the Almighty Allah will enable us to see the end of the month in peace and accept all the acts of Ibadah to be offered during the month, the Speaker said.

Ramadan: Pray for Nigeria, end to COVID-19, Gbajabiamila urges The Speaker of the House of Representatives Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila has urged Nigerians, especially Muslims, to use the Holy month of Ramadan in prayers for the country. pic.twitter.com/recaIP3WRr  Speaker of the House of Representatives (@SpeakerGbaja) April 24, 2020

The Speaker also said they should use the Holy month to pray to Almighty Allah for an end to the COVID-19 pandemic and a return to normal life in the country & the world at large In a message congratulating Nigerian Muslims for ushering in the Holy month of Ramadan peacefully  Speaker of the House of Representatives (@SpeakerGbaja) April 24, 2020

the Speaker also urged the faithful to use the period for sober reflection and to get closer to their Creator He said the Holy month of Ramadan comes with a lot of lessons that if all Muslims would replicate the same for the rest of their lives, our society will be better for it  Speaker of the House of Representatives (@SpeakerGbaja) April 24, 2020

Gbajabiamila said Muslims should be their brothers' keepers, including non-Muslims among them, noting that there is no better news than peaceful coexistence among all citizens.  Speaker of the House of Representatives (@SpeakerGbaja) April 24, 2020
Dutch Supreme Court approves euthanasia for dementia patients, following dispute

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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.
To the Editor:

The America We Need (Opinion series, Sunday Review, April 19) points to the many ways our country falls short in meeting the needs of all but its wealthiest residents. Yet the changes you call for cannot be anything but an impossible dream as long as the fundamental structure of our governing system places control in the hands of those with little desire to meet the needs of the vast majority.

The policies you advocate all demand substantial government outlay. The funds for this can come ultimately only from those gifted by capitalism with means far above those of the average person. Yet those with the means  human nature being what it is  have no interest in diminishing their own situations to aid the beneficiaries of the policies you favor. They want to believe that theyve earned everything they have, and  whats more  they deserve it.

Because of their resources, these people inescapably shape the legislative votes of those who must have their financial support to win and remain in political office. The needs are well known to those without the power to make changes, and are far outweighed by self-interest in those who do have that power. This is the conundrum our system curses us with. Beyond just telling me the needs, tell me specifically how you would solve it.

Marty Gerber

Santa Fe, N.M.

To the Editor:

Its not possible to conquer inequality. It has been ever thus  it is inherent in our species. But we can put the almighty dollar into perspective and recognize the sink-or-swim mentality and moral insensitivity that have evolved in our country.
Disney theme parks may stay closed for the rest of this year.

Thats the newest advice from financial firm UBS for Disneyland in California and Walt Disney World in Florida.

UBS said it now expects the parks to open Jan. 1 at 50% capacity for the first six months and 75% capacity for the remaining six months of 2021, according to analyst John Hodulik.

Disney officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment, USA Today reported.

Disney announced in March the parks would remain closed indefinitely. UBS previously expected June 1, 2020, would be the opening date.

Others on Wall Street have maintained a more optimistic outlook, predicting the parks could still reopen in the summer, financial news outlet Barrons reported.

The new UBS outlook reflects more closely to a timetable presented by Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases who is part of the White House coronavirus response effort. Fauci said in March that it may take a year to 18 months for a coronavirus vaccine to be available for use for the public.

Disney has stated that no reopening date is set, but Disney parks are accepting reservations for June 1 and later. The company said guests are able to modify bookings if an opening date occurs before or after that date.

More information could be presented from Disney on May 5 when it discusses its quarterly financial results.
Thomas Oxley wasnt even on call the day he received the page to come into Mount Sinai Beth Israel Hospital in Manhattan. There werent enough doctors to treat all the emergency stroke patients, and he was needed in the operating room.

The patients chart appeared unremarkable at first glance. He was male, no medications, no history of chronic conditions. He had been feeling fine, hanging out at home during the lockdown like the rest of America, when suddenly, he had trouble talking and moving the right side of his body. Imaging showed a large blockage on the left side of his head.

Oxley gasped when he got to the patients age and Covid-19 status: 44, positive.

The man was among several recent stroke patients in their 30s to 40s who were all infected with the virus. The median age for that type of severe stroke is 74.

As Oxley, an interventional neurologist, began the procedure to remove the clot, he observed something he had never seen before. On the monitors, the brain typically shows up as a tangle of black squiggles  like a can of spaghetti, he said  that provide a map of blood vessels. A clot shows up as a blank spot. As he used a needlelike device to pull out the clot, he saw new clots forming in real time around it.

This is crazy, he remembers telling his boss.

Reports of strokes in the young and middle-aged  not just at Mount Sinai but in many other hospitals in hard-hit communities  are the latest twist in our evolving understanding of the mysteries of Covid-19. Even as the virus has infected nearly 2.8 million people worldwide and killed 195,000 as of Friday, its origins, biological mechanisms and weaknesses continue to elude top scientific minds. Once thought to be a pathogen that primarily attacks the lungs, it has turned out to be a much more formidable foe  affecting nearly every major organ system in the body.

Until recently, there was little hard data on strokes and Covid-19.

One report out of Wuhan, China, showed that some hospitalised patients had experienced strokes but many of those were seriously ill and elderly. But the linkage was considered more of a clinical hunch by a lot of really smart people, said Sherry H-Y Chou, a University of Pittsburgh neurologist and critical care doctor.

Now three large US medical centres are preparing to publish data on the stroke phenomenon for the first time. The numbers are small, only a few dozen per location, but they provide new insights into what the virus does to our bodies.

The analyses suggest coronavirus patients are mostly experiencing the deadliest type of stroke (Getty)

Stroke, a sudden interruption the blood supply, is a complex problem with numerous causes and presentations. It can be caused by heart problems, clogged arteries due to cholesterol, even substance abuse. Mini-strokes often dont cause permanent damage and can resolve on their own within 24 hours. Bigger ones can be catastrophic.

The analyses suggest coronavirus patients are mostly experiencing the deadliest type of stroke. Known as large vessel occlusions or LVOs, they can obliterate large parts of the brain responsible for movement, speech and decision-making in one blow because they are in the main blood-supplying arteries.

Many researchers suspect strokes in novel coronavirus patients may be a direct consequence of blood problems that are producing clots all over some peoples bodies.

Clots that form on vessel walls fly upward so one that started in the calves might migrate to the lungs, causing a blockage called a pulmonary embolism that arrests breathing  a known cause of death in Covid-19 patients. Clots in or near the heart might lead to a heart attack, another common cause of death. Anything above that would likely go to the brain, leading to a stroke.

Many doctors expressed worry that as the New York City Fire Department was picking up four times as many people who died at home as normal during the peak of infection (Getty)

Robert Stevens, a critical care doctor at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, called stroke one of the most dramatic manifestations of the blood clotting issues. Weve also taken care of patients in their 30s with stroke and Covid, and this was extremely surprising, he said.

Many doctors expressed worry that as the New York City Fire Department was picking up four times as many people who died at home as normal during the peak of infection, that some of the dead had suffered sudden strokes. The truth may never be known because so few autopsies were conducted.

Chou said one question is whether the clotting is a due to direct attack on the blood vessels, or a friendly fire problem caused by the patients immune response.

In your bodys attempt to fight off the virus, does the immune response end up hurting your brain? she asked. Chou is hoping to answer such questions through a review of stroke and other neurological complication in Covid-19 patients treated at 68 medical centres in 17 countries.

 FDNY cheers for hospital staff in New York City amid coronavirus pandemic

Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals, which operates 14 medical centres in Philadelphia and NYU Langone in New York City, found that 12 of their patients treated for large blood blockages in their brains during a three-week period had the virus. Forty per cent were under 50 and had few or no risk factors. Their paper is under review by a medical journal, said Pascal Jabbour, a neurosurgeon at Thomas Jefferson.

Jabbour and his co-author Eytan Raz, an assistant professor of neuroradiology at NYU Langone, said that strokes in Covid-19 patients challenge conventionally thinking. We are used to thinking of 60 as a young patient when it comes to large vessel occlusions, Raz said of the deadliest strokes. We have never seen so many in their 50s, 40s and late 30s.

Raz wondered whether they are seeing more young patients because they are more resistant than the elderly to the respiratory distress caused by Covid-19: So they survive the lung side, and in time develop other issues.

Jabbour said many of the cases hes treated have unusual characteristics. Brain clots usually appear in the arteries, which carry blood away from the heart, but in Covid-19 patients, hes also seeing them in the veins, which carry blood in the opposite direction and are trickier to treat. Some patients are also developing more than one large clot in their heads, which is highly unusual.

The first wave of the pandemic has hit the elderly and those with heart disease, diabetes, obesity or other pre-existing conditions disproportionately (Getty) (JUAN BARRETO/AFP via Getty Images)

Well be treating a blood vessel and it will go fine, but then the patient will have a major stroke due to a clot in another part of the brain, he said.

At Mount Sinai, the largest medical system in New York City, physician-researcher J Mocco said the number of patients coming in with large blood blockages in their brains doubled during the three weeks of the Covid-19 surge to more than 32, even as the number of other emergencies fell. More than half of them were Covid-19 positive.

It isnt just the number of patients that was unusual. The first wave of the pandemic has hit the elderly and those with heart disease, diabetes, obesity or other pre-existing conditions disproportionately. The Covid-19 patients treated for stroke at Mount Sinai were younger and mostly without risk factors.

On average the Covid-19 stroke patients were 15 years younger than stroke patients without the virus.

These are people among the least likely statistically to have a stroke, Mocco said.

Mocco, who has spent his career studying stroke and how to treat it, said he was completely shocked by the analysis. He noted the link between Covid-19 and stroke is one of the clearest and most profound correlations Ive come across.

This is much too powerful of a signal to be chance or happenstance, Mocco said.

In a letter to be published in the New England Journal of Medicine next week, the Mount Sinai team details five case studies of young patients who had strokes at home from 23 March to 7 April. They make for difficult reading: The victims are age 33, 37, 39, 44, and 49, and were all home when they began to experience sudden symptoms, including slurred speech, confusion, drooping on one side of the face and feeling dead in one arm.

One died, two remain hospitalised, one was released to rehabilitation and one was released home to the care of his brother. Only one of the five, a 33-year-old woman, is able to speak.

Oxley, the interventional neurologist, said one striking aspect of the cases is how long many waited before seeking emergency care.

The 33-year-old was previously healthy but had had a cough and headache for about a week. Over the course of 28 hours, she noticed her speech was slurred and that she was going numb and weak on her left side but, the researchers wrote, delayed seeking emergency care due to fear of the Covid-19 outbreak.

Recommended Hospital worker charged with theft of PPE and food donations

It turned out she was already infected.

By the time she arrived at the hospital, a CT scan showed she had two clots in her brain and patchy ground glass in her lungs  a hallmark of Covid-19 infection. She was given two different types of therapy to try to break up the clots and by day 10, she was well enough to be discharged.

Oxley said the most important thing for people to understand is that large strokes are very treatable. Doctors are often able to reopen blocked blood vessels through techniques such as pulling out clots or inserting stents. But it must be done quickly, ideally within six hours and no longer than 24 hours, Oxley said: The message we are trying to get out is if you have symptoms of stroke, you need to call the ambulance urgently. 

As for the 44-year-old man Oxley was treating, doctors were able to remove the large clot that day in late March, but the patient is still struggling. As of this week, a little over a month after he arrived in the emergency room, he is still hospitalised.

The Washington Post
Kavanaugh cites Roe v. Wade when writing on 'erroneous precedents' in court decision about verdicts

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Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh cited two major abortion-related decisions in a concurring opinion spelling out when "erroneous precedents" ought to be overturned.

Monday's majority opinion, authored by Justice Neil Gorsuch, overturned a prior decision about unanimous jury verdicts, striking down state laws in Louisiana and Oregon which allowed people to be convicted of serious crimes with non-unanimous jury votes. The now-reversed 1972 ruling upheld nonunanimous verdicts in state courts. The final vote was 6-3, with a mixture of the court's conservative and liberal justices on both sides, agreeing mostly or in part with the decision.



In his concurrence, the newest member of the high court  whose contentious confirmation roiled the nation in the fall of 2018  brought up the doctrine of stare decisis, noting that it promotes the evenhanded, predictable, and consistent development of legal principles, fosters reliance on judicial decisions, and contributes to the actual and perceived integrity of the judicial process."

But he added, "The doctrine of stare decisis does not mean, of course, that the Court should never overrule erroneous precedents. All Justices now on this Court agree that it is sometimes appropriate for the Court to overrule erroneous decisions."

Kavanaugh brought up Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 ruling that legalized abortion nationwide, and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, a 1992 case that reaffirmed the core holding of Roe but challenged other elements of the ruling.

"In Casey, the Court reaffirmed what it described as the 'central holding' of Roe v. Wade," Kavanaugh explained, adding that the court also "expressly rejected Roes trimester framework, and the Court expressly overruled two other important abortion precedents.

The justice elaborated that the tradition following judicial precedent, which is often called the doctrine of stare decisis, "is not an inexorable command," noting that to overrule a constitutional precedent, the Court requires something over and above the belief that the precedent was wrongly decided.

[E]ven when judges agree that a prior decision is wrong, they may disagree about whether the decision is so egregiously wrong as to justify an overruling, he wrote, going on to explain that in some instances justices might disagree about the severity of the jurisprudential or real-world consequences caused by the erroneous decision and, therefore, whether the decision is worth overruling.

Whether Kavanaugh's citation of the famous abortion cases in Monday's opinion means anything beyond the case at hand remains to be seen though speculations are mounting that he may be laying the groundwork for future challenges to the current legal abortion regime.

Early last month, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the case of June Medical Services v. Russo, which centered around a Louisiana law mandating abortion facilities have admitting privileges to local hospitals as is required of other ambulatory surgical centers. The case is the first abortion-related dispute to be heard before the high court with both of President Trump's appointees, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, on the bench.

In 2016, the high court struck down a similar Texas law in Whole Woman's Health v. Hellerstedt, holding that the restriction was unconstitutional because it placed an undue burden on a woman seeking an abortion.

Yet the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, which has jurisdiction over Texas and Louisiana and adjudicated both laws prior to reaching the Supreme court, held that despite the similarities in the statutes, "stark differences" exist between the factual records of the two cases.
New Braunfels City Council will receive a presentation on grant funding for nonprofits and other agencies supporting economically impacted families through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Notable city, county virus actions A timeline of notable state, city and county actions during the COVID-19 crisis:

Council on Monday will hear details of a community block grant totaling $243,142 as part of disaster assistance offered through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Its funding that will aid in the citys virus response, said City Manager Robert Camareno, adding the funding will go toward utility assistance, rent payments and food distribution for qualified applicants, as well as virus testing.

Those are new programs, but some  including providing working capital for small businesses to retain jobs for low- and moderate-income positions  were already doing, Camareno said.

Details of the program, through HUDs Community Development Block Grant Coronavirus (CDBG-CV) response under the CARES Act, will be presented by Jennifer Gates, city grants coordinator. Camareno said council could vote to approve the program by the end of May.

Well get some direction from

council  such as how they would like to allocate that funding for eligible activities and then begin the application process the next day, he said.

Applications received by mid-May will be reviewed, with council holding a public hearing on distributing the funding at the May 26 meeting, depending on further directives from HUD.

We wanted to bring this before council now to initiate the application process as soon as we can so we could release funding as soon as possible, Camareno said.

Details of the CDBG program will follow Camarenos update on recent city response efforts. It will review services the city recently resumed, others that might be resumed through a phased approach and the 15-member advisory group assembled by Mayor Barron Casteel and Mayor-Elect Rusty Brockman, which met for the first time Thursday.

We are certainly waiting on the governors order that will provide guidelines, and the next meeting is scheduled Monday, he said. Were also working on assembling another group that will address reopening river parks.

Also Monday, council will discuss and consider approving:

 Appointments of individuals to the Downtown Board, Reinvestment Zone No. 1 (TIRZ) Board of Directors, New Braunfels Development Authority, Airport Advisory Board, New Braunfels Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors, Watershed Advisory Committee and Central Texas Technology Center Advisory Board.

 Contracts with Terrill & Waldrop to represent the city in two legal actions; A job order contract with Seidel Construction and appropriate budget amendment to restore walls around the downtown restroom facility; a task order to improve New Braunfels Utilities Headwaters at the Comal property and provide temporary quarters for Fire Station No. 3 staff and equipment during the construction of a new fire station.

 The second and final readings of ordinances amending zoning codes defining special use permits and rules overseeing landscaping, tree preservation, public trees and screening; rezoning of properties addressed at 2272 Farm-to-Market Road 1044 and 80 acres southeast of the 700 block of Saengerhalle Road; restricting parking on Comal Avenue near Lindheimer Plaza.

 Public hearings and first readings of ordinances rezoning properties located on the north side of N. Conrads Lane between Black Cloud Drive and Union Pacific Railroad; rezoning and special use permits for a short-term rental at 274 E. Zink Street and to allow recorded outdoor music through overhead speakers at a property addressed at 1440 N. Walnut Avenue.

Tune in several ways

Mondays council session begins at 6 p.m. and will be televised live on Spectrum government access channel 21, AT&T access channel 99, and live streamed at the city website, www.nbtexas.org.

To access Mondays meeting through Zoom, visit https://zoom.us/j/95241819272; or call 888-475-4499 with ID No. 95241819272. Citizens comments should be emailed to CitizenComments@nbtexas.org, or leave voicemail at 830-221-4299, or submit the form at www.nbtexas.org/comment. Comments will be distributed to the City Council.
China Names First Exploration Mission to Mars 'Tianwen-1' - National Space Administration

Sputnik News

06:08 GMT 24.04.2020(updated 07:27 GMT 24.04.2020)

BEIJING (Sputnik) - The China National Space Administration (CNSA) on Friday announced that its first exploration mission to Mars will be named "Tianwen-1".

According to the space agency, the mission "Tianwen" or "Questions to Heaven", comes from a poem by Qu Yuan, one of China's greatest poets who lived more than 2,000 years ago.

An international contest to choose the name for the first Chinese research mission to Mars was launched in late August 2016. The organisers of the contest received almost 36,000 applications in total.

A special jury and online voting formed a list of eight finalists with the winner announced on 24 April, when China celebrates annual Space Day.

The planned mission includes orbiting, landing, and moving on Mars. If the mission is successful, scientists will be able to study the atmosphere, surface, geological characteristics, and features of the planet's magnetic field.

A Sputnik

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Ne Muanda Nsemi, a self-styled prophet, was detained on Friday following heavy gunfire in Kinshasa, police say.

Police in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has arrested Ne Muanda Nsemi, a self-styled prophet and leader of a separatist religious sect, following heavy gunfire in the capital Kinshasa.

The arrest of Nsemi on Friday took place after clashes with police on Wednesday in a neighbouring province, in which 14 BDK members died.

Nsemi, a former member of parliament whose Bundu dia Kongo (BDK) group dreams of restoring the Kongo kingdom that thrived for centuries before the colonial era around the mouth of the Congo River, has a strong following in western Congo and has been a thorn in the side of successive governments.

He was arrested in March 2017 after leading deadly protests against former President Joseph Kabila, only to be broken out of prison by his supporters two months later.

Police announced his arrest on Twitter in an operation on Friday, saying: Mission accomplished, its done.

Kinshasa police chief Sylvano Kasongo said several officers were injured in the raid.

Nsemis followers attempted to protect his house in the plush Ma Campagne neighbourhood by throwing palm nuts at the police, who fired their weapons as they moved in, a witness told Reuters news agency.

It was not clear if there were any casualties among Nsemis supporters and a BDK spokesman could not be reached for comment.

Congolese security forces killed more than 300 BDK members and bystanders in crackdowns on sometimes violent protests in 2007 and 2008, dumping their bodies in the Congo River or mass graves, according to rights groups.

After escaping from prison in May 2017, Nsemi spent two years on the run before re-appearing at a news conference in Kinshasa last year, pledging to contribute to the development of the country.

He has remained in Kinshasa for the past year, sometimes lashing out at Tshisekedi and others with xenophobic slurs that accuse them of having ties to Congos eastern neighbour Rwanda.

He terrorised people here in the neighbourhood. We are very happy with his arrest. He belongs in prison, a neighbour of Nsemi told Reuters.
Nallur womans corona husband tale backfires View(s):

The coronavirus outbreak forces people to make some difficult choices to ensure their safety, and sometimes to avoid troubles, too.

One such incident happened in Nallur, Jaffna on Wednesday, when an insurance company agent visited a residence to collect the monthly installment.

The wife of the policy holder told the representative that her husband was suffering from mild symptoms of the coronavirus and he had gone to hospital. She came out with this story, thinking that the insurance agent would not trouble them during these difficult times. But the story backfired.

Within minutes, the local Public Health Inspector (PHI) arrived at the house with police and military officers, following a tip off from the insurance agent. This created a tense situation in the area.

Soon the wifes yarn was exposed. She admitted she had to come out with the story as they were going through financial difficulties.

Later, officials informed local finance institutions and leasing companies to adhere to government regulations on loan relief and not to visit houses to collect payments.

Covid battle in north: SLAF carries out blood donation campaign

Amidst efforts to prevent the spread of Covid-19, Sri Lanka Air Force personnel carried out another good deed in the north.

The SLAFs Regiment Training School in Vanni conducted a blood donation campaign on Thursday at the Station Hospital in collaboration with the blood bank of the Jaffna Teaching Hospital.

The campaign was organised in aid of the National Blood Transfusion Service to fulfil the increased demand for blood in the country due to the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak.

Sajith asks for WHO advice

Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) leader Sajith Premadasa was interviewed by New Delhi-based Wion (World is One television).

The narrative, at one point, went like this. Commenting on the scourge of Covid-19, he declared that the World Health Organisation (WHO) has to provide a prominent role giving us authentic advice Is there anything called non-authentic advice from the world health body?

On March 23, Mr. Premadasa prescribed Plaquenil to cure coronavirus. That drug, he said, was better than hydroxychloroquine. Later, he apologised for the blunder.

Mr. Premadasa should take his own advice before handing it down to the WHO, said an account in a social media outlet that gave details in a video clip.

In Covid-hit US tri-State area, Lankan docs offer free consultation

Dr. Iswara appointed as NYPDs Honorary Police Surgeon

Dr. Kadirawel Iswara, a Sri Lankan physician, who served as a Lt Colonel in the US Army Reserves during the 1991 Operation Desert Storm in the Persian Gulf, has now been commissioned as an Honorary Police Surgeon with the New York Police Department (NYPD) which currently faces one of its biggest crises battling the deadly coronavirus.

Operation Desert Storm was the codename of the combat phase of the Gulf War in which the United States-led coalition comprising 35 nations launched a war against Iraq over the invasion of Kuwait. Dr Iswara was attached to the 82nd Airborne Division in Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Currently, he is an Attending Gastroenterologist at the Maimonides Medical Center, Division of Gastroenterology, in Brooklyn, New York.

A total of 2,232 NYPD officers have been diagnosed with COVID19, and 24 have died (compared with more than 200,000 positive cases in New York State with 11,500 deaths). The total strength of uniformed police officers is over 36,000.

Meanwhile, eight Sri Lankan physicians, all members of the Sri Lanka Medical Association of North America (SLMANA), have offered their services and advicegratisto the Sri Lankan expatriate community.

The eight doctors are: Wije Kottahachchi MD Pediatrics, Rohan Perera MD Cardiology, Trikante Rajapaksa MD Gastroenterology, Ramona Rajapakse MD Gastroenterology, Takshan DeAlwis MD Psychiatry, Aruna Milinda Seneviratne MD Orthopedic Surgery, Darshi Sunderam MD Endocrinology and Gnana Sunderam MD Pulmonology/ Critical Care.

In a message to the expatriate community, Sri Lankas Permanent Mission has alerted the Sri Lankan community in the tri State area of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut that members of SLMANA have generously volunteered to provide medical advice to the community during the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic.

We appreciate this kind and generous gesture by members of the SLMANA towards the Sri Lankan community during these trying times, said Ambassador Kshenuka Senewiratne, Sri Lankas Permanent Representative to the United Nations.

Candidate tags Polls chief on Facebook; gets quick response

Election Commission Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya has long been a savvy operator of social media, with Facebook being his preferred medium.

Mr Deshapriya has also used the medium to address various concerns expressed by people regarding elections. On Friday, he reached out to Oshala Herath, a UNP candidate contesting the upcoming parliamentary elections from the Colombo district.

Mr Herath had earlier written a letter to EC chairman requesting him to authorise the issuing of a curfew pass for him to travel within the Colombo district for essential work related to the election. Knowing perhaps that Mr Deshapriya was a regular Facebook user, Mr Herath also posted the letter on FB, tagging the EC Chairman.

Mr Deshapriya responded promptly, informing the candidate that he would inform the IGP about the issues raised in his letter. He said the EC would send each districts candidates lists to the respective DIGs on Monday and they would be able to apply for curfew passes.

One commentator noted that the response over social media was even quicker than both writing a physical letter or an email.

Ex-DIG cries foul over Cardinals meeting with senior police officer

A onetime DIG who retired after serving last at Kegalle range was furious that Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith had a meeting with a serving senior officer of the same rank.

After a release of photographs about the meeting, he shot off a strong letter to the prelate protesting over the meeting. He said that the religious leader should not have given him an audience.

The reason  he alleged that the officer in question, now holding a powerful position, was one of those who received advance warnings of last years Easter Sunday attack but had not acted.
Ministry of Health has all the necessary data about volunteers if it needs their assistance

Now in Ukraine there is no need to involve students and interns of medical universities in the fight against coronavirus. Maksym Stepanov, the Minister of Health of Ukraine, announced this on a briefing.

According to Stepanov, from the beginning it was planned to attract students and interns solely on a voluntary basis for organizational and technical measures to combat coronavirus, and they filled out the appropriate questionnaires.

Today there is no such need. We have enough of our medical staff. But if there is such a necessity, we have all the data about the volunteers that they filled in and they will be immediately attracted. This work is carried out on the regional level, by relevant persons in departments of healthcare," the minister said.

As we reported before, as of the morning of April 25, in Ukraine, 8125 people were infected with the coronavirus. Over the past day, 478 new cases of infection were recorded.

"According to the Center for Public Health, as of 09:00 of April 25, 8125 laboratory-confirmed cases of Covid-19 were confirmed in Ukraine. 201 of these were fatal, 782 patients recovered. 478 new cases were recorded per day," the report said.
LEMOYNE, Pa., April 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Pennsylvania Association of Realtors urges the Pennsylvania House of Representatives to pass House Bill 2412 (Polinchock, R-Bucks), which would allow real estate services to reopen across the state.

House Bill 2412 would not return real estate to "business as usual." The association is working to provide safety procedures based on guidelines from the CDC. Given that limited in-person real estate business has been practiced safely in most other states, it should be able to be conducted in Pennsylvania as well.

"PAR has continued to advocate that real estate is a life-sustaining business," said PAR President William Festa. "The governor's outlined regional reopening plan of businesses announced earlier this week will impede consumers' ability to purchase a home where they want to live. We believe this will be confusing to consumers, particularly those in bordering counties."

The association has been advocating that Gov. Tom Wolf reclassify real estate services as life-sustaining, following the change to federal guidelines, which included real estate services as essential. Senate Bill 613, which passed the state General Assembly, would have required the state to follow the revised guidelines, however Gov. Wolf vetoed the bill earlier this week.

"The business shut down orders have severely curtailed the practice of real estate in Pennsylvania, which has led to individuals and families being unable to have access to shelter and many are facing incredible financial difficulties," Festa said. "Allowing real estate services to be conducted in one county, while those in a bordering county are unable to do so, simply isn't practical. The phased reopening would provide housing relief to some Pennsylvanians, while prohibiting others' ability to gain shelter."

SOURCE Pennsylvania Association of Realtors

Related Links

http://www.parealtor.org


Former finance minister P Chidambaram said on Saturday the government must act promptly and resolve the situation after Franklin Templeton closed six of its debt schemes in India, citing severe market dislocation and illiquidity caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Franklin Templeton, one of the first global financial firms to launch asset management operations in India more than two decades ago, said on Thursday it would close the yield-oriented, managed credit funds.

The senior Congress leader said it was a matter of grave concern to investors, the mutual fund industry and the financial markets.

Also read | Franklin Templeton to close 6 India funds: What does it mean for you

Chidambaram also pointed out how the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government had handled a similar situation during the global financial crisis in 2008 when mutual funds faced liquidity stress.

Government immediately consulted RBI, SEBI, IBA, AMFI and others. An urgent meeting of the FSDC was convened and a solution was found by the end of the day. On the next morning, officers of RBI and SEBI met at 8 am, and RBI announced a 14-day special repo facility and allowed an additional 0.5 per cent of NDTL. The situation was resolved, the Congress leader said in a statement.

Fortunately, the markets will be closed today and tomorrow. I expect that the government will act promptly and resolve the situation quickly, he added.

Also read | List of 6 mutual funds closed by Franklin Templeton

Franklin Templeton had said in a statement that the decision to close the schemes in order to protect value for investors via a managed sale of the portfolio.

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 funds included Franklin India Low Duration Fund, 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.
WASHINGTON -- For months, public health officials and members of Congress have wanted to know why the federal government fell short in its efforts to rapidly develop a test to help detect and stop the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Two federal probes are underway into actionsat the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that caused problems with test kits and delayed widespread detection efforts in the United States. But exactly when those examinations will yield answers is unclear, according to Trump administration officials.

The reviews are being led by the headquarters of the Department of Health and Human Services and, separately, by the department's Office of Inspector General.

Katherine Harris, a spokeswoman for the HHS inspector general's office, said its audit,opened in mid-April, is exploring what the office has described as "CDC's process of producing and distributing" the test kits. The findings, she said, are not expected to be made public until 2021.

"We want to do nothing to interfere with ongoing emergency response operations," Harris said by email.

Bill Hall, a deputy assistant HHS secretary for public affairs, declined to estimate when the separate investigation led by HHS headquarters would probably conclude.

Hall said that investigation, started in early March, seeks to "better understand the nature and source of the manufacturing defect in the first batch of covid-19 test kits that were distributed to state health departments and others." Covid-19 is the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.

The CDC's rollout of the test kits was delayed for weeks after the first batch generated dozens of false-positive results when state and local public health laboratories began trying the kits in late January. The false positives occurred within a component of the test that the CDC later said was not necessary to detect the virus.

The Washington Post reported on April 18 that the false positives were caused by contamination that occurred while the kits were manufactured at the CDC's facilities in Atlanta. An examination by the Food and Drug Administration concluded that the tests failed because of substandard manufacturing practices and that the CDC had violated its own protocol in making the kits, The Post also reported.

In late February, the FDA recommended that the CDC stop manufacturing the kits and shift production to an outside contractor.

Senior CDC officials had earlier declined to remove the troubled component from the design of the test kits. On Feb. 28, the director of the CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Nancy Messonnier, publicly characterized the test difficulties observed at the public health labs as "inconclusive results."

The CDC ultimately followed the FDA's recommendations,but the delay hindered efforts to detect the virus and to blunt its spread throughout the United States. The CDC has not explained the rationale for the original design or what factors led to the breakdown in manufacturing practices.

In testimony on March 11 before the House Oversight and Reform Committee, CDC Director Robert Redfield, an appointee of President Donald Trump, cited the ongoing HHS investigation and declined to discuss details of the test kits' failure.

Benjamin Haynes, a CDC spokesman, said last week that the agency "has implemented enhanced quality control to address the issue" that surfaced with the original test kits.

The CDC's performance has drawn condemnation from clinicians, public health officials and some members of Congress who linked the delays caused by the troubled test kits to deaths that could have been averted.

"It's clear CDC's early testing missteps cost us valuable time, and ultimately invaluable lives, as this virus spread undetected,'' Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., said by email on Thursday. "People deserve to know what went wrong, and they need to know what we are doing to make sure this never happens again."

Murray, whose state had the nation's first confirmed outbreak of the virus, was the first member of Congress to urge the HHS inspector general to investigate. The inspector general's office made public its opening of the audit on April 15.

Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill., who sought at a March 15 congressional hearing to elicit details from Redfield about whether any CDC scientists or administrators had been held accountable for the testing failure, said that crucial questions remain unanswered.

"We've got to get at the root of what happened in order to make sure that going forward we actually have our testing situation in order," Krishnamoorthi said in an interview.

He said that he wants answers about the CDC's decision-making during the periods between when the first false positives emerged, and when it shifted manufacturing of the kits to the outside contractor.

"I shudder to think how many people we could've tested and saved in that interim," Krishhnamoorthi said.
Neal Nibur has lived in a nursing home for about a year, ever since he had a bad bout of pneumonia. Now the 80-year-old man has not only his own health to worry about but that of his neighbours at the Poughkeepsie, New York, residence. Four new patients recently arrived from the hospital with Covid-19.

They were admitted for one reason, according to staff members: A state guideline says nursing homes cannot refuse to take patients from hospitals solely because they have the coronavirus.

I dont like them playing Russian roulette with my life, said Mr Nibur, who is on oxygen. Its putting us at risk. I am 80 years old with underlying problems. Everybody here has an underlying problem.

The disease caused by the virus has killed more than 10,500 residents and staff members at nursing homes and long-term care facilities nationwide, according to a New York Times analysis. That is nearly one-quarter of deaths in the United States from the pandemic. Last Saturday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo of New York described nursing homes as a feeding frenzy for this virus.

But states are increasingly turning to nursing homes to relieve the burden on hospitals and take in Covid-19 patients considered stable enough to be released. Although there is no evidence so far that the practice has allowed infections to spread in nursing homes, many residents and advocates fear that it is only a matter of time. One lawsuit in New Jersey alleges that a worker was likely to have been sickened by a Covid-19 patient readmitted from a hospital.

At the epicentre of the outbreak, New York issued a strict new rule last month: Nursing homes must readmit residents sent to hospitals with the coronavirus and accept new patients as long as they are deemed medically stable. California and New Jersey have also said that nursing homes should take in such patients. Homes are allowed to turn patients away if they claim they cant care for them safely  but administrators say they worry that refusing patients could provoke regulatory scrutiny, and advocates say it could result in a loss of revenue.

In contrast to these states, Connecticut and Massachusetts designated certain facilities for Covid-19 patients alone  considered the safest way to free up hospital beds. The Washington Health Care Association, which represents long-term care facilities in Washington state, has asked officials to adopt a similar policy; so far, they have not.

The fears that moving coronavirus patients to nursing homes might spark outbreaks is compounded by the lack of protective equipment at many facilities, as well as shortages in staffing, requiring workers to interact with more patients. And not all hospitals are testing to check whether stable patients are still infectious before releasing them.

In a national survey released on Thursday of almost 9,000 nursing homes, fewer than 10 per cent said they were able to take in new Covid-19 patients from hospitals. The survey was done by CarePort Health, a company that works with hospitals to manage the release of patients to long-term care facilities.

In a survey of almost 9,000 nursing homes, fewer than 10 per cent said they were able to take in new Covid-19 patients from hospitals (Getty)

Jay Lawrence, spokesman for the Grand Healthcare System, which has 17 homes in New York, including the one in Poughkeepsie, said the company was doing everything possible to meet state needs and keep residents safe. He said the virus had not spread from those initial four patients in Poughkeepsie to anyone else in the building.

Still, with Covid being everywhere, its a very fluid situation, he said. People are trying to be as vigilant as they can. No one knows where and how this is going to rear its ugly head.

The New Jersey lawsuit, filed on Wednesday against Alaris Health at Hamilton Park in Jersey City by a former nurse, alleges that another employee, a certified nursing assistant, was probably exposed to the virus from a patient readmitted from a hospital.

The assistant was not given protective equipment and not properly isolated while treating the patient, according to the lawsuit. It also said that workers and residents were not told about the patients Covid-19 diagnosis. The patient died around on 29 March, the lawsuit said. Cheryl Roberts, the nursing assistant, was put on a ventilator and died on 5 April, said her brother, Darryl Roberts.

I was devastated because not only did they put my sister in jeopardy, they put the whole facility in jeopardy, he said.

Matt Stanton, a spokesman for Alaris Health, said workers had proper protective equipment and called the claim that residents got staff members sick ludicrous.

The move comes as hundreds of care homes have been exposed as violating virus precautions (Reuters)

Since its original guidance, New Jersey has opted to prohibit admissions to facilities that say they cannot safely care for patients. So far, more than 130 facilities have been exempted.

In New York, the new rule has increased the strain on nursing homes, many of which are now staffed at less than 50 per cent, said Stephen Hanse, president and chief executive officer of the New York State Health Facilities Association and the New York State Center for Assisted Living.

This puts nursing home providers in a really precarious position, he said. If you want to do everything to protect your residents and staff, your hands are tied.

Asked about admissions of Covid-19 patients in light of nursing home deaths at a briefing Monday, Mr Cuomo seemed unaware of the state rule. Its a good question, he said. I dont know.

Howard Zucker, the state health commissioner, said that nursing homes needed to readmit positive patients and that necessary precautions will be taken.

On Thursday, Mr Cuomo reiterated that nursing homes had to accept the patients  but only, he clarified, if they could do so safely. Homes unable to comply should transfer them to other facilities or notify the state Health Department, he said.

The department, responding to questions from The Times, said that nursing homes were not permitted to discriminate against Covid-19 patients but that they should avoid taking patients if not medically prepared. Mr Zucker said on Thursday that he did not know of any homes in that position.

Richard Mollot, executive director of the Long Term Care Community Coalition in New York, an advocacy group for residents, said he had heard of several nursing homes that had declined. But the vast majority, he said, have a tremendous financial incentive to take in new patients.

Jonathan Jacobson, a Democratic assemblyman whose district includes Poughkeepsie, has urged New York health officials to reverse the directive, calling it misguided.

Nursing homes are simply not equipped to act as hospitals and should not be used as depositories for infected individuals, he wrote in a letter to health officials last week, adding that patients should instead be sent to facilities designated for Covid-19 patients, separate from large populations of elderly residents.

Although the rule is still in effect, Mr Jacobson said he was heartened by the governors remarks Thursday and hoped nursing homes ill-equipped to handle Covid-19 patients would reject them.

Without clear guidelines, patients in hospitals faced the question of where they should go if nobody wants them.

John Stubits, a former civil engineer, was sent by a Michigan memory care centre to a nearby hospital March 30, where he tested positive for the virus. He briefly improved, and the hospital searched for somewhere to discharge him, according to his daughter, Eva Stubits. His previous residence would not accept him unless he tested negative for the infection; no other home in the state would take him.

Ms Stubits said she was told that her father would be sent to a home in Ohio, more than an hour away.

Those plans unravelled when John Stubits became much sicker. Last week, his daughter learned that the hospital planned to send him to a nursing home in Detroit with poor ratings. After many phone calls, Eva Stubits found another home about 30 minutes away from his previous residence.

The hospitals are desperate to get them out, and they dont care where they go, she said. If you dont know any better, your relative could end up in a really bad place.

Despite everything, on Friday, John Stubits died at the nursing home.

The New York Times
Agents at a U.S. military post in Texas are searching for a soldier who has been missing for three days.

Private First Class Vanessa Guillen, 20, was last seen Wednesday afternoon in a parking lot at Fort Hood, where she's stationed, wearing a black T-shirt.

Image: Vanessa Guillen. (United States Army)

"Her car keys, barracks room key, identification card and wallet were later found in the armory room where she was working earlier in the day," officials said in a press release.

Friends and family of Guillen have flooded their social media accounts with pleas to the public to contact the authorities if anyone has any information.

Mayra Guillen wrote on a Facebook post that her sister's phone was last tracked on Belton, Texas, about 20 minutes away from where she was last seen. Neither her boyfriend or relatives have heard from her since she disappeared, she said.

"Please help me find my girlfriend," Guillen's boyfriend, Juan Cruz, tweeted on Friday. "Please anything helps."

"An extensive search is underway by military members, as well as civilian and military police," authorities said. Special agents from the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command are also involved in the search.

Fort Hood Military Police also issued a "be on the lookout" notice to alert surrounding law enforcement agencies to Guillen's disappearance.

Guillen is of Hispanic descent, 5 feet, 2 inches tall, and weighs 126 pounds with black hair and brown eyes.
Syracuse, N.Y.  Gov. Andrew Cuomo late Friday canceled a special election that would have filled an empty state Senate seat in Central New York.

The move means the 50th Senate District seat  which includes Auburn, four towns in Cayuga County, and about half of Onondaga County  will be empty for all of 2020.

Cuomos order is the latest change to the political calendar as the state deals with the coronavirus pandemic.

The Senate seat has been empty all year. Republican Bob Antonacci resigned after being elected to a judge position; he served less than a year in the New York State Legislature.

The governor had originally called for a special election to fill the Senate seat on April 28, the same date as the states presidential primary. All those elections were moved to June 23, the date already on the books for state and local primaries.

The regular primaries are still happening June 23. The state will mail all registered voters applications for absentee ballots with pre-paid postage to return the applications. It wasnt immediately clear why Cuomo took the special elections, including the 50th District, off the ballot.

Democrat John Mannion and Republican Angi Renna were the candidates in the special election. Both remain on the ballot for the general election, which is Nov. 3.

MORE ON CORONAVIRUS

Coronavirus in NY: Cases, maps, charts and resources

The NY State Fair is in jeopardy, experts say

Many CNY workers are being forced to pick: Risk their health or secure their paycheck

McMahons pitch to reopen CNY early: Were doing pretty well containing coronavirus

Updated (and growing) CNY restaurant takeout list: Some that sat out are now jumping in

Complete coronavirus coverage on syracuse.com

Got a story idea or news tip youd like to share? Please contact me through email, Twitter, Facebook or at 315-470-2274.
There is no rest for animal rights activists, even during the COVID-19 crisis. We've even seen an uptick in activity and attacks from them on social media.

Whether it's organized or not, the attacks tend to hit all at once as they try to overwhelm a Facebook page's reviews and comments or on Instagram with comments or hashtag takeovers.

It's definitely tough to deal with these attacks, and it can make you want to shut down your social media channels, but this is exactly their goal. They want the farmer's voice to go away so the only story consumers will see and hear is from them.

Here are some tips on how to handle an attack.

How do you know you are being attacked?

You'll know it's an attack when you start getting several hundreds of negative comments and reviews within a couple of hours.

Once you determine it's an attack, don't think twice about removing the ability for these people to post on your page.

How to block and delete on Facebook:

You can easily touch the three dots next to a post and hide it or delete it. Facebook has a menu that allows you to walk through the violations. Be warned, though, Facebook does not see what activists do as harassment and probably won't remove the post on their own. It's better to just delete the comment and block the profile.



If you click on find support or report comment, you will get a menu to walk through to report the profile.











You can also limit who can post to your Facebook page by turning on moderation. This does not work with comments, though, and you also cannot turn off comments to a Facebook page post.







Instagram handles comments a little different since it is for mobile only. There are several options:





a. You can restrict, block, or report a profile for harassment.

b. You can manage comments by deleting them.

c. You can manage them by turning off comments for a post or adding restrictive words to keep comments from appearing.







d. You can also block or restrict individual accounts. Blocking means that they go away forever. Restricting means that you can see their comments (and so can they) but no one else can. d. You can also block or restrict individual accounts. Blocking means that they go away forever. Restricting means that you can see their comments (and so can they) but no one else can.



2. Ask for help: If you are getting attacked by activists, don't assume that others see what is going on. Being a part of ag-friendly groups like If you are getting attacked by activists, don't assume that others see what is going on. Being a part of ag-friendly groups like Dairy Farmers of Facebook or Dairy Checkoff Farmer Facebook Group allows you to ask others for help when you need it. You can also reach out to your fans and followers in a post to let them know what's happening. Your local dairy checkoff can offer assistance, and you can always reach out to me at don.schindler@dairy.org

3. Unpublish or Go Private: If the activists are just too much for you to handle at the time, you can always unpublish a Facebook page or go private on your Instagram account. Now, I know I said this is exactly what the activists want, but you are just pausing your activities for a brief period of time with this tactic. Shut down for a few days and then relaunch after things have settled down.

How to unpublish a Facebook page: Go to your Facebook page, then settings, then general, and youll see you can unpublish your page.

How to go private on Instagram: Its a little more complicated on Instagram. Go to your Instagram profile, then the hamburger menu on the top right, then settings, privacy, account privacy, and then click on private account.

How do you handle dealing with activists? I would love to hear your strategy. You can comment below or reach out to me at don.schindler@dairy.org . If you would like to know more about what your national and local checkoffs are doing to build trust with consumers, please join our Dairy Checkoff Facebook group





The author is a Senior Vice President of Digital Initiatives at Dairy Management Inc.
Wavering Covid-19 preventive measures amid mixed signals from authorities By Sandun Jayawardana Ad-hocism evident in decision to lift curfew in Western Province and Puttalam District and move to open liquor shops View(s): View(s):

As the number of Sri Lankas COVID-19 patients rises significantly, Government measures to relax the curfew imposed to contain the spread of disease have become mired in confusion and embarrassing reversals.

The latest incident came about early yesterday. A media release issued by Police Headquarters at the unusual time of 1.25 a.m. stated that an islandwide curfew imposed at 8 p.m. on Friday (24) will be lifted at 5 a.m. on Monday (27). This included the entire Western Province (Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara districts) and the Puttalam district  districts that had been designated as high risk zones and which had been under an indefinite curfew for more than a month.

The statement came just hours after the country recorded the largest single day increase in the number of COVID-19 patients, with 49 being reported on Friday. The country was also dealing with two large COVID-19 clusters; one at Bandaranayake Mawatha, Colombo 12 and the other at the Welisara Navy Base in the Gampaha district.

Adding to the confusion, the police statement said that even though the curfew would be lifted the public would be strictly prohibited from entering or leaving the three Western Province districts and the Puttalam district.

We have no idea about this release. They didnt consult us before issuing it, said a Health Ministry official who spoke on grounds of anonymity. Police later clarified that what it wanted to convey was that an island-wide curfew was in effect over the weekend and that it would continue till 5 am on Monday. No decision, however, had been taken on lifting the curfew in the Western Province and the Puttalam district as at Saturday morning, police also clarified. That decision was in the hands of medical experts.

Yesterdays episode was the latest among several such confusing statements and embarrassing reversals on the part of authorities. On last Saturday (18) morning, senior Health Ministry officials explained to the Sunday Times that the Western province would be opened up on a phased basis from early next month. This was while restrictions in other areas would be eased from April 20.

Yet, that same evening, the Presidential Secretariat put out a statement stating that except in certain identified police divisions, curfew in the Western Province and the Puttalam district would be lifted daily from 5.00am on April 22 and reimposed at 8.00pm. Curfew in other districts would be lifted from 5 am daily starting from April 20 and would be reimposed at 8 pm, it said. The Presidential Secretariat statement said the decision to lift the curfew had been taken with the objective of restoring normalcy in the civilian life.

By Sunday (19), though, the situation changed again with more COVID-19 patients being reported from Bandaranayake Mawatha in Colombo 12. By then, the realisation had dawned that they were dealing with a large cluster of patients. On Monday (20) morning, a fresh statement was issued by the Presidents Office extending curfew in the Western Province and the Puttalam district until 5 am on April 27.

A Health Ministry source said lifting the curfew in the Western province became impossible as more and more patients began to be identified from the Colombo 12 area, leading to the decision to keep the province and the Puttalam district, which was also a danger zone, under curfew for another week at least.

Meanwhile, in districts where curfew was lifted, liquor shops drew a large crowd on Monday after the Excise Department gave them the go ahead to open for business during non-curfew hours. The decision ran counter to advice from medical experts and the Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA).

The move was to backfire immediately. In many districts, where curfew was lifted, long queues formed outside liquor shops, despite the Government urging people to stay at home as much as possible and to only venture out of their homes for work. Social distancing guidelines were non-existent. Some werent even wearing masks. While public transport operated in the districts where curfew was lifted, Minister of Passenger Transport Management Mahinda Amaraweera claimed some people had used public transport sorely for the purpose of traveling to liquor shops.

There were also reports that some who collected the one-time Rs 5000 allowance given by the Government to mitigate the economic impact on them due to COVID-19 went immediately to the nearest liquor store once they collected the money.

By Tuesday (21), the Presidents Media Division (PMD) issued a statement declaring that all liquor shops would remain closed until further notice. The statement did not give any reasons for the decision, but it was clear that scenes witnessed at liquor shops the day before had played a part in the decision.

Deputy Excise Commissioner Kapila Kumarasinghe said while the Government was losing revenue over the decision to keep liquor shops closed, it is a necessary sacrifice in the wider struggle against COVID-19. Society at large anyway does not approve keeping liquor shops open at this time, he added.

Meanwhile, GMOA Media Spokesman Dr Samantha Ananda has criticised the Government for ignoring its exit strategy presented to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on April 4.

If the Government had accepted our exit strategy, it may have been able to take a serious look at opening up Colombo district by the end of this month, he said. Dr Ananda claimed if the Government adhered to the steps in their exit strategy, issues that have come up regarding outbreaks on Bandaranayake Mawatha in Colombo and the Welisara Navy Base may not have occurred. They did not adhere to that and now the whole country is in trouble, he said.

In fact, proposals given by many medical experts had suggested a gradual lifting of restrictions. Yet the Government has cited the strain on the countrys economy and the effect a continued lockdown has on peoples livelihood as reasons for moving forward to lift restrictions.

Elections, too, have played a part. Earlier this month, Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi infamously claimed that the Government would be able to identify all COVID-19 patients by April 19. The date was significant that on April 20, the Election Commission was to meet with health authorities to discuss setting a date for the 2020 parliamentary elections. The announcement on the lifting of curfew also came on the evening of April 18. Opposition parties seized on these to accuse the Government of trying to force the ECs hand to declare an early date for the election.
Tom Holland first appeared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as underoos when he swung onto the scene to strip Captain America of his shield in Civil War. Since that first debut, he has gone on to become a major presence in the landscape. Holland appeared in two Spider-Man standalone installments, Infinity War, and Endgame, and he has a third solo movie on the horizon (likely scheduled for sometime during Phase 5). Yet, Tom Holland was not the only one vying for the part.

Tom Holland attends the Spider-Man: Homecoming press conference | Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images

Rumor has it that Charlie Rowe was also looking to play the web-slinger, with names like Asa Butterfield and Judah Lewis also coming into the mix. Yet, in the end, Tom Holland  who previously appeared in The Impossible opposite Naomi Watts and Ewan McGregor and The West Ends production of Billy Elliot  snagged the role. So, what set him apart? Hollands casting likely came down to a few major factors.

1. Hes got chemistry with Robert Downey Jr.

Robert Downey Jr. and Tom Holland boast a father-son dynamic in the MCU  one comprised of equal parts heart and humor. From Starks desire to protect and defend Parker to his need to parent him with a sarcastic quip when necessary, the two offer a relatable and loveable dynamic. Their relationship is pivotal to Tonys narrative arc, as well as Spideys development in the saga. Thus, when the screen test for chemistry came around, its likely that Holland and Downey worked best across from one another.

2. Tom Holland has a dance background

Tom Holland began taking dance classes at a very young age, and he performed at the Richmond Dance Festival. He also began taking ballet classes in his garage when he was just 10 years old.

In other words, Holland boasts the agility and acrobatic ability needed to jump around the set. Thus, while stunt doubles are always necessary, there are certain scenes that Holland can handle himself, making him perfect for the acrobatically-inclined combatant. He knows how to use his body to convey emotion and mental states, which is necessary when acting behind a mask.

3. Tom Holland was the right age when he signed on to play Spider-Man

The MCUs version of Tom Holland has kept the character in high school; thus, it was essential for the studio to cast a young actor who could convincingly be in high school for several years. While Holland appeared in Civil War at 20 years old, he has a young look and, unlike his predecessors  Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire  is believable as a teenager. He can also now be believable as a college student if that is where his story is headed.

4. Holland is equally convincing as Spidey and Parker

Spider-Man is a two-fold character, as Peter Parker can be a bit geeky and shy. Yet, when in his mask and fighting the baddies, hes got a quick tongue and a clever sense of humor. Thus, the actor who plays the character must fit both roles, which Holland does. Many argue that Garfield was a decent Spidey, but too suave for Parker. On the other hand, Tobey was a great Parker, but many feel he was not the best Spidey. However, Holland seems equally comfortable whether there is a book in his hand or a web flying out of his wrist.
Practically Paranormal: Creepy Tales from N. Oregon Coast's Tillamook Rock Lighthouse

Published 04/24/2020 at 5:54 PM PDT

By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff

(Cannon Beach, Oregon)  A desolate rock island in the middle of stormy seas, battered constantly by massive waves, and cut off from human contact for months at a time. A place where the first person to ever set foot upon it died almost immediately. This is where you build a lighthouse on the north Oregon coast in the late 1800s. What could go wrong?

Tillamook Rock Lighthouse, often called Terrible Tilly, is such a place, and in spite of its shining beacon guiding ships safely out at sea it was ripe for ghost stories. It didnt help much that local tribes also said it was inhabited by restless spirits.

The real history of Tillamook Rock Lighthouse is a teeth-clencher in itself, set there to help keep ships from crashing into Tillamook Head and hopefully dissipate the areas already growing reputation as the graveyard of the Pacific (the mouth of the Columbia river actually has that moniker firmly etched in its history).

Vague and varied paranormal tales have haunted the old rocky lighthouse since its beginning, earlier if you count the native legends. Lighthouse keepers here worked in shifts lasting months at a time, hosting roughly three men most shifts. The isolation here drove at least one of them mad, and the rest  well, they had plenty of time to let their imaginations run. There were claims of voices heard over the din of storms or other dark parts of the lighthouse. Sometimes, stories about ghost ships appearing in the fog and drifting past are associated with the place as well, but usually these have foundations in actual events involving near misses from real ships.









Building the lighthouse was a real  excuse the pun  killer. The first surveyor stepping onto the rock slipped and drowned in the ocean, starting an immediate public outcry that perhaps this wasnt a good idea.

In January of 1881, Tillamook Rock Lighthouse was several weeks from being finished when a British barque called the Lupatia wrecked on Tillamook Head. But first, it narrowly missed the lighthouse island, with construction crews awakened in the middle of the night to hear the harrowing scream of hard aport! as this then-mystery ship slid just past the rock. Had the light been operational this wouldnt have happened.

The next morning the lighthouse crew could see the mast and part of the ship sticking up out of the ocean in front of the headland. All crew aboard died  except for a puppy. Over the next the 130 years, some Oregon coast locals claim to have heard a dog howling in the dark from somewhere at the tip of the headland at Seaside.

Another creepy tale from the lighthouse comes from a keeper who felt something brush past his face in the dark while lying in bed. All of a sudden, he heard strange footsteps in the pitch black, and after a time, bolted towards the light switch, arms swinging wildly in an attempt to smack whatever trespasser was there. When he turned on the light, he found only an injured bird that had somehow made its way into his bedroom. The odd footsteps were its broken wing hitting the floor. Hotels in Cannon Beach - Where to eat - Cannon Beach Maps and Virtual Tours. More historical photos of the lighthouse below:

Read a lot more on the lighthouse in the Ultimate Oregon Coast Travel book series, with both the Seaside and Cannon Beach books presenting different parts of the lighthouses history.















Photo below courtesy Seaside Aquarium

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A mother who gave birth to her fourth child while battling coronavirus died before ever getting to hold her baby boy.

Wogene Debele, 43, from Takoma Park, Maryland, was eight months pregnant when she was admitted to the hospital on March 25. After testing positive for COVID-19, she was induced that evening and welcomed her son Levi a month premature, the Washington Post reported.

The baby, who had not contracted the virus, was rushed into the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) without ever being held by his mother. Debele died on Tuesday, more than three weeks after she gave birth.

Heartbreaking: Wogene Debele, 43, from Takoma Park, Maryland, was battling coronavirus when she welcomed her fourth child in March. The mother-of-four died on Tuesday

Loss: The mom left behind her newborn son as well as her husband, Yilma Asfaw Tadesse, 50, and their three other children, Mihret, 17, Naod, 10, and Asher, 4

In addition to the baby boy she never got to meet, Debele left behind her husband, Yilma Asfaw Tadesse, 50, and their three other children, Mihret, 17, Naod, 10, and Asher, 4.

Debele and Tadesse met in their native Ethiopia and immigrated to the U.S. with their family about 10 years ago. The stay-at-home mom was active in the local Ethiopian community and a member of the International Evangelical Ethiopian Church in Washington, D.C.

Debele's family told The Post that she began exhibiting coronavirus symptoms such as loss of appetite and coughing, but when she went to Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Springs, she was told she was not sick enough to be tested.

The mom's fever rose and she lost her sense of smell, but even as her condition worsened, doctors advised her to stay home, her family said.

Before returning to the hospital for a second time, she told her sons Naod and Ashery that she was 'going to get a checkup' and would 'be right back.' It was the last time her children would see her.

Diagnosed: Debele was eight months pregnant when she testing positive for COVID-19 on March 25. She was induced that evening and welcomed her son Levi a month premature

Devastating: The baby, who had not contracted the virus, was rushed into the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) without ever being held by his mother

Tragedy: Debele died more than three weeks after her son was born without ever getting to spend time with him

After she called her family to say the hospital was going to keep her overnight, her blood oxygen levels dramatically dropped and her blood pressure rose. Doctors had to induce her and the baby was separated from her to prevent him from catching the highly contagious virus.

A few days later, Debele was transported to the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore and put on a ventilator. Just when she seemed to be getting better, her condition would deteriorate again.

The hospital used Zoom to video chat the family so they could see her, but she was too ill to speak with them.

Levi spent 21 days in the NICU at Holy Cross before his quarantined family was able to bring him home on April 19. Debele died two days after they met their newest addition for the first time.

'My heart is broken,' Tadesse told The Post. 'I dont know what to do without her.'

Family: Levi spent 21 days in the NICU at Holy Cross before his quarantined family was able to bring him home on April 19

Saying goodbye: Debel was buried on Friday with her loved ones gathering in the cemetery wearing masks and practicing social distancing to protect themselves

The widower has been focused on taking care of his sons Naod and Asher, while his teenage daughter Mihret tends to baby Levi.

Friends of the family started a GoFundMe to support Debele's four children, and it has received more than 200,000 in donations so far.

'Wogene was kind, joyful, and a source of strength to her family and to all who knew her,' they wrote of the late mom.

Debel was buried on Friday with her loved ones gathering in the cemetery wearing masks and practicing social distancing to protect themselves.

Heart-wrenching footage of the family sobbing was shared on Facebook for those who were unable to attend the burial.

As of Friday, there have been 16,616 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Maryland and 723 deaths, according to The New York Times. There have been a total of 894,774 cases and 50,478 deaths in the U.S.
Ghana and the United Kingdom (UK) have agreed to continue to work together to encourage commitment towards climate action amid the COVID-19 pandemic.



A statement copied to the Ghana News Agency by the Ministry of Environment Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI) said the discussions, held virtually, focused on issues relating to a new date for the 26th United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of Parties (COP26), which was scheduled to be held at Glasgow, UK, in November 2020.



Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, the Minister of Environment Science Technology and Innovation, Mr Iain Walker, the UK Ambassador to Ghana and Mr Paul Arkwright, the Regional Ambassador for Africa on COP 26 were some of the key persons who participated in the meeting, the statement said.



The statement said the representatives also discussed the health and economic impact of COVID-19 on both countries.



Prof. Frimpong-Boateng, the statement said, highlighted measures the government had taken to alleviate the economic impact of COVID-19 on Ghanaians.



These include providing free water for the next three months, electricity subsidies, the stimulus package for Small and Medium Enterprise and the provision for food to the needy.



It said the Minister also shared the progress made on meeting on Ghanas Nationally Determined Contributions towards abating Climate Change, which include building the resilience of smallholder farmers, and implementing renewable energy and afforestation initiatives.



According to the UN Climate Change website, the UNFCCC is an international environmental treaty adopted on 9 May 1992 and opened for signature at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro from 3 to 14 June 1992.



It then entered into force on 21 March 1994, after a sufficient number of countries had ratified it.



At present, there are 197 parties to the Convention.



The COP is the supreme decision-making body of the Convention. All States that are Parties to the Convention are represented at the COP, at which they review the implementation of the Convention and any other legal instruments that the COP adopts and take decisions necessary to promote the effective implementation of the Convention, including institutional and administrative arrangements.



A key task for the COP is to review the national communications and emission inventories submitted by Parties. Based on this information, the COP assesses the effects of the measures taken by Parties and the progress made in achieving the ultimate objective of the Convention.



The COP meets every year, unless the Parties decide otherwise. The first COP meeting was held in Berlin, Germany in March, 1995.



The COP meets in Bonn, the seat of the secretariat, unless a Party offers to host the session. Just as the COP Presidency rotates among the five recognized UN regions - that is, Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, Central and Eastern Europe and Western Europe and Others.



However, there is a tendency for the venue of the COP to also shift among these groups.

Source: GNA









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Shimla, April 25 : The Himachal Pradesh government, here on Saturday, decided to relax curfew in morning hours (5.30 a.m. to 7 a.m.) from Sunday to help people take morning walk.

The decision was taken at a meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, held to review the coronavirus epidemic situation in the state.

It also decided to ease curfew for four hours instead of the existing three hours from Monday. In the state capital, the relaxation will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

According to an official statement, quoting the Chief Minister, the curfew has adversely affected the state's economy and an action plan is required to revive the economic activities post-lockdown from May 3.

Thakur said help would be provided to the people stranded outside the state. The people willing to return to the state must be allowed after following the medical protocol that included thorough examination and institutional or home quarantine, he said.

The Chief Minister said the panchayat heads must be provided information on people who had returned to their areas for implementation of the quarantine norms. People entering the state must be asked to download Arogya Setu app on their mobile phones.

Thakur asked the Deputy Commissioners to ensure norlam functioning of all private hospitals and clinics.

The state has decided to allow inter-district movement of trucks, carrying construction material from mining sites to project areas, and road construction machinery to the construction sites.
First he was a stable genius, then he was possessed of unmatched wisdom, then he was Im very smart, and now he has a good you-know-what, pointing to his head. This is the same person who wonders about injecting people with disinfectant or figuring out ways to make the sun shine inside their bodies. What intelligent leadership! How did we get so lucky?
To the editor:

There is a meme currently circulating that goes: Every disaster movie begins with a politician ignoring a warning from scientists. Trump's response to the COVID-19 pandemic is a real-life example. The first cases emerged in South Korea on the same day as in the U.S., but their leaders listened to epidemiologists and other medical experts and took decisive action. Consequently, they flattened the curve and have had a small fraction of the cases and deaths that we have endured.

Humans are quite good at reacting to an imminent threat -- a growling dog, a tornado, a man with a gun -- but we are abysmal at slower moving cataclysms like this viral pandemic, which took only a few months to encircle the globe. Being led by a president who reacts with uninformed gut-level hunches and self-serving attacks on anyone he perceives to be hostile, instead of relying on relevant experts, is an ongoing disaster for this country. Every president faces a crisis sooner or later. Trump was lucky for three years, but now the test has come. He has failed miserably.

Of course, there is an even larger and slower moving catastrophe on the horizon. Actually it's here now, but the changes are episodic and can be hard to attribute. None the less, wildfires, floods, heatwaves, droughts, the strength of hurricanes, and crop failures have all increased because our planet has warmed. Species are disappearing. Climatologists, other scientists, and informed citizens understand the reason this is happening, and they understand the urgent need for action if we are to leave our children a livable planet.

Scientists understood the pandemic threat; we've seen this movie before, and it will come around again with a few new details. Perhaps, with forward looking leadership, we'll be more prepared next time and respond in an effective and timely way. But on climate, too many politicians -- those who have the power to act in a meaningful way -- continue to ignore the scientists. If we don't act very soon, this disaster movie won't have a sequel.

JAMES W. CRISSMAN

Midland
AGOURA HILLS, Calif., April 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- American Homes 4 Rent (NYSE: AMH) (the "Company" or "AMH"), a leading provider of high-quality single-family homes for rent, today announced that its 2020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the "2020 Annual Meeting") will change to a virtual-only format and that it will not hold an in-person meeting. The Company's 2020 Annual Meeting will take place at 9 a.m. Pacific Time on May 7, 2020, the same date and time as originally scheduled.

The change is intended to help protect the health and safety of its employees, shareholders and communities in light of the public health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and state and local government recommended and required limits on public gatherings. The Company intends to return to an in-person annual meeting next year.

The virtual meeting has been designed to provide the same rights to participate as shareholders would have at an in-person meeting. Shareholders who attend the virtual 2020 Annual Meeting and have not already voted by mail, telephone or internet, or who wish to change their vote, will be able to vote at the virtual 2020 Annual Meeting using the online meeting website. In addition, shareholders will have the opportunity to submit questions electronically during the meeting.

Instructions for Registering to Attend the Annual Meeting

As a result of the change, shareholders who plan to attend the 2020 Annual Meeting must register by following the instructions below.

Record Date : Only holders of the Company's common shares at the close of business on March 9, 2020, the record date for the annual meeting, are entitled to join the live virtual meeting.

Registered Shareholders : Shareholders who hold common shares of the Company registered in their name with our transfer agent, American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, can attend the virtual 2020 Annual Meeting by visiting www.CESVote.com. Shareholders will then be instructed to enter the control number each registered shareholder received on their Proxy Card and click on the "Click here to pre-register for the online meeting" link at the top of the voting page. After pre-registering, registered shareholders will receive an e-mail prior to the meeting with a link and instructions for entering the virtual meeting.

Beneficial Shareholders: Beneficial shareholders (those holding shares through a stock brokerage account or by bank or other nominee) who plan to attend the virtual 2020 Annual Meeting must obtain a legal proxy by contacting their account representative at the bank, broker, or other nominee that holds their shares and e-mail a copy of their legal proxy to "[email protected]." Beneficial shareholders who e-mail a valid legal proxy will be registered for the meeting and issued a control number that will allow them to attend and participate in the online-only meeting. They will also receive an e-mail prior to the meeting with a link and instructions for entering the virtual meeting.

Any shareholder who plans to attend the virtual 2020 Annual Meeting must register for the meeting by 9:00 a.m. EDT on May 5, 2020. An email with a link and instructions for entering the meeting will be sent prior to the meeting to any shareholder who pre-registers. Any shareholder who needs assistance obtaining a legal proxy, registering for the virtual meeting or voting may contact the Company's proxy solicitor, D.F. King & Co., Inc. toll-free at (877) 283-0321 or at [email protected].

There is no change to the items of business to be addressed at the meeting, which are described in the Company's proxy materials previously distributed and also available at: www.ah4r.com/ForInvestors/AnnualMeetingDocs2020.

Whether or not shareholders plan to participate in the virtual-only annual meeting, AMH urges shareholders to submit their vote in advance of the meeting by one of the methods described in the previously distributed proxy materials.

About American Homes 4 Rent

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By Scott DiSavino NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil prices rose on Friday but still posted a weekly loss, the eighth in nine weeks, as global production cuts could not keep pace with the collapse in demand caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Crude futures rebounded late in the day after U.S. rig count figures showed producers aggressively pulling back on drilling

By Scott DiSavino

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil prices rose on Friday but still posted a weekly loss, the eighth in nine weeks, as global production cuts could not keep pace with the collapse in demand caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Crude futures rebounded late in the day after U.S. rig count figures showed producers aggressively pulling back on drilling.

Brent futures rose 11 cents, or 0.5%, to settle at $21.44 a barrel, while U.S. WTI crude rose 44 cents, or 2.7%, to settle at $16.94. Oil marked the third straight week of losses, with Brent ending down 24% and U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) off around 7%.

Oil trading has been extremely volatile. U.S. prices fell into negative territory on Monday for the first time ever and international benchmark Brent sank to two-decade lows. Investors have sold oil aggressively since early March as demand collapsed 30% due to the pandemic.

Global oil traders expect demand to fall short of supply for months due to the economic disruption caused by the pandemic. Producers may not be slashing output quickly or deeply enough to buoy prices.

"The efforts to curtail supply just struggle to even come close to matching coronavirus demand destruction," John Kilduff, partner at hedge fund Again Capital LLC in New York, said.

After trading near unchanged for most of the day, the benchmarks rebounded in the afternoon after energy services firm Baker Hughes Co said producers in April cut the number of active U.S. rigs by the most in a month since 2015. In Canada, drillers slashed the number of oil and natural gas rigs to a record low.

"The rig count was another stunner. These are meaningful cuts and they have come at a rapid pace," Kilduff said.

Storage is quickly filling worldwide, which could necessitate more production cuts, even after the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies including Russia agreed this month to cut output by 9.7 million bpd. The global economy may post a record contraction this year.

"Despite the measures taken by OPEC, oil producers in various countries should be aware that they may be called to take more drastic measures," Diamantino Azevedo, Angola's resources and petroleum minister, told state news agency ANGOP on Friday. Angola is a member of OPEC.

Russia plans to halve oil exports from its Baltic and Black Sea ports in May, according to the first loading schedule for crude shipments since it agreed to cut output.

Still, onshore oil storage is currently filled to nearly 85% capacity, according to energy research firm Kpler.

(Additional reporting by Ahmad Ghaddar in London and Aaron Sheldrick in Tokyo; Editing by Marguerita Choy, Barbara Lewis and Richard Chang)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-25 16:57:07|Editor: huaxia

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YANGON, April 25 (Xinhua) -- Three jade scavengers were killed with one other injured in a landslide in Myanmar's Kachin state, according to a release from the Home Affairs Ministry on Saturday.

The landslide took place due to a collapse of 12.19-meter high spoil tip at an unused mining site in Mohnyin township late Thursday.

The incident killed three jade scavengers on the spot and left minor injuries to the rest one.

Further investigation into the incident is being carried out, the ministry's release said.

Deadly landslides are frequent in Kachin state, known as land of jade, especially in Hpakant mining region.

Many local people make their living by jade scavenging in the region and most of the landslides are caused by the partial collapse of tailings heaps and dams. Enditem
Toyota Lanka assists Sri Lanka with a donation of vehicles worth Rs. 20 mln View(s):

Toyota Lanka (Pvt) Ltd, the sole authorized distributor of Toyota and HINO vehicles, services and spare parts in Sri Lanka, this week extended their assistance to Sri Lankas fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, by way of a donation of two vehicles worth Rs 20 million.

The donation of two units of Toyota Coaster buses took place at the Presidential Secretariat Office under the patronage of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Minister of Health Pavithra Wanniarachchi, Secretary to the President Dr. P.B Jayasundara, Principal Advisor to the President Lalith Weeratunga, Chairman of the State Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Corporation (SPMC) Dr. Uthpala Indrawansa, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Toyota Lanka Manohara Atukorala, General Manager Sales Udaya Francis and Senior Head Service Operations, Nihal Palliyaguruge.

Speaking on the donation, Mr. Atukorala said, Toyota Lanka wishes to extend our profuse appreciation for timely measures taken by the Government of Sri Lanka to safeguard public life, health and safety against the COVID-19 pandemic. To this effect, we are extremely grateful for the situational leadership demonstrated by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa alongside government authorities, including the Ministry of Health. This donation therefore is Toyotas way of not only assisting the fight against the pandemic but also appreciating the efforts put in by the frontline health sector staff, tri-forces and Police.

A company media release said the buses were accepted by the Health Ministry, of which one unit will be utilized for special projects undertaken by the Medical Research Institute, for the purpose of transportation of research, test kits, staff and other essential medical equipment including for epidemic control, while the other unit for the Government Medical Officers Association will be used for health promotion projects with regards to communicable and non-communicable disease prevention in Sri Lanka.

Toyota Lanka also said it will continue to monitor the situation in the country and render any further assistance while also adhering to local regulations like the work-from-home precautionary measures etc.
Muslim advocacy group CAIR urges US authorities to investigate possible bias motive due to suspicious timing of blaze.

US authorities have said they are investigating a fire that badly damaged an Islamic centre in Missouri on the first day of Ramadan.

The FBI is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of anyone connected to the fire which broke out on Friday, coinciding with the start of a holy month for Muslims.

Richard Quinn, the special agent in charge of the St Louis Division, announced the reward on Friday, hours after the fire broke out early that morning at the Islamic Center of Cape Girardeau, located about 185km (115 miles) south of St Louis.

Twelve to 15 people were evacuated and escaped injury. Fire Chief Travis Hollis said the damage to the building was extensive.

According to Norman Baker, a Cape Girardeau Fire Department battalion chief, a man was captured on a security camera engaging in suspicious activity shortly before the fire began at about 5am, the New York Times reported.

The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the state fire marshal are also investigating the fire.

[Missouri Division of Fire Safety] is part of a joint local-state-federal probe of this suspicious fire in Cape Girardeau, Missouri Governor Mike Parson wrote in a tweet on Friday.

In Missouri, we wont tolerate an attack on any house of worship. This was a cowardly act.

.@MoFireMarshal is part of joint local-state-federal probe of this suspicious fire in Cape Girardeau. In Missouri, we won't tolerate an attack on any house of worship. This was a cowardly act.https://t.co/5TS7DLvL6R  Governor Mike Parson (@GovParsonMO) April 24, 2020

According to Sergeant Joey Hann with the Cape Girardeau Police Department, the team is investigating it as a potential case of arson, local broadcaster KFVS reported on Friday.

The Missouri chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), a Muslim advocacy group, said the fire began at the front door of the building.

CAIR noted the suspicious timing of the blaze as Thursday night was the beginning of Ramadan, a holy month during which Muslims fast and pray.

Because the fire was deemed suspicious, and because it occurred at a house of worship on a significant religious date, we urge law enforcement authorities to investigate a possible bias motive for the blaze, CAIRs national communications director, Ibrahim Hooper, said in a statement.

CAIR said the mosque suffered significant damage to the front entrance and on the second floor.

According to Hann, a man had made threats against the centre about two years ago, prompting the department to assign an officer outside, the New York Times reported.
Federal officials reported 28 confirmed cases of the coronavirus at immigration detention centers in Arizona.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement reported 18 cases of the coronavirus among detainees at La Palma Correctional Facility in Eloy and 10 cases at the Florence Detention Center, according to statistics released Friday. ICE reported the first case among detainees in Arizona on April 1.

Across the country, ICE reported 317 cases among immigration detainees at 29 detention centers, up from 124 cases a week earlier. The first case was reported at a detention center in New Jersey on March 24.

An ICE employee at the Florence Detention Center tested positive for COVID-19, one of 35 ICE employees at detention centers nationwide who tested positive.

Another 89 ICE employees, who are not assigned to detention centers, tested positive. ICE did not say where they work.
Google Hangout is also free, but only 25 people can join a video call. You can upgrade to the basic plan, which allows for up to 250 participants per call (which you can access using a 14-day free trial).

Facebooks livestream function is free and does not limit the number of participants and allows for up to eight hours of livestreaming. Skypes group video option is free, but it only allows for up to 50 people. Apples Group FaceTime is also free, and allows up to 32 people, but guests must have an Apple device (an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch) to join.

Depending on the service you use, you may be able to preserve the video on the platform or on YouTube  enabling you and your guests to watch it in the future at any time.

Work Out the Logistics

Theres a lot that goes into livestreaming a wedding, said Caroline Creidenberg, the founder and chief executive of Wedfuly, a Denver-based online wedding planning company. Its not as simple as pressing a button and letting the camera roll.

Jolie Behrns-Vitale, 35, and Brad Kelly, 36, who livestreamed a wedding ceremony at their home in Detroit, invited guests to join their celebration via livestream using the Joy app. They married March 28 after canceling their wedding, which was scheduled for the same date, at an art gallery in the city. The couple encountered technical issues during their livestream. Zoom has a 40-minute timeout when you use the free version, so we did the first half of our wedding ceremony and right when I was about to say my vows everyone got kicked off, said Ms. Behrns-Vitale, a data analytics director at a retail company. We were able to get everyone back on fairly quickly, but it wasnt the smoothest transition.

To avoid technology hiccups, Ms. Creidenberg suggests couples ask someone to manage their livestream and oversee tasks such as muting guests while the couple exchanges vows. We run a rehearsal the morning of or the day before the ceremony so that couples can make sure their camera is set up properly and the audio is working correctly, she said.
Kabul, April 25 : Zalmay Khalilzad, the US special representative for Afghanistan reconciliation, on Saturday welcomed NATOs statement focused on "key next steps" for peace and stability in Afghanistan, including a humanitarian ceasefire amid the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.

NATO "urged the Taliban to reduce violence, called on the Afghan govt to end the political crisis, and said all sides should move more quickly on prisoner releases", TOLO News quoted Khalilzad as saying.

"How urgently and with what conviction the sides respond to these steps will determine whether Afghanistan moves forward or remains mired in war, poverty, and disease," said the US envoy.

"The US-Taliban agreement provides a historic opportunity for Afghanistan," Ambassador Khalilzad said, "and our allies, indeed the international community, call on Afghan leaders to put their country and their people first".

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation also renewed its appeal to "all Afghan leaders and parties to urgently reduce violence and work for lasting ceasefire" .

This comes amid increasing violence by the Taliban in different parts of the country.

Figures revealed to TOLO News by security officials and government sources said that 98 members of the Afghan security forces lost their lives in Taliban attacks in 14 provinces from April 18 to April 24.

At least 70 others have been wounded and more than 10 security force members are missing, according to the sources.

Analysts have said that the increase in violence is a result of uncertainty and delays in the peace process as well as the arrival of the spring fighting season.
NYC Man Uses Drone to Ask Woman Out on a Date Amid the CCP Virus Lockdown




Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra has spoken on the protest by some indigenes of Ogun State against the lockdown measure.

Recall that some artisans marched to the palace of the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, claiming that they are hungry and tired of the lockdown.

Kanu in his reaction on Friday to the protest stated that the cabal ruling Nigeria has continued to ignore the rising hunger/hardships, even though the COVID-19 lockdown is necessary.

The IPOB leader in a post on his Twitter account noted that the protest by the people of Ogun State is an indication that Nigerians are against the lockdown.

As necessary as the #COVIDLockdown is, the INSENSITIVE Cabal ruling Nigeria continues to ignore the rising hunger/hardships. The masses of Ogun State taking to the streets is indicative of a nationwide angst against a union that has outlived its usefulness.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-25 19:56:34|Editor: huaxia

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NAIROBI, April 25 (Xinhua)--There is need for African governments and partners to inject fresh impetus in efforts to eradicate malaria in the continent despite competing priorities occasioned by COVID-19 pandemic, experts said on Saturday during the World Malaria Day.

Joy Phumaphi, the executive secretary, African Leaders Malaria Alliance, said that channeling equal attention to malaria and COVID-19 disease, is key to preventing a public health crisis in Africa and save lives.

"The fight against malaria is now more critical than ever. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the routine prevention, early detection and treatment of malaria is seriously threatened," Phumaphi told Xinhua in an interview.

She said that African governments should ensure that anti-malaria programs are funded adequately despite the overwhelming urgency to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic.

Phumaphi cited a World Health Organization (WHO) study which indicates that slackening on the malaria fight could lead to a spike in mortalities while exerting burden on fragile health care systems in Africa.

"The double burden of malaria morbidity and mortality,as well as COVID- 19 morbidity and mortality on countries would be insurmountable," said Phumaphi.

The only way to avoid this double tragedy for the continent, is to make sure that the vector control interventions that will prevent the spread of malaria are carried out without interruptions," she added.

Sub-Saharan African region accounts for some 90 percent of global malaria burden while governments have invested in targeted interventions like distribution of insecticide-treated nets, vaccines and life-saving drugs to hasten progress toward eliminating the vector-borne disease.

Phumaphi said that enhanced surveillance, diagnosis, case management, research and capacity development is key to winning the war against malaria in Africa.

She said that robust public-private partnerships are required to revitalize the anti-malaria war in Africa even as the continent grapples with emerging public health challenges.

Abdourahmane Diallo, chief executive officer, RBM Partnership to End Malaria, said that African countries should roll out robust anti-malaria mitigation measures with speed to prevent a public health crisis that could be worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We have a precious window in which to act before the arrival of peak malaria season in many parts of Africa and the further spread of COVID-19 across the continent," said Diallo.

Countries must continue, safely, the distribution of long-lasting insecticide-treated nets, indoor spraying campaigns, and other preventive measures for pregnant women and children, focusing on reaching those at highest risk," he added.

Yacine Djibo, founder and executive director, Speak Up Africa, said that malaria-endemic countries should ensure that life-saving interventions are resilient enough to withstand disruptions occasioned by COVID-19 pandemic.

"Country leaders must act now, as those that fail to sustain malaria control efforts ahead of the rainy season risk reversing decades' worth of investment and progress against this disease," said Djibo. Enditem
Seniors isolating across California amid the coronavirus pandemic can soon access new state programs designed to combat loneliness.

The state has partnered with mutliple agencies to launch the Social Bridging Project and expand the Friendship Line to help support Californias older population during the indefinite statewide shelter in place order, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Friday. More than 1.2 million Californians who are older than 65 live alone.

Another initiative will connect community restaurants to older adults by enlisting them to deliver meals to people at home.

The most important way for older Californians to stay safe is to stay at home, Newsom said. These programs will provide older, vulnerable Californians with access to nutritious meals in the safety of their homes and the opportunity to connect with someone who can listen to their concerns and make sure their needs are met. We are all in this together and we will continue to support older Californians who are more at risk during this public health emergency.

The Social Bridging Project will mobilize more than 1,000 people to give seniors a phone call. Callers will check in on the persons well-being, connecting them to resources if needed or offering a friendly voice and personal connection.

The program is a joint effort of Listos California, the California Department of Aging, United Airlines, Community Emergency Response Teams and Sacramento State University.

In addition, Friendship Line California is expanding to support lonely, isolated older residents. People struggling with loneliness, isolation and anxiety can call the toll-free number, 1-888-670-1360, to receive emotional support.

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 states aging department and Institute on Aging are supporting the phone line.

The state previously launced a campaign urging people to check on their older neighbors with a text, call or physically-distanced knock on the door.

Anna Bauman is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: anna.bauman@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @abauman2
Boris Johnson will return to work on Monday and take charge of the U.K.s handling of the pandemic, a month after he was struck down by the coronavirus.

The government has been without a leader since the prime minister was admitted to the hospital on April 5.

Since being released hes been slowly easing his way back, holding daily video calls with Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab and his Downing Street team, and speaking to his key medical advisers Chris Whitty and Patrick Vallance.

The PM has been doing all the right things and following his doctors advice to come back to work, a Downing Street official said. He is raring to go.

Johnsons return comes at another critical juncture for the government, which has found itself on the defensive since the Covid-19 crisis began. The countrys death toll, from hospitals only, has topped 20,000, the fifth highest in the world, and business has slowed to a crawl.

Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey, in an editorial to the mass-circulation Sun newspaper on Saturday, sought to explain how the central bank was supporting the economy.

Theres some evidence that Johnsons experience in St. Thomas Hospital -- he was admitted to the intensive care unit, and credited the staff there with saving his life -- has made him less gung-ho in his attitude to the virus.

When some European countries were beginning lockdown procedures in mid-March, Johnson said at the time that such a reaction was unnecessary.

Fast forward a few weeks, and hes said to be particularly cautious about whether lifting social-distancing measures would risk a second wave of the virus at a time daily cases have leveled off and deaths have started to decline.

According to the Telegraph newspaper, travelers arriving in Britain will be placed in quarantine for up to two weeks under a plan being overseen by Home Secretary Priti Patel.
A broker member of MCX, countrys largest exchange for commodity derivatives, moved the Delhi high court against the manner in which the April crude oil contract was settled by the bourse.

Prrsaar Commodities (P) Ltd moved the court in the interest of its investors against MCX challenging the negative Settlement price for crude oil for the Trades expired on April 20.

MCX, which initially announced a provisional settlement price of Re 1 for its contract that ended on April 20, later calculated a price of minus 2,884 per barrel, exposing brokers to a potential loss of 435 crore.

Mukesh Goyal, Advocate counsel for Prrsaar Commodities, has informed that a petition in the matter is likely to be listed on April 29.

Goyal has further said that settlement of trades in negative trajectory is unjust enrichment of one segment at the cost of another.

Crude oil contracts on MCX reflect prices on the New York Mercantile Exchange (Nymex) and since Indian commodity markets closed for trading at 5pm on Monday, local traders were unable to exit their positions, while US prices plunged to minus $37.63 later in the night.

He also said that MCX is unjustified in fixing the settlement price at a rate after the close of trading session.

Even the Software of MCX itself does permit negative bidding, he added.

The lawyer further said that SEBI, the market regulator, failed to intervene.
Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping visits Huoshenshan Hospital in Wuhan, the epicenter of the CCP virus outbreak, Hubei Province, China, on March 10, 2020. (Xie Huanchi/Xinhua via Reuters)

Amid Challenges to His Authority, Xi Appeals for Loyalty

News analysis

Chinese leader Xi Jinping, whose authority has been badly dented due to his regimes mishandling of the coronavirus outbreak, has urged Chinese Communist Party (CCP) officials to remain loyal to his leadership.

During a four-day trip to the northwest province of Shaanxi, Xi called for the revival of Maoist-style absolute obedience to the CCP, and warned officials against disregarding Beijings orders.

The trip took place amid an ongoing crackdown on Xis critics and suspected opponents inside the party, including top officials in the security establishment.

The regimes disastrous handling of the CCP virus outbreak has weakened Xis position within the party and may have emboldened his potential rivals.

Follow the Party

On April 20, Xi visited a national reserve in the Qinling Mountains to stress the importance of ecological preservation, but his true intention was unmistakably political.

The area was at the center of a corruption scandal that engulfed Shaanxis provincial leadership in 2018 when several senior officials were disciplined for repeatedly ignoring Xis directives demanding a full investigation into hundreds of villas illegally built on scenic spots.

Shaanxi must learn lessons from this case, Xi said on Monday, urging officials to take note of what the central Party leadership cares about and emphasizes.

Clearly unimpressed with the current crop of CCP apparatchiks, Xi reserved his praise for the older generation.

Visiting the campus of Xian Jiaotong University (XJTU) on April 22, he praised university staff who followed the Partys order in the 1950s and moved from metropolitan Shanghai to the remote northwest.

Jiaotong University was previously based in Shanghai, but the Mao regime moved most of its staff and equipment to Xian to support Soviet-sponsored industrial projects in the region.

The essence of the westward relocation spirit, according to Xi, is to listen to the Partys instructions and follow the Party.

What he failed to mention was the fact that many Jiaotong University staff members who opposed the relocation were labeled as rightists and endured over two decades of persecution as a result.

Partly due to his willingness to listen to dissent over the move, XJTUs first president, Peng Kang, was purged as an anti-Party element and beaten to death during the Cultural Revolution.

Virus Deepens Rift

At a time when Xi comes under intense pressure from within the Party for his handling of the coronavirus outbreak, his demand for loyalty is not only issued verbally, but also enforced with an iron hand.

Property tycoon Ren Zhiqiang, an outspoken CCP princeling, was put under investigation on April 7 after he criticized Xi for mishandling the crisis.

On April 19, just one day before Xi began his Shaanxi tour, Sun Lijun, a vice minister within the Ministry of Public Security, was officially put under investigation. According to the ministry, Suns fate was an inevitable result of not only his disregard for party rules but also his lack of respect and awe, a euphemism for disloyalty toward Xi.

A day later, it was reported that Fu Zhenghua, Chinas minister of justice, had stepped down as his ministrys deputy Party chief, a clear indication that he is facing imminent sacking or even investigation.

Both Sun and Fu previously served as leaders of the 610 Office, a Gestapo-style body set up by former CCP chief Jiang Zemin to persecute the Falun Gong spiritual movement.

The latest developments, analysts say, may signal another round of purge in the CCPs security establishment, which has close links to Jiangs faction, widely known as the Shanghai gang.

Speculation has been circulating in the Beijing rumor mill that Meng Jianzhu, the CCPs former security chief and Politburo member who retired in 2017, may also get implicated. Sun previously served as Mengs secretary.

Beijing has been claiming that the pandemic calls for international solidarity. But as Xis appeal for loyalty and his purge of suspected opponents suggest, the COVID-19 crisis may have split his own Party even further.
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Linkedin James Gomez and Robin Ramcharan (The Jakarta Post) Bangkok  Sat, April 25, 2020 10:40 627 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd42a931 3 Opinion omnibus-bill,democracy,civil-rights,civil-society,labor-issues,rally,social-distancing,large-scale-social-restrictions,PSBB,COVID-19,pandemic Free

Limitations on movement, on assembly, on public gatherings and on free speech have severely curtailed the operations of frontline civil society organizations. Funding for democracy and human rights issues has also been affected as donors halt disbursement of activity funds and channel resources towards combating COVID-19.

Restrictions on public gatherings puts civil society organizations (CSOs) at a major disadvantage. Their work to push back on authoritarianism and demand rights protection depends on being able to organize events, to engage in public advocacy, to meet with like-minded groups, to lobby public officials and to organize cross-border meetings.

With the movement restrictions, civil society activities have become near impossible to carry out, except for through internet audio and video calls and via social media engagement. Hence, coordination meetings, seminars and advocacy calls have been through the internet.

COVID-19 has effectively curtailed freedom of assembly.

In Indonesia, further protests and strikes across the country that were pledged by the unions in response to a new job bill fizzled out as COVID-19 infections and restrictions set in. Without no possibility for a public push back, the government is preparing to pass the Omnibus law that will relax labor regulations which may affect local jobs in Indonesia

In Malaysia, protests against the back-door government appointed in March 2020, that were planned by elections watch NGO, Bersih were halted as the Movement Control Order was announced on 18 March 2020 now extended for the third time until May 12, 2020.

In Thailand, nation-wide youth protests on university campuses against the judicial harassment and consequent disbandment of the reformist opposition Future Forward Party was effectively silenced by the Emergency Decree of March 26, 2020. Additionally, a curfew from 10 pm to 4 am was announced on April 3 to last until April 30, 2020.

COVID-19 has impacted freedom of expression.

In late March 2020, the Acting Director of Cambodian human rights group LICADHO, was threatened over his criticisms of the governments handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Prime Minister Hun Sen threatened to have the activist arrested for being complicit in illegal acts in Cambodia.

In the Philippines, individuals can be jailed for spreading false information about COVID-19. President Duterte suggested in April 2020 police might shoot people who break quarantine terms. The next day an elderly man was shot, allegedly for complaining about lack of food and help and allegedly for threatening police.

The same is true in Myanmar, where, at the behest of Buddhist ultranationalists, several people were arrested for COVID-19 street art. Websites of news organizations were blocked as telecoms operator, Telnor, cited COVID-19 as a reason for doing so. Over 221, websites were blocked in March 2020.

In Vietnam, some 300 people have faced fines for posting Facebook comments on COVID-19. Meanwhile, the authorities slowed traffic to it for 7 weeks, from mid-February to early April 2020 until Facebook agreed to block access to anti-government content to users in Vietnam.

COVID-19 has affected funding for democracy and human rights.

Frontline civil society organizations that depend on grants and social enterprise activities to generate resources face serious financial constraints. Donors are re-purposing their grants or allocating their funds to technical, medical and clinical research entities that fight the COVID-19 directly.

Staff cuts are imminent as the funding dries up, which will negatively impact operations and capacity to

recover post-crisis. Existing projects are delayed and scheduled payments for ongoing projects have been halted. In addition, pledged funds are being withdrawn, delayed or repurposed.

Civil society organizations operating as self-funded social enterprises are having their income affected due to restrictions on business operations. In the meantime, overhead costs - rentals, communications costs, rentals, salaries and utilities - continue unabated.

COVID-19 has confined civil society to the online space.

Civil societys online transition is no panacea for democracy and human rights advocacy as the health crisis is expected to last for some time. The movement restrictions add to the shrinking civic space in Southeast Asia. A phenomenon civil society has been experiencing in recent years as governments pass laws to control the registration, activities and funding of civil society organizations.

Fighting the COVID-19 pandemic requires a civil society that is able to pressure governments to observe democracy and human rights. A diminished civic space relegated to the online realm reduces the effectiveness of civil societys contribution on this front.

Otherwise, the situation will evolve into one like Singapore, where activists who advocate within boundaries and avoid sanctions are the ones affirmed by the government. However, thats not what activists who push back want.

Recapturing civic space, post-COVID-19, needs to be of deep concern.

***

James Gomez and Robin Ramcharan are directors of the Bangkok-based Asia Centre - a not-for-profit-organization that seeks to create social impact in the region. The Centre is presently investigating COVID-19s impact on democracy and human rights in Southeast Asia.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post.
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Police Commissioner Mick Fuller has "personally reviewed" and cancelled 32 of almost 1000 infringement notices issued across the state since the public health provisions came into effect four weeks ago, with lawyers warning that many more may be annulled by the courts.

Since the public health order on March 31 to compel people in NSW to stay in their homes unless they have a "reasonable excuse", fines have been given to 991 people including a 17-year-old boy who said he was "bored" and visited a friend, a man who claimed driving was a form of exercise before allegedly telling the issuing officer "this $1000 fine won't hurt with my $15 million" and a man who allegedly told police he was out of the home to buy drugs.

In most cases, individuals are issued a $1000 fine, while businesses receive a $5000 infringement notice.

Police move people on at Coogee Beach on Saturday, when beaches were open for exercise between 6am and 9am. Credit:Cole Bennetts

Police say the review process is ongoing, and the commissioner has not yet assessed every fine but continues to work through them. At this stage, the 32 fines dismissed represent 3 per cent of the total.
On Wednesday, in a brief, vague video teaser, the immensely popular rap-adjacent superstar Post Malone announced that something called the Post Malone Nirvana Tribute Livestream would be happening on his YouTube channel on Friday evening.

Nirvana purists were skeptical. Sure, the 24-year-old born Austin Post has paid homage, or at least lip service, to the rock gods before, breaking through with a catchy smash called Rockstar and quickly becoming the go-to guitar-wielding 20-something representing his cohort in feel-good intergenerational awards show performances (with Red Hot Chili Peppers at last years Grammys; with Aerosmith at last years MTV Video Music Awards.)

On the other hand, Post Malone was born a year and a half after Kurt Cobain died, makes narcotically sing-songy tunes and writes lyrics about wearing Versace boxers and 50-carat rings on a superyacht. It was anyones guess what that guys cover of Heart-Shaped Box was going to sound like.

But as it turned out? Surprisingly faithful to the original.

From the moment a contagiously grinning Post Malone walked into the frame and picked from his fleet of guitars, it was clear that he was not merely one of those come-lately fans that Cobain dissed in In Bloom  the kind who like to sing along but dont know what it means  but a musician with a deep reverence for the Seattle trio and an intimate familiarity with its catalog. (He was also clad in a tent-like floral dress, just like the ones Cobain sometimes wore in concert  a tenderly observant detail.)

He and his band opened with a pummeling rendition of the In Utero album cut Frances Farmer Will Have Her Revenge on Seattle, featuring a refrain that, for any cynics, drew a clear line from Cobains sensibility to Post Malones emo-inflected hooks: I miss the comfort of being sad.

Plenty of the viewers who tuned into the stream  Post Malone incredulously announced at one point that 200,000 people were watching live  were themselves missing all sorts of comforts, like the experience of hearing live music at earsplitting, soul-cleansing volume. The event raised money for the World Health Organizations COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund; a button in the corner of the screen encouraged those watching to donate. (The set is available on YouTube; the banter between songs is peppered with spicy asides that make it less than family-friendly.)

But what made Post Malones livestream stand out amid the sudden glut of self-recorded quarantine content was, quite simply, how good it sounded, how closely it approximated that now-rare experience of seeing a rock band playing music in front of you really, really loudly. That it was a rock band that had run through these songs only probably two times before and was fronted by Post Malone turned out to be shockingly incidental. Rich and jagged, the guitar tones were just right. One got the sense, whether or not hed admit it, that In Utero engineer Steve Albini may have almost approved.

It certainly helped that Post Malone happened to have casually virtuosic Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker along with guitarist Nick Mack and multi-instrumentalist Brian Lee on hand in his sprawling Utah home. (Lee joined Post in wearing a flowery frock; Barker opted for a ripped T-shirt and Hooters booty shorts.) Performing in front of a well-stocked home bar, Post Malone played not just frontman but generous host, frequently checking in with his bandmates to see if anyone needed fresh beers.

They smoked cigarettes voraciously and traded goofy, inside-jokey non sequiturs (Whats the deal with Applebees right now? I love [expletive] Applebees.). The whole thing had the endearing air of band practice taking place in the wealthy frontmans finished basement, while somewhere above there hovered permissive parents who didnt much care what they did, just so long as they did it in the house.

Shout out to Courtney Love for watching, Post Malone said at one point, one of those sentences that would have scanned as a schism in the pop cultural universe two months ago but now feels like one of the more normal things to happen on a given day.

Across their 15-song set, Post Malone and his band played all but two of the tracks off Nirvanas landmark 1991 album Nevermind. That they skipped Smells Like Teen Spirit speaks again to the purity of the performances overall intention  not to pander to easily meme-able, least-common-denominator Nirvana nostalgia but rather to share with a captive audience (here we are now; entertain us) some tunes that he and his buddies just really love playing live.

The sets sole low point came when the tempo slowed, during a violin-assisted rendition of the solemn Nevermind closer Something in the Way; unlike Cobain and Co., Post has not yet perfected his MTV Unplugged vibe. But that brief departure only put the performances strengths  crushing volume, giddy reverence, cathartic shouts  into starker relief.

After a scorched rendition of Breed, Post Malone conceded that this might be the first performance of his on which hed used no Auto-Tune at all. It wasnt missed. Post has a strong rock voice  even more impressive and distinct than the artfully processed one heard on his own songs  and was able to toggle fluidly between the melodicism of Nirvanas quiet moments and the throaty torrents of its choruses. He took particular delight in the incendiary Stay Away, a song that means so much to him, he told viewers, that he got its title tattooed on his face.

Post Malone seemed genuinely moved twice during the set  once, when hed been told that a viewer had donated $65,000, and then when he found out that Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic was tweeting enthusiastically about the performance. (I dont think these fellows can play any better, Novoselic wrote. They are on fire!!!!)

Krist is watching! a beaming Post Malone informed his band just before they launched into In Bloom. Quipped Lee, to the camera, Im so sorry.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
Francois Clemmons, best known as Officer Clemmons on children's TV series 'Mister Rogers' Neighborhood', has said that TV star Fred Rogers told him to not come out as gay and to marry a woman because if he didn't, it would 'threaten his dream'.

Clemmons, 75, described Rogers as both 'my executioner and deliverer' in his upcoming memoir 'Officer Clemmons' as he recalled the late children's TV host telling him he could not be a 'member of the Neighborhood' if he was openly gay.

The performer said Rogers confronted him about his sexuality in his studio one day during filming for the show.

'Franc, you have talents and gifts that set you apart and above the crowd,' Clemmons said Rogers told him, according to People magazine.

Francois Clemmons (left), best known as Officer Clemmons on children's TV series 'Mister Rogers' Neighborhood', has said that TV star Fred Rogers (right) told him to not come out as gay and to marry a woman because if he didn't, it would 'threaten his dream'.

'Someone has informed us that you were seen at the local gay bar downtown. Now, I want you to know, Franc, that if you're gay, it doesn't matter to me at all. Whatever you say and do is fine with me, but if you're going to be on the show as an important member of the Neighborhood, you can't be out as gay.'

Clemmons told People magazine he broke down in tears at Rogers' reaction - who he had come to see as a father figure.

'I could have his friendship and fatherly love and relationship forever. But I could have the job only if I stayed in the closet,' said Clemmons.

'I was destroyed. The man who was killing me had also saved me. He was my executioner and deliverer,' said Clemmons.

'But, at the same time, I knew that he would know how to comfort me. I didn't have another mother or father to comfort me. I had no one to go and be a boy with. I was just vulnerable. He got in a few slaps, some tough love, a good spanking. But I was not kicked out of the family.'

Rogers then allegedly said: 'The world doesn't really want to know who you're sleeping with  especially if it's a man. You can have it all if you can keep that part out of the limelight.''

Clemmons and Rogers on 'Mister Rogers' Neighborhood'. Clemmons 75, described Rogers as both 'my executioner and deliverer' in his upcoming memoir

Rogers, who died in 2003, also allegedly told Clemens he should marry a woman

Clemmons memoir 'Officer Clemmons' is released on May 5

Rogers said Clemmons coming out as gay would 'threaten' his dreams for the show, Clemmons added.

'You must do this Francois because it threatens my dream,' Rogers reportedly said.

He also allegedly told Clemens he should marry a woman to keep up the disguise.

'By the time I left his office, I had made up my mind to marry La-Tanya Mae Sheridan,' Clemmons writes in his memoir.

'At the wedding reception, Fred and [his wife] Joanne approached me and my new wife. It felt as if Fred and I were sealing some kind of secret bargain.'

Clemmons divorced Sheridan in 1974 and begin living as an openly gay man.

He told People magazine he doesn't have any resentment toward his mentor Rogers.

'I relied on the fact that this was his dream. He had worked so hard for it. I knew 'Mister Rogers' Neighborhood' was his whole life,' he said.

Clemmons was a regular fixture on American TV for 25 years as Officer Clemmons on the popular children's show from 1968 to 1993.

The show stopped airing in 2001 and Rogers died two years later from stomach cancer.
Although Sri Lankan communities have different linguistic, cultural and religious entities, socially they all have close interaction with one another.





by Dr Rifai

Writing from London





This deadly coronavirus has united all Sri Lankan communities. It gives us great pleasure and happiness to see different Sri Lankan communities are sharing and caring in this difficult time. It is lovely to see Buddhist temples are distributing food parcels to all Sri Lankan communities without any discrimination. It is wonderful to see mosques distributing food parcels to all Sri Lankan communities without any social discrimination. Likewise, it is pleasing to see churches are distributing food parcels to all communities without any discrimination. It is also pleasant to see that Hundi temples are distributing food parcels to all Sri Lankan communities without any discrimination based on religion or caste. It is very much pleasing to see a young Buddhist monk venture to help many poor tea plantation Tamil families in upcountry areas of Sri Lanka. It is wonderful to see all Sri Lankans come together in this difficult time. Humanism has prevailed over our racial or religious differences in this critical time. Different faith groups and their leaders have come together to work as one community to address the challenges of this deadly virus.













Moreover, on the eve of Easter Sunday attack remembrance anniversary, many religious leaders from different faith groups came forward to condemn the brutal Easter Sunday attack on some Sri Lankan churches by some fanatic Muslim radicals. We are very much pleased to see Sri Lankan brotherhood and the national identity among all communities are blossoming in the air in Sri Lankan soil. Many religious leaders are working hard to build a strong unity among all Sri Lankan community. They all acknowledge there is no place for hatred and animosity in this modern world. Although, some media outlets and politicians are trying to sabotage this good initiative by interfaith groups, yet, people are supporting these good initiatives by religious leaders and interfaith groups.





Sri Lanka is one of rare countries that has been blessed with multicultural and multi-religious communities in the world. This diversity in culture, faith and tradition beautifies our cultural heritage. Moreover, it enhances our regional and international relationships with many countries in the world. This diversity gives us more advantages and benefits culturally, politically and economically. Having four different religions in our Island is like having four types of flowers in a bouquet. Each flower gives different fragrances and yet when all are combined in one place it creates more aromatic setting. Likewise, our difference and diversity are an asset for this nation and yet, we do not recognize this due to our ignorance and lack of knowledge in world religions. We should gauge our cultural diversity from these positive perspectives rather than evaluating from negative perspectives. We should recognize different of cultures and religions are complementary not contradictory. Yet, each religious group are competing one another rather than mutually cooperating. There should not be any attempt to convert people from one religion into another religion by force by any groups rather we should develop a sense of mutual understanding and cooperation between all 4 religious people to work for the integrity and the welfare of this nation.





We should see the cultural diversity as one of positive social phenomena. With the diversity in culture, religion and traditions we should build a strong Lankan identity. Look at Singapore or Malaysia. Different ethnic and religious groups live side by side without any problems and they managed to build up their national Identity. Singaporeans and Malaysians try to build their national identity beyond all their cultural or religious identity. Toady in major world cities like that of London or Washington hundreds of different ethnic and cultural groups live. This is the socio-economic reality of global village of our modern world. This socio-economic and communal interaction is unprecedented in human history. This is the reality today in our modern world and there is no other way to cope with this multicultural environment other than learn to live in peace and social harmony. There is no point in engaging in cross-cultural arguments and debate to widening the gap between communities. Please leave all those dogmatic and theological debates for experts and academics to discuss and debates. That is why we have some of the best universities and religious places in Sri Lanka. Let the experts in religious traditions discuss and debate all those differences in religion and culture. Do not bring those debates into public domains to confuse innocent people. To speak for religion or on behalf of any religion, the speakers must have some solid academic knowledge and religious training and yet, today in Sri Lanka anyone could speak for religion to spread misconception about any religion. This is unavoidable in this modern digital world. Anyone could pick up wrong information from Sheikh google or from any other unauthenticated sources of information. The Sri Lankan government has not yet introduced some strict laws on religious discrimination and hate speech. Outdated rules of law on religious freedom would not be enough today, it is high time that Sri Lankan government introduces some strict laws on this matter. Otherwise, it would be difficult to build a strong Sri Lankan national identity among Sri Lankan communities.





This coronavirus has taught us that humanity is one. It did not discriminate between royal and poor families; it did not discriminate between rich and poor. It did discriminate between Muslims and Buddhists. It did not discriminate between Muslims and Hindus. All human species suffer today due to this invisible virus. This deadly virus sends a powerful message to humanity. It tells us to share and care one another. It tells us to live as one human family on earth. If we do not do that, we could bring a self-destruction on us.





Security and peace are most important elements for the prosperity and development in our modern world. We do not have to be rocket scientists to know this elementary common sense in this modern world. Whoever sabotage peace and communal harmony should be punished in the greater national interest of Sri Lanka. I do not say this in any communal line rather I am saying this as a Sri Lankan. It could be a Muslim groups or Buddhist group or any other groups. It is not in the interest of Sri Lanka to promote radicalism or extremism. All kinds of extremisms are detrimental for the long-term stability and development of this nation. So, Sri Lankan government must take actions against all these radical groups. The Sri Lankan government has had experience of dealing with JVP and LTTE so, it should not hesitate to punish any radical group. Yet, the government must do this impartially.





Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims, Malays, Christians have been living peacefully in Sri Lanka for hundreds of years. There is no point in arguing who came first and who came last to Sri Lanka. Such arguments would not benefit Sri Lanka at all. It is an undisputable reality today there are more than four different religious groups live in Sri Lanka. Even before colonial powers invaded Srilanka, different ethnical & cultural ethnic groups were living in Sri Lanka in peace and harmony: All these communities are closely interacted one another in many ways: in their work places, industries, paddy fields, business places, offices and in other working environments. This is the reality of day to day life of our communities in Sri Lanaka: In all most all cities and townships, we see that all these communities live together side by side: Tamils live next to Sinhalese and Muslims , Sinhalese live to next Muslims and Tamils. Muslims live next to both communities: each community participate in each others social- cultural events such as wedding ceremonies, festivals, birthday parties, funerals and other social events: each community share their happiness and sadness one anther. In festival seasons, foods and sweets are exchanged between Sri Lankan communities. People in many other countries do not have such close-tied relationship between communities. Look at some African countries people are fighting hundreds of years on tribal and ethnic disputes: Thanks to God we do not fight like that in Sri Lanka. Fortunately, Sri Lanka does not have any caste-divide as we see in India or some other African countries.





Although Sri Lankan communities have different linguistic, cultural and religious entities, socially they all have close interaction with one another. Each community depends on others to meet necessities of day to day life. Muslims in large cities of Kalmunai and Kartharnkudi depend on Tamil builders and carpenters to build their houses and shops: In same way, Muslims in the South depend on Sinhalese builders & carpenters to build their houses: Likewise, Muslims traders depend on Sinhalese to trade their goods: I know many Muslim retailers go to village to village in Sinhalese areas to sell their goods: Similarly, many Sinhalese traders come to Muslims villages to sell their goods. In the same way, In Tamil areas Muslim lands are cultivated by Tamils and Tamils farmers are trading with Muslims. I recall these events to illustrate close social interaction of our communities in Sri Lanka. This is the social reality of our communities in Srilanka: To this extent communities are so closely interacted in Sri Lanka. This is one of the uniqueness of Sri Lanka inter-communal relationship. A Sense of humor, kindness, love and helping mentality is inherent in the mind and heart of majority of our Sri Lankan Communities. During the Tsunami, we have seen this unity and sense of humor and humanism. We have seen this feeling brotherhood many times in Sri Lankan history. Communities are ready to share and care in difficult times and yet, some politicians try to make use of divide and rule policy to make some political mileage. We should think first and foremost as human beings beyond our colour, ethnicity, language and religion. We may have different faith and different ethnic and linguistic back ground but one thing unites all of us that that is first and foremost we are human being and we all belong to human race and humanity and unfortunately we all forget to note this fundamental fact that unites us all. In addition to this we all hail from Sri Lanka and our Lankan identity should unite us all. No way could we live in a water-tight compartment in this modern world. Whether we like or not we all are depended on one another for our material needs today. Jaffna Tamil need Sinhalese in South to sell the agricultural products.





We do not appreciate the beauty and richness of our multi-ethnic and cultural heritage in Sri Lanka. Each community learns a lot from other communitys culture, custom, tradition and way of life: Having different ethnical and religious groups is not detrimental for social and economic development of any country in modern world: Each community should help and support socio-economic developments of the country: If we are true patriotic Sri Lankans , we all should first and foremost think as Sri Lankans, beyond our ethnic, cultural and linguistic entity: The national interest of Sri Lanka should be given preference over ethnical and cultural preference: in another word: We all should think first as Sri Lankan then we should consider our ethnicity and cultural entity: this does not mean that each community assimilate into one community rather each preserves its own religious identity and yet works for the goodness of Sri Lanka. Be a true Buddhist or be a true Hindu or be a true a Muslim at the same time we all think as Sri Lankans: We should be proud to be Sri Lankans: We should work hard to develop our country collectively. Unfortunately, since the independence all our Srilankan communities have been living in water-tight compartments: Each community gave preference to its ethnicity over the national interests: Sinhalese nationalism, Tamil nationalism and Muslim exclusionism began to flourish in Sri Lanka: Even political parties were formed merely on the basis of ethnic interests over national interest. Tamil, Muslim and Sinhalese political parties were formed exclusively to work on communal line: This trend has not only damaged national interest and development but indeed, such communal thinking has been a challenge for peace and harmony in Sri Lanka. Moreover, such exclusive mentality and social attitude is detrimental in many ways: Many times, such social attitudes end up in social prejudice and discrimination. I hope and pray that politicians, civil servants and policy makers think about this carefully when they make policies in this this cultural social environment of Sri Lanka.




Mrs. Thompson, here with her grandchildren, loved to dance the night away. Read more

People Weve Lost Rosemary Thompson

75 years old

Lived in Philadelphia

One of nine children, she relished her large Irish family More Memorials

Rosemary Thompson raised three children as a single mother.

She was the light in the family, said daughter Christine Rush. She had the toughest life, very tough, being the youngest, being a single parent. She worked multiple jobs her entire life to help us and keep a roof over our heads.

But she carried the weight and the energy to keep the family together and create opportunity for the family to get together. If you asked all the nieces and nephews who their favorite aunt was, it was Aunt Rose. She had this energy and light and brightness and love and generosity that were without description.

Mrs. Thompson, 75, who lived in Philadelphia and Bensalem, died Thursday, April 9, at Rushs home in Annandale, N.J., of complications from the coronavirus.

One of nine children, she graduated from St. Huberts High School. She loved being part of a large Irish family, her daughter said, and although some members moved to Illinois, Virginia, and Massachusetts, she relished everyone getting together at the weddings of her children, nieces, and nephews.

If there was music, Mrs. Thompson would dance.

And she got to dance.

She was that person. She never sat, Rush said. At an event  a wedding, a dinner, a get-together  if there was music, she was dancing. She was a phenomenal dancer. She taught me the jitterbug, and I was her partner growing up.

When you saw her, she didnt need anybody. She was up, and she was dancing, and she was celebrating. It just inspired people to get up and enjoy the moment, be thankful for the moment.

Later in life, Mrs. Thompson worked for the Bensalem School District as a school bus aide working with special-needs children. Then she contracted progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) and had to stop working. Ms. Rush said doctors told her PSP patients live only five to seven years with the disease, but her mother lived for more than 10.

In addition to her daughter, Mrs. Thompson is survived by daughter Kelly Clark and son Thomas; a sister; two brothers; and five grandchildren.

A memorial service is to be held later.

 Joe Juliano
By Akbar Mammadov

The annual report ofAzerbaijan's Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) was comprehensive and informative, and it analyzed all areas related to the provision and protection of human rights and freedoms in the country, MP Sevil Mikailova told Trend News Agency on April 24.

She also praised the Ombudsmans work with international organizations to build relations with these organizations.

"The protection of human rights in the country is comprehensive and satisfactory. However, the establishment and deepening of foreign relations is of exceptional importance".

She further noted that certain international organizations that systematically voice unfair and unreasonable claims against Azerbaijan turn a blind eye to a gross violation of all principles of international norms and the rights of more than one million Azerbaijanis who have been expelled from their homes as a result of the Armenian occupation.

It is in this context that the work carried out by the Office of the Ombudsman to convey the truth on an international plane is important," Mikayilova noted.

Sevil Mikailova further spoke about Ombudsmans proposal to set up Special Alimony Fund funded by the state.

This proposal had been heard before, and the fact that the Ombudsman returned to this issue, once again shows its importance. Of course, it is necessary to think about financial sources and working mechanisms, but the issue can be discussed. Such institution can serve as indispensable help in providing for children whose parents are unemployed.

This is consistent with the spirit and the social orientation of the policy, which is always carried out by the Azerbaijani government. Our society has always been and is sensitive to the family and children's issues. I think that the activities of such foundation can make a radical turn in solving a number of social problems," Mikayilova added.

---

Akbar Mammadov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AkbarMammadov97

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Michael Cogswell, who turned Louis Armstrongs trove of memorabilia into a scholarly archive and transformed the joyful trumpeters two-bedroom brick house in Queens into a popular museum, died on April 20 in Manhattan. He was 66.

His wife, Dale Van Dyke, said the cause was complications of bladder cancer.

When Armstrong died in 1971, he left behind 72 cartons packed with artifacts from his decades as probably the most celebrated figure in jazz. Inside the boxes were 650 reel-to-reel tape recordings of songs, ideas and conversations; at least 5,000 photographs; 86 scrapbooks; 240 acetate disks of live recordings that he made at home; five trumpets; and 14 mouthpieces.

Mr. Cogswell, a saxophonist whose masters thesis was on four solos played by the pioneering free-jazz saxophonist Ornette Coleman, knew little about Armstrong when he answered a newspaper ad in 1991 for the archivist job. But after spending three years cataloging the archive at Queens College  Armstrongs wife, Lucille, had bequeathed the house to the college  he had become a devoted Satchmo fan and expert.
Up to 800 bed nights have been lost in Sligo as a result of the cancellation of the 61st Yeat's International Summer School, but organisers say they made the tough decision as public safety is their number one priority.

Launched in 1960 by Yeatsian scholar Dr TR Henn, the school has lasted 60 years, however, with 'heavy hearts' organisers decided to cancel it due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

Dr Henn understood how transformative an experience it would be for students to immerse themselves in the exact place that inspired the Nobel poet Yeats, and for that reason, Director of the Yeats Society, Susan O'Keeffe says it would be impossible for the Summer School to go online like many other events, lectures and courses have.

To the director's knowledge there has never been a break in the School being run until now. Each year the Summer School would see up to 90 students and scholars visit Sligo for the most important dates in the year for Yeatsian scholars, those with an interest in his work and, those interested in dipping their toe into an immersive experience of his work.

Usually, seven events per day would be run throughout the nine day period.

"You're talking about the guts of 70 to 80 events across the nine days.

"You normally get 45 to 90 people coming for the whole school depending on the year and programme.

"We had a lot of American students who were booked and who were clearly going to be able to come, we guessed that by the end of March.

"And, because we opened up other events, events at night and weekend tickets, you would have the guts of another 200 to 300 people attending across various events."

Talking of the usual boost to the local economy on the back of the Summer School, Ms O'Keeffe explains just how difficult it was to cancel this year's School bearing in mind the impact on local businesses.

Susan explains that up to 60 students could stay for two weeks when attending, with lecturers staying on average three to four nights.

"You're talking about a substantial amount of bed nights. Even if it is the peak season, they have been relied on.

"It was very hard for us to write to our sponsorship partners, Milligan Court, the Glasshouse, The Sligo Park and having to pull the beds, we know they're having a hard time. It was really really hard to do that."

Going on further to explain the importance of the School on the local economy, Susan says many older students attending would tend to spend locally giving another boost to smaller businesses.

"They buy nice meals and they buy nice gifts to bring back," says the director, adding that many others in Sligo and beyond see the School as the 'pattern of their year'.

"We know we're part of the structure that supports businesses, every little helps, so for us not to be able to add our little bit, that's why it was with a heavy heart, but it just wasn't viable."

Not a decision taken lightly, the three branches involved in running the School consulted before reaching any decision, after the Yeats Society closed its office on March 13th last, following the Taoiseach's decision to close all third level instituitions the previous day.

Susan told The Sligo Champion that at that point she began to fear what was the inevitable. "I thought it is surely going to spread to America and by the end of March it became readily apparent".

After the Summer School directors met with Susan and it was discussed with the board, and the academic committee, the difficult decision was made.

While the School was never run to make money, as Ms O'Keeffe highlights, the School running this year would have given the Yeats Society an income to keep it afloat.

Since the announcement of the cancellation, Ms O'Keeffe says while people and businesses have been 'hugely disappointed' they have been incredibly understanding.

Asked if it was ever considered to postpone the School to a later date in the year, the director says while it was considered there was simply no other time it could be held with the same academics, lecturers and students available to attend.

"It's an immersive experience and that's what the founding group said about it, it was about being here, it is unlikely people will sign up for online lectures, if they're not here they're more than likely doing something else.

"The authentic experience is to be here, to immerse yourself in Sligo in the place that was special to him and his family, you cannot do that online."

Now, all involved are focusing on what can be done to make next year's School a success, but, also how to mark other events this year while adhering to HSE and Government guidelines.

Poetry Day Ireland will be marked on April 30th and the Yeats Society takes part by naming their new poet in residence.

For the last two years Alison Lyons has been the poet in residence. Alison and guest speaker, poet Elaine Feeney will be doing readings which will be live streamed from 7pm.

On Yeats Day, June 13th the Society still hopes there will be some surprises and that Mr Yeats can make an appearance.

"He's up quite high so he will be socially distancing from a height," adds the director.

Plans are also being made for some type of event to mark what would have been the opening of this year's Summer School on July 30th.

"If it has to be a digital event, so be it. By then we may be able to have a small event, even if it's every third chair or something, that we could have an audience, for that continuity, but we will be keeping an eye on all guidelines that are issued closer to that time."
COBLESKILL  If there is such a thing as a typical American town, this might be it.

I imagine Cobleskill feels familiar even to a first-time visitor, with its strip of chain stores to the east, its downtown of sturdy storefronts, its hillside neighborhoods that give way to farmland.

The state university campus is on the west side of town and, during normal times, the school's students give Cobleskill much of its energy, economic and otherwise. But we know these aren't normal times.

The coronavirus pandemic has shuttered SUNY-Cobleskill for the rest of the school year. To flatten the curve and protect the most vulnerable, the students have gone home. There will be no commencement this spring.

The towns Main Street is quiet now. The yoga studio, the hair salons and the other small shops are dark, often with signs in their windows explaining that, sorry, COVID-19 and orders from the governor made it so. We'll be open as soon as we can, they say.

The movie theater  one screen  is empty, with a marquee devoid of coming attractions. Some of the towns restaurants are trying to get by on take-out alone, while many others, including the Cobleskill Diner, are closed.

Its very depressing, said diner owner Denene McLaughlin. People are suffering.

The virus itself has yet to take hold here, with just 21 confirmed COVID-19 cases in all of Schoharie County as of Friday. Nevertheless, the pandemic is hitting Cobleskill and its 6,200 residents hard.

And given that the economy here, like in much of rural New York, was not strong before the pandemic, its easy to wonder what will be left when the coronavirus fades and quarantines end.

Residents say Cobleskill, which is about an hour west of Albany, benefits from two waves of outsiders: Students in the colder months, and tourists headed to nearby Howes Cavern, or even Cooperstown, 30 miles distant, in the summer.

The students are home. What if the pandemic keeps tourists and travelers away, too?

We rely on people from Boston and New York City and Canada who are driving through, said Roberta Brooks, who, with her husband, Jim, owns Catnap Books on Main Street. If people dont get out and about and travel, then we couldnt maintain paying our bills.

Cobleskill is easy to like, and visitors from those big cities might look around and start to imagine how their lives could be simpler and better here, the real estate cheaper and the pace slower. That big house is how much?!

A problem for such dreams has been the economy  more specifically, a lack of jobs for anyone who doesnt want to make the commute to Schenectady or Albany.

Arguably, Cobleskill is in better economic shape than many upstate towns, if only because of the university. Cobleskill has been fighting to come back from darker years, residents said, and seemed to be succeeding.

But its economic grip is tenuous. The poverty rate within the village is 25 percent  higher than in Albany  and the median household income, at $37,197 annually, according to the census, is well below that of the state and nation.

Honorably struggling is probably the way to put it, said Chris Guldner, when asked about Cobleskills economic fortunes.

Guldner owns the Bulls Head Inn, a restaurant and tavern in the center of town, next to the movie theater. The pandemic has forced him to completely remake the restaurant into a take-out joint, a transition he compared to repairing an airplane in flight.

Guldner worries about the health and economic impacts of the pandemic, certainly, but also about its social costs from forced isolation. His tavern had a crew of regulars, some who live alone, who came by for music, for conversation, for comfort.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

People tell me they miss the interaction, and you can tell its getting to them emotionally, he said. The single people who would sit and socialize at the bar, they no longer have that.

McLaughlin also talked about missing familiar faces. The diner was part of peoples routines, and its customers would ask each other: Hows your father and mother? How are you?

To a lot of people in this area, thats their excitement, McLaughlin said. Its, On Thursday nights we go to the diner and get chicken and biscuits together as a family. You look forward to that outing. Its like peace of mind.

Its obvious that the some of the chain stores on the east side of Cobleskill, closest to the highway exit, are thriving during the pandemic.

On a recent day, there were cars snaking toward the Burger King drive-through, the Walmart parking lot is jammed, but I was a lonely soul walking in the center of town. But maybe thats not unusual.

If you come through on a beautiful July day when there is no virus, the biggest crowds are still going to be at Walmart and Burger King, Brooks said. Thats just how this rural little town in this rural little county is.

Still, the pandemic is favoring the big over the small  and the online over the local. Its threatening to exacerbate trends toward consolidation and, well, bigness that have been underway for decades now.

I fear the pandemic could leave Cobleskill and towns like it with less of what gives them character. Cobleskill may keep the places you find anywhere but lose the places you find nowhere else.

The town, in other words, could lose part of its soul.

cchurchill@timesunion.com  518-454-5442  @chris_churchill
Good Morning, welcome to Information Nigerias Newspaper headlines for today, 25th April 2020.

Here are the major headlines.

Kyari Played Key Role In Return Of $300m Abacha Loot  US Govt

The United States government has revealed that the late chief of staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Abba Kyari played a prominent role in securing the release of Abachas $300m.

Dont MisJudge Yourself If You Contract Coronavirus As A Christian  TB Joshua

Founder of the Synagogue Church of All Nations, Prophet TB Joshua says Christians can be infected by the coronavirus adding that it is just like another affliction. This was in response to questions from different people on his Facebook page.

Adamawa Government Extends Lockdown By Two Weeks

Governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Fintiri has ordered a two weeks extension of the lockdown in the State to curb the spread of Coronavirus.

Sokoto Budgets N500M For Ramadan Feeding

Sokoto state governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal has announced that the state would spend N500m to feed the state Muslim faithful during the Ramadan period.

Kaduna Set Up Mobile Court To Try Violators Of Lockdown

The Kaduna State Government has set up mobile Courts to try violators of its lockdown order. Solicitor General Chris Umar disclosed this in a statement on Friday.

Buhari Urges Prayers As Ramadan Launches

President Muhammadu Buhari has urged Muslims to use the occasion of the Ramadan fast to move closer to God and pray for the healing of their lands.

Sanwo-Olu Commissions New Police Area J Command

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.

We Wont Lockdown Kebbi State  Governor Atiku Bagudu

The Governor of Kebbi State, Atiku Bagudu has announced that his government wont be ordering a lockdown in a State amidst the Coronavirus outbreak in the country.

ECOWAS Appoints Buhari As Coordinator Of COVID-19 Response in W.Africa

President Muhammadu Buhari has been appointed the coordinator of the COVID-19 response in West Africa.

Governor Buni Pardons 27 Inmates In Yobe State

As efforts to decongestant Correctional Centres across the country in a bid to curtail the spread of Coronavirus, Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni has approved the release of 27 inmates in the State.
Harri, an enterprise human capital management platform serving 20,000 restaurant and hotel locations that represent over 3 million hospitality employees, launches a COVID-19 Employee Health Check Platform, the first integrated response to efficiently survey an employees health symptoms before entering the restaurant and starting their shift. With the health and safety of team members, customers, and the community at large a top priority, the process to support that responsibility requires a robust and transparent digital solution.

Using Harri Live, the core operations mobile app for Harris HCM suite, managers can gather an employees health symptoms, prior to starting their shift, by following a pre-built COVID-19 health questionnaire and logging an employees temperature. Based on the answers supplied and the employees temperature reading, the system will alert the manager to whether the employee passed or failed the health check.

Records of completed health checks are easily reportable for the business to view and print in real-time. Upon completion of the health check, a business can print the results of the collective health checks and post them prominently at the entry to the restaurant or include with a delivery order. Transparency and accountability are key outcomes of the process.

Ensuring that employees know they are safe, within the flow of work, is of the utmost importance. Simultaneously, its critical for customers to know and trust that their restaurant of choice is implementing every health and safety precaution possible, said Luke Fryer, Founder and CEO of Harri. By giving restaurants a means to implement these precautionary measures, gather accurate and objective information regarding an employee's health, and the ability to conduct these checks outside of the establishment in contrast to self reporting within the restaurant, we hope to be part of the solution to stop the spread of COVID-19 and to help restaurants regain their economic footing at this critical time.

The COVID-19 Employee Health Check Platform, delivers the following capabilities:



Accessible on Harri Live, a native mobile application available for Android and iOS devices

Pre-built, interactive COVID-19 health questionnaire for managers to administrate

Ability to digitally log an employees temperature

Reporting capabilities and print-ready templates for on-location use

With TeamHub, Harris Biometric Time-Clock, employers can push a PPE announcement and digitally process an employees acknowledgement and permission

As part of this effort, Harri intends to contribute 50% of its profits from this product to the National Restaurant Associations Restaurant Employee Relief Fund (RERF). Additionally, in partnership with the NRA and Upskill, Harri will be granting free access to Food Handling and Safety training courses to bolster the health and safety offering at this time.

To learn more, please visit https://harri.com/covid-19-employee-safety/

About Harri:

Harri is an enterprise human capital management platform that helps hospitality businesses build, manage, and engage their teams. With more than 30 modules, the platform provides solutions for talent acquisition, employer branding, applicant tracking, scheduling, time & attendance, communications, compliance, and analytics. With over 300 enterprise clients, Harri is a best in class solution that helps solve the labor-related challenges that plague the hospitality industry.

###

Press Contact:

Dan Murdoch, VP of Marketing

203-970-1127

marketing@harri.com
Meladul Haq Ahmadzai is a global health researcher and Taleam Systems CEO says fighting COVID-19 in Afghanistan requires a strong healthcare system and not continuous war in the region

OTTAWA, April 25, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Coronavirus first emerged in late 2019 in China, but has spread to other countries like Afghanistan. Today, health officials in Afghanistan estimate more than 1000 cases.



According to Meladul Haq Ahmadzai , during the recent military operations in Afghanistan, the international community focused on fighting a war and not much on strengthening health systems. Ahmadzai says, "fighting COVID-19 would have been much easier if Afghanistan's health care system had been strengthened."

The U.S. and Afghanistan war began in 2001 and has cost the American people almost $2 trillion.

Meanwhile, the war also impacted groups including Doctors Without Borders (MSF) and others, including one of their hospitals in the Kunduz province being bombed by a drone strike.

President Donald Trump had vowed to end the Middle East conflicts before winning the Presidential U.S. race.

The war strategy was extended several times as a result of Daesh and Taliban activity in Afghanistan.

Earlier this year, U.S. peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad, and Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Taliban group's top political leader, signed a peace agreement.

Afghanistan is a least developed country on the UN list and most of the rural population earn less than $2 a day. There is still a huge shortage in Afghanistan for food, medicine, and education, Ahmadzai says.

The American people have changed almost three governments and there is a lack of working towards progress in Afghanistan. Ahmadzai concludes, There is no definition for fighting in any books that has endured by all Afghan people.

Meladul Haq Ahmadzai is a global health research and CEO of Taleam Systems. He lives in Ottawa, Canada.

Media Contact:

Meladul Haq Ahmadzai

melad@taleamsystems.com

613-521-9229

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1c2218b5-a4e3-450f-8e08-9922a97af440
As restaurants and other businesses in California remain closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, their owners have looked to recoup their losses by turning to their insurance policies.

The results have not been encouraging.

Most insurance companies are telling owners that business interruption policies do not cover shutdowns due to coronavirus. Some businesses have pushed back, filing lawsuits to bring the issue before the courts.

Which side will win? Early analysis from legal scholars appears to favor the insurance industry. But a 30-year-old California Supreme Court ruling on groundwater contamination could give businesses a fighting chance to claim the coronavirus as an insurance-covered business interruption.

However it plays out, the stakes are huge, for insurers as well as policyholders.

The American Property Casualty Insurance Association says nationwide virus-related losses to businesses with 100 or fewer employees would amount to between $220 billion and $383 billion a month.

That could crater the insurance business, industry advocates say.

And that is why both sides are getting familiar with that California court ruling.

Guy Wathen / The Chronicle 2017

In a unanimous decision upholding a government order for hazardous waste cleanup, Chief Justice Malcolm Lucas wrote in AIU Insurance vs. Superior Court in 1990 that contamination of the environment is a form of property damage. A lawyer for businesses seeking insurance benefits says the ruling should apply to their business interruption policies, which cover losses from shutdowns caused by property damage due to disasters or other harm outside the owners control.

Court decisions support the conclusion that actual or threatened coronavirus contamination, at or near insured property, constitutes physical loss or damage triggering business interruption coverage, attorney Robert Wallan and colleagues with the Pillsbury Winthrop law firm said in a message to clients in California and elsewhere last week. Courts have widely held that contamination is a form of physical loss or damage if it impairs the use of the insured property.

In California, Wallan said in an interview, the 1990 ruling should provide coverage for businesses unless their policies expressly exclude insurance for harm caused by viruses, an exclusion that lowers the premiums they pay. Some business interruption policies contain that exclusion, but not those held by most of the more than two dozen California companies that have already sued their insurers.

Some law professors took a different view.

The ruling defined property damage to include pollution, leaching contaminants into groundwater, said Leo Martinez, a law professor and former academic dean at UC Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco and author of a textbook on insurance law. Although courts have not yet ruled on the current disputes in California, he said, it seems unlikely that the possibility of virus infection at a restaurant or other business would be considered sufficient property damage for business interruption coverage.

Stanford Law Professor George Triantis said the 1990 ruling would probably not apply to businesses claiming coverage for closures caused by the virus, or the threat of a virus.

Were not talking about the interpretation of property damage (as the insurable event) but rather either an employee getting sick or a government ordering a lockdown, he said. Because the central issue will be whether the shutdown order was covered by insurance, Triantis said, this opinion on the interpretation of property damage is of little help, and it is going to turn on the language of the policies.

That language caught Jesse Fink unawares in his 38th year of operating Toy Boat Dessert Cafe in San Franciscos Inner Richmond neighborhood. The shop, which sells ice cream, other sweets and toys and has a hobby horse for kids to ride, was shut on March 16, losing eight to 10 youthful employees. Soon afterward, Finks insurance broker told him his Hanover Insurance policy excluded coverage for viruses.

Liz Hafalia / The Chronicle

I said, Youve got to be kidding me, said Fink, 67, who has contacted a lawyer. Ive gone through most of my savings. ... Yesterday my freezer died, and I lost about 50 tubs of ice cream, cakes, frozen fruit for smoothies. The repairmans downstairs now. ... Do I sell my business? Do I close it? What do I do? ... Im looking out the window and I feel like crying.

One possible bailout for Fink and others is a common policy provision covering closures caused by order of a civil authority because of harm to nearby property.

That language was cited by the owner of Johns Grill, the restaurant in San Franciscos Union Square that opened in 1908, gained renown in Dashiell Hammetts 1930 novel The Maltese Falcon, and had to lay off 54 employees when it closed March 16. Its insurance policy contained limited coverage for viruses, but its lawsuit, filed April 15 in San Francisco Superior Court, said the citywide restaurant shutdown ordered by Mayor London Breed came from a civil authority and required insurance coverage.

Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes

Not so, said Hartford Insurance. On its website, it explains that coverage for closures caused by orders of civil authority or property damage is limited to losses that result from direct physical loss or damage to property caused by hurricanes, fires, wind damage or theft and is not designed to apply in the case of a virus. Viruses, the company says, generally do not cause physical loss or damage to the property as required by the policy.

What Hartford is really telling its customers, responded John Konstin, owner of Johns Grill, is that the specific provision that says we are protected if a civil authority shuts us down, doesnt mean what it says.

The insurance industry is denying the fact that the coronavirus poses a danger to property, said attorney John Houghtaling, who sued Hartford last month on behalf of prominent chef Thomas Keller, owner of the French Laundry and Bouchon Bistro restaurants in Yountville.

Hartford is also being sued in Santa Barbara by shoe designing company Marc Fisher and more than 20 affiliates from around the nation, which say they will have no choice but to liquidate if the insurer maintains its refusal to cover more than $300 million in potential losses. Hartford is wrongfully denying coverage to hard-hit businesses nationwide, using the ongoing pandemic as an excuse to avoid making payments, the suit said.

But Joseph Lavitt, an insurance law professor at UC Berkeley, said coverage for the coronavirus involves questions the courts have not yet addressed.

In some past cases, he said, courts have found that losses caused by orders of civil authorities are covered when officials order closure because unseen elements have entered a buildings structure making the property entirely uninhabitable and unusable.

But some closures are ordered because of the risk of impending contamination, he said, raising questions of whether and when it can be cleaned up and whether insurance covers the risk of re-contamination. The California Supreme Court, Lavitt said, has not been receptive to claims of coverage for measures intended to prevent future property damage.

Whether the insurance industry could withstand a crush of coronavirus-related claims remains to be seen.

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners said coverage for those losses would create substantial solvency risks for the insurance industry, significantly undermine the ability of insurers to pay other types of claims, and potentially exacerbate the negative financial and economic impacts the country is currently experiencing. Business interruption policies, the association said, were generally not designed or priced to provide coverage against communicable diseases, such as COVID-19.

Californias insurance commissioner, Ricardo Lara, has refrained from taking sides. He ordered insurers in the state to fairly investigate all business interruption claims and to take no more than four days to grant or deny a claim.

Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BobEgelko
YANGON, April 24 (Xinhua) -- A team of medical personnel from the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Friday arrived in Myanmar's Yangon to assist the country in fighting against the COVID-19.

Chinese Ambassador to Myanmar Chen Hai expressed his belief that the arrival of the Chinese military medics will assist in Myanmar's fight against COVID-19 and strengthen the bilateral friendship and cooperation between the two countries' militaries.

Yangon Region Commander Maj-Gen Thet Pon told media that "we do believe that we could fight the disease through collaborations with the Chinese medical personnel in the fields of diagnosis and treatment for COVID-19."

The Chinese military medics will join Myanmar's military medical personnel at the 1,000-bedded Defence Services General Hospital in Mingaladon township of Yangon, he said.

Along with the team, a batch of medical supplies donated by China including medical masks, N95 and KN95 masks and laboratory equipment also arrived in Yangon on Friday.

A 12-member medical expert team from China's Yunnan Province arrived in Myanmar as the first batch of medical assistance from China on April 8 and carried out collaborations with Myanmar's health authorities for two weeks, drawing on their frontline experiences in China.

As of Friday morning, Myanmar has reported 139 COVID-19 confirmed cases with five deaths.
Radio host and voice-over artist Jerry Bishop (Allison Rosenbloom)

Jerry Bishop, the veteran radio personality who was the off-camera announcer for the courtroom television show "Judge Judy," died Tuesday after a brief illness. He was 84.

Bishop's death was confirmed by his granddaughter Allison Rosenbloom, who said he suffered from heart complications and kidney failure.

Bishop, a resident of Bel-Air, had a career as a radio personality in Los Angeles for three decades. He got his start in radio at Hartford, Conn., station WDRC and moved to the West Coast in 1963, landing at KCBQ in San Diego. Two years later he moved to Los Angeles to join KLAC.

Bishop joined KFI in 1969, when it was the top "middle of the road" format station in the Los Angeles market. During his five-year stint there, he co-hosted "Sports Phone," a call-in program that preceded the station's broadcasts of the Los Angeles Dodgers games. He later moved to KIIS, where he partnered with Tom Murphy to host the "Tom and Jerry Show" in 1979.

Bishop launched a successful voice-over career in the mid-1970s, serving as announcer for the syndicated game show "Cross-Wits" and the NBC variety series "Dick Clark's Live Wednesday." He was heard on commercials for several national brands and did on-air promos for ABC, NBC and the Disney Channel.

Bishop signed on to "Judge Judy" when it first launched 24 years ago and remained a familiar fixture during its run as the most-watched show in daytime. Rosenbloom said he recorded his final voice-over session for the program several weeks ago before he entered the hospital.

Everybody loved him," Judge Judy Sheindlin said in a statement. "He had a golden heart and generous spirit. I adored him and will miss him."

Judge Judith Sheindlin on "Judge Judy." (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

Bishop was born Gerald Blume on Oct. 19, 1935, in Hartford. He earned a degree in broadcast journalism at Emerson College before he embarked on his radio career. He married Velma Joan Leventhal in 1956. She died in 2007.

Along with Allison Rosenbloom, Bishop is survived by his three daughters, Karen Rosenbloom, Michelle Carriker and Stephanie Blume, grandchildren Brandon Rosenbloom and Zachary Carriker, and a brother, Daniel Blume.
By Taru Jain and Arathy S Nair

April 24 (Reuters) - Industrial materials maker DuPont is doubling production of protective garments it makes from its Tyvek material to about 30 million a month to help meet increased demand due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The spread of the pandemic across Europe and the United States has led to a worldwide scramble for protective masks, gowns and gloves worn by healthcare and other workers battling to curb the spread of the virus.

Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security estimated this month that a single 100-day COVID-19 wave would create a need for 321 million more isolation gowns, such as those made by Dupont, in the United States alone.

Before the coronavirus crisis, the global market for personal protective equipment (PPE) was valued at about $40 billion annually, with Dupont and U.S. peers Honeywell International Inc and 3M Co among the biggest players. That will now increase.

"We're producing up to almost two times the number of garments per month to help support the demand that's currently in front of us," John Richard, vice president of DuPont's safety business told Reuters.

DuPont's Tyvek, a fabric used in gowns and coveralls for protective use, has been a silver lining for the company as it faces steep declines in demand for its products in the auto sector and other industries hammered by the virus outbreak.

The company pulled its full-year forecast on Monday, but estimated first-quarter profit would top Wall Street estimates on demand for products such as Tyvek and those used in water filtration.

The industrial giant, a top player in the PPE market with other products such as protective gloves, flame-resistant and chemical protective clothing, said everything it was producing was being sold promptly.

The company expects the heightened demand to continue at least until later this year as industries resume operations and bring back workers using additional safety measures.

DuPont, which makes Tyvek in Richmond, Virginia and Luxembourg, has re-purposed its manufacturing operations and simplified some designs to eke out more pieces per square area of the fabric.

Dow, part of the erstwhile DowDupont conglomerate before a split last year, has also started making sanitizers and face shields to meet growing demand. (Reporting by Taru Jain and Arathy S Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Shounak Dasgupta)
A three-year-old boy from a Nigerian orphanage has been celebrating the April snowfall in Calgary after his family was able to bring the adopted boy back to Canada months ahead of schedule.

In November, the Watson family flew to Nigeria to adopt Chidi, and travelled on to Ghana, where they waited for his Canadian citizenship.

The Watsons believed it would be a four-month process, but soon after arriving were told it would take about a year.

And when the world began shutting down in early March, there was even more uncertainty for the family.

But that month, Nicole and Dave Watson began writing letters to their MP and other government officials. Within three weeks, they received three pieces of good news: Chidi's citizenship was approved, his visa was ready and there was a repatriation flight available.

Watson family

The Watsons' journey

After experiencing fertility issues following the birth of their first son, Jake, the Watsons decided four years ago that their second child would come via adoption.

They knew it would be a long process.

In December 2018, they submitted an application to adopt from Nigeria.

And in October 2019, the Watsons received an email.

"They were basically like, 'This is your child, we need you come to Nigeria for November 1, make it happen,'" said Nicole.

So they made it happen.

The entire family travelled to the West African country to meet their newest member.

'A long time to be away from home'

There, the Watsons got to know Chidi a little before Dave and Jake flew back to Canada.

Nicole stayed behind to handle the citizenship and visa Chidi would need to move to Calgary.

She soon realized it would take far longer than the four months the family expected the journey to take. Officials were saying it would be a year before Chidi would be a Canadian citizen.

"It's expensive and a long time to be away from home," said Nicole.

Dave and Jake returned to relieve Nicole on March 8, just when the COVID-19 pandemic was beginning to cause massive global shutdowns.

Story continues

Unexpected email

Flights were being cancelled all over the place, but the family wasn't leaving without Chidi, who legally couldn't travel to his new home country.

By then, Nicole and Chidi were in Ghana. That country's consular services handles citizenship applications for West Africans.

The family went into lockdown in their rented apartment in the capital, Accra, and began writing politicians and other Canadian officials asking what they should do.

Then, one day about four weeks ago, Nicole got an email letting her know Chidi's citizenship had been approved.

"It was just out of the blue, we weren't expecting anything. I found my husband and said, 'Read this, what does this say?'"

'A family of four'

Over the next week, everything else fell into place  the Canadian government offered a flight and Chidi's visa was approved within days.

"It was very surreal," said Nicole.

On March 31, the family boarded a flight, and two days later they were home in Canada.

The Watsons might be the only family in Calgary who celebrated all the snow that's fallen in the past few weeks.

It was the thing Chidi was most excited about.

"He was so excited to come home for snow  he built a snowman, he was excited to wear the hat and mitts and boots."

The brothers have "bonded really well," said Nicole.

"I still can't believe that we're home and we're a family of four."




Haiti - USA : $75.5 million in assistance from USAID





The United States Government, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Government of Haiti through the Ministry of Planning and External Cooperation, signed an amendment on April 23, the Haiti Reconstruction Grant Agreement (HRGA), providing $75.5 million in continued assistance to support a "stable and economically viable Haiti".



At the end of the signing ceremony, Christopher Cushing, Director of the USAID Mission in Haiti said, "USAID provides more than just funds. It provides a multisectoral and large-scale development approach to support the Haitian people in the areas of health, education, agriculture, economic development and energy.



With this funding, USAID will continue to work with partners on the ground to improve livelihoods and strengthen sustainable local efforts in Haiti," recalling that since 2011 this agreement brings USAID's total contribution to Haiti to approximately $1.8 billion.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















Mounia Lazali, is a professional designer and a painter based in Algeria. Like, others around the African continent, she is playing her part in helping contain the COVID-19 pandemic. With many countries facing face mask shortages, Ms. Lazali is sewing hundreds of them using colorful fabrics to donate to fellow Algerians. She spoke to Africa Renewal's Franck Kuwonu about her initiative:

Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

My name is Mounia Lazali and my artist's name is MYA. I am 43 years old and I live in Algiers, the capital city of Algeria. I am a graduate of the Ecole superieure des Beaux-Arts (College of Fine Arts) in Algiers and the University of Language and Culture in Beijing, China. I'm also a professional painter as well as a textile, furniture and graphic arts designer.

When did you start producing face masks?

I started making face masks on 18 March this year. I remember that day because immediately I made the first batch, I published a photo of myself wearing the colourful face masks on Facebook. I like to share all my creations instantly on social media networks because I find it an interesting way to interact with other people, raise awareness about something and to share creative content.

What drove you to making the face masks?

My whole life revolves around beauty and aesthetics. Personally, I did not want to wear the usual surgical mask at this time of confinement because it reminds me of difficult phase of my life where I was sick for a long time and had to wear one. So, I thought that the colourful textiles I use for my designs could help soften all this fear and pain around this pandemic.

I had gone to China for my studies a few months after the end of SARS. That allowed me to adapt quickly to the hygiene measures prescribed, including wearing face masks. I remember that masks were worn during periods of great pollution too so I was familiar with this kind of accessory and other personal protection measures against such diseases.

On the other hand, when COVID-19 broke out, I knew we were facing a shortage of masks in Algeria, as was the case elsewhere. I'm good at sewing and I had a stock of fabrics I had brought from Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, so I took the plunge!

How many masks do you produce per day?

I make more than 300 masks, some of which are distributed to friends, neighbours, local merchants, associations and medical staff. Others are sold for a small amount.

What materials do you use to make the masks?

I use African prints cotton and cotton waxed fabrics. They are also lined. To ensure that they are safe for use to make masks, the fabrics are first machine-washed at 60Celsius, ironed several times during the creation process, and disinfected one more time by the last ironing.

How do you distribute the masks?

People come to my house and ring the intercom to make an order. I then pack the masks in an envelope and put them at the entrance of the house with the customer's names on it. When it is a small quantity, I leave them in the mailbox for people to collect. It is very important for me to respect the safety and social distancing measures required around COVID-19, especially because of my health history, but also for my customers coming to collect their masks.

What role are women in Algeria playing in the fight against COVID-19?

At the moment, women are helping to raise awareness on social networks. This is not to forget that we have women medics - doctors and nurses - who are on the frontline in this fight against COVID-19. They risk their lives for us every day.

What is your message to fellow Algerians at this time of COVID-19?

Let us maintain solidarity! Let us remain aware of the changes we are experiencing, because from now on nothing will ever be the same again. Let us be more respectful of nature, wildlife and everything that makes up our ecosystem.
A woman identified by relatives as the boy's mother sobbed and told mourners she didn't want to sit as they tried to calm her down. Another woman  who many of the officers at the scene were on a first-name basis with  yelled at police officers before family led her away from the scene.
Pedestrians stroll by the Islamic Center of Southern California. Mosques may have to cut back further if they receive fewer donations while coronavirus orders keep the faithful at home during Ramadan, typically a big fundraising time. (Gabriella Angotti-Jones / Los Angeles Times)

Last year, on the 27th night of Ramadan, the faithful at the Islamic Center of Hawthorne pulled up to the mosque in droves to celebrate one of the holiest nights on the Islamic calendar.

After they'd recited sunset prayers and begun their feast of meats, rice and rose milk, families dropped cash in donation boxes and wrote checks to the mosque as part of charity traditionally given during this season of spiritual introspection and elevated devotion.

Mosques around the country typically raise between 25% to 30% of their annual revenue through donations from congregants during the holy month, religious leaders say. For some communities, that can mean as much as $100,000, much of that concentrated in the final 10 days.

But this year, amid the coronavirus outbreak, those key funds are at risk. Some mosques and Islamic centers, already hit with a decline in donations throughout March and April, have let staff go or cut their hours; others have negotiated lower utility bills or canceled janitorial services as funds dry up. The Islamic Center of Hawthorne said that it expects to see as much as a 70% drop in Ramadan donations this year.

"Its obviously a devastating time for everybody  all faiths, all cultures," said Bilal Zaheen, outreach director at the mosque. "There had to be cuts from the mosque's utility expenses. Personnel left of their own accord because they didn't want to put the mosque under pressure."

Some leaders worry that cuts at mosques could continue as communities lose a large chunk of their income this Ramadan  because there will be no physical gatherings to inspire donations and also because worshipers have been hit hard by the economic downturn and may not have as much disposable income to share.

The outlook has become so dire that Muslim communities throughout the United States have banded together to launch a national crowdfunding campaign aimed at donating funds to mosques. The "Caring for Our Own" campaign, spearheaded by four prominent imams, was designed to provide small, one-time grants ranging from $5,000 to $10,000 to mosques in need. The fund has raised more than $180,000.

Story continues

"A lot of people have been furloughed or let go, or have seen a reduced salary," said Muhi Khwaja, co-founder of the American Muslim Community Foundation, a nonprofit organization that partnered with LaunchGood to collect the funds. "This is, hopefully, a stopgap measure."

As soon as officials mandated stay-at-home orders in various states, Khwaja said, he and other organizers knew that mosques would have to close their doors. Many mosques rely on Friday prayer collection bins, he added, and stopped receiving that funding in early March.

"On top of that, the mosques receive an influx in participants during Ramadan every day," he said. "We anticipated that a lot of mosques would be in this scenario."

At Masjid Al Fatiha of Azusa in 2018, men gathered to offer nightly Ramadan prayers. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

Congregants often turn to mosques and other houses of worship in times of crisis. But during economic downturns, those institutions can be hit just as hard  if not harder  than the faithful.

"Congregations are microcosms of the world around them. They are not insulated from them," said Brie Loskota, executive director of the Center for Religion and Civic Culture at USC. "Faith institutions sometimes get a double or triple impact because their leadership is impacted, the congregation is impacted ... that compounds to create a greater crisis."

Loskota said that every mosque she knows is trying to figure out its next steps.

Zaheen, of the Islamic center in Hawthorne, said he doesn't know where any future cuts would come from.

"We have full-time religious scholars. We wouldnt touch their salaries," he said. "Theyre vital to the community's function even from an online perspective. I think this is really rock bottom for us."

In this file photo, congregants departed the Islamic Center of San Gabriel Valley after attending Friday prayers. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

At the Islamic Society of West Valley in Canoga Park, leadership has been forced to cut the staff's pay in half. Shaykh Suhail Hasan Mulla, the mosque's resident scholar, hopes to restore full salaries soon.

"Since we don't have the programs to the same extent, the donations are not as forthcoming," he said. "There also are fee-based services that we aren't able to do."

Ramadan, he said, is the time congregants gather most.

"We probably get about half of our annual donations during that one month," he said. "You can imagine how that fans out for the rest of the year in terms of impact."

Mulla plans to ask the board of directors to apply for LaunchGood donation funds.

For now, he said, the Islamic Society is holding Ramadan services on Zoom that include the recitation of the Quran and spiritual reflections.

"We dont know how long this is going to last and what the financial impact is on the short-term and the long-term," he said. "What are people's savings habits and expendable wealth going to look like after all of this? What is this going to mean to attendance at the mosque?"

The inability to meet in person has also affected some mosques' sense of community, said Omar Ricci, spokesman for the Islamic Center of Southern California. The Islamic center has been pushed to devise more creative means of connecting as a result, he said.

"It has a depressing impact, and we see that in some of the community members and what they are saying," Ricci said. "We created a good, old-fashioned phone tree to reach out to elderly members of community."

The center, he said, applied for the federal Paycheck Protection Program, but those funds were exhausted before they could obtain any.

Last year, a pre-Ramadan dinner raised nearly one-tenth of the mosque's budget in one night, Ricci said. As much as one-third of the budget is raised during Ramadan overall.

This month, the mosque plans to continue its online programming and wait to see how this Ramadan compares to previous seasons.

"Financially, it's been a hit," he said. "But one of the ideas we have in our community is that better days are ahead. Don't let this get you too much into the doldrums. Have faith that this is going to pass and that we will come out of it."
The latest:

Quebec has 22,616 confirmed cases of COVID-19, and 1,340 people have died  an increase of 97 deaths since Thursday.

Public Health Director Dr. Horacio Arruda says he now recommends people wear a mask in public if they anticipate being in a situation where they cannot stay two metres away from other people.

The Red Cross is setting up beds in a LaSalle arena to treat residents of long-term care homes.

As the province prepares to unveil its plan to gradually reopen aspects of public life, Public Health Director Dr. Horacio Arruda has changed his public opinion on masks, now recommending people wear them if they anticipate being in a situation where distancing isn't possible.

He said people should closely follow guidelines the government released yesterday for wearing them, including washing hands before putting one on and removing them.

Arruda said people could make their own masks, as long as they are clean and have at least two layers of fabric.

Arruda had been adamant before that his fear was masks would provide Quebecers with a false sense of security because they may be more inclined to touch their face when wearing one.

He also didn't want people to purchase masks in short supply that would be more useful to health-care workers.

Jacques Boissinot/The Canadian Press

Sacre-Coeur transferring patients elsewhere

One Montreal hospital in the grips of a COVID-19 outbreak is having to transfer patients elsewhere.

Earlier this week, Sacre-Coeur Hospital in northern Montreal revealed at least 120 of its patients had tested positive for the coronavirus, including some cancer patients, and two had died.

The hospital has since taken measures to prevent further spread, but is sending geriatric and orthopedic patients to Jean-Talon Hospital.

Sacre-Coeur is one of the few hospitals designated to treat COVID-19 patients, but the nearby Fleury Hospital will begin accepting the patients as well, Radio-Canada has learned.

The virus has created "two separate worlds," Premier Francois Legault said Friday  one inhabited by the residents of long-term care homes and the other by the rest of society.

Story continues

The situation in some private seniors' homes  such as one in Dorval that saw at least 31 deaths in less than a month  has led him to consider making all long-term care facilities public.

"I want to make sure the quality of service is the best," Legault said. "We owe that to [the elderly]."

Quebec is currently in need of thousands of workers to fill the gaps in its health-care network. As of Thursday, nearly 10,000 absences were recorded  about half due to workers in 14-day quarantine.
Anzac Day is always an emotional day for war widows. When the traditional services were stopped this year, it was even more so.

In Brisbane, a small service for some of those widows was held at their units in New Farm, where the women were united by the memories of their husbands and their service.

War widows watch musician Alastair Tomkins. Credit:AAP/Dan Peled

Music teacher Alastair Tomkins, who led the music for Anzac Day movement, played The Last Post and the Rouse for the 30 women after playing at dawn for his neighbours.

Resident Mollie Jean Hunt, 95, who came to Australia from Canada as a war bride in 1945, said her husband John would regularly join his regiment to march in Sydney on Anzac Day.
Kristi Nix

Theres good news for kids stuck at home due to COVID-19 school closures who are tired of drawing on the sidewalk: the City of Missouri Citys annual Mothers Day Cake Decorating Event is being re-tooled this year as a Mothers Day Art Contest and Drive-Through event featuring prizes for winners in several different age and grade categories. The contest is free and is open to all Fort Bend County children and teens up to 18-years-old.

To enter, artists must create a card for a loved one and submit a picture of it with a pictures of the artist via email. Each artists submission must also include a short summary of 50 words or less with details as to who the card was created for and what that person means to the artist. Artwork must emailed to
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-26 01:19:49|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, April 25 (Xinhua) -- Chinese medical experts called on adults, particularly women as well as middle-aged and senior people, to get themselves immunized against vaccine-preventable diseases.

"Looking back on history, vaccines have been playing an indispensable role in fighting diseases," said Zeng Guang, chief epidemiologist of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

There are corresponding immunization plans for people of every age group, Zeng noted, calling for enhanced public awareness of adult immunization.

A survey on public awareness of immunization jointly released Saturday by Chinese tech giant Tencent and multinational pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline showed that merely 22 percent of Chinese people polled knew that women need to take vaccines.

"The figure reminds us the general public's lack of immunization knowledge," said Sui Long, a gynecologist with the Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University in Shanghai.

"Apart from infectious diseases, vaccines play an important role in preventing cancers," Sui said. For example, human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines are effective in preventing HPV-caused cervical cancers, Sui added.

Jiang Wencheng, a physician with Shanghai Dermatology Hospital, said middle-aged and senior people are at higher risk of shingles. With limited therapies available, vaccination is the most effective way to contain the viral disease, Jiang said.

Xu Jie, a physician for infectious diseases, suggested that high-risk grown-ups for hepatitis B should also be included in a regular immunization program.

Saturday marks China's National Immunization Day, an annual public health event to raise public awareness of immunization against vaccine-preventable diseases. Enditem
As Brisbane nurse Carolyn Griffiths stood on her daughter's driveway on Saturday morning to mark Anzac Day, little did she know that Prime Minister Scott Morrison would evoke her story during the dawn service at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.

"Our heroes, they still walk amongst us," Mr Morrison said. "Heroes like Carolyn Griffiths, who joined the reserves after the 2002 Bali bombings."

Air Force Squadron Leader Carolyn Griffiths prepares medical equipment inside a C-17A Globemaster during a mission to repatriate Australians injured during the White Island volcanic eruption in New Zealand last year. Credit:Facebook

Mr Morrison said Ms Griffiths was a single mother of three, with children aged 16 to 20 at the time.

"Carolyn said I wanted to defend Australia. And she did, as an ICU nurse in Afghanistan and Iraq, responding to the worst traumas of war," he said.
Dharavi, the largest slum in Asia, has been trying to cope up with its rising COVID-19 cases. Image is representational. Image credit: By Kounosu - Self-photographed, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5300649

Though an essential step, with the COVID-19 figures nearing the 25,000-mark in India, the lockdown imposed by the Indian government  the largest and most stringent in the world, has been difficult for everyone. For many of us, the lockdown has meant staying indoors, except for venturing out to buy essentials, while managing work, childcare and household work and following the social distance and personal hygiene norms set by the government and health care professionals. However, for the billions of the urban poor in India and elsewhere in the global south that is struggling to meet basic daily needs, the times have been even more punishing.

As per a blog post on tackling inequalities during COVID-19, by the World Resources Institute, social distancing norms which are critical to contain the pandemic, could prove to be impossible to follow for a large number of the urban poor across cities in Asia, Africa and Latin America, which lack the space, services and adequate safety net to survive such an order. Amidst lockdowns imposed by Governments, millions of the poorest residents in cities such as Bangkok, Lagos, New Delhi, Mexico City and Rio de Janeiro, have found their lives disrupted with little support and protection.

According to Dr Robin King Director, Knowledge Capture and Collaboration WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities and co-author of the blog, even cities that were previously cited as early successes, such as Singapore, have fallen short, and are witnessing worsening situations. This is because of insufficient attention to the migrant worker dorms that share some of the same challenges as slums  cramped spaces that make social/physical distancing impossible, insufficient water for frequent hand washing, insufficient and insufficiently clean toilets, and a lack of accurate and sufficient information and time to address the additional burdens of dealing with responsible civic actions of frequent hand and space washing and keeping physical distances.

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India: Severe inequality

In India, nearly 1.3 billion people have been impacted by the lockdown imposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to slow down the spread of the virus. With nearly 152-216 million people living in densely populated informal settlements, social distancing remains a distant dream for most. WRI cites the example of a slum in Bengaluru which is 12 times denser than the city average  housing 1,40,000 people per square kilometre.

At a time when hygiene practices such as washing hands with soap and water at regular intervals could prove to be the difference between staying healthy or falling ill, water scarcity remains a huge problem - more than 160 million people do not have access to clean water in the country  at 19 per cent of the worlds population, that is the highest in the world.

Further, as per a UNICEF report, 20 per cent of urban Indians, which is around 91 million people, lack handwashing facilities at home. This then forces them to rely on water from other sources such as drains and canals, which often harbour more dangerous pathogens. Further, for many of the urban poor living in the crowded slums, hand washing could mean going to a shared tap or drawing from limited supply, hence making isolation and social distancing prove impossible to achieve.

In India, thousands of migrant labourers have been stuck without work and without being able to return to their hometowns, in different states across the country. In the absence of work, food or proper shelter, as more people from the informal sector flee to their homes, the risk of spreading the virus into the rural hinterlands is high.

The informal sector is also deeply affected by the lockdown  the post cites a survey conducted in Bengaluru where over 70 per cent of workers are from the informal sector. Despite being worried over contracting COVID-19, most workers feel compelled to continue working, due to fear of losing their jobs and not being able to feed their families. As per reports, the countrys informal sector would need at least 1.5 trillion relief package to be able to survive the lockdown.

While the death rate in India may be lower than a number of the more advanced nations - it is very early to talk about success in the country, given the exponential growth nature of the impact of this virus, feels King. While some of the policies undertaken are helping slow the expansion, some of them have also exacerbated other problems (the most obvious being food insecurity and hunger).

Bridging the gap:

While long term measures such as large-scale investments in infrastructure for water, sanitation, housing and healthcare are essential to ensure that the worlds growing population has access to essential services, short-term strategies are also needed to help cities respond now. According to WRI, these include providing access to water and sanitation facilities for free, fiscal transfer to states/cities, stepping up efforts to access emergency services in cities most under-served areas and working closely with community leaders and NGOs that work in informal settlements and other at-risk communities.

Dharavi, which has a population of nearly 10 lakh people, has seen 200 COVID cases and 13 deaths, so far. King shares that these measures are even more critical for a place like Dharavi, or any such place that combines lack of adequate sanitation facilities with high population and/or economic density.

A number of measures will be required to tackle the situation - while the provision of masks and access to health services are important, in the shortage of water, hand sanitising stations can be set up. A good example is Kerala, which has set up hand washing stations equipped with sanitisers or soaps at bus stations and other public places in the state.

The fiscal transfers for immediate cash assistance need to be proactive (not retroactive, and insufficient, like we are seeing in the US) and creative to help ensure that resources get to all community members - this includes the provision of food, she explains.

Communication of accurate information is essential and public officials should be receptive to information flowing to them from the community as well. Community leaders can also help the two-way flow of information in the short term, and creation of networks of trust that will help in the long run during the next crisis. In a place like Dharavi, for instance, alternative methods of provision of accurate information (radio, sound trucks, mobile apps, community placards, videos, etc.) and multiple languages will be essential.

Hopeful case studies:

Amidst the worries of an ever-growing pandemic, are glimpses of hope that certain case studies have shown us. In India, individual state successes in containing the virus can be looked at. Kerala has been lauded for its efforts in trying to flatten the curve and is being portrayed as an international best practice of handling the virus.

The more balanced big successes within India are state-level, with success built of responses to past disasters (past diseases in Kerala, and weather and climate-related disasters in Odisha). Policies undertaken in the past have helped prepare for the responses now: testing, health coverage, thinking about food distribution and planning for dealing with sudden challenges. Kerala is even more impressive in that it has lots of interaction with foreign travellers  migrants going back and forth between the Gulf, and tourists from around the world  that have proven to be the vectors of transmission, King explains.

Cities such as Taipei, Seoul, and the cities in New Zealand are also positive case studies. They, along with Hong Kong, developed practices, products, and institutions in response to past epidemics (SARS, for example) that served as effective bases for rapid response to this pandemic. This allowed them to spring into action faster, rather than having to realise the problem, come up with solutions, develop them, finance them, and roll them out to the public, King states.

The need of the hour is to provide targeted emergency assistance that can create better preparedness for the future, WRI states. It is also necessary to close the urban services divide so that cities can become more equitable to survive the next crisis.
U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York

A Long Island businessman who portrayed himself as a philanthropist for donating medical supplies to health-care workers and first responders was actually a profiteer who hoarded masks and gowns desperately needed by hospitals and then sold them at a massive markup, federal authorities say.

Amardeep Singhbetter known as Bobby Singh on his self-congratulatory Instagram accountallegedly continued to price-gouge even after being cited by the Nassau County Department of Consumer Affairs and the state Attorney Generals office, according to a criminal complaint.

Now Singh is facing federal charges of violating the Defense Production Actthe first such criminal case since the start of the coronavirus crisis. He is expected to surrender next week, prosecutors said.

His attorney, Bradley Gerstman, said the invocation of the Defense Production Act was a farce.

No one even knows that selling PPE [personal protective equipment] had any criminal implications, he said. If it does, we could look everywhere and anywhere to start locking people up.

Gerstman said police officers, doctors, and nurses have been going to his clients store to buy necessities that hospitals and public agencies have run out of. Where are they going to go now? he said.

He also denied the feds accusation of insane price hikes, saying the figures in the complaint were a fiction. Hes a community member. He never gouged. This is a total attack on his reputation, Gerstman said, adding that he had bought some of the items himself.

Singh operates a sneaker and sportswear store in Plainview, New York, and a warehouse in Brentwood, and markets his business under the names New York Tent Sale and Warehouse Liquidation Center. In mid-March, the feds say, he began selling what he called COVID-19 Essentials, including the scarce N-95 masks and other pieces of personal protective equipment like face shields, gowns, and coveralls.

The complaint says Singh ordered 1.6 tons of disposable face masks, 2.2 tons of disposable surgical gowns, 1.8 tons of hand sanitizer and 253 pounds of digital thermometers.

Story continues

The complaint alleges he sold the items at markups ranging from 59 percent for some N-95 masks to 1,328 percent for three-ply disposable face masksand some of the overpriced items were sold to non-profit childrens and senior citizens organizations.

The criminal complaint describes a defendant who allegedly saw the devastating COVID-19 pandemic as an opportunity to make illegal profits on needed personal protective equipment, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito said in a statement.

The complaint, signed by a postal inspector, notes that Singh wore a face shieldone of the items covered by the Defense Production Actin a photo on his Instagram account, posing behind a table full of hand sanitizer.

The account also contains numerous photos of Singh posing with a soldier, local firefighters, local police officers, and various health-care workers with captions indicating he had donated supplies to themalong with photos of cash that he said he received to underwrite the cost of the donations.

Gerstman said the complaintalong with the citations from the county and statewere unfounded accusations and that his client will be exonerated.

I was there the day of the raid, and I was as confused as anybody, he said. You cant imagine how many New York City cops were running there to get their PPE equipment.

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Representative image

Resident welfare associations are still awaiting clarity on the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) guidelines on April 24 that has allowed all shops registered under the Shops and Establishment Act of respective states and union territories (UTs), including shops in residential complexes and market complexes to function.

The revised guidelines were issued under Section 10(2) of the Disaster Management Act and excludes shops in multi-brand and single brand malls outside the limits of municipal corporations and municipalities.

The shops will have to function with 50 percent worker strength and masks and social distancing will be mandatory.

The new guidelines will not impact areas in the red or containment zone.

This is a home ministry order and has to be followed by directions from the district administration. They have to take a call separately.

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 hotspots nothing is going to change. This may only be applicable for areas that fall under the green zone. Almost half of Noida is in the containment zone. We are still awaiting clarity. Nothing may change in Noida right away, said Rajiva Singh President Noida Federation of Apartment Owners Association (NOFAA)

Sanjay Jain, president, ATS Advantage, Ghaziabad said that provision stores in the society are allowed to remain open until 4 pm as per the district administrations order. We are expecting more clarification on the home ministrys revised guidelines, he said.

Alok Kumar, president, Federation of Apartment Owners Association of Ghaziabad said that they are still confused as there are no guidelines yet from the state.

Brigadier Anand Sharma of Raheja Atlantis, Gurgaon, told Moneycontrol that the revised guidelines are applied only for societies in the green zone. The order is not relevant to Gurgaon. Provision stores would in any case remain open.

Gaurav Gupta, president, CREDAI NCR  Ghaziabad told Moneycontrol that these guidelines are not applicable for high red zone areas but it is a good order as economic activity in other zones can begin.

The Retailers Association of India (RAI) has welcomed the governments efforts to open up the retail sector but it still lacks clarity.

We feel the current circular is open to interpretation and needs more clarity for easier implementation - terms like market complexes are not easily understood. We at RAI are willing to work with the Government to make this process of opening retail easier without compromising on social distancing norms.

Keeping in mind the current environment and lessons learnt by opening up of essential retail through the lockout, we would recommend that the government open up all channels of retail on a date that it feels safe with the social distancing norms clearly defined. Local authorities can ensure strict implementation and action. Malls in the country should also be allowed to open as they are professionally run and would be able to control the environment for safety and social distancing, said Kumar Rajagopalan, CEO, Retailers Association of India.
For Dundalk artist Alison Duffy the COVID-19 lockdown has brought more time for her to concentrate on her artwork.

Normally the Oaklawns resident works four days a week in Dundalk Lighting, but since all non-essential shops have had to close, she has had plenty of time to make her trademark papercuts.

'Art has always been the thing for me,' she says. As a child, she won prizes in the art competition held during the Maytime Festival. On leaving school, she worked for a time before doing a degree in Fine Art in the West Wales School of Fine Art. 'Before going to university I did a Post-Leaving Cert course in O'Fiaich Institute of Higher Education which was a great way of having time to do a portfolio without having to study other subjects.'

'It was a multi-disciplinary course and at the end of the third year, we had to specialise in one area, and I choose painting. I was always obsessed with colour. It's what makes me smile!'

Her return to Ireland coincided with an economic slump, so, having also studied photography in college, she got work in a photo studio. This lead to her moving to England, where another skill she had acquired saw her working in ceramics for a prestigious lighting company.

When she came back to Ireland about two years ago, she took the realistic approach that as art jobs are hard to get, she would use her experience to work in retail and make art in her spare time. It has proven a good decision.

'I'm a people person, so working in Dundalk Lighting four days a week is fine. There is also a picture framer there which is even better,' she jokes. The job pays the bills and also gives her the time to make art.

Although she specialised in painting, Alison has also tried her hand at printmaking, and discovered that what she enjoyed most about the process was making stencils rather than prints.

This lead to her experimenting with making the distinctive papercuts which are proving very popular,

'I love the flat layers of colour,' she says, adding that it's quicker to make a work from paper than painting. From her days of making ceramics, she was used to using a scalpel. 'Working out the different layers is the hardest part,' she says of the images which are built up of layers of different coloured papers.

Her first commission came when she was asked by a friend 'to do something a bit different' for a gift. She made an image of a fox and realised that this was the medium she wanted to work in from then on.

After attending the 2018 Craftmark Winter Fair at Bellurgan Park, she decided that she wanted to exhibit at the following year's event, and after putting together a few pieces, she joined Louth Craftmark.

She did indeed exhibit at last year's Winter Fair and got a very good reception to her work. She also took part in the exhibition in memory of Patricia Murphy in An Tain Arts Centre in March.

Alison has discovered that her dog portraits have proven particularly popular, although she can create pictures of any animals, flowers and even landscapes.

During lockdown, she has been inspired by the free postcards delivered by An Post to 'doodle' (her own words) her own cards. 'I've bought a book of ten stamps and am sending a card a day until I run out of stamps.'

It is, she feels, a small way of keeping in touch with those she cannot see.

'The dog gets walked to the post box every day!'

Alison's art can be found in the Crafty Rock and on her Instagram page paper.pencil.ink
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-26 00:19:45|Editor: huaxia

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BANJUL, April 25 (Xinhua) -- The Gambian president Adama Barrow has pardoned 115 prisoners from different prisons across the country in a bid to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus, a press release signed by the government's senior information officer Bubacar Sankanu stated on Saturday.

"As part of measures to curb COVID-19 and decongest prisons, His Excellency President Adama Barrow, in exercise of his Prerogative of Mercy, has immediately pardoned some 115 prisoners," he said in a statement.

According to him, 78 of those inmates are from the Mile 2 Central Prison in Banjul, 24 from Jeshwang prison within the Kanifing Municipality and 13 from Janjangbureh Prison in the Central River Region.

The Gambia has recorded 10 cases of COVID-19, including 8 recovery cases and one death, leaving only one active case in the country.

However, health minister Amadou Samateh has warned on Friday there must be no room for complacency facing the pandemic. Enditem
 Flash

China stands ready to work with Sri Lanka to firmly support the World Health Organization (WHO) in the global battle against the COVID-19 pandemic, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Friday in a phone conversation with his Sri Lankan counterpart Dinesh Gunawardena.

The Chinese and Sri Lankan people have maintained friendship from generation to generation, and enjoyed a tradition of sincerely helping each other, Wang said.

Sri Lanka has firmly supported China in the joint fight against COVID-19, Wang said, recalling that the Sri Lankan prime minister prayed with the Sri Lankan people for China's anti-epidemic efforts.

When China was holding a national mourning for COVID-19 victims earlier in April, the Sri Lankan Embassy in China put its flags at half-mast, Wang said, adding that the Chinese side will bear in mind these heartwarming moves.

China feels keenly for Sri Lanka over the COVID-19 epidemic, he said. China will provide anti-epidemic supplies and share its experience in prevention and control based on Sri Lanka's needs, said Wang, expressing his belief that Sri Lanka will prevail over the epidemic at an early date.

Wang thanked Sri Lanka for taking care of Chinese nationals in its country like families, and said China will guarantee the safety and health of Sri Lankan citizens in China as always.

China is willing to join hands with Sri Lanka to combat the pandemic, promote an orderly resumption of work and production for major cooperative projects, and ensure that the production chain and supply chain will not be disrupted, Wang said. He said he believed that the China-Sri Lanka relationship will be further deepened and developed after the pandemic is over.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been endangering the health and safety of the whole humanity, and examining their conscience and morality, Wang stressed. At the crunch time when solidarity is needed to combat the pandemic, some people took advantage of the disease for political maneuvering and scapegoating for their inadequate responses, and even staged blatant attacks against the WHO.

For countries facing grave threats, especially for people fighting for their lives in the COVID-19 battle, such moves are inhumane, and those who chose to do so are in fact setting out to associate with the virus and pitting themselves against the people, Wang said, stressing that such moves should be rejected rightfully by the international community.

China stands ready to work with Sri Lanka to firmly support the WHO to play its due role in the global battle against COVID-19, Wang said.

Gunawardena appreciated the positive outcomes China has achieved in its anti-epidemic fight, highlighting that it has not only safeguarded the health and safety of the Chinese people, but also inspired the global battle against COVID-19.

Sri Lanka thanks China for the medical supplies it has provided, he said, noting that Chinese citizens in Sri Lanka have also contributed to the country's anti-epidemic fight.

COVID-19 is the common enemy of all humanity and requires concerted response from the international community, he said.

Sri Lanka thinks highly of China's firm support for the WHO, which also provides strong backing to developing countries including Sri Lanka, he said.

Sri Lanka will firmly stand with China and expects the WHO to continue playing a key role in the COVID-19 fight, he said.




The missing and murdered indigenous people movement, aimed at raising awareness of the high rates of missing Native Americans, garnered national media attention in 2019.

In Montana, the state saw changes to law and a focused effort toward collecting better data and better understanding the longtime problem.

Montana's delegation in Washington, D.C., brought the issue to light on the Senate and House floor, and a task force in the state has continued to work on recommendations of how Montana could track and curb the number of Native people who are killed or who disappear.

And in the state's largest towns, from Billings to Missoula, crowds took to the streets, wearing red and marching in solidarity.

But, as attention has turned to the COVID-19 pandemic, MMIP advocates fear they have lost momentum for their cause.

Shifting focus

In 2019 Montana took steps to recognize that Native people face a higher risk of going missing or murdered than any other demographic in the state.
France has recorded 389 more coronavirus deaths, a lower toll than in previous days, as it hailed a new drop in the number of patients in hospital and intensive care.

The deaths of 305 people in hospitals and 84 in nursing homes brought France's total toll to 22,245, top health official Jerome Salomon told reporters.

He addied that there were now 561 fewer people in hospital and 183 fewer in intensive care, continuing a brighter trend seen in previous days.

The number of coronavirus patients in intensive care has now fallen below 5,000, with 4,870 needing such treatment.

But despite the gradually improving data, Salomon said: "The circulation of the virus remains high. We must be mobilised and respect social distancing, which must become a reflex."

President Emmanuel Macron has announced that the over month-long lockdown to battle the virus will be eased from May 11.

The details of how this so-called de-confinement will take place remain sketchy, with some schools set to reopen but establishments like cafes and restaurants staying closed.

"We must continue all our collective efforts with single aim -- to arrive at the lowest level of circulation of the virus on May 11 and the lowest number of patients," said Salomon.

"For the de-confinement to be a success we must respect the lockdown and social distancing"

(AFP)
For the second time this month, the Rajasthan High Court was compelled to adjourn proceedings on Friday since the petitioner's counsel was found to be dressed inappropriately in a 'baniyan' or an inner vest.

Earlier this month, Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma had met with a similar situation when an advocate appeared in front of him in a vest while proceedings were being conducted through video conferencing. He had then instructed the High Court Bar Association to inform all advocates that they would have to appear in proper uniform even during videoconferencing.

Unfortunately, as Bar and Bench reports, the same judge was taken aback when another advocate appeared to argue in a bail case in a baniyan. He was then forced to adjourn the proceedings till May 5.

Live Law tweeted a screenshot of the order issued by the Judge who wrote that the court had previously urged all advocates to appear in proper uniform during videoconferencing and that a proper decorum must be maintained at all times.

An Advocate appeared in a Baniyan (vest) before the Rajasthan HC on Friday during a Videoconferencing Hearing. Displeased, Justice Sharma adjourned the hearing. Earlier this month, on April 7, a lawyer had appeared in a Vest before the same bench. pic.twitter.com/JQI6PtxVb0  Live Law (@LiveLawIndia) April 24, 2020

As the whole country grapples to deal with the coronavirus pandemic, courts around the country are following the principles of social distancing and have adopted videoconferencing as a means of communication. Passing a slew of directions for all courts across India, the Supreme Court said a few weeks ago that all courts across India are authorised to adopt measures required to ensure robust functioning of the judicial system through the use of video conferencing.
Last year they witnessed horror, this year they sing in hope By Kumudini Hettiarachchi Spreading the message of peace and hope, nearly 40 children and youth, from the Sinhala, Tamil and English choirs of St. Anthonys Church, Kochchikade, come together to create a virtual video, Lord We Come to You View(s): View(s):

Many of them were there when the clock stopped at 8.45 that morning and their beloved church turned into rubble, with death, injury, weeping and mourning all around them.

They stood still in shock around a blood-splattered organ..but on Tuesday (April 21), a year later, their voices are raised in hope and prayer not in their beloved church but reverberating throughout homes in a YouTube video released sharp at 8.45 a.m. in memory of those who sacrificed their lives in the Easter Sunday bombings.

Spreading hope and the unwavering belief that in whatever troubled times we are in, God is the haven in stormy seas, the beautiful video, Lord We Come to You with images of the children with lit candles cupped in their hands was released, when across the country people bowed their heads in a moment of silence.

The video is made more poignant because the very voices that rise up are of those children who beheld and experienced the devastation of that tragic day at St. Anthonys Shrine at Kochchikade.

We recorded it in our homes on our phones, says one of them, going into detail how difficult it was in the highly-populated area of Kochchikade to keep out the din of adjoining homes or the vans hawking fish and vegetables and the garbage trucks.

Nearly 40 children and youth, a mix of male and female, from the Sinhala, Tamil and English choirs of St. Anthonys Church, ranging in age from 9 to 27 years have lent their voices to the video with its theme music being the revered Ave Maria sung in honour of Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ.

The youth says that Kochchikade is not just a church in one parish but a shrine which belongs to the whole country. The choristers of the three choirs, although from different parishes, have a special affinity to the shrine. When the bomb ripped through the shrine they were traumatized but even though they could not enter the church thereafter, they stumbled, still in a daze and gripped by shock, to a room in the premises where, along with the priests they recited the rosary daily until the shrine opened again.

It is the Administrator of the St. Anthonys Shrine, Fr. K.A. Jude Raj Fernando, who tells the Sunday Times how the making of the video fell into place.

Having worked with children throughout his priestly mission in the staunch belief that if one makes children the frontline, miracles and wonders can be achieved, they had made plans how to commemorate the first anniversary of the Easter Sunday tragedy.

Fr. Jude and his assistant, Fr. Dilusha Chamara Perera, had been journeying with the children affected by the blast, being by their side, providing psychological counselling throughout.

Wanting to get the children involved in a programme for April 21, this year, Fr. Jude had contacted Soundarie David Rodrigo, the well-known pianist and Director of the award-winning all-female ensemble Soul Sounds.

Soundarie promptly agreed and we met for a discussion and she came twice for a training session with the children in February, says Fr. Jude.

Then the unexpected happened and COVID-19 gripped the country sending Sri Lanka into lockdown to curb the spread of the virus. Plans and practices for the commemoration were shelved.

However, during a discussion held at the Archbishops House on April 14, Fr. Jude had told His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith that Kochchikade too had something planned.

But we had nothing concrete to show, says Fr. Jude who once again contacted Soundarie and thats how they produced Lord We Come to You, a bell tolling setting off the rendition, with haunting notes from the piano and singing in all three languages chiming in evoking much emotion.

All done virtually, smiles Soundarie, going into detail how before the original plans got disrupted she had trained the children and youth to sing a few bars.

Soundarie, unlike others who do it the other way round, usually plays the music and then seeks the lyrics and here too that is how the video was made, with lyrics being written in the three languages. Thereafter, the demo track was done.

With Fr. Jude and Fr. Chamara as Project Heads and Soundari as composer, the children and youth raising their voices in harmony, assisted by Shivanthi Subramaniam, Ranga Dassanayake had handled the orchestration, sound engineering, mixing & mastering, and Wimaladasa Samarasinghe, Senthil Kumar (Chennai) and Lilanthi Botejue had written the Sinhala, Tamil and English lyrics respectively. It has been produced by Motion Videos.

As Lord We Come to You gets thousands of views and is passed around from home to home, what stays with the listener, even as the music and the echoes are heard no more, is the message of peace and hope.
When we compare ourselves to the U.S., we try to think, we French, that were way ahead of you guys, said Eros Sana, a political activist in the Paris suburbs and the editor of bastamag.net, an online magazine that covers ecology and social justice. You have people in so many states lining up to get food. But, the thing is, we have the same thing here. In Seine-Saint-Denis, Aubervilliers, people are queuing because they need to eat. We have the same issues.
When a five-county Bay Area mask order took effect Wednesday morning, BART police Officer Keith Garcia stood at the fare gates in Dublin Station for four hours, enforcing the new rules.

If passengers came in barefaced, he told them to find a covering  now mandatory on transit to stave off the spread of the coronavirus. Some riders scrounged through bags and purses and retrieved a scarf or cloth bandanna. Nobody put up an argument. BART was fairly lenient the first day, said Garcia, who is also president of the agencys Police Officers Association.

But on Friday, officers faced a quandary. They had to tell everyone to wear a mask  and eject anyone who refused  but the counties and agency hadnt provided them with masks to hand out. Officers wanted to avoid confrontations. The union broached the possibility of supplying masks with money from union dues, an idea Garcia rejected because he feared officers would be vulnerable to accusations of bias if they couldnt hand out coverings to every single passenger.

When it was presented to me, I said, I have to take care of my members, Garcia said. I dont want to get a bias-based policing charge because an officer gives a mask to one person, and not another.

Ultimately, the union may buy masks for certain officers  like the ones assigned to ride trains  who interact with a wide range of passengers. Its a patchwork solution as the rail system tackles a much larger problem.

BART, now down to 6% of the weekday riders it carried before the pandemic, needs to lure people back when the economy reopens. To do that, police and other officials have to instill perceptions that the rail system is safe. Requiring that everyone wear a mask will help, Garcia said.

Board President Lateefah Simon agrees. Shes adamant that BART comply with the public health orders.

Yes, everyone should be allowed to use public transportation  yes, its a human right, Simon said. But frankly, cover your face. Folks have literally been asked to take off a jacket and cover their face. ... This public health order is not negotiable.

When the order first came down last week, Simon ran through her Rolodex, calling local mayors and mask suppliers until she found a company that could ship enough masks for BARTs workforce. At Thursdays board meeting, agency staff announced they had ordered 300,000 protective coverings, a mix of N95s, cloth masks and surgical masks, plus a few homemade ones.

Once we have ensured we have adequate supplies in stock to maintain having all employees wear masks, we can work through the process of providing masks to officers to be able to hand out if needed, spokeswoman Alicia Trost said in an email. For the most part, people have been able to find something to cover their face. But the option to be able to provide something for those that dont is something we would like to do if we can get enough supplies and only after we have sufficient inventory for employees.

Even so, protective equipment constitutes a significant investment for the rail system that stands to lose $37 million a month, as fares and parking revenues crater. Several officials said they are torn on whether to extend BARTs mask supply to all riders. Both Simon and Director Debora Allen said the counties that issued the order should step up first and distribute masks to public agencies. Perhaps a few nonprofits could help, Allen suggested.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

They hope that riders will follow the rules voluntarily. Although its a misdemeanor to not wear a mask on public transit, agencies havent developed protocols or trained officers on how to handle violations. Allen hopes to spare BARTs police force for more serious crimes.

Im not really in favor of our limited resources in BART Police Department being devoted to mask policing, she said.

Garcia also hopes to avoid confrontations.

Its a misdemeanor crime, yes, he said. But thats not the goal. The goal is to have everyone wear a mask.

Rachel Swan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: rswan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @rachelswan
Mortality rates drop sharply in parts of India, bucking coronavirus trend FILE PHOTO: Outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Ahmedabad

By Alexandra Ulmer and Sumit Khanna

MUMBAI/AHMEDABAD, India (Reuters) - Parts of India have recorded dramatic falls in the number of deaths at a time when funeral parlours were bracing for a surge amid the coronavirus crisis.

Some experts said the trend suggested that deaths from COVID-19, which are recorded separately and generally announced before overall mortality data, were not being under-reported as has happened in other countries.

But emergency room doctors, officials, and crematoriums noted that strict lockdowns had cut the number of road traffic accidents and deaths on India's packed railways, and may also be deterring relatives from reporting a family death.

All over the world, mortality rates are being scrutinised to determine the true impact of the coronavirus, which emerged in China late last year and is known to have infected more than 2.7 million people globally, with nearly 190,000 deaths.

While deaths in some countries have risen sharply in recent weeks, in India, where overall data is unavailable, the opposite seems to be happening in some places, leaving hospitals, funeral services and cremation sites wondering what is going on.

"It's very surprising for us," said Shruthi Reddy, chief executive officer of Anthyesti Funeral Services, which operates in the eastern city of Kolkata and the southern tech hub of Bengaluru.

The company handled about five jobs a day in January but has only had about three a day this month.

"We've declared employee pay cuts if revenue falls below a threshold," Reddy said.

Other numbers tell a similar story.

Central Mumbai, home to some 12 million people, saw the number of deaths fall by about 21% in March compared with the same month of 2019, according to municipal data.

Overall deaths plummeted 67% in Ahmedabad, the biggest city in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home state of Gujarat, over the same period.

Data from at least two other cities, along with accounts from state health officials, show a similar pattern. Half a dozen funeral businesses and crematoriums also reported slumps in business, especially in April.

Story continues

"If we're not seeing an increase in deaths, the suspicion that there may be more COVID-19 fatalities out there is not true," said Giridhar Babu, professor of epidemiology at the Public Health Foundation of India.

For a graphic on India's death rates, please see: https://tmsnrt.rs/3bBGfZ5

FEWER ACCIDENTS

Modi imposed a lockdown of India's 1.3 billion people on March 25 in a bid to stop the spread of the coronavirus, which has infected over 23,400 people, according to the latest figures, and killed 723 of them.

The lower number of recorded deaths in parts of India, contrasts with the Netherlands, for example, which recorded about 2,000 more deaths than normal in the first week of April.

In Indonesia's capital of Jakarta the number of funerals rose sharply in March and some towns in Italy also saw a jump in recorded deaths.

Indian doctors, officials and crematorium employees suspect a drop in the number of road and rail accidents is a major factor.

"Road accident cases, and even patients with alcohol or drug abuse, stroke and heart attacks, have been coming in fewer numbers," said Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma, health minister for the northeastern state of Assam.

Accidents on India's chaotic roads killed more than 151,400 people in 2018, according to official data.

The coronavirus lockdown, which is due to end on May 3, will cut road deaths by at least 15% this year compared with 2018, said Paresh Kumar Goel, a director at the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways.

With passenger trains halted, fatalities from all-too-common rail accidents have also plunged. In Mumbai alone, for example, more than half a dozen people typically die every day on the rail network.

FEWER MURDERS TOO?

Neeraj Kumar, who is in charge of a crematorium on the banks of the holy Ganges river in Uttar Pradesh state, said victims of crime were also not being brought in.

"We used to get at least 10 accident-related bodies every day and many related to murder cases. But after the lockdown, we're only receiving natural death cases," Kumar said.

The site used to perform up to 30 cremations a day but in the month since March 22, only 43 people had been cremated, Kumar said after leafing through the crematorium's record book.

While strict lockdowns may have deterred some criminals, the lower rates might also reflect difficulties in reporting deaths, officials said.

"There could be an increase when the lockdown ends," said Dr Bhavin Joshi, a senior health department official with the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation.

Requests for India-wide data from the national registrar went unanswered, while an official at the New Delhi Municipal Council said it could not provide numbers.

One outlier was the eastern state of Odisha, which recorded around 11% more deaths in March 2020 than in the same month last year. Officials were not immediately available for comment.

Reuters was also unable to obtain data for the state of West Bengal, where some doctors have accused the government of understating coronavirus deaths.

In West Bengal, only a state-appointed committee is allowed to declare that a patient has died from the virus.

(Additional reporting by Jatindra Dash in Bhubaneswar, Saurabh Sharma in Lucknow, Jose Devasia in Kochi, Zarir Hussain in Guwahati, Subrata Nagchoudhury in Kolkata, and Shilpa Jamkhandikar in Mumbai; Editing by Euan Rocha, Robert Birsel and Philippa Fletcher)
Col. Lovelace was born in Evansville, Ind., and retired from the Army Signal Corps in 1979. He was a longtime Vienna, Va., resident and 14-year member of the Town Council. Running as a Democrat, he won a special election in 1996 to fill the seat of a retiring member of the House of Delegates. He served one year before losing the regular election. He also served on the Fairfax County Small Business Commission and as an at-large board member of the Fairfax County Park Authority.
Riyadh, April 25 : The Saudi Arabian Group of 20 (G20) presidency called upon the world for further financing to fight COVID-19.

G20 leaders on Friday have called for further immediate donations to fund the emergency response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Saudi G20 presidency said in a statement, hoping to close the Global Preparedness Monitoring Board's 8 billion US funding gap, reported Xinhua news agency.

Saudi Arabia donated US $500 million and other countries, organizations and private sector companies pledged contribution of US $1.9 billion to the US $8 billion target, the statement said, but more funds were needed.

Saudi G20 Sherpa Fahad Almubarak stressed in the statement that global solidarity and cooperation are essential, adding that it is time to support the development of needed vaccines and other therapeutic measures in combating the pandemic.
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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.
Indications have emerged that 1800 bags of rice donated by the Federal Government to Oyo State as COVID-19 palliatives are unfit for consumption.

According to reports, the three trailer loads of rice were found, on close inspection, to have been infected by weevils.

The government of Oyo has indicated it will return the rice to the sender.

Men of the Nigeria Customs Service delivered the rice on Monday as a gift from the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development

It was in the process of further inspection that we discovered that the rice had been infested with weevils, said Debo Akande, the executive assistant to Governor Seyi Makinde on Agribusiness.

On that basis, we formed a committee to re-inspect it so we can be sure of what we have received.

We dont want to create another problem while providing solution to another one. We have inspected it; we have done random selection and we have seen that similar things apply across the board.

We have agreed to return them to the source. But if there are good ones with good quality that could be sent to us as replacement, we will be glad to receive them.
Singapore confirmed an additional 618 cases of coronavirus on April 25 saying most of them are work permit holders residing in foreign worker dormitories. Singapores Ministry of Health said in a statement that only seven of the additional COVID-19 patients are permanent residents.

The South Asian nation has reported 12,693 confirmed cases of coronavirus so far with 12 fatalities. The number of new cases in the community has witnessed a decline from an average of 31 cases per day in the week before, to an average of 25 per day in the past week.

As of 25 April 2020, 12pm, we have preliminarily confirmed an additional 618 cases of COVID-19 infection in Singapore. Read more https://t.co/YPOonxc87Q  Ministry of Health (@sporeMOH) April 25, 2020

Read: Singapore Reports 897 New Coronavirus Cases, 853 Are Foreign Workers

Decline in unlinked cases in the community

The Health Ministry had said that the number of unlinked cases in the community also decreased from an average of 20 cases per day in the week before, to an average of 17 cases per day in the past week. The ministry added that it will continue to closely monitor these numbers as well as the cases detected through their surveillance programme.

However, the ministry highlighted that the number of new cases amongst Work Permit holders residing outside dormitories has continued to increase. Such cases increased from an average of 19 cases per day in the week before, to an average of 28 per day in the past week.

Read: Singapore Confirms 1,012 Foreign Workers Hit By Coronavirus On Thursday

Earlier on April 23, Prime Minister Narendra Modi talked to 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.

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 Thanks Singapore PM For Extending Support To Indian Citizens Amid COVID-19

Read: Singapore Records More Than 1,000 COVID-19 Cases For Fourth Consecutive Day

(Image Credit: AP)
(Newser)  After two weeks alone in a hotel room in the Virginia suburbs, 40 minutes outside Washington, Kelsea Mensh was ready to go home. A few weeks earlier, the 22-year-old Peace Corps volunteer had completed a year of service in the Dominican Republic. She was working on a school improvement project and applying for funding to install hand-washing stations to help provide running water in her community. She was filled with purpose and excited to fulfill her two remaining years of service. Then an email came, followed by a phone call. The Peace Corps was pulling all its volunteers from projects around the world because of concerns about the coronavirus, the AP reports. There would be no hand-washing station. There would not even be time to say goodbye.

story continues below

In a message posted on the Peace Corps website last month, Director Jody Olsen said the decision to temporarily suspend operations was difficult. "Fortunately, we were able to safely evacuate each of our posts, avoiding a situation where Volunteers would have been stranded overseas as borders and air space were shutting down to prevent the spread of COVID-19," she said. In response to questions, the agency said about 7,000 volunteers were evacuated from 60 countries. Upon returning to the US, they were asked to self-quarantine for two weeks. The Peace Corps declined to comment on whether any evacuees tested positive for the coronavirus. Click for the full article. (Or see what Peace Corps volunteers might help with at home.)
Firefighters began hazard reduction burning in New South Wales to reduce fuel loads on April 25, just months after record bushfires devastated vast swathes of the country.

The New South Wales Rural Fire Service warned that smoke may be observed in the Illawarra and Greater Sydney region from the burning at Stanwell Tops north of Wollongong.

Record bushfires gripped much of New South Wales in late 2019 and early 2020, with over 11,400 bush and grass fires burning 5.5 million hectares, the equivalent of 6.2 percent of the state of New South Wales. Fires burned across the state for 240 consecutive days between July 2019 and March 2020. Credit: Helensburgh Volunteer Rural Fire Brigade via Storyful
A Fermoy resident has been remanded on bail after he was charged in connection with a 125,000 drugs seizure by undercover gardai in woodland near the North Cork town earlier this month.

Paulo Rodriguez, with an address at Corrinlea, Cork Road, Fermoy, Co Cork, was charged with possession of cocaine and with possession of cocaine for sale or supply at Cullanagh, Fermoy on April 11th.

Last Friday at Fermoy District Court sitting in Mallow, Det Garda Robert Kennedy of the Cork City Divisional Drugs Unit gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution and told how Mr Rodriguez made no reply to either charge.

Insp Tony Sullivan said that gardai had no objection to bail on certain conditions and Mr Rodriguez's solicitor, Daithi O Donnabhain said that his client was willing to abide by the conditions sought by gardai.

Det Garda Kennedy said that gardai were seeking that Mr Rodriguez would reside at his home address in Fermoy, that he would abide by a curfew at that address between 9pm and 8am and sign on daily at Fermoy Garda Station.

He said that gardai were also seeking that Mr Rodriguez would surrender his passport and Identity Card and undertake not to apply for duplicate travel documents and that he would be contactable 24/7 on a mobile phone.

Insp Sullivan said that gardai were seeking a two-month adjournment to allow for the DPP's directions in the matter.

Judge Patricia Harney remanded Mr Rodriguez on bail to appear again at Fermoy District Court on June 19th.
The inherent danger in the Doctrine of Necessity View(s):

The legality or the lack thereof of the ongoing curfew was briefly taken to a Court of Law this week during a bail application on behalf of an actor turned politician turned attention- grabber. The Police was not ready to challenge the defence counsels argument that the curfew was illegal and while the accused got bail, the question of the legality of the curfew was not what was adjudicated upon.

The curfew has been imposed under the provisions of the 1897 Quarantine and Prevention of Diseases Ordinance and not by the declaration of a state of emergency under the Public Security Ordinance or by any other means like a Gazette notification.

The declaration of a state of emergency would require Parliament to approve it within a month, and every month thereafter but Parliament now stands dissolved. This provision was introduced in the 1978 Constitution after the Sirima Bandaranaike Government brought in emergency rule in 1971 to counter the JVP uprising and kept it active till 1977, long after the insurgency was quashed. With the Government showing no willingness whatsoever to re-summon Parliament, the option of a state of emergency is out of the window even though the tri-forces are out on the streets under the provisions of the Public Security Ordinance.

All the Police headquarters announcements; the curfew violations and confiscation of vehicles, even orders to wear masks are open for legal scrutiny. However, no one is really complaining because the public is aware of how serious the situation is with the rapid spread of COVID-19.

The prevalent danger is whether the Government wishes to continue administering the country in this legal vacuum. It is not limited to the curfew. The Vote on Account that permits the Government to spend money without a budget approved by Parliament expires in the next few days. Not extending it is a textbook case of constitutional validity coming into question.

The Opposition has raised this question and the Speaker has said he does not want to precipitate yet another constitutional crisis by summoning Parliament when the President shows reluctance in doing so. The Prime Minister argues that it is within the Governments powers to draw from the Consolidated Fund without a budget or a fresh Vote on Account. The legal validity is being argued through statements to the media.

The general public may be less than interested in these constitutional niceties in the face of a deadly virus. That does not remove the fact that the Government is bound to do what is right.

There is already the danger of pro-Government persona trotting out that exceptional circumstances require exceptional remedies. The Doctrine of Necessity is one of these arguments. This is based on an ancient legal maxim; that which is otherwise unlawful is lawful by necessity and that the welfare of the people is always supreme.

This Doctrine has very bad precedents. In 1954 Pakistan, the Chief Justice at the time validated the extra constitutional use of emergency powers to dissolve a Constituent Assembly that was drafting a new Constitution on such a principle. It paved the way for martial law. Under military rule the same doctrine was used to justify the judicial murder of Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. The people of Pakistan have struggled ever since to restore democracy in their country. In Fiji, the superior court upheld a military coup that overthrew the Prime Minister and his Cabinet in 2006 (Qarase vs. Bainimarama 2009) on the grounds that the Commander of the Fijian Military was stepping into a vacuum of power to protect the existing legal order of the Republic. Both Pakistan and Fiji had been expelled from the Commonwealth Group for just such judicial-military adventurism.

This Doctrine has even been argued in the Privy Council (a 1965 case involving Emergency Regulations in Rhodesia) where a Judge held the regulations were necessary for the ordinary orderly running of the country. It was a minority dissenting judgment. There are such cases from Grenada, Nigeria and Nepal.

These are, however, unholy precedents to follow and dangerous arguments to advocate in Sri Lanka. And especially so when there are alternate constitutional remedies and mechanisms available to resolve outstanding issues.

The former President was fortunate to have got away lightly for tinkering with the Constitution back in October 2018  an impeachable act on his part. Those who advise Presidents must see that their client does not end up on the wrong side of history.

Covid-hit May Day for cash-strapped workers

Next Friday is May Day when the world celebrates  or is supposed to celebrate the day of the workers. COVID-19 will, however, make it a far cry from the slogan shouting, street marching show of solidarity with the workers of the world. For those countries that spend trillions to showcase their nuclear tipped warheads and intercontinental ballistic missiles on this day, they will be better served to parade a cake of soap and some hand sanitisers to save themselves from extinction.

Usually, this is the time of year that we focus on two categories whose plight needs to be addressed more than others  the thousands of Sri Lankan workers abroad and the thousands of unemployed waiting to join the ranks as workers of the world.

COVID-19 has now thrown a huge number of Sri Lankan workers abroad into an uncertain future, many trapped in foreign lands alone, others who have returned and are unsure if they will have a job to go back to. Here in Sri Lanka, even the employed, especially the self-employed and the daily wage earner is in limbo.

Millions of workers around the world are expected to lose their jobs, and those fortunate to keep theirs are certain to receive smaller pay packets as a global recession looms. The world economy is going to haemorrhage, at least in the short run.

The Sri Lankan economy being what it is  in shambles, and deep in debt  is hardly in a position to offer a substantial relief package to sectors that need to lay off workers nor able to shield workers who will be left with pecuniary burdens.

It seems inevitable that the Government will need to rely on foreign assistance to shore up the local economy and provide workers with a safety net. This week the newly appointed president of the World Bank spoke of the Banks intentions to infuse cash directly into the hands of ordinary people who need it in economically developing countries rather than channel it through Governments. How this mechanism works will have to be seen.

Just recently, a US grant of USD 500 million plus was put on hold on the grounds that the programme impacts on this countrys sovereignty. But a Chinese loan for about the same amount was accepted without a hum. Theres hardly any argument on the countrys independence being paramount. To oppose foreign grants on misplaced ideological grounds needs a fresh look when the countrys economy is sliding down a slippery slope.

This May Day is going to be arguably the worst one for the workers of the world in contemporary times.
Scientist shows space achievements of the nation via a livestreaming program on Thursday to mark China Space Day.[Photo by Tang Ke / For China Daily]

Planetary exploration program named Tianwen, or Quest for Heavenly Truth

President Xi Jinping extended greetings to elder scientists who participated in the country's first satellite program 50 years ago and said he expected space industry workers to learn from their predecessors' spirit and strive to build the nation into a stronger space power.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, wrote a letter in reply to some distinguished Chinese space scientists who participated in the Dongfanghong 1 mission half a century ago. He said new generations of space industry workers should learn and uphold the spirit of those who took part in the making of the nation's first nuclear weapon, ballistic missile and satellite.

A number of decorated space scientists, including Sun Jiadong and Wang Xiji, recently wrote the letter to Xi to express their expectations for China's space sector.

In his reply, Xi encouraged space industry professionals to overcome difficulties and hardships to achieve new heights in space science and technology.

"(You should) strive to strengthen and expand our space exploration and make our country a great space power as soon as possible," the president wrote.

Xi also wrote that he was in the village of Liangjiahe in Shaanxi province 50 years ago when he heard about the launch of China's first satellite. He told them he was very excited about the great news.

He recalled that the scientists' enterprise, diligence and perseverance inspired the whole nation at that time and exemplified the Chinese people's spirit of striving.

On April 24, 1970, the first Chinese satellite, Dongfanghong 1 or The East is Red 1, was carried aloft by China's first carrier rocketLong March 1.

The mission made China the fifth nation to independently design, build and launch a satellite, after the Soviet Union, the United States, France and Japan. The 173-kilogram spacecraft worked 28 days before it ran out of power, but the satellite still travels in its orbit.

China has since sent over 500 spacecraft aloft and developed more than 20 models of carrier rockets.

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.[Photo provided by the China Academy of Space Technology]

In 2016, China designated April 24 as China Space Day. Space authorities and major contractors organize events around the date each year to commemorate the nation's accomplishments in space. This year's events were mainly held by teleconferencing or livestreaming due to the impact of the novel coronavirus outbreak.

The annual China Space Conference is scheduled for Fujian province in the second half of the year, according to the China National Space Administration.

China is now a major player in the international space arena. The country carried out more space missions in 2019 than any other nation, with 32 successful orbital launches.

Also, on Friday, the China National Space Administration announced that the country's planetary exploration program has been named Tianwen, or Quest for Heavenly Truth.

The program was named after a long poem by famous ancient poet Qu Yuan of the Kingdom of Chu during the Warring States Period (475-221 BC). He is known for his patriotism and contributions to classical poetry and verses, especially through the poems of the Chu Ci anthology, also known as Songs of Chu.

The name represents the Chinese people's relentless pursuit of truth, the country's cultural inheritance of its understanding of nature and the universe, as well as unending explorations in science and technology, officials said.

The country's first Mars mission, which is expected to take place in coming months, was named Tianwen 1, the administration said.

It also released the planetary exploration program's emblem, which incorporates the elements of China, cooperation and capability in deep-space expeditions.

According to the administration, the country's first Martian probe will conduct scientific investigation of the Martian soil, geological structure, environment and atmosphere as well as water.

The robotic probe will consist of three partsthe orbiter, lander and rover. The rover will have six wheels and four solar panels and will carry 13 scientific instruments. It will weigh more than 200 kilograms and will work about three months on the planet, said Sun Zezhou, the probe's chief designer at the China Academy of Space Technology.

Ye Peijian, a leading scientist in deep-space exploration at the academy, said the probe is expected to land on the Martian surface before July 2021.
The only thing worse than a pandemic is having Donald Trump as your president during a pandemic. Tens of thousands of Americans have died. Tens of millions have lost their jobs. President Trump, meanwhile, has indulged in self-pity, touted an unproven drug, bragged about the TV ratings of his press briefings, and expressed interest in the idea of people injecting disinfectants into their lungs  or, as we used to call it, committing suicide.

Every day, we have to worry about the president's mental health when he should be worrying about our physical health.

After saying he wanted "the governors to be running things," Trump said his authority was "total." "The president of the United States calls the shots," he explained. Three days later, he told governors, "You're going to call your own shots."

To the extent that Trump has a plan, it is to take credit for everything the governors do well and to blame them for everything he does poorly. On Wednesday, he faulted Georgia's Republican governor for reopening businesses too soon. This was five days after Trump called for several states to be "liberated" from the guidelines he himself had issued the day before. Governors can't do anything right. If they reopen businesses, Trump will blame them for deaths. If they keep businesses closed, he will blame them for a bad economy as well as deaths. By doing nothing, Trump hopes to be blamed for nothing.

Too late. He failed to prepare for the pandemic even though  and also because  there was a book outlining how to prepare for a pandemic. Trump doesn't read much, know much, or learn much. He feels much and talks much.

"I'm not a doctor," Trump said, "but I'm a person with common sense."

Apparently, it's common sense to call hydroxychloroquine "a very special thing" and to say that "a lot of people are saying" that patients should take the unproven drug. According to a White House official, these people include "so many people in New York  friends, Wall Street guys, real estate guys."

Story continues

When not heeding the medical advice of real estate guys, Trump relies on his own epidemiological clairvoyance. He told Fox News' Sean Hannity he had a "hunch" about the coronavirus death rate. "Personally, I would say the number is way under 1 percent," he said, adding, "I don't believe you need 40,000 or 30,000 ventilators." As Joel Stein said, "Sometimes you just know in your gut how many ventilators each hospital will need in a pandemic."

Trump's "war against the invisible enemy" is a war against the scientific method. We cannot attack the coronavirus. We can only hide from it and defend ourselves with gloves, masks, and hand sanitizer. This takes time. The only way to win is to wait.

Trump doesn't want to wait. Just six days after he called himself "a wartime president," he said the war had "been going for a while" and that it should end by Easter (19 days later). Why Easter? Because, he said, "Easter is a very special day ... for me." Trump makes everything about him, even the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The president's subordinates are tasked with protecting his ego first and Americans' lives second. His trade advisor Peter Navarro said on Fox & Friends, "I bet on President Trump's intuition on this." He said "this" because hydroxychloroquine was too hard to pronounce. Dr. Deborah Birx, coordinator of the White House's coronavirus task force, said that Trump is "so attentive to the scientific literature and the details and the data." This is true if Fox News chyrons count as scientific literature.

In the Trump administration, telling the truth is a fireable offense. Dr. Rick Bright, the director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, was removed for questioning the president's recommendation of hydroxychloroquine as a treatment for the coronavirus. Now medical researchers have to worry about getting fired for not recommending ingesting bleach.

While visiting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last month, Trump boasted, "I really get it. People are surprised that I understand it. Every one of these doctors said, 'How do you know so much about this?' Maybe I have a natural ability. Maybe I should have done that instead of running for president."

He should have. Our hospitals would be in much better shape if Trump were in one of them.

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Every day, Russian officials of various ranks urge the world to think humanism and human rights and finally lift Russia sanctions. Of course, they say, this must be done exclusively to help tackle coronavirus and, first of all, in the countries who are Russia's BFFs: Syria, Venezuela, Iran, and North Korea. In this context, Russians don't directly mention themselves - the pride of the "great power" just won't let them do it. But the logic is obvious: tread on sympathy and convince the West to accept the "humanitarian limit of sanctions". The main thing is to create a precedent. It is no coincidence that Moscow branded as blasphemy, cynicism, and Russophobia Ukraine's move to block the Russian draft resolution of the UN General Assembly on sanctions.

The Kremlin doesn't intend to change its plans toward Ukraine because the occupation of Crimea and Donbas is one of the pillars of Putin's regime

The Kremlin doesn't intend to change its plans toward Ukraine because the occupation of Crimea and Donbas is one of the pillars of Putin's regime. However, against the backdrop of a disastrous collapse in oil prices, Russians, by all means, need to have sanctions lifted and open their way to the western market of cheap lending.

In Ukraine, it is generally accepted that the young and inexperienced Zelensky found himself in a "perfect storm": Russian bullets targeting Ukrainians, the economic crisis, and the pandemic. However, Putin, albeit more experienced, has also fallen into a perfect storm of his own: the economic recession that has been looming over Russia for a few previous years coincided with quarantine-related losses, plus the oil price collapse. It turned out that not only the presidential terms that were reset in Russia but also the infamous "stability". It turned out that, while rising from its knees, Russia has relied solely on its oil rigs. The oil industry is, in fact, a state-forming sector in Russia.

It is no coincidence that the Russian Federation occupied Ukrainian territories in 2014  back then, oil cost more than $100 per barrel. From that moment, the hydrocarbon god turned his back on Putin as prices started sliding, remaining over the last five years within the corridor of $50-70 per barrel. The result was inevitable: since 2014, real incomes of the Russian population have been falling. But now came the real fiasco. Oversupply of oil amid coronavirus lockdowns drove prices down, sometimes even to negative values.

Russian leaders, hiding out from the epidemic in their secret bunkers, have nothing left to do but to bite their nails from anxiety. Who knows, maybe in a little while they'll even have to smash Russia's piggy bank  the National Welfare Fund worth nearly $120 billion. Deutsche Bank experts have calculated that this money will be gone in two years if Russian Urals oil costs no more than $15 per barrel, as it is now. If the price of this brand is $30 per barrel, the agony can be extended for some six years.

Russia's show-off moves in the international arena are directly dependent on hydrocarbon prices

In any case, Russia's show-off moves in the international arena are directly dependent on hydrocarbon prices. This means that there will be less will to bully Ukraine, although Russians will always find the money for war.

The Kremlin doesn't dispute such forecasts, preferring to water them down by saying, "long-term planning is impossible now." They are waiting for oil prices to rise.

But what if they don't?...

Roman Tsymbaliuk
Home > Archives (2006 on) > 2020 > Agricultural and lockdown for covid19: Some preliminary evidences from (...)

by Atanu Sengupta and Asish Kumar Pal

Abstract: As we have already acknowledged that India is developing economy, it is stated as an economy passing through demand depression and high unemployment. With an increasing number of coronavirus case, they government has lockdown transport services, closed all economy without some some necessary and urgent sectors, factories, public and private offices and restricted mobilisation. No doubt it would slowdown the supply side. At the time of boro paddy harvesting the farmers of rural economy will suffer though both the central and state government has decided to permit the activities in agricultural sector. Most of the rural people depends on agricultural related activities in our state as well as country. Impact of lockdown system for protect of covid -19 will crisis the rural economy from the two dimensions as supply side as demand side.

Keywords: Agriculture, Lockdown, Covid  19, Rural, Economy

Introduction:

Prime minister Naendra modi announced 21 days lockdown and also added 19 days more in India due to covid 19 epidemic. The covid -19 is the first and foremost human disaster in this year. WHO declared a pandemic situation by which more than 200 countries as well as territories have suffered and near about 1 lakh 60 thousands deaths globally, 500 deaths country wide and 15 deaths in West Bengal till now [10].

In this situation our country is passing through demand depression and high unemployment till. Now. It would also slowdown the supply side of the economy. With an increasing number of coronavirus cases, the government has lockdown transport services, closed all public and private offices, factories and restricted mobilisation ( Mukherjee et al, April,2020) [4]. According to MRD report there is a job loss of 40 million people in the country[3]. There are several sectorial impact such as Restaurant services, Food and agriculture, Micro small and medium( MSME) sector, Online business or Internet business sector ( Mukherjee, Roy and Bag; 7th April, 2020) [4]. As per recent NSSO report ,agriculture employed more than 50% of the Indian workforce and contributed 17- 18% to countrys GDP. So agriculture sector is the most priority sector in Indian economy [5]. In this scenario coronavirus lockdown will have an adverse effect on the agricultural sector in rural areas of West Bengal.

Now it is the time of boro paddy harvesting season in rural areas of West Bengal. Farmers worry about their standing crops. Though both the central and state government have permitted or cut to continue the activities in agricultural sector, the rural farmers may be faced some terrible problems. They have already complained about their crops damage due to to lockdown and heavy rainfall recently. Our aim of study is the adverse effect of lockdown on agricultural sector of West Bengal.

Some recent studies: The supply of the food and agriculture production will be affected in the coming seasons to low sowing of the upcoming seasonal crops which will affect the mandi operations as said by the ministry of Agriculture.

Rice mills come to stand still despite exemption from lockdown by kar Peasant, March 26, 2020 [3].

Indias ongoing lockdown to control the spread of coronavirus is threatening the agriculture sector as it overlaps with the time of harvest (Aggarwal, 3rd April, 2020) [6].

According to Patel, in his famous paper Covid 19 lockdown locks down farmers income a farmer in village Valvada in valsad area in Gujarat, ground chilli and brinjal on his 22  acre farm his crops are ready for harvest but the ongoing lockdown has disrupted his plans [2].

GKSs (Gujarat Khedut Samantha) president Jayesh Patel cited the example of Gujarat In our area, fruits like banana, chiku, watermelon and vegetables are ready for harvest. But neither there is labour to help nor is there a buyer. The main concern is that there are perishable items and if not harvested in time they will become unusable (published by Aggarwal, April, 2020) [7].

The country wide lockdown to contain the spread of novel coronavirus (Covid 19) has triggered labour shortage in many areas, impacting the harvest and marketing of rabi crops such as mustard, wheat, pulses and paddy (Vora et.al, March 25, 2020) [9].

According to Gurmeet Singh of Bhattiwal Khurd village in Sangrur, (March 25, 2020), harvesting mostly done by combine harvester, and if the carfiew is continued then it will bring hardship for every farmer [8].

Methodology:

We have selected two villages of West Bengal in our study. These villages are totally based on agricultural activities ( like potato and boro paddy production). We have taken 100 farmers who are directly exposed to effects of lockdown by government. We have devided the farmers into three categories i.e big farmers, small farmers and marginal farmers. In our study we have shown how they are affected class wise. In the present study we concentrate on 100 stratified farmers of the selected villages.

Table 1: Distribution of sampled farmers

Marginal (1-4 acre). 35 Small (5-10 acre) 35 Large > 10 acre 30

A detailed questionnaire was prepared to elicit a wide amount of information about these land holders. The questionnaire may be sub grouped under several conditions such as amount of their cropped area, crisis of labour, status of crops, inconvenience of harvesting in this period, shortage of market and storage etc. We have also collected information regarding income from agricultural sources and any other source of income of their family, their expenditure during this seasonal crops.

Result of the study:

We now consider the labour shortage. It is the main obstacle to harvest the boro crops in the study area. We see that large farmers depend on migrant labours though small and marginal farmers depend on local farmers. Migrant farm labourers are moving back to their native places. Thus there is a direct effect of migrant labour crisis on the large farmers.

Table 2A: Dependence of migrants labour among the large farmers

Users. 27 Not users. 03

Table 2B: Dependence on (local) labour among the small farmers

Users. 28 Not users. 07

Table 2C: Dependence on (Local) labour among the marginal farmers

Users. 04 Not users 31

However the story does not ends here. Due to lockdown even the supply of local labourers has also dried up considerably. This is affecting the small and marginal farmers. Most of the farmers (about 90%) are worried about of harvesting the crops during the covid -19.

Table 3 : Opinion about damage of crops among all types of farmers due to proper maintenance like fertilizer, irrigation, labour crisis

Farmers. Damage not damage Marginal 26. 06 Large 30. 00

Secondly, the farmers basically hire the heavy machinery for collecting the crops. This type of machinery is brought from other states like Punjab, Haryana and Utter Pradesh. Lockdown is creating major problem here. Now it is another problem which is faced by them.

Another problem faced by the marginal farmers is that during this period shortage of capital. As a result of this they cannot to provide the water into their cropped areas. They are basically daily labour in their locality. Due to lockdown period they have lost the works. They do not have sufficient money to expend on irrigation system. They cannot buy appropriate fertilizer which is necessary for growth of crops. Big farmers also use fertilizer and irrigation due to crisis of labour. Some small farmers are also suffering from this. So 85% famers are afraid from damage or low production of crops (Table 3).

Next we consider the closing of markets. In most of the states some markets remain closed. The lockdown has disrupted supply chains for most crops. Many rice mills are closed due to deficiency of labour supply. So the farmers specially 78% of large farmers will face the problem to supply their crops properly to rice mill owners. The marginal and small farmers 84% of them sell their crops fore or intermediaries. They also think their crops will remain in unsold situation due to lockdown for covid -19.



Table 4: Opinion for storage of paddy during the lockdown period among the big farmers

Closed for rice mill. 24 06 Closed for transport system. 22 08

Next problem is transportation which indirectly affects on boro production in rural economy. Transportation helps the rural economy. Although the government has permitted to agro crops related transport most of the farmers are not expecting to supply properly in market. Many track drivers are not in working condition due to spread of coronavirus.

Table 5: Expenditure per acre (on boro paddy) among the farmers

No of farmers. Expenditure (RS) 85. 11,000  12000 09. 10,000 06. 10,000- 12,000

Now coming to the point of economic aspect of land holders, It is stated that most of the large farmers depend on agricultural income from boro cultivation. They expend Rs 10000-12000 per acre. So if they cannot harvest paddy properly, they will be at a loss.

Similarly 82% of small farmers are expected same. It is astonished that 95% of marginal farmers who are not directly linked with agricultural marketing are also afraid of huge amount of loss. Maximum of them have taken loan from mohajon or cooperative bank in rural area. They are worried about to pay the loan. Perhaps they may be in trap of debt. They will face on distress sell. As a result one type of black marketer, speculators will be appeared in rural economy. Despite of huge production, man  made deficiency of food grains will be created.

Table 6: Afraid about loss of boro production during this season due to lockdown

No of farmers. Opinion 70 yes 11. May be or may not be 13. overcome the loss at any cost 06. No opinion

Conclusion:

From the above analysis we observe that there are two aspects of problem in rural agriculture one is demand side another supply side. In rural India most of the people depends on agriculture or activities related to it. If they are unable to earn proper income, they will have no purchasing power. The rural economy will be in crisis. On the other hand if the agricultural production is low or if they do not harvest boro paddy at the lockdown period there will be a sharp decline in production. This will lead to deficiency of food crops. As a consequence, food crisis will be created in India during the disease of covid -19.

References:

Aggarwal, Maynak. (April, 2020), A report on impact of lockdown in Indian agriculture, india .mongabay.com

Kar, Peasant, (March, 2020) A report of lockdown in agricultural sector, economicstime India .com

Ministry of Agriculture report (April,2020).

Mikherjee, Tanisha., Roy, Nilanjan., Bag, Sudin, (April, 2020),  Opinion: Impact of covid -19 on the Indian Economy, economictimes.com

NSSO report, 2020

Patel, Bharat (April, 2020), Covid -19 lockdown locks down farmers income, India.mongabay.com

Singh, Gurmmut ( March, 2020), A report of Agricultural effects due to lockdown period the hondu .com

Vora et.al,(March, 2020 ) A news on agriculture for covid- 19, the Hindustan times line.com

World Health Organisation Report (Updated)

o o

Authors:

Atanu Sengupta, is Professor, Economics Department, Burden University, West Bengal

email:sengupta_atanu[at]yahoo.com

Asish Kumar Pal, is Assistant Professor, Economics Department, Taraleswar Degree College, West Bengal,

email: Asish.kr.pal[at]gmail.com
Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Saturday suggested that the government implement a five-point programme to rescue micro, small and medium scale enterprises (MSEME) from collapse.

In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, she said the government should announce a Rs 1 lakh crore MSME Wage protection package. This would go a long way in shoring up these jobs, boosting morale as well as greatly alleviating the predicted economic spiral.

She also suggested that the government establish and deploy a credit guarantee fund of Rs 1 lakh crore to provide immediate liquidity to the sector and ensure adequate capital is available to MSMEs at a time when they need it most.

Gandhi also said that actions taken by RBI must get reflected in actions by commercial banks to ensure adequate, easy and timely credit to MSMEs. Any monetary action at the RBI send must be backed by sound fiscal support from the government, she added.

She also suggested extending the RBIs moratorium on loan payments by MSMEs.

These measures need to be supported by an expansion and extension of the RBIs moratorium on payment of loans for MSME beyond the stipulated period of three months. The government should also explore a waiver/reduction of taxes for MSMEs and other sector specific measures.

Gandhi also suggested that the government address the issue of high collateral security leading to denial of credit.

She claimed that the MSME sector was taking a hit of Rs 30,000 crore per day during the lockdown and 11 crore employees faced the risk of losing their jobs.

Government has acknowledged MSMEs to be the backbone of our economy. It is time it takes measures to ensure the revival and strengthening of that backbone. This is a case where timely and decisive action can make all the difference, the Congress chief wrote.
D onald Trump signed in a major aid bill worth $484 billion to support hospitals and employers in the US as his country's coronavirus death toll surpassed 50,000.

The US has suffered more deaths than anywhere else on the planet and faces a major strain on health services and its economy due to the ongoing pandemic.

The bill, which has around 392 billion of funding measures, is the latest effort by the federal government to help keep afloat businesses which have suffered in lockdown measures as states try to slow the spread of the virus.

President Trump thanked Congress for answering my call to provide the assistance and said it was a tremendous victory".

TODO: define component type apester

Anchoring the bill is the Trump administrations 250 billion dollar request to replenish a fund to help small and medium-size businesses with payroll, rent and other expenses.

Over the past five weeks, roughly 26 million people have filed for jobless aid. That is about one in six US workers.

The measure passed Congress almost unanimously on Thursday.
Czechs See Signs Of Russian Role In Cyberattacks As Tensions Remain High

By Tony Wesolowsky April 24, 2020

A recent wave of coordinated cyberattacks in the Czech Republic is likely tied to malware linked to Russia, Czech Internet security experts say.

Earlier this month, Czech officials said information-technology (IT) systems at Prague's international airport, several hospitals, and the Health Ministry were targeted in the attacks, which sparked outrage in Prague -- and Washington, as well.

On April 22, the Czech Interior Ministry said its IT systems were also targeted in the attacks, all of which were thwarted and were preceded by warnings from the country's cybersecurity watchdog of expected cyberattacks on critical infrastructure.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on April 17 expressed concern over the incidents, saying anybody engaged in such activity should "expect consequences." He said the attacks, particularly those targeting medical facilities, were especially worrying, given the current global coronavirus crisis.

The Russian Embassy in Prague on April 17 denied any Russian link to the attacks, although Czech officials have made no such accusations.

The Czech cybersecurity watchdog NUKIB has said the attacks were thought to be the work of a "serious and advanced adversary," although it did not name any countries.

Tools used in the coviper malware attack were first detected in January, explained Miroslav Dvorak, technical director for the Slovak-based Internet security firm ESET.

"MBR Locker was detected in Russia and China at the beginning of January," Dvorak said. "At the time, we did not connect it with any security incidents."

The malware used in the attacks is designed to damage or destroy victims' computers, Dvorak explained, adding that it has a possible Russian link.

"It's impossible to pinpoint where the attacks originated, but the tool MBR Locker, with which it was created, is in the Russian language. So are the instructions for using it, and they can be found on forums used by Russian hackers," Dvorak said in comments sent to RFE/RL.

He added that the digital trail also led to IP addresses in China.

'Probing For Weaknesses'

The Czech Interior Ministry said the attacks on its IT systems were more an attempt to find weak points rather than to take them out of operation, in contrast to the attacks on the hospitals and Prague's Vaclav Havel Airport.

Interior Ministry spokesman Jiri Korbel said on April 22 the ministry had been forewarned by NUKIB and the National Center for Combating Organized Crime. "They attacked the external e-mail of the Interior Ministry. It appeared to be preparations for something truly big," Korbel told the news website Lidovky.cz.

A source told Lidovky that Czech investigators were cooperating in the probe with foreign partners, including the FBI. "Of course, we're working with the FBI. That's why Mike Pompeo intervened," the source was quoted as saying.

NUKIB said late last year that Russia and China posed the biggest threat to cybersecurity in the country. It added that China was behind a major cyberattack on a key government institution in the Czech Republic last year.

In October 2019, the head of the Czech Security Information Service (BIS) announced his agency had dismantled a Russian espionage network that was meant to be used for cyberattacks against the Czech Republic and its allies.

Michal Koudelka said the network was supported by the Russian Embassy in Prague and Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB).

Differing On The Past

The cyberattacks come at a moment when relations between Moscow and Prague are particularly tense, especially after a controversial statue of a Soviet-era marshal was taken down in a district of Prague.

Moscow considers the April 3 removal of the statue of Marshal Ivan Konev, who led the Red Army forces during World War II that drove Nazi troops from most of Czechoslovakia, an insult and an attempt to rewrite history.

The statue, erected in 1980, of Konev, who also played a leading role in crushing the 1956 Hungarian uprising and building the Berlin Wall in 1961, was a reminder to many Czechs of the country's communist past and the center of controversy in Prague for years.

Ondrej Kolar, the district mayor of Prague 6, where the Konev statue stood, is now under police protection, the Czech news magazine Respekt reported on April 22.

According to an unidentified source quoted by Respekt, "a Russian citizen has traveled to Prague, who could pose a threat to Kolar." The source also said a "group of Russian intelligence officers" had been monitored moving from Russia to Europe.

It highlights the two countries' widening chasm on interpreting the past, and it's not an isolated incident.

In November 2019, another district mayor in Prague proposed building a monument to a controversial World War II military division made up of Soviet defectors called the Vlasov Army that fought alongside the Nazis.

Domestic Support

Relations between Prague and Moscow also soured over a Czech decision to rename the square where the Russian Embassy is located.

Two months ago, Prague officials dedicated the leafy square in front of the embassy complex to former Russian Deputy Prime Minister Boris Nemtsov, who was fatally shot in February 2015, meters away from the Kremlin walls. He was an outspoken critic of President Vladimir Putin.

Despite the strains in bilateral ties, Moscow can count on some support in Prague, namely from Czech President Milos Zeman, who echoed Kremlin outrage over the removal of the Konev statue as an "abuse of the state of emergency" declared due to the coronavirus crisis in the Czech Republic.

In the past, Zeman has spoken out against the sanctions imposed on Russia for its annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula and its efforts to foment unrest in parts of eastern Ukraine, where more than 13,000 people have died since the conflict erupted there in April 2014.

In 2016, Zeman voiced his backing for holding public referendums on the country's membership in both NATO and the EU, although he add that he personally favored remaining in both.

In 2015, Zeman attended events in Moscow to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, ignoring a boycott by other Western leaders who stayed away in protest over Russian actions in Ukraine.

Experts have said Zeman, an anti-immigrant populist, may have received backing from the Kremlin in his bid to win reelection in 2018.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/czechs-see-signs- of-russian-role-in-cyberattacks-as- tensions-remain-high/30574658.html

Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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As deaths from the coronavirus rise, topping 1,500 across California, families are left in the dark about how many of those occur in the nursing homes, where their ill parents and others they love remain isolated, because the state Department of Public Health has so far declined to say.

In Santa Clara County, which does disclose the data, nearly 30% of all coronavirus deaths have occurred in nursing homes.

Now, advocates for residents say the lack of data on nursing home deaths hides how widespread and deadly the virus is in those settings, and withholds critical information from people who have to decide whether to move into a facility or remain in one.

You wont know if youre being sent to a trap, into a building where the virus is already killing people because that information is not being made public, said Michael Dark, a staff attorney at the California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform. Its the state and the counties choosing not to look a crisis in the face. Theyre covering their eyes.

Each day, Californias public health officials report the number of deaths across the state due to COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. They also report a daily total of positive coronavirus cases, and break out those that occur in hospital patients and health care workers statewide. But they do not break out the number of nursing home deaths.

The state is not including information on skilled nursing facility deaths at this time, the Public Health Departments information office told The Chronicle, adding that it will release the information in the future. No one responded to further inquiries, however.

Some counties release the number of deaths and infections at nursing homes. Santa Clara County reported 98 deaths from the coronavirus  29 of which occurred in nursing homes, or nearly 30%. The county does not say at which of its 17 facilities the deaths occurred.

Most Bay Area counties decline to release the number of nursing home deaths, citing privacy concerns.

Health care privacy laws, of course, do not prevent releasing aggregate numbered data that dont have names attached, Dark said. This is not personal health care information  that is just a ruse.

Liability may also be a concern.

On April 9, health care industry representatives  including those representing nursing homes  sent a letter to Gov. Gavin Newsom asking him to sign an executive order protecting nursing homes, senior care facilities, doctors and hospitals from lawsuits and prosecutions during the pandemic.

Now Playing: The top of Salesforce Tower is illuminated with artist Jim Campbells contribution in support of medical workers and first responders fighting Covid-19 with video of clapping hands and prayer flags. The artists Day for Night, video show atop the tower, changed at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, with clapping hands taking its place, then changed at 8:30 p.m. to prayer flags until 12:30 a.m. Video: Carlos Avila Gonzalez

Nursing homes, also called skilled nursing facilities, are distinct from assisted-living places where residents need basic help with daily living. Nursing home residents generally have more complex health conditions and may require around-the-clock care.

Union City Councilman Jaime Patino said it is crucial for nursing homes to inform family members about coronavirus outbreaks and deaths.

Patinos 84-year-old grandmother died April 13 after she tested positive for the coronavirus while at Gateway Care & Rehabilitation Center in Hayward. That nursing home has come under scrutiny after 13 people died, and 42 residents and 26 staff members tested positive.

Patino said the facility notified his family after one person at the facility had tested positive for the virus. Two weeks later, he found out about more infections from a news article.

For the families of people that arent infected, they need to make a decision, do we move them to another facility? Do we bring them home? Do we leave them there? he said. Had we had information sooner, we probably would have moved her.

On April 19, the states Public Health Department asked all skilled nursing facilities to submit daily updates on current staffing levels, the number of COVID-19 patients and equipment availability. The survey that facilities must fill out does not ask about deaths.

The threat of the coronavirus is particularly concerning in congregant settings like nursing homes where social distancing and separation from workers and residents isnt an easy option, said Jessica Lehman, executive director at Senior and Disability Action.

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.

Nursing home residents are acutely vulnerable to the virus due to their age and underlying medical conditions, health experts say. This week, an official from the World Health Organization said that as many as half of the people who died in Europe from the coronavirus may have lived in either nursing homes or assisted living facilities.

It has been very difficult to get information from the state or from the city and county, Lehman said. We dont know how bad things are, and we dont know how many people have been tested and we know a lot of people arent being tested.

Similar transparency issues have surfaced with testing. The California Department of Public Health each day says how many tests have been conducted statewide to date. But it does not break down testing data by lab. This means that when there was a major testing backlog  at one point, 64% of the tests conducted in the state were pending, though the backlog has since been cleared  it was impossible to tell at which labs the pending tests were held up.

Also, the number of health care worker deaths isnt reported on any state list. Rather, that information has to be requested and is otherwise folded into the daily death count. A total of 22 health care workers had died from COVID-19 as of Friday, said Kate Folmar, deputy secretary for external affairs for California Health and Human Services Agency.

Folmar said The Chronicle would have to file a public records request to get a breakdown of health care worker deaths by county and facility.

On Friday, Gov. Gavin Newsom said 522 skilled nursing facilities and senior care centers across the state have had at least one person infected with COVID-19. More than 2,700 staffers and patients currently have the coronavirus, he added.

San Francisco Chronicle staff writers Catherine Ho and Mallory Moench contributed to this report.

Sarah Ravani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: sravani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SarRavani
Coronavirus cases have doubled in the last week in Marshall County, home of Lake Guntersville in north Alabama, with the number of positive tests now outpacing any county north of Birmingham.

Officials this week pointed to two primary reasons: The ongoing work at essential industries such as poultry processing plants  where employees typically work elbow to elbow  and the fact that Marshall has tested more people for the novel coronavirus than neighboring counties.

One poultry plant, Wayne Farms in Albertville, confirmed earlier this week that 75 employees had tested positive and one had died. Marshall County has more than a dozen poultry processing plants, primarily located in Albertville.

"I know as a plant and a staff there, they are doing everything they can to keep their staff safe," said Tracy Honea, Albertville's mayor.

Related: Alabama hospital celebrates miracle coronavirus recovery

Honea said he is in daily contact with the poultry plants, trying to maintain a gauge on the virus' spread and the companies' efforts to mitigate that spread. He said there hasn't been a company resistant to making changes for the well-being of their employees.

The poultry industry is a major engine of the Marshall County economy  from the processing plants with high numbers of employees to the individual poultry farmers scattered throughout the county. Some of those changes include reducing production loads, which means fewer workers are needed.

At Wayne Farms, the Albertville mayor said one shift is down to about 20 percent production.

"It's very obvious to me if you reach out to these folks, they are doing a lot," Honea said. "They are doing as much as they possibly can."

In Marshall County, 258 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in Marshall County, more than double the number of positives on April 17. However, just 12 people are hospitalized.

The rate of positive tests have been generally lower across the state than in Marshall County, which has a rate of 266.6 positive tests per 100,000 people. Of the seven bordering counties, Marshalls rate is more than five times the rate of three counties and more than six times another bordering county.

The exception is Etowah County to Marshalls southeast. But even Etowahs rate at 117.3 is more than two times lower than Marshalls rate. Etowah, however, has had 8 coronavirus deaths -- twice Marshalls total.

Marshall Medical Center, which has the countys two hospitals in Boaz and Guntersville, described the number of inpatients as being disproportionate to the number of positive tests. The smaller, hard-hit counties, Tallapoosa and Chambers, have seen four times as many deaths as Marshall.

Anita McBurnett, the Marshall County EMA director, stressed the high number of positives circles back to a high number of tests that have been administered. According to the Alabama Department of Public Health, the 1,235 tests that have been conducted in Marshall County far exceeds tests in any bordering county except Madison.

But McBurnett, with a county-wide perspective as EMA director, said the poultry plants are a factor as well.

"We know where it's kind of circulating," she said. "We have a lot of industry here, to include poultry industry. If you have it in one location, the chances of it being transferred to other employees exists. I think that's what we're seeing in Marshall County is that.

"Steps are being taken at the poultry producing plants and other industry to try to ensure social distancing and try to in some of these places they work elbow to elbow. That's the situation."

Guntersville Mayor Leigh Dollar echoed that perspective as well.

"We have some in Guntersville," she said. "I dont think we're the significant number in Marshall County. I think it's probably more in the south of the county (where Wayne Farms is located) than it is right here  from what I hear. I dont know if thats a fact."

The reality is that local leaders said there is no firm reason or source for the high number of tests in Marshall County, a topic Dollar said they will no doubt study as the immediate threat subsides.

"I wonder why. Why are we so high?" said Dollar, who also pointed to the amount of testing ongoing in the county as a possible explanation. "Why are we higher than Madison County now? I dont like being termed the hot spot. That is not something we want to be. That's why we try to get the message out to follow the safety protocol."

Honea, meanwhile, did not mention increased testing and focused primarily on the close-contact industries in his town.

"Obviously, the numbers have spiked," he said. "The things these companies have put into place, they have almost put (line workers) in their own cubicles. I'm not just hearing it from one, I'm hearing it from a lot of them. When you've got USDA and state health department folks (looking on), I think they are doing the right thing and doing all they can. I, for one, want to do everything I can to help them.

"I dont think they need rocks thrown at them. Unless they are blatantly doing stuff wrong and, to this point, I have not seen that."

Still, the hot spot is actually not that hot when it comes to patients being hospitalized. And thats been the fear among healthcare workers  a surge of patients so great it overwhelms the hospitals. From a hospital perspective, given the numbers of people requiring inpatient treatment, the pandemic has not had much of an impact in Marshall County.

Marshall hospitals also have the safety net of Huntsville Hospital. The Marshall hospitals are part of the Huntsville Hospital Healthcare System and CEO David Spillers said that Huntsville could handle some COVID-19 patients from Marshall County if the hospitals there are strained.

"The anecdotal information is that many of the patients are in that age group where they have it, but it doesn't seem to particularly cause a lot of problems," Spillers said of the Marshall positives. "Hopefully, that will continue."

Nevertheless, Spillers has repeatedly said over the past couple of weeks that he is "concerned" about Marshall County and is watching the situation closely.

"You always worry about that group (of young COVID-19 patients) taking it back and giving it to their parents and grandparents or somebody who is older and has some complications," he said. "So far, it hasn't been an issue.

I would have projected more inpatients based on the number of outpatients they have.
(Newser)  Kim Jong Un is either vegetative or dead after undergoing a failed cardiovascular procedure on April 12, according to Asian media reportsbut Reuters has been unable to confirm or deny. All reports agree that China has sent a team of doctors and officials to North Korea to advise on the nation's leader, but beyond that, it's a wash. The Japanese weekly magazine Shukan Gendai reports that a member of the team said Kim grabbed his chest and fell to the ground on a visit to the countryside in early April, per the Jerusalem Post. The team member also said Kim's accompanying doctor called for the team's help, and Kim was in a vegetative state.

story continues below

A Beijing-backed TV channel in Hong Kong goes a step further, reporting that a "very solid source" tells them Kim is dead, per the International Business Times. It was reported this week that Kim was out of the public eye and "gravely ill," but South Korea said it couldn't confirm the report. President Trump downplayed it, saying "I think the report was incorrect," but didn't say whether North Korean officials had filled him in. Meanwhile, Reuters is treading carefully, saying it "was unable to immediately determine what the trip by the Chinese team signaled in terms of Kims health." (Read more Kim Jong Un stories.)
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Linkedin Budi Sutrisno (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, April 25, 2020 12:19 627 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd42d7d0 1 National outbreak,study,fail,COVID-19-in-Indonesia,PSBB,large-scale-social-restrictions,public-policy,coronavirus,COVID-19,virus-corona,virus-korona-indonesia Free

The COVID-19 outbreak in Indonesia may be prolonged under its current strategy of imposing large-scale social restrictions (PSBB), with the number of confirmed cases in April exceeding the projected number, a study has suggested.

Following the PSBB implementation in Jakarta  the countrys epicenter of COVID-19, on April 10, public policy observer Pandu Wibowo conducted a study, calculating that Indonesia might confirm only 4,700 cases in late April and reach its peak in June with 6,100 cases.

In mid-April, however, the country surpassed the prediction, with the number of cases increasing to 5,136 on April 15, indicating that PSBB measures had not been effective, the study concluded. The government has recorded 8,211 cases as of Friday.

Through data observation until April 20, the government has failed under its first strategy, with the PSBB not working as it should. To that end, the government must take a chance on scenario two and optimize the PSBB, Pandu told The Jakarta Post on Friday.

Pandu analyzed the coronavirus spread in Indonesia with what-he-called the NhPR model, counting the number of known cases per day, as well as the chance of contracting the disease and the average number of people encountering people with COVID-19 under the PSBB.

Read also: Indonesia's latest official COVID-19 figures

Under scenario two, the study projects that the number of confirmed cases in Indonesia may reach around 11,000 in April, with stronger awareness of social restrictions and changes in peoples behavior in the last week of the month.

The second scenario illustrates conditions similar to today, with the lack of effective PSBB implementation as Thursday, while many people are still not complying with the rules, Pandu said.

The study predicted that if the government optimized public awareness in the remainder of the week, Indonesia may see about 15,000 cases by the end of May, with 350 to 600 new cases per day, and reach its peak with nearly 16,000 cases in June.

The PSBB must be more effective to reduce virus transmission, Pandu said, adding that the government should tighten law enforcement.

He asked that the government carry out more examinations in each affected region and accelerate the distribution of social security to encourage people to stay home.

Read also: Indonesia suspends all passenger travel across cities to prevent Ramadan exodus

In the third and last scenario, the study predicts that the country may record around 21,000 confirmed cases by the end of April and 30,000 in May, and reach its peak with 31,000 in June, with 800 to 1,100 new cases per day.

It is predicted that the COVID-19 outbreak in Indonesia will end by the end of June under each scenario but the number of cases will vary, depending on the optimization of government policies and the support of public awareness, Pandu said.
Hungarian research into the antibody to the novel coronavirus is showing promising results, and doctors have started to administer it to a patient on Thursday, Chief Medical Officer Cecilia Muller said.

Speaking at the online press conference of the operative board coordinating the response into the novel coronavirus epidemic, Muller said Hungarian researchers were among the first in the world to produce the antibody to the virus, from the blood plasma of recovered patients.



A gravely ill patient is already being treated with the antibody, she said, and called on recovered patients to donate blood plasma.



Meanwhile, the National Centre of Public Health is examining the presence within the environment, and has reported that no trace of the virus has been found in the Budapest sewage system, she said.



Currently, 877 are hospitalised with Covid-19, 61 of whom are on ventilators, Muller said.



The operative boards spokesman, Robert Kiss, told the same press conference that an old border crossing between Austria and Hungary has been opened to commuters and people living close to the border.



Re-opening the Hegyeshalom crossing is helping farmers as well, Kiss added, who cannot use the motorway with farming vehicles. Meanwhile, hospitals in Hungary are being supplied continuously with protective gear, Kiss said.



On Friday, deliveries will arrive at four Budapest hospitals and in the cities of Veszprem, Szekesfehervar, Tatabanya, Ajka and Szekszard, he added.



MTI Photo: Gergely Botar
From L: Nguyen Dac Tung, Chan Dang Minh and Le Ngoc Linh at a trial of Bac Tu Liem District People's court on April 24, 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Van Hiep.

Five men were sentenced Friday to between eight months and four years in prison for violence against Covid-19 task forces in three localities.

In Hanoi's Bac Tu Liem District, Nguyen Dac Tung, 29, received nine months while Le Ngoc Linh and Tran Dang Minh got eight months each.

On the evening of April 4, the three men were drinking and singing karaoke at a grill bar when the task force asked them to disperse. Instead of cooperating, the three men verbally and physically abused the team and Tung punched a police officer of the Phu Dien Ward in the face.

Also Friday, Nguyen Van Thien, 37, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for threatening violence on members of the Covid-19 task force in Van Canh District, Binh Dinh Province in south-central Vietnam.

On April 11, the task force noticed that Thiens coffee shop had more than 10 customers, violating social distancing norms. When he was asked to close the shop, Thien threatened an officer with a knife. He went to his car, took out an 80 cm knife and chased the officers.

Nguyen Van Thien at the Van Canh District People's Court, Binh Dinh Province, April 24, 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Thach Thao.

When an officer was making a report at the scene, Thien hit him with a plastic stool, injuring him in the arm. Van Canh District police later arrested Thien, who had also refused to comply with an earlier request made April 4 to close his shop temporarily.

In the northern province of Hai Duong, Le Quang Huy, 37 was sentenced to four years in prison for stealing a thermometer while going through temperature check at a Covid-19 checkpoint. He was sentenced by the provinces Nam Sach District court.

On April 9, at 8 p.m., Huy was going home after drinking at his father-in-laws house when he was stopped for having his temperature checked. During the process, Huy snatched the thermometer and drove away. Two members of the task force gave chase on their motorbikes, but failed to catch up with him.

Le Quang Huy at the Nam Sach District People's Court, Hai Duong Province, April 24, 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Minh Hanh.

Later that night, he returned the thermometer at another checkpoint in the district and turned himself in at the district police station the next day.

All three violations in the cases listed above occurred while a two-week nationwide social distancing campaign was in force. It required people to stay indoors and not go out except for emergencies or buying food and medicine, and banned the gathering of more than two people in public places.

Many people have been jailed for assaulting and resisting Covid-19 task force members during this period. Thousands have been fined for violating social distancing norms and leaving homes for "non-essential" reasons.

The number of active Covid-19 cases in the country is now 45 after the discharge of 225 patients.

The Covid-19 pandemic has reached 210 countries and territories with a reported death toll of almost 197,000.
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United States of America US Virgin Islands United States Minor Outlying Islands Canada Mexico, United Mexican States Bahamas, Commonwealth of the Cuba, Republic of Dominican Republic Haiti, Republic of Jamaica Afghanistan Albania, People's Socialist Republic of Algeria, People's Democratic Republic of American Samoa Andorra, Principality of Angola, Republic of Anguilla Antarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S) Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, Argentine Republic Armenia Aruba Australia, Commonwealth of Austria, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Bahrain, Kingdom of Bangladesh, People's Republic of Barbados Belarus Belgium, Kingdom of Belize Benin, People's Republic of Bermuda Bhutan, Kingdom of Bolivia, Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana, Republic of Bouvet Island (Bouvetoya) Brazil, Federative Republic of British Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago) British Virgin Islands Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria, People's Republic of Burkina Faso Burundi, Republic of Cambodia, Kingdom of Cameroon, United Republic of Cape Verde, Republic of Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad, Republic of Chile, Republic of China, People's Republic of Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia, Republic of Comoros, Union of the Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, People's Republic of Cook Islands Costa Rica, Republic of Cote D'Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Republic of the Cyprus, Republic of Czech Republic Denmark, Kingdom of Djibouti, Republic of Dominica, Commonwealth of Ecuador, Republic of Egypt, Arab Republic of El Salvador, Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Faeroe Islands Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Fiji, Republic of the Fiji Islands Finland, Republic of France, French Republic French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon, Gabonese Republic Gambia, Republic of the Georgia Germany Ghana, Republic of Gibraltar Greece, Hellenic Republic Greenland Grenada Guadaloupe Guam Guatemala, Republic of Guinea, Revolutionary People's Rep'c of Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Guyana, Republic of Heard and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras, Republic of Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China Hrvatska (Croatia) Hungary, Hungarian People's Republic Iceland, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq, Republic of Ireland Israel, State of Italy, Italian Republic Japan Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of Kazakhstan, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait, State of Kyrgyz Republic Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon, Lebanese Republic Lesotho, Kingdom of Liberia, Republic of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein, Principality of Lithuania Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Macao, Special Administrative Region of China Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Malaysia Maldives, Republic of Mali, Republic of Malta, Republic of Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania, Islamic Republic of Mauritius Mayotte Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco, Principality of Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic Montserrat Morocco, Kingdom of Mozambique, People's Republic of Myanmar Namibia Nauru, Republic of Nepal, Kingdom of Netherlands Antilles Netherlands, Kingdom of the New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua, Republic of Niger, Republic of the Nigeria, Federal Republic of Niue, Republic of Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway, Kingdom of Oman, Sultanate of Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama, Republic of Papua New Guinea Paraguay, Republic of Peru, Republic of Philippines, Republic of the Pitcairn Island Poland, Polish People's Republic Portugal, Portuguese Republic Puerto Rico Qatar, State of Reunion Romania, Socialist Republic of Russian Federation Rwanda, Rwandese Republic Samoa, Independent State of San Marino, Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. 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The assistance operation conducted every Ramadan to support needy families in Morocco was launched at the instruction of King Mohammed VI this Saturday, which marks the first day of Ramadan in the country.

King Mohammed VI gave his instructions for the launch of the Ramadan 1441 food distribution operation, for 600,000 needy families, including 459,504 in rural areas, said, this Saturday, the Mohammed V Foundation for Solidarity in a statement.

This years operation expands the number of beneficiaries to 3 million people compared to two million last year. The campaign especially targets widowed women, elderly people, and people with disabilities from poor and rural communities across the country.

The assistance distribution is conducted in compliance with the health measures in force to combat the spread of COVID-19, the foundation said, adding that in view of the unprecedented context, the foundation has increased the funds earmarked for the operation to 85 million dirhams.
Pair rented U-haul for furniture theft, deputies say

Foster, Stalls.

Henderson County sheriffs deputies charged two South Carolina men with multiple breaking and entering felonies after a real estate agency reported a theft in progress in the Finley Cove Road area.

The sheriff's office received a call from the Realtor that when he went to show a home that is listed for sale in the area he observed a U-Haul truck in the driveway. Knowing the home to be vacant, he was suspicious as to why the U-Haul truck was there and telephoned the Sheriffs Office.



Officers from the Henderson County Sheriffs Office arrived on scene and found two individuals at the residence in the process of loading furnishings from the home into the U-Haul truck. Through the assistance of the agent that called in the report officers were able to contact the homeowner, who is living out of state, and were advised that no one had permission to be at the residence.



Further investigation revealed that these two individuals had rented the U-Haul truck for the purpose of breaking into the home and removing the furnishings, the sheriff's office said. Officers took the following two individuals into custody and charged them.



Rychunn Foster, 21, of Greer, South Carolina, is charged with felony breaking & entering, felony larceny, felony conspiracy to commit breaking & entering and damage to real property.





William Xavier Stalls, 18, of Piedmont, South Carolina, is charged with felony breaking & entering, felony larceny, felony conspiracy to commit breaking & entering and damage to real property.

Both individuals were jailed under a $20,000.00 secured bond.
If you havent watched Extraction yet, what are you waiting for? Slick action sequences, incredible stuntwork and big Indian stars like Randeep Hooda and Pankaj Tripathi acting alongside Chris Hemsworth - its a film were over the moon to see made.

If youve enjoyed the up-close action that director Sam Hargrave has pulled off, fresh from his work on the MCU films - youll be sure to enjoy watching these edge-of-your-seat action flicks as well:

1. The Raid (2011)

The granddaddy of all 2010s action films, no questions asked. This Indonesian surprise hit starts off with a deceptively simple premise that seems more video game than a movie.

30 floors, drug lord boss on top, dozens of baddies in the way and a squad of elite cops diving into hell. Dont be fooled though - with picture-perfect pacing, fight choreography and action sequences, this is one that youll be coming back to time and time again.

2. The Accountant (2016)

Good Will Hunting meets Jason Bourne in this 16 flick - which Extraction director Sam Hargrave actually was part of as a direction assistant.

Seamlessly weaving through the story of dark state secrecy and the obsessive mindset of a deadly savant, this also happens to be one of Ben Afflecks best acting performances to date.

3. Atomic Blonde (2017)

Double agents, nuclear intrigue and plenty of well-executed action - this is another film in which Hargrave made key behind-the-scenes contributions that directly led to his own brand of work for Extraction.

Its sexy, well-choreographed and oozes some serious 1980s style - a must watch for spy film fanatics.

4. Taken (2008)

The formulas simple - kidnapped child, badass agent and loads of epic action sequences between the two of them.

Taken was the film that defined this genre of action films, and it still holds up well - after all, watching Liam Neeson break a guys arm in three places never quite gets old.

5. John Wick (2014)

Ive watched this movie over ten times now, and it just never gets old.

Slick, ruthless and loaded with plenty of character and some of the most realistic and gritty fight choreographies ever filmed, this is one for the history books.

Share more awesome action flicks with us in the comments.
LONDON (Reuters) - Low-cost airline Wizz Air <WIZZ.L> said on Saturday it would restart some flights from London's Luton Airport on May 1, becoming one of the first European carriers to begin restoring services that have been halted during the coronavirus pandemic.

European airlines have grounded the majority of their fleets over the last six weeks as demand plunged and travel restrictions to combat the virus took hold. European air traffic is currently down by 90% according to global body IATA.

Wizz said, however, it would be putting some of its planes back in the air "to provide an essential service to passengers who need to travel", adding that the resumption of its flights was subject to no further government restrictions being announced.

Flights to several destinations in Romania, plus Budapest in Hungary, Lisbon in Portugal and Spain's Tenerife would be among those to resume, said London-listed Wizz, which was founded in Hungary and has a big presence in central and eastern Europe.

Wizz said cabin crew would wear masks and gloves throughout flights and distribute sanitising wipes to passengers, while aircraft would be disinfected overnight.

"The protective measures that we are implementing will ensure the most sanitary conditions possible," Wizz Air UK's managing director Owain Jones said in a statement.

Within European airspace most of the flights that are continuing are repatriation journeys and cargo flights, as restrictions prevent other travel and as many Europeans remain confined to their homes in lockdown.

Wizz's bigger rival Ryanair <RYA.I> has parked up 99% of its fleet but continues to fly a limited schedule to keep open some routes for emergency reasons, and has said this will continue until April 30. Its website allows bookings from May 8.

Another low-cost carrier EasyJet <EZJ.L>, which has grounded all its planes, is taking bookings from May 18.

Current UK government advice is for Britons to avoid all non-essential global travel indefinitely.

Story continues

Similar restrictions from governments across the world have left many airlines struggling to survive financially with no visibility on when restrictions will be eased, or the pace of a recovery in demand.

The possibility of new rules to ensure social distancing on flights is proving an additional headache for airlines.

Wizz's Chief Executive Jozsef Varadi said earlier in April that the company was making plans to leave a third of seats empty on its aircraft to allow more space between passengers.

(Reporting by Sarah Young; Editing by Louise Heavens and Helen Popper)
The United States (US) Embassy on Friday donated some food packs to 20 underprivileged households in Muslim communities in Accra to cushion them as they embark on Ramadan (fasting).



The donation, which is expected to last for the next one week, forms part of the Embassy's recognition of the pillar of Zakat, or charitable giving.



In a press release issued by the Public Affairs Department of the Embassy, and copied to the Ghana News Agency in Accra, Madam Stephanie S. Sullivan, the US Ambassador said the donation was to help some of the more vulnerable members of the community break their fast.



Ramadan, she said, was a period of reflection, therefore, the Embassy recognised the religious leaders who had established, maintained, and bolstered interfaith engagement, cooperation, and partnership in the country.



Beyond establishing schools, feeding the hungry, and providing a range of social services, she said Christian and Muslim faith leaders had repeatedly used their platforms to convey messages of harmony and tolerance.



This, she said, had been critical to Ghanas stability and democratic success, adding that, "It will surely help the country weather the current challenges related to the coronavirus."



Madam Sullivan urged all Muslims to take the necessary precautions for the collective good, including adjusting to new ways of worship, even as they practised deep-rooted traditions in keeping with their religious faiths.



"I encourage all Muslims in Ghana to earnestly seek spiritual fulfillment as you mark the holiest period in the Islamic calendar," she added.



The Ambassador also hailed the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, for his tireless and inspirational advocate of religious tolerance.



"He has also provided crucial guidance to communities and policymakers throughout Ghana about the measures we need to implement if we are to overcome the current challenges and emerge stronger," she said.



She congratulated the Chief Imam for celebrating his 101st birthday.



Madam Sullivan commended the Islamic Education Unit and its volunteers for ensuring that the distribution of the food was a success.

Source: GNA









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(Bloomberg) -- Mexicos Pemex has too much gasoline and nowhere to store it, potentially racking up significant ship fees as demand wanes because of the fast-spreading coronavirus.

A lack of storage capacity in Mexico is forcing the state-owned oil company to leave its fuel purchases in ships off the coast of Mexico, according to three people familiar with the situation and ship-tracking data. Now as much as 3 million barrels of refined products are sitting in tankers off of Mexicos coast.

Mexico has been late to experience the demand slump that has hit other nations because President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador initially refused to enact stringent measures in response to the coronavirus pandemic. But now sales have fallen between 40% and 50% at some of Mexicos biggest privately-owned gas stations in the past two weeks, according to three major fuel importers and retailers in Mexico, who asked to remain anonymous because the information is private.

The squeeze is especially tough for Pemex, whose bonds were cut to junk by Moodys Corp. on Friday after 15 years of oil production declines and losses that almost doubled last year. Pemexs debt load is the highest of any oil major. With Pemexs six refineries operating at less than 30% of their capacity, it imports about 65% of Mexicos gasoline needs, mostly from the U.S. The country was American refiners biggest customer, bringing in about 500,000 barrels a day last year.

Pemex didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.

Last December, Mexicos Energy Ministry changed regulations that would have gradually raised the countrys minimum fuel inventory requirement, which is currently set at five days for gasoline and diesel. Pemex has fuel storage capacity for about three to five days.

Heavy costs

The current cost of holding a cargo in a ship off major Mexico ports past the delivery date, known as demurrage, is $25,000 a day, according to shipping rates provided to Bloomberg by a person familiar with the market.

Story continues

There are at least six tankers carrying fuel anchored near the port of Pajaritos on Mexicos east coast, while several more tankers are waiting at the ports of Tuxpan, Altamira and Dos Bocas, according to ship-tracking data, and two of the people.

One tanker, the British Seafarer, has been anchored near Pajaritos for a month because theres no demand, or storage space, for its cargo of regular gasoline, said one of the people.

Demand slump

Mexicos gasoline demand has fallen by about 60% and diesel 35% in the first half of April, according to a preliminary study by Onexpo, the national fuel retailer association. In some metropolitan areas sales have been reduced by as much as 70% because of social distancing to combat the coronavirus pandemic, Onexpo said. In rural areas, the drop is less pronounced, at about 30%, since diesel is still necessary for agricultural machinery and product transport.

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Recently, Brit Hume, the sober and understated Fox News commentator, voiced the thoughts of millions when he said,

I think its time to consider the possibility that this lockdown, as opposed to the more moderate mitigation efforts is a colossal public policy calamity.

The financial extent of the calamity was quantified by economist Scott Grannis when he observed that almost overnight, we have wiped out all the net job gains of the past 14 years. He made that comment on April 12 and the losses arent over yet. Grannis bluntly concluded that, The shutdown of the U.S. economy will prove to be the most expensive self-inflicted injury in the history of mankind.

The loss of liberty incurred as a result of shutdown is not as easily quantifiable, but is no less significant.

Epidemiological models have provided the scientific basis for this large-scale abrogation of personal and economic liberty. Now that the models have been shown to be grossly inaccurate, some are demanding accountability.

In a recent op-ed, Georgia congressman Jody Hice wrote:

Public health experts, scientists, and government officials all warned that millions would die unless strict measures were put in place So, we willingly took unprecedented steps to save the most vulnerable among us, even at the cost of wreaking unparalleled economic damage. The experts said it was necessary, that the coronavirus was especially deadly, and our medical systems were in danger of being overwhelmed Now, weeks into the pandemic, the dire outcomes foretold by experts have failed to come to pass. The models used to justify the closure of society have been shown to be wildly inaccurate We need to examine why the models failed us, why their creators have been so far off the mark, and why these projections were used to justify policies that have resulted in unparalleled economic disruption.

It is worth having that discussion. In retrospect, and despite their air of authority, the experts never had enough knowledge about this virus to make reliable calculations about the future.

But the real problem with the models werent that they proved to be false, but rather that they were promoted with false certitude.

I confess that I prefer true but imperfect knowledge, economist Friedrich Hayek once said, to a pretense of exact knowledge that is likely to be false.

Hayeks remark, given as he was accepting the Nobel Prize in 1974, was that thinking of economics as a science might lead to a pretense of knowledge, the idea that any one person might know enough to engineer society successfully, unmindful of unintended consequences.

But Hayek went on to note that his reasoning applied to the physical sciences as well:

There is danger in the exuberant feeling of ever growing power which the advance of the physical sciences has engendered and which tempts man to try, dizzy with success to subject not only our natural but also our human environment to the control of a human will. The recognition of the insuperable limits to his knowledge ought indeed to teach the student of society a lesson of humility which should guard him against becoming an accomplice in mens fatal striving to control society--a striving which makes him not only a tyrant over his fellows, but which may well make him the destroyer of a civilization which no brain has designed but which has grown from the free efforts of millions of individuals.

These observations, made over 40 years ago, look prescient today.

How might we have acted if the models didnt exist? Most likely, we would have chosen a more traditional approach to fighting the pandemic: quarantine and protect the sick and vulnerable, institute some sensible mitigation policies, and otherwise get on with life.

This is essentially the approach Sweden has chosen, and for which it has been pilloried in the American media. Yet, Swedens policies are based on thinking that is quintessentially American.

In an article in the UK Spectator, Fredrik Erixon, the director of the European Centre for International Political Economy in Brussels, explained that,

We worry about Covid-19 a lot. Many people work from home. Restaurants are open, but not bustling. Keeping two metres apart at bus stops is something Swedes were pretty good at before the crisis: we dont need much encouragement now. Were careful. But our approach to fighting the pandemic starts from something more fundamental: in a liberal democracy you have to convince and not command people into action. If you lose that principle, you will lose your soul.

So far, the Swedish strategy of allowing some exposure to the virus in order to build immunity among the general population while protecting high-risk groups like the elderly appears to be paying off. The countrys chief epidemiologist reported that herd immunity could be reached in the capital of Stockholm in a matter of weeks. Moreover, Sweden has achieved this while taking less of an economic hit than other countries in Europe.

Swedens approach was a mixture of epidemiology and principle. Erixon noted that the concept of a national lockdown is deeply illiberal -- and, until now, untested.

He allowed that Sweden may change if facts warrant. But, he wrote, the vast majority, for now, want Sweden to keep its cool. We dont want to remember 2020 as the time when we caused irreparable harm to our liberties -- or lost them entirely.

Sweden instructing the U.S. on liberty. Who would have thought?

Graphic credit: Picpedia

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The global death count due to coronavirus pandemic on Saturday (April 25, 2020) breached the 2,00,000 mark with more than 28,65,000 infections worldwide. According to the COVID-19 data provided by Johns Hopkins University as of 11 PM IST, the global pandemic has now infected over 28,65,900 people and has taken close to 2,00,700 lives.

The United States (US) has been the worst COVID-19 hit country in the world where the confirmed cases and deaths due to the coronavirus are increasing day by day. The US positive cases count on Saturday surged to 9,24,576.

Spain remained on the second spot with 2,23,750 COVID-19 positive cases. Italy on the third spot saw more than 2,350 new cases of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours and now has over 1,95,350 positive cases.

France with approximately 1,59,950 confirmed cases is the fourth-worst hit nation in the world.

Germany on the fifth spot recorded over 1,55,410 COVID-19 confirmed cases.

The United Kingdom till Saturday evening witnessed close to 1,50,000 confirmed cases.

Turkey registered over 1,07,500 infections while Iran has seen close to 90,000 COVID-19 cases.

China which is reportedly the country where the deadly virus originated, has reported over 83,901 COVID-19 cases.

Brazil with 55,220 cases, Belgium having 45,325 infections, and Canada with 44,130 confirmed cases are the other worst affected countries around the world.

Earlier on Saturday, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned that recovering from COVID-19 might not protect people from reinfection as the death toll from the pandemic approached 200,000 across the world. "There is currently no evidence that people who have recovered from the coronavirus and have antibodies are protected from a second infection," WHO said in a statement.

On the list of the places with most deaths due to the coronavirus in the world, the US remained the worst-hit country with over 52,750 people succumbing to the fatal virus.

Deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy where the outbreak came to light on February 21 surged to 26,380.

Spain on the third spot recorded more than 22,900 deaths in the country.

France remained the fourth most affected country where over 22,245 people have died due to the COVID-19. Although, President Emmanuel Macron is aiming to ease some lockdown measures on May 11 with schools reopening first. France has also offered retailers some relief by saying it wants them to reopen when the lockdown is due to end on May 11, although some curbs could remain in certain areas to delay a new wave of the coronavirus.

The UK on Saturday also surpassed the 20,000 coronavirus death mark as over 800 deaths in 24 hours took the death count to 20,319.

New York City (US) with 16,646 deaths, Belgium with 6,917, Germany with 5,805, and Iran with 5,650 fatalities are the other worst-hit places across the globe.
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(Bloomberg) -- Vietnamese hackers began targeting Chinese government officials at the heart of the coronavirus outbreak in the early days of 2020, when the threat of pandemic had barely registered elsewhere in the world, according to findings by cybersecurity firm FireEye Inc.

The attacks were going on as early as January 6 and continued through April, said Ben Read, a senior manager for cyber-espionage in the firms threat intelligence unit. The campaign of spearphishing and malware fit a pattern the firm ascribed to APT32, a group of hackers working for the Vietnamese government, and the groups targets were the government of Wuhan and the national ministry of emergency management, he said.

This group is what Vietnam has for cyber-espionage. It doesnt have four or five times that -- this is their group, he said. So if this is what theyre doing at this time, its a priority for them.

The Vietnamese foreign ministry called the report baseless.

Vietnam prohibits cyber-attacks against organizations and individuals in any form, deputy spokesperson Ngo Toan Thang said in a statement online.

Chinas foreign ministry didnt respond to requests for comment.

In recent months, criminal hackers and those operating on behalf of nation states have used the global pandemic to retool hacking campaigns and deluge the internet with cyber-attacks. The World Health Organization, government health agencies and hospitals have all reported a surge in attempted hacks.

Chinese government officials and diplomatic missions around the world have come under repeated attack online from hackers trying to gain access to pandemic information, cybersecurity experts have said. The Vietnamese, as wary neighbors, would have been among them, Read said.

I think it would make a lot of sense for Vietnam to be very concerned about these things, he said. Any neighbor of China needs to be worried about whats going on in China.

Vietnam was one of the earliest places the coronavirus began to spread outside of China. By the end of January, the Southeast Asian nation reported one of the first cases of human to human transmissions, leading its national carrier to suspend all flights to China and close its borders its northern neighbor. By the end of February, an entire village of 10,000 people was locked down to prevent the virus from spreading.

Story continues

Since then, Vietnam has waged one of the more successful campaigns against the virus, with no reported deaths and fewer than 300 confirmed cases. Its now considering lifting many of its social restrictions.

FireEye said the campaign was targeted toward a small number of people who were sent emails containing a tracking pixel that allowed the hackers to see if they were opened. The cyber firm said it tracked the group through malware called MetalJack that it says is associated only with APT32.

FireEyes researchers dont know if the Vietnamese hackers were successful, Read said.

China and Vietnam have had a long and contentious relationship, and online attacks have only fueled that wariness, experts say.

In July 2016, Chinese groups claimed responsibility for hacking Vietnams airports and displaying propaganda critical of Vietnams claims to the disputed South China Sea, as well as leaking Vietnam Airlines database of frequent flyers.

Those incidents incensed Vietnam, and led to a natural evolution of Vietnam learning to defend itself online, said Carl Thayer, emeritus professor at the University of New South Wales in Australia.

Vietnam established its own cyber command in 2017 as a combat component of the Vietnam Peoples Army and counts cyberwarfare among its responsibilities.

It cuts its teeth on denial-of-service attacks on Vietnamese dissidents and then onto industrial espionage, trying to get intellectual property from foreign companies, Thayer said. The Vietnamese have gradually become more sophisticated, joining a group of countries that are growing their cyber capabilities but arent yet in the same league as China, Russia, Iran and the U.S.

Anti-Chinese sentiment among the Vietnamese population is toxic, Thayer said, particularly after a Vietnamese fishing boat sunk in the South China Sea earlier this month after it was rammed by a Chinese vessel.

Its always implied that theres no trust, he said. Since China is Vietnams largest intelligence collection target, it wasnt a surprise that Vietnam acted as quickly as it did on the virus, Thayer said.

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Nearly 30% of Oregonians told pollsters they put off treatment for an important health problem during the coronavirus outbreak, and about two-thirds say theyre unready to undergo surgery in May, even though Gov. Kate Brown said Thursday that will be widely allowed.

Those answers, from a representative sample of about 900 Oregon adults, are among the findings of an online poll by DHM Research taken over five days in mid-April.

DHM released the results Friday as part of the firms third and final report on findings from the poll, which also explored how Oregonians feel about Gov. Kate Browns stay-home orders and which people and agencies they trust to keep them safe during the pandemic.

These poll results are from DHM Research.

Fridays findings show that most Oregonians are comfortable that the states hospitals have the capacity to care for all who need care for COVID-19 and all but 16% said their own health is good to excellent. Fear that hospitals would be overwhelmed by a surge of patients infected with coronavirus and needing care or that health care workers would run out of personal protective equipment prompted the governor to ban non-urgent surgeries and other procedures requiring protective gear on March 23.

Coronavirus in Oregon: Latest news | Live map tracker |Text alerts | Newsletter

Like the earlier poll results, these have a margin of error of 3.3 percentage points, with some questions, including about when people will feel safe going to the doctors office or having surgery, having a wider error margin of 4.7 percentage points.

Survey respondents indicated they expect to feel safe going to their doctors office for routine care sooner than theyll feel that way about going to a hospital for surgery. As of April 21 or a few days earlier before Brown announced non-urgent surgeries and other health care could resume May 1 -- the typical Oregonian indicated they expected it would be safe to go to their doctors office in mid-June and to have surgery by mid-July.

-- Betsy Hammond; betsyhammond@oregonian.com; @OregonianPol

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The sale includes Sempra Energy's 83.6% stake in Peruvian electric utility Luz del Sur, as well as Tecsur, which provides electric construction and infrastructure services to Luz del Sur and third parties, and Inland Energy, Luz del Sur's generation business.





Luz del Sur informed the Superintendence of Securities Market (SMV) of the completed transaction and the consequent transfer of Sempra Energy's stake in favor of Yangtze Andes Holding Co., Limited, a subsidiary of China Yangtze Power Co Ltd.









Forecasts at that time showed that the sale was expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2020, subject to customary closing conditions, including approvals from the Peruvian anti-trust authority and the Bermuda Monetary Authority.



Today we completed a $3.59 billion divestiture of our Peruvian assets, advancing our mission to be North Americas premier energy infrastructure company. The proceeds will be used to further strengthen our balance sheet and solid liquidity position. https://t.co/WLVVw6OczZ  Sempra Energy (@SempraEnergy) April 24, 2020

(END) MMG/JJN/RMB/MVB

U.S.-based Sempra Energy on Friday announced that it completed the sale of its Peruvian businesses worth US$3.59 billion to China Yangtze Power International (Hongkong) Co., Limited (CYP).Published: 4/24/2020
A group of 27 tourists from West Bengal stuck here for over a month due to the lockdown on Saturday requested the district administration to send them home, saying they had run out of money and essential medicines.

They are at a resort near Berinag area of the district in Uttarakhand since March 21.

"We reached Chaukori on March 21 in the course of our Kumaon tour but got stuck at the resort due to the sudden imposition of the lockdown to fight COVID-19," said Shantanu Gosh, a member of the group who hails from Asansol district of West Bengal.

He said the group has a four-year-old girl and four people who have undergone bypass surgery and need their daily dose of medicines. "They have already finished their medicines which are not available in the local market," Sarkar said.

The group consists of people from Howrah, Bankura, Durgapur and Asansol districts of West Bengal.

When contacted, Pithoragarh District Magistrate VK Jogdande said the administration is fully aware of the problems being faced by the group and they are being provided with essentials, including food and medicines.

But they can be set back to their respective homes in West Bengal only after the district administration gets a nod from higher authorities, he said, adding that a letter has already been sent to senior officials authorities in this regard. "Once we hear from them, we will act accordingly," Jogdande said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Akshay Tritiya is one of the biggest gold buying days due to the auspiciousness attached to it

With Akshaya Tritiya being celebrated tomorrow (26 April), jewellers are trying to lure customers through various innovative offers to keep the business tide through difficult times amid the coronavirus lockdown.

There is a sentimental value in booking precious metal on this auspicious day.

Usually ahead of Akshaya Tritiya, jewellers make purchases, but this year no ones buying, said Harshad Ajmera, proprietor of JJ Gold House, a wholesaler in Kolkata to Reuters.

Akshay Tritiya is one of the biggest days in the calendar for customers to shop for gold owing to the auspiciousness attached to it. However, due to the lockdown, the industry has missed out on Gudi Padwa celebrations (in March) and wedding sales, too, said Aditya Pethe, Director, Waman Hari Pethe Jewellers.

However, as the auspicious day approaches, we are surprised by the number of enquiries we have received for pre-bookings. We have started taking Akshaya Tritiya bookings online from 21 April on our e-commerce platforms. The same will be delivered to the customers post-lockdown. We can't do sales speculation due to the exceptional circumstances, but we look forward to an online Akshaya Tritiya this year, he said to PTI.

Many jewellers have announced plans to sell gold online on the festival and deliver it after the lockdown is lifted, but retail buyers are not interested in online purchases due to the higher price and uncertainty about delivery, said a Mumbai-based dealer with a private bullion importing bank.

Ahammed MP, Chairman, Malabar Group, said Malabar Gold and Diamonds is offering discounts on online gold purchases which is being promoted via SMS, WhatsApp, emailer, Facebook, Instagram, Google search and Google network. "We are offering 30 percent discount on making charges of gold jewellery, up to 20 percent discount on diamond value and 5 percent cashback on transactions above Rs 15,000 on SBI credit cards. The offer will be valid till 26 April. The online gold purchase facility comes with the rate protection advantage, i.e. customers can avail the jewellery at the booked rate or prevailing rate-whichever is lower," Ahammed said.

Shekhar Bhandari, Senior Executive Vice President & Business Head  Global Transaction Banking & Precious Metals Kotak Mahindra Bank felt Akshay Tritya 2020 would be subdued due to the continued lockdown on the back of the coronavirus crisis. "The inventory on hand for jewellers as well as the gold jewellery held by households in India have seen significant appreciation in value. Prices in April last year were around Rs 3,200/3,300 a gram and currently it is around Rs 4,600-levels which has resulted in an increase in wealth by 43 percent year-on-year for those who have invested, purchased or diversified in gold.

"Domestic jewellery demand has seen a significant drop given the rise in prices throughout the last financial year. The biggest impact to hit demand (including exports) has been the COVID-19 crisis," he said.

The price outlook on gold continues to remain positive with gold prices expected to rise significantly to meet the investor demand as a safe haven asset and due to depreciation of the rupee. "We can expect gold prices to continue the rally, to settle above Rs 5,000 a gram by the end of this financial year, primarily driven by the COVID-19 crisis and its significant impact on the global economy, Bhandari said.

Weak consumer sentiment

In April, the loss in revenue will be 15 percent of the total annual turnover due to Akshaya Tritiya falling in the month when the country is under lockdown to prevent the spread of COVID-19, said Anantha Padmanaban, Chairman, All India Gems and Jewellery Domestic Council to PTI.

The first six months of this calendar year has witnessed a very weak consumer sentiment due to high gold price and the COVID-19 pandemic; however, the demand is expected to begin taking off from July onwards and peak during Diwali, he added.

"Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, stores across the country are closed; however, on an individual level, jewellers are reaching out to their customers through innovative online offers, including booking now and payment and delivery later, among others. How far the consumers are going to react to these innovative marketing by the jewellers is yet to be seen, he opined.

Some like Titan are offering options like its 18K gold watch offering for Akshay Tritiya. Kalpana Rangamani, CMO-Watches and Wearables, Titan Company said, the company is offering online muhurat booking so that customers who are unable to visit stores have a seamless digital experience. "Consumers can now book their gold watches on titan.co.in at an auspicious time of their choosing. To address the delay in delivery that is likely to happen due to the lockdown, Nebula by Titan has announced a Nebula Certificate of Ownership that can be immediately sent to the customer. Additionally, online customers can also avail Easy Returns on Nebula," Rangamani said.

Digital buying

Buying gold digitally, especially ornaments, will be a new arc for those who prefer jewellery than buying gold coins or bars for investment.

Digital buying will grow as an alternative going forward, but the touch, feel and trying out factor at retail stores will remain as strong as before, said Padmanaban of All India Gems and Jewellery Domestic Council.

There are multiple reasons for a rise in digital buying of gold this Akshaya Tritiya, said Somasundaram PR, MD (India), World Gold Council. "Gold prices are high and volatile, local market prices have sharp discounts, logistics have limited physical availability of gold, artisans are perhaps dislocated and jewellery stores shut," he said.

In this scenario, Akshaya Tritiya will be a subdued occasion for gold... We could see jump in digital transactions not just through platforms such as SafeGold and MMTC-PAMP, but also on-line BTC (Business -to-Consumer) sales with some jewellers," Somasundaram added.

Deliveries are bound to be post-lockdown, but advance booking, buying simple, standard gold or jewellery, and a more robust digital engagement may be promoted in the market, he said.

After a strong rally in prices for the past few weeks, prices are correcting... as risk-appetite returns slowly. The major reason behind the recent rally is global growth concerns emanating from the ongoing pandemic. This apart, central governments have been providing stimulus packages and these two factors make a solid case for a bullish rally in gold prices going forward, said Gnanasekar Thiagarajan, Director, Commtrendz Research.

Kalyan Jewellers Chairman and Managing Director T S Kalyanaraman said traditionally, the majority of the company's sales on the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya is driven through its showrooms.

This time, though our showrooms are closed due to the lockdown, we got many queries from regular customers who wanted to keep the tradition of buying gold during Akshaya Tritiya going. That's how we came up with the concept of the Gold Ownership Certificate, which can be bought on our website. What makes this unique is that upon order confirmation, customers will receive this certificate via email or Whatsapp on the day of Akshaya Tritiya, he added.

The company is hopeful that this will bring some good results, and that its regular customers will be able to make their purchases, Kalyanaraman added.

Echoing a similar view, Senco Gold and Diamonds Executive Director Suvankar Sen said the jewellery industry might get a traction of 10-20 percent of normal sales this Akshay Tritya since offline stores are shut and the economy is in a standstill.

To make sure customers can do a token buying this season we are using an online platform to sell or get bookings for future sales, he added.

Industry to be credit-negative: ICRA

The coronavirus outbreak and the lockdown ahead of Akshaya Tritiya is a credit negative for the gold jewellery retail industry in the short-term, according to ICRA.

Over the last two years, the domestic gold jewellery retail industry has been affected by factors like weak consumer demand amid slowing economic growth, rapid rise in gold prices and faltering rural output, regulatory policy interventions and cautious lending environment, ICRA said in a report.

Given this background, the widened outbreak of COVID-19 and subsequent lockdown, ahead of the critical Akshaya Tritiya season is a credit negative for the gold jewellery retail industry in the short-term, it added.

Gold prices up

Indian gold futures held near a record high of Rs 47,327 ($620.5).

Gold prices on Friday rose by Rs 315 to Rs 46,742 per 10 gram in futures trade as speculators created fresh positions on firm spot demand.

On the Multi Commodity Exchange, gold contracts for June traded higher by Rs 315, or 0.68 percent, at Rs 46,742 per 10 gram in a business turnover of 16,400 lots.

The yellow metal for August delivery edged up by Rs 269, or 0.58 percent, to Rs 46,696 per 10 gram in a business turnover of 16,383 lots.

Fresh positions built up by participants mainly led to the rise in gold prices, analysts said.

Globally, gold prices traded higher by 0.06 per cent to $1,746.40 per ounce in New York.

Retail demand down

The retail demand for physical gold suffered this week in top Asian hubs as jewellery shops remained shut due to coronavirus restrictions, but some regions saw steady buying from investors hunting for a safe haven.

Dealers in the worlds biggest gold consumer China continued to sell bullion at hefty $50 an ounce discounts versus benchmark spot prices this week. This compares with last weeks $50-$70 discounts, the biggest on record according to data going back to 2014, Reuters said.

Some shops have opened, but people are in no mood to buy gold on the retail side, its still a high-end purchase, Ronald Leung, chief dealer, Lee Cheong Gold Dealers in Hong Kong.

Global spot prices are now well above $1,700 an ounce, the report said. Investment demand was steady in Hong Kong and Singapore but retail buying was poor.

Dealers like us are taking pre-orders to be fulfilled on a later date, and clients are settling for higher premiums and for whatever inventories that are available, said Joshua Rotbart, managing partner, J Rotbart & Co in Hong Kong to Reuters.

Premiums of $0.40-$2.00 an ounce were charged on average in Hong Kong, versus last weeks $0.50-$1.00, although some dealers quoted premiums as high as $4.00.

In Singapore, gold was sold at average premiums of about $1.50 to $5 an ounce for gold bars.

No jewellery shops/businesses are open until 1 June, said Spencer Campbell, director, Precious Metals Consultants SE Asia Consulting, adding premiums on retail gold were still high with new stock based on promises right now.

Exemptions are not being granted for this industry as they do not see refining and minting as essential businesses, Campbell said.

Japan saw premiums of $0.50-$1 an ounce amid muted activity with top gold retailer Tanaka Kikinzoku shutting all its stores.

Other options

Gold is a hedge against uncertainty and a good investment vehicle, especially in the current scenario, said Pankaj Bobade, Head - Fundamental research, Axis Securities.

"With the COVID-19 pandemic bringing the world economy to a standstill and a possible contraction ahead, gold seems an attractive option. Moreover, as the central banks of developed nations have been on easing spree to fight the economic contraction, the fiat currencies are expected to face pressure in the near future. In such a scenario, gold is likely to emerge as a safe-haven asset. One should have a part of the portfolio invested in Gold ETF as an insurance against the possible volatilities expected in the global financial market. So, if this Akshay Tritiya you are looking to buy gold, Gold ETF would be a good option from a long-term perspective," Bobade said.

The options are many. But through the digital route.

--With inputs from agencies
DeWitt, N.Y.  Just before 4 p.m. Friday, the loudspeakers at the Villa Pizze Fritte mobile stand at Erie Boulevard East and Bridge Street crackled to life with Soft Cells 1981 classic Tainted Love.

Amid the beeping of dozens of car horns, several people hung their masked heads out the windows and loudly sang along: Run away. Ive got to ... get away.

But they were going nowhere. They were in line to pick up a taste of the New York State Fair amid a coronavirus pandemic: Bags of genuine 2-foot long, sugar coated pieces of fried dough called Pizze Fritte.

It was part of a special drive-thru offering of the treat normally seen only at the Fair itself.

My goodness they should do this all the time, said Denise Henderson of North Syracuse, who arrived early enough  two hours before opening  to be among the first few dozen cars in line. Look at all these people!

A worker at the temporary Villa Pizze Fritte stand in DeWitt delivers a bag of the fried dough to the line of cars at the corner of Erie Boulevard East and Bridge Street in DeWitt Friday.

Hundreds of cars lined up for the 4 p.m. opening of the Pizze Fritte stand, set up on a vacant lot at the northeast corner of Erie Boulevard East and Bridge Street (near Pier 1 Imports and the Fleet Feet running store.)

By 4:30 p.m. the line of cars waiting to get into the lot stretched as far as ShoppingTown Mall to the east and Thompson Road to the west along Erie Boulevard and up Bridge Street past the Interstate 690 exits (which were also backed up). A spokesman for the Town of DeWitt police said some turning lanes in the vicinity were closed or restricted to help with the crowds, but no roads had been closed as of about 6 p.m.

Grazi Zazarra Jr., part of the family that owns Villa Pizze Fritte, planned to sell the State Fair specialty this weekend and next as a way to put smiles on peoples faces at such a difficult time.

The evidence from the first half hour showed that people hankering for Pizze Fritte were still smiling no matter how long it might take to get served.

I mean what else am I going to do? said Brooke Murphy of Liverpool, who arrived more than a half hour before the stand opened only to find her car inching along near the Fleet Feet store on Bridge Street. I was bored. This is actually kind of fun.

The first car in line belonged to Marie Marzullo, an emergency room nurse at Upstate University Hospital. On her day off, she planned to pick up five bags to bring to those working tonight at the hospital.

I hope its enough, she said. Weve got nurses, doctors and technicians  theyre all going to want some.

The desire to bring a bit of State Fair Pizze Fritte joy to others also motivated Christine Morabito, of Manlius. She was picking up Pizze Fritte to send to her son-in-law, a Marine Corps captain stationed at the Quantico base in Virginia.

They missed the State Fair this year, she said. I knew if I could get some for them I needed to do it.

Zazarra, whose family once owned the Villa Restaurant on Lodi Street and opened the iconic Pizze Fritte stand at the State Fair in 1960, knew the crowds might be crazy.

What were saying here is people might be wearing masks, and they might be in quarantine  but we can still bring them some summer," he said. Right here, its summer in Syracuse.

Zazarra and his family planned to keep the stand open until 8 p.m. tonight, and 4 to 8 p.m. this Saturday and Sunday. Theyll do the same next Friday, Saturday and Sunday and then decide whether to keep it going. The price is the same as at the Fair: $4 apiece or a bag of five for $15. Its cash only.

Asked whether the stand could keep up with demand, he answered. Well sell all of them. How many is that? All of them."

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Complete coronavirus coverage on syracuse.com

Don Cazentre writes for NYup.com, syracuse.com and The Post-Standard. Reach him at dcazentre@nyup.com, or follow him at NYup.com, on Twitter or Facebook.
New Delhi: The Delhi Police has prepared a dossier on Maulana Saad Kandhalvi, the chief of the Islamic group Tablighi Jamaat, who has been booked in connection with a religious congregation that was held at Delhi's Nizamuddin Markaz, without permission from authorities. Along with Maulana Saad, the dossier includes names of his close relatives including his three sons and a few senior members of Delhi's Nizamuddin Markaz.

The dossier includes information like Maulana Saad arrives at the Nizamuddin Markaz every morning at 8 am and stays there till 2 pm. Thereafter, he leaves for his home where he stays for 2 hours. At around 4 pm, he arrives back at the Markaz and stays there till 10 pm.

Maulana Saad's three sons who have also been named in the dossier are :

Mohammad Yusuf

Mohammed Saeed

Mohammad Ilyas

According to the police, Saad's three sons and his nephew Owais, who also enjoys a key position at the Markaz, are liable for the financial accounts of the Tablighi Jamaat. The investigating company suspects that Maulana Saad has collected assets and properties worth Rs 2 crore from international funding. The recent raid by the Crime Branch team on Saad's Kandhala (Shamli) farmhouse was conducted in a bid to recover documents related to the funding of his properties.

Maulana Abdul Rahman, who stays in a six-storey building in Zakir Nagar West, is also believed to be one of the closest relatives of Saad. Initially, the police believed that Saad, after being booked for holding the congregation, was hiding at Rahman's place.

Details of Saad's funding and assets :

According to the police, Saad's finances are controlled by his sons and his two close aides, Haji Mohammad Yunus and Maulana Mufti Shehzad.

Haji Mohammad Yunus : A Mustafabad resident, he is responsible for the security and transportation of the Markaz. He also supervises the staff and oversees the guest entries at the Markaz.

Maulana Mufti Shehzad : A Zakir Nagar resident, he has also been named in the FIR along with Maulana Saad by the Delhi Police. He is responsible for keeping an eye on the members of the administrative committee at the Markaz.

According to the police, at least 849 foreigners attended the religious congregation of Tablighi Jamaat at Nizamuddin Markaz this year. Later, many of these went to their relatives living in different parts of the country, to raise fund. While several of them have been arrested by the police, some are still on the run and are yet to be nabbed.

Lens on 11 bank accounts linked to Markaz and Saad's relatives :

The Crime Branch is also monitoring the movement of at least 11 relatives and close aides of Saad and are also tracking their mobile phones. The agency suspects that Maulana Saad could in touch with them. In addition, 11 bank accounts linked to Saad and Tablighi Jamaat are also under the radar. An investigation revealed that transaction of crores of rupees has taken place in these accounts.

The quarantine period of Maulana Saad is over and the Crime Branch of Delhi Police is keen to record his statement in connection with a religious congregation that was held at Delhi's Nizamuddin Markaz, without permission from authorities.

The cleric along with seven others has been booked on a complaint at the city's Nizamuddin police station for holding the congregation in alleged violation of the orders against large gatherings to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus. Indian Penal Code section 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) is among the sections they have been booked, and the complaint was lodged by the Nizamuddin Station House Officer.

Saad has also been booked by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case. As per sources, Saad is likely to be arrested after the federal probe agency sleuths record his statement.

Meanwhile, several people who attended the event in March and travelled across the country tested positive for the coronavirus, and the Nizamuddin area where the gathering was held was declared a COVID-19 hotspot.

In an audio message released earlier this month, he had said he was exercising self-quarantine after several hundred who visited the congregation at Nizamuddin Markaz tested positive for the coronavirus.
Hyderabad, April 25 : The ongoing lockdown, which has crippled the economy for more than a month and sparked unprecedented distress, has turned the so-called lower middle class into the new poor identities of the society.

Teachers in unaided private schools, office assistants, data entry operators, salespersons, receptionists, beauticians, those who run small mobile phone service and repair shops and other service providers who fall in Rs 5,000 to Rs 15,000 monthly income group, are the badly hit. Most of them have not received the salaries for two months and they hardly have any savings to fall upon. Many of them fear job loss post-lockdown.

It is not just the socially poor and the migrant workers who are facing the brunt of coronavirus induced lockdown. Activists say lower middle class families with meager income are badly hit but the problem is not getting due attention because of lopsided priorities.

While those categorized below the poverty line are getting some sort of assistance in the form of cooked food, ration or financial aid from the central and state governments or NGOs and philanthropists; an overwhelming majority of the lower middle class are left high and dry.

A BPL family with a white ration card, for instance, can get Rs 1,500 financial aid and 12 kg rice announced by the Telangana government and is also entitled for assistance from the Centre as relief during the lockdown period. Even those who have no ration cards can get cooked food being supplied by the government agencies or numerous NGOs and philanthropists. They are also seen standing in queues to receive food rations being distributed by various socio-religious organizations.

The lower middle class is caught in a dilemma as their dignity holds them back from extending their hands to seek aid while the NGOs and philanthropists will be reluctant to give any assistance lest they feel bad about it, activists say.

They also said the focus of all aid programmes of both the government and NGOs is people who are traditionally perceived poor and who are indeed poor but the lower middle class, who are also in dire need of assistance have been left out.

"Such people are there in every family. We can find them among our own relatives," Mazher Hussain, Executive Director of Confederation of Voluntary Associations (COVA) told IANS.

"These people don't seek help from anybody. They don't stand in queues for aid. They have been working hard and carrying on with their life but the crisis has suddenly made them vulnerable. Many have not received salary for March and may not get for a couple of months more," he said.

Many categories of mid-level jobs were created thanks to the booming services sector over the last couple of decades. They are mostly employed in the retail sector, healthcare, teaching, hospitality, travel and tourism.

Aid workers point out that most of those who fall into this category are sole bread earners for their families and even if their spouses work they also do similar jobs like that of receptionists, office assistants and teachers.

"The general perception is that someone like an autorickshaw driver is poorer than others but when you look closely many of them have additional sources of income. Their wives work as maids or as some daily wagers and at least one of their children work as a mechanic. Thus the total income of such a family may go up to Rs 25,000 which is higher than the average income of Rs 15,000 of people treated as lower middle class," said Mazher.

COVA, which works among economically weaker sections, women, refugees and migrant workers in Hyderabad, felt the need to focus on the people who are not covered by any government programme or the activity of most of the NGOs.

It has drawn a programme to provide financial aid to teachers of small unaided schools. "We have so far helped 50 teachers from three schools and want to cover 50-60 schools," said Mazher.

Realising that reaching out to this section with either cash or relief material is not the proper way, the NGO gathered details of the teachers and transferred the money into their bank accounts.

He pointed out that most of the teachers in unaided schools draw monthly salaries between Rs 4,000 to Rs 10,000. Only those who teach mathematics get Rs 12,000 to 15,000.

"We are telling people that if they don't want to give donations for such work, there is no problem. They should at least help the needy among their own relatives," said COVA director.

Ibrahim Sayeed, Telangana state secretary of Students' Islamic Organisation (SIO), which is also active in providing relief to the needy, feels that there is a need to identify the needy from lower middle class and help them without hurting their self-respect.

"We have to identify them. They don't approach somebody for help but they may be facing more serious problems than the other groups," said Ibrahim.

Such people struggle in their lives every day but they somehow manage without seeking help from others. However, the lockdown has made it a hand to mouth existence for this class.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
A socio-political group National Coalition Against Abuse of Office (NCAAO) has asked the Inspector General of Police Mohammed Adamu to urgently and immediately discipline the AIG Ibrahim Lamorde for interfering with investigations and obstructing the discharge of a lawful instrument of court because of a personal and prurient interest he has with a suspect thereby bringing to ridicule the sterling reputation of the Nigerian Police force and the critical office he occupies.

According to the groups National Coordinator, Walid Ahmed, AIG Lamorde, has disappointed those who had always thought he was a great cop and an incorrigible crime fighter by compromising his professional ethics and bonafides to shelter a known blackmailer.

About two weeks ago, a certain known blackmailer and an inveterate social climber, Blessing Ossom made some exceedingly wild and slanderous accusation against important citizens of Akwa Ibom State. She knew what she said was false and highly libellous, yet she went ahead to cause to be published on her Facebook the deeply slanderous materials against key persons in the State. Legal procedures were put in process and she was ordered arrested.

It was at this point that AIG Lamorde who it is alleged is her close family friend stepped in and blatantly obstructed investigations.

Investigators that were sent to Abuja to get to the root of the case were ordered out of Abuja on the instruction of Lamorde who is AIG Lamorde.

The AIG has practically shielded Blessing Ossom and has been heard boasting that no Jupiter can cause Ms. Ossom to be arrested. We are calling on the Inspector General of Police to immediately call AIG Lamorde to order and ask him to allow proper investigations to be conducted on the slanderous and libellous accusation and blackmailed the woman caused on the sterling reputation of the people she had slandered. In an era where our dear President Buharai has made corruption in high places a major element of his governing agenda, AIG Lamorde should not cast a dark pall on the great work he President has been doing the statement added
In a major feat, scientists at the US national space agency NASA have developed a new easy-to-build high-pressure ventilator in a matter of just 37 which is expected to help save a lot of lives as the world struggles against the coronavirus pandemic.

According to the press note on the NASA website, the device is called VITAL (Ventilator Intervention Technology Accessible Locally) and it passed a critical test this week at the Ichan School of Medicine in New York. The decoy is designed to treat patients with milder symptoms, thereby keeping the countrys limited supply of traditional ventilators available for patients with more severe COVID-19 symptoms.

'Duty to share expertise'

Jet Propulsion Laboratorys Director Michael Watkins said, We specialize in spacecraft, not medical-device manufacturing. But excellent engineering, rigorous testing and rapid prototyping are some of our specialties. When people at JPL realized they might have what it takes to support the medical community and the broader community, they felt it was their duty to share their ingenuity, expertise and drive.

READ: NASA Commemorates Earth Day 2020 With Iconic 'Blue Marble' - Earth's First Pic From Space

NASA very pleased with result of testing

The space agency is now seeking FDA approval for the device via an emergency use authorisation, which is a fast-track approval process developed for crisis situations that takes just days rather than years.

Matthew Levin, Associate Professor at the Icahn School of Medicine, said that the team feels confident that the VITAL will be able to safely ventilate patients suffering from the deadly disease in the US and throughout the world. He further also added that the team is also very pleased with the result of the testing which was performed in high fidelity human simulation lab.

READ: NASA Astronauts Share 'Some Good News' On John Krasinski's Show; Watch

Further explaining the device, the team at NASA detailed that VITAL can be built faster and maintained more easily than a traditional ventilator. It is also composed of far fewer parts, many of which are currently available to potential manufacturers through existing supply chains.

Moreover, with flexible design, the device can also be modified for use in field hospitals being set up in convention centres, hotels and other high-capacity facilities across the globe.

The new device, like all ventilators, will require patients to be sedated and an oxygen tube inserted into their airway to breathe. NASA also informed that VITAL would not replace current hospital ventilators as the device is intended to last only three to four months and is specifically tailored to the needs of COVID-19 patients.

The intention with the device, according to NASA, is to decrease the likelihood patients get to that advanced stage of the disease where they require advance ventilator assistance.

READ: NASA, Space X To Launch Manned Mission From US Soil Next Month

READ: NASA, SpaceX To Launch Two American Astronauts To ISS On May 27, First Time In A Decade
Devon Hill faced a brutal decision.

Its unfortunately one many grocery store workers encountered when the coronavirus became less of an abstract global pandemic and more of a direct threat. An employee at a Walmart in Enterprise, Alabama, Hill learned a few weeks ago of a co-workers positive test. He weighed the option of taking two unpaid weeks off to self-isolate.

But I am paying for my college by myself, the community college student said, capturing the stories of many who work long hours at cash registers or stocking shelves. So, I had no choice but to stay.

Its the American Dream with a 2020 twist. Grocery store workers like Hill dont necessarily have a choice between earning a paycheck and risking their health.

Hills sick coworker is far from alone as this pandemic haunts the nation. More than a dozen grocery store workers have died nationwide after testing positive for coronavirus, just as the general public continues to lean on their service.

Officials from a union representing 1.3 million grocery workers took the case to cable news networks in a media blitz to sound the alarm. At least 15 grocery workers are dead as of April 21, according to the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union. The Washington Post counted 41 grocery employee deaths as of April 12. Another 2,225 union members have either tested positive, are awaiting tests, have been hospitalized or are symptomatic, the UFCW reported April 21.

These workers deemed essential by state and local government take the risk for relatively small paychecks. They make an average of $11.43 an hour, according to 2018 data collected by the U.S. Department of Labor. That adds up to $23,780 a year.

Yet without formal protection requirements, its up to individual chains and stores to set safety standards for its workers.

At the same time, governmental branches designed to protect workers have not set enforceable standards for workplace safety. In fact, OSHA has relaxed rules that require businesses like grocery stores to report numbers of infected workers at the same time they are actively seeking more labor.

Matt Brown is a cashier/courtesy clerk at a large supermarket chain in Kentucky who feels safe at work for the most part. Like Hill, this college student said his job isnt a luxury but a necessity to get by.

Im not too concerned about going to work, he said, but I can see that there could possibly be the point where I would be concerned to go to work and my concern of being at work would outweigh the need of the money.

Brown hasnt noticed any coworkers with symptoms, nor does he know if anyones been tested. Should someone working close to him get sick, he said hed likely quit. That scenario played out at several hot spots around the country like a Whole Foods location in Washington D.C. An employee at the store told the New York Times that 16 workers had tested positive as of April 15.

There have been worker-led protests at several grocery chains in the month-plus since theyve been exposed to the virus. Sickouts, for example, were staged at Whole Foods stores (including the one in Mountain Brook) over the lack of personal protection equipment (PPE) provided and the lack of communication when workers test positive.

There was a sense that worker power was going to force these companies to provide something more significant than, say a thermometer in their negotiations, said University of Alabama assistant law professor Deepa Das Acevedo But it doesnt seem that is playing out the way we might have anticipated and hoped.

The UFCW union in early April sent a letter to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention asking for certain mandatory guidance from store owners and operators. It included expanded social distancing measures, improvements in disinfection/sanitization and mandating use of personal protective equipment.

More than a week later, PPE remains optional in most places.

That makes grocery store workers anxious.

***

An informal inspection by an AL.com reporter at Birmingham-area grocery stores revealed just how uncommon PPE was among workers.

Only a handful of the dozens of employees on the floor at local Publix, Winn Dixie and Walmart locations wore any kind of gloves or masks on April 14 -- nearly a month after the outbreak began shutting down the economy.

A week later, the scene had changed. Nearly every Winn Dixie and Publix worker at the same locations observed the week prior, now wore some form of mask. AL.com canvassed 10 grocery stores in the Birmingham metro on April 20 and nearly every store had near total participation in mask usage among employees. More than half of the customers also wore masks at outlets including Publix, Winn Dixie, Walmart, The Fresh Market, Whole Foods and Target.

Most at Publix, which has 77 Alabama locations, appeared to have the same disposable blue mask. A cashier said they were now required to don the coverings, which the Publix website verified. As of April 20, store employees are required to wear the masks for the duration of this national emergency, the chains website reads. Previously, the same site stated it would supply PPE to employees as long as supplies lasted although not required.

A week earlier, much different scenes were observed at the Birmingham stores.

Even those serving hot food and handling produce were doing so with bare hands and without face coverings. An elderly man -- among the most at-risk for the virus --- ferried used carts from the Publix parking lot to the corral without any form of PPE.

A discarded face mask sat in the parking lot of a Birmingham-area Publix on April 20. The chain began requiring employees to wear face coverings that morning.Photo by Michael Casagrande | mcasagrande@al.com

Each major outlet had installed plexiglass dividers between the cashier and customer but only a few who were accepting payments and handling products wore gloves.

A manager at the Winn Dixie, one of the few wearing a cloth mask on the April 14 visit, refused to comment on a reporters questions about providing PPE to employees. That day at Publix, an assistant manager referred any comment to the corporate office when asked why nobody was wearing protection.

Multiple phone calls and emails to the Publix and Winn Dixie corporate media relations teams seeking a response were ignored.

An April 6 letter from the CEO of the company that owns Winn Dixie addressed worker safety at the end. Anthony Hucker of Southern Grocers said they were allowing employees to wear face masks and gloves. Winn Dixie has eight Birmingham locations, seven near Mobile and a few others scatter around the state.

A half-dozen frontline Publix employees also declined interviews when contacted by AL.com.

Marisa Brown, a cashier at a Publix in Alabama until early April, said she was blown away by the gratitude customers showed the staff. Few of her coworkers wore masks when she was still working the register, before the coverings were mandated. Still, she said she had some anxious co-workers mixed in with others who took a more casual approach to the threat.

Some quit as soon as the health threat emerged. Her last day was in the second week of April.

My parents didnt want me to work anymore because they were getting nervous, said the college freshman who hopes to return to work when the pandemic subsides. I wasnt concerned about my health but I was more concerned about anybody I could be around like my grandparents. For me, I know Im not in the high-risk category so I wasnt really concerned.

A Walmart spokesperson responded to questions emailed by AL.com. The company made masks mandatory April 20 after previously providing the PPE upon request. A memo to employees stated the policy evolved after CDC reported the high number of asymptomatic carriers spreading the disease.

Brown said his employer in Kentucky provides gloves, masks and hand sanitizer to all employees. Masks were worn by 65-75 percent of the customers, he estimated. The anxiety is obvious with some shoppers nervous about standing close to anyone.

And some people just dont seem to care, Brown said. Theyll get right up in your business and breathe on you and they dont care.

A survey from mid-April done by the grocery store workers union found 85 percent of customers did not practice proper social distancing.

Benjamin McMichael, another UA assistant professor of law, said he absolutely can see a time when governments require PPE for workers. Hotspots like New York City already require masks to be worn in public.

I dont think were going to see that until we get the PPE situation under control for healthcare providers, McMichael said. I think were going to give it to them first. But once we deal with those supply issues, youre probably going to see it from the states first. Youre probably going to see some governors acting on this.

And so, grocery store workers have a patchwork of protection while facing a few hundred possible exposures each shift.

***

Any decision to supply protective equipment to grocery workers is voluntary by the stores in the absence of governmental regulations. The OHSA guidance on COVID-19 classifies retail workers at a medium exposure risk.

The only mention of PPE on its one-page guidance for retail workers is to allow workers to wear masks.

A memo posted April 13 on the OSHA website doesnt give much indication for any immediate action should there be an issue at a grocery store given its risk evaluation.

Any complaints received by OSHA from workplaces not deemed high or very high risks will not normally result in an on-site inspection, the OSHA memo reads. A non-formal investigation is possible using phone or fax communications.

That there isnt enforcement and more stringent requirements coming out of OSHA, is mind boggling, said Acevedo, the UA law professor. This is exactly the kind of scenario that an agency like OSHA is meant to and equipped to issue legally binding requirements for employers. And were just not seeing that. And not only do I think thats an abdication of responsibility towards workers but it is going to have serious practical consequences in terms of the mitigation efforts that were all currently engaging in.

OSHA issued a separate memo April 10 concerning the reporting of employees who test positive for the virus.

Outside of workers in the medical, law enforcement, fire departments and correctional fields, OSHA will not enforce its own rule requiring employers to report coronavirus cases to the agency. The only exemptions require objective evidence transmission occurred at work and that evidence was reasonably available to the employer, the memo reads.

Not enforcing that rule will allow employers to focus on good hygiene practices rather than on making difficult work-relatedness decisions in circumstances where there is community transmission, the OSHA memo reads.

The Walmart spokesman declined to say how many of its employees have tested positive.

Protecting the privacy of our associates is also important, the Walmart spokesman wrote. I will refer you to the local health department for any confirmations of COVID-19 cases, but rest assured we are taking all measures necessary to ensure the well-being of those inside our stores.

Local health departments report only community-wide virus testing results.

Hill, the Walmart employee in Alabama, said he wore his own mask a week before the company made it a requirement. He also started to carry his own hand sanitizer after Walmart informed workers someone tested positive at his store. Anxiety crept in since HIPPA laws, protecting health information privacy, prevented the corporation from disclosing which employee was sick as jokes and rumors spread.

They just told us to take the proper precautions, he said.

Publix, which didnt respond to multiple phone calls and emails, addressed on its website why it wont disclose positive tests of its employees to its shoppers.

Because the testing and reporting of cases by health departments varies by state, the companys website reads, Publix cannot fully and accurately report cases in real time.

With the high number of job openings these chains have available, it has become a supply and demand struggle. Workers entering the Brookwood Village Target location near Birmingham see a help-wanted sign with jobs starting at $13 an hour.

I think the longer this goes on, particularly without forcible requirements from administrative actors like OSHA, Acevedo said, the easier it is going to be for employers who are fielding a lot of demand within their industries to behave in ways that are less than focused on worker safety.

Some states, however, are taking action. Oregon has a state version of OSHA that can penalize employers $12,750 for non-willful workplace safety violations and up to $126,750 for intentional ones. As of the first week of April, more than 2,700 complaints were filed since the pandemic began over conditions at employers including grocery stores, The Oregonian reported.

So, what recourse does a grocery store worker in Alabama have?

***

A few lawsuits have started to trickle with families of dead grocery store workers making claims against the store. In Chicago, the brother of 51-year old Walmart worker Waldo Evans filed suit claiming store management failed to alert employees when several coworkers showed symptoms, NBC News reported.

The overnight stocker and maintenance worker died two days after he was sent home from work, according to NBC.

Both Acevedo and McMichael see little hope for lawsuits moving forward in todays environment. Acevedo cites OSHAs lack of action as a reason employer liability would shrink.

McMichael has a background in healthcare law, and hes been studying the crisis impact there.

Many states are just waiving liability completely for medical malpractice, McMichael said. And if theyre willing to do that, I would not be surprised at all if we get some executive orders or some state legislation changing how were going to deal with illnesses related to COVID-19 and your job thats not healthcare.

In the absence of any statutory changes, claims from front-line workers would clog the courts in the years after exiting this crisis. That would lead to class-action cases, McMichael said.

And I dont see states tolerating that super well, he said.

Laws in the spirit of workers compensation could be a solution in the wake of this, McMichael said. Any of that would come long down the road as immediate health and safety concerns take precedent since we are still, relatively, in the early stages of this process.

President Donald Trump on April 20 said hes spoken to business leaders who have expressed concern about general liability in the wake of the pandemic.

We have tried to take liabilities away from these companies, Trump said at his daily press briefing that day. We just dont want that.

In the short-term, theres a push for at least increasing pay for those workers on the front line. Walmart gave full-time hourly workers a $300 bonus and part-timers $150. Quarterly bonuses for hourly workers were also fast tracked, the company said.

Permanent pay increases went into effect April 11 for Publix employees, according to the coronavirus page on its website. Merit reviews would also be accelerated, the company stated.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo on April 20 wants the federal government to chip in a lot more to front-line workers. He suggested a 50 percent hazard bonus on top of regular pay for workers classified as essential by the government. That includes grocery store workers.

Thanks is nice, but recognition of their efforts and their sacrifice is also appropriate, Cuomo said in his daily press briefing. They are the ones who are carrying us through this crisis and this crisis is not over.

Brown said he discusses coronavirus fears with his coworkers at his store in Kentucky. Theres a fear of infection.

Some other people I work with said they are not comfortable with it, Brown said. If they didnt need to be at work -- if they didnt need the money to pay their rent and car payments -- they wouldnt be there.

And with no vaccine on the horizon, this threat figures to loom over the country in the foreseeable future. That leaves the grocery store workers making a hair over 10 bucks an hour on the front lines of a disease thats already infected nearly 900,000 nationwide and 5,600-plus in Alabama.

How many of those include cashiers, baggers and stockers remains an estimate without regulations requiring that disclosure.

Because grocery store workers are sick and theyve sounded the alarm as the industry pieces together a plan to keep them from dying.

Michael Casagrande is reporter for the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @ByCasagrande or on Facebook.
To the editor:

President Trump announced on April 14 that the White House would be suspending financial support for WHO pending the review of the organization's activities related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

On April 15, Bill Gates, said of WHO: "Their work is slowing the spread of COVID-19 and if that work is stopped no other organization can replace them." The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Rotary International and the National Philanthropic Trust are all major contributors to WHO.

The Global Health Policy says WHO is a specialized agency of the United Nations to direct and coordinate on international health work. Its funding is primarily from contributions from member states of the United Nations. 2019 Budget numbers:

Asia - 27.99% ($857.7 million)

Europe - 27.56% ($844.4 million)

US - 22.00% ($674.2 million)

Other countries - 23.01% ($688.00 million)

Trump said a review of the WHO will cover its "role in severely mismanaging and covering up the spread of coronavirus."

But WHO notified all member states about the outbreak on Jan. 5. On Jan. 10, it published a "comprehensive package of guidance" on detection and testing potential cases.

In late January, WHO declared a public health emergency of international concern. On Feb 11, WHO reported "there were 42,708 confirmed cases reported in China, and now surpassed 1,000 deaths." Outside China: 393 cases and 1 death.

If there are legitimate complaints of WHO handling of the information flow concerning the COVID-19 response, the Independent Oversight Committee should be asked to investigate the claims.

Contact your congressional members to encourage them to keep the U.S. funding for WHO since it is coordinating issues of importance for the world. We want to benefit from their findings as well as contribute our expertise worldwide for our mutual benefit.

JAMES MENTELE

Midland
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Linkedin Alya Nurbaiti and Marchio Irfan Gorbiano (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, April 25, 2020 17:32 627 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd4405d3 1 World COVID-19,coronavirus,virus-corona,virus-korona-indonesia,Joko-Widodo,Donald-Trump,Indonesia,united-states,cooperation,ventilator Free

The United States has agreed to supply Indonesia with medical equipment, including ventilators, for its battle with COVID-19, following a phone call between President Joko Jokowi Widodo and his US counterpart Donald Trump.

Trump tweeted on Friday evening Jakarta time that he had spoken with Jokowi  whom he called my friend  about possible cooperation between Indonesia and the US regarding medical supplies.

Just spoke to my friend, President Joko Widodo of the Republic of Indonesia. Asking for Ventilators, which we will provide, the US president tweeted.

Just spoke to my friend, President Joko Widodo of the Republic of Indonesia. Asking for Ventilators, which we will provide. Great cooperation between us!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 24, 2020

Jakarta confirmed that the phone call took place, with the two leaders discussing handling of the COVID-19 outbreak, including Indonesias lack of medical supplies such, as personal protective equipment and face masks.

President Trump spoke about his countrys efforts to produce ventilators and said he would send equipment to Indonesia once it is ready. This cooperation will be overseen by each countrys respective teams, read a statement issued by the State Palace press bureau on Saturday.

Read also: 'Trouble shared is...': South Koreas Moon conveys support for Jokowi against COVID-19

Jokowi and Trump also agreed to strengthen economic cooperation and trade to help restore the global economy.

Indonesia is an important country for the US. We should maintain this cooperation, said Trump, as quoted by the press bureau.
WAYCROSS, Ga. - Only a handful of the 18 hairdressers who work at Salon Cheveux came in on Friday. They donned masks, spaced their workstations apart and screened inbound customers by phone with the dedication of hospital admission nurses: Any fever recently? Or contact with someone sick? Can you wear a mask?

It was the first day businesses reopened in Georgia, which is moving faster than any other state to ease restrictions amid the novel coronavirus pandemic. As a result, Georgia has become a flash point in the battle over whether it is time to remove the shutdown orders that have kept much of the country indoors.

Jamie McQuaig glanced at the two cosmetologists, clad in masks, coloring customers' hair and wondered whether coming back to work was the right decision for her family, her salon or her state.

"I do feel like it's too soon, but it will probably always feel like it's too soon because we're all scared of the virus," she said. The nation's response to the pandemic has left many in her shop with difficult choices. "The ones that are going back to work right now are the ones that have got to. They've got to feed their children. They've got to pay their mortgage."

Gov. Brian Kemp, a Republican, was one of the last governors to issue a statewide stay-at-home order to help stem the spread of the coronavirus; it went into effect April 3. Now, Kemp is opening more businesses more quickly than anywhere else, bucking experts who warn that doing so could lead to an increase in the number of coronavirus deaths.

Friday was the first day bowling alleys, tattoo parlors, gyms and salons were allowed to reopen, provided they follow social distancing guidelines, take employees' temperatures and screen them for signs of illness. Movie theaters and dine-in restaurants will follow suit on Monday, three days before the state's shelter-in-place order expires.

Georgians tiptoeing back to work in those industries acknowledge they are essentially guinea pigs as governments experiment with how to return the nation to normal. After weeks of unemployment, often with uneven government help, some said they are happy to be earning paychecks but worry about the ultimate costs of abandoning isolation too soon.

They will not be worrying alone for long. Tennessee's governor has said he will allow many businesses to reopen once his shelter-in-place order expires next week. The governor of South Carolina allowed some retail stores to reopen this week. People have been walking on the beaches near Jacksonville, Florida, for a week.

Kemp said his decision to reopen much of the state was based on scientific data that showed declines in the number of confirmed cases of the virus. But his approach has drawn criticism from infectious-disease experts and political leaders alike who warn his actions could lead to the resurgence of a virus that has killed more than 50,000 Americans in a matter of weeks. Among the critics: the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which is based in Atlanta, the city's mayor and President Donald Trump, who said he told Kemp he disagrees with the decision.

"I think spas and beauty salons and tattoo parlors and barbershops in phase one - we're going to have phase two very soon - is just too soon," Trump said Wednesday.

Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, a Democrat, has encouraged city residents to ignore Kemp's order.

"More than 19,000 Georgians have tested positive for covid-19 and the numbers continue to increase," Bottoms said in a statement. "It is the governor's prerogative to make this decision for the state, but I will continue to urge Atlanta to stay at home, stay safe and make decisions based on the best interests of their families."

Infectious disease experts have urged states rushing to reopen to slow down. Carlos del Rio, executive associate dean of the Emory University School of Medicine at Grady Health System, said Georgia has increased the number of people it is testing for the coronavirus, but not at the scale needed to reopen.

Del Rio said he continues to have concerns "about opening some of the businesses like nail salons. . . . I'm certainly not going to go out and get a haircut."

More than 22,000 people have tested positive for covid-19 in Georgia, and nearly 900 have died from it. The state has tested less than 1 percent of its residents. Georgia has also not met some of the White House's benchmarks for reopening a state, including a downward trajectory of confirmed cases over 14 days. It also has a large outbreak of the virus in Dougherty County, where more than 1,400 people have tested positive and 108 have died.

One model anticipates the state won't reach its peak of positive cases until the end of April.

Kemp's move is driven in part by a desire to reignite the state's wheezing economy. In more than a month since the crisis began, more than a fifth of the state's workforce has filed for unemployment, including 244,000 claims last week.

But epidemiologists say continued restrictions of public gatherings - along with aggressive contact tracing and beefed-up testing - are the best defense against a virus with no vaccine and no cure.

McQuaig feels the tug from both sides of the argument. She said she supports Kemp's efforts to stop the economic hemorrhaging. Every month Salon Cheveux is closed, her business will lose nearly $50,000.

But her 8-year-old daughter, Lauren, has asthma, which is thought to put people at a higher risk of developing severe complications from the coronavirus. McQuaig's family has had little contact with anyone outside their home in more than a month. She is now worried about the consequences of spending too much time in a roomful of customers.

"I can't take the risk of coming back to work and taking it home to her," she said of Lauren. "She gets pneumonia from just a common cold. I'm so scared of coming back too soon."

But Mary Hollis, the owner of Caffeinated CrossFit in Smyrna, Ga., northwest of Atlanta, believes her business should have reopened much sooner. She has lobbied for authorities to label her gym a "preventive health-care facility," arguing that keeping people in shape can help them fight the virus, especially because obesity is an underlying medical condition that can exacerbate covid-19.

Hollis has long been a critic of the extensive measures to stem the spread of the coronavirus. "To me, the solution became worse than the problem."

In-person classes will resume in full on Monday, with a broad range of health and safety requirements Hollis developed with other gym owners, even making a YouTube video with instructions on the gym's new normal. Gymgoers will have their temperatures checked and must stand six feet apart from one another at stations marked by tape on the ground. Trainers will favor body weight exercise over using equipment that gets passed from person to person.

When Stacia Familo-Hopek and her husband, Rob Hopek, saw Kemp's news conference about reopening dine-in restaurants, they looked at each other in surprise. "Nope. Not gonna happen," Hopek recalled the two saying to each other.

Familo-Hopek owns The Lost Druid, a brewery and taproom that serves food in Avondale Estates, just east of Atlanta.

They've furloughed almost all of their cook staff, and revenue is down since they shifted to offering takeout food and canned beer. They don't distribute their beer in grocery stores, a revenue cushion that other breweries have.

"Obviously, we want to get business owners back in business so they're not financially strapped. We also want the government to not be strapped because of unprecedented unemployment. But I just don't think it's going to work," Familo-Hopek said. "The customers aren't ready to come out and sit down."

When they do feel comfortable enough to reopen, Familo-Hopek said it will be a phased approach, bringing back a few employees at first and likely offering limited outside seating.

But for now, they worry what could happen if a second spike of cases occurs.

"It could really tarnish your reputation if [we're] contributing to that," Familo-Hopek said.

Quaadir Larke, wearing a mask and surgical gloves, a pair of hospital-grade disinfectant wipes at his feet, trimmed a single customer's hair at the Quad Barber Shop in Mableton.

He applied for federal small-business relief loans, but didn't get any. He and his wife, a nurse, are still waiting on their stimulus checks, and their family of seven eats through $150 of groceries a week. When he announced on Instagram that the shop would reopen, the reaction was swift and harsh.

"Some of them are too scared, some of them just want to wait. They think it's too soon," Larke said. "I think it's too soon personally. I'm here because I've got to be. It's like I'm stuck."

McQuaig, the salon owner, concedes that the conflicting advice from politicians has left business owners with little more to do than roll the dice. While she has reopened her shop, she doesn't plan to touch a customer's hair until June. Instead, she will direct clients to a working stylist and supervise them - but that's as close as she will get.

Despite the limited contact, McQuaig is still worried - and has thought out a system for keeping her daughter safe from whatever germs enter the shop.

Before she leaves each day, she plans to spray alcohol into the air and walk through the cloud of droplets. She'll leave her shoes outside her home, and plop her clothes into the washer. Then she'll throw her face mask into the dryer, which she hopes will blast away any germs.

She's not sure whether the new regimen will be enough to calm her fears.

"For 10 days or 14 days, I'll be worried. Have I come in contact with anyone [infected]? . . . Have I brought it home?"

- - -

Wootson reported from Waycross, Ga. Willis reported from Smyrna and Mableton, Ga. The Washington Post's Jena McGregor contributed reporting from Atlanta. Chris Mooney and Lena H. Sun contributed reporting from Washington.
AUTO LAB TALK RADIO FROM NYC, Saturday April 25, 2020; WNYM Radio AM 970 7-9 AM





Auto Lab Talk Radio on New York City's WNYM Radio AM 970 Is Streamed Worldwide On TheAutoChannel.Com

This a a Prerecorded Best Of Auto Lab - No Calls Please











Auto Lab is also about the automotive industry, its history, and its culture, presenting the ideas and advice of leading college faculty, authors, and automotive practitioners in a relaxed, conversational interactive format.

Listeners can find audio recordings of the past 20 years of archived Auto Lab shows as simulcast on The Auto Channel; The Auto Lab Index Page includes; Audio-on-Demand Archives, Community College Auto Program Database, Guests Pictures

This Weeks Show: April 25, 2020, 2020

In Studio Expert Automotive Panel

Harold Bendell, Major World

Tim Cacace- Master Mechanix

David Goldsmith-Urban Classics

Joseph Guarino- Joe Guarino's Auto Repairs

Jerry Pastore- D & J Diagnostics

Johanna Pastore-D & J Diagnostics

Michael Porcelli, Bronx Community College, City University of New York

Nicholas Prague, MTA

Interviews

Robert Erskine, Senior European Correspondent:

"CLEAN HANDS AND SUPER FAST 90 SECOND OIL AND FILTER CHANGES"

Sharon Sudol John Russell Senior Correspondents:

"2020 SUBARU LEGACY SPORT"

Russ Rader Senior Vice President Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

"NEW TEST RESULTS FOR THE CHEVROLET TRAVERSE AND BUICK ENCLAVE"

Robert Sinclair AAA NORTHEAST

"GASOLINE PRICES HOLD ANY INTEREST?"
Police on Friday claimed to have killed both the terrorists responsible for the abduction of a police personnel in south Kashmir a day ago.

On Thursday, the terrorists had abducted Javeed Jabbar from Shirpora village in South Kashmirs Kulgam distrct.

Inspector General of Police Vijay Kumar said that police neutralised both the terrorirts and rescued the constable.  One police cop was injured in the operation, he said. This is the second incident in past 24 hours when police rescued a cop after abduction in South Kashmir.

Late Thursday night, Jabbar, who is a part of the escort team of a senior police officer, was abducted from his house in Chatwan Vihil village in Shopian district. Elsewhere, a CRPF jawan was injured in a grenade attack by militants in Jammu and Kashmirs Budgam district on Friday, officials said.

The militants hurled a grenade at a CRPF camp at Dooniwara in the districts Chadoora area around 6.30 pm, they said.

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ISLAMABAD, April 25 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan successfully conducted a test firing of anti-ship missiles in the North Arabian Sea, said a statement from the Pakistan Navy on Saturday.

The spokesperson of the Pakistan Navy said in the statement that warships and airplanes fired anti-ship missiles at sea level which hit their targets accurately.

Pakistani Chief of the Naval Staff Zafar Mahmood Abbasi witnessed firing of the missiles and expressed satisfaction over operational preparedness of the Pakistan Navy, the spokesperson added.

The Naval chief said the Pakistan Navy is fully capable to give a befitting response to any aggression, adding that the successful test-fire of missiles is proof of the Pakistan Navy's operational preparedness, according to the statement.

In December last year, the Pakistan Navy also test-fired different anti-ship missiles in the North Arabian Sea, which were fired by warships and airplanes at sea level.
A 25-year-old man was allegedly



strangled to death by an unidentified person at a construction site in suburban Bandra Kurla Complex, police said on Saturday.

The incident came to light on Friday night, when a crane operator found his brother lying unconscious with a nylon rope around his neck, an official said.

The victim Ajitkumar Sahani, a resident of Ghatkopar, was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival, he said.

A case of murder has been registered against an unidentified person and further probe is underway, the official added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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German police wearing riot gear and face masks clashed with dozens of protesters demonstrating in central Berlin against the coronavirus lockdown on public life.

Protesters shouted 'I want my life back' and held up signs with slogans such as 'Protect constitutional rights', 'Freedom isn't everything but without freedom, everything is nothing', and 'Daddy, what is a kiss?'

German police said on Twitter they had arrested more than 100 people.

Some protesters tried to keep distance from each other, sitting on the ground and wearing masks, but others clustered together.

Germany's strict curbs on public activity to slow the transmission of coronavirus were imposed in its lockdown on March 17.

Police officers wearing protective mask, take a man into custody during a protest against restrictions taken against coronavirus

A huge police presence can be seen at the Berlin protest which came just a day after Angela Merkel warned that lockdown measures were being eased too quickly

Above, a policeman stands guard during the demonstration as he is faced by a swarm of angry protesters in Berlin

Members of the crowd, including the elderly who are thought to be more vulnerable to the virus, took a seat on a patch of grass as they joined protesters

A man with is taken by police into custody as he grips onto a placard that roughly translates as never again fascism + war

A woman wearing ripped jeans and black boots is taken into custody by two of the 180 police officers who attended the protest

Protesters distributed newspapers entitled 'Democratic Resistance', which said the coronavirus is an attempt to seize power by spreading fear. The papers quoted 127 doctors from around the world who question the need for strict lockdowns.

Police spokesman Thilo Cablitz said permission had been granted for a newspaper distribution campaign, but the health authorities had not granted permission for a public demonstration.

'During coronavirus times and according to containment regulations, we are obliged to prevent a gathering,' Cablitz said, adding 180 police officers were on duty.

Some protesters engaged in more peaceful methods and sat on the ground at a distance from each other

A protester keeps a safe distance from others as he sits next to a poster including a word that translates as 'constitutional law' as a yellow rose rests on top

Protesters with bikes can be seen above at the demonstration in Berlin

One man pictured above appears to be meditating amid the protest as he sits bare foot with his eyes closed

Above, a man crosses him arms while clutching onto white roses in reference to the White Rose resistance movement against the Nazis

A woman walks along wearing a protest-themed trail as police stride either side of her

A man wears a top asking people to 'ask me why' as he demonstrates while holding a cardboard banner reading 5G kills'

As well as reopening non-essential businesses, Germany also began reopening schools this week - with additional social distancing measures implemented. Above, a man can be seen trying to engage with officers at the protest

The clash comes after Angel Merkel warned on Friday that some states had already gone too far in relaxing measures and that 'we can't return to life like it was before coronavirus.'

Her comments came after the northeastern state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania reopened zoos and fitness studios. Brandenburg, which neighbours Berlin, has permitted gatherings of 20 people and Rhineland-Palatinate allowed shopping malls and zoos to reopen as well as some party gatherings to take place.

Top German virologist slams government for easing lockdown rules Virologist Melanie Brinkmann from the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research in Braunschweig, told Spiegel that relaxing some measures may lead people to think the coronavirus crisis in Germany is coming to an end. 'People are now seeing that some measures are being relaxed, and this gives them the impression that they will soon be able to return to normal life,' she said. However she doesn't think there is any chance of that happening anytime soon. 'The government has sent the wrong signal with the relaxation, and I am afraid that many people are now no longer taking the virus so seriously and are having more contact with other people again,' said Brinkmann. 'If that happens, we will soon be back to where we started.' Virologist Christian Drosten has also warned that a second wave of infections could hit Germany with even greater force than the first, and Brinkmann agrees. She said the second wave could be more severe as it will be less localised like the first was. She added that we still don't have any tools (vaccine or treatment) with which we can counter the virus if it picks up again and that a coronavirus app could help trace the virus to stop the spread. Advertisement

Protesters distributed newspapers entitled 'Democratic Resistance', which said the coronavirus is an attempt to seize power by spreading fear. The papers quoted 127 doctors from around the world who question the need for strict lockdowns

Policemen stand guard during the demonstration just one day after Angela Merkel warned Angel Merkel warned that 'we can't return to life like it was before coronavirus'

Because of the country's decentralised political system, states have been largely to themselves how to ease lockdown measures - with guidance from central government.

As well as reopening non-essential businesses, Germany also began reopening schools this week - with additional social distancing measures.

'We are in for the long haul. We must not lose energy before we reach the end,' Merkel said, adding: 'It would be a terrible shame if our hope punishes us.'

She cautioned 'we're still walking on thin ice, one could also say the thinnest ice'.

'We're 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.'

Germany's Constitutional Court ruled earlier this month that people have the right to protests if they follow to social distancing rules, after pro-democracy activists brought a case arguing that lockdown breaches freedom of assembly

One protester protects their identity with a mask while wearing a top that reads Power to the People. Germany's strict curbs on public activity to slow the transmission of coronavirus were imposed in its lockdown on March 17

People watch on at the Berlin protest from their window as protesters swarmed the streets

A man in a blue shirt and yellow facemask is led away by armed placed wearing PPE with their visors raised

A hooded man is taken is marched away by officers. Police spokesman Thilo Cablitz said permission had been given for a newspaper distribution campaign, but the health authorities had not granted permission for a public demonstration

Germany's Constitutional Court ruled earlier this month that people have the right to protests if they follow to social distancing rules, after pro-democracy activists brought a case arguing that lockdown breaches freedom of assembly.

On Saturday, some protesters sat peacefully on the ground at a distance from each other, holding white roses in reference to the White Rose resistance movement against the Nazis.

'We are here today... to stand up for our opinion. For the protection of constitutional rights, freedom, and above all freedom of speech,' said a woman holding a rose who gave her name only as Sandra.

Germany has the fifth-highest coronavirus case total behind the United States, Spain, Italy and France, with close to 156,000 diagnoses. However it has managed to kept fatalities relatively low at just over 5,800 after extensive testing was implemented early.

Encouraged by lower infection figures, the government allowed smaller stores to re-open on Monday, along with car and bicycle dealers and bookstores. Social distancing rules remain in place until May 3.
Making rent as a small business in Vancouver is tough enough, Linda Levy says, so how do you do it when you can't even open?

Levy is the owner of L'Atelier Home, a furniture and home decor store, in Vancouver's Gastown.

The shop has been closed since March as B.C. and the rest of the world attempts to stop the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, but she still has to pay her bills.

"Even just dipping down to 50 per cent [of normal sales] is massive We don't have all these high margins where we have a lot of extra funds just lying around to sustain us," Levy said.

"Rent is obviously the biggest factor for us."

Ben Nelms/CBC

Levy is hopeful, however, that a new federal-provincial rent relief initiative for small businesses will help with her biggest expense.

There are some criteria and caveats for the program but it could reduce some business's rent by 75 per cent.

"It would help dramatically," she said. "It would be amazing. Let's just hope that it's as straightforward as it should be."

Other business voices are optimistic about the idea but also aware there are caveats.

'We're still very concerned'

The rent relief plan, known as the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance Program, will provide non-repayable loans to commercial property owners to cover 50 per cent of rent payments for April, May and June.

The loans will be forgiven if the property owner agrees to cut rent by at least 75 per cent for those months and promises not to evict the tenant. The small business tenant must cover the remaining 25 per cent of the rent.

To qualify, small business tenants must pay less than $50,000 a month in rent. They also must have experienced a revenue decline of at least 70 per cent from pre-COVID-19 levels, or they must have been forced to close down because of pandemic restrictions.

The program is funded jointly by the federal government and the provinces. The B.C. government said in a statement the province is contributing $80 million of the $300 million B.C. businesses will receive from it.

Story continues

The province said the federal government will administer the program through the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.

Ben Nelms/CBC

Laura Jones, executive vice president of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, said it's a positive development but worries about some of the criteria.

"What happens to the business who's got a 60 per cent revenue loss or 50 per cent or 40 per cent?" Jones asked.

"These are still huge numbers for business owners, so we're still very concerned."

Dane Stevens, co-owner of Gastown bespoke jewellery store Cavalier, said his business needs to maintain a physical location if it's to get back on its feet after pandemic restrictions end.

He is concerned the relief program and other efforts might not be long-lasting enough.

"Ultimately, it is the taxpayers that pay for it," Stevens said. "It's much needed, of course. It's just that balance between how long can this go and how far are we willing to go?"

Co-operation, optimism

Commercial lawyer Bill Holder said business owners and landlords who want to enter the program should write up an agreement stating their intention to go into the program before altering rent payments.

He added it is entirely up to the landlord if they want to participate or not.

Ben Nelms/CBC

"They are getting 75 per cent of the rent. They are keeping a tenant, hopefully, for when things improve," Holder said. "I think the tenants and landlords would like to continue in business together. There's good reasons for both of them wanting to do that."

Stevens said he and his landlord have come to an agreement on rent reductions.

He keeps mentioning his optimism and thinks many businesses just need help in the short term to make it to brighter days.

His shop, for instance, has been hurt by many cancelled weddings, but added, "people are always getting married."

"At some point, people are going to want wedding rings."
Washington: US President Donald Trump has claimed he was being sarcastic when he floated the idea of injecting people with disinfectant or applying ultra-violet rays to treat the coronavirus, statements that alarmed public health experts.

Trump declined to answer any questions from reporters at his daily White House coronavirus briefing on Friday (Saturday AEST), a dramatic break from normal practice, as the US death toll from coronavirus surpassed 50,000.

US President Donald Trump walked out of the White House briefing without taking questions from reporters. Credit:AP

The President often takes questions for as long as two hours, but the latest briefing only lasted for 22 minutes.

Trump's comments about hypothetical coronavirus treatments forced his own health experts and the manufacturers of well-known products such as Dettol and Lysol to urge people not to consume household disinfectants as they are highly dangerous and potentially fatal.
New Delhi, April 25 : Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has emerged as a favourite leader for the Congress top leadership, after he brought down the 15-year rule of the BJP in the state in 2018 Assembly polls. He is credited with having implemented all the projects recommended by the central leadership. As an OBC leader, he has been in the forefront of the partys campaigns in several states.

The coronavirus pandemic has thrown down a challenge before him - like all states, the economy of Chhattisgarh is in doldrums. And Maoists continue to claw at the internal security of the nascent state.

Speaking to Saiyed Moziz Imam Zaidi of IANS, he describes how he has been able to contain the spread of coronavirus and has attempted to solve the problems of migrant workers. In the same breath, he says if the Centre does not help his state at this stage, the government will have problem in paying salaries to the employees. He also wants a special economic package, which he says, is key to survival. He also supports the extended countrywide lockdown, saying the state would follow all such future decisions of the Centre.

Excerpts from the interview: Q: You have decided to bring back Chhattisgarh students from Rajasthan's Kota. How many students are there and how will you bring them back? A: To bring students from Kota, we have got the approval from the Union government. There are 1,500 students from Chhattisgarh there as per a list that we got from all the districts. We have dispatched 75 buses along with a team of doctors and officials because they have to cross at least three states. I have requested the Central government to allow these buses. The consent is awaited.

Q: You have written to Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Ram Vilas Paswan. Any specific reason? A: Chhattisgarh is called paddy bowl of the country. More than 83 lakh metric tonne paddy is produced annually in the state. As per the procurement plan, as much as Rs 1,800 per quintal is shared by the Union government and the rest by the state. I have sent a reminder to the Minister (Paswan) to lift the paddy for the Central pool. The Centre has said it would lift only 24 lakh metric tonne. However, we already have a stock of 31 lakh 11 thousand tonne with us after deducting our PDS share. So, we want the Centre to lift all the remaining stock.

Q: There was a confrontation between the state and Centre over bonus on MSP. This time, will you bear the cost of bonus or Centre? A: There was a general election last year. The Union government allowed the states two years to give bonus from their treasury. We gave Rs 2,500 per quintal, including the bonus, but the Union government maintained that if the states give bonuses, it will not procure from them. The point is we are procuring on behalf of the Union government... there was a time when the Centre put pressure on states to share more foodgrain in the central pool. But after the Green Revolution, farmers, through their own efforts, are getting more yield. In 2014, after the Modi government came to power, it said the procurement would not be made from states who will give bonuses. So, we are paying the bonus under Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojna.

Q: How are you controlling Covid-19? What is the impact on the state? You have written a letter on restriction on interstate transport...

A: There is no cure for the virus right now. So, prevention is the best cure. The first thing that we did was to seal the state - Chhattisgarh shares borders with seven states. We stopped all the transportation in the state. We have benefited from it. We quarantined everyone who had been abroad and traced their contacts and isolated them. If we recorded any case, we immediately sealed the whole area. First the state borders were sealed followed by districts and then, people blocked their villages themselves.

Q: Are you in favour of extending the lockdown or lifting it in phases? A: Whatever the government of India decides, we will follow it. But I have said that students and migrants should be brought back. There are many people who are stuck for different reasons. In our state too, people from other states are stuck -- they should be allowed to go to their respective places, and if the states want, they can be placed them in quarantine.

Q: You have a meeting with the Prime Minister on Monday. Have you got the share of your GST or are you facing problems regarding resources? A: We have got Rs 1,500 crore from our share of Rs 2,000 crore, but there is no economic activity. From registry to transportation, mines and sale of liquor -- everything has stopped. The states have no revenue, and if things go on like this, we will not be able to pay salaries to the employees.

Q: The ICMR has started giving testing kits... has the state got adequate number of testing kits? A: The guidelines issued by the Union government about testing are that we have to test those who have symptoms. But there are people who are testing positive without showing any symptoms. The government should provide more kits so that more testing could be done. Personal Protection Equipment kits, too, should be provided. As a precaution, we had closed all markets and public places before the lockdown was announced and told people to maintain physical distance.

Q: The state has vast population of tribals. What kind of difficulties did you face to implement the lockdown what steps did you take? A: Implementing lockdown was the easiest in the tribal belt of the state. If you talk about Bastar, which is surrounded by Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, the tribals took utmost care and did not allow anybody to enter the villages, and those who returned from other states, were given food and shelter and not allowed to enter. Even the tribals put up banners and thorny bushes around their hamlets. The cockfight, which is an integral part in the region, was stopped apparently for the first time in history.

Q: How did you face the challenges from the Naxalites during the lockdown? They have managed to do a few things....

A: First, they said that they would adhere to the ceasefire. Then they flouted it. Our security forces are vigilant. But we have got complaints from the tribals that they are snatching rice and other foodgrains given to the tribals by the government.

Q: In Prime Minister's meeting scheduled for Monday, what is your plan? The suggestions made by Congress-ruled Chief Ministers were not listened to as Sonia Gandhi has highlighted.

A: It will depend on the Prime Minister -- what agenda he is going to come out with and whom he wants to consult. If I get a chance, I will speak, otherwise I will offer my suggestions in writing. Last time I had raised a few issues such as the problems of migrants and the MSME sector and demanded a special package for the MSME as industry and trade are dysfunctional. I requested that the limit of bank loans should be increased so trade is back on track.

Q: Your state has registered an FIR against a TV Editor and now the apex court has put a stay on it. Will you go ahead and take action? A: I have not spoken to the lawyers yet. I will speak to them and will take a decision accordingly. Everything will be done as per the Constitution but we will not let him go scot-free.

Q: I am told that due to Covid-19, the state apparatus is working day and night including you the Chief Minister? A: I am working as I had been working... but yes, the work load has increased, but people have chosen us to serve them, and I am doing my duty.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 25) - With the devastation from the COVID-19 pandemic expected to lead to huge economic losses, dark clouds now loom over livelihoods of many Filipinos.

The pandemic has erased jobs of over a million Filipinos, as the whole of Luzon and other regions elsewhere in the country have been placed under an enhanced community quarantine to curb the spread of the deadly disease.

As part of the quarantine measures, the government has urged people to stay at home and most industries to suspend operations. Only providers of essential services are allowed to remain open.

The government has so far focused amelioration efforts on providing aid to the poorest of the poor, but some government officials have made appeals to include the middle class sector in the cash assistance program.

This begs the question  who are the middle class in the Philippines?

Income-based middle class

The Philippine Institute for Development Studies, a nonprofit government corporation that serves as the state's primary socioeconomic policy think tank, said in 2018 that 40 percent of the countrys population, thats 4 out of every 10 Filipinos, belongs to the middle-income class.

PIDS senior research fellow Dr. Jose Ramon Albert told CNN Philippines on Tuesday that the welfare indicator in the Philippines for determining poverty as well as the middle class is per capita income.

"We essentially divided per capita income not just into the poor and the non-poor, but in seven groups, and the lowest two form the low income class, the next three groups form the middle class and the highest two groups, the upper income class," Albert said in an email to CNN Philippines.

Our estimates of the poverty line, making use of more recent urban-rural classifications puts the poverty lines at around 11,690 for a family of five, Albert added.

A recent study by Albay Representative Joey Salceda, which makes use of the same approach in defining the middle class, said a family of five is considered middle class if the household earns anywhere between 23,381 and 140,284 per month.

Or around 25,000 and 150,000, respectively in 2020 prices, Salceda said in the report.

The table provided by Salceda estimates the sizes of the income classes, both in terms of population and households, based on data sourced from the 2018 Family and Income Expenditure Survey conducted by the Philippine Statistics Authority.

A family is considered middle-class if their monthly income falls within the range of lower middle-income class, middle middle-income class, and upper middle-income class.

This means that among those considered middle-class households, 63 percent, or 7.6 million households, belong to the lower middle-income group. About a quarter are middle-middle class and a tenth in the upper-middle income class.

Thus, if the social amelioration program for 18 million households out of 24.4 million estimated households in 2020 has been targeted well, it provides benefits for all of the low-income class, and a portion of the lower middle-income group, Salceda said.

Finance Secretary Carlos "Sonny" Dominguez III earlier said that selected members of the middle class, particularly those working for micro, small and medium enterprises will receive assistance from the government's COVID-19 cash aid program.

READ: Middle class in MSMEs to receive COVID-19 aid  DOF

Characteristics of the middle class

The middle class plays a vital role in the economy since they make large investments in education and health care, and help improve public services.

The 2018 study showed that middle-income households spend a larger share of their overall household expenditures on education. At the time, the middle class was spending six times more on education than low-income households.

In 2015, half of the middle-income persons aged 24 years and above attained education beyond secondary education, the PIDS report said.

Latest data from the Labor Force Survey and Family Income and Expenditure Survey showed that members of middle-income households vary in the work they do.

According to the PIDS, about a quarter of middle-income persons work in wholesale and retail trade, working as vegetable vendors or sari-sari store owners, while nearly a fifth work in transport usually as tricycle and jeepney drivers or bus conductors.

About 16 percent of this income group work in government, mostly as clerks or public school teachers, and only 11 percent of them derive incomes from agriculture, and most of them belonged to the lower middle-income group, the report said.

The report also said about 13 percent of middle-income households had a member working as an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) with most of them belonging to the upper middle-income group.

Studies suggest that urban households are predominantly middle class. Based on Salcedas study, three in five urban households are middle-class, but only 3 percent is high-income. Majority of them reside in Metro Manila followed by the Calabarzon region and Central Luzon, while a little more than half are spread across other regions.

But these characteristics of the middle class may change as more information becomes available.

Limited variables have been provided by the PSA in the recent release of the 2018 FIES so only a few other characteristics in the profile we gave for 2018, such as breakdown by geographic location can be made available, Albert told CNN Philippines.

Given existing PSA data, the study determined the general expenditure characteristics and income sources of Filipino households.

However, further data such as characteristics of the household head, information about members of the household such as educational attainment, labor and employment, and household assets from the PSA would allow researchers to paint a better picture of the middle class, Albert said.

We are awaiting other data on the Labor Force Survey that can be merged with the 2018 FIES, to get a much richer profile, he added.

A middle-class lifestyle

There is no universal standard of determining the middle class just as there is no internationally accepted definition of poverty, but there is a growing effort to define these terms in a multidimensional sense.

In 2016, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) launched AmBisyon Natin 2040, a long-term vision for the country that would guide the governments development planning across at least four administrations.

NEDA said the vision represents the collective aspirations of the Filipino people, which were put together through focus group discussions with more than 300 citizens and a nationwide survey with close to 10,000 respondents. The process included members of government, private sector, academe, and civil society.

The survey showed that 79 percent of respondents said they want a simple and comfortable life by 2040.

For Filipinos, a simple and comfortable life is described as having a medium-sized home, having enough earnings to support everyday needs, owning at least one car or vehicle, having the capacity to provide their children college education, and going on local trips for vacation, the NEDA report said.

That points to an alternative way of determining the middle class.

The statement summarizing the aspirations of the Filipino people also guided the socioeconomic planning agency in crafting a single long-term vision for the Philippines, which is stated as this: By 2040, the Philippines shall be a prosperous, predominantly middle class society where no one is poor."
President Donald Trump has ordered the U.S. Navy to "shoot down and destroy" any gunboats harassing U.S. ships. An order that came one week from the Navy's report of a group of Iranian boats that made harassing and dangerous approaches to the U.S. vessels in the Persian Gulf.

The president did not cite any event in particular on his tweet. Neither did he provide any detail. More so, the White House did not have any immediate comment. Meanwhile, the 5th Fleet of the U.S. Navy, based in Bahrain, referred questions on the American leader's Tweet to the Pentagon. The latter, in return, directed the questions to the White House.

Shortly, before the tweet of Trump, the Revolutionary Guard of Iran said on Wednesday, it would position the first military satellite of the Islamic Republic into orbit, intensely revealing what experts had described as "a secret space program."

Iranian Navy Taunting Vessels in the Persian Gulf

The said hat launch raised growing concerns among experts on technology if it could be employed to help Iran in developing intercontinental ballistic missiles. Iran currently has intermediate- and short-range missiles.

This was not the first time that reports about the approach of Iranian gunboats came out. Essentially, it occasionally has encounters with the U.S. Navy ships in the Gulf, and the U.S., according to reports, calls this unprofessional.

However, the Iranian gunboats hardly ever include or escalate gunfire exchanges. Also, Tehran views the American forces' heavy presence there, as a security risk.

And, with this, Trump said on Twitter, he has instructed the U.S. Navy "to shoot down and destroy" all or any Iranian gunboats should they harass the U.S. vessels at sea.

Middle of this week, according to the U.S. Navy, the Revolutionary vessels have repeatedly crossed the sterns and bows of individual American ships at high speed and close range in the northern Gulf. Meanwhile, the American vessels comprise of the USS Lewis B. Puller, a ship serving as an "afloat landing base;" and the Navy Destroyer, USS Paul Hamilton.

Multiple Warnings Issued

The Navy said, the Americans had already issued multiple warnings through bridge-to-bridge radio. More so, they fired five short explosions from the horns of the ships, and the devices that make long-range acoustic noise.

Despite the warning shots, the Navy did not receive an immediate response, the statement indicated. But an hour later, the Iranian boats responded to the "bridge-to-bridge queries via the radio, but then, they maneuvered away."

Iran's Claim

The U.S. commanders went through thorough training so they could make careful and nuanced judgment calls on the manner of responding to occurrences at sea. And, instead of instantaneously resorting to the employment of deadly force, it is expected for commanders to act according to specific incidences.

The pressures between the two nations intensified after the withdrawal of the Trump administration from the "international nuclear agreement "between Tehran and world powers" a couple of years ago and re-imposed crippling approvals on Iran.

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Ottawa, April 26 : Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced an aid package of 62.5 million Canadian dollars (about US $44 million) for the country's fish and seafood sector to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fish and seafood are among the country's top food exports and the sector reportedly employs some 72,000 people.

Fisheries and seafood processors are worried that they could not employ enough labor, including temporary foreign workers to fill out their workforce, while others have called for delays to the spring season as they work to establish proper safety protocols.

Trudeau said at his press conference on Saturday in Ottawa that the aid is earmarked for personal protective equipment and to help fish and seafood companies adapt their plants to comply with health directives, reported Xinhua news agency.

"We're giving more money to processors so they can purchase personal protective equipment for workers, adapt to health protocols and support other social distancing measures," Trudeau said.

"Fish processing plants could buy new equipment, like freezers or storage space, so that their product for Canadians can stay good while they respond to a changing market," he added.

COVID-19 infections are disrupting other parts of the country's food sector, including the meat processing industry.

Last week, Canadian Minister of Fisheries, Oceans, and the Canadian Coast Guard Bernadette Jordan said in a statement that her ministry was in talks with industry members about season openings and the state of the sector during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"I recognize the concerns harvesters and communities have around the ability to conduct a safe fishery, and I am encouraged by provincial governments and various organizations and associations who have developed protocols to keep people safe," she added.

The COVID-19 outbreak has forced the shutdown of several food-making facilities including Cargill, one of the largest food companies in the country.

Trudeau also pointed out that plans by some Canadian provinces to restart economic activities do not depend on presuming people who become infected with coronavirus develop immunity to it.

"I don't believe there are any plans that hinge on certain people being immune to COVID-19," Trudeau said, suggesting that provincial plans focus on preventing the spread through social distancing and protective equipment in workplaces.

As of Saturday afternoon, Canada's death toll from COVID-19 rose to 2,462 among more than 45,000 cases, according to CTV News.
I didnt read Reading Lolita in Tehran, by Iranian-American writer Azar Nafisidespite the great attention paid to this bookuntil the Arabic translation of it appeared a few years after its original 2005 publication. After reading her other book Things Ive Been Silent Abouta memoir about her childhood and familyI was genuinely amazed by both books and reviewed them for Al-Ahram.



I was first touched by the ideas in Reading Lolita in Tehran, and by its eloquent style. The book was written in the form of diary entries of an Iranian professorNafisiwho was Tehran-based and banned from teaching at her university because she refused to wear the Islamic hijab, as all women at the university and in post-Islamic revolutionary Iran are required to do. She organized a weekly gathering with her female students at her home to discuss books of English and American literature. Nafisi tackles these discussions and how they reflect on her and her students, which helps the readers to have a better understanding of the books characters and Irans post-1979 society. I think of Nafisi as an extraordinary writer who hasnt received the attention she deserves.



The second reason I was touched by Nafisis work is her autobiography, Things I Have Been Silent About, in which she opens up her family life. Nafisi shares with us the bond between her parents and her relationship with her mother, which was quite sophisticated. At the same time, in the background, we learn more about society and social life in Iran over the past century. In addition, we see the spectacular beauty of the nature and landscapes of Iran, and how it affects peoples lives is beautifully described through Nafisis memories.



At last, I was introduced to her third book, The Republic of Imagination, in which Nafisi describes her relationship with the United States of America, the relationship of the Americans with their own culture and literature, and her career as an Iranian-American writer.



The day I heard that Nafisi was going to visit Kuwait, I was thrilled. Unfortunately, my happiness turned into disappointment when I learned of the cancelation of her lecturewith no explanation. However, I was so lucky to meet her by chance at a very important popular bookstore-cafe in Kuwait, Takween. Nafisi was invited by the Kuwaiti novelist Buthaina Al-Essa, the owner.



Meeting Azar Nafisi was a pleasant surprise. I had the chance to tell her my opinions on her books, and I didnt hesitate to ask her for an interview with her for Al-Ahram. Hearing the name of the newspaper, she asked: Al-Ahram of Mohammad Hassanein Heikal?



I replied, smiling: Yes.



During my reading of Reading Lolita in Tehran, I felt your intense interest in American Literature. Although there is prominent English writer, Jane Austin, mentioned in Reading Lolita in Tehran, the impact of American literary models, including James, Nabokov, and Fitzgerald, are highly remarkable in the book. I do wonder about the role of Jane Austin in Reading Lolita in Tehran.



Well, the books that I chose were not based upon the fact that they were British or American, but because they fit the experiences that I was describing. Therefore, for each chapter, I chose the books I had been teaching and that captured the kind of reality I was experiencing. That was why I picked them. However, there are many books of British Literature that I love, of course. I also love books from other countries. I chose these books because I was teaching English and American novels, that was my specialty, so I limited myself only to the British and American fiction.







I also noticed a lot of concern with Henry James, who is not well known here in the Arab World. Why were you very much concerned with his writings in the book?



Well, James spent most of his life in Britain, but he is an excellent example of how much you can come to embody a cross-cultural identity. I mean, he was very much concerned with identity in his work, and what it means to be American and what it means to be European. Moreover, as you might remember, one of his books was The Americans, and another book had the title The Europeans. I wanted my students to understand that literature really does not have any boundaries. James was born in America, but he was very much under the influence of European Culture. Like someone who was born in America, but fell in love with Iranian or Arabic culture. Moreover, many Europeans were fascinated by eastern ideas, thoughts, and imaginations. I like the idea of cultural exchangesnot just politics, but cultures.







Through my reading to your book Reading Lolita in Tehran, I had the feeling that this is a novel or a fiction. I also think that the idea of the book itself is a fictional idea, although it was dealing with so many tough issues about the daily life of people there and their fears; still, the book was interesting. Do you think that you have a hidden novelist inside you?



First, I learned a great detail through listening to stories, reading stories, so for me it is more desirable to tell what I want to say about reality through stories. I do not like to write in a dry academic way, where you only talk about novels in a very rigid manner. I think that I prefer to talk about my own experiences, and how reading a great story helps me in shifting my view of reality, and changing my perceptions. Nevertheless, I wish I could be a novelist.







In your other memoir, Things Ive Been Silent About, I felt these types of efforts to get to the internal feelings of the people you were talking about, compassionately. Especially the mother-father complicated relationship, and also describing the father-daughter relationship. You relied not only your memory, but on many other tools usually used by a novelist. Do you agree?



I think that part of this is because I become interested in the characters. During writing the book, I realized that there were many things I did not know about the people who were very close to me, and also about myself, and through writing, I discovered them. I mean, my view of my mother totally changed. At the beginning, I was writing about a little girl whose mother was an authoritarian, but by the end of the book I was a grown-up woman and my mother was an old woman, and I understood how much she suffered in life. Through writing, I explored many things. I do not think that book are about things we see and know; they are about things that go beyond appearances, things you want to know.







I think the readers of your memoir might come to understand how traditional Irans society was, but at the same time very modern and Westernized. Some of your readers might think the Iran you wrote about was described from the point of a progressive woman, though in reality, it wasnt very modern, and you might be exaggerating. Through reading your book, I came to this conclusion that although Iran is a closed society, Iranians are very open, especially the young generation who were born in post-revolution Iran. Am I right?



You know, my own family are mostly very modern. Still, my grandmother, for example, as I describe in the memoir, was a traditional woman wearing hijab and chador. She was a very religious woman. However, we loved one another. We were two different people, with very different lifestyles but she loved me and I loved herwe respected one anothers beliefs and principals. When the Islamic Regime of Iran came into power, my grandmother cried a lot. She said, this is not Islam. She believed that there is no compulsion in Islam, for young girls to wear the hijab through punishment and force; she felt people had to choose wearing it not be forced into it. But when I returned to America I realized that and my view and experiences of Islam and Iran is very different from what people outside Iran understand. The reason I wrote Reading Lolita in Tehran was to challenge the negative view of Islam and the Iranian people in the West, to reveal that we in Iran as well as in most of the other Muslim majority countries have all sorts of people. That Islam like other religions was open to many different interpretations. For example most of my students in my private class were muslims, but most of them did not wear the hijab and were quite modern; only one of them was very religious, but she loved the books I taught. Iran was and is a modern, but at the same time a traditional society, also very sophisticated. Youre right.



Moreover, that is why after 40 years of this revolution a lot of people and a new generation are still modern and sophisticated. People who made the revolution wanted to make a change, but rather than being able to change the people, many among those who used to be loyal to the regime were changed themselves, becoming disillusioned with the revolution. Despite censorship and being imprisoned, the people of Iran, especially the young generation, want to explore the world and different cultures. They reach out to the world through ideas and imagination. This is what Im proud of.







In The Republic of Imagination, you mentioned a conversation you had with a young Iranian man who told you that its worthless to talk about your books in the U.S and the Americans dont even bother themselves with their own literature. He believed that Americans dont need writing, as many people do in Iran. Is that the reason made you write this book?



Well, I think books and literature belong to people who appreciate them, no matter where their origins are, and my critique of the U.S was that we live at a time where people in America do not appreciate even their own culture, never mind my culture or your culture. When I first came to the U.S, I was angry because they did not know about the Middle East. They talked about it, but they did not know it. Then I got mad because I noticed that they did not even appreciate their own literature. I believe the charm of America and the reason a lot of people love America is that the United States is built on an idea. Education, imagination, and concepts were critical in the construction of this country. Now the country is becoming obsessed with money, and some Americans have forgotten the civil rights and other movements and freedoms that were achieved after the Civil War. Now it seems like America is neglecting those values and principles that are foundations of a democracy. Meanwhile, since Ive been visiting Kuwait over the past few days, Ive had the most amazing discussions about literature. What I enjoyed most about the conversations I had in Kuwait was the openness towards the world, such appreciation of ideas and imagination from different parts of the world.







Sounds excellent. By the way, have you ever been to Egypt?



Ive never visited Egypt though I wish I could. Ive never been there, but I met some Egyptians in literary festivals. I remember meeting these Egyptians in Brazil at the Flip literature festival, and I had a very long literary conversation with them. We stayed up the whole night talking about International literature.





You mentioned in one of your books that while writing Reading Lolita in Teheran, you used to write inside Borders. Is it a bookshop? Besides, are you writing mostly outside the home?Borders was a chain of bookstores/coffeeshops. However, it no longer exists. I was going there to buy books and then sit to write in the bookstores coffee shop. What I liked about this place was writing among people that I do not know, people sharing the same concerns while surrounded by books. Another area where I like to write is the coffee shops inside museums. I sit in front of one of my favorite paintings and write. This is all in Washington D.C., where I live. Nevertheless, unfortunately, most of those bookshops are not there anymore, like Borders and Barnes and Noble.Why do you think these kinds of bookstores disappeared?The internet, as well as people losing their love of reality being seduced by virtual reality. While, for me, I like the feel of books, touching the books, holding them and writing in their margins. They bring back memories, and I sometimes think that this new technology is destroying our mindswe need it to complement and enhance our sense of reality, not divert us from it. Now in America, during the last 3 or 4 years, there has been a surge in independent bookshops, which is very good.As a literature professor, you taught Iranian students in Iran, and American students in the USA. What do you think are the differences between American and Iranian students?First, my experience in teaching has always been fantastic. I mean, it is refreshing. You are learning from your students; it is not that you only teach. However, in Iran, there was this thirst for studying literature. People come not only from Tehran, but also from nearer cities. They were so excited, whereas in the U.S the students were not like that. They were saying we read Gatsby at high school, why should we reread it. However, one thing I like about my students in America was that they were very open, and they were not afraid of me, they were not afraid to speak their minds. However, in Iran, even if I did my best to not look like an authority, they were afraid of authority. It took a long time to get them to be open about their thoughts. They were afraid of criticizing the books that I recommended them to read, and I told them you might not like those books, and I would like it for you to say to me that why you do not like them. Gradually, they started to share their opinions with me, but it took a long time.You chose certain books to talk about in Reading Lolita in Tehran, and you chose other certain books for your last book The Republic of Imagination, what were the reasons?In Reading Lolita in Tehran, I chose books that explained how we felt in Iran during the revolution. One of the reasons that I loved America was through the books I read. I mentioned that in The Republic of Imagination, that before I actually came to America, I had been there through its books. It was crucial for me that how much revolutionary the American literature is. When you read The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, you will find that it is about the most marginal, poor, and least powerful people, Huck and Jim. That is what I like about American novels. All the marginal people are at the center of the books. They become heroes.Moreover, I wanted to discuss this with American society, how American literature is discussing the flaws of American society without directly involving politics, without politicizing. Besides, not just American, but all great novels teach us democracy, because books represent all voices. A lousy story does not allow characters to speak; it speaks for all of them. But a great novel allows all characters to have a voice, including the villain. By giving everyone a voice, you create a democracy of voices. This is why people should read, because their minds expand.What about Philip Roths books? Have you ever read, The Human Stain?Yes, of course, I read it a long time ago. Why are you asking? Is it because it is an excellent example of what I am saying?Yes, because it is a perfect example of the democratic ideal. Have you taught this book to American students?One of the problems, when I teach, is the massive number of good books to choose from because I want the students to read them all. When I generally start to teach literature, through either Scheherazade or Alice in Wonderland, it is because Scheherazade shows you that in order to change another persons mind, you do not need to resort to violence. The king was violent; he killed women because he believed that all women are traitors. Through telling stories, Scheherazade made the king interested and curious about others. He wanted to know what happens next. Then step by step, he got to this point that not all women are traitors, nor all kings are faithful. He felt empathy.Moreover, the critical point I always tell my students is what the story is all about: stories are not about judging but about understanding. And every great novelist, like every great general, knows that in order to defeat the enemy you need to understand them.What about the other example, Alice in Wonderland?Alice is an exceptional little girl, because she is not satisfied with her surroundings, and she dares to go after a rabbit and jump down the hole. Not many will risk following their imagination and drop down the hole. So many academics in America, and maybe in Egypt, simply tell you what to expect from a novel. And if the book does not agree with them, they dont like it. Now what I think is excellent with Alice is that she doesnt know what she is going to find down the hole, but she wants to know. Then, once she jumps, everything she finds in that hole is similar to the things we have in our ordinary lives, but the combination is different. And the character I like best is the caterpillar because Alice asked him, Who are you? and he replies with Who are YOU? Therefore, this is the role of the novel: to make you question your identity. You learn that the people who are different from you are not always wrong. They are just different. And when Alice comes back, she sees the world in a different light.How can you sense the difference between the impressions of your audience? I mean, how have your readers in both Iran and the States reacted to your books?In Reading Lolita in Tehran, I wanted to do two things; one, I wanted to tell Americans that Iranians are different from the way they are dominantly portrayed in America, and that there are many amazing Iranians. Also, I tried to tell them how great literature opens doors when oppressive conditions have closed them; it also connects us one to the other. Surprisingly, people got it, and it was terrific. They would come and ask about the girls in the book. What happened to them? In The Republic of Imagination, some Americans got angry at the book because of my criticism of America and some Iranians get mad at Reading Lolita in Tehran because of my criticism of the Islamic Republic. I did not criticize Islam or Iran but felt that both Islam and Iran were victims of the totalitarian regime of the Islamic Republic. They said I defended Western and colonial literature, but I did not see it in that way. I believe that great literature is always critical of established rules and norms and is subversive of politics as usual; it generally exposes Colonialism not defend it.Politically, I am very liberal, and I speak against policies in the U.S that I do not like, from the U.S invasion of Iraq to Donald Trumps presidency. But I think culture is supposed to be free, and literature is always about otherness. We want to explore others; we do not want to talk only about ourselves. It would be boring if we only speak and write about ourselves. However, many Americans reacted well to my criticism of America. Some of them come to me after my talks and say we feel the same way, but we were born here, so what can we do? Of course, I do not know what we have to do, I mean there are different ways of doing things, but we have to do what we can do, we cannot remain silent. I am amazed at how books create connections with people, whether they are Americans, Egyptians, Iranians, or Kuwaitis. Everywhere I go, when it is the language of literature, I immediately connect to people. In America, I feel at home with my readers. There was a lieutenant in the army who wrote to me, and she said, I am in Iraq, and I read your book, and I want to know how to connect to the Iraqi people? How can I understand them? I felt so touched.What is your latest book about?My new book is about how to deal with your enemy. It is about understanding the person whom you consider to be your enemy. We should realize that we are all humans. We all have the best and the worst. By following this, we avoid wars. When there was a war between Iran and Iraq, I kept thinking as soon as I heard a victory march announced on the radio that they have bombed another place in Baghdad, for me, it meant that another family like mine in Iraq is dead. When America invaded Iraq, I thought about how much the Iraqi people have suffered. And now they are still suffering. I feel very close to Iraq, although we were in conflict with them. I really think I know the people, although I have never been there before.I chose books from authors who talk about difficult subjects. Like for example, James Baldwin, whom I love. I ended Republic of Imagination with him, and I start my new book with him. Most of his books are about racism. In a time when they would kick black people out of restaurants, he said, What I was most afraid of was not them, but the hatred within. Because he said, Hate is more dangerous than the enemy. And yet he fought. He was writing in the middle of the Civil Rights Movement, and sometimes he became very disenchanted, but he never gave up. Then I have Atwood, because she talks about totalitarianism. I write about an Israeli author, and also a Palestinian writer. The Israeli is David Grossman. He is a serious critic of Israeli policies and the occupation. One of the things he criticizes about Israeli government, is what he calls its dehumanization of the other side. The Palestinian playwright, Amir Nizar Zuabi talks about a Palestinian guy who wants to dedicate his life to invent a rocket to go to the moon. And his reason is, Because everybody thinks that Palestinians are oppressed people who cannot do anything, so I wanted to show them that we can go to the moon. I love that idea. The play was called Grey Rock. I want to tell how writers fight the most profound problems in their society.Do you have any idea about Arabic literature? Do you read any Arabic literature?I read some of Mahfouzs novels, and I read The Yacoubian Building, by Al Aswany, Taha Muhammad Ali, Kamel Dauod, Fatema Mernissi, and Mahmoud Darwishs poems. There are many whom I dont know but should know; generally, there are few translations of Arabic literature. Besides, it is tough to look for them because you have to read about it to know that they exist. However, what I learned from Mahfouz reminded me of a little bit of Iran. There are many similarities between Egypt and Iran. When I was a child, I remember that my family would always make a comparison between Iran and Egypt. I discovered that unfortunately, we, in Iran, did not seek enough to get to know our neighbors in the region. Now I ask myself why is it that we came to know about Western literature before got acquainted with Arabic writing. Of course, I had knowledge of Ibn Arabi, Ibn Sina, Ghazali, and Arabic Classic literature. Still, I need to know more about contemporary Arabic literature. I often explain to my students that Arab culture is a source of many Western sciences and writing. The truth is that I am sure we have much in our eastern civilizations to be proud of, so I do not think we need to fear the West in this regard.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 23 April, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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The number of daily coronavirus deaths registered in Spain was 430 on Tuesday, according to the latest figures supplied by the Health Ministry. This is a slight rise from yesterdays figure of 399, which was the lowest Spain had seen since March 22, when there were 394 daily fatalities.

It should be noted that figures from around Spain have tended to be underreported around weekends and national holidays. As such, in recent weeks an uptick in the data has been expected on Tuesdays. However, the rise seen today was smaller than the Spanish health authorities were expecting.

The number of deaths is falling, but it continues to be a figure that worries us Fernando Simon, the director of the Health Ministrys Coordination Center for Health Alerts

There are also variations in the official statistics this week given that the Health Ministry is updating the historical series, after the government issued an order to the 17 regions in a bid to homogenize the different reporting of the data.

There have been a total of 21,282 official Covid-19-related fatalities since the pandemic hit Spain, with confirmed infections now reaching 204,178. Some 82,514 patients have recovered from the illness and have been discharged from hospital.

After reaching a peak of 950 fatalities on April 2, the number of daily coronavirus-related deaths began a slow descent. The figures last week, however, plateaued, with 410 on Sunday, 565 on Saturday, 585 on Friday, 551 on Thursday and 523 on Wednesday.

Speaking at the governments daily press conference on Monday, Fernando Simon, the director of the Health Ministrys Coordination Center for Health Alerts, said the number of deaths is falling, but it continues to be a figure that worries us.

Simon said that the rate of new infections continued to hold steady at 2%, with only three regions recording a rise of above 6%. There are regions with a very low rate of infection that are very close to a relatively controllable situation, he explained. According to the health official, 50% of intensive care admissions are concentrated in one of Spains 17 regions, but he did not specify which one.

Simon added that the mass testing campaign, which will test around 30,000 families for the coronavirus in order to get a more accurate picture of the spread of the virus, has suffered from some delays. Its very important to know the real number of infected people, but it is not the only parameter needed to begin a process of change to control the pandemic, he explained.

On Tuesday, the Spanish Cabinet is expected to release more details on the deescalation of the lockdown measures, in particular under what conditions children under 12 will be able to leave their home. Education Minister Isabel Celaa indicated in an interview with Spanish television network TVE that the Cabinet will approve an order to allow children to leave for a short walk but they will not be allowed to enter parks.

Health Ministry ordered to report on PPE measures

Health workers applaud during a minute of silence to remember Joaquin Diaz, the hospital's chief of surgery who died of Covid-19. Manu Fernandez (AP)

The Spanish Health Ministry will have to report to the Supreme Court every 15 days to outline what measures it is adopting to improve access to personal protective equipment (PPE) in public and private healthcare centers. Thats what the Supreme Court ruled on Monday in response to a case brought by doctors unions, which demanded the government immediately provide health workers with PPE. The top court rejected the unions request, but agreed to call on the ministry to adopt all measures within its reach to improve the distribution of PPE to health workers, and to report on these efforts every two weeks.

The news comes after it emerged that thousands of healthcare workers were exposed to the novel coronavirus due to defective face masks that had been distributed by the government. The Health Ministry ordered the withdrawal of the faulty material on Friday, but it is still not known how many staff may have used the items.

Facebook to investigate fraudulent activity on Health Ministry page

Facebook will investigate alleged fraudulent activity on the official page of the Spanish Health Ministry, according to a ministry press release issued on Monday. In the statement, the ministry said that it had made the social media giant aware of the problem on Friday.

Reactions from suspicious accounts on the Health Ministry's Facebook page.

According to the ministry, hundreds of allegedly fake Facebook accounts, with no followers, no posts, that have been created on the same date have been interacting with their page. In some cases, EL PAIS was able to see that these accounts  which have profile pictures of foreign men and women  have been reacting with like and love to the ministrys posts. On Monday, the Health Ministrys official Facebook account had 489,200 followers, almost five times the number it had on March 14, when the state of alarm was declared, according to official sources.

Catalonia

The spokesperson for the Catalan government, Meritxell Budo, claimed on Monday that there would have been fewer coronavirus deaths in the region if Catalonia was an independent state. I am sure that there would not have been as many deaths or infections, she said in an interview with regional network Radio 4, on how the coronavirus crisis would have affected an independent Catalonia.

Budo said that an independent Catalonia would have taken measures in a different way," and argued the regional government would have declared a state of alarm and issued stay-at-home orders 15 days earlier than Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.

Running of the Bulls cancelled

Pamplona city council announced on Tuesday that the world-famous Running of the Bulls has been suspended this year due to the coronavirus. In a press release shared on Twitter, the local authority said the Sanfermines fiestas would be held be held as soon as possible but did not specify a date.

Travel restrictions extended

The government has extended the travel restrictions already in place at Spains borders until May 15. Only Spaniards or residents of Spain, residents of the European Union and countries associated with the Schengen Area who can prove that they are returning to the place of residence will be permitted entry into Spain.

As well as the aforementioned cases, travelers will be permitted to enter Spain at these border points if they are diplomatic staff; if they hold a long-term visa issued by an EU state or a country from the Schengen Area to which they are headed; if they are cross-border workers; if they are health professionals or take care of seniors and are on they way to carry out their duties; if they are employees in the sector of goods transportation; and if they are flight crew who are needed to carry out air-freight activities.

With reporting by Reyes Rincon and Pere Rios.

English version by Melissa Kitson.
(Reuters) - Singapore has registered 618 new coronavirus infections, its health ministry said on Saturday, taking the city-state's total number of COVID-19 cases to 12,693.

The vast majority of the new cases are migrant workers living in dormitories, the health ministry said in a statement. Seven are permanent residents.

The island of 5.7 million people now has one of the highest infection rates in Asia, according to official figures.

(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Kim Coghill)
By Express News Service

CHENNAI: It looked like city residents had taken a break from the lockdown on Saturday morning with residents filling up the streets to stock up for the complete lockdown, scheduled for four days from Sunday.

CMDA member secretary D Karthikeyan said on Saturday that during the complete lockdown from Sunday to Wednesday, vegetable shops may remain open although grocery shops are to remain closed. Grocery stores that also sell vegetables have to shut shop although they can continue to sell vegetables on the footpath. The Koyambedu wholesale market will function.

Meanwhile Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami announced on Saturday morning that grocery and vegetable shops will be allowed to function until 3 pm on Saturday.

The last minute announcements only added to the confusion, with people rushing to stock their pantries. Panic buying on Saturday morning resulted in several shops running out of essential supplies like bread, milk and water cans. Moreover, while many shops in the city continued to follow social distancing norms even in serpentine queues, many others gave it a miss in the chaos.

In Purasaiwalkam, vegetable vendors raised the prices of vegetables even as people thronged to them for fresh vegetables. Residents in T Nagar and Washermanpet said that the vegetable stocks in several supermarkets and even the market set up by the corporation in Old Washermanpet were old and the only source of fresh vegetables was from mobile carts on the streets.

At the Sir Theagaraya College market in Old Washermanpet, people were found standing in 200-metre queues even as the market began running out of stock by 11:30 am, leaving those waiting clueless about where to go next.

The situation was similar in Tondiarpet and Royapuram zones that already account for nearly 200 COVID-19 cases and are prone to community transmission.

Chicken and mutton stalls in Tiruvanmiyur exhausted their stock for the day and had to shut shop as early as 11:30 am. Fish stalls at Adambakkam were found selling at much higher prices owing to the surge in demand.

City residents said they had spent anywhere between 30 minutes to 2.5 hours waiting in queues to shop.

R Kalaivani, who works behind the billing counter at a Velachery supermarket, said that she and her colleagues were exhausted due to the non-stop flow of customers.

Shortage of milk

Aavin milk was found to be unavailable in shops in Trust Puram, Kodambakkam, Nanganallur and Madipakkam among other areas in the city. The shopkeeper at an Aavin outlet in Kodambakkam said that he has not received the stock for the day. Several were turned away.

The shopkeeper at the Aavin outlet in Nanganallur asked customers to return at 1 pm when the second load of stock is to arrive. Only ice cream and kulfi were available.
It's one of Canada's largest gateways but workers at Toronto's Pearson airport claim not enough is being done to protect them from COVID-19.

Beata Betlej said she lost her friend of 19 years and fellow airport worker Monika Filipek to the deadly respiratory illness. But she said while there appears to be a lot of focus on people who work at hospitals and grocery stores, that's not the case for many categories of airport workers.

"It hurts us a little bit that nobody's talking about us ... We're risking our lives to come to work," Betlej told CBC News.

"They're asking everybody to stay home but they're forgetting about us."

Betlej said Filipek, 43, died last week after contracting the novel coronavirus.

'Everybody's scared'

Betlej said she and Filipek met while they were both working at the airport duty free shops. She believes her friend got infected with COVID-19 while on the job, noting that while workers try their best to control traffic into the duty free stores, it's sometimes hard to do.

"Right now, we're more scared because it actually happened to someone you know ... You can see it's really serious and coming to work and [leaving] from work, you're scared," Betlej said.

"Everybody's scared. Everybody's asking why we're still open, if there's really [a] need for us to be open."

Submitted by Beata Betlej

There are approximately 400 employers at Pearson Airport, and they employ thousands of workers.

The union representing baggage handlers, check-in agents and cabin cleaners, says the lines are blurred when it comes to who is responsible for ensuring the workers are protected, provided with the necessary protective equipment, and are able to keep a safe distance from other workers as well as travellers and customers.

"I think right now the biggest issue we have is the oversight by the government of Canada  Not knowing who is our first point of contact when we have an important question to ask when it comes to the health and safety of all the airport workers," said Antonio Modarelli, health and safety officer with Teamsters Local Union 419.

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"Being on Crown land we are federally regulated under the Canada Labour Code and the only presence of the Public Health Agency of Canada is just them at the arrivals and customs hall handing out a piece of paper."

The union is calling for immediate action in three areas:

Passengers at check-in should line up outside if there is a crowd at the counters.

Installation of plexiglass barriers at check-in counters.

Airport authorities should tell unions whenever there is a case of COVID-19.

"We just need to have strict measures in place to protect the health and safety of all the workers. That's all we're asking for," Modarelli said.

Airport operations significantly reduced

Modarelli said while operations at the airport have been significantly reduced because of the COVID-19 pandemic, international flights  mostly to and from Asia  are still landing at Pearson.

Video taken this week also shows people standing close together inside one of the airport terminals.

'An unprecedented situation'

Tori Gass, a spokesman for the Greater Toronto Airports Authority, said they've been working closely with airport employers and union representatives through regular meetings.

"This is an unprecedented situation," Gass wrote in an email to CBC News.

Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press

"We've taken steps to provide physical distancing at check-in counters, such as placing stanchions at the front of the check-in counters and markers on the floor to show where passengers should stand."

Gass added that check-ins are being staggered when possible to prevent multiple airlines checking in flights at the same time, allowing for appropriate spacing.

"In addition, we're opening more counters for each flight to assist with check in. In the interest of continuous improvements, we're discussing many other measures, including the potential prototyping of plexiglass barriers," Gass said.

She added that the following steps have been taken in other areas of the airport to improve passenger and employee safety:

Signage, in-terminal announcements and floor markers have been installed to remind passengers to maintain physical distancing.

Extra hand sanitizer stations have been installed and more frequent cleaning of arrivals areas, including kiosks and bathrooms, has been implemented. High traffic areas are regularly disinfected.

Signage advising passengers and employees of new face covering requirements have been recently installed.

Gass said as this situation continues to evolve, new measures may be introduced as required.

CBC News has reached out to Dufry  the duty free store where Filipek was employed  as well as the Public Health Agency of Canada, which has oversight over duty free stores, but so far neither has responded to our request at the time of publication.
As the COVID-19 curve starts to flatten in Australia and New Zealand, people are rightly wondering how we will roll back current lockdown policies.

Australias Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt says Australia is looking to South Korea, Japan and Singapore to inform our exit strategy. New Zealand is relaxing some measures from next week.

A long-term solution  a vaccine  is many months, probably years, away.

In the meantime, we must rely on social distancing policies to contain the epidemic  and begin to accept the idea that an exit strategy may really look more like a more flexible version of lockdown.

What can we learn from other countries?

Total lockdown is not a prerequisite for success, but nonetheless seems to be where most countries are going.

In a study of more than 100 countries, currently under peer review, my colleagues and I find that on average, stricter policies (as measured by what we called a stringency index) lead to lower death rates after two to four weeks.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison addresses the coronavirus pandemic. Source: Getty

When looking at most of the other countries mentioned by Mr Hunt, we see that they are not exiting lockdown but are, in fact, getting stricter.

Indeed, of Mr Hunts countries, Japan is the only one that has not escalated its policies recently. It has, however, seen an uptick in daily deaths over the last week, going from an average of five deaths per day to 20.

(COVID-19 deaths is a better measure of epidemic severity than case numbers, as case numbers are vastly underestimated in some countries. For instance, some researchers have estimated that the United Kingdom might have over 10 times more cases than reported.)

South Korea, Hong Kong and Singapore all initially managed to keep their curve flat through aggressive testing, a small amount of targeted closures, and voluntary social distancing by citizens.

But from mid-March onwards, these countries started banning small gatherings and closing businesses. First South Korea, then Hong Kong and finally Singapore (with their April 7 circuit breaker measures).

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The number of coronavirus deaths compared to the stringency index. Source: Twitter/@TobyMPhillips

Even though they arent exiting lockdown, there are still useful lessons: despite being officially open at the time, these countries had slow infection growth rates over February and March.

We should add Taiwan to the list of countries to watch. They seem to have the epidemic under control  or close to it  without a national lockdown.

The key seems to have been rapid tracing and quarantining, community measures (such as temperature testing checkpoints), and citizen compliance. They have been preparing for a major pandemic since SARS in 2004.

When should we start to loosen the rules?

Last week Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison outlined three things Australia needs to have before restrictions can be lifted:

 A more extensive testing regime (including asymptomatic people)

 Industrial scale contact tracing

 Stronger local response capabilities.

Broadly speaking, these mirror the criteria set by the WHO director general, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, three days earlier.

A couple wearing face masks walk through Seoul Plaza in South Korea. Source: Getty

Tedros also included that epidemic transmission should be under control and communities must be adjusted to the new normal.

On these criteria, Australia is one of the leading countries in the world. For testing, South Korea used to be at the front of the pack, but now weve conducted more tests per person than most countries (although not as many as New Zealand or Italy).

In terms of controlling the epidemic, we are averaging around one or two deaths each day. Australia ramped up its policy approach three and half weeks ago; and now we are seeing the curve start to flatten.

So were approaching the point where it makes sense to start thinking about loosening rules. But there arent really any examples to learn from. China has made the most significant reductions in policy strictness, but it is still too early to assess the impact of this.

What does life look like after lockdown?

Ultimately, we cant think of lockdown as a national on-off switch. Just as there is an epidemic curve of cases, so too there is a curve of policy responses.

Over 200 Australian economists signed an open letter on Monday urging the government not to roll back too far too quickly.

All eyes will be on New Zealand as they reduce their lockdown level next week. It is the first step of a slow and measured roll back  many aspects of a lockdown will remain.

Some businesses must stay closed. People must still stay at home unless working or making essential trips.

Until a vaccine arrives, containing the virus is about reducing how often people come into contact and how closely  as we saw from Taiwan, a formal lockdown may not be necessary.

Graph showing the mobility changes in citizens of different countries. Source: Twitter/@TobyMPhillips

Data from firms such as Apple and Google can serve as a proxy for peoples movement and likelihood of coming into contact with others.

As Australia was heading into the pandemic, the data in the chart above suggest it took blunt lockdown measures (late-March) for people to reduce their contact with each other (for example, Bondi Beach was closed after crowds gathered there in defiance of social distancing recommendations).

Conversely, individual Singaporeans and South Koreans reduced their level of interaction back in February, without the strict lockdowns that are only just now being implemented in their countries.

Exiting the lockdown doesnt mean going back to business-as-usual. Under the new normal we will need people to behave like Singaporeans and South Koreans did in February: voluntarily limiting contact.

Hiking will be back on the cards; big barbecues might not be.

Whats more, we will need to figure out how to scale the response up and down as needed  possibly several times and in ways you might not expect.

We might need to return to full lockdown in a specific place when a flare-up is detected there. This requires new policy instruments to flexible and locally switch areas on and off  not the whole country  to deal with isolated outbreaks.

We cant remain in a nationwide lockdown forever. If people can voluntarily practise the behaviours that slow the virus spread, then the formal lockdown can relax. But life cant return to how it was before. At least not yet.

By Toby Phillips, public policy researcher at the University of Oxford.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons licence.

Read Its time to admit our COVID-19 exit strategy might just look like a more flexible version of lockdown.

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.
Earlier this week, there were reports that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un was receiving treatment after undergoing a cardiovascular procedure. These reports surfaced post speculation about his health after his absence from a key event in North Korea on April 15, 2020.

Now, Kim Jong Un is rumored to be dead, according to a Hong Kong broadcast network, while another Japanese publication reported that North Korea's supreme leader is in a 'vegetative state'.

(c) Reuters

North Korea celebrated its 88th anniversary which fell on April 25, 2020. The celebration was for the founding of the armed forces, the Korean People's Revolutionary Army - but amidst the celebratory event, people noticed the absence of their leader. According to South Korean media reports. Kim Jong Un, the leader of North Korea missing such an important event that honours the founders, including Kim's late grandfather Kim Il Sung, does raise eyebrows.

(c) Reuters

Kim is rumoured to be 36 years old, and was gravely ill after the cardiovascular operation. Reuters reported earlier, a team of medical experts left Beijing for North Korea for Kim's aid. This mission was led by a senior member of CCP (Chinese Communist Party). China anyway has a major client nation in North Korea and shares amicable international relations. Meanwhile, a Beijing-based satellite TV channel's vice director has also claimed that Kim Jong Un is dead.

On the other hand, South Korean, Chinese, and U.S. officials have openly questioned all these reports that project Kim to be seriously ill. Reuters has also reported that a South Korean source has indicated that intelligence points towards Kim being alive, and likely to make a public appearance shortly.

While these claims cannot be verified independently, we will soon know the entire truth.
Hearst Connecticut Media / Tara O'Neill

NEW HAVEN  A city resident was shot during a dispute with another man in the Newhallville neighborhood Saturday afternoon, police officials said.

Officers responded to the 500 block of Dixwell Avenue at Thompson Street after calls of a fight outside a home, according to Police Capt. Anthony Duff.
With the holy month of Ramzan



starting from Saturday, the apex body of Imams in West Bengal asked Muslims to offer namaz at home, and advised them not to assemble at mosques because of the coronavirus outbreak.

All mosque committees have been asked to communicate to the members of Muslim community that they should not crowd the mosques and offer daily namaz at home, Chairman of Bengal Imams Association Mohammed Yahia told PTI on Saturday.

Every advisory of the government in this regard should be followed for the benefit of everyone, he said.

"We have to work together to fight the coronavirus. We have already appealed to all the mosques in different parts of the state not to allow any gathering for namaz. While the imam of a mosque will offer namaz in the presence of two-three others of the masjid committee, others will pray from their homes," he said.

The mosques will ensure the sound of the azan reaches every household in the locality, another association member said.

Echoing Yahia's appeal, the Imam of Nakhoda Mosque, one of the prominent mosques in the state, Shafique Qasmi said, "We have already been conducting Friday prayers with only three-four people in mosque including the Imam and ensured that others do it at their homes. This procedure will continue in the Ramzan month."



"We understand offering namaz in small and cramped rooms could be difficult for many. But please in the name of Allah bear with that hardship this time. We have to fight this coronavirus, we have to save humanity," Qasmi said.

Both Yahia and Qasmi also requested the devouts not to follow the post-prayer practice of helping the poor with cash, who assemble near a mosque, for the time being.

They can instead hand over the money to the mosque committee which will ensure that the cash reaches to the underprivileged in the locality, the two religious leaders said.

The month-long dawn-to-sunset fasting of Ramadan culminates in the Eid al-Fitr.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Lake Hallie Police Detective Adam Meyer recently left the department to be closer to his family in Waukesha County.

As you may remember on April 8, 2016, Adam responded to the Lake Hallie Walmart for a Northern Wisconsin Center woman, out for a field trip, who did not want to return to the center.

The woman, Melissa Abbott, grabbed a hatchet, refused to drop it and came at Adam, according to authorities. Much to his regret in order to protect himself and others, deadly force was used.

On Nov. 5, 2018, the Lake Hallie Police Departments actions at the tragedy on County Truck P involving the members of Girl Scout Troop 3055 once again proved their worth to the community.

In February 2019, the Chippewa Fire District and the Lake Hallie Police Department shared the Red Cross Healthcare Hero for Chippewa County. In December 2019, Colten Treu pleaded guilty and was later sentenced to 54 years in prison.

On July 29, 2019, the Lake Hallie Police Department responded to a multiple shooting when Ritchie German Jr. wounded two people and killed a young woman at their home in Lake Hallie. The efforts of the Lake Hallie Police Department working in conjunction with other area law enforcement agencies paid off.

Why the mention of the Lake Hallie Police Department and Adam Meyer?

I have become aware that, once again, a new Lake Hallie Village Board member has questions on the usefulness of the Lake Hallie Police Department. This is nothing new. It has been going on since I moved here in 1976. It is time to put those questions to an end.

The town of Hallie/village has had a police department for more than 60 years. It has grown as the community has grown. Years ago, some people just wanted a cop to shake the doors at night for businesses only. Then they only wanted part-time officers, then they only wanted two full-time officers.

Then some people complained that the police department should not provide round-the-clock service.

Hallie officers were always paid the lowest salary in Chippewa County. This fiscal philosophy applied to many things in the town of Hallie. It was called Hallie Cheap. I will also say that every so often this philosophy encompassed Chippewa County. Call it Chippewa County Cheap.

As times change, the need for quality services change.

Like it or not, the village of Lake Hallie is in competition with Eau Claire, Chippewa Falls and Altoona.

We as a community must provide a level of service that competes with our neighbors to the north and south. Each community must respond in its own way, but we in the village of Lake Hallie need to be mindful of our unique place in the local geography.

Returning to the Lake Hallie Police Department, Chief Cal Smokowicz is preparing the 2019 activity report for the department. In reviewing past reports they have shown the Lake Hallie Police Department provides quality services for its residents and value to the taxpayers. These reports are available at the village of Lake Hallie website.

I have always said the fire departments and emergency medical services have law enforcement beat when it comes to interacting with people. They usually show up only when called. Law enforcement not so much.

Members of the Hallie station of the Chippewa Fire District appreciate when Lake Hallie police show up to assist us on medical calls or fires. In fact, often they arrive first. That is important when seconds count. They perform CPR, assist with difficult patients and are not afraid to pull hose lines or provide needed assistance.

In November 2016, the village of Lake Hallie electors approved a referendum to add a detective position to the Lake Hallie Police Department. The people support the police department. Often new board members, once they are on the board for a while, see how vital services are to the community they now serve. Hopefully that will be the case here.

Lets not return to the days of door-rattlers and shakers. Lake Hallie was never Mayberry, plus Andy and Barney left Mayberry years ago. For Adam Meyer, best wishes to you with the Waukesha County Sheriffs Department.

Stay safe and be well.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-24 22:25:00|Editor: huaxia

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President Xi Jinping inspected the progress in ecological preservation of the Qinling Mountains in NW China. But what's so special about Qinling? And what can it tell us about the country's green development plans moving forward? Find out in this episode of #XiFocus
Digital payments company Nium has been experiencing a surge of activity from mom-and-pop businesses in recent weeks. Unfortunately, thats not as positive as it might sound.

With the novel coronavirus continuing its deadly spread across the globe, many of the inquiries have been from troubled small and medium-sized businesses, which normally use Nium to pay their bills or staff salaries but are now looking either to cancel their memberships or to stall payments to their suppliers.

Covid-19 has bitten these firms hard, resulting in the biggest contraction in Niums SME-related business since the firm started out six years ago.

We have never seen anything like this, said Nium co-founder Prajit Nanu. The travel segment, for example, has been destroyed. Online agencies and small mom-and-pop businesses are gone. All we do now is refunds.

Nium co-founder Prajit Nanu. Photo: Handout

Surviving firms, said Nanu, were now mostly concerned with how to conserve cash and stay afloat through a pandemic that has killed more than 160,000 people, infected 2.4 million and still shows no sign of slowing.

While the human costs mount, experts say the greatest economic casualty will be small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)  a problem that will be acutely felt in the Asia-Pacific, where SMEs account for more than 90 per cent of businesses, according to the World Bank, and employ 50 per cent of the workforce.

Many SMEs were already under pressure long before Covid-19, particularly those in traditional cottage industries, like weaving in Thailand and Myanmar, the demise of which would represent a cultural loss. Now, with economies across the world locked down and hopes dashed that a recession can be averted, economists fear the pandemic will be the final nail in their coffin.

The Economist Intelligence Unit has warned that despite a heap of rescue packages being sent their way, SMEs are on life support.

Amid social distancing and quarantine measures that have wiped out final demand, large-scale fiscal and monetary stimulus measures will serve only to roll over existing debts for many firms. In many cases, private debt will rise even further, the unit said in a recent report.

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Even worse, when such firms do collapse, the job losses are particularly painful as 60 per cent of SME workers in the Asia-Pacific lack social protection, such as unemployment benefits.

As the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (Unescap) put it: Even when employees have access to separation benefits, insecurity remains regarding longer-term employment prospects.

HELPING HANDOUTS

Recognising this threat, governments in the region have been quick to announce measures aimed at softening the blow. Unescap pointed out that Cambodia, Japan and Thailand had all announced emergency cash handouts to relieve the burden on households.

Meanwhile, various fiscal and monetary stimulus packages have been launched across the region aimed largely at maintaining liquidity or cash flow for SMEs.

Singapore has brought in various measures to ease the plight of SMEs. Photo: Bloomberg

The idea, according to Unescap, is twofold: to maintain jobs and provide enough for SME employees to pay for basic living needs.

Fiscal stimulus measures have included targeted tax exemptions and subsidies to SMEs so they do not need to stand down staff, while monetary stimulus has included measures such as direct cash injections to instantly boost consumption.

At the forefront of such measures is Singapore, which since February has introduced fiscal policies worth about S$64 billion (US$44 billion).

These have included a S$4 billion Stabilisation and Support Package for firms and workers and a Jobs Support Scheme aimed at helping SMEs retain workers while tax rebates are implemented. It has also doubled its Working Capital Loan scheme to S$600,000 a year and will pay all Singaporeans above 21 years of age a one-off handout of S$600.

China is waiving or delaying SMEs social security contributions and deferring land-use rents and property taxes; Japan is providing wage support and consultative services; and Hong Kong, mainland China and Singapore have all rolled out funds to subsidise specific sectors such as retail, food and tourism.

Two-fifths of Malaysias US$57 billion fiscal stimulus package will go towards SMEs, while the countrys central bank has placed a six-month moratorium on all bank loans affected by the outbreak, except for credit card balances. Thailand is offering SMEs low-interest business loans, credit lines, tax deductions on salary expenses and refunds on electricity deposits.

Meanwhile, SMEs have been the chief focus of all three rounds of Australias stimulus measures. The first round entitled SMEs to cashback of up to A$25,000 (US$15,000); the second round granted tax-free cash handouts of up to A$100,000 to SMEs and charities with turnovers of less than A$50 million; and the third round introduced a jobseeker wage subsidy to encourage SMEs to keep staff employed over the next six months.

Unescap is optimistic such remedies will prove effective and says many countries have room for more measures if needed.

Countries also have substantial reserves and exchange rate flexibility as buffers against the shocks if they materialise, said Unescap Executive Secretary Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana.

AMP Capitals chief economist Shane Oliver said while he expected a rise in unemployment in Australia, the subsidies and rescue packages would cap job losses as long as the virus was brought under control.

However, S&P Global Ratings APAC chief economist Shaun Roache warned that if the lockdowns were extended for another two to three months the region would start running out of ways to support its SMEs.

In other words, there is a grace period  but its limited.

A LONG RECESSIONARY RIDE

While places such as Australia and Hong Kong have more tricks up their sleeves than emerging markets, the consensus among economists is that regional SMEs are in for a long recessionary ride. Many warn that the effect of fiscal policies will diminish over time as they lose their novelty and fatigue sets in.

[The fiscal packages] are important to ensure that credit continues to flow and firms have liquidity support. However, the measures will have a limited effect in immediately mitigating the adverse demand shock that is likely to follow the supply shock, as containment measures are eased, said Oxford Economics lead Asia Economist Priyanka Kishore.

Roache at S&P Global agreed that rescue schemes would eventually wear out both governments and SMEs in the long run as they were very expensive.

Wage subsidies tend to work with a cap on the total amount paid by the government, he said.

This means that employers still need to pay a proportion of the wage and this gets harder if sales have dried up. If the benefits keep getting pushed further into the future, both governments and firms may decide that these policies would not be worth pursuing.

The myriad layers of shock in this crisis  from country specific to regional impacts and the possibility of a second or third wave of the disease  mean that even when countries are swift to implement relief measures they are constantly playing catch-up.

Although Asias external and fiscal buffers are generally more robust than those in other regions  the policy responses to date will only cushion some of the impact and not fully offset the economic and credit damage. In addition, not all countries in the region have the same capacity to respond, Moodys Assistant Vice-President Deborah Tan said.

NEW TRICKS

That may all sound rather glum. The good news, however, is that even in an unprecedented event like Covid-19 where both the supply and demand sides of the economy are being hammered, the creativity and ingenuity of SMEs is leading to new ways of doing business that will help them emerge stronger in the long term.

Andrew Barker, chief marketing officer of the Australian alternative currency exchange business Bartercard, said that in the past two months SMEs had embraced its online currency Qoin as a way of selling excess stock and taking on new customers who preferred to use non-cash currencies.

Driving this switch, he said, was that SMEs recognised [the fact that] the boost from government rescue packages would last only so long. We are seeing a phenomenal number of merchants on Qoin, said Barker. The pandemic has forced many SMEs into becoming more innovative and they have realised they are more innovative than they thought.

Andrew Barker of Bartercard. Photo: Handout

Examples of this were a fashion retailer that had shut its physical stores using Bartercard to sell its clothes online and bakers selling their end-of-day bread to customers in return for payments in Qoin.

Unescaps Alisjahbana said that ultimately it was by embracing new ways of doing business that both SMEs and governments might find the antidote to the Covid-19 downturn.

Governments could help SMEs innovate by promoting e-commerce and easing regulations on digital trade. They also needed to invest in education and vocational training to look after those workers that needed to learn new skills, she said.

Meanwhile, SMEs were proving their ingenuity by using the pandemic as an opportunity to produce Covid-19-related goods and provide services, as well as expand their use of e-commerce platforms.

All of which leads back to Nium, the digital payments company being swamped with inquiries from mom-and-pop businesses.

Co-founder Nanu was among the many industry voices to agree that there was a flip side to the downturn. In Niums case it is the sudden popularity of its BizPay product, which converts unused credit on credit cards into working capital for SMEs.

While the number of Niums remaining SME users has dwindled, those still around are increasingly using BizPay to settle invoices from suppliers, rather than using bank loans.

This helps them get around what the World Bank says has long been a problem for SMEs: accessing credit. It also means they can stall loan repayments for a few extra weeks  time that could prove vital to their long-term survival.

Nanu said usage of BizPay had ballooned 400 per cent in the past six weeks. Ironically, he credits its success to the same element of uncertainty that is causing so many other SMEs to fail.

Some SMEs have the money, said Nanu, but they dont want to spend it, because they dont know what the circumstances are going to be. 

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A 70-year-old woman from



Maharashtra's Latur district, which had not reported any coronavirus positive case in more than 14 days, died on Saturday of the infection, a Health official said.

Notably, the Union Health ministry had on Monday added Latur, Osmanabad, Hingoli and Washim districts in Maharashtra in its list of districts from 23 States/UT that have not reported any fresh cases in the last 14 days (preceding April 20).

"A 70-year-old woman from Udgir died at the COVID facility there at 4:15 pm. She was admitted on April 23. The woman was suffering from diabetes and hypertension. Her report for COVID-19 came positive this afternoon," said district civil surgeon Dr Sanjay Dhage.

Earlier, eight COVID-19 cases were found in Nilanga in Latur district. However, all of them were non-locals and later tested negative for the infection.

Following the death of the woman, state minister Sanjay Bansode has appealed to people from Udgir to remain indoors and to follow social distancing norms.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Varun Dhawan Helps Daily Wage Workers Of The Film Industry, Ashoke Pandit Thanks Him
Photo: IHIT Brandon Teixeira

A man charged with a violent 2017 murder in Surrey is back in custody on Canadian soil after his extradition from the United States Friday.

Brandon Nathan Teixeira was the subject of an international manhunt for more than two years after Nicholas Khabra was gunned down in Surrey.

Late last year, American authorities found Teixeira living in Oroville, Calif., just north of Sacremento. Police told CTV News they believed he'd been living there for close to a year.

According to police, Teixiera did not go quietly, driving into an armoured SWAT vehicle while trying to escape arrest.

Police said they found 12 kilograms of heroin, 18 kilograms of marijuana and more than 1,000 pills of OxyContin and Percocet at the home where Teixeira had been living.

On Friday, Sgt. Frank Jang of B.C.'s Integrated Homicide Investigation Team announced Teixeira had been successfully extradited to Canada.

Teixeira faces several criminal charges including first degree murder. He will make his next appearance in B.C. Provincial Court at a later date, Jang said.

The CFSEU-BCs support of IHIT in the pursuit of Teixeira has been continuous and unwavering since he fled on September 5, 2018. IHIT is grateful to the CFSEU-BC and its other partners for their contributions to this investigation.

At one point, police had offered a $55,000 reward for information that led to Teixeira's arrest.

 with files from CTV Vancouver
Rajesh Asnani By

Express News Service

JAIPUR: Bollywood actor Irrfan Khan paid his last respects to his mother Saeeda Begum through video conference after she died here on Saturday amid the nationwide lockdown. She was 85 and had been feeling unwell for several days. According to family sources, Irrfan is in Mumbai.

Hailing from Rajasthan's only Muslim state during the pre-independence era, Tonk, Saeeda Begum belonged to a Nawabi family and was also a poet. She left behind three sons: Salman, Imran and Irrfan. Saeeda Begum and her husband were residents of Tonk and Irrfan's childhood was also spent there.

Her younger son Salman said, "My mother had been ill for some time. But suddenly her health deteriorated on Saturday morning. Recently, mother had inquired about Irrfan bhai's health."

Given the restrictions due to the lockdown, only a handful of family members could participate in the burial ceremony at Chungi Naka graveyard on the outskirts of the city.

Irrfan has also been ill for some time. In June 2017, he went abroad for treatment. He has kept giving updates related to his health to fans through social media. Last year, after returning home from abroad, he completed shooting for his film 'English Medium'.
In 1945, after graduating from Venice High School and serving in the Army during World War II, Mr. Deitch was on the art staff in the sales promotion department at CBS when he sent some drawings to The Record Changer, a jazz publication.

The magazine published them, and more followed. (His Record Changer drawings were published in a book, The Cat on a Hot Thin Groove, in 2003.) There were jazz fans at UPA, and he ended up there as an apprentice designer.

Mr. Deitch worked on safety films for the military and some of the earliest Mr. Magoo cartoons. He moved to a Detroit studio for a time, but in 1951 UPA lured him back to help open its New York office. Among his biggest successes there was a series of animated commercials for the Brooklyn beer Piels, with Bob Elliott and Ray Goulding  the comedy team Bob & Ray  providing the voices.

The beer was dreadful, Mr. Deitch wrote, but the commercials boosted its sales phenomenally.

In 1956, CBS hired him to manage Terrytoons, a venerable cartoon studio it had just bought. His signature creation there, in 1957, was Tom Terrific, the hero of a serial cartoon broadcast as part of the childrens show Captain Kangaroo.

Mr. Deitch, though, found the atmosphere at Terrytoons hostile.

After three years, he wrote in his memoir, For the Love of Prague (1995), I pulled the knife from my back, and in May 1958, I set up my own animation studio.

A project on his wish list was to turn Mr. Feiffers story of the drafted 4-year-old into an animated film. He made a deal with William L. Snyder, a producer who had founded Rembrandt Films in Prague, and Munro got made.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 25)  The government received on Saturday 700 coronavirus test kits from South Korea capable of conducting a total of 35,000 tests, amid efforts to increase the country's diagnostic capacity.

South Korean Ambassador to the Philippines Han Dong-man handed over the test kits in a ceremony attended by Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro "Teddy Boy" Locsin, Jr., Health Secretary Francisco Duque III and (ret.) Gen. Restituto Padilla, spokesperson of the National Task Force on COVID-19.

The shipment, worth around 25.38 million, arrived on Friday night.

"The test kits are compatible with local COVID-19 testing systems and were immediately delivered to the [Department of Health]," the Department of Foreign Affairs said in a tweet.

The Philippines currently has 18 accredited laboratories that can conduct 4,500 coronavirus tests daily.

The Department of Health eyes to increase its testing capacity to 8,000 daily this month and further expand it to 30,000 tests daily by May 30.

The number of COVID-19 cases in the country rose to 7,192 on Friday with 477 deaths and 762 recoveries. To contain the spread of the virus, President Rodrigo Duterte extended the enhanced community quarantine in Metro Manila and other high-risk provinces until May 15.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant



spoke to the Goan crew members of a cruise ship, who recently disembarked in Mumbai after being stuck on board for days due to the coronavirus lockdown.

Around 145 Indian crew members, including those from Goa, on board the cruise ship- Marella Discovery- disembarked at the international cruise terminal in Mumbai on Thursday. The ship had left Thailand over a month ago, officials had said.

In a tweet on Saturday, Sawant said, "Late last evening, I spoke to the Goan Seafarers telephonically who signed off from Marella at Mumbai Port. They will be back home very soon."



Meanwhile, State Executive Committee on COVID-19, headed by Chief Secretary, on Friday decided that these crew members would be tested for coronavirus infection in Mumbai.

After the crew members test negative, they would come to Goa, where they would be housed in paid quarantine facilities, the committee decided in the meeting.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
RED BLUFF, Calif. - The Red Bluff City Council voted unanimously to send Governor Gavin Newsom a letter requesting to loosen stay-at-home restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The vote occurred during a virtual meeting held on Friday, April 24. The meeting discussed a proposed letter to California Governor Gavin Newsom regarding loosening stay-at-home restrictions in the area.

The vote to send a letter to the governor passed 4-0 during a virtual meeting. One councilmember was not present.

Tehama County has had one confirmed coronavirus case and 167 negative tests. The one patient who tested positive for COVID-19 in Tehama County died from the virus on April 13.

Governor Newsom has to approve the letter before the restrictions can be lifted. Then, the Tehama County Public health officer has to sign off on it as well.
A teenage girl has been charged with animal cruelty after allegedly filming herself forcing her puppy to drink vodka in a cruel internet prank.

The unnamed 18-year-old, from the Ukraine, was reportedly heard laughing as puppy shook uncontrollably after swallowing the alcohol, The Sun reported.

Police arrested her in the western Ukraine village of Mamornytsya after the sick video was posted online - which she claims she did to to entertain her friends.

Video footage appears to show her pouring the vodka for her cream-coloured puppy as she says: 'Here is some vodka for my beloved pet. Now we are going to find out how it will affect him.'

Seconds later she was heard laughing as the dog laps up the vodka before racing away and beginning to convulse, The Sun added.

The unidentified 18-year-old Ukranian was arrested by police and is likely to be fined for her role in the sickening prank

Video footage appears to show the cream-coloured puppy lapping up the vodka after which it allegedly ran away and began to shake uncontrollably

Police confirmed that the puppy suffered no long-lasting damage from the ordeal and is back to its normal condition

The teenager admitted the animal cruelty and said 'I was told to get my dog drunk. I regret what I did'

It is claimed that when police tracked the teenage down she was quick apologise and alleged: 'It was a game. My friends and I were challenging each other with different tasks.

'I was told to get my dog drunk. I regret what I did.

Police confirmed they charged the teen with animal cruelty after 'the suspect, who abused the dog, confessed to the crime.'

They added that the dog suffered no long-term damage in the ordeal.

The teenage girl faces a fine of 8,500 Ukrainian hryvnias (255), reports the Daily Star.
COVID-19 has exposed an extremely troubling outcome of trade agreements, corporate greed, and the ability of mega-donors to imperil our ability sustain our economy and national security. America in this crisis cannot produce the medical supplies we need to protect those on the front lines, the population at large, nor can we guarantee that our defense forces will be healthy enough to defend this country. Will China produce our military weaponry if we go to war with them?

This threat to our nation began in earnest back in the 1970s and 1980s. Outsourcing production first took root by corporate carpetbaggers who moved production to Dixie to counter union organizing, fair wages and benefits. The great Ronald Reagan chipped in his share by firing 12,000 air traffic controllers.

Slick Willy Clinton, in concert with Newt the Grinch, passed NAFTA and the horse was out of the barn. When southern workers were not as cheap as slave labor in communist countries, often child slave labor, the boardrooms betrayed America and fled in favor of propping up the economies of communist dictators.

The opportunity to produce without environmental controls, labor standards and taxes was worth more than loyalty to America. CEO compensation rose dramatically, shareholders got richer while the ability to fund good government, provide social and economic parity for we the people spiraled downhill.

Both sides of the aisle created this dynamic as corporate donors became the stewards of our precious America. Unquestionably the Republican Party is the most preferred champion of the donor class. Citizens United, voter suppression and a totally corrupt White House continues the assault on our democracy. Using COVID-19 as cover, the Republican Party continues the assault on social programs, privatization of government functions and the effort to destroy the U.S. Postal Service.

Mike Griffin, Decatur

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What are we in now? Week four of lockdown? Week five? Its easy to lose track, to become untethered from a sense of community, even as there is furious debate online and in the media as to how we should hold our community together.

Illustration: Reg Lynch Credit:

A certain weightlessness has set in. The numbers  of government stimulus, of the unemployed  grow more fantastical by the day. Everywhere you look, there are either reports of harm or predictions of it.

In this context we should probably have seen it coming  the furious debate we have had this week over schools, how and when they should re-open, whether teachers are lazy, or just irresponsible, or whether governments and economic hard-heads are cruelly risking lives at the expense of economic outcomes.

The debate is a bonfire of all the pre-existing passions around education  unions versus the governments, private versus public sector, parents wedged somewhere in between, and children, as ever, the absolute poorer for all of it.
Nearly 150 cases of coronavirus infection have been confirmed among crew members of an Italian cruise ship docked in Japan after health authorities finished testing everyone on board, an official said on Saturday.

The Nagasaki prefecture official said 57 more crew had tested positive, bringing the total infections on board the Costa Atlantica to 148, roughly one quarter of the vessel's 623 crew members.

Authorities began testing after one crew member tested positive for the virus earlier this week. No passengers are on board the vessel, which has been docked in Nagasaki in southwestern Japan since February for repairs and maintenance after the pandemic prevented scheduled repairs in China.

The official told a news conference that the prefecture was discussing with the national government how to handle the large number of positive infections on the ship.

He added that there was no change in plans to send those testing negative to their home nations as soon as possible.

The infection cluster on board the vessel comes as hospitals are running out of beds in some parts of Japan, where the national tally of virus cases has risen above 13,000. Some 350 people have died. Nagasaki, excluding the ship figures, has seen a relatively low number of 17 infections and one death.

Of those infected on board the Costa Atlantica, only one crew member has been admitted to hospital, while others remain on board, having shown slight or no symptoms.

Nagasaki authorities had quarantined the vessel on arrival, and ordered its crew not to venture beyond the quay except for hospital visits.

But prefecture officials said earlier this week that some of the crew had departed without their knowledge, and sought detailed information on their movements.

Reuters
The Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has signed the release of 209 inmates being held in Correctional Centres across the state as a measure to curb the spread of coronavirus in the prisons.

The governor said the inmates had been granted prerogative of mercy.

Dear people of Lagos, in the exercise of the powers conferred on me by Section 212 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), I have, this afternoon, following the recommendation of the Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy, signed a Release Order releasing 209 inmates remanded in various correctional centres in Lagos State,  he said.

He said the action is in the best interest of the state as there is a need to decongest correctional centres in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The governor said the release of the inmates is a part of a larger effort to bring lasting reform to the administration of criminal justice in the country.

While giving modalities for the release of the inmates, Mr Sanwo-Olu said the beneficiaries would be inmates above 60 years, those with less than six months to go on their sentence, those who have served 75 per cent of their sentence, those serving time for misdemeanours and minor offences, and those with physical and mental health issues.

Following the release order, decongestion of correctional centres across the state is expected to commence without delay, he added.

Earlier this month, President Muhammadu Buhari granted a presidential pardon to 2,600 inmates in correctional centres across the country.
It wasnt an easy break to make. Despite everything hed done, I took him back. When he threatened to kill me and the cops served an intervention order, I stood in court before a judge and pleaded with him to drop it. I got him into anger management classes and I started seeing a counsellor  I was convinced I could fix both his behaviour and our relationship. When counsellors trained in domestic violence were telling me I deserved better, I wasnt all that sure I believed them. In the end it was my sisters snooping that left the door open for me to get out. Hed begun insisting I start sex work and take up stripping, and after my sister came across one of his messages related to this, she told my mother, who immediately called the domestic violence hotline. With their help, I began attending weekly counselling sessions for victims of violence; they helped me improve my self-esteem and create an escape plan. I packed a bag and fled to New Zealand, where I stayed for two months until he stopped threatening to kill me. Today, Im the managing director of a successful company and married to a lovely man, but Ill never stop speaking out. We tell ourselves that domestic violence only happens within a certain socioeconomic group, but it can happen to anyone. Im not an unusual case, but I am one of the lucky ones.

When youre the victim of emotional abuse, no one sees your scars or pain Penny*, a 51-year-old chef, left a physically violent first marriage for a second with a perpetrator who used words as his weapon of choice. I was in my final year of high school, with great ambitions, when I met my first husband and finally agreed to date him after months of drilling. He would pester me for sex, insisting I could not get pregnant because of his medical condition. Coming from a strict Italian family, I knew we had to get married. Loading Things changed once I became the successful one. The more I achieved, the worse his behaviour became. It began with him ripping the sheets off me while I was sleeping and taking control of the finances. When I left my job to buy a business he could be part of, he began gambling, drinking, cheating and physically hurting me; hed butt out cigarettes on my face or hit me with a pole. When he tied me to a billiard table and tried to set me alight, I called my parents, but they just put their arms around me, telling me I was married and to make it work.

I felt helpless and tried to take my own life. It was the Womens Health West organisation that came to my aid, assisting me even after he hired a hit man to kill me. I owe my life to them. I was going through my divorce when I met my second husband. He was attending rehab and began playing saviour, winning me over with lines like, A man should treat a woman with respect. I got pregnant, and we married soon after. But he always needed to know where I was going, what I was doing. If I put on make-up, he would accuse me of cheating. Our four children werent exempt from his attacks, being yelled at, threatened and called names if they spilt a drink or chewed too loudly. Should a dad at their school say hello, I was accused of screwing him. Once, at a supermarket, a worker looked at me and I was accused of f---ing him, too. Dinner had to be on the table at 6pm. If not, he would criticise my cooking and refuse to eat. The violence I endured was bad, but I always say I preferred the physical abuse to emotional abuse, where youre made to feel guilty and that you owe them for it when theyre nice. When someone uses their words to control you, no one sees your scars or pain. If there were physical symptoms, perhaps one would be more likely to reach out. After 20 years, through cautious planning and building a support network, we finally got him to leave. It wasnt easy and he still tries to control us, but were standing strong. To others going through something similar, I say, Always trust your instincts. If they tell you to wear the black dress, put on the blue one and keep walking.

He got me into debt, then used that to control me For 50-year-old consultant Jean*, financial abuse was part of the bigger picture of her experience with family violence. I grew up in a household where bills were paid on time and finances and the law respected. Hindsight is a fine thing, but that was the first red flag I noticed: my then-partner had no regard for the law. He accumulated speeding tickets and parking fines but often didnt even bother opening the envelopes. His behaviour made me uncomfortable and it led to many arguments, but he would rant, saying, No one is going to tell me what I can and cant do. I realised his behaviour had nothing to do with the state of his personal finances and everything to do with power and control. Loading The coercion in relation to financial abuse began soon in our relationship. Because his credit rating was so bad, he couldnt obtain things such as mobile phone contracts, so he began pressuring me to put every financial commitment in my name. We bought a house and he made sure the mortgage was solely in my name, as were the credit card bills, all utilities and even his mobile  he would rack up $8000 in bills that he expected me to pay.

I became terrified by my financial situation; I knew he could pack up and leave at any moment and I would be responsible for paying everything alone. He would often threaten me by reminding me of the debt in my name. In the beginning, he ruled by time-honoured guilt tactics: If you love me, youll do this for me. Once he had me in a corner financially, he started to use the debts hanging over my head to control me. If he didnt like something I was saying or doing, he would jump to, Youll be left with all of this debt if you dont do this now and if you dont do that next. I started living my life in fear. I became terrified of the postman putting anything in our letterbox and I avoided answering the phone. I came home from a trip overseas to find hed been able to go to the bank and get a very large loan in my name without a single application or signature from me. By that time he didnt even try to apologise. He didnt have to  I was too worn down emotionally to put up any kind of fight. When I finally summoned the strength to leave my husband, I was too far down the hole to be able to verbalise what was going on. I finally made statements to police about the financial abuse among the other family violence issues which had been occurring. When I started a new life away from him, I made a promise to myself that he wasnt going to ruin my life like he said he would  and he hasnt. Seven years on, life couldnt be better.
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

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-25 10:31:51|Editor: huaxia

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TRIPOLI, April 25 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on Friday said that more than 3,000 migrants and refugees have been rescued off the Libyan coast so far this year.

"As of 24 April, 3,078 refugees and migrants have been registered as rescued/intercepted at sea by the Libyan Coast Guard and disembarked in Libya," said the UNHCR.

"UNHCR and its partner, the International Rescue Committee, continue to be present to provide medical assistance and core relief items at disembarkation points," it added.

The UN refugee agency also said that there are currently 48,627 registered refugees and asylum-seekers in Libya, adding that it requires more than 85 million U.S. dollars for its activities in 2020.

Thousands of illegal immigrants, mostly Africans, chose to cross the Mediterranean from Libya towards Europe, due to the state of insecurity and chaos in the North African nation following the fall of its leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.

Despite international calls to close them, immigrant shelters in Libya are crowded with thousands of immigrants either rescued from the sea or arrested by Libyan security forces. Enditem
Mubarak Mahgoub Musa

25.04.2020 LISTEN

Whilst (COVID-19) continues to spread globally, causing yet more anxiety, uncertainty, and disruption, with dire impacts on the situations of malnutrition and public health worldwide, vulnerable parts of the developing world, particularly in Africa, are at risk of sliding into famine.

Calling for swift action to provide food and humanitarian relief to the most at-risk regions, a serious report issued by the World Food Program, has warned that the world is "on the verge of a famine pandemic" while dealing with the " COVID-19" pandemic, revealing that 821 million people are "suffering from chronic hunger" in addition to 135 million people "are marching towards the edge of famine", Noting at the same time that the Coruna virus, could push an additional 130 million people, to the brink of starvation by the end of 2020.

The report presented by the organization's director-general to the Security Council, states that the most vulnerable people are in 10 countries affected by conflict, economic crisis and climate change namely; Yemen, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Afghanistan, Venezuela, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Nigeria and Haiti. However, the report falls short to add another crucial element that kept on exacerbating directly and indirectly the food situations, in at least two countries in the list Sudan and Venezuela, namely; the economic impact of Washingtons unilateral and protracted sanctions.

Isn't it a shame that Sudan, that once globally labeled as one of the worlds potential food basket, ends up today unable to feed its own people and languish today in such list? Sudan, with its huge agricultural potential and richness, well-documented far and wide, should have been the otherwise today, part of the solution rather than of the problem; in fact, had external constraints and obstacle were spared, Sudan granaries, silos and mills, could have been by now, one of the major refuge and destinations, to be mobilized to contribute substantially in alleviating the consequences of such disaster.

Historically, Sudan has been the focus of attention since the first World Food Conference held in Rome in 1974, in the wake of the devastating famine in Bangladesh in the preceding two years, in which Sudan was nominated with two other countries namely Canada and Australia, to be the food basket of the world, especially in the field of providing grain, oilseeds and animal products.

As matter of fact, Sudan was not arbitrarily chosen by WFO as the choice was backed by multiple facts on the ground; with 175 million fertile feddans for agriculture, 102 million livestock, climate diversity, abundance of water (river Nile and its multiple tributaries) besides, an annual rainfall of more than 400 billion cubic meters. In the interim, Sudans strategic and distinguished location in the heart of Africa and above that Sudans accumulated experience of agricultural scientific research; the first agricultural research station in Sudan could be traced back to 1904, followed by the first Livestock Research Station in 1913.

Arguably, Successive representatives of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Khartoum have continued to support these facts in their reports, stressing that with its vast tracts of land, and the availability of huge numbers of livestock, Sudan is practically eligible for addressing the problem of global food security.

To that effect, Sudanese people in their diversity at all times continue to have unanimity on one fact; their country has all what it takes, to be the world's food basket. Hence, they do have all legitimate and moral right to be frustrated by the chronic internal and external factors that continue to thwart for long years, the realization of their respective beautiful dream.

To zoom in closer, abridged study was recently prepared by a Sudanese economic specialist and was published in one the Sudanese social media in which he sets a comparison in numbers between Sudan and New Zealand for just the sake of argument. He found that Sudan cultivates perhaps twice the cultivated areas in New Zealand and that the number of workers in agriculture in Sudan is 36 times more than their peers in New Zealand, however and as anticipated, he ends up with the huge disparity in export earnings; New Zealand earns at least 12 times bigger in its agricultural exports that that of the Sudan.

The gentleman in his study - which could obviously beset with other countries as well - wanted to proof what is known necessarily; the poor production efficiency in Sudan remains the main factor behind such colossal gap in exports earnings between the two countries. However, the study ends on an optimistic note, in natural situations, and without external restrictions hindering Sudans access to suitable fertilizers, technology and the likes, currently available in New Zealand ) the Subject of comparison) Sudan would be easily in a position - without exaggeration - to raise its annual agricultural exports  leave alone the other sectors - to 92 billion dollars

This optimistic outlook was recently reinforced by Dr.Ahmed Al-Mansori, the Sudanese national and owner and CEO Al Rawabi Dairy Company which is a leading dairy and juice company in the UAE with an annual net profit of not less than 300 million dollars. Al-Mansori has emphasized in a series of famous lectures in Khartoum - available now in YouTube - on the future of the meat and dairy industry in Sudan, that with a little more efforts and technology, Sudan shall able to skyrocket its annual exports of meat and dairy products to around 124 billion dollars.

None else than these encouraging figures which encouraged the Arab League to seek again and yet more seriously to translate into the reality of what has been taught to children in Arab schools for years that Sudan is the potential food basket of the Arab world.

The Arab League approval of Sudans food security initiative came as well, in the backdrop of the widening of the food-gap in the Arab world which jumped to over 40 billion dollars annually. Hence, role of Sudan in providing adequate food for about 350 million Arabs, was re-highlighted and brought to the fore couple of years ago. The Arab League took the lead this time, asking the members countries  in their best interest- to pump money into Sudan to help achieving food self-sufficiency for the whole Arab world.

Intense political discords and polarizations in the region were many reasons that eventually resulted in the sine die stalling of such promising and pragmatic initiative, sadly enough after the scientific designing and mapping of giant projects have come along way. Nevertheless, it would be naive here to exclude magic working of the U.S sanctions. In fact, special thanks should go again for the tightening Sudans financial banking transactions which practically nipped initiative in the bud and manage to hollow the very core of it namely; the finance.

it goes without saying that global capital is agnostic and has no loyalties , hence, As long as Sudan continues to languish in the American list of state sponsors of terrorism, doubts or anxiety shall continue to be the rule for almost all of the potential foreign investors or business partners in Sudan; obviously fearing unexpected American decision that might turn my business inside out.

The business community shall continue to be mindful, to that effect, of the fate the befell international banks such as the French bank (BNP Paribas) against which Washington levied a record fine of 9 billion dollars for its financial dealings with Sudan, and other countries. It was a clear message to other financial institutions around the world.

Although there are no accurate statistics on the total losses suffered by Sudan as a result of the sanctions, Sudanese sources put the total losses at about 500 billion dollars, whereas the indirect losses incurred by Sudan as a result of the sanctions are estimated at four billion dollars annually. U.S sanctions include a ban on all types of commercial and financial dealings with Sudan, banning technology exports and seizing Sudanese assets. Even education and health sectors were hardly spared.

due to sanctions, Sudanese banking sector in Sudan, in particular, is still lapses into an almost complete isolation out of the global financial system, to the extent that multitudes of Sudanese expatriates in the worldwide today are still unable to deliver their financial contributions in support the increasingly fragile system battling hard today against the deadly Corona pandemic. In a time, Sudan sets a record worldwide, as the only country where the number of deaths due to Corona, exceeds the number of recoveries. What an alarming situation.

Even by the time when the world is increasingly convinced that COVID-19 has the potential not only to cause thousands of deaths, but to also unleash economic and social devastation, and in even by the time when millions of Sudanese across the country are already struggling to put food on the table, In perhaps the worst economic crisis since independence and even by the time when WHO sounds the alarm, that Sudan is in a situation of danger in the face of the corona pandemic, the ongoing undeclared campaign of discrimination and collective punishment against the Sudanese people continues unabated.

As if that wasnt enough, that Sudan for seemingly elusive reasons, continued to remain for almost 25 years, the only country on face of the earth today, from amongst the group of 38 heavily indebted countries and (LDCs), that has not yet benefited from that global initiative of debt relief schemes (HIPIC ).

Again, in complete disregard for the pleas of the civilian-led government in Khartoum and equally in complete contempt for the ongoing rhetoric on the need of international unity and solidarity to stop this virus and its shattering consequence worldwide, and the urgency to that effect, of sanctions and heavy debts to lifted or relieved respectively, the very decision-makers chose to refuse, except to continue with the policy of isolating Sudan from all international initiatives.

Sudan was bitterly excluded and singled out from the list of 25 countries of the world, out of which 19 were African nations, which was announced by the World Bank on Monday April 13, to reduce the debt burden to help them dealing with the Corona pandemic. Is this how the people who led a great revolution offering various sacrifices for upholding the principles of freedom, justice and peace, should be rewarded?
Oil prices have endured a stunning decline this year. At one point, WTI, which is the main U.S. oil price benchmark, cratered into negative territory as market speculators needed to pay to exit their positions because they had nowhere to store oil. That implosion in the oil market has put tremendous pressure on finances across the energy sector.

As a result, several oil companies have already filed for bankruptcy while many others are evaluating that possibility. We asked our energy contributors which ones they thought seemed most likely to file by year end. They see the greatest risk for that outcome at Callon Petroluem (NYSE:CPE), Chesapeake Energy (OTC:CHKA.Q), Diamond Offshore (OTC:DO), and Occidental Petroleum (NYSE:OXY).

A perfect storm

John Bromels (Callon Petroleum): If I were looking for the "ideal" candidate in the oil industry to declare bankruptcy in 2020, I'd try to find a company that:

has a high level of debt

doesn't have much cash on hand

has been assigned a "junk" credit rating by at least one ratings agency

is overexposed to U.S. shale

has taken steps to restructure its debt

Independent oil and gas exploration and production company (E&P) Callon Petroleum checks all five of those boxes. Wall Street has already taken notice: Callon's shares are down 88.8% so far this year.

The trouble began for Callon when it made a risky acquisition at exactly the wrong time. In December, it acquired fellow Texas shale E&P Carrizo Oil and Gas. Callon was already a 100% Texas shale play (and remains so), but now it's taken on $1.7 billion of Carrizo's debt. That bumped Callon's total long-term debt to $3.2 billion, or 4.5 times trailing EBITDA, in exchange for Texas shale acreage that's now of questionable value.

While the bulk of Callon's debt doesn't mature until 2023, it only has $13.3 million in cash on hand, which is hardly any cushion at all. The company's credit rating was already at junk status, but given current conditions, Moody's and S&P Global have both downgraded its credit rating further, to B-/B3, or "highly speculative." On April 1, citing confidential sources, Reuters reported that Callon was working with advisors to help restructure its debt.

Callon looks to be at extremely high risk of bankruptcy this year.

On life support

Matt DiLallo (Chesapeake Energy): Chesapeake Energy's financial situation is dire. The oil and gas driller entered the year with $8.9 billion in debt, roughly $300 million of which matures this year. The company had planned to address those maturities by selling $300 million to $500 million in non-core assets.

That plan, however, has gone out the window now that oil prices have cratered due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The company has already reportedly hired advisors to help restructure its debt, which could include filing for bankruptcy. That seems like a near certainty, as one large driller has already filed while several others are preparing to do the same. Meanwhile, one of Chesapeake's largest investors -- in both its debt and equity -- has also hired advisors to assist it in negotiations with Chesapeake.

Barring a quick economic recovery that fuels a spike in oil prices, Chesapeake Energy will likely file for bankruptcy at some point this year, probably by July 1, when it has a $136 million debt payment due.

Under a "best-case" scenario, Chesapeake and its creditors will agree to a pre-packaged bankruptcy deal that will preserve a slice of shareholders' equity. However, given the amount of debt it has outstanding, and the current level of distress in the oil market, a more likely outcome will be the complete wipeout of common shareholders. Because of the extreme likelihood that Chesapeake's stock ends up worthless, investors should steer clear of this beleaguered energy company.

A poorly timed merger

Travis Hoium (Occidental Petroleum): Sometimes acquisitions happen at precisely the wrong time for a stock, and that's where I think Occidental Petroleum finds itself after the $55 billion acquisition of Anadarko Petroleum last year. The acquisition loaded Occidental with debt and that's what could ultimately lead to its demise if oil prices don't rise soon.

You can see in the chart below that $35 billion of net debt hangs over the company, and with the stock plunging the last few weeks, the options for raising equity may be running out. Worse yet, management touted a hedging strategy that left the company exposed to falling oil prices below $45 per barrel. At one time that seemed unthinkable, and now it seems like a dream price for Occidental.

I don't think oil prices are going to rebound soon, so producers are going to have to hope that oil prices will rise some so they don't lose too much money on each barrel sold, but that may be a tall task given the negative prices we've seen recently.

Then there's the glut of inventory that could force producers to shutter wells that may never come back online. The damage will hit highly leveraged companies first and Occidental fits the bill.

A waterfall of defaults coming

Jason Hall (Diamond Offshore): While a lot of the focus has been on independent U.S. oil producers being the most at risk from the coronavirus oil crash, offshore drilling contractors are also in trouble. And it's looking like the first that could fall will be Diamond Offshore, following the surprising announcement that the company was going to skip an interest payment due on April 15.

Skipping a single interest payment may not seem like a big deal, but it's not the same thing as a consumer missing a payment on a credit card. For Diamond Offshore, along with most corporate debt carried by other companies, when a company defaults on one loan, it triggers a chain-reaction of defaults on essentially all of its debt.

As a result, Diamond Offshore has telegraphed its intention to recapitalize, something that would require a bankruptcy filing to accomplish, and that would almost certainly wipe out more than 95% of the equity held by common shareholders.

The company technically has until mid-May before it's in default, but it has retained both legal and financial representation, and chances are, it's already negotiating with its debt holders to reach an agreement to exchange most of its debt for common equity. That's what will wipe out shareholders, and why it's best to not buy Diamond Offshore stock until the terms of its almost-certain bankruptcy are announced.

In the current environment, a pre-negotiated deal is not guaranteed, and there's way too much at risk to make even a speculative investment in the company right now.
Crisis within a crisis: The dilemmas before the Maharashtra Chief Minister

India

oi-Dr. Sandeep Shastri

Even as the nation grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic, a political storm seems to be brewing in Maharashtra. The Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray is reaching the end of the six month period within which he has to be elected to the State Legislature. Given that Maharashtra has a bi-cameral legislature he has the option of entering either the Assembly (by winning a by-election) or becoming a member of the Council (through election or nomination).

The lockdown has placed a moratorium on holding elections to the Legislative Council and the Chief Minister is thus left with very limited options at this stage. The Maharashtra Cabinet has recommended to the Governor that the Chief Minister be nominated to the Legislative Council. The Governor is still to make his stand clear on the cabinet proposal.

Constitutional crisis looms large in Maharashtra: Can Uddhav Thackeray hold on to CMs seat?

While the focus of attention is very much on containing the spread of COVID-19, the challenges before the Maharashtra Chief Minister in getting himself elected to the State Legislature, get further complicated by two additional factors. Firstly, the fact that he heads a coalition government requires his to ensure the support of his partners for any move that he makes. Secondly, in his effort to become a member of the Legislative Council, he would need the active support of the Governor. Given the fact that the Governor is someone who has been an active BJP politician in the past, makes the Chief Ministers problems even more complex.

In the present situation, the option being pursued of getting the Chief Minister nominated to the Legislative Council appears to be simplest and easiest option. Yet, this option too has important stumbling blocks. Technically, a nominated member of the Legislative Council has the same status and privileges as an elected member. If Uddhav Thackeray were to be nominated to the Council by the Governor, it would be the first case of a Chief Minister entering the Legislature through this route.

In the past, Chief Ministers who were not members of the Legislature at the time of becoming Chief Minister have been elected to the Legislative Council within the mandated six month period. The cases of Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati in Uttar Pradesh, Nitish Kumar in Bihar and Sadananda Gowda in Karnataka can be cited in this regard. However, all these Chief Ministers were elected to the Legislative Council. What is now being sought by the Maharashtra cabinet from the Governor, is the nomination of the Chief Minister to the Council.

The Legislative Council (like the Rajya Sabha) has a few nominated members. They are nominated by the Governor (President in the case of the Rajy Sabha) from among those who have excelled in the field of education, sports, arts, science, public and social service. By convention, citizens who have distinguished themselves for their contribution to society and are generally not members of political parties have been nominated.

'Lockdown is not lockup': Uddhav Thackeray assures migrants

It must be immediately conceded that a number of those nominated both to the Legislative Council by the Governors and to the Rajya Sabha by the President have been active members of a party. It must also be conceded that in the states, many Ministers were nominated to the Legislative Council as members, but never a Chief Minister!

Would the Governor of Maharashtra accede to the request of the Cabinet or invoke the rule that a nominated vacancy can be filled up only if the term of the vacant seat is for more than one year. In the current case, it is believed to be less than a year.

At the central level, never has a nominated member been made a Minister. There was one case which is often talked about. In 1971, Prof. Nurual Hasan was made Minister of State (with independent charge) of Education. Prof Hasan had served as a nominated member of the Rajya Sabha from 1968 to 1971.

Just before becoming a Minister in Indira Gandhi's Council of Ministers he resigned as a nominated member of the Rajya Sabha. Subsequently he got elected to the Rajya Sabha on a Congress candidate from Uttar Pradesh and was a Member for two terms between 1971 and 1978.

The second option before the Chief Minister is a bizarre option, which could well make a mockery of the constitutional provisions. The Chief Minster could well resign as Chief Minister and then get the alliance to once again elect him as leader and be sworn in as Chief Minister again, and then he would have six more months to get elected! However, this option would require an approval from the coalition partners and more importantly a nod from the Governor.

The third option for the Chief Minster is to resign and get the alliance to choose a new leader who is sworn in as the new Chief Minster. The new leader could well be from the Shiv Sena and be seen as a stop-gap arrangement till such time as Uddhav Thackeray can get himself elected to the legislature. The Chief Minister may well want to anoint his son to this position and keep the seat safe till he is able to return to it. Would the coalition partners, especially the NCP be fine with such an arrangement or would they press for a stop-gap Chief Minister to be from their party. The fear of the Shiv Sena would then be that the NCP may want the stop-gap arrangement to be a more long term measure.

Thus, amidst the war against COVID-19, Maharashtra faces a political crisis. Even though Maharashtra is the state that has been most adversely affected by the pandemic, it needs to also grapple with a political conundrum. One only hopes that it does not in any way divert the energies of those in power away from the health crisis that needs to be tackled on a war footing.

(Dr Shastri is a political and election analyst who is also the Pro Vice Chancellor of JAIN)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-25 01:18:21|Editor: huaxia

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Thierry Breton, European Commissioner for Internal Market, speaks during a press conference at the EU headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, Feb. 19, 2020. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)

"Today, in the European Union, we are roughly heading for 5 percent to 10 percent (of contraction), that is to say, around 7.5 percent (on average)."

"If things don't get better and there is a second peak of (coronavirus outbreak), things can get worse."

PARIS, April 24 (Xinhua) -- European Union (EU) economic growth is on course to shrink by 7.5 percent for the whole year of 2020 as the coronavirus pandemic has hardly hit economic activities across the bloc, the European Commissioner for Internal Market and Services Thierry Breton said on Friday.

"Today, in the European Union, we are roughly heading for 5 percent to 10 percent (of contraction), that is to say, around 7.5 percent (on average). If things don't get better and there is a second peak of (coronavirus outbreak), things can get worse," Breton told France 2 television.

"Everything depends on the speed at which the economy will recover," he said. "We're still in the midst of the pandemic and we're going to learn to live with it for several months."

Flowers blossom at the European Quarter in Brussels, Belgium, April 6, 2020. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)

Facing an unprecedented economic shock, European leaders on Thursday failed to bridge differences over the size and the shape of the rescue package which aims at supporting the bloc's most affected members and preparing for post-pandemic recovery.

"Germany doesn't have the first penny to finance its own plan. It will have to borrow. Same thing for the Netherlands. And for France. Everyone will need an emergency type fund," Breton said.

"I think they will all agree to define the details of this fund. We're going step by step but we're making progress," he added. 
Namita Bajpai By

Express News Service

LUCKNOW: The ongoing times of lockdown have brought out a rather unfamiliar humane face of our police force and their conviction to bring relief to the helpless suffering under restrictions.

Delhi and UP cops joined hands as good samaritans and worked in tandem to help an old man in his 70s by sending him medicines from Delhi to 750 km away in Bahraich district of Uttar Pradesh within 36 hours through a relay of six Police Response Vehicles (PRVs) and an ambulance with the involvement of two deputy police commissioners.

In fact, the grandfather of a state-level relay runner, Gulam Mustafa Khan, who practices at a Delhi stadium, was in need of medicines in Begumpura locality of Bahraich. He had no help and apparently rang his grandson stranded in Delhi about it.

As per the sources, Khan, finding no way to send medicines from Delhis Safdarjung hospital to his grandfather Nurul Hudda in Bahraich, tweeted about it at 4:25 on Monday and sought Delhi Police help in getting the medicines delivered.

As per the sources in UP, responding to his tweet, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Delhi police immediately reached out to Khan and got the medicines collected from Safdarjung Hospital after showing the prescription details of Nurul Hudda at around 7.35 pm on Monday.

The Delhi police then got in touch with their counterparts Gautambuddh Nagar (Noida) district and handed over the medicines to Rajesh S, the deputy commissioner of police (DCP), traffic, Gautambuddh Nagar. He, with the help of a traffic inspector, got the medicines handed over to an ambulance driver Kapil Tewari, who was on his way to Sultanpur district via Lucknow in UP.

The sources added that Tiwari handed over the packet to a UP 112 Police Response Vehicle (PRV) at Agra-Lucknow Expressway toll plaza in Lucknow at around 3 pm on Tuesday.

The PRV cops at toll plaza forwarded it to another PRV personnel in Alambagh, Lucknow and from there it was carried to be handed over to a third PRV stationed at Faizabad Road in Lucknow. Here, the PRV cops convinced a PWD junior engineer, who was going to resume his duty in Shravasti, to hand over the

packet to a PRV personnel stationed at Bahraich border.

The junior engineer helped and handed over the packet to PRV cops at Bahraich border. It was then passed on to personnel deployed in two more PRVs inside Bahraich before reaching to Nurul Hudda finally at 8 am on Wednesday. The medicine packet had then travelled around 744 km to reach its destination. Kudos to coordinated efforts of Delhi-UP cops.
The Manipur Police on Saturday



seized over 45,500 packets of smuggled foreign cigarettes from Kakching district during the ongoing lockdown and arrested a person in this connection.

Acting on a tip-off, a team of police personnel intercepted a vehicle at Pallel checkpost and seized the cigarettes, smuggled from Myanmar, a senior officer said.

The consignment was handed over to the customs department, and necessary action will be taken against the person for defying the lockdown order, he said.

In view of the spread of novel coronavirus, the state government had banned the import of packaged food items from China, Myanmar and Southeast Asian countries which do not comply with the norms of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India.

The state police had on Thursday seized over 800 packets of cigarettes, made in Myanmar, from Thoubal district in two separate operations, and arrested two persons including a woman.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Technavio has been monitoring the herring market and it is poised to grow by USD 230.3 million 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/20200424005499/en/

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Herring 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. Barry Group Inc., Cornelis Vrolijk, Iceland Seafood International hf, Maruha Nichiro Corp., and Nergard AS are some of the major market participants. The demand for processed fish will offer immense growth opportunities. To make the most of the opportunities, market vendors should focus more on the growth prospects in the fast-growing segments, while maintaining their positions in the slow-growing segments.

Demand for processed fish has been instrumental in driving the growth of the market.

Herring Market 2019-2023: Segmentation

Herring Market is segmented as below:

Type Atlantic Herring Pacific Herring Others

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=IRTNTR31573

Herring 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 herring market report covers the following areas:

Herring Market Size

Herring Market Trends

Herring Market Industry Analysis

This study identifies increasing adoption of sustainable fishing approaches as one of the prime reasons driving the herring market growth during the next few years.

Herring Market 2019-2023: Vendor Analysis

We provide a detailed analysis of vendors operating in the herring market, including some of the vendors such as Barry Group Inc., Cornelis Vrolijk, Iceland Seafood International hf, Maruha Nichiro Corp., and Nergard AS. Backed with competitive intelligence and benchmarking, our research reports on the herring market are designed to provide entry support, customer profile and M&As as well as go-to-market strategy support.

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Herring Market 2019-2023: Key Highlights

CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2019-2023

Detailed information on factors that will assist herring market growth during the next five years

Estimation of the herring market size and its contribution to the parent market

Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior

The growth of the herring market

Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors

Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of herring 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

Atlantic herring Market size and forecast 2018-2023

Pacific herring Market size and forecast 2018-2023

Others Market size and forecast 2018-2023

Market opportunity by type

PART 07: CUSTOMER LANDSCAPE

PART 08: GEOGRAPHIC LANDSCAPE

Geographic segmentation

Geographic comparison

Europe Market size and forecast 2018-2023

North America 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

Rising online sales of fish globally

Increasing adoption of sustainable fishing approaches

Rising demand for frozen herring

PART 12: VENDOR LANDSCAPE

Overview

Landscape disruption

Competitive scenario

PART 13: VENDOR ANALYSIS

Vendors covered

Vendor classification

Market positioning of vendors

Barry Group Inc.

Cornelis Vrolijk

Iceland Seafood International hf

Maruha Nichiro Corp.

Nergard AS

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.

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North Perry Village has documented its gratitude for one of its police officers who died last month.

Village Council recently approved a resolution honoring Officer Charles H. Simmons for his years of service as a North Perry police officer.

The panel took that action during an April 16 special meeting held remotely through a video and audio conference because of health and safety risks posed by novel coronavirus.

Simmons, who began working as a part-time North Perry Village Police Department officer in 2011, became ill in December and died on March 21. He was 67.

The resolution passed by council also noted that North Perry Village government leaders mourned Simmons passing and expressed their condolences to the officers family.

At an April 2 regular meeting, council voted to permanently retire Simmons badge. Council acted after considering a letter written by Police Chief Ron Radovanic, which described Simmons dedication to the village.

Charlie served our agency with pride and dignity, Radovanic wrote. Charles loved being a police officer and loved North Perry Village so much that he was buried in his North Perry police uniform.

Although Radovanic was unable to connect remotely to the April 2 meeting, he did participate in the April 16 special meeting, which was preceded by a work session.

During the work session, Radovanic told council that Charles Simmons wife, Valerie, was moved by councils tributes to her late husband.

Val called me and she was absolutely overwhelmed with emotion, Radovanic said.

Because of restrictions stemming from COVID-19, only 10 family members were able to attend Simmons funeral. Brickman Bros. Funeral Home of Willoughby was in charge of arrangements.

A celebration of life to accommodate a larger gathering of people will be held once COVID-19 restrictions are lifted, and Valerie Simmons said she hopes North Perry Village government leaders can attend, Radovanic said.

A resident of Chester Township, Simmons was a U.S. Air Force veteran who served in the Vietnam War. Simmons also previously worked for the Cleveland Police Department, his obituary stated.

In addition to his work in law enforcement, Simmons achieved success as a businessman, owning and operating Veteran Development and Construction in Mentor.
Trimeresurus salazar. The new species of Pitviper. Researchers from Indias National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bangalore as well as the Bombay Natural History Society discovered a new species of venomous green pit viper. They named the animal after one of the founders of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry (Photo : Mirza, Z.A., et. al 2020, Zoosytematics and Evolution)

Scientists have recently honored the fictional world of Harry Potter. A team composed of researchers from India's National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bangalore as well as the Bombay Natural History Society discovered a new species of venomous green pit viper. They named the animal after one of the founders of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. They recently published their findings in the Zoosystematics and Evolution journal.

Salazar Slytherin was among the four founders of Hogwarts. His co-founders were his friends Helga Hufflepuff, Godric Gryffindor, and Rowena Ravenclaw. They were among the most powerful wizards and witches in the fictional Harry Potter universe, and the four houses of Hogwarts were named after them.

Slytherin can communicate with snakes, a skill known as Parselmouth. The Slytherin house has a snake as its symbol. The research team was inspired by Salazar and named their newly discovered snake as Trimeresurus salazar. The team also suggested the common name of the snake to be Salazar's pit viper.

The pit vipers from the Trimeresurus genus are venomous snakes. They can be found throughout Southeast and East Asia. Trimeresurus salazar was discovered in the region of Aranachal Pradesh, India, joining no less than 48 extant Trimeresurus species in this region. The discovery was made in a research expedition conducted there from June up to August of last year.

Among the snake's distinguishing characteristics is the presence of an orange-red stripe in the male located at the side of its head. Harshal Bhosale, a researcher from the Bombay Natural History Society, also said that the species has more teeth compared to other species of pit vipers, and the structure of the reproductive organ of the males is different.

According to Zeeshan Mirza, the lead author of the study, Trimeresurus salazar is morphologically cryptic, making it difficult to distinguish from other pit viper species in the wild. A species that is morphologically cryptic means that other species appear similar to it, even if they are distinctly different. Mirza adds that morphologically cryptic species can let scientists underestimate the real biodiversity in a given region.

Researchers said that there is little that is known regarding the biodiversity in the Himalayas. Arunachal Pradesh, the site of the snake's discovery, is part of the so-called Himalayan biodiversity hotspot.

Mirza added that Trimeresurus salazar is the second species that have so far been discovered in the Arunachal Pradesh expedition, which reflects poorly on the state of documentation of the existing biodiversity in the north-eastern region of India. Mirza said that dedicated surveys in the future in this region will help improve it.

The region's biodiversity is currently under threat from development activities which include agriculture, hydro-electric projects, and road widening. It is not only marine turtles or sea birds that ingest plastic now. In 2017, a snake was found vomiting an empty plastic softdrink bottle in Goa in India.

Mirza says that the team members are all very big fans of J.K. Rowling's wildly popular Harry Potter books and movies. They initially wanted to name the pit viper after Nagini, which was Lord Voldemort's pet cobra. Voldemort and Nagini are also characters from the series. They decided to save the name should they discover a new cobra species in the future.

The naming of the snake after a Harry Potter character is their way of honoring and thanking Rowling, its creator.

They introduced the new species to the world on April 15, 2020.
Home > Archives (2006 on) > 2020 > Mikhail Gorbachev: COVID-19 is a Common threat - Now, Cut Military Spending (...)

Time.com, April 15, 2020

When The Pandemic Is Over, The World Must Come Together

by Mikhail Gorbachev

During the first months of this year, we have seen once again how fragile is our global world, how great the danger of sliding into chaos. The COVID-19 pandemic is facing all countries with a common threat, and no country can cope with it alone.

The immediate challenge today is to defeat this new, vicious enemy. But even today, we need to start thinking about life after it retreats.

Many are now saying the world will never be the same. But what will it be like? That depends on what lessons will be learned.

I recall how in the mid-1980s, we addressed the nuclear threat. The breakthrough came when we understood that it is our common enemy, a threat to all of us. The leaders of the Soviet Union and the U.S. declared that a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought. Then came Reykjavik and the first treaties eliminating nuclear weapons. But even though by now 85% of those arsenals have been destroyed, the threat is still there.

Yet other global challenges remain and have even become more urgent: poverty and inequality, the degradation of the environment, the depletion of the earth and the oceans, the migration crisis. And now, a grim reminder of another threat: diseases and epidemics that in a global, interconnected world can spread with unprecedented speed.

The response to this new challenge cannot be purely national. While it is the national governments that now bear the brunt of making difficult choices, decisions will be have to be made by the entire world community.

We have so far failed to develop and implement strategies and goals common to all mankind. Progress toward the Millennium Development Goals, adopted by the U.N. in 2000, has been extremely uneven. We see today that the pandemic and its consequences are hitting the poor particularly hard, thus exacerbating the problem of inequality.

What we urgently need now is a rethinking of the entire concept of security. Even after the end of the Cold War, it has been envisioned mostly in military terms. Over the past few years, all weve been hearing is talk about weapons, missiles and airstrikes.

This year, the world has already been on the brink of clashes that could involve great powers, with serious hostilities in Iran, Iraq and Syria. And though the participants eventually stepped back, it was the same dangerous and reckless policy of brinkmanship.

Is it not clear by now that wars and the arms race cannot solve todays global problems? War is a sign of defeat, a failure of politics.

The overriding goal must be human security: providing food, water and a clean environment and caring for peoples health. To achieve it, we need to develop strategies, make preparations, plan and create reserves. But all efforts will fail if governments continue to waste money by fueling the arms race.

Ill never tire of repeating: we need to demilitarize world affairs, international politics and political thinking.

To address this at the highest international level, I am calling on world leaders to convene an emergency special session of the U.N. General Assembly, to be held as soon as the situation is stabilized. It should be about nothing less than revising the entire global agenda. Specifically, I call upon them to cut military spending by 10% to 15%. This is the least they should do now, as a first step toward a new consciousness, a new civilization.

Gorbachev, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, was the only President of the Soviet Union

source URL: https://time.com/5820669/mikhail-gorbachev-coronavirus-human-security/
According to Fine Gael Deputy, Frank Feighan the 'Shared Island' aspect of the Draft Framework agreement with Fianna Fail was "one of the most important features contained within the document for the future of our island."

Deputy Feighan, a former chair of the Oireachtas Good Friday Committee and who also chaired the British Irish Parliamentary Assembly, is a long-term advocate and supporter of the unification of the different people, traditions and customs on the island of Ireland.

"I have always sought to try to improve the relationships and links between the two islands in my role as an elected representative.

"We have to understand that a united island is not a one-way street and there has to be compromise and understanding of our shared history and traditions from both sides to achieve this goal of a brighter future."

During election night speech at the county centre in the The Sligo Park Hotel in February, Deputy Feighan said: "One of the best days of my life was when the 1985 Anglo Irish Agreement was signed.

"I say this because this led to the Good Friday Agreement and all the progress we have seen to date. I want to help to unite the people of this island and this is why it is my view that this Draft Framework Document and the carefully chosen language contained within it will help to achieve this as it is ambitious and respectful in equal measure.

"I want to commend the specific commitments contained within the document on the plans to support cross border projects which I have continually highlighted and fought for as a national politician.

"Projects such as the increased access of local border communities to EU Peace Funds, cross border Greenways, the investigation into a highspeed rail link between Dublin and Belfast and the A5 motorway linking North and South.

"These are all vital projects to the achievement of this said goal of uniting the people of this island," he said.

Meanwhile, MEP Chris MacManus (SF) claimed Fianna Fail and Fine Gael's exclusion of Sinn Fein "shows contempt for the democratic will of the people."

MacManus said: "This joint document is an incoherent attempt at convincing the electorate that they will implement Sinn Fein style policies. Terms like 'New Social Contract' are smoke screens attempting to appease the majority of voters who do not support them"

"Make no mistake this is a document that lays out a deeply conservative future of severe austerity in strict compliance with European financial rules.

"There's no hint of progressive taxation. Once again, the low to medium earners will be hit hardest, whilst those who can afford additional taxation measures will escape unscathed."

The Sligo MEP stated that the document fell well short of expectations. "It's a publication that lacks imagination and ambition. There are no clear commitments to progressive changes in health, housing, childcare and climate action.

"These were the major issues of the recent general election. Issues the electorate demanded change in yet we're being forced to settle for more of the same."

"The issue of Irish u)nity is a mere footnote in this framework document. Fine Gael and Fianna Fail can't claim to support the Good Friday Agreement and simultaneously shy away from one of its key elements; a referendum on Irish unity.

"We've witnessed the stark dangers of a divided island in the last number of weeks. two different sets of advice from our media; two different health systems; two different lockdown dates; two different compensation payments for cross-border workers, and no doubt two different dates for when restrictions are finally lifted. The border is damaging to the lives of the people on both sides of it.

MacManus concluded: "This was an opportunity for Fianna Fail and Fine Gael to address all of these major issues, but instead they've cobbled together a panicked document to try to exclude Sinn Fein from Government whilst cynically using the current crisis as a mechanism to grab power from those with the mandate for change."
Philip Hammond says a plan to allow the economy to escape the lockdown must be published next week, because the country will be living with Covid for a long time.

The former Conservative chancellor said Boris Johnsons expected return to Downing Street must see him to bow to pressure to set out a blueprint for a phased return to something like normal life.

The reality is that we have to start reopening the economy. But we have to do it living with Covid, Mr Hammond said.

We cant wait until a vaccine is developed, produced in sufficient quantity and rolled out across the population. The economy wont survive that long.

Mr Hammond said the strategy so far of locking everything down and keeping everything locked down is relatively straightforward.

The challenge of how to carefully, progressively, methodically reopen, protecting both health and jobs, is much, much more challenging and calls for a really skilful political leadership, he told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme.

And, asked if such a plan should be published now, he replied: Yes, I think that is the next step.

I understand the prime minister is going to be back in harness in Downing Street at the beginning of next week and I very much hope that will signal a clear step change.

The comments lay bare the growing unease in Tory circles that the government is refusing to even discuss a plan  even as the Scottish and Welsh governments float detailed options.

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

It seems all but certain that Englands restrictions will remain in their current form after 7 May  the next review date  for fear of triggering a second peak of coronavirus infections and deaths.

The army of 18,000 community infection chasers  seen as key to keeping down case numbers  will not be recruited and trained for several weeks.

It raises the prospect of the lockdown being eased more quickly in the Celtic nations, with Wales announcing that it wanted to start the process on 7 May.

Meanwhile, the medical director of NHS England has played down any impact of the presence of Dominic Cummings, Mr Johnsons controversial adviser, at key scientific meetings.

Labour is demanding answers over the independence of the Governments Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), which has delivered the advice behind key decisions made in Whitehall.

But Professor Stephen Powis, the medical director, said: My experience of Sage is that it is a forum for scientific discussion.

It is the experts from a variety of backgrounds who discuss the evidence, they discuss the evidence base of the various topics, they come to conclusions around that evidence base. It is then, of course, the role of Sage to advise the government.

I have been confident that what happens at Sage is a scientific discussion involving the scientists and the experts who are members of Sage.
North Korea has so far remained tight-lipped about media reports suggesting that leader Kim Jong Un may be unwell after intense international speculation over his health was sparked by reports that he was gravely ill after a cardiovascular procedure. There's also a renewed worry about who's next in line to run the country if Kim Jong Un dies. Speculation about his health problems spiked after a CNN report earlier this week said that Washington was looking into intelligence that Kim Jong-un was in "grave danger" after a surgery.

Kim Jong Un was last seen in state media on April 11 presiding over a political bureau meeting of the ruling Workers` Party, calling for strict measures against the coronavirus pandemic.

The nuclear-armed nation 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's North Korea's most important event, and Kim, believed to be 36, hadn't missed it since inheriting power from his father in late 2011.

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.

Believed to be in her early 30s, Kim Yo Jong is in charge of North Korea's propaganda affairs, and earlier in April 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 US President Donald Trump and other world leaders in recent years. Her proximity to him during those summits led many outsiders to believe she's essentially North Korea's No 2 official.

Born in September 1987, Kim Yo Jong is the youngest child of Kim Jong Il, former North Korean leader. Her mother was Ko Yong Hui, who was the former leaders second mistress.

She was 9 when she was sent to Berne, Switzerland, where she attended elementary school. It was here that she forged a close bond with her older brother Kim Jong Un. The pair shared a private home and were attended to by their own chef, housekeeping staff, and bodyguards, according to new website Vice.

After returning to North Korea in 2000, her future as part of her familys political dynasty was signalled by 2002, when her father told foreigners that his youngest daughter was interested in politics and wanted a career in North Koreas political system. In 2007, she graduated from Pyongyang's Kim Il Sung University with a computer science degree and joined the ruling Workers Party.

She became a close aide to her father after he suffered several strokes in 2008. Over the next few years, she helped plan her brothers ascension to the position of Supreme Leader.

However, 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.

Some analysts have also suggested that collective leadership, which could end the family's dynastic rule, could also be possible. 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. 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 Il's age could make him a reasonable frontman for collective leadership by the State Affairs Commission and regent for the preferred next-generation successor said a professor at Ewha University in Seoul.

Kim has disappeared from coverage in North Korean state media before. In 2014, he vanished for more than a month and North Korean state TV later showed him walking with a limp. Speculation about his health has been fanned by his heavy smoking, apparent weight gain since taking power and family history of cardiovascular problems. When Kim Jong Un`s father, Kim Jong Il, suffered a stroke in 2008, South Korean media reported at the time that Chinese doctors were involved in his treatment along with French physicians.

Kim came to power after his father Kim Jong Il died in 2011 from a heart attack.
Hyderabad, April 25 : Telangana is not likely to implement Union Home Ministry's order allowing re-opening of shops in residential areas.

Though a decision is yet to be announced, official sources indicated that the state government is unlikely to permit re-opening of neighbourhood shops in view of the presence of a large number of hotspots.

The state government not only extended the lockdown till May 7 but also ruled out any relaxations.

Though the Centre extended the lockdown till May 3, the state cabinet at its meeting on April 19 decided to extend it by another four days.

While the Centre allowed opening of some sectors from April 20, the state decided against giving any relaxation.

Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao had said after the cabinet meet that his government was not in favour of any relaxation to the present restrictions as the number of coronavirus cases may rise.

He had also said that the government was of the opinion that the spread of Covid-19 infections would largely be contained by May 1 if the current lockdown measures are implemented without any exceptions to anybody.

Telangana is currently allowing only shops selling medicines, groceries, vegetables and meat to remain open during day time subject to lockdown restrictions like social distancing. Night curfew is continuing in Hyderabad and the rest of the state.

Another reason for the state not allowing any relaxation is that seven districts including Hyderabad are declared hotspots. No trade activity and even movement of people is being allowed in containment zones set up in areas which reported positive cases.

Concerned over a spurt of Covid-19 cases in recent days, the authorities early this week further tightened the lockdown enforcement.

People in many areas including in parts of Hyderabad have complained that the police are forcing closure of shops by noon.

Greater Hyderabad reported a majority of 983 Covid-19 cases registered in the state so far. Union Home Ministry has identified Hyderabad as one of the cities with serious Covid-19 situation.

A central team arrived in Hyderabad on Saturday to assess the preparedness of the state health authorities in tackling the situation and to give necessary instructions to them.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Super healthcare, leading to despair View(s):

Last week I had a series of email exchanges with Prof. Premachandra Athukorala, Professor of Economics at the Australian National University. Our communication included, among other things, a discussion over an interesting topic  coronavirus and emerging protectionism. However, this is not the issue I am going to discuss in this column today. I will leave it for the coming weeks.

In one of his emails, Prof. Athukorala sent me an attachment  a paper published in the March/April 2020 Issue of Foreign Affairs journal, titled The Epidemic of Despair: Will Americas Mortality Crisis Spread to the Rest of the World? The paper shows how the American healthcare system has led to peoples despair and, then to deaths of despair, instead of their well-being! It is not a joke as the paper is written by two Emeritus Professors of the Princeton University  Anne Case and Angus Deaton while Deaton was also a Nobel Laureate in 2015.

I am not exaggerating that the findings of the above paper would make people scared of the issue! Before I bring some of them for our discussion here, let me elaborate something that surprised the world in the past few weeks.

Super healthcare?

In the words of a Sri Lankan medical doctor working in the US, while in Sri Lanka the government is chasing after people, here in rich countries people are chasing after government. The statement meant that in Sri Lanka, the government authorities are after people to track the COVID-infected ones and to treat them in the government hospitals. People in some of the rich countries do not have that privilege so that they are after the government authorities seeking their help for treatment, which is available to critically ill-infected patients only. As the health systems have failed to meet the health requirements of exorbitant numbers of COVID cases, the COVID pandemic too appears to have gone out of control.

In the US  the most affected country now -, the number of infected people reached one million cases this week; there were already more than 45,000 deaths reported. The irony is that the US has the highest health expenditure in the world! Obviously, there are answers beyond the healthcare system, but it is true that the US spends 17 per cent of its GDP on health expenditure and the government alone 8.6 per cent of GDP. The difference between the two figures shows the private expenditure, including private health insurance costs.

The US health expenditure as a percentage of GDP is significantly higher than the average for the high-income countries as well. The average health expenditure for high-income countries is 12.5 per cent of GDP, and public health expenditure is 7.7 per cent of GDP.

We should not skip looking at Sri Lankas case too. In terms of public health expenditure, which is 1.6 per cent of GDP, it is significantly low and even lower than the average for middle-income countries. It seems that the private spending on health by Sri Lankans is more than their public spending, as shown by the total health expenditure of 3.8 per cent of GDP.

Sri Lankas health capacity  in terms of expenditure on health, health infrastructure, and human resources  is rather low, and much lower than even the middle income country average. Therefore, without a tight lockdown strategy which has caused a high economic and social cost, it would be difficult for Sri Lanka to bear up possible exponential growth of the COVID-19 infection. According to a technical analyses by the Institute for Health Policy (IHP), Sri Lanka needs to increase its testing of COVID-19 from about the current level of 250 to at least 2,000 RT-PCR tests a day and, ideally to 6,000 tests a day. The analysis shows the weak health capacity of Sri Lanka to handle the COVID-19 issue, implying that the country would not have made it without a strict lockdown strategy.

But the question remains to be asked  what about the US, which has a super healthcare expenditure, according to the published statistics. It is true that most of the rich countries were, knowingly or unknowingly, reluctant to compromise on its massive economic costs in a rich country. But statistics too need to be interpreted with caution.

Deaths of despair

Although it is not directly related to the COVID issue, as Anne Case and Angus Deaton have identified in their paper mentioned above, in the US since the 1990s there has been an unusual increase in deaths of despair  deaths caused by drug overdose, alcohol-related liver disease, and suicide. And younger generations have been vulnerable to this issue more than their older generations. Why on earth, has it to do with US health care? Even if it had, as the country with the highest spending on health in the world, anyone would anticipate the opposite  a reduction in deaths of despair.

Here goes the story, as analysed by the authors. In the 20th Century, the US economy was growing and becoming rich so that the country was able to achieve higher levels of health standards as reflected in the decline in mortality rates, increase in life expectancy, and the improvement in other health indicators.

Since the 1990s, the economic conditions started to change against the average Americans who are less-educated and less-skilled people from the working classes. Gradually falling real wages and increasingly depleting job opportunities for them have caused them to face hopelessness about life which is reflected in their personal and social behaviour patterns as well as in the growing inequalities and divisions.

What is the root cause? Labour became costly, and even much costlier due to high health cost incurred by the employers through expensive health insurance cost. In response, the job market gradually became smaller and smaller for the less-educated and less-skilled working class. Investment flew away from the US to developing countries to seek cheap labour on the one hand, and the remaining US companies launched an automation strategy to cut down the labour demand on the other hand.

This is where some rich countries failed to handle their prosperity. Health is a business in the US, where the public sector played a small role even though the country has the highest health expenditure in the world. Private spending on health by households and insurance schemes is also as high as public spending. The super healthcare has finally led to marginalise the working class driving them into despair and to deaths of despair.

Stealing US jobs

The US lost the jobs and incomes of the working class not only due to high labour costs inflated by health costs, but also due to globalization and outsourcing  a natural outcome of economic progress. How does a country respond to this issue? Should that country cut off economic progress and be contended with what it has? This is a question that we need to discuss further.

Over the past three years, the US has been trying to bring their outsourced investment back to the US. In spite of big public spending, government incentives and protectionist policies, the effort has not derived any significant result. Instead of that, if all such efforts and resources had been diverted to bring affordable healthcare to the working class as well as to equip them with higher levels of education and skills, I wonder whether it would have been a better strategy.

(The writer is a Professor of Economics at the University of Colombo and can be reached at sirimal@econ.cmb.ac.lk)
Sebastian Stan doesn't hold a grudge about Anthony Mackie inheriting Captain America's shield (Image by Marvel)

Sebastian Stan insists that Anthony Mackies Sam Wilson/Falcon was the perfect choice to inherit Captain Americas shield in Avengers: Endgame, even though some fans believe that his character, Bucky Barnes/The Winter Soldier, should have been the one to take it.

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Stan explained, Sam, to me, was always the clear man to take on that mantle for numerous reasons, which also comes with so much more baggage thats going to be explored in the show. At the end of Endgame, for either Steve or Bucky, its really not about the shield.

Read More: Sebastian Stan unsure when 'The Falcon and the Winter Soldier' will resume filming after coronavirus

For Stan, by not giving the shield to Bucky, Steve, who used the time travel to live out his life with Peggy Carter, is saying to his old friend, Youre going to go and do that, too. Im not going to put this thing on you. Were both going to live our lives  the lives that were taken from us back in the 40s when we enlisted."

Is there room on those wings for a shield? (Image by Marvel)

The show that Stan is referring to is The Falcon And The Winter Soldier, which is still due to premiere on Disney + at the end of this year, even though filming on the series isnt quite complete yet.

Stan also took this opportunity to discuss the tone of the show, insisting, "It was very much in the same world that Captain America: The Winter Soldier was, which was one of my favorite experiences that Ive ever had, period.

Read More: Disney+ open to making original British TV shows and movies

So, in a sense, it was grounded and very much in the world as we know it. But, its also really jam-packed with a lot of massive, massive action scenes mixed with deep focus on character.

These characters are getting so much more mileage for all of us to explore them. We can put them in situations that weve never been able to put them in before because you now have six hours as opposed to two.
Indian Ambassador to the UAE Pavan Kapoor has expressed shock over the mortal remains of three Indians being sent back to Abu Dhabi after they were flown to their families in India, according to a media report on Saturday.

The deceased were not coronavirus cases but were returned by the authorities in New Delhi, the Gulf reported.

"We are appalled at what has happened. We do not know if the bodies were returned because of coronavirus-related restrictions, but we are obviously not sending the remains of people [who have passed away from COVID-19]," Kapoor told the daily.

"[As we understand], it happened because of new protocols at the airport and we are trying to sort it out," he said.

The deceased were identified as Kamlesh Bhatt, Sanjeev Kumar and Jagsir Singh. Bhatt died of cardiac arrest on April 17, both Kumar and Singh had died on April 13.

A foreign worker's employer has to usually arrange cargo companies to repatriate bodies of deceased persons.

If airport protocols have changed, it means cargo companies have to be more careful about the clearance they're getting, Kapoor told the newspaper.

Meanwhile, the Indian government on Saturday told the Delhi High Court that it will find out from the embassy concerned about the location and condition of the mortal remains of Bhatt, who died in UAE and his body was returned to Abu Dhabi from Delhi due to immigration issues.

During the hearing, Additional Solicitor General Maninder Acharya, representing the Centre, submitted that it being a unique case, the ministries of Home Affairs and Health and Family Welfare are in the process of framing Standard Operating Procedures so that in future there is no difficulty in similar matters.

She further said that a meeting was going on at the highest level to consider the petitioner's case and prayed for some time to report about it.

The law officer said the Centre shall find out from the concerned Embassy as to the location and condition of the mortal remains of the deceased which were flown back from India.

Governments across the world have imposed unprecedented restrictions in view of the coronavirus outbreak, resulting in difficulties in repatriating remains of deceased persons.

The coronavirus, which originated in China's Wuhan city, has claimed nearly 2,00,000 lives and infected over 2.8 million people in the world so far. The virus has taken 64 lives in the UAE.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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Your next luxury guitar may not be made of treasured mahogany from the forests in Guatemala, nor from the long-revered rosewood of India  but from the lumber of a tree off the side of a Los Angeles highway.

Taylor Guitars, one of the most well-known acoustic guitar manufacturers in the world, is beginning to integrate urban wood  sourced from trees found in cities rather than from industrial suppliers or faraway overseas locales  into its guitar manufacturing. The company has been developing the new process for months, due to tightening global regulations around the use of exotic woods and a desire to be more sustainable with its production process. While urban wood is often considered less attractive by manufacturers, Taylor is taking the opposite approach: Its building high-end, $3,000 guitars with the material.

More from Rolling Stone

We have vision for the future. The new world is coming, and we have to face the inevitable, Taylor Guitars founder and longtime president Bob Taylor tells Rolling Stone. In 1835, if I was a whaler, I could stop by the Galapagos and I couldve thrown a bunch of turtles on board and I could eat them later, and there was nothing wrong with that then. But we know everything thats wrong with it now. A hundred years ago, the forest was logged just fine, but the closer we get to today, its being logged worse and worse. The situation has changed, and what do we do with the situation now?

The more common woods typically used for guitars  mahogany, maple, and rosewood among them  are the industry standard, and the few times a guitar maker goes an untraditional route, its typically been done as a one-off gimmick. Thats not the case here, Taylor says. The exotic tonewoods that luthiers have used for decades are becoming more complicated to source with increasing environmental legislation, and eventually, they may not be accessible enough in quantities needed for mass production of instruments.

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Hoping for a longer term sustainable solution, Taylor started wondering if the trees found in urban environments could be used for high-end instruments. He sicced Scott Paul, Taylors director of natural resource sustainability, on the case  and extensive searching and testing posed an answer. The new material, which Taylor is calling Urban Ash, is being sourced from Mexican Shamel Ash trees planted throughout California just after the WWII era. The trees are nearing the end of their life cycle and need to be chopped down anyway  perfect for a guitar maker.

Its a high-quality wood too, Taylor says. Theres a large supply, two truckloads of the wood is enough for 4,000 guitars, and the company can continue using the supply for the foreseeable future  although its unclear how much of wood from the existing trees meet its requirements for instruments.

The guitar-playing audience can be resistant to change, as shown through the infamously mixed reception on Gibsons high-tech self-tuning guitars from the mid-2010s. While the community can be a fickle group when it comes to modifying the formula, Taylor says he doesnt think it will be difficult to sell players on the new woods, based on the companys consistent reputation in making high-quality guitars. The company has sold 750 of the pricy guitars so far and expect to surpass 1,000 by the end of April.

Paul, whod previously worked as forest campaign director at Greenpeace, says various environmental legislations taken in recent years have highlighted instrument makers need to think toward the future.

The world is changing very fast. A decade ago, everybody shut their eyes and reached into the grab bag and pulled out the forest products they needed, and it was no problem because it was what wed done for 200 years, Paul says. All of this infrastructure is coming into place, not by accident, but because the world is changing quickly in terms of the natural resources we have used without a forethought for hundreds of years. Ultimately the species we use or dont use today may be very different in as little as 10 years. Thats why this concept of urban wood and a new source to get wood may be increasingly important in coming decades.

Taylor, based out of El Cajon, California, searched around the world for a potential urban wood supplier  and the best option was practically in their backyard via Southern California company West Coast Arborists. WCA handles tree removal for 280 municipalities and cities, and it keeps a meticulous database on all 7 million trees within its jurisdiction, from their species to lifespan. When its time for a tree to be removed, its WCAs job to figure out what to do with the wood. WCA has run an urban wood program for 25 years, ramping it up more recently. For every tree chopped down, WCA tries to plant two more, the arborist says. It used to dump the trees in landfills, but years ago, officials instituted a fee to offset the trees, so they started making mulch and firewood instead.

Theres plenty of high-quality wood, says WCA urban wood supervisor Big John Mahoney, but urban trees have often been looked at as inferior material to the exotic woods from abroad, so demand has been low. Interest has slowly increased, Mahoney says, and other companies like furniture maker Room and Board have gone to WCA for materials  but theres intense room for growth, and a prominent guitar maker like Taylor can help popularize the practice both for WCA individually and across the country.

Showing off what this wood could be really helps further the movement. When we first started, urban wood had a stigma about it .. If people think it wouldnt be any good, Ive got a tune I can strum for em.  WCA urban wood supervisor Big John Mahoney

Showing off what this wood could be really helps further the movement. When we first started, urban wood had a stigma about it, Mahoney says. It cant be good, theyre subpar trees, people usually think. Taylor building a high-end guitar proves that stigma wrong. If people think it wouldnt be any good, Ive got a tune I can strum for em.

Annually, Taylor manufactures over 160,000 guitars, making the urban wood initiative right now a small part of its output. Tropical tonewoods arent going anywhere yet, the company says, and Taylor has to be careful on where it prioritizes wood. Taylors Mahogany, for example, is sourced from small villages in Guatemala, and the company keeps the demand in the area. Pulling resources can lead to further deforestation, according to Paul. Paul also acknowledges that while high-quality guitars can be made through urban woods, some of the highest-quality materials still come from elsewhere.

It will take time, and wider adoption across the industry, before urban wood can make a larger dent. And for the largest manufacturers churning out significantly more guitars each day than Taylor, there likely wouldnt be enough volume to meet their need. But thats not to say other guitar makers havent shown interest; Mahoney says Fender, one of the biggest and most well-known guitar brands in the world, has worked with experimented with WCA wood as well, and while he declined to give specifics, Mahoney said other guitar companies are now gauging interest for projects too.

Theres endless potential, youre only limited by your creativity, Mahoney says. What are we planting? Lets plant more of these woods for the future. Its been a discounted resource just going in the trash. The writings on the wall, exotic woods are not going to be so available in 20 years. We dont need to go too far for alternatives, and now their eyes can open to it.

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A nurse prepares to take a sample at a COVID 19 testing centre ahead of the new figures being released. (PA Images)

Hospital deaths in the UK related to COVID-19 have risen to 19,506, an increase of 768.

The Department of Health has also said there are now 143,464 confirmed cases, up 5,386.

Across the UK, the number of coronavirus-related deaths in English hospitals has risen to 17,373, up 587.

Most took place between 21 and 23 April, while 151 of the newly-recorded deaths happened between April 1 and April 20, while 32 deaths occurred in March.

Meanwhile, in Scotland, another 64 deaths have been reported, taking its total to 1,184 and Wales recorded another 110 for a total of 751. Figures from Northern Ireland were not yet out.

The figures combined vary from the UK-wide figure given by the Department of Health due to differences in accounting.

There are 2.7 million cases globally, according to Johns Hopkins University, with 191,000 deaths and 745,000 recoveries.

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

Health secretary Matt Hancock told BBC Radio 4s Today programme that lockdown can be eased when the number of new coronavirus cases falls.

He said: Now that were at the peak, and we very much hope that things will start to slow down and, if and when they do, then the speed with which the number of new cases reduces will frankly will determine how long we need to keep the measures on and that is as yet unknown.

Mass testing and tracing  the ability to determine if someone has been infected and find people they have come into contact with  has been touted as a route out of lockdown.

The truth is that we need to get the number of new cases down, right down, and the lower you go, the more effective contact tracing is because the more resources you can put into each individual case that gets a positive test, Hancock said.

Matt Hancock said test and tracing can take place as the virus's spread is decreased. (PA Images)

You can really make sure you can get hold of all of their contacts and get them, in many cases, to self-isolate.

Story continues

The smaller the number of new cases, the more effective the test, track and trace system will be.

Some construction firms have begun to reopen sites, with house builder Persimmon joining Vistry Group and Taylor Wimpey in announcing its plans to resume operations.

Persimmons chief executive David Jenkinson said the firm had developed social distancing and safety measures for site work.

The UK Government has been very clear on the importance of the construction sector to the UK economy and its desire to see activity continue through the current period of crisis, provided appropriate public health measures are adopted, he said.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has asked Baroness Doreen Lawrence, the mother of Stephen Lawrence who was stabbed to death in a racist attack 27 years ago, to lead a review into the impact of coronavirus on black, Asian and minority ethnic communities.

The coronavirus appears to have affected those groups disproportionately.

Starmer said: Doreen Lawrence has spent almost three decades campaigning against injustice.

Sir Keir Starmer has spoken about how coronavirus has affected ethnic minorities. (PA Images)

I have seen first-hand her drive and determination, and was proud to stand beside her in fighting for justice for Stephen.

Her achievements embody Labours values and our historic mission to create a fairer, more equal society.

It is extremely concerning to see the disproportionate toll coronavirus is taking on our BAME communities.

We cannot afford to treat this as an issue to investigate once the crisis is over. We must address it now.

Coronavirus: what happened today

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WASHINGTON  Capt. Brett E. Crozier should be restored to command of the aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt, the Navys top officials recommended Friday.

But Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper, who was briefed on the recommendations, has asked for more time to consider whether to sign off on reinstating the captain of the nuclear-powered carrier.

Esper received the recommendation from the chief of naval operations, Adm. Michael M. Gilday, and the acting Navy secretary, James McPherson. Defense Department officials said earlier that they expected to announce the results of the Navys investigation into the matter Friday afternoon.

Espers decision to hold up the investigation has surprised Navy officials, who believed that the defense secretary would leave the process in the hands of the military chain of command.

A reinstatement of Crozier would be a stunning turnaround in a story that has seized the attention of the Navy, the overall military and even a nation grappling with the coronavirus. From the moment that his letter pleading for help from Navy officials first became public, Crozier has taken on the role of an unlikely hero, willing to risk his career for the sake of his sailors.

After he was fired by a political appointee of President Donald Trump, the saga took on new meaning. A video of hundreds of cheering sailors yelling Captain Crozier! as he departed the aircraft carrier, black backpack on his shoulder, went viral. The maneuverings afterward of the acting Navy secretary at the time, Thomas B. Modly, to right a crisis in the Navy only deepened public interest.

Now, after a review of the episodes of the last month, it is Modly who is out of his job. Meanwhile, Gilday and Modlys successor, McPherson, pushed for the reinstatement of Crozier during a meeting Friday with Esper.

Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday has presented recommendations to the acting secretary of the Navy, James McPherson, the Navy said in a statement Friday. Secretary McPherson is continuing discussions with Secretary of Defense Mark Esper. No final decisions have been made.

Gilday and Gen. Mark A. Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, had both advised Modly not to remove Crozier before an investigation into events aboard the Roosevelt was complete. But Modly feared that Trump wanted Crozier fired, according to his acquaintances, and dismissed the captain.

But the presidents position softened as videos of crew members extolling their captain made their way around social media. Still, it was unclear exactly where the president now stands on the reinstatement of Crozier, and Espers decision not to immediately accept the recommendation that the captain be reinstated could reflect a fear of getting on the wrong side of his boss, officials said.

Gilday and James McPherson, the acting Navy secretary who succeeded Modly after he resigned, reached an agreement late last week that the events leading to Croziers letter pleading for help showed that he should not have been removed, officials said. They briefed Milley on their findings Tuesday.

It was unclear late Friday why the defense secretary had delayed the process. His spokesman, Jonathan Hoffman, had said earlier in the day that Esper was likely to back the Navys conclusion. Subsequently Friday, Hoffman issued a statement that after the secretary receives a written copy of the completed inquiry, he intends to thoroughly review the report and will meet again with Navy leadership to discuss next steps.

Esper is usually closely aligned with Trump and may want to make sure that the president will not reverse the process, as he did last year when he ordered the Navy not to punish a member of the Navy SEALs whose case had caught his attention.

Crozier, who friends say is feeling better after he himself contracted the coronavirus, is in isolation in the distinguished-visitors quarters on a Navy base in Guam. He is awaiting another test to confirm that he no longer has the virus, his friend said.

Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., who leads the House Armed Services Committee, issued a statement Friday calling for the captain to be reinstated. While Captain Croziers actions at the outset of the health crisis aboard the T.R. were drastic and imperfect, it is clear he only took such steps to protect his crew, he said. Captain Crozier should be reinstated to his command immediately.

Former Navy leaders echoed that sentiment. The Navy leadership made the right call, and Secretary Esper needs to support it, said Sean OKeefe, who was Navy secretary under President George Bush. Captain Crozier made a decision to place his crew above himself, and thats a noble precedent.

On April 2, when Crozier walked off the gangway of the Roosevelt in Guam, where the ship is docked, some 114 Roosevelt sailors had tested positive for the coronavirus. Now, a little over three weeks later, that number stands at 856, or 17% of a crew of just under 5,000. On Thursday, the Navy said that it had completed testing on all 4,938 crew members. Of the total cases, 88 sailors have recovered, and 4,234 have moved ashore, the Navy said. Four sailors are in the hospital with the disease.

The core crew, those left behind on the Roosevelt to clean and prepare the ship for those on Guam, is set to be swapped out by the end of the month. The Roosevelt is then expected to undertake sea trials, allowing the fighter-jet wing aboard to requalify for aircraft carrier landings at sea before continuing on its deployment.

But that plan has run into its own set of complications, as some of those crew members, housed in local hotels and believed to have not contracted the virus, have tested positive in recent days. A lack of space for these patients has prompted some of the crew to be moved into a warehouse on the naval base in what health care providers have deemed the sailor shuffle.

And Friday, Pentagon officials said a crew member aboard the Kidd, a destroyer deployed to the Caribbean, had tested positive for the virus, marking the second time a deployed Navy ship had been stricken with the illness. In a subsequent statement, the Navy said that at least 17 other sailors had also tested positive.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
(CNN)  Amazon has been revealed to be behind a mystery 250,000 ($310,000) donation to a charity that supports independent booksellers in the UK and Ireland.

The company made the donation after booksellers appealed for funds to help the industry through the coronavirus crisis. Many nonessential businesses, such as bookshops, have closed during the pandemic.

The crowd-fund was set up by individuals from the London Review Bookshop, Picador and Daunt Books to support The Book Trade Charity, which provides help to those who are working or have worked in the industry. The charity gives money to companies in the book selling, publishing, distribution and printing businesses.

It has racked up more than 68,000 ($84,000) in public donations. The Booksellers Association has pledged to donate 30,000 ($37,000) and publisher Penguin Random House has pledged 50,000 ($62,000).

On Friday, the charity received the surprise 250,000 ($310,000) boost.

Dan Hicks, chief executive of The Book Trade Charity, confirmed to CNN Thursday that Amazon was the mystery benefactor.

"Bookshops have had a difficult time over the past few years. There's been a resurgence in recent years but they have the problems of all high street shops -- they have competition, and [those who set up the crowd fund] felt a blow like this could be more than some shops could take," Hicks told CNN.

He said he received a phone call from Amazon offering the donation directly to the organizers, rather than through the fundraising page, with the company telling him it would like to keep the donation "low key."

While Amazon, a major seller of books, has faced criticism for the role it has played in disrupting the market, Hicks said he welcomed the donation.

"Receiving half our annual income, on top of our annual income, is a tremendous boost for the work that we can do," he added.

Later Thursday, Amazon confirmed the donation in a statement. "We can confirm we have made a donation to the Book Trade Charity's relief fund for independent bookshops," a spokesman said.

This story was first published on CNN.com "Amazon revealed to be behind mystery $310,000 donation to bookshops"
The Syracuse Poster Project marries beautiful visuals from local artists with the words of community poets.

The Projects 19th annual poster series revealed 16 new posters to be displayed for the next year along Salina and Warren streets, beginning in April. The series unveiling took place online via YouTube due to social distancing rules during the coronavirus pandemic.

Each year writers from throughout the community submit haiku about downtown, the city or the nearby countryside. Artists then create posters based on the haiku of their choice.

Since its founding in 2001, the Poster Project has worked to enliven downtown and strengthen the citys sense of community. In addition to recruiting local artists, the Project engages a select ad firm each year. This year Bella Figura, a Syracuse letterpress company, contributed a poster featuring healthy living.

The open call in 2019 drew submissions from 28 Central New York artists. A five-person panel then selected 16 posters for production. The organization awards $500, $300, and $100 for first-, second- and third-place posters, respectively, and complementary benefits for up to 13 runners up.

The first-place poster is by poet Peter Allen, of Syracuse, and artist Melquea Smith, of Syracuse; second-place poster, by poet Ana Morley, of Fayetteville, and artist Lucie Wellner, of Pompey; third-place poster, by poet Garrett Heater, of Syracuse, and artist Rebecca Miller, of Syracuse.

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Facebook-Reliance Jio deal is big game changer for Indias digital ecosystem: India Inc

Facebook is investing 43,574 cr in Reliance Jio Platforms for a 9.99 per cent stake. 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.

Facebook to invest  43,574 cr in Jio Platforms for a 9.99% stake

Reliance Industries Limited, Jio Platforms Limited and Facebook, Inc today announced the signing of binding agreements for an investment of  43,574 crore by Facebook into Jio Platforms. This investment by Facebook values Jio Platforms at  4.62 lakh crore pre-money enterprise value ($65.95 billion, assuming a conversion rate of  70 to a US Dollar). Facebooks investment will translate into a 9.99 per cent equity stake in Jio Platforms on a fully diluted basis.

Consumer insights form the bedrock for marketers: Rajesh Srivastava

Lockdown in India and in many countries around the globe due to the COVID-19 pandemic has hit businesses across all industries and verticals. There is uncertainty prevailing and brands are all working towards various contingency plans to overcome the economic challenges arising out of this crisis, which has put them on the backfoot.

Making the most of nostalgia, how GECs are regaining ground during lockdown

As per the 5th edition of the BARC-Nielsen report on COVID-19  TV + Smartphone Consumption During Crisis, total TV consumption in Week 15 recorded a 40 per cent growth over the pre-COVID-19 period at 1.24 trillion minutes. Individuals watching TV for all 7 days have increased to 48 per cent.

Hindi GECs in HSM are at an all-time high, garnering 8.5 billion impressions in Week 15, with HSM Urban registering all-time high viewership for 3 weeks in a row with 4.5 billion impressions in Week 15.

#TwitterChat - How online communities can be leveraged to fight back COVID-19?

In our latest Twitter Chat endeavour, the focus will be on Potential of Online Communities Unleashed, where we will examine how online communities are formed on the basis of common interest and how these communities are being leveraged to drive campaigns to fight Coronavirus and help save human lives.

#FightBackCorona: Every problem represents a unique opportunity: Gautam B Thakker

Gautam B Thakker, CEO, Everymedia Technologies, speaks about tackling domestic violence during times when people are confined to their homes, creating content to generate awareness, and optimising the use of Digital Marketing to respond to these difficult circumstances.

TikTok India awards Digital Marketing Mandate to Kinnect

Kinnect, India's foremost digital marketing agency, is elated to be announced TikTok India's agency on record. Following a multi-agency pitch, the agency takes pride in winning the mandate for India's favourite and the worlds fastest growing app.

FCT on TV recovers in Wk 15; Advertiser count for Ramayan grows 14x

FCT (Free Commercial Time) on TV recovered a bit in Week 15, observing a 7 per cent growth after a huge fall of 26 per cent last week. As per the 5th edition of BARC-Nielsens TV & Smartphone Consumption During Crisis report, most advertisers are using the COVID-19 theme. Essentials category has seen a growth across genres.

BARC Wk 15: DD National continues to lead Hindi GECs, widens gap with others

DD National continues to lead the Hindi GEC space in Week 15 (Saturday, 11th April 2020 to Friday, 17th April 2020) as well. As per BARC data [HSM (U+R) : NCCS All : 2+ Individuals], DD National garnered a gross viewership of 2,680,221(000) in All Platform.

Total TV consumption up by 40% in Week 15; mythos drive entertainment in Hindi GECs

BARC India and Nielsen Media today jointly released the fifth edition of their report on Crisis Consumption on TV and Smartphones. As per the report, total TV consumption increased by 40 per cent at All India level in Week 15 to 1.24 trillion minutes over the pre-COVID-19 period. Individuals watching TV for all 7 days increased to 48 per cent.

#FightBackCorona: Being quarantined is a good time to take stock of ones trajectory

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.

FCB India, Networkbay to power new contactless retail experience for brands

FCB India, in collaboration with Networkbay, today announced the launch of Retail: Day 1, a special initiative to work with brands and retailers to manage, redefine and transform their retail experiences in the post-COVID era.

Large scale, big budget productions may become a thing of the past: Arjun Mukherjee

The very challenging task of the lockdown is to keep crores of Indians confined to their homes to break the chain of the spread of the virus. Celebrities, influencers, brands and organisations of all hues have been stressing on the importance of staying at home. One such brand joining the fight against COVID-19 is Tata Pravesh, a brand of steel doors from Tata Steel that has taken up the initiative to drive awareness around the fact that when you stay home, you stay safe.

#FightBackCorona: This crisis has catalysed creative thinking: Tarun Jha

Tarun Jha, Head of Marketing and Product, Skoda Auto, talks about the several measures that his organisation has taken to help out the society at large on the one hand, as well as keeping the operations going on in full swing even as the staff is working from remote locations.

There is no template on how to handle the COVID-19 situation: Karan Abhishek Singh

The News genre has been witnessing unprecedented growth during the COVID-19 period and the resultant nation-wide lockdown. In conversation with Adgully, Karan Abhishek Singh, CEO - Languages, Network18, speaks about his organisations programming strategy, the spike in viewership, leveraging digital technology as well as advertiser response to the crisis situation.

iProspect India wins SBIs digital mandate

iProspect India, the digital marketing agency from the house of Dentsu Aegis Network (DAN), has won the digital mandate for the Indian financial services and banking leader  State Bank of India (SBI).

81% of multinationals deferring planned campaigns due to COVID-19 crisis: WFA

The COVID-19 crisis has impacted brands campaign plans as well as strategy. According to new research conducted by the World Federation of Advertisers (WFA), four out of five (81%) marketers from major multinationals say they are deferring planned campaigns as a result of this crisis.

72% advertisers continue to remain active during the COVID-19 period

Even as viewership in certain genres, such as News, Movies, GECs and Kids, has seen huge growth, the overall FCT (Free Commercial Time) on TV dropped by 26 per cent in Week 14 over the pre-COVID-19 period, as per the 4th part of BARC-Nielsens TV & Smartphone Consumption During Crisis report. The overall FCT dropped from 28 million seconds to 20 million seconds.

#TwitterChat: People are using OTT to live lives vicariously, say experts

With the lockdown further extended to May 3 and people confined to their homes, OTT and Television have become the key source for content consumption for people. OTT sees a huge surge across demographics and devices with the huge user base of 502 million smartphones.

#FightBackCorona: Contribute to re-starting the economy in your own way: Rajeev Yadav

Rajeev Yadav, MD & CEO, Fincare Small Finance Bank, speaks about the various measures taken by his organisation to keep the operations going during this time of crisis. Being part of the essential services, Fincare Small Finance Bank has been working right through the lockdown period.

Agility will have to become a way of life to manage future risks: Abhishek Gupta

World Health Organisation (WHO) declared COVID-19 as a global pandemic on March 11, 2020. Followed by which a whooping 197 million people across the country tuned in to watch Prime Minister Narendra Modis address announcing a complete lockdown in the country to tackle the situation. In just sometime the marketplace has turned upside down. Businesses are struggling to adjust to a new reality of quarantines, lockdown, and closed borders.

What makes Facebook the Moat Machine

Value investors Tanvi Mehta, Ramaswamy Ranganathan and Sudarshan Rajan attempt to distill the huge impact of audience coagulation, leading to significant competitive advantages for Facebook.

VOD consumption continues at 4 hrs; Chat & VOIP see highest time spent on smartphone

The recently launched Aarogya Setu app by the Government of India has seen great traction, with 1 in 8 consumers accessing the app in Week 1 of its launch, while 8 per cent sought information from a COVID tracker website, with males showing a significantly higher incidence.

#FightBackCorona: Biz leaders have been at the forefront of crisis: Akshay Munjal

Akshay Munjal, President, BML Munjal University, talks about how the educational institute has been fighting the war against COVID-19 by reaching out to the lesser privileged in these times of crisis.
Coronavirus was created in a lab in Wuhan. Drinking alcohol cures the virus. Cow urine will kill the virus. Indians have better immune systems to fight Coronavirus. These are all false claims and we're willing to bet you have come across at least one of these 'news' in the last few weeks as the world currently reels under a global pandemic.

Coronavirus has reached almost every country on earth, infecting millions and leaving behind weaker immune systems. Without a vaccine or a cure, the invisible virus has swept through the world in one large wave, and with it, came something else: fake news.

Whether it was an intricately detailed conspiracy theory about how the virus is 'modified' or a half-baked theory about how hydroxychloroquine is a definite cure, fake news about the pandemic is adding to the already dire situation.

"You need someone to debunk it. Who better than scientists?" says R. Ramanujam, a professor at Indian Institute of Mathematical Sciences, and one of the coordinators of Indian Scientists Response to CoViD-19, or ISRC.

ISRC, a collective of scientists who are debunking hoaxes regarding the pandemic, started as a small group of around 20. It was started by a few scientists reaching out to each other a couple of days before the nation-wide lockdown was announced, the same time that the initial wave of fake news had started flooding in, courtesy India's popular messaging app, WhatsApp.

Even though the email chains started as a 'how can scientists contribute' initiative, they soon realized a huge part of the problem wasn't the need to theorize, it was to help break down theories, specifically those of fake news.

The hoaxbusters group is led by Professor Sadhya Koushika, a biologist from TIFR, Mumbai.

ISCR's website explains the purpose: "The scientific community has a social and democratic responsibility in the current situation, both in terms of analysing the situation and reaching out to the public. While governmental bodies make their decisions and professional scientific academies take principled stands, there is a need for individuals in the scientific community to also help individually and collectively."

Now the collective stands at over 500 people, with at least 400 of them having academic affiliations of some kind. This collective involves medical researchers, biologists, physicists, social scientists, mathematicians and many more to deal with the curveball of fake news headed their way.

Ramanujam says the biggest problem hasn't been debunking the news. "It's the numbers," he said. In India, WhatsApp messages, or in this case 'forwards', is often a large section of the population's news source. And this often becomes the platform for fake news because of the easy way of communication.

"We debunk maybe one or two myths in a day, but by that time you've already received five other fake forwards on your phone," he explains.

The methodology to debunking fake news is simple - they spot something which is based on somewhat real facts and then proceeds to break it down. "All fake news is based on some grain of truth, you need to find just that and then break down the myths around it," he says. However, some myths are too outrageous or ridiculous to even debunk.

Once identified, the fake news then undergoes fact-checking, then a round of vetting, and there is an elaborate discussion before the actual infographic is put out.

The infographic is also re-created in 14 different languages: English, Urdu, Portugese, Tamil, Bengali, Malayalam, and other Indian languages. Even in the process of simple translation, there is a round of vetting, to make sure there is no content that is left dicey - it has to be foolproof.

Often, fake news countered with the truth seems faulty to disbelievers, and they find the one chink in the armour to break it open - which is why the team leaves no room for error.

There are multiple people working on busting the same fake news at the same time, sitting across the length and breadth of the country and some across the borders as well.

"We couldnt have planned this," explains Ramanujam. The process of coming together was organic, and it worked in more ways than one.

For every kind of specific news, there are people with designated skillsets best suited for the topic. For the difference in data, or theorizing outputs from numbers and news on that, there are mathematicians and statisticians, and for the constantly changing news like whether masks are necessary and the transfer is via droplets or aerosols, there are virologists.

Other than just fake news, they're also giving out scientifically accurate information in a form accessible to the public.

The infographics are also circulated on the platform where the fake news originates: WhatsApp. Ramanujam explains how scientists in collaboration with science programs and networks which already have a vast reach via science communication, help distribute the graphics.

"Fake news brings to light the need to cross-check. The general public may not be as used to it, but scientists have been doing this for years. You have to cross-validate your information, to make sure it's correct," he adds.

In times when a global pandemic is raging through the planet, the need for correct information becomes the most important. And scientists have turned into heroes, saving us from the pandemic and the fake news on the pandemic.
With 33 West Bengal



returnees testing positive for COVID-19 in a span of only a week, Odisha government is using mobile tracking to trace the persons who visited the neighbouring state during the lockdown period, officials said on Saturday.

Using technology to trace the West Bengal returnees is another strategy of the state government after engaging the panchayat and urban local body functionaries to locate them in every nook and corner of the state, they said.

The state government got the information regarding 2,900 West Bengal returnees with the help of only one telecom service provider. Other service providers were yet to submit their finding reports with the government, the officials said.

What has come as a surprise for the administration is that the West Bengal returnee are spread over 29 of the 30 districts of Odisha while 33 persons from Bhadrak, Jajpur and Balasore have been Corona positive so far. The efforts are on to locate all the Bengal returnees, a senior official said.

National Health Mission (NHM), sources said has, meanwhile, asked all the district collectors to track down the returnees and keep them under home quarantine. The district administrative officials have also been asked to send their samples for testing.

While the highest number of 772 Bengal returnees have been located in Balasore district, it is followed by 329 in Jajpur and 242 in Bhadrak district. Similarly, Boudh district reported only one returnee and there was none from Nuapada district, they said.

"We have so far tracked 21 out of total 43 returnees in Koraput district. Their samples were sent to RMRC in Bhubaneswar for corona testing," said Koraput District Chief Medical Officer (CDMO) Makaranda Beura.

The police has been requested to trace the remaining people, the CDMO said, adding that this method of tracking will be helpful in breaking the chain of transmission of the virus.

Meanwhile, the Health and Family Welfare Department on Saturday shared an infographic on COVID-19 status of the state up to April 24.

The total number of COVID-19 patients in Odisha remained at 94 with 60 cases active while 33 have recovered. One person has died of the disease, the department said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Copyright  2020 Albuquerque Journal

Alaa Al Rahmoun wont get the traditional high school graduation shes been looking forward to.

Instead of lauding the accomplishment of being the first in her family to have obtained a high school diploma or celebrating with her friends, the 20-year old Syrian refugee will be at home, thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Al Rahmoun fled the Syrian war and started her freshman year at Highland High School in 2016. She didnt know any English and for a while, she said, she felt like she didnt fit in. Now, she knows English, she has friends and a support system.

Despite these accomplishments, she wont be donning her white gown and navy blue and gold hood.

Its hard because I always dreamed of going on the stage with all my friends, Al Rahmoun said. Everything changed.

Instead, Al Rahmoun and about 230 other seniors will be receiving congratulation cards and small gifts from alumni and Highland faculty and staff who adopt them.

Brenda Jaramillo, Highlands counseling secretary, adopted Al Rahmoun and another senior.

Jaramillo has already sent Al Rahmoun a few graduation gifts  a Dominos gift card, an Easter card and some cash.

Its helping them recognize its a celebration for them, Jaramillo said.

Some seniors will get blankets. All will get a navy blue and gold trim commemorative H hand painted by Mike Goodrich, the vice president of Highlands Band Boosters. Goodrich, a class of 84 alumnus wants to help celebrate their big milestone.

It thrills me to see those kids. Theyre so thankful and so respectful, Goodrich said. Its so worth it, you know?

More than 10 days have passed since Dante Smith, a Highland High School class of 1989 alumnus and sports trainer, started the Adopt A Senior  Highland High School Class of 2020 Facebook page. Of the 230 graduating seniors, about 135 have joined the page along with another roughly 135 alumni.

So far, Smith said, the reception of this concept has been amazing with some alumni adopting up to four graduates. Smiths goals for the page were to create a place where seniors can get an introduction to the alumni world and to provide support for the graduates  the class of the quarantine. Its uncertain when this pandemic will end, but Smith is certain the program will continue after the class of 2020.

When the first day of class comes, hopefully in August, we want to change the page from adopted seniors 2020 to 2021 and start getting those 2021 senior profiles up  to get them connected right away, Smith said.
China's first Mars exploration mission named Tianwen-1

PLA Daily

Source: Xinhuanet

Editor: Chen Zhuo

2020-04-24 15:19:20

BEIJING, April 24 (Xinhua) -- China's first Mars exploration mission has been named Tianwen-1, announced the China National Space Administration (CNSA) on Friday, China's Space Day.

The name comes from the long poem "Tianwen," meaning Questions to Heaven, written by Qu Yuan (about 340-278 BC), one of the greatest poets of ancient China.

In "Tianwen," Qu Yuan raised a series of questions in verse involving the sky, stars, natural phenomena, myths and the real world, showing his doubts about some traditional concepts and the spirit of seeking the truth.

CNSA said all of China's planetary exploration missions in the future will be named the Tianwen series, signifying the Chinese nation's perseverance in pursuing truth and science and exploring nature and the universe.

CNSA also unveiled the logo of China's planetary exploration missions, featuring the letter C, signifying China, international cooperation and capacity of entering space.

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 is 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.

Zhang Kejian, head of CNSA, said that over the past 50 years, Chinese space engineers and scientists have overcome various difficulties and achieved aerospace development through self-reliance and independent innovation.

He said CNSA is willing to work together with the international community to make new and greater contributions to exploring the mysteries of the universe and promoting human welfare on the basis of equality, mutual benefit, peaceful utilization and inclusive development.

Anatoly Ivanishin and Ivan Wagner, the Russian crew members of the International Space Station, sent a congratulatory video to China from the space station.

The achievements of China over the 50 years of the establishment of the national space program deserve to be recognized and respected. Although humankind is now facing a severe crisis related to the epidemiological threat, such important anniversaries should not be overshadowed, said the astronauts.

"The fact that the whole country celebrates it allows us to believe not only in overcoming this situation as soon as possible and returning to normal life, but also in successfully solving all future tasks and problems that will be faced by our planet," the astronauts said.

Other space officials and personnel from the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs, the International Astronautical Federation, the European Space Agency, the Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization, Brazil, France, Pakistan and Russia also sent congratulatory videos or letters, and expressed the hope to strengthen aerospace cooperation with China.

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A head constable with Mumbai police, Chandrakant Ganapat Pendurkar, succumbed to coronavirus on Saturday, said Mumbai police.

57-year-old Pendurkar had been battling the disease for the past few days after testing positive. Pendurkar, is the first cop in Mumbai to die due to Covid-19. He was posted with Vakola Police Station in Santacruz East.

Mumbai Police regrets to inform about the untimely demise of Head Constable Chandrakant Ganapat Pendurkar (57) from Vakola PStn, who was battling Coronavirus for the past few days. May the departed soul rest in peace. Our thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved family, a tweet from Mumbai Police said.

As many as 96 policemen including officers are infected with coronavirus in Maharashtra. 15 of these are officers. A total of 6 policemen have recovered so far.

The unfortunate development comes on a day when the state recorded the highest single-day increase in the number of coronavirus infections with 811 new cases. However, a dip in mortality rate is giving the administration some hope.

Maharashtra as of Saturday has a total of 7,628 Covid-19 cases including over 300 casualties. Nearly two-thirds of these positive cases are in Mumbai, which now has over 5,000 cases after 602 new infections were registered in the city on Saturday. Over 190 people have died in Maharashtras capital.

For Coronavirus Live Updates

Maharashtra health minister has told HTs business publication Mint that the state may extend the lockdown beyond May 3 for identified containment zones if the disease is not contained effectively.

The HT Guide to Coronavirus COVID-19
Kim Jong-un is in a vegetative state after a failed heart operation, according to Japanese media.

The magazine Shukan Gendai reported that Kim collapsed during a recent visit to a rural part of North Korea and a Chinese medic sent as part of a team to treat Kim believed a delay in a simple procedure to insert a stent left the leader severely ill.

The magazine claims a surgeon in charge of Kim's operation was not used to dealing with obese patients and was too nervous during the op, leading to delays that left Kim in a "vegetative state".

Another report from Hong Kong claims that Kim Jong-un is actually dead.

Vice director of HKSTV Hong Kong Satellite Television Shijian Xingzou says that a "very solid source" has told her Kim Jong-un has died.

Trump meets Kim Jong-Un in DMZ19

On Thursday, US President Donald Trump downplayed reports that Kim was gravely ill. "I think the report was incorrect," Trump told reporters, but he declined to say if he had been in touch with North Korean officials.

On Friday, a South Korean source told Reuters their intelligence was that Kim was alive and would likely make an appearance soon. The person said he did not have any comment on Kim's current condition or any Chinese involvement.

An official familiar with US intelligence said that Kim was known to have health problems but they had no reason to conclude he was seriously ill or unable eventually to reappear in public.

A US State department spokeswoman had no comment. US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, when asked about Kim's health on Fox News after Trump spoke said, "I don't have anything I can share with you tonight, but the American people should know we're watching the situation very keenly."

North Korea is one of the world's most isolated and secretive countries, and the health of its leaders is treated as a matter of state security. Reuters has not been able to independently confirm any details on Kim's whereabouts or condition.

Story continues

North Korea's state media last reported on Kim's whereabouts when he presided over a meeting on April 11. State media did not report that he was in attendance at an event to mark the birthday of his grandfather, Kim Il Sung, on April 15, an important anniversary in North Korea.

Kim, believed to be 36, has disappeared from coverage in North Korean state media before. In 2014, he vanished for more than a month and North Korean state TV later showed him walking with a limp. Speculation about his health has been fanned by his heavy smoking, apparent weight gain since taking power and family history of cardiovascular problems.

When Kim Jong Un's father, Kim Jong Il, suffered a stroke in 2008, South Korean media reported at the time that Chinese doctors were involved in his treatment along with French physicians.

Last year, Chinese President Xi Jinping made the first state visit in 14 years by a Chinese leader to North Korea, an impoverished state that depends on Beijing for economic and diplomatic support.

China is North Korea's chief ally and the economic lifeline for a country hard-hit by U.N. sanctions, and has a keen interest in the stability of the country with which it shares a long, porous border.

Kim is a third-generation hereditary leader who came to power after his father Kim Jong Il died in 2011 from a heart attack. He has visited China four times since 2018.

Trump held unprecedented summits with Kim in 2018 and 2019 as part of a bid to persuade him to give up North Korea's nuclear arsenal.
In the US, the coronavirus reaches 10,000 deaths in U.S. nursing homes as the viral reaper adds more to the death toll in the U.S.

ABC news has confirmed that many nursing homes are the charnel scenes of stacked up bodies, as resident in these institutions are wheeled out in gurneys as dead corpses.

Records on the surge in coronavirus deaths are contributed by nursing home residents who become easy targets for COVID-19, that make up 20% of national fatalities. Many nursing homes in the US are trying to lessen the contagion, but are hard-pressed to do.

For the most part, when one gets infected by the contagion it becomes a chain reaction, only the fittest survive one the virus starts spreading.

What the statistics say

The number of deaths from long term care residents are in 10,631 fatalities, but there might be unaccounted deaths that are not added to the count with a chance of ignominious higher death toll. All the data was taken and compiled from official sources from many states. Although not all states have reported their information yet.

This week, heads of the Medicare and Medicaid made the announcement saying,"they would begin requiring nursing care facilities to report cases of COVID-19 directly to health officials there and at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention." But these agencies haven't released the released comprehensive national data on nursing home cases or fatalities during the outbreak.

This data is crucial to know the exact national statistics per state in the U.S.

More deaths registered have caused critics to cite the Trump administration to be more centered and more attentive to the long-term care centers, that are piling bodies of dead residents as then COVID-19 goes on a rampage killing many of the most susceptible residents.

Also read: First Coronavirus Death in the U.S. Confirmed, Government Urges People to Stay Calm

According to Sen Ron Wyden, an Oregon Democrat, who told ABC News that the federal government is slow, and excuses upon excuses are given, he said, "Well, we're not really responsible. The states are responsible to this day."

Throughout the coronavirus crisis the agency responsible for surveilling nursing care, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid has sent several warnings during the pandemic, calling on nursing homes to restrict visitation and to comply with infection-control regulations. Seema Verma, commented to ABC News on Thursday," she believes the administration has a very strong response to the crisis."

Verma added," Our administration has acted very early on to make sure that we're doing everything that we can to support nursing homes on the ground level." She mentioned that the Trump administration has done efforts which were praised and the support given to efforts to keep patients safe too.

She mentioned that it was impossible to address all centers one by one. Instead, they've pushed state and local officials to coordinate with these nursing home and provide supplies need to operate.

A few governors heeded the call like West Virginia, Gov Jim Justice required mandatory testing who tested nursing home residents. Maryland Gov Larry Hogan sent support team for nursing homes, especially the stricken ones with extra support.

As the coronavirus reaches 10,000 deaths in US nursing homes, early March the administration instituted screening for all visitors to prevents spreading the virus.

Related article: 34 Fighters, Police Officers Quarantined Following Second COVID-19 Fatality in Nursing Home

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
What will meal times look like a year from now? Will we be going out to restaurants again whenever we can, weary of months of home cooking, or will our habits have permanently changed? The latter would be good news for supermarkets and their shares.

Before the pandemic, food from bars, cafes, coffee shops and the rest accounted for about 40 per cent of the nation's consumption.

Clive Black of investment group Shore Capital calculates this has shrunk to 10-15 per cent (some takeaways remain open). This sizeable 'calorific intake shift' may represent a longer-lasting revolution.

Second or third waves of Covid-19 are likely to mean social distancing in restaurants, taking away at least part of the fun.

The supermarkets should be well-positioned to benefit from the transformation forced on them by the pandemic. After a shaky start caused by stockpiling, Tesco, Sainsbury's and Morrisons have mostly kept shelves stocked and ensured supplies for the vulnerable, enhancing their reputation with customers.

In Black's view, this should feed through to improved investor sentiment. Some, however, may need further persuasion, seeing them as ill-equipped for the online shopping age.

During the pandemic, the supermarkets boosted their online capacity, showing they could be nimble. But Mark Pilkington, a consultant and the author of Retail Therapy  Why The Retail Industry Is Broken And What Can Be Done To Fix It argues that, once again, Amazon could be the long-term beneficiary of our willingness to buy groceries online.

Since January, Amazon's share price has soared from $1,898 to $2,399 Shares in supermarkets have fared less well, despite the business rates relaxation and their successful fight-back against discounters Aldi and Lidl.

Although once-embattled Tesco is sufficiently secure to pay a substantial dividend, its share price is 236.1p, close to the level when boss Dave Lewis arrived in September 2014, despite him having carried out an enormous successful turnaround of the business.

Taking that date as a base line, at 201.7p, Sainsbury's price is lower than it was at that time. These valuations reflect concerns about Amazon but also the impact of coronavirus on supermarkets' other activities. Sainsbury's is the owner of Argos. It also has a bank and Tu, a clothing line.

Secure: Although once-embattled Tesco is sufficiently secure to pay a substantial dividend

Tesco too has a bank and F&F, a fashion range. That isn't the full explanation though: the sole focus of Morrisons is groceries and yet its share price is also languishing. At 188.2p it is only a few pence higher than in September 2014.

Shares in these household names could be a bargain if you think that, in the future, people will continue pushing a trolley around a superstore every week  and that supermarkets will use newfound powers of innovation to make this experience exciting rather than a chore.

In sharp contrast with the traditional players, in September 2014, Ocado's share price was 304p. Today it is 1606.5p. In the autumn, it will be switching its offer from Waitrose to Marks & Spencer. It is also expanding the operation that licences its automated warehouse expertise to other supermarkets.

Backed up: Sainsbury's is the owner of Argos. It also has a bank and Tu, a clothing line

As a result, it is seen as much as a technology stock as a delivery service. If you baulk at the current price, but would still like some exposure, Ocado is the second largest holding at the Baillie Gifford UK Equity Alpha fund.

Despite Ocado's ability to dazzle the stock market without making a profit, many still argue that Amazon will triumph in the grocery battle, making its shares a long-term hold. Tom Slater of Scottish Mortgage, the investment trust which began to buy Amazon a decade ago  when shares were just $127  sees groceries as a 'significant opportunity' for the giant, and one it is seizing by experimenting with every type of food retailing.

For example, last week the tech giant was allowed to purchase a slice of Deliveroo, giving it an inroad to British pizza and other lunch and supper preferences. It already owns Whole Foods, the hipster healthy eating chain. Amazon's own convenience store in Seattle allows you to shop by swiping the company's app when you walk in.

There is no need to queue to check out. Since profitability is not its first consideration, Amazon may take as long as ten years to become the main player in the UK online supermarket sector.

This gives Tesco, Sainsbury's and Morrisons some breathing space. If the way we eat has been irrevocably changed by the pandemic, there should be plenty of pie for everyone. But  apologies for the pun  our supermarkets must step up to the plate.
(Kim Sung-doo/Yonhap via AP

SEOULAs the world waits to see if North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is alive, dead, or somewhere in between at the age of 36, all eyes are turning to his little sister, 31-year-old Kim Yo Jong. She looks like the top contender to succeed him, but does she have what it takes to do that in a regime long characterized by extreme brutality?

She might well.

Kim Yo Jongs rise within North Koreas omnipotent Organization and Guidance Department makes her North Koreas No. 2 in the eyes of the Workers Party bureaucratsand that makes her not only the most visible heir to Kim Jong Uns throne but, already, a central figure of authority.

If, as some have reported, Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un is near death after a surgical procedure, Yo Jong may already have the power to fend off any challenges to her claim on leadership.

If Kim Jong Un Dies, His Younger Sister Is Primed to Take Over

She makes the decisions on whats important enough for big brother Kim Jong Uns scrutiny, says Robert Collins, whos spent more than 40 years analyzing North Korea.

Collins, author of a lengthy study of the agency at the center of power in the North, says Kim Yo Jong exercises such authority around the OGD as to force party officials to both fear and respect her. Evidence that shes got the job if not the title of OGD first vice director, he says, is that the North Korean media always mentions her with Party cadre who are serving at that level.

Kim Yo Jongs importance at the OGD, which has life-or-death power over the countrys 26 million citizens, adds to the growing impression that shes been groomed for years to serve as a regent for Kim Jong Un if hes incapacitated by medical issues or, if he dies, while waiting for his son, a child of about 10, to assume the mantle.

Kims condition remains a mystery ever since his absence from view after a session of the rubber-stamp Supreme Peoples Assembly on April 12, but theres no doubt about little sisters place within the Norths ruling dynasty.

Story continues

The proof lies in the increasing freedom with which she has been speaking out on policy issuesa privilege she could only have with complete approval if not collaboration from her brotherand that includes her relationship with Donald J. Trump.

Like Kim Jong Un, Yo Jong has sought to forge a relationship with the U.S. president that transcends the failure to come to terms on the Norths nuclear program. It was Yo Jong, not her brother, who reaffirmed last month the special and firm personal relations between Trump and Jong Un, and revealed that Trump had written a letter expressing what she said had been his plan to propel the relations between the two countries. Only after shed talked about the letter did Trump acknowledge the letter had been sent.

Kim Yo Jong, as reported by the Norths Korean Central News Agency, expressed her brothers intent to render cooperation in the anti-epidemic work as the novel coronavirus swept across the world. She said Trump had written that he was impressed by the efforts made by the Chairman to defend his people from the serious threat of the epidemic." This, even though North Korea has yet to acknowledge a single case, much less any deaths, from the disease.

It may well have been this statement by Kim Yo Jong that got Trump to say much later that Kim had sent him a nice note. North Korea denied any note was sent, but Yo Jong in her remarks did profess the friendship between Trump and her brother, just as big bro would have wanted, while making no concessions on the Norths nuclear program.

Kim Jong Un and sister Kim Yo Jong attend the Inter-Korean Summit at the Peace House on April 27, 2018. Pool/Getty

Her statement carefully hinted at the failure of the talks thus far in verbiage that obviously would meet with her brothers approval. It was good judgment and proper action for the U.S. president to make efforts to keep the good relations he had with our Chairman, she said, when big difficulties and challenges lie in the way of developing the bilateral relations. This, she said, should be highly estimatedan enigmatic comment suggesting a deal was still conceivable.

For me, the most important thing about [Trumps] letter was that it was Kim Yo Jong who acknowledged it rather than the foreign minister or another senior official, says Evans Revere, a veteran U.S. diplomat here. The fact that she did so, and the content of her statement, told me she was clearly becoming KJU's go-to person on matters of personal importance to him.

Revere said he was quite struck by the fact that in her statement she spoke authoritatively and confidently on behalf of KJU and provided a surprising detailed personal analysis of the state of the relationship between KJU and the U.S. president. Then too, he says, I was also surprised by her use of the first person in the statementa rarity in public remarks by senior [North Korean] officials and another indication of her ability to speak on behalf of KJU, but in her own voice.

Kim Yo Jongs emergence as a voice of policy on behalf of her brother comes after years in which she has subtly worked her way into a position of power. As early as 2002, Supreme Leader Kim Jong Il proudly told foreign interlocutors that his youngest daughter, Yo Jong, was interested in politics, says Bruce Bennett, North Korea expert at the Rand Corporation. We know that she has wanted to exercise power and authority in North Korea, and even wanted to make her career in the countrys political system.

Bennett speculates that Kim Yong Jos other significant statement, written in early March rebuking South Korea for criticizing the North for one of the short-range missile tests ordered by her brother, may have been written by him but put out under her name to make her appear prominent.

916170462 Vice President Mike Pence and Kim Yo Jong attend the opening ceremony of the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games. Odd Andersen/AFP via Getty

As far as anyone can tell, she made no major statements when she debuted internationally by attending the 2018 Winter Olympics in the South Korean mountain town of Pyeongchang. Even when she met the Souths President Moon Jae-in, presenting him with a note from her brother inviting him for a summit, she basically just expressed in passing the hope that the two could meet soon.

Her visit was laden with special significance nonetheless. High-up North Korean officials had certainly visited South Korea on special occasions in the past, but never before had a member of the Norths ruling family set foot in the South.

Her observations about her trip were exceedingly politeand portentous for North-South rapprochement.

Honestly, I didnt know I would come here so suddenly, she said at a farewell dinner hosted by Moon. I thought things would be strange and very different, but I found a lot of things being similar. Heres to hoping that we could see the pleasant people [of the South] again in Pyeongchang and bring closer the future where we are one again.

Such diplomatic words were more than pro forma. She herself may not be at the stage where she issues policy-making pronouncements, but, That does not mean that she is powerless, says Bennett. The fact that she is one of the very few people who appears able to talk with Kim Jong Un makes her very powerful, though in a kind of shadowy way.

She has a way of inserting herself into the picture without appearing obtrusive. When Kim has gone on many of his on-site guidance sessions, she is often shown in the background, not infrequently the distant background, says Bennett. She appears intent not to make herself appear to be a rival of Kim Jong Un, and thus face elimination. She is smart, calculating, and who knows how much power she has been able to build working in the shadows?

Bennett likens Kims reticence, until recently, to that of her brother until 2010 when it had become clear their father, Kim Jong Il, was not going to live much longer. After all, Kim Jong Un played an even more shadowy role until 2010, with no one having even a recent picture of him until then, says Bennett. Subsequently, he had over a year to establish himself openly. Depending on her brothers health, Kim Yo Jong may not have anything like that.

Round One: Pence Hands Victory to N. Koreas Kim Yo Jong at Olympics

Not that basic policy will change if or when she does gain power, especially if her role is to be that of a regent while Kim Jong Un convalesces. Whatever statements she makes are likely to reflect her brothers policy regardless of whether hes medically capable of carrying on.

If she is KJU's closest confidant, says Nicholas Eberstadt, long-time North Korea watcher at the American Enterprise Institute, I would not expect her to pull a Gorbya reference to the vast reforms instituted under Mikhail Gorbachev, the last Soviet ruler before the break-up of the Soviet Union almost 30 years ago.

There are, to be sure, no guarantees. Maybe her brother will recover. Maybe he will resent her prominence during his absencewhich would be very dangerous for her. Maybe she will never succeed to the top job or serve as regent.

Bob Collins, author of the study on the Norths Organization and Guidance Department, notes that while she is prominent in that crucial body, She could only be a leader if she was the head of the OGD. Otherwise, she would not have the sufficient power base to seize and hold power.

Ken Eom, who defected from North Korea after serving 10 years in the North Korean army, is also not entirely convinced of her durability. She has great power to control the North Korean elite, but if Kim Jong Un is out or dies, she cannot continuously keep power, he says. North Korea doesnt accept womans power.

This means, Eom believes, if Kim Jong Un dies, at the same time Kim Yo Jong also will be out, too.

For now, supreme power may not be what Kim Yo Jong is after, but the duties of regent would fit a traditional role that weve seen often in East Asia, says Steve Tharp, like Collins a veteran of decades of military and civilian experience here dealing with North Korean issues. A regent governed in the 19th century, he notes, before the last Korean king, Kojong, was old enough to rule in his own right and before the Japanese took over the country in 1910.

Evans Revere, the former diplomat, senses in her statement about Trumps letter, though, a power drive that she has difficulty sublimating. Her self-confidence bordering on cockiness comes through quite clearly in the statement, he says, and she even adopts a patronizing tone in discussing the U.S. president's efforts to build a relationship with her brother.

And then there was Kim Jong Uns decision to send her to the 2018 Olympics two years earlier. It spoke volumes about KJU's confidence in her that he sent her to represent him at the ceremony, he says.

David Straub, who also analyzed North Korea as a senior U.S. diplomat, believes Kim Yo Jong has a way of conveying what shes thinking just by her expression. Ill never forget when she came to the South Korean Olympics and was seated just behind Vice President Mike Pence, he says. Pence was officially and studiously ignoring her, but her eyes! If looks could kill!

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SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, CA  Here's a collection of police, fire, courts and critical coronavirus news from around the county this week:

Shooting May Have Been Gang-Related, Police Say



The victim, 29, was sitting in a parked car with a four-year-old. The child was uninjured.

County Requires Face Coverings In Most Public Settings Now

Santa Cruz County will be required to wear face coverings while working and shopping outside of their homes, starting Saturday.

Watsonville Truck Driver Injured In Crash; Hazmat Crews Respond

Two men were injured in an East Bay crash involving a trailer containing 6,500 gallons of flammable ethanol. Hazmat crews were called.

Injured Person Rescued On Sycamore Grove Trail

Police received word that people who were armed and confrontational may have been on scene.





This article originally appeared on the Santa Cruz Patch
EAGLEVILLE  As week seven of the coronavirus outbreak in Montgomery County came to a close on Friday, officials reported 10 more deaths from the virus and said the county has a long, long way to go before it can meet the governors detailed plan for reopening the region.

The 10 deaths bring the countys death toll to 189 since March 7 when the first two cases of the virus were identified in the county. Saturday will mark the beginning of the eighth week of the outbreak in the county.

The 10 residents ranged between 50- and 89-years-old. To date, 94 women and 95 men have died from the virus in the county. Officials said the racial breakdown for those that have died included: 11 Asian; two Asian Indian; three Asian Korean; 23 African American; and 73 white. Information about the ethnicity of the remaining 77 individuals was unavailable.

Those 189 total deaths were confirmed positive COVID-19 cases through the use of lab tests, officials explained.

Officials also reported that as of Friday, 96 other deaths in the county have been listed as probable COVID-19 deaths.

These are deaths where there was not laboratory confirmation of COVID-19 but whoever signed the death certificate felt the clinical situation was such that they probably died of COVID-19, county Commissioners Chairwoman Dr. Valerie Arkoosh explained during a Friday news briefing at the county Emergency Operation Center.

Officials also reported 171 new positive cases of the virus on Friday, bringing the countys total number of cases to 3,383 since March 7. The new positive individuals were residents of 41 municipalities. To date, 61 of the countys 62 municipalities are home to individuals with COVID-19. Bryn Athyn is the only municipality that has not reported a case of the virus.

The new positive cases included 78 males and 93 females whose ages ranged from 16 to 98. Fifteen of the individuals are hospitalized, officials said.

Arkoosh said county officials have reviewed Gov. Tom Wolfs detailed plan for reopening Pennsylvania, which was unveiled earlier this week.

Wolf drafted a color-coded plan to reopen the state, which will be conducted in phases. Wolf has said if Southeast Pennsylvania continues to have a higher number of positive COVID-19 cases, then reopening there will be slower than in places where the case counts have been low.

Under the plan, to determine when a region is ready to reopen and return to work, the state will evaluate the incidence rate of COVID-19 cases per capita, relying upon existing regional health districts used by the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Specifically, a regional assessment will measure the COVID-19 cases to determine if the target goal of an average of less than 50 cases per 100,000 individuals over the course of 14 days is met.

The county, which has a population of about 830,915, recorded 2,612 cases of the virus over the last 14 days, meaning the county has a current daily average of 187 cases, according to the statistics, or more than three times the benchmark to reopen.

In order to meet the governors target of less than 50 cases per 100,000 people, the county would have to see a reduction to 415 cases over 14 days, for a daily average of 30 cases.

Its not a one-day snapshot. Its the cumulative number over 14 days. Weve got a long, long way to go here. So please do your best to stay home, explained Arkoosh, continuing to emphasize the social distancing mitigation measures that health officials say can stop the spread of the coronavirus.

The county is currently in the red phase of Wolfs plan, which mandates that only life sustaining businesses can be open, large gatherings are prohibited and there is a stay-at-home order in place. Arkoosh said for the county to move to the next relaxed phase, the yellow phase, a number of other things also must be in place.

One is that our hospitalization utilization rates are going down so that there are plenty of beds available and that theres personal protective equipment for our hospital employees and enough ventilators, just in case if in relaxing (measures) we see another surge of patients, Arkoosh explained, adding contact tracing must be in place and there must be enough testing available for specific individuals.

Arkoosh said the reopen plan also will be a regional exercise.

That is critically important, because we all know this virus doesnt care about any borders and we know that our workforces travel back and forth between counties. This will be viewed by the governor and his teamas a region, said Arkoosh, who was joined at the Friday news briefing by fellow commissioners Kenneth E. Lawrence Jr. and Joseph C. Gale and Dr. Alvin Wang, regional EMS medical director, and Dr. Brenda Weis, administrator of the Office of Public Health.

Arkoosh said hospitals in the county currently do have open beds in regular units and intensive care units and do have ventilators available.

County officials continue to monitor coronavirus data from the 75 long-term care facilities in the county that are licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of Health as well as from other congregate care settings that have overnight services in the county, for a total of about 620 facilities.

As of Friday, 89 of the facilities reported positive COVID-19 cases among residents and staff. Specifically, officials reported there are 837 cases among residents of the facilities and 367 cases among staff at the facilities, for a total of 1,204 positive individuals. Officials pointed out that not all of the individuals are from Montgomery County and that some came from other areas of the region.

Arkoosh added 138 of the countys total 189 confirmed positive COVID-19 deaths were county residents who had been living at a long-term care facility, representing about 73-percent of the total confirmed positive deaths.

Officials also identified 65 COVID-19 probable deaths of county residents who were in a long-term care facility.

The long-term care facilities where the deaths occurred were not identified. But Arkoosh said county officials have been visiting some of the facilities and offering guidance during the pandemic.

We are recommending to any facility that we enter to please consider testing every single resident and every single staff person to help get a better handle on what is going on in the facility, Arkoosh said.

Officials estimated that as of Friday about 2-percent of the countys population had been tested for the virus, including those who were tested at hospitals and at the countys community-based testing sites.

The community based drive-thru testing site that opened last week at the central campus of the Montgomery County Community College in Whitpain will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. The site will be closed on Sunday and will reopen on Monday.

As of April 21, a total of 1,551 people were tested at the site and officials have received results for 1,288 of the individuals, which represents about 83-percent of those tested. Officials said 182 of the individuals, or 14-percent, tested positive. Thats a decrease from a peak positive rate of 24-percent that officials reported around April 5.

Registration for each days appointments will open at 8 a.m. daily and will remain open until all available spots are filled. Individuals can register online at www.montcopa.org/COVID-19

Individuals who do not have access to the internet or do not have an email address will be able to call 610-631-3000 to register for a testing appointment.

A walk-up community based testing site also is available for Norristown residents on the parking lot of the Norristown Regional Health Center, 1401 DeKalb St. The free testing is provided by appointment only from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. Monday through Friday. Officials stressed the site is a walk-up operation and a vehicle will not be required.

Norristown residents can register for testing by calling 610-592-0680 starting at 8:30 a.m. daily. Information regarding how many people have been tested at that site was not available on Friday.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- As the coronavirus claims lives at a staggering rate and medical officials change how they respond to emergencies during the pandemic, the number of dead on arrival calls the New York Police Department receives has quadrupled, the head of the detectives union said.

From March 20 to April 22, the NYPD responded to 2,750 DOA calls -- 114 of which were on Staten Island, data shared with the Advance/SILive.com shows.

The number of calls in the five boroughs overall is four times higher that what the NYPD usually responds to, Paul DiGiacomo, the president of the Detectives Endowment Association (DEA) said in a phone interview.

That increase comes as coronavirus (COVID-19) fatalities in the city mount, including residents who die in their homes, either in an attempt to avoid the hospital altogether or after being sent home by medical officials and their symptoms worsened.

It could also be related to some recent changes that both New York State and the Regional Emergency Medical Services Council of New York City, which organizes and coordinates emergency medical services in the five boroughs, had put in place.

Early in April the Regional Emergency Medical Services Council of New York City issued new guidelines directing EMS workers to not transport any patients in cardiac arrest to hospitals should they need more revival procedures than can be provided at the scene.

In case the procedures for resuscitation are terminated and the body is in public view, the body can be left in the custody of NYPD," a letter explaining the new policy said.

That policy still remains in place and worsened an already precarious situation, Lt. Vinny Variale, president of the Uniformed EMS Officers Union, previously explained to the Advance.

The FDNY has seen a surge in cardiac arrest calls -- from an average of 80 a day to about 300, Variale said.

The people who currently respond to those calls have less than three years of experience because of the years of neglect, the underfunding and understaffing of EMS, Variale said.

Seventy five percent of the workforce has less than three years experience, he said, and survival rates increase when the EMT paramedic has six or seven years or more of experience.

When you have 75% of the service with three years or less of experience, what does that do to this cardiac arrest problem?,'' he asked. "I am not taking anything away from EMTs and paramedics -- they are dedicated and committed professionals, but they dont have the level of experience that we need out there.

Later in April, the state Department of Health issued do-not-resuscitate orders urging EMTs and other front line workers not to attempt to revive a person who isnt showing a pulse when they arrive at a scene, based on a lack of space in hospitals due to the pandemic.

A week after those policies were adopted, the state Department of Health changed its position and DOH Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker ordered them to be rescinded, the Advance/SILive.com previously reported.

NEW NYPD GUIDELINES

The increase of DOA reports forced the NYPD to adopt guidelines in order to protect its detectives investigating those deaths, DiGiacomo said.

We had to supply our detectives with special equipment, that being full body suits, gloves, masks and also face shields to protect them as best we could, DiGiacomo said. Along with responding to these type of calls behind every person dying, theres a family, a mother, a father, a child, grandmother, grandfather. And now detectives are also there to provide some sort of comfort to the families, as weve always done in the past, and will continue to do in the future.

In order to manage the high number of calls for bodies, the NYPD considered creating DOA Teams in each borough, the New York Post reported.

The idea of creating a Borough DOA Team is being look [sic] at and we only want volunteers for it . . . no forcing anybody, an e-mail sent to precinct detectives said, according to the Post report.

An NYPD spokesman told the Post the idea was tabled.

AFRAID OF BRINGING AN INVISIBLE BULLET HOME

Because of an increased exposure to locations that might be contaminated with COVID-19, some detectives are deciding not to go back home to their families in order to protect their loved ones, DiGiacomo said.

Being exposed to this virus not only threatens the lives of the detectives, but also threatens the life of the detectives family when they go home, DiGiacomo said. And detectives are not only out there protecting the people of the city and putting themselves at risk, but their families are at risk as well.

Det. Joseph Bonner, a Staten Islander, is one of them.

Bonner, who is stationed in the Times Square area, has decided not to go back home to protect his wife, Holly, who is battling cancer and undergoing chemo, and his two daughters.

"We tried having my husband quarantine and still live with us but it was too physically exhausting for me to Clorox our one tiny bathroom multiple times a day and sleep on the floor after he used the bedroom, Holly previously told the Advance/SILive.com. My husband now lives away from his children and his wife. He will do so until he reaches retirement in a few months.

Bonners example is not isolated, DiGiacomo explained.

There are plenty of situations like that in which members have elderly parents or spouses, where their immune systems are compromised and they are afraid to go home and bring this invisible bullet home to their families, he said.
Bollywood business has been severely hit as several films have been postponed owing to the lockdown. For such films, it looks like the the digital OTT platforms are coming to the rescue. While reports suggest that theatres might be shut for a long period, Akshay Kumar and Kiara Advani's Laxmmi Bomb will be releasing on a OTT platform.

The Raghava Lawrence directorial completed its shooting in March, and Akshay, the makers and director Raghava are debating a release on the OTT platform. A lot of post-production work on the film is pending but everyone from the team is working from home to get the film ready by June. Although the lockdown is announced untill May 3, theatres may remain shut for a longer period.











Akshay wants to make sure none of the invested parties make losses, and that the movie reaches a wide audience. While Disney+Hotstar ensures a worldwide reach, making the film available across small towns in India will be a concern for them," the source informed a daily.

Informing further, the source said, Although currently, the lockdown is on till May 3, theatres may continue to remain closed to ensure social distancing. In such a scenario, the team may consider having a direct-to-web release.

Well, that's some good news for all the Akshay Kumar fans who are at home observing social distancing during the lockdown...
Even as an expert committee formed by the Centre has suggested that universities could hold exams in July and start the next academic year by September, the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) are drawing out different plans.

At present, IITs are conducting online classes and are likely to finish the curriculum in a couple of weeks. Plans are afoot to thereafter conduct examinations in batches to ensure students maintain social distancing and also complete the academic session.

At IIT-Madras, the institute has drawn an extensive plan to conduct exams, provided the current travel restrictions are eased. Starting with final year students, we will invite students in batches to appear for exams and ensure only one student sits per room. All rooms will be disinfected and fumigated before the next batch arrives, said Prof V Jagadeesh Kumar, Dean (academics), IIT-Madras. He added that the institute plans to finish online classes by May 1 and exams will only start over travel for students is possible. In case government allows travel within states, we might look at calling students to the closest IIT to where they reside and appear for exams, but this plan is still on paper, added Kumar.

IIT-Roorkee too plans to invite students on campus in batches, starting with BTech students. Final year students need to clear exams first, either to report for jobs or higher education courses, so they will form the first batch. We have announced a semester completion plan and dates for the semester-end examinations. The exam duration has been reduced from three to two hours, said Prof Ajit K Chaturvedi, director of IIT-Roorkee. He added that for the ongoing virtual classes, the institute is also reimbursing up to 500 to students availing fee-waiver in IIT-Roorkee.

While plans are on paper already, officials at the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay (IIT-B) are still to take a final call on their decision. Virtual classes are on and we are calling a senate meet soon to take a collective decision on the examination session, said Prof Subhasis Chaudhuri, director of the institute. Similarly, IIT-Delhi too has shared a course plan with their students while a decision on exams are still on hold until theres clarity on easing of the lockdown, said officials.

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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, April 25, 2020 16:06 627 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd43c88d 4 Entertainment film,COVID-19,#COVID19,coronavirus,#coronavirus,Trolls-World-Tour,Artemis-Fowl,The-Lovebirds,SCOOB,Netflix,Disney Free

With the film industry reeling from the impact of the COVID-19 crisis, numerous movies have either seen their premieres postponed or been released on streaming platforms.

Below is a list of films that went the second route, as reported by kompas.com.

'Trolls: World Tour'

Produced by DreamWorks Animation, Trolls: World Tour is one of the pioneers in skipping the theaters. A sequel to 2016's Trolls, the film was released on April 10 and is available for digital rental for 48 hours via YouTube, Apple TV, Amazon Prime, FandangoNow and Google Play, among other services.

According to Forbes, the film was a success on its opening day and opening weekend, with streaming service FandangoNow reporting that the film was the most preordered title ever.

Helmed by Walt Dohrn and David P. Smith, the film follows the journey of Poppy (voiced by Anna Kendrick) and Branch (Justin Timberlake) as they set out to find and unit the six troll tribes, which each represent a different genre of music and have been scattered around the world.

The film also features a star-studded cast of voice actors, including James Corden, Kunal Nayyar, Kelly Clarkson, Ozzy Osbourne and Mary J. Blige.

'SCOOB!'

Warner Animation Groups upcoming animated film SCOOB! will be released digitally on May 15.

SCOOB! is the latest addition to the classic American cartoon series Scooby-Doo. The series follows the adventures of four teenagers, Fred, Daphne, Velma and Shaggy, and their beloved and hilarious dog Scooby Doo as they solve mysteries that regularly involve ghosts and other scary creatures.

In SCOOB!, both Shaggy (Will Forte) and Scooby Doo (voiced by Frank Welker) are kidnapped, and Fred (Zac Efron), Daphne (Amanda Seyfried) and Velma (Gina Rodriguez) set out to rescue their friends and discover the reason behind the kidnapping.

Directed by Tony Cervone, the film also stars Mark Wahlberg, Jason Isaacs and Ken Jeong.

'The Lovebirds'

Rom-com flick The Lovebirds was scheduled to have its world premiere on March 14 at the 2020 South by Southwest (SXSW) festival and later be released in the United States on April 3, reported Variety.com.

However, the plan was changed due to the pandemic and the film will now air on Netflix on May 22.

Directed by Michael Showalter, The Lovebirds tells the adventure of a lovey-dovey couple Jibran (Kumail Nanjiani) and Leilani (Issa Rae), who are implicated in a criminal incident and later struggle to solve the crime to clear their names.

The film also stars Anna Camp, Kyle Bornheimer and Paul Sparks.

Read also: Cinema and COVID-19: National Film Day overshadowed by pandemic

'Artemis Fowl'

Directed and produced by Kenneth Branagh, Artemis Fowl is scheduled to be released on June 12 on streaming platform Disney+ .

Based on a series of novels of the same name by Irish author Eoin Colfer, the film narrates the story of Artemis Fowl II (Ferdia Shaw), a young genius whose father (Colin Farrell) disappears mysteriously. While searching for his fathers whereabouts, Fowl learns about a different side of his father, which leads to a thrilling adventure.

Artemis Fowls also stars Josh Gad, Judi Dench, Miranda Raison and Nonso Anozie. (wir/wng)
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People in Vietnam are told not to let their guard down although the country has seen a slowing rate of new novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases and social distancing rules have been relaxed.

We can be happy with the outcomes of COVID-19 prevention and control to date, but we should not forget that we have only won individual battles, not the whole fight, stressed Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam as he chaired a meeting of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control on Friday.

Vietnam has confirmed 270 COVID-19 infection cases so far, of whom 220, or over 81 percent of the tally, have been cleared of the virus and exited the hospital.

No death related to the disease has been recorded in the country.

However, the committee underlined that the pandemic remains complicated as evidenced by the growing number of new infection cases and fatalities daily around the world.

Risks still out there

According to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Dac Phu, senior adviser at the Public Health Emergency Operations Center under the Ministry of Health, what Vietnam has done in the past phase of fighting COVID-19 were to prevent as many suspected cases and those carrying the disease as possible from contacting with healthy people, as well as to drastically seal off areas with outbreaks.

These moves, together with enhanced social distancing measures introduced by the government from April, have helped minimize community spread of the acute respiratory disease.

But there is still a long way to go before the pandemic can be completely stopped.

Phu quoted statistics as saying that 40 percent of those carrying the pathogen have been asymptomatic or only exhibited mild symptoms, warning of the risk of new community-transmitted cases in the time to come.

In the absence of vaccines and drugs, worlds experts have expressed concerns over the risks of COVID-19 reinfection and the second wave of COVID-19 importation in such countries as South Korea, Japan, and Singapore, among others, Deputy Health Minister Nguyen Thanh Long told Fridays meeting.

In Vietnam, there have been five cases testing positive for the novel coronavirus again after having been cleared of the virus and discharged from the hospital as of Saturday.

Therefore, Long said, there might still be undetected carriers of the virus in the community.

Passengers of a flight bringing 215 Vietnamese citizens home from Singapore arrive at Can Tho International Airport in Can Tho City in Vietnam's Mekong Delta, April 24, 2020. Photo: Chi Quoc / Tuoi Tre

Another wave of Vietnamese people returning to the country from abroad is also likely to cause Vietnam's COVID-19 tally to rise in the coming weeks.

The Ministry of Health on Friday afternoon announced two new imported cases detected in a quarantine camp after the country had reported no new infections for over a week.

Earlier this week, the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam announced that 13 flights will be arranged to bring Vietnamese citizens home from 11 countries.

On Friday afternoon, a flight carrying 215 Vietnamese citizens from Singapore landed in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho. They have all been placed under centralized quarantine upon arrival.

The Ho Chi Minh City Party chief Nguyen Thien Nhan said on the same afternoon that the southern metropolis is expected to welcome 2,000 overseas Vietnamese citizens home in the coming days.

As Vietnam is expected to cautiously implement measures to restart the economy as per a new directive of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc issued on Friday, officials and residents are told to uphold best practices to minimize the opportunities for virus transmission.

Economic scenarios

International organizations have mapped out different scenarios for Vietnams economy in the rest of 2020.

In the 'Economic Outlook Q2-2020: The global storm' paper released on April 9, Standard Chartered Bank predicted that Vietnams economy will slow down this year, reaching only 3.3 percent of growth due to the impact of external challenges.

According to this report, manufacturing growth will decline sharply due to the decline in global demand, while the service sector, which accounts for nearly 40 percent of the countrys GDP, is expected to decelerate this year.

Meanwhile, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) forecast a GDP growth rate of 2.7 percent in 2020 for Vietnam, higher than that of its regional peers, in its 'World Economic Outlook' report published on April 14.

Despite the 3.8-percent difference from its January estimates, the IMF raised its estimate for the Southeast Asian countrys economic growth to seven percent in 2021.

Earlier, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) also forecast that Vietnam's economic growth in 2020 will reach 4.8 percent.

Workers produce face masks at a factory in Vietnam. Photo: T.D.H. / Tuoi Tre

According to Dr. Pham The Anh of the Vietnam Institute for Economic and Policy Research (VEPR), in the most optimistic scenario where the epidemic will have been completely under control in Vietnam by mid-May and domestic economic activities will gradually return to normal, the countrys economic growth is forecast to approximate 4.2 percent this year.

However, Anh added that the domestic economic prospects will also rely on global efforts in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.

Keeping guard up

Delivering Friday meetings closing remarks, Deputy PM Vu Duc Dam asked everyone to be happy with Vietnams hitherto positive outcomes of COVID-19 prevention and control with restraint as not all risks have been eliminated.

Dam called on every citizen and disease prevention force to continue to implement the governments directives and follow guidance from the health sector while working to bring life back to normal.

Despite the relaxation of social distancing measures, everyone is advised to refrain from leaving their homes, limit social interaction, wear face masks while outside, maintain a safe distance from others, wash their hands regularly, and avoid gathering in large numbers.

Disease prevention forces at all levels are requested to stay on alert and determined to thoroughly prevent imported infections, quickly detect all suspected cases for timely quarantine, focusing on some at-risk areas like industrial parks, workers' accommodations, and neighborhoods populated by freelance laborers and people most vulnerable to infection.

We must not be complacent or let our guard down in any situation, Dam underlined.

He also ordered ministries and agencies to urgently have detailed instructions for each aspect of the society such as transportation, tourism, production, business, and education to resume safely.

Vietnam's Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam speaks at a meeting of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control in Hanoi, April 24, 2020. Photo: Vietnam Government Portal

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The European Union toned down part of a report about Chinese state-backed disinformation because it feared Beijing would retaliate by withholding medical supplies, diplomatic sources have said

The initial version of the report, seen by the South China Morning Post, described China as running a global disinformation campaign to deflect blame for the coronavirus outbreak using both overt and covert tactics.

But the Post has learnt that this section was removed after Beijing intervened and warned EU diplomats based in China there would be unspecified repercussions.

EU diplomats were worried that this would strain relations and make it more difficult to get medical supplies that are desperately needed in Europes fight against Covid-19, according to a source.

This series of events highlights both Chinas concern over the way its handling of the pandemic is seen abroad, but also its ability to sway foreign governments  even those as powerful as the EU  because of its status as the key exporter of strategic products.

The report in question was a regular update produced by the EUs disinformation team, which is embedded in the blocs diplomatic unit, the European External Action Service (EEAS).

The team was originally set up to monitor suspected Russian disinformation and propaganda, but last year expanded its remit to China.

Recently it helped counteract Chinese propaganda highlighting the countrys role in providing medical supplies to some of the worst affected countries such as Italy and Spain. Brussels responded by pointing out that France and Germany combined had provided more masks to Italy than China.

The report said Chinese propaganda wanted to focus on its role in supplying medical equipment to Europe. Photo: EPA-EFE

In its last published report, released on April 1, the disinformation team said Chinas state media and government officials promote not proven theories about the origin of Covid-19, adding that Chinese coverage was highlighting displays of gratitude by some European leaders in response to Chinese aid

Story continues

It remains unclear how Chinese diplomats got hold of the report before it was published.

According to Reuters, Yang Xiaoguang, a counsellor of the European department of Chinas foreign ministry, met EU diplomats in Beijing to discuss their concerns.

These diplomats then conveyed the Chinese officials remarks to their colleagues in Brussels, the report said.

Meanwhile, The New York Times reported that Esther Osorio, a communications adviser to Josep Borrell, the head of the EU diplomatic service, personally intervened to delay the release of the initial report.

She reportedly asked analysts to revise the document to focus less explicitly on China and Russia to avoid accusations of bias, noting heavy pushback from Beijing, despite objections from some members of the team.

The EEAS denied it succumbed to pressure from Beijing. We have never bowed to any alleged external political pressure, said EU Commission foreign affairs spokeswoman Virginie Battu-Henriksson.

She added that the report presents the continued use of conspiracy narratives and disinformation from various official and state-backed sources, including Russia and China.

The original report said that European analysts had found a continued and coordinated push by official Chinese sources to deflect any blame.

But the updated version says: We see a continued and coordinated push by some actors, including Chinese sources, to deflect any blame.

Chinas ambassador to the EU, Zhang Ming, still complained about the toned down version of the report.

On Friday he told an online event organised by the Friends of Europe think tank: Disinformation is an enemy for all of us and it should be addressed by all of us.

From the very beginning, China has suffered a lot from disinformation. We would do better to forget the politics now.

Reinhard Butikofer, who chairs the European Parliaments China delegation, called the claims a little bit overblown, saying the EU report had managed to include the key findings about Chinese disinformation campaigns.

If you are picking a fight with the propaganda apparatus of the Chinese Communist Party, you should be prudent about it, choose your words right and stand your ground, said Butikofer.

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Google parent company, Alphabet Inc's CEO Sundar Pichai was awarded $281 million in compensation in 2019, according to a regulatory filing by the company. This makes him one of the highest-paid executives in the world.

The majority in the package are stocks, which will be paid depending on how Alphabet's stocks perform on the S&P 100 Index. According to a proxy statement filed by the regulator last year, Pichai earned $650,000 in 2019, but the company said that this could swell to $2 million this year, Bloomberg reported.

The CEO's compensation is 1,085 times higher than the median of what's paid to Alphabet Inc's employees, the company said.

The board of Alphabet also maintains a list of companies, that it takes into consideration while handing out compensations. It made a few changes to it. HP and Qualcomm are out of it while Netlfix, Comcast and Salesforce are in. Apple, Facebook and Amazon are on the list too.

The company also reported that chief legal officer David Drummond's wife, Corinne Dixon, member of his Google legal team earned $197,000 in 2019. Drummond stepped down from his post earlier in 2020.

Also Read: Coronavirus India Live Updates: Lockdown in Mumbai, Pune may be extended till May 18; Maharashtra tally-6,817

Also Read: Airtel prepaid customers can subscribe to Disney+ Hotstar VIP with a special recharge
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Providing information on important services for all veterans is very important, Zimmerman said. That is why it is important for veterans to know who to call when they are in need and it is also important to hear from the veterans in the community."
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 25

By Ilkin Seyfaddini  Trend:

The EU has taken a number of steps to support the Uzbek government's efforts to overcome the COVID-19 crisis, Trend reports citing the Uzbek media.

The report said, that the EU will provide 2.2 million euros to meet the urgent needs of the health sector of Uzbekistan as part of the WHO's strategic plan for preparedness and response for the country.

In addition, the EU will refocus its five million euros contribution to a multi-partner trust fund for the Aral Sea region. The Fund will call for proposals to combat the effects of COVID-19 in the near future.

The EU will also support the recovery of the country's economy by accelerating the disbursement of 21 million euros in budgetary support for the development of the agricultural sector. In addition, up to four million euros will be spent on the socio-economic impact of the crisis in the agricultural sector, the report says.

The EU will reallocate up to 1.8 million euros under the UNDP's Improving Public Service Delivery and Governance in Rural Uzbekistan project to cover emergency costs associated with online access to public services, as well as up to one million euros to support civil society organizations working to address the social impact of the pandemic.

The EU is also working to support safe hospital waste management in partnership with the French development agency (up to one million euros).

The EU's response is the result of Team Europe's global aid program to support partner countries in their fight against coronavirus and its effects, amounting to over 20 billion euros.

Team Europe's approach is to pool the financial resources of the EU, its member states and financial institutions, in particular the European Investment Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

---

Follow author on Twitter: @seyfaddini




Nigerian journalist, Kemi Olunloyo has again taken to her microblogging site account handle to cause a barrage of reactions after she alleged that Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) is gone.

Naija News understands that the US-trained Medical Journalist over a few days now has been making some unclear statements about the IPOB leader on her Twitter account.

It could be recalled that Olunloyo stated on her Twitter account last week that she would unveil secrets about the possibility of Kanu being dead and already replaced by a body double as Nnamdi of Sudan.

A tweet that caused mixed reactions among Nigerians following the death of Abba Kyari, the Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, which she also tweeted about before his death was announced by the presidency.

Kemi Olunloyo on Saturday morning again took to her Twitter account to allege that Nnamdi Kanu is already GONE.

See her tweet below:

Nnamdi Kanu is already GONE  Medical Journalist Dr. Kemi Olunloyo (@KemiOlunloyo) April 25, 2020

She, however, did not reveal directly what she meant by saying Nnamdi is already gone.

Speaking about the position of the IPOB leaders wife, Olunloyo again tweeted:

They are not even sure if hes dead. The wife is angry they are kept in the dark. Wicked lot.#kemitalks  Medical Journalist Dr. Kemi Olunloyo (@KemiOlunloyo) April 25, 2020

Meanwhile, Naija News had reported earlier that Nnamdi Kanu, has alleged that late Newswatch founder, Dele Giwa was killed by former Nigerian Head of State, Ibrahim Babangida.

The IPOB leader made this allegation about IBB during a live broadcast on Radio Biafra on Wednesday, April 22.

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On the Frontline Against China, the US Coast Guard Is Taking on Missions the US Navy Can't Do

Competition with China has drawn more Pentagon resources to the Pacific, but the most visible U.S. military presence there...
Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Getty

Boris Johnson is under growing pressure from his party to reset the UK's relationship with China.

Conservative Members of Parliament told Business Insider that the party's attitude to Beijing had "hardened" after the Chinese government had "consistently lied" about the coronavirus pandemic.

The Conservative chair of the UK Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee said the pandemic would inevitably change Johnson's government's attitude to China.

Senior members of Johnson's government have previously warned that there will be a "reckoning" with Beijing after the crisis and said the UK could not go back to "business as usual" with China.

Conservative critics of China within Johnson's party have set up a new grouping designed to pressure the government on the issue.

Johnson risks a major rebellion from his party if he pushes ahead with plans to allow the Chinese telecoms company Huawei to develop the UK's 5G network.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Boris Johnson is under growing pressure from within his own party to reset Britain's relationship with China and axe the UK's controversial deal with Chinese telecoms company Huawei.

Influential Conservative MPs say attitudes towards China within Johnson's party have "hardened" in light of the coronavirus crisis, after Beijing "consistently lied" about the pandemic and failed to "face up to its responsibilities."

The First Secretary of State Dominic Raab, who is deputizing for Johnson while he recovers from the coronavirus, warned last week that the UK's relationship with China could not return to "business as usual" after the pandemic.

Now Raab's colleague, Conservative MP Tom Tugendhat, who chairs the UK Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, said Beijing's behavior meant that Johnson would inevitably have to reconsider the UK's relationship with China.

Story continues

"I think it's hardened many views in the parliamentary [Conservative] party," Tugendhat told Business Insider.

Tugendhat, whose committee is currently investigating claims of Chinese asset stripping of a UK tech firm, predicted that Johnson would revisit the controversial decision to strike a deal with Huawei for Britain's 5G network.

"I can't see how it doesn't change that. Clearly, it's going to have implications," he said.

"It makes the Huawei position hard."

The UK prime minister had already suffered one parliamentary rebellion over the decision to let Huawei develop the UK's 5G when almost 40 Conservative MPs voted against the government in a House of Commons vote last month.

One senior MP and former Conservative minister, who did not wish to be named, told Business Insider this week that opposition to the deal in the party had grown since the onset of the coronavirus crisis.

"I've had texts from a number of colleagues who weren't part of the rebellion [House of Commons vote in March], who were saying they won't vote for it next time. The view is hardening," they said.

"There were some pretty key supporters of Boris who were rebelling [in March.] If that attitude is hardening, you can assume some more of the new intake will vote against the government. They're supposed to be Boris' soldiers."

They added: "China is still going to be the predominant economic power, and there are some colleagues who say they understand the short-term anger, but we need to look into the medium term.

"However, my sense from colleagues I've spoken to, is that there is a definite hardening of attitude and definite concern that China has failed to face up to its responsibilities in the whole context of coronavirus."

Tom Tugendhat MP.

Andrew Kennedy/YouTube

Tugendhat is one of several senior Conservatives to accuse China of lying over how many of its people have caught the coronavirus and died as a result of it. Wuhan, the Chinese city where the outbreak began, last week revised its death toll up by 50%. China denies allegations of a cover-up, and says the revision was due to a reporting lag.

"It's a fact that many countries are struggling with reporting. That's totally unsurprising," Tugendhat said.

"But what's more concerning with China, is that we know that they have consistently lied about their figures in the past, so we should actually be very cautious about accepting their word."

Lord Patten, the ex-Conservative party chairman who served as the last Governor of Hong Kong, this week told the Financial Times that China was "dangerous for the whole world" and urged Johnson to "face down" its government.

"This can't go back to the groveling business as normal, which was signing up to ludicrously one-sided business deals and the suggestion we were enjoying a 'golden age' with China," he said.

"We know how this crisis started, and the costs of Chinese mendacity and the cover-up are clear."

Conservative MPs launch the 'China Research Group'

Xi Jinping Coronavirus China

REUTERS/Aly Song

Tugendhat told Business Insider that now was the time for the UK to "redesign our relationships globally."

"We need to think very hard about what we are trying to do," he said.

"From the UK's point of view, that means defending the rules-based, international system as much as possible, and making sure that we are standing up for the issues which really matter."

In a sign of the party's growing unease over China, Tugendhat and eight other Conservative MPs today launched the China Research Group, to "promote debate and fresh thinking about how Britain should respond to the rise of China."

Conservative MP Neil O'Brien, the group's secretary, told Business Insider he felt that Westminster was not thinking hard enough about how to respond to China's growing global power.

"It's important that we don't lose sight of the growing influence of China and issues that raise," he said.

"Looking at other countries like Sweden, Germany, and the US, the debate about responding to Chinese industrial and technological policy in those countries is a bit more advanced than it is here."

The group plans to invite speakers from across the world, and has received interest from lots of Conservative MPs, O'Brien said.

"There will be more and more issues that relate to China as we go forward," he told Business Insider.

"Given their ever-increasing share of the world economy, their technological sophistication, and strategy and reshape the world in their image, we are more and more going to run up against issues where the question of China is essential."

The UK is heavily reliant on Chinese medical supplies

Johnson's UK government may be reluctant to tear up relationships with Beijing as long as the UK remains reliant on Chinese medical supplies during the COVID-19 crisis.

One senior Conservative MP told Business Insider: "The only problem for the government is that there aren't that many other suppliers of the equipment they want. They're in quite a tricky position."

Sir Simon McDonald, the permanent secretary at the Foreign Office, also made this point to the UK's Foreign Affairs Select Committee on Tuesday.

"China is one of the biggest sources of such critical equipment in the world," he told MPs.

"The embassy in Beijing has procured more than 4,200 ventilators. China has donated 118, and over 750 have been shipped to the United Kingdom. You can see that China is central to all aspects of this crisis."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Travelling back in time from the confines of your home By YomalSenerath-Yapa Picking up from horror classics last week, we look at some armchair voyages to keep you moving despite the lockdown View(s): View(s):

Travel has lost its magic today. There was a time when it was possible to meet indigenous peoples living with nature- or journey to wild lands from the African savannah to the South American rainforest.

Nothing today is remote as the cellphone has connected everything. But when we feel a yearning for those rolling plains with bison, or the Amazonian canopy, thankfully we have the old travel classics to turn to.

Among their yellowed pages we discover a world that still has many wonders to yield and many mysteries to penetrate.

Here we have a selection of those old yarns- from the Middle Ages down to the roaring twenties when the motorcar was making its rather clumsy way down English country roads.

These compelling sagas are all available online for free.

The Travels of Marco Polo

A medieval bestseller from the 13th century- written before printing was invented- the fantastic tales of the Venetian Marco Polos travels in Asia were so opulent that he was called Old Millions (in Italian)- denoting a million lies (maybe) or the millions of impossible oriental jewels he described.

The Travels- not relatively big- is divided into four books spanning 1271 to 1295. The first describes the lands of the Middle East and Central Asia on the way to China. The second deals with China, where Marco was a diplomat for the emperor Kublai Khan. As a special envoy he was sent to parts of Asia never visited by Europeans before, and the third book is on countries like Japan, Burma, India, Sri Lanka and Thailand.

He carried a stamped metal packet as his official credentials from the emperor. In the fourth book Marco described the Mongol wars and northern lands like Russia.

Despite centuries of doubt- even as to whether Marco Polo so much as visited China- modern scholars concur there is no other way he could have known such historical detail- down to the six Christian churches in Hangzhou.

His tales were also pared of the usual fables by travellers to China- such as monsters who were women while their menfolk were dogs. Marco Polos book inspired Columbus on his voyage to discover America.

Read on Gutenberg.org

Travels with a donkey in the Cevennes

This journal by Robert Louis Stevenson is a classic travelogue where the romantic soul who wrote Treasure Island goes hiking with a very temperamental donkey called Modestine. They travel through the Cevennes Mountains in South Central France- barren, heather-filled, sparsely populated and impoverished.

Stevenson was in his late twenties. Cutting through the landscape similar to rural Scotland, he was mistaken for a peddler because of the donkey. The villagers were also horrified that he slept out alone, given the wolves and the robbers.

Stevenson slept in one of the first sleeping bags ever and said of his journey:

For my part, I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travels sake. The great affair is to move. When the present is so exacting who can annoy himself about the future?

Coming out in 1879, the book was a pioneering classic of outdoor literature- inspiring people from John Muir to John Hillaby.

Read on Gutenberg.org

The Worst Journey in the World

This epic, nightmare Antarctic journey was undertaken in 1911 to collect three emperor penguin eggs. The author, Apsley Cherry-Garrard, was part of the Terra Nova expedition, and was required to collect the eggs as emperor penguins were thought to be some of the most primitive birds in the world. Their embryos could possibly reveal links between all birds and their reptile ancestors.

But the penguin lays its eggs in June- the Arctic midwinter- and Cherry with Henry Boers and Bill Wilson set out in the freezing, pitch-black darkness to Cape Crozier- 70 miles from the Terra Nova base camp.

Their harrowing adventure in the name of evolutionary science- from which Cherry never really recovered- is told in this ever-popular book.

Two of the three crusading naturalists were to die soon. Only the three eggs remain in the London Natural History Museum- an enduring testimony to mans dedication to science and nature.

Read on manybooks.net

The Call of England

Nostalgic like a curlew call- this book was written by the man once known as the worlds best-loved travel writer. The British journalist H. V. Morton evoked in his books the idea that old England- timeless pastoral England with old cathedrals, farmyards, churchyards and country inns- was still alive to be discovered outside cities in the 1920s.

Travelling in his Bullnose Morris, he wrote of a land touched with history, tradition, legend and lore- and whisked up an Arcadian old England even amidst burgeoning industry.

In the last decade however, Morton has ended up with a less savoury reputation due to new biographies- as an anti-Semitic adulterer- a shock for readers given the avuncular, jaunty tone of the whole Morton corpus.

But these claims in our tell-all age (where we are too quick to judge) should not stop you from enjoying the romantic call of England- which touches something deep and indescribably English amidst historic sites, villages, hedges, moors, cottages and country lanes.

Read on archive.org
Australians and New Zealanders held dawn Anzac Day vigils from the isolation of their own driveways on Saturday to honour their armed forces, as parades were cancelled and ceremonies closed to the public due to the coronavirus. As the sun rose, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was among those observing vigils at the end of their driveways, while Australia's leader Scott Morrison attended an official Canberra ceremony forced behind closed doors. "This year, a new threat faces all nations as the impact of the coronavirus deepens worldwide," Ardern said from her driveway. While at the small Canberra service before dawn -- which was broadcast live -- Australia's prime minister Morrison compared the disruption to the Spanish Flu pandemic in 1919. "Our Anzac Day traditions have been interrupted but not for the first time," Morrison said during the ceremony at the Australian War Memorial. "There were no city marches or parades for the returning veterans because Australians were battling the Spanish flu pandemic," he added. "Though our streets were empty the returning veterans were not forgotten." As morning light reached Australia, neighbours held candles outside their homes in Sydney's southwest, where Vietnam veteran Peter McFarlane led a small suburban service, one of the many taking place around the country. "I can't remember the last time I missed a dawn service, so I had to have one here," the 78-year-old told AFP outside his Ingleburn home. He said he was "proud as punch" after the whole street turned out to begin Anzac Day, finishing his early morning memorial with a shot of rum. - Poppy-print masks - While official memorials were held behind closed doors, people reached out to the Returned and Services League (RSL) that represents veterans in Australia to ask how best to mark the day. "People are very, very active," New South Wales RSL acting president Ray James told AFP, "setting up their driveways with poppies". Anzac Day marks the 1915 landing of Australian and New Zealand troops at Gallipoli on the Turkish peninsula in an ill-fated WWI campaign against German-backed Ottoman forces. Some 10,000 Australian and New Zealand servicemen were killed in the failed military campaign but it shaped the close friendship that binds the two countries. Marches and memorials traditionally mark the day but were absent as both nations battle to control the spread of COVID-19. Poppy-print masks, live-streamed memorials, care packages and even digital drinking sessions were easing veterans' sense of loneliness during a traditional time of camaraderie, James -- who served in Vietnam -- said. "We (usually) go away to our various watering holes, pubs or clubs, and we enjoy our mates... you talk about the old times, whilst you were serving and you talk about someone who's missing this year that was there last year," he said. "It's going to be sad this year because we won't be able to do that." The 71-year-old, who served in the Royal Australian Navy and then the reserves for a combined 46 years, said he would not be missing out on Two-up -- a traditional game banned for the rest of the year because of the huge sums wagered on the toss of two coins. "Playing Two-up on Skype -- social media is really good -- and also having a beer or a scotch or two," he said. But one group of Australians still got to experience a traditional service, as the 89 crew members at the nation's Antarctic bases stood shoulder-to-shoulder on the only continent untouched by the virus. "Our stations are COVID-19 free," Australian Antarctic Division Director Kim Ellis said from Australia. "It was really uplifting to be able to look and see my expeditioners and those Australians coming together to celebrate Anzac Day." Veteran Peter McFarlane holds a candle during an Anzac Day dawn vigil outside his house in suburbs of Sydney AnzacDaymarks the 1915 landing of Australian and New Zealand troops at Gallipoli on the Turkish peninsula in an ill-fated WWI campaign against German-backed Ottoman forces Residents observe a moment of silence at dawn in front of the Sydney Opera House
Officials are in the process of setting up another 500-bed hall at McCormick for sicker patients. That hall, which originally was supposed to have 750 beds, will feature negative pressure areas, meaning the air in those spaces wont recirculate through the facility. Each bed will be in its own tent. Construction is about done, and it could be ready to accept patients within a few days, if needed, Turkal said. McCormick is not meant to house patients in need of intensive care.
Actor Vidya Balan has decided to donate 1000 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits to the frontline healthcare staff across India.

In a video message posted on her Facebook page, the actor announced that she is also collaborating with celebrity shout-out platform Tring to raise money for additional 1000 PPE kits.

In the war against COVID-19 our health care professionals are like our soldiers at the border fighting for our health and freedom. Just like we equip our soldiers for the battle we must do the same with our medical staff. There is a critical shortage of PPE for our senior doctors, residents, nurses and ward boys in their daily work.

As a result, a lot of our hospitals are not functioning at full capacity. Join me in changing this now. I am donating 1000 PPE ktis to hospital and medical staff across the country. And I am pledging to raise money for another 1000, she said.

According to a statement issued by the actor's team, she has joined hands with Tring to provide additional 1000 PPE kits, in association with Manish Mundra of Drishyam Films and photographer-producer Atul Kasbekar.

For donations made through Tring, Vidya will be recognising the support of every donor by sending a personal thank you video message, and a chance for a two-minute video call with her.

Vidya said each PPE kit is worth Rs 650 (all-inclusive of delivery costs and applicable taxes) and it consists of one coverall laminated and waterproof, nitrile gloves, goggles, face shields, 3-ply surgical mask and shoe covers.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Every year, as we anticipate Ramadan, Muslims look forward to the mosques being full again. However, in total submission to the will of Allah, the mosques will be empty for Ramadan 2020.

This year, Ramadan will definitely be like no other due to the pandemic which has brought the world to a standstill.

This years Ramadan is with a lot of uncertainties. No public lectures. No collective iftar. No congregational Taraweeh. No Eid prayer. These and a number of doubts have crossed the minds of Muslims all over the world.

Traditionally during Ramadan, Muslims would troop in large numbers to the mosques after breaking the days fast in order to observe Taraweeh (last prayer of the night) in the congregation.

Mosques all over the world have, however, been closed to curb the spread of the pandemic.

A recent statement from the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, the Fatwa committee that met via zoom, has resolved that all forms of religious gathering in the month of Ramadan be suspended to avoid the spread of the virus.

Although Taraweeh can be observed individually, as the prophet Muhammad was reported to have done most of the time, out of concern that it would be mandated on Muslims.

The majority of Muslims prefer to observe Taraweeh in a congregation because it fosters the feeling of togetherness and kinship among them. It also affords them an opportunity to listen to beautiful and soothing recitations from the Quran.

With Taraweeh out the picture this year, many have been wondering how to fill the vacuum.

Speaking on the effect of lockdown on Ramadan, Sheik AbdulQoyoum Omidiji of Markaz told PREMIUM TIMES that the situation is very sad because congregational prayers and public lectures will be hindered.

It is saddening because this years Ramadan wouldnt witness congregational acts of worship like breaking the fast and praying in a congregation as a result of the lockdown. These are activities that help to strengthen the bond of Muslims, that are highly anticipated in the month of Ramadan, he said.

Although this years Ramadan will witness a deviation from the well-known traditional practices, it is not without its silver linings. Cleric Omidiji gave a list of beneficial activities that can help maximise the full benefit of Ramadan while staying at home.

Pray as a family

This Ramadan allows family members to observe the mandatory and voluntary prayers in a congregation, an act that is very rare among family members. This will foster the sense of togetherness one feels during Ramadan while strengthening family bonds. Instead of brooding on the locked mosques, Muslims can create a mosque in every home and keep the houses alive with the remembrance of Allah.

Learn as a family

This Ramadan provides an opportunity for parents to build themselves spiritually as well as their children and wards. There is ample opportunity for Muslims to engage in the recitation and learning the meanings of the messages of the Quran. There is also the chance of engaging in lots of supplications without fear of being disturbed or having to worry about tight work schedules.

Give charity

For Muslims in peaceful environments, who are alive and well and who have access to perform religious rites, here is a chance to empathise with other people who are not so lucky, as well as reflect on the mercies of their Lord upon them. Lend to your Lord a beautiful loan and expect Him to repay in multiple folds. This period is especially hard on a lot of people and many Muslims will find it difficult to feed during Ramadan. Comfortable Muslims can make it a point to feed at least one struggling family along with theirs during this trying time.

Use the media

Muslims can employ the media as a means of listening to lectures during this Ramadan without having to join gatherings. Lectures can be streamed online, listened to on radio and television. For those who work from home, lectures, chapters of the Quran and prayers can be played in the background, to keep up the spirituality in the home. Parents can listen to and memorise the Quran with their children.

Make the Quran your companion

During this period of lockdown, Muslims should recite the Quran a lot since they dont have to go to work, this would afford them judicious use of their free time while at the same time, engaging in act of worship which will be rewarded by their Creator. This years Ramadan is indeed a blessing in disguise. If the free time is used judiciously, the tongues of Muslims will remain moist with the remembrance of Allah.

Random acts of kindness

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There are some acts that we see as mundane but are actually weighty in goodness. They are very simple things to do but the effect on the recipient of these good deeds makes them great in reward. Is there any reward for good order than good?

Here are some examples of casual acts of kindness we can engage in for the holy month; smiling, forgiving someone, controlling your anger, avoiding backbiting, saying prayers for your parents and relatives, give cold drinks for someone to break his fast, spread the greeting of salaam (peace). No matter how small you think your effort is, it doesnt go past the notice of your Lord and the most beloved deed to Him is the one you do continuously.

Pray and seek forgiveness

There is no better time to ask for something from your Lord than when you are in total submission, sacrificing your enjoyment to His will and depriving yourself of food, drink, and sexual pleasure in obedience to Him. He said ask and He shall give.

Be grateful to Him no matter your condition, because it could have been worse. Bow down in worship to Him and ask for His forgiveness in utmost humility and honesty. For at least 70 times in a day, seek forgiveness for you may not know that an act of sin is in the way of your breakthrough.
A Texas mayor has been forced to apologize after breaking her own lockdown rules to get her nails done at a local salon.

Becky Ames was pictured wearing a mask with her hand soaking in acetone at The Nail Bar in Beaumont on Tuesday.

The District Attorney's office said Thursday it is investigating the circumstances of her trip. Nail salons are among the businesses ordered by Ames to close after a stay-at-home order was announced March 27 amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Violating the restriction is punishable by a fine of up to $2,000.

Beaumont mayor Ames had said Tuesday she did not violate the city's stay-at-home order when she visited a closed nail shop. She apologized for her actions Thursday.

After the picture circulated on social media, Ames said she was not getting a manicure but was soaking her fingertips in acetone to remove the artificial nails.

Beaumont mayor Becky Ames was pictured at The Nail Bar in the city on Tuesday

Beaumont mayor Ames had said Tuesday she did not violate the city's stay-at-home order when she visited a closed nail shop. She apologized for her actions Thursday

She said the salon owner told her the shop wasn't open, but that she would mix up some solution for pickup, according to Beaumont Enterprise. The photograph was taken while Ames was soaking her nails to learn how to take them off.

But by Thursday Ames has issued a 'heartfelt apology' for her 'lapse in judgement'.

She said: 'I should never have entered the salon last Tuesday. I did not intend to take personal privilege while asking others to sacrifice and for that I am truly remorseful.'

Ames said she 'regretted' her decision and was 'honestly sorry'. She added: 'In addition, I have asked the city attorney to place me on executive session this Tuesday so I can discuss this issue with my fellow Councilmembers.'

The mayor had said she did not know who took the photo or even realize there was a third person in the salon. The owner said it was an employee who had stopped by to pick up nail polish to use at home. The worker has been informed she cannot return to the shop, though it was not immediately known for how long.

A spokesman for both the Jefferson County District Attorney's Office and the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation confirmed their investigations to Fox 4.

Jefferson County Judge Jeff Branick said: 'My order required salons to close, as did the Governor's order.' He confirmed the DA's office 'would look at it'.

The DA's office said: 'We'll investigate to see if there's any criminal conduct to be examined.'

A handful of Texas businesses reopened Friday in defiance of state guidance in the fight against the coronavirus, which allows retailers to offer 'to go' service but leaves other restrictions in place.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott earlier this month announced a series of orders intended to restart the state economy, but salons and dine-in restaurant service are not yet allowed.

The Galleria shopping mall sits void of customers in the middle of the day in Dallas on Friday. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott earlier this month announced a series of orders intended to restart the state economy, but salons and dine-in restaurant service are not yet allowed

More than 1.3 million people have filed for unemployment in Texas since mid-March and joblessness has skyrocketed nationwide due to coronavirus-related business shutdowns.

Texas has reported 593 deaths and 22,806 overall cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus. The number of infections is likely much higher because many people have not been tested and studies suggest people can be infected and not feel sick.

Abbott has reopened state parks and allowed medical providers to resume performing elective surgeries, including abortions. On Friday, businesses were allowed to start selling goods to go.

Some of Texas' largest malls designed plans for shoppers to drive up and collect good ordered in advance.
I see the disinfectant, where it knocks [the virus] out in a minute  one minute  and is there a way we can do something like that, by injection inside, or almost a cleaning, Trump said, referring to the human body. Because you see it gets in the lungs and it does a tremendous number on the lungs. So it would be interesting to check that. So, that, youre going to have to use medical doctors with. But it sounds interesting to me.
Chinese virologist Dr. Zhengli Shi seen inside the P4 laboratory, the Wuhan Institute of Virology, in Wuhan, capital of China's Hubei province, on Feb. 23, 2017. (Johannes Eisele/AFP via Getty Images)

Pandemic Reveals Alarming Absence of Ethics in Chinas Virology Labs: Experts

The CCP virus pandemic highlights a history of mismanagement, corruption, and lack of ethics in Chinas virology labs, experts say.

Questions have grown as to the source of the coronavirus that has claimed over 197,000 lives and infected more than 2.8 million around the world as of April 25, according to a count from Johns Hopkins.

But the real number of infected and killed is unconfirmed due to the lack of accurate data from China.

Experts say the investigations into Chinas research on coronaviruses point to a lack of ethics in Chinas virology labs, the root cause of which is the absolute control of the CCP over these institutes.

For many years, virologists working in Western countries have imagined that their Chinese colleagues operate under the same ethical guidelines that they do, Steven Mosher, president of the conservative human rights charity Population Research Institute, said in an email.

Certainly the written rulescopied from Western countrieslook identical. But in terms of actual behavior, the practices are quite different. Everything in China is driven by the political needs of the CCP, said Mosher.

Chinese virologist Zhengli Shi inside the P4 laboratory in Wuhan, capital of Chinas Hubei province, on Feb. 23, 2017. (Johannes Eisele/AFP via Getty Images)

Issue of Ethics with Chinas Coronavirus Research

Theories about the CCP virus escaping from the lab originate from the fact that patient zero was infected with the novel coronavirus in Wuhan, where a highly rated researcher, Dr. Zhengli Shi, had performed gain-of-function research on the SARS virus in the institute.

Gain-of-function research involves deliberately enhancing the transmissibility or virulence of a pathogen.

The U.S. administration paused funding on certain kinds of this gain-of-function research in 2014, and lifted it only in 2017 with an emphasis that a thoughtful review process laid out by HHS be followed.

Shi, also popularly known as the bat woman in China for her research on the winged mammals, had stored bats known to carry coronaviruses inside the Wuhan Institute of Virology.

The risks involved in gain-of-interest research came under debate in an article published in Nature in 2015 that discussed a chimeric virus that was found to infect humans after it was created in a lab by genetic engineering between horseshoe bats in China and the SARS virus, by an international group of virologists including Shi.

If the virus escaped, nobody could predict the trajectory, Simon Wain-Hobson, a virologist at the Pasteur Institute in Paris, told Nature at the time.

Though its not certain whether the chimeric virus was stored in Shis lab in Wuhan, the case highlighted the risks involved in such research. Nature recently published a disclaimer saying there is no evidence indicating it was the cause of the current pandemic.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on the Larry OConnor Show on April 23 that the United States is constantly evaluating such high-risk facilities around the world that research viruses to make sure all safety measures are followed.

There are many of those kinds of labs inside of China, and we have been concerned that they didnt have the skill set, the capabilities, the processes, and protocols, that were adequate to protect the world from potential escape, said Pompeo.

The P4 laboratory (L) at the Wuhan Institute of Virology in Wuhan in Chinas central Hubei province on April 17, 2020. (Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images)

Allegations of Sale of Animals from Lab to Market

One theory is that somehow the coronavirus came from the Huanan Seafood Market in Wuhan as a result of the pathogen jumping to humans from contaminated meat obtained from Chinas research labs.

Researchers from these labs allegedly sell their leftovers after they are done experimenting on the animals.

Experts interviewed by The Epoch Times for this story have expressed concerns about this practice, due to reports of corruption inside Chinese labs. They fear it could be a channel of virus transmission.

A group of bipartisan American lawmakers expressed their concerns in a letter (pdf) to the World Health Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization, calling for a global shutdown of live wildlife markets after theories of the pandemic originating from the wet market came to the fore.

A recent case of such corrupt practices was reported by The Epoch Times Chinese edition: Ning Li, a professor from China Agricultural University was sentenced to 12 years in jail in February for selling animals from his Wuhan lab.

Of the 3.7 million Chinese yuan ($522,000) Li earned from his crimes, over 1 million Chinese yuan ($141,000) was from selling animals or milk used by the lab, including pigs and cows.

Sean Lin, a former virology researcher for the U.S. Army, said such crimes are difficult to bring to justice inside China.

Even if people want to expose some institute staff or leaders selling experiment animals to the markets, their voice could be easily quenched by the institute leadership in the name of safeguarding the reputation of the institute, he said.

Wendy Rogers, an Australian expert in practical bioethics and one of Natures top 10 people who mattered in science in 2019, said via email that such a culture further encourages corrupt practices inside these Chinese labs.

There is widespread toleration of corruption in China, which encourages citizens to get away with unethical or illegal acts if they can, especially if by doing so, they can make extra income, said Rogers.

The System Will Become More Closed

When asked if the pandemic will force the Chinese regime to become more transparent to the international community on its virology research, Mosher said he doesnt believe that will happen.

The reaction of the CCP will be to become less transparent and less ethical by hiding more and more of what it does from the scientific community, by putting more and more barriers in place to publication and international cooperation, he said.

The system will become more closed, rather than more open. This is, after all, the natural state of a high-tech, bureaucratic, totalitarian state, Mosher added, saying that those doctors and researchers who tried to be transparent about the CCP virus have been punished and censored.

Those who have been willing participants in the web of lies spun by the central authorities have been feted and promoted. Thus the lack of ethics grows, said Mosher.

A memorial for Dr. Li Wenliang, who was a whistleblower of the CCP virus that originated in Wuhan, China, and caused the doctors death in that city, pictured outside the UCLA campus in Westwood, California, on Feb. 15, 2020. (Mark Ralston/AFP via Getty Images)

Lin pointed out that people in China dont have freedom of speech and during the pandemic, and even doctors and nurses couldnt come out in the open to talk about the outbreak or the lack of medical supplies to the public media or scientific journals.

The world also needs to investigate whether Wuhan Institute of Virology, together with Chinese Military Medicine Units, have been conducting bioweapon development projects, even though the CCP pledged not to do so by signing the Biological Weapon Convention in 1985, Lin added.
Talks of reopening the U.S. amid the coronavirus pandemic are increasing, as many deem it to be an essential way to bring normalcy to the economy and Americans lives.

At the same time, some public health officials are warning that social distancing restrictions should stay in place as confirmed cases continue to rise and testing ramps up.

The most important thing would be to have lockdown for as long as possible to get it tamped down to a manageable number, Howard Forman, a professor of management and public health at Yale University, told Yahoo finance (video above). South Korea has proven that. Top to bottom, we had seven weeks in South Korea, and they are managing opening up the economy in a way that I have 100% confidence will work. Its not to say they wont have tiny little campfires break out, but theyre not going to have another forest fire.

A man with gloves and mask stands in the door of his store amid the coronavirus pandemic on April 7, 2020 in New York City. (Photo: John Lamparski/Getty Images)

South Korea has received praise from around the world for its handling of the coronavirus within its own borders. The country is one of the few thats been able to significantly flatten the curve since its first case was reported back in January.

Public health officials used contact tracing to figure out where people who tested positive had gone and interacted with. They are also using GPS phone tracking, surveillance camera records, and real-time alerts for where infected people had been.

We need to follow that pattern because seven weeks is an achievable thing that doesnt break our economy, Forman said. But if we have to go through seven or 10 weeks and then do it again in three or four months, we have a disaster on our hands.

The U.S. has the highest number of coronavirus cases in the world. (Graphic: David Foster/Yahoo Finance)

Id love everything open

Most states have implemented some form of stay-at-home restrictions in order to limit travel and movement to essential tasks and duties.

Yet, some state leaders, like Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman, have indicated they intend to reopen their jurisdictions as soon as possible.

Kemp announced earlier this week that Georgia would be re-opening its gyms, bowling alleys, tattoo parlors, barbers, hair and nail salons, massage therapists, theaters, and dine-restaurants as long as they followed strict guidelines. The move still went through on Friday.

Other states like South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Oklahoma, Vermont, Florida, Ohio, Montana, Idaho, and Mississippi have unveiled their own versions of reopening plans.

Story continues

U.S. President Donald Trump and republican candidate for Georgia governor Brian Kemp arrive to attend a campaign rally at Middle Georgia Regional Airport in Macon, Georgia, U.S., November 4, 2018. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

Meanwhile, in an interview with CNN, Goodman said shed love everything open. But in order for the U.S. to reach that point, more tests need to be available, a piece that Forman described as always been missing.

Weve need to get to the point where we could be testing everybody who has symptoms, and also being able to test people who are contacts, Forman said. But as you tamp this down, as you get it to a point where instead of having a half percent of the population having a new infection every day, you get it down to a more manageable number, thats when you really want to be able to put out the fire completely. And at the same time, mitigate the effects of relaxing lockdown restrictions so that we can move the economy forward.

The U.S. has the highest number of coronavirus cases in the world. (Graphic: David Foster/Yahoo Finance)

We dont know very simple answers

Although Forman doesnt think there is still a testing shortage, he would like to see more testing options, since many have been fast-tracked without going through the FDA approval process.

Many are hoping that antibody testing is a step towards loosening social distancing restrictions. In New York City, the U.S. epicenter of the outbreak, 1,300 people were tested for coronavirus antibodies. More than 21% were found to have them, according to Gov. Cuomo.

We dont know very simple answers to questions like: Does positive antibodies mean immunity? Forman said. We dont know how much immunity means. And we dont know how reliable those results are. So we must get those answers in the next few weeks. Im less concerned about the capacity than I am getting the answers to those questions, which is the ultimate root of this.

A health worker tests a man for COVID-19 at a mobile testing site in Seminole County. (Photo: Paul Hennessy / Echoes Wire/Barcroft Media via Getty Images)

Until more is learned about the virus, Forman is trusting the word of the scientists studying the outbreak and looking for a cure.

Im not a vaccinologist, and Im not a virologist, he said. Im relying on scientists who have a lot of optimism that we can get a vaccine out. But even that still has hurdles to it. Its good to know that there are several different products that are moving along so that we can hope for at least one to be successful. And then I am optimistic that we will have something in that timeframe, the 12-to-18 month timeframe that has been repeated so often.

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Bill Oxford/iStockBy JAMES HILL and CHRISTINA CARREGA, ABC NEWS

(SIOUX FALLS, S.D.) -- Members of a rural workers' rights group and an anonymous employee at a Missouri Smithfield Foods processing plant have sued the company alleging "horrific" work conditions during the novel coronavirus pandemic.



The "Jane Doe" and the Rural Community Workers Alliance filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri on Wednesday against Smithfield Foods Inc. and Smithfield Fresh Meats Corp. seeking a judge to order the company to change the working conditions at the slaughterhouse and processing plant.



"I am afraid for my health and safety, as well as the health and safety of people I am in contact with and the larger community because of the way in which Smithfield is managing the Plant in response to COVID-19," according to a declaration submitted on behalf of Jane Doe.



There have not been any positive cases for the virus at the plant, but Jane Doe alleges at least eight workers have stayed home with COVID-19 symptoms.



The lawsuit alleges that despite the "horrific situation facing many of its employees around the country ... Smithfield continues to operate its plant in Milan, Missouri, in a manner that contributes to the spread of disease."



The lawsuit comes after a Smithfield Foods location in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, was shut down until further notice after more than 800 plant workers tested positive for COVID-19. Another Smithfield plant was closed in Monmouth, Illinois, on Friday after a "small portion" of the 1,700 employees there tested positive for COVID-19.



Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance, issued Wednesday in the wake of the closure of the Sioux Falls plant, called for employee screening, increased distance between employees in the facility, supplementary infection control measures, the use of masks or face coverings and COVID-19 prevention education for employees. The company said in a statement it would reply to the recommendations once its own assessment was complete.



As of Friday, Missouri had 6,625 positive coronavirus cases and 262 deaths, according to the state's Department of Health and Senior Services.



The workers at the Milan plant charge they are forced to work "shoulder to shoulder," there isn't enough personal protective equipment for everyone, there's inadequate time allotted to wash hands, workers are discouraged from taking sick leave and Smithfield has failed to implement plans in Milan for testing and contact tracing.



"Smithfield may perceive that these policies allow the company to continue producing and packaging as much pork as possible for as cheaply as possible," according to the lawsuit. "In fact, however, the costs of Smithfields conduct are extraordinary, but they are borne by Smithfields workers, their family members, and the broader community."



"Put simply, workers, their family members, and many others who live in Milan and in the broader community may die -- all because Smithfield refused to change its practices in the face of this pandemic," according to the lawsuit.



Rather than slow the pace of work at the Milan location to protect the health of the workers, Smithfield allegedly has increased the line speed since the closure of other Smithfield plants, "placing more pressure on its workers at the Milan Plant and subjecting them to greater risk of disease," according to the lawsuit.



Jane Doe said in court documents that instead of enforcing social distancing of 6 feet between each worker, Smithfield placed Plexiglas dividers in between some, "but not all workers in the Plant."



Smithfield also allegedly made incentives for workers to not take off work by offering a $500 bonus to all of its workers, "but with an important catch: the bonus would not be available to any worker who misses a shift for any reason between April 1 and May 1," according to the lawsuit.



According to Smithfield's website, in which they outline how they are fighting COVID-19 at its plants, they have "extensive safety measures in place at all our locations [that] are on top of the extremely hygienic and sanitary environments maintained at all times in our industry for food safety and quality purposes. We continue to actively monitor CDC guidance, as well as that of state and local health authorities, and are immediately taking all necessary actions to protect our employees."



The lawsuit is not seeking any monetary damages, but a court injunction that would force Smithfield to change its practices to comply with, at a bare minimum, CDC guidance as well as the guidance of local health officials.



The workers have asked the court for an emergency hearing, but one had not been scheduled as of Friday evening.



A request for comment from Virginia-based Smithfield Foods Inc. was not immediately returned, but a judge has ordered that Smithfield file a response to the plaintiffs' motion by Monday.



A spokesperson for Smithfield Foods told The Hill it would be "aggressively defending the company in court."



Copyright  2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
Private power producers complain of delayed payments View(s):

While private power producers have been largely unaffected by the COVID-19 lockdown as their units are operating, the biggest problem they face is the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) delaying payments.

All mini hydros, wind and solar power units are connected to the national grid and the CEB pays for this private power generation.

So far we have received only the December payments and nothing after that, said one industry source.

LVL Energy Fund Ltd, in a statement posted on the Colombo Stock Exchange website, said that while no power plant ceased operation due to COVID-19, payments from the CEB have been delayed. With difficulty we were able to collect payment in February and March for electricity supplied in October 2019. In April we received 50 per cent of the payment for November 2019 sales. Under normal circumstances we receive payment within two months but now it is getting extended beyond four months causing cash-flow problems for all project companies, it said.

In other developments, industry officials said that smaller biogas plants had encountered problems in the supply of fuelwood as there was a kind of a fear psychosis among villagers against outsiders coming into their areas owing to COVID-19.

Due to the drop in current demand with little manufacturing and production, the average cost of power to the CEB should also drop. Nearly 80 per cent of the CEB power generation comes from thermal power  oil and coal- while the balance is made up of hydro and other renewables.
Photo of Naqshband Sahib shrine on the first day of Ramadan during lockdown to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus in Srinagar. Kashmiri shrines that are usually packed with devotees during the holy month of Ramadan wore a deserted look Saturday as authorities closed the shrine for the safety of the public. (Image: AP)
Political leaders have welcomed the Executive's decision to reopen cemeteries and burial grounds on a controlled basis so grieving families can visit the graves of their loved ones.

The policy change was announced by First Minister Arlene Foster at a Stormont press conference on Friday.

Graveyards were closed in March when coronavirus lockdown measures were first announced.

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Ulster Unionist leader Steve Aiken, whose party holds the Health Ministry in the Executive, said: "I welcome this decision by the Executive to support the Health Minister Robin Swann in allowing what is a humanitarian act and a decision which will be welcomed by many bereaved and grieving people.

"It is of course vital that everyone continues to implement social distancing and stay safe."

SDLP leader Colum Eastwood also endorsed the decision: "The trauma of losing a loved one has been made more difficult by the lockdown restrictions that seek to prevent the transmission of Covid-19. The suspension of our traditional way of marking a passing and processing grief has been very hard for many people to bear.

"I'm glad that the latest medical and scientific advice offers some relief for those seeking to visit loved ones and that we can permit the opening of cemeteries and graveyards with controls on social distancing.

"It's a matter of regret that parties publicly moved to different positions this week before hearing the advice necessary to make a determination on this issue.

"This has caused significant upset for many people."

The Foyle MP said that it was important that people continued to follow the lockdown guidance.

"This is not a broad lifting of the restrictions. We need to keep our guard up or more people will lose their lives unnecessarily."

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The Executive made the change after Sinn Fein ended its opposition to the reopening of graveyards and burial grounds.

Mrs Foster said: "This is about balancing public health concerns with the basic human need for people to visit their loved ones' graves."

But she warned: "In lifting this restriction, it is vital that members of the public heed the advice around going out in public when they are in a cemetery, respecting the two-metre social distancing rule, limiting their interaction with others, and of course washing their hands thoroughly after they have been in public."

Mrs Foster said that following advice on social distancing and public hygiene had made a significant contribution to reducing the peak of the pandemic.

"We've flattened the curve, but now is not the time to be careless, we are not out of the woods," she added.

Glancing across to the Deputy First Minister, Mrs Foster continued: "We both know that a lot is being asked of the bereaved at this time. But we would not be asking you to respect these restrictions were it not quite literally a matter of life and death."

Sinn Fein had been opposed to reopening cemeteries, but faced intensifying pressure this week from unionists, from grieving families who wanted to visit loved ones' graves, and from Church leaders.

Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill defended her party's change of position, saying ministers had listened carefully to the distress of families.

"I understand there's a fine balance and making sure that people do not face additional burdens in terms of their mental health and wellbeing and our role in making sure that people are not put at further risk from the transmission of coronavirus," she said. "We recognised the comfort of visiting the grave of a loved one, and what that means to so many people.

"That's why we had committed to keeping this issue of graveyards under review.

"We've listened very carefully to the genuine distress of families who have not been able to visit the grave of a loved one.

"The opening up of graveyards will be permitted where there are those in charge of burial grounds who can ensure we have compliance with the regulations on appropriate social distancing."

The news came as it was learned that the Public Health Agency has recorded a further 15 Covid-19 deaths in past 24 hours here, bringing the total to 278, with 3,122 cases.

It's understood some Belfast cemeteries are to reopen from Sunday.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 25

Trend:

During the global struggle against the COVID-19 pandemic, the peoples of Azerbaijan and China remain committed to the traditions of friendship and demonstrate solidarity in these difficult days, Trend reports citing a diplomatic source.

A ceremony on transferring assistance by China in support of Azerbaijans struggle against the threat of COVID-19 was held on April 2, 2020 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan

During the event, delivery and acceptance certificates were signed on the donation by China to the Azerbaijani side at the preliminary stage of tests to detect coronavirus infection for 5,000 people.

The assistance provided to Azerbaijan by the Chinese government in the second stage consisted of 10 ventilators (artificial lung ventilation) and 500 sets of special medical protective clothing.

On April 23, 2020, the Chinese government decided to assist Azerbaijan in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, and therefore it is planned to send 600,000 medical masks, 60,000 KN-95 special medical masks and 3,000 sets of special medical protective clothing to Azerbaijan.

Along with the help of the Chinese government, within the framework of assistance to Azerbaijan, the relevant medical supplies were sent by Sichuan province, Xi'an, Minyan and Chudzhou cities, Jiangjin district of Chongqing city, funds of Alibaba and Jack Ma, Huawei and other various structures.

To date, the Chinese government, as well as the above-mentioned structures of the country, have provided Azerbaijan with a million medical masks, 120,000 shoe covers, 102,000 special KN-95 medical masks, 17,200 sets of special protective clothing, 21 ventilation devices, 7,500 goggles, 20,000 boxes with sterile gloves, 500 units of remote infrared thermometers

The mutual support of Azerbaijan and China at a time when the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic is being waged, is the personification that the slogan adopted in Azerbaijan to overcome the pandemic - We are strong together, and used in China in the fight against coronavirus the slogan friend in need is a friend indeed, reflect reality.
Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Bill Gates has said the global Covid-19 pandemic is his "worst nightmare", while promising to assist the process of manufacturing vaccines.

In an interview with 'The Times', the billionaire said that he had been concerned about the impact of a pandemic for years.

Mr Gates has previously warned about the need for the world to prepare for global health crises.

"My worst nightmare has come true," he said.

In a Ted Talk in 2015, Mr Gates reflected on the 2014 Ebola outbreak and said global societies were not ready for a future epidemic, urging countries to prepare supplies and expertise.

In response to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, Mr Gates said his health charity in his name will arrange funding to build factories to produce vaccines.

These factories will be ready to manufacture billions of different vaccines prior to their approval in order to speed up the process.

Likening the Covid-19 pandemic to a world war "except we're all on the same side", Mr Gates said the increase of nationalism in previous years was unhelpful.

He said that while lockdown measures have had negative effects on economies around the world, failing to take measures could have led to "the worst of both worlds".
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India plans to fast track the review of some investment proposals from neigbouring countries such as China following concerns new screening rules could hit plans of companies and investors, three sources told Reuters on Saturday. To avoid opportunistic takeovers during the coronavirus outbreak, India said this week that all foreign direct investment from countries sharing a land border would require prior government clearance, meaning they can't go through a so-called automatic route. Advisers to Chinese firms have said they are concerned the process could take several weeks ...
A fire on any submarine may be a mariners worst nightmare, but a fire on the Losharik was a threat of another order altogether. The vessel is able to dive far deeper than almost any other sub, but the feats of engineering that allow it do so may have helped seal the fate of the 14 sailors killed in the disaster.
Drivers can contact Mountain View Hyundai about delivery test drive options.

Chattanooga and nearby areas were hit hard by storms and tornadoes over the Easter weekend, encouraging a Chattanooga-area dealership to offer damage and loss assistance in the form of $750 off a new vehicle during this time.

The $750 assistance is available to those purchasing a new Hyundai vehicle from the dealership and will last until May 4, 2020. It is meant to support those who may be in need of a new vehicle due to losing or experiencing damages to their existing vehicle from the storms.

To make the purchase process easier during the difficult times caused by the pandemic, and considering some drivers may be without a vehicle during this time due to storm damage, Mountain View Hyundai is also offering delivery test drives and delivery on vehicle purchases. Additional financial assistance right now comes in the form of 120 days of payment deferral for those eligible and financing through Hyundai Motor Finance.

The purchase process can be handled online and over the phone. Mountain View Hyundais website remains up-to-date with the latest inventory and also contains tools to help buyers with their purchase decisions, including a finance application and the latest incentives.

More information is available by visiting http://www.mvhyundai.com or by calling the dealership at 706-671-2581. Mountain View Hyundai is located in Ringgold, Georgia, and serves drivers from between Chattanooga and Dalton, Georgia.
KIMBERLY  A male mountain lion thought to be the same cat seen downtown on Thursday was euthanized Friday outside of town.

A homeowner east of Kimberly notified the Idaho Department of Fish and Game that they found a mountain lion early that morning on their porch, spokesman Terry Thompson said in a Friday statement.

Before the officers arrival, the homeowner made repeated unsuccessful attempts to haze the mountain lion away from the house, Thompson said. The homeowner reported that the lion showed no fear despite him yelling repeatedly at the lion, and at one point the lion hissed and took an aggressive posture toward the homeowner.

Regional Conservation Officer Josh Royse told Thompson he expected to scare the lion toward the South Hills but the big cat did not attempt to run away when approached.

In the interest of public safety for local residents, the decision was made to euthanize the lion, Royse said.

At 6:45 a.m. Thursday, Kimberly resident Liz Stanger came home to find the cat at her door.

I was coming home and he was sitting on my front step. My first thought was that it was a huge dog, Stanger told the Times-News. Then he moved and I thought, Thats not a dog.

She knew she had to photograph the big cat because no one would ever believe her story, she said.

I was a bit shook up, Stanger said. Im just happy that my daughter who was getting ready to go to work didnt leave before I had come home, because she would have walked right out the door and into him.

Stanger lives off an alley between Monroe and Madison streets, just a half-block west of Main Street North near the post office.

She pulled into her driveway, hoping to scare the cat away. Cornered between the home and a chainlink fence, the cat charged the fence several times trying to escape before darting off.

Police Chief Jeff Perry said the city of Kimberly received numerous calls from people who had seen Stangers video on Facebook. Perry said his officers and the Fish and Game were unable to locate the cat Thursday.

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(Bloomberg) -- Deutsche Lufthansa AG risks running low on cash within weeks, with the German airline saying the global oil rout has deepened its distress, and its survival now depends on a multibillion-euro bailout from four states.

Liquidity will fall sharply if Europes largest carrier is unable to soon access aid, Lufthansa said late Thursday. The coronavirus pandemic has forced the sprawling airline group to halt most flights, choking off revenue while outgoing costs for ticket refunds and financial obligations strain its reserves.

Lufthansa is discussing a package worth up to 10 billion euros ($10.7 billion) including guarantees, loans and some form of equity with negotiatiors in Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Belgium, according to people familiar with the matter. Talks are snared on the form the bailout will take, with the airline fighting to have as few conditions as possible attached to the assistance.

The collapse in oil prices has rocked Germanys flagship airline, already in crisis after the outbreak brought global travel to a near halt. Lufthansa connects the countrys powerhouse economy to the far-flung markets on which its export juggernaut depends. With a fleet of 763 jets before the coronavirus hit, the carrier dominates business travel in the wealthiest areas of Germany, Switzerland and Austria.

The statement indicates a need for state aid within weeks, Bernstein analysts Daniel Roeska and Alex Irving said in a note. Right now, it is quite literally state aid or bust.

Lufthansa shares fell as much as 5% in Frankfurt on Friday. The stock has more than halved since the start of the year, leaving it with a market value of 3.56 billion euros ($3.8 billion). It said this month said it would scale back its fleet by more than 60 jets and close its Germanwings unit, resizing the group for depressed levels of travel that could last for years.

Hedging Losses

Hedging losses will push first-quarter earnings deeper into the red, Lufthansa said, while postponing a results announcement due next week. The carrier said it would give more details later.

Story continues

The circumstances are so dire that Lufthansa doesnt expect to be able to raise funds from capital markets, despite owning some 10 billion euros worth of planes it would be able to use as collateral in normal times.

Bailout talks with the governments of the four countries, where it now owns airlines after years of expansion, have dragged on for weeks. The airline said it still expects to access aid, though its been under increasing pressure to accept partial ownership by Germany as a component of state support.

The management board is confident that the talks will lead to a successful conclusion, Lufthansa said in the statement.

Like many European airlines, Lufthansa hedges its massive fuel costs to guard against a sudden rise in price that can accompany shock events such as geopolitical conflict. The company spent 6.7 billion euros on jet fuel last year, using financial instruments tied to oil prices to steady its exposure. But after prices unexpectedly dropped, those same hedges are costing it money.

Before the coronavirus hit, Lufthansa had forecast Brent crude prices at $63 per barrel for 2020. In January, the company said a drop to $45 per barrel would result in $800 million in hedging losses this year. Brent crude traded at about $22.32 per barrel Thursday on spot markets.

In early April, Ryanair Holdings Plc estimated it would report a 300 million-euro hit to profit for its fiscal year ended March 31 because of costs arising from fuel hedges.

In Politicians Hands

The companys liquidity is worrying, and now a decision for politicians, the Bernstein analysts wrote. Evidently, credit markets are all but closed even to the group with the largest unencumbered fleet in Europe.

Lufthansa said first-quarter revenue dropped 18% from a year earlier, but was down as much as 47% in March after lockdowns spread from Asia to its home turf in Europe. The loss on earnings before interest and taxes totaled 1.2 billion euros in the three months.

The group had around 4.4 billion euros in liquidity remaining.

(Updates with amount under discussion in third paragraph; todays trading)

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.
US President Donald Trump while addressing the daily coronavirus briefing said his administration is sending ventilators to other countries in need as the US now has a "tremendous capacity" of its own.

"They're asking if we can send them ventilators and I'm agreeing to do it," Trump said of other countries, the BBC reported.

"The federal government has 10,000 ventilators and we could have a lot more if we wanted to do that but we're helping Mexico, Honduras, Indonesia, France...We're sending to Spain, we're sending to Italy," Trump said.

The president started by saying the country is beginning to work on re-opening and asks Americans to "maintain vigilance and hygiene, social distancing and voluntary use of face coverings".

Trump signed the Paycheck Protection Program and Healthcare Enhancement Act today - the fourth economic stimulus package passed by Congress due to COVID-19.

Trump notes that $30bn (i24bn) of the funds will be reserved for smaller financial institutions and "those that serve minority and distressed communities", like African American and Hispanic American small business owners.

The legislation also includes $75bn for hospitals.

Trump also said more than 80 million Americans have already received their economic relief payments from the federal government.

The typical family of four will get $3,400 he said. "That's great, and you deserve it."

Accompanying the President, Vice-President Mike Pence said, "Testing is in the forefront of our minds."

"One month ago, all of the testing that had been done in America: 80,000 Americans had been tested," he said. "But as of this morning, 5.1 million Americans have been tested for the coronavirus."

Pence urges Americans not to be "discouraged" by rising number of cases as testing increases.

"We continue to see positive progress," he said.

Vice-President Pence celebrated the "extraordinary and rapid progress" made by governors in their coronavirus response.

This is "one team, one mission", Pence said, listing progress across US states, like New York, New Jersey and Missouri.

"We are slowing the spread. We are protecting the most vulnerable," Pence said. "The day will soon come when we will heal our land."

He said that "social distancing efforts" are really making an impact, and thanks the "millions of Americans who put the guidance into practice".
Archbishop Samson Mustapha Benjamin has been released after perfecting his bail conditions, following his arraignment for violating the lockdown order in Lagos state by leading a protest to the Chinese embassy.

Recall that Information Nigeria had earlier reported that the Pastor was arrested after protesting against the alleged maltreatment of Nigerians in China at the Chinese embassy in Lagos.

He was subsequently arraigned in court on charges of failure to stay at home contrary to COVID-19 Regulations and conduct likely to cause a breach of peace.

READ ALSO  Archbishop Benjamin Protests Against 5G In Nigeria (Video)

Archbishop Benjamin, who pleaded not guilty to the charges, was granted an N1million bail and also remanded pending the fulfillment of the terms. His co-defendants, Jerry Abel and Johnson Benjamin (1st and 3rd defendants respectively) were each granted N500,000 bail.

The cleric has now been freed after perfecting his bail conditions.
By David Lawder, Lisa Lambert and Lawrence Delevingne

WASHINGTON/BOSTON (Reuters) - U.S. companies on Thursday began refusing government loans they were just awarded, after the Treasury Department said that publicly traded firms would have a hard time proving they really needed the coronavirus relief funds.

The about-face underscores problems with the way the Treasury's Payroll Protection Program (PPP), designed to keep American workers on company payrolls and off unemployment during coronavirus-related lockdowns, was structured and rolled out.

Some large well-funded companies were granted millions of dollars from the $350 billion pool of funding, while many small, mom-and-pop shops were unable to access any funding at all, sparking public outrage.

"Under the rubric of helping small businesses on Main Street, well-intentioned programs like PPP have ended up helping medium and big companies," said Aaron Klein, a fellow at the Brookings Institution.

The initial PPP funding was snapped up in less than two weeks by millions of small and mid-sized businesses, including restaurant chains Potbelly Corp <PBPB.O> and steakhouse operator Ruth Hospitality Group <RUTH.O> and a coal mine. Congress has now approved an additional $310 billion. [nL2N2CB0JC]

Under the original guidance from the Treasury Department, companies applying for PPP loans had to certify that "current economic uncertainty makes the loan necessary to support ... ongoing operations."

In new Frequently Asked Questions guidance updated on Thursday, Treasury said many of those companies would not be able to certify in their loan applications that funds were "necessary" for continued operations because they were already well-financed.

"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," the Treasury said.

The department went on to say that borrowers that returned loan money by May 7 "will be deemed by the Small Business Administration to have made the required certification in good faith."

Story continues

The new guidance prompted the program's largest recipient, the Ruth's Chris Steakhouse chain <RUTH.O> to say it would quickly repay its $20 million loan to maintain its payroll during coronavirus-prompted shutdowns.

Manning & Napier Inc <MN.N>, a Fairpoint, New York, investment firm that managed $17 billion as of March 31, also said that it had "immediately rescinded" its already approved applications for $6.7 million in PPP loans for two subsidiaries following the new guidance for public companies from Treasury.

Manning & Napier had said on Wednesday that the loans, obtained through Buffalo, New York-based M&T Bank Corp <MTB.N> would be "used to help support payroll costs and rent expense."

The company, which remains in operation, previously disclosed that compensation and related costs for its 307 employees was $81 million for 2019, an average of about $264,000 per employee.

A spokesman for the investment firm did not respond to requests for additional comment.

Two other public companies that borrowed under the initial tranche, Shake Shack Inc <SHAK.N> and Kura Sushi USA Inc, <KRUS.O>, earlier returned the funds. [nL2N2CA0O9]

About $550 million of the first round of forgivable loans went to more than 150 publicly traded companies that had qualified under size guidelines in the statute.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin warned on Wednesday that companies that received the rescue money intended for small businesses could be investigated. He told Fox Business Network it was "questionable" whether larger firms had qualified for loans based on a self-certification step in the application process. [nL2N2CA0O9]

The FAQ update made it clear that the Treasury was looking hard at the step in which a small business "must certify in good faith that their PPP loan request is necessary."

"Specifically, before submitting a PPP application, all borrowers should review carefully the required certification that 'current economic uncertainty makes this loan request necessary to support the ongoing operations of the applicant,'" it said.

(Reporting by Lisa Lambert and David Lawder in Washington, and Lawrence Delevingne in Boston; Additional reporting by Tim Ahmann and Joshua Franklin; Editing by Dan Grebler, Heather Timmons and Peter Cooney)
Dateline Are COVID-19 Measures Restricting Human Rights in Myanmar?

---

Ye Ni: Welcome to Dateline Irrawaddy! First of all, I wish you all mental and physical wellbeing amid the coronavirus pandemic. As we are required stay at home to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, we have also adjusted our Dateline program to meet that requirement. Instead of holding it sitting around in The Irrawaddy studio, our guests will participate in the talks from their homes through videoconferencing. This week, well discuss issues related to COVID-19.

By choosing to stay at home, we have willingly given up our freedom, so we will discuss the issue of human rights amid COVID-19. Human rights trainer and Executive Director of Equality Myanmar U Aung Myo Min and Joint General Secretary of the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners and former political prisoner U Bo Kyi join me to discuss this. Im The Irrawaddy Burmese editor, Ye Ni.

Ko Aung Myo Min, we havent been able to enjoy such human rights as the rights of movement and assembly since COVID-19 cases were found in the country. As a human rights trainer, do you think human rights norms have been subjugated to the requirements of the COVID-19 response? What is your view?

Aung Myo Min: We cant say it like that. Human rights are the birthright of people. No one can deny people those rights and no one can violate them. But given the current situation, we have to stay at home and a lockdown is in place due to fears over COVID-19. Some countries have imposed regulations and restrictions such as imposing bans on gatherings. But this is not a violation of human rights. International laws say some human rights have to be compromised in times of emergency. This is different from a violation of or inability to exercise human rights. People should understand that some rights can be restricted or suspended if there are strong reasons to do so.

But we cant say people are being robbed of their rights during the COVID-19 period. International laws say some human rights can be restricted and suspended in times of health crises, public emergencies and in situations that can disturb the public morality and the rule of law. So some rights have been suspended due to the health crisis now.

But [governments] cant just suspend those rights as they please. The public must be well-informed about how and why rights are restricted. Only then will people understand the risks and cooperate. Again, the restrictions should not be more than necessary. For example, the restriction of movement should be imposed only in seriously affected areas, but not on an entire country. In doing so, orders must be clear and specific and those who issue the orders must have the authority to do so.

The restriction should also be imposed only for a definite period. [The government] has to make sure people can again enjoy their rights afterwards. Though some rights can be restricted during this period, there are rights that cant be violated. This includes torturing people. Under no circumstances should people be tortured. There must not be unlawful treatment and unlawful detention of people. If individuals are to be detained, they must be detained only in line with law. Freedom of religion must not be restricted. [The government] can restrict or suspend some rights. But if it is to do so, it also has the responsibility to make sure the restrictions do not affect the other rights of the people.

YN: We are willingly giving up our rights in light of the public health situation. Many people here understand that the orders issued by the government are for the sake of public health and are thus following the instructions of the government. But taking a look at the history of our country, we have just started to enjoy these rights only after a hard-fought struggle for democracy and human rights against dictatorship. But as we have to give up these rights now, this has become a cause for concern for some. Ko Bo Kyi, are you concerned that our country, when this pandemic is over, will not move forward to democracy, but make a U-turn to dictatorship?

Bo Kyi: It depends on individuals, government and defense forces. There are two things the government and defense forces of a nation have a responsibility to ensure: freedom from fear and freedom from want. As Ko Aung Myo Min pointed out, there must be clarity and precision in fulfilling that duty, so there is a need to monitor defense forces personnel or those assigned to that duty to see if their performance of the duty is in line with law, and to see what can be done to fix it if their performance is not in line with law. There must be procedures for that.

Suppose a lockdown is imposed on a street: we should start with a request in the first stage, requesting the people not to go out. If people dont accept that, it is better to take action against them in line with law, but not punishment that harms human dignitysay, forcing them to squat in public and beating them, like in the cases in India and Bangladesh. Such punishment amounts to torture and harms human dignity. Leaders should systematically monitor to prevent such punishment and take action against those who hand out such punishment. [Leaders] also need to clearly tell those on duty that giving such punishment violates the law.

At the same time, [the government] needs to focus more on educating the people and requesting their cooperation. To do so, [the government] needs to win the trust of people and guarantee a sense of security. This is very important. If people have trust and a sense of security, they will cooperate. But if [the government] focuses on punishment, there can be more chaos in the country. This will give greater opportunities for defense forces to intervene. Here, Id like to quote a former US president [Bill Clinton]: Governments alone are not responsible for maintaining freedom, but individual citizens are also responsible. So people must cooperate. If we cant protect freedom, a dictator may replace this freedom. So it is important that we dont give way for dictatorship to replace freedom.

People themselves must maintain freedom. The government must explain properly that people are losing their rights just temporarily because of their health or public health. Civil society organizations, health organizations and defense force agencies must also keep on reassuring the public, reminding them that the situation is just temporary. If so, then there wont be a U-turn to dictatorship.

YN: Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure [a curfew] has been imposed in some areas. To the people who went through the 1988 pro-democracy uprising, their understanding of this section is that it is dreadful. Ko Aung Myo Min, could you define the role of human rights at a time when tighter restrictions are being imposed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic?

AMM: Human rights contribute to the rule of law. It is the balanced combination of being responsible and the assumption of responsibility by the government and the people for the sake of the rule of law. The government is responsible for educating the people to prevent the spread of the virus. The government needs to provide clear and precise instructions and dos and donts, which must be the same across the country. People are responsible for following the government instructions out of consideration for public health. Authorities responsible for the rule of law and security should clearly understand the extent of their authority and should not overstep their authority. Id also suggest establishing a mechanism for the people to be able to file complaints if there are blatant violations of their rights. This will guarantee their rights in compliance with the rule of law. Both the government and the people should share this responsibility.

YN: What else would you like to point out Ko Bo Kyi?

BK: As Ko Aung Myo Min said, rights go together with responsibilities. It is unfair of us to take rights only. Individuals should take their fair share of responsibilities. Only the rights that accompany responsibilities can be sustained long-term. I want everyone to understand well that with rights come responsibilities. I want them to try to understand that.

YN: Thank you for your contributions!

You may also like these stories:

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China Closes Myanmar Border to Stop COVID-19 Returning
There was a coronavirus scare on the set of Big Brother last month, when production was forced to shut down for at least two days.

And on Friday, host Sonia Kruger addressed the incident when she appeared on The Morning Show.

The 54-year-old also spilled some juicy details about the new cast of the Channel Seven reboot, and revealed that one housemate is over the age of 60.

Spilling the beans: Big Brother host Sonia Kruger talked the COVID-19 scare on set and spilled details about the new cast... revealing a housemate is OVER 60

Speaking about the scare, Sonia clarified: 'One of our crew members had a brush with coronavirus and it actually shut down production for a couple of days before we got the all-clear.'

During her TV appearance, the blonde bombshell also addressed some speculation about the new series.

When asked if a former housemate from a previous season will appear, she said the rumour was 'totally fake.'

Addressing the rumours: During her TV appearance, the blonde bombshell also addressed some speculation about the new series. When asked if a former housemate from a previous season will appear, she said the rumour was 'totally fake'

'I did hear that rumour, and thought it was interesting, but it's an all-new cast,' she said.

She also confirmed that the new cast will also include a housemate aged in their 60s.

The former Voice host said that it would be a diverse group of people from ages 19 to 61, with the average age being over 30.

Spilling secrets: She also confirmed that the new cast will also include a housemate aged in their 60s

When asked if The Morning Show host Larry Emdur was voicing Big Brother, Sonia laughed it off and called the speculation 'fake news put out by Larry Emdur.'

'We actually haven't revealed the voice of Big Brother - but we're doing that this Sunday in a special sneak peek on Seven, and on our social media channels,' she said added.

Sonia also revealed that the Australian public will get a chance to vote for the winner.

How the voting process will work, given that the show has already been filmed, is not yet known, but she did say the winner will go home with a big cash prize that is yet to be revealed.

Scare: Back in March, TV Blackbox reported that production had shut down for at least two days in Sydney, while a crew member was tested for coronavirus

Back in March, TV Blackbox reported that production had shut down for at least two days in Sydney, while a crew member was tested for coronavirus.

A spokesperson from Endemol Shine Australia clarified at the time to the publication, that the staffer was 'exposed to someone who tested positive' but was 'showing no symptoms' themselves.

They added in the statement that the site was in 'lockdown' as a 'precaution,' and that the health and safety of cast and crew was of upmost in importance.

According to TV Blackbox, production was accelerated after the COVID-19 scare had caused the set to be shut down for 48 hours.

Production company Endemol Shine Australia then sped up the filming process so they wouldn't have to halt shooting again.

Always watching: Meanwhile on Friday, Channel Seven released a cryptic teaser trailer that sent fans into a frenzy. In a new teaser trailer, flashes of neon lights are interspersed with blink-and-you'll-miss-it glimpses of the new Big Brother compound being monitored by high-tech cameras

Meanwhile on Friday, Channel Seven released a cryptic teaser trailer that sent fans into a frenzy.

In a new teaser trailer, flashes of neon lights are interspersed with blink-and-you'll-miss-it glimpses of the new Big Brother compound being monitored by high-tech cameras.

It ends with a message to viewers: 'Keep watching'.

Soon: The cryptic teaser trailer ends with a message to viewers: 'Keep watching'

While the cryptic video did not reveal much, it whetted the appetite of fans, who rushed to respond that they couldn't wait for the new season.

'I'm so ready!' wrote one eager fan on Twitter.

Another added: 'The perfect escape from isolation... watching people in isolation!'

Channel Seven is yet to announce an airdate for Big Brother.
Singapore-based Igloo, formerly known as Axinan, has raised $8.2 million as the insurance-tech startup looks to broaden its foothold in half a dozen Southeast Asian markets and Australia.

InVent, a corporate venture capital arm of telecommunications firm Intouch Holdings, led Igloos extended Series A round, the startup told TechCrunch. Existing investors Openspace Ventures, a venture capital fund that invests in Southeast Asia, and Linear Capital, a Shanghai-based early-stage venture capital firm focusing on tech-driven startups, participated in this round, which makes four-year-old Igloos to-date raise to $16 million. It raised about $1 million in its Seed financing round.

Igloo -- founded by Wei Zhu, who previously served as Chief Technology Officer at Grab -- works with e-commerce and travel firms such as Lazada, RedDoorz, and Shopee in Southeast Asia to offer their customers insurance products that provide protection on electronics and coverage on accidents and travel.

The startup, which also operates in Vietnam, Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia, said more than 15 million users have benefitted from its insurance products to date, and in the last one year it has processed more than 50 million transactions.

Igloo, which rebranded from Axinan this month, said insurance products are proving especially useful to -- and popular among -- people during the coronavirus outbreak.

Wei Zhu told TechCrunch that the startup has seen a surge in transactions and customer acquisitions in the last 45 days. While some travel-related business have seen a dip, the larger e-commerce business continues to see a surge, he added.

With COVID-19 impacting every facet of personal life and business, digitization can help the world adjust to the new normal. This is especially apparent in insurance, where we can tap on digital channels for distribution and also for creating awareness, he said.

We see that digital insurance is on the rise in Southeast Asia, and we believe that Igloo, with our digital-first approach and expansion of our product portfolio into personal health, accident and other related products can help fill those gaps and address consumers needs for personal well-being, he added.

He said the digital insurance penetration remains low in Southeast Asia, and Igloo sees massive opportunity in the space. According to one estimate (PDF), Southeast Asias digital insurance market is currently valued at $2 billion and is expected to grow to $8 billion by 2025.

The startup, which competes with a handful of startups including Singapore Life and Saphron, will use the fresh capital to expand its business development and engineering teams and broaden its presence in the half-dozen markets. It is already engaging with telecom operators, banks, non-banking financial firms and travel agencies, it said.
Caterpillar aim to resume production at the companys west Belfast plant on Monday

Manufacturing firm Caterpillar has been criticised after requesting that its workforce returns to work on Monday.

Gerry Carroll, a People Before Profit MLA, said he was "incensed" that the firm has plans to reintroduce 170 staff members to the workplace next week.

He said workers at the company's west Belfast site contacted him with concerns that "their lives would be put at risk by undertaking non-essential work".

Mr Carroll called for the Assembly to intervene.

"The question must be asked: where is the Stormont Executive in all this? They talk about lockdown and chastise the public for not staying at home while seemingly allowing big business to do what they like in the name of profit," he added.

In response Caterpillar, which has two factories here - one in west Belfast and one in Larne - said it always had plans to bring staff back into production at this time and it is following government guidelines in doing so.

It said: "As announced four weeks ago, production at the Caterpillar assembly facility in Springvale was temporarily suspended from Monday, April 6 through Friday, April 24, 2020. Impacted employees were furloughed in line with the UK Government Job Retention Scheme for this period.

"Production will recommence on Monday, April 27 as planned. The facility operates while adhering to the Government's guidance.

"Our employees' safety, health and well-being remain a top priority."

On April 1 a company spokesman said staff at the west Belfast assembly line were to be furloughed during a three-week closure of the site.

He said it would be a temporary measure until Monday, April 27.

However, the Larne headquarters of Caterpillar, where generators for crucial uses such as hospitals, telecoms and food factories are made, remained open.

According to Stephen Kelly of trade group Manufacturing NI, 26% of members who had shut said recently they would reopen this week. Others plan to reopen their businesses on May 11.

The information was generated from an online survey created by Manufacturing NI. Results were collated from more than 200 responses from leaders in manufacturing across all sub-sectors and spread across Northern Ireland.

Mr Carroll continued: "I have been engaging with trade unions on this issues, and I am calling on Arlene Foster and Michelle O'Neill to intervene; block Caterpillar, Bombardier and other non-essential businesses from opening, don't allow workers to be risked for profit."
Trump's Suggestion to Use Disinfectants for COVID-19 Alarms Experts

By VOA News April 24, 2020

U.S. President Donald Trump's suggestion that disinfectants could be used to treat coronavirus patients is triggering alarm among health experts, and warnings from a maker of the sanitizing solutions.

Trump said at his regular White House coronavirus media briefing Thursday that scientists should investigate inserting disinfectants into patients' bodies to cure COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.

"I see the disinfectant that knocks it out in a minute, one minute," Trump said. "And is there a way we can do something like that by injection, inside, or almost a cleaning?"

With coronavirus response coordinator and physician Deborah Birx looking on, Trump noted the virus "does a tremendous number on the lungs, so it would be interesting to check that."

However, physicians and other health experts are warning against Trump's suggestion to use disinfectants to treat the virus.

"(This is an) absolutely dangerous, crazy suggestion," said Paul Hunter, a professor of medicine at Britain's University of East Anglia.

An academic pharmacist at the University of Reading in Berkshire, England, Parastou Donyai, expressed shock over what she said were "unscientific comments" that could lead people with the virus to seek homemade remedies.

"What is shocking about these latest comments is that they completely bypass other important facts about injections  not only will homemade injections bruise, burn, or block the veins, they will almost certainly also introduce new infections straight into the body, the very thing people are desperate to avoid."

"People worried about the coronavirus or COVID-19 should seek help from a qualified doctor or pharmacist, and not take unfounded and off-the-cuff comments as actual advice," Donyai added.

University of California public policy professor and former U.S. Labor Secretary Robert Reich tweeted that "Trump's briefings are actively endangering the public's health" and advised that people "don't drink disinfectant."

Trump's remarks have also sparked warnings from manufacturers of household disinfectants. The maker of Lysol and Dettol, Britain's Reckitt Benckiser company, said, "Under no circumstance should our disinfectant products be administered into the human body, through injection, ingestion or any other route."

The former head of the U.S. Office of Government Ethics, Walter Shaub, tweeted that Trump's regular media briefings are putting lives at risk.

"As a public service, please stop airing these coronavirus briefings; they are endangering lives," Shaub said. "And please do not drink or inject disinfectant."

White House spokeswoman Kayleigh McEnany said in a statement Friday that Trump has urged people to check with their doctors about treatment, and accused the media of distorting his comments.

"President Trump has repeatedly said that Americans should consult with medical doctors regarding coronavirus treatment, a point that he emphasized again during yesterday's briefing," McEnany said.

Heat and light

Trump also discussed the possible use of heat and light to treat the coronavirus during Thursday's briefing.

When asked if it is dangerous to make people think they would be safe by going outside in the heat, given that so many people have died in the U.S. state of Florida, Trump said "I hope people enjoy the sun. And if it has an impact, that's great."

Trump's comments came after Department of Homeland Security Under Secretary for Science William Bryan said there was "emerging" research on the ability of sunlight and humidity to reduce the threat of the virus.

Trump asked Birx during the briefing if she was aware of any evidence that heat or light could be used as potential treatment. She responded by saying, "Not as a treatment."

Past studies have not found evidence that warmer temperatures and higher humidity levels in spring and summer could help curb the spread of the virus.

Chloroquine treatments

Trump has repeatedly pushed for unverified treatments of the coronavirus, including his touting of hydroxychloroquine as a possible "game changer," an assertion that health officials have warned against.

A man in the southwestern U.S. state of Arizona died late last month after he consumed chloroquine phosphate, which is used to treat malaria. The man's wife told NBC News he believed it would prevent him from being infected with the coronavirus after watching Trump tout the potential benefits of chloroquine phosphate during his televised briefings.

In a related development, the man who was once the top Department of Health and Human Services official, Dr. Rick Bright, says he was fired from his job earlier this week for pushing back on demands that he approve chloroquine treatments.

The Democratic Party chairwoman of the House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee, Anna Eshoo, said Thursday she plans to hold hearings on Bright's departure.

The United States leads the world by far in COVID-19 deaths, with at least 50,000 deaths, more than one-fourth of the 191,962 fatalities worldwide, according to the Johns Hopkins University, which is tracking cases.

Nearly one-third of all confirmed cases globally are in the U.S., with Johns Hopkins reporting 869,172.

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Please only travel if your journey is absolutely essential  Police and health board urge public to continue with lockdown measures ahead of warm and sunny weekend

This article is old - Published: Saturday, Apr 25th, 2020

North Wales Police and Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board are urging members of the public to continue adhering to the lockdown restrictions to help slow the spread of Covid-19.

The plea comes ahead of what is set to be a sunny and warm weekend across the region.

However despite the good weather on the forecast both police and the health board are reminding members of the public to stay home, save lives and protect the NHS.

Chief Constable Carl Foulkes said: Everyone must contribute to the national effort to respond to the coronavirus outbreak and we would like to thank the vast majority who have made significant changes to their daily habits and routines.

You really are playing your part in helping to save lives.

What we are doing is showing signs of working but we must keep going otherwise the last few weeks will have been for nothing.

However this is not a time for complacency. Travelling from other areas to enjoy our local areas is not reasonable.

We need the continued support of the public. The mountains, beaches and countryside will be here when this is over for us all to enjoy.

It is important that we focus on why the restrictions remain  which is to save the lives of people in our community and to support our NHS colleagues who are caring for those in our local hospitals.

When leaving home we need to continue to do what is necessary and reasonable and this includes where we exercise. Now is not the time for people to be travelling to North Wales to exercise in our rural communities or visit the Snowdonia National Park.

The guidance from the UK Government and Welsh Government remains that exercise should be done locally, using open spaces near to your home where possible.

To be really clear travelling to your second home is not reasonable, we will stop you, we will direct you home and if needed we will prosecute.

Our focus continues to be to engage, explain and encourage with people so they understand why these restrictions are in place.

Teams are out and about and our officers will continue to engage with people, establish their individual circumstances and will continue to explain the risks and warn of the consequences of failing to comply with the guidance.

We will not however shy away from enforcement to protect our community by directing people to their primary home address or where necessary prosecuting.

CC Foulkes added: Please only travel if your journey is absolutely essential.

This means either shopping for food or medicine and for travelling to and from work if you cannot work from home.

Our policing style remains unchanged, and we will be operating in a very visible way on our road networks and in towns and villages ensuring that people are complying with the restrictions.

Our actions will remain proportionate and fair, we know from working with our communities here that people are supportive of us as your local police service supporting communities.

Simon Dean, Interim Chief Executive of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, said: While it may be tempting to get out and about over the weekend to enjoy the good weather we are expecting, the right thing to do is to keep following the governments advice and stay at home.

This is the best thing we can all do to protect ourselves, our families and our NHS services.

Please think about those people we have already lost and take these simple steps to help us prevent the spread of the virus.
India's chemical exports rose by 7 per cent to Rs 2.68 lakh crore during April-January period of the last fiscal, and became the top exporting sector in the country for the first time, the government said on Saturday.

"Union Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers DV Sadananda Gowda congratulated the chemicals and petrochemicals industry on becoming the top exporting sector of the country for the first time," an official statement said.

Gowda informed that during April 2019-January 2020, the export of chemicals grew by 7.43 per cent over the corresponding period of the previous fiscal.

"Total export of chemicals during this period reached Rs 2.68 Lakh Crore. This constitutes 14.35 per cent of the total exports," it added.

The minister assured full support to the industry towards making India a leading global hub for manufacturing of chemicals and petrochemicals.

"Continuous efforts made by my Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals have enabled the industry to become the top most exporting segment for the first time," he tweeted.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
For seven weeks, Texas unemployment agency has struggled to process the mountains of claims pouring in from newly jobless workers. Now, as the state rolls out expanded benefits provided by the $2 trillion federal stimulus law, claimants are running into new roadblocks and being told, again, to be patient.

Its a nightmare at this point, said Kimberly Jones, a single mother of seven in San Antonio who stopped working her job as a nanny the second week of March. She filed her claim that same week and, more than a month later, has yet to receive any money from the state.

While Texas has paid out $1.8 billion in unemployment benefits so far  with benefits that fall under the CARES Act stimulus package representing more than half that sum  only about half of the nearly 1.7 million people who have filed jobless claims in Texas since the week ending March 14 have received any benefits, according to state data.

Self-employed, contract or gig workers, who became eligible for benefits under the stimulus law, ran into new problems this week as the state attempted a system-wide update to move claims into the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program, a federal program that provides a minimum of $207 per week for those who have not traditionally qualified.

Payment requests, which are required to be made every two weeks for jobless workers to eventually receive benefits, have suddenly disappeared from the online system. A notice on accounts said that the state has no record of a request for payment for your current claim, even if they had been requesting the payments for as many as eight weeks.

The Texas Workforce Commission, which administers unemployment benefits, attributed the issue to a system update, and said the correct record should be available soon. Officials attempted to reassure panicked workers that they would get the benefits they are owed.

These requests are visible on our end, and our team is working to get this fixed, said Cisco Gamez, spokesperson for the TWC, in Facebook Live press conference Friday. You should continue to request payment every two weeks.

Anxiety, confusion for gig workers

Still, the message on their accounts led confusion and anxiety. Some claimants posting on Facebook said they had meltdowns after getting the message. One poster floated the idea of a class action lawsuit against the Texas Workforce Commission. Hundreds expressed frustration in the confusing notices and delays from the agency.

For Jones, her account had two separate claims: The first one she filed when she initially became unemployed, and a second one that she filed after being instructed to re-file by the Texas Workforce Commission after stimulus legislation made her eligible as a self-employed worker. Her first unemployment claim, which was denied, showed all her payment requests. But the second one, which was approved, did not.

That was holding up her benefit payments. Fixing the problem took three different call center representatives on three separate occasions, she said.

Keep calling, dont use third-party filing

While the state irons out the logistics of processing claims, workers say they live in a constant state of anxiety because they dont know if their claims are getting processed.

Some have turned to companies offering to submit a claim for them. That, however, will only prevent an applicant from getting money: The Texas Workforce Commission said it will not process or accept any third-party applications for unemployment benefits.

Submitting an application through anything other than an official TWC channel will not establish an unemployment benefits claim, a statement from the workforce commission warned.

Now Playing: 'COVID-19 in 60': Houston coronavirus news in a minute Video: Houston Chronicle

Claimants should continue to use the official state website at ui.texas.org and request payments every two weeks, even if the claim shows $0.00, state officials said. The workforce commission also said Friday that those who exhausted or will soon exhaust unemployment benefits do not need to re-apply; the Texas Workforce Commission will determine if you qualify for additional benefits under federal programs.

In the meantime, workers are waiting and calling. Some, such as Jones of San Antonio, have resolved issues with their claims via phone. But Jones said she still hasnt received a dollar of the approximately $3,600 for which she estimates shes eligible. A workforce commission agent told her she should see a payment Tuesday. If not, call back  again.

She hopes she wont have to dial unemployment next week. Her family is running out of time and money.

I budget to the last penny every single month to make sure the kids and I can stay afloat, she said. Theres no cushion anymore. This is wiping us out.

erin.douglas@chron.com

Twitter.com/erinmdouglas23
Only nine players make up the O'Neill St. Mary's girls basketball roster in 2021-22 and three of those nine are sophomores. All three started last year as freshmen, all three are averaging in double figures this year and all three have led the Cardinals to an 8-2 start.
According to WHO reports, malaria affected more than 228 million people in the world in 2018 and killed about 405,000 people globally in the same year.

April 25 is observed as the World Malaria Day on the World Health Organisation (WHO) calendar. The day was first proposed in the 60th World Health Assembly (in 2007) and was first celebrated in the year 2008.

According to WHO reports, malaria affected more than 228 million people in the world in 2018 and killed about 405,000 people globally in the same year. Almost 80% of all these deaths occurred in Sub-Saharan Africa and India. However, India reported a reduction of about 2.6 million cases in 2018 as compared to 2017.

Children under the age of 5 years comprised 67% of all the malaria deaths in the world. About 11 million pregnant women were exposed to malaria in the moderate to high transmission areas in Sub-Saharan Africa alone. Though malaria affects all the tropical and subtropical areas, Africa is worst hit by malaria due to favourable weather conditions and its lack of resources that allow for the growth and spread of the malaria parasite and mosquito all year round.

So, even though the whole world is busy fighting the global pandemic, the WHO has urged all countries to move quickly and take preventive measures against malaria.

Zero malaria starts with me

The theme of this years World Malaria day is Zero malaria starts with me. It is a grassroots campaign aimed at empowering communities to take the responsibility of preventing and treating malaria and to keep malaria high on the political agenda to improve the mobilisation of resources that can help the communities do the same.

According to the WHO, the cases of this infectious disease dont seem to be reduced by much between 2014 and 2018 despite so many efforts. The number can only be brought down by the involvement of the communities in the worst-hit countries.

Everyone  right from political parties to public and private sector companies  has to understand their role in this anti-malaria campaign.

A world free of malaria

A malaria-free world is one of the major goals of the World Health Organisation since its establishment in the year 1948. While the malaria eradication program of the WHO between the year 1955 and 1969 worked to eradicate the disease from various countries, it still could not eradicate the disease in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The 68th World Health Assembly held in 2015 endorsed a bold plan to eliminate 90% of the burden of malaria  both death and infection  by the year 2030. The plan also aims to eliminate malaria from at least 35 more countries. It is important to note that elimination is different from eradication. The former means breaking the chain of transmission of the disease and bringing the number of cases to zero in a given area along with continuous methods to prevent re-establishment of transmission. No interventions are needed once the disease is eradicated completely.

The world has only eradicated smallpox and cattle plague (rinderpest) so far and is on the verge of eradicating polio. However, eradication is not an easy task, it needs constant efforts.

Only with rapid diagnosis, adequate prevention measures and availability of treatment can the number of cases be controlled. However, according to a recent report published by the WHO Strategic Advisory Group on Malaria Eradication, the development of insecticide resistance and resistance to antimalarial drugs, along with a lack of financial support may hinder the progress of the program.

For more information, read our article on Malaria.

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.
Comes amid rumours that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is in poor health

China has dispatched a team to North Korea including medical experts to advise on North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, according to three people familiar with the situation.

The trip by the Chinese doctors and officials comes amid conflicting reports about the health of the North Korean leader. Reuters was unable to immediately determine what the trip by the Chinese team signaled in terms of Kim's health.

A delegation led by a senior member of the Chinese Communist Party's International Liaison Department left Beijing for North Korea on Thursday, two of the people said. The department is the main Chinese body dealing with neighbouring North Korea.

The sources declined to be identified given the sensitivity of the matter.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un pictured during his last public appearance on April 11, attending a politburo meeting of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, center right, his wife Ri Sol Ju, right, Chinese President Xi Jinping, center left, and his wife Peng Liyuan taken on June 20, 2019

South Korean people watch a TV broadcasting a news report on North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Seoul, South Korea, April 21. China has dispatched a team to North Korea including medical experts to advise on North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, according to three people familiar with the situation

The Liaison Department could not be reached by Reuters for comment late on Friday. China's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment late on Friday.

Daily NK, a Seoul-based website, reported earlier this week that Kim was recovering after undergoing a cardiovascular procedure on April 12. It cited one unnamed source in North Korea.

South Korean government officials and a Chinese official with the Liaison Department challenged subsequent reports suggesting that Kim was in grave danger after surgery. South Korean officials said they had detected no signs of unusual activity in North Korea.

On Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump also downplayed earlier reports that Kim was gravely ill. 'I think the report was incorrect,' Trump told reporters, but he declined to say if he had been in touch with North Korean officials.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (centre) visiting the construction site of the Sunchon phosphatic fertiliser factory in South Pyongan province on January 7

US President Donald Trump and North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un stand on North Korean soil while walking to South Korea in the Demilitarized Zone on June 30, 2019

On Friday, a South Korean source told Reuters their intelligence was that Kim was alive and would likely make an appearance soon. The person said he did not have any comment on Kim's current condition or any Chinese involvement.

An official familiar with U.S. intelligence said that Kim was known to have health problems but they had no reason to conclude he was seriously ill or unable eventually to reappear in public.

A U.S. State department spokeswoman had no comment. U.S. Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, when asked about Kim's health on Fox News after Trump spoke said, 'I don't have anything I can share with you tonight, but the American people should know we're watching the situation very keenly.'

North Korea is one of the world's most isolated and secretive countries, and the health of its leaders is treated as a matter of state security. Reuters has not been able to independently confirm any details on Kim's whereabouts or condition.

North Korea's state media last reported on Kim's whereabouts when he presided over a meeting on April 11. State media did not report that he was in attendance at an event to mark the birthday of his grandfather, Kim Il Sung, on April 15, an important anniversary in North Korea.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un pictured on December 4, 2019. The trip by the Chinese doctors and officials comes amid conflicting reports about the health of the North Korean leader

On Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump also downplayed earlier reports that Kim was gravely ill

Kim, believed to be 36, has disappeared from coverage in North Korean state media before. In 2014, he vanished for more than a month and North Korean state TV later showed him walking with a limp. Speculation about his health has been fanned by his heavy smoking, apparent weight gain since taking power and family history of cardiovascular problems.

When Kim Jong Un's father, Kim Jong Il, suffered a stroke in 2008, South Korean media reported at the time that Chinese doctors were involved in his treatment along with French physicians.

Last year, Chinese President Xi Jinping made the first state visit in 14 years by a Chinese leader to North Korea, an impoverished state that depends on Beijing for economic and diplomatic support.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un walks with his wife Ri Sol Ju at Pyongyang Station in Pyongyang, North Korea, in January last year. An official familiar with U.S. intelligence said that Kim was known to have health problems but they had no reason to conclude he was seriously ill or unable eventually to reappear in public

China is North Korea's chief ally and the economic lifeline for a country hard-hit by U.N. sanctions, and has a keen interest in the stability of the country with which it shares a long, porous border.

Kim is a third-generation hereditary leader who came to power after his father Kim Jong Il died in 2011 from a heart attack. He has visited China four times since 2018.

Trump held unprecedented summits with Kim in 2018 and 2019 as part of a bid to persuade him to give up North Korea's nuclear arsenal.
Much of Cheshire is shut down at the moment, in response to the outbreak of COVID-19. However, what remains open for use are the numerous hiking trails around town.

As the weather warms, residents stuck inside at the moment may want to take advantage of these natural resources, which provide not only much-needed exercise but also a chance to escape into nature for a while.

In the summer of 2018, The Cheshire Herald ran a series of articles detailing the different trails around town. We thought now would be a good time to revisit those experiences, sharing with you what we saw on some of the trails open to the public.

Its important to remember that all social distancing protocols should be adhered to while hiking, and that reports of mass gatherings at these or any other open space areas of town could force their closure.

It posits that achievements attained through work and sacrifice do more to buoy spirits and provide a sense of accomplishment than any success that is simply given. Beginning a business, seeing it grow from the ground up, and watching as it becomes a financial triumph is, according to this theory, more satisfying than, say, winning the lottery.

If true, then perhaps one hiking trail in Cheshire above all offers such an opportunity for earned success.

In 2018, on a rather breezy morning in July, The Cheshire Herald ventured out in search of something. It could be heard in the distance  a faint sound playing underneath the noise of nature all around  but it was unmistakable.

The story in the July 12 edition of the paper described it as thus:

One can hear the destination ahead well before it comes into view.

The steep incline of the trail begins to level off around a small, narrow bend when, off in the distance, the first whispers of rushing water can be discerned. As one moves ever forward and upward, the sound becomes louder until, suddenly, the trees open and hikers are allowed their first glimpse of the raging waterfall before them  streams of white splashing over jagged rocks on their way down to the brook below.

Even when one expects it, the scene is enough to give pause to any nature enthusiast.

It is Roaring Brook Falls, the highest single-drop falls in Connecticut and one of the most popular destinations for not only Cheshire residents but also those from all around the state and region.

Aside from the Linear Trail, perhaps no hiking trail is as popular as the one leading to Roaring Brook Falls. Though the trail begins easy enough  the tease of a leisurely stroll through nature  it quickly begins its ascent.

Leaning ever forward, with knees bent and muscles firing all at once, the steep inclines that mark the way toward the falls plateau every so often to provide respite and a chance to take in views that make the climb worth it.

And then, one comes to the waterfall itself  the cascading foamy white water that runs down the edge of the mountain from which it originates, but never, it seems, in too much of a hurry. The Herald described it this way back in 2018:

The climb tests ones stamina more than courage and, eventually, the trail begins to level off again, but (then) narrows quite considerably and the terrain becomes more difficult to navigate. Following along near the edge of the ravine, the sounds of the waterfall can be heard and the gorge below, though obstructed by trees and plant life, becomes visible.

The trail continues on until the first glimpses of rushing water can be seen. Then, the route veers upwards sharply, as protruding rocks and tree roots provide the footing to the first viewing area for the falls.

Though the water is not raging at the moment, as it routinely does after a hard rain storm or the end of a snowy winter, the spectacle of the waterfall is still impressive  The view of the falls from the first location is inspiring, and one can choose to stay there or climb up to a second and a third area  each providing different angles of the falls and each requiring a steeper climb to the top.

According to state records, Roaring Brook Falls is considered the highest single-drop of its kind in Connecticut, coming in at 80 feet  a full 10 feet higher than Kent Falls.

The property was privately owned until the 1970s, when the Town, along with the Cheshire Land Trust, began looking for ways to purchase and preserve the land.

The acquisition was completed in 1978 for approximately $194,000, and those who were instrumental in making the deal a reality promised that generations yet unborn would find Roaring Brook still a pristine wilderness to enjoy well into the future, according to a Dec. 14, 1978 Cheshire Herald front-page article.

It is true that the falls are the highlight of the climb, but there are still plenty of other sites and sounds to enjoy along the way. For instance, at one point early in the journey, a rather large, exposed brick chimney appears in a clearing. What at one point surrounded this chimney remains a mystery, although it is likely that it is a remnant of the old mill that was erected on the property and powered by the running water nearby.

There are ponds covered almost entirely by lilypads, and special stone markers placed in honor of those who helped turn the land into an open space activity for all to use.

And while one cant ever guarantee a run-in with some wildlife, many a hiker has reported finding a deer or two passing by, no doubt on route to find some food or a place to rest for the evening.

Some have referred to Roaring Brook Falls as Cheshires hidden gem and, while it may not be that hidden from residents, it still perhaps tends to attract fewer out-of-town hikers than some nearby trails.

That, of course, is to the benefit of every Cheshirite looking for a way to enjoy the outdoors, get a little exercise, and immerse themselves in nature.
When you think of dragsters as well as gob-smacking acceleration and speed you also think of apoplectic engine roar and flames being thrown in all directions from high-octane machines.

But not this one. That's because it has a silent electric powertrain and zero emissions.

It's a one-off creation by Ford called the Mustang Cobra Jet 1400. It's no slouch - capable of hitting a top speed of 170mph and completing a quarter-mile sprint in a mere eight seconds. And no, it doesn't need a 400-metre-long extension cable to do it.

Silent speedster; This is Ford's new Mustang dragster that can hit 170mph - and it's powered entirely be electric

Ford released images of its first factory-developed EV dragster prototype this week, confirming the Cobra 1400 produces a massive - you guessed it - 1,400 horsepower.

It comes ahead of the showroom arrival of the American firm's all-electric Mustang Mach-E SUV, which is due to be priced from 40,270 in the UK.

The entry-spec family wagon promises a 'target range' of 280 miles from its 76kWh battery and puts out 254bhp. The pricier extended-range version is a 9,730 premium, which pays for a 99kWh battery pack for a 370-mile quoted range and a power output of 281bhp - that's a fifth of the deranged - but super green - Jet 1400 dragster.

Generating the incredible performance figures of this highly-tuned EV is a single - but relatively massive - electric motor mounted up front being juiced by batteries.

However, how many batteries and the capacity is currently being kept under wraps.

As is the range of the battery pack, which for all we know could only be good for one or two sprints before the drag racer needs to be plugged into the mains.

It puts out a massive 1,500Nm of torque which, being electric, is pretty much entirely available instantaneously at the dab of a throttle pedal.

When you think of dragsters - like this one pictured at Santa Pad Raceway in Podington, Bedfordshire - you think of apoplectic engine roar and flames being thrown in all directions from high-octane machines

The Mustang Cobra 1400 is quite different to your traditional dragster: This extreme electric vehicle was created to pay homage to Ford's original factory-developed drag-racer but with zero emissions

It comes ahead of the arrival of the American firm's all-electric Mustang Mach-E family SUV (pictured), which is due to be priced from 40,270 in the UK

That means - like all dragsters - it's likely to be an absolute handful to drive, especially trying to launch it and trying to generate grip for a quarter-mile charge.

Fortunately, Ford has kitted it out with a full roll-cage, uprated suspension and huge brakes to make sure it goes and stops with the utmost safety (by dragster standards, anyway).

As you would expect of a vehicle of this type, the rear tyres are as wide as a shopping trolley and it gets a wheelie-bar to stop it flipping into the air when the pilot floors it off the line.

There are also extra provisions in place for the end of each quarter-mile dash, as it comes with a built-in parachute system to help it slow down and the dinner-plate size brake discs just aren't doing the job quickly enough.

The US car maker has fitted the ferociously-fast dragster with a wheelie-bar to stop it flipping on launch

It also has a parachute to slow it at after a quarter-mile sprint in under 8 seconds

The car has been designed to pay homage to Ford's original factory-developed drag racer, which was the 1968 Mustang 428 Cobra Jet powered by a carbureted 7-litre V8 engine.

That only produced a comparatively paltry 400bhp - just a fraction of what this souped-up volt-jacked 2020 creation has in its armoury.

Commenting on the electric dragster, Dave Pericak, global director for Ford Icons, said: 'Ford has always used motorsport to demonstrate innovation.

'Electric powertrains give us a completely new kind of performance and the all-electric Cobra Jet 1400 is one example of pushing new technology to the absolute limit.

'We're excited to showcase what's possible in an exciting year when we also have the all-electric Mustang Mach-E joining the Mustang family.'

Is electric drag racing likely to take off? We have our reservations about US fans going wild for a transition from flame-throwing 'top-fuel' dragsters to 'does anyone have a charger for a new Ford?' machines. Though we might be proven wrong...
A woman from Uttar Pradesh's Shamli district was wrongly identified as having contracted COVID-19 infection after a laboratory apparently mismatched her samples with that of her namesake from another district who tested positive, officials said.

The woman was discharged on Friday from a hospital in Shamli where she was quarantined while her actual test results are still awaited, they added.

According to Additional Chief Medical Officer (Shamli) Phal Kumar, the mistake happened as Meerut Medical College wrongly sent a report that the woman had tested positive but it turned out to be that of another woman with the same name.

The woman along with her her three family members gave their samples that had been sent to the medical college after she had come from Panipat in Haryana to stay at Ragana village in Shamli district one week ago.

After receiving the initial report, the health department took precautionary measures and admitted the woman to an isolation ward in a hospital on Thursday night while her three family members were also shifted to a quarantine ward.

The entire street where they were staying was sealed by authorities.

On Friday early morning, the mistake came to light that the woman was wrongly declared as positive.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Almost one in four deaths recorded in Northern Ireland in one week were linked to coronavirus, new figures suggest (AP)

Almost one in four deaths recorded in Northern Ireland in one week were linked to coronavirus, new figures suggest.

In a seven-day period, 101 of 424 fatalities registered here mentioned Covid-19 on the death certificate.

A third of deaths have occurred in care homes, it also emerged yesterday.

The data, released by Northern Ireland's official statistics agency, came as a further 15 fatalities were confirmed.

The known death toll, based on these separate figures from the Department of Health, now stands at 278.

A total of 3,122 coronavirus cases have been confirmed here - up 106 in the past 24 hours. The true total is likely to be far greater.

In the Republic, 37 more deaths were announced last night.

The total death toll there is now 1,014.

Other data published yesterday by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) gives new detail on the virus's impact here. Based on figures to last Friday, it shows:

276 Covid-19 related deaths occurred in Northern Ireland by April 17;

This was around 30% higher than the figure recorded by the Public Health Agency for the same date (212);

A third of the 276 fatalities (93) occurred in care homes, with three in hospices;

Thursday April 9 saw the greatest number of Covid-19 deaths occurring in a single day - 25 were recorded.

People aged 75 and over account for almost 75% of virus-related deaths.

The 96 deaths in care homes and hospices involved 44 separate establishments, the bulletin said.

Two sets of figures on virus-linked deaths are published in Northern Ireland.

The PHA data is based on patients who had previously tested positive for the virus.

Nisra's statistics cover all deaths where the virus has been included on a death certificate, including those who did not have their diagnosis confirmed by a test.

The Nisra bulletin gave further details on the 276 deaths mentioning Covid-19 on the death certificate, up to April 17.

Of these, 166 (60.1%) occurred in hospital, 93 (33.7%) in care homes, three (1.1%) in hospices and 14 (5.1%) at residential addresses or another location.

The number of deaths registered in Northern Ireland in the week ending April 17 was 424 - 134 more (46.2% higher) than the five-year average of 290.

Read More

At yesterday's daily Press briefing, First Minister Arlene Foster and Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill expressed condolences to those who have lost loved ones.

Both also referred to DUP politicians Edwin Poots and Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, who have lost their fathers, and the former Sinn Fein MLA Oliver McMullan, whose daughter died this week.

Across the UK, there have been a further 684 coronavirus-related deaths in hospitals, the Department of Health has said.

That takes the total number of Covid-19 patients to have died in UK hospitals to 19,506, but the growth rate of the disease continues to slow.
Humanity has fought pandemics in the past centuries. Still, for the first very time, countries, including Latin America, possess the most powerful weapon to beat COVID-19: digital technologies that enable the collection of personal data and deliver a real-time update on the COVID-19.

To track the spread of the disease and monitor the movement of people in communities, countries have developed mobile applications that require personal information of its citizens. Digital technology might help address the coronavirus outbreak in Latin America. Still, in a region where countries do not have the same degree of privacy protection and enforcement, the collection of personal data for these apps may also threaten the privacy of citizens, according to a recent article.



Utilizing Personal Data

Data utilization to curb the pandemic comes in three main ways. First is contact tracing, which employs location data to track the movement people in the community as well as the people they have interacted with, such as that of South Korea and Israel. Second is modeling, which uses geolocation and mobility data to help explain how the disease spreads. Lastly, the mobility permit applications, which determines whether a person should observe self-isolation based on their risk of being a carrier.

In Colombia, the government issued a notice to cell phone service providers requiring them to hand in customers' personal information to the National Department of Planning. To come up with better plans to distribute health services in the city, Medellin launched a geo-referencing strategy to gather information on citizens and potential carriers of the virus.

In Brazil, the city of Recife in the northeast has been monitoring 700,000 mobile users to make sure that they comply with social isolation measures. The Brazilian telecom association presented "a unique data solution to monitor population mobility, displacement, and agglomeration points and identify situations of the concentration of people at risk of contamination by the new coronavirus." Meanwhile, the mayor of Sao Paulo is working closely with telecom companies to use targeted SMS messages for neighborhoods posing a significant risk for widespread contamination, as well as effectively profile and rank low-income communities.



Check these out!



Disadvantages

Even though data-driven responses can be useful in helping address the COVID-19 crisis in the region, it can easily be used to target minorities or political opponents, especially in countries with authoritarian-leaning governments.

Existing data-protection laws in several Latin American countries such as Brazil's 2018 General Data Protection Law, Mexico's 2010 Data Protection law, and Colombia's 2012 Habeas Data law all rely on user consent to proceed on personal data collection and use. But permission, once given by the citizens, introduces another question on how they can control the ways their personal information is being used.

Although Brazil's congress passed a law similar to the European Union's privacy law, which contains additional protections and rights for individuals, the date when provisions would start to apply has been postponed multiple times - most recently because of the pandemic, to protect small business from facing new costs or rules - and no data authority, like a regulatory agency or an official in charge, is still in place.



Risk-Mitigation

According to a recent editorial, what policymakers can do for now is to create legal and policy limits regarding how the information is used and demand that risk-mitigating tools to be included in data-driven strategies from the very beginning such as a data minimization policy that indicates governments should only collect the vital information needed.

The article also suggests governments must limit the storage period of this information and use it for purposes defined to the pandemic. Lastly, programs must be transparent with public and open access to the rules, to allow monitoring and evaluation by the courts and civil society.

As of April 23, there are around 120,000 cases of COVID-19 across Latin America, with Brazil having the highest cases recorded at more than 46,000.
House of Penance review: 'an inspired and creepy take on one of America's lesser-known eccentrics'

If you like Crimson Peak, you'll love House of Penance
CAIRO  Carfuls of hooting men careened through the half-empty streets of Cairo, then skidded to a halt on Qasr el Nil, the most famous bridge over the Nile. A newly married couple leapt out, trailed by festive relatives, hoping for a coveted photo at an iconic beauty spot.

The police, charged with enforcing social distancing, had other ideas. A tow truck prowled back and forth on the bridge, siren blaring, as officers barked orders at wedding parties and other lingerers to move on.

The same scene played out over several days last week in Cairo, where the minor matter of a global coronavirus pandemic has failed to quell couples ardor. Like many others across the Middle East, they have pushed ahead with weddings  even as wedding halls and hotels have shuttered, honeymoons evaporated and curfews slammed down.
Mike Bloomberg is spending millions on coronavirus testing and organizing contact tracing in a bid to rebuild his reputation after his failed race for the White House.

The billionaire former New York City mayor is spending tens of millions of dollars to bolster social services, feed first responders and set up a contact tracing program in the US's virus epicenter as the US death toll from the pandemic continues to surge.

This comes just two months after his presidential bid came to a sudden embarrassing end when he bowed out of the race after winning only one territory -American Samoa - on Super Tuesday.

The Democrat's latest philanthropy is likely to score him some points, as Donald Trump's leadership during the pandemic has repeatedly been called into question.

After a major blunder where Trump made baffling claims about injecting disinfectant into the body as a coronavirus cure Thursday, the White House is reportedly considering forcing the president to take a backseat at his daily coronavirus briefings to the nation.

Mike Bloomberg is spending millions on coronavirus testing and organizing in a bid to rebuild his reputation after his failed race for the White House

Bloomberg plans to spend $10.5 million to build a contact tracing program, to help local officials track the spread of the virus and take steps to contain it.

The work will center on New York City, but will also go into neighboring jurisdictions.

The effort, which requires a massive data operation and significant budget, was seen as a natural fit for the billionaire, according to two people close to the former mayor who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Beyond the New York contact tracing work, Bloomberg has also announced a $40 million pledge to support efforts to curb the spread of coronavirus in low- and middle-income nations.

A Bloomberg aide also said the New Yorker has had personal conversations with a number of European leaders in recent weeks about the coronavirus response, and is planning to roll out a new global initiative soon that is partly the result of those talks.

The move to channel his massive personal fortune into the pandemic is in line with Bloomberg's long-standing interest in scientific research and public health.

His allies say it plays to his strengths.

'He is really good at a lot of things, but he's really, really good in crisis, in organizing, in bringing people together and making plans and executing,' said former Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, who served as a national co-chair for Bloomberg's presidential bid.

Medical workers assist people standing in line for coronavirus testing in New York. Bloomberg plans to spend $10.5 million to build a contact tracing program in NYC , to help local officials track the spread of the virus and take steps to contain it

Beyond the New York contact tracing work, Bloomberg has also announced a $40 million pledge to support efforts to curb the spread of coronavirus in low- and middle-income nations

But it's also an opportunity for him to rebuild his image that was badly damaged earlier this year by accusations from some Democrats that he was trying to buy the White House.

He spent more than $1 billion on his presidential campaign only for it to result in just one primary victory.

George Arzt, a veteran New York political operative and former press secretary for Mayor Ed Koch, said Bloomberg's primary loss launched a month of negative headlines, including stories about failing to pay staff as promised.

Bloomberg's work on the coronavirus response could help turn his image around.

'He had a couple of bad stories, and he needed some reputation doctoring,' Arzt said.

'He did that by giving the money for testing. [New York] Gov. Cuomo, who was not always on friendly terms when Mike was mayor, said glowing things about him.'

'When you have the resources, you can mend your reputation quite easily,' Arzt added.

Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer said that, during his mayoral tenure, Bloomberg was known for making charitable contributions that helped make up for some of the steep cuts he enacted in the city's budget, or for donations that might help quiet his opposition.

Brewer said Bloomberg's philanthropy could be politically motivated.

'I don't know how much of it was from the heart, because you believe in it, or how much was strategic,' she said.

As a presidential candidate, Bloomberg didn't shy away from the advantage his billions have afforded him. He often touted the successes he helped pay for, noting his spending helped shut down 300 coal-fired power plants, strengthen gun laws in 20 states and flip the US House to a Democratic majority.

But those directly involved in some of the initiatives Bloomberg has launched in response to the coronavirus pandemic say, regardless of the motivation, he's filling a vacuum in leadership left by the White House.

Stephen Benjamin, the Columbia, South Carolina, mayor who served as a co-chair on Bloomberg's campaign, has participated in the weekly conversations with mayors and said many feel unhappy with President Trump's response.

'There are challenges with the messages resonating from the White House,' he said, pointing to the president's disinfectant blunder this week.

'But there are also inconsistencies coming from our governors,' Benjamin said. 'In trying to cut through the noise and come up with thoughtful, public-health-driven, pragmatic solutions to help our communities deal with it - that's Mike Bloomberg's and Bloomberg's Philanthropy's sweet spot.'

'He is really good at a lot of things, but he's really, really good in crisis, in organizing, in bringing people together and making plans and executing,' said former Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter of Bloomberg's response to the pandemic

Trump's handling of the crisis has drawn much criticism from state governors and the public.

Trump's presence at daily coronavirus press briefings may be cut back as the White House looks to prevent him from alienating key voters in November's White House race.

The White House has expressed concern that his presence may be causing more harm than good as his approval ratings slide back down into the 40s and recent polls show him to have fallen behind presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden in key states such as Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

Concerns grew after he suggested injecting disinfectant into the body as a coronavirus cure on Thursday, sparking a frenzy on social media as memes mocking his baffling claims went viral.

The president has also alienated several governors, coming to blows in particular with New York's Andrew Cuomo on multiple occasions.

Last week Trump was forced to double back on claims he had 'total authority' to decide when states could ease lockdowns and reopen after Cuomo blasted him for being 'dictatorial'.

Donald Trump's handling of the crisis has drawn much criticism from state governors and the public. His presence at daily coronavirus press briefings may be cut back as the White House looks to prevent him from alienating key voters in November's White House race

Bloomberg's renewed popularity would especially come as a blow to Trump as there has been no love lost between the politicians.

Bloomberg, whose wealth far exceeds that of the president, belittled Trump on the presidential campaign trail.

Trump reveled when Bloomberg bowed out, calling him 'Mini Mike' and saying he 'didn't have what it takes' to be president.

While Bloomberg's allies say their fields of influence may overlap because of the coronavirus response, they note the two haven't spoken since the weeks following Trump's November 2016 victory.

At the time, the president-elect recited his personal cellphone number to Bloomberg before the men hung up, but the former mayor didn't write the number down.

When an aide expressed surprise, Bloomberg indicated there was no point in writing down the number because he would never use it, according to an aide who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe the private conversation.

While Trump made his name in real estate, Bloomberg built a personal fortune from his namesake financial data and media organization. He served three terms in City Hall before running for president.

As he turns his focus to the coronavirus, Bloomberg is leaning on his political connections to connect local officials with national leaders.

On Friday, local leaders heard from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Former Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton have joined previous events.
World leaders have pledged to speed up work on tests, drugs and vaccines against the coronavirus and to share them around the globe. Absent from the World Health Organization video conference was the United States, whose leader Donald Trump has come under renewed criticism for suggesting patients could be treated with disinfectant.



Also absent from the UN health body's conference was China, where the virus surfaced.

French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa were among those who joined in the launch of what the WHO has billed as a "landmark collaboration" to fight the pandemic and ensure equal access to treatments for rich and poor.

"We are facing a common threat which we can only defeat with a common approach," WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said as he opened the virtual meeting.

"Experience has told us that even when tools are available they have not been equally available to all. We cannot allow that to happen."

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said: "A world free of Covid-19 requires the most massive public health effort in history."

The appeal came a day after the US president prompted an outcry with his suggestion that heat or sunlight could weaken Covid-19, or that industrial cleansers could be used to treat patients.

"Is there a way we can do something like that, by injection inside or almost a cleaning?" Trump mused during a televised briefing. "It sounds interesting to me."

As experts -- and disinfectant manufacturers -- rushed to caution against any such dangerous experiment, the president tried to walk back his comments claiming he had been speaking "sarcastically."

The hardest-hit country by far in the global pandemic, the US had on Saturday recorded 52,217 deaths and more than 925,758 infections.

New cases

Confirmed coronavirus were at 2.8 million worldwide, with deaths at 197,368.

Story continues

New reported cases seem to have levelled off at about 80,000 a day, as distancing measures have taken root and the daily death toll in Western countries appeared to be falling -- a sign hopeful epidemiologists have been looking for.

Yet other nations are still in the early stages of the fight and the World Health Organization has warned strict measures should remain in place.

New cases were accelerating in countries with low testing or late and limited mitigation like Russia, Sudan, Somalia, Nigeria, the Maldives and Guatemala.

In Argentina, with some 3,400 cases and 167 deaths so far, prisoners rioted and demanded their release from a Buenos Aires jail on Friday after confirmation of a coronavirus case inside the facility.

(with AFP, Reuters)
Forty-day memorial for Qassem Soleimani at the Grand Mosalla in Tehran

By Parisa Hafezi

DUBAI (Reuters) - Iran will destroy U.S. warships if its security is threatened in the Gulf, the head of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards told state TV on Thursday, a day after U.S. President Donald Trump warned Tehran over "harassment" of U.S. vessels.

"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," Major General Hossein Salami said. "Security of the Persian Gulf is part of Iran's strategic priorities."

Trump said on Wednesday he had instructed the U.S. Navy to fire on any Iranian ships that harass it at sea, but said later he was not changing the militarys rules of engagement.

Earlier this month, the U.S. military said 11 Revolutionary Guards naval vessels from the Guards navy came close to U.S. Navy and coast guard ships in the Gulf, calling the moves dangerous and provocative.

Tehran blamed its longtime adversary for the incident. On Thursday, Iran's Foreign Ministry summoned the Swiss ambassador in Tehran, who represents U.S. interests in the country, over the recent tensions between Tehran and Washington.

"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," Salami said.

"Americans have experienced our power in the past and must learn from it."

Tensions between Iran and the United States have escalated since 2018, when Trump withdrew from Tehran's 2015 nuclear deal with six world powers and reimposed crippling sanctions.

MILITARY SATELLITE

Animosity reached historic heights in early January when top Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani was killed in a U.S. drone strike in Baghdad. Iran retaliated on Jan. 9 by firing missiles at bases in Iraq where U.S. troops were stationed.

Story continues

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif suggested that Trump should focus on saving U.S. service members from the new coronavirus outbreak.

"The U.S. military is hit by over 5,000 #covid19 infections.

...Also, U.S. forces have no business 7,000 miles away from home, provoking our sailors off our OWN Persian Gulf shores," Zarif tweeted.

Iran's clerical rulers consider the U.S. military presence in the Middle East a threat to the Islamic Republic's security.

Stoking antagonism over Tehran's nuclear and missile programs, Iran's Guards said on Wednesday they had successfully launched the country's first military satellite into orbit. The announcement drew protests from Washington.

The U.S. military says the same long-range ballistic technology used to put satellites into orbit could allow Tehran to launch longer-range missiles, perhaps someday with 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.

(Writing by Parisa Hafezi; Editing by Mark Heinrich, William Maclean)
Kameleon007/iStockBy CHEYENNE HASLETT, ABC News



(NEW YORK) -- Millions of small business owners found renewed hope on Friday, after three weeks of waiting for some positive news, as the president signed another $310 billion over to the depleted Paycheck Protection Program, a loan program intended to buoy local businesses around the country for eight weeks.



But for many small business owners, that glimmer of hope was quickly tapered by a reminder of their own experiences. After weeks of wringing their options dry as they tried to secure a loan at the same time as 1.6 million other companies, many eventually lost the race against time and watched the $349 billion program dry up.



On Monday morning, the Small Business Administration will again start to accept applications for PPP loans, which can be forgiven after eight weeks as long as businesses use the money to keep employees on payroll and pay utilities.



This time around, experts say the $310 billion is expected to run out even quicker than before, as nearly one million applications sit idle, having missed out on the last round.



Nick Ponton, who owns a fashion production company in Manhattan, is one of the million.



Most of his business is fashion shows and photo shoots, neither of which are happening at the moment. Instead, Ponton has linked up with others in the fashion industry to make and deliver cloth masks to hospitals.



It's helped to keep his mind off of PPP, he said, and to remind him what others are going through on the front lines. But time is running out for his business.



If he doesn't receive a loan by May 1, he plans to furlough himself and his one employee.



Whatever "gas is left in the tank" will go toward his employee's health insurance, he said, adding, "I'm not going to leave her without health insurance during a pandemic."



For much of the last month, Ponton has searched high and low to find a bank that would process his application. He initially went to his own bank, Bank of America, but was told they were only able to review applications from customers that already had lines of credit open.



The experience left him furious, Ponton said.



"We have played by the rules for a decade and the once in a million times that we need this ... you're told that your healthy business can't be serviced, because they're only giving money to people that owe them money," Ponton said.



Then, after watching billions of dollars drain from the program every day, Ponton tried something new -- something he doesn't, in hindsight, recommend.



"That desperation, or that sense of urgency, is why I found myself having sent my tax returns and confidential financial information to a bank I'd never heard of, in Florida, over the internet, via a recommendation on Twitter," Ponton said.



He panicked, eventually pulling his application, and finally successfully submitted another application with First Republic, a smaller bank that caters to a high-income clientele. On Friday, he got assigned a number in the queue: 361,426.



Still, Ponton feels lucky. As a middle-aged white male, he acknowledged that he likely has had a far easier time than minority-owned businesses, women-owned businesses or businesses run by non-English speakers -- all of which statistically have less capital and face systemic challenges.



"It just made me realize there are so many other small businesses who need this help who don't have access to the system to get it," Ponton said.



Ponton is relatively lucky despite not actually receiving any financial help from the government just yet.



Others, like Brooklyn, New York, restaurant owners Debbie and Kevin Adey, have waited about two weeks without any word from their bank, Chase.



Kevin, the chef at their Italian restaurant, Faro, and Debbie, who runs the business side, opened up shop five years ago -- their first restaurant together. They let go of their entire staff of 26 on March 16, when New York City shut down all of its bars and restaurants.



Some of their employees have since left the city, the Adeys said. Many are on unemployment. For others, it's worse. Some aren't responding, perhaps because they're no longer able to afford to pay their phone bills, Debbie said.



"Unfortunately, I had somebody ask me to sleep in the restaurant," she said. She wasn't able to say yes.



"I just can't get involved in that, you know? It breaks my heart, but I just can't go there," she said. "But that's tough. That weighs heavy, they're like family."



As they wait, the Adeys find it hard to see how a "new normal" will work for the restaurant industry. So far, it's been that fear of the unknown that has kept the Adeys from trying curbside pick-up or delivery, they said.

"It's so easy to infect other people, even if you're not showing symptoms. I just can't imagine trying to explain to somebody's kid [who got infected] -- it was what I had to do, you know, we had to go in and make the pasta," Kevin Adey said.



On the other side of Manhattan, Andrew Zebrowski has felt the reverberations from the hits taken by his colleagues in the restaurant industry. For Zebrowski, a co-founder of the two-year-old Hoboken Brewing Company, they're his biggest clients.



He estimated his company is currently making about 15% of the profits it made last year. These days, Hoboken Brewing has pivoted to selling their beer from a local bar that's turned itself into an adult lemonade stand, selling outside from a street-facing garage.



"We did everything promptly, right away. Got everything in correctly, done. Triple checked it, crossed all the T's dotted the I's," Zebrowski said of their loan application. "We find ourselves checking every morning, but nothing yet."



He doesn't know any other small business owners who have received the PPP loan, and said his own business can't go on much longer without dipping into their own bank accounts to pay the bills -- a harrowing prospect for Zebrowski, who has a 1 1/2-year-old and a 9-week-old baby.



But that's also given him plenty of reasons to be grateful for.



"I am trying to stay positive," he said. "I know people have it worse."



Copyright  2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
Update: After this article was published, the special election for New York City Council District 37 in Brooklyn on June 23 was canceled through an executive order from Gov. Andrew Cuomo. It had not been part of the original order canceling the state Senate, Assembly and Queens borough president special elections on the same date.

With confusion swirling about a handful of city, state and federal contests in which the special election and primaries would share a June 23 date and put some candidates on the same ballot twice, Gov. Andrew Cuomo sought to simplify matters this week.

On Friday evening, the governor signed an executive order canceling the four state legislative special elections, as well as the Queens borough president special election in New York City, all of which were scheduled for June 23. Instead, just the scheduled primaries for each of those races will take place.

Further complicating matters, however, the governors order doesnt mention the special election contests to fill former Rep. Chris Collins old seat in Buffalo and an open New York City Council seat vacated by Rafael Espinal in Brooklyn, suggesting they will still be held on June 23.

Due to the risk of spreading the coronavirus, Cuomo in March had rescheduled seven special elections from April to June 23, the states original primary date for state and federal legislative elections. That meant that if those seats also had competitive primary elections, candidates running in the special would have their name repeated on the same ballot for the primary, a confusing situation for many voters.

To avoid complications, Cuomo on Friday canceled the special elections for state Senate District 50 near Syracuse, which had been held by Robert Antonacci, and for Assembly Districts 12 on Long Island, 31 in Queens and 136 near Rochester. Those seats will remain empty and be filled by the general election in November.

Cuomo also canceled the special election for Queens borough president in Queens. Acting Queens Borough President Sharon Lee will continue serving until the role is filled in the November general election. Its unclear whether the winner of the November elections will take office immediately.

But Cuomos order doesnt mention two of the special elections  that for Congressional District 27 in Western New York and New York City Council District 37 in Brooklyn. Unlike some of the special elections he canceled, where there were no contested primaries to cause confusion, both races pose potential complications.

When asked on Saturday about the Western New York House race, Cuomo said, Legally, I cant affect a congressional race, a federal race. Secretary to the Governor Melissa DeRosa added that the governor has a mandate to call federal special elections, which is why its the only one that will remain a special on that day. She did not mention the New York City Council race that apparently is still happening. A spokesman for the governor did return a request for comment about these two races.

The special election to replace former Rep. Chris Collins had originally been one of the most closely watched races. Republican state Sen. Chris Jacobs is set to face Democrat Nate McMurray, who unsuccessfully challenged Collins in 2018. In February, before the coronavirus pandemic upended the election calendadr, Cuomo had set the special election for April 28, coinciding with the states original presidential primary date.

In this race, McMurray is the only candidate running the Democratic primary, so voters who support him will only vote for him once. Jacobs, on the other hand, in in a contested primary and is running against several other Republicans for the nomination for the November general election. So Jacobs is competing for the same seat in two races against a different set of candidates simultaneously. This may strip him of an advantage: Had he won the special election in April and taken office immediately, he would have enjoyed the power of incumbency for the June primary election.

Jacobs is facing another issue as well. There is a possibility that he wins the special election, where candidates are picked by party leaders, but loses the primary election. For example, while a voter may prefer Jacobs over McMurray, that person may choose a different Republican for the primary. This would result in a situation in which, despite being the incumbent, he wouldnt be able to run on the Republican line in November, potentially forcing him out of office at the end of the year.

Then, there is the issue of the Brooklyn City Council election, which appears to still be on. Many of the candidates on the ballot for the special election had also filed to run in the Democratic primary. But the New York City Board of Elections kicked off all but the party-backed candidate Darma Diaz from the primary ballot. Officials said the other candidates failed to get enough petition signatures, even under a new executive order from Cuomo that slashed the petitioning requirements due to the public health risks.

Even if Diaz loses the special election, she would face an uncontested primary under the current framework. The special election winner would be forced to give up the seat at the end of 2021. As it stands, Darma is effectively guaranteed the seat beginning in 2021, and canceling the special election would not have changed that.

However, if Cuomo had done what New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio had called for, this would not be the case. De Blasio, along with the New York City Campaign Finance Board and the good government group Common Cause, had called on the governor to keep the citys two special elections  for Queens borough president and the open City Council seat  and allow those winners to serve out the remainder of their predecessors terms through 2021. This would have permitted the wider slate of candidates in Brooklyn to run a competitive race.

Cuomo did the opposite, excluding the City Council race and keeping the general election for Queens borough president while canceling the special election, the winner of which would have only served until the end of 2020. De Blasio has not yet publicly addressed Cuomos executive order, and a spokesperson did not return a request for comment.
The Ebonyi State Commissioner for Health, Daniel Umezurike, has stated that Malaria could have an impact on the ability of infected patients of Covid-19 to recover from the disease.

He, therefore, called for the inclusion of Malaria on the list of pre-existing conditions which can make people vulnerable to becoming severely ill with the deadly virus.

Mr Umezuruike spoke in Abakaliki on Saturday, the states capital, at a press briefing to mark this years world Malaria Day with the theme: Zero malaria starts with me.

Malaria is a dangerous disease. It has (an) impact on other diseases, not just on COVID-19. So, if it is not in the list of pre-existing conditions, it should be added immediately, he said.

He noted that in the country, malaria has remained a public health problem and major cause of deaths in pregnant women and children of less than five years.

The commissioner said the state government has distributed 1.9 million insecticide mosquito treated nets to the people of the state and has taken other measures including free malaria testing in all the public hospitals in the state to prevent malaria.

He urged the people to always sleep under the nets to prevent mosquito bites, which, according to him, is the major cause of malaria.

Mr Umezuruike said In Nigeria and Ebonyi state in particular, malaria disease is still a public health problem. Over 60% of hospital attendants are caused by malaria and major cause of deaths in pregnant women and children less than five years.

The theme for this years world malaria day is zero malaria starts with me and the slogan is, confirm if your fever is malaria -Get tested.

READ ALSO:

What this means is that you must confirm that one has malaria before you say that he/she has malaria because of the years people go to the hospital and say they have malaria and they will be treated. This has led to lots of resistance in all the drugs used to treat malaria.

The commissioner denied some media reports in the state that people were dying in droves as a result of the Lassa fever outbreak.

He disclosed that two persons died of Lassa fever this year contrary to reports that the disease killed 15 persons.

With respect to Lassa fever, we have managed a total of 85 cases this year in Ebonyi State and unfortunately, we lost two people due to late presentation.

At present, all the patients that suffered Lassa fever this year have been discharged in the virology centre built by our governor in Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital Abakaliki (AE-FUTHA) and this is verifiable. If people are dying in droves in Ebonyi State, we would have still been having patients in the virology centre, the Commissioner said.
After a month of work, some nurses in Peru left a specialized hospital for people infected with the new coronavirus.

The health workers have a week-long leave before they're scheduled to return to the hospital in Lima.

Before departing, they are required to pass two tests conducted in the last week to detect an infection by the virus.

The compound was originally built to host athletes competing in the Panamerican Games in 2019, but the Peruvian government turned it into a COVID-19 specialized hospital.

According to health authorities in Peru, the hospital now tends to 700 infected patients, but the country has reported more than 21,000 cases of COVID-19 and 634 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 death.
The union representing correctional officers says 10 officers from Jacksonville and Mount Sterling were sent to assist at a COVID-affected prison and then not given time off to self-quarantine before being returned to their regular duty.

Five corrections officers from Jacksonville and five from Mount Sterling were among 50 statewide who temporarily were sent to Stateville Correctional Center in Crest Hill. The assistance was needed after an outbreak of coronavirus swept through the prison; five prisoners have died from the disease.

Lindsey Hess, media administrator for the Illinois Department of Corrections, said five tactical officers from Jacksonville Correctional Center and five officers from Western Illinois Correctional Center in Mount Sterling were among those called in.

AFSCME Council 31, which represents correctional officers, has filed a grievance over how the assignments were handled. The union contends management promised the officers they would remain on paid status for a 14-day self-quarantine period  which is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for those who believe they might have been exposed to the illness.

But after the officers completed from three to five weeks of working 12-hour shifts five days a week at Stateville, the leave reportedly was withdrawn.

AFSCME Council 31 spokesman Anders Lindall said the union is concerned about the safety of the officers and the potential spread of the disease in corrections facilities.

AFSCMEs top priority is safety and making sure that the employees involved could be immediately tested for COVID-19 before returning to work, Lindall said. That would not only prevent the potential spread of coronavirus infection between facilities, but ensure that anyone found to have contracted it could get needed medical attention while taking the COVID leave available to all state employees.

Some elected officials have raised similar concerns. Fulton County Board Chairman Pat OBrian said five officers from Illinois River Correctional Center in Canton were not tested or placed on paid self-quarantine after being told they would be, Illinois Center Square reported.

State Sen. Dave Koehler of Peoria and state Rep. Mike Unes of East Peoria are in talks with Gov. J.B. Pritzkers office over the issue. Pritzker has declined to comment and said the matter is the subject of labor negotiations.

Lindall said Illinois Department of Corrections management made any promise without talking to the union and that the issue could have been avoided if management worked with AFSCME in advance.

These unnecessary complications and confusion could have been avoided if the department had simply agreed upon a procedure  and prevented some supervisors from dealing directly with individual employees, he said.
Early in the outbreak, in New York and many other states, liquor stores were deemed essential retail businesses on the premise that our anxiety was going to require release. But there was a growing need as well for new rituals to replace the ones that had vanished from our lives  for a style of drinking that was neither rushed nor indiscriminate, presuming we were of sound health and blessed with the structural comforts. Gulping down a glass of wine from a screw-top bottle as you frantically heated leftovers because you got home late from work, again, was a habit it no longer seemed necessary to honor.

Two weeks ago, I emailed my friend Nelson looking for some instruction in stocking a proper bar, which I had never had, and set about first looking for a cocktail shaker to avoid the continued use of an old spaghetti sauce jar. Expensive decorative shakers were easy to find; workable ones, simple to open and close, with built in strainers were harder. The Usagi Cobbler, favored by Wirecutter, was also sold out on Amazon with no indication of when it would return.

How broad is the revival of cocktail culture? Another ostensible data point revealed itself to me last week. The prospect of indefinitely working at home meant that I needed an actual desk. I fell in love with one at an auction house; I didnt expect to get it, but when I bid for it online, no one bid against me. I scored my new desk way below its estimated value. And yet a rattan bar cart from the 1950s  charming if a little flimsy-looking  went for $1,500, five times the auctioneers predicted price.

My friend Nelson and his wife have suddenly found themselves in a nightly cocktail routine. He recalled the sanctity of his parents cocktail hour, growing up in Palo Alto in the 1970s, and tracked its waning dignity in the years that followed. How could any of us have imagined that a pandemic would revive it?
NISKAYUNA  James E. Hughston is one of more than 3,500 people who have died from COVID-19 in nursing homes and adult care facilities in New York state.

The 84-year-old retired Johnstown elementary school band teacher was sick for a week inside Brookdale East, the Niskayuna assisted living facility where he lived. Staff told Hughstons husband they did not think he had the disease, which is now blamed for sickening and killing the elderly across the country. Hughstons fever was low, plus he had digestive problems  an atypical symptom for the respiratory illness.

But one day Hughston could not get out of bed at Brookdale, which specializes in the care of those with dementia. And since the facility on Troy-Schenectady Road is not a skilled nursing facility, he was moved to Ellis Hospital for treatment. After two days, Hughstons condition precipitously declined. Doctors told his husband he was not a candidate for a ventilator due to his past bouts with pneumonia, his age and the atrial fibrillation he lived with for years. Hughston was made comfortable with morphine before dying on April 14.

"Even though my dad was older and he had conditions, his life was important and it mattered and it was cut short by this, said Hughston's daughter, Joyce Hansel, who lives in Connecticut. "He's not just a statistic."

Hughstons husband, Jim Vallee, said he believes Brookdale did everything it could. The facility had banned visitors March 12. They told Vallee that residents were only seated two to a table in the dining room. All group activities had been canceled. Staff said Hughston - who had only moved into the facility about two months earlier - was quarantined in his room once his illness started.

I think they did the best that they could, said Vallee, who lives in the East Front Street neighborhood of Schenectady.

But Hughston wasnt tested for COVID-19 until he got to the hospital on April 10, according to his family. Vallee said Brookdale's staff told him there were no tests available because government health officials were rationing them for hospital patients and first responders.

In response to a Times Union inquiry, Schenectady County acknowledged in an emailed response that "in the first few weeks, it was true that there were not enough test kits available for these facilities," adding that "adult care facilities are different, because they are not as closely regulated by the State Department of Health." Adult care is typically a residence where a person receives some assistance from staff but can still do basic tasks. The county said it is trying to get more testing to these facilities, as well as to the general public.

"Schenectady County Public Health Services has been in contact with Brookdale since before their first positive case, giving them guidance to help them protect the health of their residents during this extremely difficult time," the county wrote.

Schenectady County told the Times Union that 12 people have died in adult care facilities there, and no one from a nursing home. The number is more than the seven that is currently reported as part of New York state's census of facility deaths, which was launched online a week ago. The county would not say what facilities those residents lived in.

More Information If you want to share your story of working in a nursing home or adult care facility during the pandemic, or if your loved one contracted the disease, you may reach out to us at tucitydesk@timesunion.com. See More Collapse

Remembering New York residents who died after coronavirus

And while Brookdale answered all of Vallees questions about the extent of the outbreak there, Vallee said he noticed the facility was vague in its general communication with relatives, writing in a recent email that there were several COVID cases. The administration told Vallee 11 of Brookdales 52 residents were sent to the hospital and three of them died.

They didnt volunteer that information, Vallee said. When I asked they would tell me.

Hughston's daughter said she tried to reach out to Brookdale's parent company to urge them to provide more information to relatives. But she said the company reminded her of their policy: They would only speak to the emergency contact named for each resident. In her father's case, it was Vallee.

Brookdale East referred questions to its corporate headquarters. Brookdale Senior Living is a publicly traded company based in Tennessee that owns and operates more than 800 senior living and retirement communities in the U.S.

A Brookdale spokeswoman wrote to the Times Union that the company cannot reveal what they tell residents and family members, but "we are in very regular communication with everyone. The East Niskayuna team is making communication with our families a daily priority. The leadership team there has been sending almost daily emails and have made personal phone calls to families throughout this situation. And we always welcome families to reach out, for any needs or additional info."

Schenectady County said adult care facilities are responsible for notifying staff and patient families when there is a positive COVID-19 case in the building. "If Public Health Services felt these requirements were not being met, and patient safety was not made a priority, they would immediately contact (the state Health Department)," the county wrote.

Brookdale did not answer a question about how many residents tested positive or died from the virus in Niskayuna.

The facilities themselves, as well as the state and many local health departments, have been reluctant to divulge information about what the pandemic is doing inside facility walls, arguing such facilities are the residents' homes and they want to maintain their privacy.

But pressure has mounted to release information about positive COVID-19 cases and deaths.

Last week, New York state began releasing information about homes that have experienced more than five deaths. The Long Term Care Community Coalition, a nonprofit that advocates for nursing home residents, slammed the state for not revealing the names of nursing homes earlier, saying the lack of transparency is becoming a matter of life and death. The state data revealed that some individual nursing homes in New York City have experienced more than 40 deaths each. But the list is only a survey. For example, Columbia Countys Pine Haven nursing home has been upfront about its nine resident deaths, and yet is not on the list.

Rensselaer County has been transparent about five deaths that have happened among Diamond Hill nursing home residents in Schaghticoke. Albany County revealed last week that two residents at the county-run Shaker Place nursing home had died, and announced Friday that a third lost their life. But it will not reveal where two other deaths in private facilities have occurred. The county nursing home in Colonie has had 27 residents and 13 employees test positive for COVID-19.

Schenectady County's acknowledgement of 12 deaths happening in adult care facilities appeared to be the first time county officials addressed the issue publicly. But the county will not name private facilities involved. Kingsway Manor Assisted Living facility in Schenectady had confirmed on its own that at least one of its residents died from COVID-19. On Saturday night, the Daily Gazette reported that three residents from Ingersoll Place assisted living had died. When asked why the county has not broken out adult care facility deaths in its daily update to the public, County Manager Rory Fluman said Saturday it has been difficult to determine what facilities victims lived in if they pass away in a hospital.

Meanwhile, the pandemic has made it feel to some families of nursing home or adult care residents like their relatives simply vanished when they died. For weeks, quarantines have kept families apart, leaving them no opportunities to visit - even in the final moments of their lives.

Vallee saw his husband briefly on a video chat Ellis staff set up, but Hughston was not coherent enough to participate. It was the last time Vallee saw him. On Tuesday, Vallee and a funeral director were the only people present when his husbands ashes were interred.

Hughston, a South Carolina native who arrived at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester more than 60 years ago to major in bassoon, is also survived by an ex-wife, his son, Jay, and two grandchildren.

Hansel wrote in an email to the Times Union that her dad "fought his natural inclinations for decades, but eventually was able to become his genuine self despite the personal cost to himself and the family that he loved."

She continued he was "eventually able to find peace and acceptance in living his life as a gay man. ... He spent the remainder of his life living as his genuine self after a lifetime of trying to live as society told him he had to live."

Vallee said his life is now in a bizarre limbo. He spent the last three or four years being his husbands sole caretaker as the dementia worsened  first erasing Hughstons ability to play the organ at United Methodist Church in Amsterdam, and then eliminating his ability to handle the most mundane of tasks, like answering a phone.

I am trying to remain optimistic to the extent possible, Vallee said. I have to rebuild my life now.

Meanwhile, Hansel has thought about the people who took care of her father, knowing that they were "working so hard at their own peril."

Her concerns lie with the various levels of oversight involved in the pandemic since coronavirus was first reported in China late last year.

"I just felt like (the residents) were sitting ducks," she said. "I dont have blame for any one thing. Well look back at this and know the details and learn we fell short."
Sonia Gandhi has urged Rs 1 lakh crore MSME Wage Protection Package

Also, advised deploying Rs 1 lakh crore credit guarantee fund

Suggested commercial banks be told to pass on RBI's liquidity drive to customers

Congress President Sonia Gandhi has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to announce a stimulus package for the micro small and medium enterprise (MSME) sector. Stating that more than 6.3 crore MSMEs are on the verge of economic ruin with a daily loss of Rs 30,000 crore due to coronavirus lockdown, she urged the government to announce a Rs 1 lakh crore MSME Wage Protection Package to help 11 crore employees working in the MSME sector. "Nearly all MSMEs have lost sales orders, seen a complete cessation of work and are struggling to pay wages and salaries," Gandhi said in a letter to the PM.

She also wanted the government to deploy a credit guarantee fund of Rs 1 lakh crore to provide immediate liquidity to the sector and ensure adequate capital to MSMEs.

Also Read: Coronavirus: Sonia Gandhi says government 'miser' in relief efforts, advocates Rs 7,500 each to poor families

The letter, sent on April 25, also says that the government should ensure that the commercial banks pass on the actions taken by Reserve Bank of India to ensure adequate, easy and timely credit supply to MSMEs. Another suggestion from Gandhi was to offer tax waiver and tax reduction for MSMEs and other sector specific measures.

The Congress President also reiterated the Party's constructive support to the government in the fight against COVID-19.

Also Read: Franklin Templeton: P Chidambaram says govt must act swiftly as Congress did in 2008
Huntington Ingalls Industries (NYSE:HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding division delivered the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer Delbert D. Black (DDG 119) to the U.S. Navy on April 24, 2020.

Huntington Ingalls Industries (NYSE:HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding division delivered the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer Delbert D. Black (DDG 119) to the U.S. Navy on April 24, 2020.

US Navy Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Delbert D. Black DDG 119. (Picture source Twitter)

Documents signed today mark the official transfer of custody of the ship from HII to the Navy. Delbert D. Black is scheduled to sail away from the shipyard in August 2020.

We are proud to deliver our 32nd state-of-the-art destroyer to the Navy, Ingalls Shipbuilding President Brian Cuccias said. Our workforce plays a critical role in protecting those who serve our nation. We continue to fulfill our mission as shipbuilders by building highly capable warships that meet and exceed the needs of our military partners.

DDG 119 is the first ship named in honor of Navy veteran Delbert D. Black, who served as a gunners mate and was aboard the battleship USS Maryland (BB 46) during the attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

The shipyard currently has four more DDGs under construction including Frank E. Petersen Jr. (DDG 121), Lenah H. Sutcliffe Higbee (DDG 123), Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125) and Ted Stevens (DDG 128).

Arleigh Burke-class destroyers are highly capable, multi-mission ships and can conduct a variety of operations, from peacetime presence and crisis management to sea control and power projection, all in support of the United States military strategy. Guided missile destroyers are capable of simultaneously fighting air, surface and subsurface battles. The ship contains myriad offensive and defensive weapons designed to support maritime defense needs well into the 21st century.



The Arleigh Burke class of guided missile destroyers (DDGs) is a United States Navy class of destroyer built around the Aegis Combat System and the SPY-1D multifunction passive electronically scanned array radar.

The Arleigh Burke class destroyer is armed with 56 Raytheon Tomahawk cruise missiles, with a combination of land-attack (TLAM) missiles with a Tercom-aided navigation system, and anti-ship missiles with inertial guidance. The Standard SM-2MR block 4 surface-to-air missiles with command / inertial guidance remain at the centre of the Aegis system.
An American duo copied part of the melody and lyrics from the Australian pop hit Love Is In The Air, an Australian judge has ruled in a copyright infringement lawsuit.

Describing the copying as "flagrant", Justice Nye Perram said a Federal Court hearing would be held later to assess damages.

Australian singer John Paul Young, who made "Love Is In The Air" a hit in the 1970s, leaves the Federal Court in Sydney. Credit:AAP/Peter Rae

The song was written by Harry Vanda with the late George Young in 1977, and singer John Paul Young made it one of the country's biggest pop hits.

Vanda, George Young's estate, Boomerang Investments and two Australian copyright bodies sued American duo Glass Candy, its songwriters, Johnny Padgett and Lori Monahan, Kobalt Music Publishing and Air France.
LINCOLN, Neb.  Life in parts of northeast Nebraska and other parts of the Cornhusker state will start inching back toward normal on May 4, Gov. Pete Ricketts announced Friday as he unveiled plans to loosen the state's coronavirus restrictions.

Ricketts said he will relax restrictions in 59 counties, including Cedar, Dixon, Wayne and Thurston. The loosening list currently does not include Dakota County, which has seen a surge in COVID-19 cases in recent days.

Also welcoming back diners and other customers early next month will be restaurants and other businesses in the Omaha area.

We want to tailor this to each region, Ricketts said at a news conference. If we dont have a significant spread of the virus in these communities, the things we are doing are really very incremental.

The new orders, which will be in effect until May 31, will allow restaurants in chosen counties to reopen their dining rooms but require them to keep crowds at or below half of their rated occupancy. Dining parties would be limited to six people, and buffets would remain closed. Bars would have to keep their dining areas closed.

Salons and tattoo parlors in those areas will be allowed to reopen as long as they prevent more than 10 people from gathering in one place. The state will also relax restrictions on day care centers in those regions, allowing up to 15 children per room instead of the current 10.

Nebraska is one of the handful of states without a formal stay-at-home order, although many of the restrictions Ricketts imposed are similar. The Republican governor has taken a regional approach with restrictions. The counties where restrictions are being relaxed were chosen based on their locations within the state's public health districts, which have seen vastly different numbers of cases. Some rural counties still haven't seen any confirmed cases.

Despite the new orders, Ricketts said he wasn't recommending one way or the other whether people should go to eateries. He said people with underlying health conditions or the elderly may still want to avoid large gatherings.

It's going to be a personal determination, whatever you're comfortable with, he said.

A few hours later, Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert announced that she will reopen the city's public parks on Saturday with limited daytime hours. Playgrounds will remain closed and visitors will still have to abide by the city's 10-person crowd limit, she said.

We figure our parks are big enough that people can spread out and follow that 6 foot rule, but we dont want to see big groups of people, she said.

Ricketts said he hasnt yet ordered similar changes in the Lincoln area because that region's public health restrictions don't expire until May 6. The restrictions in the Omaha area were set to expire April 30.

The regional orders don't apply to hard-hit areas in Hall, Dawson or Dakota counties, which are home to meatpacking plants and have seen a recent spike in cases.

Statewide, Ricketts said churches will be allowed to resume in-person services, weddings and funerals on May 4 with some restrictions, but he urged vulnerable people to continue avoiding crowds. Families attending services will have to remain at least 6 feet away from other families, and congregants won't be allowed to pass around collection baskets or other items.

Ricketts said relaxing the rules on church services is partly an outreach effort to immigrants and non-English speakers to stress the importance of the state's social-distancing guidelines.

We feel like we can do a better job reaching out to them through religious organizations, he said.

Ricketts said hospitals in areas where restrictions are being relaxed have been able to treat all of their infected patients so far and still have a lot of available beds, intensive care unit space and ventilators.

All of this is focused around the health care system, he said. If were not overwhelming the health care system, were winning. Thats our goal.

Nebraska state health officials reported two new COVID-19 deaths late Thursday, bringing the states total deaths from the disease to 47 since the outbreak began.

Two counties in rural central Nebraska  Greeley and Sherman counties  also reported their first confirmed cases of the virus on Thursday, officials said.

Of the two new deaths reported Thursday, one was a man in his 60s in hard-hit Hall County. Officials gave no details about where the second death occurred, saying more information would be released later.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death.

Nebraskas online coronavirus tracking portal show 2,124 confirmed cases in the state by Friday morning. More than 18,700 people had been tested for the virus statewide, with 16,488 of them testing negative for the illness. The actual number of infections is thought to be far higher because many people have not been tested and studies suggest people can be infected without feeling sick.

Associated Press writer Margery A. Beck in Omaha contributed to this report.
WASHINGTON - For weeks, nurses and other employees at Veterans Affairs hospitals have said they were working with inadequate protective gear. VA officials denied it.

But in an interview, the physician in charge of the country's largest health-care system acknowledged the shortage - and said masks and other supplies are being diverted for the national stockpile.

"I had 5 million masks incoming that disappeared," said Richard Stone, executive in charge of the sprawling Veterans Health Administration. He acknowledged that he's been forced to move to "austerity levels" at some hospitals.

Stone said the Federal Emergency Management Agency directed vendors with equipment on order from VA to instead send it to FEMA to replenish the government's rapidly depleting emergency stockpile.

FEMA has responded to President Donald Trump's decision to invoke the Defense Production Act to boost supplies as governors have made frantic requests for masks, ventilators, medical gowns and other supplies, depleting the stockpile.

VA's four-week supply of equipment - on the shelves of 170 medical centers and in an emergency cache normally used for hurricane responses - was almost gone, and employees have held protests to say they were not safe. The system was burning through about 200,000 masks in a day, Stone said.

"The supply system was responding to FEMA," said Stone, a former combat surgeon and former Army deputy surgeon general. "I couldn't tell you when my next delivery was coming in."

The shortages, and the agency's claims that they did not exist, have been a low point in what observers say is an otherwise commendable response by VA to the pandemic. The health system, with fewer covid-19 patients than it expected, is now reaching out to assist veterans in troubled state facilities.

"They have to manage hundreds of thousands of employees, and what's clear to me is that VA is not insulated" from resource shortages, said Rep. Mark Takano, D-Calif., chairman of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee. "My frustration is I wanted to know their guidance to the field. We couldn't find out."

After an appeal from Secretary Robert Wilkie to top FEMA officials, the emergency management agency said in a statement that it provided VA with 500,000 masks this week, but did not address questions about the agency's diverted equipment orders. A similar shipment arrived last week, Stone said. It's allowed him to loosen the mask policy to provide employees working directly with covid-19 patients with one face mask a day.

Still, hospitals in the sprawling system have discretion to ration equipment if they are treating large numbers of covid-19 patients and face shortages. In a recent memo, a top health system official told regional directors they should plan for "scenarios that permit extended mask use, permit limited re-use, permit staff to bring in their own facemasks and N95 respirators, and allow decontamination of used N95 respirators."

The American Federation of Government Employees, which represents hundreds of thousands of VA workers, says nurses are still struggling and are often given surgical masks and face shields instead of the N95 respirators that are more effective at limiting contagion.

The Labor Department says it is investigating a union complaint at one hospital that employees suspected of contracting the virus were ordered to continue to report to work. On Thursday, several Senate Democrats, describing a "broken federal procurement and distribution process," called on the Trump administration in a letter to Vice President Pence to get more supplies to VA hospitals.

Barbara Galle, an intensive care nurse at the Minneapolis VA hospital who is president of AFGE Local 3669, said staff caring for covid-19 patients still can only get an N95 mask if they are involved in a procedure that puts them at extra risk of breathing in virus droplets in the air, she said.

Other hospital workers, including pharmacy technicians and cafeteria workers who deliver food to patients on covid wards, have been told to wear their masks for a week, she said. If the straps break, they must staple them back together.

The hospital's prosthetics department just started producing 3-D-printed masks, she said - and its pharmacy is now making 3-ounce bottles of hand sanitizer for the medical staff.

Her biggest frustration is that VA did not level with employees sooner.

"Everyone functions at their best if they have knowledge of the situation and what's going on," Galle said.

VA serves a vulnerable veteran population dominated by older, Vietnam-era men with underlying health conditions. The system mobilized early in the crisis, restricting visitors to its nursing homes, screening veterans and others entering hospitals and turning its health-care system into a series of acute-care, covid-19 wards.

Stone began a national effort to recruit nurses from schools and from the community of VA retirees to bulk up his medical staffs, some of which have long struggled with vacancies. The system created training videos to teach nurses assigned to non-emergency settings the skills they would need in intensive care units.

He told hospital staffs that some of them would likely be asked to take temporary assignments at medical centers with a surge in coronavirus cases. The health system added 3,000 intensive care beds to augment its supply of 10,000. Wilkie told FEMA and the Department of Health and Human Services that he had 1,400 open beds to offer to treat civilians with the virus.

The system prepared for an onslaught to its emergency rooms as computer modelssuggested the virus could hospitalize as many as 200,000 of the 9 million veterans in VA's system.

The numbers so far have fallen far short of that estimate. The number of VA patients with covid-19 hit 6,300 in recent days, with 400 deaths.

About 1,900 health-care workers have become sick with the virus, the agency said, with 20 deaths. About 3,600 of the health-care staff are now quarantined after exposure.

Stone said the system was able to start testing the staff for the coronavirus only in recent weeks. While VA's pandemic response plan predicts that as many as 40 percent of employees could be absent from work for illness or fear of the virus, the absentee rate across the health system has hovered at about 4 percent during the pandemic, Stone said, slightly below normal rates.

Stone and Wilkie sat side-by-side under fluorescent lights on a recent day with a handful of colleagues as they prepared for a daily conference call with regional leaders in the hospital system. Most are veterans themselves.

A panel of digital screens stretched along a wall in front of them, the coronavirus tracking tools anchoring what has become a 24-hour pandemic nerve center at VA's headquarters in downtown Washington.

The surveillance models superimposed the virus' penetration across the country on the locations of VA hospitals, allowing officials to see what may lie ahead for veterans. Pink circles hovered over the current hot spots of the Bronx and Brooklyn in New York, Boston, Chicago, New Orleans, Detroit, Washington and Baltimore.

The models tracked available beds in each hospital, the median days veterans spend as inpatients, their ages. Bed occupancy overall was at 40%t. One statistic stood out: Of all covid-19 fatalities in the U.S. so far, 1 out of 5 is a veteran over 70.

Yet the system has not been overwhelmed. Wilkie, pointing to a map of the country, noted that a relative few veterans have been hospitalized in the Great Plains and the West.

"We don't have a lot going on west of the Mississippi," he said. "We're just not overwhelmed with patients. Could it come? Yes."

VA's regional directors began reporting in on a 3:30 p.m. call. The head of Region 5 in the Mid-Atlantic said, "Our positives are about the same." Region 10, covering Ohio, thanked colleagues in three other areas of the country for sending ventilators, extra staff, testing kits and other reinforcements. Region 12 in the Great Lakes said, "Chicago's really getting hit hard."

Region 17 out of Texas said "mask demands are increasing" and make clear that it's eagerly awaited a shipment on the way of nasal swabs to test for the virus. Region 20, covering the Pacific Northwest, was down to a two-week supply of protective equipment.

Wilkie told the staff he had some good news: The White House coronavirus task force was likely to recommend a resumption of elective surgeries where possible.

Then came the first signs of what would turn out to be VA's next mission. The regional leaders said they were starting to get frantic calls from the staff at many state-run nursing homes for veterans. The homes were desperate for help, as the virus was spreading through and killing dozens of veterans.

Before the pandemic, VA's backup role to treat an overflow of nonveterans from private hospitals or other facilities was little known outside the veterans community. It's known as the Fourth Mission. Few states had asked for the agency's help, though, beyond a few hundred beds, most in the stricken New York and New Jersey area.

The reasons are unclear. Health and Human Services, which is supposed to field requests for backup assistance, referred questions to FEMA. An agency spokeswoman referred questions to "individual states."

VA decided to reach out to other vulnerable veterans. In the last week, the health system has lent its support to the troubled state system of veterans homes. The homes are not run by the federal government, but VA gives them financial assistance - and has now offered to treat dozens of their patients in its hospitals.

About 50 veterans from homes in 11 states are now being treated for covid-19 at VA hospitals, officials said. About 90 nurses have deployed to two New Jersey homes with virulent outbreaks.

The flexibility is made possible by a surge in hiring by VA, which was able to circumvent the government's byzantine hiring rules during the emergency and bring on 3,200 new employees in the last month. Almost 1,000 are registered nurses.

On Friday, the nurses union continued its protests over protective gear shortages, forming a picket line in front of hospitals in Florida and Georgia, two states whose governors have announced that they are reopening for business during the pandemic.
Tea Party movement was correct

Regarding Karen Tumulty op-ed (The tea party is back  and endangering lives, April 22 Macomb Daily): Every day people willingly put their lives at risk just to do regular things, like commuting back and forth to work. Those who are afraid of such risks are not forced to participate and it is not really any different with those opposing the ridiculous quarantine measures imposed. Saving lives is not enough reason for government to impose restrictions upon liberties because lives without liberties are not worth saving to many folks on this planet. Sweden has this right. Tell those at risk to quarantine themselves away and let the rest of the population develop a herd immunity through exposure.

Yes, a few people will die, but bad flu seasons also rack up huge death tolls too. Heck, medical accidents and mistakes will still kill more in the USA this year than COVID-19 (250,000 a year is the average lives lost to medical mistakes) and yet we dont prevent people from taking advantage of our medical systems. If it is only about saving lives, then why would this nation, or any nation, ever defend itself from an outside aggressor  wars certainly cost more lives than just surrendering and yet most nations will absolutely choose war and a death count higher than any pandemic, over simply surrendering. That is because humanity is smart enough to recognize there is a value to society that can be in excess of the value of the lives lost trying to maintain that society.

The Tea Party movement was correct when it was spawned and it worked to reign in government excesses over a decade ago those folks still have that part right today.

Jonathon Leszczynski

Warren

Warren councilman advocates recklessness

Warren City Councilperson Ed Kabacinski laments America becoming a nanny state (Councilman: End COVID-19 lunacy, page 1A, April 22 Maomb Daily) but as a retired/disabled U.S. Army veteran the benefits he receives, and earned, covering his retirement pay, his disability pay, and his free Veterans Administration medical coverage  come from the US Army, U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Veterans Administration, and U.S. Social Security Administration  all under control of the biggest nanny state in the world, the U.S. federal government. The photo showing Kabacinski wearing the military mask he wore while serving during the Gulf War, was bought and paid for by U.S. taxpayers and provided by the US Army. As such, that piece of U.S. Army-owned equipment should have been returned to the U.S. Army for safe disposal, especially if it was used protecting Kabacinski from dangerous chemicals, when he returned to the United States or was medically discharged.

As the proud father of a daughter who served her country, before being medically retired for injuries incurred protecting America during the Gulf Wars, including Operation Desert Storm and Desert Freedom, and as a Veteran of Vietnam, I salute Kabacinski, and U.S. Veterans for their military service. But I would think that after experiencing the loss of 14 men under my command, Kabacinski would fight to protect, not use his political position to advocate for the reckless endangerment of the lives of the thousands of people under his command, or who he now represents, as a Warren City Councilperson.

William D. Krull

Roseville
A prison riot in Argentina over fears of the coronavirus spreading in the facility ended Friday after inmates agreed to hold talks with officials, local media reported.

The unrest at the jail in the capital Buenos Aires lasted nine hours and came after a warden tested positive for COVID-19, the deadly disease caused by the virus.

The prisoners brandished sticks and threw stones at the guards who fired tear gas /  AFP

Prisoners climbed onto a roof, burned mattresses and threw objects at guards trying to quell the uprising, AFP journalists at the scene said.

Police surrounded the Villa Devoto prison, which holds around 2,200 inmates, as explosions were heard. Authorities have not reported any injuries.

The violence ended after representatives of the inmates agreed to meet with authorities on Saturday to discuss their concerns, local media reported, citing sources at the Justice Ministry.

Inmates at Villa Devoto prison rioted and shouted their demands for better coronavirus protection on April 24 /  AFP

Inmates are demanding those considered among the most at-risk from COVID-19 are held at home, better protections in the jail from the pandemic, as well as the pardoning of some sentences.

The inmates are also demanding that releases that were pending before the virus outbreak be processed.

"We refuse to die in prison," read a banner painted by detainees and unfurled on the roof of the jail.

Another banner said: "COVID-19 in Devoto, genocidal judges."

Several other riots broke out in prisons last week, including in Florencio Varela in Buenos Aires province where one inmate died and 20 were injured.

Argentina has been in lockdown since March 20 and has recorded more than 3,400 coronavirus cases and 167 deaths.
Eleven more people have tested positive for coronavirus in Punjab, taking the total count of COVID-19 cases in the state to 309, officials said here on Saturday.

Of the fresh cases, six were reported in Patiala, three in Jalandhar and one each in SBS Nagar and Pathankot, they added.

A doctor working at a private hospital in Pathankot tested positive on Friday night and was admitted to civil hospital there, the officials said.

SBS Nagar on Saturday witnessed a fresh case with a 25-year-old truck driver, resident of Boothgarh village in Balachaur sub-division, testing positive for the infection, they added.

SBS Nagar Civil Surgeon Rajinder Parsad Bhatia issued an official statement, saying the entire village was placed under containment plan.

The district witnessed a new COVID-19 case after almost a month.

Notably, the medical bulletin issued by the state government did not mention the fresh case reported in SBS Nagar.

Meanwhile, Jalandhar district surpassed Mohali in terms of the number of confirmed cases.

Jalandhar now tops the COVID-19 tally in the state with 66 cases, followed by Mohali with 63, the medical bulletin said.

In addition to these, 61 cases were reported in Patiala, 25 in Pathankot, 20 in SBS Nagar, 17 in Ludhiana, 14 in Amritsar, 13 in Mansa, seven in Hoshiarpur, four in Moga, three each in Rupnagar, Sangrur, Kapurthala and Faridkot, two each in Fatehgarh Sahib and Barnala, and one each in Muktsar, Gurdsapur and Ferozepur, it added.

One patient is in a critical condition and on ventilator support, the bulletin stated, adding that two patients were discharged from hospitals in Kapurthala and Mansa districts.

Seventeen people have died of the disease in the state so far and 72 patients have been discharged from hospitals after being cured, it said.

A total of 13,270 samples have been taken so far in the state for testing, of which reports of 3,569 samples are still awaited.

There are 219 active cases in the state, the bulletin said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Days after the wife of a doctor,



who died here of COVID-19, appealed to authorities to allow excavation of his body so that it could be buried again at a cemetery of her spouse's choice, the Chennai Corporation on Saturday rejected her plea citing health experts' view that it was unsafe to do so.

Citing her request on April 22 to allow burial at a cemetery in Kilpauk, the civic body said it sought a report from a committee of public health experts to ascertain the feasibility of entertaining her plea.

The report of experts has said that "it is not safe," to excavate and bury again the body of a COVID-19 victim and hence "it is not possible to accept her request," the Greater Chennai Corporation said in an official release.

On April 19, a city based 55-year-old neurosurgeon died of coronavirus and his burial at the Velangadu crematorium here was marred by violence.

A mob falsely fearing that the burial may lead to the spread of contagion had attacked the corporation health employees and associates of the deceased doctor.

The doctor's wife and son also had to leave the burial ground in view of the violence.

The body was brought to Velangadu as people of Kilpauk area had opposed his burial there.

Over a dozen men involved allegedly in violence were arrested and remanded to judicial custody.

Later, in a video message the surgeon's wife had said that it was her husband's last wish to be interred at the Kilpauk cemetry as per Christian rituals.

Chief Minister K Palaniswami and DMK president M K Stalin had spoken to her on Wednesday over phone and condoled her husband's death.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Washington

The top Navy officer has recommended the reinstatement of the aircraft carrier captain fired for sending a fraught email to commanders pleading for faster action to protect his crew from a coronavirus outbreak, officials familiar with the investigation said Friday.

Adm. Mike Gilday recommended that Navy Capt. Brett Crozier be returned to his ship, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

If approved, his recommendation would end a drama that has rocked the Navy leadership, sent thousands of USS Theodore Roosevelt crew members ashore in Guam for quarantine and impacted the fleet across the Pacific.

Gilday met with Gen. Mark Milley, chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, on Tuesday and with Defense Secretary Mark Esper on Friday to lay out his recommendations. An official says Esper has asked for a delay in any public announcement while he considers the recommendation.

Earlier in the day, Esper's chief spokesman Jonathan Hoffman suggested that Esper was going into the matter with an open mind, and said "he is generally inclined to support Navy leadership in their decision."

The situation has played out as the military copes with the coronavirus by reducing training, scaling back recruiting and halting troop movements even as it deploys tens of thousands of National Guard and other troops to help civilian agencies deal with virus outbreaks.

Crozier was abruptly removed earlier this month by acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly, who resigned days later.

As of Friday, 856 sailors on the USS Theodore Roosevelt have tested positive for the virus and four are hospitalized. One sailor has died, and more than 4,200 of the ship's nearly 5,000 crew members have been moved onto the island for quarantine.

As that outbreak continues, Navy officials said at least 18 crew members on the USS Kidd naval destroyer have tested positive, and one sailor has been evacuated to the U.S. The Kidd, with its crew of 350, is off the Pacific coast of Central America, where it has been part of a U.S. counter-drug mission.

Clearing the aircraft carrier and its crew of the virus has proven to be complicated. Sailors who test negative after time in quarantine are suddenly showing symptoms a day or two later. The virus' behavior is making it harder to determine when the carrier might be able to return either to duty or head home.

Gilday's recommendations were first reported by The New York Times.

Crozier was fired April 2 by Modly after sending an email to several naval officers warning about the virus outbreak and asking for permission to isolate the bulk of his crew members on shore.

Modly complained that Crozier "demonstrated extremely poor judgment" in the middle of a crisis, saying the captain copied too many people on the memo, which quickly went public. Modly also asserted that Crozier had improperly allowed sensitive information about the ship's condition to become public.

A few days later, Modly flew to the ship and delivered a profanity-laced condemnation of Crozier to the crew.

Just hours after his comments were widely reported, Modly apologized. But the next day, in the face of criticism, he resigned.
Hospital cover used to come in a confusing array of options. Now, the government has streamlined all policies into Gold, Silver, Bronze and Basic. You only need basic cover to avoid the cost of paying the Medicare Levy Surcharge, which is the only reason many higher-income earners have insurance in the first place. Run for cover that shapes up. Illustration: Dionne Gain Credit: Ask your insurer for a policy inclusions list for each policy and make sure you only have cover for things you might reasonably need. Review your extras claims

You dont need extras cover to avoid paying the Medicare Levy Surcharge, only an eligible hospital policy. The best way to figure out if youre getting value for your cover is to review your claims for the previous calendar year. Login online or ask your insurer to provide you with a list of claims. When I did this, I found I had received $593 in benefits for the $234 in premiums I paid. So, Im keeping that. I claim heavily on dental and optical, because I wear contact lenses and love my pearly whites, but are you getting more back than you pay? If not, drop it. Shop around Jump online and have a play with any of the many free comparison websites, including iSelect, Compare The Market or Health Insurance Comparison.

Beware: they will ask for your phone number and they will call you almost immediately. Thats ok. Health products are so confusing, you may be better off talking to a human. Just dont feel pressured to go with any recommendation they come up with. Say you need to sleep on it and walk away. You can also use the governments website, privatehealth.gov.au. It compares all insurers, unlike the commercial comparison websites, but to be honest, its a bit clunky. When I spoke to a comparison company this week, they said they couldn't do any better than the policy I'm already on. Winning! Use the webchat feature Most big insurers have a pop-up webchat feature on their websites to take pressure off their call centres. I love these!

Its so much easier to cry poor, ask clearly for what you really want and threaten to walk away over text (just ask my ex-boyfriends...) Typing also overcomes any potential language barriers you might encounter with a call centre and enables you to multi-task. Loading I had a webchat with my insurer this week, and while Im already on the cheapest cover that suits my needs, I did score a $50 optical voucher just for making a bit of noise. Your opening line should just be: "Im looking to save money  can you suggest ways to reduce my premiums?" Increase your hospital cover excess

Your excess is what you pay out of pocket in the event you make a claim. Most insurance policies have them, and the more you agree to pay, the lower your ongoing premiums. Last year, the government increased the excess allowable on hospital cover policies to $750 for singles and $1500 for families. Of course, in the event you do have a claim, youll pay more. But the lower premiums you pay in the meantime are likely to save you that, and more. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), insurance cover is the biggest component of most household health budgets. The average household spent $2005 on health insurance premiums in 2015-16. But fewer than half of Australians have private cover, so the average cost for those with cover is much higher. When assembling a budget for health expenses, it's also important to consider out-of-pocket costs on GPs and other medical specialists, which add up to an average of $1250 a year per household. Then there's an average spend of $880 per year on medicines, vitamins, ointments and lotions.
How hard can it be to import a vehicle from Latvia? Ignoring the current Coronavirus induced global shipping issues, I have to think that getting a car from Latvia imported into the USA and legal to drive on the street might be difficult for even the most seasoned car importer. But this next Saab Turbo is sooooooooo much nicer than the average Saab story that you find driving around on the mean streets of anytown USA. And this car reminds me so much of the Draken 99 EMS that I want to ignore all of the warning signs and buy it. Find this 1979 Saab 900 Turbo here on eBay bidding for $8600 in Latvia with a few hours to go.





From the seller:

Item specifics

Condition: Used Year: 1979

VIN (Vehicle Identification Number): 90791012472 Mileage: 70881

For Sale By: Dealer Drive Side: Left-hand drive

Fuel Type: Gasoline Model:

900

Exterior Color: Blue Transmission: Manual

Body Type: Coupe Interior Color: Blue

Vehicle Title: Clean Make: Saab

SAAB 900 Turbo in as new condition!! Show car!!!





Year of production: 1979

VIN: 90791012472

Condition: as New

Location: Riga, Latvia

Shipping: Worldwide, at buyers cost. We will provide assistance with shipping and paper works

Insurance: Any, at buyers cost

More pictures and video, car inspection: Possible

Payment: All standard payments forms





The car is in Super good condition, been kept for years in heated and ventilated car dealer saloon as a show model. Actually you are bidding on a almost as new car which is 40+ years old and which will increase in its value year on year, its a win win scenario!Have questions? Please ask before bidding. Good luck!

See a nicer looking blue? tips@dailyturismo.com








Although the Hollywood industry is on a halt due to the coronavirus pandemic, celebs make sure fans do not miss out on what is happening in their daily life. They are constantly using social media to reach out to their fans to keep them updated about their whereabouts. From Kanye West to Gigi Hadid; here's who made it to the headlines this week.

Kanye West shares parenting responsibilities

As per reports, Kanye West gave a break to his wife Kim Kardashian by sharing parental responsibilities and took his kids to Wyoming so that Kim could relax at home and concentrate on her studies. The report further suggests that both Kim Kardashian and Kanye West have been sharing the responsibilities. The representative of the couple told a local media outlet that Kanye West escapes to his office for a work break and also lets Kim take a break too.They have been taking care of their children turn-by-turn.

Gigi Hadid spending time with Zayn Malik?

Gigi Hadid is reportedly quarantining with her family on their Pennsylvania farm. It is also said that Zayn Malik has also joined the Hadid family as he owns a farm nearby. A source reportedly disclosed that Gigi Hadid and Zayn Malik do not get enoiugh time together because of their busy schedules. Hence the alleged couple is making the most out of this time. The source reportedly also added that this quarantine is actually bringing Zayn Malik and Gigi Hadid closer.

ALSO READ| Gigi Hadid Spends Quarantine Birthday With Rumoured Beau Zayn Malik? Details Here

Kendall Jenner misses the Bahamas

Kendall Jenner recently shared a throwback picture on Instagram which features how much she is missing her vacation in the Bahamas. The beauty mogul seems to miss her days in the sun. Kendall Jenner posted two candid pictures of herself. Have a look at it here:

ALSO READ| Kendall Jenner "wanna Go Back So Bad" To Her Bahama Holidays, Posts Throwback Photos

Bella Hadids scintillating pose

Bella Hadids recent picture has taken social media by storm. Taking to Instagram, Bell Hadid shared a picture posing in nothing but a sleek bag. Check out Bella Hadids picture here:

ALSO READ| Bella Hadid Poses In Nothing But With A Purse For A Couture Bag Brand

Hailey Biebers biggest low as a dog parent

Recently, Hailey Bieber revealed how she was taking care of her dog Oscar and a terrible incident took place. Taking to Instagram, Hailey Bieber mentioned how she chopped her dogs hair and it did not go as she planned it. The model disclosed how her pet had caught a tick and as he had a lot of hair it was getting impossible for her to check.

ALSO READ| Hailey Bieber Reveals Her Biggest Low As A Dog Parent; Apologises To The Pet

Get the latest entertainment news from India & around the world. Now follow your favourite television celebs and telly updates. Republic World is your one-stop destination for trending Bollywood news. Tune in today to stay updated with all the latest news and headlines from the world of entertainment.
By Linda So and Grant Smith

(Reuters) - When the first cases of the new coronavirus surfaced in Ohios prisons, the director in charge felt like she was fighting a ghost.

We werent always able to pinpoint where all the cases were coming from, said Annette Chambers-Smith, director of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction. As the virus spread, they began mass testing.

They started with the Marion Correctional Institution, which houses 2,500 prisoners in north central Ohio, many of them older with pre-existing health conditions. After testing 2,300 inmates for the coronavirus, they were shocked. Of the 2,028 who tested positive, close to 95% had no symptoms.

It was very surprising, said Chambers-Smith, who oversees the states 28 correctional facilities.

As mass coronavirus testing expands in prisons, large numbers of inmates are showing no symptoms. In four state prison systems -- Arkansas, North Carolina, Ohio and Virginia -- 96% of 3,277 inmates who tested positive for the coronavirus were asymptomatic, according to interviews with officials and records reviewed by Reuters. Thats out of 4,693 tests that included results on symptoms.

The numbers are the latest evidence to suggest that people who are asymptomatic  contagious but not physically sick -- may be driving the spread of the virus, not only in state prisons that house 1.3 million inmates across the country, but also in communities across the globe. The figures also reinforce questions over whether testing of just people suspected of being infected is actually capturing the spread of the virus.

"It adds to the understanding that we have a severe undercount of cases in the U.S., said Dr. Leana Wen, adjunct associate professor of emergency medicine at George Washington University, said of the Reuters findings. The case count is likely much, much higher than we currently know because of the lack of testing and surveillance."

Some people diagnosed as asymptomatic when tested for the coronavirus, however, may go on to develop symptoms later, according to researchers.

Story continues

The United States has more people behind bars than any other nation, a total incarcerated population of nearly 2.3 million as of 2017 -- nearly half of which is in state prisons. Smaller numbers are locked in federal prisons and local jails, which typically hold people for relatively short periods as they await trial.

State prison systems in Michigan, Tennessee and California have also begun mass testing -- checking for coronavirus infections in large numbers of inmates even if they show no sign of illness -- but have not provided specific counts of asymptomatic prisoners.

Tennessee said a majority of its positive cases didnt show symptoms. In Michigan, state authorities said "a good number" of the 620 prisoners who tested positive for the coronavirus were asymptomatic. Californias state prison system would not release counts of asymptomatic prisoners.

Each state manages multiple prison facilities. Ohio, for instance, has 49,000 prisoners in 28 facilities. A total 3,837 inmates tested positive for the coronavirus in 15 of those facilities. But the state has not yet provided results on symptoms for 1,809 of them and did not identify the total number of tests conducted across the prison system.

Arkansas and Tennessee have also taken a targeted approach by conducting mass testing in several of their facilities. Michigan, North Carolina, California and Virginia have started with one facility each.

Most state prisons did not provide the age or other demographic details of those who tested positive for the coronavirus, which has killed more than 200,000 people globally, including more than 53,000 in the United States.

VAST UNDERCOUNT

Reuters surveyed all 50 state prison systems. Of the 30 that responded, most are only testing inmates who show symptoms, suggesting they could be vastly undercounting the number infected by the coronavirus.

Florida and Texas, whose inmate populations are bigger than Ohios, report a combined total of just 931 cases -- far fewer than the 3,837 inmates who tested positive in Ohio. New York, the epicenter of the U.S. outbreak, has reported 269 positive cases among 51,000 inmates. All three states are testing only symptomatic prisoners.

Prison agencies are almost certainly vastly undercounting the number of COVID cases among incarcerated persons, said Michele Deitch, a corrections specialist and senior lecturer at the University of Texas. Just as the experts are telling us in our free-world communities, the only way to get ahead of this outbreak is through mass testing.

Prison officials in Florida and Texas said they were following guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention along with state health officials when testing only inmates showing symptoms of the virus. New Yorks Department of Corrections said its policy of only testing prisoners who show symptoms was reflective of testing procedures in the general public.

Tennessee took an aggressive approach after a dozen inmates tested positive at the Bledsoe County Correctional Complex in the city of Pikeville last week. The state's Department of Correction has tested 3,503 prisoners at Bledsoe, the Northwest Correctional Complex and the Turney Center Industrial Complex.

As of Friday, 651 were positive, and most of them were asymptomatic, the department said.

Its what makes the pandemic more difficult to manage, said Marc Stern, former medical director for the Washington State Department of Corrections and a faculty member at the University of Washingtons School of Public Health. There are a whole lot of people who are asymptomatic.

After a recent spike in cases at the Neuse Correctional Institution in Goldsboro, North Carolina, state correctional officials tested all 723 prisoners last week. Of the 444 who were infected by the virus, 98% were asymptomatic, the states department of public safety said. One inmate has died at the prison.

Similarly, mass testing at two Arkansas prisons -- the Cummins Unit in the city of Grady and the Community Correction Center in the state capital Little Rock -- found 751 infected inmates, almost all of them asymptomatic, the state corrections department said. It did not provide the total number of inmates who were tested.

Arkansas prisons have faced contagious disease outbreaks before, such as scabies and chickenpox, but those episodes were easier to manage because inmates showed overt symptoms, said Arkansas Department of Corrections spokeswoman Dina Tyler. But with this virus, you have no idea because so many are asymptomatic. It makes it very challenging to contain, she said.

24-HOUR TURNAROUND IS CRUCIAL

Michigans Lakeland Correctional Facility houses some of the states oldest and most medically frail prisoners. When coronavirus cases surged, the prison saw a spike in infections and deaths. As of April 23, nine Lakeland inmates had died from COVID-19, accounting for a third of the deaths across Michigans 29 state prisons.

Nearly half of Lakelands 1,400 prisoners suffer from chronic underlying health conditions, according to state data. Many are in wheelchairs, and the minimum-security facility in southern Michigan has its own geriatric unit for its large elderly population.

On Tuesday, the prison tested all 400 inmates in the geriatric ward and plans to test the rest of the facility by the end of the week. Of the 971 tested so far, 642, or about 66%, were positive. A state official declined to disclose how many were asymptomatic.

We know mass testing is going to make our numbers spike and might make us look bad, said Chris Gautz, spokesman for the Michigan Department of Corrections. But I dont think theres another prison system in the country that doesnt have large numbers. They just might not be testing as rigorously as we are.

All tested inmates are quarantined in their rooms or units pending the test results, which usually come back in a day, he said. The 24-hour turnaround is crucial because once an inmate tests negative, they can return to the general population, he said.

In the seven state prison systems conducting mass tests, 49 inmates have died.

As the coronavirus spreads behind bars, rights groups and public defenders say they fear more will succumb, and have pressed for the release of nonviolent older and medically high-risk inmates. While thousands have been let out, crowded, often unsanitary conditions have raised concerns that jails and prisons could become vectors for the disease.

Theyre worse than landlocked cruise ships, Stern, the corrections expert, said, referring to stranded cruise ships that have been overwhelmed by coronavirus infections.

(Linda So reported from Washington and Grant Smith from New York. Additional reporting by Brad Heath. Editing by Jason Szep)
An attorneys arrest as democracy sleeps amidst a pandemic View(s):

It is no coincidence that the increasingly not-so-insidious growth of Sri Lankas anti-democracy virus, first reflected on in these column spaces last month, has kept apace with the exponential rise of coronavirus infected individuals in the last ten days. As transparency diminishes, so does accountability. This is so in relation to pandemic controls of testing, isolating and containing as much as in making sure that state officers act in accordance with the law in arresting people or in addressing the hunger of the poor.

Acts of dubious legality

That column (Covid 19 and Sri Lankas anti-democracy virus, March 15th 2020) was in the last printed edition of this newspaper before an island-wide curfew, of dubious legality but endured due to the extraordinary threat facing the nation, compelled the presses to still their roar. Along with that silencing, other aspects of our repressed but still defiant resistance movement also lapsed into silence. To employ a useful oxymoron, that silence was so deafening that law enforcement officers felt emboldened enough, as I remarked last week, to arrest an attorney-at-law in circumstances that even a full week later, give rise to grave concerns.

No explanation has been offered as to why this arrest took place following a visit to his residence by criminal investigation officers even though contact had initially been made by the Health Ministry. Reasons for this arrest have yet not been clarified with the police only repeating this Friday that the attorney had direct contact (the Island, April 24th 2020) with key suspects implicated in the Easter Sunday attack carried out by Islamist jihadists this same time last year.

But, surely as the police perchance may be painstakingly re-educated, attorneys do need to have direct contact with their clients. As such, offering only this ground as a purported basis for the arrest violates every known canon of penal law and constitutional freedoms. Law enforcement authorities need to publicly release the document relevant to the arrest, Detention Order or other. This is imperative, in the first place to specify the exact provision of the exact law under which arrest has taken place and secondly, to enable scrutiny of the grounds of arrest.

Challenging the

edifice of law

Far more needs to be put on record regarding murky actions of the police. The wary statement released by the Bar Association of Sri Lanka cannot just rest there. If the Bar does not exert itself beyond that timidity in egregious circumstances which strike at the root of legal professional duties, it may as well go into permanent lockdown as it were. And for those inclined to rationalise that this is an isolated act limited to a Muslim attorney advising suspects of one of the most heinous terrorist attacks on Sri Lankan soil, this is far from the case.

Twelve months after this unconscionable attack on innocents, Sri Lankas foremost political and intelligence authorities responsible for criminal negligence in allowing this crime to happen, including the President and the Prime Minister of the time, remain untouched by liability. Instead a police chief and a defence secretary is jailed as part of a charade and now, an attorney is arrested. Ridiculously and quite wrongly, ruling party propagandists argue that then President Maithripala Sirisena now part and parcel of their Pohottuwa ranks cannot be called to account in courts due to the immunity afforded to Presidents by the Constitution. A wealth of legal precedent affirming the contrary is airily dismissed just like that.

Indeed, this issue goes beyond the arrest of an attorney and challenges the entire edifice of law on which this country functions. The coronavirus pandemic has now well and truly metamorphised into a anti-democracy viral pandemic which threatens the core of our society. As relief supplies to desperate people in curfew locations are politicised, as supply routes of essential services are handed out as gifts to ruling party favourites and as huge amounts of money are channeled into covid-funds raising unnerving recollections of misappropriation of tsunami funds in that famous Helping Hambantota account, the lack of regulatory and legal transparency is stark.

Has the exceptional become the normal?

We are now advancing one and a half months into exceptional measures. Whether it is the seizure of vehicles of curfew violators requisitioned by the police for pandemic duty or the jailing of their owners, the legal basis of these actions must be clarified in the absence of the declaration of a state of emergency under the Public Security Ordinance or our ancient laws relating to epidemics. Merely parroting that rogues in the previous Parliament should sit again does not suffice to explain the absence of law.

Whether the previous Parliament should sit or not, whether the Constitution provides for it or not and how elections can constitutionally be determined on a date that is beyond the prescribed time period of a new Parliament sitting after the dissolution of its predecessor are weighty matters that must be brought before courts. These are not flotsam and jetsam to be bandied about in the hysterical domains of social media or by political hatchetmen who are unable to grasp a legal point with minimum understanding.

In fact, one is manifestly at a loss to understand why the Elections Commission does not simply invoke the jurisdiction of court without having exposed itself to referring the matter to the President and to be (rudely) rebutted by his Secretary. Reference may be usefully made to advice by the Supreme Court more than two decades ago in a legal challenge to the postponement of provincial polls brought by a legal team of which this columnist was a part appearing pro deo when public interest litigation was true to its name, unlike highly funded and politically motivated efforts evidenced currently. Reprimanding the Elections Commissioner (at the time) for postponing provincial polls contrary to the Constitution, the Court pointed out that advice may have been sought from the Court if he was uncertain.

Reclaiming (legal) sense and sensibility

But, as the late Justice MDH Fernando observed in writing for the Court, the material available to this Court indicates that he made no effort to ascertain the legal position, or to have recourse to legal remedies (Karunatilleke v Dissanayake, 1999 1 Sri LR 157). Today, that judicial reasoning on the power and independence attached to elections officials has become even stronger with the Elections Commissioner giving way to the Elections Commission through constitutional amendments.

Yet sense and sensibility appears to have fled the country in wake of the coronavirus. Even as the judiciary and the Department of the Attorney General remain under lockdown, interpretation of the Constitution is appropriated by usurpers. Monks expound on what the Constitution enables the President to do in exceptional situations and party lawyers solemnly advocate the application of the doctrine of neccesity without heed to the exceedingly dangerous nature of such loose advocacy

Certainly these are no ordinary times. But the law and the Constitution must stand above all precisely in times like these. To forfeit the law during a pandemic is to abandon any hope that we may fully recover even when the immediate health threat has lessened. Above all, our courts and legal processes must return to democratic functionality, sooner the better.
A full month after California Governor Gavin Newsom issued a statewide shelter-in-place order to slow the spread of the coronavirus, polling suggests overwhelming support for the policy.

A poll conducted by the California Health Care Foundation and polling firm Ipsos found that 75 percent of Californians not only favor the stay-at-home order, but also believe it should remain in effect "for as long as needed." The 1,015 survey respondents were presented the following two statements and asked which one aligns "most closely" with their opinions:
By Trend

Turkey's export of chemical products to Azerbaijan increased by 25.37 percent from January 2020 through March 2020 and amounted to $83.2 million, Trend reports with reference to the Turkish Trade Ministry.

Turkey's export of chemical products to Azerbaijan amounted to $34.2 million in March 2020, showing an increase of 46.9 percent compared to March 2019.

In 1Q2020, Turkeys export of chemical to world markets decreased by 5.1 percent compared to the same period of 2019, and amounted to $4.7 billion. Meanwhile, Turkeys export of chemicals amounted to 11.1 percent of the country's total export.

In March 2020, Turkey exported chemicals worth $ 1.554 billion to world markets, which is 15.4 percent less than in the same month of 2019. Turkeys chemicals export amounted to 11.6 percent of the country's total exports.

From March 2019 through March 2020), Turkey exported chemical products in the amount of $20.3 billion.
Tan Son Nhat Airport in HCM City has become busy again as more domestic flights have resumed as Covid-19 testing for passengers has been stopped.

Passenters at Tan Son Nhat Airport

On April 23, the Health Quarantine Centre at Tan Son Nhat Airport announced that they had stopped taking passenger samples for viral testing. The authorities still take body temperatures and medical declarations to find suspected cases.



The International Quarantine Centre in HCM City asked related agencies to tighten monitoring on how passengers fill in medical declaration forms during the flights.



According to the Ministry of Health, starting from April 23, up to 20 return flights have been allowed to resume operation on Hanoi-HCM City a day. One return flight has been allowed on the routes Hanoi or HCM City to and from other provinces and cities.







Taking body temperature at the airport

Compared to several days ago, the number of passengers at the airport has greatly increased. On April 23, the airport served 3,000 passengers and 108 flights. The authorities haven't received new foreign passengers, only cargo and repatriation flights.



Many local airlines have launched promotion programmes to attract customers. Vietjet Air said they would resume six return flights a day on Hanoi-HCM City route and three flights on Hanoi-HCM City-Danang route. Other domestic routes will have one flight a day.



Bamboo Airways announced that they will also resume more flights between Hanoi and HCM City, Hanoi to Nha Trang, Danang, Phu Quoc and Quy Nhon to meet travel demand after social distancing.

Nguoilaodong/Dtinews

Commercial flights at Van Don airport to be resumed in early May The Van Don international airport in the northern province of Quang Ninh announced on April 22 that commercial flights at the airport could be resumed in early May.
This obituary is part of a series about people who have died in the coronavirus pandemic. Read about others here.

MONTREAL  When the Roman Catholic Church in Quebec was buffeted by a societywide revolt against its authority in the 1960s known as the Quiet Revolution, many nuns and priests abandoned it. But not Bertha Laforest, a music-loving nun who never wavered from her commitment.

Sister Laforest died on April 10 in the infirmary of the Soeurs Antoniennes-de-Marie, an order in a 115-year-old convent in Chicoutimi, in northeast Quebec. She was 94.

The cause was the novel coronavirus, according to Sister Ginette Laurendeau, the convents superior general.
The Long Island bicyclist who got into a verbal spat with CNN anchor Chris Cuomo on Easter Sunday said the host was like a 'boiling pot' as he was confronted for not self-quarantining.

David Whelan claimed that he had decided to go on a bike ride near where Cuomo is building his new home because he grew up in the area.

'I go by, down the trail that runs past where his new structure is being built and there's a bunch of people there,' Whelan told Fox News. 'I've been riding for seven or eight miles, take a little break, and am just walking. And a woman says "May I help you?" I said "No, I'm just looking".'

David Whelan claimed that he had decided to go on a bike ride near where Cuomo is building his new home because he grew up in the area

It was then that Whelan noticed Cuomo from far away, just under two weeks after the host announced that he had tested positive with the coronavirus. Cuomo was with his family at the time

It was then that Whelan noticed Cuomo from far away, just under two weeks after the host announced that he had tested positive with the coronavirus on March 31.

'I think his next words were, "What the hell do you know about this? What do you know about the rules?",' the cyclist claimed.

'He continued to come closer and closer, and I would like to say he's like a boiling pot, you could see his head.

'He was just getting more and more angry. And I said, "So are you gonna lose your temper like you did on the guy at Shelter Island?"'

During an event in the Hamptons last year, Cuomo got into an altercation with a man who called him 'Fredo,' a reference to the younger Corleone brother in 'The Godfather.'

'I think his next words were, "What the hell do you know about this? What do you know about the rules?",' the cyclist claimed. 'He continued to come closer and closer, and I would like to say he's like a boiling pot, you could see his head'

Whelan did not specify whether he wore a mask on the day of his confrontation with Cuomo but did note that the host nor none of the people he was with had on gloves or mask

Cuomo threatened the man, claiming that he had used an 'anti-Italian' slur against him.

Whelan claimed that Cuomo continued venting at him, noting that the host never got closer than six feet but did step towards him during the confrontation.

'But he [Cuomo] told me he was going to meet me, and he goes "You are going to meet me over this, you will meet me again over this". At that point, he's now getting about 40 feet away,' Whelan said.

Whelan was asked if he had gotten tested for the virus and asserted that while his daughter was a doctor at Johns Hopkins University, normal people could not get tested.

'For most normal people, you can't get tested,' Whelan said. 'I made my own mask weeks ago, I hit it with alcohol every day.'

Whelan did not specify whether he wore a mask on the day of his confrontation with Cuomo but did note that the host nor none of the people he was with had on gloves or mask.

Chris, his wife Cristina, and their son Mario Cuomo, 14, all tested positive for coronavirus although the couple have since recovered.

The CNN anchor posted footage on his Instagram on April 20 showing him walking up the stairs to greet his kids at his Hamptons mansion, three weeks after he went into 'quarantine' to recover from coronavirus.

'This is the dream. Just to be back up here doing normal things,' he said as he embraced his wife Cristina, who had also since recovered from COVID-19.

Cristina, center, Chris, top left, and Mario Cuomo, bottom right, have all tested positive for coronavirus but their two daughters remain healthy. Chris and Cristina have recovered

But Cuomo was accused of staging the clip after he revealed he left his home on Easter Sunday - two weeks after testing positive - and confronted a 'fat biker' who asked him why he wasn't in quarantine.

He confirmed the altercation in an interview with Sirius XM on April 13. He said he wants to be able to act like any other member of the public and told the biker to 'go to hell'.

'I don't want some jackass, loser, fat tire biker being able to pull over and get in my space and talk bullsh** to me, I don't want to hear it,' he added.

According to her husband, Cristina's symptoms included a loss of smell and taste, which Chris said that, based on anecdotal evidence, appeared to be more common in milder cases of the illness.

Chris' side-effects, meanwhile, were said to be more severe, including a fever so extreme that he chipped a tooth while shivering.

In a statement released after the story of the encounter broke, CNN said: 'Chris has said emphatically that this has never happened.

'Chris was following all social distancing guidelines and wearing a mask in his own backyard with his immediate family members. A complete stranger approached them from their own private driveway, in order to curse at Chris in front of his wife and children.'
Mumbai: Actress Shruti Haasan revealed on social media that she would neither stalk her ex nor be stalked by her ex.

Shruti on Thursday night was playing the "Would you rather" game on Instagram stories where two options were given to her by the automated filter.

The options read: "Stalk an ex or be stalked by your ex."

Shruti made a shocked, funny face and said: "Would I rather... Stalk an ex? oh god... neither."

Shruti later shared a video of her "random moments" amid lockdown. The clip is a compilation of how the actress is passing time.

"Isolations diaries - because no one asked for this video log 0f random moments #insomnia#altj #Clara," she captioned the video, where she is seen sleeping, petting her cat, baking and doing the hula hoop among many other activities.

Recently, Shruti joined her father, actor-politician Kamal Haasan, in the song "Avirum Anbum", which aims at spreading hope, positivity and love in these testing times. Kamal Haasan has penned and directed the number.
Members of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association in the Nandom Municipality of the Upper West region have threatened to embark on a sit down strike starting Monday (April 27, 2020).



The action is to protest the alleged neglect of three of their members who were exposed to the coronavirus (COVID 19).



The region has given me the go ahead that if nothing will be done, if all the nurses at the OPD will not be quarantined, starting from Monday there will be total sit down strike, especially at the OPD and if things are not done for us, we will extend it further.



The Nandom Municipal Chairman of the association, John Nyandore in an interview with Accra based Citi FM complained that three nurses and a doctor were exposed to the disease but the authorities in the municipality quarantined only the doctor.



The doctor who attended to the patient went into quarantine and later the medical superintendent called one of the nurses who was in the same consulting room with the doctor and asked her to go into self-quarantine. He went further and told the OPD ward in-charge, that if he is witnessing any signs and symptoms he should let him know.



He said after consulting with his superiors in the region, they have decided to go on a sit down strike if all the nurses are not quarantined.

Source: Daily Graphic









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Dozens of people in Venezuela had a clash with police authorities on Thursday in the southern Bolivar state's countryside. The incident was the latest of around 500 protests recorded and reported this month as fuel and food turn scarce in Venezuela.

Despite the government of Nicolas Maduro's six-week lockdown order in response to COVID-19, demonstrations demanding for food have occurred in 15 different states just this month, with violence and looting in three of them, said the Venezuelan Observatory of Social Conflict. The protests, though, have not reached Caracas yet.

One Dead, 33 Arrested

In the said protest in Bolivar, one man reportedly died. In contrast, several others were injured, and 33 got arrested after they looted nearby stores and municipal markets near the Upata town.

A separate incident was reported indicating dozens of residents in Cumanacoa's eastern town. They were said to have been forcing their way into a chicken farm and five food retailers on Wednesday. In this particular incident, according to Robert Alcala, a local lawmaker, two individuals were shot, and 33 were arrested.

Similar incidents were reported in Bolivar, Lara, and Yaracuy a week ago. As a result, armed forces quashed the discontent and unsatisfied and detaining demonstrators, according to the local media.

Leaving Home for Food Runs

Other Venezuelans across the nation, according to reports, "leave their homes for food runs," and dodge protests. More so, stocking up, not to mention, hunkering up was never a choice for many of them who are too poor to buy enough stocks in advance.

Moreover, shortages in gasoline take a toll on the already fragile chains of supply, disrupting deliveries of food and public transportation anywhere in the country. Undeniably, this situation is likely to go on: a "few signs of long-term relief intended for local refineries" are evident.

And, for the meantime, crops in rural states have been wasted since farmers cannot collect the grains and fruits on empty tanks.

Most Venezuelans Unable to Buy Food

Even before the COVID-19 crisis, most of the Venezuelans have already been suffering from hunger. In an article Reuters released two years ago, it was indicated that roughly 93 percent of the Venezuelans could not afford to buy food enough for them to survive.

Meanwhile, the same article as based on a study conducted by three universities stated that 73 percent of these people had lost weight in the past year. More so, around this time, long before the implementation of lockdowns and stay-at-home order, children begging in front of markets and restaurants were then a common sight.

Aside from the beggar-children, more and more people were also, at that time, salvaged food they would eat from the trash. As for the middle-class people, they were seen cutting back on vegetables or meat, and instead, surviving on cheaper starches.

Traditionally a pro-government, more impoverished area, some western Caracas parts were home to road barricades and graffiti that read, "Maduro dictators!" More so, because of hardship in life, clashes between the National Guards and hooded youth were quite evident then.

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Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath has directed officers that no public gathering should be allowed in the state till 30 June amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath has directed officers that no public gathering should be allowed in the state till 30 June amid the coronavirus outbreak.

"Chief minister has directed officers that no public gathering be allowed till 30th June. Further decision will be taken depending on the situation," Office of CM Yogi Adityanath tweeted.

The chief minister held a meeting with chairpersons of 11 committees of the state over the COVID-19 situation.

According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, there are 1,621 coronavirus cases in Uttar Pradesh including 247 cured/discharged and 25 deaths.
Dozens of Pakistani doctors and nurses have launched a hunger strike demanding adequate protective equipment for frontline staff treating coronavirus patients, the lead organiser of the protest said Saturday.

Health workers have complained for weeks that the countrys hospitals are suffering chronic shortages of safety gear, prompting the arrest of more than 50 doctors who called for more supplies in the city of Quetta earlier this month.

Frontline staff have been left vulnerable, with more than 150 medical workers testing positive for the virus nationwide, according to the Young Doctors Association (YDA) in worst-hit Punjab province.

Several Pakistan doctors and nurses have died from COVID-19, including a 26-year-old physician who had recently started his career, and an official told AFP that a specialist at a state-run hospital died from the disease Saturday.

The protesters have kept working in their hospitals while taking turns to demonstrate outside the health authority offices in provincial capital Lahore.

We do not intend on stopping until the government listens to our demands. They have been consistently refusing to adhere to our demands, said doctor Salman Haseeb.

Haseeb heads the provinces Grand Health Alliance, which is organising the protest, and said he had not eaten since April 16.

We are on the front line of this virus and if we are not protected then the whole population is at risk, he told AFP.

The alliance said about 30 doctors and nurses were on hunger strike, with up to 200 medical staff joining them each day for demonstrations.

Punjabs health worker union is supporting the alliance and also demanding adequate quarantine conditions for medical staff.

Nearly three dozen doctors, nurses and paramedics contracted the virus in one hospital in the city of Multan, while seven members of a doctors family were infected in Lahore, it said.

We are simply demanding justice for our community, said doctor and YDA chairman Khizer Hayat.

Hospital staff would not escalate their protest by walking off the job, he added.

 Calls for tougher lockdowns 

Provincial health department officials told AFP that hospitals had now been provided with adequate protective gear after an earlier backlog was resolved.

Earlier this month the Punjab government announced that frontline workers would be awarded a pay bonus and life insurance.

Almost half of the nearly 12,000 confirmed COVID-19 infections across Pakistan have been recorded in Punjab.

The number of infections in the country is believed to be far higher because of a lack of testing in the impoverished country of 215 million.

Shehzad Akbar, medical director at a public hospital in Peshawar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, told AFP that an ear, nose and throat specialist working on the COVID-19 ward died Saturday of the disease.

The doctors death prompted renewed calls for tougher government action and complete lockdowns to stem the spread of the coronavirus.

The Islamic holy month of Ramadan officially began in Pakistan on Saturday, with concerns that the light restrictions imposed on mosque gatherings will not stop a potentially rapid spread of the virus.

Medical workers across the world have been grappling with shortages of vital safety equipment since the start of the pandemic.

SOURCE: AFP
Killing Eve writer Luke Jennings, actor Robert Webb and Booker Prize winner Bernardine Evaristo are to take part in a virtual book festival.

The Big Book Weekend will be broadcast during the first Bank Holiday weekend in May.

The three-day event brings together the best of the cancelled UK literary festivals, organisers say.

It will feature video interviews, panel discussions and in conversation sessions.

Expand Close Terry Waite is taking part (Yui Mok/PA) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Terry Waite is taking part (Yui Mok/PA)

Former hostage Terry Waite will talk about how to cope with solitude at the event.

It will also feature Alexander McCall Smith, Maggie OFarrell, Marian Keyes, Neil Gaiman and Michael Morpurgo, while Sir Tim Rice discusses his life and career.

Killing Eve writer Jennings talks about what inspired him to create his female-centred thriller, which has been successfully adapted for the small screen by the BBC.

The Big Book Weekend is part of BBC Arts Culture In Quarantine, bringing the very best arts and culture to the homes of everyone in the UK.

Expand Close Author Michael Morpurgo (Ian West/PA) / Facebook

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Author Kit de Waal, who co-founded the festival with Molly Flatt, said: It has been a joy working with so many of the literary festivals around the UK in bringing some of their events to an online audience.

Im particularly excited by our opening event on Friday, with Maggie OFarrell in conversation with Damian Barr on why books festivals are so important, particularly at a time like this.

The festival takes place at https://bigbookweekend.com/ on May 8-10 and is supported by BBC Arts and Arts Council England.
FILE PHOTO: The logo of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) seen outside its headquarters in Vienna

By Olga Yagova and Gleb Gorodyankin

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia plans to halve oil exports from its Baltic and Black Sea ports in May according to the first loading schedule for crude shipments since it agreed this month along with other major oil producers to cut output.

According to the schedule seen by Reuters, Russian exports next month from its two Baltic ports and Novorossiisk in the Black Sea will total 1.3 million barrels per day (bpd), down from 2.2 million bpd in April.

The OPEC+ group led by Saudi Arabia within OPEC and Russia for non-OPEC states has agreed to cut oil production by 9.7 million bpd from May 1, with Moscow reducing its output to 8.5 million bpd from a baseline of 11 million.

Russian oil companies are now preparing for their biggest output cuts ever, which could lead to some oilfields shutting down permanently.

Most of the crude set for export via Russia's Western sea routes in May is its flagship Urals blend, with only 160,000 tonnes of Siberian Light due to be shipped as well, according to the preliminary loading schedule.

Urals exports are set to fall to their lowest since at least the early 2000s, Refinitiv Eikon data shows. <C-RU-EXP> The drastic cut has already lifted the price of the Russian grade to five-month highs, according to Reuters monitoring.

"We can't judge if Russia is really cutting output in line with the agreed levels, but even if the oil export plan is just for show, it does really well for Russian oil marketing," a European trader who regularly buys Urals crude said.

Earlier this week, Brent crude futures touched 20-year lows, meaning Urals exports were losing money taking into account their discount to the European benchmark and Russian export duties.

On Thursday, Urals cargoes for loading in May were firmer with a discount of just $1 per barrel to Brent in northwest Europe and the Mediterranean, according to Reuters data. Cargoes for April had a discount of $4.60. <BFO-URL-E> <BFO-URL-NWE>

Story continues

Calculated on a daily basis to account for the different number of days in May and April, Russia will be cutting oil exports from its Western ports by 43% next month, Reuters calculations show.

Urals exports from Russia's Primorsk and Ust-Luga Baltic ports are set to fall to 4.3 million tonnes from 6.7 million in April while Urals and Siberian Light exports from Novorossiisk are set to halve to 1.22 million, according to the plans.

There will only be two 80,000-tonne loadings of sweet Siberian Light crude compared with six to seven cargoes normally. Siberian Light cargoes for April have been trading at record discounts to Brent due to weak demand.

(Editing by David Evans, Katya Golubkova and David Clarke)
The positioning of the Global Underwater Concrete 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).

New York, April 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Global Underwater Concrete Market - Premium Insight, Competitive News Feed Analysis, Company Usability Profiles, Market Sizing & Forecasts to 2025" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p05871584/?utm_source=GNW





The report deeply explores the recent significant developments by the leading vendors and innovation profiles in the Global Underwater Concrete Market including are Ashland Inc.BASF SE, Conmix Ltd., HeidelbergCement AG, Sika AG, Tarmac, Clariant AG, Conmix Ltd., Dyckerhoff Basal Nederland B.V., Evonik Industries AG, and Five Star Products Inc..



On the basis of Raw Material, the Global Underwater Concrete Market is studied across Admixtures, Aggregates, and Cement.



On the basis of Laying Technology, the Global Underwater Concrete Market is studied across Bucket Placing, Pump Method, and Tremie Method.



On the basis of Application, the Global Underwater Concrete Market is studied across Hydropower, Marine, Shore Protection, Swimming Pools, Tunnels, and Underwater Repairs.



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 Underwater Concrete Market

2. Product Development & Innovation: Provides intelligent insights on future technologies, R&D activities, and new product developments in the Global Underwater Concrete Market

3. Market Development: Provides in-depth information about lucrative emerging markets and analyzes the markets for the Global Underwater Concrete Market

4. Market Diversification: Provides detailed information about new products launches, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments in the Global Underwater Concrete Market

5. Competitive Assessment & Intelligence: Provides an exhaustive assessment of market shares, strategies, products, and manufacturing capabilities of the leading players in the Global Underwater Concrete Market



The report answers questions such as:

1. What is the market size of Underwater Concrete market in the Global?

2. What are the factors that affect the growth in the Global Underwater Concrete Market over the forecast period?

3. What is the competitive position in the Global Underwater Concrete Market?

4. Which are the best product areas to be invested in over the forecast period in the Global Underwater Concrete Market?

5. What are the opportunities in the Global Underwater Concrete Market?

6. What are the modes of entering the Global Underwater Concrete Market?

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05871584/?utm_source=GNW



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The week before Mayor Kenney issued a citywide stay-at-home order, 566 eviction cases were scheduled in the Philadelphia courts. Well before a global health crisis shook our city, a local housing crisis impacted tens of thousands of families here each day.

Almost half of Philadelphians are now renters, and more than half of them are already cost-burdened, spending over a third of their income on housing.

Over the past three years, our City has made historic strides in expanding renter protections and housing access, guaranteeing recurring funding for eviction prevention services, creating a right to counsel program for low-income tenants facing eviction, and allocating rent subsidies to help individuals stay in their homes.

As COVID-19 has closed in on our city, housing has again moved to the forefront of our agenda. This is more than a housing issue  it is necessary to our public health. If we need to follow stay-at-home orders to flatten the curve, we have to ensure that people keep a roof over their head and have habitable housing to make that possible. Last month, Council worked with our courts, the Sheriff, and utility companies to enact a swift moratorium on all evictions, foreclosures and utility shut-offs. Landlord associations also stepped up, encouraging their members to avoid displacing families during this historic crisis. We joined a national call with Councilmembers across the country for a nationwide rent and mortgage freeze.

While those measures were adequate in the initial weeks of the emergency, we need a bold plan for housing stability for property owners and renters alike so we do more than survive this crisis  we rebuild for a safer, healthier, and more equitable future.

 READ MORE: Lawmakers should anticipate avalanche of evictions after coronavirus | Editorial

A local economic recovery package must put housing first. Council must work together with our courts to establish a comprehensive renter diversion program and income-based payment plans before any eviction can be filed. Property owners need expanded financial assistance, including forgivable loans in exchange for keeping their tenants in stable housing. And we need a limited extension of the eviction moratorium once the state of emergency is lifted so we can buy ourselves time to get these programs underway. We have the responsibility to ensure that renters do not lose their homes as a result of this crisis, and also that landlords get paid.

A housing-first approach has worked here before. During the 2008 Great Recession, Philadelphia led the nation by creating a successful mortgage foreclosure diversion program, which brought together homeowners, lenders, housing counselors, and the courts to find solutions that have kept tens of thousands of Philadelphians in their homes.

We can and must do something similar again.

The needs have never been greater. Over 1.3 million Pennsylvanians have filed for unemployment in the past month alone. A national trade association for the apartment industry has warned that as many as one third of renters didnt make their April rent, also placing many small landlords at grave financial risk. The economic shock of the pandemic is unlike anything weve seen in modern history, and it will take time for our neighbors to get back to sure footing. In the meantime, we cant afford for them to become housing insecure or homeless as rent and mortgage debt racks up.

When the emergency order is lifted, we cannot afford to pack our courts with hundreds of Philadelphians once again facing the trauma of eviction. We cannot afford to pack more people into shelters when social distancing is a healthcare necessity.

In this moment, stable housing is as much a means of racial and economic justice as it is a means of economic recovery. We must come together to keep a roof over everyones head, and to turn the corner on housing dignity.

Helen Gym (At-Large) is Chair of City Councils Children and Youth Committee and Jamie Gauthier (3rd District) is Chair of Councils Housing, Neighborhood Development, and the Homeless Committee.

The Philadelphia Inquirer is one of more than 20 news organizations producing Broke in Philly, a collaborative reporting project on solutions to poverty and the citys push toward economic justice. See all of our reporting at brokeinphilly.org.

 ASK US: Do you have a question about the coronavirus and how it affects your health, work and life? Ask our reporters.
Jordan Banjo has revealed that his fiance Naomi Courts' social media accounts have been hacked by a crook asking fans for money and gift cards.

The Greatest Dancer host and Diversity star, 27, wrote on Instagram on Saturday: 'Hey guys, been messaged throughout the night and just seen that Nay's Insta and Twitter accounts have been hacked!'

Pleading with fans to ignore the hacker, he continued: 'Whoever it is has been asking for money and help and none of it's true! And now her Insta is gone, I know it's probably too late but if anyone received any messages like that, ignore them!'

Hitting back: Jordan Banjo has revealed that his fiance Naomi Courts' social media accounts have been hacked by a crook asking fans for money and gift cards

Naomi, also 27, had her Instagram, Twitter and email accounts hacked by someone who contacted hundreds of thousands of fans asking for money and bizarre items such as iTunes gift cards.

Jordan added: 'Trying to figure this out as quickly as possible.'

An upset Naomi later posted a video to her Instagram story, after her manager recovered her account, to let her fans know she had been awake since 5.30am to try and work out what went wrong.

She apologised to her 114,000 followers and said: 'I just wanted to come on here and basically apologise for all the messages that everyone's been receiving.

Hacked: Naomi, 27, had her Instagram, Twitter and email accounts hacked by someone who contacted hundreds of thousands of fans asking for money and bizarre items such as iTunes gift cards

'It's not her!': Jordan wrote on his Instagram story on Saturday: 'Hey guys, been messaged throughout the night and just seen that Nay's Insta and Twitter accounts have been hacked!

'I really apologise, I don't need an iTunes gift card for anybody. Anyway I hope everyone's good and has a good day. But yeah, I'm back.'

The mother-of-two then went back to business as usual and spent her day updating her Instagram to show fans how she gave Jordan and haircut.

The couple are in lockdown together with their two children - Cassius, one, and Mayowa, nine months.

Jordan proposed earlier this year while on a romantic break to the Maldives.

Blissful lockdown: The couple are in lockdown together with their two children - Cassius, one, and Mayowa, nine months (pictured)

Romantic proposal: Jordan proposed earlier this year while on a romantic couples' break to the Maldives

The pair started dating in 2015 and just one year later, the Diversity dancer revealed he was already thinking about proposing.

After starring on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here he said: 'It's dawned on me now that I will actually marry this girl.'

He previously revealed that he tried to propose to Naomi twice before she even fell pregnant.

He told The Sun at the time: 'At this rate we're going to end up with 13 kids and not going to be married.'
Johnson, who was acting as the pool reporter for the day, described his involvement in one of his pool dispatches: Earlier today before the briefing, a White House official instructed the print pooler [Johnson] to take CNNs seat in the briefing room because the seating would be swapped for the briefing. Given the seating assignment is under the jurisdiction of the White House Correspondents Association, not the White House, pooler refused to move.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 25

By Nargiz Ismayilova - Trend:

The price of WTI crude oil collapsed below zero level for the first time in the entire oil history, and this fact will be discussed for a long time by world experts, Azerbaijani expert and researcher at the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies Gulmira Rzayeva told Trend.

Rzayeva, who is also the director of Eurasia Analytics consulting company, was commenting on the upcoming OPEC+ meeting.

According to the researcher, the reason for this was that on the exchanges at the time of falling oil prices, futures trading was not stopped. Transactions with oil futures were floated, as there is a tendency in the world to oversupply the oil produced amid low demand due to the coronavirus pandemic. In the US, storage facilities are filled with oil at 75 percent, and in some regions they are full.

"At the auction, the oil price dropped to a minus level, and WTI was traded at a level below $37. We have witnessed what computer algorithms (trading systems that traders work with on the exchange) are capable of, through which the value of futures is calculated and contracts concluded. These algorithms, guided not by the real situation on the market, but by the numbers set by the owners of futures contracts, drove prices down," Rzayeva said.

"This means that the actual oil price has not sharply dropped, especially to the minus level, although of course the general downward trend is observed. Oil continues to be sold to refineries, traders and companies at an affordable price," she added.

"Nevertheless, the US government will investigate yesterdays case and find out the true reasons. Today, the price of WTI has already risen, and we must once again take into account that there is implied the price of exchange futures, rather than of a barrel of actual oil in the world market," noted the expert.

According to Rzayeva, the general trend is that oil prices are falling this month not only due to the filling of storage facilities.

"The oil, purchased by such large traders as Bitoil, Gunvor, Trafigura and Shell, is kept without any use in tankers because there is no one to sell it to, and they continue to fill up. Therefore, traders have to sell it at a large discount. The process will continue until the end of this month, as well as in May, when negotiations of OPEC+ countries will take place," the expert said.

"In May, a large jump in oil prices also is not expected, demand is still low. I think, in the coming months, it will depend on the results of negotiations of OPEC + countries. If the parties agree to reduce the oil production, then significant changes may occur in the global oil market. At the moment, oil prices of other brands are traded at plus level," she added.

---

Follow the author on Twitter:@IsmailovaNargis
The head of COVID-19 testing centre in Kano, Nasiru Magaji, on Saturday said there is no definite date for resuming the test in Kano.

He told PREMIUM TIMES that although the laboratory was opened on Friday, they are yet to commence treating samples.

We have opened the lab since yesterday (Friday), but you cant run samples just like that when you open the lab. You have to do a lot of things. So, we are doing those things up (till) now, he said.

Commenting on when they would resume testing, Mr Magaji said, We dont know until we finish everything. In a lab like that, you have to do all the safety procedures before you start exposing yourself.

PREMIUM TIMES, on Wednesday, reported how a member of Kano Task Force on COVID-19, Isa Abubakar, said the Nigeria Centre for Disease Controls COVID-19 testing centre in Kano suspended its operation due to shortage of testing kits.

On Thursday, Health Minister Osagie Ehanire said the centre was temporarily closed because some staff of the laboratory were reportedly infected with COVID-19. He also added that the centre ran short of some testing reagents.

But Mr Magaji said the laboratory was closed for routine fumigation which would last 48 hours.

For four consecutive days, Kano has not featured in NCDCs daily update on COVID-19.

Nigerias cases rose to 1,095 with Kano recording 73 as of Friday night, according to the NCDC.

The COVID-19 testing centre, domiciled at Malam Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, hosts many northern states suspected cases.

Experts say testing capacity is a major step in fighting the spread of coronavirus.

The challenge faced in Kano typifies the challenge of testing Nigeria has faced since the first case of the disease was detected in the country in February. About 10,000 people have been tested so far, across the country, less than a quarter of the number tested in smaller African countries like Ghana and South Africa.
At a time when the world is fighting against deadly COVID-19, minority Hindus in Pakistan continue to face religious persecution.

Two minor Hindu girls have been abducted by the brother of an influential local politician in Sindh province whereas the victims family is facing constant life threats.

In a video, the victims family demanded justice after their minor daughters  Suthi and Shama  were forcibly abducted by the brother of Pir Faisal Shah Jeelani, a member of the National Assembly.

Two more #Hindu girl has allegedly been abducted in from Tharhi Mirwaha , in #Sindh province of Pakistan . In a video message the member of the Hindu community alleged that brother of local MP Pir Fasil shah Jeelani threaten them too. They appeal to @imrankhan for help. 1/2 pic.twitter.com/VFuOxca5hM  Ravinder Singh Robin     (@rsrobin1) April 24, 2020

2/2. #HinduGirlsAbduction ; The families of allegedly abducted Hindu girls, also leveled allegation on #Sindh Police that they are not helping the victims. The member of Hindu community also says that Minorities in Pakistan are facing prosecution. @ImranKhanPTI pic.twitter.com/tmBjpNrCYM  Ravinder Singh Robin     (@rsrobin1) April 24, 2020

A family member said that Hindu minorities continue to face persecution in Sindh and they fear that girls will be converted to Islam.

He said, Minorities here are facing persecution. They have abducted our daughters. We are not getting justice and are continuously facing atrocities. The brother of a Member of National Assembly (MNA) Pir Fasil Shah Jeelani threatens more abduction if we complain about it. Hindu minorities are facing threats. We cant face this torture and would like to move out of Sindh.

The family also said that police are not helping the victims but deliberately not taking any action due to the influence of the politician.

Police is not cooperating with us. They took us to a court but did not produce the victims before the magistrate. Police is also favouring the culprits, said a family member.

Uncounted incidents are reported from Sindh province and other parts of Pakistan where Muslims have forcibly abducted and converted Hindu minor girls to Islam for marriage.

These incidents are reportedly happening without the consent of the girls family.

Hindus make up 1.85 per cent of Pakistans population according to the 1998 census. The list of atrocities perpetrated against Hindus includes forced conversions, forced abduction of young girls, lack of voting rights, and desecration of places of worship, to name a few.

However, the most barbaric of these monstrosities is the forced abduction of young Hindu girls.

The Global Human Rights Defence (GHRD) estimates that more than 1,000 Hindu and Christian girls are kidnapped and forced to convert to Islam annually.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has estimated that about 25 girls are abducted every month.
Weather Alert

...Winter Storm System to Impact the Region this Weekend... A strong winter storm system will push east through the Quad State Saturday into Sunday. Wintry precipitation will spread eastward into southern Illinois and southeast Missouri late Friday night, and then southeast over the remainder of the region Saturday morning. The evolution of the storm for the remainder of the weekend is quite uncertain at this time. The ultimate path and intensity of the storm system, along with the temperature forecast, will determine how impactful it will be across the Quad State. For now you are encouraged to monitor the latest forecasts and follow your winter weather preparedness plans ahead of this potentially impactful winter storm.
Karnataka Medical Education Minister Dr K Sudhakar and Health Minister B Sriramulu symbolically launched the clinical trials for convalescent plasma therapy here on Saturday at Victoria Hospital in Bengaluru.

Two patients from the state who have recovered from COVID-19 will be donating their plasma at HCG Hospital on Monday. Their consent was taken and they were counselled today.

For latest updates and live news on coronavirus, click here

"We have a separate building dedicated to recovered COVID-19 patients where they will donate their plasma. The recipient will be at Victoria. If there is any other patient who requires this across the state, they can be shifted to Victoria Hospital," said Dr Vishal Rao, Head and Neck Cancer Surgeon, HCG Hospital, who is the principle investigator of the clinical trial.

Explaining the agenda for the launch, Dr Rao, said, "The protocols had to be set, the donors needed to be identified, the standard operating procedures need to be planned and the final decisions on how we're going to execute it between the two institutes had to be made. We had to announce that we're kickstarting the programme so that donors could come forward and start donating blood and plasma so that people can be saved. That was the whole agenda."

Among the two donors who had agreed to donate plasma, one of them refused to come on a video call. But the other donor came on a video call and spoke to Medical Education Minister Dr K Sudhakar. The minister asked the donor over the video call, "Are you excited or happy?", to which the donor replied, "I'm both excited and happy. Even if I can help one person come out of this, I'll feel proud and humble. I'll do whatever it takes to ensure that all of us come out of this." Thanking the donor, Sudhakar said, "I wish more people who have healed come forward and help others who are infected."

Difference between clinical trials that HCG and BMCRI wants to do

Explaining the difference between the clinical trials that BMCRI and HCG want to do, Dr Rao said that HCG is doing a phase 1 clinical trial while BMCRI wants to do a phase 2 multicentric clinical trial (which will take four to six weeks to start). The trials have four phases. Whenever there is a new drug (plasma therapy is being considered a drug currently), it has to go through four phases. Phase 1 is safety -- which is done in 10-20 patients. Phase 2 is for testing efficacy, which is done in hundreds of patients. Phase 3 is one where one study is compared with another done in the past, and phase 4 is for surveillance where post recovery and lockdown, recovered patients are monitored on how they are faring in the community.

HCG is currently doing a phase 1 trial which is being done only in three places across the world -- Chicago university in the US, Hungary and Karnataka. ICMR has also come out with a protocol for phase 2 clinical trial for 452 patients.
While many companies are getting benefits from the government to help battle COVID-19 and its impact on the economy, cannabis is one industry that's been overlooked. Marijuana companies are ineligible for support under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act because they're involved in federally illegal activities. Even companies that do business with these federally illegal entities (e.g., the cannabis industry) are ineligible for government aid.

As a result, the cannabis industry has been overlooked thus far in financial assistance. However, that could change as Democrats try to get help for cannabis companies. And if they succeed, it would help make pot stocks safer buys.

Colorado congressman working to get cannabis companies access to banking

If there's one state that knows how important the cannabis industry is, it's Colorado. Recreational marijuana has been legal there since 2014. And sales in the industry for both recreational and medicinal pot have totaled more than $8 billion since legalization. This past year (2019) set a new record as the state generated $1.7 billion in sales, which is a 13% increase from the prior year.

Democratic Congressman Ed Perlmutter represents Colorado and has been pushing for some help for the industry, particularly by improving access to banking. The Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act made progress in 2019 when it passed the House, but little has happened since. Perlmutter, however, is working on the banking issue and says he wants to get provisions from the SAFE Banking Act included on a future COVID-19 relief bill.

Currently, many cannabis companies struggle to get banks to work with them because the industry's activities are illegal federally. That means getting loans and financial relief is hard to come by. By gaining access to banking, cannabis companies could be less reliant on the equity markets to raise money and to keep their businesses afloat. And that could be vital, especially at a time when stocks are as low as they are. In the past 12 months, the Horizons Marijuana Life Sciences ETF is down more than 70%. Leading marijuana multistate operator Curaleaf Holdings (OTC:CURLF) has seen its share price decline by 65% during that same timeframe.

Lower valuations mean it takes more shares to raise capital, resulting in further dilution for shareholders, in order to raise the same amount of money as it would have in the past. If cannabis companies can access banking and take out loans, that lessens the need for shares to be issued.

The good news is that according to Perlmutter, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi supports his push to get support for the cannabis industry, and Democrats are working on ways to get help for the industry in future relief bills. Lobbyists are also hoping that marijuana companies can gain access to Small Business Administration (SBA) benefits, like those passed under the CARES Act.

On April 23, Perlmutter along with Earl Blumenauer, a congressman from Oregon, introduced The Emergency Cannabis Small Business Health and Safety Act. The bill would give marijuana companies, in states where cannabis is legal, access to the resources that the federal government has made available to business through its emergency response packages for COVID-19. It would also ensure that future relief packages would not be able to exclude cannabis business.

Cannabis companies need help this year

The cannabis industry continued to do well in March when some states saw spikes in sales as consumers stockpiled pot in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic and fears that they'd have to stay home for prolonged periods. In Oregon, marijuana sales of $84.5 million in March were an all-time high for the state. Illinois also saw revenue continue to rise, recording $35.9 million in sales for March, up from $34.8 million in the previous month.

Thus far, the industry's been doing OK, but that can change as more people lose their jobs and have less discretionary cash to spend on cannabis. Compounding the problem is that some cannabis companies may just be months away from running out of cash, according to investment bank Ello Capital. Throw in declining sales and that leaves a potentially dire situation for the cannabis industry -- one that requires assistance from the government sooner rather than later.

What does this mean for investors?

Despite the efforts in Congress, there's no guarantee that the cannabis industry will get support in future relief bills. It wasn't included in the most recent legislation that the Senate passed on April 22, which provides more funding under the Paycheck Protection Program to help companies cover the cost of employee salaries and benefits.

For now, cannabis investors should assume no imminent help is on the way, although that could change. And that's where focusing on a company's current liquidity needs to be a priority. Without access to cash, investors should steer clear of high-risk pot stocks.

One company that may be in good shape, for now, is Curaleaf. When it reported its year-end results on March 24, the cannabis producer said it closed on a senior secured-term loan facility that will give it access to $300 million. That gives the company a lot more breathing room to get through what could be a tough year for the cannabis industry. As of Dec. 31, Curaleaf reported cash of $42.3 million, down from $266.6 million a year earlier.

But the company looks secure moving forward because during 2019 it burned through just $38.3 million in cash to fund its operating activities and $204 million in investing activities. Given its access to capital and room for Curaleaf to cut spending this year, it could be one of the safer cannabis companies to invest in right now. In 2019, the company showed terrific growth with sales of $221 million nearly tripling from the $77.1 million that Curaleaf reported in 2018.

But regardless of which stock cannabis investors consider buying, cash flow should be part of their decision-making process in light of the challenges ahead.
Photo credit: Kipp Burgoyne Photography

From ELLE

If anything is flourishing in self-isolation, its the relaxation and decompressing industrial complex, which is spitting out new brain-hushing techniques at intergalactic speeds. Some newly bendy people are trying out yoga apps or dusting off Headspace. Sourdough starter deserves its own section as a luxury product on The RealReal as others try their hand at laborious bread baking. And just when you thought youd never have to hear about puzzles ever again, the childhood activity is back in full force But for hundreds of thousands of people on TikTok, nothing packs a Xanax-level punch like watching food find its made-in-heaven Tupperware match.

A TikTok account created by mother-daughter duo Roya and Gita Shariat is dedicated to Gita's uncanny knack for eyeballing the right-size Tupperware. These extraordinarily popular videos share a straightforward concept: Gita pours, prods, or slides her Persian cuisine into an endless lineup of Tupperware containers that seem specially made for precisely however much food is left over. The experience of watching these videos is not unlike witnessing Usain Bolt run the 200 meters, Whitney Houston belt the National Anthem, or a member of Vanderpump Rules utterly humiliate themselves on national television. These are people with a special talent at the top of their powers. Roya and Gitas videos now have over a million views combined plus a stream of comments dubbing mom the C.E.O. of spatial awareness.

The accounts magic began when Roya, the social impact manager at Glossier, headed home to D.C. for Persian New Year in late March. Because of the coronavirus shutdown, she couldnt return to New York. I've been home for five weeks now, but within the first couple days, I was watching my mom putting away food in Tupperware with a perfect fit every time, Roya explains over the phone. I always knew she had this skill but I was finally like, I wish other people knew how amazing she was at this skill.

Story continues

Up to this point, Roya mostly used TikTok as a spectator or to share videos with friends. But she realized she had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to document what was happening in her childhood home. The first video was my mom putting an omelet into a small Tupperware, and it honestly wasnt great, Roya says. But I knew I had to make more videos with my mom as the focus. It will remind me of the delicious food she makes or of this time we spent together, the hard work she puts into cooking and the amazing ability she has to fit everything.

The videos are very low-lift, with Roya shooting them in real-time and editing in the app using native tools. She adds what she describes as soothing elevator music at the end andprestoviral magic is made. All Royas videos are labeled, My mom always finds the right size Tupperware with an episode number. The format makes it easy for users to binge after stumbling across one of the viral videos.

It took four weeks for the videos to start racking up views. The most popular features Gita pouring Khorak-e Morgh (Chicken Stew) into a piece of black Tupperware right up to the point youre worried its going to spill over. The video has almost a million views. [Khorak-e Morgh is] a very common Persian dish, my grandmothers favorite dish, but nothing that exciting, says Roya. For some reason that video skyrocketed the accounts views and following. Roya didnt have push notifications set on her phone, but opened the app blithely to find 700,000 views. I was getting 99 new notifications a minute, she says.

Gita, the star of the videos and a unique angel, according to her daughter, is a mother of three and teacher. Like most moms, she had no idea what TikTok was. Im not good at technology, she explains. But for Mama Shariat, the point was to make her daughter laugh. Now that shes back in the house, I want to make her laugh and I want to have some silliness with everything going on in the world, Gita says. I want the house to be an escape thats silly and funny, so I liked doing these videos.

Now that Gita's well versed in the app, shes soaking in the newfound fame. Its nice that they are laughing and commenting something funny and not thinking about coronavirus for one second. she adds. I love to make people happy.

At the end of each day, mother and daughter sit down to read the comments together. During the first night, Roya's mom and dad were doubled over laughing. Now, Roya wants to read them hourly so her mom can enjoy the praise. Highlights from their greatest hit list include:

I was genuinely sad and watching these made me forget where I was, said user @ispaigebish



Okay, but can I come over for dinner?  @twizitidash



I didnt think the veggie and rice stew would fit but it did. Mind blown.  @idenli_



Its a mom superpower!  @kielynutton

Now, the pair is looking to take their success further. "Sixty seconds is not enough for the full range of Iranian cooking, explains Roya. I would love to expand to a cookbook with my mom, since a lot of the commenters have been asking for it. The series has become a great place to spotlight Iranian food. Ive always felt like the kid in the classroom who brought the stinky lunch, so I was scared people would make fun of it," Roya says. But its so nice. All the comments are like, This looks so delicious! and Drop the recipe, please. It's nice to have Iranian representation on TikTok.

During the doom-and-gloom of coronavirus, in a very sweet corner of TikTok, a loving mom with the gift of spatial awareness just tries to make her daughter laugh as she perfectly packs up the food she cooked for her family. Your move, Glad.

Photo credit: Courtesy

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SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 19: Anthony Russo and Joe Russo attend A Conversation With The Russo Brothers during 2019 Comic-Con International at San Diego Convention Center on July 19, 2019 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Albert L. Ortega/Getty Images)

Joe and Anthony Russo have marked the 1-year anniversary of Avengers: Endgames release by recalling their own initial reactions to the euphoric response from fans.

In fact, after sneaking in to an opening night screening of Avengers: Endgame alongside Marvel president Kevin Feige, writers Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely and producer Louis DEsposito, the duo were so overwhelmed by the audiences reaction that they wept.

Read More: Sebastian Stan says we might have to wait a while for a new 'Avengers' movie

Ive never had an experience like that in a movie theater, Joe Russo told Deadline. Where an audience was that viscerally and emotionally connected to what was going on, vocalising and emoting the way they were.

We had chills all around and were brought to tears once or twice, realizing you told a story that had such binding communal impact. It was something well never forget.

Robert Downey Jr and Chris Evans stare each other down in Avengers: Endgame (Image by Marvel)

Anthony Russo even compared the experience to going to a rock concert, explaining, To be in a movie theater that feels like a rock arena, I never imagined it and to be part of that energy and see the crowds experience the movie in that way with that fervor, sharing it together and feeding one another.

That was something I never anticipated and to see it happen on that movieit keeps you humbled because you dont know where art is going to take you or where movies take us. It was nice to be part of that moment.

Read More: 'Avengers: Endgame' concept art reveals another hero almost met a violent end

Joe and Anthony Russos next few movies has see them move away from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, as they produced the action movie Extraction, which has just been released on Netflix, while their next directorial effort Cherry revolves around an Army medic struggling with PTSD that starts robbing banks to pay for his drug addiction.
It has been a challenging time for the family of Richard Brady, a 66-year-old man with type two diabetes who has been living in Riverchapel for the past number of years and who is in a critical condition in ICU in Wexford General Hospital suffering with Covid-19.

His daughter Caroline Brady, who also lives in Riverchapel, described her father as a shy and timid man, someone who kept to himself and followed all the recommended hygiene protocols.

After experiencing symptoms of a head cold, staying inside and later taking a turn for the worst, he received a positive result following a Covid-19 test on April 6, something his family never expected would come to their doorstep.

'He's a father of seven and grandfather of nine, he just turned 66 in February and he has been married to his wife Margaret for over 35 years. We moved to Riverchapel about four or five years ago, I live close by and I'm up at the house everyday so I might as well live there,' explained Caroline.

'I've my eight-year-old little girl, she's granddad's girl and they're best pals. He collects her from school and does her homework with her everyday. It has been heartbreaking trying to answer her questions about this'.

The family's experience with Covid-19 began when Caroline's parents started to feel unwell on March 25. To this day, the Brady's still haven't been able to pin down where the virus came from to infect their father.

'He was complaining with cold symptoms, he had a headache and he complained that his skin was sore. His clothes were hurting him when they rubbed off him and it kind of just progressed from there.

'They both thought he might just have a bit of a head cold, and thought nothing of it so they stayed at home and took paracetamol, that's all.

'The reason for us thinking nothing of it was that he's a man that keeps to himself, goes out for his walk on his own every day. He wouldn't be the type of man to stop a person in the street for conversation, he's very shy,' said Caroline.

'Himself and I had gone to the shops a couple of times before that, but he was following all the protocols, sanitising, washing his hands, keeping his distance, he was doing all of that.

'It's frightening to think that we haven't a clue how he got it. My mam has underlying issues and the consultant in the ICU that's looking after my dad even said that if anyone should have been in there, he would have thought it'd be her'.

Along with her mother, Margaret, Caroline is not allowed to enter Wexford General Hospital because she has been in contact with Richard.

'Before he was admitted to hospital on April 6, he confined himself to the bed for a week. We said to him about getting the doctor and he didn't want that, that's always the way he has been. But he got worse, he stopped eating and I was starting to get worried about the diabetes side of things,' said Caroline.

'My mam was getting better, but I was terrified of him slipping into a diabetic coma.

'On the Thursday before he was admitted, we contacted his own GP and arranged a test for Covid-19 for him and my mam.

'On Saturday, when he still hadn't gotten out of bed, I tried to involve a Care Doc, demanding on getting him seen because of the state he was in. He was trembling, he couldn't talk properly, he was very confused and dazed. He didn't know who any of us were or where he was.

'The Care Doc spoke to him over the phone, recommended paracetamol but they never sent anyone out.

At this point, the family still hadn't thought of the Covid-19, putting Richard's symptoms down to his diabetes.

'Even still at that time I was putting it down to the diabetes as he hadn't been eating. But we knew by Monday that we had to do something, it was a doctor or an ambulance I said. So I rang the Gorey doctor and he asked us to bring him up.

'Straight away within minutes of seeing him, the doctor told us that he was a critically ill man,' said Caroline.

'It was heartbreaking to see. He just didn't know us - his daughter and granddaughter. It was like looking at a dementia patient. He hadn't a clue where he was, for a man that was clued in with everything'.

When he was hospitalised, Richard's treatment began with blood tests as well as an x-ray.

'They found pneumonia in both lungs, they heavily sedated him and put him into an induced coma so they could get him onto the ventilator. He's been on the ventilator ever since but we've seen no real improvement.

'On Easter Sunday night, he took a turn and my two sisters from Dublin were allowed in to see him. We felt, as a family, as if they were bringing us in to say our goodbyes, because we thought he was going to be gone.

'His temperature had hit the roof, they couldn't control it and then his blood pressure dropped. They were trying to stabilise that, and they have since, but it did take a while,' said Caroline.

'We're trying to stay positive for his sake, and for our own but the hardest part of it is not being able to see him.

'It's the same with the rest of the family, when my sisters were here they drove over see us and to my mam but they were miles away. None of us can give my mam a hug, comfort her and tell her everything is going to be OK. In hard times, that's what you do you support each other and not being able to do that is disheartening'.

Although Caroline has gone through so many emotions over the last weeks, she said she is feeling anger about some people who aren't taking Covid-19 seriously.

'I've been very down in the dumps, very worried. My mam and dad shouldn't have this worry, it's devastating. The hospital are contacting us multiple times a day, they have been very accommodating. We are ringing them, and we thank them for everything they have done for him.

'We haven't been able to communicate with my dad in any way and I feel an awful lot of anger when I see these teenagers going around in their groups, and their parents not being held responsible for it,' she said.

'There's protocol there for a reason and we should follow it, my dad did and he's still in hospital with this, so why should these people get away with? The way I see it is that it's the likes of these people that are spreading it.

'We didn't think about the severity of this disease at the start, we thought it was just a bit of a cold, and then we thought with him not eating, it was the diabetes. If we had have been thinking about Covid-19, we would have got him hospitalised a week sooner'.
Bayern Munich midfielder Philippe Coutinho has undergone surgery to remove loose fragments from his right ankle and will be sidelined for at least two weeks, the club said.

The Brazil international is on a season-long loan from Barcelona and has scored eight goals in 22 Bundesliga appearances for Bayern.

"Philippe Coutinho underwent an operation on his right ankle, during which loose joint fragments were removed," the club said in a statement.

"The operation was a success. The Brazilian will begin his recovery program in around 14 days."



France midfielder Corentin Tolisso also had an operation earlier in the week on his ankle and will miss the league's potential restart date on May 9.

The Bundesliga is prepared to resume next month without spectators following the coronavirus outbreak but is awaiting the all-clear from the German government.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A French court on Friday rejected Amazons appeal against a ruling that restricts what it can deliver during the coronavirus crisis, handing a victory to unions that had criticised the US e-commerce giants safety measures.

Amazon-the US e-commerce giant has got a rapping from a French court. The court in its ruling said Amazon did not 'do enough' to protect its workers.

Unions in France and beyond welcomed Friday's ruling by the appeals court in Versailles as a comeuppance for the online behemoth, and expressed hope that negotiations with Amazon management on new safety measures can start next week, said a report in The Associated Press (AP). The standoff has drawn global attention, as worldwide demand for Amazon's services soars because confined consumers can no longer shop in stores.

Amazon will keep its six warehouses in France closed until after a stand-off with unions over sanitary conditions amid the coronavirus outbreak, it said on Sunday, a Reuters report said.

A French court on Friday rejected Amazons appeal against a ruling that restricts what it can deliver during the coronavirus crisis, handing a victory to unions that had criticised the US e-commerce giants safety measures.

The courts found Amazon didn't do enough to enforce social distancing, to ensure that turnstiles and locker rooms were virus-free, or to increase cleaning of its warehouses.

Amazon must limit deliveries in France to IT products, health items, food and pet food, the Court of Appeal said, upholding a previous order for the firm to curtail shipments while it improves its health protocols.

Amazon temporarily shut all its French distribution centres last week, after a lower court ordered it to stop selling non-essential goods while it works out new safety measures with staff.

Amazon argued that it was too complicated to separate out its activities, and appealed.

The appeals court upheld the overall requirement for Amazon to work out new safety measures. But it also expanded the products Amazon is allowed to sell, adding electronics, office and pet supplies.

The original ruling only permitted sales of food and medical and cleaning supplies.

The appeals court also reduced the potential fines Amazon faces for future violations, from 1 million euros per infraction to 100,000 euros.

Amazons six warehouses in France, where goods are packed up and dispatched and which staff had complained were too crowded, have been shut since 16 April, after the initial court ruling last week curtailing the scope of deliveries.

The US group had argued that defining essential goods such as health products was too complex and that it did not want to risk fines.

Amazon said in a statement Friday that it will keep its distribution centers closed at least through 28 April with staff receiving full pay, and that it was assessing how to operate following the courts decision.

Our distribution centres in France and around the world are safe, it said in a statement. It added that the court decision reinforces our idea that the main issue is not so much security, as the will of certain trade union organisations to take advantage of a complex consultation process with social and economic committees, Reuters said.

The Versailles court said that for every delivery Amazon shipped which did not meet its strict criteria on basic goods, the company would face a 100,000-euro ($108,000) penalty.

The company insisted that its facilities are safe, and said it had involved worker representatives in discussions about security measures. Amazon has said its safety measures were adequate, and that it had made hand gel and face masks available to workers.

We don't think this decision is in the best interest of the French, of our partners and thousands of small French businesses that count on Amazon to develop their activities, it said, according to a report by The Associated Press (AP).

Unions hail verdict

The Unions called the verdict as a David against Goliath moment, at a time when Amazon is seeing a surge in demand but also facing labour unrest on both sides of the Atlantic over its handling of deliveries during the pandemic.

Just because this is a giant US company, it doesnt mean it should not have to make efforts during this crisis. It is not above the law, said Laurent Degousee of Frances Sud union to Reuters.

The ruling is also a warning to other companies, whether they are still operational or not, or looking to restart their activities, he said.

Some workers say the company placed profits over staff safety as virus outbreaks erupted around France.

Unions say one worker infected with the virus is in intensive care.

The court rulings will require (Amazon) to work differently, which is not such a bad thing, said Jean-Francois Berot, a member of the SUD-Solidaires union who packages and picks up goods in an Amazon warehouse in Saran south of Paris.

The judge reminded them that there are laws, and they have to adhere to them, he said. He hopes negotiations with unions can start as soon as Monday.

Labor unions elsewhere are also watching.

The court's decision ... means that it's time for Amazon to start behaving like a responsible employer and establish a productive relationship with labor unions, in France and elsewhere, said Christy Hoffman, general secretary of UNI Global Union, according to AP.

Unions said they were negotiating with Amazon to try to find a compromise, including health protocols they are satisfied with, so that operations can resume - albeit with fewer staff deployed at once.

Small businesses hit

The decision is a blow for thousands of small businesses that sell through Amazon, and comes as firms across Europe are trying to figure out how to let staff safely return to offices and factories once coronavirus restrictions are eased.

The spat has accentuated losses for some French businesses that were still managing to sell and ship through Amazon.

Its been horrendous, said Yannick Jan, to Reuters. His stationery company on the outskirts of Paris has been trying to handle 600 orders a day from its own premises, rather than the usual 80, since the Amazon warehouses shut.

Jans monthly sales were already on the wane due to the pandemic. Skyrocketing shipment costs were now eating into margins, he said.

Some 10,000 third-party French vendors sell though Amazons site and many use its logistics too.

Amazon has frozen some storage fees for French vendors.

Sylvain Flipot, who sells goods including riding saddles and dressing-up costumes across Europe through Amazon, said much of his stock had become stranded in Amazons sites.

His business, Ponera, had offset some of the hit from the coronavirus crisis with sales of hygiene products like soaps. But his French revenues have fallen 80% since the warehouses shut, and exports were tricky.

Were sending some goods to an Amazon warehouse in Germany, Flipot said to Reuters. But its costing four times as much, and there are long delays.

Amazon dominates the online delivery market in France, with 431 million euros in sales in 2018 and more than 10,000 employees.

--With inputs from agencies

.
Burlesque Boys Credit:

BURLESQUE BOYS



10.35pm, SBS Viceland

Made as part of the Australiana collaboration between Screen Australia and Vice, Burlesque Boys encapsulates both the strengths and weaknesses of the series. The filmmaking isnt especially polished and  at just 30 minutes  theres the feeling of everything getting the once-over-lightly. But this is also a genuine peek into a corner of Australia most of us have no access to: behind the scenes with a group of male strippers. The faint flavour of This Is Spinal Tap adds to the fun. MH
The CPI(M) on Saturday demanded that two new sections in the newly promulgated ordinance to provide protection to health workers should be withdrawn as they went against the "principle of common law".

The Centre, on Wednesday, promulgated an ordinance to amend the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 to punish those guilty of attacks on doctors and healthcare workers.

"The CPI(M) welcomes any legal protection so necessary for our health workers in the fight against the pandemic.

"However, the ordinance issued by the President of India has certain serious flaws. Section 3 (c) and 3 (d) together violate the principle of common law accepted and followed by all countries in the world including the criminal law jurisprudence in India on the vital issue of presumption of innocence until proven guilty. These two sections together overturn this principle on its head. This is open to gross misuse, harassment and targeting," the Left party said in a statement.

Section 3(d) also enables the court to presume intention, motive, knowledge, or belief on the part of the accused to commit the violent act, and the burden is on the accused to rebut it. Section 3(d) says that the court can declare a fact to have been proven only when it believes it exists beyond reasonable doubt, and not merely when its existence is established by a preponderance of probability.

Hence these two clauses 3(c) and 3(d) must be removed from the ordinance, it said.

While the provision of 3(c) in the ordinance deals with presumption of certain offences, 3(d) deals with presumption of culpable mental state.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A prominent Pakistani cleric has stoked controversy after his bizarre remarks relating to the coronavirus pandemic which he claimed was due to God's wrath in view of increasing obscenity and nudity.

Rights activists and members of civil society have condemned the remarks made by religious leader Maulana Tariq Jamil on national television during Prime Minister Imran Khan's telethon on April 23 to raise funds for the people affected by the COVID-19.

Maulana Jamil, who has a huge following in Pakistan, said, "Obscenity and nudity are the reasons behind God's wrath in the form of coronavirus."



Who is making my nation's daughters dance. Their dresses are getting shortened. Allah sends his wrath when obscenity is common in the society, he said.

The remarks have been called "callous and demeaning" to women who make up half of the Muslim majority country.

Barrister Maleeka Bokhari, parliamentary secretary of law and justice, tweeted: The spread of a pandemic must never and under no circumstances be correlated or linked to a woman's piety or morality.

It is dangerous to make this correlation as violent crimes against women/girls continue to take place with impunity.

Federal Minister of Human Rights Shireen Mazari said: We will not accept the targeting of women on the pretext of such ludicrous accusations. We in Pakistan have fought hard for claiming our rights as enshrined in the Constitution of Pakistan.

Criticising the cleric for his "ludicrous" remarks about women in Pakistan, she said: Simply absurd for anyone under any guise to even suggest the COVID-19 pandemic is a result of women wearing short sleeves or because of private schools/universities misleading the youth.

This simply reflects either ignorance about pandemics or a misogynist mindset which is absolutely unacceptable.

Nida Aly, director of the Asma Jahangir Legal Aid cell, said while women under lockdown needed security from the community, the government trotted out Tariq Jamil on a broadly televised programme who not just objectified women but declared them and their individualist actions to bring the wrath of God and punishment in the form of COVID-19."



The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan said: We are appalled at Maulana Jamil's statement which inexplicably correlated women's modesty' to the COVID-19 pandemic. Such blatant objectification is unacceptable and, when aired on public television, only compounds the misogyny entrenched in society.

In Pakistan, nearly 12,000 people have been infected with the novel coronavirus while the death toll has reached 253.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Management at Kerry Airport say they are confident the airline that runs the Kerry Dublin route can overcome its current difficulties.

Like most airlines Stobart Air is struggling to cope with the fallout from the global COVID-19 crisis.

Last week it emerged that UK based Stobart Group - currently a shareholder in the airline's struggling parent firm - is considering the takeover of Stobart Air in a move that would give the airline leeway to deal with looming liabilities linked to its aircraft leases.

It is one of the two potential outcomes for Stobart Air, which operates the Kerry Dublin route under the Aer Lingus Regional banner.

Stobart Air is also understood to be considering a court bid for examinership to provide temporary protection from its creditors as it fights for survival.

The alternative would see Stobart Group buy a 49pc stake in Stobart Air from accountancy firm EY, which is the administrator to UK-based Connect Airways Stobart Air's troubled parent company. The remaining 51 per cent is owned by Stobart Air's staff.

Any deal would effectively require the support of Aer Lingus

Stobart Air's current contract with Ireland's national carrier to operate the Aer Lingus Regional service expires in 2022.It began operating the service in 2010.

While the pair have yet to renew the deal, Stobart Group indicated that its agreement with Aer Lingus would help secure Stobart Air's business once the Covid-19 crisis had passed.

Kerry Airport CEO John Mulhern is confident the airline can survive and said Stobart Air has the airport's full backing.

"Kerry Airport and Stobart Air are jointly and steadfastly committed to providing Kerry and the region with the vital air connection to Dublin, said Mr Mulhern.

"All our concerns are towards the immediate health crisis including continuing that service for vital frontline staff and equipment," he said.

"In the background the struggle to reach a positive outcome continues for us at the Airport and at Stobart Air, as it does for all businesses including those involved in transport and tourism. This unprecedented event has impacted Kerry Airport as it has Stobart Air in a profound way and one which the Airport hasn't experienced in its fifty years," said Mr Mulhern.

"We are unwavering in our mutual commitment to continue this vital schedule and to ensure it keeps flying to support the recovery when it happens. Stobart Air are a robust and capable team and I have no doubt that they will find the means to prevail in these difficult times. They have our full support."

Stobart Group issued its own statement to the London Stock Exchange on Friday.

Stobart Group notes the recent press speculation stating that Stobart Group is considering the acquisition of Stobart Air from EY, the administrators of Connect Airways.

"The company confirms that it is reviewing all options in relation to the future of Stobart Air during this unprecedented time including the possibility of acquiring the businesses from the administrators," said Stobart Groupin its statement.

"A range of discussions are ongoing and there is no certainty that any transaction will take place."

"The board of Stobart Group believes that Stobart Air has a viable future after Covid-19 and that by working with Aer Lingus as franchise partner it can place the business on a secure footing and manage the impact of guarantee obligations in a controlled manner."
It may be a cliche, but what was supposed to be a dream day for many couples has indeed become a nightmare, as the wedding industry scrambles to comply with COVID-19 regulations.

Edmonton couple Stephanie Parsons and Garrick Des Lauriers were planning on getting married April 4.

They realized mid-March that their 80 guests wouldn't be able to join them, Parsons said.

The couple considered an intimate ceremony at home instead, but eventually decided to postpone to an undetermined date.

"We just ended up cancelling it altogether," Parsons said. "The day that we decided to cancel the venue was the same day that we decided to also, obviously, cancel our honeymoon.

"That was a tough day."

COVID-19 has brought the industry to a stand still, said Edmonton wedding planner Sandra Cassios.

"It really is tough," Cassios said. "It's scary from a couple's perspective, but for a wedding industry professional it's also very scary."

"A lot of our income during the busy months has also been taken away or postponed."

Hosting a large wedding in 2020 is no longer realistic, said Edmonton wedding planner Jennifer Bergman.

"Unless they're going to be quite small gatherings, we're going to have to be moving all of our events over to 2021," she said.

"Even then, there's still some uncertainty with how the pandemic will unfold and continue to affect us."

The Alberta government has indicated that physical distancing measures will likely be in place for months.

Supplied by Stephanie Parsons

Parsons is waiting to set a new date, unwilling to risk a second postponement.

"I'll be damned, sorry for the language, if I plan two weddings and have both of them cancelled," she said with a laugh.

Busy fall and 2021

Rebooking a venue is the most challenging part, Bergman said, as next year's calendar is quickly filling up.

"That's the most important thing. You need to be able to have the date available at your venue and then we go from there."

Story continues

Edmonton's Fairmont Hotel Macdonald, a popular venue for weddings, is closed for all of April and May due to the pandemic.

Couples planning to tie the knot during that time frame were given the option to cancel at no cost or to book a later date, said Danielle Lundy, the hotel's director of sales and marketing.

Some have chosen to go ahead with a small ceremony this summer, she said, while others are hoping that larger gatherings will be allowed in the fall.

Lundy is working with those couples to come up with a backup plan in case physical distancing measures are still in place.

"It alleviates a little bit of the stress of the uncertainty," she said. "Let's see what dates are available right now and let's start to talk about what a backup plan will look like.

"The fall is getting busy quickly and the summer of 2021 also is much busier than it usually is a year out."

Supplied by Fairmont Hotel Macdonald

Focusing on priorities

While some couples may be tempted to cancel wedding plans altogether, Cassios cautions against it.

"A full-on cancellation means that you are more than likely losing all of the deposits that you've given to your vendors," she said.

For Parsons, recuperating her deposits was a mixed experience. She said the venue reimbursed her, but other vendors, such as the DJ and hair and makeup artist, kept the money.

Lining up the same venue and vendors for a new date may be tricky, Cassios said.

She encourages couples to focus on what aspects of their wedding matter most to them and build from there.

"Sit down and strip away all the pretty, strip away all of the bling and really talk about what are your priorities," Cassios said.

Physically distanced weddings

Couples who still want to get married during the pandemic have options, said Eva Tamayo, co-owner of the Foundry Room.

The Edmonton venue is offering a COVID-19 wedding package, with only 10 guests, that conforms to physical distancing regulations.

"There's different ways that we can adapt," Tamayo said. "The hardest thing that we're working with is getting the right numbers and staying within the limits."

Supplied by Foundry Room

Some bigger venues have temporarily closed their doors, she said, and couples are scrambling to find a new space.

"Sometimes the dates are significant to them and they want to keep that," Tamayo said. "We are also seeing a lot of increase in people who can't elope out of the country anymore."

'No point in dwelling on it'

Three weeks have passed since Parsons' original wedding date, enough time to make peace with the situation.

"We've had a lot of time to kind of mourn or grieve our wedding, or lack thereof," said Parsons.

"We're OK now. It was one of those situations where it is what it is. You can't change it. So there's really no point in dwelling on it."

She said the entire ordeal has helped her gain some perspective.

"It's about us, it's about the love that we share," said Parsons. "It's also about sharing that experience with our friends and family."

Still, she can't quite forget the honeymoon in Bali, Indonesia, a trip the couple won't be able to recreate.

"That's honestly the hardest pill to swallow," she said. "This was our once-in-a-lifetime event. That was a hard thing to deal with."
Nearly 500,000 Australians Granted Early Access to Retirement Savings

Consumer advocates warn people that it should be a last resort

Nearly half a million Australians have been approved to withdraw a total of $3.8 billion (US$2.4 billion) from their superannuation (super) retirement funds since the Australian Taxation Office began to process the early access applications on April 20, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg announced at a press conference April 23.

The money is expected to be paid out by super funds within the next week to help Australians cope with financial hardships caused by CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as novel coronavirus.

The Australian Taxation Office has approved 456,000 applications, totalling $3.8 billion, said Frydenberg. Those applications are now with the superannuation funds for their payment over the next five days.

The average withdrawal is around $8,000, he added.

$20,000 Tax-Free

In an effort to provide further relief to those who are the worst-hit amid the economic downturn induced by CCP virus, the federal government introduced the early access policy in late March. Up to $10,000 can be withdrawn tax-free from superannuation funds this financial year 2019-20. A further withdrawal of $10,000 is allowed in the next financial year, starting July 1. This arrangement will be in place until September.

These extraordinary times demand extraordinary measures, the treasurer said in a statement when announcing its $66.1 billion packages to support workers and households amid the crisis.

According to the policy, an early release of superannuation is available to those who are unemployed and/or who are eligible for the governments coronavirus supplement which is a $550 per fortnight additional payment to recipients of the JobSeeker Payment, Youth Allowance jobseeker, Parenting Payment, Farm Household Allowance, and Special Benefit.

Those who have been made redundant or had their working hours reduced by over 20 percent, as well as sole traders whose revenue has fallen by 20 percent or more since Jan. 1, can also apply for early release of their super.

Concerns Over Long-Term Financial Security

Despite the immediate relief from tax-free cash, taking out money now means super fund members will end up with significantly reduced savings by the time of their retirements due to the loss of compound interest benefit and missing-out on potential investment opportunities when the economy recovers.

On April 16, the Conexus Institute, Super Consumers Australia, and The Actuaries Institute released an information sheet to estimate the impact of early access on retirement savings for different age groups.

According to the calculation, a 30-year old member withdrawing $20,000 (US$12,700) over two years now could potentially reduce their superannuation balance at retirement (at age 67) by $50,000. For a 40-year old, the loss could be up to $39,000, for a 50-year old this would cost them $30,000, while a 60-year old will end up with a $24,000 reduction in their balance.

The information sheet states:

Withdrawing from your super now can only reduce savings at retirement which means less income.

The size of the impact is uncertain because it will depend on unknown factors such as the future rate of investment earnings on your super.

Super Consumers Australia Director Xavier OHalloran warns that this may force members to give up on insurance in future.

You should also consider your insurance needs, as early access may leave you without enough savings to continue paying for insurance premiums in super, he said.

The move also sparked concerns that the drawdowns could weaken the superannuation industry as a whole.

Selling your super at the bottom of the market will risk squandering peoples hard-earned retirement savings, opposition Labor leader Anthony Albanese said in a statement in response to the decision.

It is also the case if the superannuation industry is forced to sell assets at the bottom of the market. That also is not sensible economics.

Should Be a Last Resort: Advocates

Given the potential costs and risks, consumer advocate organisations are urging super fund members to exhaust all other options before dipping into their retirement savings.

A joint statement was released by Super Consumers Australia, Council On The Ageing Australia (COTA), and CHOICE to tell people there are a number of financial assistance options to help get through these tough times.

Super will be the right option for some, but you should be looking at what else is available and possible cuts to discretionary spending before raiding the cookie jar, Super Consumers Australia Director Xavier OHalloran said.

The message is echoed by CHOICE Policy and Campaigns Adviser Patrick Veyret, who reminded consumers that accessing your super should be a last resort.

He encouraged those in financial difficulties to contact financial counsellors, not financial advisers, for a free and independent service.

They can help people navigate through financial hardship, access government payments, and assist with any debt matters, he explained.

The advocates also warn of scammers, urging consumers to stay well away from anyone who offers to help them access their superannuation early, for a fee.

If you get an unsolicited email about early access to your super, delete it. If you get an unsolicited call, hang up,  OHalloran said.

Visit https://moneysmart.gov.au/retirement-income/retirement-planner to estimate how much money you will have in retirement, factoring in any breaks from the workforce.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, April 25, 2020 10:11 627 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd428b9b 4 City COVID-19,Greater-Jakarta,Jabodetabek,mudik-ban,mudik,exodus,travelers,Jakarta-police,coronavirus,virus-corona,virus-korona-indonesia Free

Jakarta Police asked around 1,200 motorists attempting to leave Greater Jakarta to turn around in the first five hours of toll road closures on Friday, following the governments Idul Fitri mudik (exodus) ban.

From 12 a.m. to 5 a.m., we asked 1,181 motorists to turn around, that is 498 motorists at the Bitung toll gate heading to Merak, Banten and 683 motorists at the Cikarang toll gate heading toward West Java, Jakarta Police traffic director Sr. Comr. Sambodo Purnomo Yogo said in a written statement on Friday as quoted by kompas.com.

The vehicle checks are being conducted at 18 posts in border areas. From April 24 to May 7, vehicles attempting to leave Greater Jakarta will be asked to turn around. Fines will be imposed starting May 8.

He also said traffic police had noted that the volume of vehicles leaving Jakarta had increasing in the two days prior to the official mudik ban.

Read also: COVID-19: 'Mudik' risks mass contagion across Java

The volume of vehicles recorded at the Cikampek main toll gate, for example, increased to 25,797 on Wednesday from 18,753 vehicles on Tuesday, Sambodo said.

President Joko Jokowi Widodo announced on Tuesday that people would be banned from participating in the annual Idul Fitri exodus to further stem the spread of COVID-19. The decision came based on field research and a survey conducted by the Transportation Ministry that showed 24 percent of respondents insisted on returning to their hometowns for Lebaran.

Annually, some 20 million people nationwide travel to their hometowns to celebrate Idul Fitri with their families. (aly)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-25 17:20:28|Editor: huaxia

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WASHINGTON, April 24 (Xinhua) -- Former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright has called for cooperation among countries to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

In her interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Radio National on Thursday, Albright said that combating COVID-19, which she described as "a very tough situation", requires international cooperation, including with China.

"We need to figure out where we cooperate, where we compete," said the former secretary of state under the Bill Clinton administration, adding that a country, even one as big as the United States, needs partners and cannot solve problems alone.

"It doesn't take a genius to figure out that climate change affects everybody, or nuclear proliferation, or pandemics, and that therefore diplomacy is the language where we try to develop partnerships and work together," she said.

As the death toll from COVID-19 is increasing across the Unites States, the White House has tried to deflect criticisms about its earlier blunders by blaming others.

Claiming the World Health Organization (WHO) failed to share information in a "timely and transparent fashion," President Donald Trump last week decided to halt his nation's funding to the agency, a move that has drawn opposition at home and abroad.

As of Friday night, the United States reported more than 890,000 COVID-19 cases with over 51,000 deaths, according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University.
Ex-president of Georgia hoped that Rada would raise question of his appointment on April 24, but this did not happen

Former President of Georgia, ex-head of the Odesa Regional State Administration Mikheil Saakashvili expects the Verkhovna Rada to vote for his appointment as Deputy Prime Minister on April 30. The politician wrote about this on his Facebook page.

"I remain confident in the support of President Zelensky and most of the MPs from the Servant of the People and other factions, so we will prepare for the vote on Thursday," Saakashvili said.

He hoped that the Parliament would put to the vote the question of his appointment on April 24, but this did not happen.

As we reported before, Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gahariya confirmed that the Georgian ambassador could be recalled from Kyiv if Mikheil Saakashvili was appointed Deputy Prime Minister for reforms to the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine.

However, the head of the Servants of the Peoples faction, Davyd Arakhamia, threatened problems in response to a statement by Georgia on the recall of the ambassador from Kyiv in case Mikheil Saakashvili was appointed Deputy Prime Minister for reforms.
One lost her mother to the virus and wasnt able to be with her in her last moments. Another had to work through fatigue and body aches and isolation to lead the states higher education system through an unprecedented shutdown. And another has never felt that sick in her life.

They all lost their sense of smell.

Three different Missoula residents shared their stories of recovering from COVID-19, as did one couple from Ronan (see related story below). Their stories make it clear that the disease caused by the novel coronavirus isnt something to be trifled with as Montana prepares to re-open some business activity and school districts consider a return to classroom learning.

"Its nasty, said Nancy Horgus Whitt, a Missoula artist and postal worker.

It was miserable, explained Chantelle Lalonde Fickinger, an an apartment manager. It was scary, Im not gonna lie. Ive never been that sick in my life."

Tylenol is your friend during this thing, said Clay Christian, the states Commissioner of Higher Education and a Missoula resident. It helps with the fever and body aches.

For the two women, the symptoms described sounded severe but not debilitating enough to send them to the hospital.

Horgus Whitts ordeal was emotionally and physically exhausting. At the end of March, her mother, Marguerite Horgus, broke her hip and took a turn for the worse, health-wise. She lived in the Marias Heritage Center assisted living facility in Shelby, Montana, a place hit hard by the virus.

So all of us kids went to Shelby to say our final goodbyes, Horgus Whitt recalled. That night, we were told (our mother) had been exposed to the virus. Her neighbor had it. So the next day they tested her and she tested positive, and then they told us all to go straight home into quarantine. They wouldnt let any of us see her after that.

Marguerite Horgus died on March 29 at the age of 86. Her obituary listed complications from COVID-19 as the cause of death. She is one of six people who died in Toole County from COVID-19. There have been 14 confirmed deaths due to the disease in Montana as of Friday morning.

She was in there two days by herself, Horgus Whitt said. It was sad. My brother, he sat there for a whole day in a hazmat suit, but then they told him you cant go in.

Horgus Whitt got tested for the virus, and her first test came back negative. But then a second test on April 3 came back positive.

The first part of my illness my temperature didnt really get high, Horgus Whitt recalled. I only got up to 100 degrees. But the fatigue was so bad. Getting out of bed and getting another pair of pajamas on was terrible and the headache was bad.

She cascaded from fever to chills.

You were just so sick, and then about the second and third week, instead of being sick constantly, you would feel better, then a big wave would knock you out, she said.

The nurse would call her morning and night to check in.

"I told the nurse I felt like I was doing something wrong because I wasn't getting better, and she said, No thats how the disease kind of was. You get waves that knock you out and you just have to hang on and not feel bad and take care of yourself.'

Horgus Whitt said she didnt really lose her sense of taste but definitely lost her sense of smell right at the beginning for two weeks. That has been described by many patients around the world.

She said she was heartened by people reaching out to offer support on social media.

I was overwhelmed by the response, she said.

Lalonde Fickinger is from New York and visited New York City for her birthday in mid-March. She traveled in the subway system and visited bars in Manhattan. Her first symptoms came on March 17 or 18.

Im assuming I picked it up there, Lalonde Fickinger said. There were no cases when I left and by the time I got back there was one. When I got back, after a couple days, I just didnt feel great. I was super exhausted, and then suddenly I had total exhaustion and had a fever. And I was like oh crap and called my regular doctor.

She went through a drive-through testing site and got tested for just the flu, which came back negative. She got a second, different type of flu test that also came back negative. She was never specifically tested for COVID-19, but she said her doctor told her that they didnt have enough testing kits for people who werent high-risk, such as having immune system problems.

My doctor even expressed frustration because so many people had symptoms, but she could not report me as a positive case because I couldnt test, Lalonde Fickinger explained. She told me I had all the stereotypical matching symptoms, and I needed to isolate myself, and she gave me a letter for work purposes.

Her sickness was horrible, she said.

My God, it just goes downhill, she said. It just gets worse and worse and worse. Everything hurt so much, and I still had a fever that lasted 12-13 days. I was just super exhausted. I couldnt stand up for a full day. I was coughing and aching and miserable.

Her husband said she started to get better and then crashed around day 10 with difficulty breathing.

I was too busy being sick, but he was paying attention, she said.

She eventually got better, but her sense of smell was gone for a long time.

Im an apartment manager, so I have to go to apartments where we need to replace carpets, she said. Other people said, Oh my God it stinks in here, but I wasnt able to smell stuff.

Christian was the first person in Montana with the virus who publicly identified himself as ill. He attended a Montana Board of Regents meeting in Dillon on March 5 with scores of other people and announced his positive test on March 14.

I started getting symptoms, we realized, about the 10th of March, he explained. Mine came on really slow. I know that has not necessarily been the case with other people. Ive struggled my whole life with allergies, so for the first day or so I thought I had some allergies. Then I started to learn somebody else at the board meeting tested positive, so we knew there had maybe been some exposure.

Christian said he probably would have thought he just had a cold if he hadnt been notified that someone he was near had tested positive.

I wouldnt have got tested, he said. Thats part of the story here. Not at that point anyway. A few days later I sorta got sick, but initially I wouldnt have.

Later, he got more symptoms, including pretty good body aches, fatigue and shortness of breath. He never developed a cough.

In the middle of it, you knew you were sick for sure, he said.

Christian was later informed he was the fifth positive confirmed patient in Montana. He said he and public health officials believe he contracted the virus at the meeting because he hadnt really been anywhere else. The meeting could have turned into a huge incubation hot spot, he said, but public health officials did a great job of informing everyone there to self-quarantine. Christian said many high-ranking state officials, like Lt. Gov. Mike Cooney, went through a two-week quarantine afterwards.

There could have been a lot of people sick from that meeting, he said. That stay-at-home quarantine is effective.

Christian said his sense of smell was the last thing to come back after he got better.

It was a couple weeks being back to normal before the smell came back, he said.

Hes now on the states recovered list. During his sickness, he said he worked all the time as the Montana University System transitioned to online learning.

"It was an incredibly busy time," he said. "It was pretty much work and sleep."

The stories of all three pose as warnings to the seriousness of the disease as the state ramps up efforts to re-open. Some experts have warned that a "second wave" of infections could be even worse than the first pandemic.

It would terrify me if I found out I gave it to a good friend, Lalonde Fickinger said. People should stay home and wash their hands and dont touch your face. Its not worth going places."

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Another junior doctor at the Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College hospital at the AMU here has tested positive for coronavirus,district health authorities said on Saturday.

The total number of COVID-19 cases in Aligarh has now risen to eight, they said.

A spokesperson of the medical college said the doctor who tested positive on Friday neither has a known history of any contact with a COVID-19patient nor was he connected to the isolation ward. The doctor also has no travel history and investigations about how he contracted the infection were on.

Earlier this week anotherdoctor of the JLN Medical College hospital, affiliated to the Aligarh Muslim University, had tested positive for coronavirus.

The spokesperson also said "none of the sixty odd doctors and paramedics who were quarantined three days back after coming in contact with a coronavirus positive patient have tested positive.They would, however, continue to remain in isolation".

Meanwhile, the Resident Doctors Association at the medical college has urged the District Magistrate to ensure that the names of the doctors who have been infected with COVID-19 should "not be flashed all over in media reports " to avoid stigmatisation and mental harassment.

The president of the RDA, Dr Hamza Malik,said the doctors are performing their duties on the frontline in the battle against coronavirus and revealing their names and identifying their family members was unethical and would "deter suspected cases from approaching health authorities".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Pipeline giant Energy Transfer will be asking the Texas Railroad Commission to allow it to idle two pipelines in Texas and turn them into storage for around 2 million barrels of oil, the company told Argus Media this week.

U.S. oil producers are struggling amid collapsing demand and oil prices while inventories across America are growing. Producers in Texas struggle to place their barrels with the U.S. Gulf Coast refineries, which are cutting crude processing rates in response to plunging fuel demand. The massive oil demand drop in the U.S. and overseas due to lockdowns in the COVID-19 pandemic has had U.S. oil producers scrambling to find storage for their produced barrels when no one wants more oil right now.

Earlier this month, Enterprise Products Partners applied to open the northbound capacity of its Seaway pipeline, offering U.S. oil producers struggling to place their oil near the Gulf Coast to ship their barrels to the primary storage hub at Cushing, Oklahoma.

Given the current turmoil in the crude oil market, including impacts on both refinery and export demand, there is strong market interest to access the Cushing storage market, the pipeline operator said in a filing with the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), as carried by Reuters.

But many analysts think that available storage in Cushing will fill up by the middle of May, or the end of May, at the latest, if demand doesnt materially pick up by then. This is an unlikely scenario, considering the lockdowns and work from home policies in many states.

If Energy Transfers plan to idle two Texas pipelines for storage is approved, After that it will be a matter of adding pumps to the lines, which we can easily achieve, Energy Transfer told Argus this week.

We estimate we can be ready by mid-May, a spokeswoman for the company told Bloomberg in an email.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
As people in Atlanta began returning to newly reopened businesses, Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms made a special request of some.

"If you're getting your nails done right now, please share these noon numbers with your manicurist #StayHomeGeorgia," she tweeted Saturday.

Bottoms shared an image of the latest case and death counts rising in Atlanta, Georgia, the country and the world.

She has been urging people to stay home this week since Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp announced he would allow certain businesses to reopen starting Friday.

Kemp's list of businesses that can open included fitness centers, bowling alleys, body art studios, barbershops, hair and nail salons, and massage therapy businesses. Theaters and restaurants will be allowed to open on Monday, while bars and night clubs will remain closed for now.

Bottoms said Friday that she hopes people will continue to stay home but suspects some won't.

"They will go into hair salons and go and get manicures and pedicures as if it is business as usual, and then in a couple of weeks, we will see our numbers continue to rise in this state," Bottoms said in an interview with CNN.

On Wednesday, Bottoms and her 12-year-old son both received a text message that addressed the mayor using a racial epithet and demanding that she "just shut up and RE-OPEN ATLANTA!" On Friday, the Georgia attorney general launched an investigation into the incident.
Chennai, April 25 : The Tamil Nadu government on Saturday turned down the request of the family of neurosurgeon Simon Hercules who died of Covid-19 to bury his body at a cemetery in Kilpauk locality.

The wife of Hercules had earlier appealed to Chief Minister K. Palaniswami to permit the casket containing her husband's body to be taken out from a different cemetery and bury it at a cemetery as per his last wish.

The Greater Chennai Corporation has decided to turn down the family's request based on an expert committee's decision.

The Corporation said it is unsafe to take out the body and bury it elsewhere after it was buried safely first.

The 55-year old Hercules died here recently at a private hospital and his mortal remains were taken to Kilpauk cemetery, but the locals protested against the burial fearing spread of virus.

His body was then taken to a different cemetery where a large crowd gathered and attacked the ambulance and its occupants protesting against the burial there.

However, the body was buried after police intervened. The police have arrested 20 persons in this connection.

On Wednesday Chief Minister K. Palaniswami spoke to Hercules' wife Anandhi Simon and consoled her.

In a video message, she appealed to Palaniswami to shift the casket containing his mortal remains to the Kilpauk cemetery as per his last wish.

She said her husband before being put on the ventilator had expressed his wish to be buried as per the family ritual.
Boss Mustapha, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, has said farmers should prepare to return to farm amid the COVI...





Boss Mustapha, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, has said farmers should prepare to return to farm amid the COVID-19 outbreak in the country.





Mustapha, who is the Chairman of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) for COVID-19, said this would avert food crisis as Nigeria was currently battling with health and economic challenges.





He spoke during the daily PTF press briefing on COVID-19 in Abuja, yesterday.





The PTF Chairman assured that the federal government, through the Ministry of Agriculture, will make adequate arrangements to make things go smoothly for farmers.





I also wish to use this opportunity to restate that food security and self-sufficiency remain important to our national life.





I therefore, urge all our farmers to begin to prepare for their return to the farms as the planting season.





The Federal Ministry of Agriculture has put in place arrangements for access to farm inputs, extension and others services, Mustapha said.




Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday expressed concerns over the Centre's decision to cut back the hike in dearness allowance and dearness relief for all government employees and pensioners.

He said that it was not necessary at this stage to impose hardships on government servants and armed forces personnel. "We should be on the side of people whose dearness allowance is being cut. I sincerely believe it is not necessary at this stage to impose hardships on government servants and also on the armed forces people," said the former Prime Minister in a video ...
Maharajganj: Many Nepalese citizens are stuck in Uttar Pradesh due to the closure of foreign borders due to the law. Those who are being tried to send back. Today, the Indian government has sent 212 citizens of Nepal back to their country. They thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath.

Bangladesh will not allow Rohingyas to enter country under any circumstances

In fact, due to Corona, 399 Nepalese citizens have been quarantined for the last 25 days in the Sonauli and Nautanwa border area of Indo-Nepal in Maharajganj district. Nepal government requested India to send them back. After which the Center and Yogi Government have brought 212 citizens back to Nepal. Nepali citizens were very happy after staying in Quarantine Center for so many days.

Yogi government's big decision in Corona crisis, 6 kinds of allowances of state employees stopped

Speaking to the media, Nepali citizens Suraj Thapa and Sushil Shrestha have told that the administration took care of our food and drink. Thanks to PM Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath for all the comforts provided for so many days. Let me tell you that after the lockdown was implemented, the Indo-Nepal borders were sealed and there was a complete ban on the movement of any person. Due to which many foreigners were trapped on the Sonouli border.

Kapil Sibal says PM Modi to forget CAA-NRC, urges to fight Corona
A male model who has a history of mental illness was sentenced to four years in prison for setting fire to Comet Ping Pong pizza shop - four years after it was targeted in the PizzaGate scandal in 2016.

Ryan Jaselskis, 23, pleaded guilty in December to arson and assault on a police officer. The latter charge stemmed from a fight he had with a US Park Police officer who detained him at the Washington Monument.

Both prosecutors and defense attorneys agreed to the sentence that was then accepted by US District Judge Timothy J Kelly, the Washington Post reports.

Ryan Jaselskis, 23, pleaded guilty in December to arson and assault on a police officer. The latter charge stemmed from a fight he had with a US Park Police officer who detained him at the Washington Monument.

Judge Kelly shared in his ruling that the restaurant had been targeted in an unrelated attack in 2016 that made Jaselskis's crime 'that much more damaging'

Kelly shared in his ruling that the popular restaurant had been targeted in an unrelated attack in 2016 that made Jaselskis's crime 'that much more damaging.'

In the 2016 attack, Edgar Maddison Welch entered the pizzeria with an AR-15 rifle to investigate a viral internet rumor - 'Pizzagate' -about a child sex ring operating in the eatery's basement

In the 2016 attack, Edgar Maddison Welch entered the pizzeria with an AR-15 rifle to investigate a viral internet rumor - 'Pizzagate' -about a child sex ring operating in the eatery's basement.

A motive has not been determined in Jaselskis's case but prosecutors felt that he needed a similar sentence as Welch's.

Assistant US Attorneys Dineen A Baker and Andrew Floyrd wrote that the cases were 'similarly situated.'

The defendants attorneys argued that their client was actually 'suffering from a diagnosed mental illness' and not an ill motive.

The unfounded 'pizzagate' conspiracy made headline news in December 2016 when Edgar Maddison Welch was arrested after he traveled to DC, went to Comet Ping Pong and fired multiple shots from his AR-15 assault rifle inside while demanding the truth about the conspiracy.

The conspiracy, which claimed that the restaurant sheltered a child sex abuse ring run by Hillary Clinton and her former campaign chief of staff, John Podesta, apparently originated on Twitter and led Welch, of Salisbury, North Carolina, to investigate the claims. Welch surrendering to police on December 4, 2016

The conspiracy, which claimed that the restaurant sheltered a child sex abuse ring run by Hillary Clinton and her former campaign chief of staff, John Podesta, apparently originated on Twitter and led Welch, of Salisbury, North Carolina, to investigate the claims.

Welch later pleaded guilty to illegally transporting firearms over state lines and assault with a dangerous weapon.

There has been no evidence of the so-called abuse, no investigation and no victims who have come forward claiming to have suffered abuse. Welch was sentenced to four years in prison on June 22, 2017.

A motive has not been determined in Jaselskis's case but prosecutors felt that he needed a similar sentence as Welch's

At the time of Welch's sentencing, Comet Ping Pong owner James Alfantis told the court that he hoped the incident would be remembered as an aberration when 'lies were seen as real and our social fabric had frayed.

He said his workers were devastated after the latest event.

'My cooks worked through the experience of a gunman, and then they worked through the experience of an arsonist,' Alefantis said on Thursday. 'There is a sense of security that will no longer exist

'My cooks worked through the experience of a gunman, and then they worked through the experience of an arsonist,' Alefantis said on 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.'

David Walker Bos, Jaselskis's attorney, said he couldn't 'imagine being in the shoes of Mr Alfefantis.' However he asked the owner to understand that the defendant 'was somebody who at the time was laboring under pretty severe mental health issues.'

'Even today he's not really sure what led him to Comet pizza that night. But he knows what he did was wrong,' Bos added.

Jaselskis told Alefantis that he was 'so, so sorry.'

'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.'

Only the judge was in the courtroom during the hearing.
Cuomo Says Trump Correct to Question WHO on Outbreak Response

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said that President Donald Trump is correct to question the World Health Organization (WHO) for its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Speaking at his daily briefing on the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus, Cuomo said the Trump administration, which has frozen WHO funding, should get to the bottom of whether the United Nations agency in any way failed to execute its mission.

Whose job is it to warn of us of these global pandemics? The president says its the World Health Organization, and thats why hes taken action against them, Cuomo said at the briefing.

A WHO rule for member countries is that they need to report outbreaks of new illnesses within 24 hours. Another is that the WHOs chief has the ability to make public any information about a member country flouting the rules.

After freezing WHO funding last week, Trump announced an investigation, accusing the agency of severely mismanaging and covering up the spread of the virus in the first days of the crisis.

They called it wrong. They missed the call. They could have called it months earlier. They would have known. They should have known. And they probably did know. So well be looking into that very carefully, the president told reporters in Washington earlier in April.

Cuomo said at his briefing: Its not my field, but hes right to ask the question, because this was too little, too late.

And lets find out whats happened so it doesnt happen againand it will happen again. Bank on it.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said at an April 22 briefing that U.S. officials strongly believe the Chinese Communist Party didnt report the outbreak of the new coronavirus within the 24 hours required under WHO policy. Even after it did notify the WHO, the regime in Beijing withheld information about the virus and continues to do so, he said.

Critics also argue that the WHO was too slow to recommend travel restrictions and some other preventive measures and that the agency accepted information from the Chinese Communist Party at face value, despite red flags, including reports of arrests and silencing of whistleblowers.

The review is going to be all-encompassing, get into all manners of management operation questions, John Barsa, acting administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development, told reporters on April 22, speaking about the investigation. Theres numerous questions in terms of the management of the WHO; how they have been operating holding member states accountable in their actions.

WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters in Geneva around the same time that the agency raised an alarm to countries around the world at the right time.

Looking back, I think we declared the emergency at the right time, and when the world had enough time to respond, Ghebreyesus said. There were only 82 cases and no deaths [outside China], including a few in Europe and none in Africa.

The WHO noted in a timeline summary on its website: A pneumonia of unknown cause detected in Wuhan, China, was first reported to the WHO Country Office in China on Dec. 31, 2019.

The outbreak was declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on Jan. 30, 2020.

The United States is the biggest single donor to the WHO. Prior to announcing a freeze on funding, the State Department planned to provide the agency $893 million in the current two-year funding period, according to Fox News.

Pompeo recently said the United States might permanently end its funding of the agency.

The agencys core objective is the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health by acting as a directing and coordinating authority on international health work and establishing and maintaining effective collaboration with the United Nations, specialized agencies, governmental health administrations, professional groups, and such other organizations as may be deemed appropriate, according to the WHOs constitution (pdf).

Zachary Stieber contributed to this report.
The rules establish new criteria for who can be considered dependent on the U.S. government for benefits  public charges, in the words of the law  and thus ineligible for green cards and a path to U.S. citizenship. They were proposed to start in October and had been delayed by lower courts until the Supreme Court gave the go-ahead in January.
In a phone interview with RTL, Claude Meisch confirmed Sunday that over 6,000 pupils and 1,500 teachers could be tested for the virus on a voluntary basis from next week.

The Luxembourg Institute of Health received the green light from the government on Friday to proceed with a nationwide research project to ascertain how far the virus had spread across the Grand Duchy. Among the topics discussed was the issue of safety within schools and whether pupils in primary and secondary education could be tested for the virus, in order to guarantee the safest possible reopening.

The Minister of Education said schools were expected to reopen from 4 May as planned, so long as virus infections remained on their current trajectory. The plan would be revised should the situation change. Currently, the government believes the virus is under control and is taking decisions accordingly, said Meisch.

The research project will be led by researchers from the Luxembourg Institute of Health and has a budget of 40 million. With additional drive-in testing available in 17 places around the country, testing capacity currently allows for around 20,000 tests per day.
Before ruling the monarchy, Queen Elizabeth II served the country first by taking two jobs during World War II.

Through the ITV documentary titled "Our Queen At War," royal watchers got to know more about Queen Elizabeth II's past, including her contributions as a young royal member during the Second World War.

Queen Elizabeth II, who was only 13 years old when World War II began, made her first-ever radio broadcast and dedicated it to the child evacuees.

"We are trying to do all we can to help our gallant sailors, soldiers, and airmen, and we are trying, too, to bear our own share of the danger and sadness of war," the young monarch said at that time.

The royal family, through the words of the Queen Mother, chose to remain in the U.K. and refused to leave since the King "will never leave" the monarchy and country, as well.

As they went back and forth from Balmoral Castle to Windsor Castle for years, Queen Elizabeth II had experiences in inspecting the troops and launching ships when she was 16. She then joined the Women's Auxiliary Territorial Service a few weeks before her 18th birthday.

Despite the worsening status of the war, King George VI decided that "her training as a princess outweighed the nation's increasing manpower problems and that 'Betts' should not join any of the women's auxiliaries, nor work in a factory".

However, Queen Elizabeth II remained firm as she had "other ideas".

A few moments after the King came up with that decision, the palace announced all of a sudden that the King was "pleased" to grant her an honorary commission "as the second subaltern in the ATS to Her Royal Highness Princess Elizabeth".

This position allowed Her Majesty to join the Territorial Service.

As soon as she received the position, she started taking driving lessons which she successfully passed two days less than the prescribed time. Though she was never allowed to ride a London bus or taxi, she became a driver and a mechanic, making her the first female member of the royal family to serve the country's armed forces.

In addition, she was said to be surprised by the amount of workload when the Queen Mother and King George visited her while performing her jobs at the territorial service.

"I never knew there was quite so much advance preparation. I'll know another time," Queen Elizabeth II said as she helped clean the camp. She reportedly found all the preparations she had to go through as something "hard and challenging."

"It seems so strange to watch them drive away," the then-princess added.

Queen Elizabeth II remains the only living head of state to have served in the Second World War, and the only royal family member to become a driver and mechanic before stepping up to the throne.
In my young day self isolation meant not going to Sunday Mass - and I only knew three people who didnt go to Mass. Mickey and Rosie Shields, who lived on the roof of the world two miles up above us and Jemmie McAlinden who lived down a long loanin over from that.

Mickey and Rosie were brother and sister and their house was beside the old American radio communications station built during The Second World War.

It was positioned on the skyline to relay radio messages from Cranfield to Belfast. With the Americans right beside them Mickey and Rosies home was a Wall Street of trade. Chickens and eggs from the local community, cigarettes, chewing gum, chocolates from their side. When I knew them the communications station was in ruins and there was an unsightly pile of charred equipment beside it --- stuff the Americans had burnt. I have no idea what the locals salvaged but I do know part of the prog Mickey got. Uniforms. He was always dressed in American military gear. Really high ranking good stuff that was far too big for him.

There's no logic to this but he reminded me of a Japanese soldier who never surrendered and remained in the jungle fighting the war. Jemmie McAlinden was a cobbler and I took him boots to mend. At that time he had downsized to one room. It was truly medieval. A big open fire, a bed, a shotgun, a work bench with the plates he ate off, and a great pile of boots in the corner he used for spare parts. Boots that he would occasionally throw on the fire.

When his mother was alive (during the mission) the missionary with the parish priest would go around the houses. Jemmie had the flu and had been in bed for a time and when the two strange men arrived at the door. Mrs McAlinden (who never left the fire) was a little alarmed. Whos there she said.  Its the missionary; said the parish priest. Who Mrs McAlinden kept repeating until the missionary, not used to being stymied, shouted My good woman, do you not know that Jesus Christ died for your sins. Sure I hear nothing since Jemmies stopped going to the road came the plaintive reply.

My brush with a missionary was different. A Franciscan friar in full regalia invited me out to McManuss pub. His name was Anthony McCormack, Brother Anthony, a returned yank, back to Dundalk for the first time in fifty years. I always think of him when I see The Dalai Lama. He had an aura of peace and calm that extended to you and made you feel good. I was used to monks as missionaries - roaring and shouting - but Anthony was more like the saint he followed, you could see birds lighting on his hands. And as well as that he was great craic. He had gone to New York at the start of the 1900s and worked as a tailor, only to find himself during the Depression unemployed and destitute. In desperation he joined the Franciscans. His plan to get a bed to lie on, a bite to eat, a refuge to ride out the storm.

He had no intention of staying but found he had a vocation, took his vows and remained for life. His work was with the poor of the Bowery, practical Christianity, helping in a world of soup kitchens and second hand clothes. Anthony was a wonderful story-teller and I was privileged to have him all to myself. He liked Porter, Joe Di Maggio, Babe Ruth, Ella Fitzgerald and he told me this story. A young man came to their building and asked if he could join.

They had become an older settled community through a dearth of vocations and were pleased if hesitant to have a recruit. It was decided to assign him a cell with the other monks. He was to take a month to experience the monastic life, after which, if he still wished, he could begin as an apostolate. At present there was no need for him to change his long hair and fashionable Times Square appearance. He would continue to carry his embroidered cloth bag with plaited cord shoulder strap and he was given the first part of a monks outfit, sandals with no socks. There were five monks in the group and they were all taken with the young man's enthusiasm.

He did everything asked of him and took on additional unsupervised work as well. He ate sparingly and went straight to his cell after the evening meal. It was behaviour that pricked everyones conscience as they savoured an end of the day whiskey and cigar. His striking himself with the cord from his bag troubled them. It was no longer a practice encouraged by the Order, but it did seem to underline how far down the path of easy living they had slid.

Five days later the beatnik was gone and it was some months later when Brother Anthony met him on one of the streets off Times Square. Gee man it's good to see you he said. Sorry I couldnt make it on your trip. It's fine said Anthony Your few days with us were so important, you made us question ourselves, we're fasting a bit more and cutting back on the alcohol and cigars. It was news that troubled the young man. Im afraid I didnt quite level with you guys he said. Livin it large out on the street. Beers, grub -- you know -- glad to get back to the cell to sleep. But striking yourself with the cord Brother Anthony said. The beatnik looked further downcast. Gee man, I thought you had to do that, so I just struck the wall.
The Mizoram government has



installed disinfectant chamber at Vairengte on the Mizoram- Assam border to sanitize vehicles carrying essential commodities to check the spread of novel coronavirus in the state, Chief Minister Zoramthanga said on Saturday.

"Cross-border #biosecurity disinfection Chamber installed at Vairengte, Mizoram to check the influx of the dreaded Covid-19 via inanimate objects and our essential commodities," Zoramthanga said in a tweet.

"Sincere respect to all effort lenders," he added.

The state government also set up a disinfectant chamber at Bairabi, another town bordering Assam, on Thursday.

In March, Mizoram has sealed inter-state border and international border barring two entry points- Vairengte and Bairabi - where vehicles carrying both essential and non- essential items were allowed to enter.

Mizoram shares inter-state border with Assam, Manipur and Tripura and a 722 km unfenced international border with Bangladesh and Myanmar.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
India Cements Ltd on Saturday said it has resumed operation at some of its plant partially in compliance with the precautionary and safety measures.

However, over the impact of the lockdown on the company, India Cements said considering the uncertainties involved it is "not ascertainable at this stage".

"The company has resumed the operation of few of its Plant(s) partially/ gradually in a phased manner and adopted a series of precautionary and safety measures including the compliance of Standard Operating Procedure for Social Distancing and other measures advised by the appropriate Authorities," India Cements said in a regulatory filing.

Earlier on March 23, the company had announced to shut operations of its cement plants in - Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Rajasthan and Maharashtra due to restriction imposed by the state governments under the lockdown.

Later on April 17, the company had said that it was in the process of obtaining the requisite approvals from the respective state governments for resuming the operations of its plants at various locations in a phased manner.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
GREATER LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI)  The coronavirus is responsible for closing some of the nation's largest pork-packing plants.

Indiana Packers and Tyson are two of the top 15 such plants in the nation, and three others on that list have also closed.

Food processing plants across the nation are battling COVID-19 outbreaks right within their walls. While these companies work directly with the food we consume, Purdue University Agricultural Economist Jayson Lusk said food safety should not be a concern.

"As far as we know, there is no evidence that COVID-19 is transmittable through food," said Lusk. "From a food safety standpoint, consumers should rest assured and feel confident that as far as we know, there is no mechanism by which we can become sick through the food we are eating."

Lusk said consumers will more likely see the impact of these closures with meat pricing in the grocery stores.

"On the pork side of things, even though prices are rising, we're still below prices that we saw last year," said Lusk. "Meat prices have grown quite significantly and that's likely to have an impact in our grocery stores in the near future."

He said factories are processing about 25% less beef and about 15% less pork than this time last year. However, he's not worried about the nation running out anytime soon.

"In terms of aggregate food supply, I think there's not a reason for panic yet," said Lusk. "There may be some pain in the short term, you may not be able to buy the exact cut that you wanted, it may not be packaged in the way that you normally expect, you may have to pay a little more."

Lusk said it's hard to predict what could happen if all plants were to close but the ones still open are upping their sanitation and safety measures to avoid that ever happening.

"Many have been temperature testing workers to make sure nobody is entering the plant that is already running a fever and some plants have gone so far to erect barriers, plexiglass, or otherwise between workers," said Lusk.

While consumers may see higher meat prices moving forward, farmers could find it harder to move their animals through the food processing system. Lusk said this could happen if more packing-plants end their operations.

"The supply chain is intimately and intricately linked together and if hog producers can't send their pigs to the packing plant that causes a real bottleneck in the system," said Lusk.

He said this could become a difficult situation and it's something ag economists will continue monitoring as the coronavirus continues disrupting the food system.

"The pinch point is where all those processors are and if you close that part off, a little bit, then those animals don't have anywhere to go, and then we don't have meat for us to consume on the retail side," said Lusk. "It's a really tough economic time, and it's going to take a lot of creativity to work through this difficult situation."

"The supply chain is intimately and intricately linked together and if hog producers can't send their pigs to the packing plant that causes a real bottleneck in the system," said Lusk.

Lusk said this could become a difficult situation moving forward and it's something ag economists will continue monitoring as the coronavirus continues disrupting the food system.

"The pinch point is where all those processors are and if you close that part off, a little bit, then those animals don't have anywhere to go, and then we don't have meat for us to consume on the retail side," said Lusk. "It's a really tough, economic time, and it's going to take a lot of creativity to work through this difficult situation."
'We haven't taken any decision on the order of the Ministry of Home Affairs as yet. But there will be no further relaxation in lockdown rules till May 3,' Maharashtra health minister Rajesh Tope said.

Mumbai: Maharashtra health minister Rajesh Tope on Saturday said the lockdown rules will remain unchanged in the state will 3 May.

Talking to PTI, Tope said there was no clarity in the Centre's latest order regarding the reopening of shops.

"We will get more clarity after a video conference with the Prime Minister on Monday," he said

"We haven't taken any decision on the order of the Ministry of Home Affairs as yet. But there will be no further relaxation in lockdown rules till May 3," the minister added.

The issue of sending migrant labourers back to their native places will also be taken up during the meeting with the prime minister, Tope said.

Stating that economic activities need to start, he said the Maharashtra government was of the opinion that businesses can resume in green zones with borders of these areas sealed and industrial activity allowed inside.

Whether or not to extend lockdown in red zones (which have a large number of coronavirus cases) such as Mumbai and Pune regions will be taken later, he said.

"It has to be seen if only containment areas in red zones should be sealed or the entire zone should be under lockdown. Decision will be taken after thorough deliberations," the minister added.
New Delhi, April 25 : Renowned astrology researcher, Mahesh Bang, speaks to IANSlife on his prediction on whats in store for the future and also some of the reasons why COVID 19 struck.

It has been over a month since the entire world is battling the COVID-19 pandemic. While many countries are on a complete lockdown to save their citizens from getting infected, many others are taking necessary precautions to update their medicines and help themselves as well as others.

Bang has outlined specific details to correlate this virus to astrological factors. In his view, astrology predicts, guides and provides remedies.

The famous researcher, currently settled in South Africa states, "when planets Saturn and Jupiter come together in one zodiac sign, in approximately 20 years, it affects America, Europe and the Indian subcontinent negatively, giving birth to a pandemic type of situation." Few of the biggest historical events which occurred, whenever these planets were in one Zodiac sign or very closely associated in the last 100 years cycle are:

1920: Spanish flu Pandemic

1939 - 1945: Second world war

1962 - 1965: Indo-China war and Indo- Pakistan war

1981: HIV virus pandemic,

Mid 1999 - 2001: Kargil war, Bhuj earthquake

6th November 2019 - 30th June 2020: Australia fire, America-Iran tussle and COVID 19

"Astrology is an ancient spiritual science rooted in astronomy which sheds insight into the past and future through the positioning of the celestial bodies, nine planets and the twenty-seven Nakshatras (lunar constellations) in our solar system." At an event in December, he said, "On this Christmas 2019 there are 6 planets coming in one zodiac sign and it is an extremely rare configuration. As these planets revolve around the Sun at different revolving speeds, which happens only three to four times in a century. This equation was present during the First and Second world war, Indo -china war and during the plague. Whenever such a configuration occurs, it calls for attention from the entire world." Bang claims he cautioned the world, indicating that it would be tough for the world. He also states he initially alluded to the pandemic last year and went on to repeat the impact and gravity about the negative incident that would emerge.

When COVID-19 was limited only to China, Bang is believed to have cautioned that the period between March 29 and June 30 would be tough for the world. Talking about the same, he had shared, "Astrologically it is not easy to predict as the situation has intensified on a global scale. Only divine intervention will help us to overcome this pandemic quicker. This is the time we all need to take care of the environment and do more introspection and focus on our goal in human life and humanity." The Vedic scholar has predicted that things will return to normal, in all aspects, for the entire globe from November 21, 2021, when the planet Jupiter transits over into Aquarius. "We must acknowledge that the global horoscope is overpowering each country's horoscope for a few months. Due to the rare configuration that occurred in December last year, we need to understand that it will take time," he said.

He further added, "However from 15th May to 30th June when two major planets will be in retrograde, while they are already situated together in one zodiac sign, it will be the peak of COVID-19 in India and few other countries. By end of September 2020 we may get some relief from COVID-19. However, beginning of next year is again another unfavourable planetary alignment will take place." Adding, "This pandemic is a story of humankind and nature. In the age of technology, we moved so fast that we forgot our role in the universe, now is the time to rethink and make necessary changes. We are merely the galloping horses and Mother Nature will always hold the reins."

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
At least 17 people, including 12 rangers were killed on Friday in an attack in Virunga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site in the restive east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, an official said.

It was one of the deadliest attacks in the park, Africas oldest and most biologically diverse protected area.

Besides the 12 park rangers, a driver and four other civilians were killed in the attack in Goma, for which no person or group has claimed responsibility, the governor of the Nord Kivu province said in a statement.

Others were injured, including some who are fighting for their lives, the park management added in another a statement.

It said that civilians were the apparent target of the attack.

The guards were killed while coming to help a civilian vehicle which had come under fire by the assailants, the statement said.

Virunga is a UNESCO-listed site which is spread over 7,800 square kilometres (3,000 square miles) over the borders of DR Congo, Rwanda and Uganda.

It is home to a world-famous population of mountain gorillas but has been hit by rising instability and violence.

Inaugurated in 1925, the park has witnessed repeated attacks by rebel groups, militias and poachers.

A total of 176 of its rangers have been killed in the last 20 years.

Visits to the park have been suspended since March 19 for at least 30 days in DR Congos bid to halt the new coronavirus pandemic.

The park banned visitors between May 2018 to the start of last year after two British tourists were kidnapped there. They were later released but a ranger was killed during the abduction.

In another attack, in the northeast Ituri region on on Thursday, seven civilians were killed by militiamen, army spokesman Jules Ngondo told AFP.

The army neutralised ten assailants, he added.

UN radio station Okapi put Thursdays toll at 13 civilians dead.

Both sources blamed that attack on members of CODECO  whose official name is Cooperative for the Development of Congo  an armed political-religious sect in Ituri drawn from the Lendu ethnic group.

Last month the army announced it had killed COECO head Ngudjolo.

Tens of thousands were killed between 1999 and 2003. According to the UN, most victims were targeted because they were Hema.

The conflict has reignited in recent years.

More than 700 people have been killed in Ituri since late 2017, a UN report said in January, adding that some of deaths might constitute a crime against humanity.






Back in January, Kia announced something it called its Plan S strategy. The $25 billion plan broadly outlines its targets for electric vehicles, with the highlight being plans to sell 11 battery-electric models by the end of 2025, including launching its first dedicated new EV here in the U.S. in 2021. Now we have some new details on what the Korean automaker has in mind for the latter, plus a juicy new tidbit about a new plug-in hybrid coming later this year.

It comes via a scripted Earth Day video message between Neil Dunlop, product and technology PR manager, whos shown wandering around a forest, and Steve Kosowski, manager of Kias long-range strategy, product strategy and mobility, whos quarantined at home. Kosowski calls Plan S a preemptive shift away from being a traditional manufacturer of combustion vehicles to one focused on electric vehicles, electrified vehicles and mobility.

First up will be a dedicated new PHEV model coming to the U.S. by years end. There are no real details offered, but Kosowski brings up the HabaNiro crossover and Imagine concepts as examples of Kias design excellence and innovation. The brand has already said the Imagine will go into production within one or two years, but it was never clear whether the large C-segment car, as they described it, would make it here.



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More is said about Kias first dedicated EV model, due here by the end of 2021  possibly earlier in other markets  and riding on a dedicated new EV platform. Its a crossover design that really blurs the line between passenger cars, CUVs, crossovers, its a little bit car, a little bit crossover, Kosowski says. It will have a range of about 300 miles and sub-20-minute fast-charging time. In the end it will be a very stunning, dramatic new Kia EV, something that youve never seen before.

The range figure squares with what Kia advertised with the HabaNiro concept, which it unveiled at the 2019 New York Auto Show, while the automaker has described both it and the Imagine as blurring traditional vehicle segment lines. Both concepts will doubtless lose some of their more fanciful elements  bye bye, HabaNiro's lava red interior  on the way to production, however.

Story continues

Kia is developing a new EV platform that it will share with Hyundai. It can support larger, more powerful electric vehicles than either the Soul EV, which has yet to come to the U.S., or the Niro EV, and it will open up more possibilities for improvements in interior space, proportions and aesthetics, the automaker says.

Kia unveiled its Plan S at its Investor Day event in Seoul, saying the ambitious plan represents an investment of $25 billion. It aims to have those 11 EVs and other eco-friendly vehicles  presumably meaning hybrids and PHEVs  comprise a quarter of the brands overall sales by the end of 2025 and 6.6% of the global EV market, excluding China. The 11 EVs will represent a wide range of segment styles, Kosowski says. Kia is also targeting global annual sales of 500,000 EVs and 1 million eco-friendly vehicles by 2026.

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Scientists have identified two types of cells in the nose that are likely to be point of infection for the Sars-CoV-2 virus, which causes Covid-19, in the body.

The respiratory tract is filled with numerous cells, among which are goblet cells and ciliated cells. While goblet cells secrete mucous to trap pathogens and foreign matter, ciliated cells have hair like structures that transport such trapped matter out of the body.

According to a study published in Nature Medicine, these cells also have high levels of the proteins ACE2, which acts as a receptor for the viruss spike protein to attach itself to, and TMPRSS2 which helps the virus to enter the cell, and thereafter replicate and causes infection. The conclusions of the study stress the importance of wearing masks to both prevent infection and also reduce transmission of the disease, experts said.

In usual circumstances, ACE2 is recognized as a potential therapeutic strategy in hypertension and cardiovascular disease, diabetes, lung injury, and fibrotic disorders. TMPRSS2 is understood to be involved in a variety of biological processes, whose malfunction often leads to human diseases and disorders.

The researchers analysed multiple Human Cell Atlas (HCA), which provides reference maps of all the cells in the body. These included cells from the lung, nasal cavity, eye, gut, heart, kidney and liver. They looked for cells that expressed the of two key entry proteins and found them in the nose, eyes and intestine.

This suggests infection via the eye and tear ducts, and a potential for faecal-oral transmission, the study said.

Earlier studies had also pointed out that the ACE2 receptor is expressed more in the epithelial cells of the nose but this study shows that the protease which helps with the binding of the spike protein of the virus are co-expressed in the nose and hence these cells are more likely to get infected. This study shows that the upper respiratory tract gets affected first by the infection. This is why its transmissibility increases manifold, making SARS-CoV-2 more infectious than SARS, said Dr. Shobha Broor, former head of the AIIMS department of virology who has read the study.

Dr Martijn Nawijn, from the University Medical Center Groningen in the Netherlands and co-author of the study, said in a statement published in ScienceDaily, a website for latest research: 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.
India plans to fast-track the review of some investment proposals from neigbouring countries such as China following concerns new screening rules could hit plans of companies and investors, three sources told Reuters on Saturday.

To avoid opportunistic takeovers during the coronavirus outbreak, India said this week that all foreign direct investment from countries sharing a land border would require prior government clearance, meaning they can't go through a so-called automatic route.

Advisers to Chinese firms have said they are concerned the process could take several weeks and hit deals and investment timelines. Auto firms such as SAIC's MG Motor and Great Wall, and investors Alibaba and Tencent have placed major bets on India.

The Chinese Embassy in New Delhi has called the new screening policy discriminatory.

A senior Indian government source who is involved in policymaking told Reuters New Delhi will try to approve any investment proposal in a non-sensitive sector within 15 days when the stake being bought is not significant.

The official declined to elaborate on which sectors would be considered sensitive and what threshold of investment would be deemed significant.

"We will try to fast-track investment proposals as soon as possible. It may be faster for some (sectors) and in others we might take some time," said the official, who did not want to be named due to the sensitivity of the discussions.

Two other sources familiar with the government's thinking confirmed that a fast-track mechanism was being considered, with possible approval timelines of seven days to four weeks.

India's ministry of commerce and industry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

'China is concerned'

While the fast-track mechanism would be open to all India's neighbours with a land border, China would be the main beneficiary. Unlike Pakistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal and Bhutan, it has major existing and planned investments in India, which the Brookings research group estimated at $26 billion.

Dipti Lavya Swain, a partner at Indian law firm HSA Advocates which advises Chinese companies, said sectors such as telecoms, financial services and insurance were likely to be deemed more sensitive than others such as automobiles and renewable energy.

"Approvals should be a seamless process and anything between two to four weeks could still be bearable," Swain said. "Sectors which are already under severe financial distress and do not concern national security should also receive faster approvals."

The new Indian screening rules are designed to prevent fire sales of corporate assets during the coronavirus outbreak but government sources have said they will also apply to greenfield investments, as well as investments from Hong Kong.

Responding to Reuters questions this week, China's foreign ministry said it hoped for a better business environment as India had set up more barriers for some investors.

"China is concerned. In the face of the economic downturn caused by the epidemic, countries should unite to overcome difficulties," it said in a statement dated April 22.
The odds of being struck and killed by a meteorite are said to be as low as one in 250,000.

There has been no credible and well-documented evidence of any human being befalling this unfortunate fate.

But researchers now say they have found three separate official papers describing a fatal encounter with an extra-terrestrial object more than 130 years ago.

At around 8.30pm on 22 August, 1888, a fireball was seen in the sky shortly before a shower of meteorite pieces fell like rain on a village in Sulaymaniyah, Iraq, then part of the Ottoman Empire.

One man died after being struck, while a second was left paralysed, according to the manuscripts stored in Turkish government archives.

The event appears to have been confirmed by a report to the sultan, Abdul Hamid II.

Science news in pictures Show all 20 1 /20 Science news in pictures Science news in pictures Pluto has 'beating heart' of frozen nitrogen Pluto has a 'beating heart' of frozen nitrogen that is doing strange things to its surface, Nasa has found. The mysterious core seems to be the cause of features on its surface that have fascinated scientists since they were spotted by Nasa's New Horizons mission. "Before New Horizons, everyone thought Pluto was going to be a netball - completely flat, almost no diversity," said Tanguy Bertrand, an astrophysicist and planetary scientist at NASA's Ames Research Center and the lead author on the new study. "But it's completely different. It has a lot of different landscapes and we are trying to understand what's going on there." Getty Science news in pictures Over 400 species discovered this year by Natural History Museum The ancient invertabrate worm-like species rhenopyrgus viviani (pictured) is one of over 400 species previously unknown to science that were discovered by experts at the Natural History Museum this year PA Science news in pictures Jackdaws can identify 'dangerous' humans Jackdaws can identify dangerous humans from listening to each others warning calls, scientists say. The highly social birds will also remember that person if they come near their nests again, according to researchers from the University of Exeter. In the study, a person unknown to the wild jackdaws approached their nest. At the same time scientists played a recording of a warning call (threatening) or contact calls (non-threatening). The next time jackdaws saw this same person, the birds that had previously heard the warning call were defensive and returned to their nests more than twice as quickly on average. Getty Science news in pictures Turtle embryos influence sex by shaking The sex of the turtle is determined by the temperatures at which they are incubated. Warm temperatures favour females. But by wiggling around the egg, embryos can find the Goldilocks Zone which means they are able to shield themselves against extreme thermal conditions and produce a balanced sex ratio, according to the new study published in Current Biology journal Ye et al/Current Biology Science news in pictures Elephant poaching rates drop in Africa African elephant poaching rates have dropped by 60 per cent in six years, an international study has found. It is thought the decline could be associated with the ivory trade ban introduced in China in 2017. Reuters Science news in pictures Ancient four-legged whale discovered in Peru Scientists have identified a four-legged creature with webbed feet to be an ancestor of the whale. 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Using sensitive analysis of the chemical composition of sweat, researchers were able to tell the difference between those who had been directly exposed to heroin and cocaine, and those who had encountered it indirectly. Getty Science news in pictures Nasa releases stunning images of Jupiter's great red spot The storm bigger than the Earth, has been swhirling for 350 years. The image's colours have been enhanced after it was sent back to Earth. Pictures by: Tom Momary

Due to the fact that these documents are from official government sources and written by the local authorities... we do not have any suspicion on their reality, the researchers say in an academic paper describing their findings.

They say it is the first proof of an event ever of an event that a meteorite hit and killed a man.

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If accepted as sufficiently verified, it would also become the earliest documented incident of a meteor hitting a person.

Previously that notoriety was held by the Sylacauga meteorite, which struck Ann Elizabeth Fowler Hodges as she slept on a sofa in a farmhouse in Alabama, USA, in November 1954.

Hodges was bruised by the fragment, which appears to have bounced off a radio set before hitting her leg, but survived.

Other less well-documented contenders include a report said to date back to 1677, when a friar was supposedly hit and killed by a sulphurous stone from the clouds which lodged in his thigh.

More recently, Nasa rejected claims that a bus driver was killed by a meteorite in southern India on 6 February 2019. The agency said a land-based explosion was the most likely cause.
Do practice safety when handling cleaning products, New Jerseys top health official said Friday.

Do not swallow them or inject them into your body, she added.

State Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli delivered the warning a day after President Donald Trump drew controversy and sparked debate for wondering out loud if doctors could combat the coronavirus by hitting the patients bodies with ultraviolet or just very powerful light or using disinfectant by injection inside or almost a cleaning.

Persichillis comments echo similar warnings from health experts, politicians, and cleaning-product companies in the wake of Trumps remarks.

During the states daily coronavirus press briefing in Trenton Friday afternoon, Persichilli said using cleaning products safely is important because the state has seen an increase in calls to poison control during the pandemic. She said to follow directions closely, wear disposable gloves, and ensure proper ventilation while cleaning.

And certainly, they should never be ingested or injected, she added.

When theyre swallowed, many household products cause sever gastrointenstinal symptoms, Persichilli continued. You may be repeatedly sick and vomit. You may vomit blood. You may experience swelling of the tongue or lips or have burns to the esophagus. You may have abdominal pain and notice blood in your stools.

Do not ingest or inject disinfectants, the state health commissioner repeated.

Trump did not directly say during his White House news briefing Thursday that people should drink, ingest, or inject bleach or other disinfectants to help battle the coronavirus. He did muse about whether light and disinfectants could provide some sort of treatment for COVID-19.

The issue started when William Bryan, the top science official at the federal Department of Homeland Security, was discussing a study on the biology of the illness, noting the powerful effect that solar light appears to have on killing the virus and that injective sunlight and UV rays into it causes the virus to die at a much more rapid pace. Bryan also said researchers are testing bleach, isopropyl alcohol, and other disinfectants and finding it kills the virus more quickly.

Trump then took the podium, saying supposing we hit the body with a tremendous  whether its ultraviolet or just very powerful light and supposing you brought the light inside the body. He then said then I see the disinfectant, where it knocks it out in a minute.

And is there a way we can do something like that, by injection inside or almost a cleansing? Trump asked. Because you see it gets in the lungs and it does a tremendous number on the lungs. So it would be interesting to check that.

Bryan said later his department would not inject patients with bleach or isopropyl alcohol in its lab.

Trump then said it wouldnt be through injection but almost a cleaning, sterilization of an area.

CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Newsletter | Homepage

On Friday, Reckitt Benckiser, the company that makes Lysol, issued a statement saying we must be clear that under no circumstance should our disinfectant products be administered into the human body.

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said Friday morning that Trumps remarks were taken out of context.

President Trump has repeatedly said that Americans should consult with medical doctors regarding coronavirus treatment, a point that he emphasized again during yesterdays briefing, McEnany said in a statement.

Leave it to the media to irresponsibly take President Trump out of context and run with negative headlines, she added.

And Trump himself said later Friday he was being sarcastic.

I was asking a question sarcastically to reporters like you just to see what would happen," the president said.

New Jersey, a state of 9 million residents, has now seen at least 102,196 cases of the coronavirus and 5,617 deaths attributed to the virus, officials said Friday. Thats after the state reported another 3,047 positive tests and 253 related fatalities.

Gov. Phil Murphy also said some of the states counties are seeing the rate of infection increasing again. But Murphy stressed that the rates of hospitalizations, critical care patients, ventilator use, and deaths are stabilizing.

Still, he said his orders for residents to stay home and nonessential businesses to close must remain in place to keep fighting the virus spread.

Were not out of the woods yet, Murphy said.

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Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com.
Actor Vijay Deverakonda has successfully completed BeTheRealMan challenge, which was popularized by Arjun Reddy director Sandeep Vanga Reddy. In the video, Vijay is seen spending quality time with family and whipping up some mango ice-cream.

Filmmaker Koratala Siva nominated Vijay to take up BeTheRealMan challenge. In the video, Deverakonda is seen waking up very late. He says hes been sleeping for 9 and a half hour in lockdown. The first thing he does after waking up is to drink 1 liter of water. One of his tips is to reuse used alcohol bottles to store water.

Bits of my day in lockdown :)

Documented by @ananddeverkonda#BeARealMan challenged by @sivakoratala sir. I would like to extend it to Kunjikkaa @dulQuer pic.twitter.com/8bLAAQYeMo  Vijay Deverakonda (@TheDeverakonda) April 25, 2020

He also seen changing the cover of the trash can. Instead of spending on garbage bags, he recommends to use any old plastic cover. In the video, he also goes onto make mango ice cream. He credits a friend for sharing the recipe. We also see him cleaning the TV and seconds later plays car racing on it.

Vijay has nominated actor Dulquer Salman to carry forward the challenge.

Last seen on screen in World Famous Lover, Vijay will be next seen in Puri Jagannadhs Fighter, which will see him play a fighter with a stutter. He underwent mixed martial arts classes in Thailand in preparation for his character. Karan Johar has come on board to release the film in Hindi.

Also read: When Shah Rukh Khan warned Aamir Khan to not work with Kajol: She is very bad, unfocused

The film will mark the Telugu debut of Ananya Panday. Fighter will have a pan India release as the makers have confirmed it will be released in Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam and Kannada, apart from Telugu.

Apparently, the script of Fighter was originally pitched to Jr NTR a few years. For reasons unknown, the project never took off and both of them got busy with their respective commitments.

Puri Jagannadh, an erstwhile associate of Ram Gopal Varma, is known for films such as Pokkiri, Businessman and Temper. He even directed the Hindi film Bbudadh Hoga Tera Baap featuring Amitabh Bachchan. His recent release was ISmart Shankar, which went on to be a box-office hit.

Follow @htshowbiz for more

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Manitobans with cataracts, cancer and others in urgent need of surgery will get it next week, the province's chief of nursing said Friday.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 24/4/2020 (627 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Manitobans with cataracts, cancer and others in urgent need of surgery will get it next week, the province's chief of nursing said Friday.

"We know that waiting for procedures can be very stressful on patients and there are postponed cases that cannot wait any longer," Lanette Siragusa with Shared Health said during the province's daily COVID-19 briefing.

For the last four weeks, non-urgent surgical and diagnostic procedures have been postponed for patients identified as being clinically able to wait without risk of negative outcomes. The postponement is in response to COVID-19 and to ensure flexibility and availability in the allocation of staff, beds, equipment and supplies. "We know this will be an exercise we will have to repeatedly go through throughout this pandemic," Siragusa said.

"This is a one-week ramp-up plan that will see significant increases in neurosurgery, vascular surgery and thoracic surgery and include urgent cataract, orthopedic and cancer cases," she said. They're taking place at Health Sciences Centre, the Pan Am Clinic, Concordia Hospital, Misericordia Health Centre, Grace Hospital, St. Boniface Hospital, Victoria General Hospital, Boundary Trails Health Centre, Selkirk Regional Health Centre and Brandon General Hospital.

Clinical assessments have been done case-by-case to make sure urgent and emergent procedures get done, she said. Patients will be contacted directly about the surgeries and procedures taking place next week, starting Monday, with the most urgent cases first. All necessary precautions will be taken to protect patients from COVID-19, including the use of appropriate personal protective equipment, limiting the number of staff in the room to only those essential for patient care and testing patients for the novel coronavirus.

"We know that waiting for procedures can be very stressful on patients and there are postponed cases that cannot wait any longer."  Lanette Siragusa, Shared Health

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So far, Manitoba has seen few new cases of the virus. On Thursday, 786 tests were performed at Cadham Provincial Laboratory. On Friday, just one new positive case was reported. Since the first case was reported March 12, Manitoba has reported a total of 263 cases, while Quebec has 21,838 and Ontario has 13,519 cases. With few new cases and few hospitalizations, Manitoba health officials agreed to divert 100 of its 120 vital sign monitors on order to those two provinces.

"We had the opportunity this week to help some hard-hit provinces with the procurement of vital-signs monitoring equipment," Siragusa said. The equipment was to arrive in Manitoba next week but now 50 monitors will be diverted to Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto and 50 to the Jewish General Hospital in Montreal.

The help is appreciated, said Dr. Lawrence Rosenberg, president and CEO of the Quebec health network called CIUSSS West-Central Montreal, which includes the Jewish General Hospital.

"As you know, our need for medical equipment is significant, as the battle against COVID-19 intensifies," Rosenberg said Friday in an email from Quebec where the virus has claimed at least 1,243 lives. "It is encouraging and gratifying to discover that much-needed help in fighting the pandemic can come not just from local neighbourhoods or nearby communities, but from clear across the country," he said, thanking the people of Manitoba for making the monitors available to them.

Siragusa said a federal-provincial group that meets regularly identifies where there are needs and gaps "so that we can really have a pan-Canadian approach" to responding to the pandemic. Manitoba health officials and its incident command structure decided they could support the 100 monitors going elsewhere, knowing they'd get the next shipment expected to arrive in a month, she said.

carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca
They are survivors of severe cases of the coronavirus, most of them had been hospitalized, some of them hooked up to ventilators for several days and none of them ever wanting to experience the misery, uncertainty and loneliness of the illness ever again.

"It really makes you not take anything for granted anymore, even the small things," Leah Blomberg, 35, of Muskego, Wisconsin, said Thursday during a Facebook Live hangout. "Every moment I get with my husband, I cherish it."

Full coverage of the coronavirus outbreak

NBC News spoke with Blomberg and four others who tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, to find out what it was like to have extreme cases and how they've recovered in recent weeks. While the number of infections and deaths continue to grow daily, most people do get better and some may have no symptoms at all.

But for those who have been hospitalized in intensive care units, the experience can be terrifying  if they even remember it.

Blomberg said she was put on a ventilator for a total of nine days, leaving her in a medically induced coma.

"It really is a humbling experience," she said of her time in the hospital.

She added that she was grateful she didn't know beforehand the grim statistics associated with being on a ventilator. One study in the Journal of the American Medical Association that looked at 5,700 coronavirus patients at 12 hospitals in New York City and Long Island found that about 21 percent of patients died, but for the 20 percent who were deemed extremely sick and in need of ventilators, the death rate was 25 percent.

Andrew Coffield, 29, of Aurora, Illinois, said he was on a ventilator for seven days during his 13-day hospitalization. He was told he was unconscious for about five days, and his 2-year-old son would FaceTime with him, saying, "Daddy, wake up. Daddy, wake up."

But as his situation deteriorated, with his vitals dropping and his fever spiking again, he had a sudden turnaround two days after coming off the ventilator, he said.

Story continues

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"I truly believe that God healed me," Coffield said, adding, "The doctors and the nurses couldn't explain it. ... They just kept coming in and said, 'You're a miracle.'"

Being in the hospital away from his family and then recovering at home without touching them were among the loneliest moments of his life, he added.

Another survivor, Jess Marchbank, 32, of North Devon, England, could relate.

She said she longed to touch her children, ages 2 and 4, even after she returned home from the hospital, but could not until she was completely virus-free.

"It's the most loneliest experience I think I will ever go through," she said. "You don't get that contact, that touch, that love and nurture that we need to mentally get better, as well as physically."

But once she was able to hold her family, she said, it was "so much better than Christmas morning."

Jess Marchbank of North Devon, U.K., reunited with her children at home after her release from the hospital. (Courtesy Jess Marchbank)

All of the survivors say they still feel sapped of energy and wiped out.

Although he wasn't hospitalized, Dwight Everett, 65, of Ventura County, California, said he decided to donate plasma after fully recovering as a way to help others afflicted by the disease.

As a possible treatment for very sick coronavirus patients, some hospitals are testing the injection of a "convalescent serum" based on the blood plasma of people who have recovered.

Everett's plasma is going to people like the wife of Luis Meza, of Santa Maria, California. Meza said his wife is in a Los Angeles hospital after contracting the coronavirus from him.

She remains on a ventilator after 26 days in the hospital, he added.

"I would do anything to save my wife," Meza said of the plasma treatments. "I'll sell anything I own to save my wife."

He said she has been slowly getting better, but must learn to move her hands and her legs again after the virus ravaged her body.

The idea that some people still don't take the coronavirus seriously or aren't following social distancing guidelines and stay-at-home orders is upsetting for him and the other survivors.

Blomberg added that protesters have the right to demonstrate, but they're putting others at risk.

"A lot of the reasons that people are protesting are so shallow. 'I want a haircut. I want to get my nails done.' Really?" Blomberg said. "I can understand the small-business owners are hurting. But I'm sure that when the medical community has cleared things and say we're OK to go back to begin opening things up again, I'm sure our communities will rally around their small businesses and help bring them back."

UPDATE (April 27, 2020 10:06 a.m.): An earlier version of this article included data from a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association that has been updated. About 20 percent of patients were deemed extremely sick and in need of ventilators, not 12 percent, and 25 percent of those patients died, not 88 percent.
Four days after it received 1,800 bags of rice from the federal government, the Oyo State government has rejected the rice saying they are not good for human consumption.

The federal government ordered the Nigeria Customs Service to donate 1,800 bags of rice each to Oyo, Osun and Ekiti States, and 800 bags to Ondo State as parts of efforts to cushion the effects of coronavirus on residents of the four states.

The comptroller of Customs, Oyo/Osun command, Helen Ngozi, on Monday handed over the bags of rice each to the governments of Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti.

But, Debo Akande, executive adviser on agribusiness to the Oyo governor, Seyi Makinde, said the government had rejected its own share of rice.

Mr Akande, who made this announcement at a press conference in Ibadan on Friday, said the decision to reject the rice was reached after inspections done by the states food security committee of the COVID-19 task force.

He said the state government discovered that the rice were infested by weevil and other pests, and took the decision in the interest of the health of residents of the state.

Mr Akande however said the return of the 1,800 bags will not affect the states distribution of aid, noting that the state had gathered enough rice for distribution to citizens.

He added that the state was keen on receiving replacement of the bags of rice from the federal government.

We received this items from the Federal Government via the federal ministry of humanitarian affairs and we brought them here to the warehouse and in it is in the process of further inspection, that we discovered that almost all the grains of rice has been infested by weevil and other pests, he said.

On that basis, we formed a committee to inspect it again so that we are really sure of what we have received and we think this rice is not is not consumable for human being.

As such, such material cannot be distributed as part of palliatives in the state. We dont want to start providing solution to a problem and then create another problem. We have done random selection we see that similar thing applies across board and the committee has agreed to return to its source. And if there is any replacement of good quality that will be sent to us, we will be glad to receive it.

We are returning all the 1,800 bags of rice. We initially assumed that it was just some part of it that was infested but some commissioners from five or six ministries came with me to inspect and we realised that it is not just some but quite a lot of them were infested. We do quality control of all that we receive it is just that that was received from the federal government that we found infeste.

Customs Reacts

The Nigeria Customs Services Oyo/ Osun Area Command, told PREMIUM TIMES that Oyo State government was not fair to the service.

The public relations officer of the command, Abdullah Lagos, said the command suspected foul play.

We gave 1,800 to Oyo, 1,800 to Osun, 800 to Ondo and 1,800 to Ekiti. We did not choose for them. Why is it that it is only Oyo State that is rejecting the rice, he said.

How can we give the public expired rice. We have special place that we keep rice. And since Tuesday they did not complain and on Friday, you did not call us and you called a press conference. That is too bad.

We suspect foul play. They came to inspect the rice on Monday. They came to collect on Tuesday. We did not choose for them, they choose. We did not choose for them. Journalists were there. They are not being fair to us.
We've all been having a lot of rough days lately, so a wine called Rough Day seems a natural choice to ease the tension. This unoaked chardonnay is like a warm embrace in a time of social distancing. After you've softened your mood, brighten it with a delightful inexpensive rose from Italy, from the private label of the local importer who brought us our greatest value wine of 2019. But that feels so long ago.

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GREAT VALUE

Impero Collection Mon Amour Rose

Two stars

Italy, $10

Yes, I'm the type to give roses to my love, rather than roses. Especially a rose as cheap and delightful as this one. It smells of strawberries and melons, and tastes of springtime. It's a great wine for a light lunch or for sipping before dinner. There is no vintage on the label, because the wine does not match the appellation laws for the Abruzzo region, where the grapes are grown. The lot number indicates it was bottled on the 217th day, or Aug. 5, of 2019. Who cares? It's delicious. Vegan. Alcohol by volume: 12.5 percent.

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GREAT VALUE

Cantine Pellegrino Gibele 2018

Three stars

Sicily, Italy, $18

This lovely white wine is made from a rare grape called zibibbo, so it's another variety to cross off your list. It features soft acidity, scents of jasmine and wild herbs, and flavors of apples and Meyer lemon. It's a grand partner to anything from the sea. ABV: 12 percent.

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Sean Minor Sauvignon Blanc 2018

Two and a half stars

California, $14

Sean Minor makes a line of good-quality wines at a reasonable price. The sauvignon blanc offers classic flavors of lime and apricot, without the grassy aggressiveness of the grape that often shows in New World wines, while tasting fleshier and less mineral than Old World examples. ABV: 13 percent.

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GREAT VALUE

Rough Day Unoaked Chardonnay 2019

Two stars

Thracian Valley, Bulgaria, $12

This certainly seems like a wine made for guzzling during a pandemic. Mouth-filling flavors of green apples and Asian pear lead to a soft, clean and slyly sweet finish that leaves you ready for more. More of what? Anything that brightens your rough day, such as almonds, a slightly funky brie or another glass of wine. The importer has launched a social media campaign with the hashtag #roughdayathome to try to spread some of the comic relief that was behind the label idea. There is also a nice Rough Day cabernet sauvignon, but it's this chardonnay that is the standout of the line. ABV: 13 percent.

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Rios de Tinta 2018

Two stars

Ribera del Duero, Spain, $16

Here's a gulpable red wine, suitable for washing down steaks, burgers, pizza or salami. I suggest pouring a glass and setting glass and bottle aside for a half-hour to let the flavors unfurl while you sip a rose and make dinner. According to the label, "Rios de Tinta" translates as rivers of ink, and this wine is, indeed, inky dark. The grape is Tinta del Pais, a local name for tempranillo. The wine offers meaty aromas and flavors, with a hint of dark berries and tobacco leaf. ABV: 14 percent.

- - -

Three stars: Exceptional

Two stars: Excellent

One star: Very good

- - -

Prices are approximate. Check Winesearcher.com to verify availability or ask a favorite wine store to order through a distributor.
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday warned doctors against prescribing a malaria drug touted by President Donald Trump for treating the new coronavirus except in hospitals and research studies.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 24/4/2020 (628 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

FILE - This Tuesday, April 7, 2020 file photo shows a bottle of hydroxychloroquine tablets in Texas City, Texas. On Friday, April 24, 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned doctors against prescribing the malaria drug to treat COVID-19 outside of hospitals or research settings. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday warned doctors against prescribing a malaria drug touted by President Donald Trump for treating the new coronavirus except in hospitals and research studies.

In an alert, regulators flagged reports of sometimes fatal heart side effects among coronavirus patients taking hydroxychloroquine or the related drug chloroquine. The decades-old drugs, also prescribed for lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, can cause a number of side effects, including heart rhythm problems, severely low blood pressure and muscle or nerve damage.

The warning comes as doctors at a New York hospital published a report that heart rhythm abnormalities developed in most of 84 coronavirus patients treated with hydroxychloroquine and the antibiotic azithromycin, a combo Trump has promoted.

Both drugs are known to sometimes alter the heartbeat in dangerous ways, and their safety or ability to help people with COVID-19 is unknown. A National Institutes of Health experts panel earlier this week recommended against taking that drug combo except in a formal study because of the side effects potential.

Last month, the FDA authorized limited use of the malaria drugs for hospitalized patients with COVID-19 who arent enrolled in ongoing research. The FDA said the drugs risks are manageable when patients are carefully screened and monitored by doctors. A number of studies are testing hydroxychloroquine as a treatment or for prevention of COVID-19.

Regulators said they are now investigating dangerous side effects and deaths reported with the malaria drugs to poison control centres and other health authorities.

President Donald Trump listens during a briefing about the coronavirus in the James Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House, Thursday, April 23, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

It is important that health care providers are aware of the risks of serious and potentially life-threatening heart rhythm problems that can occur with these drugs, the FDA said in a statement. The agency did not specify the number of reports it has received of side effects or deaths.

Calls to U.S. poison control centres about the malaria drugs increased last month to 79, compared to 52 in March 2019, according to Dr. Christopher Hoyte of the Rocky Mountain Poison Center in Denver, Colorado. The problems reported include abnormal heart rhythms, seizures, nausea and vomiting, Hoyte said.

Trump has repeatedly touted hydroxychloroquine during his regular coronavirus briefings, suggesting its skeptics would be proven wrong. He has offered patient testimonials that the drug is a lifesaver.

But a number of early coronavirus studies have suggested problems or no benefit.

In Friday's report in the journal Nature Medicine, doctors at New York University and NYU Langone Health found a significant prolonging of what's called the heart's QT interval two to five days after coronavirus patients were given usual doses of hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin. The drugs can alter the QT interval, or the time it takes the heart to charge between beats. When that time is too long, it can trigger a rhythm problem that can lead to sudden death.

Nine of the 84 patients had severe prolongation of this interval. Four patients died from organ failure but there was no evidence heart problems contributed. Severe disease or other health problems may play a role in whether the heartbeat abnormality develops, the researchers speculated.

The results show how important it is that these drugs only be used in a study where patients are closely tracked, said one independent expert, Dr. Rais Vohra, an emergency medicine specialist at the Fresno branch of the University of California, San Francisco.

That combination really sets you up for having a problem with the heart, he said. My colleagues and I are concerned. People are self-medicating and coming down with very predictable side effects on the heart.

Another recent analysis involving 368 patients in U.S. veterans hospitals found no benefit from hydroxychloroquine  and more deaths. The report was not a rigorous test of the drug and results have not yet been reviewed by other scientists but are the largest so far of its use in COVID-19 patients.

Last month, the federal government accepted more than 30 million doses of hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine donated to the strategic national stockpile by drugmakers Sandoz and Bayer. The Federal Emergency Management Agency said Friday it has sent out more than 14 million doses of hydroxychloroquine to state and local health officials. Earlier this month the agency reported that it had sent 19 million doses. The agency didnt explain the discrepancy between the two figures.

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.

Accepting the donation required sign off by both the FDA and the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, or BARDA, a unit of HHS tasked with procuring treatments to combat bioterrorism and infectious diseases.

Earlier this week, former BARDA director, Rick Bright, said he was demoted from his job leading the agency because he resisted political pressure to allow widespread use of hydroxychloroquine. He has called for a federal investigation and reinstatement to his original job.

___

Marchione reported from Milwaukee.

___

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.
Jeremy Corbyn's brother led a protest against the coronavirus lockdown today - which had to be shut down by police.

Piers Corbyn spearheaded the rally in Glastonbury, Somerset, against the Government's lockdown, which he said was causing more people to die.

A video posted online shows Mr Corbyn, the 73-year-old brother of the former Labour leader, giving a speech, claiming that there is no pandemic.

In his speech he also says social distancing and keeping six feet apart will allow you to be personally identified by GPS or 5G satellite and that's why the government want it.

Speaking to The Telegraph, Mr Corbyn said: 'We want to end the lockdown to get the NHS back to doing its job of helping the most vulnerable people who are locked up in care homes or staying at home going mad.

Piers Corbyn (pictured) spearheaded the rally in Glastonbury, Somerset, against the Government's lockdown, which he said was causing more people to die

Footage filmed of the activists in Glastonbury's Market Place show them clashing with police  and denying that social distancing is necessary to stop the spread of the disease

'The lockdown is achieving the opposite of what it was intended to achieve.'

He claimed that over 100 people attended the event.

One witness claimed that Mr Corbyn was the 'ringleader' of the protest - to which Avon and Somerset police were called.

During his speech Mr Corbyn - a climate sceptic and weather forecaster - can be heard saying: 'We all know the lockdown has failed us. It has caused misery.

'We know there is no pandemic...We'll have more deaths from loneliness, suicide and people being kept out of hospital.'

During his speech Mr Corbyn (right) can be heard saying: 'We all know the lockdown has failed us. It has caused misery'

He added: 'We also know those countries who have had no lockdown have had even less people dying from this supposed coronavirus whatever that may be.'

He also said that everyone who gets 'CV flu' recovers unless they have underlying health conditions.

Footage filmed of the activists in Glastonbury's Market Place show them clashing with police  and denying that social distancing is necessary to stop the spread of the disease.

One Glastonbury resident told Southwark News: 'We were really horrified to see it. There were about fifty people at one point, there was even a fiddler playing music.

'It was like a typical day in Glastonbury  there was no social distancing at all. Piers was the ringleader, he absolutely incited this big public gathering, and that's completely irresponsible.'

A police spokesperson said: 'We attended a small protest in the centre of Glastonbury this afternoon. Approximately 30-40 people turned up and the event was peaceful in nature.

One witness claimed that Mr Corbyn (pictured left at a different protest) was the 'ringleader' of the protest - to which Avon and Somerset police were called. Right: Jeremy Corbyn

Police were called to the protest (pictured) that they say saw 30 to 40 people gathered together

'Officers attended Market Place and engaged with the individuals concerned and explained the need to adhere to the current guidelines and the group subsequently dispersed.

'We are pleased the overwhelming majority of people are complying with the current guidelines around staying at home and social distancing.

'We continue to encourage people to follow this message to help protect our NHS and save lives.'

A ban on public gatherings of more than two people was implemented by the government in late March.

Numerous scientists have agreed that social distancing measures are necessary to save lives.
Beaches are reopening at a swift rate in some of the United States' sun-soaked southern states.

And whether you're ready to pounce on the sand or are monitoring the situation uneasily from your living room, the reality of Americans getting out and about is upon us.

There's likely no stemming the tide of openings as officials push to allow people out and restart the economy, but we can approach every loosened restriction with the kind of thought our new socially distanced reality deserves.

"What's going to happen is going to happen," said Dr. William Schaffner, infectious diseases specialist at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. "My question is, how is it going to happen?"

That's a fair question, given the scene last week when Jacksonville, Florida, welcomed back beachgoers.

The 5 p.m. opening on April 17 prompted delight from many cooped-up residents and considerable online scorn in the form of hashtag #FloridaMorons from critics worried that lax social distancing will increase the virus' spread.

Governor Ron DeSantis on Wednesday defended the decision made by local leaders to reopen beaches and appeared to reference the critical hashtag.

"My hats off to the people of Jacksonville and Northeast Florida for doing a great job," DeSantis said. "And for those who try to say you're morons, I would take you over the folks who are criticizing you any day of the week and twice on Sunday."

Beach openings and closures are a patchwork across states, a mishmash of overlapping state and local orders that reflect the fits and starts of the wider coronavirus response.

More beaches are opening

Panama City Beach on Friday joins a growing number of Florida beaches open for limited hours.

In South Carolina, beach accesses reopened on Tuesday with the lifting of Gov. Henry McMaster's executive order, although some communities have retained local restrictions and checkpoints to limit access.

Some beaches have also opened in North Carolina, where a stay-at-home order has been extended until May 8. In Mississippi and Texas, beach openings are decided at the county level, while Alabama's beaches remain closed.

In Georgia, beaches were allowed to stay open under a statewide stay-at-home order that went into effect on April 3, overturning some local beach closures implemented by coastal communities.

Most beaches are open for limited hours and only for non-stationary exercise such as walking, jogging or swimming. Fines for sitting and sunbathing are in effect for some locations, although the level of enforcement remains to be seen. Many parking lots and facilities remain closed.

Yet as beaches and businesses reopen, a coronavirus model frequently cited by the White House says that Georgia, South Carolina and Florida should wait until June 8 or later to safely reopen.

The model, built by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington, shows the level at which states may be able to use other containment measures -- such as aggressive testing, contact tracing and isolation -- instead of social distancing.

The beach isn't the problem. It's the behaviors

The good news? In and of itself, a beach outing isn't a bad proposition, said Dr. Daniel Griffin, an infectious diseases specialist at Columbia University.

"Going to an uncrowded beach with your social cohort or 'quaranteam' can be a safe and fun experience," Griffin said via email. "The challenge is limiting the number of people on the beach so social distancing can be done."

On Jacksonville, Florida, beaches last Friday, those measures seemed erratic at best.

Schaffner would like monitoring to make sure American beachgoers are following social distancing protocols. Coastal communities could employ extra people to nicely approach and remind beach visitors about masks and keeping a safe distance, he said.

"My experience of beaches is that unless the beaches are remote, you will find real difficulty in keeping to the six-foot rule," he said.

He's not confident that people are adhering closely enough to the measures needed to reduce the risk of coronavirus transmission at beaches -- or elsewhere.

How you can be safer at the beach

Thinking through any outing is key to mitigating the risks, Schaffner said, and beachgoers should be wearing masks when they're around other people.

Parking lots can be especially problematic in terms of close proximity to other visitors.

He suggests going at an off hour, although many beaches are only open for several hours in the morning and evening.

"You arrive, you put on your mask as you get out of the car to make sure you won't encounter anybody and then you go down to the beach. If there's nobody there, you can take your mask off," he said.

"Do your exercising, and as you walk back to the parking lot, put it back on until you can get into your car safely again."

This new normal is going to be with us for a very long time, Schaffner said, and adopting these practices is part of increasing our safety.

"I'm a realist. I recognize it can't be done perfectly. But can we do it as best we can, imperfectly?"

From his observations, he's not so sure.
The Singapore Health Ministry on Friday said 853 foreign workers from packed housing dormitories were among the 897 new confirmed COVID-19 cases, taking the total number of infections to 12,075 in the island nation.

A total of 853 of Friday's cases were work permit holders residing in dormitories and another 19 were work permit holders staying outside the dormitories, the ministry confirmed.

Among the rest, 12 were work pass holders (foreigners working here) and 13 were Singaporeans (citizens) as well as permanent residents (also foreigners).

The ministry stated that an Indian national died on Thursday due to "multiple injuries consistent with those resulting from a fall from height and was not due to complications from COVID-19 infection".

The 46-year old was found motionless at the staircase landing in Khoo Teck Puat Hospital and died of injuries. He was a confirmed coronavirus case.

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

Twenty-four of the 1,229 confirmed cases still in hospital are in critical condition and in the intensive care unit. Most of the others are stable or improving.

A total of 38 virus patients have been discharged from hospitals or community isolation facilities. In total, 956 have fully recovered from the infection in city-state.

The number of patients who are isolated and cared for at community facilities stands at 9,878.

"These are those who have mild symptoms or are clinically well but still test positive for COVID-19," said the ministry.

Twelve people in Singapore have died due to COVID-19. The ministry identified nine new clusters on Friday. These included a budget hotel in the central business district.

Four more dormitories were gazetted as isolation areas for housing foreign workers on Friday, according to media reports.

To date, 25 dormitories, housing foreign workers, have been gazetted as isolation areas as a large number of COVID-19 cases have emerged from these lodging houses.

Meanwhile, the Manpower Ministry has given a stern warning on Friday to a dormitory operator for having locked 20 migrant/foreign workers in their room after one of their close contacts tested positive for COVID-19.

The Ministry said operator of Joylicious dormitory for foreign workers will not be allowed to hire new foreign workers, pending police investigations.

The incident came to light on Tuesday after an NGO for migrant workers' rights, Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2), said on its Facebook page that it received a "distress call" from workers in the dormitory.

Investigations revealed that on April 20, the dormitory operator had confined the workers in their room, to prevent them from moving around after a close contact was confirmed to have contracted COVID-19, the ministry spokesperson said.

Separately, Minister for Environment and Water Resources Masagos Zulkifli on Friday warned those who disregard safe distancing measures. He also cautioned against abusing enforcement officers.

"Whether you are old or young, you should be staying home," the minister said.

Those who think "it is fun" to flout the rules could end up being infected and infect others as well, said Masagos told The Straits Times. His comments come after a spate of offences were reported.

The police have reported a rise in the number of abuse cases against the 3,000 officers and safe distance ambassadors deployed across the island daily to ensure compliance with circuit breaker measures, according to The Straits Times.

Singapore is more than two weeks into its "circuit breaker" period, a move by the Government to break the cycle of transmission of COVID-19.

The period with measures introduced to control the spread of the deadly disease, was initially scheduled to end on May 4, but was extended to June 1.

Under these measures, citizens can leave their homes only to perform essential tasks such as buying groceries, see a doctor, or if they are an essential service worker. They must wear a mask if they go out.

First-time offenders of the rules could be fined SGD300.

A rising wave of infections among Singapore's migrant worker population threatens to derail the city-state's success in fighting the coronavirus, authorities have said.

Indians make up the second-largest group -- in terms of nationality -- of coronavirus patients in Singapore.
A headmaster who was dubbed Britain's 'strictest' but was sacked by a 37,000-a-year boarding school for sending 'flirty' texts to pupils has been reported after trying to set up an online academy.

Toby Belfield, 47, was sacked earlier this year by Ruthin School in Denbighshire, North Wales, for sending the inappropriate text messages to female pupils.

In a series of texts, married Mr Belfield called the girls 'cute', 'naughty' and discussed one's virginity.

Toby Belfield, 47, who was dubbed Britain's 'strictest' but was sacked by a 37,000-a-year boarding school for sending 'flirty' texts to pupils has been reported after trying to set up an online academy

He was dubbed Britain's strictest headmaster when he sent an email to parents saying he was looking to expel students from Ruthin School in North Wales.

Now his former school has raised concerns and reported him to the Disclosure and Barring Service after Mr Belfield set up a new teaching venture called Cambridge School Online.

Ruthin School's governing body, the Council of Management, said: 'Toby Belfield was dismissed from Ruthin because the school had clear evidence that he had contravened our safeguarding policies on numerous occasions by contacting children with inappropriate and suggestive messages over social media.

He was sacked earlier this year by Ruthin School in Denbighshire, North Wales, for sending the inappropriate text messages to female pupils

In a series of texts, married Mr Belfield called the girls 'cute', 'naughty' and discussed one's virginity. Pictured: One of the exchanges Belfield had with a student

'We also have evidence that he has continued to communicate with existing and former Ruthin students since his removal from the School and we are taking official steps to attempt to prevent him from doing so, to the extent we are legally able.

'As part of our disciplinary process we have reported him to the DBS which is responsible for safeguarding in the UK, and to the TRA, which is the body responsible for maintaining standards in the teaching profession.

'We terminated Mr Belfield's employment because we were advised he was unsuitable to teach children and would present a significant safeguarding risk were he to be allowed to continue to do so.

'In this context, we are very concerned that he is in the process of setting up an online school and have reported our concerns to the relevant professional and safeguarding authorities.'

Belfield complimented a student's red dress, said he would visit pupils at University, and asked about their sex lives. The messages above are examples of what he had sent to pupils

Belfield has admitted that some of the messages he sent were inappropriate. Pictured: One of his texts

The website for Cambridge School Online states that it is registered with UCAS - the university admissions body.

Mr Belfied said: 'I am greatly saddened by the school's statement. During my 10-year period the school was highly successful.

'I continue to have enormous support from parents, former students and agents throughout the world.

'I do not accept that the school is entitled to prevent me from communicating with former students over the age of 18.

'Many have gone on to top universities and wish to update me as to their progress.

'It is this support from so many former students, parents and agents, that has convinced me that setting up a virtual online school for bright pupils, is the right thing to do.

'Ruthin School gave me no opportunity to offer a defence, to see, in full, the evidence against me, or to appeal their decision to dismiss me.

'I have never been interviewed by the police re: safeguarding concerns.

'No criminal act was ever committed and I am legally entitled to teach and operate an educational establishment.

'My new venture will be a success, with many future students from around the world being able to go to a top university, through the high quality academic education provided by me and my staff.'

Toby Belfield pictured outside the school, in Denbighshire, north Wales

A spokesman for UCAS said it was 'reviewing' the application from Cambridge School Online.

The spokesman said: 'Students need to be able to trust that their university application is being handled by teachers and advisers who are responsible and honest, and knowledgeable about the admissions process.

'The school was recently registered with UCAS and no applications have been received from it. We are reviewing this registration, and have contacted the school to suspend access to our services and ask for further clarifications.

'Where there is misrepresentation or activities that contradict our terms and conditions, we will permanently remove the centre's registration with UCAS.'
Medics help each other don personal protective equipment before another shift on the frontline battling the coronavirus

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.

19.25 25/04/2020

Death toll from coronavirus in HSE-run Dublin nursing home rises to 21

The number of deaths from the coronavirus among residents in a HSE-run nursing in north Dublin has risen to 21.

The tragic toll at St Marys Hospital in the Phoenix Park in Dublin was confirmed today.

It has been badly hit by an outbreak of the infection.

Although the spotlight has been mainly on private nursing homes, this death toll also shows it impact on public facilities which have more staff.

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18.46 25/04/2020

HSE will be able to carry out 100k coronavirus tests every week - Harris

THE HSE will be able to carry out 100,000 tests for Covid-19 every week under a plan to be published in the coming days, Health Minister Simon Harris has said.

Mr Harris said the executive will publish a plan to ramp up testing and arrive at a point where we would have the capacity to do up to 100,000 tests a week should that need arise.

He said at present the HSE has the capacity to process up to 10,000 tests a day, but said this does not mean that that number of tests is being carried out. HSE chief executive Paul Reid and senior management will map out how over the next couple of weeks, you ramp that up to maybe 12,000 and 13,000 and then 15,000, the minister said.

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17.13 25/04/2020

Another 52 people have died from Covid-19 and 377 new cases confirmed

Another 52 people with Covid-19 have died in Ireland according to the latest figures released this evening.

The National Public Health Emergency Team said it has been notified of 377 new confirmed cases.

The figures, which include cases up to lunch time today, mean there have now been 1,063 deaths linked to the virus in Ireland.

There have been 18,561 confirmed Covid-19 cases.

Officials said the HSE is now working on contact tracing with the new cases to identify if patients may have passed the virus to other people.

Further data released by NPHET shows community transmission accounts for 48pc of new cases. This means patients have contracted the virus from a person they do not know.

Data released by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre today, including cases up to midnight last Thursday, shows almost 5,000 healthcare workers have been affected.

Dublin account for half of the country's cases. Cork is the second worst affected county but only accounts for 6pc of the nationwide total number of cases.

15:45 25/04/2020

Britain becomes fifth country to top 20,000 Covid-19 deaths

The UK has become the fifth country to pass 20,000 deaths in hospital from Covid-19, behind the US, Italy, Spain and France.

The US hit the 20,000 mark on April 11, according to data from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.

Italy reached 20,000 on April 13, Spain on April 18 and France on April 20.

The figures for each country are problematic to compare as each government has its own counting criteria.

Instead, Saturdays figures can be seen as a symbolic milestone, as it proves the British government has definitively missed its best case scenario of deaths of 20,000 or below.

In reality, deaths in the UK from coronavirus probably topped 20,000 several days ago.

The figure does not include deaths in care homes, which the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates could account for half of all deaths in Europe.

Dr Paul Hunter, professor of medicine at the University of East Anglia and adviser to the WHO, warned that the UK was on course to having one of the highest Covid-19 mortality rates in Europe.

He told the PA news agency: Our deaths are increasing more rapidly than any other country really apart from the US.

But the US is still a long way behind us in terms of deaths per one million of the population.





15:00 25/04/2020

Dublin pub's dial-a-pint service 'hounded with orders' Expand Close Richard Grainger delivers pints of Guinness to customer Billy Scully (Niall Carson/PA) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Richard Grainger delivers pints of Guinness to customer Billy Scully (Niall Carson/PA)

A Dublin publican is helping his customers get through the coronavirus lockdown by delivering freshly poured pints and cocktails to their door.

Richard Grainger, who owns family-run Graingers Hanlons Corner, is delivering customers' favourite tipples to their homes.

Mr Grainger, who was forced to shut the doors to his pub a few days before St Patrick's Day, said he had been inundated with orders for the dial-a-pint service.

The idea for the doorstep service emerged as staff said goodbye to their customers in March.

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14:40 25/04/2020

Visit our Covid-19 vaccine dashboard for updates on the roll out of the vaccination program and the rate of Coronavirus cases Ireland

Confinement: fear of death, the price of life and the risk of living

The Covid-19 pandemic is a tragedy that has already killed thousands around the globe. Governments, on the advice of medical staff and with the support of their citizens, have ordered a lockdown to slow the transmission of the virus. This measure, the only one possible in the absence of systematic testing, has been effective in reducing the death toll. Confinement as a temporary emergency measure made sense to flatten the curve.

Some countries have started to lift the lockdown but according to a recent Harvard study, it may be necessary to have periods of confinement until 2022. Maybe now is the time to calmly review the situation and discuss the merits of a prolonged confinement in the context of all of society, including future generations.

During the lockdown, countries are reportedly functioning at 60pc of their capacity. According to the European Commission, this translates into a reduction of 10pc in gross domestic product (GDP) for the eurozone for 2020. In comparison, eurozone GDP only shrank by 4.5pc in the last major financial crisis in 2009.

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14:20 25/04/2020

Joseph Stiglitz: Society must now choose to protect patients over patents

Imagine a world in which a global network of medical professionals monitored for emerging strains of a contagious virus, periodically updated an established formula for vaccinating against it, and then made that information available to companies and countries around the world. Moreover, imagine if this work was done without any intellectual-property (IP) considerations, and without pharmaceutical monopolies exploiting a desperate public to maximise their profits.

This may sound like a utopian fantasy, but it is actually a description of how the flu vaccine has been produced for the past 50 years. Through the World Health Organisation's Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS), experts from around the world convene twice a year to analyse and discuss the latest data on emerging flu strains, and to decide which strains should be included in each year's vaccine.

As a network of laboratories spanning 110 countries, funded almost entirely by governments (and partly by foundations), GISRS epitomises what Amy Kapczynski of Yale Law School calls "open science".

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14:00 25/04/2020

'Devastating' - twin sisters die within days of each other after being diagnosed with coronavirus

Expand Close Twin sisters Katy (left) and Emma Davis, who have died within three days of each other after both testing positive for Covid-19 Photo credit: Family Handout/PA Wire / Facebook

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Whatsapp Twin sisters Katy (left) and Emma Davis, who have died within three days of each other after both testing positive for Covid-19 Photo credit: Family Handout/PA Wire

Twin sisters who had both worked as nurses have died within three days of each other after both testing positive for Covid-19.

Children's nurse Katy Davis, 37, died at Southampton General Hospital on Tuesday while her identical twin, Emma, a former surgery nurse, died early on Friday.

The two sisters, who both suffered from an underlying health condition, have been praised for their excellent work in the nursing profession.

Their sister Zoe Davis told the BBC: "They always said they had come into the world together and would go out together as well.

"There are no words to describe how special they were."

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13:40 25/04/2020

Hundreds protest against lockdown at Polish-German border

Hundreds of people who live in Poland and work in Germany protested on Friday evening in the southwestern Polish border town of Zgorzelec against a mandatory coronavirus quarantine for those who cross the border.

Poland was one of the first European Union states to close borders due to the outbreak of the new coronavirus. It also imposed a mandatory two-week lockdown for those who enter its territory - a major jolt for those who live their lives in between two EU states.

The protest was staged on a foot bridge connecting Zgorzelec and the German town of Gorlitz, which functioned as one town before the borders were closed.

"I've been trapped at home for six weeks, can't cross the border, go to work. I can't go back to my students," said Mirella Binkiewicz, a teacher living in Zgorzelec and working in Gorlitz.

Around 300 people gathered at the Polish side and some 100 at the German, some wearing face masks. The two groups were separated by a provisional metal fence that has been erected in the middle of the bridge to prevent people from crossing the border.





13:00 25/04/2020

Banks limit home loans amid house price fears

Banks are tightening the criteria for mortgages over fears of sharp house price falls and because so many people have suffered income shocks.

Several lenders will no longer allow exemptions from Central Bank lending rules, a move that is likely to hit first-time buyers hard.

One in five mortgage borrowers was granted exemptions in 2018, but now banks are suspending these types of loan.

The move will raise greater concern for the supply of homes, if it prompts builders in turn to scale back plans.

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12:25 25/04/2020

WHO warns against idea of immunity passports

The World Health Organisation has warned against the idea of immunity passports amid the coronavirus pandemic.

It said there is currently no evidence that people who have recovered from Covid-19 and have antibodies are protected against a second infection.

The concept of immunity passports or risk-free certificates has been floated as a way of allowing people protected against reinfection to return to work.

But the Geneva-based UN health agency said in a scientific brief published on Saturday that more research is needed.

11:50 25/04/2020

Five healthcare workers have died as Covid-19 toll tops 1,000

The coronavirus has claimed the lives of five healthcare workers across the health service, it emerged yesterday.

The virus has also resulted in the deaths of 576 people living in community residential settings, including 488 residents of nursing homes.

The fatalities involve confirmed and probable deaths - among residents who were not tested - in people in residential homes.

They are among 1,014 tragic deaths from the virus in the State, marking a significant landmark in the numbers succumbing to the disease since the crisis began.

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11:00 25/04/2020

Bill Gates, who predicted global pandemic in speeches through the years, says worst nightmare has come true with Covid-19

Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Bill Gates has said the global Covid-19 pandemic is his worst nightmare, while promising to assist the process of manufacturing vaccines.

In an interview with The Times, the billionaire said that he had been concerned about the impact of a vial pandemic for years.

Mr Gates, formerly the richest man in the world, has previously warned about the worlds need to prepare for global health crises.

My worst nightmare has come true, he said.

In a Ted Talk in 2015, Mr Gates reflected on the 2014 Ebola outbreak and said global societies were not ready for a future epidemic, urging countries to prepare supplies and expertise.





10:20 25/04/2020

Lock-in probe: Gardai questioned former lord mayor over alleged breach of coronavirus regulations

A former Dublin lord mayor was questioned by gardai who were investigating a suspected 'lock-in' at a city pub as part of an alleged breach of coronavirus regulations.

Last night, Councillor Nial Ring completely denied "any wrongdoing" and commended gardai for the "professional and polite" way they handled matters.

He insisted there had been no breach of Covid-19 rules.

The incident under investigation by Fitzgibbon Street gardai began at around 11pm last Friday when officers observed three men outside The Ref Pub in Ballybough in the north inner city.

Gardai tried to gain entry to the pub by knocking on the shutters for a period of time before a man who they understood to be the owner let them in.

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09:37 25/04/2020

New Zealand and Australia mark Anzac Day from home

Australians and New Zealanders marked Anzac Day from outside their homes as memorial ceremonies and marches were hit by the pandemic.

The annual day of remembrance for the countries war dead is traditionally the years largest trans-Tasman event but the ongoing crisis meant large gatherings were not possible.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern kicked off proceedings with an Instagram post showing a wreath outside her residence in Wellington, as well as her and fiance Clarke Gayford standing with her father, Ross Ardern.

Ms Ardern wrote: On my street one of our neighbours played the service through a small speaker while we all stood apart but together A different, but still a really special Anzac Day. Lest we forget.

Her Australian counterpart Scott Morrison kept things brief, simply tweeting a photograph of himself with wife Jenny at the Australian War Memorial (AWM) in Canberra with the caption Lest We Forget.





09:00 25/04/2020

'We nursing home staff are being sent to war with no armour in the coronavirus battle'

Expand Close Daunting: Aoife Kiernan is an interim director of nursing at a nursing home. Photo: Steve Humphreys / Facebook

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Whatsapp Daunting: Aoife Kiernan is an interim director of nursing at a nursing home. Photo: Steve Humphreys

Every time Aoife Kiernan starts a shift, the battle begins. She puts on a set of gloves first, then another set on top of those. Next, over her mouth and nose, she carefully attaches a FFP2 mask, a special grade respirator that filters airborne particles.

A full-length protective gown is next to go on over her clothes, followed by an apron, a hair net and, finally, a face visor.

Ready and armed, the 26-year-old takes a deep breath, opens the door, and steps on to the frontline.

"When you're going into a room where someone has Covid, it's a very daunting moment," Aoife told Independent.ie.

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08:20 25/04/2020

White House cuts off coronavirus briefing without taking questions with Trump angry over punishing disinfectant headlines

For the first time, President Donald Trump cut off his daily coronavirus task force briefing on Friday without taking any questions from reporters.

The briefings often stretch well beyond an hour and feature combative exchanges between Mr Trump and reporters.

The president was angry after a day of punishing headlines on Friday, largely about his comment at the previous evenings briefing wondering if it would be helpful to inject disinfectant into people to fight the coronavirus.

That idea drew loud warnings from health experts who said the idea was dangerous and sharp criticism from Democrats.

Mr Trump did answer questions from reporters earlier on Friday and claimed that his suggestion about disinfectant had been "sarcastic."





07:40 25/04/2020

I've never been as sick...it floored me - Mary Lou McDonald on her experience with coronavirus

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald has opened up about contracting coronavirus and said that the illness "floored" her.

Speaking on The Late Late Show last night, she said that she had never "experienced anything like it".

"It literally floored me, I never experienced anything like it.

"I have never been as sick as I was with it, every part of me hurt, it hurt to open my eyes, my eye sockets ached.

Read More





07:10 25/04/2020

Brazil becoming coronavirus hot spot as testing falters

Cases of the new coronavirus are overwhelming hospitals, morgues and cemeteries across Brazil as the country veers closer to becoming one of the worlds pandemic hot spots.

Medical officials in Rio de Janeiro and at least four other major cities have warned that their hospital systems are on the verge of collapse, or are already too overwhelmed to take any more patients.

Health experts expect the number of infections in the country of 211 million people will be much higher than what has been reported because of insufficient, delayed testing.

Meanwhile, President Jair Bolsonaro has shown no sign of wavering from his insistence that Covid-19 is a relatively minor disease and that broad social-distancing measures are not needed to stop it.





07:00 25/04/2020

'Whole season is gone at drop of a hat' - milliners count cost of cancellations

Cancelled ladies' days at the races, no Dublin Horse Show and no mothers of the bride ordering bespoke hats.

It's a tough time for the country's milliners who have seen the lifeblood of their profession, the big, dress-up occasion, vanish this summer.

The Punchestown Festival, due to start on Tuesday, would have been the kick-off of the racing summer finery, followed by another 12 ladies' days during June and July and a further seven for August and September.

The cancellation of the jewel in the crown on the best dressed circuit - Ladies' Day at the Dublin Horse Show at the RDS - shows why milliners are fit to cry into their ostrich feathers and colourful crinoline straw.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-25 10:31:00|Editor: huaxia

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TRIPOLI, April 25 (Xinhua) -- The National Center for Disease Control of Libya on Saturday announced one new COVID-19 case, bringing the number of total cases in the country to 61.

The center said it tested 82 suspected samples, 81 of which were negative and one was positive.

The total confirmed COVID-19 cases in Libya include 18 recoveries and two deaths.

Libyan authorities have taken a series of measures against COVID-19, including imposing a curfew, closing airports, border crossings, mosques and educational institutions, and banning mass gatherings and movements among cities.

Libya reported its first COVID-19 case on March 24. Enditem


Young female engineers in Afghanistan are using old car parts to develop ventilators to treat coronavirus patients.

The girls - ages 14 to 17 - are members of a prize-winning robotics team. They say they are on a life-saving mission. Somaya Farooqi is among them.

If we even save one life with our device, we will be proud, she said.

On most mornings, Farooqis father drives the girls to a workspace outside the western Afghan city of Herat, where they live. The trip takes careful planning to avoid police roadblocks set up to enforce stay-at-home orders for people in Herat.

There are a limited number of special permits to avoid the police stops, but Farooqis father has not been able to get one. The girls say they have to work fast so they are willing to take risks to travel outside the city. We are concerned about security driving out of the city, Farooqi said.

But there is no other way, she said, adding, we have to try to save peoples lives.

The teams efforts would have been unthinkable in Afghanistan just a generation ago. Under Taliban rule in the late 1990s, girls were not permitted to even go to school. Farooqis mother was forced to leave school in the third grade.

After the United States invaded Afghanistan in 2001, girls were permitted to return to schools. The struggle to gain equal rights for females continues and the young engineers push forward with their work. We are the new generation, Farooqi said. We fight and work for people. Girl and boy, it does not matter anymore.

Afghanistan is facing the coronavirus crisis with limited supplies of medical equipment. The country has just 400 ventilators for its population of more than 36 million. So far, the country has reported more than 1,000 cases of the virus, and about 30 deaths. But experts say the number of cases are likely much higher since virus testing remains very limited in the country.

More coronavirus cases have been reported in Herat province because it sits close to the border with Iran, which has experienced a severe spread.

The local spread of the virus led Farooqi and her team to try to come up with a medical solution. At their workspace, the team has experimented with two different designs. One of them is based on plans developed by engineers at Americas Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Parts used to build the ventilators include the motor of a small car device, car batteries and sets of oxygen pumps. A group of auto repair experts helps the team build the ventilator structure.

Daniela Rus, a professor at MIT, welcomed the teams quick development efforts. It will be excellent to see it tested and locally produced, she said.

Afghan businesswoman Roya Mahboob founded the robotics team and raises money to empower girls in technology. She says she hopes Farooqis group will finish building a working model by May or June. The model will then be tested by the countrys health ministry, at first on animals, a government spokesman said.

Somaya Farooqi says her team felt the need to seek a solution to help people at home. Afghans should be helping Afghanistan in this pandemic, she said. We should not wait for others.

Im Bryan Lynn.

The Associated Press reported on this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the report for VOA Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.

_________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

ventilator  n. a machine that forces air into the lungs of a sick patient to keep them breathing

mission  n. an important effort or job

proud  adj. much pleased; feeling very good about someone or something

battery  n. an object that provides electricity for things

pandemic  n. the spread of an infectious disease over a large area in a short period of time
Copyright  2020 Albuquerque Journal

Monica Sanchezs husband is unemployed. Her biggest fear is having to wait in line for food boxes and not being able to pay her bills.

Thats why she joined more than 100 other protesters near Albuquerque Civic Plaza Friday morning to call for government officials to reopen New Mexicos nonessential businesses.

Bills are not getting paid. People cant work, Sanchez said. People cant just wait around for a check from the government.  Im not going to watch my grandkids starve.

On March 18, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced a public health order to limit or close businesses that werent essential such as malls and gyms to limit the spread of the coronavirus.

As protesters gathered off Marquette NW waving signs calling for the reopening of businesses, more than 40 drivers laid into their horns as they circled City Hall. Many of their passengers waved American flags and banners. Despite orders to social distance, protesters gathered in groups of two to three with some wearing masks and others not.

Kai Sandoval, the lead organizer for the Albuquerque protest and another one in Santa Fe asked anyone who planned to demonstrate on foot to wear gloves and masks. Not everyone heeded the advice.

I dont have the right to force somebody to do something that they dont want to, Sandoval said. If they choose to take their risk, then that is their choice.

He said he organized the protests because he wants government officials to know that if big box stores can implement ways to slow down the spread of the virus, so can small shops.

The governor needs to recognize the way that things are going now are not sensible, Sandoval said.

The protest in Santa Fe calling for the governor to reopen the state was the second one there in less than a week.

Public health officials and others have said New Mexico has either hit its peak in new coronavirus cases or is about to. But protesters interviewed by the Journal said they are not worried.

Holding a sign that read #Reopen, Lupe Conley, a 60-year-old, retired Albuquerque resident said she isnt afraid of being infected.

I think (the governor) has gone overboard, Conley said. The power has gone to her head.

Data from the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions shows more than 74,000 people are unemployed, which is nearing 10% of the workforce in the state. The unemployment number spiked after the governors public health order to temporarily close nonessential businesses.

Lujan Grisham said during a Wednesday news conference that infection rates in the state have been slowing, but she warned that were not out of the fight yet. She said she plans to extend the states stay-at-home order until May 15.
Countries fighting coronavirus outbreaks have started taking baby steps out of lockdown by gently easing restrictions.

Belgium, which has Europe's biggest death toll per capita, sketched out a blueprint to reopen shops and schools from May 4.

Meanwhile India, which is policing the world's largest lockdown of 1.3billion citizens, announced a gradual relaxing of curbs to fire up its flagging economy.

Leaders in Brussels and New Delhi are among a wave of nations cautiously hoping they have weathered the worst of the pandemic.

But the exit strategies drawn up by these countries jars with the approach taken by British ministers, who have consistently swatted away calls for the government to publish a road map out of lockdown.

Belgium, which has Europe's biggest death toll per capita, sketched out a blueprint to reopen shops and schools from May 4. Pictured: A man rides a bus in Hasselt, Belgium on Saturday

India, which is policing the world's largest lockdown of 1.3billion citizens, announced a gradual relaxing of curbs to fire up its flagging economy. Pictured: An ongoing nationwide screening for media professionals in Bangalore

Belgium, which has recorded 45,325 cases and 6,917 deaths, will resume non-essential treatment in hospitals in just over a week.

Prime Minister Sophie Wilmes also said textile and sewing shops would reopen so people can make face masks.

Bars and restaurants would be allowed to start reopening June 8, although Wilmes also cautioned that a surge in infections could alter the timeline and that 'nothing is set in stone.'

The landlocked central European country, which is home to the institutions of the EU, only has 11million people but has reported more deaths than China.

The grim death rate means that for every 100,000 citizens, roughly 57 have died of coronavirus.

Thousands of miles away in India, the government got the ball rolling on easing the world's biggest lockdown, beginning with reopening neighbourhood stores.

Muslim devotees wearing facemasks pray as they maintain social distance on the first day of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan at Shahi Jama Masjid in Ahmedabad

But the relaxation of the super-strict lockdown in India, which has suffered 26,283 cases and 825 deaths, came with major caveats.

It did not apply to hundreds of quarantined towns and other hotspots that have been hit hardest by the outbreak.

Shopping malls also remained closed across the country. Still, for families that run small stores, being able to earn again brought relief.

'This is a good decision,' said Amit Sharma, an architect. 'We have to open a few things and let the economy start moving. The poor people should have some source of income. This virus is going to be a long-term problem.'

Last week, India also allowed manufacturing and farming activities to resume in rural areas to ease the economic plight of millions of daily wage-earners left without work by the country's lockdown imposed March 24.

India's stay-home restrictions have allowed people out of their homes only to buy food, medicine or other essentials.
Bandara Herath, a Senior Assistant Engineer of Sri Lanka Telecom, has invented a portable ventilator which can be used for patients in ICUs.This has been already handed over to the Kandy Teaching Hospital and accepted by the doctors. He has received a request for two more ventilators with a few improvements.
We need to stop depending on corporations and big agribusiness for our food. The pandemic has made it clear why.

Human society faces a moment of reckoning. The coronavirus pandemic has brought humanity to its knees and bared its many faultlines. No country has been spared.

As scientists scramble to find a vaccine that could rein in the pandemic, many countries have imposed lockdowns requiring people to stay at home. But for many of the poor, this is a challenge.

Slum-dwellers, living in crammed shacks, cannot abide by social-distancing measures demanded by governments, nor can they follow strict hygiene, as access to running clean water is scarce. The lockdowns have deprived millions of daily wage workers in cities from their income, pushing many families to the verge of starvation.

People living in rural areas are also struggling. While many of us peasants continue to work our fields, we are finding it increasingly difficult to sell our produce. Governments have shut down local markets which has left many of our crops rotting in the fields.

Small-scale fisher-folk have also suffered. Even if they are able to get to their fishing grounds in the sea, lakes or rivers, they too are finding it difficult to distribute their fish. The same is true for pastoralists and family-owned dairy farms.

Small-scale livestock farmers and peasant families with domestic animals are also worried about finding enough feed for them.

While disruption of local small-scale food production has indeed been significant, the large-scale food industry which relies on international supply chains to function has been hit even harder because of travel bans affecting labour supply and international distribution.

Indeed, the pandemic has highlighted yet another ill of countries becoming too dependent on large international food industries. For decades, governments did little to protect small farms and food producers which were pushed out of business by these growing dysfunctional corporate giants.

They stood idle as their countries grew increasingly dependent on a few major suppliers of food who forced local producers to sell their produce at unfairly low prices so corporate executives can keep growing their profit margins. They remained silent as evidence piled up of large agribusiness contributing disproportionately more than traditional small-scale farming to greenhouse gas emissions and global warming.

Local peasant markets gave way to supermarkets, and big businesses and their commodity trading partners took control of the global food system, disregarding all principles of agroecology and food sovereignty.

The aggressive expansion of industrial food production has also increasingly put human health in harms way. Apart from the overuse of chemicals and over-processing of foods, which makes them less nutritious and more harmful, it has also resulted in a major increase in zoonotic diseases  those caused by pathogens which jump from animals to humans (just like COVID-19).

Today, food security in countries around the world is increasingly tied to big industrial food production. Singapore, for example, imports some 90 percent of its food; Iraq, which used to be the breadbasket of the Middle East, also gets more than 80 percent of its food from abroad.

The dangers of this dependency on international food supply chains are now coming to the fore, as communities around the world are facing the prospect of hunger. The World Trade Organization (WTO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have already warned of the risk of worldwide food shortages.

The COVID-19 pandemic is pushing many to recognise the importance and urgency of food sovereignty  the right of people to determine their own food and agricultural systems and their right to produce and consume healthy and culturally appropriate food.

Countries like Nepal, Mali, Venezuela and several others have already recognised food sovereignty as a constitutional right of their people. Other states should follow suit. Food sovereignty of the people is the best defence against any economic shock.

It addresses the most urgent and pressing need of the people, which is to have healthy, nutritious and climatically appropriate food, grown in a locality or a neighbourhood, where they most likely know the people who produce it. Agroecological and localised peasant production of food respects and co-exists with our natural surroundings. It keeps away from harmful pesticides and chemical fertilisers.

The hard-wired competitive logic of a free market economy should stop defining international trade. Human principles of solidarity and camaraderie should determine global trade policies and networks. For countries where local production is impossible or gravely challenging due to climatic or other conditions, trade should rely on cooperation and not competition.

That is why, for years, peasant movements, such as La Via Campesina, around the world have campaigned and demanded to keep agriculture out of all free trade negotiations.

Any order that promotes life over profits must become the bedrock of human civilisation. We are not living in such a world now, but we surely can.

As the world reels under the fallout of a pandemic, now is the time to start building an equal, just and liberal society that embraces food sovereignty and solidarity.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance.
We created this poster, by staff artist John Blanchard, to show appreciation for essential workers and to celebrate the spirit of San Francisco. You can print it out and display it in your window or make it into a sign to help say Thank You! Download it here or pick up a copy of Saturdays print edition.

Display the sign while youre participating in the mass sing-along to Tony Bennetts signature tune, I Left My Heart in San Francisco, at noon on Saturday, April 25, in honor of the frontline workers engaged in responding to the coronavirus pandemic.
The US will not participate in a global effort with the World Health Organisation to develop drugs and a vaccine to combat the coronavirus.

A spokesman for the US mission told Reuters that "there will be no US official participation" in the programme, which aims to speed the development of a vaccine and share resources in the fight against the virus.

He said: "We look forward to learning more about this initiative in support of international cooperation to develop a vaccine for Covid-19 as soon as possible."

The nation's withdrawal from collaborative international efforts in the wake of the pandemic follows Donald Trump's announcement that the US would suspend funding to the WHO after he accused the United Nations agency of "covering up" the coronavirus outbreak from China. He attacked the organisation as he faced similar criticisms after reports showed that he had dismissed or ignored warnings about the threat of the outbreak from his administration for several weeks.

A global initiative to accelerate the development of a potential vaccine was launched by French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, among other world leaders, on Friday.

President Macron told the meeting that the group hopes to "reconcile around this joint initiative both China and the US, because this is about saying the fight against Covid-19 is a common human good and there should be no division in order to win this battle."

The group has pledged to provide access to treatment and vaccines to other nations, commit to the international partnership and share research efforts and make informed group decisions about their response.

Its pledges starkly contrast with the largely isolationist tone of the Trump administration's response, leaving state and local governments to fend for themselves absent a consistent federal effort that could rely on a global support network.

The US is suspending $400m in funds for WHO after the president claimed that the organisation took China's claims about the virus "at face value" and now must be "held accountable".



WHO general-director Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesys said last week that "now is the time for us to be united against a common struggle" in his rebuke of the president's claims.

He said: "When we're divided, the virus exploits the cracks between us."

The director-general had previously criticised the president for politicising the virus, saying that "now is not the time for pointing fingers".

Based on WHO's 2020-2021 budgets, the president's funding suspension could jeopardise millions of dollars in funding for polio, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS treatment, as well as programmes for vaccine-preventable diseases and controlling disease outbreaks.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 25)  A former soldier killed by a policeman at a quarantine checkpoint was given full military honors by the Army on Saturday.

The remains of retired Corporal Winston Ragos were brought from Quezon City to the Libingan ng Mga Bayani in Taguig City.

A statement from the Army said it coordinated with Ragos's mother to extend honors to the soldier and proceed with funeral and burial arrangements at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

"Burial ceremony is set tomorrow, April 26 at 12 noon," the statement read.

Ragos's daughter was also brought by the Army so she could be present at the wake.

We condole with the family of the late Cpl Ragos. He has suffered enough from the challenges of PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) caused by the invisible wounds of war. Our priority right now is to take care of his family ensuring they have all the resources they need during this critical time. The Philippine Army honors Ragos for his service and sacrifice that defines us as an Army. said Army chief, Lt. Gen. Gilbert Gapay.

The Army shouldered the funeral costs, while donors extended financial assistance to the family to cover hospital bills and other expenses.

Police Master Sergeant Daniel Florendo Jr. shot Ragos on Wednesday for allegedly attempting to pull a gun on the cops at checkpoint in Quezon City.

Merlyn, the victims mother, said her son retired early due to PTSD after his duty during the Marawi City siege.

The Philippine National Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines are conducting separate investigations on the shooting. The Quezon City Police Department filed a homicide complaint with the Quezon City Prosecutor's Office for online inquest proceedings.

The National Bureau of Investigation said it is looking into the incident.
The closure of six yield-oriented debt schemes by Franklin Templeton marks the culmination of a process that has been under way for a few years now and not just the past couple of months. While things may have come to a head because of the health-inspired shutdown of the economy over the last month or so and the expected credit deterioration, payment delays and general risk aversion, it is completely misguided to assign all blame to these.

The decision to take credit risk is not one that can be taken lightly. It is a risk with negative asymmetry which means that one stands to lose a lot more if one is wrong than one stands to gain if right. And while probabilities are often used to portray that these risks can be measured and forecast scientifically, unless one is able to predict the future of a complex organisation with a high degree of accuracy, these measurements and forecasts are relevant only in theory and academia. In practice, the chance of each credit decision being either right or wrong is 50 percent. And even this needs a marketplace that is free from perverse incentives and all possible conflicts of interest. Unfortunately, the credit risk marketplace is not.

It is often said credit performance relies on both the ability and the willingness of a borrower to pay back debt. And while the regulatory framework surrounding the issuance of debt instruments is designed to ascertain the former, investors have nothing but history to ascertain the latter. And history does not always repeat itself. Even if we assume it does, there are a precious few borrowers who stand out as having consistently honoured their commitments.

Seen from this perspective, the taking of credit risk in the open-ended debt mutual fund structure was only justified till such time that such instruments were a small part of a larger portfolio. This not only restricted the total amount invested in such instruments, which allowed the managers to choose their credit risk carefully, but also ensured that individual investor exposure was limited. Even when dedicated credit risk funds were first launched, it was with the intention of addressing the needs of a small cross section of aware investors, both individual and institutional.

However, after a few happy years of existence in which the relatively small amounts invested in these funds generated higher returns without any significant negative credit event, retail investors observing these started to believe there was a free lunch. This impression was encouraged by distributors and fund houses alike, which saw it as a win-win situation. After all, the higher yield from these portfolios allowed the asset manager to earn a reasonable fee, the distributor to earn a reasonable commission and the investor to still earn a higher return compared to alternatives.

The resultant flow of money into these funds washed away the asset managers' ability to choose credits carefully. As a result of the higher risks taken in the chase for yield, credit defaults which were quite rare in the early years, became increasingly commonplace. The beginning of the end of this product segment had started.

The last few years have frequent instances of credit defaults which have reduced the returns delivered by these funds even as the credit quality of their portfolios deteriorated. The latter also meant that the portfolio liquidity suffered. However, till such time these funds were able to attract fresh investor inflows, fund level liquidity was managed despite low portfolio liquidity. When investor flows eventually reduced, fund level liquidity also disappeared. Franklin Templeton is just the first asset manager to acknowledge this. So, what should an investor do now?

Investors with an exposure to dedicated credit risk funds would do well to not panic. Panic has never made a situation better and while this is easier said than done, it is by far the most sensible approach. The distributor fraternity would do well to hand-hold investors through this time.

And even as other asset managers reach out to assure investors that debt funds in general and their products in particular are safe, they also need to find a way out of this for their investors and themselves. The asset management industry has the means and the ability to prevent this from becoming a crisis.

The one suggestion that would provide immediate relief as well as a sustainable solution would be for asset managers to merge their dedicated credit risk schemes with other schemes that have a better credit quality portfolio to restore the balance that once existed. This needs to be done quickly, before a large cross section of investors lose faith and panic.

Of course, the long-term sustainability part of this would need the industry to swear off this product category for good. This is something that has been in the making for some time, but if there was ever a time to do this, its now.

(Rajiv Shastri is the former CEO of Essel Mutual Fund and a debt market specialist. Views are personal.)
COVID-19: Saved country from entering stage-III says Health Minister

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Apr 25: Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan on Friday said that the efforts in tackling COVID-19 have saved the country from going into stage-III.

During a video-conference with the health ministers of states, he said that the positive cases of coronavirus were stable at around four per cent of the total samples tested, which was a good indicator when compared to the rest of the countries.

The minister said that we are all worried if we are in stage-III, but we have been able to save the country largely going into that stage. We have all the information connected with clusters and hotspots, he added.

COVID-19 mortality rate 3%, recovery above 20 %, situation in control: Harsh Vardhan

The ICMR is conducting controlled tests of the kits imported from China. The kits were distributed to the states but were found to be faulty. We will return these kits if they are found to be faulty, We have not even made payments for the kits, he said.

He said that the rapid antibody tests were to be used for surveillance purposes in the coronavirus hotspots and not for diagnosis.

We have fewer cases per million, We have a mortality rate of 3 per cent which is less. The recovery rate of patients who contracted the infection is better when compared to the rest of the world, he added. In March the doubling rate was 3 days and today it is close to 9 days he added.
Texas Man Sentenced for Threatening to Kill President Trump

A Texas man was sentenced on Friday to 18 months in federal prison for threatening to assassinate President Donald Trump.

Mickael Gedlu, 36, was sentenced via video teleconference by Chief U.S. District Judge Barbara Lynn, according to a Department of Justice release.

Gedlu pleaded guilty in December 2019 for making threats against Trump. According to plea papers, he admitted that he threatened on social media to kill the president, having written on YouTube: Im waiting for Trump to visit Dallas before I attempt to assassinate him.

Prosecutors pointed out during court proceedings that on May 31, 2018, Gedlu was spotted across the street from Dallas Adolphus Hotel about 30 minutes before Trump arrived at the hotel for a fundraising event.

Dallas police officers took action when they noticed him holding a sign that read Kill Trump. He screamed, Kill the President, as he was being detained.

A grand jury in July 2019 indicted Gedlu. He was accused of threatening to take the life of and to inflict bodily harm upon the president sometime between December 2018 and June 2019.

Gedlus indictment cited 18 U.S. Code 871, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. The code states that any person who knowingly and intentionally puts in print containing any threat to take the life of, to kidnap, or to inflict bodily harm upon top officials, including the president, commits a federal felony and faces a fine and or jail for up to five years.

On Facebook, a man matching the name of Gedlu and appearing to be the same person had posted to the social media network on June 5, 2019: For 20 straight months now, openly and publicly, I have been calling for President Trumps death. He also added a #metoo hashtag at the end of the post.

Gedlus father, Gizaw, told the Star-Telegram in July 2019 that his son is a sick person. The father described his son as disabled and mentally confused and had been seen by many doctors for mental issues.

The father said, after watching the news, his son was known to go out and shout about what he watched, including things about the president. It wasnt clear which news channels he was watching.

Thats his problem. He talks too much, simply, Gizaw Gedu told the news outlet about his son. Doctors give him medicine. Sometimes hes not taking it.
Every year during Ramadan, Lamar University graduate student Rezwanul Rajib embraces the sense of community provided by Islams holiest month.

Rajib and his roommate Shoumik Zahid normally receive dozens of invitations from friends to attend meals known as iftars once their daily fast ends at sunset. Prayer trips to the mosque often became a chance to bond with other Muslims and strengthen their faith.

Usually, we get to see everyone at the mosque, Rajib said. Its like a big get-together four times a day, and it makes our bond stronger.

This year, however, the roommates are taking part in their sacred month while also social distancing. Thursday evening marked the start of Ramadan, but many of the traditions that make the month special have been modified in an attempt to stop the spread of coronavirus.

Both locally and across the globe, Muslims are finding ways to keep the spirit of Ramadan alive while still adhering to regulations from government and heath officials. The lack of community makes this years celebration different than any other, but Muslims say faith remains at the center of it all.

We celebrate this month to purify ourselves and ask forgiveness, Rajib said. The main virtues come from there. But you worship through the bond (with others), too.

At Jamia Masjid Islamic Center in Beaumont, daily operations have been altered to fit the coronavirus restrictions. During a normal Ramadan, the prayer center can hold services of more than 200 people.

Amid coronavirus restrictions, services are now limited to no more than 10 people. Those taking part in the prayers set up mats 6 feet apart and wear masks.

Prayer rooms are wiped down and sanitized in between every service. For those who cant attend services, the Southeast Texas Islamic Society streams a daily lecture series on Facebook.

Were doing everything possible to make sure we follow the guidelines set by the government, said the societys chairman, Muhammad Azam Ali. Everyone has to stay safe, but were still going to keep our faith and what we believe.

Although many countries around the world have closed mosques and banned taraweeh to prevent crowds, governments including those in Lebanon, Iraq, Syria and Egypt have pushed back curfews to after sunset.

Other countries have banned long internal travel. Syria recently gave people a window of two days this week to move between provinces, then restored its ban.

Both Rajib and Zahid, who will graduate with degrees in computer science, have parents who live in Bangladesh. Rajibs mother works at a hospital as a nurse, putting her on the front lines of the pandemic. Coronavirus hasnt hit as hard there as in other countries, but Rajib worries Bangladeshs large population means it could spread quickly.

The two 27-year-olds have prayer mats set up in their apartment on Lamars campus. Instead of the overflow of food that usually comes with group gatherings after sunset, Rajib and Zahid shared a dish of curry Friday night.

When you are going through vulnerable times, it makes your faith stronger, Rajib said. Material things may get exhausted, but your faith will always be there.

All we have is our roommates, Zahid added.

mfaye@beaumontenterprise.com

kbrent@beaumontenterprise.com

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The COVID-19 pandemic has posed the biggest health challenge to humanity in a century. As of April 23, more than 2.7 million people around the world have been infected, and over 190,000 people have died, according to the count being kept by Johns Hopkins University.



At such a critical juncture, U.S. President Donald Trump announced his decision to halt funding to the World Health Organization (WHO), accusing it of "severely mismanaging and covering up the spread of the coronavirus."

Trump's announcement provoked a backlash from around the world. Taking such a harsh measure against the world's leading health body at a time when we need it most dims the chance of ending the pandemic at an early date. It would lead to cost more lives and cause more severe societal and economic consequences.

The WHO generally works worldwide to ensure people's health security and serve the vulnerable. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak, it has been leading the global fight against it.

It is working to help individual countries build up their capacity to prepare and respond, providing accurate information amid the infodemic together with numerous partners, ensuring supplies of essential medical equipment for front-line health workers, training and mobilizing health workers, and accelerating research on various health problems occurred worldwide.

The WHO has been sending major relief and vital medical supplies to all African nations, along with missions to Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Italy and Azerbaijan. It has also been shipping critical supplies to 151 and test kits to 126 nations. It has been facilitating 40 countries in Africa and 29 in the Americas to gain the ability to detect COVID-19.

Coordinated by the WHO, scientists, physicians, funders and manufacturers have come together to help speed up the availability of an effective vaccine.

Due to the U.S. decision, countries with weak health systems will suffer a lot, as the WHO might have to compromise with many programs due to a fund crunch.

People in vulnerable countries around the world will also be affected seriously in the long run as they are much more dependent on the assistance from the WHO. In particular, countries in Africa with roughly 26 million people living with HIV, and about 58 million children with malnutrition will bear the brunt.

In Bangladesh, hundreds of thousands of refugees are under significant health risks. Due to their cramped living conditions and lack of access to clean water and hygiene services, they are often victims of communicable diseases like measles, cholera, diphtheria and other respiratory and skin diseases.

They require life-saving interventions such as vaccination and malnutrition prevention. This huge number of refugees might be badly affected by the American action against the WHO if it has to compromise with its programs.

WHO's performance in response to the pandemic might be scrutinized, but not at this moment. In the face of such unusual threat from the COVID-19, it is time for all to forget their grudges, rivalries and differences, but to protect mankind from such common and invisible enemy.

Without enough funding might be a cause for the suffering of millions of vulnerable people around the world. For the sake of humanity, the U.S. should reconsider its decision.

The author is the China correspondent of the Bangladesh Post.

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.




A worker at a Smithfield Foods pork plant in Missouri is suing the company, claiming it is punishing workers and flouting federal guidelines intended to prevent coronavirus infection outbreaks among essential workers. The worker was joined in the lawsuit by the Rural Community Workers Alliance.

The anonymous employee who filed the lawsuit claimed the company has threatened to punish workers just for missing a single piece of meat on the assembly lines.

According to the complaint, these strict conditions prohibit workers  who are not represented by a union  from covering their mouths when they sneeze or wipe their faces if they sweat during their shifts in the plant. The complaint claims these conditions  among others  are evidence of Smithfield's indifference to employee and public health amid the pandemic.

"Put simply, workers, their family members, and many others who live in Milan and in the broader community may die  all because Smithfield refused to change its practices in the face of this pandemic," the lawsuit says.

The company is also accused of offering incentives to workers to continue working even if they're sick, forcing workers to work in conditions that make social distancing impossible, and not providing enough protective gear to employees.

Axel Fuentes, director of the workers' alliance joining the lawsuit, told The New York Times that since early March "day after day, more [workers ] are concerned and scared about getting infected with the coronavirus."

He said some workers at the plant had shown symptoms  coughing, fever  but that few, if any, had been tested.

The lawsuit isn't seeking financial damages or penalties, but rather is poised to force Smithfield to change its labour practices.

Smithfield rejected the claims and said it would defend itself "aggressively" against the lawsuit. Keira Lombardo, the company's executive vice president for corporate affairs and compliance, told Law.com that the complaints were without merit.

"The allegations contained in the complaint are without factual or legal merit and include claims previously made against the company that have been investigated and determined to be unfounded," she said.

In the past, workers have accused the company of enforcing conditions that have resulted in stress injuries and limiting bathroom breaks to the point where employees were developing urinary tract infections.

Meatpacking plants have been hit especially hard by the virus; at least 10 meatpacking workers and three food processing workers have died of Covid-19. USA Today reported on Thursday that a US Department of Agriculture inspector working at meat processing plants also died from Covid-19.
First Vice President of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva congratulated the people of Azerbaijan and all Muslims of the world on the beginning of the month of Ramadan. The corresponding message was posted on her official Instagram page.

"I sincerely congratulate the entire Azerbaijani people and all Muslims of the world on the occasion of the beginning of the blessed month of Ramadan, imbued with the kindest and brightest feelings and personifying the triumph of kindness, mercy and compassion!" Mehriban Aliyeva wrote.
Four days after 27 migrant fishermen from Odisha and Andhra Pradesh arrived on a fishing dinghy on the border between the two states after traversing over 1000 km on sea from Chennai, another group of 38 fishermen who took a similar route to reach Odishas in coastal district of Ganjam Saturday evening after spending 6 days on sea.

With inter-state transport stopped in the wake of national lockdown due to coronavirus pandemic and borders sealed, the group of 38 fishermen comprising 27 from Odisha and 11 from Andhra Pradesh decided to buy a fishing boat for Rs 2 lakh after fishing operations were stopped. Packing in some rice and other eatables, the fishermen hopped onto the boat on April 20 and started their journey back to Odisha.

On Saturday evening, when the fishermen reached the Patisonapur beach of Ganjam district after covering over 1000 km on sea, they looked dehydrated and famished.

Follow coronavirus latest updates here.

We need water. We shared one bottle of drinking water among us in the last 24 hours, one of the fishermen told the waiting team of policemen and officials of Ganjam district administration who took them to a quarantine facility at a cyclone shelter after initial medical screening. The district administration also collected the Aadhar card details and mobile numbers.

Ganjam district collector Vijay Amrit Kulange said the administration had prior information about the journey of the fishermen by sea.

They were under stress due to the rising number of Corona cases and had run out of food. Now that they have reached Odisha coast after a long journey, we will put them in quarantine for next 14 days, said Kulange.

Narrating their experience, the fishermen said they were apprehensive of rising Covid cases in Tamil Nadu. After fishing operations were stopped on March 15 due to Corona scare, the fishing merchant we worked for said he would not be able to pay us till the lockdown was over. Initially we thought we could ride out the lockdown with whatever money we had. But when Modi(Prime Minister) announced extension of the lockdown till May 3 we were apprehensive of going hungry. We were also scared of rise in coronavirus cases in Chennai. But there was no transport available. So we pooled in around Rs 2 lakh and bought a mechanised boat, said Nagaraj Shetty, a 24-year-old fisherman of Odisha.

Though the boat wasnt big enough for the group, the fishermen decided that it was their best possible vehicle for escape. We had packed rice and some dal for cooking on the way. We had brought some biscuits also, but all that was hardly enough as we did not want to overload the boat. We were also scared of being caught by the Coast Guard and the marine police, said Shetty.

The fishermen used the GPS in their mobile phones to keep track of the route and also watched the stars. The fishermen had also Indian tricolour flying from a pole on their boat in case they ran into a Coast Guard ship.

Sub-divisional police officer of Berhampur, Jayant Mohapatra said hundreds of fishermen from Ganjam work in the fishing sector of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Goa. Though we are keeping an eye on the coast, we apprehend some more fishermen from the State may take the sea route to come back to Odisha, he said.

On April 20, a group of 27 fishermen comprising 10 from Odisha had arrived at a beach of Srikulam district in Andhra Pradesh. Though the fishermen initially wanted to anchor at Patisonapur in Ganjam district, they were stopped by police in Andhra Pradesh. The 27 are now housed in a quarantine facility of Srikakulam district where they will stay till May 3.

The arrival of the 38 fishermen by sea came a couple of days after the State government started an online portal for over 7.5 lakh migrant workers of the State wishing to return home after lifting of lockdown on May 3. The government said those migrant workers stranded in other State and wishing to return to their homes in Odisha have to provide their Aadhaar number and mobile number while registering on the (https://covid19.odisha.gov.in) portal.

The person after arriving in Odisha will be inked with indelible stamp on their hands and sent to 14-day official quarantine being set up in around 7000 gram panchayats and urban local bodies.
The Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSGH) has issued guidelines to protect pharmacists, pharmacies and the general public from the spread of Covid-19, especially at community pharmacies.



A press statement signed by the president of the Society, Mr Benjamin K. Botwe on Friday (April 24, 2020 ) said community pharmacies are the first port of call for most people seeking healthcare, advice or information, hence the need for robust measures to stem possible spread of the virus to or from that point.



As part of the guidelines, pharmacists and pharmacy staff are to use calming and reassuring language to respond to questions and queries related to COVID-19 and provide relevant educational information where possible.



They are also to ensure that Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) protocols specifically relating to COVID-19 are appropriately displayed in the facility for the information of staff and the general public.



The Society also commended president Akufo- Addo for the various measures being taken to contain the spread of the virus in the country.



Read the full statement below:







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
Photographs show the far-reaching impacts of the coronavirus on traditional ANZAC Day commemorations in Australia and New Zealand.

Images captured during dawn services at war memorials in Melbourne and Wellington on Saturday showed vacant streets and small crowds.

Dawn services and annual marches were cancelled ahead of commemorations on Saturday because of health concerns around the potential spread of COVID-19.

PICTURED: Melbourne's Shrine of Remembrance on April 25 2020 and April 25, 2018

The Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne was eerily quiet on Saturday morning compared to the usual throngs of people in attendance at the annual dawn service.

Morning services at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park in Wellington painted a similar picture.

While previous years showed thousands of people crowding together to pay their respects this year's services featured only a handful of police officers and members of the media.

Some services were cancelled a full month before Anzac Day with the public urged to tune in pay their respects via radio, social media or television.

PICTURED: St Kilda Road, in Melbourne on April 25 in 2018 and April 25, 2020

PICTURED: Melbourne's Shrine of Remembrance on April 25 2020 featured only a handful of police officers and members of the media compared to commemorations on April 25, 2018

PICTURED: Members of the public pay respects at Melbourne's Shrine of Remembrance on April 25 2020 and April 25, 2018

 Slide me  PICTURED: Melbourne's Shrine of Remembrance on April 25 2020 and April 25, 2018

 Slide me  PICTURED: Melbourne's Shrine of Remembrance on April 25 2020 and April 25, 2018

PICTURED: Wellington's Pukeahu National War Memorial Park on April 25, 2018 and April 25, 2020
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This season we are in is disorienting on so many levels. There are mandatory lockdowns and daily routines turned upside-down; schools are shuddered, kids are at home, and many businesses are suffering. I wish it never happened. I'm pining for the days of old, even the days of a month ago, where we could go to church, and sit in restaurants with friends, and not sprint through grocery stores while taking shallow breaths, and where the world seemed to be a whole lot safer and under control for so many people.

And the physical separation has been heartbreaking for so many people. But while many of us have to practice social distancing, we dont have to settle for social disconnection. This is a moment where our technological advances and our social media platforms can finally help us be social and not just sociopathic. I saw it happen just last week when I got on a Zoom call with over 50 family members spread across North America, one of which was my 88-year-old Grandma Weezie. She was widowed three years ago and lives alone in rural Idaho, but there all of us were  I think I counted 17 of her great-grandchildren on the call  laughing and telling stories and checking up on each other. Was it just like being together at our yearly reunion? Well, not quite. But was it great, and did it help all of us make it through another strange week? Absolutely.

Let me take it a step further and suggest a practice that may help sustain you in this time. Call someone who is further along in their journey than you are and ask them some thoughtful questions. I've been doing that in recent weeks. These are people who have weathered previous storms and survived world wars. These are people who have seen economies rise, and then topple, overnight. These are people who have learned to be thrifty and work with what they have. They know how to think on their feet and adjust to the actual conditions of life. They have gained invaluable wisdom along the way, and their recounting of history can help you if youll ask good questions.

Questions like: What have you learned about these moments that I need to know? Ask them, What were some of your greatest challenges during those years? Ask them, Is there anything you would caution me about in this stage of my life? And keep thinking about other great questions you may have. Come to the phone call prepared. Listen intently. Take good notes. And then ask them to pray for you, and then find out how you can be praying for them.

Both parties on that phone call  the young and the old  will be better for it. It will give the young a sense of perspective, and it will give the old a sense of purpose. The young will realize that the story wont always be this way, and the old will remember that their story matters. The inter-generational back-and-forth is what we were made for, and many people have lost much of that in recent years. But we dont have to lose it. And if it has been lost, can we not yet reclaim it?



So, reach out. Write a letter and drop it in the mailbox. Remember the gift of a hand-written letter. If you can go sit on someones porch at a safe distance and have a chat, do it. If you cant get out, then get on a phone call. Or learn how to get on a Zoom like my 88-year-old grandma did. But however you do it, make sure to find some people who can help you think about this disorienting COVID-19 moment with broader historical perspective.

There is help out there. There is wholesome social connection to be found right now. There are people whom you need to call. And there are people who need you to call them. If youll spend this season chasing their wisdom, you will come out on the other side of this moment with treasures you would have never expected.
The Malayalam news media has focused on solution-based journalism thus guiding people in Kerala towards measures or a preventive cure to overcome a crisis like COVID-19 as opposed to peddling sensationalist or communal dribble which are characteristic of a lot of Indian language media

The Kerala Governments citizen first approach in its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic has been widely praised. Kerala is the perfect example of a socially vigilant administration which has ensured social unity and high standards of civic participation during a massive crisis like COVID-19.

The medias active involvement in times of crisis has been a discussion point in many democratic societies throughout the last century. The role played by the Malayalam news media  both print and television  is of special significance in this regard vis a vis the Kerala floods of 2018-2019, Nipah Virus outbreak in 2018-2019 and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Malayalam news medias response to these events reaffirmed peoples faith in the credibility of news media particularly at a time when media all over the world is faced with a crisis of credibility. But Kerala is not immune to this crisis either. Corruptions of various kinds, affiliation to ultra-nationalist forces, discrimination on the basis of caste, gender and race, and advancement of communal agendas have defined the character of media in the last few decades, including media in Kerala.

High literacy and a peculiar socio-political atmosphere make Kerala one of the highest news consuming societies in India. Many scholars like Robin Jeffery amongst others have opined that Kerala is a classic model of a politically aware society which fosters and encourages a newspaper-reading culture. They also unanimously agree about the influence and reach of Malayalam media in shaping public opinion in Kerala.

However, Malayalam medias role in crucial struggles related to the social transformation of Kerala society is always a matter of debate.

The media did not play an encouraging role in peoples movements related to land from the early 20th Century to the recent Dalit and Adivasi land struggles, the progressive Left Movement, and the recent Sabarimala Temple Entry movement, to name a few.

The most important factor explaining the reluctance of Malayalam media in supporting these movements could be understood through the ownership pattern as well as the political bias of the leading media houses in Kerala which have always opposed the progressive politics of the state especially the Left parties.

However, there has been a perceptive shift in Malayalam news media in its coverage of recent crises in the state which epitomises constructive journalism. These shifts do not indicate a change in heart for the Malayalam media, but are a result of the leadership and effective functioning of the state government along with high degrees of peoples participation to overcome a crisis. Kerala can be a good example of an efficient political system that nurtures socially responsible media during a crisis.

In all the events of crisis mentioned above, the Malayalam news media focused on solution-based journalism thus guiding people towards measures or a preventive cure to overcome the crises as opposed to peddling sensationalist or communal dribble which are characteristic of a lot of Indian language media.

The most noticeable change during the crises is the local live reporting or reporting from vulnerable hotspots in the state which many have referred to as crisis reporting. As rightly pointed out by Olsson and Nord (2015), disruptions to professional ideology are clearly visible during crisis reporting. Live reporting from different parts of the state thus determined the editorial line rather than media houses approaching an issue with a preconceived editorial policy. The prominence of real time coverage created a situation where media in Kerala couldnt tamper with the social realities to suit vested interests, if any.

The most critical role of media in any crisis is to provide the right information to its readers/audience. In Kerala, media networks disseminated accurate information as provided by the local authorities. This helped to eliminate misinformation which usually takes the centrestage in times of hysteria. For example, during the Kerala floods in 2018, many people who were stranded called television newsrooms all through the day that then aligned with the state government to help relocate them to safer locations.

The active role of media thus ensured a high civic participation along with the governments efforts in dealing with these crises. One of the most viewed media events during the ongoing COVID 19 crisis is the daily press conference held by the Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The live telecast of such press conferences with reduced newsroom commentary has helped lessen public anxiety and created awareness about the steps taken by the Kerala government thus enabling many to deal with the situation better.

Due to the local nature of ownership of news media organisations and the unique socio-political set up of Kerala, Malayalam news media has always concentrated on uncovering local narratives in times of crises. These reports feature local stories of success about implementation and effective management of such situations thus creating a blueprint for people to follow when faced with similar adversity.

This makes news more need-based and target-oriented commodity with potential for an immediate public action. Malayalam news medias constructive involvement in recent events of crises is a model to emulate and hopefully inspire other Indian language media to refrain from fanning communalist sentiments and focus on real issues at hand. At the same time, it might be a good opportunity for Malayalam media to redefine its engagement with Kerala society and truly uphold progressive politics.

The author teaches Media Studies at FLAME University in Pune
A police officer is in a serious condition after losing a litre and a half of blood when he was stabbed multiple times during a coronavirus call-out.

Sergeant Carl Blanks, 47, was responding to a call at a house near Newport, Wales, at 5.15am on Thursday when he was stabbed.

Sergeant Blanks was stabbed several times in the abdomen before the house was set on fire.

Sergeant Carl Blanks, 47, (pictured) was responding to a call at a house near Newport, Wales, at 5.15am on Thursday when he was repeatedly stabbed

Pictured Sergeant Leighton Healan also answered the call-out. Sgt Blanks was part of a police volunteer task force sent to the British Virgin Islands after the devastation of Hurricane Irma in 2017

The suspect allegedly tried to stab Sgt Healan after the fire was started and was Tasered several times during the incident.

He was overpowered by officers after climbing onto the roof of the property.

Surgeons removed two sections of Sergeant Blanks bowel.

Gwent Police said Sergeant Blanks was in a serious but stable condition and continues to improve at the Royal Gwent Hospital, Newport.





Police were called by neighbours who heard a disturbance but were too afraid to investigate because of potential exposure to Covid-19

The suspect was overpowered by officers after climbing onto the roof of the property. He appeared by video link from a cell at Ystrad Mynach Police Station

Mohammed Ibrahim, 33, appeared in court today via video link charged with attempting to murder Sergeant Blanks, attempting to wound Sergeant Leighton Healan and a charge of arson with intent to endanger life after attempting to set fire to his house with the officers inside.

He wore a coronavirus face mask throughout the ten-minute hearing.

District Judge Stephen Harmes denied bail and Ibrahim is due to appear before Newport Crown Court on June 22.

Police were called by neighbours who heard a disturbance but were too afraid to investigate because of potential exposure to Covid-19.

Sgt Blanks was part of a police volunteer task force sent to the British Virgin Islands after the devastation of Hurricane Irma in 2017.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-25 19:15:04|Editor: huaxia

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DAMASCUS, April 25 (Xinhua) -- As many as 7,500 Turkey-backed Syrian rebels reached the Libyan territories to join the UN-backed Libyan government's fight against the east-based army, a war monitor reported on Saturday.

Another 2,500 rebels are currently receiving training in Turkish camps, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

A total of 223 rebels have so far been killed in the battles in Libya, said the Britain-based watchdog group.

The Turkey-backed rebels opened four centers in the northern Syrian city of Afrin to recruit fighters to be sent to Libya.

Turkey offers a monthly salary of 2,000 U.S. dollars for those who agree to go to Libya on contracts between three and six months, said the observatory. Enditem
Beijing: There is a demand for the closure of the Vet Market of sugar from America to Australia. There has been a history of these markets that many patients in humans are born here. However, the World Health Organization (WHO), which is responsible for controlling human diseases, says that they are a means of livelihood.

Sri Lanka seeks help from India in Corona crisis, will make big deal with RBI

The Director-General of WHO says that these markets should be allowed to reopen as they are a great source of affordable food and livelihood for millions of people around the world. The SARS virus was born in the Vet market of Yunnan province in 2003, while the coronavirus originated from the Vet market of Wuhan. However, it is well known that China will never accept these markets as the source of this virus. Rather China has moved one step ahead.

America gets a little relief from Corona, records lowest of last three weeks

Now China has said in the white lie that these markets were never there. Another Chinese 'big talk' foreign ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said that there is no such place as a 'Vet market' in China. He said, 'First of all, I would like to mention that there is no such thing as a' wildlife Vet market 'in China. Even in China, there is nothing like 'Vet market'. Farmers markets, chicken markets and seafood markets are more common here. In these markets, fresh meat, fish, vegetables, seafood and various types of agricultural products are sold. And there are some markets which also sell live poultry ie poultry and duck etc.

Best ways to remove nail polish without a remover
By The Associated Press Apr. 25, 2020 | 12:16 AM | FRANKFORT

Kentucky's Democratic governor has vetoed abortion legislation pushed by Republican lawmakers.The bill would have given the state's Republican Attorney General Daniel Cameron authority to regulate abortion clinics and the power to suspend abortions as an elective procedure during the coronavirus outbreak.Another part of the vetoed measure would have required doctors to provide life-sustaining care for an infant born alive after a failed abortion attempt.The measure cleared the legislature in the waning hours of this years legislative session. As a result, lawmakers wont have an opportunity to override Governor Andy Beshears veto.In a statement on Twitter, House Speaker David Osborne said he was "outraged and saddened" by the veto.

"Make no mistake, the governor had a choice and he used it to defend the indefensible, Osborne said. The Born Alive Act simply requires physicians and other health caregivers to provide life-saving medical care to infants who survive an abortion. This is about protecting a human life outside of the womb.

When asked about the veto by a reporter at his Friday press conference Friday afternoon, Beshear said he was just not doing divisive issues right now.He added that current state law already protects any child born alive in the same way the bill was written.
- Oil company, Total, is set to purchase Tullow Oil's entire stake in Uganda in a deal worth KSh 57.5 billion

- The proceeds would be used to settle an existing debt of KSh 280 billion Tullow owes

- Tullows shares have fallen by about 90% and its market capitalisation is currently KSh 28.5 million

Multinational oil company Total has announced plans to buy Tullow Oils entire stake in Uganda in a deal valued at a tune of KSh 57.5 billion.

The sale is intended to help Tullow raise KSh 100 billion in a bid to settle an existing debt of KSh 280 billion it is currently saddled with.

READ ALSO: Donald Trump calls Uhuru Kenyatta to offer support in war against coronavirus pandemic

READ ALSO: Dandora MCA blames COVID-19 cases on dumpsite, waste from airports

TUKO.co.ke understands Tullows shares have fallen by about 90% since April 2020 and its market capitalisation currently stands at $285 million.

The London based company would receive $500 million in cash and $75 million once a final investment decision is reached on the project.

Tullow oil expoloration in Turkana, Kenya. Photo: Tullow Oil.

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Jamaa afurusha nduguye kwa kukataa kuoa

Tax-related issues, which prolonged discussions with Ugandan authorities, had been reached in principle, Tullow revealed.

The deal depends on the signing of a final tax agreement between the two companies and the Ugandan authorities and it would be expected to be sealed in the second half of the year 2020.

The third partner in the 230,000 barrel per day project, Chinas CNOOC, has pre-emption rights for half of the stake to be sold to Total.

Do you have a groundbreaking story you would like us to publish? Please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690. Contact Tuko.co.ke instantly.

My 'husband' from Ghana was married to another woman for ten years and I had no idea | Tuko TV

Source: TUKO.co.ke
'Most of the cases in Mumbai are asymptomatic -- 85 per cent you can say.'

'Only 10 to 15 per cent are symptomatic.'

Photograph: Ashish Narsale/ Rediff.com IMAGE: The Seven Hills hospital in Andheri east, north west Mumbai.

Seven Hills hospital, at Andheri east, north Mumbai, is the largest dedicated facility for COVID-19 that the city has.

It was begun mid-March, with some 378 beds, after two weeks of whirlwind work, as a collaboration between the Reliance Foundation Hospital, the Jupiter Hospital and the Maharashtra government, under the umbrella of the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai.

Today, a little more than a month later, it has a 522-bed capacity, of which 20 of them are ICU beds.

Now, by April end, or so, its capacity will grow to 1,500 beds, more than any other city hospital, even as the B Y L Nair hospital plans to expand its capacity to 1,600 eventually, and the Kasturba Gandhi hospital from 128 beds to 65 more.

Admitted within its portals, as of April 20, are 370 patients.

Most have tested positive.

But 17 are in quarantine, suspected to be positive, because of their history -- the throat swab test has been done but results are awaited.

There are 16 COVID-19 positive patients in the hospital's ICU.

Seven Hills has seen some 1,000 people over nearly the last 45 days.

And five unfortunate deaths.

Patients undergoing treatment at Seven Hills pay no hospital fees.

IMAGE: The Seven Hills hospital has a 522-bed capacity, of which 20 of them are ICU beds. Photograph: Kind courtesy Reliance Foundation

Dr Balkrishna Adsul, Coordinator, Seven Hills hospital, who was earlier professor and head of community medicine at the Cooper Hospital, Juhu, north west Mumbai, and has been working at the facility since March 6, tells Vaihayasi Pande Daniel/Rediff.com: "In Seven Hills all the treatment for the patients is totally free. Food is totally free. Drugs are totally free. Not a single paisa charged for the municipal bed or even for a Reliance bed also."

Seven Hills, at present, is staffed by a zealous squad of 200 plus doctors, 220 plus nurses and 140 ancillary staff, who handle housekeeping and are patient care attendants.

All of the staff is housed, and fed, at the Taj Hotel Santacruz, near the airport, and at a Reliance hotel in Powai, north Mumbai.

Says the senior doctor: "Doctors and staff nurses were (recruited) from the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai, from all the medical colleges, public hospitals, peripheral health services and the public health department. We have sufficient staff."

Those doctors and staff still on the rolls of Seven Hills, before it closed last year, re-joined the COVID-19 hospital's medical force too.

IMAGE: The Seven Hills hospital in the next few days will increase the beds capacity to 1,500 beds. Photograph: Kind courtesy Reliance Foundation

The hospital hums with activity, as Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai engineers, contractors and administrators toil to get its capacity rapidly expanded to accommodate the city's rapidly rising load of coronavirus cases.

"We have developed, phase-wise, a further number of beds, and from March 26-27 it became an exclusive isolation centre for the corona patients. Seven Hills is now increasing its capacity from 522 to 1,500 exclusively for corona patients, with 200 beds for the intensive care," says the doctor.

"Civil work is finished. Step-wise development of the beds (is happening) and within next 15 to 20 days we will reach 1,500 beds."

Photograph: Ashish Narsale/ Rediff.com IMAGE: The COVID-19 portable full body disinfection chamber at the entrance to the hospital.

Meanwhile the hospital, which is equipped with Bisleri ozone cabins (ozone helped in the care of the SARS afflicted), is working on supplementing its staff to match its projected new capacity.

That has not been very difficult, apparently, because Mumbai has four medical colleges with lots of nursing staff and doctors.

With COVID-19 slowly becoming a reality in Mumbai life, and its effects manifested, often, in the lower risk, younger age-group, as just a mild fever in many individuals, "People are coming slowly forward to work with corona patients," says the doctor.

"We have advertised for doctors and staff nurses and we have recruited in the last three or four days many. Plus we have advertised for the super-specialists nephrologists, cardiologist, intensivists, anesthetists," he adds. "Yesterday, five people joined exclusively to manage ICU patients in corona care."

Seven Hills offers special incentives for people to join their COVID-19 team.

So, for instance, if the usual monthly salary for a dialysis technician is Rs 20,000, Seven Hills is recruiting at a Rs 50,000 salary.

"With incentives, people are definitely going to work for the corona patients. Everybody is going to be finally be affected. Today I, tomorrow you. People are coming forward and trying to help out in this particular pandemic," says the doctor.

The process of establishing the Seven Hills COVID-19 facility, supervised by senior MCGM officials with the help of Reliance and Jupiter, that almost miraculously happened over 15 days, when the Kasturba hospital's capacity got full, was not without teething issues.

Photograph: Kind courtesy Reliance Foundation

COVID-19, being a new disease, had its own learning curve and the hospital's healthcare workers had to figure out new protocols to deal with it.

For instance, getting all the facility's staff, especially housekeeping, to understand the crucial importance of a cleanliness routine took a few days.

"There was this little issue of the cleanliness. The hospital has an ambience like five star or a corporate hospital. But there had to also be maximum attempts to have maximum cleanliness and sanitising of the areas," the doctor explains.

The staff was taught the importance of a clean-up in the trail or wake of a COVID-19 positive patient, right from when s/he was "admitted in casualty to the ward".

Similarly, after he was "discharged, from the ward to the outside, till s/he goes out and sits in the ambulance. It took four to five days, and now it is very well maintained."

There was also the more difficult problem of some of the staff getting a "little fever" from exposure to the virus and facing it and overcoming it.

After they recovered they were home quarantined, and some soldiered on in special healthcare worker blocks at the hospital.

"Why most of the cases in Mumbai are asymptomatic -- 85 per cent you can say. Only 10 to 15 per cent are symptomatic," says the doctor.

"Out of this 5 to 10 per cent are going to develop complications because of comorbidity. Less than 3 to 4 per cent people, even if they do not have comorbidity will develop the infection and the complications," he adds.

"Those prone to lower respiratory infections are at a high risk for a corona infection. Smokers are at a very high risk."

Photograph: Ashish Narsale/ Rediff.com IMAGE: A person disinfected at the hospital's emergency entrance.

How has COVID-19 been most commonly presenting itself, as far as the doctor has seen in Mumbai? "Usually they come with fever, cough, breathlessness and difficulty of breathing, short breaths. That is suggestive symptoms for corona. Fever is the first sign."

"But if people start developing breathlessness and difficulty breathing, they should go for the swab test."

The doctor says, with proud satisfaction, that he has been working every day, non-stop since March 6.

But he is careful to take regular meals and rest.

"Every day, without a single holiday, from morning to night 9.30 to 10 o'clock. I am doing this work till today, without any health problems," he says.

"Let's hope for the best -- that I am able to maintain my health and able to work for the corona patients."

But he's not fatalistic and is very practical about taking the most important protective measures against the tricky COVID-19. "Wearing masks, washing hands frequently, wearing gloves, and when I go to the patients's wards I use PPE -- all the precautions that are the requirement, so I don't develop infection and I don't transfer to others also."

The doctor says cheerfully, about this huge campaign against COVID-19, in which he is playing a key part: "It's a specific job I am working on. I really want to work on this actually."

SEE: How the Seven Hills hospital prepared for the pandemic:
Realty firms are not able to access money from the government's Rs 25,000 crore stress fund to complete stalled housing projects, and all roadblocks should be removed for success of this scheme, said Anthony De Sa, Chairman, Madhya Pradesh-RERA.

He was speaking at a webinar organised by industry body Nardeco. Real estate regulators, set up under the Real Estate (Regulations and Development) Act, called RERA, of various states addressed over 1,000 members of the association.

The regulators agreed that there is a need to give relief to the sector to tide over the crisis. The authorities assured that they would look into various demands, including extension of the timeline for completing projects.

At the outset, Uttar Pradesh RERA Chairman Rajive Kumar said the construction activities need to start whenever the government permits.

In view of the ongoing lockdown, Kumar said the real estate demand is expected to fall. "There is an issue of funding as well".

The UP-RERA chairman also stressed on adoption of safe practices and proper training to labour force for maintaining hygiene as well as social distancing once construction work starts on the sites.

Anthony De Sa said the problems of liquidity crisis and demand slowdown have exacerbated because of the lockdown.

Talking about the stress fund, he said the government had in November last year created a special window of Rs 25,000 crore for completion of over 1,500 stalled housing projects.

However, he said there are issues in implementation of this scheme, which seeks to help complete 4.58 lakh housing units across the country.

Anthony said existing lenders are not giving the NoCs (no-objection certificates) for creation of first charge to SBI CAP, which is managing this fund.

"Builders are unable to access this fund. We need to remove this bottleneck," he said, adding that some guidelines need to be issued by the Reserve Bank of India or the finance ministry in this regard.

The scheme will become a non-starter, if this roadblock is not removed, said Anthony De Sa.

The UP RERA-chairman also pointed out that the pace of sanctions of amount from this stress fund was slow.

On demand for reduction in GST and stamp duty, the MP-RERA chairman said these are policy issues, but should be considered if needed to boost demand.

However, he reminded that many builders did not pass the benefits of previous GST reduction to homebuyers.

Anthony De Sa also stressed on the need to rationalise the circle rates in various states so that these reflect the current market situation.

Haryana RERA Chairman K K Kahndelwal said steps need to be taken to kick-start engine again and that too at fast pace, as real estate has a multiplier effect on the economy.

He pitched for the single window approval system for development of real estate projects to bring down the property cost.

Nardeco President Niranjan Hiranandani said the industry is facing a challenging time and the financial issues faced by its developer members are "beyond imagination".

He demanded that authorities should provide relief to the industry.

Nardeco-UP Chairman R K Arora raised the issue of not getting funds from the Rs 25,000 cr special window.

Naredco Chairman Rajeev Talwar, Vice Chairman Parveen Jain and Naredco Maharashtra President Rajan Bandelkar were also present in the webinar.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
EDWARDSVILLE  One week after Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced schools are to remain closed through the end of the academic year, Edwardsville School District 7 is mulling over options to support students.

We have conducted the Commencement Exercises in the Lucco-Jackson Gymnasium for many years, Edwardsville High School Principal Dennis Cramsey said.

However, that may not happen at all this year.

Graduation usually welcomes around 4,000 attendees, Cramsey explained. Since such a large event is not permitted under Pritzkers order, officials are looking into a handful of other ways to honor the graduating class of 2020.

One is the districts decision to host a virtual graduation on Saturday, May 23, featuring speeches that would have taken place at the traditional ceremony.

I am working with Jostens [a manufacturing company the district uses to produce yearbooks] along with our staff and students to develop this program, Cramsey said.

To maintain some formality, seniors would be able to drive across the stage and receive their diploma cover. Cramsey is working on this idea, where seniors would be allowed to drive through Circle Drive on the high school campus. A date has yet to be determined.

The student would be handed their diploma cover while a professional photographer takes a picture of the graduate who will be sitting in the front or rear passenger seat, he said. Photos will be available online following the event.

Administrators are also working on a possible event where seniors could come together and experience graduation in the more traditional sense. Cramsey said the event would only happen once large groups are allowed to convene.

This graduation would tentatively take place in late June.

The White House advised all Americans to avoid groups of more than 10 back in March as part of guidelines designed to fight a spreading coronavirus outbreak.

As the shelter-at-home order remains in effect in Illinois, District 7 Superintendent Jason Henderson announced the cancellation of a slew of summer classes and programs on Friday.

The following summer courses will not be held: Physical Education; and Limited Enrollment courses including Algebra 1, Algebra 2, Geometry, Algebra/Geometry 3, Freshman Literature, Sophomore World Literature, Jr. American Literature and Grammar & Composition.

Drivers Education is still being instructed but Henderson explained that could change.

We are waiting for further guidance from the Illinois State Board of Education before making a determination on whether Drivers Education can be offered remotely during the summer, he said.

Those who had planned for students to attend the Middle School and Elementary Summer Reading Program should know that it is also canceled.

Those who had put deposits down for the Summer Kids Zone will be refunded, as it has been canceled.

Anyone relying on the district for food will continue to be provided with meals through the end of the school year.
At the touch of our fingertips we have access to millions of apps. The worlds most popular social media, games and news. Now, those of you looking for a more useful way to spend screen time, there is an easy solution.

Practicing foreign languages is more convenient than ever. There are tons of apps that use game-like scenarios to hook their users, making daily language sessions fun and addicting.

Those of you looking to learn Italian, youre in luck. Here, we have listed and described which apps we think are worth giving a download. We realize it may be overwhelming to choose one thats right for you, so we have chosen FIVE apps categorized based on your interests.

1. Busuu (Best for Beginners)

This app will teach you a range of subjects that are perfect for people learning for the first time. Beginner lessons will vary from: food, shopping, family, free time, and more.

Lessons use flashcard methods for vocabulary, matching word exercises, and listening to dialogues by natives. If the layout of Busuu is working for you, upgrading to the premium membership is a great next step!

Members pay 2 euros per week (a bit more expensive than most language apps.) Premium also offers many more interesting features, including the opportunity to speak personally with native Italians, as well as asking them for corrections on lessons.

Available for all IOS and Android devices

2. Duolingo (Best for Overall Enjoyment)

Duolingo has been rated as the best and most fun language app by several editors. The layout has not only been designed to quickly improve your knowledge but it is set up like a game! Users set a daily goal for themselves, which has proven to alleviate the stress of trying to learn too much Italian at once.

The app mainly focuses on translating structured sentences from Italian to English, and vise versa. Each theme you complete, you advance to more themes and challenges.

Encouragement is constantly reinforced, which is probably another reason why it is loved! Lessons can be completed in as little as 5 minutes. Whether you have an hour for 10 lessons or 10 minutes for two, this is the perfect app for your moments of spare time.

Duolingo is completely free and available on IOS, Android on Google Play and online!

3. Italki (Best for Oral Practice)

Italki is a fairly new and very unique language app. It is a much more speaking focused app than the rest you will find. On this app, there are tons of registered tutors available for Skype-like lessons to practice conversations.

Depending on your skill level, these conversations can range from beginner to advanced. There is also a notebook feature which allows you to upload written work, where a tutor will review and correct it for you. This is really the perfect app for Italian students looking to increase their conversation skills.

They say the most difficult part of a language is speaking it out loud! (Tutoring session prices will vary depending on the tutor and length of session, but it is fairly cheap for the lesson in return.)

The app is free for download for IOS, Android and online.

4. Learn Italian Words Free (Best for free Vocab)

This App is exactly what it sounds like. If you are looking to learn vocabulary for the cost of niente, (nothing) this is your app. It is very easy to use.

First, you will designate your skill level from A1-C1. Then, you will be assigned lessons that vary from themes. Instead of listening, speaking and writing sentences, this app is all about words! You will learn 14 new words in every lesson, which are all themed by everyday scenarios.

Conjugating verbs and pronunciation can be overwhelming at first, which makes this vocabulary focused app really useful for beginners. When you finish, you will find multiple choice questions to help you reflect and review your learning progress!

Available on Android with Google Play.

5. Memrise (Best for Gamers)

Lastly, we have chosen Memrise. If you are a true game lover, you will love learning Italian on this app. This app is similar to DuoLingo since you are encouraged to return for more game-like lessons. But in this case, the concept is a bit strange yet intriguing to all levels.

Players will fight off an Alien by using correct Italian vocabulary. There is definitely useful vocabulary used on this app! Although it can improve your knowledge, due to its focus on play play play, this should not be your only source for learning Italian.

Available on IOS and Android with Google Play

If you are already proficient in another Romance language, or you are planning a trip to Italy, or you are just looking for a new hobby, there is no reason not to learn Italian! It is the most romantic language of the Romance languages! And a vast world of its own.

Buon Lavoro.
An online vigil honouring the 22 people who died in a tragic rampage began Friday with a fiddle performance from the massacre's youngest victim and ended with a montage of the victims' faces while "Amazing Grace" played on bagpipes.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 24/4/2020 (628 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

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

An online vigil honouring the 22 people who died in a tragic rampage began Friday with a fiddle performance from the massacre's youngest victim and ended with a montage of the victims' faces while "Amazing Grace" played on bagpipes.

Nova Scotia residents with personal connections to those killed spent the week gathering recordings of music and tributes from public figures, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Premier Stephen McNeil and Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby, originally from the province, for "Nova Scotia Remembers."

Cape Breton fiddler Natalie MacMaster recorded herself playing along with a video of 17-year-old Emily Tuck performing the waltz "In Memory of Herbie MacLeod," uploaded to Facebook a month before she was killed with her mother and father, Jolene Oliver and Aaron Tuck, in Portapique, N.S.

A piper plays "Amazing Grace" as local residents look on during a local vigil in Wentworth, N.S. on Friday, April 24, 2020. 22 people are dead after a man went on a murderous rampage in Portapique and several other Nova Scotia communities. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Liam Hennessey

"To my dear Nova Scotia, we are there with you in the deepest of ways," MacMaster told her home province, before commenting on Tuck's "beautiful performance" that had been circulating on social media in the days after the murders."She was a fiddler, so thought I would unite myself to her performance and play this tune for all the souls who lost their lives," she said, before a split-screen showed MacMaster and another pianist joining Tuck's performance, which her father had shared to the popular COVID-19 kitchen party Facebook group.

Tuck was one of 22 people killed on Saturday and Sunday when a gunman dressed as an RCMP officer with a fake cruiser set fires and shot his victims across 90 kilometres and several communities in northern Nova Scotia.A message from Trudeau, recorded in front of his home in Ottawa, said Canadians are united in grief."Friends, colleagues and family, they represented the best of us and they were taken from us far too soon," Trudeau said. "To everyone who lost a loved one, Canada is mourning with you."

The prime minister commented on the close, neighbourly spirit found in the communities shaken by the weekend's violence, saying it reminds Canadians "why we look out for each other."

Governor General Julie Payette opened the video expressing grief at the violence "rarely seen in Canada," and acknowledging that the vigil had to take place online as Canadians fight the "other invisible enemy," the COVID-19 pandemic that has restricted physical gatherings.

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In a recording from his home, Crosby shared condolences with the families and thanked first responders who protected people during the crisis.

"I'm in Pittsburgh but being from Nova Scotia, my heart and mind is home with all of you," said Crosby, whose Golden Goal at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics led to a cross-country celebration. "I'm sending all my love and support back home."

George Canyon, Jenn Grant, Reeny Smith, and Classified were among the Nova Scotia musicians who recorded musical performances for the 90-minute event that was streamed online and broadcast by CBC, CTV and several radio stations.

Pastors and reverends from around the county recorded messages from their parishes, offering spiritual support and Bible readings against the wooded, scenic backdrop of the region.McNeil wore a Nova Scotia tartan tie and pin in a video recorded from his desk with Canada and Nova Scotia flags behind him. He said the province is supporting the families and communities affected."What happened here in our province is not who were are. It may change us a little but it cannot define us," he said. "We are strong, we are community-minded and we take care of each other."Actor Jonathan Torrens offered an emotional introduction and concluding remarks, before the last segment that shared short biographies and photos of the people killed.The victims included Peter and Joy Bond, Lillian Hyslop, Joey Webber, Corrie Ellison, Jolene Oliver, Aaron Tuck, Emily Tuck, Sean McLeod, Alanna Jenkins, Greg and Jamie Blair, Heather O'Brien, Gina Goulet, Kristen Beaton, Lisa McCully, Const. Heidi Stevenson, Dawn Madsen, Frank Gulenchyn, Tom Bagley, Elizabeth Joanne Thomas and John Zahl.RCMP members and other police forces across the country observed a moment of silence Friday at 2 p.m. to honour the victims.The National Police Federation encouraged people to wear red Friday in memory of Const. Heidi Stevenson and the other victims.

Hundreds of people joined watch parties on Facebook during the vigil.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 24, 2020.
The University of Saskatchewan's VIDO-InterVac (Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization-International Vaccine Centre) has been awarded $23 million to fast-track efforts to develop a COVID-19 vaccine, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced today.

This major federal investment will accelerate VIDO-InterVac's efforts to develop a Canadian vaccine against COVID-19, critical work that will help protect the health and safety of all Canadians and people around the world. This funding is a credit to the outstanding VIDO-InterVac team that is working tirelessly at the forefront of COVID-19 research, in collaboration with the World Health Organization, the Public Health Agency of Canada and researchers across Canada and around the world." Peter Stoicheff, USask President

The $23 million will support pre-clinical testing and two phases of clinical trials, essential steps to ensuring that vaccines are effective and safe for human use.

Manufacturing of the prototype vaccine and extensive safety assessment of the vaccine in animal models has been started, and will be completed this summer.

Clinical testing in humans is planned for the fall, with the vaccine potentially being available as early as next spring.

"Our goal is to make a safe and effective vaccine as quickly as possible," said VIDO-InterVac Director Dr. Volker Gerdts.

The Phase 1 and 2 clinical trials will test the safety of the vaccine to ensure no adverse effects and confirm that the vaccine works in humans as demonstrated in animal testing currently underway at VIDO-InterVac. This testing in humans will be done in Canada.

While there are more than 75 confirmed vaccine candidates under development in 19 countries around the world, Gerdts said it's important for Canada to develop a vaccine for Canadians.

"The global race to find a vaccine in response to the COVID-19 pandemic is unprecedented in terms of scale and speed, but it will take a significant amount of time for vaccines to be developed for the whole world," said Gerdts. "To ensure Canadians have access to these life-saving vaccines, it's important that we develop timely vaccines here in Canada."

VIDO-InterVac was the first lab in Canada to isolate the COVID-19 virus (SARS-CoV-2). It was also the first lab in the country to establish an animal model for testing of vaccines, antivirals and therapeutics, and the first in Canada--and one of the very few in the world--to already have a sub-unit vaccine in animal testing. The vaccine is based on the centre's highly promising results for vaccines against closely related coronaviruses, including Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS).

While work on their vaccine progresses, VIDO-InterVac is testing various vaccines, antiviral medications, and novel treatments for companies with technologies. The centre has received more than 100 requests for this type of contract research.

The announcement comes on the heels of $23.3 million announced March 23 by the federal government for VIDO-InterVac--$12 million to complete their vaccine manufacturing facility to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) standards as required for human vaccine production, and $11.3 million for continued operational funding for the high containment laboratories over the coming year.

A world leader in developing vaccines and technologies to combat infectious diseases, VIDO-InterVac has also been awarded $1 million through the federal rapid research funding initiative for research projects aimed at addressing COVID-19.

This spring, the Saskatchewan government invested a total of $4.2 million for VIDO-InterVac, including $400,000 for VIDO-InterVac's vaccine manufacturing facility.

Canada now has almost 42,000 confirmed cases and 1,974 deaths from COVID-19.
Karen Warren, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

The latest order from a local leader in Texas for residents to cover their faces amid the coronavirus pandemic has turned into a political firestorm.

Plus, Gov. Greg Abbott says he isn't ruling out a statewide order for Texans to wear masks to protect themselves and others when he lays out guidelines for how to reopen business next week.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to return to work soon after his recovery from COVID-19, as pressure mounts on his government to explain how to get Britain out of lockdown. Johnson, 55, has been recuperating at the British prime ministerial retreat, Chequers, outside London since his release from hospital on April 12. He spent three days in intensive care and later admitted that "things could have gone either way", forcing him to take it easy before returning to the political fray. But there have been increasing signs his return to Downing Street could be imminent, after officials said he had spoken to Queen Elizabeth II and also US President Donald Trump. Trump on Thursday said Johnson was full of "tremendous energy" and sounded "incredible" when they talked on the phone. "I was actually surprised... he was ready to go," he told reporters. The Daily Telegraph, Johnson's former employer, suggested he could be back at his desk on Monday, and hold briefing meetings with individual cabinet ministers. But Health Secretary Matt Hancock was more cautious, despite the prime minister's progress. "I spoke to him yesterday, he's cheerful, and he's ebullient and he's definitely on the mend in a big way," he said on Friday. "When exactly he comes back is a matter for him and his doctors." - Growing criticism - Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has been deputising since Johnson was taken to hospital on April 6, chairing cabinet meetings about political strategy to fight the outbreak. But while nominally in charge, Raab as "first secretary of state" would have required overall cabinet approval to take any major decisions, such as easing lockdown measures. In reality, Raab, senior minister Michael Gove and Health Minister Matt Hancock have largely shared the leadership burden in Johnson's absence, which has coincided with the suspected peak in hospital deaths and positive tests. Britain has been one of the worst-hit countries in the world by the virus, with hundreds of deaths reported every day. The actual death toll could rise further when deaths in the community are taken into account, particularly from care homes. While Johnson was away, senior ministers have faced collective criticism over shortages in personal protective equipment (PPE) and a lack of widespread testing, particularly of frontline health and social care workers. "The government hasn't been as agile as it should have been," Chaand Nagpaul, chair of the council of the British Medical Association (BMA), told Sky News television. "This is extremely emotionally taxing and it's showing its toll on the healthcare workforce." Johnson has received support during his illness, which has been seen as a clear demonstration of the indiscriminate nature of the virus. But sympathy could wane as he once again becomes the focal point of the government if issues about gaps in PPE supply and lack of testing persist. His actions in the early days of the outbreak came in for harsh criticism last week, after he held off introducing strict measures adopted by European neighbours. The main opposition Labour party leader Keir Starmer accused the government of being "slow into lockdown, slow on testing, slow on protective equipment". He will also be expected to immediately explain how he plans to get the country's economy up and running again while controlling the spread of the virus. - Deep recession - There have been growing demands for an exit strategy from the current national lockdown, which was first imposed on March 23, extended on April 16 and is due for review on May 7. Ministers have so far refused publicly to speculate on when restrictions will be lifted, saying that experts were not sure Britain was over the peak of the outbreak. There have been calls for more clarity, however, including from within Johnson's ruling Conservative party, as the economic consequences of the outbreak become more stark. Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith said the government needed to "bite the bullet and do it", as some businesses began reopening despite the ban. The Bank of England warned on Thursday that the country faces its worst recession in "several centuries". Scotland First Minister Nicola Sturgeon also upped the ante by revealing her broader strategy, including the possible phased reopening of some businesses and schools. Northern Ireland's First Minister Arlene Foster has also suggested she could lift restrictions before England. Johnson, 55, has been recuperating at the British prime ministerial retreat, Chequers, outside London since his release from hospital on April 12
Churchill, Reagan, and Trump, and the Perception of Evil

Commentary

Over the course of history, and more emphatically, recent history, nations, in particular democracies, swing on the pendulum between idealism and realism.

The need for both can be traced through elections and parliamentary rule. Policy based on idealism or realism cannot be conducted long-term as both prove too weighty for a people and too costly for the world.

An idealist sees the world through a lens that reflects the possible best of humanity. A realist sees through a lens that reflects its possible worst. The glass is half-full or half-empty, as one views the contents of the glass with hope, the other with suspicion.

If the contents of the glass be evil, realism is the lens by which a nation should see.

Winston Churchill and Ronald Reagan were arguably the two great realists of the 20th century. They were endowed by their Creator with an ability to perceive evil and, while many others avoided confrontation, to speak boldly about, against, and to it without hesitance.

Winston Churchill

In 1919, Churchill knew what Bolshevism was, as many at that time did or were beginning to learn. The primary difference was his ability to stand in a place of power and speak openly about it.

His command of the English language always left its indelible mark on listeners, especially when speaking about the evils of the world. During the time of the Paris Peace Conference, he perceptively and accurately labeled Bolshevism as a disease and a pestilence. He called the Bolsheviks a league of failures, the criminals, the morbid, the deranged and the distraught.

Before the House of Commons on Nov. 6, 1919, his vivid description of Vladimir Lenins return to Russia from Switzerland can hardly be forgotten.

Lenin was sent into Russia by the Germans in the same way that you might send a phial containing a culture of typhoid or cholera to be poured into the water supply of a great city, and it worked with amazing accuracy.

Individually, Churchills description of Lenin fits accurately with that of a psychopatha psychological term that had only recently been coined.

Implacable vengeance, rising from a frozen pity in a tranquil, sensible, matter-of-fact, good-humored integument! His weapon, logic; his mood, opportunist; his sympathies, cold and wide as the Arctic Ocean; his hatreds, tight as the hangmans noose. His purpose, to save the world; his method, to blow it up. Absolute principles, but readiness to change them. Apt at once to kill or learn; dooms and afterthoughts; ruffianism and philanthropy. But a good husband, a gentle guest; happy, his biographers assure us, to wash up the dishes or dandle the baby; as mildly amused to stalk a capercaillie as to butcher an emperor.

His ability never wavered with the threat of Adolf Hitler. Though the world was wary of Hitler, the preference of peace over war kept the nations in silence.

In May of 1935, Reeves Shaw, the editor of The Strand magazine, reached out to Churchill asking for his appraisement of Hitler, and requested he be as outspoken as you possibly can and to be absolutely frank in your judgement of his methods. His article was published a little more than a year after the Night of the Long Knives, where Hitler ordered 200 members of his military murdered in a three-day span.

He wrote, [H]istory will pronounce Hitler either a monster or a hero.  If, because the story is unfinished, because, indeed, its most fateful chapters have yet to be written, we are forced to dwell upon the dark side of his work and creed, we must never forget nor cease to hope for the bright alternative.

What was even more chilling, if not more accurate, was his appraisement of the German people after this massacre.

But the astounding thing is that the great German People, educated, scientific, philosophical, romantic  have not only not resented this horrible blood-bath, but have endorsed it and acclaimed its author with the honours not only of a sovereign but almost of a God. Here is the frightful fact before which what is left of European civilization must bow its head in shame, and what is more to practical purpose, in fear.

Three years later, when Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain returned from a conference with Hitler and Italian dictator Benito Mussolini, he stated My good friends, for the second time in our history, a British Prime Minister has returned from Germany bringing peace with honour. I believe it is peace for our time.  Go home and get a nice quiet sleep.

A year later, Germany invaded Poland, leading France to declare war on Germany. France would fall to Germany months later. Chamberlain, the idealist, was ousted, and the British people turned their hopes to the realist.

Ronald Reagan

The fall of Germany and Japan gave rise to the communist nations, in particular the USSR and Red China. In February of 1946, just six months after the end of World War II, the contents of George Kennans long telegram initiated the Western worlds policy of containment. The following month, Churchill delivered his Iron Curtain speech at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri.

From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic, an iron curtain has descended across the Continent.  From what I have seen of our Russian friends and Allies during the war, I am convinced that there is nothing they admire so much as strength, and there is nothing for which they have less respect than for military weakness.

His advice proved true. Regardless, by 1950, the United States had decreased its military strength to less than 10 percent of what it had been in September of 1945. The massive reduction proved fatal at the start of the Korean War. The idea that the world had finally reached a peace for our time was no more true than when Chamberlain first proclaimed it.

Presidents Harry S. Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard M. Nixon, Gerald Ford, and Jimmy Carter inherited the policy of containment that became weaker and weaker over each administration. The weariness caused by the Vietnam War and its mismanagement paved the way for the idealist, Carter, who embraced the ultimate idealism: socialism. His time in office proved that the path of least resistance, in particular with Iran, was a path most costly.

Ronald Reagan was a realist who pinpointed not only the enemy abroad, but also the enemy within. In his 1964 speech, A Time for Choosing, he strongly stated, Were at war with the most dangerous enemy that has ever faced mankind in his long climb from the swamp to the stars, and its been said if we lose that war, and in so doing lose this way of freedom of ours, history will record with the greatest astonishment that those who had the most to lose did the least to prevent its happening.

Sixteen years later, he would become president, much to the chagrin of idealists. He was a maverick who could cost mankind its existence. He spoke harshly and without hesitance of the Soviet Union.

In his 1983 speech to the National Association of Evangelicals, he called the Soviet Union the focus of evil in the modern world and the evil empire. He then directed the attention to the American people.

If history teaches anything, it teaches that simple minded appeasement or wishful thinking about our adversaries is folly. It means the betrayal of our past, the squandering of our freedom.

Later that same year, Soviet military pilots shot down Korean Air Lines flight 007, killing 269 people. Reagan did not hold back in his televised condemnation of the act and the regime. He went to the source by saying, It was an act of barbarism, born of a society which wantonly disregards individual rights and the value of human life and seeks constantly to expand and dominate other nations. He then made a profound statement when he said, We shouldnt be surprised by such inhuman brutality.

Reagan understood that the people behind the government, and the ideology they embraced, were one and the same. Whatever barbarism displayed would not and could not be a surprise for Reagan; anything less would tend toward idealism.

The surprise came nonetheless through the rise of Mikhail Gorbachev, a man with whom Reagan could finally work and speak directly to. And he did speak directly to him on numerous occasions, but never so effectively than when he did so without Gorbachevs presence.

Before the Brandenburg Gate in West Berlin in June of 1987, Reagan delivered one of the most powerful, and now most iconic speeches ever to be delivered by a president, or any leader.

He spoke of hope and possible freedom. He commented on how the world had moved on and become better while leaving the Soviet Union behind. His rhetoric was different, yet the same. He was not combative, yet he was resolute. It was an invitation to join the rest of the world.

For decades, these two countries had only seen the worst in each other; but now Reagan was placing an idealistic idea into the heads of Sovietsand Gorbachev, most importantly. He hoped Gorbachev would look upon the contents of Americas glass with hope, and not suspicion.

Interestingly, the most demanding part of his speech did not come at the end, it came in the middle. The placement proved a sense of sincerity, rather than a flash of brevity.

With the Berlin Wall behind him, he made his invitation: General Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, if you seek liberalization, come here to this gate. Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!

The Berlin Wall was torn down two years later.

The same year Reagan made that speech, Donald Trumps The Art of the Deal was published. As the USSR fell into ruin, China began to rise. As the Chinese Communist Party has continued to intimidate, if not dominate, other nations, especially within Southeast Asia, China has gone uncontested. Despite the intelligence community raising alarm about the Chinese threat, leaders have continued nearly unalarmed.

Trump has been vocal about the human rights abuses and chaotic behaviors of particular regimes. During his speeches at the United Nations (U.N.), he has gone so far as to call the regimes of Iran and North Korea murderous and depraved, respectively.

In front of the U.N., he threatened that if America was forced to defend itself or its allies, that it would have no choice than to totally destroy North Korea. He declared in 2017 that rocketman [Kim Jong-un] is on a suicide mission for himself and his regime.

He has condemned Irans regime as a corrupt dictatorship behind the false guise of a democracy, has supported its protestors, and withdrawn the United States from the Iran Nuclear Deal. His verbal treatment of Syria and the Assad regime has not been very different. All of which have been backed up with some type of military action.

On China, however, it has been a different tone, one that continues to come under scrutiny from both the left and the right. The closest Trump has come to denouncing Chinas human rights abuses is by expressing dismay that some governments with egregious human rights records sit on the U.N. Human Rights Council. There are 47 states on the council, of which numerous have such records.

There is no argument that China and the United States are the two great powers of the world. On the grand scale, however, there are few regimes in the world that inflict more human rights abuses than China.

Its a question worth asking whether the leader of the free world sees the content of Chinas glass with hope or suspicion. Since becoming president, it has appeared to be the former, though the recent COVID-19 outbreak may have changed that.

Trump has continued to attack China from an economic angle, though it remains to be seen whether he believes economic retaliation against the Chinese Communist Party will succeed where words fail.

Every leader throughout history has had their enemy. Some conquer them. Some fail to conquer. Some fail to even try. Undoubtedly, the Chinese Communist Party is among the great evils of this world.

The question is not whether Trump is an idealist as Chamberlain or Carter. The question is whether he can rise to the level of Churchill or Reagan.

Dustin Bass is the co-founder of The Sons of History, a YouTube series and weekly podcast about all things history. He is a former-journalist-turned-entrepreneur. He is also an author.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
A parliamentary aspirant on the ticket of the New Patriotic (NPP) in the Akyem Oda constituency, has condemned the contents of an audio tape aired on a local radio station, relating to the upcoming NPP primaries in the area.



Alexander Akwasi Acquah described the contents of the audio, which sought to convince NPP delegates to vote for him to represent the governing party in the Oda constituency of the Eastern Region, based on ethnic lines, as divisive.



He said such remarks have the tendency to create disunity among the party. supporters.



My campaign team dissociates itself completely from the content of the audio, and condemn it unequivocally.



We wish to also state, categorically that no member of my campaign team is the source of that audio, the aspirant wrote in a statement copied to the media on Friday.



The audio was reportedly aired at about 9 pm on Thursday on Akyemansa FM, a private radio station in the Akyem Oda municipality.



The parliamentary hopeful, who is also the CEO of The Community Hospitals (TCH) Group stated, As an astute entrepreneur and a trained communicator, I have had dealings with people from diverse cultural, ethnic and religious backgrounds and therefore, would not approve of comments that border on disunity among the people of Akyem Oda; a proud, hospitable and loving people.



The audio is in bad taste and does not in any way represent my nature, persona, and vision for the Constituency. The language and sentiments expressed in the audio are shameful and unacceptable. I strongly condemn this act and call on all well-meaning people in the Akyem Oda constituency and it environs to disregard the audio and treat it with the contempt it deserves, he added.



Akyem Oda NPP primaries



Mr Acquah, a former journalist with Accra-based Peace FM, is contesting the incumbent MP, William Agyapong Quaittoo, who has served two terms and is bidding for a third term.



The primary, which was originally scheduled for April 25, has been postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.



The party hierarchy is expected to announce a new date for the conduct of the internal polls before the December general elections.

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
Protesters demonstrate in Huntington Beach on April 17 against stay-home orders that were put in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)

It's hard to think of a group of people  not politicians or public figures of any kind, but just normal people  who have drawn more howls of protest from our letter writers in such a short period of time than the crowds clamoring for an end to coronavirus-caused lockdowns in various cities, including right here in Los Angeles.

Since President Trump called on his Twitter followers to "liberate" certain states whose residents are under stay-home orders, leading to a protest in Huntington Beach on April 17 in which demonstrators appeared to disregard social distancing rules, nearly 100 readers have written letters condemning these acts of civil disobedience that they say put the public's health at risk. A sizable portion of the letter writers suggested that any participants who become infected with COVID-19 forgo medical treatment.

Richard R. McCurdy of Burbank is one of a handful of readers to mention Darwinism:

Nobody likes the COVID-19 restrictions, which are designed to mitigate the spread of the deadly coronavirus. However, those who protest their loss of "freedom" and violate these restrictions will undoubtedly risk infecting themselves and others.

The inability or unwillingness of these people to realize this may well be a cruel manifestation of Darwinian natural selection.

Matt Kennedy of Pasadena criticizes the L.A. Times for covering these protests:

If you aren't going to give coverage to every mentally ill person screaming something crazy in public, you shouldn't be giving coverage to these equally unhinged groups whose message is actually harmful. Did you learn nothing from 2016?

If you didn't shine a light on every root of ugliness, they would not grow into a forest of collective misery. The only way to deal with this kind of misinformed and misanthropic message is to shun it. Pay it no mind. Don't publicize it.

Michael Lindley of Long Beach notes an irony:

Strange how so many Trump supporters who normally carry pro-life placards are now less interested in life and backing choice.

Story continues

Noelle De Vita of Valencia asks for names:

The next time you cover these selfish protesters complaining about the Californian government trying to save lives, make sure you get pictures of everybody's faces so the rest of us know who to avoid like the plague.

Los Angeles resident Sandrine Orabona worries about the right to protest:

I continue to read about "right-wing" protests against COVID-19 mitigation measures, and it is baffling to me that there has been less coverage of the "left-wing" socially distant (car) protests with people begging for financial support in the form of rent and mortgage suspension.

We are viewing these gatherings through one lens only, and this is stoking "liberal" outrage. Some are calling for an end to these protests and even locking up the protesters.

This puts our right to civil disobedience at risk and is in effect censoring a holistic view of the solutions needed when putting social mitigation measures in place for an extended amount of time.
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
BELLEVILLE  Iconic drive-in movie theaters, peaking in popularity in the 1950s and becoming increasingly more scarce since the 1970s, could be just the relief people need amid continued efforts to curb the spread of the coronavirus  that is, if Gov. J.B. Pritzker allows Illinois nine operational drive-in theaters to open come May.

This could be derailed, said Skyview Drive-In owner Steve Bloomer, who was hoping to open his location in Belleville Friday, May 1. If the governor still says that drive-ins cant open, well, then were kind of screwed.

Although Pritzker extended the stay-at-home order last Thursday, drive-in movie theaters were not among the list of lifted restrictions, but Bloomer hopes that his efforts to work with other owners of drive-in theaters in Illinois will pan out.

Instead of just me, talking to my state legislators, I have a letter from all nine drive-in theaters, he said.

Im just hoping that maybe the governor will take a look at that and (think) maybe it would be a good thing for people to go to. It would be such a great relief to the people to have some place to go thats totally safe.

Bloomer noted that some nearby states, such as Kentucky and Tennessee, already have allowed drive-in theaters to open. If the same were allowed in Illinois, he already has established several precautions and safety measures for movie goers.

One measure would be to restrict vehicle capacity to half the normal number, with one vehicle at each pole instead of two. This would reduce the maximum number of vehicles from 600 to 300 on any given night.

Those poles are 20 feet apart, he said. So, if you figure a car is five feet wide, that leaves fifteen feet between each car.

Other changes would be limited concessions, closing the playground and additional outdoor restroom facilities, among others.

My employees (safety) and the safety of everyone else out there is of paramount importance, Bloomer said.

Im not against being open and making some money, but I dont want to do it and jeopardize anybodys health. So, if I can do both, provide an outlet for people to get out of their homes and do something safe with their families, I think thats a good thing.

Bloomers grandfather, Frank Bloomer, built the Skyview Drive-In with his brothers, Tom and Leslie, in 1949. In the mid-80s, Bloomer Amusement Co. owned 17 theaters in the area, including the Starlight Drive-In and Cameo theaters in Alton. The brothers also owned Bel-Air Drive-In, from 1982 until it closed in 1987, in Pontoon Beach, and Roxana Cine, in Roxana, where it showed its final film, as Kerasotes Theatres, in 2002. More information on the iconic Skyview Drive-In and others can be found by clicking on the following link: https://www.thetelegraph.com/news/article/Local-movie-goers-share-fond-memories-of-15226149.php

Projected showtimes and more information about Skyview Drive-In can be found at www.skyview-drive-in.com and facebook.com/SkyviewDriveInTheater or by calling 618-233-4400.
By Tim Hepher, Marcelo Rochabrun and Tatiana Bautzer PARIS/SAO PAULO (Reuters) - A $4.2 billion deal for Boeing to buy the civil jetmaking arm of Brazil's Embraer has hit a roadblock over implementation, threatening its collapse barring a last-minute breakthrough on Friday, people familiar with the talks said. The companies have been in discussions to assess whether various contractual conditions have been met for the tie-up, including the way a new venture 80%-owned by Boeing would be set up and funded, and have the rest of Friday to resolve the issue

By Tim Hepher, Marcelo Rochabrun and Tatiana Bautzer

PARIS/SAO PAULO (Reuters) - A $4.2 billion deal for Boeing to buy the civil jetmaking arm of Brazil's Embraer has hit a roadblock over implementation, threatening its collapse barring a last-minute breakthrough on Friday, people familiar with the talks said.

The companies have been in discussions to assess whether various contractual conditions have been met for the tie-up, including the way a new venture 80%-owned by Boeing would be set up and funded, and have the rest of Friday to resolve the issue.

The deal also depends on delayed approval from the European Union which has said it needs until August to complete its anti-trust probe after the deal was cleared by other regulators, but this is not seen as the main stumbling block.

Neither company agreed to comment.

Under a provisional agreement signed early last year, Boeing and Embraer had until April 24 - or 15 months after the initial signing - to complete the deal and implement a number of covenants and conditions on both sides.

People familiar with the matter stressed that the deadline expires at midnight Sao Paulo time and that a deal could still be reached to resolve outstanding differences, though two sources said the talks were not progressing quickly.

Embraer said this week it was in talks with Boeing to extend the April 24 deadline for closing the deal and that there were no assurances about whether or when it would close.

At stake is a key plank of Boeing's strategy for expanding its engineering and industrial base as it faces domestic talks over federal support for the U.S. aerospace industry.

Shares in Embraer fell 11% in line with a sell-off on the Brazil market after the justice minister resigned accusing President Jair Bolsonaro of interference.

Shares in Boeing were down 5.9%.

Reuters reported last month that weak markets had raised urgent questions over the fate of the deal as aviation reels from the coronavirus crisis. A drop in Embraer shares and cash concerns at Boeing, driven by the impact of the epidemic on air travel, have undermined the deal's economics.

One source familiar with the talks said Boeing remained committed to the deal and that it would be complex to reverse the carve-out of Embraer's commercial arm, which makes the E2 series of regional jets competing with the Airbus A220.

Analysts have not ruled out a second attempt to complete the strategic tie-up if the deal collapses, with Embraer looking increasingly isolated after Airbus bought its main Canadian rival and Boeing seeking a broader and cheaper engineering base.

The agreement has a termination fee of $75 million, rising to $100 million if it is for anti-trust reasons, according to a copy of the merger agreement filed to U.S. authorities.

(Reporting by Tim Hepher, Marcelo Rochabrun, Tatiana Bautzer, editing by Louise Heavens and Elaine Hardcastle)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Dr. Imran Siddiqui, a Muslim, is director of the Desert Valley Medical Group in Victorville. His days have been long and stressful since the COVID-19 pandemic began. With the start of the Islamic month of fasting, Ramadan, on Friday, he will have to deal with an additional layer of difficulty. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

When Dr. Imran Siddiqui went to bed Thursday night, he set the alarm for 4:30 a.m.

As the director for both the Desert Valley Medical Group in Victorville and a nearby nursing home, Siddiquis days have been long and stressful since the COVID-19 pandemic began its deadly assault on California more than six weeks ago. But its faith as much as duty that will require him to rise early each morning for the next month.

Because in addition to being a doctor, Siddiqui is a devout Muslim, and like thousands of other faithful first responders, he will be waking before dawn for a large breakfast, then going without food and water throughout the daylight hours of Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting that ends May 23.

My weakness in Ramadan is not food, its not water, Siddiqui said. Its coffee. I need to have a cup of coffee in the morning. Or two cups.

The fast is obligatory, one of the five pillars of Islam. Yet for frontline healthcare workers, observing it could be extra difficult this year. The novel coronavirus has overwhelmed emergency rooms and intensive care units, infecting more than 9,000 U.S. healthcare providers and killing more than two dozen, according to a study released earlier this month by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Uneven reporting across the country, the CDC added, means the real numbers are almost certainly much higher.

Dr. Imran Siddiqui attends to a COVID-19 patient. His Islamic faith as much as duty will require him to rise early each morning during Ramadan. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

And that has some doctors and Islamic scholars questioning whether working long hours in a challenging environment without food and water is wise.

This has been a discussion, said Dr. Faisal Qazi, a neurologist and an assistant professor at Western University and UC Riverside. In Ramadan fasting, youre not hydrated, so its different than other forms of intermittent fasting.

The use of personal protective equipment, including masks, could increase the chances of dehydration. Religious officials in the United Arab Emirates have said that those treating COVID-19 patients there are exempt from fasting, but most Islamic leaders in the United States insist healthy caregivers here should have little problem fasting.

Story continues

This COVID-19 situation doesnt really change that normality, said Dr. Aasim I. Padela, an emergency medicine physician at the University of Chicago Medical Center and director of the Initiative on Islam and Medicine. Now what has been a concern is that frontline workers like me who are fasting and making very critical decisions or surgeons who are making critical decisions  people are saying it might be more difficult, I might become more dehydrated because I have to wear all these extra layers of protection.

Thats a credible concern although theres no data that I know of to show that.

Dr. Imran Siddiqui puts on his personal protective equipment at Desert Valley Medical Group in Victorville. The use of PPE, including masks, could increase the chances of dehydration during Ramadan. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

In any case, Islamic law allows followers to opt out of a fast under certain circumstances, such as illness or other hardship, and make it up later in the year. The strain of working in a COVID-19 ward would certainly qualify for an exemption.

Fasting is hard, said Muzammil Siddiqi, religious director for the Islamic Society of Orange County. But some things are much harder. If it is for their work, for their health, that will be an acceptable excuse.

Dr. Muna Beg wont be looking for an out. An ICU doctor who treats COVID-19 patients at two hospitals in Alameda County, Beg has been observing the Ramadan fast since she was 7. And while the first few days are always tough, after that for Muslims in Ramadan, its Zen-like, she said. Its a very personal experience.

I dont have a clinical study to support this, but I can definitely attest to the fact that if youre in a place where Ive eliminated food or whatever my crutch might be, I find that hypersense of awareness does make me more present.

Siddiqui agrees.

You are more and more focused. You dont waste time, he said. I feel like our religion is a boost. I dont know if its a spiritual thing or if its something in the air, but its a little bit energizing.

Muslim medical personnel have been on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19 all over the world. The first four doctors to die from the virus in England were Muslim immigrants, and in New York City, a hotbed of the coronavirus outbreak in the United States, more than 10% of the pharmacists, clinical laboratory technicians and doctors are Muslim, according to the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding.

The percentage is even greater in Michigan where healthcare workers have paid a high price with more than a thousand employees of the Henry Ford Health System testing positive.

The first two weeks in April were as challenging as its been, said Dr. Mohammed Rehman, a neurologist who has seen his time in the ICU nearly double this month. But I also saw a lot of people come together during this.

Rehman also sees the Ramadan fast as something that will strengthen, not weaken, him.

It was meant to reconnect you back with your faith, its not meant to put a burden on that you cant even function anymore, he said.

Dr. Imran Siddiqui plans to fast during Ramadan this year, despite the COVID-19 pandemic. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

The greater challenge could center on the five prayers  at dawn, midday, afternoon, sunset and night  that Muslims are called to make each day. Since its inconvenient to bring a prayer rug into a hospital now and inappropriate for a doctor to strip out of their PPE, Padela will substitute a towel or clean sheet for a rug and pray in his protective clothing and mask.

Beg, the Alameda County ICU doctor, will sometimes use a chair rather than risk contaminating her PPE by praying on the ground.

The whole world is stretching their PPE further than I wish it was, she said. And if she cant leave a patient to pray at the right time, shell combine two prayers when she can get away.

The way my mom always taught me about Islam is God is not cruel, she said. So whatever situation youre in, you should be able to be adaptable.

COVID-19 has put limits on that though. In normal times, many Muslims would gather with family or in mosques for the evening prayer, but social distancing regulations have forced mosques to close, leaving the faithful to pray at home.

I cant even visit my parents now, Rehman said. I cant go anywhere. So the community events, I would say, I will miss this year quite a bit.

The coronavirus is not just punishing those who are infected and those who are treating them. Siddiqui said its also punishing the families. Each night he has to strip in the garage and put his medical clothes in the washer, then take a shower before he can greet his wife. And whatever plans they have for the evening are often interrupted by calls from the hospital or nursing home.

Doctor, this patients coughing, hes feverish. Should we test for COVID? What do you want us to do? Siddiqui said, imitating the kinds of calls that have become a nightly routine.

Its not just coming to work. The mental toll that this has taken on me and my colleagues is unprecedented. I feel like just, you know, crying almost.

For the next 30 days, hell be handling that stress with both a renewed faith and an empty stomach.
A financial analyst at the Swiss banking giant UBS advised Monday that Disney will likely wait until January 2021 to reopen its parks and resorts, the Los Angeles Times reports.

The big picture: At least 43,000 unionized Disney World workers have been furloughed since April 19, as the company began increasing its access to cash to weather the storm caused by the novel coronavirus.

When reopening, UBS predicted that Disney will only see half of the park attendance it garnered in 2019, per the Times.

UBS predicted that Disney will only see half of the park attendance it garnered in 2019, per the Times. "We believe Parks' profitability will be impaired for a longer period of time given the lingering effects of the outbreak and now assume an opening date of Jan. 1 as our base case," UBS managing director of investment research John Hodulik wrote in his Monday report, per USA Today.

The other side: JPMorgan analyst Alexia Quadrani told Barron's in mid-April that she assumed domestic parks would reopen on June 1, noting that Disney World hotels were accepting reservations on that date.

Flashback: Disney closed its parks and resorts on March 27 "until further notice," after originally shuttering them for a month.

The company said it would pay hourly cast members until April 18.

Go deeper: Disney becomes one of Hollywood's biggest coronavirus victims
Ukrainian restaurateurs appeal to gov't to allow opening summer terraces amid quarantine

15:30, 25.04.20 5581

It's a chance for the industry to survive, they stress.
A dizzying number of new acronyms have entered the business lexicon these days with new ones popping up every other day representing all sorts of COVID-19 financial support programs.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 24/4/2020 (627 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A dizzying number of new acronyms have entered the business lexicon these days with new ones popping up every other day representing all sorts of COVID-19 financial support programs.

Many business people now do not miss a beat when they hear someone use the acronym CEBA (Canada Emergency Business Account) or BCAP (Business Credit Availability Program).

Its not clear yet how the newest one, CECRA (Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance) will be pronounced.

But the programs are no joke and will likely form the basis of the economic recovery to come.

With most non-essential business shut down entirely for the past four weeks, its not that shocking to hear one of the eligibility components of the CECRA is that businesses must show their revenue has declined by 70 per cent.

The shock may be over and the hard work of the recovery is just starting to get underway.

This week, the Manitoba and Winnipeg chambers of commerce, along with Word Trade Centre Winnipeg, held two virtual town halls on Zoom with representatives from the federal Crown corporation banks  BDC and EDC  walking participants through some of the administrative requirements for the different support programs.

The banks are very involved as well. An RBC representative participated in the Winnipeg Chamber/World Trade Centre event  with close to 200 people participating.

Mariette Mulaire, the CEO of World Trade Centre Winnipeg, said that by now most businesses are aware of whats out there and have likely conferred with whatever financial professionals they would normally work with.

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In an interview, Lynda Taylor, BMOs regional president of business banking for the Prairies said its one thing to apply for the generic programs, but the bankers know better than most that its a unique situation for every business.

"We are making sure were having great conversations because strong customer relationships is the foundation for us at BMO," she said. "We want our customers to know we are there in the good times and make sure we can be great partners when challenges arise."

Danny Menard, BMOs vice-president of business banking for Winnipeg, said his team is calling every single one of its banking customers.

The federal government programs are designed to "inject liquidity" into the market  which means making sure there is cash on hand to pay current bills so that business can carry on  and the banks are keen to make sure that every one of their customers actually applies for the programs.

They are even going out of their way to urge businesses to apply when their records show if one of their clients hasnt yet applied for CEBA or BCAP or CEWS (Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy), not to mention CECRA.

martin.cash@freepress.mb.ca
KAMPALA  Roke Telkom, a Uganda-based telecommunications company and a public service provider of internet for voice and data communications has today contributed UGX 20 million to the National COVID-19 Taskforce team to help in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic in Uganda.

The contribution was delivered by the companys Chief Commercial Officer (CCO), Michael Mukasa and Brand Manager (BM), Michelle Baine to Hon. Mary Karooro Okurut, the Minister in Charge of General Duties, Office of the Prime Minister.

Speaking at the handover, the CCO, Michael Mukasa explained that the Roke as a Home-Grown Ugandan brand stands together with country and those affected by the ongoing pandemic and continues to aim to reach out and extend support to fellow countrymen as part of the greater call to unite in fighting the pandemic in Uganda.

He also expressed the companys appreciation towards the government of Uganda for the milestones achieved so far with more than 40 recoveries.

Our appreciation goes to the government, the Taskforce, the Ministry of Health and all medical personnel around the country for their efforts during these unprecedented times, thank you! Mukasa said, adding that, We believe the taskforce needs all the support it can get, therefore it is paramount that we join hands in meeting the countrys current needs as we lighted the burden for the many of whom are dealing with the big challenge of being unable to make ends meet.

Hon. Mary Karooro Okurut, the Minister in Charge of General Duties, Office of the Prime Minister, expressed the governments gratitude towards contributions received, thanking Roke Telkom, as a Home-Grown internet service provider for joining the campaign ang showing solidarity towards the government and fellow countrymen in these harsh times.

As we continue on this journey towards recovery for our country as we fight COVID-19, it is with great delight that we receive support from a cross-section of businesses, organizations and individuals, Karooro remarked, adding that, it is also a gratifying to see local brands like Roke Telkom participate, we truly appreciate the gesture.

The government has received donations in the form of cash, new vehicles, foodstuffs, sanitizers, essential medical supplies like personal protective gear and other items from various organizations, and on behalf of the government.

Total contributions hit the UGX. 5 billon mark this week.

Michelle Baine, the Brand Manager, Roke Telkom told media that Roke Telkom had already taken other initiatives to support Ugandans during the pandemic by making costs of acquiring internet affordable. She added that this was flanked by provision of zero-rating of business, productivity and education applications on all Roke Telkom internet links for Businesses, Indivisuals and Edu-centers and individuals to enable businesses thrive and students access learning materials.

Roke Telkom urges it customers and the general public to take necessary precautions during this period in accordance with Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization guidelines, in order to remain healthy and stay safe.

Related
Photo: The Canadian Press President Donald Trump listens during a briefing about the coronavirus in the James Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House, Thursday, April 23, 2020, in Washington.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday warned doctors against prescribing a malaria drug touted by President Donald Trump for treating the new coronavirus except in hospitals and research studies.

In an alert, regulators flagged reports of sometimes fatal heart side effects among coronavirus patients taking hydroxychloroquine or the related drug chloroquine. The decades-old drugs, also prescribed for lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, can cause a number of side effects, including heart rhythm problems, severely low blood pressure and muscle or nerve damage.

The warning comes as doctors at a New York hospital published a report that heart rhythm abnormalities developed in most of 84 coronavirus patients treated with hydroxychloroquine and the antibiotic azithromycin, a combo Trump has promoted.

Both drugs are known to sometimes alter the heartbeat in dangerous ways, and their safety or ability to help people with COVID-19 is unknown. A National Institutes of Health experts panel earlier this week recommended against taking that drug combo except in a formal study because of the side effects potential.

Last month, the FDA authorized limited use of the malaria drugs for hospitalized patients with COVID-19 who arent enrolled in ongoing research. The FDA said the drugs risks are manageable when patients are carefully screened and monitored by doctors. A number of studies are testing hydroxychloroquine as a treatment or for prevention of COVID-19.

Regulators said they are now investigating dangerous side effects and deaths reported with the malaria drugs to poison control centres and other health authorities.

It is important that health care providers are aware of the risks of serious and potentially life-threatening heart rhythm problems that can occur with these drugs, the FDA said in a statement. The agency did not specify the number of reports it has received of side effects or deaths.

Calls to U.S. poison control centres about the malaria drugs increased last month to 79, compared to 52 in March 2019, according to Dr. Christopher Hoyte of the Rocky Mountain Poison Center in Denver, Colorado. The problems reported include abnormal heart rhythms, seizures, nausea and vomiting, Hoyte said.

Trump has repeatedly touted hydroxychloroquine during his regular coronavirus briefings, suggesting its skeptics would be proven wrong. He has offered patient testimonials that the drug is a lifesaver.

But a number of early coronavirus studies have suggested problems or no benefit.

In Friday's report in the journal Nature Medicine, doctors at New York University and NYU Langone Health found a significant prolonging of what's called the heart's QT interval two to five days after coronavirus patients were given usual doses of hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin. The drugs can alter the QT interval, or the time it takes the heart to charge between beats. When that time is too long, it can trigger a rhythm problem that can lead to sudden death.

Nine of the 84 patients had severe prolongation of this interval. Four patients died from organ failure but there was no evidence heart problems contributed. Severe disease or other health problems may play a role in whether the heartbeat abnormality develops, the researchers speculated.

The results show how important it is that these drugs only be used in a study where patients are closely tracked, said one independent expert, Dr. Rais Vohra, an emergency medicine specialist at the Fresno branch of the University of California, San Francisco.

That combination really sets you up for having a problem with the heart, he said. My colleagues and I are concerned. People are self-medicating and coming down with very predictable side effects on the heart.

Another recent analysis involving 368 patients in U.S. veterans hospitals found no benefit from hydroxychloroquine  and more deaths. The report was not a rigorous test of the drug and results have not yet been reviewed by other scientists but are the largest so far of its use in COVID-19 patients.

Last month, the federal government accepted more than 30 million doses of hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine donated to the strategic national stockpile by drugmakers Sandoz and Bayer. The Federal Emergency Management Agency said Friday it has sent out more than 14 million doses of hydroxychloroquine to state and local health officials. Earlier this month the agency reported that it had sent 19 million doses. The agency didnt explain the discrepancy between the two figures.

Accepting the donation required sign off by both the FDA and the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, or BARDA, a unit of HHS tasked with procuring treatments to combat bioterrorism and infectious diseases.

Earlier this week, former BARDA director, Rick Bright, said he was demoted from his job leading the agency because he resisted political pressure to allow widespread use of hydroxychloroquine. He has called for a federal investigation and reinstatement to his original job.
Chinese military sends medical teams, aid to Myanmar, Pakistan and Laos to fight COVID-19

Global Times

By Yang Sheng Source:Global Times Published: 2020/4/24 20:25:33

China sent military medical teams to Pakistan, Myanmar and Laos to fight COVID-19 on Friday. Analysts say this shows the high-level of mutual trust and friendly relations between China and these countries, and that the People's Liberation Army (PLA) medical teams are the most experienced force in China in handling public health crises.

The Ministry of National Defense of China released a statement on Friday that the Central Military Commission approved the Chinese Air Force to dispatch aircraft to deliver emergency medical supplies and professional medical teams to the three countries for anti-pandemic efforts.

A medical team from the PLA arrived in Yangon, Myanmar on Friday morning, bringing medical supplies including test kits and KN95 medical masks to help local military forces.

According to China Central Television, the Chinese military medical team consists of six experts, who arrived at the Yangon International Airport by a Y-9 military transport aircraft together with the supplies.

This is not the first time that China has helped the three countries fight the virus. According to the Xinhua News Agency, a team of Chinese medical experts who were aiding Myanmar in its fight against COVID-19 returned on Wednesday to Kunming, capital of Southwest China's Yunnan Province.

The team, consisting of 12 medical experts from Yunnan, was established by the National Health Commission. They arrived in Yangon on April 8, with a batch of donated medical supplies.

An eight-member medical expert team organized by the Chinese government also arrived in Islamabad, Pakistan on March 28 to help the country fight the pandemic.

A team of Chinese medical experts, along with medical supplies, arrived in the Lao capital Vientiane by charter plane on the morning of March 29.

When China was fighting a tough fight against COVID-19 during the early stages of the pandemic, the three countries provided various forms of aid to China.

The Xinhua News Agency reported on March 1 that the government of Myanmar had donated 200 tons of rice to China as part of humanitarian aid.

On February 1, Pakistan was one of the first countries to airlift medical masks from its public hospitals to China, even though it faced a shortage of masks.

The PLA medical teams are much more experienced than most medical teams in China, since they accomplished a series of tough missions in the past, including the fight against SARS in 2003, providing medical aid after the Wenchuan Earthquake in 2008 and the battle in Africa against the Ebola virus, as well as many UN peacekeeping missions, said Song Zhongping, a military expert and TV commentator.

According to the World Health Organization on Friday, Pakistan now has 10,815 confirmed cases, Myanmar has 127 and Laos has 19.

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In Spain, some Costa del Sol beaches are set to re-open on Sunday for the first time in six weeks for parents and their children. Marbella and Mijas on the Costa del Sol are among municipalities who have said they can enjoy walks on the sand.

The news comes as the number of new confirmed coronavirus infections today in Spain was 3,995, much lower than yesterday's 6,740 new confirmed cases.

Spain also saw the number of new coronavirus deaths rise by 378 today, slightly higher than yesterday's 367, which was the lowest number of new deaths in over a month.

The new figures brought Spain's total number of confirmed cases to 223,759 and the number of total deaths to 22,902.

However, research done by experts at a Spanish university has predicted that the country could have more than 2 million cases on Covid-19, almost ten times more than the official figures suggest.

Meanwhile, Spain's King King Felipe IV was photographed yesterday wearing a face mask, gloves and his military uniform while visiting the quarters of the Spanish Royal Guard in Madrid.

Police tape had already been removed in areas like the popular getaway of Cala de Mijas on Saturday ahead of some of the beaches reopening tomorrow.

In other popular areas for British tourists like Benidorm, the situation was still unclear with local police advising callers on Saturday: 'If the police tape has been removed you can use the beach but if not you can't.'

Local authorities have pointed out that in any case, the only people allowed onto the beach will be children under 15 with one of their parents or guardians who live no further than one kilometer away.

The partial lockdown de-escalation is part of Spain's relaxation of the rules on kids' outings.

Some beaches on the Costa del Sol will begin to reopen tomorrow, six weeks after being closed during the coronavirus lockdown

Swimming in the sea remains off-limits and all outings, including trips to the beach for people who live near the coastline, will be limited to one a day and a maximum of an hour between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m.

Spain's strict coronavirus lockdown has meant that most children have spent the last six weeks cooped up indoors unless they were lucky enough to live in a house with a garden.

Marbella town hall officials said beaches were being opened to children with a parent so they could use all available open spaces and ensure social distancing. Parks and children's play areas in the resort will remain off limits.

For now, parents with children under the age of 15 will be the only people allowed onto the beaches

The northern city of Gijon has also announced it will re-open its beaches to children out with their mum or dad as well as its parks, although children's play areas will remain off limits.

Marbella mayor Angeles Munoz said in a Twitter video directed at the area's kids: 'From this Sunday you are going to be able to leave home with an adult and under certain conditions to stroll, enjoy fresh air and play with your toys.

'Thanks for behaving so well over these weeks. You have done it very well.'

Spain's King Filipe visits the Spanish Royal Guard's headquarters in Madrid wearing a face mask, gloves and his military uniform

Pictures shared by the Spanish Royal Household show him saluting members of the royal guard who are also wearing PPE, demonstrating equipment that they have been using to patrol the streets, such as drones, and inspecting the protective equipment they have been given.

During the coronavirus crisis, the Spanish Royal Guard have been undertaking a different role to what they are accustomed to.

The Guardia Real is the military unit that serves the King of Spain, King Filipe, but during the crisis they have been tasked with patrolling the streets, according to Euro Weekly News.

The have left their typical role that involves guarding and providing an escort for the Spanish royal family or visiting foreign dignitaries, and instead have been patrolling the streets of foot or on horseback, enforcing the country's lockdown restrictions.

They have also been given the task of disinfecting buildings, such as care homes for the elderly or other communities classes as vulnerable, which includes convents of nuns in the at-risk age group.

The 1,500 members of the royal guard are taken from Spain's Army, Navy, Air Force and associated military corps, according to Euro Weekly, and have found citizens are less uneasy when stopped by members of the royal than the police or Guardia Civil, who are more unpopular in Spain.

King Filipe was seen inspecting the protective equipment the Guardia Real have been given for their new role of patrolling the streets and enforcing the country's lockdown measures

A study carried out at a university in Spain has estimated that more than two million people in the country could be infected with the coronavirus, around ten times more than the country's official figures.

The coronavirus spread through Spain quickly and widely without being detected, especially among the elderly, experts have said.

While they stressed it was too early to carry out a detailed analysis, the experts pointed to the country's sociable lifestyle and close ties between young and older family members as significant factors in the virus's spread.

Spain has been one of the hardest-hit countries in the pandemic, with official figures putting it second only to the U.S. in terms of cases, with 223,759.

Experts at Universities throughout the country have been researching why the virus spread so effectively through Spain, and have found a number of different reasons behind this.

Low mortality, high spread

While Spain has the world's highest coronavirus death toll per capita after Belgium, its mortality rate - the percentage of infected patients who die - stands at 10.4 percent, below other hard-hit nations like Italy, France and Britain.

'The problem here is the size of the epidemic, the great quantity of infections which we had at the epidemic peak,' said Fernando Rodriguez, a public health professor at Madrid's Autonomous University.

Only the United States has more confirmed COVID-19 cases than Spain, although national variations depend greatly on the number of tests that are carried out.

A study carried out by the Polytechnic University of Catalonia estimated that more than two million of Spain's 47 million people are infected.

While it has a strong primary care network, hospitals have fewer beds than the European average, which forced them to improvise during the pandemic

Late detection

The virus 'circulated under the radar a lot' before the government ordered a near total nationwide lockdown on March 14, said the head of epidemiology at Barcelona's Hospital Clinic, Antoni Trilla.

Unusually warm weather helped spread the virus.

'The weather was fantastic during the last weeks of February and the first week of March and people were out on the streets, very close to one another,' said Rodriguez.

This sped up the spread of the virus and 'in very little time there was community transmission,' he added.

Kisses and hugs

Lifestyle could also have played a role in a country where people spend a lot of time outside in groups eating out, having drinks, attending religious processions, protesting or just going for a walk.

In Spain, as in Italy, 'people hug and touch each other a lot, here people are constantly kissing, even at work,' said Ildefonso Hernandez, a professor of public health at the Miguel Hernandez University in Alicante.

In addition, Spain has the most people living in flats of any European Union country, according to EU statistics agency Eurostat.

'Our cities are built vertically, there is a lot of density and this can also facilitate the transmission of the epidemic,' Rodriguez said.

Close contact with seniors

While Spaniards have a long average lifespan and the country has a high number of seniors who are more vulnerable to the virus, its share of the population over 65 is lower than other nations that have suffered fewer COVID-19 deaths, such as Germany.

But older people in Spain have more contact with younger family members who can pass on the virus to them, Ildefonso Hernandez said.

'Older people in northern Europe are more secluded and there is more family distance,' he said.

In Spain, families 'are much tighter, the interaction between youths and seniors is very high,' he added.

It is common for several generations to live under the same roof in Spain. The average age a young adult moves out of the home in Spain is 29.5, compared to 18.5 in Sweden and 21.1 in Denmark, according to Eurostat.

There have been a number of tragedies in Spain's nursing homes during the coronavirus crisis, but the health ministry has not been providing figures for the number of deaths from Covid-19 in care homes

Nursing homes

Families also frequently visit relatives who live in nursing homes, which became tragic focal points of the pandemic in Spain, Hernandez said.

The health ministry does not provide figures for the number of deaths from COVID-19 at nursing homes.

But the governments of the two hardest-hit regions, Madrid and Catalonia, reported a combined total of around 8,000 confirmed and suspected deaths from the disease at retirement homes.

Residents of nursing homes are 'very old, very fragile,' said Trilla.

'They are not healthcare establishments and were not prepared for this. That caused a fire of colossal proportions,' he added.

Strained health care system

Spain's public healthcare system is ranked in the top 10 in the world by the World Health Organization (WHO), but it has suffered deep spending cuts since the global financial crisis more than a decade ago.

While it has a strong primary care network, hospitals have fewer beds than the European average, which forced them to improvise during the pandemic.

Like banks with little solvency 'they did not pass the stress test,' said Guillem Lopez-Casasnovas, an economist and expert on healthcare systems at Barcelona's Pompeu Fabra University who has worked as an advisor to the WHO.

'When you live day to day, you get the most out of what you have, but you don't have enough muscle to respond to a major stressor like now,' he added.
Saudi Arabia's Real Estate Development Fund has deposited SR1.048 billion ($278 million) into the accounts of its Sakani Programme (My Housing) beneficiaries for April, in co-ordination with the Ministry of Housing and the Real Estate Development Fund, after setting the support date earlier for the second month in a row.

General Supervisor of Real Estate Development Fund Mansour bin Madi said that SR425 million was allocated in support of the profits of the subsidised real estate contracts, while SR530 million were provided to the beneficiaries of the Military Support Initiative who are in service in all military sectors, and Rs93 million for the Civilian Support Initiative beneficiaries.

The total amounts deposited by the fund in the accounts of Sakani beneficiaries since the announcement of the subsidized real estate loan in 2017 till date amounted to about SR19.111 billion, stated Bin Madi.

He pointed out that the Fund was committed to continue the procedures that ensure the interests of citizens while working virtually.

In this regard, it has set a date earlier for depositing housing support for citizens who benefit from real estate financing programmes for the second time in a row during the suspension of work in government offices due to Covid-19 pandemic, he added.-TradeArabia News Service
A retired police officer who locked himself into his home and threatened to blow up his building was arrested by police in Benalmadena on Friday night.

Residents in various buildings in the area of La Paloma park were evacuated after the man, apparently a retired deputy police inspector in his fifties with mental health problems, called the emergency services soon after 8pm, saying he was going to cause a gas explosion.

National and Local Police, the fire brigade and emergency health services were deployed to the scene. Conversations between the man and two police negotiators, as well as his brother and father, went on for more than four hours.

Meanwhile fire officers took gas readings in the building. When these reached levels considered dangerous, officers from GOES, the police forcce's special security squad, were given the green light to break into the property.

In seconds they restrained the suspect, who was armed, said police sources.

The man was taken to Malaga's Clinico hospital for psychiatric evaluation.
LANSING, MI -- A group of boating activists is celebrating the ability to legally use motorboats on Michigan waters once again under Gov. Gretchen Whitmers revised stay-at-home order.

The Michigan United Conservation Club says the decision is an important one for the mental health and well-being of those in the state.

Whitmers order, which went into effect at 11 a.m. Friday, came days before a hearing was scheduled in a lawsuit filed by the group against the state. It appears that hearing will no longer be needed as a ban is no longer in place.

The group sued after the state earlier this month barred the use of motorboats, jet skis and other motorized watercraft because the provision of boating services or supplies does not itself constitute critical infrastructure work." The rule was part of statewide restrictions Whitmer implemented in an effort to curb the coronavirus outbreak. The governor on Friday eased some of those restrictions in a revised order set to remain in effect until May 15.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer extends stay-at-home order through May 15, relaxes certain restrictions

In a press release issued by the MUCC, the organization thanked Whitmer for removing the restrictions and reminded anglers and boaters to abide by the states social distancing guidelines.

Our case was very straightforward  Michigan boaters and anglers may not be threatened with criminal charges based on an arbitrary interpretation of a poorly written executive order, said MUCC attorney Aaron Phelps. To do so violated the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution and we are pleased that our federal lawsuit was well-received by the governor.

Lawyers for the group argued that being able to fish and use their motorboats was a way to provide food and income for their families during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Many MUCC members rely on this fishing not only as a locally sourced, high-quality protein for their family and friends, but also as an activity important to their mental health during the stresses of this pandemic, lawyers for the coalition wrote. For some members, fishing and boating activities are their only source of income.

Michigan must be nimble enough to go backward, says Whitmer after relaxing stay-at-home restrictions

Professional angler Mark Zona stressed the need for boaters and fellow anglers to follow the states rules on distancing.

The lakes, rivers and streams of Michigan will again be buzzing with anglers tomorrow thanks to MUCC and their concern for the rights of anglers and hunters in Michigan, Zona said in a press release. Anglers need to be responsible and prove that they can properly follow all safety protocols related to social distancing.

As part of the newly instituted order, Whitmer said all state parks will remain open during the day, but the DNR will have authority to close the parks if they become overcrowded or if people dont follow social distancing guidelines.

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

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Washington/Brussels/London: China sought to block a European Union report alleging that Beijing was spreading disinformation about the coronavirus outbreak, according to four sources and diplomatic correspondence reviewed by Reuters.

The report was eventually released, albeit just before the start of the weekend Europe time and with some criticism of the Chinese government rearranged or removed, a sign of the balancing act Brussels is trying to pull off as the coronavirus outbreak scrambles international relations.

The Chinese Mission to the EU was not immediately available for comment and China's Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to faxed questions about the exchange. An EU spokeswoman said "we never comment on content or alleged content of internal diplomatic contacts and communication with our partners from another countries." Another EU official Reuters said that the disinformation report had been published as usual and denied any of it had been watered down.

Four diplomatic sources told Reuters that the report had initially been slated for release on April 21 but was delayed after Chinese officials picked up on a Politico news report hat previewed its findings.

A senior Chinese official contacted European officials in Beijing the same day to tell them that, "if the report is as described and it is released today it will be very bad for cooperation," according to EU diplomatic correspondence reviewed by Reuters.

The correspondence quoted senior Chinese foreign ministry official Yang Xiaoguang as saying that publishing the report would make Beijing "very angry" and accused European officials of trying to please "someone else" - something the EU diplomats understood to be a reference to Washington.

The four sources said the report had been delayed as a result, and a comparison of the internal version of the report obtained by Reuters and the final version published late Friday showed several differences.

For example, on the first page of the internal report shared with EU governments on April 20, the EU's foreign policy arm said: "China has continued to run a global disinformation campaign to deflect blame for the outbreak of the pandemic and improve its international image. Both overt and covert tactics have been observed."

The public summary posted Friday to the bloc's disinformation portal, euvsdisinfo.eu http://www.euvsdisinfo.eu, attributed the disinformation to "state-backed sources from various governments, including Russia and  to a lesser extent  China."

The public summary did note "significant evidence of covert Chinese operations on social media," but the reference was left to the final six paragraphs of the document.

Disinformation about the coronavirus outbreak is emerging as a flashpoint between the United States and China, and officials on both sides have traded allegations of hiding information about the pandemic.

The disputes have sometimes caught Europeans in the middle. With more than a billion euros a day in bilateral trade, the EU is China's top trading partner, while China is second only to the United States as a market for EU goods and services.

In a webcast Friday with the Friends of Europe think tank, China's ambassador to the EU Zhang Ming said, "Disinformation is an enemy for all of us and it should be addressed by all of us."
The organization that manages Casa Quezada, a supportive housing program in San Franciscos Mission District hit by a COVID-19 outbreak, accused the city of contributing to a preventable scenario by responding slowly and delaying testing.

Two dozen people  22 residents and two staff  have tested positive for COVID-19 at Casa Quezada, health officials reported. The 51-resident supportive housing facility, which is run by Dolores Street Community Services, provides shelter and services for formerly homeless people.

All residents and staff members have been tested, and by Thursday, all residents had been moved to the hospital or to hotel rooms for isolation and quarantine while the facility was closed for cleaning. But the citys response time was slow and testing efforts were delayed, the community group said.

Every step of the way, knowing the risk factors influencing COVID-19 transmission, our staff have had to arduously advocate for testing, contact screening and access to isolation and quarantine rooms for our residents, said Laura Valdez, executive director of Dolores Street. We regret that the testing did not happen sooner.

The group is advocating for mass testing of SRO residents and homeless individuals, isolation rooms for SRO residents and unsheltered people who cannot properly quarantine and solutions to racial health inequities, leaders said in a statement.

City health officials have for weeks emphasized their focus on protecting the health of vulnerable residents, particularly those at congregate living facilities where the virus can spread quickly. More than 130 confirmed cases are among homeless residents or people living in SROs  marking 10% of the total cases in San Francisco.

Dr. Grant Colfax, director of public health in San Francisco, said during a Friday news conference that the city has an SRO task force that is in constant contact with SROs to ensure they have testing, resources and isolation sites when needed.

Colfax denied allegations that the department was slow to respond to the unfolding situation at Casa Quezada, saying that officials have been investigating the outbreak and following protocols since the first case was confirmed.

We were responsive, we were following the investigation, Colfax said. We were as timely and as responsive as our testing systems allowed.

The first case was confirmed on April 13, the second on April 15 and the remaining residents were tested April 19, Colfax said.

But Dolores Street offered a different interpretation of the same timeline. The organization said staff had to seek testing from a local health clinic after the health department declined to test a symptomatic resident.

On April 9, a Casa Quezada resident told staff he had suffered from COVID-19 symptoms for two weeks, including a 102-degree fever and persistent cough. When staff called the Public Health Department, triage counselors did not recommend testing and suggested the resident self-isolate in his room, according to Dolores Street.

Staff were concerned about transmission because the majority of Casa Quezada residents have underlying health conditions like diabetes, hypertension, obesity or heart conditions, making them vulnerable to severe illness if they become infected with the coronavirus. Many residents only speak Spanish.

The organization then called Mission Neighborhood Health Centers, a local clinic that agreed to test the resident.

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.

On April 13, the resident tested positive and a second resident began showing symptoms, so staff again asked public health officials to conduct on-site testing or temperature screening. The department declined to do either, according to Dolores Street staff.

Casa Quezada began working with the city on April 14 when an official was assigned to conduct contact tracing investigations at SROs, said Dolores Street leaders.

The second resident tested positive on April 15, which is when the department agreed to proceed with on-site testing.

City health officials tested all remaining residents and staff on April 19 and the next day revealed the extent of the outbreak.

Dolores Street leaders remain concerned about outbreaks at other SROs, which do not have staff to advocate for residents like Casa Quezada does, the groups statement said.

Two other SROs in the city have confirmed cases of COVID-19, according to Dolores Street, which said there are four confirmed cases at the Grand Southern hotel and one case at 16 Virginia.

Anna Bauman is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: anna.bauman@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @abauman2
In the blackness of this Anzac service, when night still lingered, there were familiar elements. The silence, the darkness, the candles.

But it was a lonelier dawn and for many who rose to honour the fallen on Saturday, the scene was that of their own driveway, glowing with candles before the sun brought warm light to suburban streets.

For many, it was their first dawn service. For others, it was their umpteenth. For all, it was the first service they would attend so close to home, and one they will never forget.

In Clara Street, Macleod, about 30 residents stood in candle-lit driveways to honour those who'd lost their lives in war.
From Saturday, export units in located in districts of Gujarat not affected by Covid-19, will resume operation, an official from the Gujarat Chief Ministers Office said.

On the day when 191 new cases of Covid-19 were reported from Gujarat, taking the total number of cases in the state to 2,815, the government decided to lift the curfew from Ahmedbad, Surat and Vadodra, the three most affected districts. Now the curfew has been lifted from all the three districts of state. But there will still be a tight implementation of the lockdown until May 3, said Gujarat police director general of police Shivanad Jha.

Jayanti Ravi, principal secretary (health), said the situation was fast coming under control and a decision has been taken to test all pregnant women in Covid-19 hotspots areas even if they dont any Covid symptoms.

Ashwani Kumar, secretary to chief minister Vijay Rupani, said: In the first phase, factories that have pending export orders will be allowed to start operations provided they are not in Covid containment zones.

Almost 90% of the 800 large and 4.53 lakh small and medium factories in Gujarat have pending orders and close to 70% of them are not in containment zones, government officials said.

Purvin Mariyankari, director, Ahmedabad Export Import Development Association (AEIDA), welcomed the order , but said that business would sill be affected as there is not much demand internationally.

Gujarat accounts for 25% of Indias total exports in sectors such as pharmaceuticals, textile, ceramics, chemicals, gems and jewellery, even auto components, Mariyankari said. About 80% of the salt and 70% of jewellery exported from India is from Gujarat.

He said total exports from the Gujarat in 2018-19 stood at US$ 67.4 billion. The export industry has already witnessed US $ 846 million fall in exports in February 2020 as compared to the same month in 2019 because of the slowdown.

Shailesh Patwari, former president of Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) said it would be difficult to operate the industries in absence of workers. Mostly, migrant workers from states such as Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh works in the export units and about 70% of them have already gone back.
Cesar Quirumbay, who succumbed to Covid-19 on Monday morning at the age of 60, touched the lives of some of Americas most prominent actors, billionaires and businessmen. Yet very few people blessed by his touch ever knew his name.

For the past 20 years, Mr. Quirumbay worked at the New York tailoring shop owned by Leonard Logsdail, a London transplant who has made custom suits for people willing and able to pay $8,000 for a handmade jacket and pair of trousers since 1991. Mr. Logsdails midtown shop is a leisurely place, with leather club chairs and stacks of magazines and soft fabrics arranged in gentle disarray.

In the back, Mr. Quirumbay  I knew him only as Cesar  worked tirelessly, sewing and measuring and pressing, rarely speaking and never complaining about the heat of the iron or the coolness of some of the shops more demanding customers. He put the finishing touches on suits for Al Pacino, Leonardo DiCaprio, David Koch, Larry Kudlow and countless managing directors, doctors and dandies. It was Mr. Quirumbays hands that were the last to touch each garment that left Logsdails.

Mr. Quirumbay immigrated to New Jersey in 1998 and showed up at Logsdails door in Manhattan within days of his arrival to inquire about a job. He and his wife, Irma, had left their two young boys back home in Ecuador and wanted first to secure employment before attempting to reunite their family. A friend of Mr. Quirumbay who worked in the trade suggested that Mr. Logsdail might be hiring.
Even during a sweeping pandemic that is testing humanitys resilience, they dont stop to ponder the calamity at hand. On the contrary, they are even exploiting it by twisting facts and seeing the bad in the good. They are those who have been against Egypt from day one: the Western media whose journalists roll their eyes disdainfully after every Egyptian government decision, mock its validity, and then dump their scorn on us soon afterwards.

I have come to know much about the Western medias manipulative journalistic practices. I have also come to realise that some Western journalists work relentlessly against Egypt. Compare Made-in-Egypt ventilators and Egypt announces financial stimulus package to cushion Covid-19 impact to Egypt is more concerned with controlling information than containing it, Egypt delivers medical aid to Italy despite severe shortages at home, Reporting on the coronavirus: Egypt muzzles critical journalists and Will Egypts military corner the coronavirus market?

The first two headlines are from the Egyptian press, and the latter group has been written to perpetuate objectives that Western writers have in mind and to spice things up against Egypt.

In a UK Guardian newspaper article headed Egypt: rate of coronavirus cases likely to be higher than figures suggest, the subheading was Infectious disease specialist from the University of Toronto provides grim picture of possible spread. The specialist concluded that since several tourists had returned from Egypt with Covid-19, this must mean that there were 19,000 Covid-19 cases in Egypt. This was on 15 March.

Its been a month since then, and figures on the Worldometer Website say that Egypt has 1,939 Covid-19 cases and has had 146 deaths. Egypt has only conducted 25,000 tests, which is not many, but the fact that the death rate is so low is indicative of the number of positive cases. According to the New York Times, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has praised Egypts efforts but has also said they can be scaled up in some areas. If the pattern in other countries is an indication, where there have been brisk increases in the number of people testing positive on tests, Egypts death rate should have reached six figures by now  if the Guardian specialists assumptions had been correct.

Most of the tourists returning to their countries from Egypt had been on a cruise ship in Upper Egypt. There were significant numbers testing positive on this cruise ship, but this does not mean that Upper Egypt as a whole was infected. While those infected on the Egyptian cruise ship numbered in the hundreds, those on cruise liners around the world were in the thousands and suffered the same tragic consequences. However, the specialist quoted by the Guardian did not multiply these cases by 200 to come up with the astronomical figure he suggested for Egypt. That applied only to Egypt.

Will Egypts military corner the coronavirus market? was the headline of another article in the Western press indicative of a premeditated intention to warp Egypts image. According to this article, the hike in the prices of ventilators and medical equipment in Egypt has reached 300 per cent. When the Egyptian military opted to assist citizens and provide masks at the price of LE12, when they were being sold in pharmacies for LE70, the article said that this was an attempt at cornering the market and not what it clearly was  a desire to assist people in need and protect them against spikes in prices.

In the meantime, according to the Los Angeles Times, the US federal government is quietly seizing orders [of medical supplies], leaving medical providers across the country in the dark about where the material is going and how they can get what they need to deal with the coronavirus pandemic. Where the supplies are being rerouted to and to whom they are being directed is unknown. Hospital and health officials describe an opaque process in which federal officials sweep in without warning to expropriate supplies, the article said.

It would have been better if the writer of the article on Egypt had looked more closely at what was going on in the United States and had understood more clearly what the Egyptian military was doing for the well-being of the population in Egypt.

According to another Western newspaper headline, Egypt is more concerned with controlling information than containing the coronavirus. However, in fact Jean Jabbour, head of the WHOs Egypt office, has said that the Egyptian governments response has been prompt. There are 2,000 beds allocated for Covid-19 treatment, half of which are in intensive care units and 600 with ventilators, while 400,000 test kits have been delivered, he said.

According to Egypt Today, Egypt provides 11,000 beds in seven university dorms to receive Covid-19 cases, and all those arriving at airports are being quarantined for 14 days. The numbers, of course, keep changing. A headline in Al-Ahram on 11 April said that Egypt set up 94 hospitals and 38,000 university dorms to receive and isolate coronavirus cases.

Another Western press article entitled Egypts family planning policies tested by Covid-19 assumed that since families were under lockdown in Egypt there could be a population surge. This is possible, of course, but doesnt it apply to every locked-in society anywhere in the world? The article, however, talked about Egypts married with two kids policies succumbing to Covid-19.

In another article entitled Egypt battles Covid-19 amid a flood of misinformation and conspiracy theories, the writer implied that these things were uniquely Egyptian. However, the US Readers Digest has also discussed the growth of conspiracy theories around the world. In an article entitled Coronavirus conspiracy theories you shouldnt believe, it said that among these were coronavirus is a hoax, all these precautions are an overkill, coronavirus was Canadas bioweapon stolen by China, greed and gun violence accidentally unleashed Covid-19, Chinese eating habits caused the virus, its all a plot to make the president look bad and Covid-19 is a ruse to distract us from a doomsday asteroid.

It is not uncommon for people during hard times to come up with, and maybe even believe, false information. But I wish Western journalists and some of the Arab ones who write for the Western media would balance their reporting on Egypt. It cant be all bad in Egypt; and it cant be all good elsewhere.

The writer is the author of Cairo Rewind on the First Two Years of Egypts Revolution, 2011-2013.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 23 April, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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By Paul Carrel

BERLIN (Reuters) - The coronavirus outbreak in Germany has become manageable again as the number of patients who have recovered has been higher than the number of new infections every day this week, the health minister said on Friday.

Germany has the fifth highest COVID-19 caseload behind the United States, Spain, Italy and France at nearly 134,000 but has kept fatalities down to a relatively low 3,868 thanks to early and extensive testing.

"The outbreak has -- as of today -- become controllable and manageable again," Health Minister Jens Spahn told a news conference, adding that the health care system had "at no time been overwhelmed so far".

Lothar Wieler, president of the Robert Koch Institute, the federal agency responsible for disease control, said the virus reproduction or transmission rate in Germany had dropped below 1 -- meaning one person with the virus infects fewer than one other on average.

"We see now that for the first time we are below 1. We will see whether that remains stable ... There can be new infections any time," Wieler said, stressing that too much emphasis should not be put on the transmission rate numbers.

"We have withstood a first wave very well, achieved through a joint effort by society, but that can change any time," he told the news conference.

Underlining the authorities' caution about the virus outbreak, Finance Minister Olaf Scholz said: "We must develop a new normality that will accompany us for many months, and probably into next year."

Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Wednesday Germany would take small steps out of lockdown with the partial reopening of shops next week and schools from May 4.

The eastern state of Saxony said it was combining the relaxation of the lockdown rules with an obligation for people to wear masks on public transport and in shops -- the first German state to introduce such a requirement.

Highlighting the impact of the pandemic on the German economy, Europe's largest, Economy Minister Peter Altmaier said it was "a situation that is more serious than anything we have experienced in the post-war period".

Story continues

The president of the Paul Ehrlich Institute, a research and medical regulatory body, told the news conference with Spahn that clinical testing of a vaccine would start soon in Germany. Four trials were already underway elsewhere, he added.

TRACING APP

A coronavirus contact tracing app would be ready for Germans to download and use on their smartphones in three to four weeks, Spahn said.

German federal and state government leaders said on Wednesday they would support voluntary use of such an app, when available, so people can quickly learn when they have had been exposed to an infected person.

Developers are working hard on the app, which will use bluetooth technology, to make sure data protection standards are "as perfect as possible", Spahn said.

"For it to be really good, it needs more like three to four weeks rather than two weeks," he added.

Sources familiar with the matter say that the Robert Koch Institute's contact tracing app is already ready and being tested, but its launch would be coordinated with Germany's moves to ease restrictions on movement.

The app would run on top of a technology platform, called Pan-European Privacy-Preserving Proximity Tracing (PEPP), that is supporting similar app initiatives in other European countries including Italy.

The German authorities have been more cautious than some Asian countries in using digital technology to fight the coronavirus, restrained by Europe's strict data privacy laws and mindful of public scepticism towards any surveillance reminiscent of Nazi- or communist-era rule.

(Additional reporting by Douglas Busvine, Editing by Catherine Evans)
GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- A Portage woman who was on a ventilator for nine days after contracting COVID-19 was able to walk out of Mary Free Beds new specialized coronavirus recovery unit Friday.

Nancy Blodgett, who is in her 50s, was at the Mary Free Bed ReCOVery Unit from April 17-24 for rehabilitation.

The 18-bed unit just recently opened and shes the first person to be discharged.

Blodgett became ill March 20 with what she thought was the flu. Her condition worsened and she ended up driving herself to the Bronson Methodist Hospital emergency room on March 26.

Soon after, she tested positive for COVID-19, according to Mary Free Bed staff.

The severity of her illness became so bad that she was intubated and spent nine days on a ventilator. She began to recover and after 21 days she was transferred to Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospitals specialized unit.

Blodgett then went through physical, occupational and speech therapy to gain strength and improve functional abilities.

Related: Michigan tops 3,000 coronavirus deaths as new case count grows again

She thanked all of her caregivers.

Between Bronson Hospital, Mary Free Bed and the power of prayer, its by the grace of God I am still here today," she said in statement released by Mary Free Bed.

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

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The Central Tibetan Administration has announced a three-week campaign in support of the 11th Panchen Lama, taken into custody by Chinese authorities 25 years ago and not seen in public since then.

Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, who was recognised by the Dalai Lama as the reincarnation of the 10th Panchen Lama when he was six-year-old, turned 31 on Saturday.

China did not recognise his reincarnation and arranged the installation of another contender as Panchen Lama, the second-highest spiritual title in Tibetan Buddhism.

China has earlier said Gedhun Choekyi Nyima and his family are leading life as ordinary citizens in the country.

Tibetans worldwide, however, been demanding his release over the years.

As we celebrate Gedhun Choekyi Nyima's birthday, we also remember his disappearance for the last 25 years, Central Tibetan Administration president Lobsang Sangay said in a statement here.

He said the CTA the body is unofficially known as Tibetan government-in-exile -- has launched global campaign demanding his immediate release by China.

Unfortunately, because of the coronavirus pandemic, which originated in Wuhan, we are not able to do the physical lobbying but we are doing virtual lobbying all over the world, he said.

He urged United Nations to hold a hearing on the issue.

I hope the Chinese government will pay heed to the global appeal and at least allow Gedhun Choekyi Nyima to be with his family members, to be with the Tibetan community in Tibet.

The CTA campaign will continue up to May 17.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Syracuse, N.Y.  Onondaga County has started tracking the novel coronavirus in a novel way: Searching for it in sewage.

The first wastewater samples were collected this week in what is believed to be the only effort in Upstate New York to detect the virus in wastewater. The project, undertaken by scientists from all three Syracuse universities, could help the county detect and stamp out hidden virus hotspots as the economy begins to reopen.

Detecting the coronavirus in wastewater would tell us approximately how bad one area was over another, independent of nasal swab testing thats done in the clinic, said Hyatt Green, a SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry microbiologist involved in the study. If we restart the economy in one particular area and we see an uptick in the virus in wastewater, then maybe we need to slow down a little.

County officials could use the data to target education and testing campaigns, said David Larsen, the Syracuse University public health professor heading up the research team.

My thought is to feed that information back to the neighborhood and say theres been a spike, and to help them understand whats going on in their community, Larsen said.

Results from the sewer study could spot areas with high infection areas before people get sick and go for tests, Larsen said, giving the county a jump start on testing and tracing contacts in those areas, he said. Aggressive testing to find people carrying the virus, and to track down and quarantine people they might have infected, is essential to avoid large-scale outbreaks as businesses begin to reopen and people start to leave their houses again.

Larsen said hes not aware of another county in New York studying wastewater for the virus. Similar studies elsewhere have yielded important information. A study of a large sewer system in Massachusetts estimated that the true number of cases of COVID-19 cases was 50 to 250 times higher than the number of confirmed tests. In the Netherlands, the coronavirus was found in the sewer system weeks before the first confirmed case.

COVID-19 is the illness caused by the virus.

The SU-ESF team bought a $25,000 filtration machine that can detect the virus in wastewater. Larsen said samples collected by the county at its six treatment plants will be analyzed at Upstate Medical Universitys coronavirus lab by Frank Middleton, a professor of biochemistry and molecular biology.

The virus is shed through the intestines of infected patients in surprisingly large quantities, Green said.

It can be quite a high concentration in wastewater from infected areas, Green said.

By the time the virus reaches the wastewater plants, however, it has been degraded and diluted. That makes it difficult to say with certainty how many people in any given sewer area have the virus. The Massachusetts study, done in conjunction with Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, could only give a vast range of possible COVID-19 cases in the treatment plant area: between 2,300 and 115,000.

The sampling might be more useful in spotting new outbreaks, Green said. If the virus is not found at a particular treatment plant week after week, and then suddenly appears in large amounts, that would indicate the virus is spreading quickly in that area, he said. Additional samples could be taken from sections of that particular sewer area to narrow down the area the virus came from.

The wastewater testing system isnt specific enough to track the virus to given individual or household.

Larsen said he is super-bullish about the projects ability to hunt down early infection outbreaks and identify areas where there appear to be no cases.

We could classify areas as coronavirus-free. Thats the goal, he said. If we dont find it in the wastewater and theres no confirmed cases, they can relax and go visit grandma again.

It might not be that simple, though. There are many unknowns because the virus is new, and so is the search for it in sewage. One problem scientists are wrestling with is whats called the limit of detection: If the virus is there, is the machine sensitive enough to find it?

When we get a negative result, Larsen said, is that because we didnt find the needle in the haystack or because there was no needle in the haystack?

Another limit of the study is that not every county resident lives in the countys sewer service area, said Teng Zeng, an SU environmental engineering professor on the team. The countys treatment plants serve 346,000 residents, about 75% of the total population. There are 8,600 people tied into other treatment plants, and 110,000 are on septic systems.

We wont be able to tell the full story because many people rely on septic systems or theyre not connected to these wastewater facilities, Zeng said.

The countys six plants treat 33 billion gallons of wastewater a year. The largest plant is on the south shore of Onondaga Lake. The others are in Baldwinsville, Brewerton, Clay, Manlius and Salina.

The study wont cost the county any money, said county spokesman Justin Sayles.

Larsen said hed like to see the project expand to other wastewater treatment systems in Upstate New York.

The study will contribute to an emerging field known as wastewater-based epidemiology. A recent paper in the journal Environmental International said that by analyzing wastewater, the emergence of new disease outbreak to the community level can be monitored comprehensively and in real-time.

A similar technique has been used to track outbreaks of polio, which, like COVID-19, is often greatly underestimated because many people infected by the virus never show symptoms. Researchers have also found high uses of illegal drugs in various parts of the world by detecting them in wastewater.

The idea that we flush a lot of information down the toilet has been around for a while, Green said.

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When a driver told police in Lincoln Park hed been wearing an N95 mask for too long and passed out, causing him to crash his SUV into a pole, the investigating officers believed him.

Like many people, the man said he wore the N95 mask to protect himself from the novel coronavirus.

The driver, who was not severely injured, was the only person in car and passed out due to insufficient oxygen intake/excessive carbon dioxide intake, police said in a Facebook post.

The post had received nearly 500 comments by Saturday afternoon with many doubting a mask can cause someone to pass out.

But can a person lose consciousness from wearing a mask for too long? Some doctors say it can happen.

It would depend on the mask model and personal risk factors but it is possible, Dr. Stavros G. Christoudias, a surgeon in Teaneck, told NJ Advance Media.

It would also depend on the person wearing the mask, he said. They could have a host of factors making them susceptible as well, like obesity, smoking, emphysema, COPD, etc.

Christoudias pointed out that passing out while wearing a mask would not be from lack of oxygen but from an excess buildup of carbon dioxide.

CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Newsletter | Homepage

In fact, a study reported in 2005 by the U.S. National Library of Medicine concluded that dizziness, headache and shortness of breath are commonly experienced by the medical staff wearing N95 masks.

The N95 mask might also hamper correct decision making, too, the two-year study found.

Some medical professionals disagree, however, saying N95 masks do much more good than harm.

I've never heard of this being an issue with wearing an N95 mask for a long time, said Aline M. Holmes, an associate professor at Rutgers University School of Nursing.

Remember, medical and nursing staff in New York, New Jersey and other parts of the country are wearing them for many hours, sometimes for 24 hours, and this is not an issue being reported among those folks.

Lincoln Park police later update the Facebook post, stating: It is certainly possible that some other medical reason couldve contributed to the driver passing out. We are not trying to cause public alarm or suggest wearing an N95 mask is unsafe.

N95 masks used by health care professionals are in short supply because of the coronavirus pandemic.Beaumont Health

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.
A Dyson logo is seen on 5th Ave in New York

LONDON (Reuters) - Vacuum cleaner company Dyson said the British government no longer needed the ventilator it had developed from scratch to help plug a shortfall of the devices needed to treat patients with severe COVID-19 symptoms.

Dyson said last month it had received an order for 10,000 of the machines. The new design needed regulatory approval before they could be used on large numbers of patients.

Company founder James Dyson said the company had welcomed Prime Minister Boris Johnson's challenge to build ventilators.

"Mercifully they are not required, but we don't regret our contribution to the national effort for one moment," he said in a statement.

Dyson said his company had spent around 20 million pounds ($25 million) on the project to date, and would not accept any public money.

"I have some hope that our ventilator may yet help the response in other countries, but that requires further time and investigation," he said.

Governments around the world are trying to boost the number of available breathing devices that can supply air and oxygen crucial for the care of people who suffer lung failure, which can be a complication of COVID-19.

A group of companies including Airbus and Ford have teamed up to build ventilators based on two existing designs. The consortium is working to manufacture 20,000 machines ordered by the British government.

(Reporting by Paul Sandle; editing by Stephen Addison)


3.39 / 10  [7] 2009101200000000000000000 receiving an average rating of 3.39/10. The site's consensus is: "Respected director Chen Kaige's first English-language film is a spectacularly misguided erotic thriller, with ludicrous plot twists and cringe-worthy dialogue".[7] In 2009, the site also rated it #12 on the countdown of the worst films over the last 10 years.

Kelly Clarkson Killing Me Softly https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUx1pz6SD_0

Frank Sinatra-Killing me softly https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tbP3f3i03E

Killing Me Softly is a 2002 American-British erotic thriller film directed by Chen Kaige and starring Heather Graham and Joseph Fiennes. Based on the novel of the same name by Nicci French, it introduces several substantial changes to the story and focuses heavily on the intense sexual relationship between the two lead characters. It is Kaige's first and only English-language film as of 2020.

Plot [ edit ]

Alice is a young American woman living in London who believes she is happy in a secure job and a relationship with her boyfriend. After a chance encounter with a mysterious stranger, she seeks him out, taking a taxi with him to his house and having passionate sex. She returns home to her boyfriend and unsuccessfully attempts to bring out the same feelings between them that she had with the strange man.

The following day she seeks the stranger out again, discovering his name is Adam - a mountain climber who is considered a hero after saving six people in a tragic event that killed several others, including the woman he loved. Alice leaves her boyfriend and begins a relationship with Adam, although her friend shows reservations about Alice being in such a sudden relationship. When Alice is mugged on the street, Adam beats the thief terribly, and then asks Alice to marry him, a proposal she happily accepts. For their honeymoon, he takes her to a secluded cabin.

The newlyweds settle into their new life, but Alice is troubled by a series of mysterious letters and phone calls, and begins to wonder about her husband's mysterious past. A reporter who did a story on Adam sends her a copy of a letter from a woman claiming Adam raped her. Alice interviews her, posing as a journalist. Disturbed by the fact that she barely knows her new husband, she begins to go through their apartment, becoming even more alarmed when she searches a locked wardrobe and finds a box of old letters from an ex-lover, Adele, who insists she and Adam end their affair. Adam begins to question Alice more about her activities, including where she got a necklace that she received from his sister, Deborah.

Soon after, Alice receives yet another warning. Following the trail, she discovers that Adele has been missing for eight months. She also finds a picture of Adele at the same cabin where she and Adam honeymooned. She realizes she doesn't feel safe with him and runs to the police. She tells her story, insisting they reopen Adele's missing persons case, but they can't do anything without any evidence, telling her they can only keep him for a few hours. Alice seeks help from Deborah, telling her she believes Adam killed Adele for leaving him and buried her at the cabin. On the way to the cabin, Deborah admits that she was the one who sent the messages to Alice, because she wanted to save her from Adam's violent rages. When Adam returns home from the police station, he finds that Alice was there and left the two pictures, and realizes she must have gone to the cemetery.

At the cemetery, Alice discovers a body buried in the dirt, wearing the same necklace that Deborah gave her. Deborah tells her that Adele didn't have to die, if she'd only gone back to her husband. It is apparent that Deborah has incestuous feelings for Adam, resulting in her subsequent possessiveness and need to rid his life of any other woman. She tries to kill Alice, but Adam appears in time and saves her. Furious, Deborah tries to kill him but is stopped short by Alice, who shoots her with a flare pistol.

Adam tells Alice that he and his sister used to come to the cabin together, but that he thought that if Alice just trusted him, then everything would be alright. Adam is led away by police that morning.

Two years later, Alice and Adam see one another again on either side of an escalator - she's going down and he's riding up. They both watch each other as they pass without saying anything. Adam stops at the top and turns to stare back at Alice before walking away. The film ends with Alice's voiceover recalling the events in posterity and wondering what might have happened had fate not led her to Adam one morning. She wonders if the passion between them could ever have lasted, and if a "flatlander" like her could ever have stayed at such a high altitude . At least that's what she tells herself anyway.

Cast [ edit ]

Production [ edit ]

Filming commenced on October 29, 2000, and was mostly based in or around London and Cumbria, England.[citation needed]

Release [ edit ]

Killing Me Softly was released on June 21, 2002, in the UK.[2] MGM initially planned a 2002 wide release in the US,[3] but this was cancelled in favor of a direct-to-DVD launch on March 25, 2003.[4] Variety later characterized the film's international release as "a painful failure".[5] On August 13, 2013, Shout! Factory released Killing Me Softly on Blu-ray along with The Hot Spot as part of a double feature.[6]

Reception [ edit ]

The film received overwhelmingly negative reviews. On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, with 22 reviews, the film has a rare approval rating of 0%  meaning no favorable reviews whatsoever 
Fight fans won't be waiting long for the return of UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, after UFC president Dana White confirmed the timeframe for the Russian champion's return in an interview, RT reports.

Nurmagomedov, who hasn't competed since a submission victory against Dustin Poirier in Abu Dhabi last September, looks set to be out of action until at least the same point this year after White confirmed to ESPN's Brett Okamoto that the promotion is targeting a September or October return for their reigning 155lb champion.

Of course, Khabib had been scheduled to defend his lightweight crown against Tony Ferguson in one of the most anticipated fights in mixed martial arts history this month before difficulties surrounding restriction of movement during the coronavirus pandemic forced Nurmagomedov's withdrawal from the bout. It was the FIFTH time that the fight has fallen apart in recent years.

In place of that fight, the UFC opted to target another lightweight contender, Justin Gaethje, to step in against Ferguson on the same April 18 date intended for the Khabib-Ferguson fight. But White was then forced to pull the plug on the event after calls from senior executives from both ESPN and its parent company Disney.

Undaunted, White has confirmed that the Ferguson-Gaethje bout will take place in Florida on May 9 with the 155lb interim title up for grabs  with the winner almost certainly facing Nurmagomedov in September or October.

Part of the reason for the delay in Khabib's return to action is understood to be his strict observance of Ramadan, which began yesterday and runs until the evening of May 23.
Vietnam recorded no new novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases on Saturday morning, with the national tally remaining at 270, but five people who had previously been given the all-clear have tested positive again.

According to a Saturday morning report from the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, Vietnam has reported no new infections in the past 12 hours, and zero deaths to date.

The Ministry of Health said 220 patients have recovered from the disease as of Saturday morning, down from 225 the day earlier after five recovered patients have tested positive again following recovery.

Among them, patient No.188 was discharged from Ha Nam General Hospital on April 16 after her results had come back negative twice.

She was put in quarantine for another two weeks, during which she was monitored by the Hanoi Center for Disease Control and sampled for re-testing frequently by the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases in the capital city.

Her results came back positive on April 20 and 21.

Patients No. 52 and No. 149 were declared recovered by Hospital No. 2 in the northern province of Quang Ninh on April 16 and remained in quarantine there for another 14 days.

On April 21, the provincial Center for Disease Control announced the patients had tested positive for the virus again. They are now quarantined at the infirmary for continued monitoring.

Patient No.137 was declared recovered from COVID-19 by the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Hanoi on April 7 after testing results came back negative three times on three consecutive days between April 3 and 5.

During his following two-week quarantine, he exhibited no clinical symptoms of the disease and all testing results on April 7, April 16 and April 19 were negative.

A CT scan of the patients lung on April 12 did not show any sign of damage and the patient was allowed to return home on April 22 after concluding two weeks of quarantine.

The next day, April 23, the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology in Hanoi confirmed that his test results have come back positive again. He was brought back to the hospital shortly afterward.

The fifth case was patient No. 36 in the south-central province of Binh Thuan.

She was confirmed to be free of the virus on April 10 after testing negative three times.

During the following two-week quarantine at a provincial medical facility, the patients test results came back negative twice before a third test on the final day of the quarantine period showed a positive result.

The patient is being quarantined for further medical monitoring.

The World Health Organization (WHO) said on April 11 that it was looking into reports of some COVID-19 patients testing positive again after initially testing negative for the disease while being considered for discharge.

We are aware of these reports of individuals who have tested negative for COVID-19 using PCR [polymerase chain reaction] testing and then after some days testing positive again, the Geneva-based WHO told Reuters.

We are closely liaising with our clinical experts and working hard to get more information on those individual cases. It is important to make sure that when samples are collected for testing on suspected patients, procedures are followed properly, it said.

We are aware that some patients are PCR positive after they clinically recover, but we need systematic collection of samples from recovered patients to better understand how long they shed live virus, it added.

Vietnam reported two new imported cases on Friday evening, both are students recently returning home from Japan.

They have been quarantined since arrival and are currently being treated for the virus.

It was the first time in eight days that the Southeast Asian country had confirmed additional infections.

Nearly 55,000 people remained in quarantine in the country on Saturday morning, according to the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control.

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By Associated Press

ATLANTA: As the global death toll from the coronavirus surpassed 200,000 on Saturday, countries took cautious steps toward easing some lockdowns, while fears of infection made even some pandemic-wounded businesses reluctant to reopen.

The states of Georgia, Oklahoma and Alaska started loosening restrictions on businesses despite warnings from experts that such steps might be coming too soon. Some owners said they werent yet ready to reopen or were doing so only on a limited basis, worried about a second surge of COVID-19 infections.

Weve sacrificed so much already, said Shawn Gingrich, CEO and founder of Lions Den Fitness, who decided after the Georgia governors announcement that he would not be reopening his Atlanta gym right away. I feel like if we do this too soon, well see a spike in cases and were back to square one.

The worldwide death toll topped 200,000, according to a tally compiled by John Hopkins University from government figures. The actual death toll is believed to be far higher.

In India, easing restrictions meant reopening neighborhood stores that many of the countrys 1.3 billion people rely on for everything from cold drinks to mobile phone data cards. But the loosening didnt apply to hundreds of quarantined towns and other places hit hardest by the outbreak that has killed at least 775 people in the country and terrified its multitudes of poor who live in slum conditions too crowded for social distancing.

FOLLOW LIVE COVID-19 UPDATES HERE

Shopping malls also stayed closed nationwide. Still, for families that run small stores, being able to earn again brought relief.

This is a good decision, said Amit Sharma, an architect. We have to open a few things and let the economy start moving. The poor people should have some source of income. This virus is going to be a long-term problem.

Last week, India also allowed manufacturing and farming to resume in rural areas to ease the economic plight of millions left jobless by the lockdown imposed March 24. Indias restrictions have allowed people out of their homes only to buy food, medicine or other essentials.

Elsewhere in Asia, authorities reported no new deaths Saturday for the 10th straight day in China, where the virus originated.

And South Korea reported just 10 fresh cases, the eighth day in a row its daily jump came below 20. There were no new deaths for the second straight day.

In an announcement that underscored the scientific unknowns about the virus, the World Health Organization said there is currently no evidence that people who have recovered from COVID-19 cannot fall sick again.

Some countries extended or tightened restrictions, confirming a pattern of caution.

Sri Lanka had partially lifted a monthlong daytime curfew in more than two thirds of the country. But it reimposed a 24-hour lockdown countrywide after a surge Friday of 46 new infections, the highest increase in a day on the Indian Ocean island. The new curfew remains in effect until Monday.

Norway extended until at least Sept. 1 its ban on events with more than 500 participants.

Pope Francis appealed for prayers for funeral home workers, saying: What they do is so heavy and sad. They really feel the pain of this pandemic.

In Europe, kids in Spain will get their first fresh air in weeks on Sunday when a ban on letting them outside is relaxed. After 44 days indoors, theyll be allowed to take one toy or scooter with them but not play together for the adult-supervised one-hour excursions no farther than 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) from home. Some nervous parents shopped online for child-size masks for their children, as recommended by authorities.

I really want to get outside, and Ema does as well, said Madrid resident Eva Novilo, whose daughter Ema is 7. But Novilo predicted difficult situations if they see Emas friends and have to stay apart. I dont know if we will be able to maintain control.

Belgium sketched out plans for a progressive lockdown relaxation starting May 4 with the resumption of nonessential treatment in hospitals and the reopening of textile and sewing shops so people can make face masks. Bars and restaurants would be allowed to start reopening June 8, although Belgian Prime Minister Sophie Wilmes also cautioned that a surge in infections could alter the timeline and that nothing is set in stone.

In Italy, authorities warned against abandoning social distancing practices after lockdown restrictions are eased on May 4 and millions return to work. Authorities said free protective masks will be distributed to nursing homes, police, public officials and transportation workers. Romes public transit agency painted blue circles on subway platforms to remind people to keep their distance when commuters return in large numbers.

The country continues to have Europes highest death toll, with 26,384 deaths. The 415 deaths registered in the 24-hour period that ended Saturday evening was the lowest toll since Italy registered 345 on March 17, but only five fewer than Friday.

With gatherings banned, Italians celebrated the 75th anniversary of their liberation from occupation forces in World War II, emerging on balconies or rooftops at the same time Saturday to sing a folk song linked to resistance fighters.

Britain is still holding off on changes to its lockdown as the coronavirus-related death toll in hospitals topped 20,000. The figure does not include deaths in nursing homes, which are likely to be in the thousands.

In France, the government is preparing to gingerly ease one of Europes strictest lockdowns from May 11. The health minister detailed plans to scale up testing to help contain any new flare-ups.

Testing shortages are a critical problem elsewhere, too, including in Brazil, Latin Americas largest nation, which is veering closer to becoming a pandemic hot spot.

Medical officials in Rio de Janeiro and four other major cities warned that their hospital systems are on the verge of collapse or already overwhelmed. In Manaus, the biggest city in the Amazon, officials said they have been forced to dig mass graves in a cemetery. Workers have been burying 100 corpses a day  triple the pre-virus average.

In the U.S., Republican governors in states including Georgia and Oklahoma allowed salons, spas and barbershops to reopen, while Alaska cleared the way for restaurants to resume dine-in service and retail shops and other businesses to open their doors, all with limitations. Some Alaska municipalities chose to maintain stricter rules.

Though limited in scope, and subject to social-distancing restrictions, the reopenings marked a symbolic milestone in the debate raging in the United States and beyond as to how quickly political leaders should lift economically devastating lockdown orders.

On Friday, President Donald Trump spoke optimistically of the economy but also asked people to continue social distancing and using face coverings. The same day, he signed a $484 billion bill to aid employers and hospitals. In the past five weeks, roughly 26 million people have filed for jobless aid, or about 1 in 6 U.S. workers.

Trump also said his widely criticized comments suggesting people can ingest or inject disinfectant to fight COVID-19 were an attempt at sarcasm.

In Texas, where restrictions have been eased to allow retailers to sell items for curbside pickup, Allison Scott said her womens clothing store in a Dallas shopping mall has done a few to go orders but most customers seem to still feel more comfortable ordering online. Scott says that as much as shed like to see things return to the way they were and people allowed to shop in person, she thinks its too risky health-wise right now, and cant see people wanting to come either.

I want to be open more than anything but I dont think that society is ready to come out either, she said.
EDWARDSVILLE  The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Engineering (SOE) has donated 50 protective face shields to the SIUE Police Department and has plans to provide the critical personal protection equipment (PPE) to Anderson Hospital next week.

SOE Lab Manager Jagath Gunasekara, PhD, and Brent Vaughn, lab specialist and lecturer in the Department of Civil Engineering, delivered the face shields.

The SIUE Police Department thanks SIUE Engineering and Dean Karacal for making and outfitting the SIUE police officers with the much needed face shields said Police Chief Kevin Schmoll. The face shields will allow our officers to do their jobs knowing they have all the PPE needed to keep them safe during this pandemic.

The School has quite bit of technical know-how and fabrication equipment, including a set of 3D printers to make protective face shields, said SOE Dean Cem Karacal, PhD. Through the dedicated work of Lab Managers Brent Vaughn and Jagatah Gunasekera, we were able to try alternative designs, select one and quickly make test production runs. This was an excellent example of University/community collaboration when circumstances required us to pull our expertise and resources together to help each other.

Vaughn said conversations began in late March among SOE and Biological Sciences faculty regarding their 3D printers to produce PPE for nearby hospitals and first responders. Through those collective ideas, we chose to focus on a face shield design (attribution to IC3D, Inc. and Budmen Industries) that had been reviewed by National Institutes of Health to meet FDA requirements for production of protective face shields, he said.

The Schools next effort will be in assisting Anderson Hospital. After having several communications with Madison County Emergency Management Director Tony Falconio, I contacted Anderson Hospital Risk Management, Karacal said. They were looking for protective face shields, as well. We are going to donate 60 units on Monday (April 27).

Karacal noted that finding the plastic sheet is the major challenge. As soon as we secure more plastic sheets, we plan to make additional batches for the hospital and for the police department, if they need more.

A significant donation from Narayan Bodapati, PhD, former chair of the SIUE Department of Construction, is greatly assisting the effort. Dr. Bodapati is a well-known name in this areas construction circles, Karacal said. When he heard about our attempt to help with the crisis, he donated $10,000 to the School, so we could buy three additional 3D printers to increase production. His donation was quite meaningful and timely.

Vaughn said that when the additional printers are put into service, production capability will be 200 face shields per week. The two original 3D printers could produce four face shield frames at once. In addressing the shortage of plastic sheet, they have learned that certain report cover material, that is more readily available, will also meet the requirements.

Once the crisis is over, the additional 3D printers will be put in service in the Nidec 3D and Electronics lab of the SOEs Fowler Student Design Center.
Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday slammed the Centre for freezing the dearness allowance (DA) of central government employees and added it was unnecessary to impose these hardships.

We should be on the side of people whose dearness allowance is being cut. I sincerely believe it is not necessary at this stage to impose hardships on government servants and also on the armed forces people, Singh said at a meeting of Congresss Consultative Committee.

Gopal Agarwal, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)s economic affairs spokesman, clarified the government has announced a freeze only on the additional part of the DA. He added what was being paid earlier has not been stopped.

Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and other leaders like Rahul Gandhi, P Chidambaram, KC Venugopal, Randeep Singh Surjewala and Manish Tewari spoke on the DA issue at the meeting.

The meeting was convened two days after the Centre held back revision of the DA for 18 months and proposed a similar move by state governments to save about Rs 1.2 lakh crore to fund the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.

Sonia Gandhi, who last week formed the Singh-led committee to formulate the partys views on important issues, attacked the Centre over the central vista project that involves redeveloping of iconic landmarks in New Delhi.

I see the problem is that you are building your central vista at the same time. ... you are taking away money from the middle class, you are not giving money to the poor people and you are spending it on your central vista.

Chidambaram cited the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train and the central vista development projects and added these should be first halted before the DA is frozen.

Surjewala said it would have been fine if the money spent on the central vista project is transferred to migrant labourers, who have been hit hard by the Covid-19 lockdown. But you are continuing with the new Parliament house, new buildings for ministers, new house for the Prime Minister. You are continuing with zero cut on expenditure of the government which could save you close to 2-2.5 lakh crore rupees. But you are denying relief to your armed personnel, to your pensioners, to your government servants.

The BJPs Agarwal said: The Congress is trying to give this issue a spin. I do not understand how they are linking it to the central vista and the bullet train projects.

He added that the pandemic has prompted the governments to freeze the DA. These are difficult times and the government needs money for taking care of the poor. Everyone is helping in whatever way they can.

BJP general secretary (organisation) B L Santhosh hit out at Singh in a tweet. Looks like economist in him [Singh] has disappeared silently ..? Aghast at the way he argues ... Maharashtra , Telangana Govt have cut 30% salary of class 1,2,3 employees. He was silent then. He opens his mouth when increment in DA is halted not DA.

Sanjeev Sanyal, the Union finance ministrys principal economic advisor, said the freeze is a temporary measure. It should be noted that such measures are not unprecedented. In the aftermath of the 1962 & 1971 wars, much stronger measures had been instituted. The Compulsory Deposit Act 1963 applied to all taxpayers, property owners & all government employees, he tweeted.

The National Council (Staff Side), a joint consultative body of the central government employees, has written to the cabinet secretary protesting against the freeze. Central government and state committee employees are the ones who are playing their frontline roles in the fight against Covid-19 virus by taking all risks and working in the field exposing themselves without any sufficient PPE [personal protection equipment] and freezing of DA will have a serious impact on their HRA, the council said in its letter.
A year ago, a beaming Volodymyr Zelenskiy strolled into his campaign headquarters to the theme song of the popular TV sitcom in which he played an accidental president. Confetti showered from the rafters and a crowd of supporters erupted in applause. He had just won Ukraine's presidential runoff election with 73 percent of the vote, the largest tally in the country's history.

The moment is captured in a slickly produced 50-minute video released by his office on April 21, the anniversary of the election. More of a public-relations puff piece than a documentary film, it sometimes resembles the sitcom and shines an uncritical light on Zelenskiy's first year in office.

In reality, the first year since the 42-year-old comedic actor's election has been chock full of ups and downs and twists and turns, with plenty of serious criticism over his governing from constituents and international observers, not to mention an array of opponents.

Zelenskiy has faced a number of scandals and his country has been boxed into matters ranging from the impeachment of U.S. President Donald Trump -- which stemmed largely from a telephone conversation between the two leaders in July 2019 -- and the downing of Ukraine International Airlines flight PS752 in Iran in January.

He also inherited an ongoing war with Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine, persistent corruption, and the powerful influence of Ukraine's oligarchs, among other issues.

So, how has he done so far?

"It could have been worse," says Volodymyr Yermolenko, chief editor of the news site UkraineWorld and analytics director at Internews Ukraine. "Zelenskiy came to this post totally unprepared and he's facing unprecedented challenges."

One year after Ukraine elected a political novice to lead the country of some 40 million people, RFE/RL takes a look at some of those challenges and how experts believe Zelenskiy has fared: Whether he has delivered on his campaign promises and how he is managing ongoing crises amid the onslaught of the coronavirus.

Ending The War

When he was sworn in as president in May 2019, Zelenskiy also inherited the role of supreme commander in chief of Ukraine's armed forces and a grinding war against Russia-backed separatists who hold parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions in what is known as the Donbas. More than 13,000 people have been killed since fighting began in April 2014.

One of Zelensky's two main promises was to bring the war to an end, a goal that polls have shown Ukrainians want to see accomplished more than anything.

"He showed a real willingness to end the war. That's a good thing, Yermolenko says. "The world saw it, too -- that the real [desire for] peace was on the part of Ukraine, not Russia."

Throughout Zelenskiy's tenure, Kyiv and Western officials say, Russia has continued to funnel money, military equipment, and fighters to eastern Ukraine.

"But Zelensky also showed naivete, thinking -- or pretending that he thinks -- that ending the war with Russia is an easy thing" and that goodwill would be enough, Yermolenko continues. "He now sees that it's not the case."

Zelenskiy and Russian President Vladimir Putin met face-to-face for the first time in December, in Paris. The two leaders discussed ways to potentially bring the war to an end, but their positions remain far apart.

Nevertheless, says Volodymyr Fesenko, director of the Kyiv-based Penta Center, Zelenskiy has found ways to make some progress. The meeting between Zelenskiy and Putin alone was a positive sign, since "the negotiation process to resolve the conflict in the Donbas had been at a dead end for three years."

He also points to three major prisoner exchanges, troop withdrawals in three locations on the line between government-controlled and separatist-held territory, and the completion of a vital civilian bridge in the front-line town of Stanytsya Luhanska.

Alyona Hetmanchuk, director of the new Europe Center, a Kyiv think tank, says that "the main thing" is not what Zelenskiy managed to do on the war issue but what he did not do: "He did not achieve peace on Russian terms," which would be unacceptable for most Ukrainians.

In the anniversary video, Zelenskiy says he is "sure that we will put an end to this war during my presidential term" and that if his current tactics don't yield results, he will change them.

Crushing Corruption

On Ukrainians' wish lists, second to ending the war has been seeing corruption stamped out, polls show. When Zelenskiy was elected, he promised "victory over corruption" -- a goal that he said would be challenging but judged to be possible after becoming the first president to win a parliamentary majority, in July.

Ukraine has struggled against entrenched corruption, which has drained the country's coffers since its independence drive helped lead to the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. As part of this fight, Zelenskiy vowed to conduct a sweeping "de-oligarchization" of the country.

But a year later, critics say neither has happened -- or at least not to the extent promised.

"Zelenskiy was expected to oversee quick and massive arrests of corrupt officials and politicians, as well as well-known businessmen," Fesenko says. "But Ukrainian law enforcement and the judicial system has been very slow and not effective enough."

"The lack of significant results in the fight against corruption has caused great dissatisfaction [among Ukrainians]," he adds.

Critics point to the firing of Ruslan Ryaboshapka, the first prosecutor-general under Zelenskiy, as one major point of concern. Ryaboshapka, who was viewed by many as an independent-minded reformist, was fired in early March and replaced by Iryna Venediktova, a close Zelenskiy ally who worked on his campaign.

In her first weeks in office, Venediktova has pursued charges against former President Petro Poroshenko and Tetyana Chornovil, a prominent activist and former lawmaker, that critics claim are politically motivated.

Zelenskiy has also struggled to shake the influence of Ihor Kolomoyskiy, the tycoon who owns the television channel that broadcast the former actor's popular sitcom and is at least partly credited with helping to raise his profile.

Kolomoyskiy has fought tooth and nail to see his former bank, PrivatBank, returned to him. The Ukrainian government nationalized the bank in 2016 to save it from collapse after regulators found a $5.5 billion hole in its balance sheet.

Among the positive anti-corruption measures Zelenskiy has managed to achieve was the restoration of criminal liability for illicit enrichment, Fesenko says. "A number of other decisions were also taken to combat corruption, some of which are very populist. For example, monetary rewards for information about corruption," he adds.

Hetmanchuk says that many Zelenskiy supporters expected to see "more justice" in cases where serious crimes had been committed, including lingering cases related to the Euromaidan -- the protests that drove Moscow-friendly President Viktor Yanukovych from power in 2014 -- and the Donbas war.

"But Zelensky has failed," she says. "Lack of rule of law is still the major internal challenge for Ukraine, while Russian aggression is the main external challenge."

Zelenskiy, Hetmanchuk adds, "kept some" of his anti-corruption-related promises, "like stripping [lawmakers'] immunity, but it is definitely not enough."

Human Rights

While contending that Zelenskiy's powers are limited on the human rights front, Oksana Pokalchuk, director of Amnesty International's Ukraine office, says his political influence and the fact that his party has an overwhelming majority in parliament should be factored in. She and other human rights activists have been disappointed by the president's actions on this front.

"President Zelenskiy could have submitted a bill on the ratification of the Istanbul Convention to address violence against women and girls," she explains. "While Ukraine has made outstanding progress over the last couple of years on this, the current approach still falls short of building a cohesive and human-oriented system aimed at protecting survivors of domestic and gender-based violence, and preventing such violence in the first place."

Impunity for hate-motivated attacks and against journalists and activists, which has also been a long-standing issue in Ukraine, has not been addressed by Zelenskiy, Pokalchuk adds. "While the president doesn't have the authority to ensure effective investigations, his role in setting the course to address this issue and condemning the violence should not be downplayed."

Pokalchuk notes some "celebrated achievements," like the release of filmmaker Oleh Sentsov and other Ukrainians held by Russia.

However, the "rights of one group were traded off for the rights of the other group, when a key suspect in the downing of [Malaysia Airlines flight MH17] was handed over to Russia, and when five former riot-police officers suspected in killings of Euromaidan protesters were handed over to Russia-backed separatists in [eastern Ukraine]," she says.

Foreign Policy

Fesenko says that there have been "no significant changes in foreign policy" in the past year. "Zelenskiy retained the pro-Western and pro-European foreign policy of Ukraine" that Poroshenko had set out, he says. "At the same time, [Zelenskiy] began to pay more attention to negotiations with Russia."

In particular, he cited negotiations with Moscow at the end of 2019 on the transit of Russian gas across Ukraine to the European Union. "This will allow Ukraine to receive about $2.5 billion annually as a transit fee." In addition, Russia agreed to pay Ukraine $2.9 billion that had been ordered by a Stockholm arbitration ruling.

Perhaps most prominent among Zelenskiy's many foreign-policy challenges were the developments surrounding the impeachment by the U.S. House of Representatives of Trump, who was acquitted by the U.S. Senate on the charges of abuse of power and obstruction of justice in February.

Calling it "an unprecedented challenge" for Zelenskiy and Ukraine, Hetmanchuk says it has had lasting effects on the relationship with Washington. "There are doubts in Kyiv if we can still rely on the United States as our political ally," she says.

Fesenko, though, argues that the impeachment drama had few lasting effects on Ukraine. The scandal "influenced American politics more than Ukraine's foreign policy," he says, and cites U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's visit to Ukraine in January as a sign that the two countries continue to enjoy a close relationship.

Breaking The System

Zelenskiy vowed to break Ukraine's old system, using Trump's own words -- "drain the swamp" -- in the July 2019 phone call with the U.S. president.

Part of that meant bringing in what Zelenskiy called "new faces." Many of them were close personal friends or loyalists who had served on his election campaign. Some of them were young technocrats, like the former prime minister, Oleksiy Honcharuk. And others, like his former chief of staff, Andriy Bohdan, were in fact older faces that had been under the employ of previous administrations, including that of Yanukovych.

Ultimately, the "new faces" failed, and Zelenskiy's first government was fired and replaced.

Zelenskiy says in the video that he will keep making personnel changes in the cabinet until Ukraine gets "a perfect government."

How Zelenskiy may be viewed by history is yet to be known -- he has served less than one-fifth of his presidential term. Much depends on what he is able to accomplish by 2024 (he has said he plans to put serve only a single five-year term), experts say.

While his popularity has fallen from the historic 70 percent support he once enjoyed, polls still put his approval rating above all his predecessors.

"In general, after his first year in office, Zelenskiy is not emerging as the most effective Ukrainian president," Hetmanchuk says. "But he is definitely not the disaster that many of his opponents predicted and are trying to portray him as."
McGreals Pharmacy Group are bringing a unique air disinfection product to the Irish retail market.

The product was deigned and manufactured in Ireland by the Irish company Novaerus and is now available for businesses and the general public through the McGreals Pharmacy Group.

The product which has been endorsed by Enterprise Ireland is being used in hospitals and health care settings around the world including Wuhan, China. Following increased interest and demand in Ireland from consumers and businesses, Novaerus approached the McGreals Pharmacy Group to bring the product to the Irish retail market.

This ground breaking air disinfection device decontaminates the air and kills any airborne viruses and bacteria and has been independently proven to kill previous coronaviruses. It is patented and has a unique design scientifically proven for airborne infection prevention.

It closes the loop in terms of the importance of disinfecting hands and surfaces and now that third crucial element, air. By drawing air through the clinically proven and patented Air Plasma field it immediately destroys airborne viruses - all while using less energy than a 40 watt light bulb.

Blessington's Kilian McGreal, Managing Director of the McGreals Pharmacy Group, said: 'We are delighted to be working with Novaerus to bring this product to the Irish retail market. Having installed the units in all of our pharmacies; we know we are protecting the health of our team and customers by providing the safest environment possible.'

With no harmful by products, the air disinfection products are safe for use around children, the elderly, and the sick. They are simple to use, low maintenance and highly effective for rapid or continuous infection control, odour mitigation and particle reduction.

County Meath based vet, Dr. Fionnuala Fallon, has recently purchased a unit through the McGreals Pharmacy Group for her practice, Park Pets Veterinary Clinic Kinnegad, which is helping her to provide the safest working environment possible for her staff and customers.

She said: 'Since the government issued guidelines, and included veterinary practices on their list of essential services, we have made changes to how we operate our veterinary clinics. All cases are triaged by telephone, and only urgent cases are seen at present. Where we do have to see an urgent case we ensure we follow strict Covid-19 guidelines and social distancing measures are in place at this time to protect clients and staff.

'We are, of course, using high grade disinfectants and hand sanitizers. We do not allow routine visits to hospitalised patients as per government guidelines, but there are occasions when clients must come in to see their pets - especially if they are critically ill. Sometimes we need to perform euthanasias, and clients wish to say goodbye.

'We wear PPE in these rare instances, and in a further effort to keep my staff and clients safe I decided to purchase the groundbreaking air disinfection unit for the clinic. We are aware that guidelines will relax at some point, and the air disinfection unit will continue to provide a cutting edge level of disinfection for our staff, clients and patients on an ongoing basis.'

The technology has also been used in the fight against the coronavirus in China following donations of several units to two hospitals in Wuhan.

Michael Corr, Novaerus Director of Business Development, said: 'Due to the growing concerns over the coronavirus presence in Ireland and following a recent Irish times article and interview on the RTE news highlighting our support against the virus in other countries including its origin in China, we received many requests for our devices from the general public and retail businesses.

'As an Irish company, we needed a partner to help us support the Irish public and retail businesses to receive our technology quickly and efficiently and that's why I approached Kilian McGreal at the McGreals Pharmacy Group. It's a real success story.'
By Yimou Lee

TAIPEI, April 25 (Reuters) - Taiwan's ruling party on Saturday showed support for a Hong Kong bookseller who fled to the democratic island amid fears of Chinese persecution, with President Tsai Ing-wen offering congratulations as he opened a new shop in Taipei.

Lam Wing-kee sought refuge in Taiwan last year after he was detained by Chinese agents for eight months in 2015 while working at a bookshop in Hong Kong that sold books critical of the Chinese leadership.

The case triggered a huge controversy and raised fears of growing Chinese control in the financial hub.

Lam made front-page headlines earlier this week after a man threw red paint at him, just days before the reopening of his "Causeway Bay Books" in Taipei - a symbol of resistance to perceived Chinese encroachments on Hong Kong's liberties.

The attack shocked many in Taiwan, which has become a refuge for a small but growing number of pro-democracy protesters fleeing Chinese-ruled Hong Kong. Taiwan has voiced its strong support for the protesters and repeatedly rejected Beijing's proposals to rule the island with the "one country, two systems" model it uses for Hong Kong.

Senior officials from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) joined the reopening on Saturday, including head of parliament Yu Shyi-kun, who said it was a moment of "pride" for the island's democracy.

President Tsai sent a pot of orchids and a short message of congratulations, citing a Christian song often sung by protesters in Hong Kong calling for fairness and justice.

"If a bookshop fails to open in Taiwan just because it is disliked by China, then what Taiwan is proud of the most - democracy and freedom - will suffer great harm," Taiwan's vice president-elect William Lai wrote on his Facebook.

"We must strongly condemn violence and intimidation. Everyone, please support the bookshop. Supporting Causeway Bay Books in Taipei is to support freedom of publication in Taiwan."

Story continues

Lam, who moved to Taiwan last year, told Reuters that he is worried about more attacks but he will continue his fight against the Chinese Communist Party by reopening the tiny shop packed with political books in the heart of Taipei.

"Opening a bookshop is a resistance...Taiwan needs more bookshops like this," he said, adding that he's hoping to set up a branch in the island's southern port city of Kaohsiung.

Three suspects were arrested and released on bail this week for the attack, the police said.

Lam's incarceration was part of a coordinated operation by China's security apparatus that led to five booksellers disappearing in late 2015, and later showing up in Chinese detention where they were forced to make confessions on public television.

Speaking in the shop crowded with journalists, DPP Secretary General Luo Wen-jia congratulated Lam's reopening in the "land of democracy."

"I hope one day the bookshop could return to its origin - Hong Kong's Causeway Bay," he told Lam. (Reporting By Yimou Lee; additional reporting by Ann Wang; Editig by Kim Coghill)
Bengal in throes of third Covid wave, infections curve may rise more

WBJEE 2022 application correction open: How you should do it

Bengal BJP to protest from home against states handling of COVID-19

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

-Kolkata, Apr 25: The BJP's West Bengal unit said its members and supporters would hold sit-in protest at their homes on Sunday over mismanagement by the state government in tackling coronavirus crisis, and alleged attacks on party workers by the ruling Trinamool Congress.

BJP state president Dilip Ghosh claimed that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was not performing her job properly, leading to a breakdown in administration, health services and in providing ration to the people of the state.

Amid coronavirus outbreak, West Bengal CM greets people on start of Ramzan month

In order to divert attention from the pressing issues of effectively dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, the chief minister was training her guns on the visiting Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) and Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar, Ghosh alleged.

"The BJP will hold a two-hour demonstration from 11 am with its workers and leaders holding sit-ins at their own homes on Sunday. It will be a silent protest," the BJP state president said.

He said party in-charge for the state Kailash Vijayvargiya will hold a sit-in at his home in Indore.

The silent protest would be held abiding by lock down rules and social distancing norms, the BJP MP said.

"With the whole system collapsing, she sought help from Prashant Kishore and had to bring him to the city aboard a cargo plane amid the lockdown to wriggle out of the situation," Ghosh told reporters.

It seems that Kishore is the only trusted person and she cannot depend on her own party's leaders or the administration, the BJP leader said.

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 - Mamata Banerjee.

Governor questions Bengal govts red carpet to WHO team

Kishor, however, denied the charges.

Ghosh claimed that the Centre provided huge quantities of food grains to the state, but people are not getting adequate provisions from ration shops.

"People are dejected and this is leading to clashes with the police and to prevent these issues from coming up, our leaders are being stopped from going out of their homes," Ghosh said.

He claimed that while TMC leaders and ministers are working among the people, but leaders of other parties, especially those from BJP, were being prevented from stepping out of their homes to help the masses.

"Our MP from Balurghat constituency, Sukanta Majumdar has been sent a notice by the district police chief asking him to remain in-home quarantine, though he returned from Delhi on March 23 and stayed indoors for over 20 days," Ghosh said.

Ghosh also alleged that the saffron party's Purulia district women's cell chief was picked up by the police after she posted pictures of the condition at the local hospital there.
One of Alabamas historically black colleges and universities announced it is getting nearly $500,000 in grant funding to restore its oldest building, a historic site of the civil rights movement.

Erected in 1907, Williams Hall on the campus of Miles College has been in disrepair for years, school leaders said in a news release.

But with grant funding from a federal Historic Preservation Fund, the college plans to restore the building as a teaching museum to honor the role of Miles, its founders, students and alumni in the modern-day civil rights movement.

We are honored to be one of the recipients of this grant from the National Park Service," Miles College President Bobbie Knight said in the news release. This grant provides a significant contribution to the restoration of historic Williams Hall, breathing life back into a building that has played an indelible role in the history of our institution and has a significant position in our future.

Miles, located just southwest of Birmingham in Jefferson County, is one of 18 schools in the U.S.  and the only in Alabama  to receive a portion of $7.7 million awarded in this round of funding from the National Park Service. The funding is for the preservation of historic structures on the campuses of HBCUs.

Miles leaders said they intend to restore Williams Hall to its 20th century appearance while adding modern spaces for academics, teaching and a museum.

U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell of Alabama helped Miles College secure the grant funding.

 I have fought to create this funding specifically for historic preservation on HBCU campuses since coming to Congress, Sewell said in the news release from Miles. HBCU campuses have played a pivotal role in American history, especially in our nations struggle for civil rights, and those sites must be preserved 

Knight thanked Sewell for her advocacy on behalf of the college.

We are extremely appreciative of Rep. Terri Sewell for her assistance in advocating for Miles College in Washington, D.C. and are indebted for her tireless service to our district, Knight said. "Our grant writing team at Miles was diligent in pursuing this opportunity, as well, and should certainly be commended.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 25

By Elchin Mehdiyev - Trend:

Azerbaijani citizens wont be brought to criminal liability for non-provision of written information about the acceptance of foreign citizenship to the relevant executive authority within one month, Trend reports.

The issue was included in the proposed amendment to the Law on Citizenship of Azerbaijan discussed at the Parliaments session held on April 24.

According to the amendment, the following sentence was proposed to be deleted from the second part of the above law's article 10:

An Azerbaijani citizen who has accepted the citizenship of a foreign state must submit written information about this to the relevant executive authority within one month. Persons who do not submit this information are liable, provided for by the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan."

After the exclusion of this proposal from the second part of this article, the obligation of citizens of the country, who have acquired citizenship of a foreign state to notify the executive body in writing about this, will remain in force, but without criminal liability.

After the discussions, the amendment was put to the vote and adopted in the second reading.
Pictures have emerged online which show planes packed full of passengers despite states advising people to stay home and practice social distancing.

Airlines are also not insisting their customers wear masks, which means many passengers have decided to forgo a face covering of any kind whilst onboard.

In terms of the crew, most flight attendants now appear to be wearing masks as a precaution despite some initial reluctance from airlines to allow it in the early days of the virus. However, mask-wearing is not universal among staff.

On one flight between Miami and New York, less than 50 per cent of passengers wore masks

American Airlines flight attendants have been told they are allowed to wear masks and gloves

One passenger traveling from Miami told The New York Post that on his American Airlines flight to Mexico City earlier this month, around 80 percent of people were not wearing masks.

Pedro Souss, 49, who was traveling from Miami to Mexico City on April 16 calculated around 80 per cent of passengers to not be wearing masks.

Furthermore, his flight ended up being extremely crowded after the airline cancelled an earlier flight and ended up merging the two groups of passengers together.

It was directly the opposite of what had been promised by American Airlines' CEO in an email which stated the company would enforce social distancing on their flights.

The amount of protection being worn by passengers varied with some wearing face masks and gloves while one person decided to wear a full hazmat suit

Although many passengers were wearing masks, it was not compulsory for people to do so

'Apparently, there was another flight scheduled to Mexico City leaving from another gate and they decided to cancel that flight and cram everyone in one flight,' Souss said.

Souss said he took issue with the fact that the American Airlines CEO sent an email stating the company would enforce social distancing on their flights.

Another Twitter user also called out American Airlines staff on a flight from Texas to Florida after they made passengers sit next to one another but kept seats at the front of the cabin empty, in order to keep passengers seated away from themselves.

Angie Wong, 42, told The Post that on a flight from Miami to New York LaGuardia, half the passengers were not wearing masks on a flight that was almost full.

'I could tell passengers were very nervous that masks were not mandated,' she said.

CDC guidelines recommend social distancing and wearing masks normally however, there are no guidelines in place for flights

American Airlines passenger planes crowd a runway where they are parked due to flight reductions made to slow the spread of coronavirus disease at Tulsa Airport in Oklahoma

Wong was surprised that social distancing rules which had been enforced in both cities of New York and Miami, no longer applied once onboard the aircraft.

When she asked the airline, they responded tersely: 'Nothing we can do about it.'

'If American Airlines sells 150 seats, they will board 150 seats  it's a business,' a rep told her at the gate.

While only 50 per cent wore masks, some people went further and were dressed in full hazmat suits.

'Even the pilot came on mid-flight to apologize for the cramped conditions. Unlike in Canada, masks were not mandated to fly. No temperature checks.

With so few traveling, many planes have been parked up on the tarmac until the crisis is over

'Though I did ask to be sat in an emptier part of the plane  and was told the airline could not accommodate  I did not realize how packed the flight was until I boarded.'

Despite the uncomfortable nature of the pictures, there are no specific guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control that would require passengers to wear masks although the CDC's website does recommend social distancing which it states not gathering in groups and staying six feet away from each other.

Some airlines including United and Delta have said they plan to adjust their seating policies and block middle seats, where possible until the end of May.

In a statement to DailyMail.com American Airlines explained the precautions they were taking during the current healthcare crisis.

'The safety of our customers and team members remains our top priority. We are in close contact with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and public health officials and will continue to coordinate with them on any required health and safety related measures. In response to our employees concerns about COVID-19, we have expanded our cleaning procedures to ensure high-touch areas are cleaned more frequently and have introduced procedures to ensure employees maintain proper distance from others and follow all CDC recommendations for personal hygiene.

'We allow all employees to wear gloves or masks if they wish, and in the wake of recently-updated CDC guidelines, are working to provide masks to all front-line employees as quickly as we can obtain supplies without taking any actions that would deprive such necessary supplies from first responders and health care providers.

Last month, in response to CDC social distancing guidelines, American began temporarily relaxed seating policies for customers on our flights and reduced onboard food and beverage service levels. To encourage social distancing, gate agents will reassign seats to create more space between customers. Once on board  provided there arent any aircraft weight or balance restrictions  customers can move to another seat within their ticketed cabin subject to availability. Our team also monitors flights closely to maintain social distancing.'
The sun had shone on many giraffes at the National Zoo before Randles departure, but the majestic animals had some stormy days, too. In May 1993, Masai giraffe Griff went into labor in the middle of a thunderstorm. This may have been no more than an interesting detail save for the fact that zoo personnel tried to usher visitors out of the Elephant House  where the giraffes lived  so Griff would not be distracted.
Kyari, who was chief of staff to President Muhammadu Buhari , died of complications from COVID-19 on April 17.

Abba Kyari

The United States government has described Abba Kyari as a dedicated public servant and respected interlocutor.

Kyari, who was chief of staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, died of complications from COVID-19 on April 17.

According to a statement by Garba Shehu, presidential spokesman, Tibor Nagy, assistant secretary of state for African affairs, said the late chief of staff played a crucial role in repatriating the over $300 million public funds looted by Sani Abacha, the late military dictator.



Kyari was a valued and respected interlocutor for the U.S. government and particularly for our leadership team in Abuja, Nagy was quoted to have said.



We appreciate working with him on many important matters, including the return to the Nigerian people of over 300 million dollars in funds stolen by Sani Abacha.

He envisioned the funds going to three geographically disparate infrastructure projects as a way to unite Nigeria economically.

The US official reportedly said the vision the late Kyari had for the country was a reflection of his tireless championing of a solid and prosperous future for Nigeria.

His dedication to this matter, to fighting corruption, and to countless other investments and policies for the future of Nigeria will leave a lasting impact on your country, he said.

The US government also pledged to stand with Nigeria in the struggle against the coronavirus pandemic.
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By the time public health officer Bela Matyas learned that the novel coronavirus was spreading in Solano County, a patient in her 40s was already on a ventilator.

Back in February, the woman was the first in the nation known to be infected without traveling or being around someone who was sick. But she was too ill to answer questions about where she'd been and whom she had talked to, worked with and touched.

Dozens of public health investigators from local, state and federal agencies fanned out like detectives, questioning the family members who had visited her and the hospitals that had orchestrated her care -- even staking out the store where she worked. Their mission: to piece together a list of people who could have been exposed to the virus.

In the end, the list totaled more than 300 people spanning six California counties, Matyas estimated. Four -- including three healthcare workers -- tested positive, each prompting their own investigation.

This process, called contact tracing, is a critical element in containing the spread of the novel coronavirus. But the ability of California's 61 county and city public health departments varies greatly as they struggle to keep pace with the rising number of patients.

"What we had to do was clear from the beginning," Matyas said. "But actually being able to do it was very hard."

Some local health departments, such as Madera County's, have managed to trace the contacts of every person who tests positive for the coronavirus. Others, like the city of Long Beach and Placer County, are so overburdened that they are only trying to trace contacts that could put vulnerable people at risk, such as healthcare workers or people in nursing homes.

To handle the pandemic, the nation will need 30 contact tracers for every 100,000 Americans, according to the National Association of County and City Health Officials. But no California city or county has anywhere near that many. Under that formula, for example, Long Beach would need 140 investigators, seven to nine times more than it has now.

North of Sacramento, Placer County, with a population of almost 400,000, would need 120 tracers.

"It certainly illustrates the point that 18 -- which is our expanded capacity, which is more than our baseline of six -- is woefully inadequate," said Aimee Sisson, Placer County's public health director.

Contact tracing will become even more important as the state begins reopening parts of its economy. The concern is that more human interaction could cause flare-ups, especially since people can spread the virus before feeling ill, and limited testing leaves people unaware they're infectious.

"We need to make sure that there is capacity in every county to do adequate contact tracing. That's part of containing the disease," said Kat DeBurgh, executive director of the Health Officers Association of California. "Are we ready today? No. When will we be ready? I don't know."

Gov. Gavin Newsom addressed the concern about inadequate contact tracing this week, announcing plans to train 10,000 people to help local health departments. "The good news is we believe we have the capacity to build an army of tracers," Newsom said, although he did not say when they'd be ready to deploy.

Jeffrey Martin, a professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at the University of California, San Francisco, said that fighting an epidemic is like fighting a wildfire: The state can't afford to mess up containment.

"[It's] important to track all of those people down to extinguish all the embers in that brushfire," Martin said. "If we don't do it right, and if the brush fires are not extinguished, you'd have to be a magical, wishful thinker, to think that there would not be a raging wildfire."

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Some counties keep up, others can't

Madera County, in the San Joaquin Valley, typically has two to three people keeping tabs on tuberculosis and sexually transmitted infections in its population of roughly 157,000.

Then, the coronavirus hit -- and the initial cluster encompassed about 200 patients and potential contacts, said Madera County public health director Sara Bosse. Thirty-six people have tested positive.

Still, by teaming with the sheriff's department and probation investigators, the county has managed to keep up contact tracing, isolation and quarantine for everyone potentially exposed.

Madera is unusual in that investigators, typically in plain clothes, visit patients and their contacts in person -- sort of. They drop off packets of information as well as a letter explaining work absences to employers. Then they return to their cars and answer questions face-to-face through the window or over the phone.

"Then they can explain to them what's going on," Bosse said. "We understand that people are experiencing a lot of anxiety and it's difficult for people to hear this news that they might have been exposed."

For now, the spread of the virus in Madera seems to be slowing. "We're really hopeful that it's at least in part due to the active contact tracing that we've implemented," Bosse said.

In Riverside County, cases are coming in faster than the county's 30-plus person team can investigate, according to Barbara Cole, branch chief of disease control for the county's public health department. The county has 3,084 confirmed cases.

It can take multiple phone calls to build enough trust to reconstruct someone's string of contacts, Cole said.

"It's about trying to establish a rapport, stressing how we're going to protect their confidentiality," she said. "The majority of people, they're concerned about their friends and their family."

In the Northern California county of Solano, Matyas quickly realized that tracing and quarantining all contacts would be impossible for every case. To date, 186 people have tested positive there.

Instead, the county focuses on tracking the risk to vulnerable populations, including people who are older, have underlying medical conditions, or live without shelter.

Solano County's communicable disease team, which has shrunk to its original staff of six, first interviews anyone who tests positive about where they work and who they came in contact with. That, in some cases, is a long list: people who visit their homes, coworkers who sit close or share food.

Then a member of the team calls all of the contacts. The idea is to identify and isolate people who are feeling ill or whose jobs put them at risk of infecting others in nursing homes, hospitals, or homeless shelters.

"We no longer pretend that we can do any kind of active quarantine," Matyas said. "There's no bandwidth to check on them to see if they're doing it."

The city of Long Beach, and Sacramento and Placer counties, also are only tracing the virus' spread through vulnerable populations.

"Instead of asking every place you went to, every person you came into contact with, we say, 'Have you been in contact with vulnerable populations?'" said Placer County's Sisson. "We just have too many cases for that full interview." In the county, which is home to the first person to die of the novel coronavirus in California, 133 people have tested positive.

In Long Beach, every case initially was tracked. But then people kept getting sick, and most of the deaths are in long-term care facilities.

(Los Angeles County, which includes Long Beach, has issued new, stricter rules for nursing homes, barring non-essential visitors from facilities and suspending all communal dining and activities to make sure there's safe distancing among residents.)

As people sheltered in place, contact tracing didn't have to be as extensive. "Now we're to the point where we have more than 400 cases, and we're really focusing on our healthcare worker cases, and our cases in our long-term care facilities," said Emily Holman, communicable disease controller for the city's health department.

Tracing contacts of people in long-term care facilities is different than in the community-at-large. Instead of focusing on reconstructing a web of contacts, the aim is to rapidly identify and separate infected and potentially exposed people from healthy people. Speed is key, so if someone's symptomatic, they're treated as a case even with no test results.

"Every minute in those facilities can be crucial and could prevent an exposure," Holman said.

Staffing up

Former CDC director Tom Frieden has called for an army of more than 300,000 contact tracers. And current CDC head Robert Redfield announced plans to hire 650 more public health personnel, including to help with contact tracing, the Washington Post reported.

Local health departments have been bolstering their workforces on their own. San Francisco plans to recruit and train as many as 150 people to conduct contact tracing, including librarians, city attorney staff and medical students.

The Bay Area's Alameda County also has ramped up from just seven staff members investigating cases of communicable disease to 60 people assigned to the novel coronavirus -- including 18 who follow up with contacts. As the epidemic progresses, "we anticipate deploying as many as 300 staff for contact tracing," said Nicholas Moss, acting director of Alameda County's Public Health Department.

Sacramento County is working to expand its six-person team to 30 by recruiting from other departments and training medical students to work with people who are homeless.

"We're hoping that based on the modeling that's occurring, that we will be ready -- and actually, we're hoping that there won't be another wave," said Public Health Officer Olivia Kasirye.

Is there an app for that?

Some counties are looking to technological help. San Francisco, for instance, is training its contact tracers to use a platform that Grant Colfax, director of public health, called "an integral part of our efforts going forward."

The platform, developed by a software company called Dimagi, is not an app that people can download to their phones. Instead, it's a web portal that public health workers can use to keep tabs on people with infections, list their contacts and keep in touch.

Apple and Google also have proposed tracking people's proximities using Bluetooth. Newsom has said the state is vetting various technologies.

But Alameda County's Moss is cautious about protecting the privacy of residents.

"We want to make sure that any technological tool we employ where people's health information is going to be input, that there are adequate safeguards for privacy," Moss said. Plus, the app has to be easy to use, and it has to backup the data needed to keep tabs on the virus's spread.

Eric Sergienko, Mariposa County's health officer, worries that if each local health department ends up using different software, it might be hard to trace contacts who cross county lines.

That's where Sergienko hopes the state steps in and standardizes the platform California's counties use. "What can the state do for us? Just by finding the best one," he said.

State Health and Human Services Secretary Mark Ghaly said that California will need 10,000 more contact tracers as it modifies its stay-at-home order. Between 2,000 and 3,000 people could test positive per day. And each of them could have 10 contacts, he said.

California might not have needed to push quite so hard to ramp up during the crisis if it had funded enough public health workers to begin with. "We've been seeking increased funding for years," said Kat DeBurgh, executive director of the Health Officers Association of California.

More trained health workers could be important in fending off the next pandemic.

"By having these trained contact tracing public health workers, we can actually prevent infections, prevent the severe disease from happening in the first place," said Lee Riley, a professor of epidemiology and infectious diseases at UC Berkeley's School of Public Health.

"But right now, everything that we've been doing is just reactive to what's already happened."
(The Valley, Anguilla) The RAPF is presently investigating a shooting incident which occurred on Thursday 23rd April 2020 in the Village of Bad Cox, Anguilla. As a result of the incident, three persons received injuries and have since been discharged from the Princess Alexandria Hospital. Presently, the RAPF has one person in custody that is assisting the police with its investigation.

The RAPF is appealing to anyone who would have been in the area of Bad Cox at about 12:10am on Thursday 23rd April 2020, or who may have heard or seen anything suspicious, to contact the Major Crime Unit of the Royal Anguilla Police Force at telephone number 497- 5333. Persons can also speak to any police officer who they are comfortable with, or who they can confide in. Additionally, information can be sent via the RAPF Tips Website by logging on to www.gov.ai/911 which is a secure website.

Source: RAPF
The disinfection of the remaining buildings is set to continue next week

The Egyptian Red Crescent (ERC) began the sterilisation of Al-Ahram Establishments buildings under an initiative to sterilise and disinfect government institutions and headquarters amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Al-Ahram received volunteers from the ERC to sterilise the establishments three main buildings in three stages, with the first phase beginning on Thursday through the sterilisation of personnel matters and financial affairs offices.

Al-Ahram Management and Computer Centre (AMAC), the newspapers newsroom, journalists offices and printing presses were also disinfected on Thursday.

The disinfection of the remaining buildings is set to continue next week.

Alaa Sabet, the editor-in-chief of the Al-Ahram daily newspaper, received the volunteers at his office, expressing his gratitude for their efforts in supporting the state under such difficult circumstances.

The ERCs volunteers expressed pride in sterilising and disinfecting one of the MENA regions most prestigious press organisations.

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Chennai: Days after a doctor died in Chennai of COVID-19, his wife appealed to authorities to allow excavation of his body so that it could be buried again at a cemetery of her spouse's choice, the Chennai Corporation on Saturday rejected her plea citing health experts' view that it was unsafe to do so.

Citing her request on April 22 to allow burial at a cemetery in Kilpauk, the civic body said it sought a report from a committee of public health experts to ascertain the feasibility of entertaining her plea.

The report of experts has said that "it is not safe," to excavate and bury again the body of a COVID-19 victim and hence "it is not possible to accept her request," the Greater Chennai Corporation said in an official release.

On April 19, a city-based 55-year-old neurosurgeon died of coronavirus and his burial at the Velangadu crematorium was marred by violence.

A mob falsely fearing that the burial may lead to the spread of contagion had attacked the corporation health employees and associates of the deceased doctor.

The doctor's wife and son also had to leave the burial ground in view of the violence.

The body was brought to Velangadu as people of Kilpauk area had opposed his burial there.

Over a dozen men involved allegedly in violence were arrested and remanded to judicial custody.

Later, in a video message, the surgeon's wife had said that it was her husband's last wish to be interred at the Kilpauk cemetery as per Christian rituals.

Chief minister K Palaniswami and DMK president M K Stalin had spoken to her on Wednesday over the phone and condoled her husband's death.
3 1 of 3 Isaac Windes / Isaac Windes/SETX Crime Stoppers Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Isaac Windes / Isaac Windes/SETX Crime Stoppers Show More Show Less 3 of 3





Lamar University Police are still on the lookout for two individuals who are suspected of stealing a red Ford Fusion from Lamar Universitys campus on Monday.

According to Southeast Texas Crime Stoppers, in the early morning hours of Thursday, April 16, two black males stole a red 2013 Ford Fusion from the Lamar University parking lot. The same two black males returned on Friday, April 17, in the early morning hours and burglarized four unlocked vehicles.
Photo: (Photo : Screenshot from @billybluerecords IG post)

Two-time Grammy-nominated bluegrass musician Barry Abernathy was not planning to adopt in his 50s. The plan has changed when he met Tyler and Zoey.

The Georgia-born Barry Abernathy's life is a series of turning points - both with his career and with his family.

For someone who is born with only a thumb and an index finger on his left hand, and for someone passionate about music, Abernathy needed to strive harder than others.

Growing up, Abernathy performed his little concerts on their porch with his singing and while beating his guitar. But, he could only do so much - Barry could not play the chords because of his birth defect.

During his teenage years, he stumbled upon this record store and spotted a bluegrass album with a banjo pictured on it. Feeling generous, his mother bought it for him.

As Abernathy listened to it, he was on fire.

As he expressed his interest in playing the banjo, his mother warned him - although not in a discouraging way, just enough for him to not be disappointed later - that it would be hard.

With this, she challenged Abernathy that if he could learn a tune without messing it up, she will buy a banjo for him.

Abernathy accepted this challenge and learned about the popular three-finger style of playing the instrument. And this was the turning point of his career. Everything else is history.

On the other hand, his fatherhood journey also took its turn.

Abernathy, together with his wife, Beverly, is blessed with two daughters - Chassady, 18, and Emma, 16.

In June of last year, Chassady talked to Abernathy about the two siblings at the daycare where she works. The siblings, Tyler and Zoey, were removed from an unsafe home and were put into the foster care system. Chassady noticed that the boy, Tyler, had the same birth defect as her father.

Few days have passed, Abernathy had to drive from his home in Georgia to Nashville, Tennessee for a performance. On his way out of the town, he felt the need to drop by and see the kids that his daughter had mentioned.

Just as he entered the daycare center, he immediately spotted Tyler with a friend.

The child patted his friend, pointed at Abernathy, all while proudly announcing that that was his dad.

Abernathy said that the child believed that he was his dad because they have the same hand. He even asked Tyler if he needed to be his father and the child insisted with, "You're my dad."

Abernathy called the Lord. He said that if He wanted them to take the children, He will make way. Two days later, Abernathy and Beverly got their answer. The siblings' foster family could no longer care for them and they were to become wards of the state.

Ever since that day, Tyler and Zoey have been living with the Abernathys. Best believe that it was not a mere coincidence - it was meant to be.

The adoption of the two children has been confirmed earlier this week through a video conference.
SAM SIFTON Pete, in your case, for years and years now, you have had two or three meals a day out in the restaurant world. What has it been like getting to know that strange room in your home called a kitchen again?

PETE WELLS Im not sure Ive ever lived like this because before I was the restaurant critic, I was the editor of the food section. I used to stay until 7 or 8 oclock, and then come home and either order something or make the fastest meal I could imagine. Then I went into this job, and I was going out every night. I dont really think Ive had the experience of cooking as an adult, maybe ever. It is wild.

SIFTON How do you, as critics, view your role and your responsibility now and going forward? In other words, were not reviewing restaurants, so whats your job right now?

WELLS Well, my job for the past month has been to try to find out whats going on out there and then tell people about it. So, reporting.

Ive been calling owners, and I have been calling employees. Ive been calling their lawyers and their bookkeepers and asking them, Whats going on? What are you guys doing? And then trying to present it to people. Because I think the reality of it is hard to imagine. If youre used to seeing the pizza guy every time you go to the local pizza place, and then one day hes not there, its like, Well, whered he go? Whats he doing? Hows he getting by? Is he eating pizza? Is he eating anything?
Life is no doubt uncertain, but what the world has witnessed over past few months has give the seal of approval to that fact. The coronavirus pandemic has changed the world - for good or bad, no one knows.

Reuters

But one thing is beyond doubt - world will never be the same again. The bustling nature of our planet has gone into a quieter mode. There are unsettling thoughts and a sense of insecurity of what lies ahead.



We are in lockdown, but this will end, that is for sure. The eventuality though, is laden with doubt. What will be the new normal after this?

The first impression of what the new normal will look like has come from Germany. It tells a lot. The European country eased restrictions - small retail outlets resumed operations for the first time in more than a month, part of the countrys slow reawakening.

Reuters

Yet, there was a strange feel to it as people stayed away and empty roads drew a picture of what was seen in the last month when the country had restrictions in place.



Despite the official easing of restrictions across Germany, people are reluctant to go out. The experts say that the behavior of people wouldnt return to normal until they feel the threat of the virus has gone away.



The messages of social distancing, such as limiting the touching of surfaces and objects, are so ingrained in peoples minds that it will effect the behavior for long.



How will people in India react to post-lockdown world?

Like people around the world, Indians too, are feeling anxious and there are plenty of apprehensions about what happens once the lockdown ends. The country has restrictions in place until at least May 3.

The post-pandemic India could look very different. Much like how Germans are still unsure about stepping out of their houses. The country of over 1.3 billion will see big changes - economically, socially and culturally.

BCCL

The latter will alter a lot - the big subcontinent culture has hugs and handshakes as a must, but that might well be a thing of the past. The lively cities of Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and others, will surely have uneasiness about them, at least for a foreseeable future.



Its hard to imagine the future of this cohort in any detail, beyond the fact that our lives will be, in at least some ways, profoundly different from what they might have been.

As and when government lifts the lockdown, there will be eagerness to go out, but there will also be some reservations.

Reuters

The economics of the pandemic will also impact the populace - many have lost jobs, companies are undergoing losses and there are uncertainties about what the market will offer going ahead.



Kids, college students, and those in their first post-graduation jobs are also uniquely vulnerable to the catastrophe. The people in this group could see their careers derailed, finances shattered and social lives upended.

It feels strange because the past few weeks have exposed the fact that the biggest things can always change, at any minute.



We can't predict the future, it would be foolish, but if past history is anything to go by - there are drastic changes incoming. Life as we all know it, will never be the same again. But we can hope, whatever lies ahead, is for the best.
BRIDGEPORT  A city business agreed to close Thursday after it was found to be open in violation of Gov. Ned Lamonts executive order on essential businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic, officials said.

The citys health department requested support from police at around 11:40 a.m., according to Scott Appleby, the citys director of emergency communications and emergency management.
Today we are spotlighting two significant revelations that somehow escaped proper attention during our struggle to survive the deadly pandemic that has enveloped our planet.

The first revelation was gleaned because we could electronically eavesdrop on Mondays phone call between Vice President Mike Pence and Marylands Republican Gov. Larry Hogan, chair of the National Governors Association. It proved the Trump administration is finally doing more of what is needed to help states test for COVID-19. Just a couple of months too late.

The second revelation surfaced in yet another White House briefing room clash Wednesday. President Donald Trump vehemently complained that The Washington Post misquoted his director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in its story headlined: Viruss second wave is likely to be even more devastating, CDC chief warns. (And well get to that, soon enough.)

Revelation One: On Monday, Pence and Hogan had one of those political phone calls where one of them wants to talk bluntly, but tries to be at least semi-politically correct. Because he knows the internet has ears. Hogan wasnt pleased that Pences White House Coronavirus Task Force just made a show of giving him a long list of laboratory facilities in his state where Marylanders could get COVID-19 tests processed. But most were federal facilities that had already told Hogans officials their facilities are off-limits to states.

Were very familiar with the laboratories in our state ... Were in contact with every one of them, Hogan said, adding: The majority ... are actually federal laboratories ... (and) military installations ... So you might want to go back and ... pull out the ones that we dont actually have access to.

But then came a dollop of good news: Dr. Deborah Birx, a famous face from Trumps task force, said they had talked with the Defense Department. Now, she said, there is a willingness there if they can help support the states.

Too bad this became Trump policy on April 20. Too bad Team Trump wasnt taking charge and coordinating all national testing, in all 50 states, back on Feb. 20. Or even March 20. How many million more tests might have been conducted by now? How many thousands of lives might have been saved?

Now think deeper: Why didnt Trump-Pence establish a National COVID-19 Test Commission months ago to obtain and dispense testing kits in all states? Why didnt that board assign for each governor a top official test coordinator? Also: why are you reading that here today  and not hearing it from Trump in February (when he was in his panic-induced state of denial?)

Revelation Two: On Wednesday, Trump devoted humongous time to attacking The Washington Post for misquoting CDC Director Robert Redfield. Of course Trump also called it fake news. But Trump doesnt want to understand an essential truth of our news business  its really not different than any of his own myriad businesses: Sometimes people just make mistakes  even the best in the business.

Consider that you are a Post reporter or editor. The CDC director has just told your reporter this quote that became the second paragraph of Wednesdays Post article: Theres a possibility that the assault of that virus on our nation next winter will actually be even more difficult than the one we just went through.

Rewind. Remember: ... a possibility ... even more difficult ... Would you then feel comfortable topping that with an opening sentence reporting the CDC director as warning a second wave will (escalated from just a possibility) be far more dire (escalated from even more difficult)? And a headline that then escalated the lead sentences dire to devastating?

Of course not. Yet, for the next two news cycles, the talking heads only mucked it up more. They emphasized the Post got the directors quote right  with no mention that the Post then took that quote on a Trump-styled wild ride on the up-escalator. What we lacked were fact-finding journalists liberally acknowledging that this time Trump had a valid complaint  which he then fouled up (yet again) by accusing the Post of willful fake news.

As I have occasionally observed before, The New York Times and Washington Post are great newspapers, but not always good ones.

And Wednesday, my former paper, the Post, had one of its off days. Even presidents can be expected to have them now and then. But it usually doesnt become a great American problem  unless our incumbent panics and seems to be having his off days hourly.

That could definitely make America grate again.

Martin Schram, an op-ed columnist for Tribune News Service, is a veteran Washington journalist, author and TV documentary executive. Readers may send him email at martin.schram@gmail.com.

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An exploration of motivation: Maeve Galvin's novel is every bit as thrilling and complex as its setting

As anyone who has been there knows, Cambodia is a bubbling mass of contradictions. Natural beauty and friendliness collide with grinding poverty and corruption, for a start. In Phnom Penh, piles of rubbish languish in the gutter next to skyscraper hotels with glossy cocktail bars. It attracts people for many reasons.

"Expats call Phnom Penh the 'playpen'," Maeve Galvin, who has worked in the country as a humanitarian, smiles. "It's a very particular setting - for people with any kind of compulsion towards addiction or hedonism, it might not be a great place, especially if you have unlimited [financial] resources."

There are, famously, the 'sexpats' who frequent Street 51; the backpackers and tourists, and then those who arrive into the country for humanitarian work. And even in the latter faction, there are divides.

Bray native Maeve Galvin, formerly a journalist, decided to work in the NGO sector after fostering a keen sense of social justice in her first career.

"Originally, I wanted to be [journalist] John Pilger," she smiles. "But when I graduated in 2008, I had this social justice ambition, too. I didn't have what it took for a career in journalism, but then I found myself reading more and more about NGOs. My heroes like Christina Noble and Mary Robinson did this kind of work, and if you grew up in 1990s Ireland, there was certainly this idea of people doing good work over 'there'.

"I was curious about it - I started on an internship with Amnesty International, went on to do a volunteer post in Nigeria, and then went on a funded year with the UN to Cambodia."

Her time there forms the inspiration for Galvin's first novel, The Saviours. Much as its title suggests, the book explores the idea of the 'saviour complex' that is inherent in many foreign aid workers.

While in Cambodia, Galvin came across foreign aid workers of different stripes during her three years there. Many were certainly in the job for the right reasons, like the book's character Janice Steiner. Janice is one of the country's most eminent and respected activists and aid workers. Janice's daughter Caitlyn is full of ideals, and similarly keen to 'save' the troubled country. Caitlyn meets Galwegian Tom, who is over in Cambodia to help, certainly, but also to contemplate his next life move. He is by turns seduced by Cambodia's hedonistic streak, and envious/resentful of the profligate ways of the humanitarian big guns.

"In Cambodia, there can be a lot of stories about people who came on holiday and then fell in love with the place," explains Galvin.

"There's that sort of self-appointed 'mission' thing going on. I'm conscious of that compulsion that people get to fix the place. Cambodia can be an incredibly seductive place in that way. Also, there's no real regulation when it comes to setting up an NGO here. You can get a business visa pretty much on arrival, and it's a place fertile for this kind of saviour complex.

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"There's a lost soul component too to the ex-pat scene," Galvin adds. "In a place like Cambodia, you can have characters like Tom, living at the high end of it. Even if you don't earn a lot of money, Westerners can have a very enviable lifestyle with drivers, top-end restaurants, beach resorts the pay disparity between locals and international workers creates a huge social gulf.

"Overnight, a Westerner who is lower middle class becomes a one-percenter in Cambodia. Even if I take my own experience, I was treated well and revered, and the privilege is really something I wanted to shed light on. It's really uncomfortable, not based on merit.

"In fact, it's undeserved for a lot of Westerners. It can lead to arrogance, and people behaving in a way they mightn't in their home country. Those things need to be called out."

In The Saviours, Janice and Caitlyn have a compellingly fractious relationships: for all their similarities, they rub each other up the wrong way. Caitlyn often accuses her humanitarian mother of abandoning her with her father in the US to follow her dreams of charity work in Cambodia. The relationship gives The Saviours yet more propulsion.

"I did draw on personal experience, and I could draw on what Caitlyn goes through a little," says Galvin. "I'm just fascinated by non-traditional family set-ups, too."

Above all, Galvin wanted to shed a light on the intricacies of aid work.

"This work has an interesting relationship with passion, and it's an industry in which you need professional skills," she notes. "The likes of Tim are a minority, but if someone is a selfish person, but good at their job, does that matter?"

Still, having passion for aid work doesn't come without a price, and in the novel, Janice soon reaches the brink of burnout, burdened by responsibility.

All in all, Galvin has delivered a transportive novel that is every bit as thrilling and complex as its setting. It asks many intriguing questions about people's motivations to move to a country like Cambodia to 'rescue' people.

"Passion isn't always a great compass, in fact it can be exhausting," Galvin observes.

"I made Caitlyn 25 years old, because at that age, passion is a power that can often be misguided.

"There's definitely a relationship between idealism and burnout going on throughout the book - passion can be dampened a lot by pure exhaustion in this sector."

The Saviours, published by Merdog Books, is out on Friday priced 15
In the early morning hours of Easter Sunday, local police were called to bring 25 body bags to the Andover Subacute and Rehabilitation Center in northern Sussex County.

Over the following days, the rising death toll at one of the largest nursing homes in New Jersey  and the discovery of 17 bodies being inexplicably stored in a makeshift morgue within the facility  put a spotlight on a place long on the edge.

The facility has been excoriated by families because of its failure to handle the bodies, while nurses and other workers have voiced concerns about problems with chronic understaffing.

But in their first lengthy explanation of what happened, nursing home officials described how a sudden series of deaths over a holiday weekend spun out of control  a nightmare of unclaimed bodies and dead residents that suggested the facility could not take proper care of its patients, even after they were dead.

Chaim Mutty Scheinbaum, CEO of Alliance Healthcare, which owns Andover, would not consent to an interview and has retained one of the states top lawyers, former state Attorney General Christopher Porrino. But the facility, in response to questions from NJ Advance Media, said in a statement that in the days before the virus began to exact its deadly toll, the facility had been taking major steps to deal with a virus that had already been killing so many.

With the onset of the pandemic and the reality that all nursing homes are particularly susceptible to the virus, Andover Subacute began preparing for alternative plans in case patients passed away faster than the morgue and funeral homes could accommodate them, the facility said in a statement.

More than 40% of New Jerseys COVID-19 related deaths have been in long-term care facilities or nursing homes, according to the state Department of Health. Questions remain, however, as to why so many of Andovers residents died in the nursing home, rather than at a hospital  where presumably some should have been sent for treatment had their vital signs begun to fail.

The nursing home, in its response to NJ Advance Media, said many long-term care facilities and local funeral homes were already struggling to manage fatalities prior to the Easter holiday weekend.

Andover said it already had a fully operational, temperature-controlled morgue able to accommodate deceased patients awaiting transport to a funeral home. The morgue is large enough for two full-size gurneys, which officials said has been more than adequate previously. But even prior to the Easter weekend, nursing home officials said they began actively looking for options to obtain a refrigerated truck, just in case it became necessary.

Andover Subacute said it located a truck with an electric-powered refrigeration unit the week before the Easter holiday weekend, but after discussions with the facilitys electrician they concluded that it would not be feasible.

At that point, though, time had already run out.

The nursing home spokesman said the rate of deaths at Andover suddenly began to spike on Saturday, April 11th, through the day after Easter. Fifteen patients died over the weekend and into Monday.

The facility said its managers had already been in touch with funeral homes, reaching out for mortuary services to handle the remains of those who had died. They said they also tried to contact state authorities on Easter to ask for assistance.

In the meantime, staff did their best to accommodate the recently deceased patients in the facilitys morgue, the spokesman said. There were approximately eight additional deaths on Easter Monday.

Laurie Facciarossa Brewer, an advocate for nursing home residents as the states Long-Term Care Ombudsman, with more than 40 now dead at Andover, said questions remain.

Thats a large number of people to die in a short time at the nursing home, she said.

Among the factors contributing to the dismal numbers, Brewer suggested, was not only that Andover is the largest nursing home in the state, but that it is also located in an area that is relatively remote, and served by a relatively small hospital compared with other hotspots. At the same time, many in nursing homes typically have advanced directives that see residents opt to forgo extreme lifesaving measures, such as being placed on a ventilator.

Still, she said Andover has a lot of employees who have worked there a long time, and who she said care deeply about the residents and are doing the best under difficult circumstances." But noting that Andover has had its problems with regulators over the years, including poor health inspection reports and issues of staffing, she added it is clear they werent prepared.

The disastrous situation came to light last week after an anonymous tip alerted the police to 17 bodies being stored on site and the full scope of what had happened there became clear.

Since then, inspectors from the state and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid were camped out on the site for days, and are expected to soon release a report spelling out a series of violations that state officials say have already been issued. The facility has been barred from accepting new residents, and was ordered to hire an infection control specialist.

In the meantime, a diesel-powered refrigerated truck has been brought to the site to accommodate bodies of others, should another deadly spike hit the facility. It remains on the grounds of the nursing home, said Andover Subacute and Rehabilitation officials.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Ted Sherman may be reached at tsherman@njadvancemedia.com.
More than 20,000 people have now died in UK hospitals after testing positive for coronavirus - a level that had previously been earmarked as a significant milestone by science and medical chiefs.

A "good outcome"

On 17 March, Sir Patrick Vallance, the government's chief scientific adviser, said keeping the number of UK deaths below 20,000 would be a "good result" from the COVID-19 pandemic.

"If we can get this down to 20,000 and below, that is a good outcome in terms of where we would hope to get to with this outbreak," he told a committee of MPs.

Professor Stephen Powis, the medical director of NHS England, later repeated the assertion that keeping below 20,000 deaths would be a "good outcome" at one of the first daily Downing Street briefings.

Sir Patrick and Prof Powis' comments came either side of the UK entering its coronavirus lockdown, which was at least in part prompted by modelling from a team at London's Imperial College.

The university's team predicted that, without the stringent social distancing measures now in place to "suppress" the spread of COVID-19, the UK could have been on course for around 250,000 deaths.

So, with the UK still in lockdown, but having passed the level that the government and NHS England previously considered a "good result" - how many deaths could there be?

The UK probably passed 20,000 deaths a long time ago

In reality, the UK probably passed the 20,000 deaths mark a long time ago.

The daily death figures released by the Department for Health and Social care only report the deaths of patients with coronavirus in UK hospitals.

By contrast, figures now released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reveal a wider picture of the impact of COVID-19.

The ONS figures include deaths outside hospitals, such as in care homes or at home, where coronavirus was mentioned on the death certificate.

According to these figures, of all deaths registered by 10 April, 10,350 mentioned coronavirus on the death certificate.

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They also show that the total current number of deaths in 2020 is 184,950, which is 10,232 more than the five-year average.

In the week up to 10 April, the ONS said the number of deaths was 18,526, which was the highest weekly total since the first week of 2000 - a year when the UK suffered a major flu outbreak.

Of those deaths registered in the week to 10 April, 6,213 (33%) mentioned coronavirus, which was almost double the number from the week before.

The ONS figures also showed that, of deaths between the week starting on 9 March, when the first COVID-19 deaths were registered, and 10 April, the number of deaths in care homes has doubled, with a 72% increase in hospital deaths and a 51% increase in deaths in private homes.

It has been suggested an overall rise in the number of deaths in 2020, compared to previous years, may also reveal the UK lockdown is having an indirect impact on health.

Indeed, the government has said one of its key considerations when reviewing the lockdown measures is the impact on people's long-term health from the socio-economic effects of the lockdown, as well as the effect of the continued postponement of other healthcare.

Up to 66,000 deaths?

Others have tried to make their own estimations of how many deaths there might be in the UK due to coronavirus.

Professor Anthony Costello of University College London's Institute for Global Health has previously suggested the UK "could see 40,000 deaths" in the current wave of coronavirus cases.

However, he also warned the country was going to face more waves of infections.

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The Financial Times, according to their analysis of ONS figures, have said the coronavirus pandemic has already caused as many as 41,000 deaths in the UK.

Meanwhile, the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, based at the University of Washington in the US, once predicted deaths from COVID-19 in the UK would be the highest in Europe at 66,000.

However, they later revised down their forecast to 37,494 deaths, based on new data.

Will the UK be the worst affected in Europe?

According to figures collated by Johns Hopkins University in the US, the UK is the fourth worst affected country in Europe in terms of deaths, behind Italy, Spain and France.

The government has previously said the UK is further behind other European countries in terms of the progress of the coronavirus outbreak.

And this means, whether the UK is ultimately the worst affected country in Europe will depend upon the RO value in the coming weeks.

This measures the reproductive value of a virus, with an RO of three meaning every individual infected will pass the disease onto three other people if no containment measures are introduced.

Professor Chris Whitty, England's chief medical officer, has estimated the current RO value in the UK is between 0.5 and 1.

However, the government will fear the RO value rising again should they ease lockdown measures.

Will we ever know the true impact of COVID-19?

Modelling the true or total impact of coronavirus in terms of UK deaths at this stage is problematic as it will continue to be based on incomplete or, perhaps, non-current data.

There is also no way of knowing how many people have actually contracted coronavirus as the vast majority of the UK population has not been tested.

It means the full impact of coronavirus in the UK - in terms of direct deaths and indirect deaths - is unlikely to be known until after the pandemic has passed.

At that point, the "excess deaths" for the period of the pandemic can be compared to previous years.
While the world is grappling to contain the deadly Coronavirus, Denmark on April 24 reportedly announced the construction of the worlds longest submerged tunnel to Germany. According to an international media outlet, the project which was supposed to start by mid-2020, will now begin on January 1 next year due to the unprecedented pandemic.

While speaking to an international media outlet, the Ministry of Transport and Housing said that the work on the Fehmarnbelt, link of 10 minutes or less for cars and trains, would begin on the Danish island of Lolland. The ministry informed that the underwater tunnel, which will almost be 18 kilometres in length, will link the Danish region of Lolland-Falster with Schleswig-Holstein in Germany.

READ: Lebanon PM: Central Bank Gov Responsible For Currency Falls

Danish transport minister, Benny Engelbrecht reportedly said that the Fehmarnbelt link will be a new gateway to Europe and a new gateway for future green transport solutions. As per reports, the new underwater tunnel wont be anything like the Channel Tunnel under the English Channel and Japans Seikan Tunnel under the Tsugaru Strait. The authorities said that the Fehmarnbelt will not lie under the seabed.

READ: Peru, Police And Doctors Infected With COVID 19

COVID-19 disrupts underwater tunnel project

Instead, the tunnel is planned to be constructed in hollow concrete sections that are to be submerged and place in a trench dug into the Baltic Seafloor. The ministry in a statement said that the consortium in charge of the project had planned to start construction in mid-2020, but among other things because of the pandemic it had not proved possible.

The tunnel is expected to be operational by mid-2029 and will be linking German and Danish regions in 10 minutes by car and seven minutes by train. usually, the ferry takes an hour to cover the distance. The new project will also replace the 160-kilometre detour that one has to take through the Danish region of Jutland to reach Germany. However, as per reports, on the German side, the launch of work still awaits a court decision to validate approval given by authorities.

READ: Bolsonaro Denies Interference By Firing Police Chief

READ: Colombia Marks A Month Under Lockdown
An Iraqi man believed to have belonged to the Islamic State group went on trial in Germany on Friday accused of genocide and murdering a child belonging to the Yazidi minority who he held as a slave. Taha al-Jumailly, 27, also stands accused of crimes against humanity, war crimes and human trafficking in the case which is being heard before judges in Frankfurt. Wearing a white shirt in court, he gave no initial response after being formally advised of the charges against him. Jumailly's wife, a German woman named Jennifer Wenisch, has been on trial for a year at a Munich court. She too is charged with murdering the young Yazidi girl who the pair are believed to have allowed to die of thirst in the Iraqi city of Fallujah in 2015. The start of Wenisch's trial in April last year appeared to be the first formal proceeding anywhere in the world related to the Islamic State group's persecution of the Yazidi community. A Kurdish-speaking group hailing from northern Iraq, the Yazidis were specifically targeted and oppressed by the jihadists beginning in 2015. The mother of the young girl, identified only by her first name Nora, has repeatedly testified in Munich about the torment visited on her child, named as Rania. Court documents allege that Jumailly joined IS in March 2013, holding different positions within its hierarchy in the jihadists' "capital" in the Syrian city of Raqa, as well as in Iraq and Turkey. - 'Regularly beaten' - German prosecutors say the accused bought a woman belonging to the Yazidi minority and her five-year-old daughter as slaves at the end of May or beginning of June 2015. He then took them to Fallujah, where they were seriously maltreated and at times deprived of food, the prosecutors allege. "They were not allowed to leave the house unaccompanied. He forced them to wear a full veil, and did not accept the child's name because it was a name of the infidel," chief prosecutor Anna Zadeck said Friday. "Both were regularly beaten. The woman has suffered pain in her shoulder ever since. The child once had to stay in bed for four days after being beaten." In the summer of 2015, after a string of such abuses, the young girl was chained by Jumailly to the window of a house where she lived with her mother, as "punishment" for having wet the bed, prosecutors said. She died of thirst in temperatures as high as 50 degrees Celsius (122 Fahrenheit). The couple also forced her mother to walk barefoot on the scorching ground outside, inflicting severe burns, the prosecution claims. Mother and daughter had been kidnapped in the summer of 2014 after the IS group invaded the Sinjar region of Iraq. They were repeatedly sold on "slave markets", prosecutors say. The Frankfurt case is expected to last until at least August, and is being heard under tight police guard. Jumailly was arrested in Greece in May 2019, before being extradited to Germany in October, where he has since been held in pre-trial custody. - 'No order to exterminate' - Both Lebanese-British lawyer Amal Clooney and Yazidi activist Nadia Murad -- herself a survivor of IS sexual slavery and a 2018 Nobel Peace Prize winner -- have represented the mother of the young girl at Wenisch's trial. The two women lead an international campaign to classify IS crimes against the Yazidi community as genocide. But proving before a court that genocide has taken place is difficult. The explicit will to destroy a group such as the Yazidi must be demonstrated to judges' satisfaction. "There is often no order to wipe out" a group, University of Leipzig legal expert Alexander Schwarz told AFP. "There are no written instructions where 'exterminate the Yazidi' appears." The small ethnic and religious minority is believed to have been most ferociously persecuted by the jihadists, who forced their women into sexual slavery, recruited the underage as child soldiers and murdered hundreds of men. In August 2014, the killings of 1,280 Yazidi and kidnappings of 6,400 more may have constituted a genocide according to the UN. Non-Arab, non-Muslim Iraqis, many Yazidi have fled to Germany. Murad, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, is among those to have passed through a programme there for women and children -- many victims of repeated rapes -- since its inception in 2014.
FAIRY forts are deep-rooted in the consciousness of Irish farmers. Flatten or tamper one and bad things will befall you is the taboo. For centuries the majority of farmers wouldn't tinker with a fairy fort for love nor money. But with modern young farmers prioritising grassland management has that view changed?

Barrister, councillor and farmer, Emmett OBrien posed an interesting question on social media last week.

Is it still superstitious to cut timber - even old fallen timber - next to a ring fort? Or have such old ways become unfashionable and to be scoffed at in modern Ireland? he asked.

In the quest to tidy hedges and clear land before Cllr OBrien left cattle out for the spring he came across the fallen branch, adjacent to a fairy fort on his land in Ballydoole, Pallaskenry.

The avoidance of fairy forts still resonates deep within our unconsciousness, be they ancient burial grounds or sites of Druidic worship, the overriding principle is to leave well alone.

Quite apart from the unexplained ancient mysticism that surrounds these ancient fairy forts they are beautiful features and habitats stretched across our countryside, said Cllr OBrien.

We would love to hear what Farm Leader readers think about fairy forts in the 21st century - would you destroy one to improve a field? Please email donal.oregan@limerickleader.ie

As the Covid-19 pandemic rumbles on and due to court closures, Cllr OBrien has found that he has extended free time to appreciate farming.

As cattle have made their way out of winter sheds onto pasture land the question again returns to the appalling vista that are cattle prices. Again this year the price of cattle is down some 30 cents on last year, some 30 cents back on the previous year.

The most recent dramatic price reduction is blamed on Covid-19. This may be the case but is it also a convenient excuse for factories to cut prices? What can be said with certainty is that when a Government has will a way can be found, said Cllr OBrien.

He points to the emergency measures imposed in the last six weeks; punitive travel restrictions, enforced cocooning, Ministers encouraging citizens to ring the guards on each other and emergency social welfare payments.

But no emergency measures were offered to the struggling beef sector for the last number of years.

Lets see what Micheal Martin will do for the beef sector and more importantly for Limerick. Some of us know, however, the answer before hes even elected Taoiseach, concluded Cllr OBrien.
Pregnant women in malaria-prone areas are more vulnerable to contracting COVID-19, especially where pesticide spraying to kill mosquitoes has been suspended due to lockdowns, health experts warned ahead of World Malaria Day.

During pregnancy, women's immune systems are lowered so as not to reject the fetus, putting them at risk of contracting both malaria and COVID-19, they said.

They also are vulnerable to misdiagnoses as the two diseases carry similar symptoms.

CORONAVIRUS SPECIAL COVERAGE ONLY ON DH

"It is a perfect storm," said Richard Allen, head of The Mentor Initiative, a humanitarian organisation fighting tropical diseases.

"The countries with the highest malaria burden, mainly in Africa, are also affected by conflict, population displacement, malnutrition and stress. You add COVID-19 and people - especially pregnant women and children - are extremely at risk."

Around the globe, there have been more than 2.7 million confirmed COVID-19 cases and nearly 190,000 have died, according to a Reuters tally on Friday.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has urged countries not to lose focus on other health issues during the pandemic, warning that disruptions to malaria prevention and treatment could double the year's deaths in sub-Saharan Africa to more than 700,000 from 2018.

For latest updates and live news on coronavirus, click here

Exact figures on how many pregnant women are at risk is hard to know, said Allen.

But he estimated that at any given time, 5% of women in countries needing humanitarian aid, or about 168 million people, are pregnant at any given time.

That would mean about 8.4 million women were at risk.

In southern Ghana, pesticide spraying to battle malaria-carrying mosquitoes was put on hold when a COVID-19 case was confirmed at a gold mine, putting thousands of people at risks, according to the charity Malaria No More.

"We have seen this happen in Angola too and fear it will become more common," Allen told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

The symptoms of malaria and COVID-19, including fever, body aches and coughing, are similar, potentially causing the wrong diagnosis, experts added.

"On top of this, it is typically mothers who take children to health care facilities if they are sick, so they will be more exposed to viruses, especially if pregnant," said Samuel Asiedu, director of Anglo-Gold Ashanti's Malaria Control Programme in Ghana.

The combination of risks means vulnerable groups, particularly pregnant women and children still developing their immune systems, need to be protected, Allen said.

"This combination could tip people over the edge," Allen said.

Saturday marks the annual World Malaria Day, designated by the WHO.
A 32-year-old man was stabbed to death on Saturday allegedly during a quarrel over setting up a cart in southeast Delhi's Nizamuddin area, police said.

The deceased man has been identified as Hasin, a resident of Khusro Nagar in the national capital, they said.

Police said the victim was involved in 17 criminal cases.

The police were informed about the incident by the man's wife, Kajal, around 9.15 am on Saturday. A police team reached the spot and found the body with multiple stab wounds. The team conducted an inquiry and found that Hasin was last seen with three men, a senior police officer said.

The men told police that the quarrel occurred between Hasin and the mother of a juvenile for setting up a cart.

Two juveniles, along with one Nikhil, hatched a conspiracy and stabbed Hasin.

Nikhil (20) was arrested and both the juveniles were apprehended. A murder case was registered at Hazrat Nizamuddin police station, the officer said, adding the knife was recovered from their possession.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
GRANITE CITY  Burgers STL food truck owner Matt Foley posted on Facebook Monday about an upcoming event.

Within [this] time, St Louis and the Metro East area has proven its resiliency and continual support for local businesses, he posted. Thank you for your support; we are all in this together. BurgersSTL would like to give back to Metro Illinois as well by partnering with other local businesses in a special event.

Foley will donate 300 burgers on-site at First Bank, which is located at 3600 Nameoki Road in Granite City on Saturday from 11 a.m. until theyre gone. Each lunch bag will consist of a burger and bag of chips; no special orders.

Donations will be accepted and appreciated to support the first responders. All donations received will be given to the bank to forward to Gateway Regional Medical Center.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- In a time of uncertainty, followers of the Staten Island Advance/ SILive.com can depend on one thing: The Yes, Theyre Open segment on the Advances Facebook page at 3 p.m. every weekday.

With the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak preventing patrons from dining in eateries, profits are dipping and members of the wait staff are acting as delivery drivers or kitchen help -- if they are working at all.

The Advance/SILive.com has been highlighting those local spots that remain open for pickup and delivery during this trying time in a web series titled Yes, Theyre Open. Live streams from the restaurants air on the Staten Island Advance Facebook page every weekday at around 3 p.m.

The Advance previously visited Beans and Leaves (422 Forest Ave.), Call It A Wrap (1198 Forest Ave.), Campania Coal Fired Pizza (3900 Richmond Ave.), Better Gourmet Health Kitchen (2333 Hylan Blvd., 400 Forest Ave., 4077 Victory Blvd. and 877 Huguenot Ave.), West Shore Inn (3955 Victory Blvd.), In Fine Fettle (961 Jewett Ave.) and Blue (1115 Richmond Terr.).

Here are some other establishments that we have visited. If you would like your restaurant to be featured in this series, reach out to reporter Victoria Priola at vpriola@siadvance.com.

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

For a full list of restaurants and bars that are still open for takeout, delivery and curbside pickup, click here.

Beso, 11 Schuyler St.

The restaurant, open for pickup and delivery, has posted hours for 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.

YES, THEYRE OPEN: Beso is open for pick up and delivery at 11 Schuyler St. hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Posted by Staten Island Advance on Friday, April 3, 2020

Reggianos, 7339 Amboy Road

Reggianos, in Tottenville, is open for curbside pickup and delivery orders. They are offering market-place goods and donations to local precincts, FDNY houses and hospitals.

YES, THEYRE OPEN: Reggianos in Tottenville, located 7339 Amboy Road, is open for curbside pick up and delivery orders. They are offering market-place goods and donations to local precincts, FDNY houses and hospitals. (Ronnie, featured on this live video, would like to personally thank his staff for continuing to come in and serve customers. Stay safe, everyone.) Posted by Staten Island Advance on Sunday, April 5, 2020

Giovannis Trattoria, 3800 Richmond Ave.

Giovannis Trattoria is open for pickup and delivery orders. Hours are Tuesday to Thursday, noon to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, noon to 11 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 9 p.m. call 718-227-3914 before ordering.

YES, THEYRE OPEN: Giovannis Trattoria, located at 3800 Richmond Ave., is open for pick up and delivery orders. Hours are Tuesday to Thursday noon to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday noon to 11 p.m. Sunday noon to 9 p.m. call 718-227-3914 before ordering. Michael Farace and Anthony Rapacciuolo, Frank Rapacciuolo. Posted by Staten Island Advance on Tuesday, April 7, 2020

Kings Arms Diner, 500 Forest Ave.

Kings Arms Diner is open for pickup and delivery orders daily from 9 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

YES, THEYRE OPEN: Kings Arms Diner is open for pick up and delivery orders at 500 Forest Ave. The restaurant is open daily 9 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Posted by Staten Island Advance on Wednesday, April 8, 2020

Tropical Smoothie Cafe, 1650 Richmond Ave., 1407 Forest Ave. and 7001 Amboy Road

Tropical Smoothie Cafe is open for pickup and delivery. Hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. The restaurant has been making food donations to those on the front lines.

YES, THEYRE OPEN: Tropical Smoothie Cafe, located at 1650 Richmond Ave., is open for pick up and delivery. Hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. The restaurant has been making food donations to those on the front lines. Posted by Staten Island Advance on Thursday, April 9, 2020

Harvest Cafe, 694 New Dorp Lane

Harvest Cafe is open for pickup and delivery from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily.

YES, THEYRE OPEN: Harvest Cafe, located at 694 New Dorp Lane, is open for pick up and delivery. Hours are 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily (closed Easter) Posted by Staten Island Advance on Friday, April 10, 2020

Maxs Es-Ca, 1559 Richmond Road.

Maxs Es-ca is open for pickup and delivery. Call 718-980-5006 or visit maxesca.com to place your order.

YES, THEYRE OPEN: Maxs Es-ca is open for pick up and delivery. Call 718-980-5006 or visit maxesca.com to place your order. Posted by Staten Island Advance on Tuesday, April 14, 2020

ONeills, 1614 Forest Ave.

ONeills, a traditional Irish pub, is open for pickup and delivery at 1614 Forest Ave. Call 718-273-4481 to place your order.

YES, THEYRE OPEN: ONeills, a traditional Irish pub, is open for pickup and delivery at 1614 Forest Ave. Call 718-273-4481 to place your order. Posted by Staten Island Advance on Wednesday, April 15, 2020

Mezcals, 20 Bradley Ave.

Mezcals is open for pickup and delivery orders at 20 Bradley Ave. Hours are Thursday through Sunday, 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. call 718-494-4547 and 718-494-4515.

YES, THEYRE OPEN: Mezcals is open for pickup and delivery orders at 20 Bradley Ave. Hours are Thursday through Sunday, 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. call 718-494-4547 and 718-494-4515. Posted by Staten Island Advance on Thursday, April 16, 2020

Johns Deli, 173 New Dorp Lane.

Johns Deli in New Dorp is open for pickup and delivery. The deli is open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Call 718-351-1144 to place your order.

YES, THEYRE OPEN: Johns Deli in New Dorp, located at 173 New Dorp Lane, is open for pickup and delivery. The deli is open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Call 718-351-1144 to place your order. Posted by Staten Island Advance on Friday, April 17, 2020

Pier 76, 76 Bay St.

Pier 76 in St. George is open for pickup and delivery. Call 718-447-7437 to place your order.

YES, THEY'RE OPEN: Pier 76, located at 76 Bay Street, is open for pickup and delivery. Call 718-447-7437 to place your order. Posted by Staten Island Advance on Monday, April 20, 2020

Joyces Tavern, 3823 Richmond Ave.

Joyces Tavern in Eltingville is open for pickup and delivery. Hours are Sunday through Thursday, noon to 8 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, noon to 9 p.m. Call 718-948-0220 to place your order.

YES, THEYRE OPEN: Joyces Tavern in Eltingville (3823 Richmond Ave.) is open for pickup and delivery. Hours are Sunday through Thursday noon to 8 p.m. and Friday and Saturday noon to 9 p.m. Call 718-948-0220 to place your order. Posted by Staten Island Advance on Tuesday, April 21, 2020

Barios, 446 Nome Ave.

Barios in New Springville is open for pickup and delivery. The pizzeria is open for pickup and delivery from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. Call 718-370-0100 to place your order.
Gujarat is yet to decide on the easing of restrictions on shops after the Union ministry of home affairs (MHA) allowed some of them to open as part of easing of lockdown restrictions, state deputy chief minister Nitin Patel said according to reports.

MHA had, in a late-night order on Friday, allowed neighbourhood shops and others, except those in malls, to open with 50% strength of workers among other conditions.

Nitin Patel said on Saturday a decision will be taken by the Gujarat government shortly to grant permission for this relaxation to be effective in the state. The deputy chief minister said a meeting will be held during the day to issue further orders.

Also read: MHA allows shops to reopen. Heres what will open and what wont

A decision regarding this will be taken in a meeting shortly today at the CM residence. We will study the notification, the pros and cons of the relaxation, as the lockdown is still in effect till the May 3 and we will decide on further issuance of orders accordingly, Patel said while speaking to reporters.

Also read: What you need to know today

The central governments notification issued last night has allowed for small shops in the state to be opened in rural areas. Even in the municipal corporation as well as municipalities, small shops and commercial activities can be opened while maintaining a distance, which shall be decided by the local authorities. This is a good decision as small trades and commercial activities were hugely affected since more than a month of nationwide lockdown, he added.

Also read: Delhi wants to hit pause on MHA order to reopen shops, caught in a bind

More than 24,500 people have been infected by Sars-Cov-2 across the country so far. According to the Union health ministry, there are 8,668 active cases, 5063 people who have been cured, discharged or have migrated and 775 deaths as of Saturday.

It has been a month since the nationwide lockdown was put in place following the coronavirus pandemic.

(With agency inputs)
Maharashtra Health Minister



Rajesh Tope on Saturday said the lockdown rules will remain unchanged in the state will May 3.

Talking to PTI, Tope said there was no clarity in the Centre's latest order regarding reopening of shops.

"We will get more clarity after a video conference with the Prime Minister on Monday," he said



"We haven't taken any decision on the order of the Ministry of Home Affairs as yet. But there will be no further relaxation in lockdown rules till May 3," the minister added.

The issue of sending migrant labourers back to their native places will also be taken up during the meeting with the prime minister, Tope said.

Stating that economic activities need to start, he said the Maharashtra government was of the opinion that businesses can resume in green zones with borders of these areas sealed and industrial activity allowed inside.

Whether or not to extend lockdown in red zones (which have large number of coronavirus cases) such as Mumbai and Pune regions will be taken later, he said.

"It has to be seen if only containment areas in red zones should be sealed or the entire zone should be under lockdown. Decision will be taken after thorough deliberations," the minister added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Bank of England officials have launched an investigation into how long banks can survive the lockdown, as Britain's biggest lenders set aside an estimated 3.4billion to cover defaults on loans.

The results of the tests are expected to inform the Government's strategy on how quickly to reboot the economy.

The Bank of England has already said that it will report on the health of the financial system in early May after updating its 'stress tests' to factor in a pandemic.

Britain's biggest lenders set aside an estimated 3.4billion to cover defaults on loans

But a separate investigation into the length of the lockdown is also being conducted.

Sam Woods, head of the Bank's Prudential Regulation Authority, told MPs on the influential Treasury Select Committee that tough regulations meant banks had more cash in reserve than in the 2008 financial crisis.

But he warned that the rules were not designed for an extended, economy-wide lockdown. He said: 'We are going into this with a well-capitalised banking sector.'

But he added: 'There is of course some limit at which you get beyond what we have provided for. I think if you had a multi-year total shutdown, evidently that is outside what we capitalise the system for. We are doing work to try to work out where you hit that point. My guess is that is quite a long way out.'

Pressure is building on banks' balance sheets as more firms go to the wall every week that Britain is in lockdown. Central bankers will now work out how many loans lenders can afford to write off without crippling the financial system.

Investors will see the first signs of strain this week, when the 'Big Four'  Barclays, Lloyds, RBS and HSBC  report stark figures for the first three months of 2020. As well as setting aside cash to cover loan and credit card defaults, they have seen turnover shrink with the mortgage market on hold and the base rate cut to just 0.1 per cent.

Analysts warned that precise forecasts had become impossible, but UBS predicted RBS's profit for the first quarter would fall 73 per cent, from 1.2billion to 327million as it earmarked 657million for bad loans.

It said Lloyds could be setting aside 1.1billion for defaults, which would knock its profit by 53 per cent to 1billion.

Barclays is tipped to have set aside 980million cutting its profit 77 per cent from 1.5billion to 353million. HSBC could have set aside 650million, cutting its profit 12 per cent to 4.5billion.

Gary Greenwood, an analyst at Shore Capital, said: 'We've got one of the worst economic scenarios we've seen, but one of the most significant Government support packages. I don't think this will be of a magnitude to require emergency equity issuance [share sales].'
Cancer June 22-July 22 Try as you might, making everyone happy can be an impossible and often thankless task. Its time to look after your own needs. Dont feel guilty! Leo July 23-August 22

The vitality of Mars inspires you to enhance your love life. Your added confidence and allure will unlock doors and allow difficulties to be overcome. Virgo August 23-September 22 Yours, mine, ours. Sharing becomes a theme as the stars create situations that require teamwork. This is the perfect time to explore ways to fulfil both yours and your partners needs. Libra

September 23-October 22 The sun moves into your sector of shared interests and joint resources, encouraging you to forge a solid future with your partner. Its also a good time to become involved in an association. Scorpio October 23  November 22 Between emails, phone calls and the daily grind, youll hardly have time to scratch yourself. Though Scorpios usually cope well with stress, its important you impose downtime.

Sagittarius November 23-December 20 Life will take on a manic edge but its nothing you cant handle. If you take frequent breaks, youll find theres so much more you can achieve. Just dont be slap dash. Capricorn December 21-January 19

You may feel pressured to conform. However, you might not be comfortable with whats being proposed. To heck with the rules, no matter how many feathers you ruffle in the process! Aquarius January 20-February 18 Resting on your laurels? Mars is reigniting your ambition, so youll have a strong need to berecognised for your accomplishments and talents. Youll also find a new project that involves helping others. Pisces
BackyardProduction | Getty Images

Google, Facebook and Twitter have partnered with the nonprofit Center for Safe Internet Pharmacies (CSIP) to launch Tech Together (TechTogether.co), an online platform to offer support to individuals with substance use disorders. The site is a collection of resources to help those experiencing substance use disorder or battling addiction and the associated stigma. Many of these people have lost their 12-step meetings and other in-person resources during coronavirus social distancing practices. Tim Ryan, star of the 2017 A&E documentary "Dope Man" and recovery advocate for the treatment resource Rehab.com, said that the resulting isolation from shelter-in-place orders has created conditions that are ripe for substance abuse. "Covid-19 has cultivated an environment that lacks accountability and visibility, which allows people to engage in drug and alcohol abuse while in isolation," Ryan said. Given that Alcoholics Anonymous alone has over 66,345 groups in the U.S., totaling more than 1,361,800 members, the closure of most groups will leave large numbers of people in recovery looking for resources. Prior to Covid-19, a study by researchers at Johns Hopkins and Harvard, showed 2.5 million U.S. adults already using online technology to aid in their recovery, and report that interventions incorporating online technologies led to further recovery success. Now is the time where there is an urgent need to help those struggling with addiction. The data already bears this out. According to an Earnest Research study published in The New York Times, alcohol sales are up 25% nationally. Meanwhile, officials in Florida, Ohio and New York have all reported upticks in overdose emergency calls and overdose deaths since March. "We know Americans are consuming more alcohol alone," said Marjorie Clifton, executive director of CSIP. "Additional stress and a lack of support community is disastrous for people in recovery." By partnering with Facebook, Google and Twitter for Tech Together, the nonprofit CSIP is now part of a group that provides a single online destination for those suffering from addiction.

Resources for addiction recovery

"This platform offers a one-stop location for families or individuals looking for support or resources they need at any stage of substance use disorder," Clifton said. "This site is in partnership with numerous national non-profits who are involved in recovery efforts and includes a collection of technology tools and resources provided by Twitter, Google and Facebook  to help share information and put tools and communities in front of people looking for support." Clifton said that the site will be promoted on Twitter, Facebook and Google, and once users find it through those services, they'll discover a large number of resources to help them or their loved ones find treatment options. "There are screening tools by the National Institute on Drug Abuse as part of the National Institutes of Health and health treatment locator tools by Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration," she said. "The Twitter community has also partnered with Unity Recovery, WEconnect Health, Alano Club of Portland and SOS Recovery Association to provide community support and recovery meetings."

We know Americans are consuming more alcohol alone. Additional stress and a lack of support community is disastrous for people in recovery. Marjorie Clifton Executive Director of CSIP

Each company makes its unique contribution to Tech Together. Twitter offers such hashtags as #RecoveryMovement, #OpenRecovery, and #RecoveryWorks, so those suffering from addiction can join discussions with others in similar straits. "Twitter is a powerful tool for connecting people in recovery to online resources and to each other, especially during this pandemic," said Lauren Culbertson, Twitter's senior public policy manager. "It also facilitates, in real-time, a global, public conversation around this vital topic." Facebook, meanwhile, offers crisis support over its Messenger tool and through Facebook Live sessions. It also hosts Facebook Groups for those with substance use disorder. Liza Heyman, Policy Programs Manager at Facebook, said that Facebook Messenger is being used to share resources with those who need them, such as the Center on Addiction. "The Center on Addiction is using Facebook Messenger as one of their main methods to take incoming from people looking for support," Heyman said. "They have trained social workers interacting with live people through Messenger in the same way they take incoming through text and phone." Facebook said that use of the Messenger platform increased by more than 50% between February and March in countries that had been most affected by the virus. As for Google, CNBC spoke with an employee named Shawna who is in recovery and asked to have her last name omitted to preserve her anonymity. She said that Tech Together is using Google's relationships with such nonprofits as Transforming Youth Recovery, Young People in Recovery, and the Center on Addiction, to aggregate recovery meeting locations, thereby providing clear pathways to treatment. "There are people finding recovery during this time, and it is inspiring," she said. "Any barrier removed from people seeking help is a good thing."

Tech tools in times of crisis
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, April 25, 2020 10:57 627 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd42b826 1 Business Santini-Group,drinking-water,COVID-19,coronavirus,virus-korona-indonesia,virus-corona,kemayoran-athletes-village,emergency-hospital,donation Free

Diversified conglomerate Santini Group, through its subsidiary PT Santini Logmax Indonesia (SLI), donated 10,000 bottles of drinking water to the emergency hospital for COVID-19 patients in the Kemayoran athletes village, Central Jakarta.

SLI production director Minoru Kondo and operational manager Fendy Kurniawan handed over the donation to a representative of the emergency hospital, Bima Kumara, on April 14.

SLI is the distributor of mineral water brand aoi-nano cluster.

We realize that medical workers and volunteers working in the emergency hospital need drinking water. We hope these 10,000 bottles of water increase their metabolism and prevent dehydration, Kondo said in a statement.

The company also donated drinking water to Surabaya National Hospital in East Java.

People are working hand-in-hand in battling the COVID-19 outbreak. We also want to do our part by helping medical personnel who are working on the frontlines [during this outbreak], said Fendy.

Read also: Santini Group, Pakarti Yoga Group donate Rp 10b to PMI in battle against COVID-19

Santini Group and Pakarti Yoga Group previously donated Rp 10 billion (US$641,231) to the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) through the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) on March 27. The donation was delivered personally by Santini Group and Pakarti Yoga Group president director Lukito Wanandi to PMI chairman Jusuf Kalla.

The COVID-19 outbreak in Indonesia has infected at least 8,211 people and killed 689 others as of Friday.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, April 25, 2020 08:17 627 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd4231c2 4 Politics Indonesia,millenials,loan-disbursement,staf-khusus-presiden,stafsus-milenial,Gracia-Billy-Mambrasar,ruangguru,Papua-Muda-Inspiratif Free

The Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises Ministry has clarified a statement made by presidential expert staff member Gracia Billy Mambrasar, who claimed that 21 young Papuan entrepreneurs under his company had secured Rp 1.44 billion (US$92,286) from the ministrys revolving loan management agency.

Minister Teten Masduki was quoted by kontan.co.id as saying on Thursday that the ministry could only channel loans to cooperatives, while the 21 entrepreneurs' companies were not cooperatives. He said the ministry appreciated and fully supported the entrepreneurship training in Papua and he suggested the young Papuan entrepreneurs establish cooperatives.

His statement comes amid public scrutiny of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's millennial staff members who have been accused of abusing their positions for personal gain.

Read also: Conflict of interest? Public questions government's relationship with start ups

In February, Billy and fellow millennial presidential staffer Putri Tanjung met with Teten Masduki and other officials from the ministry to introduce Billys organization, Papuas Youth Movement, which included business training courses by his company, tempo.co reported.

Billy explained that the movement aimed to support 308 young entrepreneurs in Papua. Billy said the ministry would help channel Rp 1.44 billion in soft loans to 21 Papuan entrepreneurs that had been trained by his company. Each business unit would receive funds ranging from Rp 12 million to Rp 30 million.

He said a company called Kreavi, in which Putri is the chief business officer, would help the Papuan entrepreneurs to rebrand their products, tempo.co reported in February.

Read also: Step aside boomers: Here's Jokowi's new millennials team

Billys endeavor and the government support came under public scrutiny after his colleagues within the millennial presidential staff, Adamas Belva Syah Devara and Andi Taufan Garuda Putra, resigned recently following accusations of conflicts of interest.

Gadjah Mada University Center for Anticorruption Studies (Pukat UGM) head Oce Madril said the loan program for Papuan entrepreneurs could lead to a conflict of interest as Billy was leading his company while also holding a position as a presidential staff member.

He can use his influence for his companys interests, such as by allowing them to work on government projects, said Oce. Officials at the cooperatives ministry could have also acted with a conflict of interest for making a decision that lead to such conflict. (dpk/aly)

Editors note: This article has been updated to include comments on potential conflicts of interest.
Before the coronavirus caused a pandemic, before cases even started showing up in China, the three siblings had been picked to be among the first participants in a human gene therapy trial for children with GM1 gangliosidosis, a rare disorder that progressively destroys nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. The trial is the first of its kind, so even the doctors and scientists who have spent 10 years preparing for it cant say yet whether it will be successful, and if it is, what that success will look like for the children who participate.
Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy, head of the Vietnamese Permanent Mission to the United Nations, has affirmed Vietnams consistent stance of supporting efforts to achieve a fair, comprehensive and long-term solution to the Palestinian issue,

based on internationally-recognised principles and standards in accordance with UN Resolutions.

Addressing the UN Security Councils online meeting on the Middle East situation on April 23, Quy expressed his concerns over conflicts between Israel and Palestine.



He welcomed the two sides coordinating, cooperating and conducting exchanges between the two Presidents to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. He called on the international community to intensify support for the Palestinian people and the UNs efforts.



The diplomat also expressed his concern over unilateral action plans, including one to merge Palestinian territories.



Speaking at the event, Nickolay Mlandenov, UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, said that the pandemic has caused huge impacts on Palestinian people, threatening operations of the Palestinian Government as well as providing minimum social services for its citizens.



Mladenov also said that in the past month, there had been violence between Israelis and Palestinians, causing casualties on both sides, mainly Palestinians. He emphasised that decisions made by Israel's newly-formed coalition government will affect the trajectory of the Middle East peace process for many years to come.



If Israel carries out plans to merge some territories of Palestine and accelerate the expansion of resettlements, along with the serious consequences of COVID-19, it will make the situation more complicated and spoil all hopes of peace.



Mladenov emphasised the efforts made by the UN and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) to help Palestinians recently, including a response plan to mobilise at least US$34 million to provide health services in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip.



At the meeting, most countries expressed concerns over the serious impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Palestinian people, emphasising the current top priority of the international community and related parties is to work together to cope with the pandemic and to avoid unilateral or violent actions.

They affirmed it is necessary to resume negotiations between the parties concerned in order to find a long-term and comprehensive solution, based on the formula that the two states of Israel and Palestine coexist peacefully, in accordance with UN Resolutions.  VNS
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-25 17:54:20|Editor: huaxia

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A staff member tests samples of the COVID-19 inactivated vaccine at a vaccine production plant of China National Pharmaceutical Group (Sinopharm) in Beijing, capital of China, April 11, 2020. (Xinhua/Zhang Yuwei)

The WHO's call to step up joint actions to develop technological tools is a timely move in the right direction.

by Xinhua writer He Fei

BEIJING, April 25 (Xinhua) -- The World Health Organization (WHO), along with some private sector partners and other global health groups, launched an initiative on Friday to speed up the development of COVID-19 health technologies, including vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics.

The landmark initiative marks a strong collective commitment to a coordinated response so as to beat the pandemic by ratcheting up international scientific and technological cooperation.

The WHO's call to step up joint actions to develop technological tools is a timely move in the right direction. The pandemic has so far infected over 2.8 million people and killed more than 197,000, data compiled by the Johns Hopkins University showed.

A laboratorian works on a test for COVID-19 virus at a laboratory in Damascus, capital of Syria, on April 14, 2020. (Photo by Ammar Safarjalani/Xinhua)

As the virus continues to wreak havoc worldwide, an effective toolkit to prevent, diagnose and treat the disease is key to saving more lives. Vaccines, among others, are the ultimate weapon.

Prevailing over the virus at an early date requires an unprecedented partnership that involves as many stakeholders as possible. On developing vaccines in particular, governments, international institutions and private sectors should pool their talents, scientific findings and financial power, rather than fighting on their own.

Soon after the epidemic broke out, the WHO has been working with thousands of scientists, funders and manufacturers worldwide on research, and developed diagnostics now being used across the world. The agency has also been coordinating a global trial on four therapeutics.

In coordinating global endeavors, the UN health body has also stressed the importance of support for the vulnerable and the less developed. All global partners should heed the call of the WHO and make sure that vaccines and effective treatments are available to all, regardless of age, race, gender or wealth.

A health worker checks the temperature of a man in Sanaa, Yemen, March 24, 2020. The World Health Organization (WHO) airlifted COVID-19 testing kits and personal protective items for health workers to the war-ravaged Yemen. (Photo by Mohammed Mohammed/Xinhua)

Working in an objective, fair and science-based manner, the WHO proves itself an indispensable and irreplaceable backbone in maintaining global public health. The international community should continue to support the WHO's leading role in coordinating global actions.

However, Washington has recently been escalating attacks against the WHO, halting funding to the organization and suggesting forming an alternative body in a bid to pass the buck for its own missteps in responding to the pandemic. However, this will only hamper the world's efforts, including America's own, to overcome the pandemic.

COVID-19 is a threat to people everywhere, as UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has put it. As long as the human race can stick together, and step up cooperation, notably in science and technology, it will ultimately defeat this common enemy and emerge as wiser and stronger. 
Britains government on Saturday defended the independence of the scientists advising it on coronavirus after it emerged that Prime Minister Boris Johnsons controversial chief aide had attended meetings of the group.

Criticism of Johnsons Conservative government is mounting as the U.K.s Covid-19 death toll rises and a nationwide lockdown imposed a month ago drags on. The confirmed number of coronavirus-related hospital deaths is likely to reach 20,000 this weekend.

After a report in The Guardian, the government confirmed that Johnson adviser Dominic Cummings had attended several meetings of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies, or SAGE, and listened to discussions. But it denied the Guardians claim that Cummings  who is not a scientist  was a member of the group.

Cummings is a contentious figure, a self-styled political disruptor who was appointed to a key role by Johnson after masterminding the victorious leave campaign during Britains 2016 referendum on European Union membership.

The government said SAGE provides independent scientific advice to the government. Political advisers have no role in this.

SAGE is a usually little-known group headed by Chief Scientific Adviser Patrick Vallance and Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty. The government has declined to publish its full membership, saying that could leave the scientists open to lobbying or other pressure.

David King, a former government chief scientific adviser, told The Guardian he was shocked to learn political advisers were involved in SAGE meetings. But other scientists who have advised the government said it was usual for political aides to attend, though only as observers.

The main opposition Labour Party said Cummings attendance raised questions about the credibility of government decision-making.

The best way to clear all of this up is for the government to be completely transparent with us and publish the minutes of the SAGE committee, said Labour health spokesman Jonathan Ashworth.

The government says its response to the pandemic has been guided by scientific advice. That advice is under increasing scrutiny by critics who accuse the government of being slow to respond to the outbreak. Britain imposed a nationwide lockdown on March 23, later than in many other European countries. The measures have been extended until at least May 7.

As of Friday, 19,506 people with the coronavirus had died in British hospitals. The figure does not include deaths in nursing homes, which are likely to number in the thousands.

Scientists say the U.K. has reached the peak of the pandemic but is not yet out of danger. The number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 is declining, and the number of daily deaths peaked on April 8.

As fears recede that the health system will be overwhelmed, opponents are stepping up their attacks on Johnsons Conservative government over shortages of protective equipment for medical workers and a lack of testing for the virus.

Meanwhile, health authorities urged Britons not to ignore symptoms of conditions other than the coronavirus, amid fears that cancer and other illnesses are going untreated.

Public Health England said visits to hospital emergency departments have fallen by almost 50% in April from the same month last year. The charity Cancer Research UK estimated that 2,250 new cases of the disease could be going undetected each week, partly because people are reluctant to go to hospitals for fear of catching the virus or overburdening the system.

The National Health Service encouraged people to seek urgent help if needed and to continue to attend services such as cancer screening and maternity appointments.

NHS chief executive Simon Stevens said ignoring problems can have serious consequences  now or in the future.
With more than 1,600 men, women and children in the Charleston area experiencing homelessness or living in supportive housing, local leaders urged the public on Friday to donate to a nonprofit fund aimed at helping those in need.

Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg, Mount Pleasant Mayor Will Haynie and others said that with widespread layoffs and other negative economic impacts of the coronavirus pandemic, it's more important than ever to support the annual Homeless to Hope Benefit Telethon on May 8. Proceeds from the event will support organizations and service providers that help people find housing and support.

"In this time of coronavirus, there's the very real (possibility) of more people becoming homeless," Tecklenburg said.

Homelessness knows no boundaries, Haynie said.

"You realize, there but for the grace of God go I," he said. "I want you to think about your brothers and sisters out there, especially in this time of crisis."

The Homeless to Hope Fund was founded in 2016 to support a variety of organizations dedicated to helping homeless people and families transition to permanent housing and also supports the Navigation Center, which provides support for the unsheltered homeless.

This year, due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the annual Homeless to Hope Telethon and Benefit Concert will be held as a virtual event that will be streamed on social media platforms and broadcast on local television stations.

Two organizations, God's Hot Dog Ministry and the Hope to Home Furniture Resource, were chosen as this year's Homeless to Hope Award Honorees.

The event will run from noon-8 p.m. May 8, but anyone who wants to donate can do so anytime before the event by go to www.homelesstohopefund.org/donate or texting H2Hope to 44-321.

So far, the fund has raised $125,000, and officials said they hope to increase that amount significantly.
Long before Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie were the it couple of Hollywood, the actor shared this title with Friends actress Jennifer Aniston. The pair were together for seven years, and though its been a while since their split, many still consider the actors one of the most quintessential Hollywood couples ever.

Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt | Tony Barson/WireImage

But even though Pitt and Anistons relationship was constantly showcased in the public eye, fans still wonder about certain details surrounding their romance  including how it all started and where the pair first crossed paths. Heres the story of how Hollywoods biggest stars met and ultimately fell in love.

Pitt and Aniston had a casual first meeting

Pitt and Aniston may have started dating in 1998, but they met for the first time four years prior  all thanks to their agents.

According to the actress, she and Pitt crossed paths in 1994 since their respective agents were good friends. [Pitt] was just this sweet guy from Missouri, you know? A normal guy, she said.

Jennifer Aniston & Brad Pitt | Barry King/WireImage

After breaking up with their significant others  Aniston with actor Tate Donovan and Pitt with Gwyneth Paltrow  the pairs agents decided to play matchmaker and set the young stars up on a date.

In 2004, the Friends actress opened up about her first outing with Pitt during an interview with Diane Sawyer, revealing that she had fun with the actor and immediately liked him.

We both knew [we liked each other] on the first date, Aniston recalled. It was weird I thought, Thats weird. That was a really easy evening. That was really fun.'

After that, the pair become an official couple but kept their relationship on the down-low for a few months before going public.

In 1999, they made their red carpet debut at that years Emmy Awards and looked head over heels in love as they walked hand in hand.

Almost a year later, Pitt and Aniston exchanged nuptials in a lavish Malibu wedding, which included 200 guests, 50,000 flowers, four bands, and a gospel choir. Talk about the wedding of the year!

They were married for five years

Though the pair kept many details of their married life to themselves, they didnt have a problem showcasing their love while attending A-list events. To fans, it seemed like Aniston and Pitt were a match made in heaven and were each others one true love.

But after spending nearly seven years together, Aniston and Pitt announced their split in January 2005.

We would like to announce that after seven years together we have decided to formally separate. For those who follow these sorts of things, we would like to explain that our separation is not the result of any of the speculation reported by the tabloid media. This decision is the result of much thoughtful consideration, they said in a joint statement to People at the time. We happily remain committed and caring friends with great love and admiration for one another. We ask in advance for your kindness and sensitivity in the coming months.

Eight months later, their divorce was finalized.

While many people pointed fingers at Angelina Jolie for breaking up Aniston and Pitt, it turns out there was trouble in paradise before the Girl, Interrupted actress came along.

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt | James Devaney/WireImage

In 2011, the Fight Club star told Parade magazine that hed hadnt been happy in his marriage to Aniston, which is what ultimately caused their relationship to crumble.

It became very clear to me that I was intent on trying to find a movie about an interesting life, but I wasnt living an interesting life myself, he explained. I think that my marriage [to Jennifer Aniston] had something to do with it. Trying to pretend the marriage was something that it wasnt.

Pitt and Aniston are good friends today

Despite their romance not ending on the best of terms, the exes were able to move past their heartbreaking split and have since become good friends.

Though many have been rooting for the couple to rekindle their romance, it seems like Aniston and Pitt are content just being pals and will likely keep it this way moving forward.
A MAN who is accused of breaching the terms of a safety order has been told to comply with the governments public health guidelines when exercising.

The man, whose aged in his 30s, appeared before Limerick District Court after he was charged in connection with an incident which is alleged to have occurred on Easter Sunday.

Limerick District Court was told the complainant attended a garda station in the city shortly after she observed her former partner jogging near where she lives.

The offence is alleged to occurred on the outskirts of the city and the defendant was arrested at his home  elsewhere in the city a number of days later.

Judge Marian OLeary was told the woman was driving to a local takeaway when she observed the defendant. There was no suggestion the accused had tried to interact with her.

When the defendant was arrested and charged by gardai he replied: I was out for a run and she came up from behind me in her car and went up and turned around and came back towards me.

Seeking bail on behalf of his client, solicitor Con Barry said his client accepts he was more than 2km from his home but added he was on the main road and had not approached the woman or her home.

He said the defendant has a relative living near where the incident occurred and that there was no intention to break the law.

The solicitor submitted the evidence in the case was weak.

Gardai opposed bail expressing concern there would be further breaches of the order which was previously issued by a family law court.

Having considered the matter, Judge OLeary granted bail and adjourned the matter to October.

In doing so, she directed that the defendant comply with the government regulations when he is exercising.
UPDATE: Michigan State Senator apologizes for wearing mask appearing to depict Confederate flag

LANSING, MI - State Sen. Dale Zorn, R-Ida, is denying a mask he wore during a Senate vote at the capitol depicted a Confederate flag, WLNS-TV 6 out of Lansing reported Friday, April 24.

Zorn defended his choice to wear the mask to WLNS after the vote, saying that his wife made it for him. He went on to explain he believed the mask was meant to depict the state flag of either Tennessee or Kentucky.

I told my wife it probably will raise some eyebrows, but it was not a Confederate flag, Zorn told WLNS. ... Even if it was a Confederate flag, you know, we should be talking about teaching our national history in schools and thats part of our national history and its something we cant just throw away because it is part of our history."

When asked what the Confederate flag stood for by WLNS, Zorn responded, The Confederacy. Watch the entire video here.

Zorn could not be reached for comment by MLive on Saturday.

Zorn, who represents the 17th State Senate District, which includes Lenawee and Monroe counties, said Friday that he supported measures to increase legislative oversight of Gov. Gretchen Whitmers extraordinary powers during a state of emergency and create a new bipartisan COVID-19 panel.

Whitmer extended Michigans stay-at-home order through May 15, with some modifications allowing certain industries to reopen.

The founding idea of a government for the people and by the people should not be tossed aside lightly, even in cases of a public health emergency, Zorn said in a news release.

I supported this legislation to give the Michigan people more input into the governors use of emergency powers that limit their freedom and affect their lives.

Emergency actions were necessary to protect the public when the coronavirus came to Michigan. This reform is about speeding up the process for ensuring that elected officials listen to the people and work together to both address the crisis and, when appropriate, enable people to live their lives.

READ MORE:

Saturday, April 25: Latest developments on coronavirus in Michigan

Boating activists who sued state over motor restrictions celebrate revision of Michigan stay-at-home order

Michigan adds nursing home-specific coronavirus data to stat disclosures

Dems to vote on censure of lawmaker who met with Trump; President tells her to switch sides
Meghan is suing the paper group over the use of her letter. (Getty Images)

On Monday, one of the most remarkable court cases in recent legal history continues as a high-profile member of the Royal Family takes unprecedented legal action against one of the most popular newspapers in the country.

Meghan Markle, with the support of her husband, Prince Harry, is suing Associated Newspapers Ltd for damages after the Mail On Sunday and the MailOnline published excerpts of a letter she had written to her father, Thomas Markle.

The Duchess of Sussex, 39, claims the letter was private, and is seeking damages for alleged misuse of private information, copyright infringement and breach of the Data Protection Act.

The legal action is the apex of tensions between the couple and the UKs tabloid press. Earlier this year, Harry, 36, and Meghan banned four of the most well-read newspapers in the country (the Daily Mail, Mirror, Sun and Express) from having any sort of communication with them.

Meghan will be in California and connect to the hearing virutally. (WireImage)

Read more: 4 court battles Harry and Meghan are currently fighting

In September, the duchesss legal action against Splash News and Pictures reached High Court, as she sues them for pictures of her and Archie taken in Canada. The pictures were sold and used widely by Associated Newspapers and News Group, who publish papers like the Daily Mail and The Sun.

At the heart of it, is a long-held grievance keenly felt by the royal couple that they have hounded and hassled for too long. Unusually for members of the Royal Family - whose motto consistently has been never explain, never complain - they have decided to take the tabloid press head on in the courts.

The newspaper group says the contents of the letter were not private or confidential, and denies allegations that it only printed some extracts of the note.

Yahoo UK looks at a timeline of the events that brought us to this extraordinary moment.

May 2018

Prince Harry and Meghan were in final preparation mode for their wedding, including organising for her father to walk the bride down the aisle.

Story continues

Thousands of miles away in the Mexican town of Rosarito, Thomas Markle was busy studying about Britain in preparation for the big day - or so it seemed. Pictures of him looking up his daughters new home online went viral, but were later revealed to have been staged with a paparazzo.

The revelation did not go down well in the UK press, and in the days that followed Markle, 75, suffered a heart attack and was in hospital for several days.

Thomas Markle wasn't able to attend his daughter's wedding to Prince Harry. (Reuters)

Read more: The 360: Were Harry and Meghan right to ban Britain's tabloids?

The news of his heart attack came to public attention in an article on TMZ, a celebrity website, in an article which also saw him defend himself for the paparazzo images.

It has since been claimed in court documents that Meghan and Harry only found out about his health when they too saw the TMZ article.

The documents say at this time the couple sent Mr Markle several text messages and tried to call him. Harry claims to have urged his father-in-law not to go to the press and reminded him they wanted to help him.

June 2018

Mr Markle appears on Good Morning Britain, where he says he is proud of his daughter but expresses regret for being a footnote in the big day.

He said Meghan cried when he said he would not be coming over, and described her as being intelligent and caring.

Host Piers Morgan said he was paid a few thousand pounds for the interview.

The hospital where Thomas Markle was being treated before the wedding. (Getty Images)

July 2018

An article is printed on MailOnline which claims to be the fruit of a nine-hour interview with Mr Markle in Rosarito.

In it, he says he has been cut off from Meghan, and suggests things would be easier if he was dead.

Read more: Harry and Meghan's private texts to Thomas Markle revealed in court documents

According to documents filed in court, Mr Markle later told Meghan this article was 85% lies.

He said: The next day [Peter Sheridan] announced and bragged that he got a 9 hour interview. He said a few things I said in confidence, but 85% were lies and bulls***! I called him and told him he was a thief, a liar and a coward and I would GET EVEN! .

I didnt want or intend to give him an interview and I certainly would not do 9 hours for free!.

When I was asked if I tried to borrow money from you, three days before the wedding? I said, no I did not, but I know she would have helped me if I would have asked. I made a comment about Tom Jr not paying me back, not one red cent, and they changed it to Meghans dad complaining that his kids wont pay him back one red cent!! That comment came from Peter Sheridans 9 hour interview....

I never said anything about your grandma, never!! I know you took care of her, I dont know where that comes from? I appreciate that you have always been concerned for my health and you were trying to get me help.

August 2018

The Duchess of Sussex sends a five page handwritten letter to her father in Mexico.

February 2019

People magazine publishes an article claiming to be an interview with five of Meghans friends, in which they mention the letter she wrote to her father, and say he has not been in touch with them [the couple].

In the article, published on 6 February, the friends say the letter read: Dad, Im so heartbroken. I love you. I have one father. Please stop victimising me through the media so we can repair our relationship.

Four days later, The Mail On Sunday and the MailOnline publish what it says is the full text of the letter from Meghan to her father.

According to the article, Mr Markle says he had no intention to share the letter, but felt he had to because of the People magazine article.

The article stated that he never intended to make the handwritten missive public out of respect for Meghan  but says he has been forced to do so now because its contents have been falsely portrayed.

The articles headline is Revealed: The handwritten letter showing true tragedy of Meghan's rift with father she says has 'broken her heart into a million pieces' - and why he feels forced to make the 'devastating' missive public.

Mr Markle is reported by the Mail to have said he found her letter hurtful and said it was not the olive branch he hoped for.

The paper also publishes sections of a letter he sent in reply to her, and a section of a letter written to Doria Ragland.

Mr Markle does not take payment for the article.

In the same month, the Guardian reports that Meghan is considering legal action.

October 2019

The Sussexes go on their first (and last) royal tour as a family, taking baby Archie with them to South Africa.

Toward the end of the trip, they make the explosive announcement that Meghan will be suing Associated Newspapers over the letter.

Meghan announced the action at the end of the South Africa tour. (Getty Images)

In addition, Prince Harry launches an attack on the tabloid media.

In a statement, he says: The contents of a private letter were published unlawfully in an intentionally destructive manner to manipulate you, the reader, and further the divisive agenda of the media group in question. In addition to their unlawful publication of this private document, they purposely misled you by strategically omitting select paragraphs, specific sentences, and even singular words to mask the lies they had perpetuated for over a year.

He also says he has a deep fear of history repeating itself, alluding to his mother Princess Dianas death as she was pursued by paparazzi in Paris in 1997.

Read more: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle cut ties with four UK tabloids over 'invasive' stories

No one claims the letter is fake, but Harry claims the letter was not printed in full - which is denied by Associated Newspapers, the group which owns the MailOnline and the Mail On Sunday.

November 2019

The couple decide to skip the traditional Royal Family Christmas and take a six-week break in Canada.

The residence of Prince Harry and Meghan while they were in Canada. (Getty Images)

The same month, Meghan files the first papers in her lawsuit against Associated Newspapers. In these papers, Meghan not only addresses the issue of the letter but says there have been other articles which were false, including reports she spent 5,000 on a copper bathtub for their home in Frogmore Cottage.

January 2020

Harry and Meghan announce they intend to step back as senior members of the Royal Family and work both to earn money and to represent the Queen. The palace indicates this is not possible.

In the same month, Associated Newspapers sets out its defence, in which it claims the duchesss elaborate handwriting is proof she expected the letter to be shared.

It also emerged she had copied the letter out from a draft, and had a version of the letter herself.

Associated Newspapers claims the letter shows Meghans previous conduct in the best possible light and makes multiple self-congratulatory remarks and so the duchess could not have reasonably expected the letter to lead to a reconciliation between herself and her father.

The group wholly denies the allegations from the duchess  particularly the claim that the letter was edited in any way that changed its meaning  and says it will hotly contest the case.

Meghan took action before she and Harry stepped back as senior royals. (Reuters)

Read more: Eight times the Royal Family has sued the media

In its defence, lawyers for the publisher said: The contents of the letter were not private or confidential, self-evidently or at all.

March 2020

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex carry out their final royal duties in the UK and then leave, returning to Canada and then the US. They have since moved to California.

April 2020

Harry and Meghan write to the editors of four newspapers in the UK, The Sun, the Daily Mail, the Daily Mirror and the Daily Express, and tell them they will no longer co-operate with them.

The letter indicates their communications team will also be told not to deal with the papers or their reporters, or anyone from online teams, should they be approached.

Doria Ragland was the only member of Meghan's family at her wedding, and Charles walked Meghan down the aisle. (Reuters)

Meghans lawyer files paperwork in response to the Mail on Sundays replies to her original filing.

In it, she reveals her father told her the articles published about him were lies. Meghan and Harry are also forced to reveal a series of text messages which they sent to Mr Markle before their wedding.

On 24 April, a virtual hearing takes place at the High Court, and lawyers for Associated Newspapers ask the court to strike out parts of Meghans case.

Lawyers particularly say allegations of dishonesty and malicious intent made against it by the duchess should not form part of her case.

They also say the details of nine additional articles given by the duchesss legal team of other times she claims lies were written about her are irrelevant.

May 2020

Both sides make their cases in court, and the judge retires to consider his ruling, which is delivered on 1 May.

Meghan loses the first battle, with the judge agreeing with ANLs lawyers that some parts of her case should not be heard in the full trial.

In the ruling, Mr Justice Warby says the parts of Meghans case which should be struck out include allegations the defendant acted dishonestly, and in bad faith, and deliberately dug up or stirred up conflict between the claimant and her father.

Claims she was distressed by an obvious agenda of publishing intrusive or offensive stories about [her] intended to portray her in a false and damaging light are also struck out.

It has expensive consequences for Meghan, who agrees to pay ANLs legal bill for the hearing of 50,000, and has her own costs of about 60,000.

August 2020

In the summer, the case makes a dramatic return to court as Meghan launched a bid to keep the names of the five friends who spoke to People magazine 18 months before a secret.

Meghans team file the urgent bid to keep the names private, confirming the names had been given to the court but confidentially.

ANLs team resist the application, saying the people involved are important potential witnesses on a key issue. Part of their case hinges on the letter having been mentioned by the friends in the interview, though the duchess says she did not know they were going to People ahead of the publication.

After hearing both sides, the judge makes a decision - and this time its in Meghans favour. The names wont be released - for now.

Mr Justice Warby says: At this stage, continued anonymity not only upholds the agreement made between People magazine and the five friends, and the reasonable expectations which that generated; it also supports the proper administration of justice by shielding the friends from the glare of publicity in the pre-trial stage.

Generally, it does not help the interests of justice if those involved in litigation are subjected to, or surrounded by, a frenzy of publicity.

But both sides are given a wrap on the knuckles for the slow progress of the trial and for what he calls a tit-for-tat approach.

September 2020

In September, the case returns to court for a management and costs hearing. ANL applies to alter their defence, so that they can rely on the biography Finding Freedom, which is about the couple and their move to California.

ANL say the couple co-operated with the book, but the duke and duchess deny this. They even file a scathing takedown of the biography, calling it anodyne and saying any references to the letter were only from the Mail On Sundays reporting of it anyway.

One of the authors, Omid Scobie, files a statement to tell the court he had not interviewed Harry or Meghan for the book.

After deliberating over the arguments, Judge Francesca Kaye rules that ANL can use the biography in their defence. She says the amended defence do not raise new defences but add further particulars.

She says the Duchess of Sussex knows the case she has to meet and that there is no suggestion that she is in fact unable to do so.

The case is expected to go to full trial next year.
Dax Shepard has resorted to doing his own medical procedure while under home quarantine with his wife, Kristen Bell, and their two young children.

Bell shared a video of the 45-year-old actor removing a pin that was inserted into his broken hand while on the phone with his doctor.

'We're on day "I can do my own surgery" of quarentine [SIC]. @daxshepard,' the Frozen star captioned the clip she posted on her Instagram page.

Quarantine surgery: Dax Shepard, 45, played amateur doctor on himself and pulled a pin out of his broken hand as wife Kristen filmed the procedure

Right off the top, the funnyman pronounced he was about to 'commence the procedure.'

'Oh yep, that feels weird, ohhhh,' Shepard blurted out with the camera zeroed-in on his hand cast.

'Yep, it's out,' he assured the doctor as Bell asks: 'Oh wow, how did that feel?'

Let's do it: Right off the top, the funnyman pronounced he was about to 'commence the procedure' to the doctor on the phone

Brave: 'Oh yep, that feels weird, ohhhh,' Shepard blurted out when he pulled out the pin

Mission accomplished: The actor proudly showcased the pin as he assured the doctor on the phone that the pin was out of his hand

Keeping his attention to the doctor on the phone, he added: 'There's no blood spurting anywhere.'

After laughing out loud with the phone still to his ear, the Employee Of The Month star showed off his comedic timing by joking: 'I'm coming for your job doctor.'

Following a few more laughs he pronounced: 'I'm going to add pin removal to my resume.'

The hardware: Bell zeroed-in on a close-up shot of the pin

Comedic touch: Keeping his attention to the doctor on the phone, Shepard added: 'There's no blood spurting anywhere'

Funnyman: After laughing out loud with the phone still to his ear, the Employee Of The Month star showed off his comedic touch by joking: 'I'm coming for your job doctor'

The patient then reassured the real doctor that he would be in for his follow-up appointment next Friday.

'Am I the worst patient you've ever had?' he asked with a smile on his face before adding, 'I'm texting you non-stop and now I'm pulling pins out that you put in.'

One of the couple's kids then asked to see the pin and whether it had any blood on it, to which Bell promptly answered, 'No.'

It's still unclear exactly how Shepard broke his hand.

Dr. Shepard: 'Am I the worst patient you've ever had?' he asked the doctor with a smile on his face before adding, 'I'm texting you non-stop and now I'm pulling pins out that you put in'
In a shocking, a man has murdered his London based NRI son after a financial dispute in Gujarats Surat district. The incident happened on Friday following an argument over Rs 1.80 lakh the man had lent to his son.

The accused identified as Abdul Hamid Maniyar, who was taken into custody from his residence at the Bharbandhwad area of Rani Talvi.

As maintained by a report in TOI, the victim Imran was Hamids only child who was working in the hospitality industry in London for the last ten years.

The 36-year-old Imran in the city with his wife and kids for over a month. He had taken a loan of Rs 1.80 lakh from his father to renovate his house. As the victim was scheduled to go back to London on Saturday, his father asked him about the money he had taken from him.

According to a report, Imrans father was concerned about the oney as his son was returning to London on a special flight arranged for citizens of the United Kingdom.

"The victim reportedly assured his father that he would repay the money to him after clearing the money he borrowed from his friends," said Inspector AG Rathod, Lalgate police station.

As stated by the police, the victim had also advised his father to rent a portion of the house to recover part of the money. Police stated that a heated argument broke out between the accused and his wife Shamsunnise in their room on Friday.

"After hearing the altercation, Imran went to the room where his father picked a fight with him too. Hamid stabbed Imran in his shoulder and underarm leading to grave injuries," added Rathod.

The victim was immediately taken to a hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

Also Read: Noida: Depressed due to present lockdown, woman commits suicide by jumping off 17th floor of highrise
Nearly 4,000 Sri Lankan Navy personnel and their families have been quarantined at a major naval facility after 60 COVID-19 cases were confirmed in two days, a media report said on Saturday.

The move came as 30 Navy personnel tested positive for the COVID-19 virus each on Friday and Saturday at the country's Welisara Naval camp, the state-run Daily reported.

"Today 30 Navy personnel have tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. Another 30 had tested positive for the virus yesterday," Army Commander Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva was quoted as saying by the paper during his media briefing of the National Operation Centre for the Prevention of COVID-19 here.

Following the new cases, nearly 4,000 naval personnel and their families at the naval base have been isolated within the camp, the paper reported, citing an order issued by the Sri Lankan Navy.

The spurt in new cases came amidst Sri Lanka deciding to lift the nationwide curfew imposed to stem the spread of the coronavirus on Monday.

Sri Lanka has been under a strict curfew since March 20 to combat the COVID-19 that has claimed seven lives and infected 420 people.

The government had on Monday dropped its decision to relax the nationwide curfew and extended it to April 27 following a sudden spike in the number of COVID-19 cases.

However, there has been intermittent lifting of the curfew in selected areas which were not seen as dangerous for the spread of the deadly virus.

The Sri Lankan government has planned various measures to protect the security forces personnel from contracting the COVID-19 infection while engaged in operations to control the spread of the disease, the Colombo Page reported.

"All naval personnel are restricted from travel and confined to barracks without leave. They are only allowed to leave the bases for assigned duties," the report said.

The COVID-19 has so far infected more than 2.7 million people and killed over 190,000 globally. The US is the worst hit with over 51,000 deaths and more than 905,000 cases, according to Johns Hopkins University.

In Sri Lanka, the deadly virus claimed the lives of 7 people so far with 420 cases of confirmed infection.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-25 13:07:03|Editor: huaxia

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ISLAMABAD, April 25 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar said the country's number of COVID-19 cases might rise sharply during the Muslim's fasting month of Ramadan starting on Saturday.

Local media quoted the minister on Saturday morning as saying that the government has been trying to make sure that less number of people go outside and standard operating procedures are followed at mosques and markets, but the threat of local infections will be high during the holy month.

The minister said the government has extended the nationwide lockdown until May 9 because the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases is rising regularly, according to the reports.

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan told reporters on Friday that the government would close the mosques if the standard operating procedures are not adopted.

According to the data updated by the Health Ministry on Saturday morning, Pakistan's confirmed COVID-19 cases have risen to 11,940 with 253 deaths.

The statistics showed that at least 16 patients died and 785 new persons were confirmed positive out of 6,780 tests conducted during the past 24 hours across the country.

Overall, 8,932 patients are under treatment in different hospitals, while 2,755 have been discharged after complete recovery which is 23.1 percent of the total infected patients.

The eastern Punjab province with a total of 5,046 cases continued as the most affected region followed by the southern Sindh province with 3,945 confirmed cases. The northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province stands third with 1,708 cases but it is leading with 89 deaths so far.

At least 656 cases reported in southwest Balochistan province and 307 in north Gilgit-Baltistan region, and 223 in the capital Islamabad.

Sindh province recorded 75 deaths followed by Punjab where 73 people have lost their lives due to the coronavirus, the statistics said.

The ministry said Pakistan has conducted 138,147 tests officially so far. However, the tests do not include those conducted by private laboratories. Enditem
Japan Airlines Co is discussing the possibility of securing financing totalling $2.8 billion from its lenders to cushion the financial blow of the coronavirus outbreak, public broadcaster NHK said on Saturday.

The airline, which has seen its passenger numbers tumble as it has slashed 90 percent of its international flights and 60 percent of domestic flights, has tapped its main lenders Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Mizuho Financial Group and other banks for extra funding, NHK said, citing unnamed sources.

It was also considering securing special emergency funding from the Development Bank of Japan (DBJ), it added.

The airline was not immediately available for comment.

Global airlines are struggling to pay fixed costs as the majority of their planes have been grounded due to travelling restrictions put in place to control the spread of the coronavirus.

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

Japan's government has promised financial support for the country's airlines as part of a coronavirus stimulus package equivalent to a fifth of Japan's annual GDP, although it has yet to say how much they will receive.

JAL and its rival ANA Holdings Inc are not government owned, but ties with regulators are close, with officials and politicians willing to extend financial help in troubled times to support a domestic aviation network which connects an island archipelago stretching almost 3,000 kilometres (1,800 miles).

Earlier this month, Reuters reported that ANA is seeking a $2.8 billion credit line from the DBJ, and is working with private banks to bring forward $930 million in borrowing that had been scheduled for June.

Follow our full coverage of the coronavirus pandemic here
DANVILLE (AP)  A county Conservation District is bringing the great outdoors into homes across the area as well as some out of state.

Even before Gov. JB Pritzker earlier this week extended the statewide stay-at-home order to the end of May, the conservation districts environmental educators who lead activities for local school groups already were brainstorming ways to keep schoolchildren engaged and learning during spring break.

Before the shelter-in-place order began, we knew we didnt have any school groups coming in to our parks because of spring break, Environmental Education Supervisor Lara Danzl said.

The idea to record educational videos around the conservation districts parks came from Program Secretary Amy Steeples who had seen similar educational videos about animals posted on social media by a zoo.

Our director, Jamie Pasquale, said it looked like something we could do since we cant do any programs at the parks right now, Danzl said.

Danzl and the other environmental educators Jennifer Krainock, Susan Biggs Warner, Lisa Witsman and Mollie Pletch try to post a photo or fun activity once a day on the Vermilion County Conservation Districts Facebook page.

We post on Facebook once a day so we dont overwhelm them, Danzl said. Weve been posting resources online and videos of crafts kids can do at home.

As soon as things start to green up, Im going to do something on the signs of spring, she said. Our newest environmental educator, Jennifer Krainock, has been developing a nature bingo game.

One type of post that has proven popular is when Danzl posts photos of various locations around Kennekuk, Forest Glen and Heron parks and asks the public to guess the location.

Some people guess the exact location, she said. Its a testament to how much people love our parks.

Another favorite activity was a backyard nature hunt and a sensory hunt. The backyard nature hunt sent children outdoors to scavenge for clovers, spider webs, bugs, rocks and acorns. The sensory hunt entailed seeing, feeling, hearing and smelling different outdoor elements.

Those scavenger hunts were shared all over, Danzl said. We even had people in Arizona doing our scavenger hunts.

Danzl, with the help of her professional photographer husband, Rick, has been recording short three-minute videos that she posts about once a week.

I focus on one topic at a time and get people engaged and get them interested in plants and animals, she said.

One of her recent videos introduced the public to skunk cabbage.

Its the first plant to come out of the ground in February, she said. It throws off so much heat, it melts the snow around it.

Danzls second video entailed a repurposing craft project.

I repurposed a glass jar and glued tissue paper on it to make it look like stained glass, she said.

Environmental Educator Susan Biggs Warner posted a video she took of Canada geese at Heron Park.

All the educators are submitting videos, Danzl said.

The conservation district hopes the posts and videos will keep the public interested in nature and active at home.

The districts parks are still open, although its buildings are closed to the public.

People have been acting responsibly, Danzl said. People have been appreciative and grateful that weve kept the parks open.

A few popular events, however, have been canceled or postponed, such as the maple syrup open house that was set for March 15 and Conservation Olympics that had been set for May 8.

Were trying to postpone and reschedule as much as we can, Danzl said. The pancake mix for the maple syrup open house was donated to a food pantry.

This years Conservation Olympics, which was expected to draw 400 schoolchildren from all over the county, has been canceled.

It would have been irresponsible to have that many people gathered, she said.

The daily social media posts and videos seem to have been a hit with the public.

For people who cant get out to the parks, they are enjoying what we are putting online, she said. Weve gotten a lot more Facebook followers, so we know were connecting to people.

In fact, Danzl is considering creating longer videos that can be posted to YouTube.

There are so many opportunities to teach people about the outdoors, she said. Were doing the best we can and keeping connected with people.
Fresh off the House floor managing the most recent coronavirus response bill at the Capitol, U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal said Saturday that Americans will likely see yet another stimulus bill in as little as 10 days.

Weve already been working on it, Neal, a Springfield Democrat and chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means said following a news conference with Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito at the Cartamundi manufacturing plant in East Longmeadow. Ive been talking about it with House Speaker (Nancy) Pelosi. We are in conversations almost hourly.

Conversations include House and Senate leaders in both parties and the administration of President Donald J. Trump administration, he said.

The bill passed this week, a measure totaling $484 billion, is now law. Neal called that bill version 3.5 and the next one version 4.

Neal said the next bill could include another round of stimulus payments to individuals and families. The first round  which included payments of $1,200 per person and $2,400 for couples filing jointly  is still going out to some people.

The federal government, he said, will also need to allocate funding for the unemployment system to keep money flowing through the economy.

Neal also predicts the new bill will include money to plug growing budget gaps for states, cities and towns across the country.

State lawmakers estimate that Massachusetts tax revenues could be $4 billion to $6 billion below estimates.

In Springfield, Chief Administrative and Financial Officer Timothy J. Plante told councilors earlier this month that the citys financial outlook is very bleak." Hes been told to prepare for a 14% reduction in unrestricted general government aid from the state  a loss of $5.6 million.

Democrats like Neal and Pelosi have pushed for federal aid to states, cities and towns for a while. Republicans have pushed back.

But Neal offered reassurance Saturday, saying that all the rancor in debate over these bills is not reflected in the actual voting and that each of the major pieces of legislation have had broad bipartisan support. The Senate voted unanimously on the latest bill, and there were only five no votes in the House to 388 yes votes.

He said it is not clear whether there will be more money for the Paycheck Protection Plan loans to small businesses. Well have to see how it goes, Neal said.

The law passed this week put another $320 billion into the program, with money beginning to flow Monday. The first infusion of $349 billion was exhausted in just 12 days.

Baker thanked Neal for all he is doing for the people of Massachusetts but for the nation.

Neal, D-Springfield, had toured the Caraamundi factory earlier in the week.

The plant usually makes classic products like Play-Doh and the board game Monopoly for toy giant Hasbro.

Walking through the plant here was like looking back through my life, Baker said. So many games that had a place on our bookshelves and in our homes. Some many games that wed played over the years.

The factory has recently been converted to manufacture personal protection equipment, producing 50,000 plastic face shields per week to donate to local hospitals during the pandemic. The project is a partnership between Rhode Island-based Hasbro and global card-and-game company Cartamundi, which owns popular playing card brands like Bee as well as the East Longmeadow facility.

The former Milton Bradley Co. built the plant. Hasbro sold it to Cartamundi in 2015.

Caratamundi isnt the only Massachusetts manufacturer to convert at least part of its operations to personal protective equipment.

Universal Plastics in Holyoke is making face shields and acrylic intubation boxes.

Smith & Wesson makes face shields both at its Springfield plant and its plastics factory in Deep River, Connecticut.

Hasbro President & COO John Frascotti said theyd like to go back to making toys.

The sprawling 1.2-million-square-foot plant only has 25 employees working to make the masks  well below the more than 500 employees who usually work at the plant. The figure includes 300 production workers but not roughly 100 temporary workers who often transition to full-time status.

Cartamundi has already taken steps to protect its work force, mandating temperature e checks for all who arrive, requiring masks having workers separate from each other physically.

The plant has also split its workforce into teams, each with its own entrance, restrooms and lunchroom. That practice will continue as a means of arresting any spread of the disease.

Neal said testing, like taking peoples temperatures and testing for the virus itself, is important.

We are not going to establish confidence and open the marketplace if people are afraid to go to work, he said.

Related Content:
Photo Illustration by Sarah Rogers/The Daily Beast / Photos Getty

You know things are bad when even a presidential candidate doesnt want your money. According to Federal Election Commission records, Louis C.K. donated $2,800 to Joe Bidens presidential campaign last month, the day after the former vice presidents triumphant Super Tuesday performance. The campaign tells Time, however, that it refunded the contribution.

In 2017, multiple women accused Louis C.K. of sexual misconduct. The comedian confirmed the allegations, saying in a statement, I have spent my long and lucky career talking and saying anything I want. I will now step back and take a long time to listen.

Louis C.K. Is Going on a Big Comeback Tour. He Hasnt Earned His Forgiveness.

A year later, however, Louis C.K. had already hit the comedy circuit once morewith a set that, among many other things, mocked the Parkland shooting survivors. The Biden campaign declined to comment further on its refund when speaking to Time, but one might presume it had something to do with Louis C.K.s fall from grace.

Further complicating matters now is an allegation of sexual assault against Biden himself from former staffer Tara Reade, who has told multiple outlets that Biden pinned her to a wall and forcibly penetrated her with his fingers in 1993.

Biden has denied the allegations. Vice President Biden has dedicated his public life to changing the culture and the laws around violence against women, Bidens Deputy Campaign Manager Kate Bedingfield said in a statement. He firmly believes that women have a right to be heardand heard respectfully. Such claims should also be diligently reviewed by an independent press. What is clear about this claim: it is untrue. This absolutely did not happen.

Judd Apatow Sounds Off on Louis C.K.s Parkland Set: Comedians Should Be Criticized

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more.
Police are investigating after a shot was fired through the window of a house in Armagh on Friday night.

Two men and two women were inside the property at the time but were not injured.

A van was subsequently discovered on fire close to Ballyard Castle a short time later which police believe may be linked to this incident.

Police are appealing for information in relation to the incident.

They are keen to hear from anyone who was in the Keady Road area at around 11pm and who may have seen a light white van in the area at the time, or who may have captured CCTV, dash-cam or mobile phone footage.

Detectives can be contacted by calling 101, quoting reference 136 25/04/20
I am not very much worried about President Donald Trumps tweet-bombing the U.S. immigration system, even though it could conceivably affect my family. (Nefarious . . . Canadians!) I am pretty sure I have seen this movie before.

Here is how it goes: President Trump finds himself mired in something that he isnt very good at (governing, administration, being president, etc.) and as he gets bored and begins to lose the political fight, he makes some kind of dramatic proposal, invariably via Twitter, and the politico-media world is, for a day or two or three, convulsed. Trumps team convenes and tries to figure out some kind of at least barely plausible legal or constitutional rationale for what the president has proposed, and then begins developing the policy he already has announced. Somebody you know from Fox News will go on television and say this has been under careful consideration for months and that all the top people have been working around the clock on it, and other people you know from Fox News will pretend to believe that.

And then the drama starts to unravel. The big idea turns out to have a lot of qualifiers. In this case, that means things such as exempting guest workers from the purported ban, irritating my friend Mark Krikorian (of the Mayflower Krikorians) and other anti-immigration activists. Many other exemptions are under consideration as well, legal questions remain unresolved, and the Trump administration probably will end up putting six months of work into its 60-day moratorium, the principal effect of which, if it actually comes to pass, will be a larger backlog in green-card processing.

The story repeats itself: Trump announces a prohibition on travel from China in response to the coronavirus, and more than 40,000 people (and counting) fly here from China while the conversation changes to whether we call this virus from Wuhan the Wuhan virus. Trump demands a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States but his administration ends up continuing to hand out thousands of visas to nationals of the targeted countries: Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Yemen, etc. Trump promised to deport every single illegal immigrant residing in the United States and, if necessary, to create a special federal force to do that. That hasnt happened, though the estimates suggest that the number of illegals in the United States has declined  as it has been declining since 2005. Build the wall, and make Mexico pay for it, etc.

Story continues

The situation of illegal immigrants is worth considering. I do not think it is very likely that some poor bum from Decatur ended up on Skid Row because he lost a spot in the computer-science Ph.D. program at Stanford to an Indian national and couldnt endure the thought of going to Cornell instead. But some workers on the raggedy edge of solvency do compete head-to-head with illegals. Contrary to the popular impression, illegals are not concentrated in agriculture (only about 4 percent of illegals work in farming, and the vast majority of farm workers are not illegals) but instead are spread out through construction, hospitality, and services, especially in positions such as housekeepers, drywall installers, landscapers, dry cleaners, car washers, manicurists, and similar positions. But there is no industry or job in which illegals make up the majority of workers.

The neo-Malthusian view that there are not enough jobs to go around is mistaken (people are assets, not liabilities, and jobs are a means, not an end), but if you were to take that view seriously, then it would make a lot of sense to prioritize illegals  which is, of course, what Trump and other immigration hawks have been telling us they want to do. Illegals by some estimates make up as much as 5 percent of the total work force, and, to the extent that they compete with U.S. citizens in the labor market, they often are competing mostly with workers whose next-best option is not very good. In this, they are different many legal immigrants: The guy who was runner-up to Hyderabad-born Satya Nadella for the top job at Microsoft is probably still doing okay in life.

Only a couple of months ago, President Trump was saying he wants more immigrants  not just more, but radically more, immigrants in the largest numbers ever. In early April he proposed expanding the number of temporary workers admitted to the United States. Reprehensible, Mark Krikorian said. The administration has been all over the map when it comes to legal immigrants.

And illegals, too.

There are reasons to be concerned about illegal immigrants beyond the labor market, of course. Trump as a candidate made a big stink about illegal immigrants and violent crime, but his administration has not done a thing about that, and we still have illegals belonging to Central American gangs carrying out murders in American cities. Illegals are also themselves more vulnerable and likely to be victimized in various ways. And, of course, seeing to it that the laws on the books are actually enforced should be a norm. We write them down for a reason.

So why is the Trump administration sitting on its hands when it comes to illegals but assertive when it comes to legal immigrants and would-be legal immigrants?

The answer is: For the same reason the gun-grabbers concentrate their efforts on federally licensed firearms dealers and the people who do business with them  the nations least-criminal demographic  rather than prosecuting real-life straw-buyer cases or making sure that offenders do real time for weapons charges. It is pretty easy to police law-abiding people who are voluntarily submitting themselves to a legal process (whether that is immigration or buying a gun), filing paperwork, and undergoing background checks. Chasing actual lawbreakers around? Thats work.

Changing the law is work, too  signing an executive order is pretty easy.

But it is not much of a policy strategy. The Trump administration has not even managed to secure such elementary reforms as mandating the use of E-Verify or a similar system to cut off the main lure of illegal immigration at the source. Even when Republicans controlled both houses of Congress, President Trump could not be bothered to negotiate even a modest legislative package on his signature issue.

But he can write his name on an executive order that may inconvenience a few thousand people who are attempting to lawfully follow the legal immigration process for a few months. Some of them may wonder why they didnt just go the illegal route, which might have been easier.

Maybe when the president is done with that, he can find a couple of grad students to bully. Theres an election coming up, after all.

Editors Note: Due to an editing error, this article originally claimed 430,000 people had traveled to the U.S. from China since travel restrictions were imposed. In fact, that is the number who have traveled to the U.S. from China since the outbreak began. The correct number is 40,000.

More from National Review
Milla Jovovich recently welcomed her third daughter with husband Paul WS Anderson.

And the actress is enjoying plenty of quality family time as she quarantines with her brood.

She was beaming Friday as she sported a cozy oversized hoodie to take her dogs for a walk in her Los Angeles neighborhood during a break from isolation.

Out for a walk: Milla Jovovich was beaming Friday as she sported a cozy oversized hoodie to take her dogs for a walk in her Los Angeles neighborhood during a break from isolation

The 44-year-old paired it with a white flannel shirt, slim jeans and a pair of grey hiking boots.

She wore a face mask, pulled below her mouth, as she walked her pups on a retractable leash.

Jovovich quietly donated 30,000 surgical masks to the Manhattan VA Hospital earlier this week.

Sports Illustrated Swimsuit editor MJ Day wrote on Instagram: 'Im so, SO grateful to be connected to such an incredibly giving and powerful community.

Cozy and casual: The 44-year-old paired it with a white flannel shirt, slim jeans and a pair of grey hiking boots

New addition: Jovovich seems to be enjoying her own quarantine after giving birth to her third daughter Osian Lark Elliot back in February

Miracle baby: She made the announcement on Instagram, writing: 'Shes so beautiful!  Shes our miracle baby and were all so grateful to have her and completely obsessed with her!!'

'Today I was able to drop off 30k masks to the Manhattan VA Hospital this morning donated by @millajovovich.'

Jovovich seems to be enjoying her own quarantine after giving birth to her third daughter Osian Lark Elliot back in February.

She made the announcement on Instagram, writing: 'Osian is a welsh boys name and its pronounced O-shin.

'Shes so beautiful!  Shes our miracle baby and were all so grateful to have her and completely obsessed with her!!'

The Resident Evil star and Anderson, 55, also share daughters Ever Gabo, 12, and Dashiel Edan, five.
If its in this weeks tabloids, chances are it didnt happen.

"I'm Never Going Back!" screams the 'National Enquirer' cover. "Bitter Harry Breaks With William Forever!" Didn't happen.

The Royal confrontation between the two princes allegedly exploded when Harry refused to return to Britain for the Queen's 94th birthday on April 21.

But the story makes no sense, as the Queen spent her birthday in isolation with Prince Philip sequestered from the rest of her family. Harry wouldn't have seen her even if he was in the UK, and nobody expected him to fly home for the occasion amid a global pandemic.

There was no screaming row between the brothers, and on her birthday the Queen happily chatted with Harry on Zoom, which was as close as anyone got to Her Majesty.

"George & Amal  $500m Divorce Nightmare!" proclaims the 'Globe' cover. Didn't happen.

The Clooneys have not filed for divorce. They aren't even living apart.

So where does their "divorce nightmare" come from? The imagination of fearful friends, AKA desperate tabloid reporters.

George and Amal are allegedly "so much at each other's throats during the coronavirus lockdown that pals fear the simmering bad blood will boil over into a $500 million divorce!"

Because that's what friends are for: to fear the worst and run to the nearest tabloid.

George and Amal are reportedly confined in their "luxury Tinseltown mansion" which must be awful for the poor dears. Helpfully, the story concludes: "Ultimately, neither of them wants a divorce . . . " Well, there's a surprise.

"Beyonce Caught in DUI Horror!" reports the 'Enquirer.' Didn't happen.

She wasn't arrested drinking or driving. Not even jaywalking.

In a stretch worthy of the incredibly elastic superhero Mister Fantastic, the 'Enquirer' reports that Beyonce's father's ex-girlfriend was allegedly arrested for DUI with her nine-year-old daughter  claimed by her mother to be Beyonce's half-sister  in the car.

As for Beyonce, she's not caught in this "horror" or anywhere near it.

"Gnarly!" reports the 'Globe' about Prince Harry. "It's Surfer Dude Harry!" Didn't happen.

Despite Harry being pictured on a beach wearing a wetsuit and carrying a surfboard under his arm, the story makes clear he's never been surfing, even though they don't even bother with a small-print caption admitting it's a mocked-up photo collage.

"Prince Harry is shelling out bucks to learn how to be an authentic California beach bum!" says the report. This despite the fact that Harry is pandemic house-bound except for the rare excursion for charity work, the fact that California's beaches are closed, and the very real possibility that ocean water may be hazardous to surfers' health as city run-off could harbor coronavirus.

"Much of his spare time will be spent surfing and soaking up the sun on the beach," claims an unnamed insider. Sure.

In yet another Royal story, the 'Globe' reports: "Prince Andrew Begs Feds For No-Prison Plea Deal! . . . Quakes as feds squeeze him to squeal about Epstein pals." This is a follow-up on last week's dubious claim that Andrew has been indicted by a secret grand jury, though the 'Globe' still can't figure out what charges he's indicted on in relation to billionaire pedophile Jeffrey Epstein. Could it be sex trafficking? Statutory rape? Congenital stupidity? The rag isn't saying, because they haven't thought that far ahead.

The 'Globe' 'claims that the beleaguered Royal "is begging prosecutors for a no-prison plea deal in exchange for spilling his guts." Simply didn't happen.

As coronavirus has shut down film and TV production, called a halt to red carpet premieres and keeps most stars at home, the tabloids are reduced to weaving stories from the thinnest of thread.

What's a tabloid to do when the only celebrity photos you consistently get week after week are of Ben Affleck walking with his new love, actress Ana de Armas?

"Ana Fears Bad Marks From Ben's Mom!" claims the 'Enquirer.'

It's clearly an act of desperation and a cry for help when the 'Enquirer' writes: "If she wants to stick around she'll need to impress . . . his mom!" Right.

What to do when there's no celebrity news around? Dig deep into the bottom drawer and pull out a story that didn't make the grade four years ago, and hope nobody notices.

"Moonwalker Michael's Feet Were Rotted Mess!" reports the 'Enquirer,' quoting Michael Jackson's disgraced former physician Dr. Conrad Murray on the state of the gloved one's fungally-challenged pedal extremities, as explained in his book 'This Is It.'

They even have the audacity to label the story an "Enquirer Exclusive," which is pretty rich for a story lifted from a book published in July 2016. What could be more exclusive than that?

Of course, you can't have a week in the tabloids without mentioning that trio of exes Jennifer Aniston, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie.

Brad's apparently so bad with money that it has Angelina worried; but Brad's so good with money that Jen is begging for his financial advice, according to this week's warring tabloid stories.

"Brad & Angie in Battle Over Bucks!" claims the 'Enquirer.' "She's steaming over his big spending on homes." They are still disputing legal custody of their children, it's true, but they are not fighting over their respective fortunes, so Brad can do what he wants with his money, even if the 'Enquirer' disapproves of his spending habits.

But the 'Globe' has a different take on Brad's financial acumen, reporting: "Jen Leans on Brad For Money Magic!" Aniston supposedly gets financial and investment advice from ex-husband Pitt, because "there aren't many more savvy operators in Hollywood than Brad." Maybe someone should tell that to Angelina.

"Let Us Live In Peace!" say Prince Harry & Meghan on the cover of 'Us' magazine. Didn't happen.

The renegade royals have cut ties with four British newspapers  not that they ever cooperated with them in the first place  but say they still expect to be fair game for every other media outlet. That sends many messages, but "Let Us Live In Peace" is not one of them.

'Us' claims that the global pandemic has given Harry and Meghan "a unique opportunity to focus on what they love most: giving back."

How is that a "unique opportunity"? The couple spend much of their public lives performing charity work, with or without coronavirus.

The cover of 'Us' mag is devoted to Katie Holmes and her daughter: "Suri Turns 14! Saved By Love. Escaping Scientology & growing up without Dad."

Dad would be couch-jumping Scientology poster boy Tom Cruise, of course. Holmes claims she is "so blessed" to have a normal kid. But does she ever secretly wonder what Suri would be like if she was a Level 7 Operating Thetan by now?

As the global nightmare of pandemic rages 'People' magazine brings us its annual "Beautiful Issue," treating readers to "40 pages of inspiring stars" who are all "beauties of the year." Because at a time of national crisis with the death toll soaring what could be more important than celebrating superficial looks after they've been manufactured by makeup artists, hairdressers and fashion stylists and then completely reimagined by digital editing?

The cover is ostensibly dedicated to 74-year-old Goldie Hawn, her 41-year-old daughter Kate Hudson, and 16-month-old grand-daughter Rani, but in reality it's devoted to the art of Photoshop. When all three have fewer facial lines and wrinkles than a newborn, you know that someone's gone waaaay too far with the digital air-brush.

Fortunately we have the crack investigative team at 'Us' mag to tell us that Jessica Alba wore it best, that Terry Crews owns "over 500 custom suits," and that the stars are just like us: they ride bikes, eat ice cream, read books and play guitars. Thrilling as ever.

Onwards and downwards . . .
A volunteer of the Geeks for Democracy group wears a protective suit and a face mask to protect against coronavirus, before delivering food and hygiene products to a nursing home in the village of Costesti, Romania (AP)

The global death toll from the coronavirus pandemic has surpassed 200,000, researchers have said.

The grim figure from experts at Johns Hopkins University, compiled from global government statistics, came as countries took cautious steps toward easing some lockdowns. The true death toll is likely to be much higher.

The US states of Georgia, Oklahoma and Alaska began loosening lockdown orders on their badly-hit businesses, even as the confirmed US death toll from Covid-19 soared past 50,000 and health experts warned that such steps may have come too early.

In India, easing restrictions meant reopening local stores that many of the countrys 1.3 billion people rely on for everything from cold drinks to mobile phone data cards.

However, the loosening did not apply to hundreds of quarantined towns and other places hit hardest by the outbreak that has killed at least 775 people in the country.

Shopping malls also remain closed nationwide.

Last week, India also allowed manufacturing and farming to resume in rural areas to ease the economic plight of millions of daily wage-earners left jobless by the lockdown imposed on March 24.

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Indias restrictions have allowed people out of their homes only to buy food, medicine or other essentials.

Elsewhere in Asia, authorities reported no new deaths on Saturday for the 10th straight day in China, where the virus originated.

South Korea reported just 10 fresh cases, the eighth day in a row its daily total came below 20. There were no new deaths for the second straight day.

In Sri Lanka, however, the lockdown was tightened, not eased, confirming a pattern of one-step-forward, one-step-back also seen elsewhere in the pandemic, as authorities juggle public health against the health of shut-down economies.

Sri Lanka had partially lifted a month-long curfew during daytime hours in more than two thirds of the country.

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However, it reimposed a 24-hour lockdown countrywide after a surge of 46 new infections on Friday, the highest increase in a day on the Indian Ocean island. The new curfew remains in effect until Monday.

Norway has extended its ban on events with more than 500 participants until at least September 1.

In the Vatican, Pope Francis appealed to people to pray for funeral home workers, saying: What they do is so heavy and sad. They really feel the pain of this pandemic.

In Europe, Belgium sketched out plans for a progressive lockdown relaxation starting on May 4 with the resumption of non-essential treatment in hospitals and the reopening of textile and sewing shops to enable people to have face masks.

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Bars and restaurants would be allowed to start reopening on June 8, although Belgian prime minister Sophie Wilmes also cautioned that a surge in infections could alter the timeline, and that nothing is set in stone.

Children in Spain will get their first fresh air in weeks on Sunday when a total ban on letting them outside is relaxed.

After 44 days indoors, they will be allowed to take one toy or scooter with them but not play together for adult-supervised one-hour excursions no further than one kilometre from home.

Italy announced that free protective masks will be distributed to nursing homes, police, public officials and transport workers, preparing for the return to work of millions of Italians when lockdown restrictions are eased from May 4.

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In France, the government is preparing to ease one of Europes strictest lockdowns from May 11. The health minister detailed plans on Saturday to scale up testing to help contain any new flare-ups.

Testing shortages are a critical problem elsewhere, too, including in Brazil, Latin Americas largest nation, which is veering closer to becoming a pandemic hotspot.

Medical officials in Rio de Janeiro and four other major cities warned that their hospital systems are on the verge of collapse or already overwhelmed.

In Manaus, the biggest city in the Amazon, officials said a cemetery has been forced to dig mass graves because there have been so many deaths. Workers have been burying 100 corpses a day  triple the pre-virus average.

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In the US, Republican governors in Georgia and Oklahoma allowed salons, spas and barbershops to reopen, while Alaska opened the way for restaurants to resume dine-in service and retail shops and other businesses to open their doors, all with limitations.

Some Alaskan municipalities chose to maintain stricter rules.

Though limited in scope, and subject to social-distancing restrictions, the reopenings marked a symbolic milestone in the debate raging in the United States and beyond as to how quickly political leaders should lift economically devastating lockdown orders.

During a White House press briefing on Friday, US president Donald Trump spoke optimistically of the economy but also asked people to continue social distancing and use face coverings.

The same day, Mr Trump signed a 484 billion dollar (391 billion) bill to aid employers and hospitals under stress from the pandemic.

Over the past five weeks, roughly 26 million people have filed for jobless aid in America, or about one in six US workers.

Mr Trump also said his widely criticised comments suggesting people can ingest or inject disinfectant to fight Covid-19 were an attempt at sarcasm.
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From New York to California, people ignored social distancing to hit the beach Saturday as temperatures heated up.

Los Angeles braced for a heatwave this weekend which had people keen to get back to the beach as photos show beachgoers sunbathing and relaxing.

Meanwhile in New York, a spring day after a week of rain saw people out and about on Coney Island and Long Beach, despite the city being the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak.

And in Florida, popular beaches like Daytona and Cocoa Beach, continue to allow people to walk, surf, bike or swim, while promoting staying a safe six-foot distance from others.

This comes in direct defiance to governors Andrew Cuomo (New York) and Gavin Newsom's (California) strict orders to stay-at-home as coronavirus infection rates continue to rise nationwide.

Crowds are seen gathering on the beach north of Newport Beach Pier on April 25, in California

Revellers were seen enjoying the glistening white sand in California and hot weather despite the country's lockdown

Police officers took no action as they watched groups of friends meeting on Huntington Beach, California

A life guard wore a face mask as they patrolled the crowded Huntington beach. Americans have been asked to stay home in order to curb the spread of coronavirus

Beachgoers basked in the sun's rays along the coastline on April 25 despite strict lockdown rules

Families also played in the sand as they enjoyed the warm weather and start of summer at Huntington beach, California

Pictured above are couples sunbathing as others take shelter under umbrellas in the blistering sunshine

People walk up and down Huntington City Beach during the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Huntington Beach, California, U.S., April 25

Hundreds of people enjoy the glorious weather on Huntington Beach, California, on April 25 despite coronavirus

People are seen on Huntington Beach as it remains open during the coronavirus pandemic on April 25, 2020

From New York to California , people ignored social distancing to hit the beach Saturday as temperatures heated up. Pictured are sunbathers in Georgia

Surfers head to the beach in the early morning hours on Saturday in Long Beach, New York

People order drinks at a bar on Tybee Beach in Georgia on Saturday

People relax on Tybee Beach in Tybee Island, Georgia after the governor opened the beaches

A fisherman heads to the beach in the early morning hours on Saturday on Long Beach in New York

New York State-managed beaches remain closed by order of the Governor; independent city Long Beach has closed their boardwalk to pedestrians but has maintained open beaches

Signs at the boardwalk on Coney Island in New York remind people to keep a six-foot distance as they enjoyed the spring day

People keep their personal distance as they enjoy a spring afternoon at Brooklyn's Coney Island in New York

People were seen relaxing on the sand on Tybee Beach in Georgia Saturday.

LIFEGUARDS WILL NO LONGER DO 'MOUTH-TO-MOUTH' Lifeguard unions across America are concerned about how to keep the first-responders safe from contracting coronavirus as beaches across the country start to reopen. In Miami, lifeguards have been issued face buffs for protection against wind and sunburn. They will now be advised to use the buffs during any rescues, and before making any contact with victims. The buffs essentially cover the lifeguards' nose and mouth, and can function as a mask covering. The way victims are revived will also change. Instead of mouth-to-mouth resucitation, chest compressions take precedence. Lifeguards will have to perform at least 30 compressions, and when administering air to a victim's lungs mouth-to-mouth is no longer used in CPR. Plastic barrier devices which have holes or valves in them can be used during CPR to safely blow air into a victim's lungs. Advertisement

The Tybee Island city council voted to close the beaches on March 20, but Georgia Governor Brian Kemp issued a statewide shelter-in-place executive order which supersedes all local orders relating to coronavirus and also opened up the state's beaches.

Photos show bikini-clad beachgoers standing at an open food or beverage window on a hot Saturday on Tybee Beach.

Over in New York, beaches remain closed by order of the governor Saturday, but that didn't stop New Yorkers from taking walks, fishing and surfing.

Some people were seen with their dogs, while many people wore protective masks and appeared to keep a safe six-foot distance.

Independently run Long Beach has closed its boardwalk to pedestrians but has maintained open beaches and on Saturday locals could be seen bundled up in jackets taking a stroll on the sand.

New York City, which has been the hardest hit city in America from COVID-19, is starting to see a slowdown in hospital visits and a lowering of the daily death rate from the virus.

Californians continued to ignore Governor Gavin Newsom's pleas to stay home after flocking to the beaches Friday and Saturday, prompting Newsom on Friday to plead for social distancing during the continued heat wave this weekend.

Newsom tweeted Friday: 'It's going to be nice outside this weekend. You might be feeling cooped up. Ready for life to go back to 'normal.' But can't stress this enough: CA can only keep flattening the curve if we stay home and practice physical distancing. You have the power to literally save lives.'

People can be seen on Coney Island wearing protective masks as they walk on the beach

New York City, which has been the hardest hit city in America from COVID-19, is starting to see a slowdown in hospital visits and a lowering of the daily death rate from the virus.

A family and their dog enjoy the beach in New York in the early morning hours Saturday

Thousands of people in Huntington Beach seemingly ignore social distancing guidelines during the coronavirus outbreak

Huntington Beach, California Officer Angela Bennett told ABC7 : 'We're trying to ask people to maybe put themselves in our residents' position and think about the fact that our residents also have limited parking'

California has been under a mandatory stay-at-home order since March 19.

Pictures taken in Huntington Beach, an Orange County city, on Friday show crowds gathering to enjoy as the state roasted in a spring heat wave. Dozens of locations reached 90 degrees Fahrenheit or higher well before noon, the National Weather Service said, and officials are bracing for even larger crowds this weekend.

Families on Cocoa Beach in Florida were seen this week laying 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.

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 foreseeable future.

However, in Jacksonville, 200 miles to the north of Cocoa Beach, beaches were reopened last Friday.
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., April 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- NEP Services, Inc. has launched crowdfunding web pages for Riverside Deputy Sheriffs Terrell Young and David Werkman following their passing from complications due to the COVID-19 virus. In coordination with the Riverside Sheriffs' Association, NEP Services helped launch these sites to provide safe and secure crowd fundraising. To maximize their benefit, 100% of all proceeds raised will go towards their intended causes.

People can donate here to support the families of the fallen.

Deputies Terrell Young (left) and David Werkman (right) recently passed due to the COVID-19 virus.

"Our company has been dedicated to supporting the brave men and women of the first responder community since our inception. By making these secure fundraising pages available, our mission is to provide a vehicle to assist these wonderful people and their families in their greatest times of need. It's simply the right thing to do," says Drew Howitt, CEO of NEP Services, Inc. "Right now, they are on the front lines fighting this COVID-19 curse for all of us. We will do whatever we can to support them, their families, and their organizations."

Bill Young, President of the Riverside Sheriffs' Association, concurs. "The NEP Services team really stepped up to the plate for us. We were dealing with the passing of two of our deputies due to the COVID-19 virus and needed to rapidly respond to the needs of their families. NEP Services promptly and effectively got the Help-A-Hero fundraising pages up within a few hours. In these difficult times, I highly recommend NEP Services."

Both NEP Services and the Riverside Sheriffs Association encourage all news outlets to prominently post these fundraising pages. Further, they ask that all citizens and businesses show their support in giving their tax-deductible donations to provide relief for the families of these fallen deputies.

About the Company:

NEP Services, Inc is a service provider based in Newport Beach, California. For over 20 years, NEP Services has been dedicated to providing support for first responder organizations across the country and abroad. Recently, the company has opened up its products and services to commercial and government entities as well.

Primary areas of focus include:

Secure SMS Communication Systems

Direct and Digital Marketing

Websites and Event Apps

Direct Mail and Digital Fundraising

Membership Management

Political Advocacy

For any inquiries, reach NEP Services by phone 888-367-1637 or on the NEP Services contact page.

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Fallen Riverside Deputies

Deputies Terrell Young (left) and David Werkman (right) recently passed due to the COVID-19 virus.

SOURCE NEP Services, Inc.
Billionaire Kerry Stokes and his wife Christine Simpson Stokes have made a surprise visit to Canberra to commemorate Anzac Day at the Australian War Memorial after the WA government granted them exemptions from hotel quarantine on medical grounds.

The couple finished their 14-day self-isolation at their riverside Perth mansion on Wednesday after returning from the United States by private jet on April 8.

Chair of the Australian War Memorial Kerry Stokes and Christine Simpson Stokes lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Australian Soldier in Canberra on Saturday morning. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Mr and Mrs Stokes flew to Canberra on Friday and will travel on to Sydney despite Western Australia's strict "hard border" closures that mean they will not be able to return to the state without the government granting more exemptions to its travel rules.

The pair attended the Anzac Day service where they laid a wreath along with Governor General David Hurley and Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
March is usually an important month for Alexandra Gerasimovas business, Fitmost, which offers subscription fitness classes across Russia. People want to shape up after the long winter, and revenue from that month helps to cover the income loss during the quieter seasons of spring and summer.

But by mid-March, after weeks of slowing business, her company shut down fully as millions of Russians confined themselves to their homes in a lockdown against the coronavirus. With revenue already down by 90%, Gerisamova says her only goal is to survive. To avoid cutting any of her 30 employees, she decreased salaries across the board.

Unlike the U.S. and countries in Europe, Russia has so far offered only limited support to businesses that have been forced to shut. Garisamova, whose company is one of many ineligible for state aid, has no idea how theyll keep going. If nothing changes in 3 months, I dont know how business will get going again, she says.

Coronavirus crept up slowly on Russia and its impact is still far behind many countries in Europe, much less the U.S. The first locally transmitted infections  cases not brought in by Russians returning from abroad  were confirmed on 15 March. Since then, the numbers have spiralled upwards reaching 68,622 cases and 615 deaths as of April 24. Most of these are concentrated in Moscow  the countrys main economic and transport hub  but all of Russias 84 other regions are affected. Moscows Mayor said on April 10 that the city was far from reaching its peak, and was merely in the foothills.

But the economic fallout is already well under way. Small and medium-sized businesses in Russia have pleaded for help and have warned of mass bankruptcies in petitions to the government, including one launched on March 24 with more than 300,000 signatures. Anger over job losses and a lack of clear information saw 2,000 people protest in the southern city of Vladikavkaz on April 20, resulting in riot police violently dispersing the crowd and detaining dozens of people, according to local media.

Story continues

Yet Russias leader has seemingly taken a back seat while the crisis worsens. President Vladimir Putin made just four public addresses about coronavirus, before retreating to his country residence outside the capital, leaving the Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin and Prime Minister Mishustin  a little known figure before his surprise appointment in January  to take the lead.

Putin was not prepared when the epidemic hit, says Nikolai Petrov, a Senior Research Fellow at London think tank, Chatham House. Thats why hes hardly visible now, he says. Putin has left Sobyanin and Mishustin to call the difficult shots so that if and when the epidemic gets worse, they can take the flack, says Ben Noble, a Russian politics lecturer at University College London. Its a familiar Putin playbook move that weve seen before. He doesnt want to be in leadership when he thinks it can backfire on him.

So far Sobyanin has been the face of government efforts to stem the diseases spread. In Moscow, he has introduced controversial and draconian lockdown measures, even introducing restrictions on how far residents can go outside to walk their dogs. Mishustin has been responsible for applying them to the rest of the country.

But their efforts came too late, according to Anastasia Vasilieva, the head of Russias Alliance of Doctors. The virus has spread further than the official numbers suggest, she claims. In January 2020, pneumonia cases in Moscow surged 37 % year-on-year, an increase which Vasilieva believes to have been caused by coronavirus.

The situation is bad and its hidden, says Vasilieva, an ally of the opposition leader and fierce Putin critic Alexei Navalny. Hospital beds are full of patients with pneumonia, who arent being tested for the virus.

On April 2, Vasilieva was detained by the police while delivering protective gear to a hospital outside of Moscow, accused of violating self-isolation rules. They were trying to frighten me, they said its a bad thing for everyone if I criticise Russias situation, she says.

But the state of Russias situation increasingly is becoming plain to see. The collapse in oil and natural gas prices threatens living standards, as the energy sector makes up two-thirds of the countrys exports. Experts are now predicting the worst recession in a generation, with a rise in the unemployment rate to 15% that could leave as many as eight million people without a job.

The looming economic collapse spells bad news for Russias leader. His approval ratings have been largely tied to Russias economic fortunes, says Noble, noting that his numbers fell significantly in 2018 after he hiked the pension age. The Russian presidents approval ratings already dropped from 69% in February to 63% in March, near where they stood before Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, an event that sent his popularity soaring to 85%, according to the independent polling agency, the Levada Centre.

The government has not entirely ignored the economic situation. Putin introduced an economic stimulus plan for businesses on April 15, including interest free loans and payments of 12,130 rubles ($160) per employee in April and May. But its not nearly enough to save the economy, according to Alexei Kudrin, head of Russias Audit Chamber. Kudrin told Russias RBC news site on April 8 that the government needs a package that amounts to 7% of GDP to save the economy  four times the current package  which would be almost as much as Russias cash reserves of $165 billion.

The Kremlin is reluctant to spend more. The general policy has been to hang onto money, says Tatiana Stanovaya, Founder & CEO of political analysis firm R.Politik.

Many businesses are unable to take advantage of the scheme. Gerasimovas company, Fitmost, is excluded on the grounds that it is an IT company, which does not fall within the 12 categories of businesses that can get help. Were one of many companies that are completely alone in this, she says. And most of those that have applied have been refused.

At least 900 companies had applied for a total of $81 million (6 billion rubles) in such loans, but only 1.2% of that amount has been granted as of Friday, Bank of Russia Chairman Elvira Nabiullina said during an April 10 press conference.

The government thinks they can ignore small and medium businesses  which make up an estimated 42% of the economy  because it does not consider them a political force, says Stanovaya. But the majority of people with decent salaries in the middle class have supported Putin because they want stability. They are the social base of Putins regime in some way. After this lockdown, the Kremlin could face a lot of resentment, she adds.

Now, the dire economic situation threatens Putins plan to remain in power beyond the end of his current term in 2024. Since January, parliament has been working on a package of amendments that, among other changes, would allow Putin to run for two more terms as president. He signed off on the amendments on March 14 but a nationwide public vote that was due to take place on April 22 has been postponed. Its difficult to see how Putin can easily get the result in the vote on the constitutional reform he needs if the current economic climate continues with the price of oil remaining low, Noble says.

Putins lackluster response so far has zeroed his political capital, says Petrov, of the Chatham house think tank. No more he can count on  what many Russians see as  achievements like the annexation of Crimea. He needs to prove hes effective in power now. But hes completely out of touch.
Pope Francis has singled out funeral home workers for people's prayers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In Italy and some other countries, the deaths of people with coronavirus infections have meant funeral parlor workers must deal with the grief of families who aren't allowed to hold public funerals as part of government-ordered measures to try to contain the pandemic.

Francis says, What they do is so heavy and sad. They really feel the pain of this pandemic so close. The pope made the appeal for prayers during his early morning Mass on Saturday in the Vatican City hotel where he resides.

In past remarks, the pope has cited others for doing what he called heroic work during the pandemic, including doctors, nurses, supermarket clerks and transport workers.

The Vatican has its own lockdown, barring the public from its museums and religious ceremonies. It has reported nine coronavirus cases among the residents or employees of the walled, independent Vatican City State.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Week In Russia: How COVID-19 Is Changing The Landscape

By Steve Gutterman April 24, 2020

One of the questions people living in lockdown around the world are asking is this: Will anything ever be the same again?

For Russian President Vladimir Putin, the answer is no, some analysts and observers say.

Whether Russia suffers less loss of life and economic pain from the coronavirus pandemic than other countries or more, they suggest that Putin and his government are facing a blow that will permanently bruise their standing with the people.

"One more victim of the coronavirus," was how the headline of a blog post by journalist and commentator Oleg Kashin put it. "The relationship between he authorities and society will never be what it was before."

Kashin starts with a reference to a big setback to Putin's image-making: the postponement of the Red Square military parade marking the 75th anniversary of Nazi Germany's defeat in World War II. It was to be the centerpiece of celebrations on Victory Day, May 9, but Putin -- conceding a key battle to COVID-19 -- announced on April 16 that it will be held on an unspecified date later this year.

Kashin suggested October 16 would be fitting. That was the day in 1941, he wrote, when the evacuation of the Soviet government to Kuibyshev -- a city 850 kilometers southeast of Moscow that is now called Samara again -- in the face of the German advance generated "rumors of Stalin's flight and the surrender of the city" and resulted in "what would be most accurately called the disappearance of Soviet power."

Soviet power returned, not to disappear for good until 50 years later, and the Nazis were defeated. "But that day in history -- it remains, it happened," he wrote -- it cannot be erased or unseen.

The point, or one of them, seems to be that an entire narrative -- a carefully structured, well-protected plotline of a movie, for example -- can be undermined by a single substantial misstep. And that members of the audience will have an unalterably different perspective as they walk out of the theater into the light, or into the night.

Putin's story may never be the same again, but it is far from over, of course. Kashin acknowledges that, over more than 20 years in power as president or prime minister, Putin has repeatedly recovered after slipping up badly in the past -- starting, perhaps, with the sinking of the nuclear submarine Kursk in August 2000, which killed all 118 seamen aboard, three months after he first took office.

No Trains To This Vidyayevo

After the Kursk sank in the Barents Sea off Russia's northern coast, foreign assistance in efforts to save any survivors were initially rejected while Putin lingered in subtropical Sochi and waited 10 days to make the trip to meet with relatives in Vidyayevo, where the submarine was based and where he faced widows and other relatives whose grief was sharpened by anger at his perceived indifference and inaction.

"True, this is not [Putin's] first moment of the highest bewilderment in these 20 years, but in the previous cases everything happened almost instantly: He was bewildered, and then he was in Vidyayevo," Kashin wrote of the Kremlin response to the coronavirus. "But planes don't fly to this Vidyayevo, and trains don't go there."

In other words: The COVID-19 crisis may be less susceptible to damage-control than many of the disasters of the past that have put pressure on Putin. And that means he may lack the tools to repair what some analysts say is already a severe hit to his reputation.

He is more accustomed to show than to substance, critics charge. And the big show on Victory Day was supposed to have followed an April 22 vote designed to put a stamp of popular approval on constitutional amendments that would enable him to seek to serve two more six-year terms after the current one expires in 2024.

"Putin had big plans for the spring" but the coronavirus "changed everything," Steven Pifer wrote in a summarizing tweet. "Instead of a referendum to affirm changes to #Russia's constitution that would allow him to remain president to 2036 & big VE Day celebration, he faces a health & economic crisis."

No Saint

So, possibly more than ever before, the future reputation of a leader often described as cultivating an action-man image depends more on action than image.

"The mounting political costs of COVID-19 for the Kremlin are beginning to reveal that its use of dramaturgy, patronage, and coercion to sanctify Putin's right to rule is decreasingly effective," the Center for European Policy Analysis wrote in a tweet describing an article by senior fellow Brian Whitmore headlined The Desanctification Of Putin.

Whether Putin is fully aware of the challenge is in doubt, according to critics and observers.

When he first seemed to acknowledge that COVID-19 posed a threat to Russia, after initially playing it down, Putin warned that the country -- the governors and the governed -- must not rely on luck to see it through the crisis.

But even as confirmed new cases rose by several thousand daily -- amid persistent suspicions that the official numbers are a substantial undercount -- Putin said in a fireside message to the country on Orthodox Easter on April 19 that the situation is "under complete control."

Four days later Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, who heads a state "task force" appointed to combat COVID-19, warned that the outbreak in Russia had not yet reached a "plateau" or a peak. "We are not even halfway down the road to victory over the coronavirus," he said.

In a video posted on social media, the chief doctor at a Moscow hospital said that its emergency room was "under pressure. There's lots of patients, more & more each day," many of them aged around 40 and in bad condition.

Protests, both virtual and real, have erupted over lockdowns that have cost many people their livelihoods, at least temporarily.

'Operating Normally'

Yekaterina Schulmann, a Moscow-based political scientist and critic of the president, said that Putin's government may face more serious tests once the COVID-19 crisis appears to be abating, lockdowns are loosened, and Russians start to take stock of the longer-term economic damage they are confronted with.

At that point she suggested, anger and potential protests will be about "poverty" rather than movement restrictions.

The government thinks "that people have cushions and can cope with having no income for one or two months," Sergei Guriev, a prominent Russian economist who is a professor of economics at the Paris Institute Of Political Studies, told The Financial Times newspaper.

He was quoted in an article which pointed out that, while "Russia has a $165 billion cushion of savings built from its oil and gas wealth, the Kremlin has been reluctant to spend it."

That may be at least in part because it's unclear when world prices for oil, Russia's most lucrative export commodity, may recover from a collapse that Moscow helped precipitate when it rejected a Saudi Arabian proposal to cut production along with other countries.

"You really need a disaster to wake Putin up," Guriev said. "He seems to be operating normally, and that's scary."

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/week-in-russia-covid-19- changing-landscape/30574842.html

Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Key workers could be missing out on coronavirus tests because no checks are being made on who is entitled to claim for them.

Some 5,000 home kits and 19,000 drive-through tests were expected to be made available on Saturday - with key workers asked to fill out an online application form as the government races to hit its 100,000-a-day testing target by next Thursday.

Many were trying to secure a test for the second time after the government's new website had to close hours after launching on Friday as 46,000 people tried to access it.

But within twenty minutes of the website launching this morning, home test kits were no longer available and applicants could only select a drive-through test.

And within an hour drive-through tests in England had also completely booked up.

Ten million key workers and their households are now eligible for the tests.

But the government was yesterday forced to admit that no checks will be made on whether those requesting coronavirus tests are genuinely essential workers.

People line up in their cars at a drive through testing centre in the car park of Chessington World of Adventures in Surrey today

Home kits and regional tests were available on the government website on the government website at 8.10am today. But within twenty minutes of the website launching home testing kits were no longer available. And within an hour drive-through tests in England had also completely booked up

One man who successfully applied for a drive-in test minutes after the scheme opened told the Guardian 'any Tom, Dick or Harry' can get a test.

Number 10 said the Government is trusting that those applying for tests are key workers, with no eligibility checks in place for online bookings.

The official spokesman said: 'As with many other aspects of the coronavirus response, we would expect the public to respond in good faith.

'That is what they have done with other aspects of the scheme, I think we'd expect it to be the same here.'

Despite tests booking up so quickly, Dr Simon Eccles, chief clinical information officer at NHS Digital, said the website had been 'improved' before it re-opened on Saturday - adding that an 'amazing team' had worked 'all night' on it.

Poundstretcher property manager Natalie Orton-Rose was turned away after she arrived at the drive-through centre

'Home kits all booked by 8:15! I know it's frustrating but we're developing more lab, supply and logistics capacity every day,' he said on Twitter.

'If we'd waited until we had the full 100k, to launch, no one would have had a test today. More home kits again tomorrow, even more next week.'

Asked whether the Government was confident people would be able to test themselves accurately with a kit sent to their homes, the spokesman added: 'There are videos available to show people how to do this and people will be given clear instructions.'

Under the scheme, test results from the drive-through sites will be sent out by text within 48 hours, and within 72 hours of collection of the home delivery tests.

Frustrated key workers also struggled to secure one of the kits yesterday. Within two minutes of the website going live at 6am on Friday, all 5,000 tests for people to do at home had been booked.

Meanwhile, more than 15,000 appointments for tests at drive-through centres were also taken quickly, forcing the Department of Health to apologise on Twitter 'for any inconvenience' and close applications.

A medical worker sprays hand sanitiser on an essential worker at a drive-in testing facility for coronavirus, in east London today

Among those able to book a test on Friday was Poundstretcher property manager Natalie Orton-Rose, from Leicester.

But she revealed she was turned away after she arrived at the drive-through centre.

She told the BBC: 'I drove an hour from my home in Leicester [to the test centre in Nottingham] and sat waiting for half an hour in the queue only to be told actually they had no more tests left,' she said.

'I am absolutely disgusted. It is bad enough that my closest test centre is an hour away but then to waste my time and fuel.'

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps apologised after the new government website was closed due to 'significant demand'.

Mr Shapps yesterday told the daily Downing Street coronavirus press conference that reports the website had crashed were not accurate and it was 'simply that the slots for today were taken up'.

He insisted the government is confident every key worker who needs a test will soon be able to access one as ministers strive to hit a 100,000 daily tests target by the end of April.

'We know what the capacity is, we don't quite know how many people would want to be tested because many people working for the NHS for example will have already accessed those tests through their work places,' he said.

Traffic queueing to enter a temporary COVID-19 testing facility at IKEA in Wembley, north London

Key workers vented their frustration on Twitter about a lack of tests this morning (above and below)

Mr Shapps said things will soon 'settle down' after '46,000 people went to the portal first thing today'.

'There are some more slots opening up right now as I am speaking and there will be more slots tomorrow and in the days after,' he added.

How do you arrange a coronavirus test? ARRANGING YOUR OWN Essential workers who are self-isolating can book a test directly here. You can select a regional test site drive-through appointment or home test kit. The Department of Health said home test kit availability will initially be limited but more will become available. However, it said there is good availability of regional test sites. Those who face problems on the website can call the service desk on 0300 303 2713, from 8am to 8pm. BEING REFERRED FOR ONE Another way essential workers can get tested is by being referred by their employer through a new portal, if they are already self-isolating. It is a secure portal for employers to use to upload the full list of names and contact details of self-isolating essential workers. If referred, essential workers will get a text message with a unique code to book a test for themselves or family members at a regional testing site. Advertisement

He also stressed the test was only suitable for those who think they currently have coronavirus, not those who think they've previously had it.

Ministers say that UK testing capacity is currently at 51,000 a day - including tests within the NHS and care homes - and they are hoping to be able to provide 18,000 home test kits by the end of April.

No 10 said 5,000 home kits - the total on offer - were ordered online this morning. Ministers expected another 15,000 tests to take place at drive-through sites today.

Under the scheme, test results from the drive-through sites will be sent out by text within 48 hours, and within 72 hours of collection of the home delivery tests.

Separately, key workers who are self-isolating can also now get tested by being referred by their employer through a new portal, which went live at midnight.

The PM's spokesman said: 'Within two minutes of the portal opening this morning, 5,000 testing kits had been ordered. And that's the available capacity for today.'

Number 10 also said the Government is trusting that those applying for tests are key workers, with no eligibility checks in place for online bookings.

The spokesman said: 'As with many other aspects of the coronavirus response, we would expect the public to respond in good faith.

'That is what they have done with other aspects of the scheme, I think we'd expect it to be the same here.'

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps revealed that some 46,000 people had tried to book a coronavirus test yesterday morning

On testing for other groups, they added: 'We want the capacity that we have in the system to be used and you can see this morning that the system is working, people are booking slots and now they are going to be able to undergo tests.'

Asked whether the Government was confident people would be able to test themselves accurately with a kit sent to their homes, the spokesman added: 'There are videos available to show people how to do this and people will be given clear instructions. We would hope they would be able to do this, yes.'

Timeline of the key worker testing website's launch on Friday YESTERDAY 8am : New online system for booking coronavirus tests for key workers goes live

: New online system for booking coronavirus tests for key workers goes live 8.02am : 5,000 home test kits are all taken up

: 5,000 home test kits are all taken up 8.30am : Website says it is no longer taking home test kit orders

: Website says it is no longer taking home test kit orders 10am : 19,000 drive-through test appointments are taken up TODAY 8am : Another 5,000 home test kits and 19,000 drive-through test appointements go live

: Another 5,000 home test kits and 19,000 drive-through test appointements go live 8.20am: 5,000 home test kits are all taken up Advertisement

Earlier, some people took to Twitter to complain that the process was 'not simple' or that they could not find a category for their job role, despite Health Secretary Matt Hancock claiming the process was straightforward and 'a bit like booking a flight'.

And some users got an error message saying there is a 'problem with your order', asking them to contact the system's service desk on a freephone number. It comes after the Government revealed coding for the website was only finished yesterday.

A DoH spokesman tweeted at about 11am today: 'There has been significant demand for booking tests today. We apologise for any inconvenience. We are continuing to rapidly increase availability. More tests will be available tomorrow.'

Mr Hancock said that people whose work is critical to the Covid-19 response, and those they live with, will be able to register for a test if they have symptoms.

NHS staff, police officers, teachers, social workers, undertakers, journalists and those who work in supermarkets and food production are among those eligible.

But among those failing to get a test was MailOnline reader Merida, 39, of Glasgow, who said: 'I applied one minute after midnight and never got texted.

'We keep reapplying and get nothing sent to us. My husband is a teacher, I have potentially had Covid and still do after five or six weeks. This is ridiculous.

'We have a three-year-old who cannot go to nursery because of all of this. Wasting hundreds of pounds a month.

'Cannot get Universal Credit due to husband's income, I lost business due to Covid and no help as business is 11 months old. We needed that test.'

She later added at 11am: 'Just got the text and found a slot for tomorrow. Took hours though. Very bizarre.'

The first stage of the coronavirus testing application on the gov.uk website is pictured above

Key workers were asked whether they wanted to visit a regional site or request a home test kit

And mother-of-two Kama Phillips, from Plymouth, Devon, tweeted: 'Tried to book a Covid test as I'm classed as a key worker and can send my children to school as our hardware store has been classed as essential and wasn't allowed to shut.

'When trying to book there's no category for my job role, so which is it? What category should I fall under?'

Meanwhile there were claims that the drive-through testing centre at Chessington World of Adventures in Surrey had lost some test results of NHS staff.

Results were also allegedly sent to the wrong person, with some doctors and nurses raising the alarm when their results never arrived, reported the Guardian.

There were also claims by the newspaper that the test centre could not call through with the diagnosis because it had failed to record correct phone numbers.

The announcement over testing came as researchers at the University of Oxford began human trials for a potential coronavirus vaccine candidate.
It probably wont surprise you to hear that state-backed hacking is still going on during the COVID-19 pandemic, but the US is reportedly convinced that one country is mounting a large campaign. Officials speaking to CNN claim theyve seen a surge of cyberattacks against American government agencies and pharmaceutical firms, and theyre pinning the campaign on China. The country is believed to be trying to steal COVID-19 research to aid development of treatments or vaccines.

While attacks have hit a string of healthcare providers and pharmaceutical companies, the Department of Health and Human Services (which manages the CDC) has seen a surge of daily strikes, according to CNN.

China hasnt responded to the accusations so far, and its notable that other countries have been accused of exploiting the new coronavirus. Reuters, for instance, asserted that Iranian hackers had tried to compromise email accounts for WHO workers. Russia and North Korea are also on the short list of potential candidates.

Still, a Chinese campaign would be consistent with past reports. China has reportedly backed a disinformation campaign to cause chaos around the virus, for instance. Officials have also blamed healthcare-oriented hacks on China in the past. Whether or not China is responsible for a new wave of attacks, its history isnt exactly helping its case.
A Kia truck conveying mining equipment with registration number AS 9946-14 crashed a twenty-year-old young man to death around Bonokrom junction in the Aowin Municipality of the Western North Region.



The deceased, Kofi Adobia was riding an unregistered Haojin motorbike with Prince Ansah as the pillion rider when the accident happened on Monday at about 1830 hours.



Ansah, 18, who sustained various degrees of injury was quickly transported to the Enchi Government Hospital where he is currently on admission and receiving treatment.



The body of the deceased, which was deposited at the same facility morgue, has been released to the family for burial after a postmortem.



Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Henry Bacho, Divisional Commander of Enchi who confirmed the story to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), said on April 20, 2020, the police had information that the deceased and the pillion rider were riding from Kwahu towards Enchi.



He said when they reached Bonokrom junction between Samreboi and Bonokese interchange, the Kia truck which was driven by Kwame Nzuwa, 43, bumped the two which resulted in the death of Adobia while Ansah survived with injuries.



ACP Bacho said the suspected driver fled from the accident scene but was apprehended the following day by the police at Asankragua and has been granted bail to assist investigations.



According to the Divisional Commander, the father of the deceased later went to the Enchi police station and identified the victim as his son.

Source: GNA









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On July 4th 1776, 56 men signed the Declaration of Independence. 56 men who felt our rights as human beings were far more important than their own lives. By signing their names, these men were pleading guilty to treason, against a tyrant king 6,000 miles away. These men didnt do this standing behind the greatest army in the world. They did it facing that army. Each man knowing, odds were, every man on that list would hang. 6,800 men did die for those rights, and hundreds of thousands have died for them since.

Amazingly enough, the rights these men bled for have been given up, virtually without protest. In the time of less than a month, the First Amendment has been directly or indirectly disobeyed in the name of safety, following a virus known as COVID-19. This generation of Americans has proclaimed that in fact their lives are more important than our rights.

Are we so self-indulgent that we would rather wake up in Soviet Russia than not wake up at all? We would rather further indebt our children, professing we deserve stimulus more than they deserve the American Dream? This concept may sound outlandish, but what our leaders have done regarding our rights as Americans, in just one month without accountability, proves we have no idea what they could do with an entire year. If it can be done now, it can be easily repeated, only this time to take guns, civil rights or private property.

Governors, mayors, sheriffs and senators are pushing shelter-in-place ordinances punishable by law. The Constitution says we have the right to peaceably assemble. Yet people can be fined for not social distancing. The Constitution says no law shall be made respecting any house of religion. Yet churches are being shut down for holding services. As even the Kentucky governor indirectly threatens, some will be shut down indefinitely. When did these peoples word become law? When did checks and balances become extinguished? Is this the regulation without representation, we have been warned about?

If even the slightest notion of outlawing abortions is mentioned, thousands of angry protesters rush the street.

When the rights we were born with are taken away, not a peep is heard. Thousands of people believe that killing our children is more worthy a cause to get out of bed for, than protecting our rights to be free Americans? 22,000 deaths have been reported in the U.S from COVID-19. The number of abortions, according to guttmacher.org, is well over 16,500 a week, a sad reality of how far we have fallen.

Many of these governors are setting wild, unlawful precedents that are later to be followed by other states. If not followed, states are subject to ruthless media backlash, as they rush to put the blood on the hands of the one who disobeyed.

States must follow federal guidelines or be punished with a lack of funds. Imagine our Founding Fathers seeing states rights being in place but subject to such extortion.

Too many people have died to protect our liberties. What gives us the right to throw them out the moment times get tough? Experts have destroyed our economy with false claims and insane math. Lives have been ruined by their predictions. When will they be held accountable for the destruction of the U.S. economy? How many peoples lives have to be destroyed before we can say that in fact, the cure has become worse than the disease? President Donald Trump declared war on the coronavirus, making this the only war America has every fought hiding under a bed. If our rights as Americans can be nullified in the name of safety, then they in fact were not rights at all, but privileges.

Wyoming has long been known as the state which implements these radical ideals very last. Many people are proud to be Wyomingites for this very reason. It is too bad we have to settle for being proud to be the last to forfeit our rights, instead of being proud to be the only ones who never did. Precautions must be taken to help control a deadly outbreak such as this. Im not insensitive or naive, people are dying. I encourage all people to act responsibly in such times. I have faith that most Americans and especially Wyomingites are responsible and intelligent enough to do so. Lets make Wyoming the first state to head back in the right direction, not be last state to head in the wrong one.

Theron Hageman is a rancher near Jay Em, Wyoming.

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Detective Tae-Eul's curiosity about King Gon is getting deeper. She accompanied him to the forest as she wants proof to believe the stories that he has been telling her since day one.

King Gon realized then as they went to the bamboo forest that he had no flute music and thunder lightning that open the parallel world. Something is missing as well, in which two large stones should appear. They decided to head back since nothing came up as what King Gon explained.

Detective Shin Jae waited for Tae-Eul while a flashback of the past appeared where he started to learn taekwondo with Tae-Eul's father. He went to greet Maximus and saw a familiar logo carved in steel similar to his notes.

The Kingdom of Corea

Court lady Ok-Nam hired a new press officer Myung Seung-ah to help release better articles for the palace and his Majesty. Prime Minister Goo Seu requested the cabinet officials to approve and increase the wages. That would help shorten the gap between high class and middle-class people.

The citizens are already asking for the King's absence in the palace. Court lady Ok-Nam is worried about how they can hide the issue. Myung Seung-ah's idea is to mislead and create another topic that will make the citizens hooked. She used a Jo Yeong picture with the King for a press release. They still don't know King Gon's whereabouts as Jo Yeong failed to locate him.

The Republic of Korea

The Crime department hired a new officer to help them with their operations. The first project the newbie assigned is to help Tae-Eul and Sin-Jae search for the weapon used by the suspect in a case they handled. The forensic team advised Tae-Eul that there have been no records in the database for King Gon based on his DNA test. Maximus breed is from the Spanish descendants not available at present. Tae-Eul tried once again to ask King Gon for any information about him. King Gon shared an explanation about the parallel world.

Later at night, the lightning strikes, and King Gon suddenly felt pain in his right shoulder. It connects with the supernatural world. Someone opened the portal to the next world.

The Kingdom of Corea

Previously, King Gon was convinced that the body they found at the lake was used as Lee Lim's fake identity and he is still alive.

Lee Rim is back in the Kingdom of Corea, walking towards the city. He went to the bookstore to find secret tips about updates of the palace. He went to meet his armed guards.

The Republic of Korea

Tae-Eul's car broke up on her way to work. She called his father's number and King Gon answered the call. He asked her to wait and he will be there to help fix it. He meets Tae-Eul at the park, as they talk - time stands still - King Gon looks around and finds something is not right. Time turns back and to her surprise, King Gon is standing near her. King Gon tries to convince Tae-Eul the earth stops a few seconds but she dismisses his words and walks away.

King Gon uses Tae-Eul's car to visit the bamboo forest, and this time, he brings the cane with the half "Manpashikjeok." As he reaches the center of the bamboo forest, he hears the flute and lightning strikes, King Gon firmly holds the cane. He now understood that the "Manpasshikjeok '' brings power and Lee Rim is using it to his advantage to escape from Corea. The magic flute is the key and the lock to both worlds.

King Gon found Tae-Eul and Shin-Jae in a fight with the gangster, he was good at executing his skills using only his cane. Tae-Eul and Shin-Jae have bruises around their face.

King Gon bids farewell to Tae-Eul and explains he needs to go back to his Kingdom he left behind. Although he felt sad, he would have to leave her, the reason why he stayed long in her world.
A central team sent to West Bengal to help the Mamata Banerjee government contain the spread of Covid-19 has told the Union Home Ministry that it wasnt getting the basic logistics support or information from the state government but had still found gaping holes in its handling of the pandemic.

Click here for full Covid-19 coverage

The Inter-Ministerial Central Team led by a senior IAS officer Apurva Chandra also pointed out that the BSF personnel accompanying the team for its security had been told right at the start of their visit that the central team should not venture out of the guest house without the state polices permission.

The team had landed in Kolkata on March 20 (Monday).

It seems they have been mostly stuck in the BSF guest house and been able to spend barely 6 hours in the field, a senior home ministry official told Hindustan times. Home Minister Amit Shah has been briefed and is reported to be upset at how the central effort to help the states has escalated.

Also Watch: War of words between Mamata govt & Centre over COVID-19 crisis

In the five days that the group of civil servants and health experts have spent in Bengal, Apurva Chandra told the Union home ministry that they had been able to make only two field visits to three hospitals and one quarantine centre. On their way back from their second field visit in Uluberia subdivision of Howrah district, they drove to a containment zone at Salkia.

The central team-led by Apurva Chandra is one of the many groups formed to help seven states fight the Covid-19 battle.

On the day the Centre had tasked Apurva Chandras team to visit Bengal, it had also formed teams to visit Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. On Friday, it formed more teams to travel to Gujarat, Telangana and Tamil Nadu.

Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee had viewed the decision with suspicion soon after the first announcement came, first demanding to know the law under the teams were sent and later questioning the criteria for selecting the states.

Bengal has reported only 571 Covid-19 cases and 18 deaths till Saturday afternoon. But there have been several reports that the state government had been suppressing data about cases by restricting the number of people tested for the Sars-CoV-2 pathogen. Till just about five days ago, the state was testing only 400 people in a day. This figure, according to the central team, has gone up to 900.

But this, a central government official said, wasnt as shocking.

Apurva Chandra told the home ministry that they had not been given a firm number of containment zones that had been formed in the state and there were huge gaps in the only one that they were allowed to visit.

The main task of the local administration in a containment zone where a hard lockdown has been ordered is to carry out surveys and surveillance activity through multidisciplinary teams in containment zones.

Unless this is carried out simultaneously during the period of containment, no effective purpose would be served, Chandra wrote in a letter to the state government on Saturday. This is his fourth letter to the Bengal government, the only mode of communication with the state.

But in Bengal, Chandra wrote, the IMCT had been informed that health professionals are not part of the surveillance team that is looking for possible Covid-19 patients. Chandras team was told that they are likely to join only on Monday.

In his previous letters to West Bengal chief secretary Rajiva Sinha, the team had pointed to anomalies including a waiting period of at least five days for test results of patients in isolation wards; the possibility of dead bodies lying on beds in wards for four hours; and the lack of social distancing at hospitals.

The Bengal government had responded at a media conference, insisting that the team was free to travel and health officials would look into the points made by them.

Chandras latest letter alluded to this response. The stand of the state government on facilitating the visits of the IMCT and ensuring the safety and security of the team members as also providing information and records may be made clear through a written communication rather than through media so that further steps can be taken by the IMCT, he said.

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Shortly after President Donald Trump announced he was banning travel from much of Europe to slow the spread of the coronavirus, an employee at the National Institutes of Health made a frantic phone call to a family in Sweden.

"Can you get on a plane immediately?" Niclas Flysjo recalls hearing on his end.

He and Jessica Lindqvist had been planning to travel to the United States weeks later with their three children, 5-year-old Hampus and 3-year-old twins Isabella and Julia. But when that call came, they knew they had little choice but to start packing.

Their children all have a rare and fatal disease. Getting to NIH's Maryland campus offered them their only hope of slowing its progression.

Before the coronavirus caused a pandemic, before cases even started showing up in China, the three siblings had been picked to be among the first participants in a human gene therapy trial for children with GM1 gangliosidosis, a rare disorder that progressively destroys nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. The trial is the first of its kind, so even the doctors and scientists who have spent 10 years preparing for it can't say yet whether it will be successful, and if it is, what that success will look like for the children who participate.

But the couple knew what would happen if their children didn't participate. When Hampus was first diagnosed at the age of 3, doctors told his parents he might not live past his 7th birthday.

"They told us it's a cruel disease for those around him, but he will develop dementia, so he won't know he's sick," Flysjo says. "They told us to just go home and love your kids and try to make beautiful memories."

Months later, the couple's daughters, who were 2 at the time, received the same diagnosis.

"It was as if everything had been taken from us," Flysjo says.

"Since the diagnosis, you grieve all the time," Lindqvist says. "We are grieving all the time."

The couple tell me this over FaceTime on a recent afternoon. A small pink teepee stands in a corner behind them, and a coloring book sits in front of them. Their children are napping.

I asked them to share their story with me, so I could share it with you, because what has happened to the family since that phone call is a testament to parental instincts, the country's scientific capabilities and the hurdle-jumping power of a last hope. Theirs is not just a story of survival. It is a story of survival amid a pandemic.

Right now, at a time when we are all questioning the strength of our immune systems, all three of their children are taking immunosuppressant medication that has weakened their defenses against the coronavirus. It is a situation that is as nerve-racking as it sounds. It is also not the most stressful one the family has faced lately.

To get into the trial, Flysjo and Lindqvist knew they would have to be among the first to apply when the posting went live on a website. They worried that might happen while they were sleeping, or away from a computer. It happened while Flysjo was at work, walking to the restroom. He says he rushed back to his desk and called the number listed. No one answered, so he started sending emails, and then he began calling again.

The three siblings are among seven children who were accepted into the first phase of the trial. Those children will be the first humans to receive the gene therapy, which has previously proved successful in cats.

"I know it's a trial and it's not certain to work, but I've read through all the research and it's promising," Flysjo says. "It's the only thing we can do for them regarding this disease."

"We've done everything we can." Lindqvist says.

But before their children could receive that gene therapy, the couple had to get them to Maryland, and they had to do that in the narrow two-day window between when Trump announced he was implementing the ban to when it went into effect.

After the phone call, Flysjo says the family made plans to take a train to Denmark and fly directly to a Washington-area airport. But, he says, hurricane conditions caused the train to stop running.

The family then got tickets flying out of Frankfurt the next day, but just hours before they were supposed to leave, they learned that flight path was no longer a possibility.

"You have to find a new way out," Flysjo recalls being told by the person at the NIH who was trying to help the family.

The couple found a flight from London to New York and booked it. The plane was crowded and several passengers coughed from takeoff to landing. But the plane left and arrived on time.

The family got to the airport around 9 p.m. The ban went into effect at midnight.

To get from New York to Maryland, they decided to rent a car. Flysjo says they struggled to find one. They then spent an hour packing their suitcases and crying children into one car, only to learn as they were driving out of the garage that it was due for maintenance. They ended up renting the only other vehicle that was available and could fit three car seats and their luggage: a shuttle van.

Flysjo was driving that van when he pulled into the parking lot of the Children's Inn at NIH. The nonprofit, which is located on NIH's Bethesda campus, provides free housing, food and much-needed distractions to families while they participate in clinical trials and studies.

Once in Maryland, the family spent two weeks in isolation as a precaution. The children were then tested twice for the coronavirus before being given the immunosuppressant drugs, which are needed to make their bodies more receptive to the gene therapy.

On Monday, they will get their fourth dose of the drugs.

On Tuesday, they will receive the gene therapy.

"We call it a birthday," says Cynthia Tifft, a geneticist at NIH's National Human Genome Research Institute.

On that day, signs are decorated and cakes are cut. It is a celebratory atmosphere, because even if it's too early to know the result of the trial, there is reason to revel.

The trial offers the families their first chance to do anything about the disease. For the past decade, Tifft has been part of a team that has followed the progression of the disorder in 25 children who participated in a natural history study, knowing they likely wouldn't get accepted into the gene therapy trial. A requirement of the trial is that a child's condition not be so far deteriorated that progress can't be measured.

One child who was accepted into the trial has an older sibling who didn't qualify for that reason, Tifft says. She describes it as just one of the many difficult decisions that have been made. When the application process opened, she says, they heard from families in South Korea, Australia, China, the Philippines and all across Europe.

I ask Tifft what success would look like for the children who participate, and she says it is too early in the process to know.

"Success can be they are completely cured and they are normal 25-year-olds who go to college and get professional degrees," she says. "That's probably unlikely, but to be honest, we don't know. Now, they are on this downhill trajectory. They could not get any worse. They could get a little better, but not a lot better. They could just get worse more slowly."

Already there are indications, she says, that the first child who received it is "gaining skills."

Three children, so far, have received the gene therapy.

Hampus, Isabella and Julia are next in line.

Tifft says now that she has evaluated the siblings, and realizes how long concerns over the coronavirus might last, she feels even more convinced that if the family hadn't made that trip when they did, the children wouldn't have qualified for the study.

The siblings don't say many phrases, but they know the sign for "ice cream" and "cookies." They also love to dance, and they are one another's favorite playmates.

More than losing them, Flysjo says, he has been dreading watching them lose one another.

"What happens when they one by one leave each other?" he says. "What happens when one is left behind?"

"That's the fear," Lindqvist says.

But a moment later, the couple is speaking about the gene therapy trial and possibilities they've never been able to consider before.

All around them, in Maryland and across the country and world, the virus is causing unexpected and excruciating losses. But, at this moment, they are discussing the lives their children might have.

They are talking about their hopes that those children might outlive them.
Upon President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's approval, Mexico could jumpstart the development of the National Virology Center until 2023 to confront epidemics like COVID-19, according to a recent article.

Carlos Arias Ortiz, a researcher from the Biotechnology Institute of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) who is pushing for the establishment of the virology center, this issue "is a matter of national security.

As of this writing, the center is being evaluated for approval of the National Council of Science and Technology, which will be followed by allocation of the budget for its development, Arias Ortiz told the local media.

However, he said that so far, this process is "moving slowly" and he hopes that the council would soon come up with a decision.

The establishment of this center allows 10 to 15 different virology research groups in the country, to address areas such as respiratory viruses (Covid-19 or influenza), gastrointestinal viruses, those transmitted by mosquitoes (dengue, zika), cancer or HIV, said Arias Ortiz.

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"The center could begin in 2023, this if there are resources. Its creation is being considered, hoping that the budgets exist. Of course, there are many priorities and many problems, so, for now, it is being evaluated, I would like it to be so," said Arias Ortiz who is also the recipient of the National Prize of Science and Arts.

As the pandemic hits countries across the world, it is high time that the federal government realizes the relevance of science and, therefore, extends its support. Throughout the years, the budget that Conacyt has for the help of science has been relatively low and insufficient.

National Virology Center will also possibly attract young scientists who have left the country and those who are initially planning to.

Conacyt director Maria Elena Alvarez-Buylla told Mexico's local newspaper also said that it is the time to bet on science. She said the center would serve as an international reference that will generate a technological platform that "allows a rapid response to situations such as the current epidemic in terms of vaccine production, rapid and cheap diagnostic methods, evaluation or development of antivirals."

To do this, we must have a particular structure, plan it and create it not overnight, from one year to the next, but in the medium term to make progress on these technology platforms that can quickly adapt to the problems we face," said Alvarez-Buylla.

She added that once the infrastructure and coordinated groups are established, Mexico would stop putting its national security at risk, because it would stop being "in line to get a possible cure for Covid-19, we could try and get into that scenario. Otherwise, we have to wait for them to be developed first, to be produced massively, and then to be distributed among the countries, then it depends on its turn."
Delhi Gymkhana Club (Image: Delhi Gymkhana)

Ranjit Bhushan

In the national capital, a persons standing in society is often determined by his or her membership of star studded clubs. A membership of Delhi Gymkhana, for instance, is a certain guarantee that the highest honour in the national durbar has been conferred on an individual.

The sprawling lawns, classy lounging bars, the stately restaurants, top class sporting facilities and its resident cottages  all within a stones throw of the Prime Ministers residence, with which it also shares a wall  make it arguably the most prestigious club in India. For the chosen ones, it takes three-decades-and-half, on an average, to get a membership.

Delhi Gymkhana Club (Image: Delhi Gymkhana)

The Delhi Gymkhana is more European than most symbols of New Delhi. Originally called the 'Imperial Delhi Gymkhana Club', it was founded on July 3, 1913, at Coronation Ground, its plan drawn up personally by no less than Sir Edwin Landseer Lutyens as part of his grand design; in other words, an abiding testimony to the Raj.

Spencer Harcourt Butler, the first governor of the then United Provinces of Oudh and Agra (now UP), was its founding president. At Independence in 1947, the word `Imperial was dropped and it came to be known as the Delhi Gymkhana Club.

Delhi Gymkhana Club (Image: Delhi Gymkhana)

Beyond the imperial facade and the old world Victorian charm, however, lurks a malaise that haunts many similar institutions  vicious infighting for membership, gross mismanagement and one that is particular to the capital, jockeying for power.

While disagreements in the management of the Delhi Gymkhana is hardly breaking news, things had never reached the pass it did this week when the central government moved a petition seeking a change of management there and appoint its 15 nominees as administrators to run the affairs of the 27.3-acre Club, situated bang in the middle of the countrys most expensive and prestigious real estate.

The petition was filed by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) in the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), seeking action under Sections 241 and 242 of the Companies Act, which allows a member of a company or the government to seek relief if the affairs of the entity are being run in a manner `prejudicial to public interest or is `oppressive, among other things. The government had used the same provisions of the Companies Act to get the NCLT approval to supersede the board of IL&FS in October 2018.

Incredibly, the central government has cited `parivarvad or nepotism, financial irregularities, misuse of allocated land and issues related to membership, as the primary reasons for it to acquire the Club.

At the heart of the problem lies the issue of the Clubs prestigious memberships. For over a century, the Delhi Gymkhana has followed a thumb rule: 40% of the membership went to civil servants, 40% to the defence services and 20% to `others'. The presidentship changed hands every two years between the civilian and army members. It was an arrangement that worked well. Its list of past presidents includes the names of several former chiefs of army staff (COAS) and a galaxy of Union secretaries, both British and Indian.

Now, suddenly in the last few years, membership in the `others category, which also includes businessmen, has gone up. Old timers say values, once cherished, have given way to money power.

Even more significant, the Delhi Gymkhana started doling out memberships to children of members, thus snuffing out the chances of outsiders  also presumably influential  who wished to apply for membership.

The government petition on April 24 said as much. It is to be noted that these green card holders have been enjoying preference in grant of memberships. They primarily consist of dependents over 21 years of age of permanent members.

Added to this is the fact that of the permanent members, 50% would be reserved for children of present members," while Others would have to wait 30-40 years to become members, while the childrens membership would be fast-tracked to five years by using a special queue. This is parivarwaad, an official stated.

In the mudslinging, the charges are flying fast and thick. The land was allocated to Delhi Gymkhana for sporting activities, a member opposed to the ruling group said, adding, Instead, only 2% of their accounts show earnings from sporting activities, the rest is from alcohol, cigarettes and eatables. The club is being used for all purposes other than sporting activities. It has not produced a single international medal-winning athlete. This is misuse of land for purposes other than what it was allocated for.

Delhi Gymkhana Club (Image: Delhi Gymkhana)

Other than the 5,600 permanent members and the categories mentioned in Delhi Gymkhanas Articles of Association (AoA), the Club has also been granting non-permanent memberships to eminent people, holders of green cards, Non-Resident Indians and women.

Following complaints from members, an investigation was ordered by the MCA. The Clubs president, Lt-Gen DR Soni (retd), was quoted as telling a journalist that ``some people who had applied for membership of the Club and some member filed a complaint with the MCA a few years ago. We have been undergoing investigations by the MCA over the last three years.

Apart from accusations of alleged mismanagement, there are charges of the 107-year-old club accepting `deposits in the form of application fee that was over Rs 1 lakh. The club does not pay any interest on the money during the waiting period, which can stretch from 15 years to 30-35 years.

The preliminary findings had referred to an increase in the application fee for government category from Rs 5,000 in 2000 to Rs 1.5 lakh now. For non-government applicants, the fee has gone up from Rs 5,000 to Rs 7.5 lakh during the same period. The funds collected as application fee was invested in securities and deposits that would fetch returns.

According to the government petition, Delhi Gymkhana was registered under sections 25 and 26 of Companies Act in 1913, making it a `limited company that is formed to promote art, commerce, science, religion, charity or any other useful theme.

It has further alleged a misclassification of features, saying that money collected was not used for the purposes it was meant for. Hence, the Club was violating the terms of the land allotment.

Now that the battle, until recently confined to internal meetings, has broken out in the open, all charges and accusations are fair game. The Clubs lawyers have staved off an immediate government take over for now, but the reprieve could be temporary. On May 13, the Delhi Gymkhana Board will have to get back with its reply, which could lead to another can of worms being opened. Until then, one of the capitals landmarks and one of the last surviving heritages of the Raj could well have a new management and terrible as it may seem, new values as well.

Ranjit Bhushan is an independent journalist and former Nehru Fellow at Jamia Millia University. In a career spanning more than three decades, he has worked with Outlook, The Times of India, The Indian Express, the Press Trust of India, Associated Press, Financial Chronicle, and DNA.
Covid-19 dwarfs us all. But there is also life apart from the great plague - always with its grinding challenges. Much of the planet remains consumed by a pandemic without frontiers. However, adrift in their own world, Britain's Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle are in another very public spat with their demons.

Some of their critics are having a field day. Have the gilded couple little else to do during such days of peril? It is hardly a time to highlight once more tittle tattle from their private lives.

Basically the royal couple want to bring some of the British media to heel, contending they are purveyors of unfounded gossip. In essence, they want the courts to rule on an obviously fraught relationship between Meghan and her father.

Old resentments sprouted a classic pre-wedding family row. Mr Markle did not attend his daughter's nuptials. Since then their relationship has run adrift. He pops up in various media giving vent to a smouldering sense of grievance.

Perhaps his words have been misconstrued along the way. It is all very embarrassing - and no doubt heartbreaking - for his daughter. She is involved in her own hassles. She wants to fashion a more grounded life, away from the unsympathetic glare of international gossip hunters.

Ever since she married into the House of Windsor, her critics have been vocal and without pity. Most cuttingly, she is accused of being an American adventurous in the tradition of the infamous Mrs Simpson, who royal insiders accused of "luring" King Edward VIII from the English throne.

This latest American on the scene is now blamed by some for Prince Harry's decision to cut ties with the royal family for a life abroad. His volte-face in abandoning his royal destiny sent shock waves through the British establishment, ever watchful for collateral damage to the Buckingham Palace brand.

Despite all the resources at their disposal, Meghan and Harry give the impression of two people still battling baggage from their early years. Despite the chasm in their respective circumstances, both suffered family turbulence and trauma. It's a legacy they simply cannot shake off.

Their current foray into the courts is ill-advised. It's a classic case where they might win a battle but lose the war. The couple would have been better advised to continue with their new life in Los Angeles. They should batten down the hatches and just get on with things. The old adage of 'never explain, never complain' would be as good a tactic as any, when the gossip-seekers rustle through their dustbins. They should accept the story of their romance will remain fodder for a glitterati-obsessed world. As for the foibles of their respective families, this is something - as is the case for more ordinary folk - they just have to live with.

Meanwhile, just as the opposing legal eagles were getting their papers ready for the courtroom shootout, Queen Elizabeth marked her 94th birthday. There is a reluctance across the water to raising the most fundamental question of all bedevilling British royalty.

Is it not time this long, long-reigning monarch stepped aside, allowing somebody younger take the helm?

Her husband Prince Philip is now 98.

They must both be perplexed at the challenges posed by Meghan's presence in their family.

It can be argued the queen's age matters little in the greater scheme of things. After all, she was fashioned and formed to ensure above all else the institution survived. She has sailed a steady ship.

From an Irish viewpoint, we can acknowledge she did well by us on her visit here a few years ago.

But her longevity on the throne has kept her son and heir Charles in a no man's land.

He has the demeanour of a lost soul. Now he is an old man, and the whole point of his existence has in a sense been stolen from him by his own mother.

If the queen had moved aside in favour of a younger generation, things might have been different on many fronts.

An American actress of mixed race, battling to plough her own furrow, could have been more at ease in the fusty time-warp corridors weaving through Buckingham Palace.
In the old days, doctors would make house calls; that rarely happens today. However, a new kind of "house call" is in the works: in many cities it's now possible to receive hospital care at home for certain conditions.

Such "home hospital care" programs are gaining in popularity. A randomized controlled Harvard study published online Dec. 17, 2019, by Annals of Internal Medicine suggests that the home hospital model of care is less expensive and leads to fewer readmissions than in-hospital care.

Researchers studied about 90 people who'd been diagnosed in the emergency room with infections or flares of heart failure or breathing problems. Half of the people were admitted to hospitals, and the other half were enrolled in home hospital care. The home hospital care group received visits from doctors and nurses, intravenous medications, and video monitoring. People in the home group had 38% lower hospital costs than those in the hospital group, they were more active during care, and they were readmitted to the hospital within 30 days after their care less frequently (7% vs. 23%) than those in the hospital group. Home hospital care is not appropriate for everyone.

"If someone is too sick or is in need of advanced procedures, their care may be better delivered in a traditional hospital," says Dr. David M. Levine, the study's lead author and an internal medicine specialist with Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women's Hospital.

However, if you have an illness that needs constant monitoring and treatment for several days  in other words, it can't be done in a doctor's office  yet it also doesn't require advanced procedures or constant and intensive nursing care, the home hospital care model may make sense.

"If the home hospital model were offered to a member of my family, I'd encourage them to do it," says Dr. Levine.

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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 Chinas 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.
Instagram has shut down the account of Iranian rapper Tataloo after activists and Instagram users reported him for inappropriate posts asking underage girls to join his 'team' for sex.

In a few recent Instagram stories Turkey-based Amir-Hossein Maqsoudlou (Maghsoudlou) who is better known by his stage name of Tataloo, said he was seeking young girls between the ages of 15 to 20 to join his harem. His Instagram account had more than 4.4 million followers and one of his live posts recently broke the Instagram record of live viewers with more than 640,000 people viewing the post.

Tataloo's explicit songs and social media posts had raised many eyebrows before but this time activists such as Aida Qajar and another Iranian rapper, Soroush Lashkari (known professionally as Hichkas "Nobody") took to social media to ask people to report him to Instagram for inappropriate use of the medium and what appears to be promoting pedophilia. Tataloo's account had once before been shut down by Instagram for inappropriate comments including explicit sexual references and misogynous remarks in October 2019.

Tataloo had been briefly jailed in 2013 for distribution of his banned music to foreign-based satellite channels and for two months in 2016 for insulting a judge during a court hearing.

In July 2015 while nuclear talks were underway between Iran and world powers Tataloo, until then an underground rapper who could never perform in public, released a controversial song in support of Iran's nuclear program.

The tattoo-covered rapper is also known for supporting the hardliner Ayatollah Ebrahim Raeesi, the current Chief Justice of Iran in the 2017 presidential elections against Hassan Rouhani.

Raeesi's campaign was apparently counting on attracting the younger generation by arranging a very odd meeting between the hardliner cleric and a popular rapper, using the photos in the campaign.

After leaving Iran Tataloo attacked Raisi and the slain Commander of the Qods Force General Qassem Soleimani. He called them cowards who had not returned the favors or services that he had offered them and in an Instagram post appeared to be deriding the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

In January Tataloo was arrested by the Turkish immigration police and was feared to be in danger of being deported back to Iran. He was freed a few days later despite Iran pushing for his extradition.
An Oxford University Classics professor arrested for allegedly stealing ancient bible fragments was awarded 434,000 by his college a year after concerns were first raised about his integrity, according to reports.

Dr Dirk Obbink, 63, was arrested by police last month on suspicion of theft and fraud after 13 priceless biblical papyrus fragments were sold to the Museum of the Bible in Washington DC.

The American-born professor, who denies the allegations, was handed a six-figure loan 12 months after a UK charity that archives and translates Greek manuscripts discovered in Egypt expressed concern about his behaviour, reported The Times.

The associate professor in papyrology and Greek literature has been released while police continue their investigation.

Dr Dirk Obbink, 63, (pictured) was arrested by police last month on suspicion of theft and fraud after 13 ancient biblical papyrus fragments were sold to the Museum of the Bible, Washington DC. He denied allegations of wrongdoing

Financial reports, seen by The Times and dated between July 2017 and July 2018, show Dr Obbink entered into the substantial equity-share with Christ Church college in 2018.

The loan is usually put towards helping professors buy homes in the city, but Dr Obbink already had rooms in the college's Tom Quad, as well as a house with a pool in the city's suburbs.

Last year Dr Obbink sold his business group that in 2014 bought a castle in Texas.

On November 12 Thames Valley police received a report that 13 priceless ancient papyrus biblical fragments had been stolen from from the Oxyrhynchus collection at Oxford University.

The Egypt Exploration Society (EES), who own the papyrus fragments, claim they were stolen from the Sackler Library at Oxford University.

Dr Obbink has denied any wrongdoing and said the allegations are a 'malicious attempt' to harm his reputation and damage his career.

The ancient papyrus was originally found during the early 20th Century in the Egyptian city of Oxyrhynchus.

EES director Dr Carl Graves said: 'These are early fragments of the gospels or biblical fragments.

The 13 papyrus bible fragments were stolen from Oxford University's Sackler Library where the Oxyrhynchus collection was kept (stock image)

'They are testament to Egypt's early Christian heritage and are early evidence of biblical scripture. We don't value them monetarily but they are priceless and irreplaceable.'

In a statement on its website in 2019 the EES said: 'The MOTB [Museum of the Bible] has informed the EES that 11 of these pieces came into its care after being sold to Hobby Lobby stores by Prof Obbink, most of them in two batches in 2010.'

He also said that the Museum of the Bible had been cooperative and that all 13 biblical fragments had been returned.

The ancient papyrus fragments were sold to the Museum of the Bible in Washington DC (pictured). They have cooperated and returned all 13 pieces to the Egypt Exploration Society

The museum was established by the billionaire Green family who own the Hobby Lobby chain of crafting stores.

What is papyrus? Papyrus is a plant, rather like a reed, which used to grow in Egypt. In ancient times, the Egyptians used it to make small, light-weight boats, sandals, mats and baskets, as well as a paper-like material for writing on. This writing material is also known as papyrus. Sheets of papyrus were often stuck together to form long rolls (scrolls) for lengthy documents like Books of the Dead. Documents written on papyrus are known as papyri. The oldest example of a roll of papyrus (without writing) dates to about 2985 BC, and the oldest written papyrus document comes from about 2495 BC. Source: The Fitzwilliam Museum Advertisement

Dr Obbink was suspended from Oxford in October, a month before the theft was reported, after an investigation was held into the disappearance of the papyrus fragments.

The fragments, which come from Genesis, Exodus and Deuteronomy, are different sizes, contain different numbers of words and took decades to put together.

Dr Obbink had previously told the Guardian: 'The allegations made against me that I have stolen, removed or sold items owned by the Egypt Exploration Society collection at the University of Oxford are entirely false.

'I would never betray the trust of my colleagues and the values which I have sought to protect and uphold throughout my academic career in the way that has been alleged.

'I am aware that there are documents being used against me which I believe have been fabricated in a malicious attempt to harm my reputation and career.'
Thiruvananthapuram, April 25 : Kerala Congress president Mullapally Ramachandran on Saturday asked Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to first cut down his extravagance, before forcing state government employees to contribute to the CM Covid Relief Fund.

Ramachandran, a former Union Minister said Vijayan's weekly TV programme is a big waste and is costing the exchequer hugely as in a year it costs Rs 6.37 crore and by the end of five years it would be Rs 31.85 crore.

Vijayan's government completes four years next month.

"This programme is nothing but a PR exercise and is being done by the CPI-M backed party TV channel which gets Rs 2.25 lakh per episode. A similar programme was done during the Oommen Chandy's regime and he used only the state-run organisation and aired it on Doordarshan," said Ramachandran.

He pointed out another wasteful expenditure which the state has to bear - the website of Vijayan, maintained by a private agency and it costs a bomb - Rs 4.23 crore, when this could be done by state-run agencies.4 "A helicopter has come and the government is paying Rs 2 crore every month and this should be given back. Then there are five cabinet rank posts, which is costing the state Rs 8.64 crore every year and has eight advisors, where a huge cost is being incurred. All these wasteful expenditures if reduced, will fill up the treasuries and it should be done," said Ramachandran.
Demonstrators clash with police officers during a protest in Jayapura, in Indonesias Papua province, Aug. 29, 2019.

An Indonesian court sentenced six activists to prison on Friday after finding them guilty of treason for participating in a protest last year calling for a self-determination referendum in the restive Papua province.

Surya Anta, Ambrosius Mulait, Charles Kossay, Dano Tabuni, and Arina Elopere were ordered to serve nine months, while Isay Wenda was handed an eight-month prison term during a hearing at the Central Jakarta district court via video link to observe social distancing measures imposed to suppress the COVID-19 pandemic.

The defendants are guilty of treason," Judge Agustinus Setya Wahyu Triwiranto said during the sentencing.

The activists were arrested in August 2019 after taking part in a rally in Jakarta. Prosecutors accused them of demanding a referendum on self-determination for Papua and waving separatist Morning Star flags in front of the presidential palace.

All but one of the activists are native Papuans.

The protest was among many held across the country amid unrest in Papua triggered by perceived ill-treatment of Papuans on Java island.

Barring an appeal by prosecutors, who had sought an 18-month sentence for each of the activists, Isay Wenda could be released next month, while the rest are expected to walk free in June.

But I cant be sure, because it [the release] depends on the prosecutor. If they appeal, it will be different, Tigor Hutape, a lawyer for the activists, told BenarNews.

We have not yet communicated with the defendants, he said. We will decide later whether to appeal or accept the verdict.

More than 40 people were killed in the unrest between August and September 2019 in Papua and West Papua provinces, which make up the Indonesian half of New Guinea island.

Jakarta has blamed the separatist United Liberation Movement of West Papua and the National Committee for West Papua for the uprising that started in mid-August, when thousands joined protests calling for a vote on self-determination.

Police arrested dozens of pro-referendum Papuan activists in the wake of the unrest, which prompted authorities to send thousands of additional police and troops to the region.

Human rights groups have urged President Joko Jokowi Widodos government to release the detainees, whom they described as political prisoners, saying they were at risk of contracting COVID-19 during the pandemic.

On Friday, London-based human rights group TAPOL called for their immediate release, citing statements from Michelle Bachelet, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, who previously said political prisoners should be among the first to be released amid the pandemic.

We therefore reiterate the urgency of releasing all political prisoners currently detained in overcrowded prisons where it is impossible to practice physical distancing, the group said in a statement.

Indonesia reported 436 new infections on Friday, taking its cumulative tally to 8,211, with 42 new fatalities, bringing the countrys death toll to 689.

Earlier this month, more than 60 political prisoners, mostly the Papuan activists detained over pro-independence protests, wrote a letter to the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention and three U.N. special rapporteurs, asking for help in urging Indonesia to release them unconditionally.

Not only is their detention illegal, it also threatens their safety, said Jennifer Robinson, one of the human rights lawyers representing them.

The Papua region was incorporated into Indonesia in 1969 after a U.N.-administered ballot known as the Act of Free Choice. Many Papuans and rights groups said the vote was a sham because it involved only 1,000 people.

The provinces of Papua and West Papua make up one-fifth of Indonesias land mass but only 5.9 million of Indonesias 250 million people live there.

Tensions rose in Papua in December 2018 after separatist rebels allegedly killed 19 members of a crew building a highway in Nduga regency. Authorities immediately sent more than 750 soldiers and police to the region after the killings.
Heres the good news, Oregon: It worked.

A month has passed since Gov. Kate Brown signed her executive order telling you to stay home and save lives. You listened.

Rush hour disappeared. We sent ventilators to New York to save strangers. Transmission of the virus plummeted 60%, maybe 70.

And yet you also know the staggering price. At least 86 people have died, including some of Oregons most vulnerable. Elders. Friends. Parents. Loved ones.

Funerals have been postponed, jobs lost, medical procedures put on hold, lives upended. The virus has been disproportionately infecting the Latino population.

But you helped Oregon stave off catastrophe. The hospital system held up. You bought valuable time. You kept an estimated 1,500 people from being hospitalized and some of them from dying.

Ready for the bad news? Its not over yet. Not by a long shot.

The Oregonian/OregonLive talked to epidemiologists, scientists, doctors and state leaders charting the states path forward. They made one thing clear: Oregon is not trying to stamp out the virus.

In the critical coming weeks, theyre trying to make sure that whenever restrictions are lifted the virus doesnt resume its out-of-control spread.

Heres a progress report  where the coronavirus spread stands today in Oregon, what you should watch in the weeks to come and how state leaders can make sure they arent rushing Oregon into what risks being an unmitigated disaster.

Peter Graven, lead data scientist at Oregon Health & Science University. (Courtesy OHSU/Kristyna Wentz-Graff)

What social distancing did for Oregon

Peter Graven, lead data scientist at Oregon Health & Science University, sounded an alarm in March. At the rate the coronavirus was spreading, he predicted Oregons hospital system would be overwhelmed by mid-April. His analysis helped catalyze Oregons action.

Its now clear, he said, that before Oregon acted, the virus was spreading even faster than he expected: Doubling every five days, not every six.

How well did Oregon Gov. Kate Browns March 16 school closure and March 23 stay-home order restrictions work?

As well as you couldve expected, Graven said. While its hard to separate the effects, the combination of the two was a pretty big impact.

Graven points to these numbers as the clearest way to see. They show hospital admissions for confirmed COVID-19 patients, by the day they were admitted. Admissions were accelerating in March and appeared to peak on March 28  12 days after the school closure order. It takes about 12 days from the time of exposure to be hospitalized, Graven said.

That to me was super convincing that the policies were working, Graven said. Theres no reason it would do that on its own.

There are other signs. The total number of confirmed COVID-19 patients on ventilators, in intensive care units and in hospital beds has declined in the last two weeks, the only timeframe for which the state has disclosed the figures. They show ventilator use and ICU bed occupancy down sharply; hospital bed occupancy less so.

But those measures are less accurate indicators. Graven said they can mask underlying trends, failing to account for the length of stay. One person on a ventilator for seven days looks the same as seven people who cycle through ventilators for seven straight days.

The rate of positive tests has dropped slightly. Oregon has one of the nations lowest positive rates at about 4%. Thats a good sign, but not a consistent way to measure performance. Testing has been limited and the guidelines for who could get tested have repeatedly changed. Its a lot noisier, Graven said, harder to tell what it means.

The running average of cases being found each day also appears to be falling after hitting a peak in late March.

Graven said Oregonians should feel good about what theyve accomplished so far.

Its a long road, he said. Its good to take wins when you get them.

The Oregon Coast braces for an uncertain future as the coronavirus pandemic impacts tourism, results in mass layoffs and causes indefinite closures to local businesses. Sean Meagher/Staff

How Oregon reopens anything with the virus still present

This is Oregons new reality: The coronavirus isnt going away any time soon.

Not without immunity or a vaccine, state leaders say. Not when estimates show as many as 40% of infected people could display no symptoms when theyre capable of infecting others. Not in a large country with the worlds worst outbreak and a patchwork response, where states like Georgia have already reopened gyms, hair salons and bowling alleys and others never adopted restrictions.

While islands like New Zealand and Iceland are trying to eliminate the virus from their borders, we have to figure out how to live with the virus, said Nik Blosser, Gov. Browns chief of staff. There have already been dramatic changes in our lifestyle to date. Theyll have to continue. How they continue is what well figure out in the coming weeks.

Oregons aim has been flattening the curve, public health officials said, not eliminating the disease altogether.

Our goal is not to completely stamp it out, I dont think thats possible, said Dr. Jennifer Vines, the Multnomah County health officer. Our goal is to use public health tools to keep a handle on this virus by making sure people who have it know it and their contacts know it and they stay away from others.

Kim Toevs (left) and Dr. Jennifer Vines (center) work for the Multnomah County Health Department. Courtesy of Motoya Nakamura/Multnomah County

It initially looked like Oregon could drive down the prevalence of the coronavirus more than it has. Oregons initial estimates showed social distancing could reduce active infections from 1,000 in late March to about 500 by early May.

That didnt happen. Now, the state estimates there are about 3,000 active infections, a number that is slowly declining.

Theres a huge warning in the states projections. As soon as the stay home order is lifted, even if schools stay closed and large gatherings are banned, infections will take off: 30,000 within six weeks.

But that doesnt account for the strategies the state is developing right now. Health officials are planning for how they will use testing to try to make sure people who are contagious know it and that a sick persons contacts are warned about the exposure.

Its a major challenge. Its unclear whether the state is capable of pulling it off without unleashing a second wave of infections. But state leaders said they need to try.

Its totally untenable to stay where we are today until theres a vaccine or an effective treatment, said Patrick Allen, director of the Oregon Health Authority. The idea is to lift these restrictions to allow some kind of normal life to come back. Were not going to be normal-normal for a long time.

As Oregon plans for reopening parts of the economy, Dr. Dean Sidelinger, the state epidemiologist, said the aim is to ease restrictions in a safe manner so we can control the cases that do come in and keep those numbers decreasing, hopefully at the same rate.

The state has not yet announced its plans for testing, tracing and isolating coronavirus cases. While Gov. Kate Brown has said she wants robust testing and tracing in place, its unclear exactly how many tests or tracers are needed.

The governor has cited 15,000 tests a week and 600 tracers as targets. Oregon is currently capable of reaching the testing number. But thats far less ambitious than what many national public health experts say is needed. The states modeling team, the Institute for Disease Modeling, has called for enormously increased testing capacity.

Sidelinger explained the math: Assume Oregon has 350 new infections a day. That allows the state to test five of their contacts, while leaving 2,500 tests per week for nursing homes and congregate settings like prisons, group homes and shelters. About 47,000 Oregonians live in nursing homes; 14,000 are in prison.

Multnomah County is currently trying to figure out how many tests it needs and how many people tried but were unable to get tested. Kim Toevs, the countys communicable disease director, said widespread testing will be vital because people who test positive are more likely to isolate themselves.

Within a week, Toevs said the county will know how many tests and contact tracers it needs, with at least a 10-fold increase in tracers expected from the 15 people currently doing it. Scaling up will take another few weeks, she said.

The headline would be: Were doing great, please continue to be patient, Toevs said.

For weeks, so much has focused on short-term steps: Will schools close? Will a stay-home order come? Will we reopen? But Oregonians need to be prepared to deal with the novel coronavirus for months and perhaps years to come.

Eric Lofgren, an infectious disease epidemiologist and assistant professor at Washington State University, said for the next few years, we may occasionally have to do this for long enough to tamp down occasional re-emergences of this. We think about flu season, its possible well need to think about a COVID season.

Lofgren likened the response to hurricane season evacuations. Thats easier, he said, than it is to ride it out  letting the disease spread unabated  or remain in lockdown long enough to say were never going to have to do that again. Thats a much longer timeframe than anybody is comfortable saying we need to attempt.

An aerial view of downtown Portland during what would normally be rush hour, on April 7, 2020, amid the coronavirus pandemic.Brooke Herbert/The Oregonian/OregonLive

Two ways well know if the virus surges again

Here, again, is some good news.

Despite the dearth of testing in Oregon and the United States, it wont take an increase to know whether the state has gone too far in loosening its restrictions.

While hospitalizations are a good way to see the overall trend, said Graven, the OHSU data scientist, theyre a lagging indicator: It would take 12 days to see a spike and more to see it wasnt a fluke.

But if the rate at which people are testing positive begins to increase, 500 daily test results will be enough to tell that youve goofed soon enough to make a change, Graven said.

Oregon is currently reporting about 1,300 test results a day, although it has the capacity to do 3,000.

Lofgren, the Washington State professor, said state officials should also closely monitor the results of contact tracing  the laborious task of tracking down where people who test positive have been and notifying their close contacts about the potential exposure.

Contact tracing will tell you when things are starting to get out of hand, he said. When the first person shows up sick who hasnt been in contact tracing, thats a bad sign, that means there are chains of infection you cant see.

 Rob Davis

rdavis@oregonian.com

503.294.7657; @robwdavis

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
President Hassan Rohani has called on Iran's armed forces to seek regional stability while maintaining vigilance against "provocations."

The comments on April 24 came after days of rising tensions between Iran and the United States centered on threats involving the two countries' ships in the Persian Gulf.



Rohani was quoted by state television as telling his defense minister that the country must carefully follow strategies ensuring the sustainable stability of the region while maintaining vigilance and an authoritative presence in the area."



State television reported that Rohani also spoke with the commander of Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), Major General Hossein Salami, referring to "provocative actions by foreigners in the region and the need to maintain vigilance against these moves."



Salami said on April 23 he had ordered his forces to target U.S. Navy ships if they "jeopardize our commercial vessels," warning that they "will answer any action by a decisive, effective, and quick counteraction."



President Donald Trump tweeted the day before that he had instructed the U.S. Navy to fire on any Iranian ships that harass its ships at sea.



Earlier this month, the U.S. military said 11 IRGC naval vessels came close to U.S. ships in the gulf, calling the moves "dangerous and provocative." Tehran blamed the United States for the incident.



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.



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.



Antagonism between Iran and the United States has sharpened since 2018, when Trump withdrew from a nuclear deal with six world powers and reimposed crippling sanctions.



In January top IRGC commander Qasem Soleimani was killed in a U.S. drone strike in Iraq, and Iran retaliated by firing missiles at bases in Iraq where U.S. troops were stationed.



The IRGC further stoked tensions on April 22 with the announcement of the launch of the country's first military satellite into orbit. The announcement drew protests from Washington, London, and Paris.

With reporting by Reuters
By ANI

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A man from Kerala who has been suffering from gastrointestinal ailments was brought back from the United Kingdom to Kozhikode in a chartered flight on Friday for treatment.

The 37-year-old IT professional who was working in the UK was airlifted on Friday and has been admitted to Aster MIMS hospital. He had returned to the UK after receiving treatment from the same hospital a year ago. When his condition started deteriorating again, he contacted Dr Abhishek Rajan, Senior Gastrointestinal Surgeon, at Aster MIMS.

The patient "a native of Vadakara district reached Kozhikode airport this morning in a chartered flight from UK and got admitted to the hospital right away after going through the necessary screening test for coronavirus," a release from the hospital on Friday said.

The UK hospitals being occupied with coronavirus related emergencies, seeking treatment there was very difficult, as per the release.

A WhatsApp group run by former Union Minister Alphonse Kannamthanam and former Supreme Court judge Justice Kurien Joseph came in handy for seeking clearances. When contacted, Alphonse Kannamthanam said that he had received a request from Tom Aditya, Mayor of Bristol, UK. They then contacted Kerala Chief Secretary, Secretaries in various departments of Union Government and all clearances were obtained in two days.

The release from the hospital said with the help of district administration and State health department all necessary formalities and permissions were obtained for him to fly down to Kozhikode in a chartered flight.
Sirens blared as a dozen cars came to a halt outside Methodist Hospital Texsan in Balcones Heights on Friday.

Health care workers who came outside to see what was happening found Sylvia Ponce, 75, leaning out of her car window waving an American flag. Through her face mask, she joyfully yelled, Thank you! Thank you for what you are doing! We love you!

It was parade day, but with the 129th Battle of Flowers Parade postponed with the rest of Fiesta because of coronavirus restrictions, Balcones Heights held its own mini parade to show support for those on the front lines of the pandemic.

While so many of us in the San Antonio metropolitan area are disappointed that we are not celebrating the Battle of Flowers Parade, we are all, across the country, waging the battle of our lives right now, health wise and commerce wise, said Suzanne de Leon, the mayor of the small city just inside Loop 410 on the Northwest Side.

The big parade downtown has been a San Antonio tradition since 1891 and marks the high point of Fiesta, a multiday celebration now postponed until November. Hundreds of thousands each year watch scores of floats, marching bands, horses, antique cars and all manner of street performers.

Why wait until November? We need a little Fiesta now, de Leon declared.

The city distributed flags and Fiesta medals to each of its nearly 300 households earlier in the week.

The line of cars, with makeshift decorations strung across bumpers, weaved through the city, which covers less than a square mile.

Masked drivers honked and waved as residents came out to their front yards and waved back.

The original Battle of Flowers Parade was conceived as a tribute to the heroes of the Alamo, Goliad and the Battle of San Jacinto. The Balcones Heights mini parade stuck to the hero theme and was dedicated to health care workers. Similar demonstrations of support have been happening across the country.

It doesnt matter how many times you see this on TV, its so nice when its up close and personal, said Scott Rausch, the CEO of the hospital, who watched the show with his employees.

Rausch said Methodist has taken care of patients who have tested positive for the deadly virus, including evacuees from Wuhan, China, and the Diamond Princess and Grand Princess cruise ships who were quarantined here in February.

Our team has been working really hard for nine or 10 weeks now, he said.

The drivers continued honking as they slowly drove away and the hospital workers returned to work.

Although their mouths were covered, the corners of their eyes creased, revealing likely smiles beneath the masks.

This was a small gesture, Rausch said. But it carried a lot of weight.

Sara.Cline@express-news.net
Retailers in California can once again hand out free single-use plastic bags under an executive order announced on Thursday by Gov. Gavin Newsom, the latest turn away from reusable bags amid the coronavirus outbreak.

The order permits stores to provide customers with disposable plastic bags for the next 60 days. It is critical to protect the public health and safety and minimize the risk of Covid-19 exposure for workers engaged in essential activities, such as those handling reusable grocery bags, it states.

The suspension of the ban was vigorously championed by the California Retailers Association and the California Grocers Association, which have asserted that reusable bags put supermarket employees at risk of being infected with the coronavirus. Since Californias plastic bag ban passed in 2016, providing shoppers with thin, single-use plastic bags has been prohibited in the state. If shoppers fail to bring their own bag, stores have been required to charge them at least 10 cents for a paper or reusable bag.

In a letter to Mr. Newsom last month, the associations requested a suspension of the plastic bag ban until Covid-19 is no longer a significant threat to the state. This is a laudatory environmental policy, but it is simply not appropriate to expect our employees to handle and load customers used grocery bags at this time, the groups wrote.
'There's a lot of confusion. It started because the President's tweet was all-encompassing.'

'It has been watered down over the last few days though to more narrow classes of immigrants.'

In his April 20th tweet, US President Donald J Trump promised a 60-days total ban on immigrants.

He argued that they threatened American jobs already at risk from the economic crunch coming from the aftermath of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Immigration attorney Kalpana V Peddibhotla tells Rediff.com Senior Contributor P Rajendran that the resulting proclamation on April 23rd slowly morphed over time to only exclude a subset of immigrants.

The administration kept its focus on what Trump terms 'chain immigration', targeting the families of citizens and permanent residents, most of who posed no threat to American jobs.

How does this proclamation from the President affect the family members of those on H-1B, L-1, B1 or other similar visas?

It doesn't affect non-immigrants such as individuals in the B, H, L, O category.

The proclamation, exempts numerous classes of immigrants, including non-immigrant workers such as H-1Bs and their families.

In our blog, we discussed (external link) the exemptions in detail.

For example, while the spouses and children of US citizens are not barred, the parents of US citizens are.

So are the spouses and children of lawful permanent residents (LPRs), the adult sons and daughters of US citizens and LPRs, and the siblings of US citizens.

Most of these family members have waited years sometimes as long as 20+ years, and thus this 60 day bar would impact anyone in the final stages of obtaining their immigrant visa.

Given that these categories have been targeted, it really begs the question as to how they are impacting US jobs by being admitted.

For example, it's hard to imagine elderly parents, 70 years and up, posing a threat to the US labour market.

And to the extent that the President is arguing that they may become a strain on our economic or health system, it's important to note that the adult US children sponsoring their parents are required to financially support them by 125% above the poverty guideline, and they must provide attestations of health insurance and evidence that they would not become a public charge.

While it is true that the President is also barring employment sponsored immigrants (the EB-1-3 categories) there are very few individuals that would actually fit this category.

Due to the nature of the petitioning process and the long back logs, most individuals that would be in these categories are already in the US, and thus not subject to the Proclamation, which seeks to limit immigration into the US as opposed to suspend immigration processing for people already in the US.

Going by historical precedent, do emotional factors also encourage Green Card holders to leave -- or discourage those on other visas from applying for it?

Here, there are two classes you may be referring to.

One of them consist of the H1-B workers-leaving because of the long backlog of applicants for permanent residency, or because of the constant roadblocks for continuing to pursue extensions of their H-1B status.

Yes, absolutely, I have seen people on H-1Bs other non-immigrant categories choosing to leave the US due to these obstacles.

I've been a lawyer for 21 years, and have practiced immigration law for 15 years.

I've seen how the barriers on US immigration has impacted not only my clients but also members of my own family.

People on these visas are going to Canada, the UK, Singapore, or even back to India.

Parents of US citizens who were deciding whether to move to the US and become permanent residents are saying they don't want to.

They are reading about how the US is becoming more anti-immigrant under President Trump.

They fear how they will be treated if they were to move here.

It is already difficult for their children to convince them to move and leave behind their lifestyle and friends and when they see the negative immigrant attitudes being expressed in the US, it becomes even more difficult to be persuaded to leave India.

That was not always the case before. Today, they fear they will be treated poorly, whether that is true or not.

You said that the proclamation "appears to be a stepping stone to pursuing an anti-immigrant agenda." Are there legal steps being taken to counter this order? If so, how likely are they to be successful?

This ban seems to truly be untethered to the US labour market and instead seems to be testing the waters for reducing family reunifications which this Administration terms as "chain migration."

There is likely to be litigation that arises from this especially given the arbitrary nature of the Proclamation.

Most likely, the complainants will pursue injunctive release in a US federal district court, seeking a restraining order against the Proclamation.

However, it a case is filed and eventually gets to the Supreme Court, given the makeup of the court, and its decisions over the Administration's prior travel ban, the Proclamation will most likely be upheld.

What is most concerning though for immigration advocates is whether the Proclamation will be extended and potentially extended to other immigrant classifications.

As you've suggested, the actual Proclamation, arising originally from President Trump's tweet, does not suspend all immigration, just a subset of it. Would an all-out ban have been hard to defend in the courts?

I don't know. It's unprecedented. They have not done it even in previous pandemics, or even world wars.

In prior administrations, though Republican and Democratic presidents alike have invoked partial bans on immigration, that's usually correlated to existing political conflicts.

Could future executive orders begin to target Green Card holders and even citizens, given that just two months ago the Department of Justice set up a Denaturalisation Section to target 'terrorists, war criminals, sex offenders, and other fraudsters'.

The President has some plenary powers to control borders. That's different from what happens within the US.

The denaturalisation procedure is already on the books. If you were a Nazi and lied about it, you can be denaturalised.

The president's power for restricting the entry to the US of immigrants and non-immigrants comes from the Immigration and Nationality Act Sec 212 (f).

What do these measures -- not just the proximate cause -- mean for the Indian-American community?

There's a lot of confusion.

It started because the President's tweet was all-encompassing. It has been watered down over the last few days though to more narrow classes of immigrants.

But because of the confusion created by President Trump's initial pronouncements, questions are coming from everybody -- those on H1, L1, etc.

This confusion is not limited to the Indian community.

The first person who contacted me was asking about a German spouse already in the US.

This has raised concerns for immigrants from all backgrounds.

But the proclamation is limited to only 60 days.

That's correct, and to that extent there's also the question as to why it was done in the first place, especially given that US consulates are closed abroad and travel is restricted.

What's concerning though is that the Proclamation has left open the possibility of extending and expanding it.*

(*According to Section 6 of the proclamation, 'Within 30 days of the effective date of this proclamation, the Secretary of Labor and the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of State, shall review nonimmigrant programs and shall recommend to me other measures appropriate to stimulate the United States economy and ensure the prioritization, hiring, and employment of United States workers.)

Why has President Trump suddenly made this proclamation? Does it actually achieves the intended goals?

My understanding is that when he tweeted this, he was planning to halt US immigration to stop the invisible enemy (COVID-19).

The President came into office with an intended goal of stopping illegal immigration, but once in office he has significantly stifled legal immigration through a series of Executive Orders, administrative policies, and stricter scrutiny of petitions.

In that sense, rather than building a great big wall as he promised, he has erected an 'invisible wall'. In my opinion, this Proclamation, is simply a furtherance of his intentions to reduce immigration to the US.

I make this assertion based upon the erratic nature in which this Proclamation evolved -- moving from an all-out ban on immigrants, to potentially targeting temporary workers such as H-1Bs, to eventually targeting families.

It seems arbitrary in scope, and as a practical matter unlikely to meet any of the President's stated rationale for issuing it.
The life of the British royal family sounds pretty elegant and glamorous.

From traveling on private jets and planes, living in big palaces, and being surrounded by royal servants, everything appears to be handed unto them.

As cited by Forbes, there are over 1,000 royal staff working for the Queen alone and are required to sign a document promising secrecy. The publication also described that the best servants "are neither seen nor heard."

Experts even branded royal aides as "a threat" to the family as their stories can sell big bucks to the press.

In the documentary "Royal Servants", uploaded to YouTube in 2011, royal correspondent Robert Jobson revealed that the Buckingham Palace officials are wary of these staff because "they know too much."

"They are there if you like, an invisible force, they are witnessing and watching what's going on. And anything members of the Royal Family do is big news," Jobson said.

"Royal servants have become threats to their master when they start blabbing."

The Royal's Sensitive Ears

Interestingly, there is also one bizarre rule that the royal family has implemented to not "offend royal ears."

The cleaners are required to manually sweep the carpeted floors instead of hoovering them. They are also forbidden to use modern equipment such as vacuums as this might be too loud, especially in the morning.

"Behind the scenes, butlers lay out clothes, footmen carry early morning trays and cleaners sweep carpets, lest royal ears are offended by vacuum cleaners," the narrator of the documentary revealed.

The Royal Rebel

Moreover, the Queen's sister, Princess Margaret, was labeled as "difficult" on how he treats her staff.

Peter Russel, who was a royal servant from 1954 to 1968, exposed the late Princess' social habits. He recalled how one servant had to "dance attendance on her all night long" with an ashtray on his hand.

In a separate report, biographer Craig Brown mentioned that the rebel princess -- who chain-smoked all day -- glued "matchboxes onto tumblers so that she could strike matches while drinking."

Biggest Royal Expose

Dubbed as the most famous royal traitor, Paul Burrell -- who worked as a footman for Queen Elizabeth II and later the first butler for the Prince and Princess of Wales -- wrote a book "A Royal Duty" to expose Diana and Charles' secrets.

This became the biggest predicament for the royal family, as it revealed the alleged relationship between Prince Charles and nanny Tiggy Legge-Bourke.

Burell also claimed that he witnessed the heir to the throne''s phone calls and secret meetings with his now-wife Camilla Parker-Bowles, all while still married to Princess Diana.

Moreover, another journalist has worked his way inside the palace and managed to secure a job as a footsman to get a scoop in the lives of the royal family.

For two months, Daily Mirror undercover reporter Ryan Parry was in Buckingham Palace and revealed the serious flaws in the 10 million security operation to protect former U.S. President George Bush when he visited the U.K.
* European indexes well in the red

* Crude futures rebound Welcome to the home for real-time coverage of European equity markets brought to you by Reuters stocks reporters. You can share your thoughts with Thyagaraju Adinarayan (thyagaraju.adinarayan@thomsonreuters.com), Joice Alves (joice.alves@thomsonreuters.com) and Julien Ponthus (julien.ponthus@thomsonreuters.com) in London and Stefano Rebaudo (stefano.rebaudo@thomsonreuters.com) in Milan.

AIRLINES SEE MORE TROUBLES AHEAD WHEN LOCKDOWNS ARE LIFTED (0918)

More bad news for airlines: Profits and probably sales are seen at very low levels even once the lockdowns are lifted, due to possible changes in rules and consumer habits.

Morgan Stanley, which downgraded the sector to 'cautious' from 'in-line', sees more risks of its bear case scenario becoming reality. This means that demand for air travel will be back to 2019 levels by 2023.

"Travel bans and social distancing measures could linger for longer", the bank says, citing the slow rate of improvement in China traffic for the past month.

In its base case scenario, the industry will be back to 2019 levels by 2022, though for the same level of earnings we will have to wait up to 2023/24.

While some airlines are already resorting to state rescue plans, the European Commission is working on a set of rules for the safe reopening of air travel, including social distancing in airports and planes.

Lufthansa, whose shares are sliding by 6%, reported a first quarter operating loss of 1.2 billion euro and aims to finalise a rescue package worth up to 10 billion euro by next week. The Italian government is expected to take full control of non-listed Alitalia in June.

In terms of liquidity, Air France-KLM and Lufthansa have more pressing needs, while easyJet has until year end and Ryanair and Wizz have more than 12 months, Morgan Stanley says.

(Stefano Rebaudo)

*****

OPENING SNAPSHOT: GERMAN BANKS AND SIGNIFY (0748)

Story continues

European bourses have opened well in negative territory after EZ leaders agreed yesterday to build a trillion euro emergency fund, but left divisive details until the summer and as fears of a lasting hit from the coronavirus keep the market in a risk-off mood.

The pan-European index is down 1.2% with both the auto and the banking sectors leading the losses.

It didn't help lenders the fact that credit agency S&P cut Commerzbank's rating by a notch and lowered its outlook for Deutsche Bank to negative from stable.

Another German company struggling today is Lufthansa, down 7.4%, which reported a first quarter operating loss of 1.2 billion euro and aims to finalise a rescue package worth up to 10 billion euro by next week.

On a bright note, shares in Signify jumped 9.3% after Q1 results, putting the lighting company as the top gainer among the STOXX 600 companies.

(Joice Alves)

*****

ON THE RADAR: COMMERZBANK, DEUTSCHE BANK, NESTLE, SANOFI (0648)

European bourses are set to open lower as concerns about the economic impact of the coronavirus outbreak keep the market in a risk-off mood.

Wall Street and Asia came under renewed selling pressure overnight after pinning hopes on a medical treatment for Covid-19 which is still not available.

In the corporate front, the credit agency S&P cut Commerzbank's rating by a notch and lowered its outlook for Deutsche Bank to negative from stable, as it expects earnings and asset quality to weaken significantly.

Food and pharmaceutical remain strong. Higher demand in France made Casino's first quarter sales accelerate. Nestle posted better than expected sales on customer stockpiles. Sanofi's good first quarter results were supported by demand for its medicines to treat pain and fever.

On another positive note, Saab Q1 profit topped forecast, but it dropped 2020.

Meantime, Canada gets Biomerieux formula for free to produce virus-testing chemicals. and AstraZeneca's Lynparza meets secondary goal in prostate cancer study.

More state support for airlines: Lufthansa, which reported a first quarter operating loss of 1.2 billion euro, aims to finalise a rescue package worth up to 10 billion euro by next week. The Italian government is expected to take full control of Alitalia in June.

Mediaset goes on with its plans to create a pan-European TV champion by raising its stake in ProSiebenSat.1 to 24.2% from 20.1%.

Vinci sees deeper revenue drops in the months ahead. Signifiy posted a 39% fall in net profit. Swatch Group sales at its own stores in China are up in April, CEO Nick Hayek told Blick newspaper. More fresh corporate headlines: Eni lowers output, capex targets on coronavirus as Q1 profits slide Pearson Q1 revenue falls 5% after COVID-19 closes schools, exam centres Burberry to maintain employee pay through coronavirus crisis

(Stefano Rebaudo)

*****

MORNING CALL: WORRIES ON THE PANDEMIC CONTINUE TO WEIGH (0535)

Futures on European bourses are well in the red this morning with investors still concerned about the economic impact of the pandemic as a final deal on an EU stimulus package will have to wait until summer.

After having already priced in a tumble in business activity across the world, investors hope for a medical treatment of Covid-19 and worry about lack of solutions at hand.

The European Union agreed on a joint financial fund of up to 2 trillion euros to help recover from the pandemic but delayed a decision on the details of the program.

(Stefano Rebaudo)

(Reporting by Thyagaraju Adinarayan, Joice Alves, Stefano Rebaudo and Julien Ponthus)
U.S. President Trump leads the daily coronavirus task force briefing at the White House in Washington

Reuters

The National Republican Senatorial Committee sent GOP campaigns a 57-page messaging strategy that urged Republican candidates to blame China for the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a document obtained by Politico.

The memo said candidates should blame their opponents for not being tough on China and called for them to reject claims that calling COVID-19 the "Chinese virus" is racist.

The document, created by strategist Brett O'Donnell, said candidates should not defend the president's handling of the pandemic, and to pivot to blaming the Chinese government if Trump's response is questioned.

The NRSC distributed the report but did not commission it, according to Politico.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The National Republican Senatorial Committee sent GOP campaigns a 57-page document that urged them to blame China for creating the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the memo, published Friday by Politico.

A "short version" of the plan listed at the beginning of the document outlines how Republican senatorial candidates should refer to the pandemic.

"China caused this pandemic by covering it up, lying, and hoarding the world's supply of medical equipment," the document, which had been created by Virginia-based political communications firm Brett O'Donnell & Associates, read."China is an adversary that has stolen millions of American jobs, sent fentanyl to the United States, and they send religious minorities to concentration camps."

It directed candidates to charge their Democratic opponents with being "soft on China" and failing to "stand up to the Chinese Communist Party." It says they should tell voters they will "stand up to China" by bringing manufacturing jobs to the US and by pushing for sanctions on China for "its role in spreading this pandemic."

The memo, sent on April 17, according to Politico, tells candidates to avoid defending the president's criticized handling of the pandemic, except for a directive to remind voters of the president's decision at the end of January to place travel restrictions on people who had recently visited China. Rather than defending the president, it says the GOP candidates should pivot to offering criticism of China.

Story continues

The president  and other Republican leaders  have continued to call the novel coronavirus the "Chinese virus" or the "Wuhan virus," despite being denounced as racist as the disease has impacted every continent around the globe. The virus has infected more people in the US than any other nation, according to Johns Hopkins University.

Trump has been asked about his usage of the term, though he has insisted on multiple occasions that there is nothing wrong with the rhetoric.

"In fact, everyone was referring to this as the Wuhan virus before China decided to push its propaganda," the memo reads. "Whatever you want to call this virus, China is responsible. It's more important to hold China accountable and prevent this from happening again than it is to be politically correct."

It said candidates should explain "no one is blaming Chinese Americans," if they were asked whether such rhetoric was racist.

"This is the fault of the Chinese Communist Party for covering up the virus and lying about its danger. This caused the pandemic and they should be held accountable," candidates were told to say.

There has been a reported increase in the number of hate crimes committed against Asian Americans across the US as the novel coronavirus virus, which is believed to have first appeared in Wuhan, China at the end of last year, has spread.

According to Politico, advisers to the president have said polling has indicted that attacks on China could prove an effective strategy for his re-election campaign. Pro-Trump super PAC America First Action created advertisements that link former Vice President Joe Biden, to China, Politico noted.

Biden's latest campaign ad accused the president of "rolling over for the Chinese," which prompted claims that the former vice president was also evoking racist and xenophobic rhetoric in his campaign to oust Trump.

The NRSC did not commission the document, it only distributed it to its members, according to the report.

"We routinely send campaigns different documents and sources of information dozens of times per week. That's the role of the party committee, especially in these volatile times," an NRSC spokesman told Politico.

Neither the NRSC nor Brett O'Donnell, the President of O'Donnell and Associates, responded to Business Insider's request for comment.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-25 16:54:54|Editor: huaxia

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ABUJA, April 25 (Xinhua) -- Nigeria has confirmed 114 new cases of the COVID-19, bringing the tally to 1,095, from which 32 deaths have been recorded so far.

The Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) which gave the update at 11:30 p.m. local time on Friday said the new cases were recorded in nine states, including the capital, Abuja.

Amid drastic measures in place to curb the spread of the virus in the most populous African country, some 208 cases had recovered since the pandemic hit Nigeria late February, said the NCDC in a statement. There are currently 855 active cases in the country.

Lagos, where the index case in Nigeria was recorded on Feb. 27, has remained the epicenter for the pandemic in the country, with 657 cases.

So far the pandemic has spread to the capital city of Abuja and 27 states of the 36 states in the country, according to official data.

The Nigerian government had since introduced a lockdown in Abuja, Lagos and Ogun states, in the southwest region of the country, among other measures to curb the spread of the virus.

On April 13, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari extended the lockdown in Lagos, Ogun, and Abuja for two weeks. Several other states also introduced lockdown measures on their own to intensify contact tracing, identification of suspected cases, and treatment.

Despite the measure, a total of 10,061 tests have been carried out as of Friday, the NCDC said.

Speaking to media recently, the director-general of NCDC Chikwe Ihekweazu warned the disease will make its way to every state in Nigeria.

Nigeria's aviation minister Hadi Sirika announced earlier this week that all airports will remain closed for further two weeks from April 23, as a result of the extension on lockdown.

Health authorities in Lagos have decentralized sampling stations for COVID-19 across all the local government areas, where samples will be collected from persons that meet the designated testing criteria.

The strategy is to bring sampling closer to the people for easy access to all residents toward identifying cases at the community level, said Akin Abayomi, the state commissioner for health, in a statement sent to Xinhua this week.

The NCDC said in responding to the pandemic in the country, it will ensure effective experience-sharing across the states. Enditem
Marc Thiessens column in last Sundays Republican, April 19, was a good piece of reporting on the success of Taiwan in controlling the outbreak of coronavirus. What was misleading was the headline, As Taiwan demonstrates, the antidote to the virus is freedom. The antidote to the virus is rational thinking. The Taiwan government did not ignore or minimize this new virus and the danger it presented to the health of its citizens. Taiwan acted quickly by identifying and isolating those people who had the virus. What they realized in Taiwan was that quick action based on scientific knowledge was necessary. Because of Trumps belief in magical thinking, valuable time was wasted in attacking the spread of this virus within the American population.

The Taiwanese government acted with transparency updating its citizens on the actions being taken to control the virus. Most important, the person delivering the press briefings and public service announcements was Taiwans vice president who is also an epidemiologist. Contrast that with the fake press briefings that are orchestrated by the Trump administration that are in fact substitutes for rallies. Trump frequently makes false statements as well as dangerous suggestions that are not based on any scientific knowledge.

Thiessen concluded his column by blaming Communist China for delaying dissemination of information about the danger of this virus. But even with the World Health Organizations warning on Jan. 30, Trump wasted all of February and half of March before taking any action. This is a disgrace!

Patricia A. Collins, East Longmeadow
Mike Isaac and Sheera Frenkel

As people turned in droves to video chatting app Zoom in recent weeks, the buzz caught Facebooks attention. Inside the social network, that immediately set off a scramble.

Mark Zuckerberg, Facebooks chief executive, ordered employees to ramp up and focus on the companys own video chat projects, especially as use of its products also increased, said three people with knowledge of the plans, who declined to be identified because the details are confidential. On Facebooks internal message boards, employees openly gawked at public data showing Zooms growing popularity, they said.

On Friday, Facebook unveiled one of its biggest expansions into videoconferencing with several new video chat features and services. They included video group chats for as many as 50 people on Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp video calls for up to eight people, and video calls in Facebook Dating.

Zuckerberg is not the only tech titan with Zoom on his mind. Google this month made its video chat app, Meet, more accessible through Gmail. Cisco recently promoted its Webex teleconferencing service as highly secure compared with Zoom. And Verizon announced last week that it was acquiring BlueJeans Network, a videoconferencing service.

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

Tech and telecommunications giants are mobilizing against Zoom as the Silicon Valley company has become one of the biggest tech beneficiaries of the coronavirus outbreak. Over the past month, downloads of Zoom have increased 740%, according to App Annie, an analytics firm. Zoom has said it now has more than 300 million daily participants, up from 10 million before the pandemic.

Facebook, Google and others want a piece of that success. Behind the scenes, people with knowledge of the companies said, employees are sore that they have not grabbed more of the same buzz as Zoom, especially because many of the giants have offered their own video chat software  like Google Meet  for years.

Follow our LIVE Updates on the coronavirus pandemic here

In targeting Zoom, the tech behemoths are following a playbook of deploying their vast resources to outmuscle a smaller, fast-rising competitor. Last year, Facebook and Google trained their sights on TikTok, the Chinese-made video app, which had become a hit with young audiences. Often, the largest companies have opened up their wallets and snapped up tiny rivals to eliminate them as competition.

In an interview, Zuckerberg chafed at comparisons to Zoom and said video chat was just beginning to be a larger phenomenon as people aimed to digitally connect in more intimate ways.

The world was already trending in this direction before COVID-19, Zuckerberg said while using the new Facebook Messenger video product. This is the trend in general  the ability to feel more present, even when youre not physically together.

Zooms chief executive, Eric Yuan, said in an interview this month that his company was not thinking about competition and was focused on users and their experience during a once in a probably 100 years crisis.

Zoom, founded in 2011 by Yuan, a former Cisco executive, was designed to be easy to use and install. Unlike other video chat products, the app also has a popular grid view that lets people see everyone on a call at once, creating a more social atmosphere. The company, based in San Jose, California, went public last year.

When the spread of COVID-19 turbocharged the video chat phenomenon, Zoom emerged as a clear front-runner, owing largely to word-of-mouth about its ease and simplicity. It has been the most downloaded app in Apples App Store for more than a month. The company is valued at around $47 billion, more than Slack and Pinterest.

But its success has been bumpy, with scrutiny falling on Zooms lack of security and privacy practices. Zoombombing  intentionally disrupting other peoples Zoom sessions with pornography or other forms of digital harassment  has grown so pervasive that the term has become a part of mainstream discourse.

Bigger tech and telecom companies are racing to catch up, even though they were earlier to roll out videoconferencing services. Cisco acquired Webex in 2007 for $3.2 billion. Facebook has long hyped its own video chat offerings. Microsoft bought internet calling service Skype in 2011 for $8.5 billion.

This month, Google said it would plug Meet directly into Gmail so users could take video calls inside their email browser window. Google is also mimicking Zoom, releasing a grid-style view for Meet and adding features to improve video quality in low-light conditions. On Wednesday, Google added a noise-cancellation option for video calls and expanded the advanced features to all of its customers for free.

Google said Meet use was up more than 25 times what it was in January, with more than 2 million new user sign-ups every day.

After questions arose about Zooms privacy and security, competitors also rushed to assure customers that their offerings were safer. Javed Khan, a Cisco vice president, said that not only had use of Webex skyrocketed  at one point, the company added 240,000 new users in 24 hours  but so had its security business.

As the largest enterprise security company in the world, were helping our customers connect and collaborate, securely, he said.

When Verizon announced its purchase of BlueJeans on April 16, BlueJeans also emphasized security. As this current work-from-home era has shown us, having secure, reliable and high-quality collaboration tools like BlueJeans is essential, the company said in a blog post.

Houseparty, a video chat app that Epic Games acquired last year, has been popular with younger audiences. In recent weeks, more than 50 million people have signed up for it, widening its audience to those who also use Zoom. To differentiate itself, Houseparty said it was emphasizing features like the ability to play games with other participants in the app.

Few companies have been as attuned to Zooms rise as Facebook.

Zuckerberg recently galvanized several Facebook teams to accelerate their video chat product releases, including a desktop app for Facebook Messenger  which has a video chat feature front and center  this month. More than 700 million people now make calls across Messenger and WhatsApp each day, Zuckerberg said, making it clear that other features needed to be built in as soon as possible.

Those include Messenger Rooms, a way to quickly create video chat rooms using Facebook Messenger that can support dozens of people simultaneously. Facebook also integrated video chat into its Dating product and plans to bring the ability to create Rooms to WhatsApp, Instagram Direct and other services.

Zuckerberg said Zoom felt more scheduled and a little less casual than Messenger Rooms. He said he wanted to make the video chat experience more serendipitous.

I dont really think theres anything today that you can display on an ad hoc basis that youre hanging out and have whoever wants to join you over video, he said. Sometimes people compare what we do to other companies, like you did earlier with Zoom. I think the main thrust of how people are going to experience Rooms will be very different.

Facebooks augmented and virtual reality division, which offers a video communications device called Portal, has also been working with Zoom since January on a partnership so people could make Zoom video calls on the gadget, according to three people with knowledge of the companys plans.

The companies had planned to release the product in May, these people said, but that was put on hold when Zoom recently decided to freeze all new feature development for 90 days to spend time beefing up its security practices.

Facebooks augmented and virtual reality division is also in discussions with other companies to expand video chat partnerships, two of the people said. Press officers for Facebook and Zoom declined to comment.

Yet Zoom may already be too ingrained for Silicon Valleys giants to dislodge.

Late last month, Philipp Schindler, Googles chief business officer, held a videoconference with thousands of the search giants employees using Google Meet, three people who attended the call said. During the session, one employee asked why Zoom was reaping the biggest benefits even though Google had long offered Meet.

Schindler tried placating the engineers concerns, the people said. Then his young son stumbled into view of the camera and asked if his father was talking to his co-workers on Zoom. Schindler tried correcting him, but the boy went on to say how much he and his friends loved using Zoom.

A Google spokesman declined to comment on the episode.

c.2020 The New York Times Company
The campaign of presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden is tracking ongoing and serious efforts by foreign actors to manipulate American voters, efforts that pose a clear and present danger to the 2020 election, says Bidens top foreign policy adviser.

The system continues to flash red, Antony Blinken, former deputy secretary of state, said in an interview with the Yahoo News podcast Skullduggery. What Im seeing, at the very least, are ongoing and serious efforts, using primarily social media, to try to interfere in the election and in our democracy. ... This is a clear and present danger.

Blinken didnt cite any specific new evidence of Russian or other foreign governments manipulating social media during this election cycle. But his comments closely followed the Tuesday release of a bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee report affirming that Russia meddled in the 2016 election.

Controversy over Russian attempts to ensure a Trump reelection also flared after a February House Intelligence Committee briefing by U.S. intelligence officials asserting that the Kremlin has a clear preference for the reelection of President Trump  a conclusion that has been sharply disputed by the White House and the presidents Republican allies on Capitol Hill.

The White House did not respond to requests for comment.

Blinken also suggested the president has problematic ties to the Chinese government, citing a Friday report from Politico that Trumps company borrowed tens of millions of dollars from a Chinese state-owned bank, as part of a real estate deal involving a New York City office building. Blinken called it a far more salient issue than Hunter Bidens ties to a Chinese private equity firm.

The president of the United States owes through his company tens  if not hundreds  of millions of dollars to a leading Chinese state-owned entity, the Bank of China, which loaned him, in effect, money for one of his prized real estate possessions in New York, Blinken said.

Story continues

The loan was part of a 2012 refinancing of a midtown office building at 1290 Avenue of the Americas for almost $1 billion. Trumps company owns 30 percent of the building, according to Politico; Vornado Realty Trust owns the rest.

The state-owned Bank of China provided $211 million of the refinancing package, the first loan of its kind by the giant bank in the United States, according to Politico.

Asked about Bidens son Hunters former role on the board of a Chinese private equity fund, Blinken said he couldnt speak for the former vice presidents son, though he called them debunked allegations. Blinken then cited the Politico report, which noted that the presidents debt to the Chinese-owned bank comes due in 2022.

Last night Politico updated its story to note that after the first version of the article was published, the Bank of China issued a statement saying it sold its share of the loan weeks after the deal closed in 2012.

On November 7, 2012 several financial institutions including the Bank of China participated in a commercial mortgage loan of $950 million to Vornado Realty Trust, said Peter Reisman, managing director and chief communications officer of Bank of China U.S.A. Within 22 days, the loan was securitized and sold into the [commercial mortgage-backed securities] market, as is a common practice in the industry. Bank of China has not had any ownership interest in that loan since late November 2012.

Another public document Politico cites, however, lists the Bank of China as a creditor on the 1290 Avenue of the Americas building. That document was filed in 2017 with the New York City Department of Finance Office of the Register and calls the Bank of China a secured party having a financial interest in the buildings fixtures. According to Politico, the Bank of China described its inclusion on the 2017 document as a technical error.

The comments by Blinken  including his references to the Politico story  are the latest indications that links to China are likely to be a central campaign issue for both sides in the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic and persistent criticism from U.S. officials that the Chinese government has been less than transparent about what it knew about the virus.

Blinkens remarks come three days after the presidents proclamation at a Tuesday coronavirus briefing that Nobody has been tougher on China than me. The president has consistently accused Biden of being weak on China, a contention that the Biden campaign has been disputing in recent days, including by airing a new digital ad that slammed the president for how he rolled over for the Chinese in not doing more to push for early information on the coronavirus.

I would be on the phone with China and making it clear: We are going to need to be in your country. You have to be open. You have to be clear. We have to know whats going on, Biden says in the digital ad, which has been controversial since some people, including many on the left, fear it will fuel xenophobia, which has already led to an uptick in hate crimes directed at Asian-Americans.

Blinken said he is deeply troubled by the presidents early and consistent praise for the Chinese government, particularly since it continues to block American scientists from better understanding how the virus spread in the crucial early weeks of the pandemic last fall.

The problem here is that at the very moment when China was not living up to its responsibilities, instead of pressing the government to do just that, President Trump was praising China  praising it for its leadership on the virus, praising it for its transparency and cooperation, Blinken said. And that was exactly the opposite of what was happening.

Biden is closely monitoring the pandemic, Blinken said, and believes it is important to determine whether the outbreak could be the result of a lab accident in Wuhan, the city where the first cases were reported. He was careful to note that it is important to draw a big, big, big distinction between something that might have originated accidentally in a lab and something that was conjured up intentionally in a lab.

We obviously need to know exactly how this started and originated so that we can do our best to make sure it never happens again if, in fact, it originated accidentally in a lab, Blinken said. Instead of holding China to account to meet its responsibilities in sharing information and giving access to our experts, the president did exactly the opposite  he didnt press them and, to the contrary, he praised them repeatedly, 15 times in January and February, praising the [Chinese] government for its cooperation, for its leadership and for its transparency, which is really mind-boggling since that was exactly the opposite of what was happening.

Then-Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken in 2015. (Mohammed Al-Shaikh/AFP via Getty Images)

Download or subscribe on iTunes: Skullduggery from Yahoo News

Blinken didnt limit his criticism to the presidents management of the coronavirus. He echoed concerns, first expressed by Biden earlier this week, that the president is gonna try to kick back the election somehow, come up with some rationale why it cant be held.

Moving the election would require an act of Congress since holding the presidential election the first Tuesday in November is set by federal law. Reminded of the difficulty the president would face in trying to postpone the election, Blinken did not back down.

Particularly in the context of the coronavirus there are real concerns about making sure the election can be conducted both safely and democratically, and theres no doubt in my mind that it can be, Blinken said, pointing to South Korea, which just held national legislative elections.

Blinken said the presidents silence about how to hold this falls election in a safe and democratic way is worrying, especially since arranging early voting and other programs to enable voters to cast ballots without going to polling places will take time, money and organization. Blinken said the South Korean government had implemented extended early voting, allowed absentee ballots and designed safe public polling places. An estimated 61 percent of South Koreans participated in the election last week, the highest turnout since 1992.

If the president wanted to do the same thing here, he should be leading the charge right now to make sure that the election comes off safely and democratically in November and making sure that were taking steps now, that states are taking steps now, to ensure that, Blinken said. To the contrary, weve had utter silence.

Wisconsins recent primary and judicial election was called the most undemocratic in the states history by the states largest newspaper, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, a newspaper that usually leans Republican. Along with the Democratic presidential primary, Wisconsin held an election for a state Supreme Court seat, currently held by a Republican who had President Trumps endorsement in running for reelection. The court is scheduled to rule on a case concerning a plan, pushed by Republicans, to purge more than 200,000 people from the voting rolls.

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, a Democrat, had sought to postpone the election or to allow voting by mail, but the Republican-controlled Legislature would not agree. Only five polling places were open in the entire city of Milwaukee, compared to the 180 that were planned, which may have discouraged some voters in the heavily Democratic city.

The Trump-endorsed Republican lost the election and will be replaced by a Democrat.

Unfortunately, weve seen efforts made to actually endanger people, [to] not allow them to vote safely, Blinken said. Weve not heard the president say anything about that when this is the moment to do it.

_____

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:
United Nations, April 25 : India is assured of a non-permanent seat in the UN Security Council next year, but the General Assembly leadership has to figure out how to conduct the election scheduled for June because member countries' delegates can't vote in person due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

General Assembly President Tijjani Muhamad-Bande's spokesperson Reem Abaza said on Friday that a decision has not yet been made about holding the election.

It will be taken up at the end of this month when decisions will be made on June events or the opinion of members will be sought about them, she said.

The non-permanent seats are allocated on a regional basis and India has unanimous support from the countries in the Asia-Pacific region for the group's seat that will fall vacant when Indonesia completes its two-year term at the end of this year.

China and Pakistan went along with the consensus because of the overwhelming support for India.

This ensures India's election but the formality of an election in which all countries vote has to be gone through.

With the UN headquarters shut down because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the General Assembly has not been able to hold in person meeting of delegations.

For essential matters, a silent voting method has been adopted by which countries have a 72-hour window to register their objection and if no one responds, the resolution is considered adopted.

But this method gives every country a potential veto because even one objection can derail a resolution. Therefore, its use is very limited.

Abaza said that an e-voting system is under consideration for holding recorded votes so that a majority can get a resolution through even if some object.

Because of the consensus requirement, the General Assembly this week rejected two resolution on the COVID-19 crisis -- one sponsored by Russian because of opposition from the US and its allies, and another sponsored by Saudi Arabia due to objections by Syria and Iran.

Under the normal voting system, either of them would have had a chance of being adopted.

Elections are conducted by secret ballot and the document for the e-voting proposal says it is not for elections.

Therefore, a different system incorporating secure secret ballots will have to be devised for the elections.

When elected, India will join Vietnam that was elected last year on the Security Council as a non-permanent member from the Asia Pacific region.

Mexico is running uncontested for the Latin America and Caribbean region's seat.

Kenya and Djibouti are facing off for the Africa seat, while Canada, Ireland and Norway are competing for the two seats for the Western European and Other countries.

(Arul Louis can be contacted at arul.l@ians.in and followed on Twitter @arulouis)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, April 25, 2020 17:31 627 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd44043e 4 News Benhil-takjil-market,Bendungan-Hilir,takjil,ramadan,food,coronavirus,COVID-19 Free

Bendungan Hilir (Benhil) Market in Central Jakarta, which is typically abuzz with activity during Ramadan, was quiet on Friday afternoon, the first day of the holy month, as food vendors and customers stayed away amid the COVID-19 outbreak.

"Only this year has there been no [activity]," Bendungan Hilir subdistrict head Rida Mufrida told tempo.co on Friday.

Outside Ramadan, the area is popular for its many dining spots. During the holy month, the market attracts even greater crowds, with customers coming to buy takjil (breaking-of-the-fast snacks) and various other types of foods from its many vendors.

"It was the decision of the takjil market management to scrap [the annual activities at Benhil Market]. They are probably worried they won't be able to manage the crowds," said Rida.

According to Rida, many takjil sellers typically traveled to the market from other areas of the city to do business. "They are probably operating in their own areas now."

In response to the COVID-19 outbreak in the capital city, Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan has implemented large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) that will remain in place until May 22. Under the restrictions, restaurants and food sellers may only offer take-away services and must ensure patrons maintain a distance of at least 1 meter while queuing. They are also required to implement food hygiene and sanitation measures, such as providing hand washing facilities.

Although Benhil Market was empty, a number of vendors could still be seen selling takjil along Jl. Bendungan Hilir. "They are locals," said Rida, adding that all sellers were required to only sell take-away food, wear face masks and provide hand sanitizer.

During Ramadan, which will end on May 24, the governor has urged Muslims to conduct religious rituals, such as tarawih (evening Ramadan prayers), at home with their families, not in congregations. Jakartans have also been urged not to participate in the Idul Fitri mudik (exodus) in compliance with the governments recent ban. (kes)
Enniskerry: Parish of Powerscourt with Kilbride - Services of Worship in St Patrick's Church, Powerscourt for this Sunday, The 3rd Sunday of Easter: All Church Services and activities remain suspended till at least Tuesday, May 5, when the current government restrictions will be reviewed and new updates provided.

Keep an eye on the parish website for updates and for details of online services of worship.

Services of Worship in St Brigid's Church, Kilbride for this Sunday - The third Sunday of Easter: All Church Services and activities remain suspended till at least Tuesday, May 5, when the current government restrictions will be reviewed and new updates provided. Keep an eye on the parish website for updates and for details of online services of worship.

Irish Trefoil Guild - Guiding for Life: Calling all former leaders of the Irish Girl Guides in Bray and the surrounding area. There is now a Trefoil Guild in Bray. Contact Anne at - braytrefoilguild@gmail.com.

Easter General Vestry Meeting for St Patrick's Church, Powerscourt: On the advice of the Bishops Office, Easter Vestry will not take this year due to the pandemic.

Easter General Vestry Meeting for St Brigid's Church, Kilbride: On the advice of the Bishops Office, Easter Vestry will not take this year due to the pandemic.

St Mary's Church

Parish Website: The parish of the Immaculate Heart of Mary has its own website. Please.

check out 'Enniskerryparish.ie' for the latest information about our parish.

Coronavirus Measures: Masses in our churches are suspended till further notice due to measures introduced by the healthcare authorities limiting attendance at public indoor gatherings. While Masses are suspended, the voice of prayer should not be silent. The Archbishop of Dublin has announced that everyone is dispensed from the obligation to physically attend Sunday Mass while the present emergency persists. Check the RTE schedule for broadcast Mass times.

Mass is also brought broadcast through EWTN, Radio Maria, channel which can be found in Saorview and Channel 210. Mass from Knock Shrine is brought each day at midday; Rosary at 7 p.m. and Mass at 7.30 p.m. on knockshrine/watch-live; Mass is also broadcast by web-came from St Mary's Pro Cathedral Dublin; for a list if churches broadcasting Mass by web-cam go to dublindiocese.ie/list-of-churches-with-webcams-to-watch-listen-to-daily Mass/.

Weekday Mass is now broadcast by RTE NEWS NOW at 10.30 a.m. St Mary's and St Mochonog's Church will be open for private prayer each day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. - please remember to adhere to social distancing requirements.

Maintaining Contact With Our Parishioners: At this time there are many churches across various diocese that are broadcasting Masses through webcams and parish radios. The Enniskerry Parish website has been updated so that our parish community can tune in and engage in a Spiritual Communion - go to enniskerryparish.ie and click on the Daily Mass link on the home page. On the parish website there is a Daily Reflection, a Pastoral Letter from Fr Bernard and Fr Hyacinth along with resources for families and prayers at home during this time. Parishioners will be updated on developments every week via our weekly Parish Link Newsletter which will be available each Friday on the parish website. More resources will be added in the coming days and weeks with Mass resources and spiritual links for all.

Outreach: Two support groups have been set up by local volunteers to help people who are isolated due to the present crisis and need help with food shopping, prescription and medication collection. Parishioners, who would like to volunteer Kilmacanogue are asked to call David Metcalfe at 086 3895627 and for Enniskerry to call Melanie Corrigan at 083 3642439 for further information. Parishioners, who need assistance themselves or know of someone who does, are asked to call either of these numbers.

ALONE COVID-19 Support Line for Older People: ALONE - Supporting older people to age at home - has launched a national support line and additional supports for older people who have concerns or are facing difficulties relating to the outbreak of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) in Ireland. Professional staff will be available to answer queries and give advice and reassurance where necessary. The support line will be open Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., by calling 0818 - 222 024, and hours may be extended to meet the demand.

Useful Help Lines: Society of St Vincent de Paul: 01 8550022; Samaritans: 1850-609090; Recovery: 01 6260775; Accord: 01 5053112.

History Society

Month meetings of the Enniskerry History Society, which meets the guidance of its president, John Callan, have now concluded and will resume in October. Further information about the Enniskerry History Society available from John Callan at 01 2867853.

In the meantime a new publication out is the 1920-2020 Centenary Souvenir Edition of Ireland's Own magazine, the fifth in the Birth of Nation series. Edited by Sean Nolan and Shea Tomkins, more of the articles featured in it include 'British Struggle to get Messages Across' by Eamon O Buadhachain, 'The murder of Tomas Mac.

Curtain' by T Ryle Dwyer, 'British Army's Battleplan' by Dominic Price, 'The Government of Ireland Act' and 'Violence erupts in Ulster' by Eamonn Duggan. Copies are currently available from news agents or can be ordered via the Ireland's Own website - irelandsown.ie; email - iosubs@irelandsown.ie or call 05391-401040.

Kilmacanogue History Society

The May meeting and all subsequent activities by the society have been suspended till further notice.

Enniskerry Library

The library remains closed till further notice. Books can be renewed online - late return fees have been suspended during the period of the library's closure.

The Community Call

Last week most households received a copy of the 'The Community Call' leaflet. As part of the Government response to the Covid-19 crisis, Wicklow County Council has established Covid-19 Community Call Forum which works with State agencies and community and voluntary to provide supports or service to any vulnerable people who need them such as the collection of essential items like food ,'meals on wheels', household items, fuel or medicine (in line with guidance), and support for those who are experiencing social isolation or cocooning. The Helpline No. is 1800 868 399 or email covidsupport@wicklowcoco.ie.

Laragh-Glendalough

McCoys XL Laragh

McCoys shop wishing customers well with notice of current opening times, Monday to Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. They wish to thank you for your continuous support and custom.

Chair Yoga

Louise Curran has been keeping active with clients by providing chair yoga classes online, supporting health and fitness in recent weeks during restrictions. If you would like to join you can contact Louise at 087 6032202 or email at louiseyoga12@gmail.com.

Citizens Information

During the Covid-19 pandemic, Citizens Information Centres are offering an email and telephone service only. If you would like to request a phone call from an Information Officer please email covid19@citinfo.ie and include your phone number. An Information Officer will then give you a call.

Alternatively, you can contact the Citizens Information Phone Service at 076 1074000. Covid-19 Online Information the website citizensinformation.ie provides information on a huge number of topics relating to Covid-19 (coronavirus).

The Brockagh Resource Centre

COMMUNITY CALL - Brockagh Centre are part of the Community Call, anyone needing assistance should call community assistance 1800-868-399 or email the centre brockaghresourcecentre@gmail.com.

For further information, or to share advice, email brockaghresourcecentre@gmail.com, consult the Brockagh Resource Centre Facebook page or visit brockaghresourcecentre.ie.

CLOTHES BANK - The clothes bank is being emptied when it is full.

St Kevin's Parish

CANCELLED MASSES - The Parish Pastoral Council (PPC) has decided that Masses on Saturday evening and Sunday mornings will be cancelled. This is to comply with the measures to delay the spread of the coronavirus which were announced by the government on March 12 and which have since been extended to April 19.

These measures will also affect the Easter Ceremonies. Weekday Masses continue as normal. The situation will be kept under review by the PPC.

BLESSING OF GRAVES - In the event that restrictions are lifted, Glendalough cemetery will be blessed on Saturday, May 16, at 8 p.m. while Brockagh cemetery will be blessed on Saturday, May 23, after 7 p.m. Mass.

Laragh GFC

OFFER OF ASSISTANCE - Laragh GFC would like to help anyone in our community (especially the elderly, vulnerable or self-isolating) who might need help in any way during the current unprecedented emergency. Our players and members are available to collect from the shop and drop it to your doorstep with minimal contact. We are also willing to help with anything else that is required. Please pass on this information to your family, friends and neighbours. Contact details for some club members are given below but, if you prefer, you can contact any of our players and members. Fergal: 087 2107876 Liam: 086 0688909 Philip: 086 8443840 Derek: 087 9184690 Damien: 086 3423561.

LOTTO - Our lotto has been a great success to date. We appreciate the support of both buyers and sellers.

Roundwood

Veterinary practice

Due to the current restrictions implemented by the Government our practice remains closed. For all sick animals and emergencies contact me directly at 087 1380739. Ringing the practice landline 01 2818000 will also list the mobile number. Bernie.

Minibus service

Don't forget if you need anything picked up or shopping done give Gerry O'Toole a shout at 087 2047916.

Covid-19 Response Team

Roundwood Garda Station Garda - Mick O'Rourke, Roundwood Pharmacy - Jonathan and John, Sugar Mountain Cafe - Janette, Centra - Gabriel and Joanne, Grants Butchers - Keith, Roundwood post office - Malik, Keeleys Hardware - Moe.

For services for senior citizens and High Risk Persons you ring 087 1329420 and we organise delivery of your medicines (order must be placed first with Pharmacy) takeaway dinners, shopping, meat/fish/veg, pension collection (authorisation form to be signed pre-collection), firing heating gas etc. Feel free to call us to discuss how we can assist you. The number again is 087 1329420.

Covid-19 helpline

The Wicklow County Council Covid Community Response Forum has developed a free helpline for vulnerable members of the community from 8 a.m. 8 p.m. 7days per week. Call 1800 868 399 or email CovidSupport@wicklowcoco.ie.

Citizens' Information

Citizens Information Centres in Co. Wicklow: response to Covid - 19.

Your local Citizens Information Centre provides you with free, confidential independent information, advice and advocacy service on your civil and social rights and entitlements in areas such as Social Welfare, Employment, Housing, Health Services and many more. Telephone us at 0761 07 6780 or email bray@citinfo.ie.

Please note our CICs in Arklow and Wicklow Town have temporarily closed during the Covid - 19 pandemic all their calls are being diverted to the Bray office. Regrettably there is no drop in service currently at any of our offices around the county.

Lotto

The lotto has been suspended for the moment.

Roundwood Cancer Support

The Roundwood Cancer Support centre is closed to the public for the moment. If anyone needs to make any enquiries please telephone our confidential phone number 087 6062072.

Jenny's Pre-school

Jenny's Pre-school Moneystown: is now enrolling for September 2020 and 2021 anyone interested contact the school at 086 1705238 or email Jennyspreschoolmoneystown@gmail.com.

Medjugorje

A pilgrimage to Medjugorje will take place on October 7 for seven days at a cost of 679 fully inclusive. 200 deposit secures booking. This trip will be accompanied by a Spiritual Director. The accommodation is close to the church. For more information and booking Contact Mary King at 087 2185067.
Gosh, people are getting very judgey these days.

Children, teenagers, joggers, cyclists, UK-registered cars, mask-wearers, non-mask-wearers, old people, close-queuers: anyone suspected of breaching lockdown rules is convicted in the court of social disapproval.

I admit, I purse my own lips when I spot yet another strange car on our lonely cul-de-sac, but there's so much negativity about, I try not to add to the brittle atmosphere by complaining. But my patience is running thin when it comes to politics, because some people are messing, and this is no time for messers.

Covid-19's political timing was bad. If it had come earlier or later, we'd be OK. Instead, we're in this insane crisis with a caretaker Government.

They've done a great job and demonstrated to the change lobby that competence and experience is more useful than show-boating on the plinth at Leinster House.

If we end up with a second election, which I believe is a strong possibility, voters will go to the polling booths with a new perspective on the realities of governance.

The political messers should bear that in mind. Because nearly 80 days post-election, we are sailing close to the constitutional wind. The Government clearly has majority support, but its legitimacy is wearing thin.

We need a proper government and we need it quick. So I shall put on my wig and start judging.

The prosecution charge is quite simple: the smaller parties are dragging their feet instead of cracking on with the necessary urgency to form a government.

Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, despite their acute awareness of the risks to both their parties, have stepped up while others stepped back. The Greens, Social Democrats and Labour have wrestled with their personal political futures and wasted valuable time.

Of the three, I'd give Lab our the most leeway. It was electing a new leader. Alan Kelly now needs to decide what he's going to do. Labour got hammered in 2016 but while government damaged it, opposition did it no favours either.

Labour's problem in 2016 was taking the hit for austerity. In 2020, it's irrelevancy.

If Kelly brought Labour in, took over the housing brief and held a referendum on the Kenny proposal to compulsorily purchase land for social housing, he'd go down in history. He's a bullish man and I've heard anecdotes about policies he drove through when previously in office. He can do this, and he should.

What about the Social Democrats? Why isn't Roisin Shortall kicking down the door for the opportunity of a lifetime? She resigned as junior minister for health in 2012 due to frustration with health cuts and Fine Gael minister James Reilly.

Since then she founded the Committee on the Future of Healthcare, which produced the blueprint for SlainteCare, the proposal to create a single-tier health system.

How could she resist the offer to be health minister and become the Noel Browne of the 21st century? Unless she thinks it can't be done and it'll be much easier to criticise someone else's failure? After all, she walked out in 2012. Can she be relied upon to walk back in, and this time stay in? I wish she would.

Then, of course, we have the Greens, whose success in winning 12 seats conferred upon them the principal obligation to enter government. I've never seen a party so disappointed to have done so well in an election.

On the upside, they have finally moved on from their ludicrous unity government proposal to creating a list of 17 "demands" for talks. This is genuine progress.

However, I'll be following the mood closely to see if this is a genuine offer or a pretext to create a narrative that they tried and were betrayed.

But if agreement on housing, health and climate change can be found, will that be enough? No.

Because what really makes a good coalition partner is not necessarily policy, but reliability and political maturity.

The last thing you want are people threatening to walk out every five minutes, hoping a manufactured principle will save them in an election.

Catherine Murphy and Roisin Shortall just don't seem to have the temperament for it.

As for the Greens, I've always liked Eamon Ryan. He walked through fire in the bailout years and is still standing with a resurgent party. But his activists don't understand they were elected by former Fine Gael and Fianna Fail voters who believe in responsibility, not mere agitation.

However, perhaps the penny is dropping with his newbie TDs that they are most likely to lose their seats not as a punishment for entering government, but for failing to do so.

I sincerely wish they had come to this realisation six weeks ago instead of wasting time sulking.

Perhaps the 17 demands will result in a government, but if I were Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, I'd create a safety net, especially as Ryan is clearly at odds with his parliamentary party and might be helpless to control infighting and splits. A more stable government would consist of Labour, and that group of copped-on, emotionally mature pragmatists who have a proven track record in political reliability: the Independents.

But the reality is this: unless a deal is done, and quickly, there will be another election. Voters will see who put the country first and who played games. In that scenario, the only losers are the messers.
DEAL OF THE WEEK

Harper Goes Wild for McKeegan In a six-figure preempt, Harpers Sarah Stein bought Colleen McKeegans debut novel, The Wild One. The North American rights agreement was brokered by Michelle Brower at Aevitas Creative Management. The author was most recently a senior features editor at Marie Claire magazine and is a National Magazine Award nominee. The book, a work of psychological suspense, centers on a summer that three friends spent at sleepaway camp, Harper explained, and is about the danger of keeping secrets buried for too long. Calling the novel a story of friendship and of mean girls, the publisher said it turns the familiar summer camp setting on its head, dipping into the dark edges of the forest to craft a narrative about childhood trauma and the scars that shape us. The Wild One is slated for summer 2022.

FROM THE U.S.

Atria Takes Fords Dorothy

At auction, Atria acquired two new books by Jamie Ford. The deal, rumored to be worth seven figures, is for the novel Tomorrow, Dorothy, set for 2021, and a second, untitled book. Lindsay Sagnette took U.S., Canadian and open market rights in the agreement, which was brokered by Kristin Nelson at Nelson Literary Agency. Atria said Tomorrow, Dorothy follows five generations of women in one family and shows how trauma runs through the generations until one mother dares to break the pattern of this dangerous inheritance. Fords 2009 bestseller Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet (Ballantine) has sold, Atria noted, nearly two million copies in the U.S. alone.

Winsberg Gets Thumbs Up from Doubleday

For six figures, Doubledays Yaniv Soha nabbed Mimi Winsbergs Speaking in Thumbs: A Psychiatrist Decodes Relationship Texts So You Dont Have To at auction. The self-help title, slated for 2022, is, the publisher said, a guide for decoding relationship texts that draws from psychological research and real-life online dating interactions, including the authors own. Winsberg is the cofounder of the telehealth company Brightside and is the resident psychiatrist at Facebook. She was represented by Howard Yoon at the Ross Yoon Agency.

Femia Swaps Stage for Page at FSG

Playwright Gina Femia sold the tentatively titled YA novel Allond(r)a to Farrar, Straus and Giroux Books for Young Readers in an exclusive submission. The world rights agreement was brokered between Joe Veltre at the Gersh Agency and FSGs Trisha de Guzman. The agency said the coming-of-age story is about a girl and her friends who wrestle their way through the summer, sometimes on the playgrounds of Coney Island, sometimes with their feelings. The novel, which is based on Femias play of the same name, is set for winter 2022.

Manguso Sells Debut Novel to Hogarth

Sarah Manguso sold her debut novel, Very Cold People, in a two-book, North American rights deal to Hogarth. She is the author of four previous nonfiction titles and was represented by PJ Mark at Janklow & Nesbit Associates. Hogarth said Very Cold People is a coming-of-age tale about inheritance and violence set in small-town Massachusetts. The second book in the deal is a novel that will examine, per Hogarth, white anxiety and identity in a Jewish-Italian family in 1940s New England.

Balzer Reads Ramees Map

For HarperCollinss Balzer + Bray imprint, Alessandra Balzer nabbed world English rights in a two-book deal to Lisa Moore Ramees middle grade fantasy Mapmaker. Brenda Bowen at the Book Group represented the author, saying it follows a mapmaker who must pit his own powers against another, malevolent mapmaker who has the power to destroy any worldincluding our own. The book is set for spring 2022.
A school student was caught out by classmates having a nap in bed during an online lesson amid the coronavirus lockdown.

The hilarious incident reportedly took place last week in the city of La Plata, in the eastern Argentina province of Buenos Aires when student Mateo Peluso was attending a class on Zoom.

Peluso reportedly put his computer next to his bed to attend the class but then dozed off on camera.

In the video, he can be seen sleeping in bed.

Mateo Peluso was caught by his classmates having a nap during an online lesson. Source: Newsflash/Australscope

The teacher, who has not been named, was quoted in local media as saying: They fall asleep in class, but falling asleep in bed, that has never happened with any student.

The video has gone viral with more than 2.1 million views and 131,000 likes on social media.

I think it is a lack of respect, learn to respect the time of others, one commented.

I am laughing a lot, another said.

The President of Argentina Alberto Fernandez extended the social distance until April 26 and said that it is not a priority to get students back to school because of the coronavirus crisis.

According to the latest figures from the Johns Hopkins University, Argentina has registered more than 3,200 cases of COVID-19, with more than 150 deaths.

Australscope

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-25 19:16:05|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

KABUL, April 25 (Xinhua) -- At least 28 Afghans including four civilians have been killed and more than two dozen more civilians injured over the past 24 hours in Afghanistan after the Taliban outfit refused government offer to observe ceasefire during Ramadan, the Muslim holy fasting month that begun on Friday.

In the latest gun battle which took place in Qala-e-Zal district of the northern Kunduz province at around noon Saturday and lasted for 30 minutes, four Taliban insurgents were killed and another wounded, local police officer Khal Mohommad said.

Similarly, the national army in a statement released Saturday reported killing 17 Taliban militants and wounding 13 others in Shahrak district of the western Ghor province.

Police have also claimed that the Taliban indiscriminate firing on residential areas claimed the life of one civilian in the eastern Ghazni and three others in the northern Faryab province over the past 24 hours.

According to police, 25 more civilians including 15 women and children in the said provinces have been injured since Friday.

The escalation in fighting has been seen since Friday, the first day of Ramadan, when Afghans have called upon warring sides to observe ceasefire.

Afghanistan president Mohammad Ashraf Ghani in his message on Thursday, the eve of Ramadan, called on Taliban outfit to observe ceasefire during Ramadan and stop killing Afghans during the holy month, but the armed group rejected the offer and vowed to keep on fighting.

Backing the appeal, Afghan religious scholars and prayer leaders in their sermons on Friday congregation described Ramadan as the month of peace, reconciliation and brotherhood, urging the Taliban group to halt hostilities and join the peace process to end the war in the country. Enditem
Some time ago, I got my hands on a copy of 'To the Man after the Harrow' - the life and times of former councillor, Nicholas McCabe, and what an amazing read it is.

It's a memoir of growing up in mid Louth in the 1930s and a recollection of a busy farming and political life.

In his forward, his son, Tomas, thanks Margaret McArdle who spent hours listening to the stories and writing up the words to make the book possible.

Nicholas was born in 1927 in Dromin and ultimately spent 50 years in public life. He was asked to stand for Fianna Fail in the 1955 council elections and Fin Matthews from Cappogue, Padraig Faulkner and Joe Sharkey were the men that persuaded him. They knew their stuff, Nicholas topped the poll!

He joined the council that year with Gerry McKeever from Togher.

Houses were badly needed and Nicholas had his own ideas about that.

His feeling was that smaller estates and more of them were needed. He said bigger estates led to trouble and later people would agree that in some places, people didn't know their neighbours.

He cited Church View in Dunleer, a relatively small grouping, but a place that had no issues.

Another part of the book relates the story of the recreation centre in Dunleer, behind the GAA pitch.

In 1974, Padraig Faulkner rang him to say if a site could not be found, then Dunleer would lose the funding for the centre.

Off Nicholas went to Dunleer, spotted Pat Byrne's big shed and went off and got the council and Pat and Kieran and McGee together and the site was secured.

But they ran into money trouble and 10 people had to come up with 5,000 each to get it finished. Nicholas was one of them.

He became chairman of the council for the 8th and last time in 2003 after which he stepped aside from politics.

The book has many more snippets of great info, including one about his father, Thomas McCabe from Mountdoyle, Togher, who went to Australia to work in 1911, a journey that took six weeks.

If you get your hands on the book, it's well worth a read.
ATLANTA, April 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Classic Collision Inc., an Atlanta-based automotive collision repair company, announced that it has acquired Palm Collision Center in the South Florida region. This acquisition solidifies Classic Collision's presence in South Florida after the purchase of Carolina Auto Body in December 2019, now giving Classic eight South Florida locations.

Palm Collision Center has served the Broward Florida area since October 1983. "After 17 years as an independent body shop serving South Florida, it's exciting to join an expanding company, Classic Collision, which shares the same values of great customer service, quality repairs and genuinely valuing every team member," said Shane O'Connor, former managing partner of Palm Collision.

"We are elated to join forces with Kevin Kelley and Shane O'Connor to transition Palm Collision over to the Classic Collision brand," stated Toan Nguyen, Classic Collision's CEO. "Their business values and strong insurance relationships are aligned with the Classic model."

The addition of the Palm Collision Center to the Classic family will increase the footprint to 35 shops in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, and South Carolina and add 14 new employees to the Classic team. With similar values, the two companies look forward to merging the Classic and Palm families and continuing to provide industry-leading service to their customers.

Classic Collision is continuing to execute its plan to expand nationally, even with the challenges that the collision industry is facing during the coronavirus pandemic. "Despite the challenging market conditions, we are not slowing down our growth  we are accelerating it and plan on continuing to grow our business through acquisition. Our best-in-class integration model and highly efficient operating playbook enable us to perform at a high level during a crisis. Continuing to acquire high-quality businesses makes sense for our teammates, stakeholders, landlords, the communities we serve, our insurance partners, and the long-term health of the economy," stated Nguyen, CEO.

About Classic Collision

Classic Collision was founded in 1983 in Atlanta, Georgia, with one goal: to serve customers with honesty and integrity while employing the best talent and using the highest-quality materials. Today, Classic Collision is among the largest privately held Auto Body Repair, Mobile Auto Glass, and Calibration services providers in the country. The Company operates locations in four states across the U.S. with 35 state-of-the-art repair facilities. Our numerous manufacturer certifications and factory-direct training make us a leader in comprehensive collision repair and mobile auto glass.

Classic Collision is continuously looking to add new collision repair locations and automotive glass repair and replacement businesses to its existing network as well as expand into new markets within the U.S. For anyone interested in selling their business to Classic, please visit classiccollision.net/join/ and start a confidential discussion today.

For more information and to find a local Classic Collision location, visit www.ClassicCollision.net and follow Classic on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter.

Media Contact:

Kristi Senger

[email protected]

(833) 425-2771

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The drive-by media is attempting to persuade and convince people that Donald Trump told people to drink Drano at the White House press briefing, the radio host Rush Limbaugh said dismissively on his Friday show. That Donald Trump told people to go out and get a syringe and inject Clorox in their arms, and that this could be dangerous.

Here is what Mr. Trump said at Thursdays briefing: I see the disinfectant that knocks it out in a minute, one minute. And is there a way we can do something like that by injection inside, or almost a cleaning? Because you see it gets inside the lungs, and it does a tremendous number on the lungs, so it would be interesting to check that.

Joel B. Pollak, the senior editor at large at Breitbart News, wrote about that statement in a column that ran under the headline Fact Check: No, Trump Didnt Propose Injecting People With Disinfectant.

Trump used the word inject, but what he meant was using a process  which he left medical doctors to define  in which patients lungs might be cleared of the virus, Mr. Pollak wrote. (Breitbart later retracted its fact check headline, saying the column should have been framed as an opinion piece.)

The White House press secretary, Kayleigh McEnany, issued a statement on Friday accusing the news media of taking Mr. Trumps words out of context. That was before Mr. Trump claimed that he had spoken sarcastically, to get a rise out of journalists.

Neil Cavuto, a Fox host who has been critical of Mr. Trump, was not impressed with that excuse. I think its important on the president to say and come out unequivocally: Some of you took me seriously, even though I sounded serious saying it. Please do not. Please do not even consider injecting some of this stuff into your system, Mr. Cavuto said during a Friday appearance on Fox Business.

It was not the first time that Mr. Trump has offered medical advice on how to combat the virus. For weeks, he touted the use of a malaria drug, hydroxychloroquine, from behind a lectern with the presidential seal.
This was supposed to be their year.

Measures put in place to control the spread of COVID-19, which was labeled a pandemic in March, has forced a disappointingly early ending to all extracurricular activities and cancelation of senior milestones like prom and Senior Breakfast. Plainview ISD has not yet made any formal announcements regarding how or if graduation will be celebrated.

The end of ZyRon Whites senior year was shaping up to end on several high notes. As part of the Plainview High School choir, he and his peers were gearing up for a trip to Austin to compete at the state competition. Hed qualified last year with a score of 1 making him even more excited about the possibilities of his senior season.

Its a similar story for countless PHS seniors.

Since the kids are missing out on experiences, local parents, including ZyRon Whites mother, Nikki Wall, are thinking up creative ways to publicly recognize the accomplishments of the class of 2020.

Her sons disappointment is what led Wall to start a Facebook page to recognize area seniors called We love our seniors!! Class of 2020. Loved ones from around the area can join and publicly highlight their seniors accomplishments with photos and bios. The page was started almost one month ago and has grown to include 251 members as of Friday.

A few weeks later, Julie White, the mother of another PHS senior, contacted Wall about starting another group (Adopt A Plainview High School Senior) specifically to shower PHS seniors with gifts. In one week, that page has since grown to more than 762 members.

When parents or guardians  thats a rule of the group  post a photo and a few words about their senior, different group members can choose to adopt them and provide them with a gift or gifts. Julie White said it can be just one gift or multiple gifts leading up to the end of the school year.

She got the idea after seeing a page for Lubbocks seniors. The goal is to get every PHS senior adopted. A school official said there are about 300 seniors this year.

I have a senior myself, Julie White said. I know how devastating it is to us. I had contacted Nikki and said hey, why dont we do this adopt a senior page and tie it into the other page? Because so many kids had already posted pictures and stuff.

Her son, Blaise White, spent much of his high school career being active in FFA. She watched her son work hard in school and in the stock show ring. One of the highlights of his senior year was supposed to be the Houston Stock Show, she noted. But it was canceled.

I know all the seniors have worked hard to get to this point, Julie White said.

Blaise White is one of her two kids. His sister is older than him and already graduated from PHS.

Julie White and Wall both mentioned theyd already started making plans for graduation parties and were looking at prom attire.

But with everything thats going on, Julie White had to cancel the deposit on the graduation celebration venue.

ZyRon White is also Walls youngest. She had planned to go all out for both his prom and graduation but has also had to cancel those preparations.

The community support being shown to their sons and other seniors is touching, though. Its provided a bright ray of sunshine on an otherwise cloudy situation.

As the social isolation disruption to the school year continues, so does the brainstorming to figure out how else to recognize the class of 2020. While the fate of graduation remains unknown at this time, theres already chatter on those pages to maybe host some kind of senior parade  abiding by social distancing guidelines, of course. Community vendors have also stepped forward to offer yard signs and other special promotions.

My heart has been so overjoyed, Julie White said. The community has opened up to our seniors.
Umar Khalid, Safoora Zargar, PFI, student activists and the one link to Delhi riots

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Apr 25: The probe into the northeast Delhi riots have thrown up several more facts and the investigators are now joining the dots.

Several more students have come under the scanner. The Delhi police while scanning the WhatsApp chats of several persons has learnt that there is a common link. Under the scanner are members of the Popular Front of India, All India Students' Association and the Jamia Coordination Committee.

It may be recalled that the police had slapped charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act against two Jamia students and former JNU student, Umar Khalid.

Delhi violence: Delhi police slap charges under UAPA against Umar Khalid, Jamia activists

Charges under the UAPA were also slapped against RJD's youth wing president, Meeran Haider, JCC media coordinator, Safoora Zargar and a northeast Delhi resident, Danish.

The police have found that there is a common link between all of them. All of them were discussing the protest apart from the security arrangements by the police. The chats further revealed that these persons had allegedly asked for the mobilisation of people in large numbers. The focus was to bring more women and children, the probe also found.

The riots were incited mostly by these persons. Some had made provocative speeches, which led to the protest turning violent, the police also added.

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.

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.
Four council incumbents  Robert White (D-At Large), Brandon Todd (D-Ward 4), Vincent Gray (D-Ward 7) and Trayon White (D-Ward 8)  have signaled their intent to hold on to their jobs. Robert White is uncontested. A fifth incumbent, David Grosso (I-At Large), is hanging it up, putting his seat up for grabs. So, too, is the Ward 2 seat once occupied by Jack Evans (D), who resigned before his colleagues could, with good reason, kick him off the council.
The engineers at NASA have developed VITAL or Ventilator Intervention Technology Accessible Locally, which is a high-pressure ventilator prototype specifically tailored to help coronavirus patients.

After passing a critical test at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York earlier this week, NASA is hoping for fast-track approval of the ventilator in the coming days so it can be used to help coronavirus patients.

Dr. Matthew Levin, the director of innovation of the Human Simulation Lab and associate professor of anesthesiology, perioperative and pain medicine, and genetics and genomic sciences at the Icahn School of Medicine, said in a statement that they are pleased with the results of the testing that they've performed in their high-fidelity human simulation lab.

Dr. Levin added that the NASA prototype performed as expected under a wide variety of simulated patient conditions. NASA feels confident that the VITAL ventilator will be able to safely ventilate patients who are suffering from COVID-19 both in the United States and around the world.

Also Read: Coronavirus Mutation: Studies Show COVID-19 May Be 30 Times More Deadly

VITAL ventilator

The VITAL ventilator works like traditional ventilators, where sedated patients rely on an oxygen tube to help them breathe. But VITAL is built to last three or four months unlike ventilators in hospitals that were made to last for years and help patients with other medical issues.

The engineers at NASA hope that more traditional ventilators can be freed up for patients with the most severe cases of coronavirus if VITAL is used. The ventilator was also made to offer more oxygen at higher pressures than traditional ventilators because Dr. Levin said that some of the patients that he is treating needed that capability.

Dr. J.D. Polk, NASA's chief health and medical officer, said in a statement that intensive care units are seeing COVID-19 patients who require highly dynamic ventilators. The intention with VITAL is to decrease the chances of patients getting to the advanced stage of the disease and require more advanced ventilator assistance.

The engineers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena developed the ventilator but it won't compete with the existing supply chain for ventilators. VITAL is built using fewer parts and most of which are available in current supply chains. The ventilator is also built to be flexible with easy maintenance, which means it can be used in the diverse settings hosting field hospitals, including convention centers and hotels.

Michael Watkins, JPL director, stated that they specialize in spacecraft, not medical-device manufacturing. But excellent engineering, rigorous testing, and rapid prototyping are some of their specialties. When people at JPL realized that they might have what it takes to support the medical community and the broader community, they felt that it was their duty to share their expertise, ingenuity, and drive.

Creating other medical equipment

NASA is trying to help fill the gaps due to shortages of other medical equipment in local communities. One new device is the Aerospace Valley Positive Pressure Helmet. It is a device that can be used to help treat coronavirus patients with minor symptoms so they don't have to use a ventilator.

The helmet is already tested successfully and submitted to the FDA for emergency use authorization. Meanwhile, 500 are currently in production.



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.
People wait in line to receive food at a Food Bank distribution for those in need as the coronavirus pandemic continues on April 9, 2020 in Van Nuys, California.

Rancho Cucamonga, a city of about 178,000 people east of Los Angeles, laid off its 289 part time workers. In San Jose, the 10th largest city in the country, leaders expect revenues to drop 8.6%  far larger than the 2.9% revenue loss during the Great Recession.

In Yountville, a city of nearly 3,000 in California's famed wine country where 74% of its annual budget comes from taxes on sales and hotel rooms, Mayor John Dunbar says a 60% loss in revenue is expected in the upcoming budget.

Cities large and small say they are feeling the pain of an abrupt economic halt as most businesses and restaurants have closed and people aren't traveling because of the mandatory stay-at-home order.

"Obviously, the longer the stay-at-home orders are in place, the longer businesses are closed, the greater the revenue shortfalls will be," said Carolyn Coleman, the league's executive director.

But that estimate, compiled by the League of California Cities, assumes the stay-at-home order lifts by June 1  an unlikely scenario in a state where Gov. Gavin Newsom and public health officials have said bans on large gatherings and unnecessary travel will likely extend well into summer.

California's 482 cities say they will collectively lose $6.7 billion over the next two years because of the coronavirus pandemic, prompting layoffs and furloughs for public workers and potential cuts to basic services such as sanitation, public safety and housing.

And in Grass Valley, a city of fewer than 13,000 people in the Sierra Nevada foothills, leaders have laid off four employees  and police and fire departments could be next.

"We are bare bones as it is," Grass Valley Councilwoman Jan Arbuckle said. "If things continue down this path, we have no other choice other than to start looking at reducing our public safety, which is not what we want to do especially going into our fire season."

Congress sent $5.8 billion to California local governments as part of a $2.2 trillion aid package, but most of that money went to counties. Only six California cities qualified because they had populations greater than 500,000 people: Fresno, Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco and San Jose.

But the federal government says cities can't use that money to cover revenue shortfalls and can only use it for coronavirus-related expenses.

"It was nice to get a $92 million check," Fresno Mayor Lee Brand said. "We have to go forward with our budget with the presumption it is not going to be there."

The League of California Cities asked Newsom and the Legislature on Thursday to help cities cover those shortfalls. Newsom plans to unveil a budget proposal next month after scrapping the $222.2 billion spending plan he proposed in January.

For most people, the virus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness and death.

California has more than 39,000 coronavirus cases and more than 1,500 deaths, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. The number of infections is thought to be far higher because many people have not been tested, and studies suggest people can be infected with the virus without feeling sick.

But the virus' spread has been far less devastating in California than public health officials had feared. Wednesday, the state saw declines in the both the number of confirmed and suspected coronavirus hospitalizations for the first time.

With hospitals far from capacity, Newsom announced Wednesday they could resume elective surgeries. And Thursday, Newsom said 16 California-based doctors had volunteered to help in New York City, the center of the outbreak in the U.S.

Still, Newsom reiterated on Thursday it could be some time before he loosens the state's stay-at-home order. He said if people were to pack beaches, parks, playgrounds and hiking trails this weekend, then "I'll be announcing in a week or so these numbers going back up."

"I don't think anybody wants to hear that," he said.

In a conference call with reporters on Thursday, Dunbar  who is also the president of the League of California Cities  said cities are anxious for businesses to reopen.

"But we are not going to rush that effort," he said. "We all agree that public health and our public health officers are rightfully driving the timing as we move forward."
Assistant Employment Security Secretary Lockhart Taylor addresses a COVID-19 briefing Thursday, April 2. | Photo: UNC-TV

After weeks of waiting and hours on the phone, Laura Reich, a Matthews resident and dental hygienist who lost her job March 17, finally got the unemployment pay promised her by North Carolina and the federal government.Reich is one of 273,699 people who've received unemployment benefits from the N.C. Division of Employment Security since March 15. To date, more than 705,399 people have filed claims, DES says.North Carolina, which ranks last in the nation at making timely payments to people who qualify for unemployment insurance, is working hard to manage the onslaught of claims due COVID-19, said Lockhart Taylor, assistant secretary for employment security at the N.C. Department of Commerce. But still more people are set to swarm DES after Gov. Roy Cooper on Tuesday expanded unemployment insurance to include furloughed workers.The department is inTaylor told a House committee April 21. Its call team is bombarded daily with roughly 80,000 calls. That eclipses numbers the department saw during the 2009 recession and Hurricane Florence, Taylor said.By April 24, DES plans to have more than 1,000 workers manning the telephones. The department hopes to field 33,000 calls each day, Taylor said. The department is looking into an instant message option that may help cut call volume.Reich, who works for a private dental office near Charlotte, phoned DES countless times after applying for unemployment March 18. Like many others, she experienced dropped calls and long wait times. Finally, on April 20, she reached a DES worker, but only after holding for seven hours.Money, including back payments of $600 per week from the federal government's Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program , appeared in her bank account the next morning. She checked her balance twice - just to be sure it wasn't a joke.Reich said.Gillian Wilk, another Charlotte-area worker, isn't so lucky. Wilk worked two jobs before the onset of COVID-19. When North Carolina's courts closed in March, the legal transcriber lost her contract job, but managed to retain about 20 hours of at-home work as an internet assessor for Lionbridge , an internet and software testing company.At first, Wilk was approved to receive $250 a week from DES. Then she learned she could only receive unemployment if she limited earnings at her remaining job to $45 per week, Wilk told CJ. Under state unemployment rules, people collecting unemployment are allowed to earn 20% of their weekly benefit without penalty.The situation feels impossible, Wilk said. If she cuts work hours, she won't make enough to cover her bills - and feels no assurance that she'll actually receive any assistance as the state struggles to shoulder hundreds of thousands of unemployment claims. But without financial assistance, she's unsure her reduced paychecks will suffice until courts reopen and she returns to her normal work schedule.CJ emailed Taylor, asking if DES is working with the governor to address situations like Wilk's, and to ask how the numbers DES reports on its website correlate to numbers the department is required to submit to the U.S. Department of Labor, but received no response by press time.The department is doing its best, Taylor said to House members Tuesday, especially as it readies the launch of the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program, part of the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. Under the plan , independent contractors and self-employed people can apply for unemployment benefits. DES plans to accept those claims by April 25, but is concerned aboutTaylor said.The department is running multiple tests on the program and working with the N.C. Department of Revenue to cross-check wages, he said.Taylor said.
From Holly Willoughby to Carrie Symonds, fashion label Ghost has the backing of some of the most high profile women in British public life.

And while it has become a regular fixture on celebrity Instagram feeds over the last two years, last night Ghost was catapulted into the global spotlight after it was chosen by the Duchess of Cambridge for her televised clap for carers appearance.

Within hours of the segment being aired on BBC1 - and photos of the moment shared around the world - the 129 Anouk dress had sold out and royal fan accounts were filled with suggestions on where you might pick up the style second-hand.

Such is the power of having your product seen on one of the world's most photographed women.

British fashion label Ghost was catapulted into the global spotlight last night after it was chosen by the Duchess of Cambridge as she clapped for NHS workers alongside her husband Prince William and their three children, pictured. The dress sold out within hours

The brand made national headlines in July last year after it was chosen by Carrie Symonds for her high profile outing to watch boyfriend Boris Johnson give his first speech at Downing Street, right. Pictured left, Holly Willoughby in a Ghost dress in early March

For Ghost, Kate's royal endorsement is the surest sign yet that the label is enjoying a full-fledged fashion revival - 12 years after it almost collapsed during the 2008 financial crisis.

The label was founded in 1984 by Tanya Sarne, who at the time was an unemployed single mother with no experience in fashion. The brand took its name from the idea that Sarne would rely on trained designers to 'ghost write' the label while she retained overall creative control.

Thanks to its signature offering of floating, clinging, ultra-feminine dresses that had a vintage feel and were crafted in a durable, easy-to-care for viscose, Ghost built up a devoted customer base - first in Britain and then around the world.

Among the high profile fans was Welsh-born fashion industry heavyweight Grace Coddington, creative director of large at American Vogue, who described Ghost as 'clothes every woman likes to wear'.

Ghost has also been in regular rotation in arguably the most sought-after non-royal wardrobe in Britain: that of This Morning star Holly Willoughby, who has worn five different Ghost dresses since the start of this month alone. Pictured, Holly in one of her lockdown Ghost looks

However the brand struggled financially, reporting a loss of 72,000 in 2004, according to an article in the Independent, and making just 499 the following year.

Sarne sought out investment and in 2005 sold a controlling interest in the company to retail entrepreneur Kevin Sanford, who co-founded Karen Millen, and Icelandic investment group Arev for 5million. The following year Sarne departed the label.

The chain found its savior in Touker Suleyman, pictured, Dragons' Den star and owner of shirtmakers Hawes & Curtis

Just two years later Ghost was forced into administration after Icelandic private investment fund KCAJ refused to put any more money into the company following the collapse of the Icelandic banking market.

The chain found its savior in Touker Suleyman, the future Dragons' Den star and owner of shirtmakers Hawes & Curtis.

With creative director Sameera Azeem at the helm, Ghost's sales have continued to grow. Website were up 95 per cent in 2017 from 2014.

'Ghost has struggled over the years and in the last few years we have been slowly changing the direction,' Azeem said in a recent interview with Forbes.

'I wanted to do this slowly and organically as we had a very loyal customer base and didnt want to alienate that customer base by just suddenly changing the brand. Doing it this way they grew with the brand and stayed loyal to us.'

The brand has also attained new customers with its floaty dresses and separates that perfectly capture the trend for retro tea dresses.

It also boasts a growing wholesale business and is now stocked in Selfridges, Zalando, John Lewis, Anthropologie and ASOS.
The state's weekly coronavirus total has fallen sharply as the number of Queenslanders fined for breaching public health orders keeps steadily climbing.

Only 16 patients tested positive for COVID-19 in the week to Saturday, even as testing criteria was expanded on Friday to include anyone with symptoms, anywhere in the state.

That's less than a third of the coronavirus 54 cases recorded in the previous seven-day period.

Two more coronavirus cases has tested positive in Queensland. Credit:AFR

The two new COVID-19 cases added on Saturday brought the state's total, which was revised overnight, to 1026 as Australia's death toll rose to 80.
25.04.2020 LISTEN

I have just returned home to tune in to Neat FM radio online. I could hear a female named as Naa Koryor grant an interview to the radio programme hosted by Mark Jerry. The radio presenter mentioned her as the NDC parliamentary aspirant desirous to wrestle power from the incumbent NPP parliamentarian for the constituency.

From what I heard the woman say, in the raised voice said, and the phone-in counter submission made by the MMDCE for the metropolis, followed by the phone-in statement made by the Pentecost Church Area Head, the woman is not only a liar, but a sly personality playing on the intelligence of Ghanaians and especially, that of her future constituents.

I could hear her allege that the food the government ordered to be distributed to the vulnerable people, thus the poor and the needy, during the partial lockdown of Greater Accra, Tema, part of the Central region, to be precise Kasoa, and Greater Kumasi, was distributed to only NPP members. People were requested to present their party membership card and the food was given only to those holding NPP membership card, she alleged.

When the MMDCE for the area phoned in to counter her many claims which were politically-motivated for all dubious reasons, with the Pentecost Church Area Head phoning in to clear the air, I can see the woman as a complete misfit for the position of representing the constituents of Ewutu Senya constituency.

Both the MMDCE and the pastor explained how the food is distributed and how the vulnerable are located. Nowhere was the food distributed or is being distributed to NPP cardholders only as is contrarily alleged by this shameless NDC parliamentary aspirant.

When the MMDCE asserted that she was distributing water from tankers to the people with her posters pasted on the tankers, she could not deny it. Therefore, she was rather the one doing politics in the midst of the nation fighting to contain the spread of the deadly novel coronavirus (Covid-19) while at the same time showing sympathy to the poor and the needy. However, she had earlier tried her hardest to inform the listening public that the NPP and the President of Ghana have been doing politics with the distribution of food and water to the people of Ghana and especially, to the people of Kasoa.

She was simply being loudmouth, claiming at some point that she is a journalist hence can take on the MMDCE on any reckless tangent if she was dared. Her behaviour makes her one of the idiots that I love not to suffer kindly.

Why is she that callous to use the suffering of the nation and the people to do cheap politics? Why should the NDC be distributing food to the people saying it is coming to you from the President-in-waiting, John Dramani Mahama? What nonsense is that? Is it the appropriate time to do party politics?

They are once again trying to buy over their proclaimed Ghanaians of short memory by the meagre food distributed to the people by them.

Anyway, Ghanaians must be their own best judges. I would love to take her on if she would throw the gauntlet to me even though, I am very tight on time. I have a strong aversion to the corrupt and lying Ghanaian politicians, of whom Naa Koryor is proving herself to be one. They are the cause of Ghanas economic woes, denigration and oftentimes treatment of Ghanaians as weaklings and subhuman by other people.

The Covid-19 has come to teach the world a bitter lesson where Ghanaians must learn not to allow themselves to be fooled by corrupt politicians anymore. Therefore, the continuous play of propaganda by the NDC and any politician whomsoever, will not be countenanced but countered mercilessly.

Today, I am sparing Naa Koryor and all her ilk the rod but in future, she will regret with her journalism should she decide to play on the intelligence of Ghanaians as she did today at the radio station.

Rockson Adofo

Saturday, 25 April 2020
ALTON  The St. Louis Urban League hosted a drive-through meal giveaway on Friday afternoon in the Henry Street Park parking lot in Alton.

Almost two hours before the event was to start, the line of cars waiting for food stretched from the park entrance to the parking lot of the Argosy Casino Alton.

The first customer in line, William Niemeyer, said he arrived at around 7:45 a.m. after learning of the event early Friday morning.

I just wanted to see whatever theyve got, Niemeyer said.

St. Louis Urban League Senior Vice President Linda Harris said the group spent between $60,000 and $75,000 on Fridays food. They brought enough to feed about 1,700 families, she said.

Were serving people that, if not for COVID-19, we probably would not have serviced them before, Harris said. Being able to provide the food and the essential services will certainly go a long way in those households.

She also said that they group started planning for this event about two weeks ago, but had to identify a location where they could carry it out.

We realized the need was great, Harris said. So we needed to be in an area to be able to serve the highest number of people in Madison County.

Roy Gillespie, the leagues Director of Logistics, also was hand Friday for the distribution. He said he has been involved in efforts such as Fridays since 2001.

Once an event is planned, Im planning another one, he said.
ActionAid Ghana has handed over its newly built centre for survivors of domestic violence to the Ghana Health Service for use as COVID-19 isolation centre in Wa.



Handing over the keys to the new edifice, Mr George Dery, the Upper West Regional Programme Manager of ActionAid Ghana, noted that the gesture was as a result of a request made by the Wa Municipal Assembly.



He disclosed that ActionAid Ghana was equally considering some other forms of support, which would be made known in due time, stressing that the handing over of the centre was the first step of the organisation's support to the fight against the pandemic.



We will continue to contribute through diverse actions to make life meaningful for the poor and vulnerable that we have worked with in the past three decades, he assured.



Mr Dery noted that ActionAid Ghana also wished to add its voice to the numerous calls on citizens to be law abiding by obeying all restrictions imposed by government and observing all safety protocols to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in their communities.



The Upper West Programme Officer of ActionAid said it was important for all to understand that people infected with COVID-19 were not condemned to death and thus have a greater chance of surviving; hence their right to a life of dignity must be jealously protected against discrimination.



We encourage Ghanaians to desist from stigmatizing our brothers and sisters who are being affected with the virus. Lend some support and share the little that you have, Mr Dery pleaded.



Dr Hafiz Bin Salih, the Upper West Regional Minister thanked ActionAid Ghana for being a key development partner to the Region, adding that such support was what was required to boost the fight against the pandemic in the Region and the country at large.



He acknowledged that since the fight begun, all regional and district Health Management Committees in the Region had so far received support from various institutions and philanthropists, which according to him was commendable.



Dr Bin Salih appealed for more support to strengthen the fight in order to save lives.



Mr Issahaku Tahiru Moomin, the Wa Municipal Chief Executive, thanked ActionAid Ghana for granting their request to use the facility as an isolation centre for COVID-19 either than its original intended purpose.



He noted, however, that it was temporal, saying the facility would be reverted to its original purpose any time the pandemic was over.



Dr Pascal Kingsley Nwin, the Wa Municipal Health Director who received the key on behalf of GHS, also thanked ActionAid Ghana for the support, noting that hitherto they had a centre with just five beds.



He promised that the facility would be put to good use to provide comfort for persons put on isolation.

Source: GNA









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The Wyoming Legislature began piecing together plans Friday to deploy $1.25 billion in emergency federal funding in response to the economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The plans include the infusion of tens of millions of dollars in new funding for critical medical facilities, the creation of a new eviction avoidance program, assistance for local government, expansion of the states workers compensation and unemployment insurance programs, and the potential creation of a fund similar to the federal governments Paycheck Protection Program that will be aimed at small businesses.

Spread across two pieces of draft legislation, the plans  which will be finalized by legislative leadership next week  are based off of recommendations outlined in a meeting of the Legislatures Management Council last week, and written in consultation with state agencies and Gov. Mark Gordon.

The legislation  which is still in draft form  will likely be voted out of committee next Friday. A final decision will come during a special legislative session later this spring.

Whats in it?

The two bills are anticipated to direct hundreds of millions of dollars toward a variety of needs such as the purchase of personal protective equipment, capital construction at hospitals and wage relief for workers who had either been laid off or lost income as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Under the proposed legislation, phase one of that funding  encompassing more than $300 million  would be divided between state agencies, hospitals and clinics, and state and local governments to offset a number of costs incurred in responding to the pandemic, according to the bill text.

While the specific funding amounts have not yet been finalized, approximately $100 million of the first round would be set aside for state agencies. About $200 million would go to medical facilities, $40 million would be provided to cities and towns and $20 million would go to counties. Another $10 million would be spent on lending assistance through the Wyoming Community Development Authority for landlords to offset losses specifically for tenants earning 200 percent or less of the federal poverty level.

The draft legislation also includes a number of provisions intended to give more flexibility to the states Department of Workforce Services to assist those put out of work or whose hours have been reduced. These include a provision creating a work sharing program in Wyoming, which would allow those with reduced hours to tap into unemployment insurance to make up for those lost hours.

Though federal guidance released earlier this week offers a number of strict limitations on how the funding can be spent, lawmakers believe they have a broad flexibility under current statute to spend the money on a variety of pressing needs that are parallel to the front-line response to the COVID-19 crisis, including assistance making payroll and other needs.

While more funding could be coming down the pike, some  like Wyoming County Commissioners Association Director Jeremiah Rieman  argued that many of the front-line services to combat COVID-19 were carried out by municipal governments, who should receive more funding in phase one.

I believe that $60 million in local government appropriations is simply not enough, he said.

Too much or too little authority?

However, the legislation  which includes a number of limitations on how Gordon can spend that money  sets up a possible conflict between the legislative and executive branches.

Under existing law, the governor has significant authority to move unappropriated federal dollars around to existing programs under something called a B-11 process, which the governors office says gives it all but unrestricted access to the $1.25 billion to do with as it sees fit.

However on Friday, the Legislature put strict limitations on how much money the governor can spend all at once, and eliminated language to allow the governor the authority to set up a number of new programs to deploy those funds quickly.

Theres an interesting tension that would grant the governor some authority to create a program and move money into it, and it improves the flexibility we have to get those funds where theyre needed, Gordons policy director, Renny MacKay, said in an interview with the Star-Tribune on Friday. The question is how much money would be available for that.

The governor hopes to pursue a program that could potentially offer businesses and their employees hundreds of millions of dollars in payroll to keep cash flowing. However, lawmakers expressed concerns about the challenges in using the funds for loans  noting they have to be expended this year  and for setting up programs that could aid the states long-term recovery as it emerges from the economic crises stirred by the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly as federal funding has been fluid in recent weeks.

Rep. Mike Greear, R-Worland, stressed it was the Legislatures duty to exercise its oversight authority to vet any new programs and spending, even if temporary. However, others  such as Laramie Democrats Rep. Cathy Connolly and Sen. Chris Rothfuss  argued that too many specifics could weigh down the process when the Legislature debates the bills later this spring.

Gordon  who has exercised strict interpretations of executive authority in recent vetoes  declined to comment about the limitations of the bill. But he said he remained optimistic that greater changes could be made before a final draft of the bill leaves the desk of Management Council next week.

We anticipate further discussions on both bills and remain hopeful of the prospects of making further improvements to them over the next week, Gordon said in a statement. We appreciate the legislatures willingness to work with the executive branch on these important pieces of legislation.

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- A horrified mum woke up to find herself in a body bag after she was pronounced dead

- Funeral workers had been getting ready to prepare Gladys Duarte's body for service when she began moving

- The woman who suffered from ovarian cancer had been rushed to hospital with high blood pressure

- She was admitted to the San Fernando Clinic in Coronel Oviedo at 9.30am and was pronounced dead at 11.20am

- But as staff unloaded her, they were flabbergasted to realise she was moving

A horrified mum has woken up to find herself in a body bag after medics mistakenly pronounced her dead.

Gladys Rodriguez de Duarte, who suffers from ovarian cancer, had been admitted to San Fernando Clinic in Coronel Oviedo after experiencing a severe spike in blood pressure.

READ ALSO: COVID-19: Human trials of coronavirus vaccine to begin in UK, Germany

Gladys Rodriguez de Duarte had been admitted to San Fernando Clinic in Coronel Oviedo after experiencing a severe spike in blood pressure. Photo: The Mirror.

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Nairobi elderly couple who work as mechanics evicted over KSh 10k rent arrears

Two hours later, a physician, Heriberto Vera, mistakenly declared the 46-year-old woman dead and handed a death certificate to her husband and daughter.

New York Post reported shocked funeral workers in Paraguay had been getting ready to prepare Duarte's body for service when she began moving.

The resurrected patient was rushed to intensive care, where she is currently in a delicate but stable condition.

READ ALSO: Laikipia: Another landlord removes roof, leaves family in the cold over rent arrears

Needless to say, Duartes premature death declaration did not sit well with her enraged family members.

Her husband, Maximino Duarte Ferreira, has reportedly filed a complaint against the doctor.

He claimed medics purposefully announced her passing because they no longer wanted to treat her.

READ ALSO: Genius Taita Taveta man who set up own radio station, creates automated sanitiser dispenser

Gladys Rodriguez de Duarte (in red) who suffers from ovarian cancer, had been admitted to San Fernando Clinic. Photo: The Mirror.

Source: UGC

He assumed she was dead and handed her naked to me like an animal with her death certificate, a fumed Ferreira told local media.

"They disconnected her and passed her off to the funeral home without even trying to revive her," he claimed

However, doctors denied any foul play.

READ ALSO: 2 pet cats, 5 tigers and 3 African lions test positive for coronavirus

He tried to revive her, but it was unsuccessful, said fellow physician Catalino Fabio,

He added that Vera was unable to locate Duartes pulse.

She speculated that the patient may have suffered from catalepsy, a condition characterized by muscle rigidity and a complete lack of response to outside stimuli.

READ ALSO: Nairobi Hospital to charge KSh10K for coronavirus tests

Funeral workers had been getting ready to prepare Duarte's body for service when she began moving. Photo: The Mirror

Source: UGC

This was not the first time a patient appeared to rise from the dead.

In 2015, Queen's medics mistakenly declared a distraught woman deceased after she shot herself in the head.

Police then discovered she was still alive and transported her to a hospital, where she eventually succumbed to her injuries.

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
NCA investigators, supported by Border Force officers, recovered 36 kilos of cocaine from what is believed to be a purpose-built hide in a lorry that had travelled on a ferry from France to Dover

A Northern Ireland lorry driver has been arrested in a National Crime Agency drug swoop.

NCA investigators, supported by Border Force officers, recovered 36 kilos of cocaine from what is believed to be a purpose-built hide in a lorry that had travelled on a ferry from France to Dover.

The driver, a 50-year-old man from Magheralin in County Armagh, was arrested on suspicion of conspiring to import class A drugs.

Two men from the south of England were also detained.

As part of their investigation NCA officers, working jointly with colleagues from the Police Service of Northern Ireland, have searched properties in County Londonderry and County Armagh.

NCA regional head of investigations, Gerry McLean, said: "This was a significant seizure of class A drugs which would have generated a large amount of profit for criminals involved in drug supply."

All three men remain in custody and will be questioned by NCA investigators.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-26 00:59:47|Editor: huaxia

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LONDON, April 25 (Xinhua) -- Another 813 people who tested positive for COVID-19 have died in hospitals in Britain as of Friday afternoon, bringing the total number of coronavirus-related deaths to 20,319, the Department of Health and Social Care said Saturday.

As of Saturday morning, 148,377 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed, marking a daily increase of 4,913, according to the department.

With the deaths caused by the virus passing "another tragic and terrible milestone", the entire nation is grieving, said Home Secretary Priti Patel at Saturday's Downing Street coronavirus briefing.

"My deepest sympathies and condolences go to those who have lost loved ones," she said.

Previously, the government's Chief Scientific Adviser Sir Patrick Vallance said that keeping Britain's death toll below 20,000 would be "a good outcome in terms of where we would hope to get to with this outbreak".

At Saturday's press briefing, National Medical Director of NHS (National Health Service) England Stephen Powis explained: "When Sir Patrick Valance and I made that comment a number of weeks ago, what we were emphasizing was that this is a new virus, a global pandemic, a once-in-a-century global health crisis, and this was going to be a huge challenge, not just for the UK but for every country."

Earlier this week, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said Britain has hit "the peak" of the COVID-19 outbreak. But medical experts said only a valid vaccine or highly effective drugs can give people assurance that the fight against COVID-19 could be finally won.

The health department announced on Saturday that a clinical trial has been given approval to determine if plasma donated by patients who have recovered from COVID-19 can help those battling the illness.

If effective, a scaled-up national program will deliver up to 10,000 units of convalescent plasma per week to the NHS, and this would provide enough convalescent plasma to treat 5,000 patients each week, according to the department. Enditem
Italy's first coronavirus patient traveled from Wuhan, China, to Italy in late January and was admitted to the hospital with coronavirus symptoms days later. A recently published report shows that she had detectable traces of the virus in her eyes days after it had cleared from her nose.

The report demonstrates that the novel coronavirus can exist in an infected person's eye fluids at probable contagious levels, increasing the need for the everyday person to be cognizant about their hand hygiene and to keep their hands away from their face, experts say.

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The 65-year-old woman, who is not named in the report, arrived in Italy on Jan. 23 after leaving the first epicenter of the virus. By Jan. 29, she was admitted to an isolation unit at an Italian hospital with a dry cough, sore throat, stuffy nose and conjunctivitis, an infection of the lining of the eye commonly known as "pinkeye," in both eyes. She tested positive for the virus.

Doctors collected eye swabs from the woman on her third day of admission because of her persistent conjunctivitis, and researchers found she had detectable infectious particles in her eyes.

Her pinkeye cleared up by her 20th day in the hospital, but traces of genetic material from the coronavirus dallied.

The woman's eye samples tested positive for traces of the virus for up to her 21st day under care, according to the report. For about five days, it wasn't detected, until it showed up again on Day 27 - days after it was undetectable in her nasal swabs.

Researchers performed additional tests and found that the virus in her eyes had been replicating, meaning that her eyes could be contagious.

The findings indicate that eye secretions of patients infected with covid-19 could be contagious, along with the importance of practicing good personal hygiene, according to infectious disease experts.

Viral conjunctivitis, or pinkeye, is extremely contagious, so the new report serves as no surprise that covid-19 could be found in the eyes, said Aaron Glatt, professor and chair of the department of medicine at Mount Sinai South Nassau, a hospital in New York.

Glatt, who is also the spokesperson for the Infectious Diseases Society of America, said the study's findings could affect public health but noted that more research like it will have to be performed to gauge how widespread the issue is.

More for you 1 in 5 New Yorkers May Have Had COVID-19, Antibody Tests Suggest

The report mentioned that unprotected eye exposure was thought to be a source of infection at the Wuhan Fever Clinic in January. One covid-19 patient out of 30 with conjunctivitis at a Chinese hospital also had detectable amounts of the virus in their eyes.

"This has ramifications, but you can't make policy based on one patient," he said about the study, supporting the paper's message that more testing should be conducted.

The paper underscores how much scientists are continuing to learn about the virus, he said.

The findings also establish the connection between the nose and the eye that people don't always remember, said W. David Hardy, an infectious disease specialist and adjunct professor of medicine in the division of infectious diseases at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

Hardy said the nose and the eye act as a drainage system where viruses can travel up the nose and into the eye or the reverse, he said.

HOUSTON CORONAVIRUS UPDATES: Food handed out to over 5,000 Houston families at NRG Park

While the paper does verify that eye fluid can contain contagious traces of coronavirus, Hardy highlighted that the virus's favorite body cells are those that line the throat and the lungs, where it's known to inflict serious damage on its victims.

"The cells that are inside the eye are similar but not the same," he said. "When it gets into the eye, it doesn't cause nearly the same amount of destruction as it does to cells in the respiratory system."

The general public shouldn't rush out to purchase face shields because of the study's finding, but they should continue to practice good hand hygiene, experts say.

"The whole message that is important here is that you don't touch your face until you get home, wash your hands and make sure your hands are clean before touching your face," Hardy said. "You have to be extra vigilant and assume that everything out there could've been contaminated with fresh covid virus."
However, voters can go to indianavoters.com to check the status of their absentee ballots, she said.

Anyone wishing to vote in Indianas primary election this year should keep some deadlines in mind. The deadline to register to vote is May 4. Any registered voter requesting an absentee ballot must do so by May 21, and the completed ballot must be received by noon June 2, the day of the election, Bailey said.

At the polling place, there will be extra precautions in place to allow for social distancing, Bailey said. At the check-in station, where the most contact with poll workers will happen, there will be clear plastic shields for the safety of voters and poll workers. The countys facilities department is building them.

Bailey is waiting to hear from the Indiana secretary of states office about personal protective equipment for poll workers, she said.

Early voting will be held at five locations  the Porter County Administration Building in downtown Valparaiso, the North County Government Complex in Portage, Hebron Community Center, Chesterton Town Hall and Union Township fire station No. 2  from 8:30 to 8:30 p.m. May 26 through May 29, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on May 30 and 8:30 a.m. to noon on June 1.
Interstate 20 through Midland and Odessa will become three lanes each way, have one-way frontage roads, improved locations for entrance and exit ramps, new interchanges and underpasses converted to overpasses at eight locations.

Officials with the Odessa district of the Texas Department of Transportation recently explained their I-20 projects that cover a decade and more than $830 million in funding. For TxDOT, an I-20 rehabitation helps fufill its corridor vision, which is to develop a multimodal corridor plan that improves mobility and safety, enhances the regions economic opportunities and maintains infrastructure assets.

For residents of Midland and Odessa and those traveling through the Petroplex, the completion of five projects will give the Permian Basin a 40-plus-mile stretch of interstate through its largest metropolitan area that it has needed for a long time.

I-20 is coming into the 21st century, said John Speed, Odessa District engineer.

Speed said the current version of I-20 with its 1950s or 1960s roadway design and driving patterns unique to the area  is certainly nothing worthy of the heart of the oil business.

I have never seen anything like that, Speed said.

The projects

Project 1: Reconstruct an interchange at Midkiff Road. Cost: $28.16 million (fully funded). Anticipiated let year: 2020.

Project 2: Construct a new interchange at County Road 1250. Cost: $30 million (fully funded). Anticipated let year: 2020.

Project 3: Add one travel lane eastbound and westbound, reconstruct interchanges and reconfigure ramps, reconstruct frontage roads and convert to one way from JBS Parkway in Odessa to east of State Highway 349 in Midland. Cost: $340.2 million (funded to $182.7 million). Anticipated let year: 2022.

Project 4: Reconstruct frontage roads and convert to one-way, reconstruct interchanges and reconfigure ramps and add one travel lane eastbound and westbound from Farm-to-Market Road 1936 to JBS Parkway in Ector County. Cost: $214.95 million (funded to $127.75 million). Anticipated let year: 2026.

Project 5: Reconstruct frontage roads and convert to one-way, reconstruct interchanges and reconfigure ramps and add one travel lane eastbound and westbound from east of SH 349 to Farm-to-Market Road 307. Cost: $216.8 million (funded to $64.5 million). Anticipated let year: 2026.

Speed reports that TxDOT is roughly 90 percent complete with planning -- schematic phase for the corridor and the district has started detailed construction plans for projects 3, 4 and 5.

Projects 1 and 2 have been planned separately and detailed construction plans are already finished. Contracts will be bid for constructing those projects in late summer and early winter respectively, according to TxDOT.

Funding shouldnt be an issue

The Odessa District has been in an odd situation as of late  having money for projects on roads that the state long overlooked. Speed has been in Odessa for about 3  years but said the amount of funding for roads even beyond Midland-Odessa has increased dramatically. Speed said the running average on projects a few years ago was $60 million, but that he is looked at a half-billion dollars in plans this year. A lot of that goes to the energy corridor, Speed said. The Texas Transportation Commissions dedication of hundreds of millions of dollars to this region last year is confirmation of Speeds words.

Speed also said while there is nearly an additional $400 million needed to fully fund the five I-20 projects through Midland and Ector counties, he doesnt expect funding will be an issue. Too much work, he said, has gone into raising awareness for what the region needs. Speed credited the Permian Basin Metropolitan Planning Organization, the Midland-Odessa Transportation Alliance (MOTRAN), the Permian Strategic Partnership and the Permian Basin Petroleum Association for their roles in building consensus in the business community and with government leaders and moving projects forward.

We all know there are significant issues on the interstate corridor, but we support the revised plan which expedites the construction schedule, addresses the improvements that are needed and reduces local resources needed to make these improvements, wrote James Beauchamp, executive director of MOTRAN.

I think a lot of credit on this project goes to John Speed, our district engineer. He listened to community concerns over costs, time and addressing the actual needs and then incorporated that into a much better plan. If he had not been, the project we would be seeing today would just be a $350 million project to convert frontage roads over the next five to six years.

What these projects do

How many times have we seen the closure of one lane turn I-20 into a parking lot, traffic backed up from a frontage road and back onto the interstate or 18-wheelers carrying a load and striking a bridge? I-20s issues dont stop there, but that is what improvements could help fix.

Not only do the first two projects deal with intersections, but the five projects call for five new interchanges at County Roads 1300, 1260, 1250, 1140 and at Faudree Road. Underpasses also will be converted to overpasses at West Loop 380, South Crane Avenue, FM 1788, West Loop 250, Midkiff Road, Cotton Flat Road, South Lamesa Road and CR 1150.

Frontage roads will not only be reconstructed but turned into one-way roads. Speed called the change a function of timing.

Two-way (frontage roads) were the norm in the 1950s and 1960s, Speed said. No one had a clue how much traffic volume (the roads) would get. The need in this area never established until the use of fracturing. You now have truck movements that just jams up traffic and traffic lights.

A travel lane will be added in each direction for a total of six lanes. Speed stated that the extra lanes and improved circulation of traffic will be a benefit as volumes at peak locations in Midland reach 70,000 vehicles per day (about a quarter are heavy trucks) and 67,000 vehicles per day (one-third are heavy trucks) in Odessa.

Entrance and exit ramps will be moved farther away from crossing roads. This should mean fewer opportunities for traffic to back up onto the interstate.

The project is very expensive and would commit most of our area resources over a long period of time, Beauchamp said. However, after discussions with the district and others at TxDOT, the project has evolved to include new overpasses to reduce delays in many areas, as well as, additional main-lane capacity on the interstate itself, Beauchamp wrote. It will still be a lengthy project 8 to 10 years, but the Commission has stepped up with additional strategic funding (category 12), and we are currently working to garner support for a BUILD grant through USDOT to help fund the remaining funding gap.
Amid pandemic, multibillion-rupee contract rushed through for Central Expressway By Namini Wijedasa View(s): View(s):

The Highways Ministry and the Road Development Authority (RDA) are rushing moves to award a multibillion rupee contract for the fourth section of the Central Expressway Project (CEP IV) from Kurunegala to Dambulla.

Talks between the Government and an identified contractorthe British consultancy firm Roughtonhave been going on amidst the protracted curfew and growing COVID-19 pandemic, authoritative sources said. They did not wish to be named.

The Cabinet has granted approval to start talks on the unsolicited proposal which will be financed by a loan. The project was not advertised for bids. Therefore, there is no open tender for what has been termed an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract.

Roughton is expected to partner with two local building contractors, who are yet to be announced. The project was once valued at Rs 161.61bn, excluding tax.

Highways Ministry Secretary R.W.R. Pemasiri confirmed that Roughton was the named party. The company was the consultant for a section of the Southern Expressway that was financed by the Asian Development Bank.

The relevant Cabinet paper was approved, Mr Pemasiri said, without going into details of what is said. It is likely now to go to a Cabinet Appointed Procurement Committee. Roughton was nominated by the UK Export Finance (UKEF) which is to provide the funding for CEP IV.

After Cabinet approval, we got a proposal from them and we now have to negotiate, he continued, adding that no price has yet been named. They have not yet informed us officially of the local partners but they indicated that they will join with two or more of them.

Mr Pemasiri was reluctant to call this an unsolicited proposal. He said it came with the backing of the UKEF which made a request. But he admitted that it was not advertised for bidding.

With the consent of the UKEF, we submitted it to the Government, he explained. They want an EPC contract and that is the type of contract we are pursuing.

This is the second time a Government has made decisions on the four-lane, 58.7km road section. In September 2016, the Highways Ministry (under Minister Lakshman Kiriella of the United National Party) secured Cabinet approval to start the project.

That administration, too, opted to negotiate with a Chinese company without going for an open tender. The Cabinet gave the go-ahead for a loan from China Exim Bank. The contractor was the China Gezhouba Group of Companies. The agreement was on the verge of being signed but the deal fell through.
The United States is pleased to see the increasing cooperation between SAARC nations in the battle against the deadly Coronavirus Pandemic which has taken the world hostage, Senior US Diplomat Alice Wells tweeted on Friday while noting India's leadership in proposing a COVID-19 relief fund and a joint action against the pandemic followed by Pakistan led video conference on April 23.

READ | Divided SAARC Unites To Combat Coronavirus Pandemic

READ | PM Modi States India's Biggest Learning From Covid Pandemic; Says We Must Be Self-reliant

#COVID19 knows no borders & combatting it will require regional cooperation among South Asian neighbors. Pleased to see increasing #SAARC cooperation, including the #India-proposed March 15 heads of state call & the #Pakistan-led April 23 videoconference w/ health officials. AGW  State_SCA (@State_SCA) April 24, 2020

The US diplomat also lauded India's efforts to protect healthcare workers who are at the forefront of the battle of the COVID-19 crisis. India had announced Rs 50 lakhs ex gratia for health workers dying at the line of duty while battling COVID-19.

Pleased to see #India is taking additional steps to protect healthcare workers on the front lines combating #COVID19. These heroes are working tirelessly to protect their communities. AGW  State_SCA (@State_SCA) April 24, 2020

READ | COVID-19: 9.45 Lakh Under Surveillance; Recovery Rate At 20.57%, Says Centre

READ | E-Gram Swaraj & Swamitva Yojana: All About Apps PM Modi Launched For India's Panchayats

SAARC Co-operation against COVID-19

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) comprises of India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, the Maldives, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

On Thursday, Pakistan called a meeting of SAARC countries on COVID-19 claiming it to be a ministerial conference, but later it turned out that only official-level dignitaries participated at the forum.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 15 via video conferencing called for a joint effort and proposed a SAARC Covid-19 fund for combating the deadly virus. The SAARC countries praised the initiative led by India as it contributed USD 10 million to the fund. Responding to PM Modi's clarion call, Sri Lanka pledged to contribute USD 5 million. While Bangladesh pledged to contribute USD 1.5 million, Afghanistan and Maldives pledged USD 1.2 million.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan did not attend the SAARC meet proposed by PM Modi and sending Special Assistant to Pakistani Prime Minister on Health Zafar Mirza to attend the meet. Pakistan also skipped the meet of the trade officials discussion on April 9 citing that the SAARC Secretariat was not part of the video conference. After skipping the crucial meet chaired by India stating that SAARC Secretariat should lead it, Pakistan on Thursday pledged to contribute $3 million.
Updated statistics from the state Department of Health Friday noted an uptick in coronavirus cases in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities in New Jersey. As of Friday, there are 14,579 coronavirus cases at New Jersey long-term care facilities, up from the 10,500 cases the state reported on Monday.

All together, 2,696 deaths at the facilities have been attributed to COVID-19, 1,652 of which have been lab confirmed and another 1,044 of which are suspected to have been tied to the coronavirus, according to the statistics. Thats a jump from the 1,779 deaths reported on Monday (those deaths were given as a total number and were not categorized as confirmed or suspected).

The suspected cases are not counted in the states daily death toll, which Friday stood at 5,617 people. The confirmed cases of nursing home fatalities made up about 29% of the deaths statewide. Together, the confirmed and suspected coronavirus deaths at New Jersey homes represent about 40.5% of total deaths.

There are now 102,196 confirmed cases of the virus statewide.

Officials said 452 longterm care facilities have reported at least one case.

At the states three veterans homes specifically, there have been 244 cases and 91 deaths, officials said Friday.

CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Newsletter | Homepage

As of Friday, Lincoln Park Care Center, in Lincoln Park, Morris County, had reported more coronavirus-related deaths than any other long-term care facility in the state, 48. Veterans Memorial Home in Paramus, which had the second-most deaths, reported the highest number of confirmed cases, at 171.

Families of nursing home residents across the state have questioned the accuracy of the numbers of cases and deaths reported by the state.

State Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli acknowledged at the daily coronavirus briefing in Trenton Tuesday that there were gaps in the numbers, and that a number of nursing homes had been in touch with her department about the need to reconcile the data.

The information is self-reported, said the commissioner. Were giving them an opportunity to correct.

The state is currently updating its online counts regularly.

Families have also complained of a lack of transparency from the facilities about the conditions of their loved ones as visitations to the long-term care homes have been stopped amid social distancing guidelines meant to curb the spread of the coronavirus. The issue gained statewide and national attention last week after reports revealed 17 bodies had piled up at Andover Subacute and Rehabilitation Center I and II in Sussex County.

On Sunday, the federal government directed nursing homes to tell patients and their families if the facility had coronavirus cases. But on Monday  saying the state is still hearing that nursing homes were not being transparent about their coronavirus cases  New Jersey officials released the statewide list of cases in nursing homes for the first time.

The updated list, which includes individual numbers for every facility that has reported cases and deaths to the state, can be seen on the Department of Health dashboard.

Editors Note: This story has been updated to add clarity on the numbers from the state department of health.

Reporters Ted Sherman, Karin Price Mueller, Brent Johnson, and Len Melisurgo contributed to this report.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.
This article, These anti-quarantine websites are fakes. Here's what they're really after, originally appeared on CNET.com.

Over the last month, more than 540 domain names have been registered with the word "reopen" in the URL, but don't take it as a sign that ending social distancing directives has become a mainstream goal. Hundreds of these websites are designed to lend credibility to anti-lockdown protests, according to new research, and many come from suspicious sources or resellers looking to make money.

In a report published Friday, threat-intelligence company DomainTools said it's found hundreds of domain names tied to the "reopen" campaign, which broadly argues against state lockdown measures adopted to curtail the spread of the novel coronavirus. The campaign wants social distancing restrictions to end and businesses to reopen.

Protests have cropped up across the country, with some, but far from all, Americans showing frustration over social distancing guidelines that have upended life and brought many businesses to a halt. A number of these protests have been organized on Facebook, which has said it will remove events that prompt people to violate distancing guidelines.

The number of domains tied to anti-lockdown efforts started small but grew sharply after President Donald Trump sent a series of "liberate" tweets about states with protests, said Chad Anderson, senior security researcher at DomainTools.

Anderson said it's been difficult to tell which domains are associated with actual political causes and which ones simply seek to profit from anti-lockdown sentiment. Researchers at DomainTools have found hundreds of "reopen" URLs that were bought specifically to be resold and others that resemble malware campaigns.

The researchers also found evidence that some of the domains were created as part of an "astroturfing" effort, a reference to campaigns that appear to be grassroots movements but are actually artificially created.

"If an astroturfing campaign finds enough support out there, it can turn into real events with real consequences," said Sean McNee, DomainTools' director of research.

Astroturf seeds

The initial batch of "reopen" domains were a set of seven URLs that came from an anti-gun control group, Anderson said.

He found seven "reopen" websites registered on April 8, in states including Ohio, Pennsylvania, Missouri and Minnesota. The seven pages looked like they represented independent groups, but they were all registered under the name of Aaron Dorr, a pro-gun activist from Iowa. Taken together, they create the appearance of a broad protest against lockdown measures, a digital Potemkin village.

DomainTools

The Washington Post and NBC News detailed how the Dorr family created Facebook groups with hundreds of thousands of followers calling to reopen the economy and directed people to websites. The websites have almost the exact same design, with names of local politicians swapped out for each state. The sites were set up to organize protests and redirected to gun rights groups.

NBC News found that many of the websites hosted by Dorr were designed to harvest visitors' data, including emails and home addresses.

"They're all about making it look like there is a legitimate, statewide group for these movements," Anderson said. "It gives a local significance, because that's what people respond to."

Dorr couldn't be reached for comment.

A Reuters poll conducted between April 15 to 21 found that 72% of US adults support stay-at-home measures. And a CBS News poll found that 70% of Americans say social distancing should continue to be the nation's No. 1 priority. But the astroturfed campaigns could give the impression that there's widespread objection to distancing directives, DomainTools said.

Counter-squatting

The largest chunk of "reopen" domain names actually came from a man in Florida looking to counter astroturfing efforts, DomainTools found.



The researchers discovered 98 domains tied to one person who registered "reopen" for all 50 states, including different spellings of each region. An article from the Florida-Times Union identified the domain buyer as Michael Murphy, who said he was buying dozens of reopen URLs to prevent actual anti-lockdown protesters from getting them. (CNET couldn't find contact information for Murphy.)

DomainTools spotted 98 URLs belonging to Murphy, who told the local newspaper he'd bought 200 names in total and spent at least $4,000. Another large chunk of domain names with "reopen" came from known resellers, Anderson said.

These are "reopen" websites targeted toward restaurants, movie theaters and sports, and all are set up for sale.

Anderson said DomainTools had already been seeing up to 6,000 new registrations a day related to COVID-19 and has started to see more related to the "reopen" campaign.

"Domainers are a particular type of people who spot any chance they can to hop on a quick buck," Anderson said. "In any of these instances, there's going to be people who try and pick domains they are able to sell for $5,000 that they bought for $10 because someone wants to start a movement."

Potential malware

DomainTools' researchers also found a batch of links registered in bulk specifically with typos for the phrase "Reopen American Business." All of these domains were registered in China and have misspellings, indicating they're set up to be phishing pages.

Typo-squatting is an old trick in which people buy URLs for commonly misspelled websites and set up a page that looks like the real one. The idea is to trick visitors who make typos into entering their sensitive credentials on these fraudulent pages.

These domains all have servers registered with Bodis, an advertising service that monetizes domain names and has links to a previous malware campaign from the advanced persistent threat group DarkHotel. APTs are known groups behind cyberattacks. DarkHotel APT is a hacking group that primarily affects victims in Japan, Taiwan, China, Russia and South Korea.

"It looks like it's going to be used for phishing campaigns," Anderson said. "It hasn't been fully activated yet, but it has characteristics of a DarkHotel APT group."

The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.
A strange news story caught my attention this week. Apparently, Xerox is going to soon start manufacturing hand sanitizer.

According to a statement, the company will be leveraging its manufacturing capabilities in Toronto and Rochester, N.Y., and its "in-house materials expertise" so that it can make about 140,000 gallons of the stuff by June, with its first deliveries expected to occur by the end of the month.

The company's not just producing hand sanitizer. It's also getting into the ventilator business. Earlier this month, a partnership with a technology firm was announced that will help Xerox manufacture a specific type of ventilator and monitor for hospitals and emergency-response units.

I get that Xerox wants to do its part to help fight the COVID-19 virus, but hand sanitizer? Ventilators? This seems very inconsistent with what Xerox does.

Thats because when you think of Xerox, these products don't immediately come to mind. The 114-year-old company is mostly known as the maker of printers and office equipment and have morphed into providing workplace technologies and services for process- and document-management. So what exactly do hand sanitizer and ventilators have to do with all this?

Nothing. And everything.

Related: Whiskey Producers Are Making Hand Sanitizers. Here's How They Organized

The company says that it wants to do its part to fight COVID-19. Essentials like hand sanitizer will continue to be in high demand," its CEO said in the statement. This is a time for every company, every person, to look at what they can do to help society,

I dont disbelieve that, and I applaud the companys efforts. But I also think there's something else going on  something even better for Xerox, its employees and all the other suppliers, customers and partners that rely on the company for their livelihoods.

Like all of us, Xerox is facing an economic downturn in its business. I don't know how significant, but I'm going to bet that their managers are as challenged to find new sources of revenue as any small-business owner. Challenging times need out-of-the box ideas. Leaders are forced to make difficult decisions, innovate, try new things, make changes  even if those changes disrupt current models.

I saw this countless times during the 2008-2009 recession. Many of my best clients used that opportunity to reevaluate their businesses, decide what was truly making them money and what was not worth the effort. During those times, those same leaders tried new ideas, launched new product lines, diversified their offerings and even started doing things completely unrelated to their existing business. They didn't do these things because they wanted to. They did these things because they had to. Downturns have that effect.

I think that's what's going on with Xerox.

If you asked their executives a year ago if they planned to get into the hand sanitizer or ventilator business, they would react as if you'd lost your mind. But now these businesses might turn out to be potential longer-term revenue streams. Who knows?

Hand sanitizer might be the foundation of a new strategy to make and sell other office-related supplies that could be positioned to dovetail nicely with Xerox's workplace offerings. The manufacture of ventilators will certainly keep the companys workforce engaged and thinking during these slower times, and who knows what new techniques for making office equipment will be discovered while in the process of making hospital equipment? And hey  with Xeroxs existing infrastructure, maybe manufacturing ventilators is more profitable than manufacturing printers. This could be an entirely new venture. Again, who knows?

Xerox is going to find out.

Related: Long Beach Beer Lab Could Have Closed; Instead, They Became Essential

Of course, if, like Xerox, you're able to contribute something to help fight the coronavirus outbreak, then jump on board. But if your business is facing a downturn, now is the time to also do what Xerox is doing: innovate. Try new things. Sell new products. Take a few chances. This may not be a choice. It may be necessity. But dont fret. It's how great companies survive these times and position themselves for future growth.

Related:

Top 5 Crisis-Response Steps for Entrepreneurs

Why Is Xerox Making Hand Sanitizer?

Spot Robot Dog Helps Doctors Remotely Triage COVID-19 Patients



Copyright 2020 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
A Jerauld County resident between 50-59 years old is South Dakota's 10th reported death due to the coronavirus.

The state reported 84 new cases Friday and five new hospitalizations. Dr. Joshua Clayton, state epidemiologist, said 129 more people have recovered and 61 are currently hospitalized.

The state now has 2,040 total cases reported and 1,190 recoveries, leaving 850 active cases. Minnehaha County added 70 cases Friday for a total of 1,636 total there. Lincoln County added seven new cases to a total of 110. Union County added three cases. Other new cases Friday came from Codington, Lake, Jerauld, and Stanley counties.

Dr. Clayton said the state is resisting the idea of testing people who aren't showing symptoms even though the information from the tests would be helpful.

"We can't test asymptomatic people right now due to the availability of tests and supplies," Clayton said. "We save those for people who are showing symptoms and need an accurate diagnosis."

South Dakota Secretary of Health Kim Malsam-Rysdon said that the state is continuing with the clinical trial on hydroxychloroquine despite FDA guidelines released Thursday that cautioned against using the drug outside of similar trials.

Malsam-Rysdon said there are still no patients enrolled in the study. Some have shown interest and are being checked to see if they are appropriate for the study. She said any results from the study would take up to six months to be released.

She said anyone interested in the study or taking the drug outside of the South Dakota clinical trial should discuss it with their medical provider.

Clayton said 827 of the state's 2,040 cases have come from the Smithfield Foods plant in Sioux Falls, which employs about 3,700 people. Another 200 cases have come from close contacts with those 827 employees at the plant.
CLEVELAND, Ohio  A pulmonary doctor said in a court filing that a privately owned prison in Youngstown is not doing enough to prevent the spread of the coronavirus among inmates and staff, putting both groups in danger.

Dr. Venktesh Ramnath, medical director of critical care telemedicine outreach with the University of California San Diego health network, wrote that inmates at the Northeast Ohio Correctional Center are still housed in pods with up to 64 people and continue to socialize with other inmates outside and in close contact when eating and getting medicine. The prison has also seen staffing shortages because of people staying home, as well as drug use among inmates.

While no inmates have tested positive for the coronavirus at the prison, the report says officials there have not required any social distancing measures and do not appear to require people to wear masks and personal protective equipment. Instead, employees believe that wearing protective equipment is optional, he wrote.

(The details) reveal an infection control program in disarray in a high risk environment and indicate a situation that is at best problematic and at worst dangerous for both staff and inmates, Ramnath wrote.

The doctor wrote his report at the behest of Carlos Warner, a federal public defender. Warner filed it Friday, along with a motion seeking the release of a client from custody. In the alternative, the attorney asked the judge, Solomon Oliver Jr., to implement several recommendations Ramnath detailed.

That includes reducing the inmate population, requiring social distancing, adding screening measure and providing personal protective equipment.

Right now, given the operational protocols we know from the facility, the facility poses a danger to the community, Warner wrote. If the additional facts above are true, then we likely have a burgeoning crisis at NEOCC.

(You can read the motion, report and other exhibits here or at the bottom of this story.)

The U.S. Attorneys Office has not responded to the motion in court. A spokesman declined comment because the case is pending.

The prison is owned and operated by CoreCivic of Nashville. It houses more than 1,600 inmates in two wings, with 680 of them being in the U.S. Marshals Service custody for federal cases. Most of those federal cases are out of northern Ohio, though some detainees are from Pennsylvania and New York.

The rest of the inmates are prisoners serving time for convictions in state court.

While no inmates on either side of the prison have tested positive for the virus, two staff members and one contractor have, according to court filings and previous statements the company.

A CoreCivic spokeswoman on Saturday pointed a reporter to a statement that said each of the companys facilities has plans in place. The company recommends employees take steps to prevent spreading the disease, which includes having medical staff participate in the intake process, isolating those at risk and working with local health departments to test for the virus when appropriate.

Warner filed the motion on behalf of Aaron Gage, a 26-year-old from Lorain awaiting trial on a felon in possession of a firearm charge. Gage has been in federal custody since Nov. 6.

Warner wrote that his client is at a higher risk of severe illness associated with the virus. Gage is obese and likely suffers from asthma or chronic respiratory disease, along with other possible ailments, according to the motion.

Keeping Mr. Gage incarcerated at NEOCC is putting his life at risk, Warner wrote.

The motion is one of several dozen attorneys with cases in northern Ohios federal court have filed in the past month. U.S. Attorney Justin Herdmans office has opposed the vast majority of defendants, and the federal judges have mostly agreed.

Attorneys have sounded the alarm, though, because they have seen what happened in other prisons.

The virus has reached inmates in other jails and prisons in the state, with the most notable examples being the state-run Marion and Pickaway correctional institutions. A combined 3,591 inmates at both prisons, or more than 75 percent of the total number of inmates locked up there, have tested positive for the virus as of Saturday. Fourteen have died from the virus, and another two deaths are likely linked to it.

The state has ventured to test every inmate at Marion, Pickaway and a Columbus prison hospital. Experts and advocates suspect the numbers are higher than what is reported in many other jails and prisons, though a lack of tests make that difficult to prove.

Warners motion references the outbreak in Marion. It also says the state has quarantined all the inmates in its custody at the Northeast Ohio Correctional Center and is requiring staff to monitor the inmates daily and take their temperatures.

None of that is happening on the federal side, the motion states.

At the prison, detainees in the U.S. Marshals Service custody who spoke to cleveland.com earlier this month expressed similar concerns, saying other inmates and staff did not take the virus seriously.

Ramnath wrote in his report that some CoreCivic policies he reviewed also appeared problematic. He wrote that a document regarding social distancing was extremely vague and that criteria to screen patients and control infectious outbreaks were either outdated or inadequate. It also says there are a lack of appropriate testing supplies, as the prison only has 50 testing kits.

Based on what he reviewed, NEOCC facility administration is inappropriately minimizing the risk of COVID19 in its facility, not just to inmates and staff/contractors but also the community at large, Ramnath wrote.

Read more:

Why has Ohios Marion prison become the number-one coronavirus hotspot in the United States?

Every prisoner will be tested for coronavirus at three Ohio prisons, Gov. Mike DeWine says

Nothing changed in here: Detainees at private Ohio prison talk fears amid coronavirus
As a response to the current Covid-19 pandemic and to show solidarity, support and community spirit, volunteers from the Midlands Polish Community association began producing cloth face masks which are being donated free to local organisations employing nurses and carers.

The initiative began before Easter and it was the brainchild of Magda Podsiadly from Athlone and she has received assistance from two other volunteers, Kasia Pasik and Kasia Sochacka from Longford.

Slavek Kazek, Chairman Midlands Polish Community, explained that over 500 masks have been donated to health organisations in the midlands already.

Last week 90 were donated to public health nurses in Longford, 50 to the nursing home in Ballymahon, 40 to Lanesboro and 30 were given to the public health nurses in Athlone.

Mr Kazek added, We would like to thank all who greatly supported this initiative and also all members of our support subgroup, part of Midlands Polish Community, who coordinate the project.

The support subgroup is also in contact with the Irish Countrywomen's Association regarding the Sew Scrubs for Ireland project.

More information is available on the Midlands Polish Community website: polishcommunity.ie.

Mr Kazek concluded by asking any institutions which might need face masks to contact their support subgroup via email: pomoc@polishcommunity.ie
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QOwnNotes is the open source (GPL) plain-text file markdown note taking application for GNU/Linux, Mac OS X and Windows by Patrizio Bekerle (pbek on GitHub and IRC), that (optionally) works together with the notes application of ownCloud or Nextcloud.

You own your own notes! All notes are stored as plain-text files on your desktop computer. Sync them over devices (desktop & mobile) with your ownCloud or Nextcloud sync client. Use ownCloud Notes to edit your notes in the web.

You are able to write down your thoughts with QOwnNotes and edit or search for them later from your mobile device (like with CloudNotes) or the ownCloud / Nextcloud web-services.

The notes are stored as plain text files and you can sync them with your ownCloud or Nextcloud sync client. Of course other software, like Dropbox, Syncthing, Seafile or BitTorrent Sync can be used too.

I like the concept of having notes accessible in plain text files, like it is done in the Nextcloud notes app, to gain a maximum of freedom, but I was not able to find a decent desktop note taking tool or a text editor, that handles them well in conjunction with ownCloud or Nextcloud.

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On the first day of Ramzan on Saturday, the administration in Kashmirs summer capital Srinagar distributed over 50,000 food kits to the needy.

The district administration has prepared 53,000 food kits containing rice, wheat, oil and spices to help in the district amid the lockdown imposed to contain coronavirus. Seventy-nine Covid-19 positive cases have been reported from the district so far.

Srinagar deputy commissioner Shahid Choudhary said the district administration has identified deserving families from across the district and that distribution of these kits amongst them has already started.

Each kit contains 5kg of rice and 2kg of wheat and a packet each of edible oil, tea and spices. It will mostly be delivered to their doorstep. In some cases people collect from nearby locations, he said.

The list of families was prepared on the appeal of the district call centre as well as local residents. Our field staff assessed people on the ground, he said.

The initiative has triggered demands among people that it should be started in other districts of the valley as well.

We have deserving people in every district of the valley who have been struggling to feed their families. Kashmir was shut for months since August 5 last year which had already deteriorated the economic conditions of the people here and now this pandemic that has led to a double whammy, said Mohammad Azfal, a resident of Baramulla in north Kashmir.

Kashmir divisional commissioner Pandurang K Pole said, We have a large number of people associated with handicrafts and handlooms and a number of migrant labourers residing here. So we are especially focusing on Srinagar, he said.
Plane seized, two arrested after military detect illegal landing

Bacalar, Q.R.  The Secretariat of the Navy of Mexico reports that personnel from the 25th Marine Infantry Battalion based in Chetumal secured a plane that was allegedly transporting illegal cargo near the Ejido Salamanca in the Municipality of Bacalar.

The seizure of the plane was made after military personnel detected the landing of an aircraft around 5:00 a.m. Friday with presumed illicit cargo on a jungle roadway in the municipality. Military, in collaboration with National Guard personnel, were deployed to the site where they found an aircraft without cargo, noting the interior of the place was outfitted with only a pilot and co-pilot seat.

Military personnel believe the plane was unloaded before they arrived

However, the Navy of Mexico reports that two people, allegedly related to the landing of the aircraft, were arrested. They Navy also reports that along with the plane and arrested men, they also seized two motorcycles and a firearm.
In a bid to slow the spread of coronavirus, authorities around Japan are pleading for residents to refrain from going out ahead of one of the country's biggest holiday periods. In Tokyo, the metropolitan government has dubbed the 12-day period through May 6, "stay-at-home week."

Shinkansen bullet trains are usually crowded ahead of the spring holiday. But some trains that left Tokyo on Saturday had no passengers in the non-reserved cars. Officials from Japan Railway say the occupancy rate for non-reserved seats on the Tokaido Shinkansen line was below 10 percent as of Saturday afternoon.

The Togoshi Ginza shopping district in Tokyo was crowded with shoppers last weekend. But on Saturday, the streets were mostly deserted. The shopping district association has asked stores to shut down voluntarily on weekends and holidays in a bid to contain the spread of the virus. Shop owners will receive payouts from the Tokyo government for lost business.

Yamamura Toshio, the head of Togoshi Ginza Shopping District Cooperative Association says, "It is hard for us to ask customers not to visit, but we would like to cooperate with the measure to call on people to stay at home."
The US death toll from COVID-19 soared past the grim milestone of 50,000 Friday. Despite having just five percent of the worlds population, the United States now accounts for one quarter of the worlds COVID-19 deaths.

Just one month ago, the total death toll in the United States was under 1,000. Over the past two weeks, an average of approximately 2,000 people have died every day. The US death toll has doubled over ten days.

The number of people killed by the coronavirus, according to official figures, is now greater than the number of combat deaths during the American Revolutionary War, the Vietnam War and the Korean War. Within a matter of days, it will eclipse the number of US deaths in World War I.

There is no indication that the pandemic is contained in the United States. On Friday, the country had the highest number of new cases ever, at 38,000, despite constant claims that the United States is bending the curve.

Despite the fact that the United States lacks testing, contact tracing, and quarantine systems necessary to combat the spread of the pandemic, governors, with the encouragement of the Trump administration, are recklessly reopening businesses in states throughout the country.

Georgia allowed barbershops, gyms, nail salons and tattoo parlors to reopen yesterday. The state will allow restaurants to open for sit-down service on Monday.

Florida began to reopen its beaches last Friday, and South Carolina began to reopen businesses Monday. Oklahoma permitted some retailers to reopen Friday. Texas and Tennessee have likewise announced they would ease restrictions on business, with Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick declaring there are more important things than living.

None of these states meet federal guidelines for reopening, which specify two weeks of declines in the number of positive tests for the disease. But the moves by governors are consistent with a campaign waged by US President Donald Trump for businesses to reopen with a big bang, irrespective of the degree to which the disease is actually contained.

Workplaces have been a major source of transmission of COVID-19. A Tyson Foods plant in Iowa has sickened hundreds of workers. One hundred more have been sickened at a Tyson plant in Washington, and another hundred at a plant in Georgia.

In the United States, the Detroit-based auto companies have targeted early May to restart production, with Fiat Chrysler and Toyota telling workers to be prepared to report May 4. General Motors has asked workers to report April 27 on a voluntary basis and to prepare to restart production as early as May 4.

With more than 26 million workers made jobless over the course of the past month, companies are using the threat of firing workers, which would make them ineligible for unemployment benefits, to force them back on the line.

US workers who refuse to return to their jobs because they are worried about catching the coronavirus should not count on getting unemployment benefits, Reuters reported yesterday.

Labor experts noted that denying workers unemployment is a major driver of state-wide back to work orders. I think that one of the big drivers of this decision by [Georgia governor] Tom Kemp is to get people off unemployment rolls and having the private sector keeping these people afloat, employment lawyer James Radford told Reuters.

The Wall Street Journal, which has been in the forefront of demands that lives be sacrificed for the sake of the stock market, has demanded that businesses be indemnified from lawsuits by employees who contract COVID-19 at work.

Plaintiff firms are also targeting employers if they reopen for business and workers or customers get sick, the newspaper stated. The virus can spread easily among workers in confined spaces, and infections have forced some meatpacking plants and food facilities to close States need to grant them legal protection.

In response to demands by employers that they return to work under unsafe conditions, workers in the United States and around the world are demanding their rights to a safe workplace.

On Friday, at least 300 workers at 50 Amazon facilities called in sick to protest the lack of safety protections at warehouses. The company has maintained operations throughout the pandemic. In recent weeks, Amazon has fired six workers who have called for better safety protections for workers.

Hundreds of graduate students at Columbia University have gone on strike to demand the suspension of rent and the remission of tuition for all students during the pandemic.

Also on Friday, 130 workers at the St. Monica Center for Rehabilitation & Healthcare nursing home in South Philadelphia voted to strike, demanding an end to the unsafe conditions that have led COVID-19 to ravage the facility.

An FCA worker at the Jefferson North Assembly Plant in Detroit told the World Socialist Web Site, I am not opposed to going back to work, but I want to be safe when I go. I have a husband, I have children. I dont want to bring them anything.

You will have the tables looking like cell block B in the prison. We are still going to be elbow to elbow. Someone will be coughing in your face.

Referring to the automakers, she added, They dont give a damn about killing us. They think, We have paid out enough money for unemployment, its time to get them back to work.

Aircraft maker Boeing restarted production this week at its US factories in what is being viewed as a test case for the resumption of industrial production. A significant number of Boeing workers boycotted the return to work this week.

Hundreds of people participated in a rolling protest Friday before the Georgia governors mansion, with signs including, Stay home! It's not time to open! and It is too soon to open Georgia! Over the course of the past week, nurses and other health care workers in Arizona, Virginia and other states confronted far-right demonstrators demanding an unsafe return to work.

These developments are taking place around the world.

Resistance to the restart of nonessential production is continuing in Mexico, with strikes this week by auto parts workers in Ciudad Juarez. This included hundreds of workers at plants operated by Electrical Components International who are demanding to be sent home to quarantine with full pay.

In France, teachers have filed an official strike notice, demanding that the Macron government implement a series of safety measures before the planned reopening of schools in May.

In Britain, National Health Service workers in Leeds are refusing to work shifts after not being provided adequate personal protective equipment on mental health wards. A 46-year-old Leeds mental health nurse, Khulisani Nkala, died from coronavirus last week. One nurse told the Yorkshire Post The government are making out that wearing surgical masks is protective against contracting the virus. Its not. I might as well just have a tissue over my face.

From the beginning, the Trump administration, speaking for the financial oligarchy, has had only one concern regarding the COVID-19 pandemic: The preservation and expansion of stock market values and the profit margins of major corporations.

The resistance of workers to the demands by the Trump administration and employers for an unsafe return to work converge with statements from leading scientists and healthcare providers, who have made clear that it is irresponsible to reopen businesses under conditions where the disease is nowhere near contained.

The struggle to defend the lives and livelihoods of workers and the population as a whole is inseparable from the struggle against the capitalist system and the socialist transformation of society.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine has responded to Georgias intention to withdraw the ambassador in case of the appointment of former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili as Deputy Prime Minister in the Cabinet. The Ukrainian News reports that with a reference to a comment by the press service of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry.

"The Foreign Ministry of Ukraine has not received any official appeal from the Georgian side about the possible recall of the Georgian ambassador," the press service replied.

Regarding the possibility of the Ukrainian side calling the Georgian ambassador for negotiations, in response to a warning from the Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia, the Foreign Ministry explained that there was an established procedure for such decisions.

At the same time, the Foreign Ministry stressed that Ukraine is counting on maintaining partnership relations with Georgia.

Earlier, Georgian Prime Minister Georgy Gakharia confirmed that the Georgian ambassador could be recalled from Kyiv if Mikheil Saakashvili was appointed Deputy Prime Minister for reforms to the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine.

As we reported before, former President of Georgia, ex-head of the Odesa Regional State Administration Mikheil Saakashvili expects the Verkhovna Rada to vote for his appointment as Deputy Prime Minister on April 30.
When Amy Dutil-Wall was pregnant with her second child, her eldest, Estlin, was convinced she was going to get a baby sister to play with.

"She would go around telling everybody 'my little sister is in mummy's tummy'," says Amy, laughing at the memory.

"We had no idea what we were having, but Estlin even had the name picked out - Lucy. Then out popped little brother Mannix and she completely forgot about the imaginary sister. She was just obsessed with her baby brother and loved him to pieces. She wanted to be a part of every little bit of his care, and she was, for 10 weeks."

Any day now, Amy will give birth to her and her husband Vincent's third child.

They know what they're having, a girl, and from the moment they found out, they knew what they would call her. Lucy. But it will be a bittersweet moment when they bring home their baby daughter, knowing she'll never meet the big sister who named her, who would have loved her and who longed to play with her.

On Wednesday, March 15, 2017, Vincent Wall was driving Estlin to creche from their home in Ennistymon, Co Clare, when a truck, travelling in the opposite direction, moved to pull out from behind a bus. The manoeuvre prompted a chain of events, resulting in a horrific collision that has left Vincent with a permanent brain injury and claimed the life of Estlin, who died just nine days shy of her fourth birthday.

Expand Close Amy Dutil-Wall with her partner Vincent Wall, and daughter Estlin, who lost her life in the tragic crash / Facebook

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Whatsapp Amy Dutil-Wall with her partner Vincent Wall, and daughter Estlin, who lost her life in the tragic crash

This week, truck driver and farmer Senan O'Flaherty (63), of Lower Gowerhass, Cooraclare, Co Clare, was fined 750 for careless driving causing the death of Estlin, 750 for careless driving causing serious bodily harm to Vincent, and issued with a four-year-driving ban.

"We knew full well there was absolutely nothing they could do to him that would bring Estlin back or make us feel any better. But this has somehow managed to make us feel worse," says Amy (35).

"I feel like our world has been turned upside down again. How do you come up with a figure like 750 for the death of a child in a car collision? It's an insult. It feels like we've been slapped in the face.

"Throughout the whole judicial process I've prided myself on trying to remain as composed as possible. I wanted to sit in court as Estlin's mother and keep my head held high and represent her. But when the judge said he was very aware of the hardship he was imposing on the truck driver, who wouldn't be able to earn a living for four years... I lost it. I said loudly, 'that's all Estlin got - four years' and I was shushed."

The couple also reveal they've been left reeling by the lack of remorse shown by O'Flaherty.

"He [O'Flaherty] never made eye contact with us, never looked troubled or sad, we've never seen him shed a tear.

"I know I'll never know what's in his heart but it would have meant something to us to feel that he had the slightest understanding of the damage he's done."

In a strange twist of fate, the three people who were first on the scene of the collision were Vincent's GP, his best friend and another friend who works as a nurse. The friend was able to phone his mother who went immediately to Amy's home to tell her there had been an accident.

The GP, Dr John Duncan, worked for more than 30 minutes doing CPR with Estlin. His efforts meant that when the ambulance arrived, paramedics were able to get the little girl's heart-rate going again. Tragically, the extent of Estlin's injuries were life-ending. But it wasn't until the Saturday night that she passed away in her mother's arms after her life-support machine was turned off in Temple Street Hospital in Dublin. Amy not only got the chance to say good-bye but also was able to sign organ donation forms, ensuring Estlin's lungs and kidneys would go on to save two lives: a boy suffering from Cystic Fibrosis and a 60-year-old on dialysis.

"That GP didn't give up," says Amy. "Without him we would never have had the time in Temple Street, never been able to do the organ donation.

"I held Estlin and sang to her as I felt her last heartbeat."

Both Amy and Vincent (41) put a huge amount of effort into their Victim Impact Statements. Vincent had been in an induced coma during Estlin's funeral and wasn't physically able to be given the news his daughter was dead until five weeks later.

Today he still doesn't know if he'll ever work again and simple tasks, even writing his thoughts down on paper, remain difficult.

"But I don't feel like we were listened to," says Amy. "The judge said something about how Estlin died immediately by the road. Did he not pay attention to everything I said about Temple Street? The organ donation? How I held her body in my arms until it went cold?

"I feel like we sacrificed so much emotional energy for nothing in the end."

She says ultimately the decision will be made by the DPP, but that she and Vincent would support an appeal, despite feeling their faith in the justice system has been severely shaken by the leniency of the sentence.

For now, their attention is firmly on the imminent arrival of baby Lucy and Mannix (3). Amy is frank about how dark and unrelenting the grieving process has been for them. "Vinny has never felt right about the fact that he survived and Estlin didn't. He's always going to wish it was the opposite way round," she says.

"But he's finally gotten past the point of wishing they had both died."

She continues: "In the darkest moments of your grief, you just want the pain to end and you know that the pain only ends when you end. But we could never leave Mannix thinking that he wasn't enough.

"There have been moments that have been bad enough where I could have decided not to go on, but something has kept me here, fighting to find the joy in life that I know I still deserve to have, and that's Mannix.

"We're delighted to be having a girl," says Amy. "Estlin was the epitome of a little princess and to have all that ripped out of our lives - all of a sudden there's no more pink in the laundry and the Barbies are collecting dust - to think we might get a bit of that back is wonderful."

She continues: "Everything in our lives is now coloured with loss.

"The happiest days of our lives are now also the hardest because there's always going to be someone missing."
At UNSC, India calls for immediate release of 7 Indian crew members of seized ship 13 Jan 2022 | 12:43 AM United Nations, Jan 12 (UNI) India on Wednesday took part in the UN Security Council meeting on Yemen, where it expressed grave concern over the seizure of the UAE flagged vessel Rawabi by Houthis and called for the immediate release of seven Indian crew members. see more..

Russia to counter security threat with military means if politics fails - Grushko 13 Jan 2022 | 12:06 AM Brussels, Jan 12 (UNI/Sputnik) Russia will take measures to fend off the threat to its security by military means, if this cannot be done by political means, Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko said. see more..

Sri Lanka commends China for donation of medical equipment 13 Jan 2022 | 12:04 AM Colombo, Jan 12 (UNI/Xinhua) Sri Lanka on Wednesday commended China for its donation of medical equipment to Sri Lanka's health sector in the fight against COVID-19. see more..

DCAB delegation meets Indian HC in Dhaka 12 Jan 2022 | 11:19 PM Dhaka, Jan 12 (UNI) Diplomatic Correspondent Association, Bangladesh (DCAB) President Mr Rezaul Karim Lotus and its General Secretary AKM Moinuddin on Wednesday called on High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh Vikram Doraiswami at his office at the High Commission. see more..
The special needs school and residential facility in Camden County that was continuing one-to-one bedside instruction, despite a statewide school shutdown, has been ordered by the state to cease its in-person teaching, following NJ Advance Medias report.

The Bancroft School at Voorhees Pediatric Facility closed its classroom instruction on March 18, in compliance with Gov. Phil Murphys coronavirus shutdown order, but was still continuing bedside instruction for its medically fragile students who administrators said could not receive instruction virtually.

In a letter on April 22, Department of Education Commissioner Dr. Lamont O. Repollet informed Principal Colleen Rowan-Valentino that the continued in-person instruction and educational services violated the governors orders.

The Bancroft School must immediately cease the delivery of in-person instruction and educational services to students and implement a plan for students to receive instruction and services through a variety of remote, virtual, or online platforms, the letter reads.

While the Department acknowledges the commitment of your staff to serve the unique needs of your students, these measures are necessary to ensure the safety of students, teachers, staff members, and community members, it continues.

The letter also asks Rowan-Valentino to notify the students parents and guardians, as well as the students districts of residence and discuss options for continuing education through virtual means.

Repollet said he was writing in response to several inquiries received by the DOE about the in-person instruction. The NJ DOE started looking into the matter two weeks ago, according to a spokesperson. An employee told NJ Advance Media earlier this month she was concerned about potentially infecting the kids with the coronavirus by continuing the instruction.

Dennis Morgan, a Bancroft senior vice president for childrens services, said in a statement, In light of the directive from the Department of Education, we have already stopped bedside instruction and will adapt our approach beginning with Mondays lessons.

The schools last day of in-person instruction was Wednesday, a spokesperson said.

As of April 20, Voorhees Pediatric Facility has no confirmed or presumptive cases of COVID-19 among residents or staff, the facility said.

The Voorhees Pediatric Facility, which opened in 1985, is a 56,000-square-foot inpatient special care nursing facility, including 2,800 square feet of classrooms.

The Bancroft School started operating a branch within the facility in 1995. It operates three locations in New Jersey, including the Voorhees Township site.

The Bancroft School at Voorhees Pediatric Facility wasnt the only school violating the governors order. Bonnie Brae, a private residential school and therapeutic community for at-risk New Jersey boys, was also continuing in-person instruction.

The Somerset County school was also instructed to immediately cease the in-person education. Brooke Ellis, the director of Education at Bonnie Brae School, did not respond to a request for comment.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Brianna Kudisch may be reached at bkudisch@njadvancemedia.com.
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The US space agency has released a new bright picture of a firestorm of starbirth to mark the 30th anniversary of the Hubble Space Telescope. Scientists have called the picture Cosmic Reef, as it resembles a coral reef floating in a vast sea of stars.

The phenomenon took place in a neighbouring galaxy, where a giant red nebula (called NGC 2014) and a smaller blue one (called NGC 2020) are part of a star-forming region.

The Hubble Space Telescope is the first major optical telescope to have been deployed in April 1990. It was named after American astronomer Edwin P Hubble, who confirmed that our universe was constantly expanding.

Hubble has been placed in space to observe the most distant stars and galaxies, as well as planets in our solar system. Through its years of service, Hubble has sent stunning insights about the universe, from nearby planets to the farthest galaxies says Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator for science at NASA Headquarters in Washington, DC.



It was revolutionary to launch such a large telescope 30 years ago, and this astronomy powerhouse is still delivering revolutionary science today, Zurbuchen added.

Hubble has successfully completed five servicing missions, the last in May 2009. With a length of 13.2 metres and weight of about 10,886 kg at the time of launch, the telescope is accurate enough to detect a target without deviating more than 7/1000th of an arcsecond at a distance of 1 mile. It sends back 150 gigabits of raw data every week.

Hubble was launched following international cooperation in between NASA and the ESA (European Space Agency).

Also Read: NASA's longest-living observatory  Hubble space telescope celebrates its 30th birthday
Definitely CBS. I'm biased, but it seems like an easy choice for a few reasons. There is an entire Real Estate program here, the IM program is top notch, and overall it will serve you really well. I am on the board of the Hermes society - feel free to reach out to anyone on there that fits your needs: https://apply.gsb.columbia.edu/portal/contact-students we are all happy to chat. You should be able to be connected to a student who wants to do the same thing as you from a similar background - which is a great place to start.(Also, to those who say CBS is not a consulting school like Kellogg (or Booth, hmmmmmm) - just take a look at the numbers. We place just as well, and better into NYC which should tell you something. But since the OP isn't looking for that, he/she should go where the best options for a career are. )I don't go to Stern so I cannot comment about it.Finally, about culture, CBS has a great one. We just allow for more types of culture. If you're an introvert, be one! If you're an extrovert and want to go to everything and travel all over the world, there are hundreds of students that want to do that too. It's the best of both worlds, and it's honestly one of my favorite things about the school. And finally, CBS matters is a great thing to take part in - talk to any current student about that. I think you'll find plenty to be involved in at this school, it is all what you put into it anyway.Hope this helps! Congrats.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-25 10:36:35|Editor: huaxia

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TRIPOLI, April 25 (Xinhua) -- Spokesman of the UN-backed Libyan government's forces said Friday that its fighter jets had launched four airstrikes on a military base of the rival eastern-based army, which media said resulted in five deaths and 10 injuries.

"The air force earlier today launched four airstrikes around Watya airbase targeting military vehicles of the militias" of the eastern-based army, Mohamed Gonono said in a statement, without revealing casualties.

Local media said that five soldiers were killed and 10 others injured by the airstrikes which occurred some 140 km southwest of the capital Tripoli.

Moreover, a local official said three civilians were killed by an indiscriminate shelling that hit a residential area in southern Tripoli.

The east-based army has been leading a military campaign in and around Tripoli since April 2019 in an attempt to take over the city and topple the UN-backed government.

The fighting has killed and injured thousands of people and forced more than 150,000 to flee their homes. Enditem
Deccan Heralds Pandemic Podcast focuses on the COVID-19 situation. In this episode, Varsha and Akash discuss the strategies to deal with COVID-19 employed by different nations. We also have Ambika Pillai, a veteran hairstylist talking about how her industry has been hit hard. And we have Pawan Kumar, Kannada cinema director, explain his initiative of lending a hand to the needy.

Deccan Herald's podcasts are now available on your favourite podcast platforms including Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and many more. Do subscribe to our Podcast there!
WARSAW, Poland - A Polish government official says Poland has been hit by a complex disinformation operation that appears aimed at weakening the Polish-U.S. alliance and is consistent with previous Russian cyberattacks.

Stanislaw Zaryn, spokesman for the head of the countrys security services, said Saturday that Poland continues to investigate and has no final evidence that the attack was directed by Russia. But he said it bears all the hallmarks of a Kremlin-led campaign.

Poland has been a target of Russian propaganda for many years, Zaryn told The Associated Press in an emailed statement. Lately these kinds of efforts are intensifying more and more.

Zaryn on Twitter described a cyberattack on the website of the War Studies Institute in Warsaw, a defence academy that trains Polish military leaders. He said cyberattackers posted a fake letter in the name of the schools rector calling on Polish soldiers to fight the American occupation.

The letters message was amplified by being reported on news portals, including one known for pushing disinformation, he said.

The content of the letter matched the main narratives Russian propaganda constantly pushes against Poland and the United States, Zaryn wrote.

There was no comment from Russian officials to this incident. The Russian government in the past has adamantly denied involvement in disinformation campaigns.

Zaryn said that Polish authorities believe the purpose of the attacks is to sow information chaos, undermine the morale of Polish soldiers and stir up anti-American sentiment, among other reasons.

He alleged that the Kremlin is trying to use the coronavirus crisis to free itself from its international isolation and persuade the West to lift sanctions imposed over Russian activity in Ukraine. He said the Kremlin tries to slander Poland because it is one of the hardliners on sanctions.

U.S. soldiers were deployed to Poland and other parts of NATOs eastern flank after Russia annexed Ukraines Crimean Peninsula in 2014 and backed separatists in eastern Ukraine. The U.S. aim was to reassure the nervous region, and the arrival of American troops was welcomed by all major political groups in Poland.
Indian foreign minister S Jaishankar on Saturday promised Indian help and medical assistance to his counterparts from four African countries  Burkina Faso, Comoros, Uganda and Mali  to fight the novel coronavirus pandemic that has sickened more than 2.6 million people worldwide and claimed almost 200,000 lives.

An Africa-focus working day. Useful conversations with Foreign Ministers of Burkina Faso, Comoros, Uganda and Mali.

Historical solidarity on display in the midst of contemporary challenges," Jaishankar said in one of a series of Twitter posts.

Health security and solar energy discussed with FM @T_Drame of #Mali. Our medical supplies will be reaching there shortly.

Underlines Indias growing cooperation with the Sahel" Jaishankar said in another post referring to a region of the African continent lying immediately south of the Sahara desert  stretching from Senegal on the Atlantic coast of the continent to Sudan and Eritrea on the Red Sea coast in the east.

Followed up on PM @narendramodis talk with President Museveni by talking with FM Sam Kutesa of #Uganda. Confirmed the impending shipment of medicine supplies and health equipment to combat #coronavirus. India and Uganda will address this global challenge cooperatively," Jaishankar said in a third post.

A SAGAR friendship reaffirmed. Wonderful talking to FM Mohamed El Amine Souef of #Comoros. Our health cooperation and development partnership will surely grow further," he said in a fourth post referring to Prime minister Modis Security and Growth For All in the Region philosophy outlined during his first term in office envisaging cooperation with all countries in the Indian Ocean region.

In recent years, India has accelerated its diplomatic engagement with the African continent where strategic rival China has made huge inroads with major investments and infrastructure projects besides loans on easy terms. Of the 50 countries that New Delhi had recently identified for the supply of hydroxychloroquine, seen by some as useful in treating covid-19 cases, almost 20 were from Africa.

In 2018, India announced it would open 18 new missions in Africa. This year, India is expected to hold its flagship India-Africa summit, five years after the last such event was hosted in New Delhi with delegations from all 54 African nations in attendance.

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The driver of a truck that ploughed into four police officers is unlikely to be interviewed over the crash until at least Monday, according to police.

The Age has also been told Mohinda Singh Bajwa, who has been under police guard at Royal Melbourne Hospital since suffering a medical episode immediately after the accident, had a pre-existing mental health issue.

Mohinder Singh Bajwa.

An ice pipe was found in the cabin of the truck and a second pipe was found during a search of the 47-year-old father's Cranbourne home.

The four police officers were killed when the truck drove into them on the Eastern Freeway, near Kew, about 5.40pm on Wednesday.
Are you convinced it's time to give up on marijuana stocks? There's one that might be worth holding on to: Aphria (NASDAQ:APHA), which has consistently maintained its profitability despite the cannabis industry's (and the larger market's) struggles.

Aphria's ongoing profitability is impressive

High, consistent profits demonstrate how well a company is handling its operating expenses. Aphria has shown positive EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization) over the past three quarters, while most cannabis companies reported negative earnings. In its recent fiscal third-quarter earnings, Aphria recorded a positive adjusted EBITDA of 5.7 million Canadian dollars.

While peers are burdened with debt or on the verge of bankruptcy, Aphria ended the quarter with CA$515.1 million of cash and cash equivalents. It also raised CA$100 million in equity capital to strengthen its balance sheet. The money will be put toward expansion in Canada and internationally, giving me faith in Aphria to survive the COVID-19 chaos.

Another point that caught my attention: Unlike other marijuana companies, Aphria hasn't had many layoffs. This is evidence that the company is not in a financial crisis  it doesn't need to cut down its workforce to conserve cash amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Aurora Cannabis (NASDAQ:ACB), Hexo (NASDAQ:HEXO), and Canopy Growth (NASDAQ:CGC) have all had to make significant workforce reductions in order to survive.

Why is leadership important in a growing industry?

The leadership team is the pillar of any company, and over the past year, those teams have crumbled at many major players, reflecting instability in the sector. Investors usually take it as a negative sign when a leadership team falls, and changes at the executive level can also affect the stock price of a company.

Look what happened to Aurora Cannabis after its CEO, Terry Booth, stepped down in February. The struggling company's stock price went crashing down after the announcement. Cannabis giant Canopy Growth also terminated its CEO, Bruce Linton, in June of last year after entering into its partnership with Constellation Brands (NYSE:STZ). Investors didn't take either move well  Canopy's and Aurora's stock prices are down 27% and 67% year-to-date, respectively, and neither has achieved positive EBITDA.

In Aphria's case, though, CEO Irwin Simon has changed the face of the company since taking on the role in 2019. In December 2018, Irwin joined Aphria as the independent chair of its board of directors. He took over the role of interim CEO in March 2019. Since then, Irwin has stressed that it would be wise for Aphria to focus on its roots  namely, the Canadian province of Ontario.

As mentioned, during Irwin's tenure as CEO, Aphria has repeatedly reported positive EBITDA. Irwin is the founder of Hain Celestial (NYSE: HAIN), which he ran as a successful packaged-food company for 25 years. This gives me confidence in Irwin's leadership, and I believe his experience and skills can take Aphria to greater heights.

Medical cannabis is one of Aphria's strengths

Consumer desire for medical cannabis is more evident than ever during the coronavirus pandemic; in fact, increased demand has forced many U.S. states and Canada to designate marijuana an essential item.

More consumers are beginning to understand the benefits of medical marijuana over conventional medicines  especially for severe medical conditions such as cancer, arthritis, Parkinson's disease, and many other neurological conditions. Data by Grand View Research shows that in North America, medical cannabis made up 71% of sales in 2019.

Aphria already has a strong presence with its medical marijuana operations in Canada, Europe, Africa, South America, and Oceania. Its Germany-based subsidiary, CC Pharma, saw a 50% increase in medical cannabis sales in the third quarter.

Aphria has a compelling product portfolio  both for medical and recreational use  under the brand names Solei, Aphria, Broken Coast, RIFF, and Good Supply. Its medical cannabis sales made up about 13% of the total in the third quarter, a 14% decrease from the previous quarter owing to a fall in average retail selling price.

The medical cannabis market is booming in the U.S. and worldwide, which will provide more opportunities for Aphria. As of now, 33 states and the District of Columbia have legalized medical marijuana. More states are in the process of legalizing medical cannabis this year if the pandemic doesn't slow them down. A Gallup survey showed that 86% of Americans see the medical benefits of marijuana as an important reason to support legalization. And Mexico could also legalize marijuana in 2020.

Cannabis 2.0: Not all hope is lost

There was a lot of hype about cannabis 2.0 products  edibles, extracts, and the like  before Canada legalized them last year. Don't get me wrong, there's still huge demand for these offerings. It's just that the timing wasn't right. These products were legalized in October, but regulatory issues and a delay in the opening of legal stores extended into 2020. And then the pandemic hit.

Aphria has captured a significant portion of the adult-use cannabis market. In its third quarter, recreational cannabis sales made up almost 70% of the total. (As mentioned, medical cannabis was about 13%; the remainder was wholesale.) For cannabis 2.0, Aphria in the process of developing high-quality vape products. We will also see high-margin derivative products  edibles, beverages, concentrates, and topicals  soon. Aphria says the production capacity at its Canadian cultivation facilities is as high as 255,000 kilograms a year.

The global legal cannabis market (both medical and recreational) rose 48% year-over-year to $15 billion in 2019. It could grow to as much as $73.6 billion by 2027, according to Grand View Research. In the U.S. alone, cannabis sales could grow by 38% this year, and while the U.S. medical cannabis market is currently larger, recreational cannabis could drive global market growth through 2024, according to Arcview Market Research.

That's why I think cannabis 2.0 products still have a chance to revive the industry once the coronavirus has retreated. For now, Aphria has suspended its guidance because of the uncertainty from the pandemic. But once things normalize, the growth from cannabis 2.0 products could drive Aphria's revenue and profitability. The company expects its vape products sales to show results in Q4 2020 and Q1 2021. Edibles and gummies will further drive sales in the later half of fiscal 2021.

Aphria: an intriguing cannabis bet

Marijuana is, no doubt, a growing industry  just look at the demand in Canada and the United States. Not every cannabis stock is worth buying, though, and even the more stable ones aren't completely safe. That said, if you are an investor who can handle the risk for a while, Aphria  with its strong financial footing and excellent leadership team  could bear fruit for you in the long term.
Minister Richardson clarifies misunderstanding related to French-Dutch border

PHILIPSBURG:--- On Thursday April 24, 2020 Prime Minister Silveria E. Jacobs, Minister of Justice Anna E. Richardson, and Minister of Finance Ardwell M.R. Irion held a ministerial consultation (Ministerieel Overleg) with their Dutch colleagues, State Secretary for the Interior and Kingdom Relations Raymond Knops and State Secretary of Justice and Security Ankie Broekers-Knol, to discuss the Joint Regulation on Border Control (Onderlinge Regeling Versterking Grenstoezicht Sint Maarten).

This agreement was signed in December of 2017 between Sint Maarten and the Netherlands with its aim to strengthen the countrys borders. It was due to end on May 1, 2020.

This Joint Regulation falls under the responsibility of the State Secretary of Security and Justice, the State Secretary for the Interior and Kingdom Relations, the Minister of Defense and the State Secretary of Finance of the Netherlands and the Minister of Justice of Sint Maarten jointly.

A progress committee that consists of members of Sint Maarten and the Netherlands monitors the implementation of the agreement and is tasked with advising their respective Ministers of the progress made.

During the ministerial consultation an interim evaluation of the Joint Regulation, provided by the law enforcement agencies (Immigration, Customs and Coastguard) tasked with protecting Sint Maartens borders, was discussed. Based on this evaluation, it was acknowledged by all parties that many of the measures within the Plan of Approach have been realized. Additional personnel has been hired, technical assistance from the Netherlands is being provided and material to better monitor and control our borders have all been acquired. State Secretary Knops stated that he was positive toward the relations established with the Royal Marechaussee, Customs and the Police from each country.

There are however, a number of measures from the plan of approach that have not yet or not sufficiently been realized. As a result, all parties agreed to extend the Joint Regulation until December 31, 2020, which also is in line with the advice of the progress committee. Considering the COVID-19 measures, a possible extension after December 31, 2020 is possible; this will be evaluated once the effects of COVID-19 have been lessened.

Commenting on the meeting, Minister Richardson said: I would like to express my profound gratitude to the Immigration, Customs and Coastguard personnel for their continued work in improving our border security. I also would like to thank our Kingdom partner the Netherlands for their assistance in strengthening Sint Maartens borders. Additionally, to clarify, I would like to advise the general public that this decision has nothing to do with and has no relation to the current border measures that are in place between Dutch and French Sint Maarten 
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday warned doctors against prescribing a malaria drug touted by President Donald Trump for treating the new coronavirus except in hospitals and research studies.

In an alert, regulators flagged reports of sometimes fatal heart side effects among coronavirus patients taking hydroxychloroquine or the related drug chloroquine. The decades-old drugs, also prescribed for lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, can cause a number of side effects, including heart rhythm problems, severely low blood pressure and muscle or nerve damage.

The warning comes as doctors at a New York hospital published a report that heart rhythm abnormalities developed in most of 84 coronavirus patients treated with hydroxychloroquine and the antibiotic azithromycin, a combo Trump has promoted.

Both drugs are known to sometimes alter the heartbeat in dangerous ways, and their safety or ability to help people with COVID-19 is unknown. A National Institutes of Health experts panel earlier this week recommended against taking that drug combo except in a formal study because of the side effects potential.

Last month, the FDA authorized limited use of the malaria drugs for hospitalized patients with COVID-19 who arent enrolled in ongoing research. The FDA said the drugs risks are manageable when patients are carefully screened and monitored by doctors. A number of studies are testing hydroxychloroquine as a treatment or for prevention of COVID-19.

Also Read: ICMR study shows side effects of HCQ in health care staff

Regulators said they are now investigating dangerous side effects and deaths reported with the malaria drugs to poison control centers and other health authorities.

It is important that health care providers are aware of the risks of serious and potentially life-threatening heart rhythm problems that can occur with these drugs, the FDA said in a statement. The agency did not specify the number of reports it has received of side effects or deaths.

Calls to U.S. poison control centers about the malaria drugs increased last month to 79, compared to 52 in March 2019, according to Dr. Christopher Hoyte of the Rocky Mountain Poison Center in Denver, Colorado. The problems reported include abnormal heart rhythms, seizures, nausea and vomiting, Hoyte said.

Trump has repeatedly touted hydroxychloroquine during his regular coronavirus briefings, suggesting its skeptics would be proven wrong. He has offered patient testimonials that the drug is a lifesaver.

But a number of early coronavirus studies have suggested problems or no benefit.

In Fridays report in the journal Nature Medicine, doctors at New York University and NYU Langone Health found a significant prolonging of whats called the hearts QT interval two to five days after coronavirus patients were given usual doses of hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin. The drugs can alter the QT interval, or the time it takes the heart to charge between beats. When that time is too long, it can trigger a rhythm problem that can lead to sudden death.

Nine of the 84 patients had severe prolongation of this interval. Four patients died from organ failure but there was no evidence heart problems contributed. Severe disease or other health problems may play a role in whether the heartbeat abnormality develops, the researchers speculated.

The results show how important it is that these drugs only be used in a study where patients are closely tracked, said one independent expert, Dr. Rais Vohra, an emergency medicine specialist at the Fresno branch of the University of California, San Francisco.

That combination really sets you up for having a problem with the heart, he said. My colleagues and I are concerned. People are self-medicating and coming down with very predictable side effects on the heart.

Another recent analysis involving 368 patients in U.S. veterans hospitals found no benefit from hydroxychloroquine  and more deaths. The report was not a rigorous test of the drug and results have not yet been reviewed by other scientists but are the largest so far of its use in COVID-19 patients.

Last month, the federal government accepted more than 30 million doses of hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine donated to the strategic national stockpile by drugmakers Sandoz and Bayer. Since then, more than 14 million doses have been distributed to state and local health officials, according to the Department of Health and Human Services.

Accepting the donation required sign off by both the FDA and the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, or BARDA, a unit of HHS tasked with procuring treatments to combat bioterrorism and infectious diseases.

Earlier this week, former BARDA director, Rick Bright, said he was demoted from his job leading the agency because he resisted political pressure to allow widespread use of hydroxychloroquine. He has called for a federal investigation and reinstatement to his original job.
When the clock struck noon, the masks came off.

It was Nov. 21, 1918, and San Francisco residents gathered in the streets to celebrate not only the recent end of World War I and the Allies victory, but also the end of an onerous ordinance that shut down the city and required all residents and visitors to wear face coverings in public to stop the spread of the so-called Spanish flu.

A blaring whistle alerted gratified residents across the city and, as the San Francisco Chronicle reported at the time, "the sidewalks and runnels were strewn with the relics of a torturous month," despite warnings from the health department to maintain face coverings. As celebrations continued and residents flocked to theaters, restaurants and other public spaces soon thereafter, city officials would soon learn their problems were far from over.

Now, amid the coronavirus pandemic, as President Donald Trump urges the reopening of the country and some states, such as Georgia, move to resume normal business even as new cases emerge, how officials acted during the 1918 flu pandemic, specifically in cities such as San Francisco, offers a cautionary tale about the dangers of doing so too soon.

Alex Navarro, the assistant director of the Center for the History of Medicine at the University of Michigan, which detailed historical accounts of the 1918-19 flu pandemic in 43 cities, told NBC News in a phone interview that officials often acted quickly at the time but restrictions were eased to varying degrees.

"There was a lot of pressure in pretty much all of these American cities to reopen," said Navarro, whose research was done in conjunction with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "When they removed those restrictions too soon, then many cities saw a resurgence in cases."

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

The center's research found that cities that used "early, sustained and layered" practices such as social distancing, closing public events and stay-at-home orders "fared better than those that did not."

Story continues

'A lot of stock in masks'

Just two months earlier, in September, the first case of the so-called Spanish flu was identified in San Francisco and city health officials sprung into action.

Dr. William C. Hassler, the citys health officer, ordered the local man who apparently brought the disease to the city after a trip to Chicago into quarantine to stop the disease from finding another human host, according to the center's research of reported accounts.

But it was too late as the virus had already begun to make its way through the city. By mid-October, the cases jumped from 169 to 2,000 in just one week. Later that month, Mayor James Rolph put in place social distancing practices and met with Hassler, other health officials, local business owners as well as officials from the federal government to discuss a plan to close the city.

Some officials demurred at the idea, worried about damage to the citys economy and the risk of causing public panic. Eventually, on Oct. 18, the city voted to shut down "all places of public amusement."

Image: Praying for Health During Flu Epidemic (Hulton Archive / Getty Images file)

City officials also strongly advocated for face coverings, which were at first optional and soon required by a mayoral order  the country's first at the time, Navarro said.

"They were the one city that put a lot of stock in masks," he said.

With the pandemic still raging across the globe during World War I, the mask also became a symbol of "wartime patriotism."

"The man or woman or child who will not wear a mask now is a dangerous slacker," a public service announcement from the American Red Cross said at the time, according to Navarros research.

That, however, did not stop people from defying the order  110 people were arrested and given a $5 fine in one day in October shortly after the measure went into place, improperly wearing a mask or not wearing one entirely, according to the center's research. Over time, the jails were overcrowded with people failing to adhere to the rules. However, most cases were later dismissed.

By the end of October, there were 20,000 cases and more than 1,000 deaths. However, as the days went on, the city saw a dip in newly reported cases, which prompted officials to begin to reopen the city and rescind the mask order. By the end of November, officials believed the city had stabilized.

Image: Court in Open Air During Epidemic (Bettmann Archive / Getty Images file)

'They were flattening that curve'

But three weeks after that celebration of removing their masks, the city saw a dramatic resurgence. Officials at first rejected the idea of reopening the city and suggested residents could voluntarily wear face coverings.

But shortly after the New Year in 1919, the city was hit with 600 new cases in one day, prompting the Board of Supervisors to re-enact the mandatory mask ordinance. Protests against the mandate eventually led to the formation of the Anti-Mask League. The detractors eventually got their way when the order was lifted in February.

San Franciscos ambivalence to quarantine measures ran counter to other U.S. cities, though. Navarro said Los Angeles, for instance, implemented strict social distancing and face coverings about a week before San Francisco did and its measures stayed in place for weeks longer.

Navarro said that many cities often became complacent once they saw a dip in cases, and when a resurgence happens residents often question the public health guidance.

"They were flattening that curve; they just weren't realizing it," Navarro said. "A lot of people thought, Well, what did we go through that for? It did have an impact, they just didn't know it."

As Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, put it in March, "If it looks like you're overreacting, you're probably doing the right thing."

Back during the Spanish flu, San Fransisco's failure to take swift action and the decision to ease restrictions after only a few weeks had huge ramifications. With 45,000 cases and more than 3,000 deaths, the city was reported to have been one of, if not, the hardest-hit big city.

Roughly a century later, the San Francisco Bay Area imposed the nation's first stay-at-home order and other restrictions when coronavirus cases were rapidly growing, placing a spotlight on its pandemic response again. Those aggressive actions are credited with saving lives, avoiding the scale of the tragedy found in New York City.

Mayor London Breed said she took heed of history and implemented an order last week requiring anyone setting foot on the streets of San Francisco, outside their homes, to wear a face covering.

Breed told MSNBCs Chris Hayes in an appearance in mid-April that she has considered the citys history with past pandemics, such as the HIV/AIDS crisis and the Spanish flu when deciding to ease restrictions.

"Just because San Francisco is being praised for flattening the curve, we're not there yet," she said. "And so we cannot let up just because for some reason we believe that we're in a better place."

Full coverage of the coronavirus outbreak
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to return to work following his recovery from coronavirus, international media reported. This comes amid mounting pressures on his government to explain how to get the UK out of lockdown over the coronavirus outbreak. As of now, coronavirus pandemic has infected 143,464 in the United Kingdom.

Since his release from the hospital on April 12, the 55-year-old British leader has been recuperating at the Prime Ministerial retreat outside London, international media reported. While battling the COVID-19 infection, Johnson spent three days in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and later admitted that "things could have gone either way, which coerced him in taking things easy.

However, recently his return to UKs politics became imminent after senior officials confirmed that he had recently talked to Queen Elizabeth II and US President Donald Trump. According to international media reports, Johnson could be back in his office by April 27 and is expected to hold meetings with individual cabinet ministers. However, Health Minister Matt Hancock reportedly expressed caution and said that he wasn't sure when would Johnson resume office.

Johnson was tested positive for the novel coronavirus in the last week of March and remained in self-isolation but was subsequently admitted to St. Thomas hospital on April 5 after showing persistent symptoms for COVID-19. He later issued a statement thanking the staff of the National Health Service (NHS) at the St. Thomas Hospital and said that he owes his life to the NHS staff.

Read; UK Man Probing Strange Noises From Attic During Zoom Call Leaves Friends In Shock; Watch

Read: UK To Start Clinical Trials Of Plasma From Recovered COVID-19 Patients

Leadership crisis in UK

While Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab is the designated deputy to Prime Minister Johnson, the questions regarding key coronavirus crisis decisions remain unanswered. Raab had suggested that Johnson will soon be back at the helm when the United Kingdom is facing an unprecedented public health crisis in the past few decades. The UK has been under lockdown since March 23.

Read: Nurse Talks About His Experience Treating British Prime Minister Boris Johnson

Read: UK PM Boris Johnson To Talk To Trump, Meet Queen As He Recovers From COVID-19

(Image credit: AP)
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.




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 has 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. In Dhaka, authorities shuttered a centuries-old market that sells snacks and traditional delicacies for Ramadan. "This is the first time in some 400 years that the... market won't sell Iftar items," said local police chief Moudut Howlader. The restrictions have put a damper on spirits in Indonesia, the world's biggest Muslim majority nation, where national religious organisations have called on the faithful to stay at home. "This Ramadan is very different -- it's just not festive," said Indonesian housewife Fitria Famela. "I'm disappointed that I can't 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 world's Muslims -- have waved off fears about the spread of COVID-19. In Bangladesh, the fundamentalist Hefazat-e-Islam group criticised government moves to restrict access to more than 300,000 mosques nationwide. "Quotas on prayer attendance are against Islam," Mojibur Rahman Hamidi, a Hefazat official, told AFP. "A healthy Muslim must join prayers in a mosque. We hope that, if we pray hard, Allah will save us from the coronavirus," he added. - 'We must accept it' - The top Islamic organisation in Indonesia's 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 region's capital Banda Aceh, though crowds were smaller than usual. "I'm not worried because I'm wearing a face mask and keeping my distance," said Cut Fitrah Riskiah, one of those taking part. The threat of large religious gatherings has been highlighted in recent weeks by waves of infections in Asia linked to separate, massive Islamic congregations in Malaysia, Pakistan and India. Regional COVID-19 death tolls have been lower than in Europe and the United States but are rising steadily, sparking fears the virus may overwhelm often underfunded healthcare systems. And the World Health Organization has called for a stop to some Ramadan activities to limit exposure. 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 I've been unable to go to the mosque," he told AFP. "But we must accept it and obey the rules of social distancing to protect our lives." Muslim-majority Malaysia has extended a strict lockdown until mid-May with mosques, schools and most businesses closed -- and police checkpoints set up to catch rulebreakers. Even popular Ramadan bazaars, where Muslims buy local delicacies before breaking their fast, have been banned. Instead, Malaysians can only order from so-called "e-bazaars", where people order goods online and have them delivered to their homes. - 'Sinful' - Some even considered skipping the daytime fast over fears it could weaken their immune system. "But it would be sinful to miss it because fasting is mandatory," said Indonesian bank employee Amalia Nur Istigfarin. "So I'll try other things to boost my immune system like exercise and taking vitamin C," she added. Fears of a spike in coronavirus cases when millions travel to hometowns and ancestral villages at the end of Ramadan has forced Indonesia -- a country of some 260 million -- to issue a ban on the annual exodus. The government has also announced a clampdown on all air and sea travel across the 17,000-island archipelago. Jakarta resident Erik Febrian said he was relying on a computer to allow him to keep in touch with his out-of-town parents until he can see them in person at the end of Ramadan. "Thanks to technology I can video-call my parents every day during Ramadan," he said. "And keep an eye on their health." burs-pb/kaf
The Covid-19 pandemic has sent oil prices plummeting to record lows as people stopped driving and flying on a massive scale. This week, for the first time in recent history, oil futures dipped below the zero mark. The first to be hit are countries dependent on oil revenue and companies that produce oil with new and expensive techniques, such as fracking.

For the first time since the creation of the New York Mercantile Exchange (Nymex) in 1983, prices plunged below zero. On April 20, the price for Western Texas Intermediate (WTI) oil sunk to -$36.98. It concerned futures for WTI, a light, low density crude oil that forms the base commodity of oil future contracts of the Nymex; the contracts expired on 21 April.

There were no buyers for the oil, and theres not enough storage capacity, says Francis Perrin, Chairman of Energy Strategies and Policies in Paris. So you have to pay buyers if you want them to take your oil.

The dramatic phenomenon sent shockwaves around the world, but lasted only one day. The next day prices jumped back to around $15.

But WTI is only one of several oil price markers. Major names such as North Sea Brent crude oil, Dubai Crude, Urals Oil, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec), as well as others, remained relatively stable, between $15 and $20.

Saudi strategy

But the general level is still very low compared to last year. Already affected by a general slump and overproduction, prices took another nose dive in March, after Russia refused a Saudi proposal to cut production.

As a result, Saudi Aramco, the worlds largest oil company, unilaterally announced that it would increase its production by 1 million barrel per day from 12 to 13 million. The Saudis also announced a price cut of between $6 and $8 per barrel.

It was a strategy to get the Russians back to the negotiating table, says Perrin.

A month later, Russia  heavily dependent on oil and gas revenue  returned to another set of Opec+ meeting (the thirteen Opec members plus Russia, along with other non-members) on April 12, and this time agreed to slash world production by 10 percent starting from May.

Story continues

The Saudi strategy worked, says Perrin.

Most affected by the fall in oil prices are countries that are largely dependent on oil revenue, such as Russia, Venezuela, Angola and Saudi Arabia itself. And the controversial US fracking industry, which now risks being decimated.

The US was increasingly producing non-conventional shale oil, that is costly to produce, while Saudi Arabia enjoys the worlds lowest oil production costs," Perrin explains.

According to a report by the Oslo-base consultancy Rystad Energy, fracking is set for the biggest monthly decline in history as a result of the price collapse and the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

"With such a rapid decline in fracking already visible, very little activity will be happening in the oil basins during the remainder of the second quarter of 2020," Artem Abramov, Rystad Energy Head of Shale Research, is quoted as saying on the companys website.

Crucial lifeline

Shale oil, extracted by fracking techniques, is costly  and controversial, with environmentalists saying it damages nature.

In 2011, France was the first country to officially ban the process. The same year, thanks to its often criticised "fracking revolution", the US became the world's number one oil producer ahead of Russia and Saudi Arabia.

But it may all be over soon.

In the US and Canada, companies themselves take the decision on production levels. These are not political decisions, says Perrin, pointing at countries such as Saudi Arabia and Russia, where oil is the crucial lifeline.

As a private company, you say it's no longer profitable. So we reduce our drilling activities. We close some wells. But in the end that will lead to a overall fall in US production, he says.
Tony Holohan said we still have a lot of progress to make

The coronavirus has claimed the lives of five healthcare workers and 547 people living in community residential settings - including 488 residents of nursing homes.

The fatalities are among 1,014 laboratory confirmed deaths from the virus here, marking a significant landmark in the numbers succumbing to the disease since the crisis began.

Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan warned again yesterday that progress made in suppressing the virus here is in danger if too many people flout rules to restrict their movements.

He pointed to evidence of a rise in road traffic, use of public transport and outdoor activity.

Temptation

Earlier, it emerged that Dublin Bus is the latest to report a rise in daily passenger numbers with around 59,000 using its services on Wednesday - a rise of 6,000 on the same day on the three previous weeks.

"We are concerned there is more complacency," Dr Holohan said.

"I can understand the public has been asked to stay so long with measures that are hard to maintain. The weather is nice and the temptation is there.

"We have talked a lot about May 5 and there may be an assumption on the part of the public that things will change then but we still have a lot of progress to make if we are to satisfy the important criteria to recommend to Government that on public health terms it is time to do that.

"It will be on the basis of how far we have gone that we will make a recommendation to Government next week."

He said the National Public Health Emergency Team will not be ready to say if it is possible to ease restrictions after May 5 until as late as next Friday, when a review of the impact of the virus will be taken.

It was decided yesterday to change the testing criteria for priority groups, including healthcare workers and people with underlying illness, who may have the virus.

Instead of requiring two symptoms - a fever plus shortage or breath or sudden cough - GPs will now be able to refer people in these groups who have just one symptom after assessing them over the phone.

This will increase the numbers of people being tested for the virus and it is still unclear if labs will be able to cope.

Dr Holohan reported there were 37 more laboratory confirmed deaths yesterday and a further 124 probable deaths.

He said there is likely to be more deaths among people who did not have the virus but failed to seek medical attention on time.

Another 577 new cases of Covid-19 were confirmed, bringing the total who have tested positive so far to 18,184.

Among these are 3,277 people living in residential centres, including 2,500 nursing home residents.

The testing of all staff and residents in these centres, which began last weekend, has led to 707 positive cases.

Dr Ronan Glynn said that 3,830 healthcare workers have tested positive so far and 159 have been hospitalised.

24 ended up severely ill and were admitted to intensive care, and five have died.

Previous statistics show around one in four healthcare workers picked up the infection in the workplace.

Dangerous

Asked to comment on suggestions by US President Donald Trump that scientists should investigate injecting disinfectants into the body to cure the virus, Dr Holohan said that would be "really unsafe and dangerous".

"That would be a very unsafe thing to do. President Trump is not a doctor and the advice is don't do it," he added.

Meanwhile, clinical adviser to the HSE Dr Colm Henry told yesterday's briefing that around 120 public health workers have now been redeployed to private nursing homes struggling to cope with staff shortages due to the coronavirus.

He said an agreement is being signed to provide thousands of homecare hours by HSE-funded staff to the private homes.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-25 15:49:36|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, April 25 (Xinhua) -- The International Advisory Board of the Silk Road Think Tank Association has held a videoconference and released a statement, calling for strengthening international cooperation in fight against COVID-19.

Focusing on the theme of "Working together to meet global public health security challenges and build the health Silk Road," the meeting was attended Friday by more than 30 politicians and scholars from more than 10 countries, including Iran, France, Italy, Egypt and Greece.

According to the statement, COVID-19 brings the most urgent and serious challenge to both the health of humanity and world peace and development. In order to jointly respond to the risks and challenges, continued efforts should be made to act on the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind towards stronger solidarity and cooperation.

It must be duly acknowledged that since the outbreak of COVID-19, various countries have adopted response tactics and measures in light of their specific national conditions and significant progress has been achieved in China and some other countries, offering useful practice to the ongoing global fight against COVID-19, the statement said.

"It should be fully recognised that tracing the origin of the virus is a matter of scientific nature and labelling the virus could by no means be conducive to the international cooperation against COVID-19," the statement said. "Concerted efforts must be made to promote joint research and development towards early breakthroughs with a scientific approach and to oppose the politicization of public health issues, the stigmatization of other countries under the excuse of COVID-19 and discriminatory comments and practices against any country, region or ethnic group."

"We highly commend the World Health Organization for the objective, scientific and fair standing in competently performing their duties and responsibilities as well as the important coordinating and leading role they play in synchronizing international response and promoting international cooperation," said the statement, urging greater support for developing countries in their fight against COVID-19 and efforts to stabilize trade and investment environment, preserve openness of markets and facilitate the smooth performance of logistics networks.

Governments, political parties, social organizations, enterprises, media, think tanks and general public of all countries, Belt and Road Initiative cooperation partners in particular, must strengthen cooperation to jointly withstand the economic and social impact of COVID-19, according to the statement.

"Countries, BRI partner countries in particular, must bolster the conviction and confidence to defeat the outbreak with courage, solidarity, and wisdom so that the exhilarating experience they share in fighting COVID-19 will augur even greater achievements in BRI cooperation, and indeed an even brighter tomorrow for all mankind," added the statement. Enditem
A regional Queensland airline could be best placed to replace the embattled Virgin Australia, after the airline entered voluntary administration with a reported $7 billion debt, experts claimed.

Aviation experts believe charter group Alliance Airlines could soon fill the void left by flailing airline, which runs key domestic routes across Australia.

The airline was place into administration after it was left crippled by the coronavirus pandemic.

It had already been struggling, amassing debts of $7billion, including $450million owed to its hard working staff.

A collapse of the airline could leave a huge gap in Australia's domestic flight market, creating a worrying monopoly for the likes of rival Qantas.

But Strategic Aviation Solutions chairman Neil Hansford told Courier Mail the Queensland carrier could be ready to fill the gap.

Virgin Australia has gone into voluntary administration, putting 16,000 jobs under threat (pictured, staff at Brisbane airport after the announcement on April 21)

Richard Branson owns 10 per cent of Virgin Australia (pictured), who is battling to save his UK business Virgin Atlantic

'Youve got Alliance sitting in Brisbane with 50-odd aircraft,' he said on Saturday.

'With the right sort of funding or government guarantees could upgrade their fleet and get reasonable services going.'

'Theres plenty of ample crew  plenty of engineering around.'

Alliance Airlines has a fleet of 50 planes based out of Brisbane, and was founded in 2002.

Administrator Deloitte has found 10,247 creditors, meaning people or companies who are owed money by Virgin Australia.

This includes 9,020 of the airlines own employees, with debts totalling nearly $7 billion to creditors.

Nearly $2billion of this is owed to bondholders, with $450million owed to staff.

Sir Richard Branson, who owns ten per cent of Virgin Australia, tweeted: 'This is not the end of Virgin Australia. I believe in a new beginning'

'The administrators expect that the total number of creditors is estimated to be over 12,000,' a statement from the financial service firm said.

Alliance Airlines is understood to have what's known as a wet-lease partnership with Virgin Australia, meaning it already provides aircraft and crew to the airline.

It currently operates the airline giant's flights between Brisbane and Gladstone, Bundaberg, Moranbah and Port Macquarie.

But it also has up to $300,000 exposed as the Virgin Australia administration process gets underway, meaning it too could lose money.

Experts said the airline would need to compete with Jetstar - which is owned by Qantas - by offering competitively low fares.

Virgin called in administrators after a board meeting of its international shareholders voted against providing more financial support (pictured, staff in Brisbane on April 21)

Alliance Airlines (pictured), which has 50 planes based out of Brisbane, could soon fill a void left by Virgin Australia's domestic offering, an expert has said

An initial review of the airline's books showed it owed a total of $6.84 billion, including huge debts to corporate lenders, companies who lease aircraft and landlords.

In addition to this, the cost of going into voluntary administration is estimated to be between $20 and $30 million.

Going into liquidation is not the company's aim, Deloitte said, and Virgin Australia instead prefer a 'sale or recapitalisation' of the company.

'It would also allow a significant amount of the workforce to be retained and allow key suppliers to continue supplying Virgin,' the statement said.

The airline went into voluntary administration on April 21, putting 16,000 jobs under threat.

An air-hostess named Kara (pictured on April 21) warned that if Virgin goes under then Qantas would be able to push up prices for flights

Pilot Ken Winslow (pictured on April 21) said: 'It's been sad that the Federal Government hasn't been able to provide us with tangible support'

The airline, which was already struggling before coronavirus restrictions hit cashflows, is now being managed by Deloitte accountants while it restructures and looks for a buyer.

Administrator Vaughan Strawbridge said there were no plans for redundancies and that workers will still be paid their wages, including those on the government's JobKeeper scheme.

Raising hopes that the airline will be bought quickly, he said there were 'in excess of ten companies with a keen interest in being part of the restructuring'.

Private equity firm BGH Capital is thought to be among them.

But there are fears the restructure will involve scrapping less profitable routes, particularly to regional areas, meaning flag carrier Qantas will be the only provider and could increase fare prices.

Devastated: One baggage handler named Scott (pictured on April 21), who has been working for Virgin for 16 years, described his colleagues as his 'brothers and sisters'

Virgin staff are seen at Brisbane airport on April 21 (pictured) shortly after the airline went into voluntary administration

In an emotional press conference at Sydney Airport on April 21, tearful Virgin employees begged for Prime Minister Scott Morrison to save their jobs after the government said it would not buy a stake in the company or give it a $1.4 billion loan.

One baggage handler named Scott, who has been working for Virgin for 16 years, described his colleagues as his 'brothers and sisters'.

In a message to the prime minister, he said: 'Sir, I could not do your job and I don't envy you, but please let me do mine. Don't clip our wings.'

A young flight attendant called Flynn said: 'Virgin Australia is our family. Without it, it's like we are losing a family member.'

Virgin Australia is ten per cent owned by billionaire Sir Richard Branson, who is battling to save his UK business Virgin Atlantic.

A young flight attendant called Flynn (pictured on April 21) said: 'Virgin Australia is our family. Without it, it's like we are losing a family member.'

British billionaire Sir Richard Branson (pictured) offered his his own private Caribbean island of Necker as collateral

He has asked for a $500 million (AUD $1billion) loan from the UK government and offered his his own private Caribbean island of Necker - estimated by Forbes to be worth 80 million (AUD $160m) - as collateral.

In a letter to Virgin Australia employees, Sir Richard, 69, said he was 'so proud' of them and added: 'This is not the end of Virgin Australia. I believe in a new beginning.'

Virgin Australia asked for a $1.4 billion government loan - but the coalition government was unwilling to risk such as vast amount of taxpayers' cash.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said that voluntary administration represented an 'opportunity' for Virgin to strengthen.

Other Australian companies such as Network Ten have successfully navigated administration, he added.
Help India!

By Sana Ahmed, TwoCircles.net

Karnataka: From stories of stockpiling and panic buying to giving this pandemic a communal twist; weve been through all. When strong warnings against hate speech are sounded in the Middle East against Indian expats amid the Tablighi Jamaat controversy, and various other political hullaballoo surrounding the coronavirus outbreaks in India, what comes as a breather are stories of humanity, love and affection irrespective of caste, class or religion.

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Two brothers from Kolar region of Karnataka  Tajammul Pasha and Muzammil Pasha  sold off a piece of their property to feed people who werent dying of the virus, but of hunger. The brothers deal in real estate and a small scale banana trade.

We have seen poverty and now that we have enough we thought of helping those who are in need, said one of the brothers.

Both of them have families to look after  Tajammul is the father of five while Muzammil has two sons. They narrated that the property got them a sum of 25 lakhs which by the strong support of their family in this act of kindness, they used in helping the needy.

Both of them are currently delivering groceries to people who have lost their jobs, or are sole bread earners of their families and cant go to work due to the lockdown. Their daily routine is marked by making hampers and rations kits and then using their private vehicles to transport the deliveries to everyone  from those begging for alms on the streets to those who are suffering financial instability or resources crunch.

We are also supplying necessities to the people living at railway stations as they dont have shelter over their heads, says one of the brothers when asked about their door to door delivery. Though the brothers have exhausted the sum they had had gathered from selling off their property, yet they continue to serve cooked food to the needy.

When the lockdown was announced I got a call from a friend about 45 migrant workers from Andhra who were stuck in Hoskote, recalls Sameer. Sameer Asad from Hoskote is a social worker, heading the Khuddam Ul Hind. When the lockdown was announced, Sameer came forward along with his friends to help migrant workers and laborer, initially managing to bring them to Hoskote using the Emergency bus services.

I took help of the local police and arranged jeeps to help them reach the borders of Andhra Pradesh, narrates Sameer. Since then, he has been involved in distributing groceries and essentials to those in need. He said that some laborers were also stranded at Tirmalshetahalli Cross, an industrial area where around 100 migrant workers from UP and Bihar were suffering from hunger as they hadnt gotten their salaries. Sameer and his friends reached out to them with ration kits and also made sure they were paid their salaries by their employers.

So far, they have covered areas like Hoskote, Sulibele, Tamarshanahalli, Bodanaosahalli, Padryanoura and Lakshmisagar distributing more than 600 ration kits in total. As Ramzan has approached, Sameer has new plans, During Ramadan we will make new kits that will comprise of dates, lentils, chickpea flour and other essentials.

Sameer and his group of friends had started this initiative without any monetary support, relying solely on their own pockets and soon people started to contribute seeing their hard work towards the destitute.

At a time when a particular community is being boycotted and socially isolated in the north, these are classic examples of the Indian spirit of inclusiveness being practiced in the south. Many like the Pasha brothers and Sameer have proven that when social distancing is a norm they have not let the fire of compassion burning in their hearts die hence reflecting that pandemics may affect individuals and societies in more than one ways, but compassion helps in dealing with all of these in such difficult times.
PM wary of virus rebound

BANGKOK: Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Friday said that public health considerations will take priority when the government makes a decision over whether to ease the coronavirus lockdown.

COVID-19Coronavirushealth

By Bangkok Post

Saturday 25 April 2020, 09:34AM

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha calls for measures in place to prevent a resurgence in infections. Photo: Bangkok Post

Speaking to the media at Government House, Gen Prayut said that although Thailand has, so far, managed to flatten the infection curve, the nation cannot afford to lower its guard, reports the Bangkok Post.

What we are concerned about most is peoples health. This will determine what can and cannot be done, the prime minister noted.

If the current restrictions imposed to control the COVID-19 pandemic are to be safely eased, there must still be some measures in place to prevent a resurgence in infections, he said.

The government is nevertheless concerned about peoples livelihoods, their incomes and other daily activities, Gen Prayut said.

The government has always had two things in mind. Keeping people healthy is the primary concern, and the secondary concern is to keep the economy running. The government must come up with measures to address these two issues, though it has to spend the money carefully so that it will not be in trouble in the future, Gen Prayut said.

He said that while the government will do everything in its power to solve the problem, it is also ready to listen to the opinions of those outside the administration.

The prime minister said that even though the number of new daily cases has fallen and remains low, this does not mean the country is now safe as the virus has struck more than 200 countries and there will remain a risk of new infections coming from overseas.

The most important thing is to prevent transmission from abroad and ensure Thais comply with disease control measures, including social distancing, Gen Prayut said.

The prime minister again defended the letters he sent to business leaders asking them to help people affected by the pandemic through assistance projects.

He reiterated that he wanted to find out how they have helped their employees and ask for suggestions on how to tackle the economic slowdown caused by the crisis.

He insisted that the government is responsible for sorting out the problem transparently and efficiently.

Also on Friday, Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said that his ministry has forwarded to the prime minister proposed guidelines on how to proceed after the enforcement of the emergency decree expires on April 30.

The proposals came from medical experts and epidemiologists, Mr Anutin said while stressing that it is important to pursue a gradual return to normality.

The prime minister will make a decision on whether to maintain the state of emergency by taking into account all aspects covering public health and security, Mr Anutin said.

He added that the public cannot yet return to their normal lives because there is still no vaccine against the virus, and they still need to maintain social distancing, continue to work from home and wear face masks.

Meanwhile, Taweesilp Visanuyothin, spokesman of the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA), said on Friday that even though new infections remain low, the country cannot afford to risk allowing a second wave to occur that might overburden the healthcare system.

The government does not have enough funding and has to borrow money to handle the pandemic. If there are more patients, this will cost a lot more, he said.

It is calculated that one patient costs about B1 million to treat. So far, there have been more than 2,000 cases, which has cost more than B2 billion in health expenses, Dr Taweesilp said, adding that even a low rate of infection can prove economically costly.

The CCSA on Friday reported 15 new COVID-19 cases, raising the national total to 2,854. There were no new deaths.

Dr Taweesilp said the low number of new cases each day now was the result of people cooperating with disease control measures over the past seven to 14 days.
Sudarsan Maharana By

Express News Service

BHUBANESWAR: Amid the chaos of Covid-19, people across the world have pushed the boundary of hope and humanity and come out in large numbers to help those in need.

In Pune, a group of Odia professionals have dared the pandemic to spread happiness among migrant workers from Odisha left stranded and fending for themselves.

With Government help yet to reach the labourers in Pune, Odia IT professionals living in the city have activated an NGO to help the needy.

There are nearly 5,000 Odia families living in Chakan, Chinchwad, Pimpri, Kalewadi, Ranjangaon, Sutarwadi and Talegaon areas of the city. Around 1,200 Odia plumbers reside in Sutarwadi area and account for more than 70 per cent of the total plumbing workforce of the city.

With irregular earning and Government not reaching them, the migrants were struggling when the Odia professionals reached them with help.

They volunteered to deliver dry food packets through their NGO Spread Happiness Foundation which was formed in 2017. The dry food packets containing rice, dal, oil, salt and other grocery items have been distributed among more than 400 families so far.

We came to know about their plight and volunteered to deliver cooked food to the families in different localities with support from local administration and Maharashtra Government, said the president of the foundation Soumya Ranjan Mohapatra.

Odia migrant workers were provided cooked food for around a week till April 10 by the local administration but their plight worsened after it was stopped due to operational challenges.

As these families struggled for essentials, we pooled money and arranged dry ration packets for these families. We called these packets #Happiness Kits, he said.

More than 350 needy Odia families in Bhosari locality and 50 such families from Sutarwadi were provided essentials last week. We are now working to help another 300 families in other areas of Pune and also preparing masks to be distributed among the people, he said.

Members of the Foundation have so far managed to collect around Rs 45,000 from their own pocket to support the Odia migrant workers. However, hey know it is too little and Odisha Government must come forward with direct help to these workers in the city.

Our analyses show that there are more than 5,000 migrant Odia families in Pune struggling for basic food supplies. In the initial days of lockdown, they managed from their savings but as days progressed and savings got exhausted, they are now facing untold hardships to meet their daily requirements, said secretary of the foundation Jyotiranjan Panda.
At least six rhinos have been killed in southern Africa after the region's tourism was stopped because of coronavirus.

Bostwana Vice-President Slumber Tsogwane announced on March 24 that the movement of people from neighbouring countries had been restricted.

He also said that non-citizens trying to enter the country from countries such as the UK and the US would be turned away.

Since the decision to tighten the borders tourism has dried up in Botswana and the country has seen at least six rhinos killed.

At least six rhinos have been killed in Bostwana after the country's tourism was stopped because of coronavirus

VetPaw is a group of American military veterans who fight poachers in the north of South Africa and was founded by Ryan Tate, 35, a former Marine.

WHY IS THE BLACK RHINO POPULATION IN DECLINE? Black rhinos have been killed in increasing numbers in recent years as transnational, organised criminal networks have become more involved in the poaching of rhinos and the illegal trade in rhino horn. Uncontrolled hunting in the colonial era was historically the major factor in the decline of black rhinos. Today, poaching for the illegal trade in their horns is the major threat, according to the WWF. Powdered horn is used in traditional Asian medicine as a supposed cure for a range of illnesses  from hangovers to fevers and even cancer. The recent surge has been primarily driven by the demand for horn by upper-middle class citizens in Vietnam. As well as its use in medicine, rhino horn is bought and consumed purely as a symbol of wealth. Advertisement

South Africa has also imposed a travel ban which has stopped Tate joining his team in South Africa as he is stuck in the US.

CNBC reported that he said: 'It's a helpless feeling. Poaching doesn't stop just because there's a virus  if anything, it picks up.

'There's a lot of people struggling in Africa, a lot of private reserves that have helped save a few species including rhinos. Now they don't have that ecotourism they depend on, it's gone. There's going to be a lot of damage done from this.'

The fall in tourism has meant that poachers are targeting animals in visitor hotspots where they would not normally go.

Security forces in Botswana have already killed five suspected poachers in April.

On top of the six rhinos killed in Botswana, South Africa have had nine rhino deaths since the country was put in lockdown.

There has been a 97.6 per cent fall in the black rhino population since 1960 and the lion population has fallen by 43 per cent in 21 years.

The absence of tourists going on game drives means that rhinos and other animals have fewer sets of eyes to watch over and protect them

The fall in tourism at national parks has meant that poachers are targeting animals in visitor hotspots where they would not normally dare to go

Rhino Conservation Botswana founder Map Ives said that rhino poaching has become a crisis since tourism was stopped.

'The poachers have been emboldened because the playing field is in their favour and they won't have as many problems moving around.

'They are professional and adept at running off with rhino horns in minutes and dodging security forces. They are masters at evading detection.'

Although rangers are still present in African reserves, the absence of tourists going on game drives means that rhinos and other animals have fewer sets of eyes to watch over them.

The lion population has fallen by 43 per cent in 21 years. At least 35,000 African elephants are killed each year and roughly only 1,000 mountain gorillas and 2,000 Grevy's zebras remain on the continent

At least 35,000 African elephants are killed each year and roughly only 1,000 mountain gorillas and 2,000 Grevy's zebras remain on the continent.

The collapse of tourism in Africa has also affected the survival of national parks as many have had to close for the duration of the lockdown.

With many people in Africa relying on national parks for their wages, experts are concerned that people will start poaching domestically to source cheap meat to feed their families.

The Seattle Times reported that Andrew Campbell, the chief executive of Game Rangers Association of Africa, said: 'People are being laid off in the tourism industry by the dozens in Africa at the moment. All these things are happening because, without tourists, there is no money.'

In 2018 Prince William gave a speech at the Illegal Wildlife Trade conference in Battersea vowing to protect endangered species like rhinos

In 2018 Prince William gave a speech at the Illegal Wildlife Trade conference in Battersea vowing to protect endangered species like rhinos.

He said: 'I feel it is my duty and our collective responsibility to leave our planet in a stronger position for our children.'

'It's heartbreaking to think that by the time my children, George, Charlotte and Louis are in their 20s, elephants, rhinos and tigers might well be extinct in the wild.

'I for one am not willing to look my children in the eye and say we were the generation that let this happen on our watch.'
For more coverage, visit our complete coronavirus section here.

Costco, Trader Joes and Whole Foods are among a list of over two dozen grocery chains and egg producers hit with a class action lawsuit alleging the companies hiked egg prices amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The suit filed Monday in federal court on behalf of California consumers claims eggs prices have not only tripled at these stores but that prices have stayed 10% higher than they were prior to March 4, when Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency.

Because the price of eggs have risen more than 180% during the COVID-19 emergency, it is clear that some or all of the defendants have raised their prices to an extent that violates the law, according to the suit obtained by Bloomberg Law.

California penal code 396 says it is unlawful for any person, contractor or business to sell food for a price higher than 10% immediately prior to the declaration of a state of emergency. An exception applies only if the seller can prove that the price increase was linked to additional costs imposed by the supplier, cost of labor or materials used to provide the service.

The suit also alleges violations of Californias Unfair Competition Law.

ALSO: Grocery store sales are soaring, but so are stress and anxiety levels

The plaintiffs argue that while they cant confirm every company engaged in price-gouging, they believe there was a set of actors seeking to unfairly profit from the increased consumer demand for eggs in the midst of the ongoing crisis.

According to legal news site law360.com, Costco denied price gouging, arguing egg producers themselves were raising their wholesale prices which "did not seem in line with feed and production costs of those suppliers." Kenya Friend-Daniel, PR Director for Trader Joe's, confirmed that the grocery chain has not risen the price of eggs during the specified timeframe.

A separate lawsuit filed Thursday by Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton alleges that Cal-Maine Foods, also listed as one of the defendants in the California suit, raised generic egg prices by 300% even though the pandemic hasn't disrupted its supply chain, according to a report from the Associated Press. Texas is seeking more than $100,000 in damages.

Cal-Maines wholesale egg prices jumped from about $1 per dozen to as high as $3.44, according to Paxton's lawsuit. That created a huge profit potential for a company controlling nearly 20% of the nation's egg sales, the suit alleges.

Other companies listed in the lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California include Amazon, Albertsons Companies, Walmart, and other companies outside the state.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Editors note: This story has been updated to include a response from Trader Joe's.

Susana Guerrero is an SFGATE digital reporter. Email: Susana.Guerrero@sfgate.com | Twitter: @SusyGuerrero3

MORE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE:

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MGM Resorts International will not welcome hotel guests for at least the next four weeks.

The gaming company canceled hotel reservations between May 1 and May 21. MGM contacted guests with booked reservations for May by email and said a full refund would be issued for any payments received.

MGM will allow hotel reservations with an arrival date beginning June 1 for Las Vegas properties and MGM Springfield.

As efforts ramped up to quell the spread of COVID-19 in Massachusetts, MGM Springfield was ordered to close on March 14. Within three days, all the gaming companys U.S. properties were closed to the public.

Due to closures, MGM properties are effectively generating no revenue, MGM Resorts said in a report shared Thursday with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission revealing the financial impact of operational shutdowns due to coronavirus.

Estimates shared in the report show the total net revenue for the first quarter was $2.3 billion - down 29% from the same quarter last year. Revenue from Las Vegas properties are estimated to have dropped by more than a billion while revenue at properties around the U.S. dropped by 10%, about 726 million.

MGM Resorts operates 13 properties on the Las Vegas Strip, including The Mirage and Mandalay Bay. Outside of Las Vegas, its other U.S. properties include.: MGM Springfield, the Western Massachusetts casino opened in August 2018; MGM National Harbor outside of Washington D.C.; MGM Grand Detroit; Beau Rivage and Gold Strike in Mississippi; the Borgata in Atlantic City; and MGM Northfield Park near Cleveland, Ohio.

While the impacts to the first quarter which ended on March 31 were substantial, MGM said it expects revenues in the second quarter of the year - between April and the end of June - to be more significantly impacted by coronavirus-related shutdowns.

The spread of COVID-19 and developments surrounding the global pandemic have had, and we expect will continue to have, a significant impact on our business, results of operations and financial condition," the company stated.

Due to the shutdowns, the company announced plans to reduce or defer at least 50% of its planned capital expenditures this year.

It cut personnel costs with substantial furloughs of employees, hiring freezes and cancellation of merit pay increases.

MGM committed to paying furloughed employees for two weeks after the closures.

The company also invited certain senior executives and directors to receive all or a portion of their remaining base salary during 2020 in the form of restricted stock units in lieu of cash.

MGM said it is working closely with government officials on reopening plans, the date of which remains uncertain both at their properties in Las Vegas and throughout the country.

MGM said it expects its regional properties to open before ones in Las Vegas.
VA decided to reach out to other vulnerable veterans. In the last week, the health system has lent its support to the troubled state system of veterans homes. The homes are not run by the federal government, but VA gives them financial assistance  and has now offered to treat dozens of their patients in its hospitals.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-25 15:51:07|Editor: huaxia

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LOS ANGELES, April 24 (Xinhua) -- The novel coronavirus spread on the west coast of the United States weeks earlier than initially believed, according to new information released by local public health officials this week.

Health authorities of Santa Clara County in the western U.S. state of California confirmed Tuesday that two patients had died of COVID-19 at least three weeks before the first known U.S. death from the novel coronavirus disease on Feb. 29 in Kirkland in Washington State.

According to a statement issued by the Northern California county's Emergency Operations Center, the Medical Examiner-Coroner performed autopsies on two individuals who died at home in early February, and received results from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday, which showed both tested positive for COVID-19.

"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.

Patricia Dowd, a 57-year-old San Jose woman, who died at home on Feb. 6.

Jeffrey V. Smith, Santa Clara county executive, told Xinhua in an email interview that "so far, this is the earliest death in the United States."

Santa Clara County's public health officer Dr. Sara Cody told media that Dowd and another 69-year-old man who died at home on Feb. 17 had no "significant travel history," and they presumably caught the virus through community spread.

Family members said Dowd, who worked as manager for a semiconductor company, became unusually sick in late January. She had flu-like symptoms for a few days, then appeared to recover. When she was found dead in early February, the initial culprit had appeared to be a heart attack, the Los Angeles Times reported this week.

"What these deaths tell us is that we had community transmission probably to a significant degree far earlier than we had known," Cody told reporters.

"When you have an outcome like death or ICU, that means that there's some iceberg of cases of unknown size that underlie those iceberg tips," she said.

Neeraj Sood, a professor at the Price School of Public Policy at the University of Southern California, told the Los Angeles Times that he believes the virus was circulating weeks before the newfound death.

"When you start seeing the first death, actually, the number of cases in the population is probably pretty high already. It's been in the community for a long time," Sood was quoted as saying by the Los Angeles Times.

"These patients apparently contracted the illness from community spread. This suggests that the virus was circulating in the Bay Area in January at least, probably earlier," Smith told Xinhua.

According to a new study released by researchers at Stanford University earlier this month, some 48,000 to 81,000 people in Santa Clara County alone may already have been infected with COVID-19 by early April, an indication that 2.5 percent to 4.2 percent of county residents may have antibodies.

There are 2,018 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 98 deaths in Santa Clara County so far, according to data released by the county's Public Health Department on Friday morning. Enditem
The Indian owner of Port Talbot steelworks has approached the UK Government for a 500million loan.

Tata Steel has reportedly asked for a commercial loan that would be repayable when demand for steel from its sites in Wales recovers.

Its request is being considered by the Treasury and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Sky News reported. Talks are at an early stage and no agreement is likely to be announced soon.

Loan: Tata Steel's large customers, such as car makers, have stopped production

The move comes after several of Tata Steel's large customers, such as car makers, stopped production.

A spokesman told Sky: 'We continue to work with both the UK and Welsh governments to identify what support is available.'

The manufacturer has also been hit by a rise in raw material costs. China's decision to reopen following the pandemic contributed to high iron prices despite a slump in global demand.

Roughly 1,500 of Tata Steel's 8,000 UK workers have been furloughed.

Separately, British Steel, which is owned by China's Jingye, is set to resume production at its plant in Skinningrove on Teesside with 300 furloughed workers returning tomorrow.
Around the time she began falling, Hardy-Fanta was contending with pain in her hips, left buttock and left foot as well as an inexplicable new stance. She noticed that she was standing on the outside edge of her left foot. She consulted a podiatrist, recounting her recent falls, which prompted his observation that she sounded like a bit of a klutz. The foot doctor prescribed a walking boot, which she wore faithfully, even though it aggravated her hip pain. Her internist had recently diagnosed bursitis, irritation of fluid-filled sacs near the hip joints, and recommended physical therapy. Her odd way of standing was seen as a response to her hip pain.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A banner reading Thank You! has been posted outside Clove Lakes Health Care and Rehabilitation Center  showing appreciation for staff at the facility for their work during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

My experience with the staff (at the facility) before the pandemic was and still is awesome, said Jody Musicaro-Burkhalter, whose father is a resident of the Castleton Corners facility.

Clove Lakes has been tremendously helpful in helping my father maintain a relationship with me while in quarantine  everything from phone calls to FaceTime, and always keeping me updated and informed about my fathers well-being," she said, adding that it is hard not being able to see her father during the pandemic.

The banner, which is one in a long list of thank-yous that borough residents have given to Staten Islands health-care workers, comes at a time when New York City plans to increase staff to nursing homes badly hit by the virus across New York City.

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All health-care workers are our superheroes, but we mustnt forget about the health-care workers who put their life in jeopardy every day by showing up at the facility to take care of our loved ones, Musicaro-Burkhalter said.

They are going above and beyond and are exhausted, but still put in hours and hours of work to take care of our seniors. We cannot forget to thank all of the nurses, CNAs and staff at the nursing homes.

Musicaro-Burkhalter said she is also looking forward to having her father tested for the virus, as part of a partnership between Borough Hall, Richmond University Medical Center (RUMC), Staten Island nursing homes and a Long Island testing manufacturer.

I am glad to hear that the test will arrive soon to help those in need, she said.
Processing "rescuing" agricultural products

Since early February, the outbreak of COVID-19 in China has been causing delays in trade at border crossings, leading to congestion of farm produce such as dragon fruit and watermelon at border gates due to being unable to gain customs clearance. Hundreds of thousands of tonnes of dragon fruit in major production localities such as Binh Thuan and Long An are at risk. In such context, chef Kao Sieu Luc, who runs his ABC Bakery chain, has made dragon fruit bread using the fruit as an ingredient to help rescue farmers who could not export their dragon fruit to China. Kao Sieu Luc said that ABC developed a new formula, replacing 60% of water in the flour mixture with dragon fruit smoothies to produce batches of fresh pink bread. This innovation quickly attracted the attention of customers, forcing ABC to raise its production capacity to 20,000 loaves a day and limit customers to buying five pieces each turn. This interesting story shows that, thanks to deep processing, dragon fruit is not only a fresh export item but it has also become a material for a new best-selling product with higher value. In particular, it opens up a new direction for the use of dragon fruit products in the long run.

Also focusing on processing, ATK Vietnam Production and Trading Co., Ltd. (in Khanh Ha Commune, Thuong Tin District, Hanoi), which specialises in vegetable, tuber and fruit farming, has produced refined products, such as dried vegetable powder for children, detox products for adults and nutritional products for patients. The companys current products, such as vegetable flour, vegetable noodles, herbal tea and rice vinegar, are trusted by consumers and bring about much higher economic value than the original products. In particular, local agricultural products no longer suffer from redundancy with cheap prices; on the contrary there are times the company has suffered shortage of raw materials for their production. Therefore, the company is also expanding its association with other raw material producing areas in different localities to ensure the regular manufacturing of its products.

From such stories, it can be seen that the processing of agricultural products to diversify them from the normal rice, fruits, vegetables, etc. has partly solved the problem of agricultural congestion at border gates and lack of cold storage. Processing always plays an important role in the development of agricultural production, and in the present context, it proves even more so. According to assessment from associations of agricultural product processing and export, amid the prevalence of COVID-19, processed products (canned, frozen, concentrated, dried) are expected to be see strong consumption rates due to convenience in transportation and consumption, especially in markets where Vietnam has already gained their trust that are affected by the COVID-19 epidemic, such as China, the Republic of Korea, Japan and the EU.

Actively accessing markets, adding value

Along with contributing to the "rescue" of agricultural products, processing also plays an important role in helping businesses to take initiative in consumption markets, thereby maintaining their commodity prices and raising the stature of Vietnamese agricultural products in the world market. Typically, it is necessary to mention the processing and exporting activities at Dong Giao Foodstuff Export JSC (DOVECO). According to DOVECO's Board Chairman Dinh Cao Khue, most of the company's products are deep-processed vegetables and tubers, with long shelf lives and suitable for many markets in the world. Therefore, there is not much concern about the issue of farm produce congestion in the material areas or other objective risks. That's why when COVID-19 broke out, most of the company's products have continued to be exported as normal. Agricultural products in raw material areas have been still purchased and processed by the company on schedule. Currently, DOVECO has invested in fruit and vegetable processing plants in the two provinces of Ninh Binh and Bac Giang, with the latest being the inauguration of a centre for processing fruit and vegetables in Gia Lai Province, with the capacity to process a wide range of vegetable, tuber and fruit products such as bananas, pineapples, dragon fruit, passion fruit, avocado, mango, durian, sweet corn, and sweet potato, among others.

Processing vegetables, tubers and fruits to meet US standards at Tanifood Factory in Go Dau District, Tay Ninh Province. (Photo: NDO/Moc Tra)



Meanwhile, regarding seafood, Deputy General Secretary of Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) Nguyen Hoai Nam stated that when export markets fluctuate, enterprises will have advantages if they promote processing. It is the same regarding the current situation, with the prevalence of COVID-19 forcing many countries to stop importing fresh products, opting for canned and frozen goods instead. Therefore, processed products are expected to continue to dominate the market in the near future. In addition, the preservation of deep-processed goods is also much more convenient than fresh goods, so businesses would minimise the risk from perishable inventory.

For the forestry industry, processing has brought very high added value to the sector, as stated by General Secretary of the Vietnam Timber and Forest Product Association, Ngo Sy Hoai. In 2019, export turnover from wood and wood products reached US$11.2 billion  an impressive figure for not only the nation but also the international market. Vietnam's wood processing industry has become a hen that lays golden eggs. This is because the industry has undergone a dramatic transition from outsourcing to proactively designing its own brands, from producing cheap goods to high value-added furniture. Currently, there have been Vietnamese businesses that signed interior decoration contracts worth tens of millions of US dollars for luxury hotels in the US, European countries or castles in the Middle East. It can be said that Vietnam has not only exported its wooden products but also brought its Vietnamese brand of architectural and living space to the world, and in turn has generated high economic value.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), from 2013 to 2019, the agricultural product processing industry witnessed a strong development on both scale and level compared to the previous five years (2007-2012). Accordingly, the annual growth rate of added value was about 5-7% and exports accounted for about 65% of the total processing value. As a result, in recent years, eight groups of products with annual export turnover of US$1 billion or more have been maintained, of which four items have reached over US$3 billion in export turnover.

However, Vietnams agricultural product processing industry still suffers shortcomings and limitations, reflecting in the limited processing capacity in some product chains and lack of processing facilities, especially in peak harvest season. Meanwhile, the countrys processing technology level is only at the average compared to the world. These issues have lowered the quality of Vietnamese agricultural products and reduced their competitiveness in both the domestic and international markets.

Great challenges need major solutions

Regarding the challenges ahead for the agricultural processing industry, MARD Minister Nguyen Xuan Cuong said that Vietnam is one of the five countries in the world which are most affected by climate change, threatening production of agricultural and raw materials for processing. While the export market of processed products is increasingly demanding on quality and food safety and hygiene, Vietnams agricultural sector is facing a major obstacle given the fact that the country has not really formed a large modern agricultural production model.

Therefore, Minister Cuong emphasised the need for implementing major solutions, including the linking value chains in the production, processing and consumption of agricultural products to improve the ability to provide raw materials for processing, thus ensuring sufficient quantity and quality, as well as reasonable prices and stability for all items. On the basis of consumption markets (including market shares, tastes, prices), it is important to promote comparative advantages of each region and take into account the impacts of climate change to build concentrated raw material areas, with priority given to the development of the key national products and commodities with insufficient raw materials for processing, such as seafood, wood and tea.

Alongside this comes the promotion of research and application of modern and high technology to production, while widely implementing quality and food safety management in the chain from the initial stage of farming to the final stage of preservation and processing, as well as gradually shifting from the model of inspection and examination of food quality and hygiene to an active prevention model with risk monitoring and classification in a public and transparent manner.

Vietnam is integrating more and more deeply into the world economy, especially with the participation of new generation of free trade agreements, which will create favourable conditions for the countrys agricultural products to expand to other markets when the tariff barriers have been removed as committed. However, at the same time, there are non-tariff barriers, including requirements for quality, deep processing content and food safety, which will surely be erected and will likely be increasingly dense, requiring Vietnam's agricultural sector to quickly implement large groups of solutions to develop the processing industry to adapt to and dominate export markets.

In the past 10 years, Vietnam's agro-forestry and fishery processing industry has made significant progress, with a growth rate of added value at about 5-7% a year and a large capacity agricultural product processing industry system has been established. All provinces and cities across the nation have developed processing enterprises for the main agro-forestry and aquatic products. Processing in agriculture, forestry and fishery has created direct jobs for about 1.6 million labourers with average monthly incomes ranging from VND5-7 million per person.
Interim stay in prison camps for new inmates to protect jail population By Chrishanthi Christopher View(s): View(s):

The Prisons Department, in a bid to contain the spread of COVID-19, is housing new arrivals in prison camps for a period before letting them into jails.

Prisons Commissioner-General Jayasiri Tennakoon said new remand prisoners were being sent to the Boosa and Pallensena prison camps where they would be kept for 21 days.

We are taking all precautions to prevent an outbreak in our prisons, he said.

Mr. Tennakoon said a section of the Bogambara Prison complex in Kandy, currently used as a cultural centre, is being reorganised. The area will be ready on Wednesday to accommodate around 500 inmates.

The Boosa camp has a capacity of 700.

With the facilities envisaged in total, 1,700 new prisoners can be kept in quarantine before being allowed into the normal prison structure. After the quarantine period they will be moved out, Mr. Tennakoon said.

The department has requested the COVID-19 Taskforce to give it a quarantine facility in Batticaloa.

There have been no reports of a coronavirus breakout in the jail population.

The Commissioner-General said his department would not take in curfew violators. We had discussions with the Attorney-General and the police to have them under judicial custody and be let out on bail, he said.

The department last month sent home 2,961 prisoners who were in remand for minor offences, in order to space out prisoners in cells.

Previously, we used to have 300-400 persons in our cell wards but we now have less than fewer than 20, Mr. Tennakoon said. Each ward had been built to accommodate 150 prisoners.

Cells are generally overcrowded and hold nearly three times their proper capacity. There are about 26,000 prisoners countrywide accommodated in premises that should contain 10,000 inmates.

The department has stopped families from visiting jails in order to prevent visitors infecting prisoners, and this led to fights breaking out at Anuradhapura Prison on March 22 in which two inmates were killed and six wounded.

We dont allow visitors and we educated prisoners on the importance of wearing masks and keeping their hands and face clean. Everyone is provided with sanitisers, Mr. Tennakoon said. Prisons officials ae also provided with masks and sanitisers.

All prison staff are expected to work despite the COVID-19 threat as the department comes under essential services.
From Jan. 22 to April 22, after three months of lockdown Pangniu and Chunqiao, two giant pandas at Wuhan Zoo in Wuhan of central China's Hubei province, the former epicenter of COVID-19, welcomed new visitors recently. Without their normal routine and activities, the two pandas have gained about 7.5 kg and 5 kg of weight respectively during the lockdown period.

Panda Chunqiao in the zoo. (Photo/Chinanews.com)

At the panda house visitors should have been able to experience a novelty activity -- smelling panda excrement to search for hints of bamboo leaves, but indoor venues are currently closed to avoid crowds.

The outdoor animal venues in the Wuhan Zoo are open to the public as usual, however the four venues for pandas, hippopotamus, rhinoceros and baboons, are currently accessible for outdoor viewing only.

Wuhan Zoo welcomed a total of 1,030 visitors on the first day of its reopening and 1,101 on the second, during the epidemic prevention and control period the zoo's instant flow capacity is about 15,000 people.

(Photo/Chinanews.com)

On the morning of the reopening on April 22, the zoo's official WeChat account released a "thank-you note", saying that the zoo received much support from the community when the animals' feed supply was temporarily cut off due to the epidemic.

Throughout the closing, the staff and keepers stayed busy disinfecting the zoo, taking care of the animals and communicating with citizens on the Internet, working to improve and maintain the animals' living environment.

Some of the improvements can be seen in the exhibition area of the francois's leaf monkey, which has been "well decorated" by a professional team, adding beautiful climbing frames to more closely resemble the forest. The keepers have also designed a series of bizarre feeding devices in the shapes of bamboo balls, baskets, fruit burger bunches, gift bags and safe deposit boxes.
After weeks of relative dormancy brought on by the coronavirus pandemic, the Democratic primary race for Pennsylvanias 10th Congressional District sparked back to life Friday when candidate Tom Brier charged his rival, state Auditor General Eugene DePasquale, with violating federal campaign finance laws.

Brier, in a late Friday filing, charged that DePasquale improperly got his congressional race off to a running start last year with funds originally donated to DePasquales past runs for state office. Federal law expressly bars candidates from transferring or using state-level campaign funds for federal races, in part because it could be used to circumvent often-stricter federal rules on the size and source of donations.

DePasquale, according to Briers complaint, did not overtly transfer the funds.

But DePasquale did use the state funds, the Hershey attorney argued, to essentially give his campaign a lengthy soft opening in the months before DePasquale made his congressional run official last summer.

DePasquales campaign reacted sharply to Briers allegation Saturday morning.

This is clearly a baseless attack from a frustrated politician who is struggling to gain traction in this primary, the details of which the Brier campaign sent to the press without even bothering to send us directly. Its incredibly disappointing that Tom Brier would stoop to this politically-motivated attack during this pandemic, while Eugene is focused on helping our community through this crisis, said campaign manager Rachele Fortier.

Briers allegation is built, in large part, on an October 2019 state campaign finance report that shows between March and May of last year DePasquales accounts reported spending more than $113,000 to various political and media consultants.

Some of that spending occurred just prior to and during DePasquale's purchase of a series of issue-oriented Facebook advertisements in April and May 2019 that both featured the Auditor General and served as a way for his political operation to identify potential supporters. In addition to the ad buys, Brier alleges the spending covered video production services, Web site development and opposition research.

Briers complaint charges that the fact pattern - including that DePasquale was term-limited from seeking another term in his current office and had apparently discontinued his old campaign Web site by March 2019 - suggest DePasquale was using the state funding to give his at-the-time-unannounced federal campaign a running start. The complaint also alleges he should have filed federal statements of candidacy months earlier than he actually did.

Briers attorney, Scott Thomas, asks the Federal Election Commission to, at a minimum, mandate repayment of misappropriated funds totaling at least $113,050, and secure an agreement from DePasquale and his committees not to repeat any of the foregoing transgressions of the law.

After reviewing the essence of Briers complaints, Fortier, speaking for DePasquale Saturday, added:

As is completely normal, Eugene has a state campaign fund which can be used in a wide variety of ways. Through the winter and spring of 2019, Eugene had not made any decision on running for Congress and was considering running for other offices, including at the state level. The timeline given by his opponent creates a false narrative. Since his decision and announcement to run for Congress, the federal committee has paid the state committee thousands of dollars to legally purchase materials that are relevant to the congressional campaign, to eliminate any concern about utilizing state campaign assets.

Fortier said those purchases covered items like donor lists and political research material, but also services that Brier has referenced in his complaint. That could not be independently corroborated for this report.

It is true that since his 2016 re-election as Auditor General, DePasquale had been on a short list of Democrats considered viable candidates to try to succeed Gov. Tom Wolf in 2022. There is also some precedent for past auditor generals to move from that seat to other state row offices, as current U.S. Sen. Robert Casey Jr. did in 2004 when he jumped from auditor general to treasurer.

At the present time, however, both other state row offices are already held by first-term Democrats.

Christopher Nicholas, a veteran Republican political consultant, noted Friday the FEC does typically permit testing the water type expenditures from other sources as a precursor to federal campaigns. But Nicholas added that in his experience thats usually limited to activities like political polling.

The FEC, on its Website, says it reviews complaints on a case-by-case basis. If the commission finds that a violation occurred, possible outcomes can range from a letter reiterating compliance obligations to fines.

It seems unlikely that Briers compliant, if challenged by DePasquale, will be resolved before the June 2 primary election. For one thing, the FEC currently lacks a quorum to vote on enforcement matters.

.Both Democrats are vying for the right to challenge incumbent U.S. Rep. Scott Perry, R-York County, for the states 10th Congressional District seat this fall. Perry is running unopposed for the Republican nomination.

DePasquale, who served in the state House of Representatives from York before becoming Auditor General in 2012, is the favorite among most members of the local Democratic Party establishment, and he has rolled up a significant fundraising lead over Brier in recent months.

But Brier, a 28-year-old attorney from Derry Township who is in his first run for political office, has shown repeatedly that he is not afraid to push DePasquale. Brier runs a little more to the progressive side of Democratic thinking on some issues, and he has based a lot of his campaign on finding votes among younger and other first-time voters.

Latest federal filings show the Auditor General had raised $1.012 million as of March 31, and has $656,924 on hand. Brier has reported raising $468,040, with $145,419 on hand.

Andrew Bellis, a spokesman for the Brier camp, said Friday that the campaign finance issue came to their attention this winter when they reviewed DePasquales last state finance report.

The quarantine then gave us the time to review the issue in-depth," Bellis said.

FEC rules are specifically designed to create an equal playing field in federal elections. Eugenes decision to spend more than $100,000 unlawfully is like a professional athlete taking steroids - he gained an unfair competitive advantage over everyone who followed the rules," Bellis continued. But more importantly, Tom faces an injury as a voter in the District. Federal election laws are in place so voters can account for the sources and spending of campaign funds. By flouting those rules, Eugene violated the publics trust.

The race in the 10th District, which covers all of Dauphin County, the eastern half of Cumberland County, and the northern half of York County, is listed by national analysts as one of the hottest Congressional contests in the country in the 2020 cycle, in part because of the spirited battle political newcomer George Scott gave Perry in 2018.
Over 40 global rights groups, part of a campaign #KeepItOn, on Friday demanded the restoration of 4G services in Jammu and Kashmir, saying the absence of high-speed internet is hampering works of doctors, journalists and others amid the COVID-19 lockdown. In an open letter signed by organisations like Access Now, Committee to Protect Journalists, Internet without borders, Human Rights Watch said that the absence of 4G internet has particularly hindered the work of health professionals who are on the front-lines combating this global pandemic.

"Doctors in Jammu and Kashmir are struggling to access important information, often waiting hours to download and access information such as guidelines for intensive care management of the virus and best practices recommended by the WHO. The restriction of high-speed internet access has also impeded the work of human rights defenders, journalists and other actors working in the region," the letter said.

The coalition these groups which opposes internet shutdown in any part of the world said that the access to information and the free-flow of communications, including for the media, is more crucial than ever in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, which continues to claim thousands of lives globally, especially given the novelty of the virus and lack of a vaccine.

It said that the people are relying on the internet and digital communication platforms to access life-saving information provided by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other public health experts.

"Access to accurate information is indispensable in tackling the spread of COVID-19 and it must, therefore, be the priority of every government. The internet is also playing a crucial role during the pandemic in allowing people to carry out important activities while they avoid public spaces since gathering facilitates the spread of the virus," it said.

COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine  one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show

The total number of cases in Jammu and Kashmir has risen to 454. While 57 ases are from the Jammu division, 397 are from the Kashmir division, according to officials.

There are 340 active COVID-19 cases in Jammu and Kashmir. A total of 109 patients have recovered and five have died due to coronavirus, they added.

The government in March had restored 2G mobile services in Jammu and Kashmir. However, 4G serivces are yet to be restored.,

"Access to the internet is also essential for human rights defenders, activists, and journalists to carry out their work of bringing important information to the doorsteps of the people," the letter said.

According to the coalition, there have been 213 shutdowns globally in 2019 and the number of countries imposing shutdown increased to 33 in 2019 from 25 in 2018.

India topped the list of countries with 121 internet shutdowns. It was followed by Venezuela with 12 internet shudowns, 11 in Yemen, 8 in Iraq, 6 in Algeria and 4 in Ethiopia.

The #KeepItOn campaign is being run by rights groups to fight internet shutdowns globally.
Regions across Java have set up checkpoints to monitor the flow of vehicles between cities and provinces, following the government's ban on Idul Fitri mudik (exodus), which started on Friday.

The Transportation Ministry has prepared a number of checkpoints in areas surrounding Jakarta, including Tangerang in Banten, as well as Bekasi, Bogor, Sukabumi and Cikampek in West Java, to prevent people from leaving or entering the capital for the annual tradition.

We are gradually preparing [the checkpoints] on toll roads, national roads, provincial roads, even down to the so-called jalan tikus [alleyways] in districts, the ministrys land transportation director general, Budi Setiyadi, said in a press conference on Thursday.

In Tangerang, the ministry has readied a checkpoint at the Bitung toll gate to monitor vehicles heading from Jakarta to Merak, Banten, and vice versa. In Bekasi, a checkpoint has been established in areas bordering Karawang.

The ministry has also prepared a checkpoint at Puncak Pass, a tourist destination bordering Bogor regency and Cianjur in West Java. In Sukabumi, meanwhile, a checkpoint has been set up in Cigombong, the border of Bogor regency and Sukabumi.

A checkpoint has been set up at the 31-kilometer point on the Jakarta-Cikampek toll road on the border of Bekasi and Karawang, where authorities stood by to conduct inspections on vehicles passing the area.

Private vehicles leaving Jakarta for West Java will be asked to make U-turn and return to the capital from West Cikarang.

Read also: Indonesia suspends all passenger travel across cities to prevent Ramadan exodus

The checkpoints for land routes will be activated from Friday to May 31, in accordance with Transportation Ministerial Regulation No. 25/2020 regarding transportation use control during this years mudik period to prevent wider contagion of COVID-19 in the country.

Under the regulation, the ministry has set restrictions on all passenger vehicles entering and leaving regions that have imposed large-scale social restrictions (PSBB), including Greater Jakarta and Greater Bandung in West Java.

The roads, however, remain open, to accommodate vehicles carrying logistics and essential needs.

Millions of Indonesians return to their hometowns every year  often traveling from urban centers to the countryside  to celebrate Idul Fitri, including those from capital Jakarta, a city where many people have migrated to from around the country in search of work.



With Jakarta being the countrys epicenter of the outbreak, public health experts have warned that mudik could cause the contagious respiratory illness to spread rapidly across Java.

President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo subsequently announced a ban on the Idul Fitri mudik on Tuesday after reviewing a Transportation Ministry survey that said 24 percent of the countrys 270 million people still planned to travel to their hometowns and that 7 percent had already left.

The ministry held a meeting on Thursday with regional heads from Java, Bali and Lampung in Semarang, Central Java, to discuss preparations for monitoring the potential mudik flow.

Read also: Recovered COVID-19 patient in Central Java urges people not to 'mudik'

Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo said the province had prepared 83 inter-regency monitoring checkpoints and inter-provincial monitoring checkpoints spread across the region.

For inter-provincial supervision, there are seven checkpoints, namely at Tegal terminal, Pejagan toll gate, Losari Brebes goods terminal, Wanareja terminal, Pungkruk toll gate, Klonengan Slawi Tegal rest stop and Dukuh Salam terminal, Ganjar said after the meeting.

The provincial administration will also add three checkpoints in its easternmost regencies as Surabaya and its neighboring regencies, Sidoarjo and Gresik, in East Java would start imposing partial lockdowns on Tuesday.

Ganjar said he was reviewing plans to ensure the social security of people from the region who lived outside the province, especially those in Greater Jakarta, as they could not return to their hometowns due to the mudik ban.

If [the government] cannot guarantee [their social security], please let us know. We will set up public kitchens in Jakarta to help them, he said.

Read also: 'I need to protect my family': Jakartans nix homecoming trips following COVID-19 'mudik' ban

Ganjar said he had asked the Transportation Ministry to be flexible with the monitoring at checkpoints. If there is a violation, just tell them to go back and if they disobey, they are to be quarantined, he said.

Acting transportation minister Luhut Pandjaitan, who is also the coordinating maritime affairs and investment minister, said regional governments were allowed to improvise and determine how strict they wanted to implement the monitoring, as long as the policy did not contradict the prevailing regulation.

The [transportation] ministerial regulation was formulated to accommodate but regional leaders are allowed to make adjustments. I have asked the land transportation director general to communicate with Central Java. We want to save lives, Luhut said. (syk)
As institutions in the country prepare to resume functioning during lockdown due to coronavirus COVID-19 and post lockdown, the Bar Council of Delhi on Saturday suggested ways for the smooth functioning of courts with all precautionary measures, which would be able to combat the situation and bring normalcy in the courts.

The Bar Council of Delhi has written to the Registrar General of Delhi High Court putting forth a few suggestions. The letter said that Bar Council of Delhi welcomes the initiative of the court to create a "Graded Action Plan" and recommend" following additional points--

* High Court should have separate ingress and egress gates and the entry gates must be equipped with COVID testing instruments and sanitization tunnel at each entry.

* The High Court has three separate buildings and the different District Courts have large buildings and therefore the court functioning can start from different court complexes by keeping considerable distance between the two court halls and the same direction can be given for District Courts also.

* In the Courtroom, keeping in view the size of the room, chairs should be kept at a distance and there should be 5-6 feet distance between Judge and Lawyer. Big Court Halls can be opened for Court Hearing.

* The timing of hearing of each case should be fixed and there must be a time gap of 2-3 mins in the hearing of next matter so that the concerned advocate can come inside the court hall.

* Fewer cases should be marked to each Judge and every Advocate should mention on his file about the likely period of putting forth his arguments.

* In new cases permit only the Advocate representing in the case.

* Only two Advocates for each party may be allowed, where the number of parties are more than in those cases only one Advocate may be allowed for each party.

* The Judges hearing the case should be provided glass shield and arrangement of a mike, if necessary be made for the Judges as well as for the Lawyers.

* An Advocate whose case is not listed should not be allowed entry in the Court Halls.

* Litigant entry in the Court Hall should not be allowed but there must be provision for video recording.

* The provision for live proceedings of the Court hearing be made at the earliest which will be useful in the future for reducing congestion in the Court Halls as the Clients can very well watch the same on their mobiles.

* Canteen may remain closed for inhouse sitting for the time being.

* The Lawyers may be allowed to have access to their chambers in all Court complexes in a limited manner, restricting the numbers floorwise, date and time.

* Corridors be made in the premises for walking with social distancing markings and no person be allowed entry without face mask and hands be sanitized at the entry point.

* Fixed time for each urgent listed case be given for hearing to enable only one case to be heard at one time and the urgency of the matter be decided on the basis of likely irreparable injury to the constitutional rights. Other matters are adjourned for three months.

* Fresh matters be only limited to 10 in each court and pending urgent matters be listed in the same ratio in each court.

* No clients be allowed to enter the court premises. They must brief their counsel in their offices only.

* Identity cards issued by the Bar Council of Delhi to the respective lawyers may be deemed to be Curfew Pass and no separate pass be made compulsory.

* An ambulance with a complete infrastructure to tackle COVID 19 emergencies be made available during working hours having COVID testing kit.

Bar Council of Delhi in its letter to the registrar general of Delhi High Court has raised concerns over the majority advocates who are not tech-savvy and have not been able to avail the facility of video conferencing and also the losses born by the litigants.
Mumbai, April 25 : Actress Sobhita Dhulipala, who has been accused of making false claims of 'self-timing' a magazine photoshoot, has issued a statement in self-defence.

A few days ago, Sobhita had posted a few of her pictures claiming she had clicked the images with a self-timer.

However, the authenticity of her claim came under scrutiny after snapshots, showing Sobhita being clicked on her terrace by a man, went viral on social media.

Seeing the viral images, many followers started questioning her and accused her of lying.

Sobhita then penned a lengthy note, explaining that the man had just offered to help.

"Quite a few people have written to me about the image I last posted. It is upsetting and I am little taken aback by how urgently many have jumped to unkind conclusions, this is also a moment for me to learn something deeper," she wrote.

She added: "I stand by the flow of events I'm sharing with complete transparency: 1. I style myself, go to the terrace with a coffee mug and a couple of tools to prop up my phone to take pictures.

2. There are people on the terrace and one kind gentleman upon learning that I'm trying to shoot my pictures, offers help.

3. After he graciously shoots a few pictures in the frame I wanted, I thank him and we depart.

Neither was the picture shot by him used by Cosmopolitan (It doesn't belong with the magazine's mandate) nor am I anything but proud of this wonderful collaboration with the magazine.

I only posted it along with the official ones because I like it. I recognise that I should have altered the caption text to mention that the second image was not part of the magazine shoot. I wish I had a more exciting, dramatic story but alas, truth often wears plain robes! Stay home and stay safe," concluded the model-turned-actress, best known for her roles in the web shows "Made In Heaven" and "Bard Of Blood".
In a bid to join Indias nationwide effort in tackling coronavirus COVID-19, the Embassy of the Republic of Korea provided free mid-day meals for more than 4,000 people in Delhi.

In partnership with Annamrita Foundation, Indias non-profit organization, the Ambassador Shin Bong-Kil and other staff members of the Embassy on Friday served hot meals and handed out fresh bread to around 4,000 people in the queue at four hunger shelters.

Each of the four shelters had 1,000 people each and the food was distributed following strict social distancing rules. The four hunger shelters are--MCD Primary Schools in South Extension, Sadiq Nagar, Lajpat Nagar and Amar Colony.

This was the part of the Korean governments 'Stay Strong Campaign' implemented in India with the slogan Korea-India stay strong together.

The budget of the activity, amounting to Rs 221,000, was voluntarily raised by the Korean Embassy staff to help the less privileged people of Delhi in these hard times.
Bhubaneswar, April 13 (IANS) The Odisha government on Monday said e-commerce and online platforms can resume operations in the second phase of the lockdown beginning April 15. Image Source: PK

New Delhi, April 25 : With the government allowing the opening of standalone retail shops in a bid to ease lockdown restrictions, Amazon and Flipkart on Saturday urged the authorities to also let them sell non-essential items so that millions of consumers at home can be benefitted.

Flipkart said they welcome the government's decision of providing gradual relaxations in retail and hope for the safety and security of all stakeholders.

However, "a gradual opening up of delivery of non-essential goods through e-commerce will help meet consumer demands, which include items that will enable them to work from home, stay in touch with others and also address the rising temperature across the country," a Flipkart spokesperson said in a statement.

"E-commerce can help meet these requirements in a safe and secure way while ensuring social distancing and allowing the government to continue their efforts to contain this situation," the company spokesperson added.

An Amazon India spokesperson told IANS that e-commerce offers the safest way for sellers and retailers to serve the needs of citizens while ensuring social distancing.

"We are committed to keep citizens safe and urge the government to enable e-commerce to play its role in the joint fight against the pandemic by allowing the supply of all goods that people need over a prolonged period," said the company spokesperson.

In a modification of the earlier order, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has replaced the term "shopping complexes" with "market complexes" within the limits of municipal corporations and "municipalities".

Shops have been allowed outside the city limits except those in malls with 50 per cent workforce while wearing masks has been made compulsory.

Among the inclusions are shops registered under the Shops and Establishment Act of the respective states and UTs, including shops in residential complexes and market complexes, except shops in multi-brand and single brand malls.

Flipkart said that e-commerce can also support in easing the burden of piled up inventory of MSMEs and "help in the delivery of these products to consumers in a safe and secure way while following the robust safety standard operating procedures (SOPs)".

"We as a company are committed to serve more than 100 million Indians from the safety of their homes, reduce the number of people who need to step out, while at the same time help hundreds of thousands of small businesses jumpstart their livelihoods in these difficult times," added the Amazon India spokesperson.

On April 19, when the government said that e-commerce platforms will be able to sell only essential goods, Srinivas Mothey, Senior Vice President, Paytm Mall, said that the ambit of essential goods should be increased.

"We believe that the ambit of essential goods should be increased. India is mostly working from home at the moment, but many are finding it difficult as they are running low on certain items necessary to effectively operate under the lockdown," said Mothey.

Laptops, mobile phones and accessories, computer hardware and webcams should be allowed to be part of essential goods, he added.

However, the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), which has been urging the government to limit the operations of e-commerce platforms to essential goods during the lockdown period in the interest of small traders, applauded the decision and termed the move as "pragmatic".

On Saturday, the traders' body with over 7 crore traders across the nation wrote to Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and Urban Development Minister Hardeep Puri, mentioning that in the context of opening of shops or markets, it is necessary that shops and markets are properly sanitised.

"We appeal to the traders across the country to not open their shops in their extreme enthusiasm and await the order of respective state governments and as per the same, the shops can be opened. Since trade and shops and establishment are state subjects, only the state governments are empowered to take the decision," said Praveen Khandelwal, CAIT's national general secretary.
The Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said on Saturday that wearing of face masks in public places is now compulsory in the state.

Mr Sanwo-Olu said the state is firmly in the community transmission phase of the coronavirus pandemic and there is need for more precautions.

He said failure by Lagosians to use face masks in public places would attract penalties and sanctions.

As at midnight yesterday April 24, 2020, Lagos State had a total of 670 confirmed cases of Covid-19, an increase of 291 cases since the last time I addressed you, on Monday, April 20.

What this means is that we have seen a 76 per cent increase in our number of confirmed cases within four days, an average of 70 cases daily.

Mr Sanwo-Olu said the increased cases show that the strategy of ramping up testing especially within local communities is working, and the state would not slow down its efforts in breaking the chain of transmission.

Let me now formally announce that face masks are now compulsory in public places in Lagos State. Failure to use masks in public will invite sanctions and penalties.

 We have commenced arrangements for the production of large quantities of face-masks for the use of the people of Lagos State. This is indeed a great opportunity for many businesses, small and large, in the state, to contribute to the COVID-19 response while also getting a chance to do business and earn money, the governor said.

He appealed to the private sector to patronise local manufacturers, and purchase face masks for their employees.

I would also like to urge everyone to please leave the medical-grade N-95 masks for the use of medical workers who need them the most. All of us, who are not medical workers should make do with simple cloth masks, he said.
According to police, the unlawful activities caused damage in amount of over $285,000

The police of Dnipropetrovsk region announced the exposure of city council officials in the theft of more than 275,000 USD of budget funds. The website of the National Police reports that.

According to the police website, funds were allocated for the overhaul of roofs of residential buildings and the repair of educational institutions in the city. April 24, the mayor, the head and employee of the Department of Housing and Communal Services and Construction of the Executive Committee of the City Council, as well as two civilians, were notified of the suspicion.

At the same time, the message does not indicate the city in Dnipropetrovsk region where theft was detected.

It was established that the controlled commercial structures concluded contracts for the overhaul of roofs of residential buildings and the repair of educational institutions in the city. Later, the officials approved with their signature documents in which they had previously entered inaccurate information regarding the volume and quality of the work performed. These documents were the basis for the transfer funds to the accounts of commercial structures. The funds were received through companies with signs of fictitiousness," law enforcement officials said.

According to police, the unlawful activities resuled in the damage that amounted to over $285,000.

"In addition, the facts were established that officials of the city council received kickbacks for transferring budget funds for the job done. More than 30 sanctioned searches are conducted at the place of residence of the suspects, in their vehicles and other persons involved in the criminal scheme," law enforcement officials said.

The issue of choosing a suspect preventive measure is being decided.

In turn, mayor of Dnipro city Borys Filatov claimed that law enforcers "threw the mayor of the city of Pokrov, Oleksandr Shapoval, and his subordinates behind bars".

Allegedly they created a criminal group. But they did not take into account the fact that for several years the city of Pokrov in the Dnipropetrovsk region ranks first in the country in the ranking of government transparency: from public procurement to the introduction of electronic registries, Filatov said.

As we reported before, 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.
Bad Education

Director - Cory Finley

Cast - Hugh Jackman, Allison Janney, Geraldine Viswanathan, Ray Romano

Bad Education makes you wonder what sort of career Hugh Jackman wouldve had if he hadnt been cast as Wolverine  almost by chance  20 years ago. In this alternate reality, Jackman would probably still be a superstar, having capitalised on his success in musical theatre to become a respected actor with multiple Oscar nominations under his belt. But instead of starting his career in blockbusters, hed perhaps have worked his way towards them.

Its difficult to repress the sort of talent that he has. Even without the leg-up that being a Marvel superhero has no doubt provided him, Jackman wouldve found a way. But regardless of how the dice rolled for him, watching Jackman in Bad Education feels like some kind of reward.

Watch the Bad Education trailer here

It captures him in truly spectacular form, exercising sheer charisma and a resounding screen presence in what has to be one of the few times in his career that he has played a legitimate psychopath  the wrinkly yet charismatic administrator named Frank Tassone.

Based on a strange but true story about corruption in the upper administration of a school district, Bad Education is perhaps the strangest metaphor for the current socio-political climate that youre likely to see. Its one thing to find shades of the refugee crisis in Thor: Ragnarok or to notice criticism of American foreign policy in Iron Man, but Bad Educations takedown of Trumpian government is deftly disguised.

On the surface, the film is an unsettling account of how absolute power corrupts absolutely. But it is also a character study, and another reminder that director Cory Finley, at just two films old, has a stunningly unique voice.

Like his debut feature, Thoroughbreds, Bad Education flat-out rejects the notion that it can be confined to a certain style of film. By slithering in and out of several genres  pitch-black comedy, character drama, paranoid thriller  it becomes its own thing.

Finley barely uses a background score, which only amplifies the unsettling tone that he somehow sustains for close to two hours. Because youre never told what to feel, youre left with no choice but to surrender yourself to the filmmaking and performances. Finley does, however, capture a very precise moment in recent history, thanks to the a killer soundtrack  Moby and Dido drop by  and the use of film stock over digital. The film feels like it was made in 2003, with cinematographer Lyle Vincents visuals twitching with analogue energy, despite rather static frames.

From the onset, writer Mike Makowskys screenplay leaves a trail of breadcrumbs for the viewer to follow  the film is always a step ahead. This could easily have transformed Bad Education into somewhat of a patronising lecture, but Finley avoids this trap. As the walls close in on Frank from all sides  his superior and colleagues are onto him, as is a wet-behind-the-ears teen reporter, played by star-in-the-making Geraldine Viswanathan  Jackmans performance begins to flicker with a sort of mania.

Its an origin story of a criminal; a man whose progress was arrested before he could do more harm, such as standing for office in higher positions of authority. Bad Education isnt as prophetic as Alexander Paynes Election, but its certainly worth studying.

Follow @htshowbiz for more

The author tweets @RohanNaahar
Tanzanias delay in enforcing stricter measures to prevent further spread of coronavirus in the country, could have led to the spike in positive cases, according to the World Health Organizaton (WHO).



The body's Regional Director for Africa Matshidiso Moeti says there are concerns about the rise of cases reported in the East African country in the last few days.



"Certainly in Tanzania we have observed that physical distancing, including the prohibition of mass gatherings, took some time to happen and we believe that these might have been probable factors that led to a rapid increase in cases there," Dr Moeti said at a briefing.



Tanzania's President John Magufuli has been widely criticised for encouraging the public to continue gathering in places of worship, rather than imposing stringent restrictions to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus outbreak.



Tanzania reported its first case on 16 March and by Thursday 284 people had tested positive for coronavirus.



The government at the time closed all schools and universities for an initial period of 30 days to prevent further spread of the virus. The closure was extended last week.



The president has ruled out a lockdown in the commercial capital, Dar es Salaam, where most of the positive cases are citing the economy.

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.

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The Columbus Police Department officially started operations earlier this month in its new downtown station at 2330 14th St.

Funded by half of a $16 million bond issue approved by voters in 2018, the new facility is intended to help the department become more efficient in serving the community.

It makes the department more efficient and because the department is more efficient, the community benefits, Police Chief Charles Sherer said.

One feature the building boasts is an advanced evidence storage area. Once an officer collects evidence, the item is secured into a locker which can only be released by a technician in the next room. One locker is refrigerated for evidence, such as blood or urine, that needs to be kept cold.

A fentanyl filtered hood, which allows technicians to examine evidence containing fentanyl without being exposed to the drug, is available.

The forensic lab includes a blood drying unit, which preserves items containing blood, and a washing unit for those who may have been exposed to blood. Sherer said he plans to later install a fingerprint fuming hood.

Television shows often portray forensic analysis as being completed within a small time frame. In reality, it often takes four to six months for police to receive results.

The more work we can do here, the less we have to rely on them (state lab), Sherer noted. Our community  with the size of Columbus  they (residents) expect things to be done professionally and quickly.

Following examination, evidence is then taken into the main storage room where shelves can be physically moved on tracks to save space. Evidence consisting of firearms and money are kept in a separate room.

A heated sally port is another big step up for the police department.

Previously, police department vehicles were parked outside which can lead to security issues with suspects.

"We've had several attempted escapes so this will mitigate that, Sherer said.

Per regulations set by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the sally port contains an eye washing station and shower head. Also in this area are the tactical gear room, vehicle supply room and washing unit for the vehicles.

Located next to the sally port are the holding cells that are intended only for the temporary detention of prisoners until they can be transported to county jail. There are two regular cells, one ADA-compliant cell and a juvenile cell with an observation window.

A restroom is available for prisoners; the toilet can only be flushed from outside of the room to prevent destruction of possible evidence.

Columbus Police officers now have an increased locker, shower and restroom space  located on the second floor - in which to prepare for their shift. The number of lockers for men and women were calculated using the national average of male and female officers, Sherer added.

Down the hall, officers have access to a kitchen and couch for those who may live out of town, as well as a fitness center.

"The City allowed us to have the room but the union either bought or solicited funding for all of the equipment," Sherer explained.

The previous gym was located in the basement of City Hall.

Also located on the second floor is an investigation area with a cyber-crimes lab, conference room for investigators, IT and polygraph rooms and offices. There is an area established for clergy who may come to visit prisoners. Sherers office, and the office of his administrative assistant, can be found on the second floor, as well.

A training room is also situated on the second floor. It is outfitted with two televisions, a podium and sound system. The tables and chairs can be removed to make room for training mats.

Its quite the upgrade compared to what we had, noted Officer Dale Ciboron. Theres a lot of technology to get used to.

Officer Jorge Magdaleno added that previously, the department would have to locate an area in town in which to train. The sally port, he said, is also a big improvement as its more secure.

Its nice to have a building specifically for what we do, Officer Jeffrey Black said.

I think everyones really excited to move in.

The patrol section is stationed on the first floor; the four sergeants are situated in two offices. There is a briefing room in which to hold morning meetings. Patrol officers had previously received updates in the squad cars when switching shifts.

Just before the station opened, the briefing room had already been used to implement a search warrant.

"It was the first use of this room, Sherer said. It was extremely beneficial. We're grateful to have these accommodations to do that."

A report writing section features eight writing stations with six computer banks and two docks. One of the three televisions displays the security cameras located in the facility. The other will display computer dispatch information while the third will be tuned to a news station to stay abreast of current events.

A gun cleaning room, armory, quartermaster room (storage of excess uniforms and equipment) and K-9 office can be found on the first floor as well. The K-9 officers workroom has tile flooring instead of carpet for easier cleaning.

There are several interview rooms, all audio and video recorded, stationed throughout the police department; one next to the detention cells, a few located near the patrol section for suspects, several softer rooms near the front of the building for those reporting crimes and a comfortable room for victims of assault.

The clerks office is situated in front of the facility with a window facing out to the lobby. The lobby, along with the soft interview rooms and evidence review room, is the only portion of the building that the general public can access.

A bronze eagle sculpture, funded by donations, can be found looking over the lobby and out into the community.

In case of an emergency, such as an individual being chased by a stranger, the area between the first and second sets of double doors can be locked down; Sherer calls this a safety capsule. There is a phone next to the second set of double doors which a civilian can use to contact dispatch for assistance.

Additionally, there is a Craigslist camera in which those who purchase items through Craigslist or through social media from a stranger can complete the transaction at the west side of the building. It will also be utilized for a child custody exchange, Sherer said.

It's a great testament to the police department and the protection they give our community, Columbus Mayor Jim Bulkley said. I think our citizens feel very proud of the end result.

The police chief had a similar perspective.

I'm very proud of this facility, Sherer said. I'm very humbled by the community's support and the fact they allowed us to move into this facility. I think it's a great opportunity, and I hope they're just as pleased by the product they provide as we are being inside of it.

Hannah Schrodt is the news editor of The Columbus Telegram. Reach her via email at hannah.schrodt@lee.net.

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South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced a five-phase plan to gradually ease the 35-day lockdown imposed to combat the spread of the deadly coronavirus in the country.

The president said that the country is currently on phase 5 that involves drastic measures to contain the spread of the disease.

The country is under a nationwide lockdown since March 27. The strict measures in place have caused extreme economic crises, including huge job losses, and business closures.

According to the Johns Hopkins University data, there are 4,220 COVID-19 infections in the country with 79 deaths.

From May 1, the lockdown will move to level 4 where some businesses will be allowed to resume operations under strict conditions.

Borders will still remain closed and only travel to repatriate South African citizens from abroad or take foreigners in South Africa back to their home countries will be permitted.

At level 3, there will be restrictions on many activities, including at workplaces and social gatherings to address the 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.

Under level 1, normal activity can resume with precautions and health guidelines followed at all times.

Giving details of the five-phase approach on Thursday, Ramaphosa said that the threat level will be distinguished at the 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," he said.

The president said that after April 30, the country will implement a risk adjusted strategy to take a deliberate and cautious approach to ease the lockdown restrictions.

The strategy we take now must be measured and incremental. 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," he said.

While a nationwide lockdown is probably the best means to contain the virus, it cannot be sustained indefinitely. Our people need to eat. They need to earn a living. Companies need to generate revenue, the president said.

The president said that the lockdown gave them the time to prepare health facilities and mobilise some of the essential medical supplies needed to meet the increase in infections.

"And it is in doing so, that we hope to save tens of thousands of lives, Ramaphosa said.

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.

The World Health Organization has commended South Africa for acting swiftly and for following scientific advice to delay the spread of the virus, he said.

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.

One of the more significant changes allowed under level 4 is that the ban on selling of cigarettes during the period will be lifted.

There have been opposition from public and economists on the prohibition on sale of cigarettes and liquor, citing huge losses 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 would remain in place.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Imagine a pristine T&T where there are no more homeless people or animals. One where hunger has been eliminated as the relic of a bygone era.

A world where pipe-borne water is delivered to every home every day, not wasted in an archaic system where significant leaks are either ignored or washed out to sea.
Even as the sale of chicken is



getting back to normal amid the COVID-19 lockdown, poultry owners are concerned that the ban on import of birds from neighbouring Karnataka may lead to shortage and hike prices.

The Goa government had recently allowed poultry imports from Maharashtra, while the ban still continues for Karnataka, after a few areas in the neighbouring state allegedly reported cases of bird flu.

"The sale is only slowly getting back to normal. But the prices have gone up, pinching the pockets of consumers. The chicken prices will come down only if the ban on imports from Karnataka is lifted," said Jaikrishna Naik, president of All Goa Poultry Owners' Association.

On an average, Goa was consuming 1.20 lakh kg of chicken before the lockdown, he said, adding that in the past month, the sale was almost down to 30 per cent of what it was, especially since restaurants and eateries were closed.

If now the regular sale gradually resumes, supply should not dry up, which is why it was crucial to allow imports from Karnataka, Naik said.

The Pramod Sawant-led government had banned the import of poultry from Karnataka after cases of bird flu were allegedly reported at some places there.

The state government was monitoring the situation in Karnataka and imports will resume as and when it is considered safe, a senior official from the state animal husbandry department said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
When Charles Swody was born, the sale of alcohol was banned, women were on the brink of gaining the right to vote, and the country was entering a period of modernity and economic prosperityit was 1920.

The Elizabeth native turned 100 years old on Saturday, surrounded by family and friends -- who, thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, all stayed at a safe distance -- at his daughters home in Branchburg.

Pam Ansbro, Swodys daughter, organized a drive-by celebration for her father, marking the milestone for a man who has embodied someone who lives and breathes New Jersey.

Raised during the Great Depression, Swody graduated from the now-shuttered Thomas Jefferson High School in Elizabeth in 1938. He lettered in track and cross country while in high school.

After that, jobs were tough, he said, so he worked at a bingo hall changing cards. It was where he met his now wife, Elizabeth, who also lives with their daughter Pam.

I spotted this little girl with her mother and it was love at first sight, he told NJ Advance Media. I made up my mind I had to chase her. Two years later, I married her.

Swody and Elizabeth, 97, whose nickname is Betty, got married in 1941. Theyre celebrating their 79th anniversary this June. Im still lucky that shes with me, Swody said.

Swody worked at the bingo hall for a couple of years before entering the United States Army in May 1942. He served in the Pacific Theater of Operations as a technical sergeant in the Signal Corps and was stationed in Guam during World War II.

He earned several medals during his service, including a sharpshooter medal and the New Jersey distinguished service medal. Honorably discharged from the Army in December 1945, Swody came back to Elizabeth.

Saturday, April 25, 2020 - Charles Swody, of Branchburg, accompanied by his wife of 78 years, Elizabeth, sitting in the driveway, at his 100th birthday drive-by celebration arranged by his family.Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Looking for a secure job, he joined the fire department in January 1946. He started out as a fireman and worked his way up the ladder, holding every rank in the department at one point, Ansbro said.

He became a captain in 1959, a battalion chief five years later, and a deputy six years after that. Swody became the Elizabeth Fire Chief in 1982, holding the position until he retired in April 1986.

It was wonderful for me because I loved to be advanced and that meant more in my paycheck for my family, he said, recalling his years in the department.

But you got to love the job and (it was) so good to give back to the people and do something good, he said, mentioning lives and property he helped save. It was a wonderful feeling.

However, not all of his memories in the department were pleasant. Swody recalled being present during the series of plane crashes that occurred over eight weeks in late 1951 and early 1952.

The three crashes attracted national attention and resulted in more than 100 deaths.

Acclaimed author Judy Blumes book In the Unlikely Event, was fictional, but based on the plane crashes, which she experienced while growing up in Elizabeth in the 1950s. Swody was a guest at Blumes book launch in Elizabeth in 2015, as the only living fireman left who was present during the crashes.

Blume became teary-eyed when introducing him, according to a TAPinto Elizabeth report. Your daughter said she would bring you, and I am so touched that you came, Blume said at the launch.

Saturday, April 25, 2020 - Charles Swody, left, of Branchburg, accompanied by his wife of 78 years, Elizabeth, is celebrated on his 100th birthday by a drive-by celebration arranged by his family, which included multiple local fire companies.Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Next to his marriage, one constant has remained throughout Swodys life: reading The Star-Ledger. Hes read the newspaper every day since 1946, which is a familiar sight to his children. He reads it while eating breakfast, he said.

Long after I finish eating, Im reading the paper, Swody told NJ Advance Media. I read it from beginning to end. I enjoy reading the paper.

But when asked what his secret is to his longevity, Swody said there is none. Hes a family-oriented man, with many generations. He has two children, three grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and three great-great-grandchildren.

Theres many things but the marriage I think was most important, because I have a wonderful wife and we take care of one another, he said.

Saturday, April 25, 2020 - Charles Swody, right, of Branchburg,kisses his wife of 78 years, Elizabeth., after he blew out the candles on the cake for his 100th birthday.Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Brianna Kudisch may be reached at bkudisch@njadvancemedia.com.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 25

By Ilkin Seyfaddini  Trend:

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has decided to supply equipment with a set of diagnostic test systems to the Research Institute of Virology of the Uzbek Ministry of Health, Trend reports citing the Uzbek media.

The kits include equipment for detection of COVID-19, using a new diagnostic method based on RT-PCR - real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), reception, registration and primary processing of material, DNA/RNA isolation, preparation of reaction mixture and conducting PCR, detection of PCR results and disinfection of materials.

The total amount of equipment and test systems supplied is worth 70,000 euros. Arrival of equipment in Uzbekistan is expected by early May of 2020.

In clinical medicine, PCR diagnostics is one of the most popular methods of analysis in various fields, such as infectious diseases clinic, urogynecology, neonatology, blood service, phthisiatrics and pulmonology.

With the help of this method, it is possible to make a type identification of the causative agent, i.e. to identify a specific strain.

---

Follow author on Twitter: @seyfaddini
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The COVID-19 pandemic has raised many questions about how to constitutionally handle a public health crisis on both the state and national levels. Many wonder if a national lockdown can be put in place  a new dilemma that has little legal precedent to follow.

Can individual rights be limited to protect public health?

Short answer: Under Jacobson v. Massachusetts (1905), states may take measures to protect public health, even if it limits some individual rights.

In the early 1900s, a smallpox epidemic hit Massachusetts, and the city of Cambridge enacted a law that required all of its residents to be vaccinated against smallpox with a $5 fine of noncompliance. Henning Jacobson, a citizen of Cambridge, refused the vaccine and contested the fine, which ultimately led to the case reaching the Supreme Court in 1905.

This case, Jacobson v. Massachusetts (1905), has set Supreme Court precedent that individual states such as Massachusetts may take action to protect the health and safety of its citizens, even if it may abridge certain individual liberties, and that the fine against Jacobson was just. Since the case involves state power to protect public health, it can help us better understand the current situation regarding COVID-19 in the United States.

Many states, including California, New York, and Illinois, have taken statewide measures to limit the spread of the COVID-19 virus. On March 20, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed an executive order mandating that 100% of the workforce must stay home, excluding essential services. These measures enacted by states are valid exercises of power since states have the ability to take statewide measures in order to protect public health under Supreme Court precedent.

Is public health a state or national matter?

Short answer: While public health is traditionally under state jurisdiction, the federal government can become involved in several ways.

The issue becomes trickier when we look at the ability of the federal government to impose national mandates during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is difficult because public health has traditionally been viewed as under state jurisdiction. This state jurisdiction comes from the 10th Amendment of the Constitution, which says that any powers not delegated to the national government in the Constitution are reserved to the states. Since public health is not explicitly mentioned anywhere in the Constitution, it is widely interpreted that public health is considered under state jurisdiction.

Nevertheless, there are ways for the federal government to get involved in protecting public health. For instance, the federal government may choose to evoke the Commerce Clause of the Constitution, which expresses that the federal government has the authority to regulate interstate commerce. Thus, if a health crisis such as COVID-19 spreads beyond any individual states, the federal government may claim that they have the authority to prevent the spread of disease among states if it interferes with interstate commerce.

Another way that the federal government can influence health is through providing recommendations to the states. One of the main recommendations that the President has made during this pandemic has been the stay-at-home guideline, recommending that people stay at home until April 30. While this is only a recommendation, many states have made decisions congruent with national guidelines.

How does declaring a national emergency change things?

Short answer: Declaring a national emergency can give the president and executive branch more authority over a situation such as the COVID-19 epidemic.

Laws and policies often change during times of crisis. Once a president declares a national emergency, for instance, 100 special provisions become available for the executive branch to use. Some of the most relevant provisions for a public health crisis include waiving certifications necessary to supply public health services and authorizing the use of unapproved drugs. Moreover, courts and legislatures often defer more to the executive branchs decisions made during a national emergency. In this case, judicial deference may mean that the Supreme Court will defer more to executive decisions made on COVID-19 since it has been declared a national emergency. This is all under the historical assumption that the president will act in the best interest of the country in times of crisis.

COVID-19 was declared a national emergency as of March 1, 2020, which means we may see more deference towards the Presidents decisions in upcoming months. This is one of the few times that a national emergency has been declared due to a public health concern. Because of this, we may see new uses of national emergency powers.

One of the most discussed actions the President has taken after declaring COVID-19 a national emergency was evoking the Stafford Act on March 13, 2020. One such question has been whether the Stafford Act could be used to mandate a national lockdown, but it does not seem like the act itself could do so. The main intent of the Stafford Act is to enable the federal government to provide assistance to states and local governments through the Federal Emergency Management Agency. This means that while the federal government can provide resources to states, it still cannot directly intervene in the crisis response of the states.

Can President Trump mandate a national lockdown?

Unfortunately, it is a hard question to answer. Not much legal precedent exists on how to respond to a public health crisis like this pandemic on a national scale. There are many legal factors at play as well. Factors such as Jacobson v. Massachusetts (1905) and the Tenth Amendment may point to an argument that public health issues, including mandatory lockdowns, are primarily state concerns. However, if the president did choose to order a nationally mandated lockdown, other factors such as the federal power to regulate interstate commerce and presidential national emergency powers may help him in doing so.

With such little legal precedent, the decisions made in the next few months will be critical to better understand how both the state and federal governments should respond to public health crises.

Meghan Sharma is a medical student.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com
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A sign alerts Potbelly Sandwich Shop customers that it is open for pick-up and takeout only due to the coronavirus outbreak in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Tuesday, March 17, 2020. Photographer: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Potbelly said Saturday that it will return its $10 million loan from the Paycheck Protection Program intended for small businesses, making it the latest notable name to return the funds.

The sandwich shop chain follows other large, public companies like Ruth's Chris Steakhouse and Shake Shack to give back the government funds meant to help businesses survive the coronavirus pandemic. The $350 billion total allotment ran dry earlier this month, stirring outrage against large-cap public companies who received the assistance.

The government has allocated at least $243.4 million of the PPP loans to publicly traded companies, according to research from Morgan Stanley. However, the program was primarily designed to help mom-and-pop shops to keep paying their employees. Potbelly, which received the maximum loan amount, has a market cap of $71.2 million.

"We were surprised and disappointed when the fund was quickly exhausted, leaving many without help," Potbelly said in a statement Saturday. "We are returning the PPP loan after further clarification from the Treasury Department."

Potbelly said its sales dropped dramatically when the virus hit, and that it was forced to furlough employees, close locations and significantly reduce salaries at all levels. In order to support in-shop workers, the company said it applied for the small business loan. It is now looking at alternatives methods to securing funds.

Ruth's Hospitality Group, which owns Ruth's Chris Steakhouse, repaid the $20 million it received through the PPP by applying through two different subsidiaries. It is now weighing other options for securing future funds.

Shake Shack also gave back its $10 million PPP loan, which it applied for after closing about half of its 120 locations worldwide. The chain has been forced to furlough or lay off more than 1,000 employees as the coronavirus pandemic shutters businesses across the U.S.

Shake Shack CEO Randy Garutti and founder Danny Meyer said in a blog post that the returned funds could be given to the independent restaurants "who need it most, (and) haven't gotten any assistance."

Other large public companies have refused to return the loans, despite new guidance issued Thursday by the Treasury Department and Small Business Association that adds clarity regarding which companies qualify for the loans.
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.

"I didn't 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. It's 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 per cent 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 I'd be productive here," she said.

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, it's not just helping the first responders. It's helping me and my family feel safe, she said.

Inside a building on Toyota's 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.

It's a hard habit to break when you're 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 it's unclear when or where they contracted the disease. Ford, GM and Toyota said they aren't 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 Dame's 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.

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 won't need all factory workers right away because it plans a gradual restart.

Back at the Ford complex in Flat Rock, Michigan, where Parkhurst works, she's hoping the respirators she's 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.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
An infuriating new brainteaser challenges you to find the eight hidden good luck symbols hidden in this patch of clover.

They include eight symbols of good luck from cultures all around the world, including a four-leafed clover, a lucky cat, a wishbone, a number 8, a four-leaf clover, an acorn, an upside down horseshoe, a lucky cat, a ladybird and jade.

In Germany, ladybirds are associated with good luck and are known as 'Glueckskaefers'  which means 'lucky bugs'.

Scroll down for the answer... but no cheating!

An infuriating new brainteaser challenges you to find the eight hidden good luck symbols hidden in this clover-packed backdrop. They include eight symbols of good luck from cultures all around the world, including a four-leafed clover, a lucky cat, a wishbone, a number 8, a four-leaf clover, an acorn, an upside down horseshoe, a lucky cat, a ladybird and jade

The four-leafed clover is said to communicate 'God's grace', the lucky cat is a Chinese symbol of fortune, while norse mythology advises that acorns, also hidden within the puzzle, can shield houses from lightning.

The puzzle was created by UK online lotto betting company Lottoland, whose spokesperson said: 'Luck is a very mysterious thing  does it really exist?

'Cultures from all over the world put great stock in it, and many people believe it's possible to be luckier than others.

'Our winners definitely believe that luck was on their side. 'If you can find all eight your luck's clearly in, and maybe it's an opportunity to bet on one of the major draws available at Lottoland including the Irish Lotto, Mini Lotto and Lotto Plus.'

Answers: 1. Wishbone 2. Number 8 3. 4 leaf clover 4. Acorn 5. Upside down horseshoe 6. Lucky Cat 7. Ladybird 8. Jade

This comes after British retirement homes Audley Villages released a quiz that will help transport some players to brighter BBQ days in the sunshine.

The scene shows a delicious spread of BBQ classics including sausages, kebabs and burgers - as well as a hidden single slice of halloumi.

Audley Villages created the puzzle after conducting research into the best ways to keep your mind active during quarantine.

Scroll down for the answer... but no cheating!

The scene shows a delicious spread of BBQ classics including sausages, kebabs and burgers - as well as a single slice of halloumi. Can you find the cheese?

One of the recommended activities for boosting brain functions is painting and playing music is one of the simplest ways to boost brain health.

Psychologist Dr Rachel M Allan explained: 'Playing a musical instrument utilises fine motor skills, requires following patterns, drawing from memory and engaging with multi-sensory feedback.

'It draws on many different high-level brain functions at the same time, which strengthens connections between different regions of the brain.'

Even the most eagle-eyed players will struggle to spot the cheese tucked away in the scene. The answer shows how it can just be seen peeking out from underneath a plate of berries

Elsewhere, as explorers are forced to halt their travel plans because of the ongoing global health pandemic, a tricky new brainteaser is sparking nostalgia for sunny beach days.

Created by British airline Jet2, players are challenged to spot skis hiding among a sandy shoreline filled with red and white deckchairs.

According to the illustrators, the tricky puzzle has stumped many and no one has been able to find the hidden items in less than 28 seconds.

As people eagerly anticipate their next escape - could you be the fastest to solve the holiday themed brainteaser?

Scroll down for reveal

Jet2 has stumped the internet with a tricky brainteaser (pictured), challenging players to spot the skis hidden among the deckchairs

While most people are familiar with skis, trying to find the essential snow slope accessories can be a battle - with similar looking items surrounding them.

If you're struggling to find the hidden skis, try looking towards the crowd of deckchairs in the bottom left of the graphic.

Jet2 who specialise in low-cost travel, designed the brainteaser to keep people entertained, while awaiting their next getaway.

The 3rd largest registered airline in the UK, Jet2 operates to top ski destinations giving direct access to over 600 of the best ski resorts in Europe.
(Bloomberg) --

Italy and France reported the fewest coronavirus deaths in weeks and Germanys sick beds continued to empty, providing welcome signs for European leaders ahead of wider steps to restart the economy.

Spain, which has the most cases in Europe and remains on an almost-total lockdown, reported 367 new deaths on Friday, the least since March 21, though confirmed cases rose by the most in almost three weeks. Italys daily death toll was the lowest since March 17 and Frances declined to the lowest in almost four weeks.

With European governments eager to ease confinement measures that have crushed the economy, the latest data also hinted at the volatility that makes relaxing restrictions difficult. Italys new cases reported on Friday outstripped the number of recovered patients, reversing a trend begun the day before.

We have to maintain our vigilance, Jerome Salomon, Frances director general for health, said at a briefing. The epidemic is not over.

In Germany, about 103,000 of some 148,000 people reported to have contracted the virus have recovered. Europes largest economy kept its so-called reproduction number below 1, according to official data, meaning the number of new Covid-19 infections is declining.

Testing is one of the keys to why we have been able to come through this crisis in relatively good shape until now, German Health Minister Jens Spahn said Friday on broadcaster ZDF. We tested very widely from the start and therefore had a very early picture of the development in Germany.

German Slump

Europes more than 110,000 deaths in the pandemic account for almost 60% of the worldwide total but as new infections decline, regional leaders are starting to loosen social-distancing curbs to try to revive business activity. Vice President Mike Pence said he thinks the U.S. will have this coronavirus epidemic behind us by the Memorial Day holiday on May 25.

European economic woes were on display at a European Union summit this week where EU leaders failed to agree on a longer-term recovery plan. Afterward, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announced plans to expand the budget deficit by 55 billion euros ($59 billion) in emergency spending. Germanys economy is expected to shrink by 6.3% in 2020, the worst contraction since at least 1950, Handelsblatt reported, citing draft government projections.

Story continues

Italian civil defense authorities reported 420 deaths linked to the virus for the latest 24-hour period, compared with 464 the day before, bringing the total to 25,969. Confirmed cases now total 192,994. While 2,922 patients in Italy were listed as recovered, there were 3,021 new cases.

Italys shutdown since early March has closed factories, confined people to their homes and brought daily life for 60 million people in the euro areas third-biggest economy to a near standstill. An initial reopening of businesses is planned for May 4, provided Italians observe protective and social-distancing guidelines. France is working on plans to gradually reopen the economy starting May 11.

Austrian Reopening

Austrias first round of easing, which started April 14, hasnt spurred new infections, which have been below 100 for six days in a row. Hospitalizations, including intensive care, have been on a downward trajectory for two weeks.

Spain has yet to publish detailed plans on lifting restrictions that have brought the nation to an almost complete standstill for more than a month. Prime Minster Pedro Sanchez has said a cautious easing may begin next month.

Germanys new cases and deaths rose the most in nearly a week. There were 2,481 new infections in the 24 hours through Friday morning, bringing the total to 153,129, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. Fatalities rose to 5,575 and the death rate  one of the worlds lowest  rose to 3.6%.

After Germany allowed small shops and hardware stores to reopen on Monday, Chancellor Angela Merkel repeated her warning of the risks of second-wave infections. Germany is far from being out of the woods, she said in a speech to parliament on Thursday.

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Youre antsy. You want to leave the house. Gas is cheap. And several local businesses are offering drive-thru, drive-up or curbside services to stay afloat and serve customers during the coronavirus pandemic.

Heres just a few ways Oregon businesses have adapted to a new, temporary reality.

Drive-thru strip club

After first offering food delivery, the Lucky Devil Lounge has started a second creative venture: food pickup via a drive-thru strip club. Four dancers, in short shorts and pasties, perform under cover of an outdoor tent in the club parking lot, while customers wait for their orders in their cars. Owner Shon Boulden is calling it Food 2 Go-Go.

Cost to use the drive-thru is $30 per car, plus $10 for each additional vehicle occupant. (Yes, you do have to order food.) The go-go drive-thru is open from 6-10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and holidays like the upcoming Cinco de Mayo.

The club is still offering its stripper food delivery service, formerly known as Boober Eats. Boulden said after they received a cease-and-desist letter from the ride-share company Uber, theyre now calling it Lucky Devil Eats.

Every small business is feeling this pain, the same hurt, and were just another small business, Boulden said. Weve just been able to create this niche and it worked.

Curbside movie popcorn

Same place, same time, same deal, same safety rules this week. Thank you all so much for your support. Posted by The Columbia Theatre on Wednesday, April 8, 2020

Some Oregon movie theaters, also required to close by order of the governor, are offering genuine movie theatre popcorn sales to go.

On Fridays from 5-7 p.m., the historic Columbia Theatre in St. Helens is offering a bucket of popcorn (with a lid) for $5, or a mystery poster and a bucket deal for $20. Customers stay in their car, and employees bring out the popcorn  with real butter  curbside.

Those two hours have sold an average of 250 buckets of popcorn, the theaters owner told KGW News.

The Cameo Theatre in Newberg is also selling popcorn and fountain drinks from 5-7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

Joy Cinema in Tigard is selling $5 popcorn and (cash only) from 5-7 p.m. Friday and Saturday nights. You can also purchase T-shirts, buttons and magnets to support the theater.

Theaters become drive-ins

Act V Theaters in Cornelius is offering drive-in movie screenings on the side of their theater, with patrons staying inside their vehicles. Movie goers can order food and use the restrooms -- one set of car occupants at a time, inside the building. Listen to the audio of the film using the FM radio inside your vehicle.

Tickets are $5 per person, credit card payments only.

Music to go

We Love You! Posted by Music Millennium on Wednesday, April 22, 2020

Music Millennium, Portlands oldest record store, is closed for browsing but offering curbside pickup for orders outside its store at 3158 East Burnside Street. While customers cant go inside, they can order albums, games, toys and more over the phone and opt for either curbside service or mail delivery.

The store offers a Curbside Deal of the Day on its Facebook page. For more info, call 503-231-8926.

Drive-up farmers markets

As we enter farmers market season, some local markets are closed to public wandering but still offering drive-up sales. Customers of the Hillsdale Farmers Market can order from individuals vendors online, then pick up their orders between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Sundays.

Markets in Beaverton and Oregon City are offering similar services.

Yarn delivery

Close Knit, a yarn shop at 2140 N.E. Alberta Street, is taking orders over the phone and offering curbside pickup, mail, or delivery for orders nearby. The store is open limited hours, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. To order, call 503-288-4568, or email closeknit.sally@gmail.com.

Know of a business offering a creative drive-thru or drive-up service? Email me at sswindler@oregonian.com.

-- Samantha Swindler; sswindler@oregonian.com; @editorswindler

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
Coronation Street William Roache celebrated his 88th birthday at his home on Saturday, as filming for the soap continues be at a standstill.

The veteran soap actor was surprised with gifts at his Wilmslow home by his daughter Verity, 39, and son James, 34, in snaps posted on the soap's official Twitter account.

It comes after Bill vowed that Corrie will never go off the air, despite fears ITV may run out of new episodes after filming was halted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Happy birthday! Coronation Street William Roache celebrated his 88th birthday at his home on Saturday, as filming for the soap continues be at a standstill

Bill appeared to have no idea he was about to be surprised with the birthday gifts by his family, as Verity launched the confetti into the air.

The room was decorated with balloons and presents for the low-key celebration.

The post was captioned: 'Sending a massive thank you for all your warm wishes from Bill, who's celebrating his 88th birthday in lockdown at home with his family!'

Bill - who has played Ken Barlow since the soap's inception in 1960 - has joined much of the Coronation Street cast in lockdown after filming was halted by the coronavirus pandemic.

Surprise! The veteran soap actor was surprised with gifts at his Wilmslow home by his daughter Verity, 39, and son James, 34, in snaps posted on the soap's official Twitter account

It comes after the veteran actor claimed that despite fears the soap may run out of filmed episodes, it will never go off the air.

Speaking to Piers Morgan on Good Morning Britain alongside his daughter Verity on Monday, the soap stalwart said: 'I gather we have quite a while.

'It was going out six times a week and now rationed to three. I think we had about two months [already filmed]. So I think about four months of new stuff.'

Hope: It comes after the veteran actor claimed that despite fears the soap may run out of filmed episodes, it will never go off the air

No worries: Bill, who plays Ken Barlow in the soap said the channel would revisit old episodes rather than let the show come off air entirely (programme still)

Addressing fears that the show could come off the air if the cast and crew are unable to film more scenes, Bill said that classic episodes could be revisited.

Speaking from his home in Wilmslow, he said: 'Weve got 60 years to draw on so I dont think well be going of air even when they run out.

'Plenty they could be showing and doing. I think probably three more months.'

Iconic: Bill has appeared in the show since it began 60 years ago - pictured in 1983

Oh no: Bill appeared on the show alongside his daughter Verity and said he will celebrate his 88th birthday in lockdown on Saturday

He said of the show: 'Weve got 60 years to draw on so I dont think well be going of air even 'when they run out.

Bill has played street favourite Ken Barlow since the show began 60 years ago and will celebrate his 88th birthday in lockdown on Saturday.

His words come after his co-star Beverley Callard claimed that soap bosses are 'panicking' about running out of episodes during quarantine.

The ITV soap halted production last month just hours before Prime Minister Boris Johnson put the country in lockdown amid the coronavirus pandemic.

And the actress, 63, who plays Liz McDonald, says the soap's producers and writers are fearful that their reserved set of episodes could be used up before restrictions are lifted.

'Panic': His Corrie co-star Beverley Callard has revealed that soap bosses are 'panicking' about running out of episodes during COVID-19 lockdown

Beverley and her co-star Jennie McAlpine who pays Fiz Brown opened up about the problem during an interview on BBC Radio 5 Live.

Jennie, 36, said on the programme: 'I keep putting it on at half eight, but then I think, "Oh no, Corrie's not on".

'Theyve limited our Corrie output now, so theres only three on instead of six.'

She added: 'I know people might be missing those three episodes but at least it means we've got a bit more time.

'I know our bosses are working really hard every day assessing the situation.'

Beverley then gave her own opinion, chiming in: 'And theyre panicking like mad aren't they? But, of course, you can't not.'

Suspended: The ITV soap halted production last month hours before Prime Minister Boris Johnson put the country in lockdown amid the coronavirus pandemic

Episode drama: Beverley and her co-star Jennie McAlpine who pays Fiz Brown opened up about the problem during an interview on BBC Radio 5 Live

Thoughts: 'I know people might be missing those three episodes but at least it means we've got a bit more time. 'I know our bosses are working really hard every day assessing the situation'

She continued: 'Even if it does come to an end and we run out of episodes, the writers will be going mad, they'll be excited to create new storylines and everything.

'Because we've got a massive team of writers, so theyll keep it going.'

MailOnline have contacted representatives of Coronation Street for comment.

Amid the suspension of filming, Coronation Street, as well as Emmerdale, have been cut down to just three episodes a week, airing just one episode on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Worried: Beverley then gave her own opinion, chiming in: 'And theyre panicking like mad aren't they? But, of course, you can't not'

Filming for Coronation Street was halted last month just hours before the government placed the UK in lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic, with an end date to restrictions yet to be confirmed.

It comes after their fellow Corrie star Andy Whyment warned the soap could go 'off air' unless filming recommences by June.

The actor, who plays Kirk Sutherland, admitted the soap potentially has until the beginning of July until they run out of episodes to broadcast.

Off air? It comes after their fellow Corrie star Andy Whyment warned the soap could go 'off air' unless filming recommences by June

Speaking on the United Podcast, the actor said: 'I think we've got until the beginning of July in the can.

'So we need to get back hopefully by the middle of June with a bit of luck, otherwise it's going to go off air.

'We've cut down from six episodes a week to three episodes a week, obviously to stay, but hopefully we'll get back.'

No more scenes? The actor, who plays Kirk Sutherland, has admitted the soap potentially has until the beginning of July until they run out of episodes to broadcast

He continued: 'A lot of the airlines have announced they're going to start flying again mid-June, so I'm presuming if that's going to happen then hopefully we should be able to get back to work with a bit of luck, so fingers crossed.'

A Coronation Street representative told MailOnline: 'We have always stated that with the new scheduling pattern we have enough episodes to keep the show on air into the summer. It is too early speculate beyond that.'

Coronation Street continues Monday at 7:30pm on ITV.
D owning Street has removed China from its comparisons of other countries responses to coronavirus amid suspicions their figures vastly downplay the scale of the outbreak.

Ministers were showing the nations low rate of infections and deaths on its charts in the daily Number 10 press briefings until Thursday, before it disappeared.

A study by experts at Hong Kong University, published in The Lancet this week, suggested more than 232,000 people may have tested positive - four times higher than official figures - in the countrys first wave of infections.

Some Conservative MPs fear the inaccurate figures could send the UKs response off track and have set up a China Research Group to promote debate and fresh thinking over Britains relationship with China.

Charts of international comparisons are shown at the daily Downing Street press briefing / PA

Tom Tugendhat, its founder and chairman of the Commons foreign affairs select committee, said: This data is used to judge the effectiveness of our own response, whether good or bad. Its important we are comparing like with like, otherwise our own responses could be distorted leading to more deaths in the UK.

Clearly No 10 believes the same as the rest of the world  that Chinas data is unreliable and possibly false.

The new group, modelled on the pro-Brexit European Research Group that scrutinised Theresa Mays fated Brexit deal, will assess Chinas handling of the outbreak and broader security concerns.

Mr Tugendhat said: Theres no point taking back control from Brussels and handing it to Beijing.

Tory MP Tom Tugendhat has set up the new China research group / AFP/Getty Images

Last week Wuhan, the central Chinese city where the pandemic began, retrospectively upscaled its fatalities by 50 per cent.

It comes after US president Donald Trump halted funding to the World Health Organisation (WHO), accusing it of being China-centric for trusting figures compiled by Chinese Communist Party officials, which he claims tried to cover up the pandemic.

A Number 10 spokeswoman said: The data on China has been removed from the daily press conference slide used to compare the number of deaths from coronavirus internationally.
Most Huawei phones may get updated to support contact tracing: Report

It looks like most of Huawei phones will be able to run the contact-tracing system that Googles developing with Apple. According to a report by Techradar, eligible phones from the brand will be updated to support the new system. These phones will include those devices before Google was barred from conducting business with Huawei by the US government.

This means that devices like the Huawei P30 and the Huawei P30 Pro will most likely get the update, but the Huawei Mate 30 series may not get it. However, the company has not confirmed which phones will be updated and how far back the compatibility will go.

To recall, Apple recently announced that it will be working closely with Google to create a contact-tracing system to help governments and health care agencies track and reduce the spread of the virus. However, the company claims the privacy and security will be central to its design. As per the companys announcement, the first step of the system is planned to be introduced in May. As part of this step, both companies will release APIs that will enable interoperability between Android and iOS devices using apps from public health authorities. These apps will be available to download via the respective app stores.

The second step would include the building of a broader Bluetooth-based contact tracing. This step will be implemented sometime in the coming months. The company claims that this would be a more robust solution than an API and should allow for more people to participate if they choose to opt-in. The company notes that privacy, transparency and consent will be key aspected in the system.
I say wonders because Im no expert on the best ways to fight this crazily contagious coronavirus. Few of us are. Im glad to have a mayor who listens to the experts, and Mayor Lori Lightfoot did the right thing at the end of March when she closed Chicagos lakefront and The 606 trail. Her move sent the message that this virus is serious, that congregating can be deadly, that we need to stay home.
A prison riot in Argentina over fears of the coronavirus spreading in the facility ended Friday after inmates agreed to hold talks with officials, local media reported. The unrest at the jail in the capital Buenos Aires lasted nine hours and came after a warden tested positive for COVID-19, the deadly disease caused by the virus. Prisoners climbed onto a roof, burned mattresses and threw objects at guards trying to quell the uprising, AFP journalists at the scene said. Police surrounded the Villa Devoto prison, which holds around 2,200 inmates, as explosions were heard. Authorities have not reported any injuries. The violence ended after representatives of the inmates agreed to meet with authorities on Saturday to discuss their concerns, local media reported, citing sources at the Justice Ministry. Inmates are demanding those considered among the most at-risk from COVID-19 are held at home, better protections in the jail from the pandemic, as well as the pardoning of some sentences. The inmates are also demanding that releases that were pending before the virus outbreak be processed. "We refuse to die in prison," read a banner painted by detainees and unfurled on the roof of the jail. Another banner said: "COVID-19 in Devoto, genocidal judges." Several other riots broke out in prisons last week, including in Florencio Varela in Buenos Aires province where one inmate died and 20 were injured. Argentina has been in lockdown since March 20 and has recorded more than 3,400 coronavirus cases and 167 deaths. Inmates burn a mattress at Villa Devoto prison in Buenos Aires on April 24 during a riot demanding measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus The prisoners brandished sticks and threw stones at the guards who fired tear gas Inmates at Villa Devoto prison rioted and shouted their demands for better coronavirus protection on April 24
One person was injured Friday night when they drove their car into a York County home, police said.

Police responded to the 300 block of Winterstown Road in Red Lion around 10:30 p.m. There, they discovered that an Acura had struck a home and the driver was trapped inside.

Multiple fire companies assisted in extricating the driver so they could be taken to the hospital for treatment, according to York Area Regional police.

Police are investigating the incident.

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Central Pa. police looking for truck possibly connected to pedestrian hit-and-run

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Chandigarh, April 25 : The Amarinder Singh-led Punjab government on Saturday constituted a group of experts, headed by noted economist and former deputy chairman of the Planning Commission, Montek Singh Ahluwalia, to come out with the post-Covid revival strategy for the state.

The group, which includes leading economy and industry experts, will recommend to the Punjab government a short-term (one year) as well as medium-term action plan, including a fiscal management strategy along with other policy measures to revive the state's economy in the aftermath of the Covid-19 crisis.

Amarinder Singh said his government was grateful to Montek for accepting the difficult task of finding ways for the state's economic revival.

The Chief Minister had announced his government's decision some days ago to set up a panel of experts to formulate a comprehensive strategy to revive the state's economy and industry in the post-Covid scenario.

The 20-member group has been mandated to submit its initial set of recommendations by July 31, followed by two more reports by September 30 and December 31, according to an official spokesperson.

The three-month gap between the first two reports will allow the group time to recalibrate the larger impact as COVID-19 unfolds across India over the summer, said the spokesperson.

The group has been entrusted with the task of identifying the key actions that are needed to help Punjab get to its "new normal" growth rate and restore it to a pre-eminent position.
In this April 9, 2020 file photo employees and family members protest outside a Smithfield Foods processing plant in Sioux Falls, S.D. The plant has had an outbreak of coronavirus cases according to Gov. Kristi Noem. (AP Photo/Stephen Groves File)

Stephen Groves/AP

More than 1,800 workers at meat industry giants, including Tyson, Smithfield Foods, and JBS have been sickened with COVID-19.

A worker filed a lawsuit against Smithfield on Thursday alleging workers did not have time to wash their hands or even wipe their noses after sneezing at a plant in Milan, Missouri.

"The health and safety of our employees is our top priority at all times," Smithfield said in a statement. "The allegations contained in the complaint are without factual or legal merit and include claims previously made against the company that have been investigated and determined to be unfounded."

The CDC recently recommend against offering bonuses that necessitated perfect attendance and requiring doctors' notes to get paid sick leave after inspecting a Smithfield plant in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, with at least 783 COVID-19 cases.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Meat processing plants across the US have been forced to close as more than 1,800 workers were sicken with COVID-19, according to calculations by Business Insider. Executives are now warning of meat shortages. Meanwhile, some workers say employers are not doing enough to keep them safe.

On Thursday, an anonymous worker and the nonprofit Rural Community Workers Alliance filed a lawsuit against Smithfield Foods, a meat industry giant that supplies major grocers and chains such as McDonald's. The complaint alleges that Smithfield failed to follow health and safety standards in a Milan, Missouri, plant, presenting a "dire threat" to workers' health.

While Smithfield posted some safety guidelines and erected sneeze guards between workers in certain areas, the complaint says that the closure of other Smithfield plants put more pressure on employees to speed up on the line  making it impossible to follow many safety precautions.

"Workers can go several hours performing grueling, monotonous work, shoulder to shoulder and sometimes even touching their coworkers, often without time to even cover their mouths when they sneeze or cough, and without any time to wash or sanitize their hands," the complaint reads.

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The complaint also discusses a $500 bonus Smithfield offered early in the pandemic, available only to workers that did not miss any shifts from April 1 to May 1.

"Many of the workers have families, including children they need to support, and many are currently living paycheck-to-paycheck," the complaint reads. "The $500 bonus is a substantial incentive for workers to continue working at the Plant even when they are experiencing symptoms."

A Smithfield representative said in a statement to Business Insider that the company has a policy of not commenting on pending litigation.

"The health and safety of our employees is our top priority at all times," the statement continued. "The allegations contained in the complaint are without factual or legal merit and include claims previously made against the company that have been investigated and determined to be unfounded. We look forward to aggressively defending the company in court."

The lawsuit demands the company provide relief, including sufficient personal protective equipment, a social distancing plan, breaks for workers to wash their hands, new leave policies, and a plan to test and trace the coronavirus.

If you're a worker in the meat processing industry with a story to share, email retail@businessinsider.com.

The CDC recommends new sick leave policies for slaughterhouses

On Wednesday, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention published a memorandum on COVID-19 transmission at the Smithfield pork plant in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. At least 783 Smithfield employees at this plant have caught the coronavirus.

The CDC found that the company had taken actions to prevent the spread of coronavirus, which is currently closed for sanitation and modification. However, some information on the coronavirus was provided exclusively in English and handwashing stations were limited.

The CDC offered recommendations on topics including social distancing, hand washing, and communicating to a workforce that speaks 40 languages.

Changes to the sick leave policy were recommended, including ensuring employees do not lose out on bonuses by taking sick leave and no longer requiring positive COVID-19 test or note from a healthcare provider to get paid leave.

At least three Smithfield plants across the US have closed, with over 800 cases of COVID-19, the vast majority focused in Sioux Falls. Smithfield told Business Insider that, out of respect for Smithfield employees' legal privacy, the company does not confirm COVID-19 cases in facilities.

More than 1,800 meat industry workers have caught coronavirus, as many companies fail to provide paid sick leave

Kulule Amosa steps out of the apartment she shares with her husband who works at the Smithfield Foods pork processing plant in Sioux Falls, S.D. He tested positive for the coronavirus this week after an outbreak at the plant.

Associated Press

Many meat packaging plants do not offer full paid sick leave policies.

Tyson does not offer paid sick leave. The company told Business Insider last week that, during the pandemic, no punitive measures will be taken if workers do not show up for work, and the five-day waiting period for short term disability has been waived. Short-term disability only makes up 60% of typical pay.

Three Tyson plants have shut down in recent weeks. More than 850 Tyson employees have been diagnosed with COVID-19, and six workers have died.

JBS has a similar policy on sick leave.

The company said that, during the pandemic, workers who are diagnosed with COVID-19 will be able to receive short-term disability, waiving a seven day waiting period. JBS did not respond to Business Insider request for comment on its sick leave policy, but a representative told the Greeley Tribune workers on short-term disability would be eligible for "100% of regular pay for four days and 60% of regular pay for up to 25 additional weeks." The Tribue reported that not all hospitalized workers have been receiving pay.

JBS has shuttered three plants, with at least 173 COVID-19 cases among workers.

The Counter reports that at least 14 meat processing plants have shuttered due to COVID-19 cases, with some reopening over the last week.

Executives have warned that closures could cause meat shortages. Steve Meyer, a pork industry economist with Kerns & Associates, told NPR that roughly 25% of pork production in the US has shut down or is working slowly due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Farmers say they are considering killing baby pigs instead of selling them at a major loss due to supply chain issues and other coronavirus-related disruptions.

"The closure of this facility, combined with a growing list of other protein plants that have shuttered across our industry, is pushing our country perilously close to the edge in terms of our meat supply," Smithfield CEO Kenneth Sullivan said in a statement after the company closed the Sioux Falls plant earlier in April.

He added: "It is impossible to keep our grocery stores stocked if our plants are not running."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-26 04:50:28|Editor: huaxia

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JERUSALEM, April 25 (Xinhua) -- The number of coronavirus patients in Israel has reached 15,298, after 240 new cases were added on Saturday, the health ministry said.

According to the ministry, five patients died on Saturday, bringing the death toll to 199.

The number of patients in serious condition decreased by 10 to 127, out of 408 patients in hospital, while the number of recoveries increased by 432 to 6,435.

The Israeli government is expected to discuss on Sunday a gradual re-opening of country's education system.

The Israeli media estimated that the education system will be partially opened on May 3 unless there is a large increase in the number of COVID-19 patients in the coming days.

Meanwhile, several neighborhoods in the cities of Netivot in southern Israel and Beit Shemesh near Jerusalem will be defined restricted areas starting Sunday morning because of a high COVID-19 infection rate.

Residents of restricted areas are allowed to leave only for essential medical care, legal proceedings or a funeral of close family members.

From 5 p.m. local time on Tuesday, Memorial Day for Israel's Fallen Soldiers, to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Israel's Independence Day, a full closure will be imposed in Israel. Enditem
Missouri also had a jump in new cases, reporting 304 new positive tests Friday for a total of 6,625, including 262 deaths. Williams said that increase also was connected to a reporting issue. Technical problems at a large private lab resulted in the state getting about a weeks worth of tests at once. Normally, labs are required to report positives within 24 hours to the state, Williams said.

Most of the states deaths are concentrated around St. Louis. In the metro area, including Illinois suburbs, at least 250 people with COVID-19 had died as of Friday evening. The death toll in St. Louis County had the largest rise in the area Friday, with the county reporting 15 new deaths from the virus for a total of 117.

But most people with the disease are recovering.

Dr. Alex Garza, head of the St. Louis Metropolitan Pandemic Task Force, said Friday that St. Louis-area hospitals reached an important milestone of discharging more than 1,000 coronavirus patients.

Garza said hospitalizations are expected to peak over the weekend in the area.
The headquarters of technology company Imagination Technologies is seen on the outskirts of London

By Guy Faulconbridge and Paul Sandle

LONDON (Reuters) - The Chinese-backed owners of Imagination Technologies told the British government on Friday the chip designer would remain headquartered in the United Kingdom and they would consult over any board changes.

Confirming an earlier Reuters source-based report, private equity firm Canyon Bridge, which is backed by Chinese state-owned China Reform holdings, said it had a constructive meeting with the British government.

British lawmakers recently became concerned that Imagination Technologies, which supplies intellectual property in areas including graphics and video processing to groups like Apple <AAPL.O>, could end up being moved out of the United Kingdom.

Canyon Bridge representatives had a conference call with Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Oliver Dowden on Friday.

"Imagination Technologies and its owners Canyon Bridge had a constructive meeting," a spokesman for Canyon Bridge and Imagination Technologies said in an emailed statement.

"We discussed our ongoing commitment to Imagination Technologies as a UK-headquartered business and have agreed to maintain dialogue with the Secretary of State as we further build out our senior management team," the spokesman said.

A British government source also confirmed the meeting had taken place.

"The government will continue to monitor the situation closely and take the appropriate steps as necessary to make sure it protects UK interests," the source said.

Once a jewel in Britain's technological crown, Imagination was bought by Canyon Bridge in 2017.

British lawmakers became concerned that the company could end up being moved out of the United Kingdom when Canyon Bridge tried to appoint its board members, though the crucial board meeting earlier this month was cancelled at the request of the government.

A source with knowledge of the talks who spoke on condition of anonymity said Canyon committed to the majority of Imagination Technologies' staff remaining in the United Kingdom and to continue investment in research and development and intellectual property development.

Story continues

"They want to maintain their commitment to the UK economy," said the source.

Spokesmen for the British government declined immediate comment.

British lawmaker David Davis told Reuters on Tuesday that the government should seek every mechanism to prevent the removal of the technology base of Imagination Technologies to China, including seeking a Western buyer for the company.

Davis said Imagination was a strategic asset and the government should make it absolutely plain that it does not view the export of such important British technology with equanimity.

The sale of Imagination Technologies, founded in 1985, was approved by the government of then-Prime Minister Theresa May on the basis that Canyon Bridge would be subject to U.S. law.

Canyon Bridge was originally incorporated in the United States but has since moved to the Cayman Islands, a spokesman said.

The sale of Imagination in 2017 came after its biggest customer Apple said it would develop more of its own graphics technology, sending the British company's shares down 70%.

British government officials met Canyon Bridge during the 2017 takeover talks, and it pledged to invest in Imagination's research and development capabilities in Britain when the deal was approved in November of that year.

Apple continued to use Imagination's technology, and Imagination announced a new multi-year, multi-use license agreement with the iPhone maker in January.

(Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge and Paul Sandle; editing by David Evans and Susan Fenton)
By Magi Helena

Tribune Content Agency

BIRTHDAY STAR: Actress Renee Zellweger was born in Katy, Texas, on this day in 1969. This birthday star has won Oscars for her performances in "Judy" and "Cold Mountain," and she was nominated for Oscars for her roles in "Chicago" and "Bridget Jones's Diary." Her other film work includes "Here and Now," "Cinderella Man" and "Jerry Maguire." Zellweger played Anne Montgomery in the 2019 series "What/If."

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Your charms can disarm the competition. No one should be able to withstand the force of your sincerity and trustworthiness. This is an excellent evening to try to be more romantic and loving.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Mesmerize your co-workers and take the lead. Your star power might be shining brighter than usual, giving you a chance to impress an audience of one or one hundred. Make major changes while you can.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Be prepared for anything. Avoid asking questions unless you are prepared for whatever you hear. If you aren't sure about the response you'll receive, you should probably pass up the opportunity for now.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Those who are lucky at love could be lucky at other things, too. You and a romantic partner might enjoy exploring possibilities and discussing a future the two of you can share. Focus on your blessings.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): The person in charge might be like a genie in a bottle and grant your every wish. You may be in the good graces of someone with influence who can change your life for the better. Dreams can come true in an instant.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): When you hear the truth, you will probably recognize it. Wisdom that comes from experience can't be purchased online or bought at the mall. Indulge your desire to offer someone a token of your affection.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Share feelings that you know to be true with a loved one. Your bonds will grow stronger when you know each other's heart. Your fanciful visions of harmonious togetherness may become a solid reality.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): In order to experience love and affection with another person, you must first cultivate these romantic energies within yourself. Spend time with a special someone this evening and you may enjoy myriad delights.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Listen to people who have more experience than you do and put their collective wisdom to good use. Low lights, good food and music could put someone in the mood for love later this evening.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Your creativity can be expressed in more than one way. You don't need paints and a canvas to be artistic. Give yourself plenty of space to spread your wings and share discoveries with loved ones.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): The yellow brick road that leads to Oz may be paved in gold. Your instincts about money and business are in tip-top condition, so you could make sound decisions based on common sense as well as intuition.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): You may have the strength of your ideals to fall back on, but others in a group may be clinging to something less substantial. Share inspiring stories so that other people can be boosted up and supported, too.

IF APRIL 25 IS YOUR BIRTHDAY: You may be on the verge of a major life change as the next two to three weeks unfold. Your most attractive qualities are in the spotlight, so this is an excellent time to make key commitments, such as starting a new job or getting engaged. You might suddenly find yourself in the center of a new group of friends in May, or empowered when involved with group meetings. In June, physical exertions might prove challenging, so take it slow and easy and don't become overtired. By methodically building up your strength, you'll be in better shape by July, when you'll have the competitive edge in any contest. Your romantic fantasies might be worth pursuing if you wait until August. That's when you'll have a shrewd grasp of business strategies and the practical means to make a success out of anything you try. Late September and early October may be a tricky time, so you should guard against being overly impressed by surface appearances.

Learn more at https://magihelena.com/ Questions? Reach out to Helena at questionsmagihelena.com.

(c) 2020 TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY, LLC.
According to reports, North Korea's ailing leader Kim Jong Un is increasingly becoming too fragile in spearheading the world's most secluded country. His absence in many important events of the country intrigues many nations.

It is said that Kim Jong Un had a heart condition and he recently undergo a survery. It includeds the process of inserting a tube to his blood vessel. However, it appears that he is not coping well with the medical procedure as Shukan Gendai reports that he is now in "vegetative state."

Senior ruling party official Kim Yo Jong, Kim's younger sister, is the most likely candidate to replace the 36-year-old leader if he becomes severely ill, incapacitated, or dies.

The possibility of much instability raised distressing questions with regard to the future of the nuclear-armed state that has been consistently building an arsenal aimed to threaten the U.S. mainland in the midst of stalled talks between Kim and American President Donald Trump.

According to South Korea's presidential office, Kim was seemingly handling state affairs normally and that they had no information regarding rumors about his health.

Kim's younger sister is now seen as the North Korean dictator's "alter ego" as concerns grow for his health condition.

Thirty-one-year-old Kim Yo-jong is now regarded as the most important figure after her brother in the tyrannical regime.

She has represented Kim at the 2018 Winter Olympics that took place in Pyeongchang, South Korea and has procured reputable titles within the ruling Workers' party. She is reportedly the brains behind the meticulously constructed public image of Kim at home and abroad.

The reclusive dictator has no identified successor or heir apparent.

The Kim family has governed the secluded Communist nation for the past seven decades. Kim took over his father, Kim Jong Il, after he died in 2011. Their dynasty is identified in their nation as the Mount Paektu Bloodline, a three-generation lineage of North Korean leadership that descended from the nation's first leader, Kim Il-sung.

Also Read: Where is Kim Jong Un? North Korean Leader's Whereabouts a Mystery as State Media Remains Silent

If one would listen to American intelligence officials, Kim is at death's door, while if one would listen to South Korean officials, he is not. Meanwhile, North Korea has not provided such information.

There has been a steady stream of rumors regarding the dictator's poor health since last summer. It was said that it comes with no surprise that attention is now turning to his possible successor because he is morbidly obese and his family' has a history of heart disease.

The absence of the North Korean leader from the public eye since April 11 was paired with reports regarding his ill health owing to a major heart surgery and has bolstered speculations about a leadership crisis in North Korea.

Some experts said that collective leadership, which could mark the end of the family's dynastic rule, is a possibility.

"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," according to analyst Cheong Seong-Chang at the private Sejong Institute in South Korea.

Many people will be observing closely for any signs of issues in North Korea and whether it will address the rumors, an action it has not done yet.

North Korea and the United States appeared to be driving towards war in 2017, with both countries trading criticism and threats of jeopardy. The next two years witnessed a surprising series of summits, alongside 3 summits between Kim and Trump.

Related Article: Kim Jong-Un Rushes Construction of 'Crucial' North Korean Hospital Despite Having 'No Covid-19 Cases'

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Downing Street on Saturday went into strong denial mode after a political row broke out over a UK media report claiming that British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's top aide had attended secret meetings of the scientific group advising the government on its Covid-19 response strategy.

The Guardian' claimed that Dominic Cummings, Johnson's chief strategic adviser, and an official associated with the Brexit campaign were part of the meetings of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE). This triggered Opposition anger as it implies government influence over what is pegged as an independent advisory body, the membership of which has not been made public.

"The scientists on SAGE are among the most eminent in their fields. It is factually wrong and damaging to sensible public debate to imply their advice is affected by government advisers listening to discussions," a Downing Street spokesperson said.

Public confidence in the media has collapsed during this emergency partly because of ludicrous stories such as this, the spokesperson said.

Johnson's office stresses that Cummings and Ben Warner, a data scientist associated with the Vote Leave campaign for the UK's exit from the European Union (EU), are not members of the group and had only listened in to SAGE meetings in order to better understand the scientific debate around coronavirus.

They "occasionally" asked questions or offered help with reaching out to civil servants at Whitehall when required.

SAGE is a panel of medical and scientific experts, chaired by the UK's Chief Scientific Officer, Sir Patrick Vallance, that provides independent advice to the government during any crisis and has been leading on crucial decisions such as the length and nature of the Covid-19 lockdown. Its advice feeds into ministers' decision-making process and is not made public.

But the latest revelations have led to calls for greater transparency in its working, including from within the ruling Conservative Party backbenchers.

"We should publish the membership of SAGE: remove any non-scientist members: publish their advice in full: and publish dissenting opinions with the advice," Tory MP David Davis, a former Brexit Secretary, said on Twitter.

But the Opposition Labour Party has been more vehement in its reaction, saying Cummings had "no place" on the government's scientific advisory group.

"He is a political adviser, not a medical or scientific expert. If the public are to have confidence in the SAGE, the government must make clear Dominic Cummings can no longer participate or attend," Labour's shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth told the BBC.

"The concern is that political advisers have influenced the debate," he said.

Labour has called on the government to now be "entirely transparent" about its decisions and to publish the minutes of SAGE meetings.

Cummings returned to 10 Downing Street recently after he went into self-isolation with mild symptoms of coronavirus at the end of last month, around the same time as his boss the UK PM.

The advice handed down by SAGE will define the UK's course through the pandemic, including decisions around when the strict stay at home lockdown measures in place to suppress transmission can begin to be eased.

Though the country's death toll from the deadly virus continues to rise and edges towards 20,000, there are some indications that the level of hospitalisations may now be within manageable levels for the state-funded National Health Service (NHS).

This would prove the overriding factor behind any gradual lifting of social distancing restrictions when a compulsory government review is due on May 7.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Television has become a window into the outside world for millions of quarantined Americans. And this Sunday, when the much-anticipated series Penny Dreadful: City of Angels premieres on Showtime, Latina actress Stephanie Arcila says that the horror drama will be an emotional and intellectual release for many fans confined at home.

We are divided inside and outside," Arcila told NBC News. "Many people are living in a moment of fear."

She said viewers will be able to find things in common with the Mexican-American community from the 1930s that is portrayed in the show.

City of Angels is set in 1938 Los Angeles, and follows Tiago Vega (Daniel Zovatto), the first Mexican American detective in the citys police force. And as he works on a grisly murder case with his partner (Nathan Lane), Arcila says the show draws on real and imagined tensions to transform Los Angeles into a battleground.

The show takes place right after the Great Depression and before World War II, she said. And this is a time when Latino and black families are being divided. The government builds highways through their neighborhoods, and Los Angeles becomes a battleground for politics, race and money.

Off-screen, racial tensions in Los Angeles escalated into a riot in the summer of 1943. The Zoot Suit Riots were triggered after white soldiers and sailors beat up Mexican Americans wearing zoot suits.

Two young men, one stripped of all his clothes, the other badly beaten, by policemen, in Los Angeles on June 7, 1943. Fifty or more zoot suiters had their clothing torn from them, police reported. (Harold P. Matosian / AP)

Swing music and jitterbug fans made the zoot suit popular in the 1930s. And Arcila says that they are part of Mexican American history and identity today.

Zoot suits came about because it was very uncomfortable for men to dance in regular pants suits, she said. So they started creating bigger, wider suits that took a lot more material and were high-waisted to dance comfortably.

But beyond fashion and dance, historians say that zoot suits, like the ones featured on the show, also became symbols of a counterculture.

While police singled out Latinos and other minorities for dressing in a certain way or looking a certain way, this also united them against the police, said Laura E. Gomez, UCLA law professor and an expert on Mexican-American history.

Story continues

Gomez says that there is a tendency in the United States to look at people of color as homogenous, and this strips their identity of individual texture and variety.

As an example, a newswire article published by The New York Times in 1943 described zoot-suiters during the riot asroving bands of youths whose most conspicuous badge is the zoot suit with its ankle-hugging pants cuff and knee-length coat.

Daniel Zovatto as Tiago Vega in

Gomez says the media and the authorities in 1943 Los Angeles reduced zoot-suiters into a faceless, monolithic mob, excluding them from society by ignoring their diversity.

She compares profiling then with more recent policies today, saying "you can draw a straight line" from 1943 Los Angeles to New Yorks stop-and-frisk policies.

In both cases, young Black and Latino men were being targeted as groups," Gomez said. "And this creates a cycle of distrust against police.

Arcila, who grew up speaking Spanish in Miami with Colombian Peruvian parents, said it was important for her to connect with her characters diverse backstory as a Mexican immigrant.

With its exploration of division and fear, I think a lot of people right now will relate to the show, Arcila said.

Follow NBC Latino on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
A count of deceased health care workers compiled by the World Socialist Web Site based on a variety of sources found that at least 130 workers have died from COVID-19 in the US. Public sources include a list from the medical journal Medscape which counts 607 health care workers who have died internationally from COVID-19, as well as memorial pages set up by unions and EMS agencies. Names were also found based on media reports about health care workers and first responders that died from COVID-19 in recent days.

Despite the growing death toll, and amid the Trump administration-led back to work campaign, there has been a noticeable decline in mainstream media coverage of the situation facing health care workers on the frontlines of the struggle against the still raging COVID-19 pandemic. Camera crews in front of hotspots like Elmhurst Hospital in Queens, New York City are gone and fewer and fewer exposures of the situation in the hospitals are appearing in the bourgeois press.

Unrefrigerated bodies lying outside an overwhelmed funeral home in Brooklyn, New York City

This is under conditions where the pandemic has now claimed the lives of over 50,000 Americans. In New York, where the death toll has passed 15,000, bodies are shipped to other states because the states four crematoria are overwhelmed; 180 refrigerated trucks for the bodies of recent COVID-19 victims have been set up throughout the city.

To this day, no reliable statistics about infections or deaths among health care workers have been released. This is despite the fact that they have been among those most severely affected by the virus. An estimated 10 percent of the 192,992 confirmed cases in Italy are health care professionals; at least 125 Italian physicians have died from the disease. Over 100 health care workers in Britain have died. In the US, where 923,612 COVID-19 cases have been confirmed, there is a total of 2.86 million registered nurses, almost one million physicians and 826,000 EMS workers.

Even three months into the pandemic, there is no adequate supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) for most of these workers. A nurse at Cleveland Clinic in Ohio told the WSWS that her hospital had a policy of encouraging nurses to only wear cloth masks, but they dont protect against droplet or airborne [infections], she noted. If you want a surgical mask you have to track them down. It takes me 5-10 min [at the beginning of a shift] every day to get a mask.

Given the WSWS independent tally based on public information, there is no question that the official numbers released by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), which recorded over 9,300 infections and 27 deceased health care workers as of April 15, are a vast underestimate. It is still exceedingly difficult for health care workers, as for all workers, to get tested for the virus. There have been reports of health care workers in New York and other states being forced work even after they tested positive, contribution to the spread among hospital staffers, patients and their families.

At the Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan alone, over 700 workers were tested positive weeks ago. The number of confirmed infections and deaths in that state has since skyrocketed. On Long Island, New York, nearly 1,200 hospital staffers had tested positive as of April 15. Nine hundred workers of the New York City public hospital system have tested positive, and 3,000 have called in sick. At hospitals in Illinois more than 2,500 health care workers have been confirmed positive. In a special broadcast by PBS, the emergency room director for one Brooklyn hospital indicated that 30 percent of the staff had been infected, and five had died.

The first known health care worker fatality in New York City, Kious Kelly, a nurse at Mount Sinai West, died on March 24. By now, based on the WSWS count, at least 50 New York health care workers have died, including 26 workers of the NYC Health + Hospitals public hospital system, and at least 8 at EMS. In New Jersey, at least 25 health care workers have died. Thirteen of them worked for EMS and died since March 31. In Michigan, at least 15 health care workers have died, most of them in Detroit and Flint, cities that have been decimated by decades of austerity, de-industrialization, bankruptcy and, in the case of Flint, the poisoning the water system with lead. At least seven health care workers have died in Georgia, which is already reopening its economy, and at least eight have died in Illinois.

Ted Levine, a healthcare worker at Mount Sinai Hospital, holds a photo of Feda Ocran, a nurse who died of coronavirus disease [Credit: Brendan Mcdermid/Reuters]

These numbers are but a pale reflection of the situation. A paramedic in New York City told the WSWS that he knew at least three other EMS workers who died in New York state, which would bring the total at FDNY to 11. In Detroit, an EMT [Emergency Medical Technician] told the WSWS that he knew of fifteen EMT colleagues who had died. The WSWS list only includes one Detroit EMS worker. It also does not include workers at nursing homes, which have been completely ravaged by COVID-19, although reports have surfaced of workers having died there in facilities that continue to block the release of numbers.

Many of these workers died after having been denied proper PPE, testing and medical care. Deborah Gatewood, a nurse at Beaumont Hospital in Farmington Hills, a Detroit suburb, was denied admission to the hospital where she worked four times before she passed away from COVID-19. A 33-year-old Miami-area ICU nurse, Danielle Dicenso, also died after having been denied face masks while treating COVID-19 patients.

Every single one of these deaths and the vast majority of infections were preventable. They are the result of a policy of criminal negligence by the government in response to the pandemic, and a decade-long social counterrevolution in which social infrastructure was destroyed and plundered to enrich a tiny oligarchy.

The crisis is also taking a tremendous emotional and psychological toll on health care workers who are not infected. Left to fight under war-like conditions without proper equipment on shifts that can last up to 16 hours, they are undergoing traumatizing experiences, including taking responsibility for decisions about life and death, and seeing countless patients die alone and their families suffer. Most health care workers are experiencing serious anxiety, fearing not only for the health of their patients, but also their own health and that of their loved ones. In New York City, EMS workers, who often earn poverty wages, have been reportedly forced to sleep in their cars or at their workstation for lack of alternative housing opportunities.

Under these conditions, there have been growing warnings by medical health experts that the COVID-19 pandemic will be followed by a second pandemic of mental health issues, which will hit health care workers especially hard. Many health care workers already experienced acute stress and are at increased danger of suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) once the pandemic ends.

Even before the crisis, there was an epidemic of nurse suicides in the US. EMS workers were contemplating suicide at a rate 10 times higher than the average adult in the US. This situation is being dramatically exacerbated by the pandemic. A study on the mental health conditions of Chinese health care workers who treated COVID-19 patients in Wuhan found that half of them were now struggling with depression, 44.6 percent experienced anxiety and a third insomnia.

A paramedic in New York City told the WSWS that he had to call the FDNY counseling service after every shift because its becoming so much. Ive been knocking out once I get comfortable due to sleep deprivation adding to my insomnia. Ive been in low depressed moods recently. Too much death than should be observed in a lifetime.

Asked what he thought about the reopening of the economy under these conditions, he said: I think its premature, to say the least. The very first people that are going to be affected by that is us: hospital workers, first responders. I dont think any sane person would do that, especially if we dont have any regularly available care for something as massive as this.
Slot car racing, the sport that involves racing scaled-down models of real cars around a multi-lane road course has been around for over a century and, while nowadays kids arent raving about it amid the surge of video games on computers, consoles, and mobile devices, heres a look back at a time when slot cars had yet to trickle down to kids. It was, just like full-scale racing, an all-adult affair.

Straight from the days of complicated DIY

Nowadays, you wouldnt hear many people chat with passion in their eyes on Monday morning about the fun they had the Sunday before at the slot car track. "The hobby in the U.S. is based entirely on nostalgia," says motorsports historian and slot car aficionado Dennis David, quoted by the L.A. Times.

Once the most profitable niche in the American toy industry, beating anything from Hot Wheels to Barbie dolls and every action figure in between, slot cars are becoming a thing of the past with David saying the phenomenon is "dying."

It all began back in 1912 when some hobbyists over in Europe built themselves a large, oval track, and some fully-functional cars they could race on this multi-lane (each lane is known as a slot) course. People began to gather around to see the small cars race one another at ever-increasing speeds and, soon enough, the tracks would take up an entire arcade complete with fenced spectator areas. The cars were all made and improved by the competitors and, like in real racing, the best man with the best (small) car won.

A variety of toy-making companies caught on to the sprawling phenomenon and thats how brands like Scalextric and Carrera were established catering for the needs of those keen enough to go racing but lacking in the skills department when it came to building themselves their own models. Electrified tracks and controllable scale-model cars took over the home-made "specials" that simply ran by following the grooves of the course and, by 1960, there were thousands of clubs in the U.S. alone.

The beginning of the end was marked by the appearance of video game halls and, later on, home-bound consoles that took the kids - by now the target audience of slot car and slot track makers - away from the miniature racing leagues as they could now race one another on the TV screen at home. Fortunately, the sport has survived through those that were doing it in their youth and have remained hooked to this day.

"Its the kind of thing where once youve done it, you just cant get it out of your system," Nick Thrower says, quoted by CNN. "You keep coming back," he adds, pointing out that racing slot cars "gives people all sorts of skills, like construction skills, motor skills, how to tune a motor, how to paint a body shell, or how to drive the thing."

Ed Shorer, another enthusiast, believes that "theres nothing like experiencing the sights, sounds, and smells of such a wide range of cars that you can race on a track and then hold in your hand," and he isnt wrong given the huge variety of makes and models on offer from a variety of manufacturers.

The only issue is cost. Even for the smallest of slot cars (HO scale), "a challenging track can be assembled for under $350," but if you want to race 1/32 scale or 1/24 scale slot cars, "the 1/24 scale Carrera track costs even more at nearly $1,300."

The cars themselves range from as little as $14 for an HO-scale car to as much as $80-$100 for a 1/24 scale model built with painstaking attention to detail. This may be the way the hobby is now kept alive by people with greying hairs, "I guess its that kids dont get given Scalextric sets to start with," Mark Witham, Chairman of the British Slot Car Racing Association (BSCRA), says.

In the 50s, when the hobby began to gain traction, it was much the same but for different reasons.

Back then, the cars were made by grown men with engineering skills who'd build everything from the chassis to the bodies themselves, including the drivetrains, a process that would take as much as 250 hours.

Those complex cars ran on a mixture of ethanol and nitro, the cars were loud and fast, reaching speeds in excess of 20 mph thanks to their compression ignition engines that allowed them to go round and round for hours. Over an eight-day-long competition, the cars, with their engines revving all the way to 10,000 rpm, would cover as much as 100 miles on aggregate.

While back then it was all about building cars that could go faster, now the enthusiasts dedicate a lot more of their time "making the cars look pretty" and the tracks look realistic. Slot Mods is one of the leading companies that build bespoke tracks, founder David Beattie taking pride in the fact that even Jay Leno commissioned him to build a course.

While those huge 20 x 20 courses replicating real circuits such as Sears Point (Sonoma Raceway) or the now-defunct Riverside Raceway can cost over $30,000, the niche isnt flourishing. Back in the 60s, when there were 3,000 public slot car tracks in the U.S. alone, the leading slot car making companies were selling $500 million worth of cars and equipment a year. Those times may never return as cutting-edge technology grips the younger generations further and thats why looking at old footage like this - filmed at a gathering of the North London Society of Model Engineers which is still active to this day - is particularly interesting.

Source: British Pathe
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-25 07:56:49|Editor: huaxia

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WASHINGTON, April 24 (Xinhua) -- Xiaogang Ye, a well-known Chinese composer with the Central Conservatory of Music in China, has become one of the newest members of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences founded 240 years ago, the academy announced.

"We remember how pleased and excited we were upon receiving the notice of our election to the Academy. This honor signifies the high regard in which you are held by leaders in your field and members throughout the nation," said a letter informing Ye of his election by the academy based in Cambridge, U.S. eastern state of Massachusetts.

Among the academy's newest election are 276 artists, scholars, scientists, and leaders in the public, non-profit, and private sectors, Academy President David W. Oxtoby said in a statement released on Thursday.

"With today's election announcement, these new members are united by a place in history and by an opportunity to shape the future through the Academy's work to advance the public good," said Oxtoby.

Born in September 1955, Ye, who has received numerous prizes and awards, is regarded as one of China's leading contemporary composers, according to Ye's profile on the Schott-Music.com.

Ye's oeuvre comprises symphonic works, a range of chamber music, stage works and film music, and much of his music bears a connection to Chinese culture and tradition, said the Schott Music website, noting that for decades his works have drawn attention both in Eastern Asia and in the West, being played by international orchestras and ensembles including the Munich Philharmonic, New York Philharmonic and Ensemble Modern.

In August 2008, Ye's piano concerto Starry Sky was premiered during the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games by Lang Lang. Accompanied by dance and light shows, the live broadcast was watched by 3 billion people worldwide.

The American Academy of Arts & Sciences, founded in 1780, is one of the oldest learned societies in the United States. Its members include more than 250 Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winners, the academy said on its website.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-24 22:51:31|Editor: huaxia

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Members of the Chinese anti-epidemic medical expert team pose for a group photo with local people before boarding a Lao military aircraft to capital Vientiane, in southern Laos' Pakse airport on April 9, 2020. (Chinese anti-epidemic medical expert team/Handout via Xinhua)

BEIJING, April 24 (Xinhua) -- At the request of the Pakistani, Myanmar and Lao military forces, the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Friday sent COVID-19 prevention and control materials, including nucleic acid testing kits and protective gowns, to the three militaries by air force planes.

Three teams of PLA medical experts were also dispatched to the three countries to conduct anti-virus work, the PLA said in a statement.

In addition to participating in China's domestic fight against the novel coronavirus, the PLA said it has also been actively engaged in international cooperation on battling the virus, in pursuit of the vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity.

The world can only defeat the virus and overcome the difficulty through solidarity and mutual help, it added.

The PLA also vowed to continue to provide helps within its ability to military forces of relevant countries in their fight against COVID-19 and to promote anti-virus international cooperation. 
Gogoro, the Taiwanese company known for its electric scooters, announced a new ebike brand that will go on sale in the United States first. Details about the ebike, called Eeyo, havent been released yet, but it is noteworthy because it marks Gogoros first product launch in the U.S.

Eeyo be available for purchase in the U.S. in May, before launching in Europe and Taiwan this summer.

Founded in 2015 by former HTC executives Horace Luke and Matt Taylor, Gogoro says its Smartscooters are now the best-selling brand of electric two-wheel vehicles in Taiwan. The company also licenses its technology, including swappable, rechargeable batteries, to manufacturers like Yamaha, Aeon and PGO.

In Europe, Gogoro provided the fleet for Coup, the scooter-sharing service owned by Bosch, before it shut down last year.

Despite being best known for its Smartscooters, and the upcoming launch of Eeyo, Gogoro doesnt just see itself as an electric vehicle maker. In an interview last year with Extra Crunch, Luke, Gogoros CEO, said the startups future lies in providing a platform for energy-efficient vehicles.

Last year it launched GoShare, a vehicle-sharing platform that will be available to other mobility companies as a turnkey solution for "any form factor" of vehicle.
Traders in the nation are calling on President Nana Akufo-Addo to intervene on their behalf for the removal of penalty charges on their consignment.



Speaking on behalf of traders in Ghana, executives from the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) and Used Clothes Dealers Association complained bitterly about the treatment meted out to them by the Ghana Shippers Authority.



In a studio discussion on Peace FM's ''Kokrokoo'' on Friday, April 24, 2020, the GUTA National Organizer and Greater Accra Regional Organizer, Clement Boateng and Jeff Kwame Gyasi respectively explained their predicament to host Kwami Sefa Kayi saying the Shippers Authority has refused to waive demurrage on commodities at the port.



Demurrage refers to the charges that the traders who hire a ship to convey their cargo pay to the shipowner for its delayed operations of loading or unloading. Technically, it is a is a form of liquidated damages or penalty for breaching the laytime which is the amount of time allowed in a voyage charter for the loading and unloading of cargo.



The GUTA executives noted that, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and particularly during the partial lockdown in the country, a lot of traders have been hit by declines in sales and therefore encountering huge financial challenges.



Clement Boateng outlined some difficulties of the traders as they not being able to clear the goods from the port stating if a trader's consignment remains at the port after seven (7) to 21 days, they are mandated to pay between 50 to 100 dollars on each consignment per day.



He further said some traders have not been able to clear their cargo because they have been locked away in foreign countries due to the ban on travel and it is exceedingly unfair on the part of the Shippers Authority to penalize them.



The GUTA Greater Accra Regional Organizer added that the Association has noted the unfair treatment by the Shippers Authority regarding the collection of demurrage when they know the current situation in the economy.



" . . the Association and the Minister of Transport, Kweku Ofori Asiamah, have written to the Shippers Authority to remove the charges or penalties on the goods but to no avail . . . we, therefore, call on President Akufo-Addo to exercise his power over the Shippers Authority to refrain from such treatment because it is not own fault that the goods have delayed at the port but the pandemic has rendered us inactive to undertake any business transaction," Jeff Kwame Gyasi stated.



Kwaning Asante Boateng, the General Secretary of the Used Clothes Dealers Association, asked the President to "just as he directed us to sleep and we slept for three weeks, he should intervene and make this issue very simple for us. He should come and tell them to waive all the demurrage and rent. He should direct the shipping lines to do that. I believe when he steps in, they will comply with his directive".

Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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<! Don Jazzy >

Nigerian record producer and Mavin Boss, Michael Collins Ajereh, better known as Don Jazzy has applauded the US-based Nigerian music duo known as Roze for their effort on the rendition of Remas new single Beamer in a video.

As soon as the brothers posted their own version of Remas new single Beamer on Instagram, there was a wave of reactions and many said the brothers have not outdone themselves this time.

Some of those who commented demanded that Rema should do a remix with the duo, while some suggested that Don Jazzy, make a remix of the single happen.

The Mavin big boss himself had to respond.  Nice one guys, he said with applauding emojis. And the Roze too responded, Big thank you sir.

The music duo, born Eghosa Rodney Agbonayinma (ROW) and Osazuwa Michael Agbonayinma (ZUWA) popularly known as ROZE are children of politician and music lover, Hon Ehiozuwa Johnson Agbonayinma. They were born in Houston, Texas, January 11, 1998 and July 30, 1999 respectively.
Curious just how far your dollar goes in Friedrich Wilderness Park?

According to Walk Score, this San Antonio neighborhood is car-dependent, isn't particularly bikeable and doesn't offer many public transit options. Data from rental site Zumper shows that the median rent for a one bedroom in Friedrich Wilderness Park is currently hovering around $1,000.

So, what might you expect to find if you've got $1,300/month earmarked for your rent? Read on for a roundup of the latest rental listings, via Zumper and Apartment Guide. (Note: Prices and availability are subject to change.)

Hoodline offers data-driven analysis of local happenings and trends across cities. Links included in this article may earn Hoodline a commission on clicks and transactions.

25051 Interstate 10

Listed at $1,227/month, this two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment is located at 25051 Interstate 10.

The apartment comes with a mix of hardwood floors and carpeting, a walk-in closet and a dishwasher. When it comes to building amenities, expect garage parking. For those with furry friends in tow, know that cats and dogs are permitted on this property. There isn't a leasing fee associated with this rental.

(Take a look at the complete listing here.)

21626 Stonewall Parkway

Next, there's this one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment located at 21626 Stonewall Parkway. It's listed for $1,250/month for its 865 square feet.

The building boasts secured entry and garage parking. The apartment also features a dishwasher and hardwood flooring. If you've got a pet, you'll be happy to learn that cats and dogs are permitted. Be prepared for a $400 pet deposit.

(Check out the complete listing here.)

6735 Camp Bullis Road

Here's a 1,073-square-foot two-bedroom, two-bathroom condo at 6735 Camp Bullis Road that's also going for $1,250/month.

In the condo, expect to find a walk-in closet, a dishwasher and a mix of hardwood floors and carpeting. When it comes to pets, both meows and barks are allowed. There's no leasing fee required for this rental.

(Check out the complete listing here.)

7602 Luskey Blvd.

Finally, check out this 1,044-square-foot two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment that's located at 7602 Luskey Blvd. It's listed for $1,275/month.

The building has garage parking. The unit also has a mix of hardwood floors and carpeting, a walk-in closet and a dishwasher. Good news for animal lovers: Both dogs and cats are welcome here. Future tenants needn't worry about a leasing fee.

(See the complete listing here.)

This story was created automatically using local real estate data from Zumper and Apartment Guide, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Additionally, read on for five marketing tips for real estate agents to showcase local market expertise.

Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.
A Houston Police sergeant was charged this week with two felony counts of indecency with a child.

Sgt. Mario Garza, 47, was relieved of duty Thursday, an HPD spokeswoman said. Garza joined the police department in 2007, according to Thuy Le, one of the two lawyers representing him.

He had spent about three years working in internal affairs before being transferred to the departments General Services Division in March, Le said. He had also previously worked patrol, for eight years, and a year working in HPDs now shuttered municipal jail.

In a written statement, Le criticized the departments case against Garza and said HPD had filed charges without interviewing relevant witnesses.

BAIL FIGHT:

When the evidence in this case is revealed, we are confident the truth will emerge, and it will show that Mario Garza neither broke the law nor harmed a child, she said on Saturday. In the meantime, we are looking forward to continuing and sharing our ongoing investigation of the facts, and of the actions of the Houston Police Department.

Garza turned himself in Thursday. In Garzas initial court appearance, a prosecutor asked for a $75,000 bail on each count. A local magistrate denied that request, setting bail at $20,000 for each count, saying he didnt believe Garza was a flight risk because the officer had voluntarily turned himself in. He also ordered Garza not to have any contact with the person who had made an outcry against him.

Chief Art Acevedo said the departments investigation highlights the seriousness with which the department handles abuse allegations.

Its heartbreaking to think anyone would harm a child, but we are relieved by the courage of the victim to come forward, he said, urging victims of abuse of any kind to contact police.

st.john.smith@chron.com
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has charged the media to be accurate, factual and truthful in their reportage on the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic to prevent and reduce the spread of the disease.



He noted that potentially harmful misinformation and disinformation could be inimical to the fight waged by the government against the virus, and can lead to a lot of grief and difficulty.



There should be accuracy in what you convey, it is critical.... we can agree on facts, and as much when it comes to public discuss, the truth, the accuracy is paramount, especially in emergencies of this nature where the slightest of misinformation, the slightest inaccuracy, misinterpretation, can lead to a lot of grief and difficulty, he stressed.



The President made the call on Friday at the Jubilee House in Accra, when he met the executives of the Ghana Journalist Association, the Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association, the Private Newspaper Publishers Association of Ghana and the Chief Executives of State-owned media institutions, including; the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, the Ghana News Agency, the Graphic Communication Group Limited and the New Times Corporation, as well the National Media Commission.



The meeting, called at the instance of the President, as part of stakeholder consultations on ways to mitigate the effect of the pandemic, was to brainstorm with the media on measures that adopted so far, and the way forward.



Commending the Ghanaian media for being an invaluable ally in the fight against the pandemic, the President said he was happy the way the media has responded in the midst of the crisis.



However, there was need that the media be responsible and truthful in their reportage on the issues surrounding the coronavirus pandemic, the President said, stressing the need for media outlets to get specialist to educate and inform their readers and listeners, rather than have people without knowledge on the crisis create anxiety in the country.



Misreporting and twisting facts on the subject, he noted, would be counter-productive in the collective efforts to manage the crisis at hand.



Every day, people in the country are waiting to hear the news of the figures, how many people have got it, are we on the up, are we on the down, these are legitimate questions.



Everybody is worried about the effect of this virus, properly, there should be some way public authorities are giving the information as to where we are, but is important that the facts be accurate, because if it isn't, you generate a certain amount of anxiety and fear in the society, and that is not helpful for the management of this crisis.



President Akufo-Addo continued: The way forward is going to require your big inputyou have to take a responsible position in what is unfolding.



When I say responsible, I don't mean you have to be bootlickers of government, but responsible in the sense of being truthful to what you know and responsible in the sense of trying to seek out the best information.



If people are going to talk about this disease, they have to talk about it from the view of science. Get the scientist to be the ones to talk, get those who have the specialist information, everything has its own specialistThat is what I would encourage you to do, the President stressed.



Bring those who have the knowledge and let through you, explain these matters. Yes, politicians will want to comment on everything, yes, but for the time being, this one, I do not see the politics in what we are doing, I see the accountability, but I do not see the politics.

We are lucky that we have a very good, good, good, crop of scientists in Ghana, people who have strong information and expertise on this thing.What I want to see, as much as possible, the airwaves being filled with the Information that the scientist have, he said.



Mr Yaw Boadu-Ayeboafoh, Chairman of the NMC commended the President for recognising the critical role of the media and for inviting them to make input into the way forward to responding to the public health crisis at hand.



He also asked Government to consider giving the media a stimulus package to support their operations as they were also affected by the restrictions put in place to mitigate the effects of the pandemic on the social and economic life of the country.



The NMC Chairman also appealed for personal protective equipment for journalists, who were in the frontline, gathering information and education for the populace at the peril of their lives.

Source: GNA









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Modern science has scarcely presented a more crucial goal, offering untold riches and perhaps even a Nobel prize to the victor, as well as the chance to return the world to normal.

Yet the search for a cure for coronavirus is also uniquely perilous thanks to the dangers inherent in rushing new medical products to market.

Across the globe, thousands of researchers employed by governments, laboratories and drug firms are working flat-out to crack this all-important riddle.

As are endless armchair experts, whose numbers now evidently include Donald Trump.

Yesterday, the worlds most powerful man used a press conference to propose various highly unorthodox new treatments for coronavirus, including injecting disinfectant into the body and blasting patients with ultraviolet light.

Back in the real world, researchers are working tirelessly to combat the virus.

But while bullish claims have been made for a host of possible treatments, the truth is that scientists have little idea which ones might end up being of use.

Four months into the pandemic, we have had millions of people infected but no data yet to show that any particular treatment is especially effective, says Professor Babak Javid, the Principal Investigator at Tsinghua University school of medicine in Beijing, and a consultant in infectious diseases at Cambridge University Hospitals.

Nonetheless, here are some of the most likely candidates:

Trumps malaria pill

In mid-March, the American President used Twitter to amplify reports that Covid-19 patients could be successfully treated via a combination of the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine and a common antibiotic, Azithromycin.

In a later press conference, the President insisted that common sense qualified him to make such a claim, urging Americans to take it and asking them: What have you got to lose?

Well, quite a lot, as it turned out. The drugs have a catalogue of nasty side-effects, including an increased risk of cardiac arrest, skin blistering, hearing loss and an inability to move the eyes.

A study this week of 368 male coronavirus patients found that 28 per cent of those treated via hydroxychloroquine alone and 22 per cent who received both drugs (the malaria treatment and azithromycin) in U.S. hospitals died. This compares to a death rate of just 11 per cent for patients who received standard care without either drug.

In mid-March, President Trump used Twitter to amplify reports that Covid-19 patients could be successfully treated via a combination of the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine

The ebola drug

Hope and hype about the drug Remdesivir have set Californian biotech firm Gileads share price soaring in recent weeks.

The medicine, which is administered via a drip, was originally developed to fight the ebola virus and works by interfering with its genetic makeup.

Although other drugs were soon found to be more effective at treating ebola, subsequent tests suggested Remdesivir had some effect on respiratory viruses such as Sars and Mers. It also appears to be relatively safe.

Gilead has so far given Remdesivir to 1,700 coronavirus patients, with dramatic effects reported in some cases. Two major studies, in the U.S. and Europe, are currently underway.

Sadly, a full-scale clinical trial in China, which has been running for longer, found no evidence it improved the fate of hospital patients, according to documents accidentally leaked this week by the World Health Organisation.

Gilead responded that these leaks contained inappropriate characterisations and insisted their findings were inconclusive.

One reason that the Chinese trials outcome was so disappointing could be that Remdesivir is likely to work best if administered early.

With Covid-19, the virus mostly replicates soon after infection, says Professor Javid. If you give the anti-viral later in the course of an illness, when a patient is hospitalised, there is not much virus left for the drug to attack.

Yesterday, the worlds most powerful man used a press conference to propose various highly unorthodox new treatments for coronavirus, including injecting disinfectant into the body and blasting patients with ultraviolet light

Antibody drugs

The golden goose for pharmaceutical firms is to discover a new antibody treatment that can attach to individual particles of coronavirus and stop them wreaking havoc.

Two U.S. drug companies, Amgen and Adaptive, recently announced a partnership to study recovered Covid-19 patients in an effort to identify and manufacture crucial virus-killing antibodies.

Another firm, Regeneron, has been conducting a study using the viruss genetic material in mice. Dozens of other companies are pursuing similar projects.

Although an antibody strategy was used against ebola, most new drugs take more than five years to develop, thanks  among other things  to rigorous testing designed to ensure they do not have dangerous side-effects.

Hope and hype about the drug Remdesivir have set Californian biotech firm Gileads share price soaring in recent weeks

Plasma Therapy

This fashionable, if highly experimental, field involves harvesting blood from people who have recently recovered from coronavirus and donating it to patients who are still suffering from the disease.

Because blood plasma contains antibodies that have learned how to detect and destroy the virus, the theory is that a transfusion will kick-start the recipients ability to fight it.

Its quite easy to harvest plasma from surviving patients, says Professor Javid. It was done even during the Spanish Flu epidemic of 1918-19.

About 600 patients in America have already received this treatment. The NHS is also said to be preparing to carry out an extensive trial in the UK.

However, some experts have pointed out that many Covid-19 victims die because of an overactive immune response to the virus, causing inflammation of lungs and other vital organs. These experts worry that boosting a patients immunity via plasma therapy could actually worsen their condition.

Fake blood

Another problem with plasma therapy is the old-fashioned issue of supply and demand. A limited number of recovered patients are prepared to give blood, and only a finite amount can be taken from them.

However, technology now exists to manufacture synthetic antibodies using the blood of Covid-19 survivors.

Such monoclonal antibodies have become the standard treatment for ebola. Several laboratories have identified monoclonal antibodies that can apparently inhibit coronavirus in test-tubes.

Professor Javid warns, however: No one has yet worked out which of the promising monoclonal antibodies work best for Covid-19, or what might be the best way to use them in combination. This is why they are not in production yet for Covid-19.

Blood plasma contains antibodies that have learned how to detect and destroy the virus, so one theory suggested that a transfusion will kick-start the recipients ability to fight it.

HIV drugs

Contracting HIV was once a virtual death sentence, but after decades of research, its now mostly a highly manageable condition thanks to a raft of well-tolerated drugs.

Indeed, many HIV drugs are now being touted as possible treatments for coronavirus, including Lopinavir and Ritonavir.

These are being trialled on coronavirus patients in studies at the Universities of Oxford and Nebraska.

But so far there is little evidence of them working outside of a laboratory setting.

WHY VACCINE CURE MAY SO FAR AWAY Ultimately, most scientists agree that coronavirus prevention  a vaccine  is better than any treatment or cure. Thats why governments are throwing the proverbial kitchen sink at efforts to create one, with more than 140 projects currently running in parallel all over the world. Everyone expects a vaccine to appear in the end. But much hinges on how quickly that happens. Thats why there was so much excitement this week when it emerged that scientists at Oxford University have already begun to conduct their first human vaccine tests. Other clinical trials in humans are already underway in China. Nevertheless, Professor Chris Whitty, Englands Chief Medical Officer, says the chance of a vaccine becoming available in the next calendar year are incredibly small. Why? Because we can move only as quickly as extreme caution will allow, says inoculation expert Dr Kai Hu of Imperial College. He reports Imperials lab has already created a harmless pseudo-virus that carries a coronavirus protein. But, he stresses: Safety is our number one priority. We dont yet know how toxic the vaccine would be to humans. Given Covid-19s devastating infectiousness, the world will have to keep its fingers crossed that the dash for an effective jab proves a success  rather than inadvertently plunging humanity into further peril. Advertisement

Stem-cell treatment

The so-called master cells that develop into blood, brain, bones and organs have been touted as the basis for cures for cancer, heart disease and arthritis for years.

Little wonder, then, that the pioneering field of stem cell therapy is now being targeted at coronavirus. Among firms exploring this modish area are Mesoblast, whose boffins are testing bone-marrow cells to establish whether they can help patients develop immunity to the virus.

In Wuhan, meanwhile, doctor Dongcheng Wu last month claimed hed treated nine patients by injecting umbilical stem cells. He said they all made a complete recovery within days.

The success has not yet been convincingly replicated, however. Stem cell treatments are often risky, too  when trialled on Parkinsons, they caused brain tumours.

Immune therapy

Around half the patients who die with coronavirus suffer a so-called cytokine storm, in which their immune system goes into overdrive, causing, among other things, acute lung inflammation that stops them from taking on enough oxygen. With this in mind, many products designed to combat inflammation are now being trialled on Covid patients.

They include Tocilizumab, used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, and Dexamethasone, a steroid used against asthma.

The World Health Organisations Solidarity trial is meanwhile testing interferon-beta, which is used to treat multiple sclerosis.

Professor Javid believes immune drugs should be accompanied by effective antiviral treatment: We know from treating flu patients suffering cytokine storms that if you dampen their immune response without also giving them an antiviral drug, it can reduce the patients virus-fighting defences and allow the virus to run wild.

Statins

These are the cholesterol-lowering drugs prescribed to millions at risk of heart disease. Now scientists wonder if statins should be given to patients with severe Covid-19 symptoms, for two reasons.

Harvard University investigators recommend their use because they have anti-inflammatory powers.

Scientists added last month in the journal Drug Development and Research that statins have also shown an ability to moderate the immune system and thus protect patients lungs from cytokine storm damage.

Professor Jon Cohen, emeritus professor of infectious diseases at Brighton and Sussex Medical School, argues that while statins have shown potential in test-tube trials, in living patients they have only really shown benefits for the cardiovascular system.

These are the cholesterol-lowering drugs prescribed to millions at risk of heart disease. Now scientists wonder if statins should be given to patients with severe Covid-19 symptoms, for two reasons

Peptide inhibitors

In normal circumstances viruses develop a key that enables them to pick a cells locks and break in, hijacking the cells machinery to make more copies of the virus. Peptide inhibitors stick to this key, rendering it unable to do its job.

We already know that Covid-19 invades human cells through a protein receptor, ACE2.

The big question, therefore, is: what might block the coronavirus attaching to the ACE2 receptor?

Chemists at Illinois University used high-powered computers to identify the amino-acid chemicals in the ACE2 receptor that the virus targets. They then constructed a drug with amino-acids that should stick to the viruss key, rendering it useless.

But as the scientists acknowledge in journal ACS Nano this month, they have tested their chemical in computer simulations  not in the lab and certainly not on humans. A lot of hurdles lie ahead.
By PTI

WASHINGTON: Trying to wriggle out of the backlash he received for his outlandish suggestions, US President Donald Trump has said that he was being "sarcastic" when he told his medical experts that they should consider using UV light, heat, or injecting disinfectants into the COVID-19 patients as a potential treatment.

Trump faced intense rebuke on Thursday for his far-fetched suggestion from health experts who urged people not to listen to the President's "dangerous" advice.

Doctors and the company that makes Lysol and Dettol warned that injecting or ingesting disinfectants was dangerous.

When Trump was asked about his comments during a bill signing on Friday, he said: "I was asking a question sarcastically to reporters like you just to see what would happen".

"I was asking a sarcastic, and a very sarcastic question to the reporters in the room about disinfectant on the inside," he said.

ALSO READ | White House could alter COVID-19 briefings to limit Trump's role after 'medical advice' draws reactions

Trump suggested he was talking about disinfectants that can safely be rubbed on people's hands.

"But it does kill it, and it would kill it on the hands and that would make things much better. That was done in the form of a sarcastic question to the reporters," The Hill quoted Trump as saying.

When a journalist in the Oval Office pointed out that Trump had turned to experts next to the stage when he first raised the idea on Thursday, the president claimed he was asking those officials "whether or not sun and disinfectant on the hands can help us."

ALSO READ | COVID-19: With 51,017 deaths, US accounts for over one-fourth of global coronavirus fatalities

Trump on Thursday latched on to a presentation from the Department of Homeland Security for Science and Technology Under Secretary Bill Bryan who detailed initial findings that the coronavirus deteriorates more quickly when subjected to higher levels of heat, humidity and ultraviolet rays from the sun.

"So, supposing we hit the body with a tremendous, whether it's ultraviolet or just very powerful light, and I think you said that hasn't been checked but you're going to test it," Trump said.

"And then I said, supposing you brought the light inside of the body, which you can do either through the skin or in some other way. And I think you said you're going to test that too. Sounds interesting," he said.

ALSO READ | COVID-19 situation can get 'substantially back to normal' by September in New York, says Mayor

Trump also asked if there was a way to use disinfectants on the body "by injection inside or almost a cleaning."

Asked later if it was irresponsible to give Americans the impression that going outside amid the pandemic would be safe based on the findings, Trump turned to Deborah Birx, a physician coordinating the White House response to the pandemic, and inquired about using the light and heat as a treatment.

"Deborah, have you ever heard of that? The heat and the light, relative to certain viruses, yes, but relative to this virus?" "Not as a treatment. I mean, certainly when you have a fever, it helps your body respond. But not as I've not seen heat or light," Birx replied.

"I think it's a great thing to look at," Trump said.

The president's remarks were widely and quickly panned by medical experts, elected officials and private companies who warned Americans not to ingest chemicals.

Former Food and Drug Administration head Scott Gottlieb said there was "no circumstance" in which an individual should inject themselves with a disinfectant.

The company that makes Lysol also warned on Friday against ingesting its products.

The White House sought to pin the backlash on the media, issuing a statement that accused the press of taking Trump's remarks out of context.

"President Trump has repeatedly said that Americans should consult with medical doctors regarding coronavirus treatment, a point that he emphasised again during yesterday's briefing," press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said.

The US has reported over 890,524 COVID-19 cases and over 51,000 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University data.
by Sumon Corraya

The lessons are organized on Facebook. Social confinement measures and economic blockade in the country. The local Catholic Church runs 1,000 schools, 17 colleges and a university. Catholics set up a fund to support the fight against coronavirus.

Dhaka (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Some Catholic schools have launched online courses to help students during the pandemic crisis. Among these, St. Gregory's High School & College in Dhaka organizes lessons on Facebook. The teachers tell AsiaNews that the students are posting enthusiastic comments about the experiment. Satisfaction was also expressed by their parents and the school principal, Placid Gomes.

To curb the spread of the coronavirus, the government has imposed social confinement measures, with many people unable to work. According to the World Health Organization, there are 4186 cases of contagion and 127 deaths in the country.

Jyoti F. Gomes, secretary of the Bangladesh Catholic Education Board Trust, points out that the local Catholic Church runs 1000 schools, 17 colleges and a university. 80% of the students who attend these institutes are not Christians.

Gomes teaches at St. Joseph Higher Secondary School and is convinced that social media can be of great help to teachers in this time of crisis: The pandemic could last long and online lessons allow us to move forward with the school curriculum , while respecting the social distancing required by the authorities ".

Catholic educational institutions are also ready to provide economic aid to the country. The archbishop of Dhaka, Card. Patrick D'Rozario, has announced that a fund will be created to support the fight against the coronavirus. The resources will be collected by Catholic schools and lenders, and delivered to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
The Mohali district administration has launched a helpline number for those studying or working abroad and wanting to return home amid the Covid-19 outbreak.

The Punjab government has sought information as to whether residents of the district working or studying overseas wish to return to India. All such persons can contact the district administration with relevant details, said Mohali deputy commissioner Girish Dayalan.

He said that such people need to upload details on the Google form on the link:

https://forms.gle/LwRaHE8BN6tk972b6

They can also email their details, such as name, phone number, current address, passport number, email id, number of people wishing to return to India (family members) and nearest airport in Punjab, to dwosas@gmail.com

Apart from this, they can also call on 0172-2219505 and 2219506 for registration of information. The details are to be forwarded latest by April 29, 2020.
The Press Club of India on Friday deplored the action against three journalists by law enforcement authorities in Jammu and Kashmir, saying it appeared designed to intimidate the media.

In a statement, the press club said events of the past week underline the fact that the new norm in Kashmir is for the police to call journalists to police stations in connection with their published reports, photographs, or their social media posts, and to file FIRs against journalists.

A case under the draconian Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act has been filed against a young photo-journalist, while the correspondent of a prominent national daily has had a case registered against him for reporting that the police buried bodies of two men killed in an encounter when the family of at least one of them was ready to identify the alleged terrorist, it said.

Another journalist is being sought to be prosecuted for his social media output where he questioned current methods against the media, the statement said, without naming the three journalists -- Masarat Zahra, The Hindu reporter Peerzada Ashiq and freelance journalist Gowhar Geelani.

"In light of this background, the events of the past week appear designed to intimidate the media. Perhaps the effort is to convert the entire media into official media through arm-twisting, or to render them into a silent media," the press club alleged.

"We deplore this trend. We demand that the criminal cases registered against journalists be withdrawn right away," the statement signed by press club president Anand Sahay said.
Lesotho prime minister rejects retirement offer amid scandal over ex-wife's murder

By VOA News April 24, 2020

Lesotho Prime Minister Thomas Thabane is rejecting an offer of an immediate, dignified retirement, telling the Lesotho Times he will not be told when to leave office.

The 80-year-old leader has been under pressure to step down after being linked to the murder of his ex-wife, 58-year-old Lipolelo Thabane, three years ago.

Lesotho's coalition government and South African mediators released a joint statement on Monday, saying Thabane's departure should be graceful and that he should get what the statement described as a secure retirement.

It's unclear if that means Thabane would no longer face legal consequences for his alleged ties to his estranged wife's murder.

The prime minister's current wife, Maesaiah Thabane, has been charged in connection with the shooting death of Lipolelo, two days before Thabane's inauguration in 2017.

Thabane has previously promised to leave office at the end of July, but the independent newspaper on Thursday quoted the prime minister as saying he wanted to complete some unspecified plans already in place before leaving office.

Thabane has also been criticized for calling up troops last weekend, following his claim that some leaders in law enforcement were seeking to undermine democracy in the small country surrounded by South Africa.

Observers believe the troop deployment to the capital, Maserua, was a last-ditch effort by Thabane to remain in power. A day before he called up the troops, his authority took another hit when the constitutional court ruled against his decision to suspend parliament.

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Major e-commerce platforms in China recently strengthened their promotion of specialties and food, such as crayfish and hot noodles with sesame paste, in Hubei province, the former epicenter of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) disease, as part of the efforts to promote the economic recovery of the province.

An e-commerce company livestreams how the fruits are packed in Zigui, Hubei province. (Photo/Xinhua)

On Taobao, an online Chinese shopping website, after entering a few key words consumers can be directed into a special zone to help Hubei farmers, where there are over 20,000 types of local agricultural products. Taobao announced that it will hold more than 100 promotional activities for Hubei agricultural goods between April and June.

Live streaming has also been fully utilized to boost sales of agricultural products in the province, along with the help of news anchors, Internet celebrities, mayors and county magistrates in Hubei offering their endorsement of local goods.

Douyin, Chinas popular short-video platform and app, plans to carry out 13 live streaming activities to stimulate the sales of local agricultural products, food, and consumer goods in Hubei.

"In the past 70 days, more than 18 million people have posted videos to cheer for Hubei and Wuhan on Douyin. Now, we hope to take more practical actions to do something for the optimistic, positive and brave people of Hubei and help accelerate the economic recovery of Hubei, " said Zhang Nan, chief executive of Douyin.

Data shows as of April 17, major e-commerce platforms sold a total of 796,000 tons of agricultural products in Hubei province and facilitated 12.8 million online transactions.

"Alibaba is willing to give full play to its advantages in digital technology and commerce, integrating the capabilities of the whole platform to help Wuhan (capital of Hubei) in epidemic prevention and control, economic recovery and enterprise services, and promote the overall recovery of consumption, manufacturing, domestic and foreign trade as soon as possible," said Zhang Yong , chairman and CEO of Alibaba Group, Chinese multinational technology company.
TORONTO - Canadian police say the countrys worst mass shooting started with the gunman assaulting his girlfriend, who survived the attack.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police Supt. Darren Campbell says that the weekend shooting rampage started with an assault by the suspect on his girlfriend and ended with 22 people dead in communities across central and northern Nova Scotia.

RELATED: Canada's worst mass shooting leaves at least 18 dead

The girlfriend escaped from the gunman and hid overnight in the woods before emerging and becoming a key witness.

Mass shootings are relatively rare in Canada. The country overhauled gun control laws after a man shot 14 women and himself to death at a Montreal college in 1989.
Volunteers and activists work to diffuse spread of fake information, false remedies as Kenya steps up pandemic battle.

Nairobi, Kenya  Maureen Akinyi has experienced a lot in her seven years as a front-line volunteer for Kenya Red Cross  but nothing like this.

Its different [now] because Im scared. Personally, it is also difficult, she said.

Still, the health crisis unleashed by the coronavirus pandemic is not stopping Akinyi.

As one of Kenya Red Crosss 160,000 country-wide volunteers, she has been setting out onto the streets of Nairobi to provide critical information about COVID-19, the highly infectious respiratory disease caused by the new coronavirus.

In the centre of the Kenyan capital, she walks through streets lined with shops and open-air markets, demonstrating hand-washing and explaining physical distancing.

A colleague translates her health messages through sign-language for those who are deaf.

I love giving back to the community. Financially I cannot, but I can give my services, Akinyi said.





The 33-year-old has a small clothes shop but as a volunteer, she spares whatever time she can during the week to give back to the community.

She speaks to tuk-tuk drivers, homeless children, shoe-shiners and other informal workers who say staying home, as encouraged by the government as part of coronavirus containment measures, is not an option.

One of them is Jeff Okembo, a motorbike driver, who used to make $30 a day driving commuters around town. Now he makes $5.

I fear, but I love my job because this helps me survive, said Okembo, who has hand sanitiser strapped to his motorbike for himself and customers.

For now, I dont have another option, he added. We pray for this to be over so we can continue with normal life. Things are very tough.

As of Saturday, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University, Kenya had registered 336 coronavirus cases, 14 deaths and 94 recoveries. The government has rolled out a series of drastic measures to slow the spread of the disease, including suspending travel in and out of the country, banning religious and social gatherings and imposing a nationwide curfew between 7pm and 5am which, at times, has been enforced violently by the police.

A member of Kenya Red Cross talks to motorbike drivers in Nairobi [Georgina Smith/Al Jazeera]

As Kenya steps up its fight against the pandemic, misinformation is also spreading fast. This time around, the work of people like Akinyi also involves convincing people that the virus is real.

I dont think people have realised the disease is here, said Dorothy Anjuri, who coordinates Kenya Red Crosss psychosocial response.

We have people in the informal settlement thinking this disease is not for people in Kenya.

Anjuri noted the focus was now on driving facts home and providing support amid the psychological fallout of the pandemic.

Experts say fear drives misinformation, with people finding comfort in believing the virus only affects others.

Claims that the virus only belongs to the rich; that Black people cannot get it; or that drinking alcohol can protect against it  they all need to be combatted as they emerge, explained Anjuri, alongside the usual health messages on the importance of hand-washing and physical distancing.

A member of Kenya Red Cross informs tuk-tuk drivers about the coronavirus in the central business district of Nairobi [Georgina Smith/Al Jazeera]

Stamping out misinformation is critical to keeping infections low and avoiding overwhelming an already fragile healthcare system.

But false information circulating on social media does not help.

Nelson Kwaje, leading a digital team at #Defyhatenow, an organisation tackling online hate speech and now diffusing COVID-19 misinformation, called out false remedies such as boiling onions with lemon or taking tea without sugar.

There is also misinformation related to government directives and public announcements. This could be as simple as people not understanding it, or misinterpretation of the directive, said Kwaje, citing those who confused drinking alcohol, which does not protect against the virus, with using alcohol-based hand sanitiser, some types of which could be an alternative to hand-washing with soap and water.

We are very careful not to use our platform to give misinformation more views, said Kwaje.

We want to fact check information that is harmful, but were also training users online to detect misinformation and be critical thinkers and question things.

For many in informal settlements, where healthcare and clean water are scarce and costly, facts about coronavirus are still desperately needed.

Faith Atieno, founder of Art 360 Gallery in the sprawling Kibera slum, said her group decided to make murals to raise awareness.

This gave us the opportunity to do something in our community, so that they can take this issue of coronavirus seriously, and make Kibera a corona[virus]-free community, she said.

The group is looking for materials and donations to continue their awareness-raising efforts.

Jump in gender-based violence

Stigma is growing, too, with those released from quarantine often shunned by their communities.

Meanwhile, free counselling hotlines have registered an uptick in fear and anxiety around finances, resentment about quarantine and movement restrictions, as well as about the dusk-to-dawn curfew.

Alberta Wambua, executive director at the Gender Violence Recovery Centre (GVRC), a charitable trust of the Nairobi Womens Hospital, said they registered 363 new gender-based violence cases in March, up from 290 in January.

This is really huge for us  these are the numbers we would see during an electoral period or where there is a certain crisis, said Wambua.

And you can imagine that this is the start of the COVID-19 situation, so it might get worse.

Among issues raised on the GVRC hotlines are intimate partner violence due to economic stress  partners who have lost jobs and are unable to provide for their families  and anxious women unable to attend support groups or to go out and work with children at home.

We doubt that all survivors have been able to access medical treatment, said Wambua.

For intimate partner violence, the alleged perpetrator would be within the house, so maybe survivors are not able to leave the home setting.

A woman sells hand sanitizers in Nairobi [Georgina Smith/Al Jazeera]

And then there are the challenges surrounding follow-up medical treatment.

Survivors are scared. There are fears and misinformation around coming to the hospital, said Wambua, with survivors worried about catching COVID-19 more unlikely to go to hospital or report incidents to the police.

We were talking about taking services to women and girls where they are, but of course with our kind of GBV [Gender-Based Violence] services, thats also a problem because there is stigma and discrimination around it, she said.

Back in the streets of Nairobi, Akinyi keeps winding her way through market places and bus stops in the citys central business district.

For those who can stay at home, well and good. For those who cannot stay at home, let us do the right thing, she said, urging everyone to take the right preventive measures, in the hope that that will be enough.

For free counselling COVID-19 services in Kenya call 719. For free gender-based violence and child support contact 116 or 1195.
CLIFTON HEIGHTS  Happy Birthday, Wilson!

Clifton firefighters cranked it out loud and clear for Life Member Nathaniel Wilson on his 87th birthday Friday evening. As neighbors waved from their lawns, a parade of fire trucks with sirens wailing made their way down South Church Road to Wilsons home to honor his 50 years as a firefighter serving the community.

Firefighters stood out on the street and sang to Wilson, who stood in his yard with his family and enjoyed the moment.

While no longer active, Wilson still regularly visits the fire house for lunch and to spend time with the crew, said Clifton Fire Co. spokesman Jim Kneass. This is the crews way of thanking him and recognizing him for his many years of service.

He is a stand-up guy, said firefighter Billy Ramey. Nicest guy youll ever meet in your life.

One of nine children, Wilson was born in Ireland and emigrated to America in 1957 where he married the love of his life, Margaretta Peg Scott. Wilson went to work building ships for the New York Shipbuilding Corp. in Camden, where he helped build the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk. The couple have a daughter, three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Through it all, Wilson became a steadfast member of the fire company, serving as a board member and chief engineer. Over the years, he helped battled numerous fires, including both Clifton Heights school fires.

At most fires he could be found driving the pumper. Hes driven every and repaired every truck the company has had including their antique 1948 Mack pumper. His favorite is the stations 2018 Peirce pumper.

In 2018, Wilson was honored by the Borough of Clifton Heights as the grand marshal of the 4th of July Parade.

The firefighters were hoping to surprise him, but to their surprise Wilson is on Facebook, where saw the post and was ready for the fun.

All of this has made his day, said his daughter Ellen Watts.
Christian leaders demand access to COVID-19 relief loans for business owners with criminal record

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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.
Former US Officials Call On Trump 'To Double Down On Maximum Pressure' On Iran

Radio Farda April 24, 2020

In an open letter to Donald Trump on Wednesday, 51 former U.S. officials and Iran experts called on the President of the United States to increase pressure on Iran.

"Now is the time 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," the signatories of the open letter said, in view of "reports that Tehran continues to plot attacks targeting U.S. forces".

While the maximum pressure campaign has seriously weakened the Islamic Republic's ability to "generate revenue to support its malign activities", Iran is still able to draw on billions of escrowed oil dollars to fund humanitarian imports, the letter said adding that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has billions of dollars of money "stolen from the Iranian people" in his business empire that he can use on such activities.

Referring to the coronavirus crisis the signatories of the letter said the scale of the crisis in Iran has nothing to do with U.S. sanctions and attributed it to the "regime's mendacity in addressing the pandemic" and rejecting multiple offers of assistance from the U.S. government.

Iran was the second country in the world with a major coronavirus epidemic. Since February 19 when the two first deaths from COVID-19 were officially announced thousands have died.

Tensions have been particularly high between Iran and the United States since Iran's satellite launch on April 24 and the recent moves of the Revolutionary Guard in the Persian Gulf. Iranian military officials are vehement Iran will continue launching more satellites. The Guards Commander General Hossein Salami on April 22 said the launch of the satellite makes Iran a world power.

In a tweet on April 23 the U.S. National Security Council also said "No one should feel sorry for the [Iranian] regime. Iran cannot be allowed to develop intercontinental ballistic missiles".

Iran insists that its nuclear and satellite launch programs are peaceful.

Source: https://en.radiofarda.com/a/former-us- officials-call-on-trump-to-double-down-on-maximum- pressure-on-iran/30574109.html

Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Jaipur, April 25 : Thirty-four members of a Ludhiana-based family, who are stranded in Ajmer since the last one month following the clamping of the nationwide lockdown to fight the Covid-19 pandemic, have seen it all -- poverty, hunger, domestic violence, communal harmony, philanthropy and brotherhood.

Stuck inside the hall of a hotel in the holy city of Rajasthan, all they want now is to return to their homes in Ludhiana.

Fed up of the daily blues, this family is now pleading the state government to permit them to go back to their native place at the earliest.

"Irrespective of caste and creed, we have seen help pouring in from all quarters during this lockdown period. But now we just want to go home," said Sanju, one of the members of the family.

"Our group comprises 10 women, an equal number of men and 14 kids. We came to the Ajmer Sharif Dargah for the first time to offer prayers on March 21. Our return tickets were booked for March 24; however, all trains got cancelled in the wake of the lockdown. We arranged for money by requesting our family members in Ludhiana to deposit some amount in our accounts.

"But now, that money too has been exhausted. Hotel JC Palace has provided us free lodging while the Chishti Foundation has been providing us food thrice a day free of cost. We are thankful to them for all their help. But now we want to go back. It's been over a month now. We have kids, two infants and 12 children ranging from 3 years to 12 years, who are finding it tough to eat rice every day," Sanju told IANS.

Narrating her tale of misery, Sanju's aunt Manto Devi said, "My husband, whom I had forced to come with me, has assaulted me several times, blaming me for bringing him here. I had requested him to come along to offer prayers; however, now each day I am being subjected to his abuses. Our kids are refusing to eat what is being served to them. There is complete chaos here. We are staying in a hall here, and depression, anxiety and loneliness are killing us as no one knows for how long we will have to stay here." Sanju said, "We have now requested donors to give us ration kit and have started cooking in the same hall as a stove has been arranged by the philanthropists. However, it's equally dangerous for all of us to stay here in one hall, cook and sleep at the same place. Also, the ever increasing number of Covid-19 patients is also giving us sleepless nights." Ajmer has crossed the 100-patient mark, reporting 114 Covid-19 cases so far. Eight new cases were reported on Saturday.

"I request Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot to look into the issue," Sanju said, adding that the family had come to pray for boosting their business avenues in the long run, but is stuck in the wake of this unseen calamity.

Meanwhile, Syed Salman Chishty, hereditary custodian, Ajmer Sharif Dargah, and Chairman, Chishty Foundation, made a humble appeal to Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot and the CMO to coordinate the return of the pilgrims staying at different hotels and guest houses around the Dargah.

Speaking to IANS, he said around 4,000 people from different parts of the country are stuck in Ajmer. They had come here for 'ziyarat', but have been stranded following the snapping of transportation facilities.

"Although the Dargah Committee, among others, has been supplying basic food and other essentials to the pilgrims since March 20, the pilgrims now want to go home more than anything else. We request to the Chief Minister and the CMO to make the necessary arrangements for their return as soon as possible, in compliance with the Central government guidelines. We look forward to hear from the officials soon," said Syed Salman Chishty.
Michael Avenatti, the celebrity attorney whose clients include adult film star Stormy Daniels, has been released from a New York jail as he begins a temporary reprieve from detention because of CCP virus pandemic fears. (CNN Photo)

Michael Avenatti Released From Jail Due to COVID-19 Fears

Michael Avenatti, the celebrity attorney whose clients include adult film star Stormy Daniels, has been released from a New York jail to begin a reprieve from detention because of CCP virus pandemic fears.

Avenatti was released from the Metropolitan Correctional Center (MCC) in Manhattan around 11 a.m. ET, according to Dean Steward, one of his attorneys.

Avenatti is required to surrender to authorities and return to the jail at the end of 90 days; Judge James Selna ruled earlier this month when he granted the attorneys request for release.

Were really gratified that the judge took the action that he did. He recognized the seriousness of the situation. Unfortunately, there are a lot of courts across the country that have not. Were fortunate, Steward told CNN.

Avenatti has been held in quarantine for the past two weeks at the jail to ensure he doesnt have signs of the virus.

According to the judges order, an attorney will escort Avenatti on a flight to California, where he will serve the 90 days of home confinement at his friends house in Venice, California.

Avenatti is a frequent user of Twitter, but will not be allowed to use the internet, and he will be required to wear a monitoring bracelet.

The temporary release came after Avenattis lawyers said he was at risk for contracting CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus commonly known as coronavirus because he had pneumonia last year. Currently, one inmate and 31 staff members have tested positive for the virus at MCC, according to the Bureau of Prisons.

Avenatti has been held at MCC since January when Selna revoked his bail, finding that Avenatti engaged in suspicious financial transactions.

Avenatti was convicted earlier this year of attempting to extort over $20 million from Nike. He has been charged in two separate indictments with embezzling $300,000 from Daniels, who alleged an affair with Donald Trump, and with tax fraud and stealing several million dollars from other clients. Avenatti has pleaded not guilty to those charges. Trump has denied the affair.

Avenatti is due to be sentenced on the extortion charges in June. His lawyers have asked the judge for a new trial.

The CNN wire and Epoch Times staff contributed to this report
Black Indianapolis public opinion matters.

My sometimes political sparring partner, Abdul Hakim Shabazz of Indy Politics, recently conducted some public opinion polling.

IndyPolitics polls predicted the spread for the Indianapolis mayoral election last fall as well as Sen. Michael Brauns win over Joe Donnelly. He partnered with Change Research who also predicted that now Mayor Lori Lightfoot would win the Chicago mayoral race.

While we disagree politically, data is always interesting especially when you can get a sense of where Black people are in the COVID-19 era.

The IndyPolitics/Change Research poll was conducted April 10-13 and was a statewide poll of 1,021 Hoosier likely voters, with a margin of error of 3.1%.

Black Hoosiers make up 9.8% of Indiana and the Black respondents made up 9% of the respondents.

As you might expect Joe Biden is the Black communitys candidate with 78% of poll respondents suggesting they would vote for him if the election were held today. Bidens favorability is around a healthy 76%.

Black people polled werent really looking at a third-party option either, with only 4% of Black Hoosiers considering voting for another candidate.

Vice President Mike Pence was viewed unfavorably by Black Hoosiers with an unfavorable rating of 69%. Only the president had higher unfavorability at 88  no surprises there.

Numbers surrounding the presumptive Democratic nominee for governor, Dr. Woody Myers, were alarming.

Myers may be the first Black man to become the Democratic Party nominee for governor in Indiana later next month. He made national news in the 1980s as Indianas Health Commissioner by helping the country understanding HIV/AIDS.

Black people are supporting Myers at 48% but there are a lot of Black undecided voters in the gubernatorial race. Myers will need to get out in the community to strengthen his name ID.

Ive been following his campaign. Hes called for aggressive response to COVID-19 in part because he anticipated what we already knew  Black people would be hit hard by the virus.

A slim majority of Black Indianapolis believe their city or neighborhood is going in the wrong direction but that was well inside the margin of error. But both city-county government and schools received high favorability marks from Black Indianapolis, 71%/13% and 74%/15% respectively.

Black Hoosiers across the state are definitely concerned about COVID-19 and those polled are taking it seriously.

Black Hoosiers were more concerned about dying from COVID-19 than the general population, 67% versus 90%.

We also were more concerned about the possibility that we would know someone who contracted the disease 89% versus 75% for the general population.

Black Hoosiers are concerned about the possibility of other people dying around them and more so than the general population.

When asked How serious are your concerns about someone you know dying from COVID-19? 90% of Black Hoosiers expressed serious concern about this prospect versus 74% of the general population.

Black Hoosiers were more supportive of stay-at-home orders in the poll with 81% of the general population expressing support versus 91% of Black Hoosiers.

When it came to school closings, 91% of Black Hoosiers supported the policy versus 88% of the general population.

In this poll, 90% of Black Hoosiers supported policies that prohibit foreclosures and eviction proceedings. In addition, 77% of Black respondents were more likely to support voting by mail.

There also seemed to be support for remote learning and even virtual schools due to COVID-19.

Black Hoosiers opinions matter.

What Im hearing 

Dr. Virginia Caine and Marion County Sheriff Kerry Forestall have done a masterful job of proactively protecting the Marion County jail population, the states prisons seem to be losing control of COVID-19 in some of their facilities.

Indiana Department of Corrections reported last week that 221 inmates and 83 employees have tested positive for COVID-19.

Westville Correctional Facility reported 123 positive infections and one death related to COVID 19. Plainfield has reported 47 cases and two deaths at its facility.

While the majority of the 21 IDOC facilities have not reported any positive COVID-19 infections among the prison population or staff, it seems like it is only a matter of time.

Locally, Rev. Mmoja Ajabu and the Economic Freedom Fighters of Indiana have been advocating on this issue as have Faith in Indiana and the ACLU of Indiana.

While again, Black Hoosiers make up only 9.8% of the state, Black people represent 32.3% of the over 27,000 inmates in adult correctional facilities and 33.3% of the 350 juveniles in facilities under IDOC.

When someone pays their debt to society that should be it. IDOC has a responsibility to care for future returning citizens serving time.

Finally, DuJuan McCoy and IPS Superintendent Aleesia Johnson showed us what happens when a community-minded owner of a television station gets together with a superintendent fighting for her kids.

Locally, an unprecedented partnership between IPS and MyIndy-TV 23 will allow IPS students in K-8 graders to see broadcasts of academic lessons.

This collaboration is a beautiful example of powerful Black folks using their power to do powerful things.

See you next week 

Marshawn Wolley is a lecturer, commentator, business owner and civic entrepreneur. Contact him at marshawnwolley@gmail.com.
Rio de Janeiro: Sergio Moro, Brazil's justice and security minister, resigned on Friday after clashing with President Jair Bolsonaro over the sacking of the federal police chief.

Moro, a former anti-corruption judge, hit out at "political interference" with the federal police, saying he could not do his job without "autonomy" for the force.

The news sparked jitters in the markets with Sao Paulo's stock exchange, the largest in Latin America, plunging more than eight percent and the real dropping to a record low of 5.7 against the US dollar.

"I'm going to start packing up my things and send my resignation letter," said Moro, 47, during a long speech in the capital Brasilia in which he accused the far-right Bolsonaro of "breaking the promise of a carte blanche."

Bolsonaro hit back at Moro, accusing him of being motivated by "ego" and making "unfounded accusations."

The president claimed that he had told several lawmakers before Moro announced his resignation: "Today you will see a person who is committed to himself, to his ego, but not to Brazil."

'Personal Contact'

Moro's resignation came after Bolsonaro sacked federal police chief Mauricio Valeixo, a close Moro ally.

"The change at the head of the federal police without a genuine reason is political interference that harms my credibility and that of the government," said Moro.

Moro said Bolsonaro had told him he was replacing Valeixo because he wanted someone with whom he had "personal contact, whom he could call, ask for information, intelligence reports."

"Providing this type of information is not the job of the federal police," he added, insisting the independence of investigations needs to be preserved.

Moro revealed that Bolsonaro had said one of the reasons he wanted to replace Valeixo was that he was "worried" about some ongoing investigations.

Bolsonaro's decision to sack Valeixo against Moro's advice was "a signal that the president wanted me out," said Moro.

The president claimed Moro had agreed to Valeixo's replacement in exchange for a place on the Supreme Court.

But Moro hit back, saying his ally's position "was never used as currency in exchange for me being named to" the top court.

Sylvio Costa, founder of political website Congresso em Foco, said the president's move was about self-preservation.

"Bolsonaro wants to protect himself. It's the federal police that's investigating various suspected crimes haunting the president, his family and allies," said Costa.

'Politicization'

Moro made his name as a judge in leading the high-profile Car Wash corruption investigation that notably saw former leftist president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva jailed for accepting a bribe.

He began investigating leading political figures under a left-wing government in 2014 but said even then he'd never before faced such political interference.

Analysts say Moro's departure crowns a "politicization" process of governmental organs battling corruption despite Bolsonaro insisting during his 2018 election campaign that he would provide transparency and honesty.

"Since he assumed the government (in January 2019), Bolsonaro has tried to intervene in a series of anti-corruption organizations with the aim of increasing his control over future investigations," said Thomaz Favaro, an analyst for Control Risks consultancy.

Favaro pointed to Bolsonaro's choice of Augusto Aras as attorney general, despite him not appearing on a list put together by Brazilian public prosecutors.

Picking from that list was a tradition that had been respected since at least 2003.

"Moro's resignation is a seismic event in Brazilian politics," said Ilona Szabo, executive director of the investigative Igarape Institute.

"His departure signals a dangerous new phase for Brazil. It amounts to a 'coup' against democracy because the autonomy of the federal police (and rule of law) is an essential foundation for democratic governance."

Last week, Bolsonaro fired his health minister, Luiz Henrique Mandetta, who supported isolation as a tool to contain the spread of the new coronavirus. Bolsonaro has repeatedly downplayed the danger of Covid-19.

"Mandetta's vision was that of health, of life. Mine is more than life, it includes the economy and jobs," Bolsonaro said at the time.
Two prominent lawyers and pro-democracy activists on Saturday raised concerns about remarks by a Hong Kong judge who expressed sympathy for a tour guide he jailed for stabbing three people at a popular site for anti-government messages.

But other legal experts said it was hard to argue there was any bias in the sentence handed down, even though District Judge Kwok Wai-kins comments might not have been necessary.

The judge on Friday jailed Tony Hung Chun, 51, for 45 months for stabbing a newspaper reporter and two others with a beef knife inside a pedestrian tunnel  used by anti-government protesters as a so-called Lennon Wall to post messages of support  in Tseung Kwan O in August last year.

Tony Hung attacked three people last August. Photo: K.Y. Cheng

Hung, who pleaded guilty to three counts of wounding with intent, had been out of work for about two months and said his emotions were affected by the protests, which had broken out in June.

That was accepted by the judge, who described Hung as an involuntary sacrifice and a bloodstained victim hanging by his last breath amid the social unrest.

Mass protests erupted over a now-withdrawn extradition bill, which would have allowed the transfer of fugitives to jurisdictions with which Hong Kong lacks an agreement, such as mainland China, Taiwan and Macau. The protests later evolved into a wider anti-government movement.

Kwok also said black-clad protesters had ganged up like a terrorist army and changed Hong Kong with extremist acts reminiscent of the Cultural Revolution in mainland China.

District Judge Kwok Wai-kin. Photo: Handout

Two leading lawyers questioned whether the judges comments had gone too far.

Any judicial comment should not be perceived as partial. It was an unwise remark that should never have been made, criminal law heavyweight Lawrence Lok Ying-kam said.

Former Bar Association chairwoman Audrey Eu Yuet-mee said the judges remarks may not have followed the long-standing principle of political neutrality, assuming media reports had not taken his words out of context.

Story continues

A man seriously wounded and attacked another citizen, which was almost life-threatening, Eu said. But then [the judge] said the attacker had a motive that was praiseworthy or laudable  youre not being politically neutral, but taking into account his political stance.

If the reports are accurate, it will definitely affect respect for the judiciary and judicial independence, thats contrary to what the chief justice said.

Audrey Eu said respect for the judiciary could be affected. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Chief Justice Geoffrey Ma Tao-li has repeatedly stressed that judges only consider cases according to the evidence and the law, and politics and popular sentiment play no role in proceedings.

Kwok himself once said politics played no role in sentencing.

Two years ago he sentenced 10 people charged with rioting in Mong Kok in 2016. The courts will not get involved in political debate, nor to judge on right or wrong in political ideals, as that is not the role of the courts, he said at the time.

Criminal lawyer Stephen Hung Wan-shun said while the remarks might appear unnecessary, it was hard to argue there was any bias in the sentencing.

The remarks may be going too far or even far from necessary, but one cant stop the judge from saying anything, Hung said.

Former director of public prosecutions Grenville Cross agreed that there was nothing to stop a judge from commenting on a general situation.

A judge is always entitled to assess a situation in overall terms to provide context for any particular sentencing decision. Although the judge expressed some sympathy for the defendant  he does not appear to have given him any particular discount on that account, Cross said.

Cross, an expert in sentencing, said the three year, nine month jail term handed down was about right, considering six years as a starting point and the defendant admitting to the crime.

Chief Justice Geoffrey Ma has repeatedly said judges only considered cases according to the evidence and the law. Photo: Sam Tsang

Pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong Chi-fung said he would consider filing a complaint with the judiciary, since he felt Kwok was making a political commentary. Similar criticisms circulated on online forums and urged internet users to lodge complaints against Kwok.

Its not about the ruling, but what he said in the judgment has really gone too far, Wong said.

Legal scholar Simon Young of the University of Hong Kong said the judiciarys Guide to Judicial Conduct was unclear on whether judges could express their views before the court if they were unnecessary for the case but, in general, the principle of independence and impartiality would strongly advise against it.

[Unnecessary comments] could generate an issue of apparent bias for the judge in a future case, he said.

Young added that given the current political climate, judges might need to be a little more monastic when it came to politically charged cases.

The judiciary declined to comment on individual cases, saying the matter may be subject to appeal.

This article Concerns raised over remarks by Hong Kong judge who expressed sympathy for man he jailed for stabbing three people at protesters Lennon Wall first appeared on South China Morning Post

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Bob Fu is sometimes affectionately called the pastor of Chinas underground railroad. Hes the founder and president of ChinaAid, an international human rights organization dedicated to exposing religious persecution by the Communist Party in China and to promoting religious freedom for all in that country. He is also this years William Wilberforce Award winner.

He recently talked with Shane Morris about his life and his work, as well as some counsel for American Christians. Below is an excerpt from that conversation. You can go to the full talk by clicking here.

Towards the end of their time, Shane asked:

What do you think we as American Christians can learn from this kind of persecution? How is it that we can imitate that faithfulness in a place where we, thank God, have the freedoms we do?

After living in the U.S. for the past 20+ years, I often think about this question, what is the fundamental difference, right? And what could we really learn how the Lord works in the persecuted areas versus in the freedom? I think I felt the key is back to the fundamental, its the lordship of Christ. Do we really, really, really trust and believe that the Lord is over our life? And every day, every time, everywhere instead of the Sunday, certain time, or, you know, to a group of people. Are we too intimidated by the culture, by the secularism, by the kind of a pressure?

I remember once a group of American Christian business leaders visited China and met with a group of Chinese businessman. Other Chinese brother and sisters shared how the gospel is being spread, when they share the message of the gospel in their workplace, and the American Christian businessman said, No, we cant do that in the US. We could be sued by the ACLU.

The Chinese Christian business reply was, So what? I think that answer, the so what, we really, I think, need to kind of meditate on. Are we so intimidated by the culture, by the privatization of faith, by being accused of being right wing or all kinds of labels, or narrow minded? And then, we retreat from the public square, we retreat our faith, and from, instead of really as Paul said, We in season, out of season, we pray to the gospel and woe to me, if I stopped that?

And are we really more fearful of the Lord than fearful of atheistic, secular culture, the pressure, the political moment? I think that is a tragedy. I think in the free world like America, I think we need to really, holistically, continuously, restore back to the spirit of the Early Church.

So, the experience in the persecuted church is really nothing new. It is essentially written in Pauls prison letters and reflected in the history of the persecuted church from the Early Church through the Church under persecution in the Roman Empire to the ages. And to, now, of course, its not a unique Chinese church experience. Its happening to the churches in North Korea. Its happening to the churches in Iran, under the extremism, militant Islamic kind of a dictatorship. So it happens in Nigeria.

And so, I think this not just the one unique experience, one country. So, I feel if we get back to the original, to honor the lordship of Christ, not only in a church building, not only on a religious occasion, that he is the Lord all the time. As our hero. Abraham Kuyper famously said, Not a single inch of the Gods creation, that the Lord would not declare mine. So if we declare the sovereign lordship of Christ everywhere in our life, things in our church in the West will be quite different.

This piece was originally published at BreakPoint
A Sub-Inspector (SI) died here after he was allegedly hit by a bullet fired from his colleagues pistol, police said.

SSP Santosh Kumar Singh said that Sub-Inspector Bijendra Singh, who was deployed at BB Nagar police station, was hit by the bullet in his stomach and later succumbed to his injuries.

Sub-Inspector Bijendra Singh was living in the police quarter. Sub-Inspector Narendra Singh went to his room. A bullet was fired from Narendras pistol. Bijendra got bullet injuries in his stomach, Singh told ANI.

Narendra along with another cop took Bijendra to a hospital. Later, he told his colleagues that he is going to take some money from the police station. Later, Bijendra passed away at a hospital. We traced Narendra Singh from on Hapur-Ghaziabad route, he said.

Police said that Sub-Inspector Narendra has been arrested. Further action will be taken based on the evidence.

Narendra has been arrested. Action will be taken based on the evidence. Narendra Singh has said the bullet was fired accidentally, said Singh.
Brasilia, April 25 : Brazil's top public prosecutor has requested clearance to investigate allegations of political interference by President Jair Bolsonaro, the media reported on Saturday.

It comes after Justice Minister Sergio Moro resigned on Friday, accusing the President of wanting to install a new federal police chief who would provide him with intelligence reports, reports the BBC.

Brazil's public prosecutor Augusto Aras has now asked the Supreme Court to allow an investigation into Moro's allegations against the President.

On Friday, Bolsonaro also fired federal police chief Mauricio Valeixo, an ally of Moro, without publishing a reason for the decision.

He was replaced by Alexandre Ramagem, chief of the Brazilian Intelligence Agency.

But Bolsonaro has denied Moro's accusation.

In a press conference held in the government headquarters here on Friday, the President instead accused Moro of being vain and concerned only with his own political ambitions, reports Xinhua news agency.

Bolsonaro denied ever having asked for illegal access to information and said he merely wanted to have in the government people he could interact with, if necessary.

He also said that Valeixo said in the past that he wanted to leave the Federal Police, and that replacing him was overdue.

Earlier on Thursday, Moro had threatened to resign if Valeixo was removed but then said he would stay if he could choose his replacement, said the BBC reported.

After he resigned on Friday, Moro described Valeixo's sacking "without a genuine reason" as "political interference that harms my credibility and that of the government".

The row has thrown his administration into turmoil as it struggles to address the coronavirus crisis.

Brazil has 52,995 confirmed cases of the virus, with 3,670 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University in the US.

Earlier this month, Bolsonaro sacked his Health Minister Luiz Henrique Mandetta for his response to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Minister had advocated social distancing, which Bolsonaro has scorned.
KAMPALA  Uganda on Friday, April 24 received 3,842,000 doses of bivalent oral polio vaccine (bOPV) to support ongoing routine immunization services throughout the country.

The bivalent oral polio vaccines procured by UNICEF, with funding from the Government of Uganda, arrived at Entebbe International Airport via an Emirates Airline cargo flight.

The doses, which will last for six months, will be administered to about 900,000 children below the age of one year. A child receives three doses of Polio vaccines before they celebrate their first birthday.

810,500 doses of Pentavalent Vaccines also procured by UNICEF with funding from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, are expected to arrive at Entebbe on 28 April 2020. Pentavalent vaccine is a combination of five vaccines in one: diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenza type b (the bacteria that causes meningitis, pneumonia and otitis) and will also be administered to children under the age of one.

Despite the challenges posed on the supply and delivery processes amidst COVID-19 related lockdowns, UNICEF is ensuring the delivery of strategic supplies for children to ensure uninterrupted immunization services.

The bivalent oral polio vaccines were received by Dr Alfred Driwale, UNEPI Programme Manager and Ms Noreen Prendiville, UNICEF Deputy Representative at Entebbe airport.

Dr. Driwale said that while there are ongoing difficulties resulting from COVID-19 pandemic, parents are encouraged to make sure that their children receive their routine immunization while following the Ministry of Health guidance on how to continue accessing health services and prevent themselves against COVID-19.

We want to encourage parents and guardians to take their children for routine immunization at any nearby health centre. The vaccines are available, and the health workers are ready to immunize children, Dr. Driwale said.

Prendiville said UNICEF is committed to continuing supporting the Government of Uganda to deliver the much-needed life-saving services including protecting Ugandan children from vaccine-preventable diseases especially during pandemics.

As scientists work hard to accelerate vaccine development for COVID-19, we must also ensure children are protected against those diseases for which vaccines already exist, including Polio, Measles, Rubella and Tuberculosis. Immunization is one of the most effective public health interventions and is key to end vaccine-preventable child deaths and giving children a chance to grow up healthy and reach their full potential, Prendiville said.

While receiving the vaccines, Mr Jimmy Ameny, the GAVI-MOH Procurement and Supply chain specialist said while there are ongoing difficulties resulting from COVID-19 pandemic, parents are encouraged to make sure that their children receive their routine immunization

The vaccines were cleared at the airport by the National Medical Stores (NMS) and transported to their warehouse in Entebbe. From the warehouse, NMS will distribute the vaccines to all districts in the country as they routinely do for all vaccines in the national immunization schedule.

In 2019, we have seen an increase in immunization services and close to 8 million children under 5 received a booster dose of bivalent oral polio vaccine to reduce the risk of polio importation from neighbouring countries.

Uganda had its last Polio case in 2010 and UNICEF and partners stand committed to support the government in maintaining a Polio-free Uganda.

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The United States is working with other countries to make sure they understand that coronavirus originated in Wuhan, China, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said.

Stressing that the burden is on Beijing to explain where the virus came from, Pompeo told The Ben Shapiro Show in an interview on Friday that China knew about the virus by December, 2019.

We need to hold accountable the parties responsible for the deaths here in the United States and the enormous economic costs that have been posed on the US, he said.

Pompeo said that the entire global economic system has been decimated.

"Diplomatically, we're reaching out to countries all across the world to help them do the right thing, to help their economies get started back up, to make sure that when the time is right we can get international travel kicked back up so that global commerce can recommence, he said.

If you get demand back up, that will matter an awful lot to workers right here in the United States of America, he said.

We are also working with those countries to make sure they understand that this was in fact a virus that originated in Wuhan, China, that the Chinese government knew about this certainly by December of 2019," he said.

"... and that they (China) failed to comply with their most fundamental obligations as a nation, and importantly, too, failed to comply with the international health regulations of the World Health Organization and then did a lot of things and we can talk about them at great length to cover that up, Pompeo added.

Those are the kinds of things that the US needs to address, he said.

Pompeo alleged that the World Health Organization failed in its mission to protect the world from the pandemic.

We're not going to let that happen again, and we're going to set up something, a system, which delivers an outcome which reduces the risk that anything like this can ever happen again, from China or from anyplace else, he said.

Responding to a question, Pompeo said that even the world's largest businesses now can see the political risk associated with operating in China.

When the Chinese Communist Party refuses to uphold basic norms of transparency, basic set of functions that preserve human rights, and the things that need to happen just to make sure the globe doesn't end up in crises like I think out of their own economic interest they're going to make very different decisions going forward. I think that's completely appropriate for them to evaluate that, he said.

Meanwhile in an interview to NPR, National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien said that the burden is on the Chinese to explain where the virus came from. But there is a lab in Wuhan that deals with this sort of virus. And we need to know if there was some sort of release. Accidental, perhaps."



"We don't know where the virus came from. Maybe it came from a wet market in Wuhan. Maybe it came from one of the two virology labs in Wuhan, O'Brien said.

In a statement, Congressman Jeff Van Drew called out China's government for their role in the "death, destruction and dereliction" of human decency in their behaviour over the handling of the coronavirus outbreak.

Every American of every background and creed should be furious with China for their disregard of human well-being amidst the Coronavirus cover-up they have participated in," he said.

"Had we known sooner, or had the Chinese government been honest, we would not be in the position we are today, he said.

We have relied on China for far too long to provide cheap labour and goods at the expense of America and our workers. We must bring that supply-chain home and end the export gap we have; It's time to hold China accountable for their actions, Drew said.

Congressman Michael Waltz on Friday introduced a legislation in the House of Representatives that would ban members of the US military and federal employees from funding China's People's Liberation Army through their federal retirement plans.

It is absolutely crazy for our military and federal employees to be indirectly contributing to China's military operations and what's worse is that nearly all of these people are completely unaware of this situation, Waltz said.

Congressman Waltz's bill would ban the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB) all five of whom were appointed by President Barack Obama from steering military and federal employees' retirement contributions to China.

Every month, a combined 5.6 million US military members and federal employees contribute to the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), a 401K-style plan taken out of their paychecks.

The TSP, which is administered by the FRTIB, is responsible for over USD700 billion in assets, making it one of the world's largest retirement funds.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Last year at this time, Sabrina Paseman was at Apple working on the design of the Mac Pro. Now, she's holed up in a San Francisco apartment with another ex-Apple employee trying to address the global mask shortage.

Paseman and Megan Duong are founders of a nonprofit they're calling Fix The Mask, an effort to create a simple solution to a massive and growing problem. The lack of protective gear amid the Covid-19 pandemic is first and foremost a crisis in the health-care industry, but as states and countries start loosening social-distancing restrictions, the need for masks becomes more acute for people on buses, in stores and in the workplace.

As a mechanical engineer, Paseman, 28, decided to use the early days of the pandemic to deconstruct an N95 mask, the type used by doctors and nurses, to see if its protective qualities can be transferred to other types of medical facemasks. She found that surgical masks that meet the standard of ASTM International can approach the effectiveness of the N95 with far less material as long they're properly fitted to the face. And all it takes is three rubber bands.

By connecting the rubber bands into a chain, Fix The Mask is working to validate that a surgical mask can be sealed to a person's face to keep almost all coronavirus-sized particles from getting in or being released. The group is partnering with the University of Pennsyvlania and another research institution in the testing process.

Fix The Mask published the rubber band method on its website for anyone to use. It also developed its own seal that is headed for manufacturing.

"We want to get these not just in the hands of hospitals but also essential workers and anyone else who can't shelter in place," Paseman said.

Duong, 29, is Fix The Mask's marketing director, responsible for getting the word out across the globe. She previously spent four years at Apple as the head of brand and digital marketing at the company's Claris division, formerly known as FileMaker. Her brother-in-law is an emergency room doctor, who spends his day with Covid-19 patients.

Duong left Apple in March, a few months after Paseman. They're now in quarantine together, talking to potential manufacturers, collecting data from users and seeking out grant money to help finance their efforts. One of the messages Duong is trying to spread is that cloth masks, particularly those made with shirts and bandanas, are not a good substitute for medical-grade products.
(Bloomberg) -- Hong Kongs pro-democracy protesters staged a small demonstration at a luxury downtown mall, challenging rules that ban gatherings of more than four people in a glimpse of what could be another summer of discontent as local virus cases ease.

The gathering of around 100 people at lunchtime Friday was one of the largest since the Covid-19 pandemic descended on the city earlier this year, effectively halting pro-democracy protests that rocked the city since they began last June.

Hong Kongs government, one of the first to be hit globally with the virus, implemented social-distancing measures starting in late January. It ratcheted up restrictions -- including the restrictions on public gatherings -- as a second wave of infections hit in mid-March. Hong Kong reported no new infections on Friday, the 13th straight day of single-digit or no new cases.

Fearing Big Election Loss, China Goes on Offensive in Hong Kong

Protesters at the International Finance Centre mall said the masses would again take to the streets in opposition to Beijings tightening grip over the city even if the government or police try to use social-distancing restrictions to curtail their freedom. Several expressed anger over interventions by Chinas central government in recent weeks, such as blasting opposition leaders for filibustering and asserting the right to supervise Hong Kongs politics ahead of legislative elections in September.

I am worried about the police using this as an excuse to arrest people here, but I still think we should all be coming out and telling everyone that we still care about this movement, said a 30-year-old finance professional who gave his name as Chris, adding that June and July would be busy months for the protesters. We should all wear a mask and keep our distance. But we need to resume our movement.

Virus Concerns

Starting around 1 p.m., a half-dozen protesters gathered in the central atrium of the mall and laid banners on the floor, one of which read Fight for freedom, stand with HK. They wore surgical masks, protective eyegear and other face coverings -- once worn to conceal their identities, and now also to prevent the virus from spreading.

Story continues

Organizers encouraged participants to be responsible.

Please be reminded to keep 1.5 meters away from each other one yelled into a microphone. Finance professionals and others on their lunch breaks unfurled banners over the atrium railings and yelled out slogans including: If we burn, you burn with us!

Hong Kongs Economy Faces a Troubled Future After Coronavirus

One IT professional surnamed Chan said she wouldnt be surprised if Hong Kongs police took advantage of the Friday gathering to make arrests, and added it was very likely the government could extend restrictions on social gatherings merely to clamp down on political dissent.

It would give them legitimacy to stop people from gathering and protesting, whatever they dont want -- and it sounds like a very good reason, because of social distancing amid the coronavirus pandemic, she said, adding that she and her friends planned to attend more protests over the summer.

Of course, the virus is still very dangerous and very contagious, she said But I think that the protesters will take care of themselves. Like me, Im wearing a face mask and eye protection, and well try to keep our distance from each other.

We Have No Choice

The protest ended without police confrontation and was small compared to marches last year that brought out hundreds of thousands of people and often saw violent clashes between demonstrators and riot police. Still, it showed that the underlying grievances that fueled last years protests havent gone away.

It also underscored how Hong Kongs government -- despite its efforts to rein in the virus -- is receiving few plaudits from residents increasingly alarmed at Beijings recent statements on the city, which have been defended by Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam.

Leaving Hong Kong to Escape Coronavirus Didnt Work

One accountant surnamed Wong said her entire family had been outraged by the statements from the Liaison Office, Chinas main representative in the city, and that her son encouraged her to come and protest Friday.

We are very worried, but its our responsibility to come out and protect Hong Kong, she said. The government is so bad. And the Chinese Communist Party is interfering in a lot of Hong Kong matters. They say its one country, two systems. But it seems like its not. Its becoming one country, one system.

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Modified On May 04, 2020 10:02 AM By Sonny

Low-cost detection kits, ear guards for face masks and brightly illuminated mountains are some of the positives during this pandemic

The nation is a week away from the lockdown being lifted or possibly extended yet again. Globally, the pandemic crisis continues to spread while healthcare officials are working around the clock to treat the worst affected. Various efforts are also being made towards a vaccine, a focussed cure and more reliable detection kits for COVID-19 along with means to prevent infection. Here is some more good news from around the world:

Over 7 Lakh People Have Recovered

The number of total COVID-19 patients that have recovered worldwide has gone up by almost 2 lakh since our last Good News roundup. According to the latest reports, it now stands at approximately 7.4 lakh people. The increased rate of testing around the world is also helping the battle against the pandemic to identify and treat coronavirus patients in a timely manner.

Source

Low-cost COVID-19 Test Kit Being Developed By IIT-D

A low cost COVID-19 detection kit costing a few hundred rupees has been developed by the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, and it has been approved by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). The team at IIT-D has been working on this detection kit since January-end and it is the first probe-free assay for COVID-19 approved by ICMR. They were able to identify unique regions in the COVID-19 genome that are not present in other human coronaviruses, making it easier to detect.

Source

Eleven Indian States And Union Territories Are Reportedly Coronavirus-Free

As of April 24, the 11 Indian states and union territories have declared themselves free of the COVID-19 pandemic. In Goa, no new coronavirus case has been reported since April 3 after seven initial cases. Manipur had two COVID-19 patients who have recovered and tested negative earlier in the week. In Tripura, there are over a 100 coronavirus suspects under surveillance and over 200 have been placed under home quarantine. However, there are zero active cases in the state. The other states and union territories with no reported active cases are Puducherry, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Daman and Diu, Nagaland, Sikkim, Lakshadweep, and Dadra and Nagar Havelli.

93-year-old Becomes Oldest Indian To Recover From COVID-19

A 93-year-old man and his 88-year-old wife were infected by the coronavirus from coming in contact with their daughter and son-in-law who had returned from Italy. The couple was treated at Kottayam Medical College Hospital in Kerala. He also suffers from hypertension and diabetes which puts him at a greater risk. Currently, the oldest patient in the world to recover from COVID-19 was a 106-year-old in the UK.

Teen 3D Prints Ear Guards For Healthcare Workers

A young boy in Canada by the name of Quinn has been using his 3D-printer to print ear guards. It is a small contraption that offers relief by alleviating the pressure off the ears from the plastic bands of face masks. He first looked into ear guards when a family friend who worked at the local hospitals expressed their desire for a pair.

After exploring and trying various ear guard templates online, they found the most efficient one to manufacture multiple batches for local hospital workers. Following the popular response to his 3D-printed ear guards, Quinn has been making hundreds more to distribute to hospitals across Canada, USA, the UK and even Singapore. The young boys actions have inspired other 3D-printing enthusiasts around the world to do the same and help out.

Source

Flags Of Nations Affected By Coronavirus Projected On Swiss Mountain

The Matterhorn Mountain in Zermatt, Switzerland, is a stunning natural structure and its star quality is its symmetrical and pyramid shape. On behalf of the village of Zermatt, the mountain has been illuminated as a sign of solidarity during the coronavirus crisis. Light artist Gerry Hofstetter has been illuminating Matterhorn with the flags of the nations most affected by the pandemic since March 24 as well as other symbols and messages of hope. Dozens of national flags have illuminated the Swiss mountain since then, including countries like India, Italy, Spain, Portugal, USA, China and various Gulf nations.

Source

In case you missed the last week's Vol.3 of the good news bulletin, you can catch up here.
Hundreds of thousands of small business bosses have called on the government to review qualifying criteria so they can access vital income support.

More than a month after the Chancellor's initiatives to support the self-employed during the Covid-19 crisis were announced, there are still vast numbers of small business owners and sole traders who don't qualify for a grant from the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme.

Grants are allocated based on profits over the past three years, leaving 151,000 people who started working for themselves between April and December 2019 unable to apply for financial help.

There are likely to be thousands more who started self-employment in 2020 who arent covered by these statistics but also missed out.

Thousands of small businesses have had to shut up shop due to strict lockdown rules

Meanwhile, another 431,000 started self-employment between April 2018 and March 2019 according to the Office for National Statistics so they too will not have a full year of earnings on their tax return.

While they may still be eligible for a grant, it may not reflect their current earning potential.

Other groups are also missing out on income support as they fail to qualify for the grant, such as those with profits of more than 50,000, or for whom self-employment makes up less than half their income.

Furthermore, 14 per cent of the self-employed economy are sole directors of limited companies and 10 per cent are sub-contractors; the majority of those who sit within these groups will also not be eligible for the grant.

The scheme is currently designed for self-employed workers to apply for taxable grants to combat loss of income due to the coronavirus pandemic.

They are worth up to 80 per cent of your profits, capped at 2,500 a month and income is taxable. As it's a grant, it means you don't have to pay it back.

Sarah Coles, personal finance analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, said: 'The number of self-employed people left out in the cold could be close to one million.

'This scheme is far more generous and wide-ranging than anyone ever expected, but as the Chancellor Rishi Sunak himself has already admitted  it wont cover everyone. Hundreds of thousands of people will slip through the net, and will need to fall back on alternative schemes, savings or benefits to get them through the crisis.'

Who is eligible for the grant?

Grants are decided on profits from the past three years and you must have filed a tax return for 2018/19 and been self-employed prior to 6 April 2019.

For those who missed the self-assessment deadline for this year, the Government extended this to 23 April. Unfortunately, even if you only have a few months' self-employment, this will be counted as total profit for the year.

Those eligible must also earn more than 50 per cent of their total income from self-employment for either their 2018/19 tax return, or the average of the 2016/17, 2017/18 and 2018/19 tax returns.

Annual trading profit must be less than 50,000 - again, for either the 2018/19 tax return or an average over the last three years.

Pay outs are expected to start from June and will likely be backdated to cover March, April and May in the form of a lump sum. The scheme is set to last at least three months.

Unlike the employee scheme, those who are self-employed can keep working and do not need to prove coronavirus impact  all who qualify will receive it.

'I am not eligible for any form of support' New mum-of-one Emma Tunbridge is a London-based advertising photographer. She lives with her partner and daughter. Emma has been on maternity leave since August 2019 so did not earn more than 50,000 during the last tax year, however her average over the past three years means she is not eligible for the SEISS grant. She was also due to return to work at the end of this month but due to Covid-19 there is no work available. She said: 'Knowing that I would only be eligible for maternity allowance at 145 a month for nine months (which would not cover my 2,100 monthly outgoings of a mortgage, bills and business insurance) I had been saving hard. 'This means I had 50,000 worth of savings which were going to cover my outgoings whilst off work, and allow us to move into a bigger house. 'My income during the years that count are too high to qualify for the support scheme, but is much lower this year as I have been on maternity leave. I have too much in savings to receive Universal Credit and I cannot apply for any grants as I am not a limited company. So I am not eligible for any form of support. 'Our house was sold but we had to pull out due to the virus and will no longer be able to move after this as we will have eaten into our savings to support us. 'We can live off our savings for a year and a half if I do not invest anything into the business. I always make sure I have a years' worth of savings that could protect us if we had another recession.'

Small Business Rate Relief grant loophole

Meanwhile one-off grants of 10,000 are being offered to small businesses that already pay reduced business rates to help them meet their ongoing business costs.

Those who qualify for Small Business Rate Relief or Rural Rate Relief will be able to get the funding which is awarded based on rateable value.

Local authorities will contact small business owners rather than them having to apply themselves and guidance will be issued on how to claim the grant.

However small businesses in 'serviced offices' are missing out because of a loophole in the scheme, meaning shared offices without a business rates account with their local authority will not receive the grant.

Almost 12,000 people have signed a petition against the scheme's current rules which mean 1billion worth of support across the country is being denied.

'Put simply, if you dont have a business rates account for your business with your local authority you get nothing. Its a very unfair situation,' said office expert Jonathan Ratcliffe of Offices.co.uk.

The loophole means that if you occupy serviced office space where rates are included (bundled into the serviced package) you are not eligible for the Covid-19 support.

Ratcliffe continued: 'Small businesses across the UK are fuming and at no fault of their own, because their choice of office type dictated whether they got a 10,000 cash grant or not.

'We are in no way criticising Chancellor Rishi Sunak, hes had to make some complex decisions in a very short time period. But small businesses in shared workspaces have slipped through a loophole and missed this cash lifeline.'

The petition calls for Government to urgently investigate the loophole which signatories claim is unfairly penalising small businesses typically made up of one to 10 employees in small serviced office spaces across the UK.

The amount of grant money being missed out on is staggering, according to some quick estimates pulled together by Offices.co.uk for This is Money.

Their calculations indicate that up to 185million could be being denied to businesses in central London alone. Figures range from 16.5million in Oxford to 61million in Birmingham to 94million in Manchester.

Piranavan Vimalraj, co-founder of ONE Global Mobility based in a Regus office near Reading, said: '10,000 would have genuinely been a lifeline for our business. As it stands, that lifeline has been dangled in front of us and then taken away due to what can only be described as a gap in the policy.'

Jenny Pawsey, who sub-lets an office in Oxford, added: 'The grant would enable us to  get back on our feet when the world is starting up again. Our business is a very viable one, and we've been going since 1964, but like everyone our cash flow is suffering.'

Figures claim government support of up to 185million being denied to businesses in central London alone because firms which don't have their own business rates account are excluded

A third of firms fear going under

Meanwhile a survey from the UK200Group has revealed 30 per cent of small business owners dont expect to survive the current crisis due to concerns over lack of support from banks and their inability to access loans.

The data, which reflects the views of 1,200 SMEs who are clients of accountants and lawyers from the trade association, found that many SMES believed banks were struggling to approve loans due to a combination of lack of clarity on the new schemes from the government, increased demand and reduced resources due to the lockdown.

Until this week, which saw the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme open, this issue was heightened due to grants to cover furloughed staff costs not yet being available and thus the pressure on cashflow for small businesses was starting to reach breaking point.

Declan Swan, chief executive of the UK200Group said; 'Our concern is that many small and medium sized businesses will simply run out of cash which will result in many very good small businesses failing.

'This is avoidable, however the grants and schemes that have been made available are not easily accessible or understood. Our experience is that many business owners need guidance on whats available and support to help them with their grant and loan applications.'
Samsung appears to be working on a new tablet featuring a blade-like design and a built-in stand. Thats based on reports stemming from a patent recently filed with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). Spotted by New Delhi-based 91mobiles, the patent doesnt give away too many details about the screen resolution or size. But it does provide quite a bit of information pointing to a unique overall design.

To begin with, the patent images showcase a tablet that starts out thicker at the top edge in landscape mode. That tapers to a thinner edge at the bottom. The tablet itself would undoubtedly be thicker all around as well. And thats because the back half is actually a hinged stand, showing a slight gap at the top when folded up. Unfolded, the stand can be extended to about a 30-degree angle.

The purpose of that is to provide users a built-in method for propping the tablet on a given surface. That allows for hands-free viewing and media consumption.

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It isnt just the built-in stand or shape that makes this Samsung tablet unique

Looking past this proposed Samsung tablet designs hinged built-in stand, theres actually quite a bit more here that makes the design unique. To begin with, the design shows a large hole at the center of the stand itself. That could be intended as a grip for users or it could simply be decorative.

Whether the device is folded or opened up, theres also a distinct difference between the top and bottom edges. Its fairly obvious this tablet is meant for use in landscape mode since the top end  containing the hinge  is smoothly rounded off. The power and volume keys are found on that edge too. The bottom edge, by contrast, ends more sharply.

Ports and plugs  USB-C, microSD, and 3.5mm audio  are tucked between the hinged back panel and the display. More directly, theyre set in from the edge on the back of the display and separate from the hinged stand.

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Theres another component marked in that edge too, which appears to be a speaker. Its not immediately clear whether that feature would be along both left- and right-hand edges. In stand mode, Samsung appears to incorporate at least one camera, coupled with associated sensors. But theres no indication of a world-facing or rear-facing camera.

One big drawback to the design, aside from the gap thats apparent when its folded into a tablet instead of a stand, are its bezels. While those can be useful for providing a place to grip, they do appear a bit larger than would be desirable in the design.

Samsung may not ever build this but, given the Galaxy Fold, its not out of the question

A couple of years ago, a design such as the one shown in Samsungs patent might have seemed farfetched. With the advent of the Samsung Galaxy Fold, it doesnt  although Samsung may still never release this tablet. The new design seems to be built on a similar hinge to that other device for starters.

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The primary difference is in the fact that the hinge stops from folding all the way flat. And a screen isnt used over the entire design  relegated to just one half.
(Newser)  Frustration is mounting as more families across the US enter their second or even third week of distance learningand some overwhelmed parents say it will be their last, the AP reports. Amid the barrage of learning apps, video meet-ups, and e-mailed assignments that pass as pandemic home school, some frustrated and exhausted parents are choosing to disconnect entirely for the rest of the academic year. Others are cramming all their children's school work into the weekend or even a single day. "We tried to make it work the first week. We put together a schedule, and what we found is that forcing a child who is that young into a fake teaching situation is really, really hard," says Massachusetts mom Alexandra Nicholson, whose son is in kindergarten.

story continues below

"I'd rather have him watch classic Godzilla movies and play in the yard and pretend to be a Jedi rather than figure out basic math," she adds. That stress is only compounded for families with multiple children in different grades, or when parents work long hours outside the home. In some cases, older siblings must watch younger ones during the day, leaving no time for school work. "I think the pressure is on and I think it's on even more for some of our low-income families," says Rachel Pearl, chief program officer for Friends of the Children-Portland. One Pennsylvania mom says she finally broke down last week when her fourth-grade son and second-grade daughter each had assignments due: "I was feeling like a failure," she says. "I thought, 'I just can't do this.'"

(Read more coronavirus stories.)
A Russian cargo spacecraft has begun its brief journey to the International Space Station (ISS).

The robotic Progress 75 freighter, which is packed with nearly 3 tons (2.7 metric tons) of propellant, food and other supplies, launched atop a Russian Soyuz rocket from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan today (April 24) at 9:51 p.m. EDT (0151 GMT and 6:51 a.m. local Baikonur time on April 25).

If all goes according to plan, the Progress will reach the orbiting lab just a few hours from now, at 1:12 a.m. EDT (0512 GMT) on April 25. You can watch coverage of the Progress' arrival and docking operations live here at Space.com , courtesy of NASA TV, beginning at 12:30 a.m. EDT (0430 GMT).

Related: Russia's Progress spacecraft: ISS supply ship

The arrival will mark the start of a long-term stay for the Progress; it's expected to depart the ISS in December, NASA officials said. The freighter will therefore be on hand to help welcome SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule on its first-ever crewed flight, the Demo-2 test mission .

Demo-2, which will carry NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley to and from the orbiting lab, is scheduled to launch on May 27. It will be the first orbital human spaceflight to launch from U.S. soil since NASA's space shuttle fleet was retired in July 2011.

Progress is one of four robotic freighters that currently resupply the ISS, along with Japan's H-II Transfer Vehicle and two private American spacecraft, Northrop Grumman's Cygnus and SpaceX's cargo Dragon. (SpaceX holds both cargo and crew deals with NASA.)

Three of these four vehicles are disposable, burning up in Earth's atmosphere after they leave the orbiting lab. The exception is the reusable Dragon, which makes parachute-aided ocean splashdowns.

Three astronauts are living aboard the ISS at the moment: NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy, who commands the station's current Expedition 63, and cosmonauts Anatoly Ivanishin and Ivan Vagner.

Mike Wall is the author of " Out There " (Grand Central Publishing, 2018; illustrated by Karl Tate ), a book about the search for alien life. Follow him on Twitter @michaeldwall . Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom or Facebook .
Two persons tested positive for the novel coronavirus in Ladakh on Saturday, taking the number of confirmed cases in the Union territory to 20, an official said.

The number of active COVID-19 cases in Ladakh are four and all of them are stable. Sixteen patients have recovered and were discharged from hospitals, the official said.

A new case was reported from Bogdang village in Nubra area of Leh district, and the other from Sankoo in Kargil district, said Rigzin Samphel, commissioner secretary (health).

The family members of the two have been shifted to quarantine centres. The person in Sankoo had a travel history to Iran and had reached Delhi on February 26 before travelling to Leh on March 5, Samphel said.

The person in Bogdang had a travel history to Gujarat and had reached Chandigarh on February 2. He had reached Thoise in Nubra on March 9. The samples of all the co-passengers will be collected and tested, according to the official.

The area of Sankoo is already under containment and contact tracing will be carried out. Moreover, 500 samples from Bogdang will be sent for testing, he said.

Meanwhile, Leh District Magistrate Sachin Kumar issued an order declaring Bogdang as a containment area.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Roissy, 24 April 2020

The Air France-KLM Group and Air France secure funding of 7 billion to help overcome the crisis and prepare for the future

In its communication of 9 April 2020, the Air France-KLM Group stated that, given the major impact of the Covid-19 crisis, which will weigh heavily on its EBITDA, and despite the significant measures taken to preserve its liquidity, it predicted that in the absence of additional funding, a liquidity injection would be necessary in the third quarter of 2020.

The Air France-KLM Group, Air France and KLM therefore engaged in talks with the French and Dutch governments regarding the implementation of specific aid measures that would enable them to maintain their solvency.

Following several weeks of discussions with the French state and banking institutions, the Air France-KLM Group and Air France were able to finalize the various components of a support mechanism dedicated to Air France on which principle agreements are being finalised:

This support mechanism is comprised of:

A French state-backed loan of 4 billion granted by a syndicate of six banks to Air France-KLM and Air France. The French state is guaranteeing this loan up to 90%, and it has a maturity of 12 months, with two consecutive one-year extension options exercisable by Air France-KLM;

A direct shareholders loan of 3 billion from the French state to Air France-KLM with a maturity of four years, with two consecutive one-year extension options exercisable by Air France-KLM.

This aid mechanism, which remains subject to approval by the European Commission, will enable the Air France-KLM Group to provide Air France with the means necessary to meet its obligations by continuing its transformation in order to adapt in a sector that the global crisis will severely disrupt.

The Dutch state has also stated its intention to support the KLM Group. Discussions to finalise the aspects and conditions of an additional aid are ongoing.

The transformation plan, which will be finalized in the coming months, will include economic, financial and environmental commitments. It will notably involve a review of Air France's activities looking to adapt them to the new market reality brought about by the crisis, and will have to strengthen its financial situation. This transformation will also contain an ambitious environmental roadmap to accelerate the Group's sustainable transition.

Story continues

Once this plan has been finalised and when better visibility on post-crisis air traffic levels becomes available, the Air France-KLM Board of Directors will consider increasing its equity capital subject to market conditions. At the latest, this could occur at the latest following the Board meeting scheduled to approve the financial statements for 2020.

In this context, the French state has indicated its intention to examine the conditions under which it might participate in such an operation to increase its capital.

On behalf of the Air France-KLM Board of Directors, I would like to thank the French state and our banking partners for this aid, which will enable the Air France-KLM Group to overcome this unprecedented crisis," said Anne-Marie Couderc, Chair of the Air France-KLM Board of Directors. "It is also the recognition of the strategic role our Group plays in the service of France, the Netherlands and our fellow citizens. The management and all employees of the Air France-KLM Group will undertake every effort to prove ourselves worthy of the trust placed in us.

"On behalf of our Group and its employees, I would like to thank the French state and our banking partners for their support in ensuring the future of the Air France-KLM Group," said Benjamin Smith, CEO of the Air France-KLM Group. "This aid, along with the Group's action plan, will enable us to withstand this crisis and foresee the future of Air France-KLM with ambition and determination. We are a strong Group and we are united in face of this crisis. I would like to once again salute the exceptional commitment of our employees for their dedication to the repatriation of our fellow citizens, the transport of medical equipment, and maintaining the essential links with territories.

Investor relations Press office

Olivier Gall Wouter van Beek Morgane Le Gall

+33 1 49 89 52 59 +33 1 49 89 52 60 +33 6 14 30 44 52

olgall@airfranceklm.com wouter-van.beek@airfranceklm.com

Website: www.airfranceklm.com





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(Kingston. Jamaica)  The Scientific Research Council (SRC) is calling on citizens to be mindful of the hand sanitisers they create, to protect themselves against the coronavirus (COVID-19).

You want to ensure that the solution you are creating is strong enough to kill microbes, such as the virus which causes COVID-19. The two main agents that we recommend using in the household are bleach and alcohol. Bleach, however, should not be used on the skin, but instead on surfaces, Manager, Product Research and Development Division, Scientific Research Council, Dr. Charah Watson, told JIS News.

Dr. Watson pointed out that the concentration of alcohol is very important when creating homemade hand sanitisers, and urged persons to be mindful of using too little or too much.

The hand sanitisers on the market normally contain 62 per cent alcohol. To kill the virus which causes COVID-19, you need at least 60 per cent alcohol, but to be sure, Id recommend using 70 per cent. Bear in mind that adding water or other over-the-counter pre-made gels can interfere with the alcohol concentration level and the overall effectiveness of your hand sanitiser, she explained.

Alcohol attacks and destroys the envelope protein that surrounds some viruses, including coronaviruses. This protein is vital for the virus survival and multiplication. Therefore, non-alcohol-based sanitisers are not as effective, although they are less drying to the skin.

You can add a little bit of glycerine to the alcohol hand rub to reduce the drying effect. For each 240-millilitre bottle of alcohol, you can add a quarter teaspoon of glycerine. If you want to add aloe vera, I would recommend adding a quarter teaspoon of the gel from a freshly cut stalk. Over-the-counter aloe vera gel products have additives which can reduce the alcohol concentration of the hand sanitiser, Dr Watson said.

She advised against adding fragrances, as hand sanitisers are frequently used and continued exposure to strong fragrances in sanitisers may trigger allergic symptoms that can resemble those of COVID-19, such as sneezing.

On the topic of safety, Dr Watson urged citizens to safely store their alcohol-based sanitisers.

Alcohol is very volatile and because of this volatility, it evaporates quickly and is flammable. Store your sanitisers in a tightly closed bottle and away from direct heat and flames. Do not keep sanitisers in the kitchen and ensure that after using these products your hands are dried before coming in contact with fire. Children should also be monitored when using or making these products, she informed.

Meanwhile, Dr Watson is reminding citizens that hand sanitisers should not replace regular handwashing.

Although we are encouraging the frequent use of hand sanitising, this should not replace regular handwashing.

Properly washing your hands with soap and water is the best way to clean them. If youve found that youve used your hand sanitiser three times consecutively, its time to wash your hands. Sanitisers are not a replacement for handwashing but serve as a way of cleaning your hands if soap and water are not available, she said.

Source: JIS
Another day, another week and another month pass by with the Covid-19 occupying the centre of the worlds attention. Illness, death and precautionary medical procedures have become all too common in millions of peoples daily lives, with the majority of the worlds population now living in fear, uncertainty and pessimism.

What makes such feelings more acute is the fact that there is very little that the medical research community know about the virus, since it has never before infected humans. In other words, we are faced with daily challenges and are experiencing significant inconveniences in order to fight an enemy that we know very little about.

It is foolish to think that such a battle can be won by mere individual effort alone, no matter how dedicated it might be. The numbers of coronavirus casualties in different countries over the past few weeks have demonstrated that those fighting the virus according to a proper strategy have seen fewer infections and fewer deaths.

However, developing and implementing such a strategy to face up to the virus is not an easy task. It requires contextualisation according to the capacities and capabilities of each country concerned, and it also requires an effective matrix of joint collective action between state institutions in coordinating responsibilities. The state and society should be the main guarantees of the strategys implementation, and society should be fully engaged with its different segments and components.

The Covid-19 coronavirus is a fast-acting and sometimes lethal virus that has a diverse set of negative consequences. An efficient strategy to counter the crisis must be divided into two dimensions, one dealing with the outbreak and treatments for the virus and its cure and another dealing with the post-coronavirus phase in which many of its consequences will need to be repaired. The question is how to mobilise society for collective action when the virus is still forcing state and society to implement social distancing to avoid more infections.

In order to answer this question, it is necessary to look at the broad meaning of collective action and how inter-disciplinary it can be. Taking the case of Egypt as an example, collective action in society over the past few years, specifically since the events of 2011, has gained a notorious reputation associated with chaos and random violence. Collective action has been largely polarised by political tensions and the transformations taking place in the country over the past few years. It is now time to change public perceptions of collective action and to depoliticise the idea of people acting together, especially on non-contentious and cooperative ground like fighting the coronavirus.

Egypt has thus far been relatively successful in identifying a strategy and creating sufficient levels of cooperation between the state and society in order to fight the spread of the coronavirus. There have been few deaths as a result of infection with the virus in relation to the size of the population and the overall shortage of public space. However, daily deaths are taking place, and new problems are appearing every day. While the main concern now is fighting the spread of the virus and treating those infected, it will soon be time to deal with other consequences that will require more than the role practised solely by the state.

A few examples of how society could be involved through collective action in fighting the consequences of the virus have appeared, demonstrating how society and local communities need to cooperate during this dire challenge. The burials of those who have died of Covid-19 have signalled one of the negative consequences of the virus on Egyptian society, when panic and fear and not collective action characterised the reaction in one small Delta village. This situation shows the three different dimensions of the strategy Egypt is using in fighting the virus.

The strategy designed by the state to counter the virus has been largely institutional, with close connections between the Ministry of Health and the municipal and local authorities and other state institutions performing related services. The strategy is based on inviting citizens to cooperate with the state as the only entity able to contain and counter the virus.

The next step has been to encourage interactions between state and society in implementing decisions and carrying out measures to confront the threat of the virus. In the incident referred to above, some villagers protested against the burial of a person who had died of Covid-19, falsely spreading alarm at the potential danger of the burial for other villagers who could be infected as a result.

The authorities stepped in after being notified by the family of the deceased and other villagers, and soon representatives of the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Health were present at the scene to ensure that a proper and safe burial took place. It is very important to keep active channels of interaction between state and society open during times of fear and uncertainty.

Finally, collective action appeared in the aftermath of this incident through the different responses to the burial of medical doctor Sonia Aref. The Doctors Syndicate, different social-media platforms, the print and visual media, residents of different villages in the Nile Delta and the government all condemned the earlier incident and took measures to stand up against negative and irrational collective action that tries to create a sense of panic.

Society through interaction and coordination with its different elements plays a functional role in creating patterns of collective action that raise awareness and build capacities for the long-term battle against the consequences of the virus. The state is not an actor in the third dimension of the strategy, but is rather a facilitator, mainly through providing the environment in which society can offer creative and positive collective action during times of crisis.

We still do not know much about the new coronavirus, but at least we have a strategy in place to confront it that has proven to be fairly effective. In this strategy we all have roles to play as individuals, communities, unions, institutions and executive authorities. We know what we have to do in order to fight this virus, even if for the time being we do not know as much as we would like about it.

The writer is a senior researcher and director of the Programme for Mediterranean and North African Studies at the Al-Ahram Centre for Political and Strategic Studies.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 23 April, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

*A version of this article appears in print in the 23 April, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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Kemp said his decision to reopen much of the state was based on scientific data that showed declines in the number of confirmed cases of the virus. But his approach has drawn criticism from infectious-disease experts and political leaders alike who warn his actions could lead to the resurgence of a virus that has killed more than 50,000 Americans in a matter of weeks. Among the critics: the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which is based in Atlanta, the citys mayor and President Trump, who said he told Kemp he disagrees with the decision.
The Swiss army has just approved the induction of a new version of the 8x8 GDELS (General Dynamics European Land Systems) Piranha V combat vehicle in self-propelled mortar carrier version called Morser 16. It consists of a 120 mm (12 cm) RUAG MRO Cobra mortar system mounted on the Piranha V wheeled armored vehicle. According to the delivery plan of the Swiss Army, the vehicle will enter in service in 2024.



Swiss Army's new 120mm Morser 16 self-propelled mortar carrier based on Piranha V armored vehicle. (Picture source Liechtensteiner Vaterland)

The Cobra is a high-tech mortar system that sets new standards for indirect fire systems. A key factor is the use of an electric drive to ensure both the accuracy and the speed of the system. Electrical drives make the system highly accurate, whilst ballistic computing enables MRSI firing (Multiple Rounds Simultaneous Impact). With intuitive and simple handling and automated loading, crews can focus on what matters: rapid and secure mission success. Cobra protects users against incorrect operation or double loading when operating at night or in extreme weather. It weighs 1,200 kg (without loading machine) or 1,350 kg (with loading machine). The recoil force is 30 tonnes in 30 milliseconds. The firing of the first round needs less than 60 seconds.

The Cobra can be easily integrated into any tracked or wheeled vehicle and is designed so users can be quickly trained to a high standard of operation.

The PIRANHA V is the fifth-generation in the family of Piranha 8x8 wheeled armored vehicles and was developed by General Dynamics and Mowag of Switzerland. The Piranha V was unveiled during the International Defense Exhibition in Paris, Eurosatory 2010. The Piranha 5 is already in service with Denmark, Monegasque Carabiniers, Spain, and Romania.

The Piranha V provides a greatly increased level of protection compared to the earlier Piranha variants. The improvements have benefited from the direct experience of Piranha on operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The internal and external physical layout of the vehicle, the integrated mine-protected seats, and a range of other survivability features are incorporated into the design. The Piranha designs incorporate shaped hull plates to optimize against blast, spacing in the add-on armor and surface coatings to minimize the thermal and radar signatures.

The modular armor system provides protection against rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs), 14.5mm armour-piercing rounds through 360, and 30mm armor-piercing rounds across the 30 frontal arc. The hull provides protection against 8 kg anti-tank mine explosion.



Swiss Army's new 120mm Morser 16 self-propelled mortar (Picture source Swiss MoD Video footage)



RUAG MRO Cobra mortar system mounted on the Piranha 5 chassis (Picture source Swiss MoD video footage)
I am thrilled to win this Top 100 award for the second year in a row for selling homes at or above list price and could not do so without all my exceptional clients and their trust.

Jennifer Smeltzer, Kansas City Market Realtor, is selected as one of America's Top 100 Real Estate Agents for 2020, two years running. Selection to America's Top 100 Real Estate Agents is by invitation only. It is reserved to identify the nation's most esteemed and skilled Real Estate Agents and Brokers with a history of routinely selling homes above market value. Less than one percent (1%) of active Real Estate Professionals in the United States will receive this honor  indeed, the most exclusive and elite level of Real Estate Agents and Brokers in the community.

Jennifer Smeltzer is an award-winning realtor in Kansas City. She specializes in assisting homeowners in the sale of their homes and assisting investors in building their real estate portfolio. "I am thrilled to win this Top 100 award for the second year in a row for selling homes at or above list price and could not do so without all my exceptional clients and their trust. I enjoy working diligently to provide the best service and advocate for my clients. My goal is to ensure they experience the most successful and profitable home sales and investments in an incredibly competitive market," comments Jennifer Smeltzer.

With extremely high standards for selection, only the most efficient and effective Real Estate Professionals among the community are identified for selection among America's Top 100 Real Estate Agents. Members are selected through a comprehensive multi-phase selection process involving proprietary algorithms using advanced data analytics to assess a broad array of criteria and data for each candidate, including (but not limited to) the Real Estate Professional's total yearly sales volume, notable above market value sales, luxury home sales, efficiency rating for closing sales, lifetime professional experience, client satisfaction ratings, and other notable recognitions, among many other proprietary factors. Based on these criteria, a measure/rating for each Real Estate Professional is established indicating their relative effectiveness in closing high-value sales above market value in comparison to other Real Estate Professionals in their region. Only the Top 100 qualifying Real Estate Professionals in each region will receive this honor and be selected for membership among America's Top 100 Real Estate Agents. Full award results are available online at http://www.Top100RealEstateAgents.com.

About Jennifer Smeltzer, Kansas City Market Realtor, Keller Williams Platinum Partners:

Jennifer Smeltzer has become the Kansas City Market "Go to" agent, investment advisor, and real estate trainer, leveraging her experience as a successful business owner and real estate investor. She is known for outstanding client service and availability, high tech marketing techniques, consistent communication, skilled negotiator and personal touches. She has assisted countless clients with selling, buying, and investing in Kansas and Missouri, including Kansas City, Lee's Summit, Olathe, Overland Park, Leawood, Raymore, Blue Springs, Grandview and beyond. https://kansascityrealtor.kw.com/

About America's Top 100 Real Estate Agents:

It is the mission of America's Top 100 LLC to recognize annually and on a lifetime basis, the most qualified and accomplished real estate professionals. Membership in each specific category is by invitation-only after a multi-phase selection process, including third-party research and statistical analysis of a candidate's professional experience, achievements, significant results, community impact, peer reputation, consumer satisfaction, and other proprietary factors specific to each profession.

To learn more about America's Top 100 Real Estate Agents or the selection process, please visit our website at http://www.Top100RealEstateAgents.com.

Contact: Jennifer Smeltzer (jsmeltzer(at)kellerwilliams(dot)com), 816.665.9920, https://kansascityrealtor.kw.com/
Jordan is lobbying foreign leaders to put pressure on the new Israeli government not to move forward with annexation of the Jordan Valley  the settlements and other parts of the West Bank.

Why it matters: According to the coalition deal between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the leader of the Blue and White party Benny Gantz, Netanyahu can bring "the understandings with the Trump administration" in annexing parts of the West Bank to a discussion in the Cabinet, and to a vote either in the Cabinet or in the Knesset starting July 1.

What they're saying: Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi spoke with roughly 10 of colleagues from around the world in the last week on the Israeli annexation plan. Among them were the foreign ministers of Russia, Germany, Egypt, Japan, Sweden and Norway.

According to Safadi, those conversations indicated that Israel's annexation of the Jordan Valley and other parts of the West Bank could have devastating consequences, killing the two-state solution and destabilizing the region.

Jordan's lobbying efforts are coordinated with the Palestinians. Safadi spoke on Friday with his Palestinian counterpart Riyad al-Maliki, who briefed him on the Palestinian campaign against the Israeli annexation plan.

Whats next: The foreign ministers of the Arab League are expected to meet in Cairo in the next few days to discuss the new Israeli government formation and the possible annexation move.
Every name on the BrandBucket marketplace is exclusively listed with BrandBucket. That means that all of our sellers are very responsive, making for quick domain transfers.

A dedicated BrandBucket agent will manage your domain transfer from beginning to end, ensuring a secure and easy transaction. They will manage the receipt of the domain into one of BrandBuckets secure registrar accounts and then complete the transfer to you.

1. Verification and registrar choice

After we receive the payment and verify it, we will reach out via email to confirm which registrar you want the domain transferred to. We also provide a link to our tracking system, where you can communicate with us, check on the status of your transfer, view your invoice, and download your logo files.

In most cases, if a domain is moved between accounts at a single registrar, the transfer is quick and usually completes within 48 hours. If a domain changes registrars (in other words, you would like to move it away from where it is currently registered), the transfer is slower. The total transfer time can then be anywhere from 48 hours to 7 days.

BrandBucket has vetted and supports the following registrars:



GoDaddy

Namesilo

Uniregistry

NameCheap

Google Domains

Network Solutions

Name.com

Dynadot

Amazon Route 53

123 Reg

Gandi

2. We request the name from the seller.

Once we know where you would like the domain transferred, BrandBucket will request the domain from the seller. All of our sellers are very responsive, making for a quick process.

3. Transfer the name into your account

As soon as we receive the name from the seller, we start the transfer into your account and guide you through the whole process.

4. Verify with the buyer that the transfer is complete

Once we confirm that you have received the name, we consider the escrow process to be complete. Only then do we release payment to the domain seller.
Kendallville, IN (46755)

Today

Mainly cloudy with snow showers around this evening. Low 26F. Winds light and variable. Chance of snow 50%..

Tonight

Mainly cloudy with snow showers around this evening. Low 26F. Winds light and variable. Chance of snow 50%.
As the entire world is completely focused on battling the coronavirus pandemic, the decision of the Imran Khan government in Pakistan to quietly remove around 3,800 names from its terrorism watchlist confirms the widely-held view that the authorities in Islamabad, with the strong support of the countrys military if not actually at its behest, will do everything possible to avoid taking action against those exporting terror from its soil.

The Islamabad government, which is now on the enhanced 'grey list' of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), seems to be taking full advantage of the worlds preoccupation with the coronavirus, due to which FATFs next meeting in June  where Pakistan faced the real possibility of being moved to its black list  has now been put off to October.

The Imran Khan government is clearly hoping the world will not pay too much attention as it takes the terrorists on its soil off the leash, and possibly encourages them to infiltrate across the Line of Control into India. Army chief Gen. Manoj Mukund Naravane had only recently, during a visit to Jammu & Kashmir, warned of exactly this possibility.

At its peak in late 2018, Pakistans Proscribed Persons List had over 7,600 names. In just 18 months it has been progressively reduced by half; the tempo was stepped up over the past month and a half during which time over 1,800 names were removed. These names were then posted on the 'Denotified List', a term that is used in Pakistan to signify official removal.

One possible reason being cited for such an action was that Pakistan was facing intensive scrutiny from FATF on its failure to take action against these individuals despite monitoring them, and its inability to explain how, with all terror funding supposedly stopped, these people and their organisations could still function.

The truncated list still includes terror masterminds Hafiz Saeed and Masood Azhar, along with Dawood Ibrahim and members of the Haqqani Network; and while it was first speculated that the name of 26/11 plotter Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi was removed from the watchlist, it then transpired that his name did not have to be removed because it was not on it in the first place. Azhar and Lakhvi, who are among the top protected assets of the Pakistani Deep State, remain free and active, with not even one criminal charge against them.

FATF will certainly demand answers from the Pakistan government for removing these names, and for failing to account for the whereabouts of a large chunk of UN-designated terrorists on its soil. (Of 130 such terrorists, Islamabad claims only 16 are located in its territory; it has no idea about the remaining 114.)

The Indian government will doubtless take this up on all available international fora in the months leading up to FATFs next meeting in October, but it faces a huge challenge with the worlds attention focused on the coronavirus pandemic. The crux, of course, will be China, Islamabads all-weather friend. Will prime minister Narendra Modi be able to persuade his good friend president Xi Jinping  as well as US president Donald Trump  to step up pressure on Pakistan?
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The 25th annual Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN) Day of Silence was observed virtually this week.

Established in 1995, the annual event raises awareness of the harmful effects of harassment and discrimination of LGBTQ+ individuals in schools. In silent protest, students around the United States do not speak for the entire school day. Then, at the end of the day, students host Breaking the Silence rallies and events.

The Day of Silence, which first started with only two college students, has since expanded -- and now thousands of students participate each year on a Friday in April.

Due to schools participating in distance learning during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, GLSEN hosted a virtual Breaking the Silence rally on Friday evening.

The virtual event was live-streamed on GLSENs YouTube and Facebook Live page at 5:30 p.m. It included hosts from the GLSEN team, activist Emma Gonzalez, Netflixs Queer Eye star Tan France, Charlie Carver and others

Congrats on an amazing GLSEN Day of Silence, France said during the live-stream. I saw so many posts and so many videos of you all taking the pledge to be silent as you protest anti-LGBTQ bullying. It was so moving and incredibly, incredibly powerful.

GLSEN also launched the program Breaking the Silence: Your Vote, and Your Voice during the live-stream, an initiative to get youth to register to vote for the upcoming presidential election.

We can change whatever we need to in order to in order to positively affect us, said Gonzalez. One of the main ways to do that is to vote.
WASHINGTON  About a week after the first report of a Covid-19 case at a meatpacking plant in southwest Kansas in early April, the states governor, Laura Kelly, issued a pointed warning to President Trump: Without test kits to separate the well from the sick, a fast-moving outbreak could idle facilities that produce roughly one-quarter of the nations meat supply.

Within three days, 80 blue-and-white boxes of test kits and testing machines arrived, and two Black Hawk helicopters from the Kansas National Guard whisked them to the afflicted region. As the test results came in last week, the costs of the delay became clear: 250 workers in six plants were already infected.

In Albany, Ga., a hot spot for the disease, a hospital finally figured out a way to run its own coronavirus tests, rather than relying on limited state capacity or outsourcing the work to slow-moving private labs. But it still struggles to run as many tests as it would like because of a shortage of components.

In Ohio, a research institution in Columbus is teaming up with a plastics company to churn out nasal swabs on 3-D printers for use in the state. But when Mysheika W. Roberts, the citys health commissioner, offered test kits to local health centers, she learned they lacked the protective gear they needed to put them to use.
Cities and counties across New Mexico are revisiting their budgets in the midst of the coronavirus storm. But Albuquerque and Bernalillo County leaders are showing a reluctance to shore up their bottom lines  even with dramatic revenue declines knocking at their doors.

Rio Rancho has begun furloughing 112 nonessential employees, 15% of the citys workforce, who had been on paid administrative leave. Acting City Manager Peter Wells said the paid leave ended April 17 because the city could no longer justify or afford the expense. City employees having their work hours cut or eliminated will maintain their job status and health insurance and, hopefully, receive unemployment benefits. Wells says the states third-largest city is taking every action to avoid further job cuts by budgeting now for a 14% decrease in gross receipts tax revenue and holding $15 million more in reserve.

Santa Fe leaders are considering furloughing some animal services personnel and crime scene and evidence technicians. They are also considering a hiring and spending freeze projected to save about $25 million. Mayor Alan Webber said hell seek to reduce his own pay by 30%, saving the capital city a little over $37,000. Kudos to him. Wouldnt it be a good-government gesture if more elected leaders gave a little something back with so many New Mexicans out of work?

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Wednesday announced a state government hiring freeze with a few exceptions for critical positions as the state faces an increasingly dire budget situation due to the coronavirus pandemic and falling oil prices. The governor suggested other cost-cutting moves will be implemented by July, although she said furloughs or layoffs are not yet on the table.

In stark contrast, Albuquerque and Bernalillo County are delaying inevitable spending cuts. Albuquerque is banking on state and federal assistance (still your tax money) to avoid letting workers go, and Bernalillo County is forging ahead with a 7% spending increase that will add 34 new positions, including lifeguards.

Where have they been sheltering the past six weeks?

Bernalillo County Commission Chairman Lonnie Talbert says the commission is not afraid to make the hard decisions, but the 2020-21 budget unanimously approved last week says otherwise. It will increase spending by $24 million. County leaders say the new budget is a starting point that can be changed as the revenue picture becomes clearer. Why do today what you can put off until tomorrow?

Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller says New Mexicos largest city is not yet furloughing, though estimates indicate a $27 million revenue drop this fiscal year and another $25 million next fiscal year. Instead, city officials have very modest spending trims and are banking on state (it has money?!) and federal relief. The city is hoping to qualify for up to $150 million from the $2.2 trillion CARES Act, although at least the first phase precludes local governments from using it to pay costs already in their budgets. Keller says the city would be willing to go to court to fight for flexibility using CARES Act monies. Nothing like spending cash you dont have to try to get money you dont really qualify for. Or postponing tough choices and holding out a tin cup.

Keller says that if the city isnt allowed to plug budget holes with state or federal aid, city leaders will have to consider layoffs and furloughs and dipping into the $54 million operating reserve. And while the city has some planned spending reductions  trim supply and maintenance budgets, limit new hires and cut some contracts  those amount to $10 million and still leave the city with a $17 million shortfall this fiscal year. Keller says the city is nowhere close to lifting restrictions on business and thus turning the revenue stream of GRTs back on (his op-ed with the governor will be in The Sunday Journal), so next fiscal year promises to be even tougher.

There is no question this is an unprecedented pandemic blowing through and decimating government budgets  but Albuquerque and Bernalillo County are like the little pigs who whistle by their homes of straw and sticks, believing they will hold up, while Rio Rancho and Santa Fe strengthen their budgets with bricks and mortar. Delaying inevitable spending cuts will only put local governments in even tougher positions as money they dont have flows out in the 2021 budget cycle that starts July 1. That will lead some to propose tax increases, a wolfish move with more than 126,000 New Mexicans out of work.

The government-imposed business closures that made public safety sense early in the pandemic are coming full circle, with GRT shortfalls affecting every city and county in the state. Its time for some of our elected leaders to face economic reality and build solid budgets that arent predicated on handouts and tax increases to survive.

This editorial first appeared in the Albuquerque Journal. It was written by members of the editorial board and is unsigned as it represents the opinion of the newspaper rather than the writers.
They've been nearly inseparable since confirming their relationship earlier in the year.

But Ben Affleck and co-star-turned-girlfriend, Ana de Armas, were spotted apart for a change on Saturday.

Ben, 47, ensured he was abiding by local rules while sporting a mask on his face while out walking his dog with his daughter, Violet, 14.

Solo walks: Ben Affleck and girlfriend Ana de Armas were both seen walking their dogs around their neighborhoods on Saturday morning in Los Angeles

Ben sported a graphic T-shirt with his hometown, Boston, written on the front.

He teamed the shirt with a pair of dark shorts and sneakers.

The Batman star's eldest daughter, Violet dressed similarly in a T-shirt and shorts.

His other two children, who he shares with ex Jennifer Garner, Seraphina, 11, and Ben, eight, were not present.

Bonding: The father-daughter-duo both wore masks during the outing around their Brentwood neighborhood. At one time they were seen holding hands

Boston lover: Ben sported a graphic T-shirt with his hometown, Boston, written on the front

The father-daughter-duo both wore masks during the outing around their Brentwood neighborhood. At one time they were seen holding hands.

Ben's Deep Water co-star and girlfriend, Ana de Armas was also seen walking her dog around her Venice home.

The beauty rocked a white T-shirt and braved the warm weather in a pair of long black Jen7 By 7 For All Mankind jeans.

She completed her look with white slides and styled her brunette hair out.

Daily walk: Ben's Deep Water co-star and girlfriend, Ana de Armas was also seen walking her dog around her Venice home, wearing a white tee and some Jen7 By 7 For All Mankind jeans

Ana appeared to be wearing very little to no makeup while stepping out with her beloved Maltese pup, Elvis.

The Cuban-Spanish actress was later seen on Instagram Stories riding her bike around the local streets with her pup in her basket.

'Yesterday I got a basket for my bike. And Elvis is very very happy!' she captioned.

And while spending alone time on Saturday morning, things appear to be going well for Ben and Ana.

'They seem to have a great time together,' a source recently told People.

Natural beauty: Ana appeared to be wearing very little to no makeup while stepping out with her beloved Maltese pup, Elvis

Going strong: And while spending alone time on Saturday morning, things appear to be going well for Ben and Ana (pictured 2020)

'They order delivery food and groceries and only leave the house for walks around the neighborhood with their dogs.'

They continued: 'Ben looks incredibly happy. They are flirty and goofy. Ana always has a huge smile around him.'

A source previously told the magazine that they had an 'instant connection' while filming the movie that sees them play a couple.

'Ben always seemed very relaxed and happy around Ana, but at the time there were no signs of romance. He was very focused on making a fantastic movie.'
As more communities in Massachusetts require residents to wear a face covering while shopping at essential businesses, at least one grocery chain will not turn customers away if theyre not wearing one amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Stop & Shop is strongly encouraging customers to wear masks, but will not turn away patrons who enter the store without a face covering.

Stop & Shop is taking many steps to maintain a safe environment for our associates and customers. Stop & Shop is strongly encouraging customers to wear masks via signage at the entrance of each store and a new ad campaign, said a spokeswoman. In towns where there is a local ordinance in place requiring that customers wear masks, the vast majority of customers are complying.

When a customer comes into a store without a mask, Stop & Shop associates will ask the customer to expedite their shipping trip and wear a mask next time, the spokeswoman said. Stop & Shop has distributed KN95 masks to all store associates, who are required to wear a mask or face covering at work.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended that Americans wear a mask or face covering in public to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus.

Earlier this month, the state Department of Public of Health issued an advisory, urging the public to wear masks when social distancing was not possible.

In Massachusetts, many cities and towns, including Worcester, Brookline, Northampton and Holyoke, have ordered residents to wear a face covering or mask while shopping at essential businesses.

The municipalities differ in how they enforce those orders, however, and only some are implementing fines or penalties.

Some grocery chains in the state have started requiring patrons and employees to wear masks, including Big Y.

Related Content:
Some traders in non-food items in Enugu have switched to foodstuff businesses as the lockdown imposed by the state government to curb the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) persists, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

NAN recalls that Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu had on April 1, imposed an initial 14-days lockdown on the state to contain COVID-19 and later extended it by another 14 days on April 15.

The lockdown order, however, exempted essential workers and traders in food and medical consumables.

Some of the traders who switched over to foodstuff business told the NAN on Saturday in Enugu that they opted for the foodstuff business to save their families from hunger and depression.

Cecelia Ude, a dealer in babies clothing at Ogbete Main market, who now sell garri and palm oil, said she got frustrated staying at home with her family during the first two weeks of lockdown.

Mrs Ude added that she was forced into the new trade by insufficient food and money for her family upkeep.

In fact, nobody told me to start foodstuff business at the New Market as hunger was about to set into my home.

I am happy doing this garri and palm oil business because it was almost difficult for me to feed my four children before I join the business, she said.

Chioma Okoye, a dealer in kitchen utensils at Garki Market, who at the moment sells dried fish and crayfish, said that she went into foodstuff business for sustenance.

I did not waste time to switch over to foodstuff business immediately I heard that food items and medicine sellers should continue selling.

READ ALSO:

I changed to dried fish and crayfish business, I got myself a table in front of my shop for the business, Miss Okoye said.

Similarly, Uju Nebo, a fashion designer at Achara Layout, said she started selling sweet potatoes and breadfruit, generally called ukwa in Igbo language, outside her compound to assist her husband financially in the family.

I decided to go for sweet potatoes and ukwa because this is their season and I have already started experiencing huge sales in the business.

Since many women in my street are selling potatoes, I decided to add ukwa to my own business to make a difference, Nebo said.

(NAN)
India and Pakistan ease coronavirus restrictions for some small businesses View(s):

NEW DELHI, April 25 (Reuters)  India allowed shops in residential areas to reopen from Saturday, more than a month after the country went into lockdown to curb the spread of the coronavirus, federal and state officials said.

The federal home ministry said that retailers could resume operations with the staff numbers reduced by half as long as employees wore masks and gloves and appropriate social distancing was maintained.

The sale of liquor and other non-essential items continues to be banned and no shops in large market places or multi-brand and single-brand malls will be allowed to reopen until May 3.

Members of industry groups welcomed the partial resumption of activity but said a large number of businesses faced bottlenecks due to a lack of raw materials and police restrictions on the movement of workers.

India has reported 24,942 cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, and 779 deaths. The authorities have set up teams to focus on compliance with lockdown measures.

In Modis home state of Gujarat, authorities allowed software and IT companies to start operations on Saturday with up to 50% of their staff though some industry bodies urged members to start with only 10% to 15% of the workforce.

In Pakistan, the government extended a nationwide lockdown until May 9. However, it is switching to a smart lockdown from Saturday with targeted tracking and tracing of cases while allowing some industrial and commercial activities to resume under safety guidelines. Isolating these cases and their contacts will improve our ability to contain the disease alongside allowing the economy to function and people to get employment, said planning minister Asad Umar, who oversees Pakistans coronavirus response body.
A special court here on Saturday



remanded activist Anand Teltumbde to judicial custody in the Elgar Parishad-Maoist link case and rejected his plea for temporary bail, which he sought in view of the COVID-19 outbreak.

The National Investigation Agency had arrested the Dalit scholar on April 14 after he surrendered before it following the Supreme Court's directives.

Teltumbde, the grandson-in-law of Dalit icon Dr B R Ambedkar, was produced before special NIA court judge A T Wankehede, who remanded him to judicial custody.

The activist then sought temporary bail citing the COVID-19 pandemic.

In his bail application, Teltumbde said he was suffering from respiratory problems and was at risk of contracting the deadly infection while in prison.

The court, however, rejected his plea.

Teltumbde, civil rights activist Gautam Navlakha and nine others, have been booked under stringent provisions of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) for allegedly having Maoist links and conspiring to overthrow the BJP-led government.

The activists were initially booked by the Pune police following violence that erupted at Koregaon-Bhima in the district.

According to police, the activists made inflammatory speeches and provocative statements at the Elgar Parishad meet held in Pune on December 31, 2017 that triggered violence the next day.

The police also said that these activists were active members of banned Maoist groups.

The probe was later transferred to the NIA.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A top Trump administration health official has said that as many as 19 therapeutics trial are underway and 211 in planning stages in a bid to find the cure for coronavirus.

We are leaving no stone unturned to find the treatment for COVID-19... We don't have any approved therapeutics for COVID-19 but we are actively involved with the academic, commercial and private sector to find it, FDA Commissioner Stephen M Hahn told reporters at a White House conference.

Seventy-two trials of therapeutics are underway in the United States under FDA oversight and 211 are in the planning stages, so we expect to see more. This includes convalescent plasma as well as antiviral therapies, Hahn added.

According to Hahn, work is continuing on finding a vaccine. FDA has authorised two firms on vaccine trials.

Hahn said that the FDA has told manufacturers that in order to market anti-body tests in the US, they have to validate their tests.

They have to tell us that they validated their tests, and in the package insert they have to let people know, end users, labs etc., that those tests were not authorised by FDA, he said.

So far, the US has authorised four and more are in the pipeline, he added.

Antibody tests that are used to detect natural immunity and the FDA's approach to help make these tests available, he noted.

These are just one part of FDA's larger response effort. They can play a role in helping move the economy forward by helping healthcare professionals identify those who have immunity to the COVID-19, he asserted.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the FDA has worked with more than 380 test developers who have said they will be submitting emergency use authorisations (EUA) requests to FDA for tests that detect the virus.

To date, the FDA has issued 44 individual emergency use authorisations for test kit manufacturers and laboratories.

In addition, 19 authorised tests have been added to the EUA letter of authorisation for high complexity molecular-based laboratory developed tests (LDTs).

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Update April 27 3:48 p.m. EDT: This post was updated to include Reliant Funding.

If you've had trouble getting a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan through a bank, you may have another option: fintechs. The Small Business Administration has approved a number of fintech companies to give loans--either through the companies themselves or via their partner banks--and they might prove easier for business owners who don't have longstanding relationships with a traditional bank.

While President Trump is expected to sign off Friday on an additional $320 billion in funding for the PPP, lenders currently have a backlog of applications. Like the initial $349 billion allocation, this new money is unlikely to last long.

Alexander Tiktin, a bankruptcy, restructuring, and creditors rights attorney at Davidoff Hutcher & Citron, says that he's started advising clients to look to fintechs for funding. "Based on our experience," he says, "fintech companies have been able to turn around applications relatively quickly and efficiently without too many complications." His firm works with around 300 small and midsize businesses. He notes that some of his clients who received loan approvals through traditional banks have yet to receive funds, while those that have applied through fintech companies, such as PayPal and Kabbage, have received funding within a week.

"Our technology allows us to verify high volumes of applications through automation," says Kathryn Petralia, president and co-founder of Kabbage. The company did not comment on its average wait time or how many loans it's processed.

While some fintechs, such as PayPal, Intuit QuickBooks, and Square, are functioning similarly to big banks in that they're only accepting loan applications from current customers, others are accepting loans from anyone.

"Folks that have come to Funding Circle have never been to us before," says Ryan Metcalf, head of U.S. regulatory affairs and social impact at Funding Circle, itself a fintech. "A majority of our borrowers have told us that they were turned away from their primary depository institution." Funding Circle, which the SBA approved as a lender shortly before the initial PPP funds ran out, has yet to process a loan. But the company has "thousands" in its queue, according to Metcalf.

Approved Fintech PPP Lenders

The fintechs below have been approved by the SBA and you can apply for a loan through them directly. Some of these companies will only accept applications from current customers or account holders.

PayPal -- only to current customers

Intuit QuickBooks -- only to current customers

Square -- only to current customers

OnDeck

Funding Circle

BlueVine

Kabbage

Ready Capital

Credibly

Fintechs Working With Partner Banks for PPP Loans

The following companies do not process SBA loans themselves. You can apply for a loan through them and they will package it and apply for a loan through a partner bank.

Fundera -- an online marketplace for small-business loans that allows business owners to apply to multiple lenders with one application.

Lendio -- a platform that helps small businesses match their loan applications to available financing options.

Brex -- a financial services company that offers business credit cards and cash management accounts.

Fundbox -- a fintech that helps small businesses with outstanding invoices optimize cash flow.

Nav -- helps businesses with credit reports, cash-flow analysis, access to financing products, and other tools to help them get funding.

Reliant Funding -- a fintech provider of small business loans.
REDDING, Calif.  With the general elections six months, there could be temporary changes made for voters in Shasta County.

One option the county is looking into is having people vote by mail only. By using the military as an example, which would allow people to print, fill out, and mail in their ballots. Another option considered is drive-thru voting.

People tell Action News Now, even with the coronavirus people should still go out and vote.

Voting matters and our voices should be heard, said Jamal Titus of Redding. Yes there is a pandemic going on but that doesn't negate the fact that your voice matters.

Shasta County Clerk of Registrar of Voters Cathy Darling Allen tells Action News Now, she will be meeting with public health officials to talk about how to keep voters safe during the pandemic.

We want to make sure we are providing a safe experience for everybody and that everybody has a chance to cast their ballot, said Darling Allen.

Again, none of these changes are a done deal. The Office of Elections is still waiting on an order from the Governors office.
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Hoffman said he thinks some people are ready to come back, while others are still afraid.

If our customers are sick, they stay home, Hoffman said.

He said it will take a long time for those who are afraid to come out.

He said the way he looks at it the Lord has it under control.

Hoffman said many who have ventured back outside have said they are glad he is open and glad to see the staff. Hoffman and Hoffman have been in business in Florence for 25 years.

Keith Herring of Eagle Bay Outfitters at 2803 East Highway 76 in Mullins said he was up bright and early on Tuesday morning to reopen his business after being closed for two weeks.

Business has been great, he said. People were ready to get out. It was like people were waiting for us to open; thank the Lord.

Herring said he has been in the retail shoe and apparel business for 47 years.

I got the PPP (Payroll Protection Program) and was able to keep our health insurance, he said.
The rules establish new criteria for who can be considered dependent on the U.S. government for benefits  public charges, in the words of the law  and thus ineligible for green cards and a path to U.S. citizenship. The changes were proposed to start in October and had been delayed by lower courts until the Supreme Court gave the go-ahead in January.
A 31-year-old man has been charged after a six-year-old boy and a woman, 27, were stabbed.

Police were called to a unit on Belmore Street in North Parramatta, Sydney, at about 12.10am on Saturday, where police found the woman and child with stab wounds.

They were treated by paramedics and taken to hospital, where they remain in a stable condition.

Police were called to a u it on Belmore Street in North Parramatta, Sydney, at about 12.10am on Saturday, where police found the woman and child with stab wounds

The 31-year-old man handed himself in at Parramatta Police Station at about 2am and was arrested.

He was taken to Blacktown Hospital and was charged after being discharged.

He is charged with two counts of wounding or causing grievous bodily harm to person with intent to murder, and two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

He was refused bail and will appear appear at Parramatta Local Court on Sunday.
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[April 25, 2020] eGov Foundation Launches COVID e-Pass Platform for Movement of Essential Goods and Service Providers

BANGALORE, India, April 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- To simplify the process of issuing e-passes for essential goods and service providers during lockdown, eGov foundation has launched COVID e-Pass system. The platform is expected to reduce the operational burden of government officials and help in ensuring a seamless supply of essential goods and services during the lockdown. The COVID e-Pass system is a trust-based application where the state nodal officers must approve one-time registration requests from the companies along with setting the daily quota of passes for each company. The designated authority from the company is then allowed to generate bulk passes for company employees/partners, within the set quota, on their own without having to reach out to the district administration for inter-city movement. The pass is delivered to the applicant in pdf and SMS with an instruction to carry a valid photo ID. State Nodal Officers will work with police authorities for verification and validation of the e-Pass during the commute. This easy to use and intelligent system has already been up and running in Delhi, Haryana, Telangana, Odisha, Punjab, Puducherry & Karnataka State nodal officer for Karnataka, Shri Kapil Mohan (IAS), Principal Secretary Infrastructure Development, expressed satisfaction with the working of the system and sated that the solution will provide relief to companies for inter-district and inter-state movement of personnel for managing nationwide supply chains.



The e-Pass platform has also been integrated with Aarogya Setu, government's COVID-19 contact tracing app which has an estimated one million new users registering every hour, and a total of 70 million registrants. The first phase of this integration will allow the e-Pass system to poll Aarogya Setu to check the health indicator of the individuals before generating the ePass. The copy of the ePass is also deposited in the individual's Aarogya Setu app for easyaccess and verification. "The creation of the National e-Pass platform in less than a week is a beautiful moment. Firstly it manifests how digital infra like eGov's DIGIT platform can be leveraged to create highly contextual solutions at scale and speed. It also brings out the power of co-creation that foundations like ours are uniquely placed to catalyze - we collaborated with volunteers from iSpirit, Aragoya Setu team at MeitY, State Governments, AWS and Consumer products companies to build this solution. And finally, this is a testament of the team that worked on this initiative - the team got together in an instant to respond to a real problem India faced. The team put the mission ahead of themselves and put in an extreme amount of hard work, while going through the same stresses of managing groceries, worrying about their loved ones"- Viraj Tyagi, CEO, eGov Foundation

Hiren Doshi, VP, eGov Foundation stated "Ensuring the availability and seamless supply of essential items across the nation, we are working with States and have developed a simple mechanism for them to issue the permits digitally with ease. Noting that the availability of essential goods take place through consumer product companies, organized retail stores and e-commerce companies, this platform will allow companies to generate digital passes for their employees and ensure smooth supply of daily use essentials, amidst this lockdown." About eGov Foundation eGov Foundation was established in 2003 by Nandan Nilekani and Srikanth Nadhamuni to partner with city administrators in their drive to leverage the transformative power of technology for a better quality of life in our cities and to make them sustainable.

We are joined by Nilekani Philanthropies, Omidyar Network and Tata Trust as our long term benefactors.

In order to address the need for scale and speed, eGov has built a DIGIT platform- a Public Digital Good that can be used by Governments, Enterprises and civil society to co-create and deploy locally relevant solutions.

Over the last 17 years, we have partnered with more than 1000+ towns and cities across India and more than 12Cr Citizens have benefited from our platform. And we know there is much more to do to build a thriving, digitally-enabled ecosystem in all 4400+ towns and cities in India. Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1159842/COVID_e_Pass.jpg

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With the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, the Cold War virtually disappeared. In the 1990s, the People's Republic of China (PRC) was admitted to the World Trade Organization (WTO). Under Deng Xiaoping (premier of China, 19781992), the PRC had begun to set up empowerment zones and allowed capitalist multinational corporations to operate within their borders. McDonald's has some nice fast food outlets in China, and many of our medicines as well as our Barbie dolls are manufactured there. Chinese restrictions on child-bearing won the hearts of Western liberals, who are convinced that over-population combined with climate change (formerly "global warming") is the cause of poverty on our planet. "Sustainable" use of resources became a new mantra. For many, sustainability means capitalism and communism working together side by side. How else can we arrive at the fulfillment of the Marxian principle "from each according to his ability to each according to his need"?

The highly educated of the West neatly combined all these avenues of discourse  climate change, population control, compatibility of communism and capitalism  with the widely accepted utilitarian doctrine of the greatest good for the greatest number (believed by most if not all of Western Civilization). Our own left-wing/liberal elite easily accepted Mill's belief that the "greatest good" could best be discerned by the more educated, informed classes of people. What a neat package!

The only snag is that it leaves out of the equation two important dimensions of the problem. Dimension One: What happens to the individual in this process, and in particular, what happens to the liberty of the individual? Dimension Two: What is the role of God and of individual morality in this collective vision? Does subjecting oneself to the decisions of the new experts of the greatest good (sic) become a "new morality"? There is one paradigm of morality presented to Western civilization for 3,400 years. It's called Judeo-Christian values. At many points, it conflicts directly with the new Sino-Technocratic-Marxist/Utilitarian morality. There is one paradigm of capitalist economics where private ownership and management of one's assets is justified, and another opposing paradigm where ownership, product design, prices, wages, and uses of goods and services are governmental. There is one paradigm where God, Creator of Heaven and Earth, is mainstream, and there is the more recent paradigm, where the human caretaker model  taking care of society and nature  is the end-all and be-all.

Those, like this writer, who grew up before 1991 were brought up in a world that was anti-communist. The majority view, held by both our major parties, emphasized private ownership of property and individual liberty restrained by Judeo-Christian morality. Despite the banning of prayer in our schools in 1962, faith in God was perceived as legitimate (varying on an individual-by-individual basis), and not as a somewhat out-of-date interest merely to be tolerated. We had "rights," and those in the USSR didn't. We had prosperity, and the commies did not. We were good guys, and they were bad guys. People wanted to become citizens and emigrate to the USA, and nobody wanted to go to commie countries. We were in a fight against those who sought to disrupt all the positives of the USA and looked to the Soviets for leadership in doing so. Eugene Debs was their candidate in 1912. Henry Wallace was their candidate in 1948. Then there was George McGovern in 1972.

However, once the USSR collapsed, it seemed that the idea of two sides in the world also evaporated from American consciousness. A paradigm shift began to take place. Now we are struggling through a great identity crisis between leftist programs and policies and programs and policies based on private property and liberty. The crisis has intensified with this virus pestilence. The left, following the example of Mao's Long March, has kept pushing forward, pushing forward, and now has taken over one of our two major parties.

The under-30 crowd does not know  yes, know  about communism, about Castro, about Mao, about Lenin, about Stalin, about murder of the kulaks in Ukraine, about the Cultural Revolution, about the boat people risking all on the high seas to get to Florida from Cuba. These people do not know about the murders, torture, or imprisonments in communist countries. They do not know about the rampant bribery in communist countries or the long hours in line to buy chicken, meat, eggs, and produce. They do not know that the government told people when and where they could move to another apartment and what occupation to study for in school. They never met my former colleague, who had a Ph.D. in mathematics in the USSR, but was told that because he was Jewish, he could teach only in a remote city, not in Moscow. They do not know about a society where the government produces all clothing, and there was no variety of colors or styles to choose from. Another friend, now retired from a career as a leading architect, returning from a trip to the USSR in 1990, noticed how all clothes were brown, dark blue, or charcoal grey.

Sadly, we are at a point where learning about these things is in books or articles, and books and articles are being read less than ever because of the declining literacy and attention span of the population. We are all becoming increasingly addicted to sound bites; texts; and Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter posts as legitimate sources of ideas and information. These modes are becoming central media for communication rather than marginal pastimes for less significant communications. Previously, in our new computer age, these communications were for fun, but not to be taken as seriously as other more substantial, lengthier forms of communication. Therefore, the possibility of challenging the left through books and articles becomes less and less viable with each passing year.

The communist threat in an earlier era also was not only to be considered in books and articles, but was more part of everyday consciousness. When I was growing up in the fifties and sixties, you might well understand that communism was wrong or, at the very least, suspect that it was wrong without reading articles and books on the subject. Today, that pervasive, in-the-air understanding that communism is unacceptable is not there. The leftocratic position described above is the norm for many, including our college-educated under-30 generation. The left has made tremendous progress, especially since 1991. Thus, in the face of the fact that the path of private property, natural rights and liberty, Judeo-Christian morality, belief in the primacy of the individual rather than the collective, and America as a republic and not a socialist global village has been dominant for a few hundred years, we must fight for these ideas as never before. Because of the invasion of leftism from Europe in the late 19th century, we have been fighting those Marxist views for over 100 years and have, in the past thirty years, lost ground. By prayer and resolve, we must fight even harder against the scourge of the enemy both within and without. Our heritage cannot be taken for granted. Resistance is needed.
Beijing, April 25 : China's National Health Commission said on Saturday that there were only 49 people in critical condition due to the novel coronavirus, the lowest figure since the end of January.

Health authorities reported that for the first time since the outbreak began in Wuhan last December, not one of these serious COVID-19 case was reported in the city, where currently 23 "active" infections remain, reports Efe news.

Until midnight, 12 new cases had been recorded, 11 of which were imported, according to the Commission.

The remaining case was a "local" infection diagnosed in Heilongjiang province, which borders Russia and where an outbreak has been detected among travellers from Russia in recent days, prompting China to close its border with the neighbouring country.

It is also the ninth consecutive day on which the Chinese authorities have not recorded any new fatalities so the total number of deaths due to COVID-19 among the 82,816 cases officially confirmed in China since the onset of the pandemic remains at 4,632.

The total number of people who have recovered from the disease and been discharged stands at 77,346, leaving the number of "active" infections in the Asian giant at 838.

To date, 729,287 people in close contact with the patients have been medically monitored, of which 8,493 are still under observation, and of these, 17 are suspected cases of having been infected with the virus.

China also registered 29 new cases of asymptomatic patients, bringing the total number of asymptomatic patients under observation to 983.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Isn't it fascinating how we can interpret the same things so differently? When a crew member on our expedition cruise describes the first possible excursion  a steep hike through a Patagonian forest  the words that leap out at me are muddy, challenging and not for everyone. However, my three teenagers hear only fun and exciting. They are emphatic: Were doing it!

My twins, Nathalie and Gabriel, and their younger sister, Hannah, crave an adventure which leaves behind their city lives, and this cruise to Patagonia  a sparsely populated region at the foot of Chile and Argentina  is as adventurous as it gets.

Our ship is the new 210-passenger Ventus Australis, which has been specifically designed to navigate this regions islands and the Tierra del Fuego islets  a treacherous, uninhabited wilderness of narrow fjords and channels. It is so remote, we are its only visitors.

Unforgettable adventure: Passengers from Ventus Australis are taken to their next land-based excursion in Patagonia in small inflatables

We prepare for our first disembarkation, but even if we never set foot on land I would be perfectly content as the ship is quite simply divine. Cabins are deluxe, food is gourmet and excellent Chilean wines are included in the price.

Better still, travel in December, as we did, and this luxury is surprisingly affordable: one child goes free per parent. A bargain, which explains why there are so many youngsters on board, all chomping at the bit to get boots stuck into that mud.

Pretty soon were donning lifejackets and being whisked in small Zodiac boats towards a beach, zipping through a fjord surrounded by vast, snow-capped mountains. Its here that the challenging 90-minute hike begins.

Mud is indeed plentiful as we follow our guide Vicky up a shrub-coated moraine  a landmass created by debris from a former glacier. Instead of dwelling on each calf-high squelch, I marvel at how pure the air is and the wildness of the scenery; how the sea is a glorious blue flanked by the statuesque, never-ending Andes.

Im also mindful that were following in the footsteps of Charles Darwin, who twice stopped off in Tierra del Fuego while sailing in HMS Beagle in 1832.

Reaching the summit is thrilling enough, but theres another treat at the top. Look! My kids point skyward. Two Andean condors  the largest flying birds in the world  soar overhead.

The new 210-passenger Ventus Australis has been specifically designed to navigate this regions islands and the Tierra del Fuego islets. Pictured is one of the cabins

Thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows in the lounges, you can gaze at the unforgettable scenery

Our four-night voyage has a fixed itinerary, with two excursions offered on most days.

But the crew warn us that Mother Nature might prevent certain landings, such as our visit to Cape Horn, the southernmost point of South America where the seas are notoriously rough.

For now, the schedule runs like clockwork. Theres time for a buffet lunch, where I feast on parmesan asparagus, king crab souffle and smoked salmon salad. And then were back in the Zodiacs, where my normally surly son becomes unrecognisable by pulling (and maintaining) a megawatt smile to rival that of Tom Cruise.

Why? Because we spot a penguin colony on a beach and Gabriel, like everyone else in our boat, goes potty over these comical birds.

This year is the 500th anniversary of the discovery of the strait at the bottom of South America by explorer Ferdinand Magellan  after whom this breed of penguin is named  which enabled him to lead the first ever circumnavigation of the world.

Back on board Ventus, theres no wi-fi or TV, and we all agree this is a good thing. We immerse ourselves in our surroundings, watching glaciers glide past and dolphins frolicking. And thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows in the lounges, we also multi-task  gazing at the scenery and playing cards simultaneously.

Then there are expedition lectures given on subjects such as global warming and Patagonian icefields, not to mention crew-led karaoke and quizzes. But its the land adventures that give the biggest thrill, where the choice is always an educational amble or a physical challenge. Guess which one my brood inevitably picks?

'Cabins are deluxe, food is gourmet and excellent Chilean wines are included in the price,' writes Jo Kessel

Thats how I end up huffing and puffing on the hike, but when I reach the summit, the view leaves me with a huge sense of accomplishment.

Thats also how I end up clambering across slippery rocks for an hour until Im looking down over Pia Glacier, a sheer, jagged, ice-blue sculpture on a truly giant scale. Its one of Patagonias success stories  a glacier thats advancing instead of retreating  and the ice on top of it looks almost fluid, as if in motion. Pia Glacier is the size of Santiago, where our adventure began.

We had spent three nights at the new Mandarin Oriental, from where wed explored the Chilean capital, and at the time I couldnt have imagined being anywhere more exciting and vibrant. But then wed flown south to Patagonia, which felt vast and vital. Just being there made us feel like pioneers.

Home turf: Enjoy a visit to a penguin colony

Over the centuries, an estimated 12,000 sailors have drowned off Cape Horn, the point at which the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans meet, but the water is reassuringly flat on our trip. And so we become some of the privileged few to tread on South Americas southernmost terrain. On a good day you can see Antarctica from here, jokes a crew member.

The white continent is 500 miles away, and this is the last land before you reach it.

We began our voyage interpreting what this holiday offered very differently, but by the time we pull up anchor to head home, weve found we all loved not seeing any other people or civilisation. The unforgettable scenery is extraordinary. And we all agree that being at the end of the world has made us reluctant to return to our urban lives.
PHIs and their families who have sacrificed much to battle the pandemic By NaminiWijedasa View(s): View(s):

For more than a month, Kanchana and Vaas have not seen their two childrena daughter of six and a son of three. And they cannot say when they will.

Thirty-three-year-old Prabodhini Kanchana is a nurse at the outpatient department of the National Hospital in Colombo. Her husband, 41, is a public health inspector (PHI) with the Colombo Municipal Council and has been leading the countrys COVID-19 response from the front. Families such as theirs are making difficult choices.

Days before Government imposed the ongoing curfew, the couple realised things could get grim. On March 17, they packed their childrenboth suffer from wheezingoff to their aunts house in Kaduwela. And, together, they steeled themselves for a long slog.

My husband was working since the end of January when they sent PHIs out to look for those who had come into contact with foreigners from China, Kanchana said, from her residence in Kelanimulla before setting off for hospital duty. He tied a handkerchief around his nose and mouth and went to the hotels. We realised it could get dangerous.

We explained to the children that they will be at punchis house because we have to work, she related. We cant visit them because my son will hang on to me and cry. And we stopped the video calls because he adores his father and cannot understand why he wont come and get him.

Every morning, before Vaas set off for work, he would take his toddler for a ride on his motorbike. That routine is now a thing of the past. He often leaves home around 6.30 or 7 a.m. and doesnt get back till late. An accident has left him with a bad knee which gives him trouble after long hours of standing and walking.

He hasnt taken a holiday at all, Kanchana, who laughs a lot, reflected. He often says, Im really tired and tomorrow I will not go. The next morning, he gets ready and leaves. He has always been a committed PHI, conscious of his duty even when he was involved in dengue prevention. He is more so now.

PHIs often dont have time to eat proper meals. Some take packed food from home but others rely on what is provided to them.

He tells me not to cook for him because he cannot predict what time he will eat and it would have gone bad by then, Kanchana said. They are given one disposable PPE (personal protective equipment) a day and when they put it on, there is a process to get it off again. There is risk of contamination, too, so they wait till their duty is completed to eat.

Inside the PPEs, it is swelteringly hot. Vaas was part of the team that was deployed to Kotahena where, on April 15, a 59-year-old woman tested positive for COVID-19. He was drenched in sweat and barely had a sip of water. But he came home and sadly told his wife how he saw tired little children, crying in hunger and thirst, while awaiting their turn to be swabbed.

There has been no research in Sri Lankan on the impact of the pandemic on the well-being of health workers. But it is clear their stress is high, particularly as the clusters of infected persons expand. They work long hours. The wives of PHIs interviewed for this article said their husbands leave home early and that theres no foreseeing what time they will return. And they live in fear of infecting those they cherish the most.

We do have it in the back of our minds that we might contract this disease because we are both in high-risk work, Kanchana said. But we still have job satisfaction and the joy of knowing we are providing a service. We are making personal sacrifices to help see the end of this pandemic.

Ajantha Pathirana, a 42-year-old housewife who resides in Borella, says her husband, H. M. P. Heratha supervising PHI (SPHI) with the CMCnow lives apart from them in the same house. Its a sort of self-isolation aimed at preventing their two children, a son of 14 and a daughter of 11, from contracting the virus, should he bring it home.

He leaves home very early and returns late, sometimes past midnight, when we are asleep, Ajantha said, of 44-year-old Herath. There are times he doesnt come at all. He doesnt approach the kids and I dont encourage them to go near him.

He sleeps in a room outside the main house, she continued. He bathes and disinfects outside. He washes his clothes and his shoes are never brought in.There is little interaction with us.

This is how it has been for weeks. Herath rests just a few hours a night before rushing out again. The hours he is at home, the phone rings off the hook, particularly owing to his supervisory position.

The pandemic has taken an emotional toll on them all. Before things got much worse, the SPHI took his family to his village in Polonnaruwa, intending to drop them off at his parents home and return to Colombo alone.

But it soon became clear the neighbours did not want them there. They feared they had brought the virus with them. So we turned back and came home the next day, Ajantha said. The children were very sad.

Even in Borella, they do not associate with others because they dont want to cause alarm. If provisions run out, Ajantha waits patiently till her husband has time to replenish stocks. He has no time to attend to the childrens studies. And he has not taken a day off in more than a month.

And, yet, the family is proud of the work Herath does. Yes, there is a danger, Ajantha says. But I am happy about his job and we are facing it. We understand he has his duty.

Manel Ranjani is 52. Her husband, S A U T Kulathilaka, is 56 and, therefore, older than most PHIs in his team. This could mean he is more at risk but he, too, is married to the job. He leaves early, returns late and barely has time to eat.

One of the areas Kulathilaka covered was Keselwatte where Bandaranayake Mawatha is located. A large number of COVID-19 infected persons were found there.

He does not think of the danger, Manel said. What our husbands do must truly be appreciated. They are committed to saving the country. Some among the public dont have the same commitment. Our families are making immense sacrifices.

Manel and Kulathilaka have three children between 23 and 16. They live at home and, like Ajanthas kids, they have minimised communication with their father. His food and drink is served to the table and he spends time apart.

Its like we are automatically self-quarantined, said Manel, who lives at Kalumada in Divulapitiya. Anyway, he has not time to talk to us. Friends and relatives are afraid to see us because my husband moves around so closely with people who may have the illness. We do feel it but we also understand their concerns. So we also keep away.

In areas like the Jaffna peninsula, there are additional issues. Thirty-seven-year-old Mathuranthaki Ajanthan is the mother of a two-year-old girl. She lives in Inuvil. The adjoining village has been under strict lockdown for the past three weeks.

When infections escalated in the North, her husband, 39-year-old Ajanthan, had to report to work in the night. There were security concerns as the neighbourhood had houses spaced wide apart. With the situation easing in the North over the past few days, however, her husband has been coming home earlier.

Mathuranthaki worries that people, particularly the older generation, havent taken the pandemic seriously enough. A cleaner who works in her house claims that the Government is lying to them.

The crisis shows no sign of easing soon. But the commitment health workers and the medical community also continues to grow in Sri Lanka, often at great personal sacrifice and risk.
Lawyers must be dressed in proper uniform when they appear before the court via video-conferencing, the Rajasthan high court (HC) observed on Friday taking exception to an advocate, who was found wearing a banian (vest) during a hearing of a bail plea.

The HC said that the Advocates Act stipulates lawyers to appear before the court in the prescribed dress code and the decorum should be maintained even when it is functioning through a virtual medium. The video-conferencing facility has been enforced because of the ongoing nationwide lockdown, which was initially imposed for 21 days on March 25 and then further extended by another 19 days till May 3, to contain the spread of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) outbreak.

The counsel for the petitioner was contacted through video-conferencing. He was found to be wearing a banian (vest). The courts decorum required to be maintained even through video-conferencing, Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma stated in his order.

The HC adjourned the case while referring to an earlier instance when it had to similarly caution lawyers to appear in proper uniform after a lawyer appeared in a vest to argue a case on April 7 amid the lockdown restrictions.

The court has already observed that during this pandemic where it is functioning through video conferencing, lawyers must appear in proper uniform. Keeping in view that the petitioners counsel was not in proper uniform, the matter is adjourned, the court said.

Justice Sharma was also on the bench on April 7 when a lawyers inappropriate attire had forced a similar adjournment. The judge had asked the Rajasthan High Court Bar Association to urge lawyers to be dressed appropriately while appearing via video- conferencing. The Bar Association officials had assured compliance with the courts directions.

Section 49(1)(gg) of the Advocates Act empowers the Bar Council of India (BCI) to frame rules prescribing the dress to be worn by advocates after taking into account the climatic conditions.

The BCI has framed rules, which stipulate an advocate to wear a white shirt and long trousers that are black striped, white, or grey teamed up with black open breast coat and gown. They are also required to wear a white band. They can also wear black, white or grey dhoti instead of trousers.

Various high courts and the Supreme Court have issued orders, asking lawyers to be dressed in the prescribed uniform while appearing via video-conferencing in view of the ongoing lockdown restrictions.

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Jennifer Hawkins first listed her stunning $20million Sydney mansion for sale back in November, with the hopes of moving closer to her family in Northern NSW.

But it seems the Australian model, 36, has had to put her plans on hold, with Jen and husband Jake Wall struggling to find a buyer for their lavish home at Newport.

The property's listing agent, Ken Jacobs, told The Daily Telegraph on Saturday that the COVID-19 restrictions have made it hard for the couple to sell. The pad has now been on the market for five months.

Struggling: Jennifer Hawkins is STILL trying to sell $20million Sydney mansion

'It's in a holding pattern of sorts,' Ken told the publication.

He added: 'It's an issue of getting access. We would normally do inspections by appointment only anyway, but there is now the question of verifying with buyers where they have travelled.'

Amid the coronavirus pandemic, people can still sell their homes but there are a number of restrictions in place. On-site auctions are banned, with virtual tours, private inspections and online auctions now taking place.

For sale: The model, 36, listed the four-storey home (pictured) in November because she was planning to move to the Central Coast, but it's still on the market five months later

Home sweet home: Jennifer and husband Jake Wall currently live in the lavish pad with their daughter Frankie, five months, and have been isolating at home amid the pandemic

Tough times: The property's listing agent Ken Jacobs told The Daily Telegraph on Saturday that the COVID-19 restrictions have made it hard for Jennifer and Jake to sell

Coronavirus shutdowns could cause Australian house prices to plunge by 40 per cent within months to levels last seen in 2012, many economists now fear.

However Ken said that there has been plenty of interest in the waterfront property, which boasts four levels, pristine views and a pool.

Jennifer and Jake currently live in the lavish pad with their daughter Frankie, five months, and have been isolating at home amid the pandemic.

They plan to move to the Central Coast in Northern NSW to be closer to Jennifer's family, but it remains to be seen when this will be possible.

Ken confirmed to Daily Mail Australia earlier this month that the property was still on the market.

Well it is stunning! Ken also said that there has been plenty of interest in the waterfront property, which boasts four levels, pristine views and a pool

The land and build cost a reported $6million, with the home being designed by renowned architect Koichi Takada.

It features a neutral and elegant colour palette throughout, as well as sandstone walls, with five spacious and well-styled bedrooms, as well as six bathrooms with tall mirrors, marble walls and countertops, and free-standing bathtubs.

The kitchen is fitted with high-end appliances, a sleek marble island that doubles as a breakfast counter, and a reflective splashback.

It will be a record breaking sale for the Northern Beaches, one of the most expensive properties outside of Palm Beach.

Pricey: The land and build cost a reported $6million, with the home being designed by renowned architect Koichi Takada

Jennifer and Jake Wall (pictured) currently live in the lavish pad with their daughter Frankie, five months, and have been isolating at home amid the pandemic

Outside, there is an al fresco dining area, bar, pizza oven, barbecue, sunken lounge, boat shed, jetty and L-shaped infinity pool.

'It's going to be really sad to say goodbye to this beautiful home and location,' Jennifer told Domain in November, a month after welcoming her daughter.

'We really made some amazing memories here but I'm looking forward to designing a house with Jake with a similar aesthetic closer to family.'

Jennifer's family are based in Newcastle.

Modern: It has five spacious and well-styled bedrooms, as well as six bathrooms with tall mirrors, marble walls and countertops, and free-standing bathtubs
Hi Future Tensers,

Sure, its a cliche, but we hope this newsletter finds you well in these strange and uncertain times.

We have a great lineup of Social-Distancing Socials coming up. (But if you do, theyre all on Slates YouTube Channel.) Join the conversation on Zoom every Tuesday and Thursday (plus the occasional Wednesday) at 4 p.m. Eastern:

Tuesday, April 28: Theres No Social Distancing in Prison

Wednesday, April 29: Free Speech Project: TVs Lessons for Political Ads Online

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Thursday, April 30: Timeout. Do We Need to Rethink Our Relationship With Sports?

Tuesday, May 5: The Splendid and the Vile When It Comes to Leadership

Thursday, May 7: Technology, Borderlands, and the Future of U.S.-Mexico Ties

Future Tense Fiction

The pandemic and subsequent quarantine are warping celebrity culture in fascinating ways. That Imagine video was just too cringe, January Jones is being delightfully unhinged, and its never been a better time to ask: Stars, are they just like us or of different genetic stuff? In the latest Future Tense Fiction story, Daffodils Baby, Alyssa Virker imagines a future where our access to the lives of celebrities goes far beyond Instagram Live and into biological elitism. This future is reminiscent of the history of eugenics to David Plotz, former Slate editor and author of The Genius Factory: The Curious History of the Nobel Prize Sperm Bank. In a response essay, he writes: Since humans first understood how to make babies, weve been trying to make better ones  to build a Lake Wobegon world where were all stronger, faster, and smarter (and to gloss over how that punishes the weaker, the slower, the dumberthat is, most of us).

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Best of Future Tense

Kelsey Lahr Watching the Giant Sequoias Die

Justin Sherman A Pandemic Shows Just How Dangerous It Is for Governments to Shut Down the Internet

Faine Greenwood The Dawn of the Shout Drone

Mia Armstrong How Migrant Shelters in Mexico Are Facing COVID-19

Wish Wed Published This

The Untold Story of the Birth of Social Distancing, by Eric Lipton and Jennifer Steinhauer, New York Times.

Three Questions for a Smart Person

Bina Venkataraman is the editorial page editor of the Boston Globe, a Future Tense fellow at New America, and a former Obama White House senior adviser for climate change innovation. She is the author of The Optimists Telescope: Thinking Ahead in a Reckless Age. I spoke with her over email about long-term thinking about climate change in the wake of coronavirus.

Margaret: Why havent we been able to mobilize to combat climate change in the same way weve urgently responded to COVID-19?

Bina: While I dont think we responded quickly enough to COVID-19 in the United States, one reason many people have now sprung into social distancing and demanding action from their political leaders is that the illnesses and deaths have become apparent; the pandemic feels like an imminent threat. As more and more cases and outbreaks happen around the world, people have begun to wrap their heads around the threat. Its historically been harder with climate change over the past couple of decades, when disasters would strike at different times and places around the globe and were not always obviously connected to warmer temperatures. To too many people, the climate crisis doesnt feel imminent or imaginable yet.

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Theres been a lot of conversation about benefits to the climate (less air pollution, travel, etc.) in the absence of people during quarantine. What do you think the conversations about climate will look like post-coronavirus?

Well see whether some changeslike telecommuting in large cities, less plane travel, and fewer in-person conferences will become the new normal. But there are also ways that this pandemic could hamstring existing efforts to address climate change, because companies that have made emissions commitments, like airlines and others, may retreat from making cuts. The big question in my mind is whether we can draw on the collective spirit that has been unleashed during this pandemic to address climate change. Will we learn to actually think and plan ahead, hold political and business leaders accountable, and reflect on the hard lesson were learning about what happens when we dont act in time?

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In The Optimists Telescope, you identify communities that are particularly good at thinking about the future. Have you noticed communities that are responding to this crisis in a way that centers the future?

Ive been impressed to see how Germany has committed itself to testing, early contact tracing, and containing the outbreak. Angela Merkel has had clear consistent messages for the public, and the public trust in government and science is high. Telluride, Colorado, is now doing something quite forward-thinkingblood antibody tests for all their residents to try to figure out how immunity develops for COVID-19. Its something the Globe Editorial Board has called on Massachusetts, as a biomedical hub, to do as well to help us get more people including health care workers back in action sooner. Im also heartened to hear about communities that are doing as much as they can to keep the social fabric together, whether its through neighborhood musical jams or food banks. Thats a way of investing in the future, too.

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Future Tense Recommends

With the republic flailing in the throes of COVID-19, now is an instructive moment to look back at the truly strange group of men who founded these United States. Theres no better way to start than with Doctor Benjamin Franklins Dream America, a mind-melting alternate history novel by Damien Lincoln Ober. The book tells the story of the Founding Fathers, with each chapter narrating the death of one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. But in this version of reality, the internet and other network technologies exist during the Revolutionary Era. This is unique storytelling, baffling in a good way, and acutely revealing about the tensions, abuses, and dark knots at the heart of the American Idea.Joey Eschrich, editor and program manager for the Center for Science and the Imagination at Arizona State University

What Next: TBD

On Friday on Slates technology podcast, Lizzie OLeary spoke with Tim Lahey, an infectious disease physician and director of clinical ethics at the University of Vermont Medical Center, about how long it could take to make a safe COVID-19 vaccine.

And last week, Lizzie interviewed Raphael Rashid, a freelance journalist based in South Korea, and Mike Reid, professor at University of California-San Francisco, about how contact tracing is working in two places on opposite sides of the globe.

Margaret from Future Tense

Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society.
Georgia has become one of the first states to ease coronavirus lockdown restrictions, as Governor Brian Kemp cast CDC cautions and even President Trumps criticism aside today, to allow some non-essential businesses to re-open.

But while anti-lockdown protests have gathered momentum nationwide, the scenes in Georgia today were far from the enthusiastic uptake for which Kemp must have hoped.

Instead many stores remained shuttered and business owners and employees who spoke with DailyMail.com today told of their confusion, conflict and fear that this was a move made too soon.

Georgia has become one of the first states to ease coronavirus lockdown restrictions, as Governor Brian Kemp cast CDC cautions and even President Trumps criticism aside today, to allow some non-essential businesses to re-open

Some expressed anger at Kemps decision and have no intention of reopening. Upscale Barbers owner Michael Macey, 62, slammed the governor, Especially when you look at how this virus is ravaging our community

Macey said they had been given no testing equipment, no way to check clients health as they came in and that it was, irresponsible to open so soon' (pictured is his Upscale Salon)

Macey admitted that he was barely making it, but will not open his doors until the CDC has declared conditions safe. Pictured is his salon

Others were glad to reopen. Hair stylist Deborah Adams in the throes of preparing her salon for clients said, Trust me I am dying to get back to work but I dont want to die. Its just not a good idea right now'

Hair stylist Deborah Adams in the throes of preparing her salon for clients said, Trust me I am dying to get back to work but I dont want to die. Its just not a good idea right now. There is still a stay in place order, and you have to stay six-feet away from people, yet I am supposed to cut hair and put my hands-on people.

The Georgia easing is targeted at businesses including fitness centers, bowling alleys, body art studios, hairdressers, nail salons and massage therapists.

Critics have questioned how it is possible for any sort of meaningful coronavirus prevention measures to be instigated at businesses that are, by their nature, up close and personal.

President Trump this week claimed he wasnt happy with Brian Kemp, though Kemps own advisors have since stated that both the president and Vice President Mike Pence were privately supportive of the plans to reopen.

Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms revealed on Monday that she had been blindsided by the Governors announcement. She said was perplexed and upset and stated, There is nothing about this that makes any sense.

Among businesses that will reopen on Friday are bowling alleys and hair salons. The Midtown Bowl bowling alley is pictured earlier this week

Midtown Bowl remained shuttered on Friday as businesses in the state slowly started reopening

The bowling alley will not be reopening - despite the loosening of rules around non-essential businesses

Massage therapist Erin Hennessy based in Downtown Atlanta said she would not be returning back to work regardless of the pressure she feels to do so

Some, like Elite Edge Gym owner Jason Colleran, 38, decided to do a soft opening Friday as they navigate new protocols.

Members of his gym will have to enter through the front door and exit at the back to encourage social distancing. Only six to eight students will be allowed in the facility at a time which will allow around 30 feet between them in this commercial gym.

The state has set out 16 guidelines they recommend gyms follow,

Colleran has posted his checklist at the door explained, We have a checklist for students. They will need to have their temperatures checked and hand sanitized before being allowed to work out.

Showers and bathrooms are for one person at a time. Students must keep appropriate distances apart from each other. They must also clean their equipment before and after use.

He said it was down to gym users' discretion whether they chose to wear a mask but there will be masks, gloves and hand sanitizer stations around the gym.

Like many having to close his doors has hit Colleran hard and he admitted to feeling great to be able to open even partially. As things stand, he faced closing the business permanently in May.

Body Art Studios, Estheticians, Hair Designers, Massage Therapy and Tanning Facilities have a list of 13 state issued guidelines to follow.

Gov Kemp tweeted that he was confident in his reopening plan after speaking with members of the administration

They include no walk-in customers, requiring patrons to sanitize their hands on entering and before any treatment, staggering work schedules so that no more than 50percent of staff are there at one time and requiring employees to wear Personal Protective Equipment as available and appropriate.

According to Adams a team of cleaners had sanitized and fumigated the Buckhead, Atlanta salon in which she works ahead of Fridays re-opening.

She said, We are going to be having a lot of people coming in and out of her. They said they are going to stagger hours and have big gaps of time between each client and sanitize everything before and after each client. Its going to be really difficult.

Protesters Chris Sturdivant, 34 (left), and Cozmo Whitest, 32 (right), hold a banner that reads 'People over profits' in the Virginia-Highlands neighborhood of Atlanta, which has a large number of restaurants and tattoo shops - some of which are starting to reopen

Southern Star Tattoo in Little Five Points, Atlanta, remained closed despite the state easing restrictions to give owners the option of reopening

The seating are of this Checkers in Atlanta is wrapped in caution tape to prevent people from gathering in groups

The Starlight Drive-In Theater in Atlanta remains closed despite the state easing on lockdown restrictions

The ease in lockdown restrictions includes reopening barbershops - this one, Upscale Barbers in Lawrenceville, remains shuttered

Nail salon owner Tracey Phin, 36, opened her store on Friday as the state eased lockdown restrictions

Workers had been instructed to remove all magazines and ornaments that people might touch and to set up caution tape inside the salon preventing people from sitting down.

Instead clients will have to wait in their cars and go into the salon one at time. Chairs will be wrapped in plastic.

Those attempting to adhere to the guidelines face a daunting and onerous task. But it is unclear how, or if, they will be enforced and DailyMail.com witnessed several barber shops already functioning with complete disregard to the guidelines.

Clients waited in small stores with no care for social distancing and employees seemed unaware of preventative measures or simply unwilling to take them.

Savannah based tattoo artist Scott Althen, 46, said that safety is a priority for the owners of the parlor in which he works and that they were, coming up with safe operating procedures and a best plan of action.

He explained, We work in one big room and are plenty of feet apart from each other, but we are in close contact with the person who is getting tattooed. We are going to have to figure out how many people can come in at a time. Likely we will keep it simple and have as few in the shop as possible.

Elite Edge Fitness owner Jason Colleran, 38, has opened his gym as Georgia eases lockdown restrictions

A woman can be seen working out at Elite Edge Fitness after it opened on Friday

Two people work out at Elite Edge Fitness after it opened as Georgia eased lockdown restrictions in the state

According to Althen the artists would also do video consultations with potential clients.

Althen voiced the feelings of many when he said, As much as I would like to get back to work, I would like to see all of the safety measures put in place for us before jumping right back in.

Like many he has been hard hit financially by not being able to work. His shop closed on March 17th and he and his wife have dipped their savings to survive.

He said, If it werent for my wife having a full-time job this would be really tough. His paperwork for unemployment pay was supposed to go through just two days earlier on 22 April. Now he is uncertain what will happen to any benefits.

Nail salon owner Tracey Phin, 36, said that customers are appointment only and must have masks and gloves on when they come in. When asked how she felt about reopening she said that she was scared but, had bills to pay.

Massage therapist Erin Hennessy based in Downtown Atlanta said she would not be returning back to work regardless of the pressure she feels to do so.

She said, I will not return back to work until the CDC says that it is okay to come back.

She said she did not trust the governors assurances and believed him to be motivated by a desire to save the state money rather than save the people in it.

She added, I think it is more about unemployment checks than anything else. I think that is his motive.

Hair stylist Adams agreed. She said that she missed her clients terribly but, I feel they are pushing us and backing us into a corner so that we have to go back to work, and we have to start paying rent and will no longer be able to collect unemployment.

Althen was also keen to get back to work but cautious that now is too soon. He said he thought that a safe return was possible but would have liked to see them wait even another week.

He said, I guess we are looking for the medical professionals or someone from the CDC to say its safe to return back to work. Its not just our safety its everyone elses as well.

Some expressed anger at Kemps decision and have no intention of reopening. Upscale Barbers owner Michael Macey, 62, slammed the governor, Especially when you look at how this virus is ravaging our community.

He said they had been given no testing equipment, no way to check clients health as they came in and that it was, irresponsible to open so soon.

Macey admitted that he was barely making it, but will not open his doors until the CDC has declared conditions safe.

Hair Salon owner Erin McAlister who runs Atlanta salon Relish is also waiting for the CDCs sanction.

She said, I think its too dangerous to return to work. I think that the CDC are going to try to control the curve and there will be a peak and then cases will start to decrease and hopefully then they will see that it is safe.

But Kemp was not entirely without support on Friday. A lone cheerleader could be found at the gates of the governors mansion. Amanda Circui, 30, held a sign that said, Give me Liberty or give me death.

She said she had been going out every day without gloves or masks and was, alive and free. Though with that admission she would presumably not be free to go into any of the businesses that have reopened under the ongoing state restrictions.

Kemps push to get Georgia back to business continues on Monday when dine-in restaurants and movie theaters will be allowed to reopen under social distancing and sanitation conditions the details of which have yet to be released.

Alaska also began phase one of its reopening, Friday, with Texas, South Carolina and Tennessee all set to push back their coronavirus lockdowns by easing restriction as early as Monday.
Libreville, Gabon (PANA) - Faced with an increase in the number of COVID-19 positive cases, the Gabonese government is to ask Parliament to extend the state of health emergency, an official source told PANA on Saturday
The Department of Justice has confirmed that measures have been taken at Globe House to protect residents' health and safety during the Covid-19 pandemic.

In response to an article in last week's The Sligo Champion, regarding the transfer of residents to Galway for the duration of the pandemic, the Department released a statement detailing the measures it has taken.

The Department was criticised for its alleged slow response to the pandemic. They say they felt it was important to deal with the challenges faced by direct provision centres in a comprehensive manner in line with HSE guidelines.

"At all times, the Department has worked closely with the HSE at national and local level and moved at speed to put in place arrangements for the 7,700 international protection applicants who have opted to avail of state services while their applications are being processed. It was essential to tackle the challenges in a comprehensive and consistent way, in consultation with the HSE. Department personnel have worked intensively to make arrangements right across the State to deal with this unprecedented challenge and that work is continuing," the statement said.

It continued: "Department staff are in daily contact with each centre manager across the network of Direct Provision centres. All our centre managers are working closely with the Department, the HSE and residents on a daily basis to ensure that centres are safe and that guidelines on social distancing are observed."

The Department assures residents of direct provision centres that their complaints and concerns are taken seriously, and that Globe House management are committed to supporting all residents.

"The Department of Justice and Equality does not normally comment on individual cases, or on unsubstantiated allegations. However, we do take complaints from residents very seriously and all residents are made fully aware of their ability to contact the Department at any time in confidence to raise any queries or concerns. Residents can also avail of the services of the Ombudsman or the Ombudsman for Children, as appropriate.

"We have spoken with management from Globe House who have assured us that they are fully committed to supporting their residents through this difficult time. The service provider operating Globe House has twenty years' experience providing accommodation and supports for international protection applicants.

"Generally speaking, we understand that this is a stressful and worrying time for everyone, and we want to again assure our centre residents that their safety and wellbeing is our priority."

A number of Globe House residents have reportedly been transferred to a Galway hotel in order to adhere to social distancing recommendations, among other reasons.

"As you know, staff in the Department have been working tirelessly since February to secure additional accommodation for our residents. Over the last two weeks we have announced that 850 new temporary beds have been procured following intensive negotiations by the Department within a very short space of time.

The new beds are being used in a number of ways including:

- To support the measures required for vulnerable residents;

- To provide offsite accommodation for self-isolation, and

- To help with social distancing measures by reducing overall numbers in some existing centres.

"This increase in capacity is a critical part of our overall strategy to protect our residents. The majority of the 850 beds are being used to support social distancing by reducing the number of residents in existing communal centres. In consultation with the HSE, a large number of transfers of residents to this new accommodation were completed early last week, and further transfers will continue. To protect the privacy of residents, the Department does not provide information on individual transfer locations."

The statement confirmed that the majority of rooms are twin rooms, which are believed to be accommodating people who share rooms in Globe House as it is. Vulnerable people will have their own rooms and facilities, the department confirmed.

They also confirmed that there is now a maximum of three people sharing a room in Globe House and similar centres, unless they are families.

"The vast majority of the rooms in the new accommodation being used to support social distancing are twin rooms accommodating two people. If any person is being accommodated in these locations based on an identified vulnerability (age or medical condition), they have their own bedroom and their own bathroom to facilitate their cocooning.

"In our other centres, including Globe House, the steps we have taken to implement social distancing means that there is now a maximum of 3 people (non-family members) sharing a room."

Residents had claimed the supply of hand sanitizer at Globe House (pictured below) was inconsistent. The Department says it has provided these centres with items like hand sanitizer, and further deliveries will take place.

"Generally it would be the responsibility of Centre Managers to procure items such as hand sanitiser. However, given the circumstances at this time, the Department procured a large volume of hand sanitiser and distributed it to all centres via courier. A regular supply arrangement is now in place and further distributions will be made to centres, as needed."
We're just doing a lot in the community, Jackson said.

Panera is providing meals at an extreme discount to the school city. The district is then distributing the meals free of charge during its bagged lunch program, which is from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Wednesdays at the Hobart High School, Hobart Middle School, Liberty Elementary School and Ridge View Elementary School.

Today, more than ever, it is clear to us that access to nutritious food is an undeniable right  especially to those most vulnerable such as children during this time of crisis, Chaudhary said. We are grateful for the opportunity to support our communities.

Nancy Smith, director of food services for Hobart schools, said the need for food assistance is increasing during the coronavirus crisis.

I get emails and phone calls from families or someone trying to help a family every week, Smith said. We work closely with the Hobart Food Pantry to help families with food shortages and we also keep a list of other community agencies that may be able to help families in financial need.

Visit hobart.k12.in.us for information about the School City of Hobart's bagged lunch program.
(Photo : Pixabay)

If you ignored Craig Zobel's The Hunt, which opened in theaters just as multiplexes started shuttering, you're in like luck. Blumhouse placed the film out on VOD as a stopgap measure, for audiences at home under quarantine.

If you're already bored with the usual selection of streaming movies online, it's time to take a risk and expand your watching repertoire. These films were once protested when they were shown in theaters, but now have a quiet life of on-demand availability. Watch them with an open mind and an even wider imagination.

ALSO READ: Violent video games, movies do not make us violent in real life: Study

A Clockwork Orange (1972)

Stanley Kubrick's violent dystopian exploration of behaviorism and morality got a "C" from the National Catholic Office for Motion Pictures. Depending on who you ask, this may be more of an endorsement than a warning.

In Britain, the movie had an even worse reception after being blamed in courts for inspiring real-life crimes. But A Clockwork Orange landed in the American Film Institute's top 100, despite its reputation, or perhaps because of the film itself. Even in 2020, the movie is still a subject of scrutiny, for better or worse.

A Clockwork Orange is rentable on Amazon.

Swiss Army Man (2016)

The debut movie from prolific creative group Daniels became another Sundance film that made audiences stomp out of theaters. Maybe it was the high altitude, or maybe Sundance audiences just weren't open to appreciating Swiss Army Man's farting as a metaphor for vulnerability.

Somehow, Manny's regular existential angst went over the heads of Sundance crowds. They overlooked Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert's friendship as near cult-classic fame.

Swiss Army Man is on Netflix and Amazon.

The House That Jack Built (2018)

Picturing audiences fainting through the Riviera is slightly less complicated than portraying them fainting outside Hollywood's Egyptian Theatre. Perhaps the response Lars von Trier's The House That Jack Built received at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival should've been expected.

The movie feels unsafe. However, the finger-wagging, tut-tutting, and outrage in The House That Jack Built just passed by. The movie itself, which opened in December 2018, did not inflict so much trauma in the year-end discourse. Maybe the folks who ignored it at Cannes decided to pass on it after hearing the details. Or perhaps soulless brutality posing as art isn't all that exciting.

The House That Jack Built is streaming on Amazon's Showtime.

The Woman (2011)

If you know the work of horror provocateur Lucky McKee, you will understand this film about a suburban family capturing, torturing, and assaulting a feral woman. And if you know The Woman, you can recall the stir it brought at its Sundance premiere in 2011.

McKee may or may not have meant his barbaric film to get so much attention. But he also probably didn't expect people would forget his film as quickly as they have. Pollyanna McIntosh, who played The Woman herself, released a 2019 sequel, Darlin', that didn't get a peep. Granted, Darlin' wasn't a Sundance offense. But The Woman wasn't worth the fuss, too.

The Woman is streaming on PopcornFlix.

Mother! (2017)

Darren Aronofsky's Mother! goes thus far off the deep end in its final act. Javier Bardem's anonymous poet and Jennifer Lawrence's equally unnamed wife are besieged in their homes by exceptionally bloodthirsty fans.

You need to watch and understand Mother!'s complicated and often conflicting symbolisms. But baby cannibalism and obvious Biblical overtones were enough to may the movie's audiences mad with confusion. The backlash precipitated Paramount issue a statement explaining why they even bothered showing Mother! at all.

Mother! is available on Vudu.

ALSO READ: The Real-Life Inspirations For Classic Horror Movies

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
100 million years ago, ferocious predators, including flying reptiles and crocodile-like hunters, made the Sahara the most dangerous place on Earth.

This is according to an international team of scientists, who have published the biggest review in almost 100 years of fossil vertebrates from an area of Cretaceous rock formations in south-eastern Morocco, known as the Kem Kem Group.

The review, published in the journal ZooKeys, "provides a window into Africa's Age of Dinosaurs" according to lead author Dr Nizar Ibrahim, an Assistant Professor of Biology at the University of Detroit Mercy and Visiting Researcher from the University of Portsmouth.

About 100 million years ago, the area was home to a vast river system, filled with many different species of aquatic and terrestrial animals. Fossils from the Kem Kem Group include three of the largest predatory dinosaurs ever known, including the sabre-toothed Carcharodontosaurus (over 8m in length with enormous jaws and long, serrated teeth up to eight inches long) and Deltadromeus (around 8m in length, a member of the raptor family with long, unusually slender hind limbs for its size), as well as several predatory flying reptiles (pterosaurs) and crocodile-like hunters. Dr Ibrahim said: "This was arguably the most dangerous place in the history of planet Earth, a place where a human time-traveller would not last very long."

Many of the predators were relying on an abundant supply of fish, according to co-author Professor David Martill from the University of Portsmouth. He said: "This place was filled with absolutely enormous fish, including giant coelacanths and lungfish. The coelacanth, for example, is probably four or even five times large than today's coelacanth. There is an enormous freshwater saw shark called Onchopristis with the most fearsome of rostral teeth, they are like barbed daggers, but beautifully shiny."

Researchers from the Universities of Detroit, Chicago, Montana, Portsmouth (UK), Leicester (UK, David Unwin), Casablanca (Morocco), and McGill (Canada), as well as the Paris Museum of Natural History, have produced the first detailed and fully illustrated account of the fossil-rich escarpment, previously known as the "Kem Kem beds". The researchers now define this sedimentary package as the Kem Kem Group, which consists of two distinct formations, the Gara Sbaa Formation and the Douira Formation.

To assemble the huge datasets and fossil images, which were originally included in his PhD thesis, Dr Ibrahim visited Kem Kem collections on several continents.

Shedding light on Africa's ancient past is important says Professor Martill, "This is the most comprehensive piece of work on fossil vertebrates from the Sahara in almost a century, since the famous German palaeontologist Ernst Freiherr Stromer von Reichenbach published his last major work in 1936."

###

Notes for editors:

1. The attached image caption: Predator paradise - The giant predatory dinosaur Carcharodontosaurus eyes a group of Elosuchus - crocodile-like hunters - near a carcass. Artwork by Davide Bonadonna

2. A copy of the paper 'Geology and paleontology of the Upper Cretaceous Kem Kem Group of eastern Morocco' is available from the Press and Media team on request.

3. The University of Portsmouth is a progressive and dynamic university with an outstanding reputation for innovative teaching and globally significant research and innovation.

It was rated 'Gold' in the UK government's Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) and was ranked in the top 150 under 50 in the world according to the Times Higher Education rankings. The University is also 21st in the Guardian's 2020 league table and was ranked number one in the UK for boosting graduate salaries according to The Economist.

The University's research and innovation culture is impacting lives today and in the future and addressing local, national and global challenges across science, technology, humanities, business and creative industries. http://www.port.ac.uk/

For further information:

Glenn Harris, Senior Media Manager (Research Themes), University of Portsmouth, Tel: 023 9284 2728, email: glenn.harris@port.ac.uk

Dr Nizar Ibrahim - ibrahini@udmercy.edu

PAPER: https://zookeys.pensoft.net/article/47517/
Lahore: A prominent Pakistani cleric has stoked controversy after his bizarre remarks relating to the coronavirus pandemic which he claimed was due to God's wrath in view of increasing obscenity and nudity.

Rights activists and members of civil society have condemned the remarks made by religious leader Maulana Tariq Jamil on national television during Prime Minister Imran Khan's telethon on April 23 to raise funds for the people affected by the COVID-19.

Maulana Jamil, who has a huge following in Pakistan, said, "Obscenity and nudity are the reasons behind God's wrath in the form of coronavirus."

"Who is making my nation's daughters dance. Their dresses are getting shortened. Allah sends his wrath when obscenity is common in the society," he said.

The remarks have been called "callous and demeaning" to women who make up half of the Muslim majority country. Barrister Maleeka Bokhari, parliamentary secretary of law and justice, tweeted:The spread of a pandemic must never and under no circumstances be correlated or linked to a woman's piety or morality.

It is dangerous to make this correlation as violent crimes against women/girls continue to take place with impunity. Federal Minister of Human Rights Shireen Mazari said: We will not accept the targeting of women on the pretext of such ludicrous accusations. We in Pakistan have fought hard for claiming our rights as enshrined in the Constitution of Pakistan.

Criticising the cleric for his "ludicrous" remarks about women in Pakistan, she said: Simply absurd for anyone under any guise to even suggest the COVID-19 pandemic is a result of women wearing short sleeves or because of private schools/universities misleading the youth. This simply reflects either ignorance about pandemics or a misogynist mindset which is absolutely unacceptable.

Nida Aly, director of the Asma Jahangir Legal Aid cell, said while women under lockdown needed security from the community, the government trotted out Tariq Jamil on a broadly televised programme who not just objectified women but declared them and their individualist actions to bring the wrath of God and punishment in the form of COVID-19."

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan said: We are appalled at Maulana Jamil's statement which inexplicably correlated women's 'modesty' to the COVID-19 pandemic. Such blatant objectification is unacceptable and, when aired on public television, only compounds the misogyny entrenched in society.

In Pakistan, nearly 12,000 people have been infected with the novel coronavirus while the death toll has reached 253.
Joylicious dormitory at Tuas Avenue 10. (PHOTO: Screenshot/Google Maps)

SINGAPORE  The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has issued a stern warning to dormitory operator Joylicious, after it locked 20 foreign workers in their room when one of them tested positive for COVID-19.

The dormitory operator was advised that it is unacceptable to forcibly confine the workers to their room, the ministry said in a media statement on Friday (24 April).

According to Today Online, MOM added that the workers employer, V Spec Engineering and Supplies, will be banned from hiring new foreign workers pending police investigations, after it consented to the locking of the room.

Alerted by migrant workers group Facebook post

In the statement, MOM said it had picked up a Facebook post put up on Tuesday by migrant workers group Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2), which said that it received a distress call from about workers being locked inside a room at the Joylicious dormitory in Tuas Avenue 10 since Monday morning.

The workers were later moved to a bigger room, but were still locked in. According to another Facebook post, TWC2 said that police came in on Tuesday evening to open the door.

MOM said in its statement that it had deployed inspectors to the dormitory after it picked up TWC2s initial post. It found the 20 workers in a warehouse with an attached toilet. Investigations confirmed that the dorm operator had confined the workers on Monday with the agreement of their employer.

According to Today Online, the dormitory manager said the men had been locked in the room for less than 24 hours, and that he had no choice but to do so for the safety of some 800 workers living there. The coronavirus-infected worker, a Chinese national, was taken to hospital on Saturday (18 April) after developing a fever.

Notifying the ministry

MOM said in the statement that TWC2 published the post on Facebook without notifying the ministry, and noted that there is an established channel for TWC2 to alert the ministry to cases of workers who might require help of any form.

Story continues

According to Today Online, TWC2 vice-president Alex Au said that the group had told the Migrant Workers Centre (MWC) about the situation at the dormitory.

MWC comes under the purview of National Trades Union Congress. The Straits Times reported MWC chairman Yeo Guat Kwang confirming that it was notified of the situation on Monday, and alerted the enforcement unit of MOM about the case.

Stay in the know on-the-go: Join Yahoo Singapore's Telegram channel at http://t.me/YahooSingapore

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Man charged for breaching quarantine order less than half an hour before it ends
Every time Aoife Kiernan starts a shift, the battle begins. She puts on a set of gloves first, then another set on top of those. Next, over her mouth and nose, she carefully attaches a FFP2 mask, a special grade respirator that filters airborne particles.

A full-length protective gown is next to go on over her clothes, followed by an apron, a hair net and, finally, a face visor.

Ready and armed, the 26-year-old takes a deep breath, opens the door, and steps on to the frontline.

"When you're going into a room where someone has Covid, it's a very daunting moment," Aoife told Independent.ie.

"You are meeting this ferocious virus head on. It's in the room with you and, yes, it's scary."

The invisible killer found its way into the nursing home where Aoife works a number of weeks ago. Since then, Covid-19 has been stalking the corridors of the family run facility, turning sunshine-lit living spaces into a viral stalking ground for some of the most frail and elderly.

Four residents have died. Of the 17 who remain, six are Covid positive and eight others have symptoms and are awaiting test results.

"This is so serious," said Aoife. "We have controlled the virus in the home at this stage, but this is coming for nursing homes across the country and when it hits, it truly hits. It's like being hit by a bus."

The devastating toll Covid-19 has taken on nursing homes has been impossible to miss. At least 348 people living in long-term care have died in the outbreak. The actual count is very likely far higher, many believe, in part because the early testing protocols meant that many who died went untested.

Read More

The escalating crisis led Aoife Kiernan to go public. Almost two weeks ago, she took on the role of interim director of nursing in her current place of work after the permanent holder of the position fell ill with Covid-19. Since then she's been battling the virus, scouring the country for PPE, and begging the HSE for help.

"I think it's time I spoke up," she said. "We are being sent to war with no armour. This virus is inside nursing homes across the country and the PPE the HSE is offering won't protect us during battle. We won't survive the war if we aren't given the best available tools to protect and I'm not willing to put my staff at risk with what the HSE is offering in terms of protection." According to Aoife, the HSE has been forthcoming with supplies of PPE. Her issue is with the standard, in line with national guidelines, of what is being offered.

They have told me that surgical masks are to be used in this environment, she said.

The HSE argue that because we are not doing ventilation in nursing homes FFP2 masks arent required. I have patients who are mobile and Covid-19 positive as well as dementia patients for example and some of those dont have the awareness that they are symptomatic for Covid 19.

"They are eating and drinking, theyre walking in the halls, they are passing staff. They are unaware of the need to cover their mouths when they cough. They are unaware of the need to cover when they sneeze. They touch multiple surfaces, and this is their home.

"The only way I can protect my staff is by ensuring they have the best quality PPE there is to protect them. I cannot control where the Covid-19 is in the home. Its absolutely impossible to control given the circumstances when you have mobile patients who are unaware that they are Covid positive.

Last week, following a visit from the Community Liaison Services via the Department of Medicine for Older Persons at St Vincent's University Hospital (SVUH), Aoife was told to treat her nursing home like a "Covid ward".

But she says the setting is not designed or equipped for such a change of use. "There are patients in here who are not symptomatic," she said.

"This is their home. If they say to me that they want to go to the dayroom and sit with their family, and bear in mind that the residents here are all family, I can't stop them.

"I can advise them, I can advise their families on the outside, but I can't physically stop them. That is their decision. They are aware of the risks but this is their home."

As the CEO of the HSE, Paul Reid, announced on Thursday that 18,000 residents and staff had been tested for Covid-19 since last Saturday, Aoife was still waiting on tests for her eight symptomatic residents. She had been waiting more than five days for a team to arrive to take swabs. They finally arrived yesterday.

"Even though they have said they are screening all the homes, it took until today to get to me and I have actual patients who are very ill.

"Delays for staff are fine, delays for asymptomatic patients I can understand, but I had eight symptomatic patients. I was on to them constantly, so why did they have to wait this long?"

Aoife, like many other nurses and healthcare workers in nursing home settings around the country, faces an impossible dilemma when it comes to Covid-19. She is in an environment that, by its very nature, is a caring one that is focused on physical interaction. Social distancing, in a confined setting where many patients need close attention, is almost impossible.

"I have a number of patients who are bed-bound," she said.

"Every mouthful of water they get has to be given to them by one of our team. How can we social distance within the home here? We can't.

"These people rely on us for everything from oral care to bathing, to hygiene, clothing, feeding, turning. It's a very intimate level of care and it cannot be done at a distance.

"Just think about that, every single mouthful of water they drink is given at the hands of a carer. That's why that carer needs maximum protection. They are in that intimate proximity to the virus."

In a statement, the HSE said it was providing assistance to the staff and residents of the home where Aoife works.

In relation to testing delays, it said "the HSE is conscious of delays to date in terms of systematically testing residents and staff" at the facility "due to a complex set of circumstances pertaining to testing nationally".

On the issue of masks, the HSE said: "On April 22, the HSE updated its guidance on the use of surgical masks in healthcare settings in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic. This follows a decision by NPHET [National Public Health Emergency Team] based on advice from the Expert Advice Group. The HSE is now implementing this decision."

The HSE said new guidance on mask requires staff to wear surgical masks when providing care if they are within two metres of a patient.

It added: "This applies to all patients including...where there is no concern that the patient may have Covid-19. In addition, surgical masks should be worn by all healthcare workers for all encounters with other healthcare workers in the workplace if they will be together for more than 15 minutes and if a distance of two metres cannot be maintained."

For Aoife, and many others like her, the HSE guidelines on healthcare workers and masks bring little comfort. She wants the guidelines reviewed, as a matter of urgency. In the meantime, she will continue spending her time minding sick patients, protecting staff and searching for PPE.

"I refuse to drop the standard that I know will protect and keep my staff safe," she said.

"It would be unsafe to do so, and I wouldn't stand over that decision, so I will continue giving my staff FFP2 masks. Every day, 24 hours a day, the door needs to open to allow staff to come in to care for 17 vulnerable people.

"All I am asking the HSE to do is to ensure I have a supply of proper and adequate PPE. As a healthcare worker on the front line, I am extremely concerned for others who are in similar settings.

"A lot of them left their partner, their families, their loved ones to come in and do this.

"This is about giving healthcare workers protection and that's the minimum we can do, the absolute least. They are coming in and they are risking their lives - why can't we give them maximum protection?"
Uttar Pradesh government will not allow any public gathering till June 30, well beyond the end of the current nationwide lockdown, officials said on Saturday.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has told officials that the situation will be reviewed after June 30.

Chief Minister @myogiadityanth ji has directed officials not to allow any public gathering till June 30. After that a decision will be taken considering the circumstances, the CM's office tweeted in Hindi.

The current lockdown across the country is schedule to end on May 3, if no further extension is announced.

The chief minister's media adviser also put out a similar tweet.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanathji has given strict instructions to officers that no crowd of any kind gathers anywhere till June 30. This decision has been taken with the intention of keeping coronavirus under check, Mrityunjay Kumar said.

The restriction will have a direct impact on Eid festivities, apart from other religious gatherings.

In a video conference with district magistrates and police chiefs, Adityanath also referred to the just-begun month of Ramzan, an official said.

In view of the coronavirus outbreak, all religious leaders have appealed to Muslim brothers to offer namaz at their homes, the official quoted the CM as saying at the meeting.

Therefore, it needs to be made sure that no programme is organised anywhere. There is no mass gathering as there are all chances of the infection spreading, the CM said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Theres so much to touch and grab at the grocery store -- shopping carts, freezer door handles, cardboard boxes and plastic packaging.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 25/4/2020 (627 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Theres so much to touch and grab at the grocery store -- shopping carts, freezer door handles, cardboard boxes and plastic packaging.

Such surfaces are almost unavoidable for shoppers. But they also carry a certain amount of risk in the age of the COVID-19 pandemic, adding urgency to a troubling question: Have pharmacies and supermarkets become super-spreading virus vectors?

These businesses are among the few places left where people are allowed to gather, and they often get so many shoppers these days that their shelves are being picked clean.

The death of a 49-year-old supermarket clerk in Italy has added to shoppers anxiety.

"The biggest concern about a grocery store is everyone wants to be there," Virginia Tech epidemiologist Charlotte Baker said. "That means youre closer in proximity than were recommending people be."

A recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine suggests people may acquire the virus through the air and after touching contaminated objects. The same study said the virus was detectable up to 24 hours on cardboard and up to two to three days on plastic and stainless steel.

But epidemiologists say the risk of getting infected from such surfaces is relatively low, because the virus soon decays.

"Although the virus can remain on surfaces for a while, we still dont know how long they remain infectious to people," said Caroline Buckee, associate professor of epidemiology at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

The bigger concern about such stores, experts say, is person-to-person transmission and being around so many people who might be carrying the virus. These stores and pharmacies have ramped up cleaning efforts and promoted social distancing between customers to minimize the risk of spreading the disease. But in practice, these efforts can vary widely between businesses, with some appearing to conduct business as usual, often because their customers arent taking their own precautions.

"Theres still so much we dont (know) about this virus, including whether people with no symptoms can spread infection," said an e-mail from Tom Frieden, former head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and current head of the nonprofit Resolve to Save Lives. He says that as long as sick people stay home, and healthy people stay two metres away from others and wash their hands before touching their face, risk should be minimal.

The risk still can vary by chain and location.

Different cleaning, distancing policies

On a recent Friday night, customers raided the shelves at a Grocery Outlet in San Diego, touching various surfaces, standing close to each other in line and reusing carts as normal without any apparent sanitization. By contrast, a security guard at a nearby Vons supermarket on Wednesday was regulating admission to the store by letting shoppers inside one at a time under a special maximum occupancy limit of 100.

The special measures didnt go over well with some.

"This whole thing is ridiculous," a woman muttered as she left the store after shopping.

Even in the best of times, grocery stores have been hives of invisible germs. A study in 2017 found that shopping carts at regular and budget food stores carry hundreds of times more colony-forming units of bacteria per square inch "than surfaces in your bathroom."

A shopping cart at a budget store had 270 times more colony-forming units than your average toilet handle, according to the study commissioned by ReuseThisBag.com, a supplier of reusable grocery bags.

But that was when things were normal, with no pandemic and no panic buying for toilet paper and bread. Now many stores have installed plexiglass sneeze guards at checkouts.

"Most of the time when theres a workplace hazard, like a chemical thats used in the workplace to clean something, most people see it as Thats the workers (problem)," said Debbie Berkowitz, a former federal regulator who now advocates for worker safety at the National Employment Law Project. "In this case, worker health and public health are the same because its all about protecting one another from one another and preventing the spread of this disease."

She says the solutions "arent rocket science." Experts say the same thing.

"Stores should ensure frequent, thorough cleaning of all surfaces, and make accommodations for employees, including frequent handwashing," Frieden wrote.

He noted that any place where people gather in close proximity has the potential to allow the spread of COVID-19.

The difference for grocery stores and pharmacies is theyre among the last businesses still open and attracting crowds.

Baker of Virginia Tech suggests taking your own sanitizing wipes for those shopping carts. And while theres no evidence of transmission by food, she also suggests washing food and wiping down packaging.

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"Anywhere that has a risk of contact with an infectious person is risky, but we do still need to go to grocery stores, so again, its best to be cautious," said Buckee of Harvard.

She has an ominous prediction about where this virus is going: nearly everywhere, eventually.

"There might be pockets that remain unaffected if they are very remote," she said. "But for the most part, I cant imagine that there are any major cities where were not going to have some level of an epidemic."

The effort now is to keep it from spreading so fast that it overloads hospitals and depletes medical supplies, leaving many without proper health care, including sick and injured people who arent infected with COVID-19. Grocery stores and pharmacies are a big part of the battle.

Infection "definitely is possible if someone is carrying or is symptomatic and goes into the grocery store and touches something," Baker said. "If theyve just coughed or sneezed and touches something, then definitely, its on that surface. And if you then you take your hands and put them on your face, you increase that chance of infection, but not necessarily more than you would have by being in the grocery store at all (by being around people). This is really where washing your hands or using hand sanitizer comes into play."

 USA Today
Corning Incorporated GLW is scheduled to report first-quarter 2020 results on Apr 28, before the opening bell. In the last reported quarter, the company delivered a positive earnings surprise of 4.6%. Notably, the company has a trailing four-quarter positive earnings surprise of 4.9%, on average.



The specialty glass maker is expected to have recorded lower aggregate revenues on a year-over-year basis. It has been facing headwinds in two business segments, Optical Communications and Display Technologies.



Lets discuss the factors that are likely to get reflected in the upcoming quarterly announcement.



Factors at Play



In Optical Communications, Corning expects first-quarter 2020 sales to be down almost 25% year over year due to overall market weakness stemming from customers project spending decisions, primarily in carrier networks. In Display Technologies, lower glass volume and prices are likely to have had a negative impact on the companys growth profile.



During the quarter under review, Corning collaborated with LG Electronics Vehicle Component Solutions to industrialize Corning ColdForm Technology for curved automotive interior display systems. Backed by consumer demand for more in-car infotainment and connectivity, ColdForm Technology enables larger and more integrated displays designs. To enhance technology adoption, Corning partnered with Visteon, a global leader in automotive cockpit electronics technology including digital multi-display modules. These factors are likely to have made an impact on the companys first-quarter performance.



Corning joined forces with Qualcomm Technologies to develop 5G mmWave infrastructure systems for enterprises and public venues. The 5G systems are designed to combine Qualcomms 5G and mmWave technology leadership with Cornings small-cell expertise to deliver affordable and easy-to-install 5G-ready networks indoors.



Corning and Infinera delivered 800 gigabits per second (800G) single wavelength with Infineras sixth-generation Infinite Capacity Engine technology across 800 kilometers on Cornings TXF optical fiber. The success demonstrated the benefits of a coherent 800G solution with superior fiber designed to meet growing bandwidth demands for network operators from metro to subsea network applications. Cornings performance is expected to have benefited from these positives.



That said, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for net sales in the Optical Communications segment, which accounts for the lions share of total revenues, is pegged at $793 million. The projected figure indicates a decline of 25.5% from the year-ago quarters reported figure. Net sales in Display Technologies are anticipated to be $745 million, which suggests a drop of 8.9% from the prior-year quarters recorded figure.



Net sales in Specialty Materials are estimated to be $329 million, which indicates an increase of 6.5% from the year-ago quarters reported figure. The performance is likely to be supported by innovations and strong demand for premium glasses. Net sales in Environmental Technologies are expected to be $385 million, which calls for a rise of 6.4% from the year-ago quarters reported figure, driven by gasoline particulate filter (GPF) adoption. Net sales in Life Sciences are projected at $256 million, which suggests a rise from $243 million reported in the prior-year quarter.



For the March quarter, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for total revenues is pegged at $2,486 million that indicates a fall of 12.8% from the year-ago quarters reported figure. Adjusted earnings per share are pegged at 16 cents, which calls for a decline of 60% from the prior-year quarters recorded figure.



What Our Model Says



Our proven model doesnt predict an earnings beat for Corning this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat. But thats not the case here. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before theyre reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.



Earnings ESP: Cornings Earnings ESP, which represents the difference between the Most Accurate Estimate and the Zacks Consensus Estimate, is -1.90%.



Corning Incorporated Price and EPS Surprise

Story continues

Corning Incorporated Price and EPS Surprise

Corning Incorporated price-eps-surprise | Corning Incorporated Quote

Zacks Rank: Corning currently has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).



Stocks to Consider



Here are some companies that you may want to consider as our model shows that these have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat this quarter:



DexCom, Inc. DXCM is slated to release quarterly results on Apr 28. It has an Earnings ESP of +143.90% and a Zacks Rank #2. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.



Yum China Holdings, Inc. YUMC is scheduled to release results on Apr 28. The company has an Earnings ESP of +18.37% and carries a Zacks Rank #2.



Chemed Corporation CHE has an Earnings ESP of +0.42% and carries a Zacks Rank of 2. The company is set to report results on Apr 28.



More Stock News: This Is Bigger than the iPhone!



It could become the mother of all technological revolutions. Apple sold a mere 1 billion iPhones in 10 years but a new breakthrough is expected to generate more than 27 billion devices in just 3 years, creating a $1.7 trillion market.



Zacks has just released a Special Report that spotlights this fast-emerging phenomenon and 6 tickers for taking advantage of it. If you don't buy now, you may kick yourself in 2020.



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Zacks Investment Research
Tibetans hold portraits of six-year-old Gedhun Choekyi Nyima months after his abduction during a demonstration in New Delhi, India, in a file photo.

On the eve of the Panchen Lamas 31st birthday, religious freedom advocates called on China Friday to release the second most well-known religious figure in Tibet, believed to be languishing under house arrest in an undisclosed location.

On May 14, 1995, Tibets exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, recognized six-year-old Gedhun Choekyi Nyima as the 11thPanchen Lama and three days later, Chinese authorities took him and his family away, installing another boy in his place. He was for years considered the worlds youngest political prisoner.

The religious leaders whereabouts and condition remain unknown and he has not been seen in public since his disappearance.

Amidst the increasing spread of the coronavirus around the globe, we are ever more worried about his health condition at this moment, said Tenzin Dorjee, chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF).

We insist that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) immediately release a televised statement on the well-being of the Panchen Lama and confirm that he is alive. The world community must also insist that China immediately release the Panchen Lama.

Separately, USCIRF issued a statement saying the group is deeply worried about the Panchen Lama, who it recently added to a project on religious prisoners of conscience.

On his 31st birthday, we urge the Chinese government to show some compassion and free Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the commission said.

A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department echoed USCIRFs call for China to provide information on the Panchen Lamas situation on his birthday and amid a crackdown on the Tibetan community.

The United States remains deeply concerned that PRC (Peoples Republic of China) authorities continue to take steps to eliminate the religious, linguistic, and cultural identity of Tibetans, including their ongoing destruction of monastic dwellings and other structures important to the study and practice of the faith, the spokesperson said in a statement.

Members of Tibetan Buddhist communities, like all faith communities, should be able to select, educate, and venerate their religious leaders according to their traditions and without government interference. We call on Beijing to make public the Panchen Lamas whereabouts and wellbeing immediately and to uphold its international commitments to promote religious freedom for all persons.

EU and Japan

Similar sentiments were expressed in the European Union, where Mikulas Peksa, a member of the European Parliament and president of its Tibet Interest Group, published an open letter urging the the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, to pressure Beijing over the Panchen Lama.

We urge the European Commission to call upon the Chinese government to finally ensure freedom of religion and belief in Tibet, by freeing Gedhun Choekyi Nyima and his parents immediately without any conditions, together with all Tibetan political prisoners, he wrote in a letter signed by 31 of his fellow lawmakers.

Days earlier, the Office of Tibet, Japan, launched a month-long campaign, calling on world governments and human rights organizations to pressure China for the Panchen Lamas release.

In an appeal letter the office urged the Japanese government and members of the Japanese Parliament to raise and reiterate the call upon the Chinese government to free Gedhun Choekyi Nyima and his parents, citing Beijings total disregard of its obligations to international human rights standards, as well as its own laws and regulations.

Earlier US pressure

In October, at a conference hosted by the Tibetan Institute for Performing Arts held in Dharamsala, Indiaseat of the Tibetan government-in-exileU.S. Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom Sam Brownback called on China to release immediately the Tibetan-recognized Panchen Lama Gedhun Choekyi Nyima or share the truth about his fate with the world.

Brownback said at the time that the successor to the Dalai Lama will be chosen by the Tibetan people themselves and not by Beijing, which claims authority over the process of recognition.

In January, a bill to strengthen U.S. policy in support of Tibet won strong approval by the House of Representatives. The Tibetan Policy and Support Act (TPSA) was passed by a vote of 392 to 22, and now requires a vote in the Senate, which is also reviewing a companion bill.

Co-sponsored by Democratic Rep. James McGovern and Republican Senator Marco Rubio, the TPSA when signed into law will require China to allow the opening of a U.S. consulate in Tibets regional capital Lhasa before any new Chinese consulate can open in the United States.

It will also establish a U.S. policy that the selection of Tibetan religious leaders, including future successors to exiled spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, is a decision to be made by Tibetans free from Chinese government interference.

Chinese authorities meanwhile maintain a tight grip on the Tibetan region, restricting Tibetans political activities and peaceful expression of ethnic and religious identity, and subjecting Tibetans to persecution, torture, imprisonment, and extrajudicial killings.
Popular humour merchant, Ago Makun popularly known as AY Comedian has asked the Nigerian leaders to make provisions for Nigerians as done in order country amid the lockdown.

Read Also: I Have Been Enjoying This Lockdown: Eniola Badmus (Video)

Speaking via his official Twitter handle, he further says they dont need to isolate their brains and quarantine their minds from the need of the helpless even though social distancing is important at this time.

He wrote: SOCIAL DISTANCING is an important response to d pandemic,but that does not mean that those in authority should isolate their brains & quarantine their minds from d needs of helpless Nigerians.Make lockdown provisions for your citizens like other countries. At all at all na WINCH.
Given Trumps keen interest in pursuing new cures, perhaps he would consider participating in an experiment to determine the effectiveness of cleansers in eradicating covid-19 in the human body. Of course, hed first have to willingly expose himself to infection, as he seems to think other Americans should by encouraging governors to reopen their states. Or, rather than take the risky path of injecting bleach, he might just take a warm bath in the stuff.
New Delhi: A tigress has died in Delhi Zoo due to "acute renal failure" and old age-related health problems, and its samples were sent for coronavirus testing as the authorities feared the death might have been due to the infection.

However, the samples have tested negative, officials said.

The 13-year-old big cat named Kalpana died on Wednesday evening and the carcass was cremated on Thursday following directions to minimise human-animal interface, an official from the Environment Ministry said.

The tigress had grown frail. Post-mortem revealed high creatinine levels, the official said on Friday.

"Only a few officials were present during cremation of the tiger carcass, which was done in accordance with guidelines issued in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak," he said, adding, "Samples were sent to Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, for coronavirus testing. The reports are negative."

Former member secretary of Central Zoo Authority (CZA) D N Singh on Friday alleged lapses on the part of the zoo authorities.

"The tigress seems to have died due to dehydration. A senior veterinary officer from Jabalpur had advised the zoo officials to administer saline through rectum, as it is easier to absorb in the body this way, but the zoo staff did not do that," Singh alleged.

"Also, no senior official was present when the animal was being cremated, which is in violation of the rules," he said.

In September last year, an eight-year-old tiger, Rama, had died of kidney failure in Delhi zoo. A blood report had stated that very high phosphorus content and creatinine levels impacted the functioning of the animal's kidneys.

Earlier this month, the Environment Ministry and National Tiger Conservation Authority had issued strict guidelines to minimize human-animal interface after a tiger in the Bronx Zoo, in the US, contracted coronavirus from an infected caretaker.

The CZA has also asked zoos across the country to remain on "highest" alert and collect samples fortnightly in suspected cases.

The samples can be sent to the National Institute of High Security Animal Disease in Bhopal, the National Research Centre on Equines in Haryana's Hisar and the Indian Veterinary Research Institute in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh.
Coronavirus related death-rate has doubled every eight days: Los Angeles City Mayor Shares Importance of Staying inside as Temperatures Rise in L.A.

Friday, April 24. Los Angeles City Mayor Eric Garcetti announced the latest information surrounding the COVID-19 outbreak in L.A. The County of Los Angeles in partnership with the Mayor, outline steps towards the pathway to recovery. Mayor Garcetti addressed the suffering of Angelenos due to COVID-19.

The Los Angeles City Mayor shared the resources and information discussed amongst his office and the county department. Eric Garcetti is working directly with medical personnel to find the safest journey towards opening the Los Angeles economy. Testing and data will determine the scrutiny needed to begin recovering from COVID-19.

Mayor Garcetti held a press briefing to provide an update on L.A. Countys response to the coronavirus pandemic. The Los Angeles City Mayor started the coronavirus briefing with current statistics behind the COVID-19 outbreak. As of April 24. there were 52 additional deaths, 48 of these individuals were between the ages of 65 and over. This brings the total COVID-19 related deaths in the L.A. County to 848. The coronavirus related death-rate has doubled every eight days. There were 1,035 new COVID-19 cases reported today, in summary there is a total of 18,517 positive COVID-19 reports in the Los Angeles region.

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One week ago there were 567 new cases; the reports are doubling about every nine days. There has been a spike due to the backlog and delayed results. In the City of Los Angeles, there are 428 positive cases which brings that areas total to 8,450 COVID-19 reports. The Mayor L.A. reinstated as more tests come in the numbers will continue to increase.

The L.A. County outlined the four benchmarks needed to relax the Stay at Home Order, which include hospital capacity, protection, isolation capacity, and physical distancing guidelines within the workplace. There has been much effort to provide more hospitalization, in addition to preventative measures to combat the spread of COVID-19. Eric Garcetti analyzed the infection rate, he has a goal set to be below ratio of 1.0 . Before the Safer at Home Order, the infection rate was trending at 2.0-2.5. The ratio represents the number of people infected by an existing positive case. Currently, the City of Los Angeles is in flux, the infection rate alternates between 1.0 and 2.0.

According to the L.A. City Mayor, data is reflecting the spread of COVID-19 is leveling out. There are anticipated surges that may follow into the year 2021. With that in mind, Eric Garcetti stated although there is a plan in place for re-opening the economy, there is a likely chance of an order in place where we must go back in.

Mayor Eric Garcetti reiterated the most efficient fight against COVID-19 is within testing aggressively. Last week there were 30 active testing sites available, as of Friday there is 33 testing locations. 106,000 people have been tested for COVID-19. There is a capacity to test 12,000 people a day across the L.A. County. There is a core commitment that no one gets left behind during this crisis. We have to save lives and we have to save livelihoods. Declared Eric Garcetti, the mayor reviewed new deals that protect custodial workers and janitorial contractors. The deals are in place to secure their income, benefits, and employment.

Eric Garcetti specified that are best defense and most efficient way to recovery is to adhere to the social distancing guidelines. The rising temperatures in L.A., leads to the temptation to leave the house. Mayor Garcetti stated, There is a direct correlation to what you choose to do this weekend, how long this will take, and how many lives we will lose. He continued, Keep that in mind and do the right thing this weekend.
Yesterday: Cemeteries in Northern Ireland were to be reopened, First Minister Arlene Foster announced

Saturday, March 28: The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 came into force at 11pm, and cemetery gates remained shut since.

Saturday, April 18: Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick asked councils in England to keep open or reopen cemeteries and graveyards.

Sunday, April 19: Janina Gurney (33), a Co Antrim nurse, backed calls for Stormont to allow cemeteries to reopen after coming to the aid of an elderly man who was attempting to visit his wife's grave at the cemetery in Cullybackey.

Tuesday, April 21: First Minister Arlene Foster said it was her view that cemeteries should be reopened with social distancing rules.

However, Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill warned against the reopening of cemeteries at Tuesday's daily Covid-19 briefing.

Wednesday, April 22: Health Minister Robin Swann stated there was no reason to keep people from visiting cemeteries.

Thursday, April 23: Sinn Fein's Conor Murphy criticised comments made by a Catholic bishop on the reopening of cemeteries.

The Finance Minister said the intervention by Bishop of Derry Dr Donal McKeown on the matter was "unfortunate".

Friday, April 24: Cemeteries in Northern Ireland were to be reopened, the First Minister announced.

Speaking at yesterday's Covid-19 briefing, Mrs Foster said: "This is about balancing public health concerns with the basic human need for people to visit their loved one's grave."
A diagnostic result for a Covid-19 test in Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal and Gujarat takes up to five days as compared to a day in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, officials in these states said, admitting that this delay was hampering the fight against the pandemic.

The Central government this week had sent inter-ministerial teams to Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal and Gujarat to suggest measures to contain the spread of Covid-19 cases. The teams have asked the state governments to improve the efficiency of Covid-19 testing labs to reduce the time in getting the results.

Also read: Virus could cling to air pollutants

The health department officials of these states told the Central teams that despite allowing more labs to conduct Covid-19 tests, there was still delay in getting the test results in the absence of automatic extractor machines. The officials in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan said that the RNA extraction, a crucial component of the test, was being done manually, thereby delaying the results by at least a day, if not more.

As the number of Covid-19 cases has increased, the state governments began taking more swab samples, without realising the limited capacity of laboratories in these states. Many of these states have now sent samples to laboratories outside the state to get faster test results.

Rajasthan last Tuesday sent around 4,000 samples to Delhi, after there was a delay of four to five days in getting results from the labs in the state. We had no option as RNA extraction kits were not available. In the majority of our [state government] labs, the RNA test has to be done manually, said Rohit Kumar Singh, Rajasthans additional chief secretary (health).

On Friday, Madhya Pradesh sent about 1,600 samples to a lab in Puducherry after there was a delay of up to six days in getting the results from labs in Nagpur, Mumbai and Noida, a MP government official said. Newly appointed Madhya Pradesh health minister, Narottam Mishra, on Friday urged union health minister, Harsh Vardhan, to instruct labs in Noida and Mumbai to release the tests results early.

Also read: All you need to know about SVAMITVA scheme and its coverage

Results of about 8,800 tests were pending for the past four days, said an MP government official, who was not willing to be named, adding that the delay was preventing doctors from going ahead with the treatment of thousands of suspected cases. Without a test, we cannot give any medication and a delay of four to five days can prove fatal for a patient, said the official quoted above.

MP has 11 labs for conducting Covid tests but only three have automatic extractor machines. State health commissioner, Faiz Ahmad Kidwai, said they have got more automatic RT-PCR machines, which were being installed. The testing capacity of the state will further increase with these machines functioning and pendency will be almost nil, he said.

In West Bengal, the average time to get Covid-19 results is three to four days, which has doubled since the first week of April. Earlier we used to get fewer samples and results would come in one day or two at the most. Now hundreds of samples are coming every day. With a backlog piling up, it takes around three to four days to test samples, said a senior doctor of a state run testing facility.

The lab has the capacity to test 100 samples every day; it is getting more than 400. Our technicians are now working in double shifts and we are testing around 130-140 samples per day, the doctor said, adding that the other 14 labs in West Bengal were labouring under similar pressure. Health secretary, Vivek Kumar, did not respond to phone calls.

In Maharashtra, where the government has conducted over one lakh tests till Friday, the average time to get the results is three to four days even though the state has 49 labs, including 23 private ones.

On April 16, the family of a 36-year-old doctor from Shivaji Nagar died because of Covid-19 and his family got his report on April 17, two days after the samples were taken. Similarly, a 27-year-old woman from Grant Road, who was nine months pregnant, had to wait for four days to get her report from a private laboratory for admission in a hospital for delivery. She gave swab samples on April 11.

State government officials said there was huge pressure on government labs to conduct Covid-19 tests because they are free; private labs charge Rs 4500 for each test. However, private labs claimed that whenever they confirm presence of virus in a patient, the state government gets it rechecked, leading to delay in declaring the Covid-19 test results.

In Uttar Pradesh, officials said they were delivering test results between 24 and 48 hours. About 85% of the samples are tested in 24 hours. The majority of labs in Uttar Pradesh have maintained the consistency in time taken for testing samples, said state surveillance officer, Dr Vikasendu Agrawal.

Officials in Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh said test results were available within a day.

Arja Sreekanth, Andhra Pradesh nodal officer for Covid-19, said both the pace of testing and time taken to submit results have improved. Between April 7 and 8, only 217 samples were tested and on April 13, around 1,000-1100 tests were done.

We provide results in seven to eight hours, he said, adding that till Friday, the nine laboratories in Telangana, on an average, are testing 500 to 600 samples as against the capacity of 1,560 samples a day. In Kerala, test results come within a day, a marked improvement of the state of affairs at the end of March, a state government official said.

In Karnataka, the average the number of tests being conducted per day has gone up from around 500 in the first week of April to nearly 3500 every day on Friday, officials said, adding that the result were coming within 48 hours.

(With inputs from state bureaus)
A new, raised red rash and unexplained marks on the skin could be signs of Covid-19, experts have warned. Data from Italy indicates as many as one in five people hospitalised with Covid-19 may develop rashes or experience changes to the skin.

In some cases, a rash could potentially be the first  or only  sign of infection. According to the NHS, the main symptoms of the coronavirus are a new and continuous cough, and a high temperature.

However, it has been estimated that up to eight out of ten people infected may experience only mild, or show no symptoms of the illness at all. And, as cases rise, multiple additional symptoms have been linked to the virus.

Telltale sign: Some experts believe that a rash could be a side effect of the immune system fighting a coronavirus infection. In fact, it is common for any virus to trigger skin rashes

The World Health Organisation says diarrhoea, a sore throat and aches and pains can indicate infection. In the UK, ear, nose and throat specialists have warned that a loss of smell, know as anosmia, and often taste could be a symptom.

Now there are a growing number of reports of infected patients who have developed rashes, and experts are keen to establish whether the virus is the cause.

I have seen quite a few patients who dont normally suffer from eczema or allergies who have a sudden, odd rash, says Dr Veronique Bataille, an NHS consultant dermatologist.

Then, maybe two or three days later, they have developed typical Covid-19 symptoms. For some patients, we believe a rash may be the only symptom that they get.

Ever wonder why... ...Scars don't disappear? Skin is made up of a protein called collagen, produced by cells known as fibroblasts. When skin or tissue is damaged, new fibroblasts are generated as part of the healing process. They produce scar collagen  which is different from normal collagen and forms in a criss-cross pattern to help strengthen and heal the wound. Normal skin cells are shed constantly by humans  in fact, we lose an estimated 200 million every hour. Scars are a separate structure and do not shed in the same way. However, once healed, blood supply to the wound will reduce and some of the collagen may break down, making them paler and smoother in appearance. Advertisement

The public should look out for this and other possible symptoms in members of their household.

A study of 88 infected patients at the Lecco Hospital in Lombardy, one of the hardest-hit Italian regions, found 20 per cent experienced changes to their skin.

None of them had taken drugs that could have caused the reaction. Eight out of the 18 patients who noticed changes to their skin did so at the onset of their symptoms.

Doctors have also reported chilblains  red patches on toes and fingers usually caused by cold temperatures  in some coronavirus patients.

The skin is the largest organ in the body  and its visible, says Professor Hywel Williams, co-director of the centre of evidence-based dermatology at the University of Nottingham.

So if you are very unwell, and your lungs are sick, its not surprising really that the skin reacts in some way in about a fifth of cases.

In fact, it is common for any virus, including the one that causes Covid-19, to trigger skin rashes. But, unusually, the rashes detected in Covid-19 patients seem to vary significantly in appearance.

Scientists dont yet fully understand why these rashes occur. But it is thought it could be a side effect of the immune-system trying to bring the infection under control.

More research is needed to determine if the skin conditions are definitely linked to Covid-19 (file photo of person taking their temperature with a thermometer)

Dalia Dawoud, 46, from North London, first noticed a red rash on her body five days after her husband, 51, began showing Covid-19 symptoms. The rash resembled chicken pox but with smaller, less itchy pimples.

Her husband, an A&E consultant in the NHS, had already tested positive for the virus, and her daughters, aged 11 and 17, were also showing symptoms, so her illness did not come as too much of a surprise.

But the rash, which is not mentioned in NHS Covid-19 guidance, was unexpected.

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Dalia, a scientific adviser, says: I didnt have any of the flu-like symptoms. This rash was the first thing to appear.

After a few days, Dalia developed a mild cough and fever, which quickly passed. But her rash persisted for about a week, and she suffered on and off with fatigue and headaches for a fortnight.

More research is needed to determine if the skin conditions are definitely linked to Covid-19.

The American Academy of Dermatology, which represents thousands of dermatologists, is already gathering data from doctors around the world.

If a link is proven, it might be an important development in controlling the disease, as experts believe rashes could help to identify people who may be infected and should be tested for the virus.

Dr Jeremy Rossman, honorary senior lecturer in virology at the University of Kent, says: The fever might not start until later in the disease in some patients, and others might have a rash, or gastrointestinal symptoms earlier on.

But Dr Bataille stresses that a rash is not necessarily something to be concerned about, especially if a patient has reacted in a similar way in the past.

Any new rash should in adults or in children should be discussed with a GP promptly.
The World Health Organization is cautioning against the idea of immunity passports." It says there is currently no evidence that people who have recovered from COVID-19 and have antibodies are protected against a second infection.

The concept of immunity passports or risk-free certificates has been floated as a way of allowing people protected against reinfection to return to work.

Follow live developments on the coronavirus pandemic here

But the Geneva-based UN health agency says in a scientific brief released Saturday that more research is needed. It says that at this point in the pandemic, there is not enough evidence about the effectiveness of antibody-mediated immunity to guarantee the accuracy of an 'immunity passport' or 'risk-free certificate.'

It argues that people who assume they are immune to reinfection may ignore public health advice, and such certificates could raise the risks of continued virus transmission.

WHO adds that tests for antibodies of the new coronavirus also need further validation to determine their accuracy and reliability.
Vicky Kaushal / Instagram

As soon as she tested negative and was declared Corona-free, she returned home with her suitcase, wearing a mask. In a video shared by Vicky himself, the residents of his society could be seen rooting and applauding for the little girl who fought bravely and returned home.



Vikas Khanna/Twitter

Currently, with the ongoing crisis of COVID-19 in India and the lockdown, Vikas Khanna is using social media to inform people that he and a good network of volunteers all over the country are willing to help people.



Twitter

The ongoing lockdown and pandemic are making lives difficult for many. With more and more civic issues cropping up every day, even Bollywood celebrities are trying to give voice to their opinions.



manushi

However, she explains that underprivileged women have become prone to severe risks due to a shortage of funds in the hands of daily wage earners because of SARS-CoV-2 -- the terminology now being used by the medical fraternity to describe the novel coronavirus globally.

medialeaks.au

The action film that is based in Dhaka has Chris playing the role of a mercenary who is on a mission to rescue the son of an international crime lord who's been imprisoned.
Mumbai: As Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray fights the coronavirus menace in Maharashtra, the governor of the state has kept a sword hanging on his head. It has been a fortnight since the Maharashtra cabinet had recommended him to appoint Uddhav to one of the two vacant nominated positions in the Vidhan Parishad. The governor has not yet taken a call on it.

For Uddhav to continue as the CM of Maharashtra, he will have to become a member of the legislature before May 28. That is when his six-month-old term ends. Now, the Shiv Sena says it has its plans ready, but is confident that the governor will soon nominate Thackeray.

On April 9, a cabinet meeting was held under the leadership of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, in which a decision was made to recommend to the governor to nominate Uddhav as Member of the Legislative Council. There are two vacant seats in the Maharashtra Legislative Council for which the governor can nominate two persons. The decision was officially sent to the governor. And it was considered to be only a matter of time before the he gave his nod. But it has been a fortnight since then. No word has come yet from Raj Bhavan. When asked, Raj Bhavan refused to comment on the queries sent by CNN News18.

Five days ago, senior Shiv Sena leader and MP Sanjay Raut tweeted, Raj Bhavan, Governors House, shouldnt become center for political conspiracy. Remember! History doesnt spare those who behave unconstitutionally. He also tweeted that he was reminded of a shameless Governor named Ram Lal. (reference to a former Governor of Andhra Pradesh)

Though there is still over a month for Uddhavs deadline to end, the anxiety in the ruling camp is growing. He had taken oath as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra on November 28, 2019. As per the Constitution, he will have to become a member of either of the Houses within six months of assuming office.

Senas Strategy

After the lockdown is lifted, the government can hold a special cabinet meeting and decide to call for elections of vacant legislative council seats. (These elections were slated this month, but were postponed due to pandemic). After the lockdown, the Election Commission will have to accept the state governments decision, and will have to announce polls. The second option is to hold a special session of the legislature in view of the unprecedented situation of Corona. In that session, the members of the legislative council can nominate Uddhav Thackeray. Else, we will have to go to the court if the governor does not accept the cabinets decision. Another way is also that Uddhav Thackeray can resign on May 28, and can again take oath of office within a day or two. In that case, he gets another six months, a Sena leader said.

But the problem with the last option is that court had previously held such a precedent as unconstitutional. And in the given political situation, it is unlikely that the BJP will not rake this up.

The governor will have to okay the proposal sent by the cabinet. There is no alternative. If not, let things unfold in front of the people of the state. The backlash from people will be tremendous as the CM has peoples support. And it is a time when the government is fighting this grave battle against coronavirus. If they are willing to play politics out of it, we are willing to go to any extent. Let the country see, said a senior Shiv Sena leader on the condition of anonymity.

The BJP is fighting us while we are fighting Covid-19. Is this the time for such things? We are confident that the governor will accept the cabinets decision. He is bound by it constitutionally. There is no alternative. And even if he doesnt, our plan is ready, another leader said.

It is increasingly clear that the Governors House is becoming a place for political conspiracies in states ruled by the opposition parties. There is still time to the end date. We are a democratically elected government which enjoys majority. So there is no threat to us. When the time comes, we will do whatever we have to do, senior NCP leader and cabinet minister Nawab Malik said.

I dont see any issue in Uddhav Thackeray being appointed as a Member of the Legislative Council. I hope that the Governor will soon take a decision, Congress leader and cabinet minister Ashok Chavan said. When asked about whether he sees any political conspiracy by the opposition in it, he said, What the BJP can do, cannot be ruled out.

Expert Speak

In principle, in a parliamentary system, it is necessary that the governor follows what has been suggested by the cabinet. There is still a month ahead, so I hope that the governor will follow the cabinet decision. But speaking about constitutional propriety, I am not confident that under the current national dispensation, they will go by constitutional propriety, said Professor Suhas Palshikar, an academic and political scientist. Experts say, if the governor does not listen to the cabinet, it will create a lot of bad blood, bitterness and constitutional crisis. It will be very clumsy, chaotic and comical because then Uddhav Thackeray will have to resign, make someone else take charge, ask that person to resign and take over the reins again, an academic said.

Everyone hopes this doesnt lead to a constitutional crisis in Maharashtra at the time of a pandemic.
Stuck inside during the coronavirus lockdown, 5-year-old Kian Assad was entertaining himself by dancing around his McAllen, Texas, house a few weeks ago when he fell, hitting his head on a door hinge.

In normal circumstances, it was the type of injury that would likely merit a trip to the emergency room. Blood was gushing out of a cut on Kians scalp.

But with hospital ERs teeming with coronavirus patients, Kians father, Dr. Christian Assad, was not sure he wanted to go and risk exposing his family, which includes a newborn, to the virus.

Full coverage of the coronavirus outbreak

So Assad, an interventional cardiologist, weighed his options. After examining his son, he decided he would rather handle the injury himself  despite the fact that he had not treated head wounds since he moonlighted in an emergency department seven years ago.

Like everything we do in medicine, its a calculated risk, and my calculated risk was this is what we have to do, Assad said, adding that had it not been for the threat of COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus, he would have been more open to going to the ER.

He informed his wife, who was panicking at the sight of so much blood, that he needed her help closing the wound  at home. It was not what she expected to hear.

Shes looking at me like Im crazy, Assad said.

Across the country, parents sheltering in place are trying their best to keep restless children safe at home  not just from the coronavirus, but from anything else that might merit a hospital visit.

And as kids gleefully dive off furniture, climb on dressers and fall off trampolines, their parents are telling them over and over again: Now is not an ideal time to have to go to the emergency room.

Fearful of catching the coronavirus in a crowded hospital  and not wanting to take up health care workers precious time for something unrelated to COVID-19  parents are begging their children to be more cautious.

But kids will be kids, especially if theyre cooped up inside, and their parents pleas have gone unheeded.

Story continues

I feel like they get worse every time I say it, Meghan Mojica, a mother of four in Orlando, Florida, said. They take it as a challenge.

Meghan Mojica's kids, Cora, 2, Clancy, 3, Kennen, 6, and Lachlan, 8.

Mojica said her youngest, who is 2, has been climbing on top of the dining table; her 6-year-old has discovered that if he throws a pencil into the ceiling fan, it shoots across the house; her 3-year-old has started tipping her chair dangerously far backward; and recently, all four kids were climbing inside their play kitchen when part of it fell over, crushing her 8-year-old sons finger.

The finger bled a lot, but after consulting over the phone with her mother, a retired nurse, Mojica got the bleeding to stop and felt no medical treatment was necessary.

She might have considered an ER visit at a different time, she said.

We obviously would never put him at risk. It wouldnt have even been a question if there wasnt a pandemic  just take him in to see if he needed stitches, Mojica said.

If you have to go to the emergency room, go

Parents of young children are not the only ones reluctant to go to an emergency department at the moment.

Throughout the United States, ER physicians have reported a decrease in non-coronavirus emergencies at their hospitals. Possible reasons include fewer individuals getting sick or injured while they are staying home, and the chance that some people are putting off going to the hospital for fear of exposure to the coronavirus.

At Childrens Healthcare of Atlanta, one of the largest pediatric clinical care providers in the country, procedures have been implemented to protect staff, patients and their families, Dr. Srikant Iyer, chief of emergency services, said.

Parents have a lot to worry about right now with staying home and homeschooling. We just want to make sure we minimize the stress of coming to an emergency department, he said.

Among the new measures: screening everyone upon entry for a fever or other signs of viral illness and only allowing one adult to accompany each pediatric patient.

Parents have a lot to worry about right now with staying home and homeschooling. We just want to make sure we minimize the stress of coming to an emergency department.

Like other emergency departments across the country, the three that are part of Childrens Healthcare of Atlanta have seen a decrease in volume since the pandemic started, Iyer said. He saw that as a positive sign that social distancing measures were possibly reducing transmission of other viruses, such as the flu.

But he urged parents not to avoid hospitals if their child needs to go to one, and said they should trust that emergency rooms are taking precautions.

At Childrens, most families are now taken directly to private patient rooms after checking in as opposed to lingering in the lobby, and care areas are divided into two sections  one for patients suspected or confirmed to have infectious diseases, and the other for all other injuries and illnesses.

Even introductions are orchestrated: Iyer greets his patients caregivers from 6 feet away, rather than with a handshake like he would have before.

Parents who have had to seek medical care for their child during the pandemic say it was not as bad as they feared.

Javon Johnson of Fairfield, California, has four children ranging in age from 5 to 18. She homeschools them, so she has not had the adjustment of suddenly having them home more than usual.

But play dates and park outings have been canceled, so instead, the kids spend time on their outdoor trampoline. Earlier this month, despite Johnson telling her children to be careful because they dont want to add extra work for local doctors and nurses, her 5-year-old, Juliana, fell off the trampoline. Her arm immediately swelled up.

My first reaction was: Put some ice on it, we dont want to go to the hospital if we dont have to, Johnson said.

Johnson called the pediatrician, who told her to bring Juliana in. Johnsons husband took Juliana and was pleased to see very few other people at the doctors office. The pediatrician wanted an X-ray of Julianas arm, which they were able to get in the same building.

Juliana had a minor sprain and went home with a splint. Johnson was relieved  and determined not to let the incident change how she parents.

We dont want to scare our kids into thinking you cant live or play or be a kid, she said. And we dont want our kids to be fearful of the doctor or the hospital. So, were just trying to balance it.

A boost for free-range parenting?

Thats a lesson that some are hoping will stick, even after the pandemic.

I think this is giving lie to the crazy things that we considered dangerous before there was a true danger on our horizon, said Lenore Skenazy, founder of the free-range parenting movement, which calls for a return to a more laid-back style of child-rearing instead of helicopter-style parenting. Kids waiting five minutes in a car? Kids playing on the front lawn alone? Give me a break.

The pandemic, she added, is something for parents to be justifiably worried about, and she hoped it would highlight how unnecessary it is to sweat the small stuff in a culture where many parents feel like they should be able to fix all of their childrens problems.

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But parental guilt is tough to avoid, during a pandemic or otherwise.

Sonya, a mother of two young boys who asked that her last name not be printed to protect her familys privacy, relocated with her sons and husband from Boston to Durham, North Carolina, on Feb. 28, right before shelter-in-place orders began.

The family moved into temporary housing  a furnished apartment that is not particularly childproof, she said  expecting to look for their permanent house in the weeks that followed.

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

Instead, they are there indefinitely. And while Sonya and her husband work from the apartment with daycare closed, their 4-year-old and 1-year-old are getting more screen time than she would like  with videos and iPad games serving as a digital babysitter for the kids when their parents are swamped with work.

The kids get zombie-like after too much screen time, Sonya, a book publicist, said.

You get your time to do your work, but theyre miserable. They dont sleep as well, they have all these frustrations they have to get out, she said.

Her younger son has quickly found areas that are not childproofed. He has been climbing into drawers of a dresser that the rental apartment did not secure to the wall. He and his older brother have also toppled suitcases onto themselves while building forts.

Still, Sonya said she is keeping them home as much as possible so she does not contribute to the overwhelmed health care system.

We feel like our duty is to stay home and not be idiot parents who would feel horrible if my son broke his arm and we had to take him to the emergency room, she said.

Not a doctor? Dont try this at home

Assad, the Texas cardiologist whose son, Kian, cut his head, feels lucky that he had the medical training to help his child at home. He cleaned out the wound and trimmed the hair over it to get a better look at the cut.

It was easy to push the two sides back together, and the cut was not deep, so Assad enlisted his squeamish wife to hold together their sons scalp while he used Dermabond, a medical super glue, to close it.

In the emergency room, doctors likely would have used staples or sutures on such a wound, Assad admitted. Afterward, he brought Kian to a friend who is a plastic surgeon and asked him to take a look. The surgeon said Assad did a good job but warned that if the cut reopened in the following five days, he would need to take Kian to a clinic.

The cut ended up healing perfectly. Kian did not display any signs of a concussion after hitting his head, so Assad felt comfortable with his decision to keep him home.

While he understands other parents reluctance to go to the emergency room, he cautioned that in a true emergency, those without medical backgrounds should go.

My first thought was: You have to choose this God-forsaken time to have a laceration?

The reason why I did this is I have the experience in my training, and basically I decided to use those skills, he said. If you dont wash it properly, theres a chance of infection.

Kian is back to being a happy kid now. Assad said he looks forward to eventually telling the story of how he superglued his sons head back together during a pandemic at Kians wedding.

My first thought was: You have to choose this God-forsaken time to have a laceration? Assad said. I could not believe it.
Readers keep asking in this age of Covid-19: How can I help?

With so many people sick and dying and American unemployment at a level not reached since the Great Depression  and people in poor countries even worse off  readers want to address those needs.

This column is an answer to those queries. Ive picked five organizations that are responding brilliantly to the coronavirus and have sound plans to expand their work if they can raise the cash.

Im working with Focusing Philanthropy, a well-regarded nonprofit that supports intelligent giving and will cover credit card fees for your gift. This means that 100 cents of each dollar will reach the recipient organization if you donate through the website weve created for this initiative: KristofC19ImpactInitiative.org.

So at this time of exploding need, consider these causes:

AMERICAS HUNGRY. Food insecurity is soaring in the United States, magnified because children often can no longer get free school lunches and because food pantries are short of supplies. Last month, a vehicle line to a food bank near Pittsburgh stretched for miles, and a survey of New York State residents found 41 percent worried about being able to afford food.




Jon Coelho and wife

A 32-year-old man has died of cardiac arrest brought on by Coronavirus leaving a touching note for his wife on his phone.

The man identified as Jon Coelho, aged 32, died on Wednesday, April 22. By the time Katie Coelho, 33, rushed to the hospital in Danbury, Connecticut, on Wednesday just before 3 a.m., it was too late.

Jon had spent the past month at the hospital being treated for the coronavirus before he died of cardiac arrest brought on by the disease.

Following Jons death, Katie gathered her late husbands belongings and opened his phone, wanting to save as many pictures of him and their two children as she could.

However, what she found when she turned it on stopped her in her tracks. She saw a note he had left her and the kids.

Jon had written: I love you guys with all my heart and youve given me the best life I could have ever asked for. I am so lucky it makes me so proud to be your husband and the father to Braedyn and Penny.

He also told her to be happy no matter what and to not hold back if she meets someone else.

The note continued: Katie you are the most beautiful caring nurturing person Ive ever met. You are truly one of a kindmake sure you live life with happiness and that same passion that made me fall in love with you. Seeing you be the best mom to the kids is the greatest thing Ive ever experienced.

Katie was stunned to find the note, which she believes Jon must have written weeks earlier before he was first intubated, she told BuzzFeed News on the day of his death.

Even though he was fighting for his life for the past month, I know up until the last second he wanted to make sure the kids and I were okay, she said. He knew he had to say something to me because I havent been able to speak to him in so long.

Jon and Katie met as college students at Western Connecticut State University. They started out as close friends, then became boyfriend and girlfriend, and finally, in 2013, became husband and wife. Together, they had two children: Braedyn, 2 and a half, and Penelope, 10 months.
(Natural News) Israels Ministry of Health has ordered the countrys hospitals as well as the Magen David Adom  its equivalent to the Red Cross  to immediately stop using coronavirus (COVID-19) testing kits from China. The ban came after lab experts noticed that some of the vials used in the test kits showed signs of bacterial contamination.

Chinese testing kits contaminated with bacteria

The contaminated kits were made by Guangzhou Bang Shuo Biotechnology Company, a producer of a wide variety of medical equipment. Inside the test tube vial in each kit is a pH indicator called phenol red. This substance changes color from pink to orange in acidic environments, which is usually taken to indicate the presence of bacteria.

For clarity, when milk gets sour it is because of bacteria. The same thing happens in the substance inside the test tube when it is contaminated and then the indicator shows that, said the Epoch Timess source from within the health ministry.

Something like this is not supposed to happen if you work within proper working conditions and according to Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), the source continued. What bothers me even more, is that contaminated kits may indeed affect the test results.

By affecting the pH inside of vials, the bacterial contamination interferes with the test results. The contaminated kits make a person appear negative for the coronavirus even if theyre infected with it.

The source then stated that the factory producing the kits was likely not following basic quality assurance protocols. If they were, it would be hard for the kits to get contaminated.

They had to spot this. We are talking about a basic procedure: Taking a sample from every lot of test kits, keep it in an incubator, and check it for change of pH and cloudiness, he said.

Not the first report of problematic Chinese testing kits

Israel isnt the first to report that the testing kits they had purchased from China had issues. The University of Washington School of Medicine reported that testing kits they had purchased from China were contaminated with bacteria.

As with Israel, the kits ordered by UW Medicine had also demonstrated a change in color, indicating bacterial contamination. In their case, however, they were able to identify the contaminant as Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, a multi-drug resistant bacteria usually found in aqueous environments, but also occasionally colonized medical equipment.

Washington State Department of Health officials are now trying to track down and recall the Chinese kits purchased by UW Medicine and their manufacturer, Lingen Precision Medical Products, has offered to give the university a refund.

Meanwhile, other countries are finding that the Chinese testing kits that theyve purchased are giving out inaccurate results. Both Spain and the Czech Republic have reported that the rapid tests that theyve sourced from China gave false results 70 to 80 percent of the time. The Czech National Healthcare Institute warned that these tests only checked for antibodies and, as such, could not detect the coronavirus within the first five to seven days of infection  when a patient is most infectious and has yet to develop antibodies.

The United Kingdom has also found issues with Chinese tests, this time with tests meant to check for antibodies, saying that they also returned inaccurate results. As a result, the British government is now seeking a refund for the test.

These reports of contaminated or inaccurate tests look to undermine Chinas attempts to control the narrative of the outbreak. The country has been doing its best to try court countries by offering them much-needed supplies such as facemasks, gowns and testing kits. The country has even aggressively pursued its mask diplomacy strategy in places like Eastern Europe.

But the rush to produce these supplies seems to come at the cost of quality standards and safety procedures, with one broker reporting that 60 percent of Chinese factories dont have sterile working environments. This is further compounded by reports of Chinese factory workers intentionally contaminating medical supplies meant for the West.

Sources include:

TheEpochTimes.com 1

SCMP.com

TheEpochTimes.com 2

Newsweek.com

TheEpochTimes.com 3
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Linkedin Nathan Layne and Jessica Resnick-Ault (Reuters)  Sat, April 25, 2020 09:36 627 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd428088 2 World united-states,China,coronavirus,COVID-19,Andrew-Cuomo Free

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo on Friday pointed to research showing that strains of the novel coronavirus entered his state from Europe, not China, and said that travel bans enacted by US President Donald Trump were too late to halt its spread.

Cuomo cited research from Northeastern University estimating that more than 10,000 New Yorkers may have contracted the disease by the time the state had its first confirmed case on March 1. He said he believed Italy was the likely source.

The governor noted that Trump ordered a ban on travel from China on Feb. 2, more than a month after news reports had emerged about an outbreak in the city of Wuhan, and decided to restrict travel from Europe the following month. By that time, the virus had spread widely in the United States, he said.

"We closed the front door with the China travel ban, which was right," Cuomo told a briefing. "But we left the back door open because the virus had left China by the time we did the China travel ban."

With his comments, Cuomo thrust himself into a heated and politically fraught debate about when and how the virus first entered the United States and whether officials like Trump and himself could have saved more lives if they had acted sooner.

Cuomo defended his own actions by pointing to the 19 days between New York's first confirmed case and his lockdown order, arguing that he had moved faster than any other state.

He also said Trump, who last week halted US contributions to the World Health Organization after accusing it of promoting China's "disinformation" about the outbreak, was right to question whether the WHO responded properly to the crisis.

But Cuomo took aim at what he described as a slow reaction by the country's leaders, even as increasingly disturbing reports emerged out of China in January and February about how quickly the virus was spreading and killing people.

Read also: NY's Cuomo says Trump agrees to help expand coronavirus testing

Cuomo said as many as 2.2 million people took flights from Europe to New York and New Jersey airports in those two months, many of them likely carrying the highly contagious respiratory illness COVID-19.

"We acted two months after the China outbreak. When you look back, does anyone think the virus was still in China waiting for us to act two months later?" Cuomo said. "The horse had already left the barn by the time we moved."

Cuomo said it was important that the country learns from the mistakes that were made because the virus could surge again in autumn or a new virus could emerge. "It will happen again. Bank on it. Let's not put our head in the sand," he said.

He said it was too early to reopen his state, which is in lockdown until at least May 15. He said the three-day rolling average for people newly admitted for COVID-19 was holding stubbornly around 1,300 per day, a worrisome sign.

But on a positive note, he said hospitalizations for COVID-19 totaled 14,258 on Thursday, declining for the tenth straight day. He reported 422 additional deaths, the lowest daily total since March 31.
Labour's new leader has signalled a break from the metropolitan liberal agenda that turned working-class voters away from the party by appointing a policy guru sympathetic to Brexit.

As well as believing that leaving the EU is an 'opportunity' for Britain, Claire Ainsley is an ardent pro-family campaigner.

Her appointment as Sir Keir Starmer's executive director of policy will be seen as a clear move away from the politics of Jeremy Corbyn  and the far-Left cabal that backed him  in the hope of winning back working-class voters who supported Brexit and swept Boris Johnson to power.

Ms Ainsley, who becomes one of the most powerful figures in the party hierarchy, spent years calling on politicians to listen to voters unhappy about the EU and immigration.

In November 2016, she wrote about the positive aspects of Brexit for a pro-Leave website, saying: 'Leaving the EU creates an opportunity to design a regional policy that responds to local priorities and opportunities, and increase the chance for local areas and city regions to determine their own futures.'

Claire Ainsley, above, has been appointed at Starmer's executive director of policy. It will be will be seen as a clear move away from the politics of Jeremy Corbyn  and the far-Left cabal that backed him  in the hope of winning back working-class voters who supported Brexit and swept Boris Johnson to power

In the same article, she called for politicians to go further to address voters' concerns over immigration, adding: 'National and local authorities need to do a much better job of planning for changes in migration, both increases and decreases'.

In a book published in 2017, Ainsley also demanded much greater support for families and praised David Cameron for introducing a 'family test' to assess how any new policy would support families.

The book's title was The New Working Class: How To Win Hearts, Minds And Votes, and in it Ainsley argued that low-income voters both support and benefit from strong family ties.

'A policy environment that prizes families getting together and staying together really matters to the prospects of children in low- to middle-income families as well as for their parents,' she wrote. 'Strong families are able to withstand the shocks of personal change.'

Calling on politicians to 'make families and family stability a central organising principle for policy,' Ainsley also suggested creating a new Bank Holiday to celebrate families and allow people to spend more time with their relatives.

Her stance is very different from that of Corbyn and his team, who campaigned in last year's General Election to axe the Conservatives' 250 tax allowance for married couples or those in civil partnerships.

Ainsley made her comments on Brexit, immigration and family while executive director of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, which aims to fight poverty. With a politics degree from York and a masters from the University of London, she was previously a campaigns and media co-ordinator for the Unite trade union.

In her new job, she has a huge challenge to 'win hearts, minds and votes' for Mr Starmer.
The United States and Russia have commemorated the 75th anniversary of a meeting between U.S. and Soviet soldiers on a bridge in Germany as an example that the two countries can overcome "differences" to resolve global threats.

The historic handshake by U.S. and Soviet troops on April 25, 1945, as they stood on a damaged bridge crossing the Elbe River near the town of Torgau signified the impending defeat of Nazi Germany by the allied forces.

"The 'Spirit of the Elbe' is an example of how our countries can put aside differences, build trust, and cooperate in pursuit of a greater cause," U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a joint statement on April 25.

The anniversary comes as the two countries, at odds on a host of issues, are again fighting a common enemy in the coronavirus pandemic.

U.S.-Russia relations are at their lowest point since the end of the Cold War more than a quarter-century ago as actions by the Kremlin, including its annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula, support of separatists in eastern Ukraine, and interference in U.S. elections, pushed Washington to impose hard-hitting sanctions against the country.

However, dialogue between Washington and Moscow has reactivated in recent weeks amid the global fight to stop the spread of COVID-19.

Trump and Putin have spoken at least five times over the past month to discuss the pandemic, including its impact on global oil prices, an unprecedented number of calls since Trump took office in 2017.

U.S. Ambassador to Russia John Sullivan said the events of 75 years ago were a reminder that the world is a "safer and more stable place" when the United States and Russia "reach across that bridge and work together."
W izz Air has become one of the first airlines in Europe to resume flights during the coronavirus pandemic.

The budget airline said in a statement that some routes will begin operating from Luton Airport from Friday.

It said its aircraft would be disinfected each night and cabin crew would wear masks and gloves on board and distribute sanitising wipes to passengers.

Most airlines including easyJet, Jet2 and British Airlines have grounded flights until further notice amid border restrictions and shutdowns across the world.

Wizz Air is among the first European airlines to lift off during continued lockdown restrictions / AFP via Getty Images

Foreign Office travel advice remains that Brits are strongly urged to avoid all non-essential travel anywhere abroad indefinitely.

Wizz said flights would restart to several destinations in Romania, plus Budapest in Hungary, Lisbon in Portugal, and Tenerife in Spain.

Its managing director Owain Jones said: As we restart selected Luton flights to provide an essential service to passengers who need to travel, our primary concern is the health, safety and well-being of our customers and crew.

The protective measures that we are implementing will ensure the most sanitary conditions possible.

"We encourage our customers to watch our new video on how to stay safe when travelling, as well as for more details on our new health and safety measures.

The Government has faced pressure from airline bosses, tour firms and passengers to offer certainty around refunds for cancelled Easter and summer holidays.
Worth an estimated $300 million, Brad Pitt has 80 acting credits and counting to his name. Hes won Oscars, Golden Globes, and other awards for his performances throughout his career. Ahead, check out 8 of his movies that are available to stream right now.

Brad Pitt | VALERY HACHE/AFP via Getty Images

1. Inglorious Basterds

In this World War II-era film from Quentin Tarantino, Brad Pitt plays Lt. Aldo Raine, a man who brings together a group of Jewish soldiers to take down Nazi leaders. Soon, they learn others have the same plan.

Pitt starred in the film alongside Melanie Laurent, Christoph Waltz, Diane Kruger, Michael Fassbender, and B.J. Novak among others. Inglorious Basterds earned Waltz an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. The film also took home a Golden Globe, a BAFTA, and a Screen Actors Guild Award.

Stream Inglorious Basterds on Netflix.

2. War Machine

Adapted from a book, War Machine is a Netflix original film that focuses on Glen McMahon (Pitt) as he leads a rebuilding operation in Afghanistan. Pitts co-stars include Topher Grace (That 70s Show), Anthony Michael Hall, Daniel Betts, Tilda Swinton, and John Magaro.

Watch War Machine on Netflix.

3. Killing Them Softly

Pitt plays a hitman named Jackie Cogan in 2012s Killing Them Softly. His character is hired to clean up a mess left behind by three men who robbed a card game led by organized crime.

While Killing Them Softly isnt one of Pitts most well-known acting roles, it received positive reviews from both fans and critics.

Stream Killing Them Softly on Netflix.

4. By the Sea

In 2015, Pitt starred in By the Sea opposite his then-wife, Angelina Jolie. Written, directed, and produced by Jolie, the real-life couple played one on-screen. In the film, Pitt and Jolies characters went to a resort in 1970s France in an attempt to repair their marriage.

Watch By the Sea on Netflix.

5. Babel

A Golden Globe winner for Best Picture, Babel tells the story of an American couple (Pitt and Cate Blanchett) vacationing in Morroco whose stories intertwine with those of others from across the globe after an accident. Not only did the film receive critical acclaim, but audiences also gave it a score of 77% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Stream Babel on Netflix.

6. Legends of the Fall

On his way to becoming a top actor in Hollywood, Pitt starred in 1994s Legends of the Fall. Opposite Anthony Hopkins, Pitt played the role of Tristan, a young man living in World War I era Montana with his father (Hopkins) and brothers. After one of his siblings dies in the line of duty, Tristan and his remaining brother both fall for the same woman, their fallen brothers fiancee.

Legends of the Fall is currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video.

7. Thelma and Louise

Pitt gained recognition in 1991s Thelma and Louise for playing a criminal hitchhiker who gets a ride with Thelma (Geena Davis) and Louise (Susan Sarandon). The film earned an Oscar and has gone on to become a classic.

Watch Thelma and Louise on Amazon Prime Video.

8. The Mexican

Jerry Welbach (Pitt) attempts to get an ancient gun known as The Mexican across the border while his girlfriend, Samantha Barzel (Julia Roberts), tries to convince him to leave his life of crime behind. After The Mexican premiered in March 2001, Pitt and Roberts teamed up again just months later for Oceans 11.

Stream The Mexican on Hulu.
Despite Criticism, Putin Signs Bill Changing Date For End Of WWII

By RFE/RL April 24, 2020

Despite criticism from his human rights council, Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed into law a bill on marking the end of the World War II on September 3, a day later than the date recognized by most countries.

The decree, signed on April 24, appeared on the government's online database of state legislation.

The end of World War II is internationally accepted as September 2, 1945, the day on which Japan formally surrendered.

But the legislation, which was also approved by Russia's State Duma and Federation Council, says that September 3 must be marked as the day on which World War II ended in Russia. That was the day on which forces from the former Soviet Union defeated Japanese troops in "a decisive contribution to end" the war. Japan and Russia have never signed a peace treaty to formally end the war because of a dispute over the Kurile Islands, which Soviet troops seized at the end of WWII.

Last week, the Presidential Council for Human Rights (SPCh) issued a statement calling the move "a mistake."

According to the SPCh, September 3 is already marked in the country as the Day of Solidarity in the Fight against Terrorism to honor hundreds of victims of the 2004 Beslan school siege.

"In our mind, decisions on marking memorial days must unite, not divide people. Moving the Day of Military Glory from September 2 to September 3 will not be understood by relatives of those killed in that monstrous terrorist act [in Beslan]," the statement said.

The Day of Solidarity in the Fight against Terrorism to commemorate Beslan victims has been marked in Russia on September 3 since 2005.

On September 1, 2004, some three dozen Chechen militants took more than 1,200 people hostage at a school in Beslan, North Ossetia.

Two days later, Russian forces stormed the school and 334 people, including 186 children, were killed in the violence.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/putin- signs-bill-marking-end-of-wwii- september-3/30574608.html

Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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The effect of the nationwide lockdown on the poor in India is unfathomable. A few weeks ago, a video showing a man collecting split milk from a road as a pack of dogs drank from it went viral. The scene gave us a peek into just how difficult life is for the poor amid the shutdown.

But luckily for all of us, these everyday heroes are doing their bit to make lives of the needy a little easier. Here are a few heartwarming examples of humanity at its best:

1. A specially-abled rickshaw driver distributed food to the poor.

Reuters/Picture For Representation

A specially-abled man from Assam went beyond his means by distributing food for the poor amid lockdown. The man named Amar Debnath, who runs an e-rickshaw, suffers from polio. During a visit to his Doboka area of Assams Nagaon he decided to help the underprivileged in the locality by buying food out of money from his savings. Debnath has purchased an e-rickshaw in 2018 by taking a bank loan under the Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana. He said that he was saving money since 2018. I also stand as a poor man. But I know that many others are still struggling in search of food. I had brought some food items from the market by using my savings and am just trying to help those people who are in need in my area, he was quoted as saying.

2. An off-duty CRPF ASI used his savings to buy food for the poor.

Off-duty CRPF ASI Padmeswar Das has been busy preparing ration packets - that he purchased using his savings - for the poor in his village, who are the worst hit, by the coronavirus lockdown. The 48-year-old trooper, whose unit is deployed in south Kashmir's terrorist violence-hit Shopian district, has been helping those affected by the lockdown in his tiny village of Chatanguri, about 76 km from the district headquarters of Morigaon district.



ASI Padmeswar Das of 76 bn @crpfindia @JKZONECRPF @jammusector currently at home in Morigaon (Assam) due to Lockdown has been helping the needy in his village by voluntarily distributing food items to them out from his own savings

For any assistance call 14411. pic.twitter.com/xGcIiRJJfy  CRPF Madadgaar (@CRPFmadadgaar) April 12, 2020

I donned my uniform as movement of civilians was barred due to the lockdown, used my gamocha (traditional Assamese scarf) as a mask and got a handcart to distribute the packets among the needy." When complimented that he was being a good Samaritan, Mr Das said he only knew that "efforts of any kind always count, Padmeswar Das was quoted as saying.

3. An Andhra Pradesh woman bought cold drinks for cops on duty.

In a heartwarming gesture, a woman from Andhra Pradesh won many hearts after she bought two bottles of soft drinks for the police officers working in the sweltering heat.

According to reports, the woman named Lokamani works in a private school in East Godavari district and earns Rs 3,500 per month. But that didn't stop her from helping cops who have been working day and night amid this crisis. The DGP of Andhra Pradesh Gautam Sawang personally thanked and saluted the woman for her magnanimous gesture.

4. A family in Maharashtra donated funds reserved for a wedding.

A family in Maharashtra's Latur district got their daughter married in a simple ceremony and donated the money saved for the occasion to fund the local administration's fight against coronavirus. Vilas Boke, a resident of Udgir donated Rs 51,000 he had saved for his daughter Geetanajli's wedding, along with 125 kits containing essentials, to the local administration.

Image for representation

Geetanjali married Swapnil Reddy in a simple ceremony in the presence of a few family members and officials from the local administration on Thursday, in keeping with the norms of social distancing.

5. UPs transgender community used their savings to feed migrants.

Back in March, transgenders in Bareilly and Prayagraj provided food and water to migrant labourers who were returning home after the lockdown. According to a News 18 report, about 50 transgenders in Bareilly provided food to 100 people every day.

Source/India.com/image For Representation

There are several families who are daily wage workers and they depend on daily earning for food. We are serving food to them because we feel that serving humanity is the best service," said Prema, a transgender told News 18.

6. Indian-origin safari operator feeding 24,000 families in Kenya.

An Indian-origin safari operator based in Kenya is feeding thousands of families. Pankaj Shah started the initiative after he was devastated to see people starving and struggling to sustain themselves.

In Kenya, safari operator Pankaj Shahs team has sent out 24,000 hampers since setting up on March 22, each with enough food to last a family of five for two weeks https://t.co/d5tSxOFpjy pic.twitter.com/zHvmsD00qZ  Reuters (@Reuters) April 16, 2020

People were getting hungry and angry, Shah told Reuters. According to Reuters, Shah started getting in touch with people who were interested in lending a helping hand. Thankfully, a local school which was closed due to the coronavirus outbreak offered their campus premises as headquarters. The volunteers, who call themselves Team Pankaj, have sent out 24,000 packages of food since March 22. Each hamper contains enough food to last a family of five people for two weeks.

7. Man dresses up as Spider-Man and delivers groceries to the elderly.

A post shared by Goodable on Twitter shows a few photos featuring Burak Soylu dressed as the superhero. The pictures show Soylu picking out vegetables and groceries that he delivers to the elderly.

In Turkey, a man named Burak Soylu has been going around dressed like Spiderman.



He drives around in a Beetle, buys milk and groceries for the elderly, and delivers it to their doorsteps.



When he was asked why, he said "My superpower is doing good for the neighborhood." pic.twitter.com/KAYm3hyPyb  Goodable (@Goodable) April 17, 2020

In Turkey, a man named Burak Soylu has been going around dressed like Spider-man. He drives around in a Beetle, buys milk and groceries for the elderly, and delivers it to their doorsteps, reads the caption. The post goes on to describe Soylus reason for this kind gesture.My superpower is doing good for the neighbourhood, adds the caption.
VANCOUVER  A Canadian think tank attacked by mainland Chinas embassy in Canada says Ottawas silence on the issue will only embolden Beijing to make further attempts to stifle free speech in Canada.

Charles Burton is a senior fellow and China expert at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, at which the Chinese embassy aimed remarks on its website this week. He said the statement is outside of normal diplomatic behaviour and should not be tolerated by Ottawa.

One would expect that the government of Canada would engage with the Chinese embassy about such a statement, Burton said. Its clearly an attempt to interfere with freedom of expression by a Canadian think tank and make allegations against the think tank that are clearly without basis whatsoever.

On Sunday the embassy of the Peoples Republic of China issued the statement attacking the institute for publishing an open letter criticizing the Chinese Communist Party for its coverup of the coronavirus outbreak early on. The letter was an international effort signed by more than 100 scholars and politicians.

Burton and other MLI-affiliated scholars were among the signatories and the institute published the letter on its website April 14.

The roots of the pandemic are in a coverup by CCP authorities in Wuhan, Hubei province, read part of it. Under the influence of the CCP the World Health Organization first downplayed the pandemic.

Chinas embassy in Ottawa charged the letter is malicious and accused the institute of interfering in Chinas internal affairs.

The Chinese side expresses its firm opposition over such actions by the MLI, it read.

It goes on to praise Chinas government for its handling of the outbreak. The government of China has been slammed for initially arresting the doctors who discovered the virus and accusing them of spreading rumours rather than taking measures to stem the outbreak.

The letter then accuses the MLI of being in league with Taiwan and the Falun Gong, calling it anti-China.

The Star asked Global Affairs Canada for its response to the statement and received one via spokesperson Barbara Harvey.

Canada believes that human rights, including freedom of expression, and the rule of law are essential to a safe, prosperous and democratic society, read the statement. Think tanks and civil society organizations play a vital role in the free exchange of ideas that is essential to a healthy democracy.

The statement said Canada is committed to improving and protecting its public institutions.

But when shown the statement Burton said it doesnt go far enough.

It is disappointing that the statement makes no attempt to defend the integrity of the Macdonald-Laurier Institute as the target of this unjustified smear by the Embassy of China or to remind the Government of China of the limits of the appropriate and acceptable diplomatic role of its representatives in Canada, he said.

The lack of a firm response will embolden China to continue such tactics, he said, which have escalated since Canada detained the CFO of Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei.

Meng Wanzhou was arrested at the request of the United States as she passed through Vancouver on her way to Mexico in 2018. In the U.S. she is wanted on allegations related to fraud.

Days after her arrest, Beijing arrested two Canadians in China, businessman Michael Spavor and consultant Michael Kovrig, accusing them of espionage-related crimes in what many experts have said is retaliation for the Meng arrest.

China also put sanctions on some Canadian goods. Burton said Ottawas silence is part of the reason Beijing has targeted Canada.

But China has tried such actions to silence critics in other countries or made remarks about their internal affairs and has been smacked down by their governments. Recently, former Chinese ambassador to Canada Lu Shaye was summoned by the French government, where he is now ambassador, for his comments on the countrys handling of COVID-19.

Lu alleged elderly people were being left to die of starvation in French retirement homes. When in Canada, Lu accused the country of having a white supremacist ideology and received no known response from Ottawa.

In Sweden, Chinas ambassador Gui Congyou was summoned by Stockholm after repeated attacks on the Swedish media in January.

It is like when a lightweight boxer is trying to provoke a fight with a heavyweight boxer, and said heavyweight boxer is kindly encouraging the lightweight to mind his own business, out of goodwill, Gui said on a Swedish talk show according to the Guardian newspaper.

Burton said hed like a strong response from the Canadian government, but doubts Ottawa will because of pressure from Canadian multinational corporations doing business in circles close to the Chinese Communist Party.

But, he added, Beijing has also managed to influence the Canadian government via a network of those sympathetic to Beijing.

Canada is evidently more penetrated by agents of the Chinese regime than other countries, he said. As a result, the Chinese regime has been able to dampen the kind of response that one would expect from a liberal democracy against a regime which is engaging in activities hostile to the interest of Canada and our values.

Read more about:
WASHINGTONThe top Navy officer has recommended the reinstatement of the aircraft carrier captain fired for sending a fraught email to commanders pleading for faster action to protect his crew from a CCP virus outbreak, officials familiar with the investigation said Friday.

Adm. Mike Gilday recommended that Navy Capt. Brett Crozier be returned to his ship, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the results of an investigation that have not yet been made public.

If approved, his recommendation would end a drama that has rocked the Navy leadership, sent thousands of USS Theodore Roosevelt crew members ashore in Guam for quarantine, and impacted the fleet across the Pacifica region critical to Americas national security interests.

Gilday met with Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, on Tuesday and with Defense Secretary Mark Esper on Friday morning to lay out his recommendations. An official says Esper has asked for a delay in any public announcement while he considers the recommendation.

Earlier in the day, Espers chief spokesman Jonathan Hoffman had suggested that Esper was going into the matter with an open mind, and said he is generally inclined to support Navy leadership in their decision.

Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.), chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, urged Esper to restore Crozier to command.

While Captain Croziers actions at the outset of the health crisis aboard the TR were drastic and imperfect, it is clear he only took such steps to protect his crew, Smith said in a statement.

The extraordinary episode has captivated a public already overwhelmed by the pandemic. And it has played out as the military copes with the CCP virus by reducing training, scaling back recruiting, and halting troop movements even as it deploys tens of thousands of National Guard and other troops to help civilian agencies deal with virus outbreaks across the country.

Crozier was abruptly removed earlier this month by acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly, who resigned days later.

As of Friday, 856 sailors on the USS Theodore Roosevelt have tested positive for the virus and four are hospitalized. One sailor, who was from Arkansas, has died, and more than 4,200 of the ships nearly 5,000 crew members have been moved onto the island for quarantine.

As that outbreak continues, a second Navy ship at sea is now also reporting a growing number of infections. Navy officials said at least 18 crew members on the USS Kidd naval destroyer have tested positive, and one sailor has been evacuated to the United States. The Kidd, with its crew of 350, is off the Pacific coast of Central America, where it has been operating as part of a U.S. counter-drug mission.

Clearing the aircraft carrier and its crew of the virus has proven to be difficult and complicated. Sailors who test negative after time in quarantine are suddenly showing symptoms a day or two later. The viruss bewildering behavior, which is challenging the broader international medical community, is making it harder to determine when the carrier might be able to return either to duty or head home.

Gildays recommendations were first reported by The New York Times.

Crozier was fired April 2 by Modly after sending an email to several naval officers warning about the growing virus outbreak and asking for permission to isolate the bulk of his crew members on shore.

We are not at war. Sailors do not need to die. If we do not act now, we are failing to properly take care of our most trusted asset, our sailors, Crozier said in the memo that was leaked to the public.

Modly complained that Crozier demonstrated extremely poor judgment in the middle of a crisis, saying the captain copied too many people on the memo, which quickly went public. Modly also asserted that Crozier had improperly allowed sensitive information about the ships condition to become public.

A few days later, Modly flew out to the ship and delivered a profanity-laced condemnation of Crozier over the loudspeaker to the crew. Crozier, he said, may have been too naive or too stupid to be commanding officer of the ship.

Just hours after his comments were widely reported, Modly apologized. But the next day, in the face of widespread criticism, he resigned. Esper initially defended Modlys firing of Crozier, saying he made a very tough decision. But other military leaders, including Gilday, internally opposed the firing, saying an investigation should be conducted first.

Modlys trip to the carrier cost him Espers support. Esper first demanded Modly apologize and a day later accepted his resignation.

President Donald Trump initially blasted Crozier, calling his memo terrible. But a short time later he softened his take, saying he didnt want to destroy someone who may just have had a bad day.

By Lolita C. Baldor And Robert Burns
| By Alex Likowski

Leading off his weekly web-based program Virtual Face to Face with Dr. Bruce Jarrell on April 23, University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) Interim President Bruce E. Jarrell, MD, FACS, got right to the heart of crisis management on the corporate level. Norm, I remember you used to tell me you kept a list in your pocket of the 10 most important things that could destroy your company, he said to former Lockheed Martin CEO Norman R. Augustine, MSE, who also is UMBs Presidents Distinguished Scholar. Was your company resilient when that disruptive event occurred?

Augustine said that two of his corporate doomsday scenarios did actually occur. He explained one was the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1989, which ended the Cold War. It was a such a great event for the world, but for the aerospace industry, it was a disaster, he said, explaining that it wiped out 640,000 industry jobs. The better short-term strategy, Augustine offered, might have been to break up the company and sell off some of the pieces. In the end, Lockheed Martin used the opportunity to buy up smaller, strategically important companies. Augustines company emerged stronger and better prepared for the future.

Bruce Jarrell (center) interviews Norman Augustine and Linda Gooden.

Members of the UMB community entered the discussion with a wide range of questions for Jarrell, Augustine, and fellow panelist Linda R. Gooden, MBA, chair of the University System of Maryland (USM) Board of Regents and retired executive vice president of Lockheed Martin Information Systems and Global Services. In that capacity, Gooden led the largest information technology provider to the federal government for more than a decade.

During this time of pandemic, we are going to online education, therefore we must be creative, said Jose Bosio, BDS, MS, clinical associate professor, division chief, program director in the Department of Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry at the University of Maryland School of Dentistry. Unfortunately, every action requires an analysis of risk. In your opinion, how long will it take for effective actions to be taken without fear of making the wrong decisions in every level of administration? he asked.

The [USM] chancellor and I met with the faculty council recently, and I was impressed with the innovation demonstrated in the area of remote learning, Gooden replied. I think that with every crisis there will be people who come up with ingenious, unique, and innovative solutions, and many of those solutions will turn out to be a lot better than the traditional solutions. Now youre not going to get anywhere if youre not willing to take some risk.

Augustine agreed that the risk has to match the benefit, and he illustrated that point with a story. He explained that Lockheed Martin used to build the huge fuel tanks that were the structural backbone of the space shuttles. So big, he said, I once calculated that if you put that fuel tank from the space shuttle on its side, it was so big the Wright brothers flight could have literally taken place inside of it.

After building 10 of those tanks for NASA, Lockheed Martin got a new contract, this time to reduce the weight of each tank by 8,000 pounds to allow for increased cargo. Engineers struggled to reduce the weight, eventually removing 7,200 pounds  not enough.

One day there was a group of engineers standing around a drawing table debating on how do we get 800 pounds out of here. Turned out there was a young fellow from the factory who was walking by and happened to hear the debate and at some point he said, Why dont you not paint the fuel tank white?  With a smile, Augustine went on: There was silence, and finally one of the engineers said, Well, space hardware is always painted white.  It turned out that just the paint used on the fuel tanks weighed 800 pounds.

He probably thought he was taking a risk by speaking up, Augustine said.

By the end of the discussion, thoughts returned to the current crisis and a question about practical steps for the audience. I wonder if you can share with us today some effective ways, tips, or steps that a leader can take when dealing with a crisis like this that everyone can take home from our discussion today, asked Aicha Moutanni, lab specialist at the University of Maryland School of Nursing.

I think the most important thing is to remember why were all here and particularly in the UMB setting, Gooden said. Youre here for the safety and health of all students and for all of the work you do to help in the medical system. And so, when you think of it that way, your mission is extremely important.

We get to the other side of every crisis eventually, and its just making sure that were communicating effectively with people, that were staying true to our values and our culture, and that we are in fact staying on top of the facts, Gooden added. In this particular crisis, that were following all of the CDC recommendations so that were not infecting others if we turn out to be asymptomatic. This is a unique crisis in that its an illness and that any of us can be affected by it, and so keeping a level head, staying focused, and making sure that were doing the things that all of the people tell us to do will help keep people safe is really, really important.

Watch the entire program in the video below.
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Over the past two months, COVID-19 has peeled off the topcoat we used to paint over the American story about justice and equality. The virus has brutalized already marginalized communities of color. It has also fallen hardest on the elderly, the poor, and one other group in particular: the prison population.

On Friday, a coalition of activists in Los Angeles called COVID-19 Rapid Response and a number of vulnerable inmates sued Los Angeles County and the L.A. County sheriff over failures to safeguard the health of inmates, exposing further just how horrific the pre-COVID-19 status quo was and how badly conditions have deteriorated amid a pandemic. The litigants are demanding that the L.A. County sheriff implement constitutionally mandated procedures to protect prisoners from contracting COVID-19, and to comply with guidelines issued by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and California Department of Public Health. The lawsuit is hoping Los Angeles will take actions to mitigate the spread of the virus and release people at high risk for serious illness or death in the event of COVID-19 infection due to age or underlying medical conditions.

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As we keep learning, prisons and jails are functionally virus breeding grounds now. On Friday, it was reported that 690 inmates and 30 staff inside Cummins Prison have tested positive for COVID-19, which accounts for more than a quarter of the confirmed cases in all of Arkansas. NPR reported this week that 73 percent of the inmates at Marion Correctional Institution in Ohio had tested positive for the virus. A recent ACLU study found that COVID-19 could kill approximately 100,000 more people if jail populations are not dramatically and immediately reduced. Prior to the pandemic, Los Angeles County had the largest jail system in the country, housing nearly 17,000 inmates. That number has shrunk to just under 12,000 in roughly the past month, but conditions in the system are still extremely dangerous.

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Rodney Cullors is one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit that was filed on Friday. The 58-year-old Cullors, who was in Mens Central Jail at the time the suit was drafted, suffers from hypertension, heart problems, spinal damage requiring use of a wheelchair, bipolar disorder, and manic depression. Plaintiff Jessica Haviland is a 39-year-old woman who was in the custody of Century Regional Detention Facility and had been exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 and was not tested. Other plaintiffs are in similar situations. The complaint describes the L.A. County jails as ticking time bombs and argues that the pandemic will ravage inmates who, according to the complaint, do not have adequate soap, have no safe way to dry their hands or to maintain a distance of at least six feet of one another, are not being tested for infection even when showing symptoms. The suit continues: They must wait days or even weeks to receive medical attention for COVID-19 related symptoms, share with dozens of other people high-touch surfaces that are infrequently cleaned, and are denied basic hygienic supplies.

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The plaintiffs note that the CDC has issued guidance for avoiding contagion in prisons and that Los Angeles County has already taken steps to reduce its prisoner population. Other state-system measures to ameliorate the spread mean that meals are now served in cells and recreation time in public spaces has been decreased, as has visitation. Some efforts to improve sanitation and educate prisoners have been made.

Other state attempts to stave off a crisis are notable: On April 6, the California Judicial Council adopted an Emergency Bail Schedule, setting bail at $0 for most misdemeanor and lower-level felony offenses. But the plaintiffs in this class remain at high risk, and time is very much of the essence. The complaint notes that as of this past Thursday, 149 prisoners and at least 105 staff in California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation facilities tested positive and that in just a single week this month the number of prisoners testing positive for COVID-19 grew by 700 percent and the number of staff testing positive nearly tripled. The lawsuit also notes that one models estimates predict that, if current infection and incarceration trends hold, two-fifths of Californias hospital beds may be required by prisoners in mid-May.

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The complaint further describes how in Mens Central Jail:

up to ninety-six people are forced to live in the same jail cell where dozens of triple bunk beds are placed between one to three feet apart. Even if they sleep head to foot, they remain within less than six feet apart.

Some inmates share a handful of communal phones, exercise equipment, and communal tables. Inmates of advanced age are not separated. Personal hygiene products are limited to one bar of soap that can only be replaced through the jails commissary system and one clean towel a week. Not every inmate has access to the commissary, some have no funds, and the prices are inflated. There is no access to hand sanitizer or gloves. Inmates with symptoms are not separated from the population. Inmates who need daily breathing treatments have allegedly had their CPAP machines confiscated.

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Further, at Mens Central Jail, incarcerated individuals were previously making their own makeshift masks. [S]uch activity, the lawsuit notes, is considered destruction of jail property and subject to a write up, loss of privileges, or other disciplinary action.

In another facility, North County Correctional Facility, incarcerated people are forced to share four toilets, two urinals, and two showers in each 66-person cell. Inmates there have still not been provided face masks or face coverings. The complaint also alleges that transportation of prisoners also renders them unsafe and that those who test positive for the virus receive inadequate treatment.

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Patrisse Cullors helped found JusticeLA, a group that is part of the COVID-19 Rapid Response coalition, and is quick to point out that the suit is simply one aspect of a far larger, more sustained movement. As an abolitionist movement our work to end the use of incarceration for the most vulnerable communities happened before COVID-19, she told me. The last 18 months I chaired a ballot committee called Reform LA Jails because I deeply believe in order to change the material conditions for marginalized communities you must have a multiprong strategy.

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Coalition member Michael Saavedra, of the grassroots organization Dignity and Power Now, further notes that the problems at the heart of the lawsuit are endemic. Almost 30 percent of LAs jail population suffers from mental illness, resulting in the caging of more than 5,000 county psychiatric patients, he told me. And it is well documented that those with mental health conditions suffer from substandard care in LA County detention.

JusticeLA, for its part, preexisted the coronavirus and had been successfully pushing for deep criminal justice reform in Los Angeles since its founding in 2017. The organizations recent pre-COVID successes included helping to halt L.A. Countys $3.5 billion jail expansion plan, refocusing public attention on the mental health needs of inmates, and campaigning for a 2020 countywide ballot initiative to increase oversight of the sheriffs department and improve mental health resources.

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Coalition members universally acknowledge the creation of COVID-19 Rapid Response is part of a much larger project. Los Angeles leads the country in jailing and probation, said Lex Steppling of coalition member Dignity and Power Now. And thus, in a moment like this, there is an urgent desire from those who work in the law, those who work in advocacy and accountability to the communities most targeted by law enforcement, and those who work to provide services both via healthcare, and in response to basic needs, to see the necessary changes come about once and for all.

COVID-19 didnt create the problems in American jails and prisons. But everyone on the response team agrees that it is now shining a light on a set of profound troubles that have been ignored or swept under the rug for far too long. Dan Stormer, chief counsel on the team, believes that the very breadth of this coalition ensures that the systemic problems will not be ignored when the crisis ends. The coalition is challenging everything from the school to prison pipeline to bail and sentencing issues, Stormer said. It is more recently joined with 40 other organizations statewide to address the crisis in our jails and prisons. One of the prime lessons we can take away from this is that we have a completely broken system that cannot be fixed by applying the same old measures. Like policies surrounding medicine, education, and the judiciary, this incarceration nation is unlikely to emerge from the current medical crisis unchanged. Fortunately, there are some who have already laid the groundwork for that change and they are stepping up like never before.
A former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode has given reasons the Chinese should be thrown out of Nigeria. The Peoples Democra...





A former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode has given reasons the Chinese should be thrown out of Nigeria.





The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, chieftain, wondered why Chinese citizens were treated with royalty here in Nigeria, while Nigerians in China were manhandled and thrown out of their homes and hotels.





In recent days several video clips had emerged showing Chinese authorities kicking Nigerian and citizens of other African countries out of the homes and hotels over the Coronavirus pandemic.





Recall that Nigerians were thrown out of their hotel and forcefully quarantined in China two weeks ago.





The Federal Government on Thursday expressed disappointment over racial discrimination against Nigerians and other Africans living in China.





And Fani-Kayode is suggesting, in a tweet on Saturday, that it was time for Nigerians to also throw them out.





Africans are being targetted in China, dragged out of their places of work, schools and hotels, humiliated and treated like filth and forced into quarantine or detention.





Meanwhile the Chinese come here and are treated like royalty because they have money. It is time to THROW THEM OUT! He wrote.




Video of actor Allu Arjun dancing to song Ramuloo Ramulaa is making rounds on the Internet. The song featured in his recently released film Ala Vaikunthapurramloo (2020) which opened to critical acclaim and commercial praise and went on to be a blockbuster.

The video appears to be from one of the promotional events for the film.

Dressed in white trousers and a black jacket in the video, the actor is seen shaking a leg amid loud cheers from the crowd. Take a look:

Meanwhile, Allu Arjun is looking forward to the release of his film Pushpa post the coronavirus lockdown.

On the occasion of Telugu star's birthday earlier this month, the makers of his upcoming film took to social media to announce the title and share the posters of Pushpa.

Titled "Pushpa", the posters of the Sukumar directorial show the actor in a rugged and rustic avatar. While the first look poster shows a close-up of the star, the second poster shows him seated crossed-legged on the ground with police officers standing in the background while sandalwood is being loaded onto a vehicle.

The actor tweeted the poster writing, "First Look and the Title of my next movie 'P U S H P A'. Directed by dearest Sukumar garu. Music by dearest friend @ThisIsDSP. Really excited about this one. Hoping all of you like it."

First Look and the Title of my next movie  P U S H P A  . Directed by dearest Sukumar garu . Music by dearest friend @ThisIsDSP . Really excited about this one. Hoping all of you like it . @iamRashmika @MythriOfficial #MuttamsettyMedia pic.twitter.com/G8ElmLKqUq Allu Arjun (@alluarjun) April 8, 2020

The film also stars Rashmika Mandanna and Tamil actor Vijay Sethupathi.

While the music is by Devi Sri Prasad, Polish cameraman Miroslaw Kuba Brozek is the cinematographer of the film. The shooting will begin once the ongoing lockdown ends.

Follow @News18Movies for more
Former deputy Labout leader Tom Watson, pictured at Glastonbury, is the new boss of UK Music, which represents record labels, composers, publishers and promoters

One of the most enduring images of Tom Watson's time in politics is of the then deputy Labour leader at Glastonbury wearing voluminous jeans and a rather fetching turquoise Beatles cap.

Mr Watson is known to be a fan of alternative music. But the mosh pit is where he should remain rather than taking up one of the industry's most powerful jobs, British musical heavyweights including Sir Tim Rice and Mike Batt, have told the Mail.

Last month it was announced that the former MP was the new chairman of UK Music, which represents record labels, composers, publishers and promoters.

He triumphed over 79 other applicants for the job which requires, according to the advert, 'a wide-ranging and relevant experience of the commercial music environment'.

But a backlash is in full swing. A number of prominent figures are publicly questioning Watson's suitability and claim his appointment to the reported 60,000, 40-days-a-year job was the result of a 'stitch up' by insiders with links to New Labour.

UK Music is even in danger of falling apart, as one of its most important member organisations is threatening to pull out if Mr Watson remains in the post.

Aside from his lack of music business experience, much of the disquiet centres on Watson's disastrous judgment in promoting fake allegations of a VIP paedophile ring fuelled by the claims of fantasist Carl Beech.

Beech, aka 'Nick', made a series of devastating false claims of child sex abuse against a number of famous politicians and soldiers, including former Home Secretary Leon Brittan and Normandy veteran Lord Bramall, who had their homes raided by police.

Watson's reckless intervention, using parliamentary privilege, helped create a febrile environment which also saw music legend Sir Cliff Richard and former Radio 1 DJ Paul Gambaccini investigated by police for separate unfounded sex allegations. The fallout from that scandal is ongoing and threatens to taint Watson's new employers.

Last night Sir Cliff, falsely accused of sex abuse in the wake of the Jimmy Savile scandal, made clear his opposition to Mr Watson's appointment in strongly worded statements released to the Mail.

Mr Watson used parliamentary privilege to promote fake allegations of a VIP paedophile ring, which falsely accused the likes of Sir Cliff Richard, pictured left, and former Radio 1 DJ Paul Gambaccini, pictured right

He said of Mr Watson: 'I would certainly not want to be represented by him, for anything.'

A spokesman for the star said his views are shared by a number of prominent industry figures, who also object to the ex-Labour MP's new job. He said: 'Sir Cliff is surprised and concerned about the appointment of Mr Watson as Chairman of UK Music and the appropriateness of him representing artists and song writers.

'This is a view shared by Sir Tim Rice, Nicky Chinn, Mike Batt, Gary Osborne, Tony Hatch, Mitch Murray and Sharleen Spiteri amongst many others.'

Oscar winner Sir Tim, whose hit shows include The Lion King and Evita, told the Daily Mail: 'I have no knowledge of any musical experience or expertise that Mr Watson may or may not have.

'However in view of the fact that by his actions in connection with Carl Beech he has assisted in seriously harming the lives of several people in the music business I find it extraordinary that he should be appointed to such an important position in the industry.'

Sir Tim spoke out after music industry veteran Mike Batt, who had hits with The Wombles and wrote Art Garfunkel's No. 1 hit Bright Eyes, posted an open letter on his website strongly condemning UK Music's decision.

It alleged that Watson has enemies across the political spectrum and is an unsuitable candidate to lead an organisation whose primary role is to represent the music industry to Westminster and Whitehall.

Alluding to the VIP child sex scandal, it states: 'Can the industry be assured of a welcome with Watson as its flagbearer, and if not, is it worth the risk?'

Last night Mr Batt told the Daily Mail: 'It's a massive own goal for UK Music to appoint this reviled man as chairman because it's a job that requires respect from and good relationships with all participants, plus a thorough knowledge of the industry's inner workings.'

Sir Tim Rice, pictured right, alongside Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, said he found it 'extraordinary that he should be appointed to such an important position in the industry'

Pop guru Chinn  who produced and wrote hits for Tina Turner, Mud and Sweet  said of the rebellion against Watson: 'This is an extremely serious attempt by very serious people to ensure someone with such a low moral compass combined with so little knowledge of the music business does not walk into a position of importance that he doesn't remotely merit.'

Mr Gambaccini, presenter of Radio 2's Pick Of The Pops, said the appointment of Watson 'is yet another kick in the teeth' for those in the 'falsely accused community' and one which 'breaks my heart'.

'Although I will continue to present the Ivors [awards organised by the Ivors Academy, a UK Music member] I feel completely estranged from the organisation itself, which I know supported the choice of Tom Watson.'

He added: 'This is Tom Watson who, when Carl Beech was imprisoned, could have offered a heartfelt apology to the people he had wronged, but who instead said, 'I was also a victim of Carl Beech'.

'No, Tom, you weren't. You were his enabler.'

Meanwhile, Richard Lyttelton  a former president of the Royal Albert Hall and EMI Classics and Jazz  told the Mail: 'My concerns about Tom Watson's appointment are based on his qualifications for the job, his apparent lack of moral compass, his seeming inability to determine facts [in the Beech affair] his credibility with government and the media and my understanding that there were better qualified candidates.'

So how on earth, then, did Watson get the job? Fingers are pointing at Michael Dugher, a former Labour MP and friend of Watson, who recently stood down as UK Music's chief executive.

Mr Watson, pictured, stood down as an MP for West Bromwich East, the seat he held for 18 years, in December

Mr Dugher had been a media adviser to Gordon Brown before he entered Parliament in 2010, where he became shadow transport, then culture, secretary. It was in this role that Watson and Dugher worked together closely.

In November 2016  a few weeks after a withering report by former High Court judge Sir Richard Henriques into Scotland Yard's shambolic VIP child sex abuse investigation, Operation Midland, was released  Watson announced a Labour inquiry into 'fake news'.

The then deputy leader revealed Mr Dugher would lead the probe and declared: 'Fake news challenges our democracy by undermining the very basis on which we make decisions about who to trust and who to vote for.'

As the politician who perpetuated fake news about a VIP child abuse ring, there was more than a whiff of hypocrisy about Watson's sermon on media standards.

Yet when Watson stood down as an MP in December, Mr Dugher described him as 'my friend & brother in arms for 25 years, the most brilliant campaigner of his generation'. UK Music would not reveal to the Mail whether Mr Dugher had a hand in the controversial appointment of his friend.

There is another link between Labour and UK Music decision makers. Former rock musician Crispin Hunt is chairman of the Ivors Academy and one of UK Music's ten directors. He is also the stepson of Mark Fisher, culture minister in Tony Blair's government.

Mr Hunt has reportedly described Watson as 'the right person for the moment and beyond'.

Such a view is not shared, apparently, by Ged Doherty, chairman of the British Phonographic Industry, which represents 400 companies and runs the Brit Awards, Mercury Prize and Classic Brit Awards.

The BPI is the most powerful of the ten groups with representatives on the UK Music board and Mr Doherty has reportedly said Watson's appointment would cause damage 'equivalent to Momentum and the Labour Party'. There are real fears the BPI might quit the consortium.

Last night a spokesperson for UK Music, which declined to say how much Watson will earn, said: 'All UK Music's member organisations were actively involved in the extensive and widely advertised recruitment process for the new Chair which culminated in the appointment of Tom Watson.

'It was ratified by the UK Music board in March and widely welcomed across the music industry.'
Scientists in Texas and Pennsylvania have identified a protein sensor that restricts how much sugar and fat our cells convert into energy during periods of starvation.

It is possible, the scientists say, that the sensor could be fine-tuned to prompt more sugar and fat conversion in people with metabolic conditions such as diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular disease who need help trimming down and living a healthier lifestyle.

The study was published April 21 in the journal Science Signaling.

Senior author Madesh Muniswamy, Ph.D., from the Long School of Medicine at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, is an expert in the function and properties of mitochondria. These are the cell structures that convert sugar and fat into chemical energy called ATP.

We want to offer, in the future, a solution to the metabolic crisis faced by millions of people across the world. Millions of people consume too much food, while millions of others are in poverty and subsist on too little food. We are studying what happens at the molecular level in both situations with a goal of developing a drug to intervene." Madesh Muniswamy, Ph.D., Study Senior Author, Long School of Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.

Speed of conversion

Our bodies continuously move things from cell to cell with what are sort of like roadways and cars. The vehicle required for fat and sugar conversion is called the mitochondrial calcium uniporter, or MCU. Like traffic moving people to destinations, the speed at which the MCU moves the energy is essential. If it is too slow, conditions such as obesity appear. If it is too fast, malnourishment results.

Driving a regulated speed limit at all times is desirable for proper health, Dr. Muniswamy said.

Keeper of the road

In the Science Signaling article, Dr. Muniswamy and colleagues describe another key component that, like a traffic police officer, regulates this roadway activity.

"We identified a mitochondrial protein called MICU1 that functions as a gatekeeper of this roadway," Dr. Muniswamy said.

When nutrient levels are low, MICU1 clamps down on the channel activity to prevent excess energy transaction. "When you're starving, you want to live longer, you don't want to burn all the sugar and the fat you have, so MICU1 slows down the activity," Dr. Muniswamy said.

The opposite is also true -- if the roadway traffic is driving too slowly, MICU1 can rev it up.

Relieve conditions

"In the future, we might design a new drug to control this pathway to basically alleviate many cardiovascular- and metabolic syndrome-related diseases," Dr. Muniswamy said. "That's our plan.

"When you speed up the channel, all the sugar and fat will be burned, and you slim down," he added.
South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa has encouraged millions of Muslims in Africa, who are commemorating Ramzan amid the coronavirus pandemic with unprecedented bans on family gatherings and mass prayers in mosques, to take courage and strength from the message of the holy month.

Muslims across Africa have lauded Ramaphosa for sharing a message of hope in his capacity as current chair of the African Union.

The crescent moon has risen over our continent, Africa. And the sacred month of Ramzan has begun. On behalf of the African Union, I wish our Muslim brothers and sisters well during this holy month, the president said.

He said Ramzan is a time for reflecting on the values of humility, simplicity, sacrifice and solidarity.

To stop the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, Muslim-majority countries have imposed widespread restrictions, with many cancelling Friday prayers and shuttering holy sites. Saudi Arabia has largely locked down Mecca and Medina and halted the year-round umrah pilgrimage.

Sadly, Ramzan this year will not be as it was last year. We are in the shadow of a global public health emergency. The coronavirus pandemic has left no area of the world untouched, he said.

Ramaphosa said a number of countries have imposed measures to contain the spread of the virus.

(This) means that many of the Ramzan traditions like praying at the mosque, making the Umrah pilgrimage (to Makkah) and visiting family and friends are not taking place, he said.

If we are to prevail against this pandemic, we have to stand united and observe the provisions that are in place to safeguard our health and the health of others.

At a time where millions face hunger, destitution and misery, the charitable acts performed during Ramzan are more solely needed than ever. It will be a long and difficult road to restore our society, he said.

Ramaphosa said the Ramzan spirit of giving and of charity will continue to be needed for a long time to come.

As Africans, we will emerge from this hardship with a new consciousness. We will understand, and perhaps as never before, our great duty to help and support those less fortunate than ourselves will be enhanced," he said.

May this blessed month, be a time in which we strengthen the bonds of solidarity that exist between us as Africans, Ramaphosa concluded.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Three weeks ago, Ryan Stevens could never have guessed that there was a hole in his life in the shape of a three-legged dog.

Drew Grove and Ryan Stevens adopted Banshee, from the RSPCA, last month. Credit:Justin McManus

But then the coronavirus landed, and Stevens and his partner, Drew Grove, decided to adopt Banshee, a rat terrier pug cross, who had a leg amputated a month ago because of a dangerous growth.

We just really bonded with her immediately when we met her, says Stevens, who adopted 13-month-old Banshee from an RSPCA shelter in Melbourne, and who joins the familys 11-year-old cat, Lebowski.

Shes got that sort of joy that exudes from her, that I guess a cat doesnt have, which is just infectious, says Stevens, a national support centre manager for Marie Stopes Australia.
Logan Sachon and Matthew Davis initially met in 2008, when she became an intern at an alternative weekly publication in Oregon; he was the news editor. They knew each other only casually.

A few years later, when both had moved on from the weekly  she was living in Virginia and he was in New Orleans  she saw on Facebook that he was divorcing. She had just gone through a breakup of her own, and wrote with condolences and commiseration.

Hes a writer  a very good writer  and Im a prolific emailer, she said. It was something that made me feel for him, and want to reach out and say, Hey Im also going through this weird time.

And, so, the two began a correspondence  long and meandering and writerly, she said  that soon became a daily exchange, punctuated by occasional telephone conversations. Ms. Sachon, 35, is now a senior content marketing manager at Policygenius, an online insurance broker based in New York.
The Histories by Herodotus (484BC to 425BC) offers a remarkable window into the world as it was known to the ancient Greeks in the mid fifth century BC. Almost as interesting as what they knew, however, is what they did not know. This sets the baseline for the remarkable advances in their understanding over the next few centuries  simply relying on what they could observe with their own eyes.

Herodotus claimed that Africa was surrounded almost entirely by sea. How did he know this? He recounts the story of Phoenician sailors who were dispatched by King Neco II of Egypt (about 600BC), to sail around continental Africa, in a clockwise fashion, starting in the Red Sea. This story, if true, recounts the earliest known circumnavigation of Africa, but also contains an interesting insight into the astronomical knowledge of the ancient world.

The voyage took several years. Having rounded the southern tip of Africa, and following a westerly course, the sailors observed the Sun as being on their right hand side, above the northern horizon. This observation simply did not make sense at the time because they didnt yet know that the Earth has a spherical shape, and that there is a southern hemisphere.

1. The planets orbit the Sun

A few centuries later, there had been a lot of progress. Aristarchus of Samos (310BC to 230BC) argued that the Sun was the central fire of the cosmos and he placed all of the then known planets in their correct order of distance around it. This is the earliest known heliocentric theory of the solar system.

Unfortunately, the original text in which he makes this argument has been lost to history, so we cannot know for certain how he worked it out. Aristarchus knew the Sun was much bigger than the Earth or the Moon, and he may have surmised that it should therefore have the central position in the solar system.

Nevertheless it is a jawdropping finding, especially when you consider that it wasnt rediscovered until the 16th century, by Nicolaus Copernicus, who even acknowledged Aristarchus during the development of his own work.

2. The size of the Moon

One of Aristarchus books that did survive is about the sizes and distances of the Sun and Moon. In this remarkable treatise, Aristarchus laid out the earliest known attempted calculations of the relative sizes and distances to the Sun and Moon.

It had long been observed that the Sun and Moon appeared to be of the same apparent size in the sky, and that the Sun was further away. They realised this from solar eclipses, caused by the Moon passing in front of the Sun at a certain distance from Earth.

Also, at the instant when the Moon is at first or third quarter, Aristarchus reasoned that the Sun, Earth, and Moon would form a right-angled triangle.

As Pythagoras had determined how the lengths of triangles sides were related a couple of centuries earlier, Aristarchus used the triangle to estimate that the distance to the Sun was between 18 and 20 times the distance to the Moon. He also estimated that the size of the Moon was approximately one-third that of Earth, based on careful timing of lunar eclipses.

While his estimated distance to the Sun was too low (the actual ratio is 390), on account of the lack of telescopic precision available at the time, the value for the ratio of the size of the Earth to the Moon is surprisingly accurate (the Moon has a diameter 0.27 times that of Earth).

Today, we know the size and distance to the moon accurately by a variety of means, including precise telescopes, radar observations and laser reflectors left on the surface by Apollo astronauts.

3. The Earths circumference

Eratosthenes (276BC to 195 BC) was chief librarian at the Great Library of Alexandria, and a keen experimentalist. Among his many achievements was the earliest known calculation of the circumference of the Earth. Pythagoras is generally regarded as the earliest proponent of a spherical Earth, although apparently not its size. Eratosthenes famous and yet simple method relied on measuring the different lengths of shadows cast by poles stuck vertically into the ground, at midday on the summer solstice, at different latitudes.

The Sun is sufficiently far away that, wherever its rays arrive at Earth, they are effectively parallel, as had previously been shown by Aristarchus. So the difference in the shadows demonstrated how much the Earths surface curved. Eratosthenes used this to estimate the Earths circumference as approximately 40,000km. This is within a couple of percent of the actual value, as established by modern geodesy (the science of the Earths shape).

Later, another scientist called Posidonius (135BC to 51BC) used a slightly different method and arrived at almost exactly the same answer. Posidonius lived on the island of Rhodes for much of his life. There he observed the bright star Canopus would lie very close to the horizon. However, when in Alexandria, in Egypt, he noted Canopus would ascend to some 7.5 degrees above the horizon.

Given that 7.5 degrees is 1/48th of a circle, he multiplied the distance from Rhodes to Alexandria by 48, and arrived at a value also of approximately 40,000km.

4. The first astronomical calculator

The worlds oldest surviving mechanical calculator is the Antikythera Mechanism. The amazing device was discovered in an ancient shipwreck off the Greek island of Antikythera in 1900.

The device is now fragmented by the passage of time, but when intact it would have appeared as a box housing dozens of finely machined bronze gear wheels. When manually rotated by a handle, the gears span dials on the exterior showing the phases of the Moon, the timing of lunar eclipses, and the positions of the five planets then known (Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn) at different times of the year. This even accounted for their retrograde motion  an illusionary change in the movement of planets through the sky.

We dont know who built it, but it dates to some time between the 3rd and 1st centuries BC, and may even have been the work of Archimedes. Gearing technology with the sophistication of the Antikythera mechanism was not seen again for a thousand years.

Sadly, the vast majority of these works were lost to history and our scientific awakening was delayed by millennia. As a tool for introducing scientific measurement, the techniques of Eratosthenes are relatively easy to perform and require no special equipment, allowing those just beginning their interest in science to understand by doing, experimenting and, ultimately, following in the foot steps some of the first scientists.

One can but speculate where our civilisation might be now if this ancient science had continued unabated.

Gareth Dorrian, Post Doctoral Research Fellow in Space Science, University of Birmingham and Ian Whittaker, Lecturer in Physics, Nottingham Trent University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
The UK-wide death toll crossed the grim milestone of 20,000 deaths on Saturday, as practices and plans for greater use of robots and drones to deliver essential supplies were fast-tracked, particularly for the benefit of health professionals dealing with the pandemic.

Figures released on Saturday show 20,319 deaths and 148,377 cases, bringing into sharp focus the March 17 claim of the chief scientific adviser Patrick Vallance that deaths below 20,000 would be horrible, but a good outcome. There were little signs of the toll limiting around that figure.

Drones and robots have been pressed into service in some areas of England. Robots have been used in the town of Milton Keynes for nearly two years to deliver groceries, but more have been deployed to deliver supplies to health professionals who have less time to shop.

Coronavirus outbreak: Full coverage

Transport secretary Grant Shapps announced trial from Monday to deliver essential medical supplies by drone from the mainland to the Isle of Wight on the south coast of England. It involves a drone with a payload of up to 100 kg and distance capability of more than 1,000 km.

The drone with space similar to that in a car boot will takeoff from Southampton or Portsmouth and deliver supplies to the St Marys Hospital near Newport on the Isle of Wight. The project is likely to rolled out in other remote places.

In Milton Keynes, Starship, the company that produces delivery robots, has seen a surge in demand for robots carrying items within a 6km radius. Parcels, groceries and food are directly delivered from stores, at the time that the customer requests via a mobile app. Once ordered the robots entire journey and location is monitored on a smartphone.

Henry Harris-Burland of Starship told the media: Right now we are offering free delivery to all NHS workers within the community. We want to make life a little bit easier for these people in these very, very stressful times.

Lots of them are doing ... 80-hour weeks and they dont have time to go to the local grocery store, so they use our robots for their shopping. Were honoured that we can be part of that solution.

Noting the challenge of ferrying supplies to the Isle of Wight, Maggie Oldham of the local NHS Trust said: This work (drone trial) has the potential to significantly improve services for our local community by reducing waiting times for test results and speeding up the transfer of important, possibly life-saving medication.

Various types of unmanned aircraft are to be trialled to see how they could improve the movement of medical supplies between the three hospitals in Hampshire  Southampton General Hospital, Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth and St Marys Hospital on the Isle of Wight.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-25 09:11:33|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, April 24 (Xinhua) -- The following are the updates on the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

- - - -

BRUSSELS -- Belgian Prime Minister Sophie Wilmes announced the gradual de-confinement measures in three phases at the end of a National Security Council meeting on Friday.

An agreement was reached at a 7-hour meeting by the National Security Council (NSC), which decided on the lockdown measures to contain the new coronavirus as well as their extensions until May 3.

- - - -

PARIS -- France on Friday registered 389 deaths caused by the coronavirus, bringing the tally to 22,245, the world's fourth-highest after the United States, Italy and Spain, Director-General of Health Jerome Salomon told a daily conference on the epidemic.

The number of people who succumbed to the COVID-19 increased by 1.8 percent on a daily basis, lower than 2.4 percent on Thursday and 2.6 percent on Wednesday.

- - - -

ROME -- In another sign of encouragement and hope, Italy reported 420 new deaths related to COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, the smallest daily increase since March 18, fresh figures showed on Friday.

The new deaths raised the nationwide fatalities to 25,969 since the pandemic first broke out in northern Italy on Feb. 21, according to figures from the country's Civil Protection Department.

- - - -

BEIJING -- Equatorial Guinea's ambassador to China German Ekua Sima Abaga has spoken highly of China's efforts to contain the COVID-19 outbreak.

In an interview with Xinhua, the ambassador said China had adopted a series of comprehensive, strict and thorough measures, which have been effective in reducing transmission risks.

"We salute the Chinese government's efforts to contain the COVID-19 outbreak," he said.

- - - -

KIEV -- Ukraine on Friday has reported a total of 7,647 confirmed COVID-19 cases with 193 deaths, the country's health ministry said.

In the past 24 hours, 477 people have tested positive for COVID-19, while 505 patients have recovered. Currently, a total of 2,489 coronavirus patients are hospitalized, including 109 children and 244 health workers. Among them, 103 people, including one child, are using ventilators.

- - - -

JERUSALEM -- Doctors from a southern Israeli medical center turned to their Chinese colleagues in the city of Wuhan for experience in dealing with COVID-19.

Israeli medical experts from Samson Assuta Ashdod University Hospital and Chinese medical experts from Wuhan Jinyintan Hospital held a video meeting on Thursday.

The meeting was initiated by Ashdod mayor Yechiel Lasry and head of external relations at the municipality Aryella Rosenthal.

"It was important for me that our hospital in Ashdod would learn from our colleagues in Wuhan," Aryella Rosenthal said, "I believe this is just the beginning of the cooperation." Enditem
An outbreak of COVID-19 at an aged care facility in western Sydney has now claimed the lives of five residents.

There are 44 confirmed cases of coronavirus at Newmarch House in Caddens, near Penrith, including 15 staff. More than a quarter of the residents at the facility have now tested positive.

The outbreak is believed to have originated with a staff member who worked six days in a row at the facility before testing positive for COVID-19. The worker, juggling two part-time jobs to make ends meet, had experienced a scratchy throat for several days, but believed it was just a symptom of fatigue.

At the time of the workers last shift at Newmarch House, healthcare workers were still only tested for coronavirus if they had travelled overseas, had close contact with a known confirmed case or were experiencing both fever and acute respiratory symptoms.

The worker was eventually tested for the coronavirus only after being informed that she had been in contact with a confirmed case unrelated to Newmarch House.

Investigation of the outbreak has been carried out by police, suggesting that the interest of the state is in laying blame, rather than in conducting an objective analysis that could further the so-far limited understanding of how this new virus spreads.

After visiting the nursing home and interviewing the worker, police declared that there was no reckless intent, she had not showed symptoms at work and no further action would be taken against her.

Nevertheless, New South Wales (NSW) Health Minister Brad Hazzard refused to retract his earlier statement that the employee was not doing the right thing by continuing to show up for work.

Newmarch House is not the first nursing home in NSW to have suffered a wave of COVID-19 infections. An outbreak at Dorothy Henderson Lodge, in the Sydney suburb of Macquarie Park, claimed six lives between March 3 and April 6.

On April 2, more than a week prior to the discovery of coronavirus at Newmarch House, there were at least 17 nursing homes with confirmed cases across Australia.

Almost all nursing home residents are in multiple high-risk categories for COVID-19. International experience has shown that elderly people, especially those with underlying health problems, are most likely to succumb to the disease. Social distancing inside the facilities is often not possible, as many residents require physical assistance with movement, and those suffering from dementia cannot be expected to adhere to the guidelines.

Although the risk of COVID-19 outbreaks in aged-care has long been known, personal protective equipment (PPE) for workers is still in short supply. Federal Aged Care Minister Richard Colbeck told 2GB radio on Wednesdayeleven days after the NSW Public Health unit was advised of the outbreakthat he was fast-tracking PPE for workers at Newmarch House.

As a result of the lack of protection, more than 50 workers who have had close contact with infected residents or staff are now in self-isolation. Others have refused to work at the nursing home, according to Colbeck: A lot of people get really concerned about going into the facility, that becomes an issue because people obviously dont want to catch the virus.

In an April 20 letter to Newmarch House residents and their families, Anglicare chief executive Grant Millard said: Our greatest challenge remains the supply to our home of skilled registered nurses and carers. For this reason, we may not be able to make all our calls tomorrow.

The reality is, long before the current crisis, the relentless drive for profit had made under-staffing a standard practice in the multi-billion dollar aged care industry. Budget-cutting measures led to the replacement of highly-skilled medical staff with personal carers earning around $21.50 per hour. Between 2003 and 2019, the percentage of aged care workers who were registered nurses decreased by almost one third.

Some Newmarch House residents and their families have alleged that the shortage of staff has led to long waits for meals, medication, and emergency assistance. A group of residents relatives gathered outside the facility on Wednesday to protest the poor standard of care.

One of the protesters told the Daily Telegraph that his 76-year-old mother, diagnosed with COVID-19, waited two hours for assistance after falling in the bath and pressing her panic buzzer.

Another demonstrator told reporters: Mum wont die of coronavirus, shell die due to a lack of care.

Family members concerns are heightened because Newmarch House, and all other Anglicare aged care facilities, have been closed to visitors since March 23. Many of the other large aged care providers have had total lockdowns in place for even longer.

The total ban on visitors exists despite specific exemptions to social distancing rules to allow people to visit and take care of elderly relatives, and a recommendation from the federal government allowing aged care residents one visit, by up to two people, per day.

Random quality and safety inspections ceased on March 17, meaning there is also no oversight of conditions inside aged care facilities by health authorities until they are notified of a COVID-19 outbreak.

Rather than taking proper measures to ensure the safety of regular workers, the government has engaged a private contractor, Aspen Medical, to take over Newmarch House and other aged care facilities where outbreaks occur.

Aspen Medical deals mostly with the military, providing health services on all Australian Defence Force bases, training soldiers in battlefield first aid and building mobile hospitals for remote deployments.

Aspen Medical was hired by the Australian Border Force to report on the medical condition of more than 1,000 crew members kept in isolation on the Ruby Princess for more than four weeks. Although the workers were confined to their cabins, infection continued to spread under the companys supervision, possibly because meals were still being prepared in the ships galley throughout most of the quarantine.

Among many other contracts handed to Aspen Medical during the pandemic, the company was also chosen to build a pop-up COVID-19 emergency department near Canberra Hospital. According to Australian Capital Territory Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith, a tender process would have slowed it down and we would still end up with [Aspen Medical] who knows how to get this stuff done.

A decrease in the number of new confirmed cases over recent days is being used to justify government moves to ease lockdown measures and force a return to work. Social distancing measures, it is claimed, have been so successful that they will soon be unnecessary, although there is no vaccine, no treatment, and less than two percent of the population has been tested.

COVID-19 clusters such as Newmarch House and other aged care facilities, in northwest Tasmania and on board the Ruby Princess, are a stark illustration of how rapidly infection can spread from one or two individuals to an entire community.
A team of doctors in New York has found that the coronavirus can cause blood to clot in a way that could lead to a stroke, even for asymptomatic people.

CNN has additional details after five patients under 50 at the Mount Sinai Health System were treated for sudden strokes despite not having clear signs of a COVID-19 infection.

The virus seems to be causing increased clotting in the large arteries, leading to severe stroke, Dr. Thomas Oxley, a neurosurgeon at Mount Sinai, told the outlet.

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. All tested positive. Two of them delayed calling an ambulance.

The CDC has not released official guidance on the topic, but it did update its list of symptoms on Friday. See those here.

As for the stroke factor specifically, The Washington Post also has additional information:

"The analyses suggest coronavirus patients are mostly experiencing the deadliest type of stroke. Known as large vessel occlusions, or LVOs, they can obliterate large parts of the brain responsible for movement, speech and decision-making in one blow because they are in the main blood-supplying arteries.

Many researchers suspect strokes in covid-19 patients may be a direct consequence of blood problems that are producing clots all over some peoples bodies."

See the outlets full report here.

More coronavirus coverage:
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April 25, 2020 De Lima bats for guaranteed protection of senior citizens against abuse Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima has filed a bill which seeks to reinforce legal protection and provide welfare support services to senior citizens who suffer various forms of abuses. Last April 16, De Lima, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development, has filed Senate Bill (SB) No. 1434, otherwise known as the "Protection of the Elderly Act", to fortify the government's response to elder abuse. "As one of the vulnerable sectors comprising our population, the provision of basic needs, promotion of the social welfare of the elderly and their protection against abuse must have consistent and strong presence in our social legislation," she said. "No less than the 1987 Constitution guarantees the preference to this sector where the government and its policies shall likewise "give priority for the needs of the underprivileged sick, elderly, disabled, women, and children," she added. De Lima also cited a study from the World Health Organization (WHO) revealed that that one out of six senior citizens experience abuse, and that such a phenomenon is one of the least investigated types of violence anywhere in the world. She also mentioned that, according to the same WHO study, the most common perpetrators of elderly abuse are the victim's own children and other family members. "Despite the enactment of the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010, there is no specific legislation that guarantees the protection of our elderly against various abuses along with the proper social welfare support services and access to redress for possible victims," De Lima, a former justice secretary said. "With strong laws protecting the sector of women and children from abuse, it is also imperative to have a dedicated national legislation on the prevention of elder abuse across the country," she added. Aside from physical and psychological abuses, Section 4 of SB 1434 also details other forms of acts of violence against the elderly, including material exploitation that causes the elderly to be financially dependent on the abuser; abandonment or desertion of an individual responsible for the elderly person; and threatening to cause any physical harm to a senior citizen. By way of legal remedies, De Lima's bill specified options for the victim to acquire Protection Orders from his or her Barangay (Barangay Protection Order), or from the Courts (Temporary or Permanent Protection Order) to ensure that the victim can be separated from the abuser. To acquire such Protection Orders, and to be able to receive actual, compensatory and exemplary remunerations from the State, SB 1434 also proposes that the Public Attorney's Office (PAO), and a special prosecution unit under the Department of Justice will handle complaints of violence against senior citizens. De Lima also proposes that perpetrators found guilty of abuse to senior citizens that resulted to the death or mutilation of the victim shall suffer penalties in accordance with the Revised Penal Code (RPC). All other acts, however, shall be punishable by prision correccional and a fine not less than PhP100,000 to PhP300,000. In addition to the aforementioned penalties, perpetrators found guilty of any acts under Section 4 of SB 1434 will also be required to undergo mandatory psychological counseling or psychiatric treatment. The proposed measure will also put to task the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Health (DOH), National Commission of Senior Citizens, in coordination with the victim's Local Government Unit (LGU), to provide the abused senior citizen with the following social welfare support services: Temporary shelters in a senior housing or a nursing home;

Medical assistance

Counseling, healing, recovery and rehabilitation services; and

Appropriate programs to ensure the personal safety and security the senior citizen to prevent the recurrence of the violent acts committed against them.
The majority owners of Stobart Air - its 450 staff - have been left in the dark amid a series of complex deals over the past 14 months that culminated this week in an agreement to sell 49pc of the business.

In the past number of weeks, Stobart Air, the Aer Lingus Regional operator, had all the looks of being just another Covid-19 victim. But the foundations of the Dublin-based carrier's woes were laid long before the current crisis unfolded, and staff are now looking for some answers.

First, let's take a short trip down memory lane, to 18 months ago.

In late 2018, UK regional carrier Flybe was floundering. Haemorrhaging cash, it was on a crash course. It put itself up for sale, hoping a white knight would emerge before its precarious position became irretrievable.

Expand Close Pressure: Warwick Brady, is the CEO of Stobart Group, which also owns London Southend Airport / Facebook

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Whatsapp Pressure: Warwick Brady, is the CEO of Stobart Group, which also owns London Southend Airport

The rescuer did emerge, in the shape of Stobart Air's then sole owner, the UK stock market-listed Stobart Group.

It spied an opportunity. Lash together Stobart Air and a related aircraft leasing vehicle, Propius, with Flybe in a holding company and get other backers on board to create a regional carrier group. The plan took off.

So in early 2019, a UK holding company was formed, Connect Airways, and a deal struck to acquire Flybe and its website for just 2.8m (3.2m). Virgin Travel Group, a subsidiary of Richard Branson-founded Virgin Atlantic, took a 30pc stake in Connect, while a unit of US firm Cyrus Capital Partners owns 40pc.

The deal valued Stobart Air and its Propius leasing unit at about 40m.

There were other factors at play at this time too that would eventually result in Stobart Group having liabilities to the tune of $100m (93m) connected to Stobart Air.

Not such a big deal then, perhaps, when things were booming and aviation growing, but important just a year later when the coronavirus saw the economy implode.

In the meantime, the acquisition of Flybe still needed EU clearance. The commission gave the tie-up a derogation until such clearance was secured.

But it meant that Flybe needed cash without its new owners having full visibility on its seriously challenged operating position. The new owners agreed to pump 100m into Flybe, and EU clearance wasn't received until July last year. Flybe would collapse just seven months later.

Just around the time it was engineering the Flybe deal in February last year, Stobart Group had something else to contend with.

With the planned Brexit date of March 29 approaching in 2019, it had a problem.

Despite being based in Dublin, Stobart Air was owned and controlled by Stobart Group, a UK company. But EU rules mean that any European Union airline must be majority owned and controlled by EU nationals. The UK was leaving the trading bloc. A solution was needed. Stobart Group hatched what seemed like a convenient plan that would prevent Stobart Air also having to seek an aircraft operator's licence in the UK: hand a 51pc stake of the airline to the carrier's 450 staff.

The apparently simple fix - without staff having to pay for it - meant that Stobart Air would remain in compliance with EU rules. You'd think employees would be elated.

A free stake. There must have been champagne corks popped; some maybe even dared dream of early retirement. After all, here they were, getting a 51pc share of a firm they worked for and which in its 2018 financial year had generated revenues of 144.6m and a 3.3m pre-tax profit.

But it appears they never even knew they'd been handed the windfall shares. Had they known it was happening, they might have undertaken their own due diligence, secured legal, union and other advice. One staff member the Irish Independent spoke to this week said the first they knew that employees owned a 51pc stake was when they read it in a newspaper earlier this year, 12 months after the transfer.

Stobart Air declined to comment yesterday on whether staff had been notified at the time the deal was done.

Even if staff had been made aware early in 2018 that they owned the stake, there's another significant issue: the trustees of the employee benefit trust have apparently never communicated anything to the staff about their beneficial interest in the airline in the past 14 months. No updates on the company's performance, or raising issues they should be aware of - all the more critical, you'd think, at a time when the aviation industry is in free fall and Stobart Air itself has been toying with the idea of examinership.

The trustees, by the way, are Warwick Brady, a former Ryanair and EasyJet executive who's CEO of Stobart Group, and Alastair Purdy, a Galway-based solicitor.

The Irish Air Line Pilots' Association (IALPA), which represents a majority of the pilots at Stobart Air, wrote to Mr Purdy earlier this month.

In the letter, seen by the Irish Independent, the union asked him to provide an account of his stewardship of the trust since its inception, and also expressed concern that IALPA members have received no communication from the trust regarding its establishment or its benefits for employees.

Contacted yesterday by the Irish Independent with similar questions, Mr Purdy did not respond.

The staff shareholding becomes a focal point now because Stobart Group has just agreed to buy a 49pc stake in flailing Stobart Air from EY, the accountancy firm that's the administrator of Connect Airways following the collapse of Flybe in February.

Because of those $100m in liabilities mentioned earlier, Stobart Group's hand has been forced. If Stobart Air fell into examinership, the liabilities would effectively crystallise. Buying the stake buys the group time. Not much perhaps, and to what end?

Because if Stobart Air staff really do own and control 51pc of the airline, there's little Stobart Group can do without agreeing something with them first. At least, you'd be forgiven for thinking so.

The Commission for Aviation Regulation told the Irish Independent yesterday that it's satisfied Stobart Air meets EU ownership and control criteria - meaning the regulator is happy that staff do indeed own and control 51pc of the airline.

"Any other enquiries should be made to the air carrier," it insisted, when asked if Stobart Air staff were made aware last year they were being handed a share. For staff, the apparent lack of clarity and transparency is an issue because Stobart Air needs a survival plan - a survival plan that will also be reliant on the support of Aer Lingus.

Stobart Group might think it has one. But Stobart Air's staff almost certainly think they deserve and have a right to input - as majority owners and controllers - in the carrier's future.
14-year-old Harsh Chaudhari, a resident of Virar, Maharashtra, has invented a unique wristband which can keep a person from frequently touching his/her face. Thereby, the device can prevent the spread of coronavirus. By wearing the band, the urge to shake hands with other people can also be avoided.

Harsh has already sent the proposal of his device to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), New Delhi, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He is awaiting a response on his request to demonstrate the wristband.

Harsh studies in Xth standard at National English High School, Virar. His father, Kunjan (50), deals in used cars while mother, Shraddha, is a BMC teacher at an Andheri school. His sister Krisha, 7, studies in the 2nd grade.

A person touches his/her face 10 times in an hour on an average and by doing so, he/she could spread Covid-19 and many other infections. By wearing the wristband, the urge to touch the face can be stopped, Harsh said, adding that, my device can also kill coronavirus by electronegative ionisation of hydroxide ions.

HT Photo (The wristband)

The electronegative ionised solution will already be inserted in the band with a pallet on it, Harsh said. The device is waterproof so a person does not need to remove it while washing their hands.

The device can detect a person shaking hands with another. A buzzer will go off when the device detects the activity, thereby preventing a person from shaking hands and from touching the face. The band also works in silent mode, if the person does not want to hear the buzzer, the band can work on a vibrator mode as well.

The wristband was made out of scrap collected from his house. Harsh put together a buzzer, switch, button cell, tilt sensor, aluminium foil, plastic tubing and other materials to create the device.

Due to the lockdown, I could not procure the materials so I sourced them from what was available at my house, he said. Harshs father has also set up a small laboratory for him in his house so that he can conduct his experiments. School students could visit the laboratory but due to the lockdown, the activity is stopped, said Harsh.

Production plan

The cost of one wristband comes to around Rs 90. Harsh plans to mass-produce the bands and sell them for around Rs 40 each. I am waiting for the patent to be registered after the lockdown is lifted so that the production can be started and I can source raw materials from shops. I have received a huge response from locals for the wristband, Harsh said.

Ventilated mask

Harsh has also invented a ventilated mask which has an inbuilt fan that can keep a person cool. Police personnel and medical staff have to wear the PPE (Personal Protection Equipment) while dealing with coronavirus patients. While wearing the PPE, the plastic screen gets foggy due to lack of ventilation and the exhalation of carbon dioxide. My ventilated mask will circulate air and also prevent fogginess of the plastic screen. Thus, a person can get fresh air and the longevity of the PPE is also extended, he stated.

Ventilated mask (HT Photo)

Proposal to ICMR and PM Modi

In late March, Harsh had sent his proposals to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the ICMR. He is awaiting a response. Harsh expects PM Modi and the ICMR to show interest in his innovation. After the lockdown is lifted, his father will apply for the patent on Harshs two inventions.

Pride of school

Deepak Kulkarni, Principal at National English High School, said the school is proud of Harsh. Right from the beginning, he has shown sparks of a scientist and is academically very bright. He actively participates in our schools scientific workshop along with his classmates, Kulkarni said. I am sure he will make our school proud, he added.
Read more: Aid Your Domestic Help During Lockdown





Next Story : Shobha Tharoor Srinivasan Engages Kids With Online Storytelling

It's true what they saynot all heroes wear capes. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the warriors of today are the ones that wear a mask. In our very first Digital-only issue, Vivel and Femina are introducing you to those brave souls who are breaking the norms, risking their lives on a daily basis to make sure that people in need don't go hungry, everyone around you is well protected against the virus, stray animals are fed and taken care of.Ruzan KhambattaWhile many of us have stocked up food and other necessities for the nation-wide lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic, there are several people who dont know where their next meal will come from, especially the underprivileged and daily wage workers.Ahmedabad-based Ruzan Khambatta, a well-known social entrepreneur and an action agent for womens safety and empowerment, has always been at the forefront of other social causes as well. Just a day after the 21-day lockdown announcement, Khambatta happened to learn about how the state government run Rupee 10 meal scheme for labourers was discontinued, leaving those benefiting from it with no other option. When I found out the scheme was discontinued, I called up some politicians of the ruling party and told them about it. Of course, they wanted to discourage people getting together in groups to avoid the spread of COVID-19 but they should have thought of some alternative. So I decided to take matters in my own hands, she says.With the help of Manav Seva Mandal and several volunteers and donors, Khambatta has been successfully distributing food packets to the needy. She further adds, I was thinking of getting a team ready to distribute the food packets, but then thought of securing help from Gujarat police. Not only can they do everything in an orderly manner, but their presence will also discourage any chaos.When the lockdown began, Khambatta started with distributing 3,000 food packets per day to those in need. We raised the number to 4,000 packets per day and since last week, with help from donations and other companies, we have raised the number to 8,000, distributing half of them during the day and the other half in the evening. We first started with food items like puri, subzi and thepla but it turned out to be time-consuming. Our biggest challenge is lacking an automatic facility and sufficient manpower. We want to reach out to more people, and hence have decided on food items such as khichdi , rajma and rice, she informs.Additionally, Khambatta has been channelling her efforts in getting 2,500 litres of sanitiser ready for the police and municipal corporation employees. She says, Recently two railway policemen tested positive for coronavirus while on duty. If we can save even one of these people working on the frontlines, we can save hundreds more. Thats why I took on this initiative, as they need to be safe first in order to be able to help others. Unfortunately, this has taken time because the raw material was going be brought from Mumbai. With the lockdown and other formalities, that include official sanctions for donating these sanitisers, we had to wait.Apart from this, Khambatta is also working on making sanitisers accessible to the underprivileged, considering that they might not even have access to running water to maintain basic hygiene.One thing that irks Khambatta is when some people try to take advantage of such situations. In times like these, everyone has to understand the result of their actionsbe it people who try to portray lies as truth or those who distribute four food packets and click pictures for social media and make it look like they distributed 400 packets. Whether one helps four people or more, it doesnt matter, but people shouldnt use this as an opportunity to make themselves look good in front of others, she signs off, while she hopes that everyone understands the gravity of the situation the world is facing right now.More power to people who are selflessly working on the frontlines and serving those in need!
The Boeing 737 factory is seen in Renton, Washington on December 16, 2019. (Stephen Brashear/Getty Images)

Boeing Leads Charge on Restarting Production After COVID-19 Shutdown

Boeings experiencesas its employees return to work en masse after a pandemic-driven shutdownare likely to provide lessons to other U.S. industrial giants seeking to reboot their operations.

The plane-maker this past week started welcoming back employees at facilities in three states after earlier announcing plans to resume operations in a phased-in fashion.

Following thorough reviews of local conditions, weve started restoring operations at some sites where work has been suspended, Boeing President and CEO Dave Calhoun said in a letter to employees, announcing plans to resume production in locations that include Heath, Ohio, and the Puget Sound area of Washington state, where the company employs some 27,000 people.

As Boeing employees started returning to work in droves last week in the Puget Sound area, they found new safety protocols in place.

The company made arrangements for a broad range of enhanced safety measures, including operating practices to enable physical distancing such as staggered shift times, spread-out work areas and visual controls, voluntary body temperature screenings, and, of course, constant visible reminders to wash hands and monitor our personal well-being, Calhoun said.

Conrad Chun, vice president of communications for Boeing Commercial Airplanes, told Seattle Times on April 22 hes heard from managers that employees have been really upbeat and ready to get back to work in the factory.

We are making really good progress, recognizing tens of thousands of people are returning to an environment with new requirements and processes since a month ago, he said.

Boeing is seen by many as a test case for companies looking to reboot while the outbreak of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, the novel coronavirus that causes the disease COVID-19, continues to spread. According to a Johns Hopkins University tally, there were more than 950,730 confirmed infections in the United States as of April 26 and more than 54,000 deaths.

While we have a long way to go, were taking the first small step toward recovery today, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee said in a tweet on April 24, announcing that existing construction projects could restart if they adhere to new safety measures.

Some of the nations automakers, meanwhile, are in talks with the United Auto Workers union (UAW) about reopening factories, with union leaders expressing caution and indicating COVID-19 testing as a key factor.

While GM and Ford have yet to announce a planned date for reopening, Fiat Chrysler earlier this month said it hopes to resume operations on May 4.

UAW President Rory Gamble said in a statement on April 23 said that the union believes restarting operations in early May is too soon and too risky.

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, Gamble said. We have not done enough testing to really understand the threat our members face.

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, he added.

Toyota Motor, Honda Motor, and Volkswagen are other major automakers that have said they plan to restart production in early May.

All the automakers have announced new safety measures, including changing procedures to allow for social distancing, enhanced sanitation protocols, mandating personal protective equipment, and, in some cases, temperature checks.

Testing is the area around which there is the least clarity.

Gerald Johnson, GM executive vice president of global manufacturing, told CNBC that while he expects COVID-19 tests to be available at plants, the company would only test symptomatic employees. Fiat Chrysler declined to comment to CNBC about whether it expects to have tests available. Ford, as of April 24, didnt have plans to test at factories but was encouraging workers with symptoms or who believe they may be ill to contact a doctor.

Boeing Chief Financial Officer Greg Smith, in remarks to Reuters in March about plans to restart operations by May, said the process of coming back online would be a very slow, methodical, systematic approach to warming the line up, and getting crews back in place.

Chun told Seattle Times that as of April 21, Boeing was tracking about 35 active COVID-19 cases among 70,000 employees in Washington state, with around 100 employees recovered and cleared to go back to work.

Still, at Boeing and elsewhere, the success of efforts to resume operations will depend not only on new safety protocols, but on the willingness of employees to observe them.

A lot of this falls on personal responsibility, a mechanic at Boeings parts-fabrication plant in Auburn told the Seattle Times, adding that she has observed co-workers flouting guidelines.

If I hear any whisper of anyone (at work) testing positive for COVID-19, Im shutting down and going home.
Calif. judge rejects pastors' exemption request to hold in-person church services

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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.
The stuff that gets used every day needs to stay near the middle. The things that children help themselves to should be within their reach. The less often an item is used, the higher or lower up it can live.

Gretchen Bender, owner of Creative Spaces Organizing in St. Louis, says the first question she asks is: What is your goal?

A lot of time people have the space, but they dont know what to do with it. They just see a series of shelves.

The organizer starts envisioning what can be grouped together, taken out and added to improve the functionality.

2. Empty it out.

The next step is to empty out the entire pantry. It sounds daunting, but its truly the only way to get a handle on everything that is hidden there. People will often discover they own multiples of the same product or have a backlog of expired foods.

If you dont see it, you wont use it, Bianco said. We discovered several unopened bottles of vitamins and supplements that had been purchased with good intentions but lost in the recesses of the pantry.

3. Sort into categories.
Khalsa Aid

The Jail Minister, Punjab, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa today said that the Department of Prisons expresses its heartfelt gratitude to Khalsa Aid Organisation for providing necessary items and equipment to the department for enhancing its capacity to tackle COVID-19 pandemic.

SS Randhawa

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He further said that the humanitarian gesture extended by the Khalsa Aid in this time of need would be counted as very valuable in the annals of humanity.

Meanwhile, the ADGP Prisons Praveen K. Sinha while thanking the Khalsa Aid, said that, Khalsa Aid Organisation has always come up and played a pivotal role in helping the needy during the exigencies throughout the world and have proved to be the real heroes  who works silently without seeking attention. Humanity shall always hold such noble souls in high regard.

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Khalsa Aid

It is noteworthy that the Khalsa Aid Organisation, represented by Amarpreet Singh and other volunteers donated a total of 920 body suits, 5000 masks, 1650 bottles of sanitizer (100 ml) and 23 IR Thermometers to various jails of Punjab.

Not only this but to control the menace of mosquito borne diseases and for disinfection of jail premises, nine shoulder mounted fogging machines were donated by Khalsa Aid, one for each Central Jail.
U.S. warship transits through Taiwan Strait

ROC Central News Agency

04/24/2020 11:36 AM

Taipei, April 24 (CNA) The USS Barry, an American Arleigh-Burke class guided missile destroyer, sailed through the Taiwan Strait on Thursday, according to a Facebook post by the U.S. Seventh Fleet.

In the post Friday morning, the U.S. Seventh Fleet said that the vessel made the transit "during routine underway operations ... in support of security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region."

Earlier in the day, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense (MND) said a United States warship had recently sailed through the Taiwan Strait in a southerly direction, but it did not identify the vessel or say when the transit occurred.

The USS Barry had transited through the Taiwan Strait on April 10, also from north to south, according to the MND and the U.S. Seventh Fleet.

Meanwhile, the MND said Thursday it had been monitoring the Chinese aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, which made an eastward passage through the Bashi Strait to the south of Taiwan Wednesday after conducting training exercises in the South China Sea.

The MND also released a black-and-white aerial surveillance photograph of the Liaoning but did not say where or when the photo was taken.

Su Tzu-yun (), an analyst at the government-funded Institute for National Defense and Security Research, said the frequent appearances by American vessels are a form of "military public diplomacy," aimed at signaling the U.S.' commitment to the region, despite the Chinese military's efforts to expand its influence in Asia Pacific.

(By Chen Yun-yu and Matthew Mazzetta)

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Reuters reports that China dispatched medical experts to North Korea to "advise on leader Kim Jong-Un", suspected to be very ill after a heart operation.

The trip by the Chinese doctors and officials comes amid conflicting reports about the health of the North Korean leader. Reuters was unable to immediately determine what the trip by the Chinese team signalled in terms of Kim's health. A delegation led by a senior member of the Chinese Communist Party's International Liaison Department left Beijing for North Korea on Thursday, two of the people said. The department is the main Chinese body dealing with neighbouring North Korea.

Japanese weekly Shukan Gendai claims Kim is in a "vegetative state" and unlikely to recover.
A former Iranian deputy foreign minister has questioned Iran's military ambitions in a clear reference to Revolutionary Guard commanders claims about the Iranian armed force's deterrent power following the launch of a military satellite last week.

In an analysis entitled "The Strategy of Deterrence" in Saturday's edition of reformist newspaper Sharq, Aminzadeh wrote that "further to military deterrence, countries need an economic deterrent power in order to protect their national security."

He noted that "The coronavirus outbreak has redoubled Iran's economic problems in the face of U.S. sanctions. But even before the outbreak, Iran's inability to protect its national economy had exposed the country to this extremely difficult situation."

IRGC Aerospace Force Commander Amir Ali Hajizadeh said in an interview on Iran's state TV on 24 April that by launching its first military satellite into space, Iran has become a "superpower". He also praised the measure as a boost for Iran's deterrence power against any enemy.

"We will be more powerful every day and no one can threaten us. The United States and even bigger powers cannot do a damn thing to us," Hajizadeh claimed.

Earlier, IRGC commander-in-chief Hossein Salami had also said the launch of Iran's first military satellite on Wednesday April 22 marks the "beginning of the formation of a world power."

Iran's Supreme Leader who has always been supporting the IRGC and its hardline rhetoric, has so far remained silent about the military satellite launch and the IRGC commanders' boastful remarks. Although he has been in a strict self-isolation since the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak, still he could have made a comment about the development. It is possible he is annoyed by Salami's earlier outlandish claims about the invention of a machine that can detect coronavirus from a distance of 100 meters.

In his analysis Aminzadeh charged that some Iranian officials have not noticed that the post-Cold War strategists have re-defined the concept of deterrence, stressing that it now means "being capable of displaying and using effective aggressive military power to dissuade the enemy of the idea of a military offensive." In other words, it means being able to "retaliate."

He said the collapse of the Soviet Union three decades ago, when it was at the peak of its military power, showed that lack of economic power can be catastrophic. He noted that "today, economic sanctions have proved to be more effective than engaging in an arms race," adding that "the successful experience of the United States in sanctioning Iran has turned the sanctions into the most important and most effective tool for the U.S. in its confrontation with the Islamic Republic."

Aminzadeh reminded Iranian officials of "the shift in the elements of national power from military power to economic power since the Cold War," and wrote "economic power strongly depends on foreign trade and international transactions," adding that "the concepts of self-sufficiency and confinement within national borders are meaningless in today's economy," possibly in a reference to Khamenei's idea of a Jihadist economy.

Pointing out Iran's weaknesses, Aminzadeh wrote that maintaining economic relations with neighbors and powerful countries plays a key role in both economic and military deterrence.

Aminzadeh warned that "development of a military power disproportionate with the country's economic power is a dangerous thing. One of the reasons of the collapse of the Soviet Union was the continuous decline of its economic resources."

He also criticized the dictum of "Looking to East" or an orientation toward China and Russia, which was mentioned by Khamenei a couple of times during the past year. Aminzadeh said that the idea of relying on the East to evade U.S. pressures is still present in some Iranian officials' dreams and wishful thinking. Aminzadeh added that now even Russia and China see an improvement in Iran's ties with the United States as a condition for expanding their relations with Iran.

"For the development of economic ties, even with countries known as the East, Iran badly needs to resolve its disputes with the United States," he wrote, adding that the idea of a Cold War style deterrence by looking East is misleading. "Good or bad, that period is gone!"

As a way out of its problems, Aminzadeh suggested that Iran needs proper economic management, maintaining economic ties with other countries through improving Iran's foreign policy as the most important obstacle to the country's economic development and putting an end to U.S. sanctions and Iran's international isolation.

To do that, he suggested that Iran should activate mediation efforts and push the United States to a more balanced and logical position.
When calamity first came for Allie Lockwood in her early 20s, she realized something needed to change. A life-altering crisis would eventually come for all of us, she decided, and when it did, she would not be unprepared or irrelevant.

She would be, as it turned out, in the emergency department at Elmhurst Hospital in Queens, responding to the howls of the ventilator alarms, reaching for the COVID-19 victims who were falling apart before they ever escaped the waiting room.

I went into medicine to have the skills to deal with something like this, says Lockwood, 32, even if she never quite imagined the predatory instincts of this virus. Elmhurst is a public hospital at the dark heart of the pandemic, in a neighborhood of construction workers, grocery-cart venders, undocumented immigrants, and Uber drivers roped to the poverty line.

Elmhurst Hospital in Queens

And for the last eight weeks, Lockwood, a second-year resident, has met them in the ER in a space suit of protective gear, checking vital signs, drawing blood, ordering X-rays, and fending off stress, even as her parents  Robert Lockwood and Janet Gibbens of Northeast Portland  tend to theirs.

Were incredibly proud of the work shes doing there, and constantly worrying that we could lose her, says Robert Lockwood, the long-time information-systems manager at New Seasons Market. Not just that she could get sick, but that she could die.

Their Zoom reunions? Ive never seen her so exhausted. She simply looks  older. Shes literally aging on the front lines, and thats hard to see.

Allie Lockwood grew up in Irvington, graduating from Grant High in 2005. As an undergrad at Sarah Lawrence College, she focused on politics, spending one summer working for Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore.

She was studying abroad in Spain in the fall of 2007 when her long-time boyfriend, Alex Mitchell, was diagnosed with a pineoblastoma, a rare brain cancer, and their world turned upside down.

Lockwood rushed home, then moved to Memphis to be with Mitchell during the recovery process at St. Judes Hospital. She spent seven stressful months caring for him during five rounds of inpatient chemo and several months of radiation therapy, and the results were mixed. He survived the treatment, Lockwood says. The relationship did not.

She finished college at Scripps in Claremont, Calif., waiting to regain her balance. Fiercely independent, Lockwood had never been uncertain about anything, but she no longer knew where she belonged. Shed lost all enthusiasm for politics or law school. She spent a year traveling, working at an Argentinian bar, wandering Colombia and southeast Asia, asking herself where she wanted to be when the world needed her the most.

Luckily, she said Wednesday, in a city where COVID-19 has killed more than 15,000 people, I answered that question correctly ten years ago. I kept getting drawn back to medicine.

Lockwood backtracked to take her pre-med courses. She worked at hospitals in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, eventually graduating in 2018 from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. She then began her residency in three New York City hospitals and waited, in the cardiac room at Elmhurst, for coronavirus to steamroll the neighborhood.

Allie Lockwood at her graduation from med school, with her parents, Robert Lockwood and Janet Gibbens, and her sister, Kim.

When I heard the news coming out of Italy, the things Italian doctors were saying, I knew this was coming for us, Lockwood says. Yet nothing, including her work in Haiti, prepared her for the days when a hundred patients jammed the waiting room, desperate for a stretcher, a mask, a CPAP machine, a reprieve.

Its always busy here. Its always controlled chaos, Lockwood says. But this was completely different. There were people decompensating left and right.

The response was rapid. It wasnt rapid enough. Ive had to call so many families and tell them their loved ones have died. I was trained to have those conversations. Its a big part of what we do. I have a script in my head that I go through. And its awful. Its terrible every time.

Lockwood is understandably frustrated by the federal governments response to COVID-19.

As a country, we really missed this, she says, passionately focused on the essential workers who live in the surrounding neighborhood. On April 9, she started a Gofundme campaign for the dishwashers, deliverymen and nannies who will never see a dime of the $2.2 trillion stimulus package.

Her parents are right to worry, Lockwood says, for her and every other doctor at Elmhurst:

We are so exposed right now. This country could so easily lose our health-care workers. Most of the people responding to this crisis are going to have some element of PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). A lot of my colleagues and me have developed early signs of that.

The relentless alarms from the ventilators and the ERs overloaded oxygen delivery system? We all go home hearing those sounds in our heads, and we cant get rid of them, Lockwood says.

I think were going to be in this for a long, long time.

-- Steve Duin

stephen.b.duin@gmail.com
The MV Artania is seen with "Thank You Fremantle" banners and Australian flags at the Fremantle Passenger Terminal in Australia on March 28, 2020.

Paul Kane/Getty Images

The MV Artania is one of the last cruise ships still at sea today, and is traveling back to Germany with just eight passengers and 75 crew members.

During its 140-day journey around the world, the German ship was forced to quarantine in Fremantle, Western Australia, after it reported several cases of coronavirus onboard.

While hundreds of healthy passengers were allowed to leave the ship to fly back home, several others had to stay on board.

Three passengers and one crew member have died from the coronavirus after being taken to local hospitals.

The ship is expected to stop in Indonesia and the Philippines to drop off crew members who are from there, before returning to Germany. The return leg will be more than a month long.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

A German cruise ship is currently on its way home with only eight guests and 75 crew members after four passengers died from the coronavirus and hundreds more were forced to evacuate.

It is one of the last cruise ships in the world still at sea.

The eight-deck MV Artania embarked on its 140-day world cruise on December 21, 2019  when China was discovering the world's first coronavirus cases  but was quarantined in Fremantle, Western Australia, in mid-March after several coronavirus cases were found on board.

Three passengers and one 42-year-old crew member who were on the ship have since died. The crew member was the youngest person to die in Australia.

Scroll down to see how disaster unfolded on the German cruise ship and where it is now.

The MV Artania is a 1,200-passenger cruise ship with 600 cabins, two pools, and a cinema. It is operated by German travel agency Phoenix Reisen.

Passengers board the MV Artania in Lisbon, Portugal, on June 3, 2016.

Horacio Villalobos#476916#51B ED/Corbis via Getty Images)

Most of the passengers on this tour were German nationals.

There were also 537 crew members on board, according to CruiseMapper.

Source: CruiseMapper

It embarked on its 140-day journey from Hamburg, Germany, on December 21, 2019. In the first two months of its journey, it traveled through countries including the Maldives, Sri Lanka, and Malaysia.

Story continues

A screenshot from an official YouTube video tour of the MV Artania's upper deck in 2018.

Cruisechannel/YouTube

Source: Cruise Mapper

It arrived in Sydney on March 12. Around this time, countries around the world had started blocking cruise ships from docking in their ports for fears of contracting the coronavirus.

The Artania cruise ship in front of P&O Cruises Pacific Explorer in Sydney, Australia on March 16, 2020

James D. Morgan/Getty Images

At this point, multiple cruise ships had been left abandoned as ports started to shut down all over the world.

The Diamond Princess  which saw a boom in coronavirus cases as it was quarantined in Japan in February  was evidence that cruise ships were hotbeds for the coronavirus to spread.

Source: The Points Guy

While the MV Artania had no confirmed cases of COVID-19 at the time, it still gave guests the options to fly back to Germany from Sydney. Out of the approximately 1,072 passengers on board, 199 took up of the offer.

The Artania cruise ship in White Bay, Sydney, on March 16, 2020.

James D. Morgan/Getty Images

Source: The Points Guy

Yet the cruise had every intention to keep going. On March 19, it left for Fremantle, a port city on Australia's western coast, where it planned to make a quick refuel stop before continuing on to Africa, the Suez Canal, and parts of Europe.

A depiction of where Fremantle is

Google Maps

Source: The Points Guy

But on the way to Fremantle, passengers started showing symptoms of the coronavirus. By the time the cruise ship arrived one week later, seven people had tested positive.

A passenger on the MV Artania look out from their rooms in Fremantle on March 27, 2020.

Paul Kane/Getty Images)

Source: Australian Broadcasting Corporation

At first, the MV Artania was forced to anchor off-shore because Australian authorities were concerned about the potential virus risk posed by the cruise ship.

The cruise ship sits anchored off the port of Fremantle near Perth on March 27, 2020.

TONY ASHBY/AFP via Getty Images

State authorities said at the time that only passengers with life-threatening conditions would be allowed to leave, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reported.

Meanwhile, Western Australian Premier Mark McGowan called on the Royal Australian Navy to help get the vessel  which had not a single Australian national on board  to leave the country's waters.

Source: ABC

But on March 27, the ship was allowed to dock under the condition it would quarantine for two weeks. One day later, 46 passengers started showing symptoms, with Western Australia's state premier saying the situation had reached a "crisis point."

A passenger is attended to by waiting paramedics at the Fremantle Passenger Terminal on March 27, 2020.

Paul Kane/Getty Images

Forty-one of those passengers were taken off the cruise ship and treated in local hospitals, according to ABC.

Source: ABC

In the following days, Australian authorities allowed anyone who was still healthy  832 passengers at this point  to fly home from the nearby Perth airport on a chartered aircraft.

Passengers from MV Artania are transferred with a police escort to Perth International Airport on March 29, 2020.

Paul Kane/Getty Images

Source: Phoenix Reisen, Bloomberg

But some of those who tested positive and were showing milder symptoms of the virus were still quarantined on the ship. At this point, 12 passengers and 450 crew members were left on board.

Passengers from the Artania cruise ship are transported from the Fremantle Passenger Terminal to Perth International airport on March 29, 2020.

Paul Kane/Getty Images

Source: The Points Guy

Another standoff between the ship and local authorities ensued on April 1, when the MV Artania refused to follow orders to leave the port and asked to stay another 14 days. They were eventually allowed.

The MV Artania at the Fremantle Passenger Terminal on March 27, 2020.

Paul Kane/Getty Images

This was presumably to allow any passengers with symptoms to be treated.

The MV Artania was deeply popular among many locals in Western Australia, who claimed that passengers from the ship being treated in the hospitals were taking up capacity that should be reserved for Australians, according to the BBC.

Source: ABC

On April 16, the ship  which now had eight passengers on board and hundreds of crew members  left Fremantle. Groups of people gathered to bid them farewell from the Australian mainland.

Residents in apartments opposite the Fremantle Passenger Terminal are seen with a banner with a message to the passengers and crew of the MV Artania saying "Travel Safe" on March 28, 2020.

Paul Kane/Getty Images

Source: ABC

The German captain, Morten Hanson, left a video message on Twitter, thanking the authorities and medical teams for assisting the cruise ship as it battled the outbreak.

The ship sailed to Jakarta, Indonesia, on April 24 to drop off crew members from the country. This left eight passengers and 75 crew members on board.

Map showing the MV Artania's location on April 24, 2020.

Google Maps

Source: Phoenix Reisen

It now plans to drop by the Philippines to let more crew members disembark before returning to Germany.

map germany indonesia philippines

Google Maps

The trip back to Germany will be a long one  the cruise's operator says it will arrive in its home port of Bremerhaven on May 31, which is more than five weeks away.

Bremerhaven port.

Fabian Bimmer/Reuters

Source: BILD, Phoenix Reisen

This journey as been a sad one. As of Friday, four people from the ship have since died from the coronavirus.

The MV Artania is seen with "Thank You Fremantle" banners and Australian flags positioned on the side of the vessel at the Fremantle Passenger Terminal on March 28, 2020.

Paul Kane/Getty Images

Of these victims:

Two passengers died in local hospitals in Fremantle while the ship was still docked there.

One crew member died in Fremantle on April 17, a day after the ship left.

One passenger, a German man in his 70s, died in Sir Charles Gairdne hospital in Fremantle on April 23.

The crew member  a 42-year-old man from the Philippines  became the youngest person to die of the coronavirus on Australian soil, ABC reported.

Source: ABC

Read the original article on Business Insider
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size On how many fronts can you wage war and prevail? Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, are about to find out. Their battle with Britain's tabloid newspapers is reaching its climax but don't expect victory for the polarising royal couple. Even a High Court win will probably feel like a loss once it's all over. "They are trying to beat the media with a very big stick," says public relations guru Mark Borkowski, who regularly advises celebrities facing court. "However, what's really happening is that they are in a knife fight with an enemy who has a flame thrower." The Los Angeles-based couple fired a fresh shot this week by ending all co-operation with four tabloids: The Daily Mail, The Sun, The Daily Mirror and The Express. Despite insisting they value a free press, the duo cut off the outlets because they did not want to be "currency for an economy of click bait and distortion". "The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have watched people they know - as well as complete strangers - have their lives completely pulled apart for no good reason, other than the fact that salacious gossip boosts advertising revenue", they said in a statement. It was a tone deaf contribution. That same day, Britain's coronavirus death toll had just topped 15,000 and millions were out of work as the United Kingdom's unprecedented lockdown paralysed the economy. "It was the worst case of timing I have ever seen," Borkowski says. "They are clearly in a bubble." Society of Editors executive director Ian Murray also blasted the decision, but for different reasons: "Although the Duke and Duchess say they support a free press and all it stands for, there is no escaping their actions here amount to censorship and they are setting an unfortunate example."

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Harry's hatred for the press can be traced back to the death of his mother Princess Diana in 1997. For Meghan - an actress who embraced the media for years and is alleged to have used friends to speak to reporters and engineer favourable coverage - the disdain is more recent. She is suing The Mail on Sunday and its publisher Associated Newspapers for breach of privacy, infringement of copyright and breach of data protection laws over the publication of portions of letter she wrote to her estranged father in 2018. The letter was sent after Thomas Markle sensationally joined forces with the paparazzi to stage fake photographs in exchange for cash. "Daddy, it is with a heavy heart that I write this, not understanding why you have chosen to take this path, turning a blind eye to the pain you're causing," Meghan wrote. "If you love me, as you tell the press you do, please stop. Please allow us to live our lives in peace." Thomas Markle willingly gave the letter to the newspaper but the court will decide whether the masthead had a legal right to publish it. The case had a procedural hearing in the High Court on Friday and Thomas Markle will almost certainly appear over the coming months to testify against his own daughter. The prospect of such bombshell testimony gives The Mail little incentive to settle. Lawyers for the newspaper say their source has a "right to tell his version of what had happened between himself and his daughter". Separately, Harry is suing the owners of The Daily Mirror and The Sun for alleged phone hacking. The couple has also withdrawn from the so-called royal rota, a system which guarantees royal correspondents access to official engagements.

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Borkowski knows a thing or two about image and perception. And in Harry and Meghan, he sees a poorly advised couple conducting a war they should have never started. He also suspects the British public grows tired of the antics. "I want to be as generous as possible about this because they are wounded individuals," Borkowski says. "Harry clearly treasures and loves this woman. And he is scarred. Everyone knows about the huge impact of losing his mother. And that appalling decision for him to walk behind the coffin at her funeral would have scarred anyone. "But this wounding, from my perspective, is leading to some appalling decisions being made." The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are polarising figures in Britain. Credit:Getty Nigel Tait, a partner at high-profile British law firm Carter-Ruck who has acted for Elton John, Simon Cowell, Liam Gallagher and other celebrities in fights with the press, believes Meghan will win the case. "In very general terms, did the Duchess of Sussex have a reasonable expectation of privacy in writing a letter to her father? I imagine the answer will come back yes," Tait says. "Then the question is not whether the information that was published was in public interest, it's whether it was in the public interest that her privacy was breached. I'd be surprised if the court found it was.

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"My view is you should be able to write to your mum or dad without it ending up in the newspaper - even if you're a politician or member of the royal family. Otherwise, how can you communicate? How can you live your life properly if you have no privacy at all?" The European Convention on Human Rights protects the right of a person to have a "reasonable expectation of privacy". Those four words are the Achilles heel for The Mail, which has lodged a lengthy defence with the court over its publication of extracts from the letter. "There is a huge and legitimate public interest in the royal family and the activities, conduct and standards of behaviour of its members," the paper's lawyers said. "This extends not merely to their public conduct, but to their personal and family relationships because those are integral to the proper functioning of the monarchy." And this: "The letter was Mr Markles property, and he was entitled to give it to whomever he chose." Loading They also argue Meghan has been a hypocrite. A few days prior to the letter's publication, an article appeared in the US magazine People anonymously quoting five friends of the Duchess. The story was highly critical of Thomas Markle and detailed how Meghan and Harry had tried to help the former Hollywood lighting technician deal with huge press interest ahead of his daughter's entry to the British royal family. One of the friends quoted in the People story also referenced Meghan's letter. The Mail claims Meghan authorised her friends to speak to the magazine - a contention flatly denied by lawyers for the Duchess. The People article was so one-sided that Thomas Markle had a right to respond and correct the record, The Mail says. The paper even suggested Meghan's handwriting in the letter was so neat that she probably knew it might end up in the public arena.

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Tait says the defences won't work and predicts Associated Newspapers may have to pay more than 1 million in damages and costs to Meghan. But the newspaper group might not consider that outcome a loss. "The editors will know that this case is going to attract world attention and that it will be good copy for them," he says. "It may be commercially worth it to them to spend 1 million fighting a case they lose, if they can make some inroads and land some punches." Prince Harry has long had a fraught relationship with Britain's press. Credit:AP Professor Chris Frost, the chair of the National Union of Journalists' ethics council, agrees The Mail wants to get the Duchess and her aggrieved father in the witness stand and engineer its own royal news event. "That sort of thing brings the press into considerable disrepute and the national newspapers in the UK have been doing that  certainly the tabloids anyway  over the past 20 years or so in an effort to generate copy and generate interest from the public to buy papers," he says. "What's interesting though is that the public isn't buying the papers in the numbers they used to and it's difficult to understand why editors continue to do things that certainly attract attention but dont sell newspapers." Frost contends the fall in tabloid readership was not just part of the worldwide shift from print to digital but a response to the content being published.

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- PHOTOS: Documenting COVID-19 in the Pikes Peak region.

The governor's safer-at-home stage has been met with some confusion and even backlash since he first unveiled it.

A Weld County commissioner, for example, said in a recent radio interview that the county will allow any business to reopen next week after the state's stay-at-home order expires.

-MORE: 'Safer at Home' in Colorado | A step-by-step guide to what's coming

- RELATED: Broadmoor hotel in Colorado Springs now targeting late June reopening.

On the other hand, Denver Mayor Michael Hancock said Friday morning that the citys stay-at-home orders will not be lifted until midnight on May 9, a decision he said most mayors around the region agreed with, including in Jefferson and Boulder counties, which have followed Hancock's lead.

State officials have said the past week that counties can apply for variances in the state's guidelines if they meet certain criteria, including proof of a two-week decline in coronavirus case counts. The governor addressed Weld County at the Friday briefing, saying the countys public health departments guidance was reasonable, although not thorough enough.

"As far as I know, we've not received a request from Weld County," Polis said. "They do not have any kind of unilateral ability to jeopardize the health of residents of Weld County."
Photo: Contributed A sign posted at the Burnaby home of Amy, a registered nurse who has COVID-19.

The phone conversation with Amy is short.

It has to be. She has COVID-19 and conversations more than a few minutes long leave her struggling to breathe. Even showering and brushing her teeth wears her out.

You can hear her voice quiver with discomfort as she discusses her situation and how shes tried to make the best of it.

Amy is a Burnaby resident and registered nurse at St. Pauls Hospital who was diagnosed with COVID-19 at the end of March and ended up in hospital herself for a few days. (Weve agreed to not print her last name for privacy reasons.)

Its humbling and frustrating all at the same time, Amy told the Burnaby NOW about having to self-isolate and struggle with this terrible virus.

One thing that is frustrating is not being able to help patients in her job as an RN during this crisis.

Shes trained to save lives and now shes just trying to save her own. But that doesnt mean she still cant help others.

Amy sent out a call to her friends and family to drop by her home and tie a ribbon to the tree in her front yard as a way of keeping up her spirits.

"I chose a tree because trees represent life and growth, Amy said. It also gets people outside even if its just momentarily. Fresh air and nature are imperative to our sense of well-being.

Photo: Contributed A tree tied with ribbons in front of the Burnaby home of Amy, a nurse who has COVID-19.

She asked those who tied a ribbon to take a photo of it and send it to her. Shes received ribbon pics from local family, friends, neighbours and random strangers. Even people as far away as Australia, Germany, the United Kingdom and the U.S. have sent pictures in.

Amy also pledged to donate money for every ribbon tied and pic sent. Well, things exploded and now she is donating $6,400 from her own savings to such organizations Burnaby Hospital Foundation and Care Canada's COVID-19 relief fund, which works to empower women and girls around the world.

Amy struggles to discuss the project because she wants to deflect things off of herself.

This is not about me, she said. This about overcoming adversity, gratitude, coming together and giving back.
Kevin Stoney Burke arrives with drinks for Feena Doyle and Pauline Keating, as well as the other staff members at New Ross Community Hospital.

A nationwide initiative which recognises the sacrifices being made by frontline workers and also gives local businesses a chance to operate during lockdown has been adopted by St Michael's Theatre in New Ross.

Every morning at approximately 11 a.m., staff at New Ross Community Hospital (NRCH) receive a delivery of teas, coffee and biscuits courtesy of St Michael's, and all free of charge.

Theatre Director Tomas Kavanagh explained how they got involved.

'It's called the The Green Wave and it was Graham Doyle of The Irish Experience who came to us with the idea. He was the one who brought it to Wexford and he told us about it.

'Our staff at the theatre make the teas and coffees every morning and bring them down to the workers. The response has been great. It's our way of showing our appreciation for their work, and showing them how everyone in New Ross is grateful for the sacrifices they are making at this difficult time,' Tomas said.

Graham Doyle, owner of The Irish Experience adventure tourism company based on the Hook Peninsula, said The Green Wave is a 'win win' for everyone.

'If any coffee shops in Wexford or anywhere in the south east want to get involved, all their costs will be covered. You can sign up by contacting me at graham@theirishexperience.com and at the end of each week, you send an invoice to the organisers detailing the amount of coffees and teas you made.

'It's been designed to ensure a cash flow for coffee shops. Some of those who've signed up say they have never been busier and they're having donations dropped in the door all the time. There's 16 hospitals throughout the country who are having teas and coffees delivered and NRCH is one of them, thanks to the generosity of Tomas and his team.'

Underlining the community spirit in New Ross and at St Micheal's, Graham revealed that Tomas had refused to take any money for the first two weeks of the service, preferring to provide these refreshments for staff out of his own pocket.
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Sanjay Kothari takes oath as Chief Vigilance Commissioner

India

oi-Briti Roy Barman

New Delhi, Apr 25: Retired IAS officer Sanjay Kothari on Saturday took oath as the Chief Vigilance Commissioner at a ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Kothari was administered the oath of office by President Ram Nath Kovind at the event that was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and other senior officials.

Social distancing was ensured throughout the event whereas all the attendees at the event were seen following COVID-19 protocols.

Delhi: Sanjay Kothari takes oath as the Central Vigilance Commissioner (CVC), the oath of office is being administered to him by President Ram Nath Kovind at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and others also present at the ceremony. pic.twitter.com/gNjIAC5J1m  ANI (@ANI) April 25, 2020

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was seen with a "gamcha" or cotton scarf while other guests were seen wearing face masks at the ceremony.

Sanjay Kothari, a 1978 batch (retired) IAS officer of Haryana cadre, was secretary to the president before being nominated to the new role.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-25 21:22:14|Editor: huaxia

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by Eric J. Lyman

ROME, April 25 (Xinhua) - Elise Sanders wasn't a coffee drinker until she moved to Italy four years ago. But she quickly developed a taste for Italy's version of the drink, and when her neighborhood coffee bar shut down at the start of Italy's national coronavirus lockdown, she instantly missed it.

"I fell in love with coffee, especially cappuccino without a lot of foam, which is the way I like it," Sanders, a teacher who moved to Italy from the United States, told Xinhua.

When Italy's national lockdown entered into force, Sanders' school switched to online classes and the coffee bar beneath her apartment was shuttered. Her day-to-day routine changed completely.

But lately, Italy has started taking small steps toward reopening its economy after weeks of quarantine. Among the businesses to reopen was Terra Satis, the coffee bar beneath Sanders' apartment in the Roman neighborhood of Trastevere.

It is only open for take-away, and those waiting in line are required to keep a safe distance from each other.

"Yesterday, I had my first cappuccino in 43 days," Sanders said with a broad smile. "It actually brought me to tears of joy."

Ivana D'Andree, co-owner of Terra Satis, said that kind of response was part of her motivation for the reopening after being closed for more than six weeks.

"We decided to give ourselves a dose of positivity and optimism, and to have at least the illusion of a normal life despite the lockdown," D'Andree said in an interview.

Despite the spirits raised by the reopening of coffee bars and a handful of other businesses, political leaders are urging caution -- and some residents are afraid to venture out, as the outbreak is still infecting an average of more than 2,000 people a day in Italy.

"I wish I could say, 'Let's reopen everything, immediately,'" Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said this week. "But such a decision would be irresponsible. It would make the [coronavirus] infection curve go up in an uncontrolled way and would cancel out all the efforts we have made so far."

The lockdown rules Conte announced on March 9 did not require coffee bars, pizzerias, restaurants, and similar establishments to close. But it did limit them to take-away and delivery services, an option that didn't make much sense for coffee bars where the product only stays hot for a short time and where a big part of the experience is the feeling of camaraderie among neighbors. Besides, the initial indications were that the lockdown would only last 15 days. Most establishments decided to wait it out.

"At first, we thought we'd reopen in two or three weeks, and so we didn't worry about it," said Claudio Volpini, owner of a nearby coffee bar called 404 Name Not Found.

Volpini's bar has not reopened yet, but he was organizing things inside this week with the goal of opening for business in a few days.

"After more than six weeks ... we're having big economic problems," Volpini told Xinhua. "Plus, the neighborhood needs a place that at least offers home delivery."

Within a short walk of the two coffee bars are a tobacco shop, a dry cleaner, a pet shop, a bakery, and a baby supplies store. Most of them have only opened over the last few days.

The task of government officials will be to balance the economic needs of business owners like D'Andree and Volpini with the health precautions recommended by medical experts.

Conte has said the terms of the lockdown will be further eased starting May 4, though so far no details have been unveiled.

But according to Atilio Vallucci, the owner of a baby supplies shop called Mettimi Giu' (Put Me Down), easing of the quarantine rules won't make much sense until people feel safe enough to leave their homes.

"If nobody will leave their homes before May 4, we're completely without clients and then we're working for nothing," Vallucci said in an interview. Enditem
Despite restrictions, China on April 24 reportedly witnessed more imported cases of the novel coronavirus in the north-western province of Shaanxi as the returning citizens from Russia tested positive for the COVID-19. Despite the slowdown in the rate of domestic cases within the communist territory, more people entering the country from abroad are contributing to the coronavirus infection figures, as per the media reports.

At least three tested positive in the port city of Manzhouli, Inner Mongolia, all imported cases, however, the details of the patients were not given out, confirmed media reports. As of April 20, a flight from Moscow was diverted from the Beijings airport that later detected over 30 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus, and at least eight asymptomatic cases onboard, the provincial health commission confirmed to a news agency. Further, the northern province in China reportedly announced that the returning Chinese nationals along with other international arrivals will be sent under mandatory 28 days quarantine. It said that the suspected COVID-19 patients will also be given two tests for the detection of the disease and an anti-body test, according to reports.

Read: US Witnesses Lowest Coronavirus Deaths In Three Weeks, Total Toll At 52,193

Read: Coronavirus Outbreak: Eight Babies At Tokyo's Orphanage Test Positive

Toughened measures at Russia border

As of April 24, over 82,816 cases of the coronavirus were confirmed in China, and 4,632 deaths have been registered so far. The National Health Commission of China also recorded 29 asymptomatic cases, slightly lesser from the previous 34, confirmed reports. While the country imposed stringent health screening procedures at its airport, banned the overseas travellers as of March 28, there has been a consistent inflow of the positive cases in the territory yet.

Earlier, China reportedly tightened restrictions on the movement of people near the Russian border in view of the increase in COVID-19 cases. According to reports, the Heilongjiang province in China emerged as the new hotspot, with new coronavirus clusters linked to a hospital in the provincial capital, where wearing face masks was immediately made compulsory.

Read: China's Asymptomatic Cases Increase To Over 980 With 27 New Infections

Read: China Closes Border Crossing With Myanmar Amid Fighting
President Akufo-Addo has commended Ghanaians for adhering to the measures put in place by the government to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Speaking at an engagement with the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS), President Nana Akufo-Addo said Ghanaians had generally been compliant with the various measures.

The President also acknowledged the difficulty in enforcing social distancing protocols across the country as a measure to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus.

He was however hopeful that soon, the protocol will become a regular feature of the Ghanaian society.

Im very encouraged with the way Ghanaians have responded to this crisis. The change in behaviour; now instinctively, we dont shake hands anymore in Ghana. Its difficult to believe but its happening. The distancing is difficult but that has become a regular feature of our lives and of course, the masks being obligatory all across. The unity with which these difficult measures have been accepted by the population.

Weve not had the riots in other countries like South Africa and India have had because our people have readily accepted the necessity of these measures being taken. You can imagine, me the person responsible for imposing these measures and how it comes with a great deal of difficulty. But Shakespeare said it that Uneasy lies the head which wears the crown, and that is the truth today as it was in his time, he noted.

The government of Ghana on Sunday, March 15, 2020, as part of efforts to stop the spread of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) announced new public gathering advisories .

The advisories were given by President Nana Akufo-Addo in a special national address, following the announcement of four new confirmed cases of the disease in the country.

He noted in his address that the ban will be in force for the next four weeks.

The advisories included Ghanaians maintaining a two-metre distance with each other at all times to prevent the transfer of droplets while talking, sneezing or laughing.

---citinewsroom
File image

After a media report said Prashant Kishore rushed to Kolkata, Ministry of Civil Aviation tried to find out if he used a cargo plane. The ministry has found nothing about Kishor taking a flight to Kolkata, according to CNN-News18 sources.

Ministry looked at 72 hours of CCTV footage from three airports to see if Prashant Kishor had taken a flight and has found nothing as per CNN-News18 sources.

The sources also said that the Ministry also spoke to some airlines to ask if he did fly with them, which they have denied.

Bihar BJP had 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 had denied the allegations and had 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."

The government had initiated a probe in this regard.
The nationwide tally of coronavirus positive patients crossed 26,000 on Saturday with fresh cases getting detected in Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and the national capital among other places, but the government said the daily growth rate has dipped to 6 per cent and some states began relaxing some lockdown conditions by allowing more shops to open.

At least 56 more deaths have been reported since Friday evening -- the highest so far in a span of 24 hours -- to take the death toll across the country to at least 779, according to the Union Health Ministry figures.

However, a PTI tally of figures reported by various states and union territories, till on 10 PM, put the nationwide death toll at 824, and the total number of confirmed cases at 26,194.

In its evening 5 PM update, the Union Health Ministry had said 24,942 people have tested positive while more than 5,200 have recovered -- giving a recovery rate of over 20 per cent. It also said the rate of daily growth in new cases has fallen to 6 per cent, which is the lowest since the country crossed 100 cases.

While an estimated 5.8 lakh tests have been conducted so far, the government has put on hold the use of rapid test kits procured from two Chinese firms to check their efficacy after some states including Rajasthan reported they were giving inaccurate results.

On a positive note, the Delhi government said it has seen encouraging results from the plasma therapy trial on more patients. Karnataka also began similar trials on Saturday, while Rajasthan said it was also ready to conduct these trials.

Some states, taking cue from a late Friday night order from the Union Home Ministry, said they are taking steps to open more categories of shops, including those selling garments, mobile phones, hardware and stationery items.

However, these relaxations would not be allowed for shops located in market places, malls and COVID-19 hotspots and containment zones. In rural areas, all shops barring those in malls have been allowed to open.

Liquor and cigarette shops would remain closed everywhere irrespective of their location, while sale of non-essential items through e-commerce platforms continue to remain shut. Restaurants, hair salons and barber shops will not be allowed to open as these render services and do not fall under the shop category.

The Delhi government said it will implement the Home Ministry order on opening of shops in the national capital, but Maharashtra ruled out any immediate relaxation saying the lockdown guidelines will remain unchanged in the state till May 3. Gujarat, on the other hand, decided to follow the directive, while Assam said it will take a decision on Monday. Haryana and Nagaland also said they will implement the relaxations.

Amid rising coronavirus cases in the national capital, with 111 new cases during the day taking its tally to 2,625, a top official in the Delhi government's COVID-19 committee has, however, suggested that the lockdown in the national capital will have to be continued till mid-May for the epidemic curve to flatten.

A nationwide lockdown has been in place since March 25, which was first scheduled to end on April 14, but was extended till May 3 to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to interact with various chief ministers on Monday, April 27, where some clarity is expected on the lockdown and further course of action on the COVID-19 situation. Before that, Modi's monthly 'Mann Ki Baat' radio broadcast is scheduled for Sunday.

Maharasthra saw its tally of positive cases rising to 7,628, followed by over 3,000 in Gujarat. Rajasthan has reported more than 2,000 cases, while Madhya Pradesh is also nearing this mark. Madhya Pradesh has crossed 1,900 while Tamil Nadu have more than 1,800 cases and Uttar Pradesh is also nearing that mark.

In Andhra Pradesh, the tally crossed 1,000 and new positive cases included frontline healthcare professionals.

Of the total 779 COVID-19 deaths also, Maharashtra accounts for the highest number of 323 fatalities, followed by Gujarat (133), Madhya Pradesh (99), Delhi (54), Rajasthan (33), Andhra Pradesh (31), Uttar Pradesh (27) and Telangana (25).

Uttar Pradesh, where at least 177 new cases emerged and two more died during the day, has decided to ban all public gatherings till June 30.

West Bengal also reported 38 fresh COVID-19 cases, taking its total to 541. At least 18 people have died in the state, a health department bulletin said.

Special teams sent by the Centre, in the meantime, assessed ground situations in Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Telangana, but a political stand-off continued in West Bengal on this front.

The team visiting West Bengal alleged that non-cooperation on the part of the state government over providing logistical support and other relevant information, while the state's ruling party Trinamool Congress described it as "India's Most Callous Team" and accused it of trying to spread the political virus "shamelessly".

On the political front, Congress President Sonia Gandhi also wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking urgent steps to help the MSME sector, including a Rs 1 lakh crore 'Wage Protection' package. She said the MSME crisis has the potential of having a devastating and expansive ripple effect on our economy.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Dozens of protesters hijacked Anzac Day to demonstrate against coronavirus restrictions.

Around 75 demonstrators, including ex-servicemen and women, bumped shoulders at the park at Trafalgar Train Station in West Gippsland, Victoria on Saturday, demanding an end to lockdown.

The protesters said the government had gone 'too far' in imposing rules on what Victorians can do amid the pandemic, even comparing the government to Nazi Germany.

Some protesters held placards reading 'what did our Anzacs die for?', 'locking up healthy people is tyranny' and 'give our jobs back'.

The demonstration was held on Anzac Day as many of the protestors had served or were related to people who'd served their countries but were unable to honour them due to social distancing measures.

Topher Field, an ex-serviceman leading the event, said the government's restrictions had taken freedom away from Australians.

'Who would have thought in our own free country we would have to risk fines to gather and honour Anzac Day,' he said in a live stream video of the protest.

Mr Field said Anzacs had fought against tyrannical governments including the German Nazis, Communist China and the regime of Saddam Hussein.

'Our Anzacs fought against governments that took control of their people and yet today we see echoes of our history here at home,' he said.

'As we are bullied and threatened, berated and controlled into living lives of fear and withdrawing into our homes, stripped of our incomes and independence we are expected to beg the government for a hand out.

Some of the protesters at the West Gippsland demonstration are seen carrying signs reading 'what did our Anzacs die for?' and 'end lockdown'

Topher Field (pictured) said the restrictions enforced by the Victorian government was a form of 'bullying' and 'intimidation'

'What we have seen is not only the destruction of our economy, of lives, dreams, futures, but the trampling of the rights and freedoms that are now our birth right thanks to our Anzacs.

'We are guilty of no crime but are threatened with punishment if we so much leave our homes and enjoy some sunshine in the park.'

Mr Field said the lockdown in Victoria was expected to continue for several months to come - something he believes the state should not be subjected to.

'We are expected to be grateful to those who have made us captives in our own homes,' he said.

'What we're seeing from (Victorian Premier) Daniel Andrews is bullying and intimidation.

'We owe it to our children to stop this in our generation and pass to them the same freedoms our Anzacs gave to us.'

The protest continued for more than an hour despite four Victorian police cars present.

A spokesperson for Victoria Police told Daily Mail Australia fines would be issued to the organisers.

After footage of the video went viral online, many slammed the protest as 'disrespectful'.

Up to 75 people attended the protest on Anzac Day with many online slamming it as 'disrespectful'

'Actually shaking with rage over this right now. While people all over the country were holding peaceful driveway vigils this morning, these absolute stains decided that the ANZAC's apparently fought for their right to spread disease to small regional towns,' one woman said.

'So disrespectful and downright selfish,' another said.

'The idea of people coming from Melbourne into a small town, potentially bringing the virus here is the most selfish and vile thing,' one said.

Trafalgar-Thorpdale RSL sub-branch vice president Jim Crowe said he believed the protest had 'backfired'.

'Any protest on Anzac Day is disrespectful', the Vietnam veteran said, the Herald Sun reported.

'Anzac Day is a national day where we commemorate the memory of the soldiers who have given the ultimate sacrifice. They've chosen that day, probably to get maximum benefit. But I just like to think it's all backfired and it's maximum benefit against them.

Mr Field said the government was taking away the freedom of Australians and 'punished' them for stepping outside

'If it wasn't for the blood that was spilled by their forebears they wouldn't have the freedom to protest.'

Victoria has imposed the harshest coronavirus restrictions in Australia.

On the spot fines of $1,652 have been given to anyone breaking coronavirus regulations which requires people to stay inside unless leaving for work and education, exercise, food shopping, care reasons and other extenuating circumstances.

Only two people are allowed to be together at any given time.
Paterson, New Jersey Officer Francesco Scorpo lost his life to COVID-19

Staten Island, NY, April 25, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation announced it will be providing financial support to the family of fallen Paterson, NJ police officer Francesco Frank Scorpo.

Officer Scorpo is the first Paterson officer to lose his life due to complications from COVID-19. He passed away two weeks ago on April 12, Easter Sunday.

He leaves behind his wife, Kristina, a nurse, and their two young sons, 4-year-old Francesco Jr. and 6-month-old Santino.

The Foundation will pay the mortgage on the Scorpos home until the COVID-19 Heroes Fund is depleted.

"My husband, Frank, will be remembered for his two loves in life: his family and his career as a police officer. Frank aspired to be a police officer from a young age, and we were thrilled when he was accepted to the Bergen County Police Academy. His dreams and hard work were finally realized when he graduated and joined the Paterson Police Department in 2015. Frank was dedicated to serving the Paterson community, and looked forward to work each day. He truly loved his job as a police officer, and was motivated by his work to protect and serve others. Im incredibly grateful to The Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation for their generosity, which will enable me to raise my children in the home Frank and I shared. I would like to thank the Foundation for honoring my husbands service, and for helping me to keep his memory in our home," said Kristina Scorpo.

The Scorpo family is a family dedicated to public service, said Frank Siller, Chairman and CEO of the Tunnel to Towers Foundation. Officer Scorpo served his New Jersey community for five years as a police officer. His wife Kristina is a nurse, and has faced this horrible virus head-on through patient care. Both of them went to work bravely each day, knowing they were putting their own lives at risk in order to help others. My hope is that, in lifting this financial burden off of Kristinas shoulders, she can grieve and focus on her two young boys with greater peace of mind.

Story continues

The Tunnel to Towers Foundation established the COVID-19 Heroes Fund in response to the growing pandemic with an initial pledge of $3 million and has subsequently grown it to $4.5 million--and counting--to support Americas heroes.

To address the overwhelming need, the Foundation has set a goal to raise $10 million in support of our nations frontline heroes.

These funds will be used to support frontline health care workers and first responders by providing personal protective equipment, meals, and financial relief through temporary mortgage payments to the families of those who lose their lives to COVID-19 and leave behind young children.

So far the Foundation has been able to secure over 500,000 pieces of PPE including masks, gowns and face shields to distribute throughout New York and New Jersey. The Foundation is working to expand the delivery of PPE to frontline health care workers and first responders in additional states next week.

The Foundation has delivered thousands of meals to police stations and fire houses throughout the city dropping off hot meals to the essential workers who are keeping us safe through this pandemic.

The Foundation has identified 15 families of fallen health care workers it will help financially by taking on their mortgage payments temporarily. These heroes, from hot spot areas all over the country, lost their lives by working on the front lines as nurses, nursing home workers and EMTs while leaving behind young children.

Additional support came from Conor McGregors Proper No.Twelve Irish Whiskey, which donated $100,000 to the Tunnel to Towers COVID-19 Heroes Fund.



You can join Proper No.Twelve's effort to raise additional funds to support Tunnel to Towers by purchasing a 'ONE FOR ALL' T-Shirt. 100% of the price you pay for these 'ONE FOR ALL' T-Shirts will go to the Tunnel to Towers COVID-19 Heroes Fund. Shirt sales have already surpassed $50,000.

The shirts are on sale at ProperWhiskey.com

Please go to Tunnel2Towers.org and consider a $11 per month pledge to support our COVID-19 Heroes Fund.

The front lines may change with the emergencies we face, but the support of Tunnel to Towers is unwavering. You can help Tunnel to Towers give EVEN MORE to these heroes.

About the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation

The Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation's mission is to honor the sacrifice of FDNY Firefighter Stephen Siller, who laid down his life to save others on September 11, 2001. To date, The Tunnel to Towers Foundation has spent over $250 million to honor and support our first responders and veterans and their families.

For more about the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, please visit tunnel2towers.org.

Follow Tunnel to Towers on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @Tunnel2Towers.

Attachments

Trevor Tamsen

Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation

916-524-0941

Trevor.Tamsen@tunnel2towers.org


Even as the confirmed U.S. death toll from the coronavirus soared past 50,000, Georgia, Oklahoma and Alaska began loosening lockdown orders Friday on their pandemic-wounded businesses, despite warnings from health experts that the gradual steps toward normalcy might be happening too soon.

Republican governors in Georgia and Oklahoma allowed salons, spas and barbershops to reopen, while Alaska opened the way for restaurants to resume dine-in service and retail shops and other businesses to open their doors, all with limitations. Some Alaska municipalities chose to maintain stricter rules.

Though limited in scope, and subject to social-distancing restrictions, the reopenings marked a symbolic milestone in the debate raging in the United States  and the world  as to how quickly political leaders should lift economically damaging lockdown orders.

In other news, officials say the top Navy officer has recommended the reinstatement of the aircraft carrier captain fired for sending a fraught email to commanders pleading for faster action to protect his crew from a coronavirus outbreak.

In other developments today:

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning doctors against prescribing a malaria drug widely touted by Trump for treating the new coronavirus outside of hospitals or research settings. In an alert Friday, regulators flagged reports of serious side effects and death among patients taking hydroxychloroquine and the related drug chloroquine.

Dont inject disinfectants, health officials leapt to warn on Friday, reacting to Trumps comment that disinfectants perhaps could be injected or ingested to fight COVID-19. His suggestion even prompted the maker of Lysol to warn its product should never be used internally.

One of every four American adults says someone in the household has lost a job to the coronavirus pandemic, but the vast majority expect those former jobs will return once the crisis passes, according to a new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

Across the country, governors wrestle with weeks of quarantine-fueled job losses and soaring unemployment claims and the simultaneous warnings of public health officials who say lifting stay-at-home orders now could spark a resurgence of COVID-19. Meanwhile, a recent public opinion poll finds that a majority of Americans believe it wont be safe to stop following social distancing guidelines anytime soon.

Apple and Google have outlined new privacy protections for smartphone apps that could help public health agencies send alerts to people if they spent more than 5 minutes near someone who later tested positive for COVID-19.

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.
Post COVID-19: Restarting the socio-economic engine By Riza Yehiya FEATURES View(s): View(s):

The threat of COVID-19 pandemic (C19) has set the country on a war footing with the tri-forces, police and health and allied services deployed to fight this. A curfew is imposed to ensure social distancing of people to prevent the spread of C19 infections. This is a suddenly emergent pandemic threatening the whole of humanity. The collateral damages to the people by this are incalculable. It drains their hard-earned savings and exacerbates poverty. These will have a debilitating socio-economic impact on all sectors in the country.

Facing this challenge is daunting, since this is not like the Tsunami 2004. This is a global pandemic where every country is affected and no country is in a position to help the other. In most of the global crises, be they man-made or natural disasters, the international community sprang to action and provided global leadership. But this time, three months have passed since the emergence of C19 in Wuhan, China, the global leadership is yet to emerge and each country is left to fend for themselves.

Currently, we are in the midst of disaster management fighting C19. We should be confident of the progress hitherto made by the proactive steps taken by the government. Possibly strict adherence to social distancing would help eliminate the threat.

Assessing the current scenario, it is evident that passing this difficult time with lockdowns and supply-chain disruptions is easier, compared to what would ensue in the aftermath. Therefore, our attention should be focused on developing mitigation and remediation plans to manage the post pandemic period that follows. The post pandemic period could possibly be a new world order demanding total lifestyle changes, creating a new normal. This would expose us to new challenges, threats and opportunities requiring major changes in the way we live and do things.

The immediate aftermath of the relaxation of lock-downs and restoration of the supply-chains would not bring a near normal state, instead, it will most likely be chaotic. The immediate aftermath would increase the unemployment and poverty rate, influence reverse migration, disrupt education and public services, create a surge on health and mental health care, and spike divorce rates etc. These would be some of the imminent challenges that we should be prepared to face.

The government will have to take drastic measures to face this emerging challenge. It has to ensure an efficient bureaucracy and must initiate resource efficiency and adopt lean management principles by prioritising on critical sectors to function effectively. This would require a total overhaul of the system and adoption of systemic thinking in recalibrating the state apparatus to face new realities.

Post C19

Post C19 will be a new era that would demand new adaptive practices to face new realities. In the initial phase of it, social distancing would still be required until a vaccine is found or herd immunity achieved. Therefore, during this period, screening, tracing, wearing masks, maintaining personal hygiene and social distancing would be imperative in spite of the absence of an immediate pandemic. Hence, responding to this and resuscitating socio-economic life would require new techniques and technologies to help maintain social distancing whilst rebuilding life.

The focus on social distancing in the Post C19 would be disruptive to public transportation, shopping, education, health services and the industrial sector which require people movement and congregation to keep the system running. Therefore, to obviate disruptions, communication technologies, Internet transactions and new policies on health and safety in workplaces need to be introduced.

Internet online transactions

The Internet online transactions are handy to help maintain some degree of social distancing across several sectors:

Online Shopping: Currently, this serves mostly the urban populations. That there is a need for capacity building to make this a livewire of e-commerce.

Online Education: During the lockdown, certain schools adopted online learning as an emergency measure. Sri Lanka is yet to develop a proper infrastructure for online education. The current Sri Lankan education system already suffers in respect of access and quality disparity between urban and rural schools. This urban/rural gap will get transformed to intra-urban and intra-rural gaps between resource rich and poor schools if online education is adopted in an ad hoc manner. Online education should be a national initiative that gives easy access to every child. This should not exacerbate the quality gap widening social disparity between children.

Telemedicine: Private sector health care institutions can start tele-medicine practice using the Internet. They can provide online consultations to their patients and where required this can be supplemented by mobile hospital services.

Online CAD/CAM, BIM and 3D Modelling: Online Design, Construction, Engineering, Printing and Packaging and 3D Model components can be produced maintaining social distancing.

E-Governance: The government must take immediate measures to strengthen e-governance initiatives to increase efficiency and reduce service cost. This would enhance efficient governance, increase transparency and eliminate corruptions.

Complementing the above, mobile technologies and the Internet can be used efficiently to reinforce the socio-economic framework without compromising the required social distancing. Effective use of the Internet and facilitating online transactions would help keep at least 25 per cent of the population off the road. This would as a result, reduce vehicular traffic and congestion in the streets and contribute immensely to reduce pollution and the carbon footprint. This will help social distancing and help save costs incurred in fuel for transport, time cost of travel and cost incurred on mitigating environmental pollution etc.

At a time of cost cutting and imperative frugality, it is suggested that the government increase the Internet speed and capacity and eliminate taxes on Internet services at least for one year to help spur economic growth and enable citizens and businesses embrace online transactions as the new norm. In support of this, the free WIFI system already provided in public spaces can be further expanded to serve a large catchment area benefiting the public.

Effective use of mobile technologies and Internet transactions would reduce people mobility and keep some off the streets. But to run the socio-economic engine to be productive, would require people to congregate in their workplaces and factories. Maintaining social distances in workplaces and factories would require new health and safety policies. Such policies should develop new regulations in respect of work space arrangements and sanitary facilities to prevent infections.

The twin approach of reducing people mobility by effective Internet use and increasing health and safety requirements in workplaces can help transition to the post C19 new normal state to kick-start our society again.

(The writer is an architect

and Sustainability Consultant

and contactable at:

rizayehiya@sustdesignstudio.com)
WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump and his top aides are working behind the scenes to sideline the World Health Organization on several new fronts as they seek to shift blame for the coronavirus pandemic to the world body, according to U.S. and foreign officials involved in the discussions.

Last week, the president announced a 60-day hold on U.S. money to the WHO, but other steps by his top officials go beyond a temporary funding freeze, raising concerns about the permanent weakening of the organization amid a rapidly spreading crisis.

At the State Department, officials are stripping references to the WHO from coronavirus fact sheets, and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has instructed his employees to "cut out the middle man" when it comes to public health initiatives the United States previously supported through the WHO.

The United States will now attempt to reroute the WHO funds to nongovernment organizations involved in public health issues, according to interviews with U.S. officials and an internal memo obtained by The Washington Post.

"The Secretary has asked the State Department and USAID to identify and utilize alternative implementers for foreign assistance programs beyond the WHO," read a memo sent to State Department employees in recent days.

At the United Nations Security Council, the Trump administration has delayed a resolution responding to the health crisis, which the French have been trying to advance for weeks, because it disagrees with draft language that expresses support for the WHO, European officials said.

U.S. opposition to the WHO also prevented health ministers at a virtual G-20 meeting from issuing a joint statement on the pandemic earlier this month.

The White House is imploring allies to question the organization's credibility and push claims that its employees routinely go on excessive "luxury travel," as one White House official, Sarah Makin Acciani, told a group of surrogates in a recent phone call without offering evidence, a transcript of which has been obtained by The Post.

"It has been impossible to find a common ground with the U.S. about the views on the work and role of WHO," said a senior European official, who like others spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe diplomatic discussions.

WHO officials initially hoped they could stave off a halt in U.S. funding and a messy public confrontation by making a symbolic concession to Trump, but discussions between the organization and the U.S. ambassador to the WHO, Andrew Bremberg, failed to ease tensions.

Trump, who has said the outbreak could be contained with "very little death" if the WHO had done its job, reiterated his complaints during a Group of Seven conference call this month. World leaders cautioned that it would be unwise to "switch horses" in the middle of the race and that an investigation into mistakes could be made after the crisis subsides, European officials familiar with the conversation said. After the call, several G-7 leaders issued public statements in support of the WHO.

The Trump administration's moves could prove far more damaging to the WHO than the temporary halt in funding, said experts who reviewed the State Department memo and tracked U.S. actions.

"A 60-day pause to U.S. funding is a headache for the WHO but not necessarily an existential crisis. That said, if State starts giving funds to other implementers to carry out health programs the WHO would have overseen, there is a risk that the U.S. starts spreading resources out in an inefficient, fragmentary fashion," said Richard Gowan, a senior fellow at the International Crisis Group.

"If this crisis has taught us one thing, it is that we need better international coordination to handle global heath challenges," he added.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Health and Human Services, Katherine McKeogh, said the Trump administration "seeks to refocus the WHO on fulfilling its core missions of preparedness, response, and stakeholder coordination."

Kayleigh McEnany, the White House press secretary, said that the WHO had shown a "clear bias towards China, even though China contributes a small fraction of what the U.S. does each year."

"From repeating inaccurate claims peddled by China during the coronavirus pandemic to opposing the United States' life-saving travel restrictions, the WHO put Americans at risk," she said.

The WHO, born out of the ashes of World War II "to promote and protect the health of all peoples," is designed to identify emerging contagion and "support the delivery of essential health services in fragile settings," according to a statement on its website.

Trump and his top aides have criticized the organization for not thoroughly vetting information from China about the virus and taking too many of its statements at "face value," the president said.

"So much death has been caused by their mistakes," Trump told reporters at the White House in reference to the WHO.

Trump has said the organization "pushed China's misinformation" and is inherently "China-centric," a criticism shared by other governments due in part to Beijing's lobbying on behalf of key individuals for influential WHO postings.

But critics say the president is scapegoating the WHO to distract from charges that he responded slowly to the pandemic and waited too long to implement protective measures that would have saved lives in the United States. They also question the value of seeking alternatives to the WHO at this juncture.

The institution's defenders note that since late January, WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has held near-daily news conferences about the virus and warned leaders that the window for stopping its spread was quickly "closing." Officials from the Trump administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were embedded in the WHO and continue to work with it, even as Trump publicly rails against the agency.

Former administration officials said the Trump administration supported Tedros in his bid for the position and even met with him in the White House. Among those who have spoken regularly with him since his election is Ivanka Trump, the president's daughter, officials said.

On Tuesday, the State Department rolled out its plan to reroute money that went to the WHO but did not name any specific group it would fund and could not say whether the United States will coordinate with the organization on health matters going forward.

"We cannot tell you," said John Barsa, the acting administrator of USAID, noting that the administration was still carrying out a review of the policy.

Pompeo has suggested that the United States, which contributed $553 million to the WHO in 2019, may withhold all funding to the organization in the future. On Wednesday night, he declined to rule out the possibility that the United States would seek Tedros's removal as a condition for resuming funding.

"It may be the case that the United States can never return to underwriting, having U.S. taxpayer dollars go to the WHO," he told Fox News host Laura Ingraham.

Pompeo has also raised the idea, in private discussions with other officials, of launching a parallel structure to the WHO that would receive U.S. coronavirus funding, said two officials familiar with the discussions.

The Trump administration's moves against the WHO have concerned Democrats and some Republicans who view undercutting the institution as risky in the middle of a global health crisis.

"I'm reluctant to think that the middle of the fight is the time to eliminate one of the partners in the fight, no matter how many concerns you have about what they're doing," said Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., who chairs the Senate panel overseeing health funding.

There is also concern that the United States, which donates more to the WHO than any other country, could lose influence to China, which on Thursday committed to giving $30 million to the organization.

Critics of Tedros say he and his deputies failed to question China's claims in mid-January that there was no clear evidence of human-to-human transmission of the coronavirus, and that they missed opportunities to urge nations to take preemptive action.

An Ethiopian national and microbiologist by training, Tedros has also come under attack from 17 House Republicans, who last week called on him to resign, saying the WHO plays a "vital role" but that they have lost confidence in him.

Organizations that work with the WHO have said that while it could have responded to the pandemic more quickly, attempts to undercut it are misguided.

"WHO is not a mere 'middle man.' WHO plays an indispensable multilateral role and is the only organization with the global capacity, reach and mandate to support the response to a pandemic that is threatening every country on Earth," said Sheba Crocker, vice president of humanitarian policy and practice at CARE.

The Trump administration is considering keeping some funding for the WHO to fight polio and the coronavirus in seven countries, Bloomberg first reported on Friday. The move could serve as an acknowledgment that certain WHO programs are not easily replaceable, but one senior U.S. official cautioned that no final decision has been made on the exemptions.

Some conservatives defended rerouting funds away from the WHO, arguing that the organization has paid insufficient attention to emerging pandemics and that channeling money through it is no guarantee that health crises will be handled in a more efficient way.

"WHO spends a lot of money on things other than communicable diseases," said Brett Schaefer, a fellow at the Heritage Foundation, noting the organization's work on heart disease, cancer and health emergency programs.

While acknowledging that funding piecemeal global health efforts could lack a global perspective, he countered that the U.N. system, which includes the WHO and the U.N. Children Fund, can also be "fragmented and duplicative."

U.S. attendance at WHO-related events has also begun to slip, officials said. On Friday, the United States did not participate in the launch of a World Health Organization global effort on vaccines and drugs related to coronavirus. WHO leaders "really, really" hoped for U.S. attendance and asked Washington repeatedly to participate, a WHO official said. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar did not take part in this month's virtual G-20 meeting of health ministers because he was celebrating Easter, a spokeswoman said.

For weeks the U.N. Security Council has been working on a resolution calling for a global cease fire pertaining to armed conflict in response to the pandemic. A draft offered by the French and viewed by The Post urged member states to "share timely and transparent information regarding the outbreak of COVID-19" and "support the full implementation of the WHO International Health Regulations."

That reference to the WHO was opposed by the United States, European officials said.

A State Department official said the U.S. continues to support a global cease fire in principle but also needs to look out for its "legitimate" interests.

A recent version of the resolution, crafted by Tunisia and France, includes placeholder language in the hope of resolving the WHO dispute later on. A "compromise related to the language on WHO" will be decided on "at the end of the negotiation," reads a draft obtained by The Post.

As the negotiations drag on, European officials view domestic American politics as an obstacle to an effective response to the crisis.

"The U.S. administration is very fixated on the reelection campaign and on who can get blamed for this catastrophic covid-19 situation in the U.S.," said a senior European official. "They are blaming WHO and China for it. Therefore it is very difficult to agree on a common language about the WHO."

- - -

The Washington Post's Seung Min Kim contributed to this report.
OTTAWA, April 25, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Coronavirus first emerged in late 2019 in China, but has spread to other countries like Afghanistan. Today, health officials in Afghanistan estimate more than 1000 cases.



According to Meladul Haq Ahmadzai , during the recent military operations in Afghanistan, the international community focused on fighting a war and not much on strengthening health systems. Ahmadzai says, "fighting COVID-19 would have been much easier if Afghanistan's health care system had been strengthened."

The U.S. and Afghanistan war began in 2001 and has cost the American people almost $2 trillion.

Meanwhile, the war also impacted groups including Doctors Without Borders (MSF) and others, including one of their hospitals in the Kunduz province being bombed by a drone strike.

President Donald Trump had vowed to end the Middle East conflicts before winning the Presidential U.S. race.

The war strategy was extended several times as a result of Daesh and Taliban activity in Afghanistan.

Earlier this year, U.S. peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad, and Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Taliban group's top political leader, signed a peace agreement.

Afghanistan is a least developed country on the UN list and most of the rural population earn less than $2 a day. There is still a huge shortage in Afghanistan for food, medicine, and education, Ahmadzai says.

The American people have changed almost three governments and there is a lack of working towards progress in Afghanistan. Ahmadzai concludes, There is no definition for fighting in any books that has endured by all Afghan people.

Meladul Haq Ahmadzai is a global health research and CEO of Taleam Systems. He lives in Ottawa, Canada.

Media Contact:

Meladul Haq Ahmadzai

melad@taleamsystems.com

613-521-9229

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1c2218b5-a4e3-450f-8e08-9922a97af440
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VICTORIAAttorney General David Eby says the COVID-19 pandemic exposed vulnerabilities in British Columbias legal system, weaknesses that have forged a unified effort to build a stronger, more modern justice administration.

Most courts in B.C. suspended operations last month due to the threats of the pandemic. Other than hearing emergency matters, the Court of Appeal, provincial and Supreme courts were not sitting, but are now increasingly using technology to hold hearings remotely, Eby said Friday.

Its happening in real time and if it werent in the middle of a pandemic it would be incredibly exciting, and what it is, is everybody working together out of a sense of urgency and necessity, he said. Whats more intriguing to me is theres an appetite to look if there are different ways we can do things.

Eby said the Court of Appeal is now preparing to hold hearings by Zoom conference calls and the Cullen Commission public inquiry into money laundering will use Microsoft Team during its proceedings.

Theres a great appetite for us to be doing things differently and I am hearing it loud and clear from the courts, from lawyers, from people who use the courts, he said.

Eby announced the appointment on Friday of two groups of legal organizations and experts to provide the government with advice to keep the justice system rolling throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and afterwards.

The members of more than two dozen groups, including the B.C. Association of Chiefs of Police, The B.C. branch of the Canadian Bar Association, the RCMP and the First Nations Justice Council, will advise government on how to respond to urgent and arising issues in the system, he said.

A second group of more than one dozen people, including Beverley McLachlin, the former chief justice of the Supreme Court of Canada, will recommend ways to reduce backlogs during and after the pandemic, said Eby.

Theres been a fascinating and really important shift in the justice sector as a result of the pandemic, he said. A lot of the concerns and fears about the use of technology in courtrooms have made way for a sense of urgency around our need to be able to deliver court services to people.

Craig Ferris, Law Society of B.C. president, said the groups will address B.C.s immediate and long-term needs within the justice system.

He said he agreed with Ebys comments about the pandemic exposing vulnerabilities in the justice system.

What the crisis has highlighted is there are limits to what is currently available in the courts and the court system and the justice sector, Ferris said. As much as everybodys trying to work hard to get everything working as best we can right now, closing the courts at all shouldnt happen. We should have a system that is resilient enough that it can handle these types of issues.

B.C.s chief provincial court Judge Melissa Gillespie said in a statement last week she anticipates staged approaches to increasing court operations as video and audio conferencing capability grows.

The B.C. Supreme Court said on April 20 it will schedule telephone conference hearings for non-urgent matters that were automatically adjourned when the court suspended operations last month.

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A woman and six-year-old boy have been stabbed in a horrific attack in western Sydney.

Emergency services were called to a unit on Belmore Street in North Parramatta at about 12.10am on Saturday after reports of a domestic incident.

A 27-year-old woman and child were discovered inside the home with stab wounds.

Six ambulance crews were tasked to the scene before taking the two to Westmead Hospital in a stable condition.

A woman and six-year-old boy have been stabbed in a horrific attack in western Sydney (stock image of NSW Police tape)

Police were told a man had fled the unit on foot.

After a widespread search of the area involving the dog squad and PolAir a 31-year-old man was arrested at about 2am after handing himself in at the Parramatta Police station.

Investigations are ongoing into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The 1995 movie Friday spawned several acting careers and took others to new heights.

Two actors from the movie went on to earn Oscar nominations with Regina King, who played Craigs sister Dana, winning an Oscar for her supporting actress role in the 2018 film If Beale Street Could Talk.

ALSO AT CHRON.COM: Ranking the 35 best lines from the movie 'Friday'

Chris Tucker, who played the one-liner machine Smokey, parlayed his role in Friday  just the second movie of his career  into a leading role in the Rush Hour movie franchise, making a reported $25 million for the third installment.

There were plenty of future stars playing minor  some extremely minor  roles in the movie. Meagan Good was just 13 years old when she had her two lines in the movie, and shes gone on to have an established Hollywood career.

Michael Clarke Duncan, who died in 2012, had an even lesser role in the movie, appearing in just one scene with no speaking part, and he wasnt even credited in the movie. He went on to be nominated for an Oscar for his role in The Green Mile four years later.

Browse through the photos above for an update on every character from the movie Friday and see what theyre doing now.
On Wednesday, Mohammad Shamsuddin, a resident of Mustafabad, one of the many localities affected in the Delhi riots in February this year, got an unexpected call from the police. According to Shamsuddin, the police told his son to go to Dayalpur police station for inquiry and investigation into the Delhi riots.

On Wednesday, Mohammad Shamsuddin, a resident of Mustafabad, one of the many localities affected in the Delhi riots in February this year, got an unexpected call from the police. According to Shamsuddin, the police told his son to go to Dayalpur police station for inquiry and investigation into the Delhi riots. His son  weak and pale  is still limping from the untreated injury near his groin area that he sustained from the riots.

As reported earlier by Firstpost, Shamsuddin's 22-year-old son Mohammad Imran had been seriously injured during the police firing in Mustafabad on 25 February. According to doctors at Mustafabad's Al Hind hospital, where he was initially treated, Imran's scrotum and penis were ripped apart, and his anal region had suffered severe injuries. He was shifted to LNJP hospital later. This is how the initial initial described the injury : "15 cm long, from scrotum to anal region" - referring him to the surgery department at LNJP hospital. A welder by profession, Imran was to get married in May. Before his follow up at LNJP hospital for his surgery, the lockdown due to coronavirus was announced and his surgery has been indefinitely pushed date.

"Beta, you have to go to the police station," Shamsuddin told Imran, after the latter asked his father about the phone call. "But I didnt do anything" Imran said. According to his father, Imran was summoned by the police for questioning this Thursday. "He was kept in the jail from 10 am till 11 in the night. He couldnt even sit due to his injury. He was very tense and was shivering. They didnt give him food or water," said Shamsuddin, "but they have left him for now, but they might call him anytime and arrest him. We are already short of money, and now they want to take away my eldest son away from me who is innocent."

On 25 February, Imran had come out of the house at around 5 pm to see what the commotion was all about. The riots in the North East part of Delhi had already started. Thats when "something" hit his private parts and he started bleeding profusely. "My entire sack burst, and my bleeding wouldnt stop. It was the worst day of my life," Imran recalled.

One of the breadwinners of the family, Imran has four brothers and three sisters. Shamsuddin, a carpenter, said that either a bullet hit him, or a tear gas shell burst between his legs. He was standing unarmed when the police started shooting and releasing tear gas to quell the crowd.

One of Imrans brother, Mohammad Ibrahim said, "My brother hasnt yet undergone the surgery. The doctors at LNJP had suggested surgery after looking at his condition. The surgery kept getting delayed and couldnt happen due to the lockdown. But now he was at home, resting and somehow recovering from the injury, but the police wouldnt let him be. They called him and harassed him. They said things like, Tu danga kar raha tha? We are people who earn on a daily basis, we have no interest in rioting."

Speaking about his interaction with the police, Imran said that they "gave me two options" when he reached the Dayalpur Police Station on Thursday.

"Either tell us the names of four people who were rioting or go to jail. But I didnt know any names. They still kept pressuring me into confessing something I didnt do. If I had something to hide, I would have run away instead of going to the police station to cooperate in the investigation. They kept asking me what had hit me. But I didnt know what had hit me, it was either a bullet or a tear gas shell. They started accusing me of rioting. They started saying that they have photos of me indulging in rioting. If they had such photos, why couldnt they arrest me then and there? I wouldnt have been released," Imran said.

Even though Imran has been released for now, fear of getting arrested still looms large. "After talking to me for some time, they put me in a small jail in the station. They kept delaying my release, trying to break my morale. They were trying to scare me. They wrote down my address and said they will arrest me if my name comes up again."

Ved Prakash, Station House Officer of Dayalpur police station said, If somebody has got injuries during the riots, it is established that he was very much at the spot. Now, it is our work to verify in what manner he got that injury. Why did this person come to that spot? We are verifying facts, why was this person outside during an ongoing riot, what was the necessity, and in what circumstances did this person get those injuries. Either he is a victim, or he could be an accused, too. Theres a possibility that those who got injured were rioting."

He further added, "We are verifying the role of each and every injured person so we can take required action." According to the SHO, at least 95 people were injured during the riots in and around the area of Mustafabad. All of them are being called in for questioning.
A couple hours after sunup Wednesday, Kyle McGraw climbed into his hail-beaten Chevy Suburban to make the two-hour drive from Midland to a small oil field he and his sons bought just seven weeks ago.

As he drove across the broad expanse of West Texas with his two sons, McGraw, 60, said he couldnt help but feel nostalgic, recalling how his own father had drilled his first well not far from where they were headed. But this trip was not meant for drilling wells; McGraw would begin shutting them down.

Talk about changing your way of thinking. All my career has been about how do you make more, and now Im saying we better shut in, McGraw, the president of Trinidad Energy, said. This boom weve been on for the past seven years is fast evaporating.

The mass shutdown of Texas oil fields has begun after an unprecedented crash that last week drove crude prices into negative territory for the first time in history. From the Permian Basin in the west to the Eagle Ford in the south, drilling rigs are getting pulled from operation, wells are getting plugged and layoff notices are going out fast, bringing an abrupt halt to one of the worlds great oil booms.

A decade after the shale revolution revived the states oil production -- eventually increasing five-fold to a record 5.4 million barrels a day in January - Texas oil and gas workers watched with mouths agape Monday as the price of the U.S. benchmark crude, West Texas Intermediate, fell to negative $37 on plunging energy demand and shrinking storage capacity.

At the offices of Millenium Exploration in San Antonio, owner Richard Monroy and a couple of employees switched their gaze back and forth across the six different news programs they were watching.

They were all red. All you saw was red, Monroy said. We all stopped what we were doing and gathered around and watched the screens.

Some 270 miles up Interstate 35, Jim Wilkes, president of Fort Worth producer Texland, was following crude prices on the New York Mercantile Exchange from home when he began calling the skeleton crew of executives at the office. He had expected prices to fall further and already decided to shut down wells in the Permian Basin. But he never saw anything like this coming.

Everyone was in disbelief, he said. My thought was what is something worth when no ones using it and theres nowhere to store it. But I didnt realize it would go negative.

Hard choices

The decision to shut down wells is not one oil companies take lightly, cutting off their sole source of revenue and potentially sending them into a death spiral from which they might never recover.

As long as oil is coming out of ground, they are usually generating some cash. But that cash flow stops when wells are shut-in, and it reverberates through their creditors, suppliers, service contractors and all the people who work for them. And when prices do rebound, wells that have been shut in can take months to resume normal production, if they get there at all.

These are people used to the good times and bad and theyre having to make decisions theyve never had to make before, said Ben Shepperd, president of the trade group Permian Basin Petroleum Association. Cutting off their production, giving them no revenue for the foreseeable future. Laying off people who may have worked for them for decades.

Even as the widening coronavirus pandemic set oil prices falling at the beginning of the year, the trouble really began in early March when Saudi Arabia launched a price war with Russia after failing to reach agreement on output cuts through their OPEC+ group. The Saudis kicked up production and offered steep discounts, driving prices down by one-third overnight to $31 a barrel.

But that was nothing compared to what the spread of the coronavirus would do to energy demand, as governments across the globe ordered their citizens to stay-at-home. Within three weeks, West Texas Intermediate was selling for less than $15 a barrel. Layoff notices accelerated.

One day in early April, oil field services giant Halliburton laid off more than 600 people across Texas and Oklahoma. Three days later, in a 24-hour span, five oil field services companies informed the Texas Workforce Commission they were laying off a combined 1,100 workers.

The next day, Houston-based Pacific Drilling laid off more than 80 crew members from its drilling ship in the Gulf of Mexico, the Pacific Sharav.

Since mid-March, more than 17,000 oil field layoffs have been announced across Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, North Dakota, Pennsylvania and New Mexico, according to analysis of state employment records.

Our customers have drastically reduced their capital spending budgets and canceled work that had been scheduled or awarded to us, due to the sudden and dramatic drop in crude oil prices, Michael Robinson, a human resources manager at Universal Pressure Pumping, a division of the Houston oil field services company Patterson-UTI, explained to the commission in a letter.

The stunning crash in prices came as the industry was already struggling following a year of lackluster prices and increasing skepticism about the shale boom on Wall Street. Companies that were already hurting are now reeling, more unsure than ever about the future.

Speak no evil

With no good news coming, boards of publicly traded companies and those owned by private equity firms have put gag orders on their senior executives, Shepperd said.

Rumors of a flotilla of oil tankers headed to the United States with Saudi oil are circulating, playing on the anger among many in the oil patch at U.S. refiners opposition to tariffs on foreign oil. Refiners say their facilities are engineered to refine heavier grades from the Middle East, not the lighter ones produced in Texas.

So far, Kirk Edwards, president of Latigo Petroleum in Odessa that operates in the Texas Panhandle, has not had to lay off any of his workers. But with storage tanks filling up, he said small producers like him were totally stuck and questioned why the government has not stepped in to reduce both oil imports and domestic production to stabilize prices.

My biggest fear is the refineries in Texas continuing to buy the foreign oil, he said. Theyre being selfish in not buying American oil first.

While oil prices have stabilized in recent days, there is no knowing when the next price collapse is coming. Energy analysts predict that storage tanks at the oil hub in Cushing, Okla. will be full by mid-May, likely pushing prices below zero again and leaving Texas producers in the once unfathomable position of having to pay someone to take their oil.

Marsha Hendler, the owner of San Antonio oil company TerraFina Energy, has already received notice from her pipeline operators that they would no longer be able to take her crude as of May 1. Since she has to keep producing to comply with her lease, shes running pump jacks and storing the crude in her own tanks.

Ive got enough storage where I can last three or four months, she said, If I just pump one day a week, I may be able to last longer.

Sitting inside a beat-up trailer at his oil field Wednesday, McGraw, his sons and his two-man crew decided over burgers to bring their field to a virtual halt. The crew would stay on, servicing the pump jacks and checking for pipeline leaks, and run his 50-odd wells just a few days a month to try and keep the wellhead and pipelines from corroding and the oil below from coagulating.

If enough companies follow suit, that should decrease production and potentially raise prices, Shepperd, of the Permian Basin Petroleum Association, predicted U.S. oil production will fall 30 percent by July.

These are tough people who have made tough decisions all their lives, he said.

Going broke

The question now is whether oil companies across Texas and the rest of country will shut production fast enough to keep pace with the loss of oil demand. Until they do, storage tanks will keep filling up and prices will stay low.

Some oil companies, including Wilkes Texland, have secured small business loans through Congresss $2 trillion stimulus package, allowing him to keep his 73 employees on for at least a couple months.

But if oil prices dont rebound before the money runs out, many of those companies might not be able to hold on any longer.

Towards the end of May we will start to ponder what the future is, Wilkes said. If we keep on this mode, everyone is going to go broke. There's no way around it.

james.osborne@chron.com

Twitter.com/@osborneja
Lydia Bright has revealed she feared her 'poorly' daughter Loretta would have to be taken to hospital after she refused to feed and suffered a high temperature.

The TOWIE star, 30, took to Instagram on Friday where she admitted she had a 'horrible' day worrying about her little girl but claims she received a sign that everything would be okay from her late grandad.

Lydia claimed moments before Loretta began feeding again and her temperature dropped a white feather landed beside them.

Concerns: Lydia Bright has revealed she feared her 'poorly' daughter Loretta would have to be taken to hospital after she refused to feed and suffered a high temperature

A white feather is commonly thought to represent someone who has passed away watching over you and is considered a sign of faith and protection.

Detailing her experience on Instagram, Lydia penned: 'It's been a really hard day. Since Loretta had her immunisations on Monday she has been so poorly.

'Today her temperature was so high and she wasn't feeding, the doctors were concerned I would have to take her to hospital.

Candid: The TOWIE star, 30, admitted she had 'horrible' day worrying about her little girl but claims she received a sign that everything would be okay from her late grandad

She added: 'Then just before her temperature dropped and she started a successful feed this landed next to us', while sharing a picture of a white feather.

Lydia ended her post by saying: 'Thank you grandad for protecting Loretta', and sharing a picture of her late grandfather on her Story.

Earlier this month Lydia revealed her fears about raising a newborn child amid the pandemic, admitting that she'd been having nightmares about being locked in perspex box and not able to touch her daughter.

Sweet: A white feather is commonly thought to represent someone who has passed away watching over you and is considered a sign of faith and protection

The reality star told how she's 'even more on high alert' than usual as a first time mum as she discussed feeling protective over her baby.

Lydia welcomed her little girl with Lee Cronin on February 21st, with the first few weeks of motherhood feeling like bliss.

But just as she adjusted to her new life as a parent, things in the UK dramatically changed with the spread of the deadly COVID-19 and the subsequent nationwide lockdown imposed by the government.

Speaking to The Sun's Fabulous magazine, the reality star opened up on her feelings about bringing up Loretta in the midst of the world-wide crisis.

Thank you: Lydia ended her post by saying: 'Thank you grandad for protecting Loretta', and sharing a picture of her late grandfather on her Story'

She explained: 'Naturally, when you have a newborn, especially first-time mums, you are very protective. At night-time, if she doesnt make a noise Ill jump up because Im scared shes not breathing. I was so panicky those first days anyway, then with this Im even more on high alert.'

She continued: 'I take Loretta out in the fresh air because I do think its important for her immune system. Im just making sure when I leave the house Ive got disposable gloves, but it is worrying.'

Lydia went on to admit that she feels 'a little bit sad' that little Loretta's short time in the world has been marred by the 'absolute chaos', but insisted that it 'could be worse'.

Worry: Earlier this month Lydia revealed her fears about raising a newborn child amid the pandemic, (pictured in January while pregnant with Loretta)

Things are so worrying for Lydia that she also revealed that she'd had a nightmare about being trapped in a perspex box while in quarantine and was not able to touch her daughter.

Describing her dream she said: 'I was having to put my hand up to the Perspex to touch my babys hand, but I couldnt touch her because I was in isolation. I was held in this box for weeks and I missed out on weeks of my babys childhood. I had gone to bed worrying about coronavirus.'

She went on to say that though she's aware young children and babies are 'not normally infected' by the virus, she still feels we are 'human guinea pigs' as this is such a 'new virus'.

Protective: The reality star told how she's 'even more on high alert' than usual as a first time mum as she discussed feeling protective over her baby

However, Lydia is looking on the bright side and revealed the one good thing about the coronavirus pandemic is that she gets to have one-on-one quality time with her daughter.

She explained that when Loretta first arrived, she was 'overwhelmed' by visitors, which left her fearing that she hadn't 'looked' at her baby enough.

But now with social distancing restrictions in place, Lydia has now focused on essential bonding time with her little girl.
Recently, it was reported that Vicky Kaushal's building was partially sealed, after one of the residents, a 11-year-old girl, tested positive for the Novel Coronavirus. It looks like the young one has won the battle against COVID-19, as the Uri actor recently shared a video on his social media page.

In the video, the residents of Vicky's building are seen welcoming a young girl and a woman in the compound with a huge round of applause. The actor captioned the video as, "Like a ray of sunshine on a gloomy day, our little warrior comes back Home! #WelcomeBackChamp."

Check out his Instagram post here.

As per a report in Times of India, the girl is the daughter of a director who resides in the C-wing of the complex.

The complex in Mumbai's Andheri area is also home to Bollywood actors like Rajkummar Rao and Chitrangada Singh. Reportedly, the residents of the housing complex were asked to strictly follow the quarantine rules and take extra precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the infection.

Meanwhile, Vicky is currently homebound because of the COVID-19 lockdown. The actor has been posting candid pictures and videos of his quarantine life to keep fans entertained.

Speaking about work, the actor's upcoming projects include Shoojit Sircar's Uddham Singh, Meghna Gulzar's biopic on Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, Aditya Dhar's The Immortal Ashwathama and Karan Johar's Takht.

Vicky Kaushal Rubbishes Rumours Of Flouting Lockdown: I've Not Stepped Out Since Lockdown Started

Vicky Kaushal Admits He Has Suffered Sleep Paralysis: 'It's Damn Scary'
Lok Insaaf Party (LIP) chief and member of legislative assembly (MLA) from Atam Nagar constituency, Simarjit Singh Bains, on Saturday rejected the security cover provided to him by Ludhiana police.

Agitated over being denied police security few days back, the MLA did not let the four homeguard jawans equipped with .303 rifles sit outside his house in Alamgir Enclave. He has also asked the police department to withdraw security given to him and instead deploy the homeguards on curfew duties. Puzzled whether to follow the departments orders or comply with Bains instructions, the security personnel sat at the main gate of the colony during the day.

The LIP chief alleged that the deployment of homeguards was the violation of protocol as security personnel of an MLA should be trained police personnel with modern weapons, including carbine or automatic rifles. .303 rifles are not feasible and do not fit inside vehicles when the security personnel hold them in their hands, he said.

HAD LOST SECURITY AFTER PATIALA COP ATTACK INCIDENT

Bains had lost his security on April 14 when he allegedly justified the Patiala incident wherein a Nihang Sikh had chopped off a cops hand. Following this, the cops deployed on his security submitted in writing that they did not want to serve him anymore as he had insulted the police fraternity that too at a time when they are serving the masses by putting their lives at risk. Adhering to their request, the department withdrew the MLAs security personnel and asked them to report to Police Lines.

The police, however, did not withdraw the security cover of the LIP leaders older brother and MLA from Ludhiana South, Balwinder Singh Bains. Assistant sub-inspector, a head constable and two constables deployed on his security were replaced by four homeguard jawans.

The LIP chief said, An MLA gets security following orders of Vidhan Sabha speaker. The police officials are very much aware that they would be in trouble if I take up the matter in privilege committee. For the sake of formality, they have deployed four homeguard jawans for my security. Homeguard jawans with .303 rifles are deployed outside banks and other premises, but not with MLAs. Moreover, no other MLA has been provided homeguard jawans in security,he said.

HAVE WRITTEN TO POLICE COMMISSIONER

The legislator also said, I have sent an e-mail to police commissioner Rakesh Agrawal and asked him to withdraw homeguard jawans from my security. I dont need any security and the same can be utilised for Covid-19 duties.

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Protestant families in Mexico denied water access, kids barred from school: NGO

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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.






NAIROBI, Kenya  Twelve rangers were among 17 people killed in Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo, officials said, in one of the worst massacres in the parks recent history. The park blamed members of a Rwandan rebel group for the attack.

The rangers were on their way back to the park, the oldest in Africa, when they spotted a civilian vehicle that had been attacked and came to its defense, park officials said in a statement. But they came under a ferociously violent and sustained ambush about 11 a.m. on Friday near Rumangabo village, according to the statement.

Aside from the rangers killed, a driver and four civilians were shot dead. Two other civilians and four rangers were injured, with one in critical condition.

This is a devastating day for Virunga National Park and the surrounding communities, the park officials said.
A view of a patient being wheeled out of a nursing home in Flushing Queens New York USA during coronavirus pandemic on April 22, 2020.

The coronavirus patients began arriving the last week of March, transferred to the Gurwin Jewish Nursing and Rehabilitation Center under a New York state mandate requiring nursing homes to accept those recovering from Covid-19, even if they still might be contagious.

At the time, the Long Island nursing home had only one known resident who had contracted the virus, according to the facility's president and CEO, Stuart Almer.

A month later, Gurwin is battling an outbreak that's killed 24 residents  only three of whom were hospital transfers  and one staff member, who worked in housekeeping, Almer said. And the nursing home is still mandated to take in recovering hospital patients known to have the virus, potentially increasing its spread in the facility.

"We can't say for sure" whether the virus has spread because of the patients transferred under the state mandate, Almer said. "But it's certainly not helping the situation."

Three states hit hard by the pandemic  New York, New Jersey and California  have ordered nursing homes and other long-term care facilities to accept coronavirus patients discharged from hospitals. The policy, intended to help clear in-demand hospital beds for sicker patients, has prompted sharp criticism from the nursing home industry, staff members and concerned families, as well as some leading public health experts.

"Nursing homes are working so hard to keep the virus out, and now we're going to be introducing new Covid-positive patients?" asked David Grabowski, a professor of health policy at Harvard Medical School. Instead, he believes that states should create Covid-only facilities for recovering patients discharged from hospitals.

"The existing places that can really do this safely in terms of staffing and building space to keep them separate are in the minority," he added.

When Gurwin staff members told Christina Peredo's mother about the mandate in late March, her family decided to withdraw her 96-year-old grandfather from the facility, out of fear for his safety, even though he was still on IV antibiotics and recovering from pneumonia unrelated to the virus, she said.

"To make this a mandate without exploring other options, what you're saying is, 'Sorry, you've lived a good life,'" Peredo, 35, a nurse, said. "It's reckless and careless."

The blowback to these policies prompted California to soften its mandate April 1, saying facilities "can be expected" to receive Covid patients only if they have adequate protective gear and can follow the federal government's infection control recommendations.

In New Jersey, only facilities "that have the ability to separate patients" into three groups  those who have been infected, those who have been exposed and those who have not been exposed  can accept discharged hospital patients or returning residents who've been infected, the state health department said in a statement, adding that 130 long-term care facilities are not accepting admissions.

But in New York, the controversy over the mandate has escalated as the virus has battered hospitals and nursing homes alike: The state not only has more coronavirus cases than anywhere in the country, but also the highest number of known long-term care deaths  at least 3,500  related to the virus, according to the state health department. A broad swath of nursing homes across the state have already accepted Covid-positive hospital patients in compliance with the mandate, and Gov. Andrew Cuomo has openly criticized facilities for opposing it.

"They don't have a right to object. That is the rule and that is the regulation, and they have to comply with that," Cuomo, a Democrat, said in a Thursday news conference. "If they can't do it, we'll put them in a facility that can do it."

Nursing homes across the country have struggled to contain the coronavirus' spread, facing shortages in testing, personal protective equipment and employees, who assist residents with everything from bathing to feeding themselves. Many elderly residents are unable to comply with basic infection control measures like hand-washing or mask-wearing, and suffer from underlying health conditions that make them more likely to succumb to the virus.

As of this week, the coronavirus has killed nearly 11,000 people in nursing homes in 36 states, according to state health data collected by NBC News. More than half of those deaths occurred in New York and New Jersey.

Early in the pandemic, New York had strict guidelines for when infected patients could be discharged from hospitals: The state required patients to have two negative Covid-19 tests; wait at least seven days since the initial positive test; and be fever-free without medication, according to a March 8 advisory.

But as cases rapidly mounted, hospitals became overwhelmed, and recovering patients who didn't require hospital-level treatment needed somewhere else to go. While patients must be medically stable to be transferred out of a hospital, those heading to a nursing home or other post-acute care facility require rehabilitation and other care they can't receive at home.

On March 25, New York became the first state to issue a blanket rule prohibiting nursing homes from denying admission or readmission to residents because they are infected with Covid-19, and banned the facilities from testing patients for the disease before they are admitted. (The state had already required all facilities to isolate Covid-positive patients and prohibited staff from moving between treating those who are infected and those who are not.)

"There is an urgent need to expand hospital capacity in New York State to be able to meet the demand for patients with Covid-19 requiring acute care," the state said in its advisory, which requires "the expedited receipt of residents returning from hospitals."

Cuomo has defended the policy in the face of rising objections, saying Thursday that facilities that did not follow the rules for managing Covid patients would be investigated by state health officials and the state's attorney general, which could result in fines or the facility losing its license.

"They have to readmit Covid-positive residents, but only if they have the ability to provide the adequate level of care under Department of Health and CDC guidelines," Cuomo said, referring to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"If they do not have the ability to provide the appropriate level of care, then they have to transfer that patient or they call the Department of Health, and the Department of Health will transfer that patient," Cuomo added. (At Thursday's briefing, state officials said they had not received any such requests.)

Leading industry groups have strongly objected to the mandate, warning it would accelerate the transmission of the virus and put some of the state's most vulnerable residents at risk.

"We find the New York state advisory to be over-reaching, not consistent with science, unenforceable, and beyond all, not in the least consistent with patient safety principles," the Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine, which represents medical professionals who work in nursing homes, said in a statement.

The American Health Care Association, which represents long-term care facilities, added: "The bottom line is that nursing homes are not a priority in the public health system and this policy reflects that."

While Almer "vehemently opposes" the mandate, he said that Gurwin had no choice but to comply. He also wants the nursing facility to do what it can to support local hospitals that need to clear beds.

Since the mandate took effect, recuperating patients across New York state have been discharged to nursing homes in Staten Island, Queens and Long Island, among other hot spots, as well as upstate New York.

Gurwin had originally planned to house the patients arriving from hospitals and any other infected patients in a separate, 40-bed unit with its own entrance, dedicated staff and full protective gear, according to Almer. That's in line with the CDC's recommendations for nursing homes to isolate patients known to be infected. The first discharged hospital patients began arriving the last week of March, Almer said, just a few days after the mandate took effect.

But Gurwin's Covid unit quickly filled to capacity as the virus spread inside the facility, and recovering patients kept arriving from local hospitals, he said.

The nursing home currently has 40 long-term residents known to have the virus, in addition to 18 recovering patients transferred from local hospitals. Fifty staff members have also been confirmed positive, though more than half have since recovered and returned to work, according to Dennine Cook, a spokeswoman for the facility.

The rising number of infected residents means that it is not always possible to separate those who are known to be infected from those who are not. If a person outside the space dedicated to Covid patients becomes infected, his or her entire unit is isolated and treated as if any of the residents could be positive, Almer said. But the virus may still spread within the facility, especially to other residents within the unit.

By early April, a second Gurwin resident in his 90s tested positive for the coronavirus, a little over a week after the first hospital patients were transferred to the facility. He subsequently developed pneumonia related to the virus, according to his daughter, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation against her father.

"You're injecting in something so highly contagious," said the daughter, who opposes the New York mandate and fears her father may have become infected because of it. Since he became ill, the virus has continued to spread, she added: "His roommate is now Covid-positive. I feel for sure my father contaminated him."

State health officials say the March 25 guidance was intended to avoid discrimination against infected patients and to help hospitals manage their capacity.

"The policy is to ensure people are not being held in hospitals solely due to their Covid status," Jill Montag, a state health department spokeswoman, said. "This is important for hospital surge management and their ability to maintain space for patients with acute needs."

Northwell, the state's largest health care provider, said its hospitals have had "tremendous" issues with bed space, and that many Covid patients require care in skilled nursing facilities.

"The need to accept Covid positive cases was/is clear," Dr. Maria Carney, Northwell's medical director for post-acute services, said in an email. "There are also significant known risks of keeping older, vulnerable patients in a hospital."

Northwell's hospitals have sent 788 Covid-positive patients to 118 post-acute facilities since early March, including Gurwin, Carney said. Those include nursing homes that focus on long-term care, as well as facilities that offer short-term rehabilitation; many offer both.

But facilities have been reluctant to accept patients because of the state's requirements for all infected residents to be isolated in their own rooms with closed doors, among other guidelines, Carney said: "Many community facilities (from my discussions) were and are slow to accept cases because it was/is hard to accept cases while meeting these isolation requirements."

Both industry leaders and public health experts like Grabowski are urging states to come up with alternatives to avoid exposing at-risk nursing home residents even further.

"Sending hospitalized patients who are likely harboring the virus to nursing homes that do not have the appropriate units, equipment and staff to accept Covid-19 patients is a recipe for disaster," the American Health Care Association said in a statement. "Governors and public health officials should be working with nursing homes to create as many segregated units as possible right now."

Connecticut and Massachusetts are both reopening previously shuttered nursing homes to create facilities dedicated to Covid residents, although such efforts have faced delays, and Massachusetts scrapped an earlier attempt to relocate current nursing home residents.

Grabowski suggested that officials could step in to help construct post-acute care facilities for discharged hospital patients, much as the Army Corps of Engineers has constructed temporary hospitals. "Let's invest in those, and let's not force nursing homes to do this," he said.

In Boston, for example, state and local officials teamed up with health care providers to create a temporary 1,000-bed facility in a convention center for recovering patients who don't need hospital-level care. In Minnesota, providers created a 50-bed facility for recovering coronavirus patients who might otherwise be sent to nursing homes. New Jersey has partnered with three health care facilities with specially designated beds for recovering Covid patients from hospitals "who are awaiting nursing home placement," the state health department said in a statement.

In New York, however, no plans to create Covid-only nursing homes or rehab facilities are in the works, Montag, the health department spokeswoman, said. "At this point, we do not have plans to relocate nursing home residents."

And despite signs that coronavirus infections and deaths have peaked in New York City, the influx of patients from local hospitals hasn't let up, Almer said.

"We're seeing the surge from the last few weeks," he said. "If anything, it just continues to intensify."
A brawl broke out in the Markets area of Belfast

As many as six men armed with knives were involved in a house attack which went viral on social media, a court has heard.

The details emerged as two men charged over the incident applied for bail at Belfast Magistrates Court on Saturday.

Samuel Joseph Manning and Liam McDade are both accused of being involved in the incident in Friendly Street in the Market area of the city on Thursday.

The pair face charges of possession of an offensive weapon, causing damage to a door belonging to the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and riotous behaviour.

Manning (32) of Lisbon Street, Belfast is accused of having a knife while McDade (33) of Mountpottinger Road in the city is alleged to have been carrying a metal stick.

District Judge Fiona Bagnall was told that the video showed six men getting out of three cars outside a house on Friendly Street with most were carrying weapons.

A police officer said the quite violent altercation focused on one house in particular and said police believe the two accused can be seen in the video.

She added that police had received a lot of intelligence about the incident.

McDades barrister objected to either man being connected to the charges on the grounds of lack of witnesses, formal identification or statements of complaint.

A police officer confirmed that there are no civilian witnesses linking him to the charges nor had any formal identification procedure taken place.

She explained that they were linked to the charges by officers viewing the video of the incident which had been posted on social media.

The barrister said there had to be a proper basis for charging someone and in this case the only evidence being relied upon is mobile phone footage of unknown origin.

Mannings lawyer added that threats against his client had been issued following the incident.

However, Judge Bagnall said she the reasonable grounds to suspect someone of committing an offence was a relatively low bar and she was satisfied they could be connected to the charges.

She released both men on their own bail of 500, subject to addresses being approved by police.

They are due to appear again on the May 21 and 22 via videolink.
YEREVAN, APRIL 25, ARMENPRESS. Foreign Minister of Armenia Zohrab Mnatsakanyan presented the messages of the Armenian Genocide commemoration day, ARMENPRESS reports in an interview with Public TV Mnatsakanyan said that after 105 years 4th and 5th generations of the genocide survivors demand justice with the same resolvness.

''We all, as a united nation, demand justice, demand recognition. This reflects the deepness of that crime of genocide, the deepness of the damage inflicted on an entire nation, because denied justice remains a deep wound and damage to an entire nation'', the Minister said.

For Zohrab Mnatsakanyan the commemoration day also has the message of the Armenian people being victorious. ''105 years ago it was supposed that the Armenian nation should be exterminated', he said emphasizing that now Armenians have created their own statehood and independence.

In 1915, the crime perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire against the Armenians was the first genocide of 20th century. 1.5 million Armenians were killed, many were deported from their motherland. The Armenians worldwide commemorate 105th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide on April 24. Nearly 3 dozens of countries have recognized and condemned the Armenian Genocide.

Reporting by Norayr Shoghikyan, Editing and translating by Tigran Sirekanyan
New York, April 25 : An Indian-origin man has become the first person to be charged under the US' Defence Production Act (DPA) during the ongoing coronavirus pandmeic with hoarding personal protective equipment (PPE) and price-gouging.

Federal Prosecutor Richard Donoghue said on Friday that Amardeep Singh amassed critical personal protective equipment during a public health crisis and resold them at a huge mark-up.

This "places him squarely in the cross-hairs of law enforcement armed with the DPA", he said.

The DPA was invoked by President Donald Trump on March 18 to make it illegal to hoard scarce medical supplies and sell them at excessive prices during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Singh obtained 5.6 tonnes of PPE, according to the prosecutor's complaint filed in a federal court on Long Island.

He had earlier posted an online video apology saying: "This was unintentional. For me to make a dollar on a couple hundred masks, it's not the intention for me to become rich overnight." Singh, who is also known as "Bobby Singh" and "Bobby Sidana", runs a network of five sneakers and clothing businesses in New York suburbs on Long Island, according to the prosecution.

He collected various PPEs like N-95 filtering facepiece respirators, face masks, surgical masks, face shields, gloves, coveralls and medical gowns as well as clinical-grade sanitising and disinfecting products and thermometers starting in March when the pandemic began hitting New York, the prosecution said.

The court complaint said that he sold gloves at a mark-up of 1,328 per cent.

He had received 40 shipments of disposable face masks weighing more than 1.6 tonnes, 14 shipments of disposable surgical gowns weighing more than 2.2 tonnes, six shipments of hand sanitiser weighing more than 1.8 tonnes and seven shipments of digital thermometers weighing about 150 kilogrammes, according to the complaint.

Postal inspectors, who executed a warrant, seized 100,000 face masks, 10,000 surgical gowns, nearly 2,500 full-body isolation suits and more than 500,000 pairs of disposable gloves from his store and warehouse, according to the prosecution.

Some of the PPEs had been sold by him to a children's organisation and to several senior citizens' organisations.

He had earlier been issued a notice by the local consumer affairs authority for allegedly selling N-95 respirators illegally.

New York Attorney General Leitia James had also issued a cease and desist notice about selling hand sanitisers and other disinfecting products, at "unconscionably excessive prices".

(Arul Louis can be contacted at arul.l@ians.in and followed on Twitter @arulouis)
Kenyas Catholic Bishops have appealed for more government assistance in flood-hit areas following floods and landslides that have caused havoc in parts of Kenya.

Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA  Nairobi, Kenya

Kenyas Bishop of Ngong Diocese, John Oballa Owaa, who is also the Bishop-Chair of the Catholic Justice and Peace Commission (CJPC) at the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops empathised with the affected families. There have been floods in Elgeyo Marakwet, West Pokot, Bungoma, Homabay and Kisumu Counties. Families have lost loved ones, while many others are displaced. There has also been significant loss of material property.

Churches, schools, homes damaged by floods

The Bishops said that even service facilities such as hospitals, churches, care homes and schools have either been swept away or badly damaged by the raging waters.

The disastrous floods and landslides caused by unprecedented heavy rains in parts of Kenya resulted in over 400 households being affected. The Bishops have appealed to government and well-wishers to help families in the affected areas. They observed that the disaster has happened at a time when the country is also grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Households urgently need humanitarian aid

We commend the governments multi-agency team, led by officers from the Ministry of Interior and Coordination, for their speedy response and intervention in the Elgeyo Marakwet incidence, reads part of the statement signed by Bishop John Oballa Owaa.

We, however, call on the two levels of government to immediately allocate adequate resources to address the immediate needs of the affected population. This is important, especially during this period of the COVID-19 pandemic, as those rendered homeless become even more vulnerable, the Bishops said.

Landslides and floods at a time of COVID-19

Sharing his experience of the floods, Fr. Shadrack Malo, the Parish Priest of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Ahero in Kisumu Archdiocese also worried that the floods would compromise the COVID-19 fight. With the issue of COVID-19, it might not be very easy becauseobserving safety measures (of COVID-19), while people are searching for food and security is a bit difficult, Fr. Malo said.
(CNN)  On Thursday, President Donald Trump added to his list of dubious or inaccurate coronavirus-related medical claims, dangerously suggesting at a White House briefing that ingesting disinfectant could possibly be used to treat people who have the virus.

Trump also suggested sunlight might be a treatment alternative and issued a false denial when asked why he has stopped promoting the anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine as a potential treatment, incorrectly saying, "I haven't at all." He referred to how "we started with a broken test" without explaining that the faulty initial test was created during his presidency, this year.

And Trump said that presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden does not want to debate because of the coronavirus, though Biden has consistently expressed an eagerness to debate Trump even if it cannot be in person.

Sunlight and injecting disinfectants as treatments

After Bill Bryan, the acting undersecretary of science and technology for the Department of Homeland Security, explained during the briefing that new experiments show the coronavirus does not fare well under sunlight or heat, the President suggested that Americans who have the virus could treat it by going out into the sunlight on a hot day.

"There's been a rumor that -- you know, a very nice rumor -- that you go outside in the sun or you have heat and it does have an effect on other viruses," Trump said, before asking coronavirus task force coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx "to speak to the medical doctors to see if there's any way that you can apply light and heat to cure, you know, if you could."

Trump then asked Birx if she "ever heard of the heat and the light" having an impact on viruses. She responded, "Not as a treatment," before Trump asked her again to look into it.

Later, Trump again directed Birx to look into the potential for sunlight to be a cure.

"I would like you to speak to the medical doctors to see if there's any way that you can apply light and heat to cure, you know, if you could. And maybe you can, maybe you can't."

After Bryan talked about experiments in which, he said, disinfectants like bleach and isopropyl alcohol quickly killed the virus, Trump mused about whether disinfectants could be used to treat the virus in humans -- asking whether there is "a way we can do something like that, by injection inside or almost a cleaning."

Facts First: As Birx told Trump directly, and as medical experts said after the briefing, sunlight isn't a potential treatment for coronavirus. Neither are disinfectants that are used to clean non-human surfaces; Food and Drug Administration chief Dr. Stephen Hahn told CNN's Anderson Cooper later Thursday, "I certainly wouldn't recommend the internal ingestion of a disinfectant."

This bizarre exchange is the latest example of Trump grasping for a quick fix for the pandemic, after he previously suggested it might "go away" in warm weather and that anti-malaria pills could be a "game-changer."

The Reckitt Benckiser Group, which produces Lysol, flatly said on its website that "under no circumstance" should disinfectant be administered into the human body. Washington state's emergency management agency warned against eating Tide pods or injecting disinfectant, tweeting, "don't make a bad situation worse."

Immediately after the briefing, two doctors told CNN's Erin Burnett that Trump's comments did not make medical sense and warned against taking his suggestions seriously.

"Very little of what the President said as it pertains to disinfection or phototherapy makes any sense," said Dr. Jonathan Reiner, a cardiologist at The George Washington University Hospital who advised the White House during President George W. Bush's tenure. "Look, everyone wants a quick fix. And the President clearly wants a quick fix; we all do. But there are no quick fixes. We have to do this the right way; we have to do this with science."

Dr. Megan Ranney, an emergency physician who works at Rhode Island Hospital/Brown University, also batted down the President's suggestion and warned that trying it could cause sunburn, skin cancer or other dangerous consequences.

"Going out in the sun or exposing yourself to these high-intensity UV lamps is not going to protect you from Covid-19," she said on CNN. "I don't want people to think that this is another miracle cure."

Trump's statement echoes myths and rumors that got so rampant on the internet and in social media that the World Health Organization posted a myth busters pages to debunk them.

"Exposing yourself to the sun or to temperatures higher than 25C degrees DOES NOT prevent the coronavirus disease," WHO says on its website. "You can catch COVID-19, no matter how sunny or hot the weather is. Countries with hot weather have reported cases of COVID-19," it adds.

False denial on hydroxychloroquine

At Thursday's briefing, Trump issued a false denial when asked why he has stopped his promotion of hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malaria drug that he embraces as a potential cure for coronavirus.

"I haven't at all," the President said, before asking the reporter, "Why do you say I have?"

Facts First: Trump has significantly tamped down his rhetoric about the drug in the past week, compared with his comments in March, according to a CNN analysis.

In March and early April, the President name-dropped hydroxychloroquine almost daily, and he mentioned it dozens of times at White House briefings, according to the CNN tally. He incorrectly implied it was safe to treat Covid-19, encouraged Americans to "try it" and said it might be the biggest breakthrough in modern medicine.

"What do you have to lose?" he asked during a briefing in April.

But he hasn't mentioned the drug by name -- or touted its effectiveness -- in more than a week.

Trump stopped promoting hydroxychloroquine around the time that a series of studies came back with negative results. New research from Brazil, France and veterans' hospitals in the US indicate that the drug might not help patients with the coronavirus, and might even have deadly side effects.

For the second day in a row, the President also said he didn't see the study of US veterans' hospitals, even though he was asked about it both days and it has been covered heavily in the mainstream media.

About the research into the drug, Trump said, "We had a lot of very good results and we had some results that perhaps aren't so good." It's true that there were some studies earlier this year with promising results for Covid-19. But public health experts said that much of that research was anecdotal, and the publisher of a study that Trump repeatedly cited now says there were serious flaws with the trial.

Joe Biden and debates

Trump claimed that presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden is "a guy who doesn't want to do debates because of Covid."

Facts First: This is misleading. In late March, two weeks before Sen. Bernie Sanders dropped out of the Democratic primary, Biden said he was focused on the pandemic crisis and did not think there should be another debate against Sanders, over whom he had an overwhelming delegate lead. But Biden has never said he does not want to debate Trump in particular, because of the virus or for any other reason. Rather, Biden has consistently expressed eagerness to debate Trump even if it is not in person -- saying at a fundraiser earlier on Thursday that "I can hardly wait to debate Donald Trump. Are you kidding?"

According to a pool report from Washington Post reporter Annie Linskey, Biden then added: "Look, I'm ready to debate him. Zoom or Skype or Slack or Hangouts or in person, anytime, anywhere he wants."

Biden made a similar comment in an interview on March 31, Bloomberg News reported: "I'm ready to debate President Trump on Zoom or Skype anytime he wants."

"I can hardly wait to get him on a debate stage," Biden said on ABC's "The View" in February.

"Come on, Mr. President. I can hardly wait," he told CNN's Anderson Cooper in early March.

This story has been updated with the notion of disinfectants as a treatment and with information from the World Health Organization refuting the idea of using sunlight, and was first published on CNN.com "Fact check: Trump dangerously suggests sunlight and ingesting disinfectants could help cure coronavirus"

CNN's Maggie Fox contributed to this report.
Insurer Admiral has always been a bit different from its peers. That holds true today, more than ever, as chief executive David Stevens seems determined to show he is thinking of customers during the crisis, rather than just the bottom line.

While other insurers try to wriggle out of Covid-19-related claims, Stevens last week announced a 25 refund for every motor customer, in recognition of the fact that almost everyone is driving less than before.

The gesture will cost Admiral 110million and may even be repeated if the lockdown persists. The group is also helping customers in financial difficulty, providing extra support for NHS workers and has set up a support fund focused on South Wales, near its Cardiff headquarters.

A ship-shape firm: Admiral wins plaudits from customers and staff alike

The initiatives are designed to show that Admiral does not intend to profit from the coronavirus, but it should also boost business over the longer term.

Admiral owns several brands, such as Confused.com and Elephant in the UK, and a number of businesses in Europe and the US.

The group delivered a 10 per cent rise in profit last year to 526million and an 11 per cent increase in the dividend to 140p, through a mix of ordinary and special payments. Further growth is expected this year and beyond.

Admiral is primarily a motor insurer but it has moved into home cover and is building momentum overseas.

The only FTSE 100 firm based in Wales, the group consistently receives accolades for customer service and employee satisfaction. Actions taken during the lockdown should reinforce the firms reputation now and in future.

Midas verdict: Midas recommended Admiral in January 2009, when the country was mired in the global financial crisis. Then the stock was 8.92. Today it is 23.08. There have been bumps along the road but the shares have delivered overall and investors have been rewarded with a steady stream of dividends too. There should be more of the same to come. A strong and solid business with a culture that sets it apart from competitors, Admiral is a long-term hold.
What's new: The virus-hit travel industry in China may find signs of recovery in the May 1 Labor Day public holiday with a surge in travel plans, based on booking statistics from domestic online travel agencies.

Transportation and hotel bookings on various online platforms show significant growth this month. Ctrip, one of China's largest online travel agencies, by mid-April reported a month-over-month increase of 282% in the number of visitor trips for the Labor Day holiday, while total transport booking volume for the period surged by more than 3-fold.

The hottest destinations are local tourist sites or areas around travelers' places of residence. Long-distance domestic trips and international travel arent expected to revive until after the Covid-19 pandemic is completely over.

Background: Suppressed travel demand since the Covid-19 outbreak in January already made the Qingming or Tomb-Sweeping Festival in early April a smaller event, with more than 43 million visitor trips creating sector revenue of more than 8 billion yuan ($1.13 billion) during the three-day holiday.

Ctrip estimates that the number of visitor trips during the Labor Day holiday will at least double the number for Qingming.

With the five-day public holiday to start May 1, 76.4% of accommodation providers have resumed business, while more than 70% of tourist sites in 10 provinces have reopened, according to data from online ticketing platform Meituan.

Quick Takes are condensed versions of China-related stories for fast news you can use. To read the full Caixin article in Chinese, click here.

Related: Gallery: Holiday Under Shadow of the Coronavirus

Contact reporter Isabelle Li (liyi@caixin.com) and editor Bob Simison (bobsimison@caixin.com)
What are we doing, America? We've destroyed a booming economy, turned a record number of jobs into record unemployment numbers, and given up our basic tenets of liberty  all so we won't get sick?

We're allowing governors to restrict people's movement; prevent citizens from assembling; and order mandatory masks, testing, and vaccines. These governors now claim the right to track our every move, to surveil every American in order to ensure compliance. This shutdown is not just a slippery slope to socialism and communism; it's a downhill slalom.

How did we get here? Americans aren't cowards who would eagerly surrender liberty for immunity. But therein lies the genius of the left. It's not just about you and me, now, is it?

The left has hostages: our aging parents, grandparents, sick relatives. Either we put down the Constitution and slowly back away or the hostages will die.

This hostage situation is why kids are kept out of school even though they're not seriously affected by the virus. They're walking time bombs, carriers who will initiate a senior genocide should they be unleashed on the world.

I call BS.

If we want to protect the elderly, how hard would that be? We can avoid the elderly and those with health issues (duh). Our "most vulnerable" citizens can wear masks, use sanitizing wipes on surfaces (doors, counters), and minimize their risk.

And despite the narrative, the virus isn't a death sentence for the elderly. So how does locking up the rest of America provide them additional protection? Fact is, it doesn't.

Yet this false narrative of protecting our "most vulnerable" population is reason enough for Americans to comply with martial law, put liberty in abeyance, and suffer economic destruction.

"Wear none of thine own chains; but keep free, whilst thou art free." William Penn

So, ostensibly to protect the hostages, America shut down. But the death toll was never the real threat of this virus; it was the contagion, how many are infected at the same time.

Thus the president's "15 Days to SLOW the Spread." This was time we could use to ramp up production of hospital supplies, of hospitals. If we slowed the spread, we could "flatten the curve" long enough to keep our health care systems from collapsing.

OK, done. We now have enough resources across the country to meet the demands of an outbreak. So we should be good to go, right?

Not so fast.

Governors have in the name of health incarcerated their constituents, imposed martial law (shelter-in-place, shutdown) in several states yet remain for the most part unchallenged. If we had a free press, they'd talk of the constitutionality of these moves. They'd ask what state health crisis justifies martial law.

Instead, our enemy media demand that every state shut down. A ubiquitous question at press briefings is, why doesn't the president just close down the whole damn country?

The president talks over the media's head about the Constitution, federalism. Since reporters don't have any prepared notes on that stuff, it usually shuts down the subject, for a day anyway.

OK, but we're going to reopen now.

Not so fast.

Many states that reopen will do so with conditions, a virtual ankle bracelet in case we break parole. There will be mandatory masks, tests, and vaccines. People will no longer have a say over their personal health because we have to think of the general population. I bring you Communism 101.

As far as gloves and masks, that's insane. Gloves are a surface, and germs can live on a surface. People still touch their faces with gloves, touch other surfaces with gloves. It's possible gloves are worse than our hands because we wash and sanitize our hands, not with gloves.

And I'm sorry, but the masks are just embarrassing. Sure, high-risk individuals should take every measure to protect themselves, including masks. But for the rest of us, why? The coronavirus isn't airborne. What are we doing?

A chilling reality of mandatory testing to stamp individuals virus-free is that it's not so far from Bill Gates's digital certificate of health. Employers who buy into forced testing would soon concede it's far easier to scan employees than test them.

And how long until stores require proof of a customer's health before they let him inside? Pretty soon people won't be able to buy a loaf of bread without a digital health certificate. But it's all good, necessary to protect the masses.

So people will wear a mask because if not, if we interact with other humans unprotected, we'll kill not just ourselves, but many others.

I call BS.

If our mere presence will kill people, then we already have blood on our hands. Tens of thousands of Americans are hospitalized every year with the flu. Tens of thousands die from the flu.

Sept. 27, 2018  Influenza was deadlier last season than it has been for at least four decades, killing 80,000 Americans.

Did we as careless, uncaring Americans kill 80,000 people with a handshake, a hug, or a visit? Did we murder 80,000 people by not wearing a mask or gloves?

Or could they have been exposed to the flu in a store, a doctor's office, at church, the hairdresser, the school play, or a hundred other places we go every day? We don't need to take responsibility for spreading a virus; the viruses do a bang-up job of spreading on their own. It's what they do.

But talking about avoiding this virus is again the wrong discussion. No matter what we do to dodge this virus, in the end, we're all going to die of something. It might be this virus or the flu, cancer or heart disease, a blood clot, an aneurism, or even a car accident, but no one's getting out of this world alive.

"You cannot hide from danger. Death floats on the air, creeps through the window, comes with the handshake of a stranger. If we stop living because we fear death, then we have already died." Margaret Weis, The Soulforge

Am I saying the virus isn't bad? No, it is. Some people get very sick; some will die. But it's not the bubonic plague.

Most corona virus patients (80%) have mild symptoms

' s 0.1%. A new study shows that the mortality rate for this virus is not ten times as lethal as the flu, but very close to flus 0.1%.

"98% to 99% of people infected with the virus will recover ."

Plus an anti-malarial drug, hydroxychloroquine , shows great promise as an effective treatment and possibly a prophylactic (preventative measure).

We can as a nation survive this virus without government oversight. As free people, we should be able to make our own health decisions. Isn't that what the left says about abortion? And that's a 50% death rate.

Too many Americans have died for our liberty for us to squander this treasure over a virus. Over a million American soldiers  young, healthy  ran headlong into gunfire, navigated mine fields, dodged bombs, and otherwise gave their lives so Americans can be free.

Not a single patriot sacrificed his life, his future, to keep Americans from getting sick.

The government claims it's protecting us from the virus. With the Constitution in lockdown, who's protecting us from the government?

"There are men in all ages who mean to govern well, but they mean to govern. They promise to be good masters, but they mean to be masters." Daniel Webster
A SIGNIFICANT number of staff based at St Johns Hospital are out sick from work, having either caught Covid-19 or self-isolating as a precaution.

Informed sources have also told the Limerick Leader that many staff from the day hospital in Johnsgate have transferred across to University Hospital Limerick (UHL) to help the workforce, which is stretched to the limit in dealing with the pandemic in Dooradoyle.

And as a result of this, patents cannot transfer from the emergency departmentat UHL to St Johns Hospital.

A UHL spokesperson confirmed this in a statement, while the Limerick Leader has contacted St Johns Hospital for further comment.

It comes after trolley figures in UHL have recorded a slight spike in the last few days, after low numbers last week.

A spokesperson for UHL urged patients not suffering the symptoms of Covid-19 to still come to the hospital if they have emergency issues  saying early detection remains key.

While it is positive that these patients are now seeking medical attention, our clinicians are reporting that some patients have delayed seeking help because of the widespread anxiety over Covid-19 and are sicker as a result. These patients will require a longer stay in hospital, they said.

Another reason for a spike in hospital figures at UHL, the spokesperson said, is because St Johns Hospital is not able to accept transfers.

The spokesperson said this decision has been made in the interests of patient and staff safety.

We are working closely with management in St Johns to ensure the timely return to work of these staff in line with the national guidelines and to ensure St Johns is available to again accept transfers from UHL as soon as possible, they said.

The spokesperson also confirmed the minor injuries unit in St Johns continues to operate seven days a week between 8am and 7pm.

Patients who present out-of-hours with minor injuries that cannot wait until the following morning can continue to attend the ED at UHL, they added.
How many Dundalk people know the origins of the name of the row of houses along the Demesne Road, called MacSwiney Street, in the Heart of Town? Well, I was born there a long time ago and lived as a child in one of those houses for about three years and I grew up thinking that it was 'McSweeney Street' and often wondered who it was named after!

Even a good and much admired friend of mine, the late Canice O'Mahony who was an assistant and later Town Surveyor for about twenty years, also got it wrong; as he names it as 'McSweeney Street' in his excellent book about Council developments in Dundalk in the twentieth century and other local history!

Canice records, in his section on 'U.D.C. Housing', that the 70 houses built there were --- 'First in the Demesne, named after the 1919 hunger striker'. I got to learn, when working the Dundalk Democrat many years later, that it was named after the famous Lord Mayor of Cork, Terence MacSwiney (MacSuibhne in Irish) whose death in Brixton Prison on October 25, 1920 after a 73 day long hunger strike had a profound effect on opinion in the United States. His death and subsequent huge funeral in Cork on October 31, 1920 was one of the factors which forced the British Government to agree to a Truce in July 1921 and to negotiate with the representatives of Dail Eireann on the terms of a Treaty.

Canice knew a lot about the old Jail at the Crescent because his grandfather had come from Cork in the nineteenth century to serve there as a Warder. The O'Mahony family lived in the Jail and, in another strange connection with the present day, Canice used to relate how an aunt of his had died in the great 'Flu pandemic of 1918, aged just 19 --- the same age as my own aunt who was one of the first civilian casualties of the Civil War, when accidentally shot in a street in Buncrana, during a bank raid on May 4, 1922.

In Dundalk Jail

What I did not learn until just last week was that MacSwiney spent about five months in Dundalk Jail at the Crescent between November 1917 and March 1918 when he was returned to Belfast Jail where he had been sent originally after his arrest and sentence to a year's imprisonment for a 'Breach of the Realm Regulations', for involvement in unlawful assembly by drilling and wearing uniform, in Cork in September 1917. The record shows that he was aged 38 at the time he arrived in Dundalk and that his occupation was 'teacher'.

I discovered all this, and much more, when I accidentally came across a Louth County Council site on my computer which gives a list List of Prisoners transcript for Dundalk Jail from June 1917 to September 1920. Names from the year 1919 are missing as they are 'short in the original register'. This site gives details of over 100 prisoners lodged in Dundalk Jail during that period and includes that of the equally famous Austin Stack from Tralee who died in 1929 aged 49, as a result of being on hunger strike in Mountjoy Jail during the Civil War.

I had been looking for the name of another person when this list came up on my computer and I spotted many local names of people who had been actively involved in the War of Independence. For instance I saw James and John McGuill of Bridge Street, who were listed as being-- James, aged 29, publican and his brother John, aged 24, a motor mechanic. Both were actively involved in training volunteers and John, who became a local funeral undertaker at Mill Street, was a leading figure in the 4th Northern Division I.R.A. under Frank Aiken.

Another name that I noticed was that of Patrick 'Packy' Flynn from Quay Street, who is described as a 'painter'. Packy had been arrested by the R.I.C. in Dundalk March 1918 for 'unlawfully assembly by drilling' and released in May 1918 after serving a 'full term of two months' for the alleged offence. He was later awarded a rare 1916 Rising Medal for being one of about 100 Dundalk men who had marched from Dundalk at Easter of that year to take part in the Rising in Dublin but had failed to reach the Capital. He was a very pleasant and unassuming man whom I knew well as he was a lifelong member of Fr. Eddie Jones Redemptorist Choir and had also been awarded a Papa Medal for services to St. Joseph's Church.

To return to the story of MacSwiney Street, the houses had been erected for the Council in 1933 by local builder Eric MacDonald of Castle Road and the tenancies were awarded by the Urban Council members about the end of that year. Three other schemes of houses, a total of 49, were erected by the Council in the same period at  Dublin Street, Market Street (Most for families of men who served with the Fire Brigade) and Oliver Plunkett Park (also in the Demesne).

Incidentally, Harry Tempest, in his Annual, for 1934 got the name of the Cork Lord Mayor correct but he was wrong about the occupant of No. 24 as he has it down as 'P. Kavanagh'; my father's name was Edward and my mother's Roseleen --- or was it that he had a premonition of my arrival there?

How the street came to be named in 1933 is probably recorded in the files of the Democrat but I have not come across that record. However, I suspect that it might have had something to do with the fact that the Chairman of the Council at that time was Paddy Hughes, Park Street, who was one of the leaders of that March at Easter I916 in which Packy Flynn took part! The Vice-Chairman was Thomas Gosling from Dublin Street and both he and Hughes were representatives of the South Ward on the Council. Other members of that Council was the Editor of the Democrat at the time Thomas F. McGahon, who topped the poll in the Seatown Ward at the 1928 local elections and Dail Deputy for Louth James Coburn from Mary's Road, also representing Seatown. There is no mention of political affiliations in Tempest's Annual but I know that they had taken different sides (or none) during the Civil War. However, none of them seems to have had any difficulties in honouring Terence MacSwiney!

Perhaps, when this present pandemic has passed the present local authority members might get together again in friendship to remember the centenary of the death of the famous Lord Mayor of Cork and his connection with Dundalk. Or is that asking too much?
Navy takes delivery of final Block II Super Hornet, looks ahead to Block III

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS200424-12

Release Date: 4/24/2020 4:04:00 PM

From Program Executive Office Tactical Aircraft Public Affairs

NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, Md. (NNS) -- Since 2005, F/A-18 Super Hornet Block II aircraft have been rolling off Boeing's production line and serving as the U.S. Navy's multi-mission capable workhorse. The service took delivery of the final Block II Super Hornet, closing out a run of 322 one-seater F/A-18Es and 286 two-seated F/A-18Fs, on April 17.

"Aircraft E322 will leave Boeing's production line and head straight to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 34 based in [Naval Air Station] Oceana," explained Cmdr. Tyler Tennille, of Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA), who oversees Acceptance Testing.

"When the Super Hornets first came online, they were a game changer," he explained, pointing to the Block II's Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar as well as larger displays, upgraded sensors and avionics, and increased range and capability to employ an arsenal of precision weapons that delivered advanced lethality and mission flexibility for the service.

The robust airframe was built with an open mission systems architecture, which has enabled easy integration of new weapons and technologies. The Block II Super Hornet serves as the Navy's responsive aircraft, fully capable across the full mission spectrum which includes: air superiority, fighter escort, reconnaissance, aerial refueling, close air support, air defense suppression, and day/night precision strike.

This aircraft has stood strong as the backbone of the Navy's carrier air wing, and has proven itself repeatedly during numerous operations where it has been the preeminent platform performing multiple missions, sometimes rapidly reconfiguring on the fly.

Even though it is substantially larger  roughly 7,000 pounds heavier and a 50 percent higher range, the Super Hornet delivered with fewer parts and lower maintenance demands than its predecessor, the Hornet.

"Delivery of this last production Block II Super Hornet is hardly the end of an era, but rather a stepping stone along the path to continuously evolving our platforms to meet the Navy's ever-evolving needs," said Capt. Jason Denney, Program Manager of the F/A-18 and EA-18 Program Office (PMA-265). "Block III delivery is just steps behind and the production lines won't miss a beat, with the first two U.S. Navy Block III test jets delivering in the next two months, followed by delivery of 24 E/F aircraft over the next year for our international customer, Kuwait," Denney said.

Following the delivery of these aircraft, Tennille said he expects the transition from Block IIs to Block IIIs to be seamless.

The proven capabilities and successes of the Block II program were leveraged by the Navy in awarding a multi-year procurement contract for Block III Super Hornets to Boeing in March 2019, totaling approximately $4 billion. The Navy will procure 72 Block III Super Hornet aircraft between fiscal years 2019 and 2021, while realizing more efficient production rates and providing the supporting industrial base with stability and advantages in production and spares planning.

Boeing is expected to deliver the Block III test jets to the Navy as early as late spring, where subsequent testing will commence at both NAS Patuxent River and Naval Air Weapons System (NAWS) China Lake. This latest version of the Super Hornet includes an advanced cockpit system; advanced network infrastructure; reduced radar cross-section; and a 10,000-flight hour lifespan.

"Though we've done tremendous work to meet readiness requirements, we know continual forward momentum is needed to sustain that readiness while maintaining our tactical advantage to be more lethal and survivable than our potential adversaries," said Denney. "The solid partnership with Boeing for the Block III production and modification programs ensures the Super Hornet will remain not only relevant, but ready to fight in today's dynamic global environment and well into the future."

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A ferry passenger accused of spitting in the face of a teenage worker at a terminal has been arrested.

A man faced Parramatta Local Court on Saturday charged with common assault after allegedly spitting on a ferry worker at Circular Quay earlier this week.

An 18-year-old female NSW ferries employee was walking along the Circular Quay ferry terminal about 12.50pm on Tuesday when a man approached and allegedly spat at her, with saliva hitting her chest and neck.

NSW Police said the man continued walking and entered Circular Quay Railway Station.

A 45-year-old man has been charged with common assault after allegedly spitting on an 18-year-old ferry worker at Circular Quay terminal (pictured) on Tuesday

Officers from Sydney City Police Area Command were notified and commenced an investigation.

A 45-year-old man was arrested at Bass Hill Police Station about 1.30pm on Friday.

He was charged and refused bail until his court appearance.

It is not known whether the man will receive further punishment under special laws protecting essential service workers that are spat on during the COVID-19 pandemic.
China launches second amphibious assault ship

PLA Daily

Source: China Daily

Editor: Wang Xinjuan

2020-04-24 17:03:20

China's second amphibious assault ship was launched in Shanghai on Wednesday, according to footage published on Chinese websites.

Video clips posted on Chinese news portals and military-themed websites showed the colossal vessel moving into the water and being towed by several tugboats to a nearby berth at Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding, a major shipbuilder under China State Shipbuilding Corp.

The move indicated that construction of the second Type 075 amphibious assault ship, which is also regarded as a landing dock for helicopters, has basically finished.

The launch of the first Type 075 vessel, which is now berthed next to its sister ship, took place in September at Hudong-Zhonghua.

In shipbuilding, launch refers to the process during which a nearly-finished ship is moved into water. It is one of the most important stages in a ship's construction because once a ship is launched, it means that its major structures have been put in place and that the major work of the construction project has been completed.

In the next phase, engineers will start outfitting and fine-tuning the vessel's equipment while conducting mooring tests and sea trials.

The People's Liberation Army Navy and China State Shipbuilding Corp have yet to publish information about Wednesday's launch, but weapons fans speculated it was a gift to mark the 71st anniversary of the founding of the PLA Navy, on Thursday.

The PLA Navy was founded on April 23, 1949, in Baimamiao township of Jiangsu province. In 1989, April 23 was designated as the Navy's foundation day.

Science and Technology Daily previously reported that the Type 075 is about 250 meters long, around 30 meters wide and will displace nearly 40,000 metric tons.

The United States, Britain, France, Spain, Italy and South Korea have also developed and built modern amphibious assault ships.

Type 075 ships will extensively boost the PLA Navy's amphibious operational capability, according to Cui Yiliang, editor-in-chief of industry magazine Modern Ships.

The Navy now has Type 071 amphibious transport dock ships in operation, but they are capable of carrying only several helicoptersfar from enough for massive amphibious landing operations, he explained.

"By comparison, the Type 075 will be able to carry many more helicopters and a stronger force of landing craft, allowing the Navy to execute low-altitude, over-the-horizon projection of a large quantity of troops."

With the new Type 075 ships, the Navy will be able to rapidly conduct large-scale landing operations, according to the editor.

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China has dispatched a team to North Korea including medical experts to advise on North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, according to three people familiar with the situation. The trip by the Chinese doctors and officials comes amid conflicting reports about the health of the North Korean leader. Reuters was unable to immediately determine what the trip by the Chinese team signaled in terms of Kim's health.

A delegation led by a senior member of the Chinese Communist Party's International Liaison Department left Beijing for North Korea on Thursday, two of the people said. The department is the main Chinese body dealing with neighbouring North Korea.

The sources declined to be identified given the sensitivity of the matter. The Liaison Department could not be reached by Reuters for comment late on Friday. China's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment late on Friday.

Daily NK, a Seoul-based website, reported earlier this week that Kim was recovering after undergoing a cardiovascular procedure on April 12. It cited one unnamed source in North Korea.

South Korean government officials and a Chinese official with the Liaison Department challenged subsequent reports suggesting that Kim was in grave danger after surgery. South Korean officials said they had detected no signs of unusual activity in North Korea.

On Thursday, US President Donald Trump also downplayed earlier reports that Kim was gravely ill. "I think the report was incorrect," Trump told reporters, but he declined to say if he had been in touch with North Korean officials.

On Friday, a South Korean source told Reuters their intelligence was that Kim was alive and would likely make an appearance soon. The person said he did not have any comment on Kim's current condition or any Chinese involvement.

An official familiar with US intelligence said that Kim was known to have health problems but they had no reason to conclude he was seriously ill or unable eventually to reappear in public.

A US State department spokeswoman had no comment. US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, when asked about Kim's health on Fox News after Trump spoke said, "I don't have anything I can share with you tonight, but the American people should know we're watching the situation very keenly."

North Korea is one of the world's most isolated and secretive countries, and the health of its leaders is treated as a matter of state security. Reuters has not been able to independently confirm any details on Kim's whereabouts or condition.

North Korea's state media last reported on Kim's whereabouts when he presided over a meeting on April 11. State media did not report that he was in attendance at an event to mark the birthday of his grandfather, Kim Il Sung, on April 15, an important anniversary in North Korea.

Kim, believed to be 36, has disappeared from coverage in North Korean state media before. In 2014, he vanished for more than a month and North Korean state TV later showed him walking with a limp. Speculation about his health has been fanned by his heavy smoking, apparent weight gain since taking power and family history of cardiovascular problems.

When Kim Jong Un's father, Kim Jong Il, suffered a stroke in 2008, South Korean media reported at the time that Chinese doctors were involved in his treatment along with French physicians.

Last year, Chinese President Xi Jinping made the first state visit in 14 years by a Chinese leader to North Korea, an impoverished state that depends on Beijing for economic and diplomatic support.

China is North Korea's chief ally and the economic lifeline for a country hard-hit by UN sanctions, and has a keen interest in the stability of the country with which it shares a long, porous border.

Kim is a third-generation hereditary leader who came to power after his father Kim Jong Il died in 2011 from a heart attack. He has visited China four times since 2018. Trump held unprecedented summits with Kim in 2018 and 2019 as part of a bid to persuade him to give up North Korea's nuclear arsenal.

Also read: Kim Jong Un's absence from North Korean media fuels speculations about his health

Also read: South Korea confirms reports of Kim Jong-un being 'gravely ill' untrue
A parade organized by staff at Linden Lanes School toured through the Linden Lanes neighbourhood on Friday afternoon to spread love to students, their families and others who gathered to watch. (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun)
M inisters should set out an exit strategy from lockdown to get Britain back to work, the former Chancellor Philip Hammond has said.

He said the economy could not survive waiting until a vaccine becomes available - which could be 18 months - before kickstarting key industries.

Mr Hammond, who was Chancellor under Theresa May from 2016 to 2019, said he hoped the expected return of Boris Johnson to work on Monday would mark a clear step change in the Governments increasingly under-fire response to the pandemic.

The reality is that we have to start reopening the economy. But we have to do it living with Covid, he told BBC Radio 4s Today programme.

We cant wait until a vaccine is developed, produced in sufficient quantity and rolled out across the population. The economy wont survive that long.

Locking everything down and keeping everything locked down is relatively straightforward. The challenge of how to carefully, progressively, methodically reopen protecting both health and jobs is much, much more challenging and calls for a really skilful political leadership.

Philip Hammond warned the economy could struggle to bounce back if closed for too long / AFP/Getty Images

Downing Street has so far resisted calls to publish an exit strategy over fears it could lead to Brits becoming complacent in following social distancing rules.

Pressure on ministers has mounted after Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon moved to outline a possible phased easing of her country's lockdown earlier this week.

But in one sign of a turning tide in Number 10, the UK Government is reportedly considering a proposal to allow Brits to meet up with small "bubbles" of up to 10 of their closest family or friends.

According to the Daily Mail, the plan would let people nominate one or two households to be part of their "cluster", reuniting couples forced apart by the lockdown, but would not be permitted to meet up with anyone else.

TODO: define component type apester

Meanwhile, Chancellor Rishi Sunak is reportedly considering measures to allow businesses to reopen in a safe and practical way, including staying two metres apart at all times.
F aith groups across the UK may have been forced to closed their doors to worshippers  but they have been hard at work providing food for people struggling to get enough to eat during the coronavirus pandemic.

Using fresh produce from The Felix Project, our Food For London Now campaign partner, religious leaders and volunteers at churches, mosques, temples and synagogues have play a key role in the emergency food operation.

Volunteers at the Shree Jalaram Mandir  a Hindu temple in Ealing  have been delivering about 2,500 meals a day to NHS staff, care homes and hostels for homeless people across Londons north-west suburbs.

Prior to the crisis, the temple fed hundreds of rough sleepers three evenings a week at locations in central London. But a drop-off in older volunteers meant the food aid operation had switch gears.

We adjusted so we can still make a difference to people going through a tough time, said trustee Mansukh Morjaria. We want to help as many as we possibly can. Our ethos is to feed people from all backgrounds  and it means people of all backgrounds working together for the greater good.

Mr Morjaria, who picks up about 50 crates of produce from the food surplus charity twice a week, added: Were so grateful to The Felix Project  we depend up on them, and the supply of food has been a lifesaver for a lot of people.

The Harvest Church in Wembley is another of almost 300 charities, food banks and local projects across London that The Felix Project is currently supplying with fresh fruit, vegetables and non-perishable produce it rescues from restaurants, retailers and wholesalers.

Nigel Howard

The evangelical church was forced to close its food bank because of an initial drop-off in older volunteers. The remaining team adapted by dropping off food packages at the homes of dozens of people in the local area, and putting together meals for around 100 people at a south London homeless shelter in need of regular food.

The deliveries have been really important to people, said coordinator Hilda Darko. We have been in touch with families struggling to get to supermarkets because theyre self-isolating or having serious money problems.

She added: The extra need will be there for a while to come so well trying to help everyone we can. The idea of helping your neighbour is part of our mission.

The Muswell Hill Synagogue has been doing similar work  delivering food parcels to hundreds of people in the area who are isolating or being shielded during the outbreak after Rabbi David Mason set up a group of around 100 volunteers.

He said many of the volunteers from the synagogue were also collaborating on home deliveries with the Trussell Trusts food bank in Muswell Hill.

Theres a lot of young people in the community who are very passionate about helping others in need  its impressive to see, said Rabbi Mason. Theres a saying that goes, If I am not for myself, who will be for me? But if I am only for myself, who am I? And were see people live that out at the moment.

He added: Faith groups do have a role in meeting need  were a key part of community work, so its not surprising weve stepped up during the crisis.

Donate at virginmoneygiving.com/fund/FoodforLondonNOW
Tribals of Bastar.

Manvi Pant

When Sukri, one of the singing Halakkis of the Ankola tribe in Karnataka, finds out that her father has chosen a boy for her, she is concerned about her future. All she wants is to go to school and use paper, pen and inkpot to write long verses. But she gets married, and after that, all that life offers her is a void and a relentless struggle to find happiness. Her dreams silently dissipate too. She sings her grief away but at no point does she display loss of strength.

Other such anecdotes and stories dot Nidhi Dugar Kundalia's new book White as Milk and Rice, a compelling chronicle of six tribal communities of India  the Halakkis of Ankola, the Kanjars of Chambal, the Kurumbas of the Nilgiris, the Marias of Bastar, the Khasis of Shillong and the Konyaks of Nagaland  with each chapter dedicated to one tribe.

At the outset, the author shares her resolve to know more about these isolated tribes and how their lives have unfolded post-Independence. Each chapter paints several thought-provoking human portraits and tunes the reader to the vulnerabilities of its characters.

Written in a journalistic format with detailed and expansive narration sprinkled with an overlay of poetic language, the book is both enjoyable and educative. Expressions have been carefully chosen and woven into sentences. You read, and they fill you up, occasionally welling up your eyes too. In the background, the author draws a powerful landscape that places you right in the middle of their lives like an eyewitness.

Take, for instance, these lines from the chapters on the Marias of Bastar: It is at night that the tree blossoms and at daybreak, each short-lived flower falls to the ground. It is not yet dawn, but the shadows have already lengthened by the time Birsu is in the forest.

Or these ones from the chapter on the Kurumbas of the Nilgiris: Each spring, as the wind dies down, and clusters of jacaranda flowers bloom on the trees, Kurumbas sense the spring in the air and start following the bees in the forest as they collect sap from the flower.

Fight for basics

While it can be safely assumed that the concept of a tribe, or a traditional community, may have evolved over generations, Nidhi's writing with its poignant insights, satisfying subplots, and well-researched anthropological perspectives does not take the reader away from a universal fact: These isolated tribes have spent their whole lives fighting for basics.

Nidhi Dugar.

Identity has been a matter of survival for them. These tribal folks have raised humans, the ones who were warriors for their culture and heritage. The ones who believed that their existence is because of their tribe and so it needs to be well protected from any erosion.

One of the strengths in Nidhis writing is the way she has woven the most fascinating facts into the narrative. For instance, did you know that the British first came into contact with the Nagas in 1832 and marched across the hills with their 700 soldiers and 800 coolies? When the Nagas attacked the British, it flared into a war that continued till 1880 but they remained undefeated and finally the British had to give up.

Tribes like the Khasis of Shillong, despite being dispersed and isolated, were propounders of matriarchy. In an old-fashioned Khasi family, male babies were welcomed but the birth of a girl called for a feast. The Khasis followed the matrilineal principle of descent, residence and inheritance.

Indeed, all through the book, Indias tribal women have been crowned as caretakers, nurturers of the family but in the same breath, they have been shown to have terrific resilience and courage as well.

Mesmerising from page one, this non-traditional and fascinating account of Indias six isolated tribes manages to do a thoughtful examination of their lives, how they have largely remained in a bubble of wilderness, some out of choice, and some out of fear.

It also looks at they lost their life to the indifference and ridicule at the hands of the government and fellow citizens, and how those who remained still carry hope in their hearts and aspire to fight for better prospects while leading a marginalized life. Nothing is known of their language, yet they have a rich history, a civilization that deserves to reach every human who has dominated over their land in the name of development.

Lead image: The Marias of Bastar photographed by Tania Chatterjee, founder and CEO of Fotorbit
Consuls Generals Corp-Ghana has commended Ghana's media for their role in the fight against the global COVID-19 pandemic.



John Mitchell, the Consul General for Trinidad and Tobago praised the media for defying the odds to provide coverage on the deadly disease.



He described the media as front-liners who deserve commendation.



A few weeks ago, members of the Consul Generals-Ghana presented COVID-19 protective items and a special package to the Ghana Police Service and Ghana Armed Forces to help fight the coronavirus pandemic.



Consul General, Haiti, Ambassador Quarcoo said: " We consider the media as part of the frontliners. You have availed yourselves in diverse ways in the Coronavirus fight. What we are doing here today would encourage others to also help because of you. Government alone cannot do it.



"The group thought it prudent to support and encourage you with a token in this fight. I on behalf of the group say kudos, we believe our widow's mite can take care of some face masks and hand sanitizers," he added.

Source: Daily Graphic









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Migrant children in federal facilities, including hundreds detained in Southern California, must be released to relatives during the pandemic, under a new court order.

The ruling from U.S. District Court Judge Dolly Gee in Los Angeles came late Friday after immigrant advocates argued that sheltering with family is safer for the children than keeping them in shelters.

Lawyers for the migrant children said the Trump administration no longer had an excuse to delay their release dates.

"It did almost take a pandemic and that's tragic that it would require that," said Peter Schey, the attorney leading the Center for Human Rights and Constitutional Law in Los Angeles.

Lindsay Toczylowski, who directs the Immigrant Defenders Law Center in Los Angeles, anticipates a noticeable increase in the number of children released from Southern California facilities starting this week.

Toczylowski said she has not heard of any COVID-19 infections among the children detained, but she worries they could fall ill in congregate settings as migrant adults in detention have.

"It's kids living in close quarters with one another, sleeping in rooms that have multiple children," Toczylowski said. "You have staff members who are coming in and out of facilities and therefore being exposed to the community outside."

A spokeswoman for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which operates some of the facilities holding minors, said the agency is still reviewing the court order and had no comment.

FINGERPRINTING CAN'T BE AN EXCUSE

Gee's order said federal agencies could not delay children's release by using reasons such as the lack of fingerprints from sponsors. Facilities that perform fingerprinting have shut down during the pandemic. Gee advised that sponsors could be fingerprinted after the children are in their custody, given there are no "red flags."

Gee issued her order to uphold the 1997 Flores Settlement Agreement. The federal consent decree ensures migrant children live in safe and sanitary facilities and limits how long they can be detained. Generally, it's about 20 days.

But, Toczylowski said some children were staying at facilities for months, even years.

"The government was keeping them in congregate care facilities for longer than they needed to be," Toczylowski said. "So we're relieved to see the judge's order is requiring the government to move forward with getting these kids back home with their families."

Gee's order will affect about 2,100 unaccompanied minors in the custody of the Office of Refugee Resettlement and more than 300 children held with families at ICE detention centers.

Schey, who was one of the lawyers who filed the case that led to the Flores agreement, said he expected Gee's order would apply to most of the migrant children.

A minority may not be released from custody if they've been deemed at flight risk; a danger to themselves or others; or are facing immediate deportation, Schey said.

California is home to several ORR facilities and dozens of foster care homes for migrant children. The state does not house any ICE facilities detaining families.

In her order, Gee wrote that "ORR's obligation to release minors without unnecessary delay requires moving with greater speed to remove minors from congregate environments where a suitable custodian exists."

The Office of Refugee Resettlement did not respond to requests for comment.

In related news, the ACLU of Southern California is among the groups petitioning the state to halt the transfer of people into ICE facilities and drastically reduce the populations at juvenile halls and jails given the pandemic.

The California Supreme Court has given the governor and attorney general of California until Tuesday to respond to the ACLU's petition.
By Trend

Socially vulnerable families whose rating points are in range of 65,000-100,000, will receive 600 lari ($186.92) during 6 months in Georgia, said the country's Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia, Trend reports via Georgian media.

Family rating is set by the social service agency on the basis of a system for assessing the standard of living and income of a particular family. The rating points of each family are calculated individually; there are no specific criteria. According to the new methodology that exists in Georgia today, the main emphasis is on large families.

According to Gakharia, there are 70,000 such families in Georgia.

Also, the families with three or more children under age of 16 and with rating points from 0 up to 10,000 will receive 600 lari.

There are 21,000 such families across the country.

"The persons and children with limited physical capabilities will receive 600 lari ($186.92) during 6 months," Gakharia said.

According to him, there are 40,000 such persons in Georgia and the budget of this social assistance will be 25 million lari ($7.7 million).

On April 24, the Georgian government presented a plan to gradually resume the economic activities step-by-step over the next three months.

Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia has outlined six phases to slowly get businesses up and running again, while also monitoring the coronavirus pandemic situation in the country.

Georgia will spend 3.5 billion ($1.10 billion) on its anti-crisis plan.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
By Ofeliya Afandiyeva

The Supreme Court of Azerbaijan has released on acquittal grounds chairman of opposition REAL (Republican Alternative Party) Ilgar Mammadov, local media reported on April 23.

The court considered a complaint regarding Mammadovs criminal case and decided to drop all criminal cases against him. He will be paid 234,000 manat ($137.000) for moral damage, in accordance with the decision of the Supreme Court.

Mammadov expressed his satisfaction with the decision and called it a great victory and an important event in the judicial system of Azerbaijan.

In addition, the criminal case against president of the Human Rights Club Rasul Jafarov has also been terminated and he will receive 57.400 manat ($33.800) for moral damage.

Council of Europe Secretary-General Marija Pejcinovic Buric welcomed the decision of the Supreme Court of Azerbaijan.

"The acquittal today of Ilgar Mammadov and Rasul Jafarov by the Supreme Court of Azerbaijan is to be welcomed. As the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers has repeatedly emphasized, the execution of the European Court of Human Rights' judgments requires the elimination of all the consequences of the criminal charges brought against them. This step will be reviewed by the Committee in the context of the supervision of the execution of the Court's judgments. The Council of Europe remains available to further its cooperation with Azerbaijan", the statement of the Council of Europe Secretary-General said.

The British Embassy in Azerbaijan also welcomed the acquittal of Ilgar Mammadov and Rasul Jafarov.

"The British Embassy welcomes the Supreme Court acquittals of Ilgar Mammadov and Rasul Jafarov, in line with the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights on their unconditional release. We encourage further positive steps such as the implementation of the other European Court of Human Rights judgments as well as taking measures to ensure freedom of speech and expression", the statement delivered.

Ilqar Mammadov was arrested in 2013 and charged with a series of crimes, including organizing mass riots in Ismayilli on January 24, 2013. He was sentenced to seven years in prison in 2014. Mammadov was released in 2018 by the decision of Sheki Court of Appeal and the rest part of his sentence was replaced with a conditional sentence. Ilgar Mammadov appealed to the Supreme Court and demanded his acquittal and his conditional sentence was overturned.

As for Rasul Jafarov, he was convicted in 2014 of abuse of power, forgery and embezzlement, and tax evasion and was sentenced to 6,5 years in 2015. Two years later, he was pardoned, but the charges were not dropped from him.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
The The Vietnam Cyber Emergency Rescue Center (VNCERT) and the Information Security Authority has released a warning about the security vulnerabilities of Zoom, the video conferencing app used since the Covid-19 outbreak.

The agency reported that personal information of more than 500,000 Zoom user accounts has been leaked, including emails, passwords, URLs of meetings and associated passwords.





Zoom is the most popular video conferencing software in Vietnam thanks to its bandwidth optimization capability and easy use.



However, the software has a fatal security vulnerability which lies in the poor data encryption and meeting ID scanning.



The flaws, which have existed for a long time, have not been fixed by Zooms staff. The vulnerabilities have become even more serious because of the sharp increase in number of users recently.

Many security issues have been discovered since early 2020, but they have not completely fixed by the company. Singapore has suspended the use of Zoom by teachers.

The The Vietnam Cyber Emergency Rescue Center (VNCERT) and the Information Security Authority has released a warning about the security vulnerabilities of Zoom, the video conferencing app used since the Covid-19 outbreak.

The other conferencing apps known in Vietnam include Microsoft Teams, Skype (free version of Teams), Google Hangout, Google Meet, Gotomeeting and Facebooks Messenger.



These are all foreign apps and the common characteristic of the systems is that they consume large amounts of bandwidth. A good and stable international internet transmission line is needed when using the apps to ensure smooth operation.



In general, the latency, or the lag time, must be less than 150ms to be sure that conferences can run smoothly. This is the minimum latency time for meeting participants to feel that images are natural.



However, the international internet connection has had problems because of the breakdown of the AAG (Asia America Gateway) submarine cable. The incident occurred amid high demand for international bandwidth, which has soared during the pandemic.



Participants of online meetings using international internet line regularly suffer lags. The quality of the transmission line is not something that foreign app developers can fix.



To settle this problem, experts say, a conferencing app developed by Vietnamese is needed.



Unlike foreign apps, Vietnamese developed apps will not encounter restrictions in transmission line quality because the cable internet network covers the whole country. However, there is still no Vietnamese app powerful enough to use.



The solutions that Vietnamese firms provide can only satisfy some requirements for organizing internal meetings and conferences of agencies, organizations and businesses.



Experts said now is the golden time for domestic firms to introduce good conferencing apps and regain the domestic market.

Trong Dat

Staff at many firms work from home Many enterprises, in an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, have asked staff to work from home.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 25)  Relief groups that want to extend assistance to communities amid the nationwide quarantine should secure certification from the respective local government units, the Interior Department pointed out.

In a public briefing Saturday, DILG Spokesperson Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said Secretary Eduardo Ano has ordered relief organizations to coordinate with the LGUs and request certification from them to be able to distribute goods.

"Kung meron kayong certification, madali na kayong makakadaan sa mga checkpoints," Malaya said.

[Translation: If you have a certification, you will be able to easily pass through the checkpoints.]

The DILG said it has received reports about people allegedly claiming that they will conduct relief operations just to get past checkpoints.

Malaya also called on members of organizations who are using the food passes issued by the Department of Agriculture as quarantine permits.

"[As per] Secretary William Dar, hindi po pwede 'yon," he emphasized.

[Translation: (As per) Secretary William Dar, that is not allowed.]

Malaya referred to the incident in Bulacan on April 19, where police personnel detained some volunteers of groups Tulong AnakPawis and Sagip Kanayunan, who were set to deliver relief packages in a rural community.
Captain Brett Crozier addressing the crew of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt in 2019 - AFP PHOTO/MCS 3rd Class Sean Lynch/US Navy

The United States' top Navy officer has recommended the reinstatement of the aircraft carrier captain fired for sending a fraught email to commanders pleading for faster action to protect his crew from a coronavirus outbreak, officials familiar with the investigation said.

Adm. Mike Gilday recommended that Navy Capt. Brett Crozier be returned to his ship, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the results of an investigation that have not yet been made public.

If approved, his recommendation would end a drama that has rocked the Navy leadership, sent thousands of USS Theodore Roosevelt crew members ashore in Guam for quarantine and impacted the fleet across the Pacific, a region critical to America's national security interests.

Adm. Gilday met with Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, on Tuesday and with Defense Secretary Mark Esper on Friday morning to lay out his recommendations. An official said Mr Esper has asked for a delay in any public announcement while he considers the recommendation.

Earlier in the day, Mr Esper's chief spokesman Jonathan Hoffman had suggested that Mr Esper was going into the matter with an open mind, and said "he is generally inclined to support Navy leadership in their decision".

In a written statement released after the news of Adm. Gilday's recommendation broke, Mr Hoffman said Mr Esper got a "verbal update" from Adm. Gilday and wants to read the written report and then meet with the Navy to "discuss next steps".

While other details of Adm. Gilday's recommendations were not clear, they are expected to address the broader communications and leadership issues on the ship and within the fleet, including how the ship dealt with the growing outbreak, and how that information travelled through the chain of command.

There have been ongoing questions about whether Navy leaders took too long to acknowledge the ship's problems and if other commanders share blame for not being responsive to Capt. Crozier's concerns.

Story continues

One senior defense official said the investigation covered a complex timeline of communications that spanned multiple time zones and military commands. The official said Mr Esper wants to make sure the report is thorough and stands up to scrutiny.

Rep. Adam Smith, a Washington state Democrat and chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, urged Mr Esper to restore Capt. Crozier to command.

"While Captain Crozier's actions at the outset of the health crisis aboard the TR were drastic and imperfect, it is clear he only took such steps to protect his crew," Mr Smith said in a statement.

The extraordinary episode has captivated a public already overwhelmed by the pandemic. And it has played out as the military copes with coronavirus by reducing training, scaling back recruiting and halting troop movements even as it deploys tens of thousands of National Guard and other troops to help civilian agencies deal with virus outbreaks across the country.

Capt. Crozier was abruptly removed earlier this month by acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly, who resigned days later. His return to the ship would reunite him with crew members so upset about his firing that many crowded together on the deck and applauded and chanted his name as he strode off the ship.

As of Friday, 856 sailors on the USS Theodore Roosevelt have tested positive for the virus and four are hospitalised. One sailor, who was from Arkansas, has died, and more than 4,200 of the ship's nearly 5,000 crew members have been moved on to the island for quarantine.

As that outbreak continues, a second Navy ship at sea is now also reporting a growing number of infections. Navy officials said at least 18 crew members on the USS Kidd naval destroyer have tested positive, and one sailor has been evacuated to the US.

The Kidd, with its crew of 350, is off the Pacific coast of Central America, where it has been operating as part of a US counter-drug mission.

Clearing the aircraft carrier and its crew of the virus has proved to be difficult and complicated. Sailors who test negative after time in quarantine are suddenly showing symptoms a day or two later. The virus' bewildering behaviour, which is challenging the broader international medical community. is making it harder to determine when the carrier might be able to return either to duty or head home.

Adm. Gilday's recommendations were first reported by The New York Times.

Capt. Crozier was fired on April 2 by Mr Modly after sending an email to several naval officers warning about the growing virus outbreak and asking for permission to isolate the bulk of his crew members on shore. It was an extraordinary move that would take the carrier out of duty in an effort to save lives.

"We are not at war. Sailors do not need to die. If we do not act now, we are failing to properly take care of our most trusted asset, our sailors," Capt. Crozier said in the memo.

Mr Modly complained that Capt. Crozier "demonstrated extremely poor judgment" in the middle of a crisis, saying the captain copied too many people on the memo, which quickly went public. Mr Modly also asserted that Capt. Crozier had improperly allowed sensitive information about the ship's condition to become public.

A few days later, Mr Modly flew out to the ship and delivered a profanity-laced condemnation of Capt. Crozier over the loudspeaker to the crew. Capt. Crozier, he said, may have been "too naive or too stupid" to be commanding officer of the ship.

Just hours after his comments were widely reported, Mr Modly apologised. But the next day, in the face of widespread criticism, he resigned. Mr Esper initially defended Mr Modly's firing of Capt. Crozier, saying he made a "very tough decision". But other military leaders, including Adm. Gilday, internally opposed the firing, saying an investigation should be conducted first.

Mr Modly's trip to the carrier cost him Mr Esper's support. Mr Esper first demanded Mr Modly apologise and a day later accepted his resignation.

President Donald Trump has expressed seemingly contradictory views on the matter. He initially blasted Capt. Crozier, calling his memo "terrible". But a short time later he softened his take, saying he didn't want to destroy someone who may just have "had a bad day".
By Ofeliya Afandiyeva

The Supreme Court of Azerbaijan has released on acquittal grounds chairman of opposition REAL (Republican Alternative Party) Ilgar Mammadov, local media reported on April 23.

The court considered a complaint regarding Mammadovs criminal case and decided to drop all criminal cases against him. He will be paid 234,000 manat ($137.000) for moral damage, in accordance with the decision of the Supreme Court.

Mammadov expressed his satisfaction with the decision and called it a great victory and an important event in the judicial system of Azerbaijan.

In addition, the criminal case against president of the Human Rights Club Rasul Jafarov has also been terminated and he will receive 57.400 manat ($33.800) for moral damage.

Council of Europe Secretary-General Marija Pej?inovi? Buri? welcomed the decision of the Supreme Court of Azerbaijan.

"The acquittal today of Ilgar Mammadov and Rasul Jafarov by the Supreme Court of Azerbaijan is to be welcomed. As the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers has repeatedly emphasized, the execution of the European Court of Human Rights' judgments requires the elimination of all the consequences of the criminal charges brought against them. This step will be reviewed by the Committee in the context of the supervision of the execution of the Court's judgments. The Council of Europe remains available to further its cooperation with Azerbaijan", the statement of the Council of Europe Secretary-General said.

The British Embassy in Azerbaijan also welcomed the acquittal of Ilgar Mammadov and Rasul Jafarov.

"The British Embassy welcomes the Supreme Court acquittals of Ilgar Mammadov and Rasul Jafarov, in line with the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights on their unconditional release. We encourage further positive steps such as the implementation of the other European Court of Human Rights judgments as well as taking measures to ensure freedom of speech and expression", the statement delivered.

Ilqar Mammadov was arrested in 2013 and charged with a series of crimes, including organizing mass riots in Ismayilli on January 24, 2013. He was sentenced to seven years in prison in 2014. Mammadov was released in 2018 by the decision of Sheki Court of Appeal and the rest part of his sentence was replaced with a conditional sentence. Ilgar Mammadov appealed to the Supreme Court and demanded his acquittal and his conditional sentence was overturned.

As for Rasul Jafarov, he was convicted in 2014 of abuse of power, forgery and embezzlement, and tax evasion and was sentenced to 6,5 years in 2015. Two years later, he was pardoned, but the charges were not dropped from him.
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Doctors in Vietnam have saved the life of a four-year-old boy who ingested diluted methadone, an opioid used in the treatment of drug addiction, thinking it was strawberry syrup.

Family members of the boy, N.H.C. from the northern province of Son La, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper his uncle was a drug addict.

The man, who passed away recently, had been using diluted methadone for treating his drug addiction and stored the pink-colored liquid in a plastic bottle in a family medicine cabinet without a lock.

Last week, C. came across the bottle of methadone and, mistakenly thinking the content was strawberry syrup, drank it.

His mother discovered him unconscious around 30 minutes later and rushed the boy to a provincial general hospital.

Doctors there put C. on a ventilator and transferred him to the Vietnam National Hospital of Pediatrics in Hanoi.

He was in a critical condition and had slipped into a deep coma upon arriving at the infirmary in the capital, according to Dr. Phan Thi Tam, head of the hospital's poison control department.

After two days of intensive care, the boy was beginning to revive and could interact with his parents. Five days later, he was in stable condition.

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25.04.2020 LISTEN

Fellow Muslims, Assalamu'laikum wa rahmatullah wa barakatuh. It is with a mixture of a tinge of sadness and Ramadan Kareem's blessings I choose to write this epistle to brothers and sisters in Islam (Ghana).

As a bona-fide ambassador and practitioner of the Islamic faith living in a non-Muslim dominated society that has not the foggiest understanding, knowledge, or appreciation of the religion but with a very skewed point of view about it, you probably would have been heart attacked once, about one demeaning statement or the other about Islam.

Misperceptions, misquotations, misconceptions, misrepresentations, and miseducation of Islam, are abound in our Ghanaian societies, and many, many parts of the world. The average non-Muslim Ghanaian perception about Islam is simply ridiculous.

Thus, when Islam is mentioned - not only in Ghana but in many parts of the world - what comes to the mind of a non-Muslim neighbor, are series of miseries, drudgery, hunger, unimaginable poverty, intolerance, ignorance, primordial character, uncleanliness, lack of dignity, terrorism, including every dangerous and poisonous adjectives of "-tions", "-sions -isms etc.

Although Islam laid the foundation of science and mathematics with the fathers of many disciplines like Chemistry, Algebra etc. being Muslim thinkers in the past, our current generation of Muslims have been adjudged to be of no value in terms of intellectual contribution to modernity. We are only being notoriously and religiously known as contributors of destruction, small-mindedness, religious jingoism, backwardness, global canker and denigration. Why?

Undoubtedly, though unfortunately, as we draw closer to "Qiyaama" (Judgement Day), the eschatological prophesies foretold by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (S. A. W), continue to become clearer, and there's no gainsay our present state of affairs is one of them. How much we have each contributed to this disgusting image of Islam is what every Allah-conscious Muslim must rise to change.

Allah has categorically referred to Muslims as the best of the human race chosen by Him to guide the rest of mankind in 3:110. So, every Muslim, and not a hypocrite, has some peculiar aspect of him or her, that naturally must be an object of admiration to non-Muslims capable of inviting them to the fold of Islam.

Today, Muslims have not only lost that natural ambassadorial trust to be exhibited to the rest of the world, even within our own backyard of the Islamic faith we have not been able to be good ambassadors of the religion. Which, I believe as a result, Allah has downgraded and humiliated us before our own "Sheep" of the rest of the world we should have been shepherding islamically.

All over the world, Islam is the fastest growing religion, its only in Ghana in Africa Hinduism is growing more than Islam even though the data of Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) is not to be trusted sometimes.

How many rich Muslims sincerely pay the Zakat (poor rate) to the poor within the Zongo in Ghana? How many are are sincere with the faith without cutting corners here and there to visit soothsayers and practicing magic forbidden in Quran 2:102 any time things are little bit awkward?

Allah says in 12:3, "Through the revelation of this Qur'an We narrate the best of histories of which you (Muhammad) were unaware before."

Among these tales of the Qur'an is the story of "Bani Israil" (Children of Israel), which begins in the very beginning of the Qur'an in 2nd chapter till the 89th chapter. And the most mentioned Messenger of God in the Quran as we all know, is Anabi (Prophet) Musah (Moses) with stories of how Musah and Fir'aun (Pharaoh) struggled over "Bani Israil".

Why is that story prevalent in the Quran from the beginning of it to the end of it?

It's because, not only that the oneness of Allah as the Originator of creation and ultimate Ruler of the universe, was questioned, when Pharaoh claimed audaciously that he was God, the Bani Israil were also being cursed by Allah for their infraction of betraying the covenant with their Lord after all that Allah had done for them.

"And remember, when We made a covenant with you whereby you agreed you will neither shed blood among you nor turn your people out of their homes, you promised, and are witness to it too." 2:84

Muslims today risk being Bani Israil of yesterday if they have not become them already.

Bani Israil were with Moses (Musah) when he parted the Red Sea into twelve paths for them to cross in order to escape the hot chase of Pharaoh; Bani Israil were with Moses, when he cast down his miraculous Staff which turned into a huge snake and swallowed that of the magicians' whom, upon seeing that, instantly abandoned magic and accepted the Prophethood of Moses and were martyred by Pharaoh; Bani Israil were with Musah, when some of them requested to see God else they won't believe in Moses again, then an awful shout as a punishment overtook them and they all died, and Allah made them to resurrect one after the other till the last person came back from death which they all witnessed with certainty how Allah can resurrect the dead; Bani Israil were with Moses again, when Allah commanded them to look for a yellow cow, cut one part of its meat in order to strike with it, a dead person who were murdered secretly amongst them so that the person could come back from death and expose the murderer and drop dead again; Bani Israil were fed with the manna and the quails till they wanted them no more from heaven; etc. in 2:47-97.

Bani Israil witnessed a lot of miracles with Moses as a sign that he was indeed a Messenger of God to them. Yet they betrayed Moses and Aaron and their Lord having seen all that Moses displayed as a token of appreciation of God's Power and Majesty so that they could have firm believe in God.

Consequently, Allah says He cursed them for that in Qur'an 2:88. Their curse is what is captured in the last verse of Suratul Faatiha (1:7) which we ask Allah not to guide us to the path of those who earned His anger nor those who went astray.

The curse of the Bani Israil according to the Qur'an, is manifested in majority of them not being believers in Allah, and their subjugation before fresh enemies after they were being rescued from Pharaoh by God through Moses.

As Muslims, one of our covenant with Allah, certainly, is to live up to expectation by living exemplary lives in order to attract the larger number of humanity to the path of their Lord. 3:110.

To do that requires us to hold firmly on to what was sent down to the Messenger Muhammad (S. A. W) which we have greatly jettisoned with swag of impunity in recent times.

Just like Moses to Bani Israil, the Noble Messenger, Muhammad (S. A. W), gives us the best of all miracles that surpasses what Moses and all Prophets and Messengers of God came with to prove to their people, that they were indeed of God.

This greatest miracle of all miracles Prophet Muhammad had left with us, is the Holy Qur'an that we have all come to appreciate. Apart from its scientific miracles like the formation of the embargo, calculated the speed of light bbefore scientists discovered it etc. ,the Glorious Quran has thrown a challenge to all of mankind and Jinn (the race of Satan) to write a book like the it if we think Muhammad forged it (17:88). The challenge has since not been accepted.

Unfortunately, despite this greatest miracle to us just like that of Moses' which was demonstrated to Bani Israil who finally let him down, Muslims in this generation has let down Islam. Hence, our "curse" and humiliation all over the world.

The Five Pillars of the faith have not been practiced as expected, especially the Five Daily Prayers. Some Muslims only go to Masjid on Fridays, and call themselves Muslims.

That is, all the above dangerous connotations of Islam and the Muslims, today, is because we have abandoned or become lukewarm in the practice of our covenant of Kalimatu Shahada, Five Daily Prayers, Zakat, Fasting, and Pilgrimage (Hajj) with Allah as Muslims. As a result, God has cursed us for our lukewarm attitude towards His covenant.

Due to that, a non-Muslim who does not know about this covenant, in the sight of the Almighty, is better than us today.

Our attitudes today as Muslims, are clear embodiment and characterization of the greatest and highest form of hypocrisy. And the occupants of the most distasteful part of hell on the Day of Resurrection, as we know, are the hypocrites! Their punishment actually begins in the world in various ways including humiliation. May Allah have mercy on us.

Our lack of respect for the Holy Book in sinning, the laziest way we observe our religious obligations commanded us by the Lord of all creation, have collectively triggered the disapproval of God on us in a form of being seen by the rest of society as "social outcast."

How many of us go to functions and do not disguise ourselves as Muslims?

One time I remained seated in the Masjid to do some Adhkar and a certain young man came to pray. I instantly got angry when I saw the way he was praying with an obvious speed of light. After he was done that macabre dance he mistook as Salat, I walked up to him gently and asked with all courtesy and decorum to imagine, if he were Allah, would he have accepted such a prayer? And he almost protested he wouldn't have accepted it. So I asked him to re-pray the Salat in the manner he would have been pleased with were he Allah. And he did.

One may not be far from facts to say more than half of Muslims today, pray each of their Five Daily Prayers as if they are in a war front. So quickly that, sometimes the person next to the one praying feels like vomiting. Too nauseating.

Meanwhile, Prophet Muhammad (S. A. W) is reported to have said, "the worse thief is the one who steals from his own Salat" referring to the too quick way of praying.

He also said that Salat (prayer) that is done in a carelessly quick manner, curses the one offering the prayer saying, "may Allah downgrade you like you have downgraded me".

How many times have we been cursed by own Salat we carelessly observed? How many times have we been cursed by our Holy Book for debasing it any time we do what it forbids us, and neglect what it enjoins upon us?

Is it not safe to say that, accumulated displeasures of our Holy Book, cheated Salats, and general debasing way of performing our religious obligations without sincerity have, in combination, over the years, brought upon us our current state of affairs like the Bani Israil as Muslims?

Its true that our Prophet prophesied it, that, as part of sign of Judgement Day approaching, Muslims, before non-Muslims, would be likened to a plate of delicacy before a group of eaters: Everyone would treat the food the way they want.

But what we are doing about our character hhaving found ourselves in this era foretold by the Holy Prophet, is what makes us better Muslims belonging to a religion that must be attractive to our eaters who must stop eating us but join us.

As we have begun this month of elixir of life and strong Eaman, let's take opportunity to amend. For Allah is "Al-Gafar, Rauful bil Ibaad, and Ar-Rahman"

Luckily, the Messenger (S. A. W) is reported to have also said in an authenticated Prophetic hadith, that the strongest weapon of the believers is prayer.

Let's pray to our Allah to forgive us of this our lackadaisical commitment to His covenant so as to be delivered from our present tag of humanity's dregs.

Let's be ambassadors of Islam. Lets our attitudes invite not drive away non-Muslims from us.

We cant archive this is we are not pleasing to Allah with our nonchalant approach to practicing of His faith.

May Allah guide us and humanity at large.

"Wa akhiri Da'waana wal hamdulillahir Rabil Aalamin"

Wa Salamu'laikum wa Rahmatullah wa Barakatuh

Have a healthy, wealthy, and pious filled Ramadan Kareem 2020.

Submitted By:

Abdul Hakeem Iddrisu.

(The Young Prof.)

Email: [email protected]

0557762967
A 70-year-old man hailing from Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday became the sixth person to die due to COVID-19 in the union territory, officials said here.

The person, a resident of Tangmarg area of the north Kashmir district, died at the SKIMS hospital in Bemina here on Saturday morning, the officials said.

The patient had tested positive for coronavirus and was admitted to the hospital on April 13, they said.

This is the sixth death due to coronavirus in Jammu and Kashmir and the second from Tangmarg area, the officials added.

A 75-year-old man hailing from Sopore area of Baramulla district died on April 17.

A 61-year-old female patient fromUdhampur passed away at the GMC, Jammu on April 8 while a 54-year-old man hailing from Bandipora district had died a day earlier.

A 65-year-old man from Srinagar was the first fatality in Kashmir on March 26 followed by another man of the same age from Tangmarg in Baramulla district who died on March 29.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
FCC Scrutinizes Four Chinese Government-Controlled Entities Providing Telecommunications Services In The U.S.

Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

Media Contact:

Tina Pelkey, (202) 418-0536

tina.pelkey@fcc.gov

For Immediate Release

Agency Issues Show Cause Orders to China Telecom Americas, China Unicom Americas, Pacific Networks, and ComNet Demanding Explanation of Why the FCC Should Not Initiate Proceedings to Revoke their Authorizations

WASHINGTON, April 24, 2020 -- The Federal Communications Commission today issued Orders to Show Cause against four companies that are ultimately subject to the ownership and control of the Chinese government: China Telecom Americas, China Unicom Americas, Pacific Networks, and ComNet. The Orders direct the companies to explain why the Commission should not start the process of revoking their domestic and international section authorizations enabling them to operate in the United States. Today's action builds on the FCC's 2019 rejection on national security and law enforcement grounds of China Mobile USA's application to provide international telecommunications services between the United States and foreign destinations.

"Foreign entities providing telecommunications servicesor seeking to provide servicesin the United States must not pose a risk to our national security," said Chairman Pai. "The Show Cause Orders reflect our deep concernone shared by the U.S. Departments of Commerce, Defense, Homeland Security, Justice, and State and the U.S. Trade Representativeabout these companies' vulnerability to the exploitation, influence, and control of the Chinese Communist Party, given that they are subsidiaries of Chinese state-owned entities. We simply cannot take a risk and hope for the best when it comes to the security of our networks."

The Orders to Show Cause give the companies the opportunity to demonstrate that they are not subject to the influence and control of the Chinese government, that they continue to be qualified to hold domestic and international section 214 authorizations and International Signaling Point Codes, and that public convenience and necessity is served by their retention of the authorizations and assignments. Moreover, the Order to Show Cause for China Telecom Americas directs that company to provide a detailed response to allegations raised in the Executive Branch Recommendation to Revoke their international section 214 authorization. The entities have 30 days to respond.

###

Media Relations: (202) 418-0500 / ASL: (844) 432-2275 / TTY: (888) 835-5322 / Twitter: @FCC / www.fcc.gov

This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action. Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action. See MCI v. FCC, 515 F.2d 385 (D.C. Cir. 1974).

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Thelma Wright Edwards knows this is the last chance for justice for Emmett Till. The next few weeks and months will determine whether there will ever be closure for her beloved cousin Bobo, as the family affectionately call the child.

The Guardian has learned that a reinvestigation of the boys murder that has been carried out by the FBI over the past three years could be wrapped up in weeks. For Thelma and the rest of the Till family, a decades-long struggle for justice is fast approaching its conclusion.

In August, it will be 65 years since the battered and bloated body of the 14-year-old Till was fished from the muddy waters of the Tallahatchie River in Mississippi. His kidnapping, torture and murder on 28 August 1955 for having whistled at a white woman was a defining moment of postwar American history.

An undated portrait shows Emmett Till, a black 14-year-old Chicago boy, who was brutally murdered near Money, Mississippi, on 28 August 1955. Photograph: AP

It set in train a sequence of events that led African Americans in the south to make an unprecedented stand, sparking the civil rights movement. Today his name is emblazoned on history books, memorialized in movies, while the glass-topped casket which tens of thousands of mourners walked by before his burial now stands as the centerpiece of the National Museum of African American history in Washington DC.

To Edwards, 88, Emmett Tills next of kin, he is more than a legend of history. He is the adored cousin who she remembers as a mischievous peacemaker forever devising pranks and cracking jokes.

For the Till family, he is also the subject of a current, burning struggle for the truth. In all those 65 years, not a single person has been held accountable for the teenagers death.

Not a day has been spent in jail nor a penny paid in compensation. In the only trial ever to be held after Emmetts body was retrieved from the river, the two white men who later confessed to murdering him were acquitted by an all-white, all-male jury, and spent the rest of their lives in freedom.

The FBI decided to revisit the case in 2017 in the light of new leads concerning the woman who Emmett whistled at  Carolyn Bryant. What the FBI may or may not have discovered about her role in the abduction of the boy and the aftermath of the murder amounts to the final hope for resolution in the case.

Story continues

Two white men confessed to the murder: Roy Bryant, Carolyn Bryants husband, and his half-brother JW Milam. Both men are dead, as are all other individuals directly linked to the events leading up to the killing. With one exception: Carolyn Bryant, and even she is understood to be in poor health.

As a result, the Till family knows that if justice is ever to be done, it must be done now.

I have never got over the shock and pain of losing Emmett, it was barbaric what they did to him, he was just a kid, Edwards said. Weve been waiting 65 years and still nothing. That makes us feel like second-class citizens, to be treated like that.



In this 23 September 1955, file photo, JW Milam, left, and Roy Bryant, right, sit with their wives in a courtroom in Sumner, Mississippi. Milam and Bryant were acquitted of the murder of Emmett Till. Photograph: AP

As the Till family anxiously awaits news of the FBIs investigation, Edwards and another of Emmetts cousins, Deborah Watts, are launching a new push for redress on behalf of Emmett Till as well as the hundreds of other victims of racially motivated murders from the civil rights era whose cases have never been solved.

Watts, who is spearheading the new Justice for Emmett Till campaign, was a toddler at the time of her cousins death. She plans for the campaign to culminate in August in a number of commemorative events in Mississippi  coronavirus permitting  to mark the 65th anniversary.

She hopes the initiative will stimulate legislation to empower families of victims of civil rights era murders. The campaign aims to provide trauma counseling for those still suffering from the loss of loved ones decades ago, as well as legal advice on how to pursue restitution.

In her own familys case, Watts said: We want the record straight. We want to know what happened on the night Emmett was kidnapped. And before its too late we want those responsible to be held accountable.

When the FBI revisited the Till murder in 2017, its agents contacted Edwards and other members of the Till family. But since that initial flurry of activity, Edwards said she has heard nothing from investigators, leaving her feeling suspended in limbo.

Speaking from her home in Ocala, Florida, Edwards told the Guardian: Im disappointed that nothing seems to have happened. It feels to me they arent trying to do anything, thats the way I feel.

Deborah Watts of Minneapolis points out a widely seen 1950s photograph of her cousin Emmett Till and his mother Mamie Till-Mobley. Photograph: Rogelio V Solis/AP

Last September, her son Ozzie Edwards wrote to the FBI in Jackson, Mississippi, appealing for information about the revived investigation. My mother and I are anxiously awaiting some kind of news or progress report regarding the FBIs findings. We are much concerned with how the investigation is coming along.

The FBI has yet to reply.

Publicly, the FBI has kept silent about the nature of its latest inquiry. The agency declined to answer Guardian questions, citing justice department policy that would neither confirm nor deny the existence of an investigation.

But as it approaches the end of its work, pressure is mounting. Investigators will know how much is riding on a case of such historic significance.



The FBI investigation was triggered by the publication in 2017 of a book on the murder, The Blood of Emmett Till. It caused a sensation by reporting that Carolyn Bryant had recanted the testimony she had given at the murder trial of her husband and brother-in-law a month after Emmett was killed.

Bryant told the court that the teenager had sexually accosted her inside the store. Describing Emmett as an n-word, she alleged he had propositioned her. How about a date, baby? she claimed he said to her, grabbing her around the waist and telling her he had been with white women before.

Bryants account of Emmetts alleged louche behavior was critical at trial because it spoke to one of the core white supremacist mores of the segregated south. Black men  or even a black boy, barely 14  should on no account show sexual interest in a white woman.

It took the jury just an hour of deliberations to set the brothers free.

Four months later, Roy Bryant and Milam agreed to be interviewed by Look magazine for a $4,000 fee. Confident that they could not be prosecuted twice for the same crime under the double jeopardy rule, they admitted to abducting, beating and murdering Till. Milam said he did it just so everybody can know how me and my folks stand.

Given the key role that Carolyn Bryants lurid account of Emmetts supposed sexual advances played in letting the murderers avoid justice, the revelations in the 2017 book were incendiary. In it, Bryant is quoted by author Timothy Tyson as saying That parts not true, referring to her allegation that the boy had sexually accosted her.

Carolyn Bryants apparent recantation, her admission that she had lied to the court during the only trial ever to take place over the murder, was so significant it sparked the FBIs current investigation. The Guardian has learned that as soon as the FBI began reinvestigating the Till case three years ago, following the publication of Tysons book, the author handed over all his manuscripts and notes on the murder to detectives.

That included a manuscript that Carolyn Bryant had written and had given him for safe keeping. Tyson classifies the writings in his book as an unpublished memoir with the title More Than a Wolf Whistle.

Tyson had agreed with Bryant that her manuscript, together with tape recordings of the interviews she gave the author, would be held at the Southern Historical Collection at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hills Wilson library. The documents and tapes are stored among Tysons wider collection of research materials and as part of the agreement have been placed under a routine archival stipulation that they remain closed to the public until 2036 or until Bryant dies, whichever comes sooner.

Tyson told the Guardian that having deliberated about the matter, he came to the conclusion that the FBIs investigation into such a critical case trumped the archival agreement he had reached with Bryant. He added that her manuscript, which he had correctly but perhaps unwisely termed a memoir, was of little or no value to investigators.

It runs to a mere 30 pages and is not complete. Tyson went as far as to describe the document as flimsy.

To add to the complexity of the FBIs job in revisiting the case, since Tysons book came out the Bryant family has denied that she ever recanted her 1955 testimony. Bryant herself has said nothing more about it in public.

The confusion surrounding the as yet unseen writings of Carolyn Bryant, compounded by the familys denial, has left her precise role in events uncertain to this day. The only person who could definitively set the history books  and the legal record  straight is Bryant herself, and she is maintaining her silence.

The Guardian contacted her through a relative but she declined to comment. The relative, speaking on condition of anonymity, said her health is failing and she shrinks from public attention as tensions still run high over the murder.



In this 3 September 1955 file photo, mourners pass Emmett Tills casket in Chicago. Photograph: AP

On one level, Emmetts brutal murder was just one among more than 4,000 terror lynchings that stained the soul of America from the 1870s until the 1950s. What made it exceptional was the insistence of his mother, Mamie Till-Mobley, that his body be brought back up from Mississippi to Chicago where it would be displayed in an open casket for all the world to see what the sadism of white men had done to her son.

Emmett was abducted to teach him a lesson for having wolf-whistled at Carolyn Bryant. For that insolence, for that violation of the rules of white supremacy, Roy Bryant and Milam took the boy from his bed in the middle of the night, drove him in a pickup truck to Milams shed and tortured him over several hours.

Witnesses passing by said they could hear a young boys frightened voice crying out: Mama, please save me; Please, God, dont do it again.

Later that day, the brothers shot the child above the right ear and threw his body in the river weighed down with a cotton-gin fan.

When Mamie Till-Mobley saw the corpse for the first time, she could not recognize her own boy. His disfigured face, she said, had its right eye lying midway of his chest, his nose broken like someone took a meat chopper to it, and a bullet hole which I could look through and see daylight on the other side.

One hundred days after the murder, Rosa Parks was riding on a city bus in Montgomery, Alabama, when the driver ordered her to move to the segregated black seats at the back. She was about to do as told, but then the image of Emmetts brutalised body came back to her and she refused.

Emmett Till. Rosa Parks. The Montgomery bus boycott. Martin Luther King. History draws a straight line from the lynching of that 14-year-old child to the eruption of the civil rights movement.

And that straight line can be extended to the unfinished business that is the subject of the Justice for Emmett Till campaign today.

.

Thelma Wright Edwards remembers crying until I couldnt cry any more when news reached her outside Chicago of her cousins death.

The two were very close, having spent 10 years under the same roof after their families relocated to Illinois from Mississippi as part of the Great Migration of African Americans to the north. It was to Edwards family home in the tiny hamlet of Money, in the cotton-picking Mississippi delta, that Emmett travelled on vacation that summer of 1955 to stay with her parents, Moses and Elizabeth Wright.

Edwards late brother Simeon, then 12, was asleep in the same bed as Emmett when he was abducted.

The trouble began three days after Emmett arrived in Mississippi. On the afternoon of 24 August 1955, he teamed up with Simeon and another cousin, Wheeler Parker, who had travelled down with him from Chicago.

Together with a few friends they went to hang out at the Bryants Grocery and Meat Market, a general store located in a wooden shack a couple of miles from the Wrights home.

What exactly happened when Emmett Till entered the store and encountered Carolyn Bryant, then 21, minding the counter, has been a matter of conjecture over many years. It is understood to be one of the key questions that the FBI has been grappling with in its reinvestigation.

Wheeler Parker, 80, recently gave a speech at the New Brunswick Theological Seminary in New Jersey attended by the Guardian. He told the audience that he had been in touch with the FBI and was hoping to learn the fruits of its latest efforts, though he declined to discuss details. Parker said he plans to reveal anything he learns in a forthcoming book about his cousins murder, A Few Days Full of Trouble.

Parker recounted his eyewitness recollections of that fateful afternoon. A lot of things have been said about what went on, things that incriminated Emmett, made him out to be a bad boy from Chicago, he said. The truth was more mundane.

Nothing happened. Nothing at all happened inside that store.

It was only when they were back outside in the open air, Parker said, that Emmett did the deed. He did whistle. He whistled outside the store. He gave the wolf whistle. Man, we could have all fainted. In Mississippi, in 1955! We knew hed violated southern mores, that in their eyes hed committed a great crime.

What, if anything, will come of the current FBI investigation remains to be seen. It would be difficult to prosecute Bryant for lying at the trial because the statute of limitations on perjury has long since passed.

The Guardian asked Emmett Tills three cousins to set out what they hoped would arise from the FBI investigation now drawing to a close.

Deborah Watts answered the question as though talking to Carolyn Bryant. You lied, Emmett died. If you were there, and we know you were, then you need to be held accountable.

Wheeler Parker said his priority was for the real Emmett Till to be remembered. He was painted in such a bad light. I want people to know him as he was.

Thelma Wright Edwards said she had no hankering to see Carolyn Bryant put behind bars. Shes old, I dont want her in jail, she said.

But she did have one final desire after so many years of waiting. I do want Miss Bryant to admit she lied. Stand up and tell the truth. We cant move on until we hear it from her mouth.
The G20 secretariat said US$1.9 billion had been donated by countries, philanthropic organizations and the private sector toward an US$8 billion target set by the Global Preparedness Monitoring Board, but more funds were needed.

"Global challenges demand global solutions and this is our time to stand and support the race for a vaccine and other therapeutic measures to combat COVID-19," Saudi G20 Sherpa Fahad Almubarak said in a statement.

Additional funds were needed to pay for emergency response, diagnostics, treatment, and the development, manufacturing, and deployment of necessary vaccines, the statement said.

Saudi Arabia, as the holder of the G20 Presidency, has pledged SAR500 million to fill the gap.

The Global Preparedness Monitoring Board, co-convened by the World Bank and the World Health Organization (WHO), in March urged donors to raise US$8 billion to augment funds already being committed by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.

It said it was critical to fully fund the WHO to coordinate and prioritize support efforts to the most vulnerable countries, develop new diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines, strengthen surveillance and ensure sufficient supplies of protective equipment for health workers.

The United States has long been the biggest overall donor to the WHO, contributing over US$400 million in 2019, roughly 15% of its budget. But US President Donald Trump this month suspended US contributions, saying the international health agency made mistakes that caused so much death as the coronavirus spread across the globe.

The WHO's embattled chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said he 'regrets' Donald Trump's decision to suspend US funding for the agency and called for 'solidarity' in tackling the coronavirus pandemic.
Trinamool Congress (TMC) Parliamentary Party leader in Rajya Sabha and party spokesperson Derek O'Brien on Saturday slammed the Inter-ministerial central team (IMCT), who visited and inspected quarantine centres and coronavirus COVID-19 hotspots in West Bengal, alleging that the team's visit to the state served no purpose.

This came on the heels of the IMCT's letter to the West Bengal chief secretary alleging lack of cooperation from the state government and inadequate security provided during their visits to cities among other issues. The central team also expressed its concern over the Dumurjula quarantine centre in the state.

Taking to the micro-blogging site, Twitter, Derek wrote that the team visited districts with no hotspots and asked for committee already in place. He further accused the team of spreading the political virus, shamelessly and blatantly.

He further described the ICMT as Indias Most Callous Team and I Must Cause Trouble (in Bengal).

IMCT #Bengal visit served no purpose

- Visiting districts with no hotspots

- Asking for committee already in place Real aim is to spread the political virus. Doing it shamelessly. Blatantly.

Take ur pick. IMCT= Indias Most Callous Team IMCT= I Must Cause Trouble(in Bengal)  Citizen Derek | (@derekobrienmp) April 25, 2020

"IMCT Bengal visit served no purpose. Visiting districts with no hotspots. Asking for a committee already in place. The real aim is to spread the political virus. Doing it shamelessly. Blatantly. Take ur pick. IMCT= Indias Most Callous Team. IMCT= I Must Cause Trouble(in Bengal)," he tweeted.

IMCT visit to Bengal, main aim was to spread the political virus. Statement on Video : 1 Min pic.twitter.com/a6JeucET4W  Citizen Derek |   (@derekobrienmp) April 25, 2020

In a letter to Chief Secretary Rajiva Sinha, the inter-ministerial central team (IMCT) led by senior bureaucrat Apurba Chandra, said that the West Bengal government cannot waste their time accompanying the IMCT for the field visit and claimed that "it was in complete violation to the Ministry of Home Affairs letter."

On Friday, the IMCT team inspected a quarantine centre, Sanjiban Hospital and other COVID-19 hotspots in Howrah. The IMCT visited Dumurjala Stadium, a quarantine centre and Sanjiban Hospital and various other red zones in the Howrah district for inspection, after which the team returned to Kolkata.

In its letter, the IMCT said that the Dumurjala quarantine centre, which has a capacity of 118 people, has 80 inmates at present. It said the inmates are being taken for testing after their 7-day stay at the centre. The team claimed that cramped vans are being used to carry the inmates from the quarantine centre to testing faculty and a complete violation of social distancing was found to have taken place during the travel.

It claimed that during their visit to Saikia containment zone, the government 'strictly' enforced lockdown orders, which was not needed. Claiming that health professionals are not part of the surveillance team, it said that the team members would like to meet officers of the local body, district administration and a few residents in the area. It also sought a complete record of the surveillance carried out in containment zones so far.

The team said it has been in Kolkata since April 20 and has written four letters but none have been answered by the government.

It said the state government is expected to provide 'accommodation, transportation, PPE and extend all cooperation for their visits to local areas, production of records as requested', according to the MHA order. It also sought to know from the state government if it will take responsibility for the safety and security of the IMCT if it ventures out on its own. "Whether the BSF accompanying the IMCT on behalf of the government free to take action to ensure safety and security of the IMCT in absence of police support," the letter asked.

It said no senior state official accompanies them on visits and their only expectation is that doctors and officers at the venue should meet and provide information to the team.

Whether it is a fact that a DCP of Bengal police informed Bengal officers at BSF guest house on April 21 that the IMCT cannot leave the campus without the permission of the state government as lockdown is in force and if it leaves it is only permitted to go to the airport, the letter read, seeking to know if there is truth to this statement. It also sought to know if a PPP will be provided to the IMCT if it decided to visit a hospital on its own.

The West Bengal government led by Mamata Banerjee is yet to respond to the letter. According to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the total number of positive COVID-19 cases in West Bengal is 514. Till now, 103 people have either been cured or discharged, while 15 deaths have been reported.
As its leadership changes hands, a Saginaw Valley State University entrepreneurship-supporting program will continue its momentum at a time when the business community needs it most, officials say.

David Bell later this month will retire as SVSU's associate director of entrepreneurship and experiential learning, a role that put him in charge of the university's Dow Entrepreneurship Institute since February 2018. Izabela Szymanska, an SVSU associate professor of management, will serve as Bell's interim replacement.

Funded by the Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation, SVSU's Dow Entrepreneurship Institute stimulates the creation of new business ventures, serves as a resource for research activities aimed at business innovation, and provides internship opportunities with area businesses for students.

Students and faculty will work with the Dow Entrepreneurship Institute to provide operational, marketing, financial and strategic analyses for regional businesses facing challenges after the COVID-19 virus led many companies to temporarily close, said Anthony Bowrin, dean of SVSU's Scott L. Carmona College of Business. The institute also will work with businesses to better understand how the virus impacted technology and consumer-buying behaviors such as an increased demand in product delivery services via online apps.

Bowrin said much of the work will be accomplished by pairing the Dow Entrepreneurship Institute with the offices of other business-focused programs housed in SVSU's business college. Those programs include the Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center-Northeast office; the Small Business Development Center regional office; and the Stevens Center for Family Business.

Because of the momentum Bell helped build at SVSU's Dow Entrepreneurship Institute, the program is in a strong position to provide that support, Bowrin said.

"I appreciate David Bell's contribution to the advancement of the mission of the Dow Entrepreneurship Institute over the past two years as he supported the entrepreneurial endeavors of students, faculty and the wider community," Bowrin said.

Bell previously served as Dow Chemical Co.'s associate commercial director from 2003-15.

Bowrin expressed excitement in the talent presented by Szymanska, who worked with Bell in strengthening the Dow Entrepreneurship Institute in recent years.

"Dr. Szymanska is the lead faculty member for entrepreneurship programs in the Scott L. Carmona College of Business," Bowrin said.

"She has worked closely with David Bell to provide innovative entrepreneurship experiences for students including mentoring several students. I am confident that Dr. Szymanska will consolidate the great gains made by the Dow Entrepreneurship Institute under David's leadership."

Those gains included the promotion of entrepreneurial initiatives among students and faculty, mentoring students developing projects related to entrepreneurship, and developing outreach programs that advance initiatives that benefit local high school students as well as members of the regional community.

The institute offers workshops, contests and external speaker events that give students an inside view of business ownership and management. Through the institute's community connections, students earn the opportunity to work directly with local business leaders while learning from established entrepreneurs.

The institute works closely with educators who teach entrepreneurship classes at SVSU, providing support while supplementing students' coursework by bringing real-world business experience into the classroom.

For more information about the Dow Entrepreneurship Institute, visit www.svsu.edu/entrepreneurshipinstitute.

- Processed by Victoria Ritter, vritter@mdn.net
A traditional Anzac Day service at the Villers-Brettonneux Australian Memorial in France was cancelled on Saturday - so the town's deputy mayor organised a commemoration of his own.

The annual dawn service couldn't go ahead because of the coronavirus lockdown.

But Benoit Decottegnie, the deputy mayor of Villers-Brettonneux, turned up at the memorial just before sunrise and placed flowers at its main monument, before proceeding to pay tribute by playing the trumpet and the French and Australian national anthems.

Decottegnie said authorities were aware of his gesture, adding that while they did not endorse it, they understood that such gestures were likely in parts of France with strong links to Australia.

"Villiers is very, very important for Australians. I know that they are moved by this day and I took this initiative for that reason and I hope that I won't be blamed," he said.

Later in the day, Decottegnie also laid a wreath at another monument in the town centre, honouring Anzac victims who died in France and Belgium.

A small but official Anzac ceremony was also held at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, where Australian troops laid flowers for the victims.

Anzac Day commemorates more than 10,000 soldiers from Australia and New Zealand who were killed during World War I.

(Representative Image)
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The Prominent Civil Rights Advocacy group-: HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) has challenged the federal government to demonstrate beyond the shadows of doubts with facts, figures and names, and show Nigerians the 60 PRISONERS of Nigerian origin that were freed from the Prisons in Tanzania as claimed by the Nigerian Government.

HURIWA recalled that the Nigerian Government stated that it had successfully secured the release of 60 out of the 73 Nigerians imprisoned in Tanzania even as government affirmed that these Nigerians were imprisoned on different charges, says Mr Abdur-Rahman Balogun, Head, Media and Public Relations Unit, Nigeria in Diaspora Commission.

HURIWA recalled that the Commissions spokesman, stated that their repatriation was made possible by the Nigerian ambassador to Tanzania just as in another breathe Mr Balogun who disclosed this through a statement in Abuja on Wednesday, noted that ever before COVID-19 pandemic, the Nigerian Mission had been working on repatriation of Nigerian prisoners in Tanzania.

HURIWA quoted the media as saying that Mr. Balogun said, 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.

HURIWA however accused the Nigerian Government of peddling what may turn out to be mere propaganda for whatever reason because according to the Rights group in a media Statement by the National Coordinator Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko and the National Media Affairs Director Miss Zainab Yusuf; we got an intelligence report from an official of the Nigerian community in Tanzania who has spent cumulatively over eleven years living and working in the East African nation who informed us that till Yesterday Friday there is no evidence that any of the Nigerians incarcerated in the Tanzanian prison has been freed.

"The informant called our attention to the publications in most Nigerian Newspapers claiming that the Chairman of the National Commission in charge of Diaspora affairs Honourable Abike DABIRI has secured through the Ambassador of Nigeria in Tanzania about 60 of the Nigerian prisoners in Tanzania. The source who is one of the leaders of the Nigerian organised community said it was only on Thursday that the Nigerian Embassy in Tanzania asked his officials to forward the names of Nigerians serving time in the Tanzanian prison. The Source told us that although he may not want his name in prints but he is honestly informing us to tell Nigerians that the news of the release of the Nigerian prisoners in Tanzania is not true as nobody has so far being freed since the names are only being compiled."

HURIWA in a statement said it was urging the Nigerian media to demand from the head of the commission on Diaspora affairs Honourable Abike DABIRI to show Nigerians the documentary evidence of the identities of the Nigerians released from the Prisons in Tanzania. HURIWA said it was the constitutional right of Nigerians in line with the FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT of the FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA of 2015 to be informed with backup evidence the identities of the Nigerians who as the government claimed were freed from the Prisons in Tanzania. "There is already a precedent to this demand. Whenever the National Emergency Management Agency fly in Nigerians rescued from enslavement in Libya or whenever the National Anti Human Trafficking Agency NAPTIP brings back our girls from anywhere outside of our shores from sexual exploitation and slavery, these government agencies as a matter of practice in line with the imperative of following the principles of transparency and accountability and openness often show Nigerians video evidence to back up these actions of these key government institutions. "

"HURIWA EXPECTS that the media as the public vanguard and conscience of the nation in line with section 22 of the Nigerian Constitution should task Mrs. Abike DABIRI to show us the empirical data of the prisoners the Nigerian government claimed to have released from the Prisons in Tanzania. Government must be seen following to the letter the best global practices of openness, transparency and accountability. We will no longer allow government officials to bandy figures and seek to confuse gullible NIGERIANS to believe that the government cares about their wellbeing whether in or outside of the Nigerian space when the reality is far from this claims.."
Technavio has been monitoring the automotive diesel filter market and it is poised to grow by USD 367.56 million during 2019-2023, progressing at a CAGR of over 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/20200424005419/en/

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Automotive Diesel Filter 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. Continental AG, Delphi Technologies Plc, DENSO Corp., MAHLE GmbH, and Robert Bosch GmbH are some of the major market participants. The high vulnerability of diesel engine 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.

High vulnerability of diesel engine has been instrumental in driving the growth of the market.

Automotive Diesel Filter Market 2019-2023: Segmentation

Automotive diesel filter market is segmented as below:

Application Passenger Cars Commercial Vehicles

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=IRTNTR31578

Automotive Diesel Filter 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 diesel filter market report covers the following areas:

Automotive Diesel Filter Market Size

Automotive Diesel Filter Market Trends

Automotive Diesel Filter Market Industry Analysis

This study identifies development of diesel filter with a multi-stage filtration process as one of the prime reasons driving the automotive diesel filter market growth during the next few years.

Automotive Diesel Filter Market 2019-2023: Vendor Analysis

We provide a detailed analysis of vendors operating in the automotive diesel filter market, including some of the vendors such as Continental AG, Delphi Technologies Plc, DENSO Corp., MAHLE GmbH, and Robert Bosch GmbH. Backed with competitive intelligence and benchmarking, our research reports on the automotive diesel filter market are designed to provide entry support, customer profile and M&As as well as go-to-market strategy support.

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Automotive Diesel Filter Market 2019-2023: Key Highlights

CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2019-2023

Detailed information on factors that will assist automotive diesel filter market growth during the next five years

Estimation of the automotive diesel filter market size and its contribution to the parent market

Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior

The growth of the automotive diesel filter market

Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors

Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of automotive diesel filter 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

Passenger cars Market size and forecast 2018-2023

Commercial vehicles 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

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

Innovative designs in fuel filters for easier replacement

Increasing preference for environment-friendly fuel filters

Development of diesel filter with multi-stage filtration process

PART 12: VENDOR LANDSCAPE

Overview

Landscape disruption

Competitive scenario

PART 13: VENDOR ANALYSIS

Vendors covered

Vendor classification

Market positioning of vendors

Continental AG

Delphi Technologies Plc

DENSO Corp.

MAHLE GmbH

Robert Bosch GmbH

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/20200424005419/en/

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Britain faces summer holiday misery with attractions shut, a ban on foreign travel and a 45billion black hole in tourism spending.

Millions will be unable to take a break while others are in limbo over whether trips they have booked will go ahead.

Hotels, campsites, B&Bs and holiday parks are shut and many fear summer holidays are effectively cancelled.

The Government was last night accused of causing chaos for families desperate to plan a break and tourism businesses on the brink.

Britain faces summer holiday misery with attractions shut, a ban on foreign travel and a 45billion black hole in tourism spending. Britain's biggest airport, Heathrow, has seen a major fall in passenger numbers since lockdown began

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps came under fire after saying he would not be booking a summer holiday while chief medical officer Chris Whitty warned highly disruptive social distancing controls could run until 2021.

MP Graham Stringer, a former member of the Commons transport committee, said families and tourism needed certainty about when and where we can go on holiday again.

He said: The Government needs a plan.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps came under fire after saying he would not be booking a summer holiday

Tourism lobby group UK Hospitality pleaded for clarity about when holiday businesses could reopen, saying: It is absolutely vital that we save the summer.

And Visit Britain boss Patricia Yates warned some attractions will now not open until next year amid the confusion. She said: Cash flows have completely dried up.

The Foreign Office imposed a ban on all but essential international travel on March 17 but this is now extended indefinitely.

As a result, Gatwick warned yesterday that it could take up to four years for passenger numbers to return to pre-pandemic levels. Britains shutdown announced on March 23 means all hotels, hostels, B&Bs and campsites were closed immediately and there is no indication when they will reopen.

Analysis by Visit Britain predicts a loss of 22.1billion in domestic tourism spending in 2020 compared with last year.

The figures suggest a collapse of foreign visitors will cut tourism spending by up to another 22.3billion in a worst-case scenario.

Fay Jones, who runs a small B&B in Frinton-on-Sea, Essex, predicted the entire season could be a devastating write-off.

It could mean finding another job, she said. Meanwhile, some customers who have made holiday bookings have had problems getting refunds.

Rory Boland, editor of Which? Travel, said: If you had booked a package holiday  where any two parts of the holiday were booked together  the law says you are due a refund within 14 days so dont be fobbed off with credit or the chance to postpone, if this isnt what you want.
Health authorities will review Australia's national medical stockpile after it emerged personal protective equipment (PPE) subject to shortages - including gowns, visors and goggles - were not among items put aside for a crisis.

As medical staff at major hospitals continue to struggle to source PPE, Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy has revealed the national medical stockpile administered by the federal government had only a limited store, confined to surgical, P2 and N95 masks.

Face shields and goggles were not in Australia's national medical stockpile. Credit:Jon Super

"We have not traditionally kept PPE to any great extent. We have very small holdings of those things, just to enable a very early response," Professor Murphy told a Senate inquiry hearing on Thursday.

"Obviously, when we're reviewing the stockpile at the other end of this, we might look and see whether more strategic holdings of those other PPE could be required."
A popular Derry priest who died after contracting Covid-19 in hospital has been laid to rest.

Fr John McNamara (81), who had no underlying health conditions, was admitted to the Ulster Hospital in February for surgery on his back.

He was recovering and had been transferred to Musgrave Park Hospital as part of his recuperation.

But it is believed he contracted the virus there and passed away on Thursday.

Fr John, originally from Scotland, was a member of the Carmelite Order and was well-known and much-loved by thousands of people in Londonderry, where he spent the past 15 years at Iona Retreat Centre (Termonbacca).

He had a particular calling for the sacrament of confession and many came to Termonbacca to receive absolution from him.

Prior at Termonbacca Fr John Grennan paid tribute to the popular monk.

He said: "Fr John loved Derry and loved the people of Derry and was very loved and respected by the people of Derry, especially for his confessional ministry.

"We have been taking so many phone calls from people, many in tears who have been greatly saddened at his passing.

"He was a priest in the outskirts of Glasgow but came to the Carmelite Order in 1990 and moved to Derry in 2005, and although he was 81, he was fit and healthy with no intention of retiring from ministry."

Fr Grennan described Fr John as "the anchor man of the community", adding: "He was someone who loved to chat, he was someone you could always depend on and certainly he wasn't someone who intended to stop his ministry.

"He had no intention of retiring, in fact he was organising a pilgrimage to Lourdes in August, as he did every year, and he would have led this along with another priest from the Order in Dublin.

"Our hope was he would recuperate fully even though it would have been a long road, but he was recovering well and was rehabilitating in Musgrave Hospital, where they noticed something was wrong.

"Not too long after he contracted the virus he passed away, but the chaplain from the hospital was able to give him the last rites, so at least he did get that consolation."

Before the coronavirus control measures came into effect the Catholic Apostolic movement Cursillo based its weekend retreats at Termonbacca, greatly assisted by Fr John.

President of the Derry branch of Cursillo Aoife O'Neill said: "Fr John was small in stature but a real big presence in the lives of so many people. He had such a vibrancy about him, no one would ever have guessed he was the age he was.

"He was always on hand to help during our Cursillo weekends, particularly with confessions, where he was amazing.

"So many people would only go to Fr John for confessions because he would always listen, give good counsel and guidance.

"The suddenness of his death, the sadness of this whole situation and that we won't be able to pay our final respects, is without a doubt adding to people's grief and will add to our sense of loss.

"It is sad for us but we can take great comfort in the knowledge he is one person for sure who is definitely enjoying his Heavenly rewards.

"For a monk who lived a cloistered life, he was very present and always made himself very available and he will be greatly missed, and not just by the people of Derry."
FERNDALE, Mich.Adult distributor Nalpac has reopened and is now shipping vital personal protective equipment or PPE to customers, including masks, gloves and hand sanitizer all made in the USA.



Beginning today, due to the recent change in Michigans "Stay Home, Stay Safe" order, the Nalpac warehouse is now able to open and shipping orders. Nalpac has added a variety of PPE to its inventory which are immediately available while supplies last and as they become available. These include Unisex Face Masks (9013), which help reduce facial touching and are washable and reusable and feature Z FEEL weightless technology for all-day comfort and support. Nalpac is also shipping Hand Sanitizer 2-Liter (9020) which is 80 percent alcohol-based and includes ethanol, glycerin and hydrogen peroxide.



Nalpac is also offering two types of gloves in multiple sizes. Vinyl Gloves (9015, 9016, 9018, 9019), which are powder-free and latex-free, are available in 100-count boxes in sizes small, medium, large and extra-large. Nitrile Gloves (9014), which are also powder-free and latex-free, are also available in 100-count boxes in size large.



"Our main priority is the health of our employees and customers while continuing uninterrupted operations during this time to protect our businesses, said Nalpac CEO Steve Craig. We are now open and ready to support our customers or any business as needed. We have been working tirelessly to secure as much PPE as we can."



Earlier this month, Craig was included in a Washington Post article about the rush to secure desperately needed PPE supplies for the state of Michigan. Craig worked closely with the governor and other state leaders to acquire supplies from Chinese manufacturers. The full article can be found here



For more information, customers may contact their Nalpac sales representative. Prospective Nalpac customers may email [email protected] to get an account set up.

To sign up for the Nalpac email newsletter and take advantage of significant savings, special promotions and online education tools, visit Nalpac's blog at www.nalpac.us.



Nalpac offers more than 22,000 items, including PPE, to retailers at a wholesale price. For more information on Nalpac, please visit www.nalpac.com and follow the company through social media for daily updates on Twitter @NalpacWholesale, on Facebook www.facebook.com/Nalpac, on Instagram @Nalpac and on YouTube www.youtube.com/nalpac.






Lockdown measures are costing Northern Ireland an estimated 1.3bn a month but protecting public health is critical, the First Minister has said.

Speaking during the daily Executive briefing, Arlene Foster said she had been advised that the current restrictions affected 3% of GDP.

She said the devastating impact of the pandemic meant that the public accepted they would be living in a completely different world for some time.

We have been briefed around the economic impact that this may well have on Northern Ireland and every month in lockdown costs around 3% of GDP. That in Northern Ireland terms is around 1.3bn, she said.

Noting that good health and economic wellbeing were interlinked, she said that the Executive were working closely with the hardest hit industries like tourism and retail.

From us on this stage today the public health message is still very critical in terms of flattening that curve, making sure we dont see a resurgence of the curve going into this weekend.

On managing the economic fallout, she said: Im on record as saying the virus is not going to disappear, were going to have to live with the virus for quite some time. Because of that, social distancing will be with us for quite some time. I know weve had some commentary this week about public health versus economic growth. To me the two are interlinked because we need to have an economy to go back to but it is important that public health is at the forefront of everything that we decide.

Much of the focus during the update was on lifting the restrictions on visiting cemeteries.

Deputy First Minister Michelle ONeill said Sinn Fein accepted the need to change their earlier opposition, but also warned it was not yet the time to be speaking about an exit strategy from lockdown. People talk about the new normal but life as we know it has changed and I think the public are very alert to everything thats happening, she said.

The issue of social distancing is going to be a feature of our lives ... for perhaps up to a couple of years if not beyond.

Thats an adjustment in itself in how we conduct ourselves in our everyday lives. As we have information we will give it to the public. As we have information theres nothing that we will hold back on.

The Executive has also agreed to amend the regulations to clarify the circumstances in which a person can leave the house to exercise including reasonable travel to exercise.

For example, a drive to a safe space or facility would be permitted.

However, taking a long drive to get to a beach, or resort where numbers of people may gather is unlikely to be regarded as reasonable, even for exercise.

However Ms ONeill also rejected an earlier suggestion from Secretary of State Brandon Lewis that restrictions across Northern Ireland could be eventually lifted on a county-by-county basis.

Were not in that space yet, she told the Belfast Telegraph.

Weve said well review the regulations and well do that before May 9 but we really, really must take this opportunity to ask people to stay at home and keep doing what you have been doing.

This is the space were now in. We will not ask people to abide by these measures for a minute longer than necessary but our whole approach to this is all about bringing down the curve to stop people from dying.

If people dont adhere to that now, we are in danger of jeopardising the progress that we have made and reversing the trend.

When we get to the point when we can relax these measures, then thats what well do at the appropriate time.

Ms ONeill added that it made sense to work in tandem with the Irish Government to relax restrictions across the island.

Theres no doubt that this pandemic is proceeding in a similar course right across this island, she said.

The numbers speak for themselves, in that our death rate here is probably 50-60% less than what has badly been experienced in Britain.

She continued: We have a memorandum of understanding now [with the Irish Government] and its important that we work together on the issues of modelling, on the issue of restrictions and what they look like across the island, and we work together where we can to the advantage of the people that we look after.

Mrs Foster agreed that co-operation was vital, but said the comparison between Northern Ireland and the Republic was more nuanced due to different data systems.

Last night the PSNI welcomed the latest guidance from the Executive on restrictions.

Assistant Chief Constable Alan Todd said: We welcome todays announcement and the clarity that the change to the regulations and any associated guidance will bring to the public and police officers alike.

Between March 30 and April 24 the PSNI has issued 570 Community Resolution Notices and 358 penalty notices in relation to policing restrictions.
Far South Side Ald. Anthony Beale, 9th, a Lightfoot critic, said he and four other aldermen want to use money from their local ward funds to buy masks from Wilson. The Lightfoot administration would need to approve taking the money out of those accounts for the purchase, since the funds are usually used for local infrastructure projects such as street repaving, Beale said.
BERLIN  An Iraqi man accused of being an Islamic State terrorist has gone on trial in a high court in Frankfurt accused of genocide, human trafficking, and the torture and murder of a 5-year-old Yazidi girl he had held as a slave in Falluja, Iraq.

Opening statements in the trial of the defendant identified by his first name and last initial in accordance with German privacy rules, Taha Al-J., came a year after his German-born wife went on trial over the death of the same girl.

His trial is believed to be the first in the world that carries the charge of genocide in relation to the Yazidis.

This trial is remarkable in many ways, Alexandra Lily Kather, an international law expert, said in a telephone interview. This is the first case going on trial in the world including genocide among the charges with respect to crimes committed against the Yazidi. Ms. Kather co-authored a report on the trials significance for Just Security, a legal blog.
Indonesia recently ordered 14 ScanEagle UAVs and three Bell 412 helicopters from the United States. ScanEagles are sold as a system, with each system including a ground controller and four ScanEagle UAVs. Indonesia apparently bought three systems plus two spare UAVs. Including training and tech support contracts this would cost about $40 million. Indonesia is getting the ScanEagle 2, which entered service in 2015. This version has a more powerful and reliable engine. That meant more power was available for sensors; from the original 60 watts to as much as 100 or (depending on what other equipment is operating) 150 watts. There is also a more user-friendly ground control system and a better onboard navigation system. Aside from a slightly longer fuselage, ScanEagle 2 is the same size as the original. The only operational difference is that the 2.0 version can only do 16 hours per sortie versus 24 for the original. This is OK with nearly all users, who rarely do missions over 16 hours. Many older ScanEagles were upgraded to the 2.0 standard by adding or replacing a few components.

The original ScanEagle weighed 19 kg (40 pounds), had a 3.2 meter (ten foot) wingspan, and used day and night video cameras. On ships, it uses a catapult for launch and is landed via a wing hook that catches a rope hanging from a 16 meter (fifty foot) pole. On land, ScanEagle can land on any flat, solid surface. The ScanEagle can fly as high as 6,100 meters (19,500 feet). ScanEagles cruising speed is 110 kilometers an hour and can operate at least a hundred kilometers from the ground controller. Scan Eagle carries an optical system that is stabilized to keep the cameras focused on an object while the UAV moves.

ScanEagle has been in military service since 2005 and was used by civilian operators for several years before that. There are now over a dozen nations using ScanEagle plus many more commercial users. Indonesia will use them for police and counter-terrorism operations as well as maritime patrol. The first commercial users of ScanEagle were high-seas fishing trawlers that used ScanEagle to find and track schools of fish.

The Bell 412 is an updated version of the Bell 212, which is a civilian version of the 1960s era U.S. Army UH-1 ("Huey") transport helicopter. The 5.3 ton 412s normally carry twelve passengers or three tons of cargo. Max speed is 259 kilometers an hour while cruise speed is 226. Endurance is up to four hours per sortie but is usually closer to two hours when fully loaded or operating at high altitudes in hot weather.

The normally unarmed the 412 can be equipped with machine-guns and rockets. The 412 is more capable and reliable than the UH-1 and earlier Bell models, and will last for decades. Introduced in 1981, nearly a thousand 412s have been built so far. Indonesia was an early customer for the 412 and has over fifty in military service and many more working for commercial firms.

The Bell 412 is not the only American helicopter Indonesia uses. In 2013 Indonesia bought eight AH-64 helicopter gunships. With all the accessories (training, spares, and maintenance equipment), that cost $500 million. This was the largest ever American arms sale to Indonesia. For decades, until 2005, the U.S. refused to sell Indonesia weapons because of accusations that the Indonesian government terrorized its own people. There are still some problems with that (especially in Papua), but not enough to stop this sale or others that began after decades of dictatorship ended in 1998, followed by elections.

With the new government came more Russian arms salesmen, eager to make sales before the Americans returned. Russian arms salesmen had a hard time in the 1990s. After the Cold War ended in 1991 there were many potential buyers who backed away from Russia because throughout the Cold War Russian gear had performed poorly. Now, with the Soviet Union gone there, there were no more incentives like free weapons, very cheap weapons, and great credit terms.

The Russians did the best they could and an improving economy back home enabled better sales terms to be offered. Thus, in 2006, Russia offered a billion dollars in loans so Indonesia could purchase eight Su-30 fighters, two submarines, and four Mi-26 assault helicopters over the next five years. The Russians were now back with their famously low prices, immediate delivery, and, now, credit terms.

The Russian sales came to a halt after 2014 because of economic sanctions imposed after Russia invaded Ukraine. Those sanctions are still in force and were expanded to include barter deals, which Russia was offering to Indonesia to make a sale despite sanctions. That did not work either.

Once the Americans were allowed to sell to Indonesia again it became a lot more difficult for the Russians to make a sale there. Russia persisted. In 2012 Indonesia signed a contract to buy six more Su-30 jet fighters from Russia for $78 million each. This was less than the Russians expected. Indonesia already had ten Su-27s and Su-30s but wanted at least 16 of these modern aircraft so they would have a full squadron. Although expensive, the Russian fighters are modern and looked great. They are also relatively cheap to maintain. This was all part of a plan to switch from American fighters (ten F-16s and 16 F-5s) to Russian Su-27s and 30s. But used F-16s are much cheaper than Su-27s, and public pressure forced the Indonesian politicians to hang on to the F-16s and upgrade some of them. Buying from the U.S. was not popular with corrupt Indonesian officials looking for a cut of each arms purchase. Thats easy to arrange with the Russians but very difficult with the Americans.

Currently, Indonesia is considering buying the F-35 rather than the cheaper, but not by much, F-16V. This is the latest version of the F-16 and many existing F-16 users are upgrading to the V standard. Indonesia has ordered 24 used, but modernized, F-16Cs for $31 million each. The ten older F-16s are difficult to upgrade to the V standard and it is easier, and not much more expensive, to replace the older ones with new F-16Vs.

Indonesian Air force generals opposed the acquisition of the F-16s because they feared this will lead to a reduction in the procurement of new Russian fighters. The generals believed the Russian fighters are a better match for the F-18Es and MiG-29s that neighboring Malaysia is acquiring and the F-35s that Australia is buying. But the F-16s have a proven combat record that the Su-27s and Su-30s lack, and this is something the Russian salesmen cannot change. Then came 2014 and the sanctions. Now the Indonesian Air force generals consider the F-35 a worthy acquisition, if only because Australia already has some.

Indonesia was attracted by the equally excellent combat record of the AH-64s. These will be used to help deal with Islamic terrorism and pirates offshore, two problems that many other nations, including the United States, are concerned about.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Saturday that Tehran was closely following US activities, but would never initiate a conflict in the region.

Rouhanis comments, which come at a time of rising tension between Washington and Tehran, were made during a telephone call to Qatars Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, Iranian state media reported.

The Islamic Republic of Iran follows Americas activities and movements closely, but it will never be the one that starts conflict and tension in the region, Rouhani was quoted as saying during the call, held due to the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he had instructed the US Navy to fire on any Iranian ships that harass it at sea.

Earlier this month, the US military said 11 Revolutionary Guards naval vessels came close to US Navy and Coast Guard ships in the Gulf, calling the moves dangerous and provocative.

Tehran blamed its long-time adversary for the incident.
A Fingal fruit and vegetable company has responded to widespread criticism of its decision to fly in foreign staff from Bulgaria to pick fruit on its farm, saying it was essential that the business had 'adequate staffing on the farm to pick crops quickly as they ripen, or we risk shortages in the market'.

Keelings has faced a backlash over flying workers from Bulgaria in to work on its farm, last week.

The local fruit company, Keelings has acknowledged public concerns over the employment of 189 seasonal workers who flew into Dublin from Bulgaria last week, saying its communication on the issue should have been 'faster and more detailed.'

189 workers arrived to Dublin Airport from Bulgaria last week to carry out a strawberry harvest at the Keelings facility, sparking public controversy over the decision to fly in workers from abroad during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A statement issued by Keelings read: 'As a family business, Keelings acknowledge the concerns of people and fully understand the reasons for these concerns.

'We also acknowledge that our communication to the public should have been both faster & more detailed during this Covid crisis.'

Explaining what took place, the Kelling family said: 'On Monday April 13, 189 seasonal workers flew on a charter flight from Sofia to Dublin.

'All had been health screened by a doctor before they travelled to Sofia airport where they were temperature checked before entry.

'Ryanair and Dublin Airport can confirm that all regulations were adhered to.

'They were taken straight to their housing. In accordance with HSE guidelines, they cannot work for 14 days after their arrival and their movements are restricted.'

The statement continued: 'We will take care of these colleagues as we take care of all of our people, permanent or temporary.

'They will be subject to further medical screening before they start work at Keelings. We will continue to consult with the HSE and other appropriate agencies to ensure both our staff and the communities they live in remain safe.

'Keelings appreciates, acknowledges and unreservedly thanks the public for their concern. We really hope that this statement serves to clarify and reassure.'

According to Keelings, most of its seasonal work over the past 20 years has been carried out by experienced horticultural workers from other EU countries.

Keelings stated that as the COVID-19 pandemic emerged, the company considered both local staff and international staff and made the decision that both would be required to ensure it could continue to supply the Irish market.

The company also stated it wished to assure the public it was following the HSE & HPSC guidelines as they continued to evolve.

Keelings in St Margarets has been growing and packing fruit and vegetables for the Irish market since the 1920s.

The business currently employs around 1,700 people in growing, harvesting, importing & packing fresh produce and in sales, distribution and management.

Deputy Louise O'Reilly TD (SF) expressed concern over the company's actions: 'Concerns have been expressed by many people here in north Dublin, and further afield, in respect of the decision by Keelings to fly seasonal workers into Dublin.'

She said: 'We are looking for clarity from the government about how they intend to handle this situation going forward in the context of current restrictions to protect public health.'
A 1993 clip has emerged of the mother of Vice President Joe Biden's sexual assault accuser speaking to CNN's Larry King about her daughter's alleged assault.

The video appears to back former Biden staffer Tara Reade's claims that she told her mother about the harassment related to her boss 27 years ago.

Reade filed an official criminal complaint against the now presumptive Democratic presidential frontrunner on April 9, accusing Biden of shoving his hand under her skirt and penetrating her with his fingers while they stood in a senate corridor, an accusation he denied.

The latest evidence to emerge shows Reade's mother Jeanette Altimus calling into the Larry King Show in August 1993, the same month that Reade left Biden's staff, and anonymously asking a panel's advice on her daughter's 'problems' with a 'prominent senator'.

There is no mention of sexual assault in the clip.

Scroll down for video

A new clip appears to show Tara Reade's mother Jeanette Altimus calling into Larry King and asking about her 'problems' with a 'prominent senator' in 1993. The clip does not mention sexual assault allegations. Reade filed a formal complaint against the VP this month

Reade posted an image on social media of what she looked like in 1993, the year she alleged Biden sexually assaulted her. A new clip has emerged that appears to back her claims that she told her mother, brother and a friend about the alleged assault when it happened in 1993

VP Joe Biden has vehemently denied Reade's claims she was sexually assaulted

Reade, who was in her 20s at the time of the alleged assault, had previously revealed Altimus called into the show when she told her about the sexual assault claims 27 years ago but was unable to remember the exact date or year of the phone call.

When news of her official complaint against Biden first emerged, Reade said she had told her mother, brother and a friend about the assault at the time. She said her mother urged her to go to the police.

Her brother Collin Moulton and the anonymous friend confirmed this, but Altimus died in 2016.

The new clip was discovered by The Intercept and Reade confirmed that it was her mother's voice on Twitter.

'I remember it being an anonymous call and her saying my daughter was sexually harassed and retaliated against and fired, where can she go for help? I was mortified,' Reade told The Intercept.

The CNN clip does not reference sexual harassment or anyone being fired but features an anonymous woman asking if her daughter should go to the press because of problems with a senator.

The interview featured in a program King aired on August 11, 1993, titled, 'Washington: The Cruelest City on Earth?' and the caller was identified as a woman dialing in from San Luis Obispo, California.

Records show that August 1993 was he last month Reade worked with Biden's office and that Altimus was living in San Luis Obispo County at the time.

The 1993 clip shows an anonymous caller form California speak to Larry King about her daughter's problem with a 'prominent senator'. Reade said it is her mother's voice

The anonymous caller asked the panel whether her daughter should go to the press but they did not offer any advice. Reade had mentioned her mother's call in previous interviews

'I'm wondering what a staffer would do besides go to the press in Washington?' the caller asked.

'My daughter has just left there, after working for a prominent senator, and could not get through with her problems at all, and the only thing she could have done was go to the press, and she chose not to do it out of respect for him.'

The panel did not offer any suggestions or advice to the caller but talked about whether they would leak news on a rival to the press.

Reade responded to the clip on Twitter, identifying the voice as her mother's.

'This is my mom. I miss her so much and her brave support of me,' she wrote.

'I discussed the Larry King call w reporters last year and on Katie Halper publicly. Thank you for posting.

'I miss my mom as she died 4 years ago. Her indignation of how I was treated prompted her to reach out in 1993.

'Thank you to those who found the Larry King episode I told reporters about.

'My mother was so brave and supportive. It has been an emotional day to hear her voice again. How I wish she knew how much I appreciated her love hug your mother if you can.'

Reade confirmed the voice on Larry King was her mother, Jeanette Altimus

Former Biden staffer Tara Reade claims she was sexually assaulted by the Vice President in 1993 when she was in her 20s. She claimed she complained to her superiors in Biden's office but got nowhere. A new clip with appears to show her mother speaking to Larry King after the alleged assault could back Reade's claims that she reported the assault in 1993

Just before filing the complaint on April 9, Reade said in a tweet (pictured) that those who 'silence sexual assault & sexual harassment survivors' are complicit in the alleged abuse, without naming whom she was referring to. Biden has denied the accusations

Tara Reade filed the complaint about the alleged assault with the Washington Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, D.C. on April 9 after going public with her story in March.

She revealed that the statute of limitations on the allegation had passed, but that 'there is justice in just being heard in a dignified way.'

Reade was among the women who came out last year alleging Biden was too handsy but did not make her allegation of sexual assault until speaking with journalist Katie Halper for her 'Katie Halper Show' podcast on March 25.

Reade told Halper that the assault occurred after she was told to deliver a gym bag to the then-senator. Reade said she tracked down Biden on Capitol Hill and he remembered her name.

'And then we were alone. And it was the strangest thing. There was no, like, exchange really, he just had me up against the wall,' she said.

She said she was wearing a work skirt, but no pantyhose.

'He just had me up against the wall and the wall was cold,' she said. 'His hands were on me and underneath my clothes. He went down my skirt and then up inside it and he penetrated me with his fingers. He was kissing me at the same time,' she said.

She said that when she 'pulled back,' Biden 'looked annoyed.'

Reade said Biden said to her, 'Come on man, I heard you liked me.'

'He implied that I had done this,' she told the podcast host.

At first Reade didn't want to mention the other quote that got stuck in her head, but then she told Halper what it was.

'You're nothing to me,' she claimed the senator said to her. 'Nothing.'

Democratic U.S. presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden has not yet responded to the new clip that may be evidence of an alleged sexual assault

Reade said that she had attempted to bring up her concerns about the alleged assault to her superiors in Biden's office but got nowhere, a claim that the new clip of her mother appears to back.

She had previously said that in 1993 Biden, then still a senator from Delaware, touched her several times and made her feel uncomfortable.

Reade also said her duties were cut after she refused to serve drinks at an event. Biden, she claims, had wanted her serving because he liked her legs. The former staffer said she later felt pushed out and left in August 1993 after only nine months.

Biden and his campaign have fiercely denied the claims.

'Women have the right to tell their story, and reporters have an obligation to rigorously vet those claims,' Deputy Campaign Manager and Communications Director Kate Bedingfield said.

'We encourage them to do so, because these accusations are false.

'Vice President Biden has dedicated his public life to changing the culture and the laws around violence against women. He authored and fought for the passage and reauthorization of the landmark Violence Against Women Act. He firmly believes that women have a right to be heard  and heard respectfully,' she told Politico.

'Such claims should also be diligently reviewed by an independent press. What is clear about this claim: it is untrue. This absolutely did not happen.'

The newly discovered clip drew much attention on social media and was shared by the likes of Donald Trump Jr.

'OMG. Even today's media will have a hard time not covering this, but they will try desperately.' he wrote.

'Joe Biden isn't sheltering in place in his basement bunker because of the pandemic, he's hiding from Tara Reade.'

Donald Trump Jr. shared the clip and accused Biden of hiding from the claims

Activist Shaun King claimed the clip was evidence Reade had attempted to report the assault

Some have claimed that Biden's records held in the University of Delaware will hold the truth

'In 1993 the mother of Tara Reade was so disturbed by what her daughter told her @JoeBiden did to her, & the lack of help she said she got from his staff, that she called Larry King to talk about it the week Tara stopped working for him,' said activist Shaun King.

'TARA READE IS TELLING THE TRUTH', tweeted actress and #MeToo advocate Rose McGowan.

Others highlighted that the new clip provides evidence that Reade complained to Biden's office in 1993.

'This is an important piece of additional reporting further bolstering the claims of #TaraReade, and undermining the story that has been told by the Biden campaign that no one EVER complained of harassment in his office,' wrote The Hill reporter Krystal Ball.

'Will @UDelaware release the records??'

The University confirmed the records 'will remain closed to the public until two years after Mr. Biden retires from public life', according to journalist Rich McHugh.
BERLIN (Reuters) - German police wearing riot gear and face masks tussled on Saturday with dozens of protesters demonstrating in central Berlin against the coronavirus lockdown on public life.

Protesters shouted "I want my life back" and held up signs with slogans such as "Protect constitutional rights", "Freedom isn't everything but without freedom, everything is nothing", and "Daddy, what is a kiss?"

Police said on Twitter they had arrested more than 100 people.

Some protesters tried to keep a distance from each other, sitting on the ground and wearing masks, but others clustered together.

Like dozens of countries around the globe, Germany has put in place strict curbs on public activity to slow transmission of COVID-19, imposing its lockdown on March 17.

The protesters handed out newspapers entitled "Democratic Resistance", which said the new coronavirus is an attempt to seize power by spreading fear. The papers quoted 127 doctors from around the world who question the need for strict lockdowns.

Police spokesman Thilo Cablitz said permission had been granted for a newspaper distribution campaign, but the health authorities had not granted permission for a public demonstration.

"During coronavirus times and according to containment regulations, we are obliged to prevent a gathering," Cablitz said, adding 180 police officers were on duty.

Germany's Constitutional Court ruled earlier this month that people have the right to hold protests if they adhere to social distancing rules, after pro-democracy activists brought a case argued that the lockdown breaches freedom of assembly.

On Saturday, some protesters sat peacefully on the ground at a distance from each other, holding white roses in reference to the White Rose resistance movement against the Nazis.

"We are here today ... to stand up for our opinion. For the protection of constitutional rights, freedom, and above all freedom of speech," said a woman holding a rose who gave her name only as Sandra.

Story continues

Germany has the fifth-highest COVID-19 case total behind the United States, Spain, Italy and France. However it has kept fatalities relatively low after early and extensive testing.

Encouraged by lower infection figures, the government allowed smaller stores to re-open on Monday, along with car and bicycle dealers and bookstores, but social distancing rules remain in place until May 3.

The country's confirmed cases increased by 2,055 to 152,438 and the death toll rose by 179 to 5,500, data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases showed on Saturday - a second day of deceleration in both cases and deaths.

(Reporting by Emma Thomasson; Editing by Frances Kerry)
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor G C Murmu's office on Saturday reached out to three Pune-based students, who came to the union territory on a research project and are stuck in Bhaderwah township of Doda district for the past one month due to the nationwide lockdown, a Raj Bhavan spokesperson said.

Nachiket Guttekar, Shamim Kulkarni and Ninad Dattar were about to leave Bhaderwah valley after completing their shoot for a documentary film when the lockdown left them with no choice but to stay back. They ended up as guests in the house of local school teacher, Nazim Malik, at Gatha village.

"A representative of theLieutenant Governorcontacted the students and enquired about their well being. The Lt Governor's office also thanked Malik for taking care of the students from Maharashtra," the spokesperson said.

The trio had reached Bhadarwah on March 15 for shooting of a documentary and was scheduled to board a flight back home from Jammu on March 25. However, when the situation left them stranded, the school teacher's family came forward to help them.

"The situation was scary when the government announced the lockdown. We were in panic because the surface and air traffic was suspended and all hotels were closed. But we were fortunate enough that this family graciously came forward and offered us to stay with them," Guttekar had told PTI on April 18.

Expressing his gratitude to the family, he said, "I think this is the real Kashmiriyat.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The scale and severity of the coronavirus pandemic is a shock to health systems. It is a shock to economies and governments. It is also a shock to the life sciences, which were meant to anticipate a pandemic of this magnitude, but failed to do so. The life sciences in question are virology, epidemiology, biomedicine and pharmacology. But the social, political, and economic life sciences were also unprepared for COVID-19. It will take an in-depth autopsy to see why anyone in the social sciences believed the people in medical sciences when they told us it would only be the pandemic perhaps (Caduff 2015) rather than the pandemic for sureand probably soon. COVID-19 is not only a viral pandemic, it is also a pandemic of epistemic unpreparedness.

How life is valued has become an urgent question (if it hasnt been an urgent question long before). As the social life sciences are reeling from coronashock, how can we theorize the value of life to make sense of the current moment? At its most basic, life is value, and enhancing life means to enhance value. Living means valuing, and what makes peoples lives better is valuable. But what, exactly, improves life? To say that life values living still doesnt answer the question of what it means to improve peoples lives, and on that, of course, rests everything (Graeber 2019: 208). What does it mean to make life better in coronatimes? Lockdowns have been enacted in many countries, with profound consequences. What is the value of lockdowns, are they worth it?

The lockdown has emerged as the signature biopolitical response to coronashock. The rationale of the lockdown is to delay the spread of coronavirus infections. The value of lockdowns is that they buy time. Without lockdowns, hospitals might be overrun by patients and too many lives might be lost before a biomedical treatment can perhaps be found. To date, no vaccine or any other pharmaceutical therapy is available. COVID-19 reduces the scope of biomedicine to acute intensive care: keeping people alive on respirators if the infection takes a bad turn. The only interventions available are about population control. Some of these techniques include contact tracing and testing for acute infections. Other measures control individual movement and behaviors. These include border checks, travel bans (both internal and cross-border), quarantine (at home or in public facilities), physical distancing, closing of workplaces and educational institutions, canceling public events, closing public transport, and wearing face masks (Hale et al. 2020). Any of these measures can be advisory or mandatory. A lockdown is a maximal combination of these measures, with a focus on prohibiting citizens physical movement outside their homes. Lockdowns are investments in population health that come at a huge cost in other areas of life. But what are these costs, and what are these other areas of life?

SARS-CoV-2 was first detected in the city of Wuhan in Chinas Hubei province in December 2019. For several weeks, the Chinese authorities suppressed news reporting about the spread of the new disease. Li Wenliang, a Wuhan doctor who used social media to alert medical colleagues of the disease was forced by the police to retract everything he had said; he died on 7 February with COVID-19 (Buckley & Myers 2020). China officially notified the World Health Organization of the outbreak on 31 December 2019. In early January, WHO issued its first guidance on how to deal with the virus based on experience with SARS and MERS and known modes of transmission of respiratory viruses (WHO 2020). The first case outside China was confirmed in Thailand on 13 January 2020. The first WHO committee meeting on whether COVID-19 should be classified as public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) took place on 22-23 January. A consensus was not formed at the time, but one week later, WHO decided that the outbreak is a PHEIC. On 23 January, the Chinese government imposed a feng cheng (blockade line), first on Wuhan and soon on other Chinese cities. On 11 March, WHO classified the outbreak as a pandemic. On 13 March, the Chinese government partially lifted the lockdown, and ended it officially on 8 April 2020.

Most governments were initially skeptical of lockdowns. Governments asking citizens to stay indoors and avoid meeting others has been used in epidemics many centuries before. But the Wuhan lockdown was unprecedented in its scale, its length, and its administrative rigor. On 23 January, Gauden Galea, the WHO representative in China, said that the Wuhan lockdown is an extreme intervention that needs to be carefully evaluated: The lockdown of 11 million people is unprecedented in public health history, so it is certainly not a recommendation the WHO has made (Reuters 2020a). Nevertheless, beginning from January, many governments started to issue travel warnings and some moved to close air traffic with China. Italy, for example, suspended flights to and from China as early as 31 January (thousands of Chinese tourists then travelled to Italy via Frankfurt). The same day, the US government declared COVID-19 a public health emergency and mandated a 14-day quarantine for passengers who had been to Hubei. In many US states, businesses and schools closed on 15 March. In the UK, a country-wide lockdown started on 23 March. In India, a country-wide lockdown was imposed on 24 March, stopping the movement of its entire population of 1.3 billion people. The measures in India are the strictest in the world (e.g., not even outside physical exercise is allowed). Most governments hesitated to impose lockdowns but felt pressured to act by the exponential spread of the virus. On 6 March, there were over 100,000 confirmed cases worldwide. Cases numbers doubled by 17 March, doubled again by 23 March, and doubled again by 30 March. By 15 April, more than 2 million people had confirmed infections and 140,000 people had died with the virus (Center for Systems Science & Engineering 2020). By late March 2020, what had started as the Wuhan lockdown had turned into the Great Lockdown of the world (International Monetary Fund 2020). Around 3 billion people were (or still are) locked down (World Economic Forum 2020).

Governments in both the US and the UK were reluctant to disrupt their national economies by imposing Wuhan-style lockdowns, but by mid-March the spread of the infection threatened to make hospitals collapse under a tsunami of people needing intensive care. Until early March, the US and UK declared their countries would stay open for business, both denied that COVID-19 was much to worry about, and both failed in preparing their health services for the massive rise of infections. Boris Johnson, referring to the Wuhan lockdown in a speech on 3 February, said that Brexit Britain values freedom: humanity needs some government somewhere that is willing at least to make the case powerfully for freedom of exchange, some country ready to take off its Clark Kent spectacles and leap into the phone booth and emerge with its cloak flowing as the supercharged champion of the right of the populations of the Earth to buy and sell freely among each other (cited in Helm, Graham-Harrison & McKie 2020). Dominic Cummings, the UK prime ministers chief adviser, summarized the initial strategy: protect the economy, and if that means some pensioners die, too bad (cited in Walker 2020). Similar arguments were made in the US (e.g., Katz 2020). Letting the virus run its course while protecting the economy is a typically neoliberal policy response. Free movement and free markets are more important than saving as many lives as possible. Governments are not meant to disrupt the free market for the sake of population health. And yet even the US and the UK governments eventually followed other countries into lockdown, deliberately inducing one of the most severe recessions ever seen (Tooze 2020). Governmental attempts at stalling the health disaster accepted that lockdowns would do unfathomable harm to the economy. The world is staring at the worst recession in a century. Businesses are going bankrupt and people are losing their jobs at catastrophic rates. Even countries that did not impose lockdown measures are experiencing an unprecedented economic shock due to the disruption of supply chains, bans on travel, and trillions of dollars of capital flight.

In India, the socioeconomic fallout of the lockdown is even more severe than in the US and the UK. The lockdown hit Indias large population of daily wage laborers particularly hard. 380 million people in India work in the informal economy. Millions of them are rural-urban migrants. After the lockdown was imposed, hundreds of thousands of migrant laborers started to walk by foot to rural areas, some of them for hundreds of miles. The governments response strongly discriminates along entrenched social divisions; for example, the majority of casual laborers are from lower castes and ethnic minorities. The strict measures imposed in India caused extreme economic hardship, with hunger and much collateral damage to peoples health and wealth. In turn, it remains unclear if the Indian lockdown will protect many people from dying with SARS-CoV-2 in the long run. Public health experts fear the Indian lockdown might cost more lives than it will save: The national lockdown will delay things, but will not reduce the overall numbers greatly in the long-term  this will cause serious economic damage, increase hunger and reduce the population resilience for handling the infection peak (Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics & Policy 2020). Another prediction is that the combined effects of the coronavirus pandemic will throw poverty levels back by 30 years. The global number of people living in poverty could increase by 580 million worldwide (Sumner, Hoy & Ortiz-Juarez 2020). The Indian governments emergency food relief is stymied by bureaucratic hurdles: to access food relief, people must be registered with food welfare schemes or have official documents to show that they are entitled, but the majority of people do not have the required documentation (Reuters 2020b). Put bluntly, COVID-19 kills, but poverty kills as well. Whether lockdowns will save more lives than they destroy is not clear.

In Living Worth: Value and Values in Global Pharmaceutical Markets (Duke UP, in press), I argue that the value of life is negotiated between social actants within contexts of good practice. Building on Espeland & Stevens (1998), I call these valuing processes biocommensurations. In biocommensurations, lively matters are valued toward pragmatic goals. Biocommensurations are processes that draw vitality, health, disease, and healing into comparisons and exchanges with living and non-living entities. These commensurations are carried out by human actants and involve different transactions, either with other humans (as individuals or groups) or with nonhuman entities. Biocommensurations put two or more entities into value comparisons toward a pragmatic decision: Two roads diverged in a wood and I/I took the one less traveled by/And that made all the difference (Frost, The Road not Taken).

Biocommensurations rest on agreements about what good practice looks like. What is valuable and what is not depends on the criteria for value, and these criteria are based on context. In turn, what counts as good practice depends on different degrees of recognition from actants (A and B). What A sees as good practice may differ from what B recognizes as good practice. Recognition can be nuanced by direct mutual recognition between A and B, and wider social recognition of the relation between A and B and of the entities transacted. Trust is a form of recognition that the other will behave in a manner consistent with past behavior. Further, there are different degrees of transparency about what is being valued and who is doing the valuing. Each dimension differs by how routinized commensurations are. This includes different degrees of institutionalization. Each differs by levels of expertise required to perform a convincing valuation. Levels of expertise, routinization and institutionalization are tied to levels of technological elaboration. When life is biocommensurated, the work of experts in institutions, and of the accounting technologies used, varies considerably. Questioning the power of institutional experts doing health metrics is a difficult task, which requires substantial counter-expertise (Adams 2016).

Coronavirus lockdowns reveal extremely conflicted biocommensurations. To begin with, it is not obvious which interventions are being compared to each other. Countries have adopted a host of interventions in various constellations, to various degrees, for different lengths of times and at different points in time. This makes it difficult to compare their relative value. The easiest value comparison would be between comprehensive lockdowns and doing nothing, but all governments have done something, even if it was just asking people to wash their hands. Some countries were able to avoid full lockdowns by a combination of interventions. Hong Kong, for example, managed to avoid a lockdown by using border restrictions, mandatory quarantine, and physical distancing (Cowling et al. 2020). The coronavirus pandemic is a real-time experiment in biopolitical responses. The research design is extremely messy and there is no placebo control group. Nevertheless, value comparisons must be made because so many lives are at stake.

Biocommensurating coronavirus lockdowns shows vastly different levels of certainty and routinization. Value comparisons address the following questions: (1) what makes two possibilities similar? (2) What is the degree of similarity between them? (3) How are these similarities relevant? (4) Why are possibilities similar? (5) To whom are these similarities relevant? (6) What is the pragmatic operation that the value comparison makes possible? In the case of lockdowns, (1) similarity between different policy responses might be established by number of human lives saved. However, it is not clear whose lives are saved, and if these are lives saved in the short term or in the long term. (2) The degree of similarity is determined by number of people saved from dying with SARS-CoV-2 infection. How this number should be assessed, and whether there are not hundreds of other criteria for comparison, is uncertain. (3) The relevance of valuing different interventions is clear: human life and well-being is at stake at a global scale. (4) Why different policy responses might be similiar is not as clear as it may seem. For example, it is certain that close proximity influences how fast the virus spreads, but it is not clear by how much. Further, physical proximity is not the only factor. How infectious SARS-CoV-2 is and which routes of infection are more likely than others is still to be determined. (5) To whom the similarities are relevant is clear: anyone who lives on this planet now, or in the near future, or maybe even the distant future (we dont know). One reason why this pandemic is so extraordinary is that no one alive today can self-isolate from either the virus or the responses to the virus. (6) The pragmatic operation that the comparison should make possible is starting or ending lockdowns and deciding on what forms of movement should be prohibited.

Biocommensurations are context-based negotiations between different actants. Governments lockdowns received a relatively high level of recognition from citizens. Some governments introduced lockdowns almost by popular demand. Countries with high levels of citizens trust in governments appear to be more successful in stemming the spread of the infection (New Zealand, South Korea, and Taiwan are cited as positive examples). Governments show various levels of transparency about how the lockdowns would be enforced and what they are meant to achieve. The US government stands out globally for its lack of transparency: government advice was muddled and President Trump often contradicts his own policies (e.g. when he urged US citizens to liberate themselves from his own administrations lockdown policies). But no government can be fully transparent about the advantages and disadvantages of the lockdowns because no one knows what these measures do. No one knows how to biocommensurate lockdown effects. One of the deepest shocks of the coronacrisis is the absence of expertise, technological elaboration, and routinization among the agencies in charge of pandemic preparedness.

In hindsight, it is also stunning how unprepared the social life sciences were for this pandemic. Before coronashock, versions of Foucauldian biopolitics provided a comfortable frame to describe the work of experts (Caduff 2014; Lakoff 2017). Foucault never doubts that power is grounded in knowledge. The experts are portrayed as competent, methodical, and bureaucratically routinized. Social scientists believed that there were experts anticipating an outbreak such as this, and they believed that these experts had developed a solid grasp of prevention, precaution, preparedness (Keck 2020). If anything, social scientists believed that pandemic experts went too far in their quest for biosecurity. But when the COVID-19 pandemic unfolded and governments scrambled for a response, it became clear that the expertise does not exist. Epidemiologists knew nothing of economic impacts, and macroeconomists knew nothing about viruses. Guidance from the World Health Organization was entirely focused on epidemiological interventions such as contact tracing and testing but had nothing to say about lockdowns and their effects. Institutions such as the World Bank or the International Monetary Fund were also caught out cold by the economic shock of the lockdowns. No one knew how to make informed value comparisons between locking down and not locking down. The criteria do not exist, the institutions do not exist, and the technological infrastructures do not exist. The International Monetary Fund opens its 2020 Report on World Economic Outlook by admitting that none of us had a meaningful sense of what [a pandemic] would look like on the ground and what it would mean for the economy (2020: v). Biocommensurations are most successful when they are routinized and when everyone concerned agrees what should be done. Coronashock revealed that no one knows what a good practice of comparing different possible interventions even looks like. Perhaps lockdowns cannot even be called measures as long as no one knows how to measure what they do.

We still do not know the full scale and severity of COVID-19. The unintended consequences of the lockdown interventions are even less clear (Ecks 2020). The task of anthropologists is to listen to the people we work with and hear how they perceive the consequences of lockdowns. We need to discover with them what the relevant criteria for good comparisons are. The experts failed to describe the criteria for valuing different interventions. Its now time to hear from the people most affected what these criteria should be.

References

Adams, Vincanne, ed. 2016. Metrics: what counts in global health. Durham: Duke University Press.

Buckley, Chris & Steven Lee Myers. 2020. As new coronavirus spread, Chinas old habits delayed fight. The New York Times, February 7, 2020.

Caduff, C. 2014. On the verge of death: visions of biological vulnerability. Annual Review of Anthropology, 43: 105-121.

Caduff, C. 2015. The pandemic perhaps: dramatic events in a public culture of danger. Oakland: University of California Press.

Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics & Policy. 2020. IndiaSIM Model. https://cddep.org/covid-19/india/

Center for Systems Science & Engineering at Johns Hopkins University. 2020. COVID-19 Dashboard. https://www.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/bda7594740fd40299423467b48e9ecf6

Cowling, B. J., et al. 2020. Impact assessment of non-pharmaceutical interventions against coronavirus disease 2019 and influenza in Hong Kong: An observational study. The Lancet Public Health, April 17, 2020, S2468-2667(20)30090-6. https://doi.org/10.1016/

Ecks, S. 2020. Coronashock capitalism: The unintended consequences of radical biopolitics. Medical Anthropology Quarterlyblog, April 6, 2020. http://medanthroquarterly.org/2020/04/06/coronashock-capitalism-the-unintended-consequences-of-radical-biopolitics/

Espeland, W. N. And M. L. Stevens. 1998. Commensuration as a social process. Annual Review of Sociology 241: 313-343.

Graeber, D. 2019. Bullshit jobs: A theory. New York: Simon & Schuster.

Hale, Thomas, et al. 2020. Variation in government responses to COVID-19. Version 4.0. Blavatnik School of Government Working Paper. April 7, 2020. www.bsg.ox.ac.uk/covidtracker

Helm, T., Graham-Harrison, E. & McKie, R. 2020. How did Britain get its coronavirus response so wrong? The Guardian 19 April 2020.

International Monetary Fund. 2020. World economic outlook. Chapter 1, The Great Lockdown. Washington, DC: International Monetary Fund.

Katz, D. 2020. Opinion: Is our fight against coronavirus worse than the disease? The New York Times, March 20, 2020.

Keck, F. 2020. Avian reservoirs: virus hunters and birdwatchers in chinese sentinel posts. Durham: Duke University Press.

Lakoff, A. 2017. Unprepared: global health in a time of emergency. Oakland: University of California Press.

Reuters. 2020a. Wuhan lockdown unprecedented, shows commitment to contain virus: WHO representative in China. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-health-who-idUSKBN1ZM1G9.

Reuters. 2020b. Indias coronavirus relief plan could leave millions without food aid, activists say. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-india-poverty-idUSKCN21S122

Sumner, A., Hoy, C., Ortiz-Juarez, E. 2020. Estimates of the impact of COVID-19 on global poverty. WIDER Working Paper 2020/43. Helsinki: United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research.

Tooze, A. 2020. Coronavirus has shattered the myth that the economy must come first. The Guardian, 20 March 2020.

Walker, P. 2020. No 10 denies claim Dominic Cummings argued to let old people die. The Guardian, 22 March 2020.

World Economic Forum. 2020. Nearly 3 billion people around the globe under COVID-19 lockdowns. https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/03/todays-coronavirus-updates/.

World Health Organization. 2020. WHO timeline COVID-19. https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/08-04-2020-who-timelinecovid-19.

Stefan Ecks co-founded Edinburgh Universitys Medical Anthropology programme. He teaches social anthropology and directs PG teaching in the School of Social & Political Sciences. He conducted ethnographic fieldwork in India, Nepal, Myanmar, and the UK. Recent work explores value in global pharmaceutical markets, changing ideas of mental health in South Asia, multimorbidity, poverty, and access to health. Publications include Eating Drugs: Psychopharmaceutical Pluralism in India (New York University Press, 2013) and Living Worth: Value and Values in Global Pharmaceutical Markets (Duke University Press, forthcoming), as well as many journal articles on the intersections between health and economics.

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The air at Eala Bhan and Hooked in Sligo town is usually filled with conversation and laughter, as families and friends mingle and enjoy themselves in the midst of the comfortable surroundings by the banks of the Garavogue.

Now, the only sound that is to be heard is that of the fridges humming in an empty restaurant.

This is the stark, unfortunate reality for many business owners in the hospitality sector in Sligo and beyond as the spread of the coronavirus decimates the industry - and with little indication of an end to the restrictions currently in place, it is a challenging time for proprietors of premises right across Ireland.

Given that the local economy in Sligo relies so heavily on visitors to the north west all year round, it is a particularly anxious time for those with restaurants, such as Anthony Gray, proprietor of the aforementioned Eala Bhan and Hooked restaurants.

"It's just a case of taking it day by day, every day," Anthony told The Sligo Champion.

"It's not easy. There's nothing we can do, and you'd be worried for what the future holds."

With the doors shut on his premises, the work for Anthony has shifted from taking bookings to dealing with cancellations on a daily basis.

The arrival of Easter would ordinarily signal the start of the height of the tourist season, but this year the town and county will be bereft of visitors. It could be the case that 2020 passes without any tourists visiting the county, Anthony believes.

"I don't think we'll see a tourist this year. For most, this year is completely gone and in my opinion we won't see any tourists in Sligo this year. Maybe next year but we don't even know that.

"There is going to be a global recession, it's unchartered waters. It will be a deep recession, and we're all going to be in the same boat, but no one caused this and its no ones fault."

Through past involvement with the Restaurants Association of Ireland - of which he is a former President - and at a local level with innovative initiatives such as the Sligo Food Trail, Anthony is keenly aware of the importance of the food and drink industry to Sligo.

The difficulties for businesses in the hospitality sector may also continue beyond the issue of just reopening, with social distancing likely to curb the amount of customers they can serve.

While an easing of restrictions would allow restaurants and pubs to reopen, it is likely that social distancing measures will remain in place for a significant length of time.

These measures - while absolutely necessary - will severely limit the amount of people allowed in a premises at a given time, and therefore reduce the amount of income they can generate on a day-to-day basis.

"We've publicised the north west and Sligo very well," he says.

"We have to hope that people will start to travel when this passes. But then there's also the social distancing.

"If that is going to be in place, it would be the case that if a business that does 150 covers on a Saturday night would have to put in measures for social distancing, and they might be down to 60 covers on a Saturday night.

"And, on 60, it'd be hard to survive when you think about rates, electricity, gas. So the social distancing would also be a worry."

The financial hit taken by restaurants will be significant. In the case of his businesses, Anthony is facing the widespread cancellation of all bookings, including weddings and groups of tourists.

"This time of the year is also busy with communion and confirmation parties for large family gatherings, but they too have been put off.

To help combat the inevitable drop in income, there have been calls from a number of sources nationwide for the government to introduce a wide-ranging set of measures to help the food and drink industry bounce back from the crisis.

Anthony is in no doubt as to where the government's efforts should start.

"I hope the government take on the insurance companies," he says.

"They [insurance companies] won't pay out on business interruption cover. They just won't pay out.

"We pay insurance like everyone else, the same way we pay insurance for a fire or anything else, but the insurance companies have just gone to ground. They had huge profits last year, and they will have huge profits again next year."

Similarly, Anthony believes action is needed to address the uncertainty surrounding the payment of rates.

The government, in consultation with local authorities, has facilitated a plan whereby businesses most affected by the crisis can defer their rates.

"They are saying defer it, defer it. That's fine now, but at some stage they will come looking for it. In England, they've stopped all utilities bills and there's a rent or rate freeze - no commercial rates. So far in Ireland there has been nothing."

Supports from the government are absolutely necessary, Anthony outlines, for the basic survival of businesses all around the country.

There remains a real and substantial possibility that many businesses from all sectors of industry will not reopen their doors, even when the immediate threat of coronavirus has passed.

"I hope the government come out with a package for small businesses across the board. Small businesses are the back bone of the economy.

"We have no working capital - we're at the bare bones. You have to remember the hospitality industry had a 50pc increase in VAT in the middle of last year, and some businesses nearly went to the wall.

"The first thing that is affected is tourism. We're a coastal town that survives on tourists. They [the government] need to bail out everybody."

Though the immediate outlook appears bleak, Anthony does retain an optimistic view that the Irish economy will revive itself after the Covid-19 emergency has passed and things begin to regain some semblance of normality - however long that may take, however, remains unclear.

"These are worrying times. I've seen where England's economy is going to be hit by 35pc, and we all know if England sneezes Ireland gets a cold.

"But, you have to be positive. The economy will kick back."

Meanwhile, Michael Yates, Chair of the Sligo, Leitrim and Roscommon branch of the Irish Hotels Federation has called for a number of measures to be implemented to help the sector.

Local Authority rates and water charges: to be waived for a minimum period of 12 months.

These include: measures to assist with cash flow for businesses facing short term problems, including interest free loans and a minimum 12-month deferment on Senior debt (both Capital and Interest); tourism VAT rates to be reduced to zero for a minimum of 12 months and until the industry has recovered, then restored to 9% on a permanent basis. Employers PRSI to be reduced to 0.5% for a minimum of 12 months and until the industry has recovered; business interruption grants to help businesses survive and reopen; Supports for seasonal workers in tourism who do not currently qualify for Covid-19 related payments.

Mr Yates added: At present most of our industry nationally is closed. We are seeking an urgent response to ensure that hotel and guesthouse properties are preserved and ready to scale up when the Covid-19 related restrictions are lifted. Tourism and hospitality businesses are now working to secure the necessary funds to survive and restart.

That process involves making predictions around the period of closure and the length of time it will take for various categories of revenue to recover. Government controlled costs such as local authority rates, VAT and employers PRSI are having an enormously negative impact on viability scenarios during the recovery period.
The global coronavirus death toll has now reached the grim milestone of 200,000, with 2.8million confirmed infections.

John Hopkins University released the figures as some countries began taking their first steps towards removing their lockdown restrictions.

The US have started loosening their lockdown measures in Georgia, Oklahoma and Alaska to help ease the economic damage inflicted on businesses despite the US death toll passing 50,000.

State governors allowed salons, spas and barbershops to reopen, while Alaska allowed restaurants to resume dine-in service and retail shops and other businesses to open their doors.

During a White House press briefing on Friday, President Donald Trump asked people to continue social distancing and use face masks.

The global coronavirus death toll has now reached the grim milestone of 200,000, with 2.8million confirmed infections, according to figures released by John Hopkins University. Pictured: Patients in an ICU at the Ramon y Cajal hospital in Madrid, Spain

Despite sounding optimistic about the American economy, Trump signed a $484billion (391 billion) bill to aid employers and hospitals under stress from the pandemic.

Over the past five weeks, roughly 26 million people have filed for jobless aid in America.

Trump also said his comments suggesting people can inject disinfectant to fight Covid-19 were an attempt at sarcasm.

In Europe, Norway extended its ban on events until at least September 1 but Belgium have outlined plans to exit their lockdown.

The US have started loosening their lockdown measures in Georgia, Oklahoma and Alaska to help ease the economic damage inflicted on businesses despite the US death toll passing 50,000. Pictured: Patients at University of Washington Medical Center, Montlake, WA

It starts on May 4 with the resumption of non-essential treatment in hospitals and the reopening of textile and sewing shops to enable people to have face masks.

This will be followed on June 8 by bars and restaurants being reopened.

Belgian prime minister Sophie Wilmes warned though that 'nothing is set in stone'.

Spain will allow children outside to play on Sunday after 44 days but will not be allowed to play with other children.

Italy has said that free protective masks will be distributed to nursing homes, police, public officials and transport workers so that the bulk of their workforce are prepared to restart on May 4.

People attend a funeral at a mass grave at the Nossa Senhora Aparecida cemetery in Manaus, Brazil. Workers have been burying 100 bodies a day

On Hart Island, New York City, workers in PPE were seen digging large trenches for mass graves near to abandoned buildings after the city's coroner services became overwhelmed by the pandemic

Funeral home workers have been working since the lockdown though and Pope Francis asked people to pray for them: 'What they do is so heavy and sad. They really feel the pain of this pandemic.'

The lockdown in France is expected to be lifted on May 11 with the health minister announcing plans to increase testing to contain the virus if it flares up again.

Brazil is close to becoming one of the world's latest pandemic hotspots.

Medical officials in Rio de Janeiro and four other major cities warned that their hospital system is on the verge of collapse or already overwhelmed.

Hundreds of Americans have protested against the lockdown in states including Madison, Wisconsin (pictured) after being inspired by Donald Trump's rhetoric

In Manaus, the biggest city in the Amazon, officials said a cemetery has been forced to dig mass graves because there have been so many deaths. Workers have been burying 100 corpses a day - triple the pre-virus average.

And in Asia India, easing restrictions meant reopening local stores that many of the country's 1.3 billion people rely on for everything from cold drinks to mobile phone data cards.

However, the loosening did not apply to hundreds of quarantined towns and other places hit hardest by the outbreak that has killed at least 775 people in the country.

Shopping malls also remain closed nationwide.

Last week, India also allowed manufacturing and farming to resume in rural areas to ease the economic plight of millions of daily wage-earners left jobless by the lockdown imposed on March 24.

India's restrictions have allowed people out of their homes only to buy food, medicine or other essentials.

Yesterday Britain announced it had approved a trial into coronavirus plasma treatment which involves harvesting plasma from the blood of recovered coronavirus patients

Elsewhere in Asia, authorities reported no new deaths on Saturday for the 10th straight day in China, where the virus originated.

South Korea reported just 10 fresh cases, the eighth day in a row its daily total came below 20. There were no new deaths for the second straight day.

In Sri Lanka, however, the lockdown was tightened, not eased, confirming a pattern of one-step-forward, one-step-back also seen elsewhere in the pandemic, as authorities juggle public health against the health of shut-down economies.

Sri Lanka had partially lifted a month-long curfew during daytime hours in more than two thirds of the country.

However, it reimposed a 24-hour lockdown countrywide after a surge of 46 new infections on Friday, the highest increase in a day on the Indian Ocean island. The new curfew remains in effect until Monday.

Three worshippers eat their Iftar meals inside almost empty Juma Masjid in Ahmedabad, India on the first day of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan while the nationwide lockdown remains in place
LINCOLN  We are actively recruiting registered voters interested in serving as poll workers, stated Secretary of State Bob Evnen. Conducting fair and impartial elections that are well organized and professionally managed would be impossible without the thousands of dedicated poll workers who serve on Election Day.

Poll workers are a paid position. To be a poll worker you must be 16 years old and if 18 years old or older, must be a registered voter in the county.

Service clubs and other volunteer organizations are able to contract with a county election office, to be paid directly for their volunteers time, and can use the funds as they wish for their charitable projects. Poll worker pay will not reduce unemployment benefits for those who are unemployed. Virtual training will be available online or on television. Every polling site will receive kits that include:

- At least two N95 masks per poll worker

- 25 pairs of gloves

- 540 ml bottle of hand sanitizer

- A canister of disinfecting wipes

- Individual black pens for each voter to keep
,



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As Californians dream of a return to normalcy, tens of thousands will have to be swabbed by armies of coronavirus testers before that can happen.

Now that Gov. Gavin Newsom has called for 60,000 to 80,000 diagnostic tests a day as a condition for reopening the economy  which amounts to 420,000 tests a week, and 1.8 million a month  heres what will be in store in the coming weeks if the still-vague plan is executed:

Nurses, doctors, nurse practitioners and physician assistants wearing masks, face shields, gloves and gowns will stick a 5-inch metal-and-plastic swab down the throats and into the nostrils of thousands of people at hundreds of drive-through testing sites, hospitals, nursing homes, homeless shelters and jails. Every swab will go into a small tube of liquid to preserve the specimen. Every tube will enter a plastic biohazard bag with the patients name. Then dozens of bags  in chilled coolers  will be sent to one of 22 labs across the state, where lab workers will load them into machines that will determine if viral material is present.

The whole process, including returning the results to medical office they came from, will take hours or days, depending on the lab.

This public health production line is already happening every day across the state  but only at a rate of about 16,000 tests a day.

Thats far too few daily tests for public health officials to understand where the virus is and whether most people can safely resume human contact, say the Harvard researchers whose calculations are the basis for the 60,000-test threshold Newsom announced last Wednesday.

The researchers determined that nationally, the U.S. will need to conduct at least 152 tests for every 100,000 people every day.

In California, thats at least 60,000 tests a day, and hundreds of thousands more each week. Getting there will require labs and public health agencies to regularly secure large shipments of swabs, test kits and other materials. In some cases, labs may have to start using machines that can run many more specimens at once. In other cases, they may have to hire more staff to help perform the tests.

Jessica Christian/The Chronicle

This is not like we are trying to win the lottery  these are achievable goals, said Omai Garner, director of clinical microbiology in the UCLA Health System. But everything will have to go right.

On April 19, the state relaxed its testing guidelines to allow some asymptomatic people to be tested, in addition to people with symptoms of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.

Yet, state officials have offered no detailed strategy beyond saying they are increasing testing for high-priority people and redistributing supplies to labs that can process the most tests. That means the tests wont be uniformly spread across the state, but done in clusters where the most urgent needs arise: in nursing homes and other places where people live in groups.

State officials said they will also seek more suppliers of swabs and other critical testing equipment, as shortages have hampered efforts to test more people.

Ideally, everyone with symptoms will soon get tested, which today isnt happening. Those sick enough to be hospitalized will get results the fastest  within hours or even minutes, using on-site lab equipment. Many may soon be able to use new at-home tests authorized last week by the FDA.

Its also possible that thousands of people without symptoms will also get tested and retested, possibly as often as every three days initially. Thats because it takes 3.5 days to test positive after being infected, experts said. This group will probably include health care workers, first responders and employees at nursing homes and homeless shelters, who are at higher risk of exposure. Others may include workers doing essential jobs  from grocers to plumbers  who havent been sheltering in place with the rest of the state.

Bay Area counties also have yet to coalesce around a single, concrete testing strategy, although some counties are starting to devise local strategies. That lack of clarity has left some local lawmakers and residents frustrated.

We need more openness about how we are going to increase testing, said Matt Haney, a San Francisco supervisor who has called for more testing of vulnerable residents, including homeless people, regardless of whether they have symptoms. I dont think our county health department has offered a clear enough plan, or been transparent, about our testing strategy moving forward.

Last week, San Franciscos public health officer, Dr. Tomas Aragon, spoke to the supervisors in broad terms about the countys approach. He said strike teams will visit facilities to test residents and workers, including those without symptoms who have been in close contact with people who have tested positive.

Jessica Christian / The Chronicle

San Francisco is testing about 500 people a day and hopes to get to 3,400 a day, or 80% of the citys capacity of 4,300 tests a day.

So stay tuned, Aragon said. You'll see changes as testing becomes more available and as our strategy becomes more liberal in terms of testing.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

Other public health officers in the Bay Area have cautioned against defining testing goals before knowing whether they will be able to have enough staff or supplies to get there.

Were not at a point where we can say, If we do X amount of testing, then the county can open up again for business, said Contra Costa County health officer Dr. Chris Farnitano. What we can say is that we want to do more testing than were doing now.

Contra Costa County is doing 200 to 400 tests a day and would like to get close to 1,500 tests a day  but local labs may not have enough staff to handle that volume, Farnitano said.

Nevertheless, throughout much of the Bay Area, the foundation of the testing infrastructure needed to meet the governors goals is falling into place. What started as a handful of testing sites in March has grown into dozens. With each passing day, sites are expanding the pool of people who can get tested. They are loosening restrictions  such as requiring a doctors order and limiting patients to those with severe symptoms  that previously prevented many sick people from getting a test.

Yalonda M. James / The Chronicle

Far and away the most important thing we can do is screening of staff going into (assisted living) facilities, Dr. Sara Cody, Santa Clara Countys health officer, said during a Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday. People can have no symptoms but still be infectious and putting others at risk. The most important thing we can do is regular screening of health care workers and staff.

Testing for the homeless  another highly vulnerable group  is also expanding.

Stanford Health Care announced Thursday that starting Monday, they will host a testing site for homeless people and others at the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton.

LifeLong Medical Care, a Berkeley-based network of community clinics that serves poor and uninsured East Bay residents, recently started testing some homeless people without symptoms before moving them to hotels  part of an effort by Alameda Countys Health Care for the Homeless program.

San Francisco Chronicle staff writer Erin Allday contributed to this report.

Catherine Ho and Cynthia Dizikes are a San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: cho@sfchronicle.com, cdizikes@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Cat_Ho, @cdizikes
What began as a record-breaking crowdsourced campaign in 2016 has evolved into a highly successful multitiered middle grade publishing brand. From the independently published Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls to the launch of a podcast and a line of bags and apparel, Rebel Girls endures in its mission to playfully celebrate high-achieving women and to motivate young readers. During the Covid-19 lockdowns, Rebel Girls is launching a new initiative for kids and parents at home. BookLife caught up with Rebel Girls founder and CEO Elena Favilli, who, along with coauthor Francesca Cavallo, was named a 2018 PW Star Watch Superstar.

Its easy to forget that the series began as a crowdsourced project. Can you talk a bit about how you first conceived of the book series and what inspired you to independently publish?

As a kid, I read the Brothers Grimm fairy tales every night before bed. But, growing up, I became more aware of a gender disparity in literature, specifically in childrens books. So I decided to move forward with writing a book about women throughout history, filling the gap. Publishing independently felt like the most honorable move. Working independently also gave me and my coauthor, Francesca Cavallo, more control over the writing style, the illustrations, and the staff. Almost everybody involved in the books production was a woman, and were still a majority-female company.

The illustrations in the Rebel Girls books are such an essential part of the stories they tell. How did you team up with your illustrators?

The portraits in the books were created by a number of diverse illustrators from all over the world. Every womans story is unique, and its clearly reflected in the variety of illustration styles. Our illustrators are all women, and most of them were discovered through Instagram. We ask that each of our illustrators feel connected to the woman whose portrait they draw.

From your perspective, was the brands rising success a whirlwind experience, or did you feel it was a long time coming?

The brands rising success was absolutely a whirlwind experience. Even with all of the support in the world, one can never truly know how a Kickstarter campaign will play out. That being said, I do think that demand for a book like Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls had been rumbling for some time. The timing was perfect to introduce a new generation of young girls to 100 extraordinary women.

The Rebel Girls books seem to hit a sweet spot, in that they interest children and adults alike. How do you achieve this balance between kid and parent appeal?

The women we write about have fascinating lives, so its natural that both parents and kids find the books appealing. We dont sugarcoat the tough times that some of these women have faced, but we do tell each story in a way that is relatable for children. Their stories are real, but theyre also inspiring.

Tell me about the new Rebel Girls at Home campaign.

During this difficult time, parents with young kids are cooped up at home, wondering how they can keep their children entertained and limit screen time. So Rebel Girls created a page directing parents to a multitude of free educational resources. Well be offering all of the activities from our chapter book series for download, as well as the entirety of our journal, I Am a Rebel Girl: A Journal to Start Revolutions. Lastly, readers can listen to our podcast, Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls, so that episodes are listed in historical order on Spotify. Perfect history lesson at home!

Whats next for Rebel Girls?

Right now, were working on the third anthology of our original series, titled Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls: 100 Immigrant Women Who Changed the World. Im excited to introduce our readers to a remarkable group of women who have changed the world. We hope that young readers will finish the book with the feeling that anything is possible, no matter the circumstances.
Weve been watching Jim Bob and Michelle Duggars family for years thanks to TLCs 19 Kids and Counting and Counting On. But now, its Jill Duggar whos taking the spotlight. Jill and her husband, Derick Dillard, have two children, Israel and Samuel  and they share their lives via social media. But Dericks been exposing a ton of unsavory truths about the Duggars and TLC. And now, all eyes are on Jill to see how far shell step away from her famous family.

So far, Jills remained mum about all the tea her husband is spilling. But shes showing plenty of subtle signs that shes taking her life into her own hands and making autonomous decisions. And her post about impulsively purchasing a tree during coronavirus (COVID-19) is proving to her followers that shes growing and learning as she goes.

Jill Duggars husband, Derick Dillard, keeps speaking out against Jills family

AJ Calloway interviews Jill Duggar Dillard and husband Derick Dillard during their visit to Extra at their New York studios | D Dipasupil/Getty Images for Extra

In December 2019, Derick gave one of his Instagram followers a ton of intel regarding where he and Jill stand with the family. The follower asked if Jill and Derick are ever part of Duggar family events or holidays anymore. And Derick said Jill needs permission from Jim Bob before going over to the big family home.

Jill even had to ask JB permission to go over to the house to help her sister when she was in labor because her sister wanted her help, but Jill couldnt provide the assistance until we got it cleared with JB, Derick noted.

Dericks claims didnt end there, either. He also spoke with YouTuber Without a Crystal Ball about his time on the Duggar TLC programs and where he stands with the Duggars now. Derick claimed the network threatened to hit him and Jill with a lawsuit if they walked away from the show. And he also stated hes in the process of writing a book.

Jill recently posted a photo of herself impulsively buying a tree

Jills been keeping her followers apprised with how shes dealing with coronavirus. From going from store to store in search of toilet paper to celebrating Israels birthday following social distancing protocol, Jills making it clear that shes taking the guidelines seriously. And on April 21, she posted a photo of her wearing a mask while driving with a tree in the passenger seat.

Got out yesterday to grab a few things BY MYSELF for the first time since this whole #coronaviruspandemic thing and came home with this tree hanging out my window, she captioned her post. I dont like to think of myself as an emotional purchaser, but I have to say there was something therapeutic & satisfying about getting a tree.

Her followers think shes showing a lot of personal growth

Considering Jill grew up with the motto, buy used and save the difference, purchasing a tree out of nowhere isnt something shed ever be allowed to do while living with Jim Bob and Michelle. And her post also shows her independent nature, as she left the home without her husband or kids in tow and seemingly made a decision about the tree without any guidance from others in her household.

Jills followers noticed this big step in her journey, too. While theyve been keeping up with her saga since Derick exposed the Duggar family, they think this post really shows how shes growing.

I am really weirdly personally proud of her for this tree and this post, one Reddit user commented. Its eloquent for a Duggar, its not loaded with Fundie-isms, shes spread out the text appropriately, shes wearing a mask, she bought something because she wanted it and recognized its soothing effect like, way to go, Jill!

I looked at the post, and was just I have nothing to snark about! Its been baby steps, but Im also oddly proud of this woman Ive never met! another wrote.

This caption seems more sophisticated than the usual Duggar-speak, another Reddit user added. Not a sweet season of life the be found. That makes me think she has been doing some reading and/or therapy work.

Were looking forward to reading even more about Jills journey as she continues to take steps forward into a life of her own!

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A human rights student-activist who has been singled out for criticism by Beijing's patriotic media said his case risks creating a ''chilling effect'' on free expression within Australia.

The Global Times published an article contending that Australian students support the expulsion of Drew Pavlou, who is facing 11 allegations of misconduct at the University of Queensland for criticising the university's strong ties with Beijing.

University of Queensland student Drew Pavlou is facing 11 allegations of misconduct. Credit:Attila Csaszar

''Im 20 years old and a nuclear-armed superpower has officially condemned me,'' said Pavlou, a UQ student, after Global Times, a daily newspaper closely linked to the Communist Party of China, published the article calling him an ''anti-China rioter''.

The article in China's media followed complaints about his protest activities and comments on social media. The university has alleged Pavlou's activities contravened integrity and harassment policies in place as well as the student charter.
The California Horse Racing Board conducted a meeting by teleconference on Wednesday, April 22.

The public participated by dialing into the teleconference and/or listening through the audio webcast link on the CHRB website. Dr. Gregory Ferraro chaired the meeting, joined by Vice Chair Oscar Gonzales and Commissioners Dennis Alfieri, Damascus Castellanos, Wendy Mitchell, and Alex Solis.

The audio of this entire Board meeting is available on the CHRB Website (www.chrb.ca.gov) under the Webcast link. In brief:

Newly appointed Executive Director Scott Chaney said in his opening remarks, Thank you Chairman Ferraro and thank you to the entire Board for the confidence you have placed in me as to my appointment. I knew this would be a challenging job, and the last six weeks (during the COVID-19 health crisis) even more so. I will do my best to validate your trust.

The Board approved the license application for the Los Alamitos Horse Racing Association (LAHRA) to conduct a thoroughbred meet at Los Alamitos that will open June 26 and conclude July 6 (six programs). This daytime meet will run concurrently with the ongoing night quarter-horse meet at Los Alamitos.

The Board approved an agreement between the Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC) and LAHRA authorizing the racing secretary to establish conditions for races. The agreement prohibits anti-bleeding medication (Lasix) in two-year-olds, limits Lasix to 250 cc, prohibits any intra-articular medication within 14 days of a race, and extends that prohibition to 30 days for fetlock injections, both metacarpophalangeal and metatarsophalangeal joints. The Board approved a similar agreement between TOC and the California Authority of Racing Fairs.

The Board put over until its May meeting consideration of the license application for an Alameda County Fair meeting in Pleasanton that is scheduled to open June 19, subject to authorization by county health officials. Vice Chair Gonzales will be meeting (teleconferencing) with Northern California stakeholders to discuss date-allocation issues and other matters pertaining to this application.

The Board partially suspended fingerprinting requirements for temporary occupational licenses by extending from 45 calendar days to 120 calendar days the window in which those with a temporary occupational license must comply with fingerprinting requirements. This extension is necessary due to the current closure of CHRB licensing offices due to the States efforts to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. (See advisories in English and Spanish.)

The Watch and Wager (W&W) harness meet at Cal Expo ended abruptly April 1 by order of Sacramento County health authorities due to COVID-19 concerns. This means W&W still has carryover funds from Pick 5 and Pick 6 pools. The Board authorized a mandatory payout date for those funds on the final day of W&Ws next meet, expected to conclude December 19, 2020. In the meantime, those funds will be kept in interest-earning accounts, and the interest will be included in those distributions.

The Board approved for 45-day public notice a proposed regulatory amendment stipulating that CHRB Official Veterinarians have authority and jurisdiction to directly supervise Racing Veterinarians hired by the racing associations.

The Board approved a new rule requiring trainers to submit to Official or Racing Veterinarians the previous 30-day veterinary treatment records of horses shipping into California racing and training facilities. Dr. Rick Arthur, the CHRB equine medical director, explained that the new requirement will bring ship-ins on par with the strict regulations imposed on horses already on the grounds.
Loaves & Fishes volunteer Noah Ip, of Naperville, loads boxes and bags of food Thursday into the back of a truck at the Naperville food bank. The agency has seen an increase in the number of people needing assistance in the last few weeks. (Suzanne Baker / Naperville Sun)
FRESNO, Calif. - A man who said he was fed up with racism against black people was convicted of killing four white men in a race-related rampage in Californias Central Valley, prosecutors announced Friday.

Kori Ali Muhammad was convicted by a Fresno County jury Wednesday of first-degree murder, second-degree murder, attempted murder and other crimes, the Fresno County district attorneys office said.

On Friday, he withdrew a previous plea of not guilty by reason of insanity and prosecutors said they wouldnt seek the death penalty. Muhammad is expected to be sentenced next month to life in prison without possibility of parole.

Muhammad, a black man whose defence said he was mentally ill, was accused of a series of shooting attacks on white men in April 2017 in Fresno.

In a recorded confession to investigators that was played at his trial, Muhammad said he shot Motel 6 security guard Carl Williams III and tried to kill another guard on April 13 because he felt he had been disrespected when he went to visit a friend.

A security camera recording showed Muhammad coming up behind Williams, 25, and shooting him.

It starts taking its toll on you and you get fed up with the racism, Muhammad said. You get tired of letting things slide.

While on the run after the shooting, Muhammad learned that he was wanted for Williams killing. On the recording, Muhammad said that if he was going down for murder the best thing was to kill as many white men as he could.

On April 18, 2017, Muhammad drove through downtown shooting at white men, he said. He surrendered to police after, at one point, firing nearly 20 shots in less than a minute, authorities said.

Zachary Randalls, 34, was shot in a Pacific Gas & Electric truck.

When I walked up to the truck, I saw a Mexican driver and a white guy, Muhammad said. I didnt want to target the driver because he was Mexican so I shot the white dude.

He also was convicted of killing Mark Gassett, 37, and David Jackson, 58, and trying to shoot three other men.

Muhammad was convicted of first-degree murder for Jacksons slaying; second-degree murder for Williams, Randalls and Gassett; four counts of attempted murder; one count of shooting at an occupied vehicle and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Two transgender women from New York City were found dead and their bodies were badly burned in a car in Puerto Rico. The police found the Hyundai Elantra under a bridge on the PR-927 highway in the Mambiche Prieto neighborhood in Humacao, which is in southeast Puerto Rico. The car belonged to the mother of one of the women, according to the Primera Hora.

The victims

The two transgender women were identified by locals as 21-year-old Layla Pelaez and 32-year-old Serena Angelique Velazquez from New York City. The two women were visiting the island but they were reportedly planning to return to America at the end of the month.

The chief of criminal investigations for the Puerto Rico police in Humacao, Capt. Teddy Morales told the New York Times that a 911 call had reported the burned car just before 5 a.m. on April 22. Investigators are looking to identify two men who were on one of the women's social media accounts who may have partied with the women at one of their homes the night before the murder.

The deaths of the women bring the total number of transgender people killed in Puerto Rico to at least four in 2020 alone, according to the Human Rights Campaign or HRC. Local activists say eight people from the LGBTQ+ community have been killed all in all this year.

Also Read: Gunman Pretending as a Cop Kills 12 in Shooting Rampage in Nova Scotia, Canada

A spokesperson for the Broad Committee for the Search for Equity, Pedro Julio Serrano, told NBC News that homophobic murders are after the community. In February, a transgender woman named Alexa was shot dead after reports that she used the women's bathroom at a McDonalds in Toa Baja, becoming the first transgender person killed in Puerto Rico in 2020. On March 11, Yampi Mendez Arocho, a 19-year-old transgender man, was killed in Moca after reports of an assault.

Ivana Fred, an activist with the Broad Committee for the Search for Equity, told HRC that more and more people from the LGBTQ+ community are being killed. First, it was Alexa, then Yampi and now Serena and Layla. She stated that enough is enough and transgender people deserve to live in peace, with equity and freedom. She is calling to stop all the hate.

Transphobia, misogyny and racism

In America, at least 26 transgender people were killed in 2019, although activists say the number is likely higher than reported. Between 2017 and 2018, there was a 34% increase in violent hate-based attacks on transgender people. This is according to the statistics from the Federal Bureau of Investigation or FBI.

According to a report by the HRC, nearly 9 in every 10 victims were transgender women. Tori Cooper, HRC Director of Community Engagement for the Transgender Justice Initiative said that transgender and gender non-conforming people, especially women of color, are too often the victims of a toxic mix of transphobia, misogyny, and racism.

Cooper is calling for people and policy to work together to protect the lives of those in the LGBTQ+ community. She added that HRC stands in solidarity with all who knew and loved the two victims, Layla Pelaez and Serena Angelique Velazquez.



Related Article:Patient Resurrected? Woman Woke Up in Body Bag After Proclaimed Dead

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Dear Annie: I am a widow. I have three adult children, two daughters and one son. I am fortunate that my son, "Ryan," and one of my daughters, "Melissa," both live in the same city as me. But I'm writing because I have an ongoing situation with Melissa.

I have severe arthritis, and while I am able to take care of myself, there are times when Ryan and Melissa could do errands that would be really helpful. Ryan is great with this, but Melissa, not so much.

For example, occasionally I have asked her to pick up some things at the grocery for me. (Grocery shopping is difficult with my arthritis because of the lifting involved.) Sometimes she reluctantly agrees; sometimes she makes up excuses as to why she can't go. Even when she does go, she tends to only get half the items on the list.

I have tried to figure out what is going on with her. I asked her had I done anything to offend her. She assured me I had not. I should tell you that Melissa is a strong-willed, rather stubborn person, and she is very opinionated. She is somewhat of a perfectionist, but this has paid off for her: She owns her own business and it has done well.

Today, she was going to be driving by my house, and I asked if she might be willing to stop at a fast-food restaurant to get me something for dinner. She said maybe but wouldn't commit to doing it. Then, when she was headed past my house, she called to see what I wanted her to pick up. I thanked her and told her I had already eaten.

Neither Ryan nor my other daughter act like this. I talked to a few friends to get their opinion and they both suggested I not ask her to do anything for me. Her behavior is causing me to feel uncomfortable when she stops by. What do you suggest? -- A Concerned Mother

Dear Concerned Mother: In "The 5 Love Languages," writer Gary Chapman put forth the idea that there are five primary ways for expressing love, and that each of us tends to gravitate toward one of those five. They are: words of affirmation, acts of service, receiving gifts, quality time and physical touch. It seems that you consider acts of service the primary way of conferring love. Your daughter may feel differently, and that's not a personal rejection of you.

That's not to say it's OK for her to blow off your requests for needed help. And when you do really need something from her, you should be direct about how important it is.

Dear Annie: I was disgusted by the letter from "Sick," who said that her brother-in-law loves to cough when he is ill, but also coughs into his hands and spreads germs, making no one want to be around him. I loved your suggestions about frequent hand washing and using sanitizer, but I have another idea: If you are going to be in his presence, then wear a medical mask. This will help protect you and also relay a very strong message to him that he is infectious. If he doesn't like it and gets offended, that's his problem. At least you'll be safer. -- Retired U.S. Navy Medic

Dear Navy Medic: I keep thinking back to the letter from "Sick," as well; the pandemic has only underscored how atrocious is his behavior. Wearing a mask, even after coronavirus, is indeed a good idea.

Send your questions for Annie Lane to dearannie@creators.com.

COPYRIGHT 2019 CREATORS.COM
Delhi to ease restrictions, if Covid cases come down in next 2-3 days: Health Minister

Lata Mangeshkar health update: Doctor says,'She in ICU with Covid-19 and pneumonia, will be under observation'

Amid coronavirus crisis in India, Telangana's TRS, BJP indulge in blame game

India

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Hyderabad, Apr 25: Telangana BJP on Saturday condemned the statements being made by ministers and other senior Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) leaders, claiming that BJP is indulging in politics during the coronavirus crisis.

It can be seen that the BJP is the primary Opposition party in Telangana with total absence of India's grand-old party (Congress) not playing that role.

Speaking to OneIndia, Telangana BJP chief spokesperson k Krishna Saagar Rao said, "BJP is duty-bound to voice the concerns of Telangana farmers, who are awaiting the delivery of big promises made by CM KCR that he will buy every single grain of the yield in the entire state."

Do Gaj ki Doori: PM Modi hails villages for joining hands to fight spread of COVID-19 in India

"BJP State President Bandi Sanjay had to resort to a one-day hunger strike to highlight the plight of farmers in the state. But, TRS government instead of being accountable and delivering the promises made to the farmers to purchase their yield, is making irrelevant political statements against BJP," he added.

The state BJP demanded Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao to keep his commitments given to the farmers of the state, who are relying on his word that his government would purchase everything they have produced so far in this season.

Coronavirus impact: Number of fatalities due to road accidents, crimes see a dip in India

The BJP also demanded that the purchase process should be hurried up, as farmers would not be able to hold their produce for too long and can incur severe losses if there are untimely rains.
Everyone entering the UK will finally be forced to quarantine for a fortnight under plans being drawn up by the Government.

The move follows growing pressure for tighter border controls during the coronavirus crisis and would include UK citizens returning from abroad.

Britain is one of the last countries to introduce the requirement, following examples set by Australia, New Zealand, Germany, and Greece.

Airport bosses have complained that the failure to limit arrivals and check passengers has made a mockery of the lockdown.

The Mail on Sunday understands that the plan  similar to one operated by Singapore  was agreed during a meeting of Ministers and officials on Wednesday.

Officials were told to look at ways to enforce compliance, including large fines or even criminal prosecution, under powers introduced by the Coronavirus Act.

It was agreed the authorities could visit registered addresses of arrivals to ensure they were not breaking their quarantine.

An unusually empty Heathrow airport. Under new rules everyone coming back into the UK may have to be isolated for as long as fourteen days

The emergency legislation gives immigration officials the power to remove a potentially infectious person to a suitable place for screening and assessment, and for public health officers to enforce restrictions on movement.

The new measures would be backed by a global communications campaign to warn travellers what to expect if they come to the UK.

A Government source said: 'A stringent, Singapore-style approach at our ports will help the UK manage the risk from travellers entering the country and reduce the possibility of a second peak.

'We are looking at deploying these measures at the right time, in line with the scientific advice and when community transmission has been significantly reduced.'

A 14-day quarantine of arrivals has already been implemented in dozens of countries, including Australia, New Zealand, Germany, and Greece. Japan and Hong Kong introduced Covid-19 tests for all arrivals in mid-January  with those testing positive immediately taken to hospital, and those who test negative placed in isolation.

More than 130 countries have introduced some form of travel restriction, quarantine and bans on travel from high-risk areas.

At least 90 per cent of the world's population lives in countries with restrictions on non-citizens and non-residents arriving from abroad, with Britain criticised for allowing anyone to arrive free of checks.

While many countries have put in place health tests for airport arrivals the UK has no such system. Although flight numbers are down there are still people entering the UK everyday

More than 15,000 people arrive in the UK each day, with hundreds of thousands of UK nationals being repatriated since the outbreak began, including 200,000 from Spain, one of the worst-hit countries.

Since January, officials in China and other countries in the Far East and Middle East have been using infra-red cameras to screen travellers with high temperatures. Those who appear red on the screen are singled out for a consultation by health professionals and in some cases tested for the disease.

However, the World Health Organisation says entry screening is 'not effective' because it can take two weeks for a virus carrier to display symptoms.

Only a few cases have been detected at airports in China, Thailand and Malaysia. Lorry drivers bringing in vital supplies to the UK could be exempt from the clampdown.

Scientists hail game-changing immunity test: Government orders 50MILLION antibody testing kits that work in 20 minutes and could be ready by June as Boris Johnson returns to work on Monday

Ministers have ordered production of up to 50 million new immunity tests as part of what experts hope will be a 'game-changing' development in the battle against Covid-19.

A breakthrough by a team of top British scientists means that, by June, people could be able to reliably test whether they have developed immunity to the virus  and then be allowed to return to work and socialise as normal.

The dramatic news comes as Boris Johnson prepares to go back to work in Downing Street tomorrow, having told aides that he is 'raring to go' in the fight against the virus which nearly killed him.

The pandemic reached another grim milestone yesterday as the UK death toll passed 20,000  up by 813 in 24 hours.

Sir Patrick Vallance, the Government's Chief Scientific Adviser, last month said keeping deaths below 20,000 would be a 'good outcome'.

The grim 20,000 milestone - which also saw the number of people testing positive for coronavirus rise by 4,913 to 148,377 - came as the coronavirus lockdown continued into its fifth weekend and the Government faced calls for greater transparency over the scientific advice given to ministers on the outbreak

The new immunity tests, expected to cost 10, have been devised by scientists at Oxford, working for the Government-backed Rapid Testing Consortium.

Boris Johnson says he is 'raring to go' and will start work on Monday to 'tighten his grip on coronavirus crisis' Boris Johnson will return from his Chequers convalescence tomorrow determined to 'tighten his grip' on a Government which has often appeared to flounder in his absence. The Prime Minister told aides during a three-hour Covid-19 strategy session that doctors had given him permission to return. 'I'm raring to go,' he insisted. Mr Johnson, who was discharged from St Thomas' Hospital in Central London two weeks ago, has spent the past week easing back into something closer to a normal workload, making calls to Ministers, working on official papers and holding a series of  sometimes erratic  meetings on Zoom. Advertisement

Users of the test provide a pinprick of blood for analysis. Then, like a pregnancy test, if two lines appear after a 20-minute wait, people know that they have the antibodies. One line means they are either vulnerable to coronavirus infection or the test has failed.

Under plans being drawn up, the user would take a picture of the positive result and send it to a central unit which would enter their details into a database.

The consortium believes it could produce up to 1 million of the 'lateral flow' tests a week by the summer, adding up to 50 million by next year.

Last night, Health Minister Lord Bethell said: 'This is a great story of how our manufacturers are stepping up to the challenge of Covid, and I am hopeful that their product will make an impact in our battle against this terrible disease.'

There is, however, likely to be scepticism about the plan due to Ministers' struggle to reach the current target of 100,000 tests a day for those feared to be carrying the virus.

On Friday, a Government website ran out of home virus tests for key workers in just 15 minutes.

The Government plan also defies World Health Organisation advice that countries should not issue so-called 'immunity passports' to ease lockdowns because there was no evidence that people who developed antibodies after recovering from the virus were protected against a second infection.

Boris Johnson says he is 'raring to go' and will start work on Monday to 'tighten his grip on coronavirus crisis and offer more clarity on response'

By Glen Owen, Harry Cole and Brendan Carlin for the Mail on Sunday

Boris Johnson will return from his Chequers convalescence tomorrow determined to 'tighten his grip' on a Government which has often appeared to flounder in his absence.

The Prime Minister told aides during a three-hour Covid-19 strategy session that doctors had given him permission to return.

'I'm raring to go,' he insisted.

Mr Johnson, who was discharged from St Thomas' Hospital in Central London two weeks ago, has spent the past week easing back into something closer to a normal workload, making calls to Ministers, working on official papers and holding a series of  sometimes erratic  meetings on Zoom.

Mr Johnson, who was discharged from St Thomas' Hospital in Central London two weeks ago, has spent the past week easing back into something closer to a normal workload, making calls to Ministers, working on official papers and holding a series of  sometimes erratic  meetings on Zoom

A source said: 'Boris is tightening his grip. You are going to see much greater clarity, energy and purpose now.'

It comes after splits opened up in the Government over how to map a path out of the lockdown, and criticism of Ministers for failing to introduce widespread testing and source adequate supplies of protective equipment for health workers.

During the three-hour Chequers summit, which included Cabinet Ministers such as Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, Chancellor Rishi Sunak, Cabinet Secretary Mark Sedwill and aides including chief adviser Dominic Cummings and No 10 Director of Communications Lee Cain, Mr Johnson was given a detailed briefing on the policy work being carried out on Covid-19.

Mr Sunak presented an economic blueprint based on the 'best practice' that has been shown to work in countries such as Switzerland, Denmark and Germany.

It is understood the Chancellor briefed Mr Johnson on a four-point plan to reopen non-essential shops, change working patterns and then open schools  as well as making 'hygienic measures' a permanent fixture in Britain's workplaces.

Mr Sunak highlighted plans in Austria where shops over 400 sq m (4,300 sq ft) and hardware stores and garden centres have already reopened, while in Germany hairdressers are open as long as staff and clients wear protective clothing.

And he championed the Czech Republic's five-stage plan to lift all domestic restrictions by June 8, with particular focus on the country's plans to start by opening farmers' markets and car dealerships.

UK coronavirus cases are STILL too high to ease lockdown and the UK's track-and-trace infrastructure would collapse with a new spike in cases, member of secretive SAGE committee warns

Leading scientists have poured cold water on hopes the lockdown could be relaxed, warning the rate of new infections is still too high.

Tacking to a containment strategy based on rigorous testing and contact tracing is widely touted as the route to easing restrictions.

But the UK's track-and-trace infrastructure would cripple under the load of daily cases at their current levels, experts have said.

They have lined up behind Professor John Edmunds, who sits on the government's scientific advisory group, Sage, to not jump the gun on lifting the social distancing.

The warnings came as Britain passed the grim 20,000-death milestone in the coronavirus outbreak.

A further 813 recorded fatalities took the total toll to 20,319, while cases also rose by 4,913 to 148,377.

Professor Edmunds, of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said this influx of daily cases would stretch contact tracing capacity to breaking point.

A further 813 recorded fatalities took the total toll to 20,319, while cases also rose by 4,913 to 148,377

Experts have lined up behind Professor John Edmunds, who sits on the government's scientific advisory group, Sage, to not jump the gun on lifting the social distancing

The number of people to have tested positive for the deadly bug surged by 4,913 to 148,377, it was revealed on Saturday afternoon

'If we lifted the lockdown now, the testing and tracing system would be overwhelmed,' he told the Observer.

'We will have to get case numbers down a lot lower than they are now before we can think of lifting current regulations.'

Professor Paul Hunter, professor of medicine at the University of East Anglia, said the true number of cases could be double the official figure.

He said: 'The World Health Organisation said yesterday that about half of all deaths in Europe are occurring in residence of elderly care homes.

'We know for a fact the figures reported every day are an underestimate, possibly a significant underestimate of the total number of deaths.'

He added the UK is well on track to hit 30,000 deaths in hospital, perhaps even 40,000 before the pandemic is brought under control.

In a bleak prediction, Prof Hunter said 'We are undoubtedly going to have one of the highest death rates in Europe.'

Ministers have doubled down their calls for people to stay indoors amid signs swathes of the public are growing restless with life under lockdown.

This weekend, Britons were seen basking in the unseasonably warm weather, while the level of traffic on the roads also began to steadily creep upwards.

Pressure is growing on the government to publish a blueprint out of lockdown, in step with Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon who promised to treat her electorate 'like grown ups' when she sketched out a plan to phase out curbs.

Countries across the world are also starting to reveal their plans to relax tough distancing measures.

But ministers in Westminster continue to deflect calls for an exit strategy and stick to hammering their core message to obey the guidance.

At yesterday's Downing Street press briefing, Home Secretary Priti Patel urged the public to 'stay strong' and observe social distancing.

Professor Stephen Powis, the medical director of NHS England who flanked the Home Secretary, insisted the social distancing measures were having an effect.

However, he emphasised the difficulties in dealing with a new virus which had created a 'once-in-a-century global health crisis'.

He said: 'This was going to be a huge challenge not just for the UK, but for every country.

'Even in countries that have got on top of this early on, we are unfortunately beginning to see new infections.

'So I think the first thing to emphasise is that this unfortunately is not going to be something we will begin to get over in the next few weeks.

'This is something we are going to have to continue working our way through over the months ahead - as I have said before this is not a sprint, this will be a marathon.'
Description

GIS  24 April, 2020: The process leading towards post-confinement will be done in phases to limit the risks of a second wave of the Covid-19 infections across Mauritius. Government is working on the plan to ease the lockdown and it is a complex matter as many factors have to be taken into consideration especially since safeguarding the health of the population remains our priority. It will thus be mandatory for all citizens to wear masks in public spaces.

The Prime Minister, Mr Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, made this statement, in a televised address to the population, this evening, from the Mauritius Broadcasting Corporation, in Moka.

The Prime Minister recalled that on 20 March 2020 the curfew was introduced and in the same vein as for the confinement, Government is ensuring that the lifting of the lockdown is done in all transparency and in a democratic manner. Therefore, the proposals of all social partners, the private sector, NGOs and essential service-providers are being taken on board.

In addition, Mr Jugnauth indicated that the Covid-19 Bill will be one of the priority Bills to be debated at the next sitting of the National Assembly. Accordingly, works are underway at the National Assembly to allow all Parliamentarians be present in respect to all hygiene protocols.

With regard to the availability of masks, the Prime Minister pointed out that the textile industry, pharmacies and other distributors are contributing to ensure that there are sufficient stocks on the market for the population. But the prices will be fixed by Government, he added.

Speaking about the first phase of lifting the lockdown, Mr Jugnauth emphasised that citizens will continue to shop in supermarkets in alphabetical order. Furthermore, public gatherings will not be allowed and schools will remain closed, he stated. Additional information will be communicated by the Ministry of Education, Tertiary Education, Science and Technology, in due time. Other food trades, such as bakeries will be allowed to operate, but will have to implement the social distancing rules. The healthcare system will also be reorganised thus, across hospitals, dedicated flu clinics will be set up to channel people who have symptoms of Covid-19.

The Prime Minister announced that as from tomorrow, a mass testing for 35 000 people, mostly frontliners, namely the health personnel, the Police Force and supermarket employees, will be launched. It is mainly due to their hard work that the spread of the virus has so far been curbed, he lauded.

On the economic sphere, the Prime Minister remarked that all measures are being taken to relaunch the countrys economic activities but without neglecting the health of the population. Already, since the curfew, Government has put in place several schemes to support enterprises and to avoid job dismissals, he recalled

The Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning and Development, jointly with the Bank of Mauritius, is working on a recovery plan for investment and the economy, he further stated. The Prime Minister observed that this is also a world economic crisis affecting all countries and enterprises and, in Mauritius, the national air carrier, Air Mauritius is now under voluntary administration.

According to him, voluntary administration is the only way out to ensure that Air Mauritius does not go bankrupt. The Air Mauritius aircrafts will not fly any time soon and there will be no revenue, and, many air carriers worldwide are facing the same scenario. However, he assured that Government is closely monitoring the situation.

The Prime Minister emphasised that Mauritius has to succeed in its mission in lifting the lockdown and at the same avoid a second surge of the Covid-19. He cited as example Singapore whereby that country jumped from having 200 Covid-19 cases on 15 March 2020 to more than 12 000 registered cases as at now. It is for this reason that we have to take all the time needed to work towards a smooth post-confinement process, he said.

The Prime Minister called upon the population to be disciplined as it is the only way for a successful post-confinement plan. He also seized the opportunity to wish all citizens of Muslim faith a Holy month of Ramadan.

#ResOuLakaz #BeSafeMoris
A Spanish fishing vessel was forced to leave Dingle without landing her catch early on Monday morning after local fishermen staged an overnight blockade demanding that foreign boats stay away to avoid the risk of spreading coronavirus.

It was the second coronavirus blockade staged by Dingle fishermen in the past month and in the course of a sometimes tense stand-off, the protestors resorted to lying on the ground to prevent the agent for the Spanish vessel driving onto the pier.

Despite official assurances that regulations are in place to avoid the risk of foreign crews spreading coronavirus when they dock in Ireland, local fishermen insist the regulations are too soft and foreign vessels still present an unacceptable risk.

The blockade began on Saturday afternoon when fishermen parked their cars across the head of the pier to prevent access for a truck that was on standby to take a load of fish to Spain from the long-liner Sylvanna, which was still at sea at that time. Before setting up the blockade they contacted the agent for the French registered, but Spanish owned, Sylvanna advising that the boat would be prevented from landing her catch in Dingle.

The Sylvanna was some 40 miles south west of the Blaskets on Saturday and had the option of landing in Castletownbere, but despite the fishermen's warning she proceeded to set a course for Dingle.

The blockade continued overnight and fishermen refused to back down despite warnings from Gardai on Sunday evening that they could be arrested for preventing access to the pier. Tensions rose later on Sunday night when a strong force of local Gardai, along with reinforcements from Tralee, arrived at Dingle pier shortly after 2am where the number of protestors had grown to over 40 fishermen, their families and supporters. However, cool heads on all sides kept the situation from getting out of hand.

Tralee-based Sergeant Eoin Donovan, who directed the Garda operation, told protestors that it was the job of Gardai and not fishermen to enforce coronavirus regulations.

"We'll enforce covid regulations, you don't have to worry about that what's going on here is unnecessary and is putting people at risk [of contracting coronavirus]," said Sgt Donovan, adding: "Vehicles can't be parked here. You can't stop people doing their job, everybody has to be fair."

Meanwhile, Dingle Sergeant Elaine O'Donoghue frequently reminded protesters to observe social distancing and praised them for keeping their demonstration peaceful and orderly. It helped keep a lid on the obvious tension on the pier and the sporadic exchanges between protestors and Gardai that continued through the night remained respectful. One protesting fisherman later described Sgt Donovan as "a thorough gentleman" who handled the situation with great skill and understanding of the issues involved.

Shortly before 3.30am a tow truck that was brought in from outside of West Kerry arrived on the scene and soon after a worker began the process of removing one of the vehicles blocking access to the pier, apologising to the owner as he went about his job. The owners of two other cars voluntarily moved their vehicles but jeeps and pickup trucks blocking the main entrance to the pier were left in place.

At 4.30am the Sylvanna steamed into Dingle and tied up at the end of the pier, which had been fenced off with barricades before her arrival. The protestors braced for a confrontation with the fish truck that was expected to follow but the issue came to a head sooner than expected when Ricardo Ferriera, the agent for the Spanish fishing company, attempted to drive his van onto the pier. Gardai lined up in front of the van and attempted to escort it through the protestors but their progress was soon halted when fishermen lay on the ground in front of the vehicle. The atmosphere was fraught, but there was still room for humour: "At least we might get a few hours sleep here," one protestor declared as he lay on the ground.

Gardai warned the protestors that they were illegally blocking the road but did not attempt to physically remove them and five minutes later the van backed away.

A stalemate followed but just as dawn began to break over Dingle word came through at 5.30am that the Sylvanna was leaving for Castletownbere. The battle was averted and there was relief on all sides. "Go home - and wash your hands!" Sgt Donovan announced in a good humoured farewell and a round of applause followed.

Michael Hennessy, who was one of the fishermen leading the protest, said he was very happy with the outcome of the blockade but added that they would continue to oppose foreign vessels landing in Dingle.

"This isn't a fishing issue, this is a health issue We have no issue with foreign boats coming in here we just don't want them coming in here now while this crisis is happening," he said.
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Linkedin Ghina Ghaliya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, April 25, 2020 11:37 627 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd42c5c8 1 Politics KUHP-amendment,Criminal-Code,Lawmakers,NasDem-Party,house-of-representatives,DPR,amandemen-KUHP Free

The pro-government NasDem Party has approached other factions to agree on setting new footing for Criminal Code (KUHP) revisions, according to lawmaker Taufik Basari.

Taufik, a member of House of Representatives Commission III overseeing legal affairs and the House Legislation Body (Baleg), told The Jakarta Post on Friday that NasDem wanted in-depth discussions over potential draconian articles in the amendment.

However, most factions in the commission seemed to oppose such an idea.

"Therefore, the NasDem faction is lobbying other factions to carry out in-depth discussion on the Criminal Code bill, he said.

However, the House has yet to schedule a meeting on the bill.

Members of the public have also raised concerns over the deliberation of problematic revisions to the KUHP.

Read also: Jokowi bows to public pressure, calls for delay in passing Criminal Code bill into law

Members of the National Alliance for Criminal Code Reforms have called on Commission III to turn a new page with regard to the revisions, stating that discussion should not merely continue from the previous term.

Lawmakers who ended their terms in October were nearly finished deliberating the bill but public outcry and massive street protests halted the process. The protesters argued that the bills would threaten democracy and curtail civil rights.

Sekar Surowijoyo of the Institute for Policy Research and Advocacy (ELSAM) told the press on Friday that we still remember what happened in September last year [...]. This bill was postponed because we took to the streets, but we cant do that in a situation like this.

She added that the government and the commissions chairs could refuse to start fresh and pass the bill without approval from other members, saying that the revised bill still included contentious provisions that would penalize activities in the personal domain, such as consensual sex and cohabitation among unmarried people.

Read also: Indonesia's controversial Criminal Code bill could soon be law. Here are the new crimes

Institute for Criminal Justice Reform (ICJR) executive director Erasmus Napitupulu, another member of the coalition, said the government and the House must reevaluate all articles in the bill.

"A pandemic should not be used as an opportunity to pass a problematic bill, he said.

House deputy speaker Azis Syamsuddin, who is also a member of Commission III overseeing legal affairs, previously said the commission's chairs had requested that the bills be passed after a week of deliberations.

However, the commissions chairman, Herman Herry, denied Azis' statement.

We will invite all relevant stakeholders. Commission III will call all of them to a hearing, the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) politician said.
With just two days remaining to the expiration of a thirty-day U.S. waiver to import Iranian gas and electricity, the Iraqi Minister of Electricity says it will take three to four years for the country to stop importing energy from Iran.

Luay al-Khatteeb, told S&P Global Platts that it would take several years for the country's oil and gas projects to reach production capacity and end its dependency on Iranian gas.

"Those three to four years need to be an uninterrupted timeline with a government that enjoys full executive authority and no interference from political entities and in an environment that is welcoming to investments and multinational participation", Luay al-Khatteeb said.

The United States has repeatedly granted waivers to Baghdad to keep importing Iranian gas and electricity despite its sanctions on Tehran. The last waiver was limited to a thirty-day exemption which soon expires.

Iraq was expected to invest $ 10 billion in its oil and gas projects to end its dependency on Iran within four years. Nevertheless, none of the projects are have made headway.

Meanwhile, Iran's official statistics show a significant increase in the country's electricity and gas exports, and Iraqi officials have made contradictory statements about energy imports from the neighboring country.

For example, on April 20, a spokesman for the Iraqi Ministry of Electricity, Ahmed Al-Abadi, announced that Iraq has reduced its electricity and gas imports from Iran by 75 percent after approaching self-sufficiency in its own energy production.

Iraq has always been a customer of more than eighty percent of Iran's electricity exports. Iranian Ministry of Energy numbers show the country's electricity exports increased by more than 28 percent in 2019, reaching more than eight terawatts per hour. However, Iran's official statistics are always questioned by experts and are largely inconsistent with international data.

Statistics from the National Iranian Gas Company also show that the country's gas exports increased by 26 percent last Iranian calendar year (March 21, 2019, March 20, 2020) and reached 17.5 billion cubic meters.

Iraq and Turkey are the only customers of Iranian gas, and since Turkish data do not indicate an increase in gas imports from Iran, the growth should be tied to more exports to Iraq.

In the meantime, both Tehran and Baghdad have confirmed that last winter Iran's gas exports to Iraq dropped seven times reaching about three to four million cubic meters per day. In the hot season of last year, there was no evidence of an increase in Iran's gas exports to Iraq, and it is not clear how Iran's gas exports grew by 26 percent.

Iran has a daily export contract of 50 million cubic meters (more than 18 billion cubic meters per year) of gas with Iraq, but only about half of that gas is delivered for consumption at power plants.

"The country can import up to 1,200 MW of electricity per year and up to about 1.2 Bscf/d during peak usage in the hot summer months when temperatures in the southern part of the country can soar to 50 Celsius. Electricity supply was estimated at 19 GW in 2019 and forecast to reach 20 GW in 2020, while power demand in peak time is around 25 GW", Luay al-Khateeb, told S&P Global Platts.

To provide additional electricity, Iraq imports both electricity directly from Iran and gas that it uses in its power plants, but still faces a shortage during the hot seasons.

According to World Bank data, due to the lack of gas collection equipment in Iraq's oil fields, eighteen billion cubic meters of "associated petroleum gas" produced are burned and wasted annually.

Assisted by Western companies, it has been years since Iraq embarked on large-scale projects to collect associated gases in its oil fields. Recently, the Iraqi Oil Minister, Thamer Ghadhban, announced that two contracts had been signed last year for the daily collection of 21 million cubic meters of gas from the Halfaya and Ratawi oil fields.

Backed by other projects, Ghadhban said, 28 million cubic meters per day (10 billion cubic meters per year) will be added to the country's gas production. Yet, he did not say when the projects would be operational.

Earlier in 2018, Iraq had also promised similar projects that would end its dependency on Iranian gas. However, none of the promised projects has had much progress so far.

In the meantime, the country's projects appear to be slowing down, and falling oil prices have exerted heavy pressure on Baghdad in recent months.

Based on the International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimates, the Iraqi government needs oil prices to be fixed at above $ 60 a barrel to avoid a budget deficit, while Brent oil prices are around $ 20 today.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) forecast shows that the Iraqi government will be struggling with a budget deficit equal to 23.3 percent ($ 40 billion) of its gross domestic product in 2020.
A medical staff gets disinfection after testing factory workers at Linh Trung Processing Zone in Thu Duc District, HCMC, April 20, 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran

The Health Ministry confirmed no fresh Covid-19 cases Sunday morning, keeping the nations tally of active infections at 45.

The latest announcement means Vietnam has gone 36 hours without a new case.

Of the country's 270 patients, 230 have been discharged from hospitals, but five among them have relapsed. The 45 active infections include the relapse cases.

As of last Friday morning, Vietnam had gone eight straight days clear of new infections, but the evening saw two new cases- both students who returned from Japan. They were quarantined on arrival and are now under treatment in Hanoi.

The nation has had five relapses. The relapse cases are being monitored at different hospitals. The Central Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology and Ho Chi Minh City Pasteur Institute have cultured the virus taken from them to try and find the cause of the relapse.

Deputy Health Minister Nguyen Thanh Long said Saturday that while Vietnam has had very few new cases, there could be unrecorded people carrying the virus as infection cases that have no clinical symptoms are easy to be ignored during screening.

The Covid-19 pandemic has reached 210 countries and territories with a reported death toll of almost 203,000.
The coronavirus lockdown is making operations difficult for businesses across South Africa.

Retailers are included among those heavily affected by the national lockdown.

While some of these businesses are able to offer essential goods to customers, the reduction in customers and the limits on what they may sell make the lockdown a difficult challenge.

MyBroadband spoke with South African retailers about how the lockdown is affecting their businesses.

Edcon

Edcon said that following the presidents first announcement on 16 March regarding a lockdown, its turnover has declined 45% compared to the same period last year.

Additionally, its sales and cash for the month of March were R400 million below forecast, and it expects it will lose a further R800 million in turnover during the lockdown period.

It has made the payment of salaries to its employees a priority, and has been looking for a workable solution to achieve this.

In an effort to help carry the burden of the impact of the COVID-19 virus and the lockdown, and after consultation and communication, the CEO, Grant Pattison, has made a decision to take a 100% temporary cut in salary, said Edcon.

Additionally, the companys executive committee has agreed to a 30% temporary cut in their salaries, and the rest of the executives have agreed to either 20% or 10% temporary salary cuts based on their roles.

In contrast, all non-management staff will receive their full salaries.

Edcon has also applied to the UIF in terms of the Temporary Employer-Employee Relief Scheme (TERS) and was awaiting the outcome of the application at the time of writing.

The Edcon leadership team, together with the executives, are working tirelessly in putting together business plans for post the lockdown and engaging government and funders to find a way of plugging the financial hole created by the coronavirus crisis, said Edcon.

We will keep all stakeholders updated as these developments unfold. We are aware that we are not the only business facing these challenges, and its going to require all businesses, government and citizens to work together to minimize the damage the virus is having on our economy.

Edcon operates the Edgars and Jet brands.

Shoprite

Shoprite directed MyBroadband to its dedicated coronavirus page which outlines how it is responding to the lockdown.

We are doing everything in our power to ensure our doors will remain open, our stores remain safe and our prices remain low, said Pieter Engelbrecht, CEO of Shoprite Group.

Shoprite outlines the following measures it has taken:

The Shoprite Group is committed to adhering to the strict measures put in place by the South African government.

It is tracking the guidelines and advisory updates of the World Health Organisation, the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) and participating in discussions with the Consumer Goods Council of South Africa.

A special executive-level task committee, under the leadership of CEO Pieter Engelbrecht, convenes every 24 hours.

The Shoprite Group supports the governments Solidarity Fund.

Shoprite is also supplying 23,000 meals to soup kitchens per week and is providing surplus food to over 150 community organisations.

Shoprite is also providing priority entrance and quick checkouts to healthcare and law enforcement personnel, as well as the elderly and disabled.

The company did not provide feedback on the impact of the virus on its revenue.

Woolworths

The Woolworths Group previously announced pay cuts for its CEO, board directors, and senior executive managers in a recent trading update.

This will see them forego 30% of their fees and salaries over the next three months.

The savings arising from this will be used to provide additional financial support to staff who find themselves in extreme hardship as a result of the current crisis, Woolworths said.

The company said the majority of its food outlets remain open during the lockdown.

Now read: Coronavirus impact may cost Africa over 100 million jobs
Jenny Morrison has channelled Meghan Markle as she joined the Prime Minister for Anzac Day commemorations at the Australian War Memorial.

Mrs Morrison wore a beige three-quarter coat and beret as she paid respects to the nation's servicemen and servicewomen with her husband Scott Morrison in Canberra on Saturday morning.

The ensemble was similar to a 1,000 (AUD$2,000) camel coat worn by Meghan at the Royal Christmas service in 2017.

Jenny Morrison and Prime Minister Scott Morrison pose for a photo at the conclusion of the Anzac Day commemorative service at the Australian War Memorial on Saturday

Jenny donned a beige three-quarter coat and beret as she paid respects to the nation's servicemen and servicewomen with husband Scott Morrison (left). The ensemble shared glaring similarites to a camel coat worn by Meghan at the Royal Christmas service in 2017 (right)

Meghan linked arms with Prince Harry when she stepped out in the wide collar wrap coat, by Canadian luxury brand Sentaler.

She matched it with a chestnut-brown felt hat, Stuart Weitzman's Hiline high-heeled suede boots and a round handbag in brown leather.

Jenny, whose coat also tied across her waist, opted to coordinate the look with brown leather heeled boots.

The mother-of-two stood beside Mr Morrison as he lay wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Australian Soldier during the Anzac Day commemorative service.

The national commemorative service in Canberra was closed to the public but broadcast to homes across the country from 5.30am on Saturday.

Anzac Day marches across the country have been cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, while a small number of services have been held behind closed doors.

Mr Morrison said this was not the first time Anzac Day commemorations had been disrupted by a pandemic.

'This year, our Anzac Day traditions have been interrupted, but not for the first time,' he said.

'On Anzac Day 1919, the first after the Great War, there were no city marches or parades for the returning veterans because Australians were battling the Spanish flu pandemic.

'Our streets were empty. The returning veterans were not forgotten.'

Australians were encouraged to hold their own Anzac Day services by lighting a candle and standing on their driveways to pay their respect.

The mother-of-two stood beside Mr Morrison as he lay wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Australian Soldier during the Anzac Day commemorative service

The Morrisons depart after the Anzac Day commemorative service at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra
Qantas has delivered a stinging rebuke to Perth Airport over its standoff with Virgin Australia over millions in outstanding invoices.

The airport has taken out a lien over four of Virgin Australia's aircraft over $16 million in debt and used heavy vehicles to prevent them leaving the tarmac.

Qantas, which has been locked in a legal battle over $20 million in airport fees it has refused to pay, said the behaviour was extraordinary "even by Perth Airport's standards".

"Protecting your interests is one thing but parking a bulldozer in front of an aircraft while saying you're 'working to secure an agreement' is ridiculous," a Qantas spokseman said.
Dublin, April 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- 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.



Key companies operating in UK whose business operations are significantly affected due to COVID-19 include Associated British Foods plc, British Airways plc, Tesco PLC, Rolls-Royce Holdings plc, and Dyson Ltd. As a result of the COVID-19 epidemic, on 22nd March 2020, Associated British Foods plc have closed all of its stores in UK, which represented 41 of its sales. Due to the closure of all Primark stores, the company projects a loss of some $750 million of net sales per month. On the contrary, due to unprecedented demand for ventilators in the country, UK government and manufacturers are adopting some important measures for the development of more ventilators. As a result, UK government has enlisted Rolls-Royce Holdings plc and Dyson Ltd. to produce life-saving ventilators, which in turn, will support to increase their revenue generation.



The Report Covers

Story continues

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/mmh822

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
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 24, 2020) - IAMGOLD Corporation (TSX: IMG) ("IAMGOLD" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that its subsidiary Rosebel Gold Mines ("RGM") has signed an Unincorporated Joint Venture ("UJV") Agreement ("Agreement") with Staatsolie Maatschappij Suriname NV ("Staatsolie"), relating to the concession areas within the UJV Area of Interest (which includes Saramacca). The UJV excludes the existing Gross Rosebel mining concession, which is 95% owned by RGM and 5% owned by the Republic of Suriname.

Staatsolie is Suriname's state-owned oil company, and also holds a 25% interest in Newmont Suriname as a limited partner.

The Republic of Suriname has chosen to designate Staatsolie as the entity to hold its undivided 30% Participating Interest in the UJV, along with all the associated rights and obligations, which Staatsolie accepted. The UJV was previously agreed to in the Second Amendment to the Mineral Agreement, announced in June 2013, with Staatsolie now the new UJV partner replacing the entity NV1 that was originally designated by the Republic of Suriname to hold their 30% interest.

Under the terms of the Agreement between RGM and Staatsolie, the UJV will be administered as follows:

The date of transfer of the UJV interest is effective the date of signing of the Agreement, April 22, 2020.

Pursuant to the Agreement, Staatsolie is required to make an initial contribution equal to 30% of all operating and capital expenses related to the Saramacca Project, including acquisition, exploration, and development costs within the UJV Area. Accordingly, Staatsolie has paid RGM an initial amount of US$34.0 million toward an aggregate owing of US$54.9 million.

The remaining amount, in addition to ongoing operating and capital expenses, including management fee and interest, will be paid out of Staatsolie's gold entitlement under the UJV Agreement.

An UJV Board will be established to oversee the UJV and its operations, and will be comprised of four representatives from RGM and two from Staatsolie.

RGM will remain the UJV Operator, with overall management responsibility for UJV Operations.

70% of production from the UJV operations, which includes the Saramacca mine, will be attributable to RGM, with 30% attributable to Staatsolie.

All royalties and taxes payable in accordance with the Mineral Agreement will be made by each UJV Party in proportion to its Participating Interest.

Story continues

IAMGOLD's production profile for Rosebel beginning in 2020 already incorporates the 70:30 split for Saramacca.

"We are pleased to welcome Staatsolie as our UJV partner for expansion of the gold production at the Rosebel operations," commented Gordon Stothart, President & CEO of IAMGOLD. "They bring both business savvy and resource industry experience to our partnership. The signing of the UJV Agreement is the product of many years of effort. I would like to thank all parties involved, including the Surinamese Government, Staatsolie, and the IAMGOLD team, for their efforts in achieving this successful outcome."

Rudolf Elias, CEO of Staatsolie, said, "With this participation, Staatsolie increases its share in large-scale gold mining and further implements its diversification strategy."

About IAMGOLD

IAMGOLD ( www.iamgold.com ) is a mid-tier mining company with three operating gold mines on three continents. A solid base of strategic assets in North and South America and West Africa is complemented by development and exploration projects and continued assessment of accretive acquisition opportunities. IAMGOLD is in a strong financial position with extensive management and operational expertise.

For further information please contact :

Indi Gopinathan, VP, Investor Relations & Corporate Communications, IAMGOLD Corporation

Tel: (416) 360-4743 Mobile: (416) 388-6883

Toll-free: 1-888-464-9999 info@iamgold.com

Please note:

This entire news release may be accessed via fax, e-mail, IAMGOLD's website at www.iamgold.com and through Newsfile's website at www.newsfilecorp.com . All material information on IAMGOLD can be found at www.sedar.com or at www.sec.gov .

Si vous desirez obtenir la version francaise de ce communique de presse, veuillez consulter le http://www.iamgold.com/French/accueil/default.aspx.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/54869
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.

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A 57-year-old Mumbai Polices traffic head constable, who was denied admission by four Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)-run hospitals, despite showing tell-tale signs of coronavirus disease (Covid-19), has tested positive. The head constable is undergoing treatment at the intensive care unit (ICU) of King Edward Memorial (KEM) Hospital in Parel.

A senior Mumbai police officer told HT that the head constable, who is attached to the Kurla division of the traffic branch, had developed a fever earlier this week. His son rushed him to the BMC-run Rajawadi Hospital on Tuesday around 2pm, he added.

My father complained of fever, cough, and difficulty in breathing earlier this week. On Tuesday, the doctors at Rajawadi Hospital checked his temperature, did a preliminary check-up, and recommended that he be isolated at home. But when I asked the authorities to admit him to the hospitals isolation facility, they refused, as no bed was available, and instead asked me to take him to the BMC-run Kasturba Hospital of Infectious Diseases, alleged the 25-year-old son of the head constable.

The son rushed his father to Kasturba Hospital on his motorcycle. Doctors at the hospital checked his temperature and gave him oxygen. They, too, said that beds are not available and asked me to take him to the BMC-run Nair Hospital. Kasturba Hospital doctors didnt even bother to take my fathers swab samples for testing, he further alleged.

The Nair Hospital management gave the same excuse that no bed was available and they dont test patients for Covid-19. I took my father to KEM Hospital on their recommendation, but there, too, the doctors refused to admit him initially. Finally, he was admitted to the ICU after I spoke to some police officials, the son said.

My father has worked for the state police department for 28 years. If anything untoward happens to him, the callous doctors will be held responsible, he warned.

The civic authorities are tracing the head constables close contacts to quarantine them. His family members have already been quarantined, the police said.
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Linkedin Editorial Board (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, April 25, 2020 08:40 627 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd423c10 1 Editorial The-Jakarta-Post,The-Jakarta-Post-Digital,media,press-freedom,#Editorial Free

Age is nothing but a number and people are as old as they feel. Today, The Jakarta Post is celebrating its 37th anniversary, an age that many consider mature. This point in life often comes with a midlife crisis, in which people contemplate their direction in life and whether they have made the right choices. We are lucky not to have to ask those questions.



After all these years, the Post today is the same media outlet that began publication in the early days of

the 1980s, whose sole purpose has been to provide reliable information (and opinion) that would provide readers with unvarnished truth about the world.



Under the New Order, our drive to cut through the noise and jargon at times had to run counter to the authoritarian regimes efforts to suppress the truth. Regular phone calls from military officers were the order of the day. In one case where we offended a very powerful minister, we ended up with a lawsuit filed against us.



But that is the cost of holding power and the powerful accountable. And that role is needed now more than ever.



In politics, where populist leaders prefer direct communication channels with the public, and where they can use their platform to peddle outrageous claims (such as that traditional herbs or malaria drugs can cure COVID-19), the media must be the first to call a spade a spade.



During this pandemic, when a lack of transparency and delayed policy response could mean life or death for a large swath of the population, the media play a crucial role in demanding accountability.



When the coronavirus has forced traditional channels of political oversight to stay home, and political rallies are constrained by the extended social distancing rule, the media play a vital role in keeping democracy afloat.



For the first time in our history, the paper is being published remotely. All editors are working from home, with only necessary reporters on the ground.



Reporting this unprecedented event in the history of humanity and recording the public anxiety it causes is our gift and responsibility.



And judging from the spike in the number of readers on our website in the past two months, apparently we have done a good job. We stepped up our efforts to inform the audience about how the government has been faring in the fight against the once-in-a-century pandemic.



And given vast misinformation and hoaxes on COVID-19, we also consider it our civic duty to provide only accurate and science-based information. And it is for that reason we have provided free access to readers to news items and opinion regarding COVID-19.



It has not always been easy for us. With advertising money being siphoned off by social media companies and internet search giants while boosting online subscription continues to be an elusive goal, running a smooth operation is a daily struggle, and we are eternally grateful for readers who are sticking with us. So next time you read something on our website, dont forget to click the subscribe button.



That may help us survive for another 37 years.
Ive been asked by a friend who is a reader of and a commenter on this blog to explain how in the world I was able to visit the north German university town of Gottingen almost precisely midway through my mission to Switzerland. (I mentioned this somewhat curious fact in yesterdays blog entry entitled Imagination as a Key Element in Science and Mathematics.) Please permit me to do so. One of the very occasional functions of this blog is to serve as a place for autobiographical entries  interspersed, as one reader apparently perceives it, among an endless series of obsessive and deranged denunciations of the Dear Leader, President Donald J. Trump.

I served in the German-speaking Switzerland Zurich Mission, the place to which I had wanted to be sent and something for which Ive been deeply grateful ever since. Roughly a year into that mission, I received a surprise telephone call from my mission president, the late Edwin Q. Cannon. Would I, he asked, be willing to accompany another missionary up to northern Germany for three or four days? (I cant remember how long we stayed; the train travel took multiple hours each way.)

This missionary was of direct German extraction. I think that he had even been born in Germany; I had never worked with him and never really had much contact with him thereafter. His parents had joined the Church and emigrated to America, but the rest of the family, nonmembers all, were still living in Gottingen. His grandmother was now dying, though, and  somehow  the family had obtained permission from Church headquarters for their son to leave his assigned mission area and go up to bid her farewell on their behalf. But, of course, he needed a companion. And, possibly because I was the most useless, ineffective, and dispensable missionary then serving in German-speaking Switzerland, President Cannon had chosen me to accompany the other elder.

So we traveled by train from either Zurich or Basel (Ive forgotten which) up to Gottingen, which I was thrilled to be visiting because I knew something of its storied legacy in the history of physics and mathematics. I think I was also already vaguely aware that the Norwegian-born future apostle John A. Widtsoe had earned his doctorate from Gottingen in 1899, after completing his undergraduate studies at Harvard.

I dont honestly remember very much of the visit there, except that the grandmother seemed to be in remarkably vigorous health. For all I know, she may still be alive. And I recall one amusing experience:

My temporary companion and I walked out, one beautiful sunny morning, into one of the citys squares. Probably, though Im not absolutely sure, into the Marktplatz. It was, I think, a Saturday, and the plaza was quite full of people. This was in the bygone days before missionaries (at least in Switzerland and Germany) were wearing plastic name tags. Still, we were dressed in the standard suit, white shirt, and tie. We noticed that a pair of fellow missionaries  complete strangers to us, of course, but recognizable from their mode of dress and, obviously, from what they were doing  had a street display up, with posters about the Church and the Restoration. So we stopped to look.

One of the missionaries approached me and offered me a German pamphlet of The Testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith.

Mochten Sie eine? he asked. Would you like one?

I reached into my coat pocket and pulled out an identical pamphlet.

Mochten Sie eine? I asked him. Would you like one?

Who are you? he asked, astonished. Are you on your way home after being released?

No, I truthfully replied. Im Brother Peterson, of the Switzerland Zurich Mission, and I have about a year left to go.

But then I continued:

In our mission, baptisms are so rare that, when we get one, were permitted to take a little trip. Ive already gone south, so, this time, I thought that I would swing up northward.

Youre kidding! he exclaimed.

Sadly, I immediately confirmed that I was, and explained the real situation. In retrospect, I wish that I had permitted his astonishment to last at least a little bit longer.
Vietnam recorded no new COVID-19 cases in the past 12 hours, remaining at 270, but five people who had previously been given the all-clear were positive again.

Quick coronavirus testing

According to the April 25 morning report from the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, Vietnam has reported zero deaths from COVID-19 so far.

Among the five positive again, patient No.188 was discharged from Ha Nam General Hospital on April 16 after her results came back negative twice. She was put in quarantine for two weeks, during which she was monitored by the Hanoi Centre of Disease Control, re-tested frequently at the National Hospital for Tropical Disease in Hanoi and the results came back positive on April 21.

Patients No.52 and No.149 were declared recovered by Hospital No.2 in the northern province of Quang Ninh on April 16 and remained in quarantine there for another two weeks. On April 21, the hospital conducted tests for the two patients and their results returned positive.

Patient No.137 was declared recovered from the National Hospital for Tropical Disease in Hanoi on April 7 after testing results came back negative three times on three consecutive days (April 3-5).

During the two-week quarantine, she exhibited no clinical symptoms of the disease and all testing results on April 7, April 16 and April 19 came back negative. The CT scan of the patients lung did not show any signs of damage and the patient was allowed to be returned home on April 22 after her two weeks in hospital quarantine ends.

On April 23, the Central Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology in Hanoi confirmed that the tests results came back positive again, and the patient was brought back to the hospital.

Another relapse case was in the southern province of Binh Thuan. Patient No.36 was confirmed to be free of the virus on April 10 after testing negative three times. During the following two-week quarantine at a medical facility in the province, the patients test results came back negative twice before a third test on the final day of the quarantine showed positive results.

The patient is being quarantined for further medical monitoring.

On April 24 evening, two new cases were detected, both students returning home from Japan. They were immediately quarantined and are currently being treated for the virus.

As many as 54,966 people are currently in quarantine and have their health status monitored across the country.
- Murkomen said families of the victims have been forced to conduct the search themselves

- The vocal senator claimed rescue team led by Rift Valley Regional Commissioner Goerge Natembeya "only took pictures and left".

- He appealed to Interior CS Fred Matiang'i to intervene and help affected families trace their missing members

- On Monday, April 20, the government confirmed 12 people had died from the tragedy and that the search for 22 other missing persons was on course

Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen has called out the national government for allegedly abandoned the search and rescue operation in Chesogon midway.

Heavy floods hit the area locked at the border of Elgeyo Marakwet and West Pokot counties leaving at least 15 people dead and over 400 families displaced.

READ ALSO: From picking refuse to Hollywood: The inspiring story of Blood Diamonds actor Djimon Hounsou

Senator Murkomen addressing victims of Chesogon floods. Photo: Kipchumba Murkomen.

Source: Facebook

READ ALSO: William Ruto rubbishes new coalition bells: "Jubilee has no room for selfish evil experiments"

While the government has not confirmed termination of the recovery process, Murkomen claimed so, indicating at least 23 people were still missing and their families have been compelled to conduct the search themselves.

In an emotional tweet, the vocal senator castigated the rescue team led by Rift Valley Regional Commissioner George Natembeya for "taking pictures" and abandoning the course at the time it was needed the most.

"23 bodies are still missing in Marakwet landslide tragedy. These people are searching for their loved ones. RC Natembeya and the Military went there took pictures and left. Meanwhile, thousands of them are without shelter.What the hell is going on in this country?

Flashy floods swept through Chesogon area on Saturday, April 19, claiming lives and destroying properties of unknown value.

On Monday, April 20, the government confirmed 12 people had died from the tragedy and that the search for 22 other missing persons was on course.

About 400 families were displaced after their houses were washed away by the floods.

Natembeya noted the government had set aside one primary and secondary school in the area to offer temporary accommodation for the affected families as the government continues to make plans for a permanent solution.

Police officers and locals rescue man who was swept by floods in Chesogon area in Elgeyo Marakwet. Photo: Lemiso Sato.

Source: Facebook

The tragedy occurred at the time Kenya Metrological department has warned of more heavy rainfall in many parts of the country.

The government is now appealing to people living in areas prone to landslides and mudslides to move to safer areas.

Garissa, Taita Taveta and Kisumu have been listed among counties likely to experience heavy floods in the coming days.

Residents have been urged to be vigilant and take precautionary measures before the tragedy strikes.

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

The unsung heroes of Majengo slums I Tuko TV

Source: TUKO.co.ke
The University of Washingtons IHME COVID-19 model is the one most widely cited by policymakers and journalists. Superficially, that model has been relatively stable, with its total projected fatalities nationwide from the Wuhan virus declining from the mid-80,000 range to its current faux precise level of 67,641, which is probably a pretty good guessone that you or I might have madebased on experience to date.

But if we look at the IHME models projections for individual states, we see capricious changes that cast serious doubt on whether the model is based on any coherent scientific principles at all. I have focused on the five states of the Upper MidwestMinnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, North Dakota and South Dakotain posts dated April 11 and April 15. As a result I have a record of IHMEs projections for those five states on those dates, which is significant because, as best I can tell, each version of the IHME models output is sent to the memory hole when it is updated.

So here are the wildly divergent fatality numbers the IHME model has predicted for the Upper Midwestern states, on each of three dates, with the most recent update coming on April 22.

Minnesota

April 11: 442

April 15: 656

April 22: 360

Currently, Minnesota has 200 fatalities, over 75% in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. IHMEs estimate is moving in the direction of reality. But what caused the models gyrations over a mere 11 days? And wouldnt a politician have been foolish to rely on the models projection of just nine days ago? I should perhaps add that our governors extreme shutdown order was predicated on a home-grown model that said there would be 74,000 fatalities without a shutdown, and 50,000 even with a shutdowna number that was later revised downward, but nowhere near far enough.

Wisconsin

April 11: 357

April 15: 338

April 22: 356

Wisconsins numbers are by far the most consistent of this group.

Iowa:

April 11: 743

April 15: 618

April 22: 365

For some reason, the IHME model has it in for Iowa. It was ridiculous to predict Iowa to have more fatalities than Minnesota or Wisconsin, a fact implicitly admitted by the adjustment over the last week. Again, any Iowa policymaker would have been foolish to rely on the IHME model. And according to the IHMEs own tabulation, Iowa had only 83 deaths as of April 21.

North Dakota:

April 11: 369

April 15: 32

April 22: 356

There is no possible scientific justification for these gyrations in the North Dakota projection. Certainly nothing in North Dakotas experience explains them. This is IHMEs own North Dakota chart, which shows deaths to date as 13. It is notable that with regard to several of these Upper Midwestern states, IHME has continued to project an epidemic, but has repeatedly moved the date back in time.

South Dakota:

April 11: 356

April 15: 181

April 22: 93

As of April 21, according to IHMEs chart, South Dakota had recorded a whopping 8 deaths. As with North Dakota, IHME predicts the epidemic will get underway any day now, only at a much lower levelaround 1/4 of what was predicted less than two weeks ago. Once again, a South Dakota policymaker would have been foolish to make decisions in reliance on the IHME model, or any other model I have seen.

Liberals have viciously attacked South Dakotas governor Kristi Noem because she refused to implement a shutdown order as most governors have done. She said that she has confidence that South Dakotans are competent to protect themselveswhich, evidently, they are. The Washington Post attempted an absurd smear against Governor Noem based on the fact that workers at a pork processing plant in Sioux Falls had tested positive for COVID-19, like workers in pretty much every pork plant across the U.S. The same thing happened in a pork processing plant in Minnesota, where our Democratic governor has implemented a particularly harsh shutdown order, but the Washington Post took no notice, nor did other national media outlets. As usual, it is all about the narrative, and drive-by press coverage is the norm.

The reality, which the Washington Post has no desire to report, is that South Dakota is perhaps the nations best-governed state. This has actually caused problems for the state in dealing with the federal governments bailout. Governor Noem explains in this video clip: South Dakota has a fully funded pension plan, no income tax, no corporate tax, a AAA credit rating, and a balanced budget. The problem the state has as a result of COVID-19 hunkering down is a shortfall in sales tax revenue. But that is one thing the federal dollarsmore than a billion of them!cant be used to make up. Governor Noem explains:

Kristi Noem comes from my home county in South Dakota. I doubt that she has any interest in running for president, being sane and all, but if she decides to run shes got my vote.
A man who conspired with Kinahan cartel murder plotters to assassinate Gary Hanley has been jailed by the Special Criminal Court for eight years.

Sentencing Liam Brannigan, Mr Justice Paul Coffey said the organisation of the planned execution meant that the defendant was culpable to a very high degree.

The father of two had played a "central role" in the oversight and management of the plan to kill Mr Hanley, he added.

The judge said the conspiracy was at all times carried out with "a staunch and unyielding determination" to commit a "gangland-style execution type of murder".

He described the plot as elaborate and lengthy, noting Brannigan had been "intimately involved" in its planning and organisation. The judge highlighted that Brannigan had 10 phone calls with the "hit team" on the evening of the planned murder.

Brannigan, of Bride Street, Dublin 8, was convicted by the non-jury court in February of conspiring to murder Mr Hanley at a location within the State between September 15 and November 6, 2017. He had denied the charge.

Brannigan is the fifth man jailed for a role in the conspiracy to murder Mr Hanley.

Brannigan was found guilty of being at the "centre of the wheel" of the plot. Mr Justice Coffey said the evidence against Brannigan came from four areas, including covert audio recordings from several cars bugged by gardai.

Armed gardai intercepted a bugged Volkswagen van just 500 yards from Mr Hanley's home after 8pm on November 6, 2017.

Mr Justice Coffey, presiding at the three-judge court, said Mr Hanley was to be shot dead in the home he shared with his partner and infant child.

The plan was lengthy, elaborate and significant resources had been used, he said.

The judge observed that Hanley was at risk of "imminent and certain death" had gardai not foiled the plan.

While not at the top of the chain of command, Brannigan had a central role in the management and oversight of the plan to murder, he said.
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.
The American Federal bureaucracy is under threat from Trump. He has already politicized it, and a second term under his administration would lead to cronyism, incompetence, and corruption. This threatens civil servants, who are loyal not to a single politician, but to the broader public. What America needs instead is a second Pendleton Act to better insulate civil servants from the pressures of elected officials.

That, at least, is the argument of Francis Fukuyama in a recent Washington Monthly article.

To elaborate further on his argument, he contends that the federal bureaucracy is subject to too much control from elected officials. This hampers the bureaucrats' ability to objectively pursue their mandate while at the same time reducing the incentive for the best and brightest to join the civil service. This is a sad state of affairs when one considers the efficient service delivered by European bureaucrats, where there is almost no turnover when a new party gains power. Fukuyama laments that the progressives were unable to completely "professionalize" the civil service and wishes we would do so now that it may be based on merit. While American citizens do expect competent service from government workers and do want men and women to get those positions based on merit, Fukuyama's goal is inconsistent with the limited government of the Founders and the consent of the governed.

Many of the agencies Fukuyama praises are independent agencies. They wield great power over the lives of Americans while threatening individual liberty and violating the separation of powers, checks and balances, and the unitary power of the Executive. The "experts" who regulate practically all areas of life, whom Fukuyama praises, should not be free from political accountability. Insulating bureaucrats from the public is unconstitutional and a danger to liberty.

The Founders recognized that the end of government is justice  the security of the individual natural rights of life, liberty, and property. In order to secure these rights, individuals consent to establish a form of government. Recognizing the frailties of human nature and the short-lived nature of republics, the Founders carefully crafted a regime that would combine energy with stability, all the while protecting liberty. They did so through the improved science of politics: separation of powers, legislative checks and balances, a judiciary with lifetime appointments for good behavior, and the extended sphere. The creation of the administrative state has abandoned these cherished principles.

The administrative state was created by the progressives at the beginning of the twentieth century for three chief reasons. First, they thought the principles of the Founding had to be abandoned because the government needed to respond to a new set of economic and social conditions the Founders could not have anticipated. Second, the end and scope of government needed to expand with the necessities of the times (think industrialization, modern corporations, and high finance). Third, modern men needed no longer fear a tyrannical government because of the progress mankind and governments had made. The principles of the progressives led to administrative agencies tasked with regulating numerous areas of society shielded from political influence to make policy on the basis of their skill, experience, and expertise.

The administrative state violates the principles of the Declaration and the Constitution in several key ways. First, it violates the separation of powers. Second, it violates the non-delegation doctrine. Third, independent agencies prevent the executive from holding executive agencies accountable. Fourth, agencies are prone to regulatory capture by the very entities or interests they are supposed to be regulating for the good of the public.

The Federal bureaucracy so praised by Fukuyama is praised for the reasons that make it a threat to liberty. The American regime is one founded on the principle of the consent of the governed. When American citizens choose their elected officials, they do so with the understanding that they will govern based on their campaign promises. For the executive, this requires men and women loyal to him who will enact his agenda. This is consistent with liberty because the citizens of America were able to deliberate and vote for the candidate they thought best served them and the nation. To defer to unelected bureaucrats, to allow men who are insulated from the desires of the public and who rule based on credential expertise, is to undermine this cherished principle of liberty. The actions of these men and women, unelected and elected, should be consistent with the ends of the Declaration and the process established in the Constitution and subsequent laws.

Francis Fukuyama is right. The American bureaucracy needs to be reformed. Congress should make structural and appropriations reforms to regulatory agencies. First, heads of executive agencies must serve at the will of the president rather than with "for cause" removal protections. Second, the combination of powers wielded by agencies must be eliminated. Third, Congress should pass legislation rather than providing an overly broad mandates under which agencies then govern. Fourth, all agency appropriations should be approved by Congress in accordance with the principle "no taxation without representation." These reforms will help protect us from the soft despotism of the bureaucracy and help preserve limited government. It is consistent with our history and our traditions.




Haiti - Covid-19 : The Scientific Cell evokes scenarios of more than 20,000 deaths in the country





Friday, April 24, Dr. Patrick Delly, Dr. Guerda Coicou, Dr. Jacques Boncy and Wilcox Toyo, members of the scientific cell for managing the health crisis, spoke at the Permanent Information Center on the Coronavirus to present the recommendations submitted to the country's health authorities in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic.



Dr. Patrick Delly, Director of Laboratory and Research Epidemiology (DELR) and coordinator of the scientific cell for managing the health crisis, indicated that the current trend of Covid-19 in Haiti is on the rise and this , in a big way.



For Dr. Delly, the situation is alarming because of the speed of the virus's spread. He said that the Ministry of Public Health had received 773 alerts, 690 suspected cases had been notified with 652 tests being carried out.



The scientific cell informs that there have been 75 confirmed cases of people contaminated by Covid-19 since the first case in the country, but that does not mean that it is only these people who are sick across the country. Because several individuals are carriers of the virus but are asymptomatic while being contagious.



Dr. Coicou also stressed that outreach awareness is very important to prevent the disease and the whole community must get involved and especially the media. The committee recommended closing the border, the doors of schools and universities. They also suggested reducing the workforce of essential businesses and practicing prevention and hygiene by washing hands, wearing masks, social distancing... They also recommended that public transport be done with maximum 4 passengers per tap-tap.



The scientific committee recommended to the Government:



Avoid gatherings of more than 10 people;



Maintain the curfew;



Avoid unimportant travel (they proposed to maintain the curfew so that night activities can be stopped);



Isolate individuals tested positive;



Make wearing a mask mandatory;



Avoid unnecessary trips;



Set up devices for hand washing;



Use the chlorinated carpet for cleaning the feet at the entrance of houses and high-traffic buildings in order to avoid the transmission of the virus;



Encourage all measures to improve the environment.



With regard to strategies for the care of patients with coronavirus, the committee suggests that the country's health authorities :



Create a patient sorting corridor;



Make necessary inputs and materials available to medical personnel;



Follow the treatment protocol for nursing staff;



Use breathing machines only in extreme cases.



In addition, the scientific committee also proposed to the government to suspend the deportations during this pandemic period.



Regarding psychological care, the scientific committee suggests that people do not practice the stigmatization of people with Covid-19. Such a practice forces the sick to hide, which is harmful to restrict the spread of the virus in the country.



The scientific committee also made recommendations to the health authorities on the management of corpses including the funeral or burial procedure.



In addition, the members of the scientific committee are worried about the current behavior of the population and predict that if the recommendations are not followed, Dr. Patrick Delly, Director of epidemiology of Laboratories and Research declared "The barrier gestures are very effective in fighting the virus. We must prepare for a massive wave of new cases if hygiene measures are not followed [...] In the best possible scenario, we predict about 2,000 deaths, but, depending on the evolution of the situation, we can take these forecasts and multiply them by five [...] in a catastrophic context, we can go beyond 20,000 deaths [...]"



Finally, the scientific committee invites professionals from various health fields to come and contribute in the fight against the coronavirus. He proposes that the authorities create 9,000 beds for the care of future people who will be affected by Covid-19.



Members of the scientific unit : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30384-haiti-politic-creation-of-a-scientific-cell-to-manage-the-covid-19-crisis.html



HL/ HaitiLibre


















The paramedic was appalled. She had been called to three separate long-term-care homes in Mississauga. She found staff wearing protective masks around their necks, residents roaming the halls, even a doughnut box, open and shared, at the nurses station. That was this week.

I wasnt surprised it was spreading around long-term-care homes, said the paramedic, who asked not to be identified. And then you see it first hand, and oh my God, its business as usual. Theres a complete fallacy coming from the government on long-term care that they know what is happening there. I didnt know what was happening there, until I saw it.

Meanwhile, the Mississauga emergency room doctor was uncertain. This week Mississauga Hospital saw a sudden flood of COVID-19 patients from long-term-care homes. In Quebec, such patients are pushing the health-care system towards overcapacity. Montreal hospitals are battling coronavirus outbreaks, and LTC patients come in and dont go back to the homes, which takes up intensive care beds and resources. One Montreal ER doctor describes it as being attacked from outside and inside.

And in Mississauga this week, long-term-care patients have begun to arrive as the disease ravages Ontario LTCs. Most patients are extremely old and brittle. Often they have debilitating neurological conditions, like dementia or Alzheimers. Some are nonverbal. Some have bedsores. The ER doctors scan the file for goals of care, verified ones, end-of-life protocols. When they find it, it is a road map.

Its such a relief when someone comes in and you look for goals of care, and you find it, or someone tells you the answer, says Dr. Sarah Stonehocker, an ER doctor at Mississauga Hospital.

That moment is such a relief. OK, well do our job. If thats full resuscitation, lets go. It would make such a difference if people came in with that already.

Often, they havent.

One in five Canadians actually has an advanced care plan, and the majority of Canadians havent even had the conversation with their loved ones, says Dr. Samir Sinha, the director of geriatrics at Mount Sinai and the University Health Network. The idea is every family, every (long-term-care home) resident, should have a right to negotiate their own surrender, and not necessarily be forced into it.

You want to be able to choose how you die, and not be in discomfort, says Dr. Dan Shogilev, who also works in the ER at Mississauga. I want to die with some dignity. Ask a lot of doctors and theyll say, if I need to be intubated, pull the plug. Because we see what goes on.

The ER sets the trajectory for treatment, and the roads diverge. Intubation carries a heavy risk of aerosolization of the virus, and eats up protective personal equipment that is already scarce. At this stage, only 12-15 per cent of COVID-19 patients are estimated to get off ventilators at all. And then there is the indignity of the treatment itself.

Some patients dont want to be intubated, or resuscitated. Some do. But the decision is easier if doctors know what the patient wants.

Theres a lot of weight of responsibility in those first few moments with a critically ill patient, says Stonehocker. Those are big things to try to figure out when their oxygen saturation is dropping, and you cant talk to family because nobodys allowed in, and I cant tell you how many times Ive called the number on the chart and its out of service. So how do you get a hold of the next of kin?

And the reason its difficult for us is, I mean, I cant speak for everyone. But I really care what happens to these people.

When hospitals prepared for the outbreak they focused on airways, ventilators, intubation. Italy showed what happened when a heath system was overwhelmed: doctors had to decide who got a chance to live on a ventilator, and who did not.

In Mississauga, Stonehocker and Shogilev pointed out the hospital might want palliative doctors and nurses in the ER. Because if Italy was any indication, people would need to know how to handle dying.

Theres a very skilled way that especially palliative care doctors are able to talk about this, without using the words chest compression and breathing tubes, says Shogilev. It really takes the onus and the huge emotional weight off the families. If I have two minutes to have a conversation  its a stacked question. What are they supposed to say? No, just let my mom die?

Its an art, and it can take a lot of time and training, says Dr. Manisha Sharma, a palliative doctor at Credit Valley Hospital who worked with Shogilev and Stonehocker to figure out a better way. And a good conversation takes 20 minutes to a half-hour, to really get into those fears and hopes and wishes, and quality of life. And the emergency room is the worst place to figure that out.

You wont be able to talk in a lot of those situations, says Sinha. Its a deer in the headlights: youre in the emerg, your mom isnt breathing badly enough to need a tube but were getting there, and the family is in tears looking at me, and I say, does Mom want to be on a vent, or not?

If long-term-care homes hit hospitals here Ontarios hospitals the way they have in Quebec, that lack of planning could help tip the health-care system into crisis.

If a long-term-care home patient stays in the hospital for 24 hours, they dont go back. That means a bed, and some ICUs in and around Toronto are already filling up. And for some patients whose quality of life is already greatly degraded, chest compression and the invasiveness of intubation  a tube, inserted down the throat into the lungs, necessitating paralytic drugs that are already running low in Ontario  are almost certainly futile.

For some it is not saving a life: it is the prolongation of suffering, and death.

Especially with a respiratory illness like COVID, in the dying process, when youre dying theres a feeling of air hunger, like youre drowning, says Shogilev. And thats a very uncomfortable feeling.

So there is that moment where doctors have to figure out what to do. Shogilev had two 90-year-olds come in earlier this week in very, very bad shape, and neither had end-of-life instructions. He spent over an hour tracking down their families, and getting them on the phone.

Luckily, the ER wasnt busy, and he had time. Neither wanted intubation and chest compression, and the patients went back to their long-term-care homes. Dr. Shogilev hopes they found peace.

We want to do right by them, says Shogilev. If I was busier yesterday, the two patients might be intubated today.

At Shogilev and Stonehockers urging, with Sharmas help, Mississauga Hospital and Credit Valley Hospital decided to add palliative nurses in the ER, to handle the difficult conversations when they arise. For patients whose advanced care directives say no intubation, many long-term-care homes can provide the same basic comforts: oxygen supplementation, morphine, hydration short of an IV. Sinha has heard from many families who want their family member to die at home, if death is what is coming.

So that needs to be a conversation in Canada, right now. How do you want the life of a loved one to end? Not the last second; the last 100 yards of the race. Its hard. When my father died at the end of his decline with dementia, we decided let him go without every intervention, because it was time, and his life wasnt life anymore. It was mercy. That decision is coming for some Canadians, in this pandemic age.

Dying is one of the most sacred experiences that anybody can have, and the process of dying, were so poor at handling that as a society, says Shogilev. My honest hope is that once this pandemic is over theres a change in attitude in how we do this. Theres so much suffering that we see that could be avoided.

Even as the coronavirus doesnt overwhelm Canada, it can be overwhelming. Maybe we can make the hardest parts less of a weight.
Allee Wallace likes to talk. Thats no secret.

He likes to talk about his life, about the 16 years he spent working as a photographer at UTSAs Institute of Cultures and briefly for former Mayor Phil Hardberger. He likes to talk about his late wife, a talented fashion designer and seamstress. And he likes to talk about his Army career.

So on Friday afternoon, after fighting COVID-19 for a month, it was no surprise what 85-year-old Wallace did next.

He talked.

After going through all this, and seeing people around me dropping like flies, it really puts things in perspective, Wallace told a handful of medical professionals, who gathered around him as he was leaving a San Antonio long-term acute care hospital.

It was really hard, he said. You guys know how hard it is. But I just kept remembering that Jesus Christ will come to save us all.

A few nurses, in scrubs and face masks, began clapping. Amen, one said. Others pulled out their phones and pressed record.

Im feeling great, he said. Im happy to be going home.

His daughter, Zenzi Ferrell-Lewis, who hadnt seen her father in over a month, turned his way, trying to take it all in. At 85, he may be among the oldest people in San Antonio to recover from the virus.

Not many 85-year-olds recover from this disease, she said. Im lucky hes still here.

On ExpressNews.com: Doris Wallace contracted COVID-19 and so did her husband

A little over a month ago, on March 16, Wallace noticed his wife, Doris, looked ill. He took her to Brooke Army Medical Center, where doctors said she had pneumonia, likely from holding food in her mouth and causing her to aspirate.

She also had a slight fever.

Doctors said there wasnt much they could do. For years, Doris Wallace had suffered from Lewy body dementia, causing significant memory loss and damage to motor functions. They advised the family to prepare to say goodbye.

Two days later, Allee began to have difficulty breathing. Ferrell-Lewis was worried. Her father was in good health, the type of guy to take a little NyQuil and sleep it off. She rushed him to BAMC, where the doctors tested him for the novel coronavirus.

That evening, as he waited for the test result to come back, he asked his medical team if he could see his wife one more time. She was about to be transferred to a local nursing home for hospice care. He knew this likely would be the last time he would see her.

The medical staff led her to his room. He called out her name. She opened her eyes and looked right at him.

Baby, I did my best, he recalled telling her, his eyes brimming with tears. I tried. Im not strong enough to keep you here.

In that moment, he felt the presence of God comforting him.

Let me have her for awhile, the voice said.

Wallace said a few last words and the nurses led his wife away.

A few days later, they learned she also was infected with the coronavirus. Leola Doris Wallace died on March 21, the first person in Bexar County to die from COVID-19 complications. She was 83.

Josie Norris /Staff Photographer

A witness to God

For Allee Wallace, the days that followed were a blur. His oxygen levels dipped. He was transferred to the intensive care unit. He didnt know where he was, or who he was.

But slowly, Wallace began to recover. After a week in the hospital, he was transferred to Post Acute Medical Specialty Hospital in the Medical Center, where he stayed for a month.

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Wallace said his treatment was difficult. At times, when his faith faltered, he prayed to God. His worries would fade.

He said the experience  while traumatic  gave him a newfound appreciation for life.

He knows he will miss his wife, who would spend days redecorating their house to match a piece of new furniture.

But Wallace also is excited. Over the past 12 years, as his wifes condition deteriorated, Wallace insisted on taking care of her, refusing any offer from by his two children to hire a home health aide.

Now, he can work on the many projects hes put aside. He wants to write a book reflecting on his experiences at the hospital. He wants to compose more hymns, perhaps record some and send them to friends undergoing treatment in nursing homes.

Ive been a witness to God, Wallace said. This gives me the opportunity to write more about what God can do in your life.

On Friday, Wallace was giddy with excitement. He was worried about going home, where there would be many memories of his late wife. But he also was eager to look around the house, see what projects he could get back to.

As he got ready to leave, his treatment team brought him a few gifts: a bright gold crown, four strings of Mardi Gras beads, bright metallic balloons and a congratulatory medal.

As Wallace spoke, Ferrell-Lewis turned to her father again. Earlier that day, she had joked about pinching him. She wanted to make sure the moment was real  that her energetic, thoughtful, firecracker of a father still was here.

You are just soaking all this up, arent you? Ferrell-Lewis teased, slapping her fathers discharge packet against his stomach lightly.

She put her hand on her hip and turned to her fathers case manager.

Josie Norris /Staff Photographer

He better get used to going home and cooking his own breakfast again, she said, the smile hidden under her blue face mask. The crowd laughed.

Before long, Allee Wallace was talking again. After all, he has a story to tell. And nothing is going to stop him from telling it.

Emilie Eaton is a criminal justice reporter in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. To read more from Emilie, become a subscriber. eeaton@express-news.net | Twitter: @emilieeaton
With yet another stunning portrait of cosmic phenomena, NASA celebrated the 30th launch anniversary of it's prized Hubble Space Telescope by unveiling an iconic new image a firestorm of star birth in a neighboring galaxy.

In the latest Hubble image shared by NASA, the giant red nebula (NGC 2014) and its smaller blue neighbor (NGC 2020) are part of a vast star-forming region in the Large Magellanic Cloud, a satellite galaxy of the Milky Way, located about 163,000 light-years away. The image has been nicknamed the 'Cosmic Reef' owing to its resemblance to the undersea world.

Read: NASA Shares Sparkling Night View Of Earth From Space With Endearing Message Amid Pandemic

Take a look at the iconic image here:

Read: NASA Shares Hubble's Most 'Iconic' Images Of Eagle Nebulas Pillars Of Creation

Hubble's long haul

On 24 April 1990, NASA shot the giant telescope into the Earth's orbit from it's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The Hubble was carried aloft on the Discovery space shuttle with a five-astronaut crew. The highly advanced telescope has revolutionised our understanding of space and modern astronomy with over 1.4 million observations to date and its iconic images continue to redefine our view of the universe and our place in time and space.

Unhindered by Earth's blurring atmosphere, the Hubble telescope captures cosmic underpinnings with crystal-clear sharpness across a broad range of wavelengths - from ultraviolet to near infrared light.

As recorded by NASA, the giant telescope's top accomplishments include measuring the rate of expansion and acceleration of the universe, establishing that black holes are common phenomena across galaxies, monitoring weather patterns of planets in the solar system, and looking back in time across 97% of the universe to chronicle the birth and evolution of stars and galaxies.

Read: NASA Develops Special 'high-pressure Ventilator' In Just 37 Days For COVID-19 Patients

Taking the celebration a step further, NASA also released a descriptive video giving a tour of the stunning 'Cosmic Reef' image and describing the telescope's current health as Hubble's senior project scientist, Dr. Jennifer Wiseman detailed on some of Hubble's contributions to modern astronomy in the course of its 30-year career.

Take a look at it here:

Read: NASA Commemorates Earth Day 2020 With Iconic 'Blue Marble' - Earth's First Pic From Space
BAGHDAD  Iraq is preparing to ease its confinement measures as the number of COVID-19 infections in the country lessens, despite challenges to the health system and measures relating to the diagnosis, quarantine, treatment, and body disposal.

The number of confirmed cases hit 1,677, with 83 deaths April 24, with figures pointing at a continued decline for the third week. So far, 1,171 people have recovered, and 423 are still in the ICU, which also points toward a higher recovery rate among the new confirmed cases.

Hassan Khalati, a member of the Iraq parliament crisis cell, said April 20 that Iraq is ranked third in the world with a 60% recovery rate, adding that the cases have been on the decline, and recovery is on the rise compared to the infections.

The Health Ministry announced April 22 that no new death cases were recorded for the second day in a row in Iraq, which shows a clear improvement in the disease outbreak.

Based on that, the authorities reduced curfew hours. The Higher Committee for Health and National Safety, which is tasked with combating COVID-19, said April 19 that the curfew will be partially lifted during Ramadan, from 6 a.m. till 7 p.m.

The Kurdistan region is also trying to normalize life after more than a month of lockdown. The situation is improving despite shortages in testing and medical equipment. Yet multiple countries and organizations contributed support to Iraq's health care system by providing equipment and supplies.

The United States and the World Health Organization (WHO) gave Iraq assistance in this regard.

Also, Chinese experts arrived in Iraq, along with modern equipment, including a pulmonary X-ray for the early diagnosis of COVID-19, and lab supplies. The supplies and equipment arrived in batches, most recently April 21.

The Health Ministry set up on-site testing posts to ensure there are no potential infections in Baghdad and other provinces. Al-Monitor observed that these tests are done randomly.

Dr. Hala Qahtan, a family doctor in Bayya medical center in Baghdad, told Al-Monitor that the hospitals response to suspected cases is swift. They require patients to take two different tests within 48 hours to see if they need to be placed in isolation. All the measures are in accordance with WHO standards, she added.

Khalati indicated that Iraq is heading toward a full recovery with the above-mentioned measures.

The bed occupancy rate did not exceed 20% of the available capacity, which means that we are still in control of the situation. Yet we seek additional precautions in order to continue to be able to have control over the situation in case of contingency, Khalati said.

Commenting on the quarantine measures, Dr. Muslim Taleb Tamimi of Ibn El-Khateeb Hospital, where COVID-19 patients are treated and isolated, said the hospital has enough tests and rooms for new patients. Also, the Medical City allocated one of its buildings for the treatment of COVID-19 patients, and two hotels were leased, including Baghdad Hotel, to house those who have been in close contact with confirmed cases.

Al-Monitor learned from a security supervisor at the Baghdad airport, Tahsin al-Baldawi, that all Iraqi citizens who return to the country are tested and those infected are escorted to the isolation center.

Tamimi said treatment measures are in line with WHO standards and that there are ongoing patrols to monitor those quarantined at home or receiving treatment in hospitals. He said that the doctors are treating COVID-19 symptoms as much as possible given that there is no cure or vaccine.

Commenting on the handling of dead bodies, Dr. Hala Kahtan noted that they are disinfected and placed into three bags, and then into iron boxes before burial in two-meter-deep soil.

The Al-Abbas Shrine is also enshrouding the dead bodies and ensuring a safe burial. It allocated a place at the Wadi al-Salaam cemetery in Najaf for the burial of COVID-19 victims. The authorities have prohibited public gatherings during funerals, only allowing nuclear family members to be present.

Based on the above-mentioned indicators, one can say that Iraq has control over the outbreak, with a lower number of deaths and many cases of recoveries over the past three weeks. Yet medical staff warn that cases could increase if Iraqis do not respect the quarantine and curfew.

Ending COVID-19 in Iraq would be an important precedent in the region and a historical achievement, especially in light of difficult economic conditions and medical shortages.
Nine major Houston-area malls on Friday began facilitating curbside pickup for retail tenants restarting sales under Gov. Greg Abbotts recent executive order allowing retail-to-go operations.

Shoppers at Baybrook, Deerbrook, First Colony, The Galleria, Houston Premium Outlets, Katy Mills, Memorial City, Willowbrook and The Woodlands malls can now purchase products from participating retailers via phone or online, drive to a designated pickup location at the mall and have a store employee drop it off in the back seat or trunk of their vehicle. At Memorial City Mall, customers can also pick up their purchases from an automated package locker.

Many retailers, forced to close indefinitely under stay-at-home orders, are offering steep discounts to draw customers and bolster lagging sales.

CAUTIOUS APPROACH:

Yesenia Gonzalez, 22, said she ordered some charms and earrings from Pandora on Friday morning, and drove to Memorial City Mall to pick them up from a package locker operated by a Houston startup called Uno. An assistant manager at Panera Bread, she said she wanted to buy a birthday gift for her friend who is planning a small get-together after the stay-at-home order ends later this month.

Its just weird, Gonzalez said of the experience of picking up her order from the mall. I usually spend two hours here before I would go home.

The so-called retail-to-go business model has already been embraced by most major grocers and big-box retailers. Walmart has installed automated pickup towers, Target has designated online-pickup kiosks and Home Depot and Whole Foods have automated package lockers inside their stores. H-E-B and Kroger in recent years have expanded curbside pickup and home delivery, including investing in self-driving grocery delivery vehicles.

But malls, long focused on captivating leisure shoppers and tourists looking for a fun outing, have been slow to adopt the buy online, pick up in store model, which can be difficult to execute in a large sprawling mall with many retailers. Instead, malls have invested heavily in amenities such as outdoor green spaces, indoor playgrounds and ice-skating rinks, and repurposing defunct department stores into high-end and fast-casual restaurants, bars, movie theaters and fitness clubs to create the sort of engaging experiences that will lure back consumers increasingly shopping online.

The whole premise of the mall is, you come here and experience things, said Venky Shankar, research director at Texas A&M Universitys Center for Retailing Studies. But the business model of malls will have to change. The coronavirus has increased the need to have an online and mobile presence. Its the new normal.

Slow start

Shankar said it will take time for shoppers to return to malls, as consumers are still reeling from the virus and its economic fallout, which has caused a spike in unemployment. Since March, 1.3 million Texans have filed applications for unemployment benefits, nearly double all the claims submitted statewide during all of 2019, according to the U.S. Labor Department.

Indeed, only a handful of customers showed up at local malls to pick up merchandise on Friday, underscoring the daunting task facing malls as they look to reopen to the public after the pandemic passes.

Morning Report:

Before Simon Property Trust temporarily closed its malls, which include The Galleria, Houston Premium Outlets and Katy Mill, foot traffic across their Texas properties plunged by 71.1 percent in early March from the month before as shoppers wary of public gathering places opted to stay indoors, according to commercial real estate firm JLL.

Retail sales nationally plunged 8.7 percent in March, the biggest one-month drop on record, according to the latest report from the U.S. Commerce Department. Apparel and accessories sales were down 50.5 percent, department store sales fell 19.7 percent and electronics sales dove 15.1 percent month over month.

Consumers who ventured out to malls to pick up their online purchases Friday said they needed to buy gifts for birthdays and the upcoming Mothers Day. One 20-something man said he was picking up an engagement ring to surprise his girlfriend.

Jump on competition

Uno, which installs automated package lockers at malls and strip centers and delivers online orders to customer homes, saw the need for malls to adopt e-commerce well before the coronavirus began spreading across the nation. The company in December installed 60 package lockers at Memorial City Mall. Shoppers can order online from a participating mall retailer, have their purchases placed in a secure locker and access their goods via an emailed code.

Breaking News:

Tyson Shields, an Uno co-founder, said the company handled 10 to 20 orders a day before it was forced to temporarily halt operations in March under local stay-at-home orders. After relaunching on Friday, Shields said he anticipated a surge in business from mall retailers looking to sell products online and from consumers looking for a contactless way to pick up products.

Uno has partnered with four Memorial City Mall retailers: GameStop, Hallmark, Pandora and Sun & Ski, and is in talks with more than 20 retailers interested in partnering with the company. By midday Friday, it had placed 25 online purchases from Pandora inside its mall lockers, Shields said.

Uno charges mall retailers $1 per order to place inside its lockers, and between $8 and $10 to deliver orders to customers homes. The companys package lockers are cleaned every time an employee places products inside, and a hand sanitizing station is located next to the lockers.

Its taken a while for brick-and-mortar to grasp e-commerce, Shields said. After coronavirus, theyre starting to realize its important.

paul.takahashi@chron.com

twitter.com/paultakahashi
CALGARY - An organization that works with immigrants says the temporary closure of a large slaughterhouse in southern Alberta has left many among its largely Filipino workforce fearful for the future.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 25/4/2020 (627 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Cargill announced a temporary shut down of its beef plant near High River where officials in the area are dealing with over 400 cases of COVID-19 linked to the plant, including the death of a worker, in High River, Alta., Thursday, April 23, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

CALGARY - An organization that works with immigrants says the temporary closure of a large slaughterhouse in southern Alberta has left many among its largely Filipino workforce fearful for the future.

Cargill shut down its plant just north of High River, Alta., earlier this week after an outbreak of COVID-19 and the death of one employee. The decision put 2,000 employees out of work.

Marichu Antonio from Action Dignity said 70 per cent of the workers at Cargill are Filipino. There are also Mexicans, Chinese and Vietnamese working at the plant.

Her organization, previously known as the Ethno-Cultural Council of Calgary, assists new Canadians obtain services. She said it has received hundreds of calls from Cargill workers.

Antonio, who is originally from the Philippines, said people are worried about what happens after the plant reopens.

"The possibility of death is so real right now. They know the long-term implications to their families if something happens to them as the main breadwinners, so they're very worried They're afraid," she said.

"They don't know what their future is and they don't know what is best for them."

Antonio said the death of the Cargill worker in her 60s has hit many people hard.

"The woman who passed away was of Vietnamese descent. She took her sick day that Friday and then she was hospitalized Saturday and passed away Sunday."

Antonio's organization helped the woman's husband arrange a funeral.

Cesar Cala, a co-convener of the Filipino Emergency Response Task Force, said a significant number of plant employees are temporary foreign workers here in Canada alone. There are also many with permanent resident status who have their families with them.

He said those who are sending money home often look to save expenses by moving in with other workers.

"Either they rent places or they make living arrangements with other workers from other businesses. It's a good way to save money."

The cost savings go beyond living together.

"They car-pool. Most of them live in Calgary, so it saves a lot of money for them to go in a car-pool ... five of them going there together and coming back."

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Cala said workers are worried about their health and feeling pressure to head back to work, even if they are still showing symptoms. He said having a steady income is a priority for them.

"For a lot of the (temporary foreign workers), their employment and their status to stay in Canada is tied up to their employment. It's not just losing their jobs," he said.

"It might be about losing their status as well. They've incurred so much cost coming to Canada and they're also quite anxious, because there's no clarity on what's going to happen and what's in store."

Antonio said her group has been urging workers to tell their stories publicly.

"We've been asking them ... to share their stories and their reality, but they're afraid that they may not be rehired. There are many stories that they can tell."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 25, 2020
A 50-year-old terminally ill man from Uttar Pradeshs Bijnore district has put the Jammu and Kashmir administration in a dilemma and his attendants distraught over his request to see his family for the last time during the Covid-19 lockdown.

Narinder Singh, a migrant labourer from Mirzapur Bela in Bijnore, was hospitalised at the Government Medical College and Hospital in Jammu on April 18 and discharged on request on April 23. He was diagnosed with last stage cancer.

Singhs attendants alleged that repeated pleas to shift him to his village where he could see his family one last time have so far not evoked any positive response.

Arif, one of Singhs attendants, said doctors at the hospital told them that there was no chance of his survival and he could be taken back home.

I informed his family over the phone, who want to see him one last time. We have completed all the documentation and have arranged an ambulance but none in the administration is granting us the permission to ferry him to his native place, Rajeev, Singhs nephew, said.

Sanjeev Verma, Jammus the divisional commissioner, however, said there were certain rules to be followed in such cases.

First, they need to apply. He is a cancer patient, how can we issue movement pass to him. God forbid if something happens to him during travel then who will be held responsible? Verma asked.

He said it involved a human being and he would help them while adhering to protocols.

The attendants have now urged Lieutenant Government Girish Chandra Murmu to help them.

The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) had worked in close coordination with four states and Jammu and Kashmir to airlift an ailing 50-year-old man from Rajouri to Jammu. They then transferred him to Chandigarh and simultaneously traced his son who was coming from Mumbai on a bicycle to reach his father.

Wazir Hussain had suffered a brain stroke and was subsequently operated upon by a team of neurosurgeons at Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh.

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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 25)  Philippine labor officials are working to have a Filipina caregiver in Taiwan be deported for alleged cyberlibel.

A statement from the Department of Labor and Employment on Saturday accused the Filipina. a caregiver in Yunlin County, of cyber libel for the "wilful posting of nasty and malevolent materials against President Duterte on Facebook intended to cause hatred amidst the global health crisis brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic."

The Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Taiwan said they got in touch with the OFW's broker and employer on her deportation.

The DOLE statement said they met with the OFW on April 20 at her workplace to "enlighten" her that her actions "amounted to a crime for which she might be prosecuted both in Taiwan and the Philippines."

It added the woman was cooperative and committed to delete the material and said she would not do it again. According to DOLE, the OFW said she would upload a video stating a public apology to both Duterte and the "people of the government" that evening.

However, after the visit, there were posts on the Facebook page of POLO Taichung which they said were made by fake accounts that were supportive of the OFW.

DOLE said they found out the OFW was using several social media accounts "and has a group organized to discredit and malign the President and destabilize the government."

DOLE said the sharing and posting of such videos are punishable under Republic Act No. 10175, the cyber libel law.
CHICAGO  On a busy stretch of Cermak Road in the Chicago suburb Cicero, a nine-story nursing home towers over a collection of shops and  by one measure  also looms as one of the states biggest hot spots for COVID-19.

Called City View Multicare Center, the massive nursing home by last Sunday afternoon had tallied at least 38 cases of COVID-19 among residents and employees, with six deaths. Cicero officials obtained the figures from the home and posted them on the towns website.

But if residents had gone to the states online lookup tool for nursing homes to check on cases, theyd have seen a far different numbers for City View: just two deaths and -- inexplicably -- a single case.

Cicero Fire Chief Dominick Buscemi said hes not sure why the states figures are so low. It was a shock to us, too, he said.

The disparity is a glaring example of a broad problem facing Illinois as it battles the pandemic: inconsistencies and omissions in the data it is collecting on COVID-19 cases.

Health officials want to quickly learn as much as possible about each person infected with the new coronavirus  including where they live, their age and race, and what they do for a living  to help figure out how the disease is spreading and who is most vulnerable.

The state should be in a good position to carry out that kind of analysis. Illinois already has a system in place in which health care providers are required by law to report details on all kinds of diseases, from botulism to chlamydia.

But as the COVID-19 virus has spread rapidly, with tens of thousands of confirmed cases in Illinois, its become clear that the information the state has compiled on patients is far from complete.

For example, the race or ethnicity of the infected person is missing in a fourth of all entries  a gap in information that has especially frustrated Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot.

And although Gov. J.B. Pritzker has said one of his goals is to track infections among health care workers, the state has acknowledged that, for thousands of reported cases, the persons occupation was not listed.

Meanwhile, the states new nursing home lookup tool  released a week ago  has presented figures that, at times, do not align with public statements from the nursing homes, local officials or even the state itself.

In a statement, an Illinois Department of Public Health spokeswoman acknowledged discrepancies exist but said that state and local health officials are doing the best they can using a strained collection system amid an unprecedented pandemic.

While the data are important and we are collecting and tracking it, the priority is to stop the spread, said agency spokeswoman Melaney Arnold.

At news conferences, state officials have pointed out that the data is provisional, or subject to change, and that the agency relies on doctors, hospitals, local health officials and others to input it.

I know it sounds like its straightforward, the agencys head, Dr. Ngozi Ezike, told reporters Monday. But its a little complex. ... The information that we pull out had to have been submitted.

She added Friday: Were working with all of our partners to try to get as much data put in and updated in a timely basis.

Pritzker offered a similar message Wednesday, when asked about an inconsistency.

Again," he said, its about the data in and data out.

Part of the plan

In planning for a possible pandemic, the state envisioned that its robust system for collecting data on diseases could allow swift and sophisticated analysis to guide policymakers.

The data from the state feeds into a broader system created by the federal government, the National Electronic Disease Surveillance System or NEDSS. Illinois version is known as I-NEDSS. Even with no pandemic, its a 24-hour data workhorse, allowing state epidemiologists to track outbreaks ranging from Legionnaires disease to the West Nile virus.

State and local officials use other data systems to help gather information on infected residents, including systems for lab reports, deaths and hospital patient symptoms. But I-NEDSS is the primary one to log confirmed cases.

According to the states pandemic preparedness plan, its "specifically designed to handle outbreak situations, such as a ... pandemic event.

The plan states that I-NEDSS can track, every 60 seconds, case distribution by city, county and ZIP code; pregnancy status; hospitalization and emergency department admissions; deaths ... ; age, sex and race breakdowns; sensitive occupations, including health care workers; out-of-country travel histories; and laboratory confirmation by either CDC or IDPH.

But it cant crunch data thats not entered.

Entries on cases are required by law to include a patients name, age, date of birth, sex, race, ethnicity, address, email address and telephone number, as well as any other relevant information the state seeks.

Illinois surpasses testing goal, unveiling daily high of new COVID-19 cases The Illinois Department of Public Health reported Friday that 16,124 tests were completed in the past 24 hours, shattering the states previous daily high of more than 9,000.

People familiar with the system say it relies largely on a variety of health care employees, working in hospitals, labs and other settings, to type the information into a secure, online database. But they dont always fill out all the fields.

Local health departments are tasked by law with trying to fill in the blanks. In DuPage County, for example, 20% to 30% of cases can be missing fields, according to the countys medical officer, Dr. Rashmi Chugh.

The departments staff, while beefed up to help handle the pandemic, still must prioritize which missing information to chase down, as time allows, she said. The county employees also must cope with a rush of new forms, often faxed in, that document the results from ramped-up testing.

A lot of times, all were getting is a fax report of a result that typically does not include a lot of the demographic information we need, Chugh said.

The gaps dont surprise Dr. Perry Smith, a retired New York state epidemiologist whos worked with such systems and studied their challenges.

He said the systems rely on many workers to input and vet data. With sick or deceased patients, the families may not be reachable or may not have answers to all the questions. Or cases may have been entered twice, requiring a careful edit. And government health budgets have been cut.

Unfortunately," he said, "over the decades, I think public health surveillance has fallen behind. I know it has.

Not negotiable

Earlier this month, journalists with WBEZ-FM reported that African Americans were dying at higher rates than other groups in Cook County. That report was based not on data from the state but on records kept by the Cook County medical examiners office.

The racial disparity raised an important question: If so many African Americans were dying from the disease, how many had tested positive? Reporters and public health officials realized that a lot of the cases being sent to the state didnt list the race of the infected person.

Lightfoot, visibly frustrated, called on providers not to skip over the boxes that provide us with the demographic information thats essential to understanding the viruss spread.

She said the city would order it. She said it was not negotiable.

We must understand the magnitude of the impact of this virus on all of our communities," she said.

That was April 6, when race or ethnicity entries were missing for nearly 1,300 Chicagoans who had tested positive, or 25%.

More than two weeks later, the problem appears worse, with such entries missing for more than 4,300 people -- 27% of those testing positive. Thats roughly the same percentage seen statewide.

More missing data

On April 17, Ezike was asked how many health care workers had tested positive for the coronavirus, and how many had died.

According to the states pandemic plan, the answers should have been readily available. The plan noted that I-NEDSS system was programmed to capture such information.

We have the occupational status for many of the cases that are in the database, but we havent broken it out like that, Ezike responded.

That same day, her state agency provided the Tribune with the figures -- such as they were. Out of more than 27,000 people who had tested positive at the time, occupations were specified for fewer than 4,000. That group included 1,717 health care workers, with six deaths.

Ezike was asked again Wednesday about the figures. At the podium, as she thumbed through pages in a white binder, she paused.

So again, I have to remind all that the data thats put into our electronic reporting systems is put in by someone else, she said. Were not going into the hospitals to get it. ... So it may not be complete. Again, its what we have."

She then reported the number of infected health care workers had climbed above 2,500, with eight deaths.

Her agency later clarified to the Tribune that thousands of cases still didnt include occupation information. Even when narrowing cases to people age 17 to 69 -- the primary working years -- occupations were missing for nearly half.

Inconsistencies

Perhaps the clearest gaps have been exposed in the states long-awaited tallies of cases related to nursing homes and other long-term care facilities -- settings where experts long feared deadly outbreaks.

The Pritzker administration initially resisted calls to release statistics on cases and deaths tied to individual facilities before bowing to pressure for transparency.

Last Sunday, Ezikes agency unveiled a website that listed cases and deaths tied to each long-term care facility. But reporters, and families monitoring homes, quickly found numbers that didnt add up.

The total number of long-term care facilities on the site with at least one confirmed case was lower than the number the state had released days earlier: 186, down from 305.

The states new list also missed some cases that facilities themselves had publicly announced, such as those at the Lincoln Park facility for Little Sisters of the Poor. The group had told the Tribune it had 14 cases, with four deaths. Yet the Tribune could not find the home listed on the state website.

The inconsistencies arent just in Chicagoland. An Illinois Times reporter on Wednesday questioned why the states database didnt list a Sangamon County nursing home where local officials had confirmed multiple cases, starting in March, and a death three days before the states list came out.

Public health officials cautioned that the data released by the state is not up to date. The state, for example, said the figures it published last Sunday were two days old.

But that still wouldnt explain many discrepancies the Tribune and others found. Officials noted again that the states system relies on others to input the data.

Ezike on Monday said the state pulls data from its systems hourly. But she acknowledged challenges in getting data from "multiple reporting systems and a lot of players.

The agency spokeswoman said Friday that the states priority, once a case is reported, is ensuring that homes take steps to stop the viruss spread.

Reporting numbers is not the most important function at this time and can wait while the facility and public health focus on resident safety and care, Arnold said.

Hot spot

In Cicero, town officials dont wait for case numbers to roll in from local nursing homes. Buscemi, the fire chief, said a town official calls each of them at least once a day.

After all, he said, Cicero needs to know as soon as possible where the hot spots are. Police officers and firefighters might be going into those buildings.

The town also has made its findings public. For a month, Cicero has published updates on its website about a host of COVID-related topics.

The updates show the town was concerned about City View, which federal records show is the largest federally regulated nursing home in Illinois -- with 485 beds -- and has regulators lowest overall rating: one star out of five. Inspectors had cited the facility for health violations at nearly twice the average for Illinois homes.

City View administrators did not respond to an electronic message seeking comment. A reporter who called twice was transferred to two administrators whose voicemail boxes were too full to accept messages.

Buscemi said his crews rely on the towns own figures to chart the viruss spread, especially at City View.

We knew the facility was going to be a hot spot, he said.

Ciceros updates show City View first told the town on April 1 that two of its residents had tested positive.

By April 17, the count was 38 residents and workers, with six deaths.

That was the day the state said it pulled data for its nursing home lookup, which it published online two days later. But the website showed City View had one case and two deaths.

The Tribune asked the state about the discrepancy hours after the data was posted. The state again said that it depends on accurate data input.

But within days, the state did update its online website to report one more case for City View, listing two cases, with two deaths.

By then, Cicero officials had logged a seventh death at the home.

Tribune reporters Morgan Greene, Gregory Pratt and Robert McCoppin contributed.

Selfies: The face masks of Central Illinois

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The company is in discussions with the Treasury, Sky News understands

Britains biggest steel producer is seeking hundreds of millions of pounds in government support as the industry grapples with a slump in global orders caused by the coronavirus.

Sky News has learnt that Tata Steel, owner of the Port Talbot steelworks in South Wales, has approached ministers to ask for a funding package worth in the region of 500m.

The request is said to be under discussion with the Treasury and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

It comes after Tata Steel's big customers, which include car manufacturers, called a halt to production across Europe because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Although some plants are to reopen in the coming weeks, economists believe a recovery in industrial production will be slow and protracted with demand continuing to be weak for some time, and manufacturers forced to cope with long-term social distancing measures.

In a statement this weekend, a Tata Steel spokesman said: "We continue to work with both the UK and Welsh governments to identify what support is available."

Further details of the funding request were unclear this weekend, although it is largely understood to comprise a commercial loan that would be repayable when demand for steel recovers.

Tata Steel, which employs about 8000 people in the UK, has already been hit by a rise in raw material costs, with China's reopening after the pandemic contributing to high iron ore prices even as global demand has slumped.

Sources close to Tata Steel indicated this weekend that the talks were at a preliminary stage, and that no agreement between the company and government was imminent.

One insider said the 500m figure was a "ballpark" estimate of the company's funding need.

Tata has been wrestling with the future of the Port Talbot plant for years.

In January, Natarajan Chandrasekaran, chairman of Tata Steel's parent company, told The Sunday Times: "I need to get to a situation where at least the [Port Talbot] plant is self-sustaining.

Story continues

"Whether it is in the Netherlands or here, we can't have a situation where India keeps funding the losses just to keep it going."

Stephen Kinnock, the Labour MP whose Aberavon constituency includes the Port Talbot steelworks, has urged the Treasury to increase the limit on its Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CLBILS) beyond 50m.

He said the 50m limit represented "only one tenth of what Tata Steel believes will be the cashflow impact on the company over a six-month period".

Responding to a question in the Commons from Mr Kinnock on Wednesday, foreign secretary Dominic Raab said: "I know that the chancellor is looking carefully at the steel sector in the hon. gentleman's constituency, and at all those who are not directly benefiting from this particular scheme to ensure that in the round we are providing the measures that we need in a targeted way to support all the different crucial elements of the economy."

Mr Raab's answer has offered hope to Tata Steel that its request will be viewed sympathetically, particularly after British Steel, the industry's second-largest player, received hundreds of millions of pounds of taxpayer support after it collapsed into liquidation nearly a year ago.

British Steel was recently sold to Jingye Group, a Chinese conglomerate, and is expected to resume production at its Skinningrove works next week.

The industry association pleaded last week for government support to see it through the crisis.

"Whether it is constructing HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail or providing the steel for our new hospitals, the steel industry stands ready to support the national effort as well as the Government's infrastructure revolution and levelling up agenda," Gareth Stace, the director of UKSteel, said.

Tata Steel said last month that "a sudden drop in European steel demand after a number of steel-using manufacturers paused production, including European car manufacturers" had prompted it to slash production at some of its mills.

The company added that it was continuing to supply steel to supply chains in industries such as food packaging and construction materials for emergency medical buildings.

Roughly 1500 members of its UK workforce have been furloughed under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, according to company insiders.

Tata Steel said: "A number of European governments have introduced job retention schemes to support businesses impacted by coronavirus which Tata Steel will be using wherever appropriate.

"This includes a scheme in the UK which will lead to some employees being asked to take temporary leave."

"As a responsible employer, we will use this and other national schemes while available, and where our own activities are much reduced.

"It will allow us to retain the skills and experience we need for when steel demand recovers."
More than 500 former members of the Defence Forces have applied to re-enlist in the military.

A scheme, introduced by Minister with responsibility for defence, Paul Kehoe, allows for ex-members to rejoin for a minimum of six months and up to three years.

The move was announced at the start of the month and has already attracted 540 applications.

It is one of a number of measures brought in to help alleviate the recruitment and retention crisis in the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps.

The minister said those wishing to apply were required to meet a range of eligibility criteria such as medical and physical fitness and must also be within the age requirements for the rank for the duration of their enlistment.

Mr Kehoe disclosed the figures for up to April 15 in a response to a query from Kildare South TD and chairman of the Fine Gael parliamentary party, Martin Heydon.

The chief of staff of the Defence Forces, Vice Admiral Mark Mellett will identity where specific shortages of personnel exist and make recommendations to the minister on those that may be re-enlisted.

Work on establishing eligibility is already under way and the military authorities are also analysing each applicants skills and qualifications.

Mr Heydon pointed out that the scheme was designed for medium to long term requirements and would remain in place after the Covid-19 response was complete.

He said that while every effort was being made to return Irish troops due home from peacekeeping duties, the moratorium placed by the United Nations on upcoming rotations and leave made that difficult.

The moratorium is designed to ensure the continued operations of essential peacekeeping missions, protect vulnerable populations in conflict zones and maintain international peace and security.

A request for an exemption to the moratorium has been made but the final decision rests with the UN, he added.

The minister said the UN direction impacted upon over 100,000 uniformed personnel from more than 120 countries serving world-wide.

Troops serving with the Unifil mission in Lebanon are due to arrive home in two rotations on May 12 and May 19.

Senior officials from the Department of Defence and military officers are working to achieve an exemption from the moratorium, which is intended to last until June 30.

Mr Kehoe confirmed that peacekeepers whose service overseas was extended beyond the rotation dates would continue to receive their peace support allowances for that time, amounting to between 2,500 and 3,400 per month, in addition to their normal pay.

Those allowances will continue to be tax-free.

Personnel and families will be advised and updated by the Defence Forces as further information becomes available and as the implications of these decisions are fully evaluated to ensure that we can provide them with as much information as possible, Mr Kehoe added.
The Taliban have rejected an Afghan government call for a ceasefire for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and to let authorities focus on tackling the coronavirus, raising new concern about prospects for a fragile peace process.

Hopes for an end to Afghanistans decades of war were raised in late February when the Taliban and the United States struck a deal on the withdrawal of U.S.-led foreign forces in exchange for Taliban security guarantees.

But the deal did not include a ceasefire, which has been left to the U.S.-backed government to negotiate with the insurgents.

A Taliban spokesman, Suhail Shaheen, said in a post on Twitter that a ceasefire would be possible if the peace process was being implemented fully but hurdles meant the Taliban would not yet lay down their arms.

Asking for ceasefire is not rational and convincing, Shaheen said in his post late on Thursday.

President Ashraf Ghani called on Thursday for the ceasefire for Ramadan, which began in Afghanistan on Friday, and to allow the country to focus on what he said was a critical novel coronavirus outbreak spreading all over the country.

Afghanistan has detected more than 1,300 cases of the virus but health experts say the number could be higher as testing is limited and Afghanistans weak health system would struggle with a widespread outbreak.

The Taliban, fighting for years to expel foreign forces, agreed in February to a week-long reduction in violence to secure the agreement with the United States, which was signed on Feb. 29. But they resumed attacking government forces soon after.

The U.S.-led NATO alliance called on Friday for the Taliban to cut violence levels and join peace talks.

The current level of violence caused by the Taliban is not acceptable, alliance ambassadors in NATOs North Atlantic Council said in a statement on the peace efforts.

This week alone, dozens of members of the Afghan security forces, civilians and Taliban fighters have been killed in clashes.

In one of the latest incidents, Taliban forces attacked security checkpoints manned by members of a pro-government militia in the northwestern province of Badghis late on Thursday.

Thirteen members of the militia were killed and seven captured, said Najmuddin Burhani, spokesman for the provincial governor.

SOURCE: REUTERS
Helzer said the group is advocating for the workers. The JBS workers should have paid sick leave, personal protective equipment, hazard pay, slower line speeds, proper distancing

and confidential ways to bring grievances, she said, adding that the workplace should be deeply sanitized.

We are asking the businesses to put people over profit, Helzer said. If we cant close the plants, we want to make sure the people are protected.

Terry Wegner of Grand Island said he took part in the protest because he knows people who work at JBS and the community is concerned about how the virus is spreading. As of Friday, there had been 760 cases of the coronavirus in the Central Health District, which includes Hall, Hamilton and Merrick counties.

These workers are taking chances, while Im sitting at home, Wegner said. They deserve all the support they can get.

He said the workers also need more testing for the virus to keep people safe.

I dont know if the state is paying enough attention to stop the spread or the virus here, Wegner said.
Millions tune in to The Gettys lockdown worship; Keith Getty says Christians shouldnt fear death

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World-renowned contemporary hymn writers Keith and Kristyn Getty recently launched a social media concert series called Getty Family Hymn Sing along with their young daughters and it has garnered millions of views.

The Irish couple who are known for their classic hymn In Christ Alone have been hosting family worship sessions with their three daughters out of their living room in Nashville, Tennessee.

It was Kristyns idea because shed been hearing about so many lonely old folks at home on their own, and friends of hers were talking about how bored their kids were, Keith told the Christian Institute in a recent interview.

Family Hymn Sing worship sets are now happening at least once a week and thousands are tuning in live.

By the end of the second week it was total chaos with 1.1 million people tuning in and before we knew it we were all on Fox News, Keith Getty said. Its been a huge hit in a way we never imagined.

The Gettys are no longer touring at present due to worldwide travel restrictions and bans on large gatherings amid the new coronavirus pandemic. In this season, the hymn writers are leaning on Jesus to help them overcome fear and maintain hope for the future.

We dont know when lockdown will end or how its going to end. We dont know if our jobs are going to be the same as they were before and we cant be sure we wont get COVID-19 or even a variant in a few years time, he stressed.

As Christians, we believe life doesnt stop at death and that what happens next is extraordinary, he declared. If anything, this is a time for people to start having these conversations about what happens next.

The Gettys latest Family Hymn Sing featured special guest Joni Eareckson Tada. Following the powerful time of worship, the Gettys took to Facebook to thank the hundreds of thousands of people who tuned in.

It was great to gather with so many families all over the world to sing the good news of the Lord Jesus. Thanks for all the comments and hymn suggestions, The Gettys wrote. Special thanks to Joni Eareckson Tada for taking time to talk and sing with us. The seeds of Truth were sown in Joni as a young child, particularly through the hymns she learned and her life has borne so much fruit. May the same be true of the children in our care today.
The Metropolitan Police reported 4,093 domestic abuse arrests in London alone in the last six weeks. This equates to almost 100 arrests a day, while domestic abuse calls have risen by a third in the last six weeks.

The police have stated that the charges and cautions were up 24% during a period when people were asked for self-isolate and stay at home because of the coronavirus pandemic. The number of recorded domestic abuse incidents has risen slowly through the years, with 17,275 recorded between March 9 and April 19, it was a 9% increase on the same period in 2019. The offenses also rose by 2% during the lockdown.

In London, there have been two domestic-related murders recorded as police continue to warn of an increased risk of abuse during the strict lockdown measures issued by the government.

Domestic abuse cases

The Metropolitan Police gave examples of the cases that they've dealt with in the past few weeks. One of them includes a firearm-carrying man who was reported by the victim to the police. Officers found the suspect three hours after receiving the report, they discovered two sawn-off shotguns when they searched his car. They also found a cannabis factory and the man is charged and is awaiting trial.

The police were also called to help a pregnant victim in London. She had gone to a hospital to seek refuge after her partner tormented her and assaulted her. The police quickly arrested the suspect but the pregnant victim was unwilling to support the criminal action.

However, due to the evidence that was captured on the body-cam of the police and the witness accounts from the staff at the hospital, the Crown Prosecution Service supported a prosecution without the victim, and the suspect is now awaiting trial.

Also Read: Kim Jong Un Health Fears: North Korean Leader in Grave Danger?

Victims of abuse and those who suspect their friends and family members might be suffering at the hands of an abusive partner are being urged by authorities to speak out. The Metropolitan Police says that as part of its ongoing efforts to reach out to the victims, a poster has been produced, which is being put up in supermarkets and retailers.

Help from the authorities

Commander Sue Williams stated that people who are experiencing domestic abuse should never feel that they have to suffer in silence. She said that the COVID-19 restrictions and stay at home instruction are important to manage the pandemic, but it has also left current and potential victims of domestic abuse even more vulnerable and isolated.

Commander Williams added that she wants to stress that the MET is ready to help Londoners and that the pandemic does not mean that the victims can't count on them or that they won't keep being proactive in bringing offenders to justice. Victims should be assured that they can leave their homes to escape harm or seek help and that they will not be penalized in any way for not maintaining social distancing or breaching COVID-19 restrictions.

In early April, the Home Secretary Priti Patel stated that the government was working with numerous charities in order to provide an extra 2 million for domestic abuse helplines and online support during the COVID-19 crisis.



Related Articles: Anti-Lockdown Riot Break Out in Paris After Evidence of Police Racism

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On picking up What Snowflakes Get Right: Free Speech, Truth, and Equality on Campus , one might expect a book urging those who dismiss today's college students' complaints about institutional racism, persistent sexism, and other societal ills to take them more seriously. To engage with their arguments and to try to empathize with them, rather than ignoring or lambasting them, even when they engage in what seems to many people like unjustified histrionics.What Snowflakes Get Right is not that book. In fact, on completing NYU comparative literature professor (and former vice provost) Ulrich Baer's book laying out his views on campus free speech, one can't help but be struck by its near-total lack of empathy for anyone who disagrees with his political viewpoint, or whose interpretation of the principles of free speech and equality differ from his own, extremely arguable, views.The result is a book that does nothing to change the minds of those not already disposed to agree with the author, and almost seems intended to alienate them. Baer repeatedly cites Donald Trump's election, in lurid terms, as a justification for universities to forbid speech that creates "inequality." Every example paints his ideological opponents in a bad light, and those who agree with him in a positive one.Perhaps the book is merely meant to stiffen the spines of left-leaning critics of free speech who may be having a hard time justifying their demands for censorship when it's gobsmackingly obvious that neither the left nor the right have pure motives. But it's also possible that it is the natural result of Baer's belief that it's both right and admirable to refuse to debate certain topics unless the other side has already agreed to some or all of your contentions.While one should generally be loath to come to such a conclusion, it can't be ruled out in this case because the fundamental premise of Baer's book is that there are some arguments that students, and members of minority or marginalized groups more generally, simply should never have to encounter.Baer argues that while universities should be places where topics are discussed and debated, those who wish to debate certain views, which he repeatedly labels as discredited, obsolete, or both, should be excluded, especially if they are expected to come from off-campus speakers who wish to speak on campus. He writes that on campus,From this sentence alone, it's clear that Baer's version of equality is not thekind of equality that is still revered by untold millions of Americans. Rather, this version of equality specifically builds in the "intersectional" understanding of individual identity as being determined by the combination of one's membership in an ever-evolving number of identity-based groups. Regardless of whether or not one accepts this definition, to say it is arguable is to engage in considerable understatement. But for Baer, accepting this premise, or at least not challenging its precepts, is the bare minimum qualification for a speaker to be allowed to get his or her foot in the door.That may be easier to understand if one considers that Baer accords a nearly magical power to speech that he deems racist, sexist, homophobic, etc. To express such views, he repeatedly argues, is not merely to offer bad arguments for discredited and obsolete ideas, but to actively force members of the targeted groups toand by doing so quite literally make them unequal. The most virulent bigots, even those who to all appearances seem the most pathetic of people, are actually enormously powerful. And why in the world would someone try to see things from the perspective of those who are both evil and powerful?Understanding this perspective is key to understanding Baer's book, because his ultimate answer toseems to be that they are correct to demand that people who "deny their humanity" be silenced. Otherwise, they themselves will be unable to benefit from America's promise of freedom of speech, while bigots, Nazis, and Donald Trump freely enjoy their First Amendment rights.So, what beliefs and people, specifically, does Baer believe deny the humanity of students, and therefore warrant restriction? Sadly, Baer, in keeping with most of those who write on this topic, does not give us a convenient and easily accessible list. But he does leave breadcrumbs here and there. Donald Trump is an obvious member of Baer's blacklist of individuals, of course, and is joined by Charles Murray, Milo Yiannopolous, and Ben Carson.As for beliefs that must be excluded from campus discussion, these includedenial of thearguments that women are less skilled in abstract thinking, and many others, stated in terms of varying clarity.None that I could find would be stereotypically considered to be "left-wing." If you really needed a heuristic to guess what ideas Baer would restrict from campus-and you might, as Baer was once a college administrator, and many of them demonstrably think the same way he does-you'd probably get 90 percent of the way there simply by assuming that his blacklist includes anything to the "right" of what a conservative talking head on mainstream media would say.Baer understands the arguments made by both conservative and liberal advocates for free speech, though again, in keeping with his strangely blinkered partisanship, he does not really seem to grasp that free speech advocates from both right and left agree about much more than they disagree about when it comes to the issue. (If this were not true, the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, where I work, could not exist, as our staff is made up of liberals, conservatives, and everything in between.) If you wonder how Baer thinks this is working out for our campuses, the title of his chapter discussing this, "An Unholy Alliance," is a helpful clue.A treatment of all of the problems with Baer's book and argument would be longer than the book itself. Some are real head-scratchers, such as where Baer suggests that a law school would decline to host(Really? I went to law school and I highly doubt that.) Others are likely to elicit a snort, such as when Baer says that college administrators arewhich is why they are supposedly qualified to determine who may speak.But most of his arguments are no different than those swatted away by John Stuart Mill 160 years ago in chapter 2 of On Liberty-and make no more headway against Mill now than they did then. (In fairness, Baer mentions and even briefly cites Mill, so presumably Baer just disagrees with him.)One comes away from What Snowflakes Get Right with a sense of puzzlement. Why write a book arguing that people shouldn't have to argue about some things, and do it in a way so poorly designed to change minds? Baer is an accomplished and intelligent professor, but he simply is not equal to the task of justifying the restriction of differences of opinion, on college campuses of all places, of some of the most hotly debated issues in our society. I suspect there's no one out there who is.But in the end, those looking for a convincing answer to the book's titular question will not find that answer within its pages.
It has been suggested in some quarters that Matt Hancock is the provisional health secretary; that, because he is not in with the in-crowd of Vote Leavers around the prime minister, he will find himself pushed aside when Boris Johnson is back.

I dont think that is right, and Hancock himself explained why in an interview on the Today programme yesterday. He was pressed on the big question of the moment: when will the lockdown rules be changed to allow the economy to start up again? I will not allow the changes to be made that are unsafe, he said.

It sounded as if he thought he, not the prime minister or the cabinet, would decide. If you stop to think about it, it may even be true. If he says it is not safe to relax the restrictions because people will die, it puts him in a powerful position to interpret the governments five tests for lifting the lockdown.

As the prime minister surveys the battlefield from Chequers, deciding when and how to re-enter the fray, he can see that his health secretary is ranged against a vocal phalanx of the parliamentary Conservative Party. Rishi Sunak and Michael Gove in the cabinet are pressing to get the people back to work, supported by the executive of the 1922 Committee, which represents Tory backbenchers.

But he can also see that Hancock has the upper hand. If the trade-off is between saving lives and saving jobs, saving lives is always going to win, and I would certainly rather the government erred in that direction.

Hancock himself asserts that there is no trade-off. He told Today: The improvement in health from getting the number of new cases right down is also the best thing for the economy because the worst thing for the economy would be a second spike.

All that does, of course, is redefine the question. How low does the number of new cases have to go, and what does he mean by a second spike?

It used to be the case that the aim was to avoid a second peak of infections that risked overwhelming the NHS  the same objective as that of flattening the initial curve. But this week Hancock and other ministers have said that the lockdown can be eased only when they are sure there will be no second peak at all.

Instead of keeping the rate of infection within the capacity of the NHS, it seems that Hancock wants to try something more ambitious: to suppress the virus altogether, using the programme of test, track and trace that he announced on Thursday.

Beth Rigby, Sky News political editor, asked what the objective was at Thursdays daily briefing, and Hancocks answer was significant.

It was significant not because he answered the question, but because he said who would answer it. Instead of saying that the government would follow the advice of the scientists, which has been the line until now, he said the opposite: Those questions are ultimately for politicians because they are the big judgements. He said he would ask Sir Patrick Vallance, the government chief scientific adviser, to comment on the science, but ultimately the judgements are made by the cabinet on the advice of the scientists.

I wonder if Sir Patrick has told Hancock that he does not want to be the fall-guy for decisions made by politicians, or if Hancock felt it was demeaning for cabinet ministers to present themselves as merely carrying out instructions handed to them by the boffins. Possibly both. In any case, Hancock repeated the point: All of this becomes a strategic question rather than purely a scientific question  but it is of course based on the science.

He then turned to Sir Patrick, and it is worth quoting his response at length: Absolutely right. We advised on what measures needed to be put in place to keep the numbers down below NHS critical-care capacity. That was absolutely crucial, and looks like that has been achieved. And therefore thats one really important step. And we are advising now on what measures need to be in place in order to get those numbers lower for the reasons the secretary of state said, and what numbers are necessary in order to get down to test, track and trace approaches. But the decision on how far to go and which measures should be released and so on are ones for ministers.

This sounds constitutionally proper. The big decisions that face Boris Johnson as he returns to work cannot be subcontracted to following the science. Hancock even suggested they might be taken collectively by the cabinet.

But the truth is that, on this subject, it is Hancock who is first among equals in the cabinet. He has the power to decide. Even if Johnson were impatient to ease the lockdown  which it is not clear he is  he could not do so while his health secretary said it was unsafe.

Given that Hancock appears to be going for a policy of total suppression of the virus, this suggests the lockdown will be more severe and last longer than many Conservatives want.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday spoke to his counterparts from African countries Burkina Faso, Comoros, Uganda and Mali and discussed health cooperation and development partnership with them.

"An Africa-focus working day. Useful conversations with Foreign Ministers of Burkina Faso, Comoros, Uganda and Mali. Historical solidarity on display in the midst of contemporary challenges," he said in a tweet.

In conversation with Mali's Foreign Minister Tibil Dram, Jaishankar discussed health security and solar energy.

"Health security and solar energy discussed with FM @T_Drame of #Mali. Our medical supplies will be reaching there shortly," he said in a tweet.

Jaishankar spoke to Uganda Foreign Minister Sam Kutesa and confirmed the impending shipment of medicine supplies and health equipment to combat coronavirus.

"Followed up on PM @narendramodi's talk with President Museveni by talking with FM Sam Kutesa of #Uganda. Confirmed the impending shipment of medicine supplies and health equipment to combat #coronavirus. India and Uganda will address this global challenge cooperatively," he said in a tweet.

He also spoke to Comoros Foreign Minister Mohamed El Amine Souef.

"A SAGAR friendship reaffirmed. Wonderful talking to FM Mohamed El Amine Souef of #Comoros. Our will surely grow further," he said in a tweet.

Jaishankar also wished good health to Burkina Faso Foreign Minister Alpha Barry who recovered from coronavirus infection.

"So glad to learn that Minister Alpha Barry of #BurkinaFaso has recovered from #Coronavirus. Wished him and his other colleagues good health when I spoke to him today. Indian medical supplies will be reaching Burkina Faso very soon. Friends stand by each other in times of crises," he said in tweet.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
As every investor would know, not every swing hits the sweet spot. But really big losses can really drag down an overall portfolio. So consider, for a moment, the misfortune of Major Holdings Limited (HKG:1389) investors who have held the stock for three years as it declined a whopping 97%. That would be a disturbing experience. And more recent buyers are having a tough time too, with a drop of 49% in the last year. Furthermore, it's down 46% in about a quarter. That's not much fun for holders.

While a drop like that is definitely a body blow, money isn't as important as health and happiness.

View our latest analysis for Major Holdings

While markets are a powerful pricing mechanism, share prices reflect investor sentiment, not just 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.

Major Holdings saw its share price decline over the three years in which its EPS also dropped, falling to a loss. Due to the loss, it's not easy to use EPS as a reliable guide to the business. But it's safe to say we'd generally expect the share price to be lower as a result!

You can see below how EPS has changed over time (discover the exact values by clicking on the image).

SEHK:1389 Past and Future Earnings April 24th 2020

Dive deeper into Major Holdings's key metrics by checking this interactive graph of Major Holdings's earnings, revenue and cash flow.

A Different Perspective

We regret to report that Major Holdings shareholders are down 49% for the year. Unfortunately, that's worse than the broader market decline of 15%. Having said that, it's inevitable that some stocks will be oversold in a falling market. The key is to keep your eyes on the fundamental developments. Regrettably, last year's performance caps off a bad run, with the shareholders facing a total loss of 40% per year over five years. We realise that Baron Rothschild has said investors should "buy when there is blood on the streets", but we caution that investors should first be sure they are buying a high quality business. 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. Case in point: We've spotted 4 warning signs for Major Holdings you should be aware of, and 1 of them can't be ignored.

Story continues

If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of companies that have proven they can grow earnings.

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on HK exchanges.

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned.



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
EUGENE, Ore. -- Empty office buildings and empty downtown streets have become a common sight during the COVID-19 pandemic with many employees working from home.

Instead, those people are now relying on tools like Zoom and Slack to keep in contact with co-workers and clients. But could that practice keep up long after the virus is under control?

"Working from home is not going to go away, even before the pandemic, it was growing by double digits," said Jim Farnsworth with SYKES, a global business process outsourcing company.

Farnsworth's been researching working from home for more than a decade.

In a survey the company did with 3,000 workers on March 30-April 1, 68% said they were working from home and 39.5% said they felt like they weren't as productive.

"(Companies are) going to have to have a business continuity strategy that includes technology, physical location, and virtual work," Farnsworth said.

Bri Bridges is director of marketing and PR at Pipeworks Studios, a Eugene-based software company that works with video game developers. She said all 130 of their employees started working from home in mid-March.

"We were impressed by how well and how easy the transition was," Bridges said.

Farnsworth said companies are starting to take note of the benefits of having to not come to the office, and commercial real estate companies should be worried.

"Smaller need for office space means I'm not spending as much money on supplies, equipment, furniture, and rent," Farnsworth said.

Farnsworth said another benefit for companies having employees work from home is an increased labor pool. He said companies can now look outside their local community to find the right employees.

But what about taking to the skies for those cross-country business trips? Farnsworth said while that could slow down, he doesn't believe it's gone for good.

The products and services they buy from me are very people-driven, and they need to see them and feel them and understand how it operates," Farnsworth said.

For Pipeworks Studios, Bridges said they're keeping their options open when it comes to how they'll do business in the future.

"Right now it's too early to tell, I think we are in a time where this is many unknowns," Bridges said.

It's an unknown future that may require some new innovations.
WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court on Friday denied a request to revisit its decision from January allowing the Trump administration to implement regulations that make it harder on immigrants to seek residency in the United States if they've used public assistance benefits.

Citing extenuating circumstances caused by the coronavirus pandemic, leaders in four states had asked the court to suspend the program because, they said, it was making even those legally entitled to benefits such as Medicaid wary of accessing them.

The court's order did not list any justices as objecting, and said it "does not preclude a filing in the district court" if the localities wanted to try that route.

The states, as well as New York City, said the coronavirus crisis was causing new concerns.

"The covid-19 pandemic is the largest public-health and economic disaster that the country has faced in at least a century," New York Attorney General Letitia James told the court in a brief.

Even the administration, she wrote, does not dispute that "the Public Charge Rule is in fact deterring many immigrants and their family members from using any publicly funded healthcare or nutritional benefits, even if those individuals or benefits are not directly subject to the rule."

The rules establish new criteria for who can be considered dependent on the U.S. government for benefits - "public charges," in the words of the law - and thus ineligible for green cards and a path to U.S. citizenship. They were proposed to start in October and had been delayed by lower courts until the Supreme Court gave the go-ahead in January.

At the time, four justices wanted to leave the hold in place until the court could decide whether to review the decisions.

James, as well as leaders in Connecticut, Vermont and Illinois, asked the court to reconsider.

But Solicitor General Noel Francisco told the court that the administration had already responded, and its intervention is unnecessary.

On the same day President Donald Trump declared a national emergency, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services issued guidance encouraging "all those, including aliens, with symptoms that resemble Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) (fever, cough, shortness of breath) to seek necessary medical treatment or preventive services."

It said that "such treatment or preventive services will not negatively affect any alien as part of a future Public Charge analysis."

The states were asking for unprecedented intervention, Francisco said.
Ivanka Trump praised her father and President of the United States of America Donald Trump and claimed that he is leading the fight against coronavirus, and has done so by mounting the largest industrialisation since World War 2. Accordingly, she said that the US has enough ventilators to lend to other countries. This comes even as the US death toll from Covid touched 50,000, accounting for one out of every four deaths globally.

Ivanka's claims of largest mobilisation since World War 2 are also rather single-eyed, seeing as many of the companies have participated willingly, and Trump actually had to compel GM to make ventilators, with the results still unclear. Contrast this with the Vietnam War, when bathtub maker Jacuzzi had helped the US make boats for meandering the nation's waters.

READ: Trump Signs $484 Billion Bill To Aid Hospitals And Businesses Amid COVID-19 Crisis

'Leading the fight against COVID-19'

President @realDonaldTrump is leading the largest industrial mobilization since WWII to fight the coronavirus!



We now have so many new ventilators that we are in a position to lead them to other countries in need!  pic.twitter.com/QyXHQp8Ogr  Ivanka Trump (@IvankaTrump) April 24, 2020

In a tweet on Friday, she posted a screenshot of President Trump's tweets, wherein he stated that he had been having conversations with Ecuador's President Lenin Moreno and Hondusra President Juan Hernandez and that USA will be supplying ventilators to these countries since they are in 'desperate' need.

READ: 50,000 Dead In US, Trump Govt Plans Global Campaign To Hold China Guilty For Covid

Meanwhile, President Trump signed a $484 billion bill for employers and hospitals under stress due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The latest bill has been introduced by the federal government in a bid to help keep afloat businesses that had to be closed or drastically altered amid such unprecedented times.

READ: FDA Approves First At-home COVID-19 Test Kit

Trump said most of the funding in the bill would flow to small businesses through the Paycheck Protection Program, which provides money to small businesses to keep workers on their payroll.

READ: Trump Claims Disinfectant Comments Were 'sarcastic' After Facing Massive Backlash
LakerFan24 wrote:

A - decline in alligator population means fishers can work in parts of lakes & rivers that were formerly too dangerous...if fishers can work in more areas of the lake, can it not be inferred that they could catch more freshwater fish? it doesn't have to be for human consumption, this could be "game fish" like swordfish, etc. This could be correct.



B - Commercial fishing enterprises increasing the # of fishing boats they use could be correct b/c commercial fishing not discussed in the passage...passage only refers to the annual # caught for human consumption.



* I don't like (D). Are these "holes" that provide a safe place for eggs to hatch the ONLY safe places for these eggs to hatch? We're told that alligators prey heavily on this species but are not told about anything else in the passage that could decrease the number of these fish.

- No talk about toxic chemicals being poured into the lake to kill the alligators or

- a virus that spread throughout the lake that kills these fish.



This question really angers me - need someone to break apart my argument here and show me how I'm incorrect.

Quote:

A. The decline in the alligator population has meant that fishers can work in some parts of lakes and rivers that were formerly too dangerous.

highly valued

work

Quote:

B. Over the last few years, Parlands commercial fishing enterprises have increased the number of fishing boats they use.

could

Quote:

D. During Parlands dry season, holes dug by alligators remain filled with water long enough to provide a safe place for the eggs of this fish species to hatch.

This is a tough one!The people of Parland expected that a decline in the alligator population would lead to an increase in the numbers of these fish available for human consumption. In fact, the population of this fish species has also declined, even though the annual number caught for human consumption has not increased. We need something that MOST helps to explain the decline in the fish population.We are already told that the annual number of fish caught for human consumption has not increased. Sure, it is technically possible that there has been an increase in sportfishing, but if the fish isfor human consumption, why would sportfishing increase while catching fish for human consumption remains the same?Also, choice (A) specifically states that "fishers can" in areas that were formally too dangerous. The word "work" implies that we're talking about fishermen who are fishing to earn a living, not for sport. I might not eliminate choice (A) right away, but it is not a very strong explanation.Again, this choice refers to commercial fishing, which means that the fish are sold for profit. Sure, there might be other commercial uses for the fish, but the passage specifically tells us that the fish are highly valued for human consumption. If more fish are being caught, why would the number of fish caught for human consumption not increase? As with (A), choice (B) is not a very strong explanation and accepting it would require making assumptions that go against what is strongly suggested in the passage.Both (A) and (B)potentially be used to explain the population decline, but we would have to make several leaps in order for either choice to work.Choice (D) specifically describes how would a decline in the alligator population would be detrimental to the population of the fish. Without these holes the number of safe places for the eggs to hatch would almost certainly decline. It doesn't matter whether these holes are the ONLY place for the eggs to hatch. If we significantly decrease even just one of the safe places, the fish population would LIKELY be harmed.We do not need something that PROVES beyond a doubt that the population would decline. Yes, there could be several other explanations for why the fish population has decreased. But out of the answer choices given, choice (D) MOST helps to explain the decline in the population of the fish species.I hope that helps!_________________
It has been revealed that Dominic Cummings has attended meetings of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage). Not as an observer, but it is alleged, as a contributor. Clearly the talents of this self-styled polymath know no bounds. What on earth is such a manipulator of facts doing in the company of eminent scientists who constantly search for the truth but are willing to amend their understanding on emerging evidence.

One has to ask, how did we come to this? I wonder how many of those who voted for Boris Johnson knew that he came along with a Svengali-like sidekick. I suppose Cummings influence only exists because of Johnsons inadequacies.

Graham Barlow

The Wirral

The news that Dominic Cummings and a data scientist he worked with on the Vote Leave campaign have attended Sage meetings has clarified what Boris Johnson, Matt Hancock, Michael Gove, and Dominic Raab mean when they chant the government mantra We have, at all times, been led by the science in the Covid-19 emergency.

What the Tories actually mean is they are being led by the unelected history graduate Dominic Cummings, the man who reportedly argued for the discredited herd immunity strategy and who allegedly argued if that means some pensioners die, too bad. Although No 10 denies the claims.

Sasha Simic

London

Science turf wars

What has become clear in recent weeks is that epidemiologists are like economists: there are lots of them with sharply differing views involved in turf wars. Like climate scientists they are extremely attached to their models and greatly overstate their accuracy. Neither Westminster nor Holyrood can outsource decisions to them  pretending to do so is just political sleight of hand.

We have no written constitution and both the Johnson and Sturgeon governments like to keep their options open. They dont believe in stating precise objectives and certainly not how they are to be measured against them. In the pandemic theyve imposed immensely costly initiatives and made huge numbers of businesses bankrupt without saying what they are trying to achieve.

With so much uncertainty it may have been worth the cost of lockdown to buy time  though Sweden showed there were alternatives. But winging it, the default mode of politics north and south of the border, has its limits. Theres going to be a trade-off between lives and livelihoods and we dont need adult conversations with Sturgeon  we need adult political decisions.

Dr John Cameron

St Andrews

Too little, too late

The government has announced it will scale up its Covid-19 contact tracing capability to 18,000 and of course it will be up and running in a few weeks time (although understand nothing can be guaranteed).

Prior to the pandemic we were told dont worry we are one of the best prepared countries in the world. It turns out our 290 contact tracers equals well prepared.

I suspect that when our new contact tracing capability is up and running in a few weeks time the government will announce that we will start with around 300 contact tracers and scale up from there. Sounding familiar?

Paul Morrison

Address provided

Unfit for office

Tom Peck is right to call out the complicity of those around Trump who remain silent over his thought-porridge. But the focus on Trumps evident stupidity has always obscured something far more serious  his pathology. Only a clinically narcissistic ego, untethered from reality, would proffer quack cures to world-renowned scientists.

His subsequent retreat (I was being sarcastic) further underscores his unfitness for office under the 25th amendment. The narcissist  who really has paper-thin skin  must invent new worlds to preserve the threatened self. So it is we who are wrong. It just never happened.

Steven Garside

Manchester

President Trump has suggested that injections of disinfectant could be used as a treatment for Covid-19. Well, its true that such treatment could prevent death from the virus. But only because death would have resulted from the treatment. Is that what he meant?

Susan Alexander

Frampton Cotterell, Gloucestershire
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."
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By West Kentucky Star Staff

Apr. 25, 2020 | FORT CAMPBELL

By West Kentucky Star Staff Apr. 25, 2020 | 08:46 AM | FORT CAMPBELL

The 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) is sending troops to two overseas locations.



In separate press releases on Friday, the Army announced the deployment of the 101st Combat Aviation Brigade to Europe and B Company, 6th Battalion to Afghanistan.



Col. Matthew Weinshel, commander of the 101st Combat Aviation Brigade, said B Company "Pachyderms" will provide aviation support in Afghanistan with additional CH-47F Chinook aircraft and aircrews. They will replace the 10th Mountain Division Combat Aviation Brigade as part of a regular rotation of forces to support Operation Freedom Sentinel. Soldiers and Chinook aircraft are prepared to conduct air movement and air assault operations in support of NATO and partnered forces in CENTCOM.



The 101st Combat Aviation Brigade "Wings of Destiny" is a unit of highly-skilled combat aviators and expert support personnel. They will deploy and operate UH-60 and HH-60 Black Hawks, CH-47 Chinooks, AH-64 Apaches, as well as support vehicles and additional equipment. The combat-capable Screaming Eagle Soldiers stand ready to support theater deterrence capabilities and activities in multiple locations to increase U.S. ability to respond to potential crises.



"Our Wings of Destiny Soldiers remain ready to accomplish any mission our nation asks of them. We look forward to building upon the success of the brigade and the 101st Airborne Division while working with our allies and partners," Weinshel said.



The unit has maintained readiness while implementing protective measures to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. The unit currently has zero active cases.
Generally speaking the aim of active stock picking is to find companies that provide returns that are superior to the market average. And in our experience, buying the right stocks can give your wealth a significant boost. For example, long term Melbourne Enterprises Limited (HKG:158) shareholders have enjoyed a 37% share price rise over the last half decade, well in excess of the market decline of around 29% (not including dividends).

See our latest analysis for Melbourne Enterprises

In his essay The Superinvestors of Graham-and-Doddsville Warren Buffett described how share prices do not always rationally reflect the value of a business. By comparing earnings per share (EPS) and share price changes over time, we can get a feel for how investor attitudes to a company have morphed over time.

Over half a decade, Melbourne Enterprises managed to grow its earnings per share at 27% a year. We do note that extraordinary items have impacted its earnings history. The EPS growth is more impressive than the yearly share price gain of 6.4% over the same period. So one could conclude that the broader market has become more cautious towards the stock.

You can see below how EPS has changed over time (discover the exact values by clicking on the image).

SEHK:158 Past and Future Earnings April 25th 2020

It might be well worthwhile taking a look at our free report on Melbourne Enterprises's earnings, revenue and cash flow.

What About Dividends?

As well as measuring the share price return, investors should also consider the total shareholder return (TSR). The TSR incorporates the value of any spin-offs or discounted capital raisings, along with any dividends, based on the assumption that the dividends are reinvested. It's fair to say that the TSR gives a more complete picture for stocks that pay a dividend. In the case of Melbourne Enterprises, it has a TSR of 57% for the last 5 years. That exceeds its share price return that we previously mentioned. And there's no prize for guessing that the dividend payments largely explain the divergence!

Story continues

A Different Perspective

We regret to report that Melbourne Enterprises shareholders are down 24% for the year (even including dividends) . Unfortunately, that's worse than the broader market decline of 15%. Having said that, it's inevitable that some stocks will be oversold in a falling market. The key is to keep your eyes on the fundamental developments. On the bright side, long term shareholders have made money, with a gain of 9.5% per year over half a decade. It could be that the recent sell-off is an opportunity, so it may be worth checking the fundamental data for signs of a long term growth trend. It's always interesting to track share price performance over the longer term. But to understand Melbourne Enterprises better, we need to consider many other factors. For example, we've discovered 1 warning sign for Melbourne Enterprises that you should be aware of before investing here.

If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of companies that have proven they can grow earnings.

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on HK exchanges.

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned.



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
Trump signs $484 billion coronavirus relief bill into law

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President Trump on Friday signed a $484 billion bill to provide additional funding to a small business lending program and to aid hospitals reeling under the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and expansion of coronavirus testing as the death toll from the disease in the United States has crossed 50,000.

The legislation sets aside $310 billion for the Paycheck Protection Program, which ensures that small businesses can continue to pay employees and cover costs during this global health crisis, and $75 billion for healthcare providers and $25 billion for coronavirus testing.

I want to thank Congress for answering my call to pass this critical funding, Trump said after signing the bill in the Oval Office, according to The Hill. The funding to replenish the PPP would help keep millions of Americans on the payroll, he said. Great for small businesses, great for the workers.

Out of the $310 billion provided for the PPP, $60 billion is for smaller businesses without existing banking relationships. And $25 billion for testing includes $11 billion for states.

The relief package comes after nearly weeklong negotiations between Republicans and Democrats.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, backed by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Republicans, had asked for an additional $250 billion for the PPP. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi wanted an expansion of funding to hospitals, nutrition programs, and state and local governments.

The PPP program, launched earlier this month, reached its lending limit within two weeks after approving nearly $1.7 million loans. The new funding will now ensure that millions of Americans will stay on the payroll.

Over the past five weeks, about 26 million people have filed for jobless aid, or about one in six U.S. workers, according to The Associated Press.

Pelosi blamed McConnell for delaying the bill, for which Fox News anchor Bret Baier criticized her.

Lets just set the record straight here. There was a clean bill that once they found out that the small business pot was going to be dry, there was a clean bill to put more money in it, Baier said, according to Daily Wire. Nancy Pelosi did not go forward with that, period, the end, stop there, Baier added.

So yes, they wanted to do other things, Democrats did, the anchor continued. But to have an answer that says that it was Mitch McConnell who delayed is really political jujitsu. And you have to have somebody that pushes back and says, wait a second, in that time that there was a delay, there are X number of small businesses around the country that had to make the decision, I have not gotten the money, so I have to let these people go.

Baier concluded, So when the number goes up 4.4 million on unemployment, there is a reason that it goes up that way. And that delay is part of it.

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, calling on him and other lawmakers working to pass the 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 re-entry  including occupational licensing and meaningful employment, the letter stated. 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 benefits that the program provides. Faith leaders warned that denying loans to business owners because of their criminal history not only hurts them but also hurts their employees.

An estimated one in three Americans has a criminal record, the letter read. 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.
On Fridays, Kieran Henry passes around the many cards sent by grateful patients, thanking ambulance paramedics for helping them in their hour of need and wishing them well in the fight against Covid-19.

You can get so wrapped up in your work, seeing those messages is a nice way to start the weekend, says Mr Henry, operations resource manager for the National Ambulance Services Southern Region.

We get fantastic support from the community, lovely messages and gestures and cards.

Our staff have come at their time of need. Particularly at this time when they maybe felt isolated, our paramedics have been there to support them.

Everyones been told to stay at home, but our people are going out to work right in the middle of the virus. If anyone asks for our help, we wont let them down.

Mr Henry says the pandemic has been a frightening time for patients but that, under the masks, his staff are all compassionate, supportive paramedics.

"We go out in our yellow vehicles and arrive in, all gowned up and masked up and it can be frightening for people.

Even our own staff have been frightened by this pandemic, but behind the masks they are still our fantastic people, just doing their job with empathy.

He says the Ambulance Service in Cork has been busy. On top of its regular work responding to medical emergencies, it is also providing Covid-19 swab testing at nursing homes.

Nationally, more than 18,000 Covid-19 swab tests were taken in nursing homes across the country since last Saturday, HSE chief Paul Reid said this week, after efforts to halt the spread of the virus in residential care homes was ramped up.

Its been a privilege for us to support older persons in our community and nursing homes and those who may be vulnerable in residential and other care settings, says Mr Henry.

National Ambulance Service teams for Cork City, above, and east Cork. Picture: Doug Minihane

These are a generation of people who built up Ireland. Now were there to help and support them in any way we can.

"Its an important task and were delighted to contribute to it.

It can be a scary time for them.

"Were coming in with our personal protective equipment on, were gowned up, wearing goggles and masks, so its harder to see someones facial expressions, but were treating them with the highest respect, which they deserve.

And they are being cared for; the staff there are great and its the residents home so theres a homely atmosphere. And its brilliant to hear that a lot of them are recovering well.

Providing a coronavirus swab service is an extra layer on top of the paramedics regular work, but they are coping admirably.

Our staff have been immense, says Mr Henry.

Theres a collegiate spirit and everyone is very supportive of each other.

Were used to dealing with emergencies; thats our function  to deal with medical emergencies 24 hours a day, every day of the year. But we have a pandemic now so its on a different scale.

"But our training comes into its own for this.

Frontline Workers of the National Ambulance Service - EAST Cork. Picture: Larry Cummins

We have to be prepared going out  there is this virus in the community  but we will always go. Its challenging but our staff are stepping up to the plate.

Ambulances and equipment have to be thoroughly cleaned between each call, which takes time and resources, but Mr Henry says that, capacity-wise, the service has been managing so far.

That, he says, is thanks to the public following the Governments health advice to prevent the spread of the virus.

What the public has done has helped preserve our capacity and allows us to provide services, says Mr Henry.

Battling this virus is a collaborative effort. The public thank us, but reciprocally wed like to thank the community for what theyve done to contain this virus.

I see colleagues that have succumbed to the virus in the UK and other jurisdictions. We just want to see everyone get through this safe and well  our staff and the community. We are all in this together.

If the public did not do what theyve done wed be in a much worse state. Our eternal appreciation goes to all the people out there.

everyone should stay at home, only leaving to:
Deputy Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Huu Do talks about the detailed plan for the 2020 high school graduation examination after the education programme was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Deputy Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Huu Do.  Photo laodong.vn

What is the purpose of this year's examination and is it called the national high school examination as previous years?

Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the plan for the 2019-2020 school year had to be adjusted. The ministry has to streamline the second semesters training programme and has been teaching students online. The high school examination will be held (nearly two months) later than every year before which will be in August.

This year, we will only organise the high school examination not the national high school examination like previous years because at that time the Law on Education and the Law on Higher Education came into effect for a month. (The two laws allow universities to enrol the students by themselves instead of using high school examination's results for university admission like before.)

The purpose of the exam this year is to recognise students who finish the high school's education programme by passing the examination, assess the quality of education in the high school level and make adjustment in the coming years if necessary.

Does the ministry consider reducing the number of tests this year due to the pandemic?

The high school graduation exam is expected to consist of three independent tests (maths, literature, foreign languages) and one natural science test and one social science test. (The number of tests is still the same for the national high school exams tests in previous years.)

The level of difficulty of the examination this year will be easier than in previous years due to the streamlined programme in the second semester. The examination this year is only the recognition of the student finishing the high schools education programme instead of two in one purpose which is recognition of student finishing the high schools education programme and using high school exams for university admission like before.

The natural science test is the combination of three subjects, physics, chemistry and biology. The social science test is the combination of history, geography and citizen education. High school candidates must take three compulsory tests in maths, literature, foreign language and one optional test of natural or social science.

Maths, foreign languages, natural science and social science will be multiple-choice. Each candidate in the same room will be provided with a separate exam code. Computer software, provided by the ministry, will mark the score of the candidates. Only the test of literature will be taken in the form of essay.

This year, the high school graduation exams will be chaired by localities. What are the ministrys plans to ensure the exam takes place in correct conditions?

The high school examination will use the ministrys general questions for all localities to ensure consistency across the country.

The ministry has directed the People's Committee of each province and city to take responsibility for organising the examination to ensure safety, seriousness, fairness and compliance with regulations.

Each province and city will set up its own examination council to organise the tests. The council will be responsible for organising all stages of the examination such as printing the questions, supervision, scoring, announcing the results and recognising the students who graduated.

The inspection and supervision will be strengthened so that the examination will be organised safely, seriously and honestly.

In addition to the inspection teams of the ministry sent to each locality, it will include inspectors from Education and Training Department of each locality to closely supervise the whole procedure, especially the stages of printing, transporting, test security, watching and scoring the tests.

The ministry will order all localities to report the school profile of each student via the ministry's electronic data system. The report will be used to compare to the exams result to avoid cheating. VNS

Highschool graduation exam will take place in August The graduation exam for highscool student will still take place in August despite recent interruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
(Natural News) Experts from the University of Sheffield in the U.K. have revealed how plants provide air to every cell in their bodies. Furthermore, they point out that human intervention has influenced how plants breathe. The study was headed by Andrew Fleming, a professor at Sheffields Institute for Sustainable Food. Their study was published in the journal Nature Communications.

Plants require a strong network of stomata for photosynthesis. Stomata are pores in a plants leaves that allow for the exchange of gas. Plant leaves have a vast and intricate internal network of channels where air can flow through these stomata. Botanists have known about stomata since the 19th century. However, before this study, scientists couldnt figure out precisely how these channels formed in the right places to maximize the amount of carbon dioxide every plant cell receives.

A plants lungs act similarly to how human lungs function

In their study, Fleming and his team used genetic manipulation techniques to find out that if a leaf has more stomata, it has more airspace. These air channels act like bronchioles do in human lungs. These tiny passageways facilitate the movement of air to the plants exchange surfaces  or places where carbon dioxide is turned into oxygen.

The Sheffield scientists also showed, with the help of colleagues from other universities across the U.K., that the movement of carbon dioxide through the stomata plays a very important role in determining the shape and scale of the leafs air channel network.

Fleming hopes that this discovery will influence future researchers to look closer into the internal structure of a plants leaves and how the function of their different components influences the way they develop. The researchers further note that their study could influence not just plant biology, but other fields of science as well, such as evolutionary biology.

Scientists have suspected for a long time that the development of stomata and the development of air spaces within a leaf are coordinated, said Marjorie Lundgren, a fellow at Lancaster University in northwestern England. However, we werent really sure which drove the other.

With the help of X-ray CT image analyses, Lundgren, Fleming and the other scientists were able to answer this question. They found that the expansion of air spaces in leaves is initiated by the development of stomata. They also found that a plant actually requires the stomata to exchange gases before its leaves air spaces can even expand.

Human intervention influences the development of plant lungs

The study also showed how humans have influenced the growth of wheat plants. These staple plants have been bred by so many generations that they now have fewer stomata pores on their leaves, meaning that they also have fewer air channels. This makes the wheat leaves denser, allowing humans to grow them without using too much water. (Related: Explaining the science on why wheat consumption leads to psychiatric conditions like schizophrenia.)

According to Fleming, this insight into the development of plants can potentially give other scientists ideas about how to further influence different staple crops all over the world like wheat. One possibility is to alter the internal structure of wheat leaves to make them even more water-efficient than they are today.

For more research on how carbon dioxide influences the growth of plants, check out the articles at CarbonDioxide.news.

Sources include:

ScienceDaily.com

Nature.com

TechExplorist.com
Photo

Bathinda: Former Finance Minister Gurdas Singh Badal (88), father of Punjab Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal and younger brother of former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, has been admitted to Fortis Hospital in Mohali for treatment.

file photo

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According to the information and seeing his condition, he was admitted to the ICU. He has been diagnosed with diabetes which is now affecting the heart and kidneys.

file photoIt may be recalled that about a month ago his wife Harminder Kaur Badal died due to head cancer. Gurdas Badal was shocked by the departure of his wife.

Sources said that the latest complaint was about low blood pressure. Apart from this, there were some other problems as well.

file photoHe was rushed to Fortis Hospital for treatment. He is currently being cared by the doctors.
She's self-isolating in her $60 million home with her billionaire husband, Kanye West, and their four kids.

But Kim Kardashian seems to be reminiscing on her pre-lockdown days.

The 39-year-old took to social media on Saturday to post a mirror selfie which appeared to have been taking in a public restroom.

Throwback: Kim Kardashian shared a throwback selfie from a restroom with her fans on Saturday

Kim used the toilet and selfie emojis to caption her photo.

The shapewear mogul stunned in a form-fitting black top that drew attention to her ample cleavage with its scooped neck.

Her dark tresses were styled out into loose waves and effortlessly fell over her shoulders.

Baring all: The shapewear mogul stunned in a form-fitting black top that drew attention to her ample cleavage with its scooped neck

'Mood': Kim seemed a little downcast as she expressed her current state-of-mind on Instagram

Kim's glam consisted of a smokey eyelid, a contoured matte complexion and lash extensions.

Her look was complete with blushed cheeks and a nude color on her plump lips.

She later returned to the social media to share a photo of herself in a black jacket and shorts while looking at her nails.

'Mood,' she captioned.

The Keeping Up With the Kardashians star used her KKW Beauty products to create the look.

Kim herself has a current estimated net worth of $350 from her beauty, shapewear and other jobs.

It comes as her husband, Kanye West, was named a billionaire by Forbes on Friday.

Top dollar! Kim's husband, Kanye West, was named a billionaire by Forbes earlier in the week (pictured 2020)

While the article estimated the rapper was worth $1.26 billion, Kanye was unhappy with their research.

'It's not a billion,' he allegedly texted the publication Thursday night. 'It's $3.3 billion since no one at Forbes knows how to count.'

Sister-in-law, Kylie Jenner, is also in the billionaires club - named the 'youngest self-made billionaire' by Forbes in April 2019.

Kim and Kanye have been spending the past few weeks at home with their four children.

Together they raise, North, six, Saint, four, Chicago, two, and Psalm, 11-months.
WASHINGTON ( JTA) - For the folks who monitor anti-Semitism, a pandemic-induced nightmare nearly became real this month. A Massachusetts man was arrested for trying to set off a firebomb near the entrance of a Jewish home for the elderly. He got the idea, federal authorities said, from the internet.
Doctors and health experts around the globe urged people not to drink of inject disinfectants after Trump on Thursday suggested that scientists should explore inserting cleaning agent into the body to cure COVID-19. (Photo : Pixabay)

Medical professionals and health experts expressed their concerns on US President Donald Trump's musings on whether injecting disinfectant might treat COVID-19. Medical professionals warn that it is a dangerous proposition and that it could kill people.

Trump, however, said his remarks come as sarcasm. However, health professionals are not taking his comments lightly.

Channel News Asia reports that there were early signs that at least some Americans were preparing to act on Trump's comments. A Twitter post from a spokesman for Maryland's governor indicated that the state's Emergency Management Agency had received more than 100 calls about the use of bleach to treat COVID-19.

Taking Disinfectants is Dangerous to your Health

Doctors and health experts around the globe urge people not to drink or inject disinfectants after Trump on Thursday suggested that scientists should explore inserting cleaning agents into the body to cure COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus.

Dr. Vin Gupta, a pulmonologist and global health policy expert, was quick to challenge the president's improper health messaging. "This notion of injecting or ingesting any type of cleansing product into the body is irresponsible, and it's dangerous," he said.

"It's a common method that people utilize when they want to kill themselves.", Gupta further warned. Gupta warned that ingesting even small amounts of bleach or isopropyl alcohol or any household cleaner is deadly.

The Food and Drug Administration also warned against drinking the chemicals in disinfectants, noting that consumption of such products can cause "nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and symptoms of severe dehydration."

American Medical Association President Patrice Harris also issued a statement reminding the public that people should "under no circumstances ingest or inject bleach or disinfectant."

Harris gave his assurance that eventually, treatment or vaccine against COVID-19 will be found, but it will not be in the cleaning supplies aisle.

Manufacturer of Disinfectants Issued Caution against Ingesting or Injecting their Products

The American Cleaning Institute, representing the US cleaning products industry, also cautioned the public that disinfectants are meant to kill germs or viruses on hard surfaces. "Under no circumstances should it ever be used on one's skin, ingested or injected internally," they warned.

The spokesperson for Reckitt Benckiser, the United Kingdom-based owner of Lysol, clarified that "all their products-the the disinfectant and hygiene products should only be used as intended, and in line with the usage guidelines."

It is not the first time that Trump had pushed unproven medical treatments. A month ago, the president promoted the use of hydroxychloroquine, an antimalarial drug. This promotion is despite the US Food and Drug Administration's warning that such a claim is unproven, and taking such drugs risks serious heart rhythm problems. A recent study of coronavirus patients in a Veterans Affairs hospital reported more deaths from those treated with the said drug than those treated with standard care.

In late March, an Arizona man died after ingesting chloroquine phosphate, believing that it would protect him from COVID-19 disease.
[Race affects our lives in countless ways. To read more provocative stories on race from The Times, sign up here for our weekly Race/Related newsletter.]

The last few weeks have been hard on many Asian-Americans. Blamed for the coronavirus, they have been attacked, spit on, told they dont belong.

These stories have been difficult to read, but they are also not new  something I learned while researching my new book, One Mighty and Irresistible Tide: The Epic Struggle Over American Immigration, 1924-1965. And the subject feels more urgent now than when I started writing about it four years ago.

For most of my life, the story of how my Chinese family became American seemed straightforward enough: My parents came to the United States for their education in the late 1960s and early 1970s, stayed to build their careers and then started a family in Northern Virginia.
Giving social distancing a virtual go-by, people resorted to panic buying by swarming markets in cities including Chennai, Coimbatore and Madurai on Saturday to buy vegetables and essential commodities in view of the four day complete shutdown from Sunday.

IMAGE: Huge crowd is seen to buy vegetables and groceries at a market, during a nationwide lockdown in the wake of coronavirus pandemic, in Chennai. Panic buying has been observed after Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami announced the total lockdown in Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, Salem and Tirupur from Sunday onwards for four days. Photograph: PTI Photo

As people thronged the markets, Chief Minister K Palaniswami ordered extension of time for shops selling essential commodities and vegetables by two more hours till 3 pm.

However, there was no dip in the crowds and important roads, and intersections that are usually deserted, teemed with vehicles and people.



Be it Koyambedu, one of the largest markets in Asia for vegetables, fruits and flowers or the cramped ones in locations like Royapuram, or the RS Puram Uzhavar Sandhai (farmers market) at Coimbatore, it was human heads everywhere.



People could be seen jostling for space in markets breaching social distancing norms and only a section of them sproted masks.



Every single shop had at least 100 men and women queuing up to buy veggies and other commodities.



As COVID-19 cases are on the rise in Tamil Nadu, Palaniswami on Friday had announced a complete shutdown beginning Sunday in Chennai, Coimbatore and Madurai for four days, disallowing grocery

shops as well and fully curtailing movement of the public.



Also, Salem and Tirupur in western Tamil Nadu will be shut similarly, albeit for three days from April 26 and Palaniswami assured people that vegetables and fruits shall reach their doorsteps via mobile outlets.



Chennai Corporation has made it clear that no shops will be allowed to function even for selling vegetables and fruits and that only push carts and mobile vehicles would be permitted to do so.



Pradeep John, well known as the 'Tamil Nadu Weatherman' in his Twitter handle, said many people he saw were not wearing masks, adding..."When I asked them, they all say my house is so nearby.

Whether your house is near or far, Please wear mask wen u go out".



Sections of people are apprehensive that the full shutdown may be extended further and this too prompted panic buying in several localities.



Even beyond the 3 pm deadline, several neighbourhood shops functioned and around 4.30 pm, all the roads and markets were deserted again with only police patrols and corporation flying squad vehicles doing the rounds.



Traders and vegetable dealers said they expected a surge in crowds on Saturday in view of the announcement of complete shutdown, adding they were able to meet the demand.



The government said it has made arrangements for supply of vegetables through vans.



Tamil Nadu Co-operative Milk Producers'Federation had announced that it has inked a pact with online food delivery aggregators Zomato and Duzo to distribute its flagship milk brand 'Aavin' and other dairy products,including ghee, directly to consumers in Chennai from its 21 hi-tech parlours effective Friday.



Districts, including Cuddalore announced that the complete lockdown will be followed on Sunday in their respective regions and disinfection tasks shall get priority.



Police and civic authorities meanwhile said tough action will be taken against those flouting the full lockdown norms.
ATLANTA  As the global death toll from the coronavirus surpassed 200,000 on Saturday, countries took cautious steps toward easing lockdowns imposed amid the pandemic, but fears of a surge in infections made even some outbreak-wounded businesses reluctant to reopen.

The states of Georgia, Oklahoma and Alaska started loosening restrictions on businesses despite warnings from experts that such steps might be premature.

Shawn Gingrich, CEO and founder of Lions Den Fitness, decided after the Georgia governors announcement that his Atlanta gym would remain closed for now.

Weve sacrificed so much already, Gingrich said. I feel like if we do this too soon, well see a spike in cases and were back to square one.

Others were eager to get back to business, with precautions. Russ Anderson, who owns four tattoo studios in south Georgia, said he couldnt get up out of my chair quick enough when restrictions were lifted. His main shop served 50 or 60 customers Friday when it reopened, with customers and tattoo artists wearing masks, he said.

The worldwide death toll was over 202,000, according to a count by John Hopkins University from government figures. The actual death toll is believed to be far higher.

India reopened neighborhood stores that many of the countrys 1.3 billion people rely on for everything from beverages to mobile phone data cards. But the loosening didnt apply to hundreds of quarantined towns and other places hit hardest by the outbreak that has killed at least 775 people in the country where many poor live in slums too crowded for social distancing.

Shopping malls also stayed closed nationwide. Still, for owners of small stores, being allowed to open again brought relief.

This is a good decision, said Amit Sharma, an architect. We have to open a few things and let the economy start moving. The poor people should have some source of income. This virus is going to be a long-term problem.

India also allowed manufacturing and farming to resume in rural areas last week to ease the economic plight of millions left jobless by the March 24 lockdown. The restrictions have allowed people out of their homes only to buy food, medicine or other essentials.

Elsewhere in Asia, authorities reported no new deaths Saturday for the 10th straight day in China, where the virus originated. South Korea reported just 10 fresh cases, the eighth day in a row its daily increase was under 20. There were no new deaths for the second straight day.

Underscoring the unknowns about the virus, the World Health Organization said there is currently no evidence that people who have recovered from COVID-19 cannot fall sick again.

Some countries extended or tightened restrictions, confirming a pattern of caution.

Sri Lanka had partially lifted a monthlong daytime curfew in more than two thirds of the country. But it reimposed a 24-hour lockdown countrywide until Monday after a surge of 46 new infections, its highest daily increase.

Norway extended until at least Sept. 1 its ban on events with more than 500 participants.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced that Spaniards will be allowed to leave their homes for short walks and exercise starting May 2 after seven weeks of strict home confinement, though he said maximum caution will be our guideline.

We must be very prudent because there is no manual, no roadmap to follow, he said.

Kids in Spain will get their first fresh air in weeks when a ban on letting them outside is relaxed starting Sunday. After 44 days indoors, theyll be allowed out for adult-supervised one-hour excursions but not permitted to play with others.

I really want to get outside, and Ema does as well, Madrid resident Eva Novilo said of her 7-year-old daughter. But Novilo predicted difficult situations if they see her friends and have to stay apart. I dont know if we will be able to maintain control.

In Italy, where restrictions will be eased May 4, authorities warned against abandoning social distancing practices when millions return to work. Free masks will be distributed to nursing homes, police, public officials and transportation workers. Workers painted blue circles on Romes subway platforms to remind commuters to keep their distance.

The country continues to have Europes highest death toll, with 26,384. The 415 deaths registered in the 24-hour period that ended Saturday evening was the lowest toll since Italy registered 345 on March 17, but only five fewer than Friday.

Italians celebrated the 75th anniversary of their liberation from occupation forces in World War II by emerging on balconies or rooftops at the same time to sing a folk song linked to resistance fighters.

Britain held off on changes to its lockdown as the virus death toll in hospitals topped 20,000. The figure doesnt include nursing home deaths, likely to be in the thousands.

France prepared to ease one of Europes strictest lockdowns from May 11. The health minister detailed plans to scale up testing to help contain any new flare-ups.

Testing shortages are a problem in Brazil, Latin Americas largest nation, which is veering closer to becoming a pandemic hot spot.

Officials in Rio de Janeiro and four other major cities warned that their hospital systems are on the verge of collapse or already overwhelmed. In Manaus, the biggest city in the Amazon, officials said they have been forced to dig mass graves in a cemetery. Workers have been burying 100 corpses a day  triple the pre-virus average.

Along with Georgia, Oklahoma allowed salons, spas and barbershops to reopen, while Alaska cleared the way for restaurants to resume dine-in service and retail shops and other businesses to open their doors, all with limitations. Some Alaska municipalities chose to keep stricter rules.

Though limited in scope, and subject to social-distancing restrictions, the reopenings marked a symbolic milestone in the debate raging in the United States and beyond about how quickly to ease economically devastating lockdowns.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, infectious diseases chief at the National Institutes of Health, on Saturday stressed a step-wise approach, with restrictions gradually lifted as areas reach certain milestones.

Any attempt to leapfrog over these almost certainly will result in a rebound, and then we can set ourselves back, Fauci told an online meeting of the National Academy of Sciences.

President Donald Trump skipped conducting a press briefing on the coronavirus response and later tweeted that the near-daily briefings were not worth the time & effort because of what he claimed was negative and erroneous media coverage. Trump lashed out at the media two days after using a briefing to muse about the injection of chemical disinfectants, which drew warnings from manufacturers and the nations top medical professionals.

A survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found Americans overwhelmingly support stay-at-home measures and other efforts to prevent the spread of the virus.

In Texas, where retailers are allowed to sell items for curbside pickup, Allison Scott said most customers of her womens clothing store in a Dallas shopping mall seem to feel more comfortable having their purchases shipped.

I want to be open more than anything but I dont think that society is ready to come out either, she said.



This story has been corrected to show that Russ Anderson owns four tattoo studios in south Georgia, not one.



Burnett reported from Chicago. Associated Press journalists around the world contributed.

Follow AP pandemic coverage at http://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 25)  Caloocan Mayor Oscar Malapitan announced on Saturday the local government will provide 1,000 financial assistance to around 14,000 University of Caloocan City students.

Malapitan recognized that most UCC students are also working on the side, thus the suspension of work brought by the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine affected them and their families.

"Nauunawaan natin na karamihan sa ating mga mag-aaral sa UCC ay kabilang sa ating working group na pansamantalang nawalan ng hanapbuhay at labis din na naaapektuhan ng krisis na dulot ng pandemyang ito," said Malapitan in his Facebook page.

[Translation: We understand that most of our students at UCC belong to our working group who have temporarily lost their jobs and are also severely affected by the crisis caused by this pandemic.]

The Caloocan mayor clarified that all UCC students enrolled in second semester of academic year 2019-2020, including non-working students, are eligible for the cash subsidy.

UCC Supreme Student Council President Joseph Lauga thanked the Caloocan LGU for providing such assistance to the students during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Alam naman po ng lahat na iskolar lang po kami lahat ng UCC at karamihan po ay working student. Masasabi kong may pangangailangan talaga lalo na sa nararanasan nating lahat na pandemic dahil sa COVID-19 virus, said Lauga.

[Translation: Everybody knows we are all scholars in UCC and most of us are working students. I will say the students needed this assistance especially during the pandemic caused by the COVID-19 virus.]

Malapitan added the cash assistance will be distributed next week. Students are advised to join the universitys official Facebook group for other announcements regarding the process of receiving the 1,000 financial assistance.

As of the latest tally this afternoon from the Caloocan City Health Office, the city has now 158 confirmed COVID-19 cases along with 242 suspected and 337 probable infections.
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Linkedin Alicia Powell (Reuters) New York, United States  Sat, April 25, 2020 10:01 627 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd4287f8 2 People Naomi-Campbell,model,Britain,talk-show,quarantine,coronavirus,COVID-19,pandemic,supermodel Free

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.

Read also: Supermodel Naomi Campbell urges Vogue to launch African edition

"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."
BUDAPEST (Reuters) - Serbia and Hungary have agreed to reopen three checkpoints on their border from Thursday morning to allow access for commuter workers, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said.

Szijjarto announced the agreement in a post on his Facebook page after talks with Serbian Interior Minister Nebojsa Stefanovic and European Integration Minister Jadranka Joksimovic.

Serbia closed its borders in March to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, as did other countries in the region.

Szijjarto said the measure would enable ethnic Hungarians living in northern Serbia to take up work in Hungary after a shutdown imposed by Serbia, halting all passenger traffic, created major issues for Hungarian companies in the region.

Agricultural workers from both countries were allowed to cross the border at three checkpoints as of 0400 GMT on Thursday, Szijjarto said.

The reopening pact follows a similar bilateral agreement with Austria, which has enabled Hungarian commuters to cross the border at a reopened checkpoint to cut waiting times seen at busier border crossings.

(Reporting by Gergely Szakacs; Editing by Robert Birsel)
Boeing Co on Saturday pulled out of a $4.2 billion deal to buy the commercial jets division of Brazil's Embraer, unraveling years of work on a transformative move driven by expanding competition with Europe's Airbus.

The deal's collapse, first reported by Reuters, is expected to trigger a legal battle as hopes for an alliance spanning from regional to jumbo jets dissolve into behind-the-scenes bickering, though a separate military transporter marketing pact will remain intact.

"Over the past several months, we had productive but ultimately unsuccessful negotiations ... We all aimed to resolve those by the initial termination date, but it didn't happen," Boeing senior vice-president Marc Allen, the president of the proposed Embraer partnership, said in a statement.

Embraer had no immediate comment.

The collapse of talks halts the second half of a major reshaping of the global duopoly between Boeing and Airbus as both companies sought to expand into regional jets, adding potential new revenues and fresh resources or technology.

In July 2018, Boeing agreed to buy 80% of Embraer's commercial jet unit after Airbus bought Embraer's main rival, the CSeries developed by Canada's Bombardier and since renamed A220. It also eyed lower-cost engineering and manufacturing.

The prospect of an abrupt collapse of the talks was first reported by Reuters on Friday after discussions over contractual clauses turned sour and sources reported that progress was slow as the clock ticked towards a midnight deadline.

On Saturday, plans for a simultaneous announcement were abandoned after Reuters quoted sources as saying Boeing had notified Embraer late on Friday that it would refuse to extend an April 24 deadline, effectively blocking the deal.

People familiar with the matter said Boeing had raised objections during talks about funding and legal matters, which Embraer regarded as a deliberate bid to frustrate the deal.

"Boeing was hard-hit by the world (coronavirus) crisis and found mechanisms in the contract to break it," said a Brazil-based source directly familiar with the talks.

Boeing is preparing for job cuts in its own workforce and steep production cuts next week due to the coronavirus crisis.

Breakup Fee

Others said the dispute revolved around how much Embraer had invested in the commercial aerospace unit pending a final deal, as well as the progress of technical and contractual paperwork.

A U.S. source denied Boeing had deliberately scuppered the deal and said Embraer had known for more than a year about the deadline and the various conditions for implementation.

The deal calls for a $100 million breakup fee. However, sources said Embraer was weighing whether to sue for more after the long period of uncertainty cost it aircraft sales of its E2 line.

The April 24 deadline been baked into the deal since January last year, but antitrust hiccups had forced the two companies to try to work out a new deadline.

While the transaction received antitrust approvals from most countries, the European Union delayed a decision until August.

Amid opposition from labor unions and prosecutors who thought Boeing would slash jobs, Embraer had defended the sale, saying it was crucial for its future.

Analysts expect it will now move to reassure investors over its financial position. At the end of 2019, it had $2.3 bln in cash and cash equivalents.

Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro had supported the deal, which needed government approval to go through, but expressed worry that Boeing might at some point take over all of Embraer.

Boeing Chief Executive Dave Calhoun earlier this year upheld the strategic value to Boeing of going ahead with the deal, which would have seen Embraer contribute to future Boeing jets.

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KYODO NEWS - Apr 25, 2020 - 23:45 | All, Japan

Japan will review its long-standing administrative custom requiring seal stamping on official documents as it has proven a major bottleneck in containing the coronavirus spread, sources close to the matter said Saturday.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will instruct related government ministries to review laws at Monday's meeting of the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy, as the practice has prevented telework from being fully introduced with employees needing to go to offices to put seals on documents.

Private-sector members of the governmental council will also make an emergency proposal to review such a custom at the upcoming meeting, as they have found that most of the economy-boosting measures implemented in Japan require "hanko" stamps on documents to apply for them, the sources said.

In Japan, "hanko" or seals are widely used for signing contracts, business transactions and administrative procedures.

The council will also review another administrative custom of requiring a resident to report to a city office to directly request a service, as such a face-to-face procedure is also a hindrance to encouraging people to stay home.

On April 10, a survey by a think tank showed that about 60 percent of company employees in Tokyo and six other prefectures were still commuting to their offices despite the state of emergency declared for those areas to curb the coronavirus pandemic.

The declaration was later expanded nationwide as Japan aims for an 80 percent reduction in person-to-person contact to contain the epidemic.

As of Saturday, Japan has confirmed more than 13,900 cases of coronavirus infection and 373 deaths as a result of COVID-19.
Hundreds of inmates in prisons across Jammu and Kashmir have volunteered and joined efforts to fight the coronavirus pandemic with mass production of face masks in jail premises, officials said on Saturday.

They said the prisoners started manufacturing the high quality polypropylene masks last month after the prisons department's proposal got the nod of the Lt Governor G C Murmu administration which has called for universal usage of face covers to contain the spread of the contagious disease in the Union Territory.

Jammu and Kashmir has recorded six coronavirus deaths so far four in the Valley and one each in Udhampur and Baramulla districts with nearly 450 others infected in the union territory.

"The mask-making inside the jails in both Kashmir and Jammu divisions is going on in full swing under the watch and guidance of the concerned Jail Superintendents and we are targeting to produce one lakh masks by the month end," a senior official told PTI.

He said the Director General of Prisons, V K Singh, responded positively to the proposal of the prisoners who came forward to lend their services after hearing about the shortage of masks in the open market ahead of the nationwide lockdown which came into effect on March 24.

"The DG prisons took the matter to the government. Experts in the drug controller department were also consulted before the commencement of the work which saw the inmates manufacturing over 1,000 masks on an average daily despite facing shortage of cloth in the early stages," the official said.

He said the masks made at the cotton yarn factory within the jail premises were distributed among the prisoners and the jail staff. After experts suggested the use of polypropylene, the fabric was procured initially from a merchant in Jammu and later in bulk from Ludhiana in Punjab.

Another official said the prisoners in the District Jail, Jammu are leading the campaign of producing the masks and had so far manufactured over 25,000 masks.

"Major chunk of the masks had already been distributed, some given free of cost to the frontline workers and the rest sold at Rs 15 per piece. Our masks are of best quality and those available in the market in the range of Rs 50 and Rs 60 are no match to our product," he said.

The official said the demand from various quarters including government offices and chemists is very high.

"Since the prisons department has come out with a number of guidelines for the safety of the prisoners against COVID-19, the auditoriums which were rendered useless in order to maintain social distancing were converted into manufacturing units to meet the growing demand," the official said.

He said maximum five masks are being given to a customer to ensure large distribution and check hoarding and black marketing.

As many as 288 prisoners were released from various jails this month to decongest the prisons on the directions of the Supreme Court. The prison department has come out with a slew of measures like no meeting of jail inmates with any visitor and proper screening and mandatory quarantine of new arrivals in the jails.

However, the department has allowed liberal telephone facilities to the jail inmates to keep in touch with their close relatives and ensure that they do not fall victim to depression, besides distributing sanitizers and informing them about the precautionary measures needed to be taken to keep away the disease.

"The mask-making has also helped the prisoners to remain busy and focused," he said, adding that it is a small attempt of social contribution from the prisons department for the overall welfare of the Union Territory.

In addition to the district jail in Jammu, the masks are being made by the inmates in Central jail Kot Bhalwal, district jails Udhampur, Kathua, Rajouri and Bhaderwah in Jammu region and Central jail Srinagar, district jail Anantnag and special jail (correction home) Pulwama in Kashmir valley.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Albany, N.Y. - During his Saturday morning press briefing on COVID-19, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced 437 more people died in New York State due to coronavirus on Friday.

The total number of deaths in the state now stands at 16,599.

Cuomo says the 437 deaths number is up from Thursday's toll of 422. There were 438 on Wednesday, 474 on Tuesday and 481 on Monday.

The Governor says all evidence says that we are on the downside of the pandemic right now.

Cuomo is authorizing all independent pharmacies in the state to be independent test sites.

He says with the number of available tests, along with the additional available testing sites, the eligibility to who can get tested can be opened up wider.

Cuomo says he is hearing it more and more, that people can no longer do this, to stay inside, to social distance, etc...

He says we have been at this for 56 days, and what we have done has saved lives, "What you're doing is actually saving lives. That's not rhetorical, that's not overly dramatic. You are saving lives. What you were doing here has saved lives. Every expert, every expert, CDC, the White House Task Force, Columbia University, the group that Bill Gates funded, everyone of them projected there would be at least 100,000 more serious infections in the state of New York. We did what we had to do, which was hard and is hard. Well what did we accomplish? 100,000 less serious infections. that's what 56 days of our relative 'living through hell' has accomplished, and that is a heck of an accomplishment."

Finally, the Governor says it's a beautiful day and he is going to get outside with his family by going hiking and says he will be wearing a mask.
There is no simple, one-size-fits-all answer. As governments and scientists fumble around, still struggling with so many unknowns, individuals are being left to take potentially life-affecting decisions.

Kids still attend soccer practice in Sweden while they are not even allowed outside in Spain. In the U.S state of Georgia, gyms, hair salons and bowling alleys were being allowed to reopen Friday even as American hospitals still heave with virus emergencies. In other parts of the globe, the prospect of a haircut is still weeks away.

Without a tried-and-tested action plan for how to pull countries out of lockdown, the world is seeing a patchwork of approaches. Schools reopen in one country, stay closed in others; face masks are an obligation here, a simple recommendation there.

In France, for instance, the government is leaving families to decide whether to keep children at home or send them back to class when the nationwide lockdown, in place since March 17, starts to be eased from May 11. "It is hard to decide," said Helene Alston, a French tax lawyer with a daughter and a son in middle school. "I think I will send them back to school because it allows us to restore a bit of normality in our lives." But "we don't want to deliberately put them in a dangerous situation," she said Friday. "I might change my mind."

In Spain, parents face a similarly knotty decision: whether to let kids get their first fresh air in weeks when the country on Sunday starts to ease the total ban on letting them outside. Even then, they will still have to abide to a "1-1-1" rule: no more than one hour per day, within a 1 kilometer radius of their house and with no more than one supervising adult.

The imperative to reopen is largely driven by economics, with lockdowns bleeding companies and government coffers of cash. In a trend seen around the globe, roughly 26 million Americans have filed for jobless aid in five weeks, pushing unemployment to levels last seen during the Great Depression of the 1930s and raising the stakes over how and when to ease shutdowns of factories and other businesses. But the risk of reopening too much, too fast is possible fresh infection spikes that again overwhelm hospital ICUs.

Japan initially seemed to have controlled the outbreak by going after clusters of infections. But on Friday, Japanese medical experts issued a stark warning that the country's emergency medicine resources are starting to collapse amid dire shortages of protective gear and test kits. "We can no longer operate normally, and in that sense I say the collapse of emergency medicine has already started," said Takeshi Shimazu, head of Japanese Association for Acute Medicine. "I'm most concerned about a collapse of healthcare for the critically ill patients."

The coronavirus has killed more than 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 government figures. The true numbers are undoubtedly far higher, and new cases are surging in Africa and Latin America as outbreaks subside in some places hit earlier.

Some U.S. governors have begun loosening up despite warnings from health authorities that it may be too soon to do so without sparking a second wave of infections. A major meatpacking plant in northern Colorado that closed because of an outbreak that killed 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.

On the economic front, few experts foresee a downturn as severe as the Great Depression, when unemployment remained above 14 percent from 1931 to 1940, peaking at 25 percent. But unemployment is considered likely to remain elevated well into next year and probably beyond, and will surely top the 10 percent peak of the 2008-09 recession.

Janet Simon, laid off as a waitress at a Miami IHOP restaurant, said she has just US$200 and is panicking 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."

Huge lines have formed at food banks from El Paso, Texas, to the Paris suburbs, and food shortages are hitting Africa especially hard.

In Africa, COVID-19 cases have surged 43 percent 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 World Health Organization warning that the virus could kill more than 300,000 people in Africa and push 30 million into desperate poverty.

In Muslim communities, the pandemic was casting a shadow over the holy month of Ramadan -- marked by daytime fasting, overnight festivities and communal prayer. Ramadan begins for the world's 1.8 billion Muslims with this week's new moon. Many Muslim leaders have closed mosques or banned collective evening prayer to ward off infections. The virus has already disrupted Christianity's Holy Week, Judaism's Passover, the Muslim hajj pilgrimage and other major religious events.

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 WHO's Europe office. "The question is whether we will take into account the biggest lessons so far."
When Federal American Grill owner Matt Brice opened the doors to his Hedwig Village restaurant for dine-in service at 5 p.m. Friday, he risked a $1,000 fine and up to six months in jail.

At least on paper. No law enforcement officers or agencies attempted to stop or cite Brice for defying Harris Countys stay-at-home order, which limits restaurants to delivery and takeout orders in an effort to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Several agencies, including the Harris County Sheriffs Office, Harris County Fire Marshal, Precinct 5 Constables Office and Houston Police Department each said Friday that a different entity was responsible for intervening.

Hedwig Village Police Chief David Gott did not respond to a request for comment. At least four of his police officers visited the restaurant Friday afternoon, but declined to say why, other than they had received a call.

Diners trickled in after 5 p.m.; those without reservations were turned away. They said they were excited to leave their homes. One carried an anti-Hidalgo sign that read Democrats Against Lina.

We are ready to get out and have some fun with our girlfriends, said Brenda Cheney. Ive read all the precautions (Brice) is taking, and I think its fabulous.

Brian Muecke, the mayor of the small west Harris County municipality, said on state Sen. Paul Bettencourts radio program Friday afternoon that Brice was courageous for reopening the restaurant and he had a 7 p.m. reservation to eat there.

Muecke issued a proclamation Friday permitting Hedwig Village restaurants to offer dine-in service. In an interview with the Chronicle, he declined to directly address how that was permissible under Harris Countys stay-at-home order.

Its up to people like me on the front line to interpret sometimes conflicting and oftentimes ambiguous edicts, Muecke said.

Brice said he defied the stay-home order because he disagreed with the rules. The restaurateur, who said the Federal Grill had lost more than 80 percent of its business under the order, said firms need to reopen soon to avoid closing permanently.

Im not trying to start a war or defy anybody, Brice said. Thats not my intent. Somebody or something has to get this going much faster, and our economy has crashed.

Brice insisted he could provide a safe dining experience, and became the first Harris County business to openly defy the order.

Now Playing: 'COVID-19 in 60': Houston coronavirus news in a minute Video: Houston Chronicle

The incident served as a reminder that success of coronavirus-related restrictions on public life relies heavily on voluntary compliance.

It remains to be seen now whether other restaurants or local businesses will follow suit.

Leaders of the Greater Houston Restaurant Association have said the lengthy shutdown could force some of the countys 13,000 eateries out of business. Attempts to reach the association for comment on the Federal Grill were unsuccessful Friday.

First Assistant County Attorney Robert Soard said the stay-at-home order is clear: Dine-in service is prohibited.

County Judge Lina Hidalgo declined to ask police to cite Brice or Federal Grill for violating the order, which she issued March 24 and expires on April 30. She called Brices decision to reopen dangerous and sad, as well as unfair to other small businesses.

The reason we havent had to use our medical shelter, why its not us on the news turning people away from hospitals, is because of all the business owners, the restaurants owners, the community leaders, the everyday people who have been making these sacrifices, Hidalgo said.

She declined to speculate on how the county would handle other businesses that reopen without permission, but said the county is empowered to enforce the order.

The section of Texas Local Government Code that allows Hidalgo to declare a disaster and control movement within her jurisdiction states that her authority carries over to the incorporated and unincorporated of the county.

Local leaders have faced increasing pressure to lift the countys restrictions on movement and commerce, which have strangled the economy and left thousands unemployed.

An

impromptu group

of 350 local businesses last week called on Hidalgo and Houston Mayor Turner to begin reopening the county on May 1, warning that many companies would not survive more weeks of forced closures.

Hidalgo also has faced resistance from Republican elected officials and police unions this week to her order requiring Harris County residents to

wear masks in public

for 30 days beginning April 27. Dozens protested outside the downtown county administration building Thursday afternoon.

Harris County sheriffs deputies and Houston Police Department officers will focus on distributing

masks to violators

rather than issuing citations, city and county leaders said Friday.

At the Federal Grill on Friday, Brice gave a reporter a tour of safety improvements staff made to the restaurant. Tables are spaced at least 6 feet apart, patrons are prohibited from approaching the bar and employees wear masks.

Were really social distancing, Brice said.

zach.despart@chron.com

marcy.deluna@chron.com
Iran Guards General Says Trump Planned To Attack Khamenei's Residence

Radio Farda April 24, 2020

Speaking on a live program on Iran's state-run TV on Thursday the Commander of the Guard's Aerospace Force claimed the United States was planning to hit Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's residence in January.

After the targeted killing of Qods Force Commander Major General Qassem Soleimani on Jnauary 3, President Donald Trump threatened in a tweet that the U.S. will target "52 Iranian sites  some at a very high level and important to Iran and the Iranian culture, and those targets, and Iran itself, will be hit very fast and very hard." President Trump never named the 52 targets designated to be attacked if Iran hit American troops.

In response to Soleimani's killing, Iran attacked two Iraqi bases hosting American and other coalition troops on January 8.

Referring to President Trump's threat, Brigadier General Amir-Ali Hajizadeh said: "The cultural spot that they were talking about was the residence of the Supreme Leader". He also said after Iran's missile attack the Guards were prepared to target 400 additional sites if the United States reacted. "We believed that they would retaliate, we had designated 400 sites to hit," he said.

Iran's Supreme Leader lives in a house adjacent to his office and a religious hall where he usually delivers his public speeches in a compound in central area Tehran. The old building of the Iranian Parliament, the Supreme National Security Council and the President's office are located within the compound.

A special unit of the Revolutionary Guard is in charge of the security of Khamenei's residence and the various buildings of his headquarters under the supervision of Ali-Asghar Hejazi, a former intelligence ministry deputy.

Source: https://en.radiofarda.com/a/iran-guards- general-says-trump-planned-to-attack- khamenei-s-residence/30574860.html

Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Amid rising coronavirus cases in the national capital, a top official in the Delhi government's COVID-19 committee has suggested that the ongoing lockdown will have to be continued till mid-May for the epidemic curve to flatten.

The Delhi government had announced a lockdown in Delhi on March 23 followed by a nation-wide lockdown by the Centre from midnight of March 24 till April 14.

The lockdown was further extended to May 3 by the Centre.

"India is still on the ascending limb of the epidemic curve and so, to ease the restrictions will mean the cases will multiply uncontrollably. And, Delhi has a large number of containment zones, so it will be wise to extend it," DrS K Sarin, chairman of Delhi government's committee on combating COVID-19, said on Saturday.

"The lockdown will have to be extended till May 16 as that is when the epidemic curve is likely to start declining, which happens after the flattening of the curve," he said.

The total number of coronavirus cases in Delhi on Friday rose to 2,625 with 54 deaths.

Asked how the May 16 date was arrived at, Sarin said, Delhi had recorded its first coronavirus case on March 3 and mathematical modelling of the pandemic from China suggests that it takes about 10 weeks for the epidemic curve to decline.

Explaining what constitutes flattening and decline in the curve, he referred to "reproduction number" of the cases.

The curve is said to flatten when the reproduction number is one, meaning for example, 10 people giving infection to only 10 people, and the decline is said to happen if the reproduction number is less than one, meaning 10 people (primary cases) passing on the infection to less than 10 persons, say 8 people (secondary cases) and those persons in turn passing it on to less than eight people, and so on.

"But, after the flattening of the curve, its decline also needs to be seen over a few weeks to make any assessment," Sarin said.

In India, the reproduction number for coronavirus cases is ranged from 1.7 to 2.5, he said.

In Australia, on the other hand it is about 0.5, he said.

Experts have warned that if lockdown restrictions are eased before flattening of the curve, cases could "flare up like wildfire".

As per data shared by the Delhi Health Department, the mortality rate till April 24 has been highest (6.32 per cent) among patients aged 60 years and above.

The mortality rate among those aged between 50-59 year was 3.42 per cent and 0.61 per cent in people who were aged less than 50.

Nearly 85 per cent of the number of deceased, had co-morbidities, as per the data. Co-morbidities refer to conditions such as hypertension, diabetes and kidney disease.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A government minister, the Social Democrats leader, and Fianna Fail and Sinn Fein TDs raised questions about the potential health impacts of 5G technology last year.

Fine Gael minister Brendan Griffin, SocDem leader Roisin Shortall, Sinn Fein TDs Pearse Doherty and Brian Stanley and Fianna Fail TDs Robert Troy, Niamh Smyth and Pat Casey, who is now a senator, submitted parliamentary questions (PQs) about 5G's health impact.

The wireless technology has been the subject of unfounded claims that it affects people's health in recent years and has more recently been falsely linked to the spread of Covid-19. The International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection says there is no evidence that 5G causes illnesses.

Mr Griffin asked Communications Minister Richard Bruton about the safety of 5G in two PQs last year. "We would submit PQs on all issues to get the official Government position to send back to people," he said, adding he has no concerns about the technology.

Mr Doherty asked OPW Minister Kevin 'Boxer' Moran last May whether a public health assessment had been carried out in advance of the installation of 5G technology at Buncrana garda station in Co Donegal. He was told there was no such proposal.

Mr Doherty said he had "no health concerns" about 5G.

Mr Troy said he submitted a PQ about 5G "in reply to constituency queries to ascertain the official departmental reply", while Mr Casey said he asked Mr Bruton for his plans to "quell the health concerns regarding the 5G roll-out" last October on behalf of a constituent and has no concerns.

Ms Shortall asked Mr Bruton last July how his department had established there are "no discernible health implications" from the 5G roll-out.

Neither she, nor Ms Smyth, nor Mr Stanley, who also submitted queries about 5G's health impact, responded to queries.

Mr Bruton's response to TDs' queries referenced a report from Netherlands' public health institute which, he said, reaffirmed the findings of a previous Irish Government report that there is "insufficient evidence to establish a causal relationship between exposure to low-frequency electromagnetic fields and adverse health effects".

Last November, Independent TD Michael Collins asked for a report on "the roll-out of 5G and the apparent dangers surrounding this to our people's health and wellbeing".

Mr Bruton said authorities would assess any evidence. Mr Collins did not respond to queries.
The first health-care worker at a Quebec long-term care home to test positive for COVID-19 had, like thousands of other Quebecers, recently returned from a trip abroad during the province's early March break.

Her case was reported March 14 by the health board for the Lanaudiere region, just northeast of Montreal. In retrospect, it was a warning of how easily the coronavirus could enter seniors' residential institutions, known in the province as CHSLDs.

One day before, in what had seemed like an harsh measure to some, Premier Francois Legault had banned visits to all seniors' homes when he declared a public health emergency.

It was already too late.

Outbreaks were reported at a number of residences in the following days. On March 18, Mariette Tremblay, 82, a resident of a private seniors' home in the same Lanaudiere region, died of COVID-19 and became Quebec's first known victim of the pandemic. She had had a visit from a family member back from a trip.

Infection spread through a Sherbrooke seniors' home, too, after a family reunion.

Vectors of the coronavirus  family and health-care staff returning from abroad  had entered the CHSLDs, home to the province's most vulnerable to the disease, long before Legault called for an end to visits.

But a failure to respond quickly and effectively in the weeks since has allowed COVID-19 to spread almost unhindered in dozens of homes, according to interviews with health-care workers, union representatives and a review of documents that demonstrate a lack of clear directives.

Workers on the front lines describe chaos inside the homes as increasing numbers of staff and residents fell sick, including a lack of protective equipment for themselves and residents who had not yet caught the disease.

They also say whatever measures were in place to prevent spread of the virus weren't fully respected. Some workers who tested positive say they were ordered to return work before the end of their quarantine.

Story continues

Now residents of those homes account for the vast majority of the COVID-19 death toll in Quebec. Of the 1,340 dead tallied so far in Quebec, 1,057 were seniors in care.

The crisis is far from over. More than 80 homes considered "critical" by the province, a number that has doubled in the past week.

At least 4,000 health-care workers have tested positive for COVID-19 and another 5,500 are absent from work, making it difficult for many CHSLDs to provide the most basic care.

One emergency room doctor at Montreal's Jewish General Hospital has described how patients are being wheeled into the ER, not sick from COVID-19, but because they are dehydrated and malnourished.

Slow to adapt after focus on hospitals

When a woman who had been travelling in Iran was reported to be the first case in the province Feb. 28, the province said the threat was still minimal  and the focus was on preparing hospitals.

"All the measures that are necessary to protect the population, to protect the workers and take care of the patients, if it occurs, are there," Danielle McCann, the provincial health minister, said at the time.

But as it became clear the bigger threat was in long-term care homes and other kinds of seniors' residences, the province was critcized for being slow to reallocate resources and staff.

Alain Croteau, a union president representing workers at the Centre-Sud-de-l'Ile-de-Montreal health agency, described the response as "very chaotic, very disorganized."

By March 30, two weeks after the ban on visits to hospitals and seniors' homes, the province announced the number of cases had surpassed 3,000.

That day, it announced $133 million in emergency funding for CHSLDs and other kinds of seniors' establishments.

"We will be able to hire more staff, buy more protective equipment and more disinfectant," said Quebec's minister for seniors, Marguerite Blais.

In the weeks that followed, however, it became clear many residences were still operating without enough gloves, masks or gowns.

Workers in Laurentians bought their own, for instance. So did nurses in Laval, fundraising with colleagues on social media and buying N95 masks and Bauer visors from friends of friends.

Directives published March 25 by Laval's health board stated staff in CHSLDs don't have to wear N95s, even when treating COVID-positive patients, unless the patients are on oxygen machines.

"The reason for that remains nebulous to me," said Jessika Cote, an emergency room nurse in Laval. She was reassigned to work at a hard-hit seniors' residence, CHSLD Sainte-Dorothee, where at least 74 patients have died and more than 90 per cent of residents have tested positive.

Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press

Mixed messages

Even before the pandemic, CHSLDs across the province struggled to recruit enough nurses and patient attendants to provide quality care. Recognizing that poor pay could trigger absenteeism and make a chronic staffing shortage even worse, on April 1, the Quebec government boosted wages by eight per cent in public CHSLDs, and by $4 an hour in private long-term care homes.

But as conditions grew worse and more and more health-care workers started getting sick, workers who had tested positive for COVID-19 were ordered to return to CHSLDs before the end of a normally compulsory 14-day quarantine.

At CHSLD Lafleche, a long-term care home in Shawinigan, for instance, workers who had been exposed to COVID-19 were told to leave isolation early because there was no staff to replace them.

In early April, McCann defended the decision, saying it was "exceptional" and based on "scientific advice" provided by Quebec's public health institute.

"Leaving people all by themselves without services  we cannot do that," she said.

The government still has not banned outright the practice of health-care workers putting in shifts at more than one nursing home, despite warnings from workers of the increased risk of spreading the virus.

Cote, the ER nurse, believes there would be thousands fewer health-care workers absent or sick today if the province had provided workers with the right equipment and clearer directives.

Submitted by Jessika Cote

When she arrived at CHSLD Sainte-Dorothee on April 3, Cote said managers didn't even know she was coming and didn't give her any training.

She was sent to one of the home's hot zones, where she scrambled to provide residents a minimum of care.

Cote says the CHSLD only provided a surgical face mask, a gown and a pair of gloves.

In the days that followed, she observed staff circulating between cold and hot zones without changing gowns  a major potential vector for the virus, she said.

Instead of changing gloves, many would simply wash or sanitize them, she said.

Cote said the circumstances only got worse in the days that followed  a heavier workload, more deaths, and COVID-positive patients being transferred back into areas where some hadn't yet caught the disease.

"They said that since most of the CHSLD was contaminated anyway, there was no point having designated zones," Cote said.

Of the 25 ER nurses who were sent to work in Laval CHSLDs, Cote said, nine have since caught the coronavirus.

Cote is one of them.

As awful as COVID-19 can be, Cote said, it was a relief when she received her positive result over a week ago.

"I love my work, so I don't like saying this, but it finally gave me a break," she said. In a few days, she'll be going back to Sainte-Dorothee, where she's heard things are a little better.

Offers of help, unheeded

In recent weeks, as the crisis has become even more acute, Legault has repeatedly called on health-care workers to help staff the besieged nursing homes.

But many say they put their names forward early in the pandemic but weren't able to secure a position, with the hiring bureaucracy overwhelmed.

Natalie Stake-Doucet, the president of Quebec's nurses association, said she tried for weeks to offer her assistance at a CHSLD.

"It took, finally, talking directly to someone who I know who happens to be a manager and got me a job," she said.

"When I got there, it was devastation. I've never seen anything like it. It was shocking and sad and overwhelming," she said.

Jacques Boissinot/The Canadian Press

Stake-Doucet, now a PhD candidate and nursing instructor at the Universite de Montreal, stopped working full-time as a nurse two years ago, in part out of frustration over the impact of cuts to the health-care network on patient care.

She blames health reforms imposed by the previous Liberal government on the breakdown in communication between health authorities and health-care workers on the front lines. She said the chronic staff shortages in the CHSLDs prior to the crisis have made the problem even worse.

In his daily briefings, Legault has said repeatedly that the time will come to examine all that went wrong. In a strikingly frank mea culpa a week ago, the premier said he takes "full responsibility" and is filled with remorse that "we didn't better care for the elderly, the most vulnerable."

On Friday, he said he is "not excluding" the possibility of taking over all private seniors' homes and creating a network of more spacious, better-staffed and more home-like residences for the aged across the province.

He said he'd learned "a big lesson" about the need for less crowding and more staff.

The outbreak of COVID-19 in Quebec's long-term care institutions, Legault said, has been like setting fire to hay.

"Everything burns rapidly," he said.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-26 00:06:57|Editor: huaxia

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Chinese Ambassador to Albania Zhou Ding (L) exchanges handover certificates with Albanian Deputy Minister of Health and Social Protection Mira Rakacolli (C) during a ceremony at Tirana International Airport, Albania, April 25, 2020. A batch of medical supplies donated by the Chinese government arrived at Albania's Tirana International Airport on Saturday to help the country fight the coronavirus pandemic. The medical supplies include testing kits, protective garments, face masks, goggles and gloves. (Chinese Embassy to Albania/Handout via Xinhua)

TIRANA, April 25 (Xinhua) -- A batch of medical supplies donated by the Chinese government arrived at Albania's Tirana International Airport on Saturday to help the country fight the coronavirus pandemic.

The medical supplies include testing kits, protective garments, face masks, goggles and gloves.

The donations were welcomed at the airport by Albanian Deputy Minister of Health and Social Protection Mira Rakacolli and Deputy Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Etjen Xhafaj, who expressed their gratitude to the Chinese government and people for the help.

"These aids show our love for the Albanian people. True friends stand by one-other in hard times. I am convinced that these aids will play an important role in the fight against COVID-19 in Albania," Zhou Ding, Chinese Ambassador to Albania, told reporters.

Rakacolli said that these medical supplies, much-needed at the moment, will increase the capacity Albania needs in its hospitals.

"We thank the Chinese government for the assistance provided to us, and as the head of the World Health Organization has said, we can overcome this global challenge only through solidarity," the deputy minister said.

In his remarks, Xhafaj said that the aids are "much appreciated and necessary for all the medical personnel who are currently fighting in the front line with the pandemic."

"I am confident that together we will overcome this difficult moment with social distancing and by applying the various measures taken by the authorities so far," Xhafaj said.

On Saturday, the health authorities reported 34 new coronavirus cases in Albania, bringing the total in the country to 712, with 403 recoveries and 27 fatalities. Enditem
(Photo : REUTERS/Thomas White/) The WhatsApp messaging application is seen on a phone screen August 3, 2017.

Facebook has filed a case against the Israeli cyber surveillance firm NSO Group on the latter's use of WhatsApp to spread spyware to 1,400 mobile devices in 20 countries between April and May. The spying targeted 100 journalists, some famous female leaders, human rights activists, and political dissenters.

However, Facebook did not mention who the NSO's client was on the attacks on devices mostly located in Mexico, Bahrain, and the UAE. WhatsApp has further accused NSO used Pegasus software to tamper US-based servers to spy.

Particularly, NSO has reportedly used the QuadraNet, a Los Angeles hosting service, for over 700 times to afflict malware on users, which also involved an Amazon server. This refuted NSO's claims that it could not operate in the United States as well as asserts the reports that it is a hacking company rather than developing software.

The Facebook legal team also sought to shoot down NSO's beliefs that it's out of the jurisdiction and that it has immunity due to its government clientele. Lawyers noted that the company hadn't named a specific country buying its surveillance offerings, or any other proof that it couldn't be held responsible for what its clients did. It was trying to "cloak" itself in the immunity of its customers, attorneys said.

A spokesperson for NSO didn't directly address the latest claims and instead repeated earlier remarks, saying that it "does not operate" Pegasus for customers and that it can't be used against devices or phone numbers inside the U.S.

If WhatsApp's accusations are true, the NSO Group may be in huge trouble as the involvement of U.S. servers would have great chances of the lawsuit moving forward.

READ ALSO: Facebook Launches Messenger Rooms to Compete with Zoom and Skype; But Is It Safe?

NSO faces serious charges

Meanwhile, the NSO Group, in a statement sent to Engadget, has strongly denied the charges regarding its involvement in the attacks. It also defended Pegasus, NSO's surveillance technology, which is being sold to governments worldwide.

The statement also upholds NSO's sole purpose "to provide technology to licensed government intelligence and law enforcement agencies" in their fight against crimes and terrorism.

"Our technology is not designed or licensed for use against human rights activists and journalists. It has helped to save thousands of lives over recent years," the statement added.

Victims of WhatsApp attacks receive calls, and they do not even need to pick up their phones to get infected by Pegasus. The spyware cannot break WhatsApp's encryption, but it can access the messages after being decrypted on the receiver's device.

Last year, the NSO Group previously confirmed that Pegasus was used to target a British lawyer who contacted Citizen Lab and started the probe leading to this lawsuit. The said lawyer represented those who accused NSO of providing the tools to hack the phones of a Saudi Arabian dissident, Mexican journalists, among others. However, the company denied that it uses its own technology to "target any person or organization."

WhatsApp head Will Cathcart said the company is confident that NSO was behind the attacks. "We have tied certain WhatsApp accounts used during the attacks back to NSO. While their attack was highly sophisticated, their attempts to cover their tracks were not entirely successful," Cathcart added.

READ ALSO: DON'T Open These Emoji Messages on iPhone and iOS or Else... This Will Happen

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RIYADH/JERUSALEM  The holy month of Ramadan began on Friday with Islams holiest sites in Saudi Arabia and Jerusalem largely empty of worshippers as the coronavirus crisis forced authorities to impose unprecedented restrictions.

During Ramadan, Muslims the world over join their families to break the fast at sunset and go to mosques to pray.

But the pandemic has changed priorities, with curbs on large gatherings for prayers and public iftars, or meals to break the fast.

In a rare occurrence in Islams 1,400-year history, Meccas Grand Mosque and the Prophets Mosque in Medina  the religions two holiest locations  will be closed to the public during the fasting period.

Prayers from inside the mosque at Mecca on the first evening of Ramadan on Thursday were restricted to clerics, security staff and cleaners, in a ceremony broadcast live on television.

A combination picture shows people having their iftar 'break fasting meal' at Sultanahmet Square during the holy month of Ramadan in Istanbul, Turkey, May 28, 2019 (top) and a general view of the deserted Sultanahmet Square on the first day of Ramadan, during a four-day curfew which was imposed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), April 24, 2020 (bottom). Photos: Reuters

In comments marking the start of Ramadan, King Salman, who is the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, lamented the need for social distancing during the holy month.

It pains me to welcome the glorious month of Ramadan under circumstances that forbid us from prayers in mosques, he said, according to the official Saudi Press Agency.

It doesnt feel special this year, we dont feel any Ramadan vibes, said Sarah, a mother-of-two in Riyadh.

A Palestinian Muazzin, a person who calls for prayers, reads the Koran in an almost empty mosque on the first Friday of the holy fasting month of Ramadan as prayers by worshippers in the holy places are suspended due to concerns about the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the northern Gaza Strip April 24, 2020. Photo: Reuters

At a near-empty Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, an imam called out the first Friday prayers of Ramadan across a windswept plateau almost devoid of worshippers.

A handful of clerics in face masks knelt below the pulpit, keeping several feet apart to comply with coronavirus restrictions.

We ask God to have mercy on us and all of humanity and to save us from this lethal pandemic, the imam said.

Ramadan typically draws tens of thousands of Muslims daily to the mosque and the adjoining Dome of the Rock.

Worshippers will instead have to watch prayers on television.

Muslims pray during the first Friday prayer of Ramadan in an alley in Jerusalem's Old City amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) restrictions April 24, 2020. Photo: Reuters

Asian outbreaks

Governments in Asian countries with large Muslim populations urged people to keep their distance while observing Ramadan.

Early outbreaks in Asia, home to many of the worlds 1.8 billion Muslims, were traced in some cases to pilgrims returning from Iran and Saudi Arabia to Afghanistan and Pakistan, or to gatherings of Islamic groups in India and Malaysia.

Just like when we fast, we must struggle and fight against our desires, Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said in a televised address to his country, one of the hardest hit by the virus in Southeast Asia.

On Thursday, his government extended curbs on movement until May 12, cancelled popular evening bazaars and banned attendance at mosque prayers as well as travel back to peoples hometowns.

A Muslim woman wearing a face shield reacts upon arriving at a mosque before Friday prayer on the first day of holy fasting month of Ramadan, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Bangkok, Thailand April 24, 2020. Photo: Reuters

In Indonesia, which has the worlds biggest Muslim population and Asias highest coronavirus toll outside China, President Joko Widodo urged people to work and pray at home.

On the island of Java, Tatan Agustustani, 52, and his family were clearing furniture to make way for prayer mats.

Its the same in the mosque or at home, said Agustustani.

For me, no matter where we are, prayers must go on, even though we cannot pray in the mosque.

A police officer wearing a protective face mask gestures towards a colleague as they guard a highway checkpoint following the government ban of the Indonesian Muslim traditional homecoming mass exodus to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Bekasi, on the outskirts of Jakarta, Indonesia, April 24, 2020. Photo: Reuters

But that message appeared lost in Indonesias sharia-ruled province of Aceh, as worshippers crowded into a mosque on the eve of Ramadan.

Some said their fate was not in their hands, although many wore masks as they lined up shoulder-to-shoulder to pray.

In our belief, it is God who decides when we will die, said one devotee, Taufik Kelana.

But we will stay alert, like wearing a mask.

A Muslim woman wearing a protective face mask poses for a photo upon arriving at a mosque before Friday prayer on the first day of holy fasting month of Ramadan, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Bangkok, Thailand April 24, 2020. Photo: Reuters

Some easing

In South Asia, Ramadan is expected to start on Saturday.

Leaders of Indias 160 million Muslims have urged people to heed the nationwide lockdown throughout the month.

A large number of infections there were linked to a religious gathering of a Sunni missionary group.

The Tablighi Jamaat event in mid-March drew participants from across India, neighboring Bangladesh and even Indonesia and Malaysia.

A Muslim woman wearing a face shield prays at a mosque on the first day of holy fasting month of Ramadan, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Bangkok, Thailand April 24, 2020. Photo: Reuters

The All India Islamic Centre of religious teaching will livestream recitations from the Koran, the Muslim holy book, every evening.

This is the best way to pray to Allah and keep everyone safe, said its chairman, Khalid Rashid Firangi Mahali.

Doctors in Pakistan are worried by the governments decision to lift curbs on mosque congregations for Ramadan.

Bangladesh has ordered mosques to restrict Ramadan evening prayers to 12 people and banned iftar gatherings, while Sri Lanka has closed mosques.

Muslims maintain safe distance as they attend a Friday prayer as provincial government limited congregational prayers and ordered to stay home, in efforts to stem the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Karachi, Pakistan April 24, 2020. Photo: Reuters

In Algeria, authorities shortened a night curfew and lifted a full lockdown in a province near the capital Algiers to accommodate Ramadan worship.

The Nigerien capital Niamey was calm but police and military remained out in force following violent protests against a curfew and closing of mosques.

I invite you to have more patience because patience is the feature of the Muslim believer, Prime Minister Brigi Rafini said in an address to the nation.

Muslims maintain safe distance as they attend a Friday prayer at Mahabat Khan mosque, amid the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), Peshawar, Pakistan April 24, 2020. Photo: Reuters

Women walk outside Jerusalem's Old City overlooking the Dome of the Rock, as Muslims mark the first Friday prayer of Ramadan amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) restrictions April 24, 2020. Photo: Reuters

Neon lights read 'It is time to pray' hanged between minarets of the Ottoman-era Sultanahmet Mosque, also known as the Blue Mosque, on the first day of the holy month of Ramadan during a four-day curfew which was imposed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Istanbul, Turkey, April 24, 2020. Photo: Reuters

Palestinian mosque keepers pray in an almost empty mosque on the first Friday of the holy fasting month of Ramadan as prayers by worshippers in the holy places are suspended due to concerns about the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the northern Gaza Strip April 24, 2020. Photo: Reuters
South African telecommunications companies have seen a big spike in traffic across their networks.

People are watching more Netflix and YouTube, and many are now working from home due to the lockdown.

Despite this spike, ICT companies Liquid Telecom, SEACOM, and Dimension Data told MyBroadband they have enough capacity to continue serving the nation.

Liquid Telecom

Liquid Telecoms focus today is the same as every day: were committed to ensuring our customers have access to the most reliable network and digital solutions  now and in the weeks and months to come, it said.

The company noted that it has seen an impact on the rollout of new services to customers, though, as the access to their premises has been restricted.

When it comes to handling the increase in Internet traffic due to the lockdown, Liquid Telecom said its recently-overhauled network was more than up to the task.

Liquid Telecoms core network is one of the most technologically advanced, modern, and reliable networks in South Africa and across the African continent, with a far greater capacity than the demand we have seen over the last month, the company said.

As Liquid Telecom we had planned for a number of eventualities to ensure we do everything possible to support our employees and rolled out extensive business continuity measures, it added.

We have implemented a methodology that did not result in any salary cuts, but rather made use of a special leave allocation for those that were not able to work from home.

This is, however, under constant review based on the changing circumstances and associated impact COVID-19 is having on South Africa and the world, the company said.

Dimension Data

Dimension Data told MyBroadband it has successfully implemented remote working and enabled its clients to continue operating their businesses with certain priority procedures in place for clients classified as essential services.

Our peering, transit, national, and international networks have had sufficient additional capacity to cater for the increased demand without needing to make any significant networking changes for our corporate clients, Dimension Data said.

Where consumer demand has seen an uptick in last-mile upgrades and consumption of broadband and fibre services, we have upgraded our IPC to cater for these increases.

The company said it has measures in place to ensure that its business remains stable and ready to respond to the changing nature of this pandemic.

These include the freezing of all hiring and back-filling of roles, stopping all property refurbishments, and curtailing all discretionary spend.

The ability to work, and to continue to work, from home relies on the technology and systems we have in place, Dimension Data said.

We are well positioned in terms of our robust network infrastructure, data, and system security along with the required collaboration and communication technologies to continue delivering enterprise-level solutions for remote workers and supporting our clients evolving needs.

SEACOM

SEACOM said that it was as exposed to the economic impact of the lockdown, as were all businesses in South Africa.

We have changed our way of work  staff are now working from home, with the focus of keeping our business running by supplying good quality Internet and connectivity solutions, while keeping up our industry-leading service levels, SEACOM said.

Equally as important as keeping our business running well from an operation point of view, we also understand the lockdown is affecting all our customers.

As SEACOM is one of the largest Internet providers in Africa, we are ensuring our network is reliable and of the highest quality  especially at a time like this when connectivity is paramount.

The company said it has seen a noticeable increase in network traffic since the lockdown was implemented.

We have observed a traffic increase of approximately 24% since the start of the lockdown period, but we are seeing that this could increase further as more companies take actions to contain physical interaction of staff, customers, and vendors, and instead use more digital services, SEACOM said.

SEACOM certainly expects traffic to continue to increase in the coming days and weeks.

While we operate Africas largest Internet backbone, and generally have sufficient available capacity as a matter of course, we are adding even more backbone upgrades where needed, particularly in critical areas of the network to anticipate increased traffic growth, it added.

To further upgrade our international network over time, we will therefore be somewhat dependant on getting access to these international sites so as to install, test and then turn up more lit capacity over our physical fibre network.
A man adjusts the Nova Scotia flag in front of the makeshift memorial, made in the memory for the victims of last Sundays mass shooting in Portapique, Canada.

Canada's worst mass shooting erupted from an argument between the gunman and his girlfriend, who survived the attack, a police official said.

The official confirmed the weekend shooting rampage in Nova Scotia stemmed from a domestic dispute.

Police said 51-year-old Gabriel Wortman acted alone in the shooting spree that killed at least 22 people across northern and central Nova Scotia.

There were 16 crime scenes in five different rural communities.

The suspect was shot to death on Sunday morning, about 13 hours after the attacks began.

Several bodies were found inside and outside one house in the rural town of Portapique, police have said.

Bodies were also found in four other communities, and authorities believe the shooter targeted his first victims but then began attacking randomly as he drove around disguised as a police officer.
The daily patrols around towns and villages have not only enforced compliance of COVID-19 regulations but have also curbed the incidence of crime in communities. Since the beginning of April, the Police and Botswana Defence Force (BDF) personnel have mounted heavy patrols in towns and the countryside.

I do not have the statistics but rest assured that crime has significantly declined due to the patrols to enforce compliance with the COVID-19 restrictions by the communities, said Superintendent Neo Serumola, the Station Commander of Kutlwano Police Station in Francistown in an interview on Wednesday.

The 24 hour restrictions which are strictly enforced have kept people at home the whole time. This means that thieves find it difficult for them to target anybody and snatch items such as cellphones or go out for housebreaking or burglary. When the would-be perpetrator and the would-be victim are locked-down in their respective residences, there can be no thieving, said Serumula who, although concerned like everybody else about the rampaging pandemic, has got something to smile about for a change.

Lawrence Nthoiwa, Detective Assistant Superintendent and Officer In-Charge, CID, Tatitown Police Station has also experienced a decline in crime in his policing area. Crime has drastically gone down. The number of reports we are receiving on the usual crimes such as assault, is negligible. This is obviously due to the pronounced and permanent visibility of law enforcement agencies to help confine people to their residences in government fight against the corona scourge. He appealed to everyone to fear the virus instead of fearing the security organs patrolling the streets. To keep safe, you must obey all advice from government experts. That way, you not only save yourself but your loved ones too, said Nthoiwa in an interview at Tatitown Police Station.
Here are the latest developments in Asia related to the novel coronavirus pandemic: - Driveway vigils for Anzac Day - Australians and New Zealanders marked Anzac Day from the isolation of their driveways to honour their armed forces after the pandemic saw parades cancelled and ceremonies closed to the public. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was among those observing dawn vigils in front of their homes, while Australia's leader Scott Morrison attended an official Canberra ceremony forced behind closed doors. Anzac Day marks the 1915 landing of troops at Gallipoli on the Turkish peninsula in an ill-fated World War I campaign against German-backed Ottoman forces that killed about 10,000 Australian and New Zealand servicemen. - Sri Lanka to lift curfew - Sri Lanka announced the lifting of a nationwide curfew after more than five weeks under lockdown despite the number of new coronavirus infections spiking in the past two days. Police said the curfew will be lifted on Monday but travel restrictions would remain in place in four coastal regions, including the capital Colombo, which accounts for the bulk of the country's 420 COVID-19 cases. An entire navy camp was placed under quarantine on Friday after 60 sailors tested positive for the virus, making the base the biggest cluster of infections on the South Asian island. - Sumo wrestler tests positive - Japan's sumo wrestling calendar is in doubt after a competitor and his trainer tested positive for the coronavirus ahead of a major tournament scheduled for next month. The Japan Sumo Association said wrestler Hakuyozan and his stable master Takadagawa had contracted the virus along with four sumo trainees. It did not mention any change to future events but local media said the infections placed Tokyo's Summer Grand Sumo Tournament in jeopardy. A low-ranking wrestler also tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this month -- the first confirmed case in the sport. The association has already been forced to move one tournament behind closed doors and postpone others. - Aussie chef fined over treatment claim - Australian celebrity chef Pete Evans has been fined thousands of dollars after promoting a "light machine" which he claimed could help treat coronavirus. Evans was handed the Aus$25,000 (US$16,000) penalty over his assertion that the BioCharger device -- which looks like a cross between a blender and a lava lamp -- could be used to help beat COVID-19. "It's programmed with about a thousand different recipes, there's a couple on there for Wuhan coronavirus," Evans said in a Facebook live video earlier this month. But Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration said his claim had "no apparent foundation". The maker of the machine, Advanced Biotechnologies, describes it as a "Subtle Energy Revitalisation Platform" but issued a statement that said the BioCharger was not a medical device. Evans has previously been criticised by medical experts over questionable health advice such as suggesting bone broth as a substitute for baby formula and claiming that fluoride in drinking water is toxic. - Pakistan doctors on hunger strike - Dozens of Pakistani doctors and nurses have launched a hunger strike demanding adequate protective equipment for frontline staff treating coronavirus patients, the lead organiser of the protest said Saturday. Health workers have complained for weeks that the country's hospitals are suffering chronic shortages of safety gear, prompting the arrest of more than 50 doctors who called for more supplies in the city of Quetta earlier this month. Frontline staff have been left vulnerable, with more than 150 medical workers testing positive for the virus nationwide, according to the Young Doctors' Association in worst-hit Punjab province. burs-axn/gle A 10-year-old boy plays the 'Last Post' on a saxophone from his driveway at dawn in Sydney on Saturday Sri Lanka has been under nationwide lockdown for more than five weeks Japan has been forced to hold sumo tournaments behind closed doors
She recently gave a very candid insight into what it was like to be living with partner Finley Tapp during the coronavirus lockdown.

And Love Island's Paige Turley left little to the imagination once again, as she posed for National Lingerie Day in an Instagram post uploaded on Friday.

The reality TV star, 22, put on a busty display in a blue satin underwear set which she teamed with a lacy pink negligee.

Strike a pose: Love Island's Paige Turley left little to the imagination once again as she posed for National Lingerie Day in an Instagram post uploaded on Friday

She let her bleach blonde tresses flow loosely as she swept them away from her face and gazed towards the camera.

The TV personality later swapped her outfit and slipped into another seductive two-piece.

This time she knelt on the floor and smiled towards the mirror as she posed for a series of racy selfies.

Sultry: The TV personality later swapped her outfit and slipped into another seductive two-piece and knelt on the floor to take a series of mirror selfies

Paige is currently in isolation with her mum Nicky and step-dad Stephen, as well as Finn, who's moved from Milton Keynes to Scotland to be with her.

She told The Sun on Sunday: 'The nation has seen both of us half-naked for six weeks anyway and my parents watched us on TV like the rest of the country, so they don't mind.

'Finn is a gorgeous looking guy who is even more gorgeous in the flesh. He's a big guy and takes up a lot of space in the bed.

'We're going to need a bigger bed - the double just isn't cutting it!'

Quality time: The loved-up couple are currently in lockdown together at Paige's parents' house, where they've been spending lots of time between the bed sheets

Paige also revealed she's already planning to marry and have children with Finn in the future.

The blonde beauty explained that she loves seeing 'family guy' Finn interact with his loved ones, but they're too young to start thinking about starting a family just yet.

'We want to have fun first, then marriage and family can come in time', she sensibly said.

Paige recently apologised to her fans for being 'absent', before explaining she had been busy catching up with her beau after he arrived at her home in Glasgow.

She revealed that the couple had decided to self-isolate together following government advice to stay indoors until further notice.

Together: Paige revealed that the couple had decided to isolate together following government advice to stay indoors until further notice

Paige then posted a video herself giggling in bed wearing a pink and white satin stripe cami alongside a grinning bare-chested Finn.

Sharing a clip of the couple in bed together, Paige wrote: 'The reason I have done the disappearing act the last couple of days... I was catching up with this stranger.

She added: 'P.s. he drove six hours to Scotland to isolate with me [crying faces].'

The couple, who beat runners-up Siannise Fudge and Luke Trotman in February, were crowned winners of the first ever winter edition of Love Island but still haven't had the chance to spend a penny of their 50,000 cash prize.
Gov. Tom Wolfs administration is offering more details on the standards he will use to gradually reopen Pennsylvania.

The Wolf administration released more information Saturday on its benchmarks and approach to easing restrictions. Pennsylvania remains under a statewide stay-at-home order to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

The governor has said he aims to open counties in northcentral and northwestern Pennsylvania on May 8. Wolf has said he will employ a data driven approach to evaluating counties where restrictions can be eased.

The governor has outlined one key metric previously. The Wolf administration will consider opening counties with fewer than 50 new confirmed cases per 100,000 people over the previous 14 days. For example, an area with 800,000 people would need to have fewer than 400 new confirmed cases reported in the past 14 days to meet the target, the administration said.

But the Wolf administration has also offered more details on other steps. The number of cases is only one factor.

The Wolf administration listed other criteria to reopen regions. Here are those measures, according to the Wolf administration.

Enough testing. There needs to be enough tests for individuals with symptoms and certain key groups, such as those at high risk, health care personnel and first responders.

Contact tracing. The state will want to ensure theres robust case investigation and contact tracing infrastructure in place to identify cluster outbreaks and to issue proper isolation and quarantine orders. In a news conference Saturday, Levine said contact tracing will be very important in easing restrictions.

Helping high-risk areas. Regions will need to identify high-risk settings, such as prisons and nursing homes, and ensure there are adequate safeguards in place. Those safety steps include staff training, employee screening, strong policies on visitors and adequate supplies of protective equipment.

The state is working with Carnegie Mellon University to develop a modeling dashboard to evaluate regions. The Wolf administration said it will take "a regional and sector-based approach to reopenings, the easing of restrictions and public health response.

Wolf and Levine have said they will look at individual counties and their cases and health care capabilities when it comes to easing restrictions. But state officials will also focus on the surrounding region.

Levine has said if an individual county has a low number of cases but is surrounded by counties with high case loads, that county probably wouldnt be reopened.

This map from the Pa. Department of Health defines how it divides up the state into regions as decisions are made to reopen Pennsylvania's economy.

The governor has said his administration will work with counties and local officials to ease restrictions.

More than 40,000 people in Pennsylvania have contracted the virus and more than 1,500 have died, according to the state Department of Health.

The Wolf administration is using a three-phased plan in reopening regions: red, yellow and green.

Wolf said hell look to lift the order gradually across the state, beginning in some northern counties with only a few cases. But Wolf has also said hes ready to lift some restrictions on business.

Construction activity can resume May 1 and the governor has also said online auto sales can return.

Gov. Tom Wolf's red, yellow and green phases reopening Pennsylvania after coronavirus-related shutdowns in 2020. (Graphic via the governor's office.)

Here is the governors plan to reopen Pennsylvania.

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In a side-room at the National Portrait Gallery in Trafalgar Square hangs a small oval portrait of a moustachioed man in a gilt baroque frame.

The picture is the last self-portrait attributed to the Flemish Old Master Sir Anthony van Dyck, a spectacular work deemed so important the gallery launched an urgent appeal in 2013 to raise the 10million needed to save it for the nation.

The 'Van Dyck selfie' as it became known certainly caught the public imagination. The portrait gallery recruited its patron, the Duchess of Cambridge, to become the 'face' of the campaign and around 10,000 small donors answered the call.

Between them, they chipped in nearly 1.5million, alongside grants from the National Lottery, the Art Fund charity and a number of wealthy benefactors.

Billed as 'a masterpiece for everyone', the Van Dyck was then sent on a three-year nationwide tour so that donors and taxpayers could see their new purchase for themselves.

Few of them will have questioned the authenticity of this multi-million-pound masterpiece, but then why should they?

The controversial painting was believed to be a self-portrait of Van Dyck but that is now under dispute

The self-portrait was backed by one of the most prestigious galleries in the country.

Yet as anyone who has seen the BBC's popular Fake Or Fortune show presented by Fiona Bruce and urbane Pall Mall art dealer Philip Mould will know, the world of Old Master paintings is fraught with tricky questions of condition and provenance, restoration, overpainting  and at times of outright fakery.

I'm an investigative art consultant experienced in evaluating pictures using X-ray, infrared imaging and other scientific techniques, and after a painstaking investigation of evidence, including the gallery's own technical reports, I've reached my own conclusions about the 'Van Dyck' saved for the nation at such great cost.

And I think the generous members of the public who donated should be asking for their money back.

Antoon van Dyck, as he was christened, was Flemish, the son of an Antwerp silk merchant who rose to be court painter to Charles I and a towering figure in the history of British art.

A flamboyant character, Van Dyck revolutionised portraiture in this country, imbuing his aristocratic sitters with an air of theatrical confidence and authority.

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Sandy Nairne during the Portrait Gala 2014 at the National Portrait Gallery on February 11, 2014 in London, England

Perhaps it is appropriate, then, that the 'selfie' in question was acquired by the nation in rather dramatic circumstances.

Philip Mould, the dealer who brokered the sale at such a handsome price, is one of Britain's most recognisable art experts. He makes regular appearances on Antiques Roadshow and is known as something of an authority on Van Dyck.

But this story also involves the unlikely figure of Petra Ecclestone's ex-husband James Stunt, who once described himself as a billionaire art collector, but is today known as a shambolic, foul-mouthed bankrupt.

The Mail on Sunday has previously revealed that Stunt lent a number of fake paintings to Prince Charles's charity at Dumfries House in Scotland where, embarrassingly, they were put on public display.

And that attempts had then been made by intermediaries to use the fakes as collateral formillions of pounds worth of loans.

The paintings have now been taken down from public view, although Stunt still maintains they are originals.

But the businessman's reputation was intact back in 2013 when, while still married to Formula 1 heiress Petra, he was looking to add to a vast and rapidly expanding collection of masterpieces and agreed to buy the Van Dyck from Mould's client, Canadian industrialist Alfred Bader.

But when it was reported that Stunt might fly the painting out of Britain and hang it on the walls of his home in Los Angeles, the National Portrait Gallery stepped in, even though he denied it.

Stunt subsequently withdrew from the purchase and The Duchess of Cambridge worked her magic, helping raise the asking price of 10million to save it for the nation.

Pictured: Petra Ecclestone's ex James Stunt who tried to buy the painting but wanted to take it abroad

In May 2014, following one of the most successful appeals ever, the National Portrait Gallery announced that the deal was done, thanks to 1.5million from small private donors and 1.2million from two family trusts.

Another 1.35million was paid jointly by the Art Fund charity and the NPG itself, while the biggest sum of all  6.34million  came from the Heritage Lottery Fund, public money intended for good causes.

According to Mould, sending the Van Dyck self-portrait overseas would have been like 'losing a chunk of Stonehenge'.

It was the following year, 2015, when I first had the chance to look at the picture properly. I was bothered by it. The eyes didn't look like those of an Old Master painting and the clothing was sloppily done.

The NPG itself admits the way the paint is applied or 'handled' might indicate the picture is 'unfinished' or 'experimental'.

I should say that this is an old and interesting portrait, a far cry from the easily detected pastiches of Monet and Picasso that Stunt had lent to Dumfries House.

All the same, I was bothered by the vast sum of money paid by the British public and decided to investigate in the most thorough way I could, using the sorts of techniques familiar to fans of Mould's Fake Or Fortune?

The first step was to look at the literature. What had been written about this painting before? What do the acknowledged specialists say?

Oddly, there was little information about a painting of such apparent significance. It was described as a copy by Van Dyck experts Gustav Gluck in 1941 and Eric Larsen in 1988.

And in 1982 British art historian and former surveyor of The Queen's Pictures, Sir Oliver Millar, had upgraded his attribution of the picture from being a work that had long been considered a low-level copy to being something he termed a 'best surviving version', a verdict he repeated in 2004.

But what did Millar mean? Simply that the work seemed better than any other copy in circulation  and that was all. Mould, however, had a lot more faith than that. In 2009, he successfully bid 8.3million, triple the estimate, at a Sotheby's auction on behalf of his client.

He bought the Van Dyck not as a mere copy but as an original, clearly believing that the picture was a good investment.

It remained in Mould's gallery for the next five years. It was a calculated gamble, but then Mould has a good track record, particularly when it comes to the Flemish master.

Dr Bendor Grosvenor, Philip Mould, and Fiona Bruce on an episode of Fake or Fortune

He has found no fewer than three 'lost' Van Dycks, including one that had been brought in to the Antiques Roadshow.

If the academic verdict was uncertain, were there any other mentions of the painting that could help? It turned out that the late Brian Sewell, the waspish art critic of the London Evening Standard, shared my doubts.

In Sewell's opinion, the Van Dyck 'selfie' didn't gel as an original Old Master should. Detecting 'a dissonance between the face and the costume', he felt the piece had been painted by at least two different hands and, in January 2014, he questioned why anyone was attempting to 'save' it for the nation.

Sewell demanded the NPG provide the donors with scientific evidence before asking them to fork out 10million.

No such 'diagnostic' analysis was forthcoming. Yet evidence did exist and had been seen by the NPG in the form of X-ray and infrared images of the self-portrait, which show what lies below the surface of the paint.

I, too have seen the images because, following the sale of the painting to the nation, they were quietly made available online. But in my view, these results are far from encouraging. Take, for example, the tell-tale marks known as 'pentiments'.

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge looks at the piece of work entitled "Self Portrait " by Anthony van Dyck at the Turner Contemporary gallery on March 11, 2015 in Margate, England

Sometimes these marks  created as the painter works  can be seen as a sign of authenticity, showing that the artist changed his mind as he went along, rather than copying someone else.

But the pentiments beneath the surface of this picture seem so uncertain to me they could even be taken to reveal a completely different portrait underneath.

There is little to suggest the sort of creative process that would eventually produce the striking image visible on the surface of the painting. There is more scientific evidence to be considered, also: the results of ultraviolet imaging and pigment analysis ordered by the NPG in April 2015 but which it has refused to disclose in public.

I had to lodge a Freedom of Information request before I was given access. And when, finally, I was allowed to see the analysis  under supervision  I was shocked to find that it showed what I believe to be extensive overpainting.

From what I could see, there is swaths of it, covering the entire piece with imaginative faux brushstrokes.

Repainted, that is, not merely retouched. What does this mean? I believe the portrait cannot be considered as a genuine antique and that it is a 'fudge' of old and new, just as Sewell had suggested.

To my mind, the pigment analysis is equally damning as it reveals the use of at least one modern colouring, phthalocyanine blue, which was not known before the 20th Century. This blue pigment sits on top of a varnish which is suspiciously smooth and which covers even older re-touchings underneath.

To me, these diagnostics confirm the painting is not just the copy it was long thought to be but that, worse, it has been restored at some point in its history and in a way that was not true to the original I believe the work now hanging in the National Portrait Gallery is likely to have been painted no earlier than the 18th Century  and is at least 100 years younger than it claims to be.

As far as I can see, almost nothing is left on the surface that can even be considered antique, never mind 'Van Dyck'.

And there is more. IN 2015, the National Portrait Gallery made a video about its new acquisition, in the course of which it touched on a strange phenomenon  the extensive 'mottling', or surface blistering, visible in both the infrared and the X-ray analyses of the portrait.

How so? The NPG claimed in the video that it was seeking answers to this conundrum. Five years later, we are still waiting for an explanation.

Yet behind closed doors, the NPG does have some idea of what has caused the mottling, as it made clear in an in-house report that has never been released to the public.

In its discussions with me, the gallery said that the blistering appears to be the result of exposure to an unknown heat source  quite intense heat, in my view.

Such as might have been generated by a large fire, perhaps? And could this be explained by something in the chain of ownership of the picture before it reached Mould?

I discovered that it had been consigned for sale at Sotheby's by George Child Villiers, 10th Earl of Jersey, having been in his family for some time. It probably hung at Osterley Park in West London, which his father bequeathed to the National Trust in 1947 at a time when these vast family seats were hopelessly uneconomic.

The 9th Earl then moved to Radier Manor on Jersey, putting a large quantity of art and furniture into storage. But in September 1949, a fire broke out at the warehouse destroying a number of artworks, including two important equestrian portraits, one by Van Dyck and one by Rubens. Had this supposed Van Dyck self-portrait, long-considered a copy, been rescued, badly damaged, from the flames?

It certainly fits. From studying the scientific analyses and reading the conservation reports  which are only made available under the NPG's strict control  it now seems to me that the copy today hanging as a Van Dyck 'original' in the National Portrait Gallery was extensively repainted just after 1949. The work then went on display in 1952, in Jersey, although no one who reviewed that exhibition even saw fit to mention it.

As for the 10th Lord Jersey, he said last night that the painting had been in his family since the early 1700s. He did not think the self-portrait had been in the warehouse blaze and had no knowledge of it being retouched or restored. 'There was never any question but that it was a van Dyck,' he said.

When it appeared for sale at Sotheby's in 2009 to be bought by Mould and his client, the auction house's condition report admitted the piece had been relined  reinforced by having a new canvas attached to the back  and restored in the mid-20th Century. The timing is not, in my view, a coincidence.

The art market is complicated, of course. Not only do opinions matter very much, they also vary, sometimes wildly. Mould, for example, believes that the piece is a wonderful example of Van Dyck's work in strikingly good condition. That was his view when he bought it and he believes it now. There are influential voices supporting his assessment.

When Sotheby's sold the painting, it described it as 'One of the most important Flemish baroque self portraits and perhaps the finest still remaining in private hands'. And there while there is little academic literature to support the attribution, Sotheby's points out that the self-portrait had been thought good enough to appear in two important Van Dyck exhibitions  at the National Portrait Gallery in 1982 and the Tate in 2009.

Then there is the NPG itself, which says that 'the Van Dyck selfportrait is considered to be one of the finest examples of the artist's portraiture and its authenticity has never been questioned'. On that second point, I would beg to differ. The painting has been described as a copy and was very publicly doubted by Sewell who was also an accomplished analyst.

The gallery says it refutes my conclusions, which 'are inaccurate and contradict our own in-depth research and analysis'. The NPG says there is 'comparatively little overpainting for a work of this age'.

Yet what I would ask, is 'comparative'? It's my view that while retouching is understandable, any overpainting at all is questionable in a work of such supposed importance, and my reading of the slides suggests the overpainting is considerable.

On the issue of the modern pigment on the painting, the gallery states that it 'is limited to a few small areas and can be identified as part of modern conservation work'.

It is worth adding, however, the documents make clear that the only samples taken were from a small area near the edge and it seems to me impossible to judge how widely it was used across the surface.

And then the gallery says 'there is no evidence that the picture has been damaged in a fire'. When it comes to conclusive proof, perhaps the NPG is correct. But what, then, of the mottling  likely to be the result of blistering and a subsequent repair  that the NPG identified in its own video?

Has the gallery considered the fire of 1949?

Staring out from its extraordinary frame, the Van Dyck 'selfie' has no shortage of backers. It remains not merely popular, but in the words of the gallery, a work of 'huge international cultural significance and national importance'.

Yet I have a very different verdict, all the same: From looking at the scientific reports, I would say that very little of the surface of the painting is older than the 20th Century and that it is difficult to authenticate what lies underneath  though I think it is 18th Century at the oldest.

If in 2009 Sotheby's had offered it as the ruined and re-restored copy I believe it truly is, I estimate it would have fetched no more than 5,000. And I believe the 10,000 generous souls who made small donations in the belief they were saving a masterpiece for the nation have been sold not merely a dud, but one tainted by deliberate overpainting.

It goes without saying that the market in Old Masters is fraught with difficulty. It is no place for the inexperienced, let alone the unwary. But to me, one thing is certain: that when it comes to our 10million 'masterpiece for everyone', the National Portrait Gallery still has serious questions to answer.

Dr Susan Grundy is an independent investigative art historian focusing on Old Masters and art authentication.
Nigeria on Friday recorded 114 cases of COVID-19, bringing the total recorded in the country to 1095.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) in a tweet Friday night said the new cases were recorded in nine states. These are Lagos, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Ogun, Gombe, Zamfara, Edo, Oyo, Kaduna and Sokoto states.

As of the time of reporting, 27 states and the FCT have recorded at least a case of the disease.

For the second consecutive day, no case was recorded in Kano. Although no official reason was given for this, PREMIUM TIMES on Wednesday reported how the Kano testing centre suspended its operations due to scarcity of materials and because some of its staff tested positive to the virus. Although the health minister, Osagie Ehanire, later said the testing materials had been made available, a Kano health ministry official told PREMIUM TIMES the testing would be suspended for at least 48 hours.

On Thursday, Zamfara State recorded its first cases of the virus since the beginning of the outbreak in Nigeria in February.

Also, Lagos State reported its highest daily figure, 80, since the index case was detected in the state.

A breakdown of the latest update shows that 80 of the new cases were reported in Lagos, 21 in Gombe, 5 in FCT, 2 in Zamfara and Edo, and one in Ogun, Oyo, Kaduna and Sokoto states.

NCDC said as of 11:50 p.m. on April 24, there were 1095 confirmed cases of COVID-19 reported in Nigeria. Of these, 208 infected people have recovered and have been discharged while the death toll rose to 32 from 31 reported on Thursday.

A breakdown of all the cases shows that Lagos State has so far reported 657 cases, followed by FCT  138, Kano  73, Ogun  35, Gombe  30, Katsina  21, Osun  20, Edo  19, Oyo  18 cases, Borno  12, Kwara-11, Akwa Ibom  11 cases, Kaduna  10, Bauchi has recorded eight cases, Delta  six, , Ekiti  four, Ondo and Rivers three apiece.

Jigawa, Enugu, Niger, Zamfara, Sokoto, and Abia have two cases each while Benue, Anambra, Adamawa and Plateau state have a case apiece.

Community transmission

The Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, on Friday said that the high number of cases was as a result of ongoing community transmission and active case search.

He said most of the affected age group is from 31-40 years, while the highest COVID-19 fatality is in patients who are 50years and above.

He also said that the government has deployed COVID-19 starter packs to all tertiary health institutions and federal medical centers, to complement what had earlier been sent to states.

The starter packs, he said, consist of medical consumables to ensure the protection of frontline workers.

Health workers

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) expressed dismay that some of its members have contracted the virus in the process of discharging their duty.

Health workers are prone to contracting infectious disease when discharging their duties as they are the first line responders for disease control.

The association in a statement released on Friday said that over 40 doctors and other health workers have tested positive, with three doctors and one nurse dead from the virus.

It lamented that the health workers contracted the disease within the society and at private health facilities as some of the patients refused to disclose important medical and travel information that would have increased the suspicion and facilitate the early diagnosis of COVID-19 infections.

READ ALSO:

NMA therefore appealed to the government to expedite action on distribution of PPEs to public and private hospitals without delay.

We remind our members all over the federation to consider everyone presenting at the hospital for any ailments as potential COVID-19 patient until proven otherwise, the NMA said.
BEIJING, April 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report by Science and Technology Daily:

The COVID-19 has swept more than 200 countries and regions, which causes an increasing number of infected cases day by day.

Dr. Kitazato Kaio, Associate Professor from Nagasaki University in Japan, is quite concerned about this pandemic. In an interview with the Science and Technology Daily reporter, he made a detailed analysis in terms of virus transmission characteristics, the scientific and long-term nature of virus traceability, the achievements made by Chinese scientists, and called for a global joint-operation.

The transmission characteristics of novel coronavirus and main causes of global pandemic

Dr.Kitazato Kaio concluded that, based on many research reports from all over the world, this new coronavirus has several new salient features compared with the previously discovered SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV.

First, the spike protein (S protein) of the novel coronavirus is the surface envelope protein responsible for the virus particles entry into their infected cells, which is the human angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) binding protein. The S protein of the novel coronavirus binds to its cell receptor ACE2 with an affinity that is 10 to 20 times higher than that of the SARS-CoV S protein. The high affinity of the S protein to the receptor shows that the virus particles have a strong attachment to the cells and it is easy to infect the cells.

Like the infectious enveloped virus, such as influenza virus, the novel coronavirus has the characteristics of protease dependence in the infection process of invading infected cells. The S protein itself is a precursor protein and has no cell fusion activity. It is only cleaved into two protein fragments S1 and S2 by the protease of the host cell. After the exposure of fusion peptide (FP) responsible for cell membrane fusion in S2 fragment, the S protein is activated and the virus particles can fuse with the infected cell membrane, invades the cell, and completes its infection process.

The second characteristic of the novel coronavirus is that its S protein has a furin protease cleavage site between S1 and S2 which do not exist in SARS-CoV or MERS-CoV. The furin protease is a ubiquitous protease in human cells. When the novel coronavirus particles are assembled and released from infected human cells, the S protein of the virus has been cleaved into the activated state of S1 and S2 by the furin protease in the cells. And its virus particles have already had a strong cell infection and fusion membrane activity, which makes the infection efficiency of the new coronavirus nearly 1,000 times higher than SARS-CoV.

Finally, the structural characteristics of the novel coronavirus S protein determine its ability to infect cells and replicate rapidly. Therefore, the person who is infected can release a large number of highly infectious virus particles in the early stage of infection before the systemic symptoms appear. Stronger infectivity than influenza virus is the main reason why the novel coronavirus can be pandemic in the world.

Virus searching is a very serious scientific issue, which needs to be supported by clear scientific evidence

Dr. Kitazato Kaio said that coronavirus can be classified into four genera: , , , and .  and  mainly infect birds, while  and  mainly infect mammals. The novel coronavirus is classified as  group. The natural host is likely to orginate from bats. It has also been reported that similar viruses have been found in pangolins, snakes and other wild animals.

Currently, the route of infection remains a question to the public. The novel coronavirus infects people through the intermediate hosts or just directly infect people from the natural reservoir, which are both under rigorous research. So, virus searching, seeking for intermediate hosts, and research on the transmission of viruses to people are the important steps to completely cut off the spread of the virus.

This is a very serious scientific issue, which needs to be supported by solid scientific evidence. The solution to this crisis requires the joint efforts of scientists from all over the world.

Screening of serum antibodies in patients with suspected influenza cases may provide clues to search the virus origin

Dr. Kitazato Kaio believes that the continuous plague records in human history indicate that new viruses could invade people from other organisms. With the emergence of the new virus, it is impossible to effectively prevent the infection through the immune system due to the reason that the human body does not have specific immunity. The virus will continue to spread and replicate its "off-springs" in the crowd. Only until the majority of people are immune to it can we successfully contain the development of the pandemic.

The most effective way for humans to deal with the infection of emerging viruses is to research and develop vaccines. Before achieving the goal of herd immunity, everyone is susceptible to the virus and no one can stay out of the possible infection.

The immune system has a memory function for the infection of pathogens that invade the body. With the current technology, as long as the antibodies in the blood are detected, it is possible to screen out the past infected experience of various pathogens.

If the serum antibodies of clinically suspected influenza cases and other patients are widely screened in the future, it will help to provide clues for finding the source of novel coronavirus infections.

Chinese scientists guard well against new challenges

In the early stage of the epidemic, Chinese doctors and scientists efficiently isolated the virus in the shortest time and analysed the whole genome sequence of the virus. In addition, China has been timely releasing information on COVID-19 to the rest of the world since the onset of the epidemic, making the international community informed about the emergence of the COVID-19.

This fully demonstrates the professional performance and the sense of responsibility of Chinese scientists to the public health, and lays a solid foundation for the public to face new challenges together.

In addition, in order to quickly contain the spread of the epidemic, the Chinese government took strict and comprehensive prevention and control measures including city lockdowns to contain the virus and protect its citizens. These efforts and sacrifices of China have won precious time for the world to jointly fight the epidemic, and are highly appreciated by the World Health Organization (WHO) and relevant experts from various countries.

"Joint Global Operation" is essential to successfully contain the COVID-19

When COVID-19 occurs at the early stage, countries around the world should have been vigilant with all kinds of preparedness. However, some politicians failed to take positive measures to prevent the spread of the pandemic in their own countries, which led to spread across the world. They made dangerous attempts to politicize COVID-19, casting a shadow on our joint fight against our common enemy.

The novel coronavirus pandemic, regarded as a once-in-a-century global challenge, is extracting a huge cost in terms of human lives and health, and posing challenges to political, economic and national management system.

COVID-19 poses a huge threat to human life and health. The pandemic does not distinguish the country, race, gender, age and social status. All countries should join hands to fight against COVID-19 with our global wisdom and scientific strength when confronted with our common enemy. Only with solidarity and by cooperation can the international community prevail over the pandemic and safeguard the common homeland of humanity.

Dr. Kitazato Kaio reminds that the COVID-19 may break out again at any time before widespread vaccination. Human community should actively make back-up plans to deal with such possible outbreaks without affecting the normal development of society.

SOURCE Science and Technology Daily
Nine members of the Polish militarys Medical Corps are in Chicago to support the states response to COVID-19, according to a news release from the state. The delegation arrived April 23 and is here until May 2.
Thomas Oxley wasn't even on call the day he received the page to come into Mount Sinai Beth Israel Hospital in Manhattan. There weren't enough doctors to treat all the emergency stroke patients, and he was needed in the operating room.

The patient's chart appeared unremarkable at first glance. He was male, no medications, no history of chronic conditions. He had been feeling fine, hanging out at home during the lockdown like the rest of America, when suddenly, he had trouble talking and moving the right side of his body. Imaging showed a large blockage on the left side of his head.

Oxley gasped when he got to the patients age and COVID-19 status: 44, positive.

The man was among several recent stroke patients in their 30s to 40s who were all infected with the virus. The median age for that type of severe stroke is 74.

As Oxley, an interventional neurologist, began the procedure to remove the clot, he observed something he had never seen before. On the monitors, the brain typically shows up as a tangle of black squiggles - "like a can of spaghetti," he said - that provide a map of blood vessels. A clot shows up as a blank spot. As he used a needlelike device to pull out the clot, he saw new clots forming in real time around it.

"This is crazy," he remembers telling his boss.

Reports of strokes in the young and middle-aged - not just at Mount Sinai but in many other hospitals in hard-hit communities - are the latest twist in our evolving understanding of the mysteries of COVID-19. Even as the virus has infected nearly 2.8 million people worldwide and killed 195,000 as of Friday, its origins, biological mechanisms and weaknesses continue to elude top scientific minds. Once thought to be a pathogen that primarily attacks the lungs, it has turned out to be a much more formidable foe - affecting nearly every major organ system in the body.

Until recently, there was little hard data on strokes and COVID-19.

One report out of Wuhan, China, showed that some hospitalized patients had experienced strokes but many of those were seriously ill and elderly. But the linkage was considered more of "a clinical hunch by a lot of really smart people," said Sherry H-Y Chou, a University of Pittsburgh neurologist and critical care doctor.

Now three large U.S. medical centers are preparing to publish data on the stroke phenomenon for the first time. The numbers are small, only a few dozen per location, but they provide new insights into what the virus does to our bodies.

Stroke, a sudden interruption the blood supply, is a complex problem with numerous causes and presentations. It can be caused by heart problems, clogged arteries due to cholesterol, even substance abuse. Mini-strokes often don't cause permanent damage and can resolve on their own within 24 hours. Bigger ones can be catastrophic.

The analyses suggest coronavirus patients are mostly experiencing the deadliest type of stroke. Known as large vessel occlusions or LVOs, they can obliterate large parts of the brain responsible for movement, speech and decision-making in one blow because they are in the main blood-supplying arteries.

Many researchers suspect strokes in novel coronavirus patients may be a direct consequence of blood problems that are producing clots all over some people's bodies.

 FAQ: Your coronavirus questions, answered

Clots that form on vessel walls fly upward so one that started in the calves might migrate to the lungs, causing a blockage called a pulmonary embolism that arrests breathing - a known cause of death in COVID-19 patients. Clots in or near the heart might lead to a heart attack, another common cause of death. Anything above that would likely go to the brain, leading to a stroke.

Robert Stevens, a critical care doctor at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, called stroke one of the most dramatic manifestations of the blood clotting issues. Weve also taken care of patients in their 30s with stroke and COVID, and this was extremely surprising, he said.

Many doctors expressed worry that, as the New York City Fire Department was picking up four times as many people who died at home as normal during the peak of infection, that some of the dead had suffered sudden strokes. The truth may never be known because so few autopsies were conducted.

Chou said one question is whether the clotting is a due to direct attack on the blood vessels, or a "a friendly fire problem" caused by the patient's immune response.

In your bodys attempt to fight off the virus, does the immune response end up hurting your brain? she asked. Chou is hoping to answer such questions through a review of stroke and other neurological complication in COVID-19 patients treated at 68 medical centers in 17 countries.

Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals, which operates 14 medical centers in Philadelphia and NYU Langone in New York City, found that 12 of their patients treated for large blood blockages in their brains during a three-week period had the virus. Forty percent were under 50, and had few or no risk factors. Their paper is under review by a medical journal, said Pascal Jabbour, a neurosurgeon at Thomas Jefferson.

Jabbour and his co-author Eytan Raz, an assistant professor of neuroradiology at NYU Langone, said that strokes in COVID-19 patients challenge conventionally thinking. We are used to thinking of 60 as a young patient when it comes to large vessel occlusions, Raz said of the deadliest strokes. We have never seen so many in their 50s, 40s and late 30s.

Raz wondered whether they are seeing more young patients because they are more resistant than the elderly to the respiratory distress caused by COVID-19: So they survive the lung side, and in time develop other issues.

Jabbour said many of the cases hes treated have unusual characteristics. Brain clots usually appear in the arteries, which carry blood away from the heart, but in COVID-19 patients, hes also seeing them in the veins, which carry blood in the opposite direction and are trickier to treat. Some patients are also developing more than one large clot in their heads, which is highly unusual.

"We'll be treating a blood vessel and it will go fine, but then the patient will have a major stroke" due to a clot in another part of the brain, he said.

At Mount Sinai, the largest medical system in New York City, physician-researcher J Mocco said the number of patients coming in with large blood blockages in their brains doubled during the three weeks of the COVID-19 surge to more than 32, even as the number of other emergencies fell. More than half of them were COVID-19 positive.

It isnt just the number of patients that was unusual. The first wave of the pandemic has hit the elderly and those with heart disease, diabetes, obesity or other preexisting conditions disproportionately. The COVID-19 patients treated for stroke at Mount Sinai were younger and mostly without risk factors.

On average the COVID-19 stroke patients were 15 years younger than stroke patients without the virus.

"These are people among the least likely statistically to have a stroke," Mocco said.

Mocco, who has spent his career studying stroke and how to treat it, said he was completely shocked by the analysis. He noted the link between COVID-19 and stroke is one of the clearest and most profound correlations Ive come across.

"This is much too powerful of a signal to be chance or happenstance," Mocco said.

In a letter to be published in the New England Journal of Medicine next week, the Mount Sinai team details five case studies of young patients who had strokes at home from March 23 to Apr. 7. They make for difficult reading: The victims are age 33, 37, 39, 44, and 49, and were all home when they began to experience sudden symptoms, including slurred speech, confusion, drooping on one side of the face and feeling dead in one arm.

One died, two remain hospitalized, one was released to rehabilitation and one was released home to the care of his brother. Only one of the five, a 33-year-old woman, is able to speak.

Oxley, the interventional neurologist, said one striking aspect of the cases is how long many waited before seeking emergency care.

The 33-year-old was previously healthy but had had a cough and headache for about a week. Over the course of 28 hours, she noticed her speech was slurred and that she was going numb and weak on her left side but, the researchers wrote, delayed seeking emergency care due to fear of the COVID-19 outbreak.

It turned out she was already infected.

By the time she arrived at the hospital, a CT scan showed she had two clots in her brain and patchy ground glass in her lungs - a hallmark of COVID-19 infection. She was given two different types of therapy to try to break up the clots and by day 10, she was well enough to be discharged.

Oxley said the most important thing for people to understand is that large strokes are very treatable. Doctors are often able to reopen blocked blood vessels through techniques such as pulling out clots or inserting stents. But it must be done quickly, ideally within six hours and no longer than 24 hours, Oxley said: The message we are trying to get out is if you have symptoms of stroke, you need to call the ambulance urgently.

As for the 44-year-old man Oxley was treating, doctors were able to remove the large clot that day in late March, but the patient is still struggling. As of this week, a little over a month after he arrived in the emergency room, he is still hospitalized.
(Bloomberg) -- The future of Sergio Moro as Brazils justice minister looked increasingly uncertain after President Jair Bolsonaro dismissed the former judges right-hand man in the federal police.

Bolsonaro fired police chief Mauricio Leite Valeixo but still hasnt named a replacement to head the institution, according to a decree published early Friday. Moro, who rose to fame fighting corruption as the head of the sprawling Carwash probe, also appears as having signed off on the decision.

Moro will make a public statement at the justice ministry at 11 a.m. local time, according to his office.

Bolsonaros move may give Moro the ability to name a new police chief as a compromise, or it could accelerate a decision to leave after tendering his resignation to the president on Thursday, as reported by local media. Neither Bolsonaro nor Moro have returned requests for comment, nor publicly discussed the issue.

His departure would be a blow to Bolsonaro, who could lose part of his base who nearly unconditionally supports the minister. It could also be an attempt to reshape his cabinet with more like-minded people, following his decision to fire Luiz Henrique Mandetta from the health ministry last week.

Moro became a national hero for many Brazilians when the Carwash investigation toppled some of Brazils top business executives and political leaders, including former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. He has enough popularity to challenge Bolsonaro in presidential elections in 2022.

The Brazilian real extended losses on Thursday following reports that Moro had offered to resign as traders said the news exacerbated political risk in Latin Americas largest economy.

(Recasts with Moros decision to make a statement, adds details)

For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com

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2020 Bloomberg L.P.
- The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Philippines has continued to rise

- The Department of Health recently announced that there are 102 new COVID-19 cases in the country

- They also released the number of new recoveries and deaths in their latest case bulletin

- As of this writing, there are more than 2 million confirmed COVID-19 cases worldwide

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The Department of Health (DOH) has recently posted their latest case bulletin for COVID-19 on a Saturday, April 25, at 4:00 PM.

In their latest case bulletin, KAMI learned that the DOH reported 102 new COVID-19 cases leading to a total number of 7,294 cases in the Philippines.

Furthermore, the DOH also reported 30 new recoveries. All in all, the Philippines now has 792 recoveries.

However, the Department of Health also reported 17 new deaths totalling up to 494 deaths in the country.

It can be worth noting that earlier this week, President Rodrigo Duterte approved the extension of the enhanced community quarantine in Metro Manila, Central Luzon, CALABARZON, and other provinces until May 15, 2020.

The decision was made after the President held a meeting with the Inter-Agency Task on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) in Malacanang.

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As reported earlier by KAMI, the number of COVID-infected people in the Philippines continues to rise. According to the Department of Health, the total number has breached the 7-thousand mark.

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In this video, we featured Jhon Rellores and his family as they helped others who are in need amid the pandemic! Check out all of the exciting videos and celebrity interviews on our KAMI HumanMeter YouTube channel !

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FLINT, MI-- Its the sixth anniversary of the Flint water crisis.

No cases are currently in court connected to the crisis.

No charges have yet resulted from a renewed investigation.

No high-ranking members of former Gov. Rick Snyders administration -- including Snyder himself, who was never charged -- were ever convicted.

And the statute of limitations on any misconduct in office charges may have run out Saturday, April 25, widely accepted as the day the crisis started.

Flints water source was changed to the Flint River on April 25, 2014 while the city was being run by state-appointed emergency financial managers. The water was never treated to make it less corrosive, causing damage to pipes and plumbing throughout the city and allowing lead to leech into its drinking water.

Its been 5 years. Flint still doesnt trust the water

Fifteen current and former city and state officials were charged with crimes related to the water crisis. Seven of those cases were resolved with plea agreements. Prosecutors dismissed charges against the remaining eight defendants who didnt take plea deals in June 2019, following Attorney General Danas Nessels decision to fire special prosecutor Todd Flood.

But whether the April 25 deadline sticks remains to be seen.

Michigan Solicitor General Fadwa Hammoud and Wayne County Prosecutor Kym L. Worthy, who replaced Flood, say the statute of limitations wont stop the investigation, but havent discussed details.

'So far it has felt like justice is being denied

Former Mayor Karen Weaver is one person who feels there hasnt been any justice for the people of Flint.

Weaver spent the week leading up to Saturdays anniversary publicly speaking out against former Gov. Snyder. Weaver insinuated justice wont be served until Snyder and "his crew who helped him cover up the water crisis are serving time behind bars.

The people of Flint will hold him accountable, but as far as the law goes, I dont know, Weaver said. I think thats why the people in the city of Flint are so angry and so frustrated.

Weaver said it seemed Flint water prosecutors were confident about charging and convicting people the last time they spoke.

But its been a long time," Weaver said. "We were told justice delayed is not justice denied, but so far it has felt like justice is being denied.

As Flint was slowly poisoned, Snyders inner circle failed to act

Snyder was never charged with any crime related to the water crisis, but his office has been advised by multiple law firms, including Warner Norcross & Judd, which has several offices in Michigan, and Detroit-based Barris, Scott, Denn & Driker.

How it all could play out

At a town hall meeting here in June, the solicitor general said she and Worthy were restarting their own investigation but needed to move quickly to avoid problems with the six-year statute of limitations for misconduct.

In a joint statement on April 17, Hammoud and Worthy didnt offer details, but hinted that they could bring charges beyond the anniversary deadline.

... We want to correct the misconception that April 25, 2020 is the deadline to bring charges against those who may be criminally liable, Hammoud and Worthy said the statement.

Former state officials charged in Flint water crisis have criminal cases dismissed

Anthony Flores, a professor at Cooley Law School, said there were a couple ways the investigation could play out. For instance, the prosecutors could still bring new charges to light. Criminal statutes of limitations vary depending on the offense and the date of the alleged criminal act, Flores said.

Flint residents express hope and skepticism at water crisis forum

Prosecutors could also try justifying an extended deadline because of the pandemic, according to Flores. The ultimate question of how the COVID-19 pandemic impacts court procedure remains unanswered, he said.

Weve never seen anything like this so we dont know how this relates to a justification for not following the process, Flores said. My guess is that there has to be some just cause for tolling deadlines because were living a situation that is so unique and nontraditional that allowances must be made.

State cuts off free attorneys for employees questioned by Flint water prosecutors

But something unique could also be happening in the background, according to Flores. A grand jury, which is rarely used in Michigan, could issue charges, whether they be misconduct in office, involuntary manslaughter or obstruction of justice.

A grand jury is empowered by law to conduct legal proceedings and investigate potential criminal conduct, and determine whether charges should be brought or not. A grand jury is also used as an investigative tool by prosecutors. It can provide the attorney general an opportunity to have laypeople look over the evidence and choose whether to indict on probable cause or not, according to Flores.

We have to get permission to do any grand jury proceedings, said Flores, who has participated in two such proceedings. Once we implicate those rules, its a very unique process thats supposed to be secretive. Were allowed to know a grand jury is going on, were just not allowed to know the specifics or details of it."

With the permission of a judge, indictments could be made and sealed during a grand jury proceeding as more evidence and witnesses arise. Sealed indictments prevent information from being spread around and jeopardizing a case.

Its unknown if that process has ever been considered for the Flint water cases.

Millions of Flint water documents found in basement, prosecutors claim

Legislators couldnt extend statute of limitations

Two state legislators from Flint had hoped to push the deadline by introducing bills last year that would have extended the statute of limitations for misconduct in office to 10 years. Nessel said she supported that change.

Whether or not the bills gain any traction and could be retroactively applied to Flint water cases remains to be seen.

The bills never passed and the COVID-19 emergency has prevented the Michigan Senate and House of Representatives from meeting to consider them.

State Rep. John Cherry, D-Flint, who introduced one of the bills, said it received a committee hearing but was never up for a vote in the House.

I know I had support from Democrats but I dont think we had support from Republicans, Cherry said last week.

Flint residents express hope and skepticism at water crisis forum

Cherry said he hasnt been contacted by state prosecutors about their plans with the ongoing investigation.

The current prosecution team in the Attorney Generals Office ... they take very seriously the concept of confidentiality, he said. They do not really communicate what they are going to do until it happens.

State Sen. Jim Ananich, the Senate minority leader, also hasnt been given an update on the investigation.

The quiet made me nervous but its probably the way an investigation should be, Ananich said. I get the impression they are operating a serious investigation.

No charges, no updates 100 days after restart of criminal Flint water probe

As Flint was slowly poisoned, Snyders inner circle failed to act

State cuts off free attorneys for employees questioned by Flint water prosecutors

Millions of Flint water documents found in basement, prosecutors claim
ICMR has given permission for a line of treatment that holds out some hope

Bengaluru: Health authorities have begun clinical trials of convalescent plasma therapy for COVID-19 patients as the pandemic has showed no signs of relenting in Karnataka.

The therapy involves the transfusion of plasma from a Covid-19 patient who has recovered from the disease to a patient who is still suffering from it.

Phase one of the trials began at the BMC Victoria Hospital on Saturday morning. The trials were announced by minister B Sriramulu on his Twitter handle.

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) on April 21 granted the permission to Dr Vishal Rao of the HCG Bangalore Institute of Oncology to conduct the trials for plasma therapy.

According to a highly placed source in the Karnataka health department, donors for the trials came forward voluntarily to participate in the programme.

If the trials at the Victoria hospital show promise, they will be replicated in other hospitals.

There is no evidence so far that plasma transfusion works as a line of treatment for Covid-19. This form of treatment was used to treat Ebola patients.

Pitching for the trials, Dr Vishal Rao and his team submitted a 239-page dossier to the Union government detailing the rationale for the therapy and asked for ICMR's permission to conduct phase I of the clinical trial.
Sonia Gandhi writes to PM Modi; seeks economic package for revival of MSMEs

India

oi-PTI

New Delhi, Apr 25: Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Saturday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to announce a financial package for the revival of the MSME sector, saying if ignored, the problem can have a devastating and expansive ripple effect on the country's economy.

In a letter to Modi, Gandhi also made some suggestions for the revival of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), which is reeling under the adverse impact of the coronavirus lockdown.

She urged the prime minister to announce a Rs 1 lakh crore "MSME Wage Protection" package as also a credit guarantee fund of an equivalent amount, besides a 24X7 helpline for helping them out of this crisis.

Formulate a national plan for handling coronavirus crisis: Sibal to govt

While highlighting the crisis, she said MSME sector is suffering around Rs 30,000 crore loss every day due to the lockdown and efforts should be made to help revive them as they are the backbone of the economy.

"If ignored, this issue has the potential of having a devastating and expansive ripple effect on our economy," she said in the letter.

She also added that as the nation continues to fight against COVID-19, it essential to highlight an economic concern that needs immediate attention and intervention.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Saturday, April 25, 2020, 20:51 [IST]
GS VASU By

Express News Service

Dr Thomas Isaac, the Finance Minister of Kerala, is that rare communist who knows his John Maynard Keynes. At a time when India is grappling with the biggest crisis of our lifetime, he is categorical the "central government should at this moment dare to spend more".

The well-respected economist warns that if the Centre fails now, we are faced with an unimaginable humanitarian crisis and major social unrest will follow. In his India after Corona interview with The New Indian Express Editor GS Vasu, Dr Isaac also shares his ideas, including a three-point plan on what must be included in the fiscal stimulus package which has to follow.

Excerpts:

By now, we have a fair idea of the kind of destruction caused by the outbreak of the virus. How long will it take for the country to bounce back to normal?

I don't think it will bounce back. The ill-effects are definitely going to be spread through the year.

I will speak for Kerala. Now, this lockdown month our GST growth will be 50 to 60% lower. Under partial lockdown conditions in the coming months, it may climb to about 40% (lower). That's it. Because, the remittance income is going to sharply come down as predicted by the World Bank. They are expecting 23% reduction in the remittance flow to South Asia.

Even if the COVID situation is over, this year's GST for Kerala will definitely be 30% lower. We've appointed a committee to look into it but this is what I foresee.

READ| The KTR interview | 'COVID crisis has told us we are one and very alike'

There are a large number of smallscale industries which had to be closed because they have suffered heavy losses. Their products would have gone bad, raw materials would have gone bad. Unless you give special support for them to reopen, it will be worse than demonetisation. Most of them are not going to come back to life. So, that means it will be a long recession. Things are not going to be jumping back to normal.

The Telangana Chief Minister, I'm sure you would have noticed, has pitched for quantitative easing to enable states to raise resources. Do you agree with his view?

Yes, all state ministers, in the last meeting of the GST Council and during the pre-budget discussion, have demanded that the fiscal deficit ceiling be increased to 4%. That was before the COVID-19 epidemic. Now, everybody is demanding it to be raised to five per cent. So, we fully support it.

Our demands are --- one, raise the fiscal deficit ceiling to five per cent and enable the states to directly borrow from the Reserve Bank. Not from the banks, not from the market. Because, the market has become very conservative. They don't want to lend, they want to hold on to the money.

Second would be that the government of India take on the entire expenditure regarding international migrants and inter-state migrants. What they have permitted is totally insufficient. The reason being inter-state migration and international migration is a union list subject. This is entirely the federal government's responsibility. The Centre cannot wash its hands off the return of international migrants or inter-state migrants. A scheme for rehabilitation of international migrants and inter-state migrants has to be implemented by the central government.

Third, the central government must give GST compensation. In April there is no GST. So, the entire money has to be compensated from the compensation cess fund. Now there is no money in the cess fund to pay such a large compensation. So, in that contingency, it was agreed upon at the GST council, before the law was passed, that the cess fund would borrow from the market and make the payment. And the cess which is for five years can be extended for another year or two till whatever money is extended is recouped. I don't know why this has not dawned on the central government.

And fourth, is that for the health sector, the National Health Mission outlay should be increased by at least four or five times. Because no tinkering will do. I think all states are in agreement. Sushil Kumar Modi has submitted a written demand for increasing the fiscal ceiling. This is a common approach of all states in India.

In terms of monetary help to states, there is only that much the Centre can possibly do. Apart from the steps that you have already mentioned, what are the other fiscal reforms that you would suggest to help states tide over the crisis, the relaxation of borrowing limit apart?

See how the central government instead of providing more money to states is forcing the state governments to cut expenditure. This is the last thing you can think of in a slump.

READ| Lockdown can be lifted only if hospitals can cope with surge in cases: Dr Rahul Potluri

Forcing the states to cut expenditure? Can you elaborate on that?

Now you have a situation where supply chains are broken but there is also equally a collapse in income. Nobody has income, so nobody is spending. Even if the lockdown is lifted, demand is not going to pick up. In this situation, the only agency that can intervene in the economy to revive demand is the government. The banks are refusing to lend. There are reports that banks do not want concessional money that they can lend to NBFCs. There are no takers for the option of the Reserve Bank.

So, they still seem to be okay with parking the money in the RBI?

Because everybody is afraid of a collapse. And they dont want to be caught in the middle. They want to keep as much liquid money as possible. This is what Keynes called extreme liquidity preference. You don't want to lose your money. In this situation, the only agency that can intervene is the government. Not investors, not financial institutions. So, the government should at this moment dare to spend more. It doesn't matter what the fiscal deficit is and so on. You don't borrow from the market. Because, then you will be exhausting the money which should be available for private players also. You borrow from the Reserve Bank and pump in money.

That is what for example the US is doing. They are pumping in new money, about 10% of the GDP as a stimulus package, and the entire thing is financed by the Federal Reserve. The European Central Bank is making similar efforts. So, the government of India should understand this is not the time for reforms and prudence. We are facing a calamity. You have the COVID crisis and soon you will have a humanitarian crisis. Don't allow things to slip to that level.

Yeah, but you mentioned that states are being forced to cut expenditure by Delhi. Can you elaborate?

The reason is unlike central government which can borrow from the Reserve Bank or can just increase the borrowing from the market as they want or sell some of their assets, the states have no option. Their main revenue is GST which is zero. And with the lockdown, there is no other revenue. So, if the Centre doesn't permit them to borrow more or make money available to them, they will be forced to cut expenditure.

Now, they are cutting the salaries of employees. But they are also cutting development schemes -- capital expenditure -- to tide over the crisis. This is crazy macro-economics. Macro-economics teaches you that when demand collapses, you have to stimulate it. And, instead, we are being prudent people. We have no revenue, therefore we don't spend. This is bad and will create a financial fiasco.

To take the point that you have made forward, there are some really scary projections on the kind of economic impact that COVID-19 can unleash and as you said the Centre has already begun measures like putting a freeze on DA and states are paying only 50% of the salaries and all that. Do you foresee a situation where the Centre may be compelled to look at some sort of a financial emergency?

See, financial emergency is a technical thing. I can understand states cutting salaries because they have no money. But the central government should not set this example. If they cut salaries and the private sector cuts salaries, income for the people as a whole goes down. They will buy less and you will have a big recession. You won't be able to get out of this.

I can only pity the future of the Indian economy. There is going to be major social unrest. Just think when the lockdown came, how many tens of thousands of migrant labourers had to march by foot to their villages. Now you are going to kindle social unrest of this kind. A financial emergency will only facilitate the government cutting wages and salaries and keeping people down. It is politically and socially unacceptable.

Even without declaring emergency, there are so many options. All the states in India are demanding raising the fiscal deficit ceiling. All the states in India are demanding GST compensation payment. There is something called national consensus. The central government should accept that rather than thinking of a financial emergency.

We have a GST council where all of you discuss what needs to be done and make amendments that are required. Do you feel that the Centre should also set up a similar panel of finance ministers to prepare a roadmap on how the country should navigate through this economic crisis?

We don't need a new council. I am very wary of all councils after the experience with the GST council where the Centre can have veto power on any decisions even if the rest of the GST council members want something. I don't see what purpose these councils will serve.

But definitely consultation is important and relevant. The Prime Minister is consulting the Chief Ministers. The third round of consultations is coming up. Therefore, similarly, the Union finance minister should have a regular consultation with the finance ministers. In fact, when we met the last time in the GST council it was agreed that there will be a special meeting of the council to discuss the compensation payment. But the Parliament session ended one and a half months back. Even if she cant have a physical meeting, I do not understand what prevents her from having a video conference. This is unacceptable.

Am I to understand that the finance minister has not consulted any of you so far post the economic crisis that has come about?

No, no, no. The only consultation was the general economic situation in the pre-budget meeting. Now that budget has become irrelevant.

That was much before COVID-19, right?

That's right. That was the last consultation we had. There was a GST council meeting later but it was for things related to GST. And there was a general discussion on the financial situation in India, the pre-budget discussion. So it is most urgent that a serious consultation is immediately arranged.

Have some of the finance ministers demanded that a consultative meeting be held on a priority basis? Have you written to Delhi in that regard?

Yes, I have sent three letters. Most of the state ministers would have done that.

So far there has been no response?

No, no response. Absoutely not. Normally whenever you send a letter, you receive some polite comment but not even that.

ALSO WATCH

On the positive side, some are of the view that post-COVID, businesses will start looking at moving out of China and India could be one of the attractive destinations. Do you concur with that view. What kind of reforms do we need to bring in to make this happen?

Yes, that is a possibility because international businesses wouldnt want to put all their eggs in one basket anymore. Therefore, they will be willing to spread out. Their primary preference would be to move to Southeast Asia, Vietnam and so on, but India also. So, we have to be prepared to welcome them. We have to start discussing what should be done.

But I don't think putting restrictions on FDI from China is a good signal for that. What should we be afraid of? Im not arguing for opening up of FDI. I'm not an ideologist of that kind. I prefer FDI in sectors in new technologies. But it is very strange that people who want to invite or attract FDI to India, taking advantage of the new situation, should immediately also put restrictions on FDI from China.

Is there any plan for finance ministers of states to meet irrespective of whether you have an invitation from Delhi or not. The state finance ministers could possibly meet and put up a joint proposal before the Centre. Have you been in talks with your counterparts in other states.

Yeah, Ive been trying my level best to see a discussion of that kind. But political considerations have come in the way. Kerala has organised four such major discussions in various parts of India and we are having a webinar on April 27 and 28. We have invited all finance ministers and about 100-120 top academics in India. I don't know how many finance ministers will accept the invitation and nobody from the BJP side has responded. That is understandable. But I see some of the others are also not very interested.

It's a very sad state of affairs when the states, even those in the opposition, are not able to take a united position. And, this is precisely the situation the central government likes and precisely why despite all rationale being on the side of the states on issues like GST compensation and increase in the fiscal ceiling, the central government has been able to stonewall. We will continue the efforts to bring together as many states as possible in favour of a restructuring of Centre-state financial relations.

Indications are that the Centre will sooner rather than later come out with a fiscal stimulus package. Can you quickly tell me three most important measures that Delhi needs to incorporate as part of the package?

One, large-scale income transfer to the people. Say, Rs 7,500 immediately for all households. Advance payment to MGNREGA workers and increasing the old-age pension.

Second, I don't need to argue for corporates. They have been given so many concessions even without them asking, like the corporate tax concession. What I demand is for the farmers and the MSME sector. Now if you want them to start working again, you should extend the (loan) moratorium till the end of the year with no interest. That should be met by the government of India. The interest will come to something like Rs one lakh crore. If you can just give Rs 1.75 lakh crores to corporates, then farmers and small scale industries can also demand it. And then along with it their working capital, existing loans must be restructured. There should be a package for the MSME sector.

The third will be a package for the states. These are the three things the government of India is not serious about and they should revise their stand.
Is asking for hazard pay not becoming of a compassionate and caring physician?

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New York University residents are seeking compensation for the increased risk they face as they are called to the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic, but leadership has declined their request for hazard pay and now stands accused on social media of gaslighting residents.

Residents created a petition, addressed to NYU Langone Medical Center leadership, outlining the increased risk they face as the demand placed on the hospital system skyrockets. They ask for life and disability insurance, as well as hazard pay.

We are honored and willing to take on these greater clinical responsibilities  but along with this comes an increased risk for disability and death, they wrote. In light of the changing times, we believe there should be a change in our benefits to accurately reflect this new high-risk environment.

In an email sent to urology residents, department chair Herbert Lepor, MD, acknowledged that some of his residents had been assigned to COVID-19 wards, but said demanding hazard pay now was not becoming of a compassionate and caring physician.

Now is the time to accept the hazards of caring for the sick and do what we are trained to do and fulfill our commitment to the health care needs of our community rather than focusing on making a few extra dollars, he wrote.

Internal emails sent between Lepor and other superiors  which were circulated on social media  revealed leaderships attempt to deflect residents compensation requests.

In one message, internal medicine residency director Patrick Cocks, MD, acknowledged that residents were hearing we have $ and that if they explained the larger financial impact across institutions, the more mature residents may understand.

NYU gastroenterology director Mark Pochapin, MD, asked to see the names of residents who signed the petition to see if any of his fellows names were on it.

When asked to comment on the emails circulating on social media, Lisa Greiner, a hospital spokesperson, said Pochapin and others were misrepresented and their statements were taken out of context.

For example, Pochapin asked if his residents had signed the petition so he could meet with them to address the issue, and did not intend for it to be threatening, Greiner said.

One surgical trainee in New York City who spoke to MedPage Today on the condition of anonymity said the language in the leaked emails is representative of a residency culture in which trainees are taught suffering makes a good doctor.

Elements of that may be true, but when residents are asked to serve on the frontlines of this unprecedented pandemic, institutions training them should provide them with the physical, psychological, and financial resources they need, the resident said.

We are not soldiers, the trainee said. No one is trained to confront this amount of death in such a short period of time.

Before COVID-19, residents across the country were pushing for higher wages, with one survey showing an average $61,200 salary in 2019. NYU internal medicine residents made as little as $67,432 in the 2017-2018 year, which increased with each training level.

When asked how NYU Langone has changed its policies to reflect the increasing demand placed on residents, Greiner told MedPage Today, residents and fellows who have provided direct clinical care to COVID patients at a higher level of responsibility than usual will have their compensation advanced to the next PGY level retroactively to April 1, 2020, rather than July 1, 2020.

Calls for health care workers to start receiving hazard pay began as early as mid-March and a petition demanding the federal government provide hazard pay to front-line workers has racked up half a million signatures. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has also advocated for hazard pay for health care workers on the frontlines.

Other local hospital systems have responded to the call. Northwell Health is slated to deposit $2,500 bonuses to front-line workers and New York-Presbyterian granted eligible staff a $1,250 bonus. At Mount Sinai Health System, top executives announced they would take a 50% pay cut to offset COVID-19 costs.

Nate Wood, MD, an internal medicine resident at Yale New Haven Hospital in Connecticut, said residents pushing for hazard pay are not only motivated by financial incentives, but are also seeking a gesture from leadership that demonstrates institutional support. His program has granted residents $1,800 bonuses, he said.

I think whats going on is people on the frontlines want their administrators to show them appreciation, Wood told MedPage Today. The most tangible way to do that is for administration to put their money where their mouth is.

NYU Langone is projecting losses of $450 million a month and an operating deficit of $1.2 billion from increased expenses and lost revenues related to COVID-19, Greiner said.

The hospital system reported $2.1 billion in revenue in 2017 and made tuition free for medical students the following year. Lepor, who co-founded MedReview, was accused in 2017 of spending $2 million in profits on personal expenses such as ski vacations and his daughters bat mitzvah.

On March 27, NYU Langone sent an email warning staff that speaking to media without approval would be subject to disciplinary action, including termination.

When asked to comment on this email, Greiner said this policy was in place before COVID-19 and that its purpose was to protect the confidentiality of patients and staff.

Because information related to coronavirus is constantly evolving, it is in the best interest of our staff and the institution that only those with the most updated information are permitted to address these issues with the media, Greiner said.

Daniel E. Choi, MD, a spinal surgeon in New York, said most physicians are willing to be deployed to the frontlines but many may not have the financial protections in place to protect themselves and their families if they contract COVID-19.

Youre being asked to face death, and youre thinking, am I going to saddle my family with medical school debt?' Choi told MedPage Today. Were being asked to go to the frontlines and put ourselves in harms way, yet there are minimal conversations happening about how to protect us physically and economically.

Elizabeth Hlavinka is a staff writer, MedPage Today.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com
4 in 5 parents say coronavirus has brought family closer together, study says

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Some four out of five parents on lockdown with their children due to the coronavirus pandemic say the crisis has brought their families closer together, according to a new study.

A survey of 2,000 British parents by MumPoll revealed that 80% of parents believe they have formed stronger bonds with their families as a result of the increased time they have been spending together during the lockdown, StudyFinds reports.

Approximately 50% of parents in the survey have played board games with their children while another 30% say they have formed book clubs and read together.

And this study is not alone in observing the positive impact of the coronavirus on families normally separated by a faster lifestyle.

For the first time since the early 19th century, many parents and kids  and even grandchildren  are all under the same roof round-the-clock. And if past periods of emergency are any guide, this enforced togetherness could deepen our relationships for years to come, said Erica Pandey, a business reporter for Axios.

While the survey focused on British parents, several parents in the U.S. made similar observations to Axios.

"The strangest thing Ive noticed is a sense of bonding," Steven Singleterry, who works in finance and lives in Brandon, Mississippi, said. "We spend much less time on electronics and more time together. I think its a product of schooling the kids from home as well as home becoming the new all-in-one."

While working from home with his family was difficult at first, Christopher Mims, a Wall Street Journal columnist who lives in Baltimore, Maryland, told the outlet that things have gotten better over time.

"They interrupt me constantly. ... But each day it gets easier. They get wrapped up in deep imaginative play and I can ignore them for long periods," he told Axios.

In a recent interview with People magazine, Prince Harry, who recently moved to Los Angeles, California, revealed how much he has appreciated his time with his wife, Meghan, and their 11-month-old son, Archie, during the lockdown.

Theres a hell of a lot of positives that are happening at the same time and being able to have family time  so much family time  that you almost think, Do I feel guilty for having so much family time? he said. Youve got to celebrate those moments where you are just on the floor rolling around in hysterics. Inevitably, half an hour later, maybe a day later, theres going to be something that you have to deal with and theres no way you can run away from it.

However, the prince was criticized for suggesting that some in the media are exaggerating the severity of the coronavirus by saying in an interview on the Declassifed podcast that things are "better than we are led to believe."

Brad Wilcox, a professor of sociology and director of the National Marriage Project at the University of Virginia, told Axios that suffering forces people to become less self-centered.

When society is facing a tremendous challenge or theres a big uptick in suffering, people orient themselves in a less self-centered way and in a more family-centric way, he said.
By Trend

A summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in the format of a Contact Group will be held May 4 on the initiative of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, who is the NAM Chairman, said the Assistant to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Head of Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration Hikmat Hajiyev, Trend reports.

The summit on the theme We are together against COVID-19 will be held in the format of a video conference, he said.

Hajiyev noted that strengthening international solidarity, mobilizing the efforts of states and international organizations in fighting against the coronavirus pandemic is important.

Members of the Non-Aligned Movement unanimously supported the initiative of President Ilham Aliyev, Hajiyev said.

Given that there are 129 member countries in the Non-Aligned Movement, the summit will be held on the principle of regional geographical representation in the format of the Contact Group, he added.

The leadership of the United Nations (UN), the African Union, the World Health Organization (WHO) and other international organizations will also take part at the summit, noted Hajiyev.

The 18th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement was chaired by President Ilham Aliyev in Azerbaijan on October 25-26, 2019.

With the unanimous support and consent of member countries, Azerbaijan assumed the chairmanship of the Non-Aligned Movement in 2019-2022.

The promotion of multilateral diplomacy, the strengthening of cooperation and solidarity among member countries were determined by President Ilham Aliyev as one of the priorities of the chairmanship of the Non-Aligned Movement.

In accordance with the resolution of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) dated December 12, 2018, April 24 is celebrated as the International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy. As a member of numerous international organizations, Azerbaijan actively supports multilateral diplomacy and multilateralism.

Extraordinary Summit of the Turkic Council was held in the form of a video conference on April 10 on the initiative of Azerbaijans President, the chairman of the Cooperation Council of Turkic-speaking states Ilham Aliyev.

In order to support international efforts to combat the coronavirus pandemic, Azerbaijan voluntarily made a $5 million financial donation to the WHOs coronavirus response fund.

We hope that the Non-Aligned Movement Summit in the format of the Contact Group will make an important contribution to mobilizing efforts, strengthening solidarity and multilaterialism of the countries of the Non-Aligned Movement in the fight against coronavirus, said Hajiyev.
(Photo : Fernando Zhiminaicela from Pixabay) The WHO says immunity is not guaranteed among coronavirus survivors.

While the world is waiting for a coronavirus vaccine and cure, it seems like the world is not yet safe from the virus unless spreading it can be stopped. Nevertheless, a researcher said that vitamins C and D could help prevent people from acquiring it--something everyone will need as WHO said that people could catch COVID-19 more than once.

READ ALSO: [BREAKING] COVID- 19 Update: Virus Dies in 2 Minutes When Faced on Direct Sunlight, U.S. Official Says

WHO Says Coronavirus Re-Infection is Possible

In a recent report by Bloomberg, the World Health Organization (WHO) said that catching the novel coronavirus infection may not protect you from getting it again.

"There is currently no evidence that people who have recovered from COVID-19 and have antibodies are protected from a second infection," the agency said in a statement.

This comes after some government officials suggested that those who have survived the viral infection will be given an "immunity passport" or a "risk-free certificate" that will allow them to return to work or even travel.

The plan is based on the assumption that COVID-19 survivors are immune from getting re-infected and on antibody test results that have drawn concern due to their unreliability in some places.

Meanwhile, the United States also said they are looking into it as well as "herd immunity," or when 70% to 90% of the community has developed immunity through infection or vaccine, according to CNN.

Nevertheless, it's one plan that experts believe is futile and incredibly risky.

Read Also: Coronavirus Could Worsen Due to More Sugar Intake Even For Non-Diabetic COVID-19 Patients

Vitamins C and D to the Rescue

Due to the new findings of the WHO, it is incredibly important for both survivors and those who haven't been infected yet to try and boost their health and immune system--and one of the ways is by getting enough vitamins C and D.

According to OregonLive, a researcher from Oregon State University believes that taking supplements rich in vitamins C and D as well as other nutrients can be "safe, effective, and low-cost" means to avoid COVID-19 infection.

The researcher, Adrian Gombart of OSU's Linus Pauling Institute, as well as collaborators from around the world, are calling for public health officials to create clear nutritional guidelines.

This, along with washing hands and physically distancing, could help prevent further infections from happening.

"There's a wealth of data that shows the role that good nutrition plays in supporting the immune system," Gombart said.

The researchers are now urging people to take a dose of 200 milligrams or more of vitamin C daily, which is much higher than the issued federal guidelines of 75 and 50 milligrams for men and women, respectively.

Additionally, researchers say it's best to take 2,000 international units of vitamin D.

VA Draws Attention

In other news, the Department of Veterans Affairs is under fire as the number of health care workers and veterans infected with COVID-19 has surged.

According to The Hill, there are more than 6,000 VA coronavirus patients, and over 400 of them have already died due to the infection. Meanwhile, 2,000 VA health workers have been infected with round 20 deaths in their line.

Nevertheless, VA press secretary Christina Noel is adamant that they are keeping their patients and staff safe.

"We understand that this national emergency has generated concern among some employees, but the department continues to be successful in helping America fight COVID-19," Noel said.

Read Also: UofL Researchers Develops a Drug That Prevents Coronavirus From Spreading in the Body

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The coronavirus has claimed the lives of five healthcare workers across the health service, it emerged yesterday.

The virus has also resulted in the deaths of 576 people living in community residential settings, including 488 residents of nursing homes.

The fatalities involve confirmed and probable deaths - among residents who were not tested - in people in residential homes.

They are among 1,014 tragic deaths from the virus in the State, marking a significant landmark in the numbers succumbing to the disease since the crisis began.

Chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan warned again yesterday that progress made in suppressing the virus here is in danger of stopping if too many people flout rules to restrict their movements in light of evidence of a rise in road traffic, use of public transport and outdoor activity.

Earlier, it emerged that Dublin Bus is the latest to report a rise in daily passenger numbers with around 59,000 using the system on Wednesday, which was a rise of 6,000 on the same day on the three previous weeks.

Read More

"We are concerned there is more complacency. I can understand the public has been asked to stay so long with measures that are hard to maintain. The weather is nice and the temptation is there," said Dr Holohan.

"We have talked a lot about May 5 and there may be an assumption on the part of the public that things will change then, but we still have a lot of progress to make if we are to satisfy the important criteria to recommend to government that on public health terms it is time to do that.

"It will be on the basis of how far we have gone that we will make a recommendation to government next week."

He said the National Public Health Emergency Team will not be ready to advise the Government if it is possible to ease restrictions after May 5 until as late as next Friday when a review of the impact of the virus will be taken.

It was decided yesterday to change the testing criteria for priority groups including healthcare workers and people with underlying illness who may have the virus.

Instead of having to have two symptoms including a fever plus shortage of breath or sudden cough, GPs will now be able to refer one of these groups who has just one of the symptoms after assessing them over the phone.

This will increase the numbers of people being tested for the virus. It is still unclear if labs will be able to cope.

Dr Holohan reported there were 37 more laboratory confirmed deaths yesterday and a further 124 probable deaths, based on clinical judgment.

He said there are likely to be more fatalities among people who did not have the virus but failed to seek medical attention on time.

Meanwhile, another 577 new cases were confirmed bringing the total who have tested positive to 18,184.

Among these are 3,277 people living in residential centres, including 2,500 nursing home residents.

Testing of all staff and residents in these centres, which began last weekend, has led to 707 positive cases, signalling there was a lot of infection present than had been known.

Dr Ronan Glynn revealed 3,830 healthcare workers have tested positive and 159 have been hospitalised. Some 24 ended up severely ill and were admitted to intensive care. Five have died.

Previous statistics show around one in four healthcare workers picked up the infection in the workplace.

Asked to comment on suggestions by US President Donald Trump that scientists should investigate inserting a cleaning agent into the body to cure the virus, Dr Holohan said that would be "really unsafe and dangerous." He warned: "That would be a very unsafe thing to do. President Trump is not a doctor and the advice is don't do it."

Dr Colm Henry, clinical adviser to the HSE said that around 120 public health workers have been redeployed to private nursing homes struggling to cope with staff shortages due to Covid-19.

He said an agreement is being signed to provide thousands of hours by HSE-funded staff to the private homes.

The results of the recent testing of residents and staff in these homes for the coronavirus will help to signal where the need is greatest.

Minister for Older People Jim Daly yesterday told Independent.ie's 'Floating Voter' podcast that the nursing homes should allow families to visit relatives in nursing homes.

Asked if this should be lifted Dr Holohan said he understood how difficult that advice - given in mid-March - is for families.

"I would be very reluctant to have that in place any longer than necessary," he said.

However, for now it was important it should remain to ensure the risk of spreading the virus is minimised.

It will remain under review, he added.

Asked on when hairdressers would be allowed reopen, he said it was necessary to protect staff and customers.

It was unclear if it would be up for discussion later next week if there were plans to ease some of the restrictions.
WhatsApp is among the most popular instant messaging platforms in the world, and it is currently free to use. Plus, it doesnt even show ads, which doesnt make economic sense for the company. However, Facebook, which owns WhatsApp, has plans to bring ads to the messaging app shortly.

Facebook acquired WhatsApp in 2014 for a whopping $16 billion, and the social networking giant had announced in 2018 that it plans to show ads inside WhatsApp. However, due to the backlash from consumers and media, Facebook decided to postpone its plan.

Recently, it was reported that the company has decided not to bring ads inside WhatsApp and that the team looking after ways to bring ads was disbanded. Now, a contradicting report from The Information states that Facebook has still not scrapped the plan.

According to the information found in the new report, the social media giant plans to use phone numbers as the determiners to match Facebook and WhatsApp accounts, and then display targeted ads to WhatsApp users. The new plan would reportedly come into force once the completes the unification of all its messaging platforms: Facebook Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp.

Last year, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg had mentioned that the companys platforms would be unified, but it would take until the end of 2020 for the unification process to complete. This means that we wont see ads inside WhatsApp this year.

Last year, during the annual Facebook Marketing Summit in the Netherlands, Facebook showcased WhatsApp Status as a solution to bring ads to the IM platform. It is similar to how ads are displayed in Instagram Stories. A Facebook executive had mentioned to Engadget that ads in Status remains a long-term opportunity for WhatsApp.

Since the company plans to use Facebooks and WhatsApps user data to show targeted ads, privacy-related issues may arise. The company is already under a lot of pressure following the Cambridge Analytica scandal. However, Zuckerberg had mentioned last year that the future of the social network is focussed on privacy and the company will improve user data privacy.

[Souce: The Information
Emma Sophia Ryan is only three years old but already she is proving an internet star!

Over 11,000 people watched a super cute video of her singing 'Ireland's Call' while her mother Mary McCague played the piano. Now the child prodigy is hosting her own weekly show which will feature a song performance, as well as chats, jokes, shout-outs and a music education component.

Mary, who is originally from Blackrock but now lives in Kinsale, explains that she hopes that the show will 'bring a smile to people's faces' every Wednesday at 7pm.

Child prodigy Emma Sophia is a natural performer and has been singing since before she could even talk. While most children still cannot talk clearly at the age of one, Emma Sophia could sing Ireland's Call in full and on pitch. At almost 2, she could sing all of Isle of Hope, Isle of Tears. Unlike most children who start with nursery rhymes, Emma Sophia has always enjoyed listening to and singing Irish folk music, and while she was still only two she had built up a repertoire of over 10 songs including Irish folk, ballads, country, nursery and of course, Disney!

Like so many of us, Emma Sophia would love to hug her Nanna and Granda, and see her little friends at playschool. When her parents explained to her why this wasn't possible, she wanted to know what she could do "to make the Corona Virus go away". This gave them the idea, that while her singing wouldn't make the virus go away, it would bring joy to people. And so began the online musical adventure of the world's youngest lockdown entertainer!

Her Ireland's Call video gained 11,000 in only a few days, and attracted the attention of composer Phil Coulter, who tweeted his approval: "What a powerhouse!! At THREE years of age? Never mind the HAKKA! If Emma Sophia were to lead off the song at one of our big games, she'd put the fear of God into the All Blacks. Nice reminder for us to stand shoulder to shoulder to beat this new enemy.'

Emma Sophia has been busy practising, and, in addition to the chats, jokes and shout-outs, will present a new song every week, which will be uploaded every Wednesday at 7pm GMT, on the Mary McCague Music YouTube Channel. The first episode of The Emma Sophia Show, which went out last Wednesday featured Brendan Graham's song, Isle of Hope, Isle of Tears. Future episodes will include Somewhere Out There from 'An American Tale' and Halfway Up a Stairs from 'The Muppets'.

Emma Sophia's mother, Mary is a professional violinist and pianist, and member of internationally renowned Classical Crossover group, Affiniti. She has also been doing her bit to lift the national spirit, uploading daily videos playing multiple instruments (via the Acapella App) to her facebook page, Mary McCague Music. She will accompany Emma Sophia on piano.
Abdominal cramps are one of the main symptoms of Crohn's disease. (Getty Images)

Crohns disease could one day be eased by taking a freeze-dried pill containing microbes found in faeces, experts have said.

The inflammatory bowel disease is considered a lifelong condition that can trigger diarrhoea, abdominal cramps and extreme fatigue.

While the exact cause of Crohns is unclear, research suggests an imbalance of gut bacteria may play a role.

Read more: Everything There Is to Know About Crohn's Disease

Faecal microbiota transplants (FMT) have therefore been suggested as a treatment. This involves taking good bacteria from a healthy donors gut to repopulate a patients microbiome.

Scientists from the Centre for Digestive Diseases in New South Wales, Australia, gave 10 patients a combination of FMT and standard Crohns drugs.

The patients achieved prolonged remission, with some free of flare-ups for up to 23 years.

Crohn's occurs if part of the digestive tract becomes inflamed.

Crohns is thought to affect 157 in every 100,000 people in the UK, meaning at least 115,000 Britons have the disease.

In the US, around 1.6 million people have an inflammatory bowel disease. This can include Crohns or ulcerative colitis.

Ulcerative colitis only causes inflammation of the colon, whereas Crohns can affect the entire digestive tract.

With no cure, Crohns patients often take immune-suppressing drugs to dampen inflammation in their gut.

Writing in the journal Gut Pathogens, the Australian scientists claim drug efficacy is sub-optimal, with more than 60% of patients failing to respond to the medication after six weeks.

Crohns has been linked to everything from genetics and smoking to a suppressed immune system and stomach bug.

Research suggests colonisation of the bacteria Mycobacterium avium in the gut may also be a trigger, supporting FMT as a potential treatment.

Read more: What its really like to live with Crohns disease

To learn more, the scientists looked at 10 patients, seven of whom took Crohns-specific antibiotics for around three years to initially induce deep healing.

Story continues

After coming off the antibiotics, five of the patients had around four FMT transfusions each.

All the patients experienced prolonged remission lasting between three and 23 years.

For most, this was achieved via a combination of FMT, antibiotics and the Crohns drug infliximab.

FMT is thought to re-establish a healthy gut microbiome after prolonged antibiotic use.

Antibiotics can be highly effective at ridding infections, however, they can also target good bugs in the gut.

Two of the participants achieved long-term clinical remission and mucosal healing with FMT alone.

Antibacterial therapy and FMT are emerging treatments which can result in clinical and endoscopic remission, if employed correctly, the scientists wrote.

While further research is required, they believe this could pave the way for a treatment regimen of antibiotics and a crapsule, an oral capsule of freeze-dried donor faecal microbiota.

What is faecal microbial transplantation?

FMT is only approved in the UK when other treatments have failed to stop diarrhoea caused by the bacteria Clostridium difficile.

It involves faeces being taken from a healthy donor and processed.

A liquid mixture is then transplanted into a patients intestine via an endoscope. The aim is to restore the balance of gut bacteria so they can fight the infection.

Donors are first tested for an array of infections. They must be free of health problems and lead a healthy lifestyle.

C. difficile can be tricky to treat, with up to a one in four chance of the infection returning after initially seeming to be cured.

The bacteria can become less responsive to antibiotics over time, prompting doctors to recommend FMT.

Read more: Crohn's Disease: Symptoms and Treatment

There have been no reported cases of infections as a result of a patient receiving the transplant.

FMT has also shown promise in ulcerative colitis.

Scientists from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center gave two patients the transplant after they developed inflammatory bowel disease as a result of cancer therapy.

After just one transfer, the female patients symptoms disappeared completely within two weeks.

The man experienced partial recovery after one treatment and total resolution after a second.
The Ghana Revenue Authority has encouraged taxpayers to continue to file their tax returns online and make payments through the banks.



The Authority appealed to all taxpayers to fulfill their tax obligations to meet government's needs in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.



The Reverend Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah, GRA Commissioner General told the Ghana News Agency in an interview in Accra.



"We will not relent in our efforts to deliver on our mandates. We will do all we can to ensure that the needed revenue is generated to meet government's agenda as we all put our shoulders to the wheel to fight the pandemic," he said.

He said the Authority would soon launch a digital platform that would allow taxpayers to access their Tax Identification Number from the comfort of their homes for easy business transactions.



He said the Authority supported President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addos interventions to lessen the impact of the coronavirus on individuals and businesses.



According to the Commissioner-General, all efforts would be made to facilitate payment of taxes during the COVID-19, but would not allow deliberate non-payment of taxes.



"We acknowledge the hard times in which we are as a nation and the world as a whole. We sympathize sincerely with those who have lost their jobs or sources of income.



We also pray that as a nation, we will continue to support President Akufo-Addo and the government to ensure that the nation comes out of the situation quickly", he said.



He entreated employees, corporate and other institutions who continue to make various incomes, sales and provide services to file and pay their taxes for government to get the needed revenue in the difficult times.



The Commissioner-General said the Authority was working with the Ministry of Finance for modalities in terms of the year's revenue target.



This, he explained was necessary because the COVID-19 was likely to affect the country's revenue target and was optimistic that the intended measures would ensure a win-win situation for government and taxpayers.

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.

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Migrant workers and their relatives are waiting for the train to go to Shenzhen at Yichang East Station in Yichang in China's central Hubei province on March 23, 2020. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)

Two Southern Chinese Cities Confirm Virus Outbreaks, Including Among School Students

Chinas Guangzhou city announced on April 24 that it found 185 CCP virus infections when it recently conducted mass testing of key groups.

However, netizens realized that the data conflicted with information the Guangdong government previously published.

And two days earlier, in the nearby city of Shenzhen, authorities announced that six teachers and 21 students were infected.

Guangzhou and Shenzhen are the most populous cities in the southern province of Guangdong.

Beginning on April 27, middle and high schools will reopen in the whole province for senior students, as they need to prepare for high school and college entrance examinations in July.

Provincial authorities are now concerned about how to prevent the virus from spreading in school.

Guangzhou

The Guangzhou city government issued an announcement on its official website on April 24, explaining that authorities began giving nucleic acid diagnostic tests to all key groups. The government did not explain who belonged to these groups.

In the first group of key people, authorities tested 10,280 individuals and 139 of them tested positive as asymptomatic carriers.

The second and third groups are people tested at key sites and relevant areas. The government did not give a number of positives for these categories.

The fourth group is those who revolve around the close contacts of families and workplaces with infections, including taxi drivers.

In total, 31,391 in the fourth group were tested. And all of them tested negative.

During four large-scale inspections of these four groups, 138,700 people in total have done testing 185 tested positive. Of those infected, 164, or 88.6 percent, are asymptomatic carriers, according to the announcement.

However, the new announcement was not accurate.

The announcement said all taxi drivers in this sampling tested negative. But the government itself announced two cab drivers who tested positive days before.

On April 21, the Guangzhou municipal health commission announced that a 49-year-old taxi driver was diagnosed as an asymptomatic carrier. He drove a taxi with plate number YueA 6J1H3. The driver was tested during a key group testing, as he was the close contact of a recently diagnosed person.

On April 17, the commission announced a 43-year-old taxi driver who was diagnosed with the virus. The driver drove several foreign passengers before he began to develop symptoms on April 14. He then was diagnosed when he visited a hospital for treatment

A health worker sprays disinfectant inside a city taxi in Guangzhou, southern Chinas Guangdong province, on April 16, 2003. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)

Shenzhen

Guangdong Province asked all senior students in middle and high school to return to class on April 27.

Schools serving all grades were closed across China following the Lunar New Year holiday in January, in an effort to prevent the virus from spreading. In early April, local authorities eager to claim that the virus was contained announced plans for schools to reopen.

Students in other grades and primary schools in Guangdong will return to class on May 11.

The Shenzhen municipal health commission announced at a press conference on April 22 that some students and teachers were infected with the CCP virus. it is unclear when or how they contracted the virus.

Six teachers were infected, five of them were diagnosed cases and one is an asymptomatic carrier, Wu Bing, deputy director of the commission, said. Four [diagnosed] teachers were discharged from the hospital. One is being treated at the hospital.

Wu said 21 students were infected. They are 10 primary school students, seven middle or high school students, and four college students.

Shenzhen is a city with a large number of migrant workers who are originally from Hubei Province, the epicenter of Chinas epidemic. After schools closed in January for the Lunar New Year holiday, many teachers and students went back to their hometowns.

Now that schools are reopening, there is concern that teachers and students may carry the virus and inadvertently spread it among the school population.

Migrant workers and their relatives are waiting for the train to go to Shenzhen at Yichang East Station in Yichang in Chinas central Hubei province on March 23, 2020. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)

The Shenzhen municipal health commission announced on its website on April 23 that all teachers and other school staff who are in close contact with students must receive a nucleic acid test before returning to school.

Teachers and students who are returning from Wuhanthe capital of Hubei Province and the viruss ground zeromust be tested twice. The interval in between the two tests should be seven days or longer.

Meanwhile, they have to be quarantined for 14 days upon arrival in Shenzhen. The ones who have a green health QR codebased on a mobile app that citizens install on their phones and use to record their health statuscan be quarantined at home or school. Others without the green code must be quarantined at hotels that have been converted into quarantine centers, where they must pay any fees incurred.

The teachers and students who are returning from other cities in Hubei only need to take one nucleic acid test but will also need to be quarantined upon arrival.

So far, there is no special protocol for teachers and students returning from other cities in China.

The commission asked each school to prepare enough masks for all staff and students; infrared thermometers that can screen peoples body temperatures when they pass by; handheld thermometers; protective suits; disinfectant; and so on. Each teacher and student will have two masks to use per day.

Guangzhou, meanwhile, has a large student population. According to data released by the citys education bureau, there are 512 middle schools and high schools in the city, with 113,700 senior students in middle school and 53,700 senior students in high school.

167,400 students (113,700 plus 53,700) in 512 schools means each school has an average of 327 students (167,400 divided by 512).

Authorities are also anxious that the virus could spread among a dense student population and asked each school to separate students into less than 25 students per class. In Guangzhou, authorities said students should not share tables with each other. In Shenzhen, schools will not hold any academic tests in the first two weeks after reopeningas tests are usually given to a large group of students en masse.
While the economic and social impact of the coronavirus pandemic might persist for months or even years, within the Arab world there exists a community of interest able to weather all storms, writes Abdel-Moneim Said

Concern for the post-Covid era now seems to overshadow concern for the crisis itself. Or perhaps it would be more accurate to say that those having to cope with the pandemic and its immediate consequences have enough on their plate without having to speak about the aftermath, leaving the field open to conjecture among those concerned about the day after.

Among the latter are those who take the planet as whole as a unit for analysis or, somewhat more modestly, the world order and the struggle between world powers for pre-eminence and hegemony. Other analysts focus on a particular sector of human activity, generally one that is quantifiable and has already existing indexes that serve as a basis for projections for what the world will be like a year from now, or even during the current and forthcoming economic quarters. Among these analysts, we find general consensus over a set of truths: first, economic burdens on governments are mounting; second, the repercussions of the crisis are compelling the state to get more involved in the economy; third, poverty rates are climbing and food security is at risk; fourth, macroeconomic indicators are going haywire; fifth, while major transnational companies may be able to weather the crisis, many smaller and less stable enterprises will go under; and sixth, the online and virtual economy will flourish.

In his prognosis of the contours of the global economy in the post-corona world, Ali Saleh of the Abu Dhabi-based Future Centre for Advanced Research and Study adds a seventh inescapable factor: Global Distancing. This aptly titled study was published 12 April in the Future Centres Special Studies section. It obviously plays on the term social distancing, the major weapon in the fight to contain the spread of the novel disease that has sometimes entailed erecting transport barriers between administrative regions within a single country and even isolating entire contaminated neighbourhoods from uncontaminated ones. Internationally, global distancing has taken the form of national bans on inbound and outbound flights and pressures on other governments into repatriating their stranded citizens. Countries have also dug deeply into their own financial and food reserves while scrambling to increase domestic production of essential needs for local markets. Unfortunately, while such a strategy might work for continental sized countries like the US and China, and perhaps for small countries with small populations, it is hard to achieve for densely populated mid-size countries.

In fact, global distancing already set in well before the Covid-19 crisis and its transnational and transcontinental transmission. It was a product of the identity politics that propelled the ultra-right to prevail in many democratic societies and that favoured the rise of strongmen in countries with centralised systems of government. If anti-globalist outlooks on politics, the economy and culture predated the coronavirus crisis, leaders of the ilk of Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson undoubtedly welcomed the opportunity to create more walls and barriers. But regardless of how far some countries have gone or some leaderships would like to go with distancing themselves from other countries and peoples, the question of self-sufficiency in food or other basic commodities is of a different order.

Self-sufficiency in this or that commodity is not a goal to be attained at whatever cost but, rather, cost-effectively, without needless economic losses and without inhibiting essential factors that contribute to economic growth. In the Middle East and the Arab world in particular, isolationism, global distancing and such notions do not sound very beneficial. Insularism would only reduce opportunities for growth and, more importantly, jeopardise the reform processes that are currently underway in many Arab countries.

The Arab Spring pandemic that marked the beginning of this decade plunged many Arab countries into futile civil wars or other forms of profound internal strife, which invited regional powers such as Iran, Turkey and Israel to variously meddle in their domestic affairs, acquire territory or invade. This is the fate that afflicted Syria, Yemen and Libya. Alternatively, the Arab Spring induced other Arab countries to embark on sweeping reforms that necessitated extremely difficult decisions that previous generations of leaderships had been reluctant to take. Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the UAE, Jordan, Kuwait and Morocco have taken this route. Other Arab countries continue, in their various ways and to varying degrees, to hover between the two alternatives.

If the reform process is to achieve its ends during this decade, we need, firstly, to emerge from the coronavirus crisis. Fortunately, according to the available figures, the abovementioned countries that are proceeding down the path of reform are faring reasonably well in terms of infection rates, especially when compared with China, the US and Europe, and regionally with Iran, Turkey and Israel. Secondly, if the global distancing trend continues, a large market will be needed for Arab products to effectively contribute to boosting growth rates and to sustain reform momentum. Thirdly, it will be essential to optimise the advantages of the maritime border agreement that Egypt and Saudi Arabia concluded several years ago. Already, then, the agreement was a pragmatic option within the framework of the development process in progress in Egypt, which was shifting the countrys geo-economic keel outward from the Nile Valley to the Red Sea and Mediterranean, and in the framework of the Saudi reform process, which also was shifting towards the Red Sea and Gulf of Aqaba, with sights set on extensions into Sinai and Jordan.

Clearly, if global distancing grows more entrenched as a consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic, a 200 million people strong market will offer plenty of space to absorb the outputs of growing industries in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and other GCC countries and Jordan. It will make agricultural investments profitable, water desalination processes economical and the manufacture of cars, household appliances and other technological products feasible and lucrative. Moreover, given the new antiquities discoveries in Saudi Arabia and the well-known pharaonic and Greco-Roman heritage of Egypt and Jordan, we share a vast tourist market, not to mention markets for oil and gas, renewable energies and the industries connected with them.

The point here is not to suggest a form of regional self-sequestration. Rather, it is to propose an approach to dealing with future scenarios and their grim consequences, especially in light of expectations of increasingly heated great power rivalries and conflicts. To such powers, the Middle East and the Arab world in particular is only a region for sapping its resources and shedding blood. But this is another story.

The writer is chairman of the board, CEO and director of the Regional Centre for Strategic Studies.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 23 April, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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WASHINGTON -- U.S. Navy on Friday recommended the reinstatement of Captain Brett Crozier's command of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt hit by the coronavirus outbreak.

Following a week-long investigation, the Navy concluded that Crozier, who was fired earlier this month after sounding the alarms of a growing coronavirus outbreak aboard the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, should be reinstated as the warship's commander, said local media reports.

Defense Secretary Mark Esper told the Navy on Friday that he had more questions about the investigation and could not yet make a decision, according to a Wall Street Journal report citing people familiar with the recommendation.

Earlier Friday, Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman said Esper likely would back the Navy's conclusion and that he trusted the Navy's judgment.

The Navy opened the investigation on April 1, two days after Crozier wrote a memo pleading for a faster and more thorough response to the growing outbreak on the Theodore Roosevelt diverted to port in Guam.

On April 2, Crozier was relieved of command by then-Navy Secretary Thomas Modly who resigned the following week after calling Crozier "too naive or too stupid" while addressing the aircraft carrier's crew.

At the time when Crozier wrote the memo, about 70 crew members had tested positive for COVID-19. The Navy now has tested all crew members aboard the warship. Of them, 840 have tested positive, 4,098 negative, and one sailor died from the virus.
Paula Faris reveals why she left 2 dream jobs to follow God's calling for her life

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Paula Faris reveals why she left two dream jobs on network television to pursue Gods calling for her life in the new book, Called Out: Why I Traded Two Dream Jobs for a Life of True Calling.

in the book, Faris opens up about her time as co-anchor of ABC's Good Morning America Weekend and details her experiences as a co-host on the daytime talk show The View. She left both jobs in 2018 because she wanted to spend more time with her husband and three children, but soon entered a season of "hell" in which she dealt with health issues and was uncertain about her purpose in life.

While she initially felt lost after leaving those to jobs, Faris came to the revelation that it was time to follow what God was calling her to do. She now hosts ABC's Journeys of Faith podcast and works as a senior national correspondent for the network.

In an Instagram post promoting her new release, Faris said, CALLED OUT: Why I Traded Two Dream Jobs for a Life of True Calling is all about finding our significance in the *wrong* things and how to discover true, unshakable calling.

For me, my significance was my job. And, it took a personal crisis to get my attention. I bought societys lie that my value was my vocation, my worth was work, my calling was career. I leaned in hard. I burned out. Then, after I walked away from my two dream jobs (anchoring GMA and co-hosting The View), I felt lost. Who was I without it? I didnt know who I was outside of what I did."

"This book is not just my experience, its full of interviews with and observations of others struggling with the same sense of misplaced significance, identity and purpose, she wrote.

Faris said she hopes her book will help others find their true purpose and discover their true calling. She said the tools she shares can serve to help readers navigate crises or help them get through feelings of anxiety such as those people are now experiencing amid state lockdowns to combat the coronavirus pandemic that has led to mass unemployment.

While on The View, Faris, who holds more conservative Christian views, often found herself struggling to remain objective among her progressive co-hosts as they discussed various social and political issues on the show.

The View was challenging, not just because you have to have thick skin to be a co-host, but it was challenging in the sense that I had a news career simultaneously, Faris explains in her new book. I was trying to maintain my objectivity but was also trying to appease an audience thats used to, and should expect, strong opinions from its co-hosts.

Called Out, which is now available for purchase, reflects on what it truly means to be called by God and overcome the fears that hold people back from walking the path God has chosen for them.
(Photo : BRENDAN MCDERMID on Reuters) Coronavirus Immunity: Can You Really be Immune to Virus After Infection? What We Know So Far (Photo : LUCAS JACKSON on Reuters ) Coronavirus Immunity: Can You Really be Immune to Virus After Infection? What We Know So Far

Is there a thing called 'immunity' in today's Coronavirus disease? Can you really be immune once you get to recover from having this virus? The World Health Organization (WHO) officially announces on Friday, Apr. 25, that 'no evidence' of immunity to all COVID-19 recovered patients are still being discussed. Therefore, the organization states that 'herd immunity' is still a theory and not a fact. Here's what we know so far.

Is there really immunity vs. COVID-19? Here's the explanation

In the recent report of Tech Times, WHO officials already clarified that there is still no available evidence proving that immunity to Coronavirus is a factual idea.

The speculations of herd immunity arise when governments around the world suggested giving "immunity passport" to all recovered COVID-19 patients in the hope that they will no longer experience re-infection. However, the agency states otherwise.

"There is currently no evidence that people who have recovered from COVID-19 and have antibodies are protected from a second infection," the agency said in a statement.

But do other doctors share the same belief?

READ ALSO: [BREAKING] COVID- 19 Update: Virus Dies in 2 Minutes When Faced on Direct Sunlight, U.S. Official Says

What doctors think about re-infection?

To answer all the questions regarding Coronavirus herd immunity, CNET recently interviewed Dr. Joseph Vinetz, an expert in general infectious diseases from Yale Medicine. It turns out that not all things that you've read online may be the real fact behind this theory of immunization.

Can you be immune to the virus?

If once you get infected with the virus but then recovered-- are there chances that you are now immune to the disease?

Vinetz said that scientists still do not have enough studies saying that immunity to the virus has its basis. As explained, recovered COVID-19 patients have shown an immune response to the virus. However, this doesn't mean that they are already immune from getting the virus again.

"We don't know that someone [who has had coronavirus and recovered] is resistant to a new infection, or if they have protection how long that protection may last, or if you could carry it [the virus] for some time [after recovery]," said Dr. Vinetz.

Once recovered by the virus, are you still a carrier?

Another major thing that governments have been tackling is whether recovered patients still carry the virus or not. Dr. Vinetz answers this question of "probably not." Since there are still no accurate studies explaining this theory, nothing's for sure.

Thus, the WHO said that "no study had evaluated whether the presence of antibodies to the virus conferred immunity to subsequent infection by the virus in humans."

For now, WHO advised all people always follow the same guidelines of social distancing and proper hygiene etiquette to help flatten the curve.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Reliance Industries, the most valued Indian company in the stock market, has bagged a number of global partnerships and investments in the recent past. This includes the Facebook-Jio deal which came as a pleasant surprise amid the gloom of coronavirus pandemic. The petrol to telecom conglomerate has some more deals in the cards for coming days even as the markets bear the brunt of the contagion and subsequent rout in oil prices.

Mohammed bin Salman

Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia

Proposed Investment: Rs 1 lakh crore

Mukesh Ambani had a warm chat with the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman in Febriary 2019, when the de-facto leader was visiting India. A major agenda during their discussions was Saudi Aramco's investment plans for India. Ambani, who had heavily invested in telecom (around Rs 3.5 lakh crore), wanted to reduce the debt of Reliance by roping in strategic investors. Ambani shared his plan to increase petrochemical production when electric mobility overtakes fossil fuels and the Prince was impressed. It culminated in 20 per cent stake sale plan in oil and chemicals business of Reliance at Rs 1 lakh crore. The deal is expected be delayed due to the crash of oil price.

ALSO READ: Post-COVID, 75% of 4.5 lakh TCS employees to permanently work from home by '25; from 20%

Bob Dudley

Former CEO of BP plc

Investment in Reliance: Rs 42,500 crore

Proposed Investment: Rs 7,000 crore

It was in 2010, just after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill at BP plc's Macondo Prospect in the Gulf of Mexico, that the British oil giant decided to invest in new geographies. In January 2011, BP and Russian oil producer Rosneft announced a $7.8 billion strategic equity-linked partnership. Soon after, BP picked up 30 per cent stake in Reliance Industries's (RIL) major oil and gas blocks, including Krishna-Godavari (KG) D6 basin, for $7.2 billion (Rs 32,000 crore at that time). BP further contributed to the Rs 35,000 crore field development plan in R Series and Satellite blocks, despite the partners failure to turn the asset around. Moreover, RIL-BP formed a joint venture for fuel retail - another Rs 7,000 crore investment from BP. Dudley travelled to India many times during these years and he was escorted by none other than Ambani. Dudley also flew down for the wedding of Isha Ambani and Anand Piramal in 2018. Dudley retired from BP in March.

ALSO READ: Coronavirus India Live Updates: Maharashtra reports 811 new COVID-19 cases, starts plasma therapy trials

Mark Zuckerberg

Founder of Facebook

Proposed Investment: Rs 43,574 crore

In early 2019, Ambani and Zuckerberg explored the possibility of a collaboration between their companies. Facebook has been frantically searching for new revenue sources, as it faced problems due to troublesome content and regulatory issues. The Facebook-Jio deal worth Rs 43,574 crore will help the social media giant expand its business with the help of Jio's network. Facebook wants to graduate to video socialising from texts. Besides, it wants partners across the world to launch its cryptocurrency, Libra. Complimentary to that Reliance is developing the blockchain technology and e-commerce platform JioMart. They have developed Calibra wallet, which allows users to store, send and spend money using Messenger, WhatsApp or the Calibra app. It can become the payment system for JioMart. Besides, Facebook is looking for markets for its products like Oculus (virtual reality gaming device), Workplace (for closed groups) and Portal (video calling device). It is also adding features to existing applications - Facebook, WhatsApp, Messenger and Instagram - to counter competition in social media space. Zuckerberg also needs a partner in India where problematic content and the regulatory headaches will surface as new challenges for the social networking giant. India should not become another China for Facebook - that's Zuckerberg's worry.

ALSO READ: Delhi coronavirus cases: Hotspots rise to 92; check out complete list here

Bruce Flatt

CEO, Brookfield

Investment: Rs 38,215 crore

Brookfield is an alternative asset management company with over $540 billion in assets under management in 30 countries. Their first attempt was to buy the tower assets of Anil Ambani group's bankrupt firm Reliance Communications in 2016-17. Last year, it bought the loss-making East West Pipeline of Mukesh Ambani, earlier known as Reliance Gas Transportation Infrastructure, for an enterprise valuation of Rs 13,000 crore. Canada's Brookfield Infrastructure Partners LP and its institutional partners had invested another Rs 25,215 crore in the telecom tower investment trust (InvIT) of RIL in December last year.

Ambani looks for investment in optical fiber InvIT also. The deal has not been finalised yet.

Bill Gates

Chairman of Microsoft

No financial commitment

Ambani has a longstanding friendship with Microsoft founder Bill Gates. In 2014, Reliance had bought a minority stake in Terra Power, a US-based nuclear-technology design and engineering company that was founded by Bill Gates. But a stronger tie up between Microsoft and Reliance was in the making. In the last RIL Annual General Meeting, Ambani announced a partnership in cloud computing with Microsoft. Under the partnership, Jio will set up data centres across India, where Microsoft will bring its cloud platform, Azure. Satya Nadella, CEO of the tech giant was also virtually present at the RIL shareholders meeting.

ALSO READ: Cox and Kings: Shadow over Rs 21,000 crore transactions; siphoning nexus with Yes Bank unraveled
The House of Representatives approved a new $484 billion relief bill for small businesses and hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic on Thursday.

The vote passed 388-5, with President Donald Trump signing the bill into law during a ceremony Friday afternoon.

The package will send $310 billion to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), $60 billion to the Small Business Administration (SBA) for disaster assistance loans and grants, $75 billion to hospitals and $25 billion to testing.

Leon Milobar, district director for the Nebraska Office of the SBA, said the office has been offering the COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and working with financial institutions on distributing the PPP.

This bill will reopen the application process for people who want to attain a Payroll Protection Program loan through their local lender, he said. It also provides additional funds for our EIDL advance and the traditional EIDL program that we have.

Although the SBA can only give funding to nonprofit, 501(3) hospitals, the federal bill will be able to provide funding to other hospitals as well.

Previously, the office started work on getting funding set up in late March, Milobar said.

Instead of getting everybody and doing it like we did last time on a Friday, with our initial counts, were going to go ahead and do it Monday and give everybody a fair and equal chance to go ahead and apply for this funding, he said.

While smaller community banks took advantage of the first round of funding, Milobar said he expects to see larger banks this time around, as well as the PPP funding going very fast.

I dont think the Economic Injury Disaster Loan funds are going to go as quickly as the PPP, but we predict the larger financial institutions will go to take advantage of it, he said.

Milobar said his advice for small businesses is to contact their local lenders, as many have a long queue of loans left over from the last round of funding.

The only thing they have to do is put them into our system and it will not take long to go through $310 billion across the United States, he said. Its been a popular program.

Greater Fremont Development Council Executive Director Garry Clark said many local banks were prepared for the first round of assistance.

We know that there were some gaps there as far as businesses throughout the region and the area, and so we want to make sure that this go-around, that continues to be a successful piece for our community and our region, he said. And I think our local banking institutions have been hugely successful and able to quickly support the local business owners.

Clark said he was also excited that the assistance would not just be helping businesses, but hospitals as well.

We also know that its going to help with testing and making sure that we get back into normal life hopefully, so were looking forward to it, he said. Its going to be a benefit thats going to help businesses with wages, benefits, rents and utilities, and the more we can do to help our businesses, the better.
Miami police chief reported recently that violent crime has declined since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. For many decades now, Miami has been considered the "cocaine-fueled murder capital" of America.

However, the so-called Magic City is now regarded as a much different place. Indeed, like any major metropolis, Miami still has several dangerous neighborhoods, and it is never unheard of for any innocent individual to get captured "in the gangland crossfire."

But then, COVID-19 occurred in town. This pandemic has managed to seemed to dictate the police officers, as well as the determined prosecutors, have failed to do in many decades, and that is to stop or put an end to violence.



6 Weeks of No Homicide

Based on reports, the city had just gone six weeks straight of no homicide. This was the first time it happened since 1957. Unfortunately, that streak was broken on April 12 after someone was reportedly murdered.

In connection to this, the top cop of Miami has expressed concern that the figures "may not be telling the entire story." Chief Jorge Colina, in an interview with the New York Times, said he is worried about the child abuse and domestic violence that were not reported.

Additionally, the Miami Herald also points out that the colorful picture is not representing the rest of the Miami-Date County." The newspaper reported, there has been an increase of 33 percent in murders since March 17 when county Mayor Carlos Gimenez released a stay-at-home order.



COVID-19 Lockdowns Not Cooling Off Murders in the Entire County

COVID-19 lockdown has not cooled off killings in Miami-Dade, aside from one key city. The nationwide lockdown may be advantageous in slowing the spread of this pandemic. Still, it seems to have had just minimal effect, according to a report from the Miami Herald, on people murdering each other.

According to the online media entity, there has been a small uptick in homicides this 2020 within Miami-Dade County. Records have shown more murders have been documented "over the same period this year in Hialeah," and in what's described as the unincorporated Miami-Dade, a place comprising about 50 percent of the 2.7-million population of the county.

This trend stayed steady, even following the order of Mayor Gimenez in most areas to close on March 17. From that date until on Thursday, 16 people had been reported killed in Miami-Dade. As earlier mentioned, this was an increase of 33 percent of homicides in a similar period last year.

A significant exception though, was the city of Miami. As noted for the first time in the New York Times on Wednesday, the city was reported to have had zero-murder for 55 days, the longest streak since 1957. Colina said it started the middle of February, long before the lockdown began.

The streak also reflects the continuing drop in murders in the city. Earlier on, specifically in 2018, for instance, the city recorded only 51 murders, its lowest number since 1967. And, this year, only 11 homicides were recorded in Miami, again, lower than the 14 recorded last year.



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This Pandemic Is Over. Let's Stop the Economic Suicide, and Get Back to Work

With the latest reports of plummeting death rates from all causes, this crisis is over. The pandemic of doom erupted as a panic of pols and is now a comedy of Mash-minded med admins and stooges, covering their ifs ands and butts with ever more morbid and distorted statistics.

The crisis now will hit the politicians and political Doctor Faucis who gullibly accepted and trumpeted what statistician William Briggs calls the most colossal and costly blown forecast of all time.

An egregious statistical horror story of millions of projected deaths, suffused with incense and lugubrious accents from Imperial College of London to Harvard School of Public Health, prompted the pols to impose a vandalistic lockdown on the economy. It would have been an outrage even if the assumptions were not wildly astronomically wrong.

Flattening the curve was always a fools errand that widened the damage.

President Trump had better take notice. He will soon own this gigantic botch of policy and leadership. No one will notice that his opponents urged even more panicky blunders.

The latest figures on overall death rates from all causes show no increase at all. Deaths are lower than in 2019, 2018, 2017 and 2015, slightly higher than in 2016. Any upward bias is imparted by population growth.

Now writing a book on the crisis with bestselling author Jay Richards, Briggs concludes: Since pneumonia deaths are up, yet all deaths are down, it must mean people are being recorded as dying from other things at smaller rates than usual. Deaths from other causes are simply being ascribed to the coronavirus.

As usual every year, deaths began trending downward in January. Its an annual pattern. Look it up. Since the lockdown began in mid-March, the politicians cannot claim that their policies had anything to do with the declining death rate.

A global study published in Israel by Professor Isaac Ben-Israel, chairman of the Israeli Space Agency and Council on Research and Development, shows that the spread of the coronavirus declines to almost zero after 70 daysno matter where it strikes, and no matter what measures governments impose to try to thwart it.

In fact, by impeding herd immunity, particularly among students and other non-susceptible young people, the lockdown in the U.S. has prolonged and exacerbated the medical problem. As Briggs concludes, People need to get out into virus-killing sunshine and germicidal air.

This flu like all previous viral flues will give way only to herd immunity, whether through natural propagation of an extremely infectious pathogen, or through the success of one of the hundreds of vaccine projects.

No evidence indicates that this flu was exceptionally dangerous. On March 20th, the French published a major controlled study that shows no excess mortality at all from coronavirus compared to other flues. SARS and Mers were both much more lethal and did not occasion what Briggs reader Uncle Dave described as taking a hammer and sickle to the economy.

We now know that the crisis was a comedy of errors. The Chinese let it get going in the raw bat markets of Wuhan. But together with the Koreans, the Chinese dithered and demurred and allowed six weeks of rampant propagation to create herd immunity before they began locking everyone up. Therefore, the Chinese and Koreans were among the first to recover.

The Italians scared everybody with their haphazard health system and smoking fogies. Crammed together in subways and tenements, the New Yorkers registered a brief blip of extreme cases. Intubations and ventilators turned out not to help (80 percent died). This sowed fear and frustration among medical personnel slow to see that the problem was impaired hemogloblin in the blood rather than lung damage.

The New York media piled on with panic, with bogus reports of rising deaths. Coronavirus deaths soared by assuming that people dying with the virus were dying from it and then by ascribing to the coronavirus other deaths among people with symptoms of pulmonary distress, even without being tested.

Now jacking up the case rate will be further pointless testing. As Briggs points out, Fauci is calling for tripling of testing, which can only boost these dailies [case totals]. And make it seem like theres a genuine increase occurring. Oh my! The daily reported cases are up! It must mean the disease is spreading!

No. It could also mean, and probably does given all the other evidence we now have from sampling, that the disease was already there, and we just now have measured it.

The death rate rises with further reclassification of pneumonia and other pulmonary deaths. When we reach herd immunity, and nearly everyone has the antigen, nearly all deaths can be chalked up to COVID19. Hey, it will be Quod Erat Demonstrandum for the panic mongers.

In a fascinating open letter to German Prime Minister Angela Merkel, epidemiologist Sucharit Bhakdi concludes that with the French study, corroborated by findings from a Stanford antibody seroprevalence study in Santa Clara county, the case for extreme measures collapses like a house of cards. Bhakdi says that since the virus has already spread widely in the general population, efforts to stop further spread are both futile and destructive.

So lets stop pretending that our policies have been rational and need to be phased out, as if they once had a purpose. They should be reversed summarily and acknowledged to be a mistake, perpetrated by statisticians with erroneous computer models.

Perhaps then we can learn from this experience with the flaws of expertise not to shut down the economy again for the totally bogus crisis of climate change.
The Sikkim government on



Saturday sent back 84 students of Bhutan, who were stranded in the state by the lockdown, to their country, officials said.

The Bhutanese students were transported back home by four buses of the Sikkim Nationalised Transport, they said.

The health department conducted medical check-up of each student before they boarded home-bound buses at Rangpo, officials added.

They were students of schools and higher institutes.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
: The Madras High Court has



dismissed a PIL seeking a direction to the Tamil Nadu government to provide a monetary relief of Rs 15,000 to each ration cardholder in the state due to the impact of COVID-19 and the consequent national lockdown.

A Division Bench comprising Justice M. Sathyanarayanan and Justice M. Nirmal Kumar heard the public interest litigation from K Bharathi, an advocate.

The bench, in its order, said, "The administration is alive to the situation and this court always expects the administration to take an appropriate call at the relevant points of time to address various problems."



It further said it cannot issue any positive direction to the administration in the light of the limitation involved in the exercise of jurisdiction by this court under Article 226 of the Constitution, especially with regard to the Fiscal Policy.

Counsel for the petitioner submitted that on account of the onset of pandemic COVID-19, the state government had announced a monetary compensation/relief of Rs 1,000 to ration cardholders [except White Card Holders].

The counsel said since the lockdown has been extended for a further period till May 3, the relief of Rs 1,000 is wholly inadequate.

He submitted that apart from the payment of the amount to the ration cardholders, no package or relief has been announced for the downtrodden people including casual workers, daily wage workers, contract and unorganised sectors.

Therefore, the petitioner prayed for a direction to the State Government to provide monetary benefitof Rs 15,000.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Anyone currently struggling to write a crime novel will be heartened to learn that Agatha Christie's first book, Snow Upon the Desert, was turned down by every publisher who received it. Five years and numerous rejections later, John Lane publishers accepted her next attempt, The Mysterious Affair at Styles.

Although this debut earned her only 25, her subsequent output - including 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections - ensured she became very wealthy, very quickly.

Outdone only by the Bible and Shakespeare, her books have sold over a billion copies in English and a billion in translation. She is also the only female dramatist ever to have three plays running simultaneously in London's West End. The Mousetrap, staged continuously since 1952, remains the world's longest-running play.

Famous for introducing preening Belgian detective Hercule Poirot, The Mysterious Affair at Styles celebrates its centenary in 2020. Despite momentous changes in society and readers' tastes over the last hundred years, Christie's appeal and the public's love for Poirot is unwavering.

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For Belfast writer Jan Carson, author of the post-Troubles magic realism novel The Fire Starters, the reason for Christie's enduring popularity is obvious.

"I read Agatha Christie for the same reason I watch Casualty. Because I know order will be reinstated by the time I get to the end of the book or the episode. She can fool me into thinking everything's going to be okay."

Despite the literary snobbery that often sneers at crime fiction, Christie's combination of a highly organised structure with an imaginative plot always delivers on its promise of mystery and, importantly, a solution.

She blindsides her readers repeatedly, using what The Hunting Party's Lucy Foley - whose focused style has been favourably compared with Christie - has referred to as Christie's "frightening perception of what makes people tick".

At the conclusion of almost every Christie novel, the suspects are gathered together and each revealed for their true self, a linguistic sleight of hand which Jan Carson calls "its own particular brand of magic realism".

The Mysterious Affair at Styles used poison as a murder weapon. Death-by-poison was a favourite of Christie's, and thanks to her wartime experience in hospital pharmacies, she was an expert, particularly on thallium, a colourless and tasteless salt.

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Ngaio Marsh used thallium in her 1947 novel Final Curtain but was vague about its impact. However, when Christie chose it for the murder weapon in The Pale Horse (1961), her descriptions of the symptoms were so exacting that a nurse reading the book years later realised that a desperately ill baby whose condition was baffling doctors had been poisoned.

With Poirot already firmly established, in 1922 she introduced amateur sleuths Tommy and Tuppence Beresford, followed by Miss Marple in a short story in 1927. Unlike Marple and Poirot, sensible Tommy and impetuous wife Tuppence aged in real time, roughly in pace with Christie herself.

She remained very fond of them, whereas even as early as 1930, she found Poirot "insufferable", and by 1960 was calling him a "detestable, bombastic, tiresome, egocentric little creep".

In 1945, literary critic Edmund Wilson's exasperated New Yorker essay 'Who Cares Who Killed Roger Ackroyd?' claimed Christie's writing had a "mawkishness and banality which seem to me literally impossible to read".

While she is not without her detractors, Wilson's question is best answered by bestselling crime writer PD James: "I suspect a traveller, stranded in an airport hotel overnight and finding in the bedside cabinet two novels, the latest winner of a prestigious literary prize and an Agatha Christie, would reach for the latter."

Agatha Christie Limited, currently run by her great grandson James Prichard, is celebrating #100YearsofChristie throughout 2020. In tribute to the centenary, Jan Carson decided to reread the novels in chronological order, an approach which has proved unexpectedly interesting: "You can see the progression of both her style and her attitude. Undoubtedly there are some very dated attitudes and outlooks on display in the early books, though you could argue she was simply reflecting the values and preoccupations of the period she wrote in.

"Her writing develops as she continues to publish, both stylistically and in terms of the way she depicts class and women in particular, but it would be almost impossible to argue for Agatha Christie as a progressive, liberal voice."

Andrea Carter, author of the popular Inishowen Mysteries featuring snooping solicitor Ben O'Keeffe, agrees. "Though they may seem dated and trope-like, her characters are universal - you'll find that bore of a Major Palgrave from A Caribbean Mystery sitting in any pub, though not wearing military medals. Christie was a great observer of people and she showed incredible insight into the human condition, particularly people's capacity for cruelty and ruthlessness.

"Times may have changed but people still behave as they did in her novels; they are still racist, flirtatious, dull. We recognise her characters even now, though they may be dressed differently." The term 'cosy crime' is often unfairly used as a pejorative, for what is wrong with a book that offers stability in unpredictable times? Christie's understanding of human behaviour contributes to her appeal, but so does her determination to see justice served. Readers enjoy being outsmarted once the author is playing fair, and it is reassuring to see justice prevail and wrongdoing rarely go unpunished.

With only four of her books never to make it to the screen, adaptations continue to generate new fans. From David Suchet's Poirot to Margaret Rutherford, Angela Lansbury, and Joan Hickson's Miss Marple (after seeing Hickson on stage in Murder on the Nile in 1946, Christie wrote "one day you will play my Miss Marple"), Christie remains a stalwart of television and film. Following on from the star-studded success of Murder on the Orient Express, Kenneth Branagh and Ridley Scott's version of Death on the Nile is scheduled for release this autumn.

In 1926, Christie vanished, a twist which could have come from one of her own books. At the time, many readers and journalists suspected it was a plot; one devised to humiliate or incriminate her husband and his lover Nancy Neale. A nationwide search involved a thousand officers, 15,000 volunteers, a spirit medium courtesy of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and worldwide headlines.

She was found 10 days later in a hotel in Harrogate, with no memory of what had happened. She recovered, and divorced her husband in 1928 (she went on to have a happy second marriage to archaeologist Max Mallowan) though apparently was forever embarrassed about the furore. Her autobiography doesn't even refer to her disappearance. But then, if the Queen of Crime isn't entitled to her secrets, who is?

Murder she wrote: Four Christie classics

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd (1926)

"The truth, however ugly in itself, is always curious and beautiful to the seeker after it," proclaims Hercule Poirot in this tale. Hugely successful and innovative, Poirot's third outing changed Christie's career. Regularly called her masterpiece, the influence of the genuinely shocking twist ending can still be seen in contemporary crime writing.

And Then There Were None (1939)

This one has gone through a number of necessary name changes since its original publication. Believed to be the world's bestselling mystery, Christie said she found its complex and intricate locked-room plot the hardest to write. It has been adapted for screen a number of times.

By the Pricking of My Thumbs (1968)

More psychological suspense than crime, the title of the second-last Tommy and Tuppence Beresford novel is taken from Macbeth: "By the pricking of my thumbs, Something wicked this way comes." Christie dedicated it to "the many readers in this and other countries who write to me asking: 'What has happened to Tommy and Tuppence? What are they doing now?'"

The Murder at the Vicarage (1930)

Miss Marple's first full-length mystery has all the Christie hallmarks: a much-despised corpse, plenty of suspects, and an intense, gossip-fuelled community. With seven potential murderers to choose from, shrewd and unflappable Miss Marple takes it upon herself to discover which of the suspects has both motive and opportunity. An enjoyable and satisfying read, full of red herrings and gentle misdirection.
MORLEY -- Morley Stanwood school board members, this week, decided to move forward with placing a bond proposal on the ballot in August.

The bond proposal -- which is for 3 mills, or $3 for every $1,000 of taxable valuation -- was originally taken off the May 5 ballot due to concerns over the coronavirus.

Hopeful circumstances will be different in the next couple of months, the board will be seeking approval from the Michigan Department of Treasury to place the proposal back on the ballot Aug. 4.

However, if Michigan is still under a "Stay Home, Stay Safe" executive order in July, board members said they will pull the proposal and wait until 2021 to place it back on the ballot.

"It doesn't sound like it's going to hurt at all, because we always have the option to do it next May," Board President Kenneth Ramsey said.

The school district has not proposed a bond since the high school was built about 25 years ago.

If placed on the ballot and approved by voters in August, the bond will be used to make needed repairs to school buildings. It also will be used to replace electronic devices, in order to maintain the school district's 1:1 technology initiative.

The bond cannot be used for staff salaries or operating expenses.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are rumored to be going broke recently. With the global COVID-19 pandemic placing them under lockdown, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are said to be losing money quickly, particularly on their security cost.

A source said they are spending a ton and will end up broke. The estimated cost of their security is about $200,000 a week.

Prince Harry has reportedly had to withdraw $450,000 from his trust fund amounting to $10million left by his late mother.

The source claimed that Prince Charles, father of Prince Harry, is also lending him money. "Prince Charles is also contributing a small amount, but that's going to stop soon. He thinks his son should fend for himself."

The insider added that the situation is a challenge for the duke as he has never had to budget in the past.

Because he reportedly the concept of budgeting is new to him, he is being taught by the duchess who has not found the situation easy either. Money has suddenly become an issue in their married life, causing them to regularly fight.

A good friend of the prince, Dr. Jane Goodall recently shared that she anticipates that there will be a huge adjustment period for him.

"I don't know how his career is going to map out, but yes, I've been in touch, though I think he's finding life a bit challenging just now, Goodall shared.

The Sussexes have recently relocated to Malibu, Los Angeles in the U.S. after stepping down as senior members of the British royal family.

Also Read: Prince Harry Secretly Met With Former Girlfriend Chelsy Davy

Prince Harry Guilty Over Leaving Royal Family

A source said that the Duke of Sussex has begun to repent their resolve to relocate far from the royal family.

The source narrated, "If he could turn back time and resume the life he and Meghan left behind, he would do that tomorrow morning without hesitation. Unfortunately, though, he's made his bed and must lie in it, for now, so he has little option but to sit back and watch the nightmare unfold from 6,000 miles away."

The duke was also concerned about Prince Charles' health after he found out that he was diagnosed with the coronavirus.

The insider said he was brooding. "He's been climbing the walls and pacing around constantly, brainstorming ways he can get back to England and help."

It was also said that it was only a matter of time before Prince Harry returns to Britain.

One of the most apparent indications that the prince is mapping out his escape is the bachelor pad he recently purchased.

He reportedly bought a property in Cotswolds so that he could keep his doors open for a possible homecoming.

"These past few weeks have brought it home to Harry that he needs a backup plan, in case things don't work out in America with Meghan and he needs to reinvent himself on his own. That's why he's purchasing a place in the Cotswolds," according to the source.

While they look for a permanent home, the former royal pair has been renting a $10 million mansion in L.A.

Related Article: Meghan Markle Envies Kate Middleton? Survey Says People Prefer the Duchess of Cambridge

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Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Saturday demanded from the Centre to fame a suitable policy to address the crisis involving migrant workers stuck up in various states away from their homes amid the COVID-triggered lockdown since March 25.

Gehlot raised the issue during his telephonic talk with Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday and demanded for smooth movement of migrant workers, including those of Rajasthan, stranded in various parts of the country.

In a series of tweets, the chief minister said he has been raising the matter since the day one for a strategy but there is no clarity on the matter.

He also suggested that special trains should be run to help labourers reach their homes.

He also sought to assure labourers that efforts were being made to bring them back home and asked them to remain calm.

"Since Day one, I have been saying a strategy must be devised for a smooth movement of migrant workers stranded across the country, but unfortunately there is no clarity on the same," Gehlot said in a tweet.

He said a planned strategy with a unified command structure of communication to the states can be more fruitful instead of un-officially communicating to different states by different officers such as MHA and Cabinet secretariat to facilitate movement of students and migrant workers.

"This is not a comprehensive solution for the migrant problem we are facing," he said, adding only a meticulously planned strategy with proper mode of commuting such as special trains to be run by GOI will solve the problem.

The chief minister was of the view that special trains should be started to facilitate workers reach their home and there should be one policy across the country instead of allowing one state to do so.

"I appeal to all my brothers and sisters from Rajasthan stranded in various parts of the country to stay calm and have patience. We are trying to bring you back to your home. We are in touch with MHA and with CMs of different states for your safe return," he said.

He also said special trains should be run for labourers.

Gehlot also suggested that the Centre should officially communicate with states in a planned manner on the basis of integrated command structure instead of unofficial communication by the officers of Cabinet Secretariat and Home Ministry with states.

On the other hand, official sources said allowing migrant workers in Surat, Gujarat to go to their native places after getting permission would demoralise labourers in other areas. Therefore the Centre should address the issue in a planned manned.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The coronavirus death toll in the United States surpassed 50,000 Friday, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

America has seen more than 886,000 total cases of COVID-19. With both its death toll and total number of COVID-19 cases, the United States surpasses all other countries.

In comparison, the death toll for Americans killed in action or in non-combat situations in regards to the Vietnam War is just about 58,000 to date. That tally began in 1956.

The data from Johns Hopkins also reveals that there have been over 124,000 hospitalizations related to the virus and over 4.692 million tests for coronavirus have been conducted in the United States.

Globally, there have been about 195,000 deaths associated with the virus.

The milestone comes as the U.S. news cycle is consumed by Thursday night comments from President Donald Trump, who seemed to suggest that injecting disinfectant or light in some way could act as a possible treatment for COVID-19. Lysol released a statement urging consumers not to ingest its products, and the topic dominated much of the conversation around the pandemic, which has virtually shut down the American economy for weeks and changed the countrys way of life.

Also Read: White House Press Secretary Blames Media for 'Negative Headlines' About Trump Suggesting Disinfectant Injections

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany blamed the media Friday for the negative attention Trumps comments about injecting disinfectant has received.

President Trump has repeatedly said that Americans should consult with medical doctors regarding coronavirus treatment, a point that he emphasized again during yesterdays briefing, McEnany said in a statement. Leave it to the media to irresponsibly take President Trump out of context and run with negative headlines.

Read original story Coronavirus Deaths Tops 50,000 in US, More Than Any Other Country At TheWrap
MEDFORD, Ore. -- Local public health officials began announcing new confirmed cases of the coronavirus in southern Oregon and northern California as of Friday, April 24. 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 one new positive test results for COVID-19, bringing the countywide total to 49 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 49 cases in the area, at least 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.

"COVID-19 spreads between people who are in close contact (within 6ft) of one another, through droplets from coughing, sneezing, and even talking. In order to stop the spread of COVID-19 in our communities, staying home as much as possible and practicing physical distancing remain important strategies. 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 Friday.

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:

After twelve straight days of no new cases, Josephine County Public Health officials announced one new case on Saturday, bringing the total in the county to 20. Officials also announced nine new recoveries. Prior to today's announcement, Josephine County did not have a new case since April 12th.

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: 49

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.
Beijing: China has dispatched a team to North Korea including medical experts to advise on North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, according to three people familiar with the situation.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, left, and Chinese President Xi Jinping stroll in the premises of Kumsusan guest house in Pyongyang, North Korea in June last year. Credit:AP

The trip by the Chinese doctors and officials comes amid conflicting reports about the health of the North Korean leader. Reuters was unable to immediately determine what the trip by the Chinese team signalled in terms of Kim's health.

A delegation led by a senior member of the Chinese Communist Party's International Liaison Department left Beijing for North Korea on Thursday, two of the people said. The department is the main Chinese body dealing with neighbouring North Korea.

The sources declined to be identified given the sensitivity of the matter.
TASHKENT, April 24 (Reuters) - Uzbekistan plans to gradually ease restrictions on movement in two large provinces that were introduced to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev's office said on Friday.

The Central Asian nation has locked down all its provinces and introduced strict social distancing and isolation rules such as barring the use of personal vehicles.

With a population of 34 million, it has confirmed 1,778 coronavirus cases and reported 8 deaths, while 617 people have recovered from the disease. After peaking at triple digits in mid-April, the daily number of new cases has been falling.

In the first move towards easing restrictions, Mirziyoyev on Friday ordered the governments of Ferghana and Qashqadaryo, together home to more than 6 million people, to identify districts and economic sectors where the resumption of activity would pose the least risk.

The two provinces' economies have been hit particularly hard, he said, leading to a spike in unemployment. (Reporting by Mukhammadsharif Mamatkulov Writing by Olzhas Auyezov Editing by Catherine Evans)
Every time care home manager Aoife Kiernan starts a shift, the war on Covid-19 begins.

First, she puts on a set of gloves, then puts another set on top of those.

Then over her mouth and nose, she carefully attaches a FFP2 mask, a special grade respirator that filters airborne particles.

A full-length protective gown is next to go on over her clothes, followed by an apron, a hair net and, finally, a face visor.

Expand Close Professor Martin Cormican, HSE, with some of the PPE equipment sourced from China a couple of weeks ago / Facebook

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Ready and armed, the 26-year-old takes a deep breath, opens the door, and steps on to the frontline.

Killer

"When you're going into a room where someone has Covid it's a very daunting moment," Ms Kiernan told the Herald.

"You're meeting this ferocious virus face on. It's in the room with you and yes, it's scary."

Aoife's enemy, an invisible killer, found its way in to the nursing home she works in a number of weeks ago.

Since then, Covid-19 has been stalking the corridors of the family-run facility, turning sunlit living spaces and laughter-filled day rooms into a viral stalking ground for some of the most frail and elderly.

Four residents have died. Of the 17 who remain, six are Covid positive and eight others have symptoms and are awaiting test results.

"This is so serious," said Ms Kiernan.

"We have controlled the virus in the home we are in at this stage, but this is coming for nursing homes across the country and when it hits, it truly hits. It's like being hit by a bus."

The devastating toll Covid-19 has taken on nursing homes has been impossible to miss. At least 348 people living in long-term care have died in the Covid-19 outbreak.

The actual count is very likely far higher, many believe, in part because the early testing protocols meant that many who died went untested.

The escalating crisis forced Ms Kiernan to go public. Almost two weeks ago, she took on the role of interim director of nursing in her current place of work after the permanent holder of the position fell ill with Covid-19.

Since then she has been battling the virus, scouring the country for PPE and begging the HSE for help, she said.

"I think it's time I spoke up," she said. "We are being sent to war with no armour.

"This virus is inside nursing homes across the country and the PPE the HSE is offering won't protect us during battle.

"We won't survive the war if we aren't given the best available tools to protect and I'm not willing to put my staff at risk with what the HSE is offering in terms of protection."

According to Ms Kiernan, the HSE has been forthcoming with their PPE supplies. Her issue is with the standard, in line with national guidelines, of what is being offered.

"They have told me that surgical masks are to be used in this environment," she said.

"These masks are single ply and the HSE argue that because we are not doing ventilation in nursing homes, specialised masks aren't required.

"I have patients who are mobile and Covid-19 positive as well as dementia patients for example and some of those don't have the awareness that they are symptomatic for Covid 19.

"They are eating and drinking, they're walking in the halls, they are passing staff.

"They are unaware of the need to cover their mouths when they cough. They are unaware of the need to cover when they sneeze.

"They touch multiple surfaces, and this is their home.

"The only way I can protect my staff is by ensuring they have the best quality PPE there is to protect them. I cannot control where the Covid-19 is in the home. It's absolutely impossible to control, given the circumstances, when you have mobile patients who are unaware that they are Covid positive."

Last week, following a visit from the Community Liaison Services via the Department of Medicine for Older Persons at St Vincent's University Hospital, Aoife was told to treat her nursing home like a "Covid ward".

But she says the setting is not designed or equipped for such a change of use. "There are patients in here who are not symptomatic," she said.

Assistance

In a statement, the HSE said it was providing assistance to the staff and residents of the home where Ms Kiernan works.

On the issue of masks, the HSE said: "On April 22 the HSE updated its guidance on the use of surgical masks in healthcare settings in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic."

This follows a decision by NPHET based on advice from the Expert Advice Group.

The HSE said new guidance on masks requires staff to wear surgical masks when providing care within two metres of a patient.
WASHINGTON  President Trumps mention Thursday of treating COVID-19 with ultraviolet light was part of a rambling digression that included speculation about administering disinfectants to patients, prompting confusion and alarm from medical experts.

The presidents invocation of pseudoscience  which he claimed on Friday had been a joke intended sarcastically to provoke reporters  overshadowed the news from the briefing about evidence, first reported last week by Yahoo News, that ultraviolet light does destroy the coronavirus. Researchers have shown it can be used to disinfect surfaces and kill viruses in ambient air in ways that could be used to reduce transmission in public spaces.

Continuous very low dose-rate far-UVC light in indoor public locations is a promising, safe and inexpensive tool to reduce the spread of airborne-mediated microbial diseases, wrote a team of researchers in a 2018 paper published in Scientific Reports.

Transmission of the coronavirus is thought to be more common through particles spread through the air than by contact with hard surfaces, but scientists are still working to understand how the virus spreads.

Yet if commercially available UV products were to mitigate some of the risk of contracting the coronavirus, that might help ease the transition out of a total lockdown. This approach may help limit seasonal influenza epidemics, transmission of tuberculosis, as well as major pandemics, the scientific researchers wrote in 2018.

The key is advances in UV lighting technology, specifically the advent of far-UVC lamps, which operate at a wavelength of 222 nanometers, a frequency that doesnt penetrate skin or the outer layer of the human eye. Previously, disinfecting ultraviolet could not be used in public spaces because the wavelengths used, of 254 nanometers and up, can cause skin cancer and damage the eyes.

A pedestrian in Madrid on Friday. (Samuel de Roman/Getty Images)

By contrast, the 2018 paper found that far-UVC light cannot penetrate even the outer (non living) layers of human skin or eye but that because bacteria and viruses are of micrometer or smaller dimensions, far-UVC can penetrate and inactivate them.

Story continues

David Brenner, director of Columbia Universitys Center for Radiological Research, said earlier this week that far-UVC light can be safely used in occupied public spaces, and it kills pathogens in the air before we can breathe them in.

Most approaches focus on fighting the virus once it has gotten into the body. Far-UVC is one of the very few approaches that has the potential to prevent the spread of viruses before they enter the body, Brenner said.

A group of researchers at the Center for Radiological Research published a study in 2017 that tested the hypothesis that there exists a narrow wavelength window in the far-UVC region, from around 200-222 nm, which is significantly harmful to bacteria, but without damaging cells in tissues.

A UV sanitizer wand. (Kirk McKoy/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

The study found that far-UVC light kills pathogens without the skin damaging effects associated with conventional germicidal UV exposure.

Two other studies have examined the impact of far-UV light on skin using mice and found that 222 nm-UVC lamps can be safely used for sterilizing human skin.

One company, Healthe, is already selling a few different UV light products, including far-UV lights meant to be used in public spaces. One is a downlight that can be installed in the ceiling of an average room. There is also a portal, similar to a metal detector, that claims it inactivates over 90% of contaminants if a person stands  arms up  inside the portal for 10 to 12 seconds.

The company says another way to use ultraviolet is to irradiate air as it passes through a sealed unit, like a building air-conditioning system. Since that doesnt expose people to the rays, it can use different, more powerful wavelengths.

Despite these advances, public attention was distracted on Friday by the continued controversy over the presidents remarks the previous day.

President Trump at the coronavirus task force daily briefing on Thursday. (Mandel Ngan/AFP)

I was asking a question sarcastically to reporters like you, just to see what would happen, Trump said in the Oval Office. I was asking a sarcastic question to the reporters in the room about disinfectant on the inside.

He claimed he had not asked his medical experts in the White House briefing room on Thursday to look into injecting disinfectants into the human body. I thought it was clear, he said.

But the presidents comments on Thursday were anything but clear. His remarks were so jumbled it was hard to know what exactly he meant at times.

Trump spoke on Thursday just after the head of the Science and Technology Directorate at the Department of Homeland Security, Bill Bryan, had spoken to reporters about the impact of sunlight on coronavirus particles in outdoor public spaces, and had also mentioned testing bleach as a disinfectant.

So, supposing we hit the body with a tremendous  whether its ultraviolet or just very powerful light  and I think you said that that hasnt been checked, but youre going to test it. And then I said, supposing you brought the light inside the body, which you can do either through the skin or in some other way, and I think you said youre going to test that too. It sounds interesting.

And then I see the disinfectant, where it knocks it out in a minute. One minute. And is there a way we can do something like that, by injection inside or almost a cleaning. Because you see it gets in the lungs and it does a tremendous number on the lungs, Trump said. So it would be interesting to check that. So, that, youre going to have to use medical doctors with. But it sounds  it sounds interesting to me. So well see. But the whole concept of the light, the way it kills it in one minute, thats  thats pretty powerful.

Later in the briefing, Trump asked Dr. Deborah Birx, a medical expert on his coronavirus task force, about the possibility of using heat or light to treat a COVID-19 infection  rather than kill the coronavirus in the environment.

Not as a treatment, she replied.

Dr. Deborah Birx. (Mandel Ngan/AFP)

_____

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:
US secretary of state Mike Pompeo has said the Covid-19 pandemic shows the need to overhaul the World Health Organization, warning that Washington may never restore WHO funding. 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 urging 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.

US trying to get virus sample from China

Pompeo also said that the US is still trying to get an actual sample of the novel coronavirus from China as several questions related to the infection remains unanswered. Frankly we are still trying to get an actual sample of the virus (from China). They have given us the breakdown of it, Pompeo said. agencies
Even as the world continues to battle coronavirus, a new study has detected the presence of the sometimes deadly COVID-19 pathogen on particles of air pollution. A further research is being conducted if the virus could be carried over longer distances and infect a larger group of people.

Italian scientists detected and identified the presence of COVID-19 specific gene in samples collected from one urban and one industrial sites Bergamo province. The detection was confirmed by an independent laboratory as well.

The work was led by Leonardo Setti of the University of Bologna in Italy, he said it was important to investigate if the virus could be carried more widely by air pollution of which there is not enough proof. I am a scientist and I am worried when I dont know, he said. If we know, we can find a solution. But if we dont know, we can only suffer the consequences," Setti was quoted as saying in a report by The Guardian.

While other research groups have also suggested that coronavirus could be transmitted through pollution particles.

Prevoiusly, studies have shown that air pollution particles do harbour microbes and that pollution is likely to have carried bird flu, measles and foot-and-mouth disease viruses over considerable distances.

The potential role of air pollution particles is linked to the broader question of how the coronavirus is transmitted. Experts are not sure whether tiny airborne droplets from infected persons is contagious, though they know the 2003 Sars coronavirus was spread in the air and that COVID-19 pathogen can remain viable for hours in tiny droplets.

But researchers say the possibility that air pollutants carry virus cannot be ruled out just yet without any further scientific evidence.
A 34-year-old man in Singapore is under investigation for allegedly promoting enmity between different racial groups by posting an offensive tweet against Indian migrant workers in the city-state, according to a media report.

Police on Saturday said they received a report on April 18 relating to offensive content against Indian migrant workers posted on Twitter by a user under the handle @sharonliew86, the Channel Asia reported.

The Twitter account has been removed.

Police have identified the accused and said that preliminary investigations revealed that the man is believed to be involved in two other cases involving offensive tweets.

Investigations are on and if found guilty, the man can be jailed up to three years and/or fined.

Assistant Commissioner Julius Lim said police will continue to take a tough stand against those who seek to stoke community tensions in multi-racial Singapore.

At a time when we need the nation to stand as one, acts that sow racial discord cannot be condoned," said Lim, who is also commander of Bedok Police Division under which the case is being investigated.

Indian nationals are among the largest foreigners working in the labour-intensive industries such as construction and shipyards in the city state.

Foreign workers in Singapore - many of them Indian nationals - have been hit hard by the coronovirus pandemic, with several foreign worker dormitories being placed under quarantine.

Singapore government and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong have been assuring that foreign workers will be taken care off during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

As of Saturday noon, Singapore's Health Ministry has preliminarily confirmed an additional 618 cases of COVID-19 infection, the vast majority of whom are Work Permit holders residing in dormitories for foreign workers.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Ukraine's Job Offer To Saakashvili Angers Georgia

By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service, RFE/RL's Georgian Service April 24, 2020

KYIV -- The government of Georgia, led by former President Mikheil Saakashvili's longtime foes, has voiced objection to his possible appointment to the post of deputy prime minister of Ukraine, saying such a move would negatively affect relations between the two countries.

Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia said in Tbilisi on April 24 that it was "absolutely unacceptable" for Ukraine to appoint to a top post a person who has been convicted in his native Georgia and is wanted on charges of abuse of power.

"If such a decision is made we would recall our ambassador from Kyiv for consultations, at a minimum," Gakharia told journalists.

In Kyiv, Ukrainian lawmakers representing the ruling Servant of the People party said they were divided over the government's proposal to give Saakashvili the post of deputy prime minister in charge of reforms.

Saakashvili, whose appointment needs to be approved by parliament, told reporters that President Volodymyr Zelenskiy had asked him to conduct talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Ukraine, which desperately needs IMF loans to shore up its economy amid the coronavirus pandemic, is to face "the most difficult social and economic test since it won independence," he said.

If Saakashvili's appointment is approved, it would mark a remarkable political comeback for the 52-year-old, who served as Georgian president from 2004 to 2013.

He was granted Ukrainian citizenship and appointed to the Odesa governor's post by Zelenskiy's predecessor, Petro Poroshenko, in 2015.

When relations between Poroshenko and Saakashvili soured over reform efforts and the fight against corruption, the Ukrainian president in 2016 fired Saakashvili from the governor's post.

In 2017, Saakashvili created the Movement of New Forces opposition party and Poroshenko issued a decree that stripped him of his Ukrainian citizenship, which was reinstated by Zelenskiy after his inauguration last year.

Meanwhile in Georgia, Saakashvili was sentenced in 2018 to a total of nine years in prison in absentia after being convicted of abuse of power in two separate cases.

Prosecutors also said that he was wanted in his native country for allegedly authorizing a plot to kill an opposition politician who died in Britain in 2008.

Saakashvili has rejected all charges as politically motivated.

With reporting by Ukrayinska pravda, UNIAN, Interfax, dpa, and AP

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-job- offer-to-saakashvili-angers- georgia/30575149.html

Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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The steep and winding roads leading up to the iconic Mount Rushmore memorial are deserted these days. This mecca of tourism in South Dakota, which ordinarily swarms with tourists, is now drawing only the occasional handful of visitors desperate to escape their extended confinement in the time of the coronavirus. Linda and Stevie Easterling had grown weary and depressed by the steadily mounting toll of COVID-19 deaths in their hometown of Chicago. Longing for fresh air and a change of scenery, they piled into their car for the 14-hour drive west. But they did first take a few precautions for the trip to South Dakota, one of the few US states not under virus-imposed lockdown. "We have a car full of masks, gloves and disinfecting wipes," said Linda Easterling. "We're probably safer being here in a place with very few people," she said, adding that she was also happy to cross another destination off her bucket list of places to visit. Behind her, looming near the summit of this part of the Black Hills, were the massive stone heads of four US presidents -- George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln -- carved into the granite cliff in the first half of the last century by a sculptor using dynamite, jackhammers and chisels. At the park entrance, where gray-shirted rangers normally collect a $10 per-car entry fee, the usual barriers have been removed, allowing easy access to nearly empty parking lots. The information center, cafeteria and gift shop are all closed, but tourists are free to visit from 5 am to 11 pm. "We saved $10 and could park right by the entrance," said Dustin Cox, a tourist from Oklahoma, who swung by the monument on his way home from a work-related trip to Montana. His companion, Jatonna Miller, also found some silver linings to the situation. "It's not as busy, so you can get in and out of places a lot quicker," she said, before adding: "But it's kind of sad. The economy is hurting due to all of it." - Ghost town - A few miles away, Keystone, a tourist village full of Old West touches, feels like a ghost town. Alone in his souvenir shop, Todd Wicks is trying to stay positive: high season around here doesn't really begin in earnest until mid-May. "Here in South Dakota, we're happy that our governor just said, 'Take precautions, be safe, but you don't have to shut down,'" Wicks said. "Everybody is aware, as long as you keep your hands clean, I think it's still safe to travel around." Still, the lockdown orders affecting most Americans, and the absence of international flights, have clearly cut down visits to the area. "Our visitation is definitely lower than it normally is this time of year... We usually have a lot of school groups," said Maureen McGee-Ballinger, a Mount Rushmore educator and spokeswoman. While most US national parks -- including such hugely popular destinations as Yellowstone, Yosemite and the Grand Canyon -- have been forced to close amid the pandemic, Mount Rushmore has stayed open, even if it expects nowhere near the two million visitors it receives annually. "We want to be able to give the people a little opportunity to get outside," said McGee-Ballinger, before obliging a group of visitors by posing with a birthday message for a 14-year-old aspiring ranger, Peyten, who is confined at home in Kentucky. Stevie Easterling, trying to screw up the courage for the grueling drive back to Chicago, turned for one last look at the "spectacular" faces of the four presidents, carved between 1927 and 1941 by sculptor Gutzon Borglum. The four presidents were chosen to represent key phases in American history: George Washington (for the nation's birth), Thomas Jefferson (for its growth), Abraham Lincoln (for its preservation during the Civil War), and Theodore Roosevelt (for its development). Might Donald Trump eventually find a spot alongside those historic leaders? Stevie Easterling responds with a smile. "Let's keep it the way it is," he says.
The coronavirus pandemic has shuttered municipal buildings across the Bay Area. Courthouses are mostly shut down, with jury trials on pause. Evictions and foreclosures are banned until at least 90 days after the lockdown is lifted.

Yet outside of courthouses and city halls across the Bay Area, one obscure legal proceeding continues to unfold: the auctioning off of foreclosed properties. Every week more than a dozen such auctions are taking place from San Francisco to Redwood City to Oakland, as auctioneers holding iPads rattle off addresses and prices, and would-be investors gather around and bid for a chance to take ownership of a home where the previous owner has fallen behind on loan payments.

The persistence of these privately run, extrajudicial auctions  San Francisco has two a week, Alameda County has five, and San Mateo County three  has prompted criticism from elected officials who argue that selling foreclosed homes is not an essential service.

And some who are defaulted on their loans and face losing their property argue that the auctions should be put off because legal avenues typically available to delay such sales  court-ordered enjoinments  are not available because of the health orders.

I think it is totally inappropriate to be having auctions of foreclosed properties in the middle of this crisis, said San Mateo County Supervisor David Canepa. The timing couldnt be worse.

Over the past week in San Francisco, auctioneers twice clashed with sheriffs deputies. On Tuesday, an auctioneer and about a half-dozen bidders were kicked off the steps of City Hall along Van Ness Avenue. They eventually decamped to the corner of Van Ness and Grove, where the auction continued. On Thursday, deputies shut down the auction altogether, saying that the auctioneers working for Superior Default Services would need to establish and post social distancing rules to continue.

Nonjudicial foreclosure is the most common type of foreclosure in California. The process starts with the lender giving the borrower 90 days to pay what is owed. If the borrower doesnt come up with the money, the lender files a 21-day notice of trustees sale, and the borrower has another five days to pay up. After the 21 days, the house is sold at auction.

John Cote, spokesman for San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera, said that while evictions are prohibited during the pandemic, the stay-at-home order allows for services that enable residential real estate transactions. Those deals should be conducted remotely, if possible. If they do have to happen in person, the auctioneer must have a completed social distancing protocol with signs enforcing 6-foot physical separation between participants, who must all wear masks.

On Thursday, attorney Tom LaLanne showed up to City Hall on behalf of a client who had been in negotiation with the lender on a forbearance agreement. He had planned to ask the court to temporarily enjoin the sale to allow more time to work out a deal, refinance the debt or sell. Superior Court is so bogged down we couldnt get a hearing, he said.

LaLanne said that foreclosures of this kind often result in evictions  either of the previous owner or a tenant  which is not what the Bay Area needs during the shelter-in-place mandate.

There is a dispute between him and the lenders about whether the loan should be due. The lender has been playing hardball with my guy. They seem to have all the cards, he said. This is not an essential service. It needs to be stopped.

Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes

Superior Default Services did not return a phone call or email seeking comment.

Supervisor Matt Haney, who represents the Civic Center neighborhood, said such auctions should be put on hold.

Something like that has a permanent impact on somebodys life and their ability to navigate the legal process and get protection is going to be much more limited, he said. We should be putting these things on hold.

While its legal to sell off a foreclosed property during the health crisis, the buyer will have a much harder time getting the current residents out, according to real estate attorney Daniel Bornstein.

If the owner is in occupancy, there is not a way to remove them through the court system, Bornstein said. Its one thing to lose ownership of your home. Its another thing to lose occupancy. Once you have ownership, the question becomes, What are you going to do next? The investor is going to have to be very, very patient.

J.K. Dineen is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jdineen@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @sfjkdineen
BROOMFIELD, Colo.  Step by step, block by block, letter by letter, Amy Bezerra is helping her customers ride out the coronavirus outbreak from the safety of their homes.

With each practiced flip of a mailbox lid, Bezerra reassures another household that, although the coronavirus has upended much of society, many basic services are running like clockwork.

"It makes me feel good that I'm out there helping people," said Bezerra, 51. "It makes me feel good that they can stay in, especially if they are older or have health issues, and I can be out here to help them."

Bezerra, a 24-year employee of the U.S. Postal Service, is one of tens of thousands of essential workers throughout the country making it possible for Americans to limit their movement. People like her deliver packages containing prescription medications, games for kids, equipment to help people work from home and even baking supplies.

FAQ: Your guide to coronavirus and COVID-19

Longtime customer Jeanne Simpson mugs for the camera with her mail while USPS carrier Amy Bezerra loads mail into her neighbor's mailbox in suburban Denver along her route.

The Postal Service, Amazon, FedEx and UPS report they're delivering more packages. Bezerra said its approaching the volume usually seen around Christmas. A Postal Service spokesman said carriers could even tell when stimulus checks began to hit bank accounts because deliveries began increasing within days.

But USPS said the amount of first-class mail  letters  has dropped so dramatically that even with the rise in parcel deliveries, overall volume is down about 25%. The drop in revenue is so severe that this month the Postal Service received permission to borrow up to $10 billion to weather the coronavirus outbreak. That may be just a stopgap measure for the service, which has run a deficit for years.

The check isn't in the mail: U.S. Postal Service has taken a big hit during coronavirus pandemic

Fact check: US Postal Service will not close in June

Bezerra, whose route has more than 500 households, said she's seen the shift herself: far fewer letters from companies advertising services and many more Amazon packages.

Story continues

Critics of the Postal Service have seized upon its tenuous financial situation to revive arguments for privatizing it.

USPS supporters say it's an essential government service like building roads or having a military, and it shouldn't be expected to turn a profit when it delivers to virtually any valid address in the country, six days a week, usually for the same price.

That debate predates the coronavirus pandemic, though carriers have seen major changes in the past few weeks.

USPS carrier Amy Bezerra checks the address of mail she's delivering along her route in suburban Denver.

Bezerra said she prefers to stay out of that conversation. Her job, she said, is to serve her customers, many of whom she's accustomed to seeing as she makes deliveries on the winding streets of this suburb northwest of Denver.

Losing that contact, she said, is the biggest change for delivery workers like her.

Stay connected, even when we're all apart: Join our Coronavirus Watch Facebook group.

The restrictions on personal contact have changed how delivery workers handle their jobs. Bezerra, for instance, wears a mask when she's working alongside colleagues sorting mail, but not when she's walking or driving the neighborhoods alone to deliver.

Because health experts say the risk of getting exposed to the coronavirus from letters and packages is low, Bezerra said shes doesn't wear gloves while delivering mail. A yellow cloth mask dangles around her neck if she needs to get close to people.

Neither the Postal Service nor UPS requires customers to sign for packages right now. Instead, workers note that packages were delivered during the outbreak and add their own name to the receipt for accountability.

"I know I have a job to do and I'm going to continue to do that but it does break my heart, knowing how affected so many people are by this pandemic," said UPS driver Steve Lopez, 54, in a video provided by the company.

UPS company spokesman Dan McMackin said employees there are proud to keep America running under such challenging circumstances.

"Right now, they are getting the attention they deserve for doing what they always do  connecting people with the things they need to live their lives and run their businesses," said McMackin, a former driver. "And beyond the connections they make with individuals, they are also helping keep the economy moving."

Jeanne Simpson, 66, said she depends on Bezerra's deliveries. She was impressed with how quickly she was able to mail a car part for repair and get it back.

Simpson said she heard the Postal Service was struggling, so she rushed out to buy stamps and mail participation certificates to members of her singing group.

Last week, she excitedly waved a handful of letters Bezerra had just dropped off.

"It's so important, especially when youre expecting checks," Simpson said. "Not so much the bills and the junk mail, but magazines. Obviously we're looking for anything to read."

USPS carrier Amy Bezerra loads mail into a mailbox in suburban Denver along her route.

Bezerra said her customers, many of whom she's known for years, have written uplifting messages on the sidewalks she treads.

This too shall pass with time, read one.

Always believe that something wonderful is about to happen, read another.

Residents of one neighborhood have started hiding a rubber mouse in different mailboxes as a kind of treasure hunt for Bezerra. She plays along by moving it from box to box.

They're all ways of letting one another know shes still out delivering every day, even if she doesnt actually see them as much.

All that is a big change from the days when she saw people mowing their lawns, washing their cars and playing in their front yard as she made her rounds.

"The hardest part is not seeing your customers," she said, "because they are really working on social distancing and having respect for us being out here and working in the time of COVID."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Coronavirus deliveries: Mail carriers, FedEx, UPS workers busier
Roger Stone said Friday he is 'praying for a pardon' from Donald Trump to save him from jail.

The former political advisor told co-producer of Netflix documentary 'Get Me Roger Stone' Frank Morano that the president's public comments have been 'encouraging'.

Stone was sentenced three years and four months in prison after a jury convicted him on November 15 on seven counts of obstruction of justice, witness tampering and lying to lawmakers investigating Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election.

He saw his bid for a new trial turned down by a judge last week after the veteran Republican operative accused the jury forewoman of being tainted by political bias.

Stone, who is set to be jailed on April 30, told Morano: 'I am praying for a pardon. Nobody tells Donald Trump what to do, and nobody tells him what not to do.

'He will make his own judgment in his own time. His public comments have certainly been encouraging.'

Roger Stone said Friday he is 'praying for a pardon' from Donald Trump to save him from jail

The president dropped his biggest hint yet that he is considering pardoning Stone after his bid for a new trial was rejected on April 16.

'This is a disgraceful situation!' Trump wrote in a tweet late on April 18, as he retweeted a post from conservative activist Charlie Kirk that read in part: 'RT for FULL PARDON'.

Kirk, the founder of campus conservative group Turning Point USA, had tweeted decrying a judge's decision on Thursday to reject Stone's request for a new trial.

Following Stone's sentencing the president tweeted: 'Everything having to do with this fraudulent investigation is badly tainted and, in my opinion, should be thrown out.'

Stone says a prison sentence could be a 'death sentence' for him amid the coronavirus pandemic. He said: 'I'm 67 years old. I had very, very severe asthma as a child. If you look at the profile of those who are most at risk, I think I fit that.'

The president dropped his biggest hint yet that he is considering pardoning Stone after his bid for a new trial was rejected on April 16. 'This is a disgraceful situation!' Trump wrote in a tweet late, as he retweeted a post from conservative activist Charlie Kirk

U.S. District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson said Stone's request for a new trial 'is a tower of indignation, but at the end of the day, there is little of substance holding it up',

The charges against Stone stemmed from former Special Counsel Robert Mueller's inquiry that documented Moscow's meddling to boost Trump's candidacy.

Stone was convicted of lying to a House of Representative committee about his attempts to contact WikiLeaks, the website that released damaging emails about Hillary Clinton, Trump's 2016 Democratic election rival, that U.S. intelligence officials have concluded were stolen by Russian hackers.

With his motion for a new trial denied, Stone is expected to ask an appeals court to throw out his conviction.

Stone was the sixth Trump aide or adviser to be convicted on charges brought as part of special counsel Robert Muellers investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election

During a February hearing, Stone's lawyers presented social media posts by the jury forewoman that they said showed that her lack of impartiality deprived their client of a fair trial.

One of the juror's posts at issue was a Twitter post on the day of Stone's arrest that linked to an article about Mueller's investigation along with the words 'Brought to you by the lock her up peanut gallery,' referring to 'lock her up' chants by Trump supporters in 2016 about Clinton.

Most of the juror's posts were not about Stone, instead making reference either to Trump or Mueller's inquiry, two common subjects of political discussion among Americans at the time they were written. The jury forewoman made Twitter posts during the trial, but all were unrelated to the case.

Trump, who has not ruled out a pardon for Stone, posted a Twitter attack on the forewoman during the February hearing.

Jackson said in her decision that the juror's opinions about Trump did not translate into bias against Stone.

'The assumption underlying the motionthat one can infer from the juror's opinions about the president that she could not fairly consider the evidence against the defendantis not supported by any facts or data,' she wrote.

Stone was the sixth Trump aide or adviser to be convicted on charges brought as part of special counsel Robert Muellers investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.

'His public comments have certainly been encouraging', Stone said of Trump. The pair are pictured together in 1999

Speculation has been rife that Trump will pardon Stone.

Last month the president said he was considering a full pardon for former national security adviser Michael Flynn, who had pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about dealings with Russia's ambassador before Trump took office.

Flynn attempted to withdraw the guilty plea in January, saying federal prosecutors had acted in 'bad faith' and broke their end of the bargain when they sought prison time for him.

'I am strongly considering a Full Pardon!' Trump tweeted. The president also cited an unspecified report that the Justice Department had lost records related to Flynn's case.

In response, Flynn's lawyer, Sidney Powell, tweeted, 'Thank you, Mr. President' and said 'the persecution' of his client 'is an egregious injustice.'
Jeff Goldblum has been hit by criticism from fans for being 'anti-Muslim' after his appearance on RuPaul's Drag Race.

The actor, 67, was a guest judge on Friday's edition of the show, and had asked drag queen Jackie Cox about her Stars And Stripes runway look which saw her wear a star-spangled hijab in reference to her Muslim background.

First asking if Jackie was 'religious', Jeff went on to comment on Islam and how the religion treats LGBTQ+ people like the Iranian-Canadian star, 34.

Criticism: Jeff Goldblum was BLASTED by RuPaul's Drag Race viewers for being 'anti-Muslim' after asking queen Jackie Cox about her hijab runway look, after appearing on Friday's show

Of her ensemble, Jackie said: 'This outfit really represents the importance that visibility for people of religious minorities need to have in this country.'

Jeff then asked: 'Is there something in this religion that is anti-homosexuality and anti-woman? Does that complicate the issue? I'm just raising it and thinking out loud and maybe being stupid.'

While RuPaul commented that 'drag has always shaken the tree', Jackie became teary-eyed as she said it was 'a complex issue' and had her 'own misgivings about the way LGBT people are treated in the Middle East.

Inspiration: The actor, 67, had asked drag queen Jackie Cox about her Stars And Stripes runway look which saw her wear a star-spangled hijab in reference to her Muslim background

Inquisitive: Jeff asked Jackie: 'Is there something in this religion that is anti-homosexuality and anti-woman? Does that complicate the issue? I'm just raising it and thinking out loud'

'What is so important to me is that if you just happen to be different, then live that truth,' Jackie explained.

Going on to talk about the U.S. travel ban that prohibited the entry of people from Muslim-majority countries, Jackie continued: 'When the Muslim ban happened, it really destroyed a lot of my faith in this country. And really hurt my family. And that's so wrong to me.

'I had to show America that you can be LGBT and from the Middle East and there's going to be complicated shit around that and that's okay. But I'm here and I deserve to be in America just as much as anyone else.'

Debate: While RuPaul commented that 'drag has always shaken the tree', Jackie became teary-eyed as she said it was 'a complex issue'

Struggle: On the U.S. travel ban that prohibits entry for those from Muslim-majority countries, Jackie said: 'It really destroyed a lot of my faith in this country. And really hurt my family'

Criticising Jeff for his questions, fans took to Twitter to let their thoughts be known as they hit out at the Jurassic Park star.

One viewer wrote: 'That Jeff Goldblum to Jackie Cox moment on this week's Drag Race was so deeply uncomfortable to watch.

'Why did he think that was appropriate? How did it make it to the edit? How was that in any way fair on Jackie? Just so many levels of awfulness.'

Another commented: 'Now would Jeff Goldblum have asked a Christian queen that same question that he asked Jackie? That was really ignorant.'

While one viewer hit out: 'I am REALLY not here for Jeff Goldblum's casually islamophobic critique of Jackie Cox tonight.'

Backlash: Criticising Jeff for his questions, fans took to Twitter to let their thoughts be known as they hit out at the Jurassic Park star

However there were also many fans who came to Jeff's defence, and said that he had 'raised valid questions' and was simply trying to 'educate himself on the subject.'

One fan said: 'Jeff Goldblum seemed to be genuinely trying to understand her choices as opposed to being anti muslim...'

While another said of the backlash: 'Why is Jeff Goldblum getting dragged?! He asked a question wanting to educate himself on the subject, and it gave Jackie an opportunity to give an amazing answer. People need to calm the f*** down.'

Another viewer said: 'I dont understand why people are so upset with Jeff Goldblum. He raised valid questions, and Jackie even said that it is hard being gay in her culture because she is not always accepted. He wasnt being phobic but trying to get educated on the issue. #DragRace'

And another commented: 'Jeff Goldblum's question for Jackie is valid and Jackie's response was also valid.

'Honestly I think it opens a discussion about religion and its relation to the LGBTQIA+ community that all of us should engage with constructively.'

Watch Ru Paul's Drag Race on VH1, or on Stan in Australia.
Delhi to ease restrictions, if Covid cases come down in next 2-3 days: Health Minister

Lata Mangeshkar health update: Doctor says,'She in ICU with Covid-19 and pneumonia, will be under observation'

Coronavirus: Shashi Tharoor urges PM Modi to ease return of Indians stranded in GCC nations

India

oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P

New Delhi, Apr 25: Senior Congress leader c urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ease the return of Indians stranded in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region.

In a letter to PM Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Tharoor highlighted the difficulties faced by Indians in the Gulf and shared his opinion to help address some of their existing concerns.

Tharoor called for developing region-specific task forces using local community resources in order to streamline relief and repatriation operations.

COVID-19: Indias doubling rate further improves to 10 days

In a letter, Tharoor said, "While our embassies have been admirably executing their duties thus far, the government must also look into leveraging the substantial resources that we have in the region, including established Indian cultural organisations and expatriate groups, prominent community and business leaders and civil society organisations, which will help bolster the capacity of our government to reach out to Indians affected in these regions."

He also called for developing protocols to ensure the expedited repatriation of the mortal remains of Indians who have passed away in GCC countries.

Tharoor slams govt over faulty antibody test kits, calls for indigenous production

Tharoor urged the leaders to facilitate the evacuation of certain economic and social groups from these regions back to their respective states.

"There are a number of groups that the government must look into evacuating such as the elderly and senior citizens, pregnant women, those with expired visit visas, the jobless, those on their final exit, persons released under pardon and so on, who do not otherwise form a part of the critical service providing segment in these countries," the senior Congress leader added.
OTTAWA  When Manitobans finally see the modelling for how COVID-19 could spread, some might get a sense of deja-vu.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 24/4/2020 (628 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

OTTAWA  When Manitobans finally see the modelling for how COVID-19 could spread, some might get a sense of deja-vu.

"If you were going to look at two provinces to compare, there's a lot of similarities between Saskatchewan and Manitoba," said University of Saskatchewan epidemiology professor Cory Neudorf.

"Manitoba is just about a week behind Saskatchewan in their reported cases."

The two provinces have similar demographics and coronavirus timelines, and neither has experienced a large cluster of deaths.

Saskatchewan started with more cases than Manitoba, but the two provinces have followed roughly the same trend since COVID-19 was first spotted in Canada.

In late March, Saskatchewan had a spurt of cases, which the provinces chief medical officer has chalked up to proximity to Alberta.

But the two provinces curves have been similar since about April 2, despite Manitoba closing businesses later than Saskatchewan.

"From that period on, if you look at the trajectories they've been basically identical," Neudorf said.

Manitoba has had six deaths compared with four in Saskatchewan, which Neudorf said is within the margin of error.

Saskatchewans modelling has undoubtedly changed since officials released it two weeks ago. But at that point, they pegged the number of deaths between 3,075 and 8,370 based on varying scenarios.

Manitoba has about 17 per cent more people than Saskatchewan. Winnipeg has one-half more people than Regina and Saskatoon combined.

Yet Manitobas chief provincial public health officer, Dr. Brent Roussin, said the two are worth comparing.

"Saskatchewan has a similar timing and similar epidemiology to Manitoba, so wed pay close attention to any interventions they were making, and follow the impacts," Roussin said Wednesday.

Ian Culbert, head of the Canadian Public Health Association, said part of that comparison involved looking at how strictly people follow the rules as they change.

"You have to know your people," Culbert said, adding that different factors could be at play, such as the reasons why neither province has recorded numerous deaths at care homes.

A lack of coherent data collection and transparency in Canada makes it hard to compare provinces, said Culbert, whose group has long called for national standards.

"We dont have consistent or uniform surveillance systems across the country, so when we need to do comparisons it's extremely difficult," he said.

Even worse: bureaucrats who answer to elected officials are often the ones who decide whether to release data, instead of the public-health experts.

"It is not an independent system for health surveillance; there is political oversight and that's problematic," Culbert said.

This week, the Ontario government pledged to make its modelling public despite changing data, to be transparent about what measures are working and where challenges lie.

"The government believes the public deserves to have access to the same information as it receives in regular briefings," reads a Monday slideshow.

Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister has so far dismissed internal models as being too wide-ranging to be valuable.

"Projections are a conjectured guess on where we might be in the future," the premier said Tuesday.

RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister has so far dismissed internal models as being too wide-ranging to be valuable.

Dr. Michelle Driedger, an expert in public-health communication, said the issue boils down to "fishbowl transparency versus reasoned transparency," which is whether people want reams of raw data, or select points put into understandable language.

"People can work with the context in which you're offering information," the University of Manitoba health-science professor said. "If they don't have a mechanism for understanding what it means, then it's a lot of noise that can seems like it's pointing in one direction or another, when it really isnt."

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Similarly, Driedger said the purpose of the models themselves have "huge implications" on how theyre crafted.

For example, we know how many people have been hospitalized or died with COVID-19, but not how many people have the disease at home. Manitoba's testing has so far helped managed health resources, but its harder to use that data to decide how to reopen society.

Whatever models officials release, theyll have to explain which factors will decide whether to relax or tighten restrictions.

"Its trying to balance and manage those expectations, and making it clear what the benchmarks are," said Driedger.

"Particularly in uncertain situations, people can handle bad news or even changing news, much more than 'everything is fine."

dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca
Demonstrators call for transparency in surveillance of public during state lockdowns to protect civil liberties.

Despite serious warnings, demonstrations are continuing across the United States against coronavirus lockdowns.

Protesters say stay-at-home orders violate their civil liberties and many are concerned about surveillance in this time.

There are already talks in the US of using smart technology to locate coronavirus hotspots and to trace those who may have come into contact with the infected.

Facebook and Google have been in talks with the government on sharing information they collect about us.

Protesters are calling for full transparency as to what is being collected, how long it will be kept, by whom, and how this data will be used, particularly by law enforcement.

Al Jazeeras Shihab Rattansi reports from Washington, DC.
The first Covid-19 infections in Italy date back to January, according to a scientific study presented on Friday, shedding new light on the origins of the outbreak in one of the worlds worst-affected countries.

Italy began testing people after diagnosing its first local patient on February 21 in Codogno, a small town in Lombardy region.

Cases and deaths immediately surged, with scientists soon suspecting that the virus had been around, unnoticed, for weeks.

Stefano Merler, of the Bruno Kessler Foundation, told a news conference with Italys top health authorities that his institute had looked at the first known cases and drawn clear conclusions from the subsequent pace of contagion. We realised that there were a lot of infected people in Lombardy well before February 20, which means the epidemic had started much earlier, he said

Italy is set to ease its coronavirus lockdown, the toughest and longest in Europe, over the next four weeks, the Corriere della Sera daily reported on Friday, although there was no official confirmation.
As their bank accounts dwindle, some international students say they have had to turn to food banks for help. Others are couch surfing in the family homes of their friends but do not know how long they will be welcome. Those who rushed to fly home before international borders closed are not sure they will be able to come back.

My world is shattering, said Elina Mariutsa, a Russian student studying international affairs and political science at Northeastern University whose parents sold an apartment and borrowed money from friends to pay for her previous semesters of college.

She is all but certain that, with the Russian rubles recent rapid devaluation amid the current global economic collapse, her family will be unable to pay the $27,000 bill for her final semester of college  let alone help her with living expenses now.

Im not sure if Im going to be able to graduate. Right now we definitely cant pay for the last semester, and its literally just four courses left, she said.

Universities, which often receive a substantial share of their budgets from foreign students, said they moved quickly to help international students by opening a limited number of dorms when possible, flying students home in some cases and lobbying the federal government for support. New York University, which has more foreign students than any college in the country, created emergency grants available to international students.
SAN FRANCISCO (BCN)

The San Francisco Public Defender's Office on Thursday said it helped secure the release of a transgender woman who had been detained for 17 months by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Lexis Hernandez Avilez, 41, was initially placed in immigration detention in Yuba County in 2019 after she completed a sentence for a previous conviction, however, on Christmas evening ICE agents transferred her to a Texas jail without notifying the public defender's office, which has been representing her since Jan. 2019.

During Avilez's detention, medical professionals diagnosed her with gender dysphoria and she came out as a transgender woman. Despite this, ICE agents refused to place her with the female jail population and never provided her with hormonal treatment or female clothing, the public defender's office alleged.

After efforts seeking a bond hearing for months, an immigration judge last week ordered her release, conditional on a $10,000 bond.

On Thursday, Avilez's family announced they'd raised enough money for the bond, with help from nonprofit organization Freedom for Immigrants. Avilez has since hopped on a plane and will be reuniting with her family in Gonzales, where she lives.

"Ms. Avilez suffered significant mental hardship during her detention with ICE," Deputy Public Defender Hector Vega said in a statement.

"While struggling with her gender confirmation, she was placed in segregated confinement, denied hormonal treatment for months, and became suicidal as a result of these inhumane conditions. And yet, Ms. Avilez remained strong and has become an important voice for all transgender persons asking for humane treatment in detention," he said.

"Transgender people who are incarcerated are often misgendered and detained in isolation or with the wrong gender population," San Francisco Public Defender Mano Raju said.

"This is a massive issue in federal immigration detention, as well as in our prison system. My office will continue to fight to protect the rights of incarcerated transgender people and fight for their release; detention centers are not safe places due to the transphobia that continues to permeate these institutions. In this situation, Ms. Avilez had the double risk of worsening health services on the inside due to ICE's unwillingness to respect her identity, as well the risk she faced with respect to contracting the coronavirus," he said. "I am thrilled that we were able to secure her release."

"ICE and the county officers knew how difficult detention was for me and had no compassion for the way they detained me and moved me around like I meant nothing," Avilez said. "I am very thankful to everyone who has supported me and I am looking forward to continue my gender confirmation treatment, advocate for the release of my transgender sisters and brothers suffering in detention, and live freely as my authentic self."

Avilez was born in Mexico but came to the U.S. as a 1-year-old and then became a permanent resident at 21. Despite this, Avilez still faces deportation and she and her attorneys are seeking to reopen her immigration case based on her new gender transition circumstances and fear of torture or death if deported.

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25.04.2020 LISTEN

Jesus said,  no prophet is accepted in his hometown. I assure you that there were many widows in Israel in Elijahs time when the sky was shut for three and a half years and there was a severe famine throughout the land. Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow in Zarephath in the region of Sidon. And there were many in Israel with leprosy in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed  only Naaman the Syrian. (Luke 4: 24-27 NIV).

In ancient Israel, leprosy was an infectious skin disease with extremely negative stigmas that required special treatment of those who were infected by it. Lepers were deemed to be unclean. Some were isolated and quarantined for the initial seven days, then another seven days, and then longer days depending on the nature of their conditions. Among other things, lepers were required to practice social distancing and announce their uncleanliness whenever they were getting closer to other people.

They were to be kept at a distance from others in the society until a priest examined and pronounced them clean (See Leviticus Chapters 13 and 14). Sounds familiar in the era of coronavirus / COVID-19 pandemic? (That was why in the process of healing the ten lepers who called him from a distance, Jesus instructed them to go and show themselves to the priest (Luke 17:11-19)).

Many people have taken undue advantage of the hardships and destructive power of the coronavirus / COVID-19 pandemic to question the existence and power of the Almighty God, the Creator, and of Heaven and Earth. Many Christians have entertained some doubts about the power of God to make a positive difference during this pandemic. And some people have ridiculed Christians in general, and some pastors, priests, and prophets in particular, for their inability to call on God to prevent coronavirus infection or heal people of COVID-19. This article is neither an endorsement nor a critique of the actions or words of any living person, but an encouragement to all of us to stop doubting and hold on to our faith in God.

Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ faced a somewhat similar situation in his hometown of Nazareth when his own people rejected him as the promised messiah and doubted his miraculous powers. Jesus used the works of two of the most powerful prophets in the history of Israel  Elijah and Elisha - to illustrate his point about prophets not being accepted in their hometowns.

God works in mysterious ways. There were many widows in Israel who needed help during the time of Elijah. God knew that. Yet, God did not send Elijah to any of them, except the widow at Zarephath who lived outside the land of Israel. There was a famine in the land. When Elijah met the widow, she was going to prepare the last meal for herself and her son to eat, then die of hunger afterwards. However, Elijah asked her to bring him water and prepare bread for him to eat first. Against her better judgment, but in a bold act of faith, she did so. Elijah then prophesied that the womans jar of flour would not be used up and her jug of oil would not run dry, and it was so. Later on, when the womans son died, Elijah prayed and raised him from the dead (1 Kings Chapter 17).

Similarly, during the time of Elisha, many people had leprosy in the land of Israel who required healing. Yet, none of them was cleansed, except Naaman, commander of the army of the King of Aram, who came to Elisha and Elisha healed him of his leprosy. Naaman had in his house a Jewish servant girl who had been captured from Israel. The servant girl advised Naamans wife that her husband could be cured by the Prophet Elisha who lived in Samaria, the capital of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Naaman went to Samaria, but contrary to Naamans expectation, Elisha simply sent a messenger to tell him to go and wash himself seven times in the River Jordan. After some hesitation by Naaman and persuasion by his entourage, he did as directed by Elisha and he was cured of his leprosy (2 Kings Chapter 5). Naamans faith, based on the testimony of the servant girl, brought him to Israel where he was healed.

Overlooked by many in the Naaman story was the role played by the unnamed and unsung heroine, the Jewish servant girl. Even in captivity in a foreign land, she still believed in the God of Israel and the Prophet Elisha. Some of us would have complained bitterly about our captive conditions and raised doubts about the existence and power of God. We would have questioned why God allowed us to be captured as slaves to a foreign land, and why God had not come to rescue us from slavery. Instead, she literally put her life at stake. Can you imagine what would have happened to her if Naaman had not been cured after his trip to Israel? She would have made a fool out of Naaman and your guess is as good as mine regarding the consequences. In the midst of the coronavirus / COVID-19 pandemic, lets put doubt and bitterness aside and become a channel through which the power and blessings of God would flow to ourselves and others.

The mysterious power of God is working for our good all the time, and it has no limits or boundaries. For example, that power benefitted two different people outside Israel, an army commander and a poor widow. One thing they had in common was that both had faith. However, doubt inhibits the clear manifestation of Gods power in our lives. Those who insist that they have to see, feel, hear or touch before they believe may be missing out on some of Gods blessings. As Jesus told Thomas, stop doubting and believe, and he went on to say that blessed are those who have not seen and yet believed (John 20: 27b; 29b NIV). Faith, on the other hand, unleashes Gods awesome power. It is faith that enables us to know the power of the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were. (Romans 4:17b NIV).

The coronavirus / COVID-19 pandemic has provided tempting opportunities for the devil to sow seeds of doubt and unbelief in the hearts and minds of many people. Watch and pray that you do not fall into that temptation. Remain steadfast in the faith and remember that we are not fighting against flesh and blood, and that we walk by faith, not by sight. There is time for everything. In Gods own time, He will help us to better understand what is going on, and heal the land and make everything beautiful. No matter what happens, stop doubting and hold on to your faith in God. May the power of the Almighty God that raised Jesus from the dead manifest itself in our lives and bring healing and salvation to all.

Prayer is the key. May God grant us the grace to seek Him daily through our prayers.

Dr. Daniel Gyebi, Attorney-at-Law, Texas, U.S.A., and Founder, PrayerHouse Ministry, Kumasi, Ghana.

PrayerHouse Ministry is dedicated to providing a quiet facility for Christians to pray individually by themselves without any intermediary priest, pastor or any other person. This is a free service. No money is demanded or accepted. One facility is located at Kyerekrom / Fumesua, near Building and Road Research Institute Offices, one mile off the Kumasi-Accra Road and next to a house called Grace Castle. If you are interested, please contact Agnes at 054-7498653. Another is located at Kantinkyiren, at the junction of Kantinkyiren and Konkori, off the Kumasi-Obuasi Road, branching left at Trede junction. Contact Kwadwo at 020-8768461 / 0246-989413.
Peruvian President Martin Vizcarra has dismissed Interior Minister Carlos Moran amid a tumultuous period in the fight against the coronavirus in the country, local media reported.

Moran had announced that about 1,200 law enforcement officers had been infected with COVID-19 in Peru.

Prime Minister Vicente Zeballos has denied media reports that the resignation of the interior minister is linked to an investigation into a corruption scheme involving the supply of sanitary equipment to police officers.

"Minister Moran has resigned for personal reasons," Zeballos said, in particular..
The dog wouldnt stop biting. Thats what Olivia Sligh remembers most from the incident that landed her in the hospital in July 2018.

Slighs boyfriend called police, frantic. His 24-year-old girlfriend was hurting herself and needed help. She had reacted badly to her new psychiatric medication.

When two Conroe police officers arrived at their home on Plantation Drive, Sligh had fled into the nearby woods in an attempt to avoid being taken to the hospital.

The officers and their German shepherd followed. When they found her, an officer asked if she had any weapons, Sligh said. She didnt.

One officer reached out, to pull her to her feet. Thats about when the police dog lunged at her and began biting. She started screaming but says the officers didnt help.

He was just standing there, she said, of the dogs handler. It felt very wrong to me.

By the end of the encounter, shed been bitten half a dozen times on her ankle, thigh and hip.

BAIL DISPUTE:

In a lawsuit, her attorney, Randall Kallinen, claims the Conroe Police Departments handling of the situation violated Slighs Fourth Amendment rights, showed a failure to intervene in a situation involving excessive force, and violated the Americans with Disabilities Act.

A dog is like a gun, he said. Its a weapon an officer can use and it is controllable. Its not the guns fault it shot someone, its not the dogs fault it bit someone, its the handlers fault.

Conroe Police Department officials were not immediately available Saturday afternoon to discuss the case. Law enforcements use of police dogs has drawn controversy around the country for decades, however.

Los Angeles-area police departments came under fire in the 1990s over their use of police K-9s. A 1990s study found more than half of criminal suspects bitten by police dogs who were treated at Los Angeles Countys jail ward emergency department suffered three or more bites. About a fifth of the 800 people whose cases were reviewed in the study suffered complications, including bleeding, infections, broken bones and nerve injury. Civil rights attorneys sued Los Angeles, and the city later settled for $3.6 million and agreed to overhaul its policies related to its police dogs.

But problems have plagued other departments more recently.

A Seattle Times investigation in 2013 found at least 17 people who said they were mistakenly attacked by police dogs in Washington over a five-year period. The agencies involved in those cases paid nearly $1 million in damages, according to the newspapers investigation.

And the San Diego Police Department came under fire in 2016 after video emerged of police officers allowing a dog to bite a naked, unarmed man for more than 40 seconds after officers had restrained him.

PARAMEDICS:

The St. Paul Police Department in Minnesota came under scrutiny in 2018 after police dogs chasing criminal suspects bit bystanders. An investigation by the Minneapolis Star Tribune found officers lost control of their K-9s on occasion, dogs regularly apprehended people with no instruction from handlers and dogs attacked some bystanders. The department later dramatically curtailed its use of police dogs.

Local community activists have also raised concerns about law enforcement agencies use of police dogs. One such case came in February 2019 in Baytown, after a police dog bit a 29-year-old man his handler was arresting. The police department disputed any improper use of force.

Sligh was never charged with any crime. In the years since she was bitten, she moved to Missouri with her boyfriend to be near his family. She is raising her two children and doing better, she said. She is off medication and no longer in therapy.

But she still has flashbacks about the incident and is dealing with injuries she believes are related to the encounter.

She has always loved dogs  she has a boxer mix named Walker  but she cant stand to be around German shepherds anymore.

She hopes the lawsuit will prod the department into examining its use of police dogs.

They need to train longer or better or something, so this doesnt happen to other people, she said. It was very traumatizing.

st.john.smith@chron.com

twitter.com/stjbs
The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Saturday renamed the Public Health Engineering, Irrigation and Flood Control department as Jal Shakti department.

The administration also gave approval for the constitution of Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) with an apex committee, executive committee and a mission directorate for its smooth functioning and to ensure it achieves targets of providing safe drinking water to the consumers in the Union territory.

In February, the administrative council headed by Lieutenant Governor G C Murmu had accorded sanction to the renaming of PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control Department as 'Jal Shakti Department' and implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission and a road map to achieve 100 per cent coverage of piped water supply by December 2021 across the UT aligning it to the national Jal Jeevan Mission.

In a series of orders issued by the General Administration Department (GAD) here, Additional Secretary Rohit Sharma said, Sanction is hereby accorded to the renaming of Public Health Engineering/Irrigation and flood control department as 'Jal Shakti Department'.

In another order, Sharma said sanction is accorded to abolish the erstwhile state water and sanitation mission, Jammu and Kashmir under the National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) and constitution of JJM, J&K with an apex committee, executive committee and mission directorate.

The administrative secretary of the Jal Shakti department was nominated as ex-officio, mission director of JJM while special secretary/additional secretary, Jal Shakti department will be ex-officio, additional mission director, the order read.

The GAD also set up a 12-member apex level committee under JJM with the chief secretary as its chairman.

The terms of reference of the committee include providing policy guidance for the overall planning, strategising and implementation of JJM in the Union territory, to give in-principle approval of action plan or road map for providing functional household tap connection (FHTC) to every rural household and to lay down water quality and serve standards in consonance with the Government of India guidelines, the order said.

It will also among other things monitor financial discipline including timely utilisation of funds, coordinate among departments and other agencies/partners for convergence of funds, bring about effective policies and regulations for efficient water use by other sectors like industries, agriculture and institution in tune with J&K State Water Resources (Regulation and Management) Act and as per guidelines fixed by the state water resources regulatory authority from time to time, finalise policy intervention on engaging dedicated human resource for ensuring water quality testing as well as surveillance by using field test kits.

The committee would meet at least once in a quarter and shall be serviced by the Jal Shakti department, the order said.

In another order, the GAD accorded sanction to the 11-member executive committee headed by Mission Director, JJM and said its terms of reference include to function under overall control and supervision of apex committee and provide required assistance to the apex committee for implementation of JJM objectives and its operational guidelines.

The committee would meet at least once in a month and would be serviced by the mission directorate of JJM, it said.

The government also accorded sanction to the constitution of a 13-member district JJM which would be headed by respective district development commissioners and would meet at least once every month.

The terms of reference of the district JJM include constitution of village water and sanitation committee as per the guidelines issued by government/apex committee and provide required hand-holding support to panchayats and the village water and sanitation committees for implementation of JJM schemes in accordance with the JJM operational guidelines, the order said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A Sharadhaa By

Express News Service

Yuva Rajumars foray into Sandalwood has got officially confirmed with the launch of his first look poster on the birthday of his grandfather, Dr Rajkumar. Sporting a rugged look with a spear in hand, Yuva Rajkumars look in the as-yet untitled debut to be directed by Puneeth has a lot of takeaways, with an element of mystery woven in the image.

The makers have released the first look with the working title, YR 01, but they have not revealed any more details. However, the poster has Yuva Rajkumar giving out some mythical vibes, which hint at an intriguing storyline and a historical period drama, which is expected to be made on a big scale.



At present, nothing much can be revealed about the plot, says the director, who is working on a teaser that will be revealed after the lockdown is lifted.

The teaser will give a glimpse of the characterisation, as well as how Yuva Rajkumar has trained himself to fit into the role, he tells Cinema Express. For Yuva Rajkumar, who celebrated his birthday on April 23, the occasion turned more special with the release of the first look poster on Annavrus birth anniversary.



The actor, son of Raghavendra Rajkumar and brother of Vinay Rajkumar has his uncles, Shivarajkumar and Puneeth Rajkumar, to look up to in the film industry. Puneeth, who is making his directorial debut, has previously worked as an associate to Prashanth Neel in KGF Chapter 1.
Face masks can be unexpectedly complicated, especially for those who are new to wearing them.

Navigating which ones you should buy and understanding who they protect, figuring out if you can reuse them and how to get your little ones to wear them are daunting tasks.

Social distancing is still our best bet to prevent further spread of the coronavirus. But since April 3, Americans have been encouraged by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to wear "cloth coverings" in places where distancing guidelines are hard to maintain.

But is your bandana really helping you? Should only people who know they're infected wear masks? And what if your kids throw a tantrum when you ask them to put one on?

We answer every question readers have been asking about face masks.

Should I wear a mask in public?

On April 3, the CDC shifted its guidelines to recommend that we should wear "cloth coverings" in public places where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain, such as grocery stores and pharmacies.

The updated guidance was in light of new evidence of the high percentage of people spreading the virus asymptomatically. This means the virus can easily spread between people interacting in close proximity by coughing, sneezing or even talking -- even if those people aren't exhibiting symptoms.

Some states require citizens to wear masks in public spaces -- such as Connecticut, Hawaii, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island, as of April 20. Some countries, including Germany, Turkey and Jamaica, have required to some degree that people wear masks.

Who is protected by wearing a mask?

The benefit of wearing masks in public isn't to protect you from getting sick. It's to protect others from exposure if you are sick or if you're an asymptomatic carrier. But if we all wear masks, we could help each other, said Dr. Joseph Vinetz, a professor in the infectious disease section at Yale School of Medicine.

"The idea about the face mask is to prevent the virus from coming out of somebody's mouth and nose, mostly out of their mouth," Vinetz said. "They prevent somebody, when they talk or sometimes when they sneeze or cough, from expelling virus and leading to infection in other people."

Wearing a mask doesn't totally prevent you from getting infected, Vinetz added. The virus can live on surfaces for hours, and in trace amounts up to three days, and it's easy to touch your face when you're not wearing a mask.

Even if you wear a mask, maintaining 6-feet social distancing is still important to slowing the spread of the virus. The CDC considers face masks an additional, voluntary public health measure -- but remember to refer to your home state's guidance as well.

What kind of mask should I buy?

Though the CDC recommends we wear masks, we shouldn't buy surgical masks or N95 respirator masks. Those types are desperately needed by health care workers and first responders who are in constant proximity with coronavirus patients every day, and supplies in some areas are dwindling.

You can, however, easily make your own cloth mask from old clothes or other common materials and household items. And you don't even have to sew. You can make one using a bandana and coffee filter. US Surgeon General Jerome Adams showed us how to make face masks with a T-shirt and rubber bands in this CDC video.

"Ultimately, it's about having some form of barrier with multiple layers," said CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta in a CNN video on why masks in addition to physical distancing are important.

Masks made with a combination of cotton with natural silk or chiffon may also effectively filter out aerosol particles, according to a new study published Friday in the American Chemical Society Nano journal. Our respiratory droplets form in a range of sizes, but the tiny ones, called aerosol particles, can slip through the gaps between certain cloth fibers.

You could substitute the chiffon with natural silk or flannel, or use a cotton quilt with cotton-polyester insulation, to achieve similar results, the study said.

There are also disposable cloth masks you can buy in a store or online. They're not made for surgery or hospitals, but they are effective for your needs and widely used.

What's the difference between a surgical mask and an N95 mask?

"When we talk about face coverings, there are the surgical masks I wear in the hospital to protect patients from my own germs and avoid any splashes," said Gupta, who works as a neurosurgeon.

N95 respirators are masks that must be fitted to the faces of health care workers to protect them during certain procedures, Gupta added.

"It's the only one of these masks that prevents most very small particles from getting in, when used properly," he continued. "We need to keep those masks in their hands."

Are cloth masks as effective as medical masks?

Medical-grade masks are more effective, but that "doesn't mean we should dismiss the benefit of cloth masks," Gupta said.

Because of how far our respiratory droplets travel when we talk, cough or sneeze, face masks can still help to contain the range of those droplets.

The researchers in the Nano study used sodium chloride to replicate respiratory particles ranging in size, and blew with a fan the particles across material samples at a rate similar to a person's resting breath. They measured the number and size of particles in the air before and after they passed through the fabric.

One layer of a tightly woven cotton sheet combined with two layers of polyester-spandex chiffon filtered out the most air particles, between 80% to 99%. According to the study, its effectiveness was close to an N95 mask.

Tightly woven fabrics such as cotton can be a mechanical barrier to particles, while fabrics with a static charge, such as natural silk or chiffon, act as a electrostatic barrier, the study said.

However, a very small gap reduced the efficacy of the mask by at least 50%, emphasizing the importance of a properly fitted mask, the study said.

Can you reuse them?

Homemade masks can be reused because they're washable, Vinetz said.

You should launder the masks before and after each use to clean off any germs you may have picked up in public. Hand-wash the masks or put them in a mesh wash bag in the washing machine so they don't come apart, and use a high-heat setting.

If you already have a disposable surgical or medical-grade mask, those can be reused, too. To disinfect it, leave it in a clean, safe place in your house for a couple days, Vinetz suggested. After that, it should no longer be infectious.

Can you microwave them to kill germs?

If you're thinking you might be able to nuke your mask to kill germs, that's "not a great idea," Vinetz said.

"We have no evidence about that," he said. "If there's a metal piece in an N95 or surgical mask and even staples, you can't microwave them. It'll blow up. If you have a homemade or cloth mask or what's called a face covering, you just wash it. Microwaving it is not going to work."

How can I stop my glasses from fogging up?

For those who wear glasses, wearing a mask means figuring out how to avoid our humid breath blocking us from seeing across the grocery store. Or from seeing anything, really.

"To avoid fogging up your glasses -- I have the problem myself -- short of getting Lasik surgery, you have to fold the mask around your nose so that the air coming out of your mouth or nose doesn't rise to your glasses," Vinetz said. (He's not recommending anyone get elective surgery right now.)

How do I get my kids to wear one?

If your child refuses to wear a mask, takes it off and throws it down, chews on it or otherwise, his actions could defeat the point of wearing a mask and raise the risk of infection, said Christopher Willard, a psychiatry lecturer at Harvard Medical School and author of "The Breathing Book," a breathing practice book for kids.

Kids may be apprehensive about wearing a face mask because they're more sensitive to new things than adults are, Willard said.

"There's also the weird psychological aspect of not being able to see their own face or other people's faces and facial expressions," he added, "which really interferes with communication and signals that they [feel are safe]."

To ease their mask fears, buy or make coverings with appealing fabrics, or draw something cool with markers to make them look more fun. Try drawings of your child's favorite superheroes or ninjas wearing masks as they go about helping other people. Show your child your own mask and how, by wearing one, he'll be just like Mom or Dad. See if you can find pictures of your kid's favorite celebrities wearing masks.

Doing so could make your kids feel like the masks are "theirs" and give them a sense of ownership, making them more excited and more likely to wear them, Willard said.

"I think also knowing that they are protecting others can help, and making it fun by talking about it as dressing up like superheroes or something."

And altruism isn't only for kids, but for everyone wearing a mask for the public good.

"It's part of our social contract to look after one another," Vinetz said. "It's social solidarity for everybody in a public place, when told to by public health and political authorities, [to] wear a face covering according to what's recommended."
London, April 25 : The first week of talks on a permanent post-Brexit trade deal between the European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom (UK) ended on Friday. "Limited progress" was made and vast differences remained.

The EU's chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, said in Brussels that the first round of three negotiating sessions had been disappointing, Xinhua news agency reported.

Talks led by Barnier and the UK's chief negotiator David Frost were the first for two months after stalling because of the coronavirus outbreak.

Statements issued by both sides pointed to a mountain to climb if real progress is to be made by June.

The end of June has been set as the cut-off point for an agreement to extend the current implementation period beyond December 31, 2020.

The UK left the EU on January 31, but is sticking to the bloc's rules until the end of this year.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson insists that his country is sticking to the deadline. That could mean the UK crashing out and working with World Trade Organization (WTO) rules.

The UK has insisted that it wants a Canada-style relationship based on a comprehensive free trade agreement (FTA), supplemented by separate international agreements.

The UK has maintained that it will be a fully independent and sovereign country from January 1, 2021, with no alignment with EU law and no jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice (ECJ).

Despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Johnson's government insists that will happen regardless of how the negotiations with the EU pan out.

A UK government spokesperson described the negotiating round as full and constructive, conducted remotely by video conference.

"However, limited progress was made in bridging the gaps between us and the EU," the spokesperson said.

During the week over 100 British negotiators supported the talks, taking part in almost 40 video conferences.

Downing Street said that "we will not make progress on the so-called 'level playing field' and the governance provisions until the EU drops its insistence on imposing conditions on the UK, which are not found in the EU's other trade agreements and which do not take account of the fact that we have left the EU as an independent state." Barnier, in a briefing after the first round of talks ended, said there were four areas where progress was disappointing, including what kind of access the UK could have to the European single market after Brexit, as well as on justice and fisheries.

In London, the Daily Telegraph commented that while Downing Street continued to insist there will be no extension to the transition, the prevailing opinion in Brussels is that the end-of-year deadline will not stand.

The Times, also in London, commented the EU had accused Britain of stalling the post-Brexit trade talks and creating a no-deal cliff edge by ruling out an extension to the transition period.

The commentary added: "Barnier showed his anger at what the EU views as a deliberate policy to slow down negotiations that have already been delayed by his sickness from coronavirus." Barnier said at his video press conference: "It is important for all stakeholders to have a long term, durable arrangement. It will be hard for both sides, but I believe we can do it." Barnier said the UK needed to quickly provide firm guarantees rather than vague principles on fundamental rights and individual freedoms, otherwise it would face serious limitations for a security partnership.

Although behind-the-scenes dialogue will continue, the focus will turn to May 11, when round two of the three-round negotiations gets underway.
Police are asking for the publics help after a man was shot in the face early Saturday in Salem.

The victim, a 57-year-old Salem resident, was transported to Christiana Hospital in Delaware, where he was listed in critical condition Saturday afternoon, according to the Salem County Prosecutors Office.

Saturdays incident occurred in front of a home on the 200 block of East Broadway.

No arrests have been announced.

This is the latest in a string of recent shootings in the city that have led to four deaths since last July. Federal, state and county agencies are now assisting local police to crack down on the violence.

Jireh S. Douglas was killed July 14, 2019, on Sinnickson Street.

Isa Hallman and Kapri Taylor, both 28-year-old Salem residents, were killed in a Jan. 2 shooting at Salem Motor Lodge.

Tajmire Clark, 23, of Salem, was shot to death on Olive Street on March 21.

No one has been charged in any of the killings. Another man wounded in the Salem Motor Lodge incident, Rakwan Adams, 25, of Salem, was charged with two counts of attempted murder in that case.

Other recent incidents did not result injuries, including a pair of back-to-back shootings in Salem on the evening of April 5. Two homes and a car were shot up, and a man was charged with weapons offenses and eluding police.

In an effort to combat the violence, Salem Police are receiving assistance from the Salem County Prosecutors Office, Salem County Sheriffs Office, New Jersey State Police, FBI and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

They cannot solve this problem without help from local residents, though, Salem County Prosecutor John T. Lenahan added.

Law enforcement desperately needs cooperation from Salem City residents to stem this violence, he said Saturday.

Anyone with information about any of these shootings is asked to contact the Salem City Police Department at 856-935-0033 or the Salem County Prosecutors Office at 856-935-2847.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com.
Stephen Hawking, one of the world's best-known physicists, has left behind 16.3 million pounds in a will which he signed with a thumbprint due to his motor neuron disease.

Hawking, who died in Cambridge aged 76 in 2018, put the large fortune in a trust fund for his three children and three grandchildren and also bequeathed 10,000 pounds to his loyal personal assistant Judith Croasdell, 71, according to a report in The Sun' newspaper.

A legal note to go with the will notes: "Signed with his 'mark' because although able to read the will he is prevented by physical disability from signing it."



The scientist ordered his academic awards and medals including 13 honorary degrees, the US Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Companion of Honour be split between his children, Robert, Timothy and Lucy.

Hawking's 13-page will was signed in 2007 with his thumb because of his battle with motor neurone disease, which meant he was completely wheelchair bound and used a computer for his speech.

The author of the seminal A Brief History of Time' went on to live for 55 years after being warned his life expectancy was just three years and produced great research during that time.

Earlier this week, his daughter, 49-year-old Lucy Hawking, said her father had received "brilliant, dedicated and compassionate" medical care at the Royal Papworth Hospital, in Cambridge, and therefore his relatives decided to donate his personal ventilator that used to be attached to his wheelchair to the hospital to play a small part in the battle against coronavirus.

As a ventilated patient, Royal Papworth was incredibly important to my father and helped him through some very difficult times. We realised that it would be at the forefront of the Covid-19 epidemic and got in touch with some of our old friends there to ask if we could help, said Lucy Hawking.

After our father passed away, we returned all the medical equipment he used that belonged to the NHS but there were some items which he bought for himself. We are now passing them to the NHS in the hope they will help in the fight against Covid-19, she said.

The hospital said the ventilator has now been added to its fleet after an inspection by the hospital's clinical engineering team.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Yves here. Its been a very long time since I read Samuel Pepys diary, so I had a quick look at Wikipedia. Pepys did faithfully record his day-to-day life, including his financial state. As a member of the upper class, he lived well away from the neighborhoods where the plague incidence was high. And perversely, the year when the outbreak was worst was particularly successful for him personally. From Wikipedia:

It was not until June 1665 that the unusual seriousness of the plague became apparent, so Pepys activities in the first five months of 1665 were not significantly affected by it. Indeed, Claire Tomalin writes that the most notable fact about Pepys plague year is that to him it was one of the happiest of his life. In 1665, he worked very hard, and the outcome was that he quadrupled his fortune. In his annual summary on 31 December, he wrote, I have never lived so merrily (besides that I never got so much) as I have done this plague time.

So as much as Pepys provided a crisp and detailed account of life in London during a turbulent time (the diary also covers the Great Fire of London), as a top civil servant (an early member of the PMC), he was less exposed to many of its risks.

By Ute Lotz-Heumann, Heiko A. Oberman Professor of Late Medieval and Reformation History, University of Arizona. Originally published at The Conversation

In early April, writer Jen Miller urged New York Times readers to start a coronavirus diary.

Who knows, she wrote, maybe one day your diary will provide a valuable window into this period.

During a different pandemic, one 17th-century British naval administrator named Samuel Pepys did just that. He fastidiously kept a diary from 1660 to 1669  a period of time that included a severe outbreak of the bubonic plague in London. Epidemics have always haunted humans, but rarely do we get such a detailed glimpse into one persons life during a crisis from so long ago.

There were no Zoom meetings, drive-through testing or ventilators in 17th-century London. But Pepys diary reveals that there were some striking resemblances in how people responded to the pandemic.

A Creeping Sense of Crisis

For Pepys and the inhabitants of London in 1665, there was no way of knowing whether an outbreak of the plague that occurred in the parish of St. Giles, a poor area outside the city walls, in late 1664 and early 1665 would become an epidemic.

The plague first entered Pepys consciousness enough to warrant a diary entry on April 30, 1665: Great fears of the Sickenesse here in the City, he wrote, it being said that two or three houses are already shut up. God preserve us all.

Pepys continued to live his life normally until the beginning of June, when, for the first time, he saw houses shut up  the term his contemporaries used for quarantine  with his own eyes, marked with a red cross upon the doors, and Lord have mercy upon us writ there. After this, Pepys became increasingly troubled by the outbreak.

He soon observed corpses being taken to their burial in the streets, and a number of his acquaintances died, including his own physician.

By mid-August, he had drawn up his will, writing, that I shall be in much better state of soul, I hope, if it should please the Lord to call me away this sickly time. Later that month, he wrote of deserted streets; the pedestrians he encountered were walking like people that had taken leave of the world.

Tracking Mortality Counts

In London, the Company of Parish Clerks printed bills of mortality, the weekly tallies of burials.

Because these lists noted Londons burials  not deaths  they undoubtedly undercounted the dead. Just as we follow these numbers closely today, Pepys documented the growing number of plague victims in his diary.

At the end of August, he cited the bill of mortality as having recorded 6,102 victims of the plague, but feared that the true number of the dead this week is near 10,000, mostly because the victims among the urban poor werent counted. A week later, he noted the official number of 6,978 in one week, a most dreadfull Number.

By mid-September, all attempts to control the plague were failing. Quarantines were not being enforced, and people gathered in places like the Royal Exchange. Social distancing, in short, was not happening.

He was equally alarmed by people attending funerals in spite of official orders. Although plague victims were supposed to be interred at night, this system broke down as well, and Pepys griped that burials were taking place in broad daylight.

Desperate for Remedies

There are few known effective treatment options for COVID-19. Medical and scientific research need time, but people hit hard by the virus are willing to try anything. Fraudulent treatments, from teas and colloidal silver, to cognac and cow urine, have been floated.

Although Pepys lived during the Scientific Revolution, nobody in the 17th century knew that the Yersinia pestis bacterium carried by fleas caused the plague. Instead, the eras scientists theorized that the plague was spreading through miasma, or bad air created by rotting organic matter and identifiable by its foul smell. Some of the most popular measures to combat the plague involved purifying the air by smoking tobacco or by holding herbs and spices in front of ones nose.

Tobacco was the first remedy that Pepys sought during the plague outbreak. In early June, seeing shut-up houses put me into an ill conception of myself and my smell, so that I was forced to buy some roll-tobacco to smell  and chaw. Later, in July, a noble patroness gave him a bottle of plague-water  a medicine made from various herbs. But he wasnt sure whether any of this was effective. Having participated in a coffeehouse discussion about the plague growing upon us in this town and remedies against it, he could only conclude that some saying one thing, some another.

During the outbreak, Pepys was also very concerned with his frame of mind; he constantly mentioned that he was trying to be in good spirits. This was not only an attempt to not let it get to him  as we might say today  but also informed by the medical theory of the era, which claimed that an imbalance of the so-called humors in the body  blood, black bile, yellow bile and phlegm  led to disease.

Melancholy  which, according to doctors, resulted from an excess of black bile  could be dangerous to ones health, so Pepys sought to suppress negative emotions; on Sept. 14, for example, he wrote that hearing about dead friends and acquaintances doth put me into great apprehensions of melancholy.  But I put off the thoughts of sadness as much as I can.

Balancing Paranoia and Risk

Humans are social animals and thrive on interaction, so its no surprise that so many have found social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic challenging. It can require constant risk assessment: How close is too close? How can we avoid infection and keep our loved ones safe, while also staying sane? What should we do when someone in our house develops a cough?

During the plague, this sort of paranoia also abounded. Pepys found that when he left London and entered other towns, the townspeople became visibly nervous about visitors.

They are afeared of us that come to them, he wrote in mid-July, insomuch that I am troubled at it.

Pepys succumbed to paranoia himself: In late July, his servant Will suddenly developed a headache. Fearing that his entire house would be shut up if a servant came down with the plague, Pepys mobilized all his other servants to get Will out of the house as quickly as possible. It turned out that Will didnt have the plague, and he returned the next day.

In early September, Pepys refrained from wearing a wig he bought in an area of London that was a hotspot of the disease, and he wondered whether other people would also fear wearing wigs because they could potentially be made of the hair of plague victims.

And yet he was willing to risk his health to meet certain needs; by early October, he visited his mistress without any regard for the danger: round about and next door on every side is the plague, but I did not value it but there did what I could con ella.

Just as people around the world eagerly wait for a falling death toll as a sign of the pandemic letting up, so did Pepys derive hope  and perhaps the impetus to see his mistress  from the first decline in deaths in mid-September. A week later, he noted a substantial decline of more than 1,800.

Lets hope that, like Pepys, well soon see some light at the end of the tunnel.
Nairobi, Kenya (PANA) - The Kenyan authorities on Saturday extended the ongoing curfew and containment in a bid to contain the spread of the deadly COVID 19 pandemic for another 21 days
Lam Wing-kee, previously detained by Chinese authorities, has reopened his bookstore in Taiwan.

A Hong Kong publisher previously detained by Chinese authorities has reopened his bookstore in Taiwan on Saturday, defying what he called attempts linked to Beijing to intimidate him.

The opening of Lam Wing-kees Causeway Bay Books came a year after he fled to the island when the Hong Kong government announced a now-scrapped proposal to allow extraditions to China.

The 64-year-old  one of five booksellers from Causeway Bay Books publishing salacious titles about Chinas leaders  vanished and then resurfaced in custody on the mainland in 2015.

He was allowed to return to Hong Kong the following year, but only to bring back a computer hard drive listing bookstore customers to give Chinese authorities.

Instead, he escaped and went public to tell an explosive story of how he was blindfolded by mainland police after crossing the border and interrogated for months.

Still have the right to read books

The reopening is very meaningful, Lam told reporters at the new store in Taipei.

Causeway Bay Books was destroyed by China through violent means. The reopening proves Taiwan is a place with freedom and democracy, and we still have the right to read books, he added.

On Tuesday, a man threw red paint at Lam while he was at a cafe, just a day after he received a letter threatening legal action from a person who claimed to have already trademarked the bookstores name.

Lams attacker reportedly said his fundraising project for the bookstore damaged Taiwans relations with China.

Police were also investigating a death threat against him left on a government agencys Facebook page.

Banners reading Taiwan independence and Free Hong Kong, revolution now decorated the wall of the small shop, which was opened with the help of a hugely successful crowd-funding campaign.

Hong Kong has been rocked by violent demonstrations that began in March 2019 to protest legislation seen as Chinese meddling in the citys affairs and morphed to a broader call for more safeguarding of liberties.

Taiwans President Tsai Ing-wen, who is disliked by Beijing, sent a bouquet of flowers to the opening with a note quoting a Chinese proverb about justice and fairness.

China still sees self-ruling democratic Taiwan as part of its territory and has vowed to one day seize the island, by force if necessary.

Tsais government has advertised Taiwan as a place that values liberties and democracy, encouraging media outlets and organisations that are kicked out of authoritarian China to set up shop there instead.

I feel very proud of Taiwans democratic system and of Taiwan valuing the rule of law and human rights, parliament speaker Yu Shyi-kun, who visited Lams shop on Saturday, told reporters.

I am here to congratulate him (Lam) for reopening his bookstore and to cheer him on.

Thomas Lan, a 17-year-old customer, said he closely followed the protests in Hong Kong.

I support Hong Kong young peoples democracy movement, he told AFP. And I am worried that Hong Kong today could be Taiwan tomorrow.

Lam raised approximately $200,000  half of the money pledged in less than a day  via online crowd-funding last year to reopen the shop.
Mamata Banerjees Trinamool Congress party has accused the two Central teams visiting the state of West Bengal of spreading a political virus in the name of assessing the coronavirus containment efforts on the ground. This is the latest in the continuing war of words between the two sides.

Inter-ministerial central teams (IMCTs) visiting Bengal to assess COVID19 situation served no purpose. Their real aim is to spread a political virus. They are doing it shamelessly, PTI quoted a statement attributed to the TMC.

Earlier on Saturday, the central teams had alleged that they were not given access to facilities or officials in the state for the purpose of assessment and accused the state government of not supporting their endeavours despite an obligation to do so.

Also Watch: War of words between Mamata govt & Centre over COVID-19 crisis

Team leader of Kolkata IMCT, Apurva Chandra, wrote to home secretary and the chief secretary of Bengal listing instances of non-cooperation which he said were proving to be an impediment in Covid containment efforts.

Chandra alleged that the state government was not providing them with the schedule of visits to hospitals, quarantine centres and containment zones despite repeated requests. He also said that the Bengal government was yet to provide essential information sought by the team that was important for assessing states response to the contagion.

IMCT has been in Kolkata since 10 am on April 20. Four letters have been written by IMCT to the state government till today. No response has been received to any of the letters till date, Chandra said in his letter on Saturday.

The central team has also taken an exception to alleged public statements given by West Bengal chief secretary suggesting cooperation with IMCT amounted to a waste of time for the state officials.

The central team visiting states is supposed to be provided with logistics support and facilitate field visits, as per a home ministry directive.

The central team has also expressed concern over the absence of police escorts while they are on the field.

According to an official, who didnt wish to be named, the North Bengal IMCT had gone to Kalimpong on Saturday morning on their own after informing the chief secretary by message. They returned without visiting the hospital or meeting the district magistrate or chief medical officer as they refused to meet the team.

For Coronavirus Live Updates

The confrontation between the two sides escalated after the IMCT pointed out several gaps in covid management protocols observed during the visits to a couple of state-run designated hospitals.

Five days waiting time for test results for patients in isolation wards; bodies kept lying on hospital beds for hours before they are moved to mortuaries and lack of social distancing at the hospitals were some of the issues raised.

The HT Guide to Coronavirus COVID-19
FCC May Revoke Authorisation of Four Chinese-Controlled Firms to Operate in US

Sputnik News

15:38 GMT 24.04.2020(updated 16:13 GMT 24.04.2020)

On 9 April, the Department of Justice said that relevant US agencies had unanimously recommended revoking the authorisations for China Telecom to provide international telecommunications services to and from the United States, citing "substantial and unacceptable" national security risks.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued show cause orders to China Telecom Americas, China Unicom Americas, Pacific Networks, and ComNet, urging them to provide an explanation as to why the FCC should not launch the process of revoking their domestic and international section authorisations enabling them to operate in the United States.

The FCC's statement comes after the Chinese Foreign Ministry on 19 April called on the United States to stop politicising economic issues  one day after several US agencies recommended revoking the permits for China Telecom to provide international telecommunications services.

According to the ministry, the Chinese government always makes sure that its companies respect the laws of the countries in which they operate.

The United States has repeatedly tried to persuade its allies not to utilise China's 5G equipment and technologies, arguing that doing so would jeopardise security and intelligence sharing.

A Sputnik

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Number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Hubei drops below 50 for first time: official

BEIJING, April 24 (Xinhua) -- The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Hubei, the central China province hardest hit by the epidemic, dropped to below 50 Thursday for the first time, a health official said Friday.

As of Thursday, no new confirmed or suspected cases had been reported in the province for the 20th consecutive day, said Mi Feng, spokesperson for the National Health Commission, at a press conference in Beijing.

According to the commission's daily report issued earlier Friday, Hubei had 47 confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of Thursday.

In the last 10 days, the number of imported cases in China has gradually dropped. However, there are still reports of domestically transmitted confirmed cases with connections to imported ones, Mi said.

All-round efforts should be made to thoroughly track the confirmed, suspected and asymptomatic cases and their close contacts so as to eliminate potential risks, he added.
The ruling Trinamool Congress on Saturday described the two inter-ministerial central teams (IMCT) visiting West Bengal to assess the COVID-19 situation as "India's Most Callous Team", which, it said, has sought to spread the political virus "shamelessly".

The central teams have been visiting hospitals and quarantine centres and meeting officials in Kolkata and Siliguri.

"As expected, IMCT's visit to #Bengal has served no purpose. Visiting districts with no hotspots, asking #Bengal for audit committee, already been in place since early April," TMCs leader in the Rajya Sabha Derek OBrien said in a tweet.

"Their real aim is to spread the political virus. They are doing it shamelessly, Blatantly. Take your pick, IMCT = India's Most Callous Team IMCT = I Must Cause Trouble (in Bengal)," he tweeted.

The two central teams have alleged non-cooperation from the West Bengal government.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had earlier slammed the Centre for sending the teams to look into the state's preparedness for tackling the COVID-19 outbreak 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.)
Russia and the United States on Saturday commemorated a historic meeting of US and Soviet forces during WWII as an example of how their countries can "build trust and cooperate."

The meeting of Soviet and American forces at the Elbe river in Germany on April 25, 1945, is seen as a milestone in World War II, foreshadowing the defeat of the Nazis.

A joint statement by Russian leader Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump on the 75th anniversary said the Elbe meeting illustrated how the two countries could work together.

It is "an example of how our countries can set aside differences, build trust and cooperate in the name of a common goal", according to a statement published by the Kremlin and White House.

"As we work today to confront the most important challenges of the 21st century, we pay tribute to the valour and courage of all those who fought together to defeat fascism," it added. "Their heroic feat will never be forgotten."

In a video published on Twitter, US Ambassador to Russia John Sullivan said the meeting at the Elbe was "a symbol of what we can achieve when we work together for a common cause".
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Linkedin Moch. Fiqih Prawira Adjie (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, April 25, 2020 16:20 627 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd43d60e 1 World COVID-19,coronavirus,virus-corona,virus-korona-indonesia,South-Korea,PCR-test,test-kits,donation,cooperation Free

A shipment of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test kits arrived on April 24 as part of South Korea's US$500,000 grant-in-kind to help Indonesia battle the COVID-19 outbreak on its shores.

South Korean Ambassador to Indonesia Kim Chang-beom handed over the consignment of donated equipment to Indonesia's national COVID-19 task force on their arrival in Jakarta.

This donation of test kits is a follow-up to the South Korean governments commitment to prioritize Indonesia in COVID-19 mitigation cooperation, Kim said on Friday during a press briefing at the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) in Jakarta.

[We face] good times and hardships together," the South Korean ambassador added.

Seoul has sent enough test kits to analyze up to 32,200 samples, while it sent an earlier consignment of electric pump sprayers that arrived in Indonesia on April 8.

During Fridays press briefing, Foreign Ministry's director for East Asian and Pacific affairs Santo Darmosumarto expressed his appreciation to South Korea.

Seoul has been a strategic partner to Jakarta since 2017.

We welcome and express our great appreciation to not only the South Korean government, but also its citizens who have always been close partners and friends to Indonesia, said Santo.

Read also: COVID-19: Indonesia on hunt for PCR testing kits

In a separate statement, the South Korean embassy said that the two countries would continue to maintain close communications on COVID-19 mitigation, including humanitarian aid.

We hope that the PCR test kits distributed by the government of the Republic of Korea can help improve the COVID-19 testing capacity of Indonesia, as the country is facing difficulties in procuring health equipment, the statement said.

In a phone conversation on Tuesday, President Joko Widodo and South Korean President Moon Jae-In individually expressed their hopes of increasing cooperation between Jakarta and Seoul during the pandemic.

Several South Korean conglomerates have also pledged to supply medical equipment to Indonesia's COVID-19 mitigation effort.

On Friday, Indonesia reported 8,211 confirmed cases and 689 deaths, while South Korea reported 10,700 cumulative cases and 240 deaths. Globally, around 2.8 million people have contracted COVID-19 and 197,000 people have died of the disease.
Ireland is a small European island and a small political and economic unit, even more so by its division into the North and Republic. As a result, it must especially define itself in how it interacts with the outside world, in terms of trade, diplomacy and organisations like the European Union and United Nations.

This is the scope of a very interesting and ambitious study by historian Owen McGee. He focuses on how Ireland has performed within international organisations and treaties and the growth of our foreign service. This is actually quite small, he believes, given the country's ambitions: many embassies double up in responsibilities abroad. Having said that, he charts the growth of Irish diplomacy, from just six consulates in the 1920s to over 60 embassies by the 2010s.

McGee also shows the emergence of modern Ireland as actually highly international and globalist through inward investment. Indeed, the economic aspect almost drives everything and our low tax model is a legacy of the more commercially-minded Sean Lemass rather than Eamon de Valera before him. However, politically, de Valera was a keen participant for the new Irish State in the international arena and took some strong stands at the League of Nations, the forerunner of the United Nations. The last Secretary General of this important and often underrated body was Sean Lester, an Irishman.

To add to the book's ambition, McGee looks at the foreign interactions of Ireland even in the pre-Independence period, when a credible international profile was crucial to enhancing sovereignty. In this sense, the country was drawing on strong historical and even ancient traditions given our links in terms of Christianity, philosophy and monasticism.

This overseas tradition was renewed with the growth of Irish missions overseas, especially in the developing world, a contribution that really deserves more thorough and sympathetic examination at this stage.

Not least, this gave Ireland a differential in terms of image and culture. Otherwise, we were overwhelmingly attached to the UK. McGee makes the important point that the Irish State has remained very connected to the United Kingdom, right down to the recent times. This has been especially the case in terms of trade and finance.

Brexit will be a major test of that dependence, and of our ability to operate without the UK in the EU. Interestingly, the State creator's anticipated this dependence and even De Valera floated ideas close to what became the British Commonwealth. Fine Gael ministers like Kevin O'Higgins then helped shape this Commonwealth, only for Ireland to be taken out of it, perhaps rashly, in 1949.

It is, of course, through the EU that Ireland has truly come of age internationally, although as McGee points out, it has been often an ambiguous and confused relationship - at least until recently.

This ambiguity is partly because of our ongoing policy of military neutrality, although as he puts it: "Since the days of Lemass, the Irish Government had attempted to convince the international community that Ireland was entirely committed to Europe and was certainly not a non-aligned country."

This useful ambiguity continues to be the case, as I saw at the United Nations General Assembly when we were still playing the "plucky little post colonial" card while also being part of the big Western Europe gang of the EU, which was then comprised of the affluent Twelve (or Les Douze).

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To balance this move into a more Western space, Ireland has continued to initiate progressive policies on nuclear disarmament and has been an active UN peacekeeper. We are currently seeking another term on the UN Security Council, for example, something of which the public may be unaware, given current distractions.

McGee devotes much space to the Northern Ireland peace process going right back, and correctly sees that the internationalisation of the issue as an Irish diplomatic achievement, not least the involvement of the Americans, from Ted Kennedy right down to Bill Clinton and the Good Friday Agreement of 1998.

The British had always wanted to keep the issue domestic, and its own affair. The European Union went along with that for years, not wishing to upset the UK, and I would disagree with the author about the EU's historic influence on Northern Ireland. Brussels threw money at it but little else.

That is until now, and Brexit, and the stance of the EU in drawing a red line over the North (and a seamless border) and using it as a stick to beat the departing British with. Who could have seen that one coming!

This is a fascinating and stimulating book and the author has drawn together many different elements impressively. He has certainly taken some thoughtful angles and it will be a valuable resource as we face into an uncertain international future.
The world has been placed on a stranglehold by the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, a large majority of the globe's activities have been suspended as a means to control the spread of the coronavirus.

This has resulted in a negative impact across many industries, particularly retail, hospitality and even finance.

The effects have been comparable to the 2008 recession with its financial repercussions as it has been dubbed as "it could bankrupt more people than it kills", according to The Independent.

People recall that only a handful of investors, like the young James Richman, were left unscathed during 2008. However, the threat the pandemic poses to human life is a dynamic that was not present when the economic bubble burst from 12 years ago.

Much of the world was unprepared for this catastrophe and reactive actions may prove too late to combat the problem's effect. However, there have been a few very promising sources of hope.

In particular, 3D printing has been viewed as an effective stop-gap solution to the increasing demand for personal protective equipment, ventilators, and other healthcare gear.

The increasing demand for 3D printing is set to make one of the industry's early investors, like the Latvian-born billionaire, a substantial amount of increase in his profits. This is not to say that these people with great foresight are ecstatic about the current situation. It just shows their savvy in investments.

3D printing basics

3D printing traces its roots way back in 1984. Charles "Chuck" Hull is credited to invent the first form of 3D printing, stereolithography. This new type of printing was officially coined in 1986, the year the system was patented. The technology just gained a life of its own from there as it gradually gathered milestones in the coming years.

The first actual 3D printer was built in 1992. This was followed by the first 3D printed organ, a bladder, 7 years later in 1999. The bladder was made from the patient's cells, thereby reducing the chance of rejection after the transplant.

In 2002, the first usable 3D printed organ, a kidney, was produced. 2006 followed with breakthroughs such as Multiple Material Printing and Selective Laser Sintering which allowed better production in quality and quantity.

Then 2008 saw the first usable prosthetic leg printed, while 2009 produced bioprinted blood vessels. In 2011, silver and gold were used as filaments.

We can see that 3D printing is a very versatile and swift technology. The ability to print digitally scaled products, as a whole or in parts, shortcuts the production process of a typical factory. Owners now have the made-to-order option which eliminates waste material and storage fees. This makes their businesses very cost-effective.

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic highlights 3D printing's durability as well. Being easily operated, even individual hobbyists are pitching into the production of healthcare and protective equipment for the frontline workers.

With 3D-printing's speed, durability, and versatility are showing in today's situation but this has already caught the eye of investors with foresight in the not-so-distant past. James Richman raised eyebrows in 2019 when it was reported that he pumped in millions of dollars in 3D printing startups.

These companies supported the production of prosthetics and organ manufacturing. Now, these investments are set to deliver loads of money to James Richman and his private investment fund.

And by the looks of it, Richman and his camp have already designed plans as to how to spend the earned income.

Contributions help COVID-19

The Monaco-based philanthropist has reportedly tapped his non-profit organization to aid in supplying much needed medical and protective equipment to the frontline workers in the US and Europe, the most severely hit regions.

His connections with the 3D printing industry make it favorable for his organization to acquire the much-needed supply.

Recently, James Richman was also understood to have committed $18m to support the development of a COVID-19 treatment and vaccine.

It can also be remembered how the Latvian-born private investment fund manager was able to infuse significant amounts of funds in the healthcare systems of the Baltic States in 2019.

It is remarkable how the businessman finds a way to make investments that turn out to be saving graces in times of need.

Although today's crisis can be regarded as more serious because of the death toll skyrocketing, It is through seeing little rays of hope that a solid resilience is shaped.
C rowds flocked to B&Q after it reopened 155 stores during the fifth week of coronavirus lockdown.

The retailer said it was implementing "social distancing controls" including two-metre spacing and limits on the number of goods customers can buy.

However some critics on social media have panned the decision, calling for the gradual lifting of lockdown measures, after long queues were seen at stores in London, Bristol, Kent and in the Wirral .

B&Q shut all of its stores at the end of March but following a trial last weekend, opened shops across the UK under a graduated scheme.

Long queues at B&Q after UK stores reopen during coronavirus pandemic 1 /12 Long queues at B&Q after UK stores reopen during coronavirus pandemic Long queues outside a B&Q diy store in Bristol PA Shoppers queue at a recently re-opened B&Q hardware store Getty Images Customers queue outside the B&Q Warehouse, which has reopened after more than a month's closure, in south west London AFP via Getty Images A sign for keeping social distancing is pictured at a B&Q DIY store REUTERS People queue outside a B&Q store in Dover, Kent, as the UK continues in lockdown PA A worker disinfects a shopping trolley outside a B&Q DIY store REUTERS People queue outside a B&Q diy store in Hartcliffe, Bristol PA Long queues were seen in Wallasey, Wirral PA Long queues outside a B&Q diy store in Bristol as the UK continues in lockdown to help curb the spread of the coronavirus PA

A spokesman for the store previously told the Standard it is following "best practice" and operating outlets with "social distancing measures in place".

Photos depicting long lines of customers waiting to enter shops under the hot sun have surfaced online.

Taking to social media, one Twitter user said: "Hardly a surprise. Hordes of people descending onto B&Q was always going to happen when they reopened.

"Other countries' Governments have eased them out of lockdown, the UK has been eased out by B&Q and a bunch of selfish idiots who are risking undoing most peoples good work."

Another added: "Unlocking the lockdown ... by the backdoor. I missed this. Why are B&Q opening stores to the general public?

"Understandable for essential service personnel to be able to use them atm, but for the rest of us? Once one starts, they'll all follow suit."

One user said: "Went past my local B&Q today. Car park rammed full. #lockdown is going to fully collapse within a couple of weeks if Boris Johnson & co dont get a grip."

One person claimed the lockdown will last longer now that the stores have reopened.

"I would just like to say well done to B&Q & Homebase for opening up at the peak of the virus," he said.

"We will be in lockdown for longer due to greed and not peoples safety."

Another posted that the situation was "absolute carnage" and said: "With B&Q opening all their stores they have single handedly ended lockdown. Roads are now busier and just been to Morrison's it's absolute carnage".

However some users said the retailer was left with no choice.

"The fact is, B&Q (like many businesses) were not told to close, they chose too.

"While competitors like Wickes adapted they did not, and have not choice but to reopen or crash. It seems worse now because they were closed all this time."

A B&Q spokesperson said: "As an essential retailer, were committed to providing the best possible service to support customers home improvement needs at this difficult time, while keeping customers and colleagues safe.
Workers stand several feet apart and individually exit General Motors' plant near Detroit. Marks on the ground identify how far employees should be apart. Michael Wayland | CNBC

WARREN, Mich.  Walking into an auto parts plant in suburban Detroit, General Motors employees are instructed to stand at least six feet apart and go through a health screening that includes a temperature check. They also sanitize their hands and put on a face mask and safety glasses. Exiting the facility, it's much of the same. The roughly 140 employees currently working at the plant to produce medical face masks during the coronavirus pandemic stand on marked spots for social distancing as they check out and leave the plant. It's a far different process than how the former transmission facility, which GM decommissioned last year, used to operate with hundreds of employees freely entering and exiting the facility all at once. "It is very different times," Gerald Johnson, GM executive vice president of Global Manufacturing, told CNBC following a tour of the operations Thursday. He said the protocols as well as available Covid-19 test kits at all GM plants when it eventually restarts its U.S. operations.

Such practices are expected to become common practice as automakers attempt to reopen factories  most of which were shut down in mid-March due to Covid-19  without spreading the disease. Jose Munoz, CEO of Hyundai Motor North America, recently told CNBC that testing is overall critical to curving the pandemic. The automaker earlier this month donated 65,000 tests to hospitals in the U.S. "The key to control the pandemic, not only through the pandemic time but also after, it is testing," he said last week during "Closing Bell." Hyundai expects to begin restarting production at its plant in Alabama on May 4. The company, according to a spokesman, does not have Covid-19 tests planned for employee use. The South Korean automaker, he said, does plan to take body temperatures of employees entering the plant. Hyundai, like other automakers, also is changing procedures to allow for social distancing and implementing extensive sanitation measures.

Toyota Motor, Honda Motor and Volkswagen are among other major automakers that have confirmed plans to restart production in early-May. However, those plans have been delayed several times. The precautions add to an already complex task for automakers. They also must get clearance from state governments, make sure their suppliers can produce needed parts and, in the case of the Detroit automakers, convince the United Auto Workers union that it's safe to return.

UAW opposition

GM and Ford Motor are among the only major automakers that have yet to announce a time frame to restart production. Fiat Chrysler earlier this month announced plans to restart production on May 4. UAW President Rory Gamble on Thursday said that the union believes restarting production in early-May is "too soon and too risky" for its members. "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 in a statement. "We have not done enough testing to really understand the threat our members face."

United Auto Workers (UAW) acting president Rory Gamble speaks to Reuters from his office in Southfield, Michigan, November 6, 2019. Rebecca Cook | Reuters

At least 27 UAW members working for the Detroit automakers have been confirmed to have died due to Covid-19 since late-March, according to the union. Details of how they contracted the virus are unknown. The Detroit automakers employ about 150,000 UAW members. Gamble's statement came 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. Fiat Chrysler, in an emailed response to the comments, said the company continues to "make the health and well-being of its employees a top priority." The company has not publicly changed its start date. Processes being discussed with each of the automakers, according to the UAW, include following CDC and World Health Organization protocols as well as enhanced protections that will "ensure confidence of members working in a comfortable and safe environment." Ford, at its U.S. facilities currently producing personal protection equipment, is utilizing an online system to ask employees if they're symptomatic each day or if they have been in contact with someone that was diagnosed with Covid-19. If so, they are not allowed to come to work. Ford also uses thermal scanners, face masks and social distancing guidelines at the facilities, including entering and exiting the locations.

'Mass testing impractical'

GM, Ford and Fiat Chrysler have been preparing to restart U.S. production. That includes talking with their suppliers, changing work processes to allow for proper social distancing and obtaining or producing needed supplies. The closures are costing the companies billions by the week in lost production. "In terms of our readiness, and that's the key thing, we're doing everything to make sure that we're ready whenever the time is right to restart," Johnson said.

The entrance of the decommissioned plant where General Motors is producing medical face masks in Michigan displays coronavirus safety procedures next to a table with hand sanitizer, masks and safety glasses. Michael Wayland / CNBC

Some GM workers have remained at facilities maintaining, updating or installing new equipment since the plants shutdown, according to Johnson. The company also is producing face masks and hand sanitizer for internal use once operations resume. Regarding testing, Johnson said GM will only test employees with symptoms or have valid concerns that they have contracted the disease. "Mass testing is impractical," he said. "It's not even the smart thing to do." The company, he said, has relationships with LabCorp and Sonic Healthcare for 48-hour or less testing. The United Auto Workers has cited testing and data as important factors in its members returning to work. There have been different discussions about what that would entail and whether mass testing would be available and appropriate, according to three people familiar with the discussions. Fiat Chrysler declined to comment on whether or not they expect to have Covid-19 testing available. Ford as of Friday did not have plans to utilize test kits at plants. Any employees experiencing symptoms would be asked to independently get checked by a physician.

China as a guide

The protocols planned for U.S. plants are similar to those already in place in China, where the coronavirus pandemic and a government shutdown halted production for several weeks or months and automakers gradually restarted operations. "We think a limited-phase restart is the right approach," Johnson said. "People will have to adapt to new protocols, people will have to become comfortable with them. Of course, we will be metered by demand as well."

General Motors has implemented body temperature scans as part of its new processes for employees producing face masks at an auto parts plant in suburban Detroit. Michael Wayland / CNBC
Facebook's $5.7 billion investment in Reliance promises to be the biggest headache yet for Paytm, a SoftBank-backed pioneer in India's digital payments market but which has been losing ground to rivals with deeper pockets.

Facebook's WhatsApp, which has been working on gaining regulatory approval for payments services in India, is gearing up for a full rollout of those services by June, according to a source familiar with the matter.

The partnership with Reliance, announced on Wednesday, will give WhatsApp an inside track on payments for Reliance's retail unit, which aims to serve tens of millions of small shops across India.

It will also be able to link up with Reliance's telecoms business, which has taken the market by storm since its launch in late 2016, and WhatsApp itself has an enormous presence in India with more than 400 million users.

"If someone would have lost sleep as the Facebook-Reliance deal was announced, it must be Vijay Shekhar Sharma," said a second source, referring to Paytm's founder.

The source, who has close ties to both Reliance and Paytm, declined to be identified to protect business interests.

Compared to other major players in India's digital payments markets, Paytm is seen as more vulnerable to attack, already on the backfoot amid competition from Alphabet's Google Pay and Walmart's PhonePe.

While having previously attracted investments from the likes of Japan's SoftBank, China's Alibaba and U.S.-based Berkshire Hathaway, it lacks its own wells of capital for funding, putting it at a disadvantage.

Paytm also remains unprofitable, with its parent firm reporting a loss of over $500 million in the year ended March 2019.

Launched a decade ago as a platform for mobile recharging, Paytm grew quickly after ride-hailing firm Uber listed it as a quick payment option. Its use swelled further in 2016 when a ban on high-value currency notes spurred digital payments.

But it underestimated the impact of a state-backed digital payment system that was rolled out in 2016. On that network, Google Pay and PhonePe together accounted for nearly 80% of 1.31 billion transactions in January. Paytm was a distant third with about 10%, according to data from payments firm Razorpay.

India's digital payments market is expected to more than double in size to $135 billion in 2023 from 2019 levels, according to a study by PwC and Indian industry lobby group ASSOCHAM.

Individual market share can, however, be difficult to assess. Paytm has branched out into services including insurance and gold sales, movie and flight ticketing, and bank deposits and remittances.

Paytm declined to comment.

GOLIATH-LIKE OPPONENT Paytm has long seen the threat posed by WhatsApp, and when the messaging service launched a trial of its payment services in early 2018, Sharma accused Facebook of "cheap tricks".

Paytm was also part of a lobbying campaign against U.S. firms over local data storage - an issue now mostly resolved but which had been an impediment to WhatsApp gaining regulatory approval. With Reliance behind it, WhatsApp's path to final approval for the payment service is now expected to be smooth.

On one hand, the market is expanding, and sources familiar with the matter say Paytm has seen a boost in transactions as the COVID-19 crisis pushes commerce online.

But the Reliance-Facebook combination represents a Goliath-like opponent, especially given Reliance's track record in decimating rivals when it entered the telecoms market with Jio Infocomm and cut-throat pricing.

"This is a formidable combination of bandwidth and platform player so it will easily shake up the payments industry," said Ashvin Parekh, an independent financial services consultant.

He added that in any bruising battle over digital payments, a telecom firm like Reliance's Jio would be hard to beat as it has far more insight into consumer data habits and a greater number of stores to reach potential customers.

Paytm has raised more than $3 billion since it was founded, with the most recent infusion of $1 billion coming last autumn. But should it need more, fundraising now looks far more difficult. SoftBank, its biggest investor, has problems of its own and has backed away from pouring more funds into money-losing startups.

A recent move by India to intensify scrutiny of Chinese investments in the country could also complicate any future fundraising efforts.
(Bloomberg Opinion) -- President Donald Trumps reopening guidelines for states are more cautious than you might expect from someone who consistently calls for a rapid return to economic activity.

The gating metrics that states are supposed to meet before reopening are fairly robust: They should see a two-week downward trajectory of flu and Covid-like symptoms, and a two-week downward trajectory of documented cases or positives as a percent of total tests. And they should be well enough equipped to treat all patients without crisis care and to broadly test health workers. If states were to strictly follow these guidelines, many would keep residents at home for several weeks before beginning the first of three gradual phases of an economic restart. The plan advises hitting these metrics again before moving on to subsequent, more open stages.

The recommendations come with loopholes, however. And unfortunately the president has made it clear, with his talk of opening before the end of the month, that hed like to see them used.

The White House plan says states and officials may need to tailor these criteria to local circumstances, including in rural and suburban areas where outbreaks have been minimal. It also gives states the option of taking a county-by-county approach.

If social distancing is loosened piecemeal in this way, however, people will be attracted to more open areas nearby, and may travel there, possibly bringing the virus and renewed outbreaks along with them. Trumps plan adds to this risk by including sporting venues and places of worship in the first suggested phase of opening, if such places carry out distancing measures. And while the plan acknowledges that it might be good for neighboring states to cooperate with one another in reopening, it offers little in the way of detail or encouragement to do so. If neighbors of already-forming state coalitions open fast, and in a fragmented fashion, they may undermine the best-laid plans of the cooperating states.

Story continues

They will be able to go literally tomorrow because theyve met all of the guidelines, Trump said in announcing the plan Thursday. We have large sections of the country right now that can start thinking about opening.

Its also possible that the states Trump sees opening soonest only look relatively safe from Covid-19 because of limited testing. Just a few weeks ago, South Dakota would have been in this category; now its a hot spot.

The reality is, data-based decision-making relies on accurate information and cautious interpretation. The distressingly vague phrase downward trajectory, which is incorporated into several of the plans gating criteria, gives states a lot of leeway to open too early based on unreliable data, and the president doesnt seem inclined to complain if they do.

Without more testing, states wont have an accurate picture of how far the virus is spreading. Existing flu-tracking infrastructure can help, but it cant replace widespread Covid-19 screening.

The Trump administration has largely left testing efforts to states, and yet its reopening plan mandates frequent on-demand coronavirus tests  including for front-line workers. States are also supposed to conduct routine sentinel testing of vulnerable populations to catch early outbreaks, as well as widespread case intervention and contact tracing. These are excellent requirements. But governors with varying ability and limited information are left to their own devices to work out most of the details and implementation.

Finally, Trumps plan calls on states to monitor what happens after they loosen social-distancing measures, and quickly return to them if the disease spreads again. This is a crucial fail-safe, and one thats likely to see too much use.

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Max Nisen is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering biotech, pharma and health care. He previously wrote about management and corporate strategy for Quartz and Business Insider.

For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com/opinion

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The Maharashtra government is yet



to decide whether shops be allowed to remain open in view of the amended guidelines issued by the Central government.

An official said on Saturday that the order issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Friday night was under an "active consideration" of the state government.

"This is issued by the Government of India. Not yet accepted by us," he told PTI.

The MHA order stated that "all shops, including neighbourhood shops and standalone shops, shops in residential complexes, within the limits of municipal corporations and municipalities, registered under the the Shops and Establishment Act of the respective State and UT will be allowed to open during the lockdown".

The ministry also said shops located in registered markets located outside the municipal corporations and municipalities can open after following the drill of social distancing and wearing of masks but with 50 per cent of strength.

However, single and multi-brands shall continue to remain closed in these areas also.

In the guidelines issued on April 17, the Maharashtra government allowed resumption of industrial activities, especially in the manufacturing sector in the non-containment zones.

However, this relaxation was withdrawn on April 21 for Mumbai and Pune regions, which have reported the maximum number of COVID-19 cases in the state.

The state government later allowed pre-monsoon and works related to Metro trains in these regions.

In an order issued earlier this week, the state government allowed shops selling electric fans to remain open.

It also allowed services of bedside attendants and care givers for senior citizens.

Similarly food processing mills such as bread factories, milk processing plants, flour mills etc. were allowed to start operations on conditions of restricted staff and adherence to the lockdown norms.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
DECATUR  Being a high school senior during a pandemic is hard. Being a senior with special needs is harder. Larry McCray's final year at MacArthur High School is not at all what he or his family ever envisioned.

He's autistic, and he's not a huge social butterfly, but he has his group of core friends   said his mother, Olivia McCray, choking up. And he said, 'Every year I say goodbye to the school and touch my locker, and he's not able to do those things.

The closure of Illinois schools and the shift to remote learning because of coronavirus has created especially challenging times for families with students who have special needs. There are disrupted routines, lost educational opportunities and, in cases of health issues, concerns about risks due to COVID-19.

Teachers are adapting and adjusting. Special needs students may not be able to use tablets and other technology that distance-learning programs typically rely on. Parents typically dont have the training or background for such guidance.

Special education students are likely the ones hit hardest by the necessity of schooling at home, said Macon-Piatt Special Education District Director Kathy Horath. She said parents must be feeling overwhelmed.

Related stories

Some of our students need the routines our teachers offer in the schools, and when they are home, they cant switch into 'school' mode and be ready to learn, she said. I would anticipate many of our students will need some additional support when we return to school in the fall.

Sara Devore teaches Essential Skills at Stephen Decatur Middle School and said her students are not in a position to use iPads to complete their work. It takes a team of teachers, teaching assistants and other aides, including licensed practical nurses in some cases. The students often have other services such as occupational and physical therapy. Parents working with their children at home are usually not trained in these areas.

Her concern from the start is that they use specialized books and materials. Some were taken home, but it is impossible to provide all of these materials to each family, so we have had to use some creativity.

That time at first was expected to be about 10 days. But that too has changed.

SAVE THE MOST LIVES

The statewide public and private school closure ordered by Gov. J.B. Pritzker in mid-March was initially scheduled to last two weeks as part of an effort to contain the coronavirus.

The governor later issued a stay-at-home order and then extended it and the schools closure through April. Last Friday, it was announced that classes would not be held for the rest of the semester.

Pritzker at a press conference acknowledged the move, which affects about 2 million students, is disruptive to families. Pritzker has also faced questions about challenges related to wireless internet in parts of the state and how parents should handle child care.

"But my priority remains unchanged. How do we save the most lives during this very difficult time?" Pritzker said. The answer to that question leaves us with only one path forward.

When Pritzker closed schools last month, the State Board of Education issued a 61-page report to school systems with recommendations for off-site learning. One section deals specifically with special education as well, and districts have to provide services under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

Students with disabilities are particularly vulnerable during times of disruption and change. To ensure ongoing growth and progress, districts should focus their planning efforts on how to continue serving these students to the greatest extent practicable by tailoring remote learning that provides educational benefits to students with disabilities, the report reads.

About 14% of Illinois students receive special education services, from speech or language impairment to autism, state data shows. School districts have highly specialized educators to meet the needs. But without school, that becomes a major adjustment.

For educators, part of the challenge is the very nature of teaching special education students. Its hands-on, and one-on-one relationships are crucial.

Our students don't learn in the same way that the general ed kids do, so we need to be able to be there and assess as they work so we can modify as needed, said Barb Brinkman, a special education teacher at Dennis School in Decatur.

Jodi Clayton, who teaches Essential Skills at MacArthur, said their focus is on activities that will help students be as independent as possible.

At school we work on reading skills such as comprehension, sequencing, cause and effect, and positional words. We also teach cooking and daily living skills, community activities, and vocational skills, she said. Remember, these lessons all come with activities where teaching assistants and I work individually with each student practicing, assessing, and collecting data to monitor their progress."

That kind of interaction is hard to replicate, but not impossible, off site.

Janice Stock is working from home and overseeing the home learning of son Brycen, 13, a Warrensburg-Latham Middle School student.

She said Brycens teacher, Candy Ridgeway, has spent hours interacting with him on Zoom, the online video conferencing site, and helped him with assignments. She called Ridgeway a lifesaver.

All I had to do was call and she was there. She was able to take a lot of our stress away so I could also work from home, she said. There is amazing work being done from the life skills teachers, essential skills teachers and (social-emotional disorders) teachers at Macon-Piatt Special Education District.

THE UPSIDE

There are some other silver-linings as well.

Warrensburg-Latham High School Principal Jonathan Downings daughter Emmaline is a student at Garfield Montessori School in Decatur, where her mother, Aubrey Jump, is a teacher.

Emmaline is autistic, and social interaction is difficult for her, so being at home is, in one way, easier for her, Downing said. Her teacher uses SeeSaw, a virtual school with daily assignments and teaching, and coordinates with her special education teacher.

She spent hours creating larger work packets and directions for Emmaline. She also checks on her constantly, he said.

Debbie Rohde is on a 12-week leave from work and can concentrate on working with her daughter, Ella, a junior at MacArthur High School in the Life Skills program.

Teacher Shannen Ray is focusing on handling money and has added visuals online keep them focused.

Being at home is working pretty well for Ella, Rohde said, because she can help her daughter with tasks around the house.

Each day she picks at least one thing to do: dishes, laundry, cooking, cleaning house, etc., Rohde said. Ella has always helped out in most of those areas, but this is keeping her skills honed for when she goes out on job sites next school year. Ella has also been keeping up with her hygiene and self-care, so we do not stay in our pajamas all day.

They take walks in nice weather, as suggested by Ella's physical education teacher, and another of Ella's teachers, Amanda Wrigley, made video tutorials on how to use an iPad so Ella can complete written assignments.

ADJUSTMENT PERIOD FOR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS

Still, Olivia McCray, the mother of Decatur senior Larry, said the whole situation is disappointing, especially for seniors excited about graduation ceremonies.

There's talk of having something later in the summer, but we're at such an undefined place of 'When will this be over, when will we have normalcy?' that's just a wishful conversation, she said.

Decatur school officials are coming up graduation plans, said district spokeswoman Denise Swarthout.

Just as students are adjusting, so are teachers.

I miss my students, said Megan Hull, who teaches at MacArthur High School. I miss their laughs and their presence. When you go to school to become a teacher, it is to not only teach them academics but to walk into your classroom every day and make connections and relationships with students.

Hull said that while she understands the stay-at-home order, she there was a chance to say good bye.

If there is one thing that I know I learned from this experience is that I am truly meant to be in the classroom with my students and I will never take for granted going to school ever again, she said.

Brinkman said she recently dropped off packets at the homes of students, and it brought the biggest smile on my face to see them waving out the window.

And one even screamed, 'My teacher is here' and tried to run out and give me a hug but mom and I had to stop him, she said. Breaks my heart. I miss them so.

21 photos of Decatur high school activities through the years

Your voices: How Central Illinois residents are handling the coronavirus pandemic

Contact Valerie Wells at (217) 421-7982. Follow her on Twitter: @modgirlreporter

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The number of homeless people in Portland who move into permanent homes sharply decreased since COVID-19 restrictions hit Oregon, breaking a years-long streak of gradual growth.

In March, 210 people moved from the street or shelter into an apartment they are expected to be able to afford long-term, according to officials who assist with and track those moves. That is a 40% drop from January and February, on average. It is hundreds of people fewer than during the same timeframe in 2018 and 2019.

The city-county Joint Office of Homeless Services attributed the drop to several anecdotal factors: nonprofit homeless service providers are unable to quickly get identification cards for people who have lost them while living on the street, landlords are less willing to schedule walk-throughs, and case managers are struggling to find and meet with clients.

Officials are unable to fully explain the drop, other than the unique challenges of a city brought to a standstill by coronavirus.

That extends to the homeless shelter system.

Despite creation of new shelters and opening of some motel rooms for sick people without homes of their own to recover, 20% fewer people were able to get into shelters in March than January and February, on average. Transition Projects, which operates most of the publicly funded shelters, stopped accepting new residents for weeks while Multnomah County quickly worked to open several emergency shelters to allow residents to stay at least six feet from each other.

The shelters resumed normal intake operations in the last few weeks, but nonprofits that run them have found that people are staying longer in shelters than usual, partly because so few are able to move into affordable apartments.

The Joint Office cautioned that the numbers of people they report have made such moves might not fully reflect all the work being done right now, because nonprofit service providers must enter data into a database that the Joint Office used to crunch the numbers. That information might be slow to be entered as everyone scrambles to adapt to new restrictions and fewer resources.

However, spokesman Denis Theriault said that the trend is concerning.

A decline is something we have to keep an eye on, Theriault said. COVID is throwing a lot of challenges across the community.

The numbers for April, which have not been collected yet, might be starker than Marchs, since Gov. Kate Browns stay-home order and restrictions on mass gatherings came nearly halfway through March.

Homeless service agencies have complained of a lack of resources and frustration at not being able to meet peoples immediate or long-term needs. That work is still being done, if more slowly, Theriault said.

Things are happening but theres just more steps involved, Theriault said.

-- Molly Harbarger

mharbarger@oregonian.com | 503-294-5923 | @MollyHarbarger

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
Trump suggests injecting disinfectant to treat coronavirus

Iran Press TV

Friday, 24 April 2020 1:30 AM

US President Donald Trump has hinted that "disinfectant" can be used to cure people infected with the coronavirus after previously suggesting chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine as treatment, which the EU said could kill patients.

Speaking during his daily briefing on Thursday night, Trump suggested injecting disinfectant into the bodies of humans to cure covid-19 patients.

"I see the disinfectant that knocks it out in a minute, one minute. And is there a way we can do something like that by injection inside or almost a cleaning," the president said.

However, a senior health official later told reporters that federal laboratories are neither considering nor trying to develop such a treatment option.

Yet Trump, appearing to refer to the disinfectant idea, continued to say, "You see it gets in the lungs and it does a tremendous number [on the] lungs, so it would be interesting to check that."

"We're going to have to use medical doctors, but it seems interesting to me."

This comes as his much touted drugs - chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine - are said to have fatal side effects.

The European Medicines Agency, the EU's drug regulator, repeated concerns on Thursday that the two drugs being prescribed in the US and some other countries as treatments for the covid-19, have yet to demonstrate any medical benefits and, therefore, should not be used outside trials or national emergency use programs.

"Recent studies have reported serious, in some cases fatal, heart rhythm problems with chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine, particularly when taken at high doses or in combination with the antibiotic azithromycin," read a statement by the Amsterdam-based EMA.

The drugs could also cause low blood sugar, liver and kidney problems as well as nerve cell damage that can lead to seizures.

The statement came days after the largest study on drugs, commissioned by the US government, found that the two drugs had no effects on the virus and instead, hydroxychloroquine was associated with more deaths among the patients.

Trump also doubled down on his claim that sunlight kills the coronavirus, with his vice president Mike Pence saying there was "encouraging" news about how "heat and sunlight" affect the virus. However, such a claim has been rejected by experts, including, Deborah Birx, one of Trump's coronavirus task force members.

So far, the coronavirus has affected more than 878,000 people in the US and killed over 49,700 across the country.

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EasyJet is heading for its biggest showdown yet with its founder and majority owner Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou amid growing speculation in the City that the airline may ask investors to stump up rescue cash.

One of the City's most powerful stock-brokers has said that easyJet, along with British Airways' owner IAG, may soon have to issue new shares to raise capital if planes remain grounded and there is little prospect of a return to normal any time soon.

Mark Manduca, an analyst at Citigroup, wrote in a note to clients that the bank could not 'rule out an equity capital raise at either IAG or easyJet' because of 'talk of empty middle seats... at least nine months of skeleton schedules, the need to wear masks on flights and a possible consumer downturn'.

Grounded: Sir Stelios wants easyJet to cancel a 4.5billion order for new planes

Sir Stelios last night threatened to scupper the plans before they even got off the ground, telling The Mail on Sunday that easyJet 'won't get a penny' from him unless the 'scoundrels' on the board  including its chairman, John Barton, and chief executive Johan Lundgren  resign and a huge order of Airbus planes is cancelled.

As easyJet's largest shareholder, Sir Stelios would have to back any equity fundraising with millions of pounds from his family investment vehicle for it to go ahead.

Analysts estimate that easyJet has enough cash to last nine months, having taken out 400million of commercial loans and a 600million taxpayer-backed loan from the Government.

But Sir Stelios, who has been embroiled in an acrimonious row with the board over the Airbus planes order, believes it will take at least three years for easyJet's sales to return to pre-Covid-19 levels, putting pressure on the company to raise more money.

The founder of easyJet, whose family vehicle still owns 34 per cent of the airline, said cancelling the 4.5billion order for 107 planes from Airbus, which dates back to 2013, must come before shareholders reach into their pockets.

Analysts estimate that easyJet has enough cash to last nine months

Sir Stelios said: 'EasyJet will have to replenish the equity that it will lose with fresh equity. Loans do not solve the problem.

'Whilst any of the current 11 scoundrels are on the board and the Airbus contract has not been cancelled, I am not giving them another penny of my money.

'They will send our money to Airbus and then place the company in administration. There is no business case to invest new money into easyJet unless the Airbus contract is cancelled.

Taxpayers will not get their 600m back Sir Stelios

'UK taxpayers will not see their 600million back in March 2021 unless the contract is cancelled.

'The Greek-Cypriot tycoon has waged a long campaign against the Airbus order, but stepped up his fight with the board after the pandemic forced easyJet to ground its entire fleet of 330 planes and furlough many of its 15,000 staff.

Talking of the airline industry as a whole, Citigroup said: 'We strongly disagree with anyone who believes this is just a three-month hiatus.'

On Friday, Gatwick Airport, which relies on easyJet for almost half its traffic, released annual results in which the company appeared to back Sir Stelios's assessment of a prolonged cash crunch, saying it 'currently expects post-Covid-19 passenger numbers will return to recent levels within 36 to 48 months'.

Sir Stelios pointed out that Credit Suisse, easyJet's house broker, has forecast only a 5 per cent drop in revenues in 2021, compared to 2019. 'This is completely at odds with the sensible business prediction of Gatwick Airport,' he said.

'EasyJet must give guidance as to which of these two contrasting views  Credit Suisse versus Gatwick Airport  is correct, otherwise people are buying and selling shares under false assumptions.'

He added: 'EasyJet directors sticking their heads in the sand, refusing to guide the market on revenues and ignoring the statutory obligations is not what they are paid to do.'

Chairman John Barton has hit back at Sir Stelios, labelling his attack as 'destructive'.

Speculation is mounting in the Square Mile that IAG  owner of British Airways, Aer Lingus and Iberia  will have to ask shareholders for fresh cash

Meanwhile, speculation is mounting in the Square Mile that IAG  owner of British Airways, Aer Lingus and Iberia  will have to ask shareholders for fresh cash. British Airways has already grounded a substantial part of its fleet, struck a deal with unions to furlough 30,000 of its staff, and scrapped a 292million dividend.

Analysts had initially thought that IAG had sufficient cash reserves to keep going for at least two months, but if the travel bans and lockdowns continue over the next three to six months then it would face severe difficulties, as it burns through millions of pounds a week.

Rishi Sunak, the Chancellor, has indicated the Government isn't willing to bail out airlines before they have pursued other avenues first, 'including raising further capital from existing investors'.

Buying shares under false assumptions Sir Stelios

Charles Hall, head of research at stockbroker Peel Hunt, said: 'Some airlines will be nationalised and others will have to ask their own shareholders for more capital.'

It is not clear whether Qatar Airways, which owns just over 25 per cent of IAG, is willing to back an equity capital raising. The state-controlled airline has been building its stake at a significant premium to the company's current share price.

On Friday, IAG's shares fell 7.2p, or 3.2 per cent, to close at 2.17p while easyJet's shares dropped 14.2p, or 2.4 per cent, to close at 5.73.

An easyJet spokesman said it had taken measures to cut capital spending by 1billion over three years and added 2billion in extra funding, taking its cash balance to around 3.3billion.

The spokesman added: 'Over the past seven weeks we have grounded our entire fleet, dramatically reduced our cash burn and delivered an updated fleet deal deferring 24 aircraft while maintaining flexibility to respond to future demand.

'We have provided no guidance on future revenues.'

IAG declined to comment.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-25 13:24:46|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, April 25 (Xinhua) -- Nissan (China) Investment Co., Ltd. will recall 2,075 vehicles over airbag system defects, China's top quality regulator has said.

The recall will involve the imported Infiniti QX80 model manufactured between July 30, 2010, and Oct. 9, 2012, the State Administration For Market Regulation said in an online statement.

Faulty inflators might cause abnormal expansion of the airbag in the driver's seat, posing safety risks to passengers within the car, the statement said.

Nissan China, via Dongfeng Infiniti Motor Co., Ltd., will examine and repair the defective parts free of charge, according to the statement.

The recall will start on May 18, 2020. Enditem
T he UK's coronavirus lockdown faces a stern test with the public urged to stay home for a fifth weekend running.

With apparent signs of the shutdown measures working in stemming the infections spread, the public has been urged not to throw progress away by flouting laws amid warm weather over Saturday and Sunday.

Speaking at the daily Covid-19 press conference at Downing Street, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said that there were tentative signs that progress is being made as government data shows subtle coronavirus signs of figures plateauing.

Despite this he warned it "isn't over", while the UK has previously been cautioned it is "not out of the woods" in regards to the crisis.

Mr Shapps said: "The country has done incredibly well in adhering to social distancing and there is a danger as we go into yet another warm sunny weekend that people think that perhaps these graphs are showing that the peak is over.

"It isn't over, we're riding perhaps, we hope, a downward trend but it is by no means, no means established yet."

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

Questions have repeatedly been raised about when the country will move out of lockdown, as well as raising concerns about the method when the time comes.

Mr Shapps said: "When people ask me when will the measures, the social distancing, the stay at home measures, be altered, my answer in some ways is that some of this lies in your own hands.

"The more we adhere to it and are strict about the social distancing that is required, the faster that decision will be able to be made."

Coronavirus testing slots for key workers were booked up just hours after the Government launched its website / PA

It is feared that hot weather could tempt some to break regulations put in place, as the country feels the strain of the ongoing lockdown.

According to the Met Office, most of the UK will have a sunny weekend, with some cloud and a risk of showers on Sunday.

Mr Shapps said: "The country has done incredibly well in adhering to social distancing / Sky News

Temperatures are expected to remain significantly higher than average over both days, before moving closer to average figures next week.

Meteorologist Marco Petagna said that while eastern parts of the UK may see low cloud in the morning, Saturday will be bright and sunny for most people.

Coronavirus hits the UK - In pictures 1 /81 Coronavirus hits the UK - In pictures A deserted Westminster Bridge PA A man wearing a face mask or covering due to the COVID-19 pandemic, walks past customers sat outside a restaurant AFP via Getty Images Boris Johnson addresses the nation on the Coronavirus lockdown Andrew Parsons Runners pass cardboard cutouts of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and Prince William during the London Marathon in London AP An empty escalator at Charing Coss London Underground tube station Jeremy Selwyn Electronic bilboards displays a message warning people to stay home in Sheffield PA A sign is displayed in the window of a student accommodation building following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Mancheste Reuters People take part in a 'We Do Not Consent' rally at Trafalgar Square, organised by Stop New Normal, to protest against coronavirus restrictions, in Londo AP People sing and dance in Leicester Square on the eve on the 10PM curfew Reuters Hearts painted by a team of artists from Upfest are seen in the grass at Queen Square, following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Bristol Reuters Graffiti reads 'good luck and stay safe', as the number of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases grow around the world, under a bridge in London Reuters A sign is pictured in Soho, amid the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in London Reuters Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures, during a coronavirus briefing in Downing Street, London AP A person runs past posters with a message of hope, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues in Manchester REUTERS Riot police face protesters who took part in a 'We Do Not Consent' rally at Trafalgar Square, organised by Stop New Normal, to protest against coronavirus restrictions in London AP An image of The Queen eith quotes from her broadcast to the UK and the Commonwealth in relation to the Coronavirus epidemic are displayed on lights in London's Piccadilly Circus PA Military vehicles cross Westminster Bridge after members of the 101 Logistic Brigade delivered a consignment of medical masks to St Thomas' hospital Getty Images Durdle Door in Dorset Reuters Captain Tom Moore via Reuters Mia, aged 8, and Jack, aged 5, take part in "PE with Joe" a daily live workout with Joe Wicks on Youtube to help kids stay fit who have to stay indoors due to the Coronavirus outbreak PA An NHS worker reacts at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital during the Clap for our Carers campaign in support of the NHS Reuters Goats which have taken over the deserted streets of Llandudno @AndrewStuart via PA Tobias Weller PA Novikov restaurant in London with its shutters pulled down while the restaurant is closed London Landscapes: Hyde Park and the Serpentine, central London. Matt Writtle A newspaper vendor in Manchester city centre giving away free toilet rolls with every paper bought as shops run low on supplies due to fears over the spread of the coronavirus PA Theo Clay looks out of his window next to his hand-drawn picture of a rainbow in Liverpool, as the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continue Reuters A young man cuts another man's hair on top of a closed hairdresser in Oxford Reuters General view of the new NHS Nightingale Hospital, built to fight against the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in London via Reuters Jason Baird is seen dressed as Spiderman during his daily exercise to cheer up local children in Stockport, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues Reuters A woman wearing a face mask walks past Buckingham Palace Getty Images A man holds mobile phone displaying a text message alert sent by the government warning that new rules are in force across the UK and people must stay at home PA Medical staff on the Covid-19 ward at the Neath Port Talbot Hospital, in Wales, as the health services continue their response to the coronavirus outbreak. PA Prime Minister Boris Johnson taking part in a virtual Cabinet meeting with his top team of ministers PA A shopper walks past empty shelves in a Lidl store on in Wallington. After spates of "panic buying" cleared supermarket shelves of items like toilet paper and cleaning products, stores across the UK have introduced limits on purchases during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some have also created special time slots for the elderly and other shoppers vulnerable to the new coronavirus. Getty Images People on a busy tube train in London at rush hour PA Mia, aged 8 and her brother Jack, aged 5 from Essex, continue their school work at home, after being sent home due to the coronavirus PA Children are painting 'Chase the rainbows' artwork and springing up in windows across the country Reuters Social distancing in Primrose Hill Jeremy Selwyn A general view of a locked gate at Anfield, Liverpool as The Premier League has been suspended PA Homeless people in London AFP via Getty Images A piece of art by the artist, known as the Rebel Bear has appeared on a wall on Bank Street in Glasgow. The new addition to Glasgow's street art is capturing the global Coronavirus crisis. The piece features a woman and a man pulling back to give each other a kiss PA The Queen leaves Buckingham Palace, London, for Windsor Castle to socially distance herself amid the coronavirus pandemic PA A general view on Grey street, Newcastle as coronavirus cases grow around the world Reuters Matt Raw, a British national who returned from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan in China, leaves quaratine at Arrowe Park Hospital on Merseyside PA Britain's Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty (L) and Chief Scientific Adviser Patrick Vallance look on as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures as he speaks during a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) news conference inside 10 Downing Street Reuters The ticket-validation terminals at the tram stop on Edinburgh's Princes Street are cleaned following the coronavirus outbreak. PA Locked school gates at Rockcliffe First School in Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear PA A sign at a Sainsbury's supermarket informs customers that limits have been set on a small number of products as the number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases grow around the world Reuters Jawad Javed delivers coronavirus protection kits that he and his wife have put together to the vulnerable people of their community of Stenhousemuir, between Glasgow and Edinburgh AFP via Getty Images A sign advertising a book titled "How Will We Survive On Earth?" Getty Images A man who appears to be homeless sleeping wearing a mask today in Victoria Jeremy Selwyn A pedestrian walks past graffiti that reads "Diseases are in the City" in Edinburgh AFP via Getty Images Staff from The Lyric Theatre, London inform patrons, as it shuts its doors PA A quiet looking George IV Bridge in Edinburgh PA A quieter than usual British Museum Getty Images A racegoer attends Cheltenham in a fashionable face mask SplashNews.com A commuter wears a face mask at London Bridge Station Jeremy Selwyn A empty restaurant in the Bull Ring Shopping Centre Getty Images A deserted Trafalgar Square in London PA Passengers determined to avoid the coronavirus before leaving the UK arrive at Gatwick Airport Getty Images

He said: "There's a lot of sunshine around, a bit of a chilly start to the day with a potential touch of frost in one or two spots but then plenty of sunshine.

"It won't be as warm as it has been recently, temperatures have been in the 23, 24 range in recent days but we're still looking at highs of 20 and 21 towards the South East on Saturday, and highs of 20 on Sunday."

In other news:

Though the number of Covid-19 victims continues to rise, thousands of coronavirus patients have been successfully treated in London hospitals, the Standard revealed on Friday.

Figures published by 10 of the capitals 17 acute trusts show that at least 5,443 patients with confirmed or suspected Covid-19 had been discharged by yesterday.
It is the legal standard of proof required to find a defendant guilty in a British criminal trial but now judges have been told to drop the phrase 'beyond reasonable doubt' over concerns that jurors do not understand it.

Instead, official guidance for the judiciary is to tell jurors that they must be 'satisfied so that they are sure' a defendant is guilty before they can convict them.

The move follows concerns that many of those called to do jury service do not understand how certain they must be to convict, thus risking miscarriages of justice. Last night, the Judicial Office said: 'Judges may adapt their language to avoid difficulties some juries have with the phrase 'reasonable doubt'.'

But barrister Matthew Scott said: 'I think 'beyond reasonable doubt' is a good phrase. It's more solemn and appropriate for a courtroom, and people understand it perfectly well.'

Judges have been told to drop the phrase 'beyond reasonable doubt' over concerns that jurors do not understand it

The phrase 'beyond reasonable doubt' has been used in English courtrooms for more than two centuries. In recent decades, judges have told jurors that it means the same as being sure.

However, the latest edition of the Crown Court Compendium  written by the Judicial College, which oversees judges' training  tells members of the bench they can drop the old term completely.

It states that when summing up a trial they must give a 'clear instruction to the jury that they have to be satisfied so that they are sure before they can convict'.

It adds: 'It is unwise to elaborate on the standard of proof, although if an advocate has referred to 'beyond reasonable doubt', the jury should be told that this means the same thing as being sure.'

The guidebook cites a Court of Appeal case in which Lord Justice Moses observed: 'Any question from the jury dealing with the standard of proof is the one that most judges dread.

To have to define what is meant by 'reasonable doubt' or what is meant by 'being sure' requires an answer difficult to articulate and likely to confuse.'

The phrase 'beyond reasonable doubt' has been used in English courtrooms for more than two centuries

During a trial in 2018, the compendium reveals, a jury 'asked exactly such a question' and wanted to know if the standard of proof was '100 per cent certainty' or 'beyond reasonable doubt' and, if the latter, what 'beyond reasonable doubt' actually means.

The judge told them they were 'not required to be 100 per cent certain', that 'sure and beyond reasonable doubt meant the same thing' and 'a reasonable doubt was the sort of doubt that might affect the jurors' minds if they were making decisions in matters of importance in their own affairs, their own lives'.

The Court of Appeal later ruled that the answers given were correct and appropriate. However, some commentators say that the term 'sure' is more confusing than 'reasonable doubt'.

Professor Penny Darbyshire, of Kingston Law School, wrote: 'I have long argued that the word 'sure' should be eliminated from the jury direction on 'beyond reasonable doubt'.

All it does is confuse jurors and send some jurors looking for absolute proof, which is impossible. There is plenty of evidence that it confuses jurors.'

Adrian Keane, Emeritus Professor of Law at City, University of London, said: 'We should jettison both 'beyond reasonable doubt' and 'sure' in favour of a better description of the criminal standard of proof.'

Of a replacement, he added: 'It is not enough that they think the accused is probably guilty or very probably guilty; that they don't have to be absolutely certain; but that if they have a real doubt, rather than a doubt based on an extremely remote possibility, they should acquit.'
'I hope I'm old before I die. I hope I live to relive the days gone by," sang Robbie Williams in 1997, the year I had my first child, and which feels around two weeks ago. For me, it's the silent anthem of the lockdown, since a young man in a white coat sits me down and says "you mightn't be an automatic candidate".

Not, that in my temporary emergency exile, I would be contesting an election. Rather, as he puts it, having dodgy lungs, being closer to 60 now than 50 and there being a critical lack of ICU places, were I to get Covid-19, I might not be an automatic candidate for ventilation.

"Hang on. I'm still 56, have lost stones, fast-walk 5km every day, am fitter than I was in my 30s," I protest.

He has the gall to mention lung capacity, giving me the bemused, vaguely pitying look young adults keep for the harmless, hopeless middle-aged. "Surely it dawned on you? What did you expect?"

Expect? Another 25 years, hopefully. His parting look says 'God love you'.

With Covid-19, mortality hasn't just tapped us on the shoulder, it's hit us right in the kisser. The virus mocks our medicalised world where there's a pill and procedure for everything.

Suddenly, like our forebears in the 1800s, we're considering age as something to aspire to as opposed to avoid. Those who have lost young siblings, parents, friends, know that ageing is not only a glorious gift, but shocking good luck. Those thinning lips, sagging jowls, knobbly fingers, clickety knees, Brillopad hair mean one thing: we're still alive.

Only, in our mediatised world, idolatrous of youth, you'd never think it. Young is good. Old is bad.

This week a friend is sagging, not from the virus, but lack of Botox. "The Botox keeps me Me," she offers in unnecessary explanation.

But what 'Keeps us Us' in a time when 70 is the new 50? Eighty was ancient until Harrison Ford and Goldie Hawn are nearly there with Morgan Freeman, Anthony Hopkins, Judi Dench and Maggie Smith already settled in.

What 'Keeps us Us' when we move to a nursing home? I know some people have excellent experience of family in nursing home.

The residential setting is truly a second home with outstanding carers and nurses. Others are less lucky.

I can't imagine Jane Fonda going fresh from her police mugshot after her climate arrest, to sit in a semi-circle of other octogenarians watching tv turned up to the max, simply because of her age. In his 80s, my father used to say he still felt 16 on the inside, 21 on days when he wasn't feeling so hot. His illness denuded him, but his decline didn't make him any less Him. Throughout, we sought to keep him Him, as a right, not a privilege.

As elderly, then, it is not age per se that does for us, it is lack of autonomy, choices. It's a bit like poverty in that sense. Some of us return to second childhood in our heads, others in being infantilised, our decisions made for us.

Just as the system seems to prefer warehousing our children into day-care, it's the same with our elderly.

Like most people, I hope to live independently for as long as possible, visiting children, and with a bit of luck grandchildren, wherever they are in the world. Thereafter, I hope for sheltered housing, with pots for planting, a patio for sitting and bird-feeding, a door with a cat-flap for the necessary moggy. It is one of the great dismays of old age that people are forced to surrender their pets.

But not as dismaying as the Government not moving with all alacrity to set up the necessary virus defences in our nursing homes. Basic common sense, not epidemiology or expertise in public health, demanded that they be prioritised.

Dr Marcus de Brun's resignation from the Medical Council, calling the Government's management of the nursing-home crisis "one of the biggest political blunders in the history of the State" is signal. It is a timely public antidote both to the Green Jersey soma and a neo-liberal philosophy, where market price and productivity supersede intrinsic human values and value.

Covid-19 is exposing the fault-lines in a country that many of the dead and dying worked longest and hardest to build. The analgesic application of "elderly" and "underlying conditions" does not ease the pain of grieving families. It does not sweep away the essence of who their beloved dead were, and still could be.

Many of them would have been my age, when Robbie Williams was singing about wanting to be old before he died - 23 years, they go in a blink.

Like the nursing-home dead. Could it be that in a national virus plan, as much about public relations as about public contagion, the official eyes have been firmly on the acute hospitals because there lie the headlines? And because they do, too many old men and old women, lie beneath?
Pamela Austin, a recruiter at Adventist Health Bakersfield in California, made seven job offers to foreign nurses in February and just finished a first round of interviews with 12 more candidates. They are from all over the world, including the United Kingdom, Philippines, Australia and Malaysia.

The international candidates fill the private hospital's critical need for experienced nurses who can work in emergency rooms and intensive care units, Austin said  jobs that can't be met only with US nurses, many of whom are recent graduates.

That need could go unfilled, however, if President Donald Trump extends a 60-day hold on green cards he ordered in the name of protecting American jobs amid the coronavirus outbreak.

It would be a huge setback, Austin said. Those are holes I dont have people to fill.

Trump says the measure is necessary at a time when unemployment has climbed to levels last seen during the Great Depression.

Critics have dismissed the move as the president's veiled attempt to achieve cuts to legal immigration that he previously suggested but couldn't persuade Congress or the courts to accept  and to distract voters from his handling of the pandemic.

But immigrant advocates and political opponents are not the only ones who oppose the measure: Hardliners from Trump's base say it doesn't go far enough to limit immigration.

The order "is designed to satisfy powerful business interests that value a steady flow of cheap foreign labor, Dan Stein, president of the Federation for American Immigration Reform, wrote in a letter to the president Thursday.

The Center for Immigration Studies, another hardline group, said the 60-day pause will provide little relief to Americans and criticized an exemption for foreigners who agree to invest at least $900,000 in the US.

The proclamation, signed Wednesday, excludes temporary non-immigrant visas for hundreds of thousands of workers a year, including farm workers, software engineers and others in fields deemed to have labor shortages. It doesn't apply to green-card applicants already in the United States.

Many families will be barred from immigrating as long as the freeze lasts  more than 200,000 people at last year's levels. Spouses of U.S. citizens and their children under 21 are exempt, but parents, adult children, grandchildren, adult siblings and other relatives arent.

Carl Shusterman, a Los Angeles immigration attorney who advises hospitals, said he had hoped Trumps proclamation would provide a blanket exemption for nurses, who often arrive on green cards. Instead, it only exempts health care workers whose work is deemed essential to recovering from the COVID-19 outbreak.

Embassies and consulates make the decisions, he said. They dont have any special expertise in COVID-19, like none of us do.

Houston immigration attorney Raed Gonzalez said he doesn't expect the suspension to have much of an effect  at least in the short term  because embassies and consulates had already halted routine visa processing last month in response to the pandemic.

This is more of a show from the administration than anything else, he said.

But other immigrant advocates predict profound changes if the measure becomes permanent.

Doug Rand, co-founder of Boundless, a company that advises families and individuals on green cards, estimates 358,000 applicants a year would be unable to get permanent residency if the order were extended.

He said the casualties would include roughly 50,000 diversity visas each year for countries that send fewer people to the US, and that the measure would have a big impact on immigrants from Asia, Central America and eastern Europe.

Rand says Trump is using the pandemic to achieve changes to the immigration system that he couldnt get past Congress or the courts. He called the 60-day halt a double fig leaf to make the measure more palatable.

I dont think it takes much guesswork that President Donald Trump is going to use his discretion to extend it 60 days from now and again and again and again, Rand said.

The edict has similarities to legislation Trump tried unsuccessfully to pass in 2017 that would slash legal immigration, largely through family-based visas that the president has referred to derisively as chain migration.

Last month, the administration effectively suspended asylum by rapidly expelling anyone who enters the country along borders with Mexico and Canada. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention this week extended the policy through May 20 on public health grounds.

Trump told reporters that he may extend the most recent order or modify it next week, in two months or as we go along to be made tougher or made less tough.

We dont want to hurt our businesses, and we dont want to hurt our farmers, he said Wednesday. Very important.

Joe Biden, Trumps presumed Democratic rival in Novembers election, echoed those who called the measure an attempt to divert attention from the president's handling of the pandemic.

Rather than execute a swift and aggressive effort to ramp up testing, Donald Trump is tweeting incendiary rhetoric about immigrants in the hopes that he can distract everyone from the core truth: Hes moved too slowly to contain this virus, and we are all paying the price for it, Biden said Tuesday.

Matt Hill, a campaign spokesman, said Thursday that Biden would not maintain the policy if elected.
Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda



Sonowal on Saturday appreciated the steps taken by Guwahati Police in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic and for successfully enforcing the lockdown.

In a review meeting at police reserve here, the chief minister hailed the action taken by Guwahati Police to keep three people arriving from China in quarantine for 28 days in the last week of February, much before the COVID-19 pandemic took alarming proportions in the county.

Sonowal also appreciated the steps taken by the city police to distribute food to 5,000 people daily in Guwahati with the help of NGOs.

He directed the police to get in touch with leading citizens of the society while urging them to create awareness among the people of the Muslim community to conduct Namaz rituals in their houses during the holy month of Ramadan.

The chief minister said Assam Police has turned out to be the friend in need for the people in distress through their dedicated and exemplary service.

Talking to reporters after the meeting, Sonowal said that the state government has taken steps for bringing back 360 people, including 320 students from Kota in Rajasthan, by bus and the city police has taken adequate security measures in the quarantine areas where these returnees would be kept.

Nearly 5,000 people who were stuck in Guwahati due to the lockdown have been sent by 320 ASTC buses to their respective places in the state and the police has played an important role in this as well, he said.

The chief minister emphasised on the need to maintain social distancing during the three days when state government has allowed inter district movement of the stranded people within the state.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-26 02:52:17|Editor: huaxia

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OTTAWA, April 25 (Xinhua) -- Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Saturday announced an aid package of 62.5 million Canadian dollars (about 44 million U.S. dollars) for the country's fish and seafood sector to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fish and seafood are among the country's top food exports and the sector reportedly employs some 72,000 people.

Fisheries and seafood processors are worried that they could not employ enough labor, including temporary foreign workers to fill out their workforce, while others have called for delays to the spring season as they work to establish proper safety protocols.

Trudeau said at his press conference in Ottawa that the aid is earmarked for personal protective equipment and to help fish and seafood companies adapt their plants to comply with health directives.

"We're giving more money to processors so they can purchase personal protective equipment for workers, adapt to health protocols and support other social distancing measures," Trudeau said.

"Fish processing plants could buy new equipment, like freezers or storage space, so that their product for Canadians can stay good while they respond to a changing market," he added.

COVID-19 infections are disrupting other parts of the country's food sector, including the meat processing industry.

Last week, Canadian Minister of Fisheries, Oceans, and the Canadian Coast Guard Bernadette Jordan said in a statement that her ministry was in talks with industry members about season openings and the state of the sector during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"I recognize the concerns harvesters and communities have around the ability to conduct a safe fishery, and I am encouraged by provincial governments and various organizations and associations who have developed protocols to keep people safe," she added.

The COVID-19 outbreak has forced the shutdown of several food-making facilities including Cargill, one of the largest food companies in the country.

Trudeau also pointed out that plans by some Canadian provinces to restart economic activities do not depend on presuming people who become infected with coronavirus develop immunity to it.

"I don't believe there are any plans that hinge on certain people being immune to COVID-19," Trudeau said, suggesting that provincial plans focus on preventing the spread through social distancing and protective equipment in workplaces.

As of Saturday afternoon, Canada's death toll from COVID-19 rose to 2,462 among more than 45,000 cases, according to CTV News. Enditem
'Too soon': Trump, Collins join black pastors in criticizing Georgia gov.s decision to reopen Friday

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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.
The members of the Macroom and District Lions Club have risen to the challenge posed by COVID-19 by responding to the urgent need they saw for protective visors to be worn by frontline healthcare and community workers.

The Hero Shield Project is led by James O'Sullivan of Macroom & District Lions Club and Orla Flavin, Zone Chairperson, and has the full backing of the Lions Ireland team.

The Hero Shield is a full-face visor designed to be used by front line workers in the battle against the COVID-19 virus. It is a vital piece of Personal Protective Equipment helping to protect those who put themselves at risk to selflessly help others. Current statistics show front line staff account for almost a quarter of the Covid-19 cases in Ireland.

After several telephone calls Macroom Lions discovered they could get some desperately needed PPE equipment to frontline staff working in hospitals and the community.

The Lions Club have now some twenty companies to date giving their time, talents and tools free of charge to make this project happen. It has already been commended by a number of government departments.

The visors are manufactured in Ireland by Hero Shield, a new not-for-profit collective of companies, and are certified as meeting all relevant EU standards. The HSE has already noted that the visor has no moving parts and is easier to sterilise and reuse than many existing solutions, which have to be discarded after use as decontamination is too time consuming.

The Hero Shields will be available free to HSE staff and An Garda Siochana personnel in the Republic of Ireland and to NHS and PSNI personnel in Northern Ireland.

To date, 37 Lions clubs have contributed and a further eight clubs have pledged. Combined with the donation from Lions Ireland and a few other non-club donations, they are currently at 50,475 with 2,000 in sterling after just one week!

For further information please contact: James@delforno.ie or orlaflavin@gmail.com

Donations are greatly appreciated and can be made to the following account:

AIB Bank, Patrick Street, Cork; Account name: Lions Clubs International District 133; Sort Code & Account Number: 934143 28864039; IBAN: IE72AIBK93414328864039

Manual lodgements can be made at any AIB branch.

People making donations are asked to reference their names and Macroom as required.
By William Schwartz | Published on 2020/04/24

Han So-hee recently surprised her fans on Kakao by making a personal visit to a pictures-only chat room dedicated to her. Han So-hee was identified in the chat room by her personal blog handle junk, and provided further proof of her identity in the form of personal selfies, which she provided to the chat group by request.

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Han So-hee learned of the existence of the chat room due to comments on her Instagram account. She thanked the relevant people involved for making it. Han So-hee expressed hope that the people involved would have a good day and be in good health and also that they would be able to work through whatever problems they may be having in life.

Han So-hee also expressed humility, describing herself as still feeling insufficient in terms of her acting output, but thankful all the same for the support of her fans. Han So-hee also confessed that it felt pathetic for her to address fans in a Kakao chat room directly as she was, but couldn't think of any better way to express her appreciation.

Han So-hee has recently enjoyed a massive personal boost in her profile due "The World of the Married", where she plays the second female lead. "The World of the Married" recently aired its ninth episode, which earned ratings of 20.5% (Ep.9). "The King: Eternal Monarch" rated 9.4% (Ep.3).

Written by William Schwartz

___________

"The World of the Married" is directed by Mo Wan-il, written by Joo Hyeon-I, and features Kim Hee-ae, Park Hae-joon, Han So-hee, Park Sun-young, Kim Young-min, Chae Gook-hee. Broadcasting information in Korea: 2020/03/27~Now airing, Fri, Sat 23:00 on jTBC.
Gov. Phil Murphy will hold his daily briefing Saturday in Trenton to provide updates on the coronavirus pandemic that has surpassed 100,000 confirmed cases in New Jersey.

The 1 p.m. press conference at the Trenton War Memorials George Washington Ballroom will be streamed lived on the governors YouTube channel.

Murphy will be joined by state Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli, health communicable disease service medical director Dr. Edward Lifshitz and State Police Superintendent Colonel Patrick Callahan.

CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Businesses that are open | Homepage

State officials reported 102,196 positive COVID-19 tests at Fridays briefing, with 5,617 tests related to the virus, since the first case in New Jersey was reported March 4.

Even as we cross 100,00, we must keep in mind there are tens of thousands of New Jerseyans who have tested positive over the past seven weeks and who have beaten COVID-19, Murphy said Friday during his daily press briefing in Trenton.

NJ Advance Media staff writer Brent Johnson contributed to this report.

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Brianna Kudisch may be reached at bkudisch@njadvancemedia.com.
Anyone who has been following the British royal family over the decades knows that Prince Charles fell in love with Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall long before he met Princess Diana. Most royal historians agree that if he had been allowed to, Charles would have chosen her as his bride from the get-go.

Times were different then and Charless family insisted that he needed to find a more suitable woman to marry instead  in other words, she had to be a virgin and from a distinguished family. After immense pressure, Charles eventually settled on Diana and proposed after just a handful of dates.

Charles and Diana had one of the most disastrous marriages in the history of the monarchy. But it all leads royal fans to question: If Camilla had not married Andrew Parker Bowles, would Charles have abdicated to marry her?

Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall | Rob Jefferies/Getty Images

Prince Charles was instantly smitten by Camilla

Charles and Camilla were introduced by a mutual friend in 1971 and experienced instant attraction to one another. They began dating but knew their relationship could not go anywhere because of Charless future role as king.

Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth did not mind that the Prince of Wales was having a bit of fun in his youth. But once it became clear how smitten he was with Camilla, they quickly sought to put an end to it before their relationship went too far.

Prince Charles joined the Royal Navy in 1971. Camilla married her former boyfriend, Andrew Parker Bowles, while he was away.

Prince Charles and Camilla Parker-Bowles | TIM GRAHAM/Getty Images

Would Charles have abdicated for Camilla?

Camilla felt affection for Charles just like he did for her, but she knew his sense of duty prevented him from marrying her when his family disapproved. That could explain why Camilla accepted Andrews marriage proposal so readily  she knew they could never be.

But what if Camilla hadnt done that? If shed been a single woman when Charles returned from military service, and if theyd begun their relationship again, he could have married her without his mothers permission. Only he would have had to give up his right to the throne to do so.

Of course, there is a rumor that Camilla never saw their relationship as that serious, which would explain why she married Andrew when he asked. But if Charles had professed his love she could have given him a second chance  especially considering how compatible we now know they are.

Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall | Chris Jackson  Pool/Getty Images

Prince Charles wouldnt be the first monarch to abdicate the throne

It may seem like an extreme decision, but in practice, Prince Charles wouldnt be the first king to give up his birthright for love. Queen Elizabeths uncle King Edward VIII abdicated in 1936 so he could marry the American divorcee Wallis Simpson. Just like his great-uncle, Charles was free to choose his spouse if he was willing to sacrifice the throne.

There is another possibility here, too. If Prince Charles had fought hard enough to marry Camilla, theres a chance Queen Elizabeth would have allowed him to marry her without abdicating. The queen despises scandal and apparently hates the word abdicate most of all.

If Charles had been willing to stand up to his mother, threatening to quit the royal family otherwise, she may have accepted Camilla in the first place.

Queen Elizabeth would have been better off allowing Charles to marry for love, not duty

Queen Elizabeth II with Prince Charles | Fox Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Ultimately, Charles began an affair with Camilla and later divorced Diana in one of the worst scandals the royal family has ever seen. Now the Prince of Wales is married to the women he first fell in love with and they seem extremely happy together.

If the queen had known this is how it would turn out, she most likely would have allowed Prince Charles to marry Camilla from the get-go. But well never know for sure.
A Cork based businessman has 'opened a conversation' about distributing a scientifically proven test to everybody in the country which would give a COVID-19 result within 15 minutes as a significant step towards declaring Ireland 'virus free'.

Pat Phelan, a tech-oriented entrepreneur, who set up two start- ups before selling them and now is a partner in a chain of clinics with bases in Killarney, Cork, Limerick and Dublin, believes that the test which has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration could be acquired at a fraction of the cost of other measures being adapted to fight the spread of the illness.

The testing kits, which cost 10 each, are being used by Emirates Airlines on their passengers and crew.

Passengers are tested in the departure gate lounges before they board the plane.

The results are available within 10-15 minutes. The test was approved by the US Food and Drugs Administration at the weekend. The FDA had previously rejected more than 120 other tests purporting to give results as to whether or not someone was COVID-19 positive or not.

The entrepreneur made his case in a post on the internet journalism site, medium.com, at the weekend.

"I have been testing with these kits for a while now and whilst it's a non-clinical test it is an absolute indication and gives you a positive or negative much like a pregnancy test from a very simple finger prick.," he said.

"I'm not a doctor or anything like that, just an ordinary decent citizen, looking for practical ways to help get Ireland going again."

His proposal, which he wants to spark a public discussion, is to send one of these tests to every citizen in the country over the next two weeks.

"They take their own test, the result is then entered into the contact-tracing mobile App which is coming shortly.

"This means we could do this almost immediately and at relatively little cost.

"With the test we will be able to see where we really are in real time when combined with the contact tracing app being developed now," he said.

"This is doable within a couple of weeks."

Prominent TCD epidemiologist, Professor Luke O'Neill, said the proposal was well worth considering. However, he cautioned against viewing the test as a conclusive indicator to lift the current restrictions.

He said other measures would also have to be used before restrictions could be lifted.

"As long as the test is robust and well validated, why not," he said.

The SISU clinics which are part owned by Mr Phelan with two doctors are aimed at aesthetic therapies.
The coronavirus is forcing airlines to throw out their strategic playbooks and reimagine their cost structure both for near-term survival and preparing for a future with fewer customers.

The ability to quickly pivot and conduct scenario planning for completely new market conditions was one of the big takeaways from Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE: DAL) April 22 earnings call.

CEO Ed Bastian talked about saving 50% of operating costs ($5 billion) in the second quarter, tapping government aid and the financial markets for about $12 billion, shrinking in size and being a leader in hygiene to give customers the confidence to fly again.

Let's dig into the details:

Financing: Bastian told analysts on the call that Delta would raise more money this quarter. It didn't waste any time. By the end of the day (April 22) the Atlanta-based carrier announced a $1.5 billion bond offering and plans to borrow $1.5 billion over three years. Delta also plans to apply to the U.S. Treasury for a loan, in addition to the $5.4 billion direct grant it has received in federal aid.

Mitigating cash burn: Delta has chopped $5 billion in costs for the second quarter with the help of 37,000 workers electing to take unpaid leave and $2 billion in fuel savings from reduced flying and lower fuel prices. It also cut $550 million in discretionary spending. The savings come from avoiding maintenance on 650 parked jets, consolidating concourses, temporarily closing Sky Clubs, and eliminating most advertising and use of third-party contractors.

An 80% reduction in maintenance costs is largely achievable because the fleet that remains in operation doesn't need as large an inventory of serviceable parts and components.

Delta is on track to spend $50 million per day this quarter, a 50% reduction from a few weeks ago. A large part of that is because the airline is issuing fewer refunds as time goes on.

View more earnings on DAL

The airline has also been able to negotiate deferred payments to airports, vendors and equipment lessors, and cut $3 billion in capital expenditures originally planned for 2020.

Story continues

Expectations for significantly lower revenue over the next three years are driving decisions to contain future costs, which translates into being a smaller company for the near future, executives said.

Fleet management: Delta is accelerating retirement plans for airplanes previously scheduled to leave the fleet during the next five years. The airline was in the process of removing old MD 80s from the fleet this year and MD 90s will probably be pulled soon too, Bastian said. Boeing 757s and 767s are also likely to get culled, as are smaller regional jets.

Delta is in discussions with Airbus on how to defer deliveries or payments for 184 aircraft that are on order, Bastian said. The company will not spend cash on any aircraft this year, but has not decided whether to finance some acquisitions.

Health and safety: Bastian said Delta, with the help of outside medical experts, is developing protocols and procedures for keeping employees and customers safe from disease. Extensive cleaning of hard surfaces in gate and seat areas, and spraying disinfectant in planes each day, is already underway. Chief Financial Officer Paul Jacobson, who called off his retirement plans to help the company through the crisis, said the new sanitizing effort contributed, along with transaction costs for raising debt, to $200 million of unplanned expenditures this quarter.

Bastian floated the idea of "immunity passports" as a way authorities might try to keep everyone safe when traveling. The comment follows news that Chile may issue such a document for those who have recovered from coronavirus and test positive for antibodies, with the aim of getting people to return to work faster.

But Helane Becker, lead airline analyst at Cowen investment bank, says airports will also have to make sure restaurants, bars, shops and security checkpoints are sterilized to give consumers confidence.

Cargo: Transporting goods is one of the few bright spots for passenger airlines like Delta. In the past six weeks, Delta has made operational many aircraft for on-demand and scheduled cargo service. It has been heavily involved bringing personal protective equipment from Asia to the U.S. for healthcare workers battling the COVID-19 disease. Bastian said on the call that Delta is ripping seats out of some planes to make room for more cargo, but the Federal Aviation Administration has not given its blessing for that type of modification.

Photo: Flickr/Eric Salard

See more from Benzinga

 2020 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Question: President Donald Trump moots the use of cleaning liquids in the body to kill Covid-19. PHOTO: ALEX BRANDON/AP

Donald Trump insisted yesterday his suggestion people with coronavirus could be treated with injections of disinfectant was "sarcastic" after a heated and widespread backlash.

The US president also denied urging medical experts to look into the idea - despite footage making clear he had done just that - and said the remarks were meant for reporters.

"I was asking a question sarcastically to reporters like you just to see what would happen," Mr Trump told a journalist who asked him to clarify, repeatedly saying he had been sarcastic.

The backtracking came after medical experts, political opponents, figures in the Trump administration and even a detergent company had warned of the dangers of such action.

The makers of cleaning fluids Lysol and Dettol issued a statement saying "under no circumstance should our disinfectant products be administered into the human body".

A spokesman for the US Environmental Protection Agency said disinfectants should be used for surfaces only, adding: "Never apply the product to yourself or others. Do not ingest disinfectant products."

Mr Trump had triggered the row with loose comments during Thursday evening's White House press briefing where he publicly mused on possible treatments for Covid-19.

Addressing Bill Bryan, who leads the science and technology directorate at the Homeland Security Department, Mr Trump mentioned the idea that UV rays could harm the virus.

The president discussed hitting the body with a "tremendous" amount of "ultraviolet or just very powerful light". He suggested Mr Bryan was "going to test it", and the official responded "we'll get to the right folks who could".

Mr Trump went on: "And then I see the disinfectant, where it knocks it out in a minute. One minute.

"And is there a way we can do something like that, by injection inside or almost a cleaning. Because you see it gets in the lungs and it does a tremendous number on the lungs.

"So it would be interesting to check that. So, that, you're going to have to use medical doctors with. But it sounds - it sounds interesting to me."

The comments were made while looking at Mr Bryan. The idea floated - that there could be some medical benefit from injecting disinfectant - was quickly condemned by experts.

John Balmes, a pulmonologist at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, told Bloomberg News: "Inhaling chlorine bleach would be absolutely the worst thing for the lungs."

The emergency management team in Washington state tweeted "please don't eat Tide pods or inject yourself with any kind of disinfectant", telling people with coronavirus: "Just don't make a bad situation worse."

With negative headlines mounting, Mr Trump played down his comments when he was challenged about them yesterday afternoon.

"I was asking a sarcastic and a very sarcastic question to the reporters in the room about disinfectant on the inside," he said. "But it does kill it and it would kill it on the hands and that would make things much better.

"That was done in the form of a sarcastic question to the reporters."

Pushed on why he urged his medical experts to look into it, Mr Trump said "no, no, no, no", insisting he had just asked them to look into using sunlight and disinfectant on the hands.

Kayleigh McEnany, the White House press secretary, noted in a statement that Mr Trump mentioned people consulting doctors while discussing the idea - used as proof he was not urging anything dangerous.

She also blamed reporters for the row, saying: "Leave it to the media to irresponsibly take President Trump out of context."

'The Guardian' yesterday reported that the leader of a group pushing bleach as a "miracle cure" for coronavirus had written to Mr Trump this week, calling it a "wonderful detox".
Britain locked horns with the EU over fishing rights yesterday after the first post-Brexit trade talks in more than a month.

Brussels chief negotiator Michel Barnier accused the UK of dragging its feet and warned negotiations could collapse by June.

But Britain hit back, saying the EU is refusing to acknowledge its right to control access to its waters.

Michel Barnier, pictured above, said the hit to global economies caused by the coronavirus pandemic meant striking an agreement by the end of year was even more important

Little progress was also made on the role of European judges, competition and labour rules, and agreeing a more streamlined structure to a deal.

Britain wants to treat fishing as a separate agreement to a trade deal but Brussels has insisted the two must be linked.

It is pushing for a Norway-style agreement, where access to waters for EU trawlers is re-negotiated every year. It also wants the current system of divvying up quotas scrapped.

The bloc wants the status quo to be maintained.

Britain locked horns with the EU over fishing rights yesterday after the first post-Brexit trade talks in more than a month [File photo]

Mr Barnier warned: The EU will not agree to any future economic partnership that does not include a balanced, sustainable and long-term solution on fisheries. That should be crystal clear to the UK.

Yesterday a UK government spokesman admitted little had been agreed, adding: We will only be able to make progress on the basis of the reality the UK will have the right to control access to its waters at the end of this year.

Britain has tabled the majority of its proposals in the trade talks. David Frost, who is Boris Johnsons Brexit envoy, told Mr Barnier the UK was seeking a Canada-style free trade agreement, which would mean no guarantee of alignment with EU rules.

Britain is also refusing demands for EU judges to have a role over trade disputes.

David Frost, who is Boris Johnsons Brexit envoy, told Mr Barnier the UK was seeking a Canada-style free trade agreement, which would mean no guarantee of alignment with EU rules

The sides have not held formal negotiations since March 6 due to the coronavirus crisis. This weeks round of talks were held via video link and two more are scheduled for May 11 and June 1.

Mr Johnson has refused to extend the Brexit transition period beyond December 2020 to avoid getting sucked into demands for billions more in membership fees and having to prolong freedom of movement.

If it is not extended and the UK and EU cannot agree a deal, Britain will trade on World Trade Organisation terms from 2021.

Mr Barnier said the hit to global economies caused by the coronavirus pandemic meant striking an agreement by the end of year was even more important.
Ellyna Larson, a Federal agent with Homeland Security, walked through the front door of Elis Roots Hair Studio in Manassas, Va., in search of its owner, Kristi Bogart, a person of interest.

She was busy with another client, so I texted my boss and said, Shes beautiful, Ms. Larson said, but then I began thinking about just getting out of there, just walking away because I was terrified.

Ms. Larson (right), 47, had gone to the hair salon on April 11, 2019, not just to keep a hair appointment, but to finally meet Ms. Bogart, 30.

My boss was one of Kristis clients, Ms. Larson said, she had been bragging about Kristi for years.
Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh government has started bringing back workers hailing from the state who were stranded in other parts of the country due to the lockdown and as many as 2,224 labourers have returned in the first phase, a senior official said on Saturday (April 25).

Briefing reporters here, Additional Chief Secretary (Home and Information) Awanish Awasthi said the first batch of workers was brought back in 82 buses from Haryana on Saturday, and 11,000 workers will return by Sunday.

All the workers will be kept in a 14-day quarantine.

"Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had issued directions to bring back labourers belonging to UP from other states in a phased manner.

"In this regard, on Saturday as many as 2,224 labourers were brought back in 82 buses from Haryana. These labourers hail from 16 districts of western UP," Awasthi said.

Orders have been issued to prepare shelter homes in the state in a major way so that the returnees can be quarantined there.

"Instructions have been issued to install public address system at the shelter homes, and make arrangements for food and toilets," Awasthi said.

It has also been directed that once the quarantine period of the labourers coming from other states ends, preparations should be made to provide them employment near their village, the official said.

Migrant workers in several states have demanded that they be sent back to their native places as many, especially daily-wagers, were facing financial hardships after a lockdown was imposed from March 25 to check the spread of coronavirus.
To combat COVID-19 aka coronavirus and boost health and medical facilities in Uttarakhand, Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat today launched Chief Minister's Relief Fund website so as to receive donations online.

The number of positive corona virus cases in India has grown to 24,500 and 779 people have lost their lives so far, reads the data shared be the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. 5209 people have been cured and 1 case was migrated. To combat the novel coronavirus, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat on Friday launched Chief Ministers Relief Fund website so as to receive donations online.

The procedure for making donations are mentioned on the website cmrf.uk.gov.in itself.

Now, funds can be donated for relief through online payment. The details of the donation procedure is available on the website, read a press statement from state government.

Further, district hospitals located in 9 hill districts will function as usual and continue to treat general patients as no COVID-19 cases were reported from these districts, said Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat.

Fair Hospital Haridwar, Doon Hospital Dehradun, Medical College Rudrapur, and Sushila Tiwari Hospital Haldwani will treat COVID-19 patients, the statement read.

A Cabinet Sub-committee will be set up under the chairmanship of Cabinet Minister Subodh Uniyal to work on the ways to compensate the economy that has been damaged due to COVID-19.

Chief Minister Rawat will interact directly with the people of industrial, tourism, agriculture, horticulture, dairy, and MSME sectors. Their suggestions will be taken on how to strengthen our economy after COVID-19, the statement reads.

There are a total of 48 COVID-19 cases in Uttarakhand, according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Indias total number of coronavirus positive cases has mounted to 24,506 including 18,668 active cases, 5,063 cured/discharged/migrated and 775 deaths, said the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

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In The Baddest Bitch in the Room (Catapult, Sept.), Chang discusses managing members of the Wu-Tang Clan and being a boss.

What was it like being an Asian woman working in hip-hop in the 1980s and 90s?

I was the first Asian woman in hip-hop, I believe. When I got a job doing A&R at Jive Records, I was insecure. I thought, How can I, a Korean Canadian who majored in French lit, who is not of the culture, be one of the gatekeepers? I got over my trepidation and just put in the work. The way the community responded was inspiring.

Youve been a talent manager for iconic rap artists like RZA, GZA, and Q-Tip. What were the challenges of the job?

Creators dont live on the same schedule as many of us. I would never do anything with them before noon. Not a shot! They were always up late. When managing artists, you have to have patience for the creative mindset.

How has the Wu-Tang Clan changed your life?

I immediately felt welcome when I met them. There was no whos this Asian woman? Method Man was the first to call me family, and that was significant to me, because we didnt talk like that when I was growing up. To this day, when I see them, I feel enveloped by love.

You call yourself a hustler. What makes a good hustler?

You see opportunity where others cant. I see money every day. If I meet you and your friends and we start talking about what we all do, I will think of how we can make money together. Being a hustler and being an entrepreneur are not synonymous. I am both. To hustle is to be proactive.

Back in the day, you hosted a lot of musicians at your New York City apartment. What was that like?

Q-Tip was at my place all the time, and one of my favorite pastimes was making him laugh. And Redman used to crash at my place when he was in the city late at night. Hed stand in front of my building and call my name. It was such a Say Anything moment, except there was no romance involved. I would open the window and drop him my keys and go back to sleep. Eventually I just gave him a set of keys.

Youve been practicing Shaolin kung fu for decades. What has the practice done for you?

Its essential to my physical and spiritual well-being. Im about to be 55 and I feel stronger than ever. I would never kick someones ass, but I probably could.

What inspired you to write this book?

I want to be of service to others. I hope this book is helpful to those who have been afraid to tell their stories or raise their voices, people who feel theyve been undervalued. Telling our stories is the only way we can combat being erased. And my message to women is: find in yourself what makes you the baddest bitch in the room.
Sadly, the time gained with this sacrifice has been largely squandered by President Trump. The next set of challenges are: test millions more people, identify the sick, trace their contacts, and isolate the ill so that those who are able can return to work and school. These elements  testing, diagnosing, contact-tracing, isolating  are tactics that work. But to perform them at needed scale is a far more complex challenge than what has been achieved so far. It now seems clear that a huge, national wartime mobilization to meet the challenge, which many have suggested, will not take place. It will fall on 50 state governors and on localities. They must make the best of it.


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Irina Shayk is getting in plenty of quality time with daughter Lea as they quarantine amid the growing coronavirus pandemic.

And the Russian model is continuing to serve her usual chic off-duty looks while social distancing.

She bundled up Friday in a taupe duster as she stepped out for a walk with her daughter in their New York City neighborhood during a break from isolation.

Girls day: Irina Shayk bundled up Friday in a taupe duster as she stepped out for a walk with daughter Lea in their New York City neighborhood during a break from isolation

The 34-year-old complemented the jacket with matching pants and a pair of grey boots.

She finished the ensemble with a pair of black sunglasses and a black and white scarf, used as a face mask.

Shayk held hands with Lea, three, who looked adorable in a pink Burberry windbreaker with a blue skirt and red beanie.

The mother-of-one was recently spotted stepping out with Vito Schnabel.

Chic outing: The 34-year-old complemented the jacket with matching pants and a pair of grey boots

New beau? She recently stepped out with art dealer Vito Schnabel, 33; pictured February 21, 2020

The end: Shayk split with actor Bradley Cooper, 45, in June, after four years together; seen January 8, 2019 in NYC

She was spotted in late March and early April during during some outings with the art dealer, 33.

A source told Us Weekly that the two had known each other for a couple of years before they began spending time together.

Shayk split with actor Bradley Cooper, 45, in June, after four years together.

Shayk told British Vogue for her March cover interview: 'I think weve been very lucky to experience what we had with each other. Life without B is new ground.'
The horrific mass shooting in Nova Scotia has sparked questions about whether its the deadliest shooting in Canadian history  but tragedy on a similar scale has happened at least once before.

The last time Canada saw as many people shot dead as were killed in Nova Scotia, it was early summer in 1873, when illegal whisky and a spat over stolen horses spurred a late-night massacre of a group of Nakoda camped in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Although the Cypress Hills Massacre has faded from modern memory, its still remembered every spring with a gathering of the descendants of the men, women and children who were killed.

Its also the reason why the North West Mounted Police  which eventually became the Royal Canadian Mounted Police  were finally marched out to the Prairies, to try to bring order to what was seen as the lawless west.

The exact number of people killed that night has been lost to time. Some historians peg it around 20 people killed, or slightly more. Elders from the Ceg-A-Kin, or Carry the Kettle Nakoda Nation in southern Saskatchewan, formed in part by survivors of the massacre, say its more like 300.

It was pretty ruthless, and our people had a real hard time grieving and recovering. Its still pretty sad, and on the minds of a lot of our community members, says Matthew R. Spencer, a historian from Carry the Kettle, a First Nation located east of Regina with about 3,000 members.

Until last weekend, the biggest massacre on Canadian soil happened in the rolling Cypress Hills of what is now southern Alberta and Saskatchewan. A quirk of geology, the hills rising more than half a kilometre above the surrounding prairies. Visible from a distance, theyve functioned as a meeting place and stopping point for travellers for generations.

Youve got to think of the Cypress Hills as sort of that last refuge on the prairies in the 1870s, explains Bill Waiser, a distinguished professor emeritus of history at the University of Saskatchewan. Its where people congregated.

By then, the great herds of bison were becoming smaller and harder to find, but some still roamed the hills, drawing hunters. The area was also attractive to a more fringe element.

Whisky was illegal at the time, yet several American traders who also dealt in whisky had set up shop in the hills, safely out of reach of the American authorities. Of course, there were no police in western Canada at the time.

Sometime before spring, a group of American wolf hunters had a bunch of their horses stolen, Waiser said. Theyd travelled north in search of the missing animals and by June 1, they were in a foul mood. Theyd also been drinking heavily, having passed by the trading forts en route.

A group of Nakoda, also referred to as the Assiniboine, including women, children and elders, were camped nearby.

Then, one of them reports that one of their horses has been stolen. Were not sure whether that in fact happened or if it just wandered away, Waiser said. In any case, that was what set the group off.

Although there was no evidence that the camp had anything to do with either horse theft, the wolvers decided to take their revenge.

The Assiniboine were camped at the bottom of a coulee, or valley, and made easy targets as the wolvers shot down from the lip of the embankment.

The Assiniboine didnt really have advanced weapons, and (the wolvers) did, Spencer said. Our people were just there to camp and to trade. They werent really up to anything because our people, the Assiniboine people, were known as very peaceful people. We had a good relationship with the traders.

It really sounds like it was a pretty one sided battle, he said.

In a reflection of how isolated western Canada was at the time, the incident appeared in American newspapers, but it would be three months before the Canadian government caught wind of it, according to Waiser.

But it inspired them to finally do what they said they were going to do, and send a newly minted police force, dressed in red, to restore order in western Canada. Although a law to establish a police force had been passed, it hadnt actually been created yet.

This forces their hand. So in the fall of 1873, they quickly dispatch about 300 men to Western Canada, Waiser said, noting they deliberately chose a route near the southern border.

Theyre asserting Canadian sovereignty in the West and thats why they take that route, but by the time they arrive in southern Saskatchewan, southern Alberta, its been such a horrendous trek that theyre in no condition to meet any resistance.

Luckily, they didnt.

They also unfortunately arrived too late to do much about the wolvers.

On July 4, 1875, the Montreal Star published a private letter received by a gentleman in that city from an unnamed member of the mounted police, sent from Fort Macleod in what is now southern Alberta.

Col. Macleod has ordered the arrest of several Americans at Fort Benton (Montana), since he went there, for the massacre at Cypress Hill of 100 Indians, which occurred a year ago, but I think he will not be able to make much out of it, as too long a time has elapsed and the most culpable have cleared out, it reads.

The massacre was a cold blooded affair, men, women and children being butchered and burned up indiscriminately, it continues.

The police officer turned out to be correct. Although multiple men were arrested and there were trials held on both sides of the border, they were ultimate dismissed for lack of evidence.

Spencer says his community takes solace in the fact that the price they paid resulted in greater protection in the West.

Our community knows that as a result, as sad as it may seem, of what happened to our people, that the rest of Canada was protected and created this police force, he said.

For the last two decades, members of the First Nation have travelled to the site of the massacre every June. Although the massacre is commemorated at Parks Canadas nearby Fort Walsh interpretive centre, the actual massacre site is now in a farmers field, but the farmer has given his blessing for an annual gathering.

We go and have a feast. And we pray right at the massacre site, Spencer said. We have our stories of what happened and theyre well documented. Our stories are strong and they stay with us.

The community is increasingly sharing their stories, too. Spencer says the RCMP are beginning to tell the story of the massacre at their Heritage Centre in Regina, and members of the First Nation are providing input.

Often in history, humanity is reactive to something, thats how it usually goes. But this is one of the reasons why they created the RCMP ... Because, I mean, this stuff happened a lot, and nothing was ever done, he said.

I would just like people to know the role that Carry the Kettle played in the development of Canada.

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ALTON  Few places conjure the nostalgia of a bygone era like drive-in movie theaters; and Starlight Drive-In  formerly located on College Avenue just west of Homer Adams Parkway in Alton  holds a special place in the hearts of local movie goers who visited the theater in groves each weekend during its 35 years of operation.

I remember having my first kiss there, said Richard Kitsmiller. Going to get snacks was always fun. I remember the strong smell of popcorn and they had those metal poles keeping everyone in line. Seeing the different people sitting in their cars, I always wondered what their lives were like.

Having opened in 1950, the theater originally had space for 400 cars and beckoned movie goers of the time with its futuristic screen tower and theater name in giant illuminated letters.

I went to see a John Wayne movie on Christmas of 1969, said Phyllis Bierman. It was cold. There were heaters on the speaker posts that you could put in the car and have the illusion of heat. In the summer, you could be eaten by mosquitoes and watch a movie at the same time.

A second screen was added in the mid-70s and a playground built soon after.

I remember going and sitting on top of the car or in the back of a truck in sleeping bags, watching the movies, playing on the swing sets in front of the screen just before the movie started, said Phillip McFarlane. It was pretty close to where we lived on Milton Road. I think we saw some of the Star Wars movies there  good childhood memories.

Watching movies on outdoor screens from a car had its perks, offering a variety of experiences unique to drive-in theaters.

When there was a break in the film, everyone would honk until it was fixed and the movie resumed, said Bierman. Someone always had an aftermarket weird horn.

I remember one year the cicadas being really loud as my dad tried to raise the volume up, said Kitsmiller. Doug Bush, another Alton resident, said he had a friend who lived close enough to the theater that he could watch movies from his bedroom window.

No sound, but the screen was big enough you could watch from across Homer Adams Parkway, he said.

Todd Keith said he remembered his dad sneaking in grocery bags of popcorn by putting them in the trunk and Jason Rexford said he remembered packing as many people as we could into the station wagon and sitting on the roof watching the movies.

Although the Starlight closed in 1984, the Bel-Air Drive-In located in Pontoon Beach off historic Route 66 remained open until 1987. Once owned by Bloomer Amusement Co. who also once owned the Starlight, the Bel-Air was similar  if not slightly smaller  than Altons theater. Demolished in the mid-90s, the site of the theater is now an industrial park.

Going to the drive-in was an exciting thing to do back then, said Kitsmiller. When we were kids on a hot summer evening and (my) dad would say lets go to the drive-in, (I remember) the excitement I shared with my brother jumping in the back seat of my parents red Maverick.

The Bloomer family once owned as many as 17 theaters in the area, including the Starlight Drive-In and Cameo theaters in Alton, as well as the Bel-Air Drive-In in Pontoon Beach, the Skyview Drive-In in Belleville and Roxana Cine in Roxana, Illinois.

We had the Starlight and then in the mid-80s we bought the Cameo, said Steve Bloomer, owner of Bel-Air Drive-In, built in 1949 by Bloomers grandfather, Frank Bloomer, and Frank Bloomers two brothers, Tom and Leslie. We had the Cine in Roxana and bought that one in the late 60s. I think its a church or something now.

The Skyview Drive-In remains the only operating theater still owned by the Bloomer family.

Reporters note: Some information contained in this story, such as opening and closing dates, was obtained from cinematreasures.com

-

Read below for more memories from Alton residents:

I seen Escape from New York with some older kids I hung out with back then and I had to sneak out of the house. I ended up getting caught by my parents. My little brother ratted me out because I wouldnt take him. -Richard Kitsmiller

I remember seeing Smokey and the Bandit there and Star Wars on a re-release. Im sure I saw others, but those two stand out. -Dan Deck

I remember seeing Kenny Rogers film called Six Pack there with my Dad. I also remember riding my bike up there and sneaking in and watching a sci-fi movie on the back screen. -Todd Keith

I saw a couple movies there, (such as) Close encounters of the Third Kind. -Doug Bush

I saw Raiders of the Lost Ark there. I think The Incredible Shrinking Woman was on the other screen. -Jason Rexford
Northampton County on Saturday morning reported 15 new COVID-19 deaths, bringing its total to 66.

Combined with the 75 COVID-19 deaths that neighboring Lehigh County reported on Friday, the latest COVID-19 toll for the entire Lehigh Valley stands at least 141.

The Lehigh Valley has been among the hardest hit regions in the state during the pandemic and Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure in a statement accompanying the latest numbers acknowledged the emotional devastation its caused.

It is a sad and grim duty to report this data, but we continue to do so, so that our fellow residents have the information they need to make sound decisions," he said. "What the new sad total of 66 tells us is that we are not yet done experiencing the devastation of COVID-19 in Northampton County.

McClure, using data compiled by the county coroners office, has been providing frequent updates on COVID-19 death counts, including the municipalities where the deceased lived. Of the 66 who have died, all but seven lived in the county.

The latest update also showed a jump in the number of deaths of residents at Gracedale nursing home, the county-run nursing facility that with close to 600 residents is Pennsylvanias largest under one roof. Nine Gracedale residents have now died from COVID-19 complications, the county reported.

As with many other nursing homes around the country, the administration at Gracedale is working hard to limit exposure to residents and staff," McClure said. At this time, 70 of the 596 residents have tested positive for COVID-19. ... Four patients are in the hospital, six are in recovery and will return to their units when they are no longer infectious."

An additional 26 Gracedale staff members have tested positive; eight have finished their quarantine periods and are now back at work," he said.

Statewide and as of Friday, the number of Pennsylvania coronavirus cases has eclipsed 38,000 while the states COVID-19 death toll neared 1,500. Friday also marked the day that state officials reported that the Lehigh Valley had surpassed 4,000 cases.

The full list of COVID-19 deaths by municipality in the Lehigh Valley, according to the counties:

Allentown: 19

Bangor: 1

Bethlehem: 10 (Lehigh and Northampton combined)

Bethlehem Township: 11

Easton: 5

Forks Township: 1

Heidelberg Township: 1

Lehigh Township: 1

Lower Macungie Township: 23

Lower Nazareth Township: 2

Nazareth: 1

Palmer Township: 13

Plainfield Township: 1

South Whitehall Township: 17

Tatamy: 1

Upper Macungie Township: 2

Upper Nazareth Township: 14

Upper Saucon Township: 1

Washington Township: 1

Whitehall Township: 5

Williams Township: 2

Wilson Borough: 1

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com.

Nick Falsone can be reached at nfalsone@lehighvalleylive.com.
Fianna Fail Spokesperson on Housing, Planning and Local Government and local TD Darragh O'Brien, has welcomed news that homeowners with mortgages from their local authority and Rebuilding Ireland home loans can now apply for a three-month payment break.

The payment break is open to those who have already faced mortgage difficulties due to the Covid-19 emergency and any Rebuilding Ireland loan holder who is currently facing financial difficulties can now apply.

Deputy O'Brien said: 'I am pleased to see the announcement of the payment break for homeowners with mortgages from their local authority and those with Rebuilding Ireland home loans.

'I worked hard to help secure this deal over the past number of weeks and raised the issue directly with the Minister in the Dail.

'Following on from a conference call last week on the issue, it has been agreed that the breaks are now in place. This is a similar move to the agreement last month between the State's five banks to provide three-month long payment breaks to individuals affected by Covid-19.'

The Fingal TD said: 'A lot of people have had real concerns as to how they would repay their mortgages because of lay-offs due to the COVID-19 crisis so this will offer those individuals a small reassurance in these uncertain times.'

Deputy O'Brien concluded: 'If an individual applies for a mortgage break they will not be charged interest for the period of the break, meaning that no additional costs to the original home loan balance will arise for any individual who avails of these measure.'
On April 24, 1990, Plainview Police Officer Gilbert Garcia was just about to wrap up his shift. It was almost 3 p.m., close to time to pick up his kids from school. On the final leg of his shift, he came across a Cadillac  one reported stolen earlier in the day  in the Walmart parking lot.

He was supposed to be done for the day. Instead, just a few short minutes later, Garcias life changed forever. He didnt know it at the time, but that was the last time hed have full use of his legs.

Inside the vehicle were five teenagers. One of them was Gilbert Escalante Jr., someone Garcia was very familiar with. Not only was the 15-year-old Escalante driving (strike one) a vehicle that was stolen from his father (strike two), Escalante had missed a court appearance earlier in the day (strike three).

On top of that, Escalante had escaped from the Lone Tree Recovery Center at Central Plains Hospital and had more than a few run-ins with the law.

Escalante made a run for it, speeding away from Garcia, who radioed in to dispatch that he was pursuing a suspect at 2:46 p.m.

I made a run for him and ended up on 24th street on a dirt road, Garcia recalled. He lost control of the car and went into a ditch. I was far behind him, pulled over and got out to make sure he was okay.

As Garcia  who now lives in San Marcos  approached the vehicle, he did not notice that Escalante escaped the Cadillac through the drivers door window. In the suspects hand was a .22-caliber pistol, also stolen from his father. At about 2:52 p.m., Escalante raised the gun and pulled the trigger, striking Garcia in the neck.

I couldnt do anything, Garcia recalled.

Escalante shot Garcia two more times  once in the back, once in the hip -- before fleeing the scene, taking Garcias gun with him. Luckily for the officer, the other boys in the vehicle stayed behind, even radioing Officer Down on the mic to get more help.

To this day, Garcia said he isnt sure who the other four boys in the car were that called for an ambulance. After some questioning from police, they were released back to their parents. Being minors, their names were never released to the public.

According to a story published in The Herald two days after the shooting, Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper Garth Davis and Plainview Police Officer Tom Burnam arrived on scene approximately four minutes after the first shot was fired. Garcia wasnt breathing so CPR was administered until an ambulance arrived. At 3:25 p.m., Garcia arrived at Central Plains Regional Hospital (now Covenant Health Plainview), where medical personnel inserted a chest tube.

Garcia was then flown to St. Marys in Lubbock (now Covenant Health), where he was placed on a ventilator at 4:24 p.m.

----------

Back in Plainview, Garcias kids were unaware that their father was in danger or that the police were looking for a person that almost killed him.

Gilbert II, the lone son among six children of Garcia and his wife Remedios, was 6 years old at the time. When school let out, he waited for his dad to pick him up, like any other day. But his dad never showed.

The neighbors picked us up, recalled Gilbert II. They didnt tell us anything and took us to the hospital. I knew my dad was hurt, but I didnt see him for a while.

Meanwhile, Monica, the second-oldest child who was 15 at the time was headed to track practice when she heard the sirens. She briefly wondered what was going on, but went on to practice.

Monica said she knew something was wrong when she returned to an empty home and her grandmother came by to take her to the hospital. Thats when she learned her father had been shot.

I was just in shock at first, said Monica.

----------

While Garcia was fighting for his life, a manhunt was happening to find Escalante.

More than 50 officers from departments around the area searched the air and land to track down the shooter. The search didnt take long. Police found Escalante by a playa lake about two miles from the scene of the crime. He was taken into custody without further incident. In his possession were two guns: Garcias and the .22 Escalante used to shoot him.

At the hospital, Garcia was rushed into emergency surgery after doctors found a severed artery that caused internal bleeding. The surgery to repair it began around 11:15 p.m. and was considered a successful procedure at 2:30 a.m. Doctors were not comfortable taking the bullets out of Garcia based on their location, one of which hit his spine. They remain in Garcia to this day.

Garcia was alive, but barely. He and his family were informed that doctors thought they had lost him at least twice through the ordeal. While still alive, he was informed that he likely would never have the use of his legs again.

Monica, the oldest child who lived at home at the time, had to grow up quickly. For the several months her dad was sent to Colorado for rehab, she began taking on more household responsibilities, helping raise her siblings while the family was cramped in a tiny apartment before moving back home.

It was hard, said Monica. It wasnt like I could go hang. We had to be home and help more. It was a difficult time.

Gilbert II, meanwhile, was young enough that it didnt alter his life too much. He just knew that his dad was different that other dads  at least physically.

He was obviously in a chair, but other than that, he still did the things a dad should, just a little bit different, said Gilbert II.

----------

As Garcia worked hard to get physically strong, the legal proceedings for Escalante got started.

The first step was a psychological evaluation of Escalante, which needed to be conducted before it could be determined whether or not the 15-year-old could be charged as an adult. On June 6, Escalante was certified as an adult, his name officially allowed to be released to the public. Six days later, on June 12, a grand jury indicted Escalante on a charge of attempted murder.

It didnt take long, District Attorney Terry McEachern said in a 1990 story of the grand jurys decision.

Now that he was an adult charged with a capital offense, Escalante couldve faced a life sentence in prison. That possibility never came to fruition.

When I was in the hospital, the police captain wanted to know if I was okay with a plea bargain, recalled Garcia.

Garcia reluctantly agreed. Escalante officially entered a plea agreement and was sentenced to 25 years in prison on November 14, 1990. On top of that, he was fined $5,000 and was ordered to make restitution of $100,000. He was scheduled to be released from prison in 2015 after multiple parole hearings went against him.

As far as I know, hes out in Plainview right now and would be the same age as I was when he shot me, said Garcia, who was 42 when he was shot and will turn 73 next month.

Garcia said that hes never spoken to, seen or even communicated with the man that shot him since that day. Monica, is the same age as Escalante, said she didnt know who he was before shooting her father.

Despite the lack of direct connection after Escalante went to jail, he has never officially left the Garcias lives.

In July 2003, Escalante wrote a Letter to the Editor that was published in The Herald. In the writing, Escalante gave some details about his life, stating he started smoking marijuana at the age of 12 and inhaling spray paint and liquid paper at 15 as well as taking speed and drinking alcohol.

I didnt realize that I was polluting my mind and body; it sure wasnt getting me anywhere good in life, Escalante wrote in the letter. I was living only to do more and more drugs that couldve damaged my body permanently. So, by the time I was 15 years old, my mind was so cloudy that I thought it was alright to shoot a police officer.

He went on to say that he was cold-blooded at the time of the shooting, lacking normal human feelings. Garcia said he had heard unconfirmed reports that Escalante told the four teens in the car with him that he was going to kill a police officer that day. The Herald reported a similar story in the Nov. 15, 1990 edition, saying, Sources have told The Herald that he has a juvenile record of drug abuse and once bragged that he would shoot any police officer who tried to arrest him.

But the biggest revelation in the letter that piqued the Garcia familys interest was that Escalante stated, the police officer pointed his gun toward us, which prompted Escalantes exiting of the vehicle.

Garcia said that claim was fabricated.

I just felt like, even now just reading through it again, he didnt really have any remorse for what he did, said Monica. Hes trying to explain it. I know its his word against my dads, but hes trying to make an excuse for doing what he did and thats not even how it happened. It just upset me he was trying to explain his situation to justify why he did it. I dont know why he wrote it to be honest.

Despite this claim from Escalante, Garcia said that hes forgiven the man that shot him and put him into a wheelchair.

It took a few years, said Garcia. I was going through a lot. I still am. It was gradual. I just felt that if I didnt do that I couldnt move up and put it behind me, but again, every day is a struggle.

--------

While Escalante was serving his sentence, the Garcia family tried to move on. To this day, the family  especially Garcia and his wife  continue dealing with the fallout from the shooting.

Garcia said he feels physical pain daily - mostly in his arms and hands. His wife Remedios has taken on the role of caretaker.

Shes been a blessing, said Garcia said of his wife. I dont think too many women wouldve stuck around.

Monica started college with a focus on physical therapy after seeing her father go through it to regain some strength after the shooting. She eventually switched to being a teacher for a similar reason.

I think the whole situation with my dad motivated me in that direction, said Monica, who is a teacher at Ash High School in Plainview. Because if someone wouldve intervened with (Escalante), maybe he wouldnt have been in that situation.

Garcia himself tries to keep himself occupied as much as he can, whether that be reading, watching television or keeping in touch with friends and relatives. He also served as a volunteer for the San Marcos Police Department handing out violations for handicap parking for the last year or so.

Now the Army veteran is thinking of going back to what he did before becoming a cop: volunteering at schools to help students out with reading and math.

Whenever Garcia comes back to Plainview to visit his daughter, which is about once a year, he drives right past the spot where his life was changed and thinks back to the moment where he faced his own mortality.

The memory lives on for Gilbert Garcia, but he hasnt let that stop him from living his life. Hes not about to start now.
Denmark blasts US 'insult' of military buildup in Greenland

Iran Press TV

Friday, 24 April 2020 7:19 AM

Danish politicians have decried the United States' offer to provide financial aid to Greenland  the autonomous Danish territory  in an effort to boost US military presence in the Arctic region.

President Donald Trump's administration announced on Thursday that it had allocated a $12.1 million economic package to Greenland, saying it wants to boost diplomatic ties with the territory and strengthen US military presence across the Arctic.

"Our goal is to be the partner of choice for Arctic states," said a senior state department official.

The package will "sort of jumpstart this new beginning  this rebirth, if you will  of our engagement in Greenland, and it includes some assistance in a few different areas," the official added.

The move came less than a year after Trump caused a row with Denmark for expressing an interest in buying Greenland. "Essentially it's a large real estate deal," Trump had said in August last year.

Denmark rebuffed the offer, though.

Trump's latest offer for his country's greater presence in Greenland has once again enraged officials in both Greenland and Denmark on Thursday.

The United States has "clearly crossed the line," said Karsten Honge, member of the Danish parliament's foreign affairs committee for the Socialist People's Party.

"It's completely unheard of that a close ally tries to create division between Greenland and Denmark this way," he told Reuters.

Soren Espersen, a member of the committee from the opposition party, the Danish People's Party, described Washington's offer as "an insult" to Greenland and Denmark.

Greenlanders also said Washington's investment in the region had to come without conditions.

The US is also planning to open a consulate in Greenland's capital Nuuk this year, for the first time since 1953.

Many other politicians say Washington's move to boost its presence in Greenland is "extremely provocative" interference.

The vast mineral-rich island, which contains 10 percent of the world's fresh water, relies on annual grants from Copenhagen.

Greenland, home to 56,000 people, is becoming increasingly important for Trump as both Russia and China have started commercial and military buildup in the Arctic.

Russia has recently outlined a 15-year strategy to develop huge new energy projects in the remote territory.

Last month, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed an executive order Principles of Russian Federation State Policy in the Arctic to 2035  to set out Moscow's policy plans for the Arctic in the next 15 years.

Everything must be done to ensure that the Arctic remains "a territory of peace, stable and mutually beneficial partnerships," according to the document.

This comes as the US plans what it calls "freedom of navigation" operations  similar to those in the South China Sea  in the North Atlantic and the Arctic.

China, as another major world power, is not currently planning for a military presence in the region, but it has been focusing on energy and resources, via investment in Arctic countries.

The current race for an increasing presence in the region comes as the North Pole is plagued by an unprecedented heatwave, which is threatening a global rise in sea levels.

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JBS USA, one of the largest meat producing companies in the United States, announced Monday that it would be indefinitely closing its pork processing plant in Worthington, Minnesota after 33 employees and six of their relatives tested positive for COVID-19. The 2,000 workers at the plant will be laid off as a result.

Last Friday, the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 663 announced it had confirmed 19 cases of COVID-19 at the plant. But the plant remained open for two additional days for limited operations, endangering the health and safety of workers and the surrounding community.

Throughout the United States, meatpacking facilities have become epicenters for the spread of the pandemic. In South Dakota, more than 800 cases, or 40 percent of the states current total, have been connected to a Smithfield Foods pork plant in Sioux Falls. An outbreak at a Tyson Foods plant in Dougherty County, Georgia contributed to 1,500 cases and over 100 deaths out of a population of 90,000 people, making the rural county one of the regional epicenters of the virus.

Nobles County, located in the southwestern corner of the state and the site of the JBS pork plants operations, presently has the highest COVID-19 outbreak per capita in Minnesota state with 4.6 positive coronavirus cases per 1,000 residents in a county population of 22,000.

JBS USA Holdings is the food processing subsidiary of the Brazilian multinational JBS SA, the largest global processor of pork and beef products, which employs 78,000 employees internationally.

The JBS Worthington plant is the largest pork production facility in Minnesota and is tied for third-largest nationally among all meat processing facilities, with its workers processing 20,000 hogs per day. In wake of the COVID-19 epidemic and corresponding closures and temporary suspensions in operations, US meat processing is down 10% nationally as of the week of the plant closure.

Like many meatpacking facilities across the United States, significant sections of the workforce is composed of immigrant and undocumented workers. This particularly oppressed section of the population is acutely vulnerable under conditions of the current pandemic.

Undocumented immigrants are much less likely to report injuries and contracted illness for fear of deportation or employer reprisal. In 2006, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raided the Worthington plant, then owned by Swift & Company, in the largest workplace immigration raid in American history.

Many undocumented immigrants have avoided state-provided testing programs for fear of detention or deportation, according to state Health Commissioner Jan Malcom. Language barriers also play a significant role. More than 40 languages are spoken in the Worthington plant, including many first generation immigrants with limited spoken and written English skills. Because of this, the true number of infections in meatpacking facilities is undoubtedly far larger than has been reported.

With the plant closed, many of these undocumented workers lack the means to collect any unemployment or supplemental assistance due to their immigration status. But the UFCW, in the face of overwhelming opposition among workers, has negotiated only for paltry bonuses and temporary raises, effectively forcing workers to remain in unsafe conditions.

On April 10, JBS suspended operations of its meat production facility in Greeley, Colorado after 50 workers tested positive for COVID-19. Three workers later died, including a 69-year-old Hispanic man. In spite of the workforce-wide testing the company claimed it would enact over the weekend following the closure, some workers did not end up receiving tests before the Greely facility was reopened April 24.

Even though the virus has yet to peak in Minnesota, the state is one of many which is moving towards a rapid reopening of the economy. During his daily briefing last Thursday, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz announced he would be signing an executive order to allow non-customer-facing, non-essential businesses to reopen Monday. This one full week before the governors own stay-at-home order is set to end on May 4. Governor Walz estimated that as the result of the order, between 80,000 to 100,000 residents of the state would return to work.
The Human Rights Forum (HRF)

Press Release

The Human Rights Forum (HRF) takes strong exception to the Supreme Court quashing of the order providing 100 per cent reservation to Scheduled Tribe (ST) candidates for the posts of teachers in schools in the Scheduled Areas. The 22-4-2020 verdict by a 5-judge Constitution Bench is deeply regressive and undermines hard-won rights of the Adivasis. Contrary to what the Supreme Court has stated, it is the HRFas view that the 100 per cent reservation for STs in the instant case is reasonable, fair, non-arbitrary, permissible and Constitutionally valid.

The 152-page judgement by the Apex Court betrays a basic lack of understanding about the nature and importance of the Fifth Schedule (described by experts as a aConstitution within a Constitutiona) enshrined in the Constitution. It dilutes, in a fundamental sense, the special status accorded to Adivasis resident in the Fifth Schedule areas. Indeed, the strong statutory framework that the Constitution bestows upon the Fifth Schedule flows from a recognition that the special purpose of the Scheduled Areas is to preserve tribal autonomy, their culture and economic empowerment so as to ensure social, economic and political justice and to preserve peace and good governance.

The motivation for the 100 per cent reservation to local STs is located in Article 46 of the Directive Principles of the Constitution. It is laid out there that the State shall promote with special care the educational and economic interests of the weaker sections of the people and, in particular, the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, and shall protect them from social injustice and all forms of exploitation.

The object of the 100 per cent reservation was to strengthen educational infrastructure in the Scheduled Areas so as to promote educational development of tribals. It was intended to solve the phenomenal absenteeism of teachers in these schools situated in remote areas with a view to protect the interests of the local tribals. Appointment of local tribals exclusively as teachers was the proposed remedy to overcome the problem of absenteeism and to subserve the educational development of Adivasi school children.

It may be recalled that in 1986, orders were issued in the State of Andhra Pradesh reserving 100 per cent of vacancies for Adivasis in certain government posts as applicable to the Scheduled Areas by invoking provisions of the Fifth Schedule to the Constitution. The rationale of this reservation was that non-tribals who have no empathy with tribal people could not be expected to work with requisite dedication for the welfare of Adivasis. Teacheras posts in particular in all the schools in the Scheduled Areas were reserved 100% for local Scheduled Tribes. This reservation had a chequered history, going up and down from the State Administrative Tribunal to the Supreme Court, and back over a fifteen-year period at the behest of non-tribal teacher aspirants. Finally, when it came to rest before a Full Bench of the AP High Court, it was mainly the argument put forth by K Balagopal that carried the day and the order was upheld in November, 2001.

The 5-judge Constitution Benchas contention now, several decades later, that the 100 per cent reservation is violative of the 50 per cent threshold norm stipulated by the Apex Court in the 1992 Indra Sawhney judgement (known as the Mandal verdict) is plainly invalid. This is because the 100 per cent reservation G.O 3 of 2000 (issued in the State of Andhra Pradesh) was made not under Article 16(4), but on the basis of a reasonable classification with the aim of subserving the Directive Principle in Article 46, and is therefore made under Article 16(1). It is therefore not to be added to the reservation given in Rule 22 under Article 16(4) for the purpose of the 50 per cent upper limit, which applies only to reservation made under Article 16(4).

It has to be borne in mind that much like the Fundamental Rights of Part III, so also Part X of the Constitution and the Fifth Schedule, unique to the our Republicas foundational document, are equally a part of its aBasic Structurea. The Fifth Schedule was intended by the founding fathers of the Constitution as an innovative device for promoting the welfare and advancement of Scheduled Tribes and the administration of Scheduled Areas. It thereby confers uncommon powers for governance in Scheduled Areas on the Governor of a State.

In fact, Clause 5 of the Fifth Schedule is a unique provision that recognises the characteristics of the Adivasis as distinct from those of the rest of the population. In particular, it makes the laudatory recognition that laws enacted for the rest of the country may not be in complete harmony with the interests of Adivasis and therefore bestows the President/Governor the authority to review the same and adapt them to suit the interests of the Adivasis, before they can be extended to the notified areas. There is no similar provision anywhere else in the Constitution, except in the Sixth Schedule applicable to the North-Eastern areas.

None of these commendable concerns seem to have weighed on the Constitution Bench. Rather, there are parts of the judgement that lay bare the essentially blinkered and retrograde thinking of those who have authored it. We fear what might come next. An assault on Regulation 1 of 70 that prohibits alienation of tribal land to non-tribals? An attempt to damage the principle of adequate representation, the scheme of reservation, itself? How else can one view this outburst from the Bench: aThe action defies logic and is arbitrary. Merit cannot be denied in toto by providing reservations,a

Why is it aan obnoxious ideaa , as the judgement states, that atribals only should teach the tribalsa . Is this Constitution Bench blissfully unaware of the reality in the Fifth Schedule tracts, where STs inhabit remote and far-flung areas? Does it not know that the Constitution itself treats the tribals as a special case of people requiring extraordinary measures for their protection? Can it not appreciate the simple fact that for certain positions like that of teachers, an Adivasi teacher familiar with the culture and customs of fellow tribals will be in a better position than a non-tribal counterpart to communicate with the Adivasi parents and children? That he or she will be more than willing to reside in the Adivasi villages and share their living in a harmonious manner?

We are unfortunately in a situation where a dangerously illiberal political executive is being matched by in-egalitarian judicial pronouncements that are plainly insulting to the redeeming features of our Constitution. In recent years, we have seen appalling judgements from the highest court of the land in several matters; the order in February last year calling for eviction in a summary manner of those whose claims for forest rights under the FRA have been rejected, and the dilution of key provisos of the SC, ST (PoA) Act on March 20, 2018, come to mind.

HRF calls upon the Andhra Pradesh and Telangana governments to seek a review of the Supreme Court judgement in order to safeguard the significant Constitutional rights and special provisions meant for Adivasis in the Fifth Schedule. We also appeal to all political parties in the country to oppose this judgment and for all democratic rights organisations and pro-peopleas movements to campaign against it and ensure that the rights of adivasis are not diluted in any manner.

.

VS Krishna and S Jeevan Kumar

HRF AP & TS Coordination Committee members

25-4-2020

Visakhapatnam
An American hedge fund giant has placed bets worth 275million against UK supermarket shares.

The move by Citadel  owned by US billionaire Ken Griffin  suggests Britains supermarket chains might not be immune to the coronavirus outbreak, even though their shares have held firm so far.

Citadel has been quietly building up short positions in both Sainsburys and Morrisons in recent weeks, meaning it will profit if the food retailers share prices fall.

Citadel has been building up short positions in both Sainsburys and Morrisons in recent weeks

Short selling is where investors borrow shares, sell them and then buy them back  hopefully at a lower price  before returning them to the owner and pocketing the difference.

It has amassed a short position accounting for 3.6 per cent of Morrisons shares, worth 162million  one of the largest on record in the UK and up from 2.4 per cent a month ago.

Citadel first disclosed a bet against Sainsburys at the end of last month and has increased that position to 2.5 per cent of the groups share capital, worth around 113million.

A source close to the hedge fund said Citadel Advisors and Citadel Europe  both shorting Morrisons and Sainsburys  operate separately.

Citadel is also betting against shares in troubled airline group easyJet to the tune of 56million, and has placed a 51million bet against kitchen supplier Howden Joinery.

Earlier this month, Citadel set up a temporary trading floor at a hotel in Florida that had been shuttered in the wake of the Covid-19 crisis to allow traders to keep operating.

Citadel declined to comment.
A MAN with addresses in Roscrea and Shinrone drove without insurance in the Offaly village, it has been alleged.

Ondrej Boho, 35, and with addresses at 42 Railway View, Roscrea and 5 Brosna Road, Shinrone, has been accused of the motoring offence at Brosna Road, Shinrone on February 13 last year.

He also faces a charge of failing to appear before Tullamore District Court on December 12, 2018 having been released on bail at Thurles District Court on November 21 that year.

When his case was called at Tullamore District Court last Wednesday he did not appear and a solicitor did not appear for him.

Sgt James O'Sullivan, prosecuting, sought bench warrant.

Judge Bernadette Owens said she would not ordinarily issue a warrant in the current circumstances but she noted the man had been released on bail on March 24 last from the station in Roscrea, to appear before the court in Tullamore.

That date was after the new regime in relation to movement had been announced. She issued the warrant and estreated the man's bail.
President Akufo-Addo noted that potentially harmful misinformation and disinformation could be inimical to the fight waged by his government against the covid-19 pandemic in the country, and can lead to a lot of grief and difficulty.

There should be accuracy in what you convey, it is critical.... we can agree on facts, and as much when it comes to public discuss, the truth, the accuracy is paramount, especially in emergencies of this nature where the slightest of misinformation, the slightest inaccuracy, misinterpretation, can lead to a lot of grief and difficulty, he stressed.

The President made the call on Friday at the Jubilee House in Accra, when he met the executives of the Ghana Journalist Association, the Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association, the Private Newspaper Publishers Association of Ghana and the Chief Executives of State-owned media institutions, including; the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, the Ghana News Agency, the Graphic Communication Group Limited and the New Times Corporation, as well the National Media Commission.

The meeting, called at the instance of the President, as part of stakeholder consultations on ways to mitigate the effect of the pandemic, was to brainstorm with the media on measures that adopted so far, and the way forward.

Commending the Ghanaian media for being an invaluable ally in the fight against the pandemic, the President said he was happy the way the media has responded in the midst of the crisis.

However, there was need that the media be responsible and truthful in their reportage on the issues surrounding the coronavirus pandemic, the President said, stressing the need for media outlets to get specialist to educate and inform their readers and listeners, rather than have people without knowledge on the crisis create anxiety in the country.

Misreporting and twisting facts on the subject, he noted, would be counter-productive in the collective efforts to manage the crisis at hand.

Every day, people in the country are waiting to hear the news of the figures, how many people have got it, are we on the up, are we on the down, these are legitimate questions.

Everybody is worried about the effect of this virus, properly, there should be some way public authorities are giving the information as to where we are, but is important that the facts be accurate, because if it isn't, you generate a certain amount of anxiety and fear in the society, and that is not helpful for the management of this crisis.

President Akufo-Addo continued: The way forward is going to require your big inputyou have to take a responsible position in what is unfolding.

When I say responsible, I don't mean you have to be bootlickers of government, but responsible in the sense of being truthful to what you know and responsible in the sense of trying to seek out the best information.

If people are going to talk about this disease, they have to talk about it from the view of science. Get the scientist to be the ones to talk, get those who have the specialist information, everything has its own specialistThat is what I would encourage you to do, the President stressed.

Bring those who have the knowledge and let through you, explain these matters. Yes, politicians will want to comment on everything, yes, but for the time being, this one, I do not see the politics in what we are doing, I see the accountability, but I do not see the politics.

We are lucky that we have a very good, good, good, crop of scientists in Ghana, people who have strong information and expertise on this thing.What I want to see, as much as possible, the airwaves being filled with the Information that the scientist have, he said.

Mr Yaw Boadu-Ayeboafoh, Chairman of the NMC commended the President for recognising the critical role of the media and for inviting them to make input into the way forward to responding to the public health crisis at hand.

He also asked Government to consider giving the media a stimulus package to support their operations as they were also affected by the restrictions put in place to mitigate the effects of the pandemic on the social and economic life of the country.

The NMC Chairman also appealed for personal protective equipment for journalists, who were in the frontline, gathering information and education for the populace at the peril of their lives.

---GNA
Amidst the uncertainties of the eradication of COVID-19 and when the federal government will finally lift the restrictions that forced them to close due to the coronavirus pandemic, factories in five of Mexico's six northern border states are planning to resume operations in May.

According to a recent article, the national statistics institute Inegi reported that more than 3,700 companies have factories in northern border states which employ around 1.8 million people.

In particular, the states in the boarder of Baja California, Sonora, Chihuahua, Nuevo Leon and Tamaulipas plan to open in the following weeks.

National Council of the Maquiladora Industry president, Gerardo Vazquez Falcon, disclosed their plan to have all factories in the state in full swing by June 1.

Vazquez Falcon said that some factories would resume as soon as next Monday, starting with the automotive sector followed by those in the aerospace and electronics sectors.

Around 85 percent of manufacturers in Sonora export their products to the United States, where productive sectors have not halted despite the coronavirus pandemic. This week, the National Association of Manufacturers, or NAM, in that country wrote to President Lopez Obrador to urge him to reconsider which businesses are considered essential.

According to a recent article by Latin Post, Mexico's President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador describes the pandemic as a 'transitory crisis' anchored on the promise to bring everything back to normal as soon as possible.

The Bank of America earlier forecasts that Mexico's economy could decrease for another eight percent in 2020. This market decline is becoming a mainstay in Mexico's economic structure, and with the current public health crisis, improvement is nowhere to be seen.

In NAM's letter to the president, they explained that allowing factories to reopen in Mexico will help minimize disruptions to the supply chain of North America.



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On Thursday, Lopez Obrador said that he expects there would be an agreement "in due course" that allows factories to reopen. However, the president did not offer a specific timeframe.

Nonetheless, Salvador Diaz Gonzalez, president of the Otay de Mesa Industry Association in Tijuana, said that factories in his area are planning to resume operations on May 4.

Meanwhile, in Tamaulipas, Julio Almanza Armas, an import-export business owner in the border city of Matamoros, said that factories are looking at reopening on May 18 to uplift the economy somehow since the pandemic has caused activity in the Tamaulipas' ports to declined by 60 percent.

As factories resume operations, they must assure that safety measures are being observed since COVID-19 testing is not yet widespread in the country. According to another article by Latin Post, even healthcare facilities are lacking proper equipment to protect their healthcare workers from contagion as well as making it difficult for them to treat COVID-19 patients. This very problem has sparked protests on the streets because the insufficiency of supplies has already resulted in doctors and nurses getting infected and losing their lives.

As of this writing, the COVID-19 cases in Mexico hit 12,872, with 1,221 deaths and 2,627 recoveries.
Philip Kahn believed that history repeats itself, a truism that has hit home for his family in extraordinary fashion.

His twin brother, Samuel, died as an infant during the Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918-19. Now Kahn himself has died of the coronavirus. He was 100.

He was a very healthy 100, Warren Zysman, one of his grandsons, said in a phone interview. He watched the news, he was completely aware of the pandemic. When he started coughing, he knew he might have it, and he knew the irony of what was going on.

Zysman added: And he would say, Warren my boy, I told you history always repeats itself. We could have been much better prepared for this.

Philip Kahn, a decorated Second World War veteran, died April 17 at his home in Westbury, N.Y., on Long Island. Tests confirmed he had COVID-19, his doctor, Sandeep Jauhar, a cardiologist in nearby New Hyde Park, wrote on Facebook.

Lovely man, wry wit, a kind soul, Jauhar added. His twin brother succumbed in a different pandemic, the Spanish flu ... 101 years ago.

The chances of siblings dying a century apart in global pandemics seem beyond remote, but the Kahns are not the only ones. Selma Ryan, 96, who died of the virus in San Antonio, Texas, on April 14, lost her older sister, Esther, to the Spanish Flu 102 years earlier, according to News4SA, a local television station. The sisters never knew each other.

Philip Felix Kahn did not know his brother either. The twins, whose father ran a bakery on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, were born Dec. 15, 1919, also in Manhattan, while the Spanish Flu was still raging. The boys were just a few weeks old when Samuel died.

He had this level of sadness about it because, while he was born a twin, he never got to experience being a twin, said Zysman, who is himself a twin.

He always told me how hard the loss of his brother was for his parents, he added, and that he carried this void with him his entire life.

Kahn served in a U.S. army aerial unit in the Pacific during the Second World War, participating in the Battle of Iwo Jima and later in firebombing raids over Japan. He also helped make aerial surveys after the United States dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. He earned two Bronze Stars.

After the war, he worked as an electrical foreman and helped build the World Trade Center and the first New York City blood bank. He was always active, enjoying swimming and dancing. He would even dance on roller skates.

In addition to Zysman, Kahn is survived by his daughter, Lynn Zysman; five other grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Zysman said that his grandfather loved to talk about the war and history, and that almost every story he told began with his brother, Samuel, and ended with the same point: it was important to learn from experience. Toward the end of his life, he spoke often of Samuel.

Zysmans wife, Dr. Corey Karlin-Zysman, who has been treating coronavirus patients around the clock at Long Island Jewish Medical Center, called the brothers pandemic bookends.

The Spanish Flu killed 50 million people worldwide; so far, the coronavirus has killed 191,000.

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With a string of runway features, Mangaliso Ndabezitha is definitely a man to watch out for in the Eswatini modelling space. His colourful and dandy fashion sense is everything to be desired as he tells us that his collection of clothes is only set to inspire and impact people to want to dress like him.



His colourful socks tell a story of their own as he mixes and matches everything from head to toe. STYLE joined him for a chat as he told us what living in the era of COVID-19 has taught him.



Tell us about yourself?

I am Mangaliso Ndabezitha, born and raised in the Shiselweni Region.

I graduated last year at the University of Eswatini where I was doing a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities. However, I decided to further my studies by enrolling again into the same institution where Im doing my Post graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) because of my passion for teaching. Im a quiet but outgoing guy and in my spare time I enjoy reading novels. One novel that got stuck in my mind is Robert Kiyosakis Retire Young, Retire Rich. Im a big dreamer and very ambitious. Im very much obsessed with fashion and modelling.



What inspired you to do modelling?

While growing up, I used to watch a lot of fashion shows, especially Tyra Banks Americas Next Top Model. This show kindled the modelling spark in me and I have never looked back ever since.



How long have you been in the modelling industry?

I debuted in modelling around 2017 when I was signed by Swazi Epic Models. I then later joined Top Models Eswatini. I have been around for quite some time in the modelling industry and I have had my ups and downs but as you know, perseverance is key.



What inspires your style?

Dressing well and being fashionable is something I have always practised! I would describe my fashion sense as unforgiving! Im inspired by many people but Sr King Dapper stands out. I believe the way we dress says a lot about our personalities. I live by the code of dandyism which says we should dress to impact not to impress. I also live by my own mantra which says I dont dress to live, but I live to dress.



What did you dream of becoming when you were younger?

Ive always wanted to be an actor! Even today I still have the burning desire of fulfilling that dream.



How relevant has your modelling career in the industry been with the ever-changing times?

Oops wow! As a model you dont have to be comfortable because times change as well as fashion trends.

You must be flexible enough to accommodate the changing times. You must be always on your toes, you cant be complacent. You have to adjust.



What is the one thing that you wish you could do differently in your career?

I wish people could change the way they perceive models; if the path could be perceived as a career in the country. We have a lot of talents here, Im telling you, but because of lack of sponsors, good models end up pursuing other careers. I wish we could get more sponsors. If I had the financial muscle I could help nurture young and upcoming models. I have observed the hunger, the talent and the passion exuded by some of the models I have worked with. There is a lot of talent that is not nurtured out there.



In the time of COVID-19, how has your career been affected?

Oops! I kind of feel emotional now. COVID- 19 has derailed my progress because I had planned for something big this year but I had to postpone because the whole world is going through a crisis and is on lockdown. I have my own crew of male models known as The Elegant Dudes Eswatini and we had planned to host a winter fashion show this year around May, however, due to the pandemic we had to postpone until next year. It is such a terrible life-changing experience.



Were there any plans looming before the virus was declared a national emergency?

This spread of the virus also affected a planned trip to Bloemfontein, South Africa where I was set to join some guys; they are a crew of gentlemen who focus more on fashion and style. They asked me to join them in June this year for a workshop where they will be giving tips on mens fashion. This was more of a conference and as the way things are happening I dont see myself going.



How do you hope the experience of COVID-19 will impart on you?

In as much as COVID-19 has negative impacts on everyone, it has opened my eyes that sometimes we people should learn to focus on themselves. This COVID-19 has helped me to rediscover myself. Im using this time to revisit myself, look at my fears, my weaknesses and surely after this COVID 19 Ill come back stronger.




Pennsylvania Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine said the state will move to a new normal due to the coronavirus but its difficult to say what that will be.

Pennsylvania remains under a statewide stay-at-home order, but Gov. Tom Wolf said this week he plan to ease some restrictions next month. In a news conference Saturday, Levine was asked what other activities may be allowed in the summer.

Its much too soon to decide what things will look like in the middle of the summer, Levine said.

The health secretary was asked if she could predict what once-normal activities like going to restaurants or carnivals would look like in the future.

Levine said it isnt easy to speculate, but she said, I think that it will be a new normal. She said Pennsylvanians are resilient and will meet the challenges ahead.

She was asked how many tests the state will need to successfully reopen Pennsylvania. She didnt offer a specific number but said more tests are needed.

We certainly will need to increase our testing resources, Levine said.

Levine said contact tracing will be very important in allowing the state to reopen.

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Cases rise above 40,000

More than 40,000 people have contracted the virus in Pennsylvania and more than 1,500 have died, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health. All of those who have died are adults.

Levine said 1,397 new cases have been reported. The numbers reflect cases and deaths reported to the health department as of midnight.

More than 2,700 patients are being treated in hospitals. Levine said 47 percent of hospital beds and nearly 70 percent of the states ventilators remain available.

Levine said 2278 cases involve health care workers. More than 6,500 cases involve those at long-term care facilities, including nursing homes and personal care homes.

Levine said the state has received two shipments of N-95 masks from the federal government and the state has an adequate supply of those masks.

But she said the state is seeing a shortage of surgical gowns and masks used for surgeries. Levine said the state is aiming to find resources anywhere we can find them.

Red, yellow and green

The Wolf administration is using a three-phased plan in reopening regions: red, yellow and green.

Wolf said hell look to lift the order gradually across the state, beginning in some northern counties on May 8. Some counties in the northern tier have only had a handful of cases.

Gov. Tom Wolf's red, yellow and green phases reopening Pennsylvania after coronavirus-related shutdowns in 2020. (Graphic via the governor's office.)

The governor has said the Philadelphia area will be among the last to open. The Philadelphia region has been the epicenter of the virus in the Keystone State.

The city of Philadelphia has had more than 10,000 cases, and thousands of others have contracted the virus in the surrounding suburbs.

Talking with coroners

Levine said the health department is reaching out to the leaders of the state coroners association today to address concerns about the number of deaths tied to COVID-19.

Some coroners have questioned the states numbers and said they dont understand why COVID-19 fatalities are listed in their counties when they arent aware of deaths tied to the virus. Levine has said the health department will aim to have a constructive dialogue with coroners.

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Intel New Mexico celebrated an all-time high of volunteer work in 2019 but will pay Sandoval County $100,000 because less than 60 percent of new hires were New Mexico residents last year, according to the companys annual report.

Intel provides the report in accordance with its Industrial Revenue Bond agreement with Sandoval County.

In an IRB agreement, a company invests money in its business to enrich the local economy with construction or manufacturing. In return, local governments offer a reduction in property and gross receipts taxes.

Intel spokeswoman Erika Edgerly sent out the report Monday morning.

According to the report, under the IRB agreement, 60 percent of the companys yearly new hires need to be New Mexico residents. Of the 509 new employees it hired in 2019, 53 percent were New Mexico residents.

The company did not meet that hiring goal in 2001, 2006, 2009, 2011-2014 and 2018-2019.

Since 1995, the company has an average of 61.5 percent of its total new hires being New Mexico residents, according to the report.

Intel maintains an annual economic impact in New Mexico of about $390 million, based on 2017 data, according to the report.

Intels preference is to source locally when possible and, as a result, we spent just over $200 million with New Mexico-based organizations in 2019, according to the report.

The company also employs 1,800 individuals in New Mexico and hires over 2,000 contract workers. About 700 of those workers provide daily services to Intels site.

The average compensation for employees at Intel was $145,000 per year, including salary, benefits and bonuses.

Intel invested over $660 million in New Mexicos high-volume manufacturing and technology development facility in 2019. This is an increase of $524 million from 2018, according to the report.

Intel also paid $9.15 million to Sandoval County to abide by the IRB agreement and $638,642.28 in property taxes in 2019, according to the report.

Overall, Intel employees have contributed more than $1.1 million to support New Mexico schools and charities across the state, according to the report.

These investments continue to support a more skilled and competitive workforce for the future and contribute many solutions to social and educational challenges in our communities, according to the report.

The company left 2019 with 57 percent employee participation in volunteer work in events like donating 538 backpacks filled with school supplies to Rio Rancho Public Schools and 1,200 tote bags for teachers in celebration of Teacher Appreciation Day, according to the report.

For Thanksgiving, Intels volunteers donated over 1,700 pounds of food for local pantries and assisted them over the holiday season, according to the report.

Intel employees also gave over $15,000 to purchase holiday gifts, according to the report.

Intel volunteers provided holiday gifts to nearly 100 families in Sandoval County, as well as 100 stockings for children in need, and welcomed 50 students in need for our annual winter carnival, where they enjoyed a fun afternoon of activities and brought home holiday gifts, according to the report.
Photo: (Photo : Instagram/lesterholtnbc)

Lester Holt's grandchildren to son Stefan seems to have a bright future in the newscasting industry. He saw them imitating their actions in the makeshift studio.

Every weekday, the 61-year-old anchors "Nightly News" that is aired on NBC channel. One of his sons, Stefan, has worked as a morning news anchor at NBC Chicago. Now his son is doing the evening anchor at the local NBC station in New York City.

On Friday, Holt explained in the segment "The Tonight Show" during an interview with comedian Jimmy Fallon that while doing quarantine, he is enjoying seeing his grandsons, Samuel and Henry, show an interest in the family business.

He shared an adorable photo of them on his social media account where the little kids are helping Stefan read the news. Stefan has a makeshift studio in the attic.

Lester Holt Remembers His Sons Doing the Same

Holt explained that it warms his heart seeing them because it immediately reminded him of a picture taken when he was working at the CBS station as an anchor. He took the picture with his two sons, Stefan and Cameron when they came down to the studio.

The "Nightly News" anchor said that one of his grandsons clearly is not afraid of the camera. The little guy went on with the news reporting. He added that he remembered seeing his sons years ago and did the same when they were little. And now, the proud grandfather is seeing passing on his legacy to his grandsons.

"Nightly News" Kids Edition

Lester Holt talked about the kids' edition that they have been producing. Their target is to answer questions that real kids would be asking them and they would be featuring stories about kids that are helping others during this time of distress, using children's lingo so that it would be easy for them to understand.

Fallon replied that their initiative is a great idea for anyone who has kids. Because if you have little tots, you are always looking for something to do, so it benefits both of you.

The "Nightly News" kids' edition started a test run in mid-April and happens twice-weekly. The program will run between six to ten minutes and will be posted on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. The video will be available on NBC's YouTube channel and other social media platforms.

Their main goal is to ease some mystery and worry for the young people about the coronavirus pandemic that has caused schools to close and seeing their parents at home the whole day every day. Apart from discussing questions about the global health crisis, they are also offering helpful tips for homeschooling.

NBC's medical correspondent, Dr. John Torres said that the important thing is to provide an affirmation to the children that it is okay to freak out a little by what is going on because even adults are feeling the same way. Kids need to know that what they are feeling is perfectly normal.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo urged New Yorkers to keep going with social distancing guidelines as he announced a further 437 coronavirus deaths in the state in the last 24 hours, an increase in what has been a steadily declining daily death toll.

The state had registered less deaths for five days in a row, lowering to 422 on Thursday before jumping again to 437 on Friday. There were 10,553 new cases.

Gov. Cuomo remained hopeful in his daily press briefing Saturday morning but warned the states residents that they must continue to shelter in place despite the growing lockdown fatigue.

All the evidence says were on the decline, he said, adding that hospitalizations are back to where they were three weeks ago after 21 days of hell for the state.

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There were 437 new coronavirus deaths in New York state on Friday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo revealed as he urged New Yorkers to 'keep going' with social distancing guidelines

The governor revealed that the state is continuing to ramp up testing in an effort to combat the outbreak by carrying out antibody testing in four downstate New York hospitals and on New York City transit workers and the NYPD from Saturday.

The state is also allowing independent pharmacists to conduct diagnostic coronavirus tests and opening up testing eligibility to all first responders, healthcare workers and essential workers.

The state is now testing on average 20,000 people a day and arranged a template with the federal government this week to divide responsibility between federal and state governments.

The states cases rose by 10,553 on Friday to a total of 282,143 and 1,184 people were hospitalized.

The death toll is now at 16,599 after 437 new deaths Friday.

Nursing home residents accounted for 19 of these deaths and 418 were in hospitals.

New York state is carrying out more diagnostic testing per capita than any country in the world as well as more testing than the rest of the United States combined.

The antibody testing, which tests for traces that a person has already had the virus, will begin Saturday downstate in some of New York Citys hardest hit hospitals as well as among the citys police force and transit workers.

The testing will include two public city hospitals in Bellevue and Elmhearst - which received national headlines over its high level of cases - as well as Montefiore and SUNY Downstate, a Covid-19 patient only facility.

Workers in the Metropolitian Transit Authority and Transport Workers Union as well as the state and New York City police force will also receive antibody testing.

Theyve kept the city and subways operational. They did that for us, the governor said.

Weve said thank you and we meant it sincerely. It was a good start but even better than saying thank you, actions speak louder than words.  get me the help I need, he added as he announced the comprehensive testing.

The state revealed new antibody testing for four major hospitals, transit workers and for the NYPD and state police as New York extends its testing capability. Gov. Cuomo said the state is now testing more people than the United States or any other country in the world

Gov. Cuomo announced antibody testing for frontline healthcare workers at four hospitals and healthcare systems in New York City. The test looks to see if a person has already had the virus

The governor also revealed a drop in hospitalizations Friday after '21 days of hell' but said that there was still a way to go until the levels dropped down to a few hundred

Cuomo said he understood that one of the biggest complaints across the board is that everybody wanted testing, as he talked about hopes the system could be expanded further to allow eligibility for all residents.

On Saturday, he extended the eligibility for diagnostic testing  the yes/no test that says if a person has coronavirus or not  to all first responders, healthcare workers and essential workers, as he announced an executive order that will allow independent pharmacies to become testing collection points.

The governor said he hoped the state's 5,000 independent pharmacies would sign up, gathering tests to be sent to state labs for processing.

He voiced concern, however, that New Yorkers tired of lockdown are looking for an end, as other states begin to relax their social distancing guidelines.

I get its the worst thing we have experienced in modern history, he warned, while comparing the 56 days the state has spent in lockdown to the eight years of the Vietnam War and the six years of the Second World War.

This is a terrible experience to go through, he said before reminded New Yorkers you are saving lives.

Thats not rhetorical, thats not overly dramatic. What we have done here has saved lives.

Every expert predicted 100,000 more serious infections in the state of New York, 100,000 more.

What happened? We did what we had to do, which was hard and is hard, but what did we accomplish? 100,000 fewer infections.

'Thats what 56 days of our relative living through hell has accomplished.

Cuomo once again addressed younger people as he urged them to remain vigilant and said that they may think they are safe but to think of others, adding Life is better than death even if its not your own.

'56 days of pain, yes, but relative to what others have gone through not that bad,' he said.

'We actually saved lives. Thats what we did and what were doing. I believe everything we did was worth it. For me thats a heck of an accomplishment. Maybe the life you saved is not your own.'

The governor said that no decision had yet been made about the lifting of New Yorks social distancing guidelines but it would be discussed further next week as he works with other governors in the tri-state area to outline phased openings.

He said that there was no timeline yet in place but there was an understanding between local states that border areas, in particular, will be kept in mind when reopening begins.

It needs to be balanced with the tri-state approach, he continued.

Our numbers we are ok but people have cars and people are mobile and people have been cooped up and whatever you do could trigger a reaction in that tri-state area. You could see people come because you are the place where I can get a haircut  thats the balance to all of this.

The discussion is premature but its something were working on now.
NORWALK  A 21-year-old Brien McMahon graduate has died after contracting the coronavirus.

According to a post in a Facebook page for the high schools Center for Global Studies program, Sheryll Sher Enriquez, a Stamford resident who graduated from the Norwalk school in 2017, died after battling COVID-19 for several weeks.

She was a lovely, sweet, artistic young woman who brought much joy and kindness to our little community, CGS Director Julie Parham wrote. We are lucky we had a chance to spend four lovely years with her.

The family has set up a fundraising page to help with funeral expenses.

She was only 21 and had a full life ahead of her, Miryam Enriquez wrote. Sheryll leaves behind a large family that loves her and remains in our hearts.

Enriquez is among the youngest in the state to die after contracting the coronavirus. According to data from the state, only four people in their 20s have died from the virus.

Earlier this month, 18-year-old Yasmin Yazy Penam, who had lupus, died in Hartford Hospital after being diagnosed with coronavirus.

erin.kayata@hearstmediact.com
A medical staff puts samples taken for new coronavirus testing in a device during a mass testing at Ha Vy wholesale market in Hanoi, April 18, 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Ngoc Thanh.

The Health Ministry confirmed no fresh Covid-19 case Saturday morning, keeping the nations tally at Friday evening's 270.

The number of active Covid-19 patients in the country remains at 45, not to mention six relapse cases, including one who has left Vietnam.

By Friday morning, Vietnam had gone eight straight days clear of new infections. In the evening, two new cases were confirmed.

They are a 22-year-old woman and 23-year-old man, both students studying in Japan who returned to Van Don Airport in the northern province of Quang Ninh April 22. They are quarantined and being treated at the National Hospital of Tropical Diseases in Hanoi.

Of Vietnam's 270 patients, 225 have been discharged from hospitals. Among the 45 ones that are still undergoing treatment, 15 have tested negative once and two twice.

However, the nation has had six relapse cases, with the latest two being "Patient 36," a 64-year-old woman in the south central province of Binh Thuan, and "Patient 137," a 34-year-old man in the north central province of Nghe An. The man was released from hospital in Hanoi on April 7 and was quarantined for another 14 days, but was confirmed positive again on Thursday, one day after he returned to his hometown. The woman was discharged on April 10 and confirmed positive on Friday when she was just about to finish her 14-day post-discharge quarantine.

The three other relapse cases are "Patient 188," a 44-year-old woman in Hanoi who tested positive for the novel coronavirus on April 18, two days after her discharge; "Patient 52," a 24-year-old Vietnamese woman returning from London, and "Patient 149," a 40-year-old Vietnamese man returning from Germany, who were both discharged April 16 and tested positive again five days later under quarantine at a hospital in Quang Ninh Province.

"Patient 22," a British man whose samples tested positive as he left Vietnam, had tested negative again in his home country.

The Covid-19 pandemic has reached 210 countries and territories with a reported death toll of almost 197,000.
Ohio, the first state to cancel its in-person voting in favor of an entirely mail-in election, has hit some hiccups as the state tries to transition voting procedures amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Republican Secretary of State Frank LaRose, the states chief election official, wrote in a letter to Ohios Congressional delegation that due to delays with the United States Postal Service, some voters likely will not receive their requested absentee ballots in time for the Tuesday night deadline to return them.

As we approach the April 28th deadline to complete the election, we are faced with an obstacle that is outside of our control, and we need your help to overcome it. As Ohioans rush to submit their vote-by-mail requests, and our boards work overtime to fulfill them, we are finding that the delivery of the mail is taking far longer than what is published by the United States Postal Service (USPS) as expected delivery times, LaRose wrote in his letter.

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, he continued.

On Friday afternoon, LaRose announced that the USPS is putting in place extra provisions to ensure ballots are processed, including hand-delivery for some ballots.

At the beginning of April, voters in Wisconsin were asked to head to the polls after the Republican-controlled legislature and conservative courts blocked efforts from Democratic Gov. Tony Evers to expand absentee voting in light of coronavirus.

PHOTO: Residents wait in long line to vote in a presidential primary election outside the Riverside High School in Milwaukee, April 7, 2020. (Kamil Krzaczynski/AFP via Getty Images, FILE)

Now, even after a statewide effort from both Republicans and Democrats, officials in Ohio are preparing for delayed ballots -- even increased turnout at the polls on Tuesday -- due to the mail delays.

LaRose asked the congressional delegation to provide additional staffing through the weekend to deal with the influx of election mail rushing through the postal system.

(MORE: The vote by mail fault lines that could define November's election)

Story continues

Although elections officials largely agreed with Republican Gov. Mike DeWines decision to close the polls last month under a health emergency, they are worried that the state legislatures tight timeline to administer an all-mail election was too lofty a goal.

At this point, there's really nothing that can be done, Aaron Ockerman, the executive director of the Ohio Association of Election Officials told ABC News. That's not a realistic timeframe. That's a statutory timeframe. But certainly as we look into the future, relief from that and giving voters more time to get their ballots into the board of elections, would be very, very helpful.

The bottom line is, its unprecedented because we just don't know who's going to not get a ballot [in the mail] and want to show up, Ockerman said of the limited polling places on Tuesday.

Voting rights groups are concerned that without litigation to combat the results of a slow-moving postal system, some ballots will go uncounted.

(MORE: 19 new cases of coronavirus in Wisconsin linked to election activities: State health officials)

The legislature isn't going to do anything unless they're sued. So the hope is that there is a lawsuit, said Yvette Simpson, the executive director of Democracy for America, a former Cincinnati city councilwoman and a ABC News contributor.

I would say, big picture, that this is also a test case for November. We're hearing that we will have a resurgence in the fall of COVID, Simpson said, adding that her group is evaluating what a feasible standard will be for voting-by-mail nationwide for the general.

LaRose initially issued a directive to election officials statewide that in-person voting would take place on June 2, which was overturned by the state legislature. Lawmakers settled on April 28 as the deadline to return ballots.

PHOTO: Frank LaRose gives his victory speech after winning Ohio Secretary of State, Nov. 6, 2018, in Columbus, Ohio. (Justin Merriman/Getty Images, FILE )

Even without postal service delays, some speculated at the outset of election changes, including LaRose and local officials, the turnaround would not be feasible.

The Secretary of State should have mailed a ballot to every registered Ohio voter weeks ago. The process he put in place was unnecessarily arduous and will directly result in less votes cast, said Ohio Rep. Tim Ryan in a statement to ABC.

Turnout is low for a major election year, Ockerman said. Based on the number of absentee ballot requests alone, turnout is around 22%, or half of what the state saw in 2016.

Additionally, the USPS is in dire straits financially, but instead of offering assistance, President Trump is threatening to veto any bill that helps the Postal Service. Trump and the Congressional Republicans need to get off the sidelines and help. Weve got elections to run and essential supplies that need to be delivered, not to mention the health and welfare of the postal workers and letter carriers on the front lines during this health crisis, Ryan said.

In an email obtained by ABC News, the USPS wrote to election officials that the states benchmark for ballot turnout will be difficult to meet, possibly leaving ballots undelivered.

The state's deadline for mailing out and returning ballots largely falls outside of the Postal Service's delivery standards, the email reads. As a result, please be advised that while we will endeavor to deliver ballots as quickly as possible, there is a strong likelihood that the timing for mailing out ballots may not allow adequate time for voters to receive the ballot and return it by mail in time to meet the state's postmark deadline or in some instances, in time for voters to hand deliver their ballots ahead of polls closing on Tuesday.

(MORE: As coronavirus upends elections, ballot access becomes next point of concern)

Catherine Turcer, the executive director of Common Cause Ohio, said that for vote-by-mail to be successful in Ohio, should that be the default in November, the process needs to be streamlined. That means eliminating the additional back-and-forth of submitting an absentee ballot application.

Five states already use vote-by-mail as the primary driver for their elections, and automatically send every registered voter a ballot.

As Congress works to pass new funding packages to offset the economic impacts of COVID-19, experts have called for more money to change the vote-by-mail process and for additional funding for USPS.

Rick Hasen, a professor of law and political science at the University of California- Irvine, told ABC News that without additional funding to support vote-by-mail, Novembers general presidential election could pose challenges, even as states try their hardest to implement a functional election during a pandemic.

You can't have an effective by-mail system without an effective, functional Postal Service, Hasen said. Even for those states in which the return of balance happens at voting centers or in government dropboxes, mail is still essential for getting ballots to voters, getting other voting materials to voters. It's really unthinkable that we could run an effective election in November without a functioning Postal Service.

More time would have been helpful: Ohio election officials face ballot issues due to postal service delays originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
The race for a coronavirus cure has begun with the first UK patients who signed-up for he vaccine trials that will begin in Oxford.

These are the first human trials to prove that the vaccine works as a cure for the COVID-19 disease, that is caused by the coronavirus.

Initially, two volunteers were injected with the drug therapy, just the first of 800 or more people who will take part in the vaccine trials under the auspices of Oxford.

How will the trial be done?

Amongst the volunteers, half will get the COVID-19 vaccine, and the other half is the meningitis drug not for coronavirus.

This will be a double-blind trial by design, so the patients do not know what they are getting, but the doctors will know who gets what.

Elisa Granato, got the first shot with the initial testee, she told BBC,"I'm a scientist, so I wanted to try to support the scientific process wherever I can."

Development of the vaccine came under three months that was researched and designed at the Oxford University. According to Sarah Gilbert, a professor of vaccinology at the Jenner Institute, heads the pre-clinical research done on it.

She expressed that the vaccine will be effective, as she expressed confidence in the trials ahead.

Dr Gilbert added. "Of course, we have to test it and get data from humans. We have to demonstrate it works and stops people getting infected with coronavirus before using the vaccine in the wider population." Before mass production of the coronavirus cure.

Initially, Prof Gilbert said that it was an 80% chance and confident it will work, asked later she corrected herself, instead expressed optimism that It will pan out.

Explaining the vaccine, it is created from a "weakened version of the common cold (aka the adenovirus) sourced from chimps, but tweaked so it cannot grow in humans.

Also read: Coronavirus Weak Spot Discovered: Researchers Find Out That Virus is 'Low Shielding'

Signs that it is working according to scientists

One of the indicators that will point out success using the COVID-19 cure, is contrasting the number of the participants who will get infected by the coronavirus, several months before from the two arms during the vaccines trials.

It presents a predicament if cases fall faster in the UK, for lack of data to look at. Which was stressed by the scientists.

Prof Andrew Pollard, leader of the Oxford Vaccine Group said:" We're chasing the end of this current epidemic wave. If we don't catch that, we won't be able to tell whether the vaccine works in the next few months. But we do expect that there will be more cases in the future because this virus hasn't gone away."

Researchers doing the coronavirus cure trials prefer most local health care employees as part of the study, they have more chances to encounter the coronavirus, than any other profession. They stress that these trials are needed to get a new cure out faster.

Planned in coming months is a massive 5,000 volunteer group to start a bigger but with no age limits.

Most older people possess weaker immunity responses to vaccines, researchers are checking if they will need two doses of the vaccine.

Is it safe to use?

During the trials, the volunteers will be monitored and checked for adverse reaction to the vaccine.

Will it be available for everyone?

Prof Gilbert gave a simple answer, for this question, and he stressed, " It's not our role to dictate what will happen, we just have to try to get a vaccine that works and have enough of it and then it will be for others to decide."

Then Prof Pollard gave this statement," We've got to ensure we have enough doses to provide for those in greatest need, not just in the UK but also in developing countries."

Soon the first patients to be injected in the UK vaccine trial, and if this works more people will benefit from it.

Related article: Israeli COVID-19 Treatment Reports 100% Survival Rate

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The novel coronavirus has been found on air pollution particles by scientists who are studying if this could allow the virus to advance longer distances, resulting in more number of people contracting it, The Guardian reported.

The work is still in the initial phase, and it is not yet been ascertained if the virus can survive on pollution particles and in sufficient amount to actually cause the infection.

The Italian scientists employed standard techniques to procure outdoor air pollution samples at one urban and one industrial location in Bergamo province. They recognised a gene particular to Covid-19 in several samples and this identification was established through blind testing at an independent laboratory.

Leonardo Setti at the University of Bologna in Italy, who spearheaded the study, said it was imperative to investigate if the virus could be transported through air pollution.

I am a scientist and I am worried when I dont know, he told The Guardian.If we know, we can find a solution. But if we dont know, we can only suffer the consequences, he added.

Besides this, two other research groups have indicated that air pollution particles could allow coronavirus to advance in the air.

A statistical study by Settis team indicates that higher pollution levels of particle pollution could describe the higher rates of infection in areas of northern Italy before a strict lockdown was put in place. Notably, this is one of the most polluted parts of Europe.

The studies undertaken by Settis team have not been peer-reviewed and thus have not received the backing of independent scientists. However, experts concur that the theory is possible and merits an investigation.

Earlier studies have also revealed that particles of air pollution do hold on to microbes and that pollution probably carried other viruses causing bird flu, measles, etc. over long distances.

The possibility of air pollution particles transporting viruses is connected with an overarching query about how the novel coronavirus is spread. Big virus-filled droplets from infected peoples coughs and sneezes may collapse within a few metres distance. Smaller droplets, however, those less than 5 microns in diameter, could remain suspended in the air for minutes and even hours and advance further, the Guardian report said.

Experts are unsure if these small airborne droplets can indeed cause Covid-19 infections, but they are aware of how the 2003 SARS coronavirus was transmitted through air.

Scientists say the possibility of airborne transmission, and the role of pollution particles, should not be dismissed without proof. Prof Jonathan Reid at Bristol University in the UK is studying airborne transmission of coronavirus told the Guardian: It is perhaps not surprising that while suspended in air, the small droplets could combine with background urban particles and be carried around.

He added that the virus had been found in small droplets collected indoors in China.
Ukraine early responded to a threat of the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), and this should contribute to mitigate the threat, Head of the Delegation of the ICRC to Ukraine Florence Gillette has said.

"Ukraine took the threat of COVID-19 very seriously early on, and worked on mobilising local, national and international efforts to deal with the threat. The authorities are trying to have a holistic approach of the matter, looking at social and economic impacts in addition to the health matters. As everyone throughout the world, we are all learning how to manage an unprecedented crisis," Gillette said in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine.

She said that the early response in Ukraine, the mobilisation of all, including in the civil society and private sector, are definitely elements that should contribute to mitigate the threat in the best manner possible.

"Also looking at humanitarian matters, the ICRC would like to thank the authorities for having anticipated, early on, the need to adapt the COVID-19 prevention measures in a way that continues to support humanitarian efforts," she said.

In addition, she recalled that the ICRC president had the opportunity to "meet" Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the onset of the crisis, albeit virtually due to the pandemic.

"As a result, Ukraine facilitated the air transport of 14 MT medical cargo for ICRC health response. ICRC teams and myself are in very regular contact with representatives of the government of Ukraine, the Verkhovna Rada and local authorities, as well as the international community to ensure that our efforts are complementary to that of others and respond to the most acute needs," Gillette said.
Earlier today, the Minister for MESTI, Prof. Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng held a virtual meeting with the UK Ambassador to Ghana, H.E. Iain Walker and Paul Arkwright, Regional Ambassador for Africa on COP26.

Their discussions focused on scheduling a new date for COP26, progress on Ghanas Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) as well as the health and economic impact of COVID-19 on both countries.

During the discussions, Prof. Frimpong-Boateng mentioned a number of climate change interventions being undertaken by Ghana in the area of resilience for smallholder farmers renewable energy and forest plantations.

He also highlighted some steps government has put in place to alleviate the economic impact of COVID-19 on Ghanaian including free water, electricity subsidies, the stimulus package for SMEs and the provision for food to the needy.

Both countries agreed to work together to increase ambition on climate in the face of Covid 19 to alleviate poverty among the masses.

#ThisTooShallPass
(Photo : Stephen Leonardi on Unsplash) Scientists Found The Most Dangerous Place In The Earth! Time Travelers Can't Survive Here Experts Say (Photo : Huang Yingone on Unsplash) Scientists Found The Most Dangerous Place In The Earth! Time Travelers Can't Survive Here Experts Say

Scientists have discovered the most dangerous place in the planet's history. On CNET's previous report, a paleontologist stated that time travelers would not survive if they set their time-machine a hundred million years ago in this predator-packed region of the African continent.

Also Read: Deadly Allergy Caused By Common Ragweed; Leaf Beetle Can Stop The Plant Invasion, Experts Say

Scientists found the most dangerous place on the Earth

According to CNET, a study was conducted by an international team of scientists and researchers led by paleontologist Nizar Ibraham that revealed the deadliest place in Earth's history; even time travelers would not survive in the predator-packed place warned Ibraham.

"This was arguably the most dangerous place in the history of planet Earth, a place where a human time-traveler would not last very long," Ibraham said in the press release of the University of Portsmouth, on Friday, April 24.

The team of scientists conducted a wide-ranging survey of the creatures and geology of southeastern Morocco called the Kem Kem Group. It's a fossil-rich escarpment that consists of two distinct formations, the Douira Formation and Gara Sbaa Formation.

According to Ibraham, Kem Kem group was once home to the largest and most dangerous predator-dinosaurs ever discovered.

The Journal Zookeys published the first detailed and fully illustrated account of the fossil-rich escarpment, which was produced by the researchers from the Universities of Detroit, Montana, Chicago, Leicester, Portsmouth, Casablanca, McGill, and the Paris Museum of Natural History.

According to the University of Portsmouth, southeastern Morocco was home to a vast river system filled with different species of aquatic and terrestrial animals about 100 million years ago.

The Kem Kem Group included fossils of three of the largest meat-eating dinosaurs ever discovered including the Sabre-toothed, Deltadrous, predatory flying reptiles known as Pterosaurs, and crocodile-like predators.

According to Professor David Martill, the co-author of the study, most of the deadly predators relied on the abundant supply of marine creatures.

"This place was filled with absolutely enormous fish, including giant coelacanths and lungfish. The coelacanth, for example, is probably four or even five times large than today's coelacanth. There is an enormous freshwater saw shark called Onchopristis with the most fearsome of rostral teeth, they are like barbed daggers, but beautifully shiny," he said on the report.

David Martill reiterated that the study is the most comprehensive piece of work on fossil vertebrates from the Sahara in almost a century.

The researchers' findings revealed a vivid picture of land filled with teeth. All things considered, it would be a wonderful place to live in if we were on top of the food chain 100 million years ago.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Ekiti State Commissioner for Health, Dr Mojisola Yaya-Kolade, on Friday, said the health worker that died of COVID-19 on Wednesday had been buried in strict compliance with the World Health Organisation recommendations.

Yaya-Kolade said the 29-year-old woman, who went into a coma during labour before being diagnosed of coronavirus, was buried on Thursday in Ado-Ekiti by the government and the womans family, adding that Ekiti State Government will liaise with the family on how to raise the surviving baby.

The commissioner, who spoke in Ado-Ekiti during a COVID-19 update press briefing, said,

The 45-year-old doctor infected by the dead victim is responding to treatment in our isolation centre.

Meanwhile, the Lagos State Government has announced the discharge of 10 more COVID-19 patients, having tested negative twice for the virus.

The state Ministry of Health made this known via its Twitter handle @LSMOH on Friday.

The ministry said the number of discharged patients from the isolation centres in the state was now 117.

The ministry said,

Ten more COVID-19 Lagos patients; three females and seven males, including three foreign nationals  two Indians and one Filipino  were today (Friday) discharged from our isolation facilities at Yaba and Onikan to reunite with the society.
India allows limited reopening of retail shops while Pakistan permits some industrial and commercial activities.

India has allowed a limited reopening of shops in neighbourhoods and residential areas, a month after the nation went into lockdown to curb the spread of the coronavirus, officials said.

The federal home ministry announced on Friday that retail shops could start operations from Saturday with a 50-percent reduction in staff, and enforcing appropriate physical distancing, wearing of masks and gloves during work.

The sale of liquor and other non-essential items will continue to be prohibited, and no shops in large market places, multi-brand and single-brand malls will be allowed to open for business till May 3, when the nationwide lockdown is due to end.

The relaxation also would not be applicable in hundreds of hotspots and containment zones across the country.

India has reported 24,530 cases of the coronavirus and 780 deaths, and authorities are setting up new teams to focus on compliance and implementation of lockdown measures.

Last week, the government allowed resumption of manufacturing and farming activities in rural areas as millions of daily wage-earners were left without work.

Al Jazeeras Elizabeth Puranam, reporting from the capital, New Delhi, said: Shops being allowed to open is a huge relief to the millions of Indians in non-hotspot zones who own small, stand-alone shops.

The Indian government, like many others, say that they are just trying to balance saving lives and livelihood and that is why we are seeing the latest easing of restrictions here, she added.

Smart lockdown

Meanwhile, in neighbouring Pakistan, the government has extended the nationwide lockdown till May 9.

However, it is switching to a so-called smart lockdown from Saturday under which it will implement targeted tracking and tracing of cases while allowing some industrial and commercial activities to begin under safety guidelines.

Isolating these cases and their contacts will improve our ability to contain the disease alongside allowing the economy to function and people to get employment, said Asad Umar, Pakistans planning minister, who also oversees the coronavirus national response body.

This upcoming month of Ramadan will be decisive, he said, emphasising that adhering to the governments virus containment measures will allow other parts of the economy to restart.

Pakistani Muslims perform the first Tarawih prayer on the eve of the Islamic holy fasting month of Ramadan while maintaining physical distancing in Peshawar [Hussain Ali/Anadolu]

Prayer congregations for Ramadan have also been allowed in Pakistan with the exception of the southern province of Sindh, where doctors have warned the virus could spread rapidly.

In Karachi, the capital of Sindh and Pakistans largest city, most mosques were closed to the public for the Ramadan evening prayer gatherings, which began on Friday.

The countrys key medical associations have warned the government of serious consequences if a complete lockdown is not imposed.

Allowing the mass gatherings at mosques or markets may lead to an unmanageable situation as the countrys weak health system is already overburdened, Qaisar Sajjad, secretary-general of the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA), said on Friday.

Pakistans Inter-Services Intelligence service is supporting the government in tracing and tracking people who may have been in contact in with those who test positive for the virus.

As of Saturday, Pakistan reported 11,940 cases of infections, including 253 deaths.
2020-04-25 - 9:44 am

Bahrain Mirror: Commenting on the reports of the death of Dr. Abdullah Al-Hamid, a prisoner of conscience who died while in custody in Saudi Arabia, Lynn Maalouf, Director of Research for the Middle East at Amnesty International, said: "We were shocked and saddened to hear of the death of Dr. Abdullah Al-Hamid while in detention because of his peaceful activities."

"Dr. Al-Hamid was a valued human rights defender in Saudi Arabia, and he was determined to build a better world for all. We extend our hearts and prayers to his family and friends, who for the past eight years have been deprived of his presence with them as a result of the inhuman repression of the state."

Lynn Maalouf called on "the Saudi authorities once again to release, immediately and unconditionally, all those still in prison simply for the peaceful exercise of their human rights."

Dr. Abdullah Al-Hamed, 69, is a founding member of the Society for Civil and Political Rights in Saudi Arabia (Hasm). The association - its motto "Know Your Rights" - was committed to promoting the rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, as well as other international treaties and standards.

Dr. Abdullah Al-Hamid was suffering from high blood pressure, and the doctor told him, three months ago, that he needed surgery in the heart. Prison authorities have threatened him that if he tells his family about his health, he will sever his contact with his family.

On April 9, Dr. Abdullah Al-Hamid suffered a stroke and remained in detention, despite suffering from a coma in the intensive care unit in Al-Shemaisi Hospital in Riyadh.

As a human rights defender, writer and academic, he has written extensively on human rights and the independence of the judiciary. He also worked as a professor of contemporary literature at the Imam Muhammad bin Saud Islamic University in Riyadh, before being dismissed for his activities. He left behind a wife and eight children.

Dr. Al-Hamid has been tried repeatedly for his peaceful work since 1993. In March 2012, Dr. Al-Hamid and Muhammad Al-Qahtani, who is also one of the founding members of the "Hasm" Association, were arrested and interrogated about their work with the "Hasm" Association, and their peaceful activities. In March 2013, they were sentenced to 11 and 10 years in prison, respectively, for "departing from the guardian", "publicly defaming officials and their integrity", and "undermining community security and inciting to violate the regime by calling for demonstrations," And "inciting international organizations to the Kingdom."

Arabic Version
More than a dozen disabled orphans have been infected with coronavirus in Belarus - just weeks after the country's president dismissed fears about the disease.

At least 10 staff members as well as 13 children had contracted the virus at the Vesnova orphanage in the central Hlusk district as of Thursday.

The centre, which cares for abandoned youngsters and those born into poverty, is home to 147 young people who suffer from severe disabilities and weak immune systems.

The Vesnova orphanage homes severely-handicapped children such as Maria, pictured in 2016

Ministers are now being urged to move those who have fallen ill to hotels and other accommodation, despite Alexander Lukashenko's recent dismissal of the seriousness of the virus.

Adi Roche, founder of Irish charity Chernobyl Children International which financially supports the orphanage, said the situation was 'critical' and that some of the children were 'extremely ill'.

'There are no painkillers, no cough bottles. We are really worried and we feel we cannot abandon the children,' she told Irish Public broadcaster RTE.

She added that 'their chances of survival would be very poor' due to the severity of their disabilities.

It comes as Mr Lukashenko has dismissed fears about the outbreak as a 'psychosis' and has not closed borders or imposed strict lockdown measures in the eastern European country.

After claiming earlier this month that Covid-19 had killed just four people, the president insisted in a bizarre speech that working on tractors would provide protection from the virus, as would drinking vodka.

The centre, which cares for abandoned youngsters and those born into poverty, is home to 147 young people who suffer from severe disabilities and weak immune systems

There were 8,773 confirmed coronavirus cases in Belarus as of Friday, of which 396 are in the Mogilev region in the east, and 63 deaths in total.

In an effort to contain the disease, employees at the orphange have started working in shifts, contacts between different groups of children have been stopped, and visits prohibited.

Schools in Belarus have been open since Monday after a three-week holiday break.

In neighbouring Russia, people have opened their homes to psychiatric patients and disabled children after an emergency government measure allowing people to take residents of state institutions home.
By IANS

NEW DELHI: A plea has been moved in the Supreme Court raising concern over bodies of NRIs lying abandoned at foreign airports, after Indian Embassies in those countries started demanding a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the Ministry of Home Affairs, even for non-coronavirus deaths.

The plea has been moved by rights body Pravasi Legal Cell through advocate Jose Abraham.

"Indian Embassies, which were earlier issuing clearance certificates, are now insisting on production of a no objection certificate from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, even for those who have died in accidents or due to non-Covid-19 related ailment," said the petition.

The petitioner argued that bodies of Indian expatriates, especially from Gulf countries such as Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, the UAE and Saudi Arabia, who died due to non-Covid-19 ailments cannot be brought back to India. There was no issue in bringing back the mortal remains into India via cargo planes till April 21.

The petitioner contended that an instruction has been issued to individual airlines that "the immigration clearance for the bodies has been suspended alongside closing of immigration checkposts on March 23 at the airports".

The plea stated that even the airlines have been forced to approach the MHA for obtaining separate permission to carry the mortal remains into India.

"This is not only a cumbersome process, but would also lead to hesitation from the airlines to transport mortal remains in the near future," added the plea.

The plea cited the case of one Varghese Philip, who died on April 16 at the Kuwait Cancer Centre due to sudden cardiac arrest, and one Vinod M.V., who died at the Al-Adan Hospital in Kuwait due to bleeding in the brain owing to high blood pressure.

The cause of death in both the cases was registered by the Ministry of Public Health, Kuwait, and embalmment certificates of the bodies were also issued. However, the Embassy of India in Kuwait has not issued a 'clearance certificate' citing absence of a no-objection certificate from the MHA, the plea claimed.

The petitioner urged the top court to set aside these instructions issued to the Indian Embassies/High Commissions abroad, and also sought direction to permit cargo planes to bring back the mortal remains of Indian expatriates, who died due to other ailments without insisting on a no-objection certificate.
One Muslim family in Lagos on Friday explained how they are adjusting to a very different Ramadan under Nigeria's coronavirus lockdown.

Imam Is'haq Aminu of Surulere's Ike-Oluwa Mosque said that had it not been for the pandemic, people would be meeting in "large (groups) sharing dates or (...) fruits with which to break the fast."

This was not possible on the first evenings of the holy month, with a stay-at-home order in place.

Nigeria has confirmed almost 1,000 COVID-19 cases and 31 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 death.

(Representative Image)
MHAs midnight order on relaxations not to be implemented for now in Assam

320 Assam students evacuated from Rajasthan amid COVID-19 lockdown

India

oi-Briti Roy Barman

Guwahati, Apr 25: Assam government has begun evacuating its 320 students who were stranded in Kota, Rajasthan amid nationwide COVID-19 lockdown which has crossed its 30days-mark.

The students are on their way back to Assam in 18 air-conditioned sleeper buses. They are likely to reach Guwahati on Sunday said Assam State Transport Corporation.

The Assam government on Thursday sent a team of officials and police personnel to facilitate the evacuation of its students stranded in Kota following requests from families in the state.

To fast track the process, the team of officials and police personnel who went to escort the students back were sent to Jaipur on a chartered aircraft. However, this chartered plane was not used for the evacuation operation, said government sources.

Assam govt has begun evacuating students stranded in Kota, Rajasthan. 320 students are on their way back to Assam in 18 air-conditioned sleeper buses. They are likely to reach Guwahati tomorrow or on Sunday: Assam State Transport Corporation. #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/FRcBWanKsj  ANI (@ANI) April 24, 2020

Around 320 students from Assam stranded in Kota amid the nationwide COVID-19 lockdown have been brining back by road to Guwahati from Kota via Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

Why a lockdown extension may not contain the surge in coronavirus cases

While Assam government is only facilitating the evacuation of the students from Rajasthan, their parents will pay for travel by road, said official sources.

Meanwhile, Rajasthan is one of the worst affected states by coronavirus which has taken away 27 lives in the state so far and affected 2,034 according to the reports.
President Donald Trump repeatedly told Georgia's governor he approved of the state's reopening a day before publicly bashing the plan, it was reported on Friday.

The Associated Press anonymously quoted two administration officials saying that, behind the scenes, both Mr Trump and Vice President Mike Pence had been supportive of Governor Brian Kemp's decision to reopen Georgia.

Mr Trump publicly criticised the plan, however, saying on Wednesday that he disagrees strongly with the governor's decision to open certain facilities, and on Thursday saying he "wasn't at all happy".

Mr Trump tweeted a denial on Friday that he or Mr Pence ever gave the governor a green light to reopen businesses outside The White House's guidelines.

Mr Trump's reported reversal came after health experts from his coronavirus task force reviewed the Georgia plan and persuaded the president it was moving too quickly.

According to the administration officials, Mr Trump spoke to the governor more than once and praised the plan to reopen the state. But he asked Mr Kemp to slow down after Dr Deborah Birx and Dr Anthony Fauci suggested it was too soon.

"He's a very capable man. He knows what he's doing. He's done a very good job as governor," Mr Trump said on Tuesday before the apparent reversal.

While multiple anonymous sources have claimed health experts convinced Mr Trump to change his view, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany denied there had been any change in position.

"No one 'changed' President Trump's view. I was with him all throughout the day. His mind was made up. His priority has always been to reopen the country SAFELY," she posted Thursday.

Confirmed cases of coronavirus in Georgia have surpassed 21,000, and at least 870 deaths have been recorded by the state's Department of Public Health. Experts have warned the plan to reopen the state could fuel a resurgence in infections.

On Thursday night, Mr Kemp said Georgia was "taking another measured step forward by opening shuttered businesses for limited operations".
As member states work remotely due to the coronavirus pandemic, the UN General Assembly has not yet decided as to how it will proceed with a secret ballot scheduled for June to elect non-permanent members of the Security Council, an election India will win following the endorsement of its candidature by the Asia-Pacific grouping.

Elections for the five non-permanent members of the 15-nation Council for the 2021-22 term are scheduled to be held in June.

India is a candidate for a non-permanent seat in the elections this year and its victory is a given following the unanimous endorsement of its candidature by the 55-member Asia-Pacific grouping, including China and Pakistan.

UN General Assembly President Tijjani Muhamad-Bande's spokesperson Reem Abaza, during a press briefing, said that until now, nothing has been made regarding the elections that should have been held in June.

"So until now, we have made decisions about meetings up until the end of May. We didn't take any decisions for June, which will be made very soon. At the end of this month, we will decide, or seek the membership, its opinion on decisions regarding the June events.

She was responding to a question on whether any plans are being made by the 193-member General Assembly on how the UN Security Council elections will be held in June.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has said that the telecommuting arrangements at the UN headquarters will continue till May 31.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, UN staff, diplomats, personnel from member states are working remotely and the UN Secretariat is all but closed.

Each year, the General Assembly elects five non-permanent members (out of 10 in total) for a two-year term.

The 10 non-permanent seats are distributed on a regional basis - five for African and Asian states; one for eastern European states; two for the Latin American and Caribbean states; and two for the western European and other states.

The election is held by a secret ballot.

The General Assembly is not holding meetings in person as UN staff and diplomats telecommute due to the pandemic.

Resolutions are being adopted by the UN body through a silence procedure, under which if no member state raises any objections to the draft within a specified time period, the President of the General Assembly will circulate a letter confirming adoption of the text.

There is no provision as of now for the member states to vote remotely or send in their ballot through email or through other electronic methods for the Security Council elections so it remains to be seen as to how the elections this year will be conducted.

Last year, Estonia, Niger, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Tunisia and Vietnam were elected to the Council for a two-year term beginning January 2020.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Governments response to the coronavirus pandemic is seen by many to mirror its post-2015 earthquake measures.

Five years ago, 11-year-old Reshma Shrestha from Sindupalchowk district in Nepal stood outside her collapsed house, waiting for the body of her mother and infant brother to be dug out of the rubble. A powerful magnitude 7.8 earthquake had brought down thousands of houses in her district and made many more unlivable.

Five years on, with the country on lockdown as a response to COVID-19, the 16-year-old is afraid of losing loved ones, once again.

Life had just started to feel normal for the Shrestha family, but the coronavirus pandemic has Reshmas father, Resham, worried.

We are vegetable farmers. But we cant sell our vegetables any more. We no longer have a business, Resham told Al Jazeera.

Some people affected by the earthquake still live in temporary shelters, five years on [File: Saif Khalid/Al Jazeera]

In 2015, Nepals leadership was immobilised when the sudden earthquake took the lives of approximately 9,000 people and left hundreds of thousands homeless.

By mid-September of that year, global aid commitments of several billion dollars were soon followed by a power tussle that led to ethnic tension, a controversial new constitution, and a change in government.

Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli, the current prime minister, came to power in October 2015 and used nationalistic rhetoric to consolidate power.

In the meantime, people continued to live in temporary shelters. It took eight months for a national reconstruction body to be formed and another year to formulate a plan of action.

The governments response to the COVID-19 pandemic is seen by many as a mirror to its response to the earthquake; glacial and often opaque.

This should have been a time for the leadership to prove themselves. But instead, they wasted time, did not set any priorities, and the leadership busied themselves with consolidation of power, says Basanta Basnet, editor of the weekly Nepal magazine.

Nepalese daily wage workers and their families head back to their villages during a government-imposed nationwide lockdown in Kathmandu [File: Sunil Pradhan/Anadolu]

The first case of infection was detected in early January. On March 23, while the total number of infected were still in single digits, the country went into lockdown.

No provision was made for thousands of migrants working both abroad and within Nepal  who were stranded.

As people started walking back home, one man fell to his death while crossing a bridge that had been closed. Millions of farmers and daily wagers are struggling to survive.

As promises of funds and debt relief started, the government became embroiled in allegations of corruption while procuring personal protective equipment (PPE).

Global corruption watchdog Transparency International ranks Nepal 113 out of 180 countries in its corruption perception index.

As with the earthquake, citizen groups immediately joined to help, collecting and distributing relief material.

We cant just sit down and not respond because experience tells us that its the societys poorest and marginalised will be left out, said Raunak Raj from Sano Paila, a local organisation which has been mobilising volunteers and distributing relief.

Its worse than the post-quake as fewer organisations are on the ground  and local elected representatives are distributing aid on the basis of their vote bank, he said, meaning that they are prioritising their supporters.

Controversial laws

Since the earthquake, Nepal has had elected leaders at different tiers of government. The current federal government, led by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, holds a large majority.

The hubris of an absolute majority has meant that the governments democratic values have been compromised, says Basnet from Nepal magazine.

In the past weeks, the prime ministers attempt to pass controversial laws to strengthen his own position backfired, and he had to retract them after much criticism.

The communist party-led government has been criticised for attempting to quash critics, sometimes with farcical incompetence.





Prime Minister Olis political and press advisors allegedly put pressure on a software company to hack an online news portal to delete an article revealing the corruption scam around PPE procurement.

A retired bureaucrat was detained for cybercrime after he made corruption allegations against the government.

Individuals and organisations working in relief distribution are afraid that the slightest criticism of the government might land them in trouble.

After the earthquake, the government had clamped down on independent fundraising and relief. Some groups working on COVID-19 relief say they have received veiled threats.

Amid the political drama, Sushil Gyawali, who oversaw the reconstruction work after the earthquake, announced: Out of 781,176 beneficiaries, who have signed grant agreement for the government grant, 494,044 (63 percent) have already built their houses

The international community has praised Nepals achievements in post-earthquake reconstruction and rehabilitation, Gyawali, who heads the National Reconstruction Authority, said on the five-year anniversary of the earthquake.

But 44 percent of health institutions damaged during the earthquake, much needed in a pandemic, are yet to be reconstructed.

Resource arrangement has been a major challenge for the reconstruction of these health institutions, Gyawali said.
As people turned in droves to the video chatting app Zoom in recent weeks, the buzz caught Facebooks attention. Inside the social network, that immediately set off a scramble. Mark Zuckerberg, Facebooks chief executive, ordered employees to ramp up and focus on the companys own video chat projects, especially as use of its products also increased, said three people with knowledge of the plans, who declined to be identified because the details are confidential. On Facebooks internal message boards, employees openly gawked at public data showing ...
In just a few short years after launching her makeup line Kylie Cosmetics, Kylie Jenner has become one of the richest people on the planet. She is worth a staggering $1 billion and continues to bring in millions of bucks each year. Her success has allowed her to make major investments in real estate, with homes all around the greater Los Angeles area.

Most recently, Jenner reportedly purchased a sprawling pad in the California area that came at a $36.5 million price tag. While we wait for a possible home tour from the makeup star, lets take a look at some of the existing photos of this beauty.

Kylie Jenner at a party in February 2020 |Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

The inside of Kylie Jenners new mansion

TMZ reported on April 24 that it is a single-story home that clocks in at 15,350 square feet. The mansion is reportedly in the Holmby Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles, which is quite a bit of a distance away from Calabasas, where Jenner and most of her family lives. But its not the worst trip. Estimates say that it takes about 30 minutes to get from Holmby Hills to Calabasas.

The home reportedly comes with seven bedrooms and 14 bathrooms along with a bar, theater, gym, oversized living and dining areas, and more (via E! News). The palatial pad appears to be the perfect place for the beauty mogul, giving her plenty of room to work, relax, and raise her daughter, Stormi. Plus, with two apartments on the property, theres tons of space for her friends and family to crash if they want.

To top it all off, Jenner reportedly scored the pad for nearly $9 million less than the asking price of $45 million. She has yet to comment on the mansion. However, E! News notes that she posed in the house for the photo below. See more pictures of the pad at the links above.

Where does Kylie Jenner live now?

As of writing, Jenner lives in a $12 million home that she purchased in the fall of 2016. It is 13,200 square feet and has eight bedrooms, 11 bathrooms, a theater, spa, game room, glam area, and more (via Trulia). The home follows a classic design with bright colors sprinkled about in honor of Jenners makeup line.

I told [designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard] I wanted a fresh, fun vibe to match the way I was feeling. Color was essential. I love pink, and I wanted a lot of it! Jenner explained to Architectural Digest in 2019.

The look is glamorous but totally inviting, Bullard added. Kylie loves to have people over, and theres nothing so precious that you cant stand, jump, or dance on it.

Occasionally, Jenner offers up glimpses of her house. For Christmas 2019, she took fans on a small tour while showing off her holiday decorations and more recently, let fans see the backyard, which features a massive swimming pool and BBQ area.

Other properties Kylie Jenner has owned

After purchasing her first home at 17  which cost $2.7 million  Jenner went on to buy more than a handful of properties.

Her third most expensive home was one she co-purchased with Travis Scott in 2018 when they were still together. According to People, the couple bought the $13.45 million home as an investment but planned on living there occasionally. However, now that they have split, its unclear whats going to happen with the pad.

In the meantime, Jenner will seemingly be settling in and kicking back at her new spot. Fingers crossed that shell invite us to stay for a week (or two).
While researching last weeks story about actress Jayne Mansfields appearance at the Syracuse Chiefs home opener at MacArthur Stadium in 1966, we unearthed a photo of the star in the city that probably has not been seen for over 50 years.

We also discovered that Mansfield was all over Central New York the last week of April 1966.

Besides taking a few swings at the plate at Big Mac, she performed at Baldwinsvilles Three Rivers Inn for ten nights, made a surprise visit to Hancock Field and at recruiting offices in the Chimes Building, was cheered by hundreds of servicemen during a tour of Griffiss Air Force Base in Rome and was named honorary housemother at the Hillcrest House, a boys dormitory at Oswego State.

(I will take all of you under my wing and do what any good housemother will do, she told the crowds of cheering young men. Let me see now, I guess I will have a 5 a.m. curfew.)

At all these events, the actress was accompanied by her pair of chihuahuas, Momsicle and Popsicle.

Promising singing, comedy, laughter and the Bob Arlen Dancers, the Jayne Mansfield Show ran for 10 days at the Three Rivers Inn at Baldwinsville in late April 1966.

Mansfields stage show debut at the Three Rivers Inn on April 23 was deemed a smashing success by the Herald Journal.

Miss Mansfield, decked in a bright red, low-cut sequin dress, was greeted with more fervor from the audience than any other entertainer at the inn in some time, wrote the newspapers Fred David.

More than 700 people were in the audience on opening night, possibly boosted by the rumors that comedian Bob Hope, who had performed in front of 7,000 people at the War Memorial a day before.

Hope was indeed there and even contributed to one of skits.

It was a much more conservatively attired Mansfield which was shot by a Post-Standard photographer while she visited downtown Syracuse a few days later.

The photograph was published in the April 27, 1966 edition of the newspaper and was titled, Jayne and Friends.

The caption read:

Entertainer Jayne Mansfield cuddles her pet chihuahuas as she talks with Jerry Wilson of Wilsons Leading Jewelers yesterday at the main S. Salina St. store. Miss Mansfield, currently appearing at Three Rivers Inn, accepted a watch from Wilson and said she will send it to a serviceman in Viet Nam. The blonde actress paid a surprise visit to Hancock Field and the Chimes Building offices.

READ MORE

1985: New Coke unveiled but receives a flat reception at CNY taste test

Vintage photo: NFL MVP Jim Brown picks up new Pontiac in 1959

1920: Syracuse women begin bringing their lunch to work, anything to defeat the high cost of living

This feature is a part of CNY Nostalgia, a section on syracuse.com. Send your ideas and curiosities to Johnathan Croyle at jcroyle@syracuse.com or call 315-427-3958.

Thanks for visiting Syracuse.com. Quality local journalism has never been more important, and your subscription matters. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work.
A Monash University study showing that a head lice drug kills the COVID-19 virus has prompted warnings from other researchers the level of drug needed was up to 100 times higher than approved human doses.

The publication of the study led to a surge in demand for ivermectin around the world, forcing the US Food and Drug Administration to issue an extraordinary warning urging people not to take the drug, cautioning it can cause serious harm in people.

A microscope image of the virus that causes COVID-19. Credit:AP

The study, published on April 3, shows certain concentrations of ivermectin can kill the virus that causes COVID-19 in cells in a test tube.

Ivermectin is a commonly used and inexpensive treatment for parasites, including head lice. It can be taken as a tablet or applied as a cream, and is used as a heartworm medicine for dogs.
The holy month of Ramadan began on April 25 with mosques missing worshippers presence after the authorities imposed restrictions amid coronavirus outbreak. (Image: AP)

Mosque once filled with the faithful are now empty as the global pandemic has changed the Ramadan celebration this year in unprecedented ways. Millions of Muslims have started the holiest month under the coronavirus lockdown or strict social restrictions. (Image: Reuters)

Earlier during Ramadan Muslims around the world use to join their families to pray together and break their fast but due to the coronavirus outbreak the large gathering for prayers and iftars are restricted. (Image: Reuters)

Boy reads Quran in Pakistan ahead of the month of Ramadan. Governments in Asian countries have asked people to perform prayers while following social distancing as a precautionary measure to stop the spread of COVID-19. (Image: AP)

On April 19, 2020, shoppers wearing face masks and gloves amid the coronavirus pandemic pass by a Ramadan display at a Carrefour supermarket in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Image: AP)

A woman walks on a street under decorations a day ahead of the holy month of Ramadan, in the Imbaba neighbourhood of Giza, April 23, 2020. Muslims around the world are trying to cherished rituals of Islams holiest month during the coronavirus pandemic. (Image: AP)

A Muslim prays during the first day of the holy month of Ramadan at National Mosque in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on April 24, 2020. Muslims across the world began marking the holy month of Ramadan under unprecedented coronavirus lockdown. (Image: AP)

An aerial view of deserted Grand Mosque on the first day of the holy month of Ramadan during the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia April 24, 2020. (Image: Reuters)

Muslim men offer prayer on the eve of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, during a nationwide lockdown to slow the spread of the COVID-19, outside the Jama Masjid (Grand Mosque) in the old quarters of Delhi, India, April 24, 2020. (Image: REUTERS)

Esat Sahin, Imam of the iconic Fatih Mosque, holds a prayer held without public due to the coronavirus restrictions in Istanbul, April 24, 2020, during the first day of the holy fasting month of Ramadan. (Image: AP)

People mark places in a mosque for worshippers to maintain distance during prayers ahead of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, April 23, 2020. (Image: AP)

In this before and after photo from Sultanahmet district of Istanbul shows the difference of first day of fasting month earlier on May 6, 2019 and now on April 24, 2020 due to coronavirus. The district is left deserted as the Turkish government has banned communal eating during Ramadan as an effort to stop the outbreak. (Image: AP)

Men wearing masks practice social distancing while praying at the Tahara Mosque during the coronavirus pandemic in Marseille, at a closed door radio broadcast in southern France, April 24, 2020, during the first day of Ramadan. (Image: AP)
Apoorva Mandavilli

The researchers worked around the clock, in shifts of three to five hours, hoping to stave off weariness and keep their minds sharp for the delicate task.

They set up lines of laboratory volunteers: medical residents, postdoctoral students, even experienced veterans of science, each handling a specific task. They checked and rechecked their data, as if the world were depending on it. Because in some ways, it was.

For the past few weeks, more than 50 scientists have been working diligently to do something that the Food and Drug Administration mostly has not: Verifying that 14 coronavirus antibody tests on the market actually deliver accurate results.

These tests are crucial to reopening the economy, but public health experts have raised urgent concerns about their quality. The new research, completed just days ago and posted online Friday, confirmed some of those fears: Of the 14 tests, only three delivered consistently reliable results. Even the best had some flaws.

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 research has not been peer-reviewed and is subject to revision. But the results are already raising difficult questions about the course of the epidemic.

Surveys of residents in the Bay Area, Los Angeles and New York this week found that substantial percentages tested positive for antibodies to SARS-CoV-2, the official name of the new coronavirus. In New York City, the figure was said to be as high as 21%. Elsewhere, it was closer to 3%.

The idea that many residents in some parts of the country have already been exposed to the virus has wide implications. At the least, the finding could greatly complicate plans to reopen the economy.

Already Americans are scrambling to take antibody tests to see if they might escape lockdowns. Public health experts are wondering if those with positive results might be allowed to return to work.

But these tactics mean nothing if the test results cant be trusted.

Follow our LIVE Updates on the coronavirus pandemic here

In the new research, scientists found that only one of the tests never delivered a so-called false positive  that is, it never mistakenly signaled antibodies in people who did not have them.

Two other tests did not deliver false-positive results 99% of the time.

But the converse was not true. Even these three tests detected antibodies in infected people only 90% of the time, at best.

The false-positive metric is particularly important. The result may lead people to believe themselves immune to the virus when they are not and to put themselves in danger by abandoning social distancing and other protective measures.

It is also the result on which scientists are most divided.

There are multiple tests that look reasonable and promising, said Dr. Alexander Marson, an immunologist at the University of California, San Francisco, and one of the projects leaders. Thats some reason for optimism.

Marson is also an investigator in the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, which partly funded the study.

Other scientists were less sanguine than Marson. Four of the tests produced false-positive rates ranging from 11% to 16%; many of the rest hovered around 5%.

Those numbers are just unacceptable, said Scott Hensley, a microbiologist at the University of Pennsylvania. The tone of the paper is, Look how good the tests are. But I look at these data, and I dont really see that.

The proportion of people in the United States who have been exposed to the coronavirus is likely to be 5% or less, Hensley said. If your kit has a 3% false-positive, how do you interpret that? Its basically impossible, he said. If your kit has 14% false positive, its useless.

Hensley said the study nonetheless was well designed and the results pressing, given the sudden proliferation of antibody tests on the market and the push to use them to lift lockdowns.

I think this is exactly the kind of study that we need right now, he said.

Marson and his colleagues said they were drawn to the study for that very reason.

As universities in the Bay Area shut down all research not related to the coronavirus, some researchers began focusing on ways to improve diagnostic tests for SARS-CoV-2.

Marson and his collaborator, Patrick Hsu, a bioengineer at the University of California, Berkeley, anticipated that antibody tests would face questions about quality.

In mid-March, Hsu heard that a friend, a venture capitalist who owns a network of 1,000 community clinics in the New York area, had ordered thousands of rapid antibody tests. Investors and entrepreneurs seemed to be distributing them around San Francisco, too.

I realized, Gosh this is really the Wild West, Hsu said. We needed to figure out which of these would really work.

The duo recruited Dr. Jeffrey Whitman and Dr. Caryn Bern, who last year published an analysis of antibody tests for Chagas disease. Other graduate students and postdoctoral fellows volunteered to help perform the evaluations.

The team began with a modified version of the method Whitman had devised to validate Chagas tests. The researchers created a biosafety-certified space, obtained the needed approvals and procured hundreds of blood samples from two Bay Area hospitals.

They also purchased tests from Chinese manufacturers, clearing customs regulations and sometimes accepting Uber deliveries in the middle of the night. In all, the investigators analyzed 10 rapid tests that deliver a yes-no signal for antibodies, and two tests using a lab technique known as Elisa that indicates the amount of antibodies present and is generally considered to be more reliable.

Suited up in protective gear, the team worked in shifts of three to five hours in a sort of socially distanced factory line.

One researcher spotted the test with a blood sample, and another added the necessary chemical solutions; then two independent readers looked at the test, and a last person recorded the results. Still other team members analyzed the results, sometimes working through the night.

In the early hours of recent mornings, they handed the baton to Dr. Tyler Miller and his colleagues at Massachusetts General Hospital, who were conducting a slightly different analysis of three tests, including one evaluated in San Francisco.

The Bay Area team finished evaluating 12 tests in record time, less than a month. By comparison, the Chagas project required a team of three people working for more than a year just to compare four tests.

Having a study design already in hand helped speed the work, but there was one key difference. Decades of data have shown that Chagas disease elicits lifelong immunity. For this study, the team had no idea how quickly SARS-CoV-2 antibodies might turn up in the blood, or at what levels.

New tests also usually compete with an established gold standard. Lacking such a standard, the team instead compared all the tests in a head-to-head bake-off to see whos the winner, Hsu said.

Each test was evaluated with the same set of blood samples: from 80 people known to be infected with the coronavirus, at different points after infection; 108 samples donated before the pandemic; and 52 samples from people who were positive for other viral infections but had tested negative for SARS-CoV-2.

Tests made by Sure Biotech and Wondfo Biotech, along with an in-house Elisa test, produced the fewest false positives.

A test made by Bioperfectus detected antibodies in 100% of the infected samples but only after three weeks of infection. None of the tests did better than 80% until that time period, which was longer than expected, Hsu said.

The lesson is that the tests are less likely to produce false negatives the longer ago the initial infection occurred, he said.

The tests were particularly variable when looking for a transient antibody that comes up soon after infection, called IgM, and more consistent in identifying a subsequent antibody, called IgG, that may signal longer-term immunity.

You can see that antibody levels rise at different points for every patient, Hsu said. The tests performed best when the researchers assessed both types of antibodies together. None of the tests could say whether the presence of these antibodies means a person is protected from reinfection, however.

The results overall are promising, Marson added. There are multiple tests that have specificities greater than 95%.

Rapid antibody tests are generally used to get a simple yes-no result, but the team assigned the positive results  which appear as bands on a test strip  a score from 0 to 6. They trained readers to interpret those results and found their decisions often agreed and were supported by the more quantitative Elisa tests.

If you train the readers well, they can start to be reliable, Marson said of rapid tests. That is critical to understand if these tests could ever be deployed.

The team at Mass General set a higher bar for specificity; they considered a score of 1 for the intensity of a band to be a negative result, rather than a score of 0.

Perhaps because they eliminated the fainter bands  the ones most likely to be erroneous  their estimate of specificity for BioMedomics, the one test that was evaluated by both teams, was more than 99%, compared with the San Francisco teams estimate of 87%.

Other experts were skeptical of the scoring approach, however. Thats not really a method that would give you a real quantitation, said Florian Krammer of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York.

Krammer has developed a two-step Elisa test that he said has 100% specificity and delivers a measure of the quantity of IgM and IgG antibodies a person has. Scoring a rapid tests bands might offer some data for a scientific study, he said, but I would not make any decisions based on that.

Krammer said false positives are less of an issue for assessing how widely the virus has spread in the population. If a test has a known false-positive rate, scientists can factor that into their calculations, he said.

But false positives become dangerous when making policy and personal decisions about who can go back to work. You dont want anybody back to work who has a false positive  thats the last thing you want to do, Krammer said.

Scanwell Health, a Los Angeles-based startup, has ordered millions of test kits from Innovita, a Chinese manufacturer, and has applied to the Food and Drug Administration to market the tests for at-home use.

In the new study, the Innovita test detected antibodies in 83% of infected people and yielded a false-positive rate of 4%.

Dr. Jack Jeng, chief medical officer of Scanwell Health, said the study looked at an earlier version of Innovitas test and not the newer, improved version his company had ordered. It will be interesting to see how it performs, he said.

Marson and his colleagues have acquired tests from nearly 100 manufacturers and plan to continue comparing them. The scientists also hope to expand their sample set to include people who were mildly ill or did not feel ill at all, and to stratify their data by age and the presence of chronic conditions.

This is just the beginning, Marson said. Our goal would be to keep going till we feel theres adequate supply in the market.

c.2020 The New York Times Company
Over the last few weeks, one of the things Ive talked about consistently is rising gold prices. More specifically, the potential for investors who take advantage and buy gold stocks today.

Every time a major country issues more debt or has to print more money to help ease the blow to their economy, gold gains value.

It now appears that some larger financial institutions are taking notice, with Bank of America recently calling for $3,000 gold in a research report.

In the report, the bank made a lot of the same points I have been making. The main takeaway is that this unprecedented level of fiscal and monetary stimulus will put currencies under significant pressure, and when that happens, look for golds price to skyrocket.

As well, $3,000 is nearly twice the price that gold is at today, and roughly 50% higher than its all-time high. So how did gold get this high?

How golds price is determined

The price of gold is determined just like the price for anything in a free market, supply and demand.

With demand, the idea is that printing all this fiat money makes gold more valuable. In theory, for every dollar the government prints, the demand for gold should go up by that amount. So if the number of dollars in the money supply doubles, in theory, the price of gold would double too.

There is, however, a supply side to the equation as well. And right now, numerous mines around the world have been temporarily shut down as a result of COVID-19 shutdowns.

In short, the gold market is going through the exact opposite of what the oil market is going through.

In the short term, we expect the demand for gold to rise. However, at the same time, the supply we would have also expected will be short.

These two factors working together should send the price of gold soaring, and one of the worlds largest banks, agrees.

Why this makes gold stocks a top investment

The biggest factor in the profitability of gold stocks is unsurprisingly the price of gold. So as the price of gold increases, stocks will be positively impacted.

Story continues

In just the last year, the price of gold has increased from $1,270 to $1,733, a 36.5% increase.

Meanwhile, the iShares S&P/TSX Global Gold Index ETF, an index of gold producing stocks, is up from $11.55 to $21.22, an 83.7% increase.

The gain in the basket of gold stocks was roughly 2.4 times as large as the gain in the price of gold. That is significant leverage for investors who buy the stocks.

And if you pick top gold stocks, such as Equinox Gold Corp (TSXV:EQX) your returns could be even higher.

Equinox is a rapidly growing gold stock with operations in Mexico, Brazil and California. The company has been slightly affected by mandatory shutdowns like most of its peers. However, these issues shouldnt have any long-term, meaningful effects.

The company is increasing its production rapidly. So even with temporary shutdowns to its mines, Equinox should still produce more gold this year than in 2019. This rapid increase in production is already translating to share price performance.

Equinox has seen its share price grow by more than 100% over the last year, and this is just the beginning. Rising gold prices could be a huge catalyst for Equinox, which already has some of the lowest production costs of its peers.

The company continues to see upward revisions to its earnings estimates and target prices from analysts, as the price of gold continues to climb.

Bottom line

The current market environment is one of the most accommodating periods for gold prices in the last decade.

So if you have ever thought about owning gold stocks, or want to add some protection to your portfolio, now would be the time to do so.

The post $3000 Gold Prices? This Bank Thinks So appeared first on The Motley Fool Canada.

More reading

Fool contributor Daniel Da Costa owns shares of Equinox Gold.

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
Joe Biden (pictured) is ahead of Donald Trump in some key states, according to the pollsters.

A string of recent polls shows troubling signs for President Donald Trump with older voters, a group central to his re-election effort that appears to be drifting away from him amid a pandemic that has been especially deadly for senior citizens.

Former vice president Joe Biden, whose support from older voters helped him lead the primaries, appears to be carrying over some of that appeal into the general election. With Mr Trump seeing sagging approval ratings over his handling of the coronavirus crisis, Mr Biden's campaign is attempting to capitalise with a group that has traditionally leaned Republican.

In Florida, a Quinnipiac University poll released on Wednesday showed Mr Biden leading Mr Trump by a 10-point margin, 52 to 42, among voters 65 and older - the latest poll showing Trump losing ground with seniors in key battlegrounds. In 2016, exit polls showed Mr Trump winning seniors in Florida by 17 points over Hillary Clinton, a crucial margin in a state where older voters make up a large percentage of the voting population.

While it's unclear if Mr Biden's polling strength with older voters will carry over into November, the shifts are enough to reshape the dynamics of a close race that has already been upended by a viral pandemic that has killed more than 47,000 Americans.

"We know that Americans over the age of 50 make up the majority of voters - and as a result, they're a deciding factor in our elections," Nancy LeaMond, AARP executive vice president, said in an interview. "They aren't a monolith as a voting bloc, but one thing is clear: They do plan to vote."

Ms LeaMond said that while older voters were responsible for Mr Trump's narrow electoral college victory in 2016, their support shifted to Democrats in 2018, helping propel Democrat Nancy Pelosi to become speaker of the House of Representatives.

Mr Biden's campaign is trying to replicate the midterm victories. He is relying on a strategy that in many ways mirrors Democrats' 2018 playbook, which includes focusing on health care and converting suburban, moderate and older voters to his side.

Campaign officials have touted recent polls showing Mr Biden leading Mr Trump in key states such as Pennsylvania, Michigan and North Carolina, including age-based data breaking down his improving numbers with older voters.

The problematic numbers for Mr Trump come as his handling of the coronavirus crisis has faced withering criticism and low marks from voters, many of whom have told pollsters they do not trust the president to provide accurate information about the pandemic. As Mr Trump pines for the economy to be reopened, most Americans say they fear restarting economic activity too soon, according to a 'Wall Street Journal'/NBC News poll released on Sunday.

Mr Trump's campaign has dismissed the latest round of polls, in some cases pointing to similar surveys that showed Ms Clinton significantly ahead in key states before the 2016 election.

"Early polls are not good predictors of what will happen on election day, and most polls don't screen for likely voters, which is a problem," said Trump campaign spokesman Tim Murtaugh. "These polls don't reflect what we see internally."

Some polls have shown a tighter competition for the senior vote. A Fox News poll of Florida voters released on Thursday found Mr Biden leading Mr Trump among seniors 46pc to 43pc.

Mr 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 due to social distancing requirements.

Mr Trump has used his daily televised coronavirus briefings from the White House to tout his efforts and lash out against his opponents. ( Washington Post)

 Washington Post
Eight employees unions of Air India on Friday requested Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri to ask the airline to roll back its Covid-19 lockdown-triggered decision to cut 10 per cent pay of its employees.

Air India rased the demand, while commending the IndiGos decision on Thursday to roll back pay cuts, which were announced last month for senior staff members, for the month of April in deference to the governments wishes.

The joint letter by eight AI employees unions to Puri on Friday stated, We request you to countermand Air India committees decision on Covid-19 pay cut which is against the governments directives and also treat us at par with other PSUs (public sector units) during the lockdown.

Click here for the complete coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic

Air India has decided to cut salaries of all employees by 10 per cent for three months.

On March 23, the Modi government had asked public and private sector companies not to cut salaries or lay off employees amid the Covid-19 lockdown.

This pay cut by Air India is mere optics, unnecessary and will hit the morale of the employees which will have a cascading effect on the Indian economy, the unions letter stated.

In spite of instructions from the Government of India concerning the welfare of the employees and directions to make payment of wages on due date, the management of Air India defaulted on timely payment of salary which was paid on 18th April, 2020, with a 10 per cent pay cut, it stated.

The flying crew are yet to receive 70 per cent of their wages for the work done in the month of February, the letter added.

Click here for the latest updates from the coronavirus outbreak

As India has been under a lockdown since March 25 to curb the coronavirus pandemic spread, all commercial passenger flights have been suspended for this period. Consequently, revenues of aviation sector companies have been hit hard.

We admire the decision by the top management of a private airline not to implement the previously announced pay cuts in deference to the governments wishes of not reducing pay during the lockdown, the letter noted.

While IndiGo had announced on March 19 that it is cutting salaries of senior employees by up to 25 per cent, the budget carrier rolled it back on Thursday for the month of April in deference to our governments wishes. However, the private airline clarified that few senior employees -- the members of the Executive Committee and senior vice presidents -- have voluntarily taken the pay cut in April.

While a private airline is honouring the directions of the government, it is of great consequence for Air India to follow suit and also lead by example, the letter by Air India unions stated.

Any pay cut with regards to Covid-19 lockdown has to be voluntary in nature as followed by the senior management of the private airline, the letter noted.

The eight unions that wrote to Puri are: Indian Commercial Pilots Association, Indian Pilots Guild, Air Corporations Employees Union, All India Cabin Crew Association, All India Aircraft Engineers Association, Air India Employees Union, All India Aircraft Engineers Association and Indian Aircraft Technicians Association.

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Connecticut hospitals reported a net decline of 70 patients Friday that are currently being treated in their facilities for COVID-19, prompting Gov. Ned Lamont to say the peak of the pandemic has passed.

This is the biggest drop in hospitalizations that we have seen and you know how important an indicator that is, the governor said in his daily briefing in the State Capitol.

Fairfield County hospitalizations have declined by 13 percent in the last week, and statewide, hospitalizations are down by 3.5 percent week-over-week. So thats extraordinary good news in terms of what that means to our future, Lamont said.

However, another 125 deaths were reported Friday in the coronavirus pandemic, bringing the statewide death toll to 1,764. Confirmed cases of COVID-19 rose by 821 for a total of 23,921.

In all, 1,877 people were hospitalized with the illness, down 3.5 percent from 1,946 one week earlier. New Haven County is down slightly, while Hartford County showed an increase of 13 percent. But in Hartford County, the total was also down for the day on Friday, raising hopes that the entire state has peaked.

Kathleen Silard, the president and CEO for Stamford Health, making an appearance in the teleconference with reporters, described an easing of conditions. Stamford Hospital has discharged 215 COVID-19 patients, and currently the facility has 120 COVID patients, and 155 non-COVID patients.

We definitely had some challenges early on when we became a hot spot, she said, recalling the first COVID patient about six weeks ago. We transferred some critical care patients when we became full to Hartford Hospital and Yale New Haven and likewise.

Stores, then restaurants

Lamont said the slow reopening of shuttered state businesses is likely to start with retail stores, but restaurants and bars will take longer. Over the next couple of weeks there will be enough diagnostic tests performed in the state to gauge the true spread of the coronavirus, he said.

We have said by May 20 we are going to have a green light on what we can safely reopen, Lamont said. We kept construction, we kept manufacturing open. Im getting them the masks. Im getting them the testing so they can do that safely. Most of our retail is open, but some of its only for delivery-only. Were going to look at that and see when that can be opened in a scaled-back way to get going.

Its going to be a gradual return to some kind of normalcy.

In my mind you can go to a toy store, or you can go to a clothing store, Lamont said. You can do that if youre careful with social distancing, perhaps masks just to protect you. My instinct is that crowded indoor restaurants and bars are going to be very risky for a long time.

During both his CNN appearance and Lamonts daily news conference later Friday afternoon, the governor indicated that restaurants and bars may have a tough time reopening for inside service. He asked for state residents to consider their local eateries for take-out service to help them stay in business.

Were going to work with them in any way we can to help them in terms of preparation of meals and delivery of meals, Lamont said. Im afraid this is going to have to go on for some time. You could have an outdoor restaurant. You could have restaurants where the seats are further apart. We could have restaurants where perhaps the waiters wear face masks and even gloves.

Fighting McConnell over state aid

Lamont and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Friday had some choice words for U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, who this week suggested that financially strapped states that are requesting more federal support should consider bankruptcy.

The bankruptcy tactic, which would require full action in Congress and a signature from President Donald Trump, would worsen the current sharp economic downturn caused by the coronavirus pandemic, they warned.

Then you can call it the McConnell bankruptcy in Kentucky, Lamont said Friday morning on CNN. Because Kentucky is hit pretty hard. They have a 24 percent unemployment rate like we do here in Connecticut. When you shut down stores, you shut down businesses, income tax, sales tax revenues go down dramatically. So if he really wants people to think about raising taxes and slashing services in states like his own, thats on him.

Mitch McConnell is a taker, not a giver, Cuomo said during his noontime news conference in Albany. With an obvious touch of New York sarcasm, Cuomo strongly suggested that McConnell actually submit the legislation and push for its passage in the Senate and U.S. House of Representatives.

I dare you, Cuomo told reporters and a television audience that often includes Trump. It will be the first time in our nations history that that happened. OK senator, pass the bill that authorizes states to declare bankruptcy. And then lets watch the stock market take off.

Both New York and Connecticuts constitutions require balanced budgets, while Trump has run up deficits that are records for non-recession, non-war times.

In the afternoon, Lamont took part in a nationwide conference call with other governors and Vice President Mike Pence, who heads the White House response to the health crisis. I had the opportunity to point out to the vice president that this is not a traditional recession where income tax revenue goes down and then goes back up. In this recession its not just income tax, but its sales tax that is taking a big hit. Thats restaurants and bars and hospitality.

Disinfectant controversy

Lamont also criticized Trumps suggestion on Thursday that people possibly ingest commercial cleaning products to try to stop the coronavirus, a statement that has been widely condemned by health and science officials, as well as the companies that manufacture cleaners including Lysol.

It is irresponsible, Lamont said, stressing that the White Houses task force on the pandemic led by Pence, is pretty thoughtful and effective. But then, clang, you get a mixed message coming out of the White House that suggests all is well, get back to work by May 1, go to church on Easter. Weve got to have a consistent message to make sure that we get out of this safely.

Lamont returned to the issue during his daily news conference in the state Capitol.

Its incredibly unfortunate when somebody in such a position of power and the bully pulpit makes flip comments like that about ingesting these disinfectants and cleaning products and Lysol and such, Lamont said. Its absolutely wrong. Its dangerous and I urge each and every one of you dont even take it as a bit of humor or sarcasm. Make sure your kids know that this is something thats dangerous and should not be allowed.

By late Friday afternoon, Trump had not responded on his Twitter account, but he did post details on signing Congresss latest Paycheck Protection Program, including an additional $310 billion for small businesses and $75 billion for hospitals.

He wants people receiving Supplemental Nutrition benefits, formerly called food stamps, to be able to use their SNAP cards at Connecticut farmers markets and farms.

Later Friday, Lamont announced that the Raytheon Company and United Technologies have donated $3 million worth of charter transportation and personal protective equipment including 455,000 KN95 medical masks, 325,000 surgical masks, 120,000 protective coveralls, and 4,500 ICU coveralls.

Lamont stressed that small businesses will be able to file applications for the next round of federal disaster support, starting Monday. Work with your local bank, he said. Work with a community bank. Go to PayPal and some of the electronic fin-tech companies. Those are the ways you can get to the front of the line.

Asked about Trumps Thursday remarks on the possibility of ingesting cleaning products to battle the virus, Silard, of Stamford Health, was polite. I would certainly not advise for anyone in the health care community to give advice about using unacceptable cleaning products, she said.

Dan Haar contributed to this report.
Muslims in India are bearing the brunt of the country's coronavirus crisis after the Hindu-nationalist government blamed an Islamic missionary for a surge in cases.

Politicians in the ruling Bharatiya Janata party have been quoted by newspapers and TV accusing Muslims of 'corona terrorism' after the country's largest cluster of cases was identified at an Islamic compound in New Delhi.

The joint secretary for India's health ministry, Lav Aggarwal, has repeatedly called out the congregation in daily news briefings.

There has also been a reported surge in violence, business boycotts and hate speech towards the minority in the world's second most populous country.

As many as one-in-five of India's confirmed 24,500 cases have been identified at the Islamic centre.

Eight-thousand people met in the compound for three days in March. It has since been used to house those unable to return home due to the lockdown.

It comes as parts of India report dramatic falls in coronavirus deaths as funeral parlours brace for a surge. There have been 775 deaths so far.

Muslims have been the target of business boycott's in India during the coronavirus outbreak

Muslim men pictured wearing face masks in front of closed shops in Delhi's old quarter

'Not only is the (Muslim) community at a higher risk of being infected, but they will also be at a high risk of spreading the virus,' said Dr. Anant Bhan, a bioethics and global health expert. 'It becomes a cycle that will continue.'

The Tablighi Jamaat held the congregation in the Nizamuddin area of New Delhi before large gatherings were banned.

The compound stayed open, later giving shelter to people stranded in a 21-day lockdown imposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 24, according to the group's spokesman, Mujeeb ur Rehman.

On the second day of the lockdown, a government raid on the compound discovered the largest virus cluster in India. Police filed a case against some of the group's leaders for violating the ban, a charge the group denies.

Officials said Tuesday they have arrested 29 people, including 16 foreigners, who participated in the missionary meeting.

India's communal fault lines, still stressed by deadly riots over a new naturalization law that excludes Muslims, were split wide open by the allegations against Jamaat.

Muslims have not come to mosques for Ramadan as the country remains in lockdown. Pictured above is a mosque in Srinagar, Kashmir

An ambulance pictured transporting a suspected coronavirus case in Allahabad

Politicians in Modi's ruling Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party were quoted on TV and in newspapers describing the Jamaat incident as 'corona terrorism'.

False news targeting Muslims began to circulate, including video clips purportedly showing congregation members spitting on authorities. The clips were quickly proven to be fake, yet by April 1, the hashtag 'CoronaJihad' was trending on Twitter in India.

Lav Aggarwal, joint secretary of India's health ministry, repeatedly called out the congregation by name in daily news briefings. On April 5, he said the number of virus cases was doubling in just 4.1 days, and would have been a slower 7.4 days 'if the additional ... cases due to the Tablighi Jamaat meeting would not have arisen'.

That same day, Dilshad Mohammad took his life.

Panic, blame and stigma were spreading across India when the 37-year-old chicken peddler was shunned by his neighbors in Bangarh, a village in the hilly state of Himachal Pradesh, for giving two members of the Jamaat congregation a ride to their village on his scooter. Neighbors accused him of deliberately trying to infect them with the virus, which causes the COVID-19 disease.

Karthikeyan Gokulachandran, the district police superintendent, blamed his suicide on stigma.

In Rajasthan state, a pregnant Muslim woman was turned away from a public hospital because of her religion, resulting in the death of her 7-month-old fetus, said Vishvendra Singh, the state's tourism minister.

Mosques have remained deserted during Ramadan. Pictured is an empty mosque in Delhi

Ambulances transport suspected coronavirus cases to hospital in Allahabad

In Uttarakhand, Hindu youths forced Muslim fruit vendors to stop selling. Shots were fired at a mosque in Gurugram, a suburb of New Delhi, and a Muslim family in the neighbouring state of Haryana was attacked by neighbours who accused them of not turning off their lights on April 9, the night Modi had asked the country to extinguish household lights for 15 minutes in a show of national unity.

Doctors who studied previous epidemics warn that stigma and blame for a contagious disease weaken trust in marginalised communities, threatening decades-long efforts against illnesses such as polio and tuberculosis by making people less likely to seek treatment.

Stigma in general is adding to India's coronavirus death toll, said Dr. Randeep Guleria, head of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Delhi and among the architects of the country's response.

'It is actually causing increasing morbidity and mortality. Because of the stigma that is happening, many patients who have COVID-19 or who have flu-like symptoms are not coming forward,' he said.

Muslims were already at a disadvantage when the coronavirus entered India.

India's 200 million Muslims account for 14 per cent of the population and are the largest minority group in the Hindu-majority nation and also the poorest, surviving on an average of 32.6 rupees ($0.43) per day, a 2013 government survey found.

Hindu devotees pictured using rosaries as they pray outside of their homes in Amritsar

Paramilitary troops speak to travellers as they stand opposite a closed mosque

Muslims also have less access to health care. About 40 per cent of villages with large Muslims populations don't have medical facilities, a government report in 2006 said. The government in Maharahstra - the state with the biggest concentration of coronavirus cases - said Muslim-majority areas had a 'paucity of health facilities' in a 2013 report. It said the 'threat of communal riots' forced Muslims to 'live together in slums and ghettos' where social distancing is often impossible.

In deeply polarised India, some Modi critics have suggested that the government singled out the Jamaat congregation for strategic reasons.

The 'vilification of Muslims was done to hide the government's mismanagement in dealing with the virus and their callousness,' said Professor Tanweer Fazal, a sociologist at the University of Hyderabad.

Aggarwal, the health ministry spokesman, declined to respond.

On Sunday, Modi tweeted that the coronavirus does not discriminate based on race, religion or creed.

'Our response and conduct thereafter should attach primacy to unity and brotherhood. We are in this together,' he said.

His remarks came hours after the Organization of Islamic Cooperation's human rights body condemned the 'unrelenting vicious Islamophobic campaign in India maligning Muslims for spread of COVID-19'.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-25 12:28:09|Editor: huaxia

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HANGZHOU, April 25 (Xinhua) -- The number of e-content readers had reached 470 million in China by 2019, according to a white paper released this week.

The white paper was based on a survey of more than 20 major e-content providers and a corporate industry study, complemented with research on more than 91,600 respondents' reading habits conducted in 209 cities in China.

It said the "post-1990s generation," or those in their 20s, accounted for 55.6 percent of all e-content readers in the country.

The average reader of e-books reads or browses 15 books in a year, with more than 53 percent reading more than 20 books, according to the white paper.

About 88 percent of the e-book readers read three or more times each week, it said. Enditem
TOKYO  Nearly 60 new cases of coronavirus infections were confirmed among crew members of an Italian cruise ship docked in Japan, domestic media reported on Saturday.

With testing of all crew members now complete, the new number, reported by public broadcaster NHK, brings the total infections onboard the Costa Atlantica to around 150, roughly one quarter of the vessels 623 crew members.

TV Asahi said 57 crew members tested positive.

The infection cluster onboard the vessel docked in Nagasaki comes as hospitals are running out of beds in some parts of Japan, where the national tally of virus cases has risen above 12,800. Some 345 people have died.

Of those infected on board the Costa Atlantica, only one crew member has been admitted to hospital, NHK said, while others remain onboard, having shown slight or no symptoms.

Nagasaki authorities were not immediately available for comment.

The vessel has been docked in Japan since February for repairs and maintenance after the pandemic prevented scheduled repairs in China.

Nagasaki authorities had quarantined the vessel on arrival, and ordered its crew not to venture beyond the quay except for hospital visits.

But prefecture officials said earlier this week that some of the crew had departed without their knowledge, and sought detailed information on their movements.

The cruise ship infections follow a similar incident earlier this year, when more than 700 passengers and crew tested positive for the virus on the Diamond Princess cruise liner docked in Yokohama.
The government urged private hospitals to begin admissions and roped in private laboratories across the country to conduct COVID-19 tests.

By Puja Changoiwala

About a week after returning from Thailand on 4 March, 26-year-old television producer Rajlakshmi Upadhyaya visited the government-run Kasturba Hospital in Mumbai to get herself tested for possible COVID-19 infection. After being admitted for the day while waiting for the test results, she noticed two big bags of garbage inside the makeshift coronavirus ward. The bathroom was unclean, and she had to walk on dirty floors to get to it. It was five hours before she could get water, and when the food arrived  rice, lentils, and beans  she glanced at it and decided against eating it.

As Upadhyaya awaited her test results, she was given some tablets. When she asked what they were, she was told not to worry, and not to ask questions. Having lived in Mumbai for a while, the rundown condition of the government facility did not alarm her. But she said she noticed a Spanish girl who was definitely uncomfortable. The girl did not want to sit on the hospital bed, or use the sheets, and stayed on her feet for more than 11 hours.

The ward housed 20 to 25 suspected patients, who were kept two beds apart, according to Upadhyaya. Thats just stupid because even if one of us is infected, theres the fear of infecting others, she said. When her test results arrived, they were negative. The hospital prescribed some medicines, she said, but did not specify how many times I was supposed to take them, or what they were. I was really happy to just leave, so I didnt bother.

As the COVID-19 pandemic begins making its way through India  the country has documented 358 deaths and more than 10,500 confirmed cases so far according to the Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center, though these are sure undercounts  reports of overcrowding and unsanitary conditions in state-run testing and quarantine centres have been multiplying. Patients with COVID-19 symptoms, many who had previously travelled abroad, are reportedly abandoning state-run isolation wards  including 11 patients who fled from a government facility in Navi Mumbai. This could help the virus spread, further threatening the countrys already inadequate public health infrastructure.

Until recently, India had only 111 COVID-19 testing centres to handle a population of 1.35 billion people. The number of beds in government-run quarantine facilities across the country, meanwhile, is about 60,000. As a result, most patients have been relying on understaffed and underfunded state-run facilities like Kasturba Hospital for COVID-19 diagnosis and treatment.

Faced with a looming surge of COVID-19 cases, the government recently urged private hospitals to begin admissions and roped in 35 private laboratories across the country to conduct coronavirus tests. This came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on 23 March, announced a 21-day national lockdown to contain the spread of the virus. Presumably aware of the plight of the public health care system, Modi also committed $ two billion to boost infrastructure through increased availability of testing facilities, isolation beds, ICU beds, ventilators, and other necessary tools.

And the government is taking a no-holds-barred approach to containing the pathogen: In Indias first police complaint registered over the pandemic, a man in Agra was charged for a negligent and malignant act to spread infection of disease dangerous to life. The man had refused to share his daughters whereabouts with medical authorities a couple of days after she allegedly tested positive and fled from a state-run hospital, partly due to its unhygienic conditions, although a relative disputed the account. The charge can lead to two years in prison.

But many Indians have taken to social media, sharing pictures of abysmal conditions at government facilities, including choked, overflowing toilets and the absence of medical personnel to guide patients through diagnosis and treatment. An online petition, which called out the unhygienic conditions in quarantine centres across the country, garnered more than 100,000 signatures. Rhea Bhalla, who was quarantined at a government facility in New Delhi after returning from Spain on March 16, wrote: The most difficult part of the night was not being able to use the washroom. I felt tortured, like a prisoner. When I demanded that we should at least be given water to drink, they asked us to drink directly from [bathroom] taps which had no water in them.

Mahrokh Irani, a research associate at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, wrote in an email to Undark that Indias public health system is chronically plagued by poor sanitation, nutrition, drinking water, and access to care. It is a disaster in the making, she wrote, adding that the system is not prepared to handle the full onslaught of Covid-19.

Many hospitals in India are already overcrowded, understaffed, and lack resources, she added. In addition to this, the public trust in the system is low and from my experience, people are already hesitant to access the public health system. Sick people are not going to come forward because they are not convinced that the system can help them if they are unwell."

According to the most recent government data, India spent only 1.28 percent of its GDP on health in 2017-18, compared to nearly 18 percent in the United States, and far lower than neighbouring countries, including Indonesia (1.4 percent) and Sri Lanka (1.68 percent). Global health experts say that given the paltry expenditure, India does not have the infrastructure or financial capability to tackle a large public health disaster. There are also severe shortages of medical staff and supplies throughout India, which further limits access to care, said Irani.

India lacks universal health coverage, wrote Irani. Private spending is shockingly high  out of pocket expenditure is a whopping 70 percent of total spending. Millions of Indians are faced with impoverishment every year because of catastrophic health care costs.

She added that India does have some world-class speciality institutes that provide great quality care. However, the cost is too high for the vast majority of the population: In my opinion, this is only exacerbating the economic disparity and creating a wide chasm within the fabric of society.

Anant Bhan, global health, bioethics and health policy researcher affiliated with the Kasturba Medical College in Manipal, said that although India does not have as many positive COVID-19 cases as some other countries  including more than 172,000 in Spain and more than 582,000 in the United States  the situation could rapidly escalate and overburden the health care system. It could worsen even further if suspected COVID-19 patients continue to flee state-run hospitals, increasing the threat of wider infection.

We dont have that scale of availability of patient beds or ICU beds, or ventilators, which might be required if the worst-case scenario happens, said Bhan. We actually might not have enough even in the private sector, even if we try to involve them.

cases in which doctors treating COVID-19 patients have tested positive for the virus. Experts fear that the shortage of personal protective equipment for health care workers such as gloves, medical masks, gowns, and aprons, will lead to more cases among medical staff. India has already started reportingin which doctors treating COVID-19 patients havefor the virus. Experts fear that the shortage offor health care workers such as gloves, medical masks, gowns, and aprons, will lead to more cases among medical staff.

The public health system in India is anyway under-resourced, both from infrastructure and staffing sides  it could be a double-whammy in that sense, said Bhan, adding that routine health care functions are also likely to be affected when resources are diverted to COVID-19 treatment. If suddenly there are shortages of medications, we could also see downstream repercussions which are not COVID-19-related, but are probably due to the health system being overstretched.

Testing is another major concern. As of April 5, India had performed a little over 100,000 tests  a rate of nearly 47 tests per million people compared with 4,572 tests per million in the U.S., 2,753 tests per million in the U.K, and 8,800 per million in South Korea. At present, India is not adequately testing to identify new cases, which might be masking the true number, wrote Irani.

Indias health care system has evolved by default rather than design, said Srinath Reddy, president of the Public Health Foundation of India, a nonprofit health initiative. This, he said, is primarily because the Indian government has incentivized the private sector over the public health system over the past few decades.

The governments decision to encourage private sector expansion has attracted the investment of $3.4 billion from private equity investors between 2007 and 2017. Although private health care costs four times more than public health care in India, 72 percent of the population in rural areas and 79 percent in urban areas use private health care services, which are seemingly more reliable. According to a survey of 184 nations, Indians stood sixth among the biggest out-of-pocket health spenders in the low-middle income group of 50 nations in 2014.

To control the Covid-19 pandemic, India must follow in the footsteps of Spain, which recently nationalized its private hospitals, said Dr Yogesh Jain, co-founder of the Jan Swasthya Sahyog, a nonprofit focused on improving public health in rural parts of the central India state of Chhattisgarh. The country is sitting on a volcano, he warned.

Even things like giving kits to the private sector is an abdication of the states responsibility to manage an epidemic like this, he added. Epidemics are crisis points where you can reinvent yourselves and make it better for the future.

Despite its overstretched public health care system, India did succeed in defeating polio and managing the recent outbreak of Nipah virus, which claimed 17 lives in the southern Indian state of Kerala in 2018. Jason Corburn, a professor at the University of California, Berkeley School of Public Health, wrote in an email to Undark that COVID-19 could be similarly confronted if the government decides to adopt a grassroots strategy.

Meaningful community engagement where government and experts dont treat local people as ignorant, but rather treat them as having a critical role to play in information sharing, influencing behavioural change, etc., is essential, Corburn wrote.

Reddy believes the public and private health care systems must be coordinated to fight COVID-19. But that is not a long-term solution, he added. The long-term solution is strengthening the district hospitals, medical college hospitals, and primary health care infrastructure. Unless there is a strong public sector, neither can we deliver universal health coverage, nor can we combat epidemics with the degree of effectiveness and equity that is needed.

The government plays a crucial role as well, Irani noted. By spreading misinformation about the therapeutic benefits of homoeopathy, yoga, and cow urine, she wrote, Indian officials did significant damage in the initial days. Even the last message by the Prime Minister was vague and lacked strong leadership, she wrote. Under these circumstances, I wouldnt be surprised if the public loses faith, which means that people are not going to follow necessary measures like social distancing and abstaining from going to temples, schools, restaurants.

Meanwhile, many Indians are struggling to navigate public and private options for COVID-19 treatment. On March 12, Ankit Gupta took to Twitter to highlight the bad conditions with poor sanitation and reckless staff attitude at Mumbais Kasturba Hospital, where a friend, Aakash Budhiraja, was being kept under observation at the state-run facility with 10 other patients. Gupta shared pictures of a stained washbasin and a cat inside the hospital ward.

Three days later, Budhiraja shared his experience directly. Government hospitals are in general not very clean and that is not very ideal for our health care system, be it the time when [coronavirus] is spreading or any other regular day, he wrote. While the ward and washrooms were eventually cleaned, this should not be the situation in the first place itself. In fact, the frequency of cleaning should be ramped up to match the needs of the hour.

This article was originally published on Undark. Read the original article.

Undark is a digital magazine that reports on science and how it affects society. All opinions expressed are the publication's own.
YARDLEY BOROUGH >> The Yardley Borough Police Department report the following incidents and arrests: WARRANT (DOMESTIC ASSAULT) >> At approximately 7:55 p.m. on January 11 a victim fleeing a domestic assault in her vehicle was entering the parking lot at police headquarters when her car was struck by another vehicle. The striking vehicle fled prior to police arrival. A follow-up investigation...
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- CanaFarma Hemp Products Corp. (CSE: CNFA) (the "Corporation" or "CanaFarma") is pleased to announce that it has signed a Letter of Intent ("LOI") with a privately held company to acquire a manufacturing facility for its hemp oil-based consumer products operations.

The potential acquisition would include a 25,000 square foot facility in New Jersey, of which the private company currently uses a small part of the facility to manufacture certain pharmaceutical and nutraceutical products under "current Good Manufacturing Practices" (cGMP). It is the Corporation's intention to acquire and continue to produce these products under the cGMP designation, as well as to expand the use of the facility to manufacture Canafarma's YOOFORIC brand hemp oil-based consumer products.

The LOI is non-binding and a due diligence period is currently underway which, if successful, will be followed by the negotiation of a definitive agreement for the acquisition of all of the assets of the private company.

David Lonsdale, CEO of CanaFarma said, "This has the potential to be another substantial step forward for CanaFarma, as we continue to execute on our overall strategic plan to build a completely vertically-integrated hemp-based company. Having our own manufacturing facility would not only allow us to scale production in support of our growing sales and product line expansion, but also to bring new innovative products to market much faster under a more efficient and controllable cost structure."

About CanaFarma Hemp Products Corp.

CanaFarma Hemp Products Corp. is a full-service company operating in the hemp industry offering a full range of hemp-related products and services to the consumer wellness market. These products and services include growing top-quality hemp, providing hemp-processing services, and offering hemp-based products to consumers utilizing a well-established direct-to-consumer marketing approach.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION: This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the potential acquisition of all of the assets of the private company and the negotiation of a definitive agreement with the private company. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; and delay or failure to receive board, shareholder or regulatory approvals. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Corporation disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

David Lonsdale

Chief Executive Officer

Phone: (214) 704-7942

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE CanaFarma Hemp Products Corp.
- Pata Pata literally means touch touch in Xhosa language but the remixed version sung by Kidjo set out to advice people against touching each other

- UNICEF encouraged the public to submit videos of themselves dancing to the new Pata Pata version for a chance to be included in the official music video set for release in mid-May

- The new song resonated with Kidjo because his friend, Afro-Jazz star Manu Dibango, succumbed to coronavirus in early April 2020

Legendary musician Miriam Makeba's hit song Pata Pata has been given new life by yet another revered African musician, Angelique Kidjo.

TUKO.co.ke has learnt that UNICEF recently sought the services of Kidjo, who is the organisation's Goodwill Ambassador, to remix Makeba's Pata Pata all in a bid to pass a positive message about the dreaded coronavirus.

READ ALSO: Kenyan girl warms hearts in US with heartfelt letter, masks donation to police officers

READ ALSO: Kilifi DG Saburi's nephew Didier Madzayo apologises, begs Kenyans to observe safety measures to curb COVID-19

According to UNICEF website, Kidjo did not interfere with the cords or syllables of the original song in the new version aimed at spreading information and hope in a time of the pandemic.

TUKO.co.ke understands the awareness would be released by UNICEF to the world on Thursday, April 24, 50 years since the original hit Pata Pata was released.

The UN body assured the new version was recorded with full copyright approval from concerned parties, with the lyrics being changed to spread the message of hygiene during COVID-19 pandemic.

It should be noted that Pata Pata literally means touch touch in Xhosa language but the remixed version sung by Kidjo set out to advice people against touching each other.

READ ALSO: Ghana becomes first country in the world using drones to speed up COVID-19 testing

In the new Pata Pata version, Kidjo advices people to;

'' Sit it out! This is no-pata-pata... Stay at home and wait it out ..We need to keep our hands clean. So no-pata pata... Dont touch your face, keep distance please.''

Kidjo earlier on disclosed that new song resonated with her because his friend, Afro-Jazz star Manu Dibango, succumbed to coronavirus in early April 2020.

READ ALSO: Wataalamu wanasema kuna hatari kubwa katika kulala sana, jihadhari hasa kipindi hiki cha coronavirus

Manu inspired me. Miriam inspired me. And Pata Pata gave me hope. We all know what needs to be done, but we also know how much communities are suffering. Pata Pata has always been there for people at a time of struggle. I hope it helps once more. And I hope from our confined spaces we can dance once more." Kidjo said in a recent media interview.

The UNICEF encouraged the public to submit videos of themselves dancing to the new Pata Pata version, tagging @lunicefacfrica on TikTok or @unicefafrica on Instaram using the hashtag #healthyathome and #nopatapata to stand a chance to be included in the official music video set for release in mid-May.

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
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / April 25, 2020 / Mota Ventures Corp. (MOTA.CN)(FSE:1WZ:GR)(OTC PINK:PEMTF) (the "Company") is pleased to announce an interim record number of new customer acquisitions for the month of April, for the period April 1st - 23rd. Specifically, a total of 14,388 new customers were acquired for the Nature's Exclusive brand. This interim new customer acquisition record will be updated with the final results for the complete month of April.

In addition to the record customer acquisition number, the Company is pleased to report that each new customer spent an average of $US 151.96. Finally, the record number included 1,748 new customers that purchased products in the immune support category.

SUCCESSFUL ONLINE CUSTOMER ACQUISITION STRATEGY SUPPORTS LAUNCH OF CBD BASED HAND SANITIZER

The interim record results demonstrate the strength and ability of the Company's online acquisition strategy to capitalize on the strong demand for natural health solutions. As a result, the Company will be launching a hand sanitizer product containing CBD through its Nature's Exclusive brand on May 1, 2020. The Nature's Exclusive CBD hand sanitizer will contain 70% ethyl alcohol as its active ingredient, as well as, CBD isolate and Vitamin E, and will initially be offered only to consumers in the United States.

In order to differentiate the Company's hand sanitizer offering within this crowded space, Mota has formulated a product that is specifically designed for its target consumers by combining the antimicrobial properties of ethyl alcohol with the benefits of CBD. This ability to formulate and innovate new products of this caliber is a direct result of the Company's strong supply chain, which has continued to operate uninterrupted despite the recent worldwide turmoil.

"I am very pleased with the continued strength of our new customer acquisition month-to-date as demand remains strong for our CBD and immune products. We anticipate similar demand for our new CBD Hand Sanitizer product due to the limited availability of sanitizer through current retail and eCommerce channels. This product offering will allow us to reach a new client base, while generating significant gross margin and attracting clients to our other product lines" stated Ryan Hoggan, CEO of the Company.

Story continues

The Company will be hosting an investor conference call at 2:15pm PST on Monday, April 27, 2020 with Mota Ventures management, Ryan Hoggan, CEO and Joel Shacker, President. The Company will be accepting questions from investors at the end of the call.

Conference details:

Canada/USA TF: 1-800-319-4610

International Toll: +1-604-638-5340

Germany TF: 0800-180-1954

Callers should dial in 5 - 10 min prior to the scheduled start time and simply ask to join the call.

Conference replay

Canada/USA TF: 1-800-319-6413

International Toll: +1-604-638-9010

Replay Access Code: 4481

This News Release is available on the company's CEO Verified Discussion Forum, a moderated social media platform that enables civilized discussion and Q&A between Management and Shareholders.

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 Sativida 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 DIRECTORS

MOTA VENTURES CORP.

Ryan Hoggan

Chief Executive Officer

For further information, readers are encouraged to contact the President of the Company, Joel Shacker, 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 Statement

All 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 its launch of a CBD hand-sanitizer product in the United States, the potential offering of a CBD hand-sanitizer product in the European market, 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. 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.





View source version on accesswire.com:

https://www.accesswire.com/586940/Mota-Ventures-Reports-Interim-Record-of-14388-New-Natures-Exclusive-Customers-for-April-Success-Supports-Launch-of-CBD-Hand-Sanitizer




Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-25 18:47:57|Editor: huaxia

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NEW DELHI, April 25 (Xinhua) -- Two Chinese pharmaceutical companies said on Friday that their testing kits exported to India meet China's quality standard and those of countries they are exported to.

Stressing that quality is their first priority, Guangzhou Wondfo Biotech Co. Ltd. and Zhuhai Livzon Diagnostics Inc., both based in southern China's Guangdong province, said they are ready to cooperate with India on probes into alleged quality issues of their products.

The two companies emphasized that their products have undergone strict quality control procedures, while specified guidelines must be followed in the storage as well as usage of the kits to obtain accurate results.

"We have shown great concern on this issue, and we are willing to coordinate with the related government departments for investigation," Zhuhai Livzon Diagnostics Inc. said in a statement.

The company's antibody tests have been approved by various countries and supplied to more than 10 countries, including Denmark, the Czech Republic, Spain and Brazil, it said.

In a separate statement, Guangzhou Wondfo Biotech Co. Ltd. said the company has been exporting test kits to more than 70 countries and that the product was validated and approved by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) through the National Institute of Virology in Pune.

"As a company, quality is our first priority and we are committed to providing high quality products and services to global clients and users," it said.

"Wondfo has established a quality management system that complies with global standards to ensure our testing kits meet the quality standards of China and exported countries," it added.

India's top medical research body ICMR on Tuesday advised states to stop using the rapid antibody test kits from China for two days until it has examined their quality, following complaints that they are not fully effective.

Chinese Ambassador to India Sun Weidong said China has opened a "green channel" for Indian air cargo transport during the epidemic and approved 35 cargo flights carrying medical supplies such as personal protective equipment, ventilators and testing kits to India.

"We will continue to support India fighting against COVID-19," Sun said on Twitter. Enditem
By Rod Nickel

WINNIPEG, Manitoba (Reuters) - Plans underway to restart the economies of Canadian provinces do not depend on presuming people who become infected with coronavirus develop immunity to it, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Saturday.

The World Health Organization said earlier that there was "no evidence" that people who have recovered from COVID-19 and have antibodies are protected from a second infection.

"I don't believe there are any plans that hinge on certain people being immune to COVID-19," Trudeau said in his daily briefing in Ottawa, adding that provincial plans focus on preventing the spread through social distancing and protective equipment in workplaces.

"(Immunity) is something we need to get clearer answers to and until we have those clear answers, we need to err on the side of more caution."

In a scientific brief, the United Nations agency warned governments against issuing "immunity passports" or "risk-free certificates" to people who have been infected as their accuracy could not be guaranteed.

New Brunswick is the first Canadian province to begin reopening parts of its economy and Saskatchewan has outlined a plan to start reopening in May.

Trudeau met with provincial premiers on Friday to discuss their restart plans. Measures will differ as infection rates vary among provinces, but require national coordination, he said.

Canada's death toll from COVID-19 rose 7% to 2,350 from a day earlier. Cases reached more than 44,000.

Some 80% of Canada's cases are in Quebec and Ontario, where there are numerous outbreaks in nursing homes.

Even so, a small protest outside the Ontario legislature on Saturday demanded the easing of public health measures.

"Its irresponsible, reckless and its selfish," Premier Doug Ford said of the call to loosen restrictions, speaking at a briefing. "It burns me up."

Such protests have been smaller in Canada than in the United States, where Republican politicians and individuals affiliated with President Donald Trumps re-election campaign are organizing or promoting anti-lockdown protests.

Also Saturday, Trudeau announced funding for the country's fish and seafood processors whose businesses were harmed by the coronavirus pandemic.

The government will provide C$62.5 million ($44.32 million) in financing to buy protective equipment for workers or storage space for products to sell them later.
Police in New Jersey believe a driver's "excessive wearing" of a face mask to protect against the coronavirus caused them them to pass out and crash a car head-on into a pole.

The driver wore a N95 protective face mask while driving "for several hours" before the driver "ultimately passed out" while the car was in motion, according to the Lincoln Park Police Department.

Police believe the driver passed out "due to insufficient oxygen intake/excessive carbon dioxide intake" while wearing the respirator.

Images from the scene of the accident show the crumpled hood and front fender of a red four-door SUV and a crooked wood power pole that the car had smashed into.

The driver was taken to a nearby hospital and treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

A statement from police said: "As it relates to this specific incident, we reiterate that police officers are not physicians and do not know the medical history of every person we encounter. We conduct accident scene investigations using training, experience and observations at the scene to determine a cause. It was stated in the original post that we 'believed' the excessive wearing of an N95 mask was a contributing factor to this accident. While we don't know this with 100 per cent certainty, we do know that the driver had been wearing an N95 mask inside the vehicle for several hours."

Lincoln Park police added that "nothing was uncovered at the accident scene that would suggest that the driver was under the influence of drugs or alcohol" though police have not ruled out "some other medical reason" that may have contributed the accident.

A New Jersey driver passed out and crashed into a power pole after wearing a respirator mask for 'several hours', according to police. (Lincoln Park Police Department)

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has urged residents to wear cloth face coverings in public, but police reminded residents that masks "are not necessary outdoors when social distancing can be maintained, and especially not necessary when driving a vehicle with no additional occupants."

The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention does not recommend people wear face coverings while driving and has also stressed that only health workers and medical first responders wear critically needed surgical masks and N95 respirators, which are "critical supplies that must continue to be reserved" for frontline workers.

"We are not trying to cause public alarm or suggest wearing an N95 mask is unsafe," police said. "The original point of the post was to state that in most cases, the wearing of this type of mask while operating a vehicle with no other occupants is unnecessary."
WHO officials are warning governments to move fast to contain outbreaks.

On World Malaria Day, health officials are warning governments to move fast to prevent a rise in Malaria-related deaths.

In Kenya, thousands of people have lost their homes after seasonal torrential rains destroyed them. Now, mosquitos are thriving in the wet climate and many displaced people have contracted Malaria.

Al Jazeeras Laura Burdon-Manley reports.
By Trend

Over the past 24 hours, Armenian armed forces have violated the ceasefire along the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops 24 times, Trend reports referring to Azerbaijani Defense Ministry on April 25.

The Armenian armed forces were using large-caliber machine guns.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.





The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on the withdrawal of its armed forces from Nagorno Karabakh and the surrounding districts.
This was not Sharad Pawar or Prithviraj Chavan speaking.

It was Uddhav Thackeray, the undisputed chief of the Shiv Sena!

Aditi Phadnis reports.

IMAGE: Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray wearing a mask and driving his own car arrives at his home in Mumbai. Photograph: PTI Photo

Those of a certain age must have blinked to hear Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's address on April 14 as migrants thronged the Bandra railway station expecting to get on to trains to make their way home and had to be lathi-charged.

First, he spoke in Hindi.

Obviously, speaking in Marathi to a labour force that is primarily from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, with a small (and increasingly dwindling) section from south India, would have been somewhat pointless.

But for a Shiv Sainik, this was a big, big concession.

And then, what he said! It's fit to take your breath away! 'You're safe in my state. Don't worry. The day the lockdown is lifted, not only I, but the Centre also will make arrangements for you... the challenge is to tackle coronavirus by staying back. This is Maharashtra and we are one country,' he said.

This was not Sharad Pawar or Prithviraj Chavan speaking. It was Uddhav Thackeray, the undisputed chief of the Shiv Sena!

When he launched the Shiv Sena with a dozen people, Bal Thackeray's central attack was on migrants who were pouring into Mumbai and adjoining areas, taking away jobs that should have gone to Marathi-speaking people.

The hangover of the Samyukta Maharashtra movement (Movement for United Maharashtra) which created the modern linguistic state of Maharashtra in 1960 had started to subside.

Marathi youth of Mumbai who courted arrest and zealously participated in the movement to create Samyukta Maharashtra with Mumbai as its capital were waking up to the rude awakening that though Mumbai was Maharashtra's capital, they were not really in control of it.

Thackeray detested non-Marathi-speaking migrants with a passion.

Businesses were owned by Gujaratis, Marwaris and Parsis and white-collar jobs were going to south Indians, who were fluent in English and trained in accountancy and shorthand.

And the new rulers of Mumbai, chief ministers and ministers, were not interested in their plight as their constituencies were in far-flung rural Maharashtra.

Every week, his magazine, Marmik, would publish lists of new recruits in public sector undertakings like the SBI, Reserve Bank of India, Air India and LIC to drive home how sons of the soil were ignored.

This list was titled Vacha ani swastha basa (read and keep quiet).

His rallying cry in the 1960s was 'baja pungi, hata lungi' (un-translatable: pungi is the Maratha trumpet).

'Yandu-gundu' was his generic term for describing migrants (who tended to speak in rapid-fire Tamil/Kannada/Malayalam).

The north Indian migrant came in later, wave after wave, the bhaiyas of UP and Bihar, as part of the milk delivery service.

But there was a problem with the sons of the soil narrative -- it was too self limiting.

Bal Thackeray's Shiv Sena never grew beyond Mumbai and neighbouring Thane as Maharashtrians in the rest of Maharashtra did not see outsiders as a threat.

To overcome this, one phase of Sena politics ended and another began: The phase of Hindu nationalism.

Over the years, as it has evolved, the Sena's political philosophy has also grown in different directions.

By the time the 1990s came around, aggressive Hindutva posturing and the active role played by Sena in the 1992-1993 Mumbai riots helped the party extend its support base in Mumbai.

Many non-Maharashtrian communities like Gujaratis, North Indians and Kannadigas helped the Sena win 31 assembly seats out of 32 in Mumbai in the 1995 assembly election.

But for many it was the defining of the 'Marathi manoos' that defined the Sena. And a Marathi Manoos was Maharashtrian and Marathi-speaking.

IMAGE: Uddhav Thackeray at one of his briefings which have become immensely popular in the state. Photograph: ANI Photo

Cut to 2020.

Not only is the Sena in alliance with its once bitter enemy, the Congress, it is now making migrants from the rest of India its best friends.

But this is just part of the party's transformation.

Try as he might, Balasaheb was not able to extend the Sena's reach to western Maharashtra, Vidarbha and Marathwada.

Its centres were power were Mumbai, at best Pune and Nasik.

He was unable to get farmers to identify with Sena's politics.

A lot has changed. Ahead of the 2004 state assembly polls, Uddhav launched a campaign Mee Mumbaikar' to reach out to people across linguistic denominations.

It was meant to reach out to north Indians, specifically.

'Mumbai served those who came here... hence, it is essential to dump narrow identities like religion and caste to work for Mumbai and ensure that it regains its past glory,' Uddhav is quoted as telling Dhaval Kulkarni, author of The Cousins Thackeray: Uddhav, Raj And The Shadow Of Their Senas.

Every rural Lok Sabha constituency in the state now has between 70,000 and 100,000 Sena votes.

And COVID-19 has laid bare, Mumbai, indeed Maharashtra's need of the migrant.

Politically, how will Sena respond?
US Warship Transits Taiwan Strait For the Second Time in One Month

Sputnik News

03:04 GMT 24.04.2020

China has repeatedly criticized the US for sailing its warships through the Taiwan Strait, characterizing the transits as "dangerous" behaviour that "severely harms peace and stability" in the region.

A US warship passed through the Taiwan Strait for a second time in a month, the US Pacific fleet confirmed on Thursday.

Taiwan's Defence Ministry said the US warship sailed south through the Taiwan Strait that separates the island from mainland China. The guided-missile destroyer USS Barry was said to be on "an ordinary mission" and conducting a "routine Taiwan Strait transit" in accordance with international law, according to Lt. Anthony Junco, a US Seventh Fleet spokesman.

"The ship's transit through the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the U.S. commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. The U.S. Navy will continue to fly, sail and operate anywhere international law allows," he said, cited by Reuters.

This is the second time the USS Barry has sailed through the Taiwan Strait in recent weeks, previously taking this route two weeks ago on the same day that Chinese fighter jets drilled in waters close to Taiwan.

On Thursday, Taipei confirmed that a Chinese aircraft carrier group had sailed to the south of the island, through the Bashi Channel between Taiwan and the Philippines, heading east. In recent months, China has carried out multiple drills near Taiwan, including with the use of jets and nuclear bombers, described by Taipei as efforts by Beijing to intimidate.

Taiwan has been governed independently from China since 1949. Beijing considers the island as part of the mainland, while Taiwan insists on being an autonomous country, having established political and economic relations with several other countries that recognize its sovereignity.

A Sputnik

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A Walmart in Colorado was shut down Thursday after a COVID-19 outbreak killed three people linked to the store amid complaints about a lack of social distancing in the store.

Officials with the Tri-County Health Department in Colorado announced the Walmart Supercenter at 14000 East Exposition in Aurora, would close after an employee, a spouse and an independent contractor died of the coronavirus.

The victims, who have not publicly been identified, include a 72-year-old Walmart staffer, her 63-year-old husband and a 69-year-old third-party security contractor.

Six other Walmart employees tested positive for COVID-19 and three additional workers are awaiting their lab results.

'We are extremely saddened by this news and offer our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of the three people we lost,' said John M. Douglas, Jr., MD, Executive Director of Tri-County Health Department in a statement.

A Colorado-based Walmart was shutdown Thursday after an employee, her husband and a security contractor died of COVID-19

'These deaths underscore the severity of the highly-contagious coronavirus, and the need for diligent safety precautions to prevent any further spread, including the wearing of masks.'

The department revealed the Walmart Supercenter shuttered after employees and shoppers complained about 'the lack of social distancing, too many people in the store at one time, and employees not wearing masks or face coverings.'

An anonymous employee told The Denver Post that the store was swarmed with shoppers and didn't adhere to public health guidelines on Thursday.

'It was terrible. There was no way we could be six feet apart. There were wall-to-wall people. They just bombarded at one time,' the employee said.

'Were supposed to only have a certain amount of people in there but we didnt. It was too many, they were everywhere.'

Employees and shoppers complained that there was a 'lack of social distancing' inside the Colorado store

The employee said although face masks are required of Walmart staffers, some younger workers in the Colorado store forwent the measure.

'Some of the young kids, they were walking around without them. Sometimes customers would come in and tell them, "Shouldnt you have your mask on?" Or theyd have it on but theyd have it under the mouth,' they said.

Employees at retailers like Amazon made similar complaints and have staged protests at warehouses across the country.

Gerard Tuzara, an Air Force veteran and operations manager, was the first Amazon employee to die of COVID-19 on March 31.

Amazon released a statement regarding Tuzara's death, saying:'We are saddened by the passing of a member of our management team in Hawthorne, California. His family and loved ones are in our thoughts, and we are supporting his fellow colleagues.'

Pictured: Cashier Baby San wears a face shield and gloves as she scans items at grocery store Super Cao Nguyen, in Oklahoma City, due to concerns over the COVID-19 virus.

Some stores have aded plexiglass sneeze guards to cash registers to keep employees safe during the pandemic

Tuzara was last onsite at at his Amazon job on March 6 before taking a vacation out of the country for nearly two weeks.

Before he could return to Amazon he became unwell and passed away. An Amazon spokesperson said they alerted employees of Tuzara's death on March 31 once they were made aware of his death.

At least 30 Amazon employees at a New Jersey warehouse contracted COVID-19, marking it the largest known outbreak for the retail giant.

In response to the deaths, a Walmart spokesperson said: 'Colorado has been hit especially hard by COVID-19, and several associates at this store have tested positive.

Gerard Tuzara was formerly an officer in the US Air Force before he began working at Amazon

'Sadly, one of our associates has passed away. The temporary closure will allow third-party cleaning experts to further clean and sanitize the store.'

'We will continue to work closely with Tri-County Health Department and take additional steps as needed to re-open the store.'

Colorado has recorded 11,278 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 552 deaths.

On Thursday, Sens. Cory Booker, Sherrod Brown, Richard Blumenthal and Kristen Gillibrand wrote a letter to Walmart CEO Doug McMillon to ask that the company prioritize the health of workers over income.

'We write today to strongly urge you to do more to prioritize the health, safety, and well-being of your employees who are also our constituents, friends, family members, and neighbors,' they wrote.

The letter pointed to Walmart employees who complained that protective gear provided by the company was 'in short supply, of poor quality, and that the gloves and masks only come in one size that is often too small for many of the workers who have to use them.'

Pictured: 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 last week

Pictured: A shopper wears a face mask as he jumps out of his car and uses his mobile telephone to make a video of the empty parking lot in front of a Walmart closed by the deaths of three people connected with the store after being infected by the new coronavirus

The letter also said Walmart locations haven't implemented safeguards they announced in a March 31 memo, like regular temperature checks and installing plexiglass shields at checkout stations.

'Given the size of your operation, any failure of Walmart to keep its workforce safe does not only put your employees at risk, it puts the entire country at risk,' the letter said.

Walmart has not disclosed how many employees have tested positive for COVID-19 or died of it, but two Evergreen Park, Illinois, employees died earlier this year from the disease.

Wando Evans, a 51-year-old overnight maintenance worker, died on March 25 after working for Walmart for 15 years.

Phillip Thomas, 48, died four days later on March 29 following nine years at the store. He was turning 49-year-olds on April 12.

(Left to Right) Wando Evans and Phillip Thomas, two employees at an Evergreen Park Walmart, died of coronavirus just four days apart

Both men suffered underlying health conditions, Patch reported.

Walmart said neither employee had been in the Evergreen Park store 'for more than a week.'

It's unclear when the two men contracted COVID-19 or if it happened while on the job.

Mayor Jim Sexton of Evergreen Park consequentially suspended Walmart's liquor license, but reinstated it on Wednesday.

An investigation into Evans and Thomas' death was opened after Sexton learned of the deaths from Chicago Ald. Matt O'Shea, who saw Facebook posts about the mens' deaths.

In response, Walmart overhauled cleaning efforts in the past week with a 'third-party safety and environmental compliance assessment as well as a health department inspection.'

This included decontamination of the front entrance, carts, registers, bathrooms and food areas.

'This is in addition to the cleaning measures we have implemented in all stores, including installing sneeze guards at registers, placing social distancing decals on the floors and limiting the number of customers in a store at a given time,' the statement read.

'It seems like they're trying to make a bad situation better,' said Sexton. 'The store is safe now for workers and shoppers. Everything is going to be changed now.'

Additionally, Walmart has addressed the coronavirus crisis by placing social distancing markers around stores and installing plexiglass barriers at checkout aisles.

Walmart also said they've limited the amount of customers allowed inside stores at one time and started checking employees' temperatures at the beginning of each shift.

The Washington Post reports that thousands at grocery store staffers nationwide continue to work as 927, 360 Americans were infected with COVID-19 and 52,422 died.

Those numbers include grocery store employees who have complained of not having protective gear - like face masks and gloves - during shifts. Dozens have tested positive for the coronavirus.

Experts said the influx of employee infections and deaths could likely affect grocers' ability to both maintain and add new staff.

Walmart, the largest private employer in the United States, announced they would hire 150,000 workers, while Kroger will boost staff by 10,000.

Several grocers' are incentivizing potential workers with promises of masks, gloves, hand sanitizer and an extra $2 an hour.

But finding people willing to step onto the frontlines of the pandemic for minimum wage salaries might not be enough to close the deal, said supermarket analyst Phil Lempert.

He said: 'One of the biggest mistakes supermarkets made early on was not allowing employees to wear masks and gloves the way they wanted to. Theyre starting to become proactive now, but its still going to be much tougher to hire hundreds of thousands of new workers.

'Were going to start seeing people say, "Ill just stay unemployed instead of risking my life for a temporary job."'

Analysts believe clashes between staffers and companies could become more dire as co-workers continue to fall ill.

As grocers attempt to navigate sales amid the COVID-19 crisis, some stores like Whole Foods and Kroger have begun testing online-only shopping.

Today reports that select Whole Foods stores in New York City, San Francisco and Baltimore are only taking online orders.

A Kroger location in Cincinnati, Ohio, is testing curbside pick-up.
Locking the country down four weeks ago was one thing, writes Daniel McConnell

We were all the same, treated as one. The restrictions were wholesale and were met and have been met with an extraordinary unity of purpose in the main by the Irish people.

We accepted with incredible tolerance significant withdrawals of our personal liberties and freedoms to do our part for the greater good.

We did so without knowing how long this emergency would last. We hoped it would be weeks, but as time has passed, we now know it will be months and maybe even longer.

So far, despite the shocking number of deaths in Ireland, our efforts are working on a public health point of view.

As the medical numbers have shown, we have succeeded in suppressing the curve of reproduction of the coronavirus.

But that phase of the journey we are on is coming to an end.

That unity is cracking as it is clear the path out of this emergency will not be quick, easy or pain free.

As the old saying goes, there are rough seas ahead my boy.

We have been battered by a wave of destruction, but we have endured, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said in the Dail on Thursday.

Our new enemy is complacency and there is a danger that if we relax our guard, we can be overrun.

As highlighted by concerns at Cabinet this week, and more specifically in a memorandum from Varadkar to his ministers, there is a recognition that the next steps will not be as easy or as straightforward as the road travelled so far.

As revealed by Fiach Kelly in the Irish Times on Thursday morning, a confidential Government memo delivered to ministers warned that the next phase of the coronavirus crisis has the potential to be far more divisive as the full implications of the pandemic sink in with the public.

Kellys story revealed that ministers were told that while the initial stage was both swift and unprecedented, and was experienced by everyone together and in a relatively unified spirit, this may change as the

long-term effects come into play.

This includes unemployment, reduced income, increased debt, closure of businesses, reduced educational opportunities, restrictions on movement and social interactions, and ultimately the loss of loved ones.

The note, the tone of which was described as jaw-dropping by sources, outlined the challenges ahead, such as the difficulty of opening some sections of the economy and not others, reducing income supports and tightening procedures for those entering the country, as well as opportunities.

The implication of the note, with its unusually charged language, is that very difficult decisions are to be taken and that any course taken will be bitterly divisive, with many people feeling abandoned or coming off second-best against more sheltered sectors of society, such as the public service.

In very pointed language, the memo also touched on political accountability, in what some were interpreting as concern about a caretaker government dealing with such a crisis.

The issue of government formation and the role of the Oireachtas is outside the remit of this note.

"However, given the scale and impact of the decisions that will have to be taken in the coming months, it would be important that measures are put in place to enable proper political debate and public accountability.

That vacuum of accountability created by the inability to form a government since the general election on February 8 has allowed unelected officials to grow in stature to a point where legitimate questions about who is in charge are now being asked.

Labour leader Alan Kelly sought to raise very serious and legitimate questions in the Dail about how huge economic issues are being decided at a time of national emergency.

"As we reported yesterday, Kelly said he is seriously concerned about transparency in decision making in this crisis.

Kelly raised alarm as to the workings of the National Public Health Emergency Team, the primary body advising the Government on its response to Covid-19.

In the Dail, Kelly said he looked up the membership of the NPHET and it seems to have grown substantially since it was set up from 13 to 45 members.

He asked did the Government agree to all the new members who joined it and if so where is this documented?

He demanded answers from Varadkar who appoints the members of NPHET.

Kelly also asked the Dail about why only notes are recorded of meetings and not detailed minutes: There is a difference.

Minutes reflect the record of the meeting and must be agreed at the beginning of the next meeting. Notes could be a subjective view of what happened.

Were all these notes agreed by all the participants after each meeting? Future generations will want to know where people stood on decisions.

He asked why are notes or minutes no longer being published since the end of March. I would have expected that all minutes would be published continuously given the crisis we are facing. This isnt acceptable, he said.

Kelly also posed the question that when the chief medical officer, Tony Holohan, made the decision last week that we would have to get to 15,000 tests a day and 100,000 a week by May 5, did he do so with the agreement of the HSE which ultimately would be responsible for making such a testing regime possible in such a short space of time?

But then came his most important questions:

Who is NPHET ultimately accountable to? 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? I presume they do. But how does that happen? Kelly asked of Varadkar.

He said ultimate decision making cannot be in the hands of the few. Elected office cannot be subservient even in this crisis, he said.

Kellys questions gave voice to the growing sense of unease as to how the crisis is being handled, but more importantly how the crucial next steps are taken.

Like just how will restrictions be lifted?

Which group of people will be able to go back to work first? Who will be last? What supports will be in place for those who have or will lose their livelihoods?

At what point do emergency payments stop being paid? How do you return the health service back to where it was or do you even try?

Really big questions are being taken at a time where Dail oversight is non-existent.

Thursdays round of statements are no match for rigorous committee hearings, persistent asking of written parliamentary questions, or priority questions to the Taoiseach or line minister.

With the current interregnum now more than 10 weeks old, none of those things can happen until a government is formed.

The success of the countrys suppression of the Covid-19 virus was made possible by a collective national effort. The way things are heading, there is no guarantee of such unity as we move to recover the country and that could be disastrous.
Kate Hudson glowed as she posed with her one-year-old daughter Rani for an alternate version of People's Beautiful Issue cover.

The duo made history earlier this week by covering the issue with Kate's mother Goldie Hawn - the first time three generations of a family have done so.

Now in the latest version of the cover, Kate, 41, beams and lifts up her voluminous floral dress to show her laughing baby crawling around between her legs.

So sweet: Kate Hudson glowed as she posed with her one-year-old daughter Rani for an alternate version of People's Beautiful Issue cover

She posted the new cover to her Instagram page this Saturday and in her caption paid tribute to frontline workers in the coronavirus pandemic.

The cover left her 'inspired to share some people that I have felt are exemplary and showing us the most beautiful acts of kindness, love and humanity happening in the world right now, and those working to take care of all of us.'

The Almost Famous star wrote: 'Lets share the love right now. I would like to start by saying every single frontline health worker is exemplary and we thank you.'

She added: 'Share your stories in the comments below, and tag those #BeautifulPeople doing #BeautifulThings With your help I would love to hear your stories and continue sharing and highlighting new people.'

Getting some fresh air: The same day she shared a snap of little Rani pouting as she stepped out into the family's backyard and watered the plants

Kate posted tributes to National Institute Of Allergy And Infectious Diseases Director Dr. Anthony Fauci and National Domestic Workers Alliance director Ai-Jen Poo.

Her love also went to Delta Airlines CEO Ed Bastian who will 'forgo his salary over the next 6 months to help support and keep his workers employed.'

Shirley Raines of the nonprofit Beauty 2 The Streetz 'spends her Saturdays handing out supplies to the homeless on Skid Row in Los Angeles,' while famous chef Jose Andres 'has turned his restaurants into community kitchens' amid the crisis.

Kate also paid homage to such people as New York daycare teacher Savannah Weir who on top of her remote classes is 'taking care of children of essential workers' and a Brooklyn landlord called Mario Salerno who waived 100s of tenants' April rent.

Family photo: The duo made history earlier this week by covering the issue with Kate's mother Goldie Hawn - the first time three generations of a family have done so

The same day she shared a snap of little Rani pouting as she stepped out into the family's backyard and watered the plants.

The Beautiful Issue of People magazine has been going for 30 years but this year is the first time three generations of a family have landed the cover simultaneously.

Kate was only 17 years old the last time she fronted a magazine with Goldie - the duo shared the cover of InStyle's August 1996 issue.

Although Kate's biological father is musician Bill Hudson, the man she calls 'Pa' is Goldie's longtime love of more than three decades, Kurt Russell.

Throwback: Kate was only 17 years old the last time she fronted a magazine with Goldie - the duo shared the cover of InStyle's August 1996 issue

Kate told People she currently lives right nearby Kurt and Goldie, sharing: 'Shes down the street. Were literally neighbors.'

She added: 'Not to mention I want to buy the property next door to them, which is another thing I need to discuss with my therapist.'

Kate shares Rani with her beau Danny Fujikawa and has two sons - Ryder, 16, and Bingham, eight - from previous men in her life.

In the new Beautiful Issue of People Kate shared that she felt 'so sad' while pregnant with Ryder and asked her mother why.

All her babies: Kate shares Rani with her beau Danny Fujikawa and has two sons - Ryder, 16, and Bingham, eight - from previous men in her life

'Moms like: "Because the second they leave your body, they dont belong to you anymore,"' Kate shared with the magazine.

She then said to Goldie herself, who was being interviewed alongside her: 'I think that was the most powerful thing youve ever said to me.'

Goldie explained: 'Its learning to let go. I think a lot of mothers, particularly with their girls, feel helpless when you dont think youre needed anymore.'

The Shampoo icon continued: 'Its just a phase. Theres an individuation and then theres a period of time when we come back together again.'
The death toll due to COVID-19 in Uttar Pradesh rose to 27 with two more fatalities, while 177 fresh cases were reported on Saturday taking the total number of cases in the state to 1,793, the health department said.

Of the total cases reported in the state, 1,505 patients are undergoing treatment while 261 have been cured of the disease.

In a statement, Dr Vikasendu Agrawal, the Joint Director/State Surveillance Officer of Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), said, "177 fresh COVID-19 cases have been reported in the state on Saturday, taking the total number of COVID-19 cases in the state to 1,793 from 57 districts."



The two fatalities reported on Saturday were from Moradabad and Agra, he said.

A bulk of the fresh cases were from Saharanpur (37), Agra (25), Kanpur (24), Lucknow (19), Santkabirnagar (19) and Bareilly (11).

Of the 19 cases reported from Santkabirnagar district, 18 were members of an extended family and all of them have been admitted to hospital, a senior administrative officer said.

District Magistrate Ravish Kumar Gupta said a student of the Darul Uloom Deoband seminary who had arrived in the district last month, tested positive for coronavirus earlier this week. His family members and close relatives were kept in quarantine and their samples sent for testing, of which 18 have been found to be positive, he said.

The other person had recently returned from Mumbai. His COVID-19 test report was received on Saturday. His family members have been quarantined and their samples sent for testing, the DM said, adding with these new cases, the number of coronavirus cases in the district has was now 21.

The areas from where these cases were reported have been sealed off, he added.

According to a UP health department statement, so far, 1,040 Tablighi Jamaat attendees and their contacts have tested positive for COVID-19 in the state.

Principal Secretary Medical and Health Amit Mohan Prasad said, "Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed that hospitals, be it government or private, must strictly adhere to infection prevention protocol. For this, a team under an additional chief medical officer has been constituted."



"The team will work to ensure that infection prevention protocol is observed. Through this committee, we will start imparting onsite training," he said.

Ten more coronavirus cases were reported in Bulandshahr taking the tally in the district to 37, Chief Medical Officer K N Tiwari said, adding that of the 10 cases, six were members of a family and the rest were Odisha natives who had attended the Markaz event in Delhi.

In Mathura, one more case of the viral infection was reported on Saturday taking the total number of cases in the district to 11, an official said. According to District Magistrate Sarvagya Ram Mishra doorstep delivery of essential commodities has been ensured and drones are being used to monitor compliance of the lockdown norms.

Muzaffarnagar reported five more coronavirus cases. With this, the total number of cases in the district has reached 22, officials said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A Brooklyn nursing home where 55 elderly people have died from COVID-19 begged New York health officials to move its sick residents to the Navy hospital ship the USNS Comfort weeks ago - but was denied.

CEO of the Cobble Hill Health Center in Brooklyn, Donny Tuchman, pleaded with New York Health Department officials in an email on April 9, asking if there was 'a way for us to send our suspected covid patients' to either the Comfort or the hospital built inside the Jacob Javits Convention Center.

At the time of the email, only 134 of the 1,000 beds at the Javits Center were being used, and the Comfort had only 62 patients on board the ship that had the capacity to treat 500.

'I was told those facilities were only for hospitals' Tuchman told the New York Post. Now the 360-bed nursing home is topping the nation's list of nursing home deaths.

Cobble Hill Health Center in Brooklyn, New York, begged to move its sick residents to the Navy hospital ship the USNS Comfort weeks ago - but was denied

The Comfort only treated 179 patients in the three weeks it was docked in New York Harbor

In Tuchman's email to state health officials, he said: 'We don't have the ability to cohort right now based on staffing and we really want to protect our other patients.'

The Comfort only treated 179 patients in the three weeks it was docked in New York Harbor.

The ship will be returned to its post in Norfolk, Virginia, after the city's demand for hospital beds did not reach levels that had been projected during the coronavirus pandemic.

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.

CEO of the Cobble Hill Health Center in Brooklyn, Donny Tuchman (pictured), pleaded with New York Health Department officials in an email on April 9, asking if there was 'a way for us to send our suspected covid patients' to either the Comfort or the hospital built inside the Jacob Javits Convention Center

Cobble Hill (pictured) offers temporary care for those recovering from a hospital stay, as well as permanent care for older and chronically ill residents and has had 55 COVID-19 deaths

Tuchman alerted the Health Department of the nursing home's dire conditions in a previous email on April 8.

He said that the facility had 'over 50 symptomatic patients scattered through the building and almost no gowns.'

'There is no way for us to prevent the spread under these conditions,' he wrote. 'Is there anything more we can do to protect our patients and staff? Thank you for any help you could be.'

Tuchman told the Post he got a response within 20 minutes with an attachment on how to conserve PPE.

The health official wrote: 'Many facilities have built this guidance into their contingency plan in the event of PPE supply shortages and depletion of supplies. Thanks.'

A follow-up response from the health department added, 'Please be sure to submit your request through the local OEM daily.'

Tuchman said Friday: 'This has been a very sad and painful experience. Once the virus gets into the building it is very, very hard to control.'
Frontline workers engaged in the battle against the spread of COVID-19 including doctors were among the fresh cases of the virus reported from Andhra Pradesh on Saturday, where overall number crossed the 1,000-mark.

Two fatalities were reported, taking the toll to 31.

AP's overall positive cases of coronavirus stood at 1,016 on Saturday.

In Kurnool, two doctors working in the government general hospital and a police sub-inspector (SI) in Vijayawada city tested positive for the deadly virus, official sources said.

Further, in Vijayawada, a police sub-inspector and 60 personnel were placed under quarantine.

A scare was triggered in the State Covid Command Control Centre in Vijayawada after a biomedical engineer working there tested positive on Friday.

Government officials, right from the Special Chief Secretary (Health) have been functioning from this premises for over a month now, monitoring the Corona management measures across the state.

Five other colleagues of the biomedical engineer, however tested negative for the virus.

These staffers were attached to the AP Medical Services and Infrastructure Development Corporation.

The latest government bulletin said 26 patients were discharged from hospitals after recovery.

Significantly, the north coastal district of Srikakulam also joined the list on Saturday, registering its first three cases after remaining free of the infection all these days.

The district did not report a single case of COVID-19 till Friday, sources added.

After Kurnool and Guntur districts, Krishna is now fast becoming the pandemic's hotbed in the state as 25 fresh cases were registered in the last 24 hours.

There was no let up in Corona spread in Kurnool as 14 more cases were added, taking the total to 275.

Incidentally, the two districts registered one new COVID-19 death each, the bulletin said.

Vizianagaram is now the only district in AP not to be affected by Covid-19, yet.

Anantapuramu registered five fresh cases in the last 24 hours, followed by Kadapa and SPS Nellore with four each and East Godavari and Guntur districts 3 each.

AP is now second to Tamil Nadu in number of Covid-19 cases but top in the number of deaths (31) in south India., with the former reporting 1755 cases and 22 deaths as of Friday.

According to official sources, the state is at the bottom among five southern states in terms of recovery rate with 16.8 per cent.

While Kerala is on top with 73.6 per cent recovery, Tamil Nadu comes next with 49.3 per cent.

AP still has 814 "active" coronavirus cases after the discharge of 171 patients and death of 31.

Between Friday and Saturday, 6,928 samples were tested



the highest per day count so far while the aggregate number of tests till date was 61,266.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
(CNN)  Class-action lawsuits have been filed against three New York universities by students who argue the schools have failed to adequately refund or reimburse students for tuition and other fees they paid to have in-person, on-campus classes and other activities.

The lawsuits were filed this week against Columbia University, Pace University and Long Island University, all private institutions located in the New York City area.

The students argue that not only is online-only instruction less valuable and should cost students less, it is not what they paid for. The students are calling on their universities to acknowledge what is being lost in the transition from in-person, hands-on learning to online instruction, such as interaction with professors, access to campus facilities, housing, meals, and social interaction, and asking them to adjust the financial burden accordingly.

Although the undergraduate students acknowledged that the closing of their campuses was necessary given the spread of the coronavirus, the plaintiffs argued that transitioning classes online starting in March and closing campuses forced students to miss a significant portion of the semester that they had paid for.

While Columbia University has announced that it will be issuing full pro-rata refunds for room and board fees, the university Financial Services team made clear on its website that tuition will not be refunded as long as instruction continues, but it said it would rebate a portion of the facilities and student life fees.

"Tuition and fees will continue to pay for the delivery of instruction, as well as the associated costs of academic support services. As long as instruction continues, tuition will not be refunded," the Financial Services team wrote on the university website.

In the lawsuit against Columbia, the student, who filed the class action suit anonymously, argues that the university "breached the contract with Plaintiff and the Fees Class by moving all classes for the Spring 2020 semester to online distance learning platforms, constructively evicting students from campus, and closing most campus buildings and facilities, without reducing or refunding fees accordingly."

The lawsuit claims that the university has "refused and continues to refuse to offer any refund whatsoever with respect to the tuition that has already been paid."

The student also pointed out that continuing to pay for an on-campus undergraduate degree in social work for the spring, summer and fall semesters, which costs approximately $58,612, is considerably more expensive in comparison to the university's online program, where the tuition for the same degree costs $48,780.

The Columbia student argued that while the university has refunded some of the fees, "such refund has come with no explanation, appears to be arbitrary, and in any event, is wholly insufficient." In the filing, the individual noted that out of $1,065 in mandatory fees paid by the student, only $119 was refunded.

Long Island University student Nicolas Irizarry filed a class action suit against his university on April 21, seeking refunds because he says his educational experience dramatically changed due to the coronavirus outbreak. Irizarry had paid approximately $21,827 in tuition and fees to Long Island University and has not been provided a refund for any portion of his payment.

A similar lawsuit was filed on April 23 by Pace University student Xaviera Marbury. The lawsuit says the university "has either refused to provide reimbursement for the tuition, housing, meals, fees and other costs that Defendant is no longer providing, or has provided inadequate and/or arbitrary reimbursement that does not fully compensate Plaintiff and members of the Class for their loss."

Marbury claims that while the university has said it will issue campus housing refunds of $2,000 for students living on the New York campus and $1,600 for students at the Pleasantville and Haub Law campuses, "this planned refund is both completely arbitrary and wholly inadequate."

Marbury said the rent for her dorm in New York was $9,380 for the semester, which began January 27 and was scheduled to end on May 16. Marbury left campus on March 11 for spring break.

Pace University spokeswoman Marie Boster said in a statement to CNN that while the university has not been served yet with the lawsuit, "housing fee adjustments for students who had to leave the residence halls are being issued. We are planning to use CARES Act funding to support our students when it is available."

The CARES Act is the coronavirus relief fund passed by Congress earlier this year.

CNN has reached out to Columbia University and Long Island University for comment and has not yet received a response.

Marbury claimed in her class-action lawsuit that Pace University has "refused and continues to refuse to offer any refund whatsoever on its meal plans." The university's website says unused meal plan funds will roll over to the fall semester, and for graduating students, the unused portion of their spring meal plan will be refunded.

The lawsuits against Columbia and Pace Universities were the result of petitions that had been circulating those campuses, collecting thousands of signatures to try to pressure the institutions to give refunds.

The students at Columbia and Pace argue that the college's endowments  which the lawsuits estimate at $10.9 billion and $182 million, respectively  coupled with the money it is eligible to receive from the CARES Act, places the institutions in the financial position to meet the students' request.

This story was first published on CNN.com 'Students in New York file class-action lawsuits against 3 universities, claiming that schools have failed to adequately refund fees'
The Congress on Saturday demanded



an apology from Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on his statement that the state government would slash budgetary allocation for the Art and Culture department to help the economy in view of the COVID-19 crisis.

"Sawant must immediately withdraw his statement and apologise to the artists' community of Goa. It is unfortunate that the chief minister did not utter a word about the hard times faced by various artists in Goa after the lockdown was announced (on March 24).

"All the programs, dramas, concerts, weddings etc got cancelled which has rendered thousands of artists jobless. The future of artists is bleak as no one knows when this pandemic will come to an end," said Goa Pradesh Congress Committee spokesman Siddhanath Buyao.

Buyao said the CM should first check "wasteful expenditure and corruption" in the PWD, Tourism, Sports, Garbage Management and other departments before imposing restrictions on cultural activities.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In a tense scene from the 2011 movie Contagion, now making a comeback on streaming services as life imitates pandemic art, a heroic scientist pulls a sample out of a freezer at her lab late one night.

She injects herself and heads to a crowded hospital where her father, a doctor who continued treating his patients during the outbreak, is dying of a mysterious new flu-like virus.

Im testing my vaccine, she tells him with a smile as she rips off her goggles and mask despite his objections and kisses his clammy forehead. By day 133 of the fictional timeline, less than five months after Gwyneth Paltrows patient zero contracted the deadly disease, officials are pulling birthdays in a lottery to determine who gets the vaccine first.

Unfortunately, in real life it will take more than a trial of one to find a vaccine for COVID-19, which has been widely heralded as the key to getting back to our pre-pandemic lives. The time frame of at least 12-to-18 months, mentioned by Dr. Anthony Fauci, part of U.S. President Donald Trumps coronavirus task force, at a televised meeting in early March, has become a benchmark in the race to find it.

Thats just an estimate and not the start of a clock. But it would be the fastest development of a vaccine in human history. There are a few things that give some scientists hope it could happen, if we get lucky, from advances in science, to infusions of cash, to manufacturing vaccines before we even know if they work. There are also plenty of real challenges.

Twelve-to-18 months is an incredibly optimistic timeline, said Natasha Crowcroft, director of the Centre for Vaccine Preventable Diseases, and a professor at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health. Nobodys done this before.

Under normal circumstances, new vaccines take several years to develop. The fastest ever was for mumps, at four years.

The Ebola vaccine took five.

I dont think its wrong to be optimistic, and I dont think anybody really knows the answer, Crowcroft added. According to the World Health Organization, as of April 20 there were five vaccines in clinical trials around the world, including the first in human trials, a messenger RNA candidate from U.S. biotech company Moderna. There are also 71 candidates at the preclinical stage.

Back in January, before COVID-19 even had a name, Chinese scientists were able to quickly sequence the genetic code of the virus, thanks to leaps forward in science, said Crowcroft. That gave the world a big head start.

Researchers are also trying to make some of the usual steps of a clinical trial happen in parallel, she said.

Clinical trials usually progress in measured steps to examine safety and effectiveness, starting with animals and then moving to humans in bigger sample sizes and different age groups, before a vaccine or drug can get approval and then be manufactured and distributed.

Its usually so expensive to take a vaccine through all the steps. Pharmaceutical companies dont want to spend money on a step they might not need if it fails a previous step, said Crowcroft. Many vaccines get caught in the valley of death, a promising idea from researchers without the money to take it through a trial. But given the global emergency, big money is flowing from governments that are taking on that risk for the public good.

Scientists at Oxford University in the U.K., with the help of funding from the British government, jabbed their first volunteer in the arm this week in the first phase of a human clinical trial. Their vaccine contains the genetic sequence of the club-shaped spike protein on the outer coat of SARS-CoV-2 and uses a harmless chimpanzee virus to deliver it, according to news releases on their website. The hope is that this will trick the body into thinking it has COVID-19 and trigger the immune system so that it will be ready to attack if it comes into contact with the actual virus.

The team was actually already working on a vaccine for Disease X, the next big one, without knowing what that would be, so they were easily able to pivot, lead researcher Sarah Gilbert told The Lancet.

At the same time, production of the vaccine is being scaled up to be ready for larger trials, and future rollout, if it works.

Philanthropist Bill Gates has the same idea on a bigger scale. He told the Daily Shows Trevor Noah in early April that the Gates Foundation would fund factories for seven of the most promising COVID-19 vaccine candidates, even though it would mean throwing away billions on vaccines that dont work out.

The Gates Foundation did not provide more specifics on where the factories might be or what vaccine candidates theyd produce when contacted this week by the Star.

But even with these time-saving measures, there are still many unknowns.

A major one, said Claire Cupples, former dean of science and professor of molecular biology and biochemistry at Simon Fraser University, is that we still dont understand how strong the immune response is to the virus. People whove had it should develop antibodies and have some type of immunity. But we dont have enough science to prove that because the virus is so new.

The immune response might just not be very strong at all, so that really is quite a concern in my mind, she said.

Its going to be a challenge to get a strong response from a vaccine, and would that be enough to protect people?

Because theres still so much we dont know, its possible that strengthening the immune response might actually make it worse, Cupples said.

While coronaviruses are more accurate at replicating themselves than, for example, flu, which keeps mutating so much that we need a new vaccine each year, there is still no vaccine for the coronaviruses that cause severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), or common colds.

Certainly the fact that other coronaviruses keep on coming back year after year, and presumably we dont have a good response to them, is another thing that suggests that getting a vaccine might be really difficult, Cupples said.

Even in an emergency, we still need to do our due diligence and vaccines are held to a higher standard because they expose healthy people to risk, rather than offering sick people without options something that might help.

If we turn around a really crummy vaccine and make people sick, thats going to set back vaccine acceptance for decades, she said.

This has happened before. In 1976, a vaccine for swine flu was pushed through in the U.S., even though a feared epidemic never happened. The vaccine caused Guillain-Barre syndrome, a rare condition that causes nerve damage in about one in 100,000 people.

Trudo Lemmens, professor and Scholl Chair in Health Law and Policy at the University of Toronto, said its definitely acceptable to prioritize clinical trials of a vaccine in a pandemic and to speed up the review process by health authorities. But its important to make sure were not shortcutting the important steps of evidence gathering that have to take place.

Clinical trials should be assessed by independent monitoring committees that can examine data and research. There should be full transparency, including with preclinical data, which is usually kept secret.

If a vaccine is rolled out, researchers should continue collecting and sharing data so they can correct any issues that arise, he added.

Even if we do get to that point, said James Tiessen, an associate professor and director of Health Services Management at Ryersons Ted Rogers School of Management, theres plenty of work still involved.

Canada has very little, if any, vaccine production capacity and would have to rely on other suppliers, as it does for the flu vaccine. But officials would probably be able to manage, he said.

We could end up with not just one vaccine, but two or three, one for older people and one for others, for example. So the challenge is just going to be volume and determining who to give it to.

Tiessen said hes been impressed so far with the unprecedented amount of worldwide co-operation on the science, which is ironic given our borders are otherwise closed.

Thats also something that makes Cupples hopeful, the fact the government, industry, and academic institutions are working together, that theyre publishing their results quickly and not behind paywalls.

Even so, its entirely possible we may never find a vaccine.

We dont have one for HIV, for example, which first appeared in the early 1980s. Thats why its important to also continue looking for treatments such as antiretrovirals, Cupples said, and better understand who gets very sick and who gets mild or no symptoms (aside from factors like age and other medical conditions).

All of these things can be done at the same time as other teams of scientists continue to work on dozens of fledging vaccine candidates.

Its a good thing to have so many at this point, added Crowcroft.

We dont know which ones are going to be the best, but we also dont know what best means.

One vaccine could work 100 per cent of the time, but have side-effects, while another could be 70 per cent effective, but safer.

At this stage were going so fast, what we really need is a lot of choice, she said.

If any one of these approaches that people are trying, if any one of them makes it through to the end, why not?
In route news, United flight attendants are now required to wear face masks; San Francisco International imposes a mask rule; Delta posts a huge quarterly loss and scraps summer Europe flights; Virgin Atlantic faces a cash crisis and Virgin Australia goes into voluntary administration"; United switches to jets without lie-flat seats on premium transcontinental routes; Air Canada halts all transborder service; American boosts transatlantic basic economy bag fees; Frontier pauses mileage expirations; LAX bars non-travelers from terminals; and an East Coast airport shuts down.

Although many airlines allow flight crews to wear masks and/or gloves, United on Friday (April 24) became the first major carrier to make face coverings mandatory for cabin attendants. However, the leading flight attendants union argues that this doesnt go far enough, and suggests that all passengers should be required to wear masks (a rule that Uniteds Star Alliance partner Air Canada imposed earlier this week). Although passenger and flight numbers have plummeted, flight attendants who are still working are on the front lines of coronavirus risk; scores have come down with COVID-19 and a few have died. In a letter to the Transportation and HHS secretaries this week, the Association of Flight Attendants asked the federal government not only to require masks for all crew and passengers, but to suspend all leisure travel until the virus is contained.

San Francisco International Airport this week imposed a new rule requiring all members of the public to wear face coverings in the airport. Masks can be manufactured or homemade, as long as they fit securely and fully cover the nose and mouth, SFO said. The airport has put up signs to inform travelers of the requirement. Members of the public should also comply with social distancing requirements by maintaining at least six feet of separation from others, as well as follow public health and CDC recommendations for minimizing the spread of coronavirus, including frequent hand washing and regular sanitizing of common spaces and touch points, SFO said.

DON'T MISS: An eery walk through San Francisco's decimated hotel scene PHOTOS

Last week, we reported that American Airlines CEO saw some faint glimmers of hope for a travel recovery later in the year, but that Uniteds top executives were distinctly more pessimistic. This week, we heard from Deltas leadership, and they expressed a gloomy outlook similar to Uniteds.

Delta was the first major airline to release quarterly financial results, turning in a net loss of $534 million  a huge turnaround from last years first quarter profit of $946 million. And the coronavirus scare only started to get serious in the last few weeks of the quarter. With the significant impact of COVID-19 on Deltas revenue, we were burning $100 million per day at the end of March, said Delta CFO Paul Jacobson.

Government travel restrictions and stay-at-home orders have been effective in slowing the spread of the virus, but have also severely impacted near-term demand for air travel, reducing our expected June quarter revenues by 90%, compared to a year ago, said CEO Ed Bastian. Deltas daily passenger count has dropped to 30,000, vs. 550,000 last year.

The airlines officials noted that the only people flying now are those who absolutely have to, and Bastian predicted it could take up to three years before the airline industry sees a sustainable recovery. He said he expects some business travel to return but predicted much of it in the future would be replaced by online interactions like Zoom meetings.

Deltas lack of advance bookings is reflected in its latest international schedule filings this week, showing more than two dozen transatlantic routes no longer available for reservation for (the) summer season, according to Routesonline.com. Click here to see the full list.

While Delta currently has $6 billion in liquidity reserves and is getting more than $5 billion from the federal governments recent bailout legislation, Deltas UK partner, Virgin Atlantic, isnt so lucky. Delta  which owns 49 percent of Virgin  wont be providing any funds to that carrier, Bastian said, even though the British government tentatively turned down Virgins request for a $600 million loan. In fact, Virgin is said to owe Delta $200 million as part of its joint venture.

Bastian said in a CNBC interview that Virgin Atlantic might have to go through the UK equivalent of bankruptcy reorganization. If they are required to go through an administrative process in the UK, Im confident they could re-emerge, Bastian said, noting that Virgin could keep operating during that process. Thats exactly what happened this week to Virgins Australia affiliate, Virgin Australia: It entered voluntary administration after failing to get a government loan. Virgin Australia said it has named voluntary administrators to recapitalize the business and help ensure it emerges in a stronger financial position on the other side of the COVID-19 crisis, and noted that it continues to operate all scheduled flights.

In route news, United Airlines is making some big changes to its few remaining premium transcontinental flights, including San Francisco-Boston, SFO-Newark and Los Angeles-Newark. Except for one daily SFO-Newark flight that will use a 787 Dreamliner, United will swap out the specially configured 757s on those routes with more fuel-efficient 737s. That means no lie-flat seats in the front cabin for premium flyers. Instead, theyll get regular lean-back first-class seats. The equipment change is effective for flights starting May 4.

Air Canada, which this month continued to operate a reduced schedule of flights to 11 U.S. cities from Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal, is pulling the plug on all transborder service. The change takes effect April 27 and will remain in place at least through May 22. That includes its remaining San Francisco-Vancouver and SFO-Toronto flights. In late March, the U.S. and Canada agreed to halt all non-essential travel between the two countries, and on April 18, they agreed to extend that ban for at least another 30 days.

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In a fit of bad timing, American Airlines this week increased the first checked bag fee on transatlantic routes from $60 to $75 for customers who buy basic economy tickets. The higher price is effective for tickets purchased on or after April 21. The company said the increase was necessary to bring its fees into line with those of its transatlantic partners British Airways, Finnair and Iberia.

Jim Glab

Frontier Airlines sent an email this week to members of its Frontier Miles program assuring them that it has paused the expiration of all miles that were due to expire from March 1 onward. We will notify you a minimum of 90 days prior to this pause ending, Frontier said. As for an extension of members elite status in the program, Frontier said it is exploring all options but is not yet ready to share details.



In airport news, Los Angeles International this week started to crack down on non-travelers using the facility. Last month, LAX started closing its terminals between midnight and 5 a.m., and now it is banning anyone from coming into its central terminal area at any hour unless they are a ticketed passenger or are meeting or assisting a passenger. Those who refuse to comply are subject to arrest and misdemeanor prosecution, LAX said. Although the airport didnt mention it, local media have reported that the airport has become a safe haven in recent months for homeless individuals, and with the usual airport crowds thinned out due to coronavirus, the homeless are getting much easier to spot. There are reportedly more than 300 people who have taken up residence in the Atlanta airport, too, according to its general manager.

And on the east coast comes news of the first significant shutdown of an entire commercial airport. New York states Westchester County Airport, in White Plains just north of New York City, is due to close for an indefinite period starting April 27 after airline traffic there has dwindled to just a trickle. It has been used by United, JetBlue, Delta and American for service to 11 cities, but is mainly served by private jet operators who will now have to find an alternative airport nearby for their well-heeled customers. The airport will take advantage of the shutdown to speed up work on a runway reconstruction.

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Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald has opened up about contracting coronavirus and said that the illness floored her.

Speaking on The Late Late Show on Friday night, she said that she had never experienced anything like it.

It literally floored me, I never experienced anything like it.

I have never been as sick as I was with it, every part of me hurt, it hurt to open my eyes, my eye sockets ached.

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This didnt feel like a flu, this is a horrible horrible virus, she said.

Ms McDonald has had close experiences with the virus ever since the first case was confirmed in Ireland, which was at the school her children attend in Glasnevin.

Her family entered self-isolation after her children came back from a trip abroad and said that the household was ahead of the curve in dealing with precautions.

Because the first case of the virus was identified in the school that my children go to, we were kind of ahead of the curve in terms of being extremely careful.

I couldnt believe that this virus came into my house.

She said she had no idea how she contracted the illness a she had limited the number of people she came into contact with.

Ms McDonald also said that she suffers with asthma and that she doesnt have great lungs.

I was exhausted, I couldnt sustain a conversation.

I didnt have consistent fever and I had some respiratory symptoms.

She added that she was frightened at times especially towards the end of the illness when she had shortness of breath and stabbing pains in her right lung.

At that moment my husband panicked, is this now the real deal kicking in?

As it turns out, it was a bacterial infection in my right lung and it got diagnosed very quickly.

That was the point that frightened me, she added.
The Canadian Civil Liberties Association and other advocacy groups are sounding the alarm about the legality of the province providing first responders, including police, with the names, addresses and dates of birth of people who have tested positive for COVID-19.

The CCLA suggested in a tweet that police quietly got access to this new database last week. The government announced on April 6 it was making the information available to protect Ontarios first responders and stop the spread of COVID-19.

We appreciate that first responders are on the front lines of a public health crisis. Protecting the health of communities and first responders is rightly a priority, says a letter sent by the CCLA and others addressed to Solicitor General Sylvia Jones.

Providing personal health information directly to law enforcement, however, is an extraordinary invasion of privacy. Such a measure should only be taken when clearly authorized by law and absolutely necessary given the particular circumstances.

The letter is also signed by the HIV and AIDS Legal Clinic Ontario, the Black Legal Action Centre and Aboriginal Legal Services.

The Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario was opposed to the emergency order authorizing the disclosure.

The government did not effectively persuade my office that the regulation, which is highly invasive from a privacy perspective, was necessary to reduce the risk of harm and enhance public safety, Privacy Commissioner Brian Beamish confirmed in an emailed statement.

He added he has learned incomplete or indeterminate test results are being uploaded to the database, which brings into question the accuracy of the results in the database and its entire functionality.

While the safety of first responders is paramount, my view is that by approaching each emergency call as a potentially high-risk environment for COVID-19 infection or spread, they could better protect themselves and the greater public, without having any impact on personal privacy.

The Toronto Police Service has not accessed this database, Meaghan Gray, a TPS spokesperson, wrote in an email sent to the Star late Friday afternoon. We continue to work with the government on clarification regarding terms of use.

On March 17, the provincial government declared an emergency in Ontario in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, using powers activated under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act. The act gave the government sweeping powers to address the crisis and is set to expire May 6, unless it is extended.

The government announced on April 6 it had made a time-limited emergency order which temporarily enables first reponders to obtain COVID-19 positive status information from individuals with whom they are coming into contact, Stephen Warner, a spokesperson for the solicitor general, wrote in an emailed response to the CCLA letter.

Strict protocols are enforced to limit access to this information and it is used only to allow first responders to take appropriate safety precautions to protect themselves and the communities they serve.

But the CCLA letter says the regulation overreaches because the regulation authorizes the disclosure of COVID-19 status information only to the extent it is necessary in order to prevent, respond to or alleviate the effects of the emergency.

We have not found sufficient explanation of how providing this information to first responders, and police in particular, is useful, much less necessary, in responding to the present emergency.

Among the concerns the CCLA outlines is that any database listing individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 will be underinclusive, so that many people who have the disease might not have been tested.

Police officers, like all first responders, must operate under the assumption that everyone they come into contact with is a potential active carrier. Infection control measures targeting only individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 will be ineffective at protecting frontline workers.

Also, the advocacy groups say that according to the regulation and government statements the information being provided does not include the date that an individual tested positive.

This means that old, outdated test results could incorrectly identify people as having COVID-19 when they have already recovered and are no longer contagious.
Plainview Rotarians have had a busy week this past week. Members earlier had agreed to allow funds originally designated for things that have now been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic to be re-designated (including the portion of dues allocated to meals and other monthly meeting expenses). In March, the club donated $1,000 to the Salvation Army for rent assistance and $1,000 to the Faith in Sharing House, for food assistance. The club also voted to pay the caterers who normally provide weekly meals $100 each for each meal missed during the lockdown.

For April, the club continued the $100 donations to the caterers and added a $2,000-donation to the Plainview Disaster Relief fund. They also reallocated $1,000 intended for end-of-year perfect attendance awards for the Plainview Independent School District to help feed school-age children through PISD and Compassionate Care Center (for soon-to-be-born children).
If you spent any time on the internet on Thursday and Friday, or read a hard copy of a newspaper, you would undoubtedly have read stories or social media posts saying that President Trump told Americans to inject themselves with bleach or Lysol to cure coronavirus. Of course, that's not true. The media were either stupid or malicious when they misreported Trump's words. What Trump said was straightforward and thoughtful:

And then I saw the disinfectant, where it knocks it out in one minute, and is there a way we could do something like that by injection inside or almost a cleaning, the president said during his White House press briefing. As you see it gets in the lungs, it does a tremendous number on the lungs, so it would be interesting to check that.

The American media, however, collapsed in paroxysms of laughter. That stupid Donald Trump. Hes telling people to drink Lysol. Speaking of those same media folks, Ben Rhodes, who was Obamas foreign-policy guru, had this to say:

The average reporter we talk to is 27 years old, and their only reporting experience consists of being around political campaigns. Thats a sea change. They literally know nothing.

Monica Showalter, who knows a great deal, explained in her post that ignoramuses have always laughed at visionaries. In this case, though, Trump wasnt just a visionary. What he theorized has already been happening.

One of the available treatments for cancer is Ultraviolet Blood Irradiation Therapy. Ultraviolet light has long been understood to be a disinfectant that destroys nucleic acids and disrupts DNA. The suns ultraviolet light is why its one of the most effective ways to destroy the COVID-19 virus when its on objects or aerosolized. The question is whether that same ultraviolet energy can be used inside the human body. Apparently, it can:

Ultraviolet Blood Irradiation, also called Photoluminescence Therapy, is intravenously applied ultraviolet energy. Due to its profound photochemical, biochemical and physiological effects it has been of great value in a wide variety of diseases according to over 100 years of research findings. Niels Ryberg Finsen is considered the father of Ultraviolet Blood Irradiation. In the late 1890s, he treated various skin conditions with Ultraviolet Blood Irradiation and he and his successors reported a success rate of about 98% in curing lupus vulgaris, a tuberculosis-like disease of the skin and mucous membranes. In 1903, he was awarded the Nobel Prize for his research in photochemotherapy. In the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s, E. K. Knott, M.D. in Seattle, Washington, and other physicians applied this treatment successfully to a variety of other conditions, such as bacterial diseases, viral infections including acute and chronic hepatitis, poliomyelitis, encephalitis, overwhelming toxemias, rheumatoid arthritis and many other diseases and conditions. In Europe, since the early 1950s, Josef M. Issels, M.D. administered Ultraviolet Blood Irradiation, or Photoluminescence Therapy, as an important component of his treatment program to thousands of his patients suffering from cancer and various immune disorders.

Likewise, since 1989, people have been using hydrogen peroxide intravenously to kill bacteria and viruses:

In IV H2O2 therapy, Hydrogen peroxide is infused into the circulatory system through a vein in the arm. It drips in over a ninety-minute period. Five cc of pharmaceutical-grade, three-percent hydrogen peroxide are put in 500 cc five percent glucose in water as a carrier solution. Two grams of magnesium chloride are added along with a small amount of manganese to prevent vein sclerosis. In the blood, it encounters two enzymes: catalase and cytochrome-C. Catalase drives the above reaction to completion immediately. That part of the hydrogen peroxide that binds with cytochrome-C, however, is not allowed to become water and singlet oxygen for a period of forty minutes. After forty minutes of being bound to cytochrome-C this enzyme begins to act like catalase and breaks down the hydrogen peroxide to water and singlet oxygen. By this time, the hydrogen peroxide/cytochrome-C complex has been spread throughout the body. In this way the benefits of hydrogen peroxide are made available to all cells. The effect of singlet oxygen in the human body is twofold. It kills, or severely inhibits the growth of, anaerobic organisms (bacteria and viruses that use carbon dioxide for fuel and leave oxygen as a by-product). This action is immediate, on contact with the anaerobic organism. Anaerobic bacteria are pathogens, the organisms which cause disease. All viruses are anaerobic.

I am not advocating either of these therapies, for I know nothing about them other than what I quoted above. Indeed, there is evidence that the hydrogen peroxide therapy can be quite dangerous  although all medical treatments can be harmful if abused.

My point is simply that, not only was Trump making an intelligent suggestion about new ways to treat a new enemy, what he was advocating has already been done! In the battle between Trump and the media, they may sell pixels by the barrel, but its Trump who has the brains and knowledge.
Visitor regulations at Bob Owens Retirement Village in Bethlehem are likely to remain the same under COVID-19 Alert Level 3.

While owner company Ryman Healthcare are still working on Level 3 plans, Ryman Healthcare corporate affairs manager David King says their current precautions are unlikely to change.

The current rules and procedures have been in place since mid-March, prior to the lockdown.

Regulations include all staff undertaking a health screening before each shift, a process that includes temperature checks and answering health related questions.

If a staff member shows flu-like symptoms, they are required to have a COVID-19 test. Even if the result is negative, they must stay home for at least two weeks, and longer if symptoms persist.

All staff wear PPE, and change into their uniforms at work so all gear remains on-site. There are additional PPE stores at the village.

Any team member living with people who work in high-risk jobs have been supported to find alternative accommodation. Staff are receiving higher pay, free meals, and groceries to help at home.

Full infection control plans, which include pandemic plans, are in place for all residents in care.

Ryman have declined admission to any residents with COVID-19 from other aged care facilities.

Residents who return from hospital are placed into two weeks isolation, and tested for COVID-19.

All non-essential visits to the village are banned, and independent residents stay in their homes and exercise within the vicinity.
The Osun State Police Command has spoken on why the police is yet to sanction officers who were caught on camera assaulting a lady while enforcing coronavirus lockdown in Iwo.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how Tola Azeez was brutalised by police officers while reportedly trying to buy drugs at a pharmacy in Odo Ori Market in Iwo on Saturday.

The assault was caught on camera and circulated on social media.

The two police officers involved were later identified as Ikuesan Taiwo (AP No 251724) and Abass Ibrahim (Force number 509634).

This newspaper also reported how the action of the officers was condemned by the police authorities, the Osun State Government and the Oluwo of Iwo.

Pains:

On Wednesday, the victim spoke to journalists for the first time after her assault.

She said: I am still under medical and psychological examination as the damage done to me physically, emotionally and psychologically are unquantifiable. I only pray to overcome the pains and the trauma in no distant time.

She, however, expressed her displeasure over the position of Osun State police spokesperson on the matter.

While it is commendable that the Osun State Commissioner of Police did set up an investigation panel to look into the matter and conducted an orderly room trial which I witnessed and provided oral evidence where a judgement was supposedly pronounced, they were pronounced dismissed.

It is quite heartbreaking to listen to the PRO of the police force in the state on one of the radio stations where she said that investigation is yet to be concluded and decision not yet taken.

Police speak

When contacted, the spokesperson of the Osun police command, Opalola Yemisi, explained to PREMIUM TIMES that the two officers are yet to be dismissed.

The woman was present when they brought the officers to the commissioner. He was furious and said the officers stand dismissed, he explained.

Ordinarily, that is not the way it works, a paper must back that.

An investigative team was set up, when they are done with their job, they will submit their recommendation to the commissioner. It is when it gets to our command that I can know the details.

For now, we are yet to get the recommendation of the committee and the command will later send to necessary authorities that will carry out the appropriate sanction on the officers.
There is no evidence that children have infected teachers with COVID-19 in NSW schools, and half of all confirmed cases at the schools studied were teachers themselves.

These are the findings of a thorough investigation the Berejiklian government hopes will reassure educators and parents that it is safe for students to return to the classroom.

"Schools are among the safest places that we have," lead investigator Professor Kristine Macartney, of the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance, told The Sun-Herald.

The report by the National Centre for Immunisation Research declared schools "among the safest places that we have". Credit:Shutterstock

NSW has recorded 2994 confirmed coronavirus cases. Twelve new cases were reported on Saturday, as well as the death of another resident from Anglicare Newmarch House, an 83-year-old man.
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The tweet came two days after Mr. Trump suggested at a briefing that an injection inside the human body with a disinfectant could help combat the coronavirus. Despite a lack of scientific evidence, Mr. Trump has long trumpeted various ideas against the virus, like sunlight and warmer temperatures as well as an array of drugs, including the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine, which he has promoted as a what have you got to lose remedy. Medical experts have since stepped up warnings about the drugs possibly dangerous side effects.

Since Thursdays assertion, Mr. Trump has been angrily tweeting about the unfairness of his coverage after a damaging news cycle his aides have privately admitted is self-inflicted. Officials have also said that they were skeptical that Mr. Trump would fully retreat from a scenario in which he took questions from reporters, even though he said the two-hour format of the briefings was not worth the effort.

Officials inside the White House are also discussing replacing Alex M. Azar II, the health and human services secretary, after a string of news reports about the administrations slow response to the coronavirus and a separate controversy about an ousted department official, two senior administration officials said.

Mark Meadows, President Trumps new chief of staff, is among the aides considering removing Mr. Azar once the height of the coronavirus crisis abates, the officials said. The discussions were first reported by Politico and The Wall Street Journal.

On Saturday, two senior administration officials said that no imminent changes were planned. Among the possible replacements are Seema Verma, the administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and Dr. Deborah Birx, a key member of the coronavirus task force.
Last month, Ann Coulter wrote a piece that was laser focused on how to shape public policy in response to the coronavirus. And while her style was provocative (it was Ann, after all), her point was spot on. After noting data that showed the virus was particularly deadly for the very old, she ended the article with this:

We ought to surround old folks homes with the National Guard and call it a day. It would probably save more lives and wouldnt destroy the economy.

We knew early on that the elderly were the most vulnerable. And yet we failed to protect them. So here we are at the end of April and the deadliest outbreaks of the virus have been in nursing homes and elder care facilities. (And most, if not all, have been in cities and states run by Democrats.)

But this need not have been so.

Front Page Magazine published an article by Daniel Greenfield that provides a chilling overview of how we failed to protect the most vulnerable.

First, here are stats for seven states that show the statewide percentage of deaths from the coronavirus attributed to nursing homes:

 New Jersey: 40%.

 Connecticut: 40%.

 Virginia: The majority of deaths have been in nursing homes, with 25% of the residents in one nursing home succumbing to the virus.

 Michigan: Every nursing home in Detroit is infected and one-third of the deaths in Wayne County have been in nursing homes.

 Illinois: 25% in Cook County.

 California: Nearly 30% in Los Angeles County and 72% in Long Beach.

 New York: 25%.

There have been several nursing homes where a significant percentage of the total population died due to the virus. At one nursing home, dead bodies were found in a shed after an anonymous tip was called into the NYPD.

Meanwhile, most if not all of the governors of the states listed above forced hospitalized patients with the virus (or whose status with respect to the virus was not confirmed) to be discharged to nursing homes, creating a perfect storm for the infection to rage out of control in these facilities. These same governors also refused to release information to the public, and when they finally did, it was partial and only done under pressure.

There is reason to be suspicious of this secrecy. As Greenfield writes:

Even the partial data makes it all too clear that the severity of the death toll was not due to urban density, but poor oversight and response. If urban density were the issue, Manhattan would have some of the highest numbers. Instead it has among the lowest, while boroughs with sizable nursing homes have the highest numbers. [snip] Governor Cuomo's Department of Health had issued an order that, "no resident shall be denied re-admission or admission to the NH solely based on a confirmed or suspected diagnosis of COVID-19" and also prohibited requiring testing of returning patients. Sending hospitalized patients with coronavirus to the same mismanaged nursing homes was a death sentence for countless seniors in those facilities. As Betsy McCaughey, the former Republican lieutenant governor, has said, "One Covid-positive patient in a nursing home produces carnage.

And, once again, the CDC failed miserably:

Even though the first coronavirus outbreak in this country took place in a nursing home in Washington, and killed 43 people, the CDC failed to track the spread of the virus to nursing homes nationwide. Instead, the CDC has been relying on "informal outreach" to track the spread and has not updated its numbers since March. The CDC's estimate of 400 nursing homes is only about 10% of the national total. The Trump administration took an important step by ordering nursing homes to report coronavirus deaths to the CDC, and to the residents and their families. This move puts an end to the state stonewalling that covered up coronavirus cases and their own malfeasance.

Greenfield provides the following commentary on this shameful situation:

Securing nursing home facilities would cost a fraction of the money we have lost by shutting down the economy and passing massive bailouts. And as death tolls remain a major barrier to reopening the economy, saving lives in nursing homes will also save the economy. Its the right thing to do for our parents, grandparents, and for our country. [snip] blue state and local governments, where the pandemic death toll is concentrated, failed to do the most basic and decent thing because it wasnt in their political interest and didnt offer the same alure of power. [snip] Blue state governments lied, deliberately covering up the scale of nursing home deaths, while playing up the pandemic risks and the lockdown. Their decisions killed the weak and the elderly, devastated the economy, and transformed the entire relationship between the people and their governments. The appeal of imposing social distancing measures on everyone proved irresistible to blue governments even while they neglected to track virus cases in the places where they were most likely to emerge. [snip] As the numbers trickle in from recalcitrant blue states, the truth is finally coming out. That truth should carry its own consequences for the bureaucrats who let so many die while chanting hollow slogans. It should also transform our coronavirus policy from the federal level to state and local governments

Hear! Hear!

One governor, however, has implemented a more thoughtful approach that reflects the common sense reality addressed by Coulter and Greenfield.

Florida Governor, Rick de Santis, focused on the most vulnerable and it seems hes having good results.

De Santis brought in the National Guard to sanitize nursing homes, did wide scale testing in these facilities, and he made sure the appropriate masks were worn, among other measures. He defied predictions that Florida would fare worse than New York  and defied them by a mile while avoiding draconian measures.

So, looking back, it seems Ann Coulter was right. We should have focused on nursing homes and senior care facilities. Instead we took a sledgehammer to the entire nation rather than an expertly wielded scalpel. And in so doing, we created a wide scale, unthinkable disaster.

Photo credit: Pixabay
Austin Wall left work with severe pain and knew something was not right.

Wall, 42, a Caterpillar dealership parts coordinator in Irving, Texas, went to an urgent care clinic nearly a month ago and was quickly sent to the Medical City Hospital in Arlington -- his kidney stones were causing problems in his digestive system and his right kidney was functioning at a loss.

While his doctors were able to put a stent into his left kidney, they were unable to perform laser surgery to break up the large stone in his right one because of Texas Gov. Greg Abbotts March 22 executive order postponing all surgeries that were not immediately, medically necessary to correct a serious medical condition or to preserve the life of a patient.

Instead, the doctors sent Wall home with a catheter. He continued to work for several weeks before being placed on short-term disability because the stent and catheter prevented him from lifting more than 10 pounds. As Wall awaits surgery, his daily routine has been disrupted by the catheter and stent.

Austin and Jessica Wall (Family photo)

When he wants to take a shower, we have to put a shield over his back where that tube is coming out of his kidney, so that it doesn't get wet, Austins wife, Jessica Wall, said. We have to change the bandage every so often because from sleeping and sitting and just, you know, everyday moving, it causes the bandages to move, so were constantly having to change those bandages. He constantly has to drain the urine from the bag, and we have to flush the bag out.

She said that Wall also feels as if he constantly has to urinate, but has little success. I kind of laugh and tease and say, now he knows what it's like to be pregnant," she said.

Austin Wall is also a 17-year brain cancer survivor, which his wife said probably makes him a part of the immune-compromised category. He has had a number of health problems in recent years, including seizures. Jessica Wall said that a possible side effect of his seizure medicine is kidney stones.

Story continues

It's super frustrating, you know, knowing that this surgery is absolutely needed for him and because of where we are in the world right now with the coronavirus, everything is at a halt, Jessica Wall said. This surgery seems so simple to us, you know, but it's so needed for him. You can't just pick up the phone and say, Hey, we're ready to have this surgery. We have to wait.

As COVID-19 has spread across the country in recent months, hospitals have postponed elective surgeries, nonemergency procedures such as Wall's that are scheduled in advance. Cosmetic surgery, hernia repair and cancer operations are among the wide range of elective surgeries that come with varying degrees of complexity and urgency.

The American Hospital Association published a road map to resuming elective surgeries on April 17, alongside the American College of Surgeons, American Society of Anesthesiologists and the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses.

The road map details principles and considerations for health care professionals to take into account as they start integrating more elective procedures back into their schedules. Some of the principles include timing for reopening elective surgeries, COVID-19 testing within facilities, adequate Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) supplies, conservation policies for PPE and case prioritization and scheduling.

Across the board, hospital revenues in March were down 13 percent from the same month last year, according to an April financial report by Kaufman Hall, a health care consulting firm.

By late April, more than 30 governors had issued executive orders banning or postponing elective surgeries, while others have left the decision up to the individual hospitals. Governors from more than a dozen states have loosened restraints to allow some degree of elective treatments to start again in the coming weeks.

Resumption of elective surgeries is a part of President Donald Trumps Reopening America plan. Were encouraging states around the country to restart elective surgery wherever possible even on a county by county basis," Vice President Mike Pence said Friday, speaking at Trump's signing of a $484 billion coronavirus relief package.

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

As states gauge whether to allow elective surgeries, surgeons and hospitals face the difficult task of balancing patients' needs with safety and equipment requirements. Postponing elective surgeries has also allowed hospitals to conserve personal protective equipment (PPE) and hospital beds for care involving COVID-19 patients.

Coronavirus is highly infectious, and if there's a procedure that would bring people together, just like in a restaurant or an airplane, then avoiding it if it can be avoided is the best practice, Dr. David Hoyt, executive director of the American College of Surgeons, told NBC News. You have to balance that with patients that need surgery, but the urgency of it can be triaged, and that's what was done.

Some surgeons have also shared concerns about performing elective surgeries on asymptomatic COVID-19 patients, fearful that patient mortality and ICU rates can increase significantly for those with unknown infection at the time of surgery.

One more reason to not be doing elective surgeries right now - people with unknown Covid19 infection at the time of surgery had a 21% mortality rate, 44% ended up in the ICU. This is compared to 1-4% mortality for Covid19 without surgery. https://t.co/ozjwknCZ0k  Carolyn Hettrich MD MPH FAOA (@CarolynHettrich) April 10, 2020

Hospitals that resume elective surgeries need to be mindful of maintaining beds and equipment in case there are an uptick of sick patients, Hoyt said. I think people need to ramp up at some rates, not just do it all overnight.

Assessing urgency

Most hospitals have come up with systems to assess the urgency of elective surgeries for their patients.

We've continued to do urgent cases, Dr. Elizabeth Wick, a professor of surgery at University of California San Francisco, said. If they start to have symptoms, we've tried to keep a close eye on our backlog. All the cancer patients that weve postponed have been discussed in the tumor board with a multidisciplinary group.

Surgeons at the University of California San Francisco hospital -- in the same region as the country's first known COVID-19-related death, on Feb. 6 -- devised a triage plan in early March to determine the urgency of elective surgeries. Their plan includes establishing strong leadership and communication across departments, details on ensuring hospital capacity and the equipment needed as well as preparations for an unstable workforce environment. According to the study, the staff was able to reduce their operating room volume by 80 percent under this system.

The hospital in April also began implementing preoperative testing and screening for patients undergoing surgery.

We expect that the vast, vast, vast majority of our patients will continue to be asymptomatic, COVID-negative, even after we implement this, Wick said. So, its just an extra reassurance that you know it's safe to proceed with surgery.

Wick also said that there is a large backlog of patients in the hospital and that it was unclear when exactly patients with lower-risk procedures will have them. She said that process will involve lots of reassurance and explanation to patients in the coming months.

Some of those lower priority cases, patients with lower priority conditions, aren't wanting to come to the hospital, particularly with the visitor restrictions and other things in place, Wick said. I think it's going to take a lot of thought and working with the patients to sort of work through that backlog.

A systematic approach

The University of Chicago hospital published a scoring system this month to aid surgeons in making decisions about elective surgeries. The Medically Necessary Time-Sensitive (MeNTS) Prioritization system allows surgeons to assess elective surgeries systematically -- evaluating risks for both patients and personnel.

While these numbers are not meant to be strict cutoffs, as far as if it's above some number, then you can't do it and below it, you can, that sort of thing, it at least provides guidance, Dr. Vivek N. Prachand, professor of surgery and chief quality officer for surgery at University of Chicago, said.

Prachand said that this will provide some guidance and then the threshold of whether to do the surgery can be decided, not only the score, but the availability of the resources and personnel in the hospital itself, depending on where it's located, not only geographically but where it's located along the COVID curve.

Dollars and sense

Elective surgeries bring in a great deal of revenue for hospitals, and as the pandemic persists, hospitals have begun to see the financial impact of postponing them. A number of hospitals have laid off or furloughed staff, or cut pay to make up for the losses. The Henry Ford Health System in Detroit announced Wednesday it was furloughing approximately 2,800 employees. University Hospitals in Cleveland reduced hours and pay by 20 percent for approximately 4,100 staff members.

The Bureau of Labor and Statistics reported a 3.2 percent unemployment rate for education and health care professionals in March, up from 2.3 percent last year, a difference of 195,000 people.

Hospitals were recently allocated $100 billion in federal stimulus funds. A JP Morgan Analysis found that this amount would keep hospitals afloat for two months if hospital revenues were to drop by 50 percent.

Hospitals received $30 billion shortly after the announcement and were supposed to start receiving payments on a weekly rolling basis starting on Friday, April 24.

Case-by-case basis

Location is also a factor for reintroducing elective surgeries. This process will look different for hospitals around the country, based on a number of factors, including population size and the presence of Covid-19 cases in the community.

I think in a hospital that has slowed down elective surgery that does not have a lot of COVID patients, they're going to be able to ramp up more quickly, and they'll feel a little safer doing so on the short term, Hoyt said. But you know, some of them, depending on the locale, may have sent physicians off to help somewhere else. They're just going to have to look at what they have, what the capacity they can create based on what they have and then come up as quickly as possible.

Along with the road map back to elective surgeries, the American College of Surgeons released recommendations for local resumption of elective surgeries.

There is also a gray area around the long-term outcomes that patients will experience if they do not receive the elective surgeries. The majority of Prachands operations are for weight management, and he said that while they all seem to be elective on the surface, there is data that shows some health problems could be avoided if the surgery is completed.

In the longer term  two years, two and a half years after surgery  it does appear that the benefits of the surgery helps reduce the risk of dying prematurely, Prachand said. It certainly reduces the presence of diabetes and high blood pressure and these sorts of things.

Changes ahead

The way that this will affect hospitals in the long term is unclear, but there are several changes to note, including the use of telehealth, a digital resource that allows patients to connect with physicians for information and video chats.

Dr. Carolyn Hettrich, Chief of Shoulder Service at Brigham and Womens Hospital in Boston, said that 98 percent of her surgeries are elective, so most of her days are now spent having virtual appointments with her patients.

It's been dramatic across our department that most of our surgeons have seen dramatic reductions in the number of surgeries performed, Hettrich said.

Hettrich said that while there are positives and negatives about virtual appointments, she is able to still connect with her patients and provide them with knowledge and advice about their pain. The video aspect allows her to see her patients and do limited physical exams -- sometimes asking them to pick up household items, like a gallon of milk, to determine results for strength exams.

Patients seem to like it, Dr. Hettrich said. It allows people to stay in their homes, they stay safe and it's still a way to kind of interact with your patients.

Hoyt also said that he thinks telecommunication will be enhanced and used more after the pandemic. He also thinks that there will be heightened sensitivity to the potential for future outbreaks as well as better stockpiles of equipment, more contingency plans for bed availability and more regional sharing of resources.

I think there will be a lot of policies that will affect the health care system that will be governed by certainly the government, but also insurers and physicians, Hoyt said. So, I think a number of things, mostly good, will come out of this, but right now, we're still doing a lot of learning.

For Austin Wall, his faith in the Lord is helping him stay positive as he waits for his operation. He expects to continue waiting for his surgery even after restrictions in Texas are lifted. He and his wife pass the time by sitting in their front yard watching nonexistent cars pass by and catching some Vitamin D.

We can either keep life shut down and just worry and have fear and anxiety, or we can choose to trust that when things do open back up, that my husband will be taken care of, Jessica Wall said.
John Demers, Assistant Attorney General, National Security Division, Department of Justice, testifies at the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on China's Non-Traditional Espionage Against the United States: The Threat and Potential Policy Responses" in Washington on Dec. 12, 2018. (Jennifer Zeng/The Epoch Times)

China Targeting US Labs to Spy on Virus Research, US Assistant AG Says

U.S. hospitals and research labs are being targeted by Chinese cyber activity, as Beijing seeks to obtain knowledge about U.S. progress on developing a vaccine for the CCP virus.

The action was suggested by U.S. Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers, who gave an opening keynote speech at a virtual business conference hosted by Future in Review (FiRe) on April 23.

When asked after his speech whether the regime was targeting U.S. labs for research into the virus, Demers replied: Its certainly the logical conclusion of everything Ive said, referring to his comments on the regimes sweeping efforts to steal U.S. trade secrets and technology across an array of industries.

There is nothing more valuable today than biomedical research relating to vaccines or treatments for coronavirus, Demers said.

He added that it would be beyond absurd to think that China wouldnt attempt to obtain biomedical research relating to vaccines or treatment for coronavirus, since the medical information would be of great importance, not just from a commercial value.

Whatever countrys company or research lab develops that vaccine first and is able to produce it is going to have a significant geopolitical success story, Demers said.

Warning

Demers said that U.S. authorities are monitoring the hacking activity.

We are very attuned to increased cyber intrusions into medical centers, research centers, universitiesanybody that is doing research in this area.

The CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus, originated from central Chinas Wuhan city. The virus has since spread to more than 200 countries and territories, causing more than 49,800 deaths in the United States alone.

Demerss warning came just days after FBI Deputy Assistant Director Tonya Ugoretz sounded the alarm during a webinar hosted by the Aspen Institute on April 16though Ugoretz did not identify which specific countries were doing the hacking.

We certainly have seen reconnaissance activity, and some intrusions, into some of those institutions, especially those that have publicly identified themselves as working on COVID-related research, said Ugoretz.

Ugoretz added that while research institutes wanted to make public their ongoing research efforts, they also became a mark for other nations who may want to steal proprietary information that those institutions have.

Bill Evanina, director of the National Counterintelligence and Security Center, also alerted research labs to the potential threat.

Medical research organizations and those who work for them should be vigilant against threat actors seeking to steal intellectual property or other sensitive data related to Americas response to the COVID-19 pandemic, he told Reuters recently.

Chinas Theft

Demers also pointed to the growing number of trade secret and economic espionage cases involving Chinausually utilizing company insiders to steal intellectual property.

The Chinese regimes intelligence services have been recruiting company insiders, according to Demers. First, China identifies a specific technology that it would want to possesseither based on open-source information or other data it has already stolen. Then, it targets certain employees within companies that develop the technology, according to Demers.

An October 2018 federal indictment charged 10 Chinese individuals with trying to steal know-how for making turbofan engines: two officers at the Jiangsu Province bureau of Chinas Ministry of State Security (JSSD); five computer hackers; a malware developer operating at the direction of JSSD; and two Chinese employees at a French aerospace manufacturers office in Suzhou, a city in Jiangsu Province. JSSD is Chinas chief intelligence agency.

Demers explained that once Beijing finds a targetbe it a government official or company employeeit would develop a relationship with the person, such as meeting his financial needs, or using coercion to get what it needs.

Aside from stealing technology, China also engages in cyber theft of massive amounts of data.

All personal data is very useful to develop artificial intelligence tools and one of the areas inwhich they [China] are definitely trying to compete very strongly with U.S. companies, European companiesis the development of artificial intelligence. You need big data to own your algorithms, Demers said.

He also explained that service providers such as financial services companies and health insurance companies should be aware that their customers data might be of interest to [foreign] intelligence services. He pointed to the example of U.S. credit company Equifax.

On Feb. 10, the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) published an indictment of four Chinese military-backed hackers for their alleged roles in the 2017 cyberattack against Equifax.

The PLA [Chinas military] hackers obtained names, birth dates, and social security numbers for approximately 145 million American citizens, in addition to drivers license numbers for at least 10 million Americans stored in Equifaxs databases, the FBI said in a statement.

The U.S. government has had some success in stopping the theft, Demers said, as with a recent case involving an employee at Monsanto, a U.S. agrochemical and agricultural biotechnology company. The FBI stopped a longtime company employee from leaving for China at an airport in June 2017, who was carrying a laptop containing a copy of the companys proprietary algorithm used for an online farming software platform.

The U.S. Justice Department indicted the employee in November 2019 on several charges, including one count of conspiracy to commit economic espionage and three counts of economic espionage.
Beijing/Seoul: China has dispatched a team to North Korea including medical experts to advise on North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, according to three people familiar with the situation.

The trip by the Chinese doctors and officials comes amid conflicting reports about the health of the North Korean leader.

Reuters was unable to immediately determine what the trip by the Chinese team signaled in terms of Kim`s health.

A delegation led by a senior member of the Chinese Communist Party`s International Liaison Department left Beijing for North Korea on Thursday, two of the people said. The department is the main Chinese body dealing with neighbouring North Korea.

The sources declined to be identified given the sensitivity of the matter.

The Liaison Department could not be reached by Reuters for comment late on Friday. China`s foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment late on Friday.

Daily NK, a Seoul-based website, reported earlier this week that Kim was recovering after undergoing a cardiovascular procedure on April 12. It cited one unnamed source in North Korea.

South Korean government officials and a Chinese official with the Liaison Department challenged subsequent reports suggesting that Kim was in grave danger after surgery. South Korean officials said they had detected no signs of unusual activity in North Korea.

On Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump also downplayed earlier reports that Kim was gravely ill. "I think the report was incorrect," Trump told reporters, but he declined to say if he had been in touch with North Korean officials.

On Friday, a South Korean source told Reuters their intelligence was that Kim was alive and would likely make an appearance soon. The person said he did not have any comment on Kim`s current condition or any Chinese involvement.

An official familiar with U.S. intelligence said that Kim was known to have health problems but they had no reason to conclude he was seriously ill or unable eventually to reappear in public.

A US state department spokeswoman had no comment. US secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, when asked about Kim`s health on Fox News after Trump spoke said, "I dont have anything I can share with you tonight, but the American people should know we`re watching the situation very keenly."

North Korea is one of the world`s most isolated and secretive countries, and the health of its leaders is treated as a matter of state security. Reuters has not been able to independently confirm any details on Kim`s whereabouts or condition.

North Korea`s state media last reported on Kim`s whereabouts when he presided over a meeting on April 11. State media did not report that he was in attendance at an event to mark the birthday of his grandfather, Kim Il Sung, on April 15, an important anniversary in North Korea.

Kim, believed to be 36, has disappeared from coverage in North Korean state media before. In 2014, he vanished for more than a month and North Korean state TV later showed him walking with a limp. Speculation about his health has been fanned by his heavy smoking, apparent weight gain since taking power and family history of cardiovascular problems.

When Kim Jong Un`s father, Kim Jong Il, suffered a stroke in 2008, South Korean media reported at the time that Chinese doctors were involved in his treatment along with French physicians.

Last year, Chinese President Xi Jinping made the first state visit in 14 years by a Chinese leader to North Korea, an impoverished state that depends on Beijing for economic and diplomatic support.

China is North Korea`s chief ally and the economic lifeline for a country hard-hit by UN sanctions, and has a keen interest in the stability of the country with which it shares a long, porous border.

Kim is a third-generation hereditary leader who came to power after his father Kim Jong Il died in 2011 from a heart attack. He has visited China four times since 2018.

Trump held unprecedented summits with Kim in 2018 and 2019 as part of a bid to persuade him to give up North Koreas nuclear arsenal.
LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / April 25, 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 the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and how was the auto insurance industry affected,

Consumer Reports quotes traffic data analysts saying personal vehicle travel in the United States is down nearly 50 percent right now, compared with typical traffic volume. So, some insurance companies are offering rebates, some up to 15 percent, on their premiums. Besides that, companies provide flexible payment options, postpone policy cancellation, and allow drivers to skip one or two payments. Drivers should contact their insurance providers and ask about the existing plans, since each response varies on a case-by-case basis. However, these are the official measures taken by the country's top car insurance providers:

Allstate - The company said the average personal auto insurance customer will receive 15 percent back based on their monthly premiums in April and May. The money will automatically be deposited back on the bank or credit card used by the customers to pay premiums or applied as credits to the account.

Farmers Insurance - April auto insurance premiums are being cut by 25 percent. The reduction will be applied automatically on a customer's next bill or, if they are paid in full, a refund will be issued.

Geico - Geico is providing a 15 percent credit for auto and motorcycle policyholders at the time of their renewal from April 8 to Oct. 7. The credit will also apply to new policies purchased during this time. The company said it expects the credits to average about $150 per auto policy and $30 per motorcycle policy. Customers do not need to take any action to receive the credit, which will be applied when their policy renews.

The Hartford - A 15 percent payback will be given on two months' worth of premium for all customers with an active auto policy as of April 1.

Liberty Mutual - Personal auto insurance customers will receive a 15 percent refunds on two months of their auto premiums. The refunds will be made in the manner as the most recent customer payment or by check. Refunds will happen automatically in the coming weeks.

Progressive Insurance - Customers will receive a 20 percent credit for their April and May premiums. The credits will automatically be applied to their accounts in May and June.

Nationwide - Customers will receive a one-time premium refund of $50 per policy. Timing will vary by state.

State Farm - State Farm will give customers $2 billion in rebates for those who have auto insurance policies with the company from between March 20 to May 31. Credits will be automatically applied, with most arriving in June. Customers will receive an average of 25 percent of their premiums, depending on where they live.

USAA - Members with auto policies in effect as of March 31 will receive a 20 percent credit on two months of premiums.

Travelers - The company will refund 15% credit on April and May premiums to customers with personal auto policies in force any time between April 1 and May 31, 2020

Mercury - 15% savings for April and May 2020 All personal auto policyholders with an active policy are eligible No action needed and policyholders will receive money automatically.

Erie Insurance announces $200 million in personal and commercial auto rate cuts to provide financial relief to customers

MetLife Auto & Home is halting cancellations of auto policies due to nonpayment through July 1. Auto customers who are paid to date will receive a 15% credit for April and May based on their monthly premiums.

Hanover will return 15% of April and May auto premiums and will credit April in-force policies in May, and May in-force policies in June. Policyholders who have pre-paid premiums will receive credits in each of the same months.

Story continues

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About 1,000 people gathered in Berlin to protest restrictions caused by the coronavirus, defying social distancing rules.

Demonstrators have gathered in the Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz square in Berlin for several Saturdays.

The protests have drawn a variety of people, including some right-wing populists and conspiracy theorists.

agency dpa reported police repeatedly called on participants to leave and a few people were detained before the crowd dispersed.

Although Germany recently loosened its restrictions slightly by allowing small shops to reopen, rules still call for people to keep a 1.5-meters (5 feet) apart in public.

Authorities can allow gatherings of up to 20 people, although that permission wasn't granted for Saturday's protest.

The Volksbuehne theater distanced itself from the demonstration saying, we are not your backdrop.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
On Monday, state parks will again open their gates, though visitors will have to wear masks or face coverings and keep at least six feet away from other visitors who aren't members of their families.

Starting Wednesday, in a bow to doctors and hospitals, restrictions on elective procedures and surgeries will be loosened. He cited biopsies for cancer as one example.

Starting April 24, retailers who previously were considered nonessential may begin providing pickup service or home delivery for customers[.]

While Texas is one of the more aggressive states in its reopening schedule, one town has made the decision to outpace even Republican Gov. Greg Abbott's ambitious timeline. Colleyville, Texas has become the first city in the state to reopen several "non-essential" businesses and organizations, including churches, gyms and salons. The Los Angeles Times reported Thursday.The L.A. Times describes the response to Mayor Newton's proclamation as fraught withfrom county authorities, mayors from neighboring towns, and some residents from the small town of 27,000 people,- while a about half of the residents who responded to a Facebook poll supported reopening.Southlake Mayor Karen Hill said businesses from her city are "panicking."said Hill, as reported by the L.A. Times.A local emergency room doctor also sounded the alarm, sayingOthers, including Tarrant County's executive officer Glen Whitley, are questioning if Newtown's order is even legal. But the Texas attorney general's office shot down that concern, saying Colleyville could reopen at its own pace.the L.A. Times notes.said Newton.the L.A. Times reports.Newton says he issued the proclamation after city leaders examined the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's models and found that the area had reached its peak infections and only half of the local hospital beds were occupied. The city is following the CDC's recommendation, he said.the L.A. Times reports.As reported by the Dallas Morning News , Gov. Abbott announced last week the formation of a "Strike Force to Open Texas," made up of "a team of nationally recognized medical experts as well as private and public leaders," and released dates in which parks and some businesses and organizations would be allowed to reopen in the state:Abbott said in a statement Friday. The gradual reopening, he stressed, will be
Iowas livestock producers and agricultural workers are the backbone of our protein supply chain. Pork chops, steaks, ground beef, eggs, bacon, dairy products and other staples are on grocery shelves because of their tireless efforts. While their work is essential, especially in these uncertain times, they are facing plummeting market prices and soaring production costs.

The economic hit is clear looking at futures prices and impact studies. Cattle futures are down 29 percent since the first reported coronavirus case in China. Milk prices are down nearly 30 percent and hog futures have plummeted 39 percent. Graded egg prices are also down as much as 40 percent. A recent Iowa State University study predicts that coronavirus is going to cause massive losses to our entire ag economy. For livestock, they estimate losses of $658 million for fed cattle, $34 million for calves and feeder cattle, and $2.1 billion for hogs.

Essential agriculture workers extend beyond just those on the farm. We must remember and support those working in our plants that process our animals into the food we find in our grocery stores. Their hard work often goes unnoticed, but these workers are serving on the front lines to help keep people fed with quality, high-protein food.

Its especially important right now that all Iowans and every level of government do whats possible to support these hard-working producers and all agriculture workers. Theyre working overtime to fight food insecurity and supply chain disruptions.

Recently, President Trump and USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue rolled out an initial plan to provide direct relief to producers impacted by these precipitous declines and to purchase about $3 billion in agricultural commodities with USDA funds. This is a good start, but more needs to be done to help producers survive until better times.

Going into the summer months, as additional relief measures are discussed, I encourage Congress to do more to show livestock producers that they understand the severity of this situation. Senator Joni Ernst and Senator Chuck Grassley have been fighting for more agricultural relief, and there has never been a more important time to have these two powerful voices at the table. Their advocacy has been key to securing billions in relief through the CARES Act, in addition to other funding to support our grain and biofuels producers.

As Iowas secretary of agriculture, Ill keep fighting alongside our livestock producers and our agriculture workers for necessary support. Until federal assistance is delivered to help our farmers stay afloat, well be working at the state level to ease logistics and regulatory hurdles, while still putting food and personnel safety first. Iowa farmers will rise to meet this challenge if we give them the right resources.

Mike Naig is Iowa secretary of agriculture.
This slideshow illustrates a historical timeline of womens contributions to space. It includes NASA astronauts, Russian cosmonauts, and many other important scientists and researchers such as Sally Ride, Mae Jemison, Ellen Ochoa, and others.

This article was first published on Stacker
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.
No public gatherings will be allowed in Uttar Pradesh till June 30, chief minister Yogi Adityanaths office quoted him as saying on Friday. The countrywide lockdown to stem the spread of coronavirus disease is in place till May 3.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be holding another meeting with chief minsters on Monday. The issue of lockdown will be likely discussed.

The death toll due to Covid-19 in the state rose to 25 on Saturday morning.

The chief minister has directed officers that no public gathering be allowed till June 30. Further decision will be taken depending on the situation, tweeted the office of CM Yogi Adityanath.

The CMs office also directed people to perform prayers at home as the holy month of Ramzan begins.

The month of Ramzan has started. In view of the corona infection, all the religious leaders have appealed to stay at home and offer namaz. It should be ensured that there is no program anywhere as it is likely to spread corona infection, said the CMs office.

Yogi Adityanaths office also quoted the CM as saying that most number of positive cases have been traced to Tablighi Jamat. He said that their members should be identified, tested and quarantined. The CM said cases were low in districts that implemented the lockdown properly.

On Wednesday, Yogi Adityanath said the state government was working on a coordinated joint strategy to control coronavirus under guidance of PM Modi.

The chief minister laid emphasis on social distancing and said besides strengthening medical and health system, the state government was strictly enforcing the lockdown and relief work was being carried out to help the poor. He said industrial activities have been started in districts not affected by coronavirus.

Yesterday, nationwide cases of confirmed coronavirus infections rose by over 1,750  the maximum for a day  even as the government said the outbreak is under control and the tally could have reached one lakh by now without a nationwide lockdown.
NEIP CEO Lawyer John Kumah

25.04.2020 LISTEN

The Member of Parliament (MP) for the Ejisu Constituency, Kwabena Owusu Aduomi has been exposed for plotting to defame the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Entrepreneurial and Innovation Programme (NEIP), Lawyer John Kumah.

According to the aide to the NEIP boss Dominic Danquah, the MP has been hiding behind Nana Osei Bonsu who serves as his aide and messenger for his campaign to engage in several machinations just to discredit Lawyer John Kumah.

This follows planned publications in the last couple of days citing that Dominic Danquah had been arrested.

In a press release, the aide to the NEIP CEO says he was never arrested as he accuses the Ejisu MP and Nana Osei Bonsu for concocting the false news for defamation sake.

Dominic Danquah insists this is all part of a series of schemes from Hon. Kwabena Owusu Aduomi to ill-repute Lawyer John Kumah ahead of the primaries of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) where the two are expected to go head to head.

More to the story in the press release from the aide to the NEIP CEO below:

RE - NPP ACTIVIST ARRESTED FOR THREATENING STUDENT

My attention has been drawn to a publication on several media platforms which seeks to throw dust into the eyes of the general public. There's no truth in those publications as they seek to put across.

This is the handiwork of the Member of Parliament for the Ejisu Constituency Hon. Kwabena Owusu Aduomi through his boy Nana Osei Bonsu who serves as his aide and massenger for his campaign. Nana Osei Bonsu was arrested on the 10th of April, 2020 by the Divisional Police Headquarters, Ejisu and arraigned before the Juaben Circuit Court on the 20th of April for forging the letterhead of NEIP as well as the signature of it's CEO in the person of Lawyer John Kumah.

As if the forgery wasn't enough, Hon. Kwabena Owusu Aduomi through his boy Nana Osei Bonsu sold Lawyer John Kumah and the NPP party to Kelvin Taylor who is a known NDC sympathizer and a political mercenary, but unfortunately for them, it couldn't stand the test of time.

As a way of revenging for his arrest, Nana Osei Bonsu through his father Mr. Osei Bonsu, who is a senior staff at the Ghana News Agency decided to fabricate stories about me just to defame me and get to my boss on the GNA platform.

The MP who doubles as the 2nd deputy Minister of road and highways, Hon. Kwabena Owusu Aduomi is behind all these Fabrications just because he's afraid of the contest between himself, my boss (Lawyer John Kumah) and Abena Pokuaa a. k. a Abena Pokuaa.

I would therefore urge the general public and all loved ones to disregard any publication that seeks to spread the news of my arrest and detention at the KNUST police station.

Attached to this is a publication on the 20th April, 2020.

SIGNED:

DOMINIC DANQUAH

(Aide to lawyer John Kumah)

Nana Osei Bonus Granted Bail over Forged NEIP Letterhead and fake NEIP Beneficiary List

The Juaben Circuit Court on Monday, April 20, 2020 presided over a case of forgery against Nana Osei Bonsu. Nana is in court for his involvement in creating and distributing a document purported to be from the Office of the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Plan.

Nana Osei Bonsu has been charged with an offence of publication of false news . The case was presided over by His Lordship Assibey Yusif.

A bail of GHC 10,000 with a surety of permanent residence was granted to Nana Osei Bonsu after he pleaded not guilty to the charges labelled against him by the state prosecutor.

The case was adjourned to Tuesday, 19th of May 2020 at 9am.

Background

On 9th April 202, Nana Osei Bonsu who is the campaign aide to the Member of Parliament in the Ejisu Constituency, Hon Kwabena Owusu-Aduomi, created and circulated a fake list of 2018 beneficiaries of the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Plan. The list was placed on a fake letterhead of NEIP and had the forged signature of the NEIP CEO, Lawyer John Kumah.

A complaint was therefore filed by the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Plan at the Police station due to the criminality of the matter and a subsequent arrest of Nana Osei Bonsu was made by the police. However, the Member of Parliament within 24 hours of the arrest requested that Nana be granted bail and he stood in surety for the gentleman. It was then that it came to light that the acts by Nana Osei Bonsu is being done at the berserk of the Member of Parliament for Ejisu and is part of a grand strategy targeted at destroying the image of the CEO of the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Plan, Lawyer John Kumah.

The same document which has landed Nana Osei in the grips of the Ghana Police was also given to social media commentator, Ekow Taylor who has proceeded to use the document as basis to launch series of smear campaign mixed with lies, aimed at destroying the image of Lawyer John Kumah and weakening his popularity ahead of the NPP primaries which has been postponed.
After 89 wins in 2018 didnt sniff the postseason, the Mariners willfully took a step back in 2019. A fifth-place finish and 94 losses later, the Mariners have another development year on the horizon when/if the 2020 season gets underway. Even so, General Manager Jerry Dipoto isnt one to sit quietly on the sidelines, and he found ways to keep himself busy this winter.

Guaranteed Contracts

Trades and Claims

Extensions

Signed LHP Marco Gonzalez to four-year, $30MM extension (from 2021-2024), $5MM in 2021, $5.5MM in 2022, $6.5MM in 2023, $12MM in 2024, plus $1MM signing bonus and $15MM team option for 2025

to four-year, $30MM extension (from 2021-2024), $5MM in 2021, $5.5MM in 2022, $6.5MM in 2023, $12MM in 2024, plus $1MM signing bonus and $15MM team option for 2025 Signed 1B Evan White to six-year, $24MM ($1.3MM in 2020 and 2021, $1.4MM in 2022, $3MM in 2023, $7MM in 2024, $8MM in 2025, $10MM team option in 2026 plus two more club options in 2027 and 2028 for a combined $21.5MM).

Notable Minor League Signings

Notable Losses

First and foremost, lets pour one out for King Felix. Now 34-years-old, Felix Hernandez joined the Braves as a non-roster invitee this spring, officially ending his 15-year tenure with the Mariners. Granted, we havent seen vintage King Felix sincemaybe 2015? Regardless: 15 years, 418 starts, 6 All-Star appearances, a Cy Young award, 169 wins, 8 200-inning seasons, 25 complete games, 11 shutouts, 1 relief appearance, and tragically, zero postseason appearances. The Mariners fielded some competitive rosters over the years (85-89 wins five times from 2005 to 2019), but whenever the Mariners end their playoff drought, theyll do so without King Felix. Still, he goes down as a Seattle great: a career 3.42 ERA/3.52 FIP, good for 50.3 bWAR/54 fWAR.

Beyond Felix, the Mariners didnt lose anyone of terrible consequence this winter. Healy, Beckham, Milone, Tuivailala and Santana had their moments, while Vizcaino, Siri, and Anderson never appeared in a regular season game for Seattle. None should be missed long-term as the Mariners continue to set their sights on 2021 and beyond.

Meanwhile, they brought back a familiar face in Taijuan Walker. If healthy, Walker has a good chance of making the rotation. For $2MM (plus incentives), its a safe gamble for the Ms, and at 27-years-old, theres still some upside if he can return to form. The Ms ought to have enough leash to give him that opportunity.

Elsewhere in the rotation, the Gonzalez extension keeps the former Cardinal at the front of the rotation for the next four seasons (maybe five) at a good rate. The 28-year-old is coming off solid back-to-back 3+ fWAR seasons, eclipsing the 200-inning mark while going 16-13 with a 3.99 ERA/4.15 FIP in 2019. Hes not the type to front a rotation, but hes a solid arm who should continue to be an asset throughout the length of his new extension.

The rest of the rotation  and most of the roster  is a series of auditions. The Ms have a lot of interesting young players in the clubhouse, and before Trader Jerry gets set to make another push for the postseason, hes got to sort the real McCoys from the small-sample hucksters.

In the rotation, there are two types of tryout candidates: prospects and retreads. Walker has the familiarity with the Seattle base, but Kendall Graveman may also get a chance to earn a rotation spot after spending last season rehabbing with the Cubs. Graveman knows the division well having put up a little more than two full seasons worth of solid back-end rotation work for the As from 2015 to 2018.

In the prospects camp, Justus Sheffield is facing a make-or-break campaign after seven so-so starts with the big league club last year. Justin Dunn also got a taste last year, and though the former Mets farmhand may not start the year in the majors, he should be a prime understudy after putting together a solid season in Double-A.

Waiver claim Nick Margevicius falls somewhere between the two camps. He struggled in the bigs last year with the Padres, posting a 6.79 ERA/5.64 FIP, but he made the jump from Double-A, and hes still just 23-years-old. His typically pristine control slipped just enough to hurt upon reaching the big leagues, while his home-run-to-fly-ball ratio skyrocketed. He wasnt exactly pitching in a bandbox in San Diego, but if he can limit the long ball and get his walks-per-nine back under 2 where it lived for most of his minor league career, the Mariners might have another lefty for the rotation.

Along with Yusei Kikuchi, thats at least seven semi-interesting arms to look at, which might be more than enough in a short season (though theres obviously a ton of uncertainty there). The other notable additions this winter were in the bullpen, where new Yoshihisa Hirano, Carl Edwards Jr., Nestor Cortes Jr. and Rule 5 pick Yohan Ramirez all have a chance to make the Opening Day roster.

Hirano struggles somewhat for the Diamondbacks in his second season stateside, but he also bumped his strikeout rate from 8.0 K/9 to 10.4 K/9  with a lesser jump in walk rate (3.1 BB/9 to 3.7 BB/9). He could end up being a big piece of the bullpen. CJ Edwards, meanwhile, was one of the more inexplicable flameouts in 2019: 8.47 ERA/5.74 FIP across 22 appearances for the Cubs and Padres. Considering the 3+ seasons with a 3.06 ERA/3.12 FIP that Edwards put together for the Cubs from 2015 to 2018, and he makes for an intriguing flyer who is still just 28-years-old.

On the offensive end, Dipoto made two big moves. The first was trading starting catcher Omar Narvaez to the Brewers for a Competitive Round Draft Pick and 66 right-hander Adam Hill. Narvaez had a good season last year (.278/.353/.460 with 22 home runs, 199 wRC+), but his other half Tom Murphy looked good too (just ask MLBTRs own Anthony Franco). Hill has a big arm, but has to get his control under wraps. He was the Brewers #24 prospect per MLB.com at the time of the deal. The Brewers had him for just half a season after he joined the organization from the Mets in January as part of the Keon Broxton deal.

Dipoto took the opportunity to add youth, so theyll turn over the backstop duties to Murphy and Aaron Nolas big brother Austin. Murphy posted good numbers on both sides of the ball, and hell get the starting nod, but Nola figures to get plenty of playing time as well. Nola is an infield convert who plans to make catching his full-time gig in 2020. If he can stick it defensively, he seems to have enough bat for the position (.269/.342/.454 in 267 plate appearances last year). Assuming good health, the Murphy/Nola combo ought to be sufficient in 2020 while Cal Raleigh continues to work his way towards the bigs.

Dipotos other significant decision was giving first baseman Evan White a six-year, $24MM deal after he played the 2019 season for the Arkansas Travelers in Double-A. White, 24 on Sunday, certainly looks worth the money if he continues to perform as he did for the Travelers. White hit .293/.350/.488 with 18 home runs across 400 plate appearances in 2019. Hes the Mariners 4th-ranked prospect per Fangraphs, and he profiles as a complete player with plus power, speed, and defense that should help him claim (and keep) first base for the next half decade.

Granted, its risky to hand $24MM to a kid whos totaled 4 games above Double-A, but Dipoto secured significant upside with this deal, which includes three option years for an additional $31.5MM. If White turns into the player Dipoto suspects, theyll have him for the next 9 seasons at an AAV of $6.17MM. Also, they can now start White on the major league roster without manipulating his service clock (if they deem him ready). First base certainly isnt thought of as a core position these days, but core players routinely make their homes there (Freddie Freeman, Anthony Rizzo, Paul Goldschmidt, etc.), and while White has a lot to prove before qualifying to break bread with that trio, the Mariner brass saw enough to write his name on the lineup card in pen.

If there was a surprise this winter from Trader Jerry, its that he didnt find a way to move more of his remaining veterans. Kyle Seager and Dee Gordon would figure to be the first to move in 2020 if they can establish any value. Unfortunately, Gordon doesnt have any at present (nor much of a path to establishing some), and Seagers price tag all but nullifies any value he might have accrued during a bounce-back .239/.321/.468, 110 wRC+ 2019 season. The eldest Seager bounced around the trade papers this winter in regards to hot corner openings in the NL East, but hes owed $19.5MM in 2020, $18.5MM in 2021, and if he were dealt, a $15MM club option for 2022 becomes a player option. The option clause makes Seager difficult to deal, and the Mariners like his makeup, so it seems as likely as anything that hell play out the remainder of his deal in T-Mobile Park.

Other veterans like Mallex Smith and Daniel Vogelbach are young enough to be a part of the next Seattle contender, but more than that, they dont carry much trade value at present. Vogelbach, 27, finished last season with 30 home runs and a palatable 111 wRC+. But hes not a fielder, and hes not a runner, and even though hes not even arb eligible until 2022, theres not a lot of need for his skill set around the league. Smith, 27 in May, has shown promise at times in his career, but as MLBTRs own Connor Byrne wrote about in a recent post entitled Seattles Struggling Center Fielderwell, the title pretty much tells the tale (and if not, Connor can take you the rest of the way).

Mitch Haniger is the guy toeing the line here, as the Mariners have long-lauded his character and the total package he brings to the table, but as a 29-year-old corner outfielder, its fair to wonder if his contributions would better serve a contender. A slew of injuries has kept that question on the back-burner, however, as theres no timetable for his return after undergoing a pair of offseason surgeries.

Finding core players to play alongside White will be priority number one for Scott Servais and company whenever play resumes. Julio Rodriguez and Jarred Kelenic are two big-time prospects atop the Ms vision board, but theyre both probably a year or maybe more away. In the meantime, Servais and Dipoto will keep a daily eye on a whole host of young position players who may or may not become crucial parts of their future. Among those looking to secure their long-term place: Shed Long, Jake Fraley, J.P. Crawford, Kyle Lewis, Braden Bishop, and to a lesser extend, guys like Tim Lopes and Donovan Walton. Some vets were brought in to compete  CarGo, Cody Anderson, Wei-Yin Chen, among others  but its looking increasingly likely that the Mariners will ride the youth wave in 2020.

2020 Outlook

If a couple from the Long/Fraley/Crawford/Lewis bucket can establish themselves  along with Sheffield and/or Dunn in the rotation  then the Mariners will count 2020 as a success. They could even set themselves up as a real team of interest heading into 2021. Conditions for development arent ideal, but the biggest question facing the Ms might be how much they can learn about their young players in a potentially shortened season. Speculation on that front will have to wait until we know more. For now, well have to settle for grading the Mariners winter work.

How would you grade the Mariners offseason moves? (Link for app users.)
(Bloomberg Opinion) -- My son Nick lives in New Zealand, which has done a remarkable job fighting the coronavirus. As of Friday, the nation of 4.8 million people had 1,456 confirmed cases and only 17 deaths. Prime Minister Jacinda Arderns government is now talking about not just containing the virus but eliminating it.

It helps that New Zealand is an island nation that can seal itself off from the rest of the world. It also helps that it has a centralized national health system. But as Nick explained to me the other day, Ardern has also imposed a lockdown unlike anything in the U.S.

New Zealanders are only allowed to drive locally and for essential activities. They are encouraged to restrict outdoor exercise to an hour a day. At the pharmacy, only one customer is allowed in at a time, and clerks retrieve the goods from the shelf and put it in a bag, so customers never touch anything until they return home. The wait to get in the grocery store is usually around an hour where Nick lives, and workers must wear masks and gloves.

Heres what truly caught my attention. When I asked Nick how often he ordered take-out food, he said never. Every restaurant is closed. So is every shop aside from grocery stores, drugstores and some urgent services. There are few deliveries. E-commerce has largely been halted except for essentials. Food-processing companies still operate, but virtually every other form of blue-collar work is shut down. (Citizens are surviving financially with emergency funds from the government.)

To put it another way, essential workers in New Zealand are truly essential. Although there are Covid-19 clusters in New Zealand  a church; a rest home; a wedding party  workplaces have largely been virus-free. The country has been successful enough in its efforts that it is relaxing some of its restrictions on Monday.

Compare that with the U.S. At a Smithfield pork plant in South Dakota, more than 700 workers have been infected. Dozens of other U.S. meat-packing plants also have high rates of infection, according to an investigation by USA Today. The Boeing Co., which shut down for a month, is calling back 27,000 workers to its Puget Sound facility in Washington  even though the states stay-at-home order will remain in place for at least two more weeks. As of early April, 135 Boeing workers had tested positive for the virus.

Story continues

General Dynamics owns the Bath Iron Works, a Naval shipbuilder in Maine. In early April, the union asked the company to shut it down after a worker tested positive for Covid-19. The company says it cant do so because the U.S. Navy is insisting that it stay open.

Indeed, according to Defense One, a website that covers the defense industry, the Pentagon has been so insistent that military contractors stay open that executives are worried that the government is forcing them to choose between sending employees to factories or defaulting on contracts. Theyve largely decided to send employees to factories: Bloomberg News reports that only 86 of the 10,509 defense industry sites have closed because of the virus.

Meanwhile, FedEx Corp. and United Parcel Service Inc. continue to deliver packages as if nothing were amiss, even though in Houston alone at least 25 package workers have come down with the virus  three each from the two delivery companies, as well as 19 people who work for Amazon.com Inc. (The three companies told a Houston Chronicle reporter that they were taking steps to protect workers.)

Ah, yes, Amazon, the company so many are relying on to get products they cant get with so many stores closed. At Amazon headquarters in Seattle, the white-collar employees are working from home. But those hundreds of thousands of blue-collar employees working in the companys enormous warehouses are still going to work every day. Amazon isnt saying how many of its workers have come down with the virus, but reports surfaced in late March that at least 10 warehouses had coronavirus victims.

The pandemic has led to some sporadic protests from Amazon workers who contend that the company is forcing them to work in unsafe conditions. Amazon, for its part, insists that it is going above and beyond to protect its blue-collar work force. In response to an article in Tech Crunch, the company said that masks, temperature checks, hand sanitizer, increased time off, increased pay, and more are standard across our network because we care deeply about the health and safety of our employees.

Is Amazon shipping goods that are essential? Of course. You can get toilet paper and paper towels from Amazon (though the primo brands appear to be out of stock). But its also still selling everything else, much of which is not essential at all.

Weve all learned that the virus spreads between people who are in close proximity. No matter how much Amazon says it is protecting its workers, they are inevitably going to come into close contact with one another at least some of the time. And why? Because the company hopes to use the crisis to further solidify its dominance of online shopping? That hardly seems like a good enough reason.

There are two issues here, it seems to me, one practical and one moral. The practical issue is that warehouses and factories full of workers are coronavirus spreaders. That should seem pretty obvious by now. If the Bath Iron Works stopped building ships for three or four months, would that truly harm the national defense? If meat processors used fewer workers standing further apart, it would likely mean a short-term meat shortage. But it might also mean flattening the curve more quickly.

And if Amazon decided that it would ship only truly essential goods, that might not further its growth strategy, but it might prevent some workers from getting Covid-19. The U.S. has categorized as essential a ridiculous number of businesses. Yes, we can get whatever we want online, virus or not. But at what cost?

The moral issue is this: We take it for granted that blue-collar workers will risk infection from a deadly virus to provide the society with the things it wants  whether its a ship or a pair of sneakers bought online. Yet the white-collar work force is largely avoiding that same risk by quarantining themselves at home.

It pricks the conscience  or at least it should. We talk about the heroism of doctors and nurses, of grocery clerks and bus drivers. And they are heroes. They are also the truly essential.

Thousands of other workers are putting themselves on the line for no good reason other than their bosses are demanding it. Following New Zealands lead would mean white-collar types would have to make some small sacrifices. But if we return to what essential truly means, we may also save lives.

(Corrects details of New Zealands lockdown in the third and fourth paragraphs for a column originally published on April 24. Updates the fifth paragraph with the easing of some restrictions.)

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Joe Nocera is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering business. He has written business columns for Esquire, GQ and the New York Times, and is the former editorial director of Fortune. His latest project is the Bloomberg-Wondery podcast "The Shrink Next Door."

For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com/opinion

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SPRINGFIELD  Richie Valentini may be on the other side of a federal prison sentence for extortion, but he is nonetheless challenging his 2017 conviction to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Valentini, 55, of East Longmeadow, was one of four Greater Springfield organized crime associates convicted of extortion in connection with terrorizing a city towing company owner into kicking up thousands of dollars to the mob in 2013.

Valentini was sentenced to 20 months in prison after a jury convicted him three years ago. Valentini served his time and was released in November, according to U.S. Bureau of Prisons records. But an appellate lawyer from Houston, Seth Kretzer, continues to fight to overturn the conviction.

Kretzer filed a petition to the U.S. Supreme Court earlier this month. The central question is whether Valentinis conviction for extortion was valid, given that he allegedly derived no money for his role in the shakedown of C.J.'s Towing Unlimited owner Craig J. Morel.

A group of gangsters led by Ralph Santaniello approached Morel multiple times in 2013, demanding money as the new regime of the Springfield Crew of the New York-based Genovese crime family.

The crew learned Morel had paid former boss Adolfo Big Al Bruno tribute before Brunos murder in 2003. Morel testified at Valentinis trial he believed he was paying off city officials to keep a lucrative municipal contract, but later learned the mob had duped him into paying them instead.

Morel received unexpected relief from $50,000 annual tribute payments when Bruno was gunned down by mafia rivals 17 years ago. Santaniello came calling a decade later.

Over 16 meetings Morel recorded for the state police and FBI, Valentini, a hulking figure, featured in just one, testimony showed.

The recordings showed Valentini, a longtime associate of the Springfield Crew, nodding at one meeting on Morels land in Hampden, joking that theyd bring the businessman high-end Cristal champagne if he was cooperative. Santaniello was heavier-handed, threatening to kill Morel and bury him on his own land if he didnt pay up. Morel eventually settled their demands using $20,000 in cash provided by the state police.

Valentinis trial lawyer, Jared Olanoff, argued to the jury his client never received a dime of that money. But the single encounter was enough for the panel to convict in just a few hours.

The Supreme Court petition echoed Olanoffs argument about Valentinis seemingly peripheral involvement in the scheme.

Across this expanse of recordings, a retired postal worker named Richard Valentini was along for a ride with his friends just once, on October 4, 2013. At no other time did Valentini interact with Morel, the petition reads.

Valentini and his co-defendants were charged under the Hobbs Act, a statute passed by Congress in 1946 to combat racketeering in labor disputes, which frequently involved the mob. It was extended to armed robberies and other crimes involving economic and physical threats to businesses.

The high court will conference on the matter on May 15, according to its docket.
<! Governor Sanwo-Olu >

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Friday disclosed that ten more Coronavirus patients have been discharged by the state.

This brings to 119, the total number of Coronavirus patients so far discharged by the State since the pandemic started.

However, Coronavirus patients discharged on Friday includes three females and seven males.

Among those discharged are three foreigners: two Indians and one Filipino.

Governor Sanwo-Olu who broke the news on Twitter said: Even with the number of cases rising, we are happy to celebrate our success stories because they show that a positive #COVID19 case isnt necessarily a case of doom and gloom.

Today, 10 patients; 3 females & 7 males including 3 foreigners have been discharged from our facilities.

We are encouraged by these discharged cases and the support we have received from the citizens of the state in the battle against #COVID19 but I urge us all not to relent because it is imperative that we win.

Remember to practice great personal hygiene and join our #MaskUpLagos campaign by using a facemask whenever you are in public.

Social distancing is still very key in stopping the spread and we must #StayHomeStaySafe to #SaveLives

Together, we will beat #COVID19.

Earlier this week, Akin Abayomi, commissioner for health, had said the state would embark on active case search since there was now evidence of community-based transmission.

Were hoping to run at least two to three thousand tests in the coming week as we embark on the active case search in the community; of course, as we test more were likely to see more positivity, he had said.

We already know that the virus is circulating in the community, and the more we look for it, the more we will find but that is in keeping with our strategy.
New Delhi: A day after Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami announced a complete four-day lockdown in the state from April 26, the vegetable markets of Chennai, Coimbatore and Madurai saw huge crowds on Saturday (April 25) despite the nationwide lockdown in place. Markets and other stores in the cities saw hordes of people, in a complete violation of orders.

On April 24, Chief Minister Palaniswami had announced a stringent lockdown, saying: "There will be a total lockdown for four days in Chennai, Coimbatore and Madurai from April 26 to April 29 from 6 am to 9 pm. In Salem and Tiruppur, total lockdown will be in effect from 6 am on April 26 to 9 pm on April 28."

The CM said that groceries and vegetable shops in these corportations would be allowed to function till 3 pm. He requested the people to maintain social distancing norms and cooperate with the government.

Gaurav, one of the several people who rushed to Chennai's Koyambedu market to stock up essentials, told ANI, "Usually I come to the market only twice a month. However, today I came here as CM Palaniswami has announced a complete lockdown for the next 4 days."

When asked about the threat of catching the infection while visiting a crowded wholesale market, he said, "I believe that hunger is scarier than coronavirus. Hence, I took the risk of coming to the Koyambedu market to stock up on vegetables as this 4-day lockdown might get extended by 6-7 days."

Echoing similar feelings, Bhaskaran, another person who took the risk of visiting the Koyambedu market, said that the sudden rush in the market would not have had happened if the Chief Minister had announced this in advance. "Everyone headed to the market as they got scared when the CM announced 4 days of complete lockdown in the State. With this, the situation here has gone out of control as no one is able to manage the huge crowd," he said.
The Jharkhand government has asked the deputy commissioners (DCs) of all the 24 districts to assess the local conditions before taking a decision on opening shops during the lockdown in accordance with a latest Union home ministry notification, sources said on Saturday.

"We have received the central guidelines on relaxations and asked the DCs to assess local conditions before taking a decision," a highly-placed source in the Hemant Soren government said.

As of now, the shops selling essential commodities are functioning, he added.

Meanwhile, state Finance Minister Rameshwar Oraon said the ongoing lockdown has helped contain the novel coronavirus to a large extent and an assessment of the situation would be made before announcing any relaxation.

"The lockdown has helped contain the virus to a large extent. So, before giving any relaxation, the state government will assess which shops should be opened, where social distancing could be maintained," he told reporters.

A total of 63 persons were detected as COVID-19 positive in Jharkhand since the first case surfaced in the state on March 31, when a 22-year-old Malaysian women tested positive for the novel coronavirus in Ranchi.

The Malaysian woman has recovered and was discharged from a hospital on Friday.

Pointing out that the new guidelines of the Union home ministry have allowed the state governments to relax certain lockdown norms, Oraon said it was necessary to maintain social distancing to contain the virus and hence, the state government had imposed the lockdown on March 22.

He also said talks were on with other states regarding bringing back students stranded across the country.

A team of senior officials of the state government is conducting the talks. Apart from students, efforts are also on to bring back the labourers stranded outside the state and provide them assistance through the respective states, the minister said.

The Jharkhand government, he added, is also lending help to the labourers and an amount of Rs 1,000 is being transferred to their accounts through the Chief Minister's Assistance mobile application.

He urged such people to register their details with the state government by April 29.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Farmers are ploughing millions of dollars worth of fresh produce into the soil and laying off workers as the coronavirus ban on dining at cafes, restaurants and pubs continues without an end in sight.

While major supermarkets are reporting a rise in fresh fruit and vegetable sales, it is not enough to fill the gap for many farmers who rely on sales to commercial venues.

A tractor at Hussey & Co farms in Victoria ploughs vegetables back into the soil.

"Retail has taken up a little bit, but essentially it looks like a loss of about 30 to 40 per cent," said Jeremy Haw, the managing director of Hussey & Co, which grows baby salad greens such as lettuce and rocket on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula.

"[Kitchens] would serve a side salad with every chicken parma. But obviously with no food services, that's not being done any more. We farmers are trying to find the bottom of this. The problem is we don't really know how far it's going to fall.
A homeless shelter in Bray has been given the green light by Wicklow County Council and the state.

Wicklow County Council, in partnership with the Housing Agency, has agreed the acquisition of a property in Bray to develop a high-supported homeless facility for North Wicklow, managed by the Simon Community. The acquisition is still in progress.

While Wicklow County Council has not yet released the exact location of the building, it is understood to be located close to the town centre and be able to accommodate at least 20 beds. Some minor remedial works will be undertaken for short-term Covid-19 accommodations.

It is hoped that these will start shortly to allow transitioning of clients into the facility at an early date. The long term plan is to include emergency, medium-term and long-term accommodation, with on-site key support workers linking in with clients.

The property is currently sale agreed and subject to contract. Refurbishment and fit out costs are being assessed.

The facility provides an immediate solution to the critical issues of improving the situation for clients accessing the Cold Weather Initiative in Bray. 12 people currently avail of the emergency CWI in Bray. A Covid-19 service model is planned as an emergency response based on up to 20 people. The model is for all clients to have their own rooms, day and night, and ease of access to sanitary and catering facilities.

Homeless individuals throughout the county will benefit from the project which has been given the go-ahead by the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government. 'We are delighted with this announcement,' said Kelly Tormey of Bray Area Rough Sleepers Support. 'We feel this will give our folk the stability they need to start their climb up the ladder to a permanent home and care they deserve.'

'I welcome the news that the Wicklow County Council has now secured this premises and full credit must go to the officials in Wicklow County Council who worked extremely hard to get this project to this stage.

'It means going forward we will be able to ensure all the necessary supports can be given to those who unfortunately end up homeless,' said Deputy John Brady. The long-term plan for the facility, based on the presenting population in North Wicklow/Bray, incorporates a quality service model where there will be cold weather/emergency beds, medium-term, high-supported accommodation units and a number of long term, supported accommodation units.

'It will be staffed by on-site key workers linking in with clients to provide ongoing support. This facility also provides an immediate solution to the critical issues of ensuring the safety of clients accessing the Cold Weather Initiative during the Covid-19 crisis and providing self isolation units for homeless individuals, and as such, this is being given immediate priority.

Wicklow County Council, Chief Executive, Mr Frank Curran, stated: 'This housing-led approach to combating homelessness is enshrined in "Rebuilding Ireland" and is a key commitment in the Council's Homelessness Action Plan. I would like to acknowledge the commitment and support of the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government and the Housing Agency in progressing this project for Wicklow. The additional, immediate benefit to those homeless individuals who are particularly vulnerable during the current crisis is very welcome.'

Cathaoirleach of Bray Municipal District, Cllr Anne Ferris, welcomed the initiative noting that 'This project will address homelessness for a cohort that is largely un-reached and will ensure that both the short and long-term needs of the facility's residents will be addressed. Homeless individuals will now be provided with a place of welcome, warmth and safety.'
New Delhi, April 25 : Looking at the growing number of coronavirus cases in the national capital, Delhi Congress chief Anil Kumar Chaudhary said on Saturday that the party will launch a mega sanitisation programme in all the 272 municipal wards from Monday.

Addressing a press conference from the state unit headquarters here, Chaudhary said that the Aam Aadmi Party government in Delhi and the BJP-ruled municipal corporations have woefully failed to carry out sanitation across Delhi despite Covid-19 cases going up daily.

He said the fact that Covid-19 cases have been increasing sharply in Delhi is proof enough that the Arvind Kejriwal government and he municipal corporations have not only failed in their duty to sanitise even the hotspot areas, but they have also failed to provide free meals to the poor and the needy.

He alleged that the Kejriwal government has been playing politics with welfare measures during these critical times, as the Delhi government has been asking for Aadhaar cards from the poor people for giving them free meals.

The Congress leader said that the party has been supplying healthy and nutritious meals to the poor and the needy ever since the imposition of the lockdown from around 106 "Congress kitchens" across the city, besides opening a kitchen at the party office from April 23 to cater to the poor people living in the Rouse Avenue area.

He said the rising number of Covid-19 cases is proof enough that the Delhi government's much-touted 'SHIELD' (S-Sealing, H-Home Quarantine, I-Isolation, E-Essential Supply, L-Local Sanitization and D-Door to Door Health Check-up) programme has totally collapsed.

He said that not only the number of cases has gone up sharply, even the number of hotspot areas has also risen.

The Congess leader said that if the Kejriwal government and the MCDs had done their job properly, Delhi would not have been in such a perilous situation, as the lockdown seems to be heading for another extension in the national capital.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo spoke with his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry by phone on Thursday to discuss continued collaboration on key regional issues and bilateral COVID-19 assistance, State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus noted in a statement.

According to Ortagus, Pompeo also emphasized that detained US citizens be kept safe and provided consular access during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Why it matters: Even though Egypt is currently mired in its own COVID-19 crisis, Cairo dispatched a shipment of medical aid for the United States earlier this week. The shipment included anesthesia drugs, antibiotics, body bags, masks and coronavirus test swabs. Cairo has made a habit of shipping personal protective equipment and aid to wealthier countries that have been hit by the pandemic, including Britain and Italy. However, Egypt has also imported medical equipment from China and remains in a growing COVID-19 crisis of its own, with more than 4,000 recorded infections and nearly 300 deaths. Interestingly, the United States has not included funding for Egypt in its $508 million emergency coronavirus aid package.

Whats next: Egypt is still detaining at least six American political prisoners in Egypt, and the United States is pushing for their release. On Thursday, Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., the top Democrat on the Senates Middle East panel, urged a tougher line on US military aid to Egypt in this years spending bill.

Murphy expressed particular concern over Mohamed Amashah, an Egyptian-American medical student arrested last year for protesting against the thousands of political prisoners in Egyptian jails. Amashah, who suffers from autoimmune deficiency and asthma, went on hunger strike last month to protest his treatment.

Know more: Another detained American, Mustafa Kassem, died in Egyptian prison in January after a heart attack stemming from his yearlong hunger strike. Kassems death prompted lawmakers to call on the Trump administration to implement legally mandated sanctions involved in holding Kassem and other American political prisoners, as Congressional Correspondent Bryant Harris reported.
Al Jazeera, March 26, 2020

By Ruchi Kumar

Kabul, Afghanistan - The sounds of cries - some loud, many stifled - fill the halls of the Karte Parwan Gurudwara, one of only three remaining places of worship for the small Afghan Sikh and Hindu community in the capital of Afghanistan.

Some of the muffled wailing spills onto the streets of the Karte Parwan area, once home to a large number of Afghan Sikhs who lived in harmony with the Muslim-majority population in pre-conflict Afghanistan.



Afghan Sikh men prepare coffins after a deadly attack at a Sikh religious complex in Kabul on Mar. 25, 2020. (Photo: Mohammad Ismail/Reuters) Afghan Sikh men prepare coffins after a deadly attack at a Sikh religious complex in Kabul on Mar. 25, 2020. (Photo: Mohammad Ismail/Reuters)

However, the recent decades of war in Afghanistan have been hard on the community that has not only suffered through the conflict, but also faced persecution from a society that became increasingly intolerant.

Afghan forces killed gunmen who attacked a Sikh religious complex in the capital on Wednesday, ending an hours-long siege that killed 25 people.

The most recent attack, on the 400-year-old Gurudwara in Shor Bazaar in Kabul, has left the community desolate. "The situation is very scary, the whole community is in mourning and crying," 25-year-old Raj Sutaka, an Afghan Sikh from Kabul who runs a pharmacy business, told Al Jazeera.

Over the years, Afghan Sikhs and the Hindu population have dwindled from nearly 700,000 in the 1970s to less than a few hundred, today. "We are about 70 to 80 families who are left in all over Afghanistan. It used to be many more, but as of today, we are maybe 400 to 450 adults and about 100 to 200 children. So we are not more than a total of 700," Sutaka said, trying hard to keep a steady tone.

'Living in fear'

Around him, men and women mourned for the loss of loved ones. Some families lost as many as seven people, including children. Apart from the worshipers, there were also at least 40 families who lived in the complex of the Gurudwara. Sutaka himself lost a dear friend and a relative.

"Everyone is scared and living in fear. We are even afraid of going to Gurdwaras to mourn least something happens again," he said.

And their fears were justified. On Thursday afternoon, when Sutaka and other community members were carrying 25 bodies to the cremation grounds for the final rites, another explosion, detonated remotely, went off close to their procession in the Qalacha area.

"Right now we were carrying the dead bodies and an explosion happened close by. Luckily we survived and reached the crematorium," he said, showing photos and videos from inside the crematorium, where a mass funeral was held.

"We used to get threats every now and then, but except one attack 40 to 45 years ago in Jalalabad, never had anyone ever attacked a Gurudwara. Not even during the years of war in the last four decades."

Six-hour massacre

Sutaka described the chain of events on Wednesday for Al Jazeera.

"I was here at the Karte Parwan Gurudrawa when we heard about the attack at Shor Bazaar around 7:30am. The morning prayers had just gotten over and prasad was being distributed. There were also snacks for the gathering and many were waiting to be served when two gunmen stormed inside," he said, sharing a story pieced together from those who survived.

"They first threw bombs and then started firing bullets at the people. The massacre went on for six hours," he said.

While the armed group ISIL (ISIS) claimed responsibility of the attack, government sources said it was conducted by the Haqqani Network, and could have been in retaliation for recent violence against Muslims in India.

"The Taliban and other terrorist groups sponsored by the governments in our region have in the past also attacked our society and tried create divisions among people," alleged Javid Faisal, spokesperson at the Afghan National Security Council.

"Such past events instill fear and insecurity within the community and can affect the unity of the nation, too," he said.

On Wednesday evening, Hamdullah Mohib, the national security advisor, visited survivors and their families to offer his condolences and promised to investigate the attacks, Sutaka said.

Despite the grim situation, the community is not alone in their grief, and messages of solidarity have poured in from every corner of Afghanistan.

"They are more Afghan than a lot of other Afghans," said Sahira Sharif, a member of parliament from Khost Province, which was once home to hundreds of Sikh families.

'Bonhomie and cordiality'

While only a handful of Sikhs remain, Sharif said she has fond memories of growing up in a multicultural society.

"There was a lot of bonhomie and cordiality between the Muslims, Sikhs and Hindus in Khost. We socialised with each other and, growing up, they would come to our houses and we would go to theirs," she recalled to Al Jazeera, adding that the Sikh community was so trusted that other Afghans would save their money with them, in the absence of a bank.

Later, when Sharif was campaigning for a parliamentary seat, many Sikhs backed her. "When I was running for the 15th round of elections, I went to their neighbourhood and met with the women of the community. They campaigned for me, they hosted me for lunch and I could see their cultures and practices remained very close to that of other Khostis," she said.

Samira Hamidi, an Afghan activist and regional campaigner at Amnesty International, said: "The Sikh community of Afghanistan are among the most resilient, peaceful and country-loving citizens. There are so many of them who have preferred living in Afghanistan despite all the threats against them."

This deep social connection has elevated a collective grief among Afghans, irrespective of their faith and beliefs.

"Yesterday's attack on our Sikh brothers and sisters is inhumane and cowardice. It is painful to hear the father whose three-year-old daughter was shot in front of him," she added, visibly disturbed at the tragedy of Harinder Singh Khalsa, who lost seven members of his family, including his wife, mother and daughter.

Hamidi, like many Afghan Muslims, extended her solidarity to the Sikhs.

"At this painful time, all I can say is we need to stand with them, share their grievances and comfort them. I have huge respect for each of them for the love and compassion they have for Afghanistan, and I wish no one, including them, to have to face the tragedies like yesterday anymore," she said.
Bengaluru, April 25 : Opposition Janata Dal-Secular lawmaker K.T. Srikante Gowda and his son were booked on charge of assaulting healthcare workers in Karnataka's Mandya during coronavirus testing of districts journalists, police said on Saturday.

"A first information report was filed against JD-S Member of Legislative Council (MLC) Gowda and his son Krishik for abusing and attacking doctors and ASHA workers, conducting Covid tests on district scribes," Mandya Superintendent of Police K. Parushuram told IANS on phone.

Mandya is about 100km southwest of Bengaluru en route to Mysuru in the southern state.

Gowda objected to the tests conducted at Ambedkar Bhavan, which is near his residence, as he feared the area would be infected should any journalist test positive.

"The district administration did not take preventive measures before doing the tests in our area. As per the standard operating procedure or protocols, the state health department should first sanitise or disinfect the area to prevent the virus spread," Gowda told reporters in Kannada at Mandya.

On a complaint by the corona warriors and scribes for allegedly disrupting the testing, Krishik was detained and whisked away to the area police station to defuse the situation.

"We are investigation and will invoke the new law that stipulates arrest, Rs 50,000 fine and 3-year jail under the Karnataka Epidemics Ordinance, 2020, enacted on April 23, if the accused are found guilty," asserted Parushuram.

Gowda's enraged supporters also demanded that the health officials take away the mobile testing kiosk, parked near the Bhavan, to avoid the area getting contaminated.

"I opposed the testing in our area after residents complained to me and wanted the mobile kiosk to be shifted to a government hospital," asserted Gowda.

On the directive of Chief Minister B.S. Yediyuappa, the Information Department has advised all mediapersons across the southern state to take Covid test to ensure they are free from the virus, as they are in the field covering the corona outbreak.

Mandya Deputy Commissioner M.V. Venkatesh said further action would be initiated against the accused on getting the police report and in case epidemic law was violated.
The Congress on Saturday urged the government to formulate a national plan under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, for handling the Covid-19 crisis.

Addressing a news conference through video, senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal also said it is time the government rethink its lockdown measures as the country cannot have the lockdown of people and lockout of the economy.

As per the act, the government is duty bound to formulate a national plan to deal with Covid-19 but strangely it has maintained a conspicuous silence. The Centre seems to have delegated its responsibilities to state governments, he said.

Without the necessary human and physical infrastructure and adequate financial resources, Sibal said state governments are not in a position to effectively deal with this pandemic.

Calling upon the judiciary to evolve a policy to ensure that the justice delivery system is considered an essential service during such a crisis, Sibal alleged that bureaucrats, who do not have any idea about ground realities, were formulating policies during the lockdown period.

Apart from a few exceptions with available yet depleting resources, states are doing a commendable job. However, our Prime Ministers limited role is addressing the nation from time to time, he said.

The Congress leader said the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) made no preparations to put in place a plan despite the World Health Organization (WHO) declaring the virus to be a public health emergency by the end of January.

Why were detailed plans not made within seven weeks of the WHO declaration? We are in the fourth week of April. There is no plan in place even now, he said.

Sibal added the union home secretary, presumably presiding over the National Executive Committee (NEC) under the act, is issuing directions to state governments to deal with the situation.

Going by the advisories issued so far, it is clear that NEC has neither prepared a plan which is to be submitted to the NDMA for approval nor have various ministries prepared disaster management plans, he said.

The NDMA, chaired by the Prime Minister, has distanced itself from the responsibilities of the Union government and in gross violation of the provisions of the act, authorised the MHA to issue such directions as it chooses. This too was dehors the law, Sibal added.

The former union law minister said the government advisories pay scant regard to the responsibilities of the NDMA.

We would like the Prime Minister to inform the nation about minimum standards of relief that are required to be provided to persons affected by the disaster, he said.

Instead of discharging its solemn responsibilities to provide relief to the poor and helpless stranded migrants, Sibal said the Centre was shifting the onus to state governments to do what they can without a plan and without guidelines prescribing minimum standards of relief.

It is unfortunate that even till date, there is no plan. We are all aware that the provisions in shelters are pathetic without adequate sanitation, medical cover, food and clean drinking water. States are not able to make available adequate food supplies to those affected, he said.
The U.S. Navy last week watched a single-seat Russian Sukhoi Su-35 Flanker-E come within 25 feet of a P-8A Poseidon reconnaissance aircraft while at high speed and inverted, causing wake turbulence and putting the U.S. "pilots and crew at risk" over the Mediterranean Sea.

Days later, another Flanker mimicked the move over the same waters, zooming in front of a P-8 and exposing the sub hunter aircraft to its jet exhaust.

Top U.S. officials in Europe and the Defense Department said the incidents involved Russian pilots behaving in an unsafe, unprofessional manner. Experts argue that, while the intercepts expose a pattern of behavior from the Russian military, they also show that Russia is willing to capitalize on the publicity the aerial maneuvers bring, even during a global pandemic.

Related: B-1 Returns to Pacific in 'Dynamic Force Employment'

The Russian military "feels as if it's necessary to let everybody know that they're still on the world stage, that they're still on the scene, and that they have pretty good military power," said retired Gen. Frank Gorenc, the former commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe. Gorenc, an F-15 Eagle pilot, headed the command during Russia's annexation of Crimea, when the U.S. sent sophisticated aircraft such as the F-22 Raptor to the theater in show-of-force missions to deter Russian aggression.

"It's not only the pandemic, which obviously is keeping the western countries occupied, but also the oil [crash] too," he said in an interview this week.

In recent weeks, Russia, one of the world's leading oil exporters, was also hit by the unprecedented collapse in the market for crude oil.

"Declining powers have to do [something]," Gorenc said.

Opportunity to Go Viral

Unlike the Cold War, when pilots would return to their squadron and file a debrief of an aerial intercept, then simply move along to their next mission, being buzzed or barrel-rolled is gaining more visibility with the help of social media, said Doug Barrie, senior fellow for military aerospace for the International Institute for Strategic Studies, a London-based think tank.

"You know, it goes kind of viral," Barrie said. "So you wonder if there's an element of that, of how it plays on social media and in wider Western media, whether or not if it's valuable."

Notably, the recent incidents involved Russia's multi-role Su-35 fighter jet, which has received improvements over the last few years -- a significant upgrade from other aircraft used in past intercepts, such as the Su-27 Flanker or the Su-24 Fencer, Barrie said.

"It's perhaps unsurprising that these aircraft have been bumped into [the rotation] more often than we've previously seen them; the imagery of the Flanker is great," he said.

"The Su-35 is a highly capable airplane that they produce," Gorenc added. "They're obviously ... trying to sell it. And this is a good way to show it off."

Predictable Response

Gorenc stressed that, while these incidents tend to flare up once in a while, pilots need to stick to the rules of engagement and try to be as predictable as possible.

The 1972 bilateral Russia-U.S. agreement "Prevention of Incidents On and Over the High Seas," followed by Incidents at Sea Agreement (INCSEA), are accords that establish basic "rules of the road" for both countries to safely navigate near one another.

Holding Russia accountable for its behavior in international airspace can be tricky, Barrie explained. "To some extent, these things are difficult to kind of legislate around because it really comes down to the units, the pilots [and their behavior]," he said.

More often than not, intercepts are conducted in a safe manner, but errors happen because of a loss of communication or a human or technical mistake, officials have said.

For example, then-Gen. Petr Pavel, the former chairman of the NATO Military Committee, told reporters in 2018 that most aerial scrambles are seen as "routine."

"From time to time, we can see some measures as provocative, especially in the areas that we exercise ... both to the ships and in the air," he said. "But it's up to the captain [or pilot] to judge if it's dangerous or not."

Last week, Air Force Gen. Tod Wolters, NATO supreme commander and head of U.S. European Command, described the first incident on April 15 as the result of "unprofessional" conduct by a Russian fighter pilot acting on his own, rather than a deliberate attempt by Moscow to provoke an incident.

"My conclusion at this point is that it was probably something more along the lines of unprofessional as opposed to deliberate," Wolters said April 16.

"Given the unpredictability, you have to make sure that you maintain a safe distance and don't assume anything. Don't assume that they even see you, because they may not see you," Gorenc said.

Not Backing Down

Like the U.S., it's unlikely that Russia will back down from what it sees as military priorities despite the pandemic, Barrie said.

"We're not completely dissimilar.  You can see the messaging coming out of these NATO nations, including the U.S., which says, 'OK, we recognize a pandemic is an enormous problem ... but [we're still] taking care of the day-to-day national security needs,'" he said.

Air Force Gen. Terrence J. O'Shaughnessy, head of U.S. Northern Command, told reporters Tuesday that the U.S. military should be mindful that rivals like Russia will look to test any weaknesses among the U.S. and its allies during the coronavirus crisis.

"We are postured and maintain that ability to respond at a moment's notice," he said.

On Friday, Defense Secretary Mark Esper renewed the message. "Our adversaries are not standing down," he said. "We will continue to make sure that the [Defense Department] is ready to protect the USA."

Barrie added: "The Russian Su-35 incident, in part, is simply a reflection of that [response]. It is simply a reflection of Russia doing what it does."

 Richard Sisk contributed to this report.

-- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Oriana0214.

Read more: Top Navy Leaders Want Crozier Reinstated as Roosevelt's Commanding Officer: Report
Last Sunday, Chairperson of Kilbrin GAA Margaret O'Callaghan should have been leading her club out on the hallowed turf of Croke Park, where they were to fulfil a fixture against Cu Chullainns of London.

But, of course, like so many other planned events, the trip had to be cancelled due to the Pandemic. Although disappointed, Margaret did not wallow but stepped up to the plate by organising a home baking drive and distributed the food to those cocooning in the parish.

The 23 strong team of volunteers was made up of bakers and those who delivered the food to over 100 households throughout Kilbrin, with all the volunteers adhering to social distancing and sanitation protocols.

"The reception we got was terrific, people were delighted to get home baking to enjoy with their cup of tea and they were especially delighted to see a friendly face and have a chat," Margaret told The Corkman.

"The big issue with most of the cocooners is that they are missing family visits and especially their grandchildren. There were tears in their eyes when they spoke of the little children that they can't hug at this time," Margaret said.

"Then there were the ladies whose hair is turning to 'silver' and their locks are getting longer and they can't wait to see their hairdresser open again. They miss meeting up with their friends for a cuppa and loneliness is also a factor, but every single one knew their number one priority was the importance of abiding by the HSE guidelines until restrictions are lifted," Margaret added.

When news of the baking drive spread, Bobby Philpott of Philpott's Bakery in Kanturk contacted the group and offered to contribute to future ventures. He said that he was delighted to see this initiative started in Kilbrin and noted that the survival of communities depends on their connecting with each other at times like this.

Margaret O'Callaghan reminisced about past times when, in her own home, neighbours dropped in to play cards and learn to dance.

"This is our chance to get back to when neighbours made time to visit each other. It's all about making time. Yes, of course, we are busy, but most of us have spare time that we could spend away from computers or the TV," Margaret said.

Kilbrin Community Council chairman Ben O'Dea paid tribute to the volunteers, saying that from a community perspective everyone is extremely grateful for initiatives like this. "We are in this as a community and if we can help each other along the journey we will emerge stronger. Of course, the people most in need are those who cannot leave their homes, so keeping the communication lines open to them is vitally important. Thanks to all involved and let's keep up the good work," Ben said.

The group plans to call on the cocooners on a weekly basis until restrictions are lifted. And a final word from Margaret who led the project: "Croke Park is on the back burner for the moment but we will get there eventually and hopefully our players will also be back out enjoying their games in the very near future".
The residents of the town of New Milford are united during this time of uncertainty.

Charitable efforts are abound.

Residents are making masks (see stories, Pages S3 and S10) and donating funds to causes that support the purchase of gear or meals for first responders.

Im so proud to be part of this, said Joe Quaranta of New Milford, who is the driving force behind the Mission Its Possible and the Helping Hands for Heroes efforts in town.

Theres a monumental amount of love and strength in the community, he said.

Through Helping Hands, Quaranta recently secured 16,000 pounds of food for the town, which was delivered last Friday.

An trailer from AutoTechnic in town and several New Milford Police Department vans delivered the food to John Pettibone Community Center.

Last Fridays food  all quality products that can be turned into meals for families  will benefit the towns food bank through the Social Services Department, the Community Culinary School of Northwest Connecticut and Camellas Cupboard.

Thirty to 50 pounds of deli meat were also delivered and taken to Maggie Colangelo of 9 Main in New Preston, who made sandwiches that were then taken to Camellas Cupboard.

The culinary school is working with the senior center to provide meals to the towns elder residents.

In addition, Helping Hands, in collaboration with Dino Kolitsas, owner of New Milford Pizza Station and Greca Mediterranean Kitchen + Bar, provided 300 meals for the day and evening staff at New Milford Hospital Monday.

They have been wonderful, Angie Chastain of Camellas Cupboard said of Helping Hands. They provided us with yogurt, dairy items, ham that was turned into sandwiches, 50 boxes of chips for lunch bags.

They have been phenomenal and so accommodating, Chastain said.

Camellas Cupboard provides to children a bag with seven breakfasts, lunch and snack items, and includes fruit, vegetable and dairy products.

In addition, families in need is given produce, meat and other extras, such as soap and fabric masks.

Chastain said the organization serves about 350 each week.

Quaranta said he and his family went on alert when it became clear the towns emergency management departments would be in need of gear during the pandemic.

To help, Quaranta spent the past few months reaching out to numerous undisclosed resources and connections to secure sizable amounts of personal protective equipment (PPE).

Donations have been made to first responders in town, including the police and fire departments, the ambulance, New Milford VNA & Hospice.

Helping Hands recently supplied New Milford Ambulance with 100 isolation suits and reusable P100 breathing apparatuses.

In addition, neighboring towns such as Roxbury, Southbury and Danbury also received donations of PPE.

The charity is also working with the Harold Leever Regional Cancer Center in Waterbury.

Helping Hands for Heroes has been great to us, said Donna Hespe, persident of New Milford Community Ambulance. Nobody was prepared to have the PPE required that is needed for this virus. It was gone before we could get our hands on it.

With the perseverance of Joe and his family, they were able to get some Tyvek suits, masks, boot covers, respirators and filters, gloves and even got us some meals for the crews, she said.

They have been a tremendous support and we are very thankful for all of their help, she said.

Quaranta said Helping Hands has had such a positive response, it will soon work with other institutions in the state.

Were blessed to have such an amazing response in our community, but were also receiving donations from outside our community, he said.

The sale of Helping Hands merchandise - including shirts, stickers, yard signs hats and more - online at www.helpinghandsforheros.com is tracked, along with donations.

Locally raised funds are used for the town. Funds that come in from outside the community will be used to help organizations elsewhere in the state, he said.

The website also features a sponsor a meal program.

Individuals can sponsor, through a participating local restaurant, a meal for a local hero.

As of press time, Greca Mediterranean Kitchen + Bar, Dagwoods, JoJos Deli and Cobblestones American Grille are participating.

For more information about Helping Hands, visit helpinghandsforheros.com or visit them on Facebook.

For more information about Camellas Cupboard, visit www.camellascupboard.com. Donations can be dropped off at the side door of town hall and at the Catherine E. Lillis Administration Building on East Street Fridays from noon to 4 p.m.
Social media is abuzz with speculations over Kim Jong Un's alleged death after a senior official at a Beijing-backed satellite TV channel made the claim on Weibo. Vice director of Hong Kong Satellite Television Shijian Xingzou reportedly stated on her Weibo account, citing top level sources, that the North Korean leader had died. She is a niece of a Chinese foreign minister and has 15 million followers on Weibo.

However, these claims have not been corroborated by Korea Central News Agency, the state news agency of North Korea, or any other state media. North Korea has been tight-lipped about the health or whereabouts of its leader, who was last seen in public two weeks ago. North Korean media has maintained a 'business as usual' image, carrying routine reporting of Kim's achievements, accompanied by his older or undated quotes on issues like the economy.

OK, more rumors on KJU's death citing a Hong Kong source. That "source" is an unverified Weibo post by Vice Director of HKSTV Hong Kong Satellite Television Qing Feng , niece of former Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing ; a thread: pic.twitter.com/Z93m1k8ABR Min Chao Choy (@minchaochoy) April 25, 2020 #HKSTV Hong Kong Satellite Television claims #NorthKorea leader #KimJongUn is dead. No confirmation from US/South Korea yet. pic.twitter.com/GsrpvbPfpj Deepayan Sinha #StayHomeStaySafe (@sdeepayan) April 25, 2020

Kim Jong Un has been missing from public life of late, raising doubts about his health. Rumours were bolstered after Kim's absence from celebrations on April 15, an important holiday in North Korea to honour his grandfather and country's founder Kim Il Sung.

Also read: Kim Jong Un health: North Korea remains silent as world watches closely

Several reports in the international media claimed that the 36-year-old ruler of North Korea is recovering from a major heart surgery. Reuters recently reported that China has sent a team including medical experts to advise on Kim's health. Meanwhile, Japanese weekly magazine Shukan Gendai claimed that the North Korean leader is in a "vegetative state" after a heart surgery earlier this month.

On Friday, US President Donald Trump called CNN reports claiming Kim Jong Un was gravely ill "incorrect" and based on "old documents". "We have a good relationship with North Korea, I have a good relationship with Kim Jong Un and I hope he's okay," Trump said.
He was just a consummate public servant. He really was. His heart was always in the right place, says lobbyist Walt Radcliffe, who worked with Beermann on projects over the decades. .

Whoever he worked for, whether the people of the estate or the Press Association or a philanthropic group, they always got twice their money's worth. He always follows through, works hard.

And Beermann says a lifetime of working with people of many faiths, many cultures, many philosophies has taught him the importance of being civil. Everyone has flaws. No one is perfect. But that is no reason not to respect others.

He says he ran for election in an era when local and state politicians respected each other and ran on their own merits, not on denigrating the other candidate. In fact, he and his initial Secretary of State opponent, Stan Matzke, were friends, and traveled together to at least one debate, Beermann says.

Beermann worked with six governors in the Secretary of States office  three Democrats, three Republicans  and got along with them all.
Challenged to create four districts for future City Council elections, the Napa Council picked a map option Tuesday that they praised for keeping neighborhoods and communities of interest intact.

It looks very clean, Councilwoman Mary Luros said of the proposed map. Its easiest to describe.

A petition received by the city on Jan. 2 from the Napa County Progressive Alliance asserted the citys at-large election system was in violation of the states voting rights act because it diluted the vote of the local Latino community, which accounts for roughly 41% of the total population.

Rather than fight a costly legal battle that it was unlikely to win based on statewide precedent, the Council vote on Feb. 11 to meet the petitioners demands of moving to district-based elections.

In the new system, each of the four council seats is allotted to one geographical region. The candidate must live in that district, and only residents of that area can vote for the seat. The mayor, who can live anywhere within Napa city limits, will continue to be elected by the entire city.

Following two community workshops and the aid of a demographer, the council was presented with four draft district map options Tuesday, all of which met the guidelines outlined by the California Voting Rights Act, officials said.

This was not brought to us by the Latinx community. I just want everybody to know that, said Councilwoman Liz Alessio. This was brought to us by the Progressive Alliance, and the Latinx community was quite surprised that they were mentioned.

California law states municipalities are only required to draw a minority majority district  which means a minority group makes up the bulk of the population in that area  if it can be done in a way that also meets the other legal boundaries.

Paul Mitchell of Redistricting Partners, the citys hired demography consultant, said unequivocally there was not the ability to create a minority majority district.

Marguerite Mary Leoni, the special legal counsel hired by the city, agreed, commenting on how Napas Latino community appears to live throughout the citys neighborhoods.

The population is dispersed. The neighborhoods are well integrated, which is a compliment to the city, she said of the fact that in Plan As district most heavily populated by Latinos, they only make up 28% of the total number of residents. An alternative finalist had a district where Latinos account for 31% of the total population. Theres not a material difference between the two, she said.

The preferred map shows a north Napa district, another for west Napa, a third district through the center of the city and a fourth district for east Napa and stretching south to include Stanly Ranch to the west.

A return to stability appeared to be a motivating factor for councilmembers and the public alike.

I like to keep things simple, and this is the most logical, Councilman Scott Sedgley said of Plan A.

Kevin Teague, who was one of the architects of the plan at a community workshop last month, called on local officials to do whats right for the city which, in the throes of the coronavirus pandemic, is to maximize stability.

Plan A, he said, wont disrupt Napa and wont create more disruption than has already been caused by this process.

Sequence

Mayor Jill Techel will be stepping down at the end of her term this year, and Sedgley and Vice Mayor Doris Gentry have each already announced their bids to take her place. That leaves two incumbents, councilwomen Alessio and Luros, and two open seats.

Under the proposed electoral map, Alessio and Luros live in districts 1 and 3, respectively.

According to City Attorney Michael Barrett, the residence of a sitting member cant be a factor in drawing district boundaries. It can, however, be used to determine when district seats will be up for election.

Council unanimously voted to establish a sequence of elections whereby two seats are open every two years, and the mayor continues to be elected by the entire city. Members opted to allow Alessio and Luros to maintain their seats through the end of their four-year term, and open up seats for districts 2 and 3 for election this year. Alessio and Luros would be up for re-election in 2022.

Next Steps

Carol Barge, a Napa resident who spoke during public testimony, suggested an area near Foster Road west of Highway 29, where about 845 people live, be made part of the district directly to its north. The original proposal makes it part of the district east of the highway to keep the difference in population negligible.

Members were divided on the idea. Techel, Alessio and Sedgley were in favor of making the change given the geographic proximity and the shared experience of the neighborhoods in question.

Luros and Gentry expressed concern about increasing the difference in population size between the two districts, though Mitchell assured them that tweaking the map would not disqualify it in terms of legal parameters.

Ultimately, all five members voted to move forward with a version of Plan A incorporating the change. It was made available to the public for review and comment that same night.

The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 28 at 6:30 p.m. It will be the final opportunity for City Council to direct staff and the demographer to make any changes based on public feedback.

You may reach Carly Graf at cgraf@napanews.com; 713-817-4692; or via Twitter @carlykgraf.

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Rachel Johnson made the comments on her new Friday evening show on LBC

The Prime Minister's sister Rachel Johnson has urged him to reveal plans for how the UK will leave coronavirus lockdown, saying: 'We need to see a light at the end of the tunnel'.

It comes as the government considers an easing of lockdown rules which could allow people to socialise with up to ten of their closest family and friends.

Rachel Johnson made the comments on her new Friday evening show on LBC.

Rachel Johnson joined the talk radio station LBC to present a new Friday evening programme

She told listeners: 'I think it's time for a more honest, grown-up conversation about what's going to happen. We need to see light at the end of the tunnel.'

She continued: 'I understand we have to stay at home to protect the NHS, to save lives.

'But we won't forget the rules just because we know they might be lifted. We are adults, we can hold two thoughts in our head at the same time.

'We should be treated like adults.'

Her comments came as the Covid-19 death toll hit 19,506 on Friday  up 684 on the previous day.

Ministers are looking at whether to relax the strict 'stay at home' advice to let small groups of households 'cluster' together.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks at 10 Downing Street after being discharged from hospital in London, Britain, on April 12. He is planning to return to Downing Street on Monday, less than three weeks after leaving the intensive care unit of St Thomas' Hospital

It would allow close family members to meet for meals, or enable friends to share childcare. It could also allow couples who do not live together to see each other.

Ministers are still grappling with how to enforce the new system and prevent a free-for-all that could allow the coronavirus epidemic to take hold again.

A Whitehall source said: 'If we can find a way to allow a bit more flexibility without risking transmission of the disease running higher then we will do it.'

Health Secretary Matt Hancock yesterday warned the government would not ease lockdown restrictions until ministers were certain they could prevent a deadly second wave of infection.

Brits enjoyed the warm weather yesterday at London Fields, pictured, despite continued government guidance to stay at home

He said this would not be possible until the number of cases was driven 'right down'. Mr Hancock said he understood the 'economic pressures' the lockdown was causing, but warned they would be even worse if the UK suffered a second peak of the epidemic.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is planning to return to Downing Street on Monday, less than three weeks after leaving the intensive care unit of St Thomas' Hospital.
Social distancing orders for people to keep two metres apart to stop the spread of coronavirus is not based on any scientific research, a government adviser has said.

Robert Dingwall, from the New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (Nervtag), said the rule was 'conjured up out of nowhere'.

The sociology professor at Nottingham Trent University said scientific evidence supports a one-metre gap, but the two-metre advice was a 'rule of thumb'.

Nervtag feeds into the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), which is spearheading the government's pandemic response.

Sage has faced fierce criticism after it was revealed Boris Johnson's chief adviser Dominic Cummings has been sitting in on meetings.

Robert Dingwall (left) from New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (Nervtag) said the rule was 'conjured up out of nowhere'. The group feeds into Sage, which has faced stern criticism after it was revealed Boris Johnson's chief adviser Dominic Cummings (right) has been sitting in on meetings

The sociology professor at Nottingham Trent University said scientific evidence supports a one-metre gap, but the two-metre advice was a 'rule of thumb' (pictured, a shop in London's social distancing markers)

Nervtag feeds into the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), which is spearheading the government's pandemic response. Pictured: A government message in Westminster

Mr Dingwall told Radio 4's Today: 'We cannot sustain [social distancing measures] without causing serious damage to society, to the economy and to the physical and mental health of the population.

'I think it will be much harder to get compliance with some of the measures that really do not have an evidence base. I mean the two-metre rule was conjured up out of nowhere.'

He added: 'Well there is a certain amount of scientific evidence for a one-metre distance which comes out of indoor studies in clinical and experimental settings.

'There's never been a scientific basis for two metres, it's kind of a rule of thumb. But it's not like there is a whole kind of rigorous scientific literature that it is founded upon.'

The government put the UK on lockdown on March 23 and enforced social distancing to try to combat the spread of the virus which has killed nearly 20,000.

Guidance on its website says: 'If you meet others when you are outdoors (for example, on a walk) ensure that you stay at least 2 metres away.'

The government put Britain on lockdown on March 23 and enforced social distancing to try to combat the spread of the killer virus. Pictured: The PM on April 12

Mr Dingwall's comments will throw into question whether people need to keep as far apart as is being advised.

A government spokesman told MailOnline:'Public Health England guidance clearly shows that coronavirus can be spread when people come into close contact with those who are infected.

'It is absolutely vital that people continue to follow social distancing guidance to protect the NHS and save lives.

'This includes staying at home, only going outside for food, health reasons or work - and if you go out, stay two metres away from other people at all times.'

Mr Dingwall also noted there could be ways out of the lockdown for groups that are less likely to interrupt transmission of the bug.

He said children could go back to school from the beginning of June for the last part of the summer term.

And he added on a hot summer's day landlords may be able to open pubs if they take responsibility and do not allow overcrowding.

His comments came ahead of the huge row in Whitehall over the presence of Mr Cummings at Sage discussions.

The PM's chief adviser's name was on a leaked list of attendees at the group's meetings going back as far back as February.

Labour's Shadow Health Secretary Jonathan Ashworth (right) has demanded that Dominic Cummings and Ben Warner (left) should not be sitting on Sage

Labour's Shadow Health Secretary Jonathan Ashworth blasted the move and asked why he was allowed to attend.

Mr Ashworth told Today: 'The concern is that political advisers have influenced the debate, the way to clear this up is for all the minutes to be published, we've called on the Government to do this.

'When you are dealing with an epidemic like this, you need to take the public with you every step.'

The list showed Mr Cummings was at a Sage meeting with 24 others on March 23, the day the PM announced the nationwide lockdown.

Mr Cummings was also joined by Ben Warner, a data scientist who worked alongside him on the Vote Leave Brexit campaign in 2016, say other members of the group.
By Trend

The coronavirus infection is still spreading in Azerbaijan, Azerbaijani Deputy Minister of Health Viktor Gasimov said.

Gasimov made the remark in Baku at the briefing at the Operational Headquarters under the Cabinet of Ministers on April 24, Trend reports.

There was an increase in the number of infected people in late March and early April, deputy minister added.

The situation regarding the quarantine regime has been taken under control, Gasimov said. Citizens have complied with the rules as much as possible. If the patients had not been taken under control in time, the situation would have been extremely difficult.

Strict quarantine measures played an extremely important role, deputy minister added. A big number of diagnostic tests were carried out. At the initial stage, 200-300 tests were carried out daily, then this figure increased up to 5,000.

The Azerbaijani government took all necessary measures, Gasimov said. If the population continues to comply with the quarantine requirements, we can get rid of this virus. But if the number of infected people increases after the quarantine rules are alleviated, the restrictions will be tightened again. The infection has already been eliminated in 25 percent of the districts."

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister



Ajit Pawar on Saturday asked officials to enforce lockdown strictly in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad to contain the coronavirus outbreak.

Chairing a review meeting here, Pawar also told officials to provide institutional quarantine facilities to people in slum pockets where the congestion was coming in the way of social distancing norms.

As pre-emptive measures, Pawar asked authorities to take control of private hospitals, educational institutes and hotels to create quarantine facilities.

He asked collectors to coordinate to mitigate the problems of migrant labourers during the lockdown.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Meghan Markle's Lawsuit Against the Publisher of the Mail on Sunday Kicks Off With an Emotional Hearing

From Good Housekeeping

Last fall, the Sussexes confirmed that Meghan would be taking legal action against the publisher of the Mail on Sunday. In an unprecedented statement about the media, the royal couple announced that a claim had been filed over "the misuse of private information, infringement of copyright and breach of the Data Protection Act 2018."

More specifically, the lawsuit centers around the Mail on Sunday's 2018 publication of a private handwritten letter from Meghan to her father, Thomas Markle, shortly after he missed her wedding.

Today, the first pre-trial hearing for that privacy lawsuit took place in a virtual courtroom, due to the coronavirus. This strike-out hearing was intended to allow the defendant, Associated Newspapers, to request that parts of Meghans claim be struck out or eliminated from the scope of the trial. Both Harry and Meghan were expected to listen in to the proceedings remotely.

During the hearing, Meghan's legal team notably accused Associated Newspapers of "harassing, humiliating, manipulating and exploiting" Thomas Markle, who was described as "vulnerable" to the court.

Photo credit: WPA Pool - Getty Images

Multiple publications, including the Telegraph and the Guardian, are also reporting that the Associated Newspapers defense team argued that Meghan has not had direct contact with her father in more than a year.

According to the Telegraph, the court heard that "the last contact between the Duchess and her father by phone was a missed text message on her wedding day - May 19, 2018, and they have since sent one letter to each other."



Those missed text messages were outlined in court documents shared earlier this week.

One message, which was sent just a few days before the wedding, reads: Tom, its Harry and Im going to call you right now. Please pick up, thank you,

Another emotionally charged text reads: Tom, Harry again! Really need to speak to u. U do not need to apologize, we understand the circumstances but 'going public' will only make the situation worse. If u love Meg and want to make it right please call me as there are two other options which dont involve u having to speak to the media, who incidentally created this whole situation. So please call me so I can explain. Meg and I are not angry, we just need to speak to u. Thanks.

Story continues

And a third says: Oh any speaking to the press WILL backfire, trust me Tom. Only we can help u, as we have been trying from day 1.



The hearing's judge, Justice Warby, is currently reserving judgement, but according to ITV's Chris Ship he hopes to make a decision "within in the week." A trial date has yet to be set.

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A major Australian company paid for masks in a 90-tonne cargo flight from the Chinese city of Wuhan, the epicentre of the coronavirus, and then tried to offload them to the Australian government for a profit.

The large Australian supplier's offer was rejected after it sourced the medical supplies from Wuhan after the crisis had largely passed there earlier this month.

Hot property: Masks have been flying off the shelves. Credit:AAP

As part of a strategy to lock in long-term deals and weed out dodgy products, the Australian government has rebuffed a number of unsolicited advances from private companies for hundreds of tonnes of medical supplies to fight COVID-19, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age can reveal.

In all but one case, the government has secured agreements with importers who had experience in sourcing the medical equipment.
SRINAGAR/Jammu: Two terrorists and their associate were killed in an encounter in Jammu and Kashmirs Awantipore on Saturday. The terrorists were reportedly inside an underground hideout in the forest area.

Police said security forces launched a joint operation in the Goripora forests in Awantipore early morning after they got an input about the presence of terrorists in the area. The ensuing gunfight led to the killing of two terrorists and their associate; all three of them inside a hideout.

Inspector general of police, Kashmir Range, Vijay Kumar confirmed that two unidentified terrorists and an associate of theirs died in the gunfight. Further searches are still underway, he added.

Late Friday night, two terrorists who were responsible for the abduction of a policeman in south Kashmirs Pulwama district were shot dead. This week, as many as ten terrorists were killed in south Kashmir in different encounters.

Two unidentified terrorists abducted a policeman from his house at Shirpora, Yaripora ( Kulgam) in a car. Kulgam police shared information with Army and CRPF and formed several joint nakas. The car was intercepted at Herpora Yaripora, a police spokesman said. Two policemen got injured in the encounter, he added.

Elsewhere, in Doda district, security forces on Saturday smashed a terrorist hideout and recovered a huge cache of arms and ammunition in Ghoriyan area.

We recovered two AK rifles, two AK magazines, one Chinese pistol with one magazine and large quantity of ammunition. This is a serious blow to the terrorists operating in the region, said a defence spokesman.

In Udhampur, panic gripped the people earlier as security forces laid a cordon and launched a search operation following inputs of some suspicious movement. Udhampur houses the Indian Armys Northern Command. District police chief Rajeev Pandey said, It was just a search operation. No shots were fired and no encounter took place...dont believe in rumours.

A senior official said an intelligence input about suspicious movement was received around 3.45 pm. Police, army and the CRPF launched a search operation on specific input s. The operation was launched in Gaide Da Talab in the heart of Udhampur city. Drones were also used to locate the suspicious movement, he said.

The operation was called off after a thorough search of the lanes and bylanes in the targeted area.
Since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, the world has grown accustomed to the daily White House press briefings, in which a scowling Donald Trump parades his staggering ignorance and promotes quackery, as medical experts contradict his harebrained and antiscientific justifications for a rapid return to work.

But even these daily spectacles could not have prepared audiences for Trumps performance Thursday, when the president urged Americans to inject themselves with disinfectant and insert ultraviolet lights into their bodies, measures which would kill those unfortunate enough to listen to the presidents advice.

President Donald Trump addressing Thursdays press conference [Source: YouTube]

I see the disinfectant that knocks it out in a minute, one minute, Trump said. And is there a way we can do something like that by injection inside, or almost a cleaning? Because you see it gets inside the lungs and it does a tremendous number on the lungs, so it would be interesting to check that.

Trump continued: So supposing we hit the body with a tremendouswhether its ultraviolet or just a very powerful lightand I think you said that hasnt been checked because of the testing. And then I said, supposing you brought the light inside the body, which you can do either through the skin or some other way, and I think you said youre going to test that, too.

These statements provoked a flurry of denunciations by astounded medical professionals. The maker of Lysol disinfectant was forced to publicly rebuke the president by issuing a statement saying, We must be clear that under no circumstances should our disinfectant products be administered into the human body.

In recent weeks, Trump has pronounced that his gut instinct told him the pandemic would be over in April, that it was no worse than the flu, and that the medication hydroxychloroquineproduced by a friend who stood to profit from the presidents recommendationcould cure the virus, despite Food and Drug Administration warnings that it would lead to increased deaths.

It is easy enough to point out that these statements express Trumps own stunning backwardness and callous indifference to human life.

But what remains to be explained is: How did this grotesque sociopath come to occupy the White House, and what does his sordid presidency reveal about the state of the American political system?

A characteristic of a doomed political system, often observed in history, is the elevation of an especially despicable and even depraved personality to a high position in the state, frequently as a key adviser to the ruler. Such individuals often become the focus of public outrage.

Among the most notorious examples of such a personality in the twentieth century was Grigori Rasputin, the mad monk, who exerted immense influence over the Russian Tsar Nicholas II and the Empress Alexandra. A horse thief and rapist, Rasputin became the trusted and indispensable adviser of the royal couple, partly on the basis of his claim that he could treat their hemophiliac son through a combination of religious incantations, the conjuring of spirits and his own frightening stare. The Tsar and Tsarina took no major decisions without consulting their corrupt and dissolute friend.

Fearful that the influence wielded by Rasputin was leading the regime to disaster, a group of disgruntled nobles carried out the friends gruesome assassination in December 1916. Their action failed to stave off the revolution, which began two months later.

Rasputinism entered into the vocabulary of politics as a word that denotes an obscene level of state corruption and decadence. In his History of the Russian Revolution, Leon Trotsky recalled that this bizarre episode, in the final years of the crisis-ridden Russian autocracy, acquired the character of a disgusting nightmare overhanging the country.

Trotsky continued: If by the word hooliganism we understand the extreme expression of those antisocial parasite elements at the bottom of society, we may define Rasputinism as a crowned hooliganism at its very top.

A century after the original version, a form of Rasputinism has emerged in the United States. But the American Rasputin is not the adviser to the president. He is the presidenta vile scoundrel and social degenerate, incapable of formulating a coherent sentence, let alone a logical argumentpositioned at the apex of the American state!

Trump epitomizes an oligarchy whose wealth is based on a level of parasitism that is hardly to be distinguished from criminality. His thuggishness, cultural backwardness and contempt for the common people embody the attitudes and practices of the swarms of banksters, billionaire investors, vulture capitalists, hedge fund managers, asset strippers, real estate swindlers and media moguls who run both political parties and all three branches of government.

The US presently finds itself in the midst of a crisis of unparalleled dimensions, with the government in the hands of a person who is telling the population to inject bleach into its veins.

In the period of its historic rise, the American bourgeoisie could produce Abraham Lincoln, who embodied the democratic ethos of the American Revolution and stewarded the country through the Civil War. In the next great crisisthe Great DepressionFranklin Delano Roosevelt was capable of speaking seriously about social issuesas FDR did in his fireside chatsand appealing to the democratic sentiments of the broad masses of people.

Today, decades of US economic decline have eliminated any basis within the ruling class for the defense of the countrys democratic traditions. American capitalism finds its quintessential expression in the persona of Trump. That does not mean that all American capitalists like what they see. But looking into the mirror is not always a pleasant experience. In the final analysis, Trump is their man. They must take him as he is.

Truth be told, what use would Wall Street have for a man of science and high culture in the White House? The interests of the banks and corporations are not served by a scientifically informed approach to the pandemic. The factories must be reopened. Profit must be squeezed out of the working class. Monthly mortgages, rents and interest payments are due and must be met. Dr. Anthony Fauci and his fellow epidemiologists, with their endless jeremiads on the danger posed by the current and a second wave of the pandemic, are getting on the nerves of corporate America.

Within 24 hours of Trumps statement on injecting disinfectant and using ultraviolet light inside the body, the fifty thousandth person died of the virus in the US. As several states rushed back to work, April 23 almost set a record for new positive cases nationwide. The United Nations is preparing for famines that threaten to take the lives of hundreds of millions in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

Though Trump says it more bluntly than his counterparts in Europe and across the world, the US president is expressing the viewpoint of the entire global ruling elite.

In Germany, Angela Merkel is opening the country by sending the working class back to their jobs, indifferent to evidence that this will lead to a new wave of deaths. The same is true in Spain, Britain, France and elsewhere. In Latin America, the position of the ruling class is summed up in the response of Brazils right-wing Jair Bolsonaro and Mexicos ostensibly left-wing Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, both of whom have claimed that God will protect their respective populations from the virus.

If society were directed rationally and democratically, on the basis of socialist policies, a globally planned and scientifically guided mass intervention could conquer the pandemic and save millions of lives. The pandemic is a biological reality, but the response to this phenomenon is conditioned by the class interests that dominate society. The lethality of the pandemic is determined less by the RNA of the virus than by the economic and social priorities of the capitalist class.

In the final analysis, the fight against the pandemic is inextricably bound up with the fight for the transfer of power to the working class and the establishment of socialism.
This car that crashed into a gate after being pursued by Mitchelstown gardai when it failed to stop at a COVID-19 checkpoint attracted a couple of interested onlookers

While the majority of people are heeding the advice to 'stay home and stay safe', those who do venture out without a valid reason are finding that gardai are keeping close tabs on our highways and byways.

Examples of the professional manner in which gardai are working to help the most vulnerable in out communities through the COVID-19 crisis can be found across social media.

From delivering essential medicines and foods to cocooning elderly people to simply being a reassuring presence on the streets, members of the gardai have been at the forefront of helping to stem the spread of the Coronavirus and keep people safe.

They are also using social media to highlight the fact that gardai are still tackling crime, with their high-profile COVID-19 checkpoints and patrols proving to be particularly effective.

One example highlighted on their Cork, Kerry & Limerick (Southern Region) Facebook page involved a car with three males on board that recently failed to stop when directed to do so by gardai on patrol in Mitchelstown.

Following a controlled pursuit, during which the driver of the car even drove off-road across farmland in a bid to escape the long arm of the law, the vehicle came to a shuddering halt as it tried to smash through a farm gate.

Having bailed out of the car the driver ran off through fields, even taking to a nearby river, in a failed bid to escape persuing officers on foot. After being helped from the river, the man in his 20s was arrested by gardai on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs. He later tested positive for cocaine.

Cannabis was also found in the car and a search of his home also turned up quantities of cannabis and cocaine. It also transpired that the car had no tax, insurance or NCT and was seized.

"A file is being prepared (for the DPP) in relation to driving under the influence, dangerous driving and other road traffic offences, possession of controlled substances and non-essential travel in contravention of the COVID-19 legislation currently in place," said a garda spokesperson

"Thankfully this incident was brought to a successful conclusion before anybody was hurt. On this occasion, the offenders were observed by gardai but we always depend on your support. If you see any suspicious activity call 112/999 or your local station immediately," they added.

In a separate incident the Fermoy Roads Policing Unit stopped an unaccompanied male driver with an expired leaning permit. He was arrested for driving under the influence and care seized. During a search of the vehicle gardai found a quantity of cannabis herb and a file will be prepared in relation to drug and road traffic offences.

In their Facebook page gardai wrote "please, don't put your own life, or anyone else's, in danger by driving while intoxicated. Why even risk it? #ArriveAlive."

In another incident Fermoy detectives stopped searched a male who was found to be carrying a vicious looking knife. He was later charged with possession of an offensive weapon.

"Covid-19 will not stop your gardai preventing and detecting offences like these in your community. We always welcome your support so please continue to report suspicious activity - don't leave it to others. #TakeControl," said the spokesperson.
A government hospital in Ernakulam



here has deployed a robot to serve food and medicines to coronavirus patients with an aim to reduce risk of infections for doctors and health workers.

Malayalam star Mohanlal's Viswasanthi Foundation donated the autonomous robot to the COVID-19 ward of the Ernakulam government medical college hospital.

The robot named 'KARMI-Bot' will be used to assist patients at the medical college's COVID-19 isolation ward from Saturday onwards,the Ernakulam district public relations department said in a release.

The robot is developed by ASIMOV robotics, a company working under maker village of Kerala start-up mission.

"Dispensing food, medicine, collecting the trash used by the patients, performing disinfection, enable video call between the doctor and patients etc are the main responsibilities of the robot", the release said.

The purpose of this project is to limit the interaction between COVID-19 patients and health workers as well as to address the shortage of PPE kits by minimizing its use, it said.

Once configured, the robot will be able to perform its duties fully autonomously.

Carrying a payload of up to 25 kgs, the robot is capable of achieving a maximum speed of 1m per sec.

UV based disinfection and targeted detergent spray are the additional capabilities of KARMI-Bot, which featured in the latest cover story of Forbes magazine.

ASIMOV Robotics aims to incorporate contactless routine temperature checking and automated charger docking to KARMI- Bot, once the spare parts are available after lock down.

The robot was handed over to District Collector S Suhas by the directors of Viswasanthi foundation Major Ravi and Vinu Krishnan along with Jayakrishnan, CEO of ASIMOV robotics in a function at Start-Up Village.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Beaumont Independent School District became the most recent school district in Southeast Texas Friday to end the pick-up of distance learning materials in person for elementary school students.

Instead, students who dont have access to the online learning program will receive their final learning materials by mail, or can opt to switch to the web-only program.

Other districts have adopted similar practices, as the need for social distancing has been stressed by local and federal officials as the COVID-19 pandemic progresses across the country.

To alleviate the number of stops for parents, Beaumont ISD will mail packets to families of elementary students who have opted for the paper packet for the remainder of the school year, beginning with Packet #3, the district announced on social media Friday. Parents should contact their students campus to verify their mailing address if they have not received their packet by Wednesday, May 6.

Secondary students will continue to pick up their coursework from their campuses on Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m.-1 p.m, with all students will returning their packets to their campuses after the two-week period is complete, the district said.

The move comes after paper packet pick-up moved locations from Lucas Pre-K after an employee at the location tested positive for coronavirus 12 days after handling paper-packets.

While the campus was closed and sanitized by a third-party company, the district urged anyone who picked up a packet from Lucas Pre-K on April 3 to monitor their health, and report any symptoms including fever, coughing, or shortness of breath to their healthcare providers.

Other districts in the region have announced an end to paper options completely, citing the growing number of cases, and the need to minimize in-person contact as much as possible.

But for many students, paper packets are their only option, with a lack of connectivity, devices, or both complicating the switch to web only.

In Orangefield ISD, who announced a switch to online-only earlier this month, the district is putting wireless hotspots in their parking lots for students to upload information.

Beaumont ISD has also provided free hot spots through a grant with T-Mobile that students can receive by contacting their campuses if they have not already.

The district continues to post updates through their social media and district website bmtisd.com.

isaac.windes@hearstnp.com

twitter.com/isaacdwindes
Prince Harry is now settled in Los Angeles along with his wife, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and their young son, Archie Harrison. The former senior royal couple is lying low in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, so any major projects that they have in the works are likely on hold.

Still, the two have found ways to get out and about, including a recent trip out to deliver meals in the L.A. area. Although a few reports have indicated that Prince Harry is struggling to cope with his new lifestyle, a recent story by Us Weekly claims something quite the opposite  and in fact, Prince Harry could be living his best life.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle wanted to live life on their terms

For many years, Prince Harry was among the most popular members of the British royal family. The public and press watched him grow into a fun-loving man with a heart of gold. However, after Prince Harry married Meghan, an American actress with strong opinions of her own, there was a marked shift in the way that the country started viewing him.

The redheaded royal and his wife began distancing themselves from the media, slowly but surely. They made sure that their sons christening was a private affair, they refused to share too many personal pictures, and, most tellingly of all, they separated themselves from the palace.

By moving into their own, private residence, creating their own Instagram page, and speaking out against many of the tabloid stories, Prince Harry and Meghan clearly indicated that they were ready to do things their way.

Still, not many could have anticipated that in January 2020, the couple would announce their retirement as senior members of the royal family.

Prince Harrys new life

Immediately after posting their controversial announcement on Instagram, Prince Harry and Meghan began making big moves.

The Duchess of Sussex retreated to a quiet estate in Canada, along with baby Archie, while Prince Harry began the process of tying up their affairs within the royal family. Many royal fans assumed that the couple might end up staying in Canada permanently. However, in early spring, Prince Harry and Meghan quietly packed up and moved to Los Angeles.

While settling into their new, very private home base in Los Angeles, Prince Harry has still been in touch with his family. Reportedly, he chats with them on a regular basis via video chat, and even participated, along with his wife and son, in a video conference call with the entire family, in honor of Queen Elizabeths recent birthday.

Prince Harrys life in Los Angeles is a fresh new reality

Prince Harry | Joe Giddins  WPA Pool/Getty Images

According to a recent report from Us Weekly, Prince Harrys move to Los Angeles has been a breath of fresh air from his former duties and that he is finally excited for what the future might hold. Certainly, living in Los Angeles grants the couple easier access to the celebrity culture that they seem to gravitate towards.

In addition, while the California paparazzi might be intense, they likely wont be as vicious towards Meghan as what many of the British tabloids have been.

As retired senior royals, Prince Harry and Meghan are free to set their own rules, and no longer have to live by the constraints imposed on other royals such as Prince William and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge. If Meghan wants to step out wearing shorts or to rock a bold new hairstyle or lip color, she no longer has to worry about what the palace might think. For Prince Harry, in particular, life in California will surely be nothing but positive.
Just meeting with Putin is a concession  the US should be wary of giving more | Jonah Goldberg
Brussels, April 25 : Belgian Prime Minister Sophie Wilmes has announced a detailed plan to gradually lift the country's coronavirus restrictions, the media reported on Saturday.

After hours of discussions on Friday, Prime Minister Wilmes announced a timetable to gradually end the country's lockdown, which began on March 12, reports the BBC.

The first businesses to open will be fabric shops on May 4 in order to help people comply with new regulations requiring all Belgians aged 12 or over to wear masks on public transport.

Other shops will reopen a week later.

Schools will return from May 18, but no more than 10 children will be allowed in each class. Cafes and restaurants will not be permitted to open before June 8.

But Wilmes warned that "nothing is set in stone".

At least 44,293 people have tested positive for the virus in Belgium as of Saturday, according to the Johns Hopkins University tally.

A total of 6,679 deaths have been recorded in the nation of 11.4 million - the highest rate per capita in Europe.

More than half the fatalities have been in care homes.

A number of other European countries have already announced measures to ease their lockdowns, the BBC reported.

On Friday, the Czech Republic ended restrictions on free movement which had been put in place to help halt the spread of coronavirus.

Some shops have already reopened in Germany and schools will gradually reopen from May 4, although bars, cafes, restaurants, cinemas and music venues will all remain closed.

Meanwhile, Poland's Health Minister Lukasz Szumowski called for a two-year delay to the presidential election - due to take place in two weeks' time - saying it was the safest situation given the pandemic.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
New Delhi: The Inter-ministerial central team (IMCT) on Saturday (April 25) wrote another letter to the West Bengal chief secretary alleging lack of cooperation from the state government and inadequate security provided during their visits to cities among other issues. The central team also expressed its concern over the Dumurjula quarantine centre in the state.

In a letter to Chief Secretary Rajiva Sinha, the inter-ministerial central team (IMCT) led by senior bureaucrat Apurba Chandra, said that the West Bengal government cannot waste their time accompanying the IMCT for the field visit and claimed that "it was in complete violation to the Ministry of Home Affairs letter."

On Friday, the IMCT team inspected a quarantine centre, Sanjiban Hospital and other COVID-19 hotspots in Howrah. The IMCT visited Dumurjala Stadium, a quarantine centre and Sanjiban Hospital and various other red zones in the Howrah district for inspection, after which the team returned to Kolkata.

In its letter, the IMCT said that the Dumurjala quarantine centre, which has a capacity of 118 people, has 80 inmates at present. It said the inmates are being taken for testing after their 7-day stay at the centre. The team claimed that cramped vans are being used to carry the inmates from the quarantine centre to testing faculty and a complete violation of social distancing was found to have taken place during the travel.

It claimed that during their visit to Saikia containment zone, the government 'strictly' enforced lockdown orders, which was not needed. Claiming that health professionals are not part of the surveillance team, it said that the team members would like to meet officers of the local body, district administration and a few residents in the area. It also sought a complete record of the surveillance carried out in containment zones so far.

The team said it has been in Kolkata since April 20 and has written four letters but none have been answered by the government.

It said the state government is expected to provide 'accommodation, transportation, PPE and extend all cooperation for their visits to local areas, production of records as requested', according to the MHA order. It also sought to know from the state government if it will take responsibility for the safety and security of the IMCT if it ventures out on its own. "Whether the BSF accompanying the IMCT on behalf of the government free to take action to ensure safety and security of the IMCT in absence of police support," the letter asked.

It said no senior state official accompanies them on visits and their only expectation is that doctors and officers at the venue should meet and provide information to the team.

Whether it is a fact that a DCP of Bengal police informed Bengal officers at BSF guest house on April 21 that the IMCT cannot leave the campus without the permission of the state government as lockdown is in force and if it leaves it is only permitted to go to the airport, the letter read, seeking to know if there is truth to this statement.

It also sought to know if a PPP will be provided to the IMCT if it decided to visit a hospital on its own.

The West Bengal government led by Mamata Banerjee is yet to respond to the letter.

According to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the total number of positive COVID-19 cases in West Bengal is 514. Till now, 103 people have either been cured or discharged, while 15 deaths have been reported.
 Flash

A plane carrying medical supplies took off at 8:34 p.m. Friday and left Wuhan, a central Chinese city once hardest hit by COVID-19, for New York.

The flight was operated by China Southern Airlines and loaded with nearly 20 tonnes of medical supplies on board. It was the airlines' first passenger flight that was used for delivering cargos from the province.

The airlines also planned to operate more cargo flights from Wuhan to San Francisco, Rome, Paris, London and Frankfurt to send medical supplies produced by local companies to help with the coronavirus fight, said a source with the air company's Hubei branch.

The airlines decided to use passenger planes to deliver cargo on March 29 and sent 17.6 tonnes of cargo on the first converted flight from south China's Guangzhou to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on April 3.

As of Thursday, China Southern Airlines had run 255 converted all-cargo flights which sent 2,930 tonnes of cargos in total to 22 countries and regions, including Italy, France, Canada, Australia, Turkey, Kenya, Japan and the Republic of Korea.




The coronavirus pandemic had led to increased online attendance for churches such as Stonegate Fellowship and First Baptist Churches and private Masses for at least one Catholic parish.

Stonegate Fellowships executive pastor, Larry Gilbert, said their online platforms have blown up since church services have been only online.

I think everybody would like to get back to some face-to-face and person-to-person contact, he said. From an online perspective we have seen a tremendous amount of engagement.

Stonegate Fellowship has held its regular Sunday and midweek services. He said their online services are reaching 20,000 people, and actual viewership has been about 8,000 unique individual devices that have been tuning into the services. He said about 5,000 people have been viewing on the Instagram, Facebook and YouTube platforms.

Its been great, and were trying to figure out how to sustain that when we get back together, Gilbert said. To still be able to capitalize on some momentum with the online platforms that were using.

He said people are ready to put up their laptops and iPads for a while and start coming back to church. Gilbert said Bible studies and youth group participation has also increased during this time.

We have a Wednesday night song and stories that our worship team does, and its been blowing up like crazy, he said. Its a really neat experience for our worship team.

Stonegate has had to cancel multiple events, including their youth and children camps.

In the last couple of years, weve taken 1,100 kids up to Glorieta, New Mexico, for camp, he said. We had to cancel this year, which was going to be the end of May until the first week of June. Then, our childrens camp we do in the second week in June and we had to cancel that, so that was a huge disappointment.

Get connected --First Baptist Church of Midland www.facebook.com/FBCMidland/ --Stonegate Fellowship www.facebook.com/stonegatefellowship/ San Miguel Arcangel Catholic Church www.facebook.com/San-Miguel-Arcangel-Catholic-Church-152166274918749/ --Diocese of San Angelo sanangelodiocese.org See More Collapse

He said that they are planning an alternative camp-type experience for the kids that will take place over the summer. The team is excited about the possibilities they can do for children.

Stonegate also holds a celebration for graduating seniors in the early part of May.

We are looking at how to celebrate our seniors, Gilbert said. We have a lot of great seniors in our high school group that we want to honor and congratulate.

Brian Bodiford, director of communications for the Diocese of San Angelo, said parishes have moved Masses online.

We encourage our churches, as much as possible, to make this available to parishioners through Facebook live, through their website or YouTube, he said. For the most part, I think thats been working pretty well, and most of them have been trying to get something going especially during Holy Week.

However, sacramental confession is a practice that cant be done remotely, Bodiford said.

He said confession can be scheduled with the priest through parish offices.

There is not a valid way to do that remotely, he said. We are encouraging our priests to all make times available for confession, and ordinarily during Lent, we do communal penance services We werent able to do that this year, but priests have made time available for individual confessions.

He said churches have been taking precautions, such as maintaining social distancing and sanitizing the confessional.

The pastor of San Miguel Arcangel Catholic Church, the Rev. Patrick Akpanobong, said he has added two additional days to his normal schedule for confessions, but cannot recall how many people have come to receive the sacrament during this time.

San Miguel livestreams Masses on its Facebook page. Masses can be attended by 10 or fewer people.

Akpanobong said in an email that when guidelines were sent out by Bishop Michael J. Sis, he made an adjustment to limit the number of people allowed for a gathering.

In giving thanks, I made adjustments to the reality and utilized the limited number of ten people allowed for any gathering at this difficult time in my daily private masses and weekend online masses for the spiritual benefit of my parishioners, he said in his email.

He said he celebrates morning weekday Mass, and seven to10 people are attending on each day. Families, as well as individuals who are not related but are friends, can reserve a private Mass. The parish postponed Easter vigil baptism, First Holy Communion and confirmation as directed by the bishop and Church Universal, he said.

However, not all baptisms have been postponed.

It is pertinent to note, that many families will prefer to have a larger number at the baptismal celebration of their child and have elected to wait until the pandemic is over, Akpanobong said. Baptism is not totally postponed, as I have one scheduled for next weekend limited to only 10 people.

First Baptist Church senior pastor, Darin Wood, said its been humbling to see how many people have connected with the church, and not all of those people are from the Permian Basin.

It says to me that theres a spiritual thirst, that people are saying, you know what, maybe I cant meet all of my needs, maybe theres something more in life that I need to connect with, Wood said. And maybe God, is that something.

He said he has seen this reflected not just from online sermon attendance but in conversations as well.

I would say we are trending up, and participation in our small groups -- one of them had like 125 percent more in attendance, he said. Our small groups are mostly using Zoom, and they are finding a great deal of success.

Wood said that follow-up with people tuning into services has been the most difficult part during the pandemic.

People can participate anonymously (during online services) and we dont even know they are there, he said. We have provided two opportunities to take the next step. One, you can text a number which comes to the staff. If you text to the number that we use, then it goes to myself and my team and then we respond from there.

First Baptist Church also started using Churchonline.com last Sunday which allows them to have a chat room while the service is playing live.

It gives us the opportunity to engage people in real time while our services are rolling, he said. One of my staff members was live-chatting with people as they came through, welcoming them and giving them the opportunity to ask questions or learn more about the church.

Wood said he hopes that once churches are allowed to meet in person again that the number of people who attend will be more than before the pandemic. He said the church has also seen strong participation from their televised services in the form of emails, cards and phone calls to the church. He said his sisters church in Joshua outside of Fort Worth held online services for the first time since the pandemic began and has received great support.

Im hearing from churches across Texas, as theyre adapting to the online model, theyre finding their people are already there, he said. My sisters pastor is in his 70s, they do not do streaming, they do not do online giving. Two weeks ago, they did it for the first time. Their offering need is about $11,000; they took in $25,000 on one day. That was one of the best Sundays theyve ever had in the history of the church.

He said that now is the time to pivot to a new model for the church to continue spreading the Gospel online even after the pandemic ends.

Of course, we are going to have Sunday night church, he said. Of course, were gonna have opportunities to serve online. We just needed to push. If (churches) can stream -- and what better messages than the Gospel -- then why not?
This supposedly sanitised history of the social media giant reads like an explosive expose, says Laurence Dodds.

How does a shy teenager who finds his happy place in computer programming end up leading employees in a cry of "domination!" - and then actually live up to it? In Facebook: The Inside Story, a comprehensive new history by the venerable tech journalist Steven Levy, the sequence of events feels terrifyingly logical.

Given his unusual level of access to the dominator himself, Mark Zuckerberg, Levy has been accused of writing too friendly an account. Even so, if this is the sanitised official history then the samizdat version must be atomic. There is more than enough here to explain how and why Facebook's "idealistic and terrifying mission" to "connect the world" resulted in global scandal, billions of dollars in fines and the worst reputational reversal since Enron.

The most obvious villains are Facebook's elite "Growth" team. Their mission was simply to make Facebook bigger by any means necessary. That put them at the root of an astonishing number of the company's biggest missteps.

There was the creepy friend recommendation system, which once linked a sex worker to her clients and a psychiatrist's patients to each other without any of them knowing why. There was the smartphone snooping program (billed as "market research") that eventually got Facebook employees locked out of their own workplace iPhone apps by a furious Apple. The Growth Team may even have enabled genocide in Burma by using quick and dirty automated translation to spread Facebook's networks into markets it could not yet monitor. The Burmese military was able to use it to incite violence like the Rwandan Hutus had used radio.

Assembled methodically in this way, the range and repetition of Facebook's transgressions is almost awe-inspiring. Levy demonstrates that these were not "mistakes" but natural consequences of concrete decisions that Facebook had made years before. In almost every case, there were prominent voices inside the company warning of the dangers to privacy and safety; in almost every case, those voices lost. Again and again, it appears that Facebook chose growth over caution and revenue over security. All those choices came together in Cambridge Analytica, Facebook's biggest scandal (so far).

This is not a case of "good king, bad advisers". Far from merely rubber-stamping these decisions, Zuckerberg was often the decider. Between the college farce of his early life and the poignant awkwardness of Levy's later interviews, a portrait emerges of a strange, fragile conqueror. Though his media-trained bonhomie improves every year, he remains obsessed with competition yet hypersensitive to slights, driven by data except when his pride takes control, and capable of acting with extreme ruthlessness - before seemingly convincing himself that it was all justified by the mission. Even now, the only sin he will confess to is a surfeit of idealism.

Kevin Systrom, the star of Sarah Frier's No Filter: The Inside Story of Instagram, is a different kind of man. Artistic, socially adroit and perhaps a bit precious, a privileged perfectionist with omnivorous hobbies, he dreamed of getting a job restoring old cathedrals. In 2005, he turned down a personal recruitment offer from Zuckerberg. Instead, he travelled to Florence where he was taught how to make wine and browbeaten by a photography professor who handed him a murky little Holga camera and demanded that he "learn to love imperfection".

In 2012, Systrom and his bare-bones photo-sharing app Instagram made history when Facebook, racing to head off a rival bid from Twitter, bought it practically sight unseen for a then-astonishing $1bn. At the time it had only 30 million users to Facebook's 900 million. What happens next is a brief aside in Levy's account, but Frier, who covers Facebook and Instagram for Bloomberg News, zooms in. Her book is leaner and more focused than Levy's, written with less pizzazz but going to places he never treads.

Surprisingly (to some), Systrom's artistic scruples prove important. His hipster sensibilities let Instagram speak deeply to a new audience. His refusal to add a Twitter-style resharing button, against great pressure, preserved the app's aura of glamour and intimacy while insulating it from the fake news controversy.

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A lot of the book's fun comes from the unlikely alliance that ensues between the awkward nerds of Instagram and the showbiz industry. Hollywood fixers and ingenious Kardashians learnt to milk his invention. Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber and Madonna all cameo in this story; there is even a plot to poach the Pope from Twitter.

Perhaps it could all have ended more or less happily, but it is a classic story of brother turning against brother, which ended badly for Systrom (if you discount his now-enormous wealth). Instagram itself though is doing wonderfully, with more than a billion users who are being slowly sucked further into the Facebook mothership.

No Filter is most intriguing when it steps outside the Facebook campus. Like some fanatical fairy godmother, Instagram's digital reward system has turned pets into superstars and cafes into film sets, demanding perfection from food, holidays and human faces. The pressure it inflicts on users, especially teenage girls, eventually forced a reckoning - but not before the 2017 death of British teenager Molly Russell, who killed herself at the age of 14 after viewing pro-suicide material.

Today, Facebookers passionately swear their company has changed, and sometimes that seems true. It now ranks family photos above viral gibberish, continuously consults human rights experts and is even setting up a virtual court of appeal to check its own power. Yet it remains defined, wholly controlled and indeed dominated by one man - the same headstrong, calculating, competitive man who claimed to have learnt from his mistakes in 2003, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2011 and 2018. So has he changed?

 The Telegraph
T he eagerly awaited second season of After Life has just arrived on Netflix  with Ricky Gervais reprising his role as widower Tony, struggling to cope with the loss of his wife, Lisa, to cancer.

Series one, released a year ago this month and written and directed by Gervais, was praised for masterfully balancing themes of depression and loss with bursts of dark humour.

The series is set in the idyllic fictional town of Tambury, where Tony works as a features writer for The Tambury Gazette. The filming location for the offices of the failing local newspaper is in the centre of Hemel Hempstead in Hertfordshire.

However, in the opening episode of the second series, fans will see Tony overlooking one of the capital's most-prized green spaces - Hampstead Heath in north London.

This 390-acre stretch of parkland is on the doorstep of the Tambury house Tony shares with his beloved German shepherd dog, Brandy.

Where is the real-life location of Tony's Tambury house?

Tony and Lisa bought their place in Tambury together and made it their home, so it is a key focus of the series.

The charming semi-detached property is located at the edge of Hampstead Heath in north London. The tiny hamlet is lined with rows of terrace houses which lead to a pond and the wide-open spaces of the heath itself.

The road is less than half a mile from Hampstead Tube station in travel Zone 3.

Hampstead is one of London's most exclusive neighbourhoods, with an average property price of about 1.5 million, according to Rightmove.

However, the large houses close to the heath command a premium. A mid-terrace house in the enclave with views overlooking the pond - and the London skyline - is currently for sale for 2.85 million.

The affluent suburb is famously home in real life to Gervais and his partner, the author Jane Fallon.

In 2016, Gervais reportedly moved into a 10.5 million mansion in the area after putting his nearby home on the market. He had lived there 10 years and hed had it extensively renovated.

The comedy actor has previously referred to his beloved local area as "beautiful and eccentric. I love that I can walk to the Heath in minutes."
An Emory University medical student is one of the first people who has volunteered for a groundbreaking vaccine trial that doctors hope will be key in overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sean Doyle, a 31-year-old PhD candidate who is in his fourth year of medical school at the Atlanta institution, last month received a dose of an experimental drug.

This vaccine candidate, code-named mRNA-1273, was developed by the National Institutes of Health and Massachusetts-based biotechnology company Moderna Inc.

Aside from the experimental injections in Atlanta, volunteers in Seattle who have also signed up for the vaccine trial have now moved into the second phase after reporting few harmful side effects, according to USA TODAY.

Sean Doyle, a 31-year-old fourth-year medical student at Emory University in Atlanta, receives an injection of an experimental vaccine for coronavirus

Doyle also participated in trials for a vaccine to prevent Ebola virus more than two years ago

There is no chance participants could get infected from the shots because they do not contain the coronavirus itself.

The vaccine uses synthetic messenger RNA (mRNA) to inoculate against the coronavirus.

RNA is the genetic material that directs cells to produce something.

Such treatments help the body immunize against a virus and can potentially be developed and manufactured more quickly than traditional vaccines.

In this case, the RNA vaccine would provoke cells to make spike proteins that resemble pieces of coronavirus.

If all goes well, the body would then be programmed to recognize the spike proteins and develop antibodies that could defend against any future infection.

Still, agreeing to take part in vaccine trials, particularly with RNA vaccines that have never been used, comes with risks.

Doyle is one of dozens of participants in a trial for mRNA-1273, which unlike traditional vaccines does not use an unactivated version of the virus

Instead, mRNA-1273 uses the coronavirus RNA - the virus' genetic material - to inoculate the body

In this case, the RNA vaccine would provoke cells to make spike proteins that resemble pieces of coronavirus. The blue strands above represent the RNA of the coronavirus

There is no precedent yet for them being approved for use and, and we don't know everything about them in terms of how they're going to behave in large numbers of people and what the side effect profile they might be, Dr. Amesh Adalja of Johns Hopkins University told CNN.

As to when a vaccine could be ready for COVID-19, best-case scenarios say 12 to 18 months, which would be extremely rapid.

Vaccine development is usually measured in years and sometimes even decades, Adalja said.

And there are some infectious diseases for which we have no vaccine after decades and decades of work, like HIV or hepatitis C, for example.

The only way that we're going to really contain this virus is with the vaccine.

For Doyle, he knew the risks to his health that he was taking by participating in a trial for an unknown drug.

There were conversations that I had with friends and family, Doyle told CNN.

They all expressed concerns about getting an experimental vaccine like this where no one knows what the side effects might be.

But they trusted my judgment.

Drugmakers are working as quickly as possible to develop a vaccine to combat the rapidly spreading coronavirus.

Two-and-a-half year ago, Doyle volunteered to be injected with an experimental immunization for the Ebola virus.

In this case, the RNA vaccine would provoke cells to make spike proteins that resemble pieces of coronavirus

If all goes well, the body would then be programmed to recognize the spike proteins and develop antibodies that could defend against any future infection

He said his experience in that 18-month trial made him a candidate for the current COVID-19 experiments.

No one is really sure how its going to behave when its put in your body, he told Mother Jones.

So some of my friends and family indicated a little bit of concern.

But Im familiar with the statistics on how rarely really severe reactions occur.

So I wasnt really that worried about being affected negatively by participating in this trial.

It really does seem like the benefit would far outweigh any potential risks.

Moderna announced last week that the study is expanding to include older adults, divided into two age groups - 51 to 70 and those over 70.

NIH said it is seeking 60 older adults, bringing the total being tested in the initial phase to 105.

Moderna also announced new funding from the U.S. government to speed development of the shot code-named mRNA-1273, including preparations to ramp up production and to get ready for larger, next-step studies.

Earlier this week, NIH infectious disease chief Dr. Anthony Fauci told The Associated Press the safety study was showing 'no red flags' and he hoped the next phase of testing could begin around June.

The NIH shot is one of three leading candidates in the international search for a vaccine.

A candidate made by CanSino Biologics has begun the second phase of testing in China.

Another, made by Inovio Pharmaceuticals, opened its first US study last week and just received funding to begin similar test vaccinations in South Korea.

More than 2.7 million people have been infected with COVID-19 and nearly 190,000 have died from it since the new coronavirus emerged in the central Chinese city of Wuhan late last year, according to a Reuters tally.

'As new diagnostics, treatments and vaccines become available, we have a responsibility to get them out equitably with the understanding that all lives have equal value,' said Melinda Gates, co-chair of the Gates Foundation, which was WHO's second largest donor last year.

More than 100 potential COVID-19 vaccines are being developed, including six already in clinical trials, said Dr. Seth Berkley, CEO of the GAVI vaccine alliance, a public-private partnership that leads immunization campaigns in poor countries.

'We need to ensure that there are enough vaccines for everyone, we are going to need global leadership to identify and prioritize vaccine candidates,' he told a Geneva news briefing.

Yuan Qiong, senior legal and policy advisor at Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) Access Campaign welcomed the pledges but called for concrete steps.

'There shouldn't be any patent monopoly and profiteering out of this pandemic,' she told Reuters.
The Congress on Saturday urged the government to formulate a national plan for handling the coronavirus crisis under the Disaster Management Act.

Senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal said at a press conference via video-conferencing that it is time the government should rethink on lockdown measures as the country cannot have the "lockdown of people and lockout of the economy".

He also called upon the judiciary to evolve a policy to ensure that the justice delivery system is considered an essential service during such crisis.

Sibal alleged that bureaucrats, who do not have any idea about ground realities, were formulating policy for the government during the lockdown.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Kathmandu, April 22

Nepal recorded 11 new cases of coronavirus infection on Tuesday; all of them are from Bhulke, Triyuga municipality-3 of Udayapur district.

The Ministry of Health and Population confirms that they are all locals who got in contact with the Muslims who attended a religious function in India recently.

With this, the country has entered the third stage of the coronavirus outbreak, the community transmission. In the first stage, the country only saw imported cases when all the infected persons had recently come home from other countries with the infection.

The first local transmission case was confirmed on April 4, when the officials said the country entered the second stage of the transmission.

Public health expert Dr Anup Subedi says Bhulke of Udayapur has now been the hotspot of the coronavirus infection.

However, the government is yet to officially announce the countrys entry into the third stage. So far, the positive cases are those who were in contact with other infected persons. We will look into a few more cases and decide if the infection has reached the community level, an expert advisor to the Ministry of Health, Dr Khem Karki, says.

Meanwhile, Udayapur district officials have sealed all borders of the district to prevent further spread of the virus.
Well done Four Star Pizza who made a visit to the Neonatal and Labour Ward at Our Lady of Lourdes

Among the wave of words of thanks and tributes paid by our readers to frontline health staff battling the Covid-19 crisis were those below:

Mary Kirwan: Thanks so much to you guys doing amazing work stay safe

Sandra Floody: Thankyou to all the staff in Our Lady of Lourdes hospital, you are amazing & we are so lucky to have such dedicated caring people, thankyou for all that you are doing, you are all working so hard under such pressure, thank you so so much.

Kierans Eudy: It's not a medal they deserve it's a chalice each and every one of them

Marie Devine: Thank you so much x

Rita Giblin: Thank you so much for your wonderful work. You are all angels. We can never thank you enough. Stay safe

Paul Dooley: Well done to everyone on the front line in the Lourdes hospital

Helen Gorman Brown: Thank you so much to all the amazing people in the lourdes hospital, we are so lucky to have such brave and dedicated people in our area, bless you all and hope you stay safe. Our prayers are with you and your families. One big THANK YOU

Barbara Strong McCann: Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Audrey O'Brien: Thank you to every member of staff in Our Lady of Lourdes hospital. You are all doing amazing work. Stay safe

Eugene Barron: Thank you for everything you are amazing people god bless you all and keep you safe

Paul Carroll: I'm an outpatient at OLOL Haematology Dept. and cannot thank them enough for the excellent care and treatment they provide for me every 2 months. They were my heroes even before this Pandemic.

Anthony Campbell: Thanks from the Campbell family

Barbara Farrell: Well done to you all. Your hard work is much appreciated.

Doreen O'Connell Nolan: Stay safe & strong you are our saviors

Robert Moore; We are lucky to have you.

Carol Owens: Thank you to each and every one of the staff in OLOL for all you do every day. Keep safe, keep well and keep positive. You are all truly wonderful.

Deirdre Durnin: Thank you all for the fantastic work you are doing in our lady of Lourdes hospital you are amazing people. stay safe god bless.

John Sheridan: The best there is ..what a dedicated front line team

Trisha O'Hagan: A huge thank you to each and every one of you from the support staff to the consultants. We will forever in your debt

Geraldine Butterly: Thank you each person who crosses the door into and out of Our Ladys of Lourdes hospital. There are not enough words to show our appreciation for you.

Geraldine Bradley: Thank you to all the staff at Our lady of Lourdes hospital you s are a brilliant team say safe

Helena Harte: What a Great team you all are so Thanks to you all and Be safe.

Therese Duffy: To all the health care workers in Our lady of Lourdes hospital, thank you so much, we really appreciate your bravery, hard and dedication to protect and heal our sick. We will do our part to help you in any way we can. God bless and protect u all and your families in Jesus name, amen.

Rhona Clarke: Thanks to all the staff in the hospital you are doing a fantastic job stay safe Thank you all so much

Sinead Perez: Thank you, angels in disguise.

Mary Mc Clorey: Thank you for your kindness and care when I was recently in and God bless

Barbara Brady: A huge thank you so much to the staff of Our Lady of Lourdes hospital for doing such a brilliant job

Angela Dunlevy: Thanks to everyone in the hospital for all their selfless work please God you will all be safe and well xx

Julie Gargan: To all the staff of our Lady of Lourdes Hospital a big thank you to each and everyone you all are so brave stay safe

Martin Smethers: Well done to all our caring Drs and nurses

Julie Wilton: There are no words that anyone can say to thank our frontline staff enough. Stay strong and when this is all over there will be parties in your honour all over the country.

Diederick Earls: A MASSIVE THANK YOU to all in the Lourdes Hospital from Cedar Ward Tallaght hospital.

Pearl Lambe: To all the amazing staff in OLOLH a massive thank you, for all you do, day in, day out for us and especially during this time. An extra mention to all the staff on Newgrange ward level 1 who looked after Hannah for 15 months until recently . Apart from the fantastic nursing care you made everyday special for her, and it was a home away from home. We miss you all and stay safe x

Eoin O Regan: Never have so few done so much. Heroes the lot of you doctors, nurses, cleanersm porters office staff security staff all have being playing a blinder. I'll never forget how hard you are working in these difficult times bravo and I hope the government remembers that you literally put your lives on the line for us again Bravo.

Nicola McArdle Commins: Fantastic Staff. They delivered both my boys 8&7 looked after them on a few occasions in paediatric a&e over the years. Nursed my late father 3 years ago and my late mother two years ago. Always friendly professional compassionate and caring. You all do such a great job. xxx

Roseanna Boylan: Thanks to all in the front line who risk all for us to be safe you are all heroes

Trish Carolan: We can never say thanks enough

Iris Marian McGee: Well done to everybody on the front line who risk their own lives to save others may God Bless you all and keep you safe each day thank you so much.

Alice Campbell: Well done everyone x

Aisling O'Connell Martin: We, the community of Drogheda, are so proud of you all. We thank you for everything you do.

Jim Shields: Amazing teams across the hospital & ambulance crews. Stay Safe.

Maeve O'Sullivan: Thank you all for all you do! You are our brave heroes! X

Bernadette Sweeney: Bless you all doing a fantastic job a big thank you to each and everyone of you keep you all safe.

Karl Fallon: Thank you all for looking after my mother.

Ashley Smith: You're all amazing, it would be a very sad world without you. Thank you so much. You better get a whopper pay rise soon. Much love xx

Paulo Pinheiro: Thank you all the staff. Try Keep safe

Claire Brennan: Amazing staff as always. Thank you all . x

Brenda Keogh: A huge thank you to all the staff at the Our Lady of Lourdes hospital. You are all working extremly hard and doing amazing job under such a continued amout of pressure. You are all appreciated.

Denise Smith: Thank you so much for all you do

Rosaleen Floyd: Thank you to all the staff at our lady's of Lourdes hospital for the fantastic work yous are doing wish you all well keep safe

Mark Donnelly: Well done to all the staff at our lady of lourdes hospital, from the doctors & nurses to the porters & cleaners, you all have a part to play & are playing a stormer..

Lorraine Cooney: Thank you so much for your time dedication and compassion dealing with all affected from this horrible virus. Your bravery and time is much appreciated thank you all #staysafe

Paul Dennis: Well done to everyone in OLOL. you are saving many lives

Sandra Finegan: It's not just today that your amazing since the foundation of this hospital you have given us so much. Stay well and we support your efforts, thank you to all

Paul Kelly: Thank you to all the doctors and nurses for their wonderful and hard work. God bless you all.

John Dyas: Thank you to all the wonderful staff our front line hero's putting there lives on the line for us. Stay at home do your little bit it will help a lot.

Ann Rohan: Well done to all Frontline staff. You are all amazing and we thank you for all your hard work.

Deirdre Boyle: Thank you to each and every one of you. Your dedication to our health and welfare is much appreciated. We are lucky to have the Lourdes in the town.

Catherine Kearney: Keep up the good work everyone of ye are amazing x

Martina McGahon: Thank you so much for your bravery & kindness we couldn't survive without you all from me & my family thank you. xx

Sinead Brady: Thank you all so much for looking after our community. You are doing a fantastic job. May god bless you and keep you all safe.

Michele Rossiter-Clinton: Can't thank you guys enough - from doctors, nurses, admin. Catering, cleaning, paramedics and whoever else I've missed out. I appreciate the difficult decisions you make every day and how everything else must take a back seat for now. Words can't describe how grateful I am to all of you. Keep safe and be proud.

Geraldine Sullivan: Everybody who works in the Lourdes hospital each and everyone of you are amazing thank you all so much.

Marie Richardson: Want Say Thanks To Dr Roche And Her Team For Looking After Me.

Eddie O'connor: Where to begin they are and always will be the best in my eyes, they have already looked after me.for the last 6 years from cancer to heart problems and then COPD. And now they are at the forefront of this pandemic God bless them they are angels.

Sharon Skerritt: They all deserve bonuses , show the love in their payslips .

Garrett Kampff: Stay safe you bunch of absolute legends!!

Maeve OBoyle: Well done everyone

AnnMarie Murray: Thank you all to all the staff for your amazing work,,, u truly are heroes, stay safe xxxxx

William Lennon: Well done everyone, great work by each and everyone of you

Tara Everitt: You guys rock! I hope when this is all done you all will continue to be treated as the heroes that you are.

Deborah McKenny: Well done to all the staff in our Lady of Lourdes hospital god look after you all and keep you safe

Rose Dunne: Thank You all for your hard

Patricia O' Sullivan: Well done all of you are amazing.

Anne Carroll: Well done to all staff at the hospital.

Paula Finnegan: To all the wonderful doctors and nurses care workers cleaners we would be lost with out use we appreciate all the work you're doing .

Caitriona Kelly: Thank you all so much

Marie Brennan: A big THANK YOU to all the staff, medical and clerical, working hard to curtail this pandemic and to the MMM's for providing the hospital in the first place.

Lisa Black: To all front line staff, putting themselves and the families at risk, these are the true heroes during this pandemic.

Miriam Mc Cabe: To all the staff working in the Lourdes Hospital Thank You for your continued hard work on the frontline. Stay safe ..... I hope that when this all passes you will be rewarded well . We are indebted and grateful to you all.

Donna O Neill: Thanks a million for all your hard work.

Mark Taaffe: so lucky to have this hospital on our doorstep and huge thank you to every member of staff involved in its daily running .. well done guys

Valerie Murray: Thank you from all the Murray family we appreciate and value all you have done and all you continue to do.
Here are todays top news, analysis and opinion at this hour. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times.

Masks, social distancing, temperature screening: Delhi airport may reopen with new rules

Mandatory face masks for all travellers and crew, no queues for security clearance, restricted use of in-flight lavatories and a stop on all in-flight meals --- Delhis Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) may soon resume flight operations but with strict restrictions and curbs in place.

Read More

In midnight order, Home Ministry allows neighbourhood shops to reopen

In a late night move, the government on Friday night permitted opening of neighbourhood and stand alone shops, including those located in residential complexes within municipal areas, but at a 50 per cent strength and after taking necessary precautions in the light of coronavirus pandemic.

Read More.

Knocks the virus out in one minute: Trumps disinfectant claims baffle citizens

Encouraged by tentative findings that summer weather may dampen the novel coronavirus, US President Trump used his daily live national press briefing to ask whether light could become a medical treatment. His suggestion was quickly savaged in memes and jokes -- as well as by Joe Biden, his presumptive Democratic challenger in Novembers election.

Read More

Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers pick combined India-South Africa XI, MS Dhoni named captain

Virat Kohli and AB De Villiers picked a combined India-South Africa ODI squad during their latest Instagram Live interaction and they both decided on MS Dhoni as the skipper. Who else made it to the team?

Read More

Sobhita Dhulipala issues clarification over photos for magazine shoot

Actor Sobhita Dhulipala recently shared pictures from a magazine photoshoot, saying that she had clicked the pictures herself. Later, a picture of her getting clicked by a man on her terrace landed online. Taking to Instagram, Sobhita issued a long clarification that the pictures ultimately used by the magazine were all clicked by her.

Read More

WhatsApp increases group call limit from 4 people to 8: You can start using it next week

WhatsApp is now going to allow eight people to chat on a group call instead of four. The group call limit has been expanded making it easier for you to keep in touch with friends and family over the pandemic.

Read More

Meet the class 10 students who have designed prosthetic limbs for handicapped dogs

Instead of just feeling sad for handicapped dogs and hoping one day someone would do something for them, a group of six class 10 students from Shiv Nadar School, Noida, actually went ahead and designed prosthetic limbs for dogs.

Read More

World leaders back UN, WHO initiative to speed Covid-19 response; US missing

World leaders on Friday pledged to work on vaccines and tools to fight against Covid-19. The event was attended by French President Emmanuel Macron and other leaders including WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus was part of the event. The US, however, was missing from the virtual event. Show of unity for UN and WHO comes after Trump criticized WHOs response to Covid-19.

Watch the video
Representative image

The United States accounts for more than one fourth of the global COVID-19 deaths and over one-third of the total number of people infected with the deadly virus, latest figures revealed on Friday.

The coronavirus pandemic that started from Wuhan City in China in November, 2019 has so far killed more than 195,000 people across the world and infected more than 27 lakh.

The United States, which has been the worst hit by coronavirus alone accounts the highest number so far; wherein more than 9.2 lakh Americans have tested positive for COVID-19 and the fatalities count on Friday stood at 51,000, according to the Johns Hopkins University.

In fact, the number of COVID-19 cases in the US is more than the next six countries taken together: Spain (219,764), Italy (192,994), France (159,495), Germany (154,545), United Kingdom (144,635) and Turkey (104,912).

Despite accounting for the largest number of fatalities, the death rate, however, in the US is much lower than other countries, according to Johns Hopkins University.

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

So far, 51,000 people have died due to COVID-19 in US, followed by Italy (25,969), Spain (22,524), France (22,245), and United Kingdom (19,506).

In the United States, New York accounts for the largest number of fatalities (17,671) with 271,890 confirmed cases.

However, the US seems to be past its peak.

Nationwide the per cent of tests that come back positive has declined very significantly, President Donald Trump told reporters at his daily White House news conference on coronavirus.

Last week, roughly 38 per cent of the tests in New York were positive; this week that number is down to 28 percent. New cases in New York are down 50 per cent compared to a week ago, and fatalities are down 40 per cent over the same period, he said.

In Louisiana, the rate of positive test result declined from 25 per cent down to 15 per cent in the last seven days alone. As many as 18 states now show a decline in a number of positive tests in the last seven days which is a very, very significant progress, Trump said.

As a result, half of all Americans live in states that have now taken steps to open their economies, Trump said, a day earlier California, Minnesota, and Tennessee announced additional plans to restart certain sectors.

We ask every American to maintain vigilance and hygiene, social distancing, and voluntary use of face coverings. We are opening our country. It's very exciting to see, he said.

Trump said that he spoke to Tim Cook of Apple and that they have a good sense of the market.

He feels it's going to be a V. The V is sharply upward later on as we actually get it fully open, he said.

Earlier in the day, Trump signed a Paycheck Protection Program and Healthcare Enhancement Act providing USD 320 billion to keep American workers on the payroll.

Of this USD 30 billion of the Paycheck Protection funds will be reserved for small financial institutions, including those that serve minority and distressed communities, extending vital relief to thousands of African American and Hispanic American small-business owners and their employees.

More than 80 million Americans have already received their payment USD 3400 for a typical family of four.

The CARES Act requires that the federal government send out a notice of what benefits Americans are receiving; to fulfil the requirement the Treasury Department is mailing a letter to him.

It will include the amount of their economic impact payment, how it will arrive direct deposit, check or prepaid debit card as well as a message to the nation letting each American know that we are getting through this challenge together as one American family and that is what has been happening, Trump said.

Observing that 184 countries have been hit by coronavirus, the president said that they are all watching the US.

They are all watching, and they're calling, and they respect what we are doing so much. I spoke with the leaders of numerous countries today; they are asking if we can send them ventilators, and I am agreeing to do it," he said.

Federal government has over 10,000 ventilators and is helping Mexico, Honduras, Indonesia, France.

We are sending (ventilators) to France, we are sending to Spain, we're sending to Italy, and we will probably be spending to Germany should they need them, he said.
By Trend

Turkey's export of chemical products to Iran amounted to over $82 million from January through March 2020 decreasing by 37.46 percent compared to the same period of 2019, Turkeys Trade Ministry told Trend.

Turkey's export of chemical products to Iran amounted to over $5 million in March 2020, showing a decrease of 85.08 percent compared to March 2019.

From January through March 2020, Turkeys export of chemicals to the world markets decreased by 5.1 percent compared to the same period of 2019 and amounted to $4.8 billion.

Over the reporting period, Turkeys export of chemicals amounted to 11.1 percent of the country's total export.

Turkey's export of chemical products to the world markets amounted to $1.5 billion in March 2020, which is 15.4 percent less compared to March 2019.

In March 2020, Turkeys export of chemical products amounted to 11.6 percent of the country's total export.

According to the ministry, Turkeys export of chemical products amounted to $20.3 billion from March 2019 through March 2020.

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The Supreme Court on Friday bolstered the CBIs powers by holding that the central governments premier investigating agency need not take a state governments consent for investigating offences committed within union territories by state government employees acting in their official capacity.

The requirement under section 6 of the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act of 1946 (DSPE Act), which mandates that the CBI should obtain the consent of the state before exercising its jurisdiction over any area which is not a union territory, will not apply in such a case, the top court held.

The consent of the State under Section 6 cannot come in the way or constrict the jurisdiction of the special police force to investigate specified offences under Section 3 of the 1946 Act committed within the Union Territories, the bench of justices AM Khanwilkar and Dinesh Maheshwari ruled.

The CBI can investigate such cases even if the accused person is residing in a state, is in its employment and committed the offence in his or her capacity as a state government employee, the court made it clear.

The petitioner in the case, Kanwal Tanuj was an IAS officer employed in connection with the affairs of the Bihar government as District Magistrate at Aurangabad District in Bihar.

He was accused of large scale corruption and siphoning of government funds during the construction of an electric plant by Bhartiya Rail Bijli Company Limited (BRBCL) at Nabinagar in Aurangabad district of Bihar.

It was alleged that there was corruption and siphoning of government funds during land acquisition for the plant by the BRBCL officials in criminal connivance with local district administration including the petitioner.

FIR was registered against him by the CBI for the offences of cheating and forgery under the Indian Penal Code and for the offence of criminal misconduct under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

It was the petitioners case that the offence alleged against him was committed in his capacity as an employee of the state of Bihar and therefore, would require the consent of Bihar government as per section 6 of the DSPE Act before the CBI can proceed against him.

The Supreme Court, however, turned down the argument noting that the registered office of BRBCL is within the jurisdiction of Union Territory of Delhi and the offence was committed at Delhi, and therefore, courts in Delhi will have jurisdiction to try the offence.

The investigation of the offence, the court said, may incidentally transcend to the territory of Bihar because of the acts of commission and omission of the petitioner who is a resident of that state and employed in connection with the affairs of Bihar. That, however, cannot come in the way of CBI from investigating the offence committed at Delhi, the court made it clear.

In this regard, the court upheld the findings of the Delhi high court.

The high court had noted that the registered office of BRBCL was in Delhi and the allegation regarding defrauding BRBCL and siphoning of funds had occurred in Delhi. Funds for implementation of the project through BRBCL were provided by the Central Government in the 2005-06 Union Budget.

The high court had, therefore, concluded that criminal conspiracy for committing the offence was hatched at Delhi and the CBI was competent to register FIR in Delhi without the consent of the state government.

Affirming the high courts view, the Supreme Court said that consent will not be necessary regarding the investigation by the CBI in respect of specified offences committed within Union Territory and other offences associated with it.

Had it been an offence limited to the manipulation of the official record of the State and involvement of officials of the State of Bihar, it would have been a different matter. If the State police have no jurisdiction to investigate the offence in question, as registered, then, seeking consent of the State in respect of such offence does not arise, the judgment said.
The waiting room at the Royal London, in the East End's Whitechapel, is normally busy with 500 patients walking in to see a doctor, but due to the coronavirus pandemic and the lockdown that was ordered by the government, the hospital is deserted for the first time in years.

Not a chair is filled and not one vending machine in sight, and the usual queue at the reception desk is non-existent. A medic took a picture of the deserted hospital and stated that the image was worrying. She said that this is happening because people are scared to go to the hospital and people are staying at home even if they have serious illnesses. If this continues, it will cost lives.

Coronavirus fear

Health Secretary Matt Hancock urged non-coronavirus patients that need urgent care to seek help immediately and the NHS is ready to help. Hancock was speaking in the House of Commons after doctors and medical charities warned of a hidden health crisis among non-coronavirus patients who could die.

The public is avoiding accident and emergency departments because of their fear of the virus and because they do not want to overburden the NHS. The number of people going to the hospital with suspected heart attacks has halved since March, from 300 to 150 a day.

As many as 5,000 people normally expected in the same period have not turned up. The Cancer Research UK has warned that 2,700 cancer a week are currently going undiagnosed. Additionally, ambulance emergency response times are their worst on record, as heart attack victims had to wait two hours on average, and because of this, there were fatal consequences.

Also Read: Food Packaging and Groceries Does Not Spread Coronavirus

On top of this, a lot of people who are seriously ill and awaiting life-saving operations or treatment are being turned away by doctors who fear their patients may catch the virus on the wards of hospitals. Even organ transplants have fallen dramatically as last spring more than 80 a week were carried out.

The collateral damage of COVID-19

Since the pandemic, only a handful of the most urgent heart and liver cases are being operated on weekly, as surgeons are hesitant to put patients in intensive care units close to highly-infectious coronavirus patients.

The result of this is that across the UK, there is a dramatic increase in deaths fro illnesses other than the virus. And since there are a lot of people who are not being diagnosed with serious ailments, there will be a lot more in the future.

The Office for National Statistics last week revealed that deaths in England and Wales in the week to April 10 were the highest for 20 years, and much of this was because of the coronavirus. Almost 1,800 of these additional fatalities were not caused by it. Doctors have described the phenomenon as the collateral damage of COVID-19.

An emergency nurse stated that the staff of the hospital is waiting in vain for patients. Health experts are worried that the relationship of trust between the public and the health service is being broken. Although a lot of people are diagnosed with COVID-19 and are in the hospitals because if it, a lot of others may lose their lives even though they are not diagnosed with COVID-19, only because they are hesitant to go to the hospital.



Related Article: Can Coronavirus Be Transmitted Thru Intimate Interactions?

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The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is ready to start plasma therapy for eligible coronavirus disease (Covid-19) patients. A patient at Lilavati Hospital has been identified for the first plasma transfusion in Maharashtra, according to sources, and the process is likely to be carried out on Sunday. A plasmapheresis  removal, treatment, and return or exchange of blood plasma  machine has been installed at Nair Hospital.

The convalescent plasma therapy aims at using antibodies from the blood of a recovered Covid-19 patient to treat those infected. The therapy can also be used to immunise those at a high risk of contracting the virus such as health workers, families of patients and other high-risk contracts. Three units of plasma from recovered patients are already collected, sources said. Plasma is the almost-clear liquid left behind after red and white blood cells and platelets are removed from the blood.

Dr Daksha Shah, deputy director, health department, BMC, said, Patients blood group is getting matched. Five more recovered Covid-19 patients have been screened to donate plasma. Other recovered Covid-19 patients are being contacted, so that more severely ill patients can benefit from plasma therapy.

Last week, the state had sought permission from the Centre to start clinical trials of plasma therapy and Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine for treatment of Covid-19 patients. Kerala and Delhi have already got permission to conduct the trials.
Community support - Enniscorthy Gardai have a list of people willing to help those who are living alone, older people, and those who are unable to get out during the current crisis.

Those wishing to avail of the service are asked to contact the garda station and leave their details and the Gardai will then arrange for someone to call to them.

Enniscorthy Garda Station can be contacted through 053 9242580 and calls will be treated in the strict confidence.

Garda appointment

The Oylegate garda district has welcomed the appointment of Garda Seamus Killeen, who has taken up duty in Oylegate station.

He replaces Sergeant Mick Morrissey who has moved to Rosslare Harbour station.

Gda Killeen, is a member with 20 years' experience, having served in Enniscorthy and Bunclody stations.

Oylegate garda district covers the Ballagh, Glenbrien, Ballymurn, and Oylegate areas so the appointment of a permanent member is most welcome.

The contact number for Oylegate station is 053 9138132.

Children's creativity

At the moment, with schools closed, children are getting creative in their time at home, coming up with all sorts of imaginative ways to convey messages of positivity during those times when they're not busy keeping up to speed with their schoolwork.

We'd like to hear from parents about what their children are doing to keep themselves occupied during the current crisis.

If they're drawing, painting, creating, writing - whatever they're up to that highlights the ingenious and innovative nature of children, we want to hear about it.

If you have photos highlighting your child's creativity and imagination please feel free to send them on with a little info about what your child has been doing to brendan.keane@peoplenews.ie

Obituaries

This newspaper offers tribute obituary pieces for bereaved family members and friends within the local community who have recently experienced the loss of a loved one.

The weekly service is avail-able free of charge and all obituaries are completed in a manner that is sensitive to your own personal wishes and requests.

They are also shaped entirely by your direction and in consultation with you at all times.

Please feel free to contact the journalist above if an obituary tribute in this newspaper is something that interests you or if it's something that you would like to have written to honour the memory of a loved one close to you who has passed away.

Mass in the Cathedral

Masses in St Aidan's Cathe-dral in Enniscorthy are being broadcast live on the webcam at www.churchservices.tv/enniscorthycathedral each morning at 10 a.m. and also on Saturday at 6 p.m.

The Parish Office will also be open as normal - subject to change as the current crisis develops.

Parishioners are welcome to ring the office if they wish to speak to a member of staff or book a mass for anniversaries, intentions or for any other business.

Payments and donations can also be taken by contacting the parish office over the phone.

Community helping out

Ballyhogue GAA Club has organised a group of over 20 volunteers who are available to assist people with grocery collection and collection of medical prescriptions.

They can also check in on isolated or elderly relations or neighbours in the community.

The volunteers are also available to provide help around the house or be of assistance in different ways that people may require.

The liaison person is Melissa Dawson (087 9627866) who will be able to put you in contact with one of the volunteers in your locality.

Alone support in community

The community support organisation Alone has launched a national support line and supports for older people who have concerns relating to Covid-19.

Professional staff are available to answer queries Monday to Friday, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., through 0818 222024.

All calls and conversations will be treated in the strictest of confidence.

Safety in the chemists

During the current national emergency, the staff at Adamstown Pharmacy ask for customers' cooperation with regard to the following: Where possible all requests for prescriptions are to be submitted by phone in advance of collection to minimise customer time in the store; For vulnerable patients and those over 70 years of age we have the co-operation of a team of volunteers who have offered a prescription delivery service to your doorstep, please phone 053 9240460 to avail of this service.

In order to allow for social distancing the pharmacy is restricting the number of customers in the shop to three people at any one time.

In order to allow for pharmacy cleaning and restocking, it will be closed 30 minutes every day from 1 p.m. to 1.30p.m.

Please be assured that Adamstown Pharmacy will continue to provide uninterrupted services to the people of Adamstown and the locality and greatly appreciate your support during this difficult time.

Medical services

During the last month of the coronavirus crisis a number of changes have been implemented at the Dr O'Donovan's surgery in Adamstown.

Everyone at the surgery is appreciative of the support of patients at this time.

The Adamstown medical centre website has been updated and it's now possible to order repeat medication through the site.

The website also includes information about the coronavirus, including stress that can be associated with it and how to deal with it.

There are also other useful links on the site relating to other health matters.

Please do not hesitate to contact us regarding any usual or urgent medical concerns during this difficult time.

Daybreak services

Ballymurn Daybreak is open during usual trading hours.

The local community is appreciative of the management and staff working hard to keep the shop open and well stocked for its customers during the current crisis.

Deliveries in Boolavogue

Lawless' Shop and Post Office remain open in Boolavogue during the Covid-19 lockdown, subject to the HSE guidelines regarding physical distancing.

Anyone who is 'cocooning' or self-isolating at home can have fuel and groceries delivered by ringing Alec or Louise on 053 9366237.

Cloughbawn helping out

Elderly people that require help with collecting shopping or prescriptions can utilise the services of a team of volunteers from Cloughbawn GAA club to assist them.

People are also encouraged to ring Enniscorthy Garda Station on 053 9242580 if they need help.

The gardai will put them in touch with a person from their area who can help.

Cloughbawn GAA club is playing its part through its team of volunteers who will provide help to anyone in the community - regardless of whether they are a club member or not - who needs assistance in any way.

Please contact one of the Healthy Club Committee members if you need any help and they can assign a helpful volunteer for the task.

Contact: Joe Lillis 086 8644609; Suzanne Keating 087 9837080; Mairead Furlong 087 9692229; Seamus Flood 086 2533397, or Anne Kehoe 087 9881081.

Blessed Sacrament

While masses are all cancelled at the moment in Caim Church, in line with health and safety guidelines during the current pandemic, adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is continuing in the church every Monday.

All are welcome to participate.

Social dancing

The social dancing sessions that usually take place in Marshalstown Community Centre have been cancelled until further notice in keeping with current HSE and Government guidelines.

However, the organisers are looking forward to seeing everyone again soon.

Storytelling cancelled

Story House in Castledockrell has been cancelled till further notice due to Covid-19.

Mass on Facebook

Fr Billy Caulfield invites you to join him on his Facebook page (William Caulfield) Tuesday to Saturday at 10 a.m. for Mass and also on Sunday mornings.

Daily mass is also available on TV each week day at 10.30 a.m. on RTE News Now.

Trocaire boxes

At this time of the year parishes throughout the Ferns diocese would ordinarily be handing back their Trocaire boxes, however, that's obviously not possible in the current climate.

However, it's also unfortunate because the developing world is in need of as much support as it can get.

Parishioners are asked to hold on to their boxes until further notice and the diocese will be in touch with regard to how the boxes can be returned when it's safe to do so.

Donations can be made over the phone on LoCall 1850408408 and they can also be made online at www.trocaire.org

Local Link routes

Local Link Wexford provides secure, reliable and affordable transport for the rural communities of County Wexford.

Services are open to people of all ages.

The services will accommodate those attending appointments and going shopping, etc.

Where possible, they will collect passengers from their homes. Timetable information is available on the website www.locallink.ie.
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CALIFORNIA - Cal Expo has announced it has decided to cancel the 2020 California State Fair.

The fair was scheduled for July 17 through August 2 but "due to the extensive challenges posed by the COVID-19 public health crisis", Cal Expo's board voted to cancel the summer event.

While the board remained hopeful, Cal Expo General Manager and CEO Rick Pickering said the health and safety of the guests and staff is the number one priority, so the cancellation is the right thing to do.

Currently, Cal Expo is operating as a drive-thru testing site and a temporary trailer facility for the homeless, who may have been exposed or infected.

Pickering said cancelling the State Fair and many of the year-round events hosted at Cal Expo is having a significant economic impact as it generates sales tax revenue and employs over 800 seasonal workers.

He also shared they are working to identify a time to safely reopen the expo.
The student grant scheme must be modified to take account of the reduced incomes caused by the Covid-19 outbreak according to Sinn Fein TD for Laois /Offaly Brian Stanley has said clarity is needed.

Deputy Stanley called on the Minister for Education Joe McHugh to clarify what income levels an application will be based on for the coming academic year.

The Minister for Education needs to clarify the eligibility criteria for SUSI grant applications for those whose incomes have been affected as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The SUSI Grant Application process opened on April 23 however hundreds of thousands of workers have had their incomes reduced through no fault of their own as a result of the impact of Covid-19. Unfortunately, the assessment is based on their 2019 income.

While we hope that the impact of this will be short-lived for these workers and families, it is clear that many will struggle with the financial burden of sending children to third-level in a few short months.

However, it appears that the Department of Education has made no provision for these families as the SUSI grant application process opens up and it appears that the Department will make a determination on grant applications based on incomes earned in 2019; ignoring the new reality for thousands of families.

The SUSI application process only allows for a change of circumstances to be taken into account where the change is 'permanent, or for the foreseeable future.

I am calling on the Minister to clarify what arrangements are in place to support students from families that have seen a significant drop in income to meet the costs of third-level education for the new academic year.

It is clear that the criteria applied in previous years is not fit for purpose and the Minister must take account of these realities to ensure that those who require financial support can access it.

This is a particular problem in the Midlands where thousands of workers, such as those on Bord Na Mona and in the hospitality sector have either been laid off or placed on reduced income due to the current emergency," concluded the TD.
No Entry signboards have become common in Hyderabad since the coronavirus contagion spread to many localities in the city. (DC Photo)

Hyderabad: Days after the central government issued an ordinance outlawing any kind of violence, verbal or physical, against doctors, a woman doctor working at Gandhi Hospital went to the police complaning that she was shouted at by the residents of an apartment complex at Vanasthalipuram.

According to the Vanasthalipuram police, the complainant, Dr Snigdha, went to her brothers flat at an apartment complex at Mansoorabad on April 22 to collect her luggage. But the residents of the apartment complex allegedly picked up a quarrel with her and abused her as they didn't want any outsider in their building.

The police said the woman complained that the apartment residents threatened with dire consequences.



So on Friday, she gave a complaint seeking action against the apartment residents, and a case has been registered for the probe, the police added.

On Friday, the doctor also brought the issue to the notice of health minister Etala Rajender.
We want to encourage all members to take advantage of the accessibility and the opportunity to earn CEs, said Bonnie Harken, Managing Director at iaedp Foundation.

From keynote speakers to interactive Exhibit Hall -- all this and more will be available to those who participate in the International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals 2020 Virtual Symposium from May 15  July 31, 2020.

Registration for the International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals (iaedp) 2020 Virtual Symposium, the online education and training conference offered by iaedp to replace the groups annual in-person Symposium, is now open and available at iaedp.com. For those who had registered to attend the original 2020 iaedp Symposium, previously scheduled for the end of March in Orlando, there is automatic registration for the 2020 Virtual Symposium.

The 2020 Virtual Symposium presented by iaedp provides healthcare professionals the same continuing education units (CEs) opportunity that the original in-person Symposium offered, but safely and conveniently online.

We want to encourage all members to take advantage of the accessibility and the opportunity to earn CEs, said Bonnie Harken, Managing Director at iaedp Foundation.

It is possible to move at your own pace. Since there will be access to all virtual Symposium workshops and keynote sessions and an interactive Exhibit Hall, there is no need to choose or stop viewing when CEs are complete, continued Harken.

About the iaedp Foundation: Since 1985, the International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals has provided education and training standards to an international and multidisciplinary group of various healthcare treatment providers and helping professions. MemberSHARE.iaedp.com is an iaedp business journal and online member resource to learn about noteworthy member achievements, continuing education webinars and U.S. and international chapter activity and events; for more information, visit MemberSHARE.

The Presidents Council provides iaedp support and includes: Center for Change; Center for Hope of the Sierras; Center for Discovery; Eating Recovery Center; Willow Place; Laureate Eating Disorders Program; The Meadows Ranch; Rogers Behavioral Health; Rosewood Centers for Eating Disorders; Selah House; The Renfrew Center; Timberline Knolls; Veritas Collaborative; Alsana Eating Disorder Treatment & Recovery Centers; Silver Hill Hospital, Walden Behavioral Care and KIPU.

The 2020 iaedp Symposium is proud to announce Bronze Sponsors: Eating Disorder Recovery Specialists, Simple Practice and Transcend ED.
Curtains Up! By David Perez April 24, 2020 " Information Clearing House " - Welcome, everyone to the longest running play in U.S. history:  Voting for the Lesser Evil.  The plays strength, as you well know, is its easy - to - memorize script , combined with its superb ability to change the essential characters  all while keeping the same dialogue! Our set design also remain s largely the same, although recently weve had to highlight red and blue colors and build a swing to denote the characteri zation s of states. Throughout the decades, our show has been labeled a melodrama, a tragicomedy, and even science fiction. The beauty of  Voting for the Lesser Evil  is that its all above the above ! Some people have lobbied for the play being renamed The Greatest Show on Earth. It does remind one of a circus, doesnt it? Others have made a strong case for Hocus Pocus or The Big Con. But since Voting for the Lesser Evil is so ingrained in the public discourse, its best to stick with that. As with prior productions , our largest audience remains those who vote for the Democratic Party, which is unsurprising since much of the juiciest lines were written by Democrats, partic ularly the Reluctant Democrats,  whose numbers are legion. No table quotab le include, Im only being realistic, and Im holding my nose but what else can I do? and the all - time favorite, Im not really voting FOR [insert corporate - backed lesser evil Democratic candidate] , Im really voting AGAINST [insert corporate - backed more evil Republican candidate ]. A po werful, recurring character, usually depicted as usually radical, is the one with the longest monologue, the person who waxes long about their history of fighting for social justice but is just  so angry and sad  that theyre being  forced  yet again to go kicking and screaming into voting for the lesser evil [insert current election year] because : Goddamn it, there really isnt a choice, and we just have to do this because this is the most important election ever ! Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter Of course, th at last line has also been repeated from years past. Nevertheless, its hard to beat its raw and compelling power , especially if the actor delivers the line by com bining conviction with despair. When done right, it will even make sense. Theatre critics everywhere have remarked how theyve either laughed or cried or bot h at the plays climax, when voters discover that none of the ir reasons for voting th e way they  have to are actual available at the ballot box . Th at th ere isnt a way to add an asterisk with your vote shouldn't how truly remorseful you are . Nor is the ability to write - in Not so - and - so! No, they can only vote yes FOR [insert corporate - backed lesser evil Democratic candidate]. That's what how history will record their vote. And then theres the final fade - out moment, where both the winning and losing candidates beam and thank their voters for supporting T he G reatest D emocracy on E arth ! confident that no matter how you slice and dice it, corporate, militaristic evil , be it lesser or not, will continue its r eign as the longe st running play in U.S. history. David Perez is a writer, journalist, activist, radio host, and actor, born in the South Bronx in New York City and currently living in Taos, New Mexico. Do you agree or disagree? Post your comment here
Cross-border workers stage protest at Polish-German border demanding to be exempt from the mandatory quarantine during coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak at the crossing in Rosowek

ZGORZELEC, Poland (Reuters) - Hundreds of people who live in Poland and work in Germany protested on Friday evening in the southwestern Polish border town of Zgorzelec against a mandatory coronavirus quarantine for those who cross the border.

Poland was one of the first European Union states to close borders due to the outbreak of the new coronavirus. It also imposed a mandatory two-week lockdown for those who enter its territory - a major jolt for those who live their lives in between two EU states.

The protest was staged on a foot bridge connecting Zgorzelec and the German town of Gorlitz, which functioned as one town before the borders were closed.

"I've been trapped at home for six weeks, can't cross the border, go to work. I can't go back to my students," said Mirella Binkiewicz, a teacher living in Zgorzelec and working in Gorlitz.

Around 300 people gathered at the Polish side and some 100 at the German, some wearing face masks. The two groups were separated by a provisional metal fence that has been erected in the middle of the bridge to prevent people from crossing the border.

"Let us work, let us home," said one banner carried by the protesters in Poland. Some of them also chanted the Polish national anthem and others hummed the EU anthem, the Ode to Joy.

Renata Burdosz, from Zgorzelec town hall, cited data showing that around 20,000 Poles work in the German region of Saxony, 10,500 of whom cross the Polish-German border on a daily basis. Around 3,000 Poles work in Gorlitz alone, she said.

Protests were staged also in other Polish towns located on the German and Czech borders.

"Let's remember that jobs will not wait forever for the return of Polish workers. Will these people ... receive help and support from the state?" local authorities from the south-western Poland said in an open letter to Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki.

Morawiecki said earlier this month that borders would remain closed until at least May 3.

"This is a difficult issue. I understand the difficulties of the citizens, and the government will discuss this next week," a government spokesman told private radio Zet on Saturday.

(Reporting by Natalia Dobryszycka; Additional reporting by Pawel Florkiewicz; Writing by Agnieszka Barteczko; Editing by Frances Kerry)
Irrfan Khan's mother Saeeda Begum has passed away at age of 95. She breathed her last in Jaipur. The funeral will be held this evening.

The actor, who is currently abroad, had decided to fly out from Mumbai immediately after he completed Angrezi Medium. However, in view of the COVID-19 situation, there is no flight that can bring him to Jaipur at least for the next few weeks.

As per reports in media, even though he will be unable to travel back to India amid the crisis, he has paid his last respects through a video call. The funeral will be held on Saturday evening, and only a few people are allowed to attend the burial ceremony.

Saeda Begum belonged to the Nawab family of Tonk, and was unwell for a long time and died due to natural causes.

Irrfan is very close to his Piku director Shoojit Sircar. When contacted in Kolkata where he has quarantined himself with his family, Sircar told SpotboyE.com, "It's very sad. I have yet to talk to him, though. I will be calling him."

In 2019, Irrfan was diagnosed with neuroendocrine tumour afterwhich he traveled abroad for the treatment. He had returned to India to complete 'Angrezi Medium'. However, after the schedule his health deteriorated and the actor had to fly out again.
Falun Dafa practitioners hold a candlelight vigil as a peaceful protest near the Chinese Consulate in New York on April 25, 2014, to mark the anniversary of the April 24, 1999 large-scale peaceful protest in Beijing. (Samira Bouaou/Epoch Times)

Remembering the Largest-Ever Peaceful Protest in China

The largest-ever peaceful protest in Chinese history was held 21 years ago to put forward a simple request: to be able to freely practice meditation and live by the three principles of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance.

Thousands of people gathered on [April 25,] 1999, to protest the detention and harassment of Falun Gong practitioners, says Peter Kent, a Conservative MP and co-chair of the Parliamentary Friends of Falun Gong.

The gathering of over 10,000 adherents of Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, was held near the headquarters of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in Beijing.

A few days before the gathering, over a dozen Falun Gong adherents were detained in the city of Tianjin after they requested a correction be run in a state-run magazine slandering their practice. The government had also banned publication of the practices teachings.

They just wanted to let the government know that Falun Dafa practitioners are good people, and to call on the government to allow them to follow their practice free from harassment, says Xun Li, president of the Falun Dafa Association of Canada. Li says the peaceful meditation discipline consists of five gentle exercises and the three moral principles.

Conservative MP Peter Kent reads a statement from Conservative Party leader Andrew Scheer congratulating Falun Dafa adherents on the occasion of Falun Dafa Day in Toronto on May 12, 2018. (Evan Ning/The Epoch Times)

The initial response from the authorities on the day of the protest was positive, Kent says. After then-premier Zhu Rongji came out to meet with representatives of the petitioners and listened to their concerns, everyone went home.

But then only a few months later in July, [then-Chinese leader] Jiang Zemins regime started a brutal crackdown, and the persecution has continued ever since, Kent says.

Kent, a former cabinet minister in the government of Stephen Harper and a former anchor for CBC and NBC, has been going to events marking the anniversary of the peaceful protest consistently. This year, due to social distancing rules amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, he marked the event remotely.

Its important that we mark this anniversary, even though the world is preoccupied with the COVID-19 pandemic, he said.

Its important that we remember that many of the elements that have made this pandemic so serious, tragically deadly, are a result of the same repressive, cruel, deadly, brutal policies of the regime in Beijing.

As reported previously by The Epoch Times, the Chinese regime hid the facts about the outbreak of the CCP virus, commonly known as the coronavirus, and warned medical professionals to refrain from spreading information on the virus, even reprimanding one doctor for having done so. According to a study by the University of Southampton, earlier detection and action on containing the outbreak could have reduced cases by as much as 95 percent.

We know how cruelly desperate the communist regime can be, Kent says, citing as examples the Tiananmen Square massacre and the persecution campaign against Falun Gong adherents, which includes live organ harvesting from Falun Gong prisoners of conscience.

There may indeed be an accounting for China for the communist government if the democracies of the world stand together in the same way they did in the cold war against the Soviet Union.

Right the Wrongs

Judy Sgro, a Liberal MP and fellow co-chair of the Parliamentary Friends of Falun Gong, also marked the anniversary of the historic gathering remotely.

This is an event that many of us on the [Parliament] Hill have attended for many years in recognition of the persecution of Falun Gong, Sgro said.

Liberal MP Judy Sgro addresses the crowd celebrating Falun Dafa Day on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on May 9, 2018. (Jonathon Ren/The Epoch Times)

Instead, this year she issued a statement, saying she is disheartened that as the COVID-19 pandemic is sweeping across the world, the persecution of Falun Gong continues in China.

As Canadians, we must do our part to help bring about the changes needed to right these terrible wrongs, Sgro said.

Standing Up

Conservative MP Garnett Genuis, his partys shadow minister for Canada-China relations, says the Conservatives continue to be deeply concerned about the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China.

Conservative MP Garnett Genuis speaks at a celebration on Parliament Hill marking the 25th anniversary of Falun Gong, on May 9, 2017. (Evan Ning/Epoch Times)

Genuis has proposed legislation in consecutive parliaments related to the issue of transplant abuse. Although the legislation doesnt directly name China, Genuis has said it can be used for a case such as Chinas state-sanctioned forced organ harvesting from Falun Gong prisoners of conscience. This includes banning the entry of individuals responsible for transplant abuse into Canada, and preventing Canadians from receiving organs in countries that have questionable sources of organs.

We will continue to stand up for Falun Gong practitioners every step of the way, he said. All of our engagement with the Chinese government needs to keep human rights top of mind.

Battle Against Oppression

Conservative MP James Bezan championed Canada having its own version of a Magnitsky Act for a long time. His efforts finally came to fruition in late 2017 when Parliament passed the Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act into law. The legislation imposes sanctions on individuals who perpetrate human rights violations in other countries, such as banning their entry into Canada or engaging in financial transactions with Canadians.

Conservative MP James Bezan speaks at an event celebrating Falun Dafa Day on Parliament Hill on May 8, 2019. (Jonathan Ren/The Epoch Times)

Now, he says, this legislation should be used to hold those who persecute Falun Gong adherents to account.

We stand in solidarity with [Falun Gong adherents] that are still in China, Bezan says.

For those  who have been able to escape the communist regime in Beijing [but] have family and friends and loved ones back in mainland China, we stand with [them] as well and we will stand in the battle against oppression.
BEIRUT, Lebanon  Sprawling banquets that convened crowds of relatives have shrunk to modest meals for immediate family. Imams who led prayers in packed mosques have been addressing the faithful over Zoom. And stay-at-home orders and social distancing guidelines have sapped the nighttime jubilance of cities with large Muslim populations, from Cairo to Jakarta to Dearborn, Mich.

For the worlds 1.8 billion Muslims, the holy month of Ramadan is a social and spiritual high point, a time to gather with friends and family, and to focus on fasting, prayer and scripture.

But the coronavirus pandemic is transforming this Ramadan across the world, clearing out mosques, canceling communal prayers and forcing families to replace physical gatherings with virtual meet-ups.

Ramadan, which most Muslims began observing on Friday or Saturday, is the month when Muslims believe God revealed the Quran to the Prophet Muhammad. Fasting from dawn to dusk for those who are able during this month is one of the five pillars of Islam.
It seemed the whole of Ireland gave a virtual heros welcome to the first Aer Lingus critical supply flight from China with protective equipment for the countrys healthcare staff.

And that gratitude has continued as the flights leave for the far side of the world, every day, to bring back the much needed equipment.

At the time we didnt know that one of the hard working, volunteer crews had a Kilkenny man on board.



Seamus Coogan is from Firoda, Castlecomer, and is an aviation engineer with Aer Lingus. As we go to print he is on his second flight to China.

Also on the flight is Ollie McLoughlin, a Tipp man originally he now lives in Tullogher in south Kilkenny.



Every day there are up to five Aer Lingus supply flights making the 30-hour round trip between Ireland and China. They are being flown and manned by Aer Lingus pilots and engineering crews who are volunteering during their days off from their usual work.



Seamus put his hand up to take part straight away when the Aer Lingus staff were first asked about the operation. As an aircraft approved engineer his job involves certifying the work done on the planes by mechanics, on the A300 range of aircraft.

Approximately 300 flights are due to go to China during this operation and each flight takes along five pilots, two engineers and a loadmaster who ensures the cargo is loaded correctly and evenly for balance.



Seamuss job is to maintain the plane and deal with any problems that arise. The flight out to China is more than 10 hours and is the quieter half of the trip. The crew can amuse themselves with movies or reading. On landing in China theres more to do. The crew dont leave the footprint of the plane but Seamus must oversee the turnaround of the plane. Walking around the outside of the plane he checks the fuselage to make sure there was no damage in flight, checks wheels and brake fluid, engineering and hydraulic oils, making sure all are ok for the flight home. Seamus certifies any work that is done to ensure a log book paper trail.

The engineers travel with the plane because Aer Lingus dont have any support staff in China.



The plane is loaded with pallets into the cargo area and if boxes are loaded into the passenger area that takes a bit longer as it has to be done by hand. They're usually on the ground in China for four to six hours.



On the flight back, which takes just over 11 hours, Seamus is more busy. He has to inspect the load every 15/ 20 minutes if there is cargo in the passenger compartment. This is part of the Irish Aviation Authority rules. Then its back to Dublin airport where the Irish Army collects the equipment for distribution.



Seamus, who served his time as an apprentice fitter with Kilkenny County Council, joined Aer Lingus in 1990. He expects to be on at least two more flights to China as part of Aer Linguss critical supply operation.
Amid massive speculations about the health of North Korean Supreme leader Kim Jong-un, reports said that China has dispatched a team of doctors to advise country. A delegation led by a senior member of the Chinese Communist Partys International Liaison Department left Beijing for North Korea on Thursday, two of the people said. The department is the main Chinese body dealing with neighbouring North Korea. The sources declined to be identified, reports said.

Meanwhile, as per reports, Hong Kong state TV flashed news about Kim's death on Saturday, and another report quoting sources in US intel claimed the same. However, Daily NK, a Seoul-based website, reported earlier this week that Kim was recovering after undergoing a cardiovascular procedure on April 12. It cited one unnamed source in North Korea.

READ | Trump breaks silence on Kim Jong-un's health; quotes news on North Korea's Supreme Leader

Donald Trump on Kim's health

US President Donald Trump has rejected reports that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was ailing. "I think the report was incorrect, let me just put it that way," Trump told reporters on Thursday. "I'm hearing they used old documents." Trump declined to say if he had direct knowledge from North Korea that Kim was fine.

READ | Coronavirus Live Updates

Trump has met Kim three times in historic summitry and has voiced admiration for him, although hopes have dimmed for reaching a comprehensive agreement. "I hope he's not in medical trouble. I hope he's not. I have gotten along very well with him. Remember you would have been in a war with North Korea if I didn't get elected president," Trump said on Thursday. Trump declined to say when he was last in touch with Kim, saying: "We have a good relationship with North Korea, as good as you can have."

READ | Suspense deepens as North Korean media remains tight-lipped on Kim Jong-un's health

Reports about Kim Jong-Un's health

Earlier on Tuesday, the first report came in from a US-based channel saying that Kim Jong-un is "gravely ill" after he underwent a bypass surgery. Soon after, several reports were floated in US media, while a news portal, citing 'multiple US officials', said that Kim Jong-Un caught COVID-19 from a Chinese doctor flown in to help with his heart surgery, and another report going to the extent of claiming that Kim was 'brain-dead' after surgery. Later in the day, quoting a Chinese CCP party source, an international media agency reported that Kim is not 'believed to be critically ill.'

READ | North Korea denies sending letter to Donald Trump recently: Report
Egypt's Prisons Authority, which operates under the auspices of the interior ministry, ordered on Thursday the release of 4,100 prisoners on the occasion of the Sinai Liberation day, which falls on 25 April.

3,778 prisoners will be released upon a presidential pardon, and 233 will be released conditionally.

A list of those released was not immediately available.

On 25 April, Egypt celebrates the completion of the withdrawal of Israeli military from the Sinai Peninsula in 1982, following the 1979 Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty signed by late president Anwar Al-Sadat.

Earlier in April, the interior ministry released 460 prisoners upon presidential pardon and conditional releases on the occasion of Egypt's 68th Police Day, marked on 25 January.

In February, the interior ministry first released 498 prisoners upon a presidential pardon and conditional releases also on the same occasion.

According to the Egyptian constitution, the president can issue pardon decrees for prisoners who had received final court rulings that cannot be further appealed.

Egyptian presidents traditionally issue pardons several times a year, usually on major national and religious holidays.

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Almost half of the British population believes that coronavirus is a man-made creation, according to polling that reveals the extent of conspiracy theories.

Research seen exclusively by The Independent ahead of its release suggested that 8 per cent of people think that 5G technology is spreading the virus, and that many more have seen claims that Covid-19 is a Chinese weapon or created by the New World Order.

Brexit supporters and people who distrust the political system are more likely to believe the conspiracies, according to the report.

Hope Not Hate, which commissioned the polling, warned that even though everyone who comes across the ideas will not believe them, the large amount of attention they are getting is worrying and sometimes even dangerous.

Author Patrik Hermansson told The Independent that conspiracy theories of all kinds need to be fought.

You start with something that does not seem very dangerous, but its very easy to travel from there to directly hateful ideas against minorities, he said.

Social media companies need to start looking at conspiracy theories as they do with other extremism and clamp down harder.

Almost one in five people indicated belief in anti-vaccination conspiracy theories, with 18 per cent agreeing that inoculations have hidden harmful effects.

When asked which of two statements they agreed with more, 55 per cent of respondents said coronavirus was a natural phenomenon and 45 per cent said it was a man-made creation.

Mr Hermansson, a researcher with Hope Not Hate, said some respondents may have considered wet markets, the political reaction to the outbreak, air travel and other factors in their response.

But there are a lot of conspiracy theories around coronavirus, he added. In the early days theories around it being a Chinese biological weapon were popular, but were then overtaken by 5G.

Conspiracy theories are a symptom of a larger issue where people dont trust politics and feel left behind (EPA)

Every week it mutates and now its heading very much in the direction of the UN and New World Order kind of stuff.

At the moment were also seeing 5G merging with anti-vaccination ideas and the Agenda 21 theory that the world is being deliberately depopulated.

According to the polling, 8 per cent of the British population agree that 5G technology is contributing to the spread of coronavirus  a baseless claim that has already caused widespread vandalism of masts and attacks on engineers. A further 19 per cent did not rule it out.

5G was also the theory that had been seen by the largest group of people (37 per cent), followed by claims that coronavirus was developed by China as a biological weapon (35 per cent) and that it was intentionally released as part of a depopulation plan by the UN or New World Order (21 per cent).

The findings came after counterterror police warned that conspiracy theories were being used as a hook by extremists to draw in new recruits.

Officials are concerned that lockdown conditions mean that people are spending more time alone online, while experiencing fear and distress that makes them less able to spot and reject misinformation.

Chief Superintendent Nik Adams, national coordinator of the Prevent programme, told The Independent false claims linking 5G technology to the spread of coronavirus were being monitored very closely.

Its being pushed out by extreme right-wing groups as a hook to get people onto chat forums, where they can then talk about other hate-related conspiracy theories and draw people into their narratives, he added.

From that, they can pick up those individuals who are must vulnerable to encourage them, radicalise them and take them towards terrorism.

Separate research said dangerous conspiracy theories blaming Muslims for the spread of coronavirus were gaining traction, after police were forced to debunk several fake videos being used to claim that mosques remained open.

Hope Not Hate said that anti-Islam sentiment was high across different questions in the poll, with 28 per cent of people believing the Muslim population is growing faster than non-Muslim and the same proportion thinking Islam seeks to replace British law with Sharia.

It also found that 13 per cent of the population believed the antisemitic trope that Jewish people have undue control of the banking system.

Recommended Warning over coronavirus disinformation as extremists exploit crisis

The majority of conspiracy theorists voted Leave, while most of those broadly against the theories voted Remain in the EU referendum.

Mr Hermansson said the strongest believers were generally lower earners with a lower level of education, and were less likely to have voted in the most recent general election or supported a political party.

Conspiracy theories are a symptom of a larger issue where people dont trust politics and feel left behind, he added.

That lack of trust can make people prone to conspiracy theories, then they add to those feelings and make them worse.

Mr Hermansson said the nature of the coronavirus outbreak was also making the theories more attractive, amid rapidly changing medical advice and vastly different approaches around the world.

He added: When big world-changing events happen we want them to have a meaning  we try to find an explanation for it and even intent. The idea that something like this could happen randomly is just not enough for many people.

The report was based on three polls conducted by Focaldata between February and April 2020, which used a weighted sample of between 2,000 and 3,000 adults each from across Britain.
After opposition parties raised a hue and cry over the pick-and-choose policy being allegedly adopted by the Congress leadership in the distribution of ration amid the lockdown, the Sikh Danga Peedit Action Society on Saturday threatened to launch a hunger strike if the administration and councillors failed to provide ration to the needy families in 72 hours.

President of the society Surjit Singh alleged, Councillors of wards 43, 44 and 45 have failed to provide ration to the needy 1984 riots-hit families and others.

Surjit said, Councillors Reet Kaur and Barjinder Kaur of wards 43 and 45, respectively, have failed to provide ration to even a single family. Ward 44 councillor Harkarandeep Vaid distributed around 100 kits, but many families in his area are struggling to get ration. The councillors are adopting pick-and-choose policy while distributing ration and there are around 2,500 families who have no food. We are arranging meals for these families with the help of gurdwaras and NGOs.

He added, If the administration and the Congress leadership fail to streamline the distribution of ration in 72 hours, members of the society will sit on a hunger strike.

Councillor Barjinder Kaur, however, refuted the allegations, stating that ration was being distributed among the needy families regularly and without any discrimination. She added, Surjit, who does not even reside in her ward, is levelling baseless allegations just to defame me.

On her part, councillor Reet Kaur said, No pick-and-choose policy has been adopted in the distribution of ration. The councillors are receiving around 200 kits of ration in a day and we have to distribute these among residents living in different areas of the ward. Limited kits are being distributed in every area as per need, but no one will be left out. Kits will reach every needy person in the coming days.

Despite several attempts, councillor Harkarandeep Vaid could not be contacted for comments.
A leading U.S. specialist in genocide studies sees this years virtual commemorations of the Armenian genocide conditioned by the need to cope with the spread of a deadly virus as potentially a new additional way for reaching out for a stronger global recognition in the future.

Henry Theriault, Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs at Worcester State University and President of the International Association of Genocide Scholars, spoke to RFE/RL Armenian Service Director Harry Tamrazian on the eve of April 24, which Armenians in Armenia and around the world mark as an anniversary of World War I-era killings and deportations of Armenians in Ottoman Turkey.

Leading international scholars and more than two dozen governments in the world recognize the killings of 1.5 million Armenians by Ottoman Turks as the first genocide of the 20th century. Turkey denies any planned Ottoman government effort to annihilate Armenians, ascribing the deaths that it claims were on a much lower scale to the consequences of civil strife, disease, and starvation.

Instead of holding traditional annual mass events commemorating the genocide victims, including hundreds of thousands of Armenians marching towards a hilltop genocide memorial in Yerevan known as Tsitsernakaberd, Armenias authorities this year limited the remembrance events to ceremonies involving only officials. Instead, hundreds of thousands of Armenians sent text messages to a designated telephone number and their names were projected on the slabs of the memorial on April 24-25 night. The night before, in conditions of the stay-at-home orders during the coronavirus epidemic, street lights were switched off and church bells pealed across the country in memory of the victims.

I dont think that one year of changing the form of remembrance of the Armenian genocide will have a very strong impact. Quite the opposite. I think that in fact it will allow Armenians to recognize and remember the genocide in a different way from how it was before and that will be a positive change, Theriault said.

And I think also more practically it will help Armenians develop new ways of out-reaching regarding the Armenian genocide particularly in using electronic media in ways perhaps the community has not used before around the world, and that those tools will actually become very useful in the future. The idea of having very strong virtual commemorations alongside, I hope next year, very strong in-person commemorations will actually perhaps double the impact of the commemorations and allow for an even stronger global recognition of the Armenian genocide, he added.

Last year the U.S. Congress almost unanimously passed a resolution recognizing the Armenian Genocide.

Theriault thinks it took the United States decades to adopt the resolution because of the political and military influence that Turkey had had in Washington as well as due to a lack of commitment generally in the United States and elsewhere around the world for human rights issues.

That changed, I think, as the equation in the region in which Turkey sits has changed. Turkey has become less aligned with the United States in many ways. [Turkish President Recep Tayyip] Erdogan has become more of a wild card and has pursued his own agenda at times with some animosity towards the United States. So, I think that that widened the gap between the U. S. political and military interests and Turkish political and military interests which opened the door to the possibility of this change, the scholar said.

Theriault believes that Turkeys denial of the genocide today does not have the power that it once did. People are not naive about denial anymore and so the effect of the Turkish government and its allies on efforts to stop passage of this bill, to deny the genocide in popular and academic circles really has decreased and so I think with all those factors together the time was right last year finally for passage of this resolution, he said.

Theriault believes that Ankaras denial has two dimensions. One is the obvious political and economic interest in preventing recognition because of fear, in my opinion, of reparations. I think Turkey is very afraid that if it admits the Armenian genocide, there will be legal consequences particularly around expropriated Armenian wealth But I think at the same time  and this has actually become worse in the last five years  denial of the Armenian genocide is unfortunately tied very closely to a fragile Turkish national self-image, an image that often presents Turkey in an impossibly positive light. No country is free from human rights violations, but Turkey presents itself internationally as this incredibly untainted and perfect country. And the glaring truth of the Armenian genocide undercuts this image that it presents and its own self-image, he said.

In the scholars opinion the annual letters that the Turkish president sends on April 24 to the Armenian spiritual leader of Istanbul and in which he regrets the 1915 Armenian deaths but stops short of admitting they were part of a premeditated and concerted effort of the Ottoman government to exterminate are a subtler form of denial.

I think its impossible to outright deny that Armenians suffered significantly in the late Ottoman Empire and in the early Turkish national period. I think that the historical record is so clear, so the best that Turkey can do to try to look credible in denying the Armenian genocide is to take the kind of line that Erdogan has taken, which is to try to relativize suffering to try to recognize without actually going as far as recognizing this as a case of one-sided mass violence by a government against the minority group that clearly qualifies as genocide, he said.I think Erdogan is a very shrewd politician. He knows that if he gave a naive, extreme form of denial it would be apparent to everyone and he would not be able to have any credibility. So, he adopts a subtler approach I still think its not very effective, even that subtler approach is not very effective at this point.

Official Ankara on Friday reacted angrily to the statement by U.S. President Donald Trump in which the American leader, while not using the word genocide, described the 1915 Armenian killings as one of the worst mass atrocities of the 20th century.

Theriault said, however, that as an American he was relieved that Trump wouldnt be the first sitting U.S. president to recognize the Armenian genocide.

I think that would carry some baggage for Armenians because his record on human rights both within the United States and internationally is extremely poor, the genocide scholar said. I think the fact that he does not recognize the Armenian genocide actually in one strange way is a confirmation of the importance of this case and the legitimacy of this case.
Students in the Florence-Carlton School District wont return to their classrooms this school year.

The districts trustees voted unanimously Friday to keep the buildings closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The board was the first in Ravalli County to make the decision following Gov. Bullocks directive this week that allowed school districts the opportunity to have students return to school on May 7.

In a special board meeting, Florence-Carlton trustees said they were inundated with emails, phone calls and other contacts from the community following the governors announcement. Trustees said the majority of those they heard from wanted the school building to remain closed for the remainder of the school year.

The trustees passed a declaration of an unforeseen emergency that will allow the school to keep its full funding and not require it to make up any time.

Florence-Carlton Superintendent Bud Scully said he attended a Western Montana Superintendents Association meeting this week. Scully said it appeared that all of the counties' superintendents would recommend that students not return this school year.

There were 126 people on the conference call Friday.

Board members asked if anyone on the call wanted to oppose keeping the building closed.

Betty Banister and her son, Clint, were the only ones who offered a dissenting view.

Betty Banister said she believed the students should return. That could happen in phases, with different classes attending at different times, she said.

I think not finishing the school year is an issue, she said. I think its taking away some things from these kids. We cant live in this world in a bubble. I feel like people are being careful. We have to be smart, but we also have to move forward.

Board trustee Chair Kim Bauer started the meeting with a statement that the board would make its decision based on safety for students, staff and the community.

At this point, Bauer said the district hasnt determined how it will proceed with eighth grade and high school graduations, but those events havent been forgotten.

We will get those things figured out, Bauer said. They will be memorable.

Considering the fact there are only a few weeks left in the school year and teachers are in a groove teaching remotely, Trustee Mel Finlay said the decision to keep the building closed the rest of the year was easy for him.

I think we will find that across Montana, this will be the standard, Bauer said. I just feel personally feel that this is a decision that we needed to make.

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The novel coronavirus  which, after originating in China, has gone on to wreak havoc around the planet partly because of Beijings failure to promptly share all the information it had about the initial outbreak  is changing the way the world looks at China.

Beijing has been accused of shirking its obligations to the World Health Organization. It hasnt helped its case lately by pushing internationally what Chinese patriots have applauded online as wolf warrior diplomacy (): a campaign of strident propaganda, trying to shift the blame and threatening to restrict exports of critical medical supplies.

Sensing mounting international opprobrium and fearing economic decoupling with major Western powers, the Chinese government appears to believe that it must act, and fast, to once again turn Hong Kong into its window onto the rest of the world. The territory already played something of that role during much of the Cold War, at least until China opened up to the West and mainland cities like Shanghai gained stature as world-class financial and commercial centers.

In the 1950s, a tacit quid pro quo developed between the British colonial government in Hong Kong and the Communists on the mainland: Beijing would let the British make money and not challenge or undermine their sovereignty over the city so long as they kept a lid on any anti-China activities there (including broadcasts by the United States Information Agency). After the British handed over the territory in 1997, the Chinese authorities have had to do by themselves the dirty job of suppressing any political opposition in Hong Kong.

The job has gotten more and more dirty over the years. Especially since, by now, Beijings goal doesnt seem to be maintaining stability in the city so much as subjugating the place.

This week, that ambition has meant axing pan-dem leaders in Hong Kong. They, as mostly old-timers, have little influence over the newer and largely younger more militant pro-independence wing of the citys pro-democracy movement. Yet people like the barrister Martin Lee, 81, and the media tycoon Jimmy Lai, 71, still command respect among the older generation. And Beijing sees them still as a potential fifth column for Western powers.

Also notable, just days before the arrests, Luo Huining, the head of the Central Liaison Office, called for new security laws to be passed under Article 23 of the Basic Law: Those would sharply curtail political freedoms in Hong Kong and put the citys citizens firmly under the control of communist China.
WASHINGTON  In Maryland, so many callers flooded a health hotline with questions that the states Emergency Management Agency had to issue a warning that under no circumstances should any disinfectant be taken to treat the coronavirus. In Washington state, officials urged people not to consume laundry detergent capsules. Across the country on Friday, health professionals sounded the alarm.

Injecting bleach or highly concentrated rubbing alcohol causes massive organ damage and the blood cells in the body to basically burst, Dr. Diane P. Calello, the medical director of the New Jersey Poison Information and Education System, said in an interview. It can definitely be a fatal event.

Even the makers of Clorox and Lysol pleaded with Americans not to inject or ingest their products.

The frantic reaction was prompted by President Donald Trumps suggestion Thursday at a White House briefing that an injection inside the human body with a disinfectant like bleach or isopropyl alcohol could help combat the virus.

And then I see the disinfectant, where it knocks it out in a minute, Trump said after a presentation from William N. Bryan, an acting undersecretary for science at the Department of Homeland Security, detailed the virus possible susceptibility to bleach and alcohol.

One minute, the president said. And is there a way we can do something like that, by injection inside or almost a cleaning? Because you see it gets in the lungs and it does a tremendous number on the lungs. So it would be interesting to check that.

Dr. Deborah L. Birx, the White Houses coronavirus response coordinator, was sitting to the side in the White House briefing room, blinking hard and looking at the floor as he spoke. Later, Trump asked her if she knew about the heat and the light as a potential cure.

Not as a treatment, Birx said, adding, I havent seen heat or light  before the president cut her off.

Trumps remarks caused an immediate uproar, and the White House spent much of Friday trying to walk them back. Also Friday, the Food and Drug Administration warned that hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine, two drugs that the president has repeatedly recommended in treating the coronavirus, can cause dangerous abnormalities in heart rhythm in coronavirus patients and has resulted in some deaths.

The FDA said the drugs should be used only in clinical trials or hospitals where patients can be closely monitored for heart problems.

Leave it to the media to irresponsibly take President Trump out of context and run with negative headlines, Kayleigh McEnany, the new White House press secretary, said in a statement criticizing the coverage of Thursday nights briefing.

But the president later undermined her argument by insisting that his question to Bryan in fact had been an elaborate prank he had engineered to trick reporters.

I was asking a question sarcastically to reporters like you just to see what would happen, Trump said Friday to journalists gathered in the Oval Office. The president said he had posed his theory on cleaning the body with disinfectant in the form of a sarcastic question to a reporter, which also was not true  he had said it unprompted to Bryan.

With more questions likely at the Friday briefing, Vice President Mike Pence, the head of the White House coronavirus task force, abruptly ended it shortly after it began.

Several White House officials said they shared the view that Trump had been taken out of context, even as they acknowledged that his comments were problematic. They noted that the president had later directed the same comments to Birx, and suggested them as a course of study, as opposed to a recommendation of a course of action for the American public.

But they acknowledged that Trumps delivery was too sloppy for a president in the middle of managing the response to a pandemic that has killed over 50,000 Americans. Some said it was one of the worst days in one of the worst weeks of his presidency.

Others inside the administration raised questions about why Bryan, whose background is not in health or science, had been invited to deliver a presentation. Bryan, whose expertise is in energy infrastructure and security, is serving in an acting capacity as the head of the departments science and technology directorate.

Bryan served 17 years in the Army, followed by yearslong stints as a civil servant at the Defense and Energy departments. The latter role led to a whistleblower complaint accusing him, in part, of manipulating government policy to further his personal financial interests, and then lying to Congress about those interests.

The U.S. Office of Special Counsel, a federal agency that investigates whistleblower complaints, asked the Energy Department last year to investigate the accusations against Bryan. In January, the Senate returned his nomination to the White House.

Bryan was invited by the vice presidents office to the coronavirus task force meetings Wednesday and Thursday to talk about a study that his department had done relating to heat and the conditions in which the coronavirus can thrive or be dampened. On Thursday, Bryan presented a graphic to the room, according to four people briefed on the events.

Pences advisers wanted Bryan to brief the news media on his findings, but several West Wing staff members objected, partly because they were concerned the information had not been verified.

Before Bryan took the lectern in the White House Briefing Room, Birx and Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, a member of the coronavirus task force, made a few revisions to his presentation, officials said.

As he listened to Bryan, the president became increasingly excited, and also felt the need to demonstrate his own understanding of science, according to three of the advisers. So Trump went ahead with his theories about the chemicals.

Later in the briefing, Phil Rucker, a reporter for The Washington Post, asked the president why he had that discussion, because people tuning into these briefings, they want to get information and guidance and want to know what to do  theyre not looking for a rumor.

Hey, Phil, he responded. Im the president, and youre fake news.

The backlash was swift. A host of corporations, doctors and government officials quickly stepped forward to issue an identical warning: Cleaning products are extremely dangerous to ingest  potentially deadly  and no one should do so.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ridiculed Trumps comments as she criticized his priorities for coronavirus relief. The president is asking people to inject Lysol into their lungs, she said, calling it an indication that Republicans reject science.

And Joe Biden, the Democratic presidential front-runner, added his own criticism.

I cant believe I have to say this, Biden posted on Twitter on Friday afternoon, but please dont drink bleach.

Dr. Jerome M. Adams, the surgeon general, also issued a warning through his Twitter feed  the closest he has come so far to walking back the words of the president.

A reminder to all Americans- PLEASE always talk to your health provider first before administering any treatment/ medication to yourself or a loved one, Adams said. Your safety is paramount, and doctors and nurses are have years of training to recommend whats safe and effective.

Trumps hopeful comments about disinfectant use coincided with an alarming rise in accidents with household cleaning products in recent weeks, according to doctors who monitor activity at poison call centers. On Monday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported a growing number of calls to poison control centers, and a significant increase in accidental exposures to household cleaners and disinfectants.

The FDA has moved to tamp down on merchants online that have encouraged the ingestion of products made with disinfectants and cleaning agents, including chlorine dioxide, a compound commonly used as a bleach. The products have found favor with conspiracy theorists and fringe activists online who peddle chlorine dioxide as Magical Mineral Solution, or MMS.

One such activist, Mark Grenon, claimed after the presidents briefing that Trump has got the MMS and all the info, according to The Guardian. Grenon did not reply to an email seeking comment, nor did the White House. On Friday, a person familiar with the situation said senior administration officials were not familiar with Grenon or his letter.

Social media platforms have also moved to filter out the circulation of junk science and bad information online, using disinfectants as a prime example. Last month, Mark Zuckerberg, chief executive of Facebook, specifically mentioned a bleach cure as an example of misinformation that has imminent risk of danger.

Things like, You can cure this by drinking bleach, he said. I mean, thats just in a different class.

A spokesman for Twitter said Friday that the presidents statements did not violate our COVID-19 misinformation policy.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned doctors against prescribing hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID-19 outside of hospitals or research settings. Read more

WASHINGTON - The Food and Drug Administration warned Friday that doctors should not use the malaria drugs chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID-19 patients outside a hospital or a clinical trial, citing reports of serious heart rhythm problems.

The drugs have been aggressively promoted by President Donald Trump, who has called them a potential "game-changer," even though results from clinical trials have not yet shown the drugs to be effective for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.

An increasing number of studies and reports have raised safety issues, making the drugs an example of how the president's embrace of unproven medical ideas has potentially endangered Americans' lives and put health agencies in a tough spot.

On Thursday, after a White House presentation that touched on disinfectants that can kill the novel coronavirus on surfaces and in the air, Trump pondered whether those chemicals could be used to fight the virus inside the human body, prompting health experts and the makers of Lysol to quickly warn against ingesting disinfectants.

The FDA, in its drug safety communication Friday, said hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine have been linked to abnormal heart rhythms such as QT interval prolongation, dangerously rapid heart rates called ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation, and in some cases, death. The agency said the medications should be used only in settings where patients can be closely watched for cardiac problems. QT prolongation refers to an extension of the split-second time required for the heart to recharge between beats.

Many of the reported side effects occurred in COVID-19 patients treated with a combination of the malaria drugs and azithromycin, also known as Z-Pak, the FDA said. It added that the side-effects information came from the agency's adverse-events database, published literature and data from poison control centers.

"While clinical trials are ongoing to determine the safety and effectiveness of these drugs for COVID-19, there are known side effects of these medications that should be considered," FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn said in a statement. "We encourage health care professionals making individual patient decisions to closely screen and monitor those patients to help mitigate these risks."

The debate about the use of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine intensified earlier this week when Rick Bright, director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, was removed from his post and reassigned to a narrower role at the National Institutes of Health.

On Wednesday, Bright released a statement through his attorneys saying he was removed because of his resistance to pushing hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine as a panacea and his insistence the government invest billions of dollars appropriated by Congress into scientifically vetted solutions. He said that led to clashes with political leadership at the Department of Health and Human Services, which BARDA is under.

But a more complicated picture has emerged. Bright repeatedly clashed with his boss, Robert Kadlec, assistant secretary for preparedness and response at HHS, according to three current and former senior administration officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity to address a sensitive situation. Kadlec, who is also on the White House coronavirus task force, and top HHS officials had discussed Bright's departure for months because of dissatisfaction with his job performance, the current and former officials said. Yet a 2019 performance review obtained by The Washington Post showed Bright received glowing marks.

"I rightly resisted efforts to provide an unproven drug on demand to the American public," Bright said Wednesday. "I also resisted efforts to fund potentially dangerous drugs promoted by those with political connections."

Rep. Anna Eshoo, a California Democrat who is chairwoman of the House subcommittee on health, said she plans to have a hearing to find out why Bright was transferred to NIH from BARDA. "This man is a thoroughbred professional," she said. "Why would you do this in the middle of a pandemic? This deserves scrutiny."

Trump is livid about Bright's statement but HHS has urged the White House to stay quiet - and has not shared enough information in the view of some White House aides, according to two White House officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe internal thinking.

The FDA's safety message Friday came after weeks of warnings from experts about possible complications from hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine. The agency said doctors should conduct electrocardiograms and kidney and liver tests on patients receiving the medications. The drugs, in addition to posing heart risks, can affect insulin levels, increasing the risks of severe hypoglycemia, a condition in which blood sugar levels are low, the agency said.

The FDA warning came just days after a study showed hydroxychloroquine had no benefit and was linked to higher rates of death for Veterans Affairs patients hospitalized with the novel coronavirus, raising further questions about the safety and efficacy of a treatment widely used in the pandemic.

The drugs are not approved for COVID-19, but once a drug is approved for any disease, doctors may prescribe it for any use. The FDA said it was "aware of an increased use of these medicines through outpatient prescriptions," and urged physicians and patients to be aware of the potential risks. Heart problems are a well-documented side effect among people given the drugs for malaria.

The FDA is allowing certain versions of hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine products donated to the Strategic National Stockpile to be distributed and used in limited circumstances for COVID-19, including for patients in the hospital, under an Emergency Use Authorization.

That authorization did not cite evidence of benefit in COVID-19 patients, and critics have argued the authorization - known as an EUA - was issued because of political pressure, which Hahn has denied.

"The agency's in a jam. It got badgered into the EUA in the first place, and now it's trying appropriately to warn people of the risks," said Peter Lurie, president of the consumer watchdog group Center for Science in the Public Interest and a former top FDA official. "It's unquestionable that the president, and the echo chamber of Fox News, created an atmosphere that fundamentally altered the way this product was considered.

"The overall problem is that this product, in all likelihood, will do more damage than good," he said.

But a New York internist who was an early adopter of the treatments and has publicly boosted their use, said Friday he will continue to prescribe them to patients who are not hospitalized, despite the FDA warning.

"I totally disagree with the FDA saying it should not be used outside of a clinical trial," said the doctor, Alexander Morden. "When the boat is sinking or the building is on fire, you can't wait for a study, six months later, to confirm what's going on. You have to do the best medicine you can."

Use of hydroxychloroquine has been widespread since the pandemic began, causing shortages for patients who use the medicine routinely to treat lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. Some doctors and experts, including Trump's defenders, have argued that the drug's safety profile in those patients meant it would be safe in COVID-19 patients.

"They sort of committed a first-year medical student violation by equating a safety profile in that set of patients with the safety profile in a sick, COVID-19 hospitalized patient," said Michael Ackerman, a genetic cardiologist and director of Mayo Clinic's Windland Smith Rice Sudden Death Genomics Laboratory. Ackerman and his colleagues published a warning about the risk of QT prolongation and sudden death three days before the FDA issued its emergency use authorization.

"Tragically, we've seen this already," Ackerman said. "I would not have predicted that we would see the signal of proof of the importance of this warning so quickly."

Survey data gathered by Sermo, a health-care data company, said about 60 percent of 1,400 physicians who were polled and who treat patients inside hospitals reported prescribing hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19 patients. But the same survey said only 30 percent of doctors rated the drug highly effective, and just 35 percent rated it very safe.

The dispute between the former head of BARDA and other HHS officials exposed rifts within the department over the use of the malaria drugs for COVID-19. Bright, the former BARDA head, is being represented by attorneys who represented Christine Blasey Ford, who alleged that Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her when they were teenagers. The attorneys declined to make Bright available for an interview.

Several senior administration officials expressed dismay that Bright had been removed from his post, especially in the middle of the government's coronavirus response, arguing it was disruptive and caused further turmoil at the health agency. Others, however, said BARDA was moving too slowly on COVID-19 treatments and vaccines and that issues with the agency date back to long before the crisis began.

"There were substantial problems with the organization, and some will be relieved by his departure. They have a lot of opportunity to succeed," said an industry expert familiar with BARDA who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe the situation forthrightly.

HHS spokeswoman Caitlin Oakley said this week that Bright requested the emergency authorization from the FDA that made it possible for chloroquine to be donated to the Strategic National Stockpile and used for COVID-19 patients.

Brights statement, nevertheless, has made him a hero among some in the scientific community, who have expressed concern for weeks about the presidents unfounded claims about hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine without evidence.
(TNS)  Californians overwhelmingly support Gov. Gavin Newsoms response to the COVID-19 crisis. Some 83 percent of the states residents approve of Newsoms handling of the emergency, according to an analysis by polling site FiveThirtyEight. Key to Newsoms response: a statewide stay-at-home order that is saving thousands of lives.Nationwide, the vast majority of Americans support stay-at-home orders. Seventy-two percent of Americans support the public health measures to flatten the curve of infections and save lives, according to a recent Reuters/Ipsos survey.This makes sense. Life, and health, are extremely valuable. Most of us want to stay alive  and we also want our friends and loved ones to survive. Such care is a basic human instinct.COVID-19 has killed nearly 50,000 Americans so far. This week, California had its deadliest day yet, with 118 deaths on Wednesday alone, according to the. But it could be much worse. Millions of Americans could die if we dont continue to take strong measures to slow the virus spread. Thats why Californians, and people around the nation and the world, are engaged in an unprecedented act of physical distancing to reduce the death toll.Unfortunately, a tiny but extreme minority of people has started agitating against our smart public health measures. This small but vocal fraction engaged in protests around the nation this week, including in Sacramento. The anti-quarantine protests  which, according to the Washington Post, are backed by groups funded by conservative billionaires  demand that governors scale back the COVID-19 responses in their states.The protesters argue that the temporary economic shutdown is worse than death. But while the economic consequences have been painful, theres no guarantee that ignoring medical science and unleashing mass deaths on our communities would help the economy. In fact, a second wave of COVID-19 infections could do even deeper economic damage  and extinguish millions of lives, creating permanent hardships for many families.The protesters are uninformed and outlandish, but some Republicans in the California State Capitol are working to make their arguments seem legitimate. On Thursday, the Republican caucus of the California State Senate sent a letter to Newsom asking that counties be allowed to evade the shutdown mandate. The letter, authored by state Sen. Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield), asked the governor to seriously consider modifying the states stay-at-home order to allow local governments to abandon public safety measures before its safe to do so.But Newsom has no reason to consider such requests. His strategy, based in science, is saving lives. Its also extremely popular. While Republican governors in states like Georgia and Florida seem happy to sacrifice lives by defying expert advice, California has taken a better path.The California Republicans request tries to make a deadly idea seem reasonable and rational, but it wont work. Conservative commentators have already made it clear that reopening the economy will result in many preventable deaths.Last week, Scott Adams  the conservative-leaning California resident and famed Dilbert cartoonist  declared that losing a few hundred thousand people (or fewer if we are clever) is an acceptable price for reopening the economy. Im in a higher risk category and agree.He added one caveat: I would like an option for assisted suicide just to skip the last day or two of drowning in my own lung juice.This argument wont persuade anyone, but at least its honest. And lets be clear: This is what the protesters  and California Senate Republicans  are essentially saying.California has proven it can do better. Gov. Newsom should ignore such defeatist drivel and stay the course.GoverningGoverning
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Bihar government has exuded confidence that the door-to-door screening surveillance, which has led to the detection of two new coronavirus disease (Covid-19) positive cases in Bhagalpur, and around 1,900 swab samples that are pending results would help reduce the number of cases of the pandemic in the state.

Bihar has reported a spike in the number of Covid-19 positive cases over the past week from 86 on April 18 to 225 on Saturday amid growing concerns that the worst is yet to come. Though 20 districts in the state have reported the viral outbreak from 12 till 10 days, only five districts account for 70% of Covid-19 positive cases, the state authorities said. The state has reported two deaths to date, they added.

Follow latest update on coronavirus here

Chief minister Nitish Kumar himself allayed the apprehensions, as he underlined that the recent Covid-19 positive cases trace their origin to superspreaders and that have led to the deployment of door-to-door surveillance across the state.

Lokesh Kumar Singh, health secretary, Bihar, corroborated the CMs assessment. One patient in Munger district transmitted SARS-CoV-2, which causes Covid-19, to 29 others, while one each in Siwan and Nalanda districts infected 22 and 19 people, respectively, Singh said.

Most cases have shown a similar pattern, leading to five districts accounting for 70% of the cases. Even in the state capital, Patna, 17 Covid-19 positive cases have one common source. While in Rohtas district, one patient infected 14 others. Similarly in Buxar district, another patient transmitted to seven others. In several cases, a single Covid-19 positive case either had recent travel history or showed tell-tale symptoms of the viral infection, he added.

The state health authorities said that door-to-door surveillance would help track the symptomatic patients and also instill confidence among the general public to volunteer for checks.

Click here for complete coronavirus crisis

Early detection and treatment of Covid-19 hold the key to faster recovery like any other disease. Bihar has shown a remarkable recovery rate. Were urging people to come forward and report if theyre showing any signs of symptoms or had recent travel history for the benefit of their loved ones, said a health official. The CM himself is constantly monitoring the situation with health officials and experts, he added.

AIIMS Patna for plasma therapy

Sanjay Kumar, principal secretary, health, Bihar, tweeted on Saturday morning that the state now has the facility for a plasma therapy for critical Covid-19 patients at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Patna, on the lines of a similar line of treatment being adopted across the country. Bihar has received the deemed approval from the Indian Council of Medical Research for AIIMS, Patna, Kumar tweeted.

PK Singh, director, AIIMS, Patna, said that the hospital is prepared to administer convalescent plasma therapy to critical Covid-19 patients.

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Three researchers at the Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research at UCLA have received awards to pursue treatments and vaccines for COVID-19 from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, the state's stem cell agency.

The recipients are Dr. Gay Crooks, a professor of pathology and laboratory medicine and of pediatrics and co-director of the UCLA Broad Stem Cell Research Center and Dr. Christopher Seet, an assistant professor of hematology-oncology; and Dr. Brigitte Gomperts, a professor of pediatrics and pulmonary medicine.

Crooks and Seet's $150,000 award will support their study into how immune cells called T cells respond to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in order to inform the development of vaccines and therapies that harness T cells to fight the virus.

The scientists are taking an innovative approach to vaccine research in that rather than studying the immune response using cells taken from infected people, they are taking T cells that have been donated by healthy people and inducing them to mount strong immune responses to parts of the virus in the lab. Studying the T cells' responses will shed light on how T cells recognize and eliminate the virus.

Their method uses blood-forming stem cells - which can self-renew and form all types of blood and immune cells - taken from healthy donors and infected with a virus containing parts of SARS-CoV-2. These stem cells are then converted into specialized immune cells called dendritic cells using a new method developed by Seet and Suwen Li, a graduate student in Crooks' lab. Both Seet and Li are graduates of the UCLA Broad Stem Cell Research Center's Training Program.

Dendritic cells are rare immune cells that devour proteins from foreign invaders-including viruses--and then chop them into fragments called antigens, which can then trigger T cells to mount an immune response to the virus.

"The dendritic cells we are able to make using this process are really good at chopping up the virus, and therefore eliciting a strong immune response," said Crooks, who is also director of the cancer and stem cell biology program at the UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Rare T cells with receptors on their surfaces that can recognize these viral antigens as foreign and dangerous set off a chain of events that activates multiple parts of the immune system to attack cells infected with the virus. Protective responses by T cells against a virus also may result in long-lasting immune memory and protection from future infections with the same virus.

The work being done by Crooks and Seet will not only identify the receptors on T cells capable of recognizing SARS-CoV-2, but also determine which antigens of SARS-CoV-2 are the best at inducing strong T-cell immune responses. This information can then be used to guide development of vaccines for COVID-19 that result in stronger T-cell responses and better immune memory.

"What we know from a lot of work going on in other viral infections and also in cancer immunotherapy is that T-cell responses are really important for long-lasting immunity," Seet said. "And so this approach will allow us to better characterize the T-cell response to SARS-CoV-2 and focus vaccine and therapeutic development on those parts of the virus that induce strong T-cell immunity."

Gomperts' $150,000 award will support the use of a human stem cell-derived lung organoid model to identify drugs that can reduce the number of infected cells and prevent damage in the lungs of patients with SARS-CoV-2.

Over the past several years, Gomperts has been developing three-dimensional lung organoids that can serve as disease-in-a-dish models to yield unprecedented insights into lung diseases. The organoids are grown by coating tiny gel beads with human lung-derived stem cells and then allowing them to self-assemble into the shapes of the air sacs found in human lung.

"Our model resembles actual human lung tissue because it contains several of the lung cell types you would find in the body that are arranged into the micro-architecture of the lung," Gomperts, who is also a member of the UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, said.

Most drug screens for SARS-CoV-2 lung therapies currently underway utilize two-dimensional cultures of lung cells, which fail to recreate many critical aspects of the organ's biology and response to disease. Because Gomperts' model more closely mimics the conditions inside the human lung, it should better predict how the lungs of patients with SARS-CoV-2 will respond to therapies.

Along with her collaborators from the department of molecular and medical pharmacology, Associate Professor Vaithilingaraja Arumugaswami and Professor Robert Damoiseaux, Gomperts will infect her lung models with SARS-CoV-2 to better understand the biology of the disease and screen thousands of drug candidates.

The group will begin by using the models to test drugs that have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for other purposes or have been found to be safe in humans in a phase one clinical trial. This increases the likelihood that if a successful drug is found, it can be fast tracked for approval.

"We're starting with drugs that have already been tested in humans because our goal is to find a therapy that can treat patients with COVID-19 as soon as possible," Gomperts said.

Each award will be matched dollar-for-dollar by the UCLA Broad Stem Cell Research Center. Both of the projects awarded are based upon research that has previously received support from both CIRM and the UCLA Broad Stem Cell Research Center.

"Our center is proud to join CIRM in supporting these researchers as they adapt projects that have spent years in development to meet the urgent need for therapies and vaccines for COVID-19," said Dr. Owen Witte, founding director of the UCLA Broad Stem Cell Research Center and professor of microbiology, immunology and molecular genetics . "This moment highlights the importance of funding scientific research so that we may have the foundational knowledge to meet new challenges as they arise."

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Indian batsman KL Rahul is sorted when he is on the field but he is dealing with a dilemma of different while sitting at home.

Rahul decided to seek help from his fans on social media to arrive at a solution. The question was whether he should cut his hair or let it grow.

Hair. Keep or cut, he wrote in the caption of a pic of him standing in front of a mirror. In the bathroom mirror selfie, Rahul is wearing a sweatshirt with his hair and beard on display.

HairKeep or cut  pic.twitter.com/IxXd3VlaKU K L Rahul (@klrahul11) April 24, 2020

Twitterati owned up to their task like always and suggested much more than simple keep or cut options. While one user commented, Keep with a red heart emoji, another asked him to keep his hair like Ravindra Jadeja in this picture.

KEEP LIKE THIS .NOW I AM ALSO READYING TO KEEP LIKE THIS #StayHomeStaySafe pic.twitter.com/UmT9nYY6Mx Anirudh gokul iss veriyan (@anigokuliss) April 24, 2020

Requests for Rahul to keep his hair like Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Shikhar Dhawan also poured in.

We want to see you like this at least once in your career... @klrahul11 pic.twitter.com/EJfg0TfTfb Mahendra Gadkar (@GadkarMahendra) April 24, 2020

Many Twitter users were in favour of the player keeping his hairstyle intact.

please don't cut your klassy hair Rajat Sarkar (@RajatSa92757659) April 24, 2020

Keep ur looking like model Nag Manoj (@ManojYa01524312) April 24, 2020

Hair makes you look like hero,so keep it Priya (@Priya30463182) April 24, 2020

One even asked for him to bring the ponytail-look back.

Keep it... Bring back the ponytail Viola Patrao (@Violapatrao) April 24, 2020

Some thought cutting it would be better.

Clean shave  . (@ayondragneel) April 24, 2020

Cut stylish player KLRAHUL FAN CLUB (@KLRAHUL_FANclub) April 24, 2020

One Twitter user, with the username of God Hanuman, commented on the thread in the persona of the mythological character. In Hindi, he wrote, Putra sab moh maya hai, bilkul ganje ho jao.
A High Court judge has refused an application to overturn the 116bn Project Ireland 2040 plan for the country's development.

In a judgment yesterday, Mr Justice Anthony Barr dismissed claims the plan adopted at a special Cabinet meeting in Sligo in February 2018 is invalid due to alleged lack of proper environmental assessments and failure to properly address climate change.

Friends of the Irish Environment (FIE) brought the case which sought to quash the Government's adoption of the plan on grounds of alleged failure to meet the assessment requirements of the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Directive and the Habitats Directive.

Project Ireland has two principal components, the National Planning Framework (NPF) and the National Development Plan (NDP).

Mr Justice Barr said he was satisfied the NDP is a financial or budget plan and does not require a SEA or Appropriate Assessment (AA).

He rejected FIE's arguments the project failed to assess the environmental effects from the plan's measures to address climate change. The environmental report accompanying the plan, the SEA statement and the NPF itself contains "extensive provisions" dealing with climatic factors, he said.

FIE wants a "quantitative assessment" of the likely effect of the NPF on climatic factors but that cannot be given as the NPF is a policy document which does not give permission for any specific development or project, he said.

It was clear climatic factors are "one of the main drivers" behind the features provided for in the NPF, he added.

He also held the NDP does not require a SEA assessment under the SEA Directive because it is not a plan or programme within the definition of that directive.

The judge also rejected arguments it failed to comply with monitoring provisions set out in EU environmental regulations and inadequate consideration was given to FIE's submissions.
Super-rich tycoons living in the tax haven of Monaco are using millions of pounds of British taxpayers cash to pay the wages of the staff in their UK companies.

An investigation by The Mail on Sunday today reveals how firms headed by businessmen enjoying a luxury lifestyle on the French Riviera are receiving huge amounts of your money during the coronavirus crisis. The expose will raise fears the Governments emergency furlough scheme  likely to cost more than 40 billion  will help bankroll companies linked to tycoons who have left Britain for low-tax jurisdictions.

Under the scheme the State will cover up to 80 per cent of the salaries of staff if companies keep them on the payroll. The payments are capped at 2,500 a month for each employee. But there is a growing backlash as tax exiles  including controversial Topshop billionaire Sir Philip Green  ask for taxpayer cash.

Sir Philip Green, 68, has faced criticism after furloughing 14,500 of the 16,000 staff employed across his Arcadia Group empire

Our investigation found:

 Multi-millionaire John Hargreaves, chairman of discount clothing retailer Matalan and a Monaco resident, is furloughing staff despite battling with Revenue & Customs for 84 million in a tax dispute;

 Billionaire brothers David and Simon Reuben, Britains second richest family with a staggering 18.6 billion fortune, are furloughing 750 UK staff across their business empire;

 Secretive tycoon John Jakes, who founded Acorn Stairlifts and lives on Monacos seafront and has paid himself nearly 100 million in the last decade, has furloughed staff and is considering claiming for taxpayer-funded support;

 Businesses headed by tax haven tycoons  including Sir Philip Green and the Reuben Brothers  are also benefiting from a Government decision to waive business rates, worth millions of pounds.

None of the businesses are accused of failing to pay UK taxes and all of them are entitled to claim for Government support.

The Mail on Sunday can reveal that the Reuben brothers are furloughing hundreds of staff across their horse racing, pub, hotel and aviation businesses

Robert Palmer, executive director of campaign group Tax Justice UK, said: The first priority must be to look after employees, but it feels deeply unfair when you have some very rich people who have left Britain for tax havens in the good times asking for Government support when things get tough.

Sun-drenched Monaco has long been a millionaires playground thanks to its zero personal income- tax regime. The Principality does not levy capital gains tax or wealth tax. Inheritance tax is only payable on assets there.

Mr Hargreaves, 76, moved to Monaco about 20 years ago and lives in a luxury apartment block overlooking the Mediterranean. The son of a Liverpool docker, he opened his first Matalan store in Preston, Lancashire in 1985 and is credited with kick-starting Britains low-cost retailing revolution. The chain now has 230 stores and about 13,000 staff. Mr Hargreaves and his family have amassed a 600 million fortune, according to The Sunday Times rich list. In 2010 Mr Hargreaves, who rubs shoulders with stars such as Kylie Minogue, paid himself a 250 million dividend after refinancing the firm with around 525 million of debt from bondholders. In recent years the tycoon has been embroiled in a dispute with the taxman related to his sale of about 230 million of Matalan shares in 2000.

A few months before the sale, Mr Hargeaves told Revenue & Customs he had moved to Monaco and was no longer a tax resident in the UK. But the taxman opened an investigation in 2004 after being alerted to the fact he was working for three days a week at the firms head office in Skelmersdale, Lancashire. It did not, however, issue a charge for 84 million in unpaid capital gains tax until 2007.

Last year he appeared to have won his battle after a tribunal ruled that the tax bill should not be paid because it was too long ago.

This newspaper can, however, reveal that the taxman has appealed against the judgement, although the case might not be heard until January 2022.

Despite the long-running dispute, Matalan said in a statement to its creditors earlier this month that it is accessing any available Government support. That included furloughing more than 10,000 staff and benefiting from the taxpayer-backed business rates holiday worth more than 40 milion.

Earlier this month it was reported that Matalan, which has an average monthly wage bill of 13 million, had offered to furlough all its warehouse staff.

The move came after a photograph was circulated on social media of staff standing close to each other at Matalans warehouse in Liverpool.

Sources close to Mr Hargreaves said he has separately made a 35 million tax payment in the tax year ending April 2019. They also said his business contributed 150 million a year to the Treasury in business, trade and employee taxes in normal years.

In recent years John Hargreaves, 76, has been embroiled in a dispute with the taxman related to his sale of about 230 million of Matalan shares in 2000. Seen here brushing shoulders with Kylie Minogue

Mr Hargreaves is not the only retail tycoon to ask for taxpayer cash. His high street rival Sir Philip Green, 68, has faced criticism after furloughing 14,500 of the 16,000 staff employed across his Arcadia Group empire, which includes Topshop, Topman, Burton, Miss Selfridge and Dorothy Perkins.

Arcadia is owned by Sir Philips wife, Tina, whose residency in Monaco means she does not pay UK tax on dividend income, including a 1.2 billion payment she banked in 2005. Sir Philip, who along with his wife is worth almost 1.8billion according to business magazine Forbes, commutes between Monaco and Britain by private jet and moors his 115million superyacht in the Principality.

He receives a salary from the retail group, believed to be about 1million a year, on which he pays UK income tax.

As well as the furloughing scheme, Arcadia will also benefit from a Government move to waive business rates on shops, restaurants, pubs, hotels and other businesses for the rest of the tax year. The decision will benefit Arcadias 550 stores, which have temporarily closed. Sir Philip last night declined to comment.

Sources close to the Green family said the business had contributed 2.5billion in taxes to the Treasury over the past decade.

Some nine million people  30 per cent of the private sector workforce  are expected to benefit from the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. More than 2,200 applications a minute flooded in when it opened at 8am last Monday and 140,000 had been received by 4pm.

British businessman Philip Green's luxury yacht Lionheath is seen anchored at Marmaris Harbour in Mugla, Turkey on August 8, 2019

But it is not just struggling retailers and airlines who have called on taxpayer support. The MoS can reveal that the Reuben brothers are furloughing hundreds of staff across their horse racing, pub, hotel and aviation businesses.

The pair, second on last years Sunday Times Rich List, have built up a vast property portfolio.

Simon, 78, has lived in Monaco for about 20 years, while David, 81, moved abroad several years ago and splits his time between the French Riviera and Florida. They own a 54 million yacht called Siren, and a private jet that can carry up to 14 passengers.

A spokesman said 650 staff have been furloughed for two months at Arena Racing, a company that operates 16 racecourses, including Royal Windsor, Doncaster and Chepstow. A further 100 staff have been furloughed across the pubs, hotels and aviation businesses, which includes London Heliport and London Oxford Airport.

Staff will be paid by the Government in April and May but the Reuben brothers are topping up any shortfall in their salaries.

Super-rich tycoons including Sir Philip Green, the Reuben Brothers and Matalan boss John Hargreaves, are living in the tax haven of Monaco are using millions of pounds of British taxpayers cash to pay the wages of the staff in their UK companies

The racecourses and hotels are also benefiting from business rate relief, which is being applied automatically by councils. Struggling landlords of pubs owned by the Wellington Pub Company, which is part of the Reuben brothers empire, last week complained that they were unable to find out if they will be forced to pay rent in June.

A spokesman for the tycoons said landlords who are struggling would be offered a three-month rent window. The spokesman also said the brothers were semi-retired, pay personal taxes on UK sources of income and do not receive dividends or remuneration from their UK businesses.

He added: The UK businesses have been hit by the Covid-19 crisis including the racecourses and hotels being shut, and pubs closed with tenants unable to pay rent.

Staff have been furloughed to avoid redundancies and the balance of salaries have been made whole so employees have not suffered loss of income or job losses like many others have in the UK.

He said the brothers charitable foundation was donating 8 million to fight the pandemic.

Acorn Stairlifts owner John Jakes is worth 210 million according to the Sunday Times Rich List.The tycoon has pocketed nearly 100 million in dividends in the past decade from Acorn, which he founded in 1991.

That is almost the entire profits generated by the company in that period.

Acorn has furloughed 263 non-essential staff, although it has not yet applied for money under the job retention scheme.

The company said: In common with many other companies in our industry and in the economy at large we continue to keep under consideration all of the options available, including the job retention scheme, to assist us in safeguarding the employment and livelihoods of our valued employees.
Panel on reopening for business sees guidelines for operations

One marker of how hard the coronavirus has whacked Henderson County's economy comes from the work of the small business center at Blue Ridge Community College.

We ranked No. 2 in the state next to Charlotte in the number of small businesses we have assisted over the last four weeks, BRCC President Laura Leatherwood told Henderson Countys Post-Covid-19 Task Force on Friday.

The second meeting of the 22-member panel of business owners the Board of Commissioners appointed to recommend guidance for reopening the economy came one day after Gov. Roy Cooper extended the statewide stay-at-home order to May 8 and set out conditions for a gradual reopening of restaurants, shops, personal services and other businesses.

Coopers order was somewhat of a surprise to us, said Commissioner Bill Lapsley, who cochairs the Post-Covid committee with Commissioner Rebecca McCall. What it clearly says to us was the governor wants to continue to control the reopening of the economy of our state and our local communities.

The countys request to the governor expressed our desire to control our own destiny, Lapsley said. Weve not heard back from the governor and quite frankly I dont expect we will but clearly his actions show that he does not appear to support, as far were concerned, local government having any control over this situation.

When Cooper describes conditions that are needed to ease restrictions, the implication is he might extend it again until the end of May and I dont know as a community that we can survive that extended period, Lapsley said. Ive got some frustration with that.

Leatherwood described BRCC's work on multiple fronts to teach critical health care provider courses, guide small businesses and prepare for a projected surge in fall enrollment of people who have lost their jobs and four-year college students whose families can no longer afford high tuition.

The college is not closed and weve never been closed, she said. However, our definition of open has certainly changed."

The college continues to offer courses. Exempt from the shutdown are courses in nursing, nurse aid, medical assistants, EMT, paramedic, law enforcement and emergency management  jobs that support front-line health care providers, hospitals and emergency operations.

The college president said the surge in unemployment is the biggest shes seen in her 27 years of community college service. BRCCs small business center has been helping clients apply for SBA loans and other forms of stimulus funding and offering guidance for how they can make it through these tough times and come out on the other side, she said.

Guidelines for reopening

County planners presented the results of a survey that 250 businesses took starting Tuesday afternoon. A majority of respondents thought the county should provide standard guidelines to businesses for reopening. The greatest concerns were the spread or resurgence of the virus, lack of adherence to guidelines, reopening too soon, inadequate resources to institute all the protections needed, a lack of information, misinformation and desire for flexibility, not a one size fits all.

Lapsley assured the business owners and factory managers that commissioners are not interested in policing businesses compliance with county guidelines.

We feel like the commissioners dont need to be in a position of telling businesses how many people they should have in their business space, how they should deal with employees, but that the commissioners should focus on more general guidelines and recommendations at this point in the process and then in the next week or so as we get closer to the end of the executive order we would expect to maybe see about getting down in the weeds a little bit, similar to what other states have done with particularly industry groups, he said.

Commissioners instead want to do what we can to give advice and how we as a community should react to dealing with this situation. We wont want to get into the nitty gritty details of the reopening process.

Based on a review of comments, concerns and suggestions from the business owners received this week and on public health guidelines, the county distilled the information into nine guidelines for reopening in a way that protects employees and customers:

Maintain social distancing as outlined by the CDC. Wear personal protective equipment including masks when interacting with people. Implement daily, ongoing sanitation processes. Limit personal contact for the protection of employees and customers. Use screening practices and monitoring for all employees. Implement continuous hand washing or use of approved hand sanitizer between public interactions. Review daily business functions to identify innovative ways to reduce the risk of infection. Post requirements for customers at the entry point of businesses. Monitor any changes in regulations issued by federal, state or local governments.

Only 16 Covid cases at Pardee

Pardee UNC Health CEO Jay Kirby praised the group for taking the threat seriously.

Dont change anything that youre doing, he said, but dont be so scared that you become paralyzed because we have people working day in and day out in this hospital who have only seen 16 people come into this hospital with Covid who have been admitted. Just four employees have contracted the virus.

Someone asked how many of the 16 had been discharged.

Most of the folks that have passed away pretty much come here to do that, he said. Everybody thats passed away also has a do not resuscitate order. The average age of the people that are dying is 83.

So if Im the camp industry, Im not as worried about it. If Im a parent Im not as concerned about my child maybe getting out of a metropolitan area and going to the mountains, because its not afflicting the 18 and under. Its not terribly afflicting the 18 to 45, which is many of the workers and part-time workers you folks are using. And I dont know how many of the 75 and above population that are in these assisted living facilities are showing up at your businesses. Only 35 people outside of the 156 (cases) are people who dont live in a nursing home.

Kirby tried to strike a balance between the needed public guidelines and the wall-to-wall media coverage that focuses on the biggest outbreaks and highest mortality rates.

All my point is Im not telling anybody to stand down, he said. Im not suggesting that we shouldnt extend the time. But dont ruin your business and dont become paralyzed in fear based on what you see on ABC, CBS and Fox and CNN every night. Look at the data.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Saturday called for extending the UN Conventional Arms Embargo on Iran, saying the Islamic Republic's recent launch of a military satellite proved its space programme was neither peaceful nor entirely civilian.

Iran's Revolutionary Guard on Wednesday announced that the country's first military satellite -- Noor -- was put into orbit. The launch comes amidst rising tensions with the US.

"This week's launch of a military satellite by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization, makes clear what we have said all along: Iran's space program is neither peaceful nor entirely civilian," Pompeo said in a strongly-worded statement.

For years, Iran has claimed its space program is purely peaceful and civilian. The Trump administration has never believed this fiction, he said



In February 2020, Morteza Berari, the head of Iran's national space agency, said Iran advocates for the "peaceful use of outer space", Pompeo said.

"He (Berari) also said that "all our activities in the domain of outer space are transparent."



Iran's Minister for Information Mohammad-Javad Azari Jahromi claimed this week that "Iran's space program is peaceful.""The most recent military launch, which was developed and conducted in secret, proves that these statements were lies," said the top American diplomat.

Pompeo alleged that this satellite launch vehicle and others launched before it incorporate technologies identical to, and interchangeable with, ballistic missiles, including long-range systems such as intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs).

"No country has ever pursued an ICBM capability except for the purpose of delivering nuclear weapons," he said.

All peace-loving nations must reject Iran's development of ballistic-missile capable technologies and join together to constrain Iran's dangerous missile programmes, he said.

"As a start, nations should support extending the UN Conventional Arms Embargo on Iran, which is set to expire this October," Pompeo said.

The world's leading state sponsor of terrorism and anti-Semitism should not be allowed to buy and sell conventional weapons, he said, calling on the European Union to sanction those individuals and entities working on Iran's missile programmes.

When the Iranian people are suffering and dying from the coronavirus pandemic, it is regrettable to see the regime waste its resources and efforts on provocative military pursuits that do nothing to help the Iranian people, he said.

In an interview with The Ben Shapiro Show on Friday, Pompeo alleged that Iran is the largest force for instability in the Middle East.

"There are many challenges there, but it has been this country that has been the world's largest state sponsor of terror for many, many years," he said.

This was the reason why President Donald Trump began his term by tearing up the Iran nuclear deal.

"It was a disaster in many dimensions -- and we began to strip away the things that provided resources for the Iranian regime," he said.

Pompeo accused China being one of the countries that has continued to take oil from Iran, even in light of the "terror campaign" that they have engaged in.

"The Iranians even today are working alongside the Chinese on a disinformation campaign. Authoritarian regimes in times of crisis tend to work together," he said.

In another interview on Washington Watch, Pompeo said that this is a regime that, in spite of all the challenges that the world is facing today, continues to be the largest world sponsor of terrorism and the most anti-Semitic nation on the world stage.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
BEIJING, April 24 (Xinhua) -- A Foreign Ministry spokesperson on Friday refuted U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's questioning of China's transparency in handling the COVID-19 epidemic, saying his remarks showed no respect towards Chinese people's great efforts and sacrifice.

Pompeo's unsubstantiated remarks were entirely for the purpose of shifting the blame on others, spokesperson Geng Shuang said at a press briefing, adding that the remarks have run counter to the consensus of the international community.

Pompeo said in an interview Thursday that the Chinese government was aware of the first cases of COVID-19 "maybe as early as November."

"Mr. Pompeo should not think he can arbitrarily frame others with a 'maybe'," Geng said.

Geng said China has always acted in an open, transparent and responsible manner in the face of COVID-19, and has reported the outbreak to the World Health Organization, shared the genome sequence of the virus with other countries and carried out international cooperation on epidemic prevention and control all "at the earliest possible time," which were "undisputed facts."

While giving a brief review of some crucial junctures in China's fight against the epidemic, Geng said the groundless suspicion of China's transparency was disrespectful to the tremendous efforts and sacrifice of the Chinese people.

He urged some U.S. individuals to respect science, facts and international consensus and stop smearing other countries, adding that the priority for the United States is to focus on its domestic prevention and control and strengthen international anti-pandemic cooperation, rather than confuse public opinions and shift the blames.
A man has been given a four week prison sentence after breaching Covid-19 travel restrictions by driving over 450km from Derry to Kerry just to buy two puppies.

The 36-year old is now appealing the prison sentence imposed by Judge David Waters at Tralee District Court last Thursday.

He pleaded guilty before Judge Waters to a breach of the Health Act, 1947 - Covid 19 Emergency Measures Section 10, 2020. The charge followed an incident where Gardai on a routine Operation Fanacht checkpoint stopped a vehicle at Dooneen outside Castleisland last Thursday, April 16. The vehicle was stopped at 9.45am and officers inquired as to the purpose of the motorist's trip.

Under emergency regulations introduced by the Oireachtas, only essential workers are allowed travel while everyone else is asked to comply with a 2km travel zone around their homes. The only trips permitted outside the 2km limit are for medical reasons, food shopping or essential care of an elderly person.

It was stated the defendant was in Kerry as part of his work for a security firm but he was unable to produce photographic identification to prove this. Gardai determined that his visit was not an essential journey and he was instructed to immediately return to Derry. Gardai watched the vehicle depart the scene using the Castleisland by-pass.

A description of the vehicle was issued and the car was stopped a second time at Scart Cross between Farranfore and Killarney

The defendant, when stopped, informed officers he was in Kerry to purchase two puppies and pleaded to be allowed to continue his journey as he was so close to his final destination.

Gardai later checked with the individual apparently selling the puppies and they confirmed this but stressed they had informed the defendant not to undertake the journey .

The man was arrested and brought to Tralee Garda Station. He was later charged and brought to court where he pleaded guilty and Judge Waters imposed a four week prison sentence. However, an appeal was immediately lodged via a recognisance of 90 and he was released pending the hearing of his appeal.
Nearly 30 years ago, John Singleton burst onto the Hollywood scene with his first movie, Boyz n the Hood. The young filmmaker wrote and directed the film, which gave audiences an authentic glimpse into South Central LA life. Recently, Boyz n the Hood star, Ice Cube, dished some behind-the-scenes details about the film.

Ice Cube and John Singleton | Pool ARNAL/GARCIA/PICOT/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images

Budding stars made Boyz n the Hood

Singleton was a recent film school grad in his early 20s when he filmed Boyz n the Hood. Talent, smarts, and unmatched instincts made up for his lack of experience. His casting decisions, in particular, affected not only the film but also changed the trajectory of several careers. Boyz n the Hood featured breakout performances from several actors, helping to propel them to stardom.

Cuba Gooding Jr. starred as Tre, while Laurence Fishburne and Angela Bassett played his separated parents, Furious and Reva Styles. Nia Long, who almost turned down the role, appeared as Tres devout girlfriend, Brandi. Oscar-winner Regina King played a neighbor named Shalika. Rounding out the cast as brothers Ricky and Doughboy were Morris Chestnut and Ice Cube, respectively.

Critics and fans alike praised the films script and acting. But there was one scene in which the on-screen reactions were authentic, not staged, according to Ice Cube.

Ice Cube describes Singletons unusual filmmaking technique

Rehearsing the Crenshaw scene for Boyz N Tha Hood. John never told us that it would be real gun fire during the scene. All reactions were real. John was brilliant. I miss him. pic.twitter.com/mGGJXHmUd5  Ice Cube (@icecube) April 19, 2020

An iconic scene from Boyz n the Hood centers around a gang conflict on a Crenshaw block. In the film, rival crews face off in a verbal confrontation but walk away without coming to blows. Moments later, gunshots ring out, bystanders scatter, and the characters hightail it out of the neighborhood.

It is one of the most memorable sequences in the film due in part to the palpable panic felt in the scene. What moviegoers didnt know at the time was that the fearful expressions were indeed genuine, according to a tweet by Ice Cube. The actor shared a photo that was taken on the set of Boyz n the Hood.

In the caption, he wrote, Rehearsing the Crenshaw scene for Boyz n The Hood. John never told us that it would be real gunfire during the scene. All reactions were real. John was brilliant. I miss him.

John Singletons legacy

As a young filmmaker who used unconventional techniques and a polished shooting style, Singleton struck creative gold with Boyz n the Hood. After that, he went on to make more socially conscious films such as Poetic Justice and Higher Learning, both of which featured stars from Boyz n the Hood.

Regina King appeared in Poetic Justice alongside Janet Jackson, Tupac Shakur, and Joe Torry. Higher Learning reunited King, Ice Cube, and Laurence Fishburne, who starred with Omar Epps, Tyra Banks, Kristy Swanson, Michael Rapaport, and Busta Rhymes.

Singleton went on to write, produce, and direct many other projects until his death on April 28, 2019. He leaves a legacy of powerful films that reflect the American experience and that continue to touch the lives of fans around the world.

Read more: Friday Cast 25 Years Later: Who Has the Highest Net Worth?
Photo: Courtesy of the Ministry of National Defense

ISLAMABAD, April 24 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese military medical expert team on Friday arrived here to join Pakistan's efforts to battle the current COVID-19 pandemic in the South Asian country.

The 10-member medical expert team was received at the Islamabad International Airport by Pakistan's Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Nadeem Raza, as well as Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Yao Jing.

The military medical experts also brought COVID-19 prevention materials to Pakistan.

According to the Ministry of National Defense of China, the People's Liberation Army of China dispatched three medical expert teams respectively to Pakistan, Myanmar and Laos on Friday.

Photo: Courtesy of the Ministry of National Defense

Photo: Courtesy of the Ministry of National Defense
The Faculty of Physics at the Technion, in collaboration with German scientists at Tubingen explains the unique properties of Arrokoth which shed new light on the formation of other asteroid-like objects in the Kuiper Belt, and understanding the early stages of the formation of the solar system.

The first photos of "the snowman", known formally as Arrokoth were taken by NASA's New Horizon space mission. They published their findings in Nature.

The adventures of NASA's New Horizon

The New Horizons robotic spacecraft was sent to investigate Pluto's features and terrain. It fixed its trajectory towards Pluto, starting a long journey of about nine years but most of its systems were in sleep mode until it was close to its target to save fuel and resources.

When it woke up, Pluto was no longer considered a planet after the International Astronomical Union decided to demote the Pluto into a dwarf planet. But the importance of the New Horizon's mission is still valid as it provided spectacular images of Pluto and its moon Charon.

It also provided invaluable scientific information that is still investigated until now and will likely be investigated for many more years. The information gathered by the New Horizon gives important input for understanding the Kuiper Belt.

Kuiper Belt lies beyond the Neptune which consists of innumerable asteroid-like objects ranging in size from a few feet thousands of miles. The objects seen in the Kuiper Belt are typically icier as they have a colder condition than their "sister" asteroid belt.

But the New horizon found more objects in the Kuiper Belt. So, the scientists designed the trajectory for the New Horizon so that it would pass to the newly found object after it completes its initial mission of mapping the Pluto.

On January 1, 2019, as the New Horizons spacecraft passed by it just 3,500 miles away, humanity took its first close-up shot of a small Kuiper Belt object.

Read Also: NASA's Juno Space Probe Captures New Breathtaking Images of Jupiter That Looks Like A Stunning Piece of Art

Arrokoth the snowman

Upon the first arrival of the images of the object found in the Kuiper Belt, the researchers initially called it Ultima Thule or in Latin, "The Edge of the World," because of its remote location at the edge of the solar system. But renamed it 486958 Arrokoth, which means "sky" or "cloud" from the now-extinct Powhatan Native American language.

Arrokoth is a 30-kilometer contact binary with two differently sized lobes interconnected by a thin neck. The Arrokoth appears to be the product of two smaller Kuiper Belt objects that collided.

Various models have been proposed to explain the formation of Arrokoth and its unique properties, encountered major challenges, and in particular, its rotation speed around itself and its large inclination angle.

Technion researchers, Evgeni Grishin who is a Ph. D. student, postdoc Dr. Uri Malamud, and their supervisor Professor Hagai Perets, in collaboration with the German research group in Tubingen presented their new analytic calculations and detailed simulations explaining Arrokoth's formation and features.

They also studied how robust and probable the processes of the formation of Arrokoth, and found them to potentially be quite common with 20% of all Kuipler Belt binary objects. But until now, it is still impossible to explain the Arrokoth's unique features.

Read more: NASA's Kepler Spacecraft Possibly Found Earth 2.0
Seoul, April 25: Social media was gripped by another hoax related to North Korea's Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un, as photoshopped images of "his funeral" went viral. Upon a fact-check, it was found that the images were maliciously designed, using the visuals available from the last rites of Jong Un's father Kim Jong Il. Kim Jong Un 'Brain Dead' or Infected With 'Coronavirus'? Here is What New Reports Say About North Korean Leader's Health.

The fresh round of rumours came in backdrop of reports which claimed that Jong Un has either been hit by a terminal disease or has been declared brain dead. Even as the Pyongyang state media has not trashed the reports related to Jong Un, no confirmation has been received from either the country or its closest ally - China. Kim Jong Un's Health Status Unknown, China Fuels Speculations by Sending Team of Medics to North Korea.

The hoax on social media was shared with the edited image of Jong Un's father's funeral, along with a note which claimed that a satellite-TV based in Beijing has aired the visuals from the North Korean Supreme Leader's funeral.

Unverified News Viral on Social Media

#Breaking A Beijing-backed satellite TV, who's vice director is also a niece of a Chinese foreign minister, confirms that Kim Jong Un is dead. Vice director of HKSTV has told her 15 million followers on Weibo that #KimJongUn death claim was backed by a "very solid source." pic.twitter.com/fhwkffhXyJ  Rahul Upadhyay (@rahulrajnews) April 25, 2020

Twitterati Bust Hoax

#KimJongUn is not dead. This is a photo from 8 years ago. pic.twitter.com/6kBEXaZJFN  Amama Benn Benedict (@AmamaBenn) April 25, 2020

'Fake News'

The death of #KimJongUn is a fake, is a photoshoped img from his dead father Kim Jong Il don't spread fake news, retweet this pic.twitter.com/bHqGGYRVX9  Demian Magnate XL (@Maggnatte) April 25, 2020

Be Cautious About Misinformation

It has been going around that Kim Jong-Un is dead. I would advise being cautious about this information, at least until it is confirmed by oficial authorities (i.e. DoD, Chinese gov) or the North Korean government itself. #KIMJONGUNDEAD #KimJongUn pic.twitter.com/6o2vXyjA4b  Lucas H. (@LucasRHil) April 25, 2020

'Strap Line in Japanese'

If you are going to create a viral image of #KimJongUn and claim it to be leaked on a Singapore news network it would rather help to not have the strap line in Japanese. pic.twitter.com/TGoLpwCABL  James Wong (@Botanygeek) April 25, 2020

Jong Un, born in 1984, became one of the youngest heads of state in the world after he assumed power in 2011 -- at the age of 27 -- following the death of his father and then ruler Kim Jong Il. Under Jong Un's leadership, North Korea has been further isolated from the world. Despite pressure from arch-rival United States, the Jong Un regime did not halt its campaign to strengthen the nuclear arsenal.

Leading publications across the globe reported four days ago that Jong Un was either dead or incapacitated due to health-related ailments. The speculations were further fueled as the Pyongyang's state-run news agency has not denied the reports so far. Earlier today, Reuters reported that China has sent a team of doctors to North Korea to ascertain the health of the Supreme Leader.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 25, 2020 04:27 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
(Bloomberg) --

U.K. Transport Minister Grant Shapps resisted calls from London Mayor Sadiq Khan for the British public to wear more masks to protect against the coronavirus.

I dont want to take masks away from the front line, Shapps said on Friday on LBC radio. Now is not the right moment to instruct people to wear them, and the government will let its scientific advisers guide it on whether masks might be appropriate in the future, he said.

Khan said the U.K.s reluctance to instruct the public to wear masks makes it an outlier internationally. Citing advice from scientific experts in countries such as the U.S. and Canada, Khan told BBC radio on Friday that people should wear non-medical facial coverings such as scarves and bandannas when social-distancing measures are impossible.

The governments chief medical officer, Chris Whitty, said that masks are a live issue but called the evidence so far about their effectiveness weak in a televised press conference on Thursday.

For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com

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Oregon Coast Had Its Own 'Tiger King' in the '80s: Odd Newport History, Part 1

Published 04/25/2020 at 6:54 AM PDT

By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff





(Newport, Oregon)  Perhaps its mostly because our country is in quarantine; perhaps its simply riveting on its own merit, but the Netflix documentary The Tiger King has the U.S. hypnotized right now. Even the post-documentary interviews of the various characters involved on TV tabloids and Court TV are somewhat engaging. (Above: Fieber's Ligertown in Idaho, where things really went awry in the '90s Photo courtesy South Bannock Historical Center, Idaho).

Little do Oregon residents know but the Oregon coast had its own somewhat juicy version of the Tiger King. He was actually more of a Liger King: the man bred lions and tigers together to create larger cats by the time he left this state, after cutting a swath of high-profile animal chaos here. It doesnt appear he bred the two together in this state, however. But for awhile in the 80s he was a hot topic for many, certainly in Lincoln County. Yet its in Idaho where he made a truly dark impression, creating an incident some call the Waco of animal incidents.

This is only part one of the story. See Part Two of Oregon Coast's 'Liger King': Tragic Run Ends to the East

Robert Fieber arrived in the Oregon Coast Range in 1968, acquiring a tract of land just outside of Siletz, somewhat close to Newport. According to a newspaper article from the Corvallis Gazette-Times in 1983, he acquired a buffalo in 1971 and kept adding big beasts thereafter. His first big cats came in 1976, including lions, a tiger and a jaguar.

Two years later, one lion zipped out of its cage and bounded up the stairway of his familys home, deciding it wanted to play with Fiebers son. It bit part of the boys ear off, and a subsequent court hearing showed him taking full responsibility and promising it never to happen again.

But it did. Later that year, a wild bear spooked a buffalo just outside the zoo and it broke a cage holding five lions at what was then called the Oregon Coast Safari. Two lions wound up roaming the town of Siletz and were captured by local sheriffs. It created quite a stir.

Longtime locals sometimes talk of other encounters with escaped wild cats in the countryside near Newport, but little is documented for certain. One article from the Statesman Journal at the time indicates local government had begun legislation banning or heavily regulating the keeping of exotic animals in Lincoln County. Its not clear if any new laws were instituted then but the county did eventually change them to keep such operations at bay.

By the early 80s, Fiebers operation was called Siletz Game Ranch, and in that Corvallis newspaper article he talked about hoping to create a paid tourist attraction. According to one Statesman Journal article in 1984, he had already opened it to the paid public for three summers until 1981. The Corvallis article earlier that year details numerous safety structures he had to build to get approval, such as a means to keep peoples hands out of the cages in order to make it suitable for visitors.

He had already been showcasing the wild cats periodically, getting paid to have them be part of a fashion show in Seattle and even having Lincoln City visitors pay to have pictures taken with them.



Fieber in the '80s, courtesy Oregon Historical Society

In September of 84, however, his ranch was raided by 20 cops and other officials such as members of the Humane Society, and he was slapped with numerous counts of animal neglect. They seized several animals, including seven lion cubs and one tiger, sending them to a refuge near Grants Pass. He told the Statesman Journal he did nothing wrong and that some of his cats were traumatized by the seizure. Lincoln County fined him a mere $115 but kept a few animals and made him pay about $2000 in care costs for all the animals. He was given five years probation.

At this point, Fieber considered moving out of state, and his operation now included over 75 animals, including about 30 exotic creatures like tigers, wolves, cougars and African lions. In December of 1984 he pleaded no contest to to charges of animal cruelty and numerous conditions and restrictions were put on him.

A few animals were permanently removed by the county, based on testimony hed abused them, including a raccoon and a jaguar. Other cats returned from Grants Pass.

Yet he opted to stay. Still, somehow he was able to restart the reserve as a drive-through attraction in July of 1985. Major news coverage of his run-ins caused a flood of donations, including lots of dead animals to feed his zoo. According to other articles at the time, he had  at least on the surface  created a safer environment and one reporter noted some of the big cats were getting fat. Among the previous charges were that he was not feeding them properly.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and a veterinarian working for them named Overton were set about the task of keeping an eye on Fiebers compound as part of the probation. The drive-through attraction opened on July 1, but by July 29 Overtons inspection revealed the Oregon coasts lion / tiger king had no license for this kind of operation. A restraining order was issued on Fieber, and this was a probation violation.





Thus began some crazy legal woes. (Above: the forests of the Siletz area / Google Maps)

In November of 85, a Lane County judge officially declared him in violation of probation, but at first they went rather easy on him. They tried to get him more time to fix his situation. He complained of getting rail-roaded and that the judge was trying to order the destruction of the big animals, however her statements indicate that was not the case. Testimony at that hearing in Newport showed both the county and Fieber admitting he didnt have the resources to adequately care for the animals, and that he was trying to depend on volunteers.

See Part Two of Oregon Coast's 'Liger King': Tragic Run Ends Like Waco which describes more of Fieber's law encounters on the coast and the tragedy in Idaho.

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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle sent their deepest condolences to the parents of a young fan who died during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Reaching Out

Prince Harry reached out to the family of a young fan to express their condolences. Holly Smallman was only 18 years old when she passed away. She had several chronic conditions at the time of her death.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, Holly's mother Hayley Smallman revealed that she received an email from Prince Harry following the death of her daughter. The Duke of Sussex remembered meeting her and her family back in 2015 at the WellChild Awards.

One of Hayley's children, Ruby Smallman, was presented with a prize.

Hayley revealed details of the email she received from Prince Harry. She took note of the details that Prince Harry remembered from their meeting five years ago.

"When I opened the email from him it was just so personal, he literally remembered every detail of our meeting five years ago at the awards ceremony in London, and there was such a sense of genuine caring in what he'd written," Hayley shared.

The bereaved mother further told the publication how much their family appreciates the special message from the royal prince. It comforted them at this difficult time in their lives.

"For Prince Harry to find the time to send this email, to know that Holly made that impact on him and that he cares so much, even in all this private turmoil he's going through, just meant the world to us," Mrs. Smallman said.

Hayley gladly shared a copy of the email to the publication, which came with Prince Harry signing, "Meghan and I send our deepest and most heartfelt condolences."

According to the Daily Mail, the 18-year-old girl had been dealing with a number of complex health conditions since she was a young girl. Holly has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy, epilepsy and chronic lung condition.

Holly's family said, however, that she died peacefully in her sleep. Holly's passing may not mean as much to everyone, but it has definitely touched Prince Harry.

During this difficult time, the Duke of Sussex finds it in himself to give comfort to others, particularly to Holly's family, before his own.

Keeping Up With Charity

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle officially stepped down as senior members of the royal family on March 31, 2020. They have since relocated to Los Angeles with their son Prince Archie.

Although he is no longer a working member of the royal family, Prince Harry has maintained a good relationship with his patronages, including WellChild.

The Duke of Sussex recently held a virtual meeting with two parents, one of which is a specially-trained nurse and head of WellChild -- a non-profit organization that provides care and support for seriously ill children and young people in the U.K.

"There's a hell of a lot of positives that are happening at the same time and being able to have family time - so much family time - that you almost think, 'Do I feel guilty for having so much family time?' " Prince Harry shared.

He added that people could look at this pandemic the other way.

"You've got to celebrate those moments where you are just on the floor rolling around in hysterics. Inevitably, half an hour later, maybe a day later, there's going to be something that you have to deal with and there's no way you can run away from it."
India might soon have to face a new worrying challenge other than the novel Coronavirus pandemic. According to media reports, a giant locust storm is expected to arrive from East Africa and attack farmlands in South Asia in the coming months.

Earlier in February this year, Punjab and Haryana had reported locust infestation in its farm, following which the States were put on high alerts. The government deployed special teams to tackle the situation and to spread awareness about locust preventive measures among farmers.

READ | Pakistan To Sketch Anti-locust Plan Via Video Conference With 3 Countries

Second, larger wave

In January and February, locust swarms had ravaged crops in Somalia, Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda and South Sudan. And now, the second wave of the crop-devouring pests is expected to make a devastating appearance while COVID-19 hits public health and brings the global economy to a grinding halt. Now, after those swarms laid eggs, there were likely to be 20 times as many they said.

In India, locusts hit Rajasthan in February this year. Later, the authorities in the State undertook a massive exercise to contain the outbreak. Local media reported that the government was preparing for a two-front war one, which was ongoing against the COVID-19 infections and another to ensure food security  in anticipation of the locust attack on farms. A few locust swarms were also reported in Anoopgarh and Sri Ganganagar districts of Rajasthan after their attack emanated from the desert area of Pakistan.

READ | Second Wave Of Locust Scourge Hits Parts Of Africa

UN mobilises fund to deal with the outbreak

Despite Coronavirus-related travel restrictions, international experts are in place to support efforts to eradicate the pest with measures including ground and aerial spraying of pesticides. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has managed to raise nearly $120m to tackle the problem, which will augment the efforts of governments in affected countries.

Locusts have a behavioural phase called the gregarious phase when the pests congregate into thick, mobile, ravenous swarms when environmental conditions produce many green plants and promote breeding. Found in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, locusts inhabit some 60 countries and can cover one-fifth of Earth's land surface. Each locust can eat its weight in plants each day, so a swarm of such size would eat 423 million pounds of plants every day.

(With inputs from agencies) (AP Photo)

READ | Over 4 Lakh Hectare Locust-hit Farmland Treated In Raj And Guj: Tomar

READ | China May Face Locust Invasion, Authorities Urged To Prepare For Possible Arrival
Somrita Ghosh By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: While plasma therapy treatment seems to be a ray of hope in the nations fight against COVID-19 in, health experts in the national capital raised the issue of lack of donors which is limiting the use of the treatment. On Friday,

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal announced that the four patients administered plasma therapy at Lok Nayak Hospital showed positive results.

However, a major challenge is getting donors. It is tough to convince the recovered COVID-19 patients to donate their plasma. Some of those recovered patients who have tested negative twice have been conveyed about donating plasma, but then the families of such patients need to agree, and only then can we proceed. Many are from Markaz who have recovered, said Dr BL Sherwal, Medical Director, Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital a designated state COVID-19 hospital said.



ALSO READ | Initial results of plasma therapy trial conducted on four COVID-19 patients encouraging: Kejriwal

Elaborating on use of this treatment on COVID-19 patients, Sherwal further added: We will use this line of treatment only on those who are in serious condition Anyone who is on ventilator or ICU, they are the ideal patients for this therapy.

Dr Dodul Mondal, Oncologist from Apollo Hospital noted that the government should create more awareness among people to come forward and donate their plasma.

The recovered patients should be encouraged and educated about the matter. One donor can save at least four lives. People need to be told it is safe. Stigma and fear are major reasons for not having enough plasma donors, he added.

ALSO READ | Three elderly COVID-19 patients, one in mid-30s underwent plasma therapy at LNJP

Dr SK Sarin, Head of ILBS hospital noted that recovered patients need to show their patriotism by donating plasma.

Extra care can be taken of the donor. They will be checked for symptoms, haemoglobin, weight. All precautions are taken during the process. Their donation can help save the lives of many patients across Delhi. Plasma therapy is also inexpensive as compared to the other medical treatments, he stated.
MEXICO CITY - Another group of Cuban doctors has arrived in Mexico to help with the coronavirus outbreak, the second such delegation the country has welcomed.

Assistant Health Secretary Hugo Lopez-Gatell said Friday that the Cuban doctors who arrived a day earlier were invited by Mexico City authorities to bolster health care amid rising COVID-19 case numbers. He said the federal government approved of the citys decision.

The group reportedly included about 140 Cuban doctors. The first group arrived in early April. At that time, federal authorities said the Cubans would not be involved in direct patient care, and Lopez-Gatell said Friday that the new group would act as advisers. He said some of the Cuban doctors were experts in public health and intensive care.

Lopez-Gatell said Mexico has a shortfall of about 200,000 health care professionals, including doctors, nurses and other positions. In addition, about 2,000 health care workers have been infected with the coronavirus in Mexico since the pandemic began.
Colo. pregnancy center sees gains in support despite losing lawsuit against abortion activist group

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A pro-life pregnancy center in Colorado that recently lost a legal battle against an abortion advocacy group says they're still seeing patients and have received increased support in the community.

The Resource Center of Greeley, a pro-life pregnancy and STD support center located near the University of Northern Colorado, filed a Uniform Domain Dispute Resolution Policy complaint in February against the abortion advocacy group Truth4Greeley that set up the website domain name Truth4Greeley.com which is similar to their own, Tests4Greeley.com.

The abortion advocacy website is used to steer women away from the pregnancy center and lists a Planned Parenthood abortion facility as among the clinics it recommends.

The website also encourages people to campaign against the Resource Center of Greeley by leaving a review on "Google, Yelp and Social Media pages to warn those who come across them looking for real support to stay away! The Resource Center is known for deleting bad reviews on their Facebook page, so make sure to check in to make sure its [sic] still there!"

Along with the domain name dispute, the pregnancy center said the abortion advocacy group was acting in bad faith against them rather than just engaging in ideological disagreement.

The website was simply one part of the attack, said Gail Holmes of the Resource Center of Greeley in an interview with The Christian Post on Thursday.

The whole effort included dispersing flyers on campus and posting fake clinic on Google reviews and other programs.

Holmes told CP that while they couldn't stop the flyers on campus or any picketing or the Google postings, they had hoped that they "could do something about the website.

Not only did they do their best to mimic our name, but they took our branding, and rearranged some of the elements, used parts of it and then also used our branding colors. So the site looked eerily like our own web page, she said.

But on March 30 an arbiter who settled the case concluded otherwise, deciding that shutting down the abortion advocacy website Truth 4 Greeley contradicted a society that prides itself on allowing the free exchange of views and opinions.

It would be a very bold decision to deprive a party of a domain name which is being used for the dissemination of news, information and opinion and which is not otherwise contrary to the law, read the ruling, The Colorado Sun reported on Tuesday.

Although the Resource Center of Greeley was disappointed by the decision, Holmes told CP that through the back-and-forth they received a great deal of support from UNC students and financial donors.

Client numbers in no way decreased and neither did income. Our Gala was on March 5 and we were blessed with the largest evening offering in our history, Holmes said.

We didn't hide the issue but took the initiative to inform our prayer partners and our financial supporters about the attack. We were greatly blessed by the response of UNC students and partners.

The abortion advocacy group Truth4Greeley says on its website that they believe the Resource Center of Greeley is "abusing the trust of the communities they serve," and accuses the center of not being honest about their pro-life and religious views.

"We want TRANSPARENCY in their advertising that proudly displays their religious affiliation, anti-choice agenda and limited STD testing," the group says.
Ride-hailing major Ola on Saturday said it has partnered with Delhi state government's health department to offer free medical transportation to people.

Citizens in need of mobility support for any non-COVID medical care can dial 102 and the health ministry team will allocate a cab for the patient to be transported to a hospital free of cost, a statement said.

"Ola is providing convenient, reliable and safe transport services for all non-COVID medical trips such as scheduled check-ups, dialysis, chemotherapy and for immediate medical needs such as injuries, amongst others," it added.

Ola said it is facilitating a clean and safe ride experience by ensuring that all earmarked cabs are equipped with essential protective equipment like masks and sanitisers and are operated by specially trained driver-partners following proper sanitary measures as per the guidelines of the Ministry of Health.

"We are grateful to the Delhi Government for this collaboration and the opportunity to enable mobility support for the state's healthcare system amidst the ongoing crisis. Access to healthcare, especially for non-COVID related emergencies is becoming a major challenge in our cities," an Ola spokesperson said.

COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine  one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show

Coronavirus LIVE Updates

Through this initiative, Ola will be able to supplement the existing ambulance network with access to quick and safe mobility for anyone in need to get to the hospital, the spokesperson added.

The company is also partnering with state governments across the country and will continue to support them with their emergency response efforts, the spokesperson said.

Ola has also collaborated with the Ministry of Health, Karnataka and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to provide essential mobility services in Bangalore and Mumbai, respectively by ferrying medical staff, healthcare workers and paramedical staff from homes to hospitals.

The company has rolled out its new category, 'Ola Emergency' that will provide transport for medical trips to and from hospitals across 15 cities - Mumbai, Bengaluru, Gurugram, Vizag, Nashik, Varanasi, Indore, Bhopal, Amritsar, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Patiala, Mohali, Rourkela and Bhubaneswar.

Follow our full coverage of the coronavirus pandemic here
Britain's biggest department store chain John Lewis has drawn up a blueprint for reopening its shops that it will be ready to activate within weeks, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.

Andrew Murphy, John Lewis Partnership's executive director of operations who has led the crisis strategy, said the chain could begin reopening some stores as soon as the middle of next month.

However, he emphasised it was a 'portable' strategy and made it clear the company would wait for a signal from the Government and health chiefs before triggering the operation.

Boss Andrew Murphy said John Lewis could begin reopening some stores as soon as the middle of next month

The plan to reopen the 50-store chain  whose sister company Waitrose has continued trading in recent weeks as an 'essential' retailer  would take three to six weeks to complete.

Murphy revealed that John Lewis is 'modelling for scenarios where different sizes of shops are able to open at different points in time'.

'That seems to us to be reasonably likely,' he said. 'Even in a scenario where we are theoretically able to open all our shops on the first day, we wouldn't do that. We would open in a minimum of three tranches.'

The first phase of the plan would likely include stores with large car parks that would allow staff to drive to work and not need to rely on public transport. John Lewis is understood to have about 20 stores in that category.

One option being considered is to use private buses to get staff to and from work if public transport restrictions set out by the Government prove inhibitive.

Larger stores such as London, Birmingham or Glasgow would be likely to remain closed until the later phases of the revival plan. Murphy said details of their strategy were likely to change before the launch and no date had been set.

He said: 'For the last four or five weeks the crisis has been intense and the demands have meant we've been dealing with circumstances changing almost daily. Over the past seven to ten days there has been a shift. For the first time we have been properly beginning to think about a restart.'

Murphy said learning from 'essential' grocer Waitrose had been a significant advantage

Murphy said complexities included rapidly evolving social distancing requirements over the coming weeks. But he said learning from 'essential' grocer Waitrose had been a significant advantage.

There has been mounting speculation that a Government announcement to say when stores may reopen could come as early as the bank holiday in two weeks' time.

Business leaders have warned that the slow lifting of lockdown should be closely monitored and could be complex.

One executive said: 'The rhetoric from the Government and their advisers has been changing in subtle ways.

'I think we are all reading that as a sign that we need to be ready to move when the time comes because if we don't we could end up being taken by surprise.'

Murphy said anticipated Government restrictions on public transport capacity would be a 'massive issue' for some stores with up to 2,000 members of staff  known as partners  travelling to work in some of its larger shops.

Murphy said anticipated Government restrictions on public transport capacity would be a 'massive issue' for some stores with up to 2,000 members of staff

He said the firm's plan had been drawn up using 'assumptions rather than facts' about the timing of a restart for non-essential retailers. There has also been a lot of guesswork relating to social distancing requirements and the possible need to wear masks over the coming months.

John Lewis, which is owned by the partnership's staff, has about 35 department stores and 15 smaller John Lewis At Home shops. The company's smallest At Home store is 40,000 sq ft and employs about 100 people. Its largest store, in Oxford Street, is 360,000 sq ft and employs 2,000. Murphy said it would require a 'huge amount of activity' to reopen stores that had been closed for an extended period.

'We're also really mindful that public sentiment has changed and big business will need to prioritise health and safety above all else. There will be no headlong rush to get our shops open just because we can.'

Unlike some high street rivals, John Lewis also has an online business that accounts for around half of its sales and this has continued to operate, which has eased the financial pressure to reopen.

Murphy said: 'We have to recognise that when we first do this we will learn a lot of things that we didn't expect, even though we will aim to get it broadly right.

'We will learn lessons that mean by the time we get to the end we could be doing things materially differently.'
Biographer and journalist Omid Scobie planted his flag firmly in Meghan's camp soon after she became linked to Harry.

Having begun his journalistic career on the celebrity magazine Heat, British-Iranian Scobie had covered the Royals for a number of years and, say friends, was eager to boost his profile.

Aligning himself with a beautiful woman whose romance with Prince Harry was transfixing the world was one way of going about it.

Writing her biography one day would be another.

And so began his cultivation of Meghan, at first through her friends. Struggling to cope under intense media scrutiny after her wedding, the Duchess needed a journalist she could trust, a man whom she could rely on to fight her corner and not write nasty things.

Scobie was happy to oblige and, perhaps unfairly and possibly through jealousy, was dubbed Meghan's 'mouthpiece'.

Planning biography: Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand

Anyone doubting where his allegiance lies, though, need only consider the fulsome piece he wrote for the Harper's Bazaar website last month.

In it, he wrote of shadowing the Sussexes' work, 'getting to know the couple better through their humanitarian endeavours, engagements and overseas visits.'

He went on: 'Their high-energy work ethic and passion for social justice attracted a new, more diverse demographic of royal watcher. As a young(ish), biracial royal correspondent, the change was exciting. And as their popularity grew around the world, so did a new golden era for the House of Windsor.'

Little wonder that he was one of the few favoured journalists invited to witness Meghan's tearful farewell to staff at Buckingham Palace. In what must have delighted Meghan and Harry, he has written about the 'almost daily mistruths' of the British press.

Scobie teamed up with another Sussex-friendly journalist, Carolyn Durand. Well respected, she is a former producer with US broadcaster ABC and has covered the Royals for more than 15 years. Ms Durand now writes about the Royal Family for Elle magazine.

Biographer and journalist Omid Scobie planted his flag firmly in Meghan's camp soon after she became linked to Harry

Scobie and Durand's biography promises to tell the couple's 'real' story. For that we must wait.

There are parallels with Princess Diana's story. Like Meghan, she felt like a 'prisoner in the palace' and, desperate to express her torment, chose a biographer, Andrew Morton, to tell her story.

But unlike Scobie, there was nothing remotely 'woke' about Morton, a straight-talking Yorkshireman and seasoned Fleet Street operator.
WhatsApp increases group call limited to 8

The popular instant messaging platform, WhatsApp, has announced that it will be increasing the group call limit. Initially, only four people could be a part of the call, but now the limit has been doubled to eight. The announcement was made on Facebooks official social media handle and was a part of a bunch of updates that were announced by the social media giant. The announcement was a part of a bunch of updates announced by Facebook. This also included the announcement of Messenger Rooms that would hold up to 50 people with no time limit.

Messenger Rooms will hold up to 50 people with no time limit so you can drop in and spend time with friends, family and people who share your interests. You can discover Rooms from your Facebook friends, Groups and Events at the top of News Feed. pic.twitter.com/Fmx2VPjmMX  Facebook (@Facebook) April 24, 2020

The announcement comes at a very ideal time as people from around the world are stuck at home due to the COVID-19 Coronavirus outbreak. The move should allow more people to connect and stay in touch with friends and family.

During the ongoing lockdown, the demand for communication platforms is at an all-time high. Initially, most business and educational institutes turned towards Zoom, a video conferencing app. However, the privacy aspect of the app from brought to question after reports suggest that the app was leaking data to Facebook. However, the company has since apologised and claims that the app has been fixed since. However, it was later reported that the Zoom credentials of over 50,000 users were being sold online.

Mumbai-based developer, Inscripts, seems to have created an Indian answer to Zoom in the form of Say Namaste. The platform is currently in Beta and should launch officially in the next few weeks. The company has also submitted builds of the app to Google and Apple in order to be listed in their respective app stores. The company has also said that it plans to ensure privacy and security by adding features such as two-factor authentication ad email indexing for businesses. The company, as well as the government, have reiterated the fact that this is not the official video conferencing app of the Indian government.
THE Korean government donated 700 coronavirus disease (Covid-19) test kits worth USD500,000, or P25 million to the Philippines, the Department of Health (DOH) said on Saturday, April 25.

According to DOH, the 700 test kits can conduct 35,000 tests and aid the Philippine government in its effort to expand testing capacity.

The test kits arrived in the country on Friday, April 24, and will be delivered directly to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) and other subnational laboratories.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III expressed his gratitude towards the Korean government.

The provision of these test kits will be instrumental in the countrys war against Covid-19. I am thankful to the Republic of Korea for its unending support, the health chief said.

Only through international solidarity and cooperation like this will we be able to succeed against this global enemy, he added.

The Korean government earlier pledged that it will share relevant clinical data and treatment experience with the international community to prevent Covid-19.

The country has also donated a total of 950 metric tons (MT) of rice, which was also received by the Department of Agriculture last Friday.
Need a boost? Its on us.

Thats the message one Corvallis-based project is sending with its crowd-funded effort to feed people in need during the coronavirus pandemic. It's On Us (IOU) Corvallis uses money from donors on the GoFundMe website to fund meals from local restaurants.

Its great for businesses to get the word out there and for the community to come together, said Corvallis mom Kristy Nason. Its phenomenal.

Nason visited Delicias Valley Cafe on Circle Boulevard for IOU Corvallis' Friday community meal. She was able to pick up enough tacos and burritos to feed herself and three others back home.

The money donated to the Mexican restaurant by IOU Corvallis  upwards of $1,000  plus takeout orders kept Lupe Gutierrezs business steady all day. Over 100 meals she handed to customers were already paid for.

Elizabeth Jones, part of the Corvallis Sustainability Coalitions food action team, developed the concept of IOU Corvallis in late March with two colleagues, Ashley Relf and Aliza Tuttle.

We started brainstorming about how we could help people who are in need who might need a little boost and who are struggling, either because they are recently unemployed or because they are working in essential services, Jones said. We wanted to figure out how to help them because were also interested in restaurants and local businesses and helping their bottom lines.

So, during the week, IOU pays restaurants to prep meals for hospital workers, first responders, shelters and the like. During the last two weeks, IOU would choose a mid-valley workplace, contact a restaurant that can make meals for all its staff, pay for them, then make deliveries.

So far, recipients have included staff at Lumina Hospice, Edward C. Allworth Veterans' Home, Stoneybrook Assisted Living, The Caring Place, Timberhill Place, Corvallis Manor, the Corvallis Post Office, Oregon State Universitys Veterinary Diagnostic Lab, the Willamette Valley Toxicology Lab, the Benton County Health Department and Room at the Inn.

Then, on Fridays, IOU donates to a local restaurant to provide food to the public. Whether youre exhausted from a long shift or trying to feed your family if youre in a pinch, Jones said, anyone can get a hot meal to go if they need one.

Last week, New Morning Bakery catered the publics takeout orders. This Friday was Delicias, and next Friday will be Bodhi Artisan Bakery.

The group had raised more than $6,000 as of Friday evening from over 80 donors. All the money is going toward paying the restaurants, not only to help them keep employees on the payroll, but to make sure as many people can be fed as possible.

Its really restored our faith in many things, and especially the community, Jones said. Its been very rewarding, and people have been incredibly appreciative.

For more information, visit gofundme.com/f/itsonuscorvallis or email itsonus.corvallis@gmail.com.

Reporter Nia Tariq can be reached at nia.tariq@lee.net.

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The Council of Arab Ambassadors to the United Nations met Friday in New York through VTC to discuss the situation in occupied Palestine, including Israels unlawful plans to annex Palestinian land as reflected in the governmental agreement reached by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Knesset speaker Benny Gantz.

The Arab group listened to a briefing on the situation on the ground by the representative of the state of Palestine to the United Nations, Riyad Mansour, as well as on Palestines efforts at the international level to counter Israeli plans, the council said in a statement.

The Arab Council welcomed the strong expressions of rejection of Israels illegal policies and annexationist agenda at the Security Councils open meeting held the same day.

The members of the council decided to reach out to key actors in New York, including the [UN] secretary-general, the president of the General Assembly, members of the Security Council and the wider membership of the UN to present the Arab position in support of the freedom of the Palestinian people.

They also highlighted that the Arab Peace Initiative, which is in line with the international consensus and has been endorsed by the Security Council, remains the only viable vision for regional peace, prosperity, security and stability.

Meanwhile, the Palestinian president has also called for an emergency Arab foreign ministers meeting to decide on collective steps in the face of the threat of Israeli annexation.

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Indore, April 25 : Indore's plight remains unmitigated 11 days into the second phase of lockdown. The fatality rate in the business capital of Madhya Pradesh has, for almost a fortnight now, stayed at around 5 per cent - 2 per cent above the national average -- leaving the medical fraternity, the state administration and the Inter-ministerial Central Team (IMCT) camping in the city worried.

Incidence of coronavirus has picked up over the past 10 days with the positive cases doubling from 530 to 1,085 by Saturday. There have been 56 new cases overnight. A month ago, Indore had not opened its Covid-19 account.

Doctors treating Covid-19 cases in Indore and the Malwa and Nimar regions in western Madhya Pradesh are concerned over the "virulent strain" of the virus that has led to the rapid rise in the number of cases.

"We feel the virus is more virulent in the Indore belt. We have sought help from the National Institute of Virology in Pune. They have agreed to study the virus from culture at other places and compare it by extraction of virus genome," said Jyoti Bindal, Dean of Government Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College.

"There are various mutated genes," she added.

"There are other factors also for the (high) fatality rate, like patients turning up late at the hospitals," Bindal said.

The medical college was also handicapped for want of testing kits from Thursday to Saturday.

The IMCT, which has been in Indore since April 22 to monitor the efforts to combat coronavirus, asked the state administration to identify the hotspots in the city and draw up a special plan for places where 10 or more positive patients have been found.

The team found 20 of the city's 171 containment zones critical and asked for better enforcement of the lockdown measures. Strangely, the team did not acknowledge the shortage of equipment, as expressed by the doctors on the job. But, polite presentation of many reservations suggests the report could send some heads rolling.

Abhilakshaya Likhi, Additional Secretary to the Central government, asked the officials to draw up a comprehensive plan to improve the health infrastructure and assured of Central assistance for it.

Likhi, who presided over a meeting with local officials and public representatives, said coordinated efforts were needed to deal with the pandemic, and the results should be visible soon.

He admitted that the challenge was big, but the virus had to be eradicated completely and for that, all the prescribed guidelines and protocols have to be followed.

Likhi said that the team will prepare a report about the efforts being made here in combating the dreaded disease. He will send his report both to the state as well as the Central government.

Indore has had to pay heavily for the administrative hiatus from March 5 to 20. The then Health Minister, Tulsiram Silawat, who was monitoring the coronavirus cases almost on an hourly basis to tackle the outbreak, was suddenly off the radar from March 4 and was traced in a tourist resort in Bengaluru.

This was followed by his resignation, which remained unaccepted for almost a week. Silawat, who represented Indore's Sanwer constituency, had ended his 30-year association with the Congress and raised a banner of revolt against then Chief Minister Kamal Nath.

Silwat was among the 22 Congress MLAs who had revolted and subsequently quit. Silawat is a minister again now, but for another department.

As a major transit corridor, with at least 70 flights touching Indore's airstrip daily till a month ago, Indore could have been more careful with screening passengers arriving from abroad. Many of those who have tested positive don't have international travel history though.

The BJP would like to place the blame solely at the door of Tablighi Jamaat whose members arrived from Delhi and suddenly the scene changed. It could be partially true. But as the things have panned out, the government needs to look beyond the party agenda, said a ruling party functionary.

The condition of neighbouring districts of the business capital is even worse on fatality count. In Dewas, six out of the total 22 confirmed cases have died; in Khargone, eight out of 61 and in Ujjain, 11 people out of 102 have succumbed to the virus.

Indore and its three neighbouring districts account for 80 out of the total 99 deaths in MP so far.

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JACKSON COUNTY, MI  While the U.S. Census is always important to complete, its more important now than ever during the coronavirus pandemic, officials said during a virtual town hall meeting on Thursday.

Michigan and Jackson County officials gathered during the April 23 Facebook Live event to discuss the importance of filling out the census, and how it directly impacts the county and its resources, especially in times like these.

Especially now, during the coronavirus pandemic, its important to remember that filling out the census is critical to supporting public health and disease prevention, Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said.

Along with Benson, the be counted included Jackson Mayor Derek Dobies, Jackson County Commissioners Daniel Mahoney and Darius Williams, Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II; Nonprofit Network Executive Director Regina Pinney and Attorney General Dana Nessel.

Using U.S. Census data, 42 percent of Michigans budget relies on annually distributed federal funding to communities, Dobies said.

In 2010, Jackson County had a 65.8 percent response rate to the census. As of Wednesday, April 22, less than 52 percent of households in Jackson had responded this year. The largest response is from the southwestern edge of the city where 61 percent of households have responded, Dobies said.

The rest of the city is really trailing with just over 50 percent of households having completed the census, he said. I know there is a lot on peoples minds. A lot of those areas that fall within that 50 percent range are some of our most vulnerable populations.

Dobies encouraged Jackson residents to do better as a community by responding to the census. Of the 43 cities in Michigan with more than 25,000 people, he said Jackson is ranked 38th for completing this years census.

African Americans are less likely to fill out the census, according to current research data, and Jackson has more than 4,000 African American households, Mahoney said.

Its critical that communities of color make sure they are counted in the census because they have been undercounted for decades and that has led to mass underfunding of schools, roads, cities and more, he said.

Other barriers to accurate census data include the lack of internet access and elderly or renting populations not responding, data shows. Renters make up 28 percent of Jackson County at approximately 17,000 households, Williams said.

Current research suggests that every person not counted by the census means their community loses $3,000 annually and $30,000 each decade, Pinney said.

In 2010, we only counted 78 percent of our total population, she said. We left so much money on the table.

Due to the novel coronavirus, plans to have census kiosks in the community and census parties were canceled, but Pinney is still encouraging residents to check in with friends and family in Jackson County to make sure they have responded to the census.

Michigan is currently ranked fifth in the nation for census responses, with Minnesota in first place, Pinney said.

To respond to the U.S. Census, visit https://2020census.gov/en.html.
Allison Fuisz loved taking her class for walks in the greenbelt around her school, to explore nature.

And after not seeing her kiddoes for several weeks, she is also longing for all the talk  and fun  of the classroom.

For the Grade 7-8 teacher at Bell High School in Ottawa, the hardest thing about the school shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic is not seeing her students, who she misses a whole lot.

There is a gap in the gut and the heart because they really do make you smile, Fuisz said. Its a passion. I adore being a teacher. I adore being an educator and not to be in the learning space and greet them every morning, its a void.

In the move to online learning, she has tried to keep mindfulness a part of their day  but now is also incorporating Minecraft.

Its another world, she said. I think the one thing I know I have playing on my side is an innate understanding of tech ... I feel comfortable enough to try new things or to better understand, but its not the same.

When you have the opportunity to talk to students in the moment after teaching ... we dont have that ability anymore. Thats difficult, not to be able to make those connections.

After the March break, she spoke with the families of every student from her homeroom and she now provides daily communication online, setting up a weekly schedule using Google classroom, which she was already using.

This is twofold, she said. Families get a weekly email update  a general outlook of the week, with access to Monday-to-Friday learning activities and students can plan their time accordingly. She uploads voice messages, in which she adds a question in French to keep them thinking. She also provides daily activities, knowing that not all can get outside or have access to a backyard. On Fridays, she hosts 30-minute Google drop-ins.

I try not to put in too many surprises, said Fuisz, who teaches French, geography, history and science.

She does give her students deadlines, but she is flexible, and listens to families input.

I have been toying with adding something every day  but in the same breath, I want to be mindful of their screen time. I dont want the kiddoes, because of me, to be in front of the screen for hours on end, when they could be reading a book or playing a board game with family member.

If students need one-on-one help, shes been providing that, too  with their parents permission.

She said adjusting her classroom atmosphere to the virtual hub is difficult, because what was very developed in our space was collaboration, using both technology and traditional tools.

The other piece thats difficult for me personally is the students  how much they are pushing themselves and their well-being and mental health.

Theres not as much laughing, she added. We did a lot of that in class.

Theres so much energy that you feel in the learning space, surrounded by students who are generally happy to be there  having whoo hoo moments of learning. You dont feel that same energy when you are doing the Google classroom.

When classes resume, she said there will be a big mental health piece. I dont know whats happened in their homes  well have to be community connect first, and put the stress on the curriculum second.

For now, she uses Minecraft for students to create and narrate stories, but said it can be used for math, building objects to scale, and to show the surface area and volume.

It engages them even more so  they are learning doing something they love.

Fuisz said being online for hours on end is far more tiring than working with students in person.

The style of how I teach is not suited for strictly online format despite using technology in our learning space prior to these events. It does not feel as natural and sure, perhaps it feels a tad more robotic but Im hopeful to find some routine in all of this just as I hope the same for my students with making them feel overwhelmed given all that is going on in our world.

Life away from the screen has always been the best part of her job.

One of the things I truly miss is heading outside with my class, she said, noting that she has encouraged her students to explore the community and appreciate their surroundings.

They dont necessarily do that on their own. Its a big miss.

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Leaving Cert students in Dublin have lashed out at the Government - claiming the uncertainty over the delayed State exams is causing them unnecessary stress.

Rosa Lorenz (18), a sixth-year student at Dominican College in Whitehall, said Education Minister Joe McHugh's confirmation that the Leaving Cert exams have been postponed until July 29 was causing students like herself undue stress.

"Minister McHugh argues that postponing our exams will alleviate some of the stress that we are under yet, in reality, this will only prolong it," she said.

"Many of us have worked exceptionally hard over the past year and consider this extension to be demoralising and unmanageable."

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She said the current lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic "has placed us at an academic disadvantage".

Students do not all have access to computers at home or even broadband or a quiet place to study, she said.

"Students in emergency accommodation or direct provision are at a particular disadvantage," she said, adding that teachers with young children at home may also not be able to devote as much time as they would like to their students.

"To expect us to sit exams in August after five months removed from a school setting is completely unreasonable," added Rosa.

"How is a set of exams, sat by students in the midst of a global pandemic following five months of self-directed learning, more representative of our academic potential than the work we have produced over the last two years?"

She said it was a period of great uncertainty. "Many of us are suffering mentally from the impacts of social distancing. A large proportion of us will inevitably face bereavement ahead of these exams and some of us will fall ill ourselves."

"Is it fair to expect us to continue our studies despite this?"

Adam O'Leary (18), a sixth-year student at Castleknock College, said: "The lack of clarity surrounding the exams has caused a large amount of stress and anxiety for sixth-year students."

Instead of students starting to sit exams on July 29, he would prefer them to be delayed several weeks.

"This idea is going to be met with strong opposition from students who wouldn't wish to sacrifice any of their summer holidays," he said.

"But a few weeks is a small price to pay to ensure that a set of exams that might decide the rest of your life will be conducted properly.

"A delay of the Leaving Cert - by even up to three weeks - would make a massive difference to all students, as they can finally wrap up the course, rectify any issues and still get a substantial amount of revision completed."

Nevertheless, Adam "felt comforted by Leo Varadkar's announcement that the State examinations will definitely take place".

"This measure gives students some assurance, and puts the fate of the results they will receive back in their control.

"These exams will do what they have been designed to do: give high points to those who have worked," he said.

Mr McHugh revealed further details of scheduling will be announced in early June.
Brazil's Justice Minister Sergio Moro Resigns Over President Bolsonaro's Sacking of Top Cop

Sputnik News

13:08 GMT 24.04.2020(updated 15:36 GMT 24.04.2020)

Earlier on Friday, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro sacked the chief of the federal police Mauricio Valeixo, appointed by Moro. The minister reportedly warned that he would step down if could not choose the successor for the federal police head himself.

Brazil's Justice Minister Sergio Moro has stepped down from his post, announcing his resignation at a press conference in the capital Brasilia.

Moro accused Bolsonaro of meddling in law enforcement by sacking the head of the federal police. The politician said that he could not accept the present situation and regarded the dismissal of the police chief as a sign that the president wanted him out of his job.

He added that Bolsonaro fired federal police chief Mauricio Valeixo without accepting a replacement for the position.

The news of Moro's resignation has sent the stock market into a downward spiral, with the Sao Paulo exchange reporting an 8% dip.

On Thursday, when reports of Valeixo's dismissal emerged, Moro vowed to step down from his post. However, he said that he would stay if he is granted the right to pick Valeixo's successor, according to a source quoted by Reuters.

Moro has served as Minister of Justice since 1 January 2019. He was nominated for the position by Bolsonaro in October 2018.

The minister, who previously served as a judge, has been actively engaged in the fight against corruption in the country, overseeing probes into top figures including former President Lula.

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With seven Oscar nominations, two Oscar wins and three Golden Globe awards under her belt, the celebrated actor didnt overthink her decision to make back-to-back TV projects. Cate Blanchett as Phyllis Schlafly, left, and Phyllis Schlafly, chairwoman of the Republican Women's Organisation in St Louis in 1973. Credit:Sabrina Lantos/FX Its ironic isnt it, having not entered the television space at all, that my last year has been taken up with acting in and producing two pieces of television, she acknowledges. But they were two things that really needed to get made and I wanted to help scaffold the conversation around the issues that come up with both projects, the notions of equality and what that means to men and women. "I wanted to help scaffold the conversation around ... the notions of equality and what that means to men and women. Cate Blanchett Cate is warm and chatty, but also not one to suffer fools. She recounts a recent interview in which a question about how she combined marriage and her career got her bristling.

Here we are in 2020 and were still being asked those same questions that my male counterparts just do not get asked. I dont think the conversation has really changed around that since 1971, when Mrs. America starts." Whether we spend our time primarily in the home, or in the workforce and also have a family, or we just devote ourselves entirely to our career, there is still a sense that we alone have to make it work and that if we fail, its our responsibility. If youve never heard of Phyllis Schlafly, youre not alone. I had tangentially heard about her but then I saw Trump attending her funeral [in 2016] and I thought, Who is this woman?  Cate tells me. At the same time, Id met with [former Mad Men writer] Dahvi Waller to talk about this project and it got me thinking about why Phyllis was so internally important to the Republican Party but not widely known outside of those circles. Donald Trump, as then-Republican presidential candidate, before the funeral Mass for Phyllis Schlafly in 2016. Credit:Robert Cohen/St. Louis Post-Dispatch Phyllis Schlafly was a self-described housewife from Illinois with six children and a popular newsletter promoting her conservative, anti-feminist values. In 1972, she launched the national campaign against the ERA, which had passed both chambers of Congress. The proposed amendment then required a three-quarters majority of US states to ratify it within a seven-year deadline.

Although 30 of the 38 necessary states ratified the ERA within a year, Schlaflys campaign  which argued that the measure would lead to gender-neutral bathrooms, same-sex marriage and women being drafted to fight in Vietnam  shifted the conversation and was considered largely responsible for the amendment falling short by three states. Loading Cate notes that a 2001 survey revealed most Americans thought the US Constitution already granted men and women equal rights. But it was not specified. That fact affects not only our situation as women, but also men and people of various sexual and gender identifications and people who live on the fringes. None of us can walk into any space and say, I am equal because the Constitution says so.  Cate says Australian feminist Germaine Greer profoundly rocked my world, and that shes always embraced the fight for gender equality. In my high school years, there was a big question about whether you identified as a feminist or not and I just knew in my DNA that women were equal to men, she continues.

I was raised by a single parent; my grandmother lived with us and my mother had to work, yet she didnt really identify as a feminist because shed grown up with the rhetoric of that era. Phyllis Schlafly was very adept at suggesting that if you were feminist, you were anti-family  and that really created a stigma. Despite the quintessentially American nature of the story, Cate was thrilled when fellow Aussie Rose Byrne agreed to portray feminist icon Gloria Steinem. However, Rose and Cate didnt spend much time together during the shoot because they never shared a scene. As Rose explains, Unfortunately, Gloria and Phyllis never met, because Gloria always refused to debate her or be photographed with her, to avoid giving her more press. But we had a few family dinners and Id see Cate on set in passing and sometimes sneak by the monitor, just to see her work. Rose Byrne as Gloria Steinem, Tracey Ullman as Betty Friedan. Credit:Sabrina Lantos/FX Mrs America

Sarah Paulson, who worked with Cate on Carol (2015) and Oceans Eight (2018) before joining the cast as Schlaflys neighbour and supporter, enthuses about her friend and boss. She makes everything look easy, even when shes shooting until three, four or five am. I think the hardest part for Cate was that we were a largely female cast and crew spending a lot of time together, because the rest of us werent working every day." Wed meet in the lobby most nights and all go to dinner. Poor Cate came out a few times but she was the only person who had a 5am call every day and lots of pages of dialogue to memorise. She also took her role as producer extremely seriously. As Cate and I chat, a rustle in the background gets her attention. My daughter is colouring pages, she says in a hushed voice. She fills me in on the challenges of home-schooling and recommends that parents looking for art projects check out English artist Keith Tysons Instagram handle, #IsolationArtSchool.
On Monday, April 20, the price of WTI crude oil fell by hundreds of percent, which is the lowest ever

Businessinsider.com

The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) begins an investigation into the oil crisis on April 20, during which the price of US WTI crude oil fell hundreds of percent to the lowest ever. It fell to almost minus $ 40 per barrel. This was reported by Reuters.

We need to understand why that pricing happened at that place, at that time, Dan Berkovitz, a commissioner at the derivatives regulator told.

In a situation like this one, we look at all possible explanations, but we will take a close look here because of the extreme price move.

Crude has slumped over 70% this year on a price war between major producers Saudi Arabia and Russia and a demand slowdown caused by the coronavirus outbreak. By Monday, oil traders were awash with supply and struggling to find enough ships, railcars and pipelines to store fuel.

The situation was compounded as the West Texas Intermediate crude benchmark May contract headed into expiry the following day, meaning traders would have to take delivery of yet more oil. At one point, physical traders were paying $40 per barrel to anyone who would take the oil off their hands.

That pushed the contract below $0 for the first time in history, settling at negative $37.63.

Earlier, OPEC member countries finally agreed on the final version of the deal to reduce oil production to stabilize world prices.

The main points of the historical agreement are as follows:

1. The largest oil-producing states will reduce production by 9.7 million barrels per day from May to June this year. Quotas of the Russian Federation and Saudi Arabia are 2.5 million for each.

2. In total, starting May 1, 2020, OPEC member countries and their partners will reduce production to 19 million barrels per day. This will happen in stages, first in May-June, then in July-December, and then after the next revision of the agreement.

3. Mexico initially abandoned its quota, according to which it should have reduced 400 000 barrels of oil. As a result, the Mexicans agreed to 100 000, and the United States took over the remaining 300 000.

4. In July-December, there will be another reduction, as expected by 7.7 million barrels per day. And in December 2020 - May 2022, another one  by 5 million barrels.
Words Ireland is initiating 22 literature mentoring relationships to begin in June and July.

The opportunity is available to writers of literary fiction, creative non-fiction, children's or young adult fiction or poetry.

The closing date for applications is midday on Monday, May 4.

The scheme is for emerging writers who can demonstrate a strong commitment to writing, such as journal publications, awards or notable mentions, creative writing training or courses undertaken, or other recognisable achievements, and ideally some combination of all of those.

Writers who have published one or two books and who feel they could benefit from professional guidance will also be considered, and writers with multiple publications who are working in a writing form in which they have yet to public a book.

Each mentorship consists of four meetings with an experienced writer over a period of up to approximately six months.

The mentor will read work in advance of each meeting, and will give feedback and advice at each meeting. They may also provide information and advice on professional and publishing matters.

Five of the 22 mentoring opportunities are open to writers who are currently resident in any county in Ireland, thanks to funding from the Arts Council.

The other opportunities are offered in partnership with certain arts offices and County Library Services, including Wicklow Arts Office. At least one or more mentorship will go to a writer who was born or is a current permanent resident in County Wicklow.

Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Arts Office & Library Service, taking in the Shankill area, is also involved in the scheme.

Submissions can be made via wordsireland.ie.

They will include samples of work, statements of intent, CV and evidence of residency or birth.

Applications will be scored through a combination of externally judged blind readings of work-in-progress and a Words Ireland panel review of additional information, with a respective 75 percent, 25 percent split between these two.
A person infected with COVID- 19 produces specific IgG antibodies that can be detected in blood samples, whether they're exhibiting mild symptoms, a serious illness, or no symptoms at all. The presence of this specific antibody indicates that a person has produced an immune response to COVID-19.

"Testing for the presence of the IgG antibody among our employees was a natural starting point for this study. Like health care workers all over the world, they're looking this health crisis in the eye every day," said Dr. Eugene McMahon, chief medical officer at Capital Health. "As the medical community's understanding of COVID-19 evolves, we believe that our antibody testing research will assist health care providers and patients alike."

Led by Patrick De Deyne, PhD, director of Clinical Research at Capital Health, the IgG antibody research initiative began in mid-April with more than 1,200 employee volunteers contributing blood samples for the study. Capital Health then partnered with FlowMetric, Inc., a biotechnical laboratory located in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, to create a screening program that follows the industry's exacting protocols and high ethical standards. Through this collaboration, Capital Health demonstrates how regional medical centers have important roles in the development of new diagnostics and treatments in medicine. After making each volunteer aware of their immune status, the goal of this study is to inform the medical community about the existence of immunity to COVID-19 in health care settings and eventually the population at large.

"In order to continue to deliver the level of care that the people of central New Jersey and southeastern Pennsylvania expect, Capital Health needs to support its employees," said Dr. Robert Remstein, director of Accountable Care at Capital Health. "So far, the study has yielded significant information from employees at Capital Health, much of which can be applied to epidemiologic studies of the community and beyond."

Drs. McMahon, Remstein and De Deyne are available for interviews. For more information about the Capital Health IgG antibody research initiative, contact the Public Relations Department at 609-394-6091 or [email protected].

About Capital Health

Capital Health is the Central New Jersey/Lower Bucks County region's leader in providing progressive, quality patient care. Comprised of two hospitals (Capital Health Regional Medical Center in Trenton and Capital Health Medical Center  Hopewell), a Hamilton outpatient facility, and various primary and specialty care practices across the region, Capital Health is a dynamic health care resource accredited by DNV GL  Healthcare, and a four-time Magnet-designated health system for nursing excellence.

Bios:

Eugene J. McMahon, MD, MBA, FCAP

Senior Vice President & Chief Medical Officer

As chief medical officer (CMO), Dr. Eugene McMahon is responsible for ensuring the provision of high quality and efficient medical care at Capital Health. He serves as the primary liaison between hospital administration and medical staff. As a member of Capital Health's senior management team, he provides medical practice delivery development, implementation and evaluation in accordance with the goals of Capital Health's medical programs.

Dr. McMahon's expertise includes implementing successful clinical and physician practice models; recruiting strong physician and clinical team members; building alignment among medical staff members and other health care professionals behind shared goals; improving efficiency and quality; and managing resources in an effective manner to drive long-term growth for organizations.

Dr. McMahon is a board certified pathologist and began his practice in 1994 in Milwaukee. His experience includes serving as the leader of an 18-person Pathology and Laboratory Medicine practice and serving on five medical staffs in the Milwaukee area. Dr. McMahon is also a licensed physician in several states. Prior to becoming president & CEO at Saint Joseph Hospital (Chicago, IL), Dr. McMahon served in a series of progressive leadership positions, including chief medical officer and vice president of medical affairs at other health care institutions.

Dr. McMahon graduated cum laude from the College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, Massachusetts, with a bachelor's degree in economics and pre-medicine, before earning his MD from Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, D.C. Following an internal medicine internship at Columbia University, New York, he completed a residency in pathology and laboratory medicine at Georgetown University Medical Center. Dr. McMahon also holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois.

Robert Remstein, DO, MBA

Vice President, Accountable Care

Designated Institutional Official for Graduate Medical Education

As the Vice President for Accountable Care, Dr. Remstein is responsible for Capital Health's moves toward becoming a leader in population health. He works with other members of the hospital leadership team to develop the outpatient network, and programs that address clinical integration across the care continuum; helping Capital Health to remain competitive in the changing health care environment.

As the Designated Institutional Official, Dr. Remstein oversees the education and training of all medical students and resident physicians at Capital Health. He is guiding the growth of graduate medical education at Capital to become an academic medical center.

Prior to his current position, Dr. Remstein served as vice president of Medical Affairs at Capital Health. He has been a member of the Capital Health medical staff for more than 27 years serving in many voluntary leadership positions. Dr. Remstein is a founding member and current president of the Trenton Health Team, an organization supported by Capital Health to further the development of an urban accountable care organization. His background as a physician practicing in the community, coupled with his successful experience in working with his colleagues on the Capital Health medical staff on matters ranging from the clinical to administrative, uniquely qualifies him for this important position.

Dr. Remstein received his medical degree from New York College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed a residency in internal medicine at Albert Einstein Medical Center, PA. He previously served as Medical Director of Henry J. Austin Health Care Center in Trenton, and was a founding member of Mercer Internal Medicine Associates. He is also a practicing internist and is the Medical Director of Capital Health Primary Care  Newtown, Pennsylvania.

Patrick G. De Deyne, MPT, MS, PhD

Director of Clinical Research at Capital Health

Patrick De Deyne, MPT, PhD is the Director of Clinical Research at Capital Health System, Inc. where he leads the research strategy, clinical research operations, and regulatory affairs. He manages a portfolio that encompasses physician-initiated research as well as sponsored trials from industry and the federal government.

Dr. De Deyne has a professional background in academic research and teaching as well as industry experience in the development of innovative therapies. Dr. De Deyne received graduate training in Physical Therapy, Biomechanics (MSc), Anatomy & Cell Biology (PhD), and Clinical Research Methods from several Universities in the USA and in EU. His doctoral training led him to the University of Maryland School of Medicine where he had faculty appointments in the Departments of Orthopedic Surgery and Physiology and subsequently his academic endeavors led him to research and development initiatives with progressive levels of responsibilities in Regenerative Medicine at Johnson & Johnson and then functioned as the Director of R&D at LifeCell (now Allergan). He returned to academics when he joined Temple University School of Medicine where he led Clinical Research Development for the Temple Clinical Research Institute. Dr. De Deyne has published more than 40 peer-reviewed manuscripts, holds several invention disclosures, and has been an invited speaker at multiple international conferences.

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- Uhuru said three more COVID-19 patients had been discharged bringing the total number of recoveries to 98

- The number of people who had succumbed to the pandemic stood at 14 as no new deaths were confirmed

- The president extended the nationwide curfew by another 21 days to counter the rising number of infections

Kenya has confirmed seven new cases of COVID-19 bringing the national tally to 343 cases.

The new infection cases were announced by President Uhuru Kenyatta at a press conference at State House, Nairobi on Saturday, April, 25.

READ ALSO: Dandora MCA blames COVID-19 cases on dumpsite, waste from airports

Uhuru said said Kenya was celebrating the recovery of 98 COVID-19 patients even as he mourned 14 who lost their lives. Photo: State House.

Source: Facebook

READ ALSO: 99-year-old Tom Moore recognised by Guinness World Records for smashing global fundraising record

The president said his government took necessary action to prevent the projected 10,000 cases by April.

"At the beginning of the pandemic our medical experts had estimated that if we had not taken action they had projected that 10,000 people would have been infected by the end of April,"

"However, due to determined mitigating measures, both by the national and county governments we are now only at 343 confirmed cases, Uhuru said.

READ ALSO: Ruto apuuza ripoti kuwa Jubilee itavunjwa na kuungana na vyama vingine

Uhuru said three more COVID-19 patients had been discharged bringing the total number of recoveries to 98.

The number of people who had succumbed to the pandemic stood at 14 as no new deaths were confirmed.

"While we mourn the 14 that have succumbed to coronavirus disease, we also celebrate the 98 recoveries," he said.

The first case of the disease was confirmed in the country on Friday, March 13 and since then the government had announced several measures to curb the spread of the virus.

The Head of State extended also the nationwide dusk to dawn curfew by another 21 days saying the move will further help in managing the pandemic as the infections had surged recently.

"Cessation of movement into and out of Nairobi Metropolitan Area, Kilifi, Kwale and Mombasa shall be extended for 21 days. The nationwide curfew shall be extended for 21 days Security services will upgrade response and alert measures in every border area," Uhuru said.

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Former Finance Minister and Congress leader P Chidambaram has said that Franklin Templeton winding up six debt schemes that resulted in the locking-in of investor wealth worth Rs 30,800 crore is a matter of grave concern for investors. In a statement the former minister said that fortunately markets are closed today and tomorrow and he said that he hopes the government resolves the situation quickly. Chidambaram said that during his tenure as Finance Minister in 2008, a similar situation took place. He said that the government resolved the case in a jiffy.

"I recall that a similar situation arose in the first week of October 2008 (during the global financial crisis) when mutual funds faced liquidity stress. Government immediately consulted RBI, SEBI, IBA, AMFI and others. An urgent meeting of the FSDC was convened and a solution was found by the end of the day. On the next morning, officers of RBI and SEBI met at 8 am, and RBI announced a 14-day special repo facility and allowed an additional 0.5 per cent of NDTL. The situation was resolved. Fortunately, the markets will be closed today and tomorrow. I expect that the government will act promptly and resolve the situation quickly," he said.

Also read: Coronavirus impact: Franklin Templeton Mutual Fund shuts six schemes, Rs 30,800 crore investor wealth stuck

This statement comes as Franklin Templeton, one of the country's oldest asset management companies announced the closure of six funds, namely, Franklin India Low Duration Fund, 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.

Franklin Templeton said that this decision comes as liquidity has dried up in the Indian financial system in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. "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 lockdown of the Indian economy which was necessary to address the same. At the same time, mutual funds, especially in the fixed income segment, are facing continuous and heightened redemptions," Franklin Templeton MF said in a statement on Thursday.

Also read: BT Buzz: Debt fund closure by Franklin Templeton; should you be worried?

Also read: Franklin Templeton one-off incident; credit risk funds still attractive, says mutual funds body
Even as both India and Pakistan have enforced countrywide lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic, smuggling of heroin from the neighbouring country through the Punjab border has been going on unabated.

The Border Security Force (BSF) seized 38 kg heroin during the past one month  from March 23 to April 23 in Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Ferozepur and Abohar sectors.

With this, the total recovery of heroin by the BSF this year has been pegged at 130 kg, which is much higher as compared to the recovery of the drug during the corresponding period in 2019. According to the BSFs data, the recovery of heroin from January to May 2019 was 85 kg.

On April 23 this year, the BSF had seized 1 kg of heroin near Khemkaran village of Tarn Taran. On April 22, 1 kg heroin and a country-made pistol were recovered near Attari border. On April 21, 4.5 kg heroin was seized in Ajnala. Similarly, 9 kg heroin was seized near Attari border on April 16.

A senior BSF official said Pakistani smugglers continue to push in the drugs into the Indian territory taking advantage of the standing wheat crop along the border. Punjab shares a 553-km border, with a barbed fence, with Pakistan.

A senior official of the special task force (STF) of Punjab Police said, Due to strictness of police on drug smuggling and the ongoing curfew, the supply chain of drugs has been broken in the state. Due to this, Pakistani smugglers may have been attempting to push in more drugs.

Besides, Indian farmers are allowed to visit their fields across the fence during the harvesting season. It becomes easy for Indian smugglers to clear the consignments adopting various concealing methods in the guise of agriculture-related works. We have already prepared a list of suspected people, including some farmers. Our teams have increased vigil in the border villages and no one will be allowed to peddle the drugs, he said.
On April 22, Russias state-owned Sputnik news agency published a commentary about U.S. President Donald Trumps tweet announcing his order to destroy any Iranian gunboats that harass the U.S. Navy ships.

In the commentary, Sputnik cited Farhad Ibragimov, an expert from Putins Valdai Discussion Club, a Moscow-based think tank and discussion forum, who said there were three reasons for Trumps threats against Iran.

First, Ibragimov said, Trump is trying to distract from the U.S. domestic political crisis, aggravated by criticism over the administrations handling of the COVID-19 response. Second, he said, Trump was angry at Iran for refusing U.S. coronavirus humanitarian aid. Third, he said Trump is trying to boost oil prices by threatening possible military action in the Middle East.

The last sentence in the Sputnik report implies that Washington has been hiding military casualties suffered in the January Iranian missile strike in Iraq, which was in retaliation for the U.S. airstrike that killed Qassem Soleimani, commander of the elite Quds Force of Irans Revolutionary Guard Corps.

"On the night of January 8, Iran launched a missile strike on the American military infrastructure in Iraq. The number of victims of this attack was not disclosed."

The claim is false.

The sentence echoes a previously debunked Iranian claim that the missile strike killed 80 U.S. troops.

The U.S. initially reported no casualties, but later announced 11 troops had been treated for concussion symptoms after the attack, and the number of those suffering traumatic brain injuries eventually grew to 111.

Along with American troops, the bases targeted by Iran housed military personnel from at least seven other nations participating in the coalition to defeat ISIS. These included Australia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Lithuania, Norway and Poland. None reported casualties.

After Trumps shoot and destroy tweet, Maj. Gen. Hossein Salami, commander of Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, issued his own rejoinder that any actions threatening Iran forces will be met with an immediate and decisive response.

U.S. officials say Iran has escalated harassment of U.S. naval vessels patrolling the Persian Gulf oil shipping lanes.

According to an April 15 U.S. Navy Central Command press release, 11 Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN) vessels repeatedly conducted dangerous and harassing approaches while six U.S. vessels were conducting joint integration operations with U.S. Army AH-64E Apache attack helicopters in the international waters of the North Arabian Gulf.

The Iranian navy has been videoing these interactions, and the videos have been broadcast on Irans official channels.

Some U.S. and EU analysts agreed with Ibragimov that Trump was calculating the impact that such a move would have on oil prices.

Still, the views of this Kremlin-linked expert echo Tehrans, and similar opinions have been pushed extensively by regime-controlled Iranian media.

Irans disinformation campaign in the wake of Soleimanis killing on Jan. 3 featured some unusual claims, including that the CIAs Iran chief died in a plane crash in Afghanistan.

Iran initially denied the Jan. 8 shoot down of a Ukrainian passenger airliner departing Tehran. Leaders later admitted that its air defenses mistook the airliner for a U.S. military jet. All 178 people on board died.
CONCORD, NH  Gov. Chris Sununu issued a number of new executive orders Friday and also extended the state of emergency in New Hampshire for another 21 days.

The state of emergency, first issued on March 15, and extended again earlier this month, will run through May 15. The governor may or may not issue another 21 day extension at that time.

Three other emergency orders as well as an exhibit to a previous order were also issued Friday.

The governor issued new guidelines in a previous health coverage order allowing for carriers to approve of in-patient prescriptions without a signature. Carriers are also now prohibited from performing pharmacy audits that could "consume considerable pharmacist or pharmacy staff time" as well as requiring health carriers with group plans to continue employee health plans for furloughed or temporary layoffs.

Sununu also directed the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission to suspend all rate increases or future rate increases filed by electric companies and ban the collections of increased rates and charges for between six and 18 months.

Don't miss updates about coronavirus precautions and information in New Hampshire as they are announced. Sign up for Patch news alerts and newsletters.

A temporary waiver was also put on the 28-day separation period between when a retired public employee can return to work for the state part-time and another order ensured worker's compensation coverage for first responders in the state who might be exposed to COVID-19.

The latest new coronavirus map released by the state on April 24.

2 More Deaths; 53 More Positive

The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services announced the death of two more men related to COVID-19 Friday.

Both men were 60 years or older with one living in Rockingham County and the other in Strafford County. The new deaths bring the count to 53 in the state or 3 percent of patients.

The state also announced 53 more positive patients bringing the total number of people infected with the virus since early March to 1,720.

Story continues

Many of the cases are still under investigation but from what information is available, 52 percent were women and 48 percent men. Twenty-nine of the patients live in Hillsborough County, 15 in Rockingham County, and two in Merrimack County.

Six of the new cases required hospitalization bringing the count to 224 in the state or about 13 percent of the cases.

Of the new cases, five had no identified risk factors  meaning they haven't traveled recently or were not in contact with someone who had been diagnosed with COVID-19. Most of the remaining cases had been, the state said.

Patch takes community journalism seriously and we want to be as much service to our readers as possible at this very uncertain time. If you are a public health worker, medical provider, elected official, patient, or other coronavirus expert  or you simply have a news tip you'd like to share  please fill out this form. We'll keep names and personal information private.

The state announced that 578 people have recovered from the infection or about 34 percent of New Hampshire's cases. There are nearly 1,100 active cases and 89 are currently hospitalized.

Approximately 2,250 people are under public health monitoring while 16,007 or 90 percent of people tested were negative for the new coronavirus at the NH Public Health Laboratories, LabCorp, Quest, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, and those sent to CDC prior to state lab testing capacity. Of the nearly 18,125 people tested, 7,854 were tested at the state labs.

ReopenNH: Governor, 'Restore Reason And Balance'

Not long after Sununu issued an emergency order extension, the organization calling on the governor to reopen the state, again affirmed the need "to restore reason and balance in our society and get New Hampshire back to work."

Andrew Manuse, the chairman of ReopenNH, said top-down government planning "has never worked to solve problems" and wouldn't work in this case. He said many attendees of the previous rally last week raised relevant points about the hypocrisy of some businesses being called essential while others weren't  instead of allowing employers and employees to make their own decisions, especially when the outbreak was most prevalent in two or three counties and not the entire state.

The group is hosting another rally at noon on Saturday, May 2, at the Statehouse.

"Following the prevailing scientific guidance that is quite evidently true, we believe that coronavirus is a deadly contagion that poses a substantial risk to people who have underlying diseases and who fall into older age categories, and we are urging all people in New Hampshire to take precautions to protect the most vulnerable," he said. "At the same time, we believe the people of New Hampshire are best equipped to solve serious problems like coronavirus, and their individual enterprise and ingenuity need to be unleashed so society can properly function  What weve seen in the last two months is centralized planning creating an unfathomable economic crisis that we may not even recover from long after this virus has fizzled out. Every job is essential, and every human person plays a role in fulfilling societys needs."

Economic Reopening Task Force Meetings Booked

The Governor's Economic Reopening Task Force, the group in charge with developing a plan and overseeing the state and private sector actions needed to reopen New Hampshire's economy  while minimizing the adverse impact of COVID-19 on public health  has booked a number of remote meetings next week.

The task force is using North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes to enable similar industries and sectors to phase forward together, according to officials.

From 2 to 5 p.m. on April 27, presentations about outdoor recreation (NAICS: 71) and hospitals (NAICS: 62) will be discussed.

From 3 to 5 p.m. on April 28, educational (NAICS: 61) and other services (NAICS: 81) will be discussed.

There will be a meeting from 3 to 5 p.m. on April 29 but the topic has yet to be decided.

Comments from the public will be taken from 1 to 3 p.m. on April 30, and 9 to 11 a.m. on May 1. The task force will also meet again from 3 to 5 p.m. on May 1.

The meetings are all open to the public by calling 1-800-356-8278; pin 194499 or 600744. Anyone encountering difficulties should call 603-573-8615 or email hilary.ryan@livefree.nh.gov.

Bipartisan Legislative Advisory Board Meets Monday

The Governors Office For Emergency Relief and Recovery (GOFERR) will hold a meeting of the Bipartisan Legislative Advisory Board at 1 p.m. on Monday, April 27.

The meeting will be held remotely. The call-in number is 800-356-8278; the pin number is 389388.

All members of the GOFERR Legislative Advisory Board have been invited to participate in Monday's call, according to the governor's office.

Feltes Critical Of CARES Act Guidance

This week, the state of New Hampshire received guidance on how and how not the state can spend its $1.25 billion COVID-19 relief funds.

State Sen. Dan Feltes, D-Concord, a 2020 gubernatorial candidate, called the guidelines "highly restricted" and prohibited states from "using their funds to protect critical services that have taken on even greater importance during this crisis" because it was not allowing cities and towns to tap into the resources in order to save the jobs of municipal employees, critical services, and rising property taxes.

"The Trump Administrations guidance on the CARES Act stimulus funds is devastating for New Hampshire," Feltes said. "Our economy has effectively been shut down for several weeks, leaving major revenue shortfalls across all sectors, but according to the Trump Administration, the only flexibility in the use of stimulus funds is for business interests, not for our state and not for our cities and towns that will be forced to lay off teachers, firefighters, and police officers. The federal government might be able to run up trillions of dollars of debt, but here in New Hampshire our state and our communities need to balance our budgets. The Trump Administrations rewrite of the CARES Act isnt right and isnt good for New Hampshire."

Nashua E-ZPass Walk-In Center Closing

Nashua E-ZPass walk-in Center will close on April 27. Walk-in centers in Concord and Portsmouth will continue operating from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., only on Mondays and Fridays.

The New Hampshire Department of Transportation announced the closure Friday and said it was "in support of health and safety as well as operations during the COVID-19 pandemic."

The change in operations will be in effect until further notice, the state said.

"We recognize that many of our customers use these facilities to conduct cash-only transactions and we will continue to offer walk-in services two days per week at Concord and Portsmouth for that purpose," the DOT stated.

All other non-cash transactions can be completed by contacting the E-ZPass Call Center at Toll Free Number at 877-643-9727. The call center hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

E-ZPass transactions may also be conducted online.

Stopping The Spread Of COVID-19

The COVID-19 virus is spread through respiratory droplets, usually through coughing and sneezing, and exposure to others who are sick or might be showing symptoms.

Health officials emphasize residents should follow these recommendations:

Avoid any domestic and international travel, especially on public transportation such as buses, trains, and airplanes.

Practice social distancing. Stay at least 6 feet from other people, including distancing while in waiting areas or lines.

Anybody who is told to self-quarantine and stay at home due to exposure to a person with confirmed or suspect COVID-19 needs to stay home and not go out into public places.

If you are 60 years or older or have chronic medical conditions, you need to stay home and not go out.

Avoid gatherings of 10 people or more.

Employers need to move to telework as much as possible.

There is increasing evidence that this virus can survive for hours or possibly even a few days on surfaces, so people should clean frequently touched surfaces, including door handles, grocery carts and grocery basket handles, etc.

Take the same precautions as you would if you were sick:

Stay home and avoid public places when sick (i.e., social distancing).

Cover mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing.

Wash hands frequently.

Disinfect frequently touched surfaces.

More information from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services about coronavirus can be found here on the department's website.

Guidance to schools can be found can be found here.

Instructions for returning travelers to self-observe for symptoms of COVID-19 are available are available here.

For more information on COVID-19 in NH, visit its site here.

For the latest information from the CDC, visit its site here.

ALSO READ:

Got a news tip? Send it to tony.schinella@patch.com. View videos on Tony Schinella's YouTube channel.

This article originally appeared on the Concord Patch




Haiti - Education : The online teaching platform is operational





Since Friday 24 the Internet platform of Educational Resources and Learning (PRACTIC) of the Ministry of National Education is now operational. This educational tool, designed by the Ministry, should allow the continuation of learning activities, outside the classrooms from preschool to professional through fundamental and secondary. PRATIC intends to support students to avoid any break in learning.



Pierre Josue Agenor Cadet, the Minister of Education, presided over the official launching ceremony of this online teaching platform.



Minister Cadet said he was satisfied with the work accomplished by the technical directorates concerned, who in a very tight agenda have identified and selected the appropriate educational content, then integrate them into this platform which will be continuously fed with interventions by a team experienced teachers.



Aware that not all children have access to the internet and the appropriate IT tools, Cadet said other options are being considered to make it easier for more students to access these educational materials. Thus, in addition to the learning content available on the platform, it is scheduled to broadcast audio-visual courses on the National Television of Haiti (TNH) and other private channels as well as on radio stations in the capital and in the departments, through community radios.



The first training modules in this series are in the validation stage by the technical supervision team, formed on occasion, before making them available on the platform.



In addition, the same content will be saved on USB keys which will be available in the departments and in the technical departments concerned for the benefit of pupils, who may therefore request them from the ministry's offices.



The Ministry also plans to print, on paper, certain content and lesson sheets for the fundamental level and the secondary level as well as for the teacher training colleges, intended for students in order to reach the public who would not have no access to digital.



Minister Cadet took the opportunity to thank all the institutions that have already supported this process, including the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank and UNICEF. He also praised telephone companies, such as Natcom, which is already committed to providing thousands of SIM cards to students for free with special plans and free internet to access the PRATIC Platform.



Invited to present the Digital Platform, Ralphson Pierre, Director of Training and Development, reviewed all of the content.



Maxime Meberas, Director of the Information and Communication Technologies in Education Unit (UTICE), manager of the Platform, listed the procedures for accessing this platform. An user can access the platform free of charge at the address: https://pratic.menfp.gouv.ht Access is also possible via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn. The user can use a computer, phone and tablet to connect. In addition, Ralphson Pierre will soon announce an application that will link to the contents of the platform.



If the student has questions about an online course, he can ask them in the space reserved for this purpose. According to the principle of asynchronous interaction, the teacher will react in order to provide the elements of response, said Mesilas.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















Nairobi, 25 April 2020  As the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic continues, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, notes the increasing challenges faced by refugees, asylum-seekers and other vulnerable populations, and calls for continued solidarity. UNHCR appreciates the inclusion of refugees, asylum-seekers and stateless persons in the Government of Kenyas preparedness and response plans.

The impact of the slow-down of global and national economies due to the pandemic has affected access to jobs and livelihoods and the ability of the most vulnerable populations, particularly refugees and asylum-seekers, who are already challenged in meeting their basic needs.

In addition, the fact that resettlement departures have been put on hold is a source of distress, as those refugees due to be resettled were hoping for a new start. It is important to stress that this is a temporary situation.

UNHCR is working closely with the Government of Kenya, alongside international and national NGO partners and UN sister agencies to ensure that refugees and asylum-seekers receive the necessary support during this extremely challenging time.

As part of preventive and preparedness measures, UNHCR and its partners have enhanced the capacities of health facilities, increased hygiene promotion and access to water, and distributed soap and jerry cans in Kakuma and Dadaab refugee camps. UNHCR and its partners have also increased the provision of psycho-social support and strengthened existing dedicated helplines, to ensure refugees and asylum-seekers across the country have access to fact-based information and guidance on assistance available to them, including financial, in their own languages.

As uncertainty around the pandemic grows, additional support is needed to enhance access to counselling and mental health services to help vulnerable refugees and asylum-seekers in Kenya explore and develop positive coping strategies in this challenging time. UNHCR urges the international community to continue its valuable support to refugees, asylum-seekers and host communities during this unprecedented situation.

ENDS

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Eujin Byun, [email protected] +254 798 487 988

Rose Ogola, [email protected] +254 742 974 807

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North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Choe Ryong-hae, vice-chairman of the central committee of the Workers' Party, arrive for the official opening of the Ryomyong residential area in Pyongyang in this April 13, 2017, file photo,. AP



North Korean leader Kim Jong-un remained out of public sight Saturday, as the reclusive nation's tightly controlled media focused their coverage on the founding anniversary of its armed forces.



They have carried no report on Kim's public activities since April 11, sparking speculation that the 36-year-old might be critically ill.



Pyongyang's propaganda outlets instead hyped the 88th anniversary of the birth of the Korean People's Revolutionary Army (KPRA) that falls on April 25.



The official Korean Central News Agency detailed the history of the KPRA that dates back to the anti-Japanese people's guerrilla army formed by Kim Il-sung, the late grandfather of the current leader. Korea was under Japan's colonial rule at that time.






File photo

According to a report by The Nation, a Regional Manager with First Bank, Kano, Abdullahi Lawal has died of suspected case of Covid -19.

Family sources said the late Banker took ill on Friday and was first put on admission at private clinic in Kano from where he was referred to Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital .

Sources said late Lawal who was on his early 50s was rushed to a private clinic after he suffered high fever, intermittent cough, and respiratory hiccups without getting medical care before he gave up the ghost.

According to the sources, the late Lawal was placed on Oxygen on arrival at the private clinic, and the treatment was discontinued after he displayed no signs of stability.

One Hajiya Salma Ahmed who claimed to be a mother in-law to the decease in a viral audio obtained by this tabloid painted a gory picture of how National Centre for Disease Control frustrated attempt to secure a helpline.

Hajiya Ahmed said the family had called the Kano NCDC line several times but couldnt get through. They finally got to Abuja NCDC, and were assured that officials in Kano would visit the patient to take his samples.

Salma explained that but no one visited up till her son-in-law died in agony, and she was now worried that her daughter and other family members might also have the virus.

Details soon
Taapsee Pannu is going to be a busy bee once the lockdown lifts and the Coronavirus crisis abates. She has a number of projects lined up including Shabaash Mithu, Rashmi Rocket, Haseen Dillruba, Looop Lapeta, Tadka and Womaniya.

The actress recently opened up about how her schedule may look post lockdown. She also shared how Looop Lapeta, an adaptation of the German thriller Run Lola Run, is going to be different from the original.

Talking to Mumbai Mirror, Taapsee said, "The humour in Looop Lapeta is dry, sarcastic and situational. It comes more from the pauses than punchlines. We don't want to copy the film scene by scene. Also, it's not that radical anymore."

She shared that the film was supposed to be shot in a foreign location before the lockdown was announced. "Now, we have to wait till travel restrictions are lifted. But Anurag finishes a film within 35 days, so we just have to reach the location and brace ourselves for a start-to-end schedule. I'm not worried," she said.

Taapsee further said, "If we get back on track in May, we can't kick off Rashmi Rocket in Kutch as the Rann will be scorching around that time. Similarly, Looop Lapeta will be shot across Mumbai and in Goa. If it's raining, how will I run?"

Taapsee is staying connected with her fans through social media. She has started a series of throwback posts on Instagram called 'Quarantine Post' in which she shares never before seen clips and pictures from her life, film sets and so on, and reveals interesting stories behind them.

ALSO READ: Taapsee Pannu Shares Her Look Test From Manmarziyaan, Calls Director Anurag Kashyap A 'Penguin'

ALSO READ: Taapsee Pannu Reveals When She Came Into Her True Self: The Day I Accepted My Flaws



ALSO READ: Taapsee Pannu Reveals Why The Wedding Scene In Manmarziyaan Is Her Favourite


Stepping up efforts to protect tigers in reserves on the border with Nepal, India's apex tiger conservation body on Saturday asked Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand governments to authorise local officials to cross the boundary and hold meetings with the neighbouring country's officials to boost big cat safety.

In a letter to chief wildlife wardens of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) sought authorisation to the states' local officials to coordinate regular meetings for tiger protection in transboundary landscape such as Corbett/Pilibhit tiger reserves in Uttarakhand and Dudhwa tiger reserve in UP which share boundaries with Nepal's Suklaphanta National Park and and Bardia National Park respectively.

The NTCA directed the states to issue authorisation, just like Bihar which has already given permission to its officials to attend coordination meetings in bordering Chitwan National Park of Nepal.

"The Corbett/Pilibhit tiger reserves and Suklaphanta National Park in Nepal, and Dudhwa tiger reserve and Bardia National Park in Nepal share common boundaries and constitute an important transboundary tiger landscape.

"Therefore, it is advised that similar authorisation is issued by the respective state government of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand to enable the local officials/staff from both the countries to have regular coordination meetings/visits for strengthening protection and enforcement in the transboundary area," NTCA Deputy Inspector General Nishant Verma said in the letter.

In an office memorandum, Verma said an Indian delegation headed by ADG (Project Tiger) and MS (NTCA) visited Chitwan and Parsa National Park of Nepal and held meetings with the Secretary, Ministry of and the Director General of the Department of National Park and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC), Government of Nepal.

"During the meeting, it was apprised that the Nepal government has already authorised local officers to attend transboundary coordination meetings with the local management of bordering tiger reserves of India. Similarly, the Bihar government has also allowed local officers to attend coordination meetings in bordering Chitwan National Park of Nepal," he said.

Speaking to PTI, Verma said, "This facilitation by the state government is vital as it will help in sharing of information between both countries to enhance tiger protection from criminals and poachers.

"India's tiger reserves share a boundary with national parks of Nepal. Like Bihar, we want UP and Uttarakhand to give such permissions so that there can be sharing of information between them. We want the meetings to be eased out and enhance protection of tigers, share information about criminals/poachers. The authorisation will help officials visit Nepal and share information regarding wildlife crime and both the countries can adapt each other's good management practices," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The National Security Service of Armenia has found evidence of corruption among the employees of the National Body for Standards and Metrology, the press center of the ministry reports.

According to the findings, the head of the laboratory, having entered into a conspiracy with its employees, received bribes from private entrepreneurs. In return, he promised not to record violations during the verification, writes Sputnik Armenia.
A video that has recently come to light from 1993 appears to show the mother of Tara Reade, who has accused former Vice President Joe Biden of sexual assault, calling Larry King Live to discuss problems her daughter experienced while working for a prominent senator.* The Intercept was first to report on the video, and the conservative Media Research Center later quickly published the relevant clip. Reade then confirmed that it was her mothers voice on the call. Ive been crying because I havent heard my moms voice in a few years. So its been a little emotional, Reade told CNN. I miss her. I miss her voice. Reades mother died in 2016.

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Tara Reade told me this is her mother's voice. https://t.co/7ymN6Pj55m  Holly Otterbein (@hollyotterbein) April 24, 2020

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The clip is from an Aug. 11, 1993, program titled Washington: The Cruelest City on Earth? Near the end of the program, a woman from San Luis Obispo, California, called in with a question. Yes, hello. Im wondering what a staffer would do besides go to the press in Washington? the caller asked. My daughter has just left there, after working for a prominent senator, and could not get through with her problems at all, and the only thing she could have done was go to the press, and she chose not to do it out of respect for him. The panel on Kings show was profoundly unhelpful and never answered the womans question.

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Reade had talked about the call in several interviews but could not remember the date. And her recollection was a bit off too. I remember it being an anonymous call and her saying my daughter was sexually harassed and retaliated against and fired, where can she go for help? I was mortified, Reade told the Intercept. That seems to not have been quite accurate, considering the call doesnt ever mention sexual assault or harassment. But some biographical details do seem to check out. Reade worked for Bidens Senate office until August 1993, and her mother, Jeanette Altimus, was living in San Luis Obispo County at the time.

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In March, Reade accused Biden of sexually assaulting her in 1993 on Capitol Hill when she was 29. Bidens campaign has vehemently denied the allegations. What is clear about this claim: It is untrue, Kate Bedingfield, a deputy Biden campaign manager, said in a statement. This absolutely did not happen. Last year, Reade had said Biden touched her neck and shoulders but later expanded that to say that Biden pinned her against a wall, reached under her skirt, and pushed his fingers inside her. Reade said she told her mother about what happened. Reades mother tried to push her daughter to call the police, but she never did. A friend of Reades has confirmed she told her about the alleged assault at the time. Another friend and a brother of Ms. Reades said she told them over the years about a traumatic sexual incident involving Mr. Biden, the New York Times reported earlier this month.

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Progressives didn't make this happen.



Corporate Democrats chose Biden. https://t.co/95xVE0TkOt  Briahna Joy Gray (@briebriejoy) April 25, 2020

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Although Bidens campaign has not commented on the video, several high-profile allies of Sen. Bernie Sanders are bringing it up publicly. The video of Tara Reades late mother calling into Larry King to blow the whistle about Taras sexual assault is being met with relative silence from a cadre of progressives right now and I want you all to know that I see you, tweeted Winnie Wong, a former senior adviser to Sanders. We all do. Shaun King, a Sanders supporter, also tweeted about the clip, claiming a lot of prominent Democrats have said they think the clip is damaging for Joe Biden.

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Have had a lot of prominent Democrats write me, many in the past few minutes, say they think this Larry King video is damaging for Joe Biden, and bolsters Tara Reades credibility.



But that they think speaking about it will help Trump so they wont say anything. https://t.co/JmID1iW8NB  Shaun King (@shaunking) April 25, 2020

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Ryan Grim, who wrote the Intercept piece, pointed out on Twitter that the way in which the conservative Media Research Center posted the Larry King video shortly after his story went up means they were sitting on it, waiting, and this was coming out whether The Intercept broke it or not.

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The right wing Media Research Center posted this video not long after I posted the transcript, which means they were sitting on it, waiting, and this was coming out whether The Intercept broke it or not.. https://t.co/bbwYkPmYEy  Ryan Grim (@ryangrim) April 24, 2020
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has extended the current border crossing restrictions until May 11.

The relevant order No. 439-p of April 24 was published on the Government portal.

To amend the Order of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine No. 287 of March 14, 2020 On temporary state border crossing restrictions aimed at preventing the spread of coronavirus disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 on the territory of Ukraine... by replacing until April 24, 2020 with until May 11, 2020 in the wording, the document reads.

On March 12, the Government of Ukraine introduced the quarantine to counteract the spread of COVID-19 coronavirus infection. According to the order No. 287-r of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine of March 14, 2020, the border crossing points (checkpoints) were temporarily closed for international passenger transportation at 00:00 on March 17, 2020. The exception is the transportation of persons for the protection of national interests or in connection with the fulfillment of international obligations, as well as representatives of diplomatic institutions and humanitarian missions.

In addition, since 00:00 on March 16, 2020, the border crossing for entry into Ukraine has been temporarily banned for foreigners and stateless persons. The restriction does not apply to those who are permanent or temporary residents of Ukraine, are spouses or children of citizens of Ukraine, employees of foreign diplomatic missions and consular posts accredited in Ukraine, representations of official international missions, organizations accredited in Ukraine and their family members; drivers and service personnel of freight vehicles, crew members. Other categories of foreigners and stateless persons enter Ukraine with the consent of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Initially, the quarantine was introduced until April 3, then it was extended until April 24. On April 22, the Cabinet extended the quarantine until May 11.

Since March 28, Ukraine has completely closed the border for scheduled transportation services, including aviation.

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The city of Port Arthur is joining renewed calls for residents to continue to take seriously precautions to curb the spread of coronavirus even as political pressure to begin reopening the state rises.

The citys health department, while releasing information about two new cases in its area, noted that the number of confirmed cases is still climbing and information about the virus is changing almost daily.

That echoes comments by Beaumont Mayor Becky Ames earlier this week that she hasnt seen enough data to suggest the region has entered the backside of a flattened coronavirus curve.

It is urgent that we citizens remain safe and also protect those around us, the Port Arthur Public Health Department said. If you are able to stay home safely, please do so.

Port Arthur is not the only area that saw more confirmed cases on Friday.

The total number of postive cases of COVID-19 in Southeast Texas rose to 435, an increase of 17.

More Information Helpful numbers (409) 550-2536: Hotline for residents of Jasper, Jefferson, Hardin, Newton, Orange and Tyler counties who want to be tested for coronavirus. 211, option 6: For general coronavirus inquiries For Orange County residents interested in being tested at the convention center Tuesday: Where: Orange County Convention and Expo Center, 114 Farm Road 1442 When: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. To register: Visit txcovidtest.org or call 512-883-2400 after the call center opens at 10 a.m. Sunday. Individuals will be tested to see if they have symptoms including fever and/or chills, cough, fatigue and shortness of breath. See More Collapse

>> Related: Calls to SE Texas coronavirus hotline continue to run high

The six-county team charged with coordinating the outbreak response also reported three more coronavirus-related deaths on Friday  two in Beaumont and the first in Orange County. This brings the death toll in Southeast Texas to 23.

The data from here and from other regions are expected to be used by the governors coronavirus task force to determine the best way to move forward with reopening the state.

Gov. Greg Abbott is supposed to release that plan, or the beginnings of it, on Monday.

Hardin County Judge Wayne McDaniel said he anticipates the six Southeast Texas county judges will issue a new simple order on Monday that supersedes all previous orders. That document is expected to explain that all Southeast Texans are expected to follow Abbotts orders and the directives of local health authorities.

Previously, McDaniel said he thought the judges would use the new executive orders from Abbott, local data and guidance from health officials to amend their own regulations.

>> Related: Single day record for coronavirus deaths in SE Texas

On Friday, he said the judges are confident Abbott will slowly back out of this and issue executive orders in that pursuit.

As long as thats what he does, were prepared to follow his lead, he said.

McDaniel said he anticipates the judges will continue to include the provision that individuals who test positive for the virus must be quarantined, which Abbott has not listed in previous orders.

Abbott also hasnt put in place the one-adult-per-household rule for grocery shopping. McDaniel said he expects the judges would encourage grocery stores to keep following this, instead of formally continuing the requirement.

He said the judges also are prepared, if Abbott instead leaves complete control up to local authorities, to craft their own plan.

As of Friday, about 0.6% of the six counties residents had been tested for the virus at one of the two county-run testing sites or by a county-sponsored strike team.

>> Related: SETX officials begin to weigh Governor's plans to reopen Texas

However, the number of people tested at the public sites increased by more than 20% since Tuesday  the first full day the counties were testing anyone who wanted to be, regardless of their symptoms or other risk factors.

Its unknown how many people have been tested at private clinics or hospitals, as many of those facilities have not released such numbers. These entities are only required to report confirmed positive cases to local health officials.

The testing sites are still open to anyone, although they still must call the six-county hotline for an appointment and patient number.

The call center, which received 166 calls on Friday, will be closed over the weekend. However, if a message is left, a nurse will call back to schedule testing for Monday or Tuesday.

Starting Monday, the call center will limit its operating time by three hours, to be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

kaitlin.bain@beaumontenterprise.com

twitter.com/KaitlinBain
Author B. Benedict Braddock has released his new highly anticipated fiction novel, The Common life of Casey Malone, to the world-wide market. The story is a heartbreaking look at domestic violence and abuse as well as the need for criminal justice reform. It has been described as " A heart-wrenching look at the life of just one abused child and the failure of the bureaucracy to protect her." Braddock is a dual citizen of the United States and Ireland, currently residing in Florida. U.S.A.

17-year-old Casey Malone has been sentenced to prison for murder. She did not testify on her own behalf and waived her right to a trial. Although the press kept her story very active in the news, she made no public comment and refused all requests for interviews. Until now. Casey has agreed to a series of visits with veteran journalist, Douglas Powell, who is intent on making all of the facts of her heartbreaking case public. As Powell learns more and more about Casey and her life, he becomes not only her advocate, but her closest friend. With each detail he is drawn deeper and deeper into the tragic and violent world of this soft-spoken teenager, and he will not rest until the whole world learns who Casey Malone truly is.

This work contains some adult language and situations including somewhat disturbing portrayals of domestic violence and sexual abuse. Not intended for young readers.
US Allies Condemn Iran's Satellite Launch As Russia Defends The Move

Radio Farda April 24, 2020

Following strong condemnation by the Unites States two of its major European allies, France and Germany, have also criticized Iran's launch of a military satellite into space.

In what is seen by many as a violation of a United Nations Security Council resolution, Iran on April 22 launched a ballistic missile carrying what it said was a military satellite into orbit. The resolution in question was adopted by UNSC as part of the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers.

Germany and France still remain committed to the agreement, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), although the U.S. left the accord in 2018.

In a statement on Thursday, France condemned Iran's move, saying this was in contravention of UNSC Resolution 2231.

Paris also called on Tehran to immediately cease all activities related to the development of ballistic missiles designed to be capable of carrying nuclear warheads.

"The Iranian ballistics program is a major concern for regional and international security. It contributes to the destabilization of the region and the rise in tensions," the statement said.

The reference to the resolution by France can be important, because if Iran is found to be violating a UN decision, the West can ask the Security Council to reinstate international sanctions.

Expressing concern over Iran's move, Germany also said that Berlin's position on the Islamic Republic missile program has not changed, and the program has a destabilizing impact on the region.

Regarding Europe's security interests, Iran's missile program is unacceptable, Germany asserted.

However, Russia, itself a permanent member of the UNSC has come to Iran's defense on the issue.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, on Thursday dismissed the U.S. claim that Iran violated resolution 2231 and accused Washington of being in violation of the nuclear deal.

Addressing a news conference in Moscow on Thursday, she said that this would not be the first time that a nation (U.S.) that has "flagrantly breached the norms of international law and violated the UNSC resolution 2231" is trying to deflect international condemnation by baseless accusations against Iran and its incompliance with the requirements of the Security Council.

Furthermore, Zakharova maintained that Tehran has had not engaged in producing nuclear weapons or manufacturing missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads.

Iran and the six world powers, Britain, China, France, Russia, and the U.S.A. reached a nuclear deal in 2015, the UN Security Council passed Resolution 2231. Based on one of the clauses of the resolution, the international community "calls on Iran" not to produce or develop ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads.

President Barack Obama and his successor, Donald Trump, each extended the deal twice.

Nevertheless, in May 2018, President Donald Trump announced Washington's withdrawal from the deal, referring to the serious weaknesses of the JCPOA, especially its "Sunset Clause".

On Wednesday, April 22, the IRGC-linked news agencies, Fars and Tasnim, and then the Sepah (IRGC) News website, reported that the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps had "successfully" launched a military satellite into Earth orbit.

The "Noor" satellite was carried by the "Qassid" (also spelled as Ghassed) two-stage missile from the "Central Desert of Iran" to the "425 km orbit of the Earth".

Iran insists its missile program is defensive.

Source: https://en.radiofarda.com/a/us-allies-condemn- iran-s-satellite-launch-as-russia -defends-the-move/30573908.html

Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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LANSING, MI - State Sen. Dale Zorn, R-Ida, apologized for his choice of pattern in a mask he wore Friday on the Senate floor after he was criticized by some who thought it depicted a Confederate flag.

Im sorry for my choice of pattern on the face mask I wore yesterday on the Senate floor," Zorn said in a statement Saturday, April 25.

"I did not intend to offend anyone; however, I realize that I did, and for that I am sorry. Those who know me best know that I do not support the things this pattern represents. My actions were an error in judgment for which there are no excuses and I will learn from this episode.

Report: Michigan state senator denies mask he wore depicted Confederate flag

Zorn, who represents the 17th State Senate District, which includes Lenawee and Monroe counties, initially denied the mask depicted a Confederate flag, WLNS-TV 6 out of Lansing reported Friday. He told WLNS his wife made it and he believed it was meant to depict the state flag of either Tennessee or Kentucky.

I told my wife it probably will raise some eyebrows, but it was not a Confederate flag, Zorn told WLNS. ... Even if it was a Confederate flag, you know, we should be talking about teaching our national history in schools and thats part of our national history and its something we cant just throw away because it is part of our history."

Zorns mask choice was criticized by a number of state legislators, as well as Attorney General Dana Nessel, who initially criticized some state news outlets for not reporting on the it early Saturday.

Nessel since deleted the tweet and clarified her support for the work done by the outlets, but stood by her criticism of Zorns mask.

I find this behavior to be appalling on an indescribably level. I realize we have a president who suggests ingesting disinfectant may be a viable cure for Covid-19, but this is still America, and in Michigan, of all places, this conduct should be derided in every public square.  Dana Nessel (@dananessel) April 25, 2020

I find this behavior to be appalling on an indescribably level, Nessel wrote.

I realize we have a president who suggests ingesting disinfectant may be a viable cure for Covid-19, but this is still America, and in Michigan, of all places, this conduct should be derided in every public square.

State Sen. Jeff Irwin, D-Ann Arbor, said the Confederate flag should never be worn, especially by an elected official.

Dont split hairs on this w/ excuses about flags vs. bandanas, Irwin tweeted. It dishonors our fellow Michiganders. It dishonors the battle flags in our rotunda. It dishonors our state.

When asked Friday what the Confederate flag stood for by WLNS, Zorn responded, The Confederacy. Watch the entire video here.

Zorns remarks came after the Senate voted to create an oversight committee to review how Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has handled the coronavirus pandemic. The body also approved bills limiting the power of the governors office during a public crisis. Legislation Zorn supported.

READ MORE:

Saturday, April 25: Latest developments on coronavirus in Michigan

Boating activists who sued state over motor restrictions celebrate revision of Michigan stay-at-home order

Michigan adds nursing home-specific coronavirus data to stat disclosures

Dems to vote on censure of lawmaker who met with Trump; President tells her to switch sides
State tourism reports about 8,000 stranded tourists left after another 250 depart for Argentina

Cancun, Q.R.  Even with another planeload of passengers lifted from the Cancun International Airport, the state secretary of tourism says there are still approximately 8,000 stranded in Quintana Roo.

Marisol Vanegas Perez, head of state tourism says there are still around 8,000 stranded tourists in Quintana Roo, mostly in Cancun and Playa del Carmen, who are still waiting to return to their countries. She says she is continually trying to organize flights to see to their return.

The tourists currently in our territory are 8,000. They are non-residents who are temporarily in our state. There are still departures. Thursday, a flight of 250 people left for Argentina. We work all the time with wholesale airlines, hoteliers so that when an opening occurs it is utilized in the most efficient way.

On Thursday, a plane of 250 stranded passengers were finally able to depart from the Cancun airport bound for Argentina. Many of those passengers had been stuck in the region since mid-March when flight and border restrictions were placed while they were on vacation.

Vanegas Perez says they continue to work with embassies, consulates and airlines so that tourists can return to their places of origin.
A fire broke out at a timber



godown in Itwara area of the Old City area here on Saturday.

No one was injured in the fire which was put out in two hours by ten fire tenders, Fire Brigade spokesperson said.

The cause was yet to be ascertained, he said.

The area has slums. There are a few cloth godowns in the vicinity too.

A police official said they were investigating how the fire broke out during lockdown.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
(TNS)  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 toldits 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 operateFor 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 businessesThere 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 toldits 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.
Mohanlal, the complete actor has been highly active with the charity works during this coronavirus crisis period. The actor had made hefty donations to both the Kerala Chief Minister's relief fund and FEFKA fund for the daily wage workers of the Malayalam movie industry. Now, Mohanlal has made yet another contribution.

As per the latest reports, Viswa Shanthi Foundation, the NGO which was founded by Mohanlal has contributed an automated robot to the coronavirus ward of the Kalamassery medical college hospital. The news was revealed by the Ernakulam district collector through an official social media post, recently. The help of a robot is implemented to reduce the interactions between the coronavirus patients and staff of the health department.

The robot, which is named Karmibot, is developed by the Asimov Robotics of Kerala Start-Up Mission Maker Village. The major duties of the robot are to supply food, water, and medicines among the COVID_19 patients, sterilizing the utensils, and providing video call facility to the doctors of the coronavirus ward, to interact with the patients.

Karmibot was handed over to the medical college by the representatives of Mohanlal's Viswa Shanti Foundation, including the popular filmmaker Major Ravi, Vinu Krishnan, and Asimov Robotics CEO Jayakrishnan, in the recently held event.

The Viswa Shanti Foundation was formed by Mohanlal as a dedication to his beloved parents, late Viswanathan Nair and Shantha Kumari. As reported earlier, the complete actor and his NGO have always been highly active with social causes, especially in the fields of education and health. Mohanlal is especially active with the charitable work since the coronavirus attack started in Kerala.

Also Read:

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Mohanlal's Ram Is Delayed, Confirms Director Jeethu Joseph!
: Moving Photo of Peruvian Boy, 6, Praying on His Knees for End to the Pandemic Goes Viral
Americans losing grip on most basic tenets of Christian faith: survey

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As part of an ongoing release of research about the worldviews of Americans, new data show that just over half hold a biblically-informed view of God, a 22% drop from 30 years ago.

Longtime researcher George Barna, whose work is now based at the recently-founded Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University, released another installment in his findings that reveal the erosion of the Judeo-Christian worldview in the United States. The new report shows that only 51% of Americans consider God to be "all-powerful, all-knowing, perfect and just creator of the universe who still rules the world today. In 1991, 73% of Americans believed that to be true.

The latest research from the 12-part American Worldview Inventory also documents that 44% of survey respondents agreed with the idea that when Jesus was on the Earth, in the flesh, He was both fully divine and fully human and therefore committed sins like any other person. Only 41% held the biblical perspective that Christ lived a sinless life and was both fully man and fully God.

"Over half of all adults52%contend that 'the Holy Spirit is not a living entity, but merely a symbol of Gods power, presence or purity,'" according to the survey and that "most shockingly, most Americans56%believe that 'Satan is not merely a symbol of evil but is a real spiritual being and influences human lives.'

Nearly half of those surveyed who claim to believe in a God who is an influential spiritual being are not fully confident that He even exists.

The spiritual noise in our culture over the last few decades has confused and misled hundreds of millions of people," Barna said in a statement to The Christian Post. "The message to churches, Christian leaders, and Christian educators is clear: we can no longer assume that people have a solid grasp of even the most basic biblical principles."

Whereas 30 years ago, people spent time thinking and learning about God, today culture has become increasingly self-focused, Barna noted.

"We've transitioned from a people who upheld the existence of absolute moral truth to a nation that rejects moral absolutes. The result has been a seminal shift in our collective focus, from other to self, and from absolute truths to conditional truths. That helps to explain why the doesnt/dont know/dont care population, regarding the existence of God, has mushroomed from 8 percent to 32 percent in just 30 years," he said.

"Thats one-third of the nations adults who have chosen to dismiss traditional teachings about God, the importance of personally determining whether a powerful, holy, Creator God exists, and the implications of their conclusion for their present and future."

The release of the research was going to coincide with the launch of the Cultural Research Center at ACU in Glendale, Arizona, last month but the center's formal event had to be postponed until the fall due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The owner of Cherry Grove nursing home has described the outbreak of Covid-19 at the family run care centre as worse than any Stephen King novel you can imagine, adding that everything possible is being done to protect residents and staff.

In a statement the nursing home owners confirmed cases of Covid-19 among residents and staff at the Priesthaggard, Campile, premises.

Cherry Grove nursing home is a 60 bed facility, which has over 50 residents. In the statement the owners said a specialised plan to provide appropriate care to residents and staff has been implemented at the Campile premises, where a cluster of Covid-19 deaths and multiple cases have occurred.

In the statement owner Tom Cummins said: Cherry Grove Nursing Home can confirm cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed amongst residents and staff. We are engaging with the HSE and relevant authorities during this difficult time and have implemented a specialised plan to provide appropriate care to residents and staff.

'Covid-19 presents considerable challenges for our nursing home and nursing homes across Ireland. We take this opportunity to thank our staff and the extended community for their fantastic commitment and dedication.

He said: During this difficult time, we remain committed to providing residents with the best possible care.

Speaking exclusively to this newspaper on Monday evening, Mr Cummins said: This is a family we have here. We do not go to work in the nursing home, we enter peoples homes here every day. In conjunction with the HSE and Public Health we are doing everything humanly possible to protect the residents and staff.

Opened since 2005, Cherry Grove Nursing Home has a reputation for the care it provides for residents, some of whom have been residing there for many years. As has been the case in many nursing homes across the country, there have been confirmed deaths of Co Wexford people at the Campile nursing home over recent days.

Mr Cummins said residents and their families are living in a state of fear during these difficult days within the community and country.

You just dont sleep; its worse than any nightmare you can imagine because of the unpredictability of it. Between the whole team we are in contact with relations of our residents who are extremely concerned and who have the fear of when the phone is going to ring.

Businessman and former county councillor Willie Fitzharris said he visited a lady he helps care for at Cherry Grove Nursing Home recently, saying the management and staff have done everything humanly possible to ensure residents needs are met.

The local woman is 88 and was one of several patients tested for Covid-19 on Friday.

Willie said: Her test returned positive on Sunday. This woman is healthy and is a real fighter; please God she will pull through. People are criticising nursing homes and are saying they dont have enough personal protective equipment. I dont know if there is anything more thats humanly possible than what they have done. Both Tom and Siobhan have played a blinder from the word go with this virus. They left nothing to chance and went into lockdown as soon as the virus hit six weeks ago.

It was announced on Monday that the HSE has created a network of expert support teams across counties the south east to provide assistance to residential facilities like Cherry Grove for older people during the Covid-19 crisis. These support teams comprise staff from the acute hospitals and community healthcare services, with support from Public Health specialists and Infection Control professionals. The teams are led by experienced nurse managers from South East Community Healthcare and are made up of senior doctors and nurses from acute hospitals and the community service.

These HSE Clinical Support Teams have been providing expert clinical support to Nursing Managers and General Practitioners in residential facilities for several weeks. Janette Dwyer (Head of Service/Social Care, South East Community Healthcare) says: We want to reassure the public that there are very clear pathways set up to make sure that every resident in every nursing home and residential facility gets the appropriate medical and nursing care at the right time and in the right care setting, in keeping with their own values and expectations. We want to stress that transfer to acute hospitals is arranged when clinically appropriate and that acute hospitals are there to support all members of the community.

All private nursing home and residential care facilities in Wexford have been contacted by a member of the local clinical support teams. The support offered so far has included expert advice, support for management, public health guidance, occupational health advice, supply of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), assistance in sourcing staff where needed and Support in sourcing accommodation for staff where its needed.

All nursing homes and residential care facilities have direct contact details for HSE Community Support Teams in their area and these teams are available seven days a week.
Read what is in the news today.

Society

 Vietnam has reported five recovered patients testing positive again for the novel coronavirus after hospital discharges, the National Committee for novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Prevention and Control said in a report on Saturday morning.

 A flight bringing home 215 Vietnamese citizens from Singapore landed in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho on Friday afternoon. They have all been placed under centralized quarantine upon arrival.

 Ho Chi Minh City is expected to welcome 2,000 overseas Vietnamese citizens home in the coming days, the municipal Party chief Nguyen Thien Nhan said on Friday afternoon.

 Ho Chi Minh City chairman Nguyen Thanh Phong has reprimanded the municipal Department of Natural Resources and Environment deputy director Nguyen Thi Thanh My for issuing a document regarding COVID-19 prevention that caused panic in the public.

 The Peoples Committee of the central province of Quang Nam has asked the provincial health department to report details on its purchase of a COVID-19 testing system priced at over VND7 billion (US$298,837).

Business

 Vietnams aviation passenger volumes so far in 2020 have decreased significantly by 46 percent from the same period last year, according to a Ministry of Transport report on Friday.

 Up to 20 million cloth face masks remain unsold in Vietnam due to barriers in exports and consumption, said Truong Thanh Hoai, head of the Industry Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, at a meeting on Friday afternoon.

 The COVID-19 pandemic has caused approximately five million workers in Vietnam to either lose their jobs or be furloughed, bringing the number of employed people in the first quarter of 2020 to a ten-year low, the General Statistics Office announced on Friday.

Education

 The Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Committee plans to provide each of about 1,393,000 students in the city three reusable face masks every month for three months from their back-to-school date in May.

World News

 The novel coronavirus has infected over 2.82 million people and claimed more than 196,900 lives around the world as of Saturday morning, according to statistics. Almost 781,300 people have recovered from COVID-19.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
The small group of engineers and executives who met in a deserted warehouse in northern Taiwan on Feb. 10 had a simple yet daunting mission: help the country massively ramp up its output of face masks to deal with the deadly coronavirus outbreak.

The 10 or so people who were starting a stretch of 15-hour days and fitful sleep were not experts in making masks; most knew little about any aspect of medical equipment. Instead, they were from a clutch of machine tool companies -- making the machines that help Taiwan's industrial wheels turn. And what they were about to accomplish would reinforce their often underappreciated role in the island's economy.

In less than a week the team had grown to about 40 people, turned the warehouse into a temporary manufacturing plant and harvested the first fruit of their labor: a mask-making machine, built from scratch. On Feb. 16, a Sunday, a team of engineers delivered the machine to Sumeasy Enterprise, a small mask-maker 40 km away in the port city of Keelung.

"We did not have any reference designs for the mask machine and we did not know what exact parts we needed. We just had to try to figure it out one by one. ... Every second counted as the whole Taiwanese public was really panicking that they did not have enough masks to live through the global pandemic," Winston Dai, the general manager of Taiwan Takisawa Technology, a leading listed precision machinery maker, and the onsite project leader, told the Nikkei Asian Review.

After delivering the machine to Sumeasy, Dai and his team fine-tuned the new production line until 11 p.m. -- then went back to work. By 4 a.m. they had formulated a plan to build around 90 more machines in less than a month. True to the plan, those machines are now up and running.

As a result, within a month Taiwan went from producing fewer than 1.9 million masks a day to making nearly 10 times that number. From being reliant on China, Taiwan is now able to donate millions of masks to the U.S., U.K. and EU to help combat the coronavirus.

That "mask diplomacy," a chance for Taipei to go toe-to-toe with Beijing, is a welcome outcome for the Tsai Ing-wen administration. The island has also been lauded worldwide for its efforts in tackling the pandemic. It has had only a few hundred cases and six deaths from the virus.

But the success of the response has also trained a spotlight on the resourcefulness and adaptability of Taiwan's machine tool industry. Before early February, when three companies -- Habor Precision, Tongtai Machine & Tool and Taiwan Takisawa -- volunteered to help, Taiwan had just two tiny surgical mask-machine makers, usually capable of making just two machines per month. Now more than 30 mask-making companies have received the 90 machines made by those two equipment makers with the help of the rest of the machine tools sector.

From left, Habor Precision Chairman Hsu Wen-hsien, Taiwan Takisawa General Manager Winston Dai and Tongtai Machine & Tool Chairman Yen Jui-hsiung (Photos by Cheng Ting-fang) From left, Habor Precision Chairman Hsu Wen-hsien, Taiwan Takisawa General Manager Winston Dai and Tongtai Machine & Tool Chairman Yen Jui-hsiung (Photos by Cheng Ting-fang)

"None of us had made or seen mask machines before. We are mostly making high-end parts or machines that go into automobiles, aviation or smartphones. But we thought, 'They are still machines and there must be something we could help with,'" Hsu Wen-hsien, chairman of Habor and also the president of the Taiwan Machine Tool & Accessory Builders' Association, told Nikkei.

Much has been written about Germany's so-called "hidden champions" -- a phrase coined to describe the swath of little-known family-owned outfits, often in niche engineering segments, that form the economic backbone of Europe's export powerhouse. But whereas Germany's engineering story is well-known, Taiwan's machine tool makers may be the real hidden champions.

The trade-reliant island is proud of having chip and electronics manufacturing giants like Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. and Foxconn, vital links in the global tech supply chain. Less noticed is that Taiwan is also a machine tool powerhouse ranked as the world's fifth-largest exporter with a value of $3.6 billion -- behind only Germany, Japan, Italy and China, according to Gardner Intelligence's latest data, from 2018.

Established in 1945 with a cluster in central and southern Taiwan, some 2,000 companies making precision machinery and parts have supplied a range of industries that produce key components for military tanks, oil rigs, Airbus, Boeing jets, Tesla's Model 3 and Apple's iPhones. The combined annual revenue of Taiwanese machinery makers has reached 1 trillion New Taiwan dollars ($33.2 billion) a year, Economics Ministry data shows.

Yen Jui-hsiung, chairman of Tongtai Machine & Tool, Taiwan's biggest listed machine tool company by revenue, said, "Our strength is the agility, flexibility and speed to quickly respond to changes."

Those strengths were about to be tested. When machine tool executives first visited the factory of Chang Hong Machinery in Wugu District of New Taipei City -- one of the two mask equipment makers that was asked by the government to build machines in weeks -- their hearts sank.

The company, family-owned for decades, was based in a small metal shack with barely enough space for 10 people. There was no standard operating procedure for the machine-making, nor any categorization or labels for the components used. All the know-how was in one place: the head of the owner, who was reluctant to share his expertise.

"Machinery is the mother of all industries and machine tools are the foundation of machinery" Eddie Chuo, Hiwin Technologies Eddie Chuo, Hiwin Technologies "That's almost mission impossible for such a small company to take such big orders," Yen said. "I shook my head and knew I would have to send a crew who not only know machines but who are very adaptive to all kinds of emergencies."

Within days they found a temporary factory nearby -- but up a hill and with no power, water, toilets or mobile phone signals. The Ministry of Economics ordered state-run power and telecom companies to set up basic infrastructure. Machine tool companies volunteered top engineers who brought toolboxes, fans, benches and other equipment to start assembling the machines.

Led by Takasaki's Dai, the volunteers quickly arranged more than 40 workstations to erect and test each part of a mask machine. They identified and labeled each of the hundreds of components needed and drafted a workflow chart and a timeline to deliver each machine. Meanwhile Habor's Hsu lobbied more companies to send staff to help.

Media attention helped Hsu's recruitment, depicting the machine tool makers' efforts as a patriotic endeavor. Grateful messages from the public poured in.

Tsai Ing-wen visits a mask maker and a mask material maker factory. (Courtesy of Presidential Office) Tsai Ing-wen visits a mask maker and a mask material maker factory. (Courtesy of Presidential Office)

"To be honest with you, at the beginning, I was a bit worried that it was really not so many companies actively joining this volunteer force or sending their best talent," Hsu said. "But people's morale was raised and more companies joined after the public -- out of the blue -- started to call us as a national team."

In the end, 29 machine tool makers dispatched some 200 engineers who ended up working 40 days in a row.

As Hsu points out, the project's leading companies are usually rivals. "All these big guys compete head-to-head in normal days," he said. "But they were willing to set aside their competition and work together so closely for the country. It is a sense of honor that I feel really good to be part of it."

This huge voluntary effort does not disguise the fact that Taiwanese machine tool makers face trying times. The coronavirus pandemic has shuttered factories and businesses worldwide, weakening demand for machine tools. Taiwan's manufacturers have also faced a ferocious price war with China, which surpassed the island as a machine tool exporter in 2017.

Taiwanese machine tool makers had already taken a hit from the U.S.-China trade dispute. They expected an easing of tensions in January would help demand pick up this year -- only for those hopes to evaporate amid the coronavirus outbreak.

"Taiwan's machine tool industry is heavily reliant on exports," said Johnson Wang, an analyst from the Taiwan Institute of Economic Research. "So it's extremely vulnerable if global economic conditions are weakening. Leading companies in Japan are cutting prices to grab more business in the downturn, while Beijing is also urging Chinese companies to use more local machine tools to help their domestic players offset the market slump. Taiwanese companies are being sandwiched."

"All these big guys compete head-to-head but they were willing to set it aside and work together for the country" Hsu Wen-hsien, Habor Precision Hsu Wen-hsien, Habor Precision

According to the Taiwan Machine Tool & Accessory Builders' Association, the value of the island's machine tool exports fell nearly 25% to $553 million in the first three months of this year compared with the same period in 2019, and the downturn is expected to extend at least to June.

"The industry is already at its bottom. ... First it was the trade war, now the pandemic just makes things worse," Habor's Hsu said.

Tongtai, which supplies the automobile, aviation, consumer electronics and other industries, said business activities had nearly ground to a halt since the Covid-19 outbreak. "It is impossible for us to predict the business outlook for this year," Yen said. "It looks like everything will be put on hold until the end of June. It all depends on the containment of the coronavirus globally."

If some good has come from the outbreak, it is greater awareness of the importance of Taiwan's hidden champions.

The island now realizes the importance of keeping key manufacturing capabilities at home, said Eddie Chuo, chairman of Hiwin Technologies, a precision machinery parts maker that also participated in building new mask equipment.

"People got used to seeking low costs by moving low-end manufacturing to other countries, such as to China," Chuo said. "No one had thought that a low-end product like masks could become such a strategic resource that links to national security.

"Machinery is the mother of all industries, and machine tools are the foundation of machinery. It is a relief that a small island like Taiwan still owns the capability."


Popular media personality Denrele Edun has showered many praises on actress Juliet Ibrahim as she turned a year older.

According to Edun in his message, the single mom of one has an intellect that can alleviate poverty.

Read Also: Denrele Edun Reveals Treatment He Receives From People Who Perceive Him As Homosexual

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY FELLOW NATIONALITY CONFUSED SISTER; @julietibrahim with an Intellect that can alleviate poverty from the world, an Aura that can cause a climate change and a Smile that can light up Nigeria/Ghana/Liberia/Lebanon (all at once) after dark!

I know the value of a personal person is not measurable. I know the attention and companionship Ive gotten from you is priceless! A friend is always valuable, but a BEST FRIENDS value cannot be counted. So, I cannot even start to tell you how valuable you are to me!

Just Like a flower, I value your virtues.

Like a soldier, I value your courage.

Like a dove, I value your calmness and like a friend, I value your LOYALTY!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LA FAMILIA!

HAVE AN EFFING BLAST!

This time last year, we were partying hard in SA with you! This year, Im partying for you on your street .

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BEAUTIFUL!

https://www.instagram.com/p/B9SRPtiHeEB/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
MEMPHIS, Tenn., April 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- First Horizon National Corp. ("First Horizon") (FHN) today announced receipt of shareholder approval for its previously announced all-stock merger of equals with IBERIABANK Corporation (IBERIABANK). The shareholders of each company approved the merger at special meetings held on April 24, 2020. Upon completion of the transaction, the combined company will be one of the largest financial services companies headquartered in the South and one of the top 25 banks in the U.S. in deposits. The companies expect the merger to close in the second quarter of 2020, subject to satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including receipt of regulatory approvals.



Bryan Jordan, Chairman and CEO of First Horizon, said, We are pleased that our shareholders strongly support our plan to merge our two complementary franchises. As a combined company, we will have an expansive 11-state reach in high-growth, attractive markets across our combined footprint. When we complete the integration of our company in 2021, we will be better positioned to deliver the innovative products and technology our customers have come to expect from us. We are both community-focused, service organizations. Our teams look forward to using our combined resources to better serve our customers and support our communities.

Under the terms of the merger agreement, holders of IBERIABANK common stock will receive 4.584 shares of First Horizon common stock for each share of IBERIABANK common stock they own at the closing. Following closing, the combined holding company and combined bank will operate under the First Horizon name and will be headquartered in Memphis, Tenn. The headquarters of the combined company's regional banking business will be located in New Orleans, La.

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC is serving as financial advisor and Sullivan & Cromwell LLP is serving as legal counsel to First Horizon. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods and Goldman Sachs are serving as financial advisors and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP is serving as legal counsel to IBERIABANK.

Story continues

Forward Looking Statements

This communication contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and Section 21 E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (the "Exchange Act") with respect to First Horizon's and IBERIABANK's beliefs, plans, goals, expectations, and estimates. Forward-looking statements are not a representation of historical information, but instead pertain to future operations, strategies, financial results or other developments. The words "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "estimate," "should," "is likely," "will," "going forward" and other expressions that indicate future events and trends identify forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon estimates and assumptions that are inherently subject to significant business, operational, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the control of First Horizon and IBERIABANK, and many of which, with respect to future business decisions and actions, are subject to change and which could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated or implied by forward-looking statements or historical performance. Examples of uncertainties and contingencies include factors previously disclosed in First Horizon's and IBERIABANK's respective reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), as well as the following factors, among others: the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the right of one or both of the parties to terminate the definitive merger agreement between First Horizon and IBERIABANK; the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against First Horizon or IBERIABANK; the possibility that the proposed transaction will not close when expected or at all because required regulatory, shareholder or other approvals are not received or other conditions to the closing are not satisfied on a timely basis or at all, or are obtained subject to conditions that are not anticipated; the risk that any announcements relating to the proposed combination could have adverse effects on the market price of the common stock of either or both parties to the combination; the possibility that the anticipated benefits of the transaction will not be realized when expected or at all, including as a result of the impact of, or problems arising from, the integration of the two companies or as a result of the strength of the economy and competitive factors in the areas where First Horizon and IBERIABANK do business; certain restrictions during the pendency of the merger that may impact the parties' ability to pursue certain business opportunities or strategic transactions; the possibility that the transaction may be more expensive to complete than anticipated, including as a result of unexpected factors or events; diversion of management's attention from ongoing business operations and opportunities; potential adverse reactions or changes to business or employee relationships, including those resulting from the announcement or completion of the transaction; First Horizon and IBERIABANK success in executing their respective business plans and strategies and managing the risks involved in the foregoing; the dilution caused by First Horizon's issuance of additional shares of its capital stock in connection with the proposed transaction; the potential impacts on First Horizons and IBERIABANKs businesses of the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, including negative impacts from quarantines, market declines and volatility, and changes in customer behavior related to COVID-19; and other factors that may affect future results of First Horizon and IBERIABANK.

We caution that the foregoing list of important factors that may affect future results is not exhaustive. Additional factors that could cause results to differ materially from those contemplated by forward-looking statements can be found in First Horizon's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 filed with the SEC and available in the "Investor Relations" section of First Horizon's website, www.FirstHorizon.com , under the heading "SEC Filings" and in other documents First Horizon files with the SEC, including its registration statement on Form S-4 (reg. no. 333-235757) and filings related to that registration statement, and in IBERIABANK's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 with the SEC and available in the "Investor Relations" section of IBERIABANK's website, www.IBERIABANK.com , under the heading "Financials & Filings" and in other documents IBERIABANK files with the SEC.

Important Other Information

In connection with the proposed transaction, First Horizon has filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-4 (reg. no. 333-235757) to register the shares of First Horizon's capital stock to be issued in connection with the proposed transaction. The registration statement includes a joint proxy statement of First Horizon and IBERIABANK, dated March 19, 2020, addressed to the shareholders of First Horizon and IBERIABANK seeking their approval of the proposed transaction. This communication does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or a solicitation of any vote or approval. INVESTORS AND SHAREHOLDERS OF FIRST HORIZON AND IBERIABANK ARE URGED TO READ THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-4, THE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS INCLUDED WITHIN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-4, AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED OR TO BE FILED WITH THE SEC IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION, AS WELL AS ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS TO THOSE DOCUMENTS, BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT FIRST HORIZON, IBERIABANK AND THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION.

Investors and shareholders are able to obtain a free copy of the registration statement, including the joint proxy statement/prospectus, as well as other relevant documents filed with the SEC containing information about First Horizon and IBERIABANK, without charge, at the SEC's website ( http://www.sec.gov [sec.gov] ). Copies of the registration statement, including the joint proxy statement/prospectus, and the filings with the SEC that will be incorporated by reference in the joint proxy statement/prospectus can also be obtained, without charge, by directing a request to Clyde A. Billings Jr., First Horizon, 165 Madison Avenue, Memphis, TN 38103, telephone (901) 523-5679, or Jefferson G. Parker, IBERIABANK, 200 West Congress Street, Lafayette, LA 70501, telephone (504) 310-7314.

About First Horizon

First Horizon National Corp. (FHN) provides financial services through First Horizon Bank, First Horizon Advisors, and FHN Financial businesses. The banking subsidiary was founded in 1864 and has the largest deposit market share in Tennessee. The company operates approximately 270 bank locations across the Southeast U.S. and 29 FHN Financial offices across the entire U.S. FHN Advisors wealth management group has more than 300 financial professionals and about $4.8 billion in assets under management. FHN Financial is a capital markets industry leader in fixed income sales, trading and strategies for institutional customers in the U.S. and abroad. The company is recognized as one of the nation's best employers by Fortune and Forbes magazines and a Top 10 Most Reputable U.S. bank. More information is available at www.FirstHorizon.com.

FHN-G
Despite not being able to perform to a live audience these days because of the restrictions in place as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, comedian Jason Byrne is finding new ways to keep his fans entertained - and has also shown his more serious and reflective side with his new podcast on mental health and keeping and maintaining a positive mind and a healthy body through exercise.

Fingal resident, Jason (48) has also revealed he would have loved to have become a counsellor or a keynote speaker instead of the path he took to become an international comedian.

His exciting new venture is in the world of podcasting and his podcast, entitled 'Mind Your Loaf' is being run in partnership with a charity called turn2me.ie - a free, online counselling service.

In this six part series, Jason Byrne and his co-host Mar Cusack, in conjunction with online mental health service turn2me.ie, have a look, a chat, a cry and a laugh on the areas of well-being and mental health.

With a new expert guest each week, Jason finds out how to tackle all sorts of problems, from happiness to grief.

Explaining the background to his podcasts, Jason told Fingal Independent: 'I started reading different self-help books and books on mindfulness and now it's like a hobby.

'I really started getting into it. Then I met a friend called Jennifer Griffin, who studied psychotherapy and she started working for the website turn2me.ie, a free counselling service online.'

'I then thought I would love to do some sort of keynote speaking - as a performer I am already good at talking but I am not qualified in the area of psychology or mental health,' he explained.

'So then I thought, I know what I will do, I'll do a podcast. I'll get a co-host in,' he said, adding that his co-host is Mar Cusack.

'We get guest experts each week and I am actually the student and the guest that comes in for the podcasts are the experts. So I get to learn loads for free,' he laughs.

He said the idea for the podcasts came from his interest in mental health issues.

'In fact, if I knew I was into this so much I wouldn't have become a comedian,' he revealed. 'I would have become a counsellor or a keynote speaker on the subject. It's such an interesting subject.'

As well as working on his new podcast, Jason is also encouraging people to join him on his tri-weekly training sessions on his Instagram Live page with his personal trainer Adrian Harrington.

The training/exercise sessions take place on Monday, Wednesdays and Fridays at 11am on his social media page. Each session is 25 minutes long.

'I was doing a lot of exercise and my trainer Adrian Harrington, from Curragha in Co Meath, also got me into medication,' Jason said.

'So now every Monday, Wednesday and Friday on my Instagram Live I do exercise sessions with Adrian and I am encouraging people to watch and join in.

'It's good to keep healthy and keep active during this isolation period,' he explained.

'It is so great that nowadays, in this new situation we are all in that everyone is doing things such as trainers doing exercise sessions for free. Hundreds of them are doing it on line,' he said.

Jason got into meditation and encouraged by his personal trainer, he now meditates daily.

'Adrian taught me meditation. When he first suggested it, I said I'm not doing that!!

'Now, with the situation we are in, especially because we all have to isolate, I meditate every day.

'I listen to Wim Hof, the Ice Man. He is great craic so my best advice for people who haven't meditated before is go on YouTube and do guided meditation.'

With all his new interests and social media live sessions, Jason hasn't forgotten about the children.

Each evening he reads a chapter from his series of children's books ' The Accidental Adventures of Onion O'Brien' on his Instagram page called Onion O'Brien, which is especially for children.

'That instagram page Onion O'Brien is just for kids so they can listen to me read a chapter from my books each evening,' said Jason.

And how is he coping with self-isolation? Jason explained that being a comedian, he is on his own most of the time.'

'I was a guest on Des Bishop's podcast the other day and we spoke about being comedians amongst other things. We are on our own most of the time. Our brains are already trained for this isolation,' Jason explained.

'We travel on our own, we are on stage on our own, we are in the dressing rooms on our own.

'We don't have a crew, we are our own bosses. Like when we are on tour, doing something like 38 dates, we are in different towns on our own, a different hotel each night, on our own.'

And during the 'lock down' Jason says his comedy work hasn't stopped - despite his tour of Australia being cancelled, and the cancellation of one of the biggest comedy festivals around - The Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

'I am actually exhausted,' he laughed.

'I am so busy with the podcasts, training sessions etc and because I am sitting in my house, I am finding old comedy stuff, putting subtitles on it and putting little comedy clips on my Facebook page. I am also doing sketches every day and also putting them up on Facebook too. I am also doing Facebook Live sessions so fans can talk to me - that's a bit of craic, actually it's great craic,' he said.

Jason also opened up about the heartbreaking and sad loss of his father Paddy, towards the end of February, just days before widespread COVID-19 restrictions were put in place.

Speaking to his friend Des Bishop on his podcast, Jason opened up about how he was at his dad's side when he passed away two days after suffering a huge stroke.

Jason said: 'I didn't know anything about grief. I know nothing about it. One thing I got from it is that I'm not afraid of death anymore.

'I see it as a peaceful thing because I've seen it happen.'

He added: 'I watched the energy leave his body. It was literally like a lilo. It was like someone took the air out of him.

'It was like he shrunk as his breath stopped. Then I didn't recognise him at all.

'If you get the chance to be with someone when they're going to pass, be with them. It's good for you.'

Jason - who regularly jokes about his dad in his comedy shows - told how he believes the memories keep loved ones alive after they're gone.

He said: 'They're not in that body. I saw and felt something come out of him. Paddy Byrne left his body.'

He told the Fingal Independent, that although he, his mother, sisters and family are grieving the loss of Paddy and they are all mourning separately for Paddy because of the COVID-19 restrictions, he is also trying his best to 'go the other way' with his grief.

'My dad only passed away six weeks ago. But I have gone the other way,' he said.

'Instead of sitting here and being really upset - my mam is in Ballinteer and my sisters are too far away so we are all basically mourning separately.

'But what I haven't done is gone into bed and put my head under the pillow.

'I always say take advantage of this situation -and try and make it positive.' he said.

And his last bit of advice for people in self-isolation is: 'Don't be lowering the booze and chocolate into yourself - go the other way.'

'I am no expert but I have been reading all the psychotherapy and philosophy books so what I am saying to people is, if you are stuck don't be lowering the booze and chocolate into you.

'Go the other way. Learn something new, try to get more healthier.

'If you are more healthier and positive, then your mind is more healthier and thus your immune system is strong.

'Again, I am not the expert on this though,' he said.
A first step in the return of Baton Rouge schools taken over by the state years ago to the East Baton Rouge Parish school system was finally approved this week, but its not clear how soon this reunification process will advance from here.

The parish School Board voted unanimously to regain control of the campus of Crestworth Middle, currently unoccupied, as well as Glen Oaks Middle, which is occupied by a charter school group, Redesign School Louisiana. Redesign in turn plans to move a few blocks over to vacant school property at 5959 Cadillac St., which until a year ago was the home of North Banks Middle School.

The property swaps are part of a larger agreement under negotiation with the state-run Recovery School District, or RSD.

Crestworth and Glen Oaks middle schools were once part of the East Baton Rouge Parish school system, but were taken over in 2008 and 2009 after years of low academic performance. RSD immediately converted them to charter schools. Most have seen numerous leadership changes.

Crestworth Middle, which was a charter school until fall 2018, would be turned back into a neighborhood middle school. Voters in April 2018 approved $3 million to create more middle schools classrooms in the Scotlandville area. Since 2009, when the school was taken over, many middle school students in that area have been bussed across town to Park Forest Middle.

The newly vacant Glen Oaks Middle campus, which is in poor shape, would likely be demolished, though the board has yet to agree to that.

Progress, but still differences over returning some Baton Rouge charter schools to local control A proposal to restore local control to seven state-controlled school campuses in Baton Rouge sparked debate Monday about how much control woul

The next step, still being negotiated, would take five RSD charter schools, all charter schools, and move them to the control of the parish school system.
The government's recent flip-flop on opening of e-commerce to the so-called non-essential goods is just one of the many such flip-flops that the Government of India has made in the last 15 years on policies relating to modernisation of Indias retail sector

Despite the expected sharp slowdown of Indias economy in March, it may have still clocked a GDP of about $ 3,000 billion for the year ending on 31 March 2020. Private consumption accounts for about 58 percent of the GDP (expected to be about $1,700 billion). Of this, about 48 percent (or about $825 billion) is the consumer spending on merchandise (and therefore the size of Indias retail sector) and the remaining $875 billion is spent on a range of services (and small savings).

Traditional, independent retail accounts for the largest share and will continue to do so for many years to come, despite the Cassandras shrill noises since the last 15 years about the potential decimation of the mom and pop retail stores by large format organised retail (both physical & digital).

There are an estimated 17 million independent retailers (though some estimate this number to be closer to 30 million), and despite the relatively faster growth of modern, organised retail (brick and e-commerce-led), this number is still likely to increase to 20 (or more) million by 2025.

In the backdrop of these facts, the shrill noise being made (since early 2000s) by some quarters purporting to represent the interest of traditional mom & pop retailers and successive government's paying heed to such noises defies logic.

The recent flip-flop on opening of e-commerce to the so-called non-essential goods is just one of the many that the Government of India has made in the last 15 years on policies relating to modernisation of Indias retail sector. However, the most recent one is perhaps the oddest one in current circumstances.

As India continues to be under the most severe lockdown that no other nation has yet enforced, there is almost no visible thinking from the government on steps that can still be taken (while under the lockdown) to reduce the damage to the economy. Private consumption accounts for over 58 percent of Indias GDP. Private consumption of merchandise alone accounts for almost 28 percent of the nations GDP.

Beyond food and grocery, there are several other consumer product categories that have a very strong bearing on the health of the economy -- by way of creating jobs through manufacturing, distribution, and retail; and by way of contribution to the indirect tax kitty. It is therefore suicidal to disregard any interim solution that can keep some of this private consumption going without requiring customers to throng to traditional markets (that can compromise the nations fight against COVID-19).

Removing the 'essentiality' restriction on e-commerce players could have achieved the objective of getting some of the private consumption back which could then have also helped in clearing some of the inventories of various kinds of consumer merchandise lying with manufacturers, distributors, and sellers on these e-commerce platforms.

Yielding to the pressure from representatives of independent retailers at this time neither benefits such retailers whose outlets remain shut, nor does it help consumers, or the manufacturers of such consumer goods. Hence, while 4th May is still a few days away, the government should resolutely proceed by removing the current restrictions on e-commerce companies relating to what they can sell and what they cannot.

Going ahead, it is indeed necessary that the government should come up with clear rules and a clear intent to enforce the rules governing the operations of various e-retail businesses (and especially the marketplaces). Predatory / disruptive / preferential pricing, if undertaken to gain some market share, has to be stopped in its tracks so that all sellers on the marketplaces get a fair access to consumers.

Further, the government should encourage more national and international marketplace businesses so that competition can bring the commissions being charged by the marketplaces from the sellers and ensure it is fair to both the seller and the marketplace operator.

In this context, the government should also consider creating (as a government-promoted but independently managed entity) a consumer-facing version of a marketplace, on the lines of Governments e-Marketplace (GeM) with India Post becoming the logistics partner. On such a 'public utility' (and e-market places should be considered as a necessary public utility of our times), preference could be given to MSME manufacturers and sellers of all kinds of consumer products, with commissions aligned to the objective to delivering some profit to this entity that can cover the cost of capital put into creating and running such an entity.

(The writer is Chairman and Managing Director of Technopak Advisors-a management consulting firm. He tweets @asinghal2004)
Scottish National Party (SNP) First Minister Nicola Sturgeons mapping out of a Scottish exit from the lockdown and return to work has been embraced by Britains ruling elite and its media.

Boris Johnsons Conservative government has been fatally compromised by the horrific consequences of its de facto herd immunity policy and failure to protect the working populationthat has officially led to almost 20,000 deaths and far more in reality.

Under these conditions, Sturgeons supposed progressive credentials, backed in Scotland, England and Wales by the Labour Party and the trade unions, offer an avenue for big business and banks to engineer a political shift towards a return to work.

This takes place under conditions in which people are dying daily in the hundreds and in which no systematic COVID-19 testing of the population has been carried out. Yesterday, a further 768 were reported dead, with Britain set to pass the grim milestone of 20,000 deaths today. The newly opened website for key workers showing symptoms of COVID-19 crashed due to unmet demand after 16,000 people secured either a test at a drive-in centre or a home test kit.

Sturgeon insisted, What we will be seeking to do is find a new normala way of living alongside this virus.

She declared, It may be that certain businesses in certain sectors can reopen with employees and customers two metres distant from each other. The Scottish population had to prepare for multiple lockdowns, with little notice because the horrendous reality was that everyone must get ready for repeated cycles of infection.

Sturgeons speech accompanied the release of a 26-page document by the Scottish government, COVID-19A Framework for Decision Making. It states in more explicit terms than Sturgeon did publicly that the lockdown had to end in order to do everything possible to avoid permanent, structural damage to our economy.

The foreword states, It is clear that we cannot immediately return to how things were just over 100 days ago. But it is equally clear we cannot stay in complete lockdown indefinitely, because we know that this brings damaging consequences of its own. So we must adapt to a new reality.

The report details how Our plans to respond and recover must take account of the possibility of a cycle of lifting and re-imposing restrictions. The steps we take to rebuild our economy or restore some degree of normality in society must recognise the possibility of restrictions being re-imposed quickly. That will require fundamental change to how all sectors of society organise themselves.

The SNP government does not try to pretend that any of this is based on a scientific approach. Instead, it glorifies a reckless suck-it-and-see policy that will see many die. It states: If, after easing any restrictions, the evidence tells us we are unable to contain the transmission of the virus, then we will have to reimpose them, possibly returning to lockdown with little notice. While we will do our best to avoid this, it is possible that such a cycle may happen more than once until we reach a point when we have in place an effective vaccine.

The trade unions are intimately involved in enforcing a return to work. The document states, We have already begun the conversation on how to respond, re-set, restart and recover with our business community and our trade unions.

Without explaining how reopening the economy will facilitate a declared aim of Stopping a resurgence of the pandemic, the report states this will allow us to work with our partners in business, trade unions, local government, the voluntary sector and in broader society to redesign workplaces, education settings and other premises so they are places where spread is minimisedallowing people to get back to work, children to return to school, and our young people to continue their education through our colleges or universities 

The SNPs initiative was welcomed by leading forces in the Tory government demanding a return to workincluding former conservative leader Ian Duncan Smith and David Davis. Duncan Smith has said getting schools to reopen, in particular primary schools, is key to unlocking labour.

These layers are already in an alliance with newly elected Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and powerful sections of business in championing a back-to-work strategy.

A right-wing media campaign is underway in the push for a return to work. The Daily Mail published a piece Thursday including photos of people queuing outside newly opened stores of DIY chain B&Q and a Five Guys burger chain outlet in Edinburgh, headlined, Britain votes with its feet.

On Friday, Rupert Murdochs the Sun editorialised, We must end lockdown as soon as its safely possible before our economy is completely destroyed, while Murdochs Times ran an editorial headlined, Back to Work.

Jaguar Land Rover will resume production gradually at its Solihull plant and at its engine manufacturing operation in Wolverhampton from May 18. Aston Martin Lagonda will reopen its new plant in South Wales even earlier, on May 5. Construction conglomerate Taylor Wimpey resume work on some sites on May 4. The Vistry Groupformerly Bovis Homeswill recommence operations at 90 percent of partnership sites and a significant number of its housing sites from next Monday.

A timetable is being laid down, with the weekend to be used by the ruling elite to mount a propaganda campaign for a return to work. BBC Political Editor Laura Kuenssberg, who has intimate connections to the Tories, said Friday, One interesting thing I think we might see more of before we actually get a big announcement [regarding dates for a mass lockdown exit] from the Westminster Government is more of what has been described to me as prodding.

The Daily Telegraph, under a front-page emblazoned with Johnson back at the controls Monday, declared that the prime minister, who nearly died of COVID-19 and required seven days of treatment in hospital, is planning to return to No 10 as early as Monday to take back control of the coronavirus crisis amid Cabinet concerns the lockdown has gone too far.

Johnson is held up as the man who can seize the rudder of state and end the prevarication of those ministers who have been deputised in his absence.

The ruling class is set on a head-on confrontation with the working class. The constant references in daily Downing Street briefings to flattening the curve confirm that the government continues to pursue its herd immunity strategy. With an enforced return to work, this will open the way to another wave of the pandemic, likely worse than the first.

Many workers will have no jobs to go back to and those who remain in a job will confront demands for wage cuts and speedups in workplaces with little or nothing in the way of safety measures. Such are the explosive consequences that the Times felt it necessary to caution, Protections should be put in place for employees who believe they are being pressurised to return to work in unsafe conditions  it is hard to see how they could reopen otherwise, since if staff didnt feel safe many would refuse to turn up for work.
CLEVELAND, Ohio  The union representing Cuyahoga County Jail corrections officers told elected leaders in a letter that its members deserve hazard pay and need more personal protective equipment because of the danger of the coronavirus.

Ohio Patrolmens Benevolent Association President Dan Leffler wrote Thursday to county Executive Armond Budish and Council President Dan Brady, saying that officers who work at the jail cannot avoid exposure to COVID-19 and that nobody anticipated the pandemic when they applied to work at the county or when the unions contract was negotiated.

Leffler said the union wants to speed up negotiations on hazard pay during the pandemic.

Strict social distancing is not a practical option for these officers, Leffler wrote. "We must presume that each and every one of them will come into direct contact with the virus.

The unions letter comes as officials seek to contain an outbreak of the coronavirus in the county jail. Fifty-six inmates have tested positive, according to data the county released Friday, more than any other jail in the state. About 36 percent of the 1,000 inmates are affected because they were exposed or tested positive.

Leffler wrote that nine Sheriffs Department employees, who staff the jail, have tested positive. Prosecutors, defense attorneys and judges worked early on during the pandemic to reduce the jail population, which is now at its lowest in years.

A spokeswoman for the county did not immediately respond to an email.

In addition to the hazard pay, Lefflers letter asks that the county continue providing as much personal protective equipment to deputies and correctional officers. The union president also said county officials must reinforce the need to explain the steps they are taking to prevent the coronavirus spread, as he heard from corrections officers that their supervisors are not fully aware of the jails plans.

Finally, he asked that the county to pressure the MetroHealth System to be more transparent with the guidance it provides to the jail staff. A spokesman for MetroHealth declined comment.

The letter comes as Budishs administration is considering 15-percent spending cuts across all agencies because of an anticipated drop in sales and property tax revenues associated with the coronavirus.

Cuts include 80-hour furloughs for all non-union employees to be spread out between now and February of next year. The county also has asked unions to consider unpaid time for its members. Layoffs are possible if an agreement cannot be reached, Chief of Staff Bill Mason previously said.

Leffler wrote Thursday that the union hoped that the federal government will provide money to help during the pandemic and that it will prevent the need for unnecessary furloughs or layoffs for all employees, including law enforcement.

He referenced the issues at the jail, which were addressed in a 2018 U.S. Marshals Service report that highlighted systemic issues with the treatment of inmates and a lack of training for staff. Eight inmates died that year, and the deaths and other alleged abuses are the focus of a criminal investigation.

Union members had complained about low staffing and crowding among inmates throughout the jail.

The county hired more corrections officers in 2019. Leffler wrote that the county cannot again neglect the jail.

We must do our best to avoid unnecessary across the board cuts to staff, i.e. correctional officers, so to never again see the past problems of the jail, he wrote. This pandemic will end sooner than we think. And, it is your responsibility to have a fully staffed jail when that day comes.

Read more:

56 Cuyahoga County Jail inmates tested positive for coronavirus, 36 percent of jail inmates affected by virus

Cuyahoga County considering 15% spending cuts, including contracts, purchases and staff hours

Coronavirus got 900 inmates out of Cuyahoga Countys troubled jail when inmate deaths didnt. Some say the changes should stick

One year later, Cuyahoga County Jail makes slew of changes after string of inmate deaths

Cuyahoga County officials ignored unions warning of deplorable conditions at jail for years prior to inmate deaths

U.S. Marshals: Cuyahoga County deprives inmates of food, water and Constitutional Rights amid string of seven deaths
As hospitals and county health departments scramble to secure masks and other personal protective equipment during the coronavirus pandemic, California has used its statewide purchasing power to act as a crucial backstop.

So far, the state has distributed more than 46.5 million masks  both N95 respirators and surgical masks  across the state, according to data from the California Governors Office of Emergency Services.

The data, which are current as of April 17, provide a breakdown of how state agencies have spread coveted protective supplies on a county level. Generally, counties with a high number of confirmed cases have received the most shipments.

Combined, the nine Bay Area counties, sites of several early hot spots of the outbreak, have received more than 14.5 million masks.

The state is ramping up to distribute far more. Gov. Gavin Newsoms administration has signed a $1 billion contract with a Chinese company to supply 200 million masks per month. Those shipments are expected to start in early May.

But Newsoms administration has refused to release a copy of the contract and has been reluctant to provide more details about where its sending the shipments.

That has caused tensions with state lawmakers, who say theyve been kept in the dark. The data obtained by The Chronicle are the only detailed breakdown of protective-equipment distribution that the Office of Emergency Services has shared with Assembly members.

Brian Ferguson, an emergency services spokesman, said the agency plans to release a more detailed and up-to-date list of the protective supplies it has provided, possibly as early as next week.

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Theres a great level of interest to be transparent with the Legislature, Ferguson said. We want to be sharing information with the Legislature and giving them the full picture.

The overview will show materials that are distributed after the fact, so that there is no political interference in decisions about where to send protective equipment, and those calls are based on the circumstances on the ground, he said.

For weeks, state lawmakers have been demanding a public website to track the distribution of state-purchased supplies. In an April 9 letter, state Sen. Holly Mitchell, a Los Angeles Democrat who chairs the Joint Legislative Budget Committee, asked for a detailed accounting.

I urge the administration to act quickly and provide more information that tracks the supply and demand of PPE throughout the state, Mitchell wrote.

2 1 of 2 John Blanchard Show More Show Less 2 of 2 LiPo Ching / Special to The Chronicle Show More Show Less



The Chronicle has also requested an updated copy of the states distribution data on a weekly basis.

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 emergency services agency has previously defended its decision to not provide more details about its protective equipment inventory or release the contract with the BYD (Build Your Dreams) company saying doing so could jeopardize the supply chain, given that the masks are highly sought after.

There has been a worldwide shortage for this PPE as the result of the pandemic, Mark Ghilarducci, the agencys director, told lawmakers at an April 20 hearing. This has been really challenging and complex for us, where governments and health care systems around the world are competing for the same commodities.

Now Playing: Here's a look inside the first dedicated COVID-19 hospital unit in San Francisco. Video: Gabrielle Lurie

Ghilarducci said the state will release the contract when it thinks doing so no longer jeopardizes actually receiving the PPE.

The deal has been criticized, given that BYD has a reported record of selling defective products. A company spokesman said it will fully comply with any quality standard that the state is asking for.

Assemblyman Phil Ting, a San Francisco Democrat who chairs the Budget Committee, has been among the lawmakers pushing for more details on how the state shares masks and other equipment.

Information hasnt always been readily flowing between the administration, the Legislature, Ting said as he started the April 20 hearing.

Dustin Gardiner is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: dustin.gardiner@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @dustingardiner
BEIJING: A team of doctors from China has been sent to Korea amid reports of North Korea's Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un becoming ill. No official information has come out about how bad Kim Jong's health is. However, there were reports recently that his health had worsened after surgery for cardiovascular disease.

Sri Lanka seeks help from India in Corona crisis, will make big deal with RBI

According to a news report, senior members of the International Lawson Department of the Communist Party of China are leading this team. On Thursday, the delegation left for North Korea from Beijing. This department is the official part of China that deals with matters related to North Korea. The identity of the sources has not been revealed and they have also refused to give any of their identities. Seoul-based website NK was told recently that Kim Jong Un has undergone surgery and has been on the cardiovascular system since April 12. The website gave this information citing an anonymous source.

Video: Maulana wept bitterly at Corona, apologized to Allah

Earlier, a South Korean source told that Kim Jong Un is alive and will soon be revealed to the public. Sources have also said that Kim Jong Un is not well, but that does not mean that he is very sick or not in a position to face people. Kim Jong was last seen on 12 April. Not only this, on April 15, he did not attend the grand event on the birthday of his grandfather and North Korea founder Kim Il Sung.

Donald Trump suggests to expose body to UV light to kill coronavirus, scientists call it 'dangerous'
The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) Hospital Group, which includes the Louth County Hospital, has taken over the operational management of Dealgan Nursing Home, Dundalk.

This follows a cluster of COVID-19 cases in the private nursing home and the deaths of several residents in recent weeks.

The takeover sees the RCSI Hospital Group being responsible for ensuring the necessary model of care through provision of appropriate nursing and medical staff, thereby ensuring residents' wellbeing.

In a statement issued yesterday (Monday), the RCSI said they are working closely with the registered provider and it is anticipated that the new arrangement, which came into place on Friday April 17, will be in place for a number of weeks with a review on May 31.

The outbreak of COVID-19 had caused staffing problems for the Toberona nursing home with staff off sick or isolating after becoming infected with the highly contagious virus.

The health watchdog HIQA confirmed that they are aware of the situation in the nursing home and the arrangements in place to support residents.

The failure to provide nursing homes with adequate equipment and testing has been branded 'one of the biggest blunders in the history of the State,' by Independent TD Peter Fitzpatrick.

He said he had received several calls from worried constituents with relatives in Dealgan House and other nursing homes, adding that he had raised the issue with Health Minister Simon Harris.

'It's a very serious situation. It's only now that the government is giving the nursing home sector the support it needs but it's coming very late.'

He said that there had been 'a lot of deaths' among the residents at Dealgan House and it was 'very, very sad' for their families who hadn't had the opportunity to say goodbye or to hold a funeral due to the restrictions.

Sinn Fein TD Ruairi O Murchu has also expressed concern about the lack of PPE for nursing home staff.

He slammed a a memo which had been sent to care facilities in the HSE's Midlands, Meath and Louth group stating that orders were to be 'based on the number of confirmed positive/suspected client cases in a unit/service', saying this had left 70% of nursing homes without proper equipment.

'Nursing homes in Louth have found themselves at the front line of the battle against this pandemic but instead of being prioritised for resources, they are the ones that are being left at the back of the queue, with potentially devastating consequences for residents and the brave staff who look after them.'

The Dundalk TD added that the had been in touch with local nursing homes to offer any and all assistance that he can.

'It is clear that the private nursing home sector has been left to fend for itself in this crisis until now.'

'There had been calls for these facilities to be prioritised and the fact that there are now HSE staff in nursing homes including in Dundalk, hopefully means that there will be rapid positive progress.

'Nursing homes have to remain at the top of the government COVID-19 agenda right the way through to the end of this crisis, because it is only in the last week or so that this issue has been pushed up the list.

'None of this, however, is of any comfort to those in Dundalk, and elsewhere, who have lost loved ones as a result of this pandemic, and my thoughts are also with them'.

Earlier this month, Dealgan House sought to recruit staff including care assistants, nurses, kitchen assistants and housekeepers.

They were also among a number of local nursing homes who have appealed to the public for donations of masks, scrubs and hand sanitizer.

Among the many local individuals and organisations who have responded to Dealgan House's appeal for assistance is Cullen Body Parts, who as part of their 20th anniversary celebrations, have donated 5,000 to the nursing home.

A HIQA report following an unannounced inspection of the nursing home at Bellewsbridge Road in February 2019 found that 'a comprehensive infection prevention and control policy was in place and informed care.' It also noted that the centre had been commended by the Public Health on their management and control of a recent influenza outbreak.
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size It's just before dawn on Mount Hawthorn's Buxton Street. In a routine cemented in decades of tradition, navy veterans Elaine and Lloyd Blake slip on their jackets, polish their medals and dust off their flags. On any other Anzac Day, the couple would be heading to the Dawn Service at their local RSL. Lloyd would then make his way to Fremantle and join his fellow submariners in a parade through the streets of the port city. But this year is different. There are no crowds, speeches, two-up games, or children waving flags at the parade after the coronavirus forced RSLs across the nation to cancel the celebrations. Instead of their annual pilgrimage to Osborne Park, Elaine and Lloyd, both in their 70s, have decided they will light their own flame of remembrance at the end of their driveway to honour their fellow servicemen and women. As the clock nears 6am, the couple arranges the homemade candles and a bucket full of rosemary under the cover of darkness. Neighbours stand along Buxton Street with lanterns and torches. Credit:Marta Pascual Juanbola

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Across the street, dozens of sleepy neighbours Elaine tipped off about the celebrations with a letterbox drop spill onto the street in their pyjamas as the chatter from a radio fills the brisk morning air. When the clock ticks 5.55am, the chatter quietens to make way for The Ode and the solemn first notes of The Last Post. The tune is followed by a minute of silence as the first light breaks at the end of the quiet suburban street. Putting an end to the trance, energetic chatter takes over the street and Elaine rushes to grab a basket of home-baked Anzac biscuits in clear cellophane bags to share with her neighbours. "It's different this year, everything is going to be non-contact," Elaine says. But it's still Anzac Day, she adds, and that's what's important. Elaine's Anzac biscuits. Credit:Marta Pascual Juanola Elaine's father served in North Africa, Papua New Guinea and Myanmar. Her grandfather was also sent in an ill-fated deployment to the south of France in the height of World War I, which left him bedridden for months.

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Before enlisting at the ripe age of 18, Lloyd grew up hearing about his father's misadventures in the southwest Pacific and Japan and his uncle Bill's incredible tale of survival at the hands of the Germans during World War II. Military service runs deep and it's a source of family pride. Not only because it left Elaine and Lloyd with dozens of adrenaline-filled family tales, but because it also gave them their 50-year-long marriage. In 1968, Elaine had just enlisted in the navy seeking a way out of sleepy Tasmania when Lloyd, a young submariner fresh off the boat after returning from training in the shipyards of Scotland, caught her eye. The pair were living at HMAS Penguin, a base on the north shore of Sydney Harbour, and bumped into each other on the dancefloor of a navy cabaret. Elaine can't remember the name of the song that was playing at the time  she says it was good 60s music but she is certain their romance "started on the dancefloor". Elaine and Lloyd Blake met on the dancefloor of a navy cabaret in 1968. Credit:Marta Pascual Juanola Lloyd was deployed to the Vietnam War shortly after and later to Borneo. Elaine was forced to leave the navy after their marriage in 1971.

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After the birth of their first daughter, Olivia, Lloyd left his successful naval career to resettle in Perth, where he worked as a navigation teacher and a boating columnist for The Sunday Times. Elaine worked as a teacher and got a PhD in early childhood education. These days, they don't travel across the world in submarines or live in naval bases, but they still go to good concerts and dance the night away. As soon as Elaine is done sharing the carefully wrapped Anzac biscuits, the first drops of rain clear the street, putting a timely end to the vigil. "We just missed it," Elaine says as she makes her way to the house with a big smile. Lloyd Blake seeks shelter from the rain. Credit:Marta Pascual Juanola There will be no marching, no beers at the RSL and no two-up but this year there was plenty of community spirit.

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Central New York colleges and universities received more than $50 million in direct aid from the federal government this month to help offset their losses from the coronavirus pandemic.

The money is from the $6.2 billion Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund, part of the $2.2 trillion coronavirus relief bill approved by Congress in March.

Local colleges and universities will be able to use some of the grant money to offset their financial losses.

The amount of aid for each school is based on a formula that includes student enrollment and the number of students receiving financial aid through federal Pell grants.

About half of the federal money must be granted to students as emergency financial aid. Cornell University said it will use 100% of its money to support students.

Heres how much federal aid Central New York colleges and universities will receive in the first round of grants from the federal fund:

Cornell University: $12,800,980

Syracuse University: $9,920,122

SUNY Oswego: $7,244,716

SUNY Cortland: $6,245,138

Onondaga Community College: $5,222,555

Ithaca College: $4,583,253

Le Moyne College: $2,709,704

SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry: $1,681,739

Colgate University: $1,636,002

Cayuga Community College: $1,497,604

Hamilton College: $1,189,507

Cazenovia College: $1,008,776

Wells College: $623,035

SUNY Upstate Medical University: $519,826

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Got a tip, comment or story idea? Contact Mark Weiner anytime by: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 571-970-3751
As the death toll from coronavirus approached the 20,000-figure across the United Kingdom, the Boris John government on Friday gave the approval for trials to use drones to deliver medicines initially on islands and remote places in the country.

The death figure released on Friday was 19,506, with 143.464 cases. The figure refers to deaths in hospitals, not in private homes, care homes and hospices, prompting concerns that the real figure may have crossed 20,000, making the UK one of the worst affected in Europe.

Releasing figures and details in the daily Downing Street briefing, transport secretary Grant Shapps announced the trial of drones to deliver medicines, as the UKs health authorities continue to grapple with the scale of the pandemic amidst reports that several errors were initially made.

Shapps said: I havegiven the green light to trials of drones delivering medical supplies. Earlier this year, we awarded 28 million to Southampton and Portsmouth to develop a Future Transport Zone.

As part of that initiative, 8 million was earmarked for testing drones, and how they might be used for delivering goods in the years and decades ahead. Of course, now we have an urgent need, so were making use of that testing programme as part of our response to Covid-19.

As a result, I have fast-tracked trials to begin next week to carry medical supplies and equipment to St Marys Hospital, near Newport on the Isle of Wight, he added.

On demands that the government should announce conditions in which it would consider easing some lockdown restrictions, Shapps reiterated the five tests earlier set out by foreign secretary Dominic Raab, who is deputising for Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

The five tests are: That the National Health Service can continue to cope; that the daily death rate falls sustainably and consistently; that the rate of infection is falling; that the operational challenges have been met and most importantly, that there is no risk of a second peak.

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Police in the central city of Da Nang have busted a gambling ring operated by a group of foreigners who leased a villa for their illegal practice.

On early Wednesday, the municipal police raided a high-end resort in Ngu Hanh Son District in Da Nang.

Investigators found that four casino tables were crowded with around a dozen gamblers, along with ring organizers and staff, who were caught gambling over baccarat, a type of card game.

Gamblers would collect casino tokens that can be exchanged for cash later.

At least ten people, including six foreigners, were running the ring, and five other foreigners were playing baccarat at the time of the raid.

Officers seized cash worth nearly VND500 million (US$21,300) and other exhibits.

Seven people, including four foreigners, were detained for further investigation.

Casinos have been shuttered in Da Nang and across Vietnam since April 1 as part of social distancing measures to stem the spread of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

The detainees told the police they had leased the luxury villa to organize gambling due to the casino suspension, according to Cong An Nhan Dan (People's Police), the official mouthpiece of the Ministry of Public Security.

Gambling is generally illegal in Vietnam, but foreigners and locals are allowed to gamble at designated casinos.

Illegal gambling involving stakes, in cash or kind, from VND5 million ($215) is punishable by between six months and seven years behind bars.

Organizers of illegal gambling face up to ten years in prison.

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GRANTS  The Anti-Defamation League is denouncing comments made by a New Mexico mayor who compared New Mexico State Police to the Gestapo and Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to the Nazis.

The Anti-Defamation League Mountain States Region said Friday it condemns comments made by Grants Mayor Martin Modey Hicks to The Associated Press.

In an interview Thursday, Hicks, a Democrat, compared the Democratic governor to the Nazis over her closures of nonessential business to stop the spread of COVID-19.

Ive told businesses to call 911 if State Police show up to their place. We are going to stop Lujan Grisham and her Gestapo, Hicks told The AP, referring to the secret police of Nazi Germany.

He also said Lujan Grisham was acting like Hitler.

Hicks made the comments after he announced he was reopening small businesses in the city in defiance of the governors order that shuttered nonessential businesses.

We condemn Mayor Hicks provocative and combative rhetoric that referred to New Mexico State Police as Governor Lujan Grishams Gestapo,  ADL Mountain States Regional Director Scott Levin said. The mayors frustration is no excuse for comparing public health orders with the actions of the Nazis.

Hicks didnt immediately return a phone message.
Kerala Chief Minister



Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday urged media houses not to resort to layoffs and pay cuts while the whole community is facing the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Chief Minister said the state government will also take necessarysteps to test the media personnel in the state to ensure theyhave not contracted the deadly virus.

He also pointed out that the pandemic has severely impacted the media sector with many newspaperseven reducing the number of pages.

"Journalists are among those who have been affected the most. Journalists on the field are also in danger. We have come to know about the reporters affected with coronavirus in other states. The government will take necessary precautions including testing to ensure that journalists don't contract the disease," Vijayan said.

He said thenewspapers were not receiving advertisements these days because there are no social or public events resulting in less commercial activities in the society.

"I would like to urge the media houses not to engage in layoffs or salary cuts during this pandemic. Journalists are working shoulder to shoulder with health workers. During this pandemic, scribes are out in the field collecting news, despite the threat of disease and it was admirable," Vijayan said.

The chief minister said the government has asked the PRD to release the dues to various media houses.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
I want to remind everyone that by doing that, by standing together and not social distancing  youre literally putting everyone around you in danger. They are putting you in danger. And all of those people are putting their families and friends who are not there in danger, he said.
Like 5.6 million other residents in Singapore, Sean Davidson observes the local law and wears a face mask whenever he goes out for work, shopping or exercise.

What distinguishes the Victoria, B.C.-born man from the rest of the population? He is one of the million people in the Southeast Asian nation who uses an app called TraceTogether, a digital innovation that British Columbia is still in the early stages of examining.

According to the Singapore government's website, the TraceTogether app uses Bluetooth signals to measure the proximity and duration of an encounter between two users. Should an app user be diagnosed with COVID-19, the Ministry of Health will look at the information stored on the person's mobile device to identify a list of other app users who were in close contact with the infected person during the previous 14 days.

'A low-key app'

Davidson, a tech executive who has called Singapore home for 10 years, learned about the app from a WhatsApp chat group. As an early adopter of the novel technology, which rolled out on March 20, he doesn't feel it has much intrusion on his daily life.

"It's probably the most low-key app I've ever used and certainly on my phone at the moment ... It's just a totally rudimentary interface that time-stamps," the 55-year-old said to Stephen Quinn, host of The Early Edition.

The Singapore government says it only stores the app user's phone number and a random identity code on a secure server. No geolocation data is collected. All the proximity data generated with Bluetooth signals is stored on the user's device and automatically destroyed after 21 days.

Davidson has not been contacted by the Ministry of Health, but should he be identified as someone who's come in close contact with a COVID-19 case, he would be required by Singapore law to provide any physical contact information, which may include the TraceTogether data stored on his phone.

Story continues

Sean Davidson

Privacy concern

The obligation to submit personal information to the government is a concern to B.C. Information and Privacy Commissioner Michael McEvoy, who has talked to his Singapore counterpart about TraceTogether.

"I don't know if that's why people are hesitating in Singapore," McEvoy said on The Early Edition of the fewer than 20 per cent of Singapore residents who are using the app.

In a recent national address, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong urged all citizens to install and use TraceTogether in order to make the app effective in fighting the pandemic in the island nation, which had recorded more than 12,000 confirmed coronavirus cases as of Apr. 24.

McEvoy said Singapore's digital contact tracing practice embodies some principles of information protection, such as voluntary participation and minimal data collection. But he also said in order to ensure public trust in a contact tracing app, data gathering should only serve the purpose of suppressing the virus.

"You can imagine you collected a volume of information tracking people wherever they go, whoever they associate with. That might be of considerable interest to private corporations, or certainly for state use or for law enforcement."

Singapore Ministry of Communication and Information/The Associated Press

Davidson admitted privacy is not his top concern when using TraceTogether. He said it makes sense to use the digital tool for disease control. He also said if a contact tracing app is offered in B.C., he will recommend his family living there use it.

"If you're using mobile apps and social media ... there's a lot of your information out there. You don't have nearly as much privacy as you probably think you do."

To hear the interview with Sean Davidson and Michael McEvoy on The Early Edition, tap the audio link below:
Authorities in Uttar Pradeshs Gautam Buddh Nagar have said doctors and paramedical health workers can move across the Delhi-Noida border after sealing off the district earlier this month.

Gautam Buddh Nagars district magistrate (DM) Suhas Lalinakere Yathiraj posted a clarification on Twitter late on Friday night.

It is clarified that movement of following medical personnel is allowed between Delhi n Noida as per exemption provision number 1 in the border closure order 21/4/2020

We salute the corona warriors for their continuous effort, and request you to Stay Home Stay Safe, the official tweeted.

Also read: 28-year-old Covid-19 patient surrenders at the Delhi-Noida border

According to the clarification, doctors and paramedics who have been issued Covid-19 duty passes by the Centre, the Delhi government or Uttar Pradesh governments will be allowed through the Delhi-Noida border.

If a vehicle has a Covid-19 pass issued by the Centre and Delhi or Uttar Pradesh governments, then ID card issued by the concerned hospital or government organisation shall be sufficient to allow access for such workers.

Also Read: Commuters screened at Delhi-Noida borders, media persons to be issued passes

Those working in Government of India medical Institutions like AIIMS, Safdarganj, RML, Military Hospital are also allowed under this exemption provision, the clarification said.

Also read: On average, 104 people arrested daily in GB Nagar

The Delhi-Noida border was completely sealed on April 21 and only people with special passes were being allowed to move across the border. A spike in Covid-19 cases was cited as the reason for the decision to seal the border.

The administration had said most patients, who had tested positive for Covid-19, had some connections with Delhi.

The number of infected with Sars-Cov-2, the virus which causes the coronavirus disease, in Noida and Greater Noida has crossed over 100 with as many as 28 hotspots.
The evidence is mounting that perhaps the biggest factor in shutting down our $2.5-trillion economy is the appalling toll that COVID-19 has taken among senior citizens in long-term care facilities (LTC).

And the continued escalation of COVID-19 cases among seniors and staff in LTC facilities, even as we are bending the curve in the general population, delays the reopening of our economy.

Close to half of the 1,974 deaths Canada has suffered from COVID-19 are linked to LTCs. That is a conservative estimate. Careful measurement of COVID-19s impact in LTCs has barely started.

Regarding the overall COVID-19 death toll, LTC outbreaks are driving severe outcomes in Canada, Theresa Tam, Canadas chief public health officer, has said. That is absolutely a key feature of this epidemic.

That is the great reckoning from our chronic neglect of those who built our country. It is also our opportunity to start over, and build the worlds best eldercare system.

We need to get on with it soon, as the population of elderly Canadians grows, and ahead of the inevitable next epidemics, our having failed to act on what we learned from the SARS, MERS, swine flu (H1N1) and Ebola outbreaks.

Close your eyes and imagine what a best-in-class LTC system looks like.

It has fewer and larger LTC facilities. We have too many now  more than 2,600 nursing homes, assisted-living centres and other seniors facilities in Quebec alone  making their proper government oversight impossible.

The new LTC system remains provincially regulated, respecting that the Constitution vests provinces with health care authority. But it now conforms with inviolable federal standards, as Medicare does.

Among those new standards is a proper ratio of personal support workers (PSWs) to residents, as with regulated daycare centres, recognizing that widespread LTC staff shortages have contributed substantially to the fatality toll.

Another is that provinces maintain a stockpile of personal protective equipment (PPE), drawn upon to provide PPE to all staff of an LTC facility at the first sign of an outbreak.

A key factor in the rapid spread of COVID-19 is the even more severe shortage of PPE in LTC facilities than in hospitals.

Each resident of the new LTC system has his or her own room, with a personal washroom. No more two to four residents per room, with mere drapes to protect against outbreak spread.

With adequate test kits on hand, the identification of a single infected resident triggers the immediate testing of every resident and staff member of the facility.

A seniors home resident laid low by a contagious condition is transferred to the facilitys isolation ward, which is equipped with a respirator.

The affected resident is treated by the facilitys full-time physician and by members of a new provincial corps of specialists in geriatric health care.

The isolation wards relieve pressure on acute-care hospitals, the most expensive form of health care, and reduce to days from weeks the amount of time an LTC facility is in total lockdown.

That, in turn, minimizes the anxiety suffered by families with a loved one in an LTC facility in lockdown.

Since an LTC facility is only as good as its PSWs, the balance of this article is about them.

PSWs are the principal human contact for residents of LTC facilities.

Like all who work in the nursing field, PSWs are usually the first to detect signs of trouble in a patients health.

With rare exceptions, the PSW has the most nuanced knowledge of the residents in her care, and the strongest bond of trust and friendship with them.

Yet PSWs toil in a low-income ghetto with few equals in its shoddy treatment of people providing an essential service.

In the new system, PSWs are paid a minimum of 20 per cent more than their current wages.

That alone will not provide PSWs a decent living income. So, the new system also provides PSWs with paid sick days, pensions, continual retraining, and advancement opportunities, as other employers do in attracting and retaining talent.

In the current system, PSWs hold entry-level jobs. Turnover is high, as PSWs quit for better jobs in other fields.

Effectively, then, we currently entrust the care of our elders to temps. As we do lawn care.

The abrupt disappearance of a trusted PSW is traumatizing for a resident. It is a health setback that can take several months to overcome.

The new system gives PSWs reason to think of their work as a career, not a way station to something better.

In the new LTC system, PSWs are prohibited from working in multiple locations. That widespread practice, rooted in PSWs low pay, is believed to have caused much of the COVID-19 spread. It has been suspended in B.C., Ontario and Quebec. It needs to be permanently banned across Canada.

PSWs experience a great deal of death. So, in the new system, they are given semi-annual psychological assessments and provided psychiatric counselling as needed.

The new LTC system provides on-site affordable housing and daycare for PSWs and the facilitys entire staff. That includes orderlies and cleaning and security staff, who also work in the low-income ghetto.

Starting in the 1960s, Ontario built a sprawling network of community colleges from scratch.

That was expensive, and worth every penny. By comparison, a new LTC system is a modest financial proposition.

Capital costs are reasonable, since we are retrofitting existing large facilities, building some new ones, and closing hundreds of obsolescent properties that house as few as 18 seniors.

And operating costs, funded from existing LTC budgets, will be lower per resident. A system of fewer and larger facilities yields greater buying power for supplies, reduces duplication, lowers inspection costs, and cuts power bills with more energy-efficient buildings.

So, the money is there to take proper care of our elders. Given the now-evident consequences of failing to do so, there should be tremendous pressure on governments to get moving on this project. It upgrades eldercare and helps solve the crises of income inequality and unaffordable housing.

Heres where you come in.

When was the last federal, provincial or municipal election fought on eldercare?

This is the time to make eldercare an issue, with rallies, town-hall meetings and website forums.

It is crucial that we show up.

That includes visiting our beloved relatives and friends at LTC facilities.

During my mothers four years of care at a superb Scarborough LTC facility, I was usually the only visitor for a population of more than 250 residents.

PSWs are more successful in their treatment of a resident who is anticipating a loved ones visit, and for several days after your visit.

Some of our challenges are daunting, climate crisis for instance.

This one is comparatively straightforward.

It calls on us merely to rally and rebuild  and to visit.
A fleet of knee-high robots that deliver shopping in Milton Keynes have seen a surge in popularity during the coronavirus lockdown.

The machines have been working flat out as they race around the Buckinghamshire town's streets bringing essentials to members of the public. They have also started delivering to NHS workers for free.

The group of robots, big enough to carry several bags of shopping, has been doubled to 70 over the last three weeks in response to demand, operator Starship said.

The fleet of robots has been doubled to 70 in the past three weeks in response to demand

The robots are loaded up with shopping before taking it to a member of the public's home

'As of now we are offering free delivery to all NHS workers within the community,' said head of marketing Henry Harris-Burland.

'We want to make life a little bit easier for these people in these very, very stressful times.'

'Lots of them are doing ... 80-hour weeks and they don't have time to go to the local grocery store, so they use our robots for their shopping. We're honoured that we can be part of that solution.'

Mr Harris-Burland confirmed the company is also looking at plans to expand its online delivery service, although this isn't yet available.

The machines look like small white plastic boxes mounted on six wheels as they trundle through the town.

Each is also kitted out with a bright orange flag to make them easier to spot for motorists and walkers in the area.

They have been operating in the Buckinghamshire town for years before the surge in popularity

Two robots are pictured above travelling through the streets of Milton Keynes

Milton Keynes residents order from the robots by downloading an app and typing in whether they want parcels, groceries or take-aways delivered.

The robots will then head out to the customer, which must be within a four-mile radius of the business they have requested goods from. Their location is tracked to let recipients know when goods will arrive.

When the machine arrives, the customer then scans in their app to unlock it and retrieve their goods.

Mr Harris-Burland said they had completed a whopping 100,000 deliveries since April 2018.

The delivery service was opened five years ago by co-founders Ahti Heinla and Janus Friis. Today, it operates across several cities in the world and is headquartered in San Francisco.
Republican senators and candidates for Senate seats are being warned not to defend the president's performance on coronavirus and that they should attack China instead, a leaked internal document revealed Friday.

The 57-page document from the National Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee offers the first insight into the party's strategy to keep the Senate in November.

And it suggests fears inside the party that Trump's handling of the crisis is not helpful to their electoral chances.

The document, obtained by Politico, is sent to more than 100 individual campaigns - those of the 53 Republican senators - who form a majority in the chamber - then the campaigns for the other 47 seats, some of which are still in the primary stage.

The 'corona big book' is one of a series issued by the NRSCC to cover major topics candidates could face in debates or when they are questioned by voters or reporters.

Don't mention him and don't defend him: Donald Trump's coronavirus record is not going to be defended by Republican senators and candidates when they campaign - and he will barely feature in their answers

Fight for survival: Mitch McConnell's Republican majority's fate is tied closely to that of the president but now the party's strategy is to stay away from Trump's coronavirus record

It spells out the 'short message' to give, and the 'expanded message,' both of which barely mention Trump - and then it tells senators and candidates how to answer questions.

In response to 'Isn't this Trump's fault?' it bluntly tells them: 'Don't defend Trump, other than the China Travel Ban - attack China.'

It advises candidates to pivot to attacking China at every opportunity and to back the travel ban - but offers no other Trump move to talk up.

The guidance tells the candidates to accused China of delay, cover-up and culpability, and promise to work to 'bring back' jobs to the U.S.

And it suggests that if the candidates are in a debate and their opponent argues that Trump and Republicans 'delayed too,' they should not mention Trump in their response at all.

Instead it gives them a long extract from a report from the Trump ultra-loyalist website The Daily Wire on Dr. Deborah Birx asserting that the U.S. response as delayed by 'significant amount' of Chinese data not being disclosed.

The lack of defense of Trump's record on coronavirus is likely to become a hallmark of the Republican Senate campaign.

Using China as a target is in line with the Trump campaign's own strategy - although it can hardly not defend him.

The president's re-election campaign has also ramped up attacks on Beijing - pointing the finger at China for the virus as a way to distract from criticism of the White House's response to the pandemic.

'Look, there's nobody ever been tougher on China than me. And that means for 20 years. You go back 20 years. I probably got elected, at least partially, on the fact that Ive been very tough,' President Trump said at his Tuesday White House press briefing.

He has hammered China about the outbreak - at times referring to the 'China virus' - even as he touts his good relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping and brags about the trade deals he is making with Beijing.

President Donald Trump has hammered China for not sharing enough information about the coronavirus even as he touts his good relationship with Chinese President President Xi Jinping. Attacking Xi will be the centerpiece of attempts to keep the Senate in Republican hands

American officials are investigating whether the coronavirus can be used as a weapon as they research its origins; above researchers work in a lab of Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) in Wuhan, Hubei province

Other Republicans have taken up the Chinese blame game, including GOP lawmakers and administration officials.

In an interview with Fox News Channel's Sean Hannity on Thursday night, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said there was much anger at China because of the virus.

'I think many of us are angry. I know the President feels the same way. China caused an enormous amount of pain, loss of life, and now a huge challenge for the global economy and the American economy as well, by not sharing the information they had,' he said.

'The Chinese Communist Party will pay a price for what they did here, certainly from the United States. I dont know exactly what form that will take. Our focus today isnt on that. Its on making sure we keep Americans safe, take down the health risk, keep people healthy as we can, and get this economy going back,' he added.

In a 17-state survey conducted by Trump's campaign, 77 percent of voters agreed that China covered up the extent of the coronavirus outbreak, and 79 percent of voters indicated they did not think China had been truthful about the extent of infections and deaths, The New York Times reported earlier this month, citing a Republican who'd been briefed on the poll.

Trump's coronavirus response is likely, however, to be the center of Democratic attacks on Republican candidates; a Pew poll found that 65 percent said Trump was too late responding to the coronavirus outbreak.

Republicans are defending their majority which is in effect of four because they hold the White House plus three seats.

But polls have shown an increasing number of seats they are defending becoming competitive, with their fortunes closely tied to the president's.

Majority leader Mitch McConnell is facing the prospect of losing the single Arizona seat the Republicans hold, where the Democratic candidate is far ahead in polls and fundraising; Maine Republican Susan Collins facing the most competitive race of her life; North Carolina already seen as a toss-up by the respected Cook report; a struggle to keep Cory Gardner afloat in Colorado against former governor John Hickenlooper; and difficulty in Georgia where two seats are up for grabs.

Even Lindsey Graham, in deep-red South Carolina, has reason to be concerned with his Democratic rival's fundraising, which in the last month outpaced his.
Everyone knows him as Princess Diana and Prince Charles' eldest son, the second in line to the British throne, Kate Middleton's husband, and the Duke of Cambridge, who is very serious with his job. But on a very rare moment, Prince William got candid and revealed why he would not jump on the bandwagon of watching the hit Netflix docu-series, "Tiger King."

On Wednesday (April 22), the 37-year-old Prince took some time off from his royal duties to join iconic British comedian Stephen Fry for a wholesome skit to kick off BBC's "The Big Night In" charity special.

In the five-minute teaser clip, Prince William showed off his humorous side and threw a banter of jokes with the 62-year-old comedian -- who is playing his TV character Lord Melchett, the head of the royal household.

William and Stephen seemed to be in a private discussion using the video calling app, Zoom, of course, to practice isolation due to the coronavirus pandemic. At first, they exchanged some small talk, catching up on each other's isolation activities and talking about their grandfathers.

Prince William also revealed how he is struggling with homeschooling his kids -- Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis -- and describe the experience as a "nightmare."

Before ending the Zoom call, the Duke asked Stephen some recommendations on what to watch on TV. Because just like the rest of us, Prince William is also quarantined at home and looks like he has a lot of time to binge-watch movies and TV series.

But when Stephen suggested about the Netflix hit documentary series "Tiger King," Prince William had the most hilarious response.

"They told me 'Tiger King' is rather good," Stephen said, to which William replied: "Yes, I tend to avoid shows about royalty."

"Tiger King" is the viral documentary on Netflix featuring the misadventures of the Oklahoma zoo owner Joe Exotic, who later on turned to be a convicted criminal. To say that the show took the viewer's quarantine time by storm is an understatement, as it gained a massive 64 million viewers on the streaming giant.

No matter good it is, however, Prince William hits pass on it, thinking the show is about royals!

But wait, there's more. The forever serious and business as usual Prince William also joked about not wearing pants during the Zoom call.

"Let me just see if I can find my socks and my shoes," William quipped before looking down south and added: "And my trousers."

Aside from William's wholesome dad jokes, the teaser clip also showed the entire Cambridge family stepping outside their doorway to clap for the National Health Service workers in England.

Moreover, the video featured a compilation of clips showing the people of the United Kingdom honoring the health workers risking their lives to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
The West Point Lighthouse will be focusing on attracting Islanders this summer as COVID-19 restrictions will limit the amount of tourists it normally sees.

Jimmy Stewart, general manager of the West Point Development Corporation, said as a draw, the lighthouse will be offering discounts on its 13 rooms and will host special parlour talks about local folklore.

He says the inn normally attracts visitors from across Canada and the world. But that's not likely with the pandemic.

"Considering the likelihood that the interprovincial travel is not going to be allowed for sure before, in our opinion, the end of June and possibly into July, we've made a decision that we're going to offer Prince Edward Islanders the opportunity to come and stay at the West Point Lighthouse Inn and Museum for 99 dollars, upwards to 50 per cent savings, and we want more people from P.E.I. to enjoy our lighthouse."

Stewart said he expects to see an advertising campaign focusing on encouraging Islanders to explore and enjoy a stay in the western part of the Island.

"If we can get them to come and see this part of Prince Edward Island, they'll fall in love with like we do."

More from CBC P.E.I.
General Michael Flynn was the first victim of the conspiracy of senior officials at the CIA, DOJ and FBI to unseat President Trump, and a leak about court-sealed new evidence in the legal case against him, under review by a US Attorney, upon close analysis points to a new key member, a point man of the conspiracy, a name until now only familiar to students of the Russia Hoax. A new visage is going to join Comey, Brennan, McCabe, Strzok, Page, and Rosenstein on the front page of the cabals rogues gallery: Dana Boente.

On April 24, The US Attorney reviewing the case against Flynn released new evidence to Flynns lawyers, putting it under seal. His lawyer Sidney Powell gleefully tweeted:

Sean Davis of the Federalist received a leak from an unnamed FBI official:

New court documents filed under seal include significant exculpatory information about Michael Flynn, President Donald Trumps former National Security Adviser, an FBI official familiar with the situation told The Federalist on Friday. The new documents, which were filed under seal by the Department of Justice Friday, allegedly include exonerating evidence about Flynn, who pleaded guilty to lying to federal investigators about his conversations with foreign diplomats as Trumps top incoming foreign policy adviser and is currently attempting to withdraw his plea, as well as evidence of malfeasance by the FBI during its investigation of Flynn. According to the FBI official who spoke to The Federalist, FBI general counsel Dana Boente led the charge internally against DOJs disclosure of the new materials. Boente, who briefly served as acting Attorney General after Trump became president, personally signed off on one of the federal spy warrants against former Trump campaign affiliate Carter Page. The new documents, which were filed under a protective order by DOJ on Friday, will reflect poorly on the FBI, the official told The Federalist. It is not clear when, or even if, those documents will be unsealed and made available to the public for review.

Boente was covering up the railroading of General Flynn, which is bad enough. And he signed off on a phony FISA warrant, a crime. But that is far from Boentes only role in the conspiracy. Sundance of The Conservative Treehouse, who has a matchless command of the minutiae of the evidence of this conspiracy so far, has been arguing for years that Boente was a key conspirator. Now, with this latest disclosure, he fits together the pieces in a meticulous fashion.

Early on CTH identified Dana Boente as part of the problem. Dana Boente was part of the group who advised Sessions to recuse. Boente later authorized the second renewal of the Title-one surveillance warrant and worked with James Comey. Boente then leaked his Comey notes to the media (MSNBC), essentially to support Comeys narrative about Trump; and participated from within the FBI as legal counsel to Chris Wray who told everyone in July 2018 there was no political bias in the FBI

A long and detailed review of Boentes very curious career moves follows. Sundance doesnt mention this as even a hypothesis, but to my eyes it looks a lot like he was moved around among important posts in the FBI and Justice Department (sometimes holding multiple jobs at once) as a kind of hatchet man to get the necessary job done. Just a theory, though, until we learn more, maybe when that evidence is unsealed.

Here is the beginning of the deep dive, a brief sample of the sort of analysis that comprises this long article. If you want to understand how the conspiracy was actually carried out  and you should because it is the greatest political scandal in American history  then I recommend this article. Read it here.

Heres the backstory on Dana Boente as a key player in the Spygate cover-up, as we presented the information over a year ago. [NOTE: feeling confident that Boente was one of the key corrupt actors, I noted originally to bookmark that post]: If you followed closely, and accept that Rosenstein was part of the problem, then you see how FBI Director Christopher Wray came into office; and, more importantly how/why Wray selected former DOJ-NSD head Dana Boente to shift from main justice to be legal counsel for the FBI. Boente took over for former chief legal counsel James Baker, after the discoveries around Baker and McCabe could no longer be hidden. After being removed from responsibility eventually Baker resigned and went to work with the Lawfare group. Boentes job at FBI was/is to bury information, block congressional inquiry, and protect the crew. Boente, along with Christopher Wray, is still there. In a Fox News interview on Sunday, June 23, 2019, Devin Nunes said someone at the FBI appears to have been determined to hide then-Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Kathleen Kavalecs notes from both the FISA court and Congress. Our research identified that someone as Dana Boente and crew in 2018.

Near the end, Sundance eummarizes some points:

Dana Boente was part of the group who advised Sessions to recuse. Boente later authorized the second renewal of the Title-one surveillance warrant and worked with James Comey. Boente then leaked his Comey notes to the media, essentially to support Comeys narrative about Trump; and participated from within the FBI as legal counsel to Chris Wray who told everyone in July 2018 there was no political bias in the FBI but hey, everyone is going to bias training.. and pay no attention to the 40 FBI agents who were investigating an invisible Trump Russia-Collusion-Conspiracy for two years.

Update: When contacted for comment by The Epoch Times, an FBI spokesman denies that Director Wray pushed to withhold exculpatory evidence:

The assertion that Director Wray pushed to withhold exculpatory evidence in the Michael Flynn case is absolutely false, said Brian Hale, assistant director of the FBIs Office of Public Affairs in an emailed statement.

An FBI official speaking on the condition of anonymity told The Epoch Times that the denial applied to the allegation against Boente too

Hat tip: Roger Luchs

Photo credit: US DOJ (cropped)
A Delhi Police head constable has tested positive for COVID-19 in outer north district, following which 11 policemen have been quarantined, officials said on Saturday.

The head constable posted at Alipur police station tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday, they said.

"The 11 policemen who have been quarantined worked with the head constable who has tested positive for coronavirus," a senior police officer said.

It is not clear how the head constable contracted the disease.

So far, around 30 Delhi Police personnel have tested positive for coronavirus.

The Delhi Police has sanctioned Rs 1 lakh each to its personnel who have tested positive for the infection while on duty, officials had said on Friday.

The police headquarters will arrange the payment from the Delhi Police Welfare Society for the personnel expeditiously through the concerned DCPs.

On Thursday, Lt Governor Anil Baijal had directed authorities to create a dedicated COVID-19 facility to treat the infected Delhi Police personnel.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Bharatiya Kisan Sangh (BKS), an affiliate of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has urged the centre to focus on rural economy as it draws up the plans for reviving economy and job sectors in the aftermath of the corona pandemic.

It is a good time for the government to ensure that while they offer stimulus packages to the medium and large enterprises, the cottage industry and the small scale sectors that keep the rural economy going are not neglected. That is where the revival will be and where the jobs will be, said Badri Narayan Chaudhary, the national general secretary of the BKS.

Large scale movement of workers back to their native states has led to concerns that many sectors including manufacturing, construction and even agriculture will face labour shortage. Even as the government claims the movement of migrant workers will be reversed after the lockdown is eased; the BKS functionary claimed otherwise.

A majority of the workers who have moved back to their native places from urban centres are unlikely to move back. The government will have to find them jobs or ensure they have entrepreneurial skills to sustain their livelihood, he said.

Chaudhary said, small sectors such as flour grinding mills, packaging etc. can be encouraged at the rural level.

Emphasis on rural economy has been underlined by the RSS and its affiliates even during consultation that take place before the annual budget is prepared.

We have also suggested to Prasar Bharati (public broadcaster) that instead of focusing on old forms of agriculture on their DD Kisan channel, they should invite experts who can given demonstrations to the rural youth on how to become entrepreneurs and on the latest techniques that can be used to employ more people, he said.

The BKS has also urged the centres to ensure its advisories on transportation of agriculture produce and purchase at minimum costs are followed on the ground.

Concerned by the losses faced by farmers on account of the nationwide lockdown to prevent the spread of the corona virus, which has hampered the transportation and sale of farm produce, the BKS has urged the government to ensure that farmers are paid the minimum prices.

Our suggestion to the government is to ensure that administration at the local level follows the guidelines that have been issued. When trucks carrying goods are stopped for days at police check points, it affects the farmers because their produce is perishable and cannot be stocked for long. This problem is being faced by farmers growing fruits, vegetables and other produce, said Chaudhary said.

Prabhakar Kelkar, the all India vice-president of the BKS said there should be monitoring in the mandis to ensure that farmers are paid the minimum prices.

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he Ghana Technology University College (GTUC) has extended COVID-19 relief support to more than 300 of its resident international students and some needy Ghanaian students, who are already receiving scholarship from the institutio



Professor Emmanuel Ohene-Afoakwa, President, GTUC, said the donation aims at cushioning the economic burdens of the students occasioned by the shutting down of the institution due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.



The relief items include bags of rice, tubers of yams, cooking oil, tomato paste, bottled mineral water, spaghetti, facemasks and alcohol based hand sanitizers.



The items forms part of the first batch of donation to be made by the GTUC from an amount of GH100,000.00, which had been set aside by Management to provide support to international students, who are currently in resident on campus and some needy Ghanaians students who are at home.



"As an institution, GTUC, prides itself in the fact that; the little that we have, we have to be able to share and at least make sure that everybody is able to learn in a good academic environment," Prof Ohene-Afoakwa said during the donation over the weekend in Accra.



He said as a result of the Presidential Directive announcing the mandatory shutdown of all schools and universities in the country due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all GTUC's Ghanaian students quickly went home.



He said of the over four hundred international students, over three hundred of them are still resident on the campus.



He said the international students, who were still on campus, wanted to participate in the University College's online learning programme.



He said this is because of the reason that when they (the students) go home, they probably would not get access to the internet or good internet facility to be able to continue learning online.



The GTUC, presently in 2020, has over nine thousand students with over four hundred international students.



"So, most of the international students are here and we know that these are difficult times," Prof Ohene-Afoakwa said.



"So, in as much as we are a self-financing institution - we don't get support from Government and as a result of that we have certain challenges; it doesn't necessarily mean that we should close our eyes to the challenges that our international students, who are still in resident are facing".



He said the Management and the Office of the Dean of Students and the Students Representative Council (SRC) came together and brought up an idea that they need to provide some support to their international students, who were in residence and also some of their local students who were in need.



"We know that we can't feed them in all but at least this is just a token of our appreciation for the fact that they have chosen to study with us at GTUC and also continue to learn even in these challenging times. We are very confident that it will go a long way to help them as well.



And we encourage them to also encourage others to also come and study with us."



Prof Ohene-Afoakwa extended his appreciation to Government, the President and Parliament for the GTUC, which was now going to be named as the Ghana Communications Technology University, to be added to the Public Universities Bill.



"We are very happy and grateful to the President and then to the Government for this inclusion, and we know that once the Public Universities' Bill is passed, automatically, Ghana Communications Technology University will become fully fledged public university and then we will begin to received support from the Government."



Mr Joel Koume, President, GTUC International Students Association, expressed his gratitude to Management for the kind gesture.



Dr Michael Nana Owusu-Akomeah, Dean of Student Affairs, GTUC, appealed to benevolent individuals and organisations, and corporate entities to donate towards the good cause that the University had started.



Madam Pamela Aboagyewaa Mantey, SRC President, GTUC, extended her appreciation to the Universitys Management for coming out to support them.

Source: GNA









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This is a landmark collaboration to accelerate the development, production and equitable distribution of vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics for COVID-19, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO), said in his remarks at the launch, on Friday.

Our shared commitment is to ensure all people have access to all the tools to defeat COVID-19, a media release accessed by the Ghana News Agency (GNA) said.

The ACT Accelerator brought together the combined power of a number of organisations to work with speed and scale, the Director  General said, adding that, the COVID-19 pandemic was an unprecedented global crisis that had been met with an unprecedented global response, with research and development playing a central role.

Since January, WHO has been working with thousands of researchers all over the world to accelerate and track vaccine development - from developing animal models to clinical trial designs, and everything in between, he explained.

We have also developed diagnostics that are being used all over the world; and we are coordinating a global trial on the safety and efficacy of four therapeutics against COVID-19. The world needs these tools, and it needs them fast.

Dr Ghebreyesus, however, stated that past experience had taught the world health body that even when tools were available, they had not been equally available to all.

We cannot allow that to happen, he emphasised, explaining that though countries were doing great work to contain the spread of the disease, we cannot continue to work alone.

Consequently, the WHO and partners, through the ACT approach, were coming together to work in new ways to identify challenges and solutions together.

Dr Ghebreyesus lauded French President Emmanuel Macron, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and Bill and Melinda Gates for their leadership and partnership in co-hosting the ACT Accelerator launch.

We're also grateful for the support of many world leaders, who you will hear from today. And I would, especially, like to thank Sir Andrew Witty and Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala for agreeing to act as Special Envoys for the ACT Accelerator.

The world, he said, was facing a common threat, which could only be defeated with a common approach.

---GNA
After more than a month of lockdown, many of us are now starting to feel  and look  a little like Ben Gunn, the crazy old hermit marooned on Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island.

So in a bid to remain sane and smarten up your act, it might be tempting to pick up a pair of scissors to become your own barber or hairdresser.

It is not a step to be taken lightly. Flashbacks of school playground teasing  and nicknames such as 'bowl-head'  spring to mind. A well-intentioned scissor-wielding mother can make the cruellest cut.

Lockdown look: Ben Gunn, the hermit from Treasure Island

Yet needs must in this current crisis. Not only will you save cash by cutting your own hair, but you will sharpen your appearance for life after self-isolation.

Professional hairdresser Vicky Brown is keen to point out that cutting your own hair is not for the faint-hearted and comes with a serious style warning.

The 36-year-old, from Northamptonshire, says: 'My advice is simple  just don't do it. Chances are that you are going to make a real pig's ear of the job. But if you have had enough and want to give it a go, there are basic rules you must follow. Start with the right tools. Reaching for old scissors in the kitchen drawer does more harm than good. You need a professional pair and these can cost 200 or more.'

She adds: 'The problem with old scissors is that they are just not sharp enough. You still end up with split ends and strange patches on your head where the hair has been hacked at with a blunt tool.'

For those willing to invest in a good pair of scissors, recommendations include the Japanese maker Joewell and German scissor firm Tondeo.

Such scissors come with closed loops so they can be held firmly in the hand. There is a spur on one handle  where you rest the little finger as the 'ring' finger goes inside the hole. This helps to relax the hand so cutting with sharp blades feels natural.

You should wet the hair to make it easier to see what you  or ideally someone else  is doing. Be wary of cutting too much off the fringe as this novice mistake leads to an egghead appearance that only time will heal.

If someone else is doing the cutting, you should lean your head forward when hair at the back is being cut. Otherwise, it will appear as layered waves when finished.

Brown warns against using hair dye  unless you know what you are doing. First, you should dab a small sample behind one of your ears up to 48 hours beforehand to ensure there is no allergic reaction. Otherwise you might have to make a trip to A&E at a local hospital  something to avoid now more than ever.

A more practical option  for men who can manage with a short back-and-sides  is to purchase an electric hair trimmer. With lockdown expected to continue at least until late next month, you will have time to grow out any embarrassing 'mowing' mistakes.

Brown suggests spending at least 50 on clippers, although if you want to cut your hair with them in the future then a more professional set costing 100 might represent better value.

Unfortunately many of the highly recommended clippers  such as the 70 Wahl Power Clipper  are currently out of stock because of strong sales. Even if you do find a decent set of clippers online, you could wait weeks before they arrive.

If you struggle to get hold of clippers from top brands such as Wahl, Remington or Panasonic, delve into the back of the bathroom cabinet for an electric razor that can do a half-decent job at tidying up hair.

Brown says: 'Electric razor cuts usually come in a range  from one to eight. Start with the biggest number you can find as this gives the gentlest cut. As you feel braver then move to a lower setting.'

She suggests starting at the back, then sides  moving the clippers upwards rather than down  gently moving them off and away from the head as you gradually move up the skull.

With clippers you also have the benefit of being able to cut without help, though, of course, you will still need a mirror to see what is going on at the back of your head.
The Government has been urged to sanction a one off 'May Day' solidarity payment to front-line healthcare workers in recognition of their efforts to battle the COVID-10 pandemic.

Pressing for the payment, Cork East Labour TD Sean Sherlock said the State should follow the example of other countries like France, which has sanctioned a 1,500 bonus for its healthcare workers.

Deputy Sherlock said that with each passing day the public is becoming ever more grateful for the "amazing" work Irish healthcare workers are doing to treat those with COVID-19 and help flatten the Coronavirius curve.

"While we all show our appreciation where we can, whether that be through local initiatives or social media campaigns, the State needs to take on showing our gratitude in a meaningful way ," said Deputy Sherlock.

He said we are all aware of how staff have "gone above and beyond" by exposing themselves to COVID-19, with many being forced to go into isolation from their families, work extra shifts without adequate PPE and witness colleagues get ill.

"As a gesture, the State should gift our healthcare workers with a 1,000 pandemic payment to honour the work they have been doing to stem the spread of the virus. It would be a great way to show how much we appreciate them putting their lives on the line to keep the public safe" he said.

"With the May Day bank holiday approaching, a day on which we honour workers, I propose introducing this payment in the first week of May as a symbolic gesture of gratitude for all the work our healthcare workers have done and will continue to do to keep us safe over the coming days, weeks and months."

Deputy Sherlock said that no reasonable person would deny that those working at the sharp end of the Covid-19 pandemic deserve a gesture of thanks from the State.

"We know that some sectors, such as the retail, are offering bonuses to staff who are working at this time. Workers in our health service should see some kind of similar tribute for their work," he said.

"If countries like France can show this kind of gesture to their healthcare workers, we too should be able to make a once-off solidarity gesture to show our healthcare heroes that we appreciate them."
Chennai, April 25 : Insurance industry experts voiced mixed views on Indian insurance regulator asking listed and unlisted insurers -- life/general/reinsurance -- to refrain from paying dividend to shareholders from profits pertaining to financial year 2019-20.

Some experts cited Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) advice to the banks earlier and supported the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India's (Irdai) move to conserve capital, while others cited the varying nature of the two businesses and said that the insurance regulator should focus on underwriting losses incurred by general insurers rather than following the central bank.

In a circular to all the insurers, Irdai on Friday said: "In view of the emerging market conditions, and to conserve capital with the insurance companies in the interests of the policyholders and of the economy at large, insurers are urged to take a conscious call to refrain from dividend pay-outs pertaining from profits pertaining to the financial year ending 31st March 2020, till further instructions." The Irdai said it will reassess the position based on the financial results of the insurers for the quarter ending September 30, 2020.

"The Irdai need not follow the RBI. It should focus on the ways and means of helping general insurers book underwriting profit," an insurance expert, not wanting to be named, told IANS.

"Like RBI, the banking regulator, Irdai is asking insurers to conserve capital. The insurance regulator as a matter of prudent policy has also said that it would review its decision based on the results for the quarter ending September 30, 2020," Saurabh Bhalerao, Associate Director (Research), Care Ratings, told IANS.

"This is an advisory at best and an extraordinary one at that. But we are in extraordinary circumstances and the regulator wants to pre-empt any possible criticism at a later date that it did not even forewarn the insurers," practicing chartered accountant P.S. Prabhakar told IANS.

To the query that should Irdai not permit insurers to pay dividend on a case-to-case basis than issuing an omnibus director, Prabhakar replied: "Yes. Especially in private companies which satisfy all provisioning and solvency margin norms as per the regulations. But should one fault Irdai for just trying to be an over concerned regulator?" According to Bhalerao, both the regulators -- RBI and Irdai -- will review their direction after September quarter results. May be then both would allow the regulated entities to declare dividends.

Experts were of the view that the decision will affect the shareholders of listed insurance companies as they are unsure of the dividend and share market prices may also not perk up as the premium growth during the first quarter of the current fiscal will be a washout, more so for general insurers.

Industry experts said the dividend pay-out restriction also applies to the Life Insurance Corporation of India. A cash strapped government would like to get dividend from the LIC.

"The regulators have hit the pause button only, and not the delete button," an expert told IANS.

Looking at FY21, Bhalerao said the first quarter for life and non-life insurers will be bad as whatever business that are done are happening only through online channels.

"The general insurers will be affected as automobile sales are down and their focus will be on health insurance. They may also now focus on pushing the 'Loss of Profit' policies with the corporates," Bhalerao said.

The life insurers will be selling more term assurance plans and there will be increased awareness about insurance protection now, thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, he added.
After Hitler committed suicide on April 30, 1945, German forces surrendered region by region. On May 4, Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery took the unconditional surrender of the German troops on the western front, greeting their commanders with a terse: 'Who are you? I've never heard of you. What do you want?' The full German surrender was signed in French city Reims on May 7  335 days after D-Day. News of the surrender spread around Britain during the afternoon and immediately bunting and flags appeared in the streets. At 7.40pm, the BBC announced that May 8 would be a VE Day holiday...

Midnight, May 8, 1945

In No 10 Downing Street, Winston Churchill is working late dictating to his secretary, Elizabeth Layton. Suddenly a huge storm breaks over London, with thunderclaps sounding like bombs. Churchill teases her and says with a smile: 'What was that? Oh, thunder. Might as well have another war.' A special 'Victory' edition of the Daily Mail is running off the presses, declaring on its front page: 'VE DAY  IT'S ALL OVER.'

3am

Since April 1, American troops have been slowly fighting their way across the Japanese-held Pacific island of Okinawa. Suddenly the U.S. forces on land and at sea cease fire, and for a moment there is silence. Then they simultaneously launch a single massive salvo at the Japanese. The U.S. army radio operators tune into every Japanese frequency and defiantly announce that the volley is in celebration of Victory in Europe.

VE Day celebrations in the fountain of Trafalgar Square 1945

7am

In the past few months in Britain the most draconian wartime measures have been relaxed. It's now possible to buy a large map, to have a radio in your car and to release a racing pigeon without notifying the police. The Board of Trade announced yesterday that until the end of May 'you may buy cotton bunting without coupons, as long as it is red, white or blue'. Worthing housewife Joan Strange is waking up to the sound of her mother wrestling with the family's moth-eaten flags that last came out for Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee in 1897. They are both disappointed to see that they aren't the first in their street to hang flags out  neighbours have got there first. Across the country many people are getting ready for work, not realising that most shops and factories are closed today. The people of the Channel Islands have been living under Nazi rule since June 1940. News of the surrender was greeted yesterday with relief by the islanders and even by some of the German occupying forces eager to go home. Food has become so scarce the troops have resorted to shooting seagulls and stealing cabbage stalks from fields. In a last attempt to assert their authority the Germans have banned the display of Union flags until the war is officially finished at one minute past midnight tonight, but the flags are already everywhere. A pair of Royal Navy destroyers are en route from Plymouth to accept the German surrender at 2pm this afternoon.

7.30am

In his London home, Lionel Logue, King George VI's speech therapist for the past 19 years, receives a message from Buckingham Palace that says: 'The King would like to see you at dinner tonight, and bring Mrs Logue. Tell her to wear something bright.' Lionel is helping the King prepare for one of the most important moments of his reign when, at 9pm, he broadcasts a VE Day message to Britain and the Empire.

8am

In the prisoner of war camps in Thailand, news of the German surrender is picked up on numerous clandestine radios. Peter Fane, a PoW in Chungkai camp, remembered: 'It was absolutely wonderful. But we were terrified that the Japs would know from us what had happened if we went about being cheerful or singing.' Prisoners could be beaten to death if a radio was discovered. Across most of Britain it is a perfect spring day and many churches are already ringing their bells in celebration. A grey-haired old lady is walking slowly up towards Biggin Hill aerodrome on the outskirts of London. Betty Wood, 74, has come to pay tribute to the pilots who died in the Battle of Britain.

In her hand is a posy of flowers and in her pocket she has photos of her grandsons Cecil, John and James who are serving with the Army overseas. Betty makes her way through the gates and towards the small RAF chapel where she puts the flowers carefully on the blue and gold altar. She notices that the birds are singing and remembers that she never heard them when the Battle of Britain was raging. 9am Hermann Goering, Hitler's former commander of the Luftwaffe, is being interrogated by U.S. Brigadier General Robert Stack. Goering has made a special effort to be at the HQ of the U.S. 36th Infantry Division in Kitzbuhel, Austria, at 9am  he usually sleeps in until 11am. He surrendered two days ago and has with him a selfimportant letter for General Eisenhower, the Allied Supreme Commander, offering to help in the reconstruction of Germany. Stack recalled: 'He seemed to have no idea that he might be regarded as a war criminal.' The Soviet Red Army has seized the ruined German city of Dresden.

The rising sun reveals soldiers looting houses and shooting shopkeepers who try to protect their property. Women are being dragged into the streets along with their mattresses and raped. The Hoch family, who own a large house, are hiding as many local girls as they can and have shoved furniture in front of their door to keep the soldiers out. Their teenage son Karl-Ludwig writes bitterly in his diary: 'The rule of the Bolsheviks is beginning.' 10am At Buckingham Palace the royal duties continue: King George VI is handing out medals to servicemen and women. Waiting in line is Royal Navy Wren Edith Pargeter, later known as thriller writer Ellis Peters. Yesterday, when Edith heard the news of the German surrender, she feared the ceremony would be called off.

The King shakes Edith's hand and gives her a British Empire Medal for her war work. Since the start of the conflict, he has personally decorated 32,000 men and women. On the other side of the Channel, the French port of Dunkirk has been under siege since September 1944. The German forces there know surrender is imminent and subject the Czech forces surrounding them to a devastating barrage until they are out of ammunition. A group of German soldiers start to walk towards the Czech lines shouting 'Kamerad! Kamerad!' The Czechs offer them their rations and show them pictures of the recently liberated concentration camp of Belsen but the Germans dismiss the photos as mere propaganda. The war has not ended in the Czech soldiers' homeland. In the centre of Prague a unit of German soldiers accompanied by tanks and artillery is fighting Czech resistance forces. The town hall is soon ablaze and the SS start to round up and shoot civilians; women and children are being forced to march in front of armoured vehicles as human shields. The fighting in Prague won't end until May 11.

11am

Churchill has been in bed for most of the morning working on the text of his VE Day radio address. A telegram arrives from his wife Clementine, who is in Moscow on a mission for the Red Cross. 'All my thoughts are with you on this supreme day, my darling,' it says. 'It could not have happened without you.' He gets out of bed to deliver gifts of champagne and a large Gruyere cheese to his staff in the Downing Street Map Room. Midday The temperature in London is in the 70s. People are on the streets wearing paper hats in the shape of police helmets and crowns. Someone has chalked 'Hitler Missed This Bus' on one on Whitehall. In a Lyons Corner House just off Piccadilly Circus, two 18-yearold officer cadets, John Lowry and Geoffrey Howe, the future Chancellor, are enjoying a free lunch because they are in uniform. This morning they caught the 1.20am train from Exeter to Paddington and have been exploring the capital since. Howe remembered feeling 'an extraordinary sense of bewildered exhilaration'.

1.30pm

Churchill is having lunch with the King at Buckingham Palace and they toast the end of the European War. The monarch wrote later that night: 'The day we have been longing for has arrived at last and we can look back with thankfulness to God that our tribulation is over.' In Courland in Latvia, the German 563rd Grenadier Division is holding out against overwhelming Russian forces. A Soviet officer shouts to the Germans that they should lay down their weapons as peace is imminent. The Grenadier Division clamber out of their trenches, shake hands with the Russians and swap cigarettes. It is a surreal scene; German Corporal Friedrich Kaufmann said: 'Around this impromptu gathering lay the dead from the last Soviet attack, but this did not seem to dampen the bonhomie.' A Russian officer asks Kaufmann how many troops he has, and when he replies little over a hundred the officer exclaims: 'How could you hold the line with so few people?'

2pm

Off the coast of Guernsey two Royal Navy destroyers, HMS Beagle and HMS Bulldog, have arrived to accept the German unconditional surrender. A German minesweeper pulls alongside and young naval officer, Lieutenant-Commander Arnim Zimmerman, climbs aboard the Bulldog and shouts 'Heil Hitler!' to the astonished crew. Zimmerman declares that he has come to discuss armistice terms, not unconditional surrender. When the British officer in charge, Brigadier A.E. Snow, tells him bluntly that this is out of the question, Zimmerman replies that the destroyers must retreat to a safe distance or they will be fired upon by German coastal batteries.

Snow tells him that if they open fire he will ensure that Zimmerman is hanged the following day. But once Zimmerman has sailed back to Guernsey, Snow decides it would be wise to withdraw. Many of the Allied troops in Europe are in a reflective mood. A ceremony for Canadian forces is taking place at a small rural church near the German town of Marx. One gunner there, James Brady, wrote: 'There is no feeling of exaltation, nothing but a quiet satisfaction that the job has been done and we can see home again.' Commanding officer Colonel Gagnon starts to read the list of the 36 men they have lost, with tears in his eyes. Unable to go on, he hands the list to an adjutant who puts it in his pocket, saying quietly: 'It's not necessary. They were comrades. We remember.'

2.30pm

Outside the Cabinet Room in Downing Street, where in September 1939 Neville Chamberlain had announced the declaration of war with Germany, a large number of typists and private secretaries are eavesdropping on Churchill's rehearsal for his radio broadcast. 'What are you doing?' they hear the Prime Minister bark at an aide. 'They are just fixing the microphone, Sir.' 'What are you doing with that? No, leave it there.' Churchill then blows his nose loudly and says: 'Pull those blinds down. Can't see what I'm doing!' In Birmingham, large crowds have gathered in front of the Council House hoping to hear the PM's radio address relayed by loudspeakers, but there are none. The embarrassed Mayor does his best and opens up the window of his parlour and puts his own wireless on the window ledge but the crowd is too far away and the set is too small to be heard.

2.35pm

In the White House in Washington the Press are being shown into the Oval Office, where President Truman is waiting for them, together with his wife Bess and daughter Margaret. Truman took over the presidency only a few weeks ago following the death of President Roosevelt and last night was the family's first in the White House; later today Margaret's piano is being delivered through a window by a crane. The new President tells the Press he will read them a statement that he'll broadcast to the American public in a short while. He reassures them that it's short and they will have time to file their story. Truman then tells them that today is a double celebration as it's his 61st birthday. 'Happy birthday, Mr President!' everyone in the Oval Office choruses. Then Truman reads: 'Today is a solemn but glorious hour. General Eisenhower informs me that the forces of Germany have surrendered to the United Nations. The flags of freedom fly all over Europe.' He concludes by saying Japan now faces the full might of the American military machine. 'I want that emphasised time after time,' he tells the Press, 'that we are only half through.'

Children wave British flags from their bombed homes on the news of VE Day

3pm

In the Cabinet Room, Churchill begins his broadcast to the nation. He announces that hostilities will officially finish at one minute past midnight tonight and says: 'We may allow ourselves a brief period of rejoicing, but let us not forget for a moment the toil and effort that lie ahead...' In Paddington Green Hospital in London, a children's ward is listening silently to Churchill's speech. A little girl grasps the hand of nurse Jane Gordon and asks: 'What does it mean?' Jane explains that the war has ended. 'What does that mean?' the girl replies. The nurse thinks for a moment and says: 'Well, it means you will see lights at night in the streets and windows lit up. It means you will never hear a siren again.' 'Never hear a siren again? Never again?' the girl repeats. Jane can see by the look in her eyes that she doesn't believe it could be true.

In the Channel Islands radios have been illegal for five years but now they have been proudly placed in open windows with the volume turned up full. Churchill is saying: 'Hostilities will end officially at one minute after midnight tonight, but in the interests of saving lives, the ceasefire began yesterday to be sounded all along the front, and our dear Channel Islands are also to be freed today.' Crowds in St Helier and St Peter Port listening in town squares on loudspeakers roar their approval. They start to sing God Save The King, which has also been illegal. Some islanders are unimpressed by the Prime Minister's speech. Sisters Gwen and Pearl Smith are listening to their crystal set in their bedroom in Guernsey. Pearl says angrily: 'Our dear Channel Islands? What a nerve! He couldn't have cared less if we'd all been shot!'

3.05pm

In Paris, General De Gaulle is addressing a large crowd outside the Hotel l'Opera. 'Friends, Hitler is dead! The war in Europe is won! France is free again!' Rolf Weinberg, 26, a German Jew who fled to join the Free French Forces, is so overcome with emotion that he faints. When he comes around in his hotel room he finds a young nurse holding his hand. She says kindly: 'You should be enjoying yourself with the others; let's have some champagne!' Rolf replies: 'For me this isn't a time for a fiesta because I'm thinking of all my comrades and all those killed by this damn Nazi regime. I'm so glad that I had the chance to wipe the regime out.'

3.10pm

In the British Embassy in Moscow, Churchill's wife Clementine has arranged for a party to coincide with her husband's historic speech. Now the speech is over, Clementine grabs a glass of champagne and climbs onto a chair shouting: 'We will drink to victory!' But the celebrations are tinged with sadness. A couple of days ago, Clementine was shown secret cables about Russian atrocities in Eastern Europe and Germany. Churchill wrote to his wife: 'I scarcely need to tell you that beneath these triumphs lie poisonous politics and deadly international rivalries.'

The Prime Minister believes that the Nazi menace has been replaced by a Soviet one and in four days he will write to President Truman that 'an iron curtain' has been drawn down on the Russian front. Churchill's speech has been relayed to all the ships in the British Pacific Fleet at action stations 600 miles south of Japan. Officers on board the aircraft carrier HMS Indefatigable are celebrating VE Day by splicing the mainbrace and, in the words of a journalist watching, 'rejoicing at the thought of the bells ringing and the lights blazing out again over England'. But for the sailors, the end of the war seems a long way off. The captain speaks over the Tannoy, telling the 2,000-strong crew: 'Thousands of British and American troops will now be coming to join us. We are the vanguard!'

3.20pm

Churchill is being driven in an open car the short distance from Downing Street to the House of Commons, where he will read the statement he's just made on the radio. The crowds are so large and enthusiastic that mounted police are having to clear the way. The PM is standing on the front seat of the car next to his detective Walter Thompson and shaking hands with the crowd as the car inches forward. The engine isn't running  it's being pushed by the people surrounding the vehicle. The car passes through the gates of the Houses of Parliament just feet away from the young officer cadets Lowry and Howe, much to their delight. Years later, Howe will take that route into Parliament many times as an MP and Cabinet Minister.

3.45pm

Goering's interrogation by Brigadier General Robert Stack is almost over. The German is about to be put on a plane to the HQ of the U.S. Seventh Army and taken into custody. Goering remains arrogant in defeat and says to the interpreter: 'Ask General Stack whether I should wear a pistol or my ceremonial dagger when I appear before General Eisenhower.' Stack hasn't let on that he speaks fluent German but, unable to contain himself, snaps back: 'Das ist mir ganz Wurst!' ('I don't give a damn!') Goering is stunned at the reply. In many British towns and villages, effigies of Goering and Hitler, complete with uniforms and medals, are being made to be placed on bonfires for VE Day celebrations this evening.

Jonathan Mayo and Emma Craigie's Hitler's Last Day: Minute By Minute is published by Short Books at 8.99.
Help India!

TCN News

Members of the Kashmir Scholars Consultative Action Network have written to Prof David Kaye, United Nations Special Rapporteur on promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression regarding the harassment of journalists in Indian-controlled Kashmir.

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The letter, endorsed by hundreds of other academics, journalists, writers and researchers from around the world, seeks immediate intervention of the Special Rapporteur to urgently intervene in the continued silencing tactics used by the Indian government to harass and incarcerate working journalists, the latest case being of Masrat Zahra who was charged with UAPA on April 20. TwoCircles.net board member Raqib Hameed Naik is also one of the signatories to the letter.

The open letter lists some of the most prominent Kashmiri journalists who have been illegally detained, charged or incarcerated merely for reporting the governments activities in the Valley. Criminal charges lodged against Peerzada Aashiq, Gowhar Geelani, Azan Javaid, Basharat Masood, including several others who were on duty have been victims of the continued persecution and intimidation by the police and authorities who have grilled and summoned, and even pressured to either omit or reveal their sources during the longest communication lockdown that was imposed by the Indian government after scrapping Article 370.

The letter mentions how Shujaat Bukhari was assassinated at his residence, drawing attention to more such names who have been wrongly charged of criminal offences and tortured by the military. In an appeal to the Rapporteur, the letter goes on to sound support of the Kashmir Press Club, Editors Guild of India , the Committee to Protect Journalists, Reporters Without Borders and Amnesty International; all of who have called for an immediate end to intimidation of journalists in Jammu and Kashmir.

Addressing the journalism community worldwide, the letter then throws light to the misuse of power stating that the Kashmir Working Journalists Association recognizes the UAPA charges against Kashmiri journalists as an effort to terrorise the media, asserting that authorities in Kashmir are in no mood to allow a democratic dissent or expression of opinion, and have adopted the policy of muzzling the press as a governance measure.

Asif Sultan and Qazi Shibli who had been imprisoned and others who were held without charge or trial back-to-back under the Public Safety Act gave also been mentioned to highlight the bullying tactics used by the state to silence young Kashmiris who use social media to express their opinion as well as the crackdown on independent journalism.

Urging the global community to respond to the constant siege on Freedom of Press by the Indian authorities in Indian-controlled Kashmir, the signatories have requested for an an immediate dismissal of all charges against Masrat Zahra, Peerzada Aashiq and Gowhar Geelani, as well as the immediate release of Asif Sultan, thereby asserting the need for critical and necessary independent journalism in amid the deteriorating situation of lack of freedom of press in Kashmir.
Thumbs Down  to the confusion at City Hall in East Moline earlier this week over the 36-year-old liens against the Rock Island County-owned Hope Creek Care Center. Some on the council want to press for payment of interest on the liens worth about $11,000 dating back to 1984. The interest amounts to more than $200,000.

This all comes as the county has voted to sell the money-losing nursing home to Aperion Care, a controversial decision that garnered opposition in some influential quarters.

We were not big fans of selling to Aperion Care, even though we believe it is time to sell the nursing home. (The county just cant sustain the financial losses any longer). But the idea that some on the East Moline council would press for interest payments on liens that date back to the Reagan era (and apparently werent an issue for three decades) is a bit much.

The council, meeting online this week because of social distancing requirements, voted against charging the interest. But, according to reporter Jim Meenan, one council member later said that her vote was not recorded correctly. The result was confusion.

Our view is there would be less confusion if these council members would just drop this bad idea.
Colombo, April 25 : Thirty more Sri Lankan Navy personnel have tested positive for COVID-19 taking the overall number of infections in the island-nation to 414, an Army official said on Saturday.

Army Commander Shavendra Silva said the cases were detected at the Welisara Navy camp, reports the Daily Mirror newspaper.

On Friday, Silva said that the 29 Navy personnel have contracted the virus during the recent search operation carried out in Suduwella, Ja-Ela.

Accordingly, the Army Commander said the Navy Camp at Welisara has been declared as an isolated area.

Meanwhile, the Health Ministry said two more COVID-19 infected patients recovered and were discharged on Saturday increasing the total recovered cases to 109 in the country.

The death toll currently stands at seven.
An Australian surfer has been found dead in a swimming pool in a lavish Balinese villa he shares with his girlfriend and friend.

Rhodri Lloyd Thomas, 31, from Perth, in WA, was pulled from the pool in the villa in the idyllic resort of Canggu on April 9.

Mr Thomas' friend Alexander Hogan desperately tried to revive him while his distraught girlfriend Sara Mearsheimer watched on in horror.

Rhodri Lloyd Thomas, 31, from Perth was found dead in the Canggu villa on April 9

Mr Thomas (pictured centre right) had studied marketing and finance at the University of Western Australian

He was a well known surfer both in Margaret River, WA and in Canggu in Bali

North Kuta's chief detective, Androyuan Elim, said Mr Thomas had been swimming in the pool around 8am that morning.

'Mr Hogan heard the victim swimming at 8am and about an hour later, he no longer heard the sound of water in the pool. He then checked the pool for his friend,' Mr Elim told News Corp.

'The witness conducted CPR by giving artificial breath and pressing on the victim's chest. But the victim remained motionless.

'From the results of the post mortem examination at Sanglah hospital (Bali's main hospital), there was no sign of violence found on the victim's body. We cannot confirm the cause of death because the autopsy was not approved by the victim's family.'

Mr Thomas' body had since been cremated and returned to his family in Australia.

Mr Thomas (pictured with friend) also used to work as a bartender in Perth

Mr Thomas was the founder of the JamJar travel app that offers holiday advice to tourists in Bali

Mr Thomas had been living in Canggu, one of the most popular surf destinations in Indonesia

It remains a mystery why Mr Thomas, a skilled surfer, drowned in a pool.

Ms Mearsheimer was reportedly in the kitchen when she saw Mr Hogan resuscitating her boyfriend before she collapsed in shock.

Mr Thomas had been living in Bali since 2016 and was a keen surfer in the popular Canggu area.

He is the founder of JamJar a travel app that delivers advice to holidaymakers in Bali.

Writing online Mr Thomas said he was a 'branding, design and marketing expert.'

Mr Thomas had studied marketing and corporate finance at the University of Western Australia.

He had also worked as a bartender in Perth before developing the JamJar app.

The app gives tourists information on bars, restaurants and events in cities.

JamJar uses personal information from a user to determine places and events they may be interested in.

It also uses real time and weather factors to suggest ideas for tourists to explore.

Mr Thomas has developed the app in Perth but was also running it in Bali.

Mystery still surrounds the circumstances of Mr Thomas' death earlier this month

Mr Thomas had been living in Bali since 2016 and was a keen surfer in the popular Canggu area
As Muslims worldwide will be observing a month-long of fasting beginning April 23, New York Mayor Bill De Blasio has said that the city will provide 5,00,000 free halal meals for Ramadan. De Blasio while announcing the program on April 23 said that since mosques that provide meals to poor to break the fast are not functioning because of coronavirus lockdown, the city will ensure that the members of the community get free halal meals.

Read: Good News: Tree Climber Distributes Free Water And Food To Cops In Kerala Amid COVID-19

Great gesture

The New York City Department of Education is already providing free meals at 400 Meal Hubs across the city which is available daily for any New Yorker. The Department in a statement said, "During Ramadan, the Muslim holy month, which begins Thursday, April 23 the DOE will significantly increase the supply and distribution of Halal meals at 32 DOE Grab & Go sites across all five boroughs with large Muslim populations. In addition to the 32 receiving this increase, all 400+ sites will continue to have halal meals available."

We're ensuring EVERY New Yorker has the food they need.



Free halal meals are available at more than 400 sites across the city, with a 25% increase of halal meals at the sites most frequented by our Muslim communities.

More: https://t.co/JvfCsFWx47 pic.twitter.com/5PbUsTUfAx  City of New York (@nycgov) April 23, 2020

Read: Good News: Karnataka Brothers Sell Their Land To Feed Needy Amid COVID-19 Crisis

New York City is the worst affected region in the United States, which is the most affected country in the world. The death toll in the city due to coronavirus outbreak has already surpassed the 20,000 mark, which is more than every other country in the world, barring Italy, Spain, and France. The United States has recorded over 8,86,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases so far, of which 50,243 people have lost their lives. According to data by worldometer, there are more than 7,50,000 active cases in the country as of April 24 with 14,997 under critical condition.

Read: Old Man Left Teary-eyed After Caregiver Suprises Him With Pillow Of His Late Wife's Face

Read: US Scientists Say Sunlight Destroys Coronavirus Quickly, Hope It Would Ease In Summer

(Image Credit: AP)
Two days after the raid at an illegal liquor distillation plant at Bahomajra village of Khanna, the police on Friday recovered 3,740 litres of spirit and 1,760 litres of other chemicals used in making liquor and arrested one more member of the bootleggers gang.

The arrest came on the information provided by Harvinder Singh, alias Manga Chaddha, one of the five accused arrested earlier during the raid.

The accused arrested on Friday has been identified as Jasvir Singh, alias Jassi, of Samrala. The police recovered two cartons of liquor from his possession. During questioning, the accused told the police that he had sold 600 cartons of illicit liquor in Khanna.

Khanna senior superintendent of police (SSP) Harpreet Singh said the raids were conducted following the information provided by accused Manga. He told the police that he used to procure spirit from Bhupinder Singh, alias Bhinda, of Rajpura and sell liquor through Jassi and others.

Bhinda managed to escape when the police raided his house, however, the police recovered spirit and other chemicals from the house, he said.

The SSP added that the police had also booked Lavan Kumar of Patiala; Chirag of Delhi; Sumit Kumar of Delhi; Vivek Kumar of Chandigarh; AdityaTyagi of Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh; Bhupinder Singh and Jasvir Singh in the case on information provided by Manga.

Manga is already facing trial in 12 cases registered in Rajasthan, Sangrur, Patiala, Mohali and Shri Fatehgarh Sahib.

In a major crackdown against liquor smugglers on Wednesday, Khanna police had raided a liquor distillation plant being illegally run in Bahomajra village and seized 1,857 cartons of illicit liquor, 3,800 litres of spirit, along with machines, vehicles and 5.82 lakh in cash.

Police had arrested five persons  Harvinder Singh, alias Manga Chaddha; Chander Prakash, alias Vicky Middha; Jatinder Kumar, Jatinderpal Singh and Maninder Singh  in this connection.

A case under Sections 420 (cheating), 465 (forgery), 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating), 471 (using as genuine a forged document) and 267 (making or selling false weight or measure) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC); Sections 61/1/14 of the Excise Act and Section 51 of the Disaster Management Act was registered against the accused at the Sadar police station in Khanna.
Saudi Supreme Court says decision is part of reforms pushed by King Salman and his son Crown Prince Mohammed.

Saudi Arabia has abolished flogging as a form of punishment, the countrys supreme court has announced.

The court said on Saturday that the human rights advances are part of reforms pushed by King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz and his son, the kingdoms de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS).

Court-ordered floggings in Saudi Arabia  sometimes extending to hundreds of lashes  have long drawn condemnation from human rights groups.

Human rights activists, however, say legal reforms overseen by MBS have brought no let-up in the conservative kingdoms crushing of dissent, including through the use of the death penalty.

International human rights norms

The Saudi supreme court said the latest reform was intended to bring the kingdom into line with international human rights norms against corporal punishment.

Previously the courts could order the flogging of convicts found guilty of offences ranging from extramarital sex and breach of the peace to murder.

In future, judges will have to choose between fines and/or jail sentences, or non-custodial alternatives like community service, the court said in a statement seen by AFP on Saturday.

The most high-profile instance of flogging in recent years was the case of Saudi blogger Raif Badawi, who was arrested in 2012 and sentenced to seven years in prison and 600 lashes and then resentenced to 10 years and 1,000 lashes in 2014 for blogging about free speech and insulting Islam.

He was awarded the European Parliaments Sakharov human rights prize the following year. Badawi is currently serving his jail term.

Saudi Arabias human rights record has come under scrutiny this week following news of the death in prison of human rights activist and lawyer Abdullah al-Hamid.

The 69-year-old was a founding member of the Saudi Civil and Political Rights Association, known by its Arabic acronym HASEM, and was sentenced to 11 years in jail in March 2013, campaigners said.

He was convicted on multiple charges, including breaking allegiance to the Saudi ruler, inciting disorder and seeking to disrupt state security, Amnesty International said.

Criticism of Saudi Arabias human rights record has grown since King Salman named his son Prince Mohammed as crown prince and heir to the throne in June 2017.

Disingenuous move

Aliaa Abutayah, a London-based Saudi political activist and an opposition leader, told Al Jazeera the latest change by the Saudi government in its penal code is a very small change.

If the Saudi government is serious about legal reform, they should start by releasing all of the political and human rights prisoners they have been holding in their prisons for years, she said.

The government should also abolish the death penalty, including the practice of executing juveniles, she added.

The October 2018 murder of critic Jamal Khashoggi inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul and the increased repression of dissidents at home have overshadowed the princes pledge to modernise the economy and society.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has criticised the teachers' unions for protesting the return to classrooms.

Mr Morrison has urged states to urgently reopen schools on advice from Australia's top health adviser - saying that students do not pose a risk of spreading coronavirus.



But Mr Morrisons insistence that classrooms are safe has drawn mixed reactions, with some unions threatening to stand firm against returning to normal operations.

In some states, teachers' unions have continued to urge families not to send children to school.

'I mean, weve got people who are going to work in supermarkets every day,' Mr Morrison told Sky News.

'Weve got people who are doing jobs all over the community, driving buses, and theyre doing great work and theyre turning up to work to do those things.'

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has slammed teachers' unions protesting the return to classrooms

Mr Morrison said the risk for teachers was 'not in the classroom; their risk is in the staffroom'.

There is mounting evidence to back the medical advice that children are less prone to catching and spreading COVID-19.

Chief medical officer Brendan Murphy said NSW Health has done a large study including testing children with no virus symptoms and found no evidence they were transmitting the disease.

'This is quite different from influenza, where we know they are sometimes super-spreaders and can spread the virus,' he told reporters on Friday.

'Most children who have contracted the virus in Australia have contracted it in the family home ... not contracted it in the school environment.'

The health advice says appropriate workplace safety measures should be taken to protect teachers, including cleaning door handles, desks, computers, hand-rails and playground equipment several times a day.

The advice also says classroom furniture should leave as much space between students as possible and children should be encouraged to keep 1.5m apart from others when entering classrooms or during break times.

Teachers have been told to keep 1.5m apart from each other in staff rooms, but Scott Morrison said the measure does not apply to students in classrooms.

Mr Morrison instructed teachers to adopt the work ethic of supermarket workers and bus drivers who have continued to work despite the risk of contracting coronavirus

'The four square metre rule and the 1.5m distancing between students during classroom activities is not appropriate and not required. I can't be more clear than that,' he told reporters.

Mr Morrison also emphasised there was no requirement for minimum floor space per person, unlike other enclosed areas such as shops.

However, unions have slammed the Prime Minister's advice as contradictory, and are adamant social distancing measures are vital to ensure the safety of their members.

In a statement, the Australian Education Union said the social distancing guidelines 'provide little clarity about how governments are going to ensure a safe working environment for teachers, principals and support staff'.

'It is still not clear how governments expect schools to manage social distancing for adults. It is contradictory to have one set of rules for adults outside of the school gate and another inside,' the union's federal president Correna Haythorpe said.

They also hold concerns the requirements around regular cleaning and making sure soap or hand sanitiser is freely available are not being met.

Queensland Teachers Union president Kevin Bates indicated he was open to observing the government's notion to gradually reopen classrooms, but more information was needed on why schools are exempt from the 4sqm rule.

The QTU will consult with the state government and examine the findings of the NSW study on Monday.

The Queensland government will review its decision to close classrooms to all students other than those from families of essential workers and vulnerable children on May 15.

In Victoria, all students are encouraged to learn from home for term two, but schools will remain open for vulnerable children and children of essential workers.

AEU Victorian president Meredith Peace slammed Mr Scott Morrison's directive.

'It is bizarre that the Prime Minister has been telling us for six weeks how important social distancing is but today he has basically said that it no longer matters for students or teachers,' she said, The Australian reports.

States have been divided over arrangements to reopen schools for term two. A sign is pictured outside St Kilda Primary school notifying of limited access under remote learning restrictions on April 15, 2020

'Throughout this pandemic weve been worried that many seem to be neglecting the health and safety of teachers, and these comments only reinforce that. While were as keen as anyone to return to normal life, including a return to school, we must plan that return carefully to ensure the safety of both staff and students.'

In a full-page newspaper advertisement published on Friday, the State School Teachers' Union of WA urged parents too keep their children home if possible - against the government's advice.

The union made reference to physical distancing guidelines issued by the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee, claiming they can be adhered to when schools have limited numbers 'but not when they are full'.

Education Minister Sue Ellery condemned the advertisement as 'misleading'.

'The AHPPC advice has been from the beginning, and is now, that because of the low risk of transmission, schools are safe for staff and students and should stay open,' she told 6PR radio.

'There is reference to distancing but it's about very specific things.'

In Western Australia, classes will open for all government school students from Wednesday but attendance will not be enforced.

SSTUWA president Pat Byrne later issued a statement claiming the union's position was 'consistent with the state government's approach'.

'Teachers support the managed return of face-to-face teaching, as part of an approach which is consistent with the gradual easing of school distancing requirements by government,' it said.

'Support them by keeping your kids home if you can - then we can make schools as safe as possible until we can all be back at school together.'

NSW schools are due to return for one day a week from May 11, the third week of term two, with a gradual progression to full-time learning as restrictions are eased.

South Australian students will return to school next week.

The school debate runs alongside other government initiatives to relax COVID-19 restrictions.

On Friday, the national cabinet released ten principles to make workplaces safe, and is focusing on strategies to get people back playing sport.
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) says it is concerned about interference into the editorial decisions at Vedomosti that journalists at the business daily say undermine trust in the publication.

Editors of the Moscow newspaper have been under pressure to change the newspaper's editorial line since it was bought in March, RSF said in a news release on April 24.

RSF called the interference "a new blow to independent journalism in Russia" and a further step in the takeover of the Russian media by people close to the government.

As an example, RSF said the daily was recently barred from publishing polls from the Levada Center or mentioning its name after some of its polls irritated the Kremlin.

Jeanne Cavelier, head of the Eastern Europe and Central Asia office of RSF, said the organization denounced this kind of pressure and stands by the editorial staff.

Journalists at Vedomosti this week publicly accused acting Editor in Chief Andrei Shmarov of imposing pro-Kremlin censorship and suggested the board of directors replace him.

In an editorial posted on the newspaper's website, the journalists complained that Shmarov had banned the publication of Levada polls.

"Changes of this kind undermine trust in the publication," the editorial said.

Vedomosti's media reporter had earlier complained that Shmarov banned negative coverage of President Vladimir Putin's plans to change the constitution to allow him to extend his rule until 2036. She said anyone who flouted the ban would be fired.

Shmarov told Reuters he had not threatened to fire anyone and that his editorial decisions were his own, not the result of any instructions given by anyone else, including the government.

Vedomosti continues publishing news items on subjects that he had been accused of banning, he added.

Based on reporting by Reuters
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'

Why did Karnataka's veteran RSS leader get call from PM Modi?

India

oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P

Mangaluru, Apr 25: Senior RSS leader H Somashekhar Bhatt on Saturday morning received a call from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, enquiring about his health.

It is reportedly said that Bhatt got emotional hearing the PM Modi's voice at the other end as the conversation began with 'Somashekharji' and spoke for about six minutes.

The 85-year-old veteran RSS leader recalled how the Jana Sangh came to power in Udupi municipality under the leadership of V S Acharya in 1968 and about his association with the Sangh Parivar through the decades and his imprisonment during the Emergency.

Coronavirus impact: Number of fatalities due to road accidents, crimes see a dip in India

Somashekhar Bhatt, the former Udupi municipality president, later said it was a rare honour for him. "I am very glad that PM Modi called and spoke to me. I shared the experience of meeting him at the Jaipur session. Asked to take care of health and expressed concern," he said to a media organisation.

It should be noted that the Prime Minister is been calling several senior functionaries of the party who worked for the Sangh Parivar in the time of adversities to build up the BJP in its present form and seeking advice from them.

Fact check: Will coronavirus die if disinfectant is injected into human body

He had also called in recent days former MLA Ram Bhat who was elected from Puttur in Dakshina Kannada and D H Shankar Murthy, who was the former chairman of the state legislative council, BJP state president Nalin Kumar Kateel tweeted.
One of the most confounding aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic must be that we were warned, forcefully and repeatedly, that this was going to happen.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 25/4/2020 (627 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Opinion

One of the most confounding aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic must be that we were warned, forcefully and repeatedly, that this was going to happen.

In September 2019, about 60 days before a mysterious new pneumonia-like illness appeared China, and about 90 days before China formally identified a new coronavirus, an organization called the Global Preparedness Monitoring Board (GPMB) issued a frightening report called A World At Risk.

A creation of the World Bank Group and the World Health Organization, the GPMB was formed in 2018 largely out of concerns identified following the 2014 Ebola outbreak in West Africa. In this, its first major report, the board painted a harrowing picture of global pandemic preparedness.

"If it is true to say whats past is prologue then there is a very real threat of a rapidly moving, highly lethal pandemic of a respiratory pathogen killing 50 to 80 million people and wiping out nearly five per cent of the worlds economy. A global pandemic on that scale would be catastrophic, creating widespread havoc, instability and insecurity. The world is not prepared."

All of the shortcomings that we have experienced in our pandemic response were outlined in this report in detailed, prescient fashion: insufficient supplies of swabs, specimen containers and reagents needed to test for the virus; global shortages of masks, gloves, gowns, face shields and ventilators; public-health agencies starved of resources; mass confusion about the closing of borders, the cessation of domestic and international travel, and shelter-in-place orders.

There isnt much value in having the authors of this report and their sponsoring agencies engage in a lusty "we told you so." But it should be said that they did tell us what was going to happen, and we ignored them.

On that basis alone, any attempt to blame the WHO and other international agencies for leaving us unprepared for COVID-19 seems quite ridiculous. But that did not stop Ontario Tory MP Derek Sloan, a candidate for the leadership of his party.

In Twitter video and in a statement issued April 21, Sloan attacked Dr. Theresa Tam, Canadas chief public health officer, for deferring to Chinese officials who, it has been established, concealed the existence of the coronavirus when it was first identified last fall. Sloan noted that Tam, who serves on a WHO oversight committee, failed Canada when it came to pressing China for more transparency.

"The truth is that the WHO serves the Communist Party of the Peoples Republic of China," Sloan wrote in his release, while accusing Tam specifically of "dutifully" repeating the "propaganda" of the Chinese government. "Dr. Tam must now either resign or be fired."

Many rushed to condemn Sloan for his comments about Tam, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who said such intolerance and racism "have no place in our country." Senior Conservatives, including departing leader Andrew Scheer, did not criticize Sloan who, in the face of a backlash, doubled down on his allegations on Friday.

"We are in a culture where political correctness and identity politics are used as a shield to deflect or even outlaw criticism," Sloan stated. "Being called a racist for asking questions has been disappointing, though not unexpected."

Missing from Sloans attack, and indeed from the parallel attacks being launched against the WHO by leaders such as U.S. President Donald Trump  who withdrew hundreds of millions of dollars in funding for the WHO  is the simple fact that the very agency that is the target of their contempt begged us to prepare for a pandemic.

It is the last refuge of scoundrels and cowards to wait until they are in the grips of a crisis to blame the people who warned them it was going to happen.

The WHO is hardly a newcomer to mob-styled attacks. The global health agency operates under the umbrella of the United Nations and, as such, is a popular target for rabid nationalists throughout the world who believe any multi-national agency is a threat to their sovereignty.

Depending on who is making the attack, the WHO has been guilty of acting too quickly and harshly, acting too little and too late, not standardizing the global pandemic response, not recommending a ban on international travel or the use of face masks early enough, or not pressing China for greater transparency in the early days following the detection of the virus.

Is the WHO guilty of any of those transgressions? There is some evidence the global health agency did not challenge China robustly enough early on, was perhaps a little late in declaring COVID-19 a pandemic and supporting measures to stop international air travel and promote the use of non-medical masks in places where social distancing is not possible.

But those who have attempted to lay blame at the feet of the WHO  and that includes some really dense and ill-informed journalists  are ignoring the fact that not only did we collectively dismiss its warnings, but that the agency itself does not have the moral or legal authority to force anyone to do anything.

Decisions on social distancing, sheltering in place, closing the economy and stopping travel were fully made by individual nations, or even jurisdictions within those nations. Thats why some countries that were slow to react were ravaged by COVID-19 and others fared much better.

Dan Lett | Not for Attribution A weekly look at politics close to home and around the world that is sent every Tuesday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement.

Its unlikely that our experience in this pandemic will lead to a massive increase in authority for the WHO. But it should  emphasis on "should"  cause a complete re-think, not only of our pandemic planning, but also our whole approach to governing from both a social and fiscal perspective.

Major decisions about spending and taxation will have to be made against a new backdrop of knowledge of the enormous costs of not preparing for the impact of a pandemic. COVID-19 has not only claimed tens of thousands of lives and ground the global economy to a halt, it has also left our governments in a distinctly weakened, highly vulnerable state.

Government debt is going to skyrocket, reducing fiscal capacity to support core government services of all kinds. Taxation is undoubtedly going to remain at current levels, if not increase as the economy fires back up. Unemployment is likely to surge as well, straining tenuous social safety nets.

For as long as weve been told that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, weve been ignoring advice to prepare for disasters. Particularly in prosperous, developed nations where somehow we thought that  with the exception of a terrorist attack  we were largely untouchable by any kind of global disaster.

As it turns out, we were very touchable. If and when our lives return to something that bears a vague resemblance to normal, we would all be well advised to direct all of our concern and criticism not at the people whose advice we ignored, but at those of us who did the ignoring.

dan.lett@freepress.mb.ca
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 has 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. The restrictions have put a damper on spirits in Indonesia, the world's biggest Muslim majority nation, where national religious organisations have called on the faithful to stay at home. "This Ramadan is very different -- it's just not festive," said Indonesian housewife Fitria Famela. "I'm disappointed that I can't 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 world's Muslims -- have waved off fears about the spread of COVID-19. The top Islamic organisation in Indonesia's 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 region's capital Banda Aceh -- though crowds were smaller than usual. "I'm not worried because I'm wearing a face mask and keeping my distance," said Cut Fitrah Riskiah, one of those taking part. The threat of large religious gatherings has been highlighted in recent weeks by waves of infections in Asia, linked to separate, massive Islamic congregations in Malaysia, Pakistan and India. And the World Health Organization has called for a stop to some Ramadan activities to limit exposure. But in Bangladesh, clerics have pushed back at attempts to shrink the number of people going to mosques. And Pakistan has seen its mosques crammed in the lead up to Ramadan with the faithful sitting shoulder-to-shoulder and paying little heed to social distancing. - 'We must accept it' - 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 I've been unable to go the mosque," he told AFP. "But we must accept it and obey the rules of social distancing to protect our lives." Muslim-majority Malaysia has extended a strict lockdown until mid-May with mosques, schools and most businesses closed -- and police checkpoints set up to catch rulebreakers. Even popular Ramadan bazaars, where Muslims buy local delicacies before breaking their fast, have been banned. Instead, Malaysians can only order from so-called "e-bazaars", where people order goods online and have them delivered to their homes. In neighbouring Indonesia, fears of a spike in coronavirus cases when millions travel to hometowns and ancestral villages at the end of Ramadan has forced the country of some 260 million to issue a ban on the annual exodus. The government has also announced a clampdown on all air and sea travel across the 17,000-island archipelago. Jakarta resident Erik Febrian said he was relying on a computer to allow him to keep in touch with his out-of-town parents until he can see them in person at the end of Ramadan. "Thanks to technology I can video-call my parents every day during Ramadan," he said. "And keep an eye on their health." burs-pb/jah
"I don't know what crime my son has committed. When everyone is worried and asked to stay inside because of coronavirus he is being taken to one court after another by the government," Assam peasant leader Akhil Gogoi's mother Priyada said after the National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Guwahati sent him to judicial custody till 13 May.

"If he has committed such a big crime, I request the government to shoot him and finish this," Priyada added, sobbing.

The NIA court made the decision Thursday in case No 13/2019 registered at the Chandmari Police Station over Gogoi's alleged role in the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act protests that turned violent in Chandmari city.

Priyada, speaking from their residence in Assam's Selenghat Lukhurakhan, Mariyani district, yet again appealed for the government to release her son. Priyada has demanded her son's release on several occasions and even went on a hunger strike in December.

"I am old and a heart patient," Priyada added. "I was hoping my son would take me to the hospital for a cataract operation. Nobody in family is able to explain things to my grandson who has become impatient to meet his father."

Gogoi has been in judicial custody since 26 December. He mobilised public protests against the CAA across several districts in Upper Assam before his arrest on 12 December from Jorhat.

Gogoi was taken to Guwahati from Dibrugarh jail on Wednesday and produced at the NIA court on Thursday. Speaking to the media on the way to the NIA court, Gogoi said, "I am in a lot of pain. The government has imposed three new cases so that I cannot be released from prison. I request that all be careful about the coronavirus. I also demand that the government bring back 4 to 5 lakh people of Assam stranded all over due to the lockdown."

Gogoi was produced at the court alongside with his two aides Dhoijyo Konwer and Bitu Sonowal. The NIA court has also decided to take up the case of the violent attack on Chabua Police Station officer-in-charge Tulumoni Dowerah during anti-CAA protests.

The case filed by Chabua Police station in Dibrugarh, also for Gogoi's alleged role in inciting violence, was transferred to the NIA by the state government and based on which another new case (number 01/2020) was filed by the investigation body.

Gogoi's legal team told the media this case relates to Dowerah's tooth being broken during the violent agitation.

But the detailed report of the incident could not be presented due to the lockdown and the court said that case would be heard after 3 May.

Gogoi on 17 March was granted bail by a special NIA court after the agency failed to file a chargesheet against him within the specified period of 90 days in connection with a case of alleged Maoists links.

The investigating agency had on 16 March sought extension of his judicial custody for an additional 90 days for further probe and filing of chargesheet. The court rejected the plea, following which lawyers of the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) leader applied for bail, which was granted.

Gogoi, lodged in Guwahati Central Jail, was then arrested by the Sivasagar police on 19 March for anti-CAA violence with illegal assembly of people in Sivasagar district'. Gogoi was in police custody for four days.
The NFU has sharply criticised some retailers for failing to stock British beef as the annual campaign Great British Beef Week gets underway.

There are reports that prime beef stocks in supermarkets such as Sainsburys, Asda and Tesco are being dominated by Irish products, the union said.

It comes as a scaled-down Great British Beef Week (23-30 April) commenced earlier this week, marking its tenth anniversary this year.

But market disruption as a result of the coronavirus pandemic is having a significant impact on the sector which had already suffered a sustained period of low prices.

The closure of the food service sector has seen the loss of a home for a significant proportion of the higher value cuts of beef, most notably steaks and roasting joints.

Whilst there has been an increase in demand from retailers for mince and lower value cuts, this has not offset the loss caused by the closure of pubs, cafes, restaurants.

Amid the crisis the sector is facing, the NFU has called out retailers for their 'inexcusable' actions in 'failing to honour their commitment' to sourcing British beef.

NFU President Minette Batters explained that prime cuts of British beef are the 'highest quality and most valuable', and farmers depend on these being sold.

At a time when retailers should be supporting British farmers more than ever and promoting these quality cuts of beef, it is indefensible that customers who want to support farmers are only finding Irish cuts on shelves in some stores."

She highlighted how Sainsbury's has a policy of sourcing 75% British beef: "There is no reason whatsoever that this sourcing policy should not be demonstrated in all their stores," she said.

This week is about celebrating and promoting the incredible beef we have here in Britain. This is not what we are seeing from some of our retailers and both farmers and the public are demanding to know why.

The Covid-19 lockdown means that sales of prime cuts of beef to the out of home market have completely dried up.

Meanwhile in retail, sales of mince have rocketed. When there is such an imbalance of supply, the NFU said it is 'critically important' for retailers to stock prime cuts of British beef so that the prices paid to farmers is not undermined.
Please know that these are not easy decisions, and we are doing all we can to minimize the impact on all our staff across Johns Hopkins Medicine, Paul Rothman, chief executive of Johns Hopkins Medicine, wrote in an email to staff. Your service and sacrifice is deeply appreciated, and we will do all we can to ensure a safe return to normal operations.
The Delhi High Court has granted two weeks' time to five schools run by the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) to pay salary arrears to its teachers, some of whom have not been paid since December last year.

A bench of justices Vipin Sanghi and Sangita Dhingra Sehgal said "there can be no justification for non-payment of salaries" when fees were being charged from the students.

The schools had contended that the salaries could not be paid as fee arrears from students had accumulated.

The bench rejected the contention and granted the schools two weeks' time to "positively clear and pay all the arrears" to the affected teachers.

With the direction, the court listed the matter for May 11, when the schools will have to show that they have complied with the order.

The order came on appeals filed by the teachers of the five schools located at Fateh Nagar, Tilak Nagar, Nanak Piao, Hargobind Enclave and India Gate here.

The appeals were filed against a single-judge order of the high court, which had not granted any interim relief to them and asked the Directorate of to decide on their representation for implementation of the Seventh Pay Commission recommendations, advocate Nikhilesh Kumar, who appeared for the teachers, said.

In the appeals, filed through Kumar, the teachers of the Fateh Nagar, Tilak Nagar and Nanak Piao schools had claimed that they were not paid salaries since December last year and Rs 15,000 were paid to them as an ad-hoc amount on April 23.

The teachers of the Hargobind Enclave school had said only the salary of March was not paid to them.

The teachers of the school at India Gate had said they had received 85 per cent of their January salary and nothing thereafter.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
ALBANY  Deaths due to the novel coronavirus rose across the Capital Region on Wednesday, fueled by the growing number of fatalities at area nursing homes and long-term care facilities.

Albany County reported four more deaths Wednesday, including three at area nursing homes. It did not specify which homes. Of the four deaths, one was a woman in her 90s and the others were residents in their 80s.

In Columbia County, the Pine Haven Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Philmont lost a ninth resident to the virus, according to county Public Health Director Jack Mabb, bringing the county's known death toll due to the virus to 13.

The nursing home has been battling one of the region's largest known outbreaks at a long-term care facility since March. To date, 30 residents and 12 members of staff have tested positive for the virus, Mabb said.

Schenectady County also lost a 15th resident to the virus on Wednesday, but provided no information about the death. The county has refused to provide data about its private nursing homes.

Hear more about our coronavirus coverage on an episode of The Eagle: A Times Union Podcast





Tracking the spread

Counties continue to vary in how they report out cases and deaths at long-term care facilities, which are fueling nearly a quarter of all coronavirus deaths statewide.

Albany County offered up more data on Wednesday following repeated requests from the Times Union.

The county's largest known outbreak is at Shaker Place Rehabilitation and Nursing Center  the county-owned home in Colonie. That facility has had 22 residents and 12 staff test positive for the virus to date. At least two residents have died.

The next largest outbreak is at the Teresian House in Albany, where 23 residents and an unknown number of employees have tested positive. Our Lady of Mercy Life Center in Guilderland has had 11 residents and eight employees test positive. The Grand Rehabilitation and Nursing facility in Guilderland has had nine residents and four employees. Hudson Park Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Albany has one resident who tested positive, and the Daughters of Sarah Nursing Home in Albany and the Eddy Village Green in Cohoes each have one employee who tested positive.

At least seven nursing home residents have died throughout the county to date, according to county officials. They did not specify where specifically all of the deaths occurred.

The increase of cases in the homes  like in the general population  was expected, said county Health Commissioner Elizabeth Whalen.

"As we do more testing, we get more positive results," she said.

The county and state have done widespread testing of asymptomatic nursing home residents and staff, she said, allowing them to catch cases they might not have otherwise.

Rensselaer County reported another new case Wednesday at the Diamond Hill nursing home in Schaghticoke, where 17 residents and seven members of staff have now tested positive for the virus. Four residents have died.

Rising cases, economic hit

More than 2,000 Capital Region residents have tested positive for the novel coronavirus since the pandemic began, and nearly 100 have died.

Albany County has had the most confirmed cases in the 11-county region by far, with 713 cases confirmed as of Wednesday.

Whalen said it appeared the county was beginning to reach a plateau. Several days ago the county reported just five new cases, giving officials hope that the situation is improving. A jump in new positives now has them questioning that.

"We wondered if it was a blip or if we were starting to see a downward trend," Whalen said. "Overnight  getting 33 cases  it appears it might have been a blip."

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

As protesters prepared to rally against the statewide lockdown outside the state Capitol, just up the hill from the briefing, County Executive Daniel McCoy urged people to continue practicing social distancing.

"It's doing its job, it's working, it's slowing this down," he said. "We do worry about the economy, but first and foremost its the health and safety of workers and the people we represent."

McCoy invited state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli to Wednesday's briefing to discuss the fiscal impact of the pandemic so far. DiNapoli said the state could see a revenue loss of $10-15 billion and called on the federal government to provide unrestricted aid to states and local governments.

"We are in a new economic reality," he said. "The reality is we still don't know where it's headed."

DiNapoli said that with the deadline to file taxes moved to July, the state is facing a cash crunch as falling tax revenue and scheduled school aid payments next month combine to make a difficult few months.

"A lot of the revenue we might have expected has been put off," he said.

Albany County estimates that it could see a 4-12 percent drop in sales tax revenue alone.

As of April 22, the 11-county region had 2,087 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 93 deaths. A breakdown of known cases, hospitalizations, recoveries and deaths by county is as follows:

Albany  713 cases, 33 hospitalized, 7 in ICU, 385 recovered, 29 deaths

Columbia  131 cases, 9 hospitalized, 3 in ICU, 56 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  206 cases, 91 recovered, 14 hospitalized, 3 in ICU, 9 deaths

Saratoga  290 cases, 12 hospitalized, 122* recoveries, 10 deaths

Schenectady  358 cases, 27** hospitalized, 172 recoveries, 15 deaths

Schoharie  27 cases, 4 hospitalized, 24 recovered, 1 death

Warren  107 cases, 6 hospitalized, 62 recovered, 6 deaths

Washington  76 cases, 38 recovered, 2 deaths

*as of 4/14

**includes all hospitalizations in county, regardless of patients county of residence

*A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that Eddy Village Green had a resident who tested positive for COVID-19.
A huge swarm of locusts hit east African nations for the second time this year making the situation for the region, which is already battling hunger crisis and coronavirus COVID-19 scare, very critical, a report by BBC News informed.

The swarms are likely to be 20 times bigger than the first invasion and by June it could become atleast 400 times larger, according to a projection by UN. These batches of younger, freshly-hatched locusts are more aggressive and is creating havoc destroying crops and vegetation alike.

Nations like Ethiopia, Kenya and Somialia have been the worst-hit in this pest attack.

An Ethiopian government official Meseret Hailu, who witnessed the devastation caused by the locust swarms in his country, recounted that the crop-devouring pests were found everywhere "on bushes, on pasture, irrigation plantations, even in forests" of the country's northern Amhara region.

Governments have been scrambling for pesticides and large scale fumigation efforts for the insect invasion which is said to the biggest one in the last 25 years. But the onslaught of coronavirus has made efforts either non existential due to the unavailability of required item or very at very expensive rates.

"The scale-up of the operation has been the biggest difficulty," said Cyrill Ferrand from the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) was quoted as saying by BBC.

India and Pakistan too had been monitoring the movement of the insects before the COVID-19 pandemic brought the entire world to its knees.

Pakistan was invaded by the locust swarm in the months of November and December in 2019, which proceeded to lay waste to the country's cotton crop and ruined wheat harvest as well.

While in India, crops in around 10 kilometres of area at Banaskantha district of Gujarat was destroyed by the locusts which entered the area after making its through Rajasthan from Pakistan.
Home > Archives (2006 on) > 2020 > CJA warns against misuse of emergency powers to silence independent media (...)

DOCUMENT

The Commonwealth Journalists Association is deeply concerned that some Commonwealth member states have responded to the coronavirus pandemic by assuming extraordinary powers which may have the effect of criminalising the work of journalists and arbitrarily restricting the ability of the news media to scrutinise the actions of governments and report in the public interest. The CJA calls on the governments of all member states to support the critical role of independent media in reporting on all aspects of the unfolding pandemic.

The CJA recognises that in order to respond to the public health emergency it may be necessary for governments to introduce emergency measures which restrict certain freedoms, but it reminds governments that those powers should be exercised proportionately, transparently, and only for the temporary purpose of dealing with the emergency.

At this time of crisis, the dissemination of accurate news and well-informed discussion about the impact of the pandemic nationally and globally is vital if governments are to maintain public trust, to ensure fair treatment of vulnerable minorities and to avoid social tensions and distress.

The CJA regrets that in some member states, governments have been using emergency and special powers to influence media reporting on the crisis, to restrict media access to sources of information, and to harass or arrest journalists who publish news critical of government. It calls on all Commonwealth governments to give the media fair access to information and to official spokespersons and specialists, and to ensure that emergency powers do not restrict the medias right to report on matters of public interest.

The Coronavirus crisis is the most serious global health challenge the world has faced for decades. Efforts to tackle it must not be allowed to undermine the democratic values which underpin the modern Commonwealth. The CJA calls on member states to work with the media and civil society to ensure that their societies are well informed and that at all times fundamental rights and the rule of law are respected.

20 April 2020
Airline travel post-pandemic is due for major changes, industry and airport officials believe.

"Airports across the world are going to have to look at every step of the passenger's journey through the airport," from arrival at the terminal until that passenger is safely in a seat on the plane, said Phil Calderone, recently named CEO of the Albany County Airport Authority.

Health screening may become as common as security screenings now are. And like the changes after 9/11, these will be introduced in large part to reassure travelers that they won't be at risk on their flight.

"We'll look at ways to instill confidence in air travel (to) give them a level of comfort," Calderone said.

What will screeners look for? Signs of fever, for one. The screening might occur as you ride an escalator or pass through a security checkpoint, with contactless overhead thermometers measuring individuals' body temperatures. Such screenings have been common at Asian airports in the wake of SARS and other illnesses.

Jean Gagnon, who operates Plaza Travel in Latham, expects more countries may require visas for travel, and more will require vaccinations.

"There are many, many health issues coming out of this," Gagnon said. For example, "does everyone on an airplane have to wear a mask?"

Perhaps, although successful development of a vaccine might permit regulators to ease some of these restrictions, including the requirement for masks and gloves.

As part of the move to touchless travel, facial recognition technology or other biometric indicators likely will be introduced to tie individual travelers to a specific passport, driver's license or other identifying information, as well as to the passenger's boarding pass and itinerary.

The goal: "Make sure there are as few touchpoints as possible," said Calderone.

Boarding areas will likely be larger to accommodate social distancing. And boarding procedures may undergo changes as well.

Already, some carriers have implemented back-to-front boarding to minimize contacts between passengers. They're also blocking center seats to maintain some distance, and adjusting food services, said Katherine Estep, communications director for Airlines for America, the industry trade group.

They'll be boarding planes that have been cleaned and sanitized, perhaps numerous times each day. Estep said some carriers are including electrostatic cleaning and fogging procedures, where a plane's interior is treated with an aersol disinfectant.

Passengers' luggage, meanwhile, will be examined with CT scanners so that security officials don't have to come into contact with individuals' belongings, said Calderone.

In other parts of the world, some airlines have already introduced more rigorous screening procedures and travel requirements.

Passengers arriving at Dubai International Airport earlier this month for their Emirates flight to Tunisia met individually with public health workers who administered a 10-minute blood test for Covid-19. Passengers and staff were required to wear face masks and gloves. In addition, flight attendants also wore disposable gowns over their uniforms, as well as safety visors.

On board Emirates flights, passengers have been limited to laptops, purses, briefcases, or baby items. Carry-on luggage is no longer permitted in the passenger cabin, and in-flight magazines have been removed. Bento-style meal boxes including sandwiches, snacks, beverages and desserts have replaced the former meal service.

And customers must wear their masks and gloves from check-in until they've disembarked from their plane.

The airline industry has been crippled by the spread of Covid-19. Daily departures at Albany International Airport next month will fall to as few as 14 from the mid-50s as recently as early March.

Destinations that have temporarily lost nonstop service include Newark, Washington National, Atlanta, Minneapolis, Fort Lauderdale and Fort Myers.

At Albany, most of CommutAir's regional jet fleet has been grounded, with groups of planes parked in several areas around the airport, while both parking garages and most surface parking lots have been closed. Fewer than 100 passengers a day have been passing through security checkpoints, compared to several thousand on a normal day.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

Nationwide, U.S. carriers are carrying passenger loads last seen in 1954, Estep told the Times Union. Airlines have taken 2,800 planes out of service, or 46 percent of their fleet, while passenger totals are down 97 percent.

"The pandemic has had -- and continues to have -- a severe and unprecedented impact on the U.S. airline industry," Estep said.

Some of the changes above may be temporary, in place until the risk posed by Covid-19 has subsided. But others, including many of the touch-free innovations, very likely could become permanent.

It's not clear whether airlines will want to practice the kind of social distancing -- blocked center seats, rows of seats farther apart -- that would cut an airplane's seating capacity.

"There are two schools of thought on what's going to happen with fares," said Gagnon. "Fares could fall to a very low level," as airlines seek to restart the travel industry. On the other hand, "airlines have cut their schedules and laid people off. Seats that may be available will be harder to get, and fares will go up," she added.

After 9/11 and again after the Great Recession, airlines consolidated, so that the United States now has just four major carriers -- American, Delta, Southwest and United -- which together carry three out of every five passengers. Gagnon wonders whether there will be further consolidation following the pandemic.

And if you're wondering about the future of travel, here's a statistic from Gagnon: "One out of 10 jobs in the world is travel-related," she said. Tourism, in other words, is a major sector of the economy.

And for those who have planned upcoming trips that now are on hold, Gagnon's advice: "Please save our industry. Postpone, don't cancel."

It might even be a good time to book a ticket. JetBlue was offering $42 one-way fares to Florida last week from Albany. And Thomas Nicchi of the Comedy Works ended up buying multiple round-trip tickets between Newark and Las Vegas on Frontier Airlines.

He typically travels twice a month between the East Coast and Las Vegas, where he has another comedy club. Normally, tickets can cost $300 to $400.

Frontier was offering one million tickets on sale for $11 each, one way. Nicchi ended up paying $20.22 round-trip, and he said almost all of that was in fees.

"So I actually bought several of them," Nicchi said Friday. "I don't have a ton of faith that I'll be able to fly in September or October," given the continuing spread of Covid-19. But the tickets are 5 percent of what he normally pays, so he reasons it wouldn't be that large a loss.

"It's going to cost me more to park the car," Nicchi said.
A 30-year-old man was killed when he was struck by lightning in a forest area in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir, a police official said on Saturday.

Sajjad Hussain was grazing his sheep and goats in the forest adjoining his Pangai village in Thanamandi area when the incident took place, the official said.

He died on the spot after being hit by the lightning on Friday evening, the official said, adding that the body of the deceased was later handed over to his family for last rites after completion of legal formalities.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Data on human rights abuse associated with petty offences in Nigeria covering the period October 2019 and March 2020 have been released by Lawyers Alert.

The Data detailing the analysis of human rights violations based on types of petty offences is with a view to serving as useful tool for advocacy towards decriminalization of petty offences in the country.

The findings on Petty Offences in Nigeria by Lawyers Alert, a non-profit body, in partnership with Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) focused on ten violations most rampant, reported and monitored.

These offences include indiscriminate disposal of waste, wandering or loitering, disobedience to parents or constituted authorities, alms seeking, hawking, public display of affection, violation of traffic or wrong parking, breach of promise, commercial sex work, sexual minorities and being a rogue or vagabond.

The President of Lawyer Alert, Barrister Rommy Mom said the data was accurate, credible and represented true picture of the state of human rights violations associated with Petty Offences.

His words Our documentation process seats on our already existing structure of producing data in other spheres. Lawyers Alert has an online tool that automatically analyses data according to geographic locations (774 LGAs), age, sex, types and so on.

"This tool has given us the plank to produce data in Nigeria on several issues ranging from SRHR to sexual minorities. In producing the data on Petty Offences, the online tool was expanded to also capture violations associated with petty offenses."

"Violations report came from our six (6) focal persons in the six (6) geopolitical zones of Nigeria. This accounts for the national spread of the data produced, even though, this project is focused in the following States, Anambra, Bauchi, Benue, Niger, Plateau and the FCT", he said.

According to the report, on the above listing, disobedience to constituted authority ranked highest among petty offences in Nigeria as evidenced with 28%.

The reason for this, as highlighted in the report was because the support for the government by the citizens has dwindled owing to falling standard of living as a result of which citizens have been exercising in very strong terms, their non appreciation as evident in traditional and new media.

For instance, unfavorable Facebook postings against the government of the day have seen social media journalists in jail in Cross River, Bauchi and Adamawa states. NGOs are being threatened with regulations through legislation that in truth seeks to gag them. It is therefore not surprising to note that, overall, disobedience to constituted authority within this period ranks highest."

Also, wandering, loitering and being a rogue were also among the rampant cases of petty offences in Nigeria with 26%. This was categorised as the most commonly used modus of security agents in Nigeria shaking down citizens, especially young males.

According to the report, Often, young males are arrested, and the contents of their phone demanded. They are forced to unlock their phones for proof that they are not rogues or vagabonds and have identity, where no identity card exists, and it is usually a ground for arrest and detention.

Where phone contents exhibit pictures of videos of for example gay sex or complicated apps exists, they are arrested as being gay or yahoo boys a term for internet fraud. This violation is analyzed at 26%. Commercial Sex Work ranked third with 10%.

Violations associated with Commercial Sex Work within the period of monitoring violations ranks third at 10%. This can be said to be low in view of the visibility it gained in Nigeria, following the raids and arrests of female sex workers in Abuja and subsequent protests by residents of the city.

Ironically, it will appear the issue and constant search light on these violations by the police has reduced dramatically, though still at 10% in compassion to other violations. Hawking and Sexual Minorities both stand at 4%. Often violations with regard to hawking are in seizure and destruction of the goods.

Violation of Traffic or Wrong Parking and Breach of Promise that are ordinarily not reported had a percentage of 1%. From calls received, citizens usually do not see these as a violation of their rights and see no need for reportage. Violations associated with Indiscriminate Disposal of Waste, Alms Seeking and Public Display of Affection had an insignificant reportage of less than 1% in this reporting period."

The Chairman, Governing Board, Lawyers Alert, Dr. Magdalene Dura said petty offences were created by colonial masters in attempt to have a strong hold on people and their right to self-expression and determination.

She frowned that petty offenses offend human rights particularly rights to movement, expression, liberty, and dignity of person. She said Petty offences often times have no victims, for example, wandering/loitering, rogue/vagabond, hawking

As earlier captured, these offences do not only violate human rights but over the years, people have been sent to correctional custodial facility on this account. This is why there is a strong movement to decriminalize petty offence in Africa.

Often, Parliamentarians in efforts at decriminalizing offenses demand evidence of data to validate positions they take. This is where the gap exists,

"So, while we are all in agreement on the violations associated with petty offences, there is paucity or lack of data to validate this. This reason is why Lawyers Alert with the support of OSIWA is not only monitoring rights violations associated with Petty offences but also documenting this so as to have the evidence to support decriminalization of petty offenses in Nigeria, or provide for non-custodial sentences, where appropriate, Dura said.

Dura added that the data are verifiable and that the report as produced is scientific in regard to violations associated to petty offences in Nigeria. She commended OSIWA for providing necessary support for the project.
Britain's government has defended the independence of the group of scientists advising on the coronavirus pandemic after it emerged that Prime Minister Boris Johnson's controversial chief aide had attended meetings of the panel.

After a report in The Guardian, the government confirmed that Dominic Cummings had attended several meetings of the Scientific Advice for Emergencies, or SAGE, and listened to discussions.

But it denied Cummings -- who is not a scientist --was a member of the group.

The government said SAGE provides independent scientific advice to the government. Political advisers have no role in this.

SAGE is a usually little-known group headed by Chief Scientific Adviser Patrick Vallance and Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty.

The government has declined to publish its full membership, saying that could leave the scientists open to lobbying or pressure.

As Britain's official toll from the virus approaches 20,000 dead, the government's response is under increasing scrutiny, especially its perceived slowness in imposing a nationwide lockdown.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
NASA engineers have designed a new low-cost high-pressure ventilator tailored specifically to treat coronavirus 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 epicentre of COVID-19 in the United States, NASA said on Thursday.

The device now is under review for an emergency use authorization by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the US space agency said.

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 comprises far fewer parts, making it more economical to produce, NASA said.

Developed by engineers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Southern California, the device was designed to use parts currently available to potential manufacturers but not compete with the existing supply chain of currently made ventilators.

"We specialise in spacecraft, not medical-device manufacturing," said JPL Director Michael Watkins.

"But excellent engineering, rigorous testing and rapid prototyping are some of our specialties. When people at JPL realised they might have what it takes to support the medical community and the broader community, they felt it was their duty to share their ingenuity, expertise and drive," Watkins said.

Like all ventilators, VITAL requires patients to be sedated and an oxygen tube inserted into their airway to breathe.

The new device wouldn't replace current hospital ventilators, which can last years and are built to address a broader range of medical issues.

Instead, VITAL is intended to last three to four months and is specifically tailored for COVID-19 patients.

"Intensive care units are seeing COVID-19 patients who require highly dynamic ventilators," said J.D. Polk, NASA's Chief Health and Medical Officer.

"The intention with VITAL is to decrease the likelihood patients will get to that advanced stage of the disease and require more advanced ventilator assistance."
Given all the disruptions to the global economy caused by the new coronavirus, unit sales of print books held up relatively well in the first quarter of 2020, said Kristen McLean, executive director, business development for NPD Books, in a webinar held last week. And though the unprecedented economic plunge makes it difficult to gauge how much of a drag Covid-19 will have on book sales in the long run, publishing has weathered previous turbulent times fairly well. During the Great Recession and its aftermath, McLean noted, unit sales fell meaningfully in only one year2009, when unemployment was peakingand units rose from 760 million in 2007 to 807 million in 2012. She added that the gains included the addition of e-books, and that between 2013 and 2019, unit sales generally remained flat.

While demand for books has historically been steady, McLean said, buying patterns have changed as a result of the pandemic. Between March 1 and April 4, demand spiked in such categories as outdoor skills (with print units up 74% over last year); medical history, including books on the 1918 flu pandemic (up 71%); games and activities (up 42%); and literary fiction (up 10%).

Print unit sales in the juvenile nonfiction and fiction segments are up for March 1April 4 over the comparable period in 2019, with juvenile nonfiction having done particularly well. The Covid period is all about juvenile books, McLean noted. Some trends in those segments in late 2019 have been accelerated by the pandemic, and she pointed to one area that has seen big gains since children were forced to stay home: school readiness. Between March 1 and April 4, unit sales in the activities segment (which includes coloring and sticker books) rose 32%; the study aids segment (early learner and middle school math and science titles) rose 83%; and sales of language arts books for young readers (ages four to eight) jumped 98%.

The pandemic has changed where people buy books, with print sales at online retailers growing since March 1 and sales at physical retailers declining. Covid-19 has also had a marked impact on the largest book-buying metropolitan areas. Between March 1 and April 11, unit sales in the New York City region, the area hit the hardest by the outbreak, fell 16.5% from the similar period last year, according to NPD BookScan, and units were down 5.2% for the year to date. The San Francisco Bay Area also had a large year-to-date decline, with unit sales off 4.3%, allowing the Chicago region to ease past the Bay Area to become the third-largest book-buying region, at least temporarily. Seattle-Tacoma had the biggest unit gains among the top 10 largest metropolitan areas for the year to date, with units up 2.4%.

When the pandemic eases, McLean said NPD expects to see two major trends: saturation and acceleration. Publishers will release lots of content that will make it difficult for them to gain attention for their titles. And ongoing business changes will be sped up, including the restructuring of retailand not in a good way, McLean noted. In the end, she added, how publishing performs after the lockdowns end will be determined by three factors: the stability of the supply chain, the length and depth of the unemployment crisis, and the health of each business before the pandemic set in.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 25

Trend:

There are no disagreements or contradictions regarding provision of social benefits in Azerbaijan, said the countrys deputy economy minister Sahib Alakbarov.

He made the remarks during the briefing of the Operational Headquarters under the Cabinet of Ministers, Trend reports.

He was commenting on the refusal to pay lump-sum payments to tax identification number (TIN) holders.

The deputy minister said that there are a lot of speculations about paying a one-time allowance of 190 manat.

Alakbarov noted that he spoke with the Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Protection of the Population on this issue on April 23.

"We have fully agreed on the matter. TIN has nothing to do with this issue. The number does not play a key role here. But possibly, some people are still really unhappy with the refusal. Those who received the refusal two days ago, can express their dissatisfaction even today. There can be other issues. I think that there are no disagreements or contradictions in this regard. But if therere questions, the issue should be studied, and the relevant authorities should answer these questions.
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I Lost My Virginity At 21 And Narrated The Experience To My Father  Kizz Daniel

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Popular Nigerian singer, Kizz Daniel has revealed how he lost his virginity at the age of 21 and narrated his
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The United States is home to the largest office furniture market in the world, generating over 15.4 billion dollars in revenue in 2018. The U.S. office furniture market is expected to reach a value of 14.3 billion dollars by 2025. Some of the leading office furniture companies in the world are from the United States in Steelcase, Herman Miller, and Haworth. Steelcase generates the majority of its revenue from systems and storage products such as file cabinets and desks, while Herman Millers sales are driven by seating products.Report is available at:- https://bit.ly/2KvBKUb United States Office Furniture Market SegmentationBy Material Used Wood Metal Plastics Others (glass, leather, steel and more)By Products Office Chairs Office Tables Storage cabinets Office furnishingBy Distribution Channel Online Channel Offline ChannelRequest for Sample Report at :- https://bit.ly/2VX9aAa Covered in this United States Office Furniture Market Report areUnited States Office Furniture Market Forecast 2030 by Goldstein Market Intelligence contains detailed overview of United States Office Furniture 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 United States Office Furniture Market report will help the clients to assess their business strategies as per the competitive environment in the market space.Companies covered in the United States Office Furniture Market report are: American Signature, Inc. Ashley Furniture Industries, Inc. Global Furniture Group Haworth Inc. Herman Miller, Inc. HNI Corp.Further , United States Office Furniture Market Report encompasses the major trends & opportunities, market dynamics and other growth factors of United States Office Furniture Market Forecast 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
Washington

One out of every four American adults say someone in their household has lost a job to the coronavirus pandemic, but the vast majority expect those former jobs will return once the crisis passes, according to a new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

The economic devastation writ by COVID-19 is clear: 26.4 million people have lost their job in the past five weeks, millions of homeowners are delaying mortgage payments and food banks are seeing lines of cars that stretch for miles. Forty-six percent of all Americans say their household has experienced some form of income loss from layoffs, reduced hours, unpaid leave or salary reductions.

And yet, the survey finds a majority of Americans still feel positive about their personal finances. One possible reason: Among those whose households have experienced a layoff, 78 percent believe those former jobs will definitely or probably return. Another positive sign: The percentage of workers who say their household has lost a source of income is not significantly different from a few weeks ago.

Seventy-one percent of Americans now describe the national economy as poor, up from 60 percent three weeks ago and 33 percent in January. At the same time, 64 percent call their personal financial situation good  a number that remains largely unchanged since before the virus outbreak began.

Some of the resiliency can likely be traced to the nearly $2 trillion rescue package enacted by Congress that expanded jobless benefits, extended forgivable loans to small businesses and provided a government check to most Americans  money that has helped stabilize some families' finances.

Skylar Banks, 24, used her 2019 tax refund and a separate government check for $3,000 to prepay six months of rent on her house. Her plan: to ensure her family's housing is secure in case coronavirus infections spike in a second wave later this year and the nation's economy gets worse.

"We're not sure how many people actually have COVID-19," said Banks, who lives in Dyersville, Tenn., and works at Walmart. "If they open everything back up, we have no clue what is going to happen."

Indeed, the country is split on whether the economy will rebound over the next year. Forty-five percent expect it will improve, while 37 percent say it will worsen. Just 17 percent expect it to stay the same.

The survey found Americans overwhelmingly support stay-at-home orders and other efforts to slow the spread of the coronavirus  61 percent described efforts in their area as about right, while 26 percent said they didn't go far enough  even as those actions have forced an untold number of businesses to close.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

Lower income households and those with less education appear especially hard hit by job losses  29 percent of those whose families earn less than $50,000 a year said their household experienced a job loss, compared with 22 percent of those who make more. Similarly, 28 percent of those without a college degree experienced a household layoff, while just 19 percent with a degree said the same.

As the crisis drags on, 22 percent of Americans have started to miss payments on housing or debts, the survey found. That includes 11 percent of Americans who have unpaid rent or mortgage bills, 11 percent who have missed a credit card payment and 19 percent who were unable to pay another type of bill. Some were unable to pay more than one kind of bill.

More than half of Americans, 58 percent, think the government has not done enough to help small businesses, while 53 percent say the same of aid to individuals. Meanwhile, about 4 in 10 think too much assistance has been offered to larger corporations. The poll was conducted before Congress passed a new bill worth nearly $500 billion aimed at helping small businesses and hospitals.

Brandon Reynolds, 45, resells vintage toys, jewelry and artwork online. The Houston resident's earnings have been solid enough to cover the monthly rent of his roommate, a barber who cannot work because of stay-at-home orders. But Reynolds has only three months of inventory, and he might not be able to restock if the pandemic keeps thrift stores and flea markets closed.

"I'm definitely not ready to be running around in the streets with a lot of people," he said. "Not enough people are taking this seriously."

Overall, 52 percent of Americans say they approve of how President Donald Trump is handling the economy. Trump's overall approval rating stands at 42 percent. Even though 53 percent of Republicans said national economic conditions were poor, 88 percent of them approve of Trump's economic stewardship. Twenty-three percent of Democrats approve and 90 percent call the economy poor.
U.S. District Judge David O. Carter, left, walks on skid row with LAPD Officer Deon Joseph and the Rev. Andy Bales, chief executive of the Union Rescue Mission. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)

The Los Angeles City Council has authorized City Atty. Mike Feuer to begin discussions about requirements for sheltering the city's homeless population  a move that could once again place the city under federal oversight.

In a hearing before U.S. District Judge David O. Carter this week, Councilman Joe Buscaino said his colleagues are interested in a settlement agreement with the homeless advocates and downtown stakeholders that would require the city to provide a specific number of shelter beds for each of the council's 15 districts.

Any such agreement would probably be monitored by a federal judge under a consent decree. If the city meets the requirements, Buscaino said, it could establish a way for the city to be able to enforce anti-camping rules and other laws that federal rulings have blocked in recent years.

"What my colleagues agree upon is that we need to stop this endless cycle of litigation," he said.

Carter has been presiding over a lawsuit filed by the L.A. Alliance for Human Rights, a group of downtown business owners and residents who allege that the city and County of Los Angeles have failed to protect the public and provide adequate shelter for those living on the streets.

The case has taken on added urgency with the COVID-19 pandemic. Already one skid row shelter has experienced a major outbreak.

In an order issued Friday, Carter said he had been told that Buscaino and council President Nury Martinez would be directly involved in the settlement talks with the plaintiffs.

"The court has been advised that a settlement in this matter will best be achieved by a global settlement implemented on a district-by-district basis," he wrote.

Carter has said he wants to forge a broader, more permanent solution to L.A.'s homelessness crisis, one that could be modeled after a settlement he brokered in Orange County based on a lawsuit over the clearing of homeless encampments. Under that settlement, Orange County and several cities cannot enforce their anti-camping ordinances until they have provided enough shelter beds to take 60% of the local homeless population off the streets.

Story continues

Matthew Umhofer, an attorney for the L.A. Alliance for Human Rights, said he is encouraged by the City Council's overture.

But attorney Carol Sobel, who represents the Los Angeles Community Action Network and Los Angeles Catholic Worker, both of which have intervened in the lawsuit before Carter, said any agreement to help 60% of the city's homeless population would not go far enough. She also questioned the idea that the enforcement of anti-camping laws could be meted out differently in different council districts, depending on the number of beds available.

I don't think it's right to look at Los Angeles as 15 different cities within a city, because they're all subject to the same laws, she said.

A spokesman for Feuer declined to discuss details, saying only that the city would continue working to resolve the case and address its homelessness crisis.

But Councilman Bob Blumenfield, who represents the west San Fernando Valley, said he and his colleagues are "very intrigued" by the idea of a federal consent decree that acknowledges the needs of individual council districts and tracks efforts to add shelter beds, overnight parking lots for RVs, and low-cost apartments.

"We're still fighting a losing battle. More people are falling into homelessness than are being housed. That's not a recipe for success," Blumenfield said. "So we've got to do something different."

In recent weeks, Carter has said that a strategy that works to address homelessness in one part of L.A. might not work in another. He also has started talking with council members about homelessness in their districts. Two weeks ago, Blumenfield gave the judge a tour of an emergency homeless shelter in Woodland Hills and encampments under the 101 Freeway and along the Los Angeles River.

You have to treat these [council districts] like separate cities almost, Carter said Thursday.

The judge has said L.A. County should be included in the talks, too. In court, the county's attorney was receptive to the idea.

If a settlement does happen and the city's compliance with it is supervised by federal judges, as Carter has signaled, it would be the latest instance of local government operations coming under oversight.

In 2001, the Los Angeles Police Department was placed under a consent decree in the wake of the Rampart Division scandal, when dozens of police officers were accused of tampering with evidence, perjury and other misconduct. A judge did not fully conclude the federal oversight until 2013.

A year later, the U.S. Department of Justice announced it would seek to oversee L.A. County's jails, following a surge in suicides that drew attention to the treatment of inmates with mental illness. The county Sheriffs Department, which runs the jails, ultimately ended up being bound by four different federal settlement agreements under the consent decree.

City Councilman Mike Bonin, who represents several Westside communities, said he supports the current talks about shelter beds and other strategies, but warned that there could be obstacles to tailoring requirements to each council district.

Boundaries for those districts will be redrawn over the next two years and have the potential to change dramatically, he noted. Bonin also argued that other cities in Los Angeles County will need to do their fair share to address the homelessness crisis.

"If we do everything [to address it], then whats to prevent the other cities from moving homelessness into Los Angeles?" he said.

Times staff writers Emily Alpert Reyes and Doug Smith contributed to this report.
Maharashtras Shiv Sena-led ruling coalition is anxiously waiting for governor Bhagat Singh Koshyaris decision on the state cabinets recommendation to nominate chief minister Uddhav Thackeray as a legislative council member. Thackeray needs to become a member of either houses of the state assembly before May 28, when he completes six months as chief minister, to remain in office.

Koshyari is consulting legal experts given the tenure of the nominated seat for which Thackerays name has been proposed ends on June 6, which is less than the one-year norm for filling such seats, while all polls have been deferred in view of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Representation of the People Act (RPA) mandates filling of vacancies in Parliament and state legislatures through bye-elections within six months from the date of occurrence of the vacancy, provided that the remainder of the term in relation to a vacancy is one year or more.

The cabinet sent the recommendation to Koshyari on April 11 to nominate Thackeray as a member of the legislation council (MLC) from the governors quota after the Election Commission (EC) deferred all polls in view of the Covid-19 pandemic that has prompted a nationwide lockdown since March 25.

The governor can nominate anyone with special knowledge or practical experience in literature, science, art, cooperative movement and social service as an MLC under Constitutions Article 171. There are two vacancies under this quota following the resignations of two members last year.

The Bombay high court dismissed a petition last week seeking a stay on the state cabinets recommendation, saying the governor had the power to take a decision on it.

Thackeray was sworn in on November 28 last year as the head of the coalition government of the Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Congress.

The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has maintained that it is not against Thackerays nomination but insisted that he should have contested the election earlier. Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrakant Patil said it did not look good to pressurise the governor amid the coronavirus crisis.

The Congress and the NCP have urged the governor to accept the state cabinets recommendation and avoid a Constitutional crisis in the state, which is the worst-affected by the pandemic in the country.

A Shiv Sena leader said the party is planning to move the Supreme Court if the governor does not take a call till May 15. Our argument is clear. The country is going through extraordinary times in view of Covid-19 pandemic that has also led to the indefinite postponement of all the polls. While the EC is not holding the polls, the governor is not accepting the state cabinets recommendation. This is unfair, he said on condition of anonymity.

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut has questioned the delay in the governors decision. Koshyaris affiliation with the BJP is not a secret, but this is not the time to indulge in politics.

Political analyst Abhay Deshpande said the governor should accept the cabinets recommendation because of the extraordinary situation in the country. There are no hard and fast rules. It is entirely governors discretion. If he does not accept the recommendation, there will be political ramifications.

Deshpande said a delay in the decision could backfire on the BJP given that Thackeray has since gained huge popularity and sympathy due to his handling of the Covid-19 crisis. The situation has changed since the time Uddhav ditched the BJP. There was not much sympathy with him that time. But his handling of the Covid-19 crisis has earned him praises from all quarters.

A BJP functionary said it is too soon to speculate. Let the governor announce his decision after consulting legal experts, he said. There is no question of party politics here. The governor will take a call based on legal advice. But the Sena should have been aware of the provision [Article 164(4)] of the Constitution that allows a non-legislator to occupy a position in the council of ministers only for six months. They should have planned for it.
The students in Colaiste Bride secondary school haven't let the Covid-19 pandemic halt their academic and creative endeavours and in fact they've used the coronarvirus as a means to express themselves in an online magazine that they produced themselves.

Under the guidance of student-teacher Lee Watson, the students were tasked with writing articles in response to the current events unfolding in the world.

The students began working on the project prior to the school's closing and the team of journalists involved includes students from first year to fifth year.

Their first working title, 'COVID-19: Can we stop it?', formed the basis for their online magazine which Mr Watson is hosting on his website, www.JCScience.ie that was co-developed by another teacher in Colaiste Bride, Aidan Roche.

The articles the students wrote have been hosted under the format of the first issue of an online magazine.

'The purpose of this project is to provide secondary school students with a platform for their voices to be heard on the current issues of the world,' said Mr Watson.

The magazine was further developed via Microsoft Teams following the closure of schools, and has since gone live on the website www.jcscience.ie.

Colaiste Bride and Mr Watson thanked students involved: Marcelina Brudek, Daara Durodola, Emily Cleary, Hannah White, Aoife Browne, Sienna O'Neill and Jenny Murphy.
By PTI

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Navy on Saturday successfully test-fired a series of anti-ship missiles in the North Arabian Sea, a spokesman said. The missiles were fired from surface ships, fixed and rotary-wing aircraft, the Navy's spokesperson Rear Admiral Arshid Javed said.

Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi witnessed the firing of the missiles, he said in a statement. "The anti-ship missiles were fired at the sea level by warships and aircraft," according to the statement.

The successful demonstration of missile firing is a testament to the Pakistan Navy's operational capability and military readiness, the official said. On the occasion, Admiral Abbasi said that the "Pakistan Navy is fully capable to respond enemy's aggression befittingly".

#PakNavy conducted Live Weapon firing of Anti-Ship Missiles from Surface & Aviation units in North Arabian Sea. CNS, Adm Zafar Mahmood Abbasi witnessed LWF as Chief Guest & said that PN is always ready to thwart any aggression against Pakistans maritime frontiers pic.twitter.com/7v1OAOzo6p  Rear Admiral M Arshid Javed DGPR Navy (@dgprPaknavy) April 25, 2020

The Navy spokesperson Rear Admiral Javed took to Twitter to share the information of the test-fire of the missiles. "PakNavy conducted Live Weapon firing of Anti-Ship Missiles from Surface & Aviation units in North Arabian Sea. CNS, Adm Zafar Mahmood Abbasi witnessed LWF as Chief Guest & said that PN is always ready to thwart any aggression against Pakistan's maritime frontiers," he said in a tweet.

The Navy did not divulge more details of the drill which has taken place amidst the continued chill in the Indo-Pak relations. Relations between the two countries are strained and they further nose-dived after the Indian government abrogated Article 370 that granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir in August last year.

Pakistan downgraded diplomatic relations with India and expelled Indian High Commissioner. India has maintained that Jammu and Kashmir is an internal matter of India and does not want anyone's interference in it.
A new Framework Document to facilitate the formation of a Government has been drawn up by Fianna Fail and Fine Gael with a view to getting some of the smaller parties to join in the negotiations.

My own personal opinion is that this process is flawed and has been from the outset. Particularly at a time of crisis in the country, and indeed a worldwide crisis, I believe we need a National Government as has been suggested by Eamon OCuiv TD and others.

The election is over and the people have spoken and no party should be excluded from discussions on government formation.

In the framework document there are many worthwhile proposals, most of them already existing Fianna Fail policies on health, housing, affordable renting, an economic plan to support business, no increases in tax or USC.

However, the document is very general on all the issues and is not specific on the funding of any of them. It is specific on one issue and this is of major concern to me and to many in Leitrim, and that is the clear proposal to plant 440 million trees by 2040 in the country. Afforestation in Leitrim is controversial and has been for some time for many reasons. A recent report on the impact of forestry in Leitrim confirms the level of plantations in the county is the highest in the country, with Sitka spruce the dominant species. 61% of the total forest area was planted with conifers. All of this is heavily subsidised by the government.

Afforestation in Leitrim is approximately 19% and the national average is between 10 and 11%. Why are we in Leitrim nearly twice the national average?

If the government carry out this plan and going on the current rate of planting in Leitrim we would see approximately another 84 million trees planted in the county. Will we see the plantation of Leitrim by 2040?

Forest Industries Ireland have stated clearly that Sitka spruce would continue to be the workhorse of the sector with short rotation Conifer plantations accounting for 70% of all new afforestations. That would mean another approximately 60 million Sitka spruce for Leitrim by 2040.

Successive Governments have failed to include a plan for the planting of native woodlands and have ignored the effects of Sitka spruce on biodiversity, water quality and the wellbeing of peoples mental and physical health.

I have consistently called, as have my colleagues in the council for all afforestation, planting and felling to be brought under the planning laws, but this has been conveniently ignored by the government.

This proposal framework document should include more supports for small farmers, the tourism sector, tax incentives for small business and more rural regeneration projects for our towns and villages. Small amounts of money targeted for specific projects would make a huge difference in Leitrim.

There should be more to forming a new government than people wishing to fulfil their own ambitions either to be Taoiseach or ministers in any new cabinet.
First Dates Credit:

FIRST DATES



9pm, Seven

Theres a moment of perfectly guilt-free schadenfreude to be had at the love diner tonight when a pair of obnoxious Insta-twins are served a metaphorical dish neither seemed to see coming. Meanwhile, in a flatteringly lit corner, a rather sweet match in their 50s keep it beautifully real. Of course, everything the couples do that once seemed so innocent  careless glass-passing, coquettish food sharing, brazen cheek-kissing  seems outrageously illicit in these odd times.
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp announced his decision to allow non-essential businesses across the state to reopen, drawing mounting criticism from Georgia's mayors and U.S. President Donald Trump.

Kemp allowed gyms, barbershops, hair salons, and other establishments to start operations on Friday amid the rising number of coronavirus-related deaths in the country, which hit the 52,000 on Saturday.

Georgia was along the last states to impose a sweeping stay-at-home policy across the nation. Kemp, who is currently serving his first term, released the lockdown orders on April 3.

On a Monday news conference, he claimed he received favorable data and approval from health care professionals to resume non-essential operations. He also said COVID-19 cases in the state have flattened.

However, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University, Georgia has seen an increasing number of infections and fatalities attributed to COVID-19. The state's health department also reported 60 deaths from the virus over the last weekend.

Trump criticized Kemp's decision to open the state in a tweet on Friday, where he emphasized his disapproval for the move.





I (or @VP ) never gave Governor Brian Kemp an OK on those few businesses outside of the Guidelines. FAKE NEWS! Spas, beauty salons, tattoo parlors, & barber shops should take a little slower path, but I told the Governor to do what is right for the great people of Georgia (& USA)!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 24, 2020



Waiting for Their Turn

Many Georgia residents flocked to hair salons and tattoo parlors on Friday, with many waiting in line outside the door despite recent coronavirus deaths. Some were seen queueing outside a barbershop at seven in the morning.

Local tattoo parlors were reportedly fully booked, with numerous people going in and out. Gabriel Krull, the owner of Slangin Ink, reopened his doors on Friday.

"I have bills to pay," he said. "I have a family to feed. This is my career."



Conflicted Owners

Many small business owners struggle to figure out how to protect employees following a surge of customers as doors reopen.

Tim Timmons, a salon owner, said his decision to resume operations was primarily due to his employees who have been out of work since the social distancing guidelines went into effect. He said they took precautionary methods such as checking customers' temperatures upon entering the shop and asking whether they were in contact with anyone who's had COVID-19.

The customers' faces are also covered with a towel during shampoos. Timmons' employees worked 14 feet apart and are observing split shifts.

Other businesses, such as the Plaza Theatre, decided not to reopen. Christopher Escobar, the owner of the 500-seat movie theater, said he was looking out for the safety of his staff and customers. He also believes the recent announcement "does not make sense at this time." Escobar is looking to implement drive-in shows where his business can operate without any contact.

Larger firms like Coca-Cola and Cox Enterprises continue to have the majority of their office-based staff work from home.

Delta Air Lines also maintained a remote working environment as their offices remain closed except for essential work functions. A spokesperson for the company said they are prioritizing the health and safety of employees.

AGCO, an agricultural equipment manufacturer, continues to have staff work remotely. The company has continued operations as one of the essential businesses in the food supply chain. Employees are asked to follow strict local and national guidelines at its production plants.
Louise Thompson has ruled out a permanent return to Made in Chelsea after admitting filming for the current series left her 'deflated.'

The reality star, 30, starred in scenes with brother Sam, 27, and his ex-girlfriend Tiffany Watson, 26, for the E4 show but said she quickly realised it wasn't for her and the cameo 'didn't feel right.'

In an exclusive interview with MailOnline, Louise, who quit Made in Chelsea in 2019 after eight years, said: 'I love reality TV but with Made in Chelsea when I'm not in it I imagine it's this big thing but when I want back I actually felt deflated afterwards.'

'It's not really for me': Louise Thompson has ruled out a permanent return to Made in Chelsea after admitting filming for the current series left her 'deflated'

She continued: 'I left because Sam and Ryan and I decided it just didn't suit us anymore and Sam went through a really rough time and we wanted a bit of a break.

'Then since leaving I have learnt a lot and have really enjoyed not being on the show.

'This series I did three setups and I don't actually know how I feel about it It didn't feel right.

'It's hard to do something half-hearted and sort of dip your toe in; it's not really for me.

'It's very time consuming': The 30-year-old, who quit the show in May 2019 alongside her brother Sam, said she quickly realised she had enjoyed not being on Made in Chelsea

'I don't know anyone now': Louise, who starred on Made in Chelsea for eight years, admitted 'being on the side lines' in doing cameos for the series 'doesn't make her feel very good'

'If I'm going to do something I'm going to do it properly and being on the side lines, I'm going to be honest it doesn't make me feel very good.

'It's a great show but it's very time consuming. I don't know anyone now and everyone's sort of moved on.'

But the star also says she has fond memories of being on the show, which saw her film in New York and the South of France.

She added: 'We do reminisce. It was amazing, it really was so fun and so real and the holidays and drama was crazy.'

Fresh scenes: Louise returned to the current series to film scenes with Sam's ex-Tiffany Watson, whose first meeting with his new girlfriend Zara McDermott didn't go down well

'It really was so fun': Louise, pictured with Tiffany and Made in Chelsea's Sophie Hermann in 2018, said she does also have fond memories of being on the show

Louise announced she was leaving Made in Chelsea a day after her brother Sam parted ways with the show.

Sam quit the series after his close pal Jamie Laing, 31, started dating his ex-girlfriend Sophie Habboo, 26, which caused a rift in their friendship for some time.

Five months after confirming his departure, Sam returned to the show and made amends with Jamie, as well as introducing his new girlfriend, former Love Island star Zara McDermott, 23, to the cast.

In a preview clip for next Mondays show, Sam was filmed confessing to Zara that he shared a taxi with his ex-Tiffany  a week after Louise went for a catch-up with her.

Tough: Zara was left in tears on last Monday's show and is set for more heartbreak after Sam confessed to sharing a taxi with ex-Tiffany

Louise, who lives next door to her brother, said: 'I do think Sam is an idiot often.

'I see him a lot and he has a lot of growing up to do. But yes, we are still very close.

'We actually have a connecting door between our houses, like a secret door.'

Sam's ex-Tiffany has since moved on by dating Made in Chelsea star Miles Nazaire but the pair have agreed their romance is just a bit of fun.
E-learning models are expected to boom amid the COVID-19 outbreak as the Government searches for new education methods, experts said.

Viettel Study has seen user numbers skyrocket during COVID-19 thanks to its modern e-learning infrastructure and free data fees. (Photo: viettelsolution.vn)

The outbreak of the novel coronavirus has caused significant changes to all sectors, including education and training. To help control the spread of the virus, thousands of students in Vietnam have been off school for more than three months, so many have turned to online learning platforms.

Online learning could be a solution to the education conundrum during the COVID-19 pandemic, said Dr Nguyen Xuan Khanh from Oulu University.

Following this trend, online training platforms such as Viettel Study, VNPT e-learning, Topica and Hocmai have seen their number of users skyrocket.

Statistics from Viettel showed that its e-learning platform Viettel Study had been launched at nearly 26,000 schools nationwide. More than 120,000 courses had been created on the system, attracting 10,000 students. Access to the platform had reached 3.4 million and page views had hit more than 41 million a day.

To facilitate online learning, Viettel Group has announced free 3G and 4G data for teachers and students with the Viettel Study social learning network. It has also posted free online learning content on the platform for free.

Compared to other online learning applications, Viettel Study is the only identifiable learning social network in Vietnam.

On the Viettel Study platform, teachers and students can interact with each other and access unlimited resources, while teachers can create free lectures on the system. It has been recognised by the Ministry of Education and Training (MoET) and the Ministry of Information and Communications to promote digital transformation in the education sector.

Viettel will continue to offer free services for teachers and students on Viettel Study as well as 3G and 4G data even when the pandemic is over. Viettel Study has co-operated with the MoET to support e-learning at universities, said Le Dang Dung, acting chairman cum general director of Viettel Group.

Dung said that Viettel had been cooperating with the ministry to build a digital school system since 2014.

We expect e-learning to become a vital asset, he added.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused many difficulties, but it could also facilitate the establishment of new teaching methods and promote market development.

Assessing the trend of online learning in the near future, Viettel said that COVID-19 would push online learning, especially once the MoET issued an official circular on online teaching and learning.

This will be an opportunity for users to see the way e-learning systems to continue to apply in fostering knowledge after returning to normal schools, he added.

Viettel will continue to develop products by optimising the user experience, making Viettel Study an all-in-one system.

According to Ken Research, the online education market in Vietnam grew at a two-digit compound annual growth rate from 2013 to 2018. With the internet penetration rate reaching 8 percent in 2019, the growth of e-learning services would reach 23.4 percent from 2019-23.

The Government has taken measures to promote the Internet of Things, Big Data, 4G, 5G and Atificial Intelligence. With the robust growth of 4G and 5G, the number of smartphone users will also skyrocket, adding to Vietnams online teaching infrastructure.

A representative from FUNiX said more than 40 percent of the worlds population was connected to the internet. Most of them are young people with high learning demand, giving the e-learning market massive potential. With annual revenue growth of over 40 percent, the markets scale was estimated at some 2 billion USD.

Recent figures from Ambient Insight also revealed that with a growth rate of 44.3 percent, the e-learning sector in Vietnam even surpassed Malaysia (39.4 percent). Notably, under the new general education programme from the MoET, information technology will be included in all levels of education in the new general programme from 2020.

This is a great opportunity for domestic and foreign investors to continue investing in developing e-learning training models./.

Vocational school tries e-learning during COVID-19 crisis Principle of Hanoi College for Electromechanics, Dong Van Ngoc, spoke about the e-learning programme the college has employed during its closure because of COVID-19.
Dozens of Pakistani doctors and nurses have launched a hunger strike demanding adequate protective equipment for frontline staff treating coronavirus patients, the lead organiser of the protest said Saturday.

Health workers have complained for weeks that the country's hospitals are suffering chronic shortages of safety gear, prompting the arrest of more than 50 doctors who called for more supplies in the city of Quetta earlier this month.

Frontline staff have been left vulnerable, with more than 150 medical workers testing positive for the virus nationwide, according to the Young Doctors' Association (YDA) in worst-hit Punjab province.

Several Pakistan doctors and nurses have died from COVID-19, including a 26-year-old physician who had recently started his career, and an official told AFP that a specialist at a state-run hospital died from the disease Saturday.

Health workers in Pakistan (pictured) have complained for weeks that the country's hospitals are suffering chronic shortages of safety gear

The protesters have kept working in their hospitals while taking turns to demonstrate outside the health authority offices in provincial capital Lahore.

'We do not intend on stopping until the government listens to our demands. They have been consistently refusing to adhere to our demands,' said doctor Salman Haseeb.

Haseeb heads the province's Grand Health Alliance, which is organising the protest, and said he had not eaten since April 16.

'We are on the front line of this virus and if we are not protected then the whole population is at risk,' he told AFP.

More than 50 doctors who called for more protective equipment were arrested in the city of Quetta earlier this month

The alliance said about 30 doctors and nurses were on hunger strike, with up to 200 medical staff joining them each day for demonstrations.

Punjab's health worker union is supporting the alliance and also demanding adequate quarantine conditions for medical staff.

Nearly three dozen doctors, nurses and paramedics contracted the virus in one hospital in the city of Multan, while seven members of a doctor's family were infected in Lahore, it said.

'We are simply demanding justice for our community,' said doctor and YDA chairman Khizer Hayat.

Hospital staff would not escalate their protest by walking off the job, he added.

Provincial health department officials told AFP that hospitals had now been provided with adequate protective gear after an earlier 'backlog' was resolved.

Earlier this month the Punjab government announced that frontline workers would be awarded a pay bonus and life insurance.

Almost half of the nearly 12,000 confirmed COVID-19 infections across Pakistan have been recorded in Punjab.

The number of infections in the country is believed to be far higher because of a lack of testing in the impoverished country of 215 million.

Shehzad Akbar, medical director at a public hospital in Peshawar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, told AFP that an ear, nose and throat specialist working on the COVID-19 ward died Saturday of the disease.

The doctor's death prompted renewed calls for tougher government action and complete lockdowns to stem the spread of the coronavirus.

The Islamic holy month of Ramadan officially began in Pakistan on Saturday, with concerns that the light restrictions imposed on mosque gatherings will not stop a potentially rapid spread of the virus.

Medical workers across the world have been grappling with shortages of vital safety equipment since the start of the pandemic.
KALAMAZOO, MI  Kalamazoo County saw its largest one-day increase in the number of coronavirus cases Friday.

The county added 37 new cases of the virus Friday, April 24, bringing its total confirmed cases to 266, according to state data. The countywide death toll from COVID-19 remains at 11.

The previous record high for daily counts occurred when 23 new cases were reported on April 18.

Related: Expected surge of coronavirus hasnt happened in Kalamazoo County. Is social distancing working?

The week started with a dozen new cases on Sunday, peaked with the second-highest daily increase on Tuesday and then tapered back down as the week went on. On Thursday, officials reported that cases were on the upswing again with 17 new cases, followed by the countys largest single-day increase on Friday.

On Friday, there were an additional 108 deaths and 1,350 cases reported statewide.

Related: Michigan tops 3,000 coronavirus deaths as new case count grows again

In total, the state has recorded 36,641 cases and 3,085 deaths since the pandemic started in March. The states fatality rate for confirmed cases is 8%.

All 11 deaths reported in Kalamazoo County so far have been among adults 70 or older with underlying health conditions, according to county health officials. The median age of the deceased is 84.

The countys positive cases skew younger that what has been seen elsewhere, with about 52% of all positive cases being recorded in patients younger than 50, according to county data.

Testing in the county has increased over the past week, though still limited, and public officials say the number of positive cases has risen as a result. The Family Health Center has twice exceeded its testing goal at its rolling test sites.

Related: Rolling testing site continues to exceed testing goals, Family Health Center CEO says

Given the limited testing, hospital data can offer a better benchmark of how many people are sick in the county, Medical Director William Nettleton said.

Bronson Healthcare listed 22 of its current 33 COVID-19 patients are being treated at Bronson Methodist Hospital. The Kalamazoo location also released 24 recovered patients of the healthcare systems total 44 recoveries.

Bronson Methodist Hospital has recorded 10 of the 13 deaths that happened across the healthcare system, as of Friday.

Thomas Rohs, chief medical officer at Ascension Borgess Hospital, estimated its COVID-19 unit has about 20 patients, he said in an interview MLive on April 22. Ascension Borgess has refused to disclose precise numbers of patients, recoveries and deaths, citing privacy concerns.

Also on Friday, Allegan County reported its first death related to coronavirus. The individual was hospitalized and had underlying health conditions that were likely a contributing factor. No other information on the individual will be released, the Allegan County Health Department said in a release.

As testing continues to ramp up, residents and elected officials are asking the health department to provide ZIP code data in an effort to identify COVID-19 hot spots.

Officials are tracking the data to allocate resources to areas with the most need, Health Officer Jim Rutherford said. However, the health department is refraining from making that data public out of respect for patient privacy and fear of misrepresentation of the virus spread, Rutherford said.

This week, the health department released a map of Kalamazoo Countys cases broken down in more broad geographic terms than ZIP code.

Data of Kalamazoo Countys cases broken down geographically shows that 64.2% of cases were in a central urban region, compared to 24.5% in the west portion and 11.4% in the east portion of the county. The health department data outlined the 'urban region as all of the cities of Kalamazoo and Portage in addition to Parchment and Kalamazoo Township.

Racial health disparities continue to be a topic of discussion surrounding the virus as the infection and death rate is disproportionately affecting communities of color.

Of the 266 cases confirmed as of Friday, 90 were black, making up 34% of the countys total confirmed cases. African Americans make up less than 12% of the countys total population, according to the latest census data.

In Michigan, African Americans make up 14% of the population but represent 33% of confirmed cases statewide and 40% of the deaths caused by the COVID-19 virus.

A visual representation of the increasing case counts and death toll in Kalamazoo County is shown below, based on data reported by the state. The second graph shows the number of cases reported in the county each day since the first three cases were confirmed on March 23.

Apparent conflicts in data reported there result from slight differences in daily case counts provided by state and county health officials.

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PREVENTION TIPS

In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus.

Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible.

Carry hand sanitizer with you and use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home (door handles, faucets, countertops) and when you go into places like stores.

Also on MLive:

A timeline of coronavirus in the Kalamazoo area

Friday, April 24: Latest developments on coronavirus in Michigan

Southwest Michigan hospital treating COVID-19 patients with plasma of survivors

After 12 days in the hospital, COVID-19 patient recovering at home in Olivet
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Linkedin Toh Ting Wei (The Straits Times/Asia News Network) Singapore  Sat, April 25, 2020 14:11 627 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd438afe 2 News Singapore-Airlines,Airlines,travel,coronavirus,COVID-19 Free

Singapore Airlines has extended its wide-ranging flight cancellations by another month, just four days after it announced a one-month extension.

This means that 96 percent of its scheduled flights till end-June will be cancelled, amid travel restrictions worldwide and a drastic drop in demand for air travel.

The first round of cuts were announced in late March. It was initially for scheduled flights till end-April.

In a notice on its website on Friday (April 24), SIA said it will continue to adjust its services in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Customers whose flights were cancelled by SIA or SilkAir 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 flights.

More information on the carriers' cancellation policy can be found on SIA's website.

The extended cuts mean that SIA will fly to just 15 cities up till end-June.

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.

The carrier is seeking to raise up to $15 billion with the help of Temasek. This will be done by issuing new shares to current shareholders to raise about $5.3 billion and issuing mandatory convertible bonds to raise up to $9.7 billion.

Globally, airlines have also been struggling to cope with the impact of the COVID-19 crisis.

The International Air Transport Association (Iata) said on Friday that global airline passenger revenues could drop by US$314 billion (S$447 billion) this year, a 55 percent decline compared to last year.

Airlines in the Asia-Pacific will see the largest revenue drop of US$113 billion this year compared to last year. They are also expected to register a 50 per cent fall in passenger demand this year compared to 2019.

Mr Conrad Clifford, Iata's regional vice-president for the Asia-Pacific region, said: "The situation is deteriorating.

"We have seen the first airline casualty (Virgin Australia) in the region. There will be more casualties if governments do not step in urgently to ensure airlines have sufficient cash flow to tide them over this period."

Virgin Australia, which is 20 percent owned by SIA, handed control to administrators on April 21.

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


Mafoluku area of Oshodi has been thrown into mourning as a resident known as Taiwo Eluyemi was hacked to death by an angry neighbour he had dispersed from his room in line with the social distancing as advised by the health authorities.

According to reports, the suspect and some others had trooped in to watch a movie at the deceased room before he turned them back citing the governments order on mass gathering.

This reportedly angered one of the neighbours identified as Habeeb as he laid in wait for him barely 24 hours later and Hacked him to death, one of the residents narrated.

He stated:

There was a misunderstanding between Mr Eluyemi and Habeeb on Wednesday. Habeeb and his friends went to the mans house to watch movies but he (Eluyemi) was not comfortable with it in the light of the social distancing everyone is trying to observe to avoid contracting coronavirus.

He asked them to leave which led to a disagreement but it was later settled amicably. The man went to pick his son from the church not knowing Habeeb was already looking for him. He attacked the man with a cutlass and inflicted injuries on his back and left hand. He bled to death on the spot. The suspect has been handed over to the Makinde Police Station.

Read Also: Police Hand Over Suspects Of Funke Olakunrins Murder To Ondo Govt

People usually go to his house to watch European League matches and movies. He was popular on the street and his house was opened to youths. The suspect had also been going there. As a result of the present situation, he didnt want people to gather in his apartment again.

The suspect and some youths went there on Wednesday afternoon and he told them to go away. It was after the incident happened on Thursday that I learnt they (Habeeb and Eluyemi) had a misunderstanding sometime ago. The suspect should be in his late twenties, while the deceased is in his forties.

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Bala Elkana, while confirming the incident, said investigation had commenced.

He said, The suspect is already in custody. Two of them are friends. They had a misunderstanding. We are investigating the circumstances that led to the murder.
Fifteen years into Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston calling it quits, their relationship continues to pique interest from fans across the globe. The pair's romance was the talk of Hollywood in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Pitt publicly then moved on with Angelina Jolie shortly after.

At the 2020 Screen Actors Guild Awards, the amicable exes were photographed together for the first time in years.

Pitt, 56, and Aniston, 50, who were married for 5 years between 2000 and 2005, had a friendly moment at the 2020 SAG Awards. They were shot embracing and briefly holding hands, looking pleased to see each other.

Pitt and Aniston are now reportedly rekindling their friendship.

Back in 1998, the respective agents of the former couple played matchmaker and set them up for a date in true Hollywood fashion.

Before their meet-up, Aniston recalled, "(Pitt) was just this sweet guy from Missouri, you know? A normal guy."

The "Fight Club" actor and "Friends" actress and had met shortly after Pitt had called off his two-year-engagement with Gwyneth Paltrow. Aniston also called off her engagement with actor Tate Donovan whom she had been dating since 1995.

"It was weird...That was a really easy evening," according to Aniston in a 2004 interview. "That was really fun."

Both tried to keep their romance under wraps but at that point, Pitt was one of Hollywood's biggest stars and Aniston was America's sweetheart. At the time, it was a world before the advent of channels and streaming platforms, about 30 million people were watching Aniston's sitcom every week.

The former flames made their relationship red carpet-official at their first public appearance at the Emmy Awards in Los Angeles in 1999. "Friends" was nominated for outstanding comedy series but lost out to "Ally McBeal." With Pitt's tiny sunglasses and Aniston's unique half-messy hair, the Southern Californian style was one of the most recognizable moments for the pair to date.

Also Read: Brad Pitt, Jennifer Aniston About to Announce Relationship in Tell-Tale Interview?

A couple of months later, Pitt and Aniston interrupted a Sting gig in New York City to declare to the world that they were engaged with Aniston flaunting her ring.

In July 2000, the former couple tied the knot in a lavish Malibu wedding with helicopters circling the venue in attempts to capture any moment they could. Paparazzi hounded the celebration, photographing aerial shots. The event included 200 guests, 50,000 flowers, 4 bands, a gospel choir, and fireworks.

Aniston reminisced in an interview, "I had those typical jitters the day before my wedding, but the day of, I was just excited in a good way."

Preceding their divorce, The "Fight Club" star co-starred with Angelina Jolie on the set of "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" and the rest was history for Pitt and Aniston.

In mid-December last year, Pitt was among 50 friends who were present at a holiday party at Aniston's Bel-Air home. According to an eyewitness, he was the second to the last guest to leave.

Fans are still hopeful that the pair will reignite their romance.

The "Office Christmas Party" actress spoke fondly of both her former spouses in a story published in December 2018, "My marriages, they've been very successful, in (my) personal opinion. And when they came to an end, it was a choice that was made because we chose to be happy, and sometimes happiness didn't exist within that arrangement anymore."

Related Article: Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie Split: The Dark Side of Their Separation

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Matt Hancock has shared a photograph of himself taking part in a clinical blood plasma trial which could treat up to 5,000 patients a week if tests are successful.

The health secretary, who is among a number of MPs to have had coronavirus, posted the image on Twitter as a nurse took blood from his arm on Saturday.

He added the caption: 'The hugely important clinical trial will help our NHS treat #coronavirus patients using plasma. If you're asked, please take part. It's painless.'

The trialled treatment involves plasma from recovered Covid patients being put into current sufferers who struggle to produce antibodies to fight the virus.

The health secretary posted the image on Twitter as a nurse took blood from his arm on Saturday

The Government has been increasing its collection of plasma so the NHS can start using the treatment in the event of a successful trial.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said this process, which was used to help treat the Sars outbreak, is expected to help 5,000 people per week if the trial is a success.

He said: 'The UK has world-leading life sciences and research sectors and I have every hope this treatment will be a major milestone in our fight against this disease.

'Hundreds of people are participating in national trials already for potential treatments and the scaling up of convalescent plasma collection means thousands could potentially benefit from it in the future.'

In order to collect the plasma a 45-minute process is completed where blood is taken from one arm and circulated through a machine that separates out the plasma, and the blood is then returned to the donor.

The NHS Blood and Transplant will contact people in England who have recovered and who might be able to donate, the department said.

The treatment would involve the 'convalescent plasma', donated from the blood of people who have recovered from the virus, being transfused to patients who are struggling to produce their own antibodies against the illness

Deputy chief medical officer Professor Jonathan Van Tam said: 'The UK is leading the world's largest trials to find a treatment for Covid-19, with over 7,000 people so far involved testing a range of medicines; we hope to add convalescent plasma to this list shortly.

'Convalescent plasma has been used as an effective treatment for emerging infections in the past, and this step forward underpins our science-backed approach to fighting this virus.'

Earlier this week a doctors in Massachusetts said that convalescent plasma therapy helped save the life of a coronavirus patient close to death.

The condition of the patient being treated at UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester, Massachusetts, was said to improve within hours of being administered with the plasma.

Earlier this week a doctors in Massachusetts said that convalescent plasma therapy helped save the life of a coronavirus patient close to death

Dr Jonathan Gerber, a hematologist at UMass Memorial, said he wasn't sure the patient was going to live for much longer.

'He was essentially approaching near maximal settings for the ventilator to keep him alive,' he told WCVB.

Gerber was shocked that, within a few hours, the patient's vital signs dramatically improved.

'(I'm) just ecstatic that it worked, pleasantly surprised,' he said.

'It worked better than I expected. We hoped for the best, and, honestly, that was probably the best we could've hoped for.'

People who have had a confirmed positive test result and who are willing to donate, can also provide their details through the NHS Blood and Transport wesbite.
The Eastern Regional branch of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) has donated assorted Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) to the Eastern Regional Hospital.



The items included 500 pieces of face masks, 80 pieces of N95 face masks and 40 pieces of coveralls costing Gh10,000.00 to support measures against spread of the coronavirus.



Mr Kwasi Amoako Agyei, GBA regional chairman who made the presentation said for the safety of the public all must help health workers who are the front line to contain the spread.



He was of the view that once the health workers had the necessary protective gears, the public was assured of quality health care "and that alone reduces fear and panic".



Dr Forster Manu Amponsah, a surgeon who received the items described it as one of the largest donation received so far considering the quality of the items mentioning the N95 masks in particular.



He said the hospital really was in need of the items and thanked the GBA for the gesture.



Dr Cardinal Newton, Medical Director of the Regional Hospital said it was encouraging for the health workers when other professionals come to their aid in such manner.



He urged the public to continue to strictly observe the social distancing and hand washing protocols as well as the call to stay at home, since they were the surest way to prevent the spread.



Other members of the legal fraternity at the presentation included Mrs Emily Addo-Okyireh, Chief State Attorney at the Attorney-Generals Department, Mr Cyril Keteku, Regional Secretary of the GBA and a host of other lawyers.









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Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare Dr Harsh Vardhan on Saturday stated that the healthcare workers of India are the nation's frontline warriors combating the coronavirus COVID-19, adding that their contribution should be respected and safety and dignity protected. He also commended the dedication and hard work of all the stakeholders at all levels.

Chairing the 13th meeting of the high-level Group of Ministers (GoM) on COVID-19 held in the national capital, Vardhan informed that in view of the urgent need for addressing the issues of stigma and discrimination of patients and also the healthcare workers combating with COVID-19, the Ordinance for amendment of Epidemic Diseases Act 1897 has been recently promulgated with very stringent provisions.

This is not only their fight but our collective effort. They are our frontline warriors and as a nation, let us not only respect their contribution but ensure that their safety and dignity are protected too," he stated.

The meeting was attended by Minister of Civil Aviation Hardeep S Puri, Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar, Minister of State for Home Nityananda Rai, Minister of State, Health & Family Welfare Ashwini Kumar Choubey among other leaders. Chief of Defence Staff Bipin Rawat, NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant, and Chairperson of the Empowered Group-6, C K Mishra, (Environment, Forest & Climate Change) and Chairperson of the Empowered Group-2, Dr Arun K Panda, Secretary (MSME) and Chairperson of the Empowered Group-4, and P D Vaghela, Chairperson, Empowered Group-3 were also present.

A detailed presentation on the status of COVID-19 in the country along with the response and management of COVID-19 in the country was made for the GoM. The Group of Ministers (GoM) had detailed deliberation on the measures taken as on date by the Centre and various states and UTs for prevention, containment and management of COVID-19.

GoM was informed that all districts have been asked to follow and further strengthen their contingency plans to combat COVID-19; the GOM was briefed on the state-wise details of dedicated COVID-19 hospitals along with the adequacy of isolation beds/wards, PPEs, N95 masks, drugs, ventilators, oxygen cylinders etc.

It was informed that domestic manufactures which have been identified earlier have already started the production of PPEs, masks etc., and adequate quantity of the same is available. As on date, more than one lakh PPEs and N95 masks are being manufactured every day in the country. There are at present 104 domestic manufactures of PPE and three making N95 masks in the country. In addition, production of ventilators vides domestic manufacturers have also started and orders have been placed for more than 59,000 units through nine manufacturers.

The GoM also reviewed the testing strategy and availability of testing kits across the country along with the strategy for hotspots and cluster management. GoM was briefed about the number of public and private labs presently testing for COVID-19 along with the number of tests that are being conducted every day through this network of labs.

It was apprised that around 92,000 NGOs, SHGs and civil society organisations are working and contributing by providing food to the migrant workers across various states and UTs. These NGOs are supported by the States by allotting fund from SDRF funds and by FCI who is providing the food grains at a subsidised cost.

GoM was also informed that a national level meta-data of health workers, NSS, NYK, NCC, doctors etc., has been prepared and shared to all the States, Districts and other officials, to mobilise the resources/volunteers (COVID warriors) to much-needed locations.

The dashboard contains state and district wise information about the number of human resources available from each group, along with the contact details of respective State and District Nodal officers. These COVID warriors are being trained through online platforms such as MoHFW website and the iGOT training portal. The platform has 14 courses with 53 modules which includes 113 videos and 29 documents. As on date, more than 10 lakh personnel have been trained.

GoM was apprised that as of now the death rate is around 3.1 per cent while recovery rate is more than 20 per cent, which is comparatively better than most of the countries and may be taken as a positive effect of the Lockdown in the country along with the cluster management & containment strategy. The average doubling rate of the country is 9.1 days, as of now.

The GoM was also informed that as of now, 5,062 people have been cured with a recovery rate of 20.66 per cent. Since April 24, an increase of 1429 new cases has been reported. Also, a total of 24,506 people have been confirmed positive for COVID-19.
By Casey Cantrell

Bay City News Foundation

OAKLAND

As the coronavirus began to spread in the United States, Minfen Ding knew what to expect.

Since January, the oncology nurse at Sutter Health's Alta Bates Summit Medical Center in Oakland had been in communication with friends and colleagues on the front lines of the pandemic response in her native China. Health care workers in the country, she learned, were contracting the virus at alarming rates, because they lacked proper personal protection equipment (PPE).

"I saw what happened in the early stages of Wuhan, so I was scared for myself and my coworkers," said Ding, 53.

Foreseeing that U.S. hospitals were under prepared to deal with outbreaks of their own, she decided to take action. In early March - just as the virus was spreading in the Bay Area - she tapped into her network of contacts in the Chinese community, locally and abroad, and organized a donation drive.

Soon enough, contributions began flooding in.

Friends in China and the Bay Area mailed in packages of medical masks. Her former church in Berkeley organized a fundraiser for supplies. The Cal Parents program at UC Berkeley donated 480 protective suits, and Chinese residents in Albany contributed 200 face shields with plans to send even more. Even Ding's children have gotten involved - her daughter raised more than $3,000 to purchase an additional 6,000 masks from China, and her son collected 10,000 shoe covers for the hospital.

"I'm so grateful," said Ding. "They're a loving community."

While the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Bay Area has inched above 6,000, Ding has collected more than 16,000 medical and N95 masks in less than a month. She estimates that 95 percent of the medical supplies have been shipped from China, which has proved a logistical headache as Ding and her donors try to navigate China's foreign customs restrictions.

Ding remains undeterred. To streamline the shipping process, she turned to her friend, Lily Ding (no relation), a board member at the Silicon Valley Chinese Association Foundation.

Before the pandemic, the foundation had never participated in an emergency response before, but its members decided they had to make an exception for Ding's cause. "To go through customs is nerve-wracking, because the rules are always changing," Lily said. "We're glad that we can help in some small ways." Leveraging their contacts in China, the foundation's members have eased the transport of supplies to the Bay Area.

Through it all, Minfeng Ding defers the credit to her donors.

"My friends spent a lot of their own money. The [local] Chinese community raised the money to buy the PPE and ship it over to our hospital," Ding said. "They're the heroes. I'm only the facilitator."

While Ding may downplay her role, the staff at the medical center is far more effusive in their praise.

"We're so grateful for Minfen's efforts to secure much-needed surgical masks for her colleagues," said Denise Navellier, the hospital's chief nursing executive. "We're humbled by the community's outpouring of support during this challenging time."

Hero or not, Ding plans to keep working with the Bay Area and Chinese communities to bring in more resources for her hospital. She knows that stopping the coronavirus will be a grueling challenge, but it's one she believes the region can overcome.

"Stay at home, shelter in place, do your part," she said. "If we fight together, we'll definitely win the battle."

To see a full list of needed supplies and to make a donation, visit Sutter Health's website, or call (844) 987-6099.

This story was originally published by Bay City News Foundation. Please use the following link when sharing: https://www.localnewsmatters.org/2020/04/23/inspire-me-nurse-spurs-community-to-donate-16000-masks-to-oakland-hospital/

An image related to this story can be found at the following Bay City News web link:

www.baycitynews.com/images/Nurse.04.25.20.jpg

Foreseeing that hospitals in the United States were under prepared to deal with the coronavirus outbreak, Minfen Ding decided to take action and tapped into her network of contacts in the Chinese community, locally and abroad, and organized a donation drive. (Photo courtesy of Sutter Health)

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 lawyer appeared before the Rajasthan high court in a vest on Friday and prompted adjournment of a bail hearing and an order asking lawyers to wear proper uniform even when they appear before courts via video conferencing.

The court said that the Advocates Act requires lawyers to appear before courts in a prescribed dress. It added the decorum of courts should be maintained even when they are functioning through the virtual medium because of the Covid-19 pandemic that has prompted a lockdown to ensure social distancing to check its spread.

Learned counsel for the petitioner was contacted through video conferencing. He was found to be wearing Banyan [vest]. Even through video conferencing, the decorum of court is required to be maintained, justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma said in his order.

The judge adjourned the case while referring to an earlier instance when he had similarly cautioned lawyers to appear in proper uniform after a lawyer appeared in his vest to argue the case on April 7.

This court has already observed that during this pandemic where court functioning is being done through video conferencing, lawyers must appear in proper uniform. Keeping in view that the petitioners counsel was not in proper uniform, the matter is adjourned.

Sharma had on April 7 asked the Rajasthan High Court Bar Association to urge lawyers to be dressed appropriately when appearing through video conferencing. The Bar had subsequently assured compliance with the courts directions.

Section 49 (1) (gg) of the Advocates Act empowers the Bar Council of India to frame rules prescribing the dress or robes to be worn by advocates after taking into account the climatic conditions.

An advocate has to wear a white shirt and long trousers which can be black striped, white or grey with black open breast coat and gown. They are also required to wear a white band. Lawyers can also wear black, white or grey dhoti instead of trousers.

After courts across the country started hearing cases through video conferencing due to the Covid-19 lockdown, various high courts and the Supreme Court have issued orders asking lawyers to be dressed in the prescribed uniform while appearing through video conferencing.
BBC Wales has apologised after accidentally using a picture of Brighton Pavilion to illustrate a mosque during a news report on Ramadan.

The gaffe took place during a live broadcast on Friday and was instantly spotted by eagle-eyed viewers.

Many complained on social media, with one saying: 'Not happy they've used a shot of Brighton Pavilion as though it's a mosque (presumably).'

BBC Wales has apologised after accidentally using a picture of Brighton Pavilion to illustrate a mosque during a news report on Ramadan

The building near Brighton seafront, which is also known as the Royal Pavilion, was built for King George IV in the nineteenth-century.

Its architecture is Indian-inspired and it features ornate minarets and domes.

Many mosques around the world and in the UK have similar architecture.

But the BBC apologised after using the image and said the mistake was down to the picture being mislabelled.

'This was a mistake for which we apologise,' a spokesman said.

Construction on the building started in 1787 and it was finally finished in 1823.

The English Defence League made the same mistake about the pavilion in 2013, when one of their members complained during a demonstration about seeing a 'giant mosque' in the city.

The building near Brighton seafront, which is also known as the Royal Pavilion, was built for King George IV in the nineteenth-century

Ramadan began this year on April 23, meaning that Britain's three million Muslims are facing having to fast and celebrate the holy month during lockdown.

King Salman of Saudi Arabia, home to Islam's holiest shrines, said he is saddened that Muslims cannot pray together at mosques as a result.

'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.

Nevertheless, traditions are being carried out all over the world to mark the start of the celebration.

Observant Muslims refrain from eating and drinking from dawn to dusk during Ramadan and gather with family to break the fast in the evening.
The Delhi government is taking a hard look at a strong recommendation to require people to install the Aarogya Setu app launched by the central government before they enter the national capital.

The recommendation was made at Lt Governor Anil Baijals review meeting on the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic on Friday.

National Centre for Disease Control director Surjit Kumar Singh, who had been asked to advise the city government, strongly recommended that the government allow people to enter the capital only after they have installed the Aarogya Setu app.

Dr Singh also pushed for raising the number of people who were being tested in the capital and supported repeated rapid testing - on the 3rd, 5th and 14th day - so that a Covid-19 positive individual does not get left out due to a false report.

It was at this meeting that Lt Governor Baijal decided to rationalise and carve out safe zones within large containment zones to prevent micro-transmission.

A senior official told Hindustan Times that the government hadnt taken a decision on the Aarogya Setu recommendation yet. But it hasnt knocked it off the table either.

The big hurdle to mandating the mobile application would be that there could be lakhs of people who may not have a smartphone. It has been downloaded on 75 million phones by Friday evening.

India has 1.2 billion mobile phones; only 350 million have smartphones.

In Delhi, we are told 80 percent of the mobiles are smartphones, an official said.

Let us weigh the pros and cons, he said.

Dr Singh isnt the first person to push the mobile application. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been nudging people to download the application launched on April 2. He made the same request when he spoke to a group of village heads via video conference on Friday.

Already, the Central Industrial Security Force - which is responsible for security at key airports and Delhi metro - has made a similar recommendation.

Why the app? First, the disease

The problem stems from the insidious nature of Sars-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19: it can be spread by a person who does not show symptoms, and is thus probably unaware of the illness, and merely breathing, coughing and sneezing could pass it on to anyone close by.

There is also some evidence, according to studies, that the Sars-CoV-2 virus may spread as an aerosol that lets it linger in the air for longer and disperses over longer distances.

How do you trace the contacts of such a person? Say two people who come close to each other in a metro, a bus (when the lockdown lifts) or at a grocery shop. Anywhere. One of them is positive, but doesnt know it yet.

Tracing contacts through conventional methods, would therefore be ineffective.

Now the app

Aarogya Setu app could address this critical handicap in contact tracing.

You need to have a way of focusing (contact tracing) as an asymptomatic person travels over various distances, over time. We need to find out who all were close to that person and warn the others after the person is identified as positive. This is what Aarogya Setu also does  it will find the symptomatic person and also identify all asymptomatic people around them in the past few days and advise them too, said Dr K VijayRaghavan, principal scientific advisor to the government of India

Also Read: How to setup the Aarogya Setu app

Eric Feigl-Ding, an epidemiologist at Harvard University, told Hindustan Times earlier this month that a mobile phone-based tool would take care of an infected person having difficulty to recall who they met. You dont need the manpower and it is instantaneous  the speed is the most crucial aspect, he said.

How Aarogya Setu app works

Like similar mobile applications being used elsewhere, the phone exchanges details with phones that are within range of their Bluetooth radios. This information will be shared by the Aarogya Setu app with health authorities once the mobile phone subscriber confirms that he has tested positive, triggering an alert to all other devices that may have been in the proximity.

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Finance minister announces "reboot" of tax, customs services, notes loss of confidence in sacked leaders

13:30, 25.04.20 7045

Replacements will be appointed in the coming days, minister says.
Businessman holding tablet and showing a growing virtual hologram of statistics, graph and chart with arrow up on dark background. Stock market. Business growth, planning and strategy concept

Its the perfect time to start buying. Investors looking for blue-chip stock opportunities have found them discounted to the extreme as this stock market rally gets underway. Then there are the other investors  those looking for opportunities to make a killing in a short time.

While its best to have a portfolio based on long-term buys, it can still be a great idea to have at least a small stake in stocks that could double or even triple as the stock market rally continues. And in some cases, you wont even have to pay a large amount to see massive returns.

Todays stock market rally opportunity

Lets face it, Baytex Energy Corp. (TSX:BTE)(NYSE:BTE) has seen far better days. The company once traded in the $50 range only nine years ago. Today, that share price has fallen a whopping 99%. Thats right, the stock is almost non-existent at $0.30 per share as of writing.

While this might not be the best long-term stock to hold onto, it definitely has some potential during this stock market rally. Whats really beaten down the stock lately is the market crash coupled with the oil and gas industry.

Even with Russia and Saudi Arabia agreeing the cut back on production, with further cuts potentially on the way, BTE stock has a long, long way to go.

For now, its best for investors to look at this as a quick buying opportunity. As the stock market rally continues, it should be easy for investors to get back to at least pre-crash prices.

While those share prices were still low at only $2 per share, that would mean investors could potentially see their shares blossom seven fold!

But even if you arent looking for that high of share prices, this stock should easily double over the next month, or even less. Thats why the earlier you get in, the better so you dont miss out on this stock market rally opportunity. Lets say you put aside just $1,000. You could see that stock double in under a month!

Still risks ahead

Im not going to lie. This is a risky buy right now, as are all get-rich-quick stocks. The stock market rally has a lot of potential for great investments, but BTE stock has a lot to prove.

Story continues

The company has $1.9 billion in debt after purchasing Aurora Oil and Gas back in 2014, needing West Texas Intermediate to average US$38 per barrel just to reach neutrality for 2020. Needless to say, that doesnt look likely.

The main hope that BTE stock has is to make even more cuts. Its cuts already have meant the companys oil production wont be growing for at least this year, with 2020 estimates ranging from 85,000 to 89,000 barrels per day, 9% lower than last year.

This again wont be good for long-term investors, but could be good for a quick bump for short-term shareholders during this stock market rally.

Bottom line

Its up to you whether you have the funds available to take a small stake in BTE stock during this stock market rally. However, I wouldnt recommend hoping for a $50 stock price anytime soon.

In fact, this company could even go bankrupt. But right now, prices are just so low that its likely you make at least some cash before selling this stock ahead of any more bad news.

The post Stock Market Rally: 1 Stock Could Easily Double appeared first on The Motley Fool Canada.

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Fool contributor Amy Legate-Wolfe 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
This year though the traditional form of buying physical gold jewellery or coins on Akshay Tritiya is no longer an avenue for people where they can to go and shop due to current national lockdown imposed due to coronavirus outbreak.

Kumar Jain, Vice President Mumbai Jewellers Association and proprietor of UT Zaveri, told Moneycontrol that in normal time during Akshay Tritiya the turnover is around Rs 200 crore in Maharashtra on gold jewellery, diamond jewellery and bullion sales but this time sales are likely to come around at 10-20 percent.

Jain said he is offering customers 30 percent discount on labour charges on gold jewellery, 40 percent on diamond and 5 percent discount on certain banks credit card.

The festival of Akshay Tritiya that falls on April 26 this year is associated with wealth, prosperity and happiness and a day on which Hindus and Jains purchase gold, schedule marriages and start new ventures as the day is considered auspicious.

Suvankar Sen, Executive Director, Senco Gold & Diamonds told Moneycontrol that he expects sales to be down by 80 percent from last year as customers are likely to opt for token purchase this time of 2, 5 and 10-gram gold coins.

Traditionally, Indian customers prefer to see and verify jewellery in stores before deciding to purchase them  so no big-ticket jewellery sales may take place this time.

Sen further said that businessmen and the salaried class are impacted by the lockdown as businesses are shut and pay cuts in various industries have impacted the sales sentiment this time.

Sen said that people shouldn't expect that the bullion price will come to down to last year's level of Rs 30,000-35,000 per 10 gram. He advises that one should accumulate gold in the price point of Rs 43,000-45,000/10 gram as a good entry point as they wont regret the price the end of the year.

He sees gold prices touching Rs 53,000-55000 per 10 gram by Akshay Tritiya 2021.

To cater to customers demand and recover some loss of business, many jewellers have taken the online route this time and are offering various schemes and discounts. Below is the list of some jewellery brands who are selling gold online this year and their offers:

Senco Gold and Diamonds

The largest jewellery retail chain in Eastern India is offering a discount of Rs 400 per gram on gold rate and making charges this Akshay Tritiya which is valid for the period April 22-27.

The offer allows customers to get the benefit of lower rate if the gold prices eased on the day the lockdown is lifted. The company is also contributing 1 percent of sales amount to COVID-19 fund.

Kalyan Jewellers

Kalyan Jewellers launched Gold Ownership Certificate which a customer can purchase from the company website on or before Akshaya Tritiya. The firm has tied up with SBI Card and the holder of the card can avail 5 percent cashback up to Rs 1,250. The certificate is available in denomination of 2 grams upwards which can be redeemed at the store in person with a valid ID proof.

Tanishq

The gold jewellery chain is offering 25 percent off on making charges of gold jewellery and diamond jewellery value. The scheme comes with a Gold Rate protection scheme, where customers can purchase gold coins at the prevailing gold rate and are entitled to exchange the coins at any store without any loss on making charges of coins for Jewellery purchase during the redemption period until end November 2020.

Also read: Gold prices hover near lifetime high ahead of Akshay Tritiya

PNG Jewellers

The 187-year old Maharashtra-based jewellery chain has launched Vedhani E-Vouchers and the Pure Price offer to enable online booking of gold for Akshay Tritiya.

The E-voucher is available in the denomination of 1, 2, 5 & 10 gms of bullion only and the customers can take the delivery once the lockdown is over.

The Pure Price offer allows customers to avail the booking rates post the lockdown in case the prevailing rates are higher and the benefit of lower rates in case the gold prices fall.

Malabar Gold & Diamonds

Malabar Gold is offering 30 percent discount on making charges of gold jewellery, up to 20 percent discount on diamond value and 5 percent cashback on SBI Card with transactions above Rs. 15,000 to customers who purchase online this Akshaya Tritiya. The offer comes with a rate protection advantage i.e. customers can avail the jewellery at the booked rate or prevailing rate whichever is lower.

Titan Nebula Gold Watch

Titan is offering up to 20 percent discount on exquisite gold watch collection Nebula Gold this Akshaya Tritiya. The company is issuing Nebula Certificate of Ownership that can be bought by customer with easy return policy. The 18k gold crafted watch collection starts from Rs 28,000 onwards with watches available in plain gold as well as embellished with pearls, diamonds, rubies and other precious stones.

Joyalukkas

The firm is offering a discount of Rs 50 off on gold rate and 20 percent discount on diamond value this festival along with 5 percent cash back on SBI Card with a minimum transaction of Rs 15,000 to customers who purchase gold jewellery on companys website. The offer is not applicable on gold coins, bars and loose diamond.

The views and investment tips expressed by investment experts on moneycontrol.com are their own and not those of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.
President Trump has spent Saturday morning on Twitter, blasting fake news, boasting about the number of COVID-19 tests performed in the United States and saying it was 'honor' to send ventilators to Colordao.

The Commander-in-chief sent out the string of tweets - including another in which he promised to send ventilators to Ethiopia - the morning after he abruptly exited his daily coronavirus press briefing without taking any questions.

Trump has been ridiculed after suggesting Thursday that COVID-19 patients may be treated with the injection of disinfectants. White House officials are now reportedly discussing ways to curtail his public appearances.

But the President appears unable to stay away from his beloved Twitter account, sending out his first Saturday tweet at 8.20am.

Trump kicked off his morning by tweeting out that WWE star Triple H 'is a total winner', before he turned to address the coronavirus pandemic.

'Thank you to the people of Colorado for the warm and gracious notes and letters sent to me for all of the Ventilators we got for you. It was my great honor! @SenCoryGardner' he wrote in a second post at 8.45am.

President Trump has spent Saturday morning on Twitter, after he abruptly left Friday's coronavirus press briefing (pictured) without taking questions

Trump sent out the string of tweets addressing testing and ventilators

On Thursday, the federal government delivered 100 ventilators to 11 different Colorado hospital,, following a request from Republican Senator Cory Gardner.

According to The Colorado Gazette, Gardner has 'touted the success of his personal connections' in securing supplies to battle coronavirus. Some critics of Trump have claimed that he 'demands praise in exchange for aid'.

14 minutes later, Trump sent out his third tweet of the morning, in which he boasted about the number of COVID-19 tests that have been performed across the country.

'Many testing sites are, and have been, open & available. Just passed 5 Million Tests, far more than any other country in the world. In fact, more than all other major countries combined! Don't believe the Fake News!' he wrote.

Last week, journalist Steve Kornacki told MSNBC that, whilst the US may have administered more tests than other western countries, they also have a far larger population.

He showed data that claimed the US still trailing behind Italy, Germany and Spain in terms of testing per capita.

Later on Saturday morning, Trump tweeted about the supply of ventilators, and appeared to indicate that the COVID-19 outbreak was coming to an end in the US.

'It is a wonderful feeling to know that our States are loaded up with Ventilators, many brand new and high quality just off of our production lines, and that we are now in a position to help other countries that so desperately need them. Every person needing a Ventilator got one!' he wrote.

He then promised to help Ethiopia with its COVID-19 outbreak, writing: 'Just spoke to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali of Ethiopia. His Country needs Ventilators, and the U.S. is in good position to help him. We will!'

Trump later turned to attack his political opponents, sending another tweet which stated: 'The Do Nothing Democrats are spending much of their money on Fake Ads. I never said that the CoronaVirus is a 'Hoax', I said that the Democrats, and the way they lied about it, are a Hoax. Also, it did start with 'one person from China', and then grew, & will be a 'Miracle' end!'

It comes despite new data Saturday morning which showed the number of COVID-19 cases in the US has skyrocketed to more than 927,000. More than 52,400 Americans have died from the virus.

The President's busy morning on Twitter came after an unusually short appearance at his Friday coronavirus press briefing, which lasted just 22 minutes

The President's busy morning on Twitter came after an unusually short appearance at his Friday coronavirus press briefing, which lasted just 22 minutes.

Trump usually holds court for more than two hours, but has been under fire for comments made during his briefing on Thursday.

While speaking into the microphone, the President proposed treating coronavirus patients by injecting them with disinfectant.

The presumptive 2020 Democratic nominee for President, Joe Biden - who is all but certain to go head-to-head against Trump in re-election - mocked the President for the claim on Twitter.

Social media users also created a flurry of memes, and disinfectant maker Lysol was prompted to release a statement telling customers not to ingest their products.

Trump later claimed he was being 'sarcastic' when he made the comments.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-25 16:26:17|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, April 25 (Xinhua) -- The following are the highlights of China's science news from the past week:

MARS EXPLORATION

China's first Mars exploration mission has been named Tianwen-1, announced the China National Space Administration (CNSA) Friday, China's Space Day.

The name comes from the long poem "Tianwen," meaning Heavenly Questions or Questions to Heaven, written by Qu Yuan (about 340-278 BC), one of the greatest poets of ancient China.

CNSA said all of China's planetary exploration missions in the future will be named Tianwen series, signifying the Chinese nation's perseverance in pursuing truth and science and exploring nature and the universe.

LARGE SCALE SURVEY TELESCOPE

Chinese experts will build a survey telescope with wide field and high resolution in Lenghu (Cold Lake) Town, in northwest China's Qinghai Province.

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.

NEW CANCER DRUG

Researchers from China's Central South University and Yale University have developed a new inhibitor that shows greater ability to suppress tumor growth than existing drugs, promising to prolong the survival time of patients with late-stage skin cancers.

In the study, recently published online in the journal Nature Communications, the researchers found that a new molecule inhibitor called NHWD-870 exhibited robust activity against tumors. It was between three times and 50 times more potent against skin cancer cells than other inhibitors in experiments done on mice.

COVID-19 PATIENTS WITH DIARRHEA

Researchers have found that more COVID-19 patients with diarrhea showed severe symptoms of pneumonia than those without diarrhea, according to a recently published research article in the journal Lancet Gastroenterology and Hepatology.

The researchers from the Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University and its Research Institute of Gastroenterology examined the intestinal symptoms of patients with COVID-19 from multiple medical centers in China.

NANOMATERIAL TO REMOVE ANTIBIOTICS

Chinese scientists have developed a kind of nanomaterial that can effectively remove antibiotics in water.

Researchers from the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science under the Chinese Academy of Sciences used a hydrothermal synthesis method to fabricate the nanomaterial that can work as an absorbent to remove norfloxacin, a kind of antibiotics in water. The material has a high adsorption capacity and can be recycled. It can remove antibiotics without secondary pollution. Enditem
The friends of a slain nursing student who was strangled to death by her classmate in upstate New York revealed how they used the Find My Friends app to track down her body.

When Haley Anderson, 22, first went missing the morning of March 8, 2018, none of her friends were immediately concerned.

Anderson, a nursing student set to graduate from Binghamton University, was sociable and well liked by her peers in Binghamton.

'I texted her that morning. She didn't answer. I figured she was still asleep,' Anderson's friend Josie Artin said.

Haley Anderson (pictured), was a 22-year-old nursing student who was strangled to death by her jealous lover, Orlando Tercero, in March 2018

'When I first didn't hear from her, I didn't think, "Oh, something terrible has happened",' Artin added.

But later that night the tone would change when Anderson couldn't be reached by friend nearly all day.

It would later be revealed that Anderson had been strangled to death by 23-year-old Orlando Tercero, but friends first began to suspect something was amiss when Anderson's phone was discovered in his apartment.

In an interview with CBS News' 48 Hours, Artin explained that friends became increasingly worried after Anderson disappeared from social media and didn't show for an event.

The night before, the group of friends had been drinking and playing board games until 4am.

'When I first didn't hear from her, I didn't think, "Oh, something terrible has happened

Josie Artin (pictured): 'When I first didn't hear from her, I didn't think, "Oh, something terrible has happened'

Following the murder, Orlando Tercero (pictured) fled New York City and flew from John F. Kennedy International Airport to Nicaragua

Pictured: Tercero (left) and Anderson (right) hanging out together before the March 2018 murder

'She had told me she was going to come watch me read poetry at poetry night that Thursday and then she didn't show up,' said Artin.

'We were all calling her and she didn't answer. It was the next morning and we were like "this doesn't make sense".'

Friends eventually discovered Anderson's phone was in Tercero's apartment.

'One of my roommates was just like,"I've located her phone on Find My Friends and it says it's at Orlando's house",' Artin said.

The Find My Friends app, used on iPhones, allows people to locate friends or loved ones on Apple Inc. devices.

After installing the app, users can share their location with friends by choosing people from a contact list, phone numbers, email addresses or AirDrop.

During a fit of jealousy, Tercero strangled Anderson and her body was later found partly tucked into his bed

When they arrived at the apartment in search of Anderson, the doors were locked and Tercero's car was not in the driveway.

That's when they decided to climb into Tercero's apartment through a window and discovered Anderson's body inside.

Authorities would learn that Anderson left her home to visit Tercero at his apartment on the morning of March 8.

During a fit of jealousy, Tercero strangled Anderson and her body was later found partly tucked into his bed.

After Anderson was found dead, Tercero reportedly told his sister that he had done 'something bad' and was a 'disgrace to the family'.

Pictured: Tercero's home in Binghamton, New York, where he got into a confrontation with Anderson in September 2016 and six months later strangled her

Anderson (pictured) reportedly had a casual romantic relationship with Tercero, but ended it after he pushed for a more serious relationship

Ultimately, Tercero would flee to John F. Kennedy International Airport after a suicide attempt and board a flight to his home in Nicaragua.

Tercero was found guilty and convicted of Femicide, a Nicaraguan law that covers domestic or sexually motivated murders of women.

The trial for Tercero, who is a dual citizen of the US and Nicaragua, was an increasingly rare one that saw the defendant prosecuted under Nicaraguas legal system for a murder that happened on American soil.

Authorities said that Tercero fled to the Nicaraguan capital Managua after the murder and the trial was subsequently held there because Central American nations laws forbid the extradition of citizens.

Prosecutors were able to facilitate witness testimonies in New York with the help of a long-distance video call from a room in the district attorneys office in Binghamton and a translator.

Anderson (pictured) filed a police report six months before her death, saying she feared Tercero and believed he slashed all four of her vehicle's tires

Witnesses at the trial said Tercero had a romantic relationship with Anderson, but he became enraged when she rejected his demands for a more serious relationship and began dating other people.

Andersons friends and supporters reportedly watched the courtroom proceedings on a grainy livestream from a wood-paneled viewing room.

Although the Broome County District Attorneys office was heavily involved as the facilitator for witnesses in New York, they had not authority over the trial.

Broome County District Attorney Steve Cornwell said Tercero received the maximum prison sentence under Nicaraguan law.

Cornwell told the Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin: We saw something that we haven't seen before, but we saw two governments working together, law enforcement agencies working together.

Although not what we wanted, we wanted to have the trial here, but we saw justice take place in a courtroom on an international stage.

Gordon Anderson, Haleys father, praised Nicaraguas handling of the case, telling Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin that it gave, some ease to the heartache and a little bit of conclusion.

'I mean it's not over, and there will always be an emptiness that's there, but it was nice to see that Nicaragua did a really professional, bang up job to get the job done.

Pictured: Mourners attend the funeral of Haley Anderson in Westbury, Long Island

If Tercero is ever extradited, he could still be prosecuted for Andersons death under the U.S. legal system.

Six months before her death, Anderson filed a police report against Tercero that revealed she feared him.

WBNG reports that Anderson believed Tercero was responsible for slashing all four of her car tires after the two got into an argument the day before during a party at his home.

Tercero, who had a previous relationship with Anderson, reportedly got upset with her and shouted at her during a confrontation about her on-again, off-again boyfriend.

Tercero attempted to apologize by pouring shots for Anderson and her friends before he became sick after drinking too much.

Anderson helped Tercero to bed and the next morning discovered her tires.

A police report said: Haley stated that she believed but wasn't sure, that a male named Orlando Tercero, may have been involved with the damage of her vehicle.

Pictured: Haley Anderson's parents, Gordon (left) and Karen (right), with District Attorney Steve Cornwell (middle) after Tercero was found guilty

Tercero (center) was found guilty by a judge of Femicide, a law that covers domestic or sexually motivated murders of women

Haley stated that she and Orlando dated for a short time, and that she had gone to a party at his house, 23 Oak St, on 09/15/17. She stated that Orlando had confronted her about dating his friend, her now boyfriend, and that he got very upset and was shouting at her.

While I (the investigator) deposed Haley, she advised that she believed that Orlando may have slashed her tires but that she wasn't sure, and that she did not wish to pursue charges for the damage to her vehicle at this time, the report continued.

Anderson told officers she would handle the matter with Tercero by herself.

Anderson posted a video of her slashed tires on her Snapchat, to which Tercero replied and said his were damaged as well.

He reportedly told Anderson that filing a police report was not a good idea.
Karl Stefanovic has opened up about seeing a psychiatrist who diagnosed him with post traumatic stress disorder at a low point in his personal and professional life.

The Today host says he can normally handle intense pressure but with his first marriage broken down and his job being threatened he knew he had to seek help.

Stefanovic was under constant scrutiny as the program lost viewers in the wake of his marriage break-up and the start of a new relationship which some critics seemed to think scandalous.

He had strong support from close friends, including casino mogul James Packer, but as the pressure kept growing he sought medical assistance in managing his mental health.

Stefanovic told Daily Mail Australia he was now worried many Australians were under so much stress due to coronavirus the country might face a suicide epidemic.

'I think this could be the most important interview I've done,' the 45-year-old said.

Today show host Karl Stefanovic has opened up about seeing a psychiatrist who diagnosed him with PTSD at a low point in his private and professional life. He is pictured (far right) with James Packer (second from right) who still checks on his welfare with a text every week

Karl Stefanovic describes his friend James Packer as a 'beautiful soul'. 'I've known James for a lot of years and I was really proud of him when he came out and he talked about his battles,' Stefanovic says. 'Our battles aren't the same battles but I greatly admire him for doing that'

The Today show host says he has learnt the triggers for his mental health issues and how to release pressure when it built up. He is doing well and enjoying life with wife Jasmine (both pictured)

'Because I'm very concerned. My biggest concern right now is inside families and it's people on their own and it's the elderly who aren't able talk to anyone.

'This pressure mounts to a point where I think that we're going to lose a lot of people unless we're connected and we're asking everyone if they're OK.'

Two years ago Stefanovic took his own troubles to psychological and psychiatric experts and was eventually diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

With help he gradually learnt the triggers for his mental health issues and how to release pressure when it built up.

Stefanovic said he was now doing well and that Packer, who has been open about suffering three mental breakdowns, still provided him regular support.

'There hasn't been a week gone by in three and a half years that he hasn't sent me a text message to see if I'm OK,' he said.

'I've known James for a lot of years and I was really proud of him when he came out and he talked about his battles.

'Our battles aren't the same battles but I greatly admire him for doing that.

'I love him, he's a beautiful soul. He's clearly had his battles, he's clearly been damaged but he's also one of the most loyal people that I've ever met.'

Stefanovic said his own issues surfaced about two years ago when he was nearing the end of his first long stint hosting Channel Nine's Today.

Billionaire James Packer has been frank about his mental health problems which have included depression, alcohol addiction and three breakdowns. He is pictured attending the Crown Resorts annual general meeting in Melbourne in 2017

Stefanovic was under constant scrutiny in 2017 and 2018 as Today lost viewers in the wake of his marriage break-up and the start of a new relationship with Jasmine Yarbrough (both pictured). The couple married in late 2018 and are now expecting their first child together

In 2016 he split from the mother of his three children and wife of 21 years, Cassandra Thorburn, and five months later started a relationship with shoe designer Jasmine Yarbrough.

Stefanovic, who has covered some of the biggest local and international news stories of the past two decades, said there was no single thing that made him seek professional help.

'It was like maybe two years ago,' he said. 'There'd just been a build up of stories, there'd been a build up of pressures.

'I couldn't fathom why there were people taking photos of me all the time. For me, it was like why are you doing this? I haven't done anything wrong.

'When your family's constantly being pursued and your name is constantly in the papers and online and in the magazines you feel like there's just no escape.'

Stefanovic saw several mental health professionals before he was eventually diagnosed with PTSD.

'I think people are now becoming skeptical of folks who come out and say they've had some level of mental illness,' he said.

'I'm able to cope with a great deal of pressure but pressure does build and if you don't look after it, it can sort of catch you unawares.

Stefanovic says two years ago he sought help to cope with pressure brought about in part by intense media scrutiny. 'I couldn't fathom why there were people taking photos of me all the time,' he says.' For me, it was like, why are you doing this? I haven't done anything wrong'

'It can get big on you and you've got to constantly manage your pressures, your own personality, and if you don't then you risk the dam breaking.

'We check up on our bodies and make sure that we try to do the right thing by our bodies but quite often mentally we don't.

'There should be no stigma at all ever about going to see a professional. There should be no stigma about giving Lifeline a call.'

Stefanovic said it took him some time before he found the right individual he was comfortable to talk with about his mental condition. 'This one guy, I really connected with,' he said.

'I think that's another important thing, finding the right person. Go until you find the right person and connect with them.'

Stefanovic has been hosting a weekly spoof tonight show put together with friends as they all work remotely during the coronavirus crisis. He is pictured on his rooftop presenting the show

Stefanovic was directed to psychologists, who study emotions and behaviour, and psychiatrists, who as medical practitioners can diagnose and treat mental illness.

'I saw both,' he said. 'And I think there should be no - I hope there's no - shame in doing that.

'You can't understand everything about your own mind. You can't understand why after so long, or after dealing with so many pressures, that you're not able to cope on one particular day.

The billionaire and the breakfast TV host: How Karl Stefanovic and James Packer became best mates James Packer is pictured with girlfriend Kylie Klim in St Tropez in 2018. The billionaire has hosted his television host friend Karl Stefanovic on his yacht over the years Karl Stefanovic has been close to his former boss James Packer for more than a decade, since the days the billionaire owned Channel Nine. In recent years Packer, 52, has been frank about his own mental health problems which have included depression, alcohol addiction and three breakdowns. 'I've known James for a lot of years and I was really proud of him when he came out and he talked about his battles,' Stefanovic said. 'Our battles aren't the same battles but I greatly admire him for doing that. 'It's an incredibly difficult thing for someone of his power to come out and admit to. 'For me, as a friend, we don't talk about business. We obviously have common interests and common friends. 'I love him, he's a beautiful soul. He's clearly had his battles, he's clearly been damaged but he's also one of the most loyal people that I've ever met. 'There hasn't been a week gone by in three and a half years that he hasn't sent me a text message to see if I'm OK. 'That's real friendship. People might go, 'Oh well, you know, what's that friendship about?" 'But I'm telling you right now it's just about loyalty and friendship and we have a great laugh together.' Stefanovic attended Packer's second wedding, to model Erica Baxter, on the French Riviera in 2007. Packer described him as 'one of my best friends in the world' in 2014. When Stefanovic moved out of his marital home in 2016 after his split from wife Cassandra Thorburn he reportedly stayed at Paker's beachfront Bondi apartment. Stefanovic and his second wife Jasmine were photographed holidaying with the casino mogul aboard his luxury yacht Arctic P in Bora Bora in June 2017. A year later they joined Packer and his girlfriend Kylie Lim on his boat in Sardinia, Italy. With Packer dividing his time between Aspen and Los Angeles, where his now ex-wife Erica lives with the couple's three children, Stefanovic has not seen his friend in a while. 'He's got huge things going on in his life but that says everything about him, I reckon, that every week he will send me a message saying, "Are you OK?" Stefanovic said. 'I love him and I know that he's getting better. He's making huge inroads into recovery and to get back to where he was and I just think that's to be admired. 'To try as a man to make yourself better is a great thing and he's doing that in spades. I look forward to catching up with him whenever I can.' Stefanovic said his relationship with Packer was not all about monitoring each other's mental health. 'It's nice to have one of your best mates who has a nice boat too,' he said. 'A couple of my Queensland mates have got dinghies and I love going out in a dinghy. 'But nothing really compares with going out on his boat. I haven't been out on it for years. 'For whatever reason we became mates and it's sort of developed over the years into a great friendship.'

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'But if you can have help unpacking things and then psychiatric help in making sure you recognise some of the symptoms of you reaching a point where you think, "Holy s***, where did that come from?" everyone's going to be better off.'

Stefanovic did not wish to discuss the details of his PTSD diagnosis but said there was nothing special about his own circumstances.

'I'm not going to go into some of the things that were triggers for me,' he said.

'I'm not for a second saying I'm a returned soldier from a war. I'm not saying that I'm any kind of martyr - that's the last thing I'm saying.

James Packer suffered his third breakdown after a series of business disasters and his split from onetime fiancee Mariah Carey. The former couple is pictured in New York in 2016

'There are people out there who have gone through a whole lot worse than me. I'm just a dude who's gone through some things.

'There are people who go through far worse and I don't know how they do it.

'But for me I know what I need to do now and that's just part of my everyday existence.'

Stefanovic returned to the Today show in January and is expecting his first child with 36-year-old Jasmine next month.

'I feel really good now but there's some days when you have a big day and those around you and your loved ones need to be aware of it, like you are with them.

'If something's not right then go and get some help. It's like going to the dentist, except less painful.

'For whatever reason people like to keep whatever they're feeling mentally private and that just goes against what's healthy for you I think.'

Stefanovic says he sought professional help for mental health problems about two years ago. About that time he was hosting Today with Georgie Gardner (both pictured)

Stefanovic did not want to sound like he spent all this time monitoring his own mental health.

'I also have fun,' he said. 'There's a need to balance everything.

'I still love having a few drinks on a Friday night, having a nice meal and relaxing and going to a great party.

'That part of me hasn't changed. There's a need for balance.'

Stefanovic now wanted to use his public platform to encourage others to consider their own mental condition.

He said the stresses caused by coronavirus - the job losses, domestic disharmony and the lockdowns, were pushing some people to the brink.

'I do desperately feel that we are going to lose people in this country in the next four weeks if we're not on top of that issue,' Stefanovic said.

He believed Australians were silently suffering during the COVID-19 epidemic and those at most risk needed to look after their mental health.

'Obviously we've got to look after those who have coronavirus,' he said.

'But it's those people who have lost a job, it's those people who are at home and unable to cope because they're on their own.

'It's the people with kids and they're just not coping at home with the kids.

Stefanovic has warned people who are isolated in their homes during the coronavirus crisis could face mental health problems. Sunshine Coast single mother Carlene O'Loughlin (pictured) has lost her job due to the pandemic and will look to Centrelink for financial support

'Those pressures inside build like an overflowing dam and at some point that dam breaks.

'If you're not on top of pressure, if you don't release pressure as you go, then it overflows.

'I think that people have got to reach out and people have got to be aware of what's going on inside their own homes.

'Because you don't see it coming and I really, really worry about people in the next four weeks.'

Stefanovic said he could feel Australians getting 'tetchy' under the lockdowns.

'I feel it when I see vision of people getting arrested at Bondi, I feel it when I see people attacking other people for racially motivated reasons,' he said.

'I see it when I see people gathering for an eight-year-old's birthday in Melbourne [and the organiser was fined for breaching social distancing rules].

'I just feel this country's getting a little bit tetchy and unless we get control of that now there's going to be some really big problems.

Stefanovic says Australians are getting 'tetchy' about coronavirus lockdowns. Bondi identity Dimitri Moskovich is pictured being arrested last weekend near the beach where he exercises for hours every day

'I don't want kids losing fathers or grandfathers, I don't want to lose kids, I don't want to lose mums.

'I don't want to lose aunties or uncles. it's just a matter of getting through however we can over the next couple of months.'

Stefanovic said while Australia had drastically reduced the rate of coronavirus infection and kept deaths to a minimum there were more challenges to come.

'We've got through this virus crisis so well,' he said.

'But the next four weeks are going to be the most testing in this country's history in a long time.

'The point is I'm a person who is able to withstand a lot of pressure and to me I didn't see some of those pressure triggers building and coming.

'I went and I got some help and that release - and everyone should not feel at all in any way, shape or form shame for that.

'It should be part of everyone's basic health.'

For confidential support call the 24-hour Lifeline crisis support on 13 11 14.
H ome Secretary Priti Patel revealed that police have been called to respond to some extraordinarily dangerous driving as car lovers take advantage of the quieter roads as their own personal race track.

Ms Patel addressed the daily Downing Street press conference on what the police are doing to maintain law and order during the lockdown.

She described the coronavirus death toll in UK hospitals passing 20,000 as a deeply tragic and moving moment and warned that we are not out of the woods yet.

The Home Secretary also asked the public to stay at home and save lives as temperatures continue to soar.

She said that one driver was clocked doing 151mph on the M1.

Long queues at B&Q after UK stores reopen during coronavirus pandemic 1 /12 Long queues at B&Q after UK stores reopen during coronavirus pandemic Long queues outside a B&Q diy store in Bristol PA Shoppers queue at a recently re-opened B&Q hardware store Getty Images Customers queue outside the B&Q Warehouse, which has reopened after more than a month's closure, in south west London AFP via Getty Images A sign for keeping social distancing is pictured at a B&Q DIY store REUTERS People queue outside a B&Q store in Dover, Kent, as the UK continues in lockdown PA A worker disinfects a shopping trolley outside a B&Q DIY store REUTERS People queue outside a B&Q diy store in Hartcliffe, Bristol PA Long queues were seen in Wallasey, Wirral PA Long queues outside a B&Q diy store in Bristol as the UK continues in lockdown to help curb the spread of the coronavirus PA

She said: Weve seen speeds of up to 151mph clocked on the M1 and 134mph in 40mph zone in London.

Police and fire (services) continue to put their arms around people and our communities by taking people shopping and taking prescriptions to the elderly.

Driving ambulances and supporting those in need throughout this difficult time  Im immensely grateful to each and everyone of our emergency service heroes.

Ms Patel paid tribute to police / Reuters

Ms Patel also paid tribute to the South Yorkshire Police motorcyclist killed as he responded to an emergency earlier this week.

She said: Police officers and staff continue to put themselves at risk to ensure that people follow the life-saving instruction to stay at home.

Staying at home has changed the way we live our lives and I know how tough this has been.

She added: We know that people are frustrated but we are not out of danger yet, it is imperative that people continue to follow the rules designed to protect their families, their friends and their loved ones.
A 55-year-old man was stabbed in the face and neck in the parking lot of a Vancouver shopping complex Friday afternoon, police said.

Vancouver Police responded to reports of a stabbing at 1901 Northeast 162nd Avenue at approximately 1:15 p.m. When officers arrived, they found the victim suffering from stab wounds and bystanders restraining a male suspect nearby.

Police said the victim was transported to an area hospital with serious injuries. Police said the intervention of bystanders likely saved the victims life.

The suspect, who police identified as Nathan Karch, 33, of Vancouver, was arrested and booked into the Clark County Jail on charges of first-degree attempted murder.

Police believe that the assault was random, and said there is no relationship between the suspect and victim.

-- Jamie Goldberg | jgoldberg@oregonian.com | @jamiebgoldberg

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
Some fishermen who have been quarantined in Sekondi in the Western Region are finding it uneasy with themselves for not seeing their wives.

They stunned listeners of Takoradi-based Skyy Power FM yesterday when they complained for not being allowed to see their spouses, saying we miss our wives.

They then made a passionate appeal to the city authorities to allow their wives to make 'contact' with them.

The fishermen, numbering about six, have been in quarantine for almost a week after they had returned from a fishing expedition in neighbouring Ivory Coast.

One of the fishermen, who spoke to the radio station yesterday, remarked, The weather is cold and unbearable and we wish we would enjoy with our wives.

We are calling on the authorities to allow our wives to make contact with us. In fact, we have been restless without our wives, he said.

According to him, some of his colleagues feared that as they were being quarantined, there is the likelihood that their wives would abandon their matrimonial homes for other men and insisted that was a reality.

He appealed to the authorities to provide for their respective families since they (fishermen) were the breadwinners of their families, but could not currently cater for them since they had been quarantined, querying, Now if we go home and hear our wives had moved in with other men, who should we blame?

He commended the city authorities for providing a much conducive accommodation for them, but said they needed their wives to make it complete.

We used to be in a facility which was not conducive, but we have been relocated to a nicer facility, he said, adding the current quarantine centre is a hotel and each of us has our own room and its better than where we used to be.

---Daily Guide
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A new approach to monitoring the novel coronavirus, (as well as other dangerous pathogens and chemical agents), is being developed and refined.Ultimately, WBE holds the promise of near real-time monitoring of disease outbreaks, resistant microbes, levels of drug use or health indicators of diabetes, obesity and other maladies.In a new study, ASU researchers Rolf Halden and Olga Hart analyze what can and cannot be measured when tracking SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater, and they highlight the economic advantages of the new approach over conventional disease testing and epidemiological surveillance."Our results show that exclusive reliance on testing of individuals is too slow, cost-prohibitive and in most places, impractical, given our current testing capacity," Halden says."However, when preceded by population-wide screening of wastewater, the task becomes less daunting and more manageable."Hart is the lead author of the new study and a researcher in the Biodesign Center for Health Engineering. Halden, who directs the center, also is a professor of engineering in the Fulton School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment and author of the 2020 book Environment.Their research appears in the current issue of the journal Science of the Total Environment.Wastewater-based epidemiology holds the potential to break the coronavirus testing logjam in many developed nations like the U.S., but could also be an invaluable tool for gathering health data in impoverished regions likely to bear the brunt of the pandemic.Currently, the U.S. features the largest national and international WBE network and sample repository, known as the Human Health Observatory (HHO) at ASU. Recently, SARS-CoV-2 was added to a range of health indicators subject to continuous tracking by the HHO since May, 2008.Halden's technique boasts high sensitivity, with the potential to detect the signature of a single infected individual among 100 to 2 million persons. To accomplish this, wastewater samples are screened for the presence of nucleic acid fragments of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.The RNA genomes are amplified through a process known as reverse-transcriptase quantitative PCR (RT qPCR).The WBE strategy involves first transcribing coronavirus RNA into complementary DNA (cDNA) by the reverse transcriptase enzyme, then amplifying the resultant DNA to improve signal detection.Sequencing techniques are used to confirm viral presence in wastewater samples."We can in one go monitor an entire community for presence of the new coronavirus," Hart said. "However, tradeoffs exist.To get the best results and avoid loss of information, we want to measure close to virus hotspots and take into account wastewater temperature and dilution when estimating the number of infected cases."In the current study, researchers modeled wastewater samples in Tempe, Ariz., for the presence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Their work draws on computational analysis and modeling, and projections of past, present and future epidemic hotspots.The research indicates that careful calibration must be carried out to ensure the accuracy of data, which is acutely sensitive to key variables including seasonal temperature, average in-sewer travel time, degradation rates of biomarkers, community demographics and per-person water use.(A companion paper by Halden and Hart examines the effects of these variables on WBE results in fine detail.) Estimates based on European and North American data suggest that each person infected with SARS-CoV-2 will excrete millions if not billions of viral genomes into wastewater per day. This translates to between 0.15 and 141.5 million viral genomes per liter of wastewater generated.With the aid of RT qPCR, researchers should be able to detect the novel coronavirus with high sensitivity, requiring the monitoring roughly every 1 in 114 individuals in the worst-case scenario and just 1 positive case among 2 million non-infected individuals under optimum conditions.In addition to reducing transmission and fatality resulting from SARS-CoV-2 infection, improved population-wide data provides other societal benefits.By pinpointing viral hotspots, researchers will be able to better direct resources to protect vulnerable populations through social distancing measures, while easing restrictions in virus-free regions, minimizing economic and social disruption.To accomplish that, Halden and his team have created OneWaterOneHealth, a nonprofit project of the ASU Foundation that seeks to bring COVID-19 testing to those who currently cannot afford it.Halden said that should this approach be applied in the U.S, roughly 70% of the population could be screened for SARS-CoV-2 through monitoring the country's 15,014 wastewater treatment plants at an estimated cost for chemical reagents of $225,000 USD.More fine-grained surveillance could be achieved by using WBE to identify regional or global hotspots for the virus, then applying targeted testing of individuals using clinical methods.Source: Eurekalert
A 32-year-old man was stabbed to death allegedly by three persons, including two minors, after an altercation in south Delhis Khusro Nagar area near Hazrat Nizamuddin, police said on Saturday.

The body of the man, identified as Hasin Chiggu, was recovered with multiple stab wounds from near a drain below the Barapullah elevated road on Saturday morning. Police said Chiggu was murdered late on Friday night. All three suspects had been apprehended by Saturday afternoon and the knife used to kill Chiggu recovered from them,deputy commissioner of police (southeast) RP Meena said.

DCP Meena said the incident came to light at around 9am on Saturday, when Chiggus wife, Kajal, informed the police that her husband was missing. Chiggu was a history sheeter and was involved in as many as 17 cases, Meena said, adding that a murder case has been registered at the Hazrat Nizamuddin police station and investigations taken up.

During the probe, the DCP said, police learnt that Chiggu was last seen with three-four boys of his neighbourhood on Friday night. He is said to have had a heated argument with the mother of one of the boys two days ago about placing a vegetable pushcart.

We located the suspects and confronted them. They confessed to killing Chiggu to take revenge for his behaviour with the mother of one of them, an investigator said.
Canadas climate-change agenda was a casualty of the 2008 global financial crisis. Will history repeat itself post-pandemic?

The 2008 storm hit as voters were headed to the polls in a federal election.

One of its immediate consequences was to sweep the campaign carpet from under then-Liberal leader Stephane Dion and his climate-change platform.

As attention shifted to the quickly deteriorating economic scene, Dion came to look as if he had brought the wrong lines to the electoral audition. A plurality of voters opted to keep Stephen Harper in the role of prime minister.

Only a few months before the federal campaign, the climate-change issue had legs. It faltered quickly in the face of a looming recession.

After the election, minds turned to dealing with the economy, and the climate-change file ended up on the federal back burner for the better part of a decade.

The global financial crisis came with its load of fiscal headaches, but it also gave Harpers Conservatives a pass to keep their tools down on climate change.

But the opposition parties also had a hand in enabling the government to sit on its hands.

Between 2008 and 2011, the Conservatives were running a minority government. Over that period, Harper and his team never really had to fend off a serious opposition attempt to force their hand on climate change.

On the contrary, the main opposition parties retreated from the climate-change front.

Dions carbon-pricing agenda was dropped on the way to negotiating the terms of a coalition government with the NDP.

By 2011, climate change no longer had pride of place in the Liberal platform.

With Dions Green Shift consigned to an early grave, the environmental highlight of Michael Ignatieffs platform was a $400 million green renovation tax credit.

It would take until last falls campaign, more than a decade later, for climate change to resurface as a major staple of a federal election conversation.

Back in October, an overwhelming majority of voters supported parties that promised more proactive measures to mitigate climate change.

An equally high proportion of Canadians also told pollsters that strong environmental credentials  in the shape of a credible climate change plan  should be a must for any party aspiring to power.

Since 2008, a new cohort of voters has come to the fore, one that, for the most part, does not tend to treat dealing with climate change as a disposable item on its election wish list.

In Canada and abroad, corporate powerhouses have a bigger stake in the transition from a carbon-based economy to a more climate-friendly model than they did a decade ago.

Ditto in the case of the majority of MPs, who were elected to the House of Commons only six months ago on proactive climate change platforms.

But whether the public and political commitment to addressing climate change will remain strong as minds shift to repairing the damage of the pandemic remains an open question.

No one really knows what the post-pandemic policy environment will be like. There are still too many unknown variables to get a solid fix on the shape of things to come. But it is clear that it will bear little resemblance to that of last falls federal campaign.

Already, polls are showing a shift in voters priorities, with climate change taking more of a back seat not only to the economy but also to health care.

Will cash-strapped governments, under the gun to restore some sense of normalcy to the daily lives of Canadians in time for their next electoral appointments, be in a good place to walk the talk of a green big picture?

It is not as if there had been a federal-provincial consensus on the way forward on mitigating climate change prior to the pandemic.

There will likely be a federal election within the next 12 to 24 months.

At that point, and like Harper in 2011, Justin Trudeau and his team will be judged not so much on whether they checked off the main boxes on their last platform  including on climate change  but on how successful they have been in charting a path out of the economic and fiscal debris of the pandemic.

In contrast with the 2008 financial crisis, the COVID-19 epidemic will probably not take all the wind out of the climate change sails. But to sustain that ships momentum, it will likely take some hard rowing from those who are serious about the issue to convince voters to stay the course.

Chantal Hebert is an Ottawa-based freelance contributing columnist covering politics for the Star. Reach her via email: chantalh28@gmail.com or follow her on Twitter: @ChantalHbert

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-25 13:28:19|Editor: huaxia

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Staff members of the China Railway Group Limited (CREC) transport the medical face masks at the stockhouse of Lao Health Ministry in Vientiane, capital of Laos, April 22, 2020. Huang Hong, general manager of the CREC China-Laos Railway Project Headquarters in Vientiane, handed over 200,000 medical masks donated by the CREC to Somdy Douangdy, Lao deputy prime minister and chair of the Task Force Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control. (Photo by Pan Longzhu/Xinhua)

VIENTIANE, April 25 (Xinhua) -- The Laos-China Railway Co., Ltd. (LCRC), a joint venture based in the Lao capital Vientiane in charge of the railway, said on Saturday that the China Railway Group Limited (CREC) has resumed construction at all its work sites along the China-Laos Railway.

Huang Hong, general manager of the CREC China-Laos Railway Project Headquarters in Vientiane, told Xinhua that the CREC, as the main force in the construction of China-Laos railway, has resumed construction in the northern Laos' mountains by 100 percent, which means the railway building has almost returned to the normal level.

Huang also handed over 200,000 medical masks donated by the CREC to Somdy Douangdy, Lao deputy prime minister and chair of the Task Force Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control.

At the donation ceremony, Huang said although the COVID-19 pandemic has a certain impact on the China-Laos Railway project, the CREC has adopted multiple measures to reduce the infection risks and resume the construction.

On behalf of the Lao government and people, the Lao deputy prime minister expressed his heartfelt thanks to the CREC for donating anti-epidemic materials, and highly affirmed CREC's outstanding contributions in the critical period of the Lao government's fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

The China-Laos Railway is a strategic docking project between the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative and Laos' strategy to convert from a landlocked country to a land-linked hub.

The 414-km railway, with 198-km tunnels and 62-km bridges, will run from Boten border gate in northern Laos, bordering China, to Vientiane with an operating speed of 160 km per hour. Enditem
Turkish officials stand in respect during commemoration ceremonies marking the 105th anniversary of the Gallipoli Campaign, in Canakkale, Turkey (Kadir Oztecik/Canakkale Governorate/AP)

Traditional crowds at dawn services for the Anzac Day memorial holiday in Australia were replaced with candlelit vigils in driveways and neighbours gathering to listen to buglers play The Last Post.

Restrictions on crowds and social distancing due to the coronavirus pandemic meant that the usual packed dawn services in cities and towns across the country were not held on Saturday.

The holiday, also celebrated in New Zealand, marks the anniversary of New Zealand and Australian soldiers, known as Anzacs, landing on the Gallipoli Peninsula in 1915.

Expand Close Employees of a local tourism company pay their respects at the Anzac Cove beach memorial in Turkeys Gallipoli peninsula, the site of the First World War landing of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps on April 25 1915 (Emrah Gurel/AP) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Employees of a local tourism company pay their respects at the Anzac Cove beach memorial in Turkeys Gallipoli peninsula, the site of the First World War landing of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps on April 25 1915 (Emrah Gurel/AP)

More than 10,000 soldiers from the two countries were killed during the First World War campaign in what is now Turkey, although Anzac Day honours those killed in all wars.

Visiting the site in Canakkale, north-western Turkey, has become a pilgrimage for many Australians and New Zealanders to remember their fallen compatriots but the annual dawn service and other commemorative ceremonies were cancelled this year to stem the spread of Covid-19.

Early on Saturday, three employees of a local tourism company placed red flowers at the Anzac Cove memorial in Canakkale.

Expand Close New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern stands on the driveway of Premier House at dawn, with her father, Ross Ardern, left, and partner Clarke Gayford (Ross Giblin/Dominion Post/AP) / Facebook

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Whatsapp New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern stands on the driveway of Premier House at dawn, with her father, Ross Ardern, left, and partner Clarke Gayford (Ross Giblin/Dominion Post/AP)

In the Australian capital, Canberra, Prime Minister Scott Morrison spoke at a crowd-free commemorative service held inside the Australian War Memorial. A didgeridoo sounded the beginning of the service.

In the Sydney suburb of Wahroonga, eight-year-old trumpeter Lewis Ketteridge and French horn player Grace Colville, 16, were among a dozen brass players playing The Last Post from their driveways at dawn before 40 residents observed a minutes silence.

Strangely, it made it more moving that people were still willing to commemorate Anzac Day instead of just letting it go by, said resident Catherine Colville.

She said the community carefully maintained social distancing as they placed candles, pictures of serving ancestors and wreaths of native leaves and flowers under an Australian flag hanging on a tree.

Marches and gatherings were cancelled for only the third time  the last time in 1942 and previously during the devastating Spanish flu outbreak of 1918.

Expand Close Neighbours watch as Tom Glover plays the bagpipes to commemorate Anzac Day in a suburb of Christchurch, New Zealand (Mark Baker/AP) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Neighbours watch as Tom Glover plays the bagpipes to commemorate Anzac Day in a suburb of Christchurch, New Zealand (Mark Baker/AP)

In New Zealand, where even tighter crowd restrictions are in place, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern stood at dawn on the driveway of Premier House, the leaders official residence, for a ceremony.

Thousands around New Zealand participated in the Stand at Dawn initiative, and in one Christchurch suburb, bagpiper Tom Glover greeted the families that gathered at each driveway with a rendition of Amazing Grace.
Sydney, April 25, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Just released, this edition of Paul Budde Communications focus report on Nicaragua outlines the major developments and key aspects in the telecoms markets.

Read the full report: https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Nicaragua-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses

Nicaragua is the largest and least densely populated country in Central America. The countrys steady GDP growth since 2010 belies the low economic base, given that it has the lowest GDP per capita in the region, with some 60% of the population living below the poverty line. As a result, much of the economic drive has been the result of international assistance, particularly from the World Bank and other agencies.

The new canal being built between the Pacific and Caribbean with Chinese funding incorporates deep-water ports, an oil pipeline, railroad and international airport. It has been an ambitious attempt to deliver greater economic benefits to the country, and the project is indicative of Chinas economic encroachment in the region.

Nicaraguas telecoms market has mirrored the poor economic achievements, with fixed-line teledensity and mobile penetration also the lowest in Central America. The broadband market remains nascent, with population penetration below 4%. Most internet users are concentrated in the largest cities, given that rural and marginal areas lack access to the most basic telecom infrastructure. Internet cafes provide public access to internet and email services, but these also tend to be restricted to the larger population centres. To address poor infrastructure, the World Bank has funded a project aimed at improving connectivity via a national fibre broadband network. There are separate schemes to improve broadband in eastern regions and provide links to Caribbean submarine cables.

America Movils Claro has a clear lead in all of Nicaraguas telecom sectors, including fixed-line, mobile, broadband, and pay TV. The number of mobile subscribers overtook the number of fixed lines in early 2002, and the mobile sector now accounts for most lines in service.

Telefonicas Movistar is the only company competing with Claro in the fixed-line and mobile market. In the mobile sector, Movistar holds almost one third of the market, but in the fixed-line sector, it has only about 10% market share.

Due to a weak regulatory structure and bureaucratic delays, further liberalisation has been a slow process. The market duopoly has dampened the competitive drive between the two main players, and as a result there has been less effort than in neighbouring countries to improve quality and lower prices. Nevertheless, there are other companies operating in the market, including the Russian state corporation Rostejnologuii, Yota Mobile and IWB Holding. In the mobile market Xinwei Nicaragua (Xinwei Intelcom) launched services in early 2016, operating under the CooTel banner.

BuddeComm notes that the outbreak of the Coronavirus in 2020 is having a significant impact on production and supply chains globally. During the coming year the telecoms sector to various degrees is likely to experience a downturn in mobile device production, while it may also be difficult for network operators to manage workflows when maintaining and upgrading existing infrastructure. Overall progress towards 5G may be postponed or slowed down in some countries.

On the consumer side, spending on telecoms services and devices is under pressure from the financial effect of large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes. However, the crucial nature of telecom services, both for general communication as well as a tool for home-working, will offset such pressures. In many markets the net effect should be a steady though reduced increased in subscriber growth.

Although it is challenging to predict and interpret the long-term impacts of the crisis as it develops, these have been acknowledged in the industry forecasts contained in this report.

The report also covers the responses of the telecom operators as well as government agencies and regulators as they react to the crisis to ensure that citizens can continue to make optimum use of telecom services. This can be reflected in subsidy schemes and the promotion of tele-health and tele-education, among other solutions.

Key developments:

Movistar Nicaragua extends LTE services to more than 60 towns and cities;

Telecom regulator works on updating the General Law of Telecommunications;

Great Wall delays Nicasat-1 (LSTSAT 1) satellite launch;

Xinwei Nicaragua launches mobile services under the CooTel brand;

Work starts on a 3,500km fibre-optic broadband network;

World bank funding the Caribbean Regional Communications Infrastructure Program (CARCIP) to improve broadband in Nicaragua's eastern regions;

Claro retaining near-monopoly over broadband;

Telefonica planning to deploy a 3,158 mile fibre cable covering Central America, linking Mexico to Panama via Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Costa Rica;

Report update includes the regulator's market data, ITU data for 2017, recent market developments.

Assessment of the global impact of COVID-19 on the telecoms sector.

Companies mentioned in this report:

America Movil, Movistar, Yota Nicaragua.

Key statistics

Country overview

COVID-19 and its impact on the telecom sector Economic considerations and responses Mobile devices Subscribers Infrastructure

Telecommunications market Market analysis International collaboration

Regulatory environment Background Regulatory authority Telcor Privatisation of Enitel Telecom sector liberalisation in Nicaragua DR-CAFTA

Fixed network operators Introduction Claro (America Movil) Movistar (Telefonica) Yota de Nicaragua

Telecommunications infrastructure National telecom network Fixed-line statistics International infrastructure Interconnection with Central American countries Submarine cable networks Satellite networks Wholesale

Fixed-line broadband market Introduction and statistical overview Broadband statistics

Mobile market Market analysis Mobile statistics General statistics Mobile broadband Regulatory issues Spectrum auctions Mobile infrastructure Digital networks Other infrastructure developments Major mobile operators Claro (America Movil) Movistar (Telefonica) Xinwei Nicaragua (CooTel) Mobile content and applications M-health

Glossary of abbreviations

Related reports

List of Tables

Table 1  Top Level Country Statistics and Telco Authorities - Nicaragua  2018 (e)

Table 2  Evolution of GDP in Nicaragua  2013 - 2018

Table 3  Historic - Fixed line market share by operator  2004 - 2011

Table 4  Historic - Fixed lines in service and teledensity  1996 - 2009

Table 5  Fixed lines in service and teledensity  2010 - 2018

Table 6  International bandwidth  2007 - 2016

Table 7  International bandwidth per user  2007 - 2016

Table 8  Historic - Internet subscriber market share by operator  2008 - 2011

Table 9  Internet users  2000 - 2018

Table 10  Broadband subscribers and penetration rates  2000 - 2018

Table 11  Historic - Mobile subscribers and penetration rate  1997 - 2009

Table 12  Mobile subscribers and penetration rate  2010 - 2018

Table 13  Mobile market share by operator  2002 - 2013

Table 14  Mobile prepaid/postpaid ratio  2003 - 2016

Table 15  Active mobile broadband subscribers  2008 - 2018

Table 16  Historic - Claro mobile subscribers  2003 - 2008

Table 17  Historic - Movistar mobile subscribers  2000  2008

List of Charts

Chart 1  Fixed lines in service and teledensity  2003  2018

Chart 2  Broadband subscribers and penetration rates  2005  2018

Chart 3  Mobile subscribers and penetration rate  2003  2018

List of Exhibits

Exhibit 1  Nicaragua  major submarine cable networks

Exhibit 2  Alo PCS  History

Exhibit 3  Enitel Movil  history

Exhibit 4  Movistar  History





Read the full report: https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Nicaragua-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses
This article, These anti-quarantine websites are fakes. Here's what they're really after, originally appeared on CNET.com.

Over the last month, more than 540 domain names have been registered with the word "reopen" in the URL, but don't take it as a sign that ending social distancing directives has become a mainstream goal. Hundreds of these websites are designed to lend credibility to anti-lockdown protests, according to new research, and many come from suspicious sources or resellers looking to make money.

In a report published Friday, threat-intelligence company DomainTools said it's found hundreds of domain names tied to the "reopen" campaign, which broadly argues against state lockdown measures adopted to curtail the spread of the novel coronavirus. The campaign wants social distancing restrictions to end and businesses to reopen.

Protests have cropped up across the country, with some, but far from all, Americans showing frustration over social distancing guidelines that have upended life and brought many businesses to a halt. A number of these protests have been organized on Facebook, which has said it will remove events that prompt people to violate distancing guidelines.

The number of domains tied to anti-lockdown efforts started small but grew sharply after President Donald Trump sent a series of "liberate" tweets about states with protests, said Chad Anderson, senior security researcher at DomainTools.

Anderson said it's been difficult to tell which domains are associated with actual political causes and which ones simply seek to profit from anti-lockdown sentiment. Researchers at DomainTools have found hundreds of "reopen" URLs that were bought specifically to be resold and others that resemble malware campaigns.

The researchers also found evidence that some of the domains were created as part of an "astroturfing" effort, a reference to campaigns that appear to be grassroots movements but are actually artificially created.

"If an astroturfing campaign finds enough support out there, it can turn into real events with real consequences," said Sean McNee, DomainTools' director of research.

Astroturf seeds

The initial batch of "reopen" domains were a set of seven URLs that came from an anti-gun control group, Anderson said.

He found seven "reopen" websites registered on April 8, in states including Ohio, Pennsylvania, Missouri and Minnesota. The seven pages looked like they represented independent groups, but they were all registered under the name of Aaron Dorr, a pro-gun activist from Iowa. Taken together, they create the appearance of a broad protest against lockdown measures, a digital Potemkin village.

DomainTools

The Washington Post and NBC News detailed how the Dorr family created Facebook groups with hundreds of thousands of followers calling to reopen the economy and directed people to websites. The websites have almost the exact same design, with names of local politicians swapped out for each state. The sites were set up to organize protests and redirected to gun rights groups.

NBC News found that many of the websites hosted by Dorr were designed to harvest visitors' data, including emails and home addresses.

"They're all about making it look like there is a legitimate, statewide group for these movements," Anderson said. "It gives a local significance, because that's what people respond to."

Dorr couldn't be reached for comment.

A Reuters poll conducted between April 15 to 21 found that 72% of US adults support stay-at-home measures. And a CBS News poll found that 70% of Americans say social distancing should continue to be the nation's No. 1 priority. But the astroturfed campaigns could give the impression that there's widespread objection to distancing directives, DomainTools said.

Counter-squatting

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

The largest chunk of "reopen" domain names actually came from a man in Florida looking to counter astroturfing efforts, DomainTools found.



The researchers discovered 98 domains tied to one person who registered "reopen" for all 50 states, including different spellings of each region. An article from the Florida-Times Union identified the domain buyer as Michael Murphy, who said he was buying dozens of reopen URLs to prevent actual anti-lockdown protesters from getting them. (CNET couldn't find contact information for Murphy.)

DomainTools spotted 98 URLs belonging to Murphy, who told the local newspaper he'd bought 200 names in total and spent at least $4,000. Another large chunk of domain names with "reopen" came from known resellers, Anderson said.

These are "reopen" websites targeted toward restaurants, movie theaters and sports, and all are set up for sale.

Anderson said DomainTools had already been seeing up to 6,000 new registrations a day related to COVID-19 and has started to see more related to the "reopen" campaign.

"Domainers are a particular type of people who spot any chance they can to hop on a quick buck," Anderson said. "In any of these instances, there's going to be people who try and pick domains they are able to sell for $5,000 that they bought for $10 because someone wants to start a movement."

Potential malware

DomainTools' researchers also found a batch of links registered in bulk specifically with typos for the phrase "Reopen American Business." All of these domains were registered in China and have misspellings, indicating they're set up to be phishing pages.

Typo-squatting is an old trick in which people buy URLs for commonly misspelled websites and set up a page that looks like the real one. The idea is to trick visitors who make typos into entering their sensitive credentials on these fraudulent pages.

These domains all have servers registered with Bodis, an advertising service that monetizes domain names and has links to a previous malware campaign from the advanced persistent threat group DarkHotel. APTs are known groups behind cyberattacks. DarkHotel APT is a hacking group that primarily affects victims in Japan, Taiwan, China, Russia and South Korea.

"It looks like it's going to be used for phishing campaigns," Anderson said. "It hasn't been fully activated yet, but it has characteristics of a DarkHotel APT group."

The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.
The African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) has launched a COVID-19 Response Plan of Action to assist African countries to improve access to sustainable and resilient health services and protecting economies. In this interview with Africa Renewal, the CEO of AUDA-NEPAD Ibrahim Mayaki discusses the scope of this initiative. These are the excerpts.

What exactly is the AUDA-NEPAD COVID-19 Response Plan of Action?

The AUDA-NEPAD COVID-19 Response Plan of Action is a comprehensive, proactive and multidimensional plan that will help tackle both the current COVID-19 challenges and the post-pandemic repercussions. It is a direct response in improving access to sustainable and resilient health services, while ensuring the protection of Africas economic foundations.

Aiming to cover the ecosystem that would be affected by the crisis, the response plan will mainly focus on seven thematic areas: Health Service Delivery; Human Resources for Health; Research & Development Innovation and Local Manufacturing; Education and Training; Skills and Employability; Food and Nutrition Security; and Financing.

How long will the response plan last?

It is meant to last for as long as COVID-19 exists and then three years after the pandemic. The idea is to ensure that, as long as this crisis lasts, Africa has the means and tools to fight against it and, on the other hand, anticipate the big economic losses, as well as the lessons learned for a brighter African continent.

How do you plan to implement the response?

We have set up multidisciplinary teams covering four core dimensions: data collection and analysis innovation and transfer of knowledge; implementation, and monitoring of impactful projects in the response to COVID-19; private sector engagement, and communication and advocacy.

We will need to work with our Member States and Regional Economic Communities for the implementation. Basically, we play the role of facilitator and a platform of transfer of expertise and technology from and to our Member States with the help of our traditional partners such as financial institutions, the private sector, and foundations.

For the immediate term, which areas will you focus on?

We are focusing on key thematic areas including health service delivery; capacity building for healthcare human resources; research, development, and innovation to enhance local manufacturing; education and training skills and employability; food and nutrition security; and financing.

Our Member States faced challenges in addressing the issues of shortage of vital sanitary and medical equipment, while increasing lockdowns in countries have worsened the situation. The high prevalence of endemic diseases such as HIV and AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, etc. already overstretch an important number of health systems in Africa. So, together with our Member States, we need to focus on the containment of the pandemic with aggressive preventive measures. The ultimate objective is to facilitate the construction of reliable public health systems based on the principle of shared responsibility and collective solidarity.

Any plan on the local production of medical equipment?

As the world faces a big supply crisis, Africa needs to prioritize the production of equipment for domestic markets. We have put in place an e-learning platform, including production modules and open-source licenses, to benefit manufacturers who are willing to produce vital sanitary equipment.

Also, AUDA-NEPAD is in the process of launching a platform to enhance Made in Africa ventilators, masks and sanitizing gels gathering all African producers and initiatives to see how they can benefit countries, either through material supply or technology transfer. We organized a very successful webinar on Monday 13 March which gathered more than 450 participants from pharmaceutical private sector companies, policymakers, philanthropists and potential investors, and was focused on the best conditions for local production.

What are your post-COVID-19 projects?

First, we are focusing on reforms of the continents food systems by prioritizing regional value-chains, health, and wellbeing of consumers, reducing food waste and promoting a culture of sustainable use of food.

Secondly, a focus on skills development and employment is an opportunity for national governments to reflect on prioritizing entrepreneurship and innovation.

Third, we intend to implement an intervention to provide technical support to countries to mitigate the social and economic effects of school closures during the COVID-19.

Fourth, we are prioritizing national planning and data systems, that is, making use of sound data and evidence for planning developmental programs and to mitigate unforeseen future crises such as epidemics and natural disasters.

Lastly, we hope to create the first reference system, synthesizing good practices and responses, to offer African countries the tools to respond to this pandemic, as well as anticipate future risks and threats to the tourism sector.

Is there any support for the poorest countries?

Poorest countries are a priority for the African Union and a big chunk of our portfolio of projects target them. It is a question of solidarity. We need to support the poorest countries if we want to attain the objectives of regional integration.

How does your response plan align with the AU Anti-COVID-19 Fund and the ones by the UN?

AUDA-NEPAD will play its natural role as an interconnecting platform, a technical interface between AU Member States and partners. Remember that AUDA-NEPAD, as a part of the African Union, is also connected to the AU Anti-COVID-19 Fund. Hence, I would like to emphasize the importance of having a collective response plan and to unite our efforts to act as one in this fight against the pandemic. The AUDA-NEPAD COVID-19 Response Plan of Action was based on research and initiatives of the AU and the UN.

Moreover, it is the AU leaders who created the Anti-COVID-19 Fund. I believe this concrete instrument will help tackle immediate challenges for the most-affected countries, the poorer countries and bring direct aid to the most vulnerable.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Ohio State Universitys Wexner Medical Center is planning to start antibody testing, to see who has contracted and recovered from the coronavirus.

Antibody testing could show just how widespread the coronavirus is -- and could be key to reopening Ohio. The idea is to check for antibodies the body has produced to fight off the coronavirus, basically to see if someone has developed immunity.

The tests will show how many people have unwittingly even been exposed to the virus and survived, asymptomatic patients, said Eugene Oltz, who heads the hospitals Department of Microbial Infection and Immunity. Epidemiologically, its very important.

But antibodies cant guarantee that people are immune to COVID-19, Oltz aid.

OSU is developing two tests. One is a simple yes/no that answers whether someone has antibodies. The other goes a step further to show if the antibodies block the entry of the virus into a cell. So far, Oltz said, the tests are almost 100 percent in sync.

A new World Health Organization research says there is not enough evidence to show that someone who contracted COVID-19 will be immune from getting it again. As of Friday, no study has evaluated whether the presence of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 confers immunity to subsequent infection by this virus in humans, the World Health Organization states.

The WHO supports antibody testing studies because they are critical for understanding the extent of  and risk factors associated with  infection.

OSU is testing the antibody tests on plasma and serum samples now and hopes to offer the tests to health care workers before ramping it up to the general public. Just who will get tested is still being worked out. Samples will also be studied to find out how long an immune response lasts, from a month to several years, Oltz said.

University Hospitals is also using antibody testing. As part of a clinical trial of a mouthspray that could prevent the transmission of coronavirus, healthcare workers at University Hospitals will be tested for antibodies that indicate immunity to the virus.

The Columbus Dispatch reports OhioHealth also plans to begin antibody testing, based on a doctors order.

Read more coronavirus coverage on cleveland.com:

Antibody coronavirus tests could deliver faster results, better understanding of reach

NIH launches nationwide coronavirus antibody test trial to find true magnitude of pandemic

Cuyahoga County Jail officers union seeks hazard pay, more PPE due to coronavirus outbreak

8 items to help you stress less and make your home more cozy during the coronavirus pandemic

MetroHealth welcomes patients for screenings and check-ups, with masks: See the video

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As an arborist, trees are my favorite plants. And there is a holiday to celebrate my beloved trees, Arbor Day. Arbor Day is celebrated on the last Friday of April every year in Nebraska. This year that falls on April 24th. This holiday is not the same throughout the United States, it is moved around for other states to be in the best planting time for the year for each state that celebrates it.

Diversity

Deciding what tree to plant is very important and sometimes difficult. Diversity is key when choosing your tree. The general rule is to plant no more than 10% of a tree species, no more than 20% of a tree genus, and no more than 30% of a tree family in a respective urban area.

Diversity has not always been used as widely as today, and we have learned from that. In the early 1900s American Chestnut trees were wiped out by Chestnut blight. We replaced many of those trees with American Elm trees which were then destroyed by Dutch Elm disease in the 1960s. Those were then replaced with Ash trees which are now being demolished by Emerald Ash Borer. Also, in the early 2000s we lost a majority of our windbreaks to Pine Wilt disease.

Diversity of our tree species helps reduce the problems from widespread disease and insect outbreaks. Look around at what types of trees you have and what types of trees your neighbors have before deciding on a new tree, try to avoid over-planting the same few trees throughout the neighborhood. Plus, diversity of trees is more aesthetically pleasing because of the different leaf and bark textures, different bloom times, and overall differences in trees.

Using understory trees

There are many trees that make a great understory trees and can be planted in the shade and protection of larger trees. Those trees would include things like redbud, pawpaw, and some of our dogwoods including flowering or Kousa dogwood. These trees prefer to have part shade so under a larger tree is a great spot for them. This can help mimic nature and help the overall growth of both the understory tree and larger tree.

Care of trees

Keep newly planted trees well-watered. Always water newly planted trees, shrubs, or any other plant immediately after planting. Trees should be watered every 10-14 days throughout the growing season and even some during the winter on warmer days. Each watering should give the tree 1-2 inches of water. The best way to determine if a tree needs to be watered is to insert a soil probe or 12-inch-long screwdriver into the ground around the tree. If it goes in easily there is no need to water, if it is difficult at any point then water is necessary for the tree.

A mulch ring should be established and maintained around every tree. Mulch helps to keep the roots cool in the summer and regulated to a uniform temperature through the winter. Mulch will also help keep weeds down and reduce competition of water and nutrients from turf and other plants. Mulch also reduces damage to the trunk of trees from lawn mowers and trimmers. Finally, organic mulch is a way to hold moisture for use later by the tree. Mulch rings should be only 2-3 inches deep and in a circle around the tree at least 2-3 feet out. Organic mulches are a better choice than inorganic mulches. This mulch will need to be renewed every year to maintain an effective layer because it will break down over the growing season which will improve the soil.

If you have any further questions please contact Nicole Stoner at (402)223-1384, nstoner2@unl.edu, visit the Gage County Extension website at www.gage.unl.edu, or like my facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/NicoleStonerHorticulture and follow me on twitter @Nikki_Stoner

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In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Punjab government has undertaken a citizen centric initiative to ensure uninterrupted health services to the public in the state. The state government on Saturday launched an application e-Sanjeevani, an online OPD system, Ludhiana deputy commissioner (DC) Pradeep Kumar Agrawal said.

Agrawal said the application extended the reach of specialised healthcare services to the masses in both rural areas and any isolated community pockets of the state. It provided a platform for citizens to connect with a network of specialist doctors over video-conferencing and obtain medical treatment and advice for common health concerns while sitting at home.

There is a degree of unease among citizens due to the inability to reach doctors in non-emergency cases amid the lockdown. However, this technology shall help all sections of society to gain access to quality medical advice and treatment during the Covid-19 pandemic, he said.

Maximum number of residents should avail benefit of this system, the DC urged, adding that the application has an extremely user-friendly interface which facilitates both tech savvy and relatively novice doctors and users in the rural and urban environment.

Besides telemedicine services in health and wellness centres, the health and family welfare department with active support from the governance reforms and public grievances departments has implemented this programme across the state, the DC said, adding that apart from enhancing the quality of medical services, e-Sanjeevani addresses the issues pertaining to uneven distribution and shortage of infrastructural as well as human resources to an extent.

He further highlighted the salient features of the application which includes patient registration, token generation, queue management, audio-video consultation with a doctor, e-prescription, SMS/email notifications serviced by the doctors from the department of health and family welfare. The service is free and fully configurable, he added.

The application also has an advanced degree of security against unwanted elements. To keep the operations smoother in the district, a team of district technical coordinators (DTCs) or district e-governance coordinators (DeGCs) has been deputed to assist the teams of doctors at the district-level, he said.

Agrawal added that the state government has provided training about the application, its protocols and functionality to some of the specialist doctors by C-DAC, Mohali, via video-conference.

He informed that this feature is also available in the COVA Punjab mobile application which is available for Android on the Google Play Store and for iOS on the Apple AppStore.
By Elvira Pollina

MILAN (Reuters) - Italy plans to use a smartphone app developed by tech start-up Bending Spoons to track people who test positive for the new coronavirus as part of efforts to lift its nationwide lockdown.

The original epicentre of the virus outbreak in Europe, Italy has the world's highest coronavirus death toll with more than 22,000 fatalities, second only to the United States.

Though the government last week extended the national lockdown until May 3, it is looking at ways of loosening the draconian restrictions imposed more than a month ago to curb the epidemic.

"We are working to test a contact-tracing app in some Italian regions," Domenico Arcuri, the government's special commissioner for the coronavirus emergency, told state broadcaster RAI late on Thursday.

Smartphone apps and other technology have been widely used in Asian countries such as Singapore and South Korea to help rein in contagion, but there have been deep misgivings in Europe over the potential for data abuse and privacy violations.

Arcuri said the aim is to make the app available to the entire country after the regional testing.

"It will be a pillar of our strategy to deal with the post-emergency phase," Arcuri said.

Italy's Innovation Ministry launched a tender last month for app developers volunteering their services. It received hundreds of proposals, from which a special committee selected the Bending Spoons product, a decree from the special commissioner showed.

VIRUS ALERTS

Milan-based Bending Spoons, which develops apps ranging from fitness to video-editing tools, is part of the Pan-European Privacy Preserving Proximity Tracing (PEPP-PT) initiative.

PEPP-PT is promoting a European platform to allow national contact-tracing apps 'talk' to each other across borders.

The Bending Spoons application, initially named Immuni, uses Bluetooth technology to record when users are in close proximity with each other, people with knowledge of the matter said.

If someone tests positive for the coronavirus, the app could send an alert to users who have been in contact with the infected individual, recommending actions such as self-quarantine and virus testing while preserving anonymity.

Story continues

Advocates of Bluetooth technology say this method is a more accurate and less intrusive way to log proximity and the length of contact than location-tracking based on networks or satellites, which have been used in some Asian countries.

Arcuri said the app will be used voluntarily, in line with recommendations by Italy's data protection authority and European privacy rules.

"But we hope our citizens will adopt it massively, as their support is needed to make a contact-tracing system work," he added.

Experts say the app would need to be downloaded by at least 60% of the population to help to achieve so-called digital herd immunity.

(Reporting by Elvira Pollina; Editing by David Goodman)
Recently, Ive fielded a lot of questions about what Washington is doing to take care of Tennesseans on a local level. When I was in Chattanooga last week, Hamilton County Mayor Jim Coppinger impressed upon me the importance of supporting local businesses and health care workers on the front line of the COVID-19 pandemic.

On Friday, President Trump signed a Phase 3.5 rescue bill that covers a few key areas of concern. First and foremost, it provides $25 billion for COVID testing, along with an additional $75 billion to shore up CARES Act funding for hospitals and health care providers struggling to manage COVID-related expenses.



We also took care of our small business owners by including $250 billion for the Small Business Administrations Paycheck Protection Program, with an additional $60 billion pool reserved for smaller community banks and credit unions. A $60 billion allocation will replenish funding for the SBAs Economic Injury Disaster Loan program, which has been expanded to allow owners of agricultural enterprises to receive relief.



Negotiations over a Phase 4 relief package are ongoing, but I am fully aware that making resources available is only half the battle. Complicated applications, overwhelmed web portals, and busy signals from agency call centers have turned what should be a rapid relief program into a point of stress for families and business owners. In spite of our mandated quarantine, my staff and I are available to help you navigate this process. Over the past few weeks, we have helped hundreds of Tennesseans understand the small business loan application process, gain access to COVID testing, and implement best practices for staying healthy during quarantine.



If you need help with a federal agency, need clarification about the SBAs various relief programs, or have questions about other programs Congress has authorized to help the CDC and other authorities combat COVID-19, ask us. We may be working from home, but the phones are still on. You can find contact information, as well as a COVID-19 resource guide, on my website at Blackburn.senate.gov.



Well get through this, Chattanoogaand Ill be right there beside you every step of the way.



Senator Marsha Blackburn


A Chinese law enforcement vessel arrives at Guanlei port in southwest China's Yunnan Province upon completion of its mission, on Nov. 22, 2019. The 88th joint patrol on the Mekong River led by China, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand was completed Friday. Eight vessels and 228 law enforcement personnel from the four countries participated in the four-day mission aimed at enhancing security along the Mekong River. (Xinhua/Liu Xinyu)

KUNMING, April 25 (Xinhua) -- The 92nd Mekong River joint patrol by China, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand concluded Friday as three Chinese law enforcement boats returned to Guanlei Port in the southwest Province of Yunnan.

A total of 109 law enforcement officers from the four countries participated in the mission on board five vessels, which navigated 651 km in four days and three nights, according to the provincial public security department.

Chinese and Lao officers examined 27 vehicles, 42 persons and six tonnes of cargo during joint operations in Lao waters.

Chinese officers also donated masks, protective gowns, gloves and other materials for protection from the COVID-19 disease.

The Mekong River, known as the Lancang River in China, is a vital waterway for cross-border shipping among China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam.

China, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand have been carrying out joint patrols on the Mekong River for eight years.
P olice have been alerted to more than 1,000 potential child sexual abuse cases during the coronavirus pandemic, the Home Secretary has said.

Speaking during the Governments daily briefing, Priti Patel told of how criminals are seeking to exploit the crisis through more sophisticated offending.

The National Crime Agency (NCA) has flagged up 1,300 possible child sexual offences to police, Ms Patel revealed.

She said: This is a sickening reminder of the frightening activity that is targeted towards our children every single day.

Ms Patel told the daily Downing Street briefing that law enforcement is also adapting with the criminals

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

Border Force officers, the NCA and police have all been working to take on international drug smugglers, she said.

Ms Patel repeated news from earlier in the week that cocaine worth 1 million hidden in boxes of face masks was almost smuggled into the UK through the Channel Tunnel last week.

The NCA also seized 700kg worth of heroin in Pakistan which was potentially bound for the United Kingdom.

Lynne Owens, director general of the NCA, also spoke in the briefing about how criminals have targeted people online through scams and selling fake testing kits.

Home Secretary said criminals are becomign mroe sophisticated under lockdown / 10 Downing Street/AFP via Getty

The National Cyber Security Centre has taken down more than 2,000 scams relating to coronavirus, including fake online shops, malware distribution sites and phishing sites seeking personal information such as passwords or credit card details.

Ms Owens said that a man from West Sussex was recently arrested by City of London Police and charged after being caught making and selling fake Covid-19 treatment kits to people in the UK.

She said: Fraudsters have targeted members of the public by phone, text and email. They have used the current situation to peddle fake testing kits and prescription drugs.

We are asking you to be vigilant for these scams. Be even more cautious than usual if you are contacted by unknown numbers, and dont open suspicious emails or attachments.

The police and banks will never ask you to withdraw money or transfer it to a different account. If you believe you are a victim, report it to your bank and Action Fraud.




According to rumours circulating, Kim Jong-un is currently in a serious state after having undergone a cardiovascular operation. The information, reported by American and South Korean media, has however been questioned through the official channels of Beijing and Seoul. Donald Trump also said he did not believe that the North Korean number one was sick, without specifying whether he had been in contact with Pyongyang.

A delegation led by a high representative of the international liaison department of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) nevertheless left Beijing for North Korea on Thursday. It is the main Chinese body responsible for relations with the North Korean neighbour. No comments could be obtained and this exit does not, therefore, allow us to know more about the state of health of the leader.

In North Korea, the media and officials have remained silent. The issue of the health of its leaders is considered to be related to national security. No communication has been made since April 11.

It should be noted that Kim Jong-un, 34, had already disappeared from the media for health reasons. Particularly in 2014 where he had reappeared after a month of limping.

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The Ministry of Interior suspended the operations of a wildlife conservation NGO, citing the Law on Associations and NGOs, for allegedly not providing required annual reports and other documentation.

On April 21, Interior Minister Sar Kheng issued a letter to Chheav Ann Salideth, head of the Cambodia Wild Life Forest Fisheries Protection and Conservation NGO, suspending the organizations activities temporarily, citing Article 8 of the groups bylaws and Articles 10 and 25 of LANGO.

The organization must provide in writing all information, accounts and addresses of the headquarters, the letter reads. And provide the consolidated report of the results of the work and the financial reports for 2017, 2018 and 2019 to the Ministry of Interior within 30 workdays.

While VOA Khmer could not access the NGOs bylaws, but Article 10 of LANGO requires an organization to provide a list of all its operating bank accounts within 30 days of registration and Article 25 requires annual activity and financial reports.

Chheav Ann Salideth could not be reached for comment. An NGO staffer, Prom Phearun declined to comment on the letter, saying the organizations leadership had only seen the allegations in the press and not received the letter.

He said the NGO was preparing documents to reply to the ministry, adding that the NGO, established in 2010, was based in Phnom Penh and with 10 provincial offices and had conducted activities in collaboration with the government.

The organization is active with the government in planting trees, as well as assisting in all kinds of activities, such as the transportation of wildlife and many humanitarian activities, he said.

According to local media reports, an NGO staffer was arrested by Kampong Thom authorities on the charges of extortion in 2012. In February 2020, 10 staffers of the NGO were again arrested, according to local media reports, for allegedly using cars with RCAF plates and using the NGO to extort people in Preah Sihanouk province.

Prom Phearun said the last accusation was allegedly done by a person pretending to be part of the NGO, not giving any additional details of the arrest.

Soeung Sen Karuna, senior investigator at rights group ADHOC, said the Ministry of Interior should be clear about why it has raised these issues now, because arbitrary implementation of the law would cause worry among civil society groups.

If it is not made clear, if there is any ambiguity and some actions have been taken, it is possible for other organizations to worry, he said.

There are around 5,000 registered NGOs and associations in the country according to Interior Ministry statistics.
I wrote my first column for this newspaper in April 1995, which means I've been writing it every week for twenty five years now. So perhaps it's a suitable time to reflect on what we vets actually do when we go to our clinics every day to look after pets.

Diagnosis is the most critical area, and the main reason why vets need to go to college for five years. First, we need to learn all about normal health. Then we need to learn about the myriad ways that disease can affect normal health. And finally, we are taught how to work out what, precisely is wrong, and why it has gone wrong i.e. we need to make a diagnosis.

One recent case provides a good example of the importance of a diagnosis.

A dog was brought to me that had been coughing for a few weeks. The cough was getting worse, so this was an urgent case. In this era of trying to reduce physical contact, it was tempting to give the dog a general treatment for a cough: this might include an anti-lungworm dose, and antibiotics for an upper respiratory infection. However, I know from experience that there are many other causes of coughing that require a different approach, so I arranged to examine the dog. And as soon as I placed my stethoscope on the dog's chest, I knew what was wrong.

The dog had a loud heart murmur, and his heart was racing along far faster than normal. To complete the diagnosis, I had to take chest xrays and carry out an ultrasound examination to see a three-dimensional view of the heart beating, but the key fact remained: the dog's cough was caused by leaky heart valves, and he needed specific medication to stop fluid building up in his lungs.

Within 48 hours of starting the medication, his cough had completely cleared up. The case is a classic example of the importance of an accurate diagnosis: it would have been impossible to give him the correct treatment by just guessing what might be wrong.

Deciding the correct treatment is just about as important as making the correct diagnosis. I remember a case a few years ago of a dog that had been recently imported from Poland. The dog had developed a high temperature and had stopped eating, and at the first visit to a vet, he had been diagnosed with anaemia. He had been given treatment for the most common causes of anaemia in Ireland but he wasn't improving.

When I saw him, something didn't add up: why was this dog not responding in the usual way? An extra blood test, sent to a specialist laboratory, came up with the answer: the dog had an unusual form of anaemia caused by a tiny blood parasite carried by exotic ticks. And on close questioning, the owner responded by saying that yes, they had found a tick on their dog back in Poland. This blood parasite is never normally seen in Ireland, so it wasn't easy to find the right treatment at short notice.

In the end I had to use a cattle drug, given in a tiny dose. There was nothing else available, and the dog was worsening by the hour. So he had just one tenth of a teaspoonful of this particular treatment, injected into his vein on just one occasion.

The effect was remarkable: within hours, he brightened up, became more active, and developed an appetite. Within just a few days, he was completely back to his normal cheerful self, and blood tests confirmed that his anaemia had responded, and his blood count was rapidly returning to normal. This case was a dramatic example of the absolute need to give the correct treatment.

Sometimes medical treatment is not needed, and a surgical approach has to be used instead. Again, it is critically important to use the correct surgery at the right time. These days, specialist surgery is only done by vets with years of extra training and finely honed skills. But I've been qualified for 35 years, and when I was younger, there were no specialist surgeons available. Vets with good general surgical training often had to do their best to care for their patients. I remember one particularly remarkable surgical case.

A ten year old terrier who developed severe heart failure: xrays showed that he had fluid gathering around his heart. The only way to save him was a technique called pericardectomy, where the membrane bag surrounding his heart was dissected out, so that fluid could no longer gather inside it.

This was major surgery, opening into the dog's chest, with all the risks that this entailed. However the dog was dying, and there were no surgical specialists available, so I had to do the operation. In the end, it went well, and the dog made an excellent recovery, with several more good years of life. These days, I would definitely refer a case like this, but it was a good example of the remarkable impact of the right surgery being done at the right time.

Diagnosis and treatment of disease are vets' key skills. But there is one more area that's equally important: the prevention of disease. This includes advice on breeding healthy young animals, using medication to prevent life threatening parasites, giving vaccines to prevent deadly viral infections, suggesting optimal nutrition to promote good health, and giving general lifestyle advice to keep pets fit and healthy.

Preventing, diagnosing, and treating disease in animals: that's what the job of a vet involved 25 years ago, and it's just the same today. Some things don't change.
Attorneys for an alleged clergy sex abuse victim asked a New Orleans judge Friday to reject a court officials recommendation that hundreds of emails between the New Orleans Saints and the Archdiocese of New Orleans should remain hidden from public view.

The plaintiffs legal team argued that the recommendation from retired Judge Carolyn Gill-Jefferson erred on several counts, including her suggestion to also seal all materials uncovered in the future by the discovery process of the lawsuit in question.

No defendant or third party had sought such sweeping relief, a plaintiff filing said Friday.

Saints emails advising Archdiocese on sex abuse crisis should stay secret, court official recommends A trove of emails between the New Orleans Saints and the Archdiocese of New Orleans regarding the clergy sex abuse crisis should remain shield

The filing also expressed incredulity that Gill-Jefferson had apparently not read any of the emails between officials with Saints and the archdiocese. Yet, the filing noted, Gill-Jefferson deemed them inadmissible as evidence at a trial while also declaring their release to the public as unduly embarrassing for those who participated in the communications.

Documents that deal in any way with the sexual abuse of children  should not be out of the public realm, said the filing, addressed to Orleans Parish Civil District Court Judge Ellen Hazeur, who is presiding over the unidentified plaintiffs lawsuit.

Neither attorneys for the Saints nor the church, who have battled to keep the emails private, immediately responded to a request for comment Friday evening.

The dispute turns on a suit for damages from a man who claims he was sexually molested in the 1970s and 1980s by George Brignac, a sidelined church deacon and suspected serial child molester who is fighting criminal charges in an unrelated case.

The plaintiffs attorneys, through discovery, unearthed roughly 300 emails between Saints brass, archdiocesan officials and other local notables. Most were placed under a confidentiality order at the Saints and the churchs request.

The Associated Press waded into the case and asked Hazeur to make those emails public. The plaintiffs attorneys joined the AP in arguing that Brignac, 84, was a public hazard, and the emails had information that might help community members protect themselves from someone who was allowed to read at Masses until the summer of 2018.

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Hazeur referred the matter to Gill-Jefferson, whom she brought in to help sort through an often Byzantine discovery process. Gill-Jefferson heard arguments from both sides on Feb. 20 and wrote in an April 9 recommendation that the evidence did not support the AP or the plaintiff.

Attorneys argue for, against releasing Saints-archdiocese emails; ruling deferred A former Orleans Parish Civil District Court judge on Thursday heard arguments for and against publicly releasing a trove of emails exchanged 

One point she made was that the emails would not make it easier for members of the public to recognize Brignac  who is under house arrest  if he were out on the street.

There is no way for the general public to know who George Brignac is and to distinguish him from any other person who may be accused of multiple sexual assaults against children, Gill-Jefferson wrote on April 9.

It is Hazeurs call whether the emails are revealed, though any ruling from her can be appealed. The plaintiffs filing Friday asks Hazeur to schedule a hearing and rule that the emails belong in the public domain. No hearing was immediately set.

The two sides portrayals of the emails could hardly be more different.

The Saints say archdiocesan officials contacted them and other civic leaders after deciding to put Brignac on a list with other clergymen who had faced credible allegations of child molestation. Team officials say their advice to Archbishop Gregory Aymond, who released the list in November 2018, was to be transparent and inform law enforcement.

Yet the plaintiffs lawyers say leadership of the Saints and NBAs Pelicans worked with other influential figures in the state, federal and private sectors to soften media coverage. The plaintiff has repeatedly noted that Aymond is close friends with Saints and Pelicans owner Gayle Benson.

National media outlets seek to unseal files from 2015 Tom Benson mental competency lawsuit National media outlets are asking a New Orleans court to unseal confidential motions and other documents filed when estranged relatives of lat
Initially, only those citizens who have a special pass will be able to use the underground

112 Agency

The restoration of the Kyiv metro operation is planned no earlier than at the third stage of Ukraines exit from lockdown, and this can happen only 30 days after the end of quarantine. This was reported by the press service of the metro.



It is noted that if everything goes according to plan, then the launch phase will fall on May 31.



"The underground will not be able to transport all the citizens at once," said Prime Minister Denys Schmygal.



First, only those citizens who have a special pass will be able to ride the underground. And only at the next, fourth, stage it will be opened for all passengers. So far, authorities suggest that this will happen around June 10th.



The underground in Kyiv temporarily suspended work on March 17.



The Cabinet of Ministers decided to extend the quarantine until May 11. If the situation in Ukraine improves with respect to the coronavirus, on May 11, the government will be able to decide on the opening of parks, squares and institutions for the sale of non-food goods.

Related: WHO criticizes offer to issue immunity passports

Meanwhile, yhe chief epidemiologist of Sweden, the author of the Swedish strategy for combating coronavirus Anders Tegnell believes that the closure of borders and lockdown in Europe could not stop the spread of coronavirus, Berlingske reports.

"In all countries, they are aware that it is possible to stop the virus only with the presence of mass immunity or with the help of an effective vaccine. None of these exist yet. All other measures that are being taken in the world today are temporary solutions," he said.

The Swedish strategy is slightly different from the European one - schools and kindergartens are not closed there, institutions are open.

"We in Sweden proceeded from our traditions and common sense, so we did slightly different things. We did not close the society. In other countries, politicians are not fully aware of what it means to try to keep people isolated for many months. Pandemic will not end quickly, and we can stick to our soft strategy for a very long time," he said.

There are few restrictions, but they exist: mass events of more than 50 people are prohibited, only open verandas and platforms work in restaurants, older people are advised to avoid social contacts, company leaders were asked to transfer employees to a remote work.

A depressing picture in the Turkish, Syrian and Somali communities in Sweden testifies in favor of the version about the role of civic consciousness in the phenomenon of the Swedish miracle - morbidity and mortality in groups that did not absorb Swedish culture and self-discipline are significantly higher than in the whole country.
"I could be bounded in a nutshell yet count myself a king of infinite space, were it not that I have bad dreams."

So wrote Shakespeare in Hamlet, and it's appropriate for many of us at the moment. This era of "lockdown" sure feels like being stuck inside a nutshell and, as learned on Today with Sean O'Rourke (Radio 1, Mon-Fri 10am), it's giving a lot of people bad dreams and poor-quality sleep.

Host O'Rourke - who this week announced his impending retirement from the role - spoke to neuroscientist Sabina Brennan about the science of sleep and dreams, and why both are being disrupted.

The main reason, it appears, is the change to people's normal patterns and schedules: they may be getting up later, their workday has been altered, exercise regimens are different.

Also, as Sabina pointed out, dreams serve a purpose in helping us to psychologically work our way through stressful or painful thoughts and memories. Again, such is the case for many, here stuck inside the nutshell.

The best way to rectify the situation, she added, was exercise, getting up earlier, switching off screens an hour before bedtime, getting plenty of daylight during the day and progressively dimming the artificial lights as night-time approaches.

Phil Coulter, interviewed on The Pat Kenny Show (Newstalk, Mon-Fri 9am), is nowadays generally considered a bit cheesy, a bit corny, a bit out-of-time (I blame those Don Johnson-style suits he wore on You're a Star back in the noughties).

This is rather unfair, though, to a man whose professional achievements, by any standard, are considerable - and who has an interesting and unusual backstory, growing up in Derry before and during The Troubles. And he's a fairly genial, thoughtful interviewee; you get the impression that Coulter actually likes talking about his life and art, and isn't just there to sell a product by rattling through a series of questions as briskly as possible.

During his chat with Pat, incidentally, Coulter noted that a state of lockdown, for someone in his position, isn't all that different to the usual situation: composers need long hours to themselves.

Finally, cult favourite An Taobh Tuathail (Raidio na Gaeltachta, Mon-Fri 10pm) - one of the finest music shows ever produced, on any station - celebrates 21 years on air next Friday (May 1). Presenter Cian O Ciobhain is marking this birthday by asking listeners to tell him the most memorable discoveries they've made through the show.

Video of the Day

For me, that would probably be a Mexican electronic minimalist called Murcof (really), but ATT has introduced us to countless great and previously-unheard musicians. Email attrnag@rte.ie or hit

@antaobhtuathail on Twitter.
Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa

By Rod Nickel

WINNIPEG, Manitoba (Reuters) - Plans underway to restart the economies of Canadian provinces do not depend on presuming people who become infected with coronavirus develop immunity to it, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Saturday.

The World Health Organization said earlier that there was "no evidence" that people who have recovered from COVID-19 and have antibodies are protected from a second infection.

"I don't believe there are any plans that hinge on certain people being immune to COVID-19," Trudeau said in his daily briefing in Ottawa, adding that provincial plans focus on preventing the spread through social distancing and protective equipment in workplaces.

"(Immunity) is something we need to get clearer answers to and until we have those clear answers, we need to err on the side of more caution."

In a scientific brief, the United Nations agency warned governments against issuing "immunity passports" or "risk-free certificates" to people who have been infected as their accuracy could not be guaranteed.

New Brunswick is the first Canadian province to begin reopening parts of its economy and Saskatchewan has outlined a plan to start reopening in May.

Trudeau met with provincial premiers on Friday to discuss their restart plans. Measures will differ as infection rates vary among provinces, but require national coordination, he said.

Canada's death toll from COVID-19 rose 7% to 2,350 from a day earlier. Cases reached more than 44,000.

Some 80% of Canada's cases are in Quebec and Ontario, where there are numerous outbreaks in nursing homes.

Even so, a small protest outside the Ontario legislature on Saturday demanded the easing of public health measures.

"Its irresponsible, reckless and its selfish," Premier Doug Ford said of the call to loosen restrictions, speaking at a briefing. "It burns me up."

Such protests have been smaller in Canada than in the United States, where Republican politicians and individuals affiliated with President Donald Trumps re-election campaign are organising or promoting anti-lockdown protests.

Story continues

Also Saturday, Trudeau announced funding for the country's fish and seafood processors whose businesses were harmed by the coronavirus pandemic.

The government will provide C$62.5 million (36 million pounds) in financing to buy protective equipment for workers or storage space for products to sell them later.

($1 = 1.4102 Canadian dollars)
Abuja, April 24, 2020 -- Authorities in Nigeria should stop harassing journalists Peter Okutu and Chijioke Agwu, and must cease using COVID-19-related laws to stifle the press, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

On April 18, police in Abakaliki, the capital of Nigeria's southeastern Ebonyi State, arrested Agwu, a correspondent with the privately-owned The Sun newspaper, and held him for more than nine hours, he told CPJ in a phone interview.

In a separate incident on April 21, police in Ebonyi arrested Okutu, a reporter with the privately owned Vanguard newspaper, and held him for about two hours, he told CPJ via phone.

In both cases, the authorities released each journalist without charge, they said.

On April 22, Ebonyi Governor David Umahi said he wanted to ban both reporters "for life" from the state government house, according to The Sun, but later issued a statement saying that his office had "never ordered a ban on any journalist" from accessing the government house, according to reports.

Journalists in Nigeria must be free to report on topics of public interest, and must not be harassed, detained, and obstructed by local authorities, said Angela Quintal, CPJ's Africa program coordinator, in New York. Amid the ongoing pandemic, Nigerian authorities must stop attacking the press and focus on ensuring the public has unfettered access to information.

Police arrested Agwu at the state government house, where he had arrived to cover a government press conference on the state's COVID-19 response, according to news reports.

Before the press conference began, Umahi questioned Agwu about an April 17 report the journalist had written about the prevalence of Lassa fever in Ebonyi state, and ordered police to hold Agwu in a nearby room while the press conference took place, the journalist said.

After the conference concluded, Umahi ordered Agwu be brought into a meeting room, where the governor accused him of publishing false and damaging information that violated Section 35 of Ebonyi's new state law on COVID-19 and other infectious diseases and ordered the journalist to be taken to the command station of the state police, Agwu told CPJ.

Police brought Agwu to the station, where they held him until about 10 p.m. and then released him without charge, saying he had been pardoned, he said.

CPJ asked to see a copy of Ebonyi's state law on COVID-19 from Francis Nwaze, a spokesperson for the governor, but he told CPJ via phone that he could only provide the text of the law if formally requested via email. CPJ emailed Nwaze to request the law, but he did not respond. He also declined to comment on Agwu's case.

Cletus Nwokoro Ofoke, the Ebonyi attorney general, told CPJ by phone that he could only speak about the law in person.

The Ebonyi State Coronavirus and Other Dangerous (Infectious) Diseases and Related Matters Law was passed by the state legislature on April 2, according to news reports. At least three other statesAnambra, Kano, and Lagoshave enacted similar legislation in recent weeks, according to news reports.

In the April 21 incident, police arrested Okutu at the Woodberry Hotel in Abakaliki and brought him to the command station, he said.

Okutu was arrested on the orders of Clement Odah, the chairman of the Local Government Council of Ohaukwu, a town in Ebonyi, who questioned him at the station, he said. Okutu told CPJ that Odah disputed his recent reporting on military activity in the state, saying that his reporting was false and questioning him about his sources.

Okutu said police released him without charge after about two hours and asked him to report to the local station on April 22, but said he decided not to go after being advised by colleagues that he may be arrested again.

Okutu also told CPJ that his wife has received threatening anonymous phone calls telling her to warn her husband to stop reporting on Umahi's activities. CPJ could not confirm a connection between Okutu's arrest and the threatening calls.

Contacted by CPJ on April 22 via phone call and text message, Odah declined to comment, saying he does not talk to journalists.

CPJ called and messaged Nwaze for further comment on both cases on April 22, but he did not respond.
Lack of support, information about a field visit just half an hour before it, no response to its letters were some of the complaints of the Centres Covid-19 inspection team visiting West Bengal.

In a letter to Bengal chief secretary and the union home secretary, the Inter Ministerial Central Team (IMCT), led by Aruva Chandra, bemoaned that there was lack of cooperation from the state government.

The team said that it has been in Kolkata since April 20 and has written four letter but none have been answered.

The north Bengal team had gone to Kalimpong this morning on their own after informing the state secretary. They are returning now without visiting hospital or meeting DM/CMO as they refused to meet the team, said Chandra.

The team alleged that the state government is violating the order of the Centre by not assisting them.

The chief secretary of West Bengal has been widely reported in media of having said in the daily press conference that the IMCT is free to visit anywhere and senior officers of the government cannot waste time accompanying the IMCT. It above stand is in violation of the order of the ministry of home affairs, said Chandra in his letter.

The team reminded the state government that the state government is expected to provide accommodation, transportation, PPE and extend all cooperation for their visits to local areas, production of records as requested, according to the MHA order.

It also sought to know from the state government if it will take responsibility for safety and security of the IMCT if it ventures out on its own.

Whether the BSF accompanying the IMCT on behalf of the government free to take action to ensure safety and security of the IMCT in absence of police support, the letter asked.

It further alleged that no senior state official accompanies them on visits and their only expectation is that doctors and officers at the venue should meet and provide information to the team.

Whether it is a fact that a DCP of Bengal police informed Bengal officers at BSF guest house on April 21 that the IMCT cannot leave the campus without permission of the state government as lockdown is in force and if it leaves it is only permitted to go to the airport, the team wanted to know if there is truth to this statement.

It also sought to know if a PPP will be provided to the IMCT if it decided to visit a hospital on its own.

The stand of the state in facilitating the visits of the IMCT and ensuring the safety of members as also providing information and records may be made clear through a written communication rather than through media so that further steps can be taken, said the team.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-25 07:19:34|Editor: huaxia

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by Peter Mertz

DENVER, the United States, April 24 (Xinhua) -- When U.S. President Donald Trump encouraged his angry supporters to protest against their own state governments last weekend, he never thought they would be met by a small army of masked doctors and nurses.

That was what happened in many cities across the country, and those brave healthcare workers went viral on internet this week.

U.S. healthcare professionals stood their ground with arms crossed - wearing face masks, gloves, and blue surgical scrubs, standing in busy downtown intersections, surrounded by horn-honking cars.

"I was so surprised by the amount of anger directed at me," Lauren Leander, a nurse at Banner University Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona, told CBS News.

Leander took a hand-full of her colleagues to counter-protest in front of the Capitol building, and was soon surrounded by a horde of screaming protesters waving American flags and pro-Trump signs.

A YouTube video that went viral Thursday showed frontline medical workers in several U.S. cities - many who have seen patients die from COVID-19 - being taunted and jeered by protesters who defied local stay-at-home orders to protest at their state capitols.

On Friday, U.S. COVID-19 deaths topped 50,000. Stories from inside emergency rooms across the nation have been devastating.

"You are the virus - traitors - no shame," one woman screamed at a nurse, who stood arms crossed, feet planted firmly apart, at Phoenix's state capitol building last Sunday.

"Fake nurses - actors," another man yelled at two women nurses - at a protest in downtown Denver.

"Trump 2020, Trump 2020" was chanted by the crowd as it surrounded and intimidated the nurses, waving American flags and invading their personal space, the YouTube video showed.

DISHEARTENED

Across the country, social media lit up like a Christmas tree as healthcare workers were thanked repeatedly for their service, and the antics of the protesters was denounced.

"Harassing nurses to protest government closures is like harassing children to protest child labor laws," nurse Joe Zieja tweeted Friday.

A YouTube video posted Wednesday showed a nurse at the Pennsylvania state capitol in tears, describing a patient she had just seen die, and calling the protesters "heartless."

In Denver, on Thursday, as the sun set over the Rocky Mountains, hundreds of police and firetrucks with lights and horns blaring drove by the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, en masse to show their support.

During the past week, the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds - America's most elite fighter pilots, based out of the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs - flew over hospitals in Denver and Las Vegas in dramatic formation - to show their support for frontline hospital workers.

These national displays of solidarity and support for hospital workers somehow escaped the notice or interest of Trump's diehard base of supporters.

PRESIDENTIAL GASLIGHTING

Astoundingly, the protests, encouraged last week by Trump, fly in the face of his own national pandemic expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, who has encouraged Americans to stay home to stem the tide of the virus.

"If you jump the gun and you go into a situation with a big spike, you are going to set yourself back," the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director said Monday, after the protests.

The United States is not out of the woods yet.

On Thursday, food distribution giant Tysons closed its largest pork producing facility in Iowa, after 347 cases were traced to the plant of 2,800 people.

Exactly five weeks after California's Governor Gavin Newsom implemented a statewide stay-at-home order, confirmed cases throughout the Bay Area continued to increase, The Mercury News reported Thursday.

The spike in recent days has been particularly noticeable in San Francisco, where the case count in the city swelled by 69 on Thursday to 1,302, the second-largest daily increase since last week, the report noted.

But the anti-quarantine rallies this past weekend emphasized that America and its businesses were going broke, that America was on the downside of the coronavirus curve, and America needed to get back to work.

"It doesn't make any sense," Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, a Republican, said Tuesday, of the president encouraging the protests or the words behind them.

"The president's policy says you cannot reopen, under his plan, unless you have declining cases for 14 days, which those states and mine do not have," he told the media.

"So then to encourage people to go protest the plan on Thursday you made recommendations on - doesn't make any sense," he added. Enditem
The global outbreak of the CCP virus has imposed social distancing restrictions worldwide, leaving millions with no other choice but to self-isolate to curb the spread. The pandemic has also grimly impacted the entire industrial sector; even those in the fashion industry are bearing the brunt of the crisis.

However, in the face of such unprecedented disruption, many have learned to adapt and embrace this new normal.

Monica Tomas, a New York-based model. (Courtesy of Brogan Chidley)

Fashion Industry Embracing the New Normal

Fashion brands such as Prada, Gucci, and Ralph Lauren have taken the approach of canceling or postponing upcoming shows in various countries for safety concerns amid the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus.

Meanwhile, there have also been other brands and organizers that have made use of technology to continue with their fashion shows. For instance, Giorgio Armani was the first fashion designer to cancel his show and change it to a live stream instead. More recently in April 2020, the organizers of Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in Moscow chose to go ahead with their show by organizing it on a digital space, according to a press release.

Monica Tomas, a New York-based model, told The Epoch Times in an email interview that despite the industry coming to a standstill, she has seen models, photographers, and many others from the industry creating content within the confines of home with what is available and trying to be inventive and innovative with it.

Monica Tomas, a New York-based model. (Courtesy of Adhiraj Chakrabarti)

The industry has been showing support in every way they can and bringing people together through their interactions and content they create, said Monica, who has walked the runways for international shows such as New York Fashion Week and London Fashion Week, and who has modeled for global beauty brands such as Mac, Sephora, and Estee Lauder.

Monicas mother agency in India, Anima Creative Management, has since been doing the same as the agency ended their last shoot on March 15, 2020.

Mark Luburic, the director of the company, originally from Australia, said the firm recently started an Instagram online story project called Dont distance yourself mentally, where talents are asked to share a one-minute video on how they are using their newfound time effectively, in turn, inspiring others and creating a positive vibe.

Mark Luburic with his business partner and wife, Gunita Stobe. (Courtesy of Mark Luburic)

With the company representing over 50 models with some of them based in New York, Paris, London, and Milan, there have been all sorts of great little stories, Mark said. These stories range from feeding stray animals to finding new hobbies and passions such as dancing or painting and meditating.

Meditation Helps Cope With the Pandemic

Monica is one model who has been using her free time to practice an ancient spiritual meditation called Falun Gong.

Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, was introduced in China in 1992. Within the next five years, the self-improvement practice of mind and body attracted an estimated 70 million to 100 million people before the CCP launched a brutal crackdown in July 1999 that led to numerous practitioners being imprisoned and tortured.

Monica said the practice, which is based on the tenets of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Tolerance, has helped her to remain calm and contented.

Monica Tomas practicing the fifth set of Falun Gong exercises indoors. (Courtesy of Monica Tomas)

In recent years, people have been turning to meditation and holistic approaches to relieve their stress. Mark and some of his talents credit Falun Gong for helping them cope with the drastic life changes brought out by the pandemic.

With the fashion industrys current situation where clients are reluctant to make their payments, there is not much work to be done apart from online scouting, updating portfolios, and client databases. Taking all these challenges head-on, Marks company is trying hard to not disrupt the payment of employees wages.

Despite the struggle, Mark said practicing Falun Gong has taught him to maintain a more optimistic outlook on life. I have really learned to look at every situation in a positive light and to understand that there are greater forces at play, Mark said, and that there is a causal relationship to everything that happens.

Mark Luburic practicing the fifth set of Falun Gong exercises indoors. (Courtesy of Mark Luburic)

Sumaya Hazarika, a model from Anima Creative who has appeared in editorial shoots for fashion magazines such as Harpers Bazaar and Vogue, agrees with Mark.

There is no point in getting anxious and worried, said Sumaya, who started practicing Falun Gong in 2017. Things will anyway unfold as they are meant to. What matters is how we use this time to understand and interact with ourselves.

Sumaya added that this is not the time to let the negativity take over the minds.

Sumaya Hazarika, an Indian-based model. (Courtesy of Adhiraj Chakrabarti)

Amid the unprecedented crisis that has enveloped the world, Monica, who echoes a similar sentiment to Sumaya, advised that the path we need to follow is staying positive and committed to bringing change from within and to rise above this adversity fearless and with strength.

Hold the CCP Accountable

Though Mark believes that it is important for people to reflect on the way they are living and to nurture more compassion for each other and for the planet, he hopes that everyone will also realize that the communist regime should be held accountable for the pandemic that first originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan and subsequently spread quickly to the world. Recent media reports suggest that the CCP is covering up on the official confirmed cases and deaths figures.

Its time to make a conscious stance, and stand on the right side of humanity and hold the CCP accountable for all the evils it has instilled on the people of the world, Mark said.

Mark added that big corporations and governments that have turned a blind eye to the persecutions that are happening in China, such as jailing human rights lawyers, House Christians, Uyghurs Muslims, Falun Gong adherents, and Tibetan Buddhists, should also be held accountable.

Sumaya Hazarika practicing the fifth set of Falun Gong exercises indoors. (Courtesy of Mark Luburic)

Edmund Burke once said, The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil, is for good men to do nothing. I believe its time for the world to make a stance for the sake of humanity, Mark said.
The European Unions chief negotiator Michel Barnier after Brexit talks with the UK yesterday. Photo: Getty

Progress in the post-Brexit talks has been "disappointing" with the UK refusing to commit "seriously" on numerous fundamental points, the EU's chief negotiator said.

Michel Barnier warned the "clock was ticking" and said Britain cannot both slow down trade talks on key areas while refusing to agree to extend the transition period.

His remarks yesterday came at the end of the second round of talks, which took place by video-conferencing technology because of coronavirus.

The UK government also acknowledged only "limited progress" was made in "bridging the gaps" with the EU.

Despite warnings an agreement may not be possible by the end of the year when the transition ends, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has insisted he would not agree to an extension.

Mr Barnier said there are four areas where "progress this week was disappointing", including the level playing field - setting common standards and rules to prevent businesses on one side undercutting the other - fisheries and role of the European Court of Justice.

He said tangible progress had been "very partially met", adding: "The UK did not wish to commit seriously on a number of fundamental points.

"I regret that and it worries me.

"We need to find solutions on the most difficult topics. The UK cannot refuse to extend transition and at the same time slow down discussions on important areas."

Under the Withdrawal Agreement struck with Brussels, the transition period in which the UK continues to follow Brussels' rules runs until the end of the year.

It can be extended if more time is needed to secure a comprehensive trade deal if a request is agreed by both sides, but that must be lodged by the end of June.

Mr Barnier criticised the UK team, led by his counterpart David Frost, for having "failed to engage substantially" on the subject of the level playing field. The EU wants a single framework to jointly manage the future relationship but the UK "continues to insist on a number of separate agreements", he said.

Britain also refused to "provide firm guarantees rather than vague principles on fundamental rights and individual freedoms" creating "serious, serious" limitations for a security partnership.

And "no progress" has been made on fisheries as the UK has "not put forward a legal text", Mr Barnier said.

A UK spokeswoman said no progress could be made until Brussels accepted "the UK will have the right to control access to its waters at the end of this year".
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-25 20:43:09|Editor: huaxia

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-Rumors intended to nurture distrust between China and Africa never end, but can not last long as facts always speak louder.

-Despite remaining pressure to contain the epidemic at home, China has donated personal protective equipment, offered relief funds, and sent experienced medical experts, standing ready to assist African countries to the best of its ability.

-"Pandemics or differences will come and go, but the Africa-China relations will remain because they are built on sound principles and understanding."





by Xinhua writer Wang Hongjiang

NAIROBI, April 25 (Xinhua) -- French television France 24 in an article recently posted on its website debunked some fake videos, reproaching the disinformation that seek to sow discord between China and Africa at a time when the world is grappling against the COVID-19 pandemic.

France 24 said a violent video in which a group of people can be seen beating an African man went viral on Twitter and other social media. The video purporting to show discrimination towards foreign nationals, particularly Africans, in China, is fake, it said, adding that it was an old footage that was shot not in China and had nothing to do with COVID-19.

Such rumors intended to nurture distrust between China and Africa never end, but can not last long as facts always speak louder.

FACTS SPEAK LOUDER

In the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou, there are 30,768 foreigners including 4,553 Africans as of April 10.

"We take the same prevention and control measures for all personnel entering Guangzhou regardless of their nationality, race and gender," said Liu Baochun, director of the municipal foreign affairs office, when answering questions about local health management services during the COVID-19 epidemic at a press conference on April 12.

Staff unload the medical supplies from China at the airport in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, March 22, 2020. (Xinhua/Wang Shoubao)

Daniel Chisenga, Consul General at the Zambian Consulate in Guangzhou, said there were no cases of any Zambian harassed.

Alima Danfakha Gakou, consul general of Mali in Guangzhou, told media on April 18 that the various measures have shown the importance Guangdong has attached to African residents, and a communication mechanism has been established between the African consulate generals and Guangdong and Guangzhou authorities.

"The measures taken by the Guangdong government to prevent the virus are very helpful and we talk about it with great pleasure," said Ethiopian Consul General in Guangzhou Teferi Melesse Desta.

"This is a time of jagged nerves," Charles Onunaiju, an expert in China-Africa studies recently told Xinhua in an interview, when talking about confusion and conflicting information over the conditions of Nigerians living in China.

The relations between China and Nigeria should never be undermined by controversies surrounding the novel coronavirus, he said.

Zhong Nanshan, a renowned Chinese respiratory specialist, exchanges ideas on COVID-19 control with foreigners in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, April 15, 2020. (Xinhua/Li Jiale)

Another fact is that China has been firmly supporting Africa's fight against COVID-19 since the disease broke out on the continent. Despite remaining pressure to contain the epidemic at home, China has donated personal protective equipment, offered relief funds, and sent experienced medical experts, standing ready to assist African countries to the best of its ability.

The latest batch of medical supplies donated by China arrived Thursday in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa and is expected to be transferred to Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Djibouti, Lesotho, Madagascar, Namibia, Niger, Rwanda, Somalia as well as Tanzania's Zanzibar, with more said to come.

Chinese experts and officials from health and customs departments also shared information and experience about COVID-19 in video conferences with specialists from the African Union (AU), the Africa Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), and various African countries.

As COVID-19 cases continue to surge across the African continent, a 12-member team of Chinese medical experts was dispatched on April 16 by the Chinese government upon at the request of the Ethiopian government. On the same day, some other Chinese medical experts arrived in Burkina Faso. China has also activated its medical teams stationed there to help fight COVID-19.

A Chinese medical expert is welcomed by locals upon her arrival in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, April 16, 2020. (Xinhua)

There are nearly 1,000 Chinese medical personnel working in Africa long-term, according to China's National Health Commission.

COOPERATION ESSENTIAL

Mafa Sejanamane, permanent representative of Lesotho to the AU and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), said that China's support is "essential" to Africa's fight against COVID-19.

"We are pleased that the Chinese people and government are on the forefront of this particular struggle. With the cooperation of all our international partners, we will be able to triumph," said Sejanamane, who is also Lesotho's ambassador to Ethiopia.

According to the Africa CDC, the death toll from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic on the African continent passed 1,300 as the number of confirmed cases rose to 27,852 as of Friday afternoon.

"The global community should forge strong partnership if the world has to overcome the crisis," Costantinos Bt. Costantinos, who served as an economic advisor to the AU and the UNECA, told Xinhua on Friday.

Noting that both the Chinese government and Chinese enterprises have in recent weeks continued sending shipments of medical supplies to hard-hit countries across Africa, Costantinos said China has been "rallying for global coordination in managing the coronavirus outbreak" and "striving to take the lead against the coronavirus crisis."

Members of Namibia's COVID-19 pandemic task team attend a video consultation conference with Chinese medical experts in Windhoek, Namibia, April 14, 2020.



(Photo by Musa C Kaseke/Xinhua)

"COVID-19 is a global threat, affecting each and every inhabitant of planet earth, with zero regard for ethnicity, social status, wealth or any other of the various strata which have been contrived, over centuries, to set us apart from each other," said Sibusiso Moyo, Zimbabwe's minister of foreign affairs and international trade.

"Misguided assumptions with regard to the origin and the consequent attribution of blame take us nowhere, render a difficult situation even more challenging and impact negatively relations between and amongst brotherly nations and peoples," he said.

"Let us not, therefore, allow ourselves to be side-tracked or deflected from the main task at hand by engaging in any form of stigmatization, accusation or blame," said Moyo.

"Blame is not the answer. The answer is organizations, countries, institutions, and governments bringing their resources together to team up to provide these kinds of medical supplies and medical equipment for the protection of the people. So, this is a very good example," said CEO of Ethiopian Airlines Tewolde Gebremariam, when commenting on China's contribution to Africa.

LASTING FRIENDSHIP

Despite challenges arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, African experts said the long-standing Africa-China relations that are based on mutual respect and understanding will remain intact or become even stronger.

Members of a Chinese medical team pose for a photo upon their arrival at the airport in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, April 16, 2020. (Xinhua/Wang Shoubao)

"Pandemics or differences will come and go, but the Africa-China relations will remain because they are built on sound principles and understanding," said Owen Sichone, immediate past director at Zambia's Copperbelt University Dag Hammarskjold Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies.

"Trade between Africa and China will continue, so will the scientific and cultural exchanges between the two because they are part of their relations," said Professor Sichone.

"China and Africa have come a long way in their friendship. Both have a lot to show for their cordial relations," said Lawrence Banda, vice secretary general of Universal Peace Federation-Zambia Chapter, noting that China's support to Africa on fighting the COVID-19 pandemic is a demonstration of its commitment to the continent.

"The joint Africa-China COVID-19 fight efforts will further help to cement relations, which are expected to go on smoothly forward," said Banda. Enditem

(Xinhua reporters Wang Shoubao in Addis Ababa, Zhang Yuliang in Harare, Li Sibo and Gao Zhu in Dar es Salaam, Zhao Yupeng in Lusaka, Xiao Jiuyang in Lome, Lyu Tianran in Kigali, Cao Kai, Wang Xiaopeng, Li Yan and Feng Yiwei in Nairobi, Wang Pan, Zhou Qiang, Lu Hao, Hong Zehua, Ding Le and Hu Linguo in Guangzhou also contributed to the story. Video reporters: Zhao Yupeng, Gao Yuan, Xiao Jiuyang, Tian Hongyi, Xin Jianqiao, Feng Yiwei, Huo Siyin, Hu Nayun, Li Jiale, Hong Zehua, Lu Hao, Hu Linguo and Xu Zheng. Video editor: Peng Ying.)
Rumors Fly Amid Scant Info About Kim Jong Un's Health

By William Gallo April 24, 2020

International media hav been filled with reports that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is seriously ill. In reality, though, nothing is known about his condition.

This week, several unconfirmed reports indicated Kim, an overweight 36-year-old cigarette smoker with a history of health problems, had undergone a serious operationpossibly heart surgery.

The speculation came after Kim was mysteriously absent from a key North Korean political anniversary last week.

North Korean state media have stayed quiet on Kim's whereabouts and health status, but also suggest he is conducting business as usual.

Timeline showing the key events surrounding Kim Jong Un's absence:

April 11: Kim last appears in public at a meeting of North Korea's ruling party, where he called for a tougher response to the coronavirus. North Korea has insisted it has no coronavirus infections.

April 12: Kim skips a key session of North Korea's rubber-stamp parliament, the Supreme People's Assembly. A Seoul-based website would later report that Kim received heart surgery on this day. The report has not been confirmed.

April 14: North Korea conducts its latest round of short-range missile tests, according to South Korea. It's not clear if Kim oversaw the tests, since North Korean state media never reported the launchesa departure from the norm.

April 15: Kim skips two major public celebrations on the birth anniversary of his late grandfather, the country's founding leader, Kim Il Sung. Analysts say Kim would need a very good reason to skip what is essentially North Korea's most important political holiday. However, state media report that flowers bearing Kim's name were left at a memorial.

April 20: Pyongyang's showcase capital sees a surge in panic buying, especially of cleaning supplies and imported foods. The surge began Monday, according to a source in Pyongyang who spoke to VOA. The panic buying seemed related to coronavirus worries, the source added, citing rumors about an extended lockdown. The activity was first reported by NK News.

April 20: North Korean state media report Kim sent a birthday message to Cuba's president. The brief report included no pictures or indication of Kim's health. State media frequently report mundane diplomatic and other activities by Kim.

April 21: The Daily NK, a Seoul-based website with a network of sources in North Korea, reports Kim had heart surgery on April 12 and is recovering at a villa outside Pyongyang. Quoting a single, unnamed source, the report said Kim's operation was due to "excessive smoking, obesity, and overwork."

April 21: CNN reports the U.S. is "monitoring intelligence" suggesting Kim is in "grave danger" after undergoing unspecified surgery. The nature of the intelligence is not clear. Western countries have few, if any, intelligence assets in North Korea. Other U.S. media outlets, including Bloomberg and NBC News would later publish similar reports.

April 21: South Korea's presidential office says it has detected no unusual activity in North Korea.

April 21: A senior South Korean foreign ministry official tells VOA that Seoul has no evidence to substantiate Kim has a health problem. "All we know at this point is that he did not show himself at the April 15 ceremony, and there must be a good reason for that," he said.

April 21: Asked about the reports on Kim's health, U.S. President Donald Trump says: "We don't know  nobody's confirmed that  when CNN comes out with a report, I don't place too much credence in it."

April 22: North Korean state media say Kim sent a message to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The report did not include photos.

April 22: On Fox News, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says the U.S. would like North Korea to denuclearize, regardless of who leads the country. Some analysts say Kim's sister, Kim Yo Jong, could take over if Kim died. Pompeo noted he has met Ms. Kim "a couple of times."

April 23: Trump says he now believes the CNN report about Kim was incorrect. "I'm hearing they used old documents," said Trump. "I think it was a fake report done by CNN."

April 23: Pompeo tells Fox News he doesn't have any new info to share about Kim, but he notes the U.S. is "watching the situation very keenly."

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A key US government trial of Gilead Sciences Inc's experimental coronavirus treatment may yield results as early as mid-May, according to the study's lead investigator, after doctors clamoured to enrol their patients in the study. Preliminary findings from the randomised trial of the antiviral drug remdesivir, begun in February by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), could come even sooner, lead researcher Dr Andre Kalil told Reuters in an interview. There are currently no approved treatments or vaccines for Covid-19, the respiratory illness ...
[April 24, 2020] NORWEGIAN CRUISE SHAREHOLDER ALERT BY FORMER LOUISIANA ATTORNEY GENERAL: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC Reminds Investors With Losses in Excess Of $100,000 of Lead Plaintiff Deadline in Class Action Lawsuits Against Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. - NCLH

Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have until May 11, 2020 to file lead plaintiff applications in securities class action lawsuits against Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE: NCLH), if they purchased the Company's securities between February 20, 2020 and March 12, 2020, inclusive (the "Class Period"). These actions are pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. What You May Do If you purchased securities of Norwegian Cruise Line and would like to discuss your legal rights and how this case might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email ([email protected]), or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-nclh/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in the class actions, you must petition the Court by May 11, 2020.



About the Lawsuits Norwegian Cruise Line and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.

Between March 11-12, 2020, news outlets reported that leaked emails from the Company revealed a broad scheme to pressure its sales people into misleading customers regarding the nature and extent of the COVID-19 virus in order to preserve cruise bookings. On this news, the price of Norwegian Cruise Line's shares plummeted approximately 26.7% on March 11th and another approximately 35.8% on March 12, 2020. The first-filed case is Douglas v. Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd., et al., 20-cv-21107. About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC KSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nation's premier boutique securities litigation law firms. KSF serves a variety of clients - including public institutional investors, hedge funds, money managers and retail investors - in seeking recoveries for investment losses emanating from corporate fraud or malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, California and Louisiana. To learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200424005588/en/

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A new line of hiking boots from outdoor apparel company Merrell pays homage to some of the nations least-visited national parks and monuments -- including Michigans remote Isle Royale National Park.

The new See America hiking boots were created in partnership with Creative Action Network, whose crowd-sourced art campaign by the same name led to a collection of vintage-style national park posters that influenced the boots retro designs.

Merrell's Ontario hiking boot in the new "Isle Royale" design. Courtesy Merrell

The poster for Isle Royale National Park, which inspired the color choices for the Isle Royale hiking boot, was produced by Detroit designer and illustrator Esther Licata.

Originally a screen-printed design, this piece illustrates the beautiful north-woods forests and scenic shores of Michigans most remote northern wilderness, Licata said in a release. "With its remarkable island ecosystem, fascinating geology, and amazing plants and wildlife, Isle Royale perfectly represents the wildness and beauty of northern Michigans natural wonderlands.

Detroit-based designer and illustrator Esther Licata created this Isle Royale poster for Creative Action Network's "See America" crowd-sourced art campaign. The colors from the poster influenced the design of Merrell's new Isle Royale hiking boot.

The footwear collection also includes designs inspired by the See America posters for Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument in Maine, and Vermilion Cliffs National Monument in Arizona.

The collections release was timed to National Parks Week, April 18-26.

Right now, more than ever, everyone is realizing how important even just a breath of fresh air and a ray of sunshine can be," said Erika Derylo, Merrells marketing manager. "While this National Parks Week feels very different with most of our public lands closed, we are still so excited to share our See America collection. It was important to our team that we bring the National Parks to people, even if they cant get there themselves during this time."

We hope this collection brings a little bit of joy to everyone, inspires them to safely get some fresh air, and encourages people to look forward to getting outdoors on the other side of this, she said.

More about the Merrell See America footwear collection can be found at merrell.com. More on the Creative Action Network See America poster art campaign can be found at creativeaction.network/collections/see-america.
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Linkedin Dyaning Pangestika (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, April 25, 2020 10:39 627 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd429b0c 1 SE Asia COVID-19,Thailand,Indonesian-citizen,stranded,Bangkok,Indonesian-Embassy,Garuda-Indonesia,coronavirus,virus-corona Free

The Indonesian Embassy in Bangkok, with the help of national flag carrier Garuda Indonesia, has repatriated stranded Indonesian citizens in Thailand.

The embassy repatriated 66 Indonesians on Friday. Most of the Indonesians were the embassys interns or exchange students.

Amid international flight uncertainty in Thailand, the special flight from Garuda Indonesia has helped our stranded Indonesians return to the country, the embassy said in a statement made available to The Jakarta Post on Friday.

Read also: COVID-19: Indonesian embassies ramp up efforts to help citizens abroad

The embassy previously facilitated the repatriation of hundreds of Indonesians in Thailand following the Thai governments decision to ban flights from April 4 to 30 to reduce COVID-19 cases.

Meanwhile, the Thailand government recorded 15 new cases as of Friday, raising the number of COVID-19 positive cases to 2,854. The Bangkok Post reported that out of 2,854 accumulated cases spread in 68 provinces, 2,490 had recovered and were discharged from hospitals, while 60 cases of recovery were recorded over the past 24 hours.
It was hard to live in Vietnam during the war and its aftermath. Tougher still for the many people who crowded onto boats and pushed off from its shores, not only hoping for a better life elsewhere, but for a country which would allow them to land.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 25/4/2020 (627 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It was hard to live in Vietnam during the war and its aftermath. Tougher still for the many people who crowded onto boats and pushed off from its shores, not only hoping for a better life elsewhere, but for a country which would allow them to land.

Imagine if you were also living with special needs.

But, thanks to her parents, Ninh Tran, who was born with special needs and was 54 when she died in October following a long battle with kidney failure and other complications, was able to leave Vietnam and spend most of the past four decades of her life living in Canada.

"It was a brand-new life for Ninh after we left Vietnam," her sister, Cheery Tang, said recently about the help and support her younger sister received here through the years.

"Ninh was bullied by neighbourhood kids and looked down by many adults back in Vietnam. To many, she was useless. Many times these kids were older or bigger than us. Not only that, my parents forbade us fighting and so it was quite risky for us as well.

"In a way, Canada gave her a new life  more than just the basic needs."

Tran was born to parents Thieu Nguyen Tran and Tu Trinh in June 1965 in Saigon, in what was then called South Vietnam. She was the ninth child of five brothers and five sisters. An older brother and sister later died.

"Ninh never attended school in Vietnam," Tang said.

"There was no such facility in those eras in that country. In fact, due to the lack of a proper diagnosis, Ninhs speech development was "destroyed" in a way.

Friends at Epic Opportunities say Ninh Tran was often the life of every party.

"She rarely went out because our neighbour kids would call her a mute or crazy girl."

But through these years, as Tran grew older, the Vietnam War carried on, with the United States entering the war with more forces and then, in 1973, pulling out. Saigon fell to the North Vietnamese Army in 1975, just a few weeks before Trans 10th birthday.

Thats when thousands of Vietnamese began crowding onto boats to flee the country. Its estimated almost 800,000 Vietnamese left by boat between 1975 and 1995.

Trans father, wanting to make a new life for his entire family, was one of them. He was able to get out by boat, and sometime later, like thousands of others, he made his way to Canada. More than 60,000 refugees from Indochina were admitted to Canada in 1979 and 1980 alone  with almost 34,000 sponsored by ordinary Canadians.

And a few years later, when Tran was 16, she and her family joined her father in Canada and Winnipeg.

"For the first time she attended school (Churchill High School)," Tang said. "She used some hand gestures and some kind of speech to interact with others. Somehow all of us understood most of what she said.

"My parents were quite happy and proud of her... I didnt know what she meant to me until we moved to Canada. One day, as I was bathing her, suddenly I felt how blessed I was to have a sister like Ninh."

Tran, who was diagnosed at some point with autism, also had seizures beginning when she was a young child in Vietnam. Coupled with her special needs and increasing age, looking after her at home became increasingly difficult.

"She became more volatile and violent and me and my other siblings had to work or attend school, so life was hard for my parents and Ninh," Tang said. "There was this social worker who found out about our problems and he visited us to get Ninh to move to live with two other persons."

That house was run by Hope Centre, which is now known as Epic Opportunities.

Ninh (bottom left) and her family in 1976 in Vietnam.

"Hope Centre was a God-sent centre for her and for our family," Tang said. "My parents were too old to take care of Ninh."

Carey Richards, a co-ordinator of services at Epic Opportunities, provided leadership to Ninhs support team for many years.

Richards said the house Tran moved into had two other residents who not only became her longtime housemates, but also her friends.

"The deep connection that developed between these three people became evident over the years in a variety of ways," she said. "The three of them all shared their love of music. Ninh would often join in singing songs in Chinese, or Cantonese. Her and her housemates would often dance together while music was being played.

"Ninh was often one of the first people who would get the folks around her singing."

Richards said Tran was also "an incredibly social person and made connections wherever she went. She was certainly the life of every party, whether it was her party or not.

"Ninh was one of the most hospitable people Ive ever had the pleasure of knowing. She had an unforgettable laugh and an amazing sense of humour."

Richards said Tran also loved to bowl and won many awards and trophies through the years.

"Even when she became sick she still managed to find the strength to go bowling and see the importance of connecting with her friends and bowling community."

Richards said Tran was a caring person and a woman of great faith.

"She would be the first person to get the whole room praying for somebody who was sick or unwell. She had the biggest heart and made an impression on each person she met. I think its fair to say that if you ever had the pleasure of meeting Ninh, youll never forget her.

"Ninh lived, laughed, loved and brought so much spirit to the world around her."

Tang said her sister decided about 12 years ago to be baptized and their brother, Rev. Wilson Tran, performed the baptism.

Ruby Reimer, Epics executive director, said both Trans housemates and the staff who assist them, miss her "immensely."

"She will always be remembered as someone who made joyfulness a way of life," Reimer said.

"One could not be in her presence and have a frown on their face. She made an incredible impact on every life she touched."

Tang said she and the rest of her family loved their sister.

"God blessed us with Ninh," she said. "God has blessed me to have a sister like her.

"She has been a blessing to those who got to know her, to see her beyond her disability."

Besides her four brothers and three sisters, Tran is also survived by eight nieces and three nephews.

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca
FIPlanes of German carrier Lufthansa parked on a closed runway at Frankfurt airport

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - German airline Lufthansa <LHAG.DE> is seeking a loan of 290 million euros ($313.08 million) loan from the Belgian government to avoid the bankruptcy of its Belgian subsidiary Brussels Airlines, Belgian broadcaster LN24 said on Friday.

The Belgian government declined to comment. LN24 said negotiations had been suspended. Almost all of Lufthansa's flights have been grounded by the coronavirus outbreak.

Belgian Minister of Finance Alexandre De Croo is leading talks with the German carrier.

Lufthansa Chief Executive Carsten Spohr said earlier this month the company would seek state aid in Germany, Switzerland, Belgium and Austria because of the extended duration of the health crisis.

Reuters reported this week that Lufthansa is aiming to finalise a state aid rescue package worth up to 10 billion euros next week, according to people involved.

(Reporting by Marine Strauss; editing by Jonathan Oatis)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-26 05:56:57|Editor: huaxia

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BRUSSELS/LONDON, April 25 (Xinhua) -- The coronavirus pandemic is showing a mixed picture in Europe, as Britain's death toll surpassed 20,000 on Saturday, making it the fifth nation globally to pass that grim milestone, after the United States, Italy, Spain and France.

In contrast, mainland European countries are seeing more welcome signs, which allow them to plan to relax economy-crushing lockdown measures. In worst-hit countries like Italy, Spain and France, new infection cases and new deaths continued to drop.

Across Europe, almost 1.2 million confirmed COVID-19 cases had been reported, with 116,672 deaths, as of 10:00 a.m. CET (0800 GMT) on Saturday, according to the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control.

TRAGIC MILESTONE IN UK

The COVID-19 outbreak is still growing in Britain. Official data on Saturday showed that a further 813 people had died of COVID-19 in a 24-hour span, taking the total number of COVID-19 deaths in hospitals to 20,319 as of Friday afternoon.

According to the Department of Health and Social Care, 148,377 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in Britain as of Saturday morning.

"As the deaths caused by this terrible virus pass another tragic and terrible milestone, the entire nation is grieving," British Home Secretary Priti Patel said at Saturday's Downing Street media briefing.

Without drawing on when the current restrictions on movement would be lifted, Patel said it was imperative that people continue to follow the rules designed to protect their loved ones.

"Our instruction remains clear. People should stay at home, protect the NHS (National Health Service) and save lives," she said.

National Medical Director of NHS England, Stephen Powis, said Saturday that COVID-19 is a "once-in-a-century global health crisis" and will continue to be something "we work through in the months ahead."

One of Britain's leading public health experts told Xinhua on Saturday that the real death toll could be higher than the official figure which does not take account of people who died in care homes or at home.

Professor John Ashton, a former president of the British Faculty of Public Health, said: "Essentially there are four separate epidemics running in parallel, in hospitals, care homes, prisons and in the home. The official figures issued relate mainly to hospital deaths, but the others are gathering momentum."

FATALITIES EASE IN ITALY, FRANCE

In another sign of encouragement, Italy reported on Saturday 415 new deaths related to COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, down from 420 a day earlier and also the smallest daily increase since March 18.

Total active infections stood at 105,847, down by 680 cases compared to the previous day, according to fresh figures from the Italian Civil Protection Department. This is the sixth consecutive daily drop in the number of active infections in Italy.

There were 2,622 more recoveries compared to Friday, bringing the nationwide total to 63,120.

Domenico Arcuri, the Italian government's special commissioner for the coronavirus emergency, said at Saturday's press conference that blood testing for antibodies to the new coronavirus -- to find out what percentage, if any, of the population has unknowingly come in contact with the virus at some point -- will begin on May 4.

The serological survey is a key part of Italy's public health strategy to contain the virus during Phase Two of the emergency, when businesses will gradually reopen and isolation measures will be eased after the end of the lockdown on May 3.

France also confirmed gradually improved coronavirus-related data. The country reported 369 new deaths on Saturday, lower than 389 on Friday and 516 on Thursday, fresh figures showed.

Hospital admissions in France fell by 436 to 28,222. Some 4,725 positive cases were in intensive care units, down by 145 over the last 24 hours.

French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe will present to the parliament on Tuesday the government's plan on gradually lifting the country's coronavirus lockdown, his office said on Saturday.

The French government is set to unwind two-month confinement on May 11. Schools would be reopened in several stages, with much smaller classes and on a voluntary basis. Retail activities will resume with strict rules to limit the number of people in shops at the same time.

In neighboring Spain, health authorities said that 22,902 people in the country have succumbed to COVID-19, after reporting 378 deaths in the 24-hour period until 2100 hours local time Friday.

The daily figure is 11 more than the 367 deaths reported a day earlier, but it is the third time that fewer than 400 deaths have been recorded in a 24-hour period this week.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Saturday that people in Spain will be able to leave their homes for "individual sporting activity" from May 2.

This would mean an important lifting of the 'State of Alarm' restrictions, which have been put in place since March 15.

"Tomorrow, a new extension of the 'State of Alarm' comes into effect, but we will start to allow small relaxations of the restrictions, such as allowing children outside," Sanchez said. Enditem
House lawmakers have joined growing calls from influential scientists to approve controversial 'challenge trials' of coronavirus vaccines, that involve deliberately infecting people with the deadly virus.

Pressure is mounting on federal agencies to approve the process, as experts say thousands of lives could be saved by speeding up the race to get a vaccine to market.

The idea has now been backed by a group of 35 House lawmakers, who wrote to the Food and Drug Administration this week encouraging the agency to approve the trials.

However, the process continues to divide the medical community as skeptics have raised the moral dilemmas around endangering the lives of volunteers.

In the past, scientists have erred on the side of caution when testing new vaccines ever since Edward Jenner pioneered the science of immunology over 200 years ago when he developed the smallpox vaccine.

Jonas Salk, creator of the polio vaccine in the 1950s, even refused to give the vaccine to the public until he had tested it on himself and his own family first.

House lawmakers led by Reps. Bill Foster (left) and former secretary of Health and Human Services Donna Shalala (right) have joined the growing calls from influential scientists to approve controversial 'challenge trials' of coronavirus vaccines

But the group of House lawmakers, led by Reps. Bill Foster and former secretary of Health and Human Services Donna Shalala, have said the coronavirus pandemic is a 'war' and volunteers to vaccine trials are people who take up 'dangerous missions' to 'save the lives of others'.

'Our situation in this pandemic is analogous to war, in which there is a long tradition of volunteers risking their health and lives on dangerous missions for which they understand the risks and are willing to do so in order to help save the lives of others,' they wrote in their letter to the FDA.

Foster said Tuesday the group was sending a message that there is 'understanding from Congress' that risks need to be taken to develop a vaccine faster.

'We should move the risk benefit optimization a little in favor of more rapid and riskier vaccine approval,' he said, adding that by developing a vaccine 'even a month earlier... there will be tens of thousands of people whose lives have been saved.'

The FDA responded saying it is 'exploring all possible options' to speed up a vaccine.

'The FDA is exploring all possible options to most efficiently advance the development of safe and effective vaccines that will prevent COVID-19,' FDA spokesman Michael Felberbaum told The Hill Thursday.

The letter sent by the group of 35 House lawmakers to the Food and Drug Administration this week encouraging the agency to approve the trials

WHAT IS A CHALLENGE TRIAL? A challenge trial involves giving one group of young, healthy volunteers a placebo and another group the experimental vaccine. In a typical clinical trial, researchers would wait for the volunteers to become infected by the virus in their daily lives to see if the vaccine worked. In a challenge trial, both groups would then be deliberately infected with coronavirus - the 'challenge' aspect of the trial. This would enable scientists to tests much more quickly the effectiveness of the vaccine to protect the population from the virus so that it can be quickly scaled up to the masses. WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS? Time - Scientists have warned that a coronavirus vaccine won't hit the market for 18 months. This could be reduced to a matter of months if challenge trials are a success, experts claim, saving thousands of lives. Smaller sample - In clinical trials, larger samples of volunteers are needed because not all people will encounter the virus in daily life. In a challenge trial all volunteers are intentionally infected with the virus meaning fewer people are needed as the virus is deliberately administered to the required number. WHAT ARE THE RISKS? Death - There is no known cure for coronavirus and limited knowledge over the virus. To deliberately infect volunteers with the virus - particularly those in the placebo group - could have a big risk to life. Advertisement

Though he did not rule out the trials, Felberbaum did sound a note of caution over such an approach.

'Human challenge studies used to develop a COVID-19 vaccine may present ethical and feasibility issues that can be avoided with the use of animal models,' he said.

A challenge trial involves giving one group of young, healthy volunteers a placebo and another group the experimental vaccine.

Both groups would then be deliberately infected with coronavirus - the 'challenge' aspect of the trial.

This would enable scientists to test much more quickly the effectiveness of the vaccine to protect the population from the virus so that it can be quickly scaled up to the masses.

In a typical clinical trial, researchers would wait for the volunteers to become infected by the virus in their daily lives - but fears are growing that the country does not have the luxury of time on its side.

More than 52,000 Americans have now been killed and 927,000 have been infected by coronavirus in the few short months that it has ravaged the nation.

Stanley Plotkin, a renowned vaccinologist who helped invent the rubella vaccine, and Arthur Caplan, a bioethicist at New York University, recently endorsed the idea in an article in the journal Vaccine warning that without speeding up the development and rollout of a coronavirus vaccine 'millions' will die.

The normal vaccine trial process 'normally takes months to years, during which [coronavirus] will infect and possibly kill millions. Acceleration of that standard process is necessary,' they wrote.

To wait for the volunteers to be infected with the virus in society - where social distancing guidelines have limited the spread of the infection - could take many months, and experts have warned that a vaccine developed this way will not hit the market for around 18 months.

Challenge trials involve deliberately infecting people with the deadly virus to test a vaccine's effectiveness. The process has divided the medical community with supporters saying it will speed up a vaccine getting to market and save lives while skeptics warn that it is unethical and volunteers will die in the process

Supporters say this means using challenge trials could save many months - and many lives.

But there are ethical challenges at stake when deliberately infecting people with a deadly virus.

When challenge trials have been used in the past, it has been for vaccines for diseases that can be cured and are less lethal, like malaria.

When properly treated, malaria has a low death rate for young and healthy people.

To test a vaccine for coronavirus - that has no known cure and a higher death rate - is a bigger risk to life.

Younger, healthier people have a lower risk of fatality from COVID-19 than older people, but data and knowledge of the virus is still in short supply, experts warn.

Josh Morrison launched the COVID Challenge for volunteers to apply for trials

People in the placebo group especially could die when they are administered the deadly virus.

Jeffrey Kahn, director of the Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics, warned that 'consent can only do so much work' in justifying the dangers to individuals.

However, despite the risks, volunteers for trials are flooding in.

A website set up to recruit volunteers, called 1 Day Sooner, has more than 2,000 people signed up to take part in a potential trial, The Hill reported.

In New York, a non-profit that typically takes volunteers for kidney donations has switched tact to accept volunteers for coronavirus vaccine challenge trials.

The COVID Challenge is 'a hub for people to volunteer and to advocate for safe and rapid vaccine development.'

It has also taken the names of around 1,550 volunteers for if - or when - trials are given the green light.

'It is not a riskless thing,' founder Josh Morrison told The Atlantic.

'But neither is kidney donation. And each year, thousands in the US and tens of thousands in the world do that If you think this will move a vaccine forward by even a day and save thousands of lives, the ratio of volunteer lives lost to lives saved would be thousands to one. Any life lost is tragic, but that's worth doing as a society if you have volunteers who know the risk.'

One volunteer told the Atlantic she was inspired by Salk's work on the polio vaccine - where he tested it on himself before giving it to riskier participants.

'I am lucky in a lot of other ways, including good health. I'm young. I don't get sick a lot. This seems like a way that I can share some of that luck. I empathize with other people. The pain of losing someone you care about is the same no matter who you are. Anything to reduce that amount of pain is something I should try to do,' said Gavriel Kleinwaks, 23, a mechanical engineering student at the University of Colorado.

She also said there is a high chance she will get the virus with or without the trial anyway.

'There's the risk of participating in a human trial, but there's also the risk just walking around. It's not that I'm not afraid of the virus. I am. But the trial didn't seem like an enormous added risk,' she said.

Another volunteer Lehua Gray, 31, said she is keen to take part in trials if it speeds up the vaccine being available to people - like her own father and grandmother - who are more vulnerable to the virus.

'If I could roll the dice for myself, and keep them from having to roll the diceI have a much better dice to roll,' she said. 'I'm generally pretty risk averse. As a kid, I would jump on the trampoline but I try to only jump by myself because you're much more likely to be injured when you jump with someone else. This seems like a risk that enables me to help people in a way that I normally wouldn't be able to do. And there's always a chance I'll get [COVID-19] anyway, without helping anyone.'

However, no vaccine is yet at the stage of development where any type of trials could take place.
As the Trump administration increases pressure on Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro, the socialist leader has turned to Iran for help jump starting an aging refinery to prevent the South American nation with the world's largest oil reserves from running out of gasoline, The Associated Press has learned. On Thursday, the second flight by Iranian airline Mahan Air arrived at a town in western Venezuela delivering key chemical components used for producing gasoline, The New York Times writes in the article Venezuela Turns to Iran for a Hand Restarting Its Gas Pumps.

As two oil industry people familiar with the operation told The Associated Press, 14 more flights are expected in the coming days, some of them carrying Iranian technicians. The website FlightRadar24, which tracks international flights, showed the planes routes.

Drivers in recent weeks have started lining up at gas stations for days even in the capital of Caracas, the nation's political center that has long been immune to long waits, even as strict coronavirus quarantines have limited movement.

Iranian flights to Venezuela are rare, and those landing Wednesday and Thursday at an airport in the state of Falcon took place amid a strictly enforced flight ban by Maduro due to the pandemic. The airport is near the Paraguana Refinery Complex, one of the largest in the world.

Both antagonistic to the U.S., the governments of Venezuela and Iran have each been hit hard by U.S. sanctions aimed at ending what the White House considers repressive regimes. The Trump administration has recently led a maximum pressure campaign aimed at ousting Maduro, considering opposition leader Juan Guaido as the nation's legitimate leader. The U.S. and a coalition of nearly 60 nations say Maduro clings to power following a 2018 election that critics consider a sham because the most popular opposition politicians were banned from running. Venezuela's Ministry of Communications didn't immediately respond to an emailed request from AP seeking comment.

The U.S. sanctioned Mahan Air in 2011 for its work in ferrying fighters from the Revolutionary Guards expeditionary Quds Force, as well as Hezbollah, into Syria to support embattled President Bashar Assad.

Since the coronavirus pandemic began, Mahan Air continued to fly passenger trips into China while other international carriers stopped, according to the State Department and FlightRadar24. Experts believe this offers Irans Shiite theocracy and the Guard hard currency amid the U.S. sanctions campaign targeting the countrys vital oil industry. Iran and Mahan Air have denied the flights took place.

Iran itself does not produce enough of the catalysts locally for its own demand, said Mohammad Rezaei, director for research and technology of Irans National Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Co. A January report by the Oil Ministrys SHANA news agency quoted him as saying local catalyst production couldnt cover for Irans nine active domestic refineries.

Iran likely receives the rest of its catalysts from China, which has maintained a business relationship with Tehran despite American sanctions.

Both Mahan and Irans mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to requests for comment about the flights to Venezuela.
In Kern County, as around the world, we count the consequences of COVID-19 in terms of lives lost, lives saved and testing kits back-ordered.
Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda



Sonowal on Saturday asked the animal husbandry and veterinary department to conduct an inquiry into swine flu cases in the state and take remedial measures at the earliest.

During a meeting with top officials and scientists of the department, Sonowal directed it to send samples of the affected pigs to the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD), Bhopal, for detection of swine flu.

The flu has recently hit some parts of the state this year.

Agriculture Minister Atul Bora added that sale and distribution of pork meat has been banned in Assam.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Can Americans still have a sensible and friendly political discussion across the partisan divide? The answer is yes, and we intend to prove it. Julie Roginsky, a Democrat, and Mike DuHaime, a Republican, are consultants who have worked on opposite teams for their entire careers yet have remained friends throughout. Here, they discuss the weeks events with Tom Moran, editorial page editor of The Star-Ledger.

Q. President Trump on Tuesday announced a ban on all immigration, but on Wednesday issued an order that was less extreme. What do you make of that?

Mike: As with much of President Trumps policy and politics, there is a fair amount of theatre involved. He ran hard on immigration, which is important to his base, so he wanted a splash on his announcement. But once an order meets reality, it has to conform more to existing law. We already have travel bans with Europe and China, and even travel restrictions with Canada and Mexico, so I am not sure how impactful this larger ban is.

Julie: The hypocrisy here is staggering. Immigrants have always been the lifeblood of this nation. Donald Trump should know: two-thirds of his wives were immigrants and only received citizenship after marrying him. But this is about nothing more than a president who is watching his numbers drop as a result of his handling of the pandemic and reverting back to the xenophobia that appeals to his base. It's like an aging rock band playing their greatest hits to get the audience in the seats because they haven't produced anything new of value in years.

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

Q. Sen. Mitch McConnell opposed what he called Blue State Bailouts and said that states should be allowed to declare bankruptcy instead. Is that a serious possibility?

Mike: I have often defended Sen. McConnell in this column, but he is flat out wrong on this one. It will not just be blue states that financially crumble without federal assistance. It will be red states as well, plus cities and small towns all across America. And on the politics, if multiple states start faltering due to a global pandemic and economic meltdown, voters are not going to blame the governor and state legislatures. They will blame the federal government for not coming to the aid of states. There arent enough state taxes to raise or programs to cut to right the ship without some assistance from the federal government, which New Jersey taxpayers disproportionately fund by the way.

Julie: I have some news for McConnell: Blue states have been bailing out his home state of Kentucky for decades. Who does he think pays for all those Kentucky road projects his wife, the Secretary of Transportation, builds with our federal tax dollars? We do, when we blue states in the northeast send more money to Washington than we ever get back. That money, in turn, bails our mostly red states, including McConnell's own. In fact, Kentucky gets $1.90 back in federal money for every dollar it pays.

Hey @HolmesJosh I disagree on this one. Im sick of Republicans in DC who vote against federal support for blue states like NY/NJ during Hurricane Sandy or now when when hardest hit but quickly ask for help when they have floods or hurricanes in TX or FL (and deservedly get it). https://t.co/WxmWCOgtoL  Mike DuHaime (@MikeDuHaime) April 23, 2020

Q. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp is allowing some businesses to reopen, including gyms, hair salons, even movie theaters. Whats your read on the politics behind this one?

Mike: The politics are that the reality of COVID in Georgia is different than it is in New Jersey, so we ought not judge it by our standards. Georgia has 80% fewer cases in 7 times the land area. Fulton County, where Atlanta is, has fewer cases than most of New Jerseys counties. Georgia has 98 counties with less than 50 cases. Thats less than half of New Jerseys smallest county caseload (Salem County at 127). The governor could have handled it better by consulting with the Mayor of Atlanta. Also, Atlanta should be treated differently than rural counties with few cases and no deaths. But we cannot sit here and think that rural Georgia should be looked at the same as Manhattan when it comes to reopening small businesses.

Julie: This is the problem with the tail wagging the dog. The Kochs and the Mercers, among the richest families in America, are funding Astroturf campaigns to protest mandatory isolation. Right-wing media pick up these completely ridiculous protests and, in turn, politicians like Kemp believe that the base will turn on them if they dont fall in line. If workers must to return to work now, anyone who is too frightened for his or her health to comply can no longer apply for unemployment benefits, since he or she ostensibly has a job. This helps Kemp balance his budget in Georgia at the expense of people who are literally forced to put their lives in jeopardy.

If a governor orders business to reopen, workers face a terrible choice: they will no longer be able to collect UI because they technically have a job. But that job may pose a mortal threat to their health by bringing them into proximity with infected people.  Julie Roginsky (@julieroginsky) April 23, 2020

Julie: But here is the most offensive part: its the hair dresser or the movie usher, now forced to return to work, who will fall ill from COVID. Kemp has executive protection to prevent anyone from coming into contact with him who might pose a danger. The Mercers and the Kochs live on massive compounds and are sheltered from coming into close contact with anyone. They can run their empires through proxies while sitting in the safety of their homes. Its their workers who are put in grave danger, all so they can turn a profit.

Q. A fresh Monmouth poll gives Murphy a 71 percent approval rating, up by 30 points since the last poll, the biggest bump during this crisis for any governor. Is he that wonderful? Unbeatable if he wants a second term?

Mike: One thing American politics has taught us is that no one is unbeatable. But right now, the governor is enjoying widespread support for most of his actions. People are rooting for him to make the right calls. He has smartly acted in a bipartisan manner, treating the president with respect and thanking him and his administration for any support they are giving our hospitals and first responders. When he disagrees with the president, he is doing respectfully, not in an antagonistic way. This is good for the state but is also good politics. This has put him in a stronger position for re-election, but with two big caveats. The first is the economy. If we do not see an economic rebound in the next 18 months, voters will not be so happy with him anymore. They will expect a businessman can get people back to work. Second will be taxes. The state will be in a huge financial hole. If he raises broad-based taxes (sales, gas, income, business) to fill the hole, voters will be upset. This will be especially true if he does not cut spending. Independent voters and conservative Democrats have a history of abandoning Democratic governors when they fall short on jobs and raise taxes, if theres a Republican who can make a compelling case.

NEW JERSEY POLL: @GovMurphy gets much better reviews for #COVID19 response than @realDonaldTrump.



MURPHY: 79% good job / 10% bad job



TRUMP: 41% good job / 52% bad jobhttps://t.co/rXz4e4VyI3  MonmouthPoll (@MonmouthPoll) April 21, 2020

Julie: It's a fantastic number for Governor Murphy and, based on how he has handled this crisis over the last few weeks, it is largely deserved. As Mike already pointed out, there are two things for him to consider before popping the champagne, however: voters are fickle and the economy tops the list of their concerns. As a historical matter, polls this far out are not always a cause for celebration. George H.W. Bush was at 89% in the spring of 1991, right after winning the first Gulf War. But the economy tanked and 18 months later, he lost his election. Closer to home, Governor Christie was riding high from his handling of Superstorm Sandy and the economy was recovering from the crash of 2008, which helped propel him to a massive re-election. In this case, the economy is poised to continue contracting and, if Trump loses, the Republicans will do all they can to put an end to stimulus spending once Biden is inaugurated, which can cause a further economic contraction. When a similar scenario happened in 2009, the voters took it out on Governor Corzine. I'm certain this is something the governor's advisors, some of whom also worked on Governor Corzine's failed re-election campaign, bear in mind.

Q. The Democratic Governors Association, led by our own Gov. Phil Murphy, just hired Brendan Gill, one of Murphys senior political aids, at $10,000 a month. Any reason to object to that?

Mike: I got paid by the Republican Governors Association when Gov. Christie was Chairman, so I know firsthand that Gov. Murphy deserves to have his trusted political advisors providing him counsel on the multi-million dollar decisions he will have to make. The governor knows he is inviting criticism with the DGA hiring someone who has been highly criticized in the news for the workplace environment on his own campaign, but he has stood by Brendan, and I dont expect that to change.

Julie: Its a slap in the face to the seven women who have publicly alleged that the campaign Brendan Gill ran on behalf of Governor Murphy was toxic for women. Earlier this year, another Murphy staffer named Adam Alonso was accused by four women anonymously of toxic workplace behavior while working for the Democratic National Committee. The DNC did the right thing and fired him immediately. The Democratic State Committee also cut ties with him. In Brendan Gills case, four women have gone on the record about the toxicity Gill presided over while running the Murphy campaign and three others spoke to you, Tom, about it on background. I personally notified the governor in writing about Gills misogyny almost three years ago. And what does the governor do? He exports a toxic man like Gill to a national Democratic organization, even though Gills buddy Alonso was canned by the DNC for behavior that was allegedly much less toxic. At a time when the Democratic Party is attempting to be the party of #MeToo, Governor Murphy has given Republican gubernatorial candidates a massive opportunity to accuse their Democratic opponents of hypocrisy because they have someone like Gill working on their behalf.

.@GovMurphy advisers getting paid by Democratic governors group he leads https://t.co/fKNdIqinsM  Jonathan D. Salant (@JDSalant) April 23, 2020

Q. Finally, as Earth Day passes, an egghead question: Do you think this pandemic might change attitudes towards climate change? Are we more likely to listen to scientists?

Mike: People will rethink whats best for them personally, which could help the environment. The environment will be helped because people will rethink commuting and unnecessary airline travel. But lets not genuflect at every scientists feet. Frankly, they have not proved omniscient about COVID, and some seem to lack understanding of the rest of the world beyond science. We need to listen to scientists and weigh other realities as well.

Julie: As I said last week, I am not hopeful. Those of us in the reality-based community always listened to scientists. The rest listen to conservative media outlets, usually anchored by a semi-educated talking head who tells them to stick it to the libs by ignoring pointy-headed, Ivy League-educated scientists. I dont see that changing anytime soon.

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Market Scenario

Multifactor Authentication Market was valued US$6.93 Bn by 2017 and is estimated to reach US$24.82 Bn by 2026 at a CAGR of about 15.23% during a forecast period.

Multi-factor authentication utilizes many-fold methods of authentication to verify a users identity. Authenticating user identity ensures security during online transactions and accessing corporate resources. Multi-factor authentication utilized for Credentials breach of data that enterprise in order to administer an extra security layer that makes users authenticate via knowledge, possession, and inherence factors to gain access to corporate and social networks. A large number of countries have introduced countermeasures to implement the regulations such as HIPAA, Basel II, Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA), PCI DSS, and SOX.

Multifactor Authentication Market

Based on the Model type, Multifactor Authentication market can be fragmented into Two-factor, Three-factor, Four-factor and Five factor. Authentication model of five-factor is expected to grow at the highest rate during the forecast period. As five-factor authentication model provides a high level of security to top secret information, which is of high importance. Provide many good solutions for government applications such as security services, homeland access to top-secret national data/files, safeguarding data, and technology in national research centers.

Request for Report Sample:https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/sample/10245

Based on application Multifactor Authentication market is sectionized into BFSI, Government, Healthcare, Retail, and Telecom & IT. Increasing online traction and the growth of e-commerce are the major factors for growth. Many regulatory bodies have moved to regulation for the use of multifactor authentication technology in this application. Thus BFSI is accounted for the largest share in multifactor authentication market.

In terms of geography Multifactor Authentication market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and Latin America. North America is expected to dominate the Multifactor Authentication market over the forecast period. Many companies of this market are significantly focusing on strategic mergers and acquisitions for deeper geographical penetration. The growth of the North American region is majorly followed by countries such as the United States and Canada. According to 2017, multi-factor authentication market revenue in North America is around 2327.5 Mn.

Key Players Profiled and Analyzed in the Report

CA Technologies, RSA Security, SecureAuth Corporation, Gemalto, Microsoft Corporation, HID Global Corporation/ASSA ABLOY AB, Symantec Corporation, Vasco Data Security International Inc., Safran, Okta Inc., NEC Corporation, Ping Identity, Fujits, Entrust Datacard Corporation and HID Global Corporation, 3M, VASCO Data Security International Inc., RSA Security LLC , Suprema HQ Inc. , and Crossmatch

Scope of the Multifactor Authentication Market

Make an Inquiry before Buying: https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/checkout/10245/Single

Multifactor Authentication Market by Model Type:

 Two-factor

 Three-factor

 Four-factor

 Five-Factor

Multifactor Authentication Market by Application Type:

 BFSI

 Government

 Healthcare

 Retail

 Telecom & IT

Multifactor Authentication Market by Region:

 Asia Pacific

 Europe

 North America

 Middle East & Africa

 Latin America

Key Players in the Multifactor Authentication Market:

1. CA Technologies

2. RSA Security

3. SecureAuth Corporation

4. Gemalto

5. Microsoft Corporation

6. HID Global Corporation/ASSA ABLOY AB

7. Symantec Corporation

8. Vasco Data Security International Inc.

9. Safran

10. Okta Inc.

11. NEC Corporation

12. Ping Identity

13. Fujits

14. Entrust Datacard Corporation

15. HID Global Corporation

16. 3M

17. VASCO Data Security International Inc.

18. RSA Security LLC

19. Suprema HQ Inc.

20. Crossmatch

Request for Report Discount: https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/discount/10245
Brian Cassin has been the CEO of Experian plc (LON:EXPN) since 2014. This analysis aims first to contrast CEO compensation with other large companies. After that, we will consider the growth in the business. Third, we'll reflect on the total return to shareholders over three years, as a second measure of business performance. This method should give us information to assess how appropriately the company pays the CEO.

Check out our latest analysis for Experian

How Does Brian Cassin's Compensation Compare With Similar Sized Companies?

At the time of writing, our data says that Experian plc has a market cap of UK21b, and reported total annual CEO compensation of UK10m for the year to March 2019. While this analysis focuses on total compensation, it's worth noting the salary is lower, valued at UK944k. We note that more than half of the total compensation is not the salary; and performance requirements may apply to this non-salary portion. When we examined a group of companies with market caps over UK6.5b, we found that their median CEO total compensation was UK3.9m. There aren't very many mega-cap companies, so we had to take a wide range to get a meaningful comparison figure.

Next, let's break down remuneration compositions to understand how the industry and company compare with each other. Talking in terms of the sector, salary represented approximately 61% of total compensation out of all the companies we analysed, while other remuneration made up 39% of the pie. It's interesting to note that Experian allocates a smaller portion of compensation to salary in comparison to the broader industry.

It would therefore appear that Experian plc pays Brian Cassin more than the median CEO remuneration at large companies, in the same market. However, this fact alone doesn't mean the remuneration is too high. A closer look at the performance of the underlying business will give us a better idea about whether the pay is particularly generous. You can see, below, how CEO compensation at Experian has changed over time.

Story continues

LSE:EXPN CEO Compensation April 25th 2020

Is Experian plc Growing?

On average over the last three years, Experian plc has shrunk earnings per share by 3.0% each year (measured with a line of best fit). Its revenue is up 5.3% over last year.

Sadly for shareholders, earnings per share are actually down, over three years. The modest increase in revenue in the last year isn't enough to make me overlook the disappointing change in earnings per share. It's hard to argue the company is firing on all cylinders, so shareholders might be averse to high CEO remuneration. You might want to check this free visual report on analyst forecasts for future earnings.

Has Experian plc Been A Good Investment?

Most shareholders would probably be pleased with Experian plc for providing a total return of 44% over three years. This strong performance might mean some shareholders don't mind if the CEO were to be paid more than is normal for a company of its size.

In Summary...

We compared the total CEO remuneration paid by Experian plc, and compared it to remuneration at a group of other large companies. As discussed above, we discovered that the company pays more than the median of that group.

Earnings per share have not grown in three years, and the revenue growth fails to impress us. On the other hand, returns have been good, so the company is doing something right. Given this situation we doubt shareholders are particularly concerned about the CEO compensation. Looking into other areas, we've picked out 1 warning sign for Experian that investors should think about before committing capital to this stock.

Important note: Experian 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.
They have policy prescriptions that are both right on substance and good on politics, which, Democrats believe, have led Trump and Republicans to join their cause in spending far more than they initially expected. During mid-March negotiations over the Cares Act, Senate Republicans initially proposed a $1 trillion package  which grew to more than $2 trillion a few days later after the GOP agreed to Democratic demands.
Rough weather leaves trail of destruction By Jayani Madawala View(s): View(s):

Incessant heavy rains and gale force winds in the past few days have damaged homes and personal property in several districts  and further rough weather is forecast.

In Kegalle District, 316 people belonging to 75 families have been affected, assistant director of the District Disaster Management Centre, Mr. H. M. A. C. Bandara, said.

According to the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) situation report issued on April 23 , people in four divisional areas Yatiyantota, Mawanella, Ruwanwella and Warakapola are badly affected.

Some houses in Kelaniweli Plantations in Yatiyantota have suffered damaged from uprooted rubber trees.

Several houses have suffered damage from heavy winds in the Vavuniya District, reports say.

In Thandikulam, a tree has crashed on to a shop and a truck nearby was also been damaged.

In addition, several temporary houses in Sundarapuram, Thandikulam, and Ichchapuram have ben damaged.

The heavy rains ended the severe drought that had lasted in Vavuniya for months.

Vavuniya District Secretariats Saman Bandulasena, said that Rs 481,000 had been paid as compensation for people affected last week. Fifty five houses were partially damaged while Pompemadu was the most affected area in the district.

In Heeressagala, Kandy, too, about 50 houses were damaged due to heavy winds and rains.

Rough weather with winds of up to 80 kilometres per hour have been forecast in the coastal areas and in the deep seas. Naval personnel and fishing communities have been asked to be vigilant.

The Meteorology Department said showers or thunderstorms could occur at several places in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, North-western, Southern, Uva and North-central provinces and in Mannar and Vavuniya districts after 2 p.m.

Downpours of about 100 mm are likely in some places in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and North-western provinces and in Galle and Matara districts.
Last week Redi Shade, a Knoxville area No Tools installation window treatment manufacturer began providing respirator masks to local hospitals and volunteer fire departments.

After recently relocating from California, the Tennessee company saw an opportunity to support their new local community by donating masks. After initially tapping into their supply chain to purchase masks for their own employees, they were able to secure additional amounts to donate to local hospitals and volunteer fire departments.

They were able to donate to:



UT Medical Hospital

East Tennessee Children's Hospital

Seymour Volunteer Fire Department

Karns Volunteer Fire Department

Rural Metro Volunteer Fire Department

The companys efforts have been valuable to the Knoxville community.

Were appreciative of the local businesses like Redi Shade giving us the masks we needed. We have been lucky to have our local partners and businesses as they have been the ones to think of us in these times, said Seymour Volunteer Fire Department Fire Chief John Linsenbigler.

Redi Shade has also been reaching out to first responders, healthcare providers, and other essential employees to help them get some shuteye during these difficult times. The company has been donating their Original Blackout shades to help these heroes get a better nights sleep.

Redi Shade, in business for almost 30 years, is a No Tools window treatment manufacturer. They offer a variety of No Tools Installation products like Original Pleated Paper, Easy Lift and Artisan Custom window shades carried at all major retailers.
The White Buddha, circa 1910-1920s. Robert Neff Collection



By Robert Neff



In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, one of the most popular sites for foreigners to visit in the Seoul region was the White Buddha.



During summers in the 1890s, the small Western community in Seoul would often enjoy picnics at its base  sheltered from the heat by its shadow and refreshed by dipping their feet into the cool stream. It was idyllic, except when the servants forgot to bring the kettle, thus depriving the parched picnickers of their tea.



The White Buddha was frequently mentioned in travelogues. When Burton Holmes, an American, traveled to Seoul in the early 1900s, he declared "the ghostly outline of the 'White Buddha' [was] the most curious sight in the environs of the capital." He stopped long enough to set up his camera and take a picture of "a priest from the neighboring monastery [who was] presenting offerings at the instance of the boy who has come as messenger from someone who desired prayers and sent the cash to pay the priest for saying them."





The White Buddha complex. Robert Neff Collection, April 2020



But not all foreigners were impressed with the White Buddha. Thomas Philip Terry, an American travel writer, wrote in 1914:



"The body of the seated image is painted white; the heavy, chiseled features show little of the calm Buddhistic spirit characteristic of certain Buddhas in Japan, and the bizarre head-dress and gaudy enrichments accentuate its cheapness."



I am somewhat suspicious of some of Terry's descriptions and suspect he may have plagiarized them as they seem very similar to a Japanese travel guide published a few years earlier than his own.





Sereneness surrounded by bright colors. Robert Neff Collection, April 2020



When Joseph Waddington Graves, an Englishman, visited in the summer of 1919, he wrote:



"Leaving the main road to the right and taking the narrow paths across the tiny rice fields, we came in sight of the White Buddha. To our right was a stone quarry, and the process of blasting was being employed to split the rocks and secure the necessary material for the good roads throughout the peninsula, on which Japan has set her heart.



"To our left, and at the foot of the rocks, was a wide but shallow river, so shallow that pieces of rock which would serve as stepping-stones were everywhere visible. Directly across the river we saw the quaint object of our search. On a big rock, with a flat wall surface jutting out into the water, had been carved the head and shoulders of Buddha, a representation so familiar to every traveler in the Orient.





The unforgotten. Robert Neff Collection, April 2020



"Having been carved on the gray rough rock, the carving had been painted over with white, giving it the name by which it is known, and making it stand out with an almost startling distinctness from the background setting of rocks and trees. But from where we stood and studied the figure it seemed to be incomplete, suggesting that not all of the artist's original work was visible to us. So it proved on closer scrutiny.



"We climbed into our rickshas, and the coolies, wading into the water, pulled us across, halting on a bank of sand and stones immediately in front of the Diabutsu. Then we saw the reason for the apparent direct descent of the figure into the ground. It was not that the rock had sunk, nor that the sculptor had worked below the ground level. What had happened was the deposits of sand and stones had been washed down by the shallow but fast-flowing stream, and that the great figure of Buddha was being gradually buried under the accumulation."





A priest offering prayers in 1901  image taken by Burton Holmes. Robert Neff Collection



Graves was moved by the image  not by its beauty but by his perceived parable of what he was seeing. To him, the stream represented the Korean renaissance that was slowly, but steadily, burying "the idols and the skeletons and the ghosts of many unhappy centuries." Nothing can stop the stream  not even the Japanese "dam of annexation can permanently resist the flood tides of awakened nationhood," he declared.



Graves was partially correct. Korea did regain its independence but not even the stream was powerful enough to bury the White Buddha. Tomorrow we will find out why.





The pedestrian path leading to the White Buddha. Robert Neff Collection, April 2020
PITTSBURGH  Within minutes of getting drafted to the Steelers with the 49th pick, Chase Claypool was on the phone with Ben Roethlisberger.

Ben Roethlisberger called me right after I got off the phone with the Steelers and he introduced himself and congratulated me ... theyve been really good so far in reaching out and making this pretty special," Claypool said.

Minutes before he spoke with members of the Pittsburgh media for the first time, he got a text from JuJu Smith-Schuster. Claypool noted Friday, not for the first time, that he watched film of Smith-Schuster during his senior season with the Fighting Irish. He would go on to name Smith-Schuster specificaly as a player he was looking forward to working with, whenever it becomes safe for him to travel to Pittsburgh.

In addition to Smith-Schuster, Claypool can also present size matchups out of the slot. Its not his primary position, offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner said, but he has played there.

Though Roethlisberger and Smith-Schuster did it directly, they were hardly alone as Steelers players in welcoming Claypool to the team. Fellow former Fighting Irish star Stephon Tuitt chimed in on Twitter.

Congratulations and a wonderful opportunity!!! https://t.co/pvYv0mXMVG  stephon tuitt (@DOCnation_7) April 25, 2020

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Taliban Rejects Afghan Cease-Fire Offer During Ramadan

By RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan April 24, 2020

The Taliban has rejected a Ramadan cease-fire offer from the Afghan government, saying such a move is "not rational" amid disagreements over the peace process.

The offer was made by President Ashraf Ghani on April 23 ahead of the start of Islam's holy month of Ramadan as Afghanistan battles the growing coronavirus pandemic.

Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen rejected the offer, saying the militants will keep fighting because of the ongoing disagreements with the government over a potential peace deal as well as a delayed prisoner exchange.

"Asking for cease-fire is not rational and convincing," Shaheen wrote on Twitter late on April 23 as he accused the government of putting prisoners' lives at risk during the pandemic.

NATO chided the group, saying that "the current level of violence caused by the Taliban is not acceptable," while calling for the militants to join peace talks and speed up prisoner releases.

"We welcome the establishment of an inclusive negotiating team to represent the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. We call on the Taliban to enter negotiations with this team without further delay, which is considered a key element of the U.S.-Taliban agreement," alliance ambassadors in NATO's North Atlantic Council said in a statement.

They added that both sides should demonstrate goodwill by accelerating the release of prisoners and embrace "an immediate humanitarian cease-fire."

A landmark deal signed by the United States and the Taliban on February 29 calls for the Afghan government to release thousands of Taliban fighters as a confidence-building measure ahead of formal peace talks aimed at ending the 18-year conflict in Afghanistan.

The Western-backed government in Kabul has released 550 Taliban inmates since April 8, while the militants have freed 60 Afghan security and defense personnel they were holding.

"Releases will continue across other prisons to free a total of 1,500 as part of our efforts to advance peace and fight #COVID19," Afghanistan's National Security Council tweeted on April 24.

The militant group has pledged 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.

Afghan authorities have reported more than 1,270 cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, including 42 deaths.

Authorities have released thousands of detainees, mostly women, juveniles, and sick people, to reduce the risk of the coronavirus spreading in prisons.

With reporting by AP, AFP, Reuters, and dpa

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/taliban-rejects -afghan-cease-fire-offer-during- ramadan/30574376.html

Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Police are reminding the people that New Zealand remains at alert level four this long weekend.

As we move toward alert level three, it is important to note that police will continue to enforce the current restrictions until 11.59pm Monday April 27, says a police spokesperson.

We will remain highly visible in our communities and on our roads over Anzac weekend, including checkpoints at holiday hot spots to minimise non-essential travel.

Sadly, even with 75 per cent less traffic, lives have still been lost on our roads during alert level four.

A drive to the supermarket or pharmacy is still a drive.

So, please respect every road users right to be on the road, especially those more vulnerable such as pedestrians and cyclists.

We want to remind anyone undertaking essential travel to please drive or ride to the conditions, stay within the speed limit, wear a seatbelt or helmet, put that phone away, and only drive sober and alert.

Now is not the time for complacency.

We need every New Zealander to do their part to lock in the gains weve made to date.

By staying local, maintaining your bubbles and adhering to the restrictions around exercise and outdoor activities, were best placed to move into Alert Level 3 next week.

No matter what alert level were in, polices focus will remain on supporting New Zealanders and making sure they are safe, protected and inform.
Now, in the second month of the COVID-19 shutdown in Connecticut, the disconnect between what officials say about the food supply and what the economically challenged are experiencing is obvious: hundreds of people in cars lined up for bags of free groceries, half empty grocery store shelves, and food banks and pantries just flat out of food.

Officials up and down government insist the U.S. has plenty of food, including Gov. Ned Lamont, who last week called it anxiety about a shortage rather than an actual shortage.

Our food supply in this state, in this country, in our food banks, is strong, Lamont said.

Those on the ground say otherwise, and some are calling for a re-evaluation and better coordination of food systems, possibly from the state level.

For now, its evident the coronavirus pandemic has created massive problems and unprecedented challenges related to state and federal food policies or systems along two paths. One challenge is in maintaining the food supply itself. The other is in administering the various financial assistance streams needed to keep Connecticut and other Americans fed.

Parts of the supply chain have been threatened by COVID-19. And consumers may not be feeling the impacts of the most pronounced disruption yet - the ripple effect from the closure of several meat processing plants that closed after COVID-19 outbreaks among their workers.

Wednesday, Tyson suspended operations at its largest pork processing plant in Waterloo, Iowa. That follows Smithfield Foods shutting pork processing plants in Wisconsin and Missouri after the closure of its Sioux Falls, SD plant  one of the largest single-source COVID hotspots in the country.

There are reports of more than a dozen pork, beef and chicken plants now closed in several states including Colorado and Pennsylvania. That will likely exacerbate the potential for shortages and high prices beyond what was already occurring as shoppers cleared out grocery stores and food-strapped food banks found themselves competing with the general public in retail establishments.

Long haul trucking to get produce from the two biggest growing areas - California and Florida - has had a tough time meeting the faster purchasing pace, especially with the additional time now needed for cleaning trucks and supplies and ensuring the health of drivers traveling through COVID-19-stricken states.

That combined with large-scale institutional closures - universities, schools, hotels, restaurants and more - have resulted in produce being destroyed. Food banks, and especially food pantries, often have zero or limited means to store items like that. Connecticut is making an effort to get some of the milk surplus from its dairy farms into the system.

Then there are the government assistance programs - SNAP being the most direct-to-consumer. Trump administration plans to tighten work requirements are on hold as people flood the states with applications.

In Connecticut, the statewide anti-hunger advocacy group End Hunger Connecticut reports its call center has seen a five-fold increase in calls since the shutdown started. The Department of Social Services reports that in the last month about three-quarters of its application activity was for SNAP. Before that it was around 44%.

SNAP enrollments at the end of March were around 360,000 in 212,000 households. Theyre expected to go above 400,000 by the end of April. During the 2008-2009 recession they topped out around 410,000.

Deidre Gifford, the DSS commissioner, said the department is getting applicants processed well within the federally mandated limit. Were holding our own, she said. But it still takes time for the applications to be approved and the Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card to be issued. In the meantime those folks are also hitting food pantries and soup kitchens.

Its important to emphasize the food supply is good, Gifford said. We havent seen any evidence that theres a cut in the amount of food available.

People encountering perpetually empty store shelves for some staple products, like rice and pasta, and those trying to get food for service agencies would say otherwise. Kate Lombardo, executive director of the independent Food Bank of Lower Fairfield County and a veteran of the 2008-2009 recession, has found herself at grocery stores trying to buy what she could find. At one store, she said: I saw chicken and bought it all and paid for it by check.

We need somebody who can totally coordinate the entire picture, she said.

Pressure points and valves

The financial pressure on those needing food assistance in the state should be eased a little by two rounds of nearly $16 million each in emergency SNAP benefits dispersed to nearly 108,000 residents who did not receive the maximum benefit allotment for their household size in March and April.

Another chunk of funding will come as whats known as Pandemic EBT. It was approved as part of one of the coronavirus benefit bills and adds SNAP benefits to families with children normally receiving free- and reduced-price lunch. DSS is working with the Department of Education to implement it. But they still have to find the food to buy, and because of restrictions on what theyre allowed to purchase, that can be difficult for them.

Another pressure valve for food access involves school lunches themselves, which use a lot of government surplus products. With schools closed, the U.S. Department of Agriculture authorized the continuation of free and reduced-price breakfasts and lunches for students who qualify. But for this, a waiver was granted to provide them in grab-and-go form and without the children present.

Since the shutdowns, about 1.5 million meals have been served; thats about 110,000 to 115,000 daily. By contrast, in summer the schools provide about 37,000 meals daily and about 1.7 million over the entire season.

But even with the additional SNAP funding and the availability of school lunches, Connecticut SNAP recipients face a hurdle that is particularly troublesome due to the nature of the health emergency.

The state is not among the nearly one dozen states nationwide - including New York, California and Florida - that allow SNAP recipients to use online ordering for delivery. So in the COVID-19 environment, which adds an element of risk when going to stores, SNAP recipients have no choice. And in many cities where food access for at-risk populations is already difficult, sometimes requiring multiple legs of public transportation, getting to the store is now dangerous as well.

A few stores in the state are quietly skirting the rules and allowing such ordering by using mobile EBT readers, like the kind used at farmers markets, at the delivery site.

Gifford said the state is looking into online SNAP ordering, but right now is consumed with implementing Pandemic EBT.

Perhaps causing the biggest annoyance is the slow pace of getting two longstanding programs into the pipeline - the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP - pronounced TEA-fahp) and the Commodity Credit Corporation.

Under an initial TEFAP allocation, the states two major food banks will share $3.8 million. Most of it will be provided as food, with some of the money going toward administrative costs. But none of it is expected until July. Another tranche was approved in the most recent stimulus package, but the allocation isnt known yet, let alone the delivery date.

The issue for us in U.S. at the moment is we have an abundant food supply, said a frustrated Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro, who has fought in support of food access, safety and funding for decades. What are the logistics of how you can prevent people from going hungry?

We need this on such a massive scale that only the full weight of federal government can solve this, she said.

She and others point out that no one is addressing how to get the industrial portions of food used by restaurants and other institutions repackaged for food bank and consumer use or into the food system in some other way to help alleviate the current shortages. Nor has anyone explored how to open up some of the massive commercial kitchens, like those at the casinos or at shuttered universities, to do some of that work and provide other food services.

Weve got to think outside the box on this, she said. DeLauro said shes already talked with Jose Andres, the chef who formed World Central Kitchen to help feed the residents of Puerto Rico after devastating hurricanes. The organization is now doing the same in cities all over the United States.

DeLauro also has scathing criticism of the USDA, which she feels is sitting on CCC funds that could be used in some of these efforts instead of how the Trump administration has used that money so far - to pay farmers who have suffered due to the Trump trade war with China.

We have a USDA that does not think outside of the box; in fact it is hampering us, she said. Youre looking at people who are myopic and dont have sense of urgency. The U.S. has food. No one should go hungry.

And while theres little luxury for long-term planning in the middle of the current crisis, let alone time for after-action analysis, DSSs Gifford agreed it will be needed.

There is going to be a lot of reexamination of how this process has played out in every single area of our lives, she said. There will be an opportunity to see what went well, and what might have gone differently.

She might want to start by looking at New Haven.

Then theres New Haven

Latha Swamy is New Havens food systems policy director. Shes the only one in the state, and one of only about two-dozen in the country. The position was created in 2016 by then Mayor Toni Harp and Swamy took over at the end of 2018. She already has gained national recognition for her work which she describes as to support and help manifest community-led efforts that envision and create an environmentally sustainable and socially just food system.

Swamy doesnt do direct services, but helps coordinate those who do address the systemic challenges in the citys food system -from production and processing to distribution and purchasing. To that end she considers herself a convener and communicator and has spent much of her time on the job forging partnerships among the organizations that focus on food access and equity.

Shes a food traffic cop of sorts for New Haven. What Im trying to do is streamline whats going on as best as I can, she said.

Several months ago she helped establish a Coordinated Food Assistance Network, C-FAN, to interconnect the citys 30 food pantries, 10 soup kitchens and others into a more integrated operation capable of instantly ramping up in an emergency.

When this crisis popped up - it was really the type of structure we needed, Swamy said. We were able to shift to an emergency food role to address immediate needs and structural injustices.

She started daily C-FAN calls - now scaled back to twice a week as the home delivery system has grown from 16 drivers on 19 routes making 73 deliveries to 51 drivers on 64 routes making 319 deliveries. And she reached out to everyone. One of her first calls was to the local Meals on Wheels, part of the well-known national meal service for seniors.

What would you need to be able to do more? Where are the places people could fill in? Swamy said she asked Erin Harkrader, the director of Meals on Wheels in the New Haven area. It services thousands of seniors in 13 communities.

Harkrader, now juggling more than 100 new referrals, said Swamy was very helpful as the organization pivoted away from congregate meal operations to all home deliveries. She was able to work with us on some of the food safety concerns, Harkrader said. She was invaluable.

Swamy also got them connected to Vertical Church in West Haven, already running pantries there and in New Haven. Vertical Church picked up some of the delivery burden for Meals on Wheels while also retooling its pantry operations and picking up the slack for other pantries that were having difficulty staying open.

And Swamy has now launched a Food Resources during COVID-19 website that includes an interactive map for finding everything.

There are lessons here for other municipalities and probably for the state as a whole, Swamy said. It goes back to the way I approach my work - working from a foundation of food justice. Dealing with the root causes and structural injustices that preceded the emergency.

The reason Connecticuts other communities are feeling the stresses of food access in the current situation, she said, is because they dont have the underlying structure that New Haven has.

Really, she said. It goes back to the imbalances of power and resources in the first place.
The state government on Saturday appealed to the Arvind Kejriwal dispensation to make staying arrangements for Haryana residents who are employed with the Delhi government, saying their daily movement increases the risk of COVID-19 spread.

Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij on Saturday said Sonipat, which borders Delhi, has so far reported 17 coronavirus cases and claimed 13 of them were found to have contracted the infection in the national capital.

He said a Delhi police personnel, who resides in Jhajjar, was also found coronavirus positive. Besides, a few COVID-19 positive cases in Gurgaon were found to have contracted infection in Delhi, he said.

"This situation poses grave danger and increases risk of infection manifold to Haryana," he said.

Likewise, he said, there are many areas including Gurgaon, Jhajjar, Bahadurgarh and Faridabad, where Haryana residents who are employed in Delhi commute daily between their homes and workplace.

"I request the Arvind Kejriwal government that those Delhi government employees who reside in Haryana, the arrangements for their stay should be made in the national capital itself and no passes should be issued to them for visiting their homes (in Haryana)," Vij, who is also the state's Health Minister, said.

He said as these employees are issued passes by the Delhi government, despite heavy police presence at the inter-state borders, the authorities in Haryana have to allow them.

"The Delhi government should not issue passes and make arrangements for their stay in the national capital," he said.

Vij said he has directed Haryana's Director General of Police to completely seal off the borders with Delhi and ensure anyone, who is not authorised, does not enter the state.

On Delhi employees who travel to Haryana using passes, he said, "If the Kejriwal government does not stop issuing these passes and make arrangements for their stay, we may be forced to think about the next course of action".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
By Trend

About 300 health workers have been infected with the coronavirus in Azerbaijan, Azerbaijani Deputy Minister of Health Viktor Gasimov said.

Gasimov made the remark in Baku at the briefing at the Operational Headquarters under the Cabinet of Ministers on April 24.

Most of doctors were not infected at work, the deputy minister added. Some 60-70 percent of them have fully recovered and returned to work. None of health workers infected with coronavirus died or in severe condition.

The deputy minister said that the situation with coronavirus in Azerbaijan must be thoroughly monitored.

Gasimov thinks that closing the subway was the right decision because the virus is airborne and could be transmitted from short distance.

"Perhaps, after the quarantine rules are alleviated, the issue of opening the subway will be considered, deputy minister added. Depending on the current situation, the issue of resuming the lessons in the educational institutions will also be considered."

Gasimov emphasized that presently, there are no problems with medical supplies and protective equipment in Azerbaijan.

"This problem has been completely eliminated due to local production, the deputy minister said. The domestic demand is fully ensured."

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
A longtime Muslim chaplain in Texas prisons has died after a three-week battle with COVID-19.

Akbar Nurid-Din Shabazz, 70, was pronounced dead from the virus Thursday, hours before the start of Islams holy month of Ramadan.

Shabazz fell ill this month and was later hospitalized at Methodist Hospital in The Woodlands.

He was born in Monroe, La., in 1950 to a large family who nicknamed him Lynn.

In 1977, he started what would become a 40-year career at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, beginning as a volunteer chaplain and eventually coordinating services for Ramadan and other things at the Wynne Unit in Huntsville.

A few years later, in 1982, Shabazz agreed to serve as the prayer leader to Charles Brooks Jr., the

first American prisoner

to be executed by lethal injection.

Brooks converted to Islam while in prison for murder, and Shabazz was with him in the hours before his execution.

In 2012, Shabazz received an honorary doctorate from the Trinity International Seminary.

The criminal justice departments top official called Shabazz a part of the foundation of TDCJ.

His dedication to his faith, his family and this agency will not ever be forgotten, Executive Director Bryan Collier said. I considered him a personal friend, and this loss to all is heavy. We can only hope that the thoughts and prayers of the TDCJ family help to lighten the burden.

Others were similarly devastated by the news of Shabazzs death, including former prisoners and department guards who had interacted with him.

He was so humble and peaceful, one former guard wrote on social media

A great man lost. It was an honor to work with him, wrote another.

Shabazz was also very active in the Prince Hall Masonic Association, a branch of Freemasonry for African Americans.

His family members in Huntsville could not be reached for comment Friday.

robert.downen@chron.com
The perilous state of the Sri Lankan economy View(s):

The Sri Lankan economy is in a perilous state. Most economic activities have ground to a halt in the last month and their reactivation is uncertain. The countrys external finances are in a critical condition and require immediate international assistance.

Collapse

Nearly all economic activities, with the exception of agriculture, have been adversely affected. Manufacturing has had a severe setback owing to the inability to produce as well as export. Services have plummeted owing to the economic shutdown, the curfew, the drying up of tourism, slowdown in internal and external trade, much diminished transportation and limited financial services.

The resuscitation of the countrys highly trade dependent economy is difficult in the current global economic downturn. The recovery of international trade and revival of international supply chains are crucial for the countrys exports to recover. The gradual global economic recovery is vital to resuscitate the highly trade dependent Sri Lankan economy.

Pre-corona economy

It is not that a healthy robust economy has been battered by the COVID-19 pandemic and global recession. In fact, the Sri Lankan economy was in dire straits before COVID-19 hit us this year. The weak and vulnerable Sri Lankan economy had been severely weakened, especially its external finances.

The countrys economic predicament when the COVID-19 pandemic struck, is aptly captured by the popular Sinhala saying, it is like a bull attacking a man who had fallen from a coconut tree.

Growth

Economic growth is expected to have dipped to below 3 percent in 2019. It was only 2.6 percent in the first half of 2019. All three sectors  agriculture, industry and services- were not performing well when COVID-19 struck. The economy was already weak.

Manufacturing

Industry and services have been severely affected by the shutdown and global economic conditions. Export manufacturing has come to a virtual standstill owing to the curfew and global trading conditions.

It has to contend with a double blow. The demand for most of the countrys manufactured exports are from the US, UK and EU and these are commodities which are not essential. Until there is a significant economic upturn in these countries, there will be hardly any export demand.

On the other hand, the supply of raw materials for manufactures has also been disrupted. Many of the countrys industries face difficulties in obtaining needed raw materials owing to the disruption of international supply chains.

Rubber manufactures

The prospects for Sri Lankas exports of heavy duty tyres have diminished owing to limited air and heavy truck transport around the world. This is a serious setback to one of the notable successes in the countrys export manufacturing.

In contrast, there is a potential to increase exports of surgical, medical and protective gloves. The country may be able to earn as much as US$ 700 to 800 million owing to the huge demand for such rubber products. There should be adequate production of natural rubber and availability of other raw materials to ensure an increase in these rubber products for export.

Redeployment

The readjustment of manufactures in response to international demand and supply conditions is essential to avert a crash in manufacturing. This applies to the garments industry that is adversely affected by reduced demand from Western countries. Garment manufacturers, the countrys main industrial exporter, would have to explore manufacturing new products to cope with the global recession until normalcy in trade returns.

Tourism

The worst affected economic enterprise is tourism that contributes about 10 percent to GDP and on which the Sri Lankan economy is highly dependent, directly and through its backward linkages to transportation, food, crafts and gem and jewellery trade.

Earnings from tourism fell from around US$ 4 billion in 2018 to about US$ 1.5 billion in 2019 after the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings. The COVID-19 pandemic is a far greater blow to tourism as the prospect of revival of international travel and tourism is remote this year. This years earnings from tourism are likely to be less than US$ 1 billion. This would adversely impact the countrys balance of payments and reduce the income of a significant proportion of the population.

Agriculture

Although there have been disruptions in agricultural production, harvesting, transport and marketing, agriculture has been the least affected sector of the economy. Both tree crops and food crops have had lesser setbacks. Agriculture has emerged as the backbone of the economy.

Food and exports

It is important, all agricultural crops perform at their optimum level to feed the countrys population of 22 million and maximise export earnings. Increased rubber production could boost rubber manufactures. Tea may have a relatively strong demand, though lower oil income may temper demand in Middle Eastern markets which matter.

Trade balance

The trade deficit is likely to increase owing to the fall in exports, but is likely to be cushioned by a decline in imports of fuel, raw material and capital imports. Fuel imports will decrease owing to lesser demand for public and private transport and the unprecedented fall in international oil prices. The reduction in oil prices may reduce international fertiliser prices.

Capital goods imports too are likely to fall due to curtailed infrastructure development and construction. The banning of non-essential imports like motor vehicles would also reduce import expenditure. The reduction in manufacturing will reduce several raw material imports. Overall, the trade deficit may be contained at less than US$ 9 billion this year.

Balance of payments

In spite of reduced imports, the balance of payments deficit is likely to be large owing to much reduced earnings from tourism, lower workers remittances and low inflows of capital. This situation can be salvaged only by inflows of foreign assistance from friendly countries and multilateral agencies.

External vulnerability

The most serious problem facing the economy is the increased external financial vulnerability. The debt servicing obligations are estimated at about US$ 5 billion this year. Given the weak balance of payments position and foreign exchange reserves estimated at about US$ 7 billion, the countrys external vulnerability is high. Foreign assistance is crucial to resolve the countrys external financial woes.

Foreign assistance

A moratorium on loan repayments as proposed by the World Bank and IMF is essential. However at present only the 25 poorest countries, of which Sri Lanka is not included as it has been classified as a high middle income country, have been granted a moratorium on their repayments. We can hope that in the second round there will be an accommodation on loan repayment.

The countrys external finances could be redeemed by foreign aid. These amounted to only about US$ 1.5 billion by mid April and includes a Chinese loan of US$ 500 million. TheGovernment must aggressively seek more foreign assistance from international agencies and developed countries to tide over the current external financial difficulties.

One would expect assistance from the US, the EU, UK, Japan, the ADB and the WHO to fight COVID-19. These would strengthen the weak balance of payments. There is an expectation that the World Bank and IMF too would offer financial assistance.

Conclusion

The Sri Lankan economy has been battered by the global pandemic and economic shutdown. Sri Lankas trade dependent economy can revive only after there is a global recovery and international trade gains momentum. Meanwhile those economic activities which could expand must be developed, and along run perspective of the country is imperative.
Chennai, April 25 : The Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER) will complete testing of about 1,555 swab samples sent from Madhya Pradesh in three to five days time, said a senior official.

"We have received the samples from Madhya Pradesh on Friday. It will take three-five days for us to complete the testing of the samples from Madhya Pradesh. We will be sending the test reports to Madhya Pradesh as and when they are ready," Ashok Shankar Badhe, Medical Superintendent, told IANS.

The samples arrived at Puducherry in a special flight on Friday.

He said JIPMER has also tested the samples sent from Tamil Nadu.

Badhe said more than 200 surveillance samples sent by Tamil Nadu were tested and reports given.

He said another government college in Puducherry has been authorised to do the sample tests.

According to Badhe, each sample may take about six hours to get the results.

He said the number of COVID-19 patients in Puducherry is eight.
STAMFORD  Like the state and the nation, the city is focusing on nursing homes in its effort to stop the spread of COVID-19.

Among coronavirus clusters identified across the U.S., nursing homes are increasingly at the center.

Mayor David Martin said this week its one of the reasons his administration is arranging to test asymptomatic health-care workers first at the citys five nursing homes, then at its five assisted-living facilities.

Testing is key to protecting people from catching the potentially deadly virus, Martin said during a press conference at The Villa at Stamford, once the city-owned Smith House. Scientists have determined that people who have no cough, fever, shortness of breath or other symptoms can be infected with the virus and pass it to others.

We want to test people before they have symptoms, the mayor said. By doing that, we take at least a week off the time in which they may spread the disease.

A positive result alerts workers to seek care and to isolate from not only family members but the vulnerable nursing home residents in their care, the mayor said.

Reports estimate that nursing home residents account for a quarter to a half of all COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. But there is no hard data because the federal government does not track COVID-19 deaths or outbreaks in nursing homes. Some states do not disclose the information and, in many states, testing is very limited.

In Connecticut, Chief Medical Examiner Dr. James Gill said this week that not all nursing homes report confirmed or suspected COVID-19 deaths to his office. But Gov. Ned Lamont has pledged to make the numbers public. His office posted the first of them a week ago and updated them Friday.

The Friday data shows 568 laboratory-confirmed nursing home deaths statewide, with another 200 probable fatalities associated with COVID-19. Counting only the confirmed deaths, those that occurred in nursing homes accounted for 32 percent of the 1,764 statewide deaths reported as of Friday. With the probable cases, the proportion is nearly 44 percent.

Among Stamfords five nursing homes, there were 22 confirmed deaths as of Friday, with six probable cases. Broken down by nursing home, there were two confirmed deaths and four probable ones at Cassena Care of Stamford; six confirmed deaths and one probable at Edgehill Health Center; two confirmed deaths and one probable at Long Ridge Post-Acute Care; eight confirmed deaths at St. Camillus Center; and four confirmed deaths at The Villa of Stamford.

Counting only confirmed deaths, it means that nearly 20 percent of the total 111 Stamford deaths reported as of Friday occurred in nursing homes. With the probable cases, the proportion is 25 percent.

Martin said that when he crunched last weeks numbers, he found that people age 70 and older account for 15 percent of the reported COVID-19 cases in Stamford but 78 percent of the deaths.

Its more reason to test asymptomatic nursing home employees, he said.

Were doing everything we can to keep the fatality rate down, Martin said.

Nursing home employees will take nasal swab tests provided by DOCS Urgent Care and Murphy Medical Associates, Martins office said. The tests will be processed by Sema4 Labs, a Stamford company, and Quest Diagnostics. Results will be returned within 48 hours.

Each nursing home will manage testing of its employees and report results to the city, Martins office said.

About 1,400 people work at the citys nursing homes and assisted-living facilities, the mayor said. He doesnt know how many have been tested or what the outcomes may have been, he said.

Nursing homes are regulated by the state, so I cant speak to the challenges they have, Martin said. I know there are some health care workers who have been positive, who were showing symptoms and went to get a test.

Peter Showstead, administrator for 128-bed The Villa at Stamford, said staffing levels have been affected by the virus.

Were challenged, Showstead said. Were using staffing agencies, double shifts and staff incentives, so we have a stable staffing presence. Were waiting to see if the governor will give us the ability to use out-of-state certified nursing assistants.

Jay Russell, managing partner and CEO of Cassena Care at Stamford, said the situation is similar at that 156-bed facility.

Carol Iacovone, director of admissions at Long Ridge Post-Acute Care, said that facility has been fortunate.

A low number of the staff has been affected, Iacovone said of Long Ridge, which has 120 beds. Some were quarantined and have returned to work.

Martin said that in most cases the health care workers insurance companies pay for the tests. If not, the city will put them in contact with organizations that can help. The city also buys tests when it can, Martin said.

Testing the nursing home employees is part of a larger initiative to provide testing for essential workers on the frontlines fighting this virus, Martin said. The city similarly is in the process of testing 600 first responders.

He said that by accelerating testing at nursing homes, the city is aggressively attacking the virus in Stamford, which has had more deaths attributed to the coronavirus than any municipality in Connecticut.

The city is struggling now financially, Martin said. But this saves lives.

acarella@stamfordadvocate.com; 203-964-2296.
An additional 43 crew members on an Italian cruise ship docked for repairs in Nagasaki, southwestern Japan, have tested positive for coronavirus, the Nagasaki prefectural government said Friday, bringing the total number of infections to 91.

Testing is still under way for all 623 crew members, including one Japanese translator, on the Costa Atlantica, docked at a plant of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. in the city of Nagasaki.

By Thursday, 127 crew members had been tested with 48 proving positive.

On Friday, the prefecture said the number of tests had increased to 208, with 164 proving negative and one requiring retesting.

One of the crew has been hospitalized at a designated medical facility in the city due to severe symptoms, while the other 622 have stayed on board. There are no passengers on the ship.

The prefectural government has not disclosed the nationalities of those who tested positive for the pneumonia-causing virus.
As the RCMP dig into the psyche of the man who killed 22 people in Nova Scotia last weekend, a former FBI profiler who worked on such notable cases as the unabomber and the D.C. sniper says he expects investigators will likely find that the shooter was a dangerous grievance collector.

James R. Fitzgerald says serious mental health issues  or perhaps some recent trauma such as a failed business  could be part of what caused a 51-year-old Nova Scotia man to become a monster who went on a shooting rampage. But the reasons why are likely more complex.

Fitzgerald stressed he wants to be careful about diagnosing the killer from a distance because he isnt working on the case and said his knowledge of it stems from what hes read in media. But what hes read has left him with some clear impressions.

People who study him after the fact will see some indications of psychopathy; in other words, he was a psychopath, Fitzgerald said. Theres a numerical scale (for psychopathy)  you can be low on the scale, you can be high on the scale.

The Nova Scotia shooter, he said, would be near the top of the scale due to the extremely violent nature of his crimes.

Fitzgerald said the shooter appears to have been a grievance collector, someone who remembers every slight or perceived slight from other people and begins to attribute their own shortcoming or failures to those alleged affronts. The grievances fester and can boil over into acts of vengeance.

The retired supervisory special agent was a profiler and forensic linguist with the FBI and author of the series A Journey to the Center of the Mind, detailing his years in the agency.

He spoke to the Star about the shootings in Nova Scotia where Gabriel Wortman killed 22 people during a rampage he carried out while wearing an RCMP uniform and driving a replica police cruiser.

Fitzgerald played a key role as a profiler and forensic linguist in capturing Ted Kaczynski, also known as the unabomber, who killed three people and maimed two dozen others via mailbombs over a 20-year period before his 1996 arrest. Fitzgerald also worked on the D.C. sniper case in Washington, D.C., in 2002 when 17 people were shot over a three-week period until the perpetrators, John Allen Muhammad and Lee Boyd Malvo, were arrested.

Fitzgerald said police in Nova Scotia have a complex operation ahead of them as they try to gather evidence and conduct a psychological autopsy to determine why the killer committed his crimes.

Police have said some of those killed knew the shooter, while others appeared to be random targets.

Fitzgerald also said the shooter fits into the category of an organized offender. These are often violent offenders who take the time to prepare for their crimes and are the most difficult to predict because of their careful and calculating nature.

Part of such preparation will often include studying the same types of crimes they intend to commit, Fitzgerald said.

These people almost always will have looked and did their best to learn from the mistakes of others, if you will, in an attempt to carry out their spree, he said. Theyre going to see a fantasy this guy had probably going years back with these types of violent behaviour.

For example, Fitzgerald said, the killers computer search history could reveal if he studied incidents like the mass shooting in Las Vegas in 2017, or the case of the D.C. sniper  also a grievance collector who ultimately wanted to kill his ex-wife.

Another factor in analyzing the shooters crimes is his apparent obsession with policing. According to Fitzgerald, violent offenders with police or military obsessions tend to be among the most dangerous.

We found out years ago its not so much the guys with the hardcore porn or fetishes with women, or whatever their sexual desire was, he said. The ones who are really the scariest or most violent were the ones who were not police, not law enforcement, never were, but theyre really into the whole power trip and authority thing.

Sometimes they have contact with and friendships with police, Fitzgerald said, noting past cases where serial killers such as Ed Kemper were discovered to have frequented bars where police hung out.

He said by the end of the shootings, the Nova Scotia killer may have decided he was on a suicide mission and was judging his success on the number of people he killed.

Police will likely speak to people who knew the shooter all the way back into his childhood, Fitzgerald said, in an attempt to understand his motives and profile. Computer searches and finding people who had recent interactions with the shooter will also be key.

According to the RCMP, the shooters girlfriend survived the attack, and Fitzgerald said she will be one of the most important people the police can speak to as they try to piece together why he committed his crimes.

In conducting their work, he said, police will learn valuable information about what caused the shootings and potentially learn lessons for the future.

(They will) try to piece together just what made this guy turn into the monster that he did, he said. And that will be the most valuable information gathered of all, and the police will want to know how we can better identify these types of people in advance next time.

Read more about:
UPDATE 4:45 p.m.: A Central New York restart begins slowly, McMahon says. Construction, yes. Hair salons, no

Syracuse, N.Y.  Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Saturday cautioned Central New Yorkers that the regions relatively low coronavirus numbers to date may not be enough to reopen the economy far ahead of Downstate.

For now, the entire state remains shut down to non-essential activity through at least May 15.

Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon has expressed optimism that local infection rates provided a persuasive argument to reopen on our own timeline, perhaps even early.

READ MORE: McMahons pitch to reopen CNY early: Were doing pretty well containing coronavirus

But Cuomo said that the success of the region has to be considered in context with the restrictions on the state  and the greater region  as a whole.

You can look at one region, the North Country, Central New York, and say, Well, on our numbers, we are OK,' Cuomo said. OK, on your numbers as a region."

But, Cuomo continued, "people have cars, people are mobile, people have been cooped up, and whatever you do, you could trigger a reaction in that tri-state area (New York, New Jersey and Connecticut).

And you could see people from across that tri-state area come to your region, because you are now the place that I can get a haircut, the governor said. "You are now the place I can walk down Main Street and I can go in and get an ice cream cone, and I can have the kids go in and shop.

So yeah, thats the balance to all of this, and thats what were working through," Cuomo said.

Despite his cautionary words Saturday, the governor has endorsed a regional restart model, and encouraged local governments to pitch those ideas to the state.

Cuomo said Saturday that its still too early to know how one region might reopen before the others.

The whole discussion is premature, but its something were working through right now," he said. Were working with the (multi-state) coalition, were working with regional coalitions, and we will marry the two. Not marry them ... theyll be engaged for a period of time.

Cuomos chief of staff, Melissa DeRosa, added that cooperation among the tri-state region is mostly focused on the Downstate reopening. She said theres also a focus on the Southern Tiers coordination with Pennsylvania and other parts of Upstate with Massachusetts.

The major goal, DeRosa said, is to make sure one states reopening doesnt undermine a neighbors reopening.

Theres no timeline yet on when those reopening plans might be implemented, she added.

McMahon was asked earlier this week about concerns that CNY would be flooded with out-of-towners from high-infection communities if we reopen early. He has stressed the need for social-distancing measures, anyway, and noted there will always be a risk of people bringing more COVID-19 into the community.

The county executive has praised the states willingness to listen, so far, and said its up to the community to prove that were ready to reopen.

Anything before the governors date, the governor needs to sign off on, McMahon said Thursday. If the governors not comfortable, then the restart starts on the governors timeline.

MORE ON CORONAVIRUS

Coronavirus in NY: Cases, maps, charts and resources

NYs state fair is in jeopardy': Experts cast doubt on festivals, concerts in year of coronavirus

Coronavirus: Can I hire a stylist or barber to cut my hair in the backyard?

Updated (and growing) CNY restaurant takeout list: Some that sat out are now jumping in

Complete coronavirus coverage on syracuse.com

Staff writer Douglass Dowty can be reached at ddowty@syracuse.com or 315-470-6070.
Vietnam's Deputy Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung (R) symbolically hands over $50,000 to WHO Representative to Vietnam Kidong Park in Hanoi, April 24, 2020. Photo courtesy of Vietnam Foreign Ministry.

Vietnam has handed over $50,000 to the World Health Organization's (WHO) Covid-19 Solidarity Response Fund to support its fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.

Deputy Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung made a symbolic handover Friday of the donation to Kidong Park, WHOs representative in Vietnam , the Foreign Ministry said.

"This contribution from Vietnam aims to mitigate the negative impacts of the global pandemic," the ministry statement said.

Trung thanked the WHO and other United Nations agencies for their support and assistance to the Covid-19 fight in Vietnam, contributing to further deepening the Vietnam-U.N. partnership of the past four decades.

Though Vietnam has itself been negatively impacted in many ways by the pandemic, the government has decided to contribute $50,000 to the WHO fund as part of efforts to help mitigate consequences of the global crisis, Trung said.

Park congratulated Vietnam on successful control of the Covid-19 virus, as evidenced by its recovery rate of more than 80 percent.

Takeshi Kasai, WHO Western Pacific director, had said at a recent regular briefing that Vietnam is staying on top of its coronavirus infection fight as a result of strong leadership by the government and cooperation among its people in helping to contain the spread of the pandemic.

Discipline among its public in following social distancing rules to reduce infections has also helped, Kasai said.

Vietnam has reported no deaths and just 270 cases of the coronavirus, far fewer than most countries in Southeast Asia and the rest of the world. Of the 270 patients, 225 have been discharged from hospitals.

The Covid-19 pandemic has reached 210 countries and territories with almost 197,000 reported deaths.

Vietnam has donated over a million antibacterial masks and other medical supplies to countries worst-hit by the Covid-19 pandemic, including Cambodia, China, France, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Laos, Japan, Russia, Spain, Sweden, the U.K. and the U.S.
'Their dharma propels them to pay their workers; otherwise, they know the boys would starve.'

'At the same time they will not allow their business to suffer,' observes Dr Sudhir Bisht.

Kindly note the image has been posted only for representational purposes. Photograph: PTI Photo

Prime Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi's 21-day lockdown announced on March 24 now extended till May 3 has posed a stiff challenge to the entire nation.

The world has transformed completely for every organisation and every human being. Simple daily events like going to the gym every day and the weekly visit to the crowded Press Club of India for savouring that 60 ml of Old monk now appear distant dreams.

This is for me, a man blessed to be born into the privileged class. For the ones who are at the bottom of the pyramid the anguish is so much more real than my useless lamentation.

For the poor of India -- the daily wagers, the low level workers in the factory, the e-rickshaw drivers, the cooks and the bearers in the numerous eating joints that dot the streets of Delhi -- the struggle is now for survival of oneself and the survival of those who depend upon these breadwinners.

The prime minister had two options on how he wanted India to defend itself against the onslaught of COVID-19.

The first one was to enforce a total lockdown in an effort to break the chain of infectious virus, buy time and quickly prepare the infrastructure to meet the unmatched health crisis caused by the coronavirus.

The other option was to allow things to continue with a partial lockdown so that the economy would not come to a screeching halt.

The PM wisely chose the first option, but this option brought all the economic activities to a standstill.

No one can fault the PM for taking the course of action that he chose for the nation. He acted in the best interest of the nation and the compatriots have adhered to his call for self-isolation and social distancing (a better word would have been physical distancing) with a great degree of steadfastness.

If we ignore the bizarre cases of the Tablighi Jamaat and its ignoramus followers, most people have backed our PM so far.

Enough has been said and written about India's response to the COVID-19 challenge and here I would like to draw readers's attention towards the serious challenge that now confronts the thousands of small enterprises that do not enjoy easy liquidity or access to bank finances.

These small enterprises typically are at the mercy of the timely payments of their direct customers or their marketing intermediaries for paying monthly wages to their workers.

This is truer for those enterprises that are labour intensive and low on technology and hence operate in a very, very competitive environment.

Their overdraft facility never comes without the equivalent of one hundred percent collateral that they have to pledge with the banks.

These small enterprises have their own suppliers who threaten to cut off supplies if their payments get delayed and they are themselves chasing their channel partners or industrial consumers for collecting their outstanding payment.

On top of that, the small entrepreneur is now face-to-face with a lockdown and cannot even move around to collect cash to pay the salaries of his employees.

The financial situation of small-sized entrepreneurs was not very rosy even before COVID-19 reached Indian shores but then he had learned to live with those circumstances.

When the prime minister made an appeal to the private sector not to retrench workers and not to treat the period of lockdown as period of shutdown when no wages would be payable, the overzealous bureaucracy went on overdrive.

The circulars from various secretariats started going around in no time. The circulars not only asked businessmen not to treat the period of lockdown as a planned or unplanned shutdown, these communique also explicitly mentioned that the employers would have to pay full salary on time, without any delay.

The tone and tenor of these messages were not soothing for the small enterprises. There were veiled threats of scrutiny of all enterprises by the various government agencies.

In short, the state governments did not understand that the PM's appeal was not a signal to the bureaucracy to go overboard and create a panic among employers in the midst of a life-threatening pandemic.

The confusion further worsened when some state governments initiated pay cuts for their employees. Telengana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao held a review meeting on the state's finances in the backdrop of the coronavirus lockdown and impact on the revenues. After the meeting it was decided to cut 75 per cent of salaries of the chief minister, ministers, MLAs, MLCs, chairmen of various corporations and local public representatives, an official release said.

There would be a pay cut of 60 per cent for IAS, IPS and IFS officers while it would be 50 per cent for state government employees. However, the government spared Class IV employees, outsourcing and contract employees with just 10 per cent cut.

'Salaries and pensions of all employees of all public sector corporations and government aided organisations will also be deducted by 50 per cent.'

The state governments of Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Odisha and Andhra have announced pay cuts or delays for elected representatives and government employees. These governments also announced that all elected representatives as well as most government employees would receive 50 to 70 per cent less pay in March to aid the battle against COVID-19.

I quote Livemint as under:

'AP, Odisha, Rajasthan have announced a cut in government staff salaries, from 10% to 100%, depending on the ranks. States have cited the financial crisis in the wake of COVID-19 forced lockdowns as the main reason behind the move.

So we have a very, very, shambolic situation where someone in the top echelons of power asks employers to pay all employees on time, his own colleagues start to defer payments to their employees and elected representatives.

Not only are the payments delayed, pay cuts are also announced for the governmental staff.

This sounds so strange to me. A situation where the various arms of government as employers are not fulfilling their duties that they are trying to enforce upon private sector employers.

Some of the big private sector players have nevertheless gone about announcing pay cuts with due caution.

There are reports that aviation biggies like GoAir and SpiceJet have announced leave-without-pay and have laid off expatriate pilots. Many startups in Bengaluru have announced job cuts.

This brings us back to the issue of the dilemma of a small enterprise owner who always faced routine liquidity crunch, low business margins and now faces an uncertain future too, due to COVID-19.

How would such a person pay his staff on time on May 1 and honour the appeal made to him by the prime minister and at the same time not allow his business to go belly-up?

One of the partners of a small-scale factory at Greater Noida told me what he and his partner intend to do for their employees.

They have a small garment factory that runs up a wage bill of Rs 10 lakhs a month. They are still paying installments on the machines that they installed a couple of years ago.

The building is owned by them, but is hypothecated to the bank for the term loan they took from the bank when they started out a few years ago.

They do have a credit line, but it is used up for now.

The two partners have now decided to put in personal funds of Rs 5 lakh each in the business in the form of zero interest loan. This will help them to pay the April wages for their workers. However, they will not let the workers just enjoy their 'unearned' salaries.

The partners would appeal to them to pledge to make up for the lost business days by working extra hours each day without claiming overtime wages. The workers would call this shram-daan (gift of free labour) and would not make a song and dance about it.

This they say is the Gandhian way of doing business where the owners view themselves as the trustees of their company's assets and workers's interests.

The workers they say are not as loyal as they used to be about 20 years ago, but they have a better understanding of the challenges the employers face today.

This is how India works.

It does not work on the diktats of overenthusiastic bureaucrats.

Ordinary business owners who run their small factories from 100 square metre plots aren't too bothered to check if they can be arrested under the National Disaster Management Act, 2005 and the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 if they are not able to pay the salaries during the lockdown.

Their dharma propels them to pay their workers; otherwise, they know the boys would starve.

More than dharma, it is business sense that tells them that it is their turn to do good to the workers and reap a dividend later. Nevertheless, at the same time they will not allow their business to suffer.

The small-scale entrepreneur of the brick-and-mortar model works with a big heart and a bit of chutzpah. This is how it was when P V Narasimha Rao was PM and this is how it would be when PM Modi hangs up his boots.

Nothing changes for him at the ground level.

Here's wishing everyone good health and return to the normal days.

The small scale industry shall survive, physical distancing, COVID-19 and lockdown notwithstanding.

Dr Sudhir Bisht, author and columnist, tweets @sudhir_bisht. He can be reached at Sudhir_bisht@rediffmail.com.
Downing Street has removed China from the list of other countries it uses to compare the spread of the coronavirus - in a snub to Beijing amid widespread anger at the nation's apparent cover-up of the seriousness of its coronavirus outbreak.

It is another diplomatic attack on China in the wake of Donald Trump's accusations that the World Health Organisation (WHO) colluded with Beijing to downplay its coronavirus outbreak, and global disbelief over China's claim to have only 4,636 dead from the virus.

The people of Wuhan believe the death toll in their city that was the epicentre of the outbreak is 42,000 - not the 3,182 claimed by China.

In America, the Trump administration is ramping up its attacks on Beijing - blaming President Xi's government for letting COVID-19 spread across the globe unchecked while the Communist regime saved face.

Trump is backed by large numbers of Republican politicians amid claims from the US intelligence community that the virus escaped from a lab near Wuhan in an accident involving an intern.

In the graph shared on Friday (pictured), China had been removed from the graph that showed the number of deaths in different countries around the world from the coronavirus

Trump has suspended $500million in US funding for the WHO after claiming it had 'accelerated' the deadly contagion because chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus initially swallowed China's claims that coronavirus was not transmissible between humans.

There is also global outrage at Chinese officials for waiting six days to warn the public after becoming aware that a viral outbreak was causing a rash of deadly pneumonia cases in Wuhan.

While Beijing waited, residents in Wuhan hosted a mass banquet for tens of thousands of people, and millions began traveling for Lunar New Year celebrations.

How China 'covered up' coronavirus outbreak Lab Accident? US intelligence sources have claimed to media that corona virus escaped from a lab in Wuhan. They say an intern at the lab was infected in an accident, which she then covered up before infecting her boyfriend. Chinese officials were quick to blame bats sold at the wet market in Wuhan as the source of the outbreak. Delay in admitting human-human transmission Chinese officials for waiting six days to warn the public after becoming aware that a viral outbreak was causing a rash of deadly pneumonia cases in Wuhan in January. Covering up death toll China still only claims to 4,636 dead from virus. The people of Wuhan believe the death toll in their city that was the epicentre of the outbreak is 42,000 - not the 3,182 claimed by China. Silencing whistleblowers Eight Wuhan medical workers who sounded the alarm on the virus at the end of December were accused of spreading fake news and reprimanded by police. Advertisement

President Xi Jinping warned the public on the seventh day after top Communist Party leaders learned of the outbreak, January 20.

In the meantime, the Chinese government arrested or silenced doctors and citizens in Wuhan who tried to speak out about the disturbing new outbreak.

Even the mayor of Wuhan suggested in an interview with Chinese state television that Communist Party leadership prohibited him from warning the public until January 20.

By the time Xi issued the public warning, more than 3,000 people had been infected during almost a week of public silence, according to internal documents and expert estimates based on retrospective infection data.

The delay from January 14 to January 20 by the first country to face the new coronavirus came at a critical time - the beginning of the outbreak.

Until Thursday, ministers had been showing China on charts detailing cases and deaths in other countries in the government's daily press conference, comparing them to those in the UK. China's figures have since disappeared.

Before being removed, China was one one of the nine nations included in a 'global death comparison' published by the government, with figures suggesting that China's figures were lower than that of other countries, such as the U.S., Italy and Spain.

Currently, the country's official death toll stands at 4,636 from the coronavirus and has seen 83,901 people test positive for the virus.

However, one study by experts at Hong Kong University suggests that the numbers in the country where the virus is thought to have originated are much higher.

China revised the death toll in coronavirus ground-zero Wuhan, revealing that nearly 4,000 people died from the illness in the area.

In a social media post, the city government added 1,290 deaths to the tally in Wuhan, bringing the toll to 3,869.

Officials said many fatal cases were 'mistakenly reported' or missed entirely in an admission that comes amid growing global doubts about Chinese transparency.

The global pandemic originally emerged in Wuhan. The city went on to suffer the vast majority of China's fatalities from Covid-19, the disease caused by the virus.

The change also pushes the nationwide death toll up by nearly 39 percent to 4,632, based on official national data released earlier on Friday.

Numbers of total cases in the city of 11 million were also raised by 325 to 50,333, accounting for about two-thirds of China's total 82,367 announced cases.

The WHO and its Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus (left, pictured meeting with Xi Jinping in January) has faced accusations that the organisation is 'China-centric' and has been too quick to praise the regime's coronavirus response

The experts claim there could have been as many as 232,000 positive tests in the first wave of the virus, which would be four times its official figures.

World leaders including Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron have hinted their disapproval of Chinese tactics of misinformation amid the ongoing pandemic.

Germany's chancellor urged Beijing to be transparent about the origin and initial transmission of the virus.

'I believe the more transparent China is about the origin story of the virus, the better it is for everyone in the world in order to learn from it,' she said.

With 4,648 deaths, Germany has suffered almost the exact same number of casualties as China - 4,636 - but has confirmed almost 62,000 more infections.

World Health Organization 'colluded with China' in response to coronavirus The World Health Organization has been criticized for putting the world at risk by credulously accepting China's information about the coronavirus pandemic . INITIAL RESPONSE TO OUTBREAK As concern about the crisis developing in Wuhan grew in December, the WHO parroted the Chinese government's line stating there was 'no clear evidence of human-to-human transmission'. The United Nations agency then took another week to correct that statement. EFFUSIVE PRAISE FOR CHINESE OFFICIALS The World Health Organisation and its leader Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus heaped praise on the Chinese repsonse to the virus even as it spread around the world. After a meeting in Beijing in January, Dr Tedros said: 'Its actions actually helped prevent the spread of coronavirus to other countries.' He said he was 'very impressed and encouraged by the president's detailed knowledge of the outbreak.' REFUSAL TO DECLARE A GLOBAL HEALTH EMERGENCY In late January, when the virus had already spread to several countries, a WHO emergency committee debated whether to declare COVID-19 a 'public health emergency of international concern'. However Dr Tedros declined amid Beijing's objections and instead traveled to China, before finally making the declaration a week later on January 30. Advertisement

And French President Macron has said there are 'things that we don't know about' in China's handling of the coronavirus crisis, joining a growing chorus of doubts about the accuracy of China's claims.

Macron said in an interview published in the Financial Times that China's figures could not be compared to those in free countries.

'Given these differences, the choices made and what China is today, which I respect, let's not be so naive as to say it's been much better at handling this,' he said.

'We don't know. There are clearly things that have happened that we don't know about.'

China's official figures paint a picture of astonishing success in slowing the outbreak, but there has been widespread scepticism about their accuracy.

Macron said there could be no comparison between countries where the truth was suppressed and nations where information flowed freely and citizens could criticise their governments.

China only reported 12 new cases of the virus yesterday, 11 of which were imported from abroad, with no new deaths. In contrast, the UK today announced 4,913 new cases of the coronavirus, with 813 deaths.

The Government has set up a China Research Group to 'promote debate and fresh thinking' over the relationship Britain has with China, which will have eight permanent parliamentary members and additional conservative supporters.

Some Conservative MPs fear inaccurate figures could hinder the UK's response to the coronavirus.

Conservative chairman of the foreign affairs select committee and founder of the research group, Tom Tugendhat, said: 'This data is used to judge the effectiveness of our own response, whether good or bad.

'It's important we are comparing like with like, otherwise our own responses could be distorted leading to more deaths in the UK, he said. 'Clearly No 10 believes the same as the rest of the world  that China's data is unreliable and possibly false.'

Mr Ghebreyesus (pictured in 2015, when he was Ethiopia's Foreign Minister), elected to lead the World Health Organisation in 2017, is facing heavy criticism

The research group is said to be modelled on the European Research Group, the pro-Brexit group that scrutinised Thersea May's Brexit deal that never was, and will take a similar approach to the country's relationship with China.

'There's no point taking back control from Brussels and handing it to Beijing,' Tugendhat said.

Yesterday, China rejected calls for an independent international investigation into the origins of the coronavirus, with experts arguing that information about how it started and spread could help other countries in their fight against the disease.

Chen Wen, one of China's top diplomat told the BBC that the demands were politically motivated and an attempt to distract China from its own fight against the pandemic.

Dr Tedros, elected to lead the World Health Organisation in 2017, is facing heavy criticism, 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'.

That has led to allegations - mostly recently made by Donald Trump - that the WHO is 'China-centric', a position that the US President has promised to 'look into'.

Trump has threatened to suspend US funding to the WHO until an investigation has been carried out, while suggesting that they withheld information on the virus.

Dr Tedros quickly embroiled himself in controversy at the WHO by trying to appoint African dictator Robert Mugabe (pictured at a conference together in 2017, the year of the appointment) but eventually bowed to pressure and dropped it

It is not the first time that Dr Tedros has been accused of cosying up to China. Shortly after his election victory in 2017, it was alleged that Chinese diplomats had been heavily involved in lobbying for him.

UN records also show that Chinese contributions to both Ethiopia's aid budget and the WHO have substantially increased during times when he was in top leadership positions.

Shortly after his election to the WHO, a report in The Times said: 'Chinese diplomats had campaigned hard for the Ethiopian, using Beijings financial clout and opaque aid budget to build support for him among developing countries.'

Dr Tedros - who is married and has five children - was born in 1965 in Asmara, which was part of Ethiopia at the time but is now in Eritrea.

As a child he saw his younger brother die to an infection, which he believes was measles, which he later said spurred his determination to work on health and health policy.

He graduated from university in Ethiopia in 1986 with a degree in biology and went to work as a health official in the regime of Marxist dictator Mengistu Haile Mariam, while the country was ruled by the Derg military junta.

According to the BBC, Dr Tedros then joined the hard-left TPLF - which started life as a Communist party and played a major role in overthrowing Mariam in 1991. It later became part of the EPRDF, a coalition of left-wing parties that ruled Ethiopia until last year.

Dr Tedros (left) became the first African head of the WHO and the first non-medical doctor to hold the role when he was elected in 2017, amid allegations of heavy lobbying by China (pictured, Dr Tedros in Beijing shortly after his election)

Following his election to the WHO, Dr Tedros vowed to reform the organisation by placing an emphasis on universal healthcare at its centre while also increasing funding.

Further UN funding records show that, during his tenure, assessed contributions to the WHO by China have also risen significantly - from roughly $23million in 2016 to $38million in 2019.

China has also committed to a further $57million in funding in 2020, though has yet to pay the balance.

Meanwhile funding from other major world economies - including the US, Russia, Japan and Germany - has remained largely flat or even fallen over the same period.

Dr Tedros visited Beijing himself back in January and spoke with President Xi about the country's response, returning to give a speech that praised the regime's transparency, the speed of its response, and credited it with saving lives both at home and overseas.

That is despite the fact that medics from Taiwan - which are not represented at the WHO since China claims it as part of its country - claimed to have raised concerns about the response as far back as December 2019.

The WHO Director is known for his hands-on approach, often personally visiting countries affected by disease outbreaks - including the Democratic Republic of Congo which was hit by Ebola in 2018 (pictured)

Medics told the Financial Times that they had anecdotal evidence of human-to-human transmission of the virus, something China was denying at the time and a key factor in turning the disease into a global pandemic.

They claim this was reported to the WHO on December 31, but not shared with other countries. China itself did not report human-to-human transmission until almost a month later - January 20 - by which time the disease had began spreading throughout the country and across the world.

A petition calling for Dr Tedros's resignation which began in Taiwan has now topped 750,000 signatures.

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

It comes after a leading Russian microbiologist claimed the coronavirus was 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.

Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov (left) warned this week against allegations that coronavirus was manmade

'Moreover, they did this, supposedly not with the aim of creating pathogenic variants, but to study their pathogenicity.

'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.

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

'It is interesting that the Chinese and Americans who worked with them published all their works in the open (scientific) press.

'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.

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.'

The coronavirus facts China wants the world to forget: Beijing releases a COVID-19 timeline - but fails to include whistle-blowers, Huanan food market and 'the order to destroy all samples'

These are the most crucial events of the coronavirus outbreak in China, each of which has played a decisive role in the development of the global emergency.

Here, MailOnline has listed these findings alongside relevant information in previous reports and the Xinhua timeline.

1. The whistleblowers

Dr Li Wenliang, 34, died of the coronavirus in February after being punished for sounding the alarm over the outbreak. The police accused Dr Li and other medics of spreading fake news

Probably one of the most notable stories related to the COVID-19 pandemic, eight Wuhan medical workers who sounded the alarm on the virus at the end of December were accused of spreading fake news and reprimanded by police.

The most famous of them was late doctor Li Wenliang, who died of the coronavirus on February 7 after contracting it on the front line.

As early as December 30, the 34-year-old posted messages to a social media chatting group used by local medics, warning them of 'SARS at a Wuhan seafood market'. His alert came over three weeks before Wuhan went into lockdown.

A statement from Wuhan police on January 1 condemned Dr Li and the others of spreading 'inauthentic' information without proof. Officers said their acts had brought bad impact on society, and they would be 'dealt with' by law, according to a previous report by Xinhua.

This photo taken on April 1 shows medical workers disinfecting a stretcher in Wuhan Central Hospital in Wuhan. Li Wenliang was a doctor at the hospital before losing his life to COVID-19

These events were not mentioned in the Xinhua timeline.

However, the report did reference Dr Li in a listing under March 19.

It said: 'An inspection team of the National Supervisory Commission released the report of an investigation into issues related to doctor Li Wenliang, an ophthalmologist with the Central Hospital of Wuhan.

'Following the report, Wuhan Public Security Bureau decided to revoke the previous reprimand letter and apologized to Li's family over the mistake.'

It did not explain the 'issues related to doctor Li'.

Beijing named Dr Li 'a martyr' this month and mourned for him on the National Day of Mourning for COVID-19 victims.

Although Dr Li was the most famous coronavirus whistleblower, he had been tipped off by a colleague, ER doctor Ai Fen. Read our report about Dr Ai here.

2. The Huanan seafood market

An investigation carried out by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention showed that the virus had been passed onto humans by wild animals sold as food at the market, Xinhua reported on January 26. But its timeline did not mention the market (pictured on March 30)

Since the beginning of the outbreak, researchers and authorities have linked the virus to the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market, a once-popular wet market in the city of 11 million.

Curiously, it did not appear in the timeline.

One of the earliest connections between COVID-19 and Huanan can be traced back to a statement from the Wuhan Municipal Health Commission.

It claimed that 27 cases had been identified in the market as of December 31 and the city's officials had started to study its association with Huanan.

Some other reports, however, suggested that the very first patient had no connection with the market.

The market was closed on January 1 in relation to the 'pneumonia epidemic' by the local market watchdog, according to a report by state-run China News citing Wuhan Evening News.

Geng Shuang, a spokesperson from China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on March 17 accused 'certain American politicians' of promoting stigmatisation by connecting the novel coronavirus with China. China has been distancing Wuhan's Huanan market from its coronavirus narrative

An investigation carried out by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) showed that the virus had been passed onto humans by wild animals sold as food at the market, Xinhua reported on January 26.

The Xinhua timeline did not refer to the Huanan market or its connection to the pandemic.

In a listing under January 26, it cited Ma Xiaowei, the head of the Chinese National Health Commission (NHC), who claimed that 'the source of infection is yet to be found and studies are still needed to understand its pathogenicity'.

In another listing under March 6, it quoted a spokesperson from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs who said: 'Though the first case of COVID-19 was detected in China, it does not necessarily mean that it originated from China. We should jointly oppose "information virus" and "political virus".'

Although it remains unclear why the market was omitted from the timeline, Beijing has been rejecting the widely held assessment that Wuhan is the birthplace of the global outbreak after cases started to drop there but soar in Europe.

Geng Shuang, a spokesperson from China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on March 17 accused 'certain American politicians' of promoting stigmatisation by connecting the novel coronavirus with China.

3. 'Gag order'

On January 1, officials from the Hubei Health Commission ordered gene-sequencing labs to stop testing and destroy all samples of the coronavirus, according to a report from Caixin. This photo taken on February 6 shows a laboratory technician working on samples in Wuhan

A high-profile investigative report has accused Chinese officials of ordering labs to stop testing and destroy all samples of the coronavirus in the very early stages of the outbreak.

On January 1, officials from the Hubei Health Commission slapped the gag order on some gene-sequencing companies which had identified a new strain of SARS-like coronavirus as early as December 27, said the report.

The date was more than a week before the first patient in Wuhan, a 61-year-old man, died of the virus on January 9.

The Caixin report claimed that some labs in China identified a new stran of SARS-like coronavirus as early as December 27 after studying samples from patients in Wuhan. Pictured, an illustration of the virus released by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

The revelation was made by one of the most referenced investigative reports about China's coronavirus outbreak, published by pioneering Beijing-based media group Caixin on February 26.

It was shared tens of thousands, if not millions, times on Chinese social media platform WeChat, before disappearing.

An English version of the article still lives on Caixin's website.

Xinhua's timeline did not mention any lab-testing efforts in December.

It said that on January 2, the CDC and the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS) 'received the first batch of samples of four patients from Hubei Province and began pathogen identification'.

It added that three other institutions began to carry out parallel laboratory testing on January 3.

A team of officially appointed experts said on January 9 that a new type of coronavirus was initially identified as the cause of the viral pneumonia in Wuhan, according to the timeline as well as a previous Xinhua report.

4. When did Xi know

China's President Xi revealed in a speech on February 3 that he first gave instructions on the coronavirus on January 7. A transcript of the speech was published by state media outlet Qiushi on February 15. The picture shows Xi giving a speech at a Wuhan hospital on March 10

It remains a mystery when China's President Xi first learned about the outbreak.

The timeline, as well as many state media reports, claimed that Xi 'made instructions on epidemic response when presiding over a meeting of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee' on January 7.

However, an investigation into public government documents and official reports reveals that his speech was not mentioned in any reports until February 15 - which was rare for Chinese propaganda, especially those about Xi.

Xinhua first reported Xi giving instructions on the coronavirus on January 20. Pictured, patients wait for medical attention at Wuhan Red Cross Hospital in Wuhan on January 25

Qiushi, a political theory periodical run by the Communist Party, published the transcript of a speech by Xi on February 3.

Xi addressed officials: 'On January 7, I raised demands over the control and prevention of the novel coronavirus pneumonia epidemic while hosting the politburo standing committee of the Communist Party of China.'

This article, mentioned in the timeline, became the source of many reports, which claimed that Xi took the helm of the coronavirus task forces on January 7.

A report by Xinhua on January 7 about the political meeting was titled 'Xi Jinping hosted a CCP leadership meeting' and did not refer to the viral pneumonia in Wuhan.

Radio Francia Internacional branded January 7 as a 'mysterious point in time' for Xi.

A commentary on March 3 said that it was 'very interesting' for a Chinese leader his calibre to have to point out a time reference about himself, especially considering China's 'powerful propaganda machine'.

Xinhua first reported Xi giving instructions on the coronavirus outbreak on January 20.

5. The mysterious 'zero case' days

A picture released by Hubei's Chutian Urban Daily shows residents at Wuhan's Baibuting community gathering for a huge banquet on January 18. The event reportedly invited more than 40,000 families to welcome the Lunar New Year days before the city went into lockdown

Wuhan reported no new cases between January 6 and 17 when the city was holding a series of important political meetings, known as the 'two sessions'.

Nearly 700 officials, lawmakers and government representatives attended the conferences.

By January 5, the city's health commission had recorded 59 cases and no deaths.

The 12 days would have been critical in preventing the virus from spreading, but officials either reported zero new cases or did not release a daily update.

'Like this, Wuhan, a city of 11 million people, missed the key 12 days to block a malignant epidemic disease from spreading further,' criticised Shanghai-based news outlet Yicai in an article from February 1.

Wuhan reported no new cases between January 6 and 17 when the city was holding a series of important political meetings, known as the 'two sessions'. This March 18 photo shows people lining up to pick up pork which was delivered to their quarantined compound in Wuhan

The Xinhua timeline listed 25 entries under the 12 days to give details about a variety of official actions, including the isolation of the first novel coronavirus strain, the development of testing kits and a statement from the World Health Organization on the outbreak.

It did not mention any new cases in the period.

Furthermore, officials of a Wuhan community organised a huge banquet on January 18, inviting more than 40,000 families to welcome the Lunar New Year, reported Caixin, citing local Chutian Urban Daily.

The banquet sparked fears of an impending outbreak among Wuhan residents, who rushed to buy face masks, Caixin added.

The timeline did not mention the banquet.

On the day, Wuhan reported four new cases. A statement said the city had registered 45 cases and two deaths by then.

6. Wuhan mayor admitted slow reactions

Zhou Xianwang, the mayor of Wuhan, confessed that his team had not released information about the situation 'in time' during an interview with state broadcaster CCTV in January

One of the most influential interviews in the early days of the outbreak came from Zhou Xianwang, the mayor of Wuhan.

Mr Zhou confessed that his team had not released information about the situation 'in time' to state broadcaster CCTV on January 27.

Mr Zhou disclosed at a press conference the day before that around five million Wuhan residents had left the city before all forms of transport were halted on January 23.

Mr Zhou said those people had left because of the Lunar New Year as well as 'public opinions'. Nine million people were in Wuhan when it was locked down, he said.

The timeline did not mention Mr Zhou's comments, which were widely reported by media outlets in and outside of China.

Wuhan was locked down between January 23 and April 8 to stop the spread of the coronavirus. The picture shows residents of Wuhan queuing to pay at a supermarket on January 23

Mr Wu, 56, told CCTV that his government would need to receive authorisation from higher-ups before making any announcement regarding the novel coronavirus.

'On one hand, we did not reveal [information] in time; on the other, we did not use effective information to improve our work to a satisfactory level,' Mr Zhou said during the interview which was live-streamed online.

He said: 'Regarding the untimely disclosure, [I] hope everyone can understand. [Coronavirus] is a contagious disease. Contagious diseases have relevant law and information needs to be disclosed according to law.'

He then explained the restriction his government faced.

'As [the head of] a local government, after I receive the information, [I] can only release it after being authorised. [Many people] could not understand this at the time,' he said.

7. The disease is 'largely controllable'

The condition of the patients who suffered the 'mysterious viral pneumonia' was 'largely controllable', reported Xinhua in a January 10 article , citing an expert. The picture shows a worker measuring the temperature of a woman at Hankou Railway Station in Wuhan on April 8

The condition of the patients who suffered the 'mysterious viral pneumonia' was 'largely controllable', reported Xinhua in a January 10 article, citing an expert.

Professor Hu Ke from Hubei Provincial People's Hospital claimed that most patients had developed minor to medium symptoms and some of the earliest patients had recovered and left the hospital.

This article was published one day before Wuhan reported its first death from COVID-19.

It came five days after another Xinhua report said no evidence showed that the virus could spread from one person to another.

The timeline did not mention either article.

Professor Zhong Nanshan, the leader of Beijing's coronavirus expert team, confirmed human-to-human transmission on January 20, according to a CCTV report and the timeline.

The coronavirus pandemic has so far killed more than 81,000 people and infected over 1.4 million worldwide as of writing.

The lockdown on Wuhan, the former centre of the outbreak, was lifted on Wednesday.
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New Delhi, April 24, 2020  Authorities in Indias Tamil Nadu state must immediately release journalist Andrew Sam Raja Pandian and drop their investigation into his outlets coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

Police arrested Pandian, founder and chief executive of the SimpliCity news portal, yesterday in the city of Coimbatore, and accused him of violating the Epidemic Diseases Act and two sections of the penal code, according to news reports and Tamil Nadu-based journalist Sandhya Ravishankar, editor of news website The Lede, who is familiar with the case and spoke to CPJ in a phone interview.

The arrest was sparked by a report published on SimpliCity on April 18, which alleged government corruption in food distribution efforts related to the pandemic, according to a complaint against Pandian filed by police, which CPJ reviewed.

The police complaint, which CPJ reviewed, accuses Pandian of violating Sections 188 and 505 (1) of the Indian penal code, for disobeying the orders of a public servant and inciting public mischief, respectively, and of violating Section 3 of the Epidemic Diseases Act for disobeying regulations during a pandemic.

If charged and convicted, he could face up to three months in prison for violating the Epidemic Diseases Act, and up to three years for the penal code violations, according to those laws.

Indian authorities should not misuse laws meant to fight a pandemic in order to silence critical reporting, said Aliya Iftikhar, CPJs senior Asia correspondent, in New York. Authorities in Tamil Nadu should immediately release journalist Andrew Sam Raja Pandian and drop their investigation into his outlets work.

The complaint alleges that SimpliCity and Pandian attempted to bring a bad name to the state government, created unrest among government officials and through this tried to gain popularity for the site.

Ravishankar told CPJ that the police had detained two journalists from SimpliCity earlier in the day, but after pressure from the local journalist community, released them after about five hours, and then arrested Pandian.

Coimbatore District Collector K. Rajamani and Commissioner of Police Sumit Sharan did not respond to text messages from CPJ requesting comment.

Police throughout India have recently opened investigations into journalists for their coverage of the pandemic, as CPJ has documented.
BRASILIA  Brazils Jair Bolsonaro suffered the heaviest blow to his presidency so far as his popular justice minister quit on Friday and accused him of potentially criminal meddling in law enforcement, adding to the turmoil of a government struggling to confront a fast-growing coronavirus outbreak.

Sergio Moro, who won broad public support for jailing corrupt politicians and businessmen as a judge, said he was resigning because Bolsonaro fired federal police chief Mauricio Valeixo for personal and political reasons.

The shocking exit and allegations from the so-called super minister were a hammer blow for Bolsonaro, whose popularity had already slumped for downplaying the pandemic that has killed more than 3,600 Brazilians and shows signs of worsening.

Bolsonaro called Moros accusations baseless, denying he had interfered in investigations and insisting that he had the authority to replace federal police officials.

The appointment is mine, the prerogative is mine and the day I have to submit to any of my subordinates I cease to be president of the republic, Bolsonaro said in a public address, flanked by most of his cabinet in the presidential palace.

Moros accusations spurred outcry from across Brazils political spectrum, with former President Fernando Henrique Cardoso urging Bolsonaro to step down.

Brazils chief public prosecutor Augusto Aras asked the Supreme Court to open an investigation into the allegations.

Brazilian financial markets tumbled, with stocks falling nearly ten percent before paring losses to 5.5 percent and the exchange rate slipping to a record low.

Investors fear Economy Minister Paulo Guedes may be the next super minister to exit.

Moro said Bolsonaro had expressed concern about Supreme Court investigations, without giving further details, and he wanted inside information from his top cop.

The president emphasized to me, explicitly, more than once, that he wanted someone who was a personal contact, whom he could call, from whom he could get information, intelligence reports, Moro said.

And really, thats not the job of the federal police to give that information.

Capitao Augusto, head of the gun lobby in Congress that has been key to the presidents threadbare coalition, said this was the beginning of the end for Bolsonaro.

His position is becoming more and more untenable, Augusto told Reuters, adding that a parliamentary investigation was certain.

I think that after this pandemic, the first topic that will be debated will be the question of the impeachment of the president.

The head of the Brazilian bar association OAB, Felipe Santa Cruz, also said the organization would analyze the alleged crimes highlighted by Moro.

During the televised remarks by Moro and the president, protests rang out across Brazil, with people banging pots and pans from their apartments and shouting Bolsonaro out!

Brazil's Justice Minister Sergio Moro speaks during a news conference, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Brasilia, Brazil April 24, 2020. Photo: Reuters

Losing allies

Moros exit may alienate voters who backed Bolsonaro for his anti-corruption campaign in 2018, leaving the president reliant on conservative social activists, lawmakers interested in pork-barrel politics, and current and former generals in his cabinet.

The exit of minister Sergio Moro from the government shows the Bolsonaro government distancing itself from the popular desire to fight corruption. It is the defeat of ethics, the centrist Podemos party said in a statement.

The crisis comes a week after Bolsonaro fired popular Health Minister Luiz Henrique Mandetta, following clashes over how to tackle the coronavirus outbreak.

Mandetta, like most health experts, had supported social distancing orders by Brazilian governors, but Bolsonaro called the measures poison whose economic consequences could kill more than the virus.

Brazil has registered 357 coronavirus deaths in the last 24 hours, the Health Ministry said on Friday, taking the death toll to at least 3,670 as confirmed cases rose to nearly 53,000.

Were seeing the government come apart, said Fernando Bergallo, head of currency trading at FB Capital.

There are rumors that the next to go is Paulo Guedes. With that, the government is finished.

The Economy Ministry did not respond to a request for comment.

Guedes appeared with other ministers alongside Bolsonaro during his address.

In his parting remarks on Friday, Moro said he had agreed to serve in Bolsonaros government as long as he had free rein to appoint personnel without political pressure.

However, he said Bolsonaro had been seeking to change the top federal police officer since the second half of 2019 without good reason.

Bolsonaro said he had offered his ministers autonomy, but that he had veto power over decisions in his government.

He had been open, he said, to a compromise with Moro about the police chief replacement.

I dont need to ask permission to change a director or anyone else in the hierarchical pyramid of the executive branch, the president said, adding that he never made inappropriate inquiries or suggestions about police cases.

I never asked the status of any case, he said.

But Moro alleged he had never seen political interference of the kind sought by Bolsonaro over Brazils federal police, even under previous governments whose officials and allies were convicted of participating in sweeping corruption schemes.

For four years, Moro oversaw Brazils largest-ever corruption probe, which uncovered billions of dollars in bribes and jailed scores of powerful businessmen and politicians, including leftist former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

The president is digging his pit. Resign before being resigned, former President Cardoso said on Twitter.

Let the vice-president take over.
Indore: Indore district administration is continuously working on a war footing to prevent coronavirus infection. In order to have maximum sample test of coronavirus in the district, the district administration has started an investigation with CB-NAT machine. This machine has been installed in the IRL Lab of MRTB Hospital in the district. With this machine, the pendency of the test will almost end and a smooth system will be developed.

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With the introduction of this machine, the testing capacity has increased by 100 percent. It can be estimated from this that 500 samples have been sent from the machine on the very first day. The result of all these samples sent after investigation will come in the next 36 hours. Let us tell you that this machine also has a cartridge which has been provided to the lab by the TB Society. Divisional Commissioner of Indore, Akash Tripathi told the media that the testing of corona samples has started with the CB-NAT machine in the district.

Yogi government's big decision in Corona crisis, 6 kinds of allowances of state employees stopped

He informed that for the first time the investigation of this machine is being started in the state, which has been installed in the IRL Lab of MRTB Hospital in Indore district. Apart from this, he told that the district has also got an automatic PCR machine / thermal fisher machine. It will be installed today or tomorrow. This machine will also increase testing capacity which will end the pendency of the test.

Kapil Sibal says PM Modi to forget CAA-NRC, urges to fight Corona
A Kentucky mayor was shocked to find a stranger hiding in the crawl space of his cellar on early Wednesday morning.

Bowling Green mayor Bruce Wilkerson was surprised to see the woman in a home he is renovating on Henry Drive.

Wilkerson became aware of the woman's presence when he smelled cigarettes and heard noises, WNKY reports.

On Wednesday morning, Bowling Green mayor Bruce Wilkerson was surprised to see the woman in a home he is renovating on Henry Drive

Wilkerson became aware of the woman's presence when he smelled cigarettes and heard noises

Venturing down into the cellar, the mayor discovered blood on the door. Wilkerson also found a knapsack filled with women's clothes.

It was then that Wilkerson found the woman, who told him that someone was after her. She was covered in dirt.

As the mayor called police, the woman fled the scene.

He found the woman after discovering blood on a door and a knapsack filled with woman clothing

'I told the officers when they came that she didn't steal anything,' he said. 'I asked the officers why they were grinning and they said that no matter how they write the report, it's going to say the mayor locked a woman in his house,.'

The mayor described the woman as being in her 20s and having long brown hair.

The Bowling Green police are asking anyone with information about the woman, to contact them.
Two San Francisco women entered a Walgreens on April 6 with no masks, stuffed merchandise into empty bags, all while coughing and claiming to have the coronavirus, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office in San Francisco.

Federal prosecutors charged Carmelita Barela, 36, and Rosetta Shabazz, 32, with robbery affecting interstate commerce in connection with a scheme to steal merchandise from the Walgreens near San Franciscos Civic Center while claiming to have COVID-19, the office said in a statement.

The federal complaint, unsealed Friday, states that after both women entered the store, Shabazz started coughing without covering her mouth, and was not wearing a face covering. Shabazz allegedly ignored the store managers request to leave the store if she was ill, and instead continued coughing and joined Barela in taking merchandise off the shelves and placing it in their bags.

When the manager told both women to leave the store, the complaint says, they responded, We have COVID, and continued putting merchandise into their bags and coughing.

The defendants continued to cough audibly and eventually left the store without paying for the merchandise they placed into their bags, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office.

Barela and Shabazz were arrested on April 23. If they are both convicted, each could face a maximum sentence of 20 years of prison and a $250,000 fine.

The Chronicle was unable to reach either defendant in the case.

U.S. Attorney David L. Anderson said the incident is an example of those in our community who try to take advantage of the current pandemic to prey on peoples fear of contracting COVID-19.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

While many in our community can remain safe by sheltering in place, store managers and clerks are putting themselves out into the world for our benefit, Anderson said. They dont deserve to be threatened and robbed. Everyone suffers from a crime like this.

The FBI investigated this incident, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Abraham Fine is prosecuting the case with assistance from Margoth Turcios.

Shabazz made her first court appearance on Friday before Judge Kandis Westmore and was released to home confinement. She is scheduled for a bond hearing on April 28.

Barela is scheduled for her initial court hearing on April 27.

Lauren Hernandez is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: lauren.hernandez@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ByLHernandez
We often believe that efforts to limit or increase access to voting helps one political party more than the other. But that's not always the case.

Earlier this month, in an outcome that surprised many, a liberal judge defeated a conservative, Trump-backed incumbent in a race for Wisconsin's state Supreme Court. The election itself was the subject of a lot of attention because Republican lawmakers fought hard to block proposed changes to the voting schedule and process because of the coronavirus.

Republicans in particular opposed the Democratic governor's attempt to expand voting by mail. They also challenged a federal judge's order to extend the deadline for absentee ballots, resulting in a last-minute U.S. Supreme Court decision requiring that absentee ballots be postmarked by Election Day (April 7), even though coronavirus-induced delays meant that many of the absentee ballots voters had requested had not even been sent out by then.

It's hard to know the precise motivations of Republicans here. But they probably wouldn't have opposed expanding mail-in voting quite so vociferously unless they thought doing so increased their chances of winning.

A timely paper by Daniel M. Thompson, Jennifer Wu, Jesse Yoder and Andrew B. Hall of Stanford University suggests that this sort of reasoning may have been wrong all along.

The four collaborators looked at states that piloted voting by mail in some counties, then rolled it out more broadly in later elections. This lets them compare changes in voting patterns between nearby counties that made the switch and those that hadn't.

Consistent with past research, they found that expanding voting by mail increased turnout modestly - by about 2%. And of course, the convenience of voting by mail means that many people choose to do so when the option is available: The Stanford team found that many people who would otherwise have gone to the polls chose to mail their ballots instead.

But as far as partisanship is concerned, there doesn't seem to be any effect: In the states they examined, voting by mail didn't change relative party turnout. It didn't seem to alter the parties' vote shares either.

This is consistent with an argument my Harvard colleague Louis Kaplow and I made in a recent paper about the determinants of voter turnout: Making it harder to vote should only change the outcome if the policy is a greater burden on members of one party than the other.

Voting by mail doesn't do that. It makes it easier for everyone to vote, meaning it's less likely to offer partisan advantage. On the one hand, for example, lower-income individuals may not have as much time or opportunity to go to the polls, so voting by mail may increase their turnout - and those voters often skew Democratic. On the other hand, older voters also have more trouble going to the polls, so they would benefit from voting by mail too - and those voters tend to skew Republican.

There is no way to know for sure, but it's quite possible that Wisconsin's election outcome wouldn't have been any different had the expansion of voting by mail actually gone through. There's even a chance that in this specific case, older, Republican-leaning seniors were especially likely to stay home because of coronavirus concerns, so reducing voting by mail might actually have turned the election toward the Democrats, making the Republican opposition an impressive self-own.

Of course, there's one other possibility we should consider: It's plausible that the GOP's aggressive tactics to limit voting by mail backfired by shifting people's preferences.

We don't normally think that changing the method people use to vote affects whom they vote for - people are likely to vote the same way whether at home or in the voting booth.

But Republican insistence on having in-person voting during a pandemic forced many people to take health risks in order to cast their ballots. That could have angered those voters enough to support Democrats even if they otherwise might not have. And paradoxically, the angriest voters might be especially likely to turn out in order to make their voices heard.

Those thinking ahead to November should take notice.

- - -

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Kominers is the MBA Class of 1960 Associate Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School, and a faculty affiliate of the Harvard Department of Economics. Previously, he was a junior fellow at the Harvard Society of Fellows and the inaugural research scholar at the Becker Friedman Institute for Research in Economics at the University of Chicago.
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While the charter market remains frozen in the grips of coronavirus, many captains and crews are confined to their yachts because of port restrictions or, in some cases, the inability to find a country that will take them in. The inevitable boredom and anxiety that many crew members are experiencing could be similar to what many readers are going through these days. Robb Report reached out to captains and crew to get their best coping strategies.

Ive had 30 years of lockdown, laughs Brendan OShannassy, an experienced captain of multiple 300-foot-plus yachts and founder of yacht consultancy Katana Maritime. What the world is dealing with now is akin to what maritimers live and breathe every day. Lockdown is our normal.

More from Robb Report

OShannassy began seafaring at the age of 17, but even crew with far less experience at sea can teach landlubbers a thing or two about how to get through indefinite Covid-19 confinement. As a member of the International Seafarers Welfare and Assistance Network (ISWAN), OShannassy remains in regular communication with active crew, all of whom are affected by the corona pandemic.

Last week a group of 16 crew called in to have a share session on how theyre all getting on, OShannassy told Robb Report. It was the youre not alone conversation. Weve had 40-plus crew at anchor in Mexico unable to step off the yacht, a yacht in the Caribbean trying to find a nation that will take them, and one in Viareggio confined to their crew house.

They have all been trying to find solutions to deal with boredom and the unknowns for their immediate future.

We have no idea how long the lockdown will last, but whether youre on land or sea, routine is key, says OShannassy. Bad and good habits are just a choice. Pick the habits you want and repeat them, because they will get you through. Seafarers have an abundance of time, so its about training yourself to slow down, and stretch out the routines that you enjoy.

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OShannassy also warns to be careful of the cookie cupboarddont eat from boredom, and to create a calendar of events. We have celebrated Christmas midyear on board a yacht before, and Ocean Sundays are probably the most common one where we fabricate a Sunday to boost crew morale. I have also assigned each crew members a crossing project. It actually doesnt matter what the topic of the project isanything from an inventory of breakages or doing up the tender to learning how to cook or grow vegetablesthe point is that you take ownership of something.

For Bilgehan Kose, chief engineer on board Shaha, which is home-ported in Malta, his daily tasks include checking the generators, main engines, separators, fuel transfers and water makers, but he also pushes himself to reach 10,000 steps a day. I start stretching myself in bed and then go to deck and walk around the yacht, he says. There are a lot of steps on board that I make a point of going up and down.

All six crew on board 154-foot sailing yacht Asolare, which recently completed five months of back-to-back charters in the Caribbean, come together each morning for yoga, and again at lunch and dinner (with no phones allowed at the table) to share stories about their day. Chief stewardess Kylie de Vlieg also recommends having a personal checklist.

My list contains something for my mind, body, heart and health, and I do one of each thing a day to keep me going, she explains. Mind activities can be listening to a podcast or doing an online course that will stretch me further than my workday, while something for my heart can be baking, reading or calling my mum. It just pushes me daily to do a little bit more and keep my mental health strong.

Michael Schueler, captain of a 70m yacht currently at port in Fort Lauderdale, supports the theory of using surplus time as a means of personal growth. Use the opportunity to focus on career path choices, or to go over finances in detail, he says. If you have a lousy credit rating, find out why and what you can measurably do over the next two to five years to greatly improve it. I show crew IQ tests, EQ tests and personality tests online to find out their strengths and what they could possibly improve on.

Schueler says the current crisis can provide opportunities. Time is the one thing most of us dont have, so now that we do have it, use it wisely, he adds.

Humor is Schuelers ace card for times like this. Spend time each day with every single person and get them to smile and laugh about something, he encourages. Be as silly as you need to be, and you will be amazed how one good belly laugh can lighten the mood.

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The death toll due to COVID-19 rose to 775 and the number of cases climbed to 24,506 in the country on Saturday, according to the Union Health Ministry.

The number of active COVID-19 cases stood at 18,668 while 5,062 people were cured and discharged, and one patient has migrated, the ministry said.

The total number of cases include 77 foreign nationals.

A total of 52 deaths were reported since Friday evening -- 18 from Maharashtra, 15 from Gujarat, nine from Madhya Pradesh, three each from Delhi and West Bengal, two from Tamil Nadu, and one each from Punjab and Uttar Pradesh.

Of the 775 deaths, Maharashtra tops the tally with 301 fatalities, followed by Gujarat at 127, Madhya Pradesh at 92, Delhi at 53, Andhra Pradesh at 29, Rajasthan at 27 and Telangana at 26.

The death toll reached 25 in Uttar Pradesh, 22 in Tamil Nadu while Karnataka and West Bengal have reported 18 deaths each.

Punjab has registered 17 fatalities so far. 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 Friday evening showed 778 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 Health Ministry data updated in the morning, the highest number of confirmed cases in the country are from Maharashtra at 6,817, followed by Gujarat at 2,815, Delhi at 2,514, Rajasthan at 2,034, Madhya Pradesh at 1,852 and Tamil Nadu at 1,755.

The number of COVID-19 cases has gone up to 1,621 in Uttar Pradesh, 984 in Telangana and 955 in Andhra Pradesh.

The number of cases has risen to 571 in West Bengal,474 in Karnataka, 454 in Jammu and Kashmir, 450 in Kerala,, 298 in Punjab and 272 in Haryana.

Bihar has reported 223 coronavirus cases, while Odisha has 94 cases. Fifty-seven people have been infected with the virus in Jharkhand and 48 in Uttarakhand.

Himachal Pradesh has 40 cases, Chhattisgarh and Assam have registered 36 infections each so far.

Chandigarh and Andaman and Nicobar Islands have 27 COVID-19 cases, while 20infections have been reported from Ladakh.

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.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
House Republican staffers who have a work anniversary approaching will have to wait at least a year before they are eligible to see their next pay raise.

A memo recently issued to the chambers GOP staffers delivered that news. It comes on top of a hiring freeze imposed by the caucus earlier as part of ongoing belt-tightening measures.

Citing the detrimental impact COVID-19 has had on the economy, the memo states that no caucus employee will be eligible for a salary increase for a one-year-period beginning April 17. After that, the memo indicates the goal is to re-evaluate caucus finances and hopefully return to its meritorious increment program that awards up to 2.5% pay increases on work anniversary dates.

This economic downturn has decimated the private sector which has been well documented in the press and expressed most recently in public demonstrations like the one on the Capitol steps this week, the memo states. As public employees, we are not immune to the significant economic decline, which directly impacts revenues for the state.

It goes on to say: It is projected that the commonwealth has already experienced a multibillion-dollar revenue loss. As a result, we are obligated to make difficult decisions.

This decision only affects staffers and not the elected representatives themselves, whose pay could only be frozen by passing legislation.

Legislators, like judges and top officials in the executive branch, receive automatic pay adjustments. Those raises are based on the year-over-year percentage change in the U.S. Department of Labor-determined Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers for Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland. If no change or a negative change in the CPI occurs, their pay remains the same.

The House Republicans arent the only caucus in the legislative branches who see cost-cutting in order as the state could be staring at a nearly $4 billion shortfall due to the coronavirus crisis. With the closure of many businesses, the state is taking in much less money. More than 1.5 million Pennsylvanians are applying for unemployment benefits.

House Democrats instituted a hiring freeze, a travel freeze, and postponed all district events except those that can be done via telephone or computer, said spokesman Bill Patton. As for a pay freeze, he said House Democratic leaders typically dont consider staff raises until after the state budget is passed and the available funds are known.

But I think we all know this next budget will be very difficult and the pay for staff is likely to stay pretty stable, Patton said.

House Chief Clerk Dave Reddecliff, who has delayed filling positions in the chief clerks office, said the House also has cut back on purchases since many of the members and staffers are now working remotely.

The Senate also is eyeing some belt-tightening.

Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati said his Republican caucus has begun to review the revenue impacts of COVID-19 and is considering multiple options to address the shortfall that will be coming.

Scarnati indicated that a pay freeze and hiring freeze alone may not be enough.

We hope to have a better sense of the reality of the fiscal impact in the coming weeks, he said in a statement to PennLive. Staffing decisions made by the Wolf Administration are being monitored and we will also be engaging in conversations with Senate Democrats with regard to how best to proceed.

Senate Democrats already have a hiring freeze in place as does the executive and judicial branches to help rein in spending. Much like the governor has done with agencies under his jurisdiction, the judicial branch also has stopped all non-essential purchasing.

In addition, the governor laid off 2,500 part-time and seasonal workers and stopped paying nearly 9,000 state employees who were unable to work or telework, as of April 11.

Those employees kept their health benefits but had a choice of using paid annual, sick and compensatory leave they had accrued or taking unpaid leave.

Jan Murphy may be reached at jmurphy@pennlive.com. Follow her on Twitter at @JanMurphy.

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by Pierre Balanian

Yerevan (AsiaNews) - The mausoleum of the Armenian genocide located on a hill near the capital Yerevan has never been as empty as yesterday, April 24, the anniversary of the genocide (photo 3).

Every year, the mausoleum - erected on the occasion of the 50th anniversary - is invaded by millions of mourning Armenians. Yesterday was completely empty due to the Covid-19 emergency. For the first time ever, all roads leading to the memorial were closed until 10 this morning, with the only possibility that of a virtual pilgrimage.

From 8 am yesterday morning, anyone who wanted to participate even with a sign, could send a text message, even from abroad. The names of the people who sent the text message were projected onto the 12 columns of the mausoleum which represent the 12 provinces of western Armenia.

For all Armenians this region was occupied by the Turks who in 1915 perpetrated the most horrible crime against humanity. They then took possession of the goods, the monasteries, destroyed precious secular manuscripts, occupied 90 percent of the homeland of the Armenian people.

The genocide not only caused the annihilation of most Armenians in western Armenia, but deprived them of their homeland, also their spiritual and religious heartland, condemning to oblivion irreplaceable treasures not only in material terms, but also in terms of music, language, culture and even the language of some dialects now lost forever.

At 9 o'clock in the evening of April 23, the eve of the commemoration, the bells of all the churches in Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh rang in unison for 3 minutes, followed by the turning off of all the lights in the streets and squares of Yerevan and all the provinces of the country. At the same time, the entire population, each at the window of their home, lit candles, smartphone lights, all joining in the minute of collective silence across the country (photo 1).

Meanwhile, on live television and on social media sad melodies and moments of silence were broadcast from the mausoleum. Suffrage masses for the victims in empty churches were streamed via the web.

The first to arrive and lay down a wreath of flowers, praying before the eternal flame in memory of the one and a half million victims, was the Katholicos of all Armenians, Karekine II (photo 2).

He was followed by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian, accompanied only by his wife. In a speech broadcast live from the mausoleum, the premier recalled "the policy of armenophobia conducted by the Ottomans" in 1915.

"The Armenian people - he added - have not only suffered the loss of a huge number of human lives, but also the forced deportation and cultural genocide ... This crime is not only against our ethnic identity; it is a crime against human civilization".

We are grateful - said Pashinian - to the countries and peoples who recognized him. But why our feelings do not subside, rather they are more vivid after 105 years? Simply because the consequences of the genocide have not yet been eliminated. To date, Turkey has not asked for forgiveness for what it has done."

The Armenian genocide, the only genocide against Christians, and the first of the last century - called "the century of genocides" by John Paul II - continues to be denied by today's Turkey. A Turkish law penalizes anyone who claims that it ever happened. In a statement two days ago, the Democratic People's Party - in the opposition in Turkey - criticized the Ankara government for failing to address its responsibilities after more than a century, and proposed to name squares and streets in Turkey in honor of the Armenian victims of the genocide.
BANGKOK (AP)  Millions of Muslims in Asia began Ramadan, Islam's holiest month, on Friday under the gloom of life with the coronavirus, which has forced extensive changes to traditions.

Ramadan is a time for Muslims to get closer to God, family and society, but under the pandemic many have lost jobs, canceled plans to visit relatives, and can't break their daily fast with others. Muslims usually fast during the day and then congregate for night prayers and share communal meals.

In many places, mosques have been locked to deter the spread of the virus.

This is too sad to be remembered in history, said Belm Febriansyah, a resident of Indonesias capital, Jakarta.

Indonesia, the worlds most populous Muslim-majority nation, suspended passenger flights and rail services to restrict people from traveling to their hometowns. Authorities also banned private cars from leaving Jakarta.

Muslim-majority Malaysia extended its virus lockdown by two weeks, although its new cases have dropped significantly in recent days. Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said on the eve of Ramadan that the peoples jihad against the pandemic has shown positive results but needs to continue to ensure the virus is fully contained.

Malaysia, along with neighboring Singapore and Brunei, banned popular Ramadan bazaars where food, drinks and clothes are sold in congested open-air markets or roadside stalls.

Pakistans southern Sindh province banned prayers during Ramadan after the Pakistan Medical Association pleaded unsuccessfully with Prime Minister Imran Khan and the countrys religious leaders to reverse their refusal to close mosques countrywide.

Khan has left it to local clerics to implement government-ordered social distancing. Some clerics have called instead for followers to pack mosques and trust their faith to protect them.

Ramadan begins on Saturday in India and comes amid rising vilification of Muslims following accusations that a surge in virus cases resulted from a meeting of an Islamic missionary group.

In other developments in the Asia-Pacific region:

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 JAPANESE INMATES MAKE GOWNS: Inmates in Japan will join the fight against the coronavirus by making protective gowns for medical workers. Many hospitals have a shortage of medical gowns, putting medical workers at risk, Justice Ministry officials said Friday. They said gowns will be produced at 41 of the 75 prisons across Japan, with a target of 200,000 per month. Japan is also facing shortages of masks and other protective equipment.

 HONG KONG STUDENTS TAKE UNIVERSITY EXAMS: More than 52,000 students began university entrance exams with social distancing measures in place, after a month's delay due to the pandemic. The exams are stretched over a month and students and staff are required to wear surgical masks and sanitize their hands. Students have their temperature checked at the exam centers and must sign health declaration forms. Anyone with a high temperature will be refused entry. Desks are spaced at least a meter (3 feet) apart. Hong Kong has reported 1,036 cases with four deaths.

 DUTERTE THREATENS MARTIAL LAW: Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte angrily threatened to declare martial law after accusing communist rebels of killing two soldiers who were escorting food and cash deliveries during a coronavirus quarantine. Im warning everybody and putting the armed forces and the police on notice that I might declare martial law. There will be no turning back, Duterte said. The Philippines has reported more than 7,100 cases and 477 deaths from the virus. Many believe the actual toll is higher given limited testing.

 MASKS FOR VETERANS: South Korea said its mask supply has stabilized and it will send 1 million masks to foreign veterans of the 1950-53 Korean War. It banned mask exports in early March and has rationed the national supply. South Korea reported six more cases but no new deaths, bringing its total to 10,703 with 240 fatalities.

 VIETNAM REPATRIATES CITIZENS: Vietnam reported two new virus cases on Friday, a day after it eased a lockdown following a week with no new infection, the health ministry said. The two had returned to Vietnam on Wednesday from Japan where they were studying. They were quarantined upon arrival together with the other passengers on a special flight ferrying stranded Vietnamese citizens. Vietnam is preparing more charted flights to bring citizens home.

 INDIAN CASES SURGE: India recorded 1,680 new virus cases, driven by a surge in the central state of Maharashtra, bringing the total to 22,930. Officials in Mumbai, the state capital, plan to administer the anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine to some residents of the citys crowded slums in an attempt to keep them from becoming sick. U.S. President Donald Trump has backed the unproven drug as a treatment for the virus, though it may cause heart rhythm problems. Mumbai health official Dr. Daksha Shah said the details of the program are under process.

 CHINA REPORTS NO DEATHS: China reported no new virus deaths for the ninth straight day, and just six new cases. Two of those were brought from overseas. Hospitals are still treating 915 patients, 57 listed as serious. The official death toll from the pandemic first detected in the central Chinese city of Wuhan late last year remains at 4,632 among 82,804 total cases.

 CHINA DEFENDS WHO: China says U.S. attacks on the World Health Organization have no factual basis" and are unpopular. Foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said at a daily briefing that WHO has actively performed its duty and played an important role in helping all countries to tackle the epidemic." Geng said the U.S. has a legal obligation to support WHO, and its refusal to provide funding will seriously endanger global anti-epidemic cooperation. President Donald Trump has ordered a suspension of U.S. funding for WHO over what he says is its ineffective role in dealing with the pandemic.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 25)  The Philippines and Japan have begun discussing clinical trials involving an anti-flu drug which may be used against the coronavirus disease, the Department of Health disclosed on Saturday.

Health Spokesperson Ma. Rosario Vergeire said the agreement between the countries is still at the "initial stages of coordination." The Philippines and Japan are planning to study and test the Avigan drug, which is designed to combat influenza, she said.

"Meron din po tayong trial na sisimulan... Ito po'y isang gamot naman, which is Avigan; pero nasa initial stages of coordination pa lang po tayo," said Vergeire during the 'Laging Handa' briefing of government officials.

[Translation: We also have a trial we will work on. This is for a drug, the Avigan but we are still at the initial stages of coordination.]

A clinical trial is a study on how a medicine affects patients who have a certain condition. Earlier, officials said President Rodrigo Duterte spoke with Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, saying the Philippines is ready to join a clinical trial for Avigan.

The country has been working on local and joint international efforts on finding a drug which can cure COVID-19. The University of the Philippines and the Philippine General Hospital got the go signal to start a clinical trial on convalescent plasma therapy, which involves using the blood plasma of a patient who has recovered from COVID-19 and transfusing it to another patient, hoping that the antibodies the recovered patient had produced would help the sick patient get better.

Vergeire said UP already started its tests and is seeing good results so far.

"Naumpisahan sa ibang mga pasyente, at meron ho silang mga ni-rereport na maganda; ngunit hindi pa rin ho 'yan enough evidence na kumpleto para masabi na talagang epektibo," she said.

[Translation: The trial has started on some patients and they have reported good news but that is still not enough evidence to say that it is indeed effective.]

The Philippines is also participating in a "Solidarity" clinical trial by the World Health Organization to check if four drugs - antiviral Remdesivir, antimalarial drug Chloroquine or Hydroxychloroquine, antiretroviral drugs used to treat HIV Lopinavir with Ritonavir, and Lopinavir with Ritonavir plus Interferon beta-1a - can treat COVID-19. Over 100 countries with more than 1,200 patients are part of the WHO trial.
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By Express News Service

CHENNAI: The mortal remains of Dr Simon Hercules cannot be exhumed and reburied in the Kilpauk cemetery due to safety reasons, the city corporation said in a statement on Saturday.

Simon's widow Anandi Simon had appealed to the city corporation to lay the mortal remains of her husband to rest at the Kilpauk cemetery instead of the Velangadu burial ground in Anna Nagar where he was buried.

In response to this, the city corporation said that it had consulted a team of public health experts who advised them against exhuming and reburying the doctor's mortal remains.

ALSO READ | 'Service was his life': Villagers treated by Dr Simon remember a 'great man'

"According to the advice of the expert committee, transferring the body of someone who had been affected with COVID-19 was not deemed safe," the statement said.

Dr Simon Hercules was the managing director of New Hope Medical Centre in Kilpauk. He had succumbed to the virus on April 19 and was buried in the early hours of April 20.

His mortal remains were initially taken to the corporation's Kilpauk cemetery where the doctor's close friends and family and the hospital staff were greeted by a mob who demanded they take his remains elsewhere.

He was then buried with police protection in the corporation's Velangadu burial ground.

ALSO SEE:
... so instead, we're going to run a highlight (lowlight?) reel.

In April 1914, a group of coal miners, and their families, striking against the Rockefeller-owned Colorado Fuel & Iron Company, were machine-gunned down by the Colorado National Guard. The attack killed 66 men, women, and children, many of whom died after being shot in the back as they fled. Of the casualties, 11 children and two women had been killed after the Guard set fire to an infirmary tent. The kicker? The massacre was triggered because the miners (allegedly) traded gunfire with a group of militiamen that regularly raided the miners' camps. The double kicker? These militiamen were paid by the Colorado National Guard ... who themselves were paid by none other than John D. Rockefeller, Jr. himself. He later attempted to justify the slaughter on the super-shaky grounds that the militiamen and soldiers were just minding their own business one day when they were suddenly jumped by "the entire tent colony." Which meant the "defenders of law and property" had no choice but to kill everyone. You know how it is, right?

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There's also the Bisbee Deportation of 1917 -- in which a mining company in Bisbee, AZ, illegally kidnapped 1,300 mineworkers, their families, and any random passerby who looked even the slightest bit uniony. The company deported them to New Mexico inside cattle cars, in sweltering conditions, and without food or water. At the end of the journey, the hostages were greeted by the U.S. Army, who, on the orders of President Woodrow Wilson, escorted them to safety and set them up with new lodgings. If they returned to Bisbee, they'd likely be murdered by the city's corrupt leadership, who -- according to a later investigation by the DoJ -- were running the town like an anti-union dictatorship, complete with kangaroo courts, harassment, and lynchings.

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And in 1921, there was the Battle of Blair Mountain, which saw a stand-off between a group of 10,000 striking coal miners in West Virginia and a 30,000-strong coalition of strike-breakers, sheriffs, state police, and troops. It devolved into a five-day-long warathon of bullets, homemade bombs, and even chemical weapons leftover from WWI. The battle is now regarded as the largest civil uprising since the Civil War, which is a pretty fucking high bar to beat. Not that Google won't try, of course.
25.04.2020 LISTEN

But for the efficiency and dynamics displayed by the intelligence community during the Cold War, many observers believed that, the Intelligence Agencies would have vanished into the thin air or might have been integrated into other security apparatus.

However, these Intelligence Agencies have transitioned into greater institutions that are controlling the world's information spanning from scientific research, technological advancements, medicine, espionage, counterintelligence, financial, economics and security as a whole.

Intelligence Agencies across the world have the duty of collecting and analyzing information and further processing this information into intelligence to support policy and decision making by those who have the power. This intelligence are mainly for national security and public safety purposes.

The world today is witnessing the handicrafts of intelligence agencies of which no country is an exception. Many a time when intelligence agencies and their operatives are mentioned in our part of the world, people are expecting to see a Hollywood movie star approach with the share display of supernatural powers of intelligence gathering capabilities with all ancillary information gathering equipment's like the popular James Bond, even though very interesting to watch, that is very fictional and far different from reality.

For the purposes of this article, I will limit the discussion to our internal and external intelligence agencies stated in the Security and Intelligence Agencies Act 1996, (Act 526), although they are other associated agencies that play a key role in ensuring National Security. The National Security Intelligence Agencies are the Bureau of National Investigations and the Research Department both responsible for internal and external intelligence respectively. In addition to these two key institutions, is a fully fledged security machinery at the office of the National Security Coordinator, all of which are governed by the National Security Council under the auspices of the Ministry of National Security.

According to the Act (526) section 12, the following are the functions of these agencies.

a. Collect, analyze, retain and disseminate as appropriate information and intelligence respecting activities that may constitute threat to the security of the state and the Government of Ghana.

b. Safeguard the economic well being of the state against threats posed by the acts or omissions of persons or organization both inside and outside the country.

c. Protects the state against threats of espionage, sabotage, terrorism, hijacking, piracy, drug trafficking and other similar offences.

d. Protect the state against the activities of persons both, nationals and non nationals, intended to overthrow the Government of Ghana or undermine the constitutional order through illegal political, military, industrial or other means or through any other unconstitutional method.

e. Perform any other functions as may directed by the president or the Council.

Amidst this pandemic, the Research Department just like any other intelligence agency is expected to;

1. Provide a wide range of information and intelligence on threats posed by the Coronavirus to National Security including Political, Financial, Economic, Industrial and Public Health impact on the country.

2. Advise government on emerging threats to external security including threats posed by foreign Intelligence agencies, hostile international organization and other terrorist organization which will want to capitalize on this pandemic to pursue their agenda.

3. Provide information that helps to facilitate Foreign Defense, National Security Policy formulation and the maintenance of Foreign Policy and Diplomacy.

4. Collect data on the happenings outside the country in relation to Covid-19 and advice government accordingly

On the other hand, the Bureau of National Investigations also have some of the following tasks to execute in addition to their mandate to complement the efforts of Government in combating Covid- 19 ;

1. Provide information and intelligence on espionage, sabotage and counter terrorism.

2. Warn the citizenry on activities of hackers, spammers and fraudsters who are counting on the Coronavirus pandemic to induce people through illegal and unsolicited means.

3. They collect, analyze, retain and disseminate appropriate Intelligence on terrorist, hijackers, pirates, drug traffickers and other bad persons who will want to take advantage of the Covid 19 pandemic with the perceived mentality that attention has been redirected and hence attack or undertake activities that are a threat to public safety.

4. During this period of Covid 19 pandemic and political season, they monitor, observe and obtain information on activities of nationals and non nationals that are a threat to government policies, programs and public safety.

Currently, with the threat to National Security posed by COVID-19, all our security agencies are up on their toes, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week implementing the decisions of the lockdown and other measures to reduce the rate of infection of the virus.

The Military, Police, CEPS, Immigration, Prisons and Fire Officers are fully armed to the teeth and jacked up in their uniforms. These officers are enforcing the laws to the latter without fear and favor. However the intelligence operatives are a step ahead collecting, analyzing and disseminating intelligence to aid their work and to support decision making of government. The intelligence agencies whose day to day operations are often covertly and away from the public view and knowledge, operates in the quiet, maintain low profile but busily gathering information, observing movements and actions of people, maintaining vigilance on all and sundry.

In such a catastrophic situation posed by the Covid-19, the world would have shared it's data and information but because the world is not perfect, our intelligence officers will still have to risk their lives to collect and obtain information through suspicions, observations, interceptions, analysis of conversations, actions, capacity and capabilities, and deliver timely information to ensure National Security.

National security in this sense encompasses the totality of measures aimed at ensuring safety and well-being of the people as well as the protection of their assets, resources, institutions and interest. It also includes the concept of " human security" which includes but not limited to "safety from chronic threats, such as hunger, disease and repression as well as protection from sudden and harmful disruptions in patterns of daily life whether in home's, in jobs, or in community" (UNDP 1994). So when you try to scrap or temper with this intelligence agencies, you will plunge the entire country into chaos immediately because National Security will be compromised. They work better when nobody is watching or observing.

The biggest challenge today is, can our intelligence gathering machinery isolate, stay home and work because of Covid -19 and it's spread? To the best my knowledge and frankly speaking they cannot work from home given the nature of their job. There are greater roles for our officers in times like this, because COVID19 is not the only threat we are faced with as a country.

Let hope they continue to do their work and keep us safe even though they are not immune to the virus. When ever you say a word of prayer, remember our security and Intelligence Agencies working hard in this perilous times to protect us. Observe the COVID -19 protocols, stay home and keep safe.

God bless us all and bravo to our Intelligence Agencies.

By: Nana Bawiah: The Pilot Fish

Reference:

Security and Intelligence agencies Act 1996,(Act 526).

Human Development Report, UNDP 1994.
Ghanaians woke up to the sad news of the demise of one of the most decorated Gospel Musicians ever to graced the Ghanaian Gospel Music scene; Prophet Seth Frimpong aka 'The Dancing Prophet, early Friday morning, April 24, 2020.

The late Seth Frimpong, who was missing from the music scene for a while due to ill-health but bounced back in 2017, died at the Okomfo Anokye Teaching Hospital after a short illness.

Ever since his demise was announced, most of his fans and some celebrities have paid tributes to him on Social media.

The recent celebrity to pay tribute to the late  Mehuri Sor Crooner happens to be UK-based Ghanaian Afro Gospel Musician; Joseph Matthew aka JM.

In a post on his twitter page, JM, who is out with the hit songs Nyame Ye and Hallelujah, made a shocking revelation that the late Seth Frimpong was one of the musicians he was coming to Ghana to collaborate with before the outbreak of the Coronavirus:

Very Sad that legendary Gospel musician, Seth Frimpong has died! He was one of the Gospel musicians I was about to feature before the coronavirus outbreak. Such a Legend! Rest In Perfect Peace the Dancing Prophet!' Nyame Ye Oh Yes, God Is always Good.JM Tweeted as sighted by RazzNews.com.

The late Seth Frimpong announced his presence in the music scene in 2000 when he released his first album, 'Ade A Nyame Aka'. 'Enkosi Aga' followed in 2002, while 'Mehuri So', his third album was released in 2004.

Kindly Check Joseph Matthew aka JM's tweet below!
New Delhi The Centre has started making preparations to run scores of special flights early next month to bring thousands of Indians stranded abroad due to the cancellation of international flights from March 22.

For nearly a week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been holding discussions with senior ministers and officials on the modalities of bringing the stranded Indians back home, people familiar with the developments said.

Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba took the first step as part of this exercise on Friday, telling state governments to earmark hospital beds and quarantine zones for the Indian nationals stuck abroad who will be brought back in special flights after the national lockdown ends. Gauba, the countrys senior-most bureaucrat, issued the instruction at his video conference with chief secretaries and police chiefs on Friday.

To be sure, there has been no formal decision to lift the lockdown on May 3. But the governments midnight decision allowing shops to open in residential areas signalled that the government was heading in this direction.

Irrespective of the decision taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi -- he is interacting with the chief ministers on Monday to ascertain their views -- officials say it is clear that many of the restrictions in place during the lockdown would be eased only gradually.

This is the right time to start firming up the exercise to evacuate Indians abroad... It will be a gigantic exercise, a top government official said.

The external affairs ministry is starting the process to make an assessment of the people who want to return to India. Officials estimate that it wont just be Indians who have been stranded abroad who want to come back but others too.

For example, according to one estimate in the government, Kerala alone expects 100,000 expats to come back, for a visit to meet their family if not for a longer duration, when the flights start operating.

The other states that expect a huge inflow of citizens abroad are Delhi, Maharashtra Punjab, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu.

A separate control room is being set up within the ministry for the same purpose.

When the first few cases of the coronavirus disease started getting reported in the country in February, many state governments werent prepared and had indicated doubts about their ability to have the infrastructure in place to accommodate their citizens abroad. There was hardly any medical or quarantine facility ready for them.

That was one reason why the government had roped in the army and the paramilitary forces to accommodate the 600-plus Indians flown back from Chinas Wuhan.

At his meeting with the top civil servants of the states, Gauba told them to go into an overdrive to create the facilities necessary for the Indians coming back after May 3. He also indicated the basic ground rules how the mammoth exercise would be carried out.

The state governments have been told that the Indian citizens evacuated from abroad will be brought to the international airport nearest to their state so that the requirement for internal travel is minimised. The states have also been told that arriving passengers would be straightaway taken to the quarantine centres where they will have to spend a minimum of 14 days.

Since March 22 - when the ban on international commercial flights was imposed - stranded Indians have been mounting pressure on the government to be allowed back into the country. It is for this reason that External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has been constantly in touch with his Gulf and Saudi Arabia counterparts to ask them to take care of the Indians stranded there and reassure them that they would be evacuated as soon as possible. These countries are home to over 9 million Indian diaspora in the region. With the Gulf region more than accommodative to Indian requests, the government had also put medical supplies and assistance on highest priority to these nations.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-25 19:47:35|Editor: huaxia

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BRUSSELS, April 25 (Xinhua) -- Top diplomats of the European Union (EU), France and Italy jointly called for a humanitarian truce in Libya on Saturday.

A joint statement, made by the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio, said the Libya conflict continues unabated and developments during the last weeks have increased concerns, in particular over the situation among the long-suffering Libyan population.

"In this beginning of the Holy Month of Ramadan, we want to unite our voices to those of the UN Secretary-General (Antonio) Guterres and his Acting Special Representative for Libya, Stephanie Turco Williams, in their call for a humanitarian truce in Libya," the statement said.

"We call on all the Libyan actors to get inspired by the spirit of the Holy Ramadan, engage in resuming talks for a genuine ceasefire on the basis of the draft agreement of the Military Committee of Feb. 23, and in view of a political solution to the conflict, and unite their efforts to face the common enemy which the current pandemic risks represent in the interest of the whole country," it added. Enditem
"It's coming," he says. "It's time this country knows God is coming."

A rifle is slung across his back and a gun belt around his waist holds a revolver and extra cartridges. A knife is strapped to the other side of his lean torso. A battered felt hat frames a deeply lined face and bushy beard.

Dangling from a nearby tree, a hangman's noose strangles a weathered sign that sums up his stance: "Solution to tyranny."

Warily covering Gray's flanks are two of his six children, sons Jonathan, 39, and Timothy, 33. The dark-bearded, fit and tanned brothers are as well-armed as their 62-year-old father.

Ten feet behind her brothers and father, long-haired Ruth Gray, 31, stands solemn and silent. She, too, is armed to the teeth.

Next to her is teenager Jessica Gray, "who is old enough," according to her father, Jonathan. She has on a cowboy hat that the wind keeps blowing off, a long denim skirt, a sequined denim vest and cowboy boots. She's packing a pistol and binoculars.

Law is ignoring him

This is one stubborn side of what has been called America's longest-running standoff with law enforcement.

But it's been a single-sided siege. Henderson County authorities have pointedly ignored the would-be war.

For more than 11 years, John Joe Gray and his country clan have been holed up inside their own private prison, a 47-acre strip of Trinity River bottomland about 100 miles southeast of Fort Worth in Henderson County.

They've scraped out a harsh life here ever since Gray was bailed out of jail in January 2000 after he was charged with assaulting a state trooper on Christmas Eve 1999.

During a traffic stop, Gray and the driver of the car told two Department of Public Safety troopers that they were armed. When ordered to get out, the driver did but Gray wouldn't budge.

One trooper pushed Gray out, and he then lunged for the other officer's sidearm. Gray bit the trooper as they struggled for control of the weapon, according to investigators.

An Anderson County grand jury indicted him on two felony counts - assaulting a public servant and taking a peace officer's weapon.

"We're here because two highway patrolmen lied about what happened," Gray said last week. "Land of the free and home of the brave? That's a bunch of bull."

He has refused to be taken alive and in a long-ago letter to authorities, the family warned officials to "bring extra body bags," if they come for him. Authorities kept tabs on the compound for months but haven't maintained an active presence for years.

"We fear no man," John Joe Gray maintains. "We believe in an eye for an eye and a bullet for a bullet."

But nobody's storming the gate.

Henderson County Sheriff Ray Nutt, who is the fourth lawman in the post since 2000, says, like his predecessors, that he's not willing to risk a gunbattle just to arrest Gray.

"John Joe Gray is not worth it. Ten of him is not worth going up there and getting one of my young deputies killed," he said.

Living off the land

The hardscrabble compound has no phone, no refrigeration, no power.

Contact with the outside world is through a handful of "supporters" and via shortwave radio, John Joe Gray said.

Drinking water comes from springs, and Gray and his sons say they subsist by growing beans, potatoes, corn, squash, tomatoes and peppers on fields they plow with donkeys. They can vegetables and dry meat to get through the year, they said.

They also raise goats and chickens and catch catfish, carp and drum from the Trinity and hunt deer on the wooded property. Friends bring them staples they can't produce themselves. Last year, they harvested their first crop of peaches.

One supporter, who frequently visits the farm, said eight children are inside the compound. The kids are armed at an early age, she said. They are equally adept at reciting the Constitution or Scripture.

"It's sort of Wild West. It's what a traditional American family looked like 100 years ago," said Dolores McCarter of Arlington, who says she once worked for Homeland Security and now operates a small nonprofit called Dee's House that helps battered women and children.

"John is standing as a free man. He loves his family. They are prepared to live out their lives there," McCarter said. "Some people pity them and they ... pity us."
The Pakistan Navy on Saturday successfully test-fired a series of anti-ship missiles in the North Arabian Sea, a spokesman said.

The missiles were fired from surface ships, fixed and rotary-wing aircraft, the Navy's spokesperson Rear Admiral Arshid Javed said.

Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi witnessed the firing of the missiles, he said in a statement.

The anti-ship missiles were fired at the sea level by warships and aircraft, according to the statement.

The successful demonstration of missile firing is a testament to the Pakistan Navy's operational capability and military readiness, the official said.

On the occasion, Admiral Abbasi said that the Pakistan Navy is fully capable to respond enemy's aggression befittingly.

The Navy did not divulge more details.

Relations between India and Pakistan are strained and they further nose-dived after the Indian government abrogated Article 370 that granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir in August last year. Pakistan downgraded diplomatic relations with India and expelled Indian High Commissioner.

India has maintained that Jammu and Kashmir is an internal matter of India and does not want anyone's interference in it.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Pakistan on Saturday clarified that no vaccine was being prepared after reports emerged that the country was on the verge of developing it with the help of China even as the coronavirus cases climbed to 12,227.

Advisor on Health Zafar Mirza in his daily media briefing said that currently there was no coronavirus vaccine in Pakistan and no work of any kind was going on for its development.

Let me clarify that while there are several initiatives to develop vaccines across the world, there is no such initiative in Pakistan at the moment, he said.

But he said that a Chinese company developing a vaccine contacted Pakistan and offered it to become a part of clinical trials.

We have asked for more information from them, Mirza said.

He said that a similar offer was made by a company in Japan and Pakistan asked for specific details.

Mirza said that 79 per cent of the all coronavirus cases in Pakistan were locally transmitted.

It is now fair to say that our outbreak is now mostly of local transmission, he said.

As part of efforts to reach out to the people, the government launched a telemedicine portal where doctors, both local and abroad, can give advice to patients about the coronavirus, according to Dr Mirza.

The Ministry of National Health Services reported that Pakistan's coronavirus tally touched 12,227, as government asked people to follow official guidelines while visiting mosques in Ramadan.

It said that three patients died on Saturday, taking the total death toll to 256. Another 2,755 recovered from the disease.

The largest province of Punjab reported 5,046 cases, Sindh 4,232, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa 1,708, Balochistan 656, Gilgit-Baltistan 307, Islamabad 223 and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir 55 cases.

So far 138,147 tests were done including 6,780 during the last 24 hours, according to the data issued by the ministry.

It also said that 785 patients were diagnosed during the last 24 hours.

China has sent more medical supplies including polymerase chain reaction testing kits, surgical masks, protective cover all suits, N95 masks and ventilators, according to a statement by the Army.

Earlier, a Chinese medical team of specialists headed by Major General Huang Qingzhen arrived on Friday. The specialists will stay in Pakistan for two months to provide their guidance.

The government on Friday extended the lockdown till May 9.

However, Prime Minister Imran Khan, as previously, opposed total lockdown.

When we sought a total lockdown without thinking about the consequences for the daily wage earners, the street vendors, the labourers, all of whom face poverty & hunger for themselves & their families. May Allah forgive us our sin of neglecting our dispossessed & poor citizens, he tweeted.

At the start of Ramzan, President Arif Alvi and Minister for Religious Affairs Noorul Haq Qadri visited different mosques in Islamabad to review the precautionary measures taken for the special Taraweeh prayers.

Meanwhile, after several weeks of warnings, the government finally decided to stop all outsiders from going to Lal Masjid for payers on Friday.

Dawn reported that a large number of female students belonging to Jamia Hafsa were called a day earlier to stay at the mosque to counter any police action.

Maulana Abdul Aziz, a cleric, had been openly challenging the precautionary directives and denounced the government's advice for social distancing.

Several cases have been filed against him and his bodyguards for displaying weapons during the past four weeks.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Ulema Council (PUC) asked people to follow preventive measures of social distancing during Taraweeh.

While we have to take the medical advice seriously and avoid going to the mosques as much as possible, but it is preferred to observe Taraweeh at home, PUC chairman Hafiz Tahir Ashrafi said in a statement.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In a major development on Saturday, Sanjay Kumar, principal health secretary of Bihar has told news agency ANI that the Nitish Kumar led government is planning for plasma therapy at AIIMS Patna. As per his update, Bihar has reported a total of 225 COVID cases, 46 have recovered/ migrated so far and 2 deaths have been reported.

Bihar government is planning for plasma therapy at AIIMS, Patna: Bihar Principal Health Secretary Sanjay Kumar to ANI  ANI (@ANI) April 25, 2020

READ | ICMR allows Plasma Therapy trial on COVID patients in Mumbai as cases continue to rise

#BiharFightsCorona 1st update of the day.2 more covid-19 +ve case in bihar taking the total to 225. 2-males 35,67 years naya bhojpur,buxar.further contact tracing on.  sanjay kumar (@sanjayjavin) April 25, 2020

READ | COVID-19: Plasma Therapy likely to begin from Apr 25 in Karnataka

Plasma Therapy involves transfusion of blood from an individual who has recovered from Coronavirus to a patient battling the virus, assuming that the blood of the recovered person might have developed antibodies to fight the virus. Even though plasma therapy has not been recognised as a concrete treatment for the deadly virus, the therapy has shown effective results. ICMR had first allowed Kerala to carry out therapy results and then Delhi where a 49-year-old male had shown positive results after receiving the treatment and was weaned off ventilator support.

READ | AIIMS chief decodes Plasma Therapy, says not enough antibodies in recovered persons

The Indian Council of Medical Research also allowed the Maharashtra government to try Plasma Therapy on COVID-19 patients in Mumbai. Karnataka Medical Education Minister K Sudhakar on April 24 said that the state is also likely to start Convalescent Plasma Therapy for COVID-19 patients, who are critical.

Clarification by AIIMS director

Meanwhile, on Friday, All India Institue of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Director Randeep Guleria highlighted that the Plasma Therapy - used to treat COVID-19 patients - is just a form of treatment and should not be looked at as 'magic bullets.' Plasma Therapy has been touted as a potential treatment for the deadly disease. The AIIMS Director also clarified that the therapy is just a 'treatment strategy' and it is not sure that the therapy will be effective in every case.

READ | Modi govt announces reopening of shops, non-essential services; here's what's allowed
After reading an article in Hearst Connecticut Media where Department of Correction Commissioner Rollin Cook stated he felt he was at war with protestors claiming they were a distraction, I could only shake my head and sigh.

More recently I read DOC spokeswoman Karen Martucci insinuate protesters are making it hard for the department to do their jobs and even insinuate in unspoken language that protesters were actually making it hard for those behind the walls caged and anxious across the state. Really? So protesters are responsible for people getting sick and dying during this pandemic?

Protesters are demanding what any human being would demand. They seek compassionate care in the most expeditious manner to preserve life. This governor has taken a hard stance against doing what many other states and other nations have done -- safely releasing prisoners to avoid contagion and death. These statements blaming those who are showing up making pleas to those who are allowing this sickness and death to occur are simply ludicrous. In fact, protesters should be honored for placing themselves in harms way for others they may never know. Blaming protesters for the administrations inability to take charge when crisis occurs is pathetic and disingenuous to say the least.

Hundreds have become ill and two have died due to the indifference being shown to those held in custody. Hundreds are getting sick, dying and facing high anxiety due to nothing more than incompetence, indifference and ego tripping. They should all be deeply ashamed for the stance they have taken and supported against people who are sitting ducks during this deadly pandemic. They should be deeply ashamed for the indifference we are witnessing against families placed in crisis worried about their loved ones behind bars.

Not only are incarcerated people suffering, staff also are being placed in peril. Blaming the only ones showing compassion is the most asinine statement being made at this time. Showing you care about others is an honor. No amount of shaming will dishonor what they are doing. Society is judged by how it treats its most vulnerable and this administration has tarnished Connecticut society. There is no honor in that. There is no honor in stomping your feet and behaving like spoiled children when it places precious lives in peril.

What has truly been disheartening to me as is watching those whom I had convinced myself were truly compassionate human beings and had looked forward to working with to transform our penal system into one which highlighted compassion, empathy and genuine respect for the human dignity of all those held in their care. To witness this level of contempt toward protesters and people who are sitting ducks during this crisis is shameful.

We as a society should pay attention when people tell you who they are and pay even more attention when people show you who they are. It is not during times of comfort when people best show who they are. Its times like these when their true colors shine. Its a time when courage and integrity reveal themselves and the human quality of people shines or dims its light. During a crisis, vanity will ask if its popular, cowards will ask if it's safe while people of conscious will ask if its right. Protesters, hands down, are doing whats right. When (and not if) this administration from the governor on down decides to do the right and honorable thing for those most vulnerable, we will be here to help heal them.

Barbara Fair is a member of the steering committee of Stop Solitary CT. She lives in West Haven.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-25 12:06:51|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, April 25 (Xinhua) -- To cheers and applause, the extension of Sri Lanka's Southern Expressway was officially opened to traffic in February.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony together with Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, later tweeted, "The extension of Southern Expressway up to Hambantota will connect lives, livelihoods and boost economic activity. It's the key infrastructure that links Hambantota Port and Mattala Rajapaksa Hambantota Airport and supports our vision in building Sri Lanka as a logistic hub in Asia."

The extension of Sri Lanka's fast roads is just one of the many advances made as part of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) over the past year. Since the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRF) was held in April 2019 in Beijing, the initiative has entered a new stage focusing on high quality development, and has become increasingly viable and advantageous to countries along the B&R amid the raging COVID-19 pandemic.

HIGH QUALITY DEVELOPMENT

Over the past year, 16 countries and international organizations have signed with China the official BRI cooperation documents, bringing the total number to 199. More and more people are benefiting from related projects put in place in various countries.

In a small village in Laos' northern Luang Prabang Province, for example, the life of Khamphiw Tawa and his five-member family changed after he was employed in April 2017 by PowerChina Sinohydro 3, one of the Chinese contractors building the China-Laos railway.

The 36-year-old head of a welder team and his wife, Phone Tamong, currently earn more than double their previous income, which was mainly from farming and odd jobs. "I learned something about welding before, but it's different to be here working. Modern equipment, and I know a lot more," Tawa said.

"I want to work longer for the company if it stays after the railway is done," he said.

In late December, with a 9,384-meter-long tunnel drilled through the tropical mountains of northern Laos, seven months ahead of schedule, the engineering work of the China-Laos railway entered its final phase.

Green development is also an important feature of the BRI, as highlighted in the 100-million-euro project of the Kaposvar solar park in southwestern Hungary scheduled to be completed this year, which is expected to cut Hungary's annual carbon dioxide emissions by 120,000 tons.

China's official BRI-related data in the first quarter of this year recorded 4.2 billion U.S. dollars in non-financial direct investments in 52 partners by Chinese enterprises, an increase of 11.7 percent from a year earlier.

A total of 1,941 China-Europe freight trains ran during the January-March period, shipping goods of 174,000 twenty-foot equivalent units, up by 15 and 18 percent year-on-year respectively.

The strong vigor of BRI construction has helped increase confidence and has provided direction and practical options for its partners during the global novel coronavirus pandemic, said Wang Linggui, senior research fellow and deputy director of the Institute of Intelligence and Information Research of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

STRONGER MUTUAL SUPPORT IN PANDEMIC

Mutual support and collaboration between China and its BRI partners in jointly fighting the COVID-19 pandemic have made the BRI -- an initiative with the principle of consultation and cooperation for shared benefits -- more appealing, Wang said.

At the critical moment of China's fight against the disease, Pakistan actively donated emergency supplies. Pakistani President Arif Alvi also visited China to express his country's firm support to Chinese leaders in person. Later, when Pakistan was facing mounting challenges during the pandemic, China not only donated tons of medical supplies, but also sent medical experts to help the country.

What's more, the second-stage construction of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor remained in progress without disruption from the virus under the efforts of 40,000 local workers and 7,000 Chinese workers, Pakistani media reported.

The two countries have shown the world through their concrete actions that the China-Pakistan community of a shared future isn't just empty words, said Shakeel Ahmed Ramay, head of the China Study Center at Pakistan's Sustainable Development Policy Institute.

Ramay added he believes more and more countries will recognize and support the BRI in the future, as it will help the world overcome the pandemic crisis and secure sustainable economic growth.

Such mutual help during the pandemic is also extensive between China and Italy. Apart from supporting each other through deliveries of much-needed materials, the two countries have also given one another moral support. In February, for example, Italian President Sergio Mattarella hosted a special concert at the presidential palace to show solidarity with the Chinese people at the critical moment of China's fight against the COVID-19 outbreak.

In the eyes of Fabio Massimo Parenti, an Italian scholar of international studies at the International Institute Lorenzo de' Medici, Italy has made the right decision to be the first among G7 to sign a memorandum of understanding on the BRI with China.

In the post-coronavirus era, the BRI will surely be promising in the public health sector, Parenti said.

The BRI has such a bright future, as it represents economic globalization and is in line with the law of economic development, said Michael Nyirenda, former president of the Zambia Association of Commerce and Industry. Enditem
TEHRAN, Iran, April.25

Trend:

Iranian president Hassan Rouhani has advised citizens to follow health precautions and prevent unnecessary travels, otherwise it's possible that the government would revive the restrictions if coronavirus infection starts spreading again, Trend reports citing IRNA.

"Although the disease is on the path of being controlled but if the people ignore alerts its possible that the virus would rise again," said Hassan Rouhani.

"If people continue to follow health measures we can curb the disease to some extent and hope to cut the infection cycle," he said.

"The implemented measures and evaluations indicate that we are on the path to control the disease but people should still take warnings seriously and only leave houses if necessary," he said.

"The National Headquarters to Fight Coronavirus is obligated to control and gather statistics on the disease in provinces and counties and issue necessary protocol based on the situation," he said.

Iran is one of the countries heavily affected by the rapidly-spreading coronavirus. According to recent reports from the Iranian officials, over 89,300 people have been infected, 5,650 people have already died. Meanwhile, over 68,100 have reportedly recovered from the disease.

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.

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.
New Delhi: The coronavirus pandemic has wreaked havoc worldwide. To fight against the deadly COVID-19 health crisis, the government has called for a nationwide lockdown and most are working from home. However, film and television work has come to a halt, affecting business and livelihood majorly.

To support the daily wage workers in the movie business, several celebs and film bodies have stepped forward and extended financial aid to those affected.

But what about the movies in the pipeline? The latest buzz doing the rounds is that a few filmmakers are planning to release their films on the digital platform instead of waiting for the pandemic to get over.

And Akshay Kumar happens to be the first one to do. According to a report in Mid-Day.com, Disney Hotstar is in talks with Akki to acquire the digital rights of his upcoming venture 'Laxmmi Bomb' which was earlier set to release on May 22.

Reportedly, there is post-production work left and it might take a little longer since everyone is working from home. Looking at the current scenario, the makers including Akshay are contemplating over the OTT release since cinema halls might be shut even after the lockdown order is lifted.

Meanwhile, ever since this news came out, Twitter is abuzz with 'Laxmmi Bomb' digital release and has made it a top trend. Check out a few tweets who seem to know all the answers.

Rumours in media:

Laxmi bomb may be direct Release in OTT platform Akkians:#LaxmmiBomb pic.twitter.com/1oSfxnHajo   (@NitinJha_24) April 25, 2020

#akshaykumar sir this is not right to release much awaited film #LaxmmiBomb online platform . I'm waiting this so long time and I only watch movie in theatre ..

I request to Akshay sir please don't release your movie in online.. pic.twitter.com/SLYmkphtyM  Sagar Chaudhary (@SagarCh95719) April 25, 2020

OTT is a good platform, suited for actors who don't have their own screen presence n charisma U r epitome of swag n nemesis for Mass Hysteria which can only b experienced on big screen #LaxmmiBomb is a Massy Horror Comedy Masses pls don't rls it on OTT@akshaykumar  Khiladi-The_BOSS (Amit Biswas) (@kumar3798) April 25, 2020

'Laxmmi Bomb' is directed by Raghava Lawrence, making it his maiden Hindi project. He has also written the story and screenplay while Farhad Samji has penned the Hindi dialogues. It has been produced by Akshay Kumar's Cape of Good Films, Shabina Khan and Tusshar Kapoor.

It stars Akshay and Kiara Advani in the lead role. It happens to be a remake of Tamil horror comedy Muni 2: Kanchana.
US President, Donald Trump, has come out to deny ever wanting people to ingest disinfectatnts as a Coronavirus cure after facing backlash on Friday for suggesting cleaning products like disinfectants should be ingested and tested as a coronavirus treatment.



On Thursday, during the White House Coronavirus briefing, Trump turned to address members of his coronavirus task force, who had been discussing a government study that showed sunlight and disinfectant kill the virus outside the body.



I see the disinfectant where it knocks it out in a minute, Mr Trump said.

One minute! And is there a way we can do something by an injection inside or almost a cleaning? Because you see it gets in the lungs . . . so itd be interesting to check that.



Trump's comments immediately brought swift criticism and outright rejection by the medical community.



Reckitt Benckiser, the UK maker of household cleaning products like Lysol, issued a statement on Friday saying under no circumstance should our disinfectant products be administered into the human body (through injection, ingestion or any other route).



The Clorox Company issued a similar statement, warning bleach and other disinfectants are not suitable for consumption or injection under any circumstances.



Joe Biden, Trumps expected challenger in the November 2020 presidential elections, said in a tweet: UV light? Injecting disinfectant? Heres an idea, Mr. President: more tests. Now. And protective equipment for actual medical professionals.



Now Trump has now come out to deny ever saying people should take in disinfectants, saying his comments were all sarcasm.



I was asking a question sarcastically to reporters like you just to see what would happen, Mr Trump said from the Oval Office on Friday. [Disinfectant] does kill it, and it would kill it on the hands, and it would make it much better.



Watch the video below..









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CAIRO  It was a rare moment in the 1,400-year history of Islam, and another sobering milestone in the march of the coronavirus.

On Friday, the first day of Ramadan, silence shrouded the Kaaba, the black cube-shaped structure that Muslims face while praying, as the virus cast a long shadow over a sacred month of fasting, prayer and socializing that is central to the faith of the worlds 1.8 billion Muslims.

The sealed-off Kaaba, in the Saudi city of Mecca, and another revered site in nearby Medina were among tens of thousands of places in Muslim-majority countries where communal prayers have been banned and family gatherings curtailed, plunging worshipers into a Ramadan like no other.
Porsche driver Richard Pusey's home has been vandalised after he allegedly left four police officers to die in a horrific crash and taunted them in their final moments.

Pusey's Melbourne apartment was spray painted overnight and threats were written across a roller door on the converted warehouse.

A message telling the 41-year-old to 'DIE' was painted on a roller door at his home in Fitzroy in the inner city, Weekend Today reported.

Another message read 'how's get f***ed sound pig c***' under Pusey's intercom.

His girlfriend, who also lives in the $3 million converted warehouse, is believed to have called police at 4am on Saturday.

Someone had written 'how's get f***ed sound pig c***' under Pusey's intercom (pictured)

The spray paint message on the roller door told Pusey to 'DIE' (pictured) after he was alleged to have taunted a dying police officer

The mortgage broker was pulled over on Melbourne's Eastern Freeway on Wednesday night after allegedly speeding his Porsche at 149km/h.

Less than an hour later, a truck ploughed into the emergency lane at 100km/h, police say, colliding with his sports car and a police vehicle - killing four officers.

Leading Senior Constable Lynette Taylor, Constable Glen Humphris, Senior Constable Kevin King, and Constable Josh Prestney were all killed.

After the horror smash Pusey is accused of taunting and filming a dying officer, before posting graphic images to Facebook after fleeing the accident.

He is understood to have only escaped death himself as he was urinating by the side of the road.

Senior Constable Kevin King (pictured, far left), Constable Glen Humphris (second from left), Leading Senior Constable Lynette Taylor (second from right) and and Constable Josh Prestney (far right) all died in the crash on Wednesday night

He appeared in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Friday where he was charged with nine offences relating to the accident and did not apply for bail.

Pusey tested positive to cannabis and ice, police said, and his charges included speeding, reckless conduct and drug possession.

The Melbourne court heard on Friday that rather than spring to the officers' aid after they were hit, Pusey took pictures of the carnage and berated the police.

The mortgage broker allegedly filmed a groaning Leading Senior Constable Taylor, a mother-of-two, while saying: 'There you go. Amazing, absolutely amazing.'

'All I wanted was to go home and have my sushi and now you've 'f***ed my f***ing car.'

A message telling the 41-year-old to 'DIE' was painted on a roller door (pictured) at his home in Fitzroy in the inner city, Weekend Today reported

The Fitzroy apartment (pictured) of Porsche driver Richard Pusey was vandalised overnight after he allegedly taunted and left police officers to die in a horror crash on Wednesday night

His lawyer said in court Pusey had mental health issues.

The truck's driver, Mohinder Singh Bajwa, is unlikely to be interviewed before Monday, police have said.

After blacking out at the scene, he was rushed to Royal Melbourne Hospital where he remains under police guard.

He is understood to have a pre-existing mental health issue, The Age reported.

An ice pipe was allegedly found in his truck's cabin, with a second reportedly uncovered at his Cranbourne home.

The father-of-two is said to have blacked out at the scene after his truck allegedly came off the freeway.

Pusey (pictured) faced court on Friday and was charged with nine offences relating to the accident including speeding, reckless conduct and drug possession

The police car that arrived at the scene (pictured) was crushed by a refrigeration truck - killing four police officers who were standing by the roadside

This is not the first time Pusey has been the centre of a scandal after putting a woman suffering cancer and her husband through eight months of hell.

Pusey's alleged behaviour did not surprise cabinet maker Lloyd Lester, who along with his wife Kim were tormented by the disgraced mortgage broker.

Shocking footage from March 2016 emerged on Thursday showing Pusey screaming at Mr Lester's wife through a car window that he 'hoped she died' from her cancer.

'Get some more f**king cancer you stupid f**king sl*t, I hope you f**king die,' he could be heard yelling.

Mr Lester said his wife was severely traumatised by the incident, which originated with a dispute over a kitchen he installed for Pusey in 2015.

'My wife only had a double mastectomy two days earlier for her breast cancer and she was holding the drain bags coming out of where her breasts used to be as he was screaming at her through the window,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

'It was so traumatic it took her two years to recover enough to be able to sleep at night.

'She's really rattled by today too. She was scared to be alone, she was scared every night that he was going to break into the house.'

Mr Lester claimed the incident was a calculated attempt by Pusey to gain the upper hand in the business dispute.

'The day before that video happened my wife said he's coming to the showroom tomorrow to try to get me to beat him to a pulp so he could take us to the cleaners,' he said.

'Good thing she told me or I'd have got myself put in prison.'

Pusey's alleged behaviour did not surprise cabinet maker Lloyd Lester (left), who along with his wife Kim (right) were tormented by the disgraced mortgage broker

Mr Lester said Pusey's campaign of harassment lasted about eight months.

About the same time, Mr Lester said their address was posted online by a pseudonym saying 'a paedophile lives here'.

Pusey appeared in a report on A Current Affair in 2016, dubbing him 'Richie Rich' and 'Australia's nastiest customer', where the car window video was shown.

When confronted by ACA he was asked on camera: 'Who screams at a cancer patient?' He responded: 'Oh right, is that what that is, is it?'

Pusey was named Australia's 28th best mortgage broker in 2016 by industry magazine Mortgage Professional Australia.

Richard Pusey, 41, the driver at the centre of a crash that killed four police officers, is a disgraced former mortgage broker with a criminal history

He sold a historic building on Guildford Lane in the Melbourne CBD for $4.4million in September, after buying it in 2017 for just $2.8million and renting it to a cat cafe.

However, he is widely hated in his profession, one describing him as a 'playboy living the fast life'.

Pusey, who ran Switch Now Home Loans until last July, bragged about his car and frequently uploaded videos of himself racing his Porsche 911.

The partner of slain Constable Humphris, who had been in the force less than a year, mourned his 'soulmate' in a press conference on Friday, saying he had loved his job.

Todd Robinson had been preparing dinner at their home when he heard the news about the crash, but was still expecting his partner to walk through the door.

'I was expecting him to come home, and he didnt,' Mr Robinson said.

Four police officers were killed when they were struck by a truck (pictured at the scene) in Melbourne, marking the greatest loss of police life in a single incident in Victoria's history

Police are investigating whether truck driver Mohinder Singh Bajwa (pictured) was under the influence of drugs at the time of the horror Eastern Freeway crash

'Ive lost my soulmate'.

He assumed his partner was busy controlling the scene of the accident when he first heard reports about it on the news.

'But after two hours of nothing being heard it was confirmed on TV four had been killed,' Mr Robinson told reporters.

'It was then I got a knock on the door.'

He said that his partner's smile could 'light up any room' and he was proud to be a Victoria Police officer.

'He loved helping people,' he said.
The Latest on the coronavirus pandemic. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death.

TOP OF THE HOUR:

 Hawaii's stay-at-home order extended to May 31

 China reports 11 more cornavirus cases but no deaths for 11th straight day

 Warm weather draws people outdoors in California, prompting warnings

 Britain tops 20,000 deaths from coronavirus.

 WHO warns against idea of immunity passports.

 Spain hopeful of easing confinement restrictions soon.

___

HONOLULU  Gov. David Ige on Saturday extended Hawaiis stay-at-home order and the mandatory quarantine for visitors through May 31.

This was not an easy decision. I know this has been difficult for everyone. Businesses need to reopen. People want to end this self-isolation and we want to return to normal, Ige said in a statement. But this virus is potentially deadly, especially for the elderly and those with pre-existing conditions.

At a news conference to announce the decision, Ige pointed to alarming COVID-19 clusters on the Big Island and Maui, Hawaii News Now reported. We still need to remain vigilant.

In his statement, Ige warned of undoing Hawaiis progress in containing the virus if public places open up too early. Hawaii has 601 cases of coronavirus and 13 deaths from the illness.

Thanks to our residents, we are flattening the curve, saving lives, and avoiding a resurgence of this virus by not reopening prematurely, Ige said.

The governor also extended the eviction moratorium, which prevents any eviction from a residential dwelling for failure to pay rent, through May 31.

___

BEIJING  China said Sunday morning that it had confirmed 11 more cases of the new coronavirus the previous day, bringing its official count to 82,827. However, there were no reported deaths for the 11th day in a row.

Five of the new cases were in Heilongjiang province, a northeastern border area with Russia that has seen a surge in infections. Another was in Guangdong province, a manufacturing and tech region bordering Hong Kong in the south.

Story continues

The other five cases were imported from overseas. China has identified 1,634 imported cases in all.

China said it also has 1,000 people who have tested positive for the coronavirus but do not have any symptoms. They are under medical observation but not included in the confirmed case count. (edited)

___

LOS ANGELES -- A spring heat wave drove an uptick of people to California beaches, golf courses and trails, leading to the closure of one coastal park as authorities warned people not to swarm recreational areas for fear of igniting a deadly coronavirus surge.

Temperatures soared into the 80s and 90s in many areas from Sacramento to San Diego on Saturday. While most recreation remains shuttered under various stay-at-home orders, officials are wary that those still open could draw crowds that will ignore social distancing rules and seek sun and air after being mainly confined indoors for more than a month.

Were seeing a summer day crowd, said Brian ORourke, a lifeguard battalion chief in Newport Beach in Orange County, which saw an estimated 40,000 people on Friday. A similar crowd was expected Saturday as the fog burns off.

Police in Pacific Grove said they had to close the picturesque Lovers Point Park and Beach at the southern end of Monterey Bay because of a lack of social distancing.

Los Angeles city and county beaches, trails and playgrounds were closed, and officers on horseback were patrolling those areas to enforce social distancing rules. The city also opened cooling centers for people who might not be able to survive the heat wave at home, Mayor Eric Garcetti said.

___

WASHINGTON  President Donald Trump says his press briefings are not worth the time & effort as his administration prepares to adjust his public presence amid the coronavirus pandemic toward addressing the nations economic woes.

Tweeting on Saturday, one of the few days in which he has not held a daily briefing since the start of the outbreak, Trump says: What is the purpose of having White House News Conferences when the Lamestream Media asks nothing but hostile questions, & then refuses to report the truth or facts accurately.

The presidents tweet comes two days after he used a briefing to muse about the injection of chemical disinfectants, drawing warnings from manufacturers and the nations top medical professionals. The White House claimed Friday that Trump was misinterpreted, though the president later asserted he was speaking sarcastically.

His tweet questioning the value of press briefings also comes as White House aides are developing plans to shift the presidents public emphasis from the virus to addressing the economic crisis it has caused and the governments plans for reopening the economy.

___

NEW YORK  Potbelly Sandwich Shop is the latest large company to say it will return money it received as part of the Payroll Protection Program.

The company said Saturday that its sales dropped dramatically when COVID-19 hit, forcing it to furlough employees and close shops. Potbelly applied for and qualified for assistance under the program.

We were surprised and disappointed when the fund was quickly exhausted, leaving many without help, the company said in a news release. We are returning the PPP loan after further clarification from the Treasury Department.

The Chicago-based sandwich shop has about 6,000 employees and annual revenues of more than $400 million, according to FactSet.

The PPP is intended to help small businesses with fewer than 500 employees. Its initial $349 billion in funds ran out last week and the House gave final approval to $310 billion in additional funds Thursday.

___

PHOENIX  The pace of additional deaths in Arizonas coronavirus outbreak has slowed following a recent surge.

The Department of Health Services tally of deaths statewide rose by seven to 273 as of Saturday, following an increase of 17 deaths reported Friday and a total of 62 deaths reported over the previous three days

The department said there were 6,820 cases reported statewide as of Saturday, an increase of 235 from Friday.

Health officials say the recent surge in reported fatalities likely resulted from a boost in cases weeks ago. It was expected to slow because it often takes weeks for patients to die once hospitalized and because hospitalizations appear to have leveled off.

___

WASHINGTON  The Navy reports that the number of sailors aboard the USS Kidd confirmed to be infected with the novel coronavirus has nearly doubled, rising from 18 to 33.

The destroyer with its crew of 350 are off the Pacific coast of South America on a mission related to U.S. counter-drug activities.

In a statement issued Saturday, the Navy said a medical team continues testing of the Kidds crew. Two sailors have been medically evacuated to the United States. Meanwhile, officials say those aboard the Kidd are wearing N95 masks and other personal protective equipment.

The Navy says the amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island is en route to rendezvous with the Kidd in case medical support is required at sea. Officials say the Makin Island has a fleet surgical team, intensive care capacity and ventilators, as well as additional testing capability.

The Kidd is the second Navy ship at sea to report an outbreak of the coronavirus. Officials say the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt has reported more than 850 cases of infection among its nearly 5,000 crew members. Most of its crew has been moved ashore to quarantine on Guam.

___

UNDATED  Dr. Anthony Fauci is urging careful science to prove whether any of the drugs being explored as COVID-19 treatments actually work.

Fauci, infectious diseases chief at the National Institutes of Health, said Saturday during an online meeting of the National Academy of Sciences that the only way to get an answer that is not just perpetual ambiguity is by doing a randomized controlled trial.

"We need something out there, but safety and efficacy is something we owe to the global population, Fauci said.

Fauci also stressed that caution is needed as economies reopen, pointing to a step-wise approach with restrictions gradually lifted as areas reach certain milestones.

Any attempt to leapfrog over these almost certainly will result in a rebound, and then we can set ourselves back, he said. If we dont get control of it we will never get back to normal. I know we will, but weve got to do it correctly.

Fauci also cautioned against looking for a magic number of available tests needed as the country reopens.

We dont want to get fixated on how many tests you need, Fauci said. Instead, places must have enough tests to respond to the outbreaks that will inevitably occur."

___

MIAMI  The president of a Florida medical center said at a press conference Saturday that any changes made going forward will have to be evaluated daily.

Orthopedic surgeon Wael Barsoum was referencing remarks by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis about restarting activities, such as elective procedures and surgeries.

I think that there is a lot of excitement about seeing what happens as we move forward, as we start slowly seeing changes with the requirements that weve had put in place," said Barsoum, president of Cleveland Clinic Florida. But please recognize that we will learn every day, and we may have to step back from some of those decisions as a society.

Barsoum said he told his parents, who are 75 and 84 years old, that regardless of what happens in the coming weeks he expects they will remain indoors.

___

MADRID  Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez says that Spaniards will be allowed to leave their homes for short walks and exercise starting on May 2 after seven weeks of strict home confinement.

Sanchez announced in a televised address Saturday that the government plans to allow those outings for physical fitness if the evolution of the epidemic remains favorable as it has recently. Since the start of the state of emergency, Spaniards have only been allowed to leave home for essential shopping, except those workers in industries who cannot work from home.

Sanchez also announced that he would present a detailed plan on the de-escalation of the lockdown on Tuesday that he hopes to put into effect in the coming weeks.

Spain has one of the worlds strictest lockdowns as it fights to contain a COVID-19 outbreak that has claimed over 22,000 lives and infected over 200,000 people.

The measures have helped reduce a daily contagion rate that was over 20% a month ago to under 2% this week. On Sunday, children under 14 years old will be allowed to take walks with a parent for up to one hour and within one kilometer from home, ending six weeks of complete seclusion.

Maximum caution will be our guideline for the rollback, Sanchez said. We must be very prudent because there is no manual, no road map to follow.

___

ROME  Nearly 200,000 Italian companies have asked authorities for permission to be able to operate during Italys lockdown, either because they help essential businesses or because they deem themselves strategic for the national economy during the coronavirus pandemic.

The interior ministry said Saturday that a streamlined procedure is being implemented that trusts the sense of responsibility of individual business persons in allowing companies to resume operations.

The ministrys local authorities can verify that a company respects COVID-19 safety rules, including social distancing. Most of the requests have come from three northern regions that are among Italys most productive, but also among those most heavily hit by coronavirus cases.

So far, only a tiny percentage of the businesses have been found not following the rules, which are part of a government decree aimed at containing Italys COVID-19 outbreak.

___

ISTANBUL  Turkeys health ministry has documented 106 new deaths from COVID-19, bringing the death toll to 2,706.

Minister Fahrettin Koca shared daily figures Saturday, showing 2,861 new confirmed cases. The total number of confirmed infections has reached 107,773.

According to the data, 3,845 people were released from hospitals in the past 24 hours, increasing the number of recovered patients to 25,582.

The rate of positive tests is decreasing, Koca tweeted and urged continued precaution.

Turkey ranks seventh in the world for the number of confirmed infections, according to Johns Hopkins University. But experts believe the actual toll of the pandemic around the world is higher than the tally.

Nearly 870,000 people have been tested in Turkey so far.

___

NEW YORK  Oil producers in the U.S. are making painful decisions about how to shut down operations after the pandemic decimated the need for fuel.

The price of U.S. benchmark crude plummeted more than 70% since the start of the year, selling for $17 a barrel Friday, well below what producers need to remain viable.

Parsley Energy, a mid-sized fracking company based in Austin, Texas, lost half its market value since the year began and told regulators it has been shutting down enough wells to take about 400 barrels of oil per day off the market.

In recent weeks, Exxon slashed its capital spending plan by 30%, or $10 billion, and Chevron gutted its capital expenses by 20%, or $4 billion. Both companies are planning to halt drilling for new oil in different parts of the world and will likely shrink further since conditions have deteriorated since their announcements.

___

BERLIN  About 1,000 people gathered in Berlin to protest restrictions caused by the coronavirus, defying social distancing rules.

Demonstrators have gathered in the Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz square in Berlin for several Saturdays. The protests have drawn a variety of people, including some right-wing populists and conspiracy theorists.

News agency dpa reported police repeatedly called on participants to leave and a few people were detained before the crowd dispersed.

Although Germany recently loosened its restrictions slightly by allowing small shops to reopen, rules still call for people to keep a 1.5-meters (5 feet) apart in public.

Authorities can allow gatherings of up to 20 people, although that permission wasnt granted for Saturdays protest.

The Volksbuehne theater distanced itself from the demonstration saying, we are not your backdrop.

___

ROME  Italy has reported 415 deaths and 2,357 new cases of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours.

The Italian health ministry puts Europes highest death toll at more than 26,000. The total known infections stand at more than 195,000.

The Lombardy region registers the most cases in Italy, adding some 700 on Saturday for a total of nearly 72,000 infected persons there since Italys first case in that northern region on Feb. 20.

Much of Italys south has been spared the brunt of the outbreak. Authorities cautioned Italians against abandoning social distancing practices after the current lockdown ends and looser restrictions begin on May 4.

___

ATHENS, Greece  Greece has recorded no deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours.

Greek authorities say the total number of fatalities remains at 130. There were 16 new confirmed cases, raising the total to 2,506.

The number of people on ventilators in intensive care units continued to decline to 47.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and several ministers met Saturday to consider gradually easing the strict quarantine measures. Mitsotakis will make an announcement on Monday.

___

OSLO, Norway  Norway is extending the ban on all events with more than 500 participants until Sept. 1

Norwegian Culture Minister Abid Raja said during a press conference Saturday there is now a ban on major sporting events, festivals and concerts until 15 June. That ban is now extended until September 1.

He says the decision wasnt easy for the Norwegian government to make but stressed we cannot have big events (in Norway) that can contribute to more infections that will affect life and health.

Norway has reported 201 coronavirus deaths and 7,493 confirmed cases.

___

Follow AP news coverage of the coronavirus pandemic at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak
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Thirty days into the lockdown and Im discovering things about myself. Its not a coming-to-terms so much as a revelation. I wasnt aware I was like that. Consequently, my perception of myself  what sort of bloke I think I am  has changed.

In my 20s and 30s, I hated being alone at home. Nisha, my late wife, was an investment banker and travelled frequently. Before every journey, she would line up friends who would willingly have me over or, more likely, let me take them out to the theatre or for dinner. Being on my own filled me with dread. It wasnt just loneliness. Nor an inability to find diverting ways of passing the time. Perhaps it was the silence, the absence of chatter. More probably, it was dislike of my own company. And on the rare occasion when no one would babysit me, Id switch on every light in the house. But I would still fret.

Well, Ive changed. If Nisha were around, shed say Ive grown up! The long lockdown evenings have revealed Im quite happy on my own. Actually, I look forward to returning to my silent empty television room. Sometimes I read, occasionally I watch a video, but mostly I just fritter away the time doing nothing in particular. And I dont spend hours on the phone catching up with family and friends. A quick call to find out alls well, but no long gossip sessions. The astonishing truth is Im content by myself and dont feel Ive missed anything or even anyone. Im happy on my own.

So, was there a hermit lurking inside me, hiding behind an earlier insecure personality that needed company and attention? Or have I realised Im not as horrid as I feared, I was and can easily live with myself? Who knows? If I was of a philosophical or psychological bent of mind I might attempt to answer, but Im not. Ive noticed the change. Let wiser people fathom the explanation.

The other thing Ive discovered is far more mundane. A mans best friend is not his dog. Its his barber. I used to submit myself to Rajeshs and Govinds ministrations every four weeks. Its been an unfailing routine for 30 years and more. As a result, the short-back-and-sides appearance they gave me was how I liked to see myself. And since your hair determines how you look, I guess they were the architects of my appearance.

Now, in their absence, I look like an overgrown hedge at India Gate! Or, if thats hard to visualise, let me say I resemble Sathya Sai Baba of Puttaparthi. Theres something wild and unkempt about my appearance. My hair isnt just long and disorderly. Its risen like a beehive and become quite resistant to brush and comb. Whenever I meet Rajesh or Govind, theyll need shears to attack it. Mere scissors wont do!

The third discovery is a trifle disconcerting. I wonder if youve noticed something similar in yourself. I read an awful lot about the wretched virus  far more than I should but I seem to forget as much as I take in! I can finish a learned piece confident that Ive understood it only to wake the next morning unsure of the details I thought I could easily remember or having forgotten the definitions that seemed so straightforward the night before.

Now, there can only be two explanations for this. One is the early onset of Alzheimers disease but I think not. Or do I mean I hope not? The other is that the reading you do as you nibble post-prandial chocolates and sip a single malt is not the most valuable contribution to self-education. Until the lockdown, I always thought I took it all in. Now I realise if you really want to concentrate, a nimboo-pani is a better aid than a gimlet. Incidentally, if this lockdown doesnt end on May 3, thats all Ill have left to drink!

Karan Thapar is the author of Devils Advocate: The Untold Story

The views expressed are personal

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Karan Thapar Karan Thapar is a super-looking genius whos young, friendly, chatty and great fun to be with. Hes also very enjoyable to read. ...view detail
But a month later, and with coronavirus cases doubling by the week in Ecuador, Mr. Rand now wonders whether he would be better off taking one of a dwindling number of weekly commercial flights to the United States  even if it means interacting with strangers who ultimately could infect him.

I think Id rather be home surrounded by doctors than be sick down here, he said.

Those who had assumed they could stay overseas, and wait for the pandemic to ebb, now face an unnerving choice: Either stick it out, and prepare for the possibility they will be infected with the virus and treated in foreign hospitals, or chance catching it on the way back to the United States.

The State Department is winding down government-organized flights that have so far brought home 65,000 Americans from across the world. Some continue in limited numbers, in areas like the Indian subcontinent and Africa, but these flights will not go on forever, Ian Brownlee, a deputy assistant secretary of state, told reporters on Wednesday.

The department is also helping commercial airlines cut through foreign regulations that have restricted flights during the pandemic. At least four flights carrying Americans to the United States left Peru over the last week, officials said, after diplomats lobbied the government in Lima to ease its closed borders.
KAMPALA  The Ministry of Health has confirmed one new case of COVID-19 in Uganda out of the 1,533 samples tested today Friday April 20, 2020 at the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI).

The new case is a 43 year-old Ugandan male truck driver who arrived back in the country from Kenya via Malaba border, Dr. Henry Mwebesa, Director General, health services said.

The total number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the country now stands at 75.

Of the samples, 1,116 were from truck drivers at the border points of entry while the 417 were from contacts in the community.

In a press statement, the ministry of health said the new patient didnt have any signs and symptoms consistent with COVID-19.

The health ministry is currently testing all truck drivers (cargo transporters) for COVID-19 who came into the country via the various points of entry.

President Museveni earlier in the day hinted on the disturbing issue of truck drivers especially from Kenya and Tanzania who have proved a weak link for Uganda, with the public getting agitated about them.

There are three issues the ministers are discussing; testing these people before they come and the drivers wait for results before they proceed. We need the goods to come in but at the same time we dont want the disease, he said, saluting Ugandans for obeying guidelines.

I am very glad about the response of the Ugandans, said the President, noting;

I have been discussing with our scientists and they are sure a vaccine can be developed.

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(Bloomberg) -- Seven former Justice Department officials urged a federal appeals court in Washington to reverse its earlier ruling that President Donald Trumps former White House Counsel could not be forced to testify before Congress.

The officials, who mostly served in Democratic administrations, said in a brief filed Thursday that the appeals courts Feb. 28 ruling, which bolstered the presidents resistance to Congressional oversight, was wrong and urged its reversal at a so-called en banc rehearing by a larger panel of judges on April 28.

In its earlier decision, the court said the judiciary could not decide a dispute between the executive and legislative branches, a finding rejected by the former officials, who included former Obama administration Deputy Assistant Attorney General Elliot Williams and ex-Clinton administration Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General Joseph Onek.

Not only is the judiciary well equipped to answer a question about testimonial immunity, they said, but prohibiting Congress from enforcing its subpoenas in court will effectively allow not only this Administration -- but all future administrations -- to avoid legitimate congressional oversight.

The House subpoenaed Don McGahn to testify as part of its impeachment inquiry and subsequently sued to compel his testimony after Trump ordered the lawyer not to comply. The officials said in their brief that the Justice Department consistently held the view for years that Congress could sue to enforce subpoenas and that Trumps refusal to let McGahn testify was unprecedented.

Read More: Ex-Members of Congress Say McGahn Ruling May Cripple Oversight

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Kameleon007/iStockBy ALEX STONE, ALEXANDER MALLIN and MATT GUTMAN, ABC News



(LOS ANGELES) -- Since the beginning of COVID-19-related stay-at-home orders, police and advocacy groups across the country have warned that domestic violence calls could increase with people being cooped up at home, tempers more likely to flare, abusers more likely to lash out.



And although data in a few of America's largest cities initially suggests otherwise, multiple agencies told ABC News that may be an even bigger reason for concern.



"We're having 10 fewer crime reports each day for instances of domestic violence," Los Angeles Police Department Chief Michel Moore said. "That's going in the wrong direction with what we believe is actually happening behind closed doors."



Calls related to domestic violence in LA declined 18% from March 19 through April 15 compared with the same period in 2019, according to LAPD data provided to ABC News. Cases also declined in San Francisco.



Other cities including San Diego, Anaheim, Burbank and Santa Rose have reported little change, while calls in Fresno County spiked in March but declined into April.



Nationwide, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., reported lower overall violent crime numbers during stay-at-home orders, but it's unclear exactly how many of those were related to domestic violence.



In New York City, even with a record number of officers calling in sick during the COVID-19 outbreak in March, Commissioner Dermot Shea said "domestic violence is an extremely high priority for all members of the New York City Police Department."



Back in California, officials told ABC News they believe domestic violence is increasing but the abused are stuck at home with their abusers and can't alert authorities.



Rebecca Levenso, a police consultant on domestic violence, said that for victims their "world has gotten a whole lot smaller" and that they're "hyper vulnerable" because of technology.



"With home cameras, you literally can't do anything," she added. "The abuser can check which websites you were on and check your phone."

MORE: Rihanna, Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey donate $4.2M to combat quarantine-induced domestic violence



Police said that's resulted in fewer calls, which Los Angeles County is combatting with "Behind Closed Doors," a campaign aimed at helping abuse victims too scared to seek help.



Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti announced a program this month to put domestic violence victims in hotels during shelter-in-place orders rather than return them to homes where they were abused. Garcetti highlighted the work of Rihanna and Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, who have paid for hotels, food and counseling for victims of domestic abuse.



"I am very alarmed by what appears to be a dramatic decrease in reported crimes involving our most vulnerable," Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer said on Friday.



Feuer and L.A. County District Attorney Jackie Lacey are leading the program that will put signs up in grocery stores and other places where abuse victims may see them to know they can reach out without their abuser knowing. One option might be texting 911 instead of calling.



The "Behind Closed Doors" campaign also is calling on delivery drivers, landscapers, postal workers and others in Los Angeles County who might see signs of abuse at homes to contract police.



"With this unprecedented situation," said Feuer, adding that children and the elderly also may be at risk, "there are some under-discussed consequences."



Copyright  2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
The government swiftly took over the production and distribution of medical-grade masks after monitoring commodity spikes to avoid panic buying. Phone tracking was also used to ensure travellers in mandatory 14-day quarantine were sticking to their isolation conditions. If anyone strayed too far from home, they would receive a call or text to trace their location. In some cases, the police would also come knocking, with the power to fine residents up to NT $1million ($52, 350) for breaching the rules. Loading This abundance of caution came from previous experience. As President Tsai wrote in Time last month: The painful lessons of the 2003 SARS outbreak, which left Taiwan scarred with the loss of dozens of lives, put our government and people on high alert early on. That said, the country hasnt done as much testing as other Asian nations and there are some breaches in the defences  including a cluster of infected sailors who recently returned from a goodwill mission to the Pacific Island nation of Palau.

Almost three months after its first recorded case of COVID-19, Germany has emerged as a model of success in a continent largely devastated by the global pandemic. By Friday afternoon AEST, the country had recorded 5575 deaths, compared to 21,856 in France, 25,549 in Italy and 22,157 in Spain. So how exactly did a country of 83 million people do so well when the virus overwhelmed its neighbours? Like many European nations, Germany imposed lockdowns in March, which helped contain the spread of the virus (although some of those restrictions have been dialled back, with some shops reopened and students gradually returning to classrooms).

Chancellor Angela Merkel, a scientist before she entered politics, has communicated the consequences of ignoring health advice with effective rigour. But much of the countrys success comes down to large-scale testing, says Monash University infectious disease expert Professor Allen Cheng. The more you test, the more you pick up mild cases. This provides you with an opportunity to follow up those cases to make sure the virus is not being passed on, he says. According to Worldometers coronavirus tracking system, Germany, which a population of 83 million, has so far conducted more than 2 million tests, or the equivalent of 24,738 tests per million people. By comparison, France, with a population of about 70 million, has conducted 463,662 tests or the equivalent of 7103 per million people.

In a nation already in recession  with an unemployment rate of 30 per cent  coronavirus presents an insidious choice for many South Africans lucky enough to have a job: adopt social distancing and risk hunger, or keep working and risk infection. Many are choosing the latter. But while authorities know they cant necessarily dodge the impact of the virus, they have attempted to minimise the damage with aggressive testing, drawing on the experience of medical professionals and NGOs who helped fight another infectious disease that ravaged the nation: HIV. As The Washington Post reported last week, more than 28,000 healthcare workers have been doorknocking and testing about 2 million citizens. Residents travel histories have been recorded along with their temperatures, while pop-up clinics have been set up in townships to assess those who cant afford a car or public transport. Health workers collect samples for coronavirus testing outside a shack to combat the spread of COVID-19 at Lenasia South, South Johannesburg, South Africa. Credit:AP

According to the National Health Laboratory Service, South Africa was working towards testing 30,000 people every day by the end of this month, with the aim of geographically mapping how the virus spreads. Its an ambitious effort to protect its 57-million strong population  but one that observers hope might buy the country some time as it works out how to soften the economic impact. The pandemic requires an economic response that is equal to the scale of disruption it is causing, South Africas president Cyril Ramaphosa said last week. "Millions of South Africans in the informal economy and without employment are struggling to survive. South Koreas first confirmed case of COVID-19 emerged on the same day as the United States reported one.

Shaped by its 2015 battle against another type of coronavirus  the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, otherwise known as MERS  South Korea rolled out quarantine and screening measures that were put in place for Wuhan arrivals as early as January 3, and started early on an ambitious and accessible testing regime. By March 8, 189,273 South Koreans had been tested, compared to only 1707 in the US. (America has since caught up, testing well over 3 million citizens by April 20.) An outbreak in the huge congregation of the Shincheonji church pushed the number of cases over100 by February 20, promoting an escalation of the government's detailed personal data tracking. Loading University of Western Australia expert George Milne, whose daughter Sophie works at a private school in South Korea, said the country also had another unique advantage: compliance. The government makes recommendations and people follow them, Milne says. People want to do the right thing for the population as a whole, and the government is very organised. Sophie gets a few text messages every day telling her if theres any clusters near her, or reminding her to wear a face mask.

As of Friday, 240 people had died in South Korea from COVID-19, and 10,702 cases had been recorded. The spread has slowed significantly since its peak in February 29 when 909 new cases were reported, many of them traced to an outbreak in the huge congregation of the Shincheonji Church. New Zealands strategy was to go hard and go early. As the COVID-19 death toll soared in other parts of the world, Jacinda Arderns government implemented level four restrictions on March 25, shutting down schools, offices and all non-essential services. Now, after four weeks of lockdown, the country boasts one of the lowest rates of confirmed cases per 100,000 people in the world and a transmission rate (which shows the number of times each person with the virus passes it on to another) of less than 0.48 per cent. The overseas average is about 2 to 2.5. As Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern declared on Monday: We have done what very few countries have been able to do. We have stopped a wave of devastation.

Jacinda Ardern says New Zealand has "stopped a wave of devastation". Credit:Getty By Friday, New Zealand had recorded 16 coronavirus deaths out of 1451 cases of the virus. It had also conducted 101,277 tests  or the equivalent of 21,002 tests per million people. (By comparison, Australia had 75 deaths, 6667 cases and 18,300 tests per million people.) Restrictions will ease slightly this week, when certain businesses will be allowed to return to trade, including those in the food, construction and forestry sectors. Schools will also reopen, although parents have been advised to keep their children at home if possible. And like Australia, it is too soon to say if New Zealand has really beaten coronavirus. As Singapore has shown, even successful countries can have another wave if precautions are relaxed, says Melbourne University Professor John Mathews, a former deputy chief medical officer to the Australian government. Even good strategies can fail due to bad luck.
At his request, Mr. Biden talks at least once daily to a voter or campaign volunteer  the kind of people he would meet constantly on the trail. And he regularly phones allies to express sympathy or support, including a call to Ms. Warren when he learned that one of her brothers had died of the coronavirus.

Ms. Whitmer, a potential running mate for Mr. Biden, said the former vice president had been deeply engaged with the details of the outbreak in her state. He had offered advice and commiserated over the isolation brought on by the virus, and how it had barred them from performing consoling tasks like visiting mourners and medical workers.

I think thats why hes calling and reaching out and trying to keep a pulse on whats happening, Ms. Whitmer said. Its not a great substitute for personal interaction, but its a way to stay connected.

The Biden campaign declined to make him available for an interview. But the former vice president has at times spoken publicly about his isolation. Im chomping at the bit, Mr. Biden told reporters a month ago. I wish I were still in the Senate, you know, being able to impact on some of these things. But I am where I am.

For a team that employed a relatively skeletal digital operation throughout the primaries, the sudden shift toward online campaigning has been abrupt. At times, Mr. Biden has appeared out of his comfort zone and he continues to express a kind of chuckling disbelief that his basement has become a makeshift studio. Advisers acknowledge that they have considerable catching up to do on sites like Facebook and YouTube.

Mr. Biden is also facing pressure from donors to ramp up his at-home fund-raising activities, and from leaders in the states who want to see him beaming more often into key battlegrounds. To that end, he has recently conducted a series of interviews with local television stations in markets like Detroit and Pittsburgh, with more planned.

But Mr. Biden is burrowing in for the long haul, telling donors this month he did not anticipate holding traditional public events anytime soon.
Joe Biden said Thursday that President Donald Trump will try to delay the November election, or put in place policies that make voting highly burdensome, in order to win a second term in the White House. The comments, made during a virtual fundraiser, represent the former vice president's most explicit warning about the potential for an unprecedented power grab by the president in November.

Trump does not have the power to postpone the election, and has not suggested that he'll do so. But the extraordinary remarks from Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee for president, highlight the disruption of norms that have taken place in the Trump era, and the impact that the novel coronavirus is having on the fabric of American lives.

"It's perfectly appropriate for the vice president to speculate about that," said Steve Schmidt, a Republican consultant who has long been skeptical of Trump. "We've had elections through the Civil War, world war, the Great Depression, assassinations, but we've never had an election where Donald Trump is the incumbent president of the United States and behind in the polls."

"When you look at Trump at the podium speculating about shooting up Lysol or drinking bleach to deal with the virus, anybody who thinks that he wouldn't speculate about that is mistaken," he added.

Biden didn't mince words on Thursday. "Mark my words, I think he is going to try to kick back the election somehow, come up with some rationale why it can't be held," Biden told a group of donors.

It's not the first time he's focused on the issue.

In previous interviews and fundraisers, Biden has stressed that the country cannot postpone the November election. Last week, when asked whether he believes the public can trust that the November election will be held as expected, Biden replied, "Right now they can't trust that."

The White House declined to comment on whether Trump is considering a delay or exploring any ways to do so. Tim Murtaugh, the communications director for the Trump campaign, did not directly respond to an inquiry about whether Trump might seek a postponement, but disparaged Biden for making the comments.

"Those are the incoherent, conspiracy theory ramblings of a lost candidate who is out of touch with reality," Murtaugh said in a statement.

Mike Reed, a spokesman for the Republican National Committee, said there are no plans to try to alter the date of the general election. "The answer to your questions is no," said Reed in an email.

But Biden's comments echo fears percolating among many Democrats. During the primary election, voters sometimes quizzed candidates on what they would do if Trump refused to leave office after losing.

"I just think there are a lot of people asking a lot of questions," said Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) "And the American people want their Democracy to continue the way that it always has and for there to be an election in November. And that election will probably mean more to them than many have."

Focusing on this deeply ingrained concern among Democrats might be an effort by Biden keep his base engaged, said Amy Walter, national editor of the nonpartisan Cook Political Report.

"The president has his bully pulpit every day to keep his base engaged and they are as supportive of him as they've ever been," Walter said. "Biden does not have that opportunity. Being in your basement in Wilmington is not exactly the best place to unify and energize your party."

Compounding concern among Democrats is that many health experts believe the virus will return in the fall, making voting particularly challenging. Fifty-eight percent of voters support changing laws so everyone has the option to cast a ballot via the Postal Service, according to an NBC News-Wall Street Journal poll released last weekend.

But Trump has opposed policies that would make voting more accessible during a pandemic, including urging states not to adopt vote by mail procedure. And the NBC-Wall Street Journal survey showed a massive partisan divide: 82 percent of Democrats and 61 percent of independents favored allowing everyone to vote by mail, but only 31 percent of Republicans favored that policy.

Rather than focusing on whether Trump might delay the election, Biden should lay out a plan for November, said Bill Kristol, the director of Defending Democracy Together, a political nonprofit founded by Republicans focused defending Democratic norms.

"He would do better advised to say, 'We need to have a safe and secure election,' " Kristol said. " 'And we need to spend the money on it now. We need to alter some rules state by state to make that possible.' "

"It's much better to say it that way than to sort of accuse Trump of some conspiracy."

Asked to clarify his remarks, Biden spokesman Bill Russo focused on the recent Wisconsin primary, where voters had to wait in crowded polling places, despite the risks that they could contract the virus.

"What Wisconsin voters were forced to endure because of the chaos around their election cannot happen again," Russo said in a statement. "This is exactly why we have to start grappling with these issues in a real way now, before the fall. There is huge urgency on this."

Democrats also have pointed to more recent developments, like the Trump administration's recommendation that the Postal Service adopt a new pricing model and charge market-rate prices on letters and packages.

Voting experts also worry polling locations will be drastically reduced in November if the virus returns and election workers become scarce.

On Thursday night, Biden also focused on Trump's ideas to overhaul the Postal Service.

"Imagine threatening not to fund the post office," Biden said Thursday night. "Now what in God's name is that about? Other than trying to let the word out that he's going to do all he can to make it very hard for people to vote. That's the only way he thinks he can possibly win."

- - -

The Washington Post's Scott Clement contributed to this report.
Dr. Le Hong Hiep from the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore has said Chinas recent acts in the East Sea has made the regional situation more tense and uncertain, thus hindering negotiations on a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

Vietnamese fishing boats (Illustrative image - Photo: VNA)

Meanwhile, Indonesias senior journalist Veeramalla Anjaiah described the Chinese coast guard vessels recent sinking of a Vietnamese fishing boat on Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago as unacceptable.

Additionally, Chinas naming of islands, reefs and geographical features in the East Sea is also a serious violation of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), he said.

Anjaiah added that China seriously violated international law when claiming sovereignty over more than 80 percent of the East Sea based on the so-called nine-dash line which has no legal value.

He stressed that the international community needs to condemn Chinas illegal actions and bully behaviours in the East Sea.

According to him, ASEAN needs to have a common stance on the issue and step up COC talks./.VNA

US condemns China's recent actions in East Sea US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on April 23 criticised recent actions of China in the East Sea, including its announcement of establishing Xisha district (Vietnams Hoang Sa archipelago) and Nansha district (Vietnams Truong Sa archipelago).
South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa on Friday poked fun at himself for clumsily fumbling with his face mask during televised speech, a move that attracted widespread laughter on social media.

The president awkwardly pulled a colourful fabric mask over his eyes after announcing an easing of lockdown restrictions on Thursday night, prompting instant reactions on Twitter by amused viewers.

The hashtags #facemaskchallenge and #CyrilMaskChallenge were trending on Friday as South Africans humoured their president by posting captioned images of Ramaphosa and pictures of themselves in impromptu face coverings.

"For those who were laughing at me yesterday, let me tell you something," Ramaphosa told reporters during a hospital tour on Friday.

"I am going to open a TV channel where I will teach people how to put on a mask," he chuckled. "You can enrol."

Ramaphosa's mask incident lightened the mood in a country entering the fifth week of a strict nationwide lockdown and where the number of coronavirus cases -- 3,953 to date -- is the highest in Africa.

"Kudos to our president," said one Twitter post. "At least he's got a sense of humour."

Another Twitter user noted the "sign language lady" locked bewildered and ran out of signs during the mask struggle.

"I don't think Mr President will mind," she tweeted. "We have more than enough sulk moments. Let's laugh a little."

Ramaphosa has called on all South Africans to wear face masks as the lockdown is set to be gradually phased out from May 1.

sch/sn/txw
Amador County Seal View Photo

Amador County, CA  Amador County Public Health Officials were notified of a lab-confirmed COVID-19 case bringing its total positive cases to eight.

A contact trace investigation is underway with multiple jurisdictions participating. The person is a temporary resident within Amador County, and it is considered a community transmission case. Health officials explain the individuals primary residence is in Los Angeles County, but they contracted the coronavirus while staying in Amador County.

Currently, the state is assigning cases to the county where the patient resides, so this patient will not be included in the total case count for Amador.

The countys first case of community transmission was earlier this month when one of four people that tested positive. However, that persons infection was not related to travel and had no identifiable contact with a known case, as reported here. The ages of those individuals were between 18 and 65. Amadors Public Health provided the chart below regarding the age and gender of all current patients:
The top civil servant at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office is under mounting pressure after he had to U-turn on evidence he gave to Parliament twice in just one week.

Bungling FCO Permanent Secretary Sir Simon McDonald was forced into a humiliating volte-face after admitting to MPs that his department had held talks with US government lawyers in the days after former CIA spy Anne Sacoolas collided with and killed 19-year-old motorcyclist Harry Dunn.

On Tuesday, Sir Simon repeatedly insisted that the police investigating the accident outside US spy base RAF Croughton last August had no powers to determine whether Ms Sacoolas held diplomatic immunity before she subsequently fled the country.

VICTIM: Harry Dunn, who was just 19 when he was killed

He was appearing before the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee and being probed by chairman Tom Tugendhat over last week's Mail on Sunday revelation that the FCO had told the police Ms Sacoolas was immune from prosecution four days after the fatal accident for which she was later charged with causing death by dangerous driving, and the police failed to investigate the matter further.

But in an astonishing letter to the Committee sent on Friday, Sir Simon changed his claims and insisted that no such talks had taken place. The FCO had not given legal advice to Northamptonshire Police regarding the case, he wrote, and it was for the force to determine if Ms Sacoolas was above the law.

In March, this newspaper also revealed that another senior FCO diplomat, who was later sacked, texted the US government to suggest Ms Sacoolas get 'on the next flight out' at the height of the crisis.

The MoS has learnt that the U-turn came about after colleagues at the top of the FCO realised Sir Simon's astonishing earlier admission to Parliament directly contradicted evidence presented by them to the High Court in the upcoming legal challenge on the circumstances around Ms Sacoolas's abscondment filed by Harry's family. A legal source said: 'He nearly blew the whole defence, and might still have yet.'

The latest climbdown came after a furious row over claims Sir Simon made to the same Commons session about Ministers taking a 'political' decision not to join a Brussels scheme to buy ventilators were similarly retracted.

Last night, a senior Government source declared Sir Simon's evidence 'a disaster zone'. A Downing Street figure accepted: 'It is not good enough, and our hearts go out to the family.' Mr Tugendhat added: 'Two corrections so quickly raises questions we will be looking at in the coming weeks.'

Fled: Former CIA agent Ann Sacoolas who collided with Harry outside base

A spokesman for Harry's family, Radd Seiger, branded the U-turn 'astonishing', saying: 'I couldn't believe my eyes and ears and the fact that he has been forced to issue this retraction raises serious questions,' he said.

Barrister Adam Wagner, of Doughty Street Chambers, who is working on Harry's family's case against the Government, said the blunder opens up a whole series of fresh questions. 'The FCO has now accepted the police have operational independence and it was for them to determine what steps to take in the criminal investigation into Harry's death,' he said. 'There are important unanswered questions, particularly why, if the FCO accepts the police had operational independence, they didn't tell the police three key facts.

'First, that the position in relation to her immunity was legally unclear  as Sir Simon had to 'clarify', only the courts can determine whether someone has immunity.

'Secondly, their official had told the Americans that Sacoolas could leave on the next flight. Finally, why the FCO did not tell the police that the Americans had refused to waive Anne Sacoolas's 'immunity' until after she had left the UK.'

Last night, the FCO said: 'The Permanent Under-Secretary has written to Parliament to clarify the relationship between the FCO and the police on immunity.'
Groups of People walking in Regents Park, in London (Picture: Getty)

People may be permitted to see ten friends or family members as lockdown restrictions for coronavirus are eased, according to a new report.

The government is looking at plans for the next stage of the pandemic which involve small groups being allowed to meet up, Mail Online reports.

People would be allowed to select an unchangeable list of friends and family they wanted to meet for meals and social activities.

The list would be drawn from only two households an it is hoped the change in rules would help to prevent loneliness.

A Whitehall source said: If we can find a way to allow a bit more flexibility without risking transmission of the disease running higher then we will do it.

Read more: NHS doctor urges stop stealing from hospitals during coronavirus pandemic

Restrictions could be eased in the coming weeks (Picture: Getty)

Leaders in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have started talking about how the coronavirus lockdown measures could be lifted in the future.

The Scottish Government published a report which said an easing of the lockdown measures will be conducted in a phased and careful manner.

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

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon discussed a scheme where people could meet a small bubble of others outside their household, but also said that the continued need to keep social distancing in place will put an upper limit on group sizes.

Meanwhile, on Friday, Wales First Minister Mark Drakeford published his governments framework for lifting the country out of lockdown.

He said the country could come out of lockdown before other parts of the union but stressed measures will be eased when certain scientific and public health criteria are met and not against set timelines or dates.

Read more: Nearly 90% of Brits say they're coping well during the COVID-19 outbreak

Story continues

The UK Government has not set out an exit strategy to the current lockdown, despite coming under pressure to do so.

Mr Hancock told Radio 4s Today programme that easing the UKs lockdown depended on the speed at which the number of new cases of Covid-19 falls and that is as yet unknown.

He said that coronavirus cases need to drop substantially before the next phase of isolating infected people and their contacts can be truly effective.

Englands chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty has said the UK is going to have to live with some form of disruptive social measures for at least the rest of the year, with some restrictions in place until a vaccine or drug is found.

The government added it is keen for the four home nations to have similar plans for easing restrictions.

A review of the lockdown will be held on 7 May.

Coronavirus: what happened today?

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As a child, my grandfather would invite me to join him for walks around our neighborhood, picking up litter. I treasured these walks with him and was able to learn how important service was to our family.

Now, as a parent, I often think about what values I want to instill in my children and how we, as a family, can have quality time together practicing these values. Many families are interested in similar experiences, especially opportunities to care for the natural world. Being nature stewards, our families can strengthen the love they have for each other and the outdoors.
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+33.1.70.48.24.45 Oslo +47.22.34.17.40

EURONEXT STRENGTHENS ITS POST-TRADE BUSINESS WITH THE ACQUISITION OF VP SECURITIES, THE DANISH CENTRAL SECURITIES DEPOSITORY

Euronext will acquire c.70% of VP Securities, the Danish CSD operator with more than 1.2tn of assets under custody and 16.6m securities settled in 2019, and opens an offer to all remaining shareholders

The acquisition of VP Securities in Copenhagen significantly expands Euronexts footprint in the Nordic region, with c.25% of revenues 2019 proforma 1 coming from the Nordic region, after previously acquiring Oslo Brs VPS and Nord Pool

The transaction will double Euronexts central securities depository business in size, further improving Euronexts revenue mix and marking an important milestone towards Euronexts strategic goal of building the leading European market infrastructure

Amsterdam, Brussels, Dublin, Lisbon, London, Oslo and Paris  23 April 2020  Euronext today announces it has entered into definitive agreements to acquire c.70% of the shares of VP Securities from its existing owners, the Danish Central Bank and four major Danish financial institutions, Danske Bank, Nykredit, Nordea and Jyske Bank. VP Securities is the Danish Central Securities Depository (CSD), covering fixed income, equity and investment funds, and a key infrastructure helping to finance Denmarks real economy.

Established in 1980 and headquartered in Copenhagen, VP Securities is fully integrated into the European post-trade framework. The company was the first Nordic CSD to be granted a CSDR license and to join the European Central Banks Target 2 Securities (T2S) settlement system. VP Securities provides national issuers with core CSD services as well as value-added services to the ecosystem such as investor relations tools and sub-custody services. In 2019, the company generated DKK426m of revenue (~57.1m) and generated an EBITDA of DKK125m (~16.8m).

Story continues

The price offered for 100% of the shares is DKK1.12bn (c. 150m2). Euronext will open an offer to all remaining shareholders, at the same terms and conditions. The transaction will be funded with existing resources. The acquisition of VP Securities is in line with Euronexts disciplined capital deployment policy and commitment to maintain a strong investment grade credit rating.

The completion is expected by early Q3 2020 once regulatory approvals have been received.

The acquisition of VP Securities is an important step forward in Euronexts strategy of strengthening its post-trade activities and expanding its presence in the Nordic region. The acquisition of VP Securities positions Euronext as a leading CSD operator in Europe with c.2.2tn of assets under custody. Following this acquisition, post-trade will be a major contributor to Euronext revenues, significantly increasing the share of non-volume related revenue.

VP Securities will become a key component of Euronexts post-trade strategy, alongside Euronext VPS in Norway and Interbolsa in Portugal, enhancing Euronexts expertise in custody and settlement activities as well as the delivery of post-trade value-added services. Euronext will leverage this enlarged footprint to support the development of new post-trade services and upgraded technology for each of the Euronext CSDs, while maintaining highly reliable and cost-efficient services supporting each local ecosystem.

Following the acquisition of Oslo Brs VPS, completed in June 2019, and Nord Pool in January 2020, Euronext has developed a strong Nordic skillset and has built increasing proximity with the client community in the Nordic region to the full benefit of the local ecosystems.

Stephane Boujnah, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Managing Board of Euronext said:

The acquisition of VP Securities represents a major new milestone in the deployment of Euronexts ambition to build the leading pan-European market infrastructure. The acquisition of VP Securities will position Euronext as a leading CSD operator in Europe, and as a leading player in the Nordic region because there is no European success without a Nordic dimension. This reinforcement of our post-trade activities will allow Euronext to pursue the diversification of its topline. With about 200 talented employees, VP Securities will enable Euronext to further enhance its custody and settlement offering to deliver new and improved services for the benefit of the Danish real economy and European capital markets.

Peter Lybecker, Chairman of the Board of Directors of VP Securities said:

In a market changing from a predominantly national market to a European market, economies of scale will matter even more to be able to offer competitive services to the customers and ensure continued investments in new technology. I expect that the advantages which VP Securities may obtain as part of the Euronext Group will strengthen the Danish infrastructure within post-trade services.

CONTACTS

Media

Morten Torm Nielsen (Danish media) +45 50 80 97 98 mtn@ulvemanborsting.com Pauline Bucaille +33 1 70 48 24 41 pbucaille@euronext.com

Analysts & investors

Aurelie Cohen / Clement Kubiak +33 1 70 48 24 27 ir@euronext.com

About Euronext

Euronext is the leading pan-European exchange, covering Belgium, France, Ireland, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal and the UK. With close to 1,500 listed issuers worth 3.3 trillion in market capitalisation as of end March 2020, Euronext has an unmatched blue chip franchise that includes 26 issuers in the Morningstar Eurozone 50 Index and a strong diverse domestic and international client base. Euronext operates regulated and transparent equity and derivatives markets and is the largest centre for debt and funds listings in the world. Its total product offering includes Equities, FX, Exchange Traded Funds, Warrants & Certificates, Bonds, Derivatives, Commodities and Indices. Euronext also leverages its expertise in running markets by providing technology and managed services to third parties. In addition to its main regulated market, Euronext also operates Euronext GrowthTM and Euronext AccessTM, simplifying access to listing for SMEs. The Norwegian stock exchange and its custody & settlement subsidiary, together operating as Oslo Brs VPS, joined Euronext on 17 June 2019.

For the latest news, find us on Twitter ( twitter.com/euronext ) and LinkedIn ( linkedin.com/euronext ).

Disclaimer

This press release is for information purposes only: it is not a recommendation to engage in investment activities and is provided as is, without representation or warranty of any kind. While all reasonable care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the content, Euronext does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness. Euronext will not be held liable for any loss or damages of any nature ensuing from using, trusting or acting on information provided. No information set out or referred to in this publication may be regarded as creating any right or obligation. The creation of rights and obligations in respect of financial products that are traded on the exchanges operated by Euronexts subsidiaries shall depend solely on the applicable rules of the market operator. All proprietary rights and interest in or connected with this publication shall vest in Euronext. This press release speaks only as of this date. Euronext refers to Euronext N.V. and its affiliates. Information regarding trademarks and intellectual property rights of Euronext is available at www.euronext.com/terms-use .

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The Euronext Group processes your personal data in order to provide you with information about Euronext (the "Purpose"). With regard to the processing of this personal data, Euronext will comply with its obligations under Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and Council of 27 April 2016 (General Data Protection Regulation, GDPR), and any applicable national laws, rules and regulations implementing the GDPR, as provided in its privacy statement available at: https://www.euronext.com/en/privacy-policy .

In accordance with the applicable legislation you have rights with regard to the processing of your personal data:

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1 Proforma of full-year 2019 revenues for Oslo Brs VPS, Nord Pool and VP Securities







2 Note: EUR/DKK FX rate of 0.134 as of 23 April 2020 applied for all conversions







Attachment
The management of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project, HYPREP, on Wednesday (April 22, 2020) at a meeting in Port Harcourt disbursed the sum of Three Hundred Million Naira to members of the Governing Council, Board of Trustees and members of its Central Representative Advisory Council (CRAG)

The purpose of the money is not known but insider sources say it was classified as palliative measures to cushion the effects of the COVID-19 lockdown.

Ogoni Community Development Network, OCDN, is seriously concerned that this is another evidence of the fraud in HYPREP which is persistently ignored by a government claiming to be fighting corruption.

OCDN call on Nigerias president, Muhammadu Bihari to investigate the looting of HYPREP by those who should be managing it and take appropriate action.

Signed:

Johnson Kuele

President

Ogoni Community Development Network,

Green River, Wyoming

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A suspected Syrian government agent -- charged with overseeing torture in his home country -- arrives at a German court.

Lawyers believe this is the first trial, anywhere in the world, for alleged war crimes by Bashar al-Assad's government.

Named Eyad A., he hid his face under his jacket as he sat in a glass cubicle put up by the court in Koblenz because of the coronavirus outbreak.

The other suspect, Anwar R., is charged with 58 murders in a Damascus prison, where prosecutors say at least 4,000 opposition activists were tortured in 2011 and 2012.

At least one rape and multiple sexual assaults were among the charges. German prosecutors say he oversaw interrogations.

The former intelligence officer applied for asylum in Germany six years ago after leaving Syria.

Eyad A., who arrived in Germany in 2018, is charged with facilitating the torture of at least 30 opposition activists.

Observing the trial was prominent Syrian lawyer Anwar Al-Bunni:

SOUNDBITE) (English) SYRIAN LAWYER AND TRIAL OBSERVER, ANWAR AL-BUNNI, SAYING:"Now, everything changed. There is no way to have immunity or to escape from punishment. Immunity time is over for all of them and for sure, all of them feel worried now..."

Protesters held signs outside reading: 'Assad's Syria is a torture state' and 'Assad to The Hague'.

German prosecutors have brought the case under laws that allow Germany to try crimes against humanity committed anywhere in the world.

Attempts to set up an international tribunal for Syria have so far been blocked at the U.N. security council by China and Russia, a close ally of Assad's leadership.

The Syrian government denies it tortures prisoners.
South Korea claims 'unusual' rise in military plane activities by North

Iran Press TV

Friday, 24 April 2020 9:56 AM

The South Korean defense minister says North Korea has recently shown an "unusual increase" in inspecting the country's combat readiness and carrying out air force flight operations.

Jeong Kyeong-doo made the claim on Friday, saying the move has led to the heightening of tension in the region.

"North Korea has been heightening military tensions through an unusual increase in the inspection activities for its combat readiness posture, mostly of its artillery, and in its air force planes' flight operations," South Korea's official Yonhap news agency quoted Jeong as saying.

The defense minister also accused the North of concentrating on its weapons development while remaining unresponsive to offers for talks over the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

A South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff officer had earlier warned of an increase in North Korea's surveillance activities in skies near its demarcation line with China over the Yellow Sea, adding that some maritime and air spaces over the body of water have not been clearly claimed either by Pyongyang or Beijing.

Last Tuesday, North Korea fired what appeared to be surface-to-ship cruise missiles off its east coast. On the same day, Pyongyang also flew Sukhoi-variant fighter jets and MiG-type planes above the eastern coastal city of Wonsan, and fired multiple air-to-ground missiles into the East Sea.

Since December last year, the country has test-fired multiple rockets and missiles. Back then, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un ended a moratorium on the country's missile tests and said North Korea would soon develop a "new strategic weapon."

The ending of the moratorium came after the United States repeatedly refused to relieve any of the sanctions on the North even though Pyongyang had taken several goodwill steps in the course of the now-stalled diplomacy with Washington.

The United Nations Security Council, the US, South Korea, and other bodies have slapped multiple sets of sanctions on Pyongyang over its weapons programs.

Trump slams 'fake' report on Kim's health

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump denounced on Thursday as "incorrect" and "fake" a CNN report claiming that the North Korean leader was in bad health.

"I think the report was incorrect," Trump said during a press conference in Washington DC. "We have a good relationship with North Korea. I have a good relationship with Kim Jong-un and I hope he's okay. And somebody says that's terrible. No it is not terrible. I hope he is OK and I think it was a fake report."

Citing an anonymous US official with access to intelligence, the CNN published a report on Monday and said Kim was in "grave danger" after a cardiovascular surgery.

Government sources in Seoul and Beijing also contradicted the CNN report.

There has been speculation about Kim's health following his absence from a major event on April 15 that marked the birth anniversary of his grandfather and North Korea's founding father, Kim Il-sung.

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As many as 168 Kashmiri migrants stranded in the Jama Masjid due to the lockdown have been sent home.

The migrants, who work as porters, were sent home in private buses from Shimlas old bus stand. The arrangements for their return were made after CPI(M) legislator Rakesh Singha staged a sit-in outside the sub-divisional magistrates office.

Kashmiri porters working in Shimla are also known as the camel of the hills for their strength and energy. Khans have been lugging the states economy since the British era by delivering heavy loads to localities that are inaccessible by road.

There are nearly 8,000 Kashmir Khans registered with the police. Deputy commissioner Amit Kashyap made arrangement with the lieutenant governors in Kashmir.

The government has also made arrangements for transporting 5,000 farmers from Lahaul-Spiti who had migrated from Lahaul and Spiti during ahead of the closure of the Rohtang Pass due to snowfall on November 15.

The pass remains closed for six months a year and is thrown open to traffic in mid-May.

The farmers are keen to return to their native villages as they fear that agricultural activities will suffer in their absence. The farmers will travel in busses till Raninullah and walk for three kilometers after that, said agriculture minister Ram Lal Markanda, a legislator from Lahaul-Spiti. The first batch of 138 farmers left Manali this morning. Farmers will walk up to 10km from Rani Nullah to reach Rohtang.
BOGOTA (Reuters) - Colombian startup Rappi is piloting deliveries by robots as a safe way of getting food to people forced to stay at home due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The pilot started this week in Medellin, Colombia's second-largest city. The boxy robots, which travel on four wheels and are decked with orange flags on their antennae, carry deliveries of up to 35 square centimeters (5 square inches) and are used to transport restaurant orders paid for digitally.

The robots complete the last mile of the deliveries and are disinfected before and after each use, Rappi said in a statement on Thursday night.

The robots are operated jointly by Rappi and U.S.-based KiwiBot.

"We believe that by partnering with technology we will be able to continue meeting our aim of safely making people's lives easier, especially in situations like the one we find ourselves in," Rappi's Colombia country manager Matias Laks said in the statement.

Rappi has completed close to 120 deliveries each day with 15 robots in the pilot area, it said.

It said it intended to run the pilot until July and, if successful, roll it out to other cities where it operates.

Rappi, which has around 200,000 distributors across nine Latin American countries, reported a year-on-year 30% rise in deliveries during the first two months of 2020 - before the lockdown began.

In the fiercely competitive world of home deliveries, Brazil's iFood last week announced it had bought a controlling stake in Rappi's Colombian rival Domicilios.com as it looks to expand in the region.

(Reporting by Nelson Bocanegra; Writing by Oliver Griffin; Editing by Rosalba O'Brien)
The Centres petition against Delhi Gymkhana in the company law tribunal hinges on the complaints made by some former bureaucrats, many of whom are still members of the prestigious club.

The complaints mentioned in the petition, filed by Ministry of Corporate Affairs Regional Director (North) Raj Singh, include those lodged by former IB chief Rajiv Jain, former Indian envoy to Afghanistan Amar Sinha, former director general (in the rank of additional secretary) of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs Navrang Saini and former Press Information Bureau chief Neelam Kapur.

According to the petition, Jains complaint was lodged with the then President of Gymkhana in August 2018 when he was still the Intelligence Bureau chief. He said that SN Dhawan and Company, who were appointed as statutory auditors of the Club in 2013, were ineligible since they were permanent members of the club. The former IB chief declined comment on the matter.

Sinha and Kapur, along with committee members (2017-18) including charted accountant Arjun Sawhny, businessman Arjun Kapur, former special secretary in the cabinet secretariat Krishna Verma, former special commissioner Delhi Police BS Brar and former army officer CDRC AJ Singh wrote to MCA in September 2018 alleging illegal adoption of accounts for the financial ending on March 2018. The seven were a part of Delhi Gymkhanas former president Prashant Sukuls committee.

Such actions (illegal adoption of accounts) must have made MCA come to the conclusion that things are not straightforward in the club. There is corruption and collusion, Sinha told Hindustan Times on behalf of the above-mentioned group of complainants.

Secretary is a key management post in the governing committee along with the company secretary and board member. So presidents, who want their unquestioning loyalty, give them concessions. All rules are then broken with impunity. These employees are paid to advice the Club. Evidently, their personal interests overshadowed their professional duties, he added.

Kapur declined to comment.

Im not surprised this has happened, said a member of the group on the condition of anonymity. Delhi Gymkhana has a history of mis-governance and shielding those responsible for misdemeanours.

This person added that the complainants above feared they would become culpable as the accounts were hurriedly passed. We had to protect ourselves. So we lodged our dissent, perhaps, thats what was noticed by the MCA.

Saini and IRS officer Lakshay Kumar complained that the Club retrospectively revised registration fees , according to the petition.

The investigation was begun by the MCA in 2016, said a second of the complainants who did not wish to be named. There were many issues with the club.

The corruption allegations began in 2016, a former president of the Club told Hindustan Times. We noticed that projects were costing triple the amount that was allocated to them initially. A swimming pool that should have cost Rs 3-4 crore was finally completed for nearly Rs 12 crore.

Various committees, including one under retired revenue secretary P. Bhide, flagged concerns about the same, the former president of the Club said. But none of the recommendations were accepted.

Delhi Gymkhana president Lt Gen DR Soni (retd) refrained from commenting since the matter is sub-judice.

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A District Court Judge has described as shocking the reading of a driver arrested for being drunk in charge of a car.

Before the court last Thursday was Alison Citron (39) of 3 Treacy Avenue, Sligo who was charged with being drunk in charge of her car on October 27th last at Church Hill.

The court was told that the reading from a sample provided by the defendant was 134mgs per 100mls of breath.

Judge Kevin Kilrane noted that the limit was 22mgs, "so she was in excess of six times the limit."

Mr Eddie Henry, solicitor (defending) pleaded that the defendant had been at work and went drinking afterwards. Whilst outside a premises having a cigarette in the early evening she was attacked and a person tried to take her handbag.

She was quite shocked by the incident and instead of taking a taxi home which she normally did she took her own car to get home.

The defendant did not have any previous convictions, added Sergeant Derek Butler.

Mr Henry added that the defendant worked in a restaurant as a manager. She recently had a fall sustaining fractured ribs and wasn't therefore in a position to attend court.

Judge Kilrane said that he would keep the fine down given the circumstances the country found itself at present but he said the reading was shocking.

"It's the worst I have ever seen," he said.

Mr Henry said his client had been found in quite a drowsy condition in her car which was parked partially on her driveway and partially on the footpath.

Judge Kilrane fined the defendant 300 and banned her from driving for three years.
If youve been paying attention to the COVID-19 policy response across the country, you may have noticed a trend  a trend towards the (somewhat) inconsistent.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 25/4/2020 (627 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

If youve been paying attention to the COVID-19 policy response across the country, you may have noticed a trend  a trend towards the (somewhat) inconsistent.

Every health policy has been laid out by politicians stating that it is based on the best science available, in the express interest of protecting the public. And yet, in nearly all jurisdictions, that looks different. Take, for example, the size of groups allowed to gather. In Manitoba, 10 people can gather under provincial guidelines. In Alberta, its 15. In Quebec, all public gatherings are banned.

This pandemic has made it abundantly clear that while health policy is underpinned by science, it also is heavily influenced by a multitude of other factors.

"The intersection of public health guidance, civil liberties and human behaviour is a really tricky intersection to navigate. Its Portage and Main during rush hour," said Ian Culbert, the executive director of the Canadian Public Health Association.

To start, health policy isnt solely based on the advice of expert physicians, Culbert explains. Its also epidemiologists, sociologists, and others  all coming together to offer perspectives from different realms of science.

Then, there are the other less-scientific factors.

Alan Katz, the director of the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy at the University of Manitoba, teaches medical students to expect and anticipate these factors when they watch health policy develop over the course of their careers.

"Particularly in a public health system, we elect people and they make decisions around policy. We havent elected the scientists. Weve elected the politicians," Katz said. "So its not a simple matter of there being one study, or three studies, that say X and as a result thats what happens. Its not that simple."

Katz adds that nearly all science is also in need of interpretation, as raw scientific findings dont necessarily indicate what action should be taken. And interpretation can vary a great deal depending on who the translator is.

Economic implications

On April 6, Manitobas premier pulled the chair out from the long table set up to face the broadcast cameras. Brian Pallister sat, shuffled his papers and said, "Money pays for health care. So, lets talk about money today."

Culbert says economic implications and the reality of finite resources are a part of the discussion in Canada, but generally speaking he thinks Canadian leaders have done a better job at keeping the focus on health priorities than, say, our neighbours to the south.

There are two primary ways money and economics influence health policy. First, how health policies influence the economy writ large. That is: what does virtually closing down cities mean for the economy? Second, evaluating what kind of policies can be implemented within the jurisdictions spending constraints.

There are two primary ways money and economics influence health policy.

In the case of the latter, this isnt specific to a pandemic. This is a constant balancing act. Katz points to waitlists for various tests and procedures in the province as a prime example.

"For example, we could, if the government decided, build 20 more MRI machines at a huge cost, staff them, and when you need an MRI test it could be done the next day. Would that be a smart thing to do? Absolutely not, it would be a really inappropriate decision, and one thats not going to be made because the politicians know it would be inappropriate."

Thus the policy decisions we are watching unfold must also be viewed with that in mind. We cannot afford everything, but it is politicians who are tasked with defining the tradeoff between cost and the benefit that spending would provide to the population.

Public perception

Ultimately, every decision made by politicians will also take into account the publics reaction. Perhaps because of the political democracy we live in and politicians are always vying for votes, Culbert says, but from a good policy perspective, its also important because public acceptance plays into whether or not people will follow the rules.

"f you cant justify a response to the public, you probably wont get significant buyin."  Executive director of the Canadian Public Health Association Ian Culbert

To Culbert, closing the borders is an excellent example. Principally, because the science noting the effectiveness of closing borders is weak. The World Health Organization (WHO) has pointed this out and has continuously advised against implementing travel and trade restrictions.

"In general, evidence shows that restricting the movement of people and goods during public health emergencies is ineffective in most situations and may divert resources from other interventions. Furthermore, restrictions may interrupt needed aid and technical support, may disrupt businesses, and may have negative social and economic effects on the affected countries," the WHO advisory reads.

But the Canadian public cried out and demanded action, and so action was taken, with the borders closing to all non-essential travel starting on March 21. But Culbert suspects that if that move had been made any earlier, politicians wouldnt have had that critical buy-in from Canadians.

"Its easy to look back and say, Oh, well on Jan. 15 we had the first travel-related case of COVID-19 in Canada, we should have closed our borders," Culbert said. "But the reality is, that wouldnt have been a proportionate response at the time. And if you cant justify a response to the public, you probably wont get significant buy-in. Then the public will start to question future directives."

"By the time Canada made the decision to close its borders, that was less about containing the spread of COVID-19, and more about the political sense that Canadians were demanding this."

Media has role

Katz points out that in the way people react, it is also important to examine the role of the media. While reporters are informing the public of all that is happening at breakneck spreads, they are also shaping the messages and the narrative of the crisis. And this is all circulated back to politicians.

Earlier this month, the government of Manitoba announced its plan to invest $5 million for research projects associated with the novel coronavirus. Within that plan, $700,000 is set aside to investigate the benefits of hydroxychloroquine  the same drug thats gained international notoriety because U.S. President Donald Trump endorsed it as a "miracle" treatment of COVID-19, despite a lack of evidence to support that statement at this time.

While this drug could one day prove to be a successful treatment, there are certainly many bigger players investigating this already. So to Katz, this is a good example of how media can influence health policy.

"Is there strong science that suggests thats the best way of spending that money? There may not be. But that doesnt mean that it isnt a politically smart thing for this government to do at this time," Katz said.

Pressure to conform

Masks and projection numbers have been the two latest health policy areas that have gotten the public and media in a bit of a tizzy.

After days of relentless questions about whether or not Canadians should be wearing masks, the countrys chief public health officer, Dr. Theresa Tam, gave in  sort of.

"A non-medical mask can reduce the chance of your respiratory droplets coming into contact with others or landing on surfaces," Tam said. "The science is not certain but we need to do everything that we can and it seems a sensible thing to do."

One of the ways that public health authorities and politicians need to walk a fine line, is between giving too much information and too little information to the public. "  Alan Katz, the director of the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy at the University of Manitoba

Culbert says a number of factors might have contributed to Tam being hesitant to offer advice on masks, including cultural acceptance of wearing them, but ultimately after the Centers for Disease Control and Protection in the United States advised people to wear masks, the pressure to conform likely pressed Tam to issue her permissive statement.

That pressure to conform has also been felt when it comes to disclosing possible projection numbers. And Katz for one wishes the emphasis on these numbers was relaxed.

"Im not a great fan of sharing those numbers, I dont think its useful," Katz said. "The modelling that provinces are doing is to try and plan. Theyre not there to be shared with the public and interpreted in their own way."

In the end, all of these types of policy decisions might be based in science, but to say thats all that is at play would simply be naive.

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"One of the ways that public health authorities and politicians need to walk a fine line, is between giving too much information and too little information to the public. If you give the public too little information, theres a sense that youre hiding something and then the public doesnt believe you, and then youve lost their faith, and then theyre not following your instruction," Katz said.

Both Katz and Culbert come to this point: through all of these balancing acts, maintaining the health authoritys credibility is critical to public safety.

"It is the constant challenge of public health. If we get it right, nothing happens," Culbert said. "If we get it wrong at all, the bad thing happens." This can be particularly cruel in retrospect, Culbert adds, when decisions are evaluated with far more information than was available at the time the decision was made.

"It is this dance that we do. The classic definition of public health refers to it as the art and the science of preventing disease and promoting health. And that art piece is what were talking about here."

sarah.lawrynuik@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @SarahLawrynuik
Madam Stephanie S. Sullivan, the US Ambassador to Ghana said the donation was to help some of the more vulnerable members of the community break their fast.

Ramadan, she said, was a period of reflection, therefore, the Embassy recognised the religious leaders who had established, maintained, and bolstered interfaith engagement, cooperation, and partnership in the country.

Beyond establishing schools, feeding the hungry, and providing a range of social services, she said Christian and Muslim faith leaders had repeatedly used their platforms to convey messages of harmony and tolerance.

This, she said, had been critical to Ghana's stability and democratic success, adding that, "It will surely help the country weather the current challenges related to the coronavirus."

Madam Sullivan urged all Muslims to take the necessary precautions for the collective good, including adjusting to new ways of worship, even as they practised deep-rooted traditions in keeping with their religious faiths.

"I encourage all Muslims in Ghana to earnestly seek spiritual fulfillment as you mark the holiest period in the Islamic calendar," she added.

The Ambassador also hailed the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, for his tireless and inspirational advocate of religious tolerance.

"He has also provided crucial guidance to communities and policymakers throughout Ghana about the measures we need to implement if we are to overcome the current challenges and emerge stronger," she said.

She congratulated the Chief Imam for celebrating his 101st birthday.

Madam Sullivan commended the Islamic Education Unit and its volunteers for ensuring that the distribution of the food was a success.

---GNA
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 25)  Four health workers in Baguio City have the coronavirus disease, the city government announced on Saturday, amid concerns from the World Health Organization about the high infection rate among the countrys medical frontliners.

The city's public information office in a Facebook post said the patients are two doctors, a nurse, and a clerk at the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC).

"All patients are confined at the BGHMC and are stable," the statement read.

They are among eight new COVID-19 cases in the city.

To prevent the spread of the virus, Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong ordered a lockdown of Woodsgate Subdivision Camp 7 and barangays Santo Tomas Proper, BGH Compound, San Luis and Sector 5 Domonican-Mirador, where the patients live or had visited recently.

BGHMC chief Dr. Ricardo Runez said the hospital has begun tracing those who had contact with the patients and are preparing their staff for testing.

"We will start disinfecting wards, have advised to temporarily stop admissions and communicating with other hospitals for this matter. We will continue with the triage," Runez told Magalong, according to the city government.

The Department of Health's official tracker shows that six COVID-19 patients are admitted in Baguio City, one died, and 11 others got well, for a total of 18 cases. The DOH has said the data it releases are not real-time since they have to conduct validation before reporting.

Baguio has been praised for its infection prevention and control measures as it earlier only recorded a new infection for nearly two weeks. It reported another case on April 10, and Magalong has ordered a lockdown of all four barangays where the patient, a street sweeper, had gone to.

Nationwide, the number of COVID-19 cases rose to 7,294 on Saturday with 494 deaths and 792 recoveries.

Of this number, more than 1,000 are healthcare workers. Twenty-six of them, including 20 doctors, succumbed to the viral illness.

The WHO raised the alarm over the number of infected healthcare workers in the country. Dr. Abdi Mahamud, WHO-Western Pacific Region COVID-19 incident manager, said he is working with the DOH to find out if a possible shortage of personal protective equipment is causing this trend.

The DOH has maintained that it is following protocols on the use of PPE sets for medical frontliners. The agency is also working with local manufacturers to produce more of these protective gear.
The Punjab government has sought details of people of the state who have been stranded abroad due to the COVID-19 outbreak and wished to return, officials said here on Saturday.

People of the state working or pursuing higher education abroad have been asked to get in touch with the offices of the respective district administrations here, they said.

They have been asked to provide information such as name, mobile number, current address in foreign country, passport number, email id and number of persons accompanying them back to India, the officials said.

They can submit the information through email or use Google Forms to upload the details, they added.

In a letter to all deputy commissioners, the head of the state COVID-19 control room said a number of Indian nationals are working or studying abroad.

"In wake of COVID-19, many of these Indian citizens (are) desirous of returning to India but are unable to come (back) due to ban on all passenger flights. Eventual return of these individuals would require detailed planning by the state government," it said.

Mohali Deputy Commissioner Girish Dayalan said the government of Punjab has sought to know whether residents of the district (Mohali) working or pursuing higher studies overseas wished to return to India.

"All such persons can contact the district administration with relevant details," he said in an official release here.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The coronavirus pandemic and its devastating economic impact on developing countries could fuel fresh interest in so-called diaspora bonds that allow migrants to support their countries of origin, experts from the World Bank and other groups say. Dilip Ratha, the World Bank's lead economist on migration and remittances, told Reuters that diaspora bonds could generate about $50 billion a year in total for developing countries, potentially helping to offset a sharp drop in foreign direct investment that is slated to fall by 37 per cent this year. However, such claims have met ...
Prison officers as well as hard hit Laois businesses were foremost in the minds of councillors at their recent meeting.

One councillor who is retired from the prison service commended prison staff working through the Covid-19 pandemic.

Cllr Paschal McEvoy from Stradbally.

I especially want to mention my former colleagues working in the prison service who are working under tremendous stress at the moment especially with visits being withdrawn from the prisoners.

Its not very nice but its a thing that has to be done and it really will make life a lot harder on the prison service at this time, he said.

Video visits are now available for prisoners.

Meanwhile, the cost of installing coronavirus screens by businesses staying open was a concern for another councillor.

The perspex screens and hoarding required to keep staff and customers safe in shops during the coronavirus cost as much as 1,000 Cllr John King has said.

Two chemist shops have been on to me. They have incurred costs putting up safety units inside the doors and that has cost in the region of 1,000 a shop, he said.

The Cathaoirleach Cllr Willie Aird and Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley both called for at the least the three month moritorium on rates charges to businesses, a measure announced recently by Government.

Cllr Dwane Stanley said she has been contacted also by local businesses asking for support.

I know the Government are saying we can suspend the rates for three months but we need to go that bit further than that because we dont want businesses ending up with a bill when they do get back up and running, she said.

Cllr Aird also welcomes the moratorium on rates, promising to do all possible to help businesses.

Any other supports we can do we certainly wont be found wanting. Laois County Council will have to put in supports for local companies who have been devastated by Covid-19, he said.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-25 07:07:04|Editor: huaxia

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BRUSSELS, April 24 (Xinhua) -- Belgian Prime Minister Sophie Wilmes announced the gradual de-confinement measures in three phases at the end of a National Security Council meeting on Friday.

An agreement was reached at a 7-hour meeting by the National Security Council (NSC), which decided on the lockdown measures to contain the new coronavirus as well as their extensions until May 3.

Based on the report and recommendations of the group of experts in charge of the "Exit Strategy" (GEES), the NSC adopted a strategy of gradual de-confinement with a balance between health, economy and education.

"The exit strategy will go into force from May 4, after which we have a long period of transition ahead of us, before we can regain our freedoms and go back to normal life," Wilmes said, quoted by the newspaper Brussels Times.

The first phase of de-confinement (Phase 1A) will begin on May 4. One of the first measures announced by Wilmes is the compulsory wearing of masks in public spaces and on public transport.

The Belgian government will provide at least one free mask for every citizen, she said.

During Phase 1A, there will be a gradual return to work. Companies that cannot guarantee social distancing have to take measures. Telework remains the norm, Brussels Times reported. Fabric stores are allowed to open, to provide fabric for masks.

Also, social distance has to be respected at all times. Gatherings and meeting friends at home remain prohibited. Public transport will resume its usual activities, but the use of face masks is mandatory, Brussels Times said.

During Phase 1B which begins on May 11, all stores are allowed to reopen, on very strict conditions, which will be defined next week, in agreement with the GEES, according to Brussels Times.

The second phase is scheduled to begin on May 18, with the gradual resumption of school.

For primary and secondary school, lessons will be restarted for a maximum of 3 grades, in smaller groups of 10 pupils per class, and a minimum of 4 square meters per pupil must be provided.

Schools will continue to be responsible for the care of children whose parents have to work. Fabric face masks will become mandatory for teachers and children older than 12. Regularly washing hands will be mandatory, and supervised, according to Brussels Times.

Phase 3 will start on June 8 at the earliest, with the progressive reopening of the restaurants.

The prime minister reiterated the importance of respecting the basic rules. "In order to succeed, we count on your sense of responsibility, on your sense of citizenship, on your common sense," she said.

"This is not definitive. We can never rule out the possibility that we will have to take a step back if the virus flares up again," Wilmes said.

Belgium recorded 1,496 new infection cases of COVID-19 over the past 24 hours, bringing the country's total number of infections since the beginning of the epidemic to 44,293, health authorities announced on Friday.

Within the 24-hour period, 190 new deaths from COVID-19 were confirmed. As of Friday, a total of 6,679 people had succumbed to the coronavirus-caused disease in Belgium. Enditem
Georgia governor Brian Kemp. Photo: Elijah Nouvelage/AP/Shutterstock

Brian Kemp is probably going to get a lot of Georgians killed. He can accept this because he thinks he doesnt answer to them. Hes right.

Georgias governor announced on Monday his plan to reopen the state for business. It entails letting certain establishments  barbershops, nail salons, gyms, tattoo parlors  start operating again on Friday, with plans to add theaters and dine-in restaurants on April 27. The public-health costs of this decision wont be evident for another couple of weeks, but heres what we know: More than 700 people in Georgia have already died from COVID-19 and almost 20,000 have tested positive for the novel coronavirus. For weeks, a model from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation projected that Georgia wouldnt see the worst of the pandemic  its highest death rate, health-care facilities at their most overwhelmed  until the end of April, and possibly early May; the Institute revised this projection last week to say the peak mightve passed already, on April 7. Some researchers remain skeptical of the revision, and have warned that  worse than being too rosy  its being read as a tacit license for Georgians to drop their guard when widespread testing remains a fantasy and the infected are still walking the streets and dying in hospitals every day.

Also bad: Theres no reason to believe that Kemp is up to the challenge of protecting his constituents from the potential outbreak hes inviting. He spent weeks resisting a shutdown of the state to prevent the spread of infection, only to claim, once he finally issued a stay-at-home order on April 1, that he hadnt known asymptomatic carriers of the virus were contagious. Reports of asymptomatic transmission date back to at least January; they were, its fair to say, common knowledge among people who were keeping tabs on the pandemic, as an American governor might reasonably be expected to do, for several weeks before Kemp says he was alerted. One might be curious as to how Georgia wound up with a governor so incompetent and unworried by possible fallout. One answer: He spent eight years doing all he could to keep people who dont like him from being able to vote, and once they didnt or couldnt vote for him, and he won election, his power became only marginally contingent on whether bad things happened to them.

The point of voter suppression is to insulate those who deploy it from democratic will. In Kemps case, it was probably redundant: Georgia has been solidly red for years, and its demographics play to his advantage  hes a white Republican in a state where most people are white, and most white people are Republicans. But for as many years, the GOP has shored up its dominance in the South and Midwest by winnowing electorates so that people who probably arent going to vote for them have a harder time voting. The methods they use prey on racial vulnerabilities: Black people, who vote for Democrats upward of 90 percent of the time, are more likely to be poor, have transient or inconsistent housing situations, work low-wage jobs with limited scheduling flexibility, and live in neighborhoods marked by infrastructural neglect and unreliable public transportation. GOP suppression laws have been devised accordingly: voter ID requirements, voter roll purges, polling-site closures or relocations, and cuts to early voting have conspired to make voting the province of those with stable housing, flexible schedules, and easy access to transportation. As Georgias secretary of State from 2010 to 2018, including when he ran for governor, in an election that he oversaw, Kemp used these tactics and others to an extent that was nationally aberrant  the most comprehensive array of voter-suppression measures in the U.S., as a 2019 American Public Media investigation characterized it.

Efforts to stifle voter turnout, especially of nonwhite people, to benefit Republicans arent a matter of conjecture  theyre a stated principle, articulated by proponents ranging from President Trump and the late GOP strategist Thomas B. Hofeller, whose work guided Trumps push to add a citizenship question to the 2020 Census, to Georgias own House Speaker David Ralston. Kemp has outwardly relished their evasive cunning: Emails from 2017 between the then-gubernatorial candidate and top staffers document him mocking the medias attempts to alert the public to his schemes. Its his glee thats most illustrative. It indicates how far beyond the reach of accountability Kemp and his surrogates believed themselves to be, and with good reason  their ability to ensure, to a large extent, that Georgians probably wouldnt be able to vote in large enough numbers to defeat him meant that, effectively, they were.

The genesis of these practices alone is enough to provoke Jim Crow comparisons. Most of them emerged in response to the U.S. Supreme Courts 2013 Shelby County v. Holder decision, which gutted the Voting Rights Act of 1965  the very legislation that stripped legal legitimacy from Jim Crows most flagrant abuses of the franchise. But a more foundational principle is just as edifying, especially in the context of the pandemic. Jim Crow laws were always aimed at disempowering black Southerners so that white Southerners could run riot on their ability to self-preserve, and face no consequences for doing so. To the best of Kemps capabilities  which are vast, and largely unchecked  he has the system engineered so that he doesnt answer, in any meaningful way, to the minority of Georgians who cast their ballots against him in 2018. He can gamble accordingly. Already, there are signs that pressure urging local economies to reopen, in the absence of any rigorous notion that coronavirus outbreaks wont keep flaring up when they do, is a new expression of old urban/non-urban divides; in particular, the sense that the pandemic is, lopsidedly, a problem in large cities (blacker and friendlier Democratic territory, in Georgia as elsewhere) thats driving unwarranted economic ruin in whiter suburbs and rural areas that are more favorable to Republicans, as my colleague Ed Kilgore notes.

An accounting is in order. The infected dead in Georgia are disproportionately black  52 percent, where they make up 33 percent of the population. White, non-urban Georgians are getting sick and dying too, but their median political persuasion and more proportional infection rates suggest theyll see anti-pandemic measures as part of a partisan culture war, where supporting President Trump means flouting precautions; that theyll retain their conservative fervor, even as the bodies of their statesmen pile up around them, becomes a worthwhile bet. One might be tempted to grasp at longstanding presumptions about the solemnity of higher office, the weight of responsibility its said to inspire in its occupants, to argue that the governor couldnt be so callous, even toward people who wont help him retain power. That would be wrong. This is a man whose campaign ads had him pointing a rifle at his daughters boyfriend and showcasing the truck he uses to round up illegals, like some deranged Minuteman. Kemp has been, from the outset of his 2018 gubernatorial run, a pupil in the school of Trump, acolyte to a politics that valorizes glib contempt for decorum and regulations alike  and that, most notably, casts people who challenge its primacy as illegitimate. The mask wasnt off early; there was no mask to begin with. His unifying theory of election integrity has long meant the control of elections by him. When people highlight this, Kemp claims theyre in favor of voter fraud, a phenomenon that almost never occurs. When Georgias glitchy digital voting machines, which he championed, were exposed as vulnerable to cyberattacks, he embraced a conspiracy theory to keep change at bay, rejecting federal offers to shore up the system by claiming it was a big government plot to wrest control away from him.

Kemp was elected governor after these tendencies were known. He went on to sign one of the countrys most restrictive abortion bills, in a state with the countrys second-highest maternal mortality rate, and is now on the verge of transforming Georgia  especially black, urban Georgia  into a test lab for whether reopening is a recipe for mass death. Even absent certainty that cataclysm will occur, Kemps calculus is simplified by the fact that he doesnt answer to those whod suffer the most. That was always the point. Whatever happens to them, odds are that hell be fine.
The Republican primary runoff between Tony Gonzales and Raul Reyes is an intense, high-stakes race being run in slow motion.

The two military veterans are vying for the chance to keep U.S. District 23, the states one true swing district, in the GOP column, now that Republican Rep. Will Hurd is stepping down after three terms.

Theres a formidable amount of terrain to cover in District 23, which stretches across 29 counties through 800 miles of border territory, from South San Antonio to the outskirts of El Paso.

Covering that terrain right now is a physical impossibility, however, because stay-at-home orders put in place to slow the spread of COVID-19 have shut down traditional forms of retail campaigning.

And its hard to call on supporters for fundraising help without looking crass, given the fact that more than 26 million Americans have filed for unemployment benefits over the past five weeks.

Gonzales, in particular, has embraced alternate forms of voter engagement, most notably by hosting a series of conference calls in which he has connected supporters and constituents with prominent elected officials.

Those calls (and Gonzaless Facebook video messages) have found a sweet spot between the kind of informative town halls that members of Congress routinely hold and traditional campaign events. By framing the calls as a way to keep District 23 voters up to date on Congresss pandemic-response actions, Gonzales has been able to position himself as an above-the-fray public servant  even though hes not yet a public servant.

The conference calls also have demonstrated how connected Gonzales is to the GOP congressional caucus and the degree to which he is favored by the party establishment.

Gonzales served 20 years in the U.S. Navy, including stints in Iraq and Afghanistan.

During his tenure in the Navy, Gonzales also served for a year in the office of U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Florida, as part of the Defense Departments Legislative Fellows program. That experience not only kindled his interest in a political career, it also established a lasting bond with Rubio.

In fact, Rubio guested on one of the five conference calls Gonzales has held during the runoff campaign. Hurd, who has endorsed Gonzales, also turned up for a conference call.

The most recent call, on April 17, featured Austin Congressman Michael McCaul, the ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

Before discussing congressional business, McCaul launched into a brief but earnest testimonial for Gonzales.

Hes an excellent candidate to succeed Will Hurd, McCaul said. Weve got to keep this seat Republican if we want to get the majority back in the Congress. Hes got a really prestigious background in national security.

The conference call took a surprising turn when the first question came from Dwight Parscale, a San Antonio Republican who also happens to be the father of President Donald Trumps campaign manager, Brad Parscale.

The elder Parscale touted the healing properties of hydroxychloroquine, a drug prescribed for malaria and lupus that Trump has frequently cited as a promising treatment for COVID-19. (Parscale asked why it hasnt been more readily available for coronavirus patients in Texas and McCaul shared his concern.)

While Gonzales and Reyes are both fundamentally conservative candidates, Gonzales, like Hurd, shows a willingness to listen to opposing views and tends to frame his answers with enough nuance to be acceptable to independents and moderate Democrats.

Clearly, Beltway Republicans view Gonzales as the runoff candidate with the best chance of defeating Democratic nominee Gina Ortiz Jones, but perceived general-election electability can work against you in a primary race.

Reyes cant match Gonzales in campaign funds, coming into April with $45,323, compared to $271,822 for Gonzales. But the retired Air Force lieutenant colonel is basing his candidacy on the idea that his brand of conservatism is undiluted and unabashed.

Unlike the congressman hes hoping to succeed, Reyes is an ardent backer of Trumps proposed wall on the U.S.-Mexico border. He has promised to remove loopholes and to secure funds needed to build and finish the wall.

Reyes contends that Hurd has ignored the issue during his tenure and blocked Trumps attempts to secure the border.

Reyes tried to turn Hurds endorsement into a negative for Gonzales by saying that he never would have accepted the support of someone he has blasted as a Never Trumper willing to derail the presidents America First agenda.

Gonzales is managing to keep a higher profile these days than Reyes. The question is whether the political connections that are boosting his efforts will work to his favor or detriment.

Gilbert Garcia is a columnist covering the San Antonio and Bexar County area. To read more from Gilbert, become a subscriber. ggarcia@express-news.net | Twitter: @gilgamesh470
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The constituent organisations of the National Council (JCM) has written to the Department of Personnel & Training for Information and the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance protesting the Centres arbitrary decision to freeze dearness allowance (DA) of central government employees up to June 30, 2021.

Before taking such a major policy decision the government has not bothered to consult the staff side of the NC(JCM) and without even hearing the views of the staff side, the decision taken especially on a policy matter which effects the wages of the employees and the pension of the senior citizens is against the spirit of the JCM scheme, it said.

The letter said that all 48 lakh central government employees, including armed forces personnel and 65 lakh pensioners are very disappointed by the drastic decision by the government.

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The central and state government employees are the one who are playing their front line role in the fight against COVID-19, by taking all risk and working in the field exposing themselves without any sufficient Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), the letter stated.

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

It added that railway employees, defence civilian employees, postal employees and all other central government employees have already contributed their one day wages to the PM-CARES Fund.

The Ordnance Factory Employees have contributed their two days wages. In the Railways employees belonging to different categories are deployed for various activities such as PW tracks, signalling, electrical and mechanical assets, running freight trains, parcels special trains, transport essential goods etc. Almost all the Central Government Departments are involved in one or other activities during the entire lockdown period. The Ordnance Factory Employees are directly involved in manufacturing of various PPEs required for the doctors, nurses and health care workers and for other civil authorities. Ignoring all these contribution of the government is targeting them on the plea of "crisis arising out of COVID-19", the letter added.

The letter adds that freezing of DA will have a serious impact of the HRA of the Central Govt. employees, especially with the manner in which the price for the essential commodities are rocketing sky high, DA is expected to cross 25 percent from July 2020 onwards.

Since the DA is freezed the employees will lose this hike in the HRA as well. You will appreciate that the pensioners who are senior citizens are most vulnerable in the fight of the COVID-19 virus and any stoppage of DA in their case at this juncture is not an appreciable decision on the part of the Government, it pointed out.

It termed the decision an unnecessary financial hardship and mental agony for employees on the frontline against coronavirus.

We request you to convey our feelings to the Prime Minister and the government and withdraw the decision so as to motivate the employees to perform their responsibilities, especially in this crisis period, the letter added.
Hollywood star Scarlett Johansson says she has faced a lot of rejection in her life and has made a career out of being a second choice.

The actor said she appreciates when she is approached for a role for which she has been rejected initially.

"Since a very young age, I've been rejected constantly... The best call you can receive is after you are rejected for something and then you get it. You appreciate it more. I've basically made a career out of being second choice, Johansson told Parade magazine.

The 35-year-old actor, who achieved worldwide recognition with her role as Black Widow in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, is currently looking forward to the release of her character's first standalone Black Widow. The film will hit the theatres on November 6.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-25 11:23:56|Editor: huaxia

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GOMA, DRC, April 24 (Xinhua) -- Seventeen people, including 12 rangers from Virunga National Park, died in an armed attack by an unidentified armed group in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), local authorities said on Friday.

According to a press release from Nzanzu Kasivita Carly, governor of the eastern province of North Kivu where the attack took place, four passengers and a driver were also killed in a jeep burned by the attackers.

The attack was also confirmed by the management of the Virunga National Park in a statement a few hours after the incident on Friday.

"It is with great sadness that Virunga National Park confirms an attack which unfortunately has resulted in the loss of many lives. Victims include bystanders unrelated to the park, as well as park staff and park rangers," said the statement signed by officials from the park located near Goma, a city in North Kivu Province.

According to the Congolese Institute for the Conservation of Nature (ICCN), civilians were the target of the attack, not the rangers.

"All the information available at this stage indicates that it was an attack against civilians. The guards were not the target and died while assisting the civilian vehicle which had been taken under fire from the attackers," said ICCN.

Attacks by armed attackers are very common in Virunga National Park. Last year, two Britons were taken hostage by rebels in the same park and released after paying a sum of money.

Multiple armed groups carry out illicit mining and poaching in the parks in eastern DRC. Since last year, authorities have closed access to visitors and other non-essential people into the park to avoid further security incidents. Enditem
Covenant Health Plainview is ready to serve its community with all engines running starting April 27. The hospital is reopening all elective surgical, procedure and diagnostic capabilities.

Our patients safety is always our top priority, said Alan King, CEO of Covenant Health Plainview.

During this unprecedented time, we worked very hard to create policies and procedures that went above and beyond to keep our patients, caregivers and their families safe and healthy.

All elective surgical and diagnostic procedures were postponed across Texas in response to a mandate issued by Governor Greg Abbott last month.

We continued to provide these services for urgent situations and kept our specialty clinics open to serve our patients, added Covenant Health Plainview CFO, Cassie Mogg.

This would include utilizing telemedicine in the hospitals general surgery, cardiology and orthopedic clinics.

However, Covenant Health Plainview is now allowed to treat patients and get them back to a more comfortable quality of life.

The Covenant Health system caregivers have worked diligently over the past weeks to ensure your health and safety will continue to be cared for once you resume medical care.

You can expect a clean and sterile health care environment. All caregivers undergo a health screening each day, prior to beginning their work, we are continuing our one visitor policy and if you do not have a mask, we will provide one to you before entering the hospital, said King.

As we continue to treat patients from across our region, please know our hospitals and clinics remain ready to address any COVID-19 concerns. Our mission is to serve all while working to provide Health for a Better World.

Covenant Health Plainview says its emergency departments are open and taking care of patients. If you have a health emergency, dont delay or hesitate to seek care.

In the event of a positive or suspected positive COVID-19 case, those patients are isolated in a designated area, keeping them at a distance from other emergency patients.

Covenant Heath Plainview says its health care teams will be contacting patients soon to discuss rescheduling procedures.

Do not hesitate to ask questions or discuss any concerns with them.
DEFENDING JACOB Stream on AppleTV Plus. A chilling case upends a Massachusetts familys quiet life in this new mini-series, adapted from William Landays novel of the same name. Chris Evans and Michelle Dockery play Andy and Laurie Barber, whose teenage son, Jacob (Jaeden Martell), is accused of killing a classmate. The parents are horrified at the thought and ready to stand by their son. But over the course of eight, slow episodes, their doubts come to the fore, revealing their own long-held secrets.

MET OPERA AT-HOME GALA 1 p.m. on metopera.org. This week, the Metropolitan Operas performances take on a new format. A virtual gala features more than 40 artists from around the world performing over Skype, straight from their living rooms. The Mets general manager, Peter Gelb, and music director, Yannick Nezet-Seguin, will host from their homes in New York and Montreal. Classical fans may miss the acoustics of concert halls, but unlike a lot of in-person performances, this one is free. It will be available to stream on the Mets website until 6:30 p.m. Sunday.
The Indiana State Department of Health is collaborating with the Indiana University Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health at IUPUI to conduct a scientific study to measure the spread of COVID-19 throughout the state.

The closely monitored study will include random sample testing for SARS-CoV-2 -- the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19 -- viral infections and antibodies in Hoosiers.

ISDH and IU will perform scientifically valid random sampling of Hoosiers in tests conducted in four phases over the next year, beginning Saturday, April 25.

In total, at least 20,000 Hoosiers will be tested for the study. Select members of the public are being asked to participate, by invitation only, to ensure that the sampling is representative of the population.

The scientific study will enable the state to take a critical step forward in understanding how COVID-19 is affecting Hoosiers.

Data is key in guiding our response in the fight against COVID-19, and our partnership with Fairbanks School of Public Health researchers will provide high-quality information to help shape our decision-making. I want to encourage Hoosiers who are selected to participate to step forward and help us gather the critical information for this groundbreaking scientific study." Gov. Eric J. Holcomb

The first round of testing will begin this weekend with a pool of at least 5,000 Hoosiers randomly selected from across Indiana's 10 emergency preparedness districts.

The study will include conducting both nasopharyngeal swabs and blood draws. The nasopharyngeal swabs will be tested for COVID-19 within 72 to 96 hours, while the blood samples will be tested at a later date for antibodies to determine if an individual has had COVID-19 in the past.

Indiana University Health and Eli Lilly and Co. will process the nasal samples and report the results to ISDH. When they register for the test, participants will be able to choose the method by which they will receive their results. Registration and delivery of results will be managed by Carmel-based Zotec Partners.

Additional phases of testing will take place in late May, again in October and then in April 2021.

Led by IUPUI's Fairbanks School of Public Health, an interdisciplinary team of IU scientists, physicians and epidemiologists designed the study and developed the scientific plan for execution by state agencies. The IU team will also analyze the study results and provide scientific interpretations of the data to the state.

"This is a critical step toward understanding how COVID-19 has affected the population of Indiana," said Nir Menachemi, professor and Fairbanks Endowed Chair in the Fairbanks School of Public Health and principal investigator on the study. "Our results will contribute valuable information to the complex considerations necessary for relaxing the stay-at-home order and other social-distancing policies."

State Health Commissioner Dr. Kris Box said the study is key to understanding the impact of the virus among Hoosiers.

Having the ability to not only test for the presence of this virus, but also to learn more about people who have been exposed in the past and might have antibodies that indicate past infection, will help us fine-tune our work to keep Hoosiers safe from this pandemic. We are grateful that this partnership will help make that happen." Dr. Kris Box, State Health Commissioner

IU Vice President for Research Fred Cate said this work exemplifies how research is essential to the state and to the fight against COVID-19.

"The unprecedented commitment of the state of Indiana to support critical research will allow us to blaze new trails to understand and respond to the pandemic and its impact on Hoosier health and well-being," Cate said.

Participants will be notified of their eligibility for the study by mail, text message, email or phone and will be directed to the testing site closest to their residence. Registrants will receive a unique code that they will show at the testing site as proof of participation.

Testing for the study will be conducted at eight fixed and 10 mobile sites around the state from April 25 through April 29. Additional sampling may be added later depending on initial participation levels.

Support for the testing operation is being provided by the Indiana National Guard, Indiana Department of Transportation, state Emergency Medical Services personnel, and other state and private partners.
As Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan wished Muslims all across the world on Ramazan, he confessed that total lockdown in his country was imposed without thinking about consequences for the daily wage earners, street vendors, and labourers. Taking to Twitter, Imran Khan said that the holy month is to ask Allah 'for forgiveness for neglecting the poor and vulnerable in our society.' He said that his nation has been elite-centric in its policies and went on to praise China for lifting 700 million people out of poverty.

Ramazan Mubarak to Muslims across the world. We in Pakistan must use this holy month to ask Allah for forgiveness for neglecting the poor & vulnerable in our society. We as a nation have been elite-centric in our policies, with no thought for these people, incl in the pandemic  Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) April 24, 2020

"When we sought a total lockdown without thinking about the consequences for the daily wage earners, the street vendors, the labourers, all of whom face poverty & hunger for themselves & their families. May Allah forgive us our sin of neglecting our dispossessed & poor citizens," he wrote.

Let us also resolve as a nation, in this holy month of Ramazan, to lift our marginalised citizens out of poverty & mainstream them as our Prophet PBUH did in the world's first welfare state - Riyasat-i- Madina - and as China has done in lifting 700 m people out of poverty.  Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) April 24, 2020

'They were abiding': Imran Khan's rival Bhutto says Pak PM blundered Ramzan Covid lockdown

As Imran Khan praised China, netizens were quick to point the error out and criticised the Pakistan PM for not uttering a word against China's oppression of Uyghurs Muslims in Xinjiang.

Haha China kaha se aa gaya   Gabbbar (@GabbbarSingh) April 24, 2020

He comparing Prophet to China .. such a shameless person.  Pritpal (@pritpal_cb) April 24, 2020

Imran Khan tests negative

In a significant development on Wednesday, Imran Khan tested negative for the novel coronavirus. This comes a day after it emerged that Faisal Edhi with whom Khan had interacted on April 15 had been confirmed as a positive COVID-19 patient. Khan's test report was confirmed by Dr.Zafar Mirza, the Special Assistant to the Pakistan PM on Health. Earlier, reports indicated that Imran Khan's family members also tested negative for the novel Coronavirus.

Faisal Edhi had presented a cheque worth 1 crore Pakistani rupees to Khan in Islamabad in his capacity as the head of the Edhi Foundation, which is the country's largest charity foundation. Reportedly, he developed COVID-19 symptoms soon after visiting Islamabad. Though these symptoms subsided after 4 days, he insisted on getting tested as he had been on the ground working with novel Coronavirus patients. Currently, he is in isolation at a hospital in Islamabad.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan tests negative for the novel Coronavirus

COVID-19 crisis in Pakistan

Imran Khan has been panned by the opposition for his inconsistent stance on the enforcement of a lockdown. In March, he ruled out the possibility of imposing a lockdown in Pakistan. Acknowledging Pakistans dire economic condition, Khan stated his government did not have the capacity to take care of 25% of the population which is under the poverty line if a lockdown was implemented.

Pak Govt Using ISI's System To Track Suspected COVID-19 Cases: Imran Khan

However, the Pakistan government later imposed a lockdown and extended it till April 30. Presently, there are 11,940 confirmed novel Coronavirus cases in Pakistan out of which 2,337 persons have recovered while 253 deaths have been recorded. With 4,706 COVID-19 cases, the Punjab province has recorded the most number of cases in Pakistan.

Cutting WHO funding isn't only dangerousTrump doesnt have the authority: Hillary Clinton
Additional reporting by Press Association

Fifty-two more deaths related to Covid-19 have been announced.

The latest figures mean the total number of deaths related to the virus has risen to 1,063.

Figures announced by the National Public Health Emergency Team revealed a further 377 confirmed new cases of the virus.

That brings the total number of cases to 18,561.

57% are female and 43% are male

the median age of confirmed cases is 49 years

2,536 cases (14%) have been hospitalised

Of those hospitalised, 344 cases have been admitted to ICU

4,847 cases are associated with healthcare workers

Dublin has the highest number of cases at 9,010 (50% of all cases) followed by Cork with 1,103 cases (6%)

Of those for whom transmission status is known: community transmission accounts for 48%, close contact accounts for 48%, travel abroad accounts for 4%

This afternoon, Health Minister Simon Harris noted that there were 118 people with Covid-19 in intensive care units in Ireland on Saturday, compared to 160 earlier this month.

He told RTE there were still too many people in ICUs and too many people seriously sick.

If you have symptoms of #COVID19, you should self-isolate and contact your GP by phone. #ItsInOurHands #coronavirus pic.twitter.com/XLTz9CTKos  HSE Ireland (@HSELive) April 24, 2020

Meanwhile, health chiefs have expressed concern over complacency about restrictions designed to curb the spread of the infection.

Health Minister Simon Harris has been consulting with medical leaders via videolink at the Department of Health.

He said it was an important chance to engage with some leading experts in general practice, critical care and infectious diseases.

Chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan has said if the situation remained like this, he would not be able to recommend the restrictions be relaxed.

Chief medical officer Tony Holohan (Leon Farrell/Photocall Ireland)

The Government has imposed restrictions on movement  limiting journeys to essential errands like getting food.

A two-kilometre limit for exercise has been decreed.

Gardai have mounted checkpoints near holiday spots in a bid to encourage social distancing.

The restrictions are due to be reviewed by medical experts next week.
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Linkedin Asip Hasani (The Jakarta Post) Surabaya, East Java  Sat, April 25, 2020 08:45 627 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd423d98 1 National COVID-19,East-Java,surabaya,khofifah-indar-parawansa,PSBB,Sidoarjo,Gresik,large-scale-social-restrictions Free

Surabaya and the neighboring regencies of Sidoarjo and Gresik in East Java are to impose a two-week partial lockdown starting Tuesday to slow the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa recently issued a gubernatorial regulation on the large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) for the provincial capital and the two regencies following approval from the Health Ministry.

"The dissemination of the regulation to the public will take three days and, Insya Allah [God willing], the PSBB will be effective starting Tuesday," Khofifah told a press conference on Thursday evening.

Khofifah announced the decision following a meeting with officials from the city and the two regencies, including Surabaya administration secretary Hendro Gunawan, acting Sidoarjo regent Nur Ahmad and Gresik deputy regent Moh Qosim.

Also present at the meeting were East Java Legislative Council (DPRD) speaker Kusnadi, East Java Police chief Insp. Gen. Luki Hermawan and Brawijaya Military commander Maj. Gen. Widodo Iryansyah.

The governor asserted that the partial lockdown, which is scheduled to end on May 11, could be extended by another 14 days.

Surabaya is the hardest-hit region in East Java with 326 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 40 fatalities, followed by Sidoarjo with at least 71 cases and six fatalities. Meanwhile, Gresik recorded 21 confirmed cases and two fatalities.

Read also: 'Severe red zone': East Java scrambles to contain COVID-19 spread at Islamic boarding school

According to the government's tally, East Java recorded 690 positive cases and 67 deaths linked to COVID-19 as of Friday.

While Surabaya and Sidoarjo would impose the PSBB policy throughout their jurisdictions, Gresik was set to implement the partial lockdown in only eight of its 18 districts, Qosim said.

"We will impose PSBB only in the districts identified as [COVID-19] red zones," Qosim said.

Kusnadi said the decision to enforce PSBB measures in the three regions had won full support from East Java's DPRD.

He went on to remind the local administrations to regularly evaluate the effectiveness of the PSBB in flattening the curve of coronavirus transmission, adding that they should take into account Jakarta's experience in implementing a partial lockdown.

The capital city, the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in Indonesia, has put in place PSBB restrictions for two weeks now and is set to continue imposing strong restrictions to limit people's mobility for another 28 days.

Kusnadi reminded authorities that the partial lockdown should be strictly enforced, lest the effort be fruitless.

"Dealing with mass prayers during Ramadan will be the hardest challenge," he said.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 25)  Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia challenged business leaders in the province to gear efforts towards ensuring self-sufficiency in food production after the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Yesterday, I met with all of the presidents of the chambers of commerce and I challenged them," Garcia said in an online forum on Saturday. "We will reboot, we will refocus our energies into making Cebu self-sufficient in food production. So, from building condominiums to agribusiness."

Garcia said the pandemic has taught the province a hard lesson when it still needed to outsource rice because they were not producing enough of the staple.

She said the same applies to corn, which Cebu has to import from Mindanao and other countries despite having ten to twelve operating corn feed mills.

"[I] challenged them, then: let us go back to the province, to our towns that have so much arable land. Ask them how much land do they have in the province and then go back to tilling this land," Garcia added. "[A]fter all that has happened to us, we will have to go back to the basics, and food is the most basic.

The governor said the pandemic has caused a shift in business focus from tourism to food production, which she said would be the new normal in the province in the years to come.

"There has to be a major shift between what we used to consider of primordial importance and that is, here in Cebu, building these condominiums, building more hotels, you know, focusing on the tourism industry because well, this is such a huge industry for us here," said Garcia. "But seeing how things are developing internationally, we don't see a rise of tourism or even a resurrection of tourism in at least the next couple of years."

Cebu was placed under lockdown beginning March 26, which included the ban on the entry of all travelers on international flights in the province. A few days before, the province restricted all inbound air and sea travel.

As of April 25, the province has 294 confirmed COVID-19 cases, according to the Department of Health.
Universities are set to subsidize online classes amid the nationwide state of emergency called over the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Meiji Gakuin University in Tokyo said it will disburse A50,000 to each of its 12,000 students to help them purchase adequate internet connections and computer gear as the school gears up for a switch to distance learning for the spring semester, which began on Monday.

Kanagawa University in Yokohama said it is providing the same stipend to its 18,000 students in preparation for conducting online classes from May 11.

Shibaura Institute of Technology in Tokyo and Tokai University in Kanagawa Prefecture both announced similar subsidies. Tokai said it will give up to A10,000 to each of its nearly 30,000 students based on their individual needs to help defray the cost of internet access and computer gear.

Classes for the spring semester, which were delayed until May, will mainly be conducted remotely.

Shibaura said it will reduce tuition for all of students in the second half of the school year by A60,000, an amount the university regards as internet-related aid for the first half that began in April.

Tokai and Meiji Gakuin said they extended the deadline for tuition and other fees to late May to ease the financial burden on students stemming from the pandemic.

Meiji Gakuin, however, said it is not considering refunding or reducing tuition or other fees. It vowed to aprovide the same high level of education as in normal years, even though part of it has to be done through online teaching.a

The university plans to offer special scholarships to students whose families are experiencing acute economic hardship from the pandemic, such as loss of earnings and sudden unemployment.
At times like this, you wonder how local people are faring around the world. One such person is Fr Eamon Sheridan.

His story was recently featured in the 'Far East' magazine.

The Drogheda man joined the Columbans in 1978 after thinking about the Augustinians (you lost one there Fr Colm!) and was ordained in 1987. A year later, he was off to Taiwan and spent 19 years there.

A stint in Ballymun and Hong Kong followed and in 2017, he has found himself in Myanmar, the former Burma.

He is based in Kachin State and there is an ongoing war between the Kachin Independence Army and the Burmese army.

But the biggest killer in the area is drug addiction. 'Drugs are killing more than the war is,' he candidly revealed.

He is trying to get a system in place so that people can tackle their addictions. There is a centre for men, but not women and that comes with a cost of $50,000 dollars, money he does not have.

Working on a 12-step programme, he lives in the community and the men he meets gladly come to mass and pray with him.

He says he has a deepened faith as a result of all of this and who can argue with that.

Maybe Eamon Sheridan found a 'new reality' before the rest of us.

I now Fr Sheridan would appreciate any assistance that people may be able to give him in his mission. contact the Columbans at www.columbans.ie
The Uttar Pradesh government will not allow any public gathering till June 30, well beyond the end of the current nationwide lockdown, officials said on Saturday.





Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has told officials that the situation will be reviewed after June 30.

"Chief Minister @myogiadityanth ji has directed officials not to allow any public gathering till June 30. After that a decision will be taken considering the circumstances," the CM's office tweeted in Hindi.



The current lockdown across the country is schedule to end on May 3, if no further extension is announced.



The chief minister's media adviser also put out a similar tweet.



"Chief Minister Yogi Adityanathji has given strict instructions to officers that no crowd of any kind gathers anywhere till June 30. This decision has been taken with the intention of keeping coronavirus under check," Mrityunjay Kumar said.



The restriction will have a direct impact on Eid festivities, apart from other religious gatherings.



In a video conference with district magistrates and police chiefs, Adityanath also referred to the just-begun month of Ramzan, an official said.



"In view of the coronavirus outbreak, all religious leaders have appealed to Muslim brothers to offer namaz at their homes,"the official quoted the CM as saying at the meeting.



"Therefore, it needs to be made sure that no programme is organised anywhere. There is no mass gathering as there are all chances of the infection spreading," the CM said.
By Akbar Mammadov

Head of Nagorno-Karabakhs Azerbaijani Community Tural Ganjaliyev has said that Armenia is not interested in the peace talks to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and seeks to preserve the status quo.

Ganjaliyev was commenting on the Armenian Foreign Ministry recent statements that Yerevan would not be engaged in the stage-to-stage resolution of the conflict, which requires the return of Azerbaijans lands around Nagorno-Karabakh as the initial stage.

Ganjaliyev said that Armenia hides behind negotiations and seeks to gain time and strengthen the status-quo based on occupation.

Ganjaliyev stressed that Armenia's refusal of the step-by-step solution, using security concerns as a pretext, completely undermines the negotiation process.

It is impossible to talk about security in the context of the inability of the Azerbaijani community, which makes up one-third of the population of Nagorno-Karabakh, to return to their homes. Therefore, one of the most important conditions for security is the return of the Azerbaijani community to their native lands", Ganjaliyev noted.

"Using the situation gained by the occupation and ethnic cleansing for their purposes, Armenia denies the existence of the Azerbaijani community in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan and ignores the community's calls for peace and coexistence. Thus, Armenia destroys the prospects for resolving the conflict through negotiations, he said.

Ganjaliyev also reminded that the parties to the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict are Armenia and Azerbaijan.

The Armenian and Azerbaijani communities in Nagorno-Karabakh are equally interested parties of the conflict, as established by the OSCE Helsinki Council of Ministers in 1992. The meetings and statements made during the OSCE Minsk Group's visits to the region in 2019 once again confirm this fact" he emphasized.

The community head stressed that it is impossible to change the accepted format of negotiations, and the attempt for this is provocation and disrupts the negotiation process.

"As for the security issue claimed by Armenia, it should be noted that in fact the biggest threat to security is the presence of the Armenian Armed forces in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan. Attempts to justify the occupation of Azerbaijan's internationally recognized territories under the guise of self-determination are futile and nothing more than self-deception. As required by the world community, international organizations, first of all, UN Security Council resolutions, the Armenian Armed Forces must leave the territories of Azerbaijan and the expelled Azerbaijani population must return to their lands" Ganjaliyev said.

Furthermore, he urged the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs to take a firm stand on Armenia's recent actions, which contradict the basic principles of the negotiation process.

Ganjaliyev said that the illegal regime set up in Nagorno-Karabakh is a tool used by Yerevan to cover up the occupation. He reminded that the illegal elections held in the region in two rounds on March 31 and April 14 were condemned by the international organizations, including the OSCE Minsk Group itself, Non-Aligned Movement, the EU, NATO, and individual countries.

---

Akbar Mammadov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AkbarMammadov97

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
The National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) has informed local councillors that all public health measures have been followed at the Skellig Star Direct Provision Centre in Cahersiveen where it emerged at the weekend that there is an outbreak of COVID-19.

The HSE has refused to comment on the situation, citing privacy, but local councillors and the local business community have received confirmation that there has been four confirmed cases at the centre which houses 98 asylum seekers.

The four cases in question have since been moved to an isolation centre in Cork.

The emergence of COVID-19 in the centre has caused anger and upset in the local community given many residents are out on the streets despite the outbreak.

Cllr Norma Moriarty, who has sought clarity amid anger about secrecy surrounding the situation, met via teleconference with Chief Officer of HSE Cork Kerry Group, Dr Ger Reaney and Dr Ann Sheahan Director of Public Health with the NPHET on Monday evening.

They stated that all contact tracing had taken place and anyone who had come in contact with affected cases had been isolated. Those who did not come in contact with the direct cases were to follow the same restrictions as the general public who have not been in contact with a case.

The NPHT are satisfied with the measures taken, said Cllr Norma Moriarty.

Currently all asylum seekers are being tested at the residential centre in Cahersiveen under new guidelines released at the weekend to ensure priority testing for all residential centres.

Chairperson of the Cahersiveen Community and Chamber Allliance, Jack Fitzpatrick, said there is a lot of fear in the community that more cases could emerge as full isolation is not imposed. He called for a full lock-down until all testing is complete. This however is not what the NPHET is recommending.

He said that the situation is deadly serious.

We have to try and contain it. We were informed that four cases have been confirmed positive and moved out. We heard it by rumour and then met with management. There is no openness and transparency with the community, he said.

The Department of Justice, which is responsible for Direct Provision Centres, said that the safety of the residents is a priority and that measures have been put in place to protect the residents, including staggered meal-times and laundry times, as well as signage and isolation rooms. However, the department declined to comment further and said it would only do so if it was a public health reason to comment.
The Sahara was the most dangerous place on Earth 100 million years ago, according to scientists.

A team of international researchers has found that the African desert region was once home to ferocious predators including flying reptiles and crocodile-like hunters living in a vast river system.

The biggest review in almost 100 years of fossils from Cretaceous rock formations in south-eastern Morocco, known as the Kem Kem Group, has found that three of the largest predatory dinosaurs lived there.

These included the sabre-toothed carcharodontosaurus which was more than 8m long with enormous jaws and long, serrated teeth up to 20cm in length.

Also living there was the 8m-long deltadromeus, a member of the raptor family with long, slender hind limbs, as well as the predatory flying reptiles pterosaurs and crocodile-like hunters.

Dr Nizar Ibrahim, an assistant professor of biology at the University of Detroit Mercy and visiting researcher from the University of Portsmouth, said: This was arguably the most dangerous place in the history of planet Earth, a place where a human time-traveller would not last very long.

Co-author of the report published in the journal ZooKeys, Professor David Martill, from the University of Portsmouth, explained the predators relied on an abundant supply of fish.

He explained: This place was filled with absolutely enormous fish, including giant coelacanths and lungfish.

The coelacanth, for example, is probably four or even five times large than todays coelacanth.

There is an enormous freshwater saw shark called onchopristis with the most fearsome of rostral teeth  they are like barbed daggers, but beautifully shiny.
Iranian health officials have raised fears of a 'fresh outbreak' of coronavirus cases after lockdown measures were eased.

The country has paid the deadliest price in the Middle East from the pandemic, and another 76 fatalities have now been declared - taking Iran's official death toll to 6,650.

Since April 11 Iran has allowed a phased re-opening for businesses that were closed as part of measures to curb rising Covid-19 cases - a move which health official Alireza Zali has blasted as 'hasty'.

Tehran's largest shopping mall Iranmall was converted into a hospital (above) to help treat coronavirus patients. Heath experts warn a new wave of infections as the country eases lockdown measures

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani is pictures above attending a National Committee on Combating Coronavirus (COVID-19) meeting in Tehran on April 25. He has warned that the country needs to prepare for a 'worst-case' scenario of restrictions lasting until March 2021

Mr Zali, the anti-coronavirius co-ordinator for the capital, added that the re-openings could 'create new waves of sickness in Tehran and complicate efforts to bring the epidemic under control', the official news agency IRNA reported.

The ministry's infectious diseases department head, Mohammad Mehdi Gouya, warned of 'signs of a fresh outbreak' in provinces such as Gilan and Mazandaran in the north and Qom in central Iran 'where we made great efforts to control the epidemic'.

Iran allowed some businesses to re-open and has lifted a ban on inter-city travel after weeks of lockdown

Health ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour said Iran has now recorded 89,328 cases of the killer bug since its first case in February - including 1,134 over the past 24 hours.

The number of Iranian casualties is widely thought to be much higher, however.

The Iranian President Hassan Rouhani warned today that the country needs to prepare for a 'worst-case' scenario of restrictions lasting until March 2021.

A woman walks past the closed gate outside the Imamzadeh Saleh in the Iranian capital Tehran's Shemiran district on April 25 during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, as all mosques and places of worship are closed due to coronavirus pandemic

Iran, already weakened by tough US sanctions, has struggled to contain the virus outbreak since reporting its first deaths were recorded on February 19, which were two fatalities in the Shiite holy city of Qom.

As well as as phased re-opening of businesses the government also lifted a ban on inter-city travel.

The possibly new wave of infections comes as the predominantly Shiite country marked the start of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, with all mosques and places of worships remaining closed.

Current measures call for Iranians to maintain social-distancing, wear masks in public and wash their hands regularly - though are only advisory and there are no penalties for non-compliance.
Hawaii's state agency that is dedicated to welcoming visitors to the state is temporarily helping those visitors leave.

The Hawaii Tourism Authority has set aside $25,000 for the costs of sending tourists away if they refuse to abide by the state's 14-day quarantine.

The state said in a press release that outbound travel arrangements are being handled by the Visitor Aloha Society, a non-profit group that normally helps tourists in Hawaii deal with problems during their visit, such as theft or a medical emergency.

"The ability to return people quickly to their airports of origin during the coronavirus crisis greatly assists law enforcement's ability to ensure the success of our statewide emergency measures," Hawai'i State Attorney General Clare Connors said in a statement. "The fact scarce government funds do not need to be expended for these return trips also helps fulfill the mission of keeping Hawaii safe."

Nineteen people have been flown back to their airports of origin since the beginning of the emergency.

In some cases, the violators have been prosecuted for misdemeanors and forced to pay a fine. The Visitor Aloha Society arranges for the travel back home, and pays for the ticket if the visitor can't afford it.

Hawaii has reported at least 596 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 12 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige established a mandatory two-week self-quarantine for any out-of-state visitors and inter-island travelers on April 1.

Since then, officials have encouraged tourists not to travel to the state.

On April 6, John Monahan, president of the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau, sent a letter to various publications asking them not to promote travel to Hawaii.

The bureau had said it is hoping to decrease travel to the state to keep its health care system from getting overwhelmed due to the isolated nature of the islands.

"It is our responsibility to ensure the safety of visitors and residents alike," Monahan wrote in the letter, "and therefore request that anything written about Hawaii strongly discourages travelers from visiting Hawaii until otherwise directed by our state officials."
Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Saturday welcomed the Union territory administration's order to revoke the Public Safety Act against business leader Mohammad Yasin Khan.

"It is a welcome step especially on the first day of Ramadan. The whole Kashmir Inc welcomes it," KCCI president Sheikh Ashiq said here.

Ashiq said the business leaders had raised the issue of Khan's detention with the Union Home minister and Finance minister.

He also said that KCCI demands the release of all other persons who are under the detention since August last year.

"We demand the release of all others in view of the COVID-19 as well as the holy month of Ramadan, especially of the Bar association Kashmir president Mian Abdul Qayoom due to his ill-health," Ashiq said.

The Jammu and Kashmir government has revoked the Public Safety Act (PSA) against 28 persons in different jails within and outside the Union territory.

Khan, who heads Kashmir Traders and Manufacturing Federation (KTMF) and Kashmir Economic Alliance (KEA), also figured in the list.

Hundreds of people, including mainstream and separatist leaders, were detained in August last year as the Centre revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir on August 5.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Korea Times file



Actress Kim Hee-ae said Friday that the smash-hit South Korean TV series "The World of the Married," in which she plays the lead role, was a surprise present for her as she did not expect it to be popular.



"When I started this drama, I thought it would not be watched by many people because it's R-rated," she said in an online press conference. "I can't believe that my drama has achieved such big popularity. It's like a miraculous gift for me."



Based on the BBC One TV series "Doctor Foster," which aired in 2015 and 2017, the JTBC series is about a dedicated wife, played by Kim, who finds out about her husband's betrayal and takes revenge on him.



Premiering March 28, "The World of the Married" saw its viewership ratings reach 20 percent for its eighth episode Saturday, marking the second-highest percentage won by a JTBC drama series, following "Sky Castle" in 2018.



The 16-episode Friday-Saturday drama has caught the eyes of Korean viewers with a streak of intense suspense and sensual scenes that have been altered from the original story. A whirlwind of emotions and excitement and a cliffhanging love affair storyline have been the talk of the town.



"Everything is perfect in our drama. The original BBC series and the dedication of director Mo Wan-il, the screenwriter and other staff members are working in perfect harmony," Kim said. "This perfection has produced the good results, I think."



Kim, who started her acting career in 1983, has won rave reviews for her role in the series. She plays a physician named Ji Sun-woo, who leads a perfectly happy life with a husband and a son, but faces a critical situation when she finds out that her husband is having an affair.



The veteran actress said it was difficult to express intense emotions in most scenes. She even went through some action scenes including a scuffle with her husband played by Park Hae-joon in the sixth episode.



"All of my scenes in this project require intense and powerful feelings and sentiment," she said. "It was a challenge for me."



She asked more viewers to tune in for the remaining episodes, saying Sun-woo will fall into grave danger in the 12th episode scheduled to air May 2 and that the episode will be a fresh turning point for the character's life.



"Before shooting that scene, I was afraid of doing it as Sun-woo's emotions peak and gets pinched," she said. "But all the crew members, including the director, approved of my acting, and I'm satisfied with it. It must be worth watching." (Yonhap)


The chief of staff to Godwin Obaseki, governor of Edo state, Taiwo Akerele has resigned his appointment.

Akerele in a letter dated April 25 and addressed to the governor, said his decision to resign is based on administrative and governance grounds.

My decision to exit the government is based on administrative and governance grounds, the letter read.

I am solidly with His excellency Mr Godwin Obaseki in his quest to transform Edo state. His mission and vision resonate with mine.

This is all I have to say, I will like to be given the opportunity to go private as I part ways administratively with the government based on principles.

I thank his excellency for the opportunity given to me to serve in this capacity and also thanks to His Royal Majesty, Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II for his immense leadership and support during the period I served in this capacity.

However, Obasekis media aide, Crusoe Osagie, while reacting to the development said Obaseki is yet to receive Akereles resignation letter.

Read Also: We Have Spent Over 1Billion In Fight Against Pandemic: Obaseki

Osagie said, In the past few hours, it emerged on social media that the Chief of Staff, Mr. Taiwo Akerele, has resigned his appointment with the Edo State Government, he said in a statement.

While the governor has not received any formal communication to this effect, he believes that this is a personal decision of Mr. Akerele.

However, whenever the resignation letter gets to the governor, he would accept it, and he wishes Akerele all the best in his future endeavours.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-25 19:10:19|Editor: huaxia

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TOKYO, April 25 (Xinhua) -- The confirmed COVID-19 cases in Japan increased by 391 to reach 13,575, according to the latest figures from the health ministry and local authorities on Saturday.

The nationwide death toll from the virus has now increased to a total of 358, including those from a cruise ship that was quarantined in Yokohama near Tokyo, the latest figures showed.

In Tokyo, the epicenter of Japan's outbreak, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has increased by 103 to reach 3,836, followed by Osaka Prefecture with 1,446 infections.

Kanagawa Prefecture, meanwhile, has recorded 912 infections, Chiba Prefecture 790 cases, Saitama Prefecture 781 infections, Hyogo Prefecture 618 cases, while Hokkaido Prefecture has recorded 601 cases of COVID-19, according to the latest figures on Saturday.

Meanwhile, 57 more crew members aboard a cruise ship docked in Nagasaki, southwestern Japan, have tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total to 148 on the ship.

The health ministry also said there are currently a total of 267 patients considered severely ill and are on ventilators or in intensive care units.

The ministry also said that in total, 3,181 people have been discharged from hospitals after their symptoms improved. Enditem
Rumors surrounding Kim Jong Un's health intensified today as Asian media outlets claimed that he had died or is currently 'gravely ill'.

The vice director of Hong Kong Satellite Television (HKSTV) Shijian Xingzou says that a 'very solid source' has told her the North Korean despot, 36, is already dead.

She has 15 million followers on Chinese social media Weibo, and is also the niece of one of the country's foreign ministers.

Separately, a Japanese media outlet claims that Kim has gone into a 'vegetative state' after he underwent heart surgery earlier in the month.

However, a 250-metre-long train belonging to the dictator has been spotted near to his Wonsan holiday compound as recently as Thursday in satellite photos, according to news website 38North.

Although Kim's whereabouts remains unknown, the train's presence at a nearby railway station reserved for the Kim family in the 'elite' area on the east coast suggests he has visited the hideaway.

The most recent photos, from April 23, show the train preparing for departure.

The Wonsan complex includes nine large guesthouses and recreation center, as well as a shooting range and covered dock believed to be for a yacht. At the center of the grounds is a large building that was constructed shortly after Kim Jong Un came to power in 2014.

Kims last confirmed public appearance was two weeks ago, when he led a meeting of the ruling Workers Party committee of policymakers, according to North Korean state media.

A top Hong Kong television director has claimed a 'very solid source' has told her that Kim Jong Un is dead. He was last seen in public on April 11 at a meeting of the Workers Party committee of policymakers in Pyongyang

However, a 250-metre-long train belonging to the dictator has been spotted near to his Wonsan holiday compound as recently as Thursday in satellite photos

Satellite images of Wonsan Elite railway station show the leader's train arriving after April 15, and was still at the station on April 23

A special train possibly belonging to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is seen in a satellite image with graphics taken over Wonsan, North Korea April 21, 2020

The most recent photos, from April 23, show the North Korean dictator's train preparing for departure

China has dispatched a team to North Korea including medical experts to advise on North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, according to three people familiar with the situation.

The trip by the Chinese doctors and officials comes amid conflicting reports about the health of the North Korean leader, with western outlets unable to immediately determine what the trip by the Chinese team signalled in terms of Kim's health.

A report by the weekly Shukan Gendai in Japan claimed on Friday that North Korea's dictator is currently in a 'vegetative state' after having heart surgery earlier in the month.

The outlet cited a Chinese medic who is believed to have been sent as part of the team to treat Kim Jong Un after a delay in a simple heart procedure had left the leader severely ill.

The source cited by the news outlet claimed that Jong Un was visiting the countryside when he clutched his chest and fell to the ground. A doctor with him at the time is said to have performed CPR and accompanied him to a hospital.

However, the reporting of the deaths of previous North Korean leaders has taken time to emerge officially.

Kim Jong-il, the current leader's father, died of a heart attack while travelling by train two days before it was announced publicly.

The Vice director of HKSTV Hong Kong Satellite Television Shijian Xingzou says that a 'very solid source' has told her the North Korean despot, 36, was already dead

A special train possibly belonging to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was spotted this week at a resort town in the country, according to satellite images reviewed by a Washington-based North Korea monitoring project, amid conflicting reports about Kim's health and whereabouts

It is also not unusual for Kim or other North Korean officials to go weeks without public appearances.

In 2014, Kim was not seen out in public for 40 days, before he reemerged appearing to walk with a limp and using a cane, after he reportedly suffered from 'an uncomfortable medical condition'.

While there is no official proof of the dictator's death, the hashtag #KimJongUndead was trending on twitter on Friday following the report.

A delegation led by a senior member of the Chinese Communist Party's International Liaison Department left Beijing for North Korea on Thursday, two of the people said. The department is the main Chinese body dealing with neighbouring North Korea.

The sources declined to be identified given the sensitivity of the matter.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, center right, his wife Ri Sol Ju, right, Chinese President Xi Jinping, center left, and his wife Peng Liyuan taken on June 20, 2019

South Korean people watch a TV broadcasting a news report on North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Seoul, South Korea, April 21. China has dispatched a team to North Korea including medical experts to advise on North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, according to three people familiar with the situation

The Liaison Department could not be reached by Reuters for comment late on Friday. China's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment late on Friday.

Daily NK, a Seoul-based website, reported earlier this week that Kim was recovering after undergoing a cardiovascular procedure on April 12. It cited one unnamed source in North Korea.

South Korean government officials and a Chinese official with the Liaison Department challenged subsequent reports suggesting that Kim was in grave danger after surgery. South Korean officials said they had detected no signs of unusual activity in North Korea.

On Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump also downplayed earlier reports that Kim was gravely ill. 'I think the report was incorrect,' Trump told reporters, but he declined to say if he had been in touch with North Korean officials.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (centre) visiting the construction site of the Sunchon phosphatic fertiliser factory in South Pyongan province on January 7

US President Donald Trump and North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un stand on North Korean soil while walking to South Korea in the Demilitarized Zone on June 30, 2019

On Friday, a South Korean source told Reuters their intelligence was that Kim was alive and would likely make an appearance soon. The person said he did not have any comment on Kim's current condition or any Chinese involvement.

An official familiar with U.S. intelligence said that Kim was known to have health problems but they had no reason to conclude he was seriously ill or unable eventually to reappear in public.

A U.S. State department spokeswoman had no comment. U.S. Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, when asked about Kim's health on Fox News after Trump spoke said, 'I don't have anything I can share with you tonight, but the American people should know we're watching the situation very keenly.'

North Korea is one of the world's most isolated and secretive countries, and the health of its leaders is treated as a matter of state security. Reuters has not been able to independently confirm any details on Kim's whereabouts or condition.

North Korea's state media last reported on Kim's whereabouts when he presided over a meeting on April 11. State media did not report that he was in attendance at an event to mark the birthday of his grandfather, Kim Il Sung, on April 15, an important anniversary in North Korea.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un pictured on December 4, 2019. The trip by the Chinese doctors and officials comes amid conflicting reports about the health of the North Korean leader

On Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump also downplayed earlier reports that Kim was gravely ill

Kim, believed to be 36, has disappeared from coverage in North Korean state media before. In 2014, he vanished for more than a month and North Korean state TV later showed him walking with a limp. Speculation about his health has been fanned by his heavy smoking, apparent weight gain since taking power and family history of cardiovascular problems.

When Kim Jong Un's father, Kim Jong Il, suffered a stroke in 2008, South Korean media reported at the time that Chinese doctors were involved in his treatment along with French physicians.

Last year, Chinese President Xi Jinping made the first state visit in 14 years by a Chinese leader to North Korea, an impoverished state that depends on Beijing for economic and diplomatic support.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un walks with his wife Ri Sol Ju at Pyongyang Station in Pyongyang, North Korea, in January last year. An official familiar with U.S. intelligence said that Kim was known to have health problems but they had no reason to conclude he was seriously ill or unable eventually to reappear in public

China is North Korea's chief ally and the economic lifeline for a country hard-hit by U.N. sanctions, and has a keen interest in the stability of the country with which it shares a long, porous border.

Kim is a third-generation hereditary leader who came to power after his father Kim Jong Il died in 2011 from a heart attack. He has visited China four times since 2018.

Trump held unprecedented summits with Kim in 2018 and 2019 as part of a bid to persuade him to give up North Korea's nuclear arsenal.

EXCLUSIVE: Kim Jong-un sees himself as the North Korean John F. Kennedy and 'groomed' his wife Ri Sol Ju to be as fashionable and well mannered as Jackie, claims new book on the despot as questions swirl about his health

One was a beacon of optimism in post-WWII America, the other presides over a brutal Communist regime set on building a nuclear weapon.

But despite the differences, Kim Jong-un believes he is living in his own version of Camelot, the youthful world of John F. Kennedy.

A new book claims that the leader of North Korea sees himself as Kennedy and his wife Ri Sol Ju, with her impeccable manners and fashionable wardrobe, as the parallel of Jackie Kennedy.

Kim 'literally and figuratively groomed' Ri so she would look the part of First Lady, writes former CIA analyst Jung H. Pak.

A new book claims that the leader of North Korea sees himself as Kennedy and his wife Ri Sol Ju as the parallel of Jackie Kennedy

Kim Jong-un believes he is living in his own version of Camelot, the youthful world of John F. Kennedy

She says that Kim made Ri a 'walking advertisement' for his image of North Korea as a modern, prosperous country with water parks and ski parks to reinforce that vision.

Her book 'Becoming Kim Jong-un: A Former CIA Officer's Insights into North Korea's Enigmatic Young Dictator' is out next week at a time of intense speculation over Kim's health.

Becoming Kim Jong Un: A Former CIA Officer's Insights into North Korea's Enigmatic Young Dictator gives insight into the despot's mindset

Recent reports claimed that the 36-year-old was seriously ill after a heart procedure, speculation that was fanned when he failed to show up for the anniversary of North Korea's founding father Kim Il Sung, Kim's grandfather, on April 15.

Some reports have said that Kim Yo-jong, Kim's sister, could be ready to take over from him if he dies.

But that glosses over the importance of Ri in Kim's image of himself, writes Pak.

Having carried out dozens of bloody purges of his regime, Kim is only too aware of the jockeying for position within the North Korean elite.

So Ri's elevation may be a 'deliberate attempt to fend off any challengers' to his succession.

The couple have at least one child - former NBA star Dennis Rodman held one baby of theirs on a trip to Pyongyang - but they are thought to have two more.

Even in his 30s Kim is 'planning for the long haul and plotting a strategy for the duration of not just his life, but his children's life as well'.

The comparison between the Kims and the Kennedys on the face of it seems unlikely.

The Kennedys are Massachusetts-based Democratic political dynasty while Kim's grandfather was a nationalist guerrilla who founded the hermit nation after being hand picked by the Soviets.

Becoming Kim Jong-un says that the parallel lies in how both of them project the image they want their country to be.

In the case of North Korea, Kim wanted to construct an 'alternate reality' from the truth, which is that hundreds of thousands of people are locked in gulags and labor camps.

Kim 'literally and figuratively groomed' Ri so she would look the part of First Lady, writes former CIA analyst Jung H. Pak

While JFK was a beacon of optimism in post-WWII America, Kim presides over a brutal Communist regime set on building a nuclear weapon, but feels he and JFK are one and the same

Kim wanted to construct an 'alternate reality' from the truth, which is that hundreds of thousands of people are locked in gulags and labor camps. The book says that the parallel to the Kennedys lies in how both of them project the image they want their country to be

Kim went on a building spree of amusement parks and luxury resorts to lure in Chinese tourists and distract from the repression and the poverty which makes up daily life in North Korea.

John Park, a North Korea expert at Harvard University, said: 'There's this idea of a North Korean dream and Kim Jong-un being the creator of this dream and his wife being essentially the face of this dream.

'This type of dynamic is sort of an analogy for the future of North Korea overall'.

Nowhere is this more the case than Ri, who like Jackie Kennedy came from the elite of her society.

Ri was a former cheerleader and a member of the Unhasu Orchestra, an elite troupe handpicked by the state for their looks, loyalty and talent.

She was introduced to the world seven months after Kim took power in 2011 when she was seen with him at a concert.

From 'Comrade Ri' she soon became 'Respected First Lady' as she appeared by Kim's side more often.

What was surprising was her Western clothes and her appearance which was a striking departure from past practices.

Ri went to Beijing to meet with President Xi in March 2018 and subsequent trips to China and Chinese and South Korean media were buzzing about her wardrobe

Like Jackie Kennedy, Ri is a 'glamorous and devoted wife' and a 'glimpse of an emerging material and consumer culture which Kim seems to be actively promoting,' the book claims

Kim went on a building spree of amusement parks and luxury resorts to lure in Chinese tourists and distract from the repression and the poverty which makes up daily life in North Korea

Kim's grandfather railed against make-up and 'pretty dresses' and under his rule it was illegal for women to wear trousers when not at work.

The book will be released next week at a time of intense speculation over Kim's health after reports the 36-year-old was seriously ill after a heart procedure

Ri by contrast wore on her first appearance a bright green blouse with a fitted skirt and peep toe black pumps - the Huffington Post gushed: 'She is stylist indeed!'

On another occasion watching a flight contest with officers of the Korean People's Air Force her hair was partly rolled back, her lipstick was a tasteful muted pink shade and she was wearing a blue dress and three quarter length suit with a sparkly brooch.

In a sea of men wearing suits her colorful attire was a 'dramatic contrast'.

According to Pak, Ri was 'channeling Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge' and 'evoking the storied elegance of Jackie Kennedy'.

Kim was 'literally and figuratively grooming her to be Pyongang's First Lady', the book says.

Ri's diplomatic debut was on March 5, 2018 hosting the South Korean delegation to set up the first inter-Korean summit which would occur a month later.

South Korean National Security Adviser Chung Eui-yong committed a major faux pas over dinner when he asked Kim: 'Low about you stopped smoking? It's bad for your health

The table froze as no one criticized Kim but Ri clapped her hands and said: 'I always ask him to quit smoking but he won't listen to me'.

She defused the tension immediately and both parties moved on.

Ri went to Beijing to meet with President Xi in March 2018 and subsequent trips to China.

The author writes that Ri is somebody who 'provides the regime with a softer side, a thin veneer of style and good humor to mask the brutality, starvation and deprivation endured by the people'

Chinese and South Korean media were ablaze about her outfit and Chinese Internet users fawned over her so much the Communist party censored them because they were making President Xi's wife look bad.

Ri was with her husband for the inter-Korean summit the following month which laid the groundwork for Kim's historic meeting with Donald Trump, a sign of how vital she is to her husband.

Pak writes that Kim sees Ri as 'another component of his power' and she has 'personified the charm in the North Korean charm offensive'.

Ri is somebody who 'provides the regime with a softer side, a thin veneer of style and good humor to mask the brutality, starvation and deprivation endured by the people'

Like Jackie Kennedy, Ri is a 'glamorous and devoted wife' and a 'glimpse of an emerging material and consumer culture which Kim seems to be actively promoting'.

Through her he has an 'opportunity to channel the consumerist energies of the North Korean people', the book says.

In that sense at least, she is more like Jackie Kennedy than you might think.
Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks during his daily coronavirus briefing on April 21. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press)

To the editor: George Skelton is one of the better political writers around, but sometimes journalists forget that while they are used to news conferences that are aimed at the media, there may be a purpose for a different kind of briefing. ("Give Newsom credit. He's trying it all to fight coronavirus and California's economic collapse," column, April 23)

Skelton said that while Newsom is doing an admirable job guiding California through the COVID-19 pandemic, he is no FDR (I would agree), and he is "long-winded, repetitive and jargon-prone."

I don't usually watch news conferences, but I have been watching the governor's briefings every afternoon because they give me a certain level of comfort that I think appeals to those of us who are not jaded journalists. Newsom has done an amazing job keeping us informed and has filled a leadership role that I wish I saw from Washington.

Perhaps Newsom is trying to speak to the people and not members of the media like Skelton.

John Oppenheim, Long Beach

..

To the editor: I am appalled by Skelton's matter-of-fact statement that FDR was the greatest president of the 20th century. You might agree if your only historical reference is the movie "Pearl Harbor."

I would encourage Skelton to read "The Forgotten Man: A New History of the Great Depression" by Amity Shlaes, or "Roosevelt's Secret War: FDR and World War II Espionage" by Joseph Persico.

Roosevelt was a good speech maker but a bumbling president who prolonged the Great Depression by constantly changing regulations and scaring away business investment. His historical reputation was effectively bailed out by World War II; otherwise the economic disaster would have likely continued longer than it did.

I can think of four or five presidents from the 20th century that I prefer over Roosevelt, including his immediate successor, Harry Truman.

Scott Zambon, Santa Ana
Debenhams in High Street, Stratford-upon-Avon

The sad loss of Debenhams brings to an end the Grade II listed buildings long history as a department store, the very first to open in Stratford.

Designed by Healing and Overbury of Cheltenham to reflect the Georgian character of other parts of Stratfords Historic Spine, the store was built in 1960 on the site of two separate buildings on High Street.

It became Stratfords first department store, operating under the name J C Smith, a family-run business that originally started off as a drapers shop on Wood Street.

By 1970 J C Smith was one of the towns most successful ventures and celebrated its 100 anniversary with a lavish fortnight of special events and sales.

At the time its 24,000 square feet of retail space was the envy of other retailers in the town, as were its prominent entrances on two of Stratfords busiest streets, High Street and Wood Street.

Although J C Smith became part of Debenhams in 1929, Stratfords store traded under the J C Smith name for many years, until it was branded as a Debenhams at some point in the 1970s.

Over recent years the popularity of department stores nationally has waned and other big names in the sector such as BHS have already fallen by the wayside.

While Debenhams plans to keep at least 100 of its stores open when it emerges from its current administration process, the companys association with Stratford has now been consigned to the history books.

This week many have taken to social media to express their sadness at the loss of one of the towns retail stalwarts.
The Ministry of Food and Agriculture has assured the nation of sufficient food that will last for a long time, amid the Coronavirus predicament.



The Ministry said there was enough food for everybody and so there was no need for individuals to engage in panic buying or to stockpile food since there was no indication of food shortages soon in the country.



Speaking at the meet-the-press series organised by the Ministry of Information in Accra, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, Minister of Food and Agriculture said the country through the Metropolitan, Municipal and Districts Assemblies (MMDAs), the Ghana Commodity Exchange and the development partners were helping Ghana in its remedial measures to carry out its immediate response to COVID-19.



The country also designed post-COVID-19 interventions and immediate actions, which included; market surveillance, where market prices and food availability on the market were closely being monitored; provision of PPEs for Extension agents; the development of guidelines for production; public education through the media, and the facilitation of input distributions, among others.



The Minister mentioned other medium term actions including; the facilitation of access to credit for producers, aggregators, processors and supporting the buffer stock company of the Ministry to mop up strategic stocks for food security.



There is also the re-establishment of early warning systems to provide regular update on food production and the establishment of COVID-19 support for agriculture and food security prrogramme.



He said the country had started receiving support and cooperation from stakeholders to implement its plans to combat the pandemic.



Ghanas development partners had also indicated their readiness to support the countrys pursuance to ensure food security, Dr Akoto said.



He announced that the Ministry had received support of Personal Protective Equipment and a cash donation of GHC10,000 from Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), mobilised from its country-staff, and the cash was to serve as seed money for the COVID-19 support for Agriculture and food security programme.



Dr Akoto said the success of the Planting for Food and Jobs programme was so overwhelming that Ghana had become a food basket within the past two years, leading to a substantial increase of exports to neighbouring countries.



He said currently, Ghana exported 19 different food items to other West African countries, including Nigeria, Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, Togo and Cote dIvoire.



He however, admitted that, what the country needed was to focus on agro-processing and the capacity to process our food to help prolong the life span of our produce and prevent post-harvest losses.



In a related development, Mr Foster Boateng, Head of AGRA West Africa, who also spoke at the briefing, praised Ghana, for its continuous efforts in boosting agriculture production through its innovative programmes, saying the Government did well in committing 10 percent of its national budget towards agriculture production.



Ghana is also said to be the third country to be food sufficient in the Sub-region, AGRA noted, adding that within the past two years, the country had performed well on the AU Malabo Scorecard moving from 3.9 in 2017 to 6.6 in 2019, putting Ghana on track.



What it means is that Government is committing more than 10 per cent of its expenditure to agriculture. We are achieving six per cent growth in agriculture, so this country is doing well, so management of AGRA has been so happy about what Ghana is doing, Mr Boateng said.



He urged all Ghanaians to help in supporting Governments efforts at boosting agriculture production and food security, since the coronavirus pandemic drove significant imperatives including; health and agriculture, which needed to be strengthened.

Source: GNA









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The Rotary Club of Delhi Heritage handed over 5,000 reusable masks each to the Kendriya Bhandar and the Delhi Police on Saturday.

According to a statement, the club is supplying around 50,000 reusable masks for distribution, in coordination with the PIB, responding to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call to help the people by donating relief material during the COVID-19 crisis.

It stated that the face masks have been made by women tailors working from home during the ongoing lockdown.

The statement said that Kuldeep Singh Dhatwalia, Principal Director General of PIB, and Rajeev Jain, ADG of PIB, handed over 5,000 masks each to New Delhi DCP Eish Singhal and Kendriya Bhandar CMD Mukesh Kumar at the National Media Centre here.

Jain handed over the masks on behalf of the Rotary Club of Delhi Heritage. Rakesh Jain, president of Rotary Heritage, was present on the occasion, it added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
He recently detailed the struggles of raising his newborn son without his family amid the coronavirus lockdown.

And Ryan Thomas continued to reflect after claiming his trip to an Indian slum, for the upcoming ITV series Absolutely India: Mancs in Mumbai, helped him make sense of life.

The former Coronation Street star, 35, said the month-long journey alongside younger brothers Adam and Scott, both 31, was a wake-up call that fame and fortune were not the only marks of success.

Eye-opening: Ryan Thomas said his trip to an Indian slum, for ITV series Absolutely India: Mancs in Mumbai, helped him make sense of life. (L-R) Scott, Ryan, Dougie and Adam Thomas

Ryan told The Sun: 'It took us all aback. That slum was just full of fun and laughter, smiles on all their faces.

'It was a real eye opener. We don't need all the materialistic things we think we do.'

Brother Scott, best known for his stint on Love Island in 2016, added: 'You've got people over there who have nothing but are so content. It put things into perspective.'

Family: The trio were also joined by their formerly-estranged dad Dougie, 72, whose father, former journalist Nolan, emigrated to Britain from India in 1947

The brothers visited the Dharavi slum which is the most populated place on earth with 700,000 people living in just 0.8 square miles.

The trio were also joined by their formerly-estranged dad Dougie, 72, whose father, former journalist Nolan, emigrated to Britain from India in 1947.

It comes after Ryan, who welcomed his baby son Roman five weeks ago, detailed the struggles of raising his newborn without his family amid the coronavirus lockdown.

In a candid post shared earlier this month, the soap star admitted he was 'full of fear and loneliness' as he continues to self-isolate with fiancee Lucy Mecklenburgh.

The actor, who shared his message alongside a sweet picture of himself kissing his son, also offered to provide new parents with baby supplies during the global crisis.

'I'm full of fear and loneliness': Ryan Thomas has detailed the struggles of raising his three-week-old son Roman without his family amid the coronavirus lockdown on Saturday

Admitting quarantine has taken a toll on his mental health, Ryan said: 'Isolation. I've been thinking a lot about parents who are soon to bring a baby or just had a baby like ourselves into this crazy world we live in right now.

'Something none of us imagined. What is suppose to be one of the most special times in your life is full fear and loneliness.' [sic]

Crediting his partner Lucy, 28, for lifting his spirits amid the pandemic, the father-of-two explained: 'Everyday is a new challenge with a new born, luckily me & Lucy have each other & work hard as a team to look after our baby in our little bubble.

'It is unsettling not having support and reassurance from loved ones and the knowledge of normal medical care available if needed and it makes you feel very vulnerable.

'To all parents out there you need to know you are doing such an amazing job.' [sic]

The thespian also lent a helping hand by offering to send out baby products to those struggling to adjust to parenthood.

Ryan ended his post: 'It's only small gesture but if you need anything nappies, baby grows, formula things maybe I can send in the post that we have or I can order for you online.

'Please dm me your address & what you need and I'll try and do as much I can to help as know it must be a difficult time right now. Stay strong & positive ' [sic]

Apart: Boris Johnson's drastic lockdown measure has kept Ryan apart from his loved ones, even causing his eldest daughter Scarlett, 11, to meet her baby brother via FaceTime (pictured)

He and former TOWIE star Lucy welcomed baby boy Roman Ravello last month, following a three-year romance.

The fitness guru announced her pregnancy last August, after the hunk proposed during a trip to Italy's Amalfi Coast in June. The couple met on Celebrity Island With Bear Grylls in early 2017.

Ryan also has an 11-year-old daughter, Scarlett, who he shares with 36-year-old Tina O'Brien after the couple dated rom 2003 until 2009.

Absolutely India: Mancs In Mumbai will air on ITV Wednesday 8pm.
London, April 26 : Britain's coronavirus-related death toll officially passed the grim mark of 20,000 after another 813 people who tested positive for COVID-19 have died in hospitals in Britain, according to the Department of Health and Social Care.

In the face of the "once-in-a-century" global health crisis, Britain, among other countries, have pledged greater international cooperation to jointly fight the coronavirus pandemic, Xinhua news agency reported on Saturday.

The total number of COVID-19 deaths in hospitals reached 20,319 in Britain as of Friday afternoon, while 148,377 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in the country as of Saturday morning, said the health department.

At Saturday's Downing Street media briefing, Home Secretary Priti Patel said the entire nation was grieving as Britain passed another tragic milestone.

Without drawing on when the current restrictions on movement would be lifted, Patel said it was imperative that people continue to follow the rules designed to protect their loved ones.

National Medical Director of NHS (National Health Service) England Stephen Powis said Saturday COVID-19 is a "once-in-a-century global health crisis" and will continue to be something "we work through in the months ahead".

Previously, the government's Chief Scientific Adviser Sir Patrick Vallance said that keeping Britain's death toll below 20,000 would be "a good outcome in terms of where we would hope to get to with this outbreak".

At Saturday's press briefing, Powis explained: "When Sir Patrick Valance and I made that comment a number of weeks ago, what we were emphasizing was that this is a new virus, a global pandemic, a once-in-a-century global health crisis, and this was going to be a huge challenge, not just for the UK but for every country." Britain now is the fifth country with an official number of coronavirus-related deaths exceeding 20,000, after the United States, Italy, Spain and France.

One of Britain's leading public health experts told Xinhua Saturday that the real death toll could be much higher than the official figure which does not take account of people who died in care homes or at home.

Professor John Ashton, a former president of the British Faculty of Public Health, said: "Essentially there are four separate epidemics running in parallel, in hospitals, care homes, prisons and in the home. The official figures issued relate mainly to hospital deaths, but the others are gathering momentum." Professor Ashton warned that there was also a risk of a second wave of outbreak in the fall, but the number of overall deaths would be lower if measures were taken to contain the spread of the virus.

He cited the approach China has taken, such as home working as part of the efforts to contain the outbreak.

"If we can get 20 or 30 per cent of people to work from home, or high numbers working one day a week at home, it would lower the total number of people who catch the virus and who die," he said.

On easing of the current lockdown, Ashton said when people start to return to work, they should be regularly tested for the virus, and at the same time ensure older people were shielded.

"It is also vital to test and shield people working on the frontline in hospitals, care homes and in the community," he added.

Britain has become one of 20 countries and global organisations, including the World Health Organization (WHO), to pledge to give world access to new vaccines and treatments in the fight against COVID-19.

The pledge follows calls from Prime Minister Boris Johnson and senior government ministers for greater global cooperation in battle against coronavirus.

Britain is to co-host virtually on May 4 a new Coronavirus Global Response Summit, aiming to raise money to develop vaccines, treatments and tests to help contain the coronavirus pandemic, announced the government Friday.

The move is aimed at boosting global supply of a COVID-19 vaccine, once one is approved for use, to help prevent a second wave of the pandemic, according to a government statement.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, also first secretary of state, joined the UN secretary general, WHO director general and the leaders from the 20 countries, to pledge support for the new "COV-access agreement".

A British government spokesperson said: "The UK is one of the biggest supporters of the global effort to find a coronavirus vaccine, providing 250 million pounds (US $309 million) to international research on the disease to the Center for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations." Scientists at the University of Oxford and Imperial College London are leading Britain's efforts to develop a working vaccine. Oxford researchers have begun vaccine trials on humans on Thursday.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
MASON COUNTY, MI - A kayaker was rescued Thursday after capsizing in Lake Michigan near Ludington by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and police, officials said Friday, April 24.

DNR spokesperson Lt. Joe Molnar declined to name the 28-year-old from Coopersville but said he is believed to have been released from an area hospital, where he was treated for hypothermia.

The kayaker was fishing in the area where Pere Marquette River meets Lake Michigan on Thursday, April 23. He was using a trolling motor to propel his boat, when the vessel overturned after it took on water from a wave, according to the press release.

Mason County Central Dispatch received a 911 call at about 12:21 p.m. on Thursday. A DNR conservation officer and two Mason County Sheriffs Deputies rescued the man, who had been in the water for approximately 10 minutes and was not wearing a life jacket.

The kayaker was about 150 yards offshore from the Loomis Street Boat Launch, 998 W Loomis St., in Ludington. Officers saw him struggling to keep his head above water.

The water was about 42 degrees, according to DNR. He was transferred to an ambulance team for medical attention, said Molnar.

DNR officers ensured he was okay and safe, and at that point, thats where we stepped away, he said.

Molnar did not name the hospital where the kayaker was treated.

He said that the kayaker would not be cited for using a motorized vessel in violation of Gov. Gretchen Whitmers executive order barring motorized boats during the coronavirus pandemic stay-at-home order. That particular restriction was lifted on Friday.

Related: Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer extends stay-at-home order through May 15, relaxes certain restrictions

The man will also not be charged for failing to have a life jacket onboard, Molnar said. Although boaters are not required to wear a life jacket, they must have one readily accessible on their vessel, per state law.

Molnar encouraged other would-be boaters to wear life jackets if they take to Michigan waters, especially while temperatures are still low.

Overturning in cold waters can limit a persons ability to put on the life jacket after falling in, he said. He also encouraged boaters to assess weather conditions and head out when waters are calm.

Read more on MLive:

Boating activists who sued state over motor restrictions celebrate revision of Michigan stay-at-home order

Muskegon County coronavirus cases now exceed 200

Michigan tops 3,000 coronavirus deaths as new case count grows again

Construction resumes on Lake Harbor bridge in Norton Shores
Serbia plans to partially resume commercial flights around May 1, the countrys President, Aleksandar Vucic, said yesterday. It comes following last weeks announcement that the controlled opening of Serbias airports for commercial traffic would occur during the week of May 4 and May 11. It all depends on what the doctors say and if the situation remains under control. I expect the partial resumption of commercial flights on or around May 1, because it is easiest to control arrivals through airports. For starters, flights can resume to those airports in Europe and elsewhere which are open and operating, Mr Vucic said. Air Serbia has been selling tickets for flights from May 1 onwards. If all goes to plan and services resume, the airlines operations in May will be severely restricted due to airport closures and travel bans.





Currently, European carriers including Aegean Airlines, easyJet, LOT Polish Airlines and Montenegro Airlines are selling tickets on flights to the Serbian capital during the first half of May, although this is subject to change. Among other global airlines, Qatar Airways, which continues to maintain services to around forty destinations globally, has previously scheduled its Belgrade flight resumption for June 1. A member of the Serbian governments Covid crisis team said on Monday that all incoming passengers would be given an order to self-isolate upon arrival for a period of 28 days and their whereabouts monitored. The government is yet to communicate whether a ban on all foreigners entering the country, which is currently in place, will continue to be enforced.





Serbias Foreign Minister, Ivica Dacic, noted that Air Serbias ongoing repatriation flights will most likely come to an end. In the coming days we will discuss this matter and whether these flights will continue in case other containment measures are eased. We will likely no longer organise these types of humanitarian flights and we will instead look at other options, Mr Dacic said. Air Serbia has been operating a number of repatriation flights across Europe, Asia and North America over the past month, carrying some 13.000 passengers. The flights have been free of charge for all passengers. For the first time in weeks, the carrier has no repatriation services scheduled for today.




Panic sets in as stranded migrant workers see others flown home By Nadia Fazlulhaq Govt warned to prepare for unrest as virus kills off foreign jobs View(s): View(s):

Special flights bringing home Sri Lankan students from neighbouring countries have triggered restlessness and panic among thousands of migrant workers in the Middle East, some jobless or without legal documents, in fear of the pandemic and desperately wanting to come back, but authorities want them to stay put until the situation is brought under control here.

Once the airport (in Sri Lanka) is in operation, and all facilities to quarantine large crowds have been finalised, travel documents will be arranged on the instructions of the government, the Sri Lankan Embassy in Kuwait said, reaching out to migrant workers via social media.

The Sri Lankan Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia said: Please be informed that the present policy of the government is that Sri Lankan airports are not receiving any person until further notice. Therefore, you need to be patient and wait until the government makes a policy decision on receiving Sri Lankan living and working abroad.

Travelling puts people at high risk of catching the coronavirus, Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) Chairman Kamal Ratwatte emphasised. He said the workers should understand this and keep working until the pandemic was brought under control.

We urge family members of migrant workers not to pressure them to return to the country and encourage them to stay indoors in the respective countries, Mr. Ratwatte said.

There are 1.5 million Sri Lankan migrant workers, mostly based in the Middle East, according to the SLBFE. Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, has the greatest number  271,000 workers and their families, with another 31,500 in the neighbouring Emirates nation of Abu Dhabi.

Riyadh and Jeddah in Saudi Arabia have about 135,000 Sri Lankan migrant workers, Qatar has 120,000, Kuwait has 101,714.

South Korea, Lebanon and Oman each have about 24,000 Sri Lankans in their workforce. Sri Lankans also form part of the labour force in the Maldives (17,000), Malaysia (14,024), Bahrain (10,000), Jordan (9,969), Singapore (7,200) and Israel (6,039) and Cyprus (5,400).

This week, about 600 people gathered outside the Sri Lankan Embassy in Kuwait after the Kuwaiti government offered migrants lacking valid documents an amnesty, accommodation until departure and flights to home countries if they submitted a letter from respective embassies.

The crowds gathered despite a lockdown amid complaints the embassy was not responding to their requests. Some came daily, arriving at 4am to stand in hope outside the embassy.

The embassys stance was that travel documents would be processed only after Sri Lanka decided to reopen its airports. It added that discussions were being held to extend the amnesty, which had a closure date of April 25.

The Sunday Times learns that most of those struggling to return lack a valid visa or passport, have lost their daily wage earnings and have no place to stay, especially during this lockdown period.

Kuwait has around 18,000 without legal status, Korea has around 3,000, Saudi Arabia has around 55,000 and similarly in other countries have workers on irregular status. But those working with resident permits and valid documents, and have lost employment or have been laid off due to this pandemic situation should ideally remain in those countries, Mr. Ratwatte said.

The bureau has issued instructions to the 16 missions to educate agents and employers in receiving countries to look after the workers fairly during this pandemic, he added.

Remittances from migrant workers are dropping and will hit the economy hard. The World Bank predicts remittances will fall 19 per cent this year from the $US6.7 billion that flowed into the country in 2019.

In mid-March, The Bureau of Foreign Employment SLBFE suspended registration of workers for foreign employment. Until then, Sri Lankans were departing these shores for jobs abroad at the rate of 600 a day.

The Association of Licensed Foreign Employment Agencies (ALFEA) lamented that the government should recognise the contribution by migrant workers to the economy by including bodies involved in foreign employment trade in the Presidential Task Force on Economic Revival and Poverty Reduction.

From employment agencies to travel agents, medical centres, documentation attestation offices and the like, about 100,000 people are heavily dependent on the overseas employment market, ALFEA Assistant Secretary P.S. Selvaratnam pointed out.

Overseas countries and companies will try to minimise manpower and will send many Sri Lankan migrant workers back home, Mr. Selvaratnam forecast.

The current 4.32 per cent unemployment rate will increase rapidly once they return to the country.

The future will be a struggle as there will be less demand from employing countries and more supply of migrant workers, not only from Sri Lanka, but from countries like Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Vietnam and The Philippines. There will be competition and agents will be vital stakeholders in providing quality manpower, he said.

The government should throw a financial lifeline to agencies in the foreign employment trade to help them operate over the next six t0 12 months, Mr. Selvaratnam urged, pointing out that most of them relied on monthly cashflow and had seen zero revenue since the epidemic.

Mr. Selvaratnam said it was best for migrant workers with legal status to remain overseas and look for jobs in those countries but he also said this was the ideal time for embassies to record undocumented migrant workers as most of them would be willing to report in because they would be able to use the amnesty to obtain relief and return home.

A warning came from former SLBFE chairman and lecturer in Sociology, Jagath Wellawatte, who said undocumented migrant workers carried a substantial risk of spreading COVID-19.

He said tracking them was impossible: some lived in cramped dormitories and some in labour camps where there was no social distancing, with numbers of them suffering from underlying health conditions.

Job losses will take place both in the Gulf countries as well as in home countries. We will have to expect a huge number of Sri Lankan migrant workers coming into the country and the government should be prepared to manage a large number of returnees as lack of job opportunities here will trigger major social issues, Mr. Wellawatte said.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs recently launched a web portal called Contact Sri Lanka, requesting all overseas Sri Lankans (whether permanent residents or overseas for studies or employment) to register voluntarily. According to the Ministry almost 60,000 have registered, 21,575 from the Middle East region.
The United Auto Workers has informed workers at the General Motors Customer Care and Aftersales (CCA) facility in Burton, Michigan that the company has not agreed to extend medical benefits for temporary workers or anyone with less than 1 year seniority past April 30. Workers were given until April 27 to come back to work or be cut off from their benefits.

GM had been operating the CCA facilities that supply replacement parts to dealerships on a voluntary basis during the pandemic. At least four workers at the Burton CCA had tested positive for COVID-19.

The ultimatum to CCA workers, issued through managements UAW mouthpiece, is part of a drive by the auto companies to enforce an early return to work starting in early May. GM production workers are being told to plan for a May 4 return to work, although that date has not been definitely confirmed yet. Workers at assembly plants have been asked to return on a voluntary basis the week of April 27 to prepare for the restart of production.

Fiat Chrysler workers report that management is calling all workers, production and skilled trades back into its US and Canadian plants on May 4. Ford has not set a restart date, but is likely watching what happens at FCA. Toyota has also announced a restart of production for the first week in May, as have Volkswagen and Hyundai. French-based auto parts supplier Faurecia has joined the list of companies planning to restart production, saying it will reopen its Michigan plants May 4.

Jefferson North Entrance Gate with barriers to enforce social distancing

In advance of the restart of production, the United Auto Workers (UAW) has engaged in talks with Ford, GM and Fiat Chrysler to provide them with a cover. The automakers had to agree to temporary shutdowns after a wave of wildcat strikes hit facilities in the US and Canada.

In advance of the re-opening, FCA has issued largely cosmetic and unworkable safety protocols, undoubtedly worked out with the UAW, including temperature checks and social distancing, impossible in factories with thousands of workers on each shift.

An FCA Jefferson North worker in Detroit who had reviewed the proposal told the World Socialist Web Site, Some of that is ridiculous. I dont see how they will pull it off. They have put markers leading from the turnstiles to the parking lot, six feet apart where they will have us standing in a single file line. We will be coming in and day shift coming out  We have to fill out a COVID-19 questionnaire every day. That means we will have to get to work 2 hours before the shift.

They have tables marked offthe green xs are where you can sit. Where are you going to put the other people? They will allow you to bring a folding chair, but where will you put them if we are supposed to be six feet apart?

Jefferson North Cafeteria with seating arranged to enforce distancing

They are going to give each worker two masks for 10-hour shift. Ten minutes to sanitize your work area. They will add five minutes to breaks. I want to see how all of this going to work.

You have to bring your lunch because there will be no restaurant or food service. There will be no vending machines. If they dont allow backpacks or bags, how are you going to bring your lunch?

An FCA worker at the Sterling Heights Assembly north of Detroit told the WSWS, I think the big reasons they are pushing for people to go back is because they want to be making money. We used to joke at the plant about this kind of thing. We would say Im just a CID number. That is the number you use to clock in. What we mean was we are just a number to them. What it really all about is profit, about making money.
Exports units, which account for 25% of the countrys total exports, in non-containment zones of Gujarat will resume operations from Saturday, an official in the chief ministers office said on Friday.

Almost 90% of the 800 large and 453,000 small and medium factories in Gujarat have pending orders and nearly 70% are not in containment zones, officials said. About 80% of the salt and 70% of jewellery exported from India is from Gujarat.

In the first phase, factories with pending export orders will be allowed to start operations provided they are not in Covid-19 containment zones, Ashwani Kumar, secretary to chief minister Vijay Rupani, said.

Kumar said 98 sub-registrar offices in the state will also start working from Monday where social distancing norms will be strictly enforced.

Purvin Mariyankari, director of the Ahmedabad Export Import Development Association (AEIDA), welcomed the order and said the industry is going to suffer as there is not much demand internationally.

Mariyankari said the total exports from Gujarat in 2018-19 stood at $67,401 million.

The export industry has already witnessed $846 million fall in exports in February 2020 as compared to the same month in 2019 because of the slowdown, he said.

Shailesh Patwari, former president of Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), said it would be difficult to operate the industries in absence of workers.

Mostly, migrant workers from states such as Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh work in the export units and about 70% of them have already gone back, Patwari said.

The state government on Friday decided to lift the curfew from Ahmedabad, Surat and Vadodra, the three most affected districts of the state, after 191 cases of the coronavirus disease cases were reported from Gujarat, taking the states tally to 2815.

But there will still be a tight implementation of the lockdown until May 3, Shivanand Jha, Gujarats director general of police, said.

The state has reported 127 Covid-19 related deaths.

Jayanti Ravi, principal secretary (health), said the situation was fast coming under control and decision has been taken to test all pregnant women in the Covid-19 hotspots areas even if they dont any symptoms.
Get the latest on coronavirus. Sign up to the Daily Brief for news, explainers, how-tos, opinion and more.

Former equalities chief Trevor Phillips has responded to widespread criticism of his appointment to the governments review of the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities.

Official figures show more than a third of people in intensive care from Covid-19 are from BAME backgrounds  well over double the 13% proportion in the UK population as a whole.

NHS England data for the first 12,600 deaths from the virus in English hospitals revealed that Black people are dying from the virus at almost twice the rate of their proportion of the population.

Phillips and Professor Richard Webber  who together run specialist research company Webber Phillips  were asked by Public Health England (PHE) to provide expert support to an inquiry into why increasing numbers of victims of the coronavirus pandemic are from BAME backgrounds.

Trevor Phillips, former Chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission.

This has sparked outcry from people from BAME communities with many branding the move as shameful and alarming, given his suspension from the Labour Party over Islamophobia allegations and previous offensive comments on race.

Those condemning the move include prominent Black and Muslim figures.

Acknowledging the discontent around his appointment, Phillips  who was formerly chairman of the Equality and Human Rights Commission  told HuffPost UK that his priority at this time is assisting with the inquiry.

Everyone should be contributing anything they can to tackling this crisis, he said.

Anyone can see the research Richard and I have already done on our website, which explains why weve been asked to help.

Close-up of a patient's hand in a hospital bed

While welcoming the review itself, the Muslim Council of Britain  the umbrella group for leading mosques and other Islamic institutions  slammed Phillips appointment.

Writing in a statement on Saturday, Harun Khan  the organisations secretary...

Continue reading on HuffPost
Russia has launched its 'Victory Rocket' to the International Space Station (ISS) to mark the 75th anniversary of the Great Patriotic War.

The Russian Soyuz 'Victory Rocket', was launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Saturday. The cargo rocket MS-14 will deliver food, medical supplies, fuel, and other equipment to the International Space Station, along with a flash drive containing the names of the Soviet soldiers who took part in the 20th century's Great Patriotic War.

READ | Here's how Hillary Clinton reacted to Trump's bizarre 'disinfectant injection' suggestion

According to the reports by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), this is the second time this month the Russian federal space agency, Roscosmos, launched one of their crafts to the International Space Station. Liftoff of the Progress MS-14 uncrewed cargo resupply mission to the orbital outpost launched from Site No. 31/6 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Friday, 24 April at 21:51:41 EDT  which is 01:51:41 UTC on Saturday, 25 April.

READ | Modi govt announces reopening of shops, non-essential services; here's what's allowed

LIFTOFF! The Russian Progress 75 has lifted off at 9:51 pm ET and is en route to the @Space_Station with almost three tons of food, fuel and supplies! Watch: https://t.co/rwkVjRB3DZ pic.twitter.com/t1Yo3JkSDA  NASA (@NASA) April 25, 2020

LIVE NOW: Delivery heading to the @Space_Station! 



We are launching the Russian Progress 75 filled with almost three tons of food, fuel and supplies on a Soyuz rocket. Liftoff is scheduled for 9:51pm ET  dont miss it! https://t.co/rwkVjRB3DZ https://t.co/rwkVjRB3DZ  NASA (@NASA) April 25, 2020

READ | Laughing stock like never before, Trump claims 'disinfectant' suggestion was 'sarcastic'

READ | Joe Biden can't believe what he's had to say after Trump suggests 'inject disinfectants'
Two Ukrainian soldiers were injured in enemy shelling.

Russian occupation forces over the past 24 hours violated their ceasefire obligations and 10 times opened fire at the positions of Ukraine's Joint Forces.

On April 24, the enemy employed 120mm and 82mm mortars, proscribed by the Minsk agreements, as well as grenade launchers of various types, heavy machine guns, and small arms, says the morning summary drawn by the Joint Forces Command.

As a result of enemy shelling, two Ukrainian soldiers sustained injuries.

Read alsoZelensky positive to put end to war in Donbas within his cadence

At the same time, Joint Forces held their ground and acted resolutely to deliver a worthy rebuff to enemy attacks. They returned fire to convey to Russian invaders the need to observe the truce.

According to preliminary intelligence reports, on April 24, Ukrainian troops injured at least one invader. From day-start on Saturday, Russian occupation forces fired at Ukrainian defenders three times, bringing no casualties.

No cases of coronavirus infection were reported among Ukrainian troops, the report notes.
By May, General Li Mi, the Kuomintang commander, announced the dissolution of the Yunnan Province Anti-Communist National Salvation Army, as the Kuomintang was also known. Over 5,000 Kuomintang troops were flown from Chiang Rai to Taiwan.

Brigadier General Kyaw Zaw, who had been one of the 30 young men who received military training in Japan to fight British colonial forces, led Operation Bayintnaung, the first division-level operation in mountainous terrain in February 1954. With air and artillery support, Myanmars military managed to push the Kuomintang into Thailand.

In April 1953, Myanmar filed a complaint with the United Nations General Assembly about the Kuomintangs invasion. Despite the United Nations ruling that the Kuomintang should leave, it refused to retreat.

Myanmars military or Tatmadaw launched Operation Nagar Naing (Conquering of the Dragon) in March 1953 in Shan States Mong Hsat against the Kuomintang but suffered a heavy defeat.

The Kuomintang rapidly expanded its forces to some 12,000 troops and invaded the north, east and south of the country while engaging in the lucrative opium trade.

Kuomintang troops first crossed the border in 1950 from Yunnan Province after they were defeated by the Chinese Communist Party in the civil war.

Yangon  On this day in 1954, Operation Bayintnaung successfully concluded, finally driving the Chinese nationalist Kuomintang, the first foreign invader of independent Myanmar (then Burma), out of the country.

On This Day The Day Chinese Invaders Were Forced Out of Myanmar

Myanmar Says Factories Must Take COVID-19 Precautions Before They Reopen

One Death and 50 COVID-19 Infections Reported Among Myanmar Migrants in Malaysia

When Japanese Forces Took Burma Off the Airwaves

COVID-19 Swabs to be Flown from Myanmars Rakhine After Fatal Shooting

Two New York Cats Become First US Pets to Test Positive for COVID-19

Four Civilians Including Two Children Killed in Shelling of Myanmar State-Owned Bank

Trump Downplays Concerns Over Return of Coronavirus Later This Year

In Myanmar, Concerns That Chinas Help on COVID-19 Comes With Strings Attached

Back to the Future: In Myanmar, Disease and Propaganda Have a Long History

The Day Chinese Invaders Were Forced Out of Myanmar

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Kanye West, Chick fil-A chip in to help LA Dream Center's pandemic relief efforts

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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.
(CNN)  Roll up for Donald Trump's old West traveling medicine show.

He's marketed steaks and real estate, board games and vodka, but nothing the incorrigible salesman has tried to hawk measures up to his latest routine as he speculated on a possible new cure for Covid-19.

For most of his life as a pitchman, Trump has only had his own reputation on the line. But now, in the middle of a generational health crisis, lives are at stake.

In an eye-popping moment, Trump doubled down on his claim that sunlight and the festering humidity of high summer could purge the virus in his latest grab for a game-changer therapy.

Then, he asked aides on camera whether zapping patients with light or injecting disinfectant into the lungs to clean sick patients from inside could cure them of the disease.

"Maybe you can, maybe you can't. Again I say maybe you can, maybe you can't. I'm not a doctor. I'm like a person who has a good you-know-what," Trump said, pointing to his head.

That led the Reckitt Benckiser Group, which produces Lysol, to flatly announce on its website that "under no circumstance" should disinfectant be administered into the human body. Washington state's emergency management agency warned against eating Tide pods or injecting disinfectant, tweeting, "don't make a bad situation worse."

Trump's comments made his extravagant claims for the unproven use of the anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine seem peer-reviewed by comparison. And they were ironic, given rising criticism that he repeatedly discredits science that conflicts with his rosy claims the pandemic will soon be over.

Trump's bizarre performance came as the horrible dilemma he faces between keeping the economy closed to halt the virus and getting people back to work became even more stark.

New data Thursday showed that 26 million Americans have lost their jobs in five weeks, reflecting the terrible human impact the current emergency can have even on people who don't get sick. The number of US deaths moved towards 50,000 as the virus dug into more communities -- even as a clutch of states laid plans to open back up.

Trump hits back amid critiques of his anti-science approach

The President spent little time at his daily briefing explaining his thinking on how he might safely pilot the nation out of this crisis, instead reaching for a new narrative more hopeful than the grim reality in his latest example of "miracle" thinking on how to beat the pandemic.

He called upon William Bryan, acting director of the Homeland Security Department's Science and Technology directorate, to unveil research into the coronavirus's susceptibility to heat and light.

Bryan presented data showing that in some circumstances sunlight can reduce the half-life of the virus on a surface or in the air from 18 hours to less than two minutes.

"That's how much of an impact U.V. rays has on the virus," Bryan said. He also spoke about how effective bleach and other disinfectants could be at eradicating the pathogen in areas that were not exposed to sunlight in interesting research that could help Americans understand how to clean surfaces.

But Trump, who appeared fascinated by the possibilities, posed a question of entirely different magnitude: "Supposing we hit the body with a tremendous, whether it's ultraviolet or just very powerful light ... supposing you brought the light inside the body, which you can do, either through the skin or in some other way?" Trump asked, possibly thinking of an analogy to radiation treatment, which can be used to treat cancers.

Then the President pondered another idea: "I see the disinfectant, where it knocks it out in a minute, one minute.

"Is there a way we can do something like that by injection inside or almost a cleaning, because you see it gets in the lungs, and it does a tremendous number on the lungs?"

A few moments later, Trump asked Dr. Deborah Birx, a top member of his pandemic task force, whether heat and light could be combined as a cure for someone facing the cascade of coronavirus complications including respiratory problems, cardiac issues and kidney failure that can be caused when the body tries to fight the virus and overreacts.

The veteran MD and internationally renowned public health expert -- who was seated off to the side -- appeared to struggle with how to respond.

"Not as a treatment ... it's a good thing when you have a fever, it helps your body respond. But ... I've not seen heat for viruses."

When Trump was subsequently asked why he was touting rumored cures and not medically proven science, the President reacted angrily, accusing the reporter of pushing fake news.

"I'm just here to present talent. I'm here to present ideas because we want ideas to get rid of this thing," Trump said.

The surreal nature of the spectacle later prompted CNN's Chief White House Correspondent Jim Acosta to reflect on air: "This is sort of becoming President Trump's traveling medicine show."

Everyone wants a cure

Everyone who has lost their job, battled the virus, seen relatives die or has been stuck in their house for weeks can sympathize with Trump's fierce desire for a cure.

And leaders who think out of the box are valuable. Wartime British Prime Minister Winston Churchill was known for "funny science" and flights of fancy like a proposal to turn icebergs into unsinkable aircraft carriers. But amid his wild schemes, he had some great ideas that helped win the war, too.

So it's easy to mock Trump. But he also has the world's largest megaphone, appears to be openly mulling a treatment that could cause people to poison themselves if they adopted it and has a record of deflecting from the grave reality of the virus to peddle optimism that may not be matched by the facts. He also seems to have little time for the rigorous clinical testing and factual deduction that is at the heart of generations of advances in clinical science and is the bedrock of ethical medicine.

There is some scientific evidence that seasonal sunlight and humidity can make it more difficult for a virus to spread. But the struggle of tropical states like Singapore to contain a second wave of the pandemic appears to indicate that heat is not a miracle cure. And sunlight can't eradicate the spread of the virus among people gathering in large groups, or inside buildings.

In a CNN town hall later Thursday evening, US Food and Drug Commissioner Dr. Stephen Hahn insisted that Trump's musings about light therapy represented a "natural question" someone would ask based on the presented data. Pressed by Anderson Cooper, Hahn added: "I certainly wouldn't recommend the internal ingestion of a disinfectant."

Trump's comments horrified medical experts

Renowned cardiologist Dr. Jonathan Reiner told CNN's Erin Burnett that the President needed to leave the medical analysis to the professionals and that his statements needed to be vetted because so many people listen to him.

"If the President thinks that tanning beds are going to cure the coronavirus, it is a mistake, it's not going to happen," Reiner said.

Dr. Megan Ranney, an emergency physician at LifeSpan/Brown University, told Burnett that viruses and bacteria don't live as long in sunlight and said there probably would be a decrease of coronavirus infections over the summer.

But she added: "Sunlight is not a panacea. It is not going to be a cure-all. It is not going to save us from the virus."

The latest medical follies came a day after a top administration vaccine specialist Rick Bright said he was ousted after blocking funding for unproven virus cures touted by the President.

Trump and his allies on conservative media spent weeks touting hydroxychloroquine based on small anecdotal studies in France and China. But a study this week by the National Institutes of Health and the University of Virginia found that hundreds of patients at US Veterans Administration hospitals who took the drug were no less likely to need mechanical ventilation and had higher death rates compared to those who did not take it.

Trump angrily denied that he had now stopped pushing the drug -- though he hasn't talked it up for days in the briefing.

"We have had a lot of very good results. And we had some results that perhaps aren't so good. I don't know," Trump said.

Thursday was not the first time that Trump has speculated that warmer weather could just make the virus disappear.

"You know, a lot of people think that goes away in April with the heat -- as the heat comes in. Typically, that will go away in April," Trump said on Fox News on February 10. He added later at a rally, "Looks like by April, you know, in theory, when it gets a little warmer, it miraculously goes away. I hope that's true."

The President's hopes have been proven wrong. But the last sentence of his comment shows how he advances a wild theory but then gives himself some cover. By saying he hopes the virus would go away, he can accuse anyone questioning his comments as rooting against a cure and of peddling despair. When he says maybe something will work or maybe it won't, he gives himself similar leeway.

Trump also contravened facts in a more conventional manner during his briefing.

He was told that the country's infectious disease specialist Dr. Anthony Fauci had warned in a Time magazine interview earlier that he was not "overly confident" the US had the robust testing operation in place to safely open up the country.

"I don't agree with him on that. No, I think we're doing a great job on testing," Trump said.

This story was first published on CNN.com "Trump, ever the salesman, is peddling dangerous cures for coronavirus"
As the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic continues to create chaos with most of the countries across the globe imposing lockdown measures, the hunt for a vaccine has also picked up pace. Several trials and studies are being conducted in US, UK, China and India with the hopes of finding the elusive vaccine to stop the novel coronavirus pathogen.

In an effort to unite the world in the fight against coronavirus the UN launched a collaboration to bring together world leaders, the private sector, scientific and humanitarian actors and other partners to promote health in these difficult times and to share information on the virus, exchange data amongst each other without any political boundries.

The collaboration is co-hosted by World Health Organisation Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, French President Emmanuel Macron, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

On the backdrop of the launch of this collab, the Secretary-General of United Nations Antonio Guterres expressed the idea for a universal solution to the universal COVID-19 problem. On twitter Guterres wrote: "A COVID-19 vaccine must be considered a global public good. Not a vaccine for one country or one region -- but a vaccine that is affordable, safe, effective, easily-administered and universally available -- for everyone, everywhere."

"A world free of COVID-19 requires the biggest public health effort in global history: Data must be shared, resources mobilised and politics set aside. We are in the fight of our lives. We are in it together. And we will come out of it stronger, together," he said.

The media statement issued after Friday`s announcement, said that the group will seek to implement innovative diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines at record speed and at record scale in a bid to defeat COVID-19.

Meanwhile, the novel coronavirus has infected more than 27.9 lakh people and killed over 1,95,000 worldwide, according to Johns Hopkins University data on Saturday morning.
Nigerian governors have written to President Muhammadu Buhari asking him to impose overnight curfew and make wearing of face masks in public compulsory.

The 36 governors made this known in a letter dated April 24 and addressed to Boss Mustapha, secretary to the government of the federation (SGF).

Kayode Fayemi, governor of Ekiti and Chairman of the NGF, said he and his colleagues also want the approval of the president on inter-state ban.

According to them, those actions were necessary to limit the spread of COVID-19.

In the letter to Mustapha, who is head of the presidential task force on COVID-19, the governors said they would like to have their input in the next presidential intervention.

He said the governors had met with Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo via a teleconference on April 22.

Recall at that meeting, it was agreed that the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) articulates the issues that it would want to be included in the next Presidential Pronouncement on COVID-19 so as to have a Uniform and Coordinated Policy on COVID-19 at both the national and sub-national levels, the letter read.

Read Also: Wear Face Mask From May 1 Or Risk 14-Day Isolation  Governor Abiodun

Subject to Mr Presidents approval, the NGF would want the following incorporated into Mr. Presidents Pronouncements.

Inter-State lockdown excluding movement of essential supplies  foods, beverages, medical and pharmaceuticals, petroleum supplies and agricultural products:

Internal free movement but with restrictions on large gatherings and assemblies: overnight curfews:

Lockdown of flights: and compulsory use of face masks/coverings in the public.
Brought to You by Honda of Staten Island

John Kilcullen doesnt remember when he became fascinated with trees. It seems he always was.

The more I learn about them, the more I love them, said Kilcullen, the director of Conference House Park.

He has been sharing that love on his Instagram account by documenting street and park trees all over Staten Island in a lead up to celebrating Arbor Day.

And on Arbor Day itself, April 24, he shared his knowledge of trees by providing a tour of native and historic trees on the grounds of Conference House Park. He did that on Facebook which can be seen here (even if you are not a member of Facebook). Here is part 1.

CHP virtual Arbor Day tree walk. I apologize for it not being live..settings were off. :( Enjoy it. And I can respond to any questions. Posted by John Kilcullen on Friday, April 24, 2020

Follow this link for part 2.

The park, located in Tottenville in the southern most part of New York State, surrounds the historic stone manor house built in 1680, that is named for the unsuccessful Revolutionary War peace conference that was held here on September 11, 1776. There are three other historic buildings, over 250 acres of parkland on the Raritan Bay making it a great place for history, recreation and exploring nature.

Before his Facebook live appearance, Kilcullen dropped by a Zoom Life-Wire News meeting where he answered a few questions about trees.

How can you tell how old a tree is?

The classic way to tell how old a tree is, everyone knows, is to count the rings. But the only way to do that is to cut the tree down. You dont want to kill the tree to see how old it is. Kilcullen had an interesting way of estimating the age of a catalpa or Indian bean tree, one of his favorites in West Brighton.

- Judging from the photos from the 1940 tax records, a catalpa tree in West Brighton is over 100 years old. The catalpa features giant heart-shaped leaves, dangling bean-like seed pods and twisting trunk and branches. (Life-Wire News) Life-Wire NewsLife-Wire News

He researched a 1940s tax photo where the tree is visible and he estimated it was at least 20 years old. So, he says, the tree is easily well over 100 years old.

There are other ways to tell the age of a tree without cutting it down. Here is how to measure it and here even more ideas.

- A pin oak in early spring in New Springville. (Life-Wire News/Aaron Bialer) Life-Wire NewsLife-Wire News

How do you identify a tree?

Aaron Bialer had taken a dramatic photo of a tree earlier in the spring. Kilcullen identified it as a pin oak, probably 40 to 50 years old. How did he figure that out so fast, we asked.

Every tree species is very individual. It has a certain look, said Kilcullen. The more you observe trees, the more familiar you are with that look.

Kilcullen also shared one of his favorite books -- Bark by Michael Wojtech.

- Bark: A Field Guide to Trees of the Northeast by Michael Wojtech (Life-Wire News)(Life-Wire News)

That could be a book about dogs, quipped Anthony DiFato. The subtitle gives it away, though: A Field Guide to Trees of the Northeast.

Just as we all have different skin and colors, trees have different barks that you can use to ID trees, said Kilcullen.

You know you are a tree geek when you buy a book about bark, he laughed.

What happens to a tree when it is hit by lightning?

Bialer asked this question. He had also taken a photo of this tree after thunderstorms this week. It appears to illustrate a fresh strike.

- A lightning strike in New Springville after a recent storm. (Life-Wire News/Aaron Bialer) Life-Wire NewsLife-Wire News

Lightening splits or shatters the wood, said Kilcullen. Basically lightening passes through the tree and kills that section of the tree. The rest of the tree is alive, but the tree might be unstable.

Kilcullen said the historic tulip poplar in Clove Lakes Park has a lightning protection system.

Its the largest tree in New York City, said Kilcullen. It would take nearly 10 of us holding hands to go around the tree.

- The tulip poplar in Clove Lakes Park is the largest tree in New York City. It is located at Forest Avenue and Clove Road. (Staten Island Advance)(Staten Island Advance)

At over 110 feet tall, it is a target in thunderstorms. So a lightning rod was placed at its top with a copper wire that directs the electrical charge to the ground.

Kilcullen looked forward to answering more questions on the Facebook Live. He left to go survey the park to see if any trees or branches came down in the wind and lightning of the day before.

As a former borough arborist, Kilcullen doesnt limit himself when it comes to surveying trees. He is on the lookout wherever he goes on Staten Island which you can appreciate through his Instagram account. He also captures the beauty of trees in his posts on The Sunrise Club, a Facebook page he helped organize where you will find photos on not only the sun coming up, but sunsets, moon rises and other celestial events.

Another way to enjoy the trees of New York City is to visit Great Trees of New York City and Parks@Home: NYC Parks.

-- Written collaboratively by Aaron Bialer, Anthony DiFato, Steven Filoramo, Joseph Padalino, and Gregory Perosi for Life-Wire News Service with Kathryn Carse

Learn more about the Advance/SILive.coms partnership with Lifestyles for the Disabled, sponsored by Honda of Staten Island.
Hotels Offer Discounted Gift Card Deals to Raise Cash  Will It Work?

Small hotel owners cant afford to wait on the government to dig out from decimated travel demand.

Many hotel operators qualified for the $350 billion paycheck protection program under the $2 trillion coronavirus relief fund passed in late March. But the depleted program, even with a $320 billion replenishment signed into law on Friday, isnt a reliable stream of income for cash-strapped hoteliers.

Small businesses have been shut out of the program due to technical issues or difficulty in finding a lender to process their application. While hoteliers wait for word from the bank, some have to find creative solutions to pay down debt.

Were holding off on paying some bills until our PPP loan comes in, upstate New York hotelier Gregory Henderson said. Everything is a juggle right now.

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Henderson and his husband Joseph Massa co-own the popular Roxbury Motel in Roxbury, New York. The boutique hotel in the Catskills draws visitors from New York City and beyond to its contemporary rooms as well as those themed for throwback television shows like The Flintstones and Bewitched. Given their success and several expansions to the Roxbury, Henderson and Massa spent five years building up the road their second hotel, the Roxbury at Stratton Falls.

It opened weeks before the spread of coronavirus effectively shut down the U.S. travel industry, and now Henderson and Massa are pursuing any available avenue to make sure their new hotel survives.

When this first started, it was about the basics. If everything is shut off, how will we make our colossal debt service from opening this new hotel and pay other things? Henderson said. Anything you do that the government is helping you with is still more debt. For people like us that just took on so much new debt, there was already no room for that.

Bonds, Bailouts, and Uncertainty

While he applied for a PPP loan as well as an Economic Injury Disaster Loan, Henderson discovered last week how hotels around the world are offering bonds to generate short-term capital.

Story continues

The Roxbury at Stratton Falls co-owners Gregory Henderson and Joseph Massa

Programs like Buy Now, Stay Later offer $100 hotel bonds that mature after 60 days to $150 and can be used for a hotel stay at properties like the Yotel in Boston. Hotel operations company Porter & Sail offers hotel credits, a program where a $200 purchase gives buyers $300 to use at hotels like Hotel Villa Flori on Italys Lake Como and Bisma Eight in Bali. Henderson and Massa decided to launch their own program, Were Giving 150%, where guests get 150% of the value of any gift card they buy.

The Roxbury hotels normally take a deposit equal to a one-night stay when guests make a reservation, and those deposits help cover expenses through off-peak times of the year. With so much uncertainty on when restrictions will lift and what the travel recovery will look like, guests have started to cancel their summer stays at Hendersons two hotels.

Up until about two weeks ago, people were holding out. Now its like my worst fears are coming through, he said. Some have rebooked for 2021, thank God, so we just hold onto their deposits and they reschedule. But a lot havent and, Ive worked on training the two people I have answering the phone to not plead but to maybe do what I wouldnt have done in the past and give a matter-of-fact explanation of the reality were in and appeal to peoples kind side.

Henderson and Massa have worked through their website and social media channels to get the word out to guests of the gift card program. They have sold about 100 gift cards totaling around $15,000 so far.

Its certainly not enough to handle the six figures of deposit exposure we have for the summer, Henderson said. But it will enable us to make payroll this week and enable us to pay some of our outstanding items from March.

Buy Now, Shortfall Later?

Nothing is off the table when it comes to hotel cash preservation and revenue management during the coronavirus, but that doesnt mean everything will work.

The U.S. hotel industry is expected to have its worst year on record for average occupancy, according to an American Hotel & Lodging Association report out this week. While the hotel bond and discounted gift card programs are popular for smaller operators, some analysts question how effective they can be compared to traditional options like deferring loan payments.

You have all the debt mechanisms that are searching for a way to push debt as far back as they possibly can, LW Hospitality Advisors Chief Operating Officer Evan Weiss said. But Im not too sure on outside-the-box thinking at this time. People simply arent traveling.

As coronavirus wreaked havoc on the travel industry and decimated occupancy rates, reducing payroll and debt service obligations were some of the first moves from hoteliers around the world. Hilton pre-sold $1 billion in loyalty points to American Express, a move aimed at generating enough liquidity to get the global hotel giant through the coronavirus crisis.

But finding ways to generate revenue are still limited to smaller companies.

Its not like youll induce demand by lowering rates, CBRE Hotels Director of Research Information Services Robert Mandelbaum said. You have to figure whats out there and what can you accommodate.

Henderson admits the gift card and hotel bond programs arent silver bullets in restoring the travel industry to what it once was and establishing strong balance sheets. But cash is king at the moment, and operators like him need to access it in any way they can. He and Massa are still waiting on their PPP and EIDL applications to clear.

Looking at spreadsheets and forecasting, sure, there is a worry of what position were put in if we do too much of this and then the whole summer has a gift certificate, Henderson said. But thats all out the door for now. We need the income.

If Henderson can find a silver lining to all the depleted occupancy and uncertain future, it is the growing consensus that travelers will likely flock to drive-to locations before hopping on a plane. Given the Roxbury hotels location, about three hours from New York City and four hours from Boston, Henderson and Massa are at least comforted that they stand to benefit from pent-up travel demand in their own highly populated region.

I know were on peoples minds to get away, and thats literally all thats keeping me going, Henderson said.

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Kanye West and his kids left their home to go to Wyoming. This was his way of giving his wife Kim Kardashian her much-needed break.

A Mom's Quiet Time

While Kim Kardashian may look like a superwoman, juggling a lot of responsibilities altogether, the mom of four needed her break, too.

The "Keeping Up With The Kardashians" star continues to study for law school, manage various businesses, and raise four kids all at the same time.

While Kim is a picture of a strong and independent woman, she is like every other mom out there. She could use a break and her husband, Kanye West, was all too willing to give her what she needed.

Last week, the rapper decided to give his wife the quiet time she needed. He packed up his things with all four kids in tow and left for Wyoming. Kanye went on a three-day trip with all his children.

His wife, Kim, was able to stay at home and focus on herself. "They needed a change of scene and he wanted to give Kim a break from the chaos at home. Having all four kids at home all the time can be a lot," a source told E! News.

The source emphasized that the break was not just for Kim, but also for the kids as concerns over the coronavirus pandemic continue to grow.

Kim is studying and working very hard, too. She and Kanye take turns working and watching the kids. They are both busy and making sure to give each other breaks.

Kanye gave his wife the best three days all to herself. Now, Kim is ready to take on more and get back to her motherly duties. After all, raising four young children could drain the life out of anyone, including a Kardashian.

The Challenge

The coronavirus pandemic has challenged everyone's norms. In particular, parents all over the world would agree that keeping the kids in a tight schedule isn't possible all the time.

While all their work-related activities put on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic, both Kim and Kanye are challenged by having all four kids at home.

"It's a constant shuffle between schoolwork and keeping them all entertained and busy," another E! News source shared.

The source added that it has been a struggle for the couple, but they are trying to pull through. "Everyone is chipping in and trying to do their part while balancing their work. It's a crazy hectic time and they are trying to find ways to make it work for the family."

On the other hand, Kim opened up about how a typical day in their household was like in her latest interview with "Vogue" magazine.

"We're in the theater room. That's the place that has gotten the most use lately," Kim said.

"The whole family has spent the last few nights in there after the kids made it into a fort, with, like, different beds all over the floor."

Meanwhile, as the Kardashian sisters are following the social distancing protocol, they have found ways to still communicate with each other -- thanks to several applications like Facetime, Zoom, and a lot more.
Zarif: Neither US nor Europe can lecture Iran on its missile program

Iran Press TV

Friday, 24 April 2020 12:50 PM

Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says neither the United States nor its European allies, with their 'flimsy' misreading of the landmark nuclear deal of 2015, is allowed to 'lecture' the Islamic Republic on its missile program.

"US has been bullying all against UNSC Resolution 2231 since 2017. Europe obeyed US instead of 2231," Zarif said in a posting on Twitter on Friday.

He added that neither the United States nor Europe can lecture Iran based on flimsy misreadings of Resolution 2231.

"Iran neither has nukes nor missiles 'DESIGNED to be capable of carrying' such horrific arms," the top Iranian diplomat stated.

He attached a number of images and screenshot photos of documents and newspapers about the significance of nuclear weapons and the budget allocated to the construction of nuclear warheads by the US and some European countries and questioned who is in fact proliferating nukes and violating international resolutions.

Zarif's tweet came in response to allegations leveled by Mark Pompeo, the US Secretary of State, claiming on Wednesday that "Iran needs to be held accountable for" the launch of a military satellite, adding that the action was not consistent with the Security Council Resolution 2231.

Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) successfully placed the Islamic Republic's first ever military satellite, dubbed Noor-1 (Light 1), in its designated orbit on April 22, using a rocket which is also the country's first three-stage launch vehicle to successfully deliver its load.

The IRGC fired the Noor-1 aboard Qased (Carrier) satellite carrier during an operation that was staged in Dasht-e Kavir, Iran's sprawling central desert, which was placed into the orbit 425 kilometers above Earth's surface.

The Noor-1, although Iran's fifth homegrown satellite to successfully reach outer space, marks a new chapter in the country's space program, which relies heavily on technologies that are designed and developed at home.

Speaking at a briefing on Thursday, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova dismissed as "baseless" claims by Pompeo that the launch violates the nuclear deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and the UN Resolution 2231.

"This would not be the first time that a nation that has flagrantly breached the norms of international law and violated UNSC resolution 2231 is trying to deflect international condemnation by baselessly accusing Iran of noncompliance with the requirements of the Security Council," Zakharova said.

Meanwhile, Britain's Foreign Office in a statement on Friday expressed concern about Iran's launching of the satellite and called on the Islamic Republic to uphold a UN ban.

"Reports that Iran has carried out a satellite launch using ballistic missile technology are of significant concern and inconsistent with UN Security Council Resolution 2231," it said.

France's Foreign Ministry also in a statement on Thursday claimed that Iran's missile launch violated Resolution 2231.

The Resolution 2231 calls on Iran to avoid "any activity related to ballistic missiles designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons, including launches using such ballistic missile technology."

Iran has time and again made it clear that it has no plans to develop nuclear weapons or missiles capable of delivering such warheads, the main initiative behind the nuclear deal it clinched with the P5+1 group of countries, the United States, Britain, France, China, Russia and Germany.

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Actor Sobhita Dhulipala has issued a clarification after she was accused of lying about a new magazine photoshoot. Sobhita had shared multiple pictures from the latest issue of Cosmopolitan magazine over the last couple of days, saying that she styles herself for the shoot and even clicked her own pictures with a self-timer. However, the authenticity of her claims was doubted when a photo of her getting clicked on her terrace by another man surfaced online.

Taking to Instagram, Sobhita issued a long clarification that the pictures ultimately used by the magazine were all clicked by her. The man in the viral photo was a stranger who offered to click a photo for her.

She added that she was taken aback by the accusations levelled against her. Quite a few people have written to me about the image I last posted. It is upsetting and I am a little taken aback by how urgently many have jumped to unkind conclusions, this Is also a moment for me to learn something deeper. I stand by the flow of events Im sharing with complete transparency, she said.

1. I style myself, go to the terrace with a coffee mug and a couple of tools to prop up my phone to take pictures.

2. There are people on the terrace and one kind gentleman upon learning that Im trying to shoot my pictures, offers help.

3. After he graciously shoots a few pictures in the frame I wanted, I thank him and we depart, she explained.

Also read: Rajeev Khandelwal says casting couch is not rape: The one who gives in is equally responsible

She further said, Neither was the picture shot by him used by Cosmopolitan (It doesnt belong with the magazines mandate) nor am I anything but proud of this wonderful collaboration with the magazine. :) It is not an official image, it was never carried by the magazine. I only posted it along with the official ones because I liked it. I recognise that I should have altered the caption text to mention that the second image was not part of the magazine shoot. I wish I had a more exciting, dramatic story but alas, truth often wears plain robes! Stay home and stay safe.

The picture in question shows Sobhita on her terrace, posing in a dark shirt with her arms against a wall. Sharing it, with another from the shoot, 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. The photo indeed does not bear the watermark of Cosmopolitan like all the rest of the photos shared by her from the shoot.

Sobhita has worked in Amazon Primes Made In Heaven and Netflixs Bard of Blood. She was also part of movies such as The Body and Raman Raghav.

Follow @htshowbiz for more
On April 8, 2020, Sao Paulo-based Magnamed signed an agreement with Brazil's Health Ministry for the supply of 6,500 mechanical ventilators by August of this year.

The agreement is designed to help meet growing demand for ventilators from hospitals across the country as they struggle to provide critical care for COVID-19 patients.

To achieve this goal, Magnamed will partner with the following companies: Positivo, Brazil's largest computer maker; Suzano, one of the world's leading pulp and paper producers; Klabin, another major pulp and paper company; Embraer, Flextronics, Fiat Chrysler, and White Martins.

"We're honored to be able to help the nation at this time. This will only be possible thanks to the partnerships," said Wataru Ueda, CEO of Magnamed, in a press release.

Magnamed's portable emergency ventilator, OxyMag, was developed with funding from FAPESP's Innovative Research in Small Business Program (PIPE) between 2006 and 2012.

Magnamed illustrates the benefits to society of having in Sao Paulo institutions as significant as ITA [Aeronautical Technology Institute], USP [University of Sao Paulo], CIETEC [Center for Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Technology] and FAPESP. Training engineers in world-class schools assures a return to society. Supporting research excellence assures a return to society. Stimulating small tech firms assures a return to society. The capacity of the state of Sao Paulo in technological capability building is mobilizing in an exemplary manner to help tackle the pandemic crisis," Carlos Henrique de Brito Cruz, Scientific Director, FAPESP

Partners

Positivo will be responsible for supplying circuit boards for the ventilators. Suzano will help with engineering solutions, global procurement of inputs and working capital for the purchase of components. Klabin will be responsible for procurement and import management, as well as supplying packaging for the ventilators to be shipped to hospitals.

Embraer, in conjunction with seven other companies in the aeronautical industry, will seek the best solution to increase production capacity. Magnamed expects the experience of this group of companies in complex machining to enable it to produce 5,000 components for ventilators by the end of April.

Flextronics has been authorized by ANVISA, Brazil's national public health surveillance authority, to set up an assembly line for the ventilators at its plant in Sorocaba, state of Sao Paulo.

Fiat Chrysler will help identify and eliminate production bottlenecks, as well as pursuing credit facilities to expand production capacity. White Martins will be responsible for supplying oxygen for use in testing the ventilators, and for gas consumption engineering design and infrastructure.

From garage to world leader

Magnamed produces 1,800 ventilators per year, and 40% of them are used in intensive care units (ICUs).

The emergency ventilator developed with the support of FAPESP's PIPE program was the first step in Magnamed's transformation from garage startup to a company that exports to more than 60 countries and has a plant in the US. Exports account for 40% of its sales revenue.

"FAPESP's support was extremely important in the embryonic phase when we were just entrepreneurs with a lot of know-how but without the resources necessary for the entire product development cycle," Ueda said previously to FAPESP Innovative R&D in April 2017.

The firm was founded by Ueda, Tatsuo Suzuki and Toru Kinjo in 2005, when all three engineers decided to leave their jobs with a medical equipment maker in order to innovate.

According to the report "2020 Global ICU Ventilator Market Outlook", Magnamed is now a leading player in the global ventilator market, alongside Medtronic, Philips and GE, among others.
Louisville church drops lawsuit after mayor allows drive-in worship services

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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.
More Deets On NYT Coverage Of Kansas City Confusion

Local city leaders hold meeting, find themselves quoted in NYT article KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV) -- A number of local city leaders and health officials were shocked to learn that a private meeting they had about coronavirus is now blown wide open in the New York Times.

Local Doc Leads Cure Efforts

Worldwide clinical drug trial for COVID-19 led by a doctor at Saint Luke's In the search for a treatment for COVID-19, there is a worldwide clinical drug trial led by a doctor at Saint Luke's.One of the most disturbing things about COVID-19 is there are no known treatments. Scientists are racing to find one. Dapagliflozin is one drug that is getting attention.

Powerful Gesture Toward Kansas City Pofolk

Need utility help? Mid America Assistance Coalition wants to help KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Mid America Assistance Coalition provides social services in the Kansas City area. Now, in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, its working to spread the word about the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.

Kansas Earns Testing Cash

$21 million coming to Kansas to expand COVID-19 testing KANSAS CITY, Kan. - Millions of dollars more in federal aid is headed to Kansas after President Trump signs $484 billion in additional assistance for small businesses and hospitals. The new money replenishes the depleted Paycheck Protection Program, provides more money to hospitals fighting the pandemic and expands testing capacity, which has become a big [...]

Show-Me Job Crisis

Unemployed looking for help in Missouri hit roadblocks INDEPENDENCE, MO (KCTV) - About one in six Americans have lost a job in the last five weeks and most will receive some help in the form of unemployment benefits. But that's not the story for Angela Miller of Independence. When the new year started, Angela was full of hope and optimism.

Prez Trump Pushes Back Against Testing Complaints

Trump sees partisan scheme in calls for ramped up virus testing Late last week, Vice President Mike Pence held a conference call with senators, and by all accounts, it didn't go especially well. The discussion, not surprisingly, turned to the need for ramped up coronavirus testing, and senators were not altogether pleased to hear the White House didn't have a national plan.

More Stimulus Coming Soon

House passes $484 billion relief package after weeks of partisan battles The House approved a nearly $500 billion coronavirus rescue package that delivers emergency aid to small businesses and hospitals after two weeks of negotiations between party leaders and the White House. The bill will provide an immediate $321 billion infusion for the Paycheck Protection Program, the small business rescue fund that ran out of money last week.

COVID-19 Crop Damage

Farmers are worried about going under. That could put fruit and vegetables in short supply March is typically Kate McClendon's busiest month. But that changed with the coronavirus pandemic. Her family farm, McClendon's Select, in Peoria, Arizona, supplies organic fruits and vegetables to about 90 restaurants, which normally receive a flood of customers with the spring weather.

Golden Ghetto COVID-19 Outbreak Stats Revealed

Johnson County reports 114 cases, 26 deaths at nursing homes KANSAS CITY, Mo. - At least 26 people have died from COVID-19 at long-term care facilities in Johnson County , according to data from the county's Department of Health and Environment. There also have outbreaks of at least six positive cases at seven different Johnson County long-term care facilities.

Cowtown Head Check

Mental health experts concerned pandemic could lead to more suicide attempts Mental health professionals are concerned that the pandemic could lead to more suicide attempts."The concern is that people may be so fearful to go to the hospital that they are not going at all," said Dr. Mitchell Douglass, medical director at KU's Marillac campus, where youth four to 17 years old receive mental health treatment and suicide prevention.The hospital right now is seeing half its normal number of patients.

Sound System Support

Kansas City Symphony continues to pay musicians despite lost season KANSAS CITY, Mo. - As the coronavirus leaves a path of devastation in its wake, many within the performing arts industry are focused simply on survival with concert venues, dance halls and opera houses closed. The Kansas City Symphony announced Thursday that the rest of its season, which usually runs through June, would be canceled due to stay-at-home orders caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Faith Community Helps Families Overcome COVID-19

Website connects KC churches to families needing help during pandemic The pandemic has caused families to worry about food and housing. Families have even split up because they don't have anywhere to go.

Beyond slogans and warm sentiments, we've learned that Kansas City is just as divided as the entire nation despite pandemic danger and the shadow of death more apparent in every day life.In this post we collect some of the more important local coronavirus stories and a few items that reflect growing political divisions during this time of plague . . .Developing . . .
Revisiting the Armenian, Assyrian and Greek Genocides a Century Later

Deep in the heart of the Syrian desert, some 280 miles east of Damascus, lie the ruins of the Armenian Genocide Martyrs Memorial. Constructed in 1990, the memorial long served as a sight of pilgrimage for thousands of Armenians, descendants of a systematic genocide that once drove their ancestors into these same desert sands over a century ago. With its beige marble walls and pointed domes, the building was a premier example of Armenian architecture in a country where so many members of the diaspora now live.

Tragically, the complex was destroyed at the hands of ISIS in 2014 -- perhaps indicative of a cultural cleansing that never really ended.

The deserts of Deir ez-Zor, where the Ottomans marched thousands of Armenians until they died of starvation or disease, is just one of many open-air killing grounds that were utilized by the empire against its Christian minorities. In his memoir "Black Dog of Fate," author Peter Balakian notes that so many Armenians died at Deir ez-Zor that, when visiting the region in 2009, he was able to easily dig up some of the bones of the victims, relics of just some of the roughly 1.5 million Armenians who were killed by their Ottoman oppressors from 1915 to 1923.

Yet, despite its significance, the Armenian Genocide continues to remain largely an afterthought in our understanding of world history. Despite this, the blowback from these same mass killings shaped the geopolitical world we know today and served as a preview to the great massacres of the 20th Century that would follow. Understanding the complexity and impact of the Armenian Genocide is thus not only important from a historic context but also as a means of understanding the human capacity for evil.

But before you can grasp the magnitude of the Armenian Genocide, you must first understand the backdrop on which it occurred.

The attack on the Armenian people, which soon developed into a systematic attempt to exterminate the race, was a cold-blooded, unprovoked, deliberate act, planned and carried out without popular approval, by the military masters of Turkey.

-- Henry H. Riggs, American missionary in Kharpert during the Armenian Genocide

If memory of the Armenian Genocide has been forgotten in time, then the concurrent Greek and Assyrian genocides have similarly vanished from our recollection.

The history of the Armenian Genocide does not solely begin with the Armenians themselves. Rather, there is a greater context in which these killings began. Indeed it has been argued that the Armenian Genocide was not purely a distinct event, but part of a much broader, decades-long genocidal policy aimed at other Christian peoples as well, such as the Greeks and Assyrians. This is the argument brought forward by Israeli historians Benny Morris and Dror Ze-evi in their extensive book "The Thirty Year Genocide," released in April of 2019, and history shows that it is one with much credence.

"This business will end in blood."

-- Sultan of the Ottoman Empire Abdul Hamid II, 1895, in reference to a reform package issued by European powers to protect the Armenian people

Christian populations in the Ottoman Empire long played the role of second-class citizens to the ruling Turkish Muslim elite. The Ottoman dhimmi system permitted the Christian Armenian people a fairly large degree of autonomy, but also enforced upon them a different set of standards as their counterparts. They were referred to in Turkish as giaours, meaning "infidel" or "unbeliever," and were unfairly levied higher taxes and given stricter legal restrictions. The so-called "Armenian Question" came into conversation in the late 19th Century, as European powers began to observe the Ottoman Empire's mistreatment of its Christian minorities. Around the same time, Armenian leaders began to hear increased reports of crimes directed at their community, such as land seizures, forced conversions, rape and murder.

A turning point in the treatment of Armenians came in the aftermath of the Russo-Turkish War of 1877--1878. Armenians in the eastern provinces of the Ottoman Empire often saw the largely-Orthodox Russian invaders as liberators. Accordingly, Kurdish and Circassian tribes razed Armenian communities during the war, leaving them devastated and pushing survivors toward an ideological movement in favor of liberation and self-determination. While efforts at independence following the war failed, the brewing revolutionary fervor among Armenians began to stoke great fear and suspicion among their neighbors.

The first set of mass killings of Ottoman Christians occurred soon after, with the Hamidian massacres of 1894--1896. Distraught by increasingly nationalistic sentiments and pushes for civil rights by the Armenian people, Sultan Abdul Hamid II sought to put down a potential rebellion by creating a paramilitary group known as the Hamidiye, whose sole task was to harass the Armenian population. Hamid II was especially irritated by the Armenian community's pleas to Europe, including efforts in 1895 to pursue a new reform package aimed at limiting the Sultan's power.

After violently suppressing an uprising by Armenians who refused to pay an oppressive tax in the Sasun region in 1894, the Hamidiye and a handful of other Ottoman Muslims began to indiscriminately attack Christian communities. An estimated 100,000 to 300,000 Armenians were then killed, in addition to roughly 25,000 Assyrians. The massacres led to Sultan Hamid II becoming internationally dubbed "Hamid the Damned," and served as a precursor to the Armenian Genocide.

"A large segment of the Young Turk party maintains the viewpoint that the Ottoman Empire should be based only on the principle of Islam and Pan-Turkism. The non-Muslim and non-Turkish inhabitants should either be forcibly Islamized (converted to Islam) and follow Turkish customs, or otherwise they ought to be destroyed. These gentlemen in Turkey believe that the time is now for the realization of this plan."

-- Report from German Vice Consular to the Ottoman Empire, Max Erwin von Scheubner-Richter

Anti-Christian and pro-Turkish nationalist sentiment in the Ottoman Empire continued well into the early 20th Century as the country took steps to modernize amid a visible geopolitical decline. In 1908, a small group of ambitious political revolutionaries known as the Young Turks gained power of the empire through their political party, the Committee of Union and Progress (CUP). The Young Turks sought to modernize Turkey and, through a coup dAtat by military officers that same year, they removed Abdul Hamid II from power.

An ideological struggle between nationalists and decentralization-focused liberals emerged in the CUP, however, even as the organization was pushing the country toward modernization. Ultimately, in 1913, the fight came to an end when the nationalistic wing seized control of the party, appointing a triumvirate of Grand Vizier Mehmed Tallat Pasha, Minister of War Ismail Enver Pasha and Minister of the Navy Ahmed Djemal Pasha to head the government -- a group collectively known as the Three Pashas.

The trio came to lead what was now a crumbling eastern empire. Nationalist aspirations were fermenting among Arab intellectuals to the south, and a series of brutal defeats against Christian subjects in the Balkan Wars of 1912--1913 lost them what little European territory they had left. This resulted in an increased antipathy toward the Ottoman Christian population as well as a mass influx of Muslim refugees into historically Christian territories.

Seizing on the political opportunity of a recently defeated and rapidly collapsing Ottoman Empire, the oppressed Armenians appealed to Europe for help, hoping to secure greater international oversight regarding their treatment. Meanwhile, in 1914, the Ottomans entered World War I on the side of Germany. In January of 1915, Enver Pasha was soundly defeated by Russian forces at the Battle of Sarikamish. Ill-equipped for the freezing conditions of the Russian winter, Ottoman forces were routed in what was one of the most humiliating battles of the war. The presence of Armenian volunteers fighting alongside the Russian military also proved particularly enraging to Ottoman military leaders. As a result, Enver Pasha returned to Turkey, publicly blaming the loss on all Armenians and stoking ethnic tensions in the months preceding the genocide.

"Turkey is taking advantage of the war in order to thoroughly liquidate its internal foes, i.e., the indigenous Christians, without being thereby disturbed by foreign intervention. "

-- Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire Talaat Pasha to Dr. Mordtmann of the German Embassy, June 1915

After the defeat at Sarikamish, Enver Pasha declared the removal and demobilization of all Armenian and other Christian soldiers from the Ottoman military. Enver sought to move the Christian soldiers into unarmed labor battalions, claiming it was a preventive measure against the possibility of them siding with the Russians. Many members of these units were ultimately executed by Turkish soldiers, the transfer of Armenians into an unarmed capacity serving as a preliminary run of the genocide that was yet to come.

Relations between the Armenians and the new Ottoman government took a turn for the worse on April 20, 1915 in the city of Van. The day before, an Ottoman official had demanded the conscription of 4,000 able-bodied Armenian men, a deliberate ploy aimed at pre-emptively executing a possible resistance force. The community resisted and eventually took up defensive arms. A siege by Ottoman forces ensued. Portraying the event as an insurgency, Ottoman officials used this as an opportunity to finally initiate the forced deportations and killings of their Armenian subjects. The decision to eradicate the Christian population, of course, had already been made well before this.

I am confident that the whole history of the human race contains no such horrible episode as this. The great massacres and persecutions of the past seem almost insignificant when compared to the sufferings of the Armenian race in 1915.

-- Henry Morgenthau Sr., U.S. Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire

And so it began.

The start of the Armenian Genocide itself is frequently cited as April 24, 1915, a date sometimes referred to as Red Sunday, when 235 Armenian intellectuals in the Ottoman capital of Constantinople were rounded up and deported in a preemptive decapitation strike aimed at stifling any form of organized Christian resistance. The total detainees eventually numbered 2,345, the vast majority of who were murdered following their deportation.

Starting in the summer of 1915, Armenians in eastern Anatolia were forcibly removed from their homes and marched toward concentration camps in the Syrian desert. Insufficient rations were given to displaced Armenians, who were frequently subject to disease, starvation and mass-killings, along the treacherous journey. The death marches were organized by Ottoman military leaders, who utilized irregular military forces to lead the Armenians to their deaths. Local Kurdish and Circassian tribes frequently attacked and looted the prisoners along the way.

Rape and murder were commonplace among these marches. Turkish soldiers, having been told, "Do to [the women] whatever you wish," took advantage of defenseless women. In cities along the route, such as Damascus and Mosul, female deportees were frequently displayed naked and sold as sex slaves or forced into marriages. Most of all, food was scarce and shelter was non-existent, with many prisoners falling victim to the brutal, scorching conditions of northern Arabia.

"The roads and the Euphrates are strewn with corpses of exiles, and those who survive are doomed to certain death. It is a plan to exterminate the whole Armenian people."

-- Report from The New York Times, August 18, 1915

Those who did survive the death marches, who were few and far between, found themselves in concentration camps in Iraq and Syria. The Empire's Greek and Assyrian populations did not fare much better.

The Ottoman massacres of its Pontic Greek began first with the government's policy of population transfer, which frequently relocated Greeks through violent intimidation and fueled ethnic tensions. Coinciding with the timeline of the Armenian Genocide, the Greek population transfers gradually evolved into outright death marches. In total, anywhere from 450,000 to 750,000 Greek civilians were killed from 1913--1922.

The Assyrians, a distinct ethnic group of Aramaic-speaking Christians, meanwhile, suffered a similar fate as their Greek and Armenian counterparts. The mass killings of Assyrians by Ottoman forces took a number of forms, deportations sometimes among them, but also through other strategies, such as forced famine and the direct destruction of villages. Ultimately, scholars place the total death toll at anywhere from 150,000 to 300,000 Assyrians, out of a pre-war population of around 600,000.

"The Ottoman Empire should be cleaned up of the Armenians and the Lebanese. We have destroyed the former by the sword, we shall destroy the latter through starvation."

-- Enver Pasha, Minister of War of the Ottoman Empire, May 19, 1916

Occurring adjacently, but oftentimes left out of the history of the Ottoman killings, was the deliberate mass starvation of the largely Maronite Christian Lebanese population of Mount Lebanon. Through a blockade of supplies from 1915--1918, an estimated 200,000 Lebanese in the Mount Lebanon Mutasarrifate starved to death, out of a pre-existing community of 400,000. This massacre was further worsened by a siege of international trade routes by the Allied powers, which additionally isolated the communities. The killings implemented on the Armenians were thus becoming the preferred strategy against Ottoman enemies everywhere.

In regards to the Armenians, other forms of mass killing were utilized as well. Mass burnings were a frequent strategy of the Ottoman military; some 80,000 Armenians in 90 villages across the Mus plain were killed by this technique alone. Drownings occurred in the Black Sea, where thousands of Armenian children and women were rounded up and placed on boats that were later capsized -- around 50,000 Armenians drowned to death in just the Trabzon province.

Lesser known and more infrequent incidents of medical killings also occurred. Cases of poisonings (particularly among children and infants), gassings and deliberate typhoid infections were reported as well, techniques that have been argued to have served as inspiration for Nazi human experimentation decades later. Regardless of the manner, the goal was always the same -- the deliberate destruction of the Armenian people.

"The Armenians horror shook the world,

The Turkish throne fell to the ground,

Let me tell you about the death of Talaat.

Pour the wine, dear friend, pour the wine,

Drink it nicely; drink it with delight."

-- Pour the Wine, Armenian revolutionary song

As is true with all empires, the Ottomans eventually fell.

The defeat and partition of the Ottoman Empire and its territories to the Allied Powers at the end of WWI marked the end of over 600 years of continuous Turkish rule. In its wake, its territories were divided among England and France, eventually becoming hotbeds for their own independence movements.

As for the Three Pashas, the Ottoman leaders who worked to orchestrate the great genocide, they fled the collapsing Turkish empire and found refuge in Germany, only to suffer a series of violent deaths. They were among the targets of Operation Nemesis, a covert mission by the Armenian Revolutionary Federation -- known as Dashnaks -- aimed at assassinating the masterminds of the Armenian Genocide. Naval Minister Djemal Pasha was killed in Tbilisi, Georgia in 1921.

Grand Vizier Talaat Pasha, widely considered the primary architect of the genocide, was assassinated in broad daylight in Berlin by a Dashnak named Soghomon Tehlirian. Tehlirian, whose parents died in the Armenian Genocide, was arrested and tried for murder -- but was then acquitted in just over an hour after he pleaded temporary insanity caused by the trauma of his parents' deaths. The trial became just as much about the atrocities committed in the genocide organized by Talaat as it did the crime by Tehlirian. The evidence presented in this testimony, in addition to witnessing the Holocaust first-hand two decades after, later motivated Polish-Jewish lawyer Raphael Lemkin to coin the term "genocide" in 1944.

Interior Minister Enver Pasha escaped the wrath of Operation Nemesis only to die at the hands of a Red Army brigade while leading a revolt against Russian forces in Central Asia. Enver was killed during a counter attack led by Yakov Melkumov, an ethnic Armenian himself.

"With the genocide of Armenians, Greeks, Assyrians, the culture of an entire region has been distorted, the ancient civilization of Asia Minor disappeared forever. Wasn't this a crime against humanity?"

-- Nikol Pashinyan, 16th and current Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia

In those 30 years between 1894 and 1924, Christians in Turkey declined from 20% of the population to just under 2%. Once home to a diverse population that included some of the world's oldest Christian communities, Turkey's population is now estimated at 99.8% Muslim. The ethnic cleansing of the country's Christian population transformed what was once seen as the great cosmopolitan crossroad between east and west into a contemporary monoculture. Survivors of the great killings of the 20th Century have since become dispersed across the world, with the genocide serving as the primary catalyst for the formation of the Armenian and Assyrian diasporas.

The Greek population of Turkey, which once numbered in the millions, has declined to the point of virtual extinction, with just around 2,000 ethnic Greeks remaining in the country. In addition to the deliberate massacres of Greek communities, fallout from the Greco-Turkish War of 1919--1922 resulted in the mass expulsion of the Anatolian Greek population. The Lausanne Convention, signed by both sides at the end of war, saw the exchange of some 1.5 million Greeks from Turkey and 500,000 Muslims from Greece. Attacks during the exchange were widespread, and committed by both groups. Around 200,000 Greeks were permitted to remain in Turkey, but decades of racist policies and violent pogroms saw the remaining Greek population decline to its miniscule numbers today.

Armenians and Assyrians left Turkish territory en masse as well. Driven on death marches to the deserts of Syria, Armenians, in particular, found refuge among smaller, pre-existing communities in both Syria and Lebanon, where they developed into a numerically small, but socially prominent minority, living mostly comfortably among their Arab neighbors. Others fled to Russia, where they briefly formed the Republic of Armenia, later incorporated into the Soviet Union, before once again achieving independence in 1991.

Assyrians, meanwhile, did not fare nearly as lucky, failing to achieve statehood and remaining dispersed throughout the world. The largest populations of Assyrians are still found in their ancestral homelands in Syria and Iraq, where, in recent years, their numbers have continued to decline due to extemist Islamist violence, with BBC and The Atlantic both reporting last year that Assyrians in Iraq and elsewhere were on the verge of extinction.

"Who, after all, speaks today of the annihilation of the Armenians?"

-- Adolf Hitler, August 22, 1939, one week before the Nazi invasion of Poland

To this day, the Turkish government denies the role of the Ottoman Empire in the Armenian Genocide.

Turkey has long questioned the scholarly consensus on the legitimacy of the Ottoman role in the genocide, instead claiming that the numbers are inflated and not the product of an organized killing, but rather the casualties of war. The Turkish lobby in the U.S., meanwhile, has spent millions of dollars in a decades-long campaign to ensure that the U.S. does not formally recognize the Armenian Genocide. Despite widespread pressure from the Armenian diaspora, the U.S. government still refuses to use the term "genocide" to describe the mass killings of Armenians from 1914--1920, due largely in part to worries over harming its strategic relationship with NATO ally Turkey.

Contemporary attempts at recognition and reconciliation between Turkey and its miniscule remaining Christian population have largely failed, with advocates of genocide recognition sometimes falling victim to violent retribution. In 2007, for example, Hrant Dink, the editor of the bilingual Armenian magazine "Agos," was assassinated in Istanbul by Turkish nationalist OgAn Samast. Dink, an ethnic Armenian and long critic both of the country's policy of genocide denial and of certain aspects the Armenian diaspora's efforts at recognition, had previously been prosecuted three times for "denigrating Turkishness." Controversy ensued when a photograph of the assassin -- posing in front of the Turkish flag side-by-side with smiling police officers -- surfaced, doing little to assuage concerns over a possible conspiracy or cover up.

As Turkish ethnonationalism has risen and the country's population has become more and more racially homogenized, the country's religious minorities have found themselves in an increasingly hostile environment. And yet, ironically, many Turks themselves have a large degree of Greek or Armenian ancestry.

Some estimates place the number of self-identified Turks with Armenian ancestry to be as high as three to five million. The eradication and assimilation of the Ottoman's religious minorities took a unique trajectory, with definitions of "Turkishness" combining different complex elements of religious, racial and national identity that were often contradictory. In the years coinciding with the genocide, Armenian women and children were frequently kidnapped and enticed into forced conversions, with the children adopted by Muslim families and the girls and women taken to harems to be married to new husbands. Armenian orphans were deliberately placed into Turkish orphanages where they were given news names, circumcized and forced to convert to Islam. Indeed, the eradication of the Armenians of Turkey can be understood as a deliberate ethnic cleansing, a product of the late Ottoman nationalistic government's policy of Turkification, which sought to homogenize the empire's population.

"The Armenian massacre was the greatest crime of the war, and the failure to act against Turkey is to condone it [] the failure to deal radically with the Turkish horror means that all talk of guaranteeing the future peace of the world is mischievous nonsense."

-- Theodore Roosevelt in private letter to Cleveland Hoadley Dodge, May 11, 1918

The legacy of the Armenian Genocide has thus been subject to scorn and debate. Efforts at lasting recognition have become a key goal of the Armenian community, both at home and abroad. In addition to attempts at raising awareness and lobbying the U.S. government to formally recognize the genocide, Armenians have used April 24 -- Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day -- as an opportunity to both mourn and educate. In 2015, on the 100th anniversary of the genocide, over 130,000 protestors marched from the Little Armenia neighborhood in East Hollywood to the Turkish consulate in Los Angeles, demanding recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

Such action has become replicated elsewhere, including at UC Davis. Every year, on April 24, members of the Armenian Student Association gather in the MU for a "die-in," where protestors silently lie down or hold signs in commemoration of the genocide. Elsewhere, pushes by Armenian students and other allies have resulted in the implementation of legislation aimed at the recognition of these killings.

In 2015, the ASUCD Senate joined a number of other UC campuses in passing a bill calling for the UC Board of Regents to divest over $74 million dollars from the Republic of Turkey due to its continued denial of the Armenian Genocide. Three years later, in 2018, ACUSD passed Senate Resolution #12, which formally recognized and condemned the Ottoman government's destruction of its Armenian community.

These sorts of maneuvers may seem insignificant initially, but they are the first small steps in establishing a formal recognition of one of the great crimes against humanity of the 20th Century. For it was the Armenian Genocide that partly inspired and enabled the slaughters that proceeded it. For it was this bloodshed that initiated the first mass exodus of Christians from the Middle East and empowered the ongoing one that followed. For it was this carnage and butchery, this deliberate eradication of an unjustly villainized people, that not only annihilated the presence of an ancient ethno-religious community in the very lands where it first took root, but also destroyed thousands of years of history in the process.

Lest we forget.

"I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia. See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia."
The controversial position of Sweden not to impose COVID-19 lockdown is now taking its heavy toll. According to reports, deaths in Sweden are now piling up at 17 times more than its neighbors. (Photo : Reuters Connect )

The controversial position of Sweden to refuse the COVID-19 lockdown is now taking its heavy toll. According to reports, deaths in Sweden are now piling up at 17 times more than its neighbors. According to Johns Hopkins University, the latest mortality count in the country is much higher than in Finland, Denmark, or Norway. These countries implemented lockdown measures.

To compare, Finland reported 75 deaths, Denmark 32, and Norway 150. As the pandemic raged, Norway and Denmark quickly acted to close their borders and schools, and Finland isolated its urban center and closed the majority of its schools. In contrast, Agence Frances-Press reports that Sweden only called for its citizens to be accountable for observing social distancing; it did not order a lockdown.

According to the University of Gothenburg epidemiology professor Bo Lundback, the government and the authorities did not think that the pandemic will ever reach Sweden.

Karolinska Institute professor Cecilia Soderberg-Naucler was one of the 2,300 academicians who signed the open letter last month addressed to the government asking it to reconsider its strategy. She said that control over the health situation must be established. She added that nobody ever tried the route that the government took, so it is a question of why it is first tested in the country and why there is no informed consent.

Meanwhile, the disease is taking its toll on Sweden's elderly population. There have been numerous reports by the national media regarding the hundreds of cases that were confirmed in Stockholm's nursing homes, the region most affected, as well as in homes all across Sweden. There have been reports that one-third of all mortalities were among the elderly living in homes for the aged.

Anders Tegnell, a state epidemiologist, confirmed that the situation in nursing homes is worrying. Critics have questioned his "light-touch" strategy; it essentially prescribes "asking" citizens instead of ordering them to stay indoors, work in their homes, and avoid unnecessary travel.

Prime minister of Sweden Stefan Lofven has since announced government efforts to increase protection, ordering Sweden's health inspectorate to conduct an investigation.

Meanwhile, virologist Lena Einhorn is a leading critic of the government's policy on the coronavirus. Einhorn said that Sweden's health agency and the government still resists admitting the obvious. She added that the government must admit its huge failure, especially since they always said their main objective is to protect the elderly. They do not acknowledge the significance of pre-symptomatic and asymptomatic transmission.

Further, the health agency does not advise care nurses and workers to wear masks or use protective equipment if they do not have a resident suspected of infection. An anonymous care home worker is worried that they are not made to use masks or hand sanitizer, considering they are working with the elderly, society's most vulnerable group.

Einhorn and 21 other researchers want the government to take control of the country's coronavirus strategy and take it away from the health agency. She adds that the higher number of elderly cases in nursing homes in the country compared to Finland and Norway is due to its decision to keep kindergartens, school bars, and restaurants open.

As of this writing, the country has experienced 17,567 confirmed cases, with 2,152 deaths and 550 recoveries. According to Johns Hopkins University, the COVID-19 virus is spreading to more than two million people all over the world.
CNN Philippines (April 25)  A male inmate at the Mandaue City in Cebu caught the coronavirus, the local government said.

The detainee was admitted at Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center, the Mandaue City Public Information Office said in a Facebook post Friday night.

There are 11 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the city.

The local government said city jail officials are preparing for contact tracing.

A petition for the early release of prisoners deemed highly vulnerable to the disease is pending before the Supreme Court, as human rights groups said detention cells are "ticking time bombs" for infections.
A tentative easing of coronavirus lockdowns has gathered pace around the world, including the reopening of local shops in India that many of the countrys 1.3 billion people rely on.

The US states of Georgia, Oklahoma and Alaska also began loosening lockdown orders on their pandemic-wounded businesses, even as the confirmed US death toll from the coronavirus soared past 50,000 and health experts warned that such steps may have come too early.

The relaxation of the strict Indian lockdown came with major caveats. It did not apply to hundreds of quarantined towns and other hotspots that have been hit hardest by the outbreak that has killed at least 775 people in the country and terrified many poor people who live in slum conditions too crowded for social distancing.

Shopping malls also remain closed nationwide.

Last week, India also allowed manufacturing and farming to resume in rural areas to ease the economic plight of millions of daily wage-earners left jobless by the lockdown imposed on March 24.

Indias restrictions have allowed people out of their homes only to buy food, medicine or other essentials.

(PA Graphics)

Elsewhere in Asia, authorities reported no new deaths on Saturday for the 10th straight day in China, where the virus originated.

South Korea reported just 10 fresh cases, the eighth day in a row its daily total came below 20. There were no new deaths for the second straight day.

In Sri Lanka, however, the lockdown was tightened, not eased, confirming a pattern of one-step-forward, one-step-back also seen elsewhere in the pandemic, as authorities juggle public health against the health of shut-down economies.

Sri Lanka had partially lifted a month-long curfew during daytime hours in more than two thirds of the country.

Italians celebrate the 75th anniversary of their Liberation Day during lockdown (AP)

However, it reimposed a 24-hour lockdown countrywide after a surge of 46 new infections on Friday, the highest increase in a day on the Indian Ocean island. The new curfew remains in effect until Monday.

Story continues

On Saturday, the global death toll climbed toward 200,000, according to a tally compiled by Johns Hopkins University from government figures. The actual death toll is believed to be far higher.

Pope Francis appealed to people to pray for funeral home workers, saying: What they do is so heavy and sad. They really feel the pain of this pandemic.

In Europe, Belgium sketched out plans for a progressive lockdown relaxation starting on May 4 with the resumption of non-essential treatment in hospitals and the reopening of textile and sewing shops to enable people to have face masks.

A customer pays for her groceries in Groslay, north of Paris (AP)

Bars and restaurants would be allowed to start reopening on June 8, although Belgian prime minister Sophie Wilmes also cautioned that a surge in infections could alter the timeline, and that nothing is set in stone.

Children in Spain will get their first fresh air in weeks on Sunday when a total ban on letting them outside is relaxed.

After 44 days indoors, they will be allowed to take one toy or scooter with them but not play together for adult-supervised one-hour excursions no further than one kilometre from home.

Italy announced that free protective masks will be distributed to nursing homes, police, public officials and transport workers, preparing for the return to work of millions of Italians when lockdown restrictions are eased from May 4.

A woman walks a dog at the empty Rivoli street along the Tuileries Garden in Paris (AP)

In France, the government is preparing to ease one of Europes strictest lockdowns from May 11. The health minister detailed plans on Saturday to scale up testing to help contain any new flare-ups.

Testing shortages are a critical problem elsewhere, too, including in Brazil, Latin Americas largest nation, which is veering closer to becoming a pandemic hotspot.

Medical officials in Rio de Janeiro and four other major cities warned that their hospital systems are on the verge of collapse or already overwhelmed.

In Manaus, the biggest city in the Amazon, officials said a cemetery has been forced to dig mass graves because there have been so many deaths. Workers have been burying 100 corpses a day  triple the pre-virus average.

In the US, Republican governors in Georgia and Oklahoma allowed salons, spas and barbershops to reopen, while Alaska opened the way for restaurants to resume dine-in service and retail shops and other businesses to open their doors, all with limitations.

Some Alaskan municipalities chose to maintain stricter rules.

Though limited in scope, and subject to social-distancing restrictions, the reopenings marked a symbolic milestone in the debate raging in the United States and beyond as to how quickly political leaders should lift economically devastating lockdown orders.

During a White House press briefing on Friday, US president Donald Trump spoke optimistically of the economy but also asked people to continue social distancing and use face coverings.

The same day, Mr Trump signed a 484 billion dollar (391 billion) bill to aid employers and hospitals under stress from the pandemic.

Over the past five weeks, roughly 26 million people have filed for jobless aid in America, or about one in six US workers.

Mr Trump also said his widely criticised comments suggesting people can ingest or inject disinfectant to fight Covid-19 were an attempt at sarcasm.
Cases of frontline workers being exposed to coronavirus have been steadily rising across the nation. The latest group of professionals that has been affected is the media. In Chennai, at least 33 journalists so far have tested positive. This comes close on the heels of a whopping 53 media persons found infected in Mumbai alone.

While a lot of establishments were closed when the lockdown was announced, media was placed under the list of exceptions. With journalists acting as force-multipliers in spreading awareness about the pandemic, media houses have invested most of their human resources for its coverage, while taking standard precautions like wearing masks and maintaining social distancing. As the profession demands, journalists need to go to the field, work their contacts and look for developments each day while also attending press meets. Working from home is not possible for reporters and photographers.

Which is why recent visuals of journalists crowding around a minister in Madurai, who along with the collector and commissioner of police was inspecting an arterial stretch of the temple town, were a little disconcerting. While all of them had their masks on, there was hardly any social distancing. Surely the police could have anticipated the problem and made suitable arrangements in advance. As a news channel employee later said, it was a trade-off between social distancing and missing the ministers bytes. He did not want to be held accountable for the latter, as it could have hurt him professionally. But the trade-off is dangerous for journalists, as jostling for bytes at the risk of their well-being could make them carriers of the virus.

One hopes all stakeholders would be alive to the risk, sensitise their staffers and take all precautions, as advised by the I&B Ministry on Thursday. While the Mumbai Press Clubs request to bring journalists, photojournalists and camerapersons under the umbrella of insurance could be considered, media briefings can be made virtual to stop the situation from getting out of hand.
American Aircraft Corporation Boeing has terminated the agreement with Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer.

According to the report, the deal was concluded to reach a new level of strategic partnership. The parties were to create two enterprises: to develop an aviation business with the participation of Embraer and to develop new markets for medium-haul aircraft C-390 Millennium.

The initial date for breaking the agreement was scheduled for April 24, 2020, if either party does not satisfy the conditions of the other party.

According to the company, the deal was terminated as a result of unsuccessful negotiations, which made it impossible to achieve conditions that would satisfy Boeing.
Islamabad: A case of kidnapping Hindu girls has come up again in Pakistan. In the latest case, two Hindu minor girls have been kidnapped from Sindh province. The brother of Pir Faisal Shah Jeelani, a prominent leader of the area and a member of Pakistan's National Assembly, has been accused of kidnapping the two sisters.

Bangladesh will not allow Rohingyas to enter country under any circumstances

According to the victim's family, they are not receiving any assistance from the police. Family members have released a video demanding to locate both the girls. The persecution of minority continues in the neighbouring country of Pakistan even in the days of Corona crisis. Earlier, the issue of not giving ration to Hindus and Christians came to light.

BJP leader created a ruckus after reaching the police station at midnight, violated social distance rule

Family members of the victim have posted a video in connection with the incident. Family members have said that MP Jilani's brother is behind the incident. The victim's family says that if they get help from the police after complaining, the family is being threatened. They said that they can no longer tolerate this atrocity.

How bodies of 'corona' infected being disposed in Bengal, BJP shares video
Joseph Mazzello looks on, obviously disappointed, in Bohemian Rhapsody (Image by Warner Bros)

When Bohemian Rhapsody was first released, most people didnt realize that the actor playing Queen bassist John Deacon was Joe Mazzello.

For those of you that dont remember, as a young actor Mazzello shot to fame thanks to his performance as Tim Murphy in Jurassic Park. It turns out that Mazzellos performance in Bohemian Rhapsody was so transformative that even Jurassic Park director Steven Spielberg didnt recognise Mazzello when he watched the biopic.

Read More: 'Bohemian Rhapsody' was the most-watched home video in 2019

Mazzello made this admission himself during a recent live watching of Jurassic Park, admitting that, even though he has kept in touch with Spielberg throughout his career, the Oscar winning director was left befuddled by his English accent.

Steven Spielberg Directing 1993 motion picture Jurassic Park (Photo by Murray Close/Sygma/Sygma via Getty Images)

Steven is the person I probably keep in touch with the most, Mazzello told CineFix. This past year weve been exchanging a bunch of letters. Like literally still handwritten letters, which is amazing.

Just talking about whatever: our careers, and [how] he saw [Bohemian Rhapsody], and he apparently didnt recognize me, because I had the wig on and had a British accent. He leaned over to his guest, and was like, Who is that? Who is that actor?

Read More: A 'no-holds-barred' Whitney Houston biopic is on the way from the writer of 'Bohemian Rhapsody'

While Mazzello is always likely to be remembered for his turn in the hugely successful adaptation of Michael Crichtons novel, he has had quite a successful career since starring in the blockbuster at just 10-years-old. Mazzello has since followed it up with appearances in the HBO series The Pacific, G.I. Joe: Retaliation and The Social Network.

It sounds as if Mazzello will be returning to the Jurassic Park franchise in the very near future, too, as there is speculation that he will reprise his role in the upcoming Jurassic World 3.
Man jailed after trying to smash train station window with ornamental sheep

This article is old - Published: Saturday, Apr 25th, 2020

A man has been sentenced to 30 days in jail after throwing an ornamental sheep at a window.

British Transport Police (BTP) say the incident took place last Saturday at Wrexham General Station.

The man attempted to deliberately smash a window at the station by throwing the ornamental sheep.

In an update today, BTP said: The male who deliberately damaged a window at #Wrexham General Station by throwing an ornamental sheep has pleaded guilty in court.

He was sentenced to 30 days in prison and a fine imposed.

It is not the first that the ornamental flock have been victims of crime, with a number of sheep stolen five years ago.

The sheep had been installed on St Giles Way to coincide with the the Tour of Britains arrival in Wrexham back in 2015.

However several were stolen and were later found in locations around the town centre and Coedpoeth. One was also found on top of Dinas Bran..!
R apper and fashion designer Kanye West is officially a billionaire, according to Forbes Magazine.

The star, who has four children with his reality TV wife Kim Kardashian, is said to have given an eye-catching glimpse into his personal finances with the publication valuing his net worth at $1.3 billion (1.05 billion).

That includes valuing his stake in the Yeezy sneaker line, which Forbes describes as one of the great retail stories of the century, at $1.26 billion (1.02 billion).

However the star said he has been undervalued and is actually worth three times that.

Kanye with his wife Kim / Getty Images

As well as the trainer line Forbes said the statement of assets supplied to them by Wests team lists $17 million in cash (13.7 million) and $35 million in stocks (28 million).

Wests other notable assets, according to his team, are $81 million (66 million) in property and $21 million (17 million) in land.

West and his wife are known to own several properties in Los Angeles and Wyoming.

There is also the matter of Wests music. The 42-year-old is one of the most acclaimed and biggest-selling artists of the last 20 years.

Kanye West's 10 greatest ever tracks ranked 1 /13 Kanye West's 10 greatest ever tracks ranked 10. Jesus Walks The College Dropout saw Kanye arrive, fully formed, ready to take the hip hop world by the scruff of the neck. The remarkably assured debut showcased his talent (not to mention enormous ego) and featured killer tracks like Jesus Walks. One of the most urgent, strident moments on the LP, the track is full of the kind of messianic imagery that would come to feature heavily in material throughout his career. A mark of what was to come. AFP/Getty Images 9. Love Lockdown 808s & Heartbreaks marked a pretty dramatic departure for Kanye, with the rapper stripping things back and dialing up the auto-tune for the 2008 album. The deeply personal and introspective work was influenced by the death of his mother and the end of the rappers long-term relationship with fiance Alexis Phifer. Heartbreaks remains his most candid record to date and Love Lockdown is a clear highlight. The track showcases his talent for songcraft and highlights a tender side to the performer. While the album is arguably one of the most unsung of Kanyes career, the production values would come to inform the new wave of commercial hip hop that followed too. AFP/Getty Images 8. N**** In Paris Jay-Z collaboration N***** In Paris marked one of the biggest successes of Kanyes career in 2011, achieving ubiquitous radio play despite never being released as a single. Inspired by the pairs experiences at Paris fashion week and the excess and gauche wealth associated with it (I ball so hard muh'f**** wanna fine me What's fifty grand to a muh'f**** like me). Its equally irreverent as it is incandescent, referencing the Olsen Twins and sampling Will Ferrell comedy Blades of Glory. Getty Images for Yeezy Season 3 7. Hey Mama A standout track from 2006 album Late Registration, Hey Mama pays a moving tribute to Kanyes mother Donda West. The track is packed with endearing lines like You work late nights just to keep on the lights/Mommy got me training wheels so I can keep on my bike, and the emotional candour is pretty impossible to resist. Donda sadly passed away in 2007 following complications from a heart attack. Fans paid a touching tribute of their own in 2017, when they streamed the track 700,000 times to mark the 10th anniversary of her death on Hey Mama Day. Christopher Polk/Getty Images 6. Real Friends 2016s Life of Pablo was a mixed bag to say the least. Its an infuriating and frequently impenetrable work, often overpopulated with disparate musical ideas. Occasionally though inspiration and beauty emerge from the chaos  Real Friends is one of those moments. The track transports the listener into a world of insubstantial, throwaway celeb culture, while also contemplating themes of loneliness and existentialism (Spillin' free wine, now my tux is ruined/In town for a day, what the f*** we doin'?). The Kanye we encounter here is oddly isolated and vulnerable and the track makes for one of the most compelling moments in his entire back catalogue. Getty Images 5. Homecoming While Daft Punk-sampling Stronger might have brought more commercial success, Homecoming forms the highpoint of Kanyes more pop-centric album Graduation. The simple, jaunty piano chord sequence and understated central hook is performed by Coldplays Chris Martin, who co-wrote the track with West during an impromptu jam at Londons Abbey Road Studios. The song, as well as fellow album tracks Flashing Lights, Cant Tell Me Nothing and Good Life launched Kanye to new levels of popularity. AFP/Getty Images 4. Gorgeous Built around a simple, downbeat chorus refrain, Gorgeous represents one of the starkest tracks in Kanyes career. Lyrically the song is concerned with themes of racial oppression and inequality (At the airport they check all through my bag/and tell me that its random), with anger bringing out some of the most eloquent and expressive Kanye verses ever put to tape. Its also notable for featuring the vocal talents of Wu-Tang Clan member Raekwon and Kid Cudi, who is preparing to collaborate once again with West on another upcoming album due for release on June 8. Getty Images 3. Through The Wire Anyone hearing Through The Wire  his first ever single released in 2003  knew that they were dealing with a serious talent. Kanye unleashes his flow over a breezy groove, sampling Chaka Khans Through The Fire along the way. Staggeringly, the song was recorded while Kanye had his jaw wired shut following a car accident in 2002. Despite his physical limitations at the time, it was the sound of a once-in-a-generation star being born. AFP/Getty Images 2. New Slaves Kanye famously paid homage to grime with a fiery (literally) performance at the 2015 BRIT awards and the genres influence can be heard on the effervescent New Slaves. The central synth hook recalls the harder edges of classic albums like Boy In Da Corner, while the urgent and vociferous lyrics, fuelled by palpable sense of historical and personal injustice, put Kanyes delivery front and centre. The way the track flicks suddenly to the expansive, triumphant second section is indicative of Yeezuss restless creativity, with the pinballing musical ideas never letting the listener settle. One of yes very finest moments. Getty Images For 102.7 KIIS FM's 1. Runaway Runaway sees Kanye raise a toast to the d***** bags, the ***holes and the scumbags, representing the greatest anti-anthem in the rappers oeuvre. The track sees him examine his public persona, consider his reputation in the media and reflect on his high-profile controversies  not least the incident with Taylor Swift at the MTV Media awards in 2009. The simple, descending piano motif at the heart of the track is the perfect accompaniment to Wests reflective, self-criticising verses and Pusha T  currently taking over the internet with his Drake diss track The Story of Adidon  also makes a stunning contribution. As the nine minute track plays out with a combination of urgent strings and vocals saturated in auto-tune and distortion, its clear that West has created something truly special. Its the standout moment in the career of a divisive but always unmissable musical talent. Getty Images for iHeartMedia

In total, his GOOD Music and the rights to his back catalogue is worth at least $90 million (73 million), Forbes said.

However, the outlet, which stressed there was a lack of independent verification for the figures, also listed West as having debt of about $100 million (81 million).

That adds up to the $1.3 billion total, the magazine said, placing him above sister-in-law Kylie Jenner, who has a comparatively modest $1 billion net worth, largely from her cosmetics business.

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West - Just Married 1 /6 Kim Kardashian and Kanye West - Just Married Just married Kim and Kanye pose in 'Just Married' leather jackets - Kanye wears a customised Schott Perfecto Bikers while Kim rocks a customised BLK DNM jacket E! First kiss Kimye pucker up for a kiss in a photobooth E! We now pronounce you... The happy couple makes their way up the aisle, after becoming Mr and Mrs E! The dress Kim shows off her beautiful Givenchy dress, with lace detail train E! You may now kiss the bride Kim and Kanye seal the deal with a romantic kiss E!

Despite now being officially classed as a billionaire, West was unhappy with Forbes and claimed they had undervalued him.

Its not a billion, West reportedly text them. Its 3.3 billion since no one at Forbes knows how to count.

He had been left displeased with an article from the magazine last year, in which Forbes refused to class him as a billionaire.

West is said to have texted a reporter it was a disrespectful article, that was purposely snubbing me.

His ire was further provoked earlier this month when Forbes released its annual billionaires list, with Wests name absent.

You know what youre doing, West is said to have texted a Forbes journalist.
Washington, April 25 : At least 18 sailors aboard a deployed US Navy destroyer have tested positive for the coronavirus, marking the second outbreak at sea aboard a US Navy vessel, local media reported.

The Pentagon on Friday said additional cases are expected aboard the USS Kidd, a destroyer carrying out a counter-narcotics mission near South America, Xinhua news agency reported.

Commanders are preparing to return the ship to port, where they will remove a portion of the crew and begin cleaning the ship before it returns to sea, Pentagon spokesperson Jonathan Hoffman said on Friday. He did not reveal information about the source of the infection.

The Kidd is the second US Navy ship at sea to be forced to pull into port due to a major virus outbreak following the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt. Local media reported earlier this week that crews from 26 warships have been hit by the coronavirus, but most of them are in port.

The USS Theodore Roosevelt operating in the Pacific was docked in Guam late March over the pandemic.
Srinagar, April 25 : Two terrorists whose identity is being ascertained and a terrorist associate were killed in an encounter with security forces at Goripora village of Awantipora in South Kashmir's Pulwama district on Saturday morning.

"Two unidentified terrorists and one hardcore associate of terrorists killed. Search is still going on," police said in a brief statement.

This is the second encounter in less than 24 hours in south Kashmir. Two terrorists were killed in a brief encounter with the security forces and a policeman abducted by them was rescued in Anantnag South Kashmir Friday evening.

The two had kidnapped a policeman at Yaripora in the Kulgam district and were travelling with him when they were intercepted by the security forces at check post. A brief encounter followed in which both the terrorists were killed and the abducted policeman was rescued.
The United Nations Security Council on April 24 held an online meeting, discussing the operation of the UN Interim Administrative Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK).

A meeting of the UNSC in New York

Speaking at the meeting, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and Head of the UNMIK Zahir Tanin said the COVID-19 has caused unprecedented harms to the region, including Kosovo. However, health authorities there have taken timely response and the UNMIK played an important role in coordinating UN organisations operation. He also called on leaders of Serbia and Kosovo to conduct active dialogues and look for a peaceful solution to the Kosovo problem.

First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia Ivica Dacic expressed readiness to support the Kosovo people in the COVID-19 fight, adding that doctors and medical supplies have been sent to Kosovo. He also pledged to join dialogues with Kosovo,

For his part, Kosovo representative Glauk Konjufca pointed to the hindrances to negotiations, including the Kosovo missing people and the recognition of independence of Kosovo.

UNSC members hailed a number of recent cooperation and trust-building activities by the two sides, and called on them to conduct substantial dialogues. Many countries continued to support the role of the UNMIK in Kosovo.

Speaking at the meeting, Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy, Head of the Vietnamese mission at the UN, asked Serbia and Kosovo to realise the agreement signed, untangle the knots in bilateral relations, and push up substantial dialogues for a comprehensive solution to the Kosovo issue on the basis of the fundamental principles of international law, UN charters and Resolution 1422 (1999) of the UNSC. He also voiced support for UNMIK operation aimed at building trust and accelerating cooperation between the two sides and assisting communities in Kosovo to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic./.VNA
Rafael Reyna and his wife, Christel. Rafael, of Riverside County, was punched in the parking lot of Dodger Stadium after a game last year. (Reyna Family / Associated Press)

A Riverside County man who suffered a fractured skull after being punched in the Dodger Stadium parking lot after a game last year alleged in a lawsuit that the lot didnt have adequate lighting or security.

Filed Thursday in Los Angeles County Superior Court, the complaint on behalf of Rafael Reyna includes claims for negligence, premises liability and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

As Reyna walked to his car around midnight on March 30, 2019, after the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Dodgers 5-4 in 13 innings, unknown assailants attacked him. The lawsuit said the incident left him with severe traumatic brain injury.

The lack of LAPD-uniformed security personnel diminished the safety and security of Dodger Stadium by creating a more relaxed atmosphere without the threat of immediate police intervention, the 16-page complaint said. The atmosphere emboldened wrongdoers at the stadium.

The Dodgers declined to comment.

The lawsuit also alleged the parking lot was notoriously poorly lit and that contributed to a delay of at least 10 minutes in Reyna being discovered.

Reyna is represented by Carl Douglas, once a member of O.J. Simpson's team of attorneys, and David Lira of Girardi Keese. The firm represented Bryan Stow in a lawsuit against the Dodgers after he was permanently disabled by an attack outside Dodger Stadium in 2011.

Reynas lawsuit seeks unspecified monetary damages.

Times staff writer Jorge Castillo contributed to this report.
New research finds a connection between destructive white blood cells and a more severe disease course in patients with COVID-19.

We found that patients with COVID-19 infection have higher blood levels of neutrophil extracellular traps, also called NETs, which are a product of an inflammatory type of neutrophil cell death called NETosis." Yu (Ray) Zuo, M.D., first author, Michigan Medicine rheumatologist

Zuo worked on the study with Yogen Kanthi, M.D., a cardiologist and vascular medicine specialist at the Michigan Medicine Frankel Cardiovascular Center, and Jason Knight, M.D., Ph.D., a rheumatologist at Michigan Medicine, who study inflammation and neutrophils. The researchers analyzed blood samples from 50 patients with COVID-19 for this publication.

Zuo and colleagues say, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, there is an urgent need to better understand what causes the inflammatory storm and blood clots triggered by SARS-CoV-2 infection--a storm that leads to respiratory failure and a requirement for mechanical ventilation in many patients. They believe NETs may be relevant to many aspects of COVID-19 research, given that thrombosis and inflammation are hallmarks of severe infection.

This is the first publication to come out of the Frankel CVC's CV Impact Research Ignitor Grant program, which was created to address COVID-19 from both basic science and clinical perspectives.
Lamh has opened up free access to Lamh Signs online until the end of May while families and carers are staying home amid the coronavirus pandemic. Over 4,200 people have signed up in the last two weeks.

Lamh is a key sign system used by children and adults with intellectual disability and communication needs in Ireland. Supporting communication between parents, children and siblings, Lamh is used as a stepping stone for children and adults with intellectual disabilities to communicate with the world. Lamh is based on and adapted from Irish Sign Language (ISL) and natural gesture.

While schools are closed and families are staying at home, Lamh would like to support families and carers as much as possible. Lamh are offering free temporary access to over 580 Lamh signs available online including relevant safety Lamh signs for Wash Hands, Space, Clean and so much more. These online resources feature videos of presenters which show the Lamh sign, which can then be copied and practiced alongside any other information a Lamh user may need. Those demonstrating the signs include families who use Lamh themselves.

Recently, Lamh tutor, Deirdre Coleman has introduced puppets to help teach Lamh signs on their instagram channel, lamhsign. The new puppets, Larry and Loulou have received a great response. With over 5,000 followers, Lamhs instagram page showcases key Lamh signs, songs and activities for Lamh users. Videos of Lamh signers have also been featured on RTE's HomeSchool Extra show.

Mary Cullen, Manager of Lamh said "During the coronavirus pandemic, families are at home, routines are changed, school is out, and Lamh courses have been postponed. We hope that Lamhs online resources will give some support to families, carers and Lamh users during this time.'
25.04.2020 LISTEN

The Upper East Regional Health Directorate has hinted that the regions COVID-19 first case involving a pregnant woman will go home soon.

According to the directorate, the first repeat test of the patient tested negative and should the second repeat tested expected by the close of this weekend turns negative, the patient will be discharged.

The woman is believed to have contracted the virus from Nkwakwa in the Eastern Region after a week travel to the area.

The region subsequent to the first case recorded seven more cases through contact tracing bringing the total cases of COVID-19 at eight with one death.

Speaking to Citi News, Upper East Regional Director of Health Services, Dr. Winfred Ofosu indicated that, the remaining six patients under quarantine are also responding to treatment.

The first repeat test after confirmation came negative and we have taken the second repeat test which we are hoping will come this weekend. So, if that also turns out negative then it means that she would have recovered and waiting to be discharged.

He maintained that all things been equal, the patient will be discharged next week should the second repeat tests turn negative.

Dr. Ofosu added that one out of the six remaining patients sent to Accra for quarantine as his condition was getting worse but the others are being quarantined at the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital.

He indicated that samples of four out of the five COVID-19 patients who have done two-weeks in quarantine at the hospital will be sent to the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research (KCCU) for their first repeat test.

So, if their first repeat test comes negative we will proceed to the second repeat and if that also turns out negative then they will also be discharged.

Dr. Ofosu maintained that the five cases are asymptomatic and had not developed symptoms which means that, their immune system is good and they are fighting well with the virus.

Dr. Ofosu admonished residents in the region to desist from stigmatizing COVID-19 patients or those who have recovered from the virus as that could increase the spread of the virus.

We are seeing that, increasing people are trying to stigmatise COVID-19 patients and that is dangerous for the cause of the disease because when we stigmatise them, people who have the symptoms will not come out but will hide and spread the disease.

I will like to appeal to the people of the region that, let us not stigmatise COVID-19 patients, is a disease that anyone can get so long as we interact with people .

---citinewsroom
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 25

Trend:

A summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in the format of a Contact Group will be held May 4 on the initiative of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, who is the NAM Chairman, said the Assistant to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Head of Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration Hikmat Hajiyev, Trend reports.

The summit on the theme We are together against COVID-19 will be held in the format of a video conference, he said.

Hajiyev noted that strengthening international solidarity, mobilizing the efforts of states and international organizations in fighting against the coronavirus pandemic is important.

Members of the Non-Aligned Movement unanimously supported the initiative of President Ilham Aliyev, Hajiyev said.

Given that there are 129 member countries in the Non-Aligned Movement, the summit will be held on the principle of regional geographical representation in the format of the Contact Group, he added.

The leadership of the United Nations (UN), the African Union, the World Health Organization (WHO) and other international organizations will also take part at the summit, noted Hajiyev.

The 18th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement was chaired by President Ilham Aliyev in Azerbaijan on October 25-26, 2019.

With the unanimous support and consent of member countries, Azerbaijan assumed the chairmanship of the Non-Aligned Movement in 2019-2022.

The promotion of multilateral diplomacy, the strengthening of cooperation and solidarity among member countries were determined by President Ilham Aliyev as one of the priorities of the chairmanship of the Non-Aligned Movement.

In accordance with the resolution of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) dated December 12, 2018, April 24 is celebrated as the International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy. As a member of numerous international organizations, Azerbaijan actively supports multilateral diplomacy and multilateralism.

Extraordinary Summit of the Turkic Council was held in the form of a video conference on April 10 on the initiative of Azerbaijans President, the chairman of the Cooperation Council of Turkic-speaking states Ilham Aliyev.

In order to support international efforts to combat the coronavirus pandemic, Azerbaijan voluntarily made a $5 million financial donation to the WHOs coronavirus response fund.

We hope that the Non-Aligned Movement Summit in the format of the Contact Group will make an important contribution to mobilizing efforts, strengthening solidarity and multilaterialism of the countries of the Non-Aligned Movement in the fight against coronavirus, said Hajiyev.
A clinical trial to establish if plasma from the blood of recovered coronavirus patients could help treat others fighting the illness has been given approval.

Health secretary Matt Hancock said thousands of patients could potentially benefit from the treatment if it is deemed to work.

Alongside the trial, the government said it is ramping up the national collection of plasma so that, if the treatment is shown to be successful, it could be rolled out across the NHS.

It is aiming for enough plasma to treat 5,000 Covid-19 patients a week.

The treatment would involve the convalescent plasma, donated from the blood of people who have recovered from the virus, being transfused to patients who are struggling to produce their own antibodies against the illness.

Convalescent plasma was used as a treatment during the Sars outbreak.

Mr Hancock said: The UK has world-leading life sciences and research sectors and I have every hope this treatment will be a major milestone in our fight against this disease.

Hundreds of people are participating in national trials already for potential treatments and the scaling up of convalescent plasma collection means thousands could potentially benefit from it in the future.

Professor Jonathan Van Tam, deputy chief medical officer, said: The UK is leading the worlds largest trials to find a treatment for Covid-19, with over 7,000 people so far involved testing a range of medicines; we hope to add convalescent plasma to this list shortly.

Convalescent plasma has been used as an effective treatment for emerging infections in the past, and this step forward underpins our science-backed approach to fighting this virus.

Health ministers in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland also welcomed the development and said they are pleased to be working with colleagues across the UK.

Explaining the 45-minute plasma collection process, the Department of Health said blood is taken from one arm and circulated through a machine that separates out the plasma, and the blood is then returned to the donor.

The NHS Blood and Transplant will contact people in England who have recovered and who might be able to donate, the department said.

People who have had a confirmed positive test result and who are willing to donate, can also provide their details through the NHS Blood and Transport website at http://www.nhsbt.nhs.uk.

Press Association
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-25 19:13:22|Editor: huaxia

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DAMASCUS, April 25 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. forces are consolidating their positions in the eastern Euphrates river region in Syria, a war monitor reported on Saturday.

The U.S. forces are planning to enforce its positions in the al-Jazra base, the largest base controlled by the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on the outskirts of Raqqa province, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The UK-based watchdog group said the U.S. forces are being sent on secret visits to the base to claim it from the SDF.

Meanwhile, the U.S. forces have also tasked the SDF fighters with protecting oil plants in the eastern Euphrates river region.

The U.S. forces and the SDF control areas in the eastern Euphrates and in Raqqa, as both have fought the Islamic State (IS) and captured many areas from the group.

The Syrian government has for long slammed the presence of the U.S. forces in northeastern Syria, branding them "forces of occupation." Enditem
Missoula County will maintain guidelines that are more stringent than Montanas in coming days, health officials announced Friday.

On Wednesday Gov. Steve Bullock announced a plan to gradually reopen Montanas businesses and public institutions after weeks of mandatory closures and stay-at-home orders. The first phase begins on Sunday, when places of worship will be allowed to operate with reduced capacity and strict physical distancing between worshipers. The governor's directive allows Main Street-type and retail businesses to open Monday, also with reduced capacity and physical distancing. Montanans will still be urged to avoid large groups and non-essential travel.

This slight easing includes an important caveat: Local governments can enact guidelines that are more restrictive than the state guidelines.

Both Yellowstone and Flathead counties plan to go along with Bullock's directive. But Missoula City/County health officer Ellen Leahy told reporters and members of the public Friday that looking at our community, it needs to be a little more gradual, a little better-phased, and certainly mindful of the fact that our testing capacity is really not where we would like it to be.

To that end, she signed an order with several directives, some more stringent than the states. They include:

Events and gatherings will be capped at 25 people, and will have to maintain a 6-foot distance between participants.

Grooming, beauty, body art, spa and massage businesses will, for the most part, have to remain closed until the state reaches the second, more lenient phase of the opening.

Non-essential retail businesses may only open for curbside pickup and delivery on Monday, April 27. They may begin to provide in-store services on May 1, provided that they train their staff in pandemic awareness and implement plans to maintain social distancing and limit the flow of customers.

Leahy said that the governors instructions on places of worship would apply in Missoula County.

In a press release, the Health Department said that since Wednesday, it had received more than 200 comments from community members, business owners and essential workers. About 90% of the comments asked for additional local measures, particularly to slow the reopening of the businesses which are covered in the order.

To reopen for in-store service on May 1, businesses will have to limit customers to half of their usual capacity; put up markings or barriers to maintain a 6-foot separation between customers in the checkout line, train their staff on COVID safety, and prepare an individualized plan for complying with these steps. Dining areas in restaurants, bars and other establishments will have to maintain at least 6 feet of separation between groups of diners, even those in booths.

Bill Nooney, owner of Diamond Jims Casino on Russell Street, doesnt see these rules posing too much of an issue for him. If we do 6 feet between the machines, thats no problem, he said. Were going to take all the stools out of the bar.

Missoula Countys order will remain in effect until the state moves to the second, more lenient phase of the opening, or its revoked. Incident Commander Cindy Farr explained that in determining how to proceed, officials have been hampered by limited testing. At last count on Wednesday, about 1,600 Missoula County tests had been processed. But testing was only expanded to all symptomatic residents last week.

What that tells me is that there are probably a lot of people out in (the) Missoula community who were not able to get tested up until a week ago, and so that means that we are still doing case-finding in our communities, and as we start to open things up it is quite possible that we will see a spike in cases.

Also during Fridays online press conference, Missoula County Commissioner Josh Slotnick said that county services would continue to be delivered within existing limitations. Rob Watson, superintendent of Missoula County Public Schools, said he would recommend that the districts schools not re-open in person for the remainder of the school year, a move that Mayor John Engen also backed. On Tuesday, the Missoula County School District Board of Trustees will begin discussing implications of potentially reopening Missoula schools.

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A 9/11 charity will ease the burden on a young mother after her police officer husband succumbed to the coronavirus.

The Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation will help pay the mortgage for the family of Francesco Frank Scorpo, a Paterson Police officer who died Easter Sunday due to complications from COVID-19.

Scorpo, who joined the department in 2015, was a member of the patrol and traffic divisions. He is survived by his wife, Kristina, and his two sons, 4-year-old Francesco Jr. and Santino, who is 6 months old.

My husband, Frank, will be remembered for his two loves in life: his family and his career as a police officer, Kristina said. Frank was dedicated to serving the Paterson community, and looked forward to work each day. He truly loved his job as a police officer, and was motivated by his work to protect and serve others.

As a nurse, Kristina, has been on the frontlines of the coronavirus pandemic.

Both of them went to work bravely each day, knowing they were putting their own lives at risk in order to help others, said Frank Siller, chairman and CEO of the Tunnel to Towers Foundation. "My hope is that, in lifting this financial burden off of Kristinas shoulders, she can grieve and focus on her two young boys with greater peace of mind.

The mortgage for the Scorpo family will be paid out of the COVID-19 Heroes Fund, established in response to the pandemic with an initial pledge of $3 million. It has grown to $4.5 million and has a goal of $10 million to help frontline heroes.

The fund is being used to support healthcare workers and first responders by providing personal protective equipment, meals and financial relief through temporary mortgage payments for the families of who lose their life to COVID-19 and leave behind young children.

Im incredibly grateful to The Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation for their generosity, which will enable me to raise my children in the home Frank and I shared," Kristina said. "I would like to thank the Foundation for honoring my husbands service, and for helping me to keep his memory in our home,

The foundation has, so far, purchased 500,000 pieces of PPE, including masks, gowns and face shields to distribute throughout New York and New Jersey. It has also delivered thousands of meals to police stations and fire houses throughout New York City.

And it has identified 15 families of fallen healthcare workers and first responders from across the country that it will help financially by taking on their mortgage payments temporarily, until the COVID-19 Heroes Fund runs out. The Scorpos are the first of those families to be identified publicly.

The COVID-19 Heroes Fund is being financed through one-time and on-going donations from individuals and businesses.

The Stephen SIller Tunnel to Towers Foundation was established to honor the sacrifice of FDNY Firefighter Stephen Siller, who perished on 9/11. To date it has spent $250 million to support first responders, veterans and their families. Among them, is the family of Jersey City Police Det. Joseph Seals, whose mortgage payments were taken on by the charity in December after he was slain in Bayview Cemetery when he confronted David Anderson and Francine Graham in their stolen U-Haul van. The pair then went on to massacre three people at a kosher grocery store -- Moshe Deutsch, 24, Leah Minda Ferencz, 33; and Miguel Douglas, 49, of Jersey City.

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Allison Pries may be reached at apries@njadvancemedia.com.
Ten people from a coronavirus



hotspot in Nagpur in Maharashtra who were refusing to get themselves quarantined or tested were nabbed from hiding, said municipal commissioner Tukaram Mundhe on Saturday.

There are around 30 families in Satranjipura area who have been quarantined as 55 COVID-19 cases were detected there and the ten were connected to the area, he said.

"Late Friday night, we got information that some people related to these 30 families are hiding in nearby Kalamana area. A team comprising medical staff and police reached the area and nabbed 10 people hiding in a godown there. They were shifted to a quarantine centre," Mundhe said.

"It is unfortunate that people are behaving in such a manner. They are not cooperating with authorities who are trying their best to contain the coronavirus outbreak. Action will be taken if those who have symptoms or those who have been in contact with patients do not come forward to get tested," he said.

Mundhe also said Nagpur Municipal Corporation had made arrangements to get pregnant women in hotspots tested for the virus by a team of gynecologists.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Taher al-Matars home in northwest Syria is in ruins, but he has returned there to live in it. He decided it was safer to live in the wreckage of his house than to stay in a camp for displaced people. Such camps are crowded, and he fears getting infected with the coronavirus.

Matar worries that the ceasefire in the Idlib area may not last. Yet he is clearing rubble from what remains of his house. He looks for any unexploded shells that could have fallen near it during the the governments latest offensive.

Its better than living in the camps. We were there, we lived the humiliation, he told the Reuters news agency.

Matars home is in Nairab, a town close to territory held by rebels from Russian-backed Syrian government forces. A missile struck the house three months ago.

They tell us to stay home because of corona...but in the camps, the tents are right next to each other and people cant keep their distance, Matar said.He wants to spend Islams holy month of Ramadan with his six children at home.

Thousands of Syrians have started moving back to the Idlib region since Russia and Turkey negotiated a truce. The ceasefire took effect in March. It stopped an offensive in the last remaining rebel-held area in Syria.

The fighting has displaced nearly 1 million people. Many had already fled other battles earlier in the nine-year war. Officials are worried that the new coronavirus could infect displaced persons in the over-crowded camps. So far, there have been no confirmed cases.

A local aid agency reported that nearly 120,000 people had returned to towns in Idlib and the Aleppo countryside since the ceasefire.

What will happen next, only God knows... At the end of the day, a person has nothing but his home, said Saher al-Ali. He is a driver who also went back to Nairab to try fixing his house.

Air strikes destroyed the windows and doors even before his family escaped. At first, Ali searched for other houses, but they were all too costly or full. They were in the camps before they returned.

Where was I supposed to live? In the camps or in the street?... If the battles come back, we will flee again, he said.

Im Bryan Lynn.

The Reuters News Agency reported this story. Susan Shand adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor.

________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

rubble  n. debris left by destruction

humiliation  n. causing someone embarrassment

tent  n. a large clothe erected as a place to sleep outdoors
Advocates Fear Threats to Religious Freedom, Health in Northeast Syria

Religious freedom advocates and medical practitioners have expressed concerns about the COVID-19 response in northeast Syria.

"There is a quadruple threat to religious freedom and the fight against ISIS that is going on there. Turkey has been relentlessly bombing and shutting off the water supply to the city (of Hassakeh). The U.N. and Human Rights Watch have spoken out about it, yet Turkey continues," said Lauren Homer, an Anglican lawyer on international religious freedom issues, speaking to the International Religious Freedom Roundtable April 21.

Homer chairs the roundtable's Middle East Working Group. She spoke during the group's online meeting, which normally is held on Capitol Hill in Washington. Her remarks were made available to Catholic News Service and underscore concerns for the health and welfare of the region's Kurdish, Syriac Christian and Yazidi residents facing the coronavirus crisis.

"There's an impending COVID-19 crisis. The area is cut off by Syria's Assad regime and Turkey from getting assistance. The KRG (Kurdistan Regional Government in Iraq) has tried to help, but you've got 5 million people with three test labs and a smattering of test kits, and that's it. The U.S. government and our military have helped with suppling personal protection equipment. Samaritan's Purse is there now providing assistance," said Homer, who heads Law and Liberty Trust, which promotes religious liberty worldwide.

She urged the United States and President Donald Trump "to put pressure on Turkey to stop cutting off humanitarian aid and the water supply that is needed."

On Feb. 26, Turkey imperiled the water supply to Hassakeh and its surrounding region of some half a million people, including Syrians internally displaced from other parts of the country because of the conflict.

Homer said northeast Syria and its Kurdish and Syriac Christian fighters remain crucial allies in combatting the Islamic State group. These fighters, allied with U.S. troops, were largely responsible for eradicating much of the Islamic State presence in Syria, until Trump pulled out 2,000 American troops from the area, saying the extremists were "defeated." After much criticism of the move, a remnant of the U.S. military presence remains to protect oil fields.

More than 300,000 people were displaced and more than 70 civilians in Syria and 20 civilians in Turkey were killed during the Turkish military offensive. Amnesty International has evidence of war crimes and other violations committed by Turkey and the Syrian forces it used, including Islamist militants. Until the Turkish invasion in October 2019, Kurds, Christians and other religious minorities said they felt protected by the presence of U.S. ground troops.

Greek-Melkite Archbishop Jean-Clement Jeanbart of Aleppo, Syria, said in October that the Turkish military offensive created a "demographic earthquake, displacing Kurds from their homes and lands and creating the conditions for serious internal tensions."

Homer said: "The key thing about northeast Syria is that fight against ISIS is continuing, and ISIS is stepping it up.

"There has also been a rebellion in the prison where there are 10,000 ISIS fighters, and there have been rebellions in the camp where there are about 80,000 ISIS wives and children. So the is situation is critical. Some of the rebellions in the prisons have been directly linked to the lack of water and fears about COVID-19."

Homer added that the U.S. government needs to "think strategically about U.S. national security and the security of our troops over there."

"The best way we can advance both is to try to keep up the pressure on ISIS and try to keep people there healthy. Because if COVID-19 sweeps through the area, we are not going to have any allies there to be our boots on the ground the way they have been."

Bassam Ishak, who heads the Syriac National Council, agreed. He told CNS by phone that there is little reporting on coronavirus cases out of northeast Syria because of a "lack of testing ability."

"Living conditions in general are difficult and the situation is not getting better. We need help from our allies to improve living and health conditions for the people of the region who supported the international coalition to defeat ISIS," said Ishak, a member of the political bureau of the Syrian Democratic Council in northeast Syria and a graduate of The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.

"We are restricting transportation access, shuttering some shops and closing schools to combat the spread of the coronavirus," Sanharib Barsoum, co-head of the Syriac Unity Party, told CNS. "We have also received some personal protection equipment and testing kits from Iraq's Kurdistan region."

The international medical humanitarian organization, Doctors Without Borders, is working with local health authorities and other groups in northeast Syria to prepare for an increase in patients infected with COVID-19, following the first confirmed death from the illness.

"We are deeply concerned about the lack of laboratory testing, the absence of contact tracing, inadequate hospital capacity to manage patients and limited availability of personal protection equipment," said Crystal van Leeuwen, the group's medical emergency manager for Syria. "The response in northeast Syria at this time is not nearly enough. A significant increase in assistance from health and humanitarian organizations, and donors are essential."

Doctors Without Borders said nine years of conflict and military operations in northeast Syria have left the region with a broken health system. Many health facilities can no longer function, and those that remain open were already struggling to respond to the existing medical needs before the COVID-19 pandemic. Delays in testing and border closures have made it nearly impossible to adequately respond to a COVID-19 outbreak, it added.
They've been busy homeschooling their five-year-old son amid the coronavirus pandemic.

And on Friday, Hamish Blake and his beauty guru wife Zoe Foster-Blake shared a hilarious video of themselves sipping cocktails and having a party at their home as they celebrated another week of homeschooling being over.

Comedian Hamish, 38, shared the clip to Instagram and joked that they were having 'knock off staff drinks' in their living room.

'Knock off staff drinks are on!' Comedian Hamish Blake and wife Zoe Foster-Blake celebrated another week of homeschooling being over on Friday, sharing a hilarious clip to Instagram

'School of home end of week knock off staff drinks is ON!!' Hamish captioned the video.

He added: 'English teacher [is] super cute, not heaps of competition for her around. Great party!'

'We are so the same over here,' WAG and mother-of-four Rebecca Judd commented.

Celebrity chef Ben Shewry added a horde of laugh-crying emojis in response.

'The English teacher is cute': The comedian, 38, hilariously pretended the pair were teachers at an after-school knock off party, instead of drinking in their living room

Relatable! 'We are so the same over here,' WAG and mother-of-four Rebecca Judd commented. Celebrity chef Ben Shewry added a horde of laugh-crying emojis in response

It comes after Hamish was shamed for saying he was 'homeschooling' his five-year-old son, Sonny, after schools closed in Victoria amid the coronavirus pandemic.

He revealed on The 3pm Pick-Up this week that he'd been 'told off' for using the term many Australians have been using in recent weeks.

'Have you been told off yet for calling it "homeschooling", when it's actually "learning from home"?' Hamish asked hosts Rebecca Judd and Katie 'Monty' Dimond.

'I got told off!' Hamish was shamed for saying he was 'homeschooling' his five-year-old son, Sonny, after schools in Victoria closed due to the coronavirus pandemic

'I got told off,' added the comedian, who shares Sonny and daughter Rudy, two, with Zoe.

'Who told you off?' asked Rebecca in disbelief, to which Monty replied: 'One of the teachers, probably!'

Hamish clarified that it was not a teacher at Sonny's school, but instead 'a person that was offended on behalf of teachers'.

Sensitive much? Somebody told Hamish the term 'homeschooling' is offensive because it suggests 'you can suddenly be a teacher'. Pictured with his children, Sonny and Rudy

They apparently told Hamish that the term 'homeschooling' is offensive because it suggests 'you can suddenly be a teacher'.

Rebecca, who has four children aged between three and eight, said: 'There is always someone offended. But obviously we are not teachers. We're just assisting teachers.'

Hamish responded: 'No one in their right mind is doing this learning from home thing at the moment and thinking we are teachers. [We have] mountains of respect for teachers for what they do every day.'
Plans underway for schools to reopen next month View(s):

The Education Ministry had drawn out a plan in regard to the reopening of schools from May 11 onwards. The plan will be implemented on a staggered basis, but it will be subjected to health advice, a senior Education Ministry official said.

According to the Education Ministry Secretary M.H.M. Chithrananda initially 50 per cent of the teachers will be expected to work in schools and plan out for the coming weeks in non-curfew areas.

In the non-curfew areas, from the third week of May onwards, only G.C.E (O/L) and A/L students will be required to attend lessons, while in the fourth week of the month students from grade six to ten will be required to attend lessons. The final stage of the plan will see the attendance of primary students.

However, all the plans will be carried out under advice provided by health officials. The relevant circular will be sent out next week.

Mr Chitrananda said the Education Ministry had sought the local authorities assistance to have all schools sanitised and prepared for the beginning of the second term.

However schools being used by the police for duties connected with COVID-19 is yet to be released. In Colombo several schools had been taken over by the police for curfew operations.

The National Institute of Education (NIE) is being used by the infectious Disease Hospital (IDH) doctors and the National College of Education (NCOE) by the police force.

The Education Ministry has insisted these premises be thoroughly cleansed and sanitised before being handed over, Mr Chitrananda said.

Meanwhile all parents will be asked to make sure their children wear masks daily to school.

But Education Ministry officials said they cannot vouch to maintain social distancing.

They said this could not be done in a classroom of 35 to 40 students.

There is no way this could be followed given the number of students and capacity of classrooms, Mr Chitrananda said.

Mr Chitrananda said no exams will be postponed due to the time lost during the lockdown period.

He said all exams including the Grade five scholarship exams and the Ordinary Level exams will be held as scheduled.

They will be held in August and December as scheduled, he said.

If unable to complete modules questions will be based on modules completed, alternatively optional questions could be given giving students wider choices, he said. CC
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 25

By Huseyn Safarov  Trend:

Azerbaijan is not just a transit territory, but also an active participant in the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) project with large forecasted dividends, Vadim Kozyulin, Candidate of Political Sciences, Professor of the Academy of Military Science, Director of the Asian Security Project at the PIR Center told Trend.

The INSTC project has been modified over 20 years. As it turned from an idea into a reality, new participants connected to the INSTC, Kozyulin said.

One of the three main routes of the project, the South-West Transport Corridor, runs through the territory of Azerbaijan. It does not just pass through this territory, but connects Azerbaijan with Russia, Europe, Iran, India and many other countries. For the economy of all participants, this is approximately the same as the opening of a subway between the districts of the city, where traffic jams used to be, and you had to get to the desired point bypassing the ring road. Only in our case, these areas are scattered thousands of kilometers away. The benefits of the new railway binder are obvious, and all participants will receive dividends when the corridor is fully operational, the political expert noted.

Azerbaijan is not just a transit territory, but an active participant in the project and the beneficiary. The INSTC brings not only obvious economic benefits, but also will strengthen the political and sociocultural relations of the participating countries, Kozyulin added.

The foundation of the International North-South Transport Corridor was laid on September 12, 2000 according to an intergovernmental agreement signed between Russia, Iran and India. Azerbaijan joined this agreement in 2005. In general, 13 following countries have ratified this agreement.

The goal of creating the corridor is to reduce the delivery time of cargos from India to Russia, as well as to Northern and Western Europe. The new corridor is expected to reduce the delivery time from six to three weeks.
By and large, Gov. Tom Wolf and Dr. Rachel Levine should be commended for their hard work in leading efforts in the commonwealth to combat the coronavirus. Both have inspired confidence and trust in Pennsylvanians battling anxiety and frustration as the death toll mounts and their bank accounts decrease.

But we are compelled to warn of clear signs of trouble ahead. People now out of work are growing angrier and angrier at not getting unemployment checks. And what is worse, many cant get anyone to answer the phone at the office thats supposed to handle their complaints.

A person wearing a protective face mask as a precaution against the coronavirus walks past a shuttered business in Philadelphia, Thursday, April 23, 2020. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)AP

Business people are complaining they dont understand how the governor is making up the rules on which of them are essential and which must remain closed to contain the spread of the virus.

And media organizations, including ours, are growing more and more alarmed that reporters cant ask their own questions in a meeting with the governor and the secretary, and be able to follow up if the answers arent clear. Its just not the same thing to have the press secretary select questions and then move on to the next, whatever the answer.

Governor Tom Wolf speaking by video feed while Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine stands at the podium during the virtual press conference. The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., March 20, that there are 83 additional positive cases of COVID-19 reported, bringing the statewide total to 268. County-specific information and a statewide map are available here. All people are either in isolation at home or being treated at the hospital. Harrisburg, PA- March 20, 2020 (Commonwealth Media Services)

We understand this has been an unprecedented emergency where all previous rules were off the table.

We understand days have been long and every minute has counted as officials try to understand the nature of the beast and how to deal with it.

And we understand reporters can ask lots of questions.

But this governor and his team pledged to be open and transparent. Press conferences are good, but theyre only as good as the freedom allowed the press to respectfully ask probing questions and pursue factual answers.

We have no doubt about the commitment of the governor and his team to do all within their power to protect Pennsylvanians and to limit the number of people who die from COVID-19. We know they are working hard against incredible odds. And we know they are well up to the challenge that has impacted all aspects of our lives.

Governor Tom Wolf listens as Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine speaks to reporters on Monday. (File photo from the governor's office)

But unless the governor and his team recommit to direct engagement with the media  within health and safety protocols  they risk undermining the very foundation they need to combat this virus  the trust and confidence of the people.

We urge Gov. Wolf, Secretary Levine as well as all of the appropriate members of his administration to take these three concrete steps as we move to the next stage of the coronavirus battle:

Get state employees to answer the phone, do internet chats or at least accept emails from people wanting information about their unemployment checks. No one should have to call days on end without getting through.

Let reporters ask their own questions at press briefings, allowing at least one follow-up question, if needed. Closed circuit teleconferences or strategically spaced seating could help address safety concerns.

Work with business as well as medical professionals to ensure their input in drafting re-opening guidelines for Pennsylvania. We dont need to follow Washingtons guidance, as some have suggested, but we should respond to the valid concerns of businesses in our own state.

I am proud of Gov. Tom Wolf and his handling of the coronavirus pandemic., wrote Kimberly Miller of Harrisburg in a letter to the editor. I trust Governor Wolf to do what is right. 

We trust the same, and vow to do our part to help move him in that direction.

Thanks for visiting PennLive. Quality local journalism has never been more important. You deserve the best. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work.
Fiona Whelan was a bright and energetic young woman who had her whole life ahead of her, Fr Terence McGovern told mourners at her funeral Mass on Wednesday last.

The 35-year-old died on Saturday, April 11, following a tragic accident. Hundreds of tributes had been paid to Fiona, who ran the Perch Cafe in Baltinglass and had worked in hospitality and catering for many years.

The road from Hacketstown was lined with people as the community came out to pay their respects to the popular young woman on her final journey to the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Knockananna.

Fr McGovern said that the church would have been packed with neighbours and friends who had come to pay their respects to Fiona in normal circumstances. The entire community was 'shocked and saddened' by Fiona's unexpected passing. However, the current restrictions meant that the numbers in the church had to be limited and the community could not support Fiona's family and loved ones in their 'burden of grief' as they wanted to.

In his homily, Fr McGovern said the Covid-19 emergency meant that we are 'all living through a difficult time right now' and everyone has felt great sorrow for those affected by the virus. This difficult time demonstrates that it is not always possible to protect those that we love, especially in circumstances as unexpected and tragic as Fiona's death.

'On that day, one minute the sun was shining, everyone was smiling and the gloom of recent days seemed to lift a bit. Then, without warning or a chance to prepare, the world plunged into darkness.'

Referring to the 'outpouring of compassion from the community', Fr McGovern said some will ask 'how could such a thing happen to such a good person, such a good family?'. While it was right and proper to grieve, he urged mourners to remember to have faith in Jesus who had come to experience human life and connections.

Fr McGovern said that Fiona had had her whole life before her and had recently bought her first home with her partner Michael. He described her as 'bright and energetic' and as someone who was 'always on the go, never leaving for tomorrow what could be done today.'

'No parent expects to bury their child and no man expects to bury his partner in such tragic circumstances,' Fr McGovern said.

He asked mourners to not only grieve, but to reflect on the gift of Fiona's life.

'Fiona has been taken from us without warning and before her natural time. But, in her relatively short life, she gave so much love and received so much love.'

Fiona's sister Siobhan also spoke on behalf of family. She said they were touched by the gestures of support from communities and neighbours in Knockananna, Baltinglass and Rathvilly. She expressed their thanks for the support of the community.

'There is not much more that I can add about Fiona, that has not been said over the last few days. I think that shows how genuine she was.'

Describing her sister as bubbly, happy and smiling, Siobhan said the family knew 'how much Fiona loved them because she could not hide it and Fiona knew how much she was loved because she thrived on it.'

'She was the most amazing person to have as a daughter, sister and aunt. Nothing was ever too much and no was never the answer,' Siobhan said of Fiona's generosity.

The temporary closure of the Perch Cafe following public guidelines had allowed Fiona to be home more and to spend time with her family.

'We are living in strange times but we got to have Fiona spending more time with us in all her madness and glory than normal. We are so thankful for the lovely memories to hold onto.'

Siobhan said Fiona and her partner Michael had been 'blissfully happy' together.

'Your stories and light will continue forever and we hope they all like coffee up there before they are getting it whether they like or not.'

A recording of Fiona's funeral Mass posted online by Knockananna GAA has been viewed thousands of times.

After the service, Fiona was taken for burial beside her grandparents. May she rest in peace.
Millions of Americans are eagerly awaiting their coronavirus stimulus checks, and the IRS recently started depositing money into bank accounts.

The maximum amount you can receive is $1,200 (or $2,400 for married couples filing their taxes jointly), plus an additional $500 for each child under age 17 claimed as a dependent on your tax return. For many people who have lost their job and are struggling to pay the bills, this extra cash can go a long way.

However, some people who are eligible to receive a check may never see that money. That's because there's one little-known way you could lose your stimulus payment.

The special rule that could cost you your stimulus check

In general, the stimulus money you receive is yours to spend however you like. You don't have to pay it back, and it won't count toward your income -- meaning you won't have to pay taxes on it next year. That said, if you have a negative bank account balance or overdraft fees, your bank could seize your stimulus check without your permission.

Under the CARES Act, federal and state governments won't take your stimulus check to cover unpaid debts other than child support, but private debt collectors currently can. That means if you have unpaid debt or fees through the bank that handles the account your check will be deposited into, your bank could potentially take your money and put it toward your debt before you get a chance to spend it.

Some banks -- including Wells Fargo, Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, and Citigroup -- have promised not to seize customers' stimulus checks to cover unpaid debt. So even if your account has a negative balance, you will still have access to your full stimulus payment. Not all banks are taking this approach, however, so it's up to your bank to decide whether it will seize stimulus checks or not.

What to do if your bank takes your check

You may not have a say in whether your bank chooses to garnish stimulus checks to pay off negative account balances, but you still have some power.

If your bank has already seized your stimulus payment, reach out and ask them to reconsider. The bank may not reverse its decision, but you never know unless you ask. Many lawmakers are pushing for the Treasury Department to prohibit banks from taking stimulus checks, arguing that because this money is intended to help people survive during a crisis, there should be restrictions on debt collection. If more people call their banks and ask for their stimulus money back, it may prompt banks or lawmakers to take action.

You may also choose to contact your local representatives. While there is currently no nationwide rule that prohibits banks from seizing stimulus checks, some local governments have created rules against it. For example, the Indiana Supreme Court recently ruled that debt collectors cannot garnish stimulus payments, and more states could follow suit. By contacting your local lawmakers, you may be able to persuade them to push for similar regulations.

Another option, if you haven't already received your check, is to avoid depositing your money right away. If the IRS doesn't have your direct deposit information on file, you'll be receiving a paper check in the mail. When you receive it, you can simply cash your check rather than deposit it. There's still a chance that debt collectors could obtain a judgment against you in court and freeze your bank account, but as long as your cash isn't in that account, they can't seize it.

Stimulus checks are a lifeline for millions of households who are struggling to make ends meet due to the coronavirus pandemic, and if banks seize those payments to cover unpaid debts, it could make this difficult time even more challenging. By being aware of this rule, though, you may be able to take steps to protect your cash.
Taapsee Pannu is flipping through her vacation pictures to while away time in lockdown and has now shared a memory from her trip to the Vatican. The picture shows her walking towards Saint Peters Basilica in Vatican City with her back to the camera and a small backpack on her shoulder.

Sharing the picture on Instagram, she wrote, One of those trips I just decided to take very impulsively. Rome. Was in my list since long time. I love seeing places which should either have beach, crystal blue water n good restaurants or should have a lot of history to know n study about and have a lot of good restaurants. Basically good restaurants is the basic common key here. I loved using all the local apps to find me local transport n restaurants to dine in. Quaint cafes which make u pause.

She went on to share her plans post the Covid -19 pandemic and wrote, I think it will be some till I experience the thrill of travelling again. But until then, we can make a list of all places in the world we want to see coz life is too short and we all have witnessed that its quite possible that things wont be the same tomorrow #Throwback #Archives #QuarantinePost.

Taapsee had earlier shared a post about how she was missing out on the madness that actors thrive on as she longed to be on a film set. She shared a still from her 2018 film Manmarziyaan which showed her sitting on a scooter in salwar kameez.

Also read: Rajeev Khandelwal says casting couch is not rape: The one who gives in is equally responsible

This throwback is clearly out of missing the madness we thrive on as actors. The calm we find in the most crazy situations. Need to get back to the chaos soon... Btw thats a rig being attached to my scooter to test my balancing skills. Both with the weight n emotions in the take. #Throwback #Archive #QuarantinePost, she said.

Taapsees latest role in Anubhav Sinhas Thappad has been widely acclaimed. She will now be seen in Haseen Dillruba, Rashmi Rocket and Shabaash Mithu.

Follow @htshowbiz for more
EDMONTONAlberta is rolling back more billing changes to fees and adding millions of dollars in extra cash to stop rural doctors from pulling back from hospital duties.

Tyler Shandro says the changes total $81 million, including adding cash top-ups to doctors who work in rural and remote areas.

They also address two main concerns that have prompted some rural doctors to announce recently that they must cancel hospital duties because they cant make a living under fee changes unilaterally imposed by Shandro in March.

Shandro said one of those rule changes  to no longer allow rural doctors to bill for overhead when working in a hospital  had unintended consequences.

Ive heard from my colleagues, from rural physicians, as well as from rural leaders all across the province, that this policy forces physicians and hospitals to make choices that reduce access, Shandro said Friday. This was never our intention.

Shandro said there will be $57 million more for rural service top-ups.

He said rural doctors will are allowed to once again claim overhead for hospital work. Urban doctors will also be allowed to do the same pending a review on whether that policy is necessary in large centres.

He is also rolling back reductions in the provincial subsidy for medical liabilities, which rural doctors have said make it impossible to pay for coverage to work in obstetrics.

The announcement adds to other recent rollbacks on Shandros March changes. A plan to change fees for longer patient visits  called complex modifiers  has been scrapped and other rollbacks on physician salary top-ups, called clinical stipends, have been deferred.

The announcement is set against a backdrop of poisoned relations between Shandro and the doctors representative, the Alberta Medical Association, after Premier Jason Kenneys government passed Bill 21 late last year giving it the power to unilaterally end the negotiated master agreement with the AMA.

Earlier this year Shandro did just that, cancelling the master agreement while simultaneously implementing the controversial changes, some of which he is now rolling back.

The AMA is taking the province to court, alleging breaches of charter rights because they were not given access to third party arbitration.

Christine Molnar, head of the AMA, said in a statement that Shandros announcement was a positive step during the COVID-19 pandemic but said, We need long-term solutions to real challenges, not one-time ad hoc decisions. We need a partnership between physicians and government.

A group speaking for Albertas rural doctors said in a statement that the fundamental issue of trust remains broken.

We suspect these politically expedient announcements and partial rollbacks will not be enough for most physicians faced with the need to reduce hospital services in July, since we know they can be reversed again at any time, said the Rural Sustainability Group.

Albertans know we cannot trust this government to uphold its word or its contracts.

Dr. Samantha Myhr, part of the Sustainability Group and one of seven doctors giving up hospital privileges in Pincher Creek, said the announcement doesnt change her mind.

Im still going through with it, said Myhr, who said she cant be sure the benefits granted today wont be gone tomorrow.

What happens a few months down the line? she said.

Ed Aasman, a doctor in Rocky Mountain House who has already cancelled his hospital privileges, said trust was shattered when Kenneys government passed Bill 21.

Thats (about) power. Thats not leadership, said Aasman.

David Shepherd, health critic for the Opposition NDP, echoed the rural group statement, saying trust with Shandro is broken beyond repair.

Tyler Shandro knifed rural Albertans and our rural doctors in the back, and now hes offering them a Band-Aid, said Shepherd.

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Scotiabank is proud to have already supported over 260,000 Canadians with financial relief on more than $64 billion in loans

TORONTO, April 25, 2020 /CNW/ - Today, Scotiabank announced that the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) Business Credit Availability Program (BCAP) will launch on Monday, April 27, another relief program in support of Canadian businesses impacted by COVID-19. Available to Scotiabank Business Banking clients, this program will be launched in cooperation with the Government of Canada, to provide small, medium, and large businesses with options to manage through the challenges presented by COVID-19.

The program provides a term loan of up to $6.25 million, arranged by Scotiabank, and 80% funded by the BDC. Financing amounts available differ based on business revenue and term qualifications will be based on Scotiabank's standard terms for Business Banking clients. For more details on eligibility criteria, clients are encouraged to contact their Scotiabank Small Business Advisor or Relationship Manager.

"As business owners across Canada continue to grapple with the downstream effects that COVID-19 has had on their operations, we want them to know that Scotiabank is there for them. Scotiabank is proud to have already provided tailored advice and support to over 45,000 businesses, with financial relief on more than $20 billion in loans," said Dan Rees, Group Head of Canadian Banking for Scotiabank. "This program is another way Scotiabank and the BDC are providing a wide range of Business Banking clients with options to manage their cash-flow and business continuity needs, allowing for flexible financial support to help them navigate these challenging times."

The BDC BCAP is another extension of Scotiabank's support for Canadian businesses of all sizes affected by COVID-19, which already includes a number of relief measures including the online application for the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) for small businesses and the Export Development Canada (EDC) BCAP.

For more information on all of our relief programs for individuals and businesses, please visit Scotiabank.com.

About Scotiabank

Scotiabank is a leading bank in the Americas. Guided by our purpose: "for every future," we help our customers, their families and their communities achieve success through a broad range of advice, products and services, including personal and commercial banking, wealth management and private banking, corporate and investment banking, and capital markets. With a team of approximately 100,000 employees and assets of approximately $1.2 trillion (as at January 31, 2020), Scotiabank trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: BNS) and New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: BNS). For more information, please visit http://www.scotiabank.com and follow us on Twitter @ScotiabankViews.

SOURCE Scotiabank

For further information: For media enquiries only: Caitlyn Veiga, (416) 520-1476, [email protected]

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Sri Lanka on Saturday extended the nationwide curfew in four high risk districts, including Colombo, till May 4 to stem the spread of the deadly coronavirus in the country, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's office announced, a day after the Island nation recorded the highest number of 49 infections in a single day.

The four out of the 25 administration districts that come under high risk category are Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara and Puttalam.

For the remaining 21 districts, the curfew will be partially lifted from April 27 till May 1. The partial relaxation for the period will be from 5 am to 8 pm, it said.

The government also announced that public and private institutions are allowed to operate from May 4 despite the curfew in the high risk districts.

The police had earlier announced that the nationwide curfew imposed to tackle the pandemic will be lifted at 5 am on Monday.

Health authorities said that 15 more positive cases were reported on Saturday, taking the country's COVID-19 tally to 435. So far, there have been 7 deaths.

The latest extension in the curfew came as the country recorded its highest number of 49 COVID-19 cases for a single day on Friday since its outbreak in March.

Sri Lanka has been under a 24-hour curfew since March 20 to combat the deadly viral infection.

However, there has been intermittent lifting of the curfew in selected areas which were not seen as dangerous for the spread of the deadly virus.

Health officials said that during this week, they have increased the PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) tests and the aim is to conduct around 100 PCR tests per day.

Meanwhile, nearly 4,000 Sri Lankan Navy personnel and their families have been quarantined at a major naval facility after 60 COVID-19 cases were confirmed in the last two days.

The COVID-19 has so far infected more than 2.7 million people and killed over 190,000 globally. The US is the worst hit with over 51,000 deaths and more than 905,000 cases, according to Johns Hopkins University.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Two residents of Lexington's Alston Brook, a nursing and rehabilitation center, died Friday. One of the people had been taken to the Lexington Medical Center earlier this week and died in the hospital. That person was in their 80s and had underlying health problems, public health officials said.

The other person died at Alston Brook. That patient was in their mid-80s and also had other health problems, the Davidson County Health Department said in a statement.

Alston Brook is experiencing an outbreak, and the health department is working closely with the center to stop the spread, Davidson County Health Director Lillian Koontz said in the health department statement.

"The loss of two Davidson County residents in one day is extremely difficult," said Koontz. "Our deepest condolences go out to the families, friends and caregivers for these two people."
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-26 05:47:01|Editor: huaxia

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RAMALLAH, April 25 (Xinhua) -- Palestine on Saturday urged Israel to release a Palestinian prisoner diagnosed with COVID-19, three days after he was arrested by Israeli forces in the West Bank.

Saeb Erekat, secretary-general of the Palestine Liberation Organization, accused Israel of violating the international law by continuing the detention of the 21-year-old, demanding his immediate release.

"Mohamed Hasan is a student from Birzeit University held by the Israeli occupier at a detention center in Jerusalem. He has been diagnosed with COVID-19," Erekat said in a press statement.

He called on the international community and the UN secretary-general to "oblige Israel to release him immediately in order to follow up on his medical condition," according to the statement.

According to Hasan's lawyers, his interrogation was extended for eight more days despite his diagnosis.

Palestinian officials warned that the situation of Hasan may put hundreds of other Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails at risk of contracting the virus. Enditem
Toss those Obama-era ideas of hope and change out the window, friends. We dont need insurance (and, truth be told, millions of Americans never had it, anyway). Actually, the promises provided by the bleak Republican future are that you can get your health fix through over-the-counter drugs. Im not talking about aspirin. Im talking about Clorox. Inject it right into your veins. The president says its so. Pandemic solved!

Trump is snake oil-peddling at its zenith, except hes peddling less than hope. Hes peddling absurdity. Hes peddling inanity (and insanity). Hes peddling bad faith. Then again, I dont want to take away from what may actually be a brilliant idea in disguise. If we cant have good ideas and change, maybe a total wipe-out of humanity really is the answer. Nothing else seems to be working, after all. Why not this? A little food coloring and, I assure you, a cup of bleach can be as delicious as any old Tide pod.

Look, what do you really have to lose, anyway? Your life? Its boring. Youre probably watching TV, or cruising Facebook in search of a salient political argument over a meme. Or wasting the day trying to secure your unemployment benefits. Good luck with that. Can intravenous bleach really be dangerous? A Twinkie can last 50 years on the shelf, and no doubt youve eaten that. Dont tell me all the choices youve made have been good ones. This could save your life. I heard it myself, on TV. Dont you want to survive?

And yes, I know that this pandemic could have been far less devastating, if only wed done something sooner. Maybe if President Trump had not fired the entire pandemic team in 2018  a team he never replaced  the United States would not be winning the race no one currently wants to be winning: the coronavirus death race. Maybe if he cared more about the lives of others than he does about his ridiculous television persona, he would not have cut funding to the World Health Organization. Maybe, maybe, maybe.

And I know that a better healthcare system would mean less devastation moving forward  since we dont yet know the economic toll well face when this is over, or the ticker-tape of medical bills that will likely arrive at the doorsteps of those who are least equipped to deal with them. And I know that states like mine, New York, which provide ballast to less economically stable states, like Kentucky, might have to just suck it up and file for bankruptcy, according to Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell, because he just isnt going to budge to help people who are dying because dying isnt an excuse for not being able to pay your bills, unless you live in Kentucky, like he does, and depend on states like New York to fund your lifestyle.

All of those details are just details, you know? And why get mired in details when there are real and fundamental solutions to life problems out there? One such solution is to go out and swallow bleach. I mean it. Bleach feels like the perfect cocktail for those of us who believe that voting for literally any other person in the world probably would have yielded a different set of circumstances than we now find ourselves in. When I think of the past several years, and how it has gone for everyone in this country, raising a glass of champagne actually feels too polite. So while I may not agree with the president as far as the method of getting the bleach into my body (Im more of an imbiber myself), I have to give him credit where credit is due: this country needs a serious disinfectant.

So raise that glass of bleach to a president whos full of great ideas. There is, in my humble opinion, a no more fitting celebratory toast to a man who really does make me want to walk the aisles of the hardware store in search of a chemical to throw down my throat. Cheers, America.
[April 24, 2020] PROPETRO INVESTIGATION CONTINUED by Former Louisiana Attorney General: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC Continues to Investigate the Officers and Directors of ProPetro Holding Corp. - PUMP

Former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., Esq., a partner at the law firm of Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF"), announces that KSF continues its investigation into ProPetro Holding Corp. (NYSE: PUMP). On August 8, 2019, the Company disclosed a delay to its second quarter earnings report due to an ongoing review by its audit committee involving improper expense reimbursements of approximately $370,000 to executives, undisclosed related-party transactions, and a potential material weakness in its internal control over disclosure. Then, on October 18, 2019, news agencies reported that the company was the target of an investigation by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC (News - Alert)") relating to its financial disclosures. Finally, on November 13, 2019, the Company confirmed the SEC investigation and also revealed previously-undisclosed related-party transactions totaling $3.6 million as well as "at least two material weaknesses that resulted in the Company's internal control over financial reporting and disclosure controls and procedures not being effective as of a prior date." The Company has been sued in a securities class action lawsuit for failing to disclose material informaton, violating federal securities laws. Recently, the plaintiffs in that case filed a Second Amended Complaint, and the case remains ongoing.



KSF's investigation is focusing on whether ProPetro's officers and/or directors breached their fiduciary duties to ProPetro's shareholders or otherwise violated state or federal laws. If you have information that would assist KSF in its investigation, or have been a long-term holder of ProPetro shares and would like to discuss your legal rights, you may, without obligation or cost to you, call toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or email KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn ([email protected]), or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-pump/ to learn more.

About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC KSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nation's premier boutique securities litigation law firms. KSF serves a variety of clients - including public institutional investors, hedge funds, money managers and retail investors - in seeking recoveries for investment losses emanating from corporate fraud or malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, California and Louisiana. To learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200424005553/en/

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Police at Airport are investigating a complaint lodged by the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) over an ongoing meeting at the City Escape Hotel in Accra.

The party suspects that the said meeting is a conference by the Electoral Commission (EC) which the court stopped from taking place after an injunction secured by the Member of Parliament for Ningo Prampram, Sam Nartey George.

The injunction was however issued for a meeting scheduled to take place at the City Escape Hotel in Prampram.

The injunction is in place from April 24, 2020, to April 27, 2020.

Though there are several government-registered vehicles in the premises of the Hotel, it is unclear if the said workshop is ongoing.

Police from the airport command are currently at the hotel premises.

The EC was planning to hold a national planning meeting and a training workshop to prepare and plan for the upcoming voter registration exercise.

The programmes were scheduled to take place from Apri 24, 2020, to April 29, 2020, at the City Escape Hotel.

The meeting was to be held in three different batches in order to observe the social distancing protocols amidst the outbreak of the coronavirus in Ghana.

The plans for new register are currently on suspension because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The voters registration exercises was initially scheduled to begin on April 18, due to COVID-19.

Following the suspension, the EC had said it is collaborating with health experts to decide on a more favourable date depending on the prevalence rate of the virus.

---citinewsroom
EDWARDSVILLE  While some states are starting to create plans for reopening, Illinois will not be as close behind as some may wish, including Madison County officials. Gov. J.B. Pritzker has mentioned that some key factors need to be met.

Illinois peak

During Mondays daily coronavirus briefing, Pritzker mentioned that Illinois has not yet hit its peak even though confirmed cases rise above 30,000 in the state.

Pritzker and Director of Illinois Department of Public Health Dr. Ngozi Ezike have both said in the briefings that Illinois must hit its peak before plans for reopening can come to fruition. However, no number has been discussed regarding what Illinois projected peak actually is. Pritzker did say Monday that while numbers are rising, they are rising slower which could result in a lower peak.

Pritzker said in a Facebook live interview conducted by The Washington Post on Tuesday that the early model showed Illinois hitting its peak in early to mid-April. He claims that due to social distancing and the stay-at-home order, new models show Illinois hitting that peak in mid-May. While the prediction is pushed back, he claims that the peak is anticipated to be much smaller.

Trumps announcement

President Donald Trump has been vocal in pushing for the U.S. to reopen as soon as possible and has been trying everything within his power to get to that point by the end of this month. With that, he has issued a plan named Opening Up America Again with guidelines for states to use to help speed the process.

The plan is aimed at opening businesses up that are either fully-closed or partially to aid in social distancing. Some of the guidelines include downward trajectories of COVID, influenza-like cases, hospitalized patients being tested without crisis care and ability to protect and maintain the health of coworkers and public.

Madison County Board Chairman Kurt Prenzler issued a press release surrounding the idea of opening Madison County within the guidelines of the White Houses plan.

Ive been hearing from many Madison County business people who are anxious to get back to work, Prenzler states in the release. They have bills to pay.

He announced in the release the formation of Madison Countys own Open Up America Again committee to help see that the county opens up sooner rather than later. Prenzler explained that he is asking Governor J.B. Pritzker to allow Madison County input on the process of opening up.

However, Pritzker responded to Trumps plan and his tweets on Tuesday hinting that it is too early yet to reopen due to health concerns.

We [republican and democratic Illinois officials] all share the common goal of opening our economy, getting people back to school and back to normal as fast as we can, but with the overriding concern for safety and health, Pritzker said during the live feed. That doesnt seem to be the message coming out of the president when he tweets out liberate Michigan or liberate Minnesota, liberate Virginia.

Pritzker is referring to three tweets he sent on Friday morning which resulted in multiple protests where some drew thousands of people together in close proximity.
Today

Partly to mostly cloudy. Low 48F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.

Tonight

Partly to mostly cloudy. Low 48F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.

Tomorrow

A mix of clouds and sun early, then becoming cloudy later in the day. High near 75F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph.
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The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) collaborated with toy manufacturers LEGO to celebrate the 50th anniversary of World Earth Day on 22 April and threw the challenge of building your own planet to the world.

The challenge came out of NASAs Earth Day at home program and Legos Lets Build Together initiative. NASA called upon people to nurture their creativity and share their own Lego planet while staying at home.

Earthlings, assemble! Weve teamed up with @LEGO_Group to mark the 50th anniversary of Earth Day and we have a challenge for you: BUILD YOUR OWN PLANET! Share your creations using #LetsBuildTogether and #EarthDayAtHome so we can see your masterpieces! pic.twitter.com/PEg4ztxq0a  NASA (@NASA) April 22, 2020

Earthlings, assemble! Weve teamed with @LEGO_Group to mark the 50th anniversary of Earth Day and we have a challenge for you: BUILD YOUR OWN PLANET! Share your creations using #LetsBuildTogether and #EarthDayAtHome so we can see your masterpieces! read the tweet.

Lego also ushered in challengers to build a planet, Earth or beyond.

Todays #LetsBuildTogether challenge is to BUILD A PLANET... Earth or beyond! Weve teamed up with @NASAEarth to celebrate the 50th anniversary of #EarthDayatHome. Humanitys journey beyond Earth has unlocked a better understanding of our own planet. pic.twitter.com/qIaNhFEzuz  LEGO (@LEGO_Group) April 22, 2020

Todays #LetsBuildTogether challenge is to BUILD A PLANET... Earth or beyond! Weve teamed up with @NASAEarth to celebrate the 50th anniversary of #EarthDayAtHome.

Humanitys journey beyond Earth has unlocked a better understanding of our own planet, said the official tweet.

Various subsidiary bodies of NASA took up the challenge and posted the Lego version of their planet on their social media handles.

NASAs Johnson Space Center made multiple models. From astronauts training for spacewalks in the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory to them preparing for liftoff on NASAs Space Launch System and Orion Spacecraft.

These builds are perfect for us on #EarthDayatHome! First, @NASA_Astronauts train for spacewalks in the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory, then, they prepare for liftoff on @NASA_SLS and @NASA_Orion! Flight controllers are ready to conduct a successful mission. #LetsBuildTogether pic.twitter.com/5lx2yuriS9  Johnson Space Center (@NASA_Johnson) April 22, 2020

The Curiosity Rover is currently on Mars fulfilling important missions, but its friends on Earth made a miniature model of Curiosity and Mars Murray Buttes.

#EarthDayAtHome challenge: Make a planet. I don't have any LEGO bricks with me, so friends on Earth made a mini-me and Mars' Murray Buttes. Get a load of its layers: https://t.co/KdlJvHHuF1 Show off what YOU make, whether it's Earth, Mars or a new world. #LetsBuildTogether pic.twitter.com/DEyLiyvX5V  Curiosity Rover (@MarsCuriosity) April 22, 2020

NASAs subsidiary focused on studying the Sun built a Lego model of the Sun.

Every solar system needs a Sun! On top of providing heat & light, Earth is affected by the Suns magnetic activity, like the eruption depicted here! Understanding the Sun-Earth connection is one of the big reasons we study our star. #LetsBuildTogether #EarthDayAtHome @LEGO_Group pic.twitter.com/WoeBwrmBZh  NASA Sun & Space (@NASASun) April 22, 2020

NASA Earth recreated art as part of their build a planet challenge.

When bricks imitate art. Download printable #EarthDay posters and digital wallpaper that share the complex layers of Earth science that @NASA studies: https://t.co/6PATL7yih0#EarthDayAtHome #LetsBuildTogether pic.twitter.com/FD46zoVJzZ  NASA Earth (@NASAEarth) April 22, 2020

It was when Apollo 8 astronaut Bill Anders clicked the iconic Earthrise image in 1968, that people worldwide swung forward for a dialogue regarding our planet. This dialogue led to the first World Earth Day is celebrated two years later in 1970.
According to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), Vietnamese shrimp exported to the US market reached US$41.3 million in March, up 11.5% over the same period last year. The US ranked second among Vietnamese shrimp importers.

During the January-March period, Vietnamese shrimp shipped to the US hit US$115.5 million, a year-on-year increase of 18.2% ,the highest growth among the top five importers of Vietnamese shrimp.

According to the Import and Export Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the US normally orders shrimp imports about two months in advance. Therefore, shrimp imports in the first two months of 2020 were not affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The increasing shrimp import to the US in the first two months of 2020 was mainly due to strong demand at the end of 2019 and preparations for the Easter holidays.

The coronavirus has spread widely in the US since March 2020 causing disruption to the import of goods including shrimp. The import demand has also decreased due to a sharp decline in catering services because of the USs disease control measures. However, the demand for shrimp consumption in the retail segment went up to meet the essential needs of people.

Meanwhile, India, the largest shrimp provider for the US and also the main competitor of Vietnam in the US market, has faced numerous difficulties due to the pandemic. Because of Indias blockade order, a number of Indian processing plants have had to lay off 50% of its workers while suffering declining shrimp prices and interrupted exports. Thus, Indian shrimp exports to the US in March were affected.

According to the VASEP, as the pandemic has not been controlled and has not showed many positive signs on a global scale, both shrimp farmers and enterprises are struggling to overcome difficulties.

Shrimp farmers are also in need of support to promptly control diseases in shrimp farming, particularly white spot disease and acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease; otherwise, there will have a shortage of shrimp materials when the market recovers.

However, shrimp is in the essential food group with affordable prices, so shrimp demand will still be healthy both on the world and domestic markets in the near future.

In addition, the prevention and control of the pandemic in China and the Republic of Korea has improved, raising more hope for shrimp farmers and processing plants.

As major shrimp producers like India and Ecuador are facing difficulties due to diseases and weather, Vietnam should ensure the supply of raw materials and production to meet the expected increase in demand.

Due to the coronavirus, European countries, Australia, the Republic of Korea, and others have all applied measures to restrict travel which affects deliveries, resulting in a decrease in the price of shrimp materials in the first quarter of this year. Farmers should choose appropriate shrimp harvest plans to avoid losses while exporters should focus on deep-processing shrimp products to increase the value of exports.
David Lopes, of Gettysburg, was believed to be the first confirmed COVID-19 patient at Wellspan York Hospital when he showed up with severe symptoms March 18.

He required a ventilator almost immediately, which wasnt a good sign. Statistics show 80 percent of virus patients who go on the ventilator dont survive.

Nine days into his hospitalization, Lopes, 56, ripped out his ventilator while sedated, putting his recovery in even more jeopardy. His doctors re-intubated him but believed he was facing imminent death.

Thats when doctors decided to try a rare treatment approved just this month in the United States for use on COVID-19 patients: an ECMO machine. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation has been around since the 1970s, but it has only been used about 540 times across the world during this pandemic. It is considered a last-ditch effort to save a patients life by acting as an artificial lung,

Tubes from the machine were attached to ports on Lopes jugular and femoral arteries to add oxygen to his blood and remove carbon dioxide. The device would give his terribly inflamed lungs a chance to rest.

At first, Lopes condition worsened, said Dr. Dmitriy Zubkus, whose team made the decision to put Lopes on ECMO. But after a few days, Lopes started getting better.

In all, he spent eight days on ECMO before he was weaned off the device, his ventilator and his feeding tube. He eventually passed his swallow test to ensure he could safely eat without inadvertently inhaling something into his still-fragile lungs.

On April 18, a month after a helicopter flew him into Wellspan York Hospital, he walked out and went home.

He didnt just survive," Zubkus said. "He walked out of the hospital.

Only about 50 patients who have been put on ECMO for the novel coronavirus around the world have been discharged alive from a hospital, according to a website that tracks ECMO use.

The treatment doesnt always work, but when it does, its magnificent, Zubkus said.

David Lopes worked as a forklift operator and doesnt know how he picked up the virus. But he first noticed symptoms on March 10 when he and his wife were out for their weekly date night for wings.

Lets go home, David said to his wife. I really dont feel good.

A customer had recently been diagnosed with the flu, so David Lopes assumed he caught that. He called his primary care doctor and arranged for a flu test, but it came back negative.

Lopes started feeling a bit better, so he didnt worry about it until March 14, when fever, cough and shortness of breath hit him like a ton of bricks.

David Lopes was healthy and active prior to his COVID-19 diagnosis in March 2020.

The Lopes went to a walk-in clinic in Gettysburg where workers immediately told the couple to go to the Wellspan Gettysburg Hospital emergency room

The hospital tested David Lopes for various ailments, but not COVID-19, and sent him home with some general medications.

Three days later, his condition had significantly worsened, so Colleen brought David back to the hospital, where he tested positive for COVID-19 and they admitted him. Colleen didnt know it then, but it would be the last time she would see her husband for 31 days. Visitors are not allowed in hospital rooms to avoid spreading the disease.

A distraught Colleen consulted a friend who advised she should transfer David to Wellspan York Hospital, where they have a dedicated pulmonary unit, and Colleen made the request.

David didnt think he was strong enough to make the trip. Doctors were preparing to intubate him and put him on a ventilator.

I couldnt get any air into my lungs, he said. It felt like I couldnt get any air.

A helicopter flew David to Wellspan York Hospital, because he probably wouldnt have survived a road trip.

At Wellspan York Hospital, David was heavily sedated and said he has no memories of his early days there. He remained on the ventilator, but apparently woke up enough at one point to break out of his restraints and rip his ventilator out.

It really set him back, doctors said. He aspirated something into his lungs, causing pneumonia.

Thats when the hospitals chaplain and social workers started calling Colleen to prepare for the possibility of Davids death if his organs started to fail. Colleen arranged for a priest to visit Davids room in full protective gear to perform an anointing of the sick.

As it turned out, that wouldnt be necessary.

Doctors made the decision to try ECMO on him, believing he was a good candidate. David had a pulmonary embolism four years ago and suffered from asthma but otherwise didnt have any known underlying conditions. Zubkus said he doesnt not believe Lopes would have survived another day without it.

David Lopes spent 17 days on a ventilator and 31 days in the hospital.

One thing doctors have learned about using ECMO with COVID-19 patients, is to not wait too long.

Doctors in Bejing used ECMO about five times, but didnt have good results, Zubkus said, so it was initially thought that the treatment wouldnt be helpful for the virus.

But doctors in France used it about 150 times, and started using it earlier in a patients decline. So instead of monitoring a patients downward trajectory, and trying different therapies such as temporarily paralyzing patients and then turning them on their bellies, which are steps that can improve oxygen flow, doctors shifted more quickly to ECMO on patients.

France taught us that earlier is better. So we pull the trigger earlier, Zubkus said. If things dont work for a patient, we dont need to wait 24 hours to see whats going to happen because we know where this is going to go.

ECMO is incredibly invasive, which can increase complications like bleeding and infection, and its used on critically-ill patients, so finding great outcomes can be difficult. But David turned out to be a shining success story.

A lot of people may survive after ECMO, but how? In a nursing home, or still on a ventilator?" Zubkus said. "They are alive, but can they really function? He did amazingly well.

After David first came out of his induced-coma, he didnt know where he was. When nurses told him he was hospitalized, he didnt remember why. He thought the year was 1994.

Being alone in the room without any loved ones was incredibly difficult, David said.

He wasnt the only one suffering.

Colleen and their adult daughter Marilyn both came down with COVID-19 symptoms during Davids hospital stay with Marilyn saying it was the sickest she had ever felt in her life.

I was worried my daughter would have to be hospitalized too, Colleen said. It was a complete nightmare.

Quarantined at home, Colleen staged video conferences every night with 16 people for prayer sessions. She called the hospital four times a day for updates.

It was the most overwhelming endurance test Ive ever taken, she said. It was very stressful. The worst part was thinking about what life would be like without him.

David Lopes (second from left) with his wife Colleen (second from right) and their children David Jr. (at left) Danny (groom in center) and Marilyn (at right) at their son's wedding to bride Antoinette in 2018.

But on April 18, David Lopes walked out of the hospital. He was on oxygen and using a walker, but he still walked out.

We were all crying, Colleen said. The doctors and nurses were crying too. Nobody expected him to be leaving like that.

Davids lingering complications are minimal. He has bouts of vertigo, some short-term memory loss, and numbness in his thighs. He is still weak from being sedated and bed-ridden for weeks in the hospital, but otherwise is doing well.

Lopes needs rehabilitative therapy, but initially could not be accepted into a facility until he tests negative twice for COVID-19. He received his second negative test result Friday.

That means the Lopes can now take off their masks and gloves inside their home. Previously, they had to keep the protective gear on just in case.

David was among the first patients in Pennsylvania to get the ECMO treatment for his COVID-19. In all, the therapy has only been used about 20 times in the state of Pennsylvania.

The machine isnt a cure for COVID-19, but it allows a patient to survive the ravages of the virus long enough for the body to heal itself or for other treatments to work.

Besides Wellspan York Hospital, three other hospitals in the region have ECMO: UPMC Pinnacle in Harrisburg, Penn State Hershey and Lancaster General. So far, Wellspan York Hospital has used ECMO on two COVID-19 patients, and for six years prior on non-pandemic patients.

We do 50 to 60 cases per year (for heart or lung patients,) said Zubkus. We have quite a bit of high-level experience with ECMO.

There are four hospitals in the region with ECMO devices, including York Hospital.

Since Lopes case, several other patients have been transferred to York for consideration of ECMO, but less-invasive options were chosen and those patients survived without the intervention.

The machine requires nurses to check a patients blood levels every hour and also check the machine every hour, which is a huge, huge, huge investment, Zubkus said. But when it pays off, its magnificent.

Lopes recovery was so remarkable, Zubkus wrote an article that was accepted for publication in a medical journal so other doctors could gain insights from the case.

Meanwhile, David wants to donate his plasma to possibly help other COVID-19 patients recover. The liquid portion of blood taken from survivors of the disease contains antibodies that may boost a persons ability to fight the disease.

Colleen, for her part, is incredibly grateful for the hard work of the medical team at Wellspan York Hospital.

I want to give credit to the hospital, Colleen Lopes said. The care they gave him was exceptional. If not for that exceptional treatment, he would not have survived.

READ: Harrisburg officer tests positive for COVID-19

READ: Pa. coronavirus cases top 38,000; nearly 1,500 have died due to COVID-19, health department says
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-25 00:18:29|Editor: huaxia

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A staff member of the National Health Service (NHS) claps outside Royal Berkshire Hospital during the weekly "Clap for Our Carers" campaign in Reading, Britain on April 23, 2020. (Photo by Tim Ireland/Xinhua)

Medical experts said only a valid vaccine or highly effective drugs can give people assurance that the fight against COVID-19 could be finally won.

Oxford researchers have begun vaccine trials on humans on Thursday.

by Xinhua writer Zhang Jiawei

LONDON, April 24 (Xinhua) -- After implementing social distancing measures for weeks, Britain has hit "the peak" of the COVID-19 outbreak, according to the country's Health Secretary Matt Hancock. But medical experts said only a valid vaccine or highly effective drugs can give people assurance that the fight against COVID-19 could be finally won.

That is why the vaccine trial carried out by a team at the University of Oxford is drawing much attention. The process is moving at a rapid pace -- Oxford researchers have begun vaccine trials on humans on Thursday.

A serviceman works at a drive-through facility in Chessington, Britain, on April 23, 2020. (Photo by Tim Ireland/Xinhua)

UK EFFORTS

The vaccine programs respectively at Oxford and the Imperial College London are at the forefront of Britain's vaccine development efforts. The British government has announced that it will provide funding for these two programs.

According to a statement from the University of Oxford, the new vaccine, called ChAdOx1 nCoV-19, is based on an adenovirus vaccine vector and the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, and has been produced in Oxford.

The researchers started screening healthy volunteers (aged 18-55) in March, and the study will test the new vaccine against COVID-19 in these volunteers.

It aims to assess whether healthy people can be protected from COVID-19 with this new vaccine while providing valuable information on safety aspects of the vaccine and its ability to generate good immune responses against the virus, according to the statement.

"The best-case scenario is that by the autumn of 2020 we have the results about the effectiveness of the vaccine from a phase III trial and the ability to manufacture large amounts of the vaccine," professor Sarah Gilbert from the University of Oxford told Xinhua through email.

"But these best-case timeframes are highly ambitious and subject to change," said professor Gilbert, who is one of the scientists leading the COVID-19 vaccine development program at Oxford.

A serviceman works at a drive-through COVID-19 testing facility in Southport, Britain, on April 23, 2020. (Photo by Jon Super/Xinhua)

CHALLENGES AHEAD

As of Thursday afternoon, another 684 people who tested positive for COVID-19 have died in hospitals in Britain, bringing the total number of coronavirus-related hospital deaths to 19,506.

Under normal circumstances, most vaccine development programs take more than five years. But the Oxford team said they have used some special strategies to expedite the process significantly, including a vaccine delivery system that has been used before and can be adapted for a new pathogen, which can shorten the initial vaccine development time.

Also, in an emergency situation, large scale manufacturing could be carried out concurrently while the clinical trial is ongoing, which can shorten the overall timescale for vaccine development, according to the team.

Finally, regulatory review of promising candidates is also expected to be undertaken faster in an epidemic, because more staff and resources are dedicated to the review process.

Still developing a new vaccine is a challenging task, especially for the novel coronavirus. Researchers need to assess the safety and efficacy of the vaccine through phase I, II and III clinical trials. If the vaccine is safe and efficacious, regulatory approval is needed before the vaccine can be deployed.

"The first problem is that there are no licensed vaccines for any of the coronaviruses that affect humans so it is not clear how strong the immune response after vaccination will need to be to give a good level of protection," professor Gilbert said.

"We won't know that until vaccine efficacy trials have been completed. Apart from that, raising the funding is very time-consuming. There is no problem in recruiting enough trial subjects. We have had a huge response to our request for volunteers," she also said.

A staff member tests samples of the COVID-19 inactivated vaccine at a vaccine production plant of China National Pharmaceutical Group (Sinopharm) in Beijing, capital of China, April 11, 2020. (Xinhua/Zhang Yuwei)

INT'L COLLABORATION

To combat the ongoing pandemic, multiple teams around the world are developing COVID-19 vaccines.

The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) said that it has initiated eight COVID-19 vaccine development programs with leading universities, institutes and biotechnology companies from across the world.

The Oxford vaccine will be the third CEPI-funded vaccine to enter into phase I trials, along with Inovio's INO-4800 DNA vaccine candidate and Moderna's mRNA-1273 candidate, according to the CEPI headquartered in Norway.

Experts have emphasized the importance of collaboration and coordination when it comes to vaccine development, so that resources can be used more efficiently in the face of a global emergency.

"On every aspect of this pandemic and responses, there is an absolute need for coordination within nations among different parts of government, and then between nations, between different governments," Dr David Nabarro, chair of Global Health at the Imperial College London, told Xinhua.

Dr Nabarro was appointed as a special envoy on COVID-19 of the World Health Organization Director-General in February.

Collaboration between countries has already paved the way for more efficient vaccine development.

"We have already benefited from Chinese scientists making the viral sequence (of the novel coronavirus) available online, this has helped us and others with designing vaccine candidates. We are in touch with some Chinese researchers and clinicians and hope to build deeper collaborative efforts," professor Robin Shattock, who is leading the COVID-19 vaccine program at Imperial College London, told Xinhua in a previous interview.

"There is a lot of collaboration and coordination, I think we have learned what was successful from the previous outbreaks and this has enabled better practice and faster progress," said professor Shattock. 
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-24 22:30:37|Editor: huaxia

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China's research icebreakers Xuelong and Xuelong 2 returned to Shanghai Thursday, marking the completion of the country's 36th expedition to the Antarctic. The two icebreakers sailed more than 70,000 nautical miles during the 198-day expedition. Scientists aboard have completed 62 tasks, including land scientific research, and the survey of Ross Sea and other ocean areas, according to a source of the expedition team. It was the first Antarctica expedition undertaken by the two icebreakers at the same time, as well as the first one for Xuelong 2. Xuelong 2 is China's first domestically-built research icebreaker. The expedition proves that its two-way icebreaking capacity meets the requirement of the design, and that the sophisticated scientific equipment on board has greatly improved China's polar research capabilities and efficiency, the source said.
Vicky Kaushals building was recently partially sealed after an 11-year-old resident tested positive for the novel coronavirus. The actor has now shared a video which shows the residents welcoming a young girl and a woman in the compound with a huge round of applause. It seems the two have returned after winning their battle against the virus.

The video shows the two entering the building compound with their suitcases and look surprised to see people clapping for them. Sharing the video, Vicky wrote, Like a ray of sunshine on a gloomy day, our little warrior comes back Home! #WelcomeBackChamp.

According to a report in Times of India, the child is the daughter of a director who resides in the C-wing of the complex. The complex in Mumbais Andheri area is home to Bollywood actors including Vicky, Rajkummar and Patralekhaa and Chitrangada Singh. The residents of the complex were reportedly been asked to follow strict quarantine rules and take extra precautionary measures to contain the spread of the infection.

Also read: Rajeev Khandelwal says casting couch is not rape: The one who gives in is equally responsible

Vicky, meanwhile, has been sharing candid pictures and videos from his time in quarantine. He had earlier shared a photograph of himself lazing on a couch. Seeing the picture, his brother, actor Sunny Kaushal, was in the mood for banter, was seen telling the actor that their mother wanted them to do some dusting.

Vicky took to Instagram, where he shared a photograph of himself smiling at the camera while lying in what seems like a couch. He captioned the image with a couch and a potato emoji.

But what caught the eye was Sunnys comment. Uth ja!! Mummy bol rahi hai pankhe saaf ho gaye, ab dusting karni hai... (Get up! Mummy says the fans are clean, so get going with the dusting now), Sunny commented. Sunny was teasing Vicky over his earlier post where he mentioned he had been busy cleaning fans.

On the work front, Vicky will be seen in Shoojit Sircars Sardar Udham Singh next. The film is slated to release in January 2021 as of now. He will also be seen playing Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw in a biographical drama directed by Meghna Gulzar, which is also slated to open next year.

(With IANS inputs)

Follow @htshowbiz for more
Islamabad, April 25 : Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has said the novel coronavirus pandemic is the biggest global challenge after the World War II that has caused severe difficulties for the whole world.

"The whole world has stopped practically because of the coronavirus," The Express Tribune quoted Qureshi as saying on Friday while addressing the Pakistani community in the UK via a video link.

He said that efforts were being made to alleviate the plight of Pakistanis stranded abroad.

"Today, the number of Pakistanis stranded abroad has risen to more than 60,000 and is increasing on a daily basis," said Qureshi.

Elaborating the details, he said that there were capacity issues in quarantining Pakistani nationals coming from abroad.

To support the economy, he said Prime Minister Imran Khan launched relief programme 2020.

The Minister also mentioned the premier's call for the facilitation of loans to support the economies of developing countries.

"I am happy to say that there has been a very positive response to this demand from the international community and international organisations," The Express Tribune quoted Qureshi as saying.

According to the federal government statistics, a total of 11,729 people have been infected with the COVID-19, with 248 deaths in Pakistan.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
The Abia State Government has countered a claim made by the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, over the recent killing of a petrol attendant in the state.

Mr Mohammed, during a recent briefing of the presidential task force on COVID-19 said the man was killed by a motorist, and not the police.

The petrol attendant was not actually killed by the policeman, Mr Mohammed had said. Fact at our possession is that the policeman hit a Keke, people were protesting so during the protest another motorist hit the petrol attendant.

Continuing, he said, Well, it does not matter who killed, a life is very precious but we just wanted to establish the fact of the matter that the petrol attendant actually died when he was hit by an oncoming vehicle during the protest.

The Commissioner for Information in Abia, John Kalu, in a statement on Friday, however, insisted that the petrol attendant, Chibuisi Okameme, was shot dead by a police officer, contrary to the ministers claims.

The Honorable Minister was quoted to have said, among other things that, 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.

Nothing can be further from the truth! Mr Kalu said.

We wish to state categorically that information available to us suggests that one Inspector Osas Atsu of Ohuru Isimiri Police Division, Aba, allegedly shot and killed the late petrol attendant, Mr Chibuisi Okameme, of Green Mac Filling Station, New Umuahia Road, Aba, by aiming and firing live bullets at him in broad daylight and in the presence of many shocked eyewitnesses.

The police authorities in the state are currently detaining the suspect in preparation for prosecution after due orderly room trial.

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu

Abia state government said it was shocked by the statement credited to the minister. The state government insisted on justice for the slain man.

Abia State Government wishes to call on the Police authorities to expedite the arraignment of the alleged murderer of Citizen Okameme as we will not accept any cover-up or conspiracy to do same from any quarters.

May we reiterate that nothing short of justice for the grieving family and friends of the late hard-working young man will be acceptable to us.

We also wish to call on the Honorable Minister to cross-check facts of the matter with the police authorities and immediately issue the necessary corrigendum to avoid being seen as part of a potential plot to cover up a matter that is certainly of public interest and which also involves the painful loss of human life through obvious abuse of firearms. The commissioner said.

At least, four people have reportedly been killed in Abia state recently by security officials.

Apart from Abia, over a dozens people have been killed by security officials across the country while trying to enforce the government lockdown.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has condemned the killings and has, like many other rights groups, called for the prosecution of the offenders.

The NHRC said more Nigerians were killed illegally by the police during the first two weeks of government lockdown to prevent coronavirus spread than were killed by the virus.

There were eight documented incidents of extra-judicial killing leading to 18 deaths, the NHRC executive secretary, Tony Ojukwu, said in a report on April 15.

Out of this number, 12 deaths were recorded in Kaduna State. Abia State also recorded two deaths arising from two incidents; while Delta, Niger, Ebonyi and Katsina states recorded one death each. 

Whereas COVID-19 has led to the death of about 11 patients to date, law enforcement agents have extra-judicially executed 18 persons to enforce the regulations.

More extra-judicial killings have since occurred after the NHRC report.

PREMIUM TIMES this week reported how a ten years old boy was shot in the head in Jigawa while the police tried to shut down a market which violated government lockdown.

The boy eventually died in the hospital from the gunshot injury. The police in Jigawa, however, denied the shooting, claiming the boy was hit on the head by a stone thrown by persons protesting against the police.

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Statistically speaking, long term investing is a profitable endeavour. But unfortunately, some companies simply don't succeed. To wit, the China Coal Energy Company Limited (HKG:1898) share price managed to fall 60% over five long years. That's an unpleasant experience for long term holders. And we doubt long term believers are the only worried holders, since the stock price has declined 42% over the last twelve months. Shareholders have had an even rougher run lately, with the share price down 28% in the last 90 days.

See our latest analysis for China Coal Energy

To quote Buffett, 'Ships will sail around the world but the Flat Earth Society will flourish. There will continue to be wide discrepancies between price and value in the marketplace...' 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).

During the unfortunate half decade during which the share price slipped, China Coal Energy actually saw its earnings per share (EPS) improve by 49% 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). Or possibly, the market was previously very optimistic, so the stock has disappointed, despite improving EPS.

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:1898 Income Statement April 25th 2020

It's probably worth noting that the CEO is paid less than the median at similar sized companies. It's always worth keeping an eye on CEO pay, but a more important question is whether the company will grow earnings throughout the years. So it makes a lot of sense to check out what analysts think China Coal Energy will earn in the future (free profit forecasts).

Story continues

What About Dividends?

It is important to consider the total shareholder return, as well as the share price return, for any given stock. Whereas the share price return only reflects the change in the share price, the TSR includes the value of dividends (assuming they were reinvested) and the benefit of any discounted capital raising or spin-off. It's fair to say that the TSR gives a more complete picture for stocks that pay a dividend. In the case of China Coal Energy, it has a TSR of -57% for the last 5 years. That exceeds its share price return that we previously mentioned. And there's no prize for guessing that the dividend payments largely explain the divergence!

A Different Perspective

While the broader market lost about 15% in the twelve months, China Coal Energy shareholders did even worse, losing 41% (even including dividends) . 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 16% 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 risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 3 warning signs for China Coal Energy you should know about.

Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of companies we expect will grow earnings.

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on 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.
A social catastrophe is threatening to occur as Tennessee Republican Governor Bill Lee prepares to lift the states mandatory two-week safer at home response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Lee, who only reluctantly established the two-week stay-at-home order, has set May 1 for the restriction to be lifted in 89 of the states 95 counties.

The major cities and metropolitan areas of Nashville, Knoxville, Memphis and Chattanooga, along with two other counties will be exempt from the lifting of restrictions. Those exemptions, according to Lee, are because the various localities have their own health departments. The remainder of the state relies on the Tennessee Department of Health for services. Lee, along with Republican governors in Georgia and South Carolina has put plans into motion or has already implemented plans to partially lift COVID-19 restrictions.

As of Friday, the state of Tennessee has recorded 8,266 cases and 170 deaths, as well as 3,828 recovered. Shelby County, which includes the city of Memphis, had the second highest number of cases, 2,001, and the highest number of deaths with 42. Nashville had only 10 more cases, 2,011, but exactly half the number of deaths at 21. These numbers are likely to be vast underestimates due to the relatively limited number of tests that have been provided in the state. The rate of testing in the state is roughly 16 people per 1,000, or about 1.5 percent.

As of Tuesday More than 181,100 people have been tested in Tennessee so far, a small fraction of the more than 6.8 million people who live in the state, stated Tennessees NewsChannel 5 Investigates television program.

Lees decision, which is based on nothing more than cold-blooded financial calculation, amounts to a policy of social murder. The decision has been met with immediate criticism from the medical and scientific community. Dr. Aaron Milstone, a pulmonologist who several weeks before organized a petition of 9,500 physicians and healthcare workers urging Lee to adopt basic social distancing measures, lambasted the governors latest move.

Rolling back health protections like the stay at home order without first the ability to quickly identify new cases, break chains of transmission, and protect first responders and health care workers from infection only jeopardizes lives and the economy and it goes against the very recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control, Milstone said in a press statement reported by the Chattanooga Times Free Press.

Covid-19 can spread asymptomatically, showing no symptoms, for weeks and is highly more contagious than the typical flu and there is no cure or vaccine. Do you want to be the employer responsible for employees or patrons getting sick or ... dying? he added. You have this saw-tooth pattern [in which new numbers of cases go up and down]. What you want to see is you want to see a decline in those new cases over a two-week time period, the physician noted.

Dr. Melinda Buntin, a Vanderbilt health policy professor, highlighted the immense likelihood of a COVID-19 resurgence under the circumstances of loosened social distancing measures: Our model says the over 4,000 cases we have in the state of Tennessee right now could have been sparked by as a few as 10 patients six weeks ago. So it doesnt take many of those cases out there  to spark a huge resurgence in cases across the state of Tennessee.

I personally cant find anyone who really thinks that Tennessee has reached its peak numbers, said Dr. Brenda Butka, retired Vanderbilt Medical Center pulmonologist. Modeling projections is a fraught enterprise, and projections are never precisely accurate, but this seems to be too early to feel any confidence about pulling back on business closures.

As with the White House, Governor Lees decision to remove social distancing measures is being buttressed with questionable data provided by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, an independent global health research center at the University of Washington.

We dont really know that much about COVID-19, so nobody can pretend in a model that they know the trajectory in every location through some assumptions, said Dr. Christopher Murray, director of the IHME, to the Times Free Press. The IHME has released findings this week suggesting as many as 30 states, including Tennessee, may be in a position to undo social distancing measures by May 20. The IHME has released projections on the pandemic which have been widely discredited in the press and scientific community.

One Tennessee constituent, however, was overjoyed by the Republican governors decision. Hospital Corporation of America (HCA) CEO Sam Hazen, whose annual compensation is $27 million, was quick to applaud Lees action, telling the Nashville Business Journal that he was ready for a reboot despite others in the health care industry that showed concern about the governors decision.

Were excited about Tennessee and we anticipate other states starting to relax some of these procedures and policies over the course of the next few weeks, allowing us to start back on some of the care thats needed in the communities, Hazen said.

According to the Business Journal, [d]espite the pandemic, HCA reported $12.8 billion of revenue for the first quarter, up from $12.5 billion for the same period last year. HCAs inpatient admissions and surgeries and well as outpatient procedures have declined by between 30 and 50 percent for the month of April. Well just have to process it and hopefully have it behind us at the end of the second quarter, Hazen said.

HCA is the largest for-profit health care provider in the United States and the largest private-pay health care provider in the United Kingdom. HCA is also known for taking hundreds of millions of dollars in tax breaks and incentives from Nashville and the state over recent decades. Among its more noteworthy uses of public tax dollars are the purchasing of a Guitar Pick Table for $4,190.18 and, a Tuxedo Sofa for $6,540.45. In 2003, HCA paid more than $1 billion in fines for defrauding the federal government in the biggest Medicare fraud case in history.
Fingal County Council have partnered with the Dublin and Dun Laoghaire Education and Training Board with a view to advancing music education opportunities for children and young people in the county.

The partners are eager to hear your views on performance music education for children and young people and have developed public consultation surveys that are now available online to complete and have your opinions heard.

As a bonus, young people completing the survey have the opportunity to win a voucher!

The data gathered will inform a submission to Music Generation.

The submission will focus specifically on performance music education for children and young people aged 0 - 18 years, and target education and community settings in Fingal. Music Generation is Ireland's National Music Education Programme that provides children and young people with access to high quality performance music education through partnerships with statutory bodies and local music education partnerships.

The partners are committed to supporting children and young people's education, health and wellbeing and have significant programmes that serve thousands of young people throughout the county annually. Fingal Arts Office launched a Musician-in-Residence Programme this academic year and 2,000 children benefited from music tuition delivered by professional musicians within this programme.

Margaret Geraghty, Director of Services explained: 'The aim of this new partnership and submission to Music Generation is to augment and enrich each partner's existing commitment to music education for children and young people, and to be prepared with robust arts and education structures for when we come through the current crisis'.

Mayor of Fingal Cllr Eoghan O'Brien commented: 'I know that music is very important both in the education and in the daily lives of our children and young people and I would encourage everyone to take part in this important survey.'

Parents, teachers, children, young people, music schools, primary and post primary schools, musicians and the general public are now called to complete a survey and have their opinions heard.

'There are three surveys to choose from: Children & Young People, Music Education Providers & Musicians, and General Public, each can be accessed at www.fingal.ie or www.consult.fingal.ie or www.fingalarts.ie

There is a wonderful bonus for children and young people who complete a survey! They are invited to enter a draw to win Gift Vouchers for one of Fingal's prestigious Arts Centres upon survey completion. Both Draiocht in Blanchardstown and the Seamus Ennis Arts Centre in Naul are on board to ensure children, young people and families can enjoy a quality arts experience as soon as the arts centres reopen.

Julie Clarke, Youth & Education Officer with Fingal Arts Office addressing young people said: 'We understand that music is very important in the lives of so many.'

She continued: 'We really want to hear your views and to understand the types of programmes and services that will best suit your musical interests going forward.'

This step taken by the partners emphasises the importance of retaining support for arts and education initiatives now and in the times ahead as we build connections with one another and ignite hope and inspiration.
A homeless mother lies in bed with her new born baby snuggled up beside her.

Mom recently tested positive for COVID-19, but her new bundle of joy is virus-free.

Toronto doctors recommended that mom and baby not be separated, in large part because studies have shown a low likelihood of COVID-19 transmission from mothers to babies during and after pregnancy.

And weighing the pros and cons, it was decided that keeping baby and mom together was better for their bonding than separating them.

Their room isnt in a hospital. Nor are they in a homeless shelter.

Theyre in the citys new 200-bed COVID-19-positive recovery site for Torontos homeless, a new hybrid model of care thats part of the citys $200-million effort aimed at helping homeless people during the coronavirus outbreak.

The recovery site in Torontos west end opened in mid-April and operates out of a major chain hotel the city is leasing during the pandemic, one of about 12 private hotels the city has already leased or bought to house the homeless during the pandemic.

Most of the hotels were obtained by the city to facilitate social distancing between homeless people who arent infected, and the city intends to lease 15 more hotels, motels or private highrise buildings for the same purpose.

But the recovery site for COVID-positive homeless people is so much more than that. Its a unique collaboration between the University Health Network, the citys Shelter, Support and Housing Administration, Inner City Health Associates and community organizations Parkdale Queen West Community Health Centre and The Neighbourhood Group. All are co-leads on the site and recently signed a legal memorandum of understanding to work together and operate it.

The organization Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontier Canada is also involved, providing expertise on project co-ordination and logistics when it comes to dealing with a large scale pandemic, given the organizations experience dealing with major outbreaks overseas, such as malaria and Ebola.

Additional support is provided by community organizations Breakaway Addiction Services, LAMP Community Health Centre and Toronto North Support Services.

Among the primary goals of the recovery site is treating homeless patients with dignity in a clinical setting and ensuring they have a home to go to afterward  not a return to homelessness.

We need to commit to housing as a human right, not just for infection control but as a matter of health and human dignity, explained Dr. Andrew Boozary, the UHNs executive director, health and social policy, a social medicine lead who is involved in helping set up the recovery site. The only lasting treatment we have is housing.

This isnt a hospital. People there dont require acute care. But neither is it a shelter because we have infectious disease protocols in place and wraparound health supports. Its a new model for the citys most vulnerable to recover in a dignified way, said councillor Joe Cressy, who chairs Torontos Board of Health.

Its a critical piece of care, a critical new health resource, Cressy later added.

Plans are in place for a second recovery site, this one also in a hotel but in downtown Toronto. Its slated to open in the coming days and will provide more than 250 beds.

Earlier this year, as the virus took hold around the world, health care and housing leaders in the city began talking about the effect of COVID-19 on the citys homeless population.

For example, Mary-Anne Bedard, general manager of the citys Shelter, Support and Housing Administration, spoke with physicians with the Inner City Health Associates, a group of more than 90 doctors working in more than 50 shelters and drop-in centres across Toronto.

We identified that there would likely be a high number of people testing positive because of the high contagion level of this virus.

Also people who got sick, but not sick enough to stay in hospital  a lot just get flu-like symptoms  if a lot of people from the shelter system  couldnt return to shelters because of their (COVID-positive) status, that was going to really overburden the health-care system in a way that wasnt needed because they didnt actually have to be hospitalized. But they have no other place to go, Bedard said.

So we recognized early on this (recovery site) was going to be critical  not just because of the overburdening issue but also to make sure this clientele received the support they needed and felt comfortable with, Bedard added.

At the recovery site clients have their own room, washroom, television, and theyre delivered three meals a day and two snacks, visits that provide staff an opportunity to check in on the welfare of residents.

As well as doctors and nurses, there are also community-based workers including peer support workers whove experienced homelessness and challenges with mental health and substance abuse.

We also check in multiple times a day by phone to see if theyre OK or need anything. We also escort people who want to go outside to smoke, in an outside secure smoking area. Its another opportunity for social interaction with people so they dont feel too isolated, Bedard said.

This week there were 105 COVID-positive residents at the recovery site. An additional 16 have recovered and been discharged, Bedard said.

Staff in the site have full personal protective equipment and maintain a six-foot separation from clients during these interactions. Health-care staff doing blood pressure or heart monitoring, for example, come closer, but those are nurses and doctors who are trained on how to do those activities safely.

Fine details to protect staff working in the site  even down to the location of hand sanitizers depending on low-risk or high-risk zones  have been worked out to ensure safe pathways, explained Dr. Andrew Bond, medical director at Inner City Health Associates.

Theres also a harm reduction component for residents at the site. That includes an on-site managed alcohol program and harm-reduction supplies for people who use drugs, Bedard said.

Harm-reduction staff also provide crisis de-escalation and trauma-informed motivational interviews and other therapeutic approaches.

The recovery site is going incredibly well, said Bedard. Nobody knew at the beginning how it was going to go. When there are multi-partnership arrangements like this, theres always a bit of nervousness.

There are a variety of ways clients arrive at the recovery site. In concert with Inner City Health Associates, directives were developed and given to all the testing centres and hospital emergency departments in Toronto.

When theres a COVID-positive test result for a homeless person at one of these facilities, there is a referral to the recovery site through an Inner City Health physician.

Theres also an isolation site in Scarborough where homeless people are sent to await their COVID test results. Clients are sent from there to the recovery site if they test positive, again with direction from an ICHA physician.

Theres a third group that can isolate at their home shelter where thats available. The homeless person remains there until their COVID test result comes back. If positive, the same co-ordinated referral process involving an ICHA physician is in place to move the person to the recovery centre.

Transportation is provided by the citys fleet services.

When its time to leave, the recovery site team works on getting housing for people.

That could mean going to one of the physically distancing hotels for homeless people who arent infected. Hotels, rather than traditional housing, are used by the city because they are quickly responsive to surges and contractions in demand from the city, Bedard explained. It was easier for the city to secure hotels to deal with the coronavirus than it is under normal circumstances because many of Torontos hotels were closed due to the virus.

People leaving the recovery site might also be sent to a Toronto Community Housing unit or a private market unit with the tenant possibly accessing a housing allowance. There are also efforts to connect departing clients to outside case management support.

We recognized that discharge planning would be very important for this group. Even after youve recovered from COVID-19, you still have a vulnerable health status, Bedard said.

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Exciting future: an ambitious project will deliver a contemporary waterfront to rival the likes of Liverpool and Blackpool

In east Belfast, which I have been proud to represent for 34 years, our two great yellow giants, Samson and Goliath, still stand tall. They are poignant symbols of Belfast, given it was the harbour and its shipbuilders that helped first put the city on the map.

As a member of Belfast City Council, I had the privilege of serving as a Harbour Commissioner and quickly came to understand the long-term planning that went into the success of the harbour and its significant value to the Northern Ireland economy.

Recently, the Belfast Harbour Commissioners renewed their 254m vision for the future: Samson and Goliath, along with the Titanic Museum, are to form the basis for an iconic, contemporary waterfront to rival the likes of Liverpool and Blackpool.

This waterfront project will be part of multiple interlinked developments, which the Commissioners envisage will make Belfast a world-leading regional port once again.

Joe O'Neill, CEO of the Harbour Commissioners, stated that, "while uncertainty remains rife around the final Brexit arrangement, the harbour remains confident it can meet any requirements placed upon it".

I hope that the Government will finalise these trade arrangements as soon as possible, reinforcing the trade links between Northern Ireland and Great Britain (responsible for 70% of total trade).

To realise their vision of Northern Ireland as a global front-runner in modern port enterprises, the Harbour Commissioners plan to invest 100m in infrastructure.

This will include facilities for an additional Stena Line service to Birkenhead, automated cranes and digitised shipping lanes. The plans will see 30m spent on real estate and 60m on five-star office space.

This regeneration will feature a 250-apartment City Quays building and a five-storey facility for Catalyst Inc. Addressing the need for social responsibility, the Commissioners will ensure 20-25% of the residential accommodation is allocated to social housing. Given the recent success of Game of Thrones and the wider local film industry, six additional filming studios are to be added to the current pair already in use.

These new studios will allow for up to 800 additional jobs. Research from Ulster University estimates the harbour currently supports 46,000 jobs.

These additional investments are expected to generate 7,000 new employment opportunities and support a further 3,500 construction jobs.

This could add 500m in gross value to Northern Ireland's economy. On top of this, the extra jobs and buildings will account for 300m in wages and 4m in rates being paid into the city per annum.

Many of my generation hold a fondness for the days of shipbuilding. It is important to remember our past fondly - but also to look to potential future growth.

The harbour aims to be "A Port for Everyone" and seeks to invest in people, as well as property.

Working in partnership with The Prince's Trust and the Active Communities Network, the harbour is one of Northern Ireland's largest investors in employability skills and community-building initiatives.

The harbour funds several school programmes, including the Time-to-Code initiative, a three-year programme for 5,000 students to develop in-demand coding skills. Money also goes to help more disadvantaged communities through local social programmes, such as the EastSide Partnership.

History records the harbour's long economic and logistical achievements. For 400 years, it has served us as a gateway to Great Britain and beyond.

By looking forward positively, the Harbour Commissioners are actively building upon their rich heritage.

These exciting plans will only help Northern Ireland to grow and thrive.

Our trade links to Great Britain are vital as the lifeblood of our economy.

An investment in the resilient and strongly beating heart of Belfast is a solid investment in us all.

Robin Newton is DUP MLA for East Belfast
Still, Americans have a way of turning to history as a kind of consolation, to give knowable shape to frightening, chaotic events. And since the crisis began, leaders have reached for analogies like Pearl Harbor and Sept. 11, which both capture the sense of shocking suddenness, and also appeal to an idea of the American story as a series of challenges that make us stronger, better, more united.

Such analogies also underline the idea of American specialness  that we are under attack, as the post-Sept. 11, refrain went, because of who we are. But an attack by pathogens resists that same kind of self-flattering narrative. And for some, the coronavirus crisis, instead of affirming our distinctness, is revealing how much we have in common with the rest of the world, sometimes in uncomfortable ways.

Since the crisis began, the Russian-American journalist Masha Gessen has been having regular video gatherings with friends in Moscow. And what has struck her, she said, is the similarity of what they were experiencing, starting with the feeling that weve been entirely left to our own devices.

In the United States we have all this infrastructure, and we think that all these things are going to work the way theyre supposed to when push comes to shove, she said. In Russia, we always knew they wouldnt.

Even references to America as the epicenter of the crisis, when per capita death rates in many other countries, including a number in Western Europe, are higher, Ms. Gessen said, reflects a wrongheaded frame.

Its just another aspect of us realizing we are just as vulnerable as people in other countries  and in some ways a lot more  to a thing that doesnt recognize national borders, she said.
By Manoj Kumar and Gibran Naiyyar Peshimam

NEW DELHI/ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - India allowed shops in residential areas to reopen from Saturday, more than a month after the country went into lockdown to curb the spread of the coronavirus, federal and state officials said.

The federal home ministry said late on Friday that retailers could resume operations with the staff numbers reduced by half as long as employees wore masks and gloves and appropriate social distancing was maintained.

The sale of liquor and other non-essential items continues to be banned and no shops in large market places or multi-brand and single-brand malls will be allowed to reopen until May 3.

Members of industry groups welcomed the partial resumption of activity but said a large number of businesses faced bottlenecks due to a lack of raw materials and police restrictions on the movement of workers.

India has reported 24,942 cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, and 779 deaths. The authorities have set up teams to focus on compliance with lockdown measures.

In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the president of the main opposition Congress party, Sonia Gandhi, said small businesses faced economic ruin and job losses due to the absence of any major support from the government.

She called for a fiscal package of at least one trillion rupees ($13 billion) to protect wages of employees in small businesses and to provide credit guarantees on bank loans.

"Every single day of the lockdown comes at a cost of 30,000 crore ($3.9 billion) to the sector," she said.

In Modi's home state of Gujarat, authorities allowed software and IT companies to start operations on Saturday with up to 50% of their staff though some industry bodies urged members to start with only 10% to 15% of the workforce.

"It is crucial to avoid a rush of employees to offices to prevent spread of coronavirus," said Maulik Bhansali, chairman of Gujarat Electronics and Software Industries Association.

Story continues

Authorities in the eastern state of Odhisha allowed stranded labourers to travel within the state for work.

'SMART LOCKDOWN'

In Pakistan, the government extended a nationwide lockdown until May 9. However, it is switching to a "smart lockdown" from Saturday with targeted tracking and tracing of cases while allowing some industrial and commercial activities to resume under safety guidelines.

"Isolating these cases and their contacts will improve our ability to contain the disease alongside allowing the economy to function and people to get employment," said planning minister Asad Umar, who oversees Pakistan's coronavirus response body.

"This upcoming month of Ramadan will be decisive," he said, emphasising that adhering to the government's virus containment measures would allow other parts of the economy to restart.

Prayer congregations for Ramadan have also been allowed in Pakistan with the exception of the southern province of Sindh, where doctors have warned the virus could spread rapidly.

In Karachi, the capital of Sindh and Pakistan's largest city, most mosques were closed for Ramadan evening prayer gatherings, which began on Friday.

Bangladesh extended its nationwide lockdown to May 5 and ordered mosques to restrict attendance at Ramadan evening prayers to 12 people.

Sri Lanka extended the temporary suspension of SriLankan Airlines to May 15, and said requests from its migrant workers to return to the country would be considered only after the eradication of coronavirus cases in the country.

Sri Lanka has more than 1.2 million people working abroad, mainly in the Middle East, Italy and South Korea.

"Please do not put Sri Lankan government unnecessarily in a difficult situation and if you love your motherland, please stay safe in wherever you are." said Kamal Ratwatte, chairman of Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment in a statement.

Here are official government figures on the spread of the coronavirus in South Asia:

* India has reported 24,942 cases, including 779 deaths

* Pakistan has reported 11,940 cases, including 253 deaths

* Afghanistan has reported 1464 cases, including 47 deaths

* Sri Lanka has reported 435 cases, including seven deaths

* Bangladesh has reported 4,998 cases, including 140 deaths

* Maldives has reported 34 cases and no deaths

* Nepal has reported 49 cases and no deaths

* Bhutan has reported seven cases and no deaths

(Interactive graphic tracking global spread of coronavirus: open tmsnrt.rs/3aIRuz7 in an external browser.)

(Additional repoting by Sumit Khanna in Ahmedabad, Jatindra Dash in Bhubneswar, Waruna Karunatilake in Colombo, Ruma Paul in Dhaka, Gopal Sharma in Kathmandu and Orooj Hakimi in Kabul; Writing by Rupam Jain; Editing by David Clarke)
New Delhi: Current and retired employees of BSNL have opposed the government's decision to freeze dearness allowance (DA) for 18 months, starting January 1, 2020.

All India BSNL-DOT Pensioners Association (AIBDPA), representing more than one lakh of pensioners retired from Department of Telecom and BSNL, on Saturday said that their members have already contributed to the Prime Minister and Chief Minister's relief funds according to their ability and deduction will put pensioners to extreme difficulty.

The BSNL Employees' Union (BSNL EU) called the move a retrograde action and a "big attack on the livelihood of the central government employees and pensioners" while denouncing the action of the government.

Both bodies alleged the government of favouring corporates by way of giving loan waivers, tax rebates, etc and questioned the decision of DA freeze which adversely impacts many low income employees.

"Government has waived bad loans worth Rs 5.5 lakh crore. An overwhelming portion of these bad loans were defaulted by the big corporates. By waiving the bad loans so massively, the government had only facilitated the big corporates to loot people's money. In view of the foregoing, BSNL EU wishes to state that the DA freeze imposed on the central government employees and pensioners is most unjustified," BSNL EU said.

AIBDPA said that the government-run BSNL has stopped medical allowance and reimbursement of medical treatment expenses for the last two years on the plea of lack of funds and the pensioners are dependent upon their meagre pension.

"Many of these pensioners draw minimum pension which is insufficient even for day to day expenses. It is at this crucial time that the decision to freeze DR (dearness relief) for 18 months has been issued. This amount will increase according to the increase in pension which will put the pensioners to extreme difficulty," the retired employees' body said.

According to AIBDPA, the DR cut will be about Rs 17,000 (for the 18-month period) or more for a pensioner getting about Rs 10,000 monthly pension.
[April 25, 2020]

Another wave of fraudulent calls appearing to come from Hydro-Quebec

MONTREAL, April 25, 2020 /CNW Telbec/ - Hydro-Quebec encourages customers to be careful further to reports of fraudulent calls purporting to be from the company. The person calling demands immediate payment, threatening service interruption if their demand is not met.

We would like to remind customers that we recently announced that there will be no administration charges and no service interruptions for nonpayment, until further notice, due to the economic difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. For mre information on the measures we announced: http://news.hydroquebec.com/en/press-releases/1598/hydro-quebec-is-doing-more-for-its-customers/.







To find out how to recognize a fraudulent message, go to http://www.hydroquebec.com/fraud-prevention.html.

SOURCE Hydro-Quebec
NOVI, MI -- Michigans second field hospital to treat COVID-19 patients is now open at the converted Suburban Collection Showcase.

Workers under the direction of architecture firm HKS Inc. spent 15 days changing the center into what the state describes as an alternate care facility.

The Friday, April 24 opening comes after the first such field hospital, Detroits TCF Center (formerly known as Cobo Hall), opened April 10.

State health leaders said the field hospital initially will receive patients from Ascension Michigan and Saint Joseph Mercy Health System, the two health care organizations jointly managing the center.

The hospital also can accept approved transfers from any health care facility.

State health officials reported Friday that there are now a total to 36,641 COVID-19 cases and 3,085 people have died.

Related: Michigan tops 3,000 coronavirus deaths as new case count grows again

The field hospital, with 250 beds for COVID-19 patients, offers patient triage, physician, nursing and other patient support services, pharmacy services, administrative space and a command center.

About 250,000 square feet at the Suburban Collection Showplace was converted for health care purposes. Combined with the TCF Center, the two field hospitals offer 1,220 beds.

Related: Designing Michigan coronavirus field hospital was like combat engineering, architect says

There has been tremendous collaboration on our alternate care facilities in Michigan, helping to provide critical capacity for our hospitals during this global pandemic, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said in a Friday statement.

The efforts involved by so many, including the USACE  Detroit Division, the Michigan National Guard and Ascension Michigan, to get a second medical facility operational in two weeks once again demonstrates the innovation and collaboration that is helping Michigan get the upper hand in the fight against COVID-19," she said.

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

Despite crashes, 820,000 of 1.1M Michiganders filing for unemployment have gotten paid

Michigan lawmakers move to limit Whitmers emergency authority, create coronavirus oversight committee
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- CanaFarma Hemp Products Corp. (CSE: CNFA) (the "Corporation" or "CanaFarma") is pleased to announce that it has signed a Letter of Intent ("LOI") with a privately held company to acquire a manufacturing facility for its hemp oil-based consumer products operations.

The potential acquisition would include a 25,000 square foot facility inNew Jersey, of which the private company currently uses a small part of the facility to manufacture certain pharmaceutical and nutraceutical products under "current Good Manufacturing Practices" (cGMP). It is the Corporation's intention to acquire and continue to produce these products under the cGMP designation, as well as to expand the use of the facility to manufacture Canafarma's YOOFORIC brand hemp oil-based consumer products.

The LOI is non-binding and a due diligence period is currently underway which, if successful, will be followed by the negotiation of a definitive agreement for the acquisition of all of the assets of the private company.

David Lonsdale, CEO of CanaFarma said, "This has the potential to be another substantial step forward for CanaFarma, as we continue to execute on our overall strategic plan to build a completely vertically-integrated hemp-based company. Having our own manufacturing facility would not only allow us to scale production in support of our growing sales and product line expansion, but also to bring new innovative products to market much faster under a more efficient and controllable cost structure."

About CanaFarma Hemp Products Corp.

CanaFarma Hemp Products Corp. is a full-service company operating in the hemp industry offering a full range of hemp-related products and services to the consumer wellness market. These products and services include growing top-quality hemp, providing hemp-processing services, and offering hemp-based products to consumers utilizing a well-established direct-to-consumer marketing approach.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION: This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the potential acquisition of all of the assets of the private company and the negotiation of a definitive agreement with the private company. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; and delay or failure to receive board, shareholder or regulatory approvals. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Corporation disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

David Lonsdale

Chief Executive Officer

Phone: (214) 704-7942

Email: david@canafarmacorp.com
A Michigan toddler who survived the CCP virus after battling weeks of excessively high fever is a real-life example of how the pandemic is affecting children.

Parents Ryan and Amanda Schreiber, of Farmington Hills, had been in agony since their 22-month-old son Luke registered temperatures up to 107.1 degrees Fahrenheit (41.3 degrees Celsius). Now, the Schreibers are warning other parents that no child is too young to be harmed by the disease.

Amanda told The Epoch Times in a Facebook message that Luke is recovering after his long battle with the virus.

Luke has his first fever-free day in 21 days [on April 22]! Amanda said. I still have a 101 temperature with breathing issues I am working through. We are very lucky.

On March 31, 2020, Lukes temperature suddenly skyrocketed. The child struggled with a high fever that ranged between 107 and 104 degrees Fahrenheit (42 and 40 degrees Celsius), until his distraught parents took him to Beaumont Hospital, reported MLive.

Its just the lingering fever. Its unbelievable, mom Amanda told the outlet. It goes away and comes right back.

The Schreibers had been carefully following the states guidelines about social distancing and were shocked when Lukes temperature dramatically increased. At first, the young parents could hardly believe the numbers his thermometer was showing.

I took it about 10 more times to make sure it was registering correctly, the 31-year-old mom said. I also checked my temperature and my husbands and we were normal. I even got another thermometer out and [Luke] was at 106.4.

Dad Ryan, 35, said that they were really scared as everything happened really quickly, reported The Detroit News. With Luke showing no signs of improvement, Amanda drove him to the hospital, while Ryan stayed with their 4-month-old son, Alistair, at home.

As all signs pointed to their son being COVID-positive, Ryan said he felt a sense of helplessness seeing his child suffering like that. The doctors confirmed Luke had COVID-19. After bringing his temperature down, they decided to discharge the little boy, insisting that his chances of recovery were better at home than at a facility where he might be exposed to other viruses, such as the flu.

It turned out that the Schreibers made it to the hospital in the nick of time; the doctors told them that Luke was at a risk for seizure and brain damage due to his dangerously high fever.

However, bringing Luke back home hasnt been the end of the COVID struggle in the Schreiber house. The family is still battling the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus. Lukes fever continued for nearly two weeks after his discharge from the hospital before he had his first fever-free day. Meanwhile, his parents and 4-month-old brother have had symptoms of low blood oxygen, tightness in the chest, low energy, and high temperatures.

Since the scary episode, Amanda and Ryan have been trying to warn other parents to be on guard and stay at home. Dad Ryan told Detroit News that the whole affair opened their eyes to just how contagious the virus is.

Its important to stay vigilant, Ryan said. We thought we were doing everything that we could to prevent it. We were washing surfaces, we were cleaning hands, leaving mail and packages in the garage, and Luke still got it.

[D]ont be selfish, wrote Amanda in her Facebook post, advising people who are protesting the extended length of government restrictions. Those deaths at the bottom of your TV are PEOPLE who have loved ones and family.

Public Safety and human lives are more important than your business its temporary! Over time business will be booming again. [] Take a seat, be patient, pray, let the experts take the wheel on this one, she added.
In democratic societies, there has been a method of political mobilisation.

Political parties are formed when a group of people with common interests and common ideological beliefs come together. They seek to expand by reaching out to other citizens, by articulating these beliefs and bringing them under a common umbrella. This is mostly done through door-to-door campaigning; through events which see the participation of a large number of people; through the distribution of pamphlets and propaganda material; and through public marches, mass meetings, and large-scale rallies.

As elections approach, these activities become more intense and pronounced  and there is a concerted outreach to every constituent to convince them of the validity of a particular worldview. Those in opposition seek to build an environment against the ruling party; those in power seek to defend their record in office  what is common between them is the use of familiar political techniques of campaigning. Each Indian election has seen a variant of this method being deployed by all sides concerned.

But it is not just parties. Civil society outfits too play a key role in spreading awareness and picking up issues relevant to them. They build opinions through smaller meetings, seminars and conferences; they organise marches and make demands for laws or changes in policy; and they protest, within the legal and constitutional framework. A range of progressive changes in India  from the Right to Information Act to the employment guarantee scheme, from stronger laws against crimes against women to relief for farmers  has come from these methods.

But this was the world before the coronavirus pandemic. It is now recognised that the pandemic, and the restrictions that have accompanied it as the most effective way to battle the disease, will change the international system, the economic order, how businesses are run, and even the way people live and work.

But one other element it will impinge on significantly is the method of political mobilisation, especially in democracies. Even after the lockdown is lifted, social distancing will continue to remain an established norm.

This means that mass rallies (where hundreds of thousands of people jostled in a common area); mass protests (where thousands of people marched together, standing next to each other, and even pushing each other along); and small public meetings in urban neighbourhoods or village squares (where political leaders and civil society campaigners relayed their message to residents) may not be possible anymore  at least for the foreseeable future. It will be much harder to get a sense of where public opinion stands.

This does not mean that democracy will necessarily suffer, but it means that all stakeholders in a democracy  political parties, the administrative machinery, civil society groups, and citizens  will have to find new ways to continue with the task of political and social mobilisation. There will also have to be new ways to ascertain public opinion. What will this entail?

The first, obvious, element of the new form of campaigning will be the increasing reliance on technology. Over the past decade, the online medium in general  and social media in particular  has come to play a significant role in building opinion and reaching out to voters. But this will now assume a new urgency altogether. Technological tools may almost become a substitute for a human-to-human interface. It is through video conferences, newly-created customised apps, and social media campaigns that parties will seek to penetrate the homes and minds of voters.

This, in turn, will increase the reliance on data radically. Once again, data has been an important tool in the electoral kit in the last few decades. But now, candidates will begin mining details of each constituent and their preferences at the micro-level  this, in turn, will allow them to deploy technology in what they deem as appropriate ways.

The third will be a change in the way the voting process itself is conducted. South Korea recently held elections, in the backdrop of the pandemic. Voting booths were disinfected; voters had to maintain a distance from each other while queuing up; they were screened for temperature; those who had fever were taken to a separate area, and once they exercised their franchise, they were sent for testing. The United States will have elections later this year  and it is not clear whether it will have to rely substantially on postal ballots or whether regular voting will be held. India will have to carefully look at these examples  the Election Commission is already studying the South Korea polls  and adapt it to its own context.

But, if the form of mobilisation changes, it will also have an impact on the substance of politics. It is premature to draw any definitive conclusions, but here are the variables to look out for. One, in some ways, local leaders will become more important. After all, they know the constituency; they know the voters; and voters have a sense of their track record of delivery. At the same time, given the limits on campaigning, it will be much harder for those who are starting out at the local level  or those who are not already established leaders  to make a dent. There is a possibility that voters will choose the familiar rather than the unknown in uncertain times. Two, there will be an impact on identity politics. In times of crisis, members of particular castes, communities and religions often find solace in community bonds. At the same time, given that this crisis has affected every citizen across identities  with the poor most severely affected  voters may look beyond identity and vote on either class interests or based on their perception of government performance.

The next big election is in Bihar at the end of the year. This will be a test case to understand how political campaigning, voting processes, group identities and voting behaviour have changed in the post-coronavirus times.

What is clear is that politics will not remain the same.

letters@hindustantimes.com

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Israeli protesters oppose Benjamin Netanyahu remaining as prime minister while he is a criminal suspect.

Several thousand Israelis have demonstrated against a unity government deal that leaves Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in power as he prepares to go on trial for corruption charges.

The protesters oppose Netanyahu remaining as prime minister while he is a criminal suspect.

The protesters say the unity government agreement, which gives Netanyahu influence over the appointment of judges and legal officials, crushes democracy and is meant to rescue Netanyahu from his legal troubles.

Netanyahu is scheduled to face trial next month on charges of fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes. He has consistently denied any wrongdoing.





The protest on Saturday filled central Tel Avivs Rabin Square, although demonstrators maintained distance from each other in line with health regulations in place for weeks meant to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

Protesters, wearing face masks, waved Israeli flags and signs calling out Netanyahu for corruption. A police spokesman said hundreds attended the rally, but local media reports said thousands took part.

Netanyahu and former military chief Benny Gantz, leader of the Blue and White party, signed the power-sharing agreement on Monday after weeks of negotiations for what they termed a national emergency government meant to steer the country through the coronavirus outbreak.

The agreement delivered Netanyahu a significant boost as he fought to hold on to power while fending off the corruption charges.

His party will gain influence over judicial appointments, which could help Netanyahu if his case reaches the Supreme Court.

The deal requires the approval of both parties on key appointments, including the attorney general and the state prosecutor, granting Netanyahu veto power over the officials who hold sway over his legal fate.
While there was a jump of 223 cases in County Cork in the space of a week, the overall picture is that the rate of infection in the county is slowing down relative to other counties, the latest figures from the HSE's COVID-19 Health Surveillance Monitor have disclosed.

The report published yesterday (Wednesday) gives a snapshot of the state of the nation during the pandemic based on figures compiled up to midnight on Sunday.

According to the figures there were 1053 confirmed cases in the county, up from 829 on Sunday, April 12. This accounts for 6.8% of Sunday's overall total for the 26 counties of 15,464.

Another figure that will be of concern is the number of healthcare workers in HSE South, which covers Cork and Kerry, who have tested positive for COVID-19. As of Sunday night, there were 262 healthcare workers who have been confirmed with the virus.

The number of clusters is also on the increase in the HSE South region. Two weeks ago there were 34 clusters in the region - this week 55 clusters have been reported.

The incidence of clusters in nursing homes has remained at three while there are now 7 in residential institutions, 9 in hospitals, 9 in private houses and five in community hospitals/long stay units. There are now three extended family clusters as well as five in workplaces.

The number of people being treated for COVID-19 symptoms in Cork hospitals is also up sharply with 26 receiving care in CUH and ten in the Mercy University Hospital.

According to the HSE analysis of the figures, the infection rate for Cork now is 194 cases per 100,000 of the population.

Relative to other counties, this is more or less in midtable with Dublin being highest with 577.5 followed by Cavan with 529 and Westmeath with 424.7.

The counties with the lowest infection rates are Wexford with 76.1 and Waterford with 100.7. Kerry has an infection rate of 181.4 and Limerick has a rate of 209.9.

The death toll for the country from the disease is continuing to mount with the announcement yesterday afternoon that an additonal 49 fatalities had been reported bringing the total for the country to 769 deaths.

Chief Medical Officer Tony Holohan confirmed there had been 631 new cases of COVID-19 while there 302 clusters in community care settings. There 178 clusters in nursing homes nationwide.

A total of 412 deaths from COVID-19 had taken place in community care settings with 348 of these taking place in nursing homes.

Dr. Holohan confirmed there were now 16,671 COVID-19 cases in the country.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson leaves 10 Downing Street for PMQs at the House of Commons on 25 March, 2020 in London, England.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will return to work Monday after recovering from coronavirus, according to Downing Street.



Johnson has been convalescing at Chequers, the prime minister's country estate, since he was discharged from hospital earlier this month. Dominic Raab, the U.K. foreign secretary, has stood in for Johnson during his absence.



Johnson, who tested positive for the virus in late March, initially said he had mild symptoms. He was admitted to hospital in early April and subsequently placed in intensive care for three days after his condition deteriorated.

Johnson was the first publicly reported case of a world leader testing positive.



Critics have accused the prime minister of not acting early and forcefully to contain the virus as it quickly spread across continental Europe. Johnson ordered nonessential businesses to close on March 23, more than a week after such measures were implemented in Italy, France, Spain and hard-hit areas in the U.S.

The U.K. has more than 149,000 confirmed cases of the virus and at least 20,381 deaths. On April 16, Britain extended nationwide lockdown measures by three weeks.
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Bulgaria - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

Sydney, April 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Just released, this edition of Paul Budde Communications focus report on Bulgaria outlines the major developments and key aspects in the telecoms markets.

Read the full report: https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Bulgaria-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses

This report provides a comprehensive overview of trends and developments in Bulgarias telecommunications market. The report analyses the fixed-line, mobile and broadband sectors. Subjects include:

Market and industry analyses, trends and developments;

Facts, figures and statistics;

Industry and regulatory issues;

Infrastructure developments;

Major Players, Revenues, Subscribers, ARPU, MoU;

Mobile Voice and Data Markets;

Broadband (FttP, DSL, cable, wireless);

Mobile subscribers and ARPU;

Broadband market forecasts;

Government policies affecting the telecoms industry;

Market liberalisation and industry issues;

Telecoms operators  privatisation, IPOs, acquisitions, new licences;

Mobile technologies (GSM; 3G, HSPA, LTE, 5G).

Researcher:- Henry Lancaster

Current publication date:- October 2018 (17th Edition)

Executive Summary

Bulgarias MNOs trial 5G for 2020 launch

Until recent years, Bulgarias telecoms market was affected by the countrys difficult macroeconomic climate, as well as by relatively high unemployment and a shrinking population. These factors contributed to steadily declining revenue across the sector until strong recovery returned in 2018. There remains pressure on revenue growth, with consumers continuing to migrate from fixed-line voice telephony to mobile and VoIP alternatives, while the volume of SMS and MMS traffic has been affected by the growing use of alternative OTT messaging services.

The mature mobile market has effective competition between A1 Bulgaria, Telenor Bulgaria (sold to the PPF Group in August 2018) and the incumbent telco Vivacom. Competition intensified following the implementation of a streamlined mobile number portability process. In addition, customer preference for bundled services has put pressure on pricing and encouraged operators to offer generous voice and data packages. This in turn has impacted on operator revenue.

Story continues

Vivacom is in the process of being sold, and the potential that a new owner will inject funds in network upgrades and develop services based on 5G should stimulate other market players to invest in their own service provision. A1 Bulgaria and Telenor Bulgaria are poised to launch commercial 5G services in 2020.

The broadband market in Bulgaria enjoys excellent cross-platform competition. The share of the market held by DSL has fallen steadily as a result of customers being migrated to fibre networks, particularly those operated by the incumbent telco Vivacom. By early 2019 about 65% of Vivacoms fixed-line broadband subscribers were on fibre infrastructure.

This report provides an overview of Bulgarias fixed-line telecom market, including data on regulatory developments, the strategies of the major operators and an assessment of the evolution of fixed-line networks. The report also reviews the mobile voice and data segments; including a variety of statistics and analyses covering the major operators, market developments and services offered. In addition, the report covers the fixed-line and fixed-wireless broadband sectors, includes an assessment of technologies, the major players, market developments and statistics as well as subscriber forecasts.

BuddeComm notes that the outbreak of the Coronavirus in 2020 is having a significant impact on production and supply chains globally. During the coming year the telecoms sector to various degrees is likely to experience a downturn in mobile device production, while it may also be difficult for network operators to manage workflows when maintaining and upgrading existing infrastructure. Overall progress towards 5G may be postponed or slowed down in some countries.

On the consumer side, spending on telecoms services and devices is under pressure from the financial effect of large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes. However, the crucial nature of telecom services, both for general communication as well as a tool for home-working, will offset such pressures. In many markets the net effect should be a steady though reduced increased in subscriber growth.

Although it is challenging to predict and interpret the long-term impacts of the crisis as it develops, these have been acknowledged in the industry forecasts contained in this report.

The report also covers the responses of the telecom operators as well as government agencies and regulators as they react to the crisis to ensure that citizens can continue to make optimum use of telecom services. This can be reflected in subsidy schemes and the promotion of tele-health and tele-education, among other solutions.

Key developments:

Amended Electronic Communications Act focused on enhancing regulators powers;

Vestitel begins building second Greece-Bulgaria fibre link;

A1 Bulgaria and Telenor Bulgaria trial 5G;

Vivacom extends the reach of its LTE-A service;

Regulator awards additional spectrum in the 1800MHz band for LTE use;

Cooolbox launches 1Gb/s FttP service;

New cableco association launched;

Government investment program for broadband in rural areas;

Vivacoms FiberNet offer passes 1.18 million premises

Report update includes the regulators market data for 2018, telcos operating and financial data to Q2 2019, Telecom Maturity Index charts and analyses, assessment of the global impact of COVID-19 on the telecoms sector, recent market developments.

Companies mentioned in this report:

Vivacom, Orbitel, Vestitel, A1 Bulgaria (MobilTel), Telenor Bulgaria, PPF Group, Trans Telecom, Blizoo, Max Telecom

Key statistics

Country overview

COVID-19 and its impact on the telecom sector Economic considerations and responses Mobile devices Subscribers Infrastructure

Telecommunications market Market analysis Regional European Market Comparison Europe Telecom Maturity Index by tier TMI versus GDP Mobile and mobile broadband penetration Fixed versus mobile broadband penetration

Regulatory environment Historical overview Regulatory authority Telecom sector liberalisation Privatisation Interconnect Access Number Portability (NP) Carrier selection/Carrier PreSelection

Fixed network operators Introduction Vivacom/Bulgarian Telecommunications Company (BTC) A1 Bulgaria

Telecommunications infrastructure Overview of the national telecom network International networks

Broadband market Introduction and statistical overview Market analysis Broadband statistics Hybrid Fibre Coax (HFC) networks Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) networks Fibre-to-the-Premises (FttP) Other fixed broadband services World Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) Satellite broadband

Digital economy E-government E-health

Mobile communications Market analysis Mobile statistics General statistics Mobile infrastructure 5G 4G (LTE) 3G GSM Mobile voice Mobile data Mobile broadband Regulatory issues GSM licences Third generation (3G) licences 800MHz 1800MHz 2.5-2.6GHz Other spectrum Mobile Number Portability (MNP) Roaming Mobile Termination Rates (MTR) Major mobile operators Vivacom A1 Bulgaria (MobilTel/M-Tel) Telenor Bulgaria (Cosmo Bulgaria Mobile/GloBul) Mobile content and applications Mobile virtual network Operators (MVNOs)

Appendix  Historic data

Glossary of abbreviations

Related reports

List of Tables

Table 1  Top Level Country Statistics and Telco Authorities - Bulgaria  2019 (e)

Table 2  Telecom sector investment  2015  2017

Table 3  Investment in NGA  2013  2017

Table 4  Development of in telecom sector revenue, annual change  2006  2018

Table 6  Proportion of telecom sector revenue by service (old style)  2011  2018

Table 7  Change in the share of fixed-voice revenue by type  2011  2018

Table 8  Change in the number of fixed number portings  2009  2017

Table 9  Change in Vivacoms financial data  2009  2018

Table 10  Vivacoms financial data by sector  2010  2018

Table 11  Vivacoms subscribers by sector  2012  2018

Table 12  Vivacoms pay TV and IPTV subscribers  2013  2018

Table 13  Change in A1 Bulgarias financial data  2009  2019

Table 14  Growth in the number of A1 Bulgarias fixed RGUs  2011  2019

Table 15  Increase in the number of A1 Bulgarias fixed access lines  2011  2019

Table 16  Decline in the number of fixed lines in service and teledensity  2009  2024

Table 17  Increase in international internet bandwidth  2009  2018

Table 18  Share of fixed-line broadband subscribers by operator  2017  2018

Table 19  Change in fixed-line broadband market share by access type  2009  2018

Table 20  Increase in the total internet subscribers (fixed and mobile) and annual change  2015  2018

Table 21  Growth in the number of fixed broadband subscribers and penetration  2009  2024

Table 22  Change in the proportion of fixed broadband subscribers by data speed  2010- 2018

Table 23  Growth in total /internet (retail and wholesale) revenue  2008  2018

Table 24  Retail and wholesale internet revenue  2015  2017

Table 25  Growth in the number of cable broadband subscribers  2005  2018

Table 26  Decline in the number of DSL subscribers  2005  2018

Table 27  Development of Vivacoms broadband subscriber base  2012  2019

Table 28  Increase in the number of A1 Bulgarias fixed broadband subscribers 2011 - 2019

Table 29  Increase in the number of Vivacoms fibre broadband connections and homes passed  2013  2018

Table 30  Growth in the number of FttP subscribers  2008  2018

Table 31  Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration  2009  2024

Table 32  Decline in mobile sector revenue  2009  2018

Table 33  Change in the proportion of mobile revenue by service  2010  2018

Table 34  Change in mobile market share of subscribers by operator  2006  2018

Table 35  Change in mobile market share of revenue by operator  2007- 2018

Table 36  Change in mobile market revenue share by service  2008  2018

Table 37  Ratio of prepaid to postpaid subscribers  2009  2018

Table 38  A1 Bulgarias prepaid subscribers  2004  2019

Table 39  Growth in the number of LTE subscribers  2015  2018

Table 40  Drop in SMS traffic  2009  2019

Table 41  Total MMS messages sent  2003  2017

Table 42  Share of mobile broadband subscribers by operator  2017  2018

Table 43  Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration  2009  2024

Table 44  Growth in the number of A1 Bulgaria mobile broadband subscribers  2008  2019

Table 45  Annual mobile number portings  2008  2017

Table 46  MTRs  2014  2018

Table 47  Change in the number of Vivacoms mobile subscribers  2012  2018

Table 48  Vivacom mobile revenue  2009  2018

Table 49  Vivacom annualised mobile ARPU  2015  2018

Table 50  A1 Bulgaria prepaid, postpaid and blended monthly ARPU  2009  2019

Table 51  Change in the number of A1 Bulgarias mobile subscriber base  2007  2019

Table 52  Increase in A1 Bulgarias Minutes of Use (MOU)  2007  2019

Table 53  Telenor Bulgaria subscribers  2007  2018

Table 54  Historic - Fixed lines in service and teledensity  2000  2009

Table 55  Historic - International bandwidth  2000  2009

Table 56  Historic - Fixed broadband subscribers and penetration  2005  2009

Table 57  Historic - Mobile subscribers and penetration  1995  2009

Table 58  Historic - Ratio of prepaid to postpaid subscribers  2002  2009

Table 59  Historic - Total SMS messages sent  2003  2009

Table 60  Historic - Mobile base stations in service by technology  2012  2016

Table 61  Historic - Telenor Bulgarias financial data (NOK)  2013  2018

List of Charts

Chart 1  Development of in telecom sector revenue, annual change  2006  2018

Chart 2  Telecom sector revenue by service  2008  2018

Chart 3  Proportion of telecom sector revenue by service  2011  2018

Chart 4  Change in the share of fixed-voice revenue by type  2011  2018

Chart 5  Europe Telecoms Maturity Index  Market Leaders (top tier)

Chart 6  Europe Telecoms Maturity Index  Market Challengers (middle tier)

Chart 7  Europe Telecoms Maturity Index  Market Emergents (bottom tier)

Chart 8  Overall view - Telecoms Maturity Index vs GDP per Capita

Chart 9  Europe - mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration

Chart 10  Scandinavia and Baltics: mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration

Chart 11  Northern Europe mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration

Chart 12  Southern Europe mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration

Chart 13  Eastern Europe mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration

Chart 14  Scandinavia and Baltics fixed and mobile broadband penetration

Chart 15  Northern Europe fixed and mobile broadband penetration

Chart 16  Southern Europe fixed and mobile broadband penetration

Chart 17  Eastern Europe fixed and mobile broadband penetration

Chart 18  Change in the number of fixed number portings  2009  2017

Chart 19  Change in Vivacoms financial data  2009  2018

Chart 20  Vivacoms financial data by sector  2010  2018

Chart 21  Vivacoms subscribers by sector  2012  2018

Chart 22  Vivacoms pay TV and IPTV subscribers  2013  2018

Chart 23  Change in A1 Bulgarias financial data  2009  2019

Chart 24  Growth in the number of A1 Bulgarias fixed RGUs  2011  2019

Chart 25  Increase in the number of A1 Bulgarias fixed access lines  2011  2019

Chart 26  Decline in the number of fixed lines in service and teledensity  2009  2024

Chart 27  Increase in international internet bandwidth  2009  2018

Chart 28  Change in fixed-line broadband market share by access type  2009  2018

Chart 29  Increase in the total internet subscribers (fixed and mobile) and annual change  2015  2018

Chart 30  Growth in the number of fixed broadband subscribers and penetration  2009  2024

Chart 31  Change in the proportion of fixed broadband subscribers by data speed  2010- 2018

Chart 32  Growth in total /internet (retail and wholesale) revenue  2008  2018

Chart 33  Growth in the number of cable broadband subscribers  2005  2018

Chart 34  Decline in the number of DSL subscribers  2005  2018

Chart 35  Development of Vivacoms broadband subscriber base  2012  2019

Chart 36  Increase in the number of A1 Bulgarias fixed broadband subscribers 2011 - 2019

Chart 37  Increase in the number of Vivacoms fibre broadband connections and homes passed  2013  2018

Chart 38  Growth in the number of FttP subscribers  2008  2018

Chart 39  Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration  2009  2024

Chart 40  Decline in mobile sector revenue  2009  2018

Chart 41  Change in the proportion of mobile revenue by service  2010  2018

Chart 42  Change in mobile market share of subscribers by operator  2006  2018

Chart 43  Change in mobile market share of revenue by operator  2007- 2018

Chart 44  Change in mobile market revenue share by service  2008  2018

Chart 45  Ratio of prepaid to postpaid subscribers  2009  2018

Chart 46  A1 Bulgarias prepaid subscribers  2004  2019

Chart 47  Growth in the number of LTE subscribers  2015  2018

Chart 48  Drop in SMS traffic  2009  2019

Chart 49  Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration  2009  2024

Chart 50  Growth in the number of A1 Bulgaria mobile broadband subscribers  2008  2019

Chart 51  Annual mobile number portings  2008  2017

Chart 52  Change in the number of Vivacoms mobile subscribers  2012  2018

Chart 53  Vivacom mobile revenue  2009  2018

Chart 54  Vivacom annualised mobile ARPU  2015  2018

Chart 55  A1 Bulgaria prepaid, postpaid and blended monthly ARPU  2009  2019

Chart 56  Change in the number of A1 Bulgarias mobile subscriber base  2009  2019

Chart 57  Increase in A1 Bulgarias Minutes of Use (MOU)  2007  2019

Chart 58  Telenor Bulgaria subscribers  2007  2018

List of Exhibits

Exhibit 1  Generalised Market Characteristics by Market Segment

Exhibit 2  Access, the local loop and unbundling  an overview





Read the full report: https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Bulgaria-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses

Nicolas Bombourg

nbombourg@budde.com.au



Within Australia

(02) 8076 7665



Outside Australia

+44 207 097 1241


A doctor has bizarrely urged Australians not to pass wind near others to reduce their risk of getting coronavirus, while another has told people to stay away from alcohol.

Physician and journalist, Dr Norman Swan, claimed this week that farting near other people could put them at risk of contracting coronavirus, despite no study or evidence suggesting this is the case.

'A policy on the part of the entire Australian population should be that you don't fart close to other people and you don't fart with your bottom bare,' he said in an ABC podcast.

'No bare-bottom farting.'

Australians have been warned to cut back on alcohol over links it can cause obesity, placing them in a more vulnerable position amid coronavirus (pictured: Revellers enjoy a few drinks at Pyrmont Bridge Hotel before hotels and pubs were shut down)

Dr Norman Swan (pictured) made tongue-in-cheek remarks about farting

Making the tongue-in-cheek remarks, he added: 'Luckily, we wear a mask, which covers our farts all the time', referring to trousers and underwear.

His comments have made headlines across the world, even appearing on top American satirical show, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

But Dr Swan said he is unfazed by the attention brought by his unusual comments.

'Next to breathing and eating, farting is core to human existence,' he told the Guardian.

'But unlike eating and breathing, farting never fails to amuse  unless of course its too close for comfort.'

The amusing interlude came amid more serious advice from a Melbourne GP, who recommended Australians lay off the booze as it increases the chance of obesity, which can place them at higher risk of falling seriously ill from coronavirus .

Dr Peter Lewis, a GP from Melbourne, said many people are turning towards alcohol during coronavirus lockdowns which in turn could create higher levels of obesity.

The doctor said obesity triples a person's chance of being admitted to hospital for coronavirus and is hoping restrictions on booze may be set in place as a result.

'The party is over. It's time to fight. Flatten your curves, while flattening the curve,' Dr Lewis told The Herald Sun.

Dr Peter Lewis said drinking can increase obesity which could triple the risk of being hospitalised for COVID-19

While many businesses were forced to shut up shop during COVID-19, bottle shops remain open and in high demand.

With alcohol having a direct link with obesity, Dr Lewis warned Australians to cut back on their drinking.

'After age, obesity is the second most important risk factor. It triples your chance in being admitted to hospital or ending up in ICU,' he told Sky News.

'Some people are getting depressed and drinking too much alcohol and sitting inside but we should remember it's actually really good and healthy to walk in the park and it will help us stay the distance.'

At the end of March, Dr Swan was tested for coronavirus after falling ill.

Speaking on ABC News Radio on March 30, Dr Swan revealed he is self-isolating at home.

A doctor has urged Australians to avoid joggers as they could potentially put passersby at risk during coronavirus pandemic (picture of joggers spotted near Bondi Beach on April 1)

'OK so now I have to admit I'm at home because I do have symptoms and after I finish this I'm going to get tested,' he said.

He has also issued a stern warning to Australians to avoid joggers outside as they could potentially leave passersby at risk of catching coronavirus.

Dr Swan explained how a runner could 'flick' their body secretions such as sweat or saliva on you if you don't maintain social distancing.

'If joggers invade your personal space they are flicking whatever secretions they've got. But sweat isn't the only secretion you emit when you're in physical extremist jogging down the road,' the medical journalist said.

There is currently no evidence showing that COVID-19 can be transmitted through sweat but Dr Swan warned the virus can be spread through small droplets from the mouth.

'As you're breathing up and breathing fast, if you've got virus there you're more likely to be aerosolising it,' he said.
We'll all need a holiday after this. But will we be able to take one?

Clearly, any post-Covid-19 travel predictions come with a large health warning, but conversations are starting, and possible trends beginning to emerge.

Here are ten I think are worth talking about.

1. A Staycation nation?

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It's fair to expect domestic holidays to resume before overseas trips.

Practically, that will be driven by a staggered easing of restrictions and anxiety over foreign travel, but a community response to this pandemic has fostered a strong sense of togetherness, too.

Many of us will want to stay close to home and support local business after lockdown, and will particularly remember hotels and restaurants that supported isolated or vulnerable people during this time.

We'll be wary taking those first steps beyond our 2km, and local communities must feel safe about welcoming 'outsiders', but pent-up demand is building, nostalgic images on social media have kept Ireland front of mind, and Failte Ireland will give staycations a huge push to kick-start the industry as soon as it is safe to do so.

There's no place like home, after all.

2. We'll see historic sales...

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You may not want to fly now. But if restrictions ease and borders re-open, would you be tempted by a 99c flight?

Deep discounting is inevitable once airlines, hotels and cruise lines get the all-clear, to ignite both demand and confidence.

"Whether it's 9.99, 4.99, 1.99 or 99c, we almost don't care," Ryanair's Michael O'Leary has said. "Our critical thing in the short-term isn't to make money, it's to get our pilots and cabin crew back flying and the aircraft back into the air."

Low oil prices will help.

3. But also price rises

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Cheap flights can't last - 2019 was a 'peak' year for mass travel and I can't see us returning to those levels of movement before 2022.

Companies will close. New rules, social distancing and fewer flights and hotel rooms could see prices head north as demand rises.

Travellers will be jittery about hygiene, safety and consumer rights, so a shift towards reputable brands and licensed and bonded tour operators seems likely, too... even if that means paying more.

Here in Ireland, price will be a huge concern for staycationers - many have taken pay cuts or lost jobs, and will be ultra-sensitive to 'rip-offs'.

Clear messaging about the difference between 'value' and 'cheap' is crucial, and a devastated tourism industry will need state supports like 0pc VAT, rates waivers and interest-free loans to re-open, recover and give us the home holidays we crave.

4. Health & Safety first

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Canada now requires all air travellers to wear masks. Emirates has conducted 'rapid' Covid-19 tests on passengers. Airports in Hong Kong and Seoul are screening on arrival. Talk of 'immunity certificates' has begun.

Clearly, until a vaccine or treatments are available, health regulations will play a massive role in travel - from temperature controls to possible 'health passports' - but passengers won't stand for dirty planes and coughing neighbours, either. Hygiene must become ultra-transparent.

Will middle seats be left empty on flights? Unlikely, given the revenue impact. You can expect enhanced cleaning, longer queues and widespread social distancing to take a toll on turnaround times and in-flight food and drink services, too.

5. Small groups and space

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We'll be very risk-averse in the coming months. From a stroll down Barcelona's Las Ramblas to a Disney theme park or festival overseas, everything will be seen through a different lens.

Does that mean a flip towards wilderness trips, nature holidays or small group tours? It's possible, but these are sensitive niches with little room for mass tourism.

Trust will be key, and I also see an opportunity for business class, private travel and luxury brands that offer exclusivity, space and reassurance.

For those who can afford them, of course.

6. What now for sustainability?

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The planet has taken a breath.

Less noise, satellite images of clearer skies and an appreciation for nature on our doorsteps has led to stronger sentiment towards environmentally-friendly travel.

This is clearly critical to combat climate change, but may also be wishful thinking. 'The market has no memory', as the adage goes, and restarting global economies will be Priority number one post-lockdown (as we've seen in China).

It's also debatable what lessons we'll take out of lockdown, when a more hectic pace of life consumes us again. I hope we can reboot in a greener way, and wrap sustainable policies into changing legislation, but I'm not convinced we will.

7. Family first

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Life has distilled in lockdown. We've had time to realise what truly matters.

For many, that's family. After all the Zoom calls and House Parties, there's a pent-up urge to connect in real time, to hug and eat and walk and chat, particularly in Ireland.

Time together will be treasured, and I expect to see lots of multi-generational groups looking to resorts they trust, isolated rentals, favourite campsites, country houses and the like where kids, parents, grandparents and groups of close friends can mingle.

The trend could become a strong line in tourism marketing, too.

8. Some destinations will be more equal than others

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Covid-19 could redraw the tourism map - our perceptions of how badly destinations were affected, or how their outbreaks were handled, will play a key part in that.

We're likely to look first for familiarity, to places like Spain, France, Italy and Portugal, for instance - but could coronavirus mean we prefer the Canary Islands over Spanish cities or a crowded Costa del Sol?

We may want to support favourite destinations like Italy, but could that go on ice while tourism grows to Germany, for example - widely seen as having controlled its outbreak and exit strategy?

What will we think of travelling to New York? Could isolated Iceland's high prices suddenly look reassuringly expensive?

Ireland is traditionally seen as a 'safe' destination, so our handling of Covid-19 in the coming months is critical here.

9. A quantum leap in tech

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Apps like Zoom have been breakout stars of the pandemic, but travellers will start to notice long-term changes in tech, too.

As lockdown began, 'virtual travel' stories showed destinations how they could market online, and we'll continue to see richer ways to research and sample trips before we take them.

I think we can expect less human interaction - from video calls with travel agents to check-in touchscreens - and an accelerated race towards AI and automation.

Another area ripe for disruption is travel insurance. Will we see more start-ups in that space?

10. Fewer or faster trips?

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As communities re-open, economies splutter back to life and global movement resumes, the number of trips we take is likely to fall - in the short-term, at least.

Before Covid-19, 'transformative' and 'experiential' travel were trending, and it's likely we'll think longer and harder about how and when we travel.

Certainly, if trips become pricier, more onerous or exclusive, we can kiss the era of multiple sun, city and ski breaks goodbye. Immersive experiences like safaris or the Camino could catch our imagination as occasional, carefully planned blow-outs.

Lots of lip service has been paid to 'slow travel' at this time - which is a lovely idea, and it would be amazing to see us take a new mindfulness on our travels. But only time will tell how much of that is lockdown dreaming, or will disappear as restrictions ease rather than lead to behavioural change.

Imagine terrible Irish weather, a flight sale, and the availability of a Covid-19 vaccine. A week at the beach in Salou or Santa Ponsa may be irresistible.

Covid-19 is all-consuming now, but in time, treatments and a vaccine could change that. Travel is likely to rebound in phases over several years, and is full of 'what-ifs'.

But one thing's for sure: it will never be the same.

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The All Progressives Congress (APC) national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, is gradually digging deeper into the depth of the northern oligarchy in the lobby for support for the 2023 presidential ticket of the ruling APC. The former Lagos State Governor has been eating into the structure of the northern oligarchy in peaceful, deploying all skills of political simulation and overture to gradually court the solidarity and endorsement of northern leaders, picking them one after the order to queue behind him in the power tussle for the 2023 presidential race.

From Senator Shehu Sani to former Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State, including the Seante President, Ahmad Lawan, Tinubu has continued to be the bride of northern political stalwarts in gradual sequence. Shehu Sani, Senator Shettima had made clear cases while Tinubu should be the successor to President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023, while Senate President Lawan argued why APC should shift power to the south west in 2023.

The former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, has joined the league of northern leaders subtly campaigning for Tinubu, to be president of Nigeria in 2023 after Buhari.

The former SGF was gathered to have said that Tinubu have the necessary leadership qualities that would make him good modern President in 2023 after President Buharis second tenure.

Babachir was cited to have said: By 2023 when Buharis tenure will be over, hell go back to Daura to face. But  every leader must leave behind a legacy. I will like to see that he leaves behind a legacy of achievement.

Bola Tinubu is my friend of many years. Buhari is my big boss. Bola Tinubu without prejudice that hes my friend, will make a good president. Other issues notwithstanding, he will make a good modern president because the presidency these days is scientific. Nigerians, by convention, seem to have agreed that there should be rotation of the presidency.
Former Vice President Joe Biden tweeted on Friday that he will formally recognize the 1915 Armenian genocide if elected president.

Why it matters: President Trump and past presidents have previously avoided the issue, Politico writes. The Senate passed a resolution last December, classifying the event as a genocide. However the Trump administration did not formally acknowledge the event, as such a decision could harm relations with NATO-ally Turkey.

"If we do not fully acknowledge, commemorate, and teach our children about genocide, the words 'never again' lose their meaning. The facts must be as clear and as powerful for future generations as for those whose memories are seared by tragedy. Failing to remember or acknowledge the fact of a genocide only paves the way for future mass atrocities."

 Biden wrote in a Medium post

Context: The mass killing of Armenians occurred when the Ottoman Turks tried to transport them from eastern Anatolia to the Syrian desert during World War I. Turkey claims 300,000 died, but Armenia estimates the number is closer to 1.5 million, BBC reports.

Go deeper: Trump administration says Armenian genocide bill does not change its position
Police in Chhattisgarh said on Friday they have arrested seven people, including three construction contractors, for helping Maoists for the last two years.

Inspector general of police (Bastar range ) Sundarraj P said two men, identified as Tapas Palit and Dayashankar Mishra were arrested last month and five others were held recently by Kanker Police.

Sundarraj said police had arrested contractor Palit on March 24 while he was allegedly transporting a huge consignment of shoes, fabrics and walkie-talkie sets, meant for Maoists in his SUV from Siksod police station area of Kanker district.

During interrogation, he revealed about the Maoist couriers network which was supplying various materials and cash to Maoists from the past two years in the north Bastar, the senior police official said.

Mishra, who was associated with Palit, was later arrested from Rajandgaon district, he said.

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Kanker Police led by additional superintendent of police Kirtan Rathore was constituted for an extensive probe into the matter.

The SIT recently arrested five more peopleRajnandgaon-based contractors Ajay Jain and Komal Prasad Verma, Rohit Nag of Koyalibeda in Kanker, Sushil Sharma of Uttar Pradesh and Suresh Sharnagat of Madhya Pradesh in this connection.

As per the preliminary investigation, two contractorsNishant Jain of Bilaspur and Varun Jain of Rajnandgaon, who run Landmark Engineer Company and Landmark Royal Engineer Company respectivelywere allotted road construction works under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna (PMGSY) in Antagarh, Amabeda, Siksod, Koyalibeda and other Maoist-affected areas of Kanker district by the concerned government department, the IG said.

The two firms then authorised to carry out the construction works to Ajay Jain, Komal Prasad Verma and Palit, who are said to be partners in a company which deal in construction work, Sundarraj said.

The three men allegedly contacted the Maoists and had been supplying shoes, uniforms, walkie-talkie sets and other materials along with cash to the tune of lakhs of rupees to the rebel since the last two years, he said adding that the remaining arrested persons are their accomplices.

Two cars and 10 mobile phones were also seized from the possession of the accused, Sundarraj said. The involvement of some other people in the offence is being probed, he added.
The US states of Georgia, Oklahoma and Alaska began loosening lockdown orders on their pandemic-wounded businesses, even as the confirmed U.S. death toll from the coronavirus soared past 50,000 and despite warnings from health experts that such steps may be coming too early. The news came as the outbreak appeared to continue to subside in much of Asia. In China, where the virus was first detected late last year, authorities on Saturday reported no new deaths for the 10th straight day, along with just 12 new cases, 11 of them brought from overseas and one local transmission in the northeastern province of Heilongjiang bordering Russia, according to the National Health Commission.

Just 838 people remain hospitalized in China with COVID-19 while another 1,000 are undergoing isolation and monitoring for being either suspected cases or having tested positive for the virus while showing no symptoms. China has reported a total of 4,632 deaths among 82,816 cases.

South Korea reported 10 fresh cases, the eighth day in a row its daily jump came below 20. There were no new deaths for the second straight day.

India announced the easing of a stringent lockdown for 1.3 billion people with the reopening of neighbourhood and standalone shops. India has reported more than 18,600 cases and 775 deaths. Last week, it allowed resumption of manufacturing and farming activities in rural areas as millions of daily wage earners were left without work.

In France, the government is leaving families to decide whether to keep children at home or send them back to class when the nationwide lockdown, in place since March 17, starts to be lifted on May 11.

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 in many countries, the tourism industry in France has been ravaged by the pandemic and a French hotel executive predicted his business will remain catastrophic for the rest of this year.

Zero per cent (occupancy) in April, probably in May and probably in June, Serge Cachan, president of the Astotel chain of Paris hotels, told The Associated Press. With estimated losses this year of 60-70%, Cachan said he is counting on government help to survive.

Belgium announced that after May 3, hospitals will progressively open to some non-essential tasks and textile shops also will be allowed to reopen as the country begins relaxing safeguards.

Denmark has reopened schools for the youngest grads, while in Spain, parents face the decision of whether to let kids get their first fresh air in weeks when the country on Sunday starts to ease the total ban on letting them outside.

Britain was still holding off on changes to its lockdown as the coronavirus-related death toll in hospitals fast approaches 20,000. It's the fourth highest in Europe, behind Italy, Spain and France, each of which has reported more than 20,000 deaths.

In the U.S., Republican governors in Georgia and Oklahoma allowed salons, spas and barbershops to reopen, while Alaska opened the way for restaurants to resume dine-in service and retail shops and other businesses to open their doors, all with limitations. Some Alaska municipalities chose to maintain stricter rules.

Though limited in scope, and subject to social-distancing restrictions, the reopenings marked a symbolic milestone in the debate raging in the United States and beyond as to how quickly political leaders should lift economically devestating lockdown orders.

During a White House press briefing Friday, President Donald Trump spoke optimistically of the economy but also asked people to continue social distancing and using face coverings. The same day, Trump signed a $484 billion bill to aid employers and hospitals under stress from the pandemic. Over the past five weeks, roughly 26 million people have filed for jobless aid, or about 1 in 6 U.S. workers.

Trump also said his widely criticized comments suggesting people can ingest or inject disinfectant to fight COVID-19 was an attempt at sarcasm.

The coronavirus has killed more than 190,000 people worldwide, including  as of Friday  more than 50,000 in the United States, according to a tally compiled by John Hopkins University from government figures. The actual death toll is believed to be far higher.

Amy Pembrook and her husband, Mike, reopened their hair salon in the northwest Oklahoma town of Fairview after it had been shuttered for about a month.

We're super excited about going back, but we have caught a little flak from people who say it's too early, Amy Pembrook said.

We just said we can live in fear for a long time or we can trust that everything is going to be OK.

Without a tried-and-tested action plan for how to pull countries out of coronavirus lockdown, the world is seeing a patchwork of approaches. Schools reopen in one country, stay closed in others; face masks are mandatory in some places, a recommendation elsewhere.

Meanwhile, testing continues to lag across the United States. To date, according to data compiled by the COVID Tracking Project, just under 4.7 million people have been tested in the country of 330 million.

Researchers at Harvard University have estimated a minimum of 500,000 daily tests are needed, and possibly much more, in order to safely reopen the economy.

In Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis said his administration plans to let pharmacists administer virus tests to reach a broader range of people, including those with no symptoms who believe they may have been exposed.
Formulate a national plan for handling coronavirus crisis: Sibal to govt

India

pti-PTI

New Delhi, Apr 25: The Congress on Saturday urged the government to formulate a national plan for handling the coronavirus crisis under the Disaster Management Act.

Senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal said at a press conference via video-conferencing that it was time for the government to rethink the lockdown measures as the country cannot have the "lockdown of people and lockout of the economy".

"You cannot have a lockdown of people, and a lockout of the economy. That is not the way to formulate policy. We are not criticising, we are only saying it is time to rethink, we will support the government in every possible way," he said.

Sibal also called upon the judiciary to evolve a policy to ensure that the justice delivery system is considered an essential service during such crisis.

He alleged that bureaucrats, who do not have any idea about ground realities, were formulating policy for the government during the lockdown.

The former union minister said as per the Disaster Management Act, 2005, the Union government was duty-bound to formulate the National Plan to deal with COVID-19, and accused the government of maintaining "conspicuous silence" on the issue.

The Union government, in the absence of a National Plan to deal with COVID-19, seems to have delegated its responsibilities under the Disaster Management Act, 2005 to the state governments, he alleged.

Without the necessary infrastructure, both human and physical, and adequate financial resources, state governments are not in a position to effectively deal with this pandemic, he noted.

"Our prime minister's limited role, so far as we can see, is addressing the nation from time to time. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) made no preparations to put in place a plan despite the WHO declaring the virus to be a public health emergency towards the end of January.

"Why were detailed plans not made within seven weeks of the WHO declaration when on March 24, the prime minister announced a national lockdown? We are in the fourth week of April, yet there is no plan in place even now," Sibal said.

He said the Prime Minister should inform the people about the minimum standards of relief that are required to be provided to persons affected by the disaster.

Instead of discharging its "solemn responsibilities to provide succour to the poor and helpless stranded migrants", the Union government has chosen to shift the onus to state governments to do what they can without a plan and without guidelines prescribing minimum standards of relief, the senior Congress leader alleged.

"It is unfortunate that even till date, there is no plan. We are all aware that the provisions in shelters are pathetic without adequate sanitation, medical cover, food and clean drinking water. States are not able to make available adequate food supplies to those affected," he said.

He said the secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), "presumably" presiding over the National Executive Committee (NEC) under the Act, is issuing directions to state governments to deal with the situation as best as they can.

He claimed that bureaucrats sitting in North Block are formulating policies and that they have no capacity to do so as they are not aware of the ground realities. "This top-down approach would not work, it has to be a bottoms-up approach," the Congress leader demanded.

Sibal also said the impact of the lockdown on small businesses has been devastating. Not only are their finances stretched but many of them do not have the capacity to pay taxes and other levies, he said, adding that if they do not pay they are liable to be penalised and prosecuted.

He said a new fund -- the National Disaster Management Fund under Section 47 of the Act -- should be constituted for "projects exclusively for the purpose of mitigation". Sibal also said "one wonders whether laws enacted by parliament are meant to be followed or disregarded by governments".

"Jettisoning laws passed by parliament is constitutionally impermissible. Apart from the fact that the Union did not have a plan of action and foisted its responsibilities on state governments, the Unions outreach for saving lives and protecting human dignity reached rock-bottom," he said.

Public functionaries must conduct affairs of state in accordance with the constitution and the laws, he noted, adding that no one is above the law. "Rule through diktat by men belonged to another era. Our country deserves better," he said.
The World Health Organization (WHO), establish to tackle global health problems, is mobilizing for additional funds to overcome coronavirus which it declared pandemic late January 2020.

The coronavirus pandemic has, undoubtedly, changed the ways of life, impacted the capacities of health infrastructure and has disrupted the economic supply value chain with an attendant negative impact on global economies. As the world grapples with the challenges of the coronavirus, there is a need for solidarity, unity of purpose and better coordination to overcome this common enemy.

In order to find long-term and sustainable solutions to the pandemic, WHO has been collaborating with the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, and regional organizations such as African Union, G20 and BRICS. Besides, there is a strong cooperation in the format of Russia-India-China (RIC). It is also making ways through bilateral and multilateral mechanisms.

Foreign countries are contributors to the functioning of World Health Organization. For example, U.S. is the single largest funder of the organization, providing more than $400 million each year  about 15% of its total budget. WHO has come under criticisms. Many countries especially the United States and Britain, believe that WHO's reluctance to confront China over its handling of the coronavirus outbreak is the reason it has now become a pandemic.

As the world leaders pledged to accelerate work on tests, drugs and vaccines against COVID-19 and to share them around the globe, the United States stayed away from an initiative launched on April 24 by the World Health Organization.

According to Reuters report, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa were among those who joined a video conference to launch what the WHO billed as a "landmark collaboration" to fight the pandemic. Leaders from Asia, the Middle East and the Americas also joined the videoconference, but several big countries did not participate, including China, India and Russia.

The aim is to speed development of safe and effective drugs, tests and vaccines to prevent, diagnose and treat COVID-19, the lung disease caused be the novel coronavirus - and ensure equal access to treatments for both rich and poor. "We are facing a common threat which we can only defeat with a common approach," WHO Director General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said as he opened the virtual meeting.

South African leader Cyril Ramaphosa is the chair of the African Union. Currently, Russia holds the rotating chair of BRICS. BRICS is also coordinating efforts of its members to help in finding solution to COVID-19. Russia, India and China are in very strong positions in the group or association. China and India have huge population. Despite its vast territory, Russia's population is slightly higher than Japan in the Pacific Ocean.

China, a leading global player and business footprint, said it would donate a further $30 million to the World Health Organization, which is seeking more than $1 billion to fund its battle against the coronavirus pandemic that has killed more than 180,000 people worldwide. "At this crucial moment, supporting WHO is supporting multilateralism and global solidarity," Hua Chunying, spokeswoman of China's Foreign Ministry, said on Twitter.

The donation aimed to support the global fight against COVID-19, in particular strengthening health systems in developing countries, she said, adding that China had already donated $20 million to the WHO on March 11.

According to an executive decree posted to Kremlin's website, Russia will contribute $1 million to the World Health Organization (WHO) to fight the coronavirus. "Allocate budget funding of $1 million from the federal budget for one-time voluntary contribution to the World Health Organization for coronavirus infection fight measures implementation," the document reads.

The same decree earmarks about $804,795 to fund expenses of the Vector Institute and the Central Research Institute of Epidemiology, "connected to production and shipment of tools for laboratory diagnosis of the novel coronavirus infection, and material and technical support to countries of Eastern Europe, Trans-Caucasus, Central and Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Africa and South America."

As stipulated by the guidelines, Russia assumed the rotating presidency of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) regional association since January, 2020. BRICS has established as a multilateral structure, and as reliable association pushing for fair, democratic and multipolar world order.

Russia continues to expand strategic partnership of the organization, working on strengthening foreign policy coordination on various multilateral platforms. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov heads the foreign ministers of the BRICS association of countries. On April 28, this group plans to hold an extraordinary videoconference to exchange opinions on possible joint measures to oppose the coronavirus pandemic.

"At Russia's initiative, the foreign policy chiefs of the BRICS countries will hold an extraordinary conference in a video format under Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's chairmanship on April 28," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The foreign ministers will "focus on aspects of the influence of the crisis prompted by the outbreak of the coronavirus infection on international relations. The ministers will exchange opinions on possible joint measures the five countries could take to oppose Covid-19 and address the financial, trade-economic, and social consequences of the pandemic," the statement said.

"The parties will also consider relevant aspects of the development of a five-sided strategic partnership, including a calendar of events during Russia's presidency of the BRICS this year," it said.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said during an online launch of the Moscow-based Higher School of Economics' report on Russia's foreign policy, "Our organization keeps an eye on the fight against COVID-19. Russia considers various aspects of the issue during its chairmanship of BRICS. Health experts maintain contacts. We will also consider various political aspects of the situation within BRICS."

The Russian diplomat added that BRICS was an appropriate platform for such cooperation, "given the scientific capabilities of its members, particularly in the fields of healthcare and pharmaceutical industry." "Each of the countries is making its own contribution to these efforts. We will bring it all together during our chairmanship so that at the end of the year we can say that BRICS has made another step forward," Ryabkov emphasized.

On April 23, TASS report said that BRICS member states could increase their funding of the World Health Organization and expand medical cooperation with other states due to the US decision to withdraw its contributions to the organization.

"A few days ago, the US announced that it would withdraw or suspend funding of the World Health Organization. BRICS states could make a statement, in which they would announce their increased contributions to this organization that plays a central role in the global anti-pandemic governance," according to Dmitry Suslov, deputy head of the Center for Comprehensive European and International Studies of the Higher School of Economics National Research University. "BRICS states could announce further coordination in their approaches to aiding other states, states with weaker healthcare systems than those of BRICS states."

The expert stressed that the spread of the disease in less developed countries would threaten the security of BRICS member states. Suslov, however, noted that BRICS is interested in strengthening the healthcare system in such states.

Cui Zheng, deputy head of the Research Center for the Economies and Politics of Transitional Countries at Liaoning University, expressed a similar opinion. He noted that China actively helps their partners within BRICS to combat the novel coronavirus pandemic.

"The most important thing for us is international cooperation within BRICS. The member states have clearly stated their solidarity, uniting in the fight against the coronavirus," the expert stated. "Not only do China and Russia actively help each other, they are supplying materials needed to combat the coronavirus to other states."

While coronavirus is currently the urgent task, reiterating here that, besides all, the BRICS is interested in increasing financial and economic cooperation among the participating countries, effective industrial interaction and practical cooperation in developing and implementing new joint energy, telecommunications and high-tech projects.

The coronavirus disease appeared first in 2019 in Wuhan city in China. The disease was, first identified in Wuhan and Hubei, both in China early December 2019. The original cause still unknown, it remains a puzzle and an enigma for the world scientific community. Since then, cases of the novel coronavirus - named COVID-19 by the WHO - have spread around the world.

According to the latest statistics, over 2,700,000 people have been infected worldwide and more than 191,000 deaths have been reported. In addition, so far, over 750,000 individuals have recovered from the illness across the globe.

The BRICS member countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) collectively represent about 26% of the world's geographical area and are home to 3.6 billion people, about 42% of the world's population and a combined nominal GDP of $16.6 trillion. *By Kester Kenn Klomegah writes frequently about Russia, Africa and the BRICS.
By IANS

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Theatre And Multiplex Owners Association have threatened to ban films starring superstar Suriya, as well as the films produced by his production company 2D films. The decision comes after the news that the film "Pon Magal Vandhal", produced by Suriya and starring his wife Jyothika, will be released directly on a popular OTT platform, bypassing traditional theatrical release.

Suriya's decision to go directly digital with his new production was made public through a tweet by the social media page, Let's OTT Global: "Premier Alert Public address loudspeaker : First Tamil feature film to get a Direct OTT release, #PonMagalVandhal (Tamil) streaming rights bagged by @PrimeVideoIN. Streaming from 1st week of May."

Following this, the theatre owners association general secretary Panneerselvam released a video stating the decision not to release Suriya's films in theatres. He said that movies that are made for theatres should release in theatres first, and not on OTT platforms. He further that if this decision is not revoked, there would be a ban on releasing films starring Suriya.

The decision, if brought to effect, could impact Suriya's upcoming film "Soorarai Pottru".

Although there has been no official announcement to the effect, a source in the film trade said, about Suriya's decision to release the modest-budgeted "Pon Magal Vandhal" on OTT: "Given the scenario, the chance of a small-budget film succeeding when theatres reopen is tricky. If producers are taking a decision that keeps them financially safe, then releasing the film on a streaming platform would work."

For Jyothika, this isn't the only controversy she has faced lately. A few days ago, a video of Jyothika's speech at an awards show received flak from religious groups.

In the video, Jyothika says while she was shooting for the film "Raatchasi", she visited a famous temple in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu. She spoke highly about the temple, saying it looked like a palace. Next day, when she was shooting in a hospital in the same city, she noticed how badly maintained it was. She went on to request people to donate to hospitals the same way they donate to temples, as hospitals are more important for people to survive.

Ra Saravanan, who is directing her upcoming film that also stars Sasikumar, said that during her shoot in Thanjavur, Jyothika saw women in unhygienic maternity wards in the hospital, which affected her. The filmmaker added that the intention of Jyothika's comment wasn't to hurt anybody.

Suriya and Jyothika haven't released an official statement yet.
Flight tests of the Ukrainian Vilkha-M rocket system continue at a training ground in the Odesa region. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reports this on Facebook.

It is noted that al missiles hit their targets.

Vilkha -M is a project to create high-precision 300-mm rocket-propelled munitions with a maximum range of over 100 km. They are produced by enterprises of the military-industrial complex of Ukraine in a closed cycle.

As we reported before, Russian Armed Forces put thousands of soldiers on a quarantine after they participated in rehearsals for the Victory Day parade in Moscow.

"The defence ministry said it would be sending the soldiers, estimated to number 15,000, back to their bases, where they would be put under a two-week quarantine. The ministry did not indicate that any of the soldiers had been infected with the coronavirus. The announcement came days after Vladimir Putin postponed celebrations for Victory Day on 9 May, a significant holiday in Russia usually marked by a military parade in Red Square and events where Russians pay respects to victims and veterans of the second world war", writes the outlet.
Lockdown is not shutdown of the government for not helping people

The government has extended the lockdown till 5th May. Nobody can say that government had to think a lot before taking the decision of lockdown. The World Health Organisation advised such extension because no cure has been invented as yet for containing the infection of coronavirus pandemic.





Whereas serious thinking is necessary how to help lockdown people to live and survive when they are denied of income. To any responsible government the most important consideration should be to remain active to find ways to serve the people reviving economic activities.







The campaign for educating the people how to maintain social distance is not also visible. There is no mobilisation for organising collective actions to meet the challenges of the grave contagion. No hospitals prepared to treat coronavirus patients and remaining empty.







But nobody knows of any such plans exist for consideration of the government. Educating the people about social distancing is not receiving enough consideration of the government.





The people cannot be asked to remain at home confined to suffer starvation with their children and die. That is the simple truth why the people are coming out in search of livelihood and the blame should be given on the government that is mismanaged.





The whole nation is aware of the situation and blames the ineffective supplicants chosen for running the government. But there is another very relevant question to be answered -- that is where the role model leadership is? The supplicants are not for doing anything special unless orders come from the supreme leader.







In fact, the government is observing the lockdown most strictly through collective seclusion. The people do not see government activities anywhere to know that we have a government working hard to ease the sufferings of the people. The government seems to be in self-imposed shutdown.







The governments in other countries are giving their well thought out plans to open up the country for economic activities. Here we see no such concern to prepare the people for relaxing lockdown.





A committee of experts was formed to advise the government how to deal with the crises caused by the virus. We see no activity of this committee. Two other committees have also been formed. No effectiveness is seen. So our people want to see the leadership to make use of these committees.





The government has not arranged enough testing kits essential for testing and isolating who are infected. Quarantine is needed for affected people for hospital treatment. So testing is essential for meaningful quarantine. The testing kits we have got from other sources are said to be not dependable. The problem is nothing about the government's ability is believable.

The most important role, which is also necessary, can be played by the committee of the expert advisers. The task force formed with the army is engaged in keeping the people at home. Such task force is needed to energise the broken administration. We are shocked and angry that nothing's working properly that gives people confidence.





In other countries the governments announced not to take full salaries and benefits. Modi government of India gave up 30% of their salaries to go to the relief funds. Our government is quiet about the issue due to their own self- interest.

The people want to know what the government's plans are to deal with the coronavirus pandemic and overcome the economic hardship of the people. In the absence of jobs and economic activities, the people have to be provided with daily necessities of life free and cash as wages and funds for restarting businesses. The people want a share of their money. The money at the hands of the government belongs to the people.







The people have got the impression that the government is inactive in organising help from other countries. Honesty factor is important to earn confidence of donor bodies. The medical facilities supplied by China are no good. But it was expected for the projects awarded to her that China will be gratefully in the side of people and help us generously.





At the very least, the people must be informed by holding press conference on a daily basis about the activities of the government in this time of grave national crisis. The people are angry and frustrated for chaos and unpreparedness of the government in every way.





We are deeply concerned that a huge number of lives will be lost for the unpreparedness of the government. The government is unable to listen and pay heed to public grievances.
Paris, April 25 : France registered 389 deaths caused by the coronavirus, bringing the tally to 22,245, the world's fourth-highest after the United States, Italy and Spain, Director-General of Health Jerome Salomon told a daily conference on the epidemic.

The number of people who succumbed to the COVID-19 increased by 1.8 per cent on a daily basis, lower than 2.4 per cent on Thursday and 2.6 per cent on Wednesday, Xinhua news agency reported on Friday.

Hospitalization data reported a "slow and steady decline," providing relief to caregivers. Patients in intensive care units fell by 183 to 4,870, below the country's original capacity of 5,000 beds.

Despite the encouraging signs, "the circulation of the virus remains at a high level," Salomon warned.

"We have to continue our collective efforts in order to reach the lowest level of virus circulation on May 11. To succeed the de-confinement, we must succeed together in the confinement by strictly respecting barrier gestures and social distancing," he said.

A study published on Thursday by French School of Public Health (EHESP) said lockdown measures might have prevented 60,000 deaths in France.

"It's very probable that we have collectively saved tens of thousands of lives by respecting confinement, and maybe even more," Health Minister Olivier Veran told France Inter, a French national public general radio station, early in the day.

"(The study) demonstrates the need for and the success of containment, which needs to be maintained for several more weeks," he said.

The French government is set to ease lockdown on May 11 by favouring a progressive return to everyday life, increasing tests and launching a contact tracing app to help stem a resurgence of the virus.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
You cant beat something with nothing. But America seems determined to try.

Americas attempt to integrate China into the global economy as a responsible stakeholder failed. Chinas economy has become more statist, its political system more repressive, its foreign policy more bullying, its ambitions more outsized than they were 20 years ago. China did not challenge American leadership directly. It altered the character of international institutions from within.

The multilateral institutions that comprise the American-led liberal international order have been decaying for some time. Coronavirus has accelerated the deterioration. NATO, the United Nations, the European Union, the World Trade Organization, the World Health Organization  they are unresponsive, unaccountable, divided, demoralized, defunct. The world is a more dangerous place.

We are used to autocratic domination of the U.N. General Assembly and the secretariats various commissions. No one bats an eye when Russia or China vetoes a Security Council measure. Less publicized were the concessions made to China as part of the Paris Climate Accord. Or the fact that the World Trade Organization treats the worlds second-largest economy as a developing nation. But the way Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director of the WHO, caviled and covered for Beijing as the coronavirus spread throughout the world is impossible to ignore. Drift, confusion, and chaos result.

There are three options. The first is to work within the system to revitalize the existing structures. The second is to build alternative institutions. The third option is to do nothing.

President Trump has tried a hybrid of options one and three. But with a twist. Where others might try a kind word or some quiet diplomacy to inspire reform and collaboration, he turns against the very institutions America created to force them to live up to their commitments. He browbeats NATO members into spending more on defense. He cheers for Brexit and supports the EUs internal critics. He cripples the WTOs arbitration mechanism and threatens to withdraw entirely. He suspends funding for the WHO.

Story continues

Its the America First foreign policy Trump promised. And the results have been mixed. NAFTA was replaced. NATO budgets are up (for now). Mexico agreed to have asylum-seekers wait on its side of the border while their claims are adjudicated. China signed a Phase One trade deal.

But theres a cost. Allies may accede to your demands, but resentment builds. The foundations of the alliance weaken. Unpredictability inspires fear and caution. If sustained for too long, though, it conveys irresoluteness and fecklessness. Adversaries begin to probe. They buzz flights and collapse the oil price, resume shelling U.S. troops and harassing U.S. naval vessels, begin tailing container ships in the South China Sea.

The democracies look inward. NATO is silent, the EU split, America distracted and distressed. China exploited this strategic vacuum. It launched a global disinformation campaign falsely assigning responsibility for the pandemic to the United States. Its agents pushed scurrilous and panic-inducing messages to U.S. cellphones saying that President Trump was about to impose a national lockdown policed by the National Guard. Its diplomatic Wolf Warriors enforce the party line whenever foreign governments challenge Beijings preferred narrative.

Chinese propaganda used to amplify achievements and repress criticism. Now it attacks directly overseas enemies of the state. The strategy, writes Laura Rosenberger in Foreign Affairs, aims not so much to promote a particular idea as to sow doubt, dissension, and disarray  including among Americans  in order to undermine public confidence in information and prevent any common understanding of facts from taking hold. Its working.

China isnt invincible. It is reaping the economic whirlwind of the coronavirus it hid from the world. None of its neighbors are thrilled about the growth of Chinese power. Its internal political situation may be unstable. But the speed with which it has used the pandemic for geopolitical advantage is extraordinary. Look at how it plays favorites with its distribution of pharmaceuticals and personal protective equipment, how it stepped into the breach with a new flow of cash for its friend Dr. Tedros. Confronting Chinas rise requires a common understanding of facts, and partners with whom to share those facts in common. These days, America is lacking in both.

By all means, punish the World Health Organization for collaborating with China. But also be prepared to stand up another mechanism to do the good work its founders intended. Go ahead, demand allies live up to their commitments. But also recognize that partnerships of like-minded nations were critical to success in the First Cold War. This is the time to build new institutions that reflect the realities of a 21st century that pits liberal democracies against an authoritarian surveillance state. For every moment that passes without American leadership brings us closer to a world where the sun never sets on the five golden stars.

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Over the past couple of months, I've had plenty of time to rue that I never bothered to cultivate engrossing hobbies other than eating with family and friends, whether in restaurants or each other's homes. Because as far as I am concerned, there is nothing better than sitting around a table with people you love, sharing good food and wine. I think that most of us know that now, if we didn't before.

Last Saturday night, though, my husband and I had dinner with two of our best and oldest friends, and regular review accomplices and supper guests, John Mahoney and Kieran Moore, at Damien Grey's Liath. Well, not exactly at Liath, but we ate food from Liath at home - John and Kieran in theirs, Felim and I in ours - and it was brilliant. Not as good as being in the same room, but not far off.

I realised early on that the absolute best way to spend time with friends is by eating with them. At Trinity, when none of us could afford to go to restaurants, I used to make my pals dress up in black tie for spaghetti Bolognese, accompanied by whopping two-litre bottles of Pedrotti and Blue Nun, all then considered the height of sophistication.

When I moved into my first apartment in New York, I bought a huge second-hand refectory table, invested in a few cookbooks and set about teaching myself to cook. The first books I bought were The Silver Palate, The Silver Palate Good Times, Cooking the Nouvelle Cuisine in America (the notions!) and Marcella Hazan's Classic Italian Cookbook. In New York, having dinner parties was considered eccentric because most people I knew lived in apartments that weren't big enough to accommodate the people who lived in them, let alone anyone extra. But once my new friends had got over their surprise at being asked over for supper or Sunday lunch, they got the hang of it pretty quickly - and so did I.

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As soon as I started earning a salary, I became a regular at a restaurant. Being a regular gives you a third space where you'll be looked after, squeezed in, reminded that you might want to book a table for Christmas Eve. In New York it was La Luncheonette on Clinton Street between Rivington and Stanton, in London a Turkish joint on Green Lanes, and back in Dublin variously Cooke's Cafe, Dali, Town Bar & Grill, and, latterly, Etto. I've loved them all. My life has revolved around sharing food with friends and family, either in a restaurant or at our table at home, talking, laughing, drinking wine, being indiscreet.

God, I miss that.

At some point, eating out and eating in went from being a hobby to being part of my work, but they never stopped being fun.

Like everyone else, in the early days of the current crisis I thought that restaurants would be closed for a month or two. But the realisation has gradually dawned that on me that it is going to be much longer than that, and that when restaurants do eventually re-open - and some may not - we do not know what they will look like, and whether those of us with vulnerable people in our households will feel comfortable visiting them before there is a vaccine. And even when there is some relaxation of social-distancing rules, it may be a long time before any of us is ready to invite people into our homes again - or they are ready to come.

So, we need to figure out other ways of seeing our friends and being together. Of maintaining the social contact that we crave, of keeping those relationships that have thrived over years of shared meals alive. Zoom drinks are good but, in my book, meals are even better.

Restaurants all over the country are pivoting in order to keep going - some have turned into shops, others offer a takeaway service or a meal kit that requires a little more effort. I want to support them. So last week I signed up for four of Liath's 33 meal kits - paying in full online upfront, the bill came to 158.40, including a 20pc tip.

I bring my NUJ card with me on the trip from my home in Dublin 2 out to Blackrock, beyond my 2km, in case I'm stopped by the gardai. Is collecting a Michelin star takeaway an essential or permitted journey? It is if you're writing about it, but I'd prefer not to have to argue my case.

I phone from outside the entrance to Blackrock Market and a few minutes later out comes Mr Grey, wearing a surgical mask and bearing two brown paper bags of food.

"Read the bloody instructions!" he exhorts as he deposits the bags on the passenger seat. I peek inside to see a multitude of small containers and an A4 sheet of closely-typed text. One thing in particular catches my eye: included on the list of equipment required is a set of eyebrow tweezers.

At John and Kieran's apartment building I pass the bag through the gate, swapping it for two bottles of wine in blind tasting sleeves. We set up the FaceTime call for 8pm, promising to have read the instructions beforehand.

At around 7.30pm a text comes through: "Crying laughing here, eyebrow tweezers?" John later admits that his anxiety levels rose when he read the menu; Kieran was unfazed. With a long career in the restaurant industry [he's MD of a hospitality recruitment company], he's used to this kind of thing.

Come eight, we have the wine opened and Felim and I are on the spot. I hazard that it's buttery and French, knowing from the packaging that they've bought it in The French Paradox. The shape of the bottle tells us it's from Burgundy. I strike lucky with a guess of Pouilly Fuisse.

The menu is free-range chicken broth with spring greens to start, followed by spring lamb with wild herbs and pepper dulse by way of main course, and chocolate fondant to finish. (There is always something chocolate-y at the end of a Damien Grey meal.)

John and Kieran have looked at the portion sizes and taken the precaution of getting a couple of slices of sourdough and a bowl of mashed potato ready to accompany their meal. (Rather meanly, they don't advise us to do the same.)

The sheet of instructions suggests turning to the @liathtogo Instagram account for the suggested presentation of the dishes; we decide that it will be more fun not to do this and compare our versions with Damien's at the end.

To prepare the first course, we take the container of chicken, parsley and scallion mix and arrange it between two soup bowls and, using a teaspoon, add fresh peas and fine threads of scallion, then the bouquet of herbs and sprinkle cabbage flower petals over the lot. We heat the broth in a saucepan to 85C - we take a guess at this, rather than measure it - and (skipping the instruction to strain it into a clean tea pot), pour it over the soup base mix.

The broth is delicious - delicate, flavoured with bay and thyme - and the herbs, including tarragon and chervil, the essence of spring.

We are eating the soup and catching up on gossip when the screen goes dead. John and Kieran had the phone balanced on the toaster that they used for the sourdough and it overheated and switched itself off. (Lesson one: a pile of books is a better prop.)

Then it's on to the lamb. The instruction is to put the spinach puree in the centre of a flat plate using a teaspoon and then use the supplied circle of greaseproof paper to arrange the herbs and flowers in a circle (pictured above right), the idea being to create a hedge effect looking from the side - 'lol!' says the instruction, and indeed there's plenty of opportunity for hedge/bush double entendre - the lamb will be positioned in the centre on the top of the spinach puree. The lamb, cooked already and shaped into a cylinder, goes in the oven with butter on top. We set our phones to remind us to baste at the times indicated in the instructions. (John asks: "What's basting?") There's a small pot of sticky lamb jus to be heated in the microwave - we don't have one, so we put it in a small saucepan over a low heat instead.

The dish is delicious, and very beautiful to look at (even if not quite up to the standard of the picture on @liathtogo), but we are envious of John and Kieran's bowl of mashed potato; even though they keep it discreetly out of sight, we know that it's there.

Behind them, their Kerry Blue, Cosmo, silhouetted against the evening sky, hangs out on the window sill, on cat patrol. John asks whether we think the food is Covid food, which he thinks has to be comforting.

It's certainly tasty and seasonal, and we are all impressed by the precision and effort that's gone into the meticulous preparation of the kit.

We're in hysterics at the story of a friend who has been helping her elderly mother maintain her distinctive dark hair through the pandemic, with the two of them together in the shower in bathing suits.

Kieran tells us about Tom Ford's rules for looking your best on FaceTime and Zoom calls. According to Maureen Dowd, writing in the New York Times, she sought advice from 'lighting sensei' Ford ahead of an interview with Larry David.

"Put the computer up on a stack of books so the camera is slightly higher than your head. Say, about the top of your head. And then point it down into your eyes. Then take a tall lamp and set it next to the computer on the side of your face you feel is best. The lamp should be in line with and slightly behind the computer so the light falls nicely on your face. Then put a piece of white paper or a white tablecloth on the table you are sitting at but make sure it can't be seen in the frame. It will give you a bit of fill and bounce. And lots of powder, et voila!" Ford also advises wearing plenty of fragrance, because "if you smell great, you smile great".

We chat about the people we know whom we suspect quite enjoy self-isolation - Covid-19 as an introvert's charter - and, because it's a Dublin dinner party, about the property market and whether now is a good time for first-time buyers to try and nab or bargain, or whether they should wait a while.

The wine glasses keep getting in the way of our faces. We've moved on to red now, and it's a rather nice organic Bordeaux, we get the notes of cedar but not of cassis. We don't manage to guess the producer. We talk about the challenges of working from home and about whether daytime drinking is ever permissible. (Answer: yes, but only on Saturday and Sunday). We discuss people who prepare themselves for Zoom calls in an over-engineered way, and professionals who encourage their young kids to join in.

"In the gay world, I trump your child with my dog," says John.

We all agree that after Covid-19, everyone is going to be more house-proud, and focused on eating, cooking and buying local. But that artisan food businesses, even if they have a great product, simply won't survive unless they also package beautifully and deliver efficiently.

"If you treat online as somehow second-rate, you are a fool," says Kieran.

It's time to put the fondant into the oven for a few minutes before serving it with vanilla cream, crumbled praline and a powder of dehydrated raspberries. It's as good as it sounds.

Like the rest of the country, we're speculating about what recovery will look like. We are all worried about restaurants in particular, because we love them so much. How will they be able to exist while at the same time being respectful of their customers' new needs? We agree that home will become more important, and that we will have to figure out ways of bringing chefs into our homes and get used to sharing the costs, so everyone pays their way as they would in a restaurant. Are kits such as Liath's one of the ways forward? We think that they are.

"I can't cook," says John, "but I can do this. Which kit are we doing next?"





Meal kits to go: Do try this at home

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The BuJo mealkit (above) includes 12 grass-fed, 100pc beef patties, eight brioche buns and plenty of cheese, pickles and a special burger sauce to make up your own burgers. We cooked ours on the Green Egg and served with home-made wedges made from McNally's Carolus potatoes, and a salad to atone for the burger guilt. The kit fed six adults and cost 43.40 including delivery. bujo.ie

ALLTA

The Allta Box changes each week but last week ours included sourdough porridge bread and the restaurant's signature shiitake miso butter, house-made ventricina and McNally Family Farm pickled beetroots, two different pasta dishes - one with sprouting broccoli, hazelnut and pumpkin seed miso gremolata and the other seaweed pappardelle with Comeragh mountain lamb, followed by Velvet cloud sheep's yoghurt mousse and Ryan's rhubarb jelly, with pecan and oat cookie dough. Each box costs 55. alltabox@allta.ie

PLATFORM PIZZA

The pizza kit from cult Bray pizzeria Platform includes the makings of five pizzas - three meat and two margherita. The pack includes bases, tomato sauce, shredded mozzarella and toppings and costs 34.99. stuffuneed.ie

Other restaurants supplying meal kits include: 777, Host and The Butcher Grill, all Ranelagh, Dublin; Firehouse Bakery (pizza kits), Delgany, Co Wiclow; Handsome Burger, Galway; Chestnut, Ballydehob, Co Cork; Sweet Beat, Sligo; Noble, Holywood, Co Down; Mr Waffle, Galway; Wallace's Asti, Dublin; Grano, Dublin; Blasta Street Kitchen, Glaslough, Monaghan; Jinny's Bakery & Tearooms (pizza kits), Drumshanbo, Leitrim; and Kate's Kitchen, Sligo
How fair is the form of 'lockdown shaming' which has come from senior doctors who have exposed how too many of us are breaching the appeal to limit our movements to combat the coronavirus?

When chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan unexpectedly produced the dramatic evidence showing an increase in road traffic and footfall outdoors, it proved a harsh lesson to those of us who thought we were cruising back to some kind of even limited normality.

It was accompanied with a warning that the hoped-for May 5 soft lockdown exit may be in jeopardy.

But any analysis of the figures on deaths, new infections, hospitalisations, testing, virus clusters and intensive care admissions will show it is warranted. While huge progress has been made in suppressing the virus as a result of the population following the stay-at-home policy for weeks, the reality remains stark and rather grim.

The overall trend may be downward, but the statistics across so many key areas of concern remain high.

Take Thursday for instance, when the highest daily number yet of newly confirmed cases of the virus reached a staggering 936. Many of these were residents and staff in nursing homes and other community residential centres, which have been badly hit by the spread of the illness.

Significantly, most were being tested for the first time. It was confirmed yesterday 707 of these centres have tested positive since last Saturday. Previously unknown cases of infection were confirmed in these centres as a result of the decision to test everyone.

Cases in these nursing and community residences continue to rise, although we are told the rate of growth is thankfully declining.

The disease is heavily suppressed in the wider population, according to the trends investigated by Professor Philip Nolan of Maynooth University and his team, who are advising the Government.

Since early April, the growth rate in new cases has been effectively zero - although it has been pushed up this week as the results of positive tests at residential homes have come through.

But the high number of positives in care homes and other centres prompts the question: where else might these pockets of infections be which are not being picked up?

The daily death toll is the most distressing of all.

The number of deaths per day in residential homes and in the general population has been relatively stable since the first week in April.

The national death toll remains high and breached 1,000 yesterday with figures showing 1,014 laboratory confirmed cases of people losing their lives so far. But others who caught the virus and are not laboratory confirmed, deemed probable cases instead, have also died.

It is difficult to compare Ireland's death rate with other countries because of variations in how they are counted.

It currently stands here at around 4.8pc with the over-65s accounting for one-third. Deaths among nursing home and other care home residents make up 60pc of those who have died. If the virus is not controlled in this sector, there is the risk that the homes could end up as sources of reinfection after a partial lifting of lockdown.

The turning point in taking a hold of the spread of the virus came after St Patrick's Day - but we have a way to go yet.

A look at hospitalisations and admissions to intensive care show there has been a fall in both, with 142 in intensive care yesterday. Around two-thirds of people who have got the virus here since February have recovered.

The big success has been in bringing down the R number - which indicates the number of people on average a person who is positive for the virus is likely to infect. It is now significantly below one and at between 0.5 and 0.8.

Before physical distancing was introduced here, that number was between two and four. On average, half the population, if they get the disease, are not transmitting it to anyone. The other half are only infecting one other person. This is very fragile.

If after May 5 the restrictions are relaxed and the R number goes above 1.6, there will be a dangerous peak in cases with more in intensive care.
Archana Puran Singh And Parmeet Sethi Set Out To Feed The Poor, Neena Gupta Says, 'Ye Huee Na Baat'
A key U.S. government trial of Gilead Sciences Incs (GILD.O) experimental coronavirus treatment may yield results as early as mid-May, according to the studys lead investigator, after doctors clamored to enroll their patients in the study.

Preliminary findings from the randomized trial of the antiviral drug remdesivir, begun in February by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), could come even sooner, lead researcher Dr. Andre Kalil told Reuters in an interview.

There are currently no approved treatments or vaccines for COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the new virus that has killed over 190,000 people globally, according to a Reuters tally.

Remdesivir has drawn tremendous attention as a therapy with the potential to alter the course of the disease, based on anecdotal reports that it may have helped some patients.

Those hopes were dampened somewhat on Thursday, when details from a Chinese remdesivir trial in patients with severe COVID-19 inadvertently released by the World Health Organization suggested it provided no benefit.

Gilead pushed back on that interpretation saying the study, which was stopped early due to low patient enrollment, cannot provide meaningful conclusions.

Other reports have provided reason for optimism.

Doctors at Houston Methodist Hospital told Reuters that since March 23, they have treated 41 mostly severely ill COVID-19 patients with the drug. None have died and half are back home.

But they and other doctors contacted by Reuters said they need much more information than the few details available from the Chinese trial and anecdotal reports on its emergency use in the United States to form a view on remdesivir.

They emphasized a need to see how patients on remdesivir fare compared to those who do not receive the therapy in a rigorous clinical trial at different stages of illness to know whether and under what circumstances it may provide benefit.

The NIAID trial has all the necessary scientific standards that are really going to help us define if this drug works or not, said Dr. Kalil, a professor at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

It is a randomized, double-blind study in which half the patients were given the drug and the other half a placebo.

Enrollment in the trial closed on Sunday, but has far exceeded initial goals of 400 to 500 patients, he said.

The investigator would not disclose total enrollment, but the latest public update says trial size may exceed 800 patients.

The NIAID trial is designed to show whether remdesivir, when given to patients with a range of disease severity, improves outcomes such as length of hospitalization, need for mechanical ventilation and survival.

Dr. Kalil declined to comment on precisely how much of an improvement on those metrics is needed to deem the trial a success and the drug a viable treatment.

We are looking for not only a statistical difference, but also for a meaningful clinical improvement, he said. We expect to have results sometime from mid- to late May.

Gilead on Thursday said it expected results from the NIAID trial in late May. The companys shares, up more than 20 percent so far this year due largely to remdesivir prospects, were 1.7 percent higher at US$79.10 on Friday.

A lack of hard evidence has given U.S. medical associations, as well as the National Institutes of Health, pause. They have not recommended remdesivir to treat COVID-19.

The Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA), which represents more than 12,000 U.S. specialists, said it will make a formal recommendation once the entire body of evidence for remdesivir is available.

Dr. Rajesh Gandhi, an infectious disease physician at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston who helped draft the IDSA guidelines, explained that most patients with COVID-19 will recover with little or no medical care.

He is awaiting more clinical trial data before remdesivir can be deemed a useful therapy.

Early intervention?

In general, doctors say they would expect remdesivir to work better if given early in the course of the disease. The drug, which previously failed as a treatment for Ebola, is designed to keep a virus from replicating in the body and overwhelming a patients immune system.

You can put out a campfire, but once it becomes a wildfire its hard to control, said Dr. Kevin Grimes, an infectious disease specialist at Houston Methodist, which is participating in Gilead studies.

Gilead is leading its own trials of remdesivir, which is given to hospitalized patients as an intravenous infusion: One in patients with severe disease and the other in patients with more moderate symptoms.

The company expanded the number of patients it would enroll in the severe disease trial to 6,000 from 2,400, and expects results at the end of April. But that study does not compare remdesivir to another treatment or placebo.

The medical news website STAT last week reported that nearly all participants in Gilead-sponsored studies at a University of Chicago hospital saw rapid recoveries in fever and respiratory symptoms, and many were discharged in less than a week.

The New England Journal of Medicine previously published an analysis showing that two-thirds of a small group of severely ill COVID-19 patients improved after treatment with remdesivir.

But it is impossible to know whether those outcomes can be attributed to the drug in the absence of a control group that did not far as well, since so much is still unknown about this new virus.

Still, these reports provide reason for hope given the desperate need as the virus rampages around the globe.

We were asked to participate in this trial and we jumped at it, said Grimes. We see people that are getting sicker and then they get better.
The Home Ministry Saturday said the bodies of Indian nationals and OCI cardholders, who died abroad due to COVID-19, can be brought back, but with strict adherence to relevant guidelines.

In an official communication, the ministry said airport authorities have to follow the protocols laid down by different government agencies in this regard.

It is clarified that immigration functions in respect of the arrival of dead bodies and mortal remains of the Indian nationals/ OCI cardholders are permitted subject to strict adherence to the guidelines/ instructions issued by various ministries and departments related with management of COVID-19 and submission of no objection, approval and concurrence from the Ministries of Health and External Affairs in this regard," the communication said.

The Home Ministry also said the Standard Operating Procedures issued by the health ministry in this regard must be strictly adhered to.

According to the SOP, the human remains mean the dead body and the exhumed body of confirmed or suspected COVID-19 patients. It says the importation of the human remains of confirmed or suspected COVID-19 case into India is not recommended.

The MHA said if, contrary to the above recommendation, human remains of the suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19 arrive at Indian airports, the concerned Airport Health Officer (APHO) has to follow certain procedures. The APHO will verify the the death certificate mentioning the cause of death as confirmed COVID-19 or suspected COVID-19, it said.

It will also verify the no-objection certificate (NOC) for the transportation of human remains of the deceased issued by the Indian Embassies or High Commissions or Consulates. Embalming certificate issued by an authorised agency, the ministry said.

On the examination of packaging or human remains, it said the concerned airline shall ensure that the external packing of coffin is undamaged.

The APHO will verify the required documents and inspect the packing in accordance with the provisions under the Indian Aircraft (Public Health) Rules. 1954, the MHA said.

If there are any obvious signs of damage to the coffin, the handlers shall use full PPE, cover the coffin in plastic sheets to avoid any contact with the body or body fluids before hand-over of the human remains to the concerned authority for final burial or incineration.

The personnel handling the human remains should follow the laid down procedures for donning and doffing of Personal Protective Equipment and follow other protective measures for COVID-19 like hand-washing with soap and water, etc. to ensure that they remain protected during the procedure, it said.

The coffin shall be buried or incinerated following the norms for burial or incineration for human remains with high risk pathogens, the MHA said, adding the handlers would be monitored for 28 days and the designated vehicle disinfected as per the norms.

In all such cases, the APHO must direct the concerned airline (carrying the damaged packing containing human remains) to carry out the disinfection of the aircraft as per the norms, it said.

In addition, the staff handling the cargo (human remains in question) shall be quarantined for 28 days.

The MHA said the ashes remaining after the cremation pose no risk to the relatives who handle such mortal remains and will be cleared in accordance with the provisions under the Indian Aircraft (Public Health) Rules, 1954.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Over 2,000 miles away from former Islamic State (IS) territory in Iraq, a court in Frankfurt, Germany, began Friday what's considered the worlds first trial for genocide against the Yazidi religious minority.

The suspect, identified only as Taha Al-J under German privacy laws, is a 37-year-old Iraqi national extradited from Greece to Germany in October 2019. According to the indictment, he purchased and enslaved a Yazidi woman and her 5-year-old daughter in the summer of 2015.

Prosecutors allege Taha Al-J brought the mother and daughter to the IS-occupied Iraqi city of Fallujah, where he forced them to convert to Islam and regularly deprived them of food and water. To punish the girl for wetting her bed, Taha Al-J chained her to a window outside and let her die of thirst in the desert heat, prosecutors say.

The suspected IS militant stands accused of crimes against humanity, war crimes, human trafficking and, notably, genocide. His wife, a German national who joined IS, is being tried separately in Munich.

If convicted, they both face a maximum sentence of life in prison.

The path to justice and accountability for the Yazidis has been nearly six years in the making. IS viewed the Yazidis as devil worshippers and tried to wipe out the Kurdish-speaking minority in the summer of 2014.

IS swept through the Yazidi ancestral homeland of Sinjar in northern Iraq and executed thousands of men, their bodies thrown in mass graves. Many more women and children were abducted and sold in slave markets across IS-held territory. Some 2,800 Yazidis remain missing, with most feared dead from coalition airstrikes or killed by their captors.

IS made no secret of its intention to exterminate the group, and the United Nations, US and European governments have all said the systematic ethnic cleansing campaign constitutes a genocide.

But prosecuting an individual member of IS with genocide  defined under a 1948 UN convention as acts committed with the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group  could be difficult to prove.

Genocide is the hardest crime of all to prosecute, said Aldo Zammit Borda, a senior international law lecturer at Anglia Ruskin University in the United Kingdom.

In addition to proving the physical acts, for example, the killing or sexual slavery, the prosecutors will have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt what is known as a specific intent  that the acts were conducted with the specific intent of destroying the Yazidis, he said.

Zammit Borda said the main challenge for the prosecution will be to prove that the individual shared in the terror groups general intent to destroy the Yazidis. Without direct evidence, prosecutors will need to do so circumstantially based on what he said and how he acted. The fact that the alleged crimes were committed thousands of miles away will make it all the more challenging.

Without a Nuremberg-like international tribunal to try IS suspects, Germany turned to its broad universal jurisdiction law, which allows for the prosecution of heinous crimes committed abroad, regardless of whether the suspects or victims are German nationals.

Federal prosecutors used the same principle in an unrelated trial this week against two Syrian regime officials accused of crimes against humanity, specifically the torture of anti-government detainees.

Genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes fall under this bucket [of universal jurisdiction], explained Akila Radhakrishnan, president of the New York-based Global Justice Center.

Its a recognition that when these serious international crimes happen, they are a concern not just for the country where they occurred, but they are a concern to everybody.

Despite the first-of-its-kind, high-profile trial in Frankfurt, justice remains elusive for the thousands of Yazidi survivors who fear they will never have their day in court.

Each trial is a success, said Pari Ibrahim, executive director of the advocacy group Free Yezidi Foundation. However, we should also bear in mind that there are tens of thousands of perpetrators.

Many of them are dead, but many of them are walking freely in Iraq, Syria or Turkey. Others may be in detention camps in parts of Syria or in jails in Iraq.

In northeast Syria, the Kurdish-led authorities are holding about 10,000 suspects, the vast majority of whom are Iraqi and Syrian nationals. An estimated 800 are from European countries whose governments have been slow or unwilling to bring them home for prosecution.

Iraq, meanwhile, has doled out thousand of convictions in hasty trials that rights organizations say lack due process. Rather than bring specific charges such as rape or murder, judicial authorities have primarily prosecuted IS suspects for membership in a terrorist organization.

Even in the German case, there are limitations: Gendered crimes, including sexual violence and sexual enslavement, are not explicitly recognized in the charges.

Youre talking about charges of purchasing women, said Radhakrishnan. Its important to call the crimes what they are and hold them accountable for what they are.

Without accountability, there can be no healing, say Yazidi advocates. With much of their homeland in ruins, many Yazidis remain in tents and other makeshift homes across northern Iraq, while their perpetrators walk free.

Victims would like to see them all face meaningful justice," said Murad Ismael, executive director of the Yazidi rights group Yazda.

That is the least the world can do.
Mauritanian authorities have paved the way for Moroccan trucks carrying fresh produce and foodstuff to ensure an adequate supply of its domestic market, Mauritanian trade ministry said.

In this respect, Mauritanian authorities have opened a special station in the capital Nouakchott for these trucks to unload and for drivers to rest, the ministry said.

Measures to prevent coronavirus outbreak were also ensured after Mauritania became a coronavirus free country with seven cases including six recoveries and one death.

The station was visited by Moroccan ambassador and Mauritanian trade officials to show support for the drivers who are playing a key role in supplying Mauritanian market during the global pandemic and the holy month of Ramadan.

Every day, 50 to 70 large tucks arrive in Nouakchott from Morocco despite closure of the borders.
Lets go back to the beginning. The beginning of the relationship between Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge. They became husband and wife in 2011 but have been a couple for much longer. Ahead, were taking a look back at their relationship that started in 2001 when the two were college students at Scotlands University of St. Andrews.

Kate Middleton and Prince William | Pool/Samir Hussein/Samir Hussein/WireImage

They started out as friends

Sparks didnt fly right away between the future Duke and Duchess of Cambridge when they were in college together. The two started out as friends and reportedly a year after they first met is when a relationship began to develop.

During their sophomore year, they lived in an apartment together with two other friends and thats when their romance supposedly began.

Below, see them on the day of their college graduation in 2005. The British royal family released the below photo taken by the Middleton family ahead of Catherine and Williams royal wedding in 2011.

Kate Middleton and Prince William on the day of their college graduation | Handout

According to what Catherine said during a 2019 holiday special with British chef and food writer, Mary Berry, William tried to impress her in the early days of their relationship by cooking elaborate dishes.



Kate Middleton and Prince William broke up twice

Like any other couple, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have had rough patches in their relationship. They briefly broke up in 2004 but their most notable split happened in the spring of 2007. At the time, the public had been expecting the two to get engaged not go their separate ways.

Kate Middleton and Prince William, 2007 | Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

Reports vary on why exactly they broke up but reasons range from increasing pressure to marry and the media following Catherines every move to an absence of fun in their relationship. Whatever the exact reasons were, we know Catherine had been less than pleased with the turn of events.

At the time, I wasnt very happy about it but actually it made me a stronger person, she said about the 2007 breakup in her and Williams 2010 engagement interview. I really valued that time for me as well although I didnt think it at the time, looking back on it.

During that time, Catherine moved in with her younger sister, Pippa Middleton, and the two were often seen at bars or clubs. Below see a smiling Catherine entering what appears to be a car on May 11, 2007.

Kate Middleton on May 11, 2007 | Mark Milan/FilmMagic

By July of that year, William had reportedly asked Catherine to take him back after seeing her at a costume party. Below, see the couple at a wedding in October of that year.

Kate Middleton and Prince William in 2010 | Indigo/Getty Images

Prince William and Kate Middleton got engaged in 2010

During a trip to Kenya three years later, William proposed to his longtime girlfriend. He proposed to Catherine using the engagement ring that once belonged to his late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales.

Kate Middleton and Prince William, 2019 | Paul Ellis  WPA Pool /Getty Images

Williams younger brother, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex gave the ring, which had been in his possession, to William ahead of the proposal. Less than a year later in April 2011, Catherine and William got married. Despite the challenges that come with any royal marriage, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been going strong.
: Giving social distancing a virtual



go-by, people resorted to panic buying by swarming markets in cities including Chennai, Coimbatore and Madurai on Saturday to buy vegetables and essential commodities in view of the four day complete shutdown from Sunday.

As people thronged the markets, Chief Minister K Palaniswami ordered extension of time for shops selling essential commodities and vegetables by two more hours till 3 PM.

However, there was no dip in the crowds and important roads, and intersections that are usually deserted, be it here or in other cities like Coimbatore teemed with vehicles and people.

Be it Koyambedu, one of the largest markets in Asia for vegetables, fruits and flowers or the cramped ones in locations like Royapuram, or the RS Puram Uzhavar Sandhai (farmers market) at Coimbatore, it was human heads everywhere.

People could be seen jostling for space in markets breaching social distancing norms and only a section of them sproted masks.

Every single shop had at least 100 men and women queuing up to buy veggies and other commodities.

As COVID-19 cases are on the rise in Tamil Nadu, Palaniswami on Friday had announced a complete shutdown beginning Sunday in Chennai, Coimbatore and Madurai for four days, disallowing grocery shops as well and fully curtailing movement of the public.

Also, Salem and Tirupur in western Tamil Nadu will be shut similarly, albeit for three days from April 26 and Palaniswami assured people that vegetables and fruits shall reach their doorsteps via mobile outlets.

Chennai Corporation has made it clear that no shops will be allowed to function even for selling vegetables and fruits and that only push carts and mobile vehicles would be permitted to do so.

Pradeep John, well known as the 'Tamil Nadu Weatherman' in his twitter handle, said many people he saw were not wearing masks, adding..."when I asked them, they all say my house is so nearby. Whether your house is near or far, Please wear mask wen u go out".

Sections of people are apprehensive that the full shutdown may be extended further and this too prompted panic buying in several localities.

Even beyond the 3 PM deadline, several neighbourhood shops functioned and around 4.30 pm, all the roads and markets were deserted again with only police patrols and corporation flying squad vehicles doing the rounds.

Traders and vegetable dealers said they expected a surge in crowds today in view of the announcement of complete shutdown, adding they were able to meet the demand.

The Government said it has made arrangements for supply of vegetables through vans.

Tamil Nadu Co-operative Milk Producers'Federation (Aavin) had announced that it has inked a pact with online food delivery aggregators Zomato and Duzo to distribute its flagship milk brand 'Aavin' and other dairy products,including ghee, directly to consumers in Chennai from its 21 hi-tech parlours effective Friday.

Districts, including Cuddalore announced that the complete lockdown will be followed on Sunday in their respective regions and disinfection tasks shall get priority.

Police and civic authorities meanwhile said tough action will be taken against those flouting the full lockdown norms.

Police said they have seized 2,65,756 vehicles and levied a fine of Rs 3.13 crore as on date for violating lockdown norms.

The District Collectors of Chengelpet, Tiruvallur and Kancheepuram had separately issued directions for implementing the full lockdown in their respective areas which are close to Greater Chennai Corporation neighbourhoods and falling under the jurisdiction of Chennai police.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Susan Hegarty, alias McGowan, was no stranger to Brisbane police courts. She was also regularly assaulted by men until she died at the age of 28.

At 18, she was described as an incorrigible character on a path to a life of crime when she first appeared before the magistrate in 1880.

Albert Street, Brisbane, 1883: on the corner with Mary Street, is the Gympie Hotel'. Credit:State Library of Queensland

In the first of 29 appearances in the courts and prison records from 1880 to 1890, she was sentenced to a week in prison in default of paying the 2 fine after using obscene language in a public place.

McGowan stood less than five feet - or 1.52 metres- tall, and was stout and freckled, with auburn or sandy hair and brown eyes.
Friday, 24 April 2020 22:42:47 (GMT+3) | Sao Paulo

Mining investments in Peru in the first two months of the year reached $657 million, according to the ministry of mines and energy (Minem). Year-over-year, the figure represents an 11.2 percent decline.

Investments in the beneficiation plant segment in the January-February period rose 54.7 percent, year-on-year.

On the other hand, investments in mining equipment in the same two-month period fell 28.7 percent, also on a year-on-year basis.

Likewise, investments in the exploration and mining infrastructure segments in the January-February period fell 3.5 percent, and 20.2 percent, respectively, both on a year-on-year analysis.
Japan's health ministry on Friday unveiled a list of more than 10,000 medical clinics accepting new patients for online diagnoses in an effort to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus among doctors and patients.

In online meetings with patients, doctors provide recommendations and diagnoses remotely through technology such as smartphone screens. The method is said to be effective in protecting the medical system from the dangers of increased virus infections in health facilities.

The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare said it will update the list of clinics providing telemedicine for first-time patients as it receives reports from local governments across the country.

Amid the coronavirus pandemic, the ministry has modified its stance that the first consultation with each patient should be conducted face-to-face. The change is a temporary measure until the pandemic is over.

Those seeking a diagnosis need to make reservations by phone or online after searching available clinics in the ministry's list.
Being suddenly confined to home has shown sales director Phil Heys what he was missing.

Mr Heys was not always there to see early milestones for his three-year-old son, Harry. But while isolated with his family during COVID-19, he has seen "the magical moments, the first smiles", of four-month-old baby Rosie.

Glen Iris sales manager Phil Heys, with his son, Harry (and wife Kat and baby Rosie in the background). He hopes to keep doing some work from home after the pandemic passes. Credit:Simon Schluter

He is one of many employees likely to benefit from what experts are calling the "mainstreaming" of remote work during the pandemic, which promises to fast-track family-friendly work.

"I might have spent 45 minutes or an hour commuting to work; now I can use the time to see the children and support my wife [Kat] and make the hours count within the day  be more efficient with your time," says Mr Heys, who works for a tech startup.
A 35-year-old farmer was allegedly killed by seven labourers in the fields of Tikan Kalan village in Dadri.

The deceased was identified as Kashmir Singh of the same village.

The victims brother, Praveen Kumar, said that Kashmir had gone to bring wheat crop residue along with seven labourers on Friday night.

In the early hours of Saturday, my father found Kashmirs body lying in the fields. He was hit in the head and injury marks were clearly visible. Then, we tried to call the labourers but their phones were switched off, he added.

Dadri Sadar police station SHO Narender Singh said that they have registered a case under Sections 147 (punishment for rioting),148 (rioting, armed with deadly weapon),149 (every member who is part of an unlawful assembly) and 302 (punishment for murder) of the Indian Penal code against Hulashi Ram, Nilesh Kumar,Bhagwan Dass, Ajay Paswas, Surjmal , Raja Ram and Girdhari Dal.

 The farmers dead body was handed over to his family members following autopsy. We have launched a manhunt to nab the accused, he added.
Community Mobilization Westman will be presented with a Courage Award from Assiniboine Community College this year.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 24/4/2020 (628 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

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Brandon Police Chief Wayne Balcaen and Community Mobilization Westman chair Jeanine Pelletier are pictured togther earlier this year. (File)

Community Mobilization Westman will be presented with a Courage Award from Assiniboine Community College this year.

The organization, which is coming up on its five-year anniversary, brings social service professionals together twice a week to sit at the HUB Table, where they work together identifying at-risk individuals and proactively connecting them with the appropriate services.

The HUB Tables ultimate goal is to connect individuals and families determined to be at elevated risk with supports and services before the situation escalates to the need for emergency response or tragedy occurs.

Since its inception, the HUB has had 651 cases come across their table. Of these, 136 have been informed of available services and 423 have been directly connected to services.

The services offered are completely voluntary and less than four per cent of cases have refused them.

Community Mobilization Westman chair Jeanine Pelletier said the group is honoured, ecstatic and thankful to receive a Courage Award from Assiniboine.

Pelletier carries a little card in her purse that reads, "give me the courage to face and conquer my fears, run in when others run out. Strength of body to rescue others, mind to lead others, dedication to serve my community and to always keep safe," and said it has great meaning to her because it reminds her of the work the HUB Table does.

"When we do door knocks, we dont know whats behind the door. We know theres  someone in a very vulnerable position in their life and were reaching out to help them, but we dont know what to expect when we knock on that door," Pelletier said.

"Once that door opens and we share who we are and how we can help, those first few minutes are so important because weve got to build trust within seconds, offer the services that we have and hope that they accept them. The majority of our outcomes have been positive, and they have accepted us and let us into their homes. To me, that speaks volumes about our team. To me, thats courageous."

The HUB Table wouldnt run as smoothly as it does if it wasnt for its dedicated members and their collaboration, Pelletier said.

"We do have a unique, special group of passionate people who make this work," Pelletier said. "Were totally grateful that we are being recognized for all the hard work that everyone has done and is still doing."

Despite the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, Community Mobilization Westman has been able to maintain their meetings, connecting through email and over the phone.

Theyve also been able to maintain a connection with clients over the phone, Pelletier added, and if there is immediate distress emergency services are still being used.

"Our priority is to keep everyone safe at this point while still being able to reach out to our clients."

In a media release, Assiniboine president Mark Frison said Community Mobilization Westman works for a safer and better community.

"This group sets aside individual mandates and interests in favour of the collective good," Frison said. "Community Mobilization Westman embodies the courage to do things differently. They are demonstrating how innovation in the public sector can achieve results when undertaken in a planned and deliberate fashion."

This years Courage Award will be presented at a dinner hosted in honour of Community Mobilization Westman on Oct. 22.

 edebooy@brandonsun.com

 Twitter: @erindebooy
Bollywood actor Irrfan Khan, who is reportedly stuck in Mumbai could not attend his mother's last rites in Jaipur. Owing to the ongoing restrictions and the lockdown, only a few close members of the family could participate in the burial ceremony which was held at the Chungi Naka graveyard on the outskirts Jaipur.



Irrfan Khan/Twitter

Some reports also claim that Irrfan Khan is stuck abroad and could not make it back to India.

However, reports claim that Irrfan paid last respects to his mother Saeeda Begum through video conference. 85-year-old Saeeda Begum was unwell for many days.

Irrfan Khan/Twitter

Saeeda Begum belonged to a Nawabi family of Tonk, which also happens to be Rajasthan's only Muslim state during the pre-independence era. She was also a poet. Saeeda is survived by her three sons, Salman, Imran, and Irrfan.

Irrfan Khan/Pinterest

Irrfans Piku director Shoojit Sircar spoke to Spotboye and confirmed the news. He said,

Its very sad. I have yet to talk to him, though. I will be calling him.

Personally, the last few years have been tough for Irrfan as he was diagnosed with neuroendocrine tumor, and has been under medical attention for the same. In June 2017, he had reportedly left for London for treatment. After battling cancer for more than a year, he joined back work last year and shot for his film 'Angrezi Medium'.

We hope Irrfan and his family find the courage to deal with this loss.


Mumbai, April 25 : With nearly 25 per cent of the annual cotton production still lying unsold with farmers, a prominent farm activist has accused traders linked with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of creating hurdles in the government's efforts to procure it and thereby make a killing of thousands of crore of rupees.

Shiv Sena leader and Vasantrao Naik Sheti Swavlamban Mission (VNSSM) President Kishore Tiwari revealed that presently around 150,000 qintals cotton remains unsold with Maharashtra farmers owing to the lockdown since March 25.

The Cotton Corporation India Ltd. (CCIL) procures all cotton produced in the country at the minimum support price of Rs 5,400-5,500 per quintal, depending on the quality.

"Taking advantage of the lockdown, some unscrupulous traders and ginners are creating fears and compelling farmers to sell it to them at Rs 3,000-2,500 per quintal. The farmers are making huge losses as many of the CCI's procurement centres have not yet started working despite the lifting of lockdown restrictions since this week," Tiwari told IANS.

The brewing scam has prompted CCIL to even issue a warning to the cotton traders and ginners attempting to make windfall gains of thousands of crore of rupees by buying the kapas (raw cotton) at nearly half the MSP from the gullible farmers.

"We are aware of the problems here. Some farmers have resorted to panic sales in view of the lockdown and unscrupulous traders may have made big profits. This is very wrong and the state government must look into the matter," CCIL Chairperson and Managing Director P. Alli Rani told IANS.

She said that out of the Cotton Advisory Board (CAB)'s estimated production of 360 lakh bales of cotton, around 280 lakh bales have already been procured by the government.

"Of the remaining, around 25 lakh bales are from Maharashtra and some 35 lakh bales from Gujarat left to be procured. But farmers cannot be compelled to sell below the MSP rate. They have time till September 30 to bring it to us," Rani pointed out.

Tiwari demanded that the CCI should resume its procurement centres across Maharashtra within 24 hours, failing which he and other aggrieved cotton farmers threatened a token hunger strike on Sunday.

The VNSSM chief claimed that thousands of farmers have already offloaded lakhs of quintals of their cotton at cheap rates, incurring huge losses and this could further fuel suicides in the state, while the BJP's trader lobbies allegedly earned thousands of crore of rupees through such "distress sale".

"This year, the cotton production is expected to be much higher than the CAB's estimates, at around 480 lakh bales. If not procured on priority, farmers will be forced to sell at even lower rates of Rs.2000 per quintal, and the BJP-linked traders will continue to make big profits. Although Union Textiles Minister Smriti Irani is aware of the problems, nothing has been done so far," Tiwari alleged.

A ginner, Pawan Singhania, Proprietor of Gold Fibres in Wardha informed that many ginners are prepared to take the raw cotton from CCI and start processing it, but they have no labourers.

"Many ginning units are shut as the labourers ran away last month. I have managed to retain my labourers by giving them food, accommodation and other requirements, so I can start my work immediately," Singhania said.

However, the ticklish problem for Singhania and other ginners is that the CCI is demanding a higher percentage of cotton fibre compared to the percentage which it had accepted in March before the lockdown.

"Nearly 64 per cent from raw cotton is seeds, and 2 per cent is waste. How can we promise them a higher percentage of cotton fibre now, given the adverse weather conditions," rued Singhania.

Another ginner from Yavatmal said that many of them have not received their payments since past over three months for the ginning works they have already completed for the CCI.

"They want us to accept the raw cotton, process it, provide their desired percentage of fibre, but what about our payment. Those who object, face the prospects of being blacklisted next year," said the ginner, requesting anonymity.

Singhania said if the CCI is ready to accept the same fibre percentage as last month, many ginners are prepared to start work immediately, but a decision must be taken soon.

However, if the CCI remains insistent, the situation may worsen after lockdown is lifted as the labourers will immediately flee to their home states, and then all work will be stalled during monsoon.

On her part, Rani admitted that while a few procurement centres are already working, by Monday, many more are expected to be operational, and farmers can come after registering online and getting a pass.

"The farmers have nothing to worry. The government is with them and they have time till September 30 to give their cotton to us," the CCI chief assured.

(Quaid Najmi can be contacted at: q.najmi@ians.in)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
[music]

michael barbaro

From The New York Times, Im Michael Barbaro. This is The Daily. When Louisianas stay at home order expires today, restaurants across the state can begin allowing customers back inside at their own discretion. That decision now lies with restaurant owners, like Jasmine Lombrage. Its Friday, May 15.

jasmine lombrage

Hello?

michael barbaro

Hi.

jasmine lombrage

Hi, how are you?

michael barbaro

Oh, good. You sound great right now.

jasmine lombrage

Wonderful, wonderful. Hi. Im Jasmine Lombrage.

michael barbaro

Hi, Jasmine. Im Michael Barbaro.

jasmine lombrage

Hi, nice  nice to meet you this way.

michael barbaro

Very nice to meet you this way. Where exactly am I reaching you?

jasmine lombrage

I am at the Bullfish Bar Plus Kitchen here in Baton Rouge, La.

michael barbaro

Thats your restaurant?

jasmine lombrage

Yes.

michael barbaro

So how long have you lived in Baton Rouge?

jasmine lombrage

Me, personally, about 17 years. My husband has been here over 20 years. And we have two girls, two beautiful girls, Gaby  shes turning 11 next month  and we have our gorgeous Angelle. Shes nine.

michael barbaro

How did you and your husband meet?

jasmine lombrage

[LAUGHS] Its an old love story. We met at school. I was in dental hygiene school, and he was in culinary school. And he was working at that cafeteria. My friends said that they have good food over there, and they wanted to go. And so we went over there, and he was a quiet guy in the corner doing his own thing. I said, excuse me, what do you have here that is good and healthy that I can eat? And he looks up, and he said, Nothing is good enough for you.

michael barbaro

Oh, jeez.

jasmine lombrage

And then I turned to walk away, and he said, But if you come back tomorrow, Ill make something for you.

michael barbaro

Mm-hmm.

jasmine lombrage

And I just kind of smiled and said, No, thank you. And I had a few friends who are like, Yes, were coming back tomorrow. So the next day, he made something for me. He made stir fry, and my friends  I had one of my crazy friends. She said  I said, Im not going to eat. I dont know if this guy is some kind of psycho or crazy and hes going to put something in my food. Shes like, Well, Im going to eat. If nothing happens to me in a few minutes, then you  you can try it. So thats what happened. And he came back and asked, how was everything? I said, it was good. And then we started talking. Then  no then he said Im going to be his wife, and I said, Im sorry. Thats not going to happen. You know, and he said, well, hes a praying man. He always gets his heart desire.

michael barbaro

[LAUGHS]

jasmine lombrage

Yes, 10 years later, we ended up married.

michael barbaro

So when you  when you two met, you were a dental hygienist student. He was training to be a chef.

jasmine lombrage

Yes.

michael barbaro

And so how did you end up in the food industry?

jasmine lombrage

Well, growing up, my mom always cooked, you know, for many people. So it was always a passion. I grew up cooking also with mom and just family and aunts. We just  that was just something we did. And then Angel, my husband, Chef Angel, my husband, you know, we  he was the executive corporate chef that started Voodoo BBQ & Grill, which is a restaurant here in the South. And he was known as the Pitmaster. And so what we did, we started Jazz City then, Jazz City was a catering company. And we were  he was like, well, this is what I love to do. And we wanted to do something  we have two young kids. We know that, you know, you can work hard for anyone and everyone, but really, if you want to leave that  create something for your family, you need to create something so that it can stay down and passed down for generations and generations and possibly grow. And that is our goal is to have it grow and flourish. And we ended up here at the Bullfish, and Bullfish was already  it was a restaurant previously owned by someone else. And when we came here, we made it our own by bringing new menu items. And this is the only place you can come in Louisiana and find an authentic Caribbean and Southern fusion cuisine. What hes done, what Chef has mastered, hes taken the fresh herbs that we have in the Caribbean, and then hes merged it with the wonderful spices that we have here in Louisiana. And he  theres a fusion of jerk, fish, and Southern barbecue shrimp.

michael barbaro

Mm.

jasmine lombrage

Yes. And the paella  you know, Chef makes a paella with  you know, he uses scallops. And the crawfish, which is from Louisiana, he infuses that with the andouille sausage, and then he puts the shrimp in there and the crab meat. And so its just the different twist that he puts on all of the dishes. Its just magic in your mouth.

michael barbaro

Mm.

jasmine lombrage

And I dont know if you heard the music in the background a little. We kind of use a lot of Caribbean kind of music from different parts of the Caribbean, and we play different music from here. The vibe is just so, I dont need a passport, but I can get away here. Does that makes sense?

michael barbaro

Mm-hmm. Its funny you keep calling your husband chef. Is that how you refer to him?

jasmine lombrage

At work, we keep it professional. At home, well, when we get in a car, its honey. But when were at work, we refer to each other  I refer to him as Chef, and he would just say whatever he had to say to me or, OK, yes, maam, and that would be it.

michael barbaro

Got it.

jasmine lombrage

Yes.

michael barbaro

And when did you take over the restaurant?

jasmine lombrage

That was last year, 2019, May 22, 2019.

michael barbaro

OK. So just about  just about a year ago.

jasmine lombrage

Yes. And this restaurant, the Bullfish, it is personal for us, because our home is connected to the Bullfish.

michael barbaro

Huh.

jasmine lombrage

Yes. So thats why this pandemic  I personally have spent many nights not sleeping, because I know our home is connected to it. Its not like we have 5, 6, 7, 20 locations. This is all we have. In our home, we have two kids. My daughter, my oldest, Gaby, shes autistic. I dont know  I mean, I dont know whats going to happen, but for now, shes depending on us to care for her. So as she grows, the home is  before we committed our home to the Bullfish  was part of the security blanket that we had. In the event something happened, she would have that.

michael barbaro

Tell me what you mean when you say that your home is connected to Bullfish. You mean physically or emotionally or what?

jasmine lombrage

Well, whenever you get a loan, you have to give some kind of guarantee, like a personal guarantee. And thats what we did, you know. We took that leap of faith and decided that we were going to put 100 percent in here to make it work. So we have to make the Bullfish work.

michael barbaro

So if something were to happen to the restaurant, it would mean potentially losing your home?

jasmine lombrage

Yes.

michael barbaro

And it sounds like that house is something you plan on passing on to your daughter, whos autistic.

jasmine lombrage

Yes, well, both of our girls, but we know her, at least, we can have somewhere for her in case she needed somewhere to be, and then we can have that there for her. That is something that always gets me emotional talking about, because 

michael barbaro

Mm-hmm.

jasmine lombrage

[CRYING] Im sorry.

michael barbaro

I understand.

jasmine lombrage

Its  you know, and shes standing in front of me looking at me now. And we want to do whatever it takes to make it work. You know, we just have to make it work. So when this pandemic started, it really gave us a scare, because if were not able to pay for everything, and we default on our loan, well, we understood the consequences, you know.

michael barbaro

Was there a moment when you felt that you had really kind of made it with this place, having bought it and started to make it your own?

jasmine lombrage

Yes. About a month before the pandemic, we were like, yeah, this was a good choice. My husband and I, we usually go to early morning service for church, and afterwards, we came here for brunch. And then before we were open, we had people waiting outside for us.

michael barbaro

Wow.

jasmine lombrage

It was wonderful. And we were like, OK, wow, this is really going to work. This is really working. And wow, honey, this is our baby, and were going to grow it, and were going to be able to pay up the loan, and were going to be able to just blow this thing out of the park. And then the pandemic started. And yes.

michael barbaro

When did you first start to notice that the pandemic was impacting the restaurant?

jasmine lombrage

OK, early March  early March, because it was February was good with Valentines Day. Early March is when everything started changing, and as March went on, the governor shut down the state. This is when, you know, you started losing staff members saying theyre not coming out. I mean, you cannot blame them. We also started doing curbside delivery, and we were doing social media posts and putting up signs, handwritten signs offering discounts, letting people know that curbside pickup is available, just getting different yard signs made.

michael barbaro

So you have to put up signs in the windows or outside telling people, were still around, you just need to call in.

jasmine lombrage

Yes, yes, yes. And then about maybe the second week after the state was closed, we would be lucky if we got two people that would call for curbside pickup. And we would just be sitting here the entire day, 11 to 8, and theres no one that would come by or no one that would call. So then I started calling the restaurant phone a couple of times to make sure the phone was working, because it never rang. We were there for hours.

michael barbaro

So you called the restaurants main number with your cell phone just to see if it was working.

jasmine lombrage

Yes. [LAUGHS]

michael barbaro

Wow

jasmine lombrage

And, you know, I started reaching out to third party  third party delivery providers to see if I can sign up with them, like Uber Eats and Waitr and DoorDash and ChowNow. And theyre charging  some of them are charging from 25 percent to 35 percent.

michael barbaro

Per order?

jasmine lombrage

Yeah, thats your food costs. Yes. You know, in addition to that, were not able to buy in bulk anymore, because weve wasted so much food. Weve thrown away so much stuff, so now were having to go ourselves, Chef and I, to different mom and pop stores that are open, and were having to purchase items. Of course, now youre paying more money for them, because youre not buying the same quantity anymore, and youre buying from a local retailer. So, you know, and then we have a bar here, and we werent  no one was coming out to drink anymore, so that went away. So yeah, the pandemic, you know, its been hard on us.

michael barbaro

Mm-hm. Im so sorry.

jasmine lombrage

Yes.

michael barbaro

So with these delivery apps, these new sources of orders, how much money do you make off of any individual customer percentage-wise?

jasmine lombrage

Right now, you dont, because the fact that were buying things from not just local distributors but smaller volume  were buying things in smaller volume, so our profit margin is smaller. So were basically not making anything. Youre keeping the doors open, but youre not making anything from it.

michael barbaro

Can you give us a sense of where your daughters have been throughout this period? At what point was their schooling interrupted?

jasmine lombrage

Maybe March. Angelle, when did school close? March or April?

angelle lombrage

[FAINT] It closed in March.

jasmine lombrage

OK, school closed in March.

michael barbaro

Mm-hmm.

jasmine lombrage

I used to bring my  I still do bring my two girls, so I can homeschool them, because school  they are out of school. So I use a corner of the restaurant, and I do schooling there for my girls. But it was a challenge. The change was not welcomed and open for the girls, especially my oldest, Gaby.

michael barbaro

What do you mean?

jasmine lombrage

You know, with autism, everything has to be  you need to have something  everything scheduled and everything has a plan you need to follow through. And this whole pandemic kind of just went haywire for her in the beginning. She was not sleeping. She was more agitated. And my youngest, Angelle, she kept saying she wanted to go back to school, so I had to find other ways to help them. So 

michael barbaro

And Jasmine, I think I hear your daughters in the background. Is that right?

jasmine lombrage

Yes, you do.

michael barbaro

Do you think there was a point where your daughters picked up on what has been happening for you and your husband, but beyond the stresses that theyre experiencing, you know, from not being at school and social distancing, that they understood that you and your husband are struggling with this business and struggling financially?

jasmine lombrage

I think so. There is one incident. My daughter, my youngest, she  you know, she gets allowance, and someone gives her money or whatever. And she saved the money, and one day, she wrote a note. And then she left a note on the bed, on my bed. I was taking a bath, and I came out, and she had a note saying that, Mom, I know you and Dad are working really hard, and things are really tough. I have some money saved. I hope this helps for you to pay for stuff.

michael barbaro

Oh, wow.

jasmine lombrage

Yes. That was hard. That was hard.

michael barbaro

How old is this daughter who left you 

jasmine lombrage

Angelle was 8 when she did that. She just turned 9 in April. So she had a pandemic birthday.

michael barbaro

Can I ask how much she gave you?

jasmine lombrage

I think it was like $57 she had.

michael barbaro

Wow. And what did you do with it?

jasmine lombrage

I still have it saved. I still have it there. I try not to use it. It was just such a touching moment, and just to see, you know, that they realize, kids realize more than you let them know. And knowing that theyre here like almost every single day with me, and 

michael barbaro

They see everything.

jasmine lombrage

Yes.

michael barbaro

How bad are things, financially speaking, right now?

jasmine lombrage

Not close at all to where we want to be. Not good at all. Not good at all. We have applied for a lot of, you know, small business loans, and were just waiting to hear back.

michael barbaro

Have you been able to cover all the payments that you owe to the bank?

jasmine lombrage

I havent. I think finance is one of the things people dont like to talk about, but I havent been able to meet a lot of  I had to ask for abatements. So well see what happens.

michael barbaro

Mm-hmm. I mean, do you think there is a situation that you could imagine using that money from your youngest daughter, that $57?

jasmine lombrage

I dont want to  I dont want to, because its hers. Even though she gave it to me, its hers. I do not want  I dont want to.

michael barbaro

Right.

jasmine lombrage

I  Im just afraid to  Im just afraid to even think about a situation like that.

[music]

michael barbaro

Well be right back. Jasmine, for listeners who dont know what the rules are in Louisiana, what was announced earlier this week?

jasmine lombrage

Well, restaurants  commencing Friday, you can, restaurants can be open for 25 percent of the capacity.

michael barbaro

So you can seat up to 25 percent of what would normally fit inside the restaurant. So how many people do you think that is?

jasmine lombrage

Well, we can seat about 90 people comfortably in here. And so about 25 percent of that now is what were allowed to do.

michael barbaro

So if you can only put, you know, 20 or so people inside, can you make money?

jasmine lombrage

I dont see how thats going to happen, to be honest with you, because 20 percent  having 20 percent of people inside the business is not enough to sustain, and I dont know how long thats going to go on for.

michael barbaro

Right.

jasmine lombrage

So [SIGHS] its hard. Its a hard thing to digest right now.

michael barbaro

But you have decided that youre going to let people back inside?

jasmine lombrage

Honestly, me, personally, no. So it is still an open debate. We  actually, after Im done with this interview, were going to sit down and weigh our options, the pros and the cons, and see if its something that we want to do.

michael barbaro

Can I ask you what you see as the cons and the pros?

jasmine lombrage

Yeah, the pros  that, you know, well have 25 percent more revenue than what were seeing now. And then the cons is knowing that someone will  Im afraid that, oh, my god, somebodys going to come out, and theyre a carrier of Covid-19, and they infect somebody else. So I have no way of controlling that.

michael barbaro

Have you heard from customers about their opinions on whether its time to go back inside the restaurant?

jasmine lombrage

Yes, I have. Ive had mixed reviews. We tend to ask customers, whenever theyre picking up or, are they ready for everything to open back up. Thats normally the question we would ask. And I feel that Im getting more nos than yes, though, in my opinion.

michael barbaro

Mm.

jasmine lombrage

Yes.

michael barbaro

Those who have told you, Jasmine, that they do want to come out, what did they say is their reason for wanting to come out, to come back and eat in a restaurant?

jasmine lombrage

They want to get out of the house. You know, sometimes its just the fact that you cannot do something makes you want to do it.

michael barbaro

[LAUGHS] Yes. Yes, the forbidden fruit. Yes.

jasmine lombrage

Yes. My point, thats exactly. Like, oh, you tell me I cannot eat this? OK, Im going to. So yes, thats what I feel Im getting.

michael barbaro

I wonder, for you, if you didnt run a restaurant, would you go out and eat right now? Would you walk into a restaurant, sit down, order food?

jasmine lombrage

I would probably go out on a weekday, because weekdays are usually less busy, because I have a child that has a compromised immune system. So Im usually very careful to go out. I dont want to take something home to her, so that would be another reason that I personally will not go out. And if I did go out, minus my daughters situation, I would have definitely found the seat  ask to be seated in the area that is far away from everybody else.

michael barbaro

I mean its interesting to hear you say that, that you wouldnt want to go to a restaurant unless it was specifically at a slow time because of the health of your daughter, because youre talking about yourself reopening a restaurant. So its quite a weird conundrum.

jasmine lombrage

Yes, but its honest.

michael barbaro

I just want to make sure I understand which of your daughters is immunocompromised.

jasmine lombrage

Gaby is.

michael barbaro

Is that the daughter who is autistic?

jasmine lombrage

Yes, because she was a former premature baby. I ruptured at 14 weeks when I was pregnant with her, and she had a lot of health challenges. They said, you know, that Gaby would never walk, talk, see, or hear. She was not via  she does not have any viability of life, and that she would never make it out of the hospital alive, you know. We were told that we were making a mistake for her. She coded, and it was even pronounced, and she came back. And she had a trach before, and she was on a ventilator before. She was on oxygen for the first  almost the first four years of her life. You know, she started talking late, walking late, and she had to do therapy, and, you know, she had a walker. So she had a lot of challenges to see where she is now and where she came from. So Im always careful, you know. A typical cold for you and I is just a cold, but for her, it can lead to pneumonia, or weve lost her. Weve had her stop breathing a couple times, and nothing  I dont even know how to explain that.

michael barbaro

Mm. Given your daughters health, are you worried that youre going to basically be in the kind of situation it sounds like youre afraid of kind of all the time, because people are going to be coming into your restaurant, and they could potentially get you sick, and you could potentially get your daughter sick?

jasmine lombrage

Yes. You know, I dont know what I would do if I find myself bringing something to my child. So I find myself in a very difficult position as a business owner.

michael barbaro

That would be very hard to live with. I understand.

jasmine lombrage

That would  yes. You know 

michael barbaro

I mean, it sounds  it sounds like that 

jasmine lombrage

[SIGHS]

michael barbaro

 that has to  that has to be weighing on you as youre making this decision.

jasmine lombrage

Yes, it is. It is. It is. This is personal. This is not like, oh, OK, well, Im just going to open and make the money. Its not that situation for me. I have to be careful for it. I am responsible for her, and Im also responsible for my customers, making sure they have the best experience. And Im also responsible for my team that are coming to work. So 

michael barbaro

And youre also responsible for that house 

jasmine lombrage

Yes!

michael barbaro

 that is connected to this 

jasmine lombrage

Right!

michael barbaro

 restaurant.

jasmine lombrage

Yes.

michael barbaro

Yeah.

jasmine lombrage

So my hands are tied. Like, yes. It  yes, Im just  Im just in a bind. Yeah, Im just in a bind right now. And say hi, Gaby.

gaby lombrage

Hi.

michael barbaro

Hi, Gaby.

jasmine lombrage

Say hi. Its OK.

gaby lombrage

Hi.

michael barbaro

Oh, I want to see you on the video. Nice to meet you, Gaby.

jasmine lombrage

Can you see her? I dont know how this works.

michael barbaro

Mm-hmm. I can see her. Yeah, shes got a great  shes got a leopard patterned sweater on.

jasmine lombrage

Yes. Are you going to talk?

gaby lombrage

Hi.

michael barbaro

Hi. Gaby is waving.

gaby lombrage

How are you doing?

michael barbaro

Im doing well. Your mom was just telling us about you. She  she loves you.

jasmine lombrage

Yes. [LAUGHS] Yes.

michael barbaro

She loves you  she loves you very much.

jasmine lombrage

I do. I love you, Gab.

gaby lombrage

I love you, too.

jasmine lombrage

OK.

michael barbaro

Well, that was  that was a nice gift.

jasmine lombrage

Yes, she walked up, so. [SIGH] Im sorry.

michael barbaro

Yeah, just give me a sec. Oof.

jasmine lombrage

Im sorry. I didnt mean that 

michael barbaro

No, I 

jasmine lombrage

Hence the reason why Im torn up. For someone that was 1 pound, 3 ounces when she was born, she is like  shes like  I mean shes beautiful. Shes doing so well. And then this is so scary.

michael barbaro

Yeah.

jasmine lombrage

This is so scary, you know. And then its a hard decision. I  we dont open up, then to get customers to come in, were putting our house more at risk. We open up, and then something happens, then Im putting my childs life at risk. I dont want  I dont even want to be me right now.

michael barbaro

Yep. Im going to be really eager  were all going to be very eager to understand what decision you make. And I want you to know that we really enjoyed getting to know you and talking to you, and were rooting for you and for your family.

jasmine lombrage

Thank you. Thank you so very much. Thank you.

michael barbaro

Thank you, and please give our best to your husband and to the rest of your family.

jasmine lombrage

Thank you.

gaby lombrage

Bye.

jasmine lombrage

Gaby says bye.

michael barbaro

Bye, Gaby.

jasmine lombrage

Say bye.

gaby lombrage

Bye.

jasmine lombrage

OK, thank you, guys.

michael barbaro

Bye.

[music]

michael barbaro

On Thursday night, after we spoke, Jasmine, her husband, and their staff decided that they would reopen their restaurant for indoor dining, starting on Tuesday. Well be right back.

[music]

michael barbaro

Heres what else you need to know today.

archived recording (rick bright) Good morning, Chairwoman Eshoo and Ranking Member Burgess and distinguished members of the subcommittee. I am Dr. Rick Bright, a career public servant, and a scientist who has spent 25 years of my career focused on addressing pandemic outbreaks.

michael barbaro

In testimony, before the House on Thursday, a whistleblower, who was fired as head of a federal research agency, said that the Trump administration failed to heed his warnings about the shortage of medical supplies in the national stockpile and that Americans died as a result.

archived recording (rick bright) Congresswoman, weve known for quite some time that our stockpile is insufficient in having those critical personal protective equipment. So once this virus began spreading, it became known to be a threat, I began pushing urgently in January, along with some industry colleagues as well, and those urges, those alarms were not responded to with action.

michael barbaro

His testimony marked the first time that a federal scientist has gone before Congress and openly accused the Trump administration of endangering American lives by bungling its response to the coronavirus.

archived recording (rick bright) Without better planning, 2020 could be the darkest winter in modern history.

michael barbaro
Click here to read the full article.

Before the brakes of civilization screeched to a halt, 2020 was shaping up to be an exciting year for me: Agony, a psychological thriller I produced and directed in Italy starring Asia Argento, was set for a 10-city theatrical release via our distributor Gravitas Ventures. One week before the April 3 release, I received a phone call from Gravitass VP Brendan Gallagher, asking if we should agree to forfeit the theatrical release and shift focus on the VOD day-and-date release that was planned. Just like that, the assembly line of DCPs, theatrical bookings and PR halted. It was a mutual decision that reflected some of the bigger questions in relation to what filmgoers have witnessed as the moviegoing experience vanished from our culture.

Filmmakers make films to see them projected in the collective dream space of cinematic cathedrals, but for a film of the Agony scale it has always seemed apparent to me that the theatrical release would act as a plume in the cap of the film, acting primarily as a marketing asset in preparation for where most people will discover the film. The film is now available on VOD across the majority of cable platforms, iTunes, Amazon, and so on  without having to undertake the financial burden on the distributors behalf to mount the theatrical release. The positive news at this juncture is that all the cable providers were excited to offer the in-theaters day-and-date release structure for making the title available.

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But this development doesnt convey the challenge facing films that are still trying to figure out how to introduce themselves to the world, and thats the challenge I am currently facing with my latest project.

It was exactly a year ago that I was in Norfolk, Virginia starting principal photography on The Gateway, a neo-noir thriller with actors Bruce Dern, Olivia Munn, Shea Whigham and Frank Grillo. Three weeks before the nation went into lockdown, after months of editing, I finalized our color grading, final sound mix and a DCP master of the picture was sent to Cannes by our producers and CAA in hopes of a premiere at Cannes.

Story continues

Excited by the prospect of a second film releasing this year while Agony was streaming online, my phone rang and my producer had a proposition: He felt that we should bypass the fate of the film at upcoming film festivals and open up the door to selectively screening the film to distributors in this moment of unprecedented market demand for at home content. After all, two-thirds of the world is at home and binge-watching their boob tubes. As a business decision, this approach makes perfect sense, provided the investment can be recouped and we can project a PR campaign and market a film in this new wild west of virtual shopping.

A film like The Gateway will thrive best as a discovery film via word of mouth and grassroots marketing. It remains unclear how to replicate this kind of phenomenon on platforms. Years ago, when I was a film student in New York, we would line up to see the latest indie films at Angelica or Nuart  to witness the latest cinematic works as a point of discovery, something that creates a subculture of inside fetish and thrills that has never been replicated in this brave new universe of thumbnails and streaming queues. Studio tentpoles have media marketing muscle, mass publicity and hype, but with smaller films, snakeskin oil salesmen charlatanism can creep in and muddy the waters of a genuine discovery. At the moment, these films could use a new paradigm to ensure they dont get lost.

The future is a wide open highway of speculation for everyone. In recent days, Ive spoken with agents, writers, journalists, DPs and the ubiquitous question is: When will the wheels of commerce reopen, and what will this new world look like? I take solace in thinking to the past for the road ahead. Ingenuity is the father of invention. Televisions used to be black and white; they were 4:3 long before 169 HD brought a comparative high fidelity resolution revolution into our living rooms that matched cinematic capabilities. After wax, we had eight tracks, then cassettes, CDs, iPods, and now a virtual tower of babel of music is available to all.

I think back to the visionary filmmaker Jean Pierre Melville. During his time as a WWII resistance fighter, he learned techniques that he later applied tactically as a guerrilla filmmaker, at first relying on real locations and smaller crews to inspire his creativity; that work later encouraged the French New Wave. Melville eventually funneled his success into building his own studio by the late 60s only to have it burn down in a fire. Perhaps this is an opportunity to shape our own creative visions with the means of production. We are obliged periodically to deconstruct old models and embrace change  a process so primal it feels almost Darwinian  and Im reminded of what Fritz Lang said in reference to Cinemascope and other coming trends, innovations, and fads of his time: It was a format not made for people. Its only good for snakes and funerals.

Movies are often defined as a populist art form  so whether its a race to get asses into theater seats or eyes on a TV screen, the more folks who can discover and enjoy a work, the merrier. The rest is really semantics, new skins for old ceremonies.

Michele Civettas Agony is now available on VOD.

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The global medical charity, Doctors Without Borders (MSF), believes that the complete closure of the Syrian border with Turkey and Iraq would undermine the health care situation in the country amid the COVID-19 pandemic, since such measures would restrict the free movement of humanitarian workers and the distribution of medical supplies, MSF emergency manager for Syria, Will Turner, told Sputnik

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 25th April, 2020) The global medical charity, Doctors Without Borders (MSF), believes that the complete closure of the Syrian border with Turkey and Iraq would undermine the health care situation in the country amid the COVID-19 pandemic, since such measures would restrict the free movement of humanitarian workers and the distribution of medical supplies, MSF emergency manager for Syria, Will Turner, told Sputnik.

The Syrian government's health authorities have registered 42 coronavirus cases as of Thursday, with three patients having died and six recovered. The government imposed a curfew across the nation on March 25, partially closed all borders and restricted travel between regions. UN humanitarian agencies reported in early April that most land borders into Syria were closed, with some limited exemptions remaining for commercial and relief shipments, as well as for the movement of humanitarian personnel.

"Our operations in Syria face multiple challenges. Aside from the fragile and dynamic context in the region, the border between Syria and Iraq and Turkey, respectively, are partially closed, with limited access for people and medical supplies to cross in.

We worry that a complete lockdown without guaranteed exceptions for humanitarian workers might have massive consequences on the COVID-19 response and healthcare provision in the country," Turner said.

On April 22, MSF received approval from the Iraqi Kurdistan authorities to deliver 44 tonnes of medical supplies to the region for further transportation into northeastern Syria, Turner noted.

"MSF is negotiating access with different authorities in Iraqi Kurdistan and in northeast Syria to allow for MSF staff and supplies to travel into northeast Syria. To be able to scale up its preparedness and response to the COVID-19 outbreak we need to ensure that supplies and personnel can move regularly into the region," he added.

According to the emergency manager, MSF is not currently working in the government-controlled areas of Syria, but the organization continues its attempts to register with Damascus.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had an interview with American journalist Ben Shapiro and spoke about US policy towards Iran during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The interview has been published on the US State Department website.

Ben, the President and his teams been working on the problem set in the Islamic Republic of Iran. We identified them early on as the largest force for instability in the Middle East. Theres many challenges there, but it has been this country that has been the worlds largest state sponsor of terror for many, many years. So our mission set was very clear, Pompeo noted.

According to the Secretary of State, the US began by breaking the nuclear deal with Iran.

We began by tearing up the Iran nuclear deal  it was a disaster in many dimensions  and we began to strip away the things that provided resources for the Iranian regime. Thats different from humanitarian systems when the COVID situation broke out; the United States immediately offered to provide humanitarian assistance to Iran. Not surprisingly, perhaps the regime that cares less about its people than it does about fomenting terror around the world, rejected the U.S. offer of help. And so the effort must continue. We have to continue to deny this regime the capacity to inflict harm around the world.

However, he noted that this is also connected with China.

This is connected to China, too. China has been one of the countries that has continued to take oil from Iran, even in light of the terror campaign that they have engaged in. The Iranians even today are working alongside the Chinese on a disinformation campaign. Authoritarian regimes in times of crisis tend to work together.

At the same time, the US Secretary of State accused Iran and China of working together on a disinformation campaign.
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.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

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.
IF THE sweltering temps are any indication, its officially summer. Were in the middle of the hottest season of the year and yet due to the current situation, were all quarantined in our homes. Since afternoon siestas at the beach or long road trips to the countryside arent happening anytime soon, were just going to have to live vicariously through the next best thing: Movies.

So put on your bathing suits and sunglasses, get ready with a bowl of popcorn in one hand and a pina colada in the other, and enjoy the show!

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants

Based on the novel of the same name, this comedy-drama covers quite a lot of ground in terms of locations, from Santorini, Greece to Baja California, Mexico. Some friendships are bound by bracelets, others by a magical pair of jeans that is, literally, one size fits all.

Blended

Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymores onscreen chemistry is just undeniable and effortless. In their third film collaboration, the two play single parents who at first hate each others guts due to a blind date gone wrong but have a change of heart after they are forced to endure a trip together with their own kidsin South Africa, no less.

The Shallows

If a woman-versus-shark situation is more your taste for a summer flick, this one stars Gossip Girl alum Blake Lively as a med student surfing in a secluded beach in Mexico, who comes head to head with a hungry and aggressive great white. Surfs up!

Siargao

In recent years, the beautiful surfing island has become one of the most visited destinations in the country. This film by Paul Soriano is top-billed by big actors by the names of Jericho Rosales and Erich Gonzales, but we can all agree on the fact that the real star of the film is the island itself.

Call Me By Your Name

Not exactly the most cheerful of plots per se, but the setting of this filmthe lush Italian countryside in the summeris absolutely breathtaking. The film emanates both a sense of nostalgia and wanderlust even if you havent even been to Northern Italy. By the end of it, youll probably be craving for peaches.
Ravi Vallathol, the senior actor who rose to fame with some highly memorable characters he played in the silver screen and mini screen, passed away. The 67-year-old breathed his last on April 25, Saturday at a private hospital in Thiruvananthapuram. Reportedly, Ravi Vallathol was suffering from a serious health condition from the past few years.

The actor, who had taken retirement from the film industry due to health issues, has been running a charitable trust named Thanal for the differently-abled children. Ravi Vallathol is survived by wife Geetha Lakshmi. The last rights of the senior actor will be performed at his residence in Vazhuthakad, Thiruvananthapuram.

Mammootty, the megastar who is a close friend of Ravi Vallathol, expressed grief over the actor's demise through an emotional social media post. The senior actor recalled how Ravi approached him for an interview with Doordarshan after he received his first Kerala State Film Award. The duo has shared the screen in several popular films including the acclaimed movie Mathilukal.

Ravi Vallathol, who was born as Raveendranathan, is the son of the veteran theater artist TN Gopinathan Nair and Mini. He was the grand-nephew of the legendary poet, Vallathol Narayana Menon. The actor, who did his post-graduation is sociology, began his career as an employee in the News department of Doordarshan.

He made his acting debut with the television serial Vaitharani, which was directed by P Bhaskaran. Later, Ravi Vallathol made his movie debut and played pivotal roles in several popular films. He established a successful collaboration with the veteran filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan and joined hands with him for seven highly acclaimed films.

Ravi has acted in several popular films including Mathilukal, Kottayam Kunjachan, God Father, Vishnu Lokam, Sargam, Commissioner, and so on. In the small screen, the senior actor has played notable roles in the popular mega serials Sree Guruvayoorappan, Vasundhara Medicals, Manal Saagram, Parijaatham, American Dreams, and so on.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom discusses measures to limit the spread of the coronavirus outbreak. (Randall Benton / AP)

The American Civil Liberties Union filed a pair of lawsuits late Friday calling for a dramatic reduction in California's incarcerated population and a halt to all transfers of inmates to federal immigration detention centers amid increasing signs throughout the U.S. that jails and prisons are hot zones for the spread of the coronavirus.

The suits filed with the California Supreme Court name Gov. Gavin Newsom and Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra and come as the Otay Mesa Detention Center in San Diego and Lompoc penitentiary in Santa Barbara County have become home to some of the worst outbreaks in the federal prison system. In the lawsuits, the ACLU argued that outbreaks behind bars pose threats not only to the incarcerated, but also the families of jail and prison employees.

"It is not just those confined to jails, detention centers, and youth facilities who are in danger, Peter J. Eliasberg, chief counsel of the ACLU in Southern California, said in a statement. Once the virus gets inside, the regular movement of staff and visitors in and out means that walls and razor wire can neither slow nor stop the viral spread to communities at large.

The suits argue that social distancing is almost impossible in immigration detention centers and California jails and prisons, where many house inmates in close proximity, with showers and meal areas that are communal.

A spokeswoman for the U.S. Department of Immigration and Customs Enforcement said the agency does not comment on pending litigation. The California Attorney General's office referred question to Newsom.

This Administration has been clear on our stance against abuses in immigration detention centers," said Newsom's press secretary, Vicky Waters. "We call on the Department of Homeland Security to use the administrative discretion it has under federal law to work with public health authorities to implement appropriate actions to protect individuals in its custody, staff and local communities.

Story continues

Waters did not immediately respond to questions about conditions in state prisons and jails.

ICE has reported 317 coronavirus infections among detainees nationwide, including 57 detainees at the Otay Mesa Detention Center in San Diego, according to its website.

In immigration facilities like Otay Mesa, the ACLU alleged guards were withholding personal protective equipment from detainees unless they signed waivers releasing the facility from liability. Detainees at Otay Mesa have also staged hunger strikes to protest conditions.

At the Adelanto facility north of Los Angeles, the ACLU contend staff have been reluctant to provide medical assistance to detainees and alleged one woman fell so ill from symptoms associated with the coronavirus that she lost consciousness before receiving aid. A federal judge has already ordered the population of the Adelanto facility to be reduced after a separate legal challenge by the ACLU.

Transfers from California prisons and jails now represent the "primary source of ICE's new bookings" in the state, according to the suit, which argues that federal and state law do not obligate transfers to ICE. California's sanctuary state law severely limits the number of detainees who can be turned over to ICE from California jails and prisons.

"In other words, it is the actions of the State of California, more than actions of ICE at this unique moment, that are keeping a flow of new people into ICE detention facilities," the suit alleged.

Pointing to the significant number of coronavirus cases reported at New York City's Rikers Island and the Cook County jail in Chicago as signs of how fast the illness could spread among California's incarcerated population, the suit also called for a "drastic" reduction in the number of people held in state prisons and county jails.

While the California Judicial Council has made some progress to reduce jail populations, these steps simply have not been large enough or fast enough to reduce the looming threat of exponential spread of COVID-19 in the states jails, juvenile facilities, and surrounding communities," the suit read. "Leading public health officials have warned that without swift and large judicial intervention, the epicenter of the pandemic will be jails and prisons.

The Judicial Council ordered bail be set at zero for a wide array of misdemeanors and nonviolent crimes earlier this month, aiming to cut back on the number of new additions made to the state jail population. Newsom also sought the release of at least 3,500 state prison inmates with fewer than 60 days left on their sentence, and thousands of people have been released from Los Angeles County's sprawling jail system.

Data show the state's average daily incarcerated population fell from about 72,400 in late February to nearly 54,500 in early April, while bookings statewide have also plummeted. The number of juveniles in custody in California has also dropped by about 1,000 youths in that time frame, records show.

But the ACLU argued that reduction is not enough to allow for social distancing in most facilities, highlighting claims from the parents of several juveniles who say their kids are still sleeping in close proximity and not being given access to masks or sanitizer. A number of juvenile justice advocates have separately called on the California Supreme Court to intervene on behalf of youths in custody in L.A. County, where a number of judges have blocked petitions for early release that even had the support of local probation officers.

A sizable enough reduction in the overall number of individuals in detention facilities allows social distancing for all inside, and facilitates both proper screening to prevent COVID[-19] from being introduced into the jails and proper isolation and monitoring of individuals who may be infected," the suit read.

A number of law enforcement officials have raised alarm at the releases that have already taken place statewide. Orange County Dist. Atty. Todd Spitzer has argued that dangerous criminals, including a man suspected of sexually assaulting a child, have tried to capitalize on the pandemic to get out of custody.

"The Judicial Councils decision to enact zero bail for most misdemeanors and numerous felonies allows dangerous criminals, including human traffickers, drivers who kill someone in a hit and run, and abusers of children and the elderly, to be released back into our neighborhoods," Spitzer said in a statement addressing the zero-bail order earlier this month.

San Bernardino County Dist. Atty. Jason Anderson has argued the reduction efforts are confronting a problem that has yet to come to pass, and contended "many inmates in jail and prison environments have better access to medical care than when they are out of custody and in the community."
It was a trip back to Korea in 2002 that finally got Bill Cooke to open up about the time he spent there as a signalman attached to the 1st Commonwealth Divisional Signals in C Troop in the 1950s.

The Bay of Plenty residents reticence to talk about his time there was twofold  there was a feeling that people didnt really understand or care, coupled with a sense that his efforts over the two years he spent there had been futile.

The tanks had been through and it was just a heap of rubble when we left, he says. We thought what a bloody waste of time.

We felt so sorry for the plight of the people and the terrible destruction to their country.

When he returned in 2002 it was 50 years since hed departed New Zealand for Korea and the sights that greeted him couldnt have been more different.

I was so amazed at the huge imposing buildings, the tree-lined streets and the many bridges over the Han River.

One of Bills three sons, Robert, accompanied him and finally got to hear firsthand all about the work Bill did in the two years he was there.

Also one of three boys, Bill, the oldest, was born in Auckland on the 11th November 1929 later being schooled in Taihape. The family moved around a lot due to his fathers work on the railways.

Bill was destined to follow in his fathers footsteps and join the railways and was working as a fireman in the Taumarunui Branch when he decided on a whim to join his two drinking buddies in signing up at the army recruitment office.

Out of the three of them only Bill was deemed medically fit enough and what seemed like a big adventure began.

Charlie Troop laying the lines during Bills time in Korea.

In Charlie Troop, Bills work involved laying cable in often harsh conditions. The lines had to be on poles and the men would have to hammer a steel peg into the ground before dropping the pole into the hole. Steel pickets were then driven in each side of the pole and signal wire used as stays to hold it steady.

The extreme climate  stinking hot in summer and down to -24 in the winter  posed challenges too.

It was so cold the river froze over so that you could walk on it. All we had were these leftover uniforms from WWII but finally we got some decent woollen uniforms which was much better, says Bill.

In the summer, to the other extreme, Bill and his fellow cable-layers would strip down to their underpants while out in the field to cope with the sweltering heat  it wasnt a popular look with the British commanders but it made the work bearable.

There were huge risks for the men, who were working in minefields and dodging mortar bombs that the Koreans would fire at them, one of which sliced open the fingers on Bills hand.

On another occasion, the men were divided into two groups and sent on an assignment - the other group were all killed, some of the 48 New Zealanders who were killed in Korea, and a stark reminder of just how arbitrary survival could be.

Bill also caught malaria and went into a coma, prompting cheers from his fellow patients in the hospital when he came to after seven days rather than the predicted 10. However, he suffered unpleasant night sweats for years afterwards.

During his two year stint, which saw the mens allegiance switch from King to Queen, Bill swotted up and studied for his engine driver exams, preparing for his return to New Zealand.

My mates werent impressed when I came back with my ticket before them! But there wasnt much to do on a cold night in Korea! he laughs.

Bill returned to the railways and that was his career for the next 40 years. He lived in Frankton and married the girl next door, Valerie.

When she passed away in 2018 Bill moved into Bob Owens Retirement Village to be nearer to two of his three sons, at the same time fulfilling a lifelong dream to live in the Bay of Plenty.

He always takes an active part in Anzac Day commemorations and 2020 will see his first one marked in the village, albeit in a different way due to Covid-19 restrictions.

Bill in Kapyong in 2002.

His efforts in Korea in 1952-54 were finally given true meaning during his trip back in 2002, where Bill and the other men were overwhelmed by the ceremonies the Koreans put on for them and the gratitude they expressed.

The ceremony I will always cherish was at Kapyong when we presented scholarships to the children of the Kapyong Buk Middle School, says Bill.

The Mayor then gave a speech telling us that we would never be forgotten, making us proud to have been a member of the K-Force.

He was also delighted to see which building in Seoul was the only one remaining  the railway station.
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Michael Lane Brandin, a US-based man, has narrated how he got arrested and lost his job after faking he had contracted COVID-19 on Fac...





Michael Lane Brandin, a US-based man, has narrated how he got arrested and lost his job after faking he had contracted COVID-19 on Facebook.





In March, Brandin, who is from Woodville, had taken to his social media page to inform his followers that he had the novel disease.





The young man, who has a bachelors of degree in Mass Communications, said his faux illness online was aimed to conduct a social experiment and prove that people should not always believe everything they read online.





He had claimed in the post that his doctor told him COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the coronavirus, was now airborne.

I have a bachelors of science degree in mass communications. I did it to prove how easy it is for anyone to post something online and cause panic, he told BBC





I wanted to prove that it is important for people to be educated and do their own research before assuming everything they read or hear is true.





His post, however, became a subject of heated controversies in Tyler County, Texas, where he lived, with many afraid that they could easily get infected with the virus since Brandin claimed it was airborne.





The 23-year-old student would later be arrested for creating a baseless report and charged with criminal allegation of false alarm.





After spending a night behind bars, he was later released on condition of paying a $1,000 (800) bail bond but now awaits the commencement of his trial.





The development has not only seen him lost his job but also denied of his health benefits. Brandin said it has also halted his quest to further his masters degree over lack of money.





But because of a Facebook post I lost my job, my health benefits. I couldnt start my masters programme on time due to not having the money. It has put a financial burden on my entire family because they are all trying to help me pay my bills, he added.








Tony Hetherington is Financial Mail on Sunday's ace investigator, fighting readers corners, revealing the truth that lies behind closed doors and winning victories for those who have been left out-of-pocket. Find out how to contact him below.

Ms L.J. writes: I joined ScottishPower for my electricity in March 2017, paying 190 a month by direct debit and supplying monthly meter readings. In March last year, they asked for weekly readings and said I was not paying enough. They increased my monthly payments to 600. I have a house, not a business, and I am sure I cannot be using electricity costing 600 a month, but ScottishPower never gives me a bill.

Review: ScottishPower wanted to bill 600 a month and will now check Ms J's usage

ScottishPower told me that your initial payments were based on two meter readings provided between March and September 2017, followed by just one reading in 2018 and quarterly readings since then.

The figures at the end of 2018 showed bills of more than the 190 you had been paying, and the increase in March last year was aimed at covering arrears as well as current charges. That said, even ScottishPower estimates that your month-on-month usage should be about 400.

The company is investigating what appliances you are using. Mysteriously, you have been told you are using 'an industrial amount' of power at night, yet you have told me that all you use then is a dishwasher three times a week.

You have also told me about far more meter readings that you have supplied, but unfortunately, because of the staff situation at ScottishPower during the lockdown, I have not been able to get answers about these. However, the company has told me that paper bills have been sent regularly by normal post, though you do not seem to have received a single one.

The outcome is that ScottishPower has told me: 'We have advised Ms J that her recorded electricity use does appear out of sync with what she says she is using it for, and will visit her property to review this as soon as current working restrictions are lifted.'

Separately, last week another ScottishPower customer, Mr B, complained that he was being asked to pay more than 7,000 because he had allegedly paid nothing since 2013. This was the year the company suffered a serious computer error that saw some customers' direct debits turned into credits.

Officials have now denied that the debt arose because of its computer mistakes, and the Energy Ombudsman has gone over the figures and confirmed the debt. It appears to have arisen because Mr B supplied meter readings but still received estimated bills, and contested the amounts by cancelling his direct debit.

ScottishPower has now said that if Mr B confirms he is no longer in any dispute with the company, it will not expect a big cheque but will work with him to organise a payment plan.

And finally, there is good news for Mr S, who heads a charity that clashed with ScottishPower over bills that threatened its very existence.

I reported how the company first cut the charity's monthly payments to just 1, then demanded 6,529 in arrears. This was followed by a claim that the charity owed 24,367, and a warning that its monthly payments would rocket to 1,596 in May.

This really is a case involving the company's remarkable 2013 computer error. It has now told me: 'Mr S has not received the quality customer service we pride ourselves on, and we are truly sorry for the distress and inconvenience caused.'

ScottishPower has scrapped all its charges from 2013 to April last year, leaving just over 1,300 due  and as a goodwill gesture, even this has been cut in half. A good outcome.

If you believe you are the victim of financial wrongdoing, write to Tony Hetherington at Financial Mail, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TS or email tony.hetherington@mailonsunday.co.uk.

Because of the high volume of enquiries, personal replies cannot be given. Please send only copies of original documents, which we regret cannot be returned.
The Centre and West Bengal government continue to lock horns over the visit of two inter-ministerial central teams (IMCTs) to the state to assess the on-ground response regarding coronavirus disease (Covid-19) outbreak. The members of IMCTs have complained that they were not getting any support from the Bengal government, including access to the hospitals that are treating Covid-19 patients and state authorities refusal to even accompany them.

Apurva Chandra, who heads the IMCT to Kolkata, wrote to Union home secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla and Bengal chief secretary Rajiva Sinha on Saturday, listing the grievances against the state government officials. Chandra has alleged that the state government officials refused to cooperate with the Central team regarding drawing up itineraries to visit the hospitals, quarantine centres and containment centres and only got a 30-minute notice in advance to perform their assigned tasks.

Chandra also cited Sinhas statements in the press that the IMCT teams were free to visit anywhere in the state and that senior officers of the state government cannot waste their time accompanying them. This, Chandra pointed out, was a violation of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) order, as the Bengal government is expected to provide logistical support and also facilitate the field visits of IMCTs. Besides seeking escorted visits to Covid-19 hospitals, the Central teams also asked for Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) kits from the state government, which were reportedly denied.

Coronavirus outbreak: Full coverage

Bengal is also yet to provide any further details on other critical aspects such as the supply of essential commodities, the condition of relief camps, the enforcement of ongoing nationwide lockdown restriction, which was initially enforced on March 25 for 21 days and then further extended for another 19 days till May 3 to contain the spread of Covid-19 outbreak, measures.

The IMCT has been in Kolkata since 10 am on April 20. Four letters have been written by the IMCT to the state government till Saturday. No response has been received to any of the letters to date, Chandra said in his letter to Bhalla.

Chandra asked the Bengal government if the state took responsibility for their safety and security in the absence of police escort and if Border Security Force personnel were permitted to take any action to ensure their safety in case of any untoward incident.

The other IMCT, which headed to north Bengal, also allegedly faced similar challenges.

The IMCT members visited Kalimpong on Saturday morning on their own after informing the chief secretary. Unfortunately, they returned from Kalimpong without visiting the Covid-19 hospital there. Neither did they meet the Kalimpong district magistrate nor the district chief medical officer, as they were refused permission, said a Central government official, requesting anonymity.

Earlier, during a visit to two hospitals in Kolkata, the IMCT members had found several anomalies such as waiting time of five days or more for test results of suspected Covid-19 patients who were undergoing treatment in isolation wards; bodies of patients lying on beds in a ward for four hours as the death certificates were not yet ready and disregard to social distancing norms.

The central team also asked the Bengal government to furnish the details of all those Tablighi Jamaat returnees, who are either in quarantine or underwent tests for Covid-19 so far. The Jamaat members proved to be a Covid-19 superspreader across the country after attending the Islamic sects international congregation at Nizamuddin in New Delhi between March 13 and 15.
The nationwide shift during the week of April 13 was relatively slight. However, any loss of momentum, particularly when stay-in-place orders remain in effect across most of the country, has some public health experts worried about quarantine fatigue. Any increase in travel, they say, is premature when staying home remains the most effective way to limit the spread of the virus until widespread testing and contact tracing become available.
The surge in cases after the first diagnosis suggests the virus had been in Italy longer than realised, say researchers.

The first coronavirus infections in Italy date back to January, according to a scientific study presented on Friday, shedding new light on the origins of the outbreak in one of the worlds worst-affected countries.

Italy began testing people after diagnosing its first local patient on February 21 in Codogno, a small town in the wealthy Lombardy region.

Cases and deaths immediately surged, with scientists soon suspecting that the virus had been around, unnoticed, for weeks.

Stefano Merler, of the Bruno Kessler Foundation, told a news conference with Italys top health authorities that his institute had looked at the first known cases and drawn clear conclusions from the subsequent pace of contagion.





We realised that there were a lot of infected people in Lombardy well before February 20, which means the epidemic had started much earlier, he said.

In January for sure, but maybe even before. Well never know, he said, adding that he believed the immediate surge in cases suggested the virus was probably brought to Italy by a group of people rather than a single individual.

A separate study based on a sample of cases registered in April said 44.1 percent of infections occurred in nursing homes and another 24.7 percent spread within families. A further 10.8 percent of people caught the virus at hospital and 4.2 percent in the workplace.

Research in Spain, which has the most confirmed coronavirus-linked cases in Europe  above 200,000, and the third-highest death toll worldwide after the US and Italy  also suggested the virus was present in that country long before health officials had realised, at least a month before Madrid imposed a lockdown on the country in mid-March.

Italy was the first major western country to face the viral disease, which originated in China late last year and has spread around the world. Deaths from the epidemic in Italy climbed by 420 on Friday, the smallest daily tally since March 19, the Civil Protection Department said, but the number of new infections rose to 3,021 from 2,646 on Thursday.

Fridays death toll was down from 464 the day before.

The total of fatalities since the outbreak came to light on February 21 now stands at 25,969, the agency said.

In a bid to prevent the outbreak, Italy had halted air traffic to and from China on January 31, after two Chinese tourists tested positive in Rome. But scientists say it was probably too late.

Another team of Italian scientists has said the coronavirus may have reached Italy from Germany, not directly from China, in the second half of January.
Donald Trump has unfollowed Piers Morgan on Twitter after the Good Morning Britain host slammed his 'batsh*t crazy' approach to coronavirus in his MailOnline column.

Piers, 55, criticised the US President after he suggested tackling coronavirus with the use of 'powerful' UV light or even injecting patients with disinfectant.

Starting his column by telling Mr Trump to 'shut the f*** up', Piers admonished the President for using his position to air his 'batsh*t crazy theories about how to beat the virus'.

And on Saturday, the presenter announced that Mr Trump had since unfollowed him.

Scroll down for video.

The pair had been on good terms and Piers had even enjoyed a friendly sit-down interview with the President in June last year

Donald Trump has unfollowed Piers Morgan on Twitter after the Good Morning Britain host slammed his 'batsh*t crazy' approach to coronavirus in his MailOnline column

Piers, 55, criticised the US President after he suggested tackling coronavirus with the use of 'powerful' UV light or even injecting patients with disinfectant at his press briefing on Thursday (pictured)

The pair's friendship stretches back to 2007 when Piers won Trump's Celebrity Apprentice show

He wrote: 'UPDATE: President  @realDonaldTrump  has unfollowed me on Twitter, hours after I wrote this @DailyMail column'.

The pair's friendship stretches back to 2007 when Piers won Trump's Celebrity Apprentice show.

The broadcaster remained on good terms with the retail mogul, interviewing him a handful of times for his CNN programme.

Since returning to the UK to host Good Morning Britain, Piers has bagged the only interviews with the President in this country.

His relationship with Trump has opened him up to accusations of 'going easy' on him in interviews, but the journalist has maintained he has been balanced in both his praise and criticism.

In his column on Friday, Piers skewered the President, writing: 'The leader of the free world has turned the daily White House task force briefing into a rambling two-hour self-promoting rally.

'He's devoted large chunks of them to trashing the media, attacking political opponents, telling us how great he is, and re-writing history as he tries to defend all the mistakes he's made since the virus first erupted.

'And he's done all this while 50,000 Americans have died from COVID-19, the worst death toll in the world, and nearly a million cases have now been reported across the country.

On Saturday, the presenter announced that Mr Trump had unfollowed him

He then singled-out Mr Trump's bizarre assertions about disinfectant and light, writing: 'Last night he stooped to a shameful new low by suggesting people suffering from COVID-19 should be injected with toxic disinfectant.

'It's hard to imagine a more stupid thing for a President to say than publicly float a completely unsubstantiated "idea" like that which will inevitably make some Americans believe having bleach inside them will cure the virus.'

Mr Trump had made his comments during a press briefing at the White House on Thursday.

William Bryan, a senior Homeland Security science and technology advisor, had delivered a report claiming that ultraviolet rays and heat have a potent impact on the pathogen.

The study also uncovered that bleach can destroy the virus in saliva within five minutes, while isopropyl alcohol took just a minute to kill it.

But Mr Trump went on to say: 'Supposing we hit the body with a tremendous, whether it's ultraviolet or just very powerful light?

'And I think you said, that hasn't been checked but you're going to test it.

'And then I said supposing you brought the light inside the body which you can do either through the skin or in some other way.

'And I think you said you're going to test that too. Sounds interesting,' Trump said.

Then he raised another possible treatment regarding disinfectant.

He said: 'And then I see the disinfectant, where it knocks it out in a minute, one minute, and is there a way we can do something like that?

'By injection inside or almost a cleaning. As you see it gets in the lungs, and it does a tremendous number on the lungs.

'So it would be interesting to check that,' Trump said.

'So that you're going to have to use medical doctors. But it sounds interesting to me,' he said.
Egypt celebrates on 25 April the final withdrawal of all Israeli forces from the Sinai Peninsula in 1982, following the 1979 US-brokered Camp David peace accords

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi saluted on Saturday the "ingenuity of the Egyptian negotiator" as the country marks the 38th Sinai Liberation Day.

A timeless salute to our martyrs from the sons of this nation a salute to the Armed Forces who have fought the noblest of battles a salute to the Egyptian negotiators ingenuity and everyone who participated in this historic battle, El-Sisi said in a Facebook post.

Egypt celebrates on 25 April the final withdrawal of all Israeli military forces from the Sinai Peninsula in 1982, following the 1979 US-brokered Camp David peace accords.

The Camp David peace accords were signed after the victory of the Egyptian army against Israeli occupation forces in the October 1973 War.

Sinai Liberation Day is a national holiday in Egypt.

The president usually issues pardons several times a year, including on Sinai Liberation Day, national holidays and religious festivals.

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Villagers from Kyauktaw township in western Myanmar's Rakhine state discuss the government military's attacks on their communities at press conference in Sittwe, March 30, 2020.

The government in Myanmars war-torn Rakhine state has paid to rebuild more than 500 houses that were burned in attacks by aircraft and artillery or torched by soldiers last month, disaster officials said Friday, in a revelation that appeared to undercut the national militarys denial that the attacks took place.

The state government in Rakhine, where a 16-month-old conflict between Myanmar forces and the rebel Arakan Army has killed scores of civilians, paid more than 90,000,000 kyats ($65,000) on Tuesday to replace the houses burned in Tin Ma village in Kyauktaw township on March 22, said Win Zaw Htay, the director of Rakhine State Natural Disaster Management Department.

A total of 528 houses were burned down in Tin Ma village, Tin Ma village tract, in Kyauktaw Township, he told RFAs Myanmar Service.

We have provided 79,400,000 kyats ($56,000) for construction materials for 397 houses and 13,100,000 kyats ($9,200) for another 131 houses. We have given a total of 92,500,000 kyats ($65,000) via Mrauk-U Township disaster management department on April 22, he added.

On March 30, villagers from Tin Ma told a news conference that artillery fire and aerial bombardments by Myanmar forces had killed three civilians and burned scores of houses in their communities between March 12-22, amid fighting between Myanmar forces and the Arakan Army.

The villagers accused the Myanmar Army of conducting aerial bombings of civilian communities that destroyed about 150 homes and a monastery in Pyaing Taing village, while government soldiers on the ground torched houses in neighboring Tin Ma village.

Pyaing Taing residents said they believe that Myanmar soldiers intentionally bombed and burned down some houses in their community.

The aerial bombing burned many houses on March 12, while many villagers were there, said villager Maung Ba Saw.

On March 21, Myanmar soldiers also entered Tin Ma village, which has more than 500 houses, and later burned down dozens of homes, residents of that village said.

They had entered the village, searched some houses and taken some property they wanted. That was all, Tin Ma resident Zaw Aung said at the news conference on March 30.

But on March 22, they had entered into the village around 11 a.m. and fired their guns indiscriminately in all directions, he said. They started burning down the houses around 11:10 a.m.

Detailing the compensation policies for Tin Ma villages, Win Zaw Htay said the guidelines call for paying 100,000 kyats ($70) for bamboo and thatch-roofed houses, 200,000 kyats ($140) for wooden and zinc-roofed houses and 250,000 ($175) for cement houses.

RFA made repeated attempts Friday to get a comment from the Myanmar military on the compensation paid to rebuild the burned houses, but received no reply.

On April 13, the military commander-in-chiefs office said the Rakhine villagers allegations of mid-March burnings and aerial bombings were stories fabricated to damage the militarys reputation. The statement, carried on state television, said Myanmar security forces had inspected Tin Ma village and found it intact.

Military denials notwithstanding, local officials are saying they are willing to pursue further compensation if there is proof that more houses were burned down.

We have problems in surveying the houses burned down in these village because they are inaccessible. It is hard to estimate the total number of houses burned down, said Kyauktaw Township MP Oo Tun Win.

We can roughly say that many villages in Pyaing Taing and Mone Than Pyin area were burned down, said the Arakan National Party state lawmaker.

The ANP is meeting families in the township to assess the number of people affected. We will compile accurate reports on how much each family has been affected, and present it to the authorities and relevant organizations, he told RFA.

Nyi Pu, a Tin Ma villager, said he is not sure about returning to his former home under current conditions.

Id prefer to rebuild my home in my village, but there is no guarantee of security in my former village, he told RFA.

The military troops enter the village and arrest the people at will. We are too scared to live. I will only return and rebuild my home on the condition that there are guarantees for my life and security.

Scores of civilians have died and tens of thousands of others have been displaced by fighting between Myanmar and Arakan forces in Rakhine and Chin states since early 2019.

Reported by RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Khet Mar and Ye Kaung Myint Maung. Written in English by Paul Eckert
A political activist and former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Comrade Timi Frank, has threw the coins at the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for appointing General Muhammadu Buhari to champion the fight to end the deadly COVID-19 Pandemic in West Africa.

In a series of tweets on his twitter handle @RealTimiFrank on Friday, the former APC spokesman questioned ECOWAS credibility and the criterion in which they selected General Buhari as head to champion fight against this Pandemic that is slowly sweeping the world.

Frank said that General Buhari has long displayed incompetence in taking the lead, adding that ECOWAS has compromised in their leadership and theyve clearly fitted that their basis of selecting Buhari was political.

In one of his tweets Frank said: It is a disgrace to Ecowas for appointing incompetent Buhari to champion fight against COVID-19. For a man that doesnt know what COVID-19 means. How can he now lead fight on what he doesnt understand. You cant give what you dont have. May God help Ecowas regions for this mistake.

The Bayelsan activist also warned ECOWAS of endangering the regions in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.

He further said it was the same mistake African Union (AU) made by appointing Buhari as Ambassador to champion the fight against Corruption in Africa, considering the fact that corruption has ravaged Africa.

So I call on ECOWAS to revert their position on Buhari to lead the fight against COVID-19. This was the same mistake AU made when they appointed Buhari as Champion to fight Corruption in Africa. And now corruption is a usual breakfast in Africa. May God help us to save Nigeria.

The outspoken activist also drew lines between selecting based on competence and merit, or selecting based on the size of a Nation.

He however praised the likes of Rwandas Paul Kagame, Tanzanias Dr. John Magufuli, Kenyas Uhuru Kenyatta, and Ethiopias Abiy Ahmed for their remarkable achievements in and across Africa.

He labelled them true leaders who doesnt compromise Africa for their selfish gains.

Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ethiopia are not up to the size of Nigeria in terms of population and Eeconomic size. But theyve done far better than Nigeria in recent times. How can Ecowas rely on a Buhari that Nigerians doesnt have access to. Nigeria has lost the mantle of being the Giant of Africa under Gen. Buharis watch.

He ended his assertion by saying that If it is by the basis of competence and ideas to lead any nation, then Gen. Buhari shouldnt be called. He understands nothing. Except the ECOWAS and AU are only trying to embarrass Nigeria. Because hes so incompetent, he cant perform any assignment given to him. Timi Frank stated.
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.
Since I have begun to write on the urgent need to close live animal markets, I have been surprised by the support I have received from across the UK.

Readers of The Mail on Sunday have written to say how strongly they agree about the threat of contagion they pose, and to offer ideas on how we can bring about an absolute crackdown on this vile trade.

Others simply expressed disbelief. 'For goodness sake,' wrote one woman in an email, 'what pandemic are they going to give the world next?'

The bats of Tomohon market are Indonesia's worst-kept secret, but the photograph revealed on this page still has the power to shock.

The local 'it can't happen here' complacency with regard to a viral disease is dangerously misplaced.

Bats are carriers of all sorts of viruses and pathogens. There are even reports that local authorities found another strain of coronavirus in the bats of Tomohon in 2018.

Bats, dogs, rats and reptiles on sale in Tomohon market Indonesia March 28th 2020

As we all know, it is likely that Covid-19 emerged from a bat in the Wuhan 'seafood' market. How much more warning did we need?

The coronavirus that has laid waste to the world economy and led to almost 200,000 recorded deaths was most probably the result of poor hygiene at an illegal wildlife market. Its aftershocks will be felt for years to come.

That is what makes the photo here of a filthy market with animal carcasses stacked together all the more horrifying.

Experts predict that humanity's ever-growing encroachment and exploitation of the natural world has made zoonotic diseases four times as frequent in the past 50 years.

Many have called the last few months an aberration, yet the truth is that we risk this becoming the new normal. The Independent, which I partly own, shares this concern and has launched a campaign to ban the illegal wildlife trade wherever it may be found.

A food market shows off rows upon rows of dead animals, some of which have been beaten to death including bats

We are working with wildlife charities such as Space For Giants and other organisations to inform the public and pressure governments where necessary.

It is quite simply astounding that even while the world grapples with the fallout of this deadly pandemic, these markets can remain open in Indonesia and across China and South East Asia, according to reports.

Before, this was an animal rights problem and a matter for international wildlife experts.

Now it is a global health crisis and a threat to us all. The world failed to act following the SARS outbreak in 2002, which also came from a wildlife market. We cannot make the same mistake again.

The voices behind this campaign grow ever louder. I am calling for urgent international action on wildlife wet markets. The Australian government agrees, and on Thursday called for multilateral action, citing the markets as a 'biosecurity and human health risk'.

Given the evident support among the public, including readers of The Mail on Sunday, for such measures, the British Government should follow suit.

It is only through international co-operation and the enforcement of existing bans that this threat can be defeated. After this pandemic, we have an opportunity to recast our relations with the animal world. Or, we can sit back and wait for the next outbreak.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-25 16:56:16|Editor: huaxia

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MANILA, April 25 (Xinhua) -- COVID-19 infections in the Philippines continued its steady rise on Saturday, hitting 7,294 since the first confirmed COVID-19 case was reported on Jan. 30 in the country.

The Department of Health (DOH) reported an additional 102 COVID-19 infections, raising the total number of COVID-19 cases in the country to 7,294.

According to the DOH, 30 more patients have recovered, bringing the total number of recoveries to 792. However, it said 17 more patients have also died, bringing the death toll to 494. Enditem
North Korea's top leader Kim Jong-un is reportedly to be in a 'vegetative state' as his health appears could be more serious than initially believed, Japanese media reported.

Earlier this week, the North Korean leader was gravely ill following heart surgery.



Media reports said that China had dispatched a team to North Korea to advise on Kim's health.





However, the reports about Kim's health are disputed as North Korea has not made any official statement regarding it.



The Chinese Communist Party's International Liaison Department departed for North Korea on Thursday. Those involved are keeping quiet about the nature of the trip, and even the sources that reported on the trip are keeping quiet regarding what it means for Kim's current state, Japanese media reported.
Spain is by far the country with the highest number of coronavirus infections among healthcare workers, according to available official data.

A report published on Thursday by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) underscores that 20% of registered coronavirus cases in Spain are healthcare workers, compared with 10% in Italy as a whole (in the hard-hit region of Lombardy the percentage rises to 20%). In the United States, infected healthcare workers represent 3% of total cases, while in China they are 3.8%.

Healthcare professionals went to war without protection Daniel Lopez Acuna, Andalusian School of Public Health

Although the ECDC study uses Spanish figures from April 21, more recent data confirms this trend. On Friday, the Health Ministry reported that 35,295 healthcare workers are infected, 940 more than on Thursday. In Italy, the second most affected European country, there are just under 18,000 infected healthcare workers, according to figures released on Tuesday by Italian health authorities.

Besides the more than 35,000 health professionals, an EL PAIS estimate based on available regional statistics shows that nearly 12,000 employees of senior residences and other care centers have also been infected. But the real figure is probably much higher due to under-reporting. The Basque Country, Navarre and Castilla y Leon do not offer figures from care centers, while Madrid only reports those from public residences, which represent a fraction of the total.

Lack of measures

The high number of infections among health personnel in Spain is due to the absence of the indispensable safety measures that should have preserved their health, according to the Spanish Medical Colleges Organization (OMC), a regulatory body for the medical profession. The OMC also notes that 37 healthcare workers have died of coronavirus in Spain.

There werent face masks for the workers. And when the masks arrived, many of them were defective. At this point in time, not all doctors and professionals have been tested yet. You cannot confront an epidemic of this magnitude in these conditions, says the organization, which is planning to pursue legal action in cases involving defective face masks for healthcare workers.

Manuel Cascos, president of the nurses union Satse, also blames a lack of protective gear and testing kits for the high prevalence of infections among health personnel. This was the determining factor, says Cascos.

The union estimates that between 60% and 65% of affected healthcare workers are nurses. The lack of foresight and diligence by the relevant health authorities has put healthcare professionals in a position of great defenselessness, where they remain to this day, says Cascos.

Satse said it will report this deplorable situation to the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Labor Organization and the European Commission, among others.

A known risk

Healthcare professionals went to war without protection, says Daniel Lopez Acuna, a former WHO official who teaches at the Andalusian School of Public Health. First they got infected, and later, without knowing it because many of them were asymptomatic, they infected colleagues and patients.

Lopez Acuna sees an aggregation of factors behind the enormous impact of the coronavirus on Spanish healthcare personnel. Many health facilities did not have enough protective gear. The recommendations to use masks were not uniformly issued at the beginning of the epidemic. And the very limited number of tests performed at the beginning prevented us from knowing what proportion of health professionals were infected.

But to me, the determining factor, the one that has multiplied and made worse all of the above, is the asymptomatic transmission of the virus, he adds.

You cannot confront an epidemic of this magnitude in these conditions Spanish Medical Colleges Organization

Jose Maria Martin Moreno, a professor of preventive medicine and public health at Valencia University, laments the fact that authorities did not adopt the lessons learned from the SARS and MERS epidemics early on. The risk for health professionals was a known factor. But for some reason, the system was not made ready in time.

Yet despite these shortages, he adds, professionals at health centers and senior residences continued to perform their work out of ethics, professionalism and a sense of duty. This in turn raised the probability of contagion.

English version by Susana Urra.
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A policeman who is also a member of the Rivers state taskforce on COVID-19 lockdown, has allegedly killed a female colleague who is a nursing mother, in Port Harcourt, the Rivers state.

The sad incident reportedly happened inside a market at Eneka in Port Harcourt, yesterday April 23.

According to reports, the policewoman tried stopping the said police officer and other members of the taskforce from destroying the wares of the market women, when the erring officer opened fire. The bullet however hit the policewoman, killing her instantly.

The state Commissioner for Police, Joseph Mukan, confirmed the incient saying that the erring policeman has been arrested, disarmed and subjected to orderly room trial.

A policeman attached to the taskforce did the shooting. He was shooting anyhow and in the process killed another policewoman. The policewoman was hit by a stray bullet. he said

A Twitter user has taken to the platform to narrate mourn the deceased policewoman.
CNN - Nintendo revealed on Friday that 160,000 accounts were breached since the beginning of April, by hackers using others' Nintendo Network IDs without permission. The company announced users will no longer need to use these IDs to log into their accounts, and that passwords on accounts that may have been breached will be reset.

Over the past month, users on social media were complaining of missing funds from their Nintendo accounts and, in some cases, seeing their money being used to buy Fortnite's virtual currency, V-Bucks.

In addition to logging in to potentially play other users' games, the hackers were also able to see individuals' date of birth, country or region and email addresses. They could also access payment services linked to these accounts, including PayPal accounts or credit cards to buy items on Nintendo's platform.

"We sincerely apologize to our customers and related parties for any inconvenience and concern. In the future, we will make further efforts to strengthen security and ensure safety so that similar events do not occur," said Nintendo in an announcement originally written in Japanese.

A Nintendo Network ID is a unique username and password used mainly for older Nintendo 3DS and Wii U consoles. On the newer Nintendo Switch, users don't have to register a Nintendo Network ID and can simply create an account using an email address, although it was possible to link the two.

Nintendo encouraged customers to check their purchase history for any unauthorized transactions and then request a refund. Credit card information wasn't exposed, however, according to Nintendo.

The company is emailing affected users, urging them to change their passwords. Anyone who used to use a Nintendo Network ID to login should now use their Nintendo account email address instead. For an extra layer of security, the company is also asking people to set up two-factor authentication, adding a second method of verification such as linking to another app that will generate a code for each login.

This story was first published on CNN.com "Nintendo reveals 160,000 accounts were breached"
The coronavirus positive infections have crossed 37,000, with more than half in India alone. The staggering numbers have complicated the task of governments looking to scale back lockdown measures that have destroyed livelihoods of millions across the region.

This week, authorities sought to ease a stringent new cases on Thursday since the 40-day lockdown of the population of 1.3 billion by allowing farm and industrial activity in the least-affected rural areas. In some parts of the country, day one of relaxation looked like just another normal day, with no social distancing in place and of course, traffic jams.

On Thursday, India reported 1,684 new cases within 24 hours, taking the total tally past 23,000-mark and the death toll breaching 700.

AFP

"We have to remain focused in this fight, the effort is to stop the spread at any cost," said Satyendra Jain, the health minister of Delhi, one of country's top three virus hotspots.

"If we want to end the lockdown, we have to bring down the number of red zones."

Maharashtra tops tally

With close to 10 days to go for the Lockdown 2.0 to end, Maharashtra has emerged as the worst-affected state with 6,430 cases and 283 casualties.

Here is total coronavirus cases in India, state-wise

Andaman and Nicobar Islands - 22

Andhra Pradesh - 895

Arunachal Pradesh - 1

Assam - 36

Bihar - 153

Chandigarh - 27

Chhattisgarh - 36

Delhi - 2376

Goa - 7

Gujarat - 2624

Haryana - 272

Himachal Pradesh - 40

Jammu and Kashmir - 427

Jharkhand - 53

Karnataka - 445

Kerala -447

Ladakh - 18

Madhya Pradesh - 1699

Maharashtra - 6430

Manipur - 2

Meghalaya - 12

Mizoram - 1

Odisha - 90

Puducherry - 7

Punjab - 277

Rajasthan -1964

Tamil Nadu - 1683

Telangana - 960

Tripura - 2

Uttarakhand - 47

Uttar Pradesh - 1510

West Bengal - 514

So far, India has tested 5 lakh samples for coronavirus, according to Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

AP

India currently has close to 3,773 dedicated COVID-19 hospitals, health centres and care centres with capacity of 1,94,026 isolation beds, 24,644 ICU beds and 12,371 ventilators. The capacity is being increased everyday.

Status of other countries

The total number of coronavirus cases in Pakistan have reached 11,155, with 79 per cent cases locally transmitted.

Bangladesh has decided to extend shutdown till May 5 as COVID-19 toll rose to 127. A report by Al Jazeera states that hundreds of doctors in Bangladesh have been infected by the novel virus. According to worldometers, Bangladesh has more than 4,000 cases and 127 deaths so far.

Nepal has reported 48 cases and zero deaths.

Maldives has reported 208 cases and zero deaths.

Sri Lanka has 373 confirmed cases and seven deaths.
Embraer hits out after Boeing scraps $4.2 billion tie-up FILE PHOTO: The Boeing logo is pictured at the LABACE fair in Sao Paulo

By Marcelo Rochabrun, Tim Hepher and Tatiana Bautzer

SAO PAULO/PARIS (Reuters) - Boeing Co <BA.N> on Saturday pulled out of a $4.2 billion (3.4 billion pounds) deal to buy Embraer's <EMBR3.SA> commercial jets division, sparking a furious response from its jilted partner and leaving plans for a U.S.-Brazil alliance from regional jets to jumbos in tatters.

The collapse, first reported by Reuters, came hours after a midnight deadline expired with no agreement on how to implement a deal first aired in 2018, partially in response to a similar Canadian acquisition by Europe's Airbus <AIR.PA>.

Boeing accused Embraer of failing to meet conditions for closing the transaction, but Embraer said Boeing had torpedoed it because of wider financial problems it faces as a result of the coronavirus crisis and the grounding of its 737 MAX.

"Embraer believes strongly that Boeing has wrongfully terminated the (agreement,)" the Brazilian company said.

Boeing struck a more emollient tone but behind the scenes, both sides were bracing for months of argument over the breakup.

"Over the past several months, we had productive but ultimately unsuccessful negotiations ... We all aimed to resolve those by the initial termination date, but it didn't happen," Boeing senior vice-president Marc Allen said in a statement.

The rift halts the second half of a major reshaping of the global duopoly between Boeing and Airbus as both companies sought to expand into regional jets. Airbus bought the Canadian CSeries in 2018 and renamed it A220, which has sold well.

Industry sources say Boeing was interested in Embraer mainly for access to lower-cost engineers and new manufacturing options, but it is now pondering cutting 10% of its workforce while also seeking U.S. federal help for the aerospace sector.

The feud also breaks a previously close relationship between two of the world's top three planemakers, who have adopted similar positions on trade battles with Europe and Canada.

Story continues

"This is not the kind of statement you see very often in this industry," Teal Group consultant Richard Aboulafia said.

The deal calls for a $100 million breakup fee but Embraer is poised to sue Boeing for significantly more, alleging that the long period of uncertainty has hampered sales of its E2 jets.

It said it would pursue "all remedies" against Boeing, without elaborating.

FINANCIAL, PAPERWORK DISPUTES

In addition to the deal on commercial aviation, a separate joint-venture to find new markets for Embraer's KC-390 military cargo plane is also off. But a more simple agreement to "market and support" the KC-390 signed in 2012 will remain.

The prospect of an abrupt collapse was first reported by Reuters on Friday after sources reported slow progress in talks with hours left before a midnight cut-off.

On Saturday, plans for simultaneous announcements were abandoned after Reuters quoted sources as saying Boeing had notified Embraer late on Friday that it would refuse to extend the midnight deadline, effectively blocking the deal.

People familiar with the matter said Boeing had raised objections during talks about funding and legal matters, which Embraer regarded as a deliberate bid to frustrate the deal.

Others said the dispute revolved around how much Embraer had invested in the commercial aerospace unit pending a final deal, as well as the progress of technical and contractual paperwork.

Embraer said it had met its commitments.

The deal had already faced antitrust hiccups but sources close to the talks said these did not ultimately wreck the deal. While the transaction received antitrust approvals from most countries, the European Union delayed a decision until August.

Analysts expect Embraer, which has called the tie-up crucial for its future, to move quickly to reassure investors over its finances. It ended 2019 with $2.3 billion in cash.

(Writing by Marcelo Rochabrun, Tim Hepher; Editing by Kevin Liffey, Chizu Nomiyama and Marguerita Choy)
Scotch Hall Shopping Centre organised the Easter Bunny to stop off at the hospital

Warm words of thanks have come flooding in from our readers in tribute to the frontline healthcare workers battling Covid-19. Here are some of them:

Emma Clulow: Thank you so much.. we are so blessed to have such a dedicated team of professionals. We are forever in your debt. You are all just brilliant.

Gerry Keoghan: Thanks for your service and dedication to the nursing, paramedics, reception staff and all other staff/workers.

Janice Doolan: Thank you to all the staff at OLOL who have saved my life on more than one occasion. I'm truly grateful to you all x

Martina Brady: To all the staff from top to bottom thank you for all the great work you are all doing stay safe prayers are with you all.

Audrey Branigan: You are all amazing thank you for all your hard work and compassion really appreciate all you do.

Geraldine Conway: A big thank you to all the staff at our hospital from Doctors to Nurses, Catering and Cleaning staff and Maintenance and Admin staff. Well done to you all for turning up for work and trying to keep us all safe

Maureen Hughes: I needed the staff over the Easter weekend such pleasant caring, efficient people nothing was too much trouble for them, I cannot say it enough, thank you very much for looking after me, angels each and every one of you.

Denise Tuohy: Thank you for putting your lives at risk everyday for us . You are all amazing and true heroes xxx

Ruth Maguire: Thank you all so much for putting your lives at risk every day to save other people.

Anna Kelly: Thank you to everyone who works at the hospital. We always knew you were amazing and now you know just how much we think of you.

Lorraine Rennicks: Well done to all the frontline staff at Drogheda hospital your doing amazing work, thank you

Niamh Mullen: Thanks so much from the caterers, domestics,cleaners,carers, nurses and doctors and paramedics, you are amazing

Tracey Andrews: We so blessed to have amazing hospital in Drogheda. Love, thank you from bottom of my heart with all great work you have done

Julie Halton: To all the amazing staff in OLOL....thank you for everything you are doing xx

Susan Curran: Thank you for your the good work you do saving lives its much appreciated.

Anne Wolohan: Thank you every member of staff in OLOL hospital. I pray for you day that will all stay safe and well . congratulations to you all. Your amazing

Tracey Hanby Gray: To Wa'el Shabo & his wonderful team. We are thinking of you every day! Keep up the amazing work x

Kathleen Reilly: Thank you to all the nurses and doctors and all other staff in the hospital

Lynette Mc Eneaney: God bless every one of you. You are a credit to your professions. X

Josephine McCabe: There is not enough words to say how amazing you are stay safe and thank you

Christy O'Connor: I hope you are all truly rewarded after this crisis, you are wonderful people.

Valerie Moore: Thank you to all our heroes.

Trisha Dunne: Well done and thank you to all the staff from doctors to kitchen staff to cleaners

Sasha Byrne: Sending heartfelt thanks to all of you

Deirdre Browne: Thank you for all your hard work. Stay safe

Karin Black: Thank you

Debra Lowth: Thank you so much, and know that it is really appreciated

Pamela Harty: Thank you all so much you are fantastic

Selina Fox Crilly: Thank you all for the amazing work your doing to try save lives. Your all fantastic. And walking Angels

Karen Poynton: Well done all..

Maria Malone: Well done to everyone it's not easy God bless

Anita Fox: Thank you

Celine Halpin: Funny how important nurses are now. Front line heroes deserve so much more for all that they do. Please remember when all this is over. Stay safe.

Aishling O'Toole: The public know how valuable our doctors and nurses are. See it's funny because they asked our doctors and nurses to come home and help, but I hope they never have to strike for a pay rise again!

Fiona Maguire: Thank you so much for going to work everyday risking your own health, leaving your families everyday to look after someone else's family member. May God hold you all in the palm of his hand and keeps use safe use are the real heroes in all of this..

Bernie Bannon Lenehan: Thank you to all the staff at Our lady of Lourdes hospital, You are all Fantastic. stay safe

Sharon O Brien: Amazing heroes putting their lives at risk everyday for us x thank u all so very much always in our prayers stay safe x

Caitriona Scott: Thanks so much to every one of you for everything you do now and always. You are the real heroes, take care and stay safe xx

Regina Kelledy: Doing an amazing job in the Our lady of Lourdes hospital in drogheda. The doctors, nurses, care assistants and all staff are warriors defeating the COVID- 19.

Sheila Harrington: To all staff in Our Lady Of Lourdes. Thank you for your bravery and kindness. It is very much appreciated.

Noel Thompson: Thanks to you all, doing a great job, hope you are appreciated for what you are doing daily, when this is all over with a big pay rise

Rory O'Neill: To all the staff in Our Lady of Lourdes hospital thanks very much for all your hard work you are all by far the superheroes in this. Words can't even explain how proud I am of all of you well done

Alice McCloskey: Thank you to all our front line workers including those cleaning and preparing meals foe the sick

Anne Hatch: Thanks to all the staff . Doing great job and in nursing homes . X

Tracey Delaney: Thank You Very Much to all the staff you are our heroes, please stay safe and well through our hard times x

Barbara Gillespie: To all the staff at Our lady of Lourdes hospital, you are all amazing!! Thank you so much for all your hard work! May god bless you and keep you all safe.

Paula Black: Thank you every member of Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital and the Paramedics who are there on a daily basis you are all Heroes.

Lorraine Saurin Mcauley: God bless each and every one of you..

Laus Mcq: Thanks to all who work in the Lourdes hospital and everyone in all the other hospitals without all your hard work and dedication the whole world would be lost, not enough recognition is given to all of you on a daily basis, you risk your lives everyday so for that I applaud you all

Jane Kierans: To all the staff working in the Lourdes Hospital Thank You for your continued hard work on the frontline. Stay safe and I hope that when this all passes you will be well rewarded. Champions one and all

Josephine McCabe: There is not enough words to say how amazing you are stay safe and thank you

Kevin Callan: We are so lucky to have such amazing people in our community and in our hospital at this awful time. Thanks and prayers to you all. Cllr Kevin Callan.

Denise Mckeon Prendergast: Thank you to each & everyone of you

Martina Brady: To all the staff from top to bottom thank you for all the great work you are all doing stay safe prayers are with you all

Raymond Darling: Hi folks you want a good will message. The people of Duleek raised over 4K through haven pharmacy Duleek in a weekend as a thank you for all the hospital do.

We are like a tree. The hospital is the roots and the branches spread out to all the community giving it fruit and flowers. All we do as a community is water that tree by giving something back to the hospital. Thank you Haven pharmacy Duleek and thank you OLOL Drogheda.

You too can help at https://www.facebook.com/groups/424635647744791/permalink/1212192548989093/

Lorraine Carolan: A huge thank you to each & every person working in the Lourdes during this difficult time. Your hard work & dedication is so appreciated. #staysafe

Sandra Durnin: Thank you for you care. God bless everyone in the front line

Sharon O'brien: Thank you all at Our Lady of Lourdes for all your hard work

Jackie Nolan Murphy: I have too many doctors and nurses, blood testers, consultants, porters, xray/mri personnel, the people who clean and the people who fed me. I've spent weeks in the Lourdes with a rare illness that took a long time to figure out.

Ann Marie Allen Segrave: Thank you to all the Staff in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital such a wonderful hospital have always looked after my family with fantastic care #staysafe

Jean Lenehan: Thank you for ur loving care to everyone in the front line god bless you and keep safe xxxx

Anne Lawlor: Huge thanks and well done to all Staff. All very much appreciated. Stay safe and keep well x

May Farrell: Thank You

Noel Doolan: You are all heroes

Stephen Floyd: To all the staff in OLOL. Doing Trojan work. Remember they are putting their own lives at risk to help people. Stay safe

Celine Reid Boylan: Thanks to all the staff in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital for all you have done and continue to do your all brilliant stay safe x

Stephanie Fiona Fay: Thank you so much uses are heroes in my eyes. xx

Marguerite Behan: Fair play to each and every one of you. May God keep u all safe

Margo Brady: Thank you

Anne Mooney: Thank you all so much for your hard work. May God keep you all safe.

Heather Smith: Fair play to you all . Yous are all heroes and so brave to be working in this time. Try stay safe and be brave. Thank you from everybody yous are amazing.

Oonagh Mc Connell: A huge thank you to each & every person working in the Lourdes during this difficult time. Your hard work & dedication is so appreciated. #staysafe

Anne-marie Hamill: Thanks

Sharon Courtney: Thank you all for the hard work your all doing in such stressful and scary times xx

Blanaid Byrne: Amazing selfless people you are all outstanding for what you all have done and continue to do

Deirdre Leech: We are all tremendously grateful to each and every one of the staff of OLOL hospital, thank you for all you do, stay safe.

Jerome O Brien: Thank you for all your hard work and you guys are the real hero's in these dark times god bless you all.

Dessie Byrne: Thank you one and all for what you have done what you are doing and what you will always do for our Health Thank you.

Siobhan Burke: AMAZING

Mary Reilly: To all the staff in our lady of Lourdes hospital thank you so very much for all your help and kindness.

Ann Mullen: Thanks to you all. We appreciate the work and sacrifices you are all making.

Evelyn Wogan: Amazing staff <3. Hope you all stay safe xxx

Angela O'Brien: To all the medical staff, cleaning staff. Catering staff , you are all amazing and I hope you all get the the pay and treatment you all deserve when this is all over. Stay safe and take care . THANK YOU ALL.

Thomas Crocock: Thank you all so much !

Richard O'Sullivan: Amazing job you guys are doing during this incredible difficult time - heroes every one of you

Jody Mc Mahon: Thank you, stay safe x
Buenos Aires, April 25 : Former Argentina international midfielder Jose Sosa has said he is close to leaving Trabzonspor to join his original club Estudiantes de La Plata.

Sosa's contract with the Turkish side expires at the end of the current European season, paving the way for his return to Argentina as a free agent in July, reports Xinhua news agency.

"My contract is coming to an end. I've been talking (with Estudiantes). I have to be careful about what I say because the club asked me not to comment. But if I go back to Argentina it will be to play with Estudiantes.

Sosa made his professional debut with Estudiantes in 2002 after being promoted from the club's youth academy.

He has since had spells with Bayern Munich, Napoli, Atletico Madrid and Milan. The 34-year-old has been capped 19 times for Argentina from 2005 to 2013, scoring one goal.
(Newser)  On April 24, 1990, the space shuttle Discovery lifted off from Florida's Kennedy Space Center, with a very special item on board: the Hubble Space Telescope, which was launched into Earth's orbit a day later. Now, to celebrate the telescope's 30th anniversary observing the cosmos, NASA has released what it calls a "stunning new portrait of a firestorm of starbirth." In less-flowery layman's terms, it's a photo taken by the telescope itself of two gassy nebulae (a red one and a blue one) in a satellite galaxy of the Milky Way. Space.com notes the photo has been dubbed "Cosmic Reef," as "the sparkling, brilliant structures resemble a cosmic coral reef glistening in some secret corner of a deep ocean."

story continues below

The region where the nebulae were spotted is part of a star-birthing area known as the Large Magellanic Cloud, which is about 163,000 light-years away from Earth. "This image is amazing, it's really showing how powerful Hubble is," a Space Telescope Science Institute astrophysicist says. "Today, it has the sharpest eyes it's ever had." Space.com has more on the telescope's storied history, from the initial bumps when it was first sent into orbit, to its discovery of huge black holes hiding in distant galaxies. "Hubble has changed the landscape of astronomy and astrophysics," says an STSI senior staff member who watched the Hubble launch in 1990. "It has far exceeded its early goalsno other science facility has ever made such a range of fundamental discoveries." (Read more Hubble Space Telescope stories.)
Hyderabad: The mayor of Hyderabad Bonthu Rammohan, despite a high profile job, does not have much of an urban connect. However, his rustic grounding is making him an important figure during the citys fight against Coronavirus, in particular, in dealing with the lockdown and consequent issues. Maddy Deekshith of Deccan Chronicle travelled with mayor Rammohan for an entire day, kickstarting it at 8 am with people thronging to his resident in Banjara Hills for donations.

Along the day, attending numerous events including an awareness campaign for sanitation workers, receiving personal protection equipment (PPE) from Hyderabad MIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi, educating commuters, attending food donation programmes to migrant workers, attending TRS internal meetings, visiting containment zones and shelter homes, inspecting progress of infrastructure works, attending fake calls and holding review meetings, DC interviewed him.

The Mayor started his day with a dose of Ayurvedic medicine given by his mother to increase his immunity. It was suggested to her by a doctor, who is also Rammohans friend from college days at Osmania University.

The mayor then went to Charminar to participate in a pledge programme organised by the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation. Addressing about 400 sanitation workers, he said, we are striving to keep the city clean, risking our lives. We appeal to citizens to stay home, till end of lockdown. If Coronavirus is villain, sanitation workers are heroes, fighting for us. More than 25,000 workers join hands to fight the virus. We will surely win.

How prepared is Telangana in fighting Coronavirus?

Months ago, we are brooding in panic what would happen if this deadly virus enters India. Unlike China, we are a democratic country, a developing nation. How can we contain Covid-19? However, under the guidance of chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao, we have been preparing plans since the third week of January.

We held numerous meetings with bureaucrats from all departments and prepared an extensive plan for lockdown well in advance, without disturbing harmony or creating panic among citizens. We have successfully contained Covid-19, despite facing several challenges during lockdown.

There are several allegations regarding irregularities in ration distribution in the city? How well is the government treating migrant labours and homeless?

We have distributed free ration to about 3.35 lakh ration cards holders, who have applied from 76 lakh cardholders in the state. We have been supplying 2.15 lakh meals a day through Annapurna canteens and volunteers to migrant labours and homeless. We have been treating migrant labourers like citizens.

The journey continues through awareness programmes, a review meeting at GHMC headquarters pertaining to land acquisition, TRS party meeting in Nampally, attending food donation at Exhibition Grounds, inspecting SRDP works at Bahadurpura, CRMP works on Sardar Patel Road, inspecting shelter homes at West Marredpally, and a containment zone in Alugadda Bavi.

The mayor gets numerous fake calls. One such claimed that 40 migrants were deprived of food at a waiting room in Secunderabad. When the mayor went to the spot, there were no people at all. The day stretches till curfew time, with hardly time for even a proper cup of tea, much less so a meal.
Seventy-two COVID trials of therapeutics are underway in the United States under FDA oversight and 211 are in the planning stages, so we expect to see more. This includes convalescent plasma as well as antiviral therapies

Washington: A top Trump administration health official has said that as many as 19 therapeutics trials are underway and 211 in planning stages in a bid to find the cure for coronavirus.

We are leaving no stone unturned to find the treatment for COVID-19... We don't have any approved therapeutics for COVID-19 but we are actively involved with the academic, commercial and private sector to find it, FDA Commissioner Stephen M Hahn told reporters at a White House news conference.

Seventy-two trials of therapeutics are underway in the United States under FDA oversight and 211 are in the planning stages, so we expect to see more. This includes convalescent plasma as well as antiviral therapies, Hahn added.

According to Hahn, work is continuing on finding a vaccine. FDA has authorised two firms on vaccine trials.

Hahn said that the FDA has told manufacturers that in order to market anti-body tests in the US, they have to validate their tests.

They have to tell us that they validated their tests, and in the package insert they have to let people know, end-users, labs, etc, that those tests were not authorised by FDA, he said.

So far, the US has authorised four and more are in the pipeline, he added.

Antibody tests that are used to detect natural immunity and the FDA's approach to help make these tests available, he noted.

These are just one part of the FDA's larger response effort. They can play a role in helping move the economy forward by helping healthcare professionals identify those who have immunity to the COVID-19, he asserted.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the FDA has worked with more than 380 test developers who have said they will be submitting emergency use authorisations (EUA) requests to FDA for tests that detect the virus.

To date, the FDA has issued 44 individual emergency use authorisations for test kit manufacturers and laboratories.

In addition, 19 authorised tests have been added to the EUA letter of authorisation for high complexity molecular-based laboratory-developed tests (LDTs).
Nathaniel Bankston, 15, of Richmond, Virginia, was shot and killed by a 12-year-old boy on Thursday night, according to police

A 12-year-old boy has been arrested for fatally shooting a 15-year-old kid in the head just an hour after they were spotted eating pizza and playing video games at a local convenience store in Richmond, Virginia on Thursday.

The suspect, whose identity has not been released, faces multiple felony charges including first-degree murder for the shooting death of Nathaniel Bankston.

The boy is unlikely to be tried as an adult due to his age, according to WTVR-TV.

The list of charges includes first-degree murder, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and possession of a firearm by a juvenile.

The shooting reportedly took place at around 8:23pm on Thursday.

Bankston suffered gunshot wounds to his head and other parts of his body, according to authorities

Police say that Bankston and the 12-year-old were seen playing video games and eating pizza at a local convenience store about an hour before the shooting on Thursday

Bankston took several gunshot rounds to the head as well as other parts of his body, according to investigators.

He was rushed to Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center in downtown Richmond, where he was pronounced dead.

Investigators are asking anyone with information connected to the case to contact Crime Stoppers at 804-780-1000.
[April 24, 2020] BECTON DICKINSON 72 HOUR DEADLINE ALERT: FORMER LOUISIANA ATTORNEY GENERAL AND KAHN SWICK & FOTI, LLC REMIND INVESTORS WITH LOSSES IN EXCESS OF $100,000 of Deadline in Class Action Lawsuit Against Becton, Dickinson and Company - BDX

Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, the former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have only until April 27, 2020 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE: BDX), if they purchased the Company's securities between November 5, 2019 and February 5, 2020, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey. What You May Do If you purchased securities of Becton and would like to discuss your legal rights and how this case might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email ([email protected]), or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-bdx/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action by overseeing lead counsel with the goal of obtaining a fair and just resolution, you must request this position by application to the Court by April 27, 2020.



About the Lawsuit Becton and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.

On February 6, 2020, the Company disclosed a cut to its fiscal 2020 guidance with revenue expected to increase by only 1.5% to 2.5% "to reflect the impact of the remediation effort and anticipated loss of sales of the Alaris infusion system"; that the software remediation plan for the Alaris system "will require additional regulatory filings"; that existing customers would have "access to the Alaris System under medical necessity"; and that it had recorded a $59 million charge in connection with a voluntary recall of certain Alaris pumps. On this news, the price of Becton's shares plummeted. The case is Stephen Kabak, as Trustee of the Stephen Kabak & Joy Schary Living Trust , et al. v. Becton, Dickinson and Company, 20-cv-02155. About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC KSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nation's premier boutique securities litigation law firms. KSF serves a variety of clients - including public institutional investors, hedge funds, money managers and retail investors - in seeking recoveries for investment losses emanating from corporate fraud or malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, California and Louisiana. To learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200424005546/en/

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The Himachal Pradesh government on Saturday decided to relax curfew from 5.30 am to 7 am from Sunday to help people take a morning walk.

The decision was taken at a meeting, chaired by chief minister Jai Ram Thakur, held to review the coronavirus pandemic situation in the state.

It also decided to ease curfew for four hours instead of the existing three hours from Monday. In the state capital, the relaxation will be from 10 am to 2 pm.

This would help reduce crowds at shops and help maintain social distancing norms, he said.

CM said the curfew has adversely affected the states economy and an action plan is required to revive the economic activities post-lockdown from May 3.

Thakur said help would be provided to the people stranded outside the state. The people willing to return to the state must be allowed after following the medical protocol that included thorough examination and institutional or home quarantine, he said.

He said that all panchayat heads must be provided information on people who had returned to their areas for implementation of the quarantine norms.

CM said that all deputy commissioners must ensure that all the private hospitals and clinics in their jurisdictions function smoothly.

Chief secretary Anil Khachi said that people arriving anywhere in the state from other states must be sensitised regarding the preventive measures.
Retailers across northwest Harris County are beginning to reopen somewhat, offering curbside pickup for customers.

These reopenings began Friday, April 24, following Gov. Greg Abbotts executive orders issued April 17 to begin reopening the state. One of the orders allows nonessential retail services to operate under a retail to-go model.

Willowbrook Mall, off Highway 249 and FM 1960, saw many stores reopening for curbside pickup Friday. They opened at 11 a.m., with Dicks Sporting Goods, Dillards, Gamestop, Think Geek and Violet K-Pop taking orders for pickup.

ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Coronavirus live updates: Infections more prevalent in Harris County's poor neighborhoods

Guests will park in one of the numbered parking spaces, alert the appropriate store of the make and model of their vehicle, along with the parking space number, Willowbrook Mall Spokesperson Rachel Wille said. Employees of the store will then bring the purchased items directly to the vehicle. There will be no need for the guests to get out of their vehicles.

It was each stores decision whether to reopen, not the malls, Wille said, and all employees are required to wear face masks. Mall stores are open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

FACE MASK ORDER:

Hyeonjin Han, the owner of Violet K-Pop, said it was his decision to open his store, as well as his other store located in Deerbrook Mall in Humble. He said they would be wearing masks and gloves to take orders out to customers cars and can also take payments online on their website.

WHERE TO SHOP: Six Houston-area malls are open for retail-to-go

Other area retailers opened Friday with modified operations as well.

Sound Revolution, a music shop at 21153 Tomball Parkway, said they reopened for curbside pickup. It works similarly to mall store operations, with customers calling ahead to order what they want. The items are taken to customers cars outside and a tray is used to collect the money, Sound Revolution Manager Sunne Walton said.

This is their first time open since the stay-at-home orders were implemented, other than an attempt at staying open just taking orders online.

Some people have ordered online with us, but it wasnt what we wanted it to be, so weve been closed for some time now, Walton said.

Walton said part of the reason for the reopening is so their employees can start getting paid again.

We have 10 employees, so they all need a paycheck and weve been trying to keep them on the schedule as much as we can so they can feed their families, Walton said.

All their employees are wearing gloves and masks, she said, and they dont touch the money directly, using the tray to carry it. Only two employees are working in the store at a time.

MORNING REPORT: Get the top stories on HoustonChronicle.com sent directly to your inbox

The comic book shop Dragons Lair, 21151 Tomball Parkway, is reopened partially as well, after the store has been surviving the last few weeks off shipping and deliveries.

Weve been masking up and putting on gloves and meeting people in the Guitar Center parking lot next door and doing delivery, Dragons Lair Owner Robert Prohl said.

Prohl said theyve had a flood of calls from people asking if they are open.

Were a nonessential business, even though our customers consider us pretty essential, Prohl said.

Transactions are done remotely, like other retailers, with employees wearing gloves and masks, and Prohl said they also wipe the door down after every pickup.

We stuck our life-size stand up of Jar Jar Binks outside the door saying meesa doing curbside delivery, Prohl said. (Business) has picked up a little bit.

paul.wedding@hcnonline.com
Tauseef Khan, a resident doctor at the KGMU here who recently defeated COVID-19, began the holy month of Ramzan, which is considered a time for giving, by donating his plasma for treatment of others suffering from the deadly disease.

Khan, in his late 20s, contracted coronavirus from a patient while working at the King George's Medical University and tested positive for the infection on March 17.

He was discharged from the hospital on April 7 and is now back at work after a 14-day home quarantine.

"Dr D Himanshu of Medicine Department, who is looking after the treatment of COVID-19 patients, asked me if I wanted to become the first plasma donor (of KGMU). I immediately said yes as nothing could be greater than being able to save the life of a patient in the holy month of Ramzan," Khan said.

He said he observed his first 'roza' on Saturday and gave his blood after consulting clerics whether it is permissible to do so while fasting.

Head of Transfusion Medicine, KGMU, Tulika Chandra told PTI, "The work on administering medical treatment to COVID-19 patients through plasma therapy began on Saturday."

"In this context, the blood sample of Dr Tauseef Khan, a resident doctor who had recovered from COVID-19, was taken for testing. In the test, the condition of the antibodies was found quite good," she said.

Chandra said, "In the evening, the process of extracting plasma from his body started, and almost 500 millilitres of plasma was extracted. The process took almost one-and-half hour."

She said Khan's plasma will be administered on Monday or Tuesday to a patient who is in a serious condition and in whose case medicines aren't working.

"The patient will be given 200 millilitres of plasma. In other words, plasma donated by one patient (who has recovered from COVID-19) can be used for the treatment of two patients. If there is no positive result after the first 200 millilitres of plasma has been infused, then another 200 millilitres is infused," she elaborated.

Asked about the chances of success of plasma therapy, Chandra said, "It seems that the chances of (success of) plasma therapy are good, and it is for this reason that this therapy is gradually being adopted across the country for treatment of COVID-19 patients. We are hopeful that KGMU will emerge successful in plasma therapy."

On April 21, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had asked the state's medical authorities to promote plasma therapy for the treatment of COVID-19 patients after examining its efficacy.

Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has recently allowed states to start clinical trials of plasma therapy.

Several states like Kerala, Gujarat and Punjab have already started using it for treatment of coronvairus patients.

Convalescent Plasma Therapy is an experimental procedure for COVID-19 patients.

In this treatment, plasma from a cured COVID-19 patient is transfused to a critically ill coronavirus patient.

The idea behind this therapy is that immunity can be transferred from a healthy person to a sick patient using convalescent plasma. This therapy uses antibodies from the blood of a cured coronavirus patient to treat another critical patient.

The recovered COVID-19 patient's blood develops antibodies to battle against COVID-19. Once the blood of the recovered patient is infused to the second patient, those antibodies will start fighting against coronavirus in the second person's body.

The process of donating plasma is similar to donating blood and takes about an hour.

Several countries around the world, including the United Kingdom and the United States have also started plasma therapy trials.

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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The coronavirus may have taken a toll on the community, but it isnt stopping people from performing acts of kindness.

Whether its donating food to the front lines or organizing a community bingo came, the Staten Island community is coming together to show support for those in need during this time.

ON YOUR MARK DONATES GIFT CARDS TO DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS

On Your Mark donated gift cards to Chinar on the Island, Mr. Pizza, West Shore Inn and seven other restaurants. (Courtesy On Your Mark)

The Give A Little for Those Giving a Lot campaign was started by On York Mark, a local non-profit organization providing support to people with developmental and intellectual disabilities. The campaign was designed to give back to both direct support professionals (DSP) and help local restaurants.

DSP, aides and support for people with disabilities, are still providing in-person services, and On York Mark will be providing each of them with $50 in local restaurant gift cards. Each DSP will be given two $25 gift cards to two different Staten Island eateries.

So far, the campaign has raised more than $15,000. A $5,000 donation was made from The Carl V. Bini Memorial Fund, and the rest was raised through GroupMe.

On Your Marks hope is that this small token of our appreciation helps our staffs meals at home with their families easier after completing a day at work, said Teresa Cirelli, director of development for On Your Mark.

The money raised so far has been used to purchase $1,000 worth of gift cards, supporting 10 local restaurants, including Brothers Pizza, West Shore Inn, Chinar on the Island, Jimmy Max, Love Earth Cafe & Bakery, Reggianos, Goodfellas, Country Donuts, Giovannis Trattoria and Mr. Pizza.

DONUTS DONATED TO S.I. PRECINCTS

Evy Poumpouras donated doughnuts and coffee from Dunkin' Donuts to all four precincts on Staten Island. (Courtesy Evy Poumpouras)

Evy Poumpouras, current Bravo Spy Games host and former NYPD/secret service agent of 12 years, has partnered with Dunkin Donuts to deliver treats to police and healthcare workers across the greater New York City area.

Last Sunday, Poumpouras made an appearance at the four Staten Island NYPD precincts to deliver doughnuts and coffee to the officers.

In the past two weeks, she has delivered more than 300 boxes of doughnuts and coffee personally to seven precincts in Newark, the Bronx and Manhattan North PD, and to healthcare workers at Long Island Jewish Medical Center, Mount Sinai Morningside and Lawrence Hospital.

Poumpouras goal is to deliver Dunkin Donuts products to all 77 precincts in New York City throughout the course of April.

HOT MEALS DONATED TO SIUH NORTH AND SOUTH

Connie Profaci Realty donated 80 hot meals collectively to both campuses of SIUH. (Andrew Porazzo, Connie Profaci Realty)

Connie Profaci Realty has started a new initiative to support healthcare workers and other emergency service personnel during the coronavirus outbreak.

A donation drive provided 40 hot meals to the Staten Island University Hospital (SIUH) North campus and the SIUH South campus on Sunday evening.

This drive is not just a donation drive, but its a step in the direction of giving back to the community that has supported our business for over 40 years, said Andrew S. Porazzo, managing director of Connie Profaci Realty. Now, its time for us to do our part in giving back to the community, and thats exactly why were doing that.

According to Porazzo, another donation is scheduled for the 122 Precinct and 123 Precinct of the NYPD on April 26.

ITALIAN FOOD & BEVERAGE COMPANY DONATES TO LOCAL MEDICAL PERSONNEL

IFBC donated to three locations on Staten Island, including both SIUH campuses. (Courtesy IFBC)

Italian Food & Beverage Company (IFBC) is putting together energy drink donations to help local frontline workers in the medical field keep energy levels up as they save lives. So far, IFBC has made donations to four establishments, three of them on Staten Island.

The company donated 10 packs of 240 DINO energy drinks to Sea View Nursing Home, another 10 packs to SIUH South, and also to SIUH North. They also donated to the Harlem Hospital in Manhattan.

HOLTERMANNS BAKERY DONATES TO SIUH

Jill Holtermann in front of Staten Island University Hospital, Ocean Breeze where she donated baked goods. (Courtest Jill Holtermann)

Jill Holtermann Bowers, of Holtermanns Bakery, knew that her sweet treats might be able to brighten the day of some frontline workers. In an attempt to put a smile on their faces, she packed her car with boxes of cakes, cupcakes and other goodies, and dropped them off to workers at SIUH Ocean Breeze and Princes Bay to say thank you.

Bowers also wants to thank her employees for working through these difficult times.

Holtermanns Bakery is still open to the public, offering curbside pick-up from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.

VERIZON AND EMS FDNY HELP FUND PARTNER TOGETHER TO DONATE FOOD

Meals are being dropped off to EMS FDNY workers by Verizon and the EMS FDNY Help Fund. (Courtesy)

The EMS FDNY Help Fund and Verizon have partnered to provide EMS FDNY members, emergency medical technicians and paramedics with daily meals. The effort will bring meals to more than 700 people, and the meals will all be purchased from local restaurants.

Over the next few weeks, the partners expect to deliver nearly 22,000 meals to members in all five boroughs. On Staten Island, deliveries are going to Station 22 in Sea View and Station 23 in Rossville.

Every day, EMS workers put their lives on the line to help others and no other first responders are more on the frontline of COVID-19 then they are, said Carl Gandolfo, board member of the EMS FDNY Help Fund. "Despite this, EMS is often overlooked, which is why we are especially thrilled to be able to provide daily meals to our members and are grateful to Verizon and all of the local restaurants participating that are enabling us to do this.

The partnership is a part of Verizons Food for the Frontline Workers program, which has served more than 1,800 meals a day to six city hospitals.

Verizon is humbled to be able to support the EMS FDNY Help Funds efforts to bring meals to the men and women who are risking their lives every day on the frontline, said Tami Erwin, CEO of Verizon Business. Expanding our Food for the Frontline Workers programs to include the EMS FDNY Help Fund members is just one way were able to support, thank and recognize this extraordinary group of individuals for everything theyre doing.

PARTY COMPANY DECORATES FOR BIRTHDAYS

Erin Lospenuso celebrated her husband's 40th birthday with balloons on her front porch. (Courtesy Erin Lospenuso)

Artistic Balloons & Parties, a local company that specializes in helium balloons and party decor, has been spreading birthday joy in light of the pandemic. Hope Viggiani, a business partner, is decorating porches and stoops to help celebrate birthdays while practicing social distancing.

Erin Lospenuso recently celebrated her husbands birthday, and knew this would be a great, safe way to celebrate the date. Her front steps were decorated with rows of colorful balloons.

BINGO WITH A BULLHORN

Graniteville resident Cindy Johnson found a new way to host her legendary game nights when the stay-at-home issue was order, the New York Post reported.

Johnson, 53, organized an outdoor, socially-distant bingo party and invited all of her neighbors.

She told the Post that shed been talking with her sister about what they could do for the community, and she came up with the idea for the bingo party.

Already having 15 bingo cards at home, she was prepared to set up with her neighbors. They all sat outside of their townhouses, making sure to be six feet apart, and began to play, she told the Post.

Seven of her neighbors joined, all sitting outside with their own tables and chairs, pennies to mark their place, and cocktails to enjoy the night. The grand prize was $40, which everyone chipped in $5 for.

Johnson told the Post that she used a bullhorn to call out the numbers.

Everybody has had such a great time just being silly, Johnson wrote. It really seemed to especially help the people who live by themselves to feel normal again.

More good news:

Have an uplifting story to share? Email rhumbrecht@siadvance.com.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-25 20:37:23|Editor: huaxia

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BUCHAREST, April 25 (Xinhua) -- The Romanian Air Force on Saturday sent a C-27 J Spartan aircraft with 90,000 FFP2 protection masks to Milan, northern Italy.

These masks are part of the medical supplies purchased by Romania for an anti-epidemic stockpile established by the European Union (EU) in the country, according to a press release from the National Defence Ministry of Romania.

The European Commission announced on March 19 to create a common strategic stockpile of medical equipment. Romania is the first member state that volunteered to purchase and host the reserves, which include ventilators and masks, before they are sent to member countries that need them most.

According to the Commission, it will basically bear the relevant costs, while the hosting state is responsible for the procurement.

Romania has so far received a grant of 10 million euros from the EU, under an agreement signed with the Commission.

Since late March, Romania has sent more than a dozen planes to transport medical supplies from China, South Korea and Turkey. China's Tianjin Airlines is also scheduled to fly in Romania about ten flights by the end of this month, carrying medical supplies. Enditem
NDB donates funds for COVID-19 work View(s):

NDB Bank recently made a donation towards the national COVID-19 Healthcare and Social Security Fund.

All NDB staff members made a contribution from their April salary and the bank in turn matched rupee-to-rupee, the total contribution made by the employees, the bank said in a media release.

NDB Bank Director/Group CEO Dimantha Seneviratne and Vice President  Group HR Lasantha Dasanayake handed over the donation to the country at the Presidential Secretariat.

NDB also recently donated funds for a Fully Automated Nucleic Acid Extraction and PCR System as one of the banks Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives.

A normal PCR machine takes up to eight hours to complete a test and a Real-time PCR machine takes up to six hours. However, this particular machine will only take up to 2.5 to three hours for a test to be completed. Hence, during such a time where the pandemic has brought about the need to carry out many medical tests while also saving time, this system is very vital. This will also make the environment safer for MLTs and medical workers at the Medical Research Institute.

Meanwhile, the NDB KCC branch provided essential goods to several families in Kekirawa with their own personal funds as a collective measure to help out the people in the locality. The branch made this contribution with support from the Mithudam Yathrawa.

Additionally, the bank has also taken strategic steps to ensure that the customers are safe at home and maintaining precautions against the virus, while also creating the means in which customers can continue their banking transactions via safe and digital methods.
A team has also been sent to visit West Bengal's Jalpaiguri, Darjeeling and Kalimpong. This team is led by Vineet Joshi, an additional secretary rank officer in the central government.

New Delhi/Kolkata: An inter ministerial central team, which is in Kolkata to assess the COVID-19 situation, 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 and ICU beds and ventilators are available.

In a letter to West Bengal Chief Secretary Rajiva Sinha, the head of the team Apurva Chandra also sought a briefing on whether the testing facilities available in the state are being used in full and the protocol adopted for testing and the level at which conduct of a COVID-19 test is approved.

He asked Sinha to provide members of the team with all logistic support as directed by the Union home ministry and expressed the desire to visit hospitals, hotspots, quarantine centres and markets.

Chandra, an additional secretary in the central government, said since the state government has now decided to extend full cooperation to the team, a detailed presentation should be made by the (state) health department to it with special emphasis on these aspects.

Whether the level of testing in the state is adequate, whether the testing facilities available in the state are being used in full, the protocol adopted for testing and the level at which conduct of a COVID test is approved and availability of safety equipment like PPE and mask and distribution to health professionals in COVID and non-COVID hospitals, he said about the aspects.

Presentation has been sought on the availability of oxygen beds, ICU beds, oxygen supplies and ventilators, the number of surveillance teams and the number of persons surveyed daily in hotspots and containment zones, the system of COVID care centres, COVID health centres, COVID health hospitals in four districts.

The central team should also be briefed on the instances of COVID-19 in health professionals and protective measures in this regard for the health professionals and at the hospitals concerned, system of approval of cause of declaration of death for COVID-19 patients by a committee of doctors at state level, Chandra said.

The team led by Chandra is visiting Kolkata, Howrah, Midnapore (East) and 24 Parganas (North) districts to assess the containment of COVID-19.

Sources said the members stayed indoors at the BSF guest house at Gurusaday Dutta Road in South Kolkata. Meanwhile, Sinha said the state government is fully cooperating with the teams.

"We are cooperating with the teams. We had provided them with all sort of support. But in case, they want to venture outside Kolkata, they should let us know we will make necessary arrangements, " he said.

The divisional commissioner in Jalpaiguri met the second central team camped in North Bengal and shared all information, he said.

A team has also been sent to visit West Bengal's Jalpaiguri, Darjeeling and Kalimpong. This team is led by Vineet Joshi, an additional secretary rank officer in the central government.

Senior district officials Wednesday met Joshi at the SSB camp office in Jalpaiguri, where they had put up, and briefed them about steps taken in the districts in order to tackle COVID-19 pandemic.

Chandra said the central team may be informed of the arrangements for identifying and quarantining people in quarantine centres, supply of essential commodities and condition of relief camps, enforcement of lockdown procedure and social distancing after the revised orders applicable from 20 April.

The central team also wanted to understand any problems faced by the state government in implementation of the lockdown orders, availability of testing kits etc and support required from Union government in this regard.

After full appreciation of the status of preparedness of the state government regarding COVID and any other issues, the team would like to visit some of the hospitals, quarantine centres, hotspots and market places during opening hours and directly interact with the health professionals, inmates and the general public, the letter said.

It is requested that the team may be accompanied by relevant officers of the health department, local bodies and other departments involved in implementing the health and disinfection measures apart from supply of essential commodities, operation of quarantine centres and the managements of the relevant hospitals and not just a police officer who will have no or limited knowledge of any other measures apart from implementation of lockdown, it said.

It is also requested that keeping in view the threat of exposure to the coronavirus, necessary safety equipment like PPE etc. may be arranged for the central team prior to its visit to such places, the letter said.

"We would request the state government to provide full logistic support as directed in the order of MHA dated 19 April, as no such logistic support has been forthcoming till now, he said.

"In view of the above, we look forward to your early response and the programme schedule so that the team could utilise its stay in Kolkata better and fulfil the mandate of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs," the letter said.

The central team also gave a list of hospitals, quarantine centres, hotspots and market places it wanted to visit.

Chandra also wrote that the team arrived in Kolkata on April 20 around 10 am and immediately contacted the chief secretary seeking his time as well as support of state government for making the visit effective.

Referring to the April 10 order of the home ministry, Chandra said the state government was required to provide logistic support to the team, for their accommodation (lodging and boarding), transportation, PPE and extend all cooperation for the visit of local areas, production of documents and records etc.

Chandra also mentioned about his two meetings with the chief secretary and an hour-long Kolkata city tour for a visual appreciation of the lockdown.

After Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla directed the West Bengal government to provide cooperation to the visiting teams, Sinha late Tuesday night wrote back assuring all help.

However, Chandra's letter gave an indication that the team is yet to get the required assistance.

A total of six central teams have been deputed to Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and West Bengal to review the implementation of the lockdown measures after making on-spot assessment of the situation prevailing in the identified districts.

The teams comprise public health specialists and officers of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), whose expertise can be leveraged by the state government for management of COVID-19 pandemic.

The teams were deputed under the authority conferred on the central government under Section 35 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005 which states that "..the central government shall take all such measures as it deems necessary or expedient for the purpose of Disaster Management".

Bhalla, in his Tuesday's letter, also quoted a recent Supreme Court observation that the state governments will faithfully comply with the directives and orders issued by the Union of India in letter and spirit in the interest of public safety.

These observations of the apex court, the home secretary said, must be treated as directions and faithfully complied with.

The home ministry had on Monday said COVID-19 situation is "especially serious" in Mumbai, Pune, Indore, Jaipur, Kolkata and a few other places in West Bengal, and violation of lockdown measures risk the spread of the novel coronavirus.

West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress, however, dubbed the visit of the central teams as "adventure tourism" and asked why such delegations were not sent to states with much higher numbers of infections and hotspots.
President Trump heaped praise on North Korean strongman Kim Jong Un, commending him as a dedicated leader whos beloved in his isolated homeland.

But only months ago Trump branded him little rocket man in front of other world leaders at the United Nations, and called him out over a laundry list of human rights violations.

The young dictator  who took over after his fathers death in 2011  has indeed come under fire for his leadership of North Korea, where citizens are subjected to military rule. The Human Rights Watch said last year the country is one of the most repressive authoritarian states in the world, and has been sanctioned multiple times by the UN.

Here are some of the terrible things Kim is said to have done:

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Kim Jong Nam, seen in 2001, was killed in Malaysia last year and many suspect his half-brother ordered it. (Itsuo Inouye/AP )

Executions, family style

The North Korean dictator is reputed to have ordered hundreds of executions, and his family hasnt been spared from his merciless rule.

That includes his maternal uncle, Jang Song-thaek, who was killed in December 2013 after the high-ranking military leader was convicted of treason. Rumors have spilled out of the tightly guarded nation in the years since Jang died a messy death, with some speculating he was blown away with machine guns or fed to a pack of dogs.

The Institute for National Security Strategy estimates Kims regime has executed at least 340 people since he came into power in late 2011.

Otto Warmbier was imprisoned in what critics called a show trial with baseless accusations and died within days of returning to the U.S. (Jon Chol Jin / AP )

Imprisonment and forced labor

Another hallmark of North Koreas authoritarian society has been imprisoning supposed spies, putting them on show trials and often subjecting them to unforgiving harsh labor.

As many as 120,000 people are held in North Korean political prison camps, according to UN estimates, where theyre believed to receive little food and medical care but plenty of abuse.

Health issues

A North Korean defector who charged through the demilitarized zone and into South Korea last year offered a glimpse into the nations health crisis.

Doctors found parasitic worms in the soldiers stomach, which experts argued at the time underscores greater issues in North Korea. And because soldiers are believed to be treated better than the average citizen, the picture could be grimmer for the rest of the population.
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'

Bodies of Indians who die abroad due to COVID can be brought back: MHA

India

pti-PTI

New Delhi, Apr 25: The Home Ministry Saturday said the bodies of Indian nationals and OCI cardholders, who died abroad due to COVID-19, can be brought back, but with strict adherence to relevant guidelines.

In an official communication, the ministry said airport authorities have to follow the protocols laid down by different government agencies in this regard.

It is clarified that immigration functions in respect of the arrival of dead bodies and mortal remains of the Indian nationals/ OCI cardholders are permitted subject to strict adherence to the guidelines/ instructions issued by various ministries and departments related with management of COVID-19 and submission of no objection, approval and concurrence from the Ministries of Health and External Affairs in this regard," the communication said.

The Home Ministry also said the Standard Operating Procedures issued by the health ministry in this regard must be strictly adhered to. According to the SOP, the human remains mean the dead body and the exhumed body of confirmed or suspected COVID-19 patients.

Formulate a national plan for handling coronavirus crisis: Sibal to govt

It says the importation of the human remains of confirmed or suspected COVID-19 case into India is not recommended.

The MHA said if, contrary to the above recommendation, human remains of the suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19 arrive at Indian airports, the concerned Airport Health Officer (APHO) has to follow certain procedures.The APHO will verify the the death certificate mentioning the cause of death as confirmed COVID-19 or suspected COVID-19, it said.

It will also verify the no-objection certificate (NOC) for the transportation of human remains of the deceased issued by the Indian Embassies or High Commissions or Consulates.

Embalming certificate issued by an authorised agency, the ministry said. On the examination of packaging or human remains, it said the concerned airline shall ensure that the external packing of coffin is undamaged.

The APHO will verify the required documents and inspect the packing in accordance with the provisions under the Indian Aircraft (Public Health) Rules. 1954, the MHA said.

If there are any obvious signs of damage to the coffin, the handlers shall use full PPE, cover the coffin in plastic sheets to avoid any contact with the body or body fluids before hand-over of the human remains to the concerned authority for final burial or incineration.

The personnel handling the human remains should follow the laid down procedures for donning and doffing of Personal Protective Equipment and follow other protective measures for COVID-19 like hand-washing with soap and water, etc. to ensure that they remain protected during the procedure, it said.

The coffin shall be buried or incinerated following the norms for burial or incineration for human remains with high risk pathogens, the MHA said, adding the handlers would be monitored for 28 days and the designated vehicle disinfected as per the norms.

In all such cases, the APHO must direct the concerned airline (carrying the damaged packing containing human remains) to carry out the disinfection of the aircraft as per the norms, it said. In addition, the staff handling the cargo (human remains in question) shall be quarantined for 28 days.

The MHA said the ashes remaining after the cremation pose no risk to the relatives who handle such mortal remains and will be cleared in accordance with the provisions under the Indian Aircraft (Public Health) Rules, 1954.
Hyderabad: With the sighting of the Ramzan moon in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, Nagpur and other placescountry, a month of fasting and prayers got under way in the midst of a lockdown.

April 25, Saturday, is the first day of Ramzan month.

The Markazi Ruyat-e-Hilaal Committee of Sadar Majlis Ulema-e-Deccan on Friday confirmed the sighting of the moon. A meeting of the committee was held at Khankha-e-Kamil Shuttariya, presided over by Moulana Syed Qubool Badsha Shuttari, the secretary of Sadar Majlis Ulema-e-Deccan.

Moulana Shuttari said the first fast will be on Saturday. He appealed to the Muslim community to avoid congregational prayers in view of the lockdown imposed by the government to prevent the spread of coronavirus infections.

Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao greeted the people on the occasion of the beginning of the holy month of Ramzan and urged the people to stay at home and offer their prayers.

Muslims are trying to beat the lockdown blues by resolving to spend maximum time in prayers. However, there is some frustration among a section of people about Ramzan this year turning out to be different from previous years.

ounselling is being offered by religious leaders for such people. Though the importance of the masjid cannot be undermined, it has been pointed out people should stay indoors due to the threat of Covid-19 disease. Many YouTube channels of various religious sects have become active. Youth have been roped into these activities on the internet.

It said the main focus of people in the month of Ramzan was to keep themselves away from materialistic desires, which had of late taken the upper hand over prayers and ibadaat.

Abid Rasool Khan, former chairman of minority commission, said, This Ramzan is no doubt different and it is also going to pave a way for many others in future to observe the holy month in this manner. Most people have resolved to observe it at home and keep it as simple as possible. It was only heard by us from our great grandfathers, and we are now actually going to follow it. Many of them will face problems and they have been asked to adopt technology to reach out in case of any issues.

The pressure to show-off their opulence during iftar parties, which had become synonymous with Ramzan, will not be an event this year.

Iftar had of late become a political and social event. It also had an element of upper-class pride, which had upset many senior members of the community. The senior members are also happy that there will not be too much of eating-out and shopping this year. While these will be done away with this year, people are also going to relearn to carry out iftar with family and elders.

Mohammed Mushtaq Malik, the president of Tahreek Muslim Shabban, said, Youngsters are feeling the pinch as they would always be out with friends during iftar, and they were mostly together with them in masjids. This year they have to be at home with their parents, and it is proving to be difficult for them. But they have been told to abide by the rules of lockdown and no one would be allowed to go outside.

Concerns have been raised about objections raised by police in Mahbubnagar, Khammam, Nizamabad and Karimnagar about the use of loudspeakers and sirens for the announcement of Sehri, iftar and Azaan.

There is no order so far. But local police officers in districts have approached masjids and asked them to refrain from making public announcements. But we have told them that we will not abide by this request because these are for the people and many of them are dependent on it, said Malik.
States have to start opening up slowly, but within a few weeks, if we ever want to return to the normal American way of life, former Gov. Chris Christie wrote in the Washington Post.

President Donald Trump and other governors, including Gov. Phil Murphy, are all at odds over how to reopen states that effectively locked down to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus, leading to a major economic downfall.

And while some experts warn that keeping states closed will cause irreversible, long-term damage to the economy, others say it will undo the work done by social distancing and cause another spike in coronavirus that hospitals are not equipped to handle.

The former Republican governor, who has contributed several pieces to the Washington Post, endorsed Trump after his own campaign for the 2016 Republican presidential campaign fizzled out. He was rumored for several White House positions, but nothing ever came out of it.

Murphy has said he will unveil a broad blueprint as early as Monday to reopen the economy, but stressed at Thursdays press briefing that the state is weeks away from opening, despite ramping up testing with a saliva-based test developed at Rutgers.

Christie began by comparing states that have taken aggressive measures to lockdown and places like Georgia where nail salons will soon begin to open up.

While life wont be risk-free until a vaccine is developed, the former governor continued, The American people intuitively understand this, and theyve never asked for a risk-free life.

CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Newsletter | Homepage

We all have to take responsibility for how we move forward because thats what we do as Americans. We move forward in the face of fear and the unknown because we believe in each other. That is who we have been throughout our history, he wrote.

Christie  who clarified he never believed COVID-19 was a hoax and supported aggressive measures  laid out five steps he says the federal and state governments need to take to save the American way of life":

1. Production of testing needs to be increased using the Defense Production Act, which Trump invoked in March to produce ventilators, N95 masks and other personal protective equipment.

2. Stagger openings within states by analyzing county-by-county data and begin to slowly open schools and businesses if that countys covid-19 experience supports it.

Masks and gloves would be necessary to go out to businesses that can adhere to social distancing  a new reality for much of America  but large gatherings of people such as concerts or sporting events wouldnt be allowed.

3. Urge vulnerable individuals to limit their exposure to others and require people with symptoms to continue staying home.

4. Employers and other public places that are open should require temperature checks. Christie noted that businesses should begin functioning at about 50% capacity.

These actions will begin to restore public confidence to our travel, restaurant, retail and hotel businesses. If we do not begin to restore these industries soon, we may not be able to replicate these key parts of American life, he said.

5. Restore construction activities while requiring workers to use masks and gloves at all times. He also called for the next congressional relief package to include an infrastructure bill to rebuild roads, bridges, airports and tunnels.

This will create thousands of jobs to rebuild our economy and put food on the tables of U.S. households, he added. Given the lessened automobile and mass transit traffic, this is the perfect time to begin this long-overdue work and will provide a jump-start to economic recovery."

While Murphy hasnt released his plans to reopen the state, he has explained some steps New Jersey needs to take for the plan to work, including at least doubling the states testing capacity, increasing contact tracing, and further isolation and quarantining guidelines to prevent future cases.

More than 102,000 residents have been infected with the virus, and at least 5,617 have died as of Friday evening.

Murphy has also suggested that classrooms will look different when students return to school, and students could have to wear face coverings.

My No. 1 job is the health and safety of our state...public health leads everything," he stressed in a recent press conference. "Public health creates economic health. Public health creates educational health.

Trump has also laid out a phased plan to governors to begin to restore normal activities, but each governor will make their own determinations. New Jersey is coordinating with six states in the region, including New York and Connecticut, to reopen.

Christie, who led the state during Superstorm Sandy, previously wrote a piece in the Washington Post sharing lessons he learned as governor during the 2012 storm.

And he remembered in Fridays article that rebuilding New Jersey looked nearly impossible.

The road back from this virus will be no different. Our first and most successful tool in getting it done after Sandy was by honestly mapping out the road ahead and, as a result, restoring our faith in each other," he said. To restore our belief in who we are as Americans, we must do the same thing now. This plan is not without risk, but the greater risk is in not acting now to restore the American way of life."

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Sophie Nieto-Munoz may be reached at snietomunoz@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her at @snietomunoz. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
A family performs the tarawih prayer at their home in Kuala Lumpur as Muslims mark Ramadan while coping with the COVID-19 pandemic, April 24, 2020.

Updated at 11:07 a.m. ET on 2020-04-27

Most years, the food bazaar at the Bendungan Hilir market in the Indonesian capital bustles with people at iftar, when Muslims break their daily fast during Ramadan  but it was deserted Friday, the first day of the holy month.

Government and religious leaders throughout the region have largely banned or tightly restricted mass gatherings for prayers and nightly fellowship due to COVID-19, in a month usually characterized by fasting by day, feasting by night and mosques packed with worshippers.

This year there is no Ramadan food bazaar. We are not allowed to open, a vendor who identified herself as Sumi told BenarNews in Jakarta, adding that authorities had notified her about the ban a week ago.

Jakarta is one of the hotspots for COVID-19 in Indonesia, which so far has recorded 689 deaths from the virus, the highest death toll in Southeast Asia. On Friday, the number of confirmed nationwide cases stood at more than 8,200.

Indonesias Ministry of Religious Affairs Ministry last week banned government institutions from hosting iftar gatherings, and its top clerical body urged Muslims to pray at home.

Performing prayers at home wont reduce the value of our devotion to God, said Asrorun Niam Sholeh of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI). Just staying at home to avoid spreading the virus or being exposed to the virus is considered a religious duty at a time like this.

Weird

Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand marked the first full day of Ramadan on Friday after authorities observed the new moon. Bangladesh and India were to follow a day later.

Thailand extended a month-old ban on Friday prayers to the Ramadan rituals of tarawih, iftar and Quran recitation at mosques. A nationwide curfew was also in effect from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. Thailand had recorded 2,854 cases and 50 deaths as of Friday.

I feel weird not being able to go to a mosque But we, as a part of society, have to follow orders, Tokiroh Hele-iso, a resident of Pattani province in the mostly Muslim Deep South region, told BenarNews. I encourage all to fight and defeat COVID during Ramadan.

Bangladesh limited the number of people participating in prayers at mosques to 12 and banned iftar meals. Health officials in the South Asian country announced 4,689 confirmed infections as of Friday, and 131 deaths.

To maintain social distancing, no individual or institution can arrange an iftar party during the holy month of Ramadan, the Ministry of Religious Affairs said in statement Friday.

Ahemmedul Haque, the imam of Godown Jame Mosque in northwestern town of Naogaon, said he was saddened by the ban.

I do understand the reality of coronavirus, but as an imam cannot accept an empty mosque. During Ramadan, the Muslims who do not regularly attend prayer, come to the mosques to offer tarawih, he told BenarNews. Now, they are unlikely to say prayers at their houses.

Mosques become the center of Ramadan celebrations as people share food from the same pot, promoting brotherhood. People send huge quantities of the best quality foods for devotees, allowing the poor and destitute people to get enough food from the mosques, he said.

In neighboring India, Muslim leaders in Kolkata instructed worshipers not to gather at mosques but to offer prayers from home. At a mosque, not more than five people, including the imam, can offer prayers, said Md. Yahiya, head of the Bengal Imams Association.

But conservative Aceh province on the western tip of Indonesia was an exception to the trend. Earlier this week, the Aceh Ulema Consultative Council gave a green light to tarawih prayers in mosques as long as worshippers followed health protocols including wearing masks and using their own prayer mats.

Muslims packed the Baiturrahman Grand Mosque in the provincial capital, Banda Aceh on Thursday evening. Only 8 coronavirus cases have been confirmed thus far in the province, the only one in Indonesia where sharia law is in force.

Muslim devotees offer prayers marking the start of Ramadan at the Baiturrahman Grand Mosque in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, April 23, 2020. [AFP]

'I will remember this'



In Malaysia, Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has hinted that the countrys lockdown could be continued through Eid al-Fitr, the holiday marking the end of Ramadan on May 23  even as health officials say the restrictions in place since mid-March have helped reduce the rate of new infections.

Muhyiddin, who spent part of his day discussing how to speed up development of a vaccine on a World Health Organization tele-conference, had words of encouragement for fellow Malaysians beginning the fasting month.

Just like when we fast, we must struggle and fight against our desires, he said in a televised address. It doesnt matter that we cannot pray together at the mosque. Perhaps this is a God-given opportunity for us to pray with our families at home instead.

Yusof Majni, 29, said he felt sad when he saw a photo of a tarawih prayer at the National Mosque in Kuala Lumpur on the eve of Ramadan.

I saw a photo last night. Only four individuals performed tarawih at the mosque. Only then did I realize that this year is different. It feels different. I will remember this, he said.

A doctor at Sungai Buloh Hospital in Selangor, Malaysia who asked not to be named said those on the front lines treating COVID-19 patients would likely not be fasting.

Whats important is we stick to the program and beat this virus so we can all have our lives back, she said.

Malaysia has recorded 5,691 COVID-19 cases and 96 deaths; Globally, more than 2.7 million people have been infected and more than 195,000 have died, according to data compiled by disease experts at U.S.-based Johns Hopkins University.

Ronna Nirmala in Jakarta, Mariyam Ahmad in Pattani, Thailand, Kamran Reza Chowdhury in Dhaka, Paritosh Kanti Paul in Kolkata, India, and Hadi Azmi in Kuala Lumpur contributed to this report.

CORRECTION: An earlier version wrongly stated that, as of Friday, Indonesia had the highest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Southeast Asia.
Labour Employment Affairs spokesperson Ged Nash has said that workers over 66 should be eligible for the Covid-19 unemployment payment and the Government must stop discriminating on the basis of age.

The local TD says even though the pandemic unemployment payment is welcome, workers over 66 deserve more respect.

'The Covid-19 was quickly introduced and I accept there were some anomalies but many of those were quickly addressed, and we were willing to give the Government time to do that,' says Deputy Nash. 'However the disgraceful age-related discrimination against workers aged 66 and older continues. This in particular hits the self-employed hard.'

He says the Department confirmed to him that they have no plans to make the payment available to the over 66s or indeed to those workers who are under 18 and not in education.

'There is a small cohort of workers over 66 who were either in employment or self-employed and used their additional non-pension income to meet bills, pay debts and cover outgoings. These are all workers who earned their state pension through a lifetime of PRSI contributions,' he adds.

'While some workers may be eligible for the temporary wage subsidy scheme, this will help only a small number and does nothing for those who worked for themselves, who have been told to apply for a supplementary welfare allowance (SWA).'
With 138 new cases and three deaths getting reported from the national capital in the last 24 hours, the total number of coronavirus cases in Delhi rose to 2,514 on Friday, while the death toll from the dreaded virus went up to 53.

As many as 49 people have been cured of the infection in the last 24 hours, according to the Delhi Health Report. A total of 857 patients have recovered from coronavirus so far in Delhi.

"As on date, there are 1,604 active cases," the report said.

Of the total 2,514 cases in Delhi, 1,646 patients were less than 50 years of age, while 409 were between the age of 50 and 59 years and 459 patients were above the age of 60 years, the Health Report said.

Three deaths have been reported in the last 24 hours, of which two persons were above 60 years of age and one between the age of 50 and 59 years.

Among the total 53 deaths reported so far, over half (29) were aged 60 years or above. The age category of those below 50 years has reported 10 deaths so far, while those between 50 and 59 years have reported 14 deaths.

Among the deceased, 45 people (85 per cent) had other serious diseases as well.

The report said that as on Friday evening, nine patients were on ventilator support, while 29 were admitted to the ICU.

So far, 33,672 tests have been conducted in the city and 4,128 reports are pending. "While 2,514 reports were positive, 26,552 reports returned negative," the health reports said.

There are three levels of coronavirus care in the city for those having no symptoms, mild symptoms or critical patients -- Covid Care Centre (CCC), dedicated health centre and dedicated hospitals, respectively.

Across the city, there are eight Covid Care Centres housing 880 patients, the Health Department said.

While the CCC formed in DDA flats in Narela has 415 (highest) patients, the one in Mandoli has 195 patients.

There are two Covid-19 Health Centres having 75 patients. Delhi has nine Covid-19 hospitals having 481 patients.

"LNJP has the highest number of Covid-19 patients -- 139 -- among all the hospitals," the Health Department added.

The nine hospitals also included Central government hospitals and private hospitals. Among the private hospitals, Max has the highest number of Covid-19 patients -- 93.

The positive cases in the city are increasing at a rapid rate since the last 25 days. The total number of positive cases in Delhi was 97 with two deaths on March 30. By April 10, there were 903 cases with 14 deaths.

So far, Delhi has set up 92 containment zones across the city.

"Across the red zones, 233 people have tested positive while 1,854 people were tested negative. A total of 3,273 reports from the containment zones are pending," the Health Report said.

Daily house-to-house surveillance and sanitisation of areas under the containment zones are being carried out on a regular basis.

Meanwhile, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan held a meeting with all the states via video conferencing to review the public health measures being undertaken by them.

Delhi Lt. Governor Anil Baijal also held a meeting on Friday to discuss the measures to contain the Covid-19 outbreak in the containment zones.

Also, the Principal Secretary (Health) chaired the first meeting of the committee constituted to frame an SOP for addressing the safety issues on the functioning of medical professionals.
Lenert said the current new case numbers were low enough to potentially allow tracing.

Tracing in this instance refers to analysis following a coronavirus diagnosis to establish who the patient had been in contact with prior to testing positive for the virus. This tracing initially took place when the virus first broke out in Luxembourg, but was halted during the second phase because the number of infections rose too sharply to follow through.

The Minister of Health explained such tracing methods were only feasible if infections stayed at a low level. Otherwise, the task would become Herculean and therefore impossible.

The Luxembourg government remains sceptical of tracing apps, citing data protection concerns.
WASHINGTON - After circling the White House, blaring their horns and shouting chants out their car windows, protesters on Thursday stepped out into the pouring rain to lay homemade body bags at the feet of the Trump hotel.

More than 20 black bags stuffed with cardboard and newspaper meant to look like the crumpled remains of victims who have perished in the coronavirus pandemic lined the sidewalk along Pennsylvania Avenue under the gold-plated sign bearing the president's name.

It was the latest socially distant protest in the city, where activists used to regular waves of demonstrations have been forced to show dissent in new ways amid stay-at-home orders and a climbing coronavirus death toll.

Thursday's demonstration, organized in part by the liberal Center for Popular Democracy, began with a line of cars winding its way around the White House with their flashers on in what one organizer said was meant to resemble a funeral procession.

They called it "the people's motorcade," as sedans and SUVs wound through downtown with signs taped to windows and bumpers declaring, "Trump lies, people die," and "Trump is the virus." Others demanded more personal protective equipment like masks and face shields for front line workers.

"One of the saddest things about this epidemic is we're dying alone and we can't memorialize and lift up someone's life together in the way that we're used to," said Jennifer Flynn Walker, senior director of mobilization and advocacy for the Center for Popular Democracy's action network. "So we realized we're not just going to do a car protest. We're angry at Trump, but mostly we're trying to save the lives of our neighbors and our friends."

A golden-haired inflatable chicken built to resemble the president - known as the Trump chicken - joined the procession strapped to the back of a pickup.

After surrounding the White House, the cars drove down Pennsylvania Avenue to the Trump International Hotel Washington, D.C., where several protesters pulled over and hoisted the homemade body bags from their cars.

They lined them up on the sidewalk outside the hotel as several demonstrators spoke.

Unlike typical rallies in which speakers address a crowd through megaphones or from a podium, activists on Thursday listened to each other speak and shared their own stories over a Zoom call that allowed them to stay connected while remaining in their own cars.

Several demonstrators brought their children and families along for the ride.

Kristin Mink, a middle school teacher and longtime activist best known for her confrontation with former Environmental Protection Agency Director Scott Pruitt, said she told her 4-year-old they were participating in a parade.

"We have now been home for almost a month, and it can feel very secluded. It's so hard to have our voices heard in a way that feels tangible and physically fill the streets in a way that feels safe," Mink said. "But the fact that I live in the D.C. area, I wanted to show up in a way that felt like we were still making a statement to the government. In a way that was putting people first."

Though the number of passersby was limited, Flynn Walker said the group encountered one man who shouted at them as he filmed the cars. Most others - walking in the rain or driving in their own cars - offered gestures of encouragement, she said. Masked pedestrians raised their fists; other drivers honked their horns.

"When the president lies, people literally die, especially given his most recent advice that people drink disinfectant or inject it or whatever," Flynn Walker said. "Something I learned in the HIV/AIDS epidemic is a virus really can be political. A non-response is akin to letting people die. And that's the message we wanted to send."
Thiruvananthapuram, April 25 : Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday said seven more individuals have tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in the state, taking the total number of people presently under treatment to 116.

In all, those presently affected and cured cases stands at 457.

"A total of 20,580 people are under observation at homes and 464 others are being observed at various hospitals in the state," said Vijayan.

"One fresh positive case is of a lady health professional at Kollam. Besides, an 84-year old-M. Abubacker who was positive and under treatment at Kozhikode Medical College hospital has now recovered and is a commendable achievement of our health officials, there," said Vijayan.

"The Centre is seeing our work against COVID-19 in a very appreciate manner... especially the arrangements we have made in advance to receive the Kerala diaspora and it can be taken as a model for other states. This was told to our chief secretary by the central Cabinet secretary," said Vijayan

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Burger King plans to reopen ten more sites a week for deliveries as part of a lockdown exit plan supported by its private equity backers.

The fast-food chain has so far reopened six of its 550 restaurants for deliveries through Deliveroo and Just Eat. Now it is ready to ramp up its reopenings, UK chief executive Alasdair Murdoch told The Mail on Sunday.

The next sites to open for deliveries include Merton, South West London, and restaurants in Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Glasgow and Dundee.

Burger King has so far reopened six of its 550 restaurants for deliveries through Deliveroo and Just Eat

The six sites that have opened for deliveries so far have seen huge demand. Delivery drivers at a drive-through in Coventry had to queue for more than an hour to collect orders last week.

Murdoch said Burger King loses money on each delivery, as Deliveroo and JustEat take an undisclosed commission on each sale.

But he said Bridgepoint, the private equity firm that took control of Burger Kings UK business in a 50million deal three years ago, encouraged the plan because it helped to keep the brand visible.

Murdoch stressed that outlets offering deliveries will adhere to the Governments social distancing guidelines.
New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party's MPs from West Bengal will sit on strike at their homes on Sunday against the coronavirus COVID-19 lockdown rules by the West Bengal government.

The West Bengal BJP MPs allege the state government of not doing enough coronavirus tests and of hiding the actual COVID-19 figures.

The Union Minister Babul Supriyo will also sit on a strike at his house in Delhi from 11 am on Sunday, some other MPs might also be present with him.

The West Bengal COVID-19 crisis has already become complicated after the blame game began between the Inter-ministerial central team (IMCT) and the state government.

Earlier on Saturday, the Inter-ministerial central team (IMCT) wrote another letter to the West Bengal chief secretary alleging lack of cooperation from the state government and inadequate security provided during their visits to cities among other issues. The central team also expressed its concern over the Dumurjula quarantine centre in the state.

In a letter to Chief Secretary Rajiva Sinha, the inter-ministerial central team (IMCT) led by senior bureaucrat Apurba Chandra, said that the West Bengal government cannot waste their time accompanying the IMCT for the field visit and claimed that "it was in complete violation to the Ministry of Home Affairs letter."

The team said it has been in Kolkata since April 20 and has written four letters but none have been answered by the government.

Derek O'Brien , the Trinamool Congress (TMC) Parliamentary Party leader in Rajya Sabha and party spokesperson also slammed the IMCT, alleging that the team's visit to the state served no purpose.

Derek took to his official Twitter account and wrote that the team visited districts with no hotspots and asked for a committee already in place. He further accused the team of spreading the political virus, shamelessly and blatantly. He further described the ICMT as Indias Most Callous Team and I Must Cause Trouble (in Bengal).

According to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the total number of positive COVID-19 cases in West Bengal has surged to 571 by Saturday evening. Till now, 103 people have either been cured or discharged, while 18 people have succumbed to the fatal virus.
Corona speeds up Internet age View(s):

Many firms have made the shift to an entirely digital life.

Digital meetings substitute physical ones and the group chat has to do for daily catch up. Whats more, virtual birthdays are the now thing.

For all the extra time spent online, telcos have announced some crisis- time offerings for data and call credit thats required. Now companies are reorganising their workforce around virtual workplace models, using video-conferencing and other virtual collaboration tools. Video conferencing tools and apps, such as Skype, Zoom and Houseparty, have gained new waves of fame as workers use them to meet and greet with colleagues while apart, and families and friendship groups stay in touch. As employees and employers get resolute on maintaining productivity and effectiveness in the current crisis, telcos data usage has spiked.

All telcos have experienced sharp growth in data usage in the past month. Upstream traffic  data sent by people when using programmes such as video calls  is also up during the day, data shows.

Nalin Perera, CEO Mobitel PLC told the Business Times that their data usage has grown by 10 per cent over the past month. The work from home concept has seen huge growth in data usage, he said. He also attributed smartphone penetration which has reached 54 per cent in Sri Lanka as a reason for high growth during this crisis time.

He also added that many new offers introduced by service providers have driven data usage over the past month.

An official from Hutch noted that with the daily Rs.15 emergency reload which was introduced by them for free has seen close to 1 million customers utilising it over the past month. The demand for video conferencing, streaming services like Netflix, news, and online shopping coming from residential broadband networks is surging. Telcos say that they expect this trend of data growth to continue.

Telecom providers also said that the voice usage has dropped due to data growth but the former is the main revenue generator. (DEC)
C Shivakumar By

Express News Service

CHENNAI: KM Gireesh Kumar, a 31-year-old sailor, is longing to deboard the vessel he arrived Chennai in, about four months ago. He has now sent an SOS to the Director-General of Shipping to help him sign off at Chennai Port, where the vessel has dropped anchor.

The Second Officer of Ulriken (IMO No. 9325843) - an oil/chemical tanker sailing under the flag of Cayman Islands - Gireesh joined the vessel on July 2019 and completed his six months contract on January 18, 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic, and the following shutdown, has forced extend his duty.

The backstory

It was on March that the company tried to sign him off while stationed at Ukraine. However, Gireeshs reliever from India, who stayed in a hotel could not relieve him due to the lockdown and immigration issues, and later left for India.As his stint got prolonged, Gireesh tried to sign off at Mumbais JNPT port, but things did not work. Desperate to get off, he also reached out to the Chennai branch of the International Transport Workers Federation. Chennai is the last Indian port for the ship, after which it will sail off to Bahrain, and then to China, South Korea and Taiwan.

What next?

Once the vessel leaves nobody can say when I will be signed off, said the sailor. K Sreekumar, an inspector with the London (ITF) told TNIE, the company was well aware that this vessel is coming to two Indian ports, but they did not make any steps to replace him. He is upset and exhausted, and this can take a toll on his mental health. I have intimated to the company that we can also help them arrange COVID-19 testing at the port, said Sreekumar.

Official speak

Amitabh Kumar, the Director-General of Shipping, said that the sailor has to approach ITF, and it is only through them the D-G can act on the complaint, because it is a foreign flagship.
Since a national lockdown was imposed from March 25 to contain the spread of coronavirus (Covid-19), residents of Delhi have turned to the police, making over 28,000 calls to its helpline, for issues ranging from procuring essentials to traffic restrictions.

As per the data, most of the calls  18,299 of the 28,472 over the last 30 days  were to inquire about curfew passes and movement restrictions. Distress calls, reporting of hunger, non-availability of vegetables, and calls by elderly citizens, who said they were alone and helpless, constituted a majority of the rest.

Click here for the complete coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic

There were some unusual calls too, such as one from west Delhi, wherein the caller claimed to have found a cure for Covid-19. The caller, a man, said the disease could be cured by consuming pulp from a tree outside his house. In another call, a resident from north-east Delhi had reported that a nilgai (blue-bull) had entered a field behind his house in Uttar Pradesh and he needed a curfew pass to chase it away.

The helpline  011-23469526  is run round-the-clock by a team of police personnel from the third floor of the Delhi Police headquarters.

While the police received over 150 calls pertaining to hunger and non-availability of food items during the initial days of the lockdown, the number of such distress calls has reduced to around 10-15 over the last few days. On Thursday, police received only two hunger-related distress calls.

Also read| Covid-19 lockdown: Finance panel calls for extra support to small businesses

After the voluntary peoples curfew ended at 9pm on March 22, the Delhi Police imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC, banning movement of more than five persons in the city. The borders were subsequently sealed and vehicular movement was suspended, barring those used in essential services.

Delhi has been in lockdown since March 24, as chief minister Arvind Kejriwal had made an announcement for the capital a day before Prime Minister Narendra Modi ordered a nationwide lockdown from March 25.

Most calls to the helpline were related to passes and movement of vehicles. We get more than 500 such calls every day. The volume of such calls touched a high of 778 on April 14, which was the end of the 21-day lockdown. People called from across the city wanting to know if they would be allowed to drive after April 14. The calls again increased on April 20 (749), when other states called relaxed norms, a police officer said.

Also read| CMs wishlist: Interstate transport options, funds

Besides the police helpline, the Delhi governments dedicated Covid-19 helplines  22391014, 2301028, 22302441, 22307133, 22304568, 22307745, 22307135, 22307145, 22300012, 22300036  also received similar calls, senior government officials said.

The 10 lines are receiving 900 calls on an average, every day. Some call to report cases, others do so to get themselves tested. We also get a large number of queries with regard to ration, shelters and cooked meals. In that case, we connect their calls to the lines concerned, a senior government official said, on the condition of anonymity.

While many states have relaxed norms by allowing industries, highway hotels and self-employed plumbers, electricians, and mechanics to resume work, the Delhi government has not given any relaxation because of the increase in the number of Covid-19 hot spots. Until Friday evening, Delhi had 90 containment zones, 2,514 positive cases, and 53 deaths.

In the first week of the lockdown, the helpline received over 150 calls related to hunger or non-availability of food. The volume of such calls peaked on March 29 (188 calls), when migrant workers from across the city started walking to their homes in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan and Bihar. The workers were leaving the city after their factories shut. On the afternoon of March 29, the police stopped the migrant workers from leaving and took them to shelter homes across the city where food was provided by the Delhi government and the city police.

Asif Mohd Ali, a deputy commissioner of police, who is managing the helpline, said, Across the city, we have tied up with NGOs and Good Samaritans to feed the needy. The number of hunger calls is gradually decreasing. We will ensure that no one sleeps hungry in Delhi. The moment we get a distress call, we immediately assign it to the police station and the NGO concerned. So far, Delhi has delivered around six million food packets to the needy. We will continue this.

So far, the Delhi government has set up at 2,083 hunger relief centres across the city to provide free cooked lunch and dinner. Last week, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, in an address through a video call, had said his government is providing free cooked meals to at least one million people per day.

The government is also giving five kilograms of free dry ration to about four million residents, who do not have ration cards, besides the 7.5kg ration being given to 7.1 million cardholders, for free.

The helpline received 60 calls from elderly citizens, who lived alone and wanted help from the police to get essential items or requiring medical assistance. In one such call, a 78-year-old man, who lived alone in Rohini, called the helpline informing that he was a diabetic patient and was in pain, because his stock of medicines was over. A police constable duly delivered the medicines to him.

In March-end, the helpline was also flooded with calls from citizens who wanted to be united with their families living in other parts of the city. After recording around 100 such calls in the first few days, the volume of such calls has decreased. We advised such callers to stay at home, as it is a safer option. They understood it, Ali said.

Sanjay Kumar, a professor and the director of the Centre for Study of Developing Studies, said that Delhi residents have responded well to the lockdown and followed the government directives. If 500 people have called the helpline for passes, I have no reason to doubt their genuineness. Delhi is a large city. People are bound to have their compulsions to step out of their homes. I can say that people took the lockdown in good spirit also because of the fear. People realised how developed countries failed in their response. The fear factor was high among the middle class.

However, Kumar says that a decrease in the number of hunger-related calls may not reveal the entire story. I saw reports of police cutting cake for elderly residents in lockdown and other similar reports or feeding the needy. This may be just 10% of the actual cases. Police are also not to blame because they have other primary stuff, such as law and order and managing containment zones, to handle. On the governments role, the response is better than other places. But it may also be because Delhi is smaller than other states. Leaving aside the data on hunger, from the reports we have read or seen, it is clear that the police and government did their best.

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The initiative aims to support the states effort in fighting the coronavirus pandemic and meeting the healthcare sectors needs

Telecom Egypt, Orange and Etisalat launched an initiative to provide the health sector and isolation hospitals with ventilators and medical and protective equipment, Egypts communications ministry said on Saturday.

The three companies provided coronavirus isolation hospitals with 12 ventilators, as well as protective equipment enough for 200 medical personnel for a month, the statement added.

The initiative aims to support the states effort in fighting the coronavirus pandemic and meeting the healthcare sectors needs during the ongoing crisis, the statement explained.

Egypt's coronavirus cases topped 4,000 on Friday and the death toll reached 249.

Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said on Thursday the number of infections is expected to continue to rise, but he assured the public the government is able to contain the virus.

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FBI Director Christopher Wray takes the oath before a full committee hearing on "Oversight of the Federal Bureau of Investigation" on Capitol Hill on Feb. 5, 2020. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images)

FBI Denies Wray, Boente Pushed to Withhold Exculpatory Evidence From Flynn

The FBI is denying that its director, Christopher Wray, and the bureaus general counsel, Dana Boente, pushed to withhold exculpatory evidence from former Trump adviser retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn.

Flynns lawyer, former federal prosecutor Sidney Powell, said in an April 24 court filing that Flynn was provided with new exculpatory evidence that proves he was deliberately set up and framed by corrupt agents at the top of the FBI.

The evidence was filed under seal and thus isnt available to the public; Powell has asked the judge to unseal it.

The Daily Caller reported the same day that, Wray fought to prevent exculpatory evidence from surfacing in the case, referring to a source with direct knowledge of the situation.

Also the same day, The Federalist reported that Boente led the charge internally against DOJs [Department of Justice] disclosure of the new materials, referring to an FBI official familiar with the situation.

The FBI declined to comment to The Epoch Times about Powells filing, but the bureau provided a denial regarding the allegation against Wray.

The assertion that Director Wray pushed to withhold exculpatory evidence in the Michael Flynn case is absolutely false, said Brian Hale, assistant director of the FBIs Office of Public Affairs, in an emailed statement.

The denial also applies to the allegation against Boente, an FBI official speaking on the condition of anonymity told The Epoch Times.

Flynn, the former head of the Defense Intelligence Agency and former national security adviser to President Donald Trump, pleaded guilty on Dec. 1, 2017, to one count of lying to FBI agents.

Jeffrey Jensen, U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri, has been reviewing the Flynn case at the direction of Attorney General William Barr since January.

The new documents were obtained and analyzed by Jensen in March and April, said Timothy Shea, U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, in an April 24 email (pdf) to the defense filed with the court.

Additional documents may be forthcoming, he said.

The email doesnt say the documents were provided based on the courts previous order to give the defense exculpatory evidence. During the course of the case, there have been disagreements between the defense and the prosecutors on what is and isnt exculpatory.

The FBI would neither confirm nor deny whether its denial referred specifically to the documents provided to Flynn on April 24.

Powell was clear that the documents contain exculpatory information.

The new evidence defeats any argument that the [FBI] interview of Mr. Flynn on January 24, 2017, was material to any investigation, Powell wrote. The government (The United States of America, by and through the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia) has deliberately suppressed this evidence from the inception of this prosecutionknowing there was no crime by Mr. Flynn.

The documents show in their own handwriting and emails that partisan FBI and Justice Department (DOJ) leaders intended either to create an offense they could prosecute or at least get [Flynn] fired, Powell said.

Flynn asked the court on Jan. 14 (pdf) to allow him to withdraw his original plea, saying the prosecutors violated the terms of the agreement. Hes also accused his former lawyers of ineffective counsel.

Prosecutors negotiated a deal with Flynn to partially give up his attorney-client privilege so that his former lawyers and the government could effectively push back against that allegation.

The former lawyers have since submitted declarations of more than 100 pages of text and more than 500 pages of partly redacted exhibits related to their representation of Flynn.

The government has been asking the judge for more time to absorb new claims and information and also in light of the CCP virus epidemic.

In an April 24 status report (pdf), prosecutors asked the judge to give them until May 8 to file another report and propose a briefing schedule if feasible.

Update: The article was updated to clarify that there have been disagreements between the prosecutors and the defense on what is and isnt exculpatory.
Below please find a summary and link(s) of new coronavirus-related content published today in Annals of Internal Medicine. The summaries below are not intended to substitute for the full article as a source of information. A collection of coronavirus-related content is free to the public at http://go. annals. org/ coronavirus.

Ventilator Triage Policies During the COVID-19 Pandemic at U.S. Hospitals Associated With Members of the Association of Bioethics Program Directors

The COVID-19 pandemic has overwhelmed health care systems or threatens to do so, and many institutions are developing ventilator triage policies. Researchers from Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center describe such policies developed at hospitals associated with members of the Association of Bioethics Program Directors. Read the full text: http://annals. org/ aim/ article/ doi/ 10. 7326/ M20-1862.

An accompanying Ideas & Opinions piece by Thomas A. Bledsoe, MD, Janet A. Jokela, MD, MPH, Noel N. Deep, MD and Lois Snyder Sulmasy, JD, titled "Universal Do-Not-Resuscitate Orders, Social Worth, and Life-Years: Opposing Discriminatory Approaches to the Allocation of Resources During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Other Health System Catastrophes" is also published today in Annals of Internal Medicine.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has said that no public gathering will be allowed in the state till June 30. This restriction will be in place even if the lockdown is lifted on May 3.

The Chief Minister spoke to senior district administration officials, police officials and chief medical officers on Friday evening. He said that a decision to revise the rule will be taken subsequently depending on the situation, as mentioned in a report in Times of India. "With Ramzan starting, the community leaders have requested people to offer prayers from their homes. There should be no mass gatherings as that increases the possibility of coronavirus spreading. There will be no public gatherings till June 30," he said.

Also read: Coronavirus India Live Updates: Local stores open from Saturday, liquor shops shut; COVID-19 tally at 24,506

CM Yogi Adityanath said that most number of positive cases have been traced to Tablighi Jamat. He said that their members should be identified and quarantined. The CM said cases were low in districts that implemented the lockdown properly.

He also suggested that banks should try using postmen to deliver money to people to prevent crowding. CM Yogi Adityanath also said strict punishment will be meted out to people who tries to escape from quarantine. "If someone runs away from quarantine, file a police complaint against them," he said.

Meanwhile, the Centre relaxed the norms for local shops allowing multiple types of shops to reopen on Saturday. The government said that shops that are selling non-essential items can also be opened. Lockdown norms have been relaxed for registered shops and ones that are outside municipalities. However, single- and multi-brand malls will remain closed till the end of the lockdown.

Also read: Coronavirus: Govt allows local shops to reopen; check out what opens, what remains closed

Also read: Coronavirus in India: Local shops to reopen from today; what about cinema halls, malls?
The honour aimed to recognise the hospitals outstanding achievements in the treatment and care of patients infected with the acute respiratory disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus (Covid-19).

At the ceremony, Vice President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh presented the Labour Order to the leaders of the hospital, while conveying the greetings, praises and sincere thanks of Party General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong and Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc to the medical staff  the white-shirted soldiers at the front line during the fight against the epidemic.

She said that following the call of Party and State leader Nguyen Phu Trong, the direction of Government and the PM, and the mobilisation of Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee, people around the country have joined hands, contributing to preventing the spread of the disease.

So far, Vietnam has gained initial successes with 224 cases recovering from the disease and no deaths, added the Vice President.

She also noted that with great effort, the peoples faith in the Party, State and Government as well as the international communitys appreciation, the profile of the countrys medical staff has been raised.

Vice President Thinh hailed the efforts made by the doctors, nurses and employees of the National Hospital of Tropical Diseases to treat and care for over 50% of the whole countrys patients, including five severe cases.
President Donald Trump participates in a signing ceremony for H.R.266, the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act, with members of his administration and Republican lawmakers in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on April 24, 2020. (Anna Moneymaker/The New York Times/POOL/Getty Images)

Trump Floats Having Government Buy Years of Airline Tickets at Discount

President Donald Trump floated a proposal that would see the government purchase years of tickets from airlines at a discount.

Speaking Friday at a bill signing, the president said he spoke with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin.

I told Steve were the biggest user of the airlinesthe United States government. And one of the ways we can help the airlines is buy tickets at a very large discount, maybe 50 percent off or maybe more, Trump said.

And you buy into four or five years worth of tickets, and you infuse them with some cash. And in the meantime, were flying the people of our country for, you know, a fraction of the cost that it would be if theyou know, when the airlines get back.

Trump said hes liked the idea for a while.

The airlines will bounce back from the current predicamentdevastatingly low numbers of passengers as people around the world are restricted due to the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virusbut buying tickets from them now would provide an incentive, the president said.

I like it both ways. I like it for us to. Were the largest user of the airlines. So you buy tickets. I dont know. It sounds goodright?if we get a good discount, he added.

Ten U.S. airlines including Delta, American, and Southwest received money from a virus relief package.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin looks on signs H.R.266, the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on April 24, 2020. (Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images)

Trump said he wants to help the oil and gas industry, which he said got unnecessarily hurt after some countries dumped oil on the international market before a large-scale agreement was hammered out by the president.

The administration is filling up its National Strategic Reserves, which can hold up to 75 million barrels.

Were going to have that filled up pretty soon. So itll be filled for the first time in a long time. And were doing it at a very, very low cost, Trump said, adding that other purchases could be made at a great price, giving companies the infusion we need.

He also believes the oil and gas industry will bounce back in the coming months.

Travel restrictions, including sharp drops in automobile trips and travel by plane, have contributed to gas prices decreasing to record lows.

Trump said this week that he directed Mnuchin and Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette to form a plan to make money available to oil and gas companies.

Asked if one of the options is the government taking equity stakes in energy companies, Mnuchin told reporters: You can assume thats one of the alternatives, but theres many of them.
One recovered coronavirus patient, requesting anonymity, described it as being stuck in a humourless game of Snakes and Ladders.

Anand* has been unable to sit ever since he was discharged from a Delhi hospital last month after testing positive for coronavirus. The body pain is so bad that he has trouble sitting for more than a few minutes at a stretch. I prefer walking around the house or lying down in bed. That's how I complete my college assignments, said Anand, who is in the middle of finishing a MA programme at a university abroad.

The second time we speak, however, he wonders whether the pain is psychological. I dont know but my friend, who also tested positive, said that he is feeling breathless. My doctor told me that the body will heal on its own but what if hes saying that just to pacify me?

This time round, Anand also appears to be a bit on edge. He has to turn in an assignment, which is making him restless. At one point, the 24-year-old despairingly talks about how his life was poised to take off when the crisis changed his life. I was about to start my career, he said. But now everything has changed.

Everything, including friendships. Anand recalls a conversation he had with a friend from university who also tested positive. Before travelling to India, hed borrowed a mask from me and Id given him a fresh mask from the packet. When he tested positive, he asked me whether I had actually given him a used mask. Why would I do that?

Understanding the long-term effects of coronavirus

Uncertainty is a word that crops up often in conversations with recovered patients. Uncertainty about life, the economy, jobs, yes, but also about the virus itself which healthcare workers all over the world are trying to decode and defeat. And now with reports of relapses, one patient, requesting anonymity, described it as being stuck in a humourless game of Snakes and Ladders.

Currently, only very limited data on the long-term effects of the virus on patients is available. This is a brand new virus which we have known for less than four months so it would be presumptuous of anyone to say I know whats happening exactly, said Dr Om Shrivastav, director, Infectious Diseases, Jaslok Hospital and Research Centre. But you observe the patterns, devise a strategy and decide what you want to do in the case of COVID-19 patients.

He explained that a few patients from around the world, post recovery, have complained of mild skin changes, a compromised sense of taste and smell, a burning sensation in the hands and feet and sometimes, something more severe like a headache.

The infection involves every organ. Even mild diarrhea could linger for several weeks after they have been discharged. It finally boils down to the patients immune response to a particular infection.

If you have a balanced immune system, you will recover quickly by and large as long as you have the patients metabolism sorted out, most of their parameters will return to normal, he added.

Dr Kirti Sabnis, Infectious Disease Specialist and HIV physician, Fortis Hospital, Mulund, added that she has noticed complaints of a persistent cough and muscle pain only among recovered patients who were once in a critical stage.

Older patients with co-morbidities who were in a serious critical state could continue to experience tiredness, breathing difficulties or some lung damage which will stay up to 15 to 20 days after discharge. But after that, they will fully recover. Everyone else with strong immunity should make a full recovery, she added.

Days and nights of anxiety

Akhil Ennamsetty, 24, is in the thick of things. He was recently in the news for co-founding an initiative to help students with questions about COVID-19 among other things and had also formed a WhatsApp group for COVID-19 patients while under isolation at the hospital.

He described how he struck up friendships with other patients as they all stood by their respective doors whenever their rooms were cleaned. We spoke to each other through our hazmat suits, he remembered.

Ennamsetty, who also studies abroad but is now in Warangal, said he opted to get tested at Gandhi Medical College and Hospital straight from the airport and later checked himself in when he tested positive for coronavirus.

At the hospital, patients who were fine in the morning died at night right in front of me. Its spine-chilling to think that they died from the same virus that you are trying to recover from, he said.

Now, with new relapse cases, Ennamsetty said a few recovered patients have completely stopped taking calls. Anand, who has been inundated with concerned relatives calls, agreed that it gets irritating after a point. They ask me how I am feeling, when I am not sure myself. A friends home quarantine period ended yesterday but he asked me whether he should stay in in case there is a relapse. My parents are extremely anxious too. They avoid the news, but a WhatsApp message is enough to leave them worried, he added.

Anand also has some trouble sleeping well. I dont know whether its because I am yet to get used to Indian time, but I sleep at 3 am and wake up by 8 am. I am unable to sleep for more than five hours.

Harish Kanjani, 55, faces a similar issue: Just two days ago I woke up at 3 am and started feeling anxious. I felt breathless and wondered whether I have symptoms. I felt apprehensive about my health and how much damage the virus has done to my body. I chanted, walked around the house and thought of waking up my wife. But then I convinced myself that I am being ridiculous and went back to sleep. I called my doctor the next day and he assured me that since I have no symptoms I need not worry.

The Mumbai-based real estate consultant recalls panicking for half an hour after receiving an email from the testing centre which confirmed that he tested positive for coronavirus. My wife was right next to me, so I asked her to leave the room immediately and then spoke to her via phone about what to do next, he said. Kanjani checked into SL Raheja Hospital soon after.

Kanjani was finally able to step out of his room last week but the crisis continues with his 86-year-old mother testing positive as well. She is finally back home and is still under quarantine. She cannot bend because of knee issues so I cant leave the food on a table outside, he said. So as the only one cleared by doctors to enter her room (due to his antibodies), Kanjani enters her room, mask and gloves firmly in place, and helps her. Then I dispose of the mask and gloves and take a wash. She is weak now as she was in the ICU for nearly 16 days. She had pneumonia, but her parameters got better and she recovered. Yet, it is a challenging time.

Coping and moving on

Dr Anjali Chhabria, a psychiatrist who has been counseling COVID-19 patients from all over the world, pointed out that COVID-19 patients with preexisting anxiety and other mental health issues are trapped in a vicious circle with anxiety aggravating physical symptoms of the infection, which leads to more anxiety.

But even otherwise, in coronavirus patients who have no psychiatric issues, anxiety and fear are at its peak because of the ambiguity. I know of people who have written their wills in the last month, she said. Patients tend to overthink and overanalyse. Some want to get tested even though they are okay, and begin to imagine that they are feeling feverish, constipated and so on.

Kanjani, who has grappled with anxiety for years, said he pushed himself to remain positive and that during his own quarantine period at home, he prayed, meditated, did yoga, and played Housie online. At the hospital, there was a lot of positivity around, everyone from the doctors, nurses to the housekeeping staff kept me motivated. But I got scared whenever my soundproof door opened as noises from the ward would pour in. I completely stopped reading the paper as I knew I will go into a spiral.

Ennamsetty, who tested negative in the relapse tests, has coped by concentrating on college assignments. Anand, on the other hand, experiments with cooking and has returned to an old hobby: sketching. I can do it comfortably while lying down and even used to do it at the hospital. It relaxes me, he said. Like the rest of the world, he too watches Netflix, and motivational clips. Its an escape mechanism. But what else can you do when you are so helpless?

Right now everyone is very scared and worried, he continued. But hopefully one day, I will be able to look back at this time and have some stories to tell my grandchildren.
Britains most senior doctors have demanded immediate Government action to tackle soaring fatalities from Covid-19 in black and Asian communities.

Many fear Ministers have seriously misjudged the scale of the coronavirus crisis affecting ethnic minorities, and say it is a matter of life and death that health chiefs tackle the issue head-on.

In an unprecedented show of unity, more than half a dozen top medical institutions have joined forces to demand urgent intervention, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.

The move comes as disproportionate numbers of patients, doctors, nurses and carers from African, Caribbean or south Asian origin continue to die in the worst global pandemic in more than a century.

As revealed today by this newspaper, 25 of the 26 doctors and two-thirds of NHS staff who have died from Covid-19, pictured above, have been from ethnic minority groups

And writing movingly on these pages, ITV newsreader Charlene White reveals how, in just over a month, Covid-19 has killed one of her aunts and two friends, and seen her brother-in-law and a cousin require hospital treatment. In contrast, no members of her partner Andys family, who are white British, have been hit.

In the midst of it all, I just assumed everyone was going through the same thing, Charlene says. But none of Andys family and just one of his friends has been affected.

Just as we know men are more at risk from the virus, we have to find out why ethnic minorities are suffering more severe illness.

Admitting she has come to dread the phone ringing because so often there is bad news, she adds: Until the research is done, any attempt to explain whats going on is guesswork. And this is not the time for a guessing game.

As revealed today by this newspaper, 25 of the 26 doctors and two-thirds of NHS staff who have died from Covid-19 have been from ethnic minority groups. And a third of Covid-19 intensive care beds are occupied by sick black or Asian patients, yet they constitute just 13 per cent of the UK population.

Some suggest these figures may be the tip of the iceberg, as, along with the well-reported lack of testing in the community, ethnicity is not routinely recorded when Covid-19 is diagnosed, or on death certificates.

Senior health figures have attacked the Government for dragging its heels over plans for a review into the problem.

Earlier this month, Public Health England said it would review the high rate of black and Asian illness and deaths. On Friday, former equality watchdog chief Trevor Philips was spearheading the probe, but no details have emerged of what that inquiry will entail or how long it will take. Labour have also announced their own investigation, headed by Baroness Doreen Lawrence.

Baroness Doreen Lawrence, who is heading Labour's investigation into the high rate of black and Asian illness and deaths from coronavirus, pictured in January (file photo)

But angry medics last night hit out at the slow pace. We need the Government to immediately set up a task force to look into this, said Dr Chandra Kanneganti, a GP in Stoke-on-Trent and chairman of the British International Doctors Association, which represents nearly 2,500 frontline NHS medics of non-UK origin. It needs to happen in the next few days, not weeks or months.

Without doctors from black, Asian and ethnic minority groups, the NHS would have collapsed by now due to the Covid-19 crisis.

Yet asking them to carry on serving on the front line when some may be at increased risk of infection is like asking them to commit suicide.

Dr Chaand Nagpaul, leader of the British Medical Association, warned: The figures are so stark that we cannot afford to ignore them. We need immediate action to protect NHS workers exposed to the risk of Covid-19 infection.

Virus fact The virus that causes Covid-19 can survive for up to 24 hours on cardboard and two to three days on plastic and stainless steel. Advertisement

Lord Adebowale, chairman of the NHS Confederation, issued a demand to the Government to agree on a deadline for an investigation. He said: The evidence is mounting that people from BME [black and minority ethnic] backgrounds, including frontline health and care workers, are disproportionately affected and dying in hospital with coronavirus.

These could be the tip of the iceberg as there is a lot that we do not know about whats happening outside of hospitals. Ethnicity is not recorded on death certificates.

This is a matter of life or death for frontline staff from BME communities and needs urgent focus. It is vital that we identify the factors behind these deaths and what can be done both now and in future to mitigate risks.

Nowhere has this tragedy been more apparent than on the front line of medicine where, alongside the doctors, 35 nurses and 27 healthcare support workers have also died  two-thirds of them from black, Asian or other ethnic groups.

Such is the concern that the countrys leading medical royal colleges are imploring the Government to prioritise an investigation into black and Asian deaths. They want it to immediately instruct NHS trusts to routinely record the ethnic background of every Covid-19 patient admitted to hospital, as well as those who die, to help scientists solve the puzzle of why more are suffering.

The Royal College of Physicians conceded that any investigation would be challenging, as it would involve collating detailed information about individual cases. But a spokesman said: This issue needs to be addressed urgently. Ethnicity should be considered a risk factor in the same way age is.

Leading medical royal colleges want the Government to instruct NHS trusts to routinely record the ethnic background of every Covid-19 patient admitted to hospital (file photo)

Dr Edward Morris, president of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, said: We must record and analyse all deaths to find out why this striking variation exists. We already know women from certain ethnic groups may be more likely to have pre-existing health conditions and complications.

Royal College of GPs chairman Professor Martin Marshall urged Public Health England to act swiftly, while the Royal College of Surgeons of England said more help was needed for those making the ultimate sacrifice for their patients. The colleges president-elect Professor Neil Mortensen added: Staff across the NHS go to work every day knowing they are exposing themselves to risk in order to save lives. So they will be watching and waiting for swift conclusions from this PHE review. It must draw together all the available data as soon as possible.

Dame Donna Kinnair, chief executive of the Royal College of Nursing said: I will support this inquiry in any way I can.

These stark figures are troubling people working on the frontline.

If certain individuals need to be afforded different treatment or protections, employers need to know urgently what changes they can make to keep staff safe.

And Andrea Sutcliffe, chief executive Nursing and Midwifery Council, said: This should be looked into urgently.

We hope the voices of ethnic minorities and groups representing them are listened to and taken seriously during the Governments review.

When contacted, Jeremy Hunt, former Secretary of State for Health and chair of watchdog the Health Select Committee also remained silent on the issue.

Aspiring young black and Asian doctors fear the issue may not be getting the attention it deserves due to institutional racism.

Ore Odubiyi, a third-year medical student at Bristol University and spokesman for BME Medics, a body representing about 500 black and ethnic minority medical students, warned: People from these backgrounds already feel they are perceived as less important than other members of society, even though they make up a large proportion of NHS workers. If necessary, at-risk BME staff should be switched to support roles, away from frontline care.

In London, more than a quarter of transport workers operating Tube trains, which have remained open, and buses are from black and minority ethnic backgrounds (file photo)

The BMAs Dr Nagpaul agreed: Black, Asian or other ethnic minority medics with additional risk factors must be protected.

Ive heard anecdotal reports that some hospitals are already redeploying them away from the Covid-19 front line to support roles. Thats good news but we need a more systematic national approach.

If such a move were made, it could have a wider impact  other key workers, from bus drivers to supermarket staff, could demand better protection. Shockingly, though, the opposite may be happening.

Carol Cooper, head of equality, diversity and human rights at Birmingham Community Hospital, said in an interview with Nursing Times: Some [ethnic minority nurses] are saying they are being taken from the wards that they usually work on and put on the Covid wards and they feel that there is a bias. Many of them are terrified.

Studies have shown ethnic minority NHS staff are less likely to complain or whistle-blow than white colleagues, possibly compounding the problem.

Healthcare workers who come face-to-face with Covid-19 sufferers inevitably run a greater risk of infection. But why are so many black and Asian people in the wider community falling ill?

Scientists think it may be due to a complex mix of cultural, economic and possibly even genetic factors.

Black men and women are three times more likely to suffer from type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure  both of which are known risk factors for Covid-19  than white people of the same age.

And those from south Asian nations such as India, Sri Lanka or Pakistan also have a much greater risk of type 2 diabetes, thought to be due to a genetic predisposition. Those from poorer parts of major cities such as London and Birmingham tend to live in more crowded homes, often sharing accommodation with extended family, increasing the chances of the virus spreading. These tight-knit family groups also spend much more time together than other social classes.

Added to this, jobs such as bus drivers, cleaners or supermarket workers  which all carry a greater risk of virus transmission  are more likely to be filled by people from these ethnic groups.

Black men and women are three times more likely to suffer from type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure, known risk factors for Covid-19, than white people of same age (file photo of insulin)

In London, more than a quarter of transport workers operating Tube trains and buses, which have remained open during the lockdown, are from black and minority ethnic backgrounds.

Language barriers may also be to blame. Some inner London GPs argue that their non-English speaking patients are simply not aware of the severity of the situation because leaflets detailing the crisis are not readily available in their mother tongue.

The question that needs answering is are they catching it more often because of greater exposure  or are they just getting it worse than others? said Professor Keith Neal, Nottingham Universitys Emeritus Professor of the Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases.

Could fundamental genetic variations between different ethnic cohorts be partly to blame?

Research has suggested that some black and Asian adults may have higher levels of a protein in the surface of cells of their lungs called ACE2. This protein is the main target of the Covid-19 virus when it penetrates the airways, allowing it to lock on to cells.

From there, the virus breaks into the healthy cell and takes over its internal machinery in order to replicate itself.

Professor Philip Goulder, an expert in immunology at Oxford University. We cant be certain yet but there could be racial differences in the activity of the gene [which is responsible for making] ACE2, and this could be having a big impact on whether people get ill with the virus.

A major study on ACE2 is already under way at Hawaii University but Dr Nagpaul warned it may not solve all of the puzzle.

The mortality figures are so disturbing that it cannot possibly be explained by one single factor, he said.

Public Health England medical director Professor Yvonne Doyle said in a statement: This is a really important issue but detailed and careful work needs to be done before we draw any conclusions.
COVIDs ominous vigil over the gated nation Can the country go to the polls even on the new date? View(s): View(s):

Just when the Government had thought it safe on Sunday to unlock the gated nation and return a semblance of normalcy to the land, since the dreaded coronavirus seemed to have been held at bay and kept at a comfortably safe arm distance as the stagnant body count and tiny trickle of patients showed, the sudden influx of 32 positive cases on Monday afternoon set off the alarm bells and led to the immediate countermanding of the set free order, thus nipping in the bud the hope of plucking the coveted votes of a smashing May election.

It vividly demonstrated the pathetic plight of mankind today: What the Government proposes, the COVID disposes.

It also revealed the foresight and common sense of Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya and his grasp of reality. Whilst declaring on 19 March the Commissions decision to postpone the general election scheduled for 25 April, the Election Chief adamantly refused to announce a date on which it will be held next, even though constitutionally bound to do so.

In the face of the media demanding him to disclose a date, he stated: That date is not for me to determine. Or for that matter, for anyone else to determine. As things stand today, only the coronavirus can determine that date.

Today he stands vindicated for his refusal on March 20 to set a new date. As commented in last weeks SUNDAY PUNCH which was published in the SUNDAY TIMES online edition on Sunday April 19 under the headline General elections amidst a COVID Pandemic? You must be joking!, the final determination of the election date depends on two legal authorities, namely, the Commission of Elections to name a date; and on the President who is under a constitutional duty as per Article 33 to on the advice of the Election Commission, ensure the creation of proper conditions for the conduct of free and fair elections and referenda.

Unless the President wields a magic wand to wipe out the coronavirus with one wave of his hand, can any president discharge the constitutional duty thrust upon him to create proper conditions in the present pandemic climate? Doesnt the constitutional proviso imply that the proper environment must first be created and be in existence for the election to be free and fair? That it is a prerequisite without which a free and fair election will be a sham in practice, a nullity in law?

If an election held through the barrel of a gun will not be considered as proper conditions for the nation to vote in, will an election held in a deadly COVID pandemic, swamped and bogged down in a pestilence-ridden climate, where one is dicing with death and playing Russian roulette with ones family too, be considered a proper environment for one to cast ones vote, wishing for a better tomorrow?

This Mondays flood of 24 new positive patients at Bandaranaike Mawatha, Colombo 12 brought this point strikingly home to the authorities. That as much as they had hoped to furrow the ground and make it ready for a snap May poll, the chances of creating the proper conditions as constitutionally required were too bleak to contemplate. Thus, the very notion of it was wisely discarded.

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa said that the governments top priority, at the moment, was to neutralise the threat from the coronavirus, and the elections could be delayed till the nation recovered. The situation in the country now demands that we must first focus on eliminating this threat from the coronavirus. We can hold elections thereafter.

The three-member Election Commission  Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya, Ratnajeevan Hoole and N.J. Abeysekera  met on Monday evening to decide the new date for the general election. A proposal, it is reported, for holding the election on May 20 was defeated as was a second proposal for holding the election on June 2. Finally, the three members of the commission had decided to hold the election on June 20.

But even on that date, does the Election Commissioner think he will able to hold a general election for over 15 million registered voters? In the 55 days left remaining to him from today to election date, is he cocksure the obstacles he mentioned on March 19 that made it impossible for him to hold the April 25 polls will disappear like a rainbow in the sky?

Or, as his March 31 letter to the Presidents Secretary, P.B. Jayasundera states, if for some reason the present situation does not improve completely then it will not be possible to hold the elections before the end of May, does he expect the present situation as of now to radically improve to make it possible for him to hold the new election on 20 June? Will 55 days see the miracle he seeks to hold polls with COVID having taken flight from Lankan shores?

Is June 20 a realistic date when the coronavirus will be history or is it mere wishful thinking on his part to prevent him from becoming history himself?

When the Election Commissions decision was made public amidst talk there was trouble brewing amongst the three member commission, it ran into controversy and by the look of it, the signs are that it will be challenged in court.

First to lead the charge was the leader of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) Rauf Hakeem who met the Election Commission on Tuesday and alleged that fixing of the date for the forthcoming elections on June 20 amidst the COVID-19 pandemic complex situation in the country was unconstitutional and illegal.

In a letter to the Election Commission, Hakeem states that there could be no level playing field, given that the country is now under curfew and lockdown. Uncertainty prevailed over whether curfew would be completely lifted in some areas like in other areas, and if normalcy would return to some areas under surveillance for COVID-19. Besides, these areas, the SLMC leader claims, were earmarked as ones that did not vote in favour of the President at the last election.

Hakeems letter concludes by stating: As a political party that represents vast number of voters, we are saddened by the Commissions act of not taking into consideration of the obvious current situation and the threat that poses to public health is not only unconscionable but also puts the entire population of our country at serious risk of being affected by the contagion. Therefore, we urge the Commission to review its decision and act in compliance with the Constitution and the law.

Meanwhile, it is reported that JVP Propaganda Secretary and former parliamentarian Vijitha Herath said political parties and civil organisations would definitely challenge the EC decision to hold the election on June 20. Samagi Janatha Balawegaya leader Sajith Premadasa, too, had expressed his objection to this arbitrary, off the hat choice of date.

Apart from these objections voiced by party leaders and echoed by the public that even this new date is far too early to hold a general election, how does the coronavirus factor figure in the equation?

In normal times, a Lankan general election would consist of hundreds of candidates vying for 225 seats; with over 15 million registered voters casting both their choice of party and their preference vote for their favoured individuals; and a whole army of election staff, party agents, election observers and security personnel to ensure the smooth functioning of each poll and the proper counting of the ballot at each counting centre. In normal times, the whole exercise would be a cake walk for the Election Commission.

But these are not normal times. Apart from the usual logistics involved, there will be two extracurricular activities to perform.

The first will be the Herculean challenge to hold a general election in an atmosphere laden with the COVID scourge while simultaneously trying to prevent the mass spread of the virulent virus. On June 20, over 15 million people will be asked to meet and queue in sizable groups at polling stations scattered around the countryside, at a time when the nations health hazard warnings dictate that even twos a crowd. Invariably social intercourse will take place. And the inevitable will happen.

The second extra curricula activity will be to ensure that the purpose for which the election is held which is to elect a new government according to the free will of the people is duly achieved and the final result duly reflects the peoples choice and is not a grotesque distortion of it. It has happened in the past in normal times. How much easier will it be for it to recur under the all-encompassing COVID cover of darkness?

Can the government guarantee that there will be no spread? For, unlike the plugging of a leak, once the sluice gates are opened none can hold back the tide or turn back the flow. Even if a guarantee is offered with a proviso to resign if the guarantee is not met, can the nation risk a mass COVID outbreak on the simple assurance of another mortal? Can resignation atone for the deaths of thousands? Especially, at a time when the Guardian Deities themselves seem to look askance at the unfolding tragedy of Lankas and the worlds blight?

Perhaps in their heart of hearts the Election Commission members know of the impossibility of holding a general election in these circumstances, fraught as they are with all the dangers attendant with a pandemic. They may have also realised their own impotency to find a way out of this dilemma.

On March 31, Elections Commission Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya wrote to the Presidents Secretary stating: Accordingly, if for some reason the present situation does not improve completely then it will not be possible to hold the elections before the end of May; and as a result a new parliament will not be able to sit before June 2 which may lead to a constitutional conundrum, the Election Commission has observed.

The presidential reply ruled out the possibility of the President seeking an opinion from the Supreme Court. The Presidents Secretary gave the matter short shrift, stating, in no uncertain terms, that, I am instructed to inform the Election Commission that the question of Reference to the Supreme Court in terms of Article 129 of the Constitution does not arise. The presidential reply also made it clear, the date for fixing the poll is the responsibility of the Election Commission and His Excellency has no wish to interfere with duties and obligations of the Election Commission.

Without a legal ruling on the matter to guide them and the onus to declare a date completely on the Election Commission and the pressure mounting on it to announce the date, perhaps the June 20 date was randomly chosen. The confusion gets worse confounded when S 10 (2) (b) (i) of the Parliamentary Act 1988 states the poll shall be taken on a day not less than five weeks and not more than seven weeks from the closing day of the nomination period.

The nomination period ended on 19 March. The Commission has announced June 20 as the new election date. A period of 13 weeks after the nominations has closed, 6 weeks later than the law allows. How is the June 20 date reconciled with the legal requirement? Has the applicability to section 10 (2) (b) ever been tested in the Supreme Court?

Unless a miracle happens and the coronavirus flies off to more exotic destinations abroad, leaving Lanka COVID free by June, perhaps, the Election Commission Chairman has plans to postpone it in the same way he on March 19 postponed the April 25 poll, saying as he accurately said then no one can decide the date, only the coronavirus can decide the new date.

But in the meantime, perhaps, he and his 2 co-members of the Commission are hoping against hope that their own decision to hold the new election on June 20 will be challenged in the Supreme Court by the stakeholders. Then, at last, armed with the opinion of the Supreme Court as the legal road map, they will be able to discharge their duties not only efficiently but also within a legal framework.

For even whilst battling the COVID pandemic, the Constitution and the laws that flow from it should not be summarily dismissed in the guise of COVID expediency.

Is this the start of the COVID stampede? Bad as it was, Lankas COVID toll when compared to other countries showed that the epidemic was being contained: that the face mask and the hand wash message was getting through: that the stay-at-home rule was being largely observed though few played truant: that the social distancing coupled with no mingling policies were paying off: that Lanka was maintaining steady course as the statistics showed: that with great restraint and patience and with a little bit of luck, the country could pull though this unprecedented calamity. On Monday morning, a confident government had lifted the curfew from 5am to 8 pm in all the districts except Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, Puttalam and Jaffna. The indefinite curfew in these five districts which had remained in force for four weeks were to be lifted from 5am to 8pm on Wednesday, in the islandwide exercise to restore normalcy to the island as part of the nations exit strategy. The people were planning to be free again soon, to emerge from exile, from their hibernations, from their curfew-imposed stays within four walls. The Health Ministrys daily update on the COVID toll on April 20 Monday morning at 10 am: Total number of COVID confirmed people: 271

Total number of those who have recovered: 97

Total number of active cases in hospital: 167

Total number suspected and hospitalised: 122

Total number of people dead due to COVID: 7 But by evening the amiable winds had changed. An ill wind had begun to blow. And the optimism which had reigned all along with the belief that the authorities were on top of the situation began to erode hour by hour and the question was being asked: Had we in our confidence that the worst was over, let down our guard and screwed it all up? Had we been too hasty to hope for normalcy, too impatient for civilian life to return and too arrogant in our ambitions to conquer COVID overnight? To vanquish the virulent virus which not even the Chinese had been able to quell during four months of its terror reign? On Monday evening, the morning toll of 271 confirmed COVID cases rose to 303 with the detection of 32 positive cases in Colombo. Director General of Health Services, Dr. Anil Jasinghe, said this was the highest number of COVID cases reported in a day. All these were in quarantine centres and had associated with COVID patients in the Colombo city. About 1010 people living in the same compound were rounded up and sent to quarantine camps in the countryside. A report claimed a fish vendor at the Peliyagoda fish market tested positive and this made the total toll 304. On Wednesday, eleven more patients tested positive for COVID-19 increasing the number of cases to 321 in the country. The Health Ministry said, the patients, residents from Beruwela were reported from quarantine centres. Another person had been detected in Polonnaruwa. One week ago the Governments epidemiologist report of April 15th had listed the Polonnaruwa district as being 100 percent COVID free but today, with the discovery of the positive patient, it has one on its bed card. As a result, 12 villages in Lankapura area in Polonnaruwa have been isolated. The worst for this week was still to come. On Thursday, it was announced by the Army Commander General Shavendra Silva that 29 Navy personnel at the Welisara Navy base camp had tested positive for the coronavirus. He said the 29 Navy personnel have contracted the virus during the recent search operation carried out in Suduwella, Ja-Ela to find out suspected COVID-19 patients. The total infected cases stood at 368, according Health Ministry official figures. On Friday it was revealed that another 30 naval personnel from the same Navy Camp at Welisara had also tested positive for COVID. This increased the total confirmed cases to 414. By Saturday, at least 4,000 naval personnel and their families in the Welisara Naval Complex had been isolated within the camp. They will be tested for the virus in accordance with the urgency to do so, the Navy said. Naval authorities also said that upon confirmation that a naval person from Polonnaruwa has been infected with the new coronavirus while on leave, the PCR test was conducted to gauge the spread of the disease among other naval personnel who were sharing the same mess and working at the office with the victim at the Welisara Naval Complex. The week had started with Monday morning reporting the presence of 271 COVID positive cases in the island. By weeks end on Saturday morning of April 25 at 10 am, the number of confirmed coronavirus cases had risen to 420. An increase of 149 cases within just six days. Medical officials, however, maintain that the naval camp instance and the Bandaranayake Mawatha, Colombo 12 instance which had led to 102 confirmed COVID cases cannot be taken as instances of the coronavirus spilling into the community on a mass scale since both took place within confined spaces which were immediately controlled and those suspected quarantined. But since the coronavirus has given the first hint of the vast scale damage it can inflict within a week, nay, even a day if left loose to run riot amongst the mases brandishing its own mini version of deadly cluster bombs, its best to brace ourselves for worse to follow. And remember, even in this surreal zone, it is always darkest before the dawn.
Attorney Sarah Richs work representing immigrants for the Southern Poverty Law Center brings her inside some of the Souths largest poultry processing plants. Shes seen hundreds of workers standing shoulder-to-shoulder on both sides of conveyor belts as chickens whizzed past at speeds of more than 100 per minute.

Things can get dangerous, Rich said. Sometimes workers accidentally cut each other. They develop disabling injuries in their wrists and hands from the repetitive work of slashing and removing bones. And now they face a new danger from an unexpected place: spending too much time in each others spaces.

The way the lines are set up, theres no social distancing possible, Rich said.

Poultry plants have become hot beds of coronavirus as it spreads in rural areas. A Wayne Farms processing plant in Albertville reported 75 positive cases and one death earlier this week, one of the largest outbreaks in the state. In Marshall County, home to Albertville, Emergency Management Agency Director Anita McBurnett said cases have also been reported at Pilgrims Pride and Tyson plants.

Marshall County now has more cases of COVID-19 than any of its neighbors, with more than a quarter coming from Wayne Farms. Across the country, cases linked to the meat processing industry have exploded. Beef and pork plants have been hit especially hard, with more than 700 cases coming from a single plant in South Dakota.

While much of the media attention has focused on Midwestern meatpacking plants, smaller clusters at poultry plants in the South have also raised concerns. More outbreaks could spell trouble for Alabama, where the industry accounts for tens of thousands of jobs and about $15 billion in revenue.

Chicken processing provides jobs not just for those working in the plants, but also to those up and down the supply chain, said James Hutcheson, chair of the Marshall County Board of Commissioners.

Youre talking about the feed mills, truck drivers, chicken houses, Hutcheson said. Its a lot of jobs.

Frank Singleton, a spokesman for Wayne Farms, said the company has slowed production at the Albertville plant to provide more space between workers, but has no plans to shut down.

Debbie Berkowitz, worker safety expert at the National Employment Law Project, said that runs counter to guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Plants with large numbers of cases should shut down for at least 24 hours for deep cleaning, according to the CDC. The agency issued guidelines as the virus began spreading but didnt make them mandatory.

There is no [Occupational Safety and Health Administration] enforcement at all, Berkowitz said. They havent even done inspections in response to complaints.

Singleton said the plant has taken several steps to contain the spread of COVID-19. Infrared scanners check temperatures of people entering the plant. Workers have been supplied with protective masks and smocks. Protective dividers have been installed in places where workers stand close together.

Anyone with an elevated temperature will be denied entry, according to the Wayne Farms website. Singleton said 250 employees were sent home to quarantine because they were exposed. He said the number of people who tested positive for the virus represented less than 10 percent of the plants 850 workers.

One Wayne Farms worker died from the virus. Singleton said he hadnt worked since April 9.

Still, Berkowitz said the poultry industry and federal regulators could have moved faster to prevent more infections and deaths. On March 6, labor advocates asked federal regulators to mandate worker protections against infectious diseases. Instead, Berkowitz said, the feds relaxed their oversight.

Wayne Farms in Albertville was one of 16 plants that received special permission in April to increase the speed of production from a maximum of 140 chickens to 175. Union leaders and worker advocates say such speed ups hurt worker safety, especially during a pandemic, when employees need more time and space to improve hygiene and social distancing.

Despite receiving the special waivers, line speeds at plants have slowed. An employee at Wayne Farms said the plant appeared to be running at about half its normal capacity this week as workers called out for fear of getting sick.

The worker, who did not want to be identified for fear of losing her job, said many wanted to see the plant closed completely for cleaning. When the first employee became sick with COVID-19 a couple weeks ago, the plant called meetings to inform workers. But she said they didnt provide protective masks or barriers between workers until this week.

There were still twenty-plus people on each line, she said. Everybody still stayed shoulder-to-shoulder and back-to-back.

Across the South, the death toll from chicken plants has been rising. Just over the border in Georgia, four employees at a Tyson plant in Camilla have died from the virus. Employees at a Wayne Farms plant in southeast Alabama have also tested positive.

Rich said she wasnt surprised when COVID-19 appeared in poultry plants. Not only do employees work close together, they also share crowded spaces during meals and breaks. Companies were slow to rearrange break rooms and stagger mealtimes to protect workers, she said.

The work typically doesnt pay much, and workers may carpool to save money and live in cramped quarters, which can increase the spread of disease into the community. Rich said the industry has a history of indifference to workplace safety to leads to high rates of injury and disability.

Its already a slow-motion disaster for workers in these plants and now its a more intense and deadly disaster, Rich said.

Representatives of the industry dispute that. Caleb Hicks, spokesman for the Alabama Egg and Poultry Association said the industry has some of the strictest biosecurity measures in the nation. It was inevitable that some poultry workers would contract the virus, but plants have taken major steps to contain the spread, he said.

In recent weeks, poultry companies have increased health and safety precautions at their facilities, Hicks said. These include erecting barriers between employees; increased health screenings; deep cleaning between shifts; facilitating social distancing by staggering breaks; emphasis on remaining socially distant while a work and not at work; restricting plant access to only essential personnel; increased employee education and training; encouraging employees who feel sick to stay home; and providing flexible paid sick leave. Absenteeism within these companies remains extremely low.

According to the Wayne Farms website, employees who test positive for COVID-19 and those who have been exposed and quarantined received paid sick leave.

In other states, meat processing facilities have been forced to close by state or local authorities. Its unlikely a company would decide to do that on their own, Berkowitz said.

This was not inevitable, Berkowitz said. This did not have to happen, if plants had taken these steps earlier to prevent these outbreaks.

Click for data about coronavirus in Alabama
Guatemala, where many residents depend on remittances from the U.S., has received no offers of support from the Trump administration. (Associated Press)

When it comes to supplying ventilators and other coronavirus aid to Central America, Trump administration officials say they are not playing favorites.

But countries that have been more cooperative on immigration and other issues seem to have moved to the front of the line.

The presidents of El Salvador and Honduras have both promised to try to keep their citizens at home and away from the trails of migration toward the United States.

And on Friday, Trump promised that both countries would receive ventilators.

"Just spoke to President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador," Trump tweeted. "Will be helping them with Ventilators, which are desperately needed. They have worked well with us on immigration at the Southern Border!"

About an hour later, Trump added:

Just spoke to President Juan Orlando Hernandez of the Republic of Honduras. We work closely together on the Southern Border. Will be helping him with his request for Ventilators and Testing.

The United States doesnt share a border with Honduras or El Salvador, so Trump was presumably referring to agreements in which those countries have pledged to take back migrants and asylum-seekers.

For Guatemala, however, which is facing a similar or worse coronavirus threat, Trump had no offers of support. Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei in recent weeks has repeatedly blocked  then unblocked, then re-blocked  deportation flights from the United States transporting Guatemalans who had entered the U.S. illegally.

Guatemala said Friday that 89 Guatemalan deportees from the U.S. had arrived home with COVID-19.

Michael Kozak, acting assistant secretary for the U.S. State Department's Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, said Friday that deporting migrants to their home countries was actually safer for their health than continuing to detain them in crowded immigration jails.

He defended the dispatch of coronavirus-infected migrants to their home countries  potentially spreading the disease to new ground  by saying that many were asymptomatic at the time of their deportation, so it could not be determined that they were ill.

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"The policy is not to remove anyone who is ill," Kozak said before referring further inquiries to the Homeland Security Department.

Kozak also said he did not believe Trump was singling out countries for punishment but merely responding to requests as he got them.

"There isnt some hard linkage here between cooperation on removals and ventilators," he said in a briefing with reporters. "Were trying to get medicine and medical supplies to anybody who needs them, including countries that we have not particularly good relations with.

"I wouldn't be speculating about punishments at this point," Kozak added.

Trump also wrote a charitable tweet to Lenin Moreno, president of Ecuador, although he initially misspelled the name of the hard-hit country, again offering ventilators. Ecuador hasn't played much of a role in any Trump initiatives, but it has become more supportive of U.S. policies since Moreno replaced a leftist government.

Hernandez of Honduras has routinely lavished praise on Trump and acquiesced to U.S. policies as far-flung as voting with Washington  and against most of the rest of the world  at the United Nations over a resolution seeking to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital. U.S. law enforcement has accused Hernandez of involvement in drug trafficking.

El Salvador's Bukele has enjoyed enthusiastic support from Washington. Bukele has taken an increasingly hard line with expanded use of the military, both to fight the coronavirus pandemic and to stifle his political opponents.

Many Salvadorans worry that Bukele's actions are a throwback to the country's militarized, undemocratic past. The country endured a 12-year civil war, which ended in 1992, in which the United States backed a brutal right-wing government and its army.

More than 2,000 Salvadorans have been rounded up in recent days and placed in holding facilities because they violated social distancing rules, even as detention in overcrowded facilities violates the same rules. The Supreme Court has told the government to stop arbitrarily detaining people, but Bukele has ignored the ruling.

The Trump administration has refused to condemn what many in El Salvador and the rest of Latin America see as Bukele's increasingly autocratic tendencies.

Kozak said administration officials have given "constructive advice" to the parties in El Salvador but have chosen not to make public pronouncements.

He said the administration sees the disputes in El Salvador as more of a disagreement over how to confront the pandemic than political repression.

U.S. officials said this week they have given $757 million to about 100 countries to assist in their fight against the coronavirus crisis, including about $64 million to 30 nations in the Western Hemisphere.

U.S. administrations over the last decades have contributed huge resources to the global battle against epidemics such as Ebola and HIV-AIDS.

Many leaders of those campaigns, such as Dr. Anthony Fauci and Dr. Deborah Birx, are involved in the current administration's efforts against the coronavirus outbreak. But the Trump administration has cut off its funding to one of the other main champions in the battle, the World Health Organization, accusing it of bias in favor of China.

Staff writer Cindy Carcamo contributed from Santa Ana, Calif.
The $484 billion relief measure that President Trump signed on Friday is a vivid example. The impetus was an emergency: The small-business loan program created by the stimulus law ran out of money days after it was enacted, as distressed companies sought forgivable loans to help keep their operations humming. So Congress swooped in with $320 billion to refill its coffers. That would not have been necessary had lawmakers heeded original calls to devote far more money to small-business relief in the initial $2.2 trillion stimulus law.

The measure also contained $75 billion for hospitals and $25 billion for testing  but neither sum comes close to what experts project will be needed, which many of its proponents conceded.

Congressional leaders have not funded the significant scale-up in testing and tracing of Americans that experts say is necessary to give consumers and workers confidence to return to something resembling normal life while the virus still poses a deadly threat. Nor have they settled on a strategy to keep aid flowing should the virus continue to suppress economic activity through the summer and beyond. Those decisions could have damaging consequences  by not spending more on testing today, lawmakers could find themselves under pressure to continue support for people and businesses indefinitely.

Now, Republicans and Democrats are clashing over the scope and timing of the next aid package  particularly whether it should contain relief for state and local governments whose budget pictures are dire  with no action expected until May. Republican lawmakers signaled they were returning to concerns about how much Congress was adding to the national debt with all of its government spending.

Its time to begin to consult with experts  people who make a living doing this kind of thing  and weigh the impact of all of this, Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the majority leader, said in an interview. Knowing full well this is necessary, nevertheless, that doesnt mean you close your eyes to the impact you may be having on the countrys financial viability in the coming years.
If you test positive for coronavirus in Warren County, you can expect your phone to ring.

Are we still calling everyone? The short answer is yes, said Sarah Perramant, the county health departments epidemiologist. Were doing our best.

Warren is among the counties in New Jersey with the fewest coronavirus cases. Its also one of New Jerseys least populated. Yet Perramant has trained dozens of workers to help her department track down anyone who might have come into contact with an infected person, a laborious process called contact tracing that experts and state officials say is needed to allow New Jersey to emerge from lockdown.

Along with widespread testing, contact tracing is crucial to prevent a massive second wave of infections, experts and officials agree.

We all recognize that robust contact tracing, in addition to that testing protocol, is vital to any serious reopening efforts, Gov. Phil Murphy said Wednesday.

Yet without a major infusion of resources from the federal or state government, or the unveiling of a drastically different strategy from the state, it remains unclear how contact tracing will ever effectively contain the viruss spread in New Jersey.

State Health Commissioner Judith Persichelli announced she hopes to have the outline of a contact tracing plan by next week, and Murphy said his office is in talks with officials in New York and Connecticut about a tri-state plan. But experts say this plan should already be in place.

I dont know why were not jumping on it, said Judith Lightfoot, the chief of infectious disease at Rowan University.

Trace and quarantine

Contact tracing is a public health practice aimed at identifying and isolating anyone who has been exposed to the virus by a known case, so they cannot spread it. Local health departments do it regularly for viruses like HIV or measles, and during outbreaks like ebola or H1N1.

Case investigators interview the positive person about all their close contacts  defined as someone who has been within six feet for 10 minutes or more  and then reach out to each of those contacts to advise them to quarantine for 14 days and learn about any other potential exposures.

Health officials around the country have acknowledged for weeks that health departments do not have the staff necessary to do the level of detailed contact tracing needed. So far, the federal government has not announced any plans to massively scale up contact tracing, beyond Vice President Mike Pences statement that teams of 10 to 12 could be dispatched to problem states as needed.

New Jersey is not alone in this problem.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Wednesday the state will create a massive team of contact tracers, including roughly 35,000 college students in the medical field. And while he said the effort would be part of a partnership with New Jersey and Connecticut, Murphy said the same day that the discussion was still in the "very early stages.

Meanwhile, Massachusetts is spending $44 million and partnering with the nonprofit Partners in Health to hire a thousand people to do the work. Michigan has worked with private companies to find and train over 2,000 volunteers. Maryland says it will repurpose government employees and hire contractors to get to 1,000 contact tracers.

But New Jersey remains dependent on a patchwork of 94 municipal or county-level health departments, each trying piecemeal to enlist volunteers or draft workers from other parts of their local governments to help with the effort.

In the southern and western parts of New Jersey, where the coronavirus outbreak is not as widespread, several health departments still are managing to stay on top of contact tracing.

Cumberland, Cape May and Salem counties  which each had less than 425 cases by Saturday  still are doing extensive contact tracing for every new case.

We have our arms around it for now, Salem County health officer Robert Dickinson said.

Warren and Hunterdon counties also are staying up to date on tracing by swelling their ranks. Hunterdon County is hiring three new disease investigators, and Warrens Perramant has trained new contact tracers  including detectives in the prosecutors office  for a total of 45.

The gains in the south and west are in stark contrast to the harder hit areas of New Jersey, where health officials are scrambling just to keep pace.

Health departments overwhelmed with cases are now following the states advice to pivot from individual contact tracing to focusing instead on cases that may have exposed vulnerable populations such as nursing homes or acute care facilities. The state scaled down an eight-page contact tracing interview template to two-and-a-half pages.

We no longer have the capacity to reach out to every contact a person had, said Angela Musella of the Northwest Bergen Regional Health Commission. I am hoping its still making a difference.

Health officials responsible for contact tracing in Paramus, Berkeley Heights and Hillside report they are still able keep up thanks to added staff, volunteers and longer hours.

But those volunteers will eventually have to go back to their regular jobs.

Perramant said thats just when theyll be needed the most.

When we see those levels go down, thats when contact tracing becomes even more important, she said.

What should contact tracing look like in New Jersey?

To really make a meaningful dent in the virus, contract tracing would need to be massively scaled up. State officials have not decided how they can make it happen.

The states Communicable Disease Service has suggested New Jersey needs anywhere from 15 to 81 contact tracers per 100,000 residents, or between 1,332 and 7,195 workers.

The New Jersey Department of Health said those numbers are based on guidance from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officers, but no decision has been made about what model to adopt here.

We should have an outline, I would hope, next week of how we expect to approach this and then fill in the blanks for how we get the contact tracers and how many we actually need, Persichilli said Thursday.

Fifteen tracers per 100,000 residents would put New Jersey on par with contact tracing programs in Massachusetts and Maryland. If the state aimed for 81 tracers per 100,000 residents, it would give New Jersey one of the most aggressive contact tracing plans in the country.

Nancy Kearney, a spokeswoman for the New Jersey Department of Health, said officials are exploring all options to scale up contact tracing and noted that, eventually, case numbers will drop to more manageable levels.

The state has also said local health departments will split $5 million in federal funding to help them fight the coronavirus  including contact tracing  though its not clear when that money will be available. The state has also helped deploy 41 student volunteers from Rutgers School of Public Health to help.

Asked about furloughed municipal workers Saturday, Murphy said the numerous unemployed in New Jersey could be part of the answer to the contact tracing question in the state.

Dont hold me to what the answer is completely at the moment," he said.

Perry N. Halkitis, dean of the School of Public Health, warned that contact tracing is potentially flawed because an infected person may not remember every close contact or withhold information, afraid of a stigma.

The practice didnt stop the AIDS epidemic, he said, which caught the public health system unprepared just like the coronavirus.

Were just not ready for it, he said. Were reacting. And one of the things we teach in public health is you have to be proactive.

Countries such as South Korea and Singapore have been successful at keeping case numbers relatively low by massively expanding the workers who can trace but also by using cellphone technology to track peoples movements.

There are discussions about using similar technology in the U.S., but Perramant said expectations for privacy and surveillance are much different here.

Murphy said those early-stage talks about a tri-state contact tracing partnership include "not just necessary human components, but also a technological one, as well.

Lightfoot said the state should consider creating a cellphone app to track positive cases down to the ZIP code, suggesting the information can be uploaded by residents instantaneously. Some form of new or drastic measure is essential to stopping the coronavirus spread and dealing with a potential second wave, Lightfoot said.

I do think we need to look at it, especially if were ever going to be able to open back up New Jersey, she said.

Rebecca Everett may be reached at reverett@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @RebeccaJEverett. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Matthew Stanmyre may be reached at mstanmyre@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattStanmyre. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
The Detroit Restaurants That Taste Like Ancient Assyria

The food at Mr. Kabob, a Chaldean gas-station restaurant that is a short drive from Chaldean Town. ( Chaldean News) For those who crave steaming bowls of fasoulia with plump beans and tomatoes and spit-kissed kofta skewers scented with allspice and cardamom, Sullaf is a haven.

A Chaldean restaurant, Sullaf specializes in the food of Iraqi Christians whose history dates back to ancient Mesopotamia. It is one of the world's oldest cuisines, and Sullaf serves the world's largest Chaldean diaspora, in Detroit, Michigan. But the area where the restaurant is located, known as Chaldean Town, has emptied out. What was once a bustling center for huge numbers of Chaldean immigrants and their families is suddenly a lot quieter.

Yet Sullaf isn't the last stand of Chaldean food in this city. As Chaldean Town has disappeared, newer Chaldean neighborhoods have appeared in other parts of town. The community--now 160,000 strong, the largest outside of Iraq--has found other ways to exhibit their cuisine, and other places to plant their restaurants.

At a time when the community's numbers are dwindling in Iraq due to the rise of ISIS and growing sectarian violence against Christians, food has become a way to share Chaldean culture in America. Within Detroit itself, which is home to some 300,000 people of Arab descent, Chaldeans view their food as a way to distinguish themselves, since the media often groups all Arab Americans under one umbrella. Perpetuating their unique culinary heritage is one of the most tangible and accessible means of letting people know that their way of life here is far from disappearing.

"Food is such a huge part of us," says Paul Jonna, the chief operating officer of the Chaldean Community Foundation. "The preservation of culture is important to any community, and so much of our culture is being surrounded by good food."

Chaldean Town started developing in earnest in the 1970s and 1980s, when Chaldean immigrants arrived in droves, a result of changes to federal immigration policy and the Iran-Iraq War (Chaldeans have been living in Detroit since as early as the 1920s). The stretch on 7 Mile Road became populated with shops, bakeries, and restaurants specializing in Chaldean food. These restaurants played an important role in Chaldean Town, says Jane Shallal, a Chaldean-American living in Detroit who edited Ma Baseema, a cookbook about Chaldean cuisine, not only as gathering spots for the community, but as monuments to Chaldean culture.

"Chaldean culture is a very hospitable culture," Shallal says. "Food is that welcoming tool, to get people to bond and become close." Chaldean Town was a haven not just for Chaldean immigrants, but for all Detroit residents--Chaldean food became one of the city's more popular cuisines among locals.

Martin Manna, President of the Chaldean Community Foundation, photographed in his office in Sterling Heights. ( Salwan Georges/Washington Post/Getty Image)

In Iraq, Chaldeans have long asserted their heritage by practicing their religion (Christianity) and speaking their language (Aramaic). But in America, Christianity is much more widely practiced, and Aramaic is globally on the verge of extinction. Cooking those distinctive Chaldean dishes, then, feels like an especially powerful declaration of identity. "We feel a strong need to keep our culture going," Shallal says. Relative to other cultural touchstones, she adds, "our flavors are more distinguishable."

Chaldean cuisine involves sword-like spears of heavily spiced meats, vast platters of rice, cozy stews of potato, leek, and eggplant seasoned with pepper and lemon and showers of herbs, and tangy, stuffed grape leaves. The format of the dishes share commonalities with that of neighboring countries, Shallal says, but the spicing is distinct.

"You are literally eating ancient recipes," Jonna says--dishes born of both celebration and survival over centuries, from the days when Mesopotamia was the cradle of civilization. From this part of the world came the very first cookbooks, featuring recipes mostly for stews, etched in clay tablets. These dishes reflected how advanced Mesopotamian society was for its time--they involved making dough, adding spices, and using rendered fat as flavoring. Their land was fertile, supporting diverse produce and livestock, and they were in contact with nearby regions, enabling cross-cultural exchange.

That sense of purpose and community, Shallal says, extended to Chaldean Town. "In Iraq everybody is used to walking around town, so in that neighborhood, the houses were close together and everybody walked," she says, whether it was to church or to dinner.

Chaldean Town's restaurants "laid the foundation for people in the community," she says. But in the '90s, the area changed as the illegal drug trade soared, along with the crime rate. As the Chaldeans left, so, too, did the restaurants. "People got scared. Businesses couldn't survive."

Charlie Beaver, who runs a nonprofit and lives in Chaldean Town (he is not of Chaldean descent), says that his Chaldean neighbors regularly tell him stories from when the neighborhood started deteriorating. "People say that 20 years ago you couldn't walk down the street unless you were strapped," he says. The empty houses fell into decay, and squatters and drug dealers moved in.

Beaver is a regular at Sullaf, and tries to promote it and the sole other Chaldean storefront still standing: S&J Meats. He created a Facebook page for the butcher shop and updates it himself.

But Joseph Kawa, who runs S&J Meats, is more pessimistic about his future in Chaldean Town. He started the business almost 16 years ago, and 90 percent of his clientele was Chaldean, he says. All the local coffee shops and restaurants bought product from him. Some Chaldeans who have moved across town still come to his shop, but most have stopped visiting.

"It is hard to bring people here because people are not going to drive here for one business or two businesses," he says. "We are hanging in there, but I don't know how long we will last."

In the last few years, much of the Chaldean community has migrated to neighborhoods across town, namely Sterling Heights, 14 miles away. There, restaurant owners who used to have places in Chaldean Town have set up shop, hoping to capture the same success they had in their former locale.

Sahara, now a popular string of Chaldean restaurants, started on the intersection of 9 Mile road and Woodward, not far from Chaldean Town. It quickly grew a cult following--from Chaldeans and non-Chaldeans. People adored dishes such as gurgur, a comforting pot of beef cooked down with onions and bulgur.

"People would come late night and hang out all day, in and out," says Zeana Attisha, who owns Sahara with her husband, Saad. "We stayed open until 4 in the morning, and it was always very busy."

Once Chaldeans started migrating away from the area, they eventually shut down the original spot, and looked for other places to locate. After several requests from customers, they opened in Sterling Heights in 2004, which Attisha says emanates the energy of the original.

"It is just as busy," she says, proudly. "It's really loud," and she prefers it that way.

Last year, the Chaldean Community Foundation, the nonprofit arm of the Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce, announced the creation of "Chaldean Town 2.0" in Sterling Heights--a mixed-use development project meant to house Chaldeans and provide spaces for Chaldean businesses. Jonna says a "huge portion" of this development will be dedicated to restaurants.

Those plans will likely be delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Chaldean News reports that the virus has hit the Chaldean community in ways familiar to many cities and groups, with shuttered restaurants, paused developments, and empty store shelves.

Back in 2010, in an effort to codify Chaldean cuisine for contemporary readers and home cooks, Shallal edited a community cookbook of Chaldean recipes from local home cooks called Ma Baseema. The title translates from Aramaic to "how good it is." Many of the contributors were writing their family recipes down for the first time, she says. The cookbook is a cataloguing of the Chaldean way of life, and a way to share that with others. But Shallal adds that even more essential to these preservation efforts is the continuation of these neighborhood Chaldean restaurants--establishments whose future seems uncertain in light of COVID-19.

"Restaurants are a place of gathering," she explains. "They play a large role in making sure we stay a close-knit community, and that the rest of the community feels like they are at home. It lets them know that the food is out there for them."
My poor wristwatch sits forlorn in its nook on the kitchen shelf. I only wear it when going out to the theatre or cinema, so I can keep an eye on the time without rousing my phone. It has gathered six weeks of dust. It is longing for an outing. The absence of theatre in my life is beginning to be painful. I watch various plays online, and that is okay; but I ardently desire to be back in a crowded auditorium. I will never complain about the sweet-paper rustlers again, or the smell of a sweaty patron beside me on a hot July night.

In 1642, the Puritan-dominated English parliament ordered the closure of the London theatres, seeing them as a seat of vice and corruption, and as haunts of "lascivious Mirth and Levity". Actors were subjected to persecution. A single offence merited a whipping, a subsequent infringement had the actor declared a rogue and vagabond. It would be 18 dark years before the restoration of Charles II to the English throne and the ensuing period of theatrical effervescence, a style of work that became known as Restoration Comedy. After the long theatrical drought, the theatre developed a mode almost totally dedicated to having a laugh, with plenty of topical satire. The first professional female actors emerged, as did the first professional female playwright, Aphra Behn.

So what will arise from the darkness caused by Covid-19? My money is on the comedy writers emerging into a golden period. We'll all have had enough doom and gloom and be looking for fun. And there are a number of up-and-coming comedy writing talents poised to take advantage of this: Sonya Kelly's breakthrough play Furniture for Druid Theatre Company opened in Galway's tiny Mick Lally Theatre in 2018; it subsequently packed out a national tour on the strength of word-of-mouth. Kelly's style of aphoristic comedy has a Wildean feel and is a thorough crowd-pleaser, as well as having impressive intellectual agility. Last year saw Lisa Tierney-Keogh's social comedy This Beautiful Village debut on the Abbey main stage; it went on to win Best New Play in the Irish Times Irish Theatre Awards, and is scheduled for a national tour this June/July, lockdown permitting. Tierney-Keogh's mode is urban social comedy - influenced heavily by contemporary social satirists, writers like Yasmina Reza and Bernard Farrell. David Ireland's Ulster American last year continued his development of a Northern Irish Protestant humour, with his signature pitch-black mordancy and gleeful provocativeness. The writing team of Michael Patrick and Oisin Kearney gave us The Alternative during last year's Dublin Theatre Festival, a hugely funny political satire on Brexit Britain and the state of Irish national identity - brought to the stage by Fishamble: the New Play Company. Laughter is contagious (in a good, non-viral way). The nervous giggle of the genuinely threatened easily tips over into giddy mirth. It is a communal activity which doesn't work as well without a crowd. Canned laughter tries to fill the void for TV viewers, but it's the one aspect of recorded drama that is never really satisfactory. Nothing can replace the live ripple of a laugh through a crowd, developing into an irrepressible wave. The performative joker with the ready quip is of no practical use in a pandemic. Their talents are inappropriate to the time, and the wise joker knows when to shut up. But the joker comes into their own in the aftermath, as part of the repair process. There is something of the Puritan about Covid-19. It has particularly damaged recreation: sports, concerts, theatre, and jolly packed pubs. But comedy can always be relied on to do battle with the anti-fun brigade. And we laugh communally when danger has passed; it is a signal to the herd that it is safe to come out, that the predator is finally gone.
OTTAWAGet on with it.

Thats the message some Conservative MPs and activists are sending the party brass, anxious to resolve the partys now-suspended leadership contest by the end of summer.

The restlessness among some in the Conservative caucus grew this week, after a widely criticized performance from outgoing leader Andrew Scheer.

On Monday, Scheer continued to push for in-person sittings of the House of Commons. However, one MP said Scheers focus on the number of sittings of the House, one day after the worst mass shooting in Canadian history unfolded in Nova Scotia, seemed out of touch.

People didnt fing care, said the MP, who spoke on the condition they not be named to discuss internal party matters.

On Thursday, Scheer refused to comment on leadership candidate Derek Sloans questioning of top public health officer Dr. Theresa Tams loyalty to Canada, even as others in the party decried Sloans comments.

Scheer announced in December he would resign after his successor was chosen, ending weeks of internal party strife after Octobers disappointing federal election loss. The Conservative caucus allowed Scheer to stay on in the interim. At the time, a new leader was expected to be elected within months.

But after initially sticking to the June 27 vote, the partys leadership election organizing committee (LEOC) indefinitely suspended the vote last month. Its now unclear when Scheers successor will be chosen.

Multiple Conservative sources who spoke to the Star pointed to the difficult situation Scheer is in  continuing to lead the party through an unprecedented time in Canadian politics, despite announcing his intention to step down five months ago.

Thornhill MP Peter Kent dismissed the criticism levelled against Scheer for focusing on accountability sessions in the House of Commons. Kent said the Conservatives made a credible case for the need for more scrutiny of the Liberal governments response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

But while Kent praised Scheers leadership, he said the party must move quickly to put a permanent leader in place.

I think Andrew has been a solid and responsible leader of the official opposition in a very difficult time where there is a limbo regarding the leadership, Kent said.

We need to see to that as soon as is practically and responsibly possible.

While most MPs remain holed up in their constituencies, the Conservatives have been holding weekly caucus meetings over Zoom. Regional caucuses have also been meeting regularly.

One source told the Star that was largely supportive of Scheers push to bring back the House of Commons. Now that parties have agreed to regular meetings over the coming weeks, another caucus member said, MPs are putting renewed urgency on the leadership question.

The organizing committee is scheduled to meet next Friday to discuss the timeline for reopening the leadership race, largely viewed as a two-way contest between former cabinet ministers Peter MacKay and Erin OToole.

While the committee has maintained a May 15 deadline to sign up new members eligible to vote in the leadership, there has been no indication when the vote will be rescheduled.

LEOC will continue to monitor developments and meet regularly to discuss options, party spokesperson Cory Hann wrote in a statement to the Star.

Hann said the committee will do a fulsome re-evaluation of the dates and times needed to complete the race under the obligations of the partys constitution.

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United Nations peace operations promote stability and security in some of the worlds most dangerous and fragile places. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, overstretched UN peacekeeperscivilian, military, and policewere a thin blue line helping to protect civilians, support peace agreements and contain conflicts in hot spots and war zones across the globe.

Ifor more likely whenthe COVID-19 virus further spreads in countries already weakened by war and poverty, it will not only threaten the lives of the thousands but could also tip the balance from tenuous peace back to conflict and despair. Communities recovering from conflict often live right at the survival line, every day facing poverty and the lack of basic health services. For these societies, the stakes could not be higher and the importance of UN assistance has never been greater.

To extend the global fight against COVID-19 to areas struggling to emerge from conflict, we need to continue sustaining and promoting peace and stability. Together with our partners, UN peacekeeping missions are working to achieve four objectives: (1) supporting local efforts to fight the spread of the novel coronavirus, (2) keeping UN personnel safe and ensure they receive the best available care by enhancing medical testing and treatment capabilities, (3) ensuring that peacekeepers are able to continue their work without spreading the virus by practicing social distancing and other mitigation measures, and (4) advancing their difficult mandates to support peace and contain conflict even as COVID19 spreads.

As UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres recently told the Security Council, this pandemic could potentially lead to an increase in social unrest, a lapse in state authority and even violence that would greatly undermine our collective capabilities to fight the virus. For countries that have a handful of ventilators for millions of people, the possibility that one in 1,000 could contract COVID-19 and 15 percent of those could need care in an intensive care unit, is staggering. The brutal statistics of COVID-19 do not just reflect a global health crisisthey signal a fundamental threat to the maintenance of international peace and security.

We are committed to ensuring that our UN peace operations do everything they can to be an integral part of the solution to the pandemic. From the Central African Republic to Lebanon, from Somalia to Mali, our personnel continue to deliver. They are doing so bravely and with dedication, staying on the front lines even as they worry about family back home, even as air links and supply lines are stretched by the global response to COVID-19, even as cases are appearing in host countries.

The strength of our peacekeeping partnershipswhether other UN actors, NGOs, or regional organizations like the African Union (AU)has never been more important. Despite the increasing demands on our peacekeepers to deliver their mandates, we must recognize that our partners also face the risks of this pandemic. Our peacekeeping missions offer a medical infrastructure that can support all UN personnel at risk of the virus while they continue their work. Protecting ourselves is key to being able to protect others.

We are also doing everything we can to keep our supply chains resilient. Our logistics experts have developed a business continuity plan for life-support needs, while ensuring the planning, provision, and delivery of goods and services critical for the implementation of peace mandates. Personal Protective Equipment is being made available in all our missions; we are supplying our own respiratory ventilators and ensuring that the capacity of intensive care units and supplies is sufficient to ensure that we do not strain already stretched local resources. We are also strengthening medical evacuation capabilities in close collaboration with our partners and UN member states. Strict social distancing measures are in place, and missions are reducing our footprint by lowering population density among uniformed personnel and civilian staff.

While our missions must protect themselves from COVID-19, they continue to reach out to local communities, protecting civilians and assisting host governments to contain the virus. Radio Okapi, the UNs radio station in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), has launched a nation-wide, multilingual campaign to inform the local population about COVID-19, focusing on dispelling rumors and countering misinformation.

In Darfur, our operation is raising awareness among vulnerable groups on the importance of precautionary measures to control the spread of COVID-19, including in camps for internally displaced persons in the north and central parts of the state, where the risks of infections spreading is heightened. In Cyprus, our mission is working with womens organizations to support those suffering from domestic violence during the quarantine.

At the same time, blue helmets continue to carry out their pre-COVID-19 tasks: protecting civilians, supporting political processes, and helping to build government capacity. In the DRC, peacekeepers recently helped free 38 civilians, including women and children, who had been abducted by an armed group in the countrys east, as they helped the national army to repel an attack. In Mali, two weeks ago, when the government decided it was important to press ahead with legislative elections, our mission provided critical logistical and operational support and helped secure polling stations on election day. In Somalia, the UN has been supporting AU soldiers and the government to develop their own COVID-19 preparedness and response plans, while working to ensure that terrorist groups do not seize the opportunity to strike while attention is focused on the pandemic. The struggle against COVID-19 may be a second front for the peacekeepers, but both battles continue.

Last week, the UN secretary-general decided to suspend the rotation of all our troops and police until June 30th. Such measures will keep our blue helmets on the ground, where they are needed most, and will help protect and reassure communities and UN colleagues alike by postponing the movement of thousands of personnel to and from home countries and transit points. This is a decision not taken lightly given the remoteness, hardship, and dangers often faced by peacekeepers. Staying in the field is a sacrifice for personnel who expected to return home after an arduous tour of duty. We are grateful that the countries that provide these police and military personnel have agreed to this measure so that our peace operations can maintain their operations, keeping the peace while minimizing the risk of COVID-19 contagion. We are doing everything possible to support our brave women and men, so they can keep themselves and their host communities safe.

As the UN secretary-general said when he called for a global ceasefire, there should only be one fight in the world today: our shared battle against COVID-19. For UN peacekeeping, this includes our unwavering commitment to the health and safety of our personnel and the people we serve. This is why UN peacekeepers must continue their important work. And it is why, now, more than ever, they need our full support.

Atul Khare is the Under-Secretary-General of the UN Department of Operational Support. Jean-Pierre Lacroix is the Under-Secretary-General of the UN Department of Peace Operations.
Ramadan, Islams holy month of fasting, has been observed and celebrated by Muslims around the world for more than 14 centuries. In the seventh century, Prophet Muhammad stated that Islam is built upon five pillars and fasting in Ramadan is one of them. Today, nearly a quarter of the worlds population mark or observe the fast during daylight hours, giving great respect to the Islamic month in which the holy book of Islam, the Quran, was revealed to the Prophet.



Ramadan literally means intense heat, denoting the scorching summer month to which it was originally ascribed. It formed part of the pre-Islamic Arab calendar well before Islam came to Mecca, the holy city in todays Saudi Arabia, in the seventh century.



Muslims embrace Ramadan as the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. Moonsighting  the practice of spotting the new moon on the first night of each Islamic month with the naked eye  is a tradition that has endured to this day, as Muslims across the world wait in anticipation and excitement for the birth of the Ramadan moon.



Eid-al-Fitr is the first day of the Islamic month of Shawwal. It marks the end of Ramadan, which is a month of fasting and prayer. Many Muslims attend communal prayers, listen to a khutba (sermon) and give zakat al-fitr (charity in the form of food) during Eid al-Fitr.



Fasting from sunrise to sunset is fard (obligatory) for all adult Muslims who are not acutely or chronically ill, travelling, elderly, pregnant, breastfeeding, diabetic, or menstruating. The predawn meal is referred to as suhur, and the nightly feast that breaks the fast is called iftar. Although fatwas have been issued declaring that Muslims who live in regions with a midnight sun or polar night should follow the timetable of Mecca, it is common practice to follow the timetable of the closest country in which night can be distinguished from day.



Although Muslims were first commanded to fast in the second year of Hijra (624 CE), they believe that the practice of fasting is not in fact an innovation of monotheism, but rather has always been necessary for believers to attain taqwa (the fear of God).



It has become necessary to rain more prayer into the land of the universe, especially when the entire world is challenged with the battle of the deadly disease killing hundreds of thousands of souls around the world. The Patriotic Gents (PG) believes this Prayer of Ramadan will make a big difference in the fight against the worlds pandemic COVID-19, amidst all the other scientific approaches.



Hence, PG wishes all Muslims the strength needed for successful journey of this Ramadan.



.......Signed.......

Bermah Kwabena Pobi

Director of Communication

+233 24 476 1821





Source: Bermah Kwabena Pobi / Director of Communication









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The Uttar Pradesh Government has started bringing back workers hailing from the state who were stranded in other parts of the country due to the lockdown and as many as 2,224 labourers have returned in the first phase, a senior official said on Saturday.

Briefing reporters here, Additional Chief Secretary (Home and Information) Awanish Awasthi said the first batch of workers was brought back in 82 buses from Haryana on Saturday, and 11,000 workers will return by Sunday.

All the workers will be kept in a 14-day quarantine.

"Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had issued directions to bring back labourers belonging to UP from other states in a phased manner.

"In this regard, on Saturday as many as 2,224 labourers were brought back in 82 buses from Haryana. These labourers hail from 16 districts of western UP," Awasthi said,



Orders have been issued to prepare shelter homes in the state in a major way so that the returnees can be quarantined there.

"Instructions have been issued to install public address system at the shelter homes, and make arrangements for food and toilets," Awasthi said.

It has also been directed that once the quarantine period of the labourers coming from other states ends, preparations should be made to provide them employment near their village, the official said.

Migrant workers in several states have demanded that they be sent back to their native places as many, especially daily-wagers, were facing financial hardships after a lockdown was imposed from March 25 to check the spread of coronavirus.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Aryan Benevolent Home (ABH), a South African residential care facility for the aged, supported by Amitabh Bachchan, is reportedly in the centre of a controversy, for not following regulations during the current nationwide lockdown.

Aryan Benevolent Home chief executive Naren Pattundeen and building contractor Roshan Lutchman were arrested by police, for not having the required permits to build a COVID-19 isolation ward at the Chatsworth home for the elderly. ABH was constructing a 24-bed ward facility when the police arrived at the site. The construction was taking place as a part of their disaster management plan to prepare for a possible outbreak in the home, which caters scores of senior citizens.

Contractor Lutchman told an online portal that he and Pattundeen were in possession of valid permits to operate during the lockdown, which the police refused to accept as valid. The police said that they will be locking everyone up at the site, which includes 38 workers, packed in batches of 12 police vans. They were escorted to the police station in Chatsworth.

Lutchman revealed that the police said, "social distancing was not possible at the police station and everyone was packed into a courtyard until police allowed his workers to leave with a warning." According to the report, Lutchman and Pattundeen were held in a cell and were released after the attorney secured their bail.

"We have engaged our attorneys to challenge our unlawful arrest. It was disrespectful and demoralising - the way they handled us was as if we were selling drugs or alcohol, Their conduct was really shocking. The ABH staff watched a senior member being arrested like a crook, while my staff watched me being arrested" he added. They also plan to lodge a complaint with the Independent Police Investigative Directorate.

Actor Amitabh Bachchan has been very supportive of the ABH for years after he first visited in 2002, for the South African leg of the megastar Bollywood show Now or Never. Two years ago, he also endorsed a fundraising campaign for the ABH.

Amitabh Bachchan To Provide Monthly Ration To 1 Lakh Daily Wage Workers

Saif Ali Khan Says Taimur Will Be Devastated After Lockdown Ends
Lawyers for Jeffrey Epstein's victims are seeking a huge tranche of evidence from the paedophile's executors that they believe may incriminate Prince Andrew, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.

In court papers lodged last week, they have demanded that Epstein's estate hand over any photographs of the Duke, who was friends with the shamed multi-millionaire financier for more than a decade.

The 21-page 'request for production' document filed at the federal court in New York asks for 'all written or electronic correspondences' between Epstein and Andrew, details of the Duke's visits to the paedophile's homes and any evidence that he engaged in sexual activity or massages while at them.

GOING PUBLIC: Virginia Roberts with lawyers David Boies, left, and Brad Edwards

It also asks: 'Did the surveillance in place at Jeffrey Epstein's home [in New York] have recording capabilities? If so, please state whether the recordings could be viewed live, where the live feed could be viewed from, where the recordings were stored historically, where the recordings are currently stored, which person or entity has possession or control of the recordings.'

Epstein is known to have installed cameras in his homes with speculation that he stored any compromising footage. While it is not known if any such evidence exists, the document illustrates the zeal with which Epstein's victims are pursuing the Queen's second son, who has strongly rejected any allegations of wrongdoing.

The document was filed by Brad Edwards, the lawyer for Virginia Roberts who claims that she was coerced by Epstein into having sex with the Duke on three occasions, the first in London when she was 17. Prince Andrew denies her claims.

Mr Edwards has pursued Epstein for 12 years, extracting thousands of pages of damning evidence against him. The latest move suggests he is pursuing the same strategy against Prince Andrew.

The submission was made in the case of an anonymous woman, 'Priscilla Doe', who is pursuing the millionaire's executors. She claims she was 20 when Epstein offered to help with her dancing career, but instead coerced her into performing sex acts for his friends.

CLAIM: Ms Roberts with the Duke in London in 2001

As well as the Duke, the request extends to several of Epstein's other associates including US President Donald Trump, Bill Clinton, former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Les Wexner, the former owner of the Victoria's Secret lingerie brand. None of them has ever been charged with any offence and each denies any wrongdoing.

The document lists the dates when Andrew was allegedly at Epstein's Manhattan mansion, private island in the Caribbean and ranch in New Mexico. It asks 'whether or not [Andrew] received a massage at any property owned or controlled by Jeffrey Epstein' and 'whether or not [Andrew] engaged in any sexual act while at any of Jeffrey Epstein's properties'.

It also requests any photographs of Ghislaine Maxwell, the British socialite who is accused of being Epstein's 'madam', and any of her employment and payment records. Ms Maxwell, the daughter of late newspaper tycoon Robert Maxwell, denies any wrongdoing.

Epstein hanged himself in his prison cell last August while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. Lawyers for the victims are currently negotiating a compensation scheme with his estate, valued at more than 500 million.

Jeffrey Epstein. Lawyers for Epstein's victims are seeking a huge tranche of evidence from the paedophile's executors that they believe may incriminate Prince Andrew, The Mail on Sunday can reveal

Lisa Bloom, a lawyer representing five of Epstein's victims, said she wants the option to sue the Duke as part of any deal and is 'certainly not willing to release Prince Andrew' from any liability.

David Boies, who represents five other women, including Miss Roberts, previously said he will not let 'certain individuals' escape liability, naming Andrew in court papers as one example.

The Duke was forced to withdraw from public life after a disastrous Newsnight interview about his friendship with Epstein.

In it, he said he would help the authorities with their inquiries into the paedophile but has since been accused of providing 'zero' co-operation, which he disputes.

Last night, a spokesman for the Duke declined to comment.
Colorado Springs City Council deadlocked Monday over the appointment of Stephannie Fortune to fill Councilman Richard Skorman's seat on the board. Who among the 7 finalists should be appointed?

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Coronavirus India: Shops across India, barring those in multi-brand and single-brand malls, have been permitted to open amid coronavirus lockdown.

After the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) exempted all shops under the Shops and Establishment Act from revised consolidated lockdown restrictions, Praveen Khandelwal, National General Secretary of Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) on Saturday said that people should wait for the state governments to take a decision in this regard.

I want to thank PM Modi for allowing to open shops across the country. The Home Ministry has given the responsibility to state governments. We have to wait for the state government to take a decision on this. But I think state governments will take a decision, Khandelwal told ANI. Whenever the shops will be opened, people should sanitise shops and markets first. Masks, gloves and sanitisers should be used. Shopkeepers should also ensure social distancing, he said.

In an order on Friday, the MHA exempted all shops under the Shops and Establishment Act, including shops in residential complexes and market complexes, from revised consolidated lockdown restrictions. However, the relaxations are not applicable in hotspots and containment zones.

Also Read: Coronavirus lockdown: Home Ministry allows reopening of shops with conditions, malls to remain closed

All shops registered under the Shops and Establishment Act of the respective State/Union Territory, including shops in residential complexes and market complexes, except shops in multi-brand and single-brand malls, outside the limits of municipal corporations and municipalities, with 50 per cent strength of workers with wearing of masks and social distancing being mandatory, reads the MHA order.

Also Read: Coronavirus update: Total cases in India nears 25000, toll at 775

All shops, including neighbourhood shops and standalone shops, shops in residential complexes, within the limits of municipal corporations and municipalities, registered under the Shops and Establishment Act of the respective State and Union Territory, except shops in market complexes and multi-brand and single-brand malls, with 50 per cent strength of workers with wearing of masks and social distancing being mandatory, it said.

Delhi: Hardware shops in Laxmi Nagar open after about a month into #CoronaLockdown. All shops registered under Shops&Establishment Act of respective States/UTs, incl shops in residential complexes, neighborhood&standalone shops have now been exempted from lockdown restrictions. pic.twitter.com/w8CLjREB2l  ANI (@ANI) April 25, 2020

Mumbai: Customers throng grocery stores in Kurla area to make purchases. MHA has exempted all shops under Shops&Establishment Act of States/UTs,except shops in multi-brand&single-brand malls,outside limits of Municipal Corporations from revised consolidated lockdown restrictions. pic.twitter.com/vufYsWJ42c  ANI (@ANI) April 25, 2020

Relaxations not applicable in Hotspots/containment zones: Ministry of Home Affairs https://t.co/847u21F5D8  ANI (@ANI) April 24, 2020

Last month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced a 21-day nationwide lockdown as a precautionary measure to contain the spread of COVID-19. The lockdown was later extended till May 3. Indias total number of coronavirus positive cases has climbed to 24,506 including 18,668 active cases, 5,063 cured/discharged/migrated and 775 deaths, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said today.

Also Read: Coronavirus India: 1752 new cases and 37 deaths in last 24 hours, Health ministry reports 23,452 confirmed cases, toll reaches 743

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A Roundwood resident has defied all the odds and survived Covid-19 after his family were told he only had 24 to 48 hours to live.

Mark Burke, aged 47 and with no underlying health problems, spent close to four weeks in ICU in St Vincent's Hospital after being diagnosed with Covid-19. At one stage his wife Joanne was told by consultants that it would take 'two miracles' in order for Mark to pull-through after his condition rapidly deteriorated.

The Burke family - including Amy (26), Ryan (20), Erica (16) and Evan (15) - even said their final farewells to Mark after they were informed that nothing could be done for him, but remarkably he defied medical expectations and is back home being cared for by his relieved brood.

Joanne can't praise the frontline staff at St Vincent's enough for all their efforts.

'When things were getting really bad Mark had to be paralysed and put on life-support. Basically he was being kept alive. The staff were astonishing and did everything they could. They gave him medicine for multiple sclerosis patients and treatments for AIDS patients. They basically threw everything at him to see what works.'

Joanne was informed that in nine to ten days it might be possible to wake Mark up, but with two days to go his condition suddenly deteriorated rapidly and she was contacted by the Hospital and told her husband might have sepsis.

She feared the worst when she received another call from the hospital four hours later.

'They asked me if anyone was with me and I immediately thought Mark had died. I thought we had lost him. I was creaming down the phone "Is he still with us?". I was told a blood clot had shot off and diseased his small bowel. They couldn't stabilise him and I was told we all need to say our goodbyes as he only had 24 to 48 hours to live. We were all devastated. It was so hard on everyone but the children were all amazing. We all said goodbye to Mark privately. I still don't know what the children told him and I don't want to know. That was their own private moment with him. Even the nurses and doctors were bawling crying. He had Covid pneumonia and an ischemic bowel and there was nothing they could do for him, but they just wouldn't give up.'

However, Mark went on to survive for far longer than predicted, leading to hopes that maybe ten per cent of his bowel could be saved if he became stable enough to operate on.

'I remember asking does Mark need a miracle to pull through, and I was told it would take two miracles. The first miracle was he managed to last four days. The second miracle was that his bowel started to rejuvenate itself with the intervention he received. We thought he was gone but he kept fighting all the way.'

He wasn't allowed any visitors while in St Vincent's and was shocked when he finally woke up to find himself in ICU.

Joanne recalls: 'When he awoke he didn't really know what was going on. All he could see were these face masks with eyes peering down on him. He was wondering why everyone was dressed as an alien. He had no notion what was going on and there were no family members there to reassure him.'

Now Mark's medical records are going to be used to assist other Covid-19 patients who develop an ischemic bowel.

'The medical team at St Vincent's were amazed and totally shocked at his recovery. He had recovered to such a degree that he didn't require an operation any more. They asked to release Marks' medical records so they could be shared with other medical teams around the world. Now what Mark has gone through is giving loads of hope to other Covid-19 patients going through the same thing with an ischemic bowel. It's so heart-warming that Mark didn't go through this for nothing and that other patients will be saved as a result. He is such a kind, caring and generous person. If anyone deserved to beat all the odds, it's Mark.'

The Burke family are extremely grateful for all the support they received from the local Roundwood community, and in particular for the wonderful care Mark received while in hospital. He has set up a Go Fund Me campaign at in aid of the frontline staff at St Vincent's called www.gofundme.com/f/front-line-heroes..

Joanne says: 'We saw first-hand just how the hospital staff are trying to cope. They are amazing and doing such a wonderful job but they are so under-equipped. They saved the life of Mark so we want to help out in any way we can.'
- A Benin man has accused a Hausa man of bewitching his truck after they both had an argument

- A video emerged in which the Benin man could be seen threatening the Hausa man

- The Hausa man, however, remained silent over the allegation levelled against him

A video has emerged in which a Benin man could be seen threatening to deal with a Hausa man who allegedly bewitched his truck after they had an argument.

The issue between them was not disclosed but the video showed the Benin man telling the Hausa man that his truck did not start after the argument they had.

He accused the Hausa man of bewitching his truck and vowed that he would pay for his action. However, the Hausa man remained silent over the allegation levelled against him.

Watch video below:

In other news, a Nigerian man has said he cannot contract the deadly coronavirus because the pandemic, according to him, only affects the rich.

The unidentified man admitted that coronavirus is a very dangerous disease and prayed that God should intervene as the country battles with the pandemic.

When asked if he was scared of coronavirus, he said as a Muslim, he can only contract the virus if God destines it, adding that he is not scared of the pandemic.

The man explained that the poor masses do not have the means to treat themselves if they contract the disease, but the rich will be able to take care of themselves if infected with the coronavirus.

Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that Pope Francis had cried out over the damage humankind has inflicted on the earth.

The Roman Catholic church head pleaded with people to be more caring and protect the environment at all costs because it is Gods gift to man.

He added that natural tragedies are the earths way of responding to carelessness and heartlessness by humans.

We see these natural tragedies, which are the earth's response to our maltreatment, the pope said.

Francis said the Lord would be so disappointed if anyone asked him his view on what is happening to the world.

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The man of God maintained that human beings are responsible for the decadence being experienced by mother nature at the moment.

The 83-year-old leader urged the youths to take initiative and be at the forefront of fighting crimes against mother nature and try teaching people how the earth is the future.

Take to the streets to teach us what is obvious, that is, that there will be no future for us if we destroy the environment that sustains us, he added.

NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We have updated to serve you better

Coronavirus: 20% of people who came here tested positive - MoH | Legit TV

Source: Legit.ng
What started as an online interactive session for alumni of the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), has turned into a global webinar within a month, wherein doctors and experts from around the world come together every weekend and discuss their latest learnings on coronavirus disease (Covid-19).

Started by the alumni group of department of anesthesia, PGIMER, an hour-long webinar has become a weekly feature now.

Dr GD Puri from PGIMERs covid management committee said, We have alumni all over the world and many are in touch through WhatsApp groups. Initially, there were discussions of a group where the alumni would offer help by sharing latest information. So, the Covid-19 management committee started the webinar on weekends.

Doctors from St Georges Hospital (where UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson was treated), London, North Well Health System Hospitals, New York; Lenox Hill Hospital, New York, St Thomas, London and Queen Elizabeth hospital, Birmingham, join the webinar from abroad, which is also joined by doctors from AIIMS, Delhi, SGPGI, Lucknow, and Dayanand Medical College and Apollo, Punjab.

Countries like US, UK and Italy have reported thousands of cases. So, these doctors have more experience in dealing with Covid-19 patients than us, said Dr Puri, who heads the anesthesia department.

The webinar became a weekly practice from the last week of March. Initially, 50 to 60 doctors from abroad and 40 to 50 from India joined; but now, because of time constraint, 10 to 15 doctors from abroad join. Last weekend, 70 doctors participated in the webinar.

Dr Puri said the Punjab government has also asked them to train their doctors, using this medium.

He said: If we have any questions, we discuss those and then, we discuss patients with them. We discuss the latest research and findings of studies, so we can learn from their experience and try to implement what they have learnt via patient management

I dont want to reveal the name of a drug, but, we were told about how a specific medicine used early during treatment has reduced mortality and decreased incidence of patients going on ventilator. Similarly, we have also shared our experiences. But, till you dont randomise controlled trial, it is very difficult to say whether the drug is effective or if its patient management that is making the difference. So, it is difficult to pin point at one thing which is helping, a doctor said.

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Hog farmer Chris Petersen looks at a Berkshire hog in a pen on his farm, near Clear Lake, Iowa, on April 17, 2020. (Charlie Neibergall/AP Photo)

US Farmers Under Pressure as Supply Chains Struggle to Adapt

Trump's $19 billion farm relief package aims to secure US food supply chain

American farmers are under financial pressure as food supply chains struggle to adapt to the changes brought by the CCP virus, with some forced to destroy crops, dump milk, and even kill livestock.

Having to dump milk or plow under vegetables ready to market is not only financially distressing but its heartbreaking as well for those that produce them, said Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue at a recent White House press conference.

A number of large meat-processing facilities have been forced to close due to outbreaks of the CCP virus among employees. Some of those facilities are capable of processing up to 20,000 hogs per day. Their closure creates an instant backlog that cant easily be redistributed to other plants. The industry as a whole can process between 10 and 12 million animals per month.

Many American hog farmers are now facing harrowing choices, with millions of slaughter-ready hogs accumulating on farms as many pork markets stop running. According to the Associated Press, a number of farmers have already resorted to euthanizing piglets to avoid feed and veterinary costs and to reduce the possibility of ending up with unsellable mature animals.

Berkshire hogs rest in a pen on the Chris Petersen farm near Clear Lake, Iowa, on April 17, 2020. (Charlie Neibergall/AP Photo)

The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union said in a statement that they have identified 13 meat-processing plants that have been affected by closures in the past 2 months, which have resulted in a 25 percent reduction in pork slaughter capacity and a 10 percent reduction in beef slaughter capacity.

Losses in the U.S. pork industry could reach an estimated $5 billion, as pork and bacon destined for restaurants and catering outlets cannot easily be repackaged and sold in supermarkets. Hotels, restaurants, and catering companies use up to 25 percent of U.S. pork, and three-quarters of the nations bacon.

The lockdown has caused a significant disruption to the traditional food supply chain.

Mark Allen, chief executive of The International Foodservice Distributors Association told MarketWatch that the CCP virus has brought about a decline in sales of 60 to 90 percent in the $300 billion foodservice industry. I think the supply chain will look fundamentally different coming out of this he said.

Oil Price Weighs on Corn

Corn has a broad range of applications, including as an ingredient in most processed foods in the form of starch and high-fructose corn syrup. The vast majority of U.S. corn, however, is used either as livestock feed or to make ethanol for automotive fuels.

Unprecedented market conditions saw the price of crude oil futures turn negative this week, which also had a knock-on effect on the price of corn and, thus, other cereal products. A number of ethanol plants slowed or stopped production in April due to low oil prices.

Here is the monthly log chart of Corn. Horrific. It probably gets to $200. pic.twitter.com/oQrvalGR8T  Raoul Pal (@RaoulGMI) April 21, 2020

U.S. corn futures fell at the end of March as the USDA forecast that 2020 corn plantings were on schedule to be the largest in eight years, though the number of acres under soybeans declined slightly.

With a long growing season and uncertain market conditions at harvest, most farmers have already received deliveries of seed, fertilizer, and chemicals, and must now plant their crops and hope that market conditions will have firmed by the fall.

Trump Creates Federal Relief Program for Farmers

On Friday, the Department of Agriculture at the direction of Trump launched a $19 billion relief program to provide critical support to our farmers and ranchers, maintain the integrity of our food supply chain, and ensure every American continues to receive and have access to the food they need. It aimed to compensate U.S. farmers for losses incurred during the CCP virus crisis.

The package included $16 billion in payments to producers and large-scale purchases of dairy products, meat, vegetables, and other foods.

I have directed @SecretarySonny to expedite help to our farmers, especially to the smaller farmers who are hurting right now. I expect Secretary Purdue to use all of the funds and authorities at his disposal to make sure that our food supply is stable, strong, and safe.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 10, 2020

The department will also purchase $3 billion of these foodstuffs which will then be distributed to aid organizations, churches, and food banks to help feed American families struggling to make ends meet.
Help has poured into New York from many places as the coronavirus has killed thousands, but the most humble of gifts  a single N-95 mask  brought a mist to the eyes of the states governor.

A retired farmer in Kansas mailed the mask to Gov. Andrew Cuomo, saying the couple hoped it could be used by a doctor or nurse.

Cuomo read the entire letter at his daily briefing as an example of courage and generosity in dark times.

I am a retired farmer hunkered down in NE Kansas with my wife who has but one lung and occasional problems with her remaining lung, read the hand-written letter from Dennis Ruhnke, also signed by his wife, Sharon. We are in our 70s now and frankly I am afraid for her.

Nevertheless, Ruhnke wrote, the couple had five masks and wished to give one to help New Yorks battle against the virus.

I received this letter from a farmer in northeast Kansas. His wife is ill and he is aging.



He sent me 1 of 5 N95 masks he has from farming to pass on to a doctor or nurse in New York.



This is humanity at its best. I share his letter as inspiration. pic.twitter.com/Fa4h5LH9rL  Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) April 24, 2020

Enclosed find a solitary N-95 mask left over from my farming days. It has never been used the letter said. If you could, could you please give this mask to a nurse or a doctor in your city.

Cuomos eyes misted as he brandished the mask at his daily briefing.

You want to talk about a snapshot of humanity, Cuomo said. You have five masks, what do you do? Do you keep all five? Do you hide the five masks, do you keep them for yourself or others? No, you send one mask. You send one mask to New York for a doctor or nurse. How beautiful is that? How selfless is that? How giving is that?

Its that love, that courage, that generosity of spirit that makes this country so beautiful, Cuomo said. And its that generosity for me makes up for all the ugliness that you see. Take one mask, Ill keep four.

Reached by telephone, Dennis Ruhnke said he was surprised at the public attention.

Dennis Ruhnke holds two of his remaining N-95 masks as he stands with his wife, Sharon at their home near Troy, Kansas. (AP)

Simply watching the news, and day after day after day the death was rising. And they were pushing the N-95 thing so much. I thought I had some masks somewhere. I went back to the farm, dug around in some masks and lo and behold they were there, he said, adding that he looked up the governors address online to send the letter.

Ruhnke said he would like to know who ultimately receives the mask.

I would have felt terrible if I threw it away, but it made me feel pretty good to send it on to somebody who might be able to use it, he said. They sounded almost desperate for masks. So I thought, it was just one little gesture. But maybe if you get enough of these little gestures, it will all come out for the better in the end.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-25 13:34:14|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, April 25 (Xinhua) -- The aggregate of China's public offering funds topped 16.64 trillion yuan (about 2.35 trillion U.S. dollars) by the end of March this year, according to data from the Asset Management Association of China.

This marked an increase of 1.69 percent from the quantity recorded at the end of February despite impact of the novel coronavirus outbreak.

According to the association, China had 128 fund management companies by the end of March, of which 84 were domestic firms while the rest were joint ventures. There are also 13 securities firms qualified for managing public funds and two insurance asset management firms.

China's asset management business expanded slower in recent years as authorities tightened regulations to contain risks arising from wealth management products.

In 2017, draft guidelines unified rules covering asset management products issued by all types of financial institutions, requiring them to set leverage ceilings. Enditem
Responding to a looming global shortage of ventilators, a team from Oregon Health & Science University has come up a low-cost version that can be widely produced with 3D printing technology.

Albert Chi, M.D., M.S.E., an OHSU trauma surgeon who previously pioneered 3D-printed prosthetics for children, is leading the effort. As COVID-19 spread inexorably across the globe, health care workers worried that they would run short of ventilators needed to keep the sickest patients alive.

"The goal is to provide it for free to whoever needs it," said Chi, an associate professor of surgery (trauma, critical care and acute care surgery) in the OHSU School of Medicine.

The design is so straightforward that it doesn't require electricity, only the type of standard oxygen tank broadly available at hospitals and clinics worldwide. Depending on the printer, a single ventilator can be manufactured within three to eight hours and made operational with the addition of low-cost springs available at any hardware store. The low-tech ventilators can be replicated anywhere in the world for less than $10 of material.

I wanted to have something we could print everywhere without the need for special equipment or custom manufacturing." Albert Chi, Associate Professor of Surgery, OHSU School of Medicine

Chi's core team consists of his lab research engineers Whitney Menzel and Evan Fontaine; Stephanie Nonas, M.D., director of the medical intensive care unit at OHSU and an assistant professor of medicine (pulmonary and critical care medicine) in the OHSU School of Medicine; and Dennis Child, an OHSU respiratory therapist.

In addition, the team has worked in collaboration with the 3D printing technology firms Stratasys, Sherpa Design Inc. and the University of Central Florida-based nonprofit organization Limbitless Solutions to produce prototypes. The team also got an assist from Oregon-based Nike, which helped by 3D printing the team's design.

Today, Chi and his team filed for emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration to deploy the design across the country. If the design is approved, any hospital with access to a commercial-grade 3D printer would have the ability to produce a new ventilator within a matter of hours.

Earlier this month, Oregon sent 140 traditional ventilators to New York to help hospitals overwhelmed by a surge in patients in need of life-sustaining oxygen.

The new OHSU design would be used in triage situations when clinicians must make life-or-death decisions about which patients are intubated with ventilators to give them a chance of survival. Rates of infection in Oregon and some parts of the United States appear to be flattening due to stay-at-home orders and other physical distancing measures, however the virus is continuing to spread in other parts of the world.

In addition, Chi said the ventilators may yet be necessary to manage secondary surges in Oregon and other hot spots that flare up across the U.S.

"We're not out of the woods yet," Chi said.

The design eliminates long supply chains from manufacturing plants to hospitals, providing the ability to conjure new ventilators in place. Long term, the design could be useful in future pandemics.

Because it requires no electricity, only a working oxygen tank, it can be deployed quickly and efficiently virtually anywhere. Chi, formerly an officer in the U.S. Navy Reserve, envisions the possibility of using the device as a "pocket vent" in military operations or in other austere environments with limited access to electricity such as the scene of a natural disaster.
BEIJING, April 24 (Xinhua) -- The number of COVID-19 patients in serious condition in Wuhan, the central China city once hardest hit by the epidemic, has dropped to zero, a health official said Friday.

The last patient in serious condition in Wuhan, capital of Hubei Province, was cured Friday, reducing the number of such patients in the city to zero, said Mi Feng, spokesperson for the National Health Commission (NHC), at a press conference in Beijing.

According to the commission's daily report issued earlier Friday, the last patient in severe condition in Wuhan was also the only severe case in Hubei as of Thursday.

No new confirmed cases were reported Thursday in Hubei and there are no suspected cases in the province, according to the NHC.
One week after the decision by Germanys federal and state governments to relax the coronavirus restrictions, the agreed upon measures are being aggressively implemented. The ruling elite is endangering not merely the health of millions of workers, school students, their families and friends, but also their lives.

A number of state governmentsincluding the Social Democrat/Left Party/Green government in Berlinforced thousands of students back to school earlier this week to sit their final exams. Regular classes for some school years began in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia on Thursday. Other statesincluding Hesse, Bremen, Hamburg, Brandenburg and Thuringiawill follow suit next week.

The policy of gradual opening (Chancellor Angela Merkel) is increasingly being exposed as a comprehensive plan to rapidly accelerate the revival of public life and the economy. In large cities, shops, including large shopping centres, are open once again. The federal governments decision to limit shop openings to stores with an area of less than 800 square metres was a dead letter from the start. Larger businesses have evaded the regulations by partitioning their stores. The Administrative Court in Hamburg then overturned the regulation completely on Thursday.

Merkel, who spoke out at a press conference on Monday against what she had described as an orgy of discussions about opening, is in reality organising this orgy. In her government statement to the federal parliament on Thursday, she stated that she unconditionally agrees with the initial relaxations agreed between the federal and state governments, but merely finds their implementation too bold. Egged on by the media and big business, politicians from the government and opposition parties are seeking to outdo each other with ever more radical plans.

On Wednesday, Social Democrat Family Minister Franziska Giffey demanded an even more rapid opening of schools and kindergartens. We have to talk about how we can achieve a gradual, a step-by-step opening of kindergartens and schools, she said on the television show RTL-Fruhstart. It is not the case that everything can just stay shut until the summer.

A central component of the policy is a revival of production, above all in the auto industry. We are working hard to maintain supply chains, stated Andreas Scheuer (Christian Social Union, CSU) during government questions in parliament on Wednesday. Daimler and Volkswagen, with the full support of the trade unions, have already restarted the assembly lines in several plants. Further plants will follow next week, including VWs main plant in Wolfsburg, where some 63,000 workers are employed.

The government is justifying its back to work policy with references to first successes (Merkel) in the struggle against the coronavirus. This is intentional fake news. The reality is that the pandemic is continuing to accelerate its spread around the world, and the numbers of new infections and deaths are still rising in Germany. On Wednesday, the total number of deaths passed 5,500 and infections surpassed 153,000the fifth highest number worldwide.

According to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), Germanys federal agency for infectious disease control, the number of deaths reached a record high over the past week. More than 300 coronavirus deaths had been reported during several single day periods, reported RKI vice president Dr. Lars Schaade at a press conference on Tuesday. The reproduction rate is also rising once again. Although it dropped to 0.7 last week, it rose back to 0.9 this week, approaching the critical figure of 1.

The dangerous implications of these developments are clear. If the reproduction rate increases above 1, this means that each infected person infects more than one other person, which will lead to an exponential growth of coronavirus. According to scientific modelling, the German health care system would be overwhelmed by October with a reproduction rate of 1.1, and in July if it rises to 1.2.

To put the matter bluntly: with its policy of reopening the economy, which has already led to an increase in the reproduction rate, the ruling elite is preparing a catastrophe and encouraging the development of conditions seen in Italy and the United States, where health care systems collapsed under the burden of the pandemic. The terrible consequences are well known. Severely ill patients can no longer receive treatment and end up being left to die. The pictures from Bergamo and New York, where the army disposed of bodies piling up on the streets, quickly spread around the world.

Serious scientists and epidemiologists insist that such an escalation can only be prevented in Germany if social distancing measures are maintained and intensified, and a programme of mass testing and contact tracing is adopted.

On Wednesday, the head of virology at Berlins Charite hospital, Christian Drosten, who advised the government for some time, warned against gambling away the advantage Germany has achieved. On Monday, he stated in his podcast that the activity of the epidemic could suddenly return in a disproportionate way or with unexpected power if the reproduction rate goes above 1 again. Even now, the Charites intensive care wards are increasingly full, even though there has not yet been in Berlin a situation with a particularly high transmission rate.

Gabriel Leung of the University of Hong Kong, who advised the World Health Organisation and the Chinese government, told Der Spiegel in an interview that a rapid easing of the restrictions would be irresponsible. If you have such a large outbreak like it is currently in Europe, you have to use a sledgehammer, he warned. The aim above all is to ... reduce the current reproduction rate. It needs to decline a long way below 1 in order for the number of infections to reach an acceptable level.

The parliamentary debate on Thursday underlined the reactionary interests behind the criminal indifference being displayed by the government towards scientific knowledge and warnings. The ruling class sees the coronavirus pandemic as an opportunity to intensify its aggressive class policy and great power ambitions. Representatives of the government and opposition parties left no doubt about this. The health and social wellbeing of the population must necessarily be sacrificed, according to this policy, on the altar of capitalist private profit.

Everything we decide costs moneylots of moneythat someone has to pay back at some point, stated Ralph Brinkhaus, head of the Christian Democrat/Christian Social Union parliamentary group, with reference to the multibillion-euro bailout packages, which have been adopted over recent weeks with the full backing of all parties. The message is clear: the vast sums of money, which above all went to the major corporations, banks and the super-rich, are now to be squeezed out of the working class. This is why the return to work cannot go fast enough for the ruling elite.

A second factor is the geostrategic and economic interests of German imperialism, which after losing two world wars is once again attempting to dominate Europe in order to play a role as a world power.

What we need now are pragmatic and goal-directed measures for Europe to emerge stronger from the crisis. Thats exactly what we want; because only a strong Europe can at the end of the day be able to compete globally with world powers like China and the United States, stated Katja Leikert, deputy leader of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group.

The coronavirus pandemic is not slowing the return of German imperialism; it is accelerating it. On Wednesday, the government decided to participate in the European Unions Irini mission off the coast of Libya with 300 soldiers, a reconnaissance plane, and one warship. The operation is aimed at consolidating fortress Europe against refugees and at setting the stage for new operations of plunder on the African continent.

Also on Wednesday, Defence Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer told the parliamentary defence committee about one of the largest military purchases in post-war Germany: the replacement of its aging Tornado fighter jets with 93 Eurofighters and 45 US-made F-18 jets at a total cost of almost 20 billion. The latter are aimed at securing Germanys nuclear participation and the transporting and deploying of American nuclear warheads.

At the same time, the development of a new fighter jet programme by Germany, France and Spain is being maintained. The estimated cost for the entire Future Combat Air System (FCAS) is 500 billion.

The World Socialist Web Site warned in a previous perspective, If the ruling elite has its way, the society that will emerge from the crisis will be characterised by an intensification of the tendencies that existed prior to itincreased inequality, exploitation, poverty and war.

Seventy-five years after the downfall of the Nazi regime, humanity once again confronts the alternative, socialism or barbarism. Articles are now appearing in the media in fascistic tones calling for the virus to be allowed to spread at the cost of a large number of lives in order to allow production to restart and the predatory interests of German imperialism to be pursued.

Anyone who wants to combat the spread of the virus by all means, also combats death by all means, stated the Munich-based sociologist Bernhard Gill in a guest comment for Der Spiegel. By contrast, in a spreading regime ... dying is a natural procedure, which is painful for the individuals involved, but viewed from a distance creates space for new life.

To avert the imminent catastrophe, the subordination of society to the profit interests of a tiny super-rich elite must be ended. Large holdings of wealth and key industries must be nationalised and the billions and trillions currently flowing into the accounts of the banks and military must be deployed to build hospitals, protect the population and ameliorate the social consequences of the virus.

This requires the mobilisation of the widespread opposition in the working class to the capitalist policy of reopening the economy on the basis of a socialist and internationalist programme.
Prasanta Mazumdar By

Express News Service

GUWAHATI: Thanks to his national flag, a "lost" Vietnamese, who is physically and mentally-challenged and had strayed in Mizoram for reasons not known, could be identified by the locals.

But unlike how Mizoram usually deals with illegal immigrants, special considerations have been reserved for him because of his special needs and challenges.

According to official sources, the Vietnamese, identified as Niang, strayed into the land-locked state about a month ago when the COVID-19 lockdown had begun.

He was first seen in the state on March 28 when he wanted to venture into Thekte, a village in Champhai district bordering Myanmar, but was denied entry by village authorities.

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He kept moving around places in Champhai and its adjoining Serchip district. Although the locals gave him food and clothes, they refused to give him shelter. Eventually, it was at East Lungdar village in Serchip district that the village task force provided him with shelter.

People did not accept him at some villages ostensibly due to language barriers.

As he speaks a different language, nobody knew which country he was from. So, some villagers hit upon the idea of showing him the flags of countries. He gestured he was from Vietnam when he was shown the flag of his country, an official of Serchip told this newspaper requesting anonymity.

When his nationality was confirmed, the villagers got together to find a person from Mizoram who works or is settled in Vietnam. Soon, they could reach out to a Mizo lady, who works as a missionary in Ho Chi Minh City.

What followed next was a chat through WhatsApp video between the two. What the lady could understand was that he was named Niang. Further investigations carried out by the woman with the help of his photo revealed he hails from Can Tho, a city in southern Vietnams Mekong Delta region.

He is now with Mizoram Police. The matter has been already taken up with the Ministry of External Affairs. The Vietnam Embassy in India has agreed to take Niangs responsibility. It was not known as to how he landed in Mizoram. Countries that lie between Can Tho and Mizoram are Laos, Thailand and Myanmar.
A woman who lost her mum and dad to coronavirus in the space of three days has urged Stormont not to lift lockdown restrictions too soon, as her family has been left with "nothing".

Bronagh O'Connell was speaking after the death of her parents Ignatius (89) and Mary (86).

Mr O'Connell passed away on April 14, before his wife died at their Strathmore Park home in north Belfast 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.

Mrs O'Connell was head of art at Dominican College, Fortwilliam, while her husband was principal of St Augustine's secondary school on the Ravenhill Road before moving to St Joseph's teacher training college.

The couple would have been married 60 years this August, having met in the 1950s while teaching in Ballycastle. They have two daughters, Bronagh and Aine.

Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph, Bronagh said that losing her parents in such a short period of time has left an "indescribable" void.

"We have a very small family and to lose an entire generation in one fell swoop is just overwhelming," she said.

Bronagh explained that when the coronavirus outbreak began she brought both her parents to stay at her Randalstown home so they had less chance of catching it.

However her father, who suffered from Alzheimer's, began to develop symptoms of a chest infection and was prescribed an antibiotic by a GP.

They were warned that if it had no effect within 48 hours then they must contact their GP again.

Praising the GPs in Salisbury Medical Centre and the Covid-19 team from Grove Wellbeing Centre, Bronagh said they had gone above and beyond the call of duty.

"The GP said to get them back to their home in Belfast and they would take things from there after the antibiotic didn't work," Bronagh added. "They asked if we wanted to nurse them at home. My daddy had Alzheimer's and if they both went to hospital we wouldn't have been able to nurse them or visit them, and they would have died on their own."

After arriving at their home in Belfast Mrs O'Connell developed the same symptoms her husband had just three days later, but she was in a much worse condition.

Following the death of her father Bronagh was advised to be tested for Covid-19 and the result came back positive.

Thankfully the community midwife is making a full recovery at home. Due to the current restrictions at funerals, only a few family members were able to take the long drive to Donegal, but with the roads being deserted Bronagh felt it was like the path was open for her parents "to go to Heaven".

"I don't think we have grieved at all yet," she added.

"You just do the functional things, but mummy and daddy are constantly in our minds.

"There was a Mass but nobody was allowed to attend and the coffins weren't allowed in the chapel at all.

"The priest told me that it was the first time in his professional life that he buried a husband and wife together."

Urging Stormont not to lift the lockdown too soon, Bronagh used her own family's loss as an example of what can happen.

"We have no mummy and daddy and granny and grandad anymore," she said.

"I know people are restricted being in lockdown, but when I look at my mummy and daddy, they got sick and they went nowhere.

"I think when the lockdown is lifted we will see a rise in deaths as people will go crazy.

"People aren't abiding to the regulations as well as they should. If the lockdown is lifted too soon we will have a pandemic."
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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.

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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
LATEST, April 26, 4:09 p.m. Five new coronavirus deaths were reported in the Bay Area on Sunday.

Four deaths were reported in Alameda County and one death was reported in Santa Clara County, increasing its total to 100. The state of California reached 1,706 deaths in all, according to data from John Hopkins University.

New coronavirus cases were reported in eight Bay Area counties:

-- Alameda County saw the largest increase in additional cases with 67 reported, bringing its total to 1,468

-- San Francisco County reported 54 cases to increase its total to 1,408

-- Santa Clara County reported 44 cases to increase its total to 2,084

-- Contra Costa County reported 12 cases to increase its total to 817

-- Marin County reported 11.cases to increase its total to 223

-- Monterey County reported 14 cases to increase its total to 183

-- Santa Cruz County reported five cases to increase its total to 120

-- Sonoma County reported one additional case to increase its total to 218.

April 25, 3:56 p.m. A Santa Clara woman who was recently declared the first U.S. death related to coronavirus suffered a massive heart attack, according to an exclusive report by The Chronicle.

Patricia Dowd of Santa Clara, Calif., died of COVID-19 on Feb. 6, several weeks before the United States declared its first novel coronavirus death, according to earlier autopsy results.

According to a Bay Area forensic pathologist contacted by The Chronicle to review the autopsy results, Dowd's heart "burst open."

"There's something abnormal about the fact that perfectly normal heart has burst open," said Dr. Judy Melinek. "The heart has ruptured. Normal hearts don't rupture.

"This heart ruptured or tore open because of an infection of the heart muscle caused by the coronavirus," Melinek said.

April 25, 2 p.m. Seven new coronavirus deaths were reported across the Bay Area on Saturday.

Four deaths were reported in Alameda County, two deaths were reported in Contra Costa County and one death was reported in Santa Clara County. All three counties also reported additional cases, with Alameda County reporting 36 new cases to increase its total to 1,437, Contra Costa County reporting 19 new cases to increase its total to 805, and Santa Clara County reporting 22 new cases to increase its total to 2,040.

April 25, 11:00 a.m. The number of global COVID-19 deaths topped 200,000 according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

The United States, with over 53,000 deaths, makes up a quarter of deaths worldwide.

April 25, 9:50 a.m. New cases of the novel coronavirus were reported in San Francisco and San Mateo counties Saturday.

San Francisco reported 14 additional cases to bring its total up to 1,354, and San Mateo reported an additional 30 cases to reach 1,019. San Mateo is the fourth Bay Area county to cross the 1,000 case threshold.

No new deaths were reported in either county. The death toll in San Francisco is 22, and the death toll in San Mateo is 41.

April 25, 9:00 a.m. After a significant decline in the number of Bay Area patients hospitalized due to the coronavirus last week, numbers did not change much this week.

Here are the previous 10 days' worth of data reflecting the total number of confirmed and suspected COVID-19 patients hospitalized across the nine counties that comprise the San Francisco Bay Area:

- Wednesday, April 15: 740 (2.3 percent decrease from previous day)

- Thursday, April 16: 673 (9.1 percent decrease from previous day)

- Friday, April 17: 674 (0.1 percent increase from previous day)

- Saturday, April 18: 617 (8.5 percent decrease from previous day)

- Sunday, April 19: 606 (1.8 percent decrease from previous day)

- Monday, April 20: 619 (2.1 percent increase from previous day)

- Tuesday, April 21: 640 (3.4 percent increase from previous day)

- Wednesday, April 22: 629 (1.7 percent decrease from previous day)

- Thursday, April 23: 659 (4.8 increase from previous day)

- Friday, April 24: 610 (7.4 percent decrease from previous day)

For reference, April 7 marked the day of the most reported hospitalizations with 831. The number of patients in intensive care units also has not changed much over the past 10 days, with a high of 235 on April 23 and a low of 205 on April 19.

This slow "long tail" of decline in the number of hospitalizations and deaths is in line with what UCSF epidemiologist Dr. George Rutherford predicted last week.

If this were a totally unperturbed biological system, theres some logic in expecting to see a symmetrical expansion and contraction of infection," he said. "But this is not an unperturbed biological system. We are doing all sorts of things to limit transmission, whether it's shelter in place, wearing masks, eliminating transmission in hospitals, all the things were doing to screw up the virus. As a result, the curve is going to have a jagged peak and long tail down, reflecting it hitting a wall of humans not cooperating.

Intuitively, one may be led to believe that aggressive social-distancing measures would prompt the curve to decline precipitously on the way down, since the pre-peak portion of the curve was comprised of pre-social distancing transmission and the latter portion of the curve is comprised of limited transmission due to social distancing. However, while the transmission on the curve's downward-sloping portion is limited, there's enough of it to ensure a "long tail" before coming back down to zero.

Theres plenty of residual transmission if you think of being sheltered in place with other people," Rutherford said. "In some cases, people are sheltered in place with eight roommates, and then you have health care workers bringing it home and people coming from the outside that havent been socially distancing bringing it in to the community. You also have essential workers running cash register at Safeway potentially getting the virus, which will contribute to smaller chains of transmission and a much larger tail.

Cumulative cases in the greater Bay Area (due to limited testing these numbers reflect only a small portion of likely cases):

ALAMEDA COUNTY: 1,468 confirmed cases, 52 deaths

For more information on Alameda County cases, visit the public health department website.

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY: 817 confirmed cases, 25 deaths

For more information on Contra Costa County cases, visit the public health department website.

LAKE COUNTY: 6 confirmed cases

For information on Lake County and coronavirus, visit the public health department website.

MARIN COUNTY: 223 confirmed cases, 12 deaths

Fore more information on Marin County cases, visit the public health department website.

MONTEREY COUNTY: 183 confirmed cases, 4 deaths

For more information on Monterey County cases, visit the public health department website.

NAPA COUNTY: 60 cases, 2 deaths

For more information on Napa County cases, visit the public health department website.

SAN BENITO COUNTY: 47 confirmed cases, 2 deaths

For more information on San Benito County cases, visit the public health department website.

SAN FRANCISCO COUNTY: 1,408 confirmed cases, 22 deaths

For more information on San Francisco County cases, visit the public health department website.

SAN MATEO COUNTY: 1,019 confirmed cases, 41 deaths

For more information on San Mateo County cases, visit the public health department website.

SANTA CLARA COUNTY: 2,084 confirmed cases, 100 deaths

Fore more information on Santa Clara County cases, visit the public health department website.

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY: 120 confirmed cases, 2 deaths

For more information on Santa Cruz County cases, visit the public health department website.

SOLANO COUNTY: 199 confirmed cases, 4 deaths

For more information on Solano County cases, visit the public health department website.

SONOMA COUNTY: 218 confirmed cases, 2 deaths

For more information on Sonoma County cases, visit the public health department website.

In California, 1,706 coronavirus-related deaths have been reported, according to Johns Hopkins University. For comparison, New York has 22,269, New Jersey 5,938 and Illinois 1,933.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

MORE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE:

Sign up for 'The Daily' newsletter for the latest on coronavirus here.
Les membres du Cabinet ont pris note que le nombre de cas dinfection au Coronavirus est de 331 au 24 avril 2020 sur 12,835 tests, lextension du Wage Assistance Scheme pour les salaries, de la creation dun Joint Working Group pour le secteur du tourisme pour eviter un lourd licenciement, des changement au Companies (Amendment of Schedule) Regulations 2020 et que le Grant Formula to Private Secondary Schools avec hausse de 7.5 % sera faite pour la periode Janvier  Octobre 2020 entre autres.

Cabinet has taken note of the situation pertaining to the outbreak of COVID-19 and the measures taken to contain the pandemic, namely 

(a) as at 23 April 2020, out of 12,835 tests carried out, 331 persons had been tested positive;

(b) as at 23 April 2020, there were 53 patients in the Treatment Centres and the number of persons successfully treated was 266;

(c) the screening of health workers, Police Officers, Prison Officers, prisoners, foreign workers and staff and inmates of Homes and Shelters was being carried out;

(d) a repatriation plan is being worked out to airlift stranded Mauritians in a phased manner. All returning passengers would be placed in quarantine; and

(e) a number of patients who have been successfully treated, have volunteered to donate their plasma.

Cabinet has taken note of actions taken by the Ministry of Health and Wellness for the procurement of medical and non-medical items to deal with the present COVID-19 situation, namely for the prevention, testing and treatment of persons infected with COVID-19. The Ministry of Health and Wellness has also received donations of equipment and drugs, inter alia, from the Government of India, the Embassy of the United States of America, Jack Ma Foundation and the Peoples Republic of China.

2. Cabinet has agreed to the extension of the Wage Assistance Scheme to cover, during the COVID-19 curfew period, a charitable institution approved by the Director-General of the Mauritius Revenue Authority or registered under the Registration of Associations Act.

3. Cabinet has agreed to the Ministry of Commerce and Consumer Protection controlling the price of certain identified essential food items and sanitary products under the Consumer Protection (Price and Supplies Control) Act and the Consumer Protection (Consumer Goods) (Maximum Mark-Up) Regulations 1998. Since the imposition of the curfew, representations have been received by that Ministry regarding unfair and abusive practices by some traders, including the non-affixing of prices on items put for sale and charging of substantially higher than normal prices, especially for essential commodities.

The Schedule to the Consumer Protection (Price and Supplies Control) Act 1998 and the Consumer Protection (Consumer Goods) (Maximum Mark-Up) Regulations 1998 would be amended accordingly.

4. Cabinet has taken note of the actions initiated by the Ministry of Tourism to revamp the tourism strategy to mitigate the socio-economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the industry. The United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) has appealed to Governments to consider, in collaboration with the relevant stakeholders, a set of 23 recommendations, to support jobs and economies through Travel and Tourism. In line with the UNWTOs recommendations to, inter alia, incentivise job retention, sustain the self-employed, and protect the most vulnerable groups, Government has already put in place schemes to support the economic sectors, including the Travel and Tourism sector namely, the COVID-19 Wage Assistance Scheme, the Self-Employed Assistance Scheme and the Loan Support Scheme. The Ministry of Tourism has already established a Joint Working Group, consisting of both public and private stakeholders, to brainstorm and propose a comprehensive recovery action plan to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Travel and Tourism.

5. Cabinet has taken note that the Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development would make 

(a) the Finance and Audit (COVID-19 Projects Development Fund) Regulations 2020; and

(b) the Finance and Audit (Amendment of Schedule) (No. 2) Regulations 2020.

The Finance and Audit (COVID-19 Projects Development Fund) Regulations 2020 would provide for the setting up of a COVID-19 Projects Development Fund whose objects are to contribute to the financing of 

(a) projects specified in the Public Sector Investment Programme;

(b) such other projects, or such schemes or programmes, as the Minister may approve; and

(c) consultancy, preparatory or advisory services in relation to projects, schemes and programmes referred to above.

A COVID-19 Projects Development Committee, under the chair of the Financial Secretary or his representative, would be set up to administer and manage the Fund. The Finance and Audit (Amendment of Schedule) (No. 2) Regulations 2020 would amend the Schedule to the Finance and Audit Act so as to include the COVID-19 Projects Development Fund as a new item.

6. Cabinet has taken note that the Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development would promulgate 

(a) the Companies (Amendment of Schedule) Regulations 2020. The Fifth Schedule of the Companies Act was amended in 2019 such that a notice of general meeting is sent 21 days before a meeting, instead of 14 days previously to give more time to shareholders; and

(b) the Insolvency (Administration) (Equal Treatment to Classes of Creditors) Regulations 2020. Section 232 of The Insolvency Act was amended through the Business Facilitation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2019 to ensure that creditors are categorised into classes for the purpose of voting in a reorganisation plan and creditors in each class vote independently.

These regulations are being made, inter alia, to improve the performance of Mauritius in the context of World Bank Ease of Doing Business Report.

7. Cabinet has taken note that the interim payment of an increase of 7.9 percent on the current Comprehensive Grant Formula to Private Secondary Schools would be extended for period January to October 2020, in the context of the review exercise.

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Ever since Tiger King premiered on Netflix, its become somewhat of a cultural phenomenon. It is centered around Joseph Maldonado-Passage, aka Joe Exotic, an Oklahoma zookeeper who hired a hitman to kill his rival, Carole Baskin. On his HBO talk show, Bill Maher questioned the series popularity and compared Maldonado-Passage to Darth Vader.

Joe Exotic | Netflix

Tiger King follows Joseph Maldonado-Passages journey to prison

The Netflix docuseries is centered around Maldonado-Passage and his G.W. Zoo in Wynnewood, Oklahoma. It follows the bizarre events that led the zookeeper to commit the crimes that landed him in prison.

Maldonado-Passage was in a long-running feud with Carole Baskin, the founder of Big Cat Rescue in Florida. Because she believed the zookeeper was breeding his tigers, lions, and other big cats for profit, Baskin became an outspoken critic.

Eventually, Maldonado-Passage hired two hitmen to kill Baskin. One of the hitmen was an undercover agent. And after the other hired hitman, Allen Glover, testified against him, Maldonado-Passage was arrested and charged.

The Tiger King star went to prison for more than one crime

The murder-for-hire scheme led to Maldonado-Passages arrest, but he was actually charged with more than just that crime. In fact, the zookeeper was charged, convicted, and sentenced on 19 different criminal counts.

He may have claimed to respect his animals, but Maldonado-Passage was convicted on nine counts of animal endangerment. According to the U.S Department of Justice, during his trial, the jury heard evidence that Maldonado-Passage personally shot and killed five tigers in October 2017, without a veterinarian present and in violation of the Endangered Species Act.

Tiger King | Netflix

Maldonado-Passage was also convicted of violating the Lacey Act. As outlined by the U.S. Department of Justice, he falsified records of his wildlife transactions and designated on delivery forms and Certificates of Veterinary Inspection that tigers, lions, and a baby lemur were being donated to the recipient or transported for exhibition only when he knew they were being sold in interstate commerce.

Bill Maher compares Maldonado-Passage to Darth Vader

On the April 25 episode of Real Time with Bill Maher, host Bill Maher questioned the popularity of Tiger King. Referring to the current coronavirus pandemic and the wet markets it originated from, Maher pointed out how dangerous Maldonado-Passages mistreatment of animals was.

Torturing animals is what got us into this mess, Maher said. Thats the lesson we keep refusing to learn, that you cant trash the environment, including animals, and not have it come back and kill you.

He then compared Maldonado-Passage to Darth Vader and questioned why the woke left isnt more outraged by his actions. I dont care that he sees the light at the endso did Darth Vader, he said.

Theres no such thing as keeping a wild animal pent up, but treating them well.  Joe Exotic is in prison partly for killing five endangered tigers, which are endangered because of people like him. I dont get why the woke left loves this show so much and isnt on this guy like pink sequins.

Maher, who is a vocal advocate for animal rights, concluded the segment by suggesting people take their meandering outrage and focus it on the issue of animal endangerment. You keep animals in a cage, be they tiger or turkeys, look who winds up being the prisoner.
ALBANY  A retired farmer from northeast Kansas found himself with five unused masks from his farming day.

They were N95 respirators, the type that have been in high demand during the coronavirus crisis.

Dennis, the farmer, kept four for his immediately family. He and his wife, Sharon, are both in their 70s; Sharon has one lung among other health problems.

But what to do with the fifth mask?

Dennis chose an unconventional option: He mailed the mask to New York.

Dennis holds two of his remaining N-95 masks as he stands with his wife, Sharon at their home near Troy, Kan. Friday, April 24, 2020. Dennis, a retired farmer, shipped one of the couple's five masks left over from his farming days to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo for use by a doctor or a nurse.

"Enclosed find a solitary N-95 mask left over from my farming days. It has never been used," he wrote to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

"If you could, would you please give this mask to a nurse or doctor in your state?"

Cuomo reads letter at daily briefing

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo holds an N95 mask sent to him by a retired Kansas farmer, whose letter Cuomo read at a briefing Friday, April 24, 2020.

At his daily coronavirus briefing Friday, Cuomo read a handwritten letter he received from the couple.

The letter, written by Dennis and attributed to him and his wife, asked Cuomo to get the mask to a nurse or doctor on the front lines.

Cuomo used the letter as a heartwarming example of humanity in a time of crisis. New York is the epicenter of the country's coronavirus outbreak, with more than 16,000 confirmed COVID-19 deaths since the beginning of March.

"You want to talk about a snapshot of humanity? You have five masks," Cuomo said. "What do you do? Do you keep all five? Do you hide the five masks? Do you keep them for yourselves or others? No, you send one mask to New York to help a nurse or a doctor."

Cuomo continued, clutching the mask: "How beautiful is that? I mean, how selfless is that? How giving is that?"

The governor's office posted an image of the handwritten letter Thursday afternoon.

It did not include the couple's last name, but the USA TODAY Network New York was able to identify the farmer and his wife with the help of a representative from the Kansas Farm Bureau.

Farmer not looking for notoriety

A retired Kansas farmer sent this March 26 letter to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, which the Democratic governor read at his press conference; April 25, 2020.

Reached by phone Friday, Dennis asked that his last name not be used in this article.

Story continues

"I didn't want any notoriety," he said.

The retired farmer, who farmed corn and soybeans until a couple years ago, said he often catches Cuomo's briefings as he flips from across news channels.

But he hadn't happened to catch Cuomo's Friday press conference, which was broadcast on CNN, MSNBC and Fox News.

"It was one of the rare mornings where I didn't see it," Dennis said.

"I channel surf, and it seems like him or President Trump  one or the other  are generally talking. I just kind of land on (Cuomo's) channel much of the time."

Sharon, a retired educator, only learned Cuomo had read the letter when her son, who lives in Phoenix, called and asked if his parents wrote it.

Farmer, wife taking precautions

Dennis and Sharon live in northeast Kansas, near the Missouri border.

With only one lung and a number of health conditions that make her particularly susceptible to the coronavirus' effects, Sharon and her husband have been taking significant precautions as the virus continues its spread through the country.

When their granddaughter turned 2 recently, Sharon could only watch as she danced on the patio outside. When it was time to leave, Sharon and her granddaughter both kissed the patio window to say goodbye.

Sharon said her niece is a paramedic in Kansas, which has not yet been hit hard by the coronvirus. She said she made sure her niece had enough personal protective equipment before Dennis sent the N95 mask to New York.

In the March 26 letter, Dennis complimented Cuomo for his response to the outbreak, commending him for "telling the truth, something that has been sorely lacking of late."

He recounted his wife's health issues and admitted he was scared.

"I am a retired farmer hunkered down in N.E. Kansas with my wife, who has but one lung and occasional problems with her remaining lung," the letter reads.

"She also has diabetes. We are in our 70s now, and frankly I am afraid for her."

Mask enclosed with letter

At the end of his letter, the retired farmer made note of the enclosed N95 mask.

He assured Cuomo he kept four for his family and asked the governor to get it to a doctor or nurse.

Cuomo displayed the mask at his daily briefing Friday, marveling at the generosity displayed in the letter.

"Take one mask. Ill keep four," Cuomo said. "God bless America."

Glenn Brunkow, a Kansas Farm Bureau board member representing the northeast portion of the state, said he wasn't surprised a Kansas farmer acted so selflessly.

"Anything we can do to help a neighbor, whether that neighbor is next to us or in New York," Brunkow said. "Farmers are some of the most generous, giving people I know."

Dennis and Sharon still hadn't seen Cuomo's remarks by Friday afternoon.

When a reporter read Cuomo's quote calling the letter "beautiful" and "selfless," Dennis said it sent "a little chill up my back."

"It was nothing I expected whatsoever," Dennis said.

"I was just looking to help someone out."

Follow Jon Campbell on Twitter: @JonCampbellGAN.

This article originally appeared on New York State Team: Kansas farmer who sent mask to Andrew Cuomo 'just looking to help'
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 25)  The country will continue to experience warm weather in the coming week, with some areas getting hotter than others.

PAGASA Weather Specialist Ana Clauren said temperatures in Metro Manila could reach up to 36 degrees over the next five days.

"In the next five days, ineexpect nating posibleng umabot sa 36 degrees celsius ang ating maximum temperature sa Metro Manila, particular na dito sa may Quezon CIty," she said.

The temperature hit 35.8 degrees on Friday, replicating last week's record high so far for this year.

Clauren added warm and humid weather will continue throughout April and until the second week of May, although showers may be expected in the early afternoon or evening.

She advised people to drink a lot of water and fluids to avoid illnesses that may be brought by extreme heat.
Main opposition parties insist on re-summoning of Parliament View(s):

Main political parties have resolved to continue their campaign for President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to re-summon Parliament and offered their support to pass required funds and regulations to battle the coronavirus pandemic.

These main parties will either write to the President or call on the President to re-summon Parliament.

But President Rajapaksa and a number of senior government members have ruled out re-summoning of Parliament.

Samagi Jana Balawegaya member Lakshman Kiriella told the Sunday Times that political parties were planning to write a joint letter to the President requesting him to reconvene parliament.

Whether we go before the Supreme Court or not will depend on how he responds to our request, he said. We have already told the Government that we will give our fullest support to its efforts and will help to pass all necessary bills, he said.

The former minister said they were of the opinion that the Presidents proclamation dissolving parliament no longer had any legal standing.

The proclamation states that the election will be held on April 25 and that the new parliament will meet on May 14. Neither of these is possible now, he said.

UNP General Secretary Akila Viraj Kariyawasam said party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe had already called on the President to reconvene Parliament.

We have already made it clear that we will help the government to pass the required regulations and obtain the required funds, he said. He added that the party might not get involved in a joint move to call the President to reconvene parliament, but would continue its campaign.

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna frontliner Nalinda Jayathissa said they would not get involved in the process of writing a joint letter to the President, as reconvening Parliament was a matter for the President. Our partys view is that he must follow the Constitution, he said.

If there is an issue regarding whether he is acting in violation of the Constitution, it must be brought before the Supreme Court. The SC will then give a ruling on the matter.

The Tamil National Alliance is among the parties that has called for the reconvening Parliament.
Coastal erosion will put the future of the tunnel on the railway line between Bray and Greystones in doubt by 2035 unless urgent action is taken, a report has warned.

In the report, Iarnrod Eireann says investment in excess of 100 million will be required to safeguard key sections of the Dublin-Rosslare line, including the Bray Head tunnel.

It is understood that the company has ruled out the potential solution of replacing the tunnel with a new one that would accommodate a twin-track line.

That proposal would have provided capacity for Dart and commuter services to Wicklow and Wexford.

The company's internal report on the issue of coastal erosion said planned early intervention was the most sustainable and cost-effective approach. But it also questioned whether the point for such action had already been passed.

'Drastic consequences will result if action is not taken immediately,' it warned. 'Urgent strategy planning is required with rapid intervention of solution measures essential.'
Frontline hero, Our Lady of Lourdes Emergency Department nurse Padraig Capili, paid tribute to his colleagues after he successfully recovered from his own personal battle against Covid-19.

Just two weeks ago, Padraig faced being moved into ICU at the Drogheda hospital, after contracting coronavirus and struggling with the more severe symptoms of the disease.

But he revealed that it was only after 'some incredible care' from his dedicated colleagues that his health began to improve, and he avoided the more invasive treatments typically deployed in intensive care units.

Padraig, who is a native of the Philipines celebrated his release from hospital by posting a video of his Lourdes colleagues giving him a standing ovation as he walked out of hospital last week.

Talking to Facebook he explained his relief at the positive outcome he was lucky to have reached.

'After 15 days I'm going home! Massive thanks to my doctors, all the staffs of (ward) Newgrange 1 for holding onto me and not sending me to ICU; also massive thanks to my family way back in the Philippines, my wonderful fiance, my OLOLH Emergency Dept family, friends, DFIC, I couldn't name you one by one for helping me get through this dreaded virus.'

Despite his ordeal the brave nurse pledged to be backing helping others as soon as he is able.

'I will soon be back and serve as a frontliner and be part of ending this Covid19 once and for all. Thank you for all who gave me well wishes and prayers. Above all, I want to thank God above for this renewed life, to still be able to see his wonders, and for letting me love myself again. See you all soon!'
States and Union Territories have been asked to put on hold the use of COVID-19 rapid antibody test kits till their accuracy is rechecked by apex health research body the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), official sources said on Saturday.

According to the sources, teams constituted by ICMR are analysing the rapid antibody test kits, procured from two Chinese firms, to check their efficacy after some states reported that they are faulty and giving inaccurate results.

Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Friday said the results of the test kits vary from place to place and "it can't be relied upon".

"Moreover, WHO has also not commented on its accuracy. ICMR is reviewing the efficacy of the test and the kits in its own labs and shall come out with fresh guidelines soon," he was quoted as saying in a health ministry statement on Friday.

An official said, "After a meeting the Union health ministry held with states on Friday, they were asked to halt the use of COVID-19 rapid antibody test kits for the time being till their accuracy is validated by the ICMR."



Head of Epidemiology and Communicable Diseases at ICMR, Dr Raman R Gangakhedkar at a press briefing on Tuesday said high variations between the results of the rapid tests and RT-PCR tests, ranging from 6 to 71 per cent, were reported in some states. He had also said that if batches of the rapid test kits are found to be faulty, the company will be asked to replace them.

India has recently procured five lakh rapid antibody test kits from two Chinese firms and they were distributed to states for districts with high burden of COVID-19 infection.

The ICMR on April 22 had issued a protocol reiterating the usage of these kit for surveillance purpose while stating that RT-PCR tests must be continued vigorously as the principal diagnostic test for COVID-19.

"The ICMR has always emphasised that the confirmatory test for diagnosis of COVID-19 infection is RT-PCR test of throat and/or nasal swab for detection of the virus at early stage," the apex health research body had said.

At present, the government uses the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test from throat or nasal swab samples of people to detect coronavirus. This test takes around five to six hours to show results. In the rapid antibody test, blood samples of suspected cases are collected for examination and the wait period for the result is around 15-30 minutes.

Earlier the government had said that rapid antibody test kits are to be used for surveillance and epidemiological purposes in coronavirus hotspot areas.

"The RT-PCR test is the gold standard for frontline test and antibody test cannot replace this. Utility of rapid antibody test is primarily for assessing prevalence of infection in a particular area," an official had said earlier.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Despite hotel association requests to shut, governor says US flights will continue to land

Cancun, Q.R.  The president of the Cancun Hotel Association says he has sent a letter to its members requesting they halt activities since the country has entered into Phase 3 of the coronavirus epidemic.

Roberto Cintron, head of the Asociacion de Hoteles de Cancun, Puerto Morelos & Isla Mujeres, says that according to the COVID-19 Health Emergency, travel is a non-essential activity and notes that international flights continue to arrive in the Mexican Caribbean.

He explained that the request was made that the hotels shut starting April 20 in order to protect health and avoid traveller displacement on public transports, which is becoming more complicated with tighter mobility restrictions.

However, not everyone has answered he says, noting that on Friday, four American flights landed, two from Miami, one from Charlotte and one from Dallas, adding that transmission is considered imminent. As a Hotel Association, we urge you to close the operation of the hotels, he requested.

Despite the continual arrival of flights from different US cities including New York, which is considered the epicenter, state governor Carlos Joaquin Gonzalez said that the arrival of aircraft from the US will not be prohibited.

Carlos Joaquin argued that the few international arrivals should be maintained since they are the ones that will later allow Quintana Roo to get ahead.

We are interested in them being maintained because they are the ones that will allow us to recover as soon as we have the economic scheme, he said stressing that Quintana Roo airports are operating under 10 percent capacity and until today, 5.5 million seats have been canceled. He says that four empty international flights arrive daily as part of the protocol to maintain their spaces in the United States.
Pregnant lupus sufferers and their babies are at risk as global supplies of an anti-malarial medicine used to treat the disease run dry due to COVID-19 panic.

Health experts in the global South warn that the shortage puts babies at more risk of being born with symptoms of the painful auto-immune disease lupus.

Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), a less toxic derivative of chloroquine, has been approved for treating auto-immune diseases and malaria since the 1950s. US President Donald Trump promoted the drug as a potential COVID-19 treatment and US government departments made bulk purchases, even as studies began to emerge that the drug offered no protection from COVID-19.

The Indian Council of Medical Research has recommended HCQ as a preventative treatment for healthcare workers. Medical doctors voiced their concern in The Lancet that "in this environment of global panic, an endorsement by the highest scientific body of India (and also by the President of the USA) will create an overly optimistic perception of the effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine among the public", leading to self-medication and, ultimately, shortages.

Utibe Effiong, a physician at MidMichigan Health and assistant professor of medicine at Central Michigan University, tells SciDev.Netthe resulting hoarding and diversion of HCQ is putting lupus patients  particularly pregnant women  at risk, citing the tens of thousands of lupus patients in his home country of Nigeria.

Supply has reduced drastically due to air and land border closures in Nigeria as a result of COVID-19. The manufacturing countries have temporarily shut exports to conserve the medications for their population and HCQ has jumped from 2000 Nigerian Naira (US$5.50) per pack of 30 tablets to N12,500 (US$34.70) per pack." Utibe Effiong, physician at MidMichigan Health and assistant professor of medicine at Central Michigan University

Effiong says the supply of HCQ in Nigeria and much of the developing world comes from Asia and those manufacturers are likely to prefer to sell to the highest bidder.

Ninety per cent of the more than five million lupus patients worldwide are women, usually aged between 15 and 44, according to figures from the Lupus Foundation of America. These women tend to have higher maternal mortality, fewer live births, and more complications during pregnancy, a review of studies in the developing world found.

Sebastian Herrera, a rheumatologist based at Medellin General Hospital and CES University in Colombia, says that despite Colombia having many manufacturing facilities for HCQ, the unexpected increased demand means that the medicine is no longer available via pharmacy websites and it has become difficult to obtain, especially outside Colombia's major cities.

The Latin American country has had nearly half a million cases of lupus reported in the past five years, mainly impacting women.

According to Herrera, the biggest impact of a HCQ shortage is going to be on pregnant lupus patients and their newborns, as HCQ is one of the few medicines that can reduce the risk of giving birth to children with lupus symptoms.

"In some women with certain types of antibodies that increase the risk of complications for the baby (neonatal lupus), hydroxychloroquine decreases the risk of this complication  if there is no availability, there would be no other option to reduce this risk," Herrera says, adding that switching to other drugs may increase the risk of infections by altering the function of the patient's immune system.

In addition, Herrera says the scarcity of HCQ could lead to disease relapses in other patients, which leads to increased fatigue, absenteeism from work, deterioration in mental health, as well as increased pain.

Akpabio Akpabio, a rheumatologist at the University of UyoTeaching Hospital in Nigeria, says in his region of southern Nigeria, shortages are starting to bite.

"From my own personal experience, up to 60 per cent of lupus patients are currently experiencing shortages in HCQ  some still have it but many of them are running out," he says.

One of the first major papers to discuss the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on lupus patients observed a few missed doses of HCQ may not be critical, but a prolonged shortage could lead to significant consequences.

This has led to some hard choices, Akpabio says, because there is no consensus in the literature on how far and for how long patients can reduce their dosages and still receive the protective effects of the medicine.
Japan wasnt the place for me  or so I thought. Im the flour guy, and didnt expect the Japanese to be into baking because of their rice culture. I couldnt have been more wrong.

It turns out their bakeries are incredible. I was scratching my head, thinking: Weve been making bread in the West for thousands of years and were pretty good at it. Theyve only been baking for about 170 years or so and everything they make is perfect. I even had a sausage roll, and it was divine.

Food in general is a big part of their lives. So if you love food then when the world returns to normal, Japan should be top of your list.

Tokyo has more Michelin-starred restaurants than any other city on the planet

Everything the Japanese do, they do exceptionally well. Chefs concentrate on one thing and master it.

Tempura is Japans answer to fish and chips, and a master of the dish served me deep-fried eel in a restaurant called Tsunahachi in Tokyo.

Now, Im not keen on eel, but it tasted amazing. After hed cut it up, all that was left was the backbone, and I thought: I wonder what hes going to do with that?

He coiled it up with his chopstick, dropped it in the fryer and put it on my plate. That eel backbone was like the best pork crackling imaginable.

I love how everyone is so polite in Japan. When you meet, you do a little bow. It feels weird at first, but you get used to it. In fact, I found myself still doing it when I got back to the UK.

The Japanese are also stringent about cleanliness. At restaurants, youre given a hot towel to clean your hands and the table has to be neat. Before you start eating, you say itadakimasu  I gratefully receive  to show respect to the chef and the food itself.

Food heaven: Paul Hollywood loves the restaurants of Tokyo

Pointing with chopsticks is a big no-no, and you should never cross them, leave them on your bowl or stab food with them.

Tokyo has more Michelin-starred restaurants than any other city on the planet, and you dont have to spend a fortune to eat in one. I dined at Nakiryu, an ordinary-looking ramen shop where you can get a Michelin-starred bowl of noodle soup for less than 7.

The chef spends ten hours every day making dashi  the stock  with beef bones, chicken, fish, oysters and seaweed. The flavour of that broth is beautiful. He also makes a Michelin-starred version of Pot Noodles.

Cup noodles  as they call them  were invented in Japan, and theyre obsessed with them. I even went to a cup noodle museum. It was packed with school children, and every wall was covered with cup noodles.

Tempura, Japans answer to fish and chips, with a bowl of udon noodles

PAUL'S BEST PLACES TO EAT Nakiryu, Tokyo Youll need to queue to get a spot at one of the ten seats at the counter of this tiny ramen shop, which is one of the worlds cheapest Michelin-starred restaurants (mains from 6.50, www12.plala.or.jp/nakiryu). Tsunahachi, Tokyo Seafood and vegetables are deep-fried by a chef who has been perfecting his tempura technique for 22 years. They are served with a choice of dozens of sauces (mains from 11, tunahachi.co.jp/en). KikunoI, Kyoto It takes 20 chefs to prepare each 11-course meal at this three-star Michelin restaurant which specialises in kaiseki, Japanese haute cuisine (set courses from 98, kikunoi.jp). Zauo, Tokyo A river runs through this restaurant, where diners use rods and scoops to catch their own fish and lobster from a wooden boat with tables. They can then choose how theyd like their meal cooked (mains from 28, zauo.com). Kobegyu Wanomiya Dotombori Honten, Osaka Eating on the street is frowned upon everywhere but Osaka, Japans party city. At this humble stall, you can find the finest cut of wagyu beef (mains from 7.50, wanomiya.com). Advertisement

There are a lot of quirky cafes and restaurants in Tokyo. I ate at Zauo, a fish restaurant with a river running through it. You had to catch your own fish, and a few minutes later, it turned up on a plate as sashimi.

Their solo-dining restaurants are even more bizarre: you sit in a private booth and cant see anybody. Its meant to enhance the flavour of the food because you can concentrate on what youre eating.

My favourite was Puppy Cafe Rio, where you get a nice cup of coffee and sit with dozens of puppies. I had six or seven different breeds crawling all over me. There are also cat cafes, bunny cafes, micro- pig cafes, hedgehog cafes, and owl cafes.

The best meal Ive ever had in my life was Kobe beef  the most famous wagyu  from a street stall in Osaka. Theres a myth that Kobe beef is so tender because Japanese farmers massage their cows and play music to them. In fact, its all about the fat marbling.

You can get the highest-quality Kobe beef from Kobegyu Wanomiya Dotombori Honten, in Osakas street food mecca, Dotonbori.

When the chef cut the beef up, the blade just fell through it. Then he seared each cube on a hotplate for about a minute, and served it with beansprouts and shiitake mushrooms. It was amazing  and expensive. You can pay up to 75 for a steak, but it is the best ever.

Pricey food gifts are also a big thing. When you go to someones house, you give them a present, and not just a bottle of wine or a box of choccies.

In Tokyos answer to Harrods, Isetan, you can pay 75 for a pretty box of dried prawns and crackers, and more than 200 for a couple of beautifully wrapped melons.

In the UK, were known for our delicious strawberries, but in Japan I had the best one of all time.

Strawberries here are massive, and when I say massive  yes, theyre popular, but theyre also huge. I met a farmer who grows strawberries that are the size of a fist and cost 350 each. Thats right  350 quid for one strawberry.

One of my favourite cities was Kyoto, which has hundreds of temples. I climbed a sacred mountain and found a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of rice.

Another place that will stay with me is Hiroshima, where I met a lady who was a child when the atomic bomb went off in 1945. One of the only buildings still standing was an exhibition hall, and theyve left it there, battered from the bomb, as a memorial in Hiroshima Peace Park.

Japan is special, and I regret that it took me so long to get there. I cant wait to go back when we are all able to travel again.
The Supreme Court ruled on Friday that the Central Bureau of Investigation need not take a state governments consent for investigating offences committed within union territories by state government employees acting in their official capacity, giving federal authorities more power to investigate state officials.

The requirement under section 6 of the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act of 1946 (DSPE Act), which mandates the CBI should obtain consent of the state before exercising its jurisdiction over any area which is not a union territory, will not apply in such a case, the top court held.

The consent of the State under Section 6 cannot come in the way or constrict the jurisdiction of the special police force to investigate specified offences under Section 3 of the 1946 Act committed within the Union Territories, the bench of justices AM Khanwilkar and Dinesh Maheshwari ruled.

The CBI can investigate such cases even though the accused is residing in a state, is in employment and committed the offence in his or her capacity as a state government employee, the court made it clear.

The petitioner in the case, Kanwal Tanuj, was an IAS officer employed in connection with the affairs of the Bihar government as District Magistrate at Aurangabad District in Bihar.

He was accused of large scale corruption and siphoning of government funds during the construction of an electric plant by Bhartiya Rail Bijli Company Limited (BRBCL) at Nabinagar in Aurangabad district of Bihar.

It was alleged that there was corruption and siphoning of government funds during land acquisition for the plant by BRBCL officials in connivance with local district administration including the petitioner.

FIR was registered against him by the CBI for the offences of cheating and forgery under the Indian Penal Code and for offence of criminal misconduct under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

It was petitioners case that the offence alleged against him was committed in his capacity as employee of state of Bihar and therefore, would require the consent of Bihar government as per section 6 of the DSPE Act before the CBI can proceed against him.

The Supreme Court, however, turned down the argument noting that the registered office of BRBCL is within the jurisdiction of Union Territory of Delhi and the offence was committed at Delhi, and therefore, courts in Delhi will have jurisdiction to try the offence.
WASHINGTON  There have been much worse outbreaks during this pandemic. But 39 inmates testing positive for the coronavirus at Neuse state prison in Goldsboro, North Carolina, was still cause for alarm.

Of the more than 50 detention centers across the state, none had more infections at the time than Neuse, prompting officials to take the extraordinary step of testing all 700 prisoners at the medium-security facility near Raleigh.

Within a week, infections had surged to 444. Perhaps even more revealing: More than 90% of the newly diagnosed inmates displayed no symptoms, meaning that the deadly virus could have remained hidden had the state followed federal guidelines that largely reserve testing for people displaying common symptoms, such as fever and respiratory distress.

We would never have known, North Carolina Department of Public Safety spokesman John Bull said.

A security fence surrounds inmate housing on the Rikers Island correctional facility in New York. Prisons and jails are a potential epicenter for Americas coronavirus pandemic.

'It gets more frightening':As coronavirus surges in prisons, families of elderly inmates wait in fear

Outbreak: Hundreds of infected, quarantined inmates in prisons and jails challenging officials

Even as vulnerable prison systems have ramped up scrutiny of inmates and staffers with broad quarantines and elaborate contact tracing investigations, increased testing is proving just as crucial in assessing the virus spread within detention systems as it is in the free world.

Mass testing at three state prisons in Ohio has yielded results similar to North Carolina's, with officials suggesting that the strategy and findings could have broad implications, not just for containing outbreaks in detention centers but in making larger decisions about when states should reopen for business and loosen social distancing restrictions.

The federal Bureau of Prisons, the largest detention system in the country, has announced that it, too, is expanding testing for asymptomatic inmates in an attempt to control the spread of the virus that has so far infected nearly 1,000 inmates and staffers and claimed the lives of 24 prisoners.

Story continues

Testing capacity has been the central focus of many governors as they weigh when and how they will re-emerge from near total lockdowns prompted by the coronavirus pandemic.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, who recently won approval from the federal Food and Drug Administration for use of a compound that can identify the virus in test samples, also has formed a special working group to find reliable sources of testing supplies.

The broader testing in prisons, however, has already produced striking findings.

"While we know coronavirus does pose a specific threat to congregate settings," DeWine said, referring to the prison testing, "this comprehensive testing will give us insight on both how to best coordinate response at these facilities, as well as data and insight on how comprehensive testing within a cohort will affect testing numbers."

Leonard Rubenstein, a professor at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, said the broader testing in detention centers where small cells and densely packed dormitories make social distancing directives nearly impossible to maintain underscores the need for testing beyond prison walls.

"Unless you do universal testing in all environments, the risk of spread is enormous," Rubenstein said. "If you are waiting for symptoms to emerge before you do the testing, you are getting a false picture of what is going on. ... It's too late."

Testing 'key' to recovery

Ohio was among the first prison systems in the country to launch a mass testing program aimed at diagnosing the scope of infection at three virus-plagued prisons, including Marion Correctional Institution, which has contained the largest number of infections of any prison in the country  now at more than 2,000.

As expected, the universal testing yielded more infections, including a large contingent of asymptomatic inmates.

In one dormitory at Marion, officials said that of 152 prisoners tested, 39% tested positive for COVID-19 even though they displayed no symptoms.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Amy Acton

Ohio has reported 3,762 total inmate infections and nine confirmed deaths while more than 28,000 of the state's 50,000 inmates were in some form of quarantine. By comparison, at least 620 of the more than 140,000 inmates in the federal Bureau of Prisons have tested positive, while 357 staffers have been infected.

DeWine said the state numbers "did not necessarily indicate a new problem at these facilities, but simply wider testing."

Still, DeWine spokesman Dan Tierney said that the asymptomatic infections are striking and underscore the need for wider intelligence.

"Testing is going to be key for the recovery phase," Tierney said. "We have been working hard to acquire more testing capacity."

'We really needed to know more'

In North Carolina, officials are considering a broader prison testing regime after learning this week that the virus had spread throughout the Neuse facility, largely undercover and without producing the tell-tale symptoms of fever, respiratory distress, muscle aches, cough, chills or the loss of taste and smell.

Suspicions first peaked this month when infection numbers involving symptomatic inmates began to mount at the facility.

"There was a feeling that we really needed to know more," Bull said. "The interest was clear."

Testing of the entire facility began Thursday and ran through the weekend.

"I think we were very shocked to discover how many more had this virus," Bull said, adding that testing also was offered to all of the facility's 250 staffers. At least 22 have tested positive so far.

The results were so jarring that state authorities earlier this week announced the temporary closure of the nearby Johnston Correctional Institution and moved all 600 inmates to other facilities so staffers could help colleagues at the troubled Neuse prison.

The staff at Neuse have been working in the toughest conditions, for weeks on end, and desperately needed support, North Carolina prisons Commissioner Todd Ishee said. They are owed everyones thanks for their commitment to serving the public, standing tall in their daily responsibilities and helping ensure safety of their co-workers and those in custody.

With some test results still pending at Neuse, Bull said there have been "discussions" about expanding testing across the system to account for the so far unknown number of asymptomatic inmates who could be carrying the virus.

"So far, there have been plenty of discussions, but no firm path," Bull said. "Nobody's confronted anything like COVID-19. This is a significant challenge for a prison population, which is a difficult environment on a good day. These have not been good days."

Beyond prison walls

Concern for the overall health of the Neuse facility has spilled into the broader North Carolina community of Wayne County, where a number of prison staffers live.

"We are all concerned," Wayne County spokesman Joel Gilley said. "But we need more testing across the country; it's not just an issue for Wayne County."

So far, the overwhelming majority of the 572 infections in the county are the 458 cases inside the prison. Gilley said the staffers are quarantined in their homes, limiting the contact with other local residents.

There are regular conference calls, linking local officials with prison authorities for updates on the virus' spread.

"We want to make sure we are prepared," Gilley said.

Yet there are sad reminders that the threat is strikingly close to home.

Gilley said six local residents, all elderly with underlying health complications, have succumbed to virus so far.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Coronavirus: Testing in prisons reveals hidden asymptomatic infections
WP, Puttalam curfew extended till May 4; zone-based relaxation later By Damith Wickremasekara View(s): View(s):

As the Government yesterday extended the curfew in the Western Province and the Puttlam district until May 4, plans have been drawn to open different zones on varying days thereafter.

In all other districtsm the curfew which will be lifted at 5.00 a.m. tomorrow will be reimposed at 8 p.m. the same day. A similar plan will be effective daily until Friday May 1.

Under the plan for the Western Province, some of the congested areas, including areas of cluster houses, will continue to remain closed because the areas are considered high risk.

The plan was due to come into effect this week, but has been differed in view of the detection of more COVID-19 patients from Colombo, especially from areas where cluster houses are located.

The objective of the plan will be to confine persons of one area in the same locality, instead of allowing them to move around to other areas, an official associated with the COVID19 Task Force said.

He said a similar zone-based plan would be drawn to the Western Provinces other districts  the Gampaha and Kalutara districts.

Health Ministry Secretary Badhrani Jayawardena told the Sunday Times that the introduction of zones would be an easy system to control the spread of the virus.

She said steps were being taken to step up the PCR tests in areas where the low-income groups reside.

Amidst threats of the virus spreading in areas of cluster homes such as Bandaranayake Mw at Hulftsdorp in Colombo, the government is looking at relocating nearly 2,000 such families.

The Urban Development Authority (UDA) is planning to resettle 2,000 families in housing schemes which have been completed in Colombo, but not distributed among people.

UDA Chairman Prasanna Ranawera said that initially 1,600 families could be resettled in the schemes located within Colombo city limits.

The move came as 15 more COVID 19 patients were detected yesterday raising the number detected to 435.

Seven of the new patients who were detected were residence of Bandaranayaka Mw, Colombo 12. They are currently at the Kandakadu quarantine camp. Four others were from the Welisara Navy camp.

Meanwhile, the Government is trying to revive the factories and industries which have been shut down. Already some of the Katunayake Free Trade Zone factories have begun operations, but some of them were facing difficulties in obtaining the labour.

NIC-based travel restrictions when curfew is lifted The Government has tightened restrictions on the movement of people in areas where curfew is lifted by introducing a national identity card based system. Accordingly, only people with identity card numbers ending with one or two can go out on Monday. Persons with NIC numbers ending with three and four are allowed to go out on Tuesday, five and six on Wednesday, seven and eight on Thursday and nine and zero on Friday. The curfew will be effective in these areas on Saturday and Sunday.
Coronavirus

There is good news for a world battling the corona virus. The positive news comes from the United States, which has seen the lowest number of deaths from the corona virus in three weeks in the last 24 hours. Officials at Johns Hopkins University, an organization that monitors corona deaths worldwide, said that the death toll in the United States is 1,258 in the last 24 hours on Friday.

CoronavirusThis figure is the lowest in the last three weeks. The death toll from the corona virus has risen to more than 50,000 in the United States. The corona virus killed 3,176 people in 24 hours here on Thursday. But the next day, the figure is dropped by less than half to 1,258.

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The death toll in the United States is the most highest in the world. The corona virus has infected about 9 lakh people here.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, meanwhile, who was most affected by the corona, said research showed that the novel corona virus first arrived in the United States in Europe, not in China.

Photo

He said that the travel ban imposed by the President Trump was a long overdue decision but that did not stop corona. Andrew Cuomo said that by the time the first corona case was confirmed in the United States on March 1, the corona virus had entered the bodies of about 10,000 people of New York.

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File photoThe governor said that Trump had stopped the flow of people from China on February 2, but about a month before that, the news of the disease in China came in the media. By the time the US imposed a travel ban on Europe the following month, the virus had spread widely in the United States.
Across Africa, obscure or forgotten health and government officials have been propelled into the public eye because of their role in fighting coronavirus. Some are unsung veterans of previous efforts to stop epidemics, such as Ebola or AIDS. Others are from a younger generation, making a name for themselves on social media. Zweli Mkhize, South Africa South Africa's indefatigable health minister, Zweli Mkhize, has an upbeat motto in a video message on coronavirus aired regularly on public television: "Stay calm, focused and courageous". The doctor-turned-politician is constantly on the move across the virus-ravaged country, meeting local health staff and officials, while driving home health advice on social media and in polished television interviews. Mkhize, 64, is also a veteran of South Africa's struggle against AIDS. When he was a provincial cadre of the ruling African National Congress party, he personally wrote to former President Thabo Mbeki -- a HIV/AIDS-denialist -- to urge him into action. The editor of South African weekly City Press has described him as "clever, able and smart". Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, Sierra Leone The mayor of Sierra Leone's capital Freetown is determined to slow the spread of coronavirus in the West African city, but she has her work cut out for her. Nearly half of the roughly one million inhabitants of the seaside capital have no access to running water, which is essential for hand-washing. Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, 52, is pushing to provide access to water urgently. "We need to fill those gaps as (a) government and fill them very quickly," she recently told French media. A former finance professional with a master's degree from the London School of Economics, Aki-Sawyerr is another of Africa's old epidemic warhorses. She was the director of planning for Sierra Leone's national Ebola response team, when the virus killed nearly 4,000 people in the country between 2014 and 2016, and was awarded an Order of the British Empire for her efforts. Known for her smily demeanour and her determination, Freetown's first female mayor also set a good example at the start of the coronavirus pandemic, by isolating herself for two weeks after returning from abroad. Jean-Jacques Muyembe, DRC Jean-Jacques Muyembe is one of a small number of people who can claim to be mangaging two epidemics of global importance. A discrete and affable man who looks younger than his 78 years, the Congolese virologist's life has been intimately linked to the Democratic Republic of Congo's ten Ebola outbreaks. In 1976, he was one of the first to research the then-unknown Ebola virus in the field -- without protective gear. He went on to play a critical role in identifying the viral haemorrhagic fever, and in finding its treatment. Muyembe is now the DRC's coronavirus front man. His upstanding image suffered damage recently, however, when he stirred controversy at home by saying he was prepared to trial a vaccine developed abroad in the Central African state. He quickly backtracked. "I am Congolese myself, and I would never let Congolese be used as guinea pigs," he said. Moussa Seydi, Senegal Moussa Seydi, 56, is an infectious-diseases specialist who is in charge of treating Senegal's coronavirus patients. He has drawn attention to himself for prescribing the anti-malarial hydroxychloroquine, which he suggests could be the reason for the West African country's high rate of coronavirus recovery. The drug is controversial in some quarters, because it can potentially lead to serious side effects when administered incorrectly, and because clinical trials have not yet demonstrated whether it is an effective treatment. "I don't care about being in the limelight," says Seydi, adding that he only cares about helping patients. The son of a forklift and crane operator, Seydi wanted to be a doctor since he was a child. He now wields considerable influence among Senegalese government members. But he insists he is "really a practitioner, not a bureaucrat". Malachie Manaouda, Cameroon At 46, Cameroon's Health Minister Malachie Manaouda is the youngest member of the Central African state's government, and the leading figure in its fight against coronavirus. As a member of the hyper-connected generation, he updates his Twitter feed daily with reports of new infections, new medical-gear deliveries, and government health measures. Manaouda's style is in stark contrast with most of Cameroon's government, predominantly composed of elderly men. Many appreciate his apparent modernity and willingness engage. But he has irritated others, who accuse him of stoking paranoia. After a hiatus in social-media updates in the face of this criticism, Manaouda resumed tweeting infection data on Friday. sn-st-cma-hos-lal-eml/ach Mkhize is also a veteran of South Africa's fight against AIDS Aki-Sawyerr is one of Africa's old epidemic warhorses Muyembe started researching the Ebola virus in 1976 Many fear that the number of cases in Africa could explode
Foreign Secretary Ravinatha Aryasinha has observed that even as the Foreign Ministry was preoccupied with endeavouring to mitigate a multitude of problems faced by Overseas Sri Lankans, it was in parallel also seeking to re-position Sri Lankas exports in the context of market conditions that have arisen as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. He said if this was successful, Sri Lanka would emerge one step ahead in the global supply chain, in a post COVID-19 world.

The Foreign Secretary made these observations earlier this week in an appearance on the Sri Lanka Rupavahinis Ethera Methara programme. Commenting on the efforts by Sri Lankas network of 67 Missions and Consulate-General Offices abroad in promoting Sri Lankas exports during these constrained times, he said the Ministrys traditional Economic Diplomacy Programme led by the Economic Affairs Division, has been modified to accommodate the changed circumstances.

It is noted that the Ministry of Foreign Relations, together with the Export Development Board (EDB) and Sri Lankan Missions abroad, are continuing to explore access for Sri Lankan products into new markets, to support the governments economic plan in sustaining the economy during the pandemic and mitigating the economic downturn in its aftermath. Informed by weekly updates provided by Missions abroad on the evolving world markets as well as prevailing procedures, requirements and restrictions in their countries of accreditation, in the background of COVID-19 pandemic, this initiative has thus far facilitated in connecting Sri Lankan exporters with importers in ten countries with regard to tea, spices, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), rubber gloves, face masks, reusable masks, surgical masks, surgical caps, surgical gowns, sanitary tissues, processed food, fruits and vegetables, spices and seafood.

Additional Secretary, Economic Affairs P.M. Amza notes that, to date 56 market updates have been filed by Sri Lanka missions abroad and all of them have been uploaded in the EDB website, which can be accessed at https://www.edb.gov.lk/marketalerts. The summary of the market updates received so far revealed that there is demand for Ceylon Tea from 21 countries (including orders amounting to 336 MT to Turkey, 100 MT to Egypt and 25 MT to Libya, materialized during the last two weeks), face masks from 25 countries, protective gowns from 15 countries, PPE from 13 countries and rubber gloves from 15 countries. There are also demands for food and vegetables from 13 countries.

The Ministry is also working with Sri Lanka Tea Board in expediting the process of authentication of export documents, in respect of tea consignments to various destinations in Middle East and Turkey, as well as several other products. Recognizing the difficulties faced by exporters the Ministry is also formally pursuing requests with the Customs and other relevant agencies in significant export destinations to facilitate the clearance of relevant documents of Sri Lankan exporters. Several Colombo based Diplomatic Missions have also cooperated in this endeavour by taking appropriate measures to also authenticate export documents.

Additionally, the Ministry is also supporting Sri Lanka Tourism in the facilitation required for over 12,000 foreign tourists who have chosen to remain in Sri Lanka, despite the present COVID-19 pandemic and the prevailing curfews in many parts of the country. This includes over 4000 tourists from Western countries, notwithstanding the continuance of commercial as well as charter flights to return home. Visas for tourists in Sri Lanka were automatically extended in the face of the crisis situation, up to 12 May, 2020.

Ministry of Foreign Relations

Colombo



23 April 2020



Media Release in PDF



Read more: www.mfa.gov.lk
To the editor:

I need to say a big thank you to Laken at the Geneva Inn Hotel in Lake Geneva for being so sweet on the phone when I called April 8 and asked if they could please set aside 68 bags of fresh produce, leftover from their drive thru food drive one day prior, for my low-income senior/disabled housing complex, and if the bags could be available in about an hour.

She took my name and said she needed to put me on hold to ask the guys in the kitchen, who quickly agreed. Upon arrival I was happy to be greeted by the familiar face of an old friend, Abel, an executive chef at the Grandview Restaurant.

Also, a big thank you to Pidge Peters, and a second female driver, for volunteering their vehicles in which Abel, and Chad, an additional Grandview Executive Chef, made several trips loading up the bags in every available space of both vehicles.

A special thank you to Raymond Hubbard, for without his loaning to me his phone, the night before, to activate my phone, I would not have been able to call Geneva Inn with this food request, and then coordinate the second vehicle in the time available for both driver volunteers.

Every one of my neighbors who answered their doors and accepted food were pleasantly surprised and thankful for the gift.

And I know I haven't said it enough, but to everyone who has supported me during the most challenging past 3 years with this neurological condition, demyelination, dysautonomia, joint hypermobility, allergies, fatigue, alleged irritability, I just want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart. It is these non medical people who have always faithfully had my back, many with their own challenging health struggles, who have often lifted me out of heartbreak and near darkness time and time again with a kind word, a hug, a greeting card, or cookies, showering me with grace and hope, and encouraging me to continue my community service and advocacy that, with Jesus Christ as my Saviour, is the best medicine.

Andrea Nafziger Christian,

Lake Geneva
Hyderabad, April 25 : Union Minister of State for Finance Anurag Thakur on Saturday said that the government wants to make India the next manufacturing hub, post Covid-19.

He said the government was also consolidating labour laws to make the country preferred investment destination.

Thakur was interacting with members of Federation of Telangana Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FTCCI) and industry leaders from the state.

"So far India is far successful in containing coronavirus and the country is set to attract companies from all across the globe due to its pro-business policy and hostility towards the country where the virus originated," a statement from the organizers quoted him as saying.

The minister said the government took many steps to control Covid-19 with the active commitment of the people of India. The government also initiated many more measures with the positive revival of Indian economy in mind.

"We are committed to make this nation the next manufacturing hub, post covid-19. Consolidation of labor laws, reduction of compliances are some of the measures to make our country the most preferred for investments. Covid-19 has provided us a challenge and opportunity." Karunendra S. Jasti, President, FTCCI, said Covid-19 sounded a death knell to small businesses which together employ more than 60 per cent of the workforce in India. While appreciating the government's quick action to control the virus by announcing the 21+19 day lockdown in the country he requested the government to wage a similar battle against the ailing economy and come to the rescue of industrial and business entities.

The already announced fiscal packages such as cheaper credit and other measures provide minimal relief but actually do not alleviate the pain and suffering this disorder is going to pose to MSMEs and other businesses for many more months to come, he said.
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There are two kinds of people  those who live hoping God will make them happy and those who live to make God happy. Sy Rogers

Sy Rogers, a leading evangelist for healthy sexuality in the church, died on Sunday, April 19, 2020, at 63 after battling kidney cancer for eight months. He defeated cancer once before and had been in remission for five years.

A gifted communicator, Sys teaching ministry spanned over three decades and reached across six continents. He was a popular conference speaker in evangelical circles and his seminars and speaking events were conducted interdenominationally for leadership events (National Youth Leaders), Bible colleges (Biola, Christ for the Nations, Azusa Pacific, Regent), youth festivals (Parachute Music Festival in New Zealand), counselor training, womens conferences, and men's events. Sy was also an award-winning talk show host. In 1996, Sy was selected by Christianity Today as one of 50 Up and Coming Evangelical Leaders Under 40.

For the last two decades Sy was an apologist for sexual integrity and healthy relationships. He preached in a wide variety of influential pulpits, from Southern Baptist to Presbyterian to Pentecostal, including Ed Youngs Fellowship Church (Dallas, Texas) to Jentezen Franklins Free Chapel (Gainesville, Georgia) to Londons Kensington Temple to Australias Riverview Church. Most recently Sy served as a teaching pastor at Life Church, the largest church in New Zealand, for six years starting in 2012 while maintaining his international speaking ministry.

Growing up with sexual abuse and gender identity confusion, after years of childhood bullying he embraced a gay identity and was a practicing homosexual before he went on to be diagnosed transgender. His life changed course when he became convinced of Gods unconditional love and converted to Christianity, abandoning his plan for sex reassignment surgery. Looking for work and finding none, Sy volunteered to serve in a prison ministry. God never ran out of things for me to do, he said of his inauspicious beginnings in ministry in 1980. Sy met his eventual wife Karen, who served with him in the prison. They lived cross culturally on three different continents with Sy in full-time Christian service the next 38 years.

Despite his journey out of homosexuality in 1980, getting married in 1982 and starting a family three years later, it seemed Sy could never do enough to satisfy his detractors. He often quipped, I find it remarkably ironic that, of all the men in the world, God picked me as His public example of redeemed manhood. How very like God to choose the person that no one else would. But Gods version of public relations is different.

In the late 80s Sys first foray into vocational ministry was as the director of a local parachurch ministry in the fledgling ex-gay movement of Exodus International, which is now defunct. His Orlando, Florida based ministry provided pastoral care and support groups for clients with unwanted same-sex attractions. From 1988-90 Sy served one term as president of the Exodus network. His former organization, now called Exchange Ministries, is still in operation today and currently based out of First Baptist Orlando.

In 1991 he was one of 25 pastors on staff with the dynamic Anglican church, Church of our Savior in Singapore. While there he pioneered the work of sexual redemption, founding a recovery ministry that is still in operation today, called Choices. Then Sys family migrated to New Zealand in 1998, where his itinerant teaching ministry was launched, but not before he spent a year with the evangelistic ministry of No Longer Music. Sy performed as the lead vocalist in a Christian rock operetta that played in major secular night clubs around the world.

Eventually Sy and his family returned to Orlando in 2001, where he worked as a full-time itinerant teacher for the next 11 years, traveling four to six continents per year. In 2012 they returned to New Zealand when Sy went on staff at Life Church as a pulpiteer, dividing his time between the church and his global itinerant ministry.

Often remembered for his gay history, Sys teaching ministry transcended the homosexual issue for the past two decades. In his later years, he mainly spoke about sex in the larger context of conversations on God, sex, culture as in this message given in 2019 at Substance Church (Minneapolis). Sy was an evangelist for the character of God, always pointing people to the Bible as their source for Gods opinion, Im not in a ministry of trying to change people. I dont have the power and it misses the point. I am in a posture of inviting people to journey with God, Sy said at Fellowship Church. It matters who you listen to.

His story was featured in a series at Fellowship Church, called Mythbusters, and in his own DVD, titled "One of the Boys," as well as numerous media interviews and articles, including Joni Lamb, Harvest Times (Singapore), The 700 Club, Reality magazine (NZ), Good Morning Australia, and Last Days Ministries (the late Keith Green), and featured in several books written by authors such as Philip Baker and Dr. D. James Kennedy.

Upon hearing of his passing, Priscilla Shirer, commented on Instagram describing Sys death as a huge loss for the Church ....and for any of us who knew him. His message and ministry were INCREDIBLY unique. His brilliance was astounding. Jentezen Franklin described Sy as one of the most informed and skilled speakers we have ever hosted. Hillsong founders Brian and Bobbie Houston wrote, Sy was truly one of the kindest people you could ever meet. He exemplified grace and freedom and a passion to always bless others.

Sy is survived by his wife, Karen, daughter Grace, son-in-law Steve, and two grandchildren, ages 8 and 4. His body will be laid to rest in a private burial service on Monday and a public memorial will be planned at a later date when covid restrictions are lifted. To date thousands have visited his online memorial to commemorate the life and legacy of Sy Rogers.
Freetown, Sierra Leone. West Africa - In this time of social distancing and staying at home, it is a good opportunity for Africans on the continent and the diaspora to begin a process of charting a new direction for the African continent. The time for Africa to rise and occupies it position on the international stage is now.

In the aftermath of the brutal murder of Libyan leader, Colonel Brother Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, foreign criminal adventurers on the soil of Africa felt much more arrogant in their desire to loot the continent mercilessly and pauperized its citizenry, and make Africans slaves in their continent, if not the wretched of the earth. Africa produces all the raw materials that are used to develop other countries, while Africans are sentenced to swindle in misery, degradation and dehumanization.

With the international spotlight now on the COVID-19 germ warfare and with the increasing anger at the failure and insensitivity of African leaders to lead towards progress, there is an important opening for a Pan-African Movement, one that truly expresses the desire of the African masses for peace, stability, unification, development and prosperity under a truly democratic environment. Obviously, events since the collapse of the Berlin Wall in 1990; the collapse of the obnoxious apartheid enclave in Southern Africa; the creation of the African Union (AU), to replace the dysfunctional Organisation of African Unity (OAU) in 2000; the proclamation of a New World Order and the slaughter carried out by Western imperialism in Rwanda, the establishments of unwanted and unmandated foreign military bases and bio-laboratories on the continent; to name only a few, show that Africa should rise to the new challenges.

New developments, however, have also given this period of crisis a unique character: black-neo-colonialism, which manifests in high youth restiveness, economic doldrums; an explosion of international debt trap; mass exodus of Africans in search of greener pastures abroad; depopulation of blacks through violence, criminal wars and man-made disasters and pandemics. The long crisis has produced willing leaders, who are ever ready to pawn the dignity of Africans for a life of opulence and immorality.

It is only natural, within the context of an imperialist system which from its inception has been built on foundations of state terrorism as well as race-filled hatreds, that replacement of brutal colonialism with proxy neo-colonial state constitutes attacks on the freedom and dignity of whole peoples. The emergence of leaders in Africa, say for instance, constitutional President Paul Kagame of Rwanda opens the way for more to emerge on the continent. For struggle for progress in Africa had just begun.

For us as true sons and daughters of Africa, the struggle for change of our prostrate independence into real freedom is continent wide-from Algeria to Zimbabwe. The struggle for a New Africa, which would emerge out of the ashes of the old, depleted independence, is a fight for all Africans everywhere on the planet. Imperialism has no role to play in this struggle for a New Africa. Whether imperialism is behind the assassination of progressive leaders in Africa, its objectives remain the same. Usually, in fact, it employs double track agenda at the same time, toward a common aim: to rape Africa and confine Africans in the dustbin of poverty, want and fear.

The emergence of constitutional President Paul Kagame in hostile conditions has confirmed the potential for Africans from across the continent and the diaspora to rally behind the Rwandan leader and lead the struggle for the second and total liberation of Africa. Latin America has also experienced its own crisis. The bureaucratic stranglehold on the economy engenders low productivity, inefficiency, and inability to meet basic needs and welfare of the people. In some cases, the crises of these states have also been linked to the contradictions of capitalist imperialism, as the ruling bureaucracies seek Western bank loans and investment to cover up their own failures. This crisis has exploded recently in Brazil, Colombia and Ecuador. This crisis has also inflicted immeasurable pains on the mass of the people of Latin America.

As conscious and forward-thinking Africans, we are deeply inspired by the struggles led by Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua and Mexico in Latin America. We support these countries against the ills of imperialism and call upon the United States government to end its sanctions and blockade against Cuba and Venezuela. We call Washington also, to put an immediate end to its hostile policies and meddling mentality in the internal affairs of Latin America.

The commitment to help protect, improve and advance the lives and well being of the African people is not new. In our determination and dedication to help lay the foundation for the New Africa we envisaged, we, concerned Africans, after consultations with compatriots across the continent and diaspora have resolved to create a Movement to be named, called, known and addressed as the Pan-African Unity Movement Against Second Slavery (Or PANUMASS).

The creation of PANUMASS is a necessary development. We recognize that this development is not easy, and that Africans everywhere have to overcome both internal conflicts and, more importantly, reject the pauperization of our continent. It is a brave and bold move, especially now when Africans are being subjected to all sorts of sub-human fashion-treatment on other lands.

We thank our African brothers and sisters who, despite all ills, supported the creation of this African continental solidarity Movement, to help shape Africa for Africans and friends of Africa. We thank them too for their contribution to this favourable condition. This is a time for wisdom, diligence, strength and restraint so it is not wasted. Africans before us had fought and even made huge sacrifice for the continent. These people were from every region of Africa and the diaspora, from every walk of life, and of different ages, religions, genders and cultural backgrounds.

What will we leave behind as a legacyhappiness or tears? This question is critically important; however, it is equally important to know whether or not ouror someone else'sindividual or collective efforts, will produce the desired goal. These are key questions to ask ourselves today as we face the many warning signs that signal the growing poverty and misery in Africa. Change appears to be inevitable, but what kind of change do we want and how can we get there? How can we avoid the mistakes of the past where mass efforts and sacrifice were hijacked by a minority at the top, who are thirst for power and looting of natural resources and wealth to develop other countries?

Solidarity is not simply about putting out a statement or doing activist tourism but about learning from one another and acting together. As such, the Pan-African Unity Movement Against Second Slavery (PANUMASS) will extend solidarity to all countries that love and threat Africans equally and with dignity. Like other people throughout the world, we are deeply concerned about the rapid spread of the corona virus (Covid-19), which has drastically altered life outside of Africa and now poses an increasing threat to the entire population of the African continent.

Our heartfelt sympathy goes to those who have lost family members, as well as to those whose way of life has been made so difficult. Right now, we are ready to join together with those attempting to serve, protect lives and help to find solutions and ways to treat Covid-19 and to prevent as many as possible from being exposed to it. These attempts have called for life-altering changes now affecting the lives, social and business networks, education, movement, employment, and the access to goods and services of people all over the world. Unfortunately, Africa has not been spared some of the debilitating impacts of the Corona virus pandemic. The concern for the wellbeing of all people, regardless of colour, nationality, religion, culture or socio-economic status, has been an African tradition from time, and shall be a core principle of PANUMASS. We believe that the value and dignity of every human being comes from God, our Creator, and that we will be held accountable, under God, for how we treat or care for others.

We extend our unflinching solidarity with Russia, as it has taken the role of world leadership, replacing imperialism. And above all, we support President Vladimir Putin's peace road map in Libya, and call on all Libyans to seek a peaceful and comprehensive political settlement in their country's crisis, bringing an end to the nine-year fratricidal violence, instability and brutal occupation.

Long Live Africa!

Africa Must Unite!!

Sender:

Alimamy Bakarr Sankoh

Interim Chairman

The Pan-African Unity Movement Against Second Slavery

PANUMASS.
By Trend

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov and Croatian Foreign Minister Gordan Grlic-Radman had a telephone conversation on the initiative of the Croatian side, Trend reports on April 24 referring to the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry.

Having discussed the prospects of relations, the ministers expressed gratification with bilateral political ties, including high-level mutual visits. At the same time, the importance of further expanding cooperation in the field of economy and trade was emphasized.

The parties exchanged the views on relations between Azerbaijan and the European Union, participation in the Eastern Partnership, as well as the issues of cooperation within other international organizations.

Touching upon the current global situation, the ministers exchanged views on the measures taken in both countries and on the issues of mutual support in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

In conclusion, Mammadyarov invited his Croatian counterpart to pay an official visit to Azerbaijan and the Croatian foreign minister accepted the offer with pleasure. The date of the visit will be determined through diplomatic channels after the pandemic period.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz






WASHINGTON/WARREN, Mich.  The head of the United Auto Workers union on Thursday said it was "too soon and too risky" to reopen auto plants and Michigan's economy in early May, citing insufficient scientific data and coronavirus testing to assure workplaces are safe.

The warning from UAW President Rory Gamble on Thursday afternoon came as General Motors Co , Ford Motor Co and Toyota Motor Corp took new steps toward reopening North American vehicle manufacturing operations in an environment where consumer demand is uncertain and worker safety paramount. The union has said that 24 of its members have died from Covid-19, though it was unclear whether they might have become infected in the workplace.

Unionized Detroit automakers and non-union German and Asian automakers have been preparing to restart U.S. vehicle making operations by early May. Companies have shifted reopening dates amid uncertainty about government stay-at-home orders.

Gamble's statement appeared to derail plans by the Detroit Three to start bringing UAW workers back to vehicle manufacturing jobs on May 4. The longer the automakers cannot produce profitable U.S.-made trucks and sport utility vehicles, the longer they burn cash.

The UAW leader's statement was also aimed at Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who has come under pressure from conservative groups and President Donald Trump to ease coronavirus stay-at-home restrictions.

"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. We have not done enough testing to really understand the threat our members face," Gamble said.

"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."

Gamble said the union was "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."

Story continues

Earlier Thursday, GM began notifying front line managers to come back to work next week to get trained on new safety protocols designed to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus as workers return to plants.

"What we are doing is making sure the people who are going to lead in our plant facilities, and lead period, understand the protocols well enough," GM's global head of manufacturing, Gerald Johnson, told Reuters in an interview Thursday at a former transmission factory in Warren, Michigan, where workers are now making face masks for donation to hospitals and GM's own use.

Johnson spoke before Gamble issued his statement. The GM executive took questions while wearing a surgical mask and protective glasses  gear workers will be required to wear on the job as they return, he said.

Many GM managers must now learn how to deal with "additive and new" safety procedures, Johnson said.

GM will not rush to ramp up production, he said. "We think it's smart to be limited and phased in our restart," he added, saying it "has to be metered by demand."

Johnson did not say when GM plans to restart operations. Suppliers said before Thursday they expected the automaker to begin some production work May 4.

Separately, Toyota Motor Corp said on Thursday 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 outbreak.

The largest Japanese automaker said it expected production will be slow next month. The company added it was 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. He said he expected production to ramp up later in May "to meet consumer demand," however.

Ford Motor Co is considering asking some workers to return next week to prepare for restarting production, a person familiar with the matter said. But Ford said it has not decided on a date for resuming production.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV previously said it hoped to resume North American production on May 4. But the company said in a statement Thursday "we will only restart operations with safe, secure and sanitized workplaces to protect all of our employees."

Other automakers have outlined plans to restart U.S. plants over the next two to three weeks. Honda Motor Co said on Thursday it was extending a shutdown of its North American auto plants by one week through May 8.
The state-run Southeastern Veterans' Center in Chester County suffered a devastating outbreak of coronavirus cases in spring 2020 that took more than two dozen lives. Read more

Theyre dying.

Almost every day over the last two weeks, military veterans and their spouses have been dying at a top-rated, state-run nursing home in Chester County ravaged by the coronavirus.

One, two, four a day.

The death toll nearly tripled over a five-day period at the sprawling, 238-bed Southeastern Veterans Center complex in a wooded stretch of East Vincent Township, near the Schuylkill. As of Friday, 26 residents who had tested positive for COVID-19 or were presumed to be infected have died, according to the Chester County coroner.

Theyre sitting ducks, the veterans, said Nadine Bean, daughter-in-law of a 95-year-old World War II veteran who lives there.

Bean, a clinical social worker, said families as a whole have been happy with their loved ones care, and the staff amenities at the five-star nursing home, which has a waiting list and is run by the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. But as the state agency scrambles to contain the coronavirus, the nursing home has concealed the true scope of the deaths and outbreak from vet center families.

Theyve given everything," Bean said of her father-in-law and other veterans, "and to think its spreading through there and they are dying alone, that makes me utterly mad. Its inhumane. And theyre withholding information about how dire it is.

Interviews with nursing-home staff and residents families over the last week paint a grim picture of Southeastern Veterans Center, one of six state-owned veterans nursing homes, and show that even highly regarded facilities can be unprepared and devastated by the novel scourge.

 READ MORE: Military funeral honors suspended in wake of coronavirus  but not the respect

National Guard staff are working in food service, maintenance, and patient care. A nearby Veterans Affairs medical center has sent body bags, according to an internal report.

Its like a sinking ship, said one staffer, who is not authorized to speak to the media. People are dying every day. Its sad.

Reached by phone Thursday, Commandant Rohan Blackwood, the top official at SEVC, said he would call back shortly to answer questions. Instead, he referred the reporter to a spokesperson from the DMVA, who did not respond to requests over two days for information about the conditions and deaths at the facility.

About half of Pennsylvanias known coronavirus-related deaths have been residents of long-term-care facilities. The state has one of the oldest populations in the country, and about 126,000 people living in nursing homes and assisted-living facilities. Nationally, at least 10,000 nursing home residents have died, according to published reports.

Family members, who normally visit the veterans home and see how loved ones are faring and if sufficient staff is on duty, have been in the dark with no recourse.

Frustrated and desperate to help her father-in-law, Bean said her family considered taking him out of SEVC, at least temporarily, due to the pandemic. But a staffer warned her brother-in-law that his father could have a hard time getting back in, she said.

They said if Pop leaves, not only does he lose his room, we would have to apply all over again. They will not even put him on a waiting list," Bean said. I consider that a veiled threat. Like, Dont you take him out. 

 READ MORE: Pa. nursing homes left to largely police themselves as coronavirus deaths mount

He knew nothing

States such as New Jersey, New York, and California make public the names of nursing homes and their number of positive cases and deaths due to the coronavirus, which often can be how families and elected officials first learn about outbreaks and the challenges the facilities are facing.

Pennsylvania does not do so, and some public health officials, such as Philadelphias health commissioner, Thomas Farley, oppose such public disclosures, saying naming a facility might make it less likely to cooperate with government efforts to control the pandemic.

But several residents at SEVC and their family members said they want more and quicker information about what is going on inside the home. Some first learned the home had its first coronavirus death from an Inquirer report published April 17 that revealed 10 residents died of COVID-19.

One veteran, who repeatedly asked nursing staff whether the virus was spreading there, was absolutely floored to read that 10 residents had died, his son said. He knew nothing. (The son asked not to be identified to protect his father from any retribution.)

 READ MORE: At a Cape May nursing home with 9 coronavirus deaths, workers say warning signs were ignored

The next day, the homes social services director, in an email to relatives, said only that there are several positive cases of COVID-19 in our building. She did not mention that anyone had died. Since that April 18 message, at least 16 more people have died from the coronavirus at the facility, according to Chester County Coroner Christina VandePol.

Cluster of cases

On March 12, the state barred visitors at the six veterans nursing homes run by the DMVA. But over the next six weeks, the Southeastern Veterans Center would become one of the worst coronavirus clusters in the Philadelphia region, overwhelming and infecting staff, putting dozens out on leave, including key personnel.

The daughter of a veteran who contracted the virus in early April reached out to staff to cancel his do not resuscitate order  put in place long before the pandemic  so that, if necessary, he could be put on a ventilator to help him breathe and possibly survive.

But after a rough few days, he started to improve, and they visited over a video call, arranged by a social worker. Together they sang his favorite Frank Sinatra songs.

I asked for them to have a nurse or a doctor call me, she said of her effort to change her fathers do not resuscitate order.

No one did, until the nurse left me a message to call her back, said the woman, who spoke only on the condition that her name not be used. I assumed it was about my dad, about his condition. But, it was because he died.

 READ MORE: Short on staff because of COVID-19, a Montgomery County nursing home suddenly sends 37 seniors to the Lehigh Valley

Fran McDermott, whose 91-year-old mother, Josephine McKeon, moved into the nursing home four years ago, usually felt reassured by the regular updates she got from staff members and nurses about her mothers health. In a recent phone call with her mother, she was alarmed to learn that two of her roommates were sick and being treated with oxygen.

Although an April 4 letter to families alerted them that one or more of our residents developed COVID-19," McDemotts telephone call was the first shed learned that the outbreak may have spread so close to her mother.

Do my mothers roommates have coronavirus? she said she asked supervisors at the facility.

They told me they werent allowed to tell me how many cases they had, or even if there were cases on my mothers floor, McDermott said in an interview. I asked if they were testing these women, and testing my mother. They said no, and they werent allowed to tell me why.

 READ MORE: Assume coronavirus is already there, says a Philly nursing home doctor who learned the hard way

McDermott, who lives in Bucks County, said: Ive always thought they were so good about communicating.If she gets a cold, theyll call me before they give her a Tylenol.

On Wednesday, one of her mothers roommates died, McDermott said.

Her mother has not shown symptoms, she said, but lives on a floor with others who are presumed positive for COVID-19. She fears its only a matter of time before she also gets sick.

I asked them, why wasnt she moved? McDermott said. Are they just waiting for her to get it?

Like `sacrificial lambs

State Sen. Katie Muth, whose district covers parts of Chester County, said that until recently shed never heard complaints about the veterans center, considered one of the best in the state and rated much above average by the federal government. Now she is unable to find out what is happening inside.

She said she hopes SEVC and other nursing homes get better access to COVID-19 testing and adopt a more aggressive approach to contact tracing when it comes to nursing home staff, some of whom work second jobs at other health-care facilities, which could inadvertently lead to spreading the virus.

As of last week, SEVC, in consultation with the Chester County Department of Health, had stopped coronavirus testing in units where two or more residents have tested positive. Instead, the facility would treat other residents who showed fevers and other symptoms of the virus as probable cases, according to an internal report obtained by The Inquirer.

Muth said that does a disservice to those who might not be infected. They deserve a test, right? And theyre not getting them because were rationing tests, Muth said. If were not going to test everyone on a floor, it just looks like these people are sacrificial lambs.

In recent days, more extensive testing at SEVC appears to have resumed, a staffer said Friday.

Last week, the federal government issued new rules that long-term care facilities must inform all residents and their families when there are cases of coronavirus in the home. They have not yet gone into effect.

Now more than ever, nursing home residents and their family members have a right to know what is going on in these facilities, said Seema Verma, administrator of the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

 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.

Zach Shamberg, president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Health Care Association, which advocates for elderly residents and their care providers, said his group has encouraged facilities to alert staff, residents and family members about positive cases in the facility.

This level of communication is critical, Shamberg said. We believe in full transparency."

Shambergs industry group is also pushing for a single reporting database, where the information could be disseminated to state and federal departments, and to the public. That information, he said, could identify facilities most in need of personal protective equipment, testing, and emergency funding.

 READ MORE: As one Philly-area nursing home endures 50 COVID-19 cases, leaders turn to data-driven solutions

A final call

Peter Shenkle said he appreciated how hard the staff was working during the pandemic, caring for his father, George A. Shenkle Jr. A paratrooper who jumped out of a plane on D-Day, he was wounded in the Battle of the Bulge, and awarded a Purple Heart. Despite a heart condition, he traveled to France last year and sat behind President Donald Trump at a 75th anniversary of D-Day ceremony.

After his 98-year-old father caught the virus, Shenkle said, the staff treated the veteran with compassion and respect, and kept the family informed.

Shenkle said three weeks ago the staff told him his father had a fever and was diagnosed with pneumonia, then checked for the coronavirus. After he tested positive, he was moved to a room with another resident with the virus. His father had a do not resuscitate order in place, so he was treated with oxygen and pain medication, his son said.

Two days before he died, a staff member put the father and son together on the phone, using a cell phone in a baggie.

We had a couple of really beautiful moments talking, Shenkle said. Im thankful that he didnt linger for long, and that they were able to keep him comfortable."

 READ MORE: How can Philadelphias senior communities protect themselves from coronavirus? | Opinion

Ian Horowitzs experience with SEVC shows the difference having information can make when you cannot visit a loved one in the nursing home.

He complained that for some time he couldnt get information about the perils his 81-year-old father, a former military police officer, faced at the home. They are being so vague and secret its ridiculous, he fumed in an earlier interview.

But then on Thursday, after the state agency and the commandant were pressed by reporters about the complaints by families, the nursing home appeared to finally be reaching out to worried family members.

A staffer called and assured him that if anyone tests positive on his fathers floor, he will be moved to another floor.

Its got to be really tough for everyone there and I very much appreciate her contacting me and being more transparent, which is all Ive been asking for, Horowitz said of that simple gesture.

Its a big step in the right direction.

Staff writer Anna Orso contributed to this article.
Coronavirus hits Mexican military personnel with 5 deaths

Mexico City, Mexico  During a press conference, Luis Cresencio Sandoval Gonzalez, Secretary of National Defense and Jose Rafael Ojeda Duran Secretary of the Navy, reported 82 positive coronavirus cases and five deaths within their agency.

During the briefing, Sandoval Gonzalez said that four soldiers and one sailor have died from COVID-19 related illnesses, noting that throughout Sedena (Secretaria de la Defensa Nacional), they have 82 positive cases. Ojeda Duran noted that Mexico City and Veracruz were the main points of infections.

Sandoval Gonzalez explained that of the four deaths, three were active military personnel and one in retirement. He also said that there are currently nine hospitalized personnel. He also mentioned that in the unit he heads there 397 suspected cases of whom 256 are active-duty military personnel, 24 retirees and 117 successors in title.
The Mumbai Police registered 122 first information reports (FIRs) against 209 people for lockdown violations, and arrested 131 on Friday. A maximum of 47 FIRs were registered from the central region and 39 from western, both of which are the worst affected areas by Covid-19 in the city. A maximum of 58 FIRs were lodged for gathering in public and 53 for not wearing a mask. Since the lockdown, 5,075 FIRs have been registered against 9,792 people and a total of 6,164 people have been arrested for lockdown violations.

Security beefed up in Baiganwadi

After a video, showing a group of people in a market area in Baiganwadi, Govandi, went viral on social media, the Mumbai Police have beefed up security and enhanced patrolling in the area and other slum pockets of Govandi, Shivaji Nagar, Mankhurd and Trombay.

Police recover gold ornaments

Police returned gold ornaments worth ~ 2 lakh to an Andheri resident who left them in an autorickshaw on April 20.

On April 20, Nitin Takle and his wife took an autorickshaw from their residence in Vile Parle but had to return due to nakabandi. They, however, left the bag containing the ornaments in the rickshaw. On April 22, they lodged a complaint and Andheri police traced the driver with help of CCTV footage.

Rickshaw driver hangs self

A 47-year-old driver hanged himself in his autorickshaw on Friday morning as he was ill and unemployed due to the lockdown. He was found inside his rickshaw outside IT park in Goregaon (East). The post mortem report ascertained suicide, said senior inspector Sripal Kamble, Dindoshi police station.

89 cops positive, seven recovered

As per state police, 89 police personnel (12 officers and 77 constables) have tested positive for Covid-19. Another seven personnel (three officers and four constables) have recovered.

290 cases of fake news

According to data from the state Cyber police, since the lockdown, 290 cases have been lodged for hate speech and fake news .

(Inputs from Suraj Ojha, Pratik Salunke)
I think the one thing we would all agree on in pediatrics is the impact on children has not been emphasized enough, said Mark R. Schleiss, a professor of pediatrics at the University of Minnesota Medical School who has been studying the pandemics effect on young patients across the country. If mortality is your metric, thank God we dont see that in kids. But we do see disease.
OnePlus is now in a post-launch phase as the company is in the process of fulfilling pre-orders of its latest duo of smartphones: the OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro. As reported by Engadget which cites a number of sources close to the matter, OnePlus has downsized its workforces in the UK, France, and Germany by as much as 90 percent  leaving behind key employees (as little as three) to maintain operation in the respective markets.

A OnePlus spokesperson issued a statement to the outlet, explaining that the layoffs are due to a normal restructuring phase throughout Europe in order to focus on its stronger markets. It isnt clear exactly how many employees were laid off, nor how many employees OnePlus plans to hire at this time.

Europe is a very important market for us and has been since the beginning of OnePlus[] Were doing some strategic restructuring in Europe, and in fact are even hiring in the region.  OnePlus spokesperson

As per Engadgets sources, other teams within Europe including Denmark, Finland, Netherlands, and Belgium are unaffected. Some employees were also asked to relocate to OnePlus speculative new EU headquarters from London, UK to Helsinki, Finland.

Analyst Ben Wood of CSS Insight explains the possible reasoning for the restructuring of OnePlus in Europe. Wood attributes declining sales in the UK and the OnePlus 8s availability with a single carrier: Three UK. Both EE and O2 no longer sold OnePlus phones after selling the OnePlus 7 Pro 5G and the OnePlus 6T, respectively.

OnePlus 8 Pro

Wood explained that OnePlus is having trouble maintaining long-term relationships with carriers throughout Europe. This has seen OnePlus jumping from one carrier to another with different generations of products. There also seems to be a growing sense that OnePlus has fallen into the trap of over-promising and under-delivering, which ironically is the complete opposite of how it behaved in the early days.

We can safely assume that OnePlus has also seen very fierce competition in Europe, increasing from strong Chinese competitors like Realme, Xiaomi, Redmi, Oppo, and vivo more recently. As OnePlus inched away from its original message of offering surprisingly high-end hardware in a surprisingly cheap package, its been having trouble keeping its original fanbase while also not managing to captivate new customers.

Its too early to tell how successful the OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro will be, particularly with the economic disruption of COVID-19, which has seen worldwide smartphone sales decline across all phone makers. With the OnePlus 8 Pro now up in the $900-1000 price range, it needs to convince consumers why they should consider OnePlus over big players like Apple, Samsung, Oppo, and Xiaomi.

Source
Japan's "Golden Week" holiday season began Saturday, an event that normally prompts employees to take time off work and travel across the country or overseas.

But this year, because of the virus, the government has asked people to stay at home.

Officials in Tokyo are calling on companies to extend the break to 12 days, rebranding it the 'Stay At Home Weeks'.

Most major tourist attractions are closed to visitors in any case.

Parks are nearly empty, and some cable cars for accessing mountain hiking trails such as Enoshima and Kamakura have stopped operating.

Even the country's busiest street crossing, Shibuyo Junction in Tokyo, is quiet.

Meanwhile, an Italian cruise ship docked in the southern Japanese port city of Nagasaki is expected to finish testing all 623 crew members on board and announce the results this weekend.

Japanese public broadcaster NHK said around 60 new coronavirus cases were found on Saturday, raising the total tally to around 150.

The outbreak on the Costa Atlantica surfaced earlier in the week while the vessel was docked for repairs.

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.
By Sheila Dang (Reuters) - Veteran John Stankey will take over as AT&T chief executive officer, the company said on Friday, as the U.S. telecommunications and media giant grapples with the impact of the coronavirus outbreak and its late entrance into the global streaming wars. Stankey will take over on July 1 from Randall Stephenson, who said on Friday he will retire from the CEO position but will serve as executive chairman of the board until January 2021.

By Sheila Dang

(Reuters) - Veteran John Stankey will take over as AT&T chief executive officer, the company said on Friday, as the U.S. telecommunications and media giant grapples with the impact of the coronavirus outbreak and its late entrance into the global streaming wars.

Stankey will take over on July 1 from Randall Stephenson, who said on Friday he will retire from the CEO position but will serve as executive chairman of the board until January 2021.

The announcement, made during AT&T's virtual annual shareholder meeting, drew a sharp response from U.S. President Donald Trump, who tweeted it was "great news" that Stephenson was leaving.

"Anyone who lets a garbage "network" do and say the things that CNN does, should leave ASAP. Hopefully replacement will be much better!" he wrote.

Stankey oversaw WarnerMedia after AT&T's $85 billion purchase of media company Time Warner, as well as the creation of HBO Max, the new streaming service that will launch May 27. He was also promoted to COO last year.

The success of HBO Max will be a big test of Stankey's role as AT&T hopes to compete with streaming giants like Netflix Inc and Walt Disney Co's Disney+.

AT&T, which faced heavy criticism from HBO fans and some in the creative community, is betting the service can achieve wider appeal with hit shows like "Friends" while hanging onto more sophisticated audiences with "Succession" and similar shows.

AT&T's board reviewed both external and internal candidates for the CEO role as part of a succession planning process started in 2017, Stephenson said.

"After an extensive evaluation, it was clear that John Stankey was the right person to lead AT&T into the future," he said.

New York-based activist investor Elliott Management called for a shake-up at AT&T last fall, urging the company to end its buying spree and improve its operating businesses. The hedge fund also questioned Stankey's leadership skills and AT&T's desire to promote him to the top role.

By late October, AT&T struck a truce with Elliott and unveiled a three-year plan that included selling up to $10 billion worth of businesses, paying off debt and adding two new board members.

Elliott said Friday it supports Stankey's appointment to CEO.

"We have been engaged with the company throughout the search process, which was a robust one, including a range of highly qualified outside candidates and overseen by independent directors," said Jesse Cohen, a partner at Elliott Management. "We look forward to working with John as he begins his term as CEO."

A continuing challenge for Stankey will be to stitch together AT&T's media business with its phone, TV and internet products, to create an advertising powerhouse. Brian Lesser, who led AT&T advertising unit Xandr, resigned last month.

"My commitment is, you'll get my best from me every day," Stankey said.

His appointment should come as no surprise, one investor said. "Stankey has been running the company for at least the past few months. This has been well telegraphed to the market," said Sam Hendel, president and a co-portfolio manager at investment firm Levin Easterly, which owns 1.93 million AT&T shares.

AT&T shares were down 0.7% at $29.29 in midday trading.

(Reporting by Sheila Dang; additional reporting by Helen Coster and Svea Herbst-Bayliss; Editing by Kenneth Li, Chizu Nomiyama, Jonathan Oatis and Dan Grebler)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Before covid-19, most Americans likely hadn't heard of 3D printing. If they had, it probably conjured visions of tinkerers and techies in their garages obsessing over Dungeons & Dragons figurines. Or worse, they remember it had something to do with plastic guns.

And it is true that designs of Baby Yoda were very popular earlier this year, right up there with storage boxes, cosplay props, pencil holders-and yes-action figures for role playing games.

But the pandemic has turned this expensive, niche hobby into something deadly serious. Those tinkerers and techies are increasingly stepping in where others have fallen tragically short. People across the country are running 3D printers around the clock. In basements, workshops, bedrooms and garages, the web is filled with pictures of individuals churning out personal protective equipment desperately needed by medical professionals on the front lines of a public health catastrophe.

It's estimated that about 870,000 3D printers are operating in the U.S., according to Terry Wohlers of Wohlers Associates Inc., who tracks industrial and personal printer sales globally. He noted that if just one-third of those printers are making one PPE item per day, that would add up to almost 2 million PPE items per week.

If some of the anecdotes posted on social media sites such as Facebook and Discord are to be believed, the actual output is much higher.

People are reporting that they are making dozens of PPE items every day. Right now, the most popular items being printed are straps for medical face shields, parts for medical face masks and "ear savers," a small plastic piece that allows health care professionals and other emergency personnel to avoid putting straps around their ears. After hours of wearing a mask, they can chafe badly.

Jack Chen, the co-founder of Creality3D in Shenzhen, China, said the increase in interest has been unmistakable. Sales of his company's popular, entry-level machines were about 50,000 units globally in February, he said. That increased by 5,000 units in March as many Americans began to fall ill with the virus (about 40% of the company's sales go to the U.S.). For April, deliveries are on track to reach as many as 170,000 (they were 85,000 at mid-month).

One member of the this 3D-volunteer force is Kate Bilyeu, a social media marketer in Eugene, Oregon. She recently ordered a Creality printer for about $229, and said she's prepared to make whatever parts she can to help battle the pandemic.

"Even if I just have one machine, I can print enough for people that I know," said Bilyeu, 37, who like many others trying 3D printing for the first time, has a personal motivation. Bilyeu said she has two brothers-in-law who work in local hospitals and are constantly at risk because of the shortage of PPE.

For the uninitiated, 3D printers take raw plastic, heat it up to more than 400 degrees (220 degrees Celsius) and convert it, layer by layer, to match designs either downloaded from the internet or devised on a home computer.

Printers range from just under $200 to as much as $2,000 each (and can be further customized for hundreds of dollars more). They have a system of rails and pulleys that move the hot plastic extruder above a flat bed where the item you're printing takes shape. Autodesk is a popular software program for designers, and there are free programs that can be used to convert a design into a file your printer can read.

Though the plastic can smell a bit when its melting, the good news is that most of what's out there is plant-based, or is the kind used in water bottles and, coincidentally, considered hospital safe.

Social media web sites are full of discussion groups and channels about who is making PPE, how they are making it and which designs are being used. Michael Copeland, 32, of Uniontown, Pennsylvania, said he already has requests from medical organizations that he can fulfill with his Creality printer when it arrives. He estimates he's watched hundreds of hours of YouTube videos and plans to lean heavily on a friend who is already a 3D printing expert.

The Facebook group 3D Printing for Noobs (newbies, or beginners) has more than 12,000 members-an increase of 1,000 in just the past week. Discussions are dominated by people new to the hobby who want to learn how to make PPE. Another popular Facebook site, 3D Printing Club, has seen close to a 25% increase in new members. Joel Telling, who hosts the YouTube channel 3D Printing Nerd, said the videos on making PPE are by far his most popular shows at the moment.

And the rush to supply medical equipment isn't just in America. Last year, at least 700,000 of so-called desktop 3D printers were sold around the world, almost double the number from 2015. Josef Prusa, the founder of Prusa Research, makes his own line of popular 3D printers produced in the Czech Republic. Sales have doubled since February, he said.

Prusa, 30, said he posted one of the first designs for a face shield online as the virus hit the European nation. The company has a production facility with 600 3D printers. Since the pandemic, close to half of them have been making medical face straps-75,000 sets so far, he said. Prusa's design was downloaded more than 100,000 times before the company had to disable the counting software, since it was slowing down the company's servers.

"It is bonkers," he said. "We didn't expect that it would pick up so much all over the world. When we first started handing these out, we had people crying on the phone because they had nothing."

Ryan Tuleja Sr., of Bond, Oregon, set up his $175 printer on April 9 and has already printed more than 100 items, a mixture of those ear-saving straps and a special, tiny plastic block used by people making homemade cloth masks. The 42-year-old first-timer said he saw reports of other people pitching in to help the medical community and wanted to get involved.

As I write this, I have two of my three 3D printers running pretty much around the clock in the basement. None of them were made by Creality, but one is a Prusa model. Two of them I built myself-with the help of a teenage daughter. I can attest that this is not a plug-and-play hobby: Printing plastic at 500 degrees is as much about the process of tinkering with the machine as it is the end result.

The local techie store, just north of hard-hit Detroit, sells 3D printers and the plastic filaments that feed them. Meg Miller, a project manger for business initiatives at Micro Center, said the chain is selling 3D products at all of its 25 U.S. locations. Even during the pandemic, sales are continuing (albeit curbside) because the chain's inventory of computer equipment is considered an "essential business."

Sales of printers and filaments have increased during shutdowns, but Miller said the company isn't releasing figures. During a recent visit, Creality printers could be seen stacked two or three to a cart, waiting for customers to pick them up.

Christian Tamte, of Columbus, Ohio, recently got her new printer. A travel agent, Tamte has a lot of free time these days. She spent last weekend on Facebook, asking for advice on how to get the printer tuned and ready to print. "It's a journey. So much more technical than I ever imagined," she said. Tamte, 40, said she has already worked her way up to about 100 pieces a day, and is sending some of them to health care staff in New York.

"The sole reason I'm doing it is to make PPE for the medical field," she said. "I've got family and friends who are nurses and doctors all over the country-including New York City and New Jersey. I'll be sending the items to them as soon as I make them."
The Maharashtra government is likely to continue the lockdown to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus in Mumbai and Pune till May 18 as the two cities witnessing continue spike in COVID-19 cases, Maharashtra health minister Rajesh Tope has said in a report by Mint.

The extension of lockdown, however, may not be enforced in the entire Mumbai and Pune cities and could be limited only for the containment zones, said the report quoting Tope.

We have to ensure that all the containment zones are completely cordoned off. If required, we will extend the lockdown for 15 more days after 3 May only for the containment zones, if not for the entire Mumbai and Pune, Tope said as per the report.

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The main objective of implementing the lockdown was to stop the spread of COVID-19 pandemic and if the spread is not getting contained, the State has to extend the lockdown, Tope said.

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Currently, there are 512 active containment zones in the state currently, while Pune administration has sealed market areas in central old Pune and Kondhwa since April 7.

With 357 more persons testing coronavirus positive in Mumbai on April 24, the tally of such cases in city has surged to 4,589, while the death toll rose to 179 as 11 more succumbed to the infection, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said.

Coronavirus state-wise tally

Pune district on April 24 saw 109 fresh COVID-19 cases and as many as five deaths, health officials said. The number of cases in the district now stands at 1,094, while the number of people who have so far died of the infection is 68, an official said.

The nationwide coronavirus-led lockdown, announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is scheduled to end on May 3.

(With inputs from PTI)

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A 23-year-old man died Friday in what the Winnipeg Police Service has classified as a homicide.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 25/4/2020 (627 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A 23-year-old man died Friday in what the Winnipeg Police Service has classified as a homicide.

Officers found Noah Soloman Nigussie injured at a house on the 700 block of Victor Street in the city's West End when police responded to a call for assistance early Friday afternoon.

Nigussie was then taken in critical condition to the hospital, where he died.

Winnipeg Police Service spokesman Const. Rob Carver said no arrests have been made, and as investigations are ongoing, scant details have been released to the public.

Indications are that the homicide was not random, Carver said. And it isn't believed that the house was vacant at the time of the homicide.

The homicide is the 14th of the year so far. The highest number of homicides recorded in a single year in Winnipeg's recent history happened last year, when there were 44. By Apr. 25, 2019, there had been 13.

"The numbers (this year) are looking worse," said Carver. "We're on track for another terrible year."

As well, this year, four people in Winnipeg have been shot and killed by members of the Winnipeg Police Service. Three of those fatal shootings occurred over a 10-day span earlier this month, each leading to the death of an Indigenous person.

On April 8, 16-year-old Eishia Hudson was shot on Lagimodiere Boulevard following an alleged liquor-store robbery and car theft. The next day, Jason Collins, 36, was shot while police were responding to a reported domestic incident on Anderson Avenue. On April 18, 22-year-old Stewart Andrews was shot and killed after officers encountered two men in the Maples while responding to an alleged robbery and assault.

"The relationship between Indigenous peoples and the police is the worst its been in years," local organizer Michael Champagne told the Free Press earlier in the week. "Its clear the police need help building relationships."

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The Independent Investigative Unit of Manitoba is investigating each shooting.

As for the death of Nigussie, Carver said an investigation by the Winnipeg Police Service's homicide unit is ongoing, and the public is asked to offer information that might assist investigators.

On Friday night, the police also responded to a reported home invasion on the 200 block of Edison Avenue. In a news release sent out Saturday, the police said a woman was taking her garbage out shortly before midnight when a stranger forced his way inside.

The man was allegedly carrying a knife, demanding money. Police say he left the home empty-handed, and that the woman suffered minor injuries.

Police describe the man as mid-to-late 20s, about six feet tall, with an average build and dark complexion. He was clean-shaven. An investigation is continuing by the police's major crimes unit.

Carver said it would be inaccurate to say crime levels in the city have been affected by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and that short-term changes shouldn't be seen as statistically significant or as directly related to COVID-19.
A Smithfield Foods employee says she is suing the meat giant because they 'don't seem to care' about her safety amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

On Saturday, the unnamed woman penned an op-ed for The Washington Post detailing her experiences working at Smithfield's Milan, Missouri pork processing plant - three days after she and the Rural Community Workers Alliance filed a lawsuit against the company.

'I hope to force Smithfield to change the way they're treating us  anonymously, because I'm scared that they'll come after me if they know who I am,' the womany, who is suing the company as a Jane Doe, wrote in her op-ed.

While no workers at the Milan plant have tested positive to COVID-19, Smithfield has closed three of its other plants where workers have contracted the virus.

More than 500 employees at the company's plant in Sioux Falls, South Dakota tested positive to the disease - at one point making it the worst coronavirus cluster in the country. That factory has now been shuttered indefinitely.

But work goes on at the plant in Milan, where the anonymous employee says she is risking the same fate as workers at the Sioux Falls factory.

A Smithfield Foods employee wrote in The Washington Post Saturday that she is suing the meat giant because they 'don't seem to care' about her safety amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The company's Milan, Missouri pork processing plant is pictured

According to her op-ed, workers still stand 'shoulder-to-shoulder for hours' cutting meat and they wear the same mask and gloves for the entire day.

She writes: 'I don't believe that Smithfield has provided enough protective equipment or tissues, or spaced out workers on the line, or extended our breaks so we have time to wash our hands.

'Instead, it has extended our shifts  up to 11 hours  on a faster line, which means we bump into each other more often as we work. We don't even have time to cover our mouths if we sneeze, because the line is moving so fast.'

Smithfield has installed plexiglass shields between 'some workers', but they allegedly do not hang low enough to cover all employees' faces.

'We still don't get paid sick leave, and the company's 'point system' for attendance means we can be disciplined, or even fired, if we have to call in sick nine times in a year,' the anonymous employee further stated.

According to the woman's op-ed, workers still stand 'shoulder-to-shoulder for hours' cutting meat and they wear the same mask and gloves for the entire day. The Milan plant is pictured

The woman she has decided to remain anonymous as she cannot go without the paycheck that Smithfield provides

She continues: 'Now we are being asked not just to risk our own lives, but to endanger our families and our community... a lot of us are afraid that if an outbreak forces the plant to close, we'll all go without pay because of it.'

The woman she has decided to remain anonymous as she cannot go without the paycheck that Smithfield provides.

'Speaking out could cost me my job, and I know how difficult that would be for my family. We cannot afford that. Smithfield is the largest employer here, and there aren't many other local job opportunities. If I could find another job, it would probably mean a long commute that would make caring for my family impossible'.

Smithfield rebuked the woman's claims, telling The Washington Post in a statement: 'The health and safety of our employees is our top priority at all times.

'The allegations contained in the complaint are without factual or legal merit and include claims previously made against the company that have been investigated and determined to be unfounded. We look forward to aggressively defending the company in court.

The pork processing plant in Milan is one of the town's largest employers. The woman fears an outbreak at the facility could easily spread through the entire community

Smithfield plants are the only meat-processing factories to be affected by the COVID-19 outbreak.

List of US meat packing plants shuttered due to coronavirus. Nearly a dozen other plants have had 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, and has sparked fears of an imminent food shortage.

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
As the nation has settled into lockdown, our buying habits have adapted and many of us have dived into buying wine online for the first time. If you're in a position to do this, it's a good thing, as it is a way of supporting the smaller importers and independent off-licences around the country. And as you were probably ordering quite a few bottles, hopefully you were tempted to try something new.

But as none of us are entertaining at the moment, you may find that at times, you are left with a bit in the end of a bottle, or you may fancy trying two different wines some evenings. Particularly as the days get longer and warmer, you may want to start with a glass of crisp white wine, followed by a glass of red. Which raises the question, how long will an open bottle of wine keep before it goes bad?

If you fancy doing a bit of lockdown learning, you can get answers to this and many of the questions you may have about wine from one of Ireland's top up-and-coming sommeliers, Rory Conniffe, who worked for a number of years in the Michelin-starred EIPIC in Belfast, before taking up the head sommelier position in Deplar Farm, an eye-wateringly expensive resort in Iceland. You'll find him on Instagram at @emerald_somm, where he posts his Wine Fact Wednesday, as well as updates of his YouTube videos.

When a wine is left open, it starts to oxygenate, and is, in effect, on its way to becoming vinegar, Rory explains. But how long exactly does it take for the wine to go off?

"Typically, it takes between one to seven days, usually landing in the middle; but independent variables will play a role in different types of wine," says Rory.

For instance, with sparkling wine, most of the bubbles will dissipate pretty quickly, and will have gone within a day, although Champagne and Cava, which are made using the traditional method, will be more resilient than, say, Prosecco, which is made in a more commercial way and has fewer bubbles to start with.

Light Pinot Grigio-style white wines last longer, he says, because they are made in stainless-steel tanks and are not exposed to oxygen during the production process. They'll last five to seven days in the fridge, although will lose a bit of fruitiness. With bigger white wines, like an oaked Burgundy, there is already a bit of oxidative ageing going on, so you're looking at three to five days.

With red wines, the lighter styles like Gamay and Pinot Noir fade faster, lasting three to four days, so it's well worth sticking them in the fridge, as they taste great chilled. Barolos and more fully bodied wines last longer, for about five days, as the structural components, acidity, alcohol and tannin, act as antioxidants in the wine.

It's interesting to have a few different bottles open at the same time, so this week's line-up includes a few more unusual options that you might like to try.





Wine of the week: Reddo Burja 2017

41, 13.5pc, from sheridanscheesemongers.com, mitchellandson.com, siyps.com, greenmanwines.ie, blackrockcellar.com

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Yes, this is not cheap, but if you're celebrating something, it's worth considering. From biodynamically farmed vineyards in Slovenia just across the border from Friuli Venezia Giulia in Italy, this low-intervention, unfiltered wine is made by Primoz Lavrencic, one of the best winemakers in Slovenia. You'll find it on the wine list of top restaurants there, including Ana Ros's Hisa Franko. A blend of local grapes, Pokalca, Modri Frankinje and Refosk, (also known as Schioppettino, Blaufrankisch) and Refosco, this is layered with flavours of earthy black plum, black cherry, pomegranate, and a touch of black pepper.

Specially Selected Cambalala South African Chenin Blanc

7.99, 12.5pc, from Aldi

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Chenin Blanc is a grape you may not be so familiar with. Associated with the Loire, it has shown a huge affinity with the terroir in South Africa where, like this example, you get tropical fruit mixed with fresh green apple and lime zest.

Laurent Miquel Albarino 2018

Laurent Miquel Albarino 2018 10, 13pc, from Dunnes Stores

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Albarino is most commonly made in Galicia in Spain, the grapes for this French one are grown at a high altitude in Les Auzines vineyard in the Languedoc. With a crisp, citrusy nose, it has a fresh mix of stone fruit underpinned by zingy grapefruit, lemon, lime and a splash of wet-stone minerality.

Pitti 2018

Pitti 2018 20, 13.5pc, from Baggot Street Wines, Blackrock Cellar, Clontarf Wines, Drinkstore, Eleven Deli, First Draft, greenmanwines.ie, Mitchell & Son, Wine Pair, and siyps.com

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Organic wine from Austria made from a blend of Zweigelt, Blaufrankisch and a touch of Merlot. Flavours of blackberries and forest fruit. Beautiful chilled.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison launched a vindictive attack on school teachers yesterday, denouncing them for opposing demands that they return to classrooms under unsafe conditions, regardless of the worsening global COVID-19 pandemic.

His remarks came straight after the latest meeting of the national cabinet of federal, state and territory leaders. Teachers, along with school students and parents, are being pushed onto the frontline of the escalating big business drive to get all workers back inside workplaces.

This is despite the danger of clusters of coronavirus cases and deaths, such as in western Sydney and northern Tasmania, with the national death toll now passing 80 and the infections nearing 7,000.

Speaking on Sky News, Morrison took direct aim at teachers, condemning them for allegedly not being like other workersfrom bus drivers to supermarket staffwho are going to work each day despite the risk of contracting the potentially fatal disease.

In reality, all teachers are working every day and governments have prematurely reopened schools physically already. Most teachers, backed overwhelmingly by parents, however, are teaching online because of their concern for the health and lives of themselves and students.

But the Liberal-National Coalition government and its Labor partners are determined to push all teachers and students back into classrooms as fast as possible, making them guinea pigs for a wider push to reopen all workplaces without adequate safety measures.

At his post-cabinet press conference, Morrison said all the government leaders, the majority of whom are from the Labor Party, had agreed to updatethat is, reversethe previous requirement, restated a week earlier on April 16, that social distancing rules apply in schools.

National Cabinet agreed with updated Australian Health Protection Principal Committee [AHPPC] advice on schools, Morrison announced. AHPPC does not believe however, that the venue density rule of no more than one person per four square metres is appropriate or practical in classrooms or corridors, nor maintaining 1.5 metres between students during classroom activities.

Despite many governments around the world keeping schools closed, or re-closing schools, to avoid students spreading COVID-19 to others, the national cabinet said it was dropping the density rule because there was very little evidence of transmission in schools. Plus a preliminary study in New South Wales had reportedly shown a low risk to students.

The attack on teachers is the spearhead of a bipartisan return-to-work push, like that in the US, Europe and elsewhere. The national cabinet signed off on 10 safe workplace principles by which the trade unions will collaborate with employers and governments in devising industry-specific rules to override social distancing precautions throughout all workplaces.

Morrison made this thrust explicit. Answering a journalists question about the wisdom of getting workers back on public transport, crowding our cities, he declared: I would love to see a return to normal right across the board. Of course we want to see that. And that includes people going to work in offices.

Reflecting the rapacious demands of the financial elite, Morrison asserted that productivity was suffering because parents were working from home, while looking after their children. And so when we can get back to the point where we can have kids back at school, and we can get people back at work, then I think were gonna see that also lift our economy in ways that we very much need.

In response to the national cabinet decree, teachers unions are stepping up their efforts to beat down the outrage and resistance of their members. Queensland Teachers Union President Kevin Bates, for example, said his union would consult with that states Labor government. On the same day, the Independent Education Union finalised a deal to allow private schools to slash the pay of non-teaching staff by 25 percent for at least 12 weeks.

In his Sky News interview, Morrison expressed a desire to extend the cooperation of the unions, led by the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU). The unions have backed the massive handouts, exceeding $325 billion, to big business, agreed to slash pay and conditions for millions of workers and kept workers on the job in factories and construction sites. They are being relied upon to suppress workers opposition, especially on large building sites.

Yesterday, the Australian Financial Review reported: Behind the scenes, the government has sung the praises of the CFMEU [the Construction Forestry Mining Maritime and Energy Union]. That was because the supposedly militant union had bent over backwards to keep construction sites operating. This has included censoring and denouncing building workers for objecting on Facebook to unsafe crowding on sites.

The Coalition and Labor governments, which are basically running the country by bipartisan decree through the national cabinet, are counting on the unions to help use the mass unemployment and financial crisis triggered by COVID-19 to police a wholesale economic restructuring and offensive against workers jobs, pay and conditions.

In his Sky News interview, Morrison reiterated his recent calls for the crisis to become a harvesting period for all the previously-stalled demands of big business, such as slashing the company tax rate from 30 to 25 percent for the largest corporations, deregulating the economy and making workplace relations flexible.

Referring to earlier such demands, including in Productivity Commission reports, Morrison stated: When I say were at a harvest, well, lets put all this stuff on the table again and lets look at the things that we think can best work.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg held an online hookup with corporate chiefs on Wednesday to start fleshing out this agenda. Those on the call included Shemara Wikramanayake (Macquarie Group), Mike Henry (BHP), Matt Comyn (CBA), Peter King (Westpac), Ross McEwan (NAB), Rob Scott (Wesfarmers), Andy Penn (Telstra), Stephen Cain (Coles), Mark Steinert (Stockland), Susan Lloyd-Hurwitz (Mirvac), Mark Vassella (Bluescope), Frank Calabria (Origin), Brett Redman (AGL), Jeanne Johns (Incitec Pivot) and Business Council of Australia President Tim Reed.

In these ruling class circles and media outlets, the focus is on securing a barrage of reform measures not seen since the Accords between the unions and the Hawke and Keating Labor governments of the 1980s and 1990s. This will require similar levels of co-operation between unions and business, the Australian Financial Review explained.

The Accords of Hawke and Keating led to a vast and historic transfer of wealth from the working class to the financial elite. They marked the transformation of Labor and the unions, like their counterparts worldwide, into an industrial police force that works to overturn the past gains of workers in order to help make their national capitalist economy competitive on the world market.

The new wave of restructuring has begun already, with the complicity of the unions, which have blocked any fight back by workers so far. This includes the forcing of Virgin Australia Airlines into liquidation, threatening 16,000 jobs, sweeping changes at Australia Post, which are certain to cost thousands of jobs, and massive job cuts in universities.

To underline Labors partnership in implementing this offensive, Morrison ended yesterdays press conference by announcing that parliament would return for a pared-down session on May 1214. This had been agreed to by the Labor Party last night at our regular weekly get-together. Morrison added that the government would seek to work through with the Opposition in advance the COVID-related bills.

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Allahabad University has suspended a political science professor Mohammad Shahid three days after he was arrested by the police for in connection with his participation in Tablighi Jamaat congregation and accomodating foreign nationals in a Mosque in Prayagraj without informing the district administration.

According to the reports, the University administration states that it has removed him as per the rules as he has been in judicial custody for more than 48 hours.

READ | Entire Muslim Community Cannot Be Held Responsible For One Group's 'crime': Naqvi On Tablighi Jamaat Row

READ | Arrested Tablighis, Others Suspected Of Being Corona-positive To Be Kept In Temporary Jails: CM

Professor hides foreigners

On April 21, the Prayagraj police arrested the 55-year-old professor along with 16 foreign nationals out of the total 30 persons arrested by Police including on several charges after they completed the mandatory 14-day quarantine period at a camp. Police arrested them after their medical report confirmed none of them found infected with the coronavirus.

After returning from the Tablighi Jamaat Congregation, Mohammad Shahid visited the university for several days. Reports state that the professor supervised examinations of about three and a half hundred students for two days and came in contact with many other staff members. Despite the government's repeated appeal to those who had attended the congregation to inform the administration about their participation in the congregation, the professor did not reveal his visit details to the administration while hiding the 16 nationals at Abdullah mosque in Prayagraj amid the lockdown. He was caught by the police on the night of April 8 and sent to the Quarantine Center.

Among the 16 foreign nationals  seven were from Indonesia and nine from Thailand. All 30 persons are lodged at a temporary jail after a local court sent them to judicial custody.

READ | Tablighi Chief Maulana Saad Urges Markaz Attendees To 'co-operate With COVID Authorities'

READ | Tablighi Chief Maulana Saad Says 'co-operating With Investigation', Releases Statement
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has criticized China for not permitting American scientists to visit the country and trace the root of the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak.

According to Pompeo, China is not authorizing the "transparency and openness we need" regarding the novel coronavirus pandemic, which was first detected in the central city of Wuhan in China and has now spread globally.

Hong Kong researchers surmised that the tally of confirmed cases could be four times higher than the figure Beijing reported earlier.

"Even today, the Chinese government hasn't permitted American scientists to go into China, to go into not only the Wuhan lab or wherever it needs to go to learn about this virus, to learn about its origins," Pompeo stated in an interview on Wednesday.

Pompeo has been one the most vocal critics of China over the coronavirus pandemic, reiterating President Donald Trump's jabs on Beijing and peddling a conspiracy theory alluding the coronavirus may have created in a scientific research lab in Wuhan. There is no evidence yet to reinforce the theory, but this has not stopped Pompeo and Trump from suggesting it.

Pompeo added, "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 reiterated his disapproval of the World Health Organization (WHO) for its incompetence in ensuring the Chinese Communist Party declared accurate numbers so that countries across the globe could have taken the necessary measures when the outbreak was in its early stages.

Also read: How Singapore Lost Control of COVID-19 Outbreak

Pompeo said China has not allowed U.S. scientists to probe into not only the Wuhan lab but in any place necessary to learn about the virus and its origins.

He did not detail appeals by American scientists to fly to China.

Pompeo said the WHO needs to be held accountable for their lack of transparency. "It is the World Health Organization's responsibility to achieve that transparency. They're not doing it. They need to be held accountable."

Local officials in the Chinese city of Wuhan and the central government in Beijing have been denounced of repressing early reports of the pandemic and neglecting to inform the WHO and other countries about the seriousness and scale of the threat of the virus. Beijing also has allegedly underreported the total of fatalities from the coronavirus.

Pompeo said it is good to see other nations beginning to be aware of the WHO's shortcomings as well.

Last week, President Trump declared that he would block payments to the United Nations agency until an assessment could examine the WHO's response to China and how it communicated the coronavirus pandemic to the world.

China has shrugged off American criticism as an attempt to deviate attention from Trump's bungling of the outbreak. The U.S. president's communication of the virus has been confusing and contradictory and he has constantly clashed with scientific experts and governors.

Related article: Small Town Near Canada is America's Safest Place from Coronavirus

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Disposable surgical masks are packed in boxes at Prestige Ameritech in Richland Hills, Texas, on May 3, 2009. (Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

Justice Department Charges New York Businessman With PPE Hoarding, Price Gouging

Federal prosecutors have charged a New York businessman with hoarding personal protective equipment (PPE) and reselling those items at price levels much higher than what is deemed fair and reasonable.

The Justice Department announced on Friday that it had filed a criminal complaint against Amardeep Singh, also known as Bobby Singh, in a federal court for allegedly violating the Defense Production Act (DPA), which prohibits the accumulation of medical supplies and devices designated by Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar as scarce with the purpose to hoard them or sell them for exorbitant prices. The prosecutors say this is the first hoarding and price gouging case brought under this law across the country.

The charges come about a month after President Donald Trump signed an executive order to prevent the price gouging and hoarding of critical resources used to combat the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus. The order was made under the DPA and directs Azar to designate items as scarce.

Singhs lawyer, Bradley Gerstman, described the charges as unconscionable and unsustainable, adding that his client looks forward to fighting the charges in court.

Nobody in their right mind would believe that they could be held criminally responsible for selling PPE products, Gerstman told The Epoch Times. [The Defense Production Act] is vague at best in terms of what the elements of the crime actually are. So I dont believe that this law could be sustained under any federal court and in the United States.

The complaint alleges that Singh, who operates retail entities selling sneakers and apparel, dedicated a new section in his store at Plainview, New York, for COVID-19 essentials. There he began selling to the public items that have been designated as scarce under Azars designation at excessive prices, prosecutors alleged. These items include N-95 filtering facepiece respirators, protective masks, surgical masks, face shields, medical gowns, and disinfecting products.

N95 masks wait for deployment at the Anne Arundel County Fire Department supply depot in Glen Burnie, Md., on April 9, 2020. (Alex Edelman/AFP /via Getty Images)

Between the end of March and April, Singh allegedly stockpiled 1.6 tons of disposable protective masks, 2.2 tons of disposable surgical gowns, 1.8 tons of hand sanitizer, and seven shipments of digital thermometers weighing approximately 253 pounds, prosecutors say.

A search in Singhs retail store and warehouse on April 14 recovered large quantities of PPE including 21,267 KN-95 respirator protective masks, 75,500 surgical masks, 5,241 face shields, 176,104 disposable latex gloves, and 711,400 disposable vinyl gloves, the complaint said.

Prosecutors say Singh was also selling the items at high markups to vulnerable groups in the community such as to the Association to Benefit Children, the New York Foundation for Senior Citizens, and Rewarding Environments for Adult Living.

Singh continued to engage in the conduct, prosecutors alleged, despite receiving cautionary measures by New York State authorities, including a cease-and-desist letter to one of Singhs entities suggesting that he may be violating New Yorks price-gouging statute.

As charged in the complaint, Singhs amassing of critical personal protective equipment during a public health crisis and reselling at huge markups places him squarely in the cross-hairs of law enforcement armed with the Defense Production Act, Richard Donoghue, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, said in a statement. This Office is working tirelessly in coordination with the COVID-19 Hoarding and Price Gouging Task Force to prevent a pandemic of greed by profiteers.

Gerstman denied the allegations saying that his client never gouged anybody.

My client looks forward to fighting those allegations, showing the true cost of inventory, and be able to prove that he only benefited from a very reasonable markup in all the products that were described in the complaint, he said.

He added that his client had also donated a significant amount of those items for free including to local charities, local like law enforcement, local fire departments in Long Island, and Northwell Hospital.

Last month, the Justice Department formed a new task force to address CCP virus-related market manipulation, hoarding, and price gouging

Attorney General William Barr directed each U.S. attorney general office and relevant department component in a memo to designate an experienced attorney to serve as a member of the task force.

While this crisis has brought out the best in most Americans, there appear to be a few unfortunate exceptions, Barr wrote in his memo. We will not tolerate bad actors who treat the crisis as an opportunity to get rich quick.
BJP MP Ravindra Kushawaha said on Saturday that he would give a cash reward of Rs 11,000 to anyone providing specific information about people, including Tablighi Jamaat members, who hid information about their travels and avoided screening for COVID-19.

The MP from Salempur constituency claimed in a statement that several people, who had been to Tablighi Jamaat congregations or any foreign country, did not report to the authorities and "are living without proper testing".

Such people need to inform the administration about their travel history and undergo test for the novel coronavirus, he said, adding that anyone providing specific information about such people would be rewarded.

A Tablighi Jammat congregation in Delhi last month emerged as a major coronavirus hotspot after many of its participants carried the infection to several parts of the country.

Soon after the Delhi congregation came into news, the district police had asked those who had attended it to report to the authorities, but no one turned up.

The district has not reported any COVID-19 case so far.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Not long ago, there were rumors of the mellifluous Ghanaian artiste, Becca, laying down her mantle as a musician to pursue other ventures. Shortly after the rumors hit the blogs, the artist, debunked these rumors and even enforced her stay with some new hit songs which included Yes I do with Tiwa Savage and No One with Busisiwah.

However, speaking on TV3 Newday morning show, the African Woman hitmaker disclosed that, she will end her career as a recording artist to focus on other passions like real estate, family, and businesses. This is not to say that she would no longer be a musician, emphasizing that she would still perform her old songs, go on tour with her songs but will not be recording any new once since it takes most of her time.

She also mentioned that while she is dropping out as a recording artist, she will be outdooring a new artist she is going to sign and promote in the year 2021. When asked if it would be a male or a female artist, she responded that she was open to all options as long as the person was good enough and hardworking but of course she admits she is a little biased to the females.

This seems like a great move or initiative by Becca since she will still be vibrant in the music industry only in a different capacity and will be building and nurturing other wonderful talents for the Ghanaian music industry.

Watch video below


Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 25)  Authorities arrested 44 Chinese nationals and nine Filipinos in Paranaque City for illegal online gambling activities.

The 53 suspects were nabbed at the Mayuga Compound, Barangay Tambo, Paranaque City, the Southern Police District said in a spot report.

The police also reported seizing P1,335,010 cash, 73 passports, three caliber .45 pistols, two 9 mm pistols, nine internet modems, 17 computers, 36 laptops, 400 cellphones.

The police operation was prompted by a tip-off from an unnamed person.
21 Pro Video

Police are searching for suspects who they say walked into a residence on the South Side Saturday morning and assaulted at least one man during a suspected home invasion.

Officers responded to the 300 block of Wilkens Avenue about 2:30 a.m. where two men said they were inside when two other men walked into the residence and pulled a gun. Police at the scene say one of the victims was struck with the gun.
Q. If a wife owns a home that the husband and wife have used as a primary residence for 20 years, then they move out of state while the home is on the market, does the home qualify for an exemption from the withholding at closing with GIT/REP3, option 2?

 Seller

A. Youre asking about the so-called exit tax, which is actually an estimated tax thats withheld on the sale of certain homes.

The reason for the tax withholding is so New Jersey can be sure those who move out of the state will file their final non-resident tax return.

There are exemptions to the tax.

Lets look at that exemption from the withholding tax.

Option 2 states: The real property sold or transferred is used exclusively as a principal residence as defined in 26 U.S. Code section 121. Code section 121 is the area of the Internal Revenue Code that allows for the exclusion of gain on the sale of a principal residence. IRS Publication 523 explains that a principal residence is one that is the taxpayer(s) main home. In this case, the home is the couples main home.

The FAQs on Gross Income Tax on Real Property transfers on the N.J. Division of Taxation website says that if you qualify for the gain exclusion and the requirements outlined in the Internal Revenue Service Publication 523 are met, you can be exempt from this withholding tax.

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However, the FAQ further states that the entire gain must be excluded from gross income, said Laurie Wolfe, a certified financial planner and certified public accountant with Lassus Wherley, a subsidiary of Peapack-Gladstone Bank, in New Providence.

Well get to that in a moment.

So can you exclude the gain on the sale of this home?

Wolfe said a married couple can exclude up to $500,000 of gain. She looked at whether you meet the five-step eligibility test laid out in Publication 523.

Step 1: Determine if they are automatically disqualified. If they acquired the property through a like-kind exchange in the past five years or they are subject to expatriate tax, then they would not be eligible for the gain exclusion, Wolfe said.

2. Step 2: They must meet the ownership test. If they owned the home for at least two of the previous five years, ending on the date of sale, they meet this requirement. For a married couple filing jointly, only one spouse must meet this requirement. This is especially important in this case, where only the wife owns the property, she said.

Step 3: They must meet the use test. If they owned the home and used it as their principal residence for at least two of the previous five years this test is met. Unlike the ownership test, each spouse must meet the use test, Wolfe said.

Step 4: Determine if they previously excluded a gain in the two years prior to the closing date on this property. Theyve lived in this property for 20 years, so this is not applicable, she said.

Step 5: This step has seven exceptions to the eligibility test, and they dont apply to you.

The couple in this case would appear to meet the eligibility tests and would be entitled to exclude up to $500,000 of gain on the property, Wolfe said.

One final stipulation for exemption from the New Jersey withholding tax on the sale is that the entire gain must be excluded, she said.

So, if the gain exceeds $500,000, then they are not exempt from the withholding, she said. The withholding would be the greater of 2% of the sales price of the home or 8.97% of the gain on the sale.

Email your questions to Ask@NJMoneyHelp.com.

Karin Price Mueller writes the Bamboozled column for NJ Advance Media and is the founder of NJMoneyHelp.com. Follow NJMoneyHelp on Twitter @NJMoneyHelp. Find NJMoneyHelp on Facebook. Sign up for NJMoneyHelp.coms weekly e-newsletter.
Technology firms in the past have had to spend big money to attract users to online transactions, but because of the pandemic, e-commerce has taken off.

Digital transformation is indispensable for all business fields. Reducing investment in offline business and increasing investments online will be a trend, Nguyen Hoa Binh, president of NextTech Group, said.





A new business trend will arise from the Covid-19 crisis, he said.



The wounds caused by the pandemic are so severe that businesses are maintaining online channels at the same time as offline ones.



Chair of the Vietnam Association of Small and Medium Enterprises Nguyen Van Than said the pandemic has given businesses a push toward digital transformation. They will have to go online or die if they work with only a traditional model.



According to Than, up to 70 percent of member businesses of the association are going this way. Consultancy firms now provide services online instead of coming to see clients. Online meetings between the association and association members now take place regularly.



Dao Van Hung, director of the Institute of Policy and Development under the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI), noted that digital transformation is occurring at enterprises, but also at state agencies and other organizations. It is now easy to ask lecturers and students to teach and learn on digital platforms.



Which way to follow?



Vietnams businesses have had to rely on production and business for domestic consumption during COVID-19, Binh said.



He said businesses and consumers need to lean on each other to survive the epidemic. Only if demand is stimulated will businesses be able to sell their products.



Small and micro businesses need to find ways to sell products at this moment, or they will die, Binh said. If they suspend business now, they will lose market share to more dynamic rivals."



Dang Hong Anh, chair of the Young Entrepreneur Association, believes that every cloud has a silver lining, and businesses will find opportunities in the pandemic.



At the association, member companies have been encouraged to use each others products and share information about markets.

Ha Noi Moi newspaper cited the 2019 e-Conomy Southeast Asia report released by Google, Temasek and US-based global management consultancy Bain, as showing that Vietnam is evolving into one of the most digital of all economies in the ASEAN.

It says as the second fastest-growing digital economy in the region, its value is expected to increase by four times from $12 billion currently to $43 billion in 2025.

Kim Chi

Covid-19 forces Vietnams businesses to speed up digital transformation It may take businesses only several months to carry out digital transformation and process standardization instead of several years as once thought because of the impact of the Covid-19 crisis.
It's been 30 years since NASA launched the Hubble Space Telescope on April 24, 1990. The observatory was carried aloft in the payload bay of space shuttle Discovery, and for three decades Hubble's history was closely intertwined with the shuttle's. The telescope was originally scheduled for launch in 1986, but the tragic Challenger accident at the start of that year led to a four-year delay.

When Hubble finally made it into orbit, it still wasn't smooth sailing. Almost immediately, scientists discovered a serious flaw in the telescope's mirror that made stars look slightly blurred, rather than like sharp pinpoints of light. Since the whole point of putting Hubble above the Earth's atmosphere was to avoid the blurring that ground-based telescopes suffer from, this was disastrously bad news.

For any other astronomical satellite the situation would have been mission-ending, but not for Hubble, which was designed all along to be serviceable in space  another way its destiny was inextricably tied to the shuttle.

Related: The Hubble Space Telescope and 30 years that transformed our view of the universe

The first servicing flight, by space shuttle Endeavour in December 1993, was originally planned as a routine maintenance visit. Instead it became an urgent rescue mission. In a series of tense spacewalks, the astronauts replaced Hubble's main camera with a redesigned one and installed a corrective optics package for the other instruments.

In what may be the second greatest feat of human spaceflight (after the moon landings), Hubble was brought back up to its design spec. Now it could see all the wonders of the universe with a clarity that could never be achieved from Earth's surface. Four subsequent servicing missions, the last by space shuttle Atlantis in May 2009, have ensured Hubble remains the world's most powerful telescope to this day.

As dark as the night sky looks from ground level, it never gets completely black due to airglow in the atmosphere, which limits the ability of earthbound astronomers to take long-exposure photographs. At Hubble's high altitude, however, the background sky really is pitch black, which means it can see incredibly faint objects if it stares at the same patch of sky for long enough. That's the rationale behind one of Hubble's most impressive achievements: the series of 'deep-field' images, of which the first was released in 1996 and the most recent  the Hubble Extreme Deep Field (HXDF)  in 2012.

"Before Hubble, we knew essentially nothing about galaxies in the first half of the life of the universe," Garth Illingworth, one of the scientists behind the project, told All About Space. "That's the first 7 billion years of the universe's 13.8-billion-year life. Now Hubble, through remarkable surveys like HXDF, has probed into the era of the first galaxies."

Through this type of work, Hubble has discovered galaxies like GN-z11, the most distant discovered by Hubble. "Just 400 million years after the Big Bang, Hubble is looking back through 97% of all time to see GN-z11, far outstripping what can be done with the biggest telescopes on the ground."

Although Hubble is best known for the spectacular images taken with its cameras, these are complemented by other, equally important instruments in the form of spectrographs. The latter add a whole new dimension, Hubble's senior project scientist Jennifer Wiseman said. "The spectrum taken with the STIS spectrograph on Hubble tells you about the composition of the gases and the material in the system, and the motions of the material as well. Having cameras and spectrographs gives you a very powerful combination of scientific tools."

Perhaps the most dramatic use of Hubble's spectrographs  and one that few astronomers would have envisioned when it was launched 30 years ago  is in exploring the atmospheres of recently discovered exoplanets around distant stars. "This technique called transmission spectroscopy has been leveraged about 100 times," Nikole Lewis, an exoplanet specialist at Cornell University, told All About Space. "We can actually look at starlight filtered through those planet atmospheres to find out something about what's in the air around these planets beyond our solar system."

It's particularly exciting to find traces of chemicals which, on Earth, we associate with life  water being the most obvious one. Hubble made headlines in 2019 with the first discovery of water in the atmosphere of an Earth-size exoplanet, K2-18b, which orbits in the habitable zone of a red dwarf star.

In its 30 years in space, the Hubble Space Telescope has contributed to every aspect of astronomy  from our own solar system to the most distant galaxies  and more than 15,000 scientific papers have been published detailing its results. These include many exciting new discoveries, including evidence of the supermassive black holes lurking in the centers of galaxies.

One Hubble scientist, Adam Riess of the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI), which operates Hubble in partnership with NASA, was awarded a share of the 2011 Nobel Prize for his part in observations that the universe's expansion is accelerating, suggesting the presence of mysterious dark energy.

NASA astronaut Kathy Thornton accesses Hubble repair equipment during the first servicing mission, in 1993. (Image credit: NASA)

As the senior project scientist for Hubble, it's Jennifer Wiseman's job to keep track of the full range of Hubble's scientific activities in different areas of astronomy. "Thirty years into the mission, the scientific productivity of Hubble is at an all-time high," she told All About Space. "The reason is that the servicing missions, especially the final one in 2009, have been very successful, keeping Hubble very fit for great observations and cutting-edge science. Clever new observing techniques developed by Hubble scientists have boosted new discoveries as well. And the outstanding expert operations team on the ground  engineers, technicians, managers and computer support  keep diligent watch over Hubble's subsystems to keep science return at a maximum as Hubble ages."

So what's the payoff for the scientific community? "Currently there are almost a thousand science papers published every year based on data from Hubble," Wiseman said. "That's more than ever before. About half of these are based on data taken from the Hubble archive. This is fantastic. It means that data originally taken for one scientific purpose is being used again for a different scientific purpose  a great return on investment!"

Some of the scientists who work with Hubble today were still at school  or not even born  when it was launched 30 years ago, while others have been closely involved with it throughout that time. In the latter category is Colin Norman, a senior staff member at STScI who watched Hubble's launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida, in April 1990.

"Hubble has changed the landscape of astronomy and astrophysics," he said. "It has far exceeded its early goals  no other science facility has ever made such a range of fundamental discoveries. It's been a privilege to be associated with this effort that has become embedded in the culture of our time."

That last point is an interesting one. For all its groundbreaking scientific discoveries, Hubble's most unique achievement is arguably the inspirational impact it's had on the general public. It would be an understatement to say it's the most famous telescope in history.

Before Hubble, people without a special interest in astronomy probably couldn't have named a single telescope. Yet today 'Hubble' is a household name, instantly recognizable to people all over the world and a symbol of both the brilliance of human ingenuity and the wonders of the universe.

What's the reason for Hubble's uniquely iconic status? "It reads like a movie script; it has a story arc," Ray Villard, STScI's news director, said. "The anticipation of launch, the optical failure, redemption with the servicing missions  then more drama when it was cancelled in the last decade."

Fortunately that cancellation was averted, and Hubble is still with us  hopefully for many years to come. As Villard says, "Well toward 2030 we're back to doing some of the best science we think we can ever do with Hubble."

This article was adapted from a previous version published in All About Space Bookazine, a Future Ltd. publication. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook.
Days after the wife of a doctor, who died in Chennai of COVID-19, appealed to authorities to allow excavation of his body so that it could be buried again at a cemetery of her spouse's choice, the Chennai Corporation on Saturday rejected her plea citing health experts' view that it was unsafe to do so.

Chennai: Days after the wife of a doctor, who died of COVID-19, appealed to authorities to allow excavation of his body so that it could be buried again at a cemetery of her spouse's choice, the Chennai Corporation on Saturday rejected her plea citing health experts' view that it was unsafe to do so.

Citing her request on 22 April to allow burial at a cemetery in Kilpauk, the civic body said it sought a report from a committee of public health experts to ascertain the feasibility of entertaining her plea.

The report of experts has said that "it is not safe," to excavate and bury again the body of a COVID-19 victim and hence "it is not possible to accept her request," the Greater Chennai Corporation said in an official release.

On 19 April, a city-based 55-year-old neurosurgeon died of coronavirus and his burial at the Velangadu crematorium in Chennai was marred by violence.

A mob falsely fearing that the burial may lead to the spread of contagion had attacked the corporation health employees and associates of the deceased doctor.

The doctor's wife and son also had to leave the burial ground in view of the violence.

The body was brought to Velangadu as people of Kilpauk area had opposed his burial there.

Over a dozen men involved allegedly in violence were arrested and remanded to judicial custody.

Later, in a video message, the surgeon's wife had said that it was her husband's last wish to be interred at the Kilpauk cemetery as per Christian rituals.

Chief Minister K Palaniswami and DMK president MK Stalin had spoken to her on Wednesday over the phone and condoled her husband's death.
Despite the protestations of the White House Press Secretary and Breitbart  which are not, in fact, the same entity  the 45th President of the United State of America did indeed suggest that people should pump themselves full of toxic disinfectant chemicals and "UV light" to fight off coronavirus. And once again, The Onion proved itself to be not a satire site, but rather, a prophet of the apocalypse.

That was Thursday evening. By Friday afternoon, Trump insisted that his public declaration in the middle of an official government press conference was obviously meant to be sarcastic:

TRUMP TO REPORTER: "You know the way it was asked  I was looking at you!" REPORTER: "Sir, I wasn't here yesterday" https://t.co/sJ8wT1pOUs  Joshua Green (@JoshuaGreen) April 24, 2020

Even if this were true  which is clearly, embarrassingly not  it would still not make for good optics if the leader of a country where 50,000 people had died from COVID-19 in just over a month was making jokes about it, especially after he had already touted another false cure that ended up killing a group of military veterans.

As The Guardian reports, Trump had actually received a message earlier this week from the leader of a religious group that worships cleansing the human body with poisonous chemicals like bleach:

[Mark] Grenon styles himself as "archbishop" of Genesis II  a Florida-based outfit that claims to be a church but which in fact is the largest producer and distributor of chlorine dioxide bleach as a "miracle cure" in the US. He brands the chemical as MMS, "miracle mineral solution", and claims fraudulently that it can cure 99% of all illnesses including cancer, malaria, HIV/Aids as well as autism. Since the start of the pandemic, Genesis II has been marketing MMS as a cure to coronavirus. It advises users, including children, to mix three to six drops of bleach in water and drink it.

To be clear, that is neither a passage from a Warren Ellis book, nor a deliberate homage to the nuclear bomb-worshipping cultists in Beneath the Planet of the Apes. That is an accurate description of a very real group that reached out to the President of the United States in this reality.

Revealed: leader of group peddling bleach as coronavirus 'cure' wrote to Trump this week [Ed Pilkington / The Guardian]

Image: Fred Sharples / Flickr (CC 2.0)
Bloomberg

The U.S. is edging closer to possible meat shortages, with another major plant taken off line.

About a quarter of American pork production and 10% of beef output has been shut down, according to the United Food & Commercial Workers, which estimates 13 U.S. plants have had closures.

Tyson Foods said Thursday that it was shutting its beef plant in Pasco, Washington, shortly after the company idled two key pork plants. Case counts continue to mount, including in Canada, where industry groups are saying theyll probably hold back some supplies usually exported to the U.S. And the head of JBS, the worlds top meat producer, is warning of shortfalls.

Meanwhile, 100 U.S. Department of Agriculture inspectors have tested positive for the coronavirus. The workers, part of the Food Safety and Inspection Service that employs about 6,500 inspectors, have been traveling between plants with known infections to other facilities. And at least one inspector has died after apparently contracting COVID-19, according to the USDA.

A traveling inspector bringing in the disease is our biggest worry, said Mike Callicrate, a rancher, processor and advocate in Kansas.

Meat prices are surging on the disruptions. U.S. wholesale beef hit the highest on record. Pork bellies, the cut turned into bacon, soared 137% in the five days through Wednesday.

Things are so dire that Iowa, the biggest hog state, activated the National Guard to help protect supplies.

What people dont realize is in the coming months, thats going to be one the biggest issues out there is getting the meats and provisions, for not only restaurants, I hate to say it, but grocery stores as well, said Peter Cancro, chief executive officer of Jersey Mikes Franchise Systems Inc.With slaughterhouses closing, farmers dont have a place to sell their animals. Thats forcing livestock producers to dispose of them.

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.

Its the latest cruel blow to supply chains, with food being wasted en masse at the same time that grocery store shelves are running empty. Dairy farmers are spilling milk that cant be sold to processors and some fruit and vegetables are rotting in fields due to labor shortages or distribution disruptions
Sikkims residents returning home after May 3 when the lockdown is scheduled to end will be kept in quarantine for two weeks to ensure that the state remains free of coronavirus, chief minister Prem Singh Tamang said Saturday.

The tiny Himalayan state, which shares borders with China, Nepal, Bhutan and West Bengal, has succeeded in keeping coronavirus out of its boundaries till now.

Sikkim was among the first states to seal its borders and stop entry of foreign and domestic tourists and migrant labourers.

Follow coronavirus latest updates here.

We are ready to meet all challenges that will emerge after the lockdown is lifted. Our objective is to keep Sikkim free from the coronavirus, chief minister Tamang, popularly known as P S Golay, told HT.

Our biggest challenge after the lockdown will be to keep track of thousands of Sikkimese people returning from different parts of the country. All of them will be kept in government quarantine facilities for 14 days. We will not allow entry of people from other states, said Golay.

The government will provide vehicles to carry these people from Siliguri (the nearest large town and transit point) to Sikkim, maintaining social distancing between the passengers. State guest houses, hotels and hostels in college and universities will be used as quarantine centres Golay said.

We have also decided to make the use of Aarogya Setu App mandatory for government officers joining duty, people returning to Sikkim and drivers plying vehicles between Sikkim and West Bengal. These drivers will have to stay in transit camps before returning home, said Golay.

Sikkim will soon have its own Covid-19 testing facility and five machines are being brought from Goa, said Golay. Sikkim now sends swab samples to North Bengal Medical College and Hospital in Siliguri.

Reiterating that all politicians should rise above partisan lines and work for the nation, Golay, who also heads the ruling Sikkim Krantikari Morcha, said, During this fight against Covid-19 we never thought of the states economic interests and tried our best to implement the lockdown. Sikkim has closed international trade with China and the Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra through Nathu La.

Golay has announced a contest for people posting selfies from their homes. He will give away the prize money from his salary.

The contest has been organised by the SKM Vidyarthi Morcha to encourage people to stay at home, said Tshering Wangchuk Lepcha, general secretary of the morcha. The top three winners will be given cash awards of Rs 1 lakh, Rs 75,000 and Rs 50,000 respectively after the lockdown is lifted.

Sikkim is also the first state to offer financial relief to journalists reporting on the outbreak in the country. More than Rs 31 lakh has been given to 176 journalists in Sikkim.

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Michigan health officials are adding coronavirus data specific to individual nursing homes in the states regular release of case statistics.

The first batch of data was released Friday, April 24, with the number of active COVID-19 cases Michigans nursing homes. The numbers dont include residents whove died or recovered.

The figures were last updated Thursday, April 23.

Michigan will identify nursing homes with coronavirus outbreaks. It comes too late for some families.

Six nursing homes have at least 50 or more residents with COVID-19, per the data. Imperial Healthcare Centre in Dearborn Heights has the most with 76.

Ambassador Nursing and Rehab Center in Detroit has 70, Regency A Villa Center in Taylor has 65, Westland Convalescent & Rehab Center has 60, West Bloomfield Nursing Center has 56 and Fairlane Senior Care and Rehab Center in Detroit has 54.

Click here to see the full list, organized by county.

Earlier Friday, Michigan Chief Medical Executive Dr. Joneigh Khaldun said nursing facilities account for 2,218 of the confirmed COVID-19 cases in Michigan, and 75 percent of them are in Southeast Michigan.

The state had a total of 36,641 coronavirus cases and 3,085 deaths as of Friday.

Michigan is getting $3.8 million to help local health departments with COVID-19 testing, contract tracing and prevention at nursing homes, Khaldun also said Friday.

The state plans to release nursing home data on coronavirus deaths, capacity and personal protective equipment per facility. That data wasnt yet included in Fridays report.

Friday was the second straight day Michigan has unveiled a new set of COVID-19 data. On Thursday, it released information on coronavirus patients and bed occupancy at Michigan hospitals and health systems.

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

Friday, April 24: Latest developments on coronavirus in Michigan

Michigan will identify nursing homes with coronavirus outbreaks. It comes too late for some families.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to extend stay-at-home order through May 15, but relax certain restrictions

Michigan shares coronavirus data for hospitals, health systems for first time

Dems to vote on censure of lawmaker who met with Trump; President tells her to switch sides

Michigan must be nimble enough to go backward, says Whitmer after relaxing stay-at-home restrictions

Michigan tops 3,000 coronavirus deaths as new case count grows again

Michigan lawmakers move to limit Whitmers emergency authority, create coronavirus oversight committee
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Linkedin Briseida Mema (Agence France-Presse) Narte, Albania  Sat, April 25, 2020 07:07 627 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd42278f 2 Environment albania,flamingo,birds,lockdown,coronavirus,COVID-19,pandemic,ecosystem,animals Free

With tourists home, boats docked and factories silenced under a coronavirus lockdown, Albania's pink flamingos and curly pelicans are flourishing in the newfound tranquility of lagoons dotting the country's western coastline.

Beating their pink and black-lined wings, a growing flock of thousands of flamingos have recently been soaring over and splashing in the glistening waters of Narta Lagoon, an important site for migratory birds on the Adriatic coast.

Their numbers have increased by nearly a third up to some 3,000 since January, according to park authorities.

With humans kept home under lockdown, "wildlife have regained all of their absolute rights and are enjoying all the freedoms of nature," Nexhip Hysolakoj, the chief of the protected area, told AFP from the shores of the placid lagoon.

In recent years unchecked urbanization, a growing tourism footprint and industrial activity have threatened ecosystems in the protected zone surrounded by scrubby hills.

The coronavirus lockdown imposed on March 9, however, has brought a welcome reprieve.

Gone are the churning engines of fishing boats and the dozens of ferries and other vessels that normally depart daily from the nearby port of Vlora.

Car traffic on a busy road only 500 meters away has also been reduced, adding to the quiet and protecting land animals.

And nearby factories who have come under scrutiny for polluting the waters with waste, such as a leather processing plant and an olive oil producer, are dormant.

Read also: Tibet sees remarkable increase in wild animals

'Time for love'

Conservationists hope the quiet will encourage the graceful birds to take the next step and mate.

Over the past three weeks, couples have been "moving a little further into the lagoon and are now starting courtship rituals," said Hysolokaj.

The author of Albania's first bird guide, Mirjan Topi, said the conditions are perfect for the flamingos to start reproducing in the Balkan state.

The birds typically "travel for a few years in the different regions of the Mediterranean until they reach sexual maturity", he said.

Those frolicking in the lagoon today hail from Africa, Italy, Greece, Spain and France, according to a park survey.

"It's time for love," Odise Celoaliaj, an environmental expert, said with excitement as he peered through binoculars to watch a flock of flamingos take flight.

"It is enough to see how the flamingos are enjoying the tranquility, they feed and dance on their own free will."

Read also: Jane Goodall says 'disrespect for animals' caused pandemic

Pelican nests

Just under 100 kilometers to the north, officials in Albania's largest lagoon in Divjaka National Park also hope the calm will be a boon to a growing population of Dalmatian pelicans.

The "near threatened" species are known as curly pelicans for the ruffle of feathers on top of their heads.

Some 85 mating pairs are nesting on a tiny island in the center of the lagoon, which is separated from the Adriatic by a sandy bar.

The population has been increasing in recent years and has now reached its highest number in the last three decades, according to Ardian Koci, the park's director.

But the area is also threatened by a growing tourist industry, with some 50,000 visitors a month.

Today silence reigns with restaurants and hotels, including dozens of illegally constructed buildings, closed.

The pelicans, plus flamingos, bald eagles and Ibis falcinella are enjoying the peace, gathering on deserted pathways normally teeming with tourists.

Koci hopes health crisis that has caused almost 30 deaths in Albania will be an opportunity to rebalance tourism and the protection of biodiversity in Albania.

"I would be selfish to say that only nature counts," he said.

But "urgent measures are needed to put an end to the abuses that have so badly damaged ecosystems".
The French airline Air France is set to get at least 7 billion euros ($7.6 billion) in bailout money as it fights for survival with most of its planes grounded by coronavirus lockdowns around the world.

With no clear end to the crisis in sight, Air France will get 3 billion euros in direct loans from the French state and a 4-billion-euro bank loan guaranteed by the state, the airline said in a statement on Friday.

The past several weeks of travel restrictions have upended the entire industry, and Air France along with its partner airline KLM said earlier this month that they expect their joint traffic to be down more than 90% in the coming months.

The airlines had been negotiating for weeks with their respective governments, as carriers worldwide are collapsing or seeking government bailouts.

In the Netherlands, Dutch Finance Minister Wopke Hoekstra announced the government will provide 2-4 billion euros ($2.16-4.32 billion) to help flag carrier KLM survive the devastating impact on its operations.

The global pandemic has sickened more than 2,78 million people, killed more than 195,000 worldwide, crippled economies and forced restrictions on the movement of millions of people in an effort to stop the virus from spreading further and overwhelming health care systems.
Local governments have gone too far in issuing emergency orders during the coronavirus pandemic and can expect to have those powers whittled down when the Texas Legislature meets again, key state lawmakers say.

State laws give local leaders broad power during emergencies, but state Sen. Paul Bettencourt of Houston, a leading Republican in the Texas Senate, said too many local officials have taken it too far.

We are going to have to look at all these emergency powers and see if they have to be scrubbed down, Bettencourt said.

In Chambers County outside of Houston, for example, 10 p.m. curfews have been imposed on adults. In other counties, its prohibited to have more than two people in a car. In Laredo, people were allowed to exercise, but bicycle riding was barred.

Local governments are accustomed to playing defense against the Legislature. During each of the last two legislative sessions, state lawmakers have tried to curb local authority on myriad issues including tree ordinances, annexations and property tax collections.

Democrats say theyre getting used to this drumbeat of Republicans trying to take authority away from cities and suburbs as they have become more Democratic. They say the cities and counties needed to move quickly because Republican Gov. Greg Abbott waited to issue a statewide stay-home order until 30 other states had done so.

Democratic Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo has been a consistent target for frustrated Republicans.

Bettencourt said Hidalgo overstepped her bounds when she tried to release people from jail in the name of fighting the coronavirus.

Series of orders

In early April, Hidalgo called for releasing nonviolent jail inmates, worried that COVID-19 was making jails a ticking time bomb where the virus could spread fast. Her order excluded those with three or more drunken-driving convictions, those with a conviction for burglary of a home and those with a temporary restraining order against them.

There has been broad bipartisan outrage regarding County Judge Hidalgos overreaching order throughout Harris County, said Bettencourt, who joined eight other lawmakers in a lawsuit to fight it.

Almost as fast as the order was issued, state District Judge Herb Ritchie voided it. The Texas Supreme Court and Chief U.S. District Judge Lee Rosenthal have since both agreed and blocked the releases.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, a Republican from Montgomery County, was quick to accuse Hidalgo of more overreach on Wednesday when she announced all residents over the age of 10 would have to wear masks in Harris County.

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, said Patrick, who as the states No. 2 elected official presides over the Texas Senate.

Hidalgo defended the mask rule, saying it was based on the recommendations of doctors and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

This is a step people understand we need to take, Hidalgo said. It follows CDC guidelines. It is responsible. It is right.

State Rep. Gene Wu, D-Houston, said the Republicans should be thanking local leaders such as Hidalgo and Mayor Sylvester Turner. While Abbott waited to issue statewide orders closing restaurants or requiring residents to stay home, Turner and Hidalgo were moving far faster and helping keep down the spread of the virus, Wu said.

Its our local governments that have had to step up and done an outstanding job, Wu said. The reason our numbers are so low is because they took decisive action early.

But it isnt just Hidalgo getting heat from critics. In Chambers County, officials instituted a curfew from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. And long before Hidalgo issued orders on masks, Laredo instituted its own mask requirement and barred people from riding bicycles unless it was to obtain essential services.

In Hidalgo County in the Rio Grande Valley, officials ordered no more than two people per vehicle.

Legislation next session?

State Rep. Briscoe Cain, R-Deer Park, was quick to send a letter to Hidalgo, the Harris County judge, on Wednesday telling her to reverse course on her latest order requiring masks.

It has been clear from the start of this crisis that local elected officials have used this opportunity to exceed their authority, Cain wrote.

When Hidalgo declared a local disaster in Harris County in March, it gave 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.

On March 22, Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins issued the first stay-at-home order in Texas, more than a week before Abbott would announce a similar stay-at-home order for the rest of the state.

Cain said he plans to write legislation that would eliminate that entire statute that local governments are using to impose arbitrary restrictions.

Wu said he is more than ready to defend cities taking actions while Republican leaders have been slow to react.

State Rep. Sam Harless, R-Spring, said hes tried to give Hidalgo and other local officials the benefit of the doubt in a time of crisis given the pressure they are under. But he said Hidalgo has gone too far  particularly with the mask order and the threat to fine people who break it.

Do I believe shes had overreach? She definitely has, Harless said.

When the Legislature next meets, he said, the powers local government leaders are exercising are going to have to be reviewed.

jeremy.wallace@chron.com
Barack Obama took a jab at President Trump when he said America needs leaders who will bring people together and suggested Joe Biden was the only candidate who can help the country heal from the devastating COVID-19 pandemic.

This comes as both Trump and Biden have become further embroiled in public scandals and sexual assault allegations.

On Saturday, presidential hopeful Joe Biden released a campaign video that looked to uplift his supporters during the coronavirus outbreak

So far, the virus has infected 960,144 Americans, killed 54,109 and dealt continual blows to the country's economy.

'When I announced my campaign one year ago today, I said we were in a battle for the soul of the nation,' Biden wrote.

Scroll down for video

Joe Biden released a new presidential campaign video Sunday and addressed the COVID-19 pandemic in the US

'One year later, that is as true as it has ever been. I believe we can and we will emerge from this crisis a stronger, better, and fairer nation. Together, as one America.'

During the video, Biden takes a not-so-subtle dig at Trump, who has been repeatedly criticized for his coronavirus response.

'Maybe something good can come out of this terrible crisis. Maybe this crisis will help us see how much our broken politics have cost us. The anger, the insults, the divisiveness,' Biden said, as images of Trump flash by in the footage.

Biden: 'Maybe something good can come out of this terrible crisis. Maybe this crisis will help us see how much our broken politics have cost us. The anger, the insults, the divisiveness'

Biden (pictured) made a direct attack at Trump's COVID-19 response, which has garnered backlash

Obama retweeted Biden's Twitter post and appeared to double down on the latest dig at Trump.

He implied that Trump's handling of the COVID-19 response has been divisive throughout the crisis.

'In moments of crisis, we look out for one other. And we need leaders with empathy who will bring people together rather than drive them apart,' Obama wrote.

'Joe Biden has the character and experience to guide us through one of our darkest times and heal us through a long recovery.'

Obama: 'In moments of crisis, we look out for one other. And we need leaders with empathy who will bring people together rather than drive them apart'

Barack Obama (pictured) appeared to further support Biden after he formally endorsed him earlier this month

Trump has yet to respond to the former President-Vice President pair, but has instead focused on combating the 'lamestream media' after he suggested injecting disinfectants to cure COVID-19.

The bizarre solution came to light Thursday during a daily briefing where Trump addressed William Bryan, a senior Homeland Security science and technology advisor, about claims ultraviolet rays and heat have an impact on the pathogen.

Speaking on Thursday evening, Trump asked Bryan: 'Supposing we hit the body with a tremendous, whether it's ultraviolet or just very powerful light? And I think you said, that hasn't been checked but you're going to test it.

'And then I said supposing you brought the light inside the body which you can do either through the skin or in some other way. And I think you said you're going to test that too. Sounds interesting,' Trump said.

Then he pivoted to another possible treatment: 'And then I see the disinfectant, where it knocks it out in a minute, one minute, and is there a way we can do something like that?

President Donald Trump speaks about the coronavirus on Thursday, in a briefing that caused a PR nightmare for the White House over his comments about disinfectant as a coronavirus cure

'By injection inside or almost a cleaning. As you see it gets in the lungs, and it does a tremendous number on the lungs.

'So it would be interesting to check that,' Trump said.

'So that you're going to have to use medical doctors. But it sounds interesting to me,' he said.

Trump received swift backlash from public health experts, the CDC and Twitter users who lambasted him for propping dangerous - and unfounded - cures into the public spotlight.

The White House pushed back at the criticism and said Trump was being 'very sarcastic' when he asked officials to consider the disinfectant route.

'I was asking a question sarcastically to reporters like you just to see what would happen,' the president said in regards to his comments.

On Friday, Trump walked-off during the daily briefing in a fit of annoyance following the debacle.

White House aids have reportedly discussed curtailing the president's role in daily briefings after a heap of bad press following Trump's comments.

Biden advised the president to focus on COVID-19 testing and PPE instead of theories.

Trump (center) claimed his remarks about disinfectants were 'sarcastic' and taken out of context

'UV light? Injecting disinfectant? Here's an idea, Mr. President: more tests. Now. And protective equipment for actual medical professionals.'

But Biden is in the midst of his own troubles after a clip showed the mother of his sexual assault accuser, Tara Reade, asking Larry King if they should come forward with allegations against a 'prominent senator.'

The video appears to back Reade's claims that she told her mother about the sexual harassment related to her boss 27 years ago.

Reade worked as as a staffer for Biden when he was the Democratic senator for Delaware.

Reade filed an official criminal complaint against the now presumptive Democratic presidential frontrunner on April 9, accusing Biden of shoving his hand under her skirt and penetrating her with his fingers while they stood in a senate corridor, an accusation he denied.

The latest evidence to emerge shows Reade's mother Jeanette Altimus calling into the Larry King Show in 1993, the same month that Reade left Biden's staff, and anonymously asking a panel's advice on her daughter's 'problems' with a 'prominent senator'.

There is no mention of sexual assault in the clip.

A new clip appears to show Tara Reade's mother Jeanette Altimus calling into Larry King and asking about her 'problems' with a 'prominent senator' in 1993. The clip does not mention sexual assault allegations. Reade filed a formal complaint against the VP this month

Reade posted an image on social media of what she looked like in 1993, the year she alleged Biden sexually assaulted her. A new clip has emerged that appears to back her claims that she told her mother, brother and a friend about the alleged assault when it happened in 1993

Reade, who was in her 20s at the time of the alleged assault, had previously revealed Altimus called into the show when she told her about the sexual assault claims 27 years ago but was unable to remember the exact date or year of the phone call.

When news of her official complaint against Biden first emerged, Reade said she had told her mother, brother and a friend about the assault at the time. She said her mother urged her to go to the police.

Her brother Collin Moulton and the anonymous friend confirmed this, but Altimus died in 2016.

The new clip was discovered by The Intercept and Reade confirmed that it was her mother's voice on Twitter.

'I remember it being an anonymous call and her saying my daughter was sexually harassed and retaliated against and fired, where can she go for help? I was mortified,' Reade told The Intercept.

The CNN clip does not reference sexual harassment or anyone being fired but features an anonymous woman asking if her daughter should go to the press because of problems with a senator.

The interview featured in a program King aired on August 11, 1993, titled, 'Washington: The Cruelest City on Earth?' and the caller was identified as a woman dialing in from San Luis Obispo, California.

'I'm wondering what a staffer would do besides go to the press in Washington?' the caller asked.

'My daughter has just left there, after working for a prominent senator, and could not get through with her problems at all, and the only thing she could have done was go to the press, and she chose not to do it out of respect for him.'

The panel did not offer any suggestions or advice to the caller but talked about whether they would leak news on a rival to the press.

Reade told Halper that the assault occurred after she was told to deliver a gym bag to the then-senator. Reade said she tracked down Biden on Capitol Hill and he remembered her name.

The 1993 clip shows an anonymous caller form California speak to Larry King about her daughter's problem with a 'prominent senator'. Reade said it is her mother's voice

'And then we were alone. And it was the strangest thing. There was no, like, exchange really, he just had me up against the wall,' she said.

She said she was wearing a work skirt, but no pantyhose.

'He just had me up against the wall and the wall was cold,' she said. 'His hands were on me and underneath my clothes. He went down my skirt and then up inside it and he penetrated me with his fingers. He was kissing me at the same time,' she said.

She said that when she 'pulled back,' Biden 'looked annoyed.'

Reade said Biden said to her, 'Come on man, I heard you liked me.'

'He implied that I had done this,' she told the podcast host.

At first Reade didn't want to mention the other quote that got stuck in her head, but then she told Halper what it was.

'You're nothing to me,' she claimed the senator said to her. 'Nothing.'

Reade said that she had attempted to bring up her concerns about the alleged assault to her superiors in Biden's office but got nowhere, a claim that the new clip of her mother appears to back.

She had previously said that in 1993 Biden, then still a senator from Delaware, touched her several times and made her feel uncomfortable.

Reade also said her duties were cut after she refused to serve drinks at an event. Biden, she claims, had wanted her serving because he liked her legs. The former staffer said she later felt pushed out and left in August 1993 after only nine months.

Biden and his campaign have fiercely denied the claims.

'Women have the right to tell their story, and reporters have an obligation to rigorously vet those claims,' Deputy Campaign Manager and Communications Director Kate Bedingfield said.

'We encourage them to do so, because these accusations are false.

'Vice President Biden has dedicated his public life to changing the culture and the laws around violence against women. He authored and fought for the passage and reauthorization of the landmark Violence Against Women Act. He firmly believes that women have a right to be heard  and heard respectfully,' she told Politico.

'Such claims should also be diligently reviewed by an independent press. What is clear about this claim: it is untrue. This absolutely did not happen.'
The immigration health surcharge fees paid by foreign healthcare workers  despite working in the NHS themselves  are being reviewed, Priti Patel has said.

The home secretary revealed she had bowed to pressure to look again at the fees, in the light of the extraordinary contribution made by medical staff from overseas during the coronavirus pandemic.

Until now, ministers had held firm that the surcharge  due to soar from 400 a year to 624 this October  is a fair way for all migrants to contribute to the likely cost of their NHS care.

Because it is also paid by spouses and children, the total cost can reach a crippling 8,000 for a family of four on a five-year work permit, or with limited leave to remain in the UK.

At the daily Downing Street press conference, Ms Patel was asked whether it was right to scrap the surcharge for overseas NHS staff, given they too are fighting this pandemic.

She replied that it was under review, adding: We are looking at everything, including visas and surcharge.

We are looking at everything now in terms of what we can do to continue to support everyone on the frontline of the NHS.

We are speaking about the healthcare professionals, the medics, the doctors and nurses and allied healthcare professionals who have come to the UK.

The possible cut, or removal, of the surcharge was revealed as Ms Patel played down hopes of an early easing of the lockdown as the death toll in hospitals passed 20,000.

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She called it a deeply tragic and moving moment, warning we are not out of the woods yet  and telling people to stick to social distancing instructions.

The government has been abundantly clear about the five specific things that have to be satisfied  this is not optional  so that we can consider with the scientific advisers when it will be safe to adjust the current measures.

Quite frankly that is not right now. It is clear that it is not right now.

The health surcharge was hugely controversial, even before the current crisis. There is no right of deferral, or ability to pay annually. Instead, it has to be paid in advance for the entire duration of an applicants visa or residency permit.

Meanwhile, nurses and junior doctors in training have starting salaries of between 18,000 and 23,000.

They are already paying tax and national insurance, like British nationals, and are therefore being charged twice for NHS treatment, campaigners have protested.

Nevertheless, only last month, when he announced his Budget, chancellor Rishi Sunak said it was necessary to ensure that what people get out, they also put in.

Once the UK leaves the Brexit transition period  at the end of the year  the government insists it will be paid by all EU citizens, as well as those from the rest of the world.

Around one in every seven NHS workers is foreign-born  a dependence that has attracted growing attention as they have been on the frontline of the fight against coronavirus.

Dame Donna Kinnair, general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, said it would welcome a U-turn to exempt nurses from the surcharge.

The current crisis only serves to highlight the unfairness of charging overseas nurses working in the UK for healthcare services, she said.

The concession comes ahead of Boris Johnsons expected return to work in Downing Street on Monday, raising Conservative hopes of an end to the refusal to discuss how the UK will escape the lockdown.

The prime minister is expected back, three weeks after being taken to hospital when his coronavirus symptoms worsened  where he needed oxygen in intensive care, to ensure he survived

Conservative backbenchers have laid bare their frustrations at ministers batting away calls to set out options for easing restrictions, claiming it would underline the stay at home message.

On Saturday, Philip Hammond, the former Conservative chancellor, asked if such a plan should be published now, replied: Yes, I think that is the next step.

I understand the prime minister is going to be back in harness in Downing Street at the beginning of next week and I very much hope that will signal a clear step change.
The owner of manufacturer Wrightbus has said he hopes to bring another 1,500 jobs to Ballymena as he pushes for a Government subsidy to fund the building of more than 3,000 buses in the town.

Jo Bamford, executive chairman of the historic bus-builder, said the use of hydrogen could usher in a new era of environmentally-friendly transport.

It's seeking subsidy funding of 500m from the UK Government, with the aim of building over 3,000 hydrogen-fuelled buses in Ballymena by 2024.

But he said expensive infrastructure located close to windfarms - which would account for 200m of the 500m - is needed to make the mass production of hydrogen a reality.

The company now employs around 550 people in Ballymena, following Mr Bamford's purchase of the firm after its administration last year. However, Mr Bamford told the Belfast Telegraph that 450 had been furloughed, though about 100 engineers are still in employment.

"We'd like to get an agreement on it as quickly as possible then build the infrastructure, and roll it out over a number of years.

"Say you have 12,000 buses on the island - my plan is to decarbonise all buses and all trains, though to fill them up with hydrogen, you need to put money down to build infrastructure."

Mr Bamford is the son of Lord Bamford, the chairman of machinery giant, JCB. A JCB factory in England has been repurposed to produce coverings for new ventilators made by British manufacturing giant, Dyson.

The Wrightbus boss said he had considered a similar repurposing at Wrightbus to produce scrubs or other forms of PPE, but decided it wouldn't be feasible.

"I really looked at it and spoke to dad and came to the conclusion it would be too difficult for us to do it. I really wanted it for Northern Ireland, but it was one step too far, when you consider that what we do usually involves aluminium, big metal welding, and so on."

However, he said he believed a focus on hydrogen fuel in the aftermath of Covid-19 could help the UK's economy, as well as bringing to jobs to Ballymena.

"I am putting a plan to the Government about what should happen when we are coming out from this. I've been through a few downturns in my career, but it's normally not every market that shuts down at the same time. But now, every market is in shutdown, so everyone will be lining up at the start of the race, and leaving at the same time.

"In order to compete, you have to do something different.

"If we got the UK Government behind us, it could get us 1,000 new jobs in Ballymena, and another 500 through the supply chain.

"I really think that when we come to get out of the crisis, the UK needs some strings to its bow. Everyone will be at the same starting point to recover economically from the crisis, so we need to have some advantages."

But Mr Bamford said he was reluctant to say when decisive moves should be taken to get the economy moving again.

"It's slightly above my pay grade, but I know we as a business have to be prepared for when we come out of this.

"We need to have the business right-sized and ready to go, whether that's in June or July. But the longer it goes on, the more difficult it is as a business.

"I can't keep people employed indefinitely without an income."

But he said the impact of the lockdown on the environment, with a clearer sky and cleaner air resulting from the fall in traffic, could be an inspiration for greener transport.

"Wouldn't it be amazing to have some green solutions coming out of this?" He said his vision for an all-Ireland hydrogen strategy would result in cross-border transport such as the Enterprise train from Belfast to Dublin running on hydrogen - which can power longer journeys than battery power.

And ultimately, all trains and buses would be decarbonised.

He said he was yet to start talks with the authorities in the Republic, but has set the ball rolling in the UK.

"We have submitted plans to the Government that requests a support package of 500m over four years.

"This will enable us to build and sell 3,000 to 3,500 buses in Ballymena, at the same price as current diesel buses."

As part of its plan, there would be five new zero-emission hydrogen production plants in "disadvantaged coastal parts of the UK", as well as 30 hydrogen refuelling stations to deliver hydrogen to bus depots at below the price of diesel.

New double decker hydrogen buses, designed and made by Wrightbus in Ballymena, will take to the streets of London and Aberdeen later this year.

Mr Bamford has said hydrogen power is a cheaper alternative to electrification as a green fuel source.

The company will now be lobbying MPs for support, telling them: "The UK is already the most advanced in its research and testing into the potential of hydrogen. We must take urgent steps to strengthen this position and ensure our skills, products and services are exported."
Ghana could soon begin the production of ventilators to boost healthcare delivery.



This follows the production of four low-cost ventilator prototypes by the Academic City University College (ACUC), a private tertiary institution at Haatso, a suburb of Accra.



The ventilators will be sent to the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA), and once approved, actual production will begin.



Developed by a 12-member team of the ACUC, led by its President, Professor Fred McBagonluri, the ventilators were made from leather, a car windscreen wiper motor, PVC pipes, wood and 3D printing of rack and pinion.



Manufacturing



In all, it took about a week after the concept had been developed to produce the four prototypes. The first one took three days; second one, two days and the third and fourth, one day each.



According to Prof. McBagonluri, the ability of the faculty and students to design and develop the ventilator prototypes was good news to the countrys health sector since such devices assisted sick people to breathe properly.



Ventilators are one of the hottest commodities around the world now because of the COVID-19 pandemic across the world, he said.



He added that because of our confidence-building process, we decided to take that challenge to develop the product.



Large scale



Having spent 16 years of life in the manufacturing of medical equipment, he said the university college could produce the ventilators on a large scale in the country, provided all the raw materials were available.



For instance, he said, 50 per cent of the materials used for the prototypes were local raw materials while the remainder was foreign.



He expressed the hope that with time, many foreign materials imported into the country could be produced locally since the beauty about manufacturing is that it has its own ability to trigger a supply chain.



Invention



Prof. McBangonluri commended the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Standards Authority, Prof. Alex Dodoo, and the Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Prof. Kwabena Frimpong Boateng, for their support.



According to him, some doctors from the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital who visited the university to look at what had been done, were highly impressed by what they saw.



Challenged



He said he was challenged to develop the prototypes when he heard that the US was preventing medical supplies from being shipped to Canada and Turkey to support their COVID-19 response.



In a crisis like this, countries begin to look inward. This is an opportunity that we cannot lose. We have been pushed against the wall now; we have no choice; we either push back or we break, he said.



He said Africas education had to be relevant to the continents experience.

Source: Daily Graphic









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Since the beginning of COVID-19-related stay-at-home orders, police and advocacy groups across the country have warned that domestic violence calls could increase with people being cooped up at home, tempers more likely to flare, abusers more likely to lash out.

And although data in a few of America's largest cities initially suggests otherwise, multiple agencies told ABC News that may be an even bigger reason for concern.

"We're having 10 fewer crime reports each day for instances of domestic violence," Los Angeles Police Department Chief Michel Moore said. "That's going in the wrong direction with what we believe is actually happening behind closed doors."

MORE: With families quarantined together, some police fear rise in domestic violence

Calls related to domestic violence in LA declined 18% from March 19 through April 15 compared with the same period in 2019, according to LAPD data provided to ABC News. Cases also declined in San Francisco.

Other cities including San Diego, Anaheim, Burbank and Santa Rosa have reported little change, while calls in Fresno County spiked in March but declined into April.

PHOTO: LAPD officers, some wearing masks, keep watch after the USNS Mercy Navy hospital ship arrived in the Port of Los Angeles to assist with the coronavirus pandemic on March 27, 2020 in San Pedro, California. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Nationwide, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., reported lower overall violent crime numbers during stay-at-home orders, but it's unclear exactly how many of those were related to domestic violence.

In New York City, even with a record number of officers calling in sick during the COVID-19 outbreak in March, Commissioner Dermot Shea said "domestic violence is an extremely high priority for all members of the New York City Police Department."

Back in California, officials told ABC News they believe domestic violence is increasing but the abused are stuck at home with their abusers and can't alert authorities.

Rebecca Levenson, a police consultant on domestic violence, said that for victims their "world has gotten a whole lot smaller" and that they're "hyper vulnerable" because of technology.

Story continues

"With home cameras, you literally can't do anything," she added. "The abuser can check which websites you were on and check your phone."

MORE: Rihanna, Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey donate $4.2M to combat quarantine-induced domestic violence

Police said that's resulted in fewer calls, which Los Angeles County is combatting with "Behind Closed Doors," a campaign aimed at helping abuse victims too scared to seek help.

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti announced a program this month to put domestic violence victims in hotels during shelter-in-place orders rather than return them to homes where they were abused. Garcetti highlighted the work of Rihanna and Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, who have paid for hotels, food and counseling for victims of domestic abuse.

"I am very alarmed by what appears to be a dramatic decrease in reported crimes involving our most vulnerable," Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer said on Friday.

Feuer and L.A. County District Attorney Jackie Lacey are leading the program that will put signs up in grocery stores and other places where abuse victims may see them to know they can reach out without their abuser knowing. One option might be texting 911 instead of calling.

The "Behind Closed Doors" campaign also is calling on delivery drivers, landscapers, postal workers and others in Los Angeles County who might see signs of abuse at homes to contact police.

"With this unprecedented situation," said Feuer, adding that children and the elderly also may be at risk, "there are some under-discussed consequences."

What to know about the 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

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.

Fewer domestic violence calls during COVID-19 outbreak has California officials concerned originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Julius Leier, 90, Bismarck, formerly of Burnstad, passed away April 22, 2020 at CHI St. Alexius Health, Bismarck.

A private family Mass of Christian burial will be held. A livestream of the service will be available 10:30 a.m. Monday, April 27 on the Bismarck Funeral Home Facebook page. Burial will be at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan.

Visitation will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Bismarck Funeral Home, Bismarck. Due to CDC Covid-19 restrictions on social gatherings, there will be no more than 10 visitors at a time.

Julius was born on Oct. 2, 1929 in Logan County to Joseph and Clara Leier. Twenty-two years later, on Oct. 2, 1951, he married the love of his life, Marcella Glatt.

Julius was stationed in Germany for one year during the Korean conflict. He lived in Burnstad until 2014 when he moved to Bismarck where he resided at the Edgewood Vista until his death. He worked for Farmers Union Oil Company in Burnstad delivering fuel and was the manager. In 1968, he decided to work for Farmers Union Insurance until his retirement. Julius won many awards during his tenure at Farmers Union Insurance. He also owned and operated two school buses for the Napoleon School System for 20 years.

Julius' grandchildren meant the world to him. A great enjoyment of his was working on and collecting tractors, classic cars, especially Ford Mustangs and Farmall Tractors. A favorite pastime of his was to make people laugh by telling them the newest joke he heard.

Julius is survived by his wife, Marcella (Glatt); children, Darwin (Becky), Colette (Clarke); grandchildren, Nicole (Lee) Williamson and Kaden; three brothers, John, Martin, and Larry; and four sisters, Caroline Glatt, Christine Schwartzenberger, Pauline Slovarp, and Lorraine Piatz.

He was preceded in death by both of his parents and brothers, Leonard and Adam.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, 1825 46th Street, Mandan.

The recording of the service will be posted to the Bismarck Funeral Home website where you can also sign the online guestbook and share memories with his family at www.bismarckfuneralhome.com.
The number of coronavirus



positive patients in Gujarat doubled from 617 after April 14 to 1,272 on April 17, but this rate slowed down in the subsequent six days up to April 23 during which 1352 more cases were detected, as per the analysis by Health department.

The total number of coronavirus positive cases in Gujarat stood at 2,815 by April 24 evening.

"The number of COVID-19 patients nearly-doubled from 617 cases after April 13 to 1,272 cases on April 17, which was a sharp rise," Principal Secretary (Health) Jayanti Ravi said on Saturday.

However, the doubling rate of cases slowed down to six days after April 17 up to April 23, when the number of cases rose from 1,272 to 2,624, as per the data.

The state recorded the highest number of COVID-19 cases in the 24 hours ended on April 18 when 332 persons had tested positive for coronavirus, it said.

In Gujarat, 30 of the 33 districts have reported coronavirus positive cases.

Ravi said, "Social distancing measures such as lockdown, containment and curfew have delayed or controlled the possible exponential curve".

She said 80 per cent of the total COVID-19 patients are silent carriers of the virus and asymptomic, while 15 per cent are symptomatic.

"The fight is most importantly for the remaining 5 per cent of the patients who are suffering from serious ailments like diabetes, hypertension, cancer, TB, asthma, HIV, heart and lung diseases, mental diseases, among others," Ravi added.

In terms of testing, the state government conducted 3028 tests in the last 24 hours ending on Saturday, Ravi said.

She said 3,280 rapid anti-body tests were conducted in various districts.

"In terms of the test per million, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation has achieved 2,701 tests per million, which is the highest in the country, compared to 1,491.97 in the Union Territory of Delhi, 930.7 in Tamil Nadu, and 836.34 in Rajasthan. The country's average test per million rate is 392.5," Ravi said.

Gujarat has reported the average test per million rate of 721, she added.

Ravi said Gujarat is among the states which has the largest number of laboratories for testing coronavirus cases.

According to Ravi, 45,621 persons placed under quarantine in the state have taken AYUSH medicines while 27,895 consumed Ayurvedic medicines. A total of 17,725 persons under quarantine consmumed Homeopathic medicines.

"Only 15 COVID-19 cases have been reported from quarantine facilities," Ravi added.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had on Friday assessed as "especially serious" the situation in emerging hotspots of Ahmedabad and Surat.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-25 20:51:06|Editor: huaxia

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RIO DE JANEIRO, April 24 (Xinhua) -- Former Brazilian Minister of Justice and Public Security Sergio Moro on Friday presented evidence to support his accusation that President Jair Bolsonaro tried to interfere in Federal Police investigations.

Moro, who stepped down from office earlier on Friday, told TV news program Jornal Nacional that Bolsonaro asked him to fire Mauricio Valeixo, head of the Federal Police. According to Moro, the president wanted to replace Valeixo with someone who could give him information on federal investigations.

However, those investigations are confidential, Moro said, adding that the president wanted information on investigations carried out by the Supreme Court.

The former minister said he refused to fire Valeixo, recalling that the president had promised him autonomy to nominate his subordinates, with Bolsonaro seeming to have backed off. However, the announcement of Valeixo's dismissal was made in the early hours of Friday, prompting Moro to call for a news conference to announce his resignation.

Moro presented to the news program pictures of a messaging app conversation between him and Bolsonaro, in which Bolsonaro indicates that an investigation on his allies in Congress is "another reason to replace" Valeixo, suggesting that the replacement was a presidential request.

He also presented a conversation between him and a federal representative, Carla Zambelli, in which Zambelli urged him to accept Valeixo's replacement in exchange for his nomination to the Supreme Court, to which she promised support. In the conversation, Moro rejected the offer.

During a news conference in the late afternoon, Bolsonaro denied having demanded the resignation of Valeixo, saying that Valeixo had expressed the desire to step down.

He admitted he wanted someone he could interact with at the helm of the Federal Police, but denied interfering in the institution, noting that nominating the head of the Federal Police is a presidential prerogative. Enditem
WASHINGTON/SEOULA special train possibly belonging to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was spotted this week at a resort town in the country, according to satellite images reviewed by a Washingtonbased North Korea monitoring project, amid conflicting reports about Kims health and whereabouts.

The monitoring project, 38 North, said in its report on Saturday that the train was parked at the leadership station in Wonsan on April 21 and April 23. The station is reserved for the use of the Kim family, it said.

Though the group said it was probably Kim Jong Uns train, Reuters has not been able to confirm that independently, or whether he was in Wonsan.

The trains presence does not prove the whereabouts of the North Korean leader or indicate anything about his health but it does lend weight to reports that Kim is staying at an elite area on the countrys eastern coast, the report said.

Speculation about Kims health first arose due to his absence from the anniversary of the birthday of North Koreas founding father and Kims grandfather, Kim Il Sung, on April 15.

North Koreas state media last reported on Kims whereabouts when he presided over a meeting on April 11.

China has dispatched a team to North Korea including medical experts to advise on Kim Jong Un, according to three people familiar with the situation.

A third-generation hereditary leader who came to power after his fathers death in 2011, Kim has no clear successor in a nuclear-armed country, which could present a major international risk.

On Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump downplayed reports that Kim was ill. I think the report was incorrect, Trump told reporters, but he declined to say if he had been in touch with North Korean officials.

Trump has met Kim three times in an attempt to persuade him to give up a nuclear weapons program that threatens the United States as well as its Asian neighbors.

Reports and Controls

Reporting from inside North Korea is notoriously difficult because of tight controls on information.

A Trump administration official said continuing days of North Korean media silence on Kims whereabouts had heightened concerns about his condition, and that information remained scant from a country U.S. intelligence has long regarded as a black box.

The U.S. State Department did not immediately respond to questions about the situation on Saturday.

Daily NK, a Seoul-based website that reports on North Korea, cited one unnamed source in North Korea on Monday as saying that Kim had undergone medical treatment in the resort county of Hyangsan north of the capital Pyongyang.

It said that Kim was recovering after undergoing a cardiovascular procedure on April 12.

Since then, multiple South Korean media reports have cited unnamed sources this week saying that Kim might be staying in the Wonsan area.

On Friday, local news agency Newsis cited South Korean intelligence sources as reporting that a special train for Kims use had been seen in Wonsan, while Kims private plane remained in Pyongyang.

Newsis reported Kim may be sheltering from COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the novel CCP virus.

Kim, believed to be 36, has disappeared from coverage in North Korean state media before. In 2014, he vanished for more than a month and North Korean state TV later showed him walking with a limp.

Speculation about his health has been fanned by his heavy smoking, apparent weight gain since taking power, and family history of cardiovascular problems.

By David Brunnstrom




Ayorinde was beaten mercilessly by angry residents of Ogun state

A staff of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company(IBEDC), Ayorinde Olajide has been left with serious wound after aggrieved residents of Isale Igbeyin/Grammar school areas of Abeokuta in Ogun state on Thursday April 24th attacked him for distributing bills.

The residents were angry that the official could muster the boldness to distribute bills at a time Nigerians are suffering as a result of the lockdown.

Ayorinde while narrating his ordeal, said he was out distributing bills to the residents who were at home due to the lockdown when he was attacked.

I was busy distributing electricity bills to houses around Isale -Igbehin and Grammar School area of Abeokuta and I was attacked by a group of people asking me to stop the unnecessary distribution of bills. Before I could even explain to them, they started throwing stones at me which affected my left eye. I was badly beaten without pity for discharging my duty, even when my boss arrived at the scene to rescue me into her vehicle, a guy came and hit me on my my left eye. I was later rescued by my boss who reported the attack at the Ibara Police Station after which i was taken to a nearby Hospital for medical attention. he said
Senior RSS leader H Somashekhar



Bhatt received a call from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday enquiring about his health.

Bhatt got emotional hearing the Prime Minister's voice at the other end, family sources said.

The Prime Minister called at 8.30 AM and began the conversation with 'Somashekharji' and spoke for about six minutes.

The 85-year-old veteran recalled how the Jana Sangh came to power in Udupi municipality under the leadership of V S Acharya in 1968 and about his association with the Sangh Parivar through the decades and his imprisonment during the Emergency.

Bhatt, former Udupi municipality president, later said it was a rare honour for him.

"I am very glad that PM Modi called and spoke to me. I shared the experience of meeting him at the Jaipur session.

Asked to take care of health and expressed concern," he said.

The Prime Minister has been calling senior functionaries of the party who worked for the Sangh Parivar in the time of adversities to build up the BJP in its present form and seeking advice from them.

He had also called in recent days former MLA Ram Bhat who was elected from Puttur in Dakshina Kannada and D H Shankar Murthy, who was former chairman of the state legislative council, BJP state president Nalin Kumar Kateel tweeted.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Freeman Motor Company is a pre-owned car dealership with an Autospa, full-service center and body shop with two locations. This dealership has a unique culture driven for the love for cars and the community. The team members strive to provide customers with top-notch service and maintain repeat and referral business.

The dealership offers a variety of Luxury vehicle brands like BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Land Rover, Lexus and Tesla. Customers can check out the Freeman Motor online inventory to see its current selection of vehicles. Once a shopper has found interest in a vehicle or two, they have a few options. They can get a personalized video chat session or test drive the vehicle at home with no obligations.

Shoppers who like what they have seen may start the payment process online and have the vehicle delivered to their home. Once the vehicle has been delivered, the rest of the purchase will be completed. This service is offered within a 30-mile radius of Freeman Motor Company.

For more information about Freeman Motor Company delivery test drives, contact the dealership. It can be reached by phone at 503-310-555 for the Portland showroom and at 503-485-0007 for the Salem showroom. The Portland location is at 7524 S Macadam Ave and the Salem location is located on 3784 Portland Rd NE.
James Madison, the fourth US President, wrote in 1788 the "accumulation of all powers in the same hands, whether of one, a few or many is the very definition of tyranny". Those words remain true amidst todays COVID-19 crisis.

Social distancing rules are mind-bogglingly inconsistent and difficult to follow. Credit:AAP

Victoria's Premier and his Crisis Council have flouted all the finest traditions of Westminster democracy during this crisis. Governments must be accountable to the peoples elected representatives through Parliament. The opposition, particularly in times such as these, must be allowed to question, scrutinise and debate government proposals.

Transparency is essential to a functioning democracy. Competing voices create better policy.

Instead, the Victorian governments strict restrictions and massive spending have been foisted on Victorians without consultation, discussion or collaboration with the opposition.
President Donald Trump surprising disclosure on Monday that he was using hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malarial drug commonly used by lupus and rheumatoid arthritis patients, has amplified an already fierce debate over its use for coronavirus patients.

Trump, who said he asked to be and was then prescribed the drug by the White House physician, has spent weeks touting the drug as a potential game-changer in the fight against COVID-19, which has sickened around 1.5 million Americans with the death rate creeping toward 100,000.

Yet the presidents use of hydroxychloroquine as a preventative measure  along with its already flagged risks  triggered heated discussions about the wisdom of the decision.

Weeks after issuing an emergency use authorization for both hydroxychloroquine and a similar drug called chloroquine, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned they were not safe and effective when used on COVID-19 patients.

Still, Trump insisted on Monday that a lot of good things have come out about the hydroxy(chloroquine). Youd be surprised at how many people are taking it, especially the frontline workers before you catch (the virus).

Trump initially sparked a furor when he first floated hydroxychloroquine as a potential treatment in the COVID-19 fight. He doubled down on its potential Monday, repeating his previous conviction that it is not a harmful drug, used for off-label uses, and has been around for 40 years. In recent weeks, several health experts have warned about its potential harm.

The president, meanwhile, said he has been taking it for a couple of weeks. Frontline workers take it. A lot of doctors take it.

There are over 1.5 million coronavirus cases in the U.S. (Graphic: David Foster/Yahoo Finance)

Happy talk

But according to Henry Miller, founding director of the FDA's Office of Biotechnology and a Senior Fellow at the Pacific Research Institute, Trumps public advocacy of the treatment  and the FDAs initial decision to authorize an emergency use order  is giving the debate a needlessly political veneer.

Story continues

Its an example of an FDA action that in a sense was unnecessary...probably politically motivated, Miller told Yahoo Finance in a recent interview. He also blasted the FDAs emergency use authorization as unnecessary, because the drug is already approved for off-label uses like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.

Miller charged that much of the discussion surrounding coronavirus treatments has been tainted by politically motivated happy talk that is affecting how officials should interpret the data.

Im a Republican, but I resent happy talk, I resent misrepresentation and I resent lies, Miller added.

The agencys guidance issued on Thursday stopped short of banning its use altogether. Instead, the FDA recommended consumers do not use it independently, and said health professionals should use their judgement when prescribing it for a coronavirus patient.

Trumps effusiveness was stoked by a couple of inconclusive early studies, one of which was conducted in France. Yet the FDAs decision amplified the findings of other studies, including a preliminary report from the Department of Veterans Affairs, that suggest the drug may pose more of a risk when used to treat COVID-19 patients.

Its upsetting because there is only anecdotal data, except for the extremely questionable French studies and there are real holes in that, Miller said, adding Frances study has puzzling flaws.

While there havent been any reported deaths linked to the French study, there are lingering concerns about toxicity and what the tradeoff of benefits and risks are.

A drug with anecdotal promise, and risks

Despite the debate at the federal level, hydroxychloroquine has some prominent advocates involved in the fight against the pandemic.

Recently, Novartis (NVS) CEO Vas Narasimhan told a German newspaper that pre-clinical data in animals and initial clinical studies show the drug actually kills the virus. The drug is produced by Novartis Sandoz division, and Bayer (BAYRY) produces chloroquine both of which have donated millions of doses to the national stockpile. Teva (TEVA) and Mylan (MYL) also make hydroxychloroquine.

Meanwhile, New York state has been allowing the use of hydroxychloroquine in hospitals, anticipating better data as the drug is used in empirical settings. Gov. Andrew Cuomo has cited its anecdotal effectiveness, but said last month that initial studies show its results to be neutral at best.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the leading White House coronavirus task force member, has previously expressed more caution about using hydroxychloroquine in COVID-19 treatment protocols, saying there has only been anecdotal evidence, about its effectiveness.

Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel, who served as special advisor for health policy to the director of the White House Office of Management and Budget during the Obama administration echoed those remarks in a recent talk with Yahoo Finance in which he said we need to rely on data.

As the public debate ramps up, its sparked increased demand for hydroxychloroquine  something thats prompted other states  such as Ohio, Texas, and Nevada  to protect access for patients who need the drug for off-label uses. Reports of doctors ordering it for themselves, friends and family, have resulted in supply shortages.

Miller, however, hopes the FDAs rush to validate hydroxychloroquine doesnt spill over into approvals of other COVID-19 treatments and vaccines in the pipeline.

I hope that [FDA Commissioner Steven Hahn]... wont be rushed unnecessarily or inappropriately for insufficient evidence of data, he said, citing vaccines as a particular worry.

Public officials have cited a timeline of 12 to 18 months for a potential coronavirus cure. However, Miller blasted that as politically motivated happy talk and off by a factor of two, at least. Fauci is among those who have floated that optimistic time frame, given the urgency of the crisis.

Yet Miller stated that Fauci has qualified it in a clever way. He says a vaccine that you make and start testing in a year is not a vaccine that is deployable. You can have a candidate, but cant complete all required testing in a year.

Anjalee Khemlani is a reporter at Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter: @AnjKhem

Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance

Follow Yahoo Finance on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Flipboard, SmartNews, LinkedIn, YouTube, and reddit.
A retired MCD employee and his wife were stabbed to death by their son and daughter-in-law at their home in outer Delhis Chhawla are in the early hours of Friday while their minor grandchildren slept in another room, police said.

The elderly couples refusal to sell their plot of land to fund their sons business was the trigger for the double murder, said a senior police officer who asked not to be named.

The couple, identified by the police as Satish Singh, 37, and Kavita, 35 have been arrested. Satish used to wok as a driver but is currently unemployed.

The couple lived with their children and Singhs parents -- 61-year-old Raj Singh, 61, and Omvati, 58 -- in Chhawlas Durga Vihar. Singhs two sisters are married, work as teachers and live elsewhere in the same neighbourhood.

Raj retired from a clerical job with the MCD in 2019. He purchased two plots with the money he received upon retirement. Satish and his wife were pushing him father to sell the land and give them money to start a business, added the senior police officer.

This demand and the constant refusal of the elderly couple to sell the land often resulted in quarrels at their home, the officer said.

One such quarrel in the early hours of Friday led to Satish and Kavita picking a knife and stabbing the elderly couple to death. They were both stabbed multiple times, particularly in the face, said the officer.

At the time of the murder, Singhs eight-year-old son and six-year-old daughter were asleep in another room. After killing them, the suspects locked the room from outside and stayed in the house. They were unsure about what to do next, said the officer.

The children woke up around 10 am, but allegedly werent allowed to enter the room in which the bodies were kept.

Around 11 am on Friday, the Raj Singhs younger daughter and another relative visited the house to check on the elderly couple. They hadnt been able to get through to anyone over phone, said the officer.

But Singh and his wife refused to let them enter the house. But the other relative managed to barge into the house even as a crowd gathered outside. We received a call about the double murder at 11.30 am, said Anto Alphonse, deputy commissioner of police (Dwarka).

The bodies were sent for autopsy and the couple picked up, he added

Another police officer said on condition of anonymity that the suspects initially denied being the killers and then went on to blame each other for the crime. They finally broke down and confessed to killing the elderly couple in a fit of rage for refusing to sell the land.
We often see insiders buying up shares in companies that perform well over the long term. Unfortunately, there are also plenty of examples of share prices declining precipitously after insiders have sold shares. So we'll take a look at whether insiders have been buying or selling shares in Alantra Partners, S.A. (BME:ALNT).

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, such insiders must disclose their trading activities, and not trade on inside information.

Insider transactions are not the most important thing when it comes to long-term investing. But equally, we would consider it foolish to ignore insider transactions altogether. As Peter Lynch said, 'insiders might sell their shares for any number of reasons, but they buy them for only one: they think the price will rise.

Check out our latest analysis for Alantra Partners

The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At Alantra Partners

Director Jose Antonio Abad Zorrilla made the biggest insider purchase in the last 12 months. That single transaction was for 937k worth of shares at a price of 15.10 each. So it's clear an insider wanted to buy, even at a higher price than the current share price (being 11.00). While their view may have changed since the purchase was made, this does at least suggest they have had confidence in the company's future. To us, it's very important to consider the price insiders pay for shares. It is encouraging to see an insider paid above the current price for shares, as it suggests they saw value, even at higher levels. Jose Antonio Abad Zorrilla was the only individual insider to buy shares in the last twelve months.

You can see the insider transactions (by individuals) over the last year depicted in the chart below. If you click on the chart, you can see all the individual transactions, including the share price, individual, and the date!

Story continues

BME:ALNT Recent Insider Trading April 25th 2020

There are plenty of other companies that have insiders buying up shares. You probably do not want to miss this free list of growing companies that insiders are buying.

Insider Ownership

Looking at the total insider shareholdings in a company can help to inform your view of whether they are well aligned with common shareholders. I reckon it's a good sign if insiders own a significant number of shares in the company. It appears that Alantra Partners insiders own 3.5% of the company, worth about 15m. We've certainly seen higher levels of insider ownership elsewhere, but these holdings are enough to suggest alignment between insiders and the other shareholders.

So What Does This Data Suggest About Alantra Partners Insiders?

There haven't been any insider transactions in the last three months -- that doesn't mean much. However, our analysis of transactions over the last year is heartening. Insiders own shares in Alantra Partners and we see no evidence to suggest they are worried about the future. While we like knowing what's going on with the insider's ownership and transactions, we make sure to also consider what risks are facing a stock before making any investment decision. Case in point: We've spotted 3 warning signs for Alantra Partners you should be aware of.

If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt.

For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions, but not derivative transactions.

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned.



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
Vietnam has donated US$50,000 to the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund of the World Health Organization (WHO) to support the work of the United Nations agency in the fight against the novel coronavirus disease pandemic.

Vietnam's Foreign Affairs Deputy Minister Le Hoai Trung said at a handover ceremony in Hanoi on Friday that the Vietnamese government is striving to curb the epidemic and guarantee socio-economic stability for the sake of social security.

On behalf of the Vietnamese government and people, Trung also extended thanks to the WHO and other United Nations agencies, the WHO Vietnam Office, and the UN Resident Coordinator for Vietnam for their support and assistance in the COVID-19 fight in Vietnam.

The deputy minister said their help has contributed to further deepening the partnership between the Southeast Asian nation and the United Nations over the past four decades.

While Vietnam is feeling the impacts of the pandemic, its government decided still to contribute $50,000 to the WHOs COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund in a bid to help mitigate the adverse effects of the public health crisis, he stressed.

He called on the WHO to maintain its central role in leading and coordinating international efforts, meeting the aspirations of member states while offering further support to developing countries, especially those with weak healthcare systems, to cope with COVID-19 outbreaks.

Meanwhile, WHO Vietnam representative Dr. Kidong Park said Vietnam was among the countries taking the lead in medical diplomacy and thanked the Vietnamese government and people for their support for the COVID-19 response fund.

Park congratulated Vietnam on its successful prevention and control of the acute respiratory disease as more than 80 percent of COVID-19 patients have recovered, and no death has been recorded in the country.

He attributed these outcomes to the drastic engagement of the government, ministries and agencies, as well as broad public support.

Park also voiced support for the so-called "Four S" strategy proposed by Vietnams Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh at a ministerial teleconference of the Alliance for Multilateralism on April 16.

The "Four S" strategy for COVID-19 fight  Solidarity, Share, Stop, and Stimulate  highlights the need for strengthened multilateral efforts of the global community to prevail over the pandemic.

The official also supported the countrys initiative to designate an international day of global solidarity in response to diseases.

Founded by the United Nations Foundation, the Swiss Philanthropy Foundation and the WHO in March, the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund aims to raise money from a wide range of donors to support the work of the WHO and its partners to help countries respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The fund, the first of its kind, enables private individuals, corporations and institutions anywhere in the world to come together to directly contribute to global response efforts, the WHO said in a statement on its website.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Cass County now has exceeded Morgan County in the number of COVID-19 infections it has after reporting seven new cases Friday.

Eighteen cases of the coronavirus disease have been confirmed among Cass County residents, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.

The latest cases involve a girl in her teens, a man in his 30s, a woman in her 30s, a man in his 40s, a woman in her 40s and a man in his 50s. All are isolated and recovering at home.

A positive test also was received for a man in his 30s, who is in the hospital but stable, according to Cass County Health Department public health coordinator Andrew C. English.

Cass County health officials are asking people to stay home, to only leave the house for essentials and to wear a cloth face mask in public.

Morgan County reported no new cases Friday, with its total standing at 14. There are eight tests pending and 196 tests have been returned as negative.

Brown and Scott counties remain the only in west-central Illinois without any confirmed cases. Pike and Schuyler counties have one case each, Greene County has two, Macoupin County is reporting 25 and Sangamon County has 81 cases as of Friday.

Statewide, 2,724 new cases of coronavirus disease were recorded in Illinois, along with 108 deaths.

There were 39,658 cases in 96 counties in Illinois as of Friday, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. There have been 1,795 deaths statewide.

 David C.L. Bauer
Actor Divyanka Tripathi stepped out for some grocery shopping only to realise the magnitude of the coronavirus pandemic. She took to Instagram Stories to express her thoughts.

Putting up two short video clips, one in which people are seen practicing social distancing and another, a close-up of hers, in which she speaks to her audience. She says how she had never imagined buying something as simple as groceries would be so tough. She says in Hindi, I am all pasina, pasina... Kabhi socha nahin tha ki grocery khareedne ke liye itni mehnat karni padegi (I am perspiring profusely... I had never imagined that to buy grocery I would have to work so hard.). In it, her face is covered with a mask; she also wears sunglasses since World Health Organisation (WHO) directive stresses on protecting eyes, nose and mouth as prevention against Covid-19.

A host of TV and Bollywood stars are keeping their fans entertained posting exercise, cooking, cleaning and fun videos. Divyankas husband actor Vivek Dahiya posted a video sometime back, showing off skills at hair styling.

Sharing the video of the couple, he had written: Quarantine haircut. So a couple of days ago I had asked a question if you would trust your wife with your haircut? The answer lies within this video. The video opened with Vivek sitting on a chair and Divyanka standing with a pair of scissors in her hand. Vivek isnt too sure about her hairstyling skills, so he hid his face behind a towel and looked reluctant to get a haircut from her.

Also read: When Shah Rukh Khan warned Aamir Khan to not work with Kajol: She is very bad, unfocused

Throughout the video, however, Vivek could be seen advising her how to go about the look as prior to the haircut session, she had warned him and suggested a bald look if things went wrong. Right from telling her to get a water spray to even buzzing the sides of his hair, he did it all though he let her do most of the haircutting part.

The end result turned out to be good. Vivek was happy with his new hairdo and said he was proud of his wife. Divyanka in return called him a good teacher.

(With IANS inputs)

Follow @htshowbiz for more
Two alleged S.I. mobsters released from prison over coronavirus concerns

Two Staten Island reputed mobsters were recently released from prison amid concerns of catching the coronavirus while behind bars, federal court papers show.

Both Eugene (Boobsie) Castelle, a Staten Island man and reputed soldier in the Lucchese organized crime family, and Daniel (Shrek) Capaldo, a Staten Islander and alleged Colombo crime family associate, asked to be released from prison on March 31, the Advance/SILive.com previously reported.

Click here for the story.

Don't Edit

Hes accused of stealing from Pleasant Plains Catholic church

A Prince's Bay man, who once served time for assaulting his friend's young daughter, is now accused of stealing from a Catholic church in Pleasant Plains.

Vincent Tesoriero, 28, of Clearmont Avenue, was arrested Monday in connection with the alleged April 9 theft, said police.

The events unfolded around 8:25 a.m. on Maguire Avenue at the church of St. Joseph-St. Thomas-St. John Neumann Parish. The defendant lives a few blocks away.

Click here for the full story.

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Uptick in burglaries, robberies, shootings in different Staten Island neighborhoods

While life on Staten Island remains on pause due to the coronavirus (COVID-19), police are reporting increases in burglaries, robberies and shootings in different parts of the borough.

Overall, the seven major categories of crime were down 4.5% on Staten Island through April 12 from the same time period last year, according to the NYPDs CompStat data.

Citywide, crime was up 6.8% year-to-date.

Click here for the full story.

Don't Edit

NYPD: Number of officers on sick report continues to decline

The number of police officers out sick continues to decline on a daily basis, data from the New York Police Department shows.

As of Thursday, there were 4,200 uniformed members of the NYPD on sick report, including those with non-COVID-related illness, accounting for 11.6% of the workforce -- an 8.2% decrease from 10 days ago, when 19.8% of the workforce was on sick report.

Click here for the story.

Don't Edit

District attorney to honor National Crime Victims Rights Week online

Even though large public gatherings are banned amid the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), District Attorney Michael E. McMahon is asking Staten Islanders to come together virtually to mark National Crime Victims Rights Week.

Due to the current health crisis, we are unable to celebrate the week in the ways we have in years past, with large gatherings, celebrations, and public events, the district attorneys office said in a statement. However, it is critically important we continue to honor our loved ones and all people who have been victims of crime during this special week.

Click here for the story.

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NYPD: 2 men accused of attempted murder in Clifton

Two men are accused of attempted murder after one of them shot a firearm multiple times inside a Clifton apartment building, according to police and the criminal complaint.

Richard McCrimon, 33, of Comstock Ave in Graniteville, and Keyshawn Williams, 18, of the 700 block of the FDR Drive in Manhattan, entered the building at 260 Park Hill Ave. at around 10:30 p.m. on Wednesday and knocked at a door of an apartment they had reason to know was occupied, police and the criminal complaint said.

Click here for the full story.

Don't Edit

Accused of drugs, robbery, beer theft, Wendys damage, he cops plea

A homeless man will spend some time in a city jail cell after admitting to attempted robbery and drug possession.

David Drago, 30, was charged with a string of minor crimes  mainly misdemeanor cocaine possession  dating to Nov. 20, court records show.

The defendant was also accused of damaging a drive-through speaker box at a Wendys restaurant on Nov. 27 and stealing beer from a Key Food supermarket on Jan. 24, said an indictment.

Click here for the story.
Details added, first version published on 11:59

BAKU, Azerbaijan, Apr. 24

Trend:

Officers of the Main Organized Crime Department under the Azerbaijani Ministry of Internal Affairs have carried out a special operation against members of the international network of cybercriminals, Trend reports citing the press service of the ministry on Apr. 24.

Two Bulgarian citizens, committing cyber crimes against the banking sector of Azerbaijan, have been detained.

During the operational and technical activities of the departments officers in Baku, Bulgarian citizens Stoychev Mariann Nikolov and Mladenov Vladislav Cvetanov have been detained.

During the investigation, it has been discovered that these persons, using special equipment, microcircuits and other accessories used in cybercrimes, broke into ATMs of various banks in Baku. Members of the group who arrived in Azerbaijan in February and March 2020, through the prepared plan, tried to steal large amounts of cash breaking the ATMs. Having placed special devices in ATMs card reader, they received information about PIN-codes of the customers' cards and recorded them.
The chartered flight carrying Prasad Das and family reached the airport from where he was taken to the hospital in a specially arranged ambulance. (Image released by Aster MIMS Hospital)

Kochi: A seriously ill youth from Kerala, stuck at his workplace in UK, was brought back to his hometown in a chartered flight for emergency medical treatment.

Prasad Das, an IT professional hailing from Vadakara in Kozhikode district, was admitted to a private hospital in Kozhikode. He reached Kozhikode international airport and after completing the mandatory screening test for coronavirus, he was shifted to Aster MIMS hospital.

Prasad who is working in Nottingham, UK had received treatment for gastrointestinal ailments from Aster MIMS hospital in Kozhikode a year ago and had returned to UK after completion of the treatment.

Due to the coronavirus outbreak, UK hospitals are preoccupied with the virus emergencies and seeking treatment for an infection in the local hospital turned to be difficult for Prasad.

As his condition deteriorated, Prasad contacted Dr Abhishek Rajan, a senior gastrointestinal surgeon at Aster MIMS hospital.

With the help of state health department and district administration, all the all necessary formalities and permissions were obtained for him to fly down to Kozhikode in a chartered flight.

The chartered flight carrying Prasad Das and family reached the airport from where he was taken to the hospital in a specially arranged ambulance.

According to the reports, the airlifting of the IT professional was made possible through the efforts of a WhatsApp group-- Distress Management Collective led by retired Supreme Court judge Kurian Joseph and former Union minister, Alphons Kannanthanam. It is through their interventions that the required clearances from various ministries were obtained within two days, add the reports.

This request for bringing the patient to Kerala came from Tom Aditya, mayor of a UK city, who wrote to us. We moved fast contacting Secretaries of Civil Aviation, Home, Health and Family Welfare besides Kerala chief secretary and in less than two days we got the necessary approvals from the four secretaries who are the busiest people now", Alphons Kannanthanam told PTI from New Delhi.

Apart from Dr Abhishek Rajan, gastrointestinal sciences head, Dr Anish Kumar, gastrointestinal surgery head, Dr Sajeesh Sahadevan, Dr Seethalakshmiand Dr Naushif are attending to the patient.
Sri Lanka will lift the nationwide curfew imposed to stem the spread of the coronavirus on Monday, police said as the total number of infections in the country surged past 400.

The island nation reported its highest number of 49 infections in a single day on Friday. A new cluster was reported as a Sri Lankan Navy facility was found to have 30 COVID-19 cases.

The country has till Friday recorded 414 cases with 7 deaths. Over 100 of them have fully recovered.

In a statement issued on Saturday, police said that the curfew will be lifted at 5 am on April 27.

There was no indication on its re-imposition. However, analysts say the curfew could be re-imposed as a new statement is expected to be issued by the authorities over the weekend.

Sri Lanka has been under a 24-hour curfew since March 20 to combat the deadly viral infection.

The government had on Monday dropped its decision to relax the nationwide curfew and extended it to April 27 following a sudden spike in the number of COVID-19 cases.

However, there has been intermittent lifting of the curfew in selected areas which were not seen as dangerous for the spread of the deadly virus.

Health officials said that during this week, they have increased the PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) tests and the aim is to conduct around 100 PCR tests per day.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Dhaka, Apr 24 (UNI) Bangladesh has banned Iftar gatherings during Ramzan in an effort to limit the spread of the Coronavirus.

The Religious Affairs Ministry of Bangladesh announced the move in a statement on Friday.

In order to maintain social distancing during the Coronavirus outbreak, no individuals or institutions will be allowed to arrange or participate in any gathering over Iftar, it said.

Legal action will be taken against those who fail to comply with the order, according to the Ministry.

The government has also decided not to allow more than 12 people in mosques for Ramzan evening prayers this year as the Coronavirus outbreak continues to escalate. The 12 will include senior clerics and other mosque officials.

The mosques governing bodies will decide who will be included from the neighbourhood if the quota is not filled for Isha and Taraweeh prayers, State Minister for Religious Affairs Sheikh Md Abdullah told this correspondent on Thursday.

No outsider will be allowed in, if the quota is made up all by mosque officials.

He also said the restrictions on gathering for other prayers in mosques will remain in force.

Currently, the number of people allowed for mosque prayers is five. As many as ten can offer Juma prayers on Fridays.

Muslims in Bangladesh are expected to start the month of fasting on Saturday, a date subject to the sighting of the crescent moon.

Taraweeh prayers will start on Friday evening if the moon is sighted.

UNI XC SB 1432
Hyderabad: A nurse from Nizams Institute of Medical Sciences, who tested positive for Covid-19 on April 18, transmitted the infection to a nine-month-old child. An investigation by Covid-19 special teams showed that she had come in contact with 40 nurses who may also have been affected.

The special teams have alerted the NIMS hospital management, which quarantined the nurses immediately.

According to the Covid-19 teams deployed at the containment zone in Mettuguda, the nurse, who did not show Covid-19 symptoms, interacted with several of her neighbours being asymptomatic.

She often played with a nine-month-old child of a neighbour, who also tested positive. Both of them were sent to Gandhi Hospitals isolation ward. Around 60 households in the area were put under home quarantine and the area was declared a containment zone.

"The nurse had come in contact with a coronavirus-positive patient. She attended to the patient and helped him while shifting wards. Doctors and other nurses who attended the patient have been identified. Since the doctors are wearing personal protective equipment (PPE), they are safe. But 40 nurses have been isolated and their swabs sent for testing. All of them will be relieved from the isolation ward if they test negative thrice," a Covid-19 official at Mettuguda said.

With 13 fresh cases reported on Friday, the number of virus cases reported in Telangana rose to 983.

No death occurred on Friday and the number of people who succumbed to the virus in the state stayed 25.

The number of people who have been discharged from hospitals was 291, while the number of active cases is 663.


See statement below

SOUTHERN KADUNA PEOPLES UNION (SOKAPU)  PRESS STATEMENT (25th April, 2020)

In the past 48 hours, communities in three Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the Southern part of Kaduna state have again, come under coordinated attacks by armed herdsmen.

This, and many other savagery on our communities in recent times, affirm the fear that for our vulnerable communities, the danger posed to our existence and wellbeing by the coronavirus pandemic is less grim than the perennial murderous acts of armed herdsmen. They not only killed in the most gruesome manner; they plunder, loot, carry out mass scale arson and then kidnap their victims despite the lockdown.

Last Wednesday, 23th April, 2020, around 10pm, gunshots were heard from different directions in Atang, near Gidan Waya in Godogodo Chiefdom of Jemaa LGA. After the pandemonium, it was discovered that the invaders had kidnapped Mr. Emmanuel Iliya Atang, son of the Chief of Godogodo Chiefdom. Emmanuel, 47 is married with two children. As at yesterday, his abductors called to ask for N30 million ransom.

Yesterday, also, Thursday, 24th April, 2020 armed herdsmen attacked Kujeni village in Kajuru LGA in daytime and Geoffrey Zakka, 25 was killed. One woman and a child were injured and more than 25 houses burnt down. The ECWA church in the town and its pastorium were also razed down completely.

On the same day at Makyali village in Kajuru LGA, Thomas Micah, a 42 year old farmer was attacked and killed on his farm. He is married with seven children.

The cruelty of armed herdsmen over Adara communities, has been raging on since early this year after a little respite from the genocide suffered by the Adara in 2019.

On the 22nd March, 2020, Fulani militia opened fire on Adara hunters and killed one Michael Yahaya of Mararanban Afogo.

On the 25th March, 2020,/Bakira-Maro village was attacked around 11pm. The following were the victims: Beniah Daniel, 12; Ishaku Apiletuwe, 43, father of 3 and Rita Atiteh, 33.

Helen Jonathan 22 and Ashuli Jacob were severely injured.

It should also be noted that Four persons from Tantatu village near Kajuru town, who were on a fishing expedition at a remote river were attacked by armed Fulani and are still missing.

On the 16tth April,2929,/ Fulani terrorists attacked Ungwan Maigero, Kachia LGA in the night and killed two people.

On Saturday 19/4/2020, Fulani terrorists attacked Awake village in Kachia LGA and killed a woman and her child. The name of the woman is Lamii Adamu. One other person was injured.

Yesterday, Thursday, 24th April, 2020, Akwunakwo village, near Gwagwada in Chikun LGA, was attacked. We are informed that a soldier was killed and one other native of the village.

In the course of the violence being unleashed on Akunakwo, residents of nearby Kabrasha village fled. When the invaders arrived the village, they found a dumb and deaf man who was unaware of what was going on and abducted him, after looting the village.

The wanton waste of precious lives in Southern Kaduna communities by armed herdsmen continued last night, 24th April.

In Damba-Kasaya community, in Chikun LGA, armed herdsmen invaded the village on scores of motor bikes. Five people confirmed killed, a teenage girl kidnapped leaving more with various forms of injuries.

The criminals stole huge amount of foodstuffs, cattle and other livestock. They also stole cars, motorcycle and other values sustained injuries, cattle taken away, cars and many other valuables.

They then set the village ablaze and left.

SOKAPU commends the effort put by our security defending Akwunakwo. We acknowledge the supreme sacrifice paid by the fallen soldier and pray for the repose of his soul.

We also called on our communities to remain vigilant and extend all the cooperation needed to our military and security agencies.

Sign: Luka Binniyat.

National Public Relations Officer




NEWS PROVIDED BY

Catholic League

April 24, 2020



NEW YORK, April 24, 2020 /Christian Newswire/ -- Catholic League president Bill Donohue comments on Christian videos being removed from Facebook:

"You are invited to pray, to pray for the family, to pray for the sick, and to pray for our leaders."



"God encourages us not to be dismayed by what we see around us, things we cannot control. We can, however, with the best intel in this moment, place our trust in him, walk forward in his strength, and treat others with kindness."

These remarks were posted on Facebook and were removed by military officers following a protest.

The first statement was made by Captain Amy Smith; Major Scott Ingram made the second one. They are military chaplains at Fort Drum, and their video remarks were posted on Facebook.

They were taken down when Mikey Weinstein, an anti-Christian activist who heads the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, complained that the videos (there were four in all) amounted to "illicit proselytizing." He also said his complaint was done "to ensure church-state separation."

Weinstein complained to officers of the U.S. Armys 10th Mountain Division and they yielded. Yet they had no need tothey were deceived by the false arguments made by Weinstein.

There is nothing "illicit" about the mere invocation of God by military chaplains. Had an atheist religion-hating member of the armed forces posted a video on Facebook celebrating Lucifer, Weinstein would have defended it as freedom of speech.

Military chaplains do not lose their twin First Amendment rights of freedom of religion and freedom of speech by posting religious commentary on a private media outlet. Moreover, the separation of church and state provision of the First Amendment only applies to what government cannot do.

Every president, acting as commander in chief, has invoked God, beginning with George Washington. To say that military chaplains have no right to identify themselves as officers when they engage in religious commentary is to say they have no public right to exercise their freedom of speech and freedom of religion. Only fascists think this way.
By Express News Service

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Even as Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday insisted that the High Court had rejected the Oppositions arguments against the Sprinklr deal, the fact remains that the government has had a narrow providential escape. Most of the government claims over ensuring data privacy and security have fallen flat. While Law Minister A K Balan maintained that there is nothing against the government in the verdict, the Opposition has become even more vigorous in urging the LDF government to cancel the deal.

Though it did not stay or cancel the deal, the High Court expressed serious concerns over maintaining the confidentiality of data. The HC also hinted that it was not intervening in the deal considering the raging Covid-19 pandemic. In its remarks, the court was critical of the government depending only on Sprinklr. The fact that the state government did not explore the scope for seeking technical assistance from the Union Ministry of Information and Technology also drew criticism.

However, CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said the Opposition charges over the Sprinklr deal have been proven meaningless with the HC verdict.Welcoming the High Courts interim verdict on Sprinklr, the Opposition urged the government to cancel the Sprinklr deal in view of the courts remarks. The HC verdict shows that the issues raised by the Opposition are serious in nature. If the government has any decency left, it should cancel the deal, demanded Leader of the Opposition Ramesh Chennithala.

The HC verdict focuses on five things -- data security, inherent consent, preventing Sprinklr from using government logo, privacy of individual data and, finally a directive that the data should not be transferred. About 99 per cent of the issues raised by the Opposition have been addressed. Taking into consideration the High Courts remarks, the government has no moral right to continue with the deal, said Chennithala.

He pointed out that the Central government had conveyed that it has the technical knowhow to provide the same service for the state. Why does the state government feel responsible to argue in favour of the company? The court has expressed its clear displeasure towards the deal, he said. The Opposition will continue with its fight against the governments attempt to sell data under the cover of the pandemic, he added.

KPCC chief Mullappally Ramachanran termed the verdict as a major setback for the government. The chief ministers defence of Sprinklr has crumbled like a pack of cards with the HC verdict, said Mullappally. The HC issued such an order so that the ongoing Covid preventive measures are unimpeded. The HC has registered its major displeasure over the governments actions. The conditional clearance given by the HC is in no way helpful to the government. The HC expressed the same concerns regarding the deal as the Congress had raised, said Mullappally who also reiterated the demand for a CBI investigation into the deal. The HC verdict has upheld all concerns raised by the Opposition, said former chief minister Oommen Chandy. The chief minister could not convince the court about this extraordinary deal, said Chandy.

Govt to go ahead with deal: Pinarayi

TPuram: The state government will go ahead with the Sprinklr deal as the High Court has neither issued a stay nor cancelled the same, said Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The High Court through its interim verdict has rejected the allegations raised by the Opposition, Pinarayi said, responding to queries at his customary press meet here on Friday. Terming the verdict as a setback for the Opposition, he said the government will take steps to ensure data security.

The government has already taken proper measures to ensure security of data. Theres no confusion in this regard. The government has also informed the HC of the measures taken. There wont be any compromise on ensuring data security, said Pinarayi. Pinarayi also rejected criticism over the hiring of a senior advocate, N S Nappinai, from outside the state to appear for the government in the case.

Covid-19 crisis saved the govt, says BJP

TPuram: Had it not been for the crisis situation in state in the wake of the Covid-19, the High Court would have cancelled the Sprinklr deal, BJP president K Surendran has said. Surendran, who had approached the HC seeking cancellation of the Sprinklr deal, said the strict conditions placed by the court in its interim order proved there were serious flaws in the deal. The court has upheld our arguments regarding data privacy, ensuring data security and return of the data transferred to the foreign firm, said Surendran.
LONDON, April 24 (Reuters) - The United Kingdom said on Friday that an Iranian satellite launch earlier this week was of significant concern and inconsistent with a United Nations Security Council resolution.

"Reports that Iran has carried out a satellite launch  using ballistic missile technology  are of significant concern and inconsistent with UN Security Council Resolution 2231," a Foreign Office spokesman said.

"The UN has called upon Iran not to undertake any activity related to ballistic missiles designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons. Iran must abide by this," the spokesman said.

"We have significant and longstanding concerns, alongside our international partners, over Irans ballistic missile programme, which is destabilising for the region and poses a threat to regional security," the Foreign Office spokesman said. (Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge; Editing by Alistair Smout)
BERLIN, April 24 (Xinhua) -- China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC), the world's largest rolling stock manufacturer by production volume, donated a shipment of medical equipment to Germany via the German Red Cross on Friday to help the country fight the coronavirus.

Responding to the call from the German government and the Chinese Embassy in Germany, and in accordance with an arrangement between CRRC and CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive Co. Ltd. (CRRC ZELC), the company donated 1,000 protective suits, 20,000 FFP2 masks and 80,000 surgical masks.

CRRC ZELC said that the donated materials will be distributed to medical staff and volunteers who are fighting the pandemic on the frontlines.

Cheng Jian, general manager of CRRC ZELC Verkehrstechnik GmbH, said that the only way to overcome the crisis is to unite strengths and meet the challenges together.

"We wish to undertake our social responsibility as part of the community. We firmly believe that with joint efforts of the international community, Germany will quickly overcome the crisis, and production and life will return to normal soon," Cheng said.

According to Jens Quade, president of the Mueggelspree regional branch of the German Red Cross, the risk of new coronavirus infections could be reduced through the generous donation from CRRC ZELC.

"The donated material will be distributed to the Berlin Red Cross, Berlin hospitals and/or medical institutions. We will do our best to provide the necessary assistance to the people who are most in need," Quade said.
Mr. Rabby, known to friends as Rami, was a native of Tel Aviv with honors degrees in French and Spanish from the University of Oxford in England and a masters degree in business administration from the University of Chicago. He became a U.S. citizen in 1980, worked as a management consultant for Citibank on issues of equal rights and opportunities for the blind, and tried unsuccessfully for almost a decade to join the Foreign Service.
By ANI

NEW DELHI: A SpiceJet freighter carrying COVID-19 medical supplies from Shanghai, China landed in Delhi late on Friday night.

"The SpiceJet freighter SG7017 carrying coronavirus medical supplies from Shanghai landed in Delhi late last night. The aircraft carried approximately 18 tons of medical and emergency supplies," said an official statement issued by the SpiceJet.

ALSO READ: COVID-19 LIVE

The flight had landed in Shanghai on April 15 to load critical medical supplies for India.

"We're delighted that this first-ever flight could help the country during this hour of need!" SpiceJet had said in a tweet.
Early Warning Early Action (EWEA) Junior Specialist, Dakar, Senegal

Organization: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

Country: Senegal

City: Dakar, Senegal

Office: FAO Dakar, Senegal

Closing date: Friday, 8 May 2020

CALL FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST - VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT : 2000954

Early Warning Early Action (EWEA) Junior Specialist

Job Posting: 20/Apr/2020

Closure Date: 08/May/2020, 9:59:00 PM

Organizational Unit : SFW

Job Type: Non-staff opportunities

Type of Requisition : Consultant / PSA (Personal Services Agreement)

Grade Level : N/A

Primary Location: Senegal-Dakar

Duration : 6 months with the possibility of extension subject to satisfactory results and availability of funds

Post Number : N/A

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that Closure Date and Time displayed above are based on date and time settings of your personal device

FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender and nationality

People with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply

All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality

The incumbent may be re-assigned to different activities and/or duty stations depending on the evolving needs of the Organization

Organizational Setting

FAOs Early Warning Early Action (EWEA) translates warnings into anticipatory - or early - actions to reduce the impact of disasters on vulnerable and food insecure communities. Acting early, before a disaster has actually happened, or reached its peak is critical: it can save lives and protect livelihoods from the immediate shocks and increasing the resilience of local communities over time. FAO EWEA is key element of FAOs Strategic Programme 5: Increase the resilience of livelihoods to threats and crises. FAO EWEA work includes global level (risk analysis, advocacy and partnerships) as well as country activities (setting up country level EWEA systems and early action implementation).

In 2006, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has opened the Sub-regional team for Resilience - West Africa/Sahel (REOWA) office in Dakar to provide strategic orientation for FAOs emergency and rehabilitation programme on the ground and to coordinate and act as liaison between the various FAO Offices and the existing humanitarian aid network in the sub region, based in Dakar. In line with FAOs Strategic Objective 5 Increasing resilience of livelihoods to threats and crises, REOWA is strengthening the resilience of vulnerable communities livelihoods, especially through better prevention and mitigation, improved preparedness and response to recurrent food security, nutrition and pastoral crises and promotion of information for decision and action.

The Sub-regional Resilience Team for West Africa/Sahel (REOWA) enables FAO to liaise and coordinate with the large humanitarian and resilience community based in Dakar. It also provides FAO Representation in the sub-region with Strategic support on resilience issue. REOWA covers the 15 ECOWAS countries plus Mauritania and Chad. REOWA facilitates the contribution of FAO Cameroon to the Sahel humanitarian Appeal (HRP) consolidated in Dakar.

Reporting Lines

Under the direct supervision of the Coordinator of the sub regional team for resilience in West Africa / Sahel (REOWA), and the overall technical back-up and guidance of the EWEA Focal Point for REOWA and the Early Warning Early Action Technical Officer, in collaboration with the FAOs Office for Africa (RAF), the country Offices, the Early Warning Early Action consultant will : Technical Focus

The Early Warning Early Action (EWEA) Junior Specialist will support the implementation of FAOs EWEA Initiative in West Africa and the Sahel. He/She will focus on ensuring consistent risk monitoring and analysis for the Region, , developing technical notes on forthcoming risks and recommended early actions, supporting the implementation of EWEA pilot projects, supporting coordination and communication activities related to the EWEA program. [PL(1] .

His/her expected outputs are the following:

Risk analysis on regional issues is integrated in at least two Global EWEA reports

The risks in the region are continuously monitored and communicated to regional and national focal points

An overview of regional information sources and gap analysis is carried out

The DOs are supported in developing the EWEA pilot projects

Regional Early Action best practices are captured in the global Early Action repository.

Tasks and responsibilities

Carry out regular integrated risk analysis of natural disasters, socio economic risks, conflict, food insecurity and animal health;

Regularly produce notes on multi-sector risks in the REOWA region;

Inform decision making by regularly communicating risk findings to relevant DOs, REOWA management and the Global EWEA team, in particular contributing to the quarterly global EWEA reporting process;

Assist the EWEA Focal Point of REOWA in closely liaising with regional working groups and technical experts in order to ensure an in depth understanding of the risk context, as well as participate to regional level for a such as PREGEC-PRESASS, etc. ;

Collaborate with the EWEA Focal point of REOWA in ensuring the diffusion and visibility of FAOs EWEA analysis through the organization of technical meetings and presentations;

Assist the EWEA Focal point of REOWA in co-leading the regional EWEA thematic sub-group, carrying out specific analysis and supporting the coordination and management of the group;

Strengthen the available network of information sources and maintain an up-to-date mapping of key institutions and partners;

In close liaison with relevant operational focal points and Dos, contribute to the further development of the Early Action repository with best practices from West Africa and Sahel region;

Support the EWEA REOWA Focal point in the provision of technical assistance to DOs for the implementation of EWEA pilot projects, by carrying out risk analysis, identification of key EW indicators and triggers, development of EWEA plans;

Liaise with operational focal points at REOWA, RAF and HQ level to support timely implementation of EWEA projects;

Tags animal health continuous improvement disaster risk food insecurity food security gap analysis international relations knowledge sharing local communities natural disasters pilot projects risk analysis risk management trainings transparency west africa

Support the EWEA REOWA focal point in the adaptation of EWEA training materials and the organization of trainings at regional and national level;

Maintain an overview of the EWEA initiatives and opportunities in the West Africa and Sahel, mapping out key opportunities for FAOs involvement;

Support the EWEA REOWA Focal point in maintaining and further building partnerships with key agencies, regional entities and scientific/research institutions;

Support FAO participation in relevant key coordination mechanisms and the organization of specific meetings on EWEA (Regional FbF Dialogue Platforms, etc.)

Contribute to ensure the visibility of EWEA initiatives in the region by developing key notes and communication products, in collaboration with REOWAs communication officer

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

Advanced degree in one or more of the following: Agriculture, Early Warning and Risk analysis, Climatology, Disaster Risk Management, Agriculture Economics, Social/Political Science, Food security analysis, International Relations, Development Studies or a closely related field.

At least 1 year of experience in analysis on early warning, food security, disaster risks and vulnerability.

Working knowledge of English and French is required.

FAO Core Competencies

Results Focus

Teamwork

Communication

Building Effective Relationships

Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions is desirable.

Strong interpersonal and communication skills, writing ability, and oral presentation skills.

Ability to produce clear reports and written products

Ability to plan and organize own work, deliver results and meet deadlines.

Ability to perform well in cross-disciplinary teams.

[PL(1]These are specific tasks and responsibilities and they need to be mentioned in the section below. I rewrote briefly a section that defines the technical focus.

Please note that all candidates should adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

FAO does not charge any fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview, processing)

Please note that FAO will only consider academic credentials or degrees obtained from an educational institution recognized in the IAU/UNESCO list

Only language proficiency certificates from UN accredited external providers and/or FAO language official examinations (LPE, ILE, LRT) will be accepted as proof of the level of knowledge of languages indicated in the online applications

Candidates should upload language certificate/s when submitting their application.

For more information, visit the FAO employment website

HOW TO APPLY

To apply, visit the recruitment website at Jobs at FAO and complete your online profile. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Only applications received through the recruitment portal will be considered.

We encourage applicants to submit the application well before the deadline

If you need help please contact: Careers@fao.org
On Wednesday, in a brief, vague video teaser, the immensely popular rap-adjacent superstar Post Malone announced that something called the Post Malone Nirvana Tribute Livestream would be happening on his YouTube channel on Friday evening.

Nirvana purists were skeptical. Sure, the 24-year-old born Austin Post has paid homage, or at least lip service, to the rock gods before, breaking through with a catchy smash called Rockstar and quickly becoming the go-to guitar-wielding 20-something representing his cohort in feel-good intergenerational awards show performances (with Red Hot Chili Peppers at last years Grammys; with Aerosmith at last years MTV Video Music Awards).

On the other hand, Post Malone was born a year after Kurt Cobain died, makes narcotically sing-songy tunes and writes lyrics about wearing Versace boxers and 50-carat rings on a superyacht. It was anyones guess what that guys cover of Heart-Shaped Box was going to sound like.

But as it turned out? Surprisingly faithful to the original.

From the moment a contagiously grinning Post Malone walked into the frame and picked from his fleet of guitars, it was clear that he was not merely one of those come-lately fans that Cobain dissed in In Bloom  the kind who like to sing along but dont know what it means  but a musician with a deep reverence for the Seattle trio and an intimate familiarity with its catalog. (He was also clad in a tent-like floral dress, just like the ones Cobain sometimes wore in concert  a tenderly observant detail.)
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 25)  Thirty-one laboratory personnel at the country's primary testing facility who earlier tested positive for the coronavirus disease have returned to work after recovering from the viral illness, a health official said Saturday.

Health spokesperson Ma. Rosario Vergeire reported that 31 of at least 40 staff members of the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine that contracted COVID-19 have already received two negative test results. Meanwhile, nine are still waiting for the results of their second test, which will either come Sunday or Monday, while staying at the center's dormitory, Vergeire said.

She reiterated that the frontliners did not contract the deadly disease from processing samples of patients.

"One staff (member) who goes home everyday, and then when she got back to RITM, was able to expose and infect the others and this was through the common activities that they do, but not necessarily the laboratory processes," the spokesperson told CNN Philippines' Newsroom Weekend.

She said the RITM hopes to augment its current testing capacity of 2,700 tests daily with the return of the personnel, provision of more machines and recruitment of more health workers. Vergeire said they are working on getting more laboratory staff to join RITM since the center requested a force of 400 people to help with processing samples.

"We would be providing them with the next set of workers as we get volunteers being enlisted in our database," she said, adding that the Health Department had just sent RITM more encoders.
A restaurant remains open in Bristow, Oklahoma, March 24, 2020.

Nick Oxford/The Washington Post via Getty Images

Oklahoma begins a multi-phase reopening of state businesses on Friday.

Small business owners are feeling the pressure of unpaid bills  and the risk of infection  as they await government loans and support funds.

"Everyone is cautious about opening," one small business owner told Business Insider.

Another said: "I want to go back to work tomorrow. I'm tired of this."

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Small-business owner Sandra Dickson faces a seemingly impossible choice.

A massage therapist in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Dickson is among the 20.6% of Americans who are jobless.

She opened a beauty and wellness spa just weeks before the coronavirus pandemic. It's been shut down for at least as long as it was open. In that time, Dickson has "received no income," she told Business Insider. But she's wary about opening her doors too soon.

"There is no social distancing with massage therapy," she said. Besides, "my elderly mother lives with me. She's just recovering from breast cancer," she continued. "I can't afford to bring this virus home."

Dickson said she won't even consider reopening her business until June. Like the other small-business owners Business Insider spoke to, she has applied for government aid. Like the others, she hasn't received any yet.

On Friday, Oklahoma begins a staggered, "three-phase" reopening of state businesses. Personal-care businesses can begin scheduling appointments again. On May 1, most other businesses can open up, excluding bars, which could reopen on May 15 if coronavirus cases are "at a manageable level." By June 1, normal business will resume.

"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," Gov. Kevin Stitt, a Republican, said on Tuesday.

Story continues

Between 'trusting the data' and bills 'piling up,' business owners face inescapable pressure

But in the last week, hospitalizations have increased. The state confirmed 127 new cases on Tuesday, the most in a single day since April 9. The reopening of businesses is "hasty at best," Oklahoma State Medical Association President Dr. George Monks told The Oklahoman.

Monks' concerns are echoed by Oklahoma City's Republican mayor, David Holt, who will keep all business closed until at least April 30. According to an email from the White House coronavirus task force on Monday, Oklahoma's testing capacity is lower than at least 46 other states.

Airman First Class Binh Pham, right, and other members of the Oklahoma Air National Guard fill emergency food boxes at the Regional Food Bank Thursday, April 23, 2020, in Oklahoma City.

Sue Ogrocki/AP Photo

Like Monk, some small-business owners are worried about a hasty reopening. Jenna Frank, a wellness spa owner in Oklahoma City, told Business Insider that her first priority is public health.

"It's important for us to trust the data, whatever we have. It's still so new," Frank said. "Everyone is cautious about opening."

"It's important that we take the necessary steps to keep our community well," she added. "If we open too soon, all that work we've done, all the damage to our economy, will be wasted."

But other business owners disagree. Linda Leonard, who owns a barbershop in Oklahoma City, said the pandemic was being politicized by Democrats.

"I want to go back to work tomorrow," Leonard told Business Insider on Thursday. "I'm tired of this."

Leonard said she's lucky to have clients, friends, and family helping her. But she's concerned about her bills "piling up" as she waits for a small-business loan.

On March 26, Jesus Ruiz cuts hair at Ivan Barber Studio on the Main Street in Guymon, Oklahoma, a city where local shops remained open before any confirmed coronavirus cases.

REUTERS/Andrew Hay

Leonard was critical of the many not-so-small businesses that got money first. Several big banks prioritized their "richest" clients before tending to poorer applicants. "I want to know how people who are not in a small business got those small business loans," she said.

Murod Mamatov, a coffee and wine bar owner in Edmond, north of Oklahoma City, is also waiting on a loan. His business, which is open for deliveries and take-out, "is operating at about 15% of our normal sales." He hasn't laid off any workers, but money is tight.

In Oklahoma and around the country, said Mamatov, there needs to be more rigorous debate about how and when economic activity can resume.

There is "a balance between the economy, and minimizing the threat" of the coronavirus, he told Business Insider. "The extremes are easy, and it's more comfortable to take an extreme," he said, adding that the government must react quickly to signs that its interventions, like the small-business loan program or $1,200 stimulus checks, aren't enough.

"They should send out the $1,200 dollars to people ... and ask, 'How are the people doing? Was that enough?'"

"If it wasn't enough, they should go again," he said. "It just should be a back and forth debate, with more monitoring of the situation based on the effect."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Tourism has completely ceased in Thailand ever since it imposed lockdown to contain and suppress the coronavirus pandemic. Because of this, Thailand's beaches have witnessed a resurgence in leatherback turtle nesting. It is the most massive increase in nesting after 20 years.

This news is among the many reports of animals getting back the spaces that humans occupied. This taking over is due to the lockdowns implemented around the world as a response to the COVID-19 crisis.

Thailand usually attracts some 30-40 million tourists from other countries each year. Tourism is a staple of its economy. Unfortunately, the lockdown spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic has also restricted travelers from entering the country starting last March 9. Beaches have suddenly become empty, and nature has been given a chance to reclaim it.

Authorities have counted 11 turtle nests since November; it was the highest number of nestings in 20 years. The last five years have not recorded even a single nest.

Phuket Marine Biological Center director Kongkiat Kittiwatanawong says that it is an excellent indication since humans have destroyed spawning areas. He added that during the previous year, turtles still had a high risk of being killed by humans on the beach and fishing gear in the water.

Leatherback turtles are marine turtles and the largest of all turtles worldwide. The leatherback is considered endangered in Thailand, while the WWF or World Wildlife Fund and the IUCN or International Union for Conservation of Nature list it as vulnerable.

To be able to nest successfully, these turtles need sandy, soft beaches with open access to the ocean. Females emerge from the water and crawl on the beach, mostly using their front flippers. Upon reaching the nesting site, their rear appendages dig a nest where they deposit around one hundred eggs, after which the rear limbs refill the nest with sand to hide the eggs from predators. The females nest every 10 days in the nesting season, which occurs only every 2 to 7 years.

Turtle nests are usually located in quiet and dark areas. Thus, a beach that is full of lighted establishments and tourists will have little areas for nesting. Besides, people look for turtle nests and dig them into stealing eggs for selling or consumption.

Conservationists are worried about the turtles' survival because of the rapid pace of climate change. They fear that marine turtles may not be able to adapt. Leatherback turtles have a long life span, and they mature over an extensive period, which means that their population may be severely affected.

The pandemic has given wild animals more freedom and more chances to thrive because of the havoc on human societies by the disease and the lockdowns. Aside from Thailand, India's eastern coast has registered more than 475,000 Olive Ridley turtles digging nests and laying eggs last month. Officials estimate that this year, the turtles will be laying about 60 million eggs.

This month, Brazil also saw almost 100 Hawksbill turtles hatching on a deserted beach in Paulista, Pernambuco. Meanwhile, Florida's Loggerhead Marinelife Center also saw 69 marine turtle nests, which is quite a high number this early in the nesting season. Most of them are nests of leatherback turtles.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cuyahoga Countys judges are mulling whether to follow County Executive Armond Budishs request for them to slash millions from the courts budget and furlough staff in the face of projected financial shortfalls due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Budishs chief of staff Bill Mason sent emails asking each of the countys four courts to voluntarily cut the courts budget by 5 percent and furlough its employees for two weeks.

The request came after he announced that all full-time, non-union county employees in county agencies that he oversees would have to take two weeks without pay by February 2021.

Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael OMalley and Public Defender Mark Stanton, whose offices receive county money but also have independent control over their budgets, received similar requests and have already implemented portions of them.

OMalleys office required all of its employees to take two weeks of furlough by May 11, and is in discussions with Budishs office about potential budget cuts, a spokesman said Friday. Stanton declined to divulge what his office plans to do in response to the request.

We will take appropriate steps, Stanton told cleveland.com.

Longstanding court precedents based on the Ohio Constitutions separation of powers principles prevent Budish from forcing the courts to implement the cuts, even though the county funds the majority of the courts operations.

Common Pleas Court Administrative Judge Brendan Sheehan told cleveland.com he is working with the head judges at the countys probate, domestic relations and juvenile divisions to come to an agreement that he might unveil as early as Monday.

Were trying to cooperate as a court, Sheehan said. We understand that everybodys in this together.

The email from Mason and Budish said the county is projecting a $76 million hole in the countys budget due to lost sales and income revenue due to side effects of public health orders meant to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Other county agencies like the clerk of courts and the sheriffs department must cut their budgets by 15 percent, the email said.

I know this will not be easy to accomplish and is a hardship. However, I believe it is the fair thing to do rather than proceed with massive lay-offs, the email states. This way, each of us bears some of the burden.

The Common Pleas Court spent $51 million in 2018, including $31.8 million on salaries and benefits for 503 full-time and part-time employees, according to its most recent annual report.

Ohio law requires the state to pay a base salary for most judges, including those on common pleas court judge benches. Local governments are allowed to add stipends on top of that salary. Cuyahoga County pays an average of about $14,000 to each common pleas court judge on top of the state-paid salary of roughly $145,000.

The rest of the common pleas courts 470 or so employees get paid out of the courts budget, which mostly comes from the countys general fund.

The county estimated that cutting the Common Pleas Courts budget by 5 percent would save nearly $2.9 million, and implementing two-week furloughs would save another $1 million, according to the email.

Judges and county governments have clashed over funding before in cases before the Ohio Supreme Court. Justices have routinely sided with the courts, going as far as to hold in a 1968 opinion that a legislative body has a duty to provide for the needs of constitutional courts, as determined by those courts.

A litany of lawsuits have involved:

A Cuyahoga County judge in 1941 ordered the sheriff to lock the doors of the auditors office in the basement of the courthouse after the county commissioners refused to relocate the office so the court could use the room for its expanding domestic relations services.

A pair of Cuyahoga County lawyers took the county commissioners to court in 1968 after the county refused to pay them for work they did as appointed counsel in a case.

A judge in Hamilton County sued that countys commissioners in 2000 after they repeatedly denied his requests for money to hire new employees.

The states high court ruled against the legislative bodies in all cases, cementing that the legislators must give courts enough money so as not to interfere with the administering of justice.

The public interest is served when courts cooperate with executive and legislative bodies in the complicated budgetary processes of government, the court held in the 1968 opinion. However, such voluntary co-operation should not be mistaken for a surrender or diminution of the plenary power to administer justice which is inherent in every court whose jurisdiction derives from the Ohio Constitution.

Michael Buenger, a former court administrator and past president of a national group representing court administrators, wrote in a 2003 paper published by the American Judges Association during an economic recession that judges could risk damaging the courts credibility by not participating in good-faith budgeting discussions.

While governments are obligated to fund the courts at an appropriate level, judges using the courts to flex that power and order funding in times of financial hardship could open the judiciary up for criticism that judges are participating in political power plays to avoid public accountability, Buenger wrote.

The exercise of inherent power in the context of a budget fight should always be viewed as a weapon of last resort, Buenger wrote. Alternative, less drastic, and more permanent solutions to problems of court finance must be pursued.

Read more stories

Cuyahoga County considering 15% spending cuts, including contracts, purchases and staff hours

Cuyahoga County to impose mandatory furloughs for some workers

Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish mulling furloughs for some unionized employees

ICE agrees to release two more at-risk detainees from Ohio jails due to coronavirus pandemic
The analysts covering Ashford Hospitality Trust, Inc. (NYSE:AHT) delivered a dose of negativity to shareholders today, by making a substantial revision to their statutory forecasts for this year. Revenue and earnings per share (EPS) forecasts were both revised downwards, with analysts seeing grey clouds on the horizon.

Following the latest downgrade, the current consensus, from the five analysts covering Ashford Hospitality Trust, is for revenues of US$1.1b in 2020, which would reflect a painful 27% reduction in Ashford Hospitality Trust's sales over the past 12 months. Losses are supposed to balloon 143% to US$3.84 per share. Yet prior to the latest estimates, the analysts had been forecasting revenues of US$1.4b and losses of US$0.62 per share in 2020. Ergo, there's been a clear change in sentiment, with the analysts administering a notable cut to this year's revenue estimates, while at the same time increasing their loss per share forecasts.

See our latest analysis for Ashford Hospitality Trust

NYSE:AHT Past and Future Earnings April 25th 2020

The consensus price target fell 40% to US$1.51, with the analysts clearly concerned about the company following the weaker revenue and earnings outlook. Fixating on a single price target can be unwise though, since the consensus target is effectively the average of analyst price targets. As a result, some investors like to look at the range of estimates to see if there are any diverging opinions on the company's valuation. There are some variant perceptions on Ashford Hospitality Trust, with the most bullish analyst valuing it at US$2.00 and the most bearish at US$0.75 per share. This is a fairly broad spread of estimates, suggesting that the analysts are forecasting a wide range of possible outcomes for the business.

One way to get more context on these forecasts is to look at how they compare to both past performance, and how other companies in the same industry are performing. We would highlight that sales are expected to reverse, with the forecast 27% revenue decline a notable change from historical growth of 7.0% over the last five years. Compare this with our data, which suggests that other companies in the same industry are, in aggregate, expected to see their revenue grow 4.3% next year. So although its revenues are forecast to shrink, this cloud does not come with a silver lining - Ashford Hospitality Trust is expected to lag the wider industry.

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The Bottom Line

The most important thing to take away is that analysts increased their loss per share estimates for this year. Unfortunately analysts also downgraded their revenue estimates, and industry data suggests that Ashford Hospitality Trust's revenues are expected to grow slower than the wider market. With a serious cut to this year's expectations and a falling price target, we wouldn't be surprised if investors were becoming wary of Ashford Hospitality Trust.

After a downgrade like this, it's pretty clear that previous forecasts were too optimistic. What's more, we've spotted several possible issues with Ashford Hospitality Trust's business, like dilutive stock issuance over the past year. For more information, you can click here to discover this and the 4 other warning signs we've identified.

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.
By Laurence Frost and Anthony Deutsch

PARIS/AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Air France-KLM <AIR.PA> secured 7 billion euros ($7.6 billion) in French government aid on Friday, as the airline industry struggles to survive the coronavirus crisis that has all but halted passenger traffic across much of the world.

France will issue 3 billion euros in loans as well as 90% guarantees on another 4 billion in bank lending to Air France, Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said. The Dutch government said it was preparing a further 2-4 billion euros in aid to KLM.

In a video message to staff, Chief Executive Ben Smith said the aid was "not a blank cheque" and would require tough action on costs and performance.

Other major airlines including Germany's Lufthansa <LGAG.DE> are negotiating government aid deals as they grapple with the air travel shutdown and deep uncertainty over the recovery outlook once the pandemic eases.

Le Maire, speaking on TF1 television, said the support came with unspecified conditions requiring Air France-KLM to "become the most environmentally friendly airline on the planet". France is also preparing to back about 5 billion euros in loans to carmaker Renault <RENA.PA>, he said.

Amid tensions between the French and Dutch governments, which each hold close to 14% of Air France-KLM, the company said Paris was likely to increase its investment over the coming year - raising the spectre of nationalisation.

The board will discuss a capital increase by next year's shareholder meeting "at the latest", Air France-KLM said, adding that France had already "indicated its intention to examine the conditions under which it might participate."

Dutch Finance Minister Wopke Hoekstra gave a briefing within an hour of his French counterpart's to announce the KLM aid still awaiting approval, and said there would be a "conversation" among shareholders on a future capital increase.

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"We have repeatedly said that as the government we will do all that we can to help KLM through this crisis," Hoekstra said, citing its "vital role" in the Dutch economy.

The French state-guaranteed funding comes in the form of 4 billion euros in loans from a syndicate of six banks with a 12-month maturity, and a four-year, 3 billion-euro direct state loan. Both facilities can be extended twice by one year and are subject to EU approval.

On Thursday, group CEO Smith gave up his 2020 bonus under public pressure from Hoekstra, who said it was "incompatible with support funded by taxpayers' money".

"This financing will give us the opportunity to rebuild," Smith said in his message to staff following the announcements. "Faced with the upheaval the world is going through, we are going to have to rethink our model immediately."

Smith, who joined Air France-KLM from Air Canada in 2018, is poised to accelerate restructuring of the Air France short-haul network and expansion of low-cost division Transavia, La Tribune newspaper has reported, leading to possible job cuts in France.

(Reporting by Laurence Frost and Anthony Deutsch; Additional reporting by Toby Sterling in Amsterdam, Sudip Kar-Gupta and Leigh Thomas in Paris; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and John Stonestree)
The number of coronavirus cases in India increased by six per cent during a 24-hour period beginning 8 am on Friday, marking the lowest daily growth rate of the infection since the total positive cases crossed 100 in mid-March, government sources said.

IMAGE: A medic checks the temperature of a passenger at a bus stand, during the nationwide lockdown to curb the spread of coronavirus, in Assam's Nagaon. Photograph: PTI Photo

After a Group of Ministers carried out a comprehensive review of the nation-wide response mechanism to the pandemic, the health ministry said the recovery rate of more than 20 per cent in India is comparatively better than most of the countries globally.

The total number of people infected with the virus stood at 24,942 while the death toll rose to 779 which included 56 since Friday, the ministry said in its evening update of nation-wide data.

It said the total of 56 deaths is maximum reported in the country in a span of 24 hours.



In a statement, the ministry said the GoM headed by Health Minister Harsh Vardhan reviewed the testing strategy as well as availability of testing kits across the country along with policy for cluster management and checking the infection in "hotspots".



"The GoM was apprised that as of now the death rate is around 3.1 per cent while recovery rate is more than 20 per cent, which is comparatively better than most of the countries and may be taken as a positive effect of the lockdown along with the cluster management and containment strategy," it said.



It said average doubling rate of the cases in the country has been estimated at 9.1 days as of now. On Friday, an official put the figure at 10 days from 7.5 reported earlier this week.



Government sources said the country recorded a six per cent growth in new cases between 8 am on Friday to 8 am on Saturday, adding it was the lowest daily growth rate recorded since India crossed 100 cases.



About ramping up availability of key medical equipment, the ministry said over 100,000 personal protective equipment and N95 masks are being manufactured daily in the country. A total of 104 firms are manufacturing PPEs, while three other entities are producing N95 masks.



It said production of ventilators through domestic manufacturers has also started and that orders have been placed for procuring over 59,000 units from nine manufacturers.



The ministry said the GoM was informed that around 92,000 NGOs, self-help-groups and civil society organisations are providing food to the migrant workers across various states and union territories, adding the non-profit organisations are being supported by the states as well as by Food Corporation of India.



A detailed presentation on the status of COVID-19 in the country along with the response and management of it was made before the GoM.



"The GoM was informed that all districts have been asked to follow and further strengthen their contingency plans to combat COVID-19. The GOM was briefed on the state-wise details of dedicated COVID-19 hospitals along with the adequacy of isolation beds/wards, PPEs, N95 masks, drugs, ventilators, oxygen cylinders etc," the ministry said.



It was also apprised about creation of a national level meta-data of health workers, doctors, members of National Cadet Corps and National Service Scheme and sharing of the details with all the states, districts and other agencies to mobilise required manpower to fight the pandemic.



"There is presently data for more than 1.24 crore human resources on the dashboard and it is continuously being updated with addition of new groups and sub groups as per specialisation. The dashboard contains state and district wise information about the number of human resources available from each group along with the contact details," the ministry said.



Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Puri, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Minister of State for Home Nityananda Rai, Minister of State for Shipping Mansukh Mandaviya, Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat and NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant were among those present at the meeting of the GoM.



Meanwhile, official sources said the Indian Council of Medical Research asked the states and union territories to put on hold the use of COVID-19 rapid antibody test kits till it examines their accuracy.



The ICMR is analysing the effectiveness of the rapid antibody test kits, procured from two Chinese firms.



Vardhan had on Friday said the results of the test kits vary from place to place and "they can't be relied upon".
WOOD RIVER  Jersey County reported its first coronavirus death Saturday, according to a posting by the Jersey County Health Department.

The victim was listed as a male in his 50s by the Illinois Department of Public (IDHP) health. The county also has 12 positive cases listed. No new positive cases were reported Saturday and five of those listed have reportedly recovered.

This comes as the IDHP reported 2,119 new cases and 80 deaths, bringing those totals to 41,777 and 1,874, respectively.

Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike also cautioned against home remedies involving injecting, ingesting or snorting household cleaners, related to recent comments by President Donald Trump about potential ways to combat the virus.

She noted there has been an increase in calls to the Illinois Poison Control Center regarding cleaning products.

For more information, she said residents could call 1-800-222-1222 to talk to poison control experts.

Locally, in addition to the report of a coronavirus-related death in Jersey County, the Madison County Health Department announced a total of nine new coronavirus cases, bringing the total to 286 and 16 deaths.

The Madison County figures include 73 people hospitalized and 82 recovered, meaning they have completed isolation.

More Information COVID-19 by the numbers Illinois - 41,777 (1,874 deaths) Madison County - 286 (16 deaths) Jersey County -12 (1 death) Macoupin County -28 Greene County -2 Calhoun County -1 Montgomery County -23 (1 death) St. Clair County - 363 (24 deaths) 360 Clinton County -82 Bond County- 5 (1 death) Monroe County- 63 (10 deaths) Washington County -7 Cases by zip code 62002 (Alton) -41 62010 (Bethalto) -8 62035 (Godfrey) - 8 62052 (Jerseyville) -9 62095 (Wood River) -9 62024 (East Alton) -7 62025 (Edwardsville) -76 62034 (Glen Carbon) - 23 62294 (Troy) -10 62249 (Highland) -9 62040 (Granite City/Pontoon Beach) - 43 62234 (Collinsville) -23 62060 (Madison) -8 62249 (Highland) -9 62069 (Mt. Olive) -7 62056 (Litchfield) -8 Sources: Illinois Department of Public Health and Madison County Health Department See More Collapse

A higher number of females have tested positive, a total of 171. Local health officials have noted the disparity, and that it appears to go against the national average, but have not researched it at this time.

Information by ZIP code shows additional cases in the Alton, Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Granite City/Pontoon Beach, Collinsville and Madison areas. The health department noted that there were several clusters of cases in nursing homes in Edwardsville and Glen Carbon, causing a significant bump in cases in those areas.

The IDPH is releasing case numbers by ZIP code for areas with more than five cases. Numbers are not released in ZIP codes with fewer cases to protect the privacy of patients.

The information is available on the IDPH website www.dph.illinois.gov. Click on the coronavirus banner, then COVID-19 statistics in the drop-down menu on the left side. The site also lists case clusters in long-term care facilities.

Additional cases have also been reported in Macoupin, St. Clair, Clinton, Bond and Monroe counties in the Metro East, according to the IDPH website. Additional deaths were also noted in Monroe and St. Clair counties.

During the state briefing, Gov. J.B. Pritzker encouraged people to go online to fill out the census at www.2020census.gov.

He also highlighted numerous agencies and organizations that are stepping up during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pritzker said he has seen an outpouring of efforts by residents to help others, adding what they all have in common is a decency, a kindness, a generosity that should make all Illinoisans proud.

He also reminded residents about the Call4calm hotline, where people can text talk or hablar (for Spanish) to 552020, and will receive a call from a counselor from a local community health center; and, encouraged residents to look into volunteer opportunities by going to www.coronavirus.illinois.gov and click volunteer opportunities.

Ezike also reported that, statewide, there were 4,699 people hospitalized due to the virus, 1,244 in ICU, and 763 on ventilators.

For the latest information on COVID-19 or coronavirus resources, visit the Madison County Health Department online at www.madisonchd.org or on Facebook @MadisonCHD. Also visit www.co.madison.il.us for more news and a daily update or at Facebook @MadisonCountyIL.
As Gov. Greg Abbott prepares to relax some of the states coronavirus restrictions and reopen the Texas economy, a new poll Friday showed that most Texans are more concerned about the effects of not staying home long enough as opposed to too long.

Abbott is expected to make an announcement Monday and has said one of the things he is considering is eliminating the stay-at-home policy he enacted last month, which expires Thursday.

The University of Texas/Texas Tribune poll of 1,200 Texas voters found that 55 percent think that not keeping people at home long enough poses a larger threat to the country than keeping people at home too long. Thirty-four percent thought the opposite: that the bigger threat is stay-at-home orders that last too long.

GOVERNMENT OVERREACH:

The poll underlined the way responses to the issue have divided along partisan lines, with Republicans making up most of those who saw an extended stay-at-home as the bigger threat. Just 11 percent of Democrats held that as their more pressing concern.

Republican voters are much more likely to think that the virus is close to being contained, and that life will be going back to some version of normal, Joshua Blank, research director of the Texas Politics Project, said in a statement. Ideologically speaking, Democrats are generally more inclined to accept large-scale government intervention and Republicans more likely to elevate the importance of the economy, leading both groups, at least partially, to different conclusions about how, and how fast, to reopen the economy.

EARLIER THIS WEEK:

The majority of Texans, or 54 percent, are extremely or very concerned about the spread of the coronavirus in their community, the poll showed. When asked about their individual concerns, 54 percent were either extremely or very concerned about themselves or someone they know getting the virus.

Economic anxieties rank among Texans top concerns, with 72 percent concerned about the national economy, 75 percent about unemployment, 67 percent about the Texas economy and 55 percent about the loss of savings or retirement funds.

About a third of Texans were concerned about bills, rent or house payments, losing their job and interrupting their education or that of their family members.

Its yet to be seen what Abbott will unveil Monday, but poll results show that most Texans seem to have agreed with actions hes taken thus far: 83 percent, for example, favored closing public schools and requiring out-of-area travelers from places with outbreaks to self-quarantine upon arrival in Texas. Most also agreed with staying at home except for essential activities, closing state parks and recreational facilities, and postponing the May runoff elections.
The Federal Trade Commission has warned 10 companies to stop making health claims about treating and preventing the coronavirus or pitching business opportunities amid the pandemic, the agency announced on Friday.

The group of letters represent the first time the F.T.C. has issued warnings about claims of potential earnings related to the economic fallout from the pandemic. The commission and the Food and Drug Administration have previously sent warning letters about unapproved health products related to the coronavirus.

There currently are no products that are scientifically proven to treat or prevent the virus, according to the F.D.A.

In the recent letters, the trade commission targeted so-called multilevel marketers, which distribute products or services through networks of salespeople who are not employees of the company and who do not receive a salary or wage. It warned the companies that false or misleading earnings claims are a violation of federal law.
WASHINGTON - The Pentagon has deferred a decision about the future of an aircraft carrier captain who was relieved of command after he raised concerns about the Navy's handling of a sprawling coronavirus outbreak on his ship, defense officials said Friday.

The delay comes after the Pentagon's chief spokesman, Jonathan Rath Hoffman, told reporters earlier in the day that senior Navy officials would brief Defense Secretary Mark Esper about an inquiry into what happened with the USS Theodore Roosevelt and its former commander, Navy Capt. Brett Crozier.

Several other defense officials said they expected a conclusion to be announced afterward. But as the afternoon wound down, the Navy acknowledged that no decision was forthcoming. Two people familiar with the issue, including one senior defense official, said administration officials wanted more time to review their options.

Hoffman said in a statement that Esper had received a "verbal update" from senior Navy officials about the inquiry into the Theodore Roosevelt outbreak.

"After the Secretary receives a written copy of the completed inquiry, he intends to thoroughly review the report and will meet again with Navy leadership to discuss next steps," Hoffman said. "He remains focused on and committed to restoring the full health of the crew and getting the ship at sea again soon."

The delay comes after days of speculation that the Navy could reinstate Crozier, who was removed from his job after sending a memo to senior Navy officials that raised alarm about how quickly the service was moving to test and quarantine sailors aboard his ship.

Adm. Michael Gilday, the chief of naval operations, has said he was open to Crozier's reinstatement and recommended that on Friday, a person familiar with the discussions said Friday. The New York Times first reported the recommendation.

The Navy said in a statement that no final decisions have been made.

"Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday has presented recommendations to the Acting Secretary of the Navy James McPherson. Secretary McPherson is continuing discussions with Secretary of Defense Mark Esper," it said.

Another senior defense official, also speaking on the condition of anonymity, said that Esper's briefing with Navy officials on Friday took about an hour. The inquiry is "in fact about far more than one person," so Esper wants to ensure the report is thorough and can "stand up under the rightful scrutiny of Congress, the media, the families and crew of the Theodore Roosevelt, and the American people," the official said.

President Donald Trump expressed an interest this month in reviewing Crozier's case, after videos of sailors chanting their captain's name as he left the ship went viral.

Though Trump initially lambasted Crozier for writing the memo, he later softened his tone, saying that he was impressed with the officer's overall record and didn't "want to destroy" Crozier over "a bad day."

The Navy said Friday that it had just completed testing the crew for the coronavirus. The service reported 856 positive cases among 4,954 tests, about 17%. One Theodore Roosevelt sailor, Chief Petty Officer Charles Robert Thacker Jr., 41, died April 13 after testing positive on March 30.

Crozier, as captain of one of the Navy's most powerful strategic weapons, was on a fast track to becoming an admiral when he sent an email and memo on March 30 that pleaded for more help in evacuating, testing and quarantining sailors from his crew in Guam after the outbreak.

The March 31 publication of the memo in the San Francisco Chronicle prompted Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly to remove Crozier from command, citing bad judgment. Modly alleged that Crozier had sent his message to 20 or 30 people, but a copy of his email obtained by The Washington Post later showed that he actually sent it to three admirals, and copied seven other Navy captains.

"I fully realize that I bear responsibility for not demanding more decisive action the moment we pulled in, but at this point my only priority is the continued well-being of the crew and embarked staff," Crozier wrote in the email, obtained by The Post. ". . . I believe if there is ever a time to ask for help it is now regardless of the impact on my career."

Modly resigned on April 7, one day after flying from Washington to Guam to visit the crew and delivering a speech in which he insulted Crozier and lectured sailors for supporting him. Crozier, Modly said, had either written the memo to be leaked to the media, or was "too naive or too stupid" to be commanding officer of the ship.

Modly later apologized.

Trump, as commander in chief, has the authority to intervene in Crozier's case. But it would be highly uncommon for a president to sway an administrative decision in the military.

The sensitivity comes after Trump created turmoil in the service last year by repeatedly weighing in on the case of Chief Petty Officer Edward Gallagher, a Navy SEAL who was acquitted of murder but convicted of posing with a corpse in Iraq. Esper fired former Navy Secretary Richard Spencer in November after the senior Navy official went directly to the White House and sought to keep Trump from getting involved in administrative discipline for Gallagher.

On Friday, the Pentagon also disclosed that the Navy is coping with a new coronavirus outbreak on a warship at sea, with at least 18 cases emerging on the destroyer USS Kidd.

The outbreak became evident after a sailor aboard the vessel developed symptoms associated with the virus, and the Navy flew the individual to San Antonio, Texas, for testing.

"They are preparing to return to port, where they will undertake efforts to clean the ship," Hoffman told reporters Friday. "They will remove a portion of the crew from the ship and work to get everybody back to health and get the ship back to sea."

The destroyer, which typically deploys with a crew and aviation detachment of more than 350 people, had been deployed this month in the Pacific Ocean as part of a military task force that carries out drug interdiction, according to the ship's Facebook page. Its home port is in Everett, Washington.

"Testing continues, and we expect additional cases," the Navy said in a statement. "All measures are being taken to evaluate the extent of the COVID-19 transmission on the ship."
In times of crisis, we often turn to the internet to connect with others over our collective shared uncertainty and seek out the answers to our biggest questions. The coronavirus pandemic has been no different. According to Washington Post reporter Christopher Ingraham, the cornavirus may, in fact, be the top trending search term in Google search history.

To better understand our readers' worries and curiosities, The Times Union reached out to Google analysts to inquire after the top ten coronavirus-related questions searched within the Capital Region over the last two months. You can find those questions, and our answers to those questions, in the list below.

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Coronavirus: Our most important FAQ articles so far

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George Poikayil By

Express News Service

KASARGOD: At 3 am on April 3 -- in the middle of the nationwide lockdown against COVID -- Shafeeq Hassan A (30) kickstarted his Enfield Bullet for a 288km ride from his village Alanallur in Mannarkkad taluk of Palakkad district. It was a trip for a cause.

"But I did not want to get whacked by the police en route," said Hassan, a microbiologist, explaining the reason for the early start.

His destination was the Central University of Kerala at Periya in Kasaragod district -- a hotspot of COVID in Kerala.

To be sure, on April 3, the COVID graph of Kasaragod was on the rise with 131 active cases. But on the same day, a Virology Lab was being started in the university to ramp up COVID testing in Kasaragod.

Severely short of staff with experience in handling clinical samples, the district medical officer Dr A V Ramdas enlisted the service of Hassan as a volunteer in the lab.

Hassan is a PhD in microbiology from Bharatiyar University in Coimbatore and with experience in working in the microbiology lab of Arvind Eye Hospital.

He had a job offer of assistant professor in the Saudi Electronic University and about to fly out when the COVID pandemic hit the world.

"So, I thought I should put my skills to use than sit idle at home," Hassan said.

At the same time, Kasaragod collector D Sajith Babu put out a video message on social media calling for health workers to volunteer in the district.

"We were staring at a high number of COVID patients and we were short of doctors, nurses and dialysis technicians," he said.

The video went viral. And Hassan sitting 288 km away immediately uploaded his resume on the Collector's website.

Including Hassan, the university lab had 10 persons. "It was hectic but interesting too. On Vishu day, I got out of the lab at 4 am," he said. After working for 20 days, he has now gone into quarantine.

One of the persons who saw the video was Udyakumar, an autorickshaw driver in Kasaragod town. He showed the video to his wife Saritha and asked: "Why don't you apply".

For seven years, Saritha Udyakumar was a nurse in the operation theatre at Al Zafer Hospital in Najran, a city in southwestern Saudi Arabia near the border with Yemen. "I returned in February for good to be with my two children," she said.

The couple's 11-year-old daughter and seven-year-old son were missing their mother.

But the district could not miss out on her experience infection control, and she was deployed in the COVID Care Centre (CCC) at the medical college building at Ukkinadka.

"I worked with the teams from Thiruvananthapuram medical college and Kottayam medical college... COVID was a different experience," she said. After 15 days, she is now in quarantine in a hotel in the town.

"I did not factor in the 15 days quarantine period. I miss my children," said Saritha, who is originally from "Arundhati Roy's Aymanam" in Kottayam district.

The collector said 323 persons -- from doctors and nurses to health inspectors and dialysis technicians -- signed up volunteer in Kasaragod.

Kerala Social Security Mission district coordinator Jisho James said 51 doctors, 117 nurses, 48 health inspectors, 19 dialysis technicians, 27 lab technicians, 11 pharmacists, and 50 drivers and ancillary nurses registered as volunteers. "The number of volunteers made us comfortable," he said. The list was handed over to the DMO.

With 19 dialysis technicians, Kasaragod was able to cater to all its dialysis patients in the district itself, said Sajith Babu. "We had the machines but not enough technicians before," he said. Most of the technicians came from Kozhikode.

Joseph K J (46), a seasoned nurse from Cherupuzha, volunteered for 15 days in the District Hospital in Kanhangad, and is now deputed at the border Community Health Centre at Mangalpady. "It is a round-the-clock duty because patients may come even in the night to go to Mangaluru," he said.

When asked about his stay, he said: "It is fine. Isn't it a hard time! Two benches put together will become a bed, and the mosquito net takes care of my sleep." Till the next patient comes.
A Sydney man has been charged after allegedly fighting for an al-Qaeda-linked Syrian terrorist group 'for months at a time' in 2012 and 2013.

The 44-year-old is due to face Parramatta Bail Court on Saturday after tactical police arrested him in a car park in Mount Lewis on Friday.

He faces a dozen charges including two counts of engaging in hostile activity in a foreign state and seven counts of publishing false or misleading material to obtain property.

A 44-year-old man was arrested in Mount Lewis on Friday (pictured) after allegedly fighting for an al-Qaeda-linked Syrian terrorist group in 2012 and 2013

A convey of vehicles from the NSW Joint Counter Terrorism Team (JCTT) descended on the carpark around 9.40am

Police allege the man travelled to Syria in 2012 and 2013 to fight 'for months at a time' with the terrorist organisation Jabhat Fatah al-Sham.

The Syria-based Sunni Islamist extremist group, previously known as Jabhat al-Nusra and the Al-Nusra Front, adheres to a violent extremist ideology and retains links to al-Qaeda, according to the Australian National Security website.

The Australian-Jordanian citizen also faces fraud charges related to alleged involvement in the supply and purchase of illicit tobacco, as well as actual and attempted credit card fraud.

He was taken to Liverpool Hospital on Friday after sustaining minor injuries during his arrest, before being returned to Bankstown Police Station.

Australian Federal Police counter-terrorism Acting Commander Mark McIntyre said on Friday the Punchbowl man had been known and of interest to authorities 'for some time'.

Several tactical police officers were seen handcuffing the man as he laid on the pavement

Armed officers were seen standing guard as detectives surrounded the man in Sydney's west

He said an operation was launched in conjunction with NSW Police and domestic spy agency ASIO in 2019.

'There's nothing to indicate that he currently possesses an extremist ideology - that's not to say that wasn't the case in 2012 (or) 2013,' Mr McIntyre told reporters.

The AFP acting commander told reporters Jabhat al-Nusra was the 'precursor' to ISIS.

Jabhat al-Nusra in late 2012 had, according to US media, in between 6000 and 10,000 fighters.

Australian security agencies say its leader pledged allegiance to al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri in 2013, and Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi had provided Jabhat al-Nusra with funding and operatives to conduct operations in Syria.
Many of the states that have eased their rules say they believe they are past the peak as new case numbers decline. But Shaman noted that those declines have come only because of sweeping social distancing rules, and that as the rules are relaxed, controlling transmission will become more difficult. How much more difficult remains to be seen. But Shaman warned that a trial-and-error approach is less than ideal.
Afghan Taliban reject government offer of Ramadan ceasefire

Iran Press TV

Friday, 24 April 2020 2:32 PM

The Taliban militant group in Afghanistan has rejected a government offer for a ceasefire in the country during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Thursday called for a truce for the duration of the fasting month of Ramadan  which began in Afghanistan on Friday  to allow the authorities to focus on fighting the coronavirus outbreak in the country.

But a spokesman for the militant group, Suhail Shaheen, said on Twitter late on Thursday that the call for the ceasefire was "not rational and convincing." He cited ongoing disagreements over a delayed prisoner swap.

The government and the militant group have been discussing a prisoner exchange since early April.

While they have swapped a number of prisoners as part of the process, the exchange has faced hurdles. The Taliban have asked for the release of members who have been involved in violent attacks, and the government has had reservations about their release.

The swap is part of an agreement reached between the United States and the Taliban in February that envisages a complete withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan. The Afghan government was not a party to the negotiations or the deal, but it has agreed to the exchange.

The recent dispute in the exchange process has worried the US, which is concerned that the deal may collapse if the captives on either side contract the coronavirus and even die before they are exchanged, complicating matters.

Under the agreement between the US and the Taliban, the Afghan government is required to ultimately release 5,000 Taliban prisoners, and the militant group to free 1,000 government captives.

On April 13, US officials held a meeting with the Taliban in Qatar to discuss the dispute.

It was not clear what results that meeting produced. But the Taliban's recent rejection of the ceasefire offer indicates that a viable peace process may not still be at hand.

Meanwhile, the militants have also intensified their attacks on government forces in the country.

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By PTI

ALIGARH; Another junior doctor at the Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College hospital at the AMU here has tested positive for coronavirus, district health authorities said on Saturday.

The total number of COVID-19 cases in Aligarh has now risen to eight, they said.

A spokesperson of the medical college said the doctor who tested positive on Friday neither has a known history of any contact with a COVID-19 patient nor was he connected to the isolation ward.

The doctor also has no travel history and investigations about how he contracted the infection were on.

Earlier this week another doctor of the JLN Medical College hospital, affiliated to the Aligarh Muslim University, had tested positive for coronavirus.

The spokesperson also said "none of the sixty-odd doctors and paramedics who were quarantined three days back after coming in contact with a coronavirus positive patient have tested positive.

They would, however, continue to remain in isolation".

Meanwhile, the Resident Doctors Association at the medical college has urged the District Magistrate to ensure that the names of the doctors who have been infected with COVID-19 should "not be flashed all over in media reports " to avoid stigmatisation and mental harassment.

The president of the RDA, Dr Hamza Malik, said the doctors are performing their duties on the frontline in the battle against coronavirus and revealing their names and identifying their family members was unethical and would "deter suspected cases from approaching health authorities".

On the other hand, nineteen people including 18 members of an extended family have tested positive for coronavirus in the Santkabirnagar district and have been admitted to hospital, a senior administrative officer said on Saturday.

A student of the Darul Uloom Deoband seminary who had come to the district last month had tested positive for coronavirus earlier this week.

His family members and close relatives were subsequently kept in quarantine and their samples were sent for testing, of which 18 have been found to be positive, District Magistrate Ravish Kumar Gupta said.

One person from Tilathi village in Bakhira police station area has also tested positive for the virus, Gupta said.

This patient had recently returned from Mumbai.

His sample was sent to Gorakhpur medical college and the report was received Saturday, the DM said, adding that his family members have been quarantined and their samples sent for testing.

The District Magistrate said with these new cases, the number of coronavirus positive patients in the district was now 21.

The areas from where these cases have been reported have been sealed off, he added.
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Facebook and YouTube are cracking down on the pervasive conspiracy theories linking the spread of coronavirus to 5G wireless technology.

Facebook on Monday announced it would begin to actively remove false claims that link COVID-19 to 5G and could lead to physical harm.

Facebook-owned WhatsApp has reduced the number of accounts users can forward chats to from five to one.

We are taking aggressive steps to stop misinformation and harmful content from spreading on our platforms, and connect people to accurate information about coronavirus, a Facebook spokesperson said in a statement provided to TechNewsWorld by company rep Andrea Vallone.

Facebook will continue to work closely with governments and other tech companies to remove harmful misinformation, the spokesperson noted. The company has partnered with health authorities like the World Health Organization and the UK National Health Service to connect people to the latest official guidance.

Meanwhile, Google-owned YouTube has banned all videos promoting 5G-coronavirus conspiracy theories.

Conspiracy Theories Rampant

One of the bogus theories circulating online ties the origin of the coronavirus in Wuhan to the rollout of 5G technology in the city.

Another claims that Bill Gates invented the false threat of pandemic to cover up the harm caused by 5G.

Five years ago, Gates warned about the danger of a pandemic, and his foundation has been funding research on a coronavirus vaccine.

A number of celebrities have echoed the false claims, including actor Woody Harrelson.

However, countries without 5G wireless, such as India, Iran, and African nations, also have been hit by the pandemic.

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

In the UK, conspiracy theory believers have threatened telecom engineers and burned cellular phone masts.

The mayor of Liverpool became a threat target after he condemned the 5G-coronavirus conspiracy theory.

UK lawmakers have suggested the rumors might be the work of organized disinformation campaigns.

In the United States, theres speculation that Russia has been pushing the conspiracy theory through influencers.

We know for a fact that Russian and Chinese agitators have been propagating this myth for some time, said Ray Wang, principal analyst at Constellation Research.

Its wrong to conflate the push towards 5G with the spread of coronavirus, he told TechNewsWorld. A real scientific debate and clinical trial should be put in play to prove or disprove this conspiracy theory.

Facebooks Push

The first conspiracy theories about 5G and Wuhan appeared on Facebook in late February. Users were flagging anti-5G groups for spreading misinformation by early March.

Memes making the false claims picked up speed this month when some celebrities latched onto the conspiracy theory, noted Liz Miller, principal analyst at Constellation Research.

All the while Facebook kept saying that in order to protect free speech, the only thing that could possibly be done was to flag or mark the misinformation, she told TechNewsWorld.

Facebook could have easily addressed these anti-5G posts in March, let alone when they first started cropping up in 2019, Miller noted, but chose to side with the misinformation over the truth to show its adherence to free speech principles.

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

Facebook has been playing martyr, she suggested, with its portrayal of Sisyphus and his never-ending quest to push the rock of ethics and freedom up different hills.

Social media platforms can ban users for espousing different points of view from the mainstream, Wang maintained, because they are communities, and not considered media. If you want to be a part of the community, you follow their rules  and thats not freedom of speech.

By the time Facebook took decisive action, the false claim had spread widely, Miller said.

This isnt just a case of misinformation, she argued. Its a case study in the industries that profit from that, and then must feign embarrassment and launch heroic policies to combat it.

Facebook took action to limit advertising, Miller said, but the vast majority of this conspiracy is not passed along by advertising.

YouTube Ramps Up Efforts

YouTube on Monday began reducing how often its algorithm surfaced videos linking coronavirus to 5G technology in user recommendations.

On Tuesday, YouTube banned all such conspiracy theories, following a livestream interview with noted conspiracy theorist David Icke.

YouTube deleted the videos content after the BBC asked why it had not taken action earlier, despite knowing about the livestream. It will allow the interviews host to keep earnings generated through the Super Chats tool but will give its own share of the proceeds to charity.

YouTube will review the channel involved in the controversial livestream.

YouTube has pledged to take the following steps:

Quickly remove flagged videos that violate its policies prohibiting the advocacy of medically unsubstantiated methods to prevent coronavirus in place of seeking medical treatment. These include any content that disputes the existence or transmission of COVID-19 as described by the WHO and local health authorities;

Reduce recommendations for borderline content that could misinform users in harmful ways;

Consider barring users who repeatedly break the rules from using YouTubes Live tool;

Consider barring repeat offenders from earning money from their broadcasts; and

Terminate offending channels as a last resort.

Assessing the Social Media Clampdown

Facebook has done a reasonable job, said Constellations Wang. They have huge teams responsible for policing and also have teams that prevent political riots off false information.

It is not likely that social media platforms will be able to police everything, though, observed Jim McGregor, principal analyst at Tirias Research.

AI is going to help but its not perfect, he told TechNewsWorld. There should be a way where  like on Craigslist  users can flag objectionable speech and the platforms can then decide whether or not to take it down. At this time, when theres a pandemic, we have to do something.

People can be hurt when bogus health claims go viral online, especially when endorsed by celebrities, Constellations Wang warned.

Blinded by Lack of Science

I had the driver of an Uber car I was in tell me hes concerned about millimeter waves, McGregor remarked.These waves cant even penetrate the leaves of a tree, which means youre safe.

The International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection in March released updated guidelines for implementing 5G technology.

There have been longstanding concerns that overexposure to microwave and radio frequency radiation might impact peoples health.

However, according to ICNIRP Chair Eric van Rongen, PhD., the organizations guidelines protect against all scientifically substantiated adverse health effects due to electromagnetic field export in the 100 kHz to 300 GHz range.
Poland said Gazprom, Russia's state-owned natural gas exporter, continues to overcharge it for deliveries in violation of a recent European court ruling.

PGNiG, Polands state-owned energy company, last month won a binding arbitration case against Gazprom in a Stockholm court that ordered the Russian firm to reduce its pricing formula for gas exported to the Central European country under an existing long-term contract.

"Gazprom is not honoring the award issued following the long arbitration process, continuing to issue invoices based on the invalid pricing formula," PGNiG said in a statement on April 24.

Poland in 2014 began talks with Gazprom to change the pricing formula for gas imports as the rise of liquefied natural gas (LNG) altered global energy markets.

Following years of unfruitful talks, PGNiG filed an arbitration case against Gazprom.

The Stockholm court on March 30 ruled in PGNiGs favor, ordering Gazprom to retroactively alter the pricing formula and pay the Polish firm $1.5 billion for overcharging it since 2014.

Polands gas-import contract with Gazprom expires in 2022.

PGNiG is seeking to replace Russian gas with imports from other countries. Poland is already importing LNG from the United States.

With reporting by Vedomosti
LONDON  The British government came under heightened pressure to disclose details about a secretive scientific advisory group after a report on Friday that a top political aide to Prime Minister Boris Johnson had taken part in the groups meetings on the coronavirus pandemic.

The adviser, Dominic Cummings, as well as a data scientist with close ties to Mr. Cummings, attended a meeting of the Scientific Advisory Group on Emergencies, or SAGE, on March 23, the day Mr. Johnson ordered a lockdown to try to curb the spread of the virus, according to a report in The Guardian.

Mr. Cummings was a major strategist in the 2016 campaign for Brexit and is viewed as one of the masterminds of Mr. Johnsons landslide election victory in December, when he used the slogan Get Brexit Done. The data scientist, Ben Warner, worked with Mr. Cummings on the Brexit Vote Leave campaign.

The government has refused to disclose the members of SAGE or publish the minutes of its meetings, citing the security and independence of the scientists. That has raised questions about its role, particularly after the government abruptly shifted its response to the virus in late March from a more relaxed approach to a lockdown that put Britain in line with other European countries.
In this article @CL.1

@LCO.1

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"Scary," "unbelievable," "so dramatic," "unprecedented," "very visceral": These are among the choice words Wall Street veterans used to describe what was, for the oil market, a week for the history books. On Monday, for the first time on record, West Texas Intermediate (WTI), the U.S. oil benchmark, plunged below zero and into negative territory. Before Monday, many thought this was impossible. Maybe, just maybe, it could drop to zero, effectively erasing all value. But negative territory seemed unimaginable, not least because it's hard even to wrap one's mind around it. Pay someone to take your oil? Yet that's exactly what happened. "It was a take-your-breath-away kind of scary moment," said Rebecca Babin, managing director at CIBC Private Wealth Management. "It truly was like watching  a full speed train wreck. But you couldn't stop watching."

The coronavirus pandemic has sapped as much as a third of worldwide demand for oil, according to some estimates. Producers have continued to pump, but with air travel halted and people staying home there's simply nowhere for this oil to go. Refiners certainly don't want it. And worldwide storage  both onshore and offshore  is quickly filling up. Analysts warn that we could reach tank tops, or maximum capacity, in a matter of weeks. Everything came to a head on Monday. WTI has a physical settlement, meaning that as the monthly contract reaches expiration, whoever holds the contract is due a physical barrel of oil. Traders, in an effort to profit from the differential, buy and sell contracts without any intention of holding them at expiration, while refiners and airlines are among those on the other side who actually want the oil. The contract that plunged into negative territory was for May delivery. Demand isn't expected to rebound any time soon. And with nowhere to put the oil, people were left scrambling and ultimately would do anything  in this case, even pay  to have it taken off their hands. There are nuances, of course. For one, the May contract expired on Tuesday, meaning that trading volume was thin as it plunged into negative territory. By that point the contract for June delivery was much more actively traded and thus a better indication of where the Street viewed oil prices. Negative prices themselves are also not completely without precedent. Natural gas, for instance, has traded below zero in the past, and in the physical market certain regional grades of crude were already trading in negative territory prior to Monday. And there were some traders who warned that, as storage filled, prices would continue to decline dramatically. But it was still shocking, nonetheless, to watch the downward descent on Monday of the world's most actively traded oil contract. "This is an industry that I've been a part of for a long time now, and when it gets broken like that, or you get a really bad situation like that, it draws all kinds of unwanted attention and people getting hurt," said Again Capital founding partner John Kilduff.

A slow and then sudden unwind

When the futures market opened at 6 p.m. ET on Sunday night, the WTI contract for May delivery traded at $17.73, or about 3% below its Friday settle price of $18.27. Oil was coming off its sixth straight day of losses, and its seventh negative week in eight. The nearly 20% decline for the week was especially notable since, only days before, OPEC and its oil-producing allies had agreed to a historic production cut that would take 9.7 million barrels per day  roughly 10% of global supply  offline. It wasn't enough to assuage investor fears.

It turned out that $17.73 would be just a few cents shy of Monday's high. By midnight eastern time WTI was trading in the $15 range. Selling continued in overnight trading, and at 8 a.m. prices had slipped to $11. Just after noon, prices dropped into the single digits. "It was like watching a really bad traffic accident unfold right in front of you," said Kilduff, who's been in the energy industry for more than 25 years. "You knew there was going to be damage, even if it was thinly traded.  You knew somebody was on the other side of those trades, and you kind of got a little bit of a sick feeling." After prices entered the single digits, there would be no going back. At 1:51 p.m., WTI broke below $1, and at 2:08 p.m., less than a half hour before the settle, it fell into negative territory. Kilduff called it a "crossing the Rubicon moment." The selling didn't stop there. Ultimately, the contract settled at negative $37.63. That prices kept falling deeper into negative territory after crossing zero is what most surprised RBN Energy CEO Rusty Braziel. "That's what freaked everybody, was the fact that these guys were in such dire circumstances," he said. "There was not a single soul that I have talked to that came anywhere close to predicting what happened." Braziel has been in the energy industry for decades, first as a trader and now as a consultant. While trading, he experienced his fair share of volatility  including the 1986 crash that sent oil prices tumbling below $10. The heavy selling on Monday, rather than Tuesday when the contract was set to expire, was also notable, he said.

By Tuesday's opening bell the May contract was back in positive territory, and steadily climbed higher to settle at $10.01. But it was the lowest settle on record  apart from Monday's plunge  since the contract's inception in 1983. For context, the previous "lowest ever" title was held by the $10.42 settle on March 31, 1986. "The fact that there wasn't going to be enough storage and that things could get really hairy around expiration was not a surprise," said Babin. "But to the degree that it happened, and the speed that it happened, it was actually kind of scary."

Trouble brewing

Part of Monday's historic fall was certainly technical, as the financial and physical worlds collided. The volume was thin, and the majority of professional traders and funds that hold these contracts had likely already rolled their positions into later contracts. On Monday the June contract held steady above $20. Despite that, the drop into negative prices cannot be dismissed as merely a glitch. For one, it shows the depths of the imbalance between supply and demand wrought by the coronavirus outbreak. "To put a fine point on the horrible economic situation we're in right now with this pandemic, it was Monday's trading," Kilduff said. It also shines light on the fact that zero doesn't necessarily provide a floor for prices. Losses can be limitless in futures. Brent crude, the international benchmark, has held up slightly better than WTI, since it prices in the North Sea  which affords it easier access to storage  as opposed to landlocked Cushing, Oklahoma, where WTI prices. "Slightly" is the operative word here, however, since Brent is hovering around a more than 20-year low. And WTI's Friday settle price of $16.94 is hardly something to celebrate. At the beginning of the year it traded above $60. Less than six years ago it topped $100.

With prices this low, at a certain point producers will be forced to turn off the taps. A number of companies including Exxon, Chevron and ConocoPhillips have already announced production cuts, and additional cuts are expected. The consequences could be especially severe for U.S. companies, since shale oil is harder to extract from the ground and therefore more expensive to produce. These companies are also typically loaded up with debt, meaning weakness can ripple through the broader financial system. Vital Knowledge founder Adam Crisafulli called the sector the "FANG" of credit, especially high yield. "Banks are intimately linked to oil," he said in March. Whiting Petroleum, once a large player in the oil-rich Bakken Formation, earlier this month was the first major company to declare bankruptcy. Analysts warn there could be many more coming.

Retail investors take a hit

Traders have speculated that retail investors, who might not have fully understood futures trading, could have been on the other side of Monday's drop to negative prices. The U.S. Oil Fund, which trades under the ticker USO, has seen record inflows recently, suggesting that, as oil prices fell, retail investors wanted to get in on the trade. On Tuesday brokerage firm Interactive Brokers said it lost $88 million as a direct result of the drop in crude, which saw some users incur "losses in excess of the equity in their accounts." And Bank of China has reportedly suspended transactions for new crude positions, according to a report from Reuters, amid an uproar from those who lost money. The Chicago Mercantile Exchange, known as the CME, handles WTI contracts, and CEO Terry Duffy argued that the exchange worked "to perfection" on Monday. "We worked with the government regulators two weeks prior to making our announcement that we were going to allow negative price trading," he said Tuesday on CNBC's "Closing Bell". "So [it] was no secret that this was coming at us." He added that the exchange is not geared towards novice investors, but "professional participants."

Even for those not directly impacted by Monday's drop, the move still grabbed attention: everyone suddenly wanted to know what was going on. Kilduff said he heard from people he hadn't spoken to in years. "I think about how scary this is for retail, and how disconcerting this is," added Babin, who's been a trader for 20 years. "It shined a light on some of the weaknesses in the market that, as traders and professionals, we have come to rely on as being rock solid for so long. And then to see it so quickly kind of blown apart  it's real and it could really hurt a retail investor."

June swoon?

The natural follow-up question to negative prices is, of course, this: Will this happen again? Some analysts are saying it very well might, if storage continues to rise while demand stays depressed. "Will we hit -$100/bbl next month?" Mizuho analyst Paul Sankey wrote in a note on Tuesday, to which he answered, "quite possibly." "The physical reality of oil is that it is difficult to handle, volatile, potentially polluting, and actually useless without a refinery," he added.
The foreign ministers of Germany, France and Italy, along with the European Unions top diplomat, have issued a joint call for a ceasefire in Libya, urging the warring sides in the North African country to resume peace talks.

We want to unite our voices to those of the UN Secretary-General [Antonio] Guterres and his Acting Special Representative for Libya, Stephanie Turco Williams, in their call for a humanitarian truce in Libya, they said in a statement on Saturday.

We call on all the Libyan actors to get inspired by the spirit of the Holy Ramadan, engage in resuming talks for a genuine ceasefire, added the statement, signed by the EUs Josep Borrell, Frances Jean-Yves Le Drian, Italys Luigi di Maio and Heiko Maas of Germany.

Oil-rich Libya has been engulfed in chaos since 2011 when longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi was killed in a NATO-backed uprising.

It is now split between two rival administrations: The Tripoli-based internationally-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) supported by Turkey, and the Tobruk-based House of Representatives allied to renegade military commander Khalifa Haftar and his self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA) which enjoys the backing of, among others, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Egypt.

In April 2019, Haftar launched a military campaign to wrest control of Tripoli but the offensive was largely stalled by forces loyal to the GNA.

The conflict escalated sharply this month after GNA-aligned forces launched a counteroffensive and expelled Haftars troops from several western cities.

The joint statement came a day after GNA Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj sent a message to the United Nations Security Council saying his administration opposes a new EU military operation in the Mediterranean Sea which was established to monitor a UN arms embargo on Libya.

The leader of the UN-recognised government said Operation IRINI neglected to control the airspace and land borders through which arms, equipment, and ammunition are reaching Haftars forces.

The EU says the mission, which was approved by the bloc on March 31, aims to operate in the air and sea and with satellites to ensure all countries respect the ban on providing arms to the parties involved in the Libyan conflict.

The European forces will also watch for illegal oil exports, prevent human trafficking and contribute to the training of Libyas coastguard and navy.
- A popular polygamist in Angola called Francisco Tchikuteny Sabalo has died

- Francisco died from prostate cancer

- The polygamist left behind 156 surviving children, 250 grandchildren and 42 wives

Despite the social distancing rule, almost 1,000 people came out to pay their last respects to a popular polygamist in Angola.

The man identified as Francisco Tchikuteny Sabalo died from prostate cancer and was laid to rest on Sunday, April 19, 2020.

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The man identified as Francisco Tchikuteny Sabalo died from prostate cancer. Photo: UGC

Source: UGC

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Before his death, the Angolan, who is popularly called Big Dad, was a man with a very big family.

Although a Christian, Francisco married 49 wives although seven of the women left the marriage before his death.

While Angola law prohibits polygamy, it is widely practised in the predominantly Christian country.

READ ALSO: Dandora MCA blames COVID-19 cases on dumpsite, waste from airports

Angola mourns popular polygamist. Source: @VOA

Source: UGC

The late polygamist also fathered 281 children but 125 died before him leaving 156 surviving children.

Francisco has 250 grandchildren and 67 great-grand-children surviving him.

Despite being a father of many children, it was reported that the polygamist valued education and spent more than N540k (KSh 148k) every year on school supplies.

READ ALSO: Uhuru Kenyatta says he'll reopen economy if COVID-19 infections reduce

Three of his daughters are currently studying medical sciences and two sons are learning computer science.

The first wife of Francisco said she intends to fulfil her husband's last wishes, which is to keep the children fed and united.

The extended family primarily relies on farming, raising domestic animals and the proceeds they get from the family business.

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Source: TUKO.co.ke
You homes worth is best gauged by engaging a professional real estate appraiser

By: Hitesh Khan/

An appraisal consists of a thorough property inspection, location analysis and an investigation of relevant market data, and equating that information into an indication of market value for the property.

professional real estate appraiser

Image credit: Tino Rossini / Flickr

The property worth is often the cornerstone of your financial well-being and consideration should be given to having its value established by a professional real estate appraiser.

If you are thinking of renovating to improve your property worth, be mindful that renovating is a complex area and every situation has to be looked at individually. The best return on resale is cosmetic items such as painting and decorating where there is limited capital outlay.

Care should be taken not to overly personalise the renovations and adversely affect the propertys function or market appeal to increase the property worth. Be particularly careful when renovating if the property is in the upper range of value for the area and involves a large capital outlay.

Remember, Location, Location. According to valuers the three most frequent renovation improvements undertaken by homeowners, which provide the highest payback potential are:

Bathroom Renovation

Kitchen Renovation

Painting  Interior / Exterior

This information is also valuable for homeowners to measure what effect home improvement projects may have on the resale value of their homes. Consumers should be aware that home values and returns on renovation investments are dependent on many factors such as the location of the property.

Notably important is the quality of workmanship and materials. Whether youre planning to sell your home soon or to stay put for a while, youd probably rather have any improvements you make to your home add as much value as possible.

Top three greatest payback potentials:

Bathroom renovation (75-100%)

Kitchen renovation (75-100%)

Interior painting (50-100%)

Story continues

A professional real estate appraiser specialises in providing opinions of value of various types of property. They charge a fee based on the type of the property, complexity of the property and purpose of the appraisal assignment. This fee is not based upon a predetermined value estimate and therefore an appraiser can provide you with an objective, independent value of your property.

If you are considering to sell your property, a professional real estate appraiser will certainly help you in pricing it properly.

Although pricing your property is only one component in marketing when it comes to selling real estate, pricing is the most important element. Setting your price depends on your goals and objectives. How you wish to price your property may alter when or if you want to put your home on the market.

Pricing is an art, not a science and much intuition is involved. Having a professional real estate appraiser to assist can be valuable as you make your pricing decision. A qualified independent real estate appraiser is best equipped to provide detailed information. Evidently the individual with the best information will be the best prepared to achieve maximum value.

An appraiser can provide a written detailed appraisal of the property which includes: a neighborhood analysis (proximity to schools for residential customers, proximity of competitors and other major attractions for the commercial clients); trends in real estate pricing in the neighborhood; a property description and analysis, market trends in general; a comparison of the subject to the most recent relevant sales transactions along with competitive listings, in the marketing area.

The appraiser can also recommend any basic repairs or cosmetic upgrades that maybe advisable before listing the property to increase the property worth. An appraiser may also advise whether or not it would be in your best interest to put your property on the market, at this time. Based on your objectives (a quick sale, maximum return, etc) it may not in your best interest to go to market at a given time. A qualified independent real estate appraiser/consultant works for you. They are well versed in all aspects of real estate.

Do you know enough about how property valuation is done in Singapore?

Knowing how to calculate the property valuation is of paramount importance to a home owner. It can help you determine whether you are overpaying for a home, or whether you have gotten yourself a real bargain. Paying the right price is just one way you can avoid overspending on your property.

Another smart way to avoid overspending on your property is to get the right loan. Getting the right loan can be a much simpler task, but only if you get the right person to it for you. Which why you should get in touch with loan consultants to help you get the best loan deal at the right price.

Mortgage brokers can set you up on a path that can get you a home loan in a quick and seamless manner. They are the experts who do the work for you for free, while you lean back, rest and rely on our professionalism at absolutely no cost to you.

Most brokers have close links with the best lenders in town and can help you compare Singapore home loans and settle for a package that best suits your home purchase needs. You should also find out about money saving tips.

The post Professional real estate appraiser will tell you your homes worth appeared first on iCompareLoan Resources.
WASHINGTON  The messages clog their offices phone lines and inboxes by the thousands, each a snapshot of someones lived nightmare  the wife whose husband is on a ventilator and getting worse by the day, the small-business owner who desperately needs a loan, the paramedic who wants disinfectant to clean his ambulance between shuttling the ill to the hospital.

They are all punctuated by a flickering hope of a question: Could the congressman help?

Assisting constituents in need has always been a critical part of the job of a member of Congress, but it has perhaps never been as important, or in demand, as it is now. As the coronavirus pandemic rips across the country, lawmakers have been inundated by messages from panicked and suffering Americans searching for a lifeline.

Sidelined from their usual tasks on Capitol Hill, where Congress has been on an extended recess with only brief interruptions to approve huge infusions of federal funding to confront the public health and economic catastrophe, lawmakers are watching their jobs transform before their eyes. There is little for them to do in Washington  no hearings to attend, legislation to debate, or flesh-pressing at fund-raisers  but back home in their districts, they have become de facto case workers, and the needs are more than they can meet.

The last couple of weeks have fundamentally redefined what my job is, what it means to be a representative, said Representative Andy Kim, Democrat of New Jersey, whose district, stretching across the eastern suburbs of Philadelphia to the Jersey Shore, has been hit hard by the virus.
The Lagos State government on Friday announced a shortlist of ten companies for the construction of the Fourth Mainland Bridge.

In a joint statement by Aramide Adeyoye and Ope George, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Works and Infrastructure and Director-General of Office of Public-Private Partnerships respectively, the government said the firms were out of the 32 eligible companies that responded to the call for Expression of Interest (EOI) and applied for construction of the bridge.

The statement read, Following the issuance of a request for qualification to the 32 shortlisted and eligible respondents to the Expression of Interest, we are pleased to announce that the Lagos State Government has received a total of 10 responses to the request for qualification (the applications) from the applicants.

The Lagos State Government will now proceed to evaluate the applications in line with the evaluation criteria set out in the request for qualification and, thereafter, announce the successful pre-qualified bidders, who shall be eligible for participation in the next stage of the selection/bidding process, being the request for proposals stage, it added.

The 10 shortlisted firms include  CCECC Nigeria Limited; CGGC-CGC Joint Venture; China Harbour Engineering Company Limited; China State Construction Engineering Corporation Nigeria Limited and IC ICTAS Insaat Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S.

Others are Julius Berger Nigeria Plc; Mota-Engil and CCCC Consortium; Mutual Commitment Company Limited; Power Construction Corporation of China and Ingenieros Consultores, S.A., through Makais Energy.

Bridge history

In 2016, the then governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, signed a memorandum of understanding with a consortium of firms for the construction of the 38-kilometre bridge.

At the time, about five companies were shortlisted for the project estimated to cost N844 billion.

One year later, Mr Ambode terminated the MOU with the firms citing slow pace of work.

Only Julius Berger Nigeria Plc was retained in the latest shortlist.

According to Mr Ambode, the bridge would pass through Lekki, Langbasa, and Baiyeku towns along the shoreline of the Lagos lagoon estuaries, through Igbogbo River Basin and then crossing to Itamaga Area in Ikorodu. It would also cross the Itoikin Road and the Ikorodu-Sagamu Road to connect Isawo inward the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway at Ojodu Berger axis.

Mr Ambodes predecessor, Babatunde Fashola, had also promised to begin the construction of the bridge.
Over the past few days, food delivery workers have carried out strikes in several countries demanding safe working conditions in the face of the coronavirus pandemic and an increase in delivery rates to ensure the workers a livable income.

In Sao Paulo, the largest city in Brazil, workers went on strike last Friday, April 17, and resumed their action on Monday. Also on April 17, hundreds of delivery workers in Teresina, Piaui, in the northeast of the country, protested for securityagainst the constant robberies they suffer during work, for which they receive no compensation from companies.

Delivery workers protest in the streets of Sao Paulo, Brazil [Credit: Facebook/Treta no Trampo]

These actions took place just one day after the workers protested in Spain, denouncing the same precarious conditions faced by Brazilians. Like the Spanish, Brazilian workers drove down the main avenues of their cities, honking the horns of their motorcycles.

On Wednesday, new demonstrations took place in other countries, after an international delivery workers strike call was circulated. In Argentina there were protests in Buenos Aires and Cordoba. In Quito, Ecuador, dozens of employees of Glovo demonstrated in the streets and in front of the office of the Spain-based company.

Everywhere these workers are subjected to brutal exploitation by the same transnational companies, such as Uber, Rappi, iFood and Glovo. Governments of several countries have defined their work as an essential service during the pandemic, without the companies, however, being forced to provide the basic conditions for the preservation of workers health.

Workers protest in front of Glovo office in Quito, Ecuador [Source: Twitter]

Workers protesting on Paulista Avenue, in downtown Sao Paulo, denounced the conditions that they confront: We are in the front line and we dont have the support of even a hand sanitizer, we dont receive a mask, we dont receive anything, said one of them.

Another declared: Nobody takes a stand in the media. iFood does not take a stand... There is no representative from our class. We are here, working hard every day and if a biker falls, he is on his own. We want a stand [from the company].

The workers say that the delivery rates given by the companies are getting lower and lower. I risk my life to earn 2, 3, 4 reais (less than one dollar). It becomes impossible to work like this, said a handicapped worker, who delivers food on his wheelchair.

While workers have their income increasingly squeezed and are forced to work endless hours to guarantee starvation wages, the transnational corporations are fiercely competing among themselves, eager for ever larger slices of the global market.

Food delivery workers protest in the streets of Sao Paulo, Brazil [Credit: Facebook/Treta no Trampo]

The Sao Paulo-based iFood, with operations in other Latin American countries, announced this month that it will merge with Domicilios.com to create one of the largest delivery companies in Colombia. Controlled by shareholders such as Jorge Paulo Lemann, the wealthiest man in Brazil, iFood is fighting for the Latin American market directly against Rappi, which is based in Colombia and last year received an investment of US$1 billion from the Japanese conglomerate SoftBank.

In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, the number of orders for the food delivery Apps has increased in Brazil, as restaurants have been closed in the countrys main cities. But the number of delivery workers has grown even more steeply. Rappi registered a 300 percent growth in the number of registrations. And iFood received 175,000 new registrations in March, compared to 85,000 in February.

Behind this explosion in the number of delivery workers is the growing social desperation of the masses of unemployed and underemployed people in Brazil, as well as those who had their wages cut or were laid off during the pandemic. Most of these workers are not able to access the meagre R$ 600, about half a minimum wage, decreed as emergency aid by the Brazilian government.

Jair Bolsonaro, Brazils far-right president, is carrying out a campaign to sabotage any measures to contain the coronavirus, and has announced that he will reopen his civic-military schools early next week, as a means of forcing general reopening of schools and workplaces in the country. Asked about the explosion of deaths from COVID-19 in Brazil, he answered, I am not a gravedigger.

With the same indifference to the piling up of corpses, the heads of Brazilian states and municipalities are already announcing a reopening of the economy. The state of Sao Paulo is the main epicenter of the disease in the country, accounting for more than a third of all deaths and with an increasing mortality rate. Despite this, Governor Joao Doria of the Brazilian Social Democratic Party (PSDB), who has been exalted by the media and the pseudo-left as a reasonable politician in comparison to Bolsonaro, announced that a gradual resumption of activities in the state will start on May 11.

Brazilian politicians are pursuing the same course as bourgeois governments across the planet, forcing a premature return to work in order to guarantee the flows of profits to the capitalist oligarchy.

The food delivery workers strikes, on the other hand, express the growing resistance of the world working class to the capitalist classs response to the coronavirus pandemic. In Brazil, they join a wave of strikes and protests against unsafe working conditions, from the March call center workers rebellion to the recent nurses strikes and protests, which began last week.

This movement must develop an ever-closer coordination between the struggles of workers from different countries, adopting a socialist and internationalist program. The fortunes of transnational corporations and their shareholders must be expropriated and redirected to benefit the interests of the majority of the worlds population, first and foremost to combat the pandemic, guarantee the incomes of the working class and save lives.
The Ministry of Finance forecast a budget overspending at 5-5.1 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) this year, about 1.5-1.6 percentage points higher than the Governments plan due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Illustrative image (Photo: VNA)

The State budget was under the pressure of increased spending on anti-pandemic effort and assistance to those who were suffering due to the pandemic.

Statistics showed that a sum of 9.5 trillion VND (400 million USD) from both central and local budgets was spent on purchasing medical equipment and supplies to prevent and fight the pandemic. This expense could continue to increase.

Some 6.7 trillion VND was spent on providing allowances to forces participating in the fight against COVID-19, for meals for people who were kept isolated and undergoing medical treatment during the isolation period.

The State budget also spent 36 trillion VND to implement the Governments resolution on providing support in cash to six groups who were suffering from the pandemic to ensure minimum living standards.

Despite a huge need for spending, State budget revenue was predicted to drop significantly as the COVID-19 pandemic caused a number of sectors, from production to trade and investment, to fall into difficulties.

The Government was also planning to issue policies to cut taxes and fees for businesses to help them overcome the difficult time, which also caused drops in budget revenue in the short-term.

At the same time, tumbling crude oil prices coupled with slow restructuring and privatisation of State-owned enterprises weighed on budget revenue.

The revenue from SOEs restructuring and privatisation was planned at 45 trillion VND this year. However, after four months, no collection has been recorded.

According to Minister of Finance Dinh Tien Dung, if the pandemic eased in the second quarter of this year, the best scenario, GDP would expand 5.3 percent, 1.5 percentage points lower than the Governments plan. In this scenario, crude oil prices were projected to average 35 USD per barrel and the plan of privatising SOEs failed, the State budget revenue was estimated to drop by 140-150 trillion VND.

Bigger reductions in the State budget revenue were projected if GDP growth was below five percent as per the forecasts of several international organisations.

To ensure adequate sources for spending amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government asked ministries, agencies and local authorities to cut at least 30 percent of expenses for conferences and domestic business trips and 50 percent for international trips, which could help save 600-700 billion VND.

The ministry was also negotiating with donors for the most preferential lending terms. It was estimated that loans with low rates from international organisations could be around 1 billion USD./.VNS

Oil price plummet impact on budget revenue not too big: official The plummeting world crude oil prices will not have too great impact on Vietnams State budget revenue, said Vo Thanh Hung, head of the State Budget Department under the Ministry of Finance.
Senator Cruz Targets Chinese Propaganda in Radio Broadcasts With New Bill

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) plans to introduce a measure that would plug a loophole exploited by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to beam propaganda into the United States from a radio station in Mexico.

Cruz proposed the bill in response to the granting of a broadcast license to a radio station in Mexico that broadcasts content from the CCP-owned Phoenix Satellite Television. He had unsuccessfully urged the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to block the license in 2018.

The proposed legislation (pdf) would amend the Brinkley Act to prohibit the FCC from granting broadcast licenses to companies purchasing radio stations with the intent to change the language of the programming, unless the FCC can certify that the programming of the station will never be influenced by a foreign government or governing party.

The Washington Free Beacon was first to obtain a copy of the bill.

China should not be able to set up shop in Mexico and blanket America with propaganda, Cruz said in a statement. Every year, the CCP spends billions of dollars purchasing news outlets and waging information warfare to extend the reach of its propaganda and whitewash the unflattering and politically inconvenient truths about its totalitarian regime.

We are seeing this play out right now as news outlets across the country parrot Chinese talking points about the coronavirus pandemica pandemic that could have prevented.

A Chinese company purchased the Mexican radio station XEWW in 2018. The station now broadcasts propaganda into the United States. The company then applied for a broadcast license, but the application failed to mention the stations ties to Phoenix Satellite Television. For example, the address listed for programming content pointed to a building owned by Phoenix TV.

According to the 2009 testimony of Anne-Marie Brady, a global fellow at the Wilson Center, Phoenix is nominally privately-owned; however, its current main investor is the state-owned enterprise China Mobile. In 2016, Phoenix TV broadcast the forced confessions of Hong Kong booksellers who violated the CCPs censorship law.

China Mobile was one of the three state-owned Chinese companies threatened by the FCC on April 24 about potentially losing their licenses unless they can prove the communist regime doesnt influence them.

Cruz intends to introduce the measure once Congress is back in session.

President Donald Trump, during a recent press briefing about the pandemic, asked a reporter from Phoenix TV to state whether she works for a media company owned by China. The reporter, Youyou Wang, said she worked for an independent media in Hong Kong. While Phoenix TV is based in Hong Kong, its private in name only.

Phoenix TV is fully controlled by [the] Chinese government, according to a 2019 report by the Hoover Institution at Stanford University.
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: From being taunted for her choice of profession by family and neighbours to now being praised for her work at the forefront of the fight against coronavirus, Delhi Police Constable Mausam Yadav has witnessed a sea change in life.

Even in the initial days of the outbreak, her family members would advise her to take leave from work and stay at home, she said. But the 26-year-old stood her ground. I have worn the khaki to serve the people. Whats the point of it if I back out at the time of a crisis?

Yadav joined the Delhi Police in 2014 and was posted in Mehrauli. She got married three years ago and has a one-and-a-half-year-old son, Ansh. Her husband, Praveen Yadav, works at a private firm in Gurugram.



FOLLOW COVID-19 LIVE UPDATES HERE

Hailing from a village in Mahendranagar in Haryana, the Delhi Police constable said her father always had wanted her to join the police.

He was extremely happy when I was selected for the job but even then many from my village criticised me and looked down upon me for taking up this job. However, they are the same people who now call me to express their appreciation, she said.

Even after marriage, Yadav said she was criticised for her profession. But things changed with the outbreak of the virus. Since lockdown was implemented, her husband has been working from home and taking care of their son while she goes to work.

Currently, she is deployed at one of the busiest pickets in the national capital, Ahimsa Sthal, police officials said. She does the evening shift, which starts at 2 pm and goes on till 8 pm.I opted for the evening shift so that I can look after my child at least before leaving for work. I wake up early, make breakfast, prepare lunch, and put my child to sleep before leaving.

(With PTI inputs)
The Delhi High Court has granted interim bail of eight weeks to one of the directors of a private firm in a case related to alleged siphoning of Rs 4 crore allotted by the government for development of a solar park in Maharashtra.

Justice Yogesh Khanna, who conducted the hearing through video conferencing, granted the relief after noting that the accused was in custody since October last year and he has refunded Rs 2.17 crore, a part subsidy to the central government.

The court directed accused Rakesh Jain to furnish a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh and a surety of the like amount and said that before his release from the prison, he shall give his Aadhaar card number and mobile phone number to the jail superintendent.

It also said that during the interim bail period, the accused shall not leave the country without prior permission of the trial court.

Rakesh Jain, who was in custody since October 11, 2019, sought bail in a case registered by the Economic Offence Wing for the alleged offences of criminal breach of trust and criminal conspiracy under the IPC.

According to the prosecution, he was a director of Pragat Akshay Urja Limited in whose account major portions of the subsidy was diverted and the accused was also one of its authorised signatories.

He was also one of the directors / promoters and an authorised signatory of Sai Guru Mega Solar Park Limited.

It was alleged that the man along with other accused started taking loan in favour of Pragat Akshay Urja Limited from February 2017 onwards against the term deposits (of subsidy) as security. They used to take loans to settle their previous loans.

It is alleged that over Rs 4 crore was siphoned off by the accused persons after obtaining subsidy from the government and nothing was done for the project except diverting the funds to their interest.

He, along with other co-accused, allegedly misappropriated the government funds which were to be incurred for production of valuable solar energy power and they deprived a large number of common people of the benefits of the scheme.

The court was informed that the two other accused persons Satish Jain and Prakash Jain have since been protected from arrest by the court.

The man's counsel told the court that he has already deposited Rs 2,17,92,500 on December 26 last year as a refund of the amount obtained as subsidy from the central government and if granted some time, will also deposit the balance amount with the government within eight weeks from the date of his release.

The court took on record the undertaking given by the man and granted him interim bail.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Apr. 25

By Ilkin Seyfaddini - Trend:

The total number of coronavirus infected people in Uzbekistan rose to 1,836, Trend reports on April 25 with reference to the Ministry of Health.

To date, 621 patients have fully recovered from the coronavirus infection in the country, eight 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 195,000. Over 2.7 million people have been confirmed as infected, over 781,000 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
Russia is preparing for a major increase in coronavirus cases with regions told to urgently boost available hospital beds and draft in medical students.

Infections outside Moscow and its surrounding region have soared 110 per cent in the past week.

And the authorities are scrambling deal with a 31-fold increase in a fortnight at a construction site manned by 11,000 workers - including many migrants - above the Arctic Circle.

Belokamenka hospital, a tented field hospital flown in from Moscow

Novatek construction site workers. Russia is preparing for a major increase in coronavirus cases with regions told to urgently boost available hospital beds and draft in medical students

A new mobile hospital in Murmansk to treat coronavirus victims. Infections outside Moscow and its surrounding region have soared 110 per cent in the past week

In the capital city, new temporary hospitals are now planned to handle 5,000 patients on top of existing provisions with Vladimir Putin's government admitting that doctors here are 'under stress'.

A quick-build module for 1,500 patients is being attached to overflowing Kommunarka infections diseases hospital, it was announced.

Medical students in their fourth and fifth years face being called up, reported Moskovsky Komsomolets newspaper.

Regional bosses were told to increase their hospital bed capacity in the expectation of rising infections.

Until now, Russia has lagged behind many major countries in the rate of infections but officials fear they will see a peak here only in mid-May.

The worsening outbreak in the Arctic Covid-19 hotspot has seen a 29 per cent rise in a day in Murmansk region - to a total of 856 people.

Murmansk mobike hospital. Until now, Russia has lagged behind many major countries in the rate of infections but officials fear they will see a peak here only in mid-May

Novatek construction site workers. Novatek is Russia's largest private owned natural gas company

Of these, 686 are at 1.1 billion Belokamenka construction site belonging to gas giant Novatek, a rise of 192 in just 24-hours.

Local opposition activist Violetta Grudina revealed footage from the huge site claiming that claiming that that rules for isolation of new arrivals and social distancing have been flouted leading to the mushrooming infections.

'There are no hand sanitisers and masks. The numbers are growing every day, ' she said.

She blamed 'negligence' by the company and local officials with workers seen in long queues without protection.

'If there was an award for the best accomplice of coronavirus, Murmansk region would have several recipients and a medal,' said Grudina.

Novatek was 'creating conditions for coronavirus to spread'.

Despite this the Arctic site - part of a new liquified natural gas port - is still working as it regarded as strategically important to Russia.

Earlier this month two hulking Ilyushin-76 transport planes flew a field hospital to Murmansk city to boost capacity due to the Belokamenka outbreak.

Murmansk hospital. Medical students in their fourth and fifth years face being called up, reported Moskovsky Komsomolets newspaper

Belokamenka field hospital. Earlier this month two hulking Ilyushin-76 transport planes flew a field hospital to Murmansk city to boost capacity due to the Belokamenka outbreak

This regional capital is the world's largest city north of the Arctic Circle.

In Moscow a record 41 patients died in the most recent 24 hour period.

The patients were aged 34 to 92.

'Unfortunately, the number of patients [with Covid-19] has grown in the Russian Federation by more than twice, or, to be more precise, by 110%, over the past week,' said deputy premier Tatyana Golikova, referring to the period until Friday.

'The regions other than Moscow and Moscow region are somewhat behind, but we see some growth there as well.

'Although we are dealing with the law of small numbers there, I'd like to say that morbidity in the regions other than Moscow and Moscow region has grown more than in Russia as a whole, that is, by some 130 per cent.

'We have habitually assessed the trend based on day-to-day growth, and it has somewhat soothed us, because the curve that is developing in Russia is not that steep and enables the healthcare system to prepare for challenges facing it.'

'However, we see now that the healthcare system is overstrained in the central part of the country, primarily in Moscow and Moscow region.

'Our doctors are working under stress.'
The five men were all locked in disputes with their onetime employer, the Chinese technology giant Huawei. And they had all joined a group on the social app WeChat to organize.

Then, one of them wrote a message to the group that would upend their lives:

I can prove that Huawei sold to Iran.

The message, and the brief discussion that followed, touched on an explosive issue for the company. Huawei had just begun fighting allegations by the U.S. government that it had committed fraud to bypass sanctions against Iran. The companys chief financial officer, a daughter of its founder, had been arrested less than two weeks earlier as part of the case.

The employees messages in the chat group included no hard evidence that Huaweis activities in Iran were unlawful. Yet within weeks, the Chinese police had arrested all five men, two of them told The New York Times.

The two former employees  Li Hongyuan, 42, and Zeng Meng, 39  said officers had questioned them about Iran and asked why they had been in contact with foreign news outlets, both topics they had discussed on WeChat.
During the meeting, convened on Zoom, attendees asked a wide range of questions, including a query about the availability of hand sanitizer and other protective materials for area businesses to access. The task forces leadership team members said they are waiting on guidance from Abbotts office on reopening aspects of the economy, which could come as early as Monday.

We understand that everybody has different needs, but we need to hear from you on what works with the guidelines and what doesnt work with the guidelines, Lawson said. We need that feedback so we can continue to put our cities and the county in the best position that we can to make our citizens feel safe to come in your establishment, as well as the employees and the community.

Bryan Mayor Andrew Nelson and College Station Mayor Karl Mooney provided greetings and commentary at the start of the meeting.

Nelson thanked the efforts various leaders for their work in helping to fight what he described as a two-front war against both a public health crisis and now an economic crisis.
Researchers at the Microbiology Research Facility work with CCP virus samples as a trial begins to see whether hydroxychloroquine can prevent or reduce the severity of COVID-19, at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on March 19, 2020. (Reuters/Craig Lassig)

US States Build Stockpiles of Hydroxychloroquine

State and local governments across the United States have obtained about 30 million doses of hydroxychloroquine, a malaria drug being studied in countries around the world for safety and efficacy against COVID-19.

At least 22 states and the District of Columbia secured shipments of the drug, according to information compiled from state and federal officials. Sixteen of those states were won by President Donald Trump in 2016, although five of them, including North Carolina and Louisiana, are now led by Democratic governors.

The use of the drug became a political issue when Trump, reviled by critics but admired by supporters, began touting it last month, suggesting it was approved for use against COVID-19, the disease caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, a novel coronavirus that emerged from mainland China last year.

Supporters say having a supply on hand makes sense in case the drug is shown to be effective against the pandemic that has devastated the global economy and killed nearly 200,000 people worldwide, and to ensure a steady supply for people who need it for other conditions like lupus.

But some health experts say having the drug on hand could make it easier to misuse it. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned on Friday against using hydroxychloroquine or the closely related chloroquine outside of hospitals or clinical trials because of side effects, including some related to the heart, citing case reports, medical literature, and incidents recorded by the American Association of Poison Control Centers National Poison Data System.

A National Institutes of Health panel also said this week that hydroxychloroquine shouldnt be used with azithromycin, an antibiotic known as Z-Pak. Theres insufficient clinical data to recommend for against the use of hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine alone, it said.

A bottle of hydroxychloroquine tablets in Texas City, Texas, on April 7, 2020. (David J. Phillip/AP Photo)

Oklahoma spent $2 million to buy the drugs, and Utah and Ohio have spent hundreds of thousands on purchases. The rest of the cities and states received free shipments from drug companies or the U.S. government over the last month. Ohio received a large donation from a local company.

Several states including New York, Connecticut, Oregon, Louisiana, North Carolina, and Texas received donations of the medication from a private company based in New Jersey called Amneal Pharmaceuticals. Florida was given one million doses from Israeli company Teva Pharmaceuticals.

Pharmaceutical companies can often manufacture pills they already make fairly cheaply. The donations may have been done to earn good publicity while setting it up to make future sales if hydroxychloroquine ends up being a reliable treatment for the virus, said Dr. Kenneth Klein, a consultant from outside of Seattle who has spent the last three decades working for drug companies to design and evaluate their clinical trials.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency said Friday it has sent out 14.4 million doses of hydroxychloroquine to 14 cities, including Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, and Baltimore, from the federal governments national stockpile, a source that also provided South Dakota and California with supplies.

Donation to National Stockpile

The U.S. government secured a donation of 30 million doses from Swiss drugmaker Novartis on March 29 to build up the stockpile, which does not normally stock the drug, while Bayer donated one million doses of chloroquine.

President Trump is taking every possible step to protect Americans from the coronavirus and provide them with hope, said Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar in a statement at the time. Scientists in America and around the world have identified multiple potential therapeutics for COVID-19, including chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine.

After the 31 million doses were obtained in late March, the FDA issued an emergency use authorization for distributing the drugs to doctors, who could prescribe them to hospitalized patients when a clinical trial is not available or feasible.

In anticipation of demand continuing to grow, the agency in mid-April published guidance for making generic versions for doses of hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine.

An arrangement of hydroxychloroquine pills in Las Vegas on April 6, 2020. (John Locher/AP Photo)

States Assessing Drugs

Hydroxychloroquine, known as safer than chloroquine, is being studied closely in the United States. Clinical trials are underway in Minnesota, Tennessee, and New York. South Dakota, led by Republican Gov. Kristi Noem, a Trump ally, is conducting a statewide trial, the first state in the nation to do so. It received 1.2 million doses from the federal government.

I am excited patients across the state will have access to this drug, and we will learn more about its benefits in treating and even preventing COVID-19, South Dakota Secretary of Health Kim Malsam-Rysdon said in a statement.

As of April 21, 200 people in South Dakota were being treated with the drug, according to Sanford Health.

It is one of several states that say they are using some of the doses for clinical trials going on to assess whether the drugs have benefits for COVID-19 patients.

Some statesincluding Tennessee, Nevada, and Kansashave staunchly opposed using the anti-malarials before theyre proven to be effective against the new disease from China.

The Tennessee Department of Health sent a letter warning against using the drug or hoarding it.

We were seeing a flood of inappropriate prescribing and hoarding, quite frankly, Health Commissioner Lisa Piercey told reporters.

Utah is one of the states building up a supply of hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine. Gov. Gary Herbert said Friday that he stopped a plan to spend $8 million to buy 200,000 additional doses while promising a probe of the states initial $800,000 purchase of doses.

Nevada, another state that barred the use of hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID-19, is facing a lawsuit over its ban.

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, Reno attorney Joey Gilbert, who filed the lawsuit April 21 in state court in Washoe County, told The Epoch Times.

Utah Gov. Gary Herbert speaks during a news conference in South Jordan, Utah, on April 21, 2020. (Rick Bowmer/AP Photo)

Showed Promise

Some medical experts have stressed the need for rigorous testing to determine whether the drugs are safe and effective. Even if they are effective for some stages of the disease, and in some doses, others say the studies will help determine when and how to administer the treatments.

Hydroxychloroquine has showed promise in a lab setting against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19 and preliminary reports suggest potential efficacy in small studies with patients, James Kiley, director of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, said in a statement announcing one of the trials.

However, we really need clinical trial data to determine whether hydroxychloroquine is effective and safe in treating COVID-19.

In recent weeks, Brazilian researchers halted half of a study of chloroquine against COVID-19 because of potential safety hazards, and a study of U.S. veterans treated with hydroxychloroquine found no evidence it was effective against the disease.

But Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert Wilkie said the drug is working in middle-aged and younger patients and doctors in a global survey labeled it as the most effective therapy in treating the CCP virus.

A New York doctor told The Epoch Timess sister company NTD that over 400 of his high-risk patients recovered but stressed he uses hydroxychloroquine in combination with zinc and azithroymycin.

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, Dr. Vladimir Zelenko said. The antibiotic azithromycin, he added, protects the patient from secondary infections.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The United Nations on Friday launched a global push for a coronavirus vaccine as President Donald Trump triggered an uproar by suggesting patients be treated with disinfectant and the US death toll passed 50,000.

Across the Muslim world, hundreds of millions of faithful opened the Ramadan holy month under stay-at-home conditions, facing bans on prayers in mosques and on the traditional large gatherings of families and friends to break the daily fast.

In the Saudi holy city of Mecca, the Great Mosque was deserted on the first day of Ramadan. By BANDAR ALDANDANI (AFP)

With effective medical treatments still far away, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said defeating the pandemic will require global organizations and world leaders joining forces with the private sector to develop and distribute a novel coronavirus vaccine.

"We face a global public enemy like no other," Guterres said. "A world free of COVID-19 requires the most massive public health effort in history."

The UN chief's appeal came a day after the US president prompted an outcry with his suggestion that industrial cleansers could be used internally by humans to fight the infection.

"Is there a way we can do something like that, by injection inside or almost a cleaning?" Trump mused during a televised briefing. "It sounds interesting to me."

As experts -- and disinfectant manufacturers -- rushed to caution against any such dangerous experiment, the president tried to walk back his comments claiming he had been speaking "sarcastically."

'Irresponsible, dangerous'

In Thailand, soldiers have been helping residents during the lockdown restrictions. By Handout (ROYAL THAI ARMY/AFP)

Confirmed coronavirus cases hit 2.77 million worldwide Friday, with deaths 193,930 -- more than a quarter of which are in the United States, the country hardest hit.

New reported cases seem to have leveled off at about 80,000 a day, as distancing measures have taken root and the daily death toll in Western countries appeared to be falling -- a sign hopeful epidemiologists have been looking for.

Yet other nations are still in the early stages of the fight and the World Health organization has warned strict measures should remain in place.

New cases were accelerating in countries with low testing or late and limited mitigation like Russia, Sudan, Somalia, Nigeria, Maldives, and Guatemala.

In Geneva the WHO hosted a virtual conference on global cooperation to develop a vaccine, together with French President Emmanuel Macron, Germany's Angela Merkel, the wealthy Gates Foundation and GAVI, the global vaccine alliance.

"The world needs the development, production and equitable delivery of safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics," Guterres said.

"Not a vaccine or treatments for one country or one region or one-half of the world, but a vaccine and treatment that are affordable, safe, effective, easily-administered and universally available, for everyone, everywhere," he said.

Notably absent from the group were leaders of China, where the virus surfaced, and the United States, which has accused the WHO of not warning the world quickly enough about the original outbreak in China.

Mecca's Grand Mosque deserted

Across the globe more than four billion people are still under some form of lockdown or stay-at-home order even as governments begin easing restrictions. By Gent SHKULLAKU (AFP)

The pandemic put a damper on the opening of Ramadan, during which Muslims around the world pass the daylight hours fasting and then, after evening prayer, dining with families and friends.

In the Saudi holy city of Mecca, the Grand Mosque, usually packed with tens of thousands of pilgrims during Ramadan, was deserted as religious authorities suspended the year-round umrah pilgrimage.

"We are used to seeing the holy mosque crowded with people during the day, night, all the time... I feel pain deep inside," said Ali Mulla, the muezzin who gives the call to prayer at the Grand Mosque.

But clerics and conservatives in some countries including Bangladesh, Pakistan and Indonesia -- the world's largest Muslim-majority nation -- have pushed back against social distancing rules, refusing to stop 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.

Economic contraction

The economic devastation wreaked by the global lockdown is huge, with the world facing its worst downturn since the 1930s Great Depression.

Russia's central bank said its economy would shrink up to six percent this year, hit doubly by the coronavirus and the plunge in oil prices.

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. By ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS (AFP)

In the United States, the Congressional Budget Office forecast GDP will contract by 12 percent in the April-June quarter and the federal deficit, due to massive stimulus spending, will explode to $3.7 trillion in 2020.

Trump on Friday signed the newest financial support package, $483 billion for small businesses on the brink of bankruptcy and hard-pressed hospitals.

Across the United States individual state leaders were weighing whether to start gradually lift lockdown measures.

But the governor of Georgia was under attack for going so far as to declare a wide range of businesses where social distancing is difficult, like gyms, hair salons and tattoo parlors, able to open.

"If I don't cut hair I don't make money," said mask-wearing Atlanta barber Chris Edwards, as he trimmed the hair of an unmasked client. "We're being safe, we're being clean, it's all you can do."

Europe

Dan Settle sits outside Chris' Barber Shop as he waits his turn for a haircut in Lilburn, Georgia on April 24, 2020. By Tami Chappell (AFP)

In Europe -- the hardest-hit continent with over half the global number of deaths -- 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 has agreed to ask the bloc's executive arm to come up with a rescue plan by May 6, sources told AFP.

The crucial economic discussions come as parts of Europe slowly loosen restrictions after progress on reducing the number of new infections.

But experts have warned of a possible second wave, and authorities are ramping up their capacity to deal with it in Germany -- where curbs on public life have been eased recently.

Virologist Christian Drosten of Berlin's Charite hospital warned that the coronavirus could return with a "totally different force".
French Defence Minister Florence Parly has confirmed that the United States and Britain will extend their military support for multinational operations in the Sahel, in a highly-anticipated continuation in the fight against jihadists in the region.

Parly confirmed the extension to Sud-Ouest newspaper during a visit to Pau and the base of the 5th Combat Helicopter Regiment which is deployed to Mali as part of Operation Barkhane fighting hardline Islamists.

American and British military support in Sahel continues for the moment  a decision highly anticipated in Paris, according to RFI's Service Afrique.

It marks an importance extension of support for the Barkhane force given the strategic support the US and UK brings to the fight France is carrying out against jihadist groups in the Sahel.

Although the Pentagon had publicly suggested a reduction in aircraft operating in West Africa, the status quo remains. The Americans will continue to provide Operation Barkhane with crucial capacity in terms of intelligence and surveillance notably with drones, as well as supply and logistics.

Parly in January called on the US not to cut "critical" support for operations in the Sahel.

British forces provide an important stopgap, well-known to the French military: heavy-lift helicopters. The Royal Air Force has since July 2018 deployed three CH647 Chinook helicopters and hundreds of pilots to Mali.

The Chinook, which is powered by two rotors, enables considerable capacity for transport logistics close to combat. This deployment is especially important for Mali's vast geography.

But despite Parly's remarks to Sud-Ouest, officially the British mandate only runs until summer 2020.
President Donald Trumps former national security adviser Michael Flynn leaves the E. Barrett Prettyman U.S. Courthouse in Washington on June 24, 2019. (Alex Wroblewski/Getty Images)

Lawyer: New Evidence Proves Flynn Was Framed, Documents Should Be Unsealed

A prosecutor reviewing the case against former Trump adviser Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn uncovered stunning  evidence that proves Mr. Flynns allegations of having been deliberately set up and framed by corrupt agents at the top of the FBI, Flynns lawyer, Sidney Powell, said in an April 24 court filing.

The evidence was filed with the court, and a redacted copy was provided to the defense on April 24 under a protective order and is thus inaccessible to the public. Within hours, Powell submitted a filing requesting that the court unseal the documents and order the government to give them to Flynn unredacted.

Powell also submitted two emails that indicate prosecutors made an under-the-table deal with Flynns previous lawyers to not prosecute Flynns son in exchange for Flynns cooperation with multiple investigations.

Flynn, former head of the Defense Intelligence Agency and former national security adviser to President Donald Trump, pleaded guilty on Dec. 1, 2017, to one count of lying to FBI agents.

Jeffrey Jensen, U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri, has been reviewing the Flynn case at the direction of Attorney General William Barr since January.

The review has involved the analysis of reports related to the investigation along with communications and notes by Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) personnel associated with the investigation, said Timothy Shea, U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, in an April 24 email (pdf) to the defense filed with the court.

The new documents were obtained and analyzed by Jensen in March and April, Shea said. Additional documents may be forthcoming.

In Their Own Handwriting

The new evidence defeats any argument that the [FBI] interview of Mr. Flynn on January 24, 2017 was material to any investigation, Powell wrote. The government has deliberately suppressed this evidence from the inception of this prosecutionknowing there was no crime by Mr. Flynn.

The documents show in their own handwriting and emails that partisan FBI and Justice Department leaders intended either to create an offense they could prosecute or at least get [Flynn] fired, Powell said.

Reiterating Flynns demand for the case to be dismissed, she said, The governments misconduct in this case is beyond shocking and reprehensible.

Powell has argued that the investigation of Flynn, officially for his supposed relationship with Russia, was a pretext to target Trump.

Trump said in a March 15 tweet he was strongly considering a pardon for Flynn.

Missing Documents, Plea Withdrawal Request

Powell previously asked Judge Emmet Sullivan to order the government to hand over a plethora of documents Powell said were exculpatory to Flynn. Among them, the original draft of the FBI report from the Flynn interview.

She said the case should be dismissed on grounds of government misconduct, including the withholding of documents. Sullivan denied the request in December, but new information has been gradually turning up in the case.

On Jan. 7, prosecutors asked for zero to six months in prison for Flynn, a somewhat harsher recommendation than Flynn expected based on the cooperation he provided. The prosecutors argued that he pulled back his cooperation in a related case against his former business partner Bijan Rafiekian last year.

Flynn asked the court on Jan. 14 (pdf) to allow him to withdraw his original plea, saying the prosecutors violated the terms of the agreement.

Unofficial Side Deal

The emails newly revealed by Powell date back to 2018 and seem to show internal communications regarding the plea deal between Flynns previous lawyers from Covington & Burling.

We have a lawyers unofficial understanding that they are unlikely to charge [Flynn] Junior in light of the Cooperation Agreement, read one heavily redacted email sent on March 19, 2018.

The prosecutors threatened to charge Flynn Jr. based on allegations that Flynns now-defunct consultancy, Flynn Intel Group, lied in its foreign lobbying disclosures.

The second heavily redacted email, dated March 27, 2018, suggests the prosecutors tried to keep the deal regarding Flynns son unofficial to make future prosecutions easier.

The government took pains not to give a promise to MTF [Michael T. Flynn] regarding Michael [Flynn] Jr., so as to limit how much of a benefit it would have to disclose as part of its Giglio disclosures to any defendant against whom MTF may one day testify, the email read.

Giglio refers to a 1972 Supreme Court opinion that requires prosecutors to disclose to the defense that a witness used by the prosecutors has been promised an escape from prosecution in exchange for cooperation.

An analysis by The Epoch Times pointed out more than nine months ago that such a side deal may have existed.

Former FBI agent and Epoch Times contributor Marc Ruskin called such a deal unethical in a prior interview.

To twist the fathers arm with regard to his child is a pretty low thing to do, but weve seen low things done in these cases, he said.

Going Against Ex-Lawyers

Powell has asserted that Flynn is innocent in the lobbying matter and that if there was anything wrong with the paperwork, it was the fault of Covington & Burling, which Flynn originally hired to prepare it.

Rafiekian was charged and convicted in a case related to the disclosures, but the case was tossed by the judge for lack of evidence.

The question of who bungled up the paperwork created a conflict of interest between Flynn and Covington that resulted in the lawyers providing ineffective counsel, Powell has argued.

The prosecutors negotiated a deal with Flynn where hes partially given up his attorney-client privilege so that Covington and the government could effectively push back against that allegation.

Covington lawyers have since submitted declarations of more than 100 pages of text and more than 500 pages of partly redacted exhibits related to their representation of Flynn.

The government has been asking the judge for more time to absorb new claims and information and also in light of the CCP virus epidemic.

In an April 24 status report (pdf), prosecutors asked Sullivan to give them until May 8 to file another report and propose a briefing schedule if feasible.
Global aviation major Boeing has ended more than two years of tie-up talks for a $4.2 billion-deal with Brazils Embraer after a deadline, the latest derailment at the aerospace giant, reported CNBC.

The deal was meant to help Boeing grow even stronger in commercial aerospace to better compete with European rival Airbus. Airbus, for its part, has already taken a stake in whats now called the A220 passenger-plane program of Canadas Bombardier, it stated.

The collapse of the Boeing-Embraer deal comes as the aerospace industry is in crisis because of the coronavirus.

Thousands of jets around the world are grounded as air travel demand has dried up in the pandemic and shelter-in-place orders that aim to stop it from spreading. The crisis has put airlines on shaky financial footing thats destroying demand for new jets and accelerating retirements of older planes, stated the report.

It is deeply disappointing. But we have reached a point where continued negotiation within the framework of the [merger transaction agreement] is not going to resolve the outstanding issues, remarked Marc Allen, president of the Embraer Partnership and Group Operations, in a Boeing news release.

When nobody is flying and jets are on the ground its hard to ascribe winners and losers in the collapse of the deal, said Richard Aboulafia, vice president of analysis at Teal Group.

Boeing announced the terms of the deal in July 2018, which would have given the US major control of Embraers commercial aerospace arm, which makes passenger planes that are smaller than Boeings.

Much has changed for Boeing since the talks were first disclosed in late 2017. Two of its 737 Max planes, its best-seller, crashed, one in Indonesia in October 2018 and another in Ethiopia in 2019, killing all 346 people on both flights, said the CNBC report.

Those jets have been grounded since March 2019 and cancellations are piling up, promising a painful year for the Chicago-based company, it stated.

Boeing is expected to provide more detail about the deal and further plans to cut costs when it reports first-quarter results before the market opens on Wednesday, it added.
Socorro Diaz hasnt worked in nearly six weeks and the bills keep coming.

An undocumented immigrant from Santa Rosa, she was forced to abandon her job as a housekeeper after the state issued a shelter-in-place order to stop the spread of the coronavirus. The 39-year-old doesnt know how she and her husband will pay rent. Shes afraid shell lose her car. And she can no longer send money to help her parents in Mexico.

Theres been a lot of stress and a lot of worrying, Diaz said. I honestly dont have enough to pay my bills this month.

Unlike other U.S. residents, Diaz does not qualify for federal stimulus aid or state unemployment assistance because of her legal status. But shes one of an estimated 150,000 undocumented immigrants in California who may soon receive a $500 cash payment  or a maximum of $1,000 per household  from a new $125 million relief fund established by Gov. Gavin Newsom and partnering nonprofits.

The states Department of Social Services will administer the Disaster Relief Assistance for Immigrants Project, which was announced April 15 and includes $75 million in assistance from the state and an estimated $50 million in philanthropic donations.

The fund is the first of its kind in the country, and it could provide a critical lifeline for those who were left out of the federal governments stimulus and relief packages. But critics say it is a misuse of taxpayer funds and even some supporters fear it will merely act as a Band-Aid amid a financial crisis that is quickly deteriorating.

Several undocumented immigrants who spoke with The Chronicle said the one-time $500 payout wont cover basic expenses, particularly in the Bay Area, where exorbitant housing costs account for a significant portion of a familys income.

I was really happy for a moment, Diaz said, recalling the moment she heard about the fund. But I cant even pay half my rent. Its not enough. It doesnt cover basic necessities.

An estimated $15 million will go to 30,000 undocumented immigrants in the Bay Area, who make up about 20% of the states undocumented population, according to Social Services.

The governors office deferred questions about the relief fund to the Department of Social Services, which is overseeing the fund and defended its creation in a statement.

Undocumented Californians are a significant part of our fabric as a state, are large contributors to our economy, and have been burdened by this public health emergency, Scott Murray, a Social Services spokesman, said in a statement.

Social Services will select community-based nonprofits this spring to do outreach, assist with applications and deliver the funds to eligible immigrants. Theyll focus on reaching as many low-income undocumented adults as possible across a variety of ethnic immigrant communities, Murray said.

We are not here to suggest that $125 million is enough, he said. However, we are proud to be the first state in the nation to announce a project for direct disaster relief assistance to undocumented residents, and this assistance will certainly help these individuals and families during this pandemic.

At a minimum, officials said, eligible individuals must show they are undocumented adults over the age of 18 who cannot receive federal COVID-19-related assistance, including tax stimulus payments or pandemic unemployment benefits. They also must have experienced a hardship as a result of the pandemic. Applications will become available in May.

Philanthropists have combined to pledge $50 million, Newsoms office said, and those donations will be directed to Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees, a network of foundations focused on immigration issues. The network established the California Immigrant Resilience Fund and received about $6 million in initial investments.

The governors office estimates that undocumented immigrants account for about 10% of the states workforce, and many of these jobs can be found in the service industry, which has been disrupted by mass closures because of the states shelter-in-place policy.

Santiago Mejia / The Chronicle

Critics, however, have blasted Newsoms announcement to dedicate $75 million in state taxpayer money, calling it unconstitutional and a violation of California law.

Two Republican state Assembly candidates who are represented by the Center for American Liberty in San Francisco filed an emergency petition Wednesday with the California Supreme Court, requesting that it halt Newsoms $75 million contribution to the nonprofits that will distribute the money.

Harmeet K. Dhillon, founder and CEO of the Center for American Liberty, said in a statement that the governor is ignoring the proper, and constitutional, channel to appropriate funds.

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.

At a time when law-abiding Californians are crushed by unemployment, housing issues, business closures, and massive limitations on our normal lives, Governor Newsom is doing an end-run around the legal guardrails in place, she said.

Dr. Melissa Michelson, a political science professor at Menlo College, said the program allows the governor to cast himself as the anti-Trump.

Of course, Newsom and the state of California have been doing that pretty consistently for the past 3.5 years, in terms of opposing actions by the Trump administration, filing lawsuits against the Trump administration, she said.

This is allowing Newsom to not only give some financial relief to these folks, but to signal that these are important people in our state, Michelson continued. These are valuable contributors to the California economy and these are human beings.

Across the Bay Area, nonprofits and local elected officials are scrambling to fill the gaps in their communities with local donation drives and community funds.

The need and the stress in this community is as high as Ive ever seen it, San Francisco Supervisor Hillary Ronen said. It wasnt as if the community was thriving prior to the COVID-19 crisis. It isnt easy to live in the most expensive city in the country when youre working minimum wage jobs without a lot of job security.

Ronen commended Newsom for really standing up for undocumented immigrants, but she is among more than 140 elected officials who called on the governor and Legislature to establish a long-term funding plan.

In a letter to Newsom, the coalition noted that many undocumented immigrants struggled to make ends meet even before the pandemic started.

Were asking the governor to go even further, Ronen said.

Tatiana Sanchez is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: tatiana.sanchez@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @TatianaYSanchez.
Pakistan's Army Accuses India's Governing BJP of Spreading Hindutva Terror

Sputnik News

12:03 GMT 24.04.2020

New Delhi (Sputnik): Earlier on 21 April, Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan used the term "Hindutva supremacist" for the Narendra Modi government, which has been in power since 2014. Khan accused India of discriminating against Muslims while imposing its "Nazi"-like policies.

The Pakistan Army has called out its Indian counterpart for becoming "communalised" in recent years under the Narendra Modi government. Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations Major General Babar Iftikhar has said: "India is promoting the ideology of Hindutva and the Rashtriya Swayam Sewak Sangh (RSS) has broken all laws".

The Pakistani military spokesperson in a special briefing on Friday said that the RSS  the parent organisation of the country's governing party BJP  is spreading Hindutva terror and is communalising the Indian military.

"Saffronisation of Indian military and polity is a sad spectre that the world can ill afford it in present situation", Major General Babar Iftikhar said after the special conference, chaired by Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa, in Rawalpindi. Babar maintained that the conference participants took notice of Indian aggression along the Line of Control, which divides disputed Kashmir between the two South Asian arch-rivals.

Pakistan's military accused its Indian counterpart of targeting civilians on the Pakistani side of Kashmir, where at least 31 people were injured while one was killed in the past few days. Babar also accused India of violating the ceasefire at least 805 times this year.

"Indian troops deliberately targeted civilian population in Jammu Kashmir", Babar stated. On Friday, troops of the two countries have been engaged in massive artillery fire since the morning.

The Pakistan Army chief has also ordered military commanders to keep strict vigilance on the situation along the borders and the country's security.

Earlier this week, Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan accused India's Narendra Modi-led government of "the deliberate and violent targeting of Muslims" to divert the backlash over its COVID-19 policy. Imran Khan called the policy adopted by the Indian government "akin to what Nazis did to Jews in Germany".

The two South Asian nations have been at loggerheads since August 2019, when India stripped Jammu and Kashmir of its special status. Pakistan has repeatedly accused India of mistreating Muslims and Kashmiris, something which New Delhi has consistently denied.

 Sputnik

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Editors note:

Following the spread of COVID-19 in the US, inappropriate remarks made by American politicians and media outlets have led to a new wave of discrimination against Asian communities, especially Chinese Americans. The Trump administration has been blaming China in order to cover up its failure in curbing the spread of the lethal virus, publicly associating the virus with China, while some media outlets, such as Fox News, have been leading the charge in targeting China, accusing it of releasing the virus from a bio lab despite medical professionals and the WHO rejecting such rumors.

The New York Times on April 8 published an article titled Most New York Coronavirus cases came from Europe, noting that the virus that has been rampaging through New York was actually brought by European travellers, not Asians, while the virus began to circulate in the New York area by mid-February, weeks before the first confirmed case.

Below is an abbreviation of the original article.

New research indicates that the coronavirus began to circulate in the New York area by mid-February, weeks before the first confirmed case, and that travelers brought in the virus mainly from Europe, not Asia.

The majority is clearly European, said Harm van Bakel, a geneticist at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, who co-wrote a study awaiting peer review.

A separate team at N.Y.U. Grossman School of Medicine came to strikingly similar conclusions, despite studying a different group of cases. Both teams analyzed genomes from coronaviruses taken from New Yorkers starting in mid-March.

The research revealed a previously hidden spread of the virus that might have been detected if aggressive testing programs had been put in place.

On Jan. 31, President Trump barred foreign nationals from entering the country if they had been in China during the prior two weeks.

It would not be until late February that Italy would begin locking down towns and cities, and March 11 when Mr. Trump said he would block travelers from most European countries. But New Yorkers had already been traveling home with the virus.

People were just oblivious, said Adriana Heguy, a member of the N.Y.U. team.

Dr. Heguy and Dr. van Bakel belong to an international guild of viral historians. They ferret out the history of outbreaks by poring over clues embedded in the genetic material of viruses taken from thousands of patients.

Viruses invade a cell and take over its molecular machinery, causing it to make new viruses.

The process is quick and sloppy. As a result, new viruses can gain a new mutation that wasnt present in their ancestor. If a new virus manages to escape its host and infect other people, its descendants will inherit that mutation.

Tracking viral mutations demands sequencing all the genetic material in a virus  its genome. Once researchers have gathered the genomes from a number of virus samples, they can compare their mutations.

Sophisticated computer programs can then figure out how all of those mutations arose as viruses descended from a common ancestor. If they get enough data, they can make rough estimates about how long ago those ancestors lived. Thats because mutations arise at a roughly regular pace, like a molecular clock.

Maciej Boni of Penn State University and his colleagues recently used this method to see where the coronavirus, designated SARS-CoV-2, came from in the first place. While conspiracy theories might falsely claim the virus was concocted in a lab, the viruss genome makes clear that it arose in bats.

There are many kinds of coronaviruses, which infect both humans and animals. Dr. Boni and his colleagues found that the genome of the new virus contains a number of mutations in common with strains of coronaviruses that infect bats.

The most closely related coronavirus is in a Chinese horseshoe bat, the researchers found. But the new virus has gained some unique mutations since splitting off from that bat virus decades ago.

Dr. Boni said that ancestral virus probably gave rise to a number of strains that infected horseshoe bats, and perhaps sometimes other animals.

Very likely theres a vast unsampled diversity, he said.

Copying mistakes arent the only way for new viruses to arise. Sometimes two kinds of coronaviruses will infect the same cell. Their genetic material gets mixed up in new viruses.

Its entirely possible, Dr. Boni said, in the past 10 or 20 years, a hybrid virus arose in some horseshoe bat that was well-suited to infect humans, too. Later, that virus somehow managed to cross the species barrier.

Once in a while, one of these viruses wins the lottery, he said.

In January, a team of Chinese and Australian researchers published the first genome of the new virus. Since then, researchers around the world have sequenced over 3,000 more. Some are genetically identical to each other, while others carry distinctive mutations.

Thats just a tiny sampling of the full diversity of the virus. As of April 8, there were 1.5 million confirmed cases of Covid-19, and the true total is probably many millions more. But already, the genomes of the virus are revealing previously hidden outlines of its history over the past few months.

As new genomes come to light, researchers upload them to an online database called GISAID. A team of virus evolution experts are analyzing the growing collection of genomes in a project called Nextstrain. They continually update the virus family tree.

The deepest branches of the tree all belong to lineages from China. The Nextstrain team has also used the mutation rate to determine that the virus probably first moved into humans from an animal host in late 2019. On Dec. 31, China announced that doctors in Wuhan were treating dozens of cases of a mysterious new respiratory illness.

In January, as the scope of the catastrophe in China became clear, a few countries started an aggressive testing program. They were able to track the arrival of the virus on their territory and track its spread through their populations.

But the United States fumbled in making its first diagnostic kits and initially limited testing only to people who had come from China and displayed symptoms of Covid-19.

It was a disaster that we didnt do testing, Dr. Heguy said.

A few cases came to light starting at the end of January. But it was easy to dismiss them as rare imports that did not lead to local outbreaks.
An Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the 2014 batch of Haryana cadre has said she will resign from her post after the lockdown put in place against the coronavirus pandemic is lifted.

Rani Nagar, posted as a director in Haryanas archives department, made her announcement about her resignation from the prestigious service on social media on Thursday.

I, Rani Nagar, daughter of Ratan Singh Nagar, resident of Ghaziabad village Badalpur, Tehsil Dadri, district Gautam Budh Nagar, hereby want to inform everyone that I have decided to resign from IAS, the 38-year-old woman officer wrote on Facebook and Twitter in Hindi.

There is a curfew in Chandigarh that is why I and my sister Reema Nagar cannot move out. The roads are closed beyond Chandigarh till Ghaziabad. I will resign after the curfew and lockdown are lifted and will move for my parental home at Ghaziabad after taking permission from the government, she said.

Nagar has also posted a video on Facebook saying she has been living in Chandigarhs UT guest house since May 2018 with her sister.

The officer said she had lodged a complaint against a Haryana government official and some Chandigarh Police officers last year before a Chandigarh court.

Theres a constant threat to our lives so I request to you that if we lose our lives or go untraceable, please report my statement to the Honourable court in Chandigarh in connection with case number 3573/2019. We will always be grateful to you, she said.

Nagar had accused a Haryana additional chief secretary of sexual harassment and threats in a social media post in 2018.
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Linkedin Moch. Fiqih Prawira Adjie and Yulia Savitri (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta/Palembang  Sat, April 25 2020

Activists have accused police of dragging their feet in an investigation into the murder of two farmers linked to a land dispute in Pagar Batu village, Lahat regency, South Sumatra.

The two farmers, 32-year-old Putra Bakti and 38-year old Aman Suryadi, were stabbed to death, allegedly by security guards employed by oil palm plantation company PT Artha Prigel on March 21.

The incident occurred when the company tried to evict villagers from the area, with company security guards and armed police officers arriving to enforce the eviction. The villagers resisted and violence broke out, resulting in the death of the two farmers.

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The government has extended its Covid-19 testing programme to include farmers and other agricultural workers.

The move, designed to speed the return of people in quarantine back to work, has been welcomed by farming unions and groups.

There has been a call for increased testing within the agricultural industry since the start of coronavirus restrictions.

It comes as the government faces mounting pressure to ramp up its testing programme after setting a target of 100,000 tests a day by the end of the month.

It has now announced that the tests are being extended to include additional frontline workers who are symptomatic, and members of their household who are symptomatic.

The full list of eligible people includes critical personnel in food and drink production, including farmers and allied industry workers.

The government said the tests would allow frontline workers to return to work if they, or members of their household, test negative for coronavirus.

The National Pig Association welcomed the move: This is something we have pushed really hard for and it is very good to see these test have been made available to farmers and the wider food supply chain, chief executive Zoe Davies said.

If things go according to plan, this will hopefully help ease some of the concerns about staffing that have emerged as a result of the Covid-19 crisis.

The government has released guidance on coronavirus testing for essential workers who are self-isolating.
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Linkedin Alya Nurbaiti (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, April 25, 2020 09:21 627 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd424778 1 National ravio-patra,researchers,critics,Papua,government,hoax,WhatsApp,hacking,false-information,civil-society-organizations Free

After being apprehended over an accusation of inciting riots through a WhatsApp broadcast and questioned for 33 hours by the Jakarta Police, an independent researcher known for being critical of the government, Ravio Patra, was released on Friday morning.

A coalition of human rights groups, which stated that Ravio is innocent and a victim of identity theft, has demanded that the police arrest the person who allegedly hacked Ravios phone to spread hoaxes.

The coalition also suggested that Ravios arrest was a warning to critics.

We believe that the hacking of Ravios account and his arrest is related to the criticism he often delivered through his social media. We demand that the police stop accusing Ravio and stop terrorizing and criminalizing critics, the coalition said in a statement on Friday.

Among the coalition members are the Southeast Asia Freedom of Expression Network (SAFEnet), the Foundation of the Indonesian Legal Aid Institute (YLBHI), the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras), Amnesty International Indonesia and the Institute for Criminal Justice Reform (IJCR).

Ravio was critical of presidential special staffer Billy Mambrasar, whom he claimed had a conflict of interest over the governments projects in Papua. He also criticized the governments lack of transparency in handling the data of COVID-19 patients.

Read also: The curious case of Ravio Patra: Why Indonesian cyberspace is a dystopian nightmare

On Wednesday at 2:35 p.m., a message calling for nationwide looting on April 30 was spread from Ravios WhatsApp account. The next morning, Ravio was taken into custody but the coalition mentioned several legal problems regarding the arrest.

During the arrest, the police were unable to show the search warrant even though Ravio had requested a copy. The police also seized evidence that was not related to the alleged criminal act such as books, a friends mobile phone and an office laptop, the coalition said.

The coalition further said that the police prevented the legal team from swiftly providing legal assistance.

The legal team had trouble getting information on Ravios whereabouts because all of the police denied that Ravio was held in their headquarters. Only at 2 p.m. on Thursday did the Jakarta Police admit to holding Ravio.

The coalition also pointed to inconsistencies in Ravios status and the charges.

Ravio was initially investigated as a suspect from 3 to 6 a.m. on Thursday. But from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., he was questioned as a witness, the coalition said.
As the former reality TV host trotted out these baseless remedies and delusional denials at his afternoon news conferences, 53,000 Americans died from a disease that did not go away miraculously in April. Instead, as former vice president Joe Biden predicted in January, Trump left America ill-prepared for the coming pandemic. Trump and Fox Newss Sean Hannity were still claiming in March that the press was overblowing a crisis that Hannity declared was being used to bludgeon Trump again with this new hoax. A month after the cable news host pushed out that obscene and dangerous disinformation, covid-19 killed more Americans on a single day in April than died in combat during the United States 19-year war in Afghanistan.
POINTE BLANCHE:---The Royal Netherlands Navys biggest ship, the HNLMS Karel Doorman A-833, a Joint Support Ship (JSS), arrived on Friday at Port St. Maarten after its trans-Atlantic crossing from Den Helder on April 13 in the Netherlands.

The vessel was deployed by the Netherlands Ministry of Defence to support the civilian authorities in the fight against the coronavirus disease COVID-19 when and where this is required. The ship has been deployed for an initial three-month period according to the Ministry of Defence.

The HNLMS Karel Doorman brought in disaster relief supplies along with a number of vehicles for the emergency phase of post-Hurricane Irma/Maria in 2017.

The HNLMS Karel Doorman consignment in 2017 was the single largest shipment of relief goods Post-Hurricane Irma comprising of goods with a total weight of over one million kilos and valued at an estimated one million Euros.

The Karel Doorman with a length of 204.7 meters, is a multi-functional logistical support vessel for amphibious operations that can be deployed to supply units at sea, for strategic sea transport, and for logistical support from the sea, with the ship acting as a seaborne base for implementing and supporting land operations.

The HNLMS Karel Doorman has 2,000 lane meters for transport of material such as tracked and wheeled vehicles or containers; has an elevator and crane for up to 40 tons; a roll on/roll off facility for vehicles, and a steel beach stern construction for accommodating cargo transfer via landing craft.

The vessel features a below-deck transport holding area, medical facilities (20 treatment areas, two surgery rooms), loading/unloading equipment, a helicopter deck with two landing pads for different types of helicopters; displacement of 27,800 long tons; beam of 30.4 meters; draught of 7.8 meters; speed of 18 knots; range of 9,800 nautical miles; 150 crew and 150 non-enlisted persons.

The Karel Doorman was built at Damens Shipyard in Romania, but was fitted out in Vlissingen, the Netherlands. The vessel costs US$480 million to build and was built between 2011-2014, and commissioned in April 2015.

The Royal Netherlands Navy deploys the vessel both at home and abroad for crisis management operations, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. The Royal Netherlands Navy is the oldest of the four Services of the Netherlands Armed Forces.
Disney and Marvel Studios have pushed back the release of Benedict Cumberbatch's much-awaited "Doctor Strange" sequel to March 2022.

Titled "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness", the Sam Raimi-directed movie will now bow out worldwide on March 25, 2022 instead of its earlier release date of November 5, 2021, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The move came after Sony and Disney decided to release their joint production, the yet-untitled "Spider-Man 3", on November 5, 2021. The Tom Holland-starrer was earlier scheduled to come out on July 16, 2021.

Disney has also decided to move up "Thor: Love and Thunder" by a week, from February 18, 2022 to February 11, 2022.

The studio also removed two films -- an untitled live-action movie set for March 25, 2022, and an untitled 20th Century Fox film slated for April 8, 2022 -- from its calendar.

A new Disney live-action film will release on April 8, 2022, while an event movie has been listed for July 9, 2021.

Meanwhile, Sony has also revamped its release calendar in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. The studio has announced that the sequel to its 2018 animated hit "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" will now open on October 7, 2022, instead of April 8, 2022.

The studio has also decided to advance the release of "Uncharted", starring Holland and Mark Wahlberg. The film, which was set to bow out in October, 2021, will now take previous release date of "Spider-Man 3" -- July 16, 2021.

Sony also delayed Kevin Hart's Fatherhood by six months from October, 23, 2020, to April 2, 2021.

Hart's another project with the studio "Man from Toronto", also featuring Woody Harrelson, has been pushed back by nearly a year, from November 20, 2020 to September 17, 2021.

However, the banner has decided to advance the release of "Hotel Transylvania 4" by four months. The animated feature will now release on August 6, 2021.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Iranian leader says Tehran would never initiate a conflict in the region as the two countries trade blame.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has said Tehran was closely following United States activities, but would never initiate a conflict in the region.

Rouhanis comments, which come at a time of rising tension between Washington and Tehran, were made during a telephone call to Qatars Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Iranian state media reported on Saturday.

The Islamic Republic of Iran follows Americas activities and movements closely, but it will never be the one that starts conflict and tension in the region, Rouhani was quoted as saying during the call.

US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he had instructed the US Navy to fire on any Iranian ships that harass US vessels at sea.

Earlier this month, the US military said 11 Revolutionary Guard naval vessels came close to US Navy and Coast Guard ships in the Gulf, calling the moves dangerous and provocative.

Tehran blamed its longtime adversary for the incident.

Iranian officials on Thursday 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, the deadly disease caused by the virus.

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, leader of Irans elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), told state-run television.

Security of the Persian Gulf is part of Irans strategic priorities, Salami added.

Tensions between Iran and the US increased earlier this year after the US killed Qassem Soleimani, head of Irans elite Quds Force, in an air strike 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.
Karen Swallow Prior is the editor of a new series of classic texts. I can attest as a book snob of sorts that they are beautifully bound, and the price point is incredible! When substantial hardbacks are priced below $20, its time to give serious consideration to buying a few. Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen, along with Joseph Conrads Heart of Darknessare now available.

David George Moore conducted the following interview. Some of Daves teaching tapes and interview videos can be found at www.mooreengaging.com.

Moore: Tell us a bit about how this series came to life.

Prior: I wish I could take credit for the vision that birthed this series, but the fact is that B&H Publishing approached me with the idea. All I had to do was say yes. Then choose the books. Then do the writing. Choosing just six titles may be the hardest part! Those choices are based on a few factors. We are selecting only from works that are already in the public domain. Im choosing works Im particularly knowledgeable and passionate about, so that does mean there is more of an emphasis on British literature as that is my area of expertise. The next titles to be released include Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte and Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, followed by two more classics after that. I know from decades of teaching that people can feel intimidated by the classics. I believe with just a bit of guidance, anyone can appreciate these works and gain much from them. The overall vision is to create beautifully bound editions of classic works that will invite readers in, illuminate the reading, and cultivate thinking about these works from a biblical perspective.

Moore: Both Professor Ralph Wood of Baylor and William F. Buckley told me that they were painfully slow readers. It sure has not limited the quality of eithers work! Why do so many of us have an aversion to reading slowly, and what are some of the benefits of learning to slow down and pay better attention?

Prior: So much of the reading we do today is intended for quick skimming and fast consumption before scrolling on to the next thing. Modern life has (mal)formed our brains and our very bodies (bending over our phones and electronic tablets) through habits of hurried reading. Slowing down, paying attention, and reading reflectively feels as counter-cultural as taking a horse-drawn carriage to the grocery store instead of a car. But reading for formation (rather than merely information) depends upon reading slowly. When I went through physical therapy a couple of years ago, my therapist constantly had to remind me to slow down my exercises. This is because relying on speed and gravity rather than muscle alone diminishes the effectiveness of the exercises. Similarly, reading literaturewriting that uses words in an artful way--quickly not only decreases our understanding but also the delight such works offer.

Moore: Pardon the longer lead to this following question, but it is necessary. It would be blasphemous to say that any literature is on par with Scripture. However, it does not follow that this means great literature (and I am thinking of books by Christian and non-Christian authors) cant fill out Scripture in some meaningful ways. For example, I know you greatly appreciate one of my favorite books: The Pilgrims Progress.

Bunyan does many things brilliantly in this book, but one of those things I find immensely helpful is what The Pilgrims Progress teaches us about Christian growth. Among other things, Bunyan shows how different Christians have different temptations. For example, Vanity Fair does not tempt Mr. Fearing and he loves rolling around in the Valley of Humiliation. However, Mr. Fearing gets terrified when he is about to go through the waters where the demons wail their wicked sounds.

It seems that reading great books other than Scripture can both help us read Scripture better but help us better understand Scriptures teaching. What do you think?

Prior: Reading scripture faithfully and well requires the same skills it takes to read literature well. The Reformers knew this. Its why they wanted to put the scriptures into the hands of the people and helped develop the technology required to do so as well as to teach the skills needed to read. Reading is a basic skillessentially the same one we learn by first gradebut its a skill that can ever improve and deepen with practice and habit. Reading is not merely decoding letters and words, but it is correctly interpreting and applying meaning. We do this with scriptureand when we read well, we do the same with literature.

Moore: What can literature teach that systematic theologies cant?

Prior: Logic and facts are part of knowledge. But so, too, are emotions and imagination. Our ability and desire to create and find meaning is a reflection of Gods image in us. To read literature is to practice the meaning-making faculties that are part of what it means to be human because it requires us to use logic, imagination, and emotionsense and sensibility, so to speak.

Moore: One of your friends said, Because you read so much, you are a better interpreter of life. Unpack a bit what she meant.

Prior: In everyday life, we have to read people and situations (in other words, interpret). This activity is the same kind of interpreting one does when reading literature. Neither real life nor good literature tell you their meaning. Wouldnt it be great if the people we meet wore signs telling us how to interpret and judge their words and actions? But they dont. We have to learn to do that. Reading literature requires the same skills of analysis, interpretation, and judgement.

Moore: I recall the late David Powlison saying that every pastor ought to read Conrads Heart of Darkness. (Full disclosure: I have not read it.) Since it is included in this series, I assume you agree with him. How come?

Prior: I did not know that! Im gratified to hear he said so. I do agree with him. Heart of Darkness is, at its core, about the utter depravity of the human heart. It is written in and of a time when white Europeans deemed themselves to be the epitome of civilization. The story, drawn from Conrads real life experiences traveling by boat into the African Congo during the period of colonization, reveals that what we think constitutes human goodness may just be the result of external restraints. When those restraints are removed, we can see humanitys true nature.

Moore: Even some non-Christians say there are certain works of literature that it may be wise to not read. The writings of Marquis de Sade are an extreme example while the writings of D.H. Lawrence are less clear. What are your rules of thumb for your own reading and in recommending books to others?

Prior: I often invoke Philippians 4:8: whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirableif anything is excellent or praiseworthythink about such things. Note that this verse exhorts us to look for beauty (the lovely), goodness (the admirable), and truth (the true). Unfortunately, some of the sweetest, sappiest, and most popular works of Christian fiction (as well as self-help books) stray far from all of these traits. But great works of literature, those that have passed the test of time and are praiseworthy are so because they reveal universal, unchanging aspects of the human experience.

Moore: Thanks Karen!
April 24, 2020

News

By Jim Garamone

Defense.gov

DOD Plans for Resumption of Normal Operations After Pandemic

Defense Department planners are working on how to resume normal military operations following the coronavirus pandemic, Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Rath Hoffman said.

Because defense is a full-time necessity, the military cannot shut down, Hoffman said at a Pentagon news conference today. Still, officials curtailed exercises, limited training, stopped military moves and took other measures in an effort to flatten the curve of coronavirus infections.

"We'll be evaluating many different areas," Hoffman said. "One is training  how are we protecting our trainees, and how are we keeping the pipeline full? We're continuing to look at that, continuing to adopt and adapt so that we can pursue full training classes in the future."

Defense Secretary Dr. Mark T. Esper is also closely following the stop-movement order. The order goes until June 30. "But once it is lifted  and the secretary is reevaluating that every 15 days  how are we going to deal with the backlog of individuals that need to move throughout the world?" Hoffman said.

This is a complex issue, and the planners at the U.S. Transportation Command have the lead for the department.

DOD has done a good job of protecting strategic forces, but officials are still going to look at the process to see if there aren't better ways to do this in the future, Hoffman said.

Even if there is a return to normal, the virus will still be around. DOD planners are looking at the testing program, and officials are putting the final touches on the system it will employ and getting the supplies that will be needed. DOD scientists and doctors are also heavily involved in developing a vaccine and for treatment protocols for COVID-19, Hoffman said. "We're going to be doing that for months and months going forward," he added.

Finally, the department is looking at the industrial base with an eye to replenishing the DOD stockpile in case of future crises, and to produce more equipment for the coronavirus fight, he said.

Hoffman announced that the Navy hospital ship USNS Comfort will soon leave New York City. It will return to its homeport of Norfolk, Virginia, to restock and get ready for another mission, if needed. "We'll be looking to [the Federal Emergency Management Agency] to identify where that next location is; they are the federal government's lead on this, and so they're the ones who will be tasking us," he said.

Hoffman cited "modest progress" in mitigating the virus in the nation's hardest-hit city, calling that "a welcome sign." The rate of infections in New York is declining, he noted, adding that there are still many places where this is not the case, and that the department stands ready to assist.

"As of today, we have more than 60,000 personnel deployed nationwide, including 4,400 medical professionals on the front lines," Hoffman said.

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BANGKOK  Sri Lanka has reimposed a countrywide 24-hour curfew after a surge in the number of coronavirus cases, most of them navy sailors who were searching for those evading quarantine.

The 46 new infections on Friday were the highest in a day. The Indian Ocean island nation has confirmed 420 cases of the virus, including seven deaths.

Sri Lanka partially lifted a monthlong curfew on Monday during daytime hours in more than two thirds of the country.

The new curfew remains in effect until Monday. Police have arrested more than 30,000 violators.

Among the newly infected were 30 navy sailors from a camp on the outskirts of the capital, Colombo. A total 60 sailors so far have been infected and the camp has been isolated.

The virus is believed to have entered the camp through sailors who were deployed to search for a group of drug addicts who had contact with a COVID-19 patient and were evading quarantine.

 INDIA EASES LOCKDOWN: India announced the easing of a stringent lockdown for its 1.3 billion people by allowing neighborhood and standalone shops to reopen. India has reported more than 24,500 coronavirus cases and 775 deaths. Last week, the government allowed resumption of manufacturing and farming activities in rural areas as millions of daily wage earners were left without work.

 NO NEW DEATHS IN CHINA: China reported no new deaths from the coronavirus for the 10th straight day. Twelve new cases were reported on Saturday  11 brought from overseas and one local transmission in the northeastern province of Heilongjiang bordering Russia, according to the National Health Commission. Just 838 people remain hospitalized with COVID-19 while another 1,000 are undergoing isolation and monitoring for being either suspected cases or having tested positive for the virus while showing no symptoms. China, widely believed to be the source of the global pandemic, has reported 4,632 deaths among 82,816 cases.

 AUSTRALIA MARKS ANZAC DAY WITH HOME VIGILS: Traditional crowds at dawn services for the Anzac Day memorial holiday in Australia were replaced with candlelit vigils in driveways and neighbors gathering to listen to buglers play The Last Post. Restrictions on crowds and social distancing due to the coronavirus meant that the usual packed dawn services in cities and towns across the country were not held. The holiday, also celebrated in New Zealand, marks the anniversary of New Zealand and Australian soldiers, known as Anzacs, landing on the Gallipoli Peninsula in 1915. In New Zealand, where even tighter crowd restrictions are in place, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern stood at dawn on the driveway of Premier House, the leaders official residence, for a ceremony.

 DOWNWARD TREND HOLDS IN S. KOREA: South Korea reported 10 new cases of the new coronavirus, the eighth day in a row of a jump below 20. No new deaths were reported Saturday for the second straight day. The figures released by South Koreas Centers for Disease Control and Prevention brought national totals to 10,718 cases and 240 deaths.

___

Follow AP news coverage of the coronavirus pandemic at http://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak.
Finding financing support makes money available to spend on business needs

By: Nithila Vijayan/

Right from the moment someone thinks of a business idea, there needs to be cash. As the business grows there are inevitably greater calls for more money to finance expansion. The day to day running of the business also needs money.

The main reasons a business finance are to:

financing support

image credit: Alpha Stock Images

Start a business

Depending on the type of business, it will need to find financing support for the purchase of assets, materials and employing people. There will also need to be money to cover the running costs. It may be some time before the business generates enough cash from sales to pay for these costs. Link to cash flow forecasting.

As a business grows, it needs higher capacity and new technology to cut unit costs and keep up with competitors, and these requires financing support.

Business finance fuels expansion to production capacity

As a business grows, it needs higher capacity and new technology to cut unit costs and keep up with competitors. New technology can be relatively expensive to the business and is seen as a long term investment, because the costs will outweigh the money saved or generated for a considerable period of time. And remember new technology is not just dealing with computer systems, but also new machinery and tools to perform processes quicker, more efficiently and with greater quality.

To develop and market new products

In fast moving markets, where competitors are constantly updating their products, a business needs to spend money on developing and marketing new products e.g. to do marketing research and test new products in pilot markets. These costs are not normally covered by sales of the products for some time (if at all), so money needs to be raised to pay for the research.

To enter new markets

When a business seeks to expand it may look to sell their products into new markets. These can be new geographical areas to sell to (e.g. export markets) or new types of customers. This costs money in terms of research and marketing e.g. advertising campaigns and setting up retail outlets.

Story continues

Take-over or acquisition

When a business buys another business, it will need to find money to pay for the acquisition (acquisitions involve significant investment). This money will be used to pay owners of the business which is being bought.

Moving to new premises

Business finance is needed to pay for simple expenses such as the cost of renting of removal vans, through to relocation packages for employees and the installation of machinery.

To pay for the day to day running of business

A business has many calls on its cash on a day to day basis, from paying a supplier for raw materials, paying the wages through to buying a new printer cartridge.

Choosing the Right Source of Business Finance

An enterprise needs to assess the different types of financing support based on the following criteria:

Amount of money required  a large amount of money is not available through some sources and the other sources of business finance may not offer enough flexibility for a smaller amount.

How quickly the money is needed  the longer a business can spend trying to raise the money, normally the cheaper it is. However it may need the money very quickly (say if had to pay a big wage bill which if not paid would mean the business would close down). The business would then have to accept a higher cost.

The cheapest option available  the cost of business finance is normally measured in terms of the extra money that needs to be paid to secure the initial amount  the typical cost is the interest that has to be paid on the borrowed amount. The cheapest form of money to a business comes from its trading profits.

The amount of risk involved in the reason for the cash  a project which has less chance of leading to a profit is deemed more risky than one that does. Potential sources of finance (especially external sources) take this into account and may not lend money to higher risk business projects, unless there is some sort of guarantee that their money will be returned.

The length of time of the requirement for finance  a good entrepreneur will judge whether the business finance needed is for a long-term project or short term and therefore decide what type of finance they wish to use.

Shop around and compare where to get the best loan deals. To shop for the best loan deals may sound like an obvious statement that you may have heard many times. But have you really taken that advice to heart, or are you desperate to get a loan and willing to accept any terms just to get cash in your pocket.

If you have no time to shop for financing support, the next best alternative is to use the services of loan specialists. There are many factors to consider when you have to haggle business loans, and loan specialists can always tweak terms to have an advantage.

They can set you up on a path that can get you the best personal loans in a quick and seamless manner. They can also arrange for the Best Home Equity Loans in Singapore as they have close links with the best lenders in town and can help you compare Singapore loans and settle for a package that best suits your needs.

The post Financing support is essential for any business to survive appeared first on iCompareLoan Resources.
US President Donald Trump has thrown more cold water on reports that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un was gravely ill, but declined to say if he had been in touch with officials there.

"I think the report was incorrect," Mr Trump said at a daily White House briefing, adding that he had heard it was based on "old documents".

Mr Trump had said on Tuesday that he might contact North Korean officials to inquire about Mr Kim but gave no indication on Thursday he had done so. The two leaders have had regular communications over the past couple of years.

"We have a good relationship with North Korea, I have a good relationship with Kim Jong-un and I hope he's OK," Mr Trump said.

Daily NK, a Seoul-based website, reported on Monday that Mr Kim, who is believed to be aged about 36, was recovering after undergoing a cardiovascular procedure on April 12. It cited one unnamed source in North Korea.

The state-controlled media in North Korea has been silent on Mr Kim's whereabouts.

Two South Korean government officials rejected a subsequent CNN report citing an unnamed US official saying that the United States was "monitoring intelligence" that Mr Kim was in grave danger after surgery.

On Tuesday, Mr Trump, who held unprecedented summits with Mr Kim in 2018 and 2019 in an attempt to persuade him to give up his nuclear weapons, said the reports had not been confirmed and he did not put much credence in them.

Mr Kim is a third-generation hereditary leader who rules North Korea with an iron fist, coming to power after his father Kim Jong-il died in 2011 from a heart attack.

The US government's latest information on the North Korean leadership is that Mr Kim still remains out of sight and there is a dearth of reliable information about the reasons for his absence, according to a source familiar with current intelligence reporting and analysis.

US officials acknowledge Mr Kim does have a history of health problems and is overweight, and say that this does at least raise a credible possibility he has suffered some kind of health crisis, the source said.

But they do not regard theories that Mr Kim has had a heart attack or some other serious health setback as confirmed, and said he has disappeared from public view for extended periods in the past.

US government experts do not believe Mr Kim's influential sister, Kim Yo-jong, is a shoo-in to succeed him were he to die.

They believe there is "no clear" designated successor in the event that Mr Kim dies, the source said.
Mayans conceived the world not based on their understanding, but it involves beliefs, culture, religion, and the movement of the stars according to a recently published article.



The Mayan Civilization

The Mayan civilization was one of the most dominant indigenous societies of "Mesoamerica"--a term used to describe Mexico and Central America before the Spanish conquest.

There is one thing that makes the Mayans distinct from other indigenous groups. They interpret things not on their understanding but based on the abundant natural resources where they lived in and also in their astronomical culture.

Here are some of the things that you should know about how the Mayans shape the world based on the precise position of the stars, understanding the mechanics of heavens, and including how they develop their buildings based on the cosmos.



Cosmology

The Mayans believed the universe where man lives is a complex structure of superimposed horizontal levels and populated by divine forces. For them, heaven is composed of 13 levels, the earth where man lives is represented as a rectangular world, and the underworld is divided into nine layers.

Moreover, these are the three main cosmic spaces that are associated with colors and symbols of the ritual calendar.



Codices

So far, this is one of the most valuable written records about the Mayan civilization. There are only three that codices that have survived of which its authenticity can be verified. These are the Dresden, Paris, and Madrid. There is a fourth codex called Grolier, but its authenticity is yet to be confirmed.

In 1540, when Alonso de Zorita saw these books, he said that it "narrated their history of more than eight hundred years ago and were interpreted by ancient indigenous people."



Popol Vuh

This is one of the most essential records of the Mayan culture. In it, its contents reveal the mythological beliefs and literary qualities of civilization. Some scholars compared the importance of Popol Vuh to the Greek Illiad and Odyssey.

Popol Vuh means "The Book of Counsel," and this is where ancient Mayan lords consulted pictorial manuscripts most especially when matters about the government are discussed.



The Creation of the World

These are some of the essential lines about how the world was created. This was also found in the fragments of Popol Vuh.

"This is the account of how everything was in suspense, everything quiet in silence; everything still, silent and empty expanse of heaven. This is the first relationship, the first speech. There was not yet a man, nor an animal, birds, fish, crabs, trees, stones, caves, ravines, grasses, or forests: only the sky existed."

"The face of the earth did not manifest itself. There was only the calm sea and the sky in its entirety. There was nothing together, making a noise, nor anything moving, stirring, or making a sound in the sky. There was nothing that stood; only the water at rest, the sea peaceful, only quiet. There was nothing endowed with existence."

"There was only stillness and silence in the darkness, in the night. Only the Creator, the Formator, Tepeu, Gucumatz, the Progenitors, were in the water surrounded by clarity. They were hidden under green and blue feathers."

Overall, what was discovered about the creation of the world is almost the same as what is written in the Holy Bible as to how God created the world.



Read a related article:
Securly Extends Support for its Classroom Product to the Windows & Mac Platforms Classroom & MDM now support 100% cloud-based classroom management support for education's top four platforms - iPad, Chromebook, Windows and Mac.

Securly, the market leader in end-to-end comprehensive student safety & device management, today announced the early availability of its Classroom (formerly Chrometools) product for the Windows and Mac platforms. This release makes its industry-leading product support all the top platforms on the market.

School districts have always had a heterogeneous mix of devices ranging from iPad and Android tablets for the younger students, to Chromebook, Windows and Mac desktops for middle & high schoolers and staff. Securly made its foray into the Classroom management space by acquiring the Classroom & MDM products from TechPilot Labs, an Atlanta-based startup founded by Jarrett Volzer, who now serves as Securlys General Manager of Classroom and MDM product lines. At the time of the acquisition, Securly was focused on the Apple iPad and Google Chromebook as the go-to-market classroom-platforms of choice.

The Classroom product allows teachers to better manage a classroom with students on their Google Chromebooks. A teacher can push website URLs to the entire classroom, lock all the screens temporarily, create a locked-down session where browsing is restricted to only certain sites, monitor the entire classroom session remotely using thumbnail screenshots of pages that are open on the student devices, and close unneeded tabs. Teachers therefore benefit from being able to monitor and guide the students during an online Chromebook classroom session. The MDM product achieves similar classroom management functionality for the Apple iPad devices managed by the school.

After seeing dramatic success with this product & acquisition, where Classroom is now the second most sold product for Securly among the various safety and device management solutions it offers, Securly saw a lot of demand for classroom management for Windows and Mac based laptops as well.

While Chromebooks still account for a large percentage of the student deployments, our customers have told us that they have a number of deployments of Mac and Windows devices too, for which teachers would also benefit from powerful classroom management tools. Porting our popular Classroom product to these platforms just made sense. When added to the classroom management tools we provide to iPads through our MDM offering, we now support all four popular student platforms, Volzer explained.

School districts can now purchase Securly Classroom licenses on a per-student or a per-device basis and cover any of the supported operating systems, or bundle Classroom with Securlys other student safety and device management solutions for a comprehensive end-to-end solution.

Securly pioneered 100% cloud-based device-agnostic filtering & student-safety for schools starting with its flagship Filter product founded in 2013. This release brings its classroom-management solution to also become device-agnostic and support all the four top platforms in education - iPads, Chromebook, Windows, and Mac.

Securly is accepting early interests for Classroom for Windows & Mac. Please contact sales via its website http://www.securly.com or emailing sales@securly.com

About Securly

Securly, the leader in K-12 student safety, has a mission to keep students safe and productive at school and at home. The company offers the most comprehensive end-to-end student safety and device management solution for K-12 districts. Wherever digital devices are used, Securlys cloud-based products work to filter content, manage apps, ensure compliance, alert schools to cyberbullying and self-harm, while engaging teachers, students, and parents. Securlys automation and AI sentiment analysis, combined with 24/7 human monitoring by trained safety experts, protect over 10 million students each day. Securly is headquartered in San Jose, California with offices across three continents.

For more information, visit http://www.securly.com
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-26 05:59:29|Editor: huaxia

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by Peter Mertz

DENVER, the United States, April 25 (Xinhua) -- Many U.S. truckers are said to be conservatives and loyal to President Donald Trump, but truck protests over the past week have been staged over survival amid the COVID-19 crisis, not politics.

"These are independent drivers who were protesting nonpayment by companies that have hired them to move goods," said Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo, after his forces broke up some 70 trucks that briefly stopped traffic Wednesday on the east loop of Houston in the southern U.S. state of Texas.

Drivers said that "freight brokers," who arrange loads and payment, were dragging their feet on paying for completed work, according to businessinsider.com.

"The brokers are the ones who are breaking the economy and breaking truck drivers; they are killing us, literally," Addiel Santos, an independent owner-operator, told the industry news site FreightWaves.

Houston police said they are investigating truckers' claims of wage theft.

About 2,500 km away in California's biggest city, Los Angeles, a similar theme was displayed Friday when "at least two dozen trucks slowed down traffic along the 10 Freeway near downtown L.A., while a similar scenario played out on the 10 Freeway in Baldwin Park," CBS-Los Angeles reported.

Also on Friday, Phoenix had "truckers circling Arizona State Capital protesting long work hours because of Coronavirus Pandemic," Rick Davis posted on Twitter.

DISCONTENT

With U.S. COVID-19 cases nearing one million, truckers have been recognized as unheralded heroes -- transporting food and vital necessities to stores across the country.

In Colorado last month, when grocery store shelves became empty in the remote western part of the state, it was the Kroger trucks from Denver that kept millions of people supplied with food across the state.

"Don't forget the truckers -- what they've done during the pandemic has been great," Ralph Hampton posted on Twitter last week.

However, as many non-essential businesses have closed or been limited, truckers have been hit hard.

Many independent truckers, who work from load to load instead of for a company, are staying at home because they have no work. But they still have bills to pay.

Middlemen brokers have been giving truckers reduced pay, because the supply of truckers exceeds the demand.

Trucking insiders question if this is excessive profiteering during a time of a national crisis, and therefore is unlawful.

"Stop booking cheap loads" -- that is a huge sign on the back of the first of a long stream of trucks that ambled at 10 miles per hour down the California freeway on Friday, according to a tweet.

"Brokers were paying for trips from Houston to Midland-Odessa like 1,800 U.S. dollars to 1,900 U.S. dollars before. Right now, they are paying 700 U.S. dollars. A trip from Houston to Odessa costs me 400 U.S. dollars. If I get a flat tire, need road service, I have to pay out of my pocket, and still only get 700 U.S. dollars," Santos said.

Not only are truckers angry about reduced wages, but further discontent may be sparked from federal relief funds that have yet to find their wallets.

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association sent a letter last week to Congress, expressing frustration with the Paycheck Protection Program and other efforts by the Small Business Administration to help businesses stay afloat during the pandemic, according to CBS News Los Angeles.

The letter read in part: "We are currently receiving several hundred calls daily from drivers who are unable to buy essential supplies to protect themselves from COVID-19. Basic items like paper towels, hand sanitizer, and disinfectant wipes are nearly impossible to find right now. The irony is that truckers are hauling these supplies but they are unable to actually buy them."

The group previously warned if the nation's truck drivers become ill in large numbers, the U.S. supply chain could be at risk.

PROTESTS IN HISTORY

U.S. truckers have protested in the past, for similar reasons that mirror their 2020 discontent.

In 1979, during the Jimmy Carter administration and the oil embargo, independent truckers were angry about diesel prices jumping 20 percent to 0.88 U.S. dollar a gallon.

They partially shut down 13 states by blocking gas stations and crawling down crowded interstate highways.

Truck protests were reported in Wyoming, Colorado, Oregon, and also Minnesota.

In Indiana, drivers parked 300 trucks four abreast across a one-mile section of the Indiana Toll Road near Gary, blocking the toll road and a section of Interstate 94.

But, as was the case then, and now, no incidents of violence were reported. Enditem
Paul Chinn / The Chronicle

UCSF infectious disease researchers, in conjunction with officials from the Latino Task Force for COVID-19, launched a study Saturday seeking to understand the coronavirus impact on the Latino community.

Testing started at pop-up sites in San Franciscos Mission District, offering both tests looking for active infections and antibody tests showing who may have been infected in the past. Latinos represent 15% of the citys population but make up about 28% of its positive tests to date, according to Public Health Department data.
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection on Thursday began to spray for the pesky black flies that flock along the Delaware River, through funding provided by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.

The action comes a year after Hunterdon County stepped up to cover the costs for the neighboring state to spray its portion of the river. The spraying follows the introduction of legislation on Oct. 24 by Senator Mike Doherty (R-23) to require the New Jersey DEP to oversee the yearly suppression of the bugs after the state did not provide funding last summer.

According to Freeholder John E. Lanza, the state agreed to fund the program following discussions with county freeholders, who were supported by Senator Doherty.

The freeholders and our residents are most appreciative that the NJDEP has stepped up and provided to the PADEP the states share for the cost of this important public health program that suppresses black flies in the area, after not doing so last year, Lanza said in a press release shared with NJ Advance Media. Black flies are detrimental to residents, businesses and tourism in the county."

CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Newsletter | Homepage

The PADEP sprays along both sides of the Delaware River to treat areas that cover the entire Hunterdon County border. Lanza emphasized the importance of the action, even as state residents remain confined to their homes due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Even though people are presently not allowed in our parks and most tourism programs are suspended under the governors COVID-19 directives, we anticipate those orders to eventually be lifted at some point. I am advised that spraying now helps to prevent infestation in the summer, Lanza said.

Vectobac 12AS, a naturally occurring, non-chemical bacteria, is the only product used in Pennsylvanias waterways for black fly suppression. The product is dispersed via helicopter over the Delaware River several times during the spring and summer.

In 2015 when all spraying ceased on both sides of the Delaware due to a lack of funding, Hunterdon Countys Freeholders worked with local legislators, the countys Health Department and Warren County Freeholders for several years to have the black fly suppression cost sharing reinstituted with Pennsylvania," Lanza said. The program was resumed in 2018.

There was significant concern when New Jersey stopped supporting the program last year. It is great to have this program that protects our quality of life back on track for our residents.

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Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Caroline Fassett may be reached at cfassett@njadvancemedia.com. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
Key workers trying to access home coronavirus test kits were told they had all gone, just minutes after the reopening of the governments online booking system.

The home test kit portal listed test kits as unavailable for key workers in England and Wales just 15 minutes after it opened on Saturday morning, according to the BBC.

It came after the portals Friday launch saw essential workers being turned away for the days allocation of kits half an hour after it opened at 8am.

It was also not possible to book tests at drive-through regional sites in England, Wales and Northern Ireland by 10am, although tests at a drive-through regional site in Scotland were still available, according to the site.

More than 10 million key workers and their households are now eligible for Covid-19 tests as officials race to hit their 100,000-a-day testing target by next Thursday.

A spokesman for the Department of Health said more will be made available from Sunday morning at 8am.

Some 46,000 people tried to book a coronavirus test on Friday, but within two minutes of the website going live all 5,000 tests for people to carry out at home had been booked.

Meanwhile, more than 15,000 appointments for tests at drive-through centres were also taken quickly, forcing the Department of Health to apologise on Twitter for any inconvenience.

NHS Englands medical director, Professor Stephen Powis, urged key workers showing Covid-19 symptoms to book a test.

Asked how many were available on Saturday, he told BBC Breakfast: We are going at capacity, over 50,000 now. The aim is to get to 100,000 by Thursday.

The NHS has committed to capacity of 25,000 within NHS laboratories and we are on trajectory for that capacity to be in place.

Under the expansion of the testing, NHS and social care staff, police officers, teachers, social workers, undertakers, journalists and those who work in supermarkets and food production are among those now eligible.

Test booking slots or home testing kits will become available from 8am each day, the Department of Health has said, with their release staggered throughout the day.

Additional reporting by PA
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern during her post-Cabinet and Covid-19 coronavirus media update in the Beehive Theatrette, Parliament, on March 30, 2020 in Wellington, New Zealand.

Mark Mitchell / Getty

A proposal to boost New Zealand's economy by trading 2,000 visas to the world's super-rich if individuals invested $50 million into the country picked up steam in New Zealand before it was dismissed by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.

New Zealand investment banker Troy Bowker said it was a way to harness the nation's position as a "safe haven" and would help the economy after economic losses caused by the coronavirus.

Ardern wasn't buying it. She told reporters: "We don't want people paying for passports."

As of April 24, New Zealand had 1,451 cases with 16 deaths, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

Visit Insider's homepage for more stories

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has rejected a scheme that would have allowed the super-rich to buy their way into New Zealand for a cool $50 million, telling reporters: "We don't want people paying for passports."

In the last fortnight, New Zealand investment banker Troy Bowker made local headlines after touting a proposal calling on the government to offer about 2,000 visas to individuals who could invest $50 million into the country, granted New Zealand squashed the coronavirus, as a way to boost the struggling economy.

Bowker explained the proposal on Magic Talk, a New Zealand radio show. He said: "What we have created from a business perspective is intellectual property as a country. We have paid for it by our sacrifices, enormous sacrifices financially, and we have created this intellectual property which is New Zealand being a safe haven."

As of April 24, New Zealand had 1,451 cases with 16 deaths, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. The country's strict lockdown, put in place early, and focused on eliminating the coronavirus, has been lauded by The Washington Post.

On April 23, only three new cases were reported.

According to the New Zealand Herald, the plan relied on the country first completely squashing the coronavirus, then announcing the fact to the world and explaining the cost that came from squashing it.

Story continues

A motorway sign reads "Be kind and stay calm" along a street devoid of cars in response to the coronavirus outbreak in Wellington on April 20.

Marty Melville / AFP / Getty

The super rich's relationship with New Zealand is not new. New Zealand's location far from the rest of the world and the "clean-green" image it promotes for tourism has already made it a well-known destination for rich Americans to bunker down. Earlier this week, Bloomberg reported that at least a few wealthy Silicon Valley executives had reportedly escaped to their doomsday hideout shelters in New Zealand because of the pandemic.

New Zealand also has other investment visas: including one where a person is required to invest $3 million over four years, and another less stringent visa that requires $10 million to be invested in three years, according to Stuff.co.nz.

The reaction to Ardern's dismissal hasn't been uniform. Accounting business Xero's founder Rod Drury said Ardern's dismissal was too hasty since New Zealand could be facing 20% unemployment rates due to the coronavirus.

Popular center-right New Zealand radio host Mike Hosking said it was a good idea, and could potentially bring in $100 billion into the economy.

But economist Shamubeel Eaqub wasn't for the proposal. He told Stuff.co.nz that none of the billionaires already living in New Zealand had stepped up and helped the country during the pandemic.

He said: "I don't think we should be going out saying come here rich people. We're not a country for sale. What matters is the people. If we say we value people with the highest amount of wealth and income there's some mixed messages going out."

Read the original article on Insider
(Newser)  Small town, meet your new celebrity neighborand pretend he's just like anyone else. That sums up a New York Times report on an Irish town's reaction to Matt Damon, who's been seen walking and talking around Dalkey while holed up there during the coronavirus shutdown. "I think it's an Irish thing," says Denise Deegan, who was shouting "Hello" to her mom on the phone when Damon responded "Hello" on the street. "We don't want anyone who is a celebrity to think that we are in any way sycophantic." Similarly, Mary Caviston, owner of Corner Note Cafe, pretended Damon was just another customer until asking him for a photo. She closed her business for the pandemic only hours later. "It was a high note to go out on," she says.

story continues below

Damon, who's there to shoot Ridley Scott's The Last Duel, became popular when a photo circulated of him shopping with a SuperValu bagwhich "has been a beacon in the storm, a spring in the desert, an apparition at a grotto for a country in ecstasies of sublime relatability," says the Independent. Residents are even protecting him from the press on Facebook, writing "Leave Him Be!" But is he really one of them? Dublin Live reports that wanted posters are popping up around town, offering nearly $1,100 in concert tickets to anyone who connects Damon with a Dublin radio station: "If you spot Matt approach with caution as he is lethal with a newspaper and a can of hairspray, has a smile that can take an eye out and would much prefer to blow up Nazis than spend a weekend stuck at home on the farm with the folks," the posters say. (Read more Matt Damon stories.)
By PTI

NEW DELHI: Two Chinese pharma companies, which supplied 5.5 lakh rapid testing kits for COVID-19 to India, said they are ready to cooperate with Indian agencies looking into allegations of poor accuracy of their products.

In separate statements, Guangzhou Wondfo Biotech and Livzon Diagnostics said they follow strict quality control of their products, asserting that specified guidelines must be followed in the storage of the kits as well in their usages to get accurate results.

India's apex medical research body ICMR on Tuesday advised states to stop using the rapid antibody test kits for next two days till it examines their quality following complaints that they are not fully effective in detecting coronavirus infection.

Last week, India procured 5.5 lakh rapid antibody test kits from these two Chinese firms and they were distributed to several states reporting rising cases of coronavirus infection.

While Guangzhou Wondfo Biotech supplied 3 lakh test kits, Livzon Diagnostics delivered 2.5 lakh.

Livzon Diagnostics, in its statement, said: "We are shocked to receive negative reports from India related to poor accuracy of COVID 19 rapid testing kits made in China including our brand.

We have shown great concern on this issue, and we are willing to coordinate with the related government departments for investigation."

The company said it fulfilled all required quality control standards prescribed by Chinese government and that the company has been exporting the product to at least 10 countries including Brazil, Peru, Columbia and several European nations.

"The test kits should be stored at a temperature between 2 and 30-degree Celsius and should not be frozen. If the storage temperature is too high, the accuracy of the test may be influenced," it said.

ALSO READ | Tharoor slams govt over 'faulty' rapid test kits, calls for indigenous production

In its statement, Guangzhou Wondfo Biotech said the company has been exporting the kits to more than 70 countries and that the product was validated and approved by the ICMR through National Institute of Virology in Pune.

"In the process of exporting the products to overseas countries, Wondfo fully cooperates with relevant health authorities in each country to carry out various verifications on the sensitivity and specificity of our products," it said.

The statements by the two companies were released to the media by an official of the Chinese embassy here.

At present, the government hospitals have been using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests to detect coronavirus from the throat or nasal swab samples of people.

These take around five to six hours to show the results.

In the rapid antibody tests, the blood samples of suspected patients are taken, and it normally takes around 15-30 minutes to give the result.

India has been facing a severe shortage of testing kits in view of rising cases of the coronavirus.
The Buffalo Bills were fortunate on Friday night, landing a first-round talent all the way at pick No. 54 in the second round.

Iowas A.J. Epenesa fell all the way to the Bills and the opportunity to take him was too good to pass up. In the third round, Bills general manager Brandon Beane was trying to trade up for Utah running back Zack Moss, but no teams were interested in moving down.

Bills beat reporters Matt Parrino and Ryan Talbot discussed both picks and their impact on the 2020 team on another episode of Bills Talk with Matt Parrino.

Please subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, Google or wherever you listen to your podcasts for prior episodes.

Contact Matt Parrino on Twitter of Bills Talk with Matt Parrino in the player above or watch on YouTube below.

MORE ON THE BILLS

Bills GM tried, couldnt trade up for Zack Moss: 5 takeaways from Brandon Beane on NFL Draft Day 2

7 thoughts and a grade on Buffalo Bills drafting Iowa DE A.J. Epenesa

AFC East Winners, Losers on Day 2 of NFL Draft 2020: Bills get 1st-rd talent at 54

6 thoughts and a grade on Buffalo Bills drafting Utah RB Zack Moss
A web radio, an interactive exhibition, a tree sculpture: three projects focusing on the role of Australian soldiers in France in World War One. In time for Anzac Day commemorations on 25 April, the Australian Embassy in Paris has announced the winners of this year's Sadlier Stokes Prize.

Now in its 31st year, the Sadlier Stokes prize was established by the Australian government to shine a light on a lesser known chapter of World War One history.

Between 1914 and 1918, 313,000 Australian soldiers were deployed on the Western Front. Some 33,000 lost their lives in France.

The prize pays homage to Lieutenant Clifford Sadlier and Sergeant Charlie Stokes, who fought in France on 25 April 1918 in the battle of Villers-Bretonneux in northern France (Somme).

This date is known in Australia is as Anzac day, an annual commemoration of the battles fought by Australian and New Zealand Army Corps overseas, complete with military parades and ceremonies across the country.

The competition is open to all schools across France. Three prizes of 1,500 euros are awarded, one in each category  primary, junior and senior school, using a medium of their choice.

Young generations pay tribute to bravery

In Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, northwest France (Manche), the students at the Gibert Zola primary school made a web radio which will have its public premiere this Anzac Day.

School director Laure-Amelie Dollon said the broad range of skills needed to put it together was excellent way of promoting cooperation among students, some of whom are Australian.

They gained hands-on experience in all aspects of radio production, from writing to interviewing, recording and presenting. All of that combined with their knowledge of the First World War with questions in English and French.

Over several months, they carried out research and vox pops with members of the community, and prepared interviews with public officials, including descendants of war heroes.

There was even room for traditional dessert recipes, including Anzac biscuits.

It was such a popular exercise that the school has decided to use its prize money to buy equipment to set up a studio in the school so that the web radio can become a regular project.

Anzac Day Challenge exhibition

At College Ernest Jacques Barbot junior high school in Metz, eastern France, six classes of students aged 10-15 prepared an exhibition on Australia to share with their fellow students, teachers and parents.

"Anzac Day Challenge" displays colourful posters on all sorts of information about Australia, from the war effort, to the indigenous people, the animals, and the climate.

Over 400 students visited the two-week long exhibition and all participated in a quiz, which involved recognising the national anthem.

The recordings, as well as the WWI poem In Flanders Fields, by Canadian army doctor John McCrae, can be found on the school's blog Le Barbot Curieux.

Ode to peace

Teacher Frederique-Marie Zercher says the project became an ode to peace, especially in light of the history of the Alsace-Lorraine region which has known centuries of war between Germany and France.

"We are aware of the importance of peace and eager to pass on this message to the next generation," she tells RFI.

"We live in what we call the land of the three frontiers because we are in direct contact with Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany."

"We feel grateful for the Australian and New Zealand soldiers that volunteered to cross the world and help us regain our freedom."

College Ernest Jacques Barbot decided to spend the prize money on books in English for the school library.

Courage, friendship, memory

Finally, in the senior school category, 13 students from the Lycee JC Athanase Peltier, a technical school in Ham, northern France (Somme) joined forces to build a tree out of metal pipes, for a project entitled "Je suis courage, amitie et memoire" (I am courage, friendship, memory).

The tree itself represents life, its roots, a symbol of connected French-Australian history, while the branches represent the values of friendship and courage.

Painted red, blue and white representing the flag colours for both countries, it was decorated with 'leaves' made from paper and wood, covered with small photos and objects with information about the soldiers, their grades and their lucky charms.

"This project was a positive influence on the students and allowed them to bond," metal work teacher Brahim Allioua tells RFI. "The Australian soldiers they were researching were about the same age, and had a similar gregarious spirit."

He says the prize money will be put towards a school field trip to visit the war memorial at Villers-Bretonneux.
Paraguay is easing its COVID-19 lockdown next month, replacing its presently strict sanctions with a "smart quarantine," after the South American nation turns to be among the most successful in stemming the pandemic's spread in the region.

Julio Mazzoleni, the country's health minister, said on Friday that action, paralyzed since early last month, would start again in phases. More so, with what the minister called "rotating shifts," though, hygiene and social distancing measures would stay in place.

Mazzoleni also said the county would be divided by places. Also, he said, they would have different stages in which various groups would be joining. He also added, though, that other components would still be tightly controlled.



The 'Smart' Quarantine

When the 'smart' quarantine takes in effect, the health minister explained, the boarders would stay closed, classes would still be conducted remotely, and non-essential businesses would continue favoring remote work.

In addition, mass public events and gatherings would still be suspended. No exact date for the switch has been specified by the minister, too.

As for the strict quarantine which is currently being implemented, it has left thousands of people of Paraguay without income. It has also hit the nation's small economy hard.

Incidentally, the landlocked country announced on Thursday, it had released "$1 billion in sovereign bonds" to financially aid the health emergency which the widespread COVID-19 has caused.

Paraguay is known for having one of the most impressive records battling with COVID-19 in the region after it moved fast and aggressively to put the country on lockdown. As of this writing, the country has officially recorded 220 confirmed COVID-19 cases since the initial registration on March 7.

Nine people have already died, the majority of them, older adults or have health conditions. Seventy people, on the other hand, have been reported to have recovered.



Responding to COVID-19

Early this month, it was reported that the World Bank Board of Directors passed the $20-million loan in support of Paraguay's effort to strengthen its health system amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the background of the nation's present health condition, already impacted by the "worst dengue outbreak" in the previous years, the financial program will also help in strengthening the already overstrained health system by purchasing medical equipment and supplies.

According to Paraguay's Minister of Finance, Benigno Lopez, the support of the bank to the nations' economies is critical in these hard times that the whole country is facing. He added that Paraguay had already taken preventive measures to shield its people.

More so, the resources of the bank would contribute to providing more supplies and equipment to health centers and hospitals to treat people suffering from the illness. "We are in an emergency situation where," Lopez emphasized, adding, the support of everyone is essential.

Finally, the funding will be allotted to improve the lab equipment "to have detection tools, not to mention, attain better traceability and location of cases. More so, it will contribute to the strengthening of the clinical care capability in specialized hospitals to improve the availability of beds.



Check these out!
Remember back in January when every time you turned around there was a presidential hopeful ready to shake a hand, snap a selfie and make a promise?

Well, those days of face-to-face, look-you-in-the-eye campaigning are over. At least for now.

In the age of coronavirus, candidates and voters are staying apart. Now the campaigns are Zoom meetings, YouTube videos and tele-town halls.

In-person just doesnt make sense, says Ed Cranston, chairman of the Johnson County Democratic Party.

The Johnson County Democrats hosted a U.S. Senate candidate forum April 19 via Zoom, a cloud-based software platform used by business for teleconferences and by individuals to stay in touch with friends and family.

Cranston was the Zoom debates producer, and his wife, Jane, moderated the five-candidate forum from her kitchen table.

At least 105 people attended the forum, and the forum has been viewed more than 200 times on YouTube.

The winner of the June 2 Democratic primary election will face Republican Sen. Joni Ernst in the November general election.

Virtual campaigning is a dramatic change for both voters and candidates, said Benton County Democratic Party Chairwoman Rosemary Schwartz, and those candidates embracing this change will do better.

The lack of traditional, in-person campaign activities undoubtedly will benefit better-known, better-financed candidates, Schwartz said.

That also applies to the general election contest against Ernst, who, according to polls, has much higher name identification with Iowa voters than any of the Democrats seeking to challenge her in November.

Incumbents generally have an advantage in name ID and campaign dollars, Cranston said, and that probably is enhanced by the new campaign dynamics.

It no doubt makes being heard a greater challenge, he said. But if youre a regular Democrat, youre getting regular communications from the campaigns.

TWO FORUMS SUNDAY

Democrats will have a couple of opportunities this weekend to hear from their five Senate hopefuls  Michael Franken of Sioux City, Kimberly Graham of Indianola, Theresa Greenfield and Eddie Mauro, both of Des Moines, and Cal Woods of West Des Moines.

The Southwest Iowa Democrats will host a 90-minute forum Sunday that will be live on Zoom and then livestreamed on Facebook, according to Chris Adcock, chairwoman of the Page County Democrats.

I have a gut feeling this is how it is going to go for the time being, she said about distance-campaigning.

Adcock and others are learning as they go, so the forum will be rudimentary.

Just as the Johnson County Democrats did, the Southwest Iowa Democrats will have one candidate appear on-screen at a time.

Were all new to this. I dont think we can handle a debate that would have more back-and-forth between the candidates, Adcock said.

Later Sunday, Pottawattamie Democrats will host the candidates for a forum from 5 to 7 p.m. It will be livestreamed at www.facebook.com/pottawattamiecountydems.

Its hard to predict how many people will be watching the forums, Adcock said. The Southwest Iowa Democrats forum will have a rural focus, and Adcock thinks that will help attract voters from outside Iowa.

We may do watch parties later so more people see it, she said.

Cranston noted that many Iowans are sheltering at home, which may give them more opportunity to watch the forums.

Many have more time on their hands, and the candidates are talking about the issues they are dealing with, he said.
The Neogenics Education Group, an International Educational Consultancy firm in Ghana has called on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to roll out interventions to support Private Schools in the country in the wake of the novel coronavirus pandemic.



The Group believes the support would show that government recognized the contribution made by private providers in education from Pre-school to the Senior High School (SHS) levels.



Mr. Grant Bulmuo, Lead Consultant of the Group told the Ghana News Agency that failure on the part of government to intervene would mean allegedly that over two million Ghanaian children would fall behind in their education.



He said this would be at the risk of receiving low quality education with great consequence on the quality of the countrys future human resource.



He estimated that over 50 percent of Private Schools in Ghana were likely to fold up as a result of the adverse impact of the COVID-19 crisis, adding that, a 2018 World Bank report showed that Private Schools constitute over 30 per cent of education provision at the Primary School level and their contribution could not be overstated.



Mr. Bulmuo said further that Ghanas Educational Sector Performance Report in 2017 gave an indication of how important the private sector education was contributing to the increase in enrolment at the primary level from 4.1 million in 2011/12 to 4.4 million in 2017/18.



The Lead Consultant claims that a recent survey they carried out revealed that in spite of the immense contribution of Private Schools to the provision of education, "vast majority" of them do not have "huge reserves'' to contain the unexpected contingencies like COVID-19.



Mr Bulmuo urged the government to consider an economic and financial stimulus or intervention for private sector basic and secondary schools amidst the pandemic.







Source: GNA









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Lady Superstar Nayanthara, is one such actress who literally owns the tag of beauty with brains. She has undoubtedly won the hearts of the audience down south with her unconventional selection of movies, acting tactics, and charm. The actress has been making the headlines since long, for staying away from promotional activities of movies. She apparently has a clause in her agreement for films that clearly states that she will not be a part of any event related to the project. Lately, there was a buzz that Nayanthara would be part of Bigil starring Vijay and Chiranjeevi's Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy's promotional event, but her absence proved that the actress is clear with her policy.

Well, as per a new rumour the south diva has given her nod to be a part of the promotional events of her future projects. As of now, the actress or her team hasn't confirmed the rumoured decision.

Earlier, during an interview with Vogue India, Nayanthara revealed the reason why she doesn't attend any event, be it pre-release or promotional. She said that a lot of times, she has been misquoted and it was too tough for her to handle. She was quoted saying, "I don't want the world to know what I am thinking. I am a very private person. I'm not very good with crowds." She also added, "I've been misquoted and misinterpreted a lot of times. It was too much for me to handle. My job is to act. The films should speak for themselves."

Actor Radha Ravi known for his controversial statement, had slammed Nayanthara for not attending promotional events despite being paid huge remuneration. Responding to the same, the actress' rumoured beau Vignesh Shivan took to Twitter and lashed out at him for his remarks.

Talking about her future ventures, Nayanthara will feature in Netrikann, RJ Balaji's Mookuthi Amman, Rajinikanth's Annaatthe, and Vignesh Shivan's Kaathuvaakula Rendu Kaadhal.

Soorarai Pottru Release In Trouble? Theatre Owners Association Decides Not To Screen 2D Movies?
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-25 04:26:15|Editor: huaxia

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Medical staff work at Evaggelismos General Hospital in Athens, Greece, on April 24, 2020. Greece reported 27 new cases of COVID-19 infection and five new deaths over the past 24 hours, raising the total confirmed cases to 2,490 and 130 dead, fresh figures showed on Friday. (Xinhua/Marios Lolos)

ATHENS, April 24 (Xinhua) -- Greece reported 27 new cases of COVID-19 infection and five new deaths over the past 24 hours, raising the total confirmed cases to 2,490 and 130 dead, fresh figures showed on Friday.

According to the Greek Health Ministry's coronavirus spokesman and infectious diseases professor Sotirios Tsiodras, among the new infections were patients and employees at a private clinic in western Athens.

A total of 37 people in the private clinic have tested positive on Thursday and Friday, Tsiodras said. Of those, three patients have passed away and 17 have been transferred to other healthcare facilities.

A public prosecutor has ordered an inquiry for three private clinics in Athens and Piraeus for laxness in observing the protocols for preventing coronavirus' spread, Greek national news agency AMNA has reported.

In the cases of the two clinics in western and southern Athens, COVID-19 infections have been diagnosed in patients and staff. In the case of the Piraeus port clinic, authorities investigate an allegation that COVID-19 cases were not reported.

According to the Greek Criminal Code, "whoever intentionally violates measures ordered by the relevant authorities" could face jail sentences and fines. The law foresees a jail sentence of up to 10 years if violations led to an infection of a person or to death of the victim, and a life sentence if the lax measures led to the death of several people, AMNA noted.

Greece is in a nationwide lockdown which started on March 23 and is due to end on May 4, according to the latest announcements by the government. Most Greeks have complied with the measures.

UNITY AND SOLIDARITY

Repeatedly, Greek officials have called for unity and solidarity between countries across the globe against the common threat.

A total of 18 diplomats accredited to Greece, among them Chinese ambassador Zhang Qiyue, are now spreading this message, participating in an initiative taken by the Greek Foreign Affairs Ministry.

The project entitled "Staying at Home, Traveling through Literature: diplomats recite Greek literature" invites all to re-visit Greek poetry, make time at home more creative and eventually overcome the physical barriers through the power of spirit, according to an emailed press statement.

Greek Nobel laureate in literature, Odysseus Elytis, has said "poetry begins where death is robbed of the last word," it was stressed.

The diplomats are starring in two videos released by the ministry, reciting verses of Greek poems and excerpts of Greek books in English or Greek, with the aim of raising public awareness and transmitting the message that in this fight all nations should stand together.

The Chinese ambassador chose verses from Homer's "The Odyssey" to recite. Enditem
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.
Across Canada, news of the March 13 attack on an elderly Asian man in Vancouver shocked many; but for Chinese-Canadians like myself, it was just another reminder we are still not held as true citizens of this country.

Earlier this week, my sister and I were met with threats of physical violence by an older Caucasian man as we were lining up outside a Shoppers Drug Mart on an otherwise peaceful, sunny street in Vancouver.

A bystander averted his gaze, as the older man advanced toward us  breaking social distancing protocol, waving a fist in my face. Finally, store staff came out to stop him from escalating, but they claimed they could do nothing to help us as we were standing in the public domain.

It was the kind of event you read about and think of as an isolated incident  until it happens to you.

But it hasnt just been me. In recent weeks, a spate of anti-Asian incidents have taken place across Canada.

As reported by the Star, five out of 11, or 45 per cent of total hate crimes documented by Vancouver police in March had an anti-Asian element.

In Montreal, Asian-Canadians of Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean descent have reported acts of discrimination including physical intimidation and vandalism according to CTV News.

Meanwhile in Manitoba, one in five Asian-identifying health-care workers represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees also reported having experienced racism on the job in March.

Beyond Canada, the situation isnt much better. On the same week U.S. President Donald Trumps inflammatory China Virus remarks made headlines, the Asian Pacific Policy and Planning Council, an Asian-American community organization in California, received 673 reports of anti-Asian discrimination through its website.

Watching all this unfold in my own country brings me back to my childhood  growing up in the suburbs of Toronto in the early 90s, just a few years after the 1989 Tiananmen Square Protests took place in Beijing. I vividly remember being interrogated by my peers on the playground about what kind of Chinese I was: Good Chinese (a liberal democrat at the age of seven), or Bad Chinese (a communist.)

On Tuesday, Ontario MP Derek Sloan seemed to be asking Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam the same loaded question.

Though the era of the Cold War is over, we are now living in a different time of geopolitical shift, where a virus that has no nationality or ethnicity continues to be weaponized against an ethnic minority that has been making Canada its home since 1858.

After the incident at Shoppers Drug Mart, my sister and I discussed the perceived dichotomy of being Chinese and Canadian.

I met a friends uncle the other day, and right away he told me: Welcome to Canada,  she said. I explained that I was born here and grew up here, but he brushed me off and changed the topic.

Kayli Jamieson, a Chinese-Canadian student activist and communications major at Simon Fraser University says she and her peers have noted increasingly anti-Asian comments online and in public. At a Vancouver bus stop, they came across this line scrawled in black Sharpie: The asians (sic) are taking over everything and its disgusting.

Its not that anti-Asian sentiment did not exist before the pandemic, argues Xiaobei Chen, a sociologist at Carleton University; racism toward Asian and Chinese-Canadians just manifested differently.

Asians are always thought of as having come from another land, regardless of how many generations youve been here. Your look signifies your foreignness, she said, citing the example of the tens of thousands of Chinese workers who built the nations transport infrastructure in the late 1800s.

The message is mutually reinforcing, she said. Chinese are not seen as Canadians and their stories do not belong to Canadian history. It doesnt matter how much of the railway they built, they are only seen as hired hands.

She added that Chinese-Canadians already carry the psychological burden of knowing that their community is stigmatized and associated with a racialized virus in the past, citing previous discrimination Chinese-Canadians experienced during the 2003 SARS outbreak. Its deja vu, 17 years later.

In Canada, we do get political and media influence from the U.S., so that can trigger reactions here, says Yves Tiberghien, a political economist and professor at the University of British Columbia, though he cautions that racial dynamics in Canada and the U.S. cannot be analyzed in the same way.

Crises, especially health-turned economic ones that are complex and shocking, and suddenly come and destroy jobs, always provoke anger and a search for a culprit, he said. Those who feel they have lost a lot are hurt, and its easy to organize (hate) when you have someone saying its caused by them, he added alluding to Trump calling the coronavirus the China Virus.

Besides the obvious issues of public safety and trust in civil society, the rise of anti-Asian sentiment creates concerns for Canadian multiculturalism and interracial solidarity, says Chen, the sociologist.

Achieving unity is impossible in the context of this pandemic; (I worry) we will be driven even further apart from each other.

She adds that whether its microaggressions or blatant discrimination, one of the most powerful solutions is simply to talk about it.

Asian-Canadians have a responsibility here, too, to become comfortable in talking about discrimination, she says. I think its true some are reluctant to admit or even recognize what they experience as racism  We buy into the model minority myth and would like to see ourselves as the opposite of being a racial minority ... I feel we have a lot of awareness-raising to do, both outside the Asian community and within.

Finally, news reports on incidents of ethnic discrimination in Canada should be widely shared, Chen said. They serve an educational purpose and foster a sense of commonality and empathy between ethnic groups, and help us understand different forms of racism, how they manifest and affect peoples lives in different ways.

Crystal Tai is a (proudly) Chinese-Canadian journalist covering the intersection of culture and social movements. Follow her on Twitter: @crystalpher_

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Lucknow: The Yogi Adityanath government of Uttar Pradesh has taken a big decision in view of the global epidemic coronavirus and lockdown. The government has banned 6 types of allowances of state employees. It will be postponed till 31 March 2021. It also includes departmental allowance, secretariat allowance, police allowance.

How bodies of 'corona' infected being disposed in Bengal, BJP shares video

The Yogi Adityanath government of UP has also banned dearness allowance. It was to be paid in April. This will save the state government 15 thousand crores. At the same time, more than 16 lakh employees in the state will be affected by this decision of the Yogi government. Along with this, 11.82 lakh pensioners have also suffered a setback. After cutting the salary of ministers and legislators by 30 percent, the UP government has stopped the increase in DA of state workers and teachers.

Bangladesh will not allow Rohingyas to enter country under any circumstances

Now, like the Central Government, from January 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021, the increase in dearness allowance of state workers and teachers and dearness allowance (DR) of pensioners has been stopped. UP CM Yogi Adityanath has given strict instructions to the officers that no crowd of any kind can be gathered anywhere till June 30. This decision has been taken with the intention of keeping the corona infection under control in the state.

BJP leader created a ruckus after reaching the police station at midnight, violated social distance rule
Atlanta Mayor Keisha Bottoms on ABC News' "Good Morning America" on Friday morning.

Screenshot/ABC News

Atlanta Mayor Keisha Bottoms strongly urged her constituents to remain at home to contain the coronavirus and ignore Republican Gov. Brian Kemp's decision to rapidly reopen Georgia's economy.

"Stay home. Listen to the scientists," Bottoms said. "There is nothing essential about going to a bowling alley or getting a manicure in the middle of a pandemic."

On April 20, less than three weeks into his stay-at-home order, Kemp announced businesses all over the state, including gyms, nail salons, and bowling alleys, would reopen as soon as April 27.

Trump initially supported Kemp's move but later reversed his position and said he told Kemp he "strongly" disagreed with the rapid reopening.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Atlanta Mayor Keisha Bottoms on Friday strongly urged her constituents to remain at home to contain the coronavirus and ignore Republican Gov. Brian Kemp's decision to rapidly reopen Georgia's economy.

On April 20, less than three weeks into his stay-at-home order, Kemp announced businesses all over the state, including gyms, nail salons, and bowling alleys, would reopen as soon as April 27.

"Stay home. Listen to the scientists," Bottoms told George Stephanopoulos on ABC News' "Good Morning America." "There is nothing essential about going to a bowling alley or getting a manicure in the middle of a pandemic."

Bottoms told Stephanopoulos that Kemp had not explained to her how his decision was guided by science or experts, and the mayor said Georgia didn't have its infection rate under control. Kemp has a history of ignoring science. He said he realized the virus could be transmitted by asymptomatic people in early April  weeks after the crucial fact was widely known.

"I'm looking at data that shows that our numbers are not going down," Bottoms said. "Our death rate is continuing to go up ... To make an assumption that we are out of the woods is not based on anything other than a desire to open up businesses."

Story continues

She added: "There are some who are willing to sacrifice lives for the sake of the economy, and that is unacceptable to me."

The mayor said her city was attempting to financially support the workers and businesses most severely affected by the economic shutdown, including beauty salons and barber shops.

The lift of Georgia's lockdown was met with backlash, and health experts have said that reopening too quickly without sufficient testing and contact tracing could mean a second wave of infections that's more devastating.

Trump initially supported Kemp's move but later reversed his position and said he told Kemp he "strongly" disagreed with the reopening.

"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 the incredible people of Georgia," Trump said, referring to federal guidelines for the first stages of business reopenings.

"I want him to do what he thinks is right," the president added. "But I disagree with him on what he's doing, but I want to let the governors do  now if I see something totally egregious, totally out of line, I'll do  but I think spas and beauty salons and tattoo parlors and barbershops in phase one  we're going to have phase two very soon  is just too soon."

Good Morning America (@GMA) April 24, 2020

Sarah Al-Arshani contributed to this report.

Read the original article on Business Insider
NEW HAVEN  The number of crimes reported in New Haven has dropped as the pandemic continues.

The data, recorded in the New Haven Police Departments weekly COMPSTAT report, shows the number of crimes reported in the city fell by 48.7 percent over the four-week period ending April 19.

Between March 23 and April 19, 311 incidents of crime were reported to the department, including 46 alleged violent crimes. In the four weeks prior to that, 606 were reported, including 95 alleged violent crimes.

The Police Department counts homicides, felony sexual assaults, robberies, shootings and aggravated assaults as violent crimes.

New Haven Police Department

Mayor Justin Elicker declared a state of emergency in New Haven due to the coronavirus on March 15. Gov. Ned Lamonts stay at home order went into effect at 8 p.m. on March 23.

The downward trend occurred in each of the citys nine police districts to varying degrees.

Christian Abraham / Hearst Connecticut Media

The most dramatic drop occurred in Westville, known as District 2, where 23 crimes were reported in the last 28 days, as compared to 70 in the four-week period prior.

The least dramatic was in the Dwight neighborhood, known as District 4, where reported crimes fell from 63 to 46.

The department also is conducting significantly fewer motor vehicle stops, according to the latest report. In the last four weeks, officers have stopped 112 motorists. In the four weeks before that, they made 1,067 stops.

Police Chief Otoniel Reyes said this week that the department temporarily is scaling back on some functions: although officers are responding to every call, they may call complainants and avoid in-person visits if its not necessary for certain low-priority calls.

Some low-priority calls  such as a car break-in  still may require an officer to appear on site to collect information, such as physical evidence or to observe the scene.

Additionally, Reyes said the number of people held in the departments lockup has declined. He said ordinarily there are 14 to 18 people in the departments detention facility, but the number has decreased to three or four daily arrests.

william.lambert@hearstmediact.com
Former Lord Mayor Nial Ring told the Herald he no longer owns the building which houses The Ref pub

A former Lord Mayor of Dublin was questioned by gardai investigating a suspected lock-in at a city centre pub in alleged breach of coronavirus regulations.

Last night, Independent councillor Nial Ring denied any wrongdoing and commended gardai for the "professional and polite" way they had handled the situation .

He insisted there had been no breach of the Covid-19 rules.

The incident under investigation by Fitzgibbon Street gardai began at around 11pm last Friday when officers observed three men outside The Ref pub in Ballybough in the north inner city.

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"Gardai became suspicious after observing these three men and they then heard what they thought were people inside the pub," a source told the Herald last night.

Shutters

"Gardai then attempted to gain entry to the pub by knocking on the shutters for a period before a man, who they understood to be the owner, let them in.

"On entry, five males were found to be present in an upstairs area and they were all sent home after their details were obtained."

There were no arrests, and the case is being investigated under anti-coronavirus regulations, which require that all non-essential businesses, including pubs, be closed.

Gardai, who have been given sweeping new powers by the Government to fine or detain those who do not comply when given orders to return home, launched their first operation, Operation Fanacht, which involved 2,500 gardai being placed on checkpoints countrywide over the Easter weekend.

Records from the Land Registry show Mr Ring and his business partner Liam McGrattan took out a mortgage on the building housing the pub, 70 Ballybough Road, with AIB in August 2006.

Mr Ring told the Herald he no longer owns the building.

Mr McGrattan is listed as the licensee for alcohol sales there, according to Revenue Commissioners records.

When contacted by the Herald, Mr Ring said: "There were five of us upstairs in my office, which is completely separate from the bar downstairs, which I have no access to, when I answered the door to gardai.

"This is my work office and I was there with my business partner and a couple of his colleagues and we were each having a bottle of beer after completing an important business matter.

"We were all two metres apart and what we were drinking did not come from the pub downstairs.

"I think the gardai are doing a great job in policing the Covid-19 crisis and they were very professional and polite when they entered the premises. I am 100pc behind their efforts.

"They spent around 10 to 15 minutes here and were asking what was going on. Of course they asked was the drink from the bar downstairs, but it wasn't.

"The gardai were doing their job in a professional manner and they had a good look around the bar before they left.

"There is absolutely no issue here, and there was no lock-in.

"There was no breach of the regulations, and I have complete respect for how the gardai went about their business."

The city councillor served as Lord Mayor of Dublin from June 2018 to June 2019.

It previously emerged that Mr Ring spent 366,000 of taxpayers' money on hospitality during his year in office.

He spent 28,488 on "beer" in three months and 35,240 on "red and white wine" over 12 months.

In addition to the cost of alcohol for the thousands of people Mr Ring invited to the Mansion House, more than 13,000 was spent on commemorative pens and pencils engraved with his name.

Repossession

In February last year, it emerged that the then Lord Mayor managed to save his home from a bank sale after raising well over 1m to pay debts he owed Bank of Ireland Mortgage Bank.

Dublin Circuit Civil Court heard Mr Ring and his wife, Joyce, were named in repossession proceedings, and that a three-mortgage debt amounting to 903,420, together with the bank's undisclosed legal costs bill, could be struck out.

Mr Ring's counsel told Judge Jacqueline Linnane the extent of the new funds, and where and how they had been raised, could not be divulged as it might breach data protection legislation.

Only days before that court hearing, Mr Ring was hailed a hero after catching a fleeing burglary suspect in the city centre. The suspect was subsequently detained and arrested by gardai on patrol.
Mbua Ro-danny Mokako Facebook

Mbua Ro-danny Mokako, Mayor of the Limbe I Council who died in Douala in the wee hours of Saturday, April 25, 2020 has been buried in a style akin to that reserved for those who die of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19.

Open sources say Mayor Mbua Mokako died at the Gyneco-Obstetric and Pediatric Hospital in Douala where he had been brought in from Limbe Friday following a rapidly failing health.

Although medics are yet to make any official statement on the circumstances that led to the Mayors demise, happenings in Limbe and Douala suggest he died of COVID-19 complications.

For one thing, he is said to have been in contact with the first case of COVID-19 in Limbe who is believed to be a staff of the Limbe I Council. It remains unclear why he was not kept in confinement, especially given that he interacted with the public until Friday.

Mayor Mbuas mortal remains are reported to have been buried at the Bonaberi Cemetery in Douala by medics like is the case with COVID-19 fatalities.

In front of the Bonaberi cemetery awaiting my nephew Rodanny Mbua, read a post from Susan Ekollo on Facebook.

Following the death of Mayor Mbua, a team was spotted at the Limbe I Council disinfecting the premises. This further strengthens suspicions that the deceased Mayor is a coronavirus casualty.

Authorities in Limbe are expected in the hours ahead to launch an appeal for those who had contact with the deceased to isolate themselves and get tested for COVID-19.

On February 18, 2020, Mbua Rodanny Mokako was reelected as Mayor of Limbe 1 Council  his second mandate after he succeeded pioneer Mayor Matute Daniel who moved to the Senate in 2013.

It is expected that Henry Mokova Sona Motomby, First deputy mayor of the Limbe I Council will assume interim management of the municipality pending the election of a new mayor. Martha Beatrice Lauret Epse Ndongo is Second Deputy Mayor.

Cameroon-Info.Net recalls the demise on July 3, 2014 of Isaac Inongo Dalle, then Mayor of the Limbe III Council. Fako Division is yet to come to terms with the demise of Mayor Ekema Patrick Esunge of Buea last October 27, 2019.
The ninth session of the National Assembly (NA) is scheduled to begin on May 20 and conclude on June 19.

NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan

During the 44th meeting of the NA Standing Committee in Hanoi on April 24, NA General Secretary and Chairman of the NA Office Nguyen Hanh Phuc said the ninth session will be divided into online meetings from May 20 to 30 and a plenary session from June 10 to 19.

The online meetings will feature the opening ceremony, a government report on socio-economic performance, a report on public opinions and petitions, and discussions on draft laws and resolutions to be submitted to the legislature for approval.

During the plenary session, lawmakers will discuss and decide upon several socioeconomic issues, the national target programme on socioeconomic development for ethnic minorities, the establishment of a national election council, personnel matters, and the ratification of draft laws discussed at the online meetings. It will end with a closing ceremony.

Phuc said the sessions agenda will be sent to legislators prior to the opening ceremony and be adopted via a mobile app.

Regarding meetings of NA deputies and voters, the secretary general suggested that such meetings can be held as normal in localities with risk or low risk of COVID-19 but regulations on epidemic prevention and control must be ensured.

In high-risk areas, delegations of NA deputies can inform the public about the NAs agenda via the mass media and work with the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF)s provincial chapters to collect public feedback to send to the NA Standing Committee and the VFF Central Committee.

NA Vice Chairman Phung Quoc Hien said that as the Government is focusing on coping with the pandemic in combination with socio-economic development, the NAs Question-and-Answer session would be delayed until the next session.

Chairwoman of the NAs Committee for Judicial Affairs Le Thi Nga proposed that lawmakers send questions to heads of ministries and departments so they can reply in writing.

Concluding the meeting, NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan said the ninth session is a special one, which will offer a chance to renew the legislatures activities, reflecting on national solidarity following the epidemic to restore the economy and stabilise peoples lives./.VNA
Letters to the Editor View(s):

At least now let the elephants be free

The worldwide halt in travel has brought about some big changes to animals used in Sri Lankas tourism industry. Elephants who are forced to work day after day in the nations tourist camps have had a brief reprieve from their toil, as the camps have been forced to close and the trekking chairs have been removed from the backs of elephants.

International watchdogs have documented that wild elephants are captured to perpetuate this lucrative tourist industry. Taken from their home and herd, these intelligent and social animals will spend most of their lives in chains, living in fear of being prodded with a sharp metal-tipped weapon. Ultimately, tourists who pay to ride or bathe an elephant are responsible for this cycle of abuse.

Captivity robs elephants of everything that gives their lives meaning: foraging for food, constantly being on the move, taking dust baths, swimming, and, most importantly, socializing with their herds and other elephants. Long after visitors go home with their photos and memories, elephants continue to suffer through their interminable days.

Now, handlers are reportedly not feeding the elephants they use and blame the COVID-19 pandemic for this. Its never been clearer that these multi-ton wild animals deserve to be cared for properly and live out their lives free from having chains around their legs and being beaten with bull hooks. As always, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) will transfer any elephants surrendered to us to a sanctuary.

When the world gets past the coronavirus crisis, life will slowly return to normal. But for elephants in Sri Lankas elephant camps, going back to servitude is no life at all.

Please, never book an interaction with an elephant and always be sure that one is not included on your tour.

Jason Baker

(People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) Via email
I was so disappointed that you chose to print the commentary of Dr Reilly. If foreign physicians are willing to serve on our front lines, we should thank them wholeheartedly.

What should not be done is to cast aspersions on their credentials, as Dr. Reilly has done.

His commentary feeds into the fears of people who are being treated by these brave fearless doctors. My husband graduated from a medical school in India and has had his license for more than 40 years. He has board certification in medicine, cardiology, echocardiography, nuclear cardiology and quality assurance. He is 70 years old and is at his hospital every day caring for COVID patients.

My son graduated from an American medical school, is similarly board certified (in his case, medicine, cardiology and interventional cardiology) and is doing the same. Both would welcome any help they could get as they risk their lives and health every day.

Dr. Reilly makes their job even harder by fomenting fear. The physicians coming from abroad to help are vetted. They are working in hospitals where their skills can easily be observed.

Dr. Reilly may actually learn from these doctors who have treated sick patients in different parts of the world, if he can set aside his hubris for a moment.

(Jean Prabhu is a Dongan Hills resident.)
As global governments grapple with how to unlock economies without triggering another round of coronavirus infections, some economists are recommending that age should be used to determine who returns to work first.

While the freezing of activity from Mumbai to Chicago is credited with saving lives, the downsides are evident in the International Monetary Fund's warning of the worst global recession in almost a century.

How to balance lives and livelihoods is drawing the attention of economists, and a growing cohort propose authorities should first remove restrictions on those deemed at lowest risk of death or hospital admittance from the infection.

That means the youngest are activated first, while more venerable groups remain sheltered until either a vaccine can be administered or the rest of the population develops sufficient immunity. One calculation of fatalities from the disease by Imperial College in London is for 0.03% of those in their 20s, compared to over 5% among the over 70s.

"Age- and morbidity-related restrictions would allow a rapid return of economic activity," according to David Mackie, chief European economist at JPMorgan Chase in London. "If mixing between the elderly and the less vulnerable younger populations can be sufficiently reduced, the economy and society can get back to work quickly."

His research suggests governments could ease restrictions on those under 60 and without additional risk factors, yet still limit deaths and pressure on health systems.Economists from Warwick University argue that releasing the more than 4 million British residents in their 20s who do not live with their parents could have "substantial economic and societal benefits without enormous health costs." They propose the idea could then be applied to other countries.

The young are already feeling the most pain of the lockdown, according to a study this week by two regional Federal Reserve banks. The paper calculated that the costs of reduced economic activity "are disproportionately borne by younger households, which bear the brunt of lower employment."

However, focusing on young workers is not without risks, aside from the potential threat to their health.Citigroup Inc. economists Dana Peterson and Catherine Mann argue that this population segment is less likely to have health insurance, and any boost to growth from its participation will be limited without the workplace input and buying power of the older, richer generation. Such a strategy also places a burden on one age group to carry the entrepreneurial load of emerging from the shutdown, and assumes the everyone else is willing to play ball.

On Friday, economists from the London School of Economics called for an approach that doesn't distinguish between age per se, but assesses collectively the length of people's lives and the quality of that experience, to determine when to end a lockdown.

Many countries have already eased restrictions on education and some businesses in an effort to gradually reopen economies. One strategy proposed by University College London suggests a staggered release of the U.K. lockdown over six weeks with strict social distancing, compulsory masks on public transport and varying business opening hours to avoid rush hour crowding.

Ultimately however, any proposal by economists is ultimately about devising the optimal stopgap that maximizes growth with the fewest possible deaths until a solution to the virus is found.

A vaccine would be one such a solution. At least three projects for that are now in human testing, according to the World Health Organization. Yet even in a best-case scenario, developing a safe and effective inoculation may take at least a year.

Alternatively, enough healthy people would survive the disease that the population itself becomes immune, the controversial concept of herd immunity. The U.K abandoned that strategy early in the pandemic after projections showed its health care system would be overwhelmed, but now it's regaining traction in poor but young countries such as India.

Such a trade-off could still prove unacceptable for many governments. The Warwick University economists estimate their plan for the U.K. could generate around 13 billion pounds ($16 billion) in annual extra income, but also up to 630 additional premature deaths among the 20-30s age group if they no longer have to stay home -- a price tag that not all electorates would support.

"There is obviously going to be conflict between the relatively early relaxation of the restrictions and allowing the economy to breathe, and putting people at risk," said Philip Shaw, chief economist at Investec Bank Plc. "At the end of the day, you're making horrible decisions."
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Summary



There have always been copycats. Intellectual property (IP) protection and better regulations are now helping inventors and creators work more confidently. Increasing openness in the broader environment is also working towards moving from monopolies to manypolies.



Boris Johnson, the British prime minister, explains it colorfully: You know, sometimes I don't understand what's wrong with us. This is just about the most creative and imaginative country on Earthand yet sometimes we just do not seem to have the gumption to exploit our intellectual property. We split the atom, and now we have to get French or Korean scientists to help us build nuclear power stations. We perfected the finest cars on earthand now Rolls-Royce is in the hands of the Germans. Whatever we invent, from the jet engine to the internet, we find that someone else carts it off and makes a killing from it elsewhere.

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Having an original great new idea is only part of your innovation story. There also needs to be a thriving ecosystem to further support and extend the value and monetization of those original ideas. So while the patent is of paramount importance, there must also be more that is put into place to draw support from, to help the innovation get to the market. Here is where the tech transfer hand-off and venture communities must help bridge the gulf between inspiration and implementation. Judging just how much to put into the former versus the latter is a fine line at times. Russia historically has been home to many of the scientific revelations in terms of mathematics, physics and chemistry. Yet a lack of venture investment institutions and IP protection, plus ongoing corruption challenges, has resulted in few strong companies emerging from those fundamental discoveries. Startups have very little chance of sufficient funding if they have no obvious IP pieces to trade, license or sell. It is a necessary evil and can cost upwards of $50,000 per country for the privilege of protecting an invention.

Report Includes:



- An overview of copyrights, patents and trademarks

- Knowledge about global distribution of patents, IP filings and economic growth

- Coverage of facts about the licensing world and description of major license formats

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we are a UK-based market intelligence company that operates out of its passion to help brands grow, discover, and transform. As a market research company, we take pride in equipping our clients with insights and data that holds the power to truly make a difference to their business. Our mission is singular and well-defined - we want to help our clients envisage their business environment so that they are able to make informed, strategic and therefore successful decisions for themselves.

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we are a multidisciplinary team of dedicated research specialists who work with a fine-tooth comb approach to deliver you the insights that you need in order to have a firm grasp of your industry. We have the expertise, experience, and commercial acumen across a wide range of research areas. We build our reports using only the reliable sources to arm our clients with relevant, quality, and actionable facts

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NASA VITAL Prototype Ventilators To Help Fight COVID-19 Pandemic News oi-Sharmishte Datti

In a bid to help the coronavirus infected, NASA has announced that it has successfully developed a prototype ventilator for the treatment of coronavirus patients. For this, NASA has developed VITAL or the Ventilator Intervention Technology Accessible Locally.

Currently, NASA's VITAL is in the prototype stage and still needs FDA approval. If approved, it will free up the traditional ventilators for sever COVID-19 cases. The achievement is applaudable, as NASA has built the prototype ventilator is just 37 days.

"We specialize in spacecraft, not medical-device manufacturing. But excellent engineering, rigorous testing, and rapid prototyping are some of our specialties," NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory Director Michael Watkins explained in a blog post.

What Is NASA VITAL?

Going into the details, NASA's newly developed VITAL device is not an altered BiPAPs and CPAPs, which are traditionally used to treat sleep apnea. Instead, it is designed to be used in an invasive manner. At the same time, it won't as long as the traditional ventilator.

NASA explains that like all ventilators, VITAL requires patients to be sedated and an oxygen tube inserted into their airway to breathe. Also, it wouldn't replace the present hospital ventilators, which are designed and built to last years together and to cater to a broader range of medical issues.

"Instead, VITAL is intended to last three to four months and is specifically tailored for COVID-19 patients," NASA said in the blog post. It should be noted that NASA will only be designing the ventilator. Therefore, the VITAL device is designed to use parts currently available to potential manufacturers, but not compete with the existing supply chain of currently made ventilators.

Will NASA VITAL Help?

Considering the short supply of workers with most of the industries in lockdown, it would be impossible in the short term from the perspective of regulatory qualification. New production lines would generate the additional output only if the supply industry also doubled. This is why NASA's team is using the non-traditional components to find a way around the constraints.

NASA VITAL device would certainly help combat the deadly virus as it spreads through more states. Now that the ventilator is designed, it needs FDA approval, after which, it would the production lines. Hopefully soon, this vital device will reach where needed the most.

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What has she done? Marise Payne will push for an independent body to probe the spread of COVID-19. Credit:Illustration: Matt Davidson When Scott Morrison succeeded Turnbull, Morrison chose Payne as Julie Bishop's replacement as foreign affairs minister on Bishop's recommendation. The quiet diplomacy of Payne was always going to be a change of pace from the media-savvy Bishop. Payne entered the role as Australia was set to navigate the most uncertain period in foreign policy since the end of World War II. Does the nation accede to China's rise? Somehow maintain the United States as the regional hegemon? Or transition to a multipolar region where Beijing is accommodated but counterbalanced by a number of regional powers including the US, India, Indonesia and Japan? With COVID-19 ravaging countries all over the world, these challenges have not been abated; in fact, they will only intensify in the wake of the pandemic.

Up until now, most of Payne's days have been preoccupied with rescuing Australians stranded overseas, something which her Labor counterpart Penny Wong says she has not done nearly quick enough. What did she do this week? Interviewed on the ABC's Insiders program, Payne revealed she will push for an independent body outside the World Health Organisation to probe the spread of COVID-19. The WHO has come under criticism for being too close to China and not alerting the world soon enough to the global pandemic. While the Chinese embassy in Australia was quick to claim Australia was being Donald Trump's mouthpiece in attacking the WHO, Payne's call for a global inquiry into the world health body should not be conflated with the United States president's allegations. Australia is taking its stance on the WHO out of a position of strength in fighting the spread of coronavirus, Trump from one of weakness.

Although only a middle power on the world stage, Payne and Morrison see a need for Australia to take the lead in pushing for a review, with many bigger countries, including Britain and the US, still battling major outbreaks of the deadly pandemic. Payne on Thursday also condemned Beijing's recent actions in the South China Sea which have included the sinking of a Vietnamese fishing boat. Her long-time friend and Canberra housemate, Trade Minister Simon Birmingham, says Payne fills people with confidence when she speaks publicly, "but also shows more discipline than most of us by only speaking when she is certain she has something to say". "As most would expect, she's stepped up both privately in her work with Scott [Morrison] and engagement with countries across the globe, but also publicly in recent weeks," Birmingham tells The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. "I think in some ways Marise has probably been preparing for the portfolio and a complex scenario like this for her entire 20-year career. She brings to my mind the values, judgment and discipline required to navigate the most complex of circumstances and that's evidenced through recent weeks through having to span everything from working with DFAT as a virtual travel agency on tens of thousands of consular cases of Australians stranded around the world, to the highly challenging policy questions of how to reform the World Health Organisation and manage the deeply strategic challenges around how to navigate our relationship with China."

Liberal MP Tim Wilson, a vocal critic of the Chinese Communist Party, says it was important for Payne to strongly state Australia's national interests. "Marise has brought a precise, calm and substantive assertiveness that is sending a clear message, with the Prime Minister, that the Australian government knows where it stands, will stand up for our sovereignty and national interest and can't be intimidated - and that is very welcome in difficult times," says Wilson. What happens next? With China likely to oppose the move, Payne will now need to convince the rest of the international community to sign up to a global review independent of the WHO. Any reform of the WHO needs to bring the US back on board and not place the world body further into the hands of China, while not completely isolating Beijing at the same time. And, while hard-working and across her brief, Payne's reluctance to front the cameras has at times irked her colleagues. She has bolstered her office over the past year leading to a more hawkish approach to China, including the addition of Turnbull's former national security advisor Justin Bassi as her chief of staff. Her rate of appearances, and her performances, have improved markedly over that time period, including during the global pandemic. However, as the most senior female MP in the government, some of her colleagues think it is still nowhere near enough.
"That's working its way up," she said. "We want to see more than that, and we will see more than that, but we are making progress."
A Polish government official says Poland has been hit by a complex disinformation operation that appears aimed at weakening the Polish-US alliance and is consistent with previous Russian cyberattacks.

Stanislaw Zaryn, spokesman for the head of the country's security services, said Saturday that Poland continues to investigate and has no final evidence that the attack was directed by Russia. But he said it bears all the hallmarks of a Kremlin-led campaign.

Poland has been a target of Russian propaganda for many years, Zaryn told The Associated Press in an emailed statement. Lately these kinds of efforts are intensifying more and more.

Zaryn on Twitter described a cyberattack on the website of the War Studies Institute in Warsaw, a defense academy that trains Polish military leaders. He said cyberattackers posted a fake letter in the name of the schools' rector calling on Polish soldiers to fight the American occupation. The letter's message was amplified by being reported on portals, including one known for pushing disinformation, he said.

"The content of the letter matched the main narratives Russian propaganda constantly pushes against Poland and the United States, Zaryn wrote.

There was no comment from Russian officials to this incident. The Russian government in the past has adamantly denied involvement in disinformation campaigns.

Zaryn said that Polish authorities believe the purpose of the attacks is to sow information chaos, undermine the morale of Polish soldiers and stir up anti-American sentiment, among other reasons.

He alleged that the Kremlin is trying to use the coronavirus crisis to free itself from its international isolation and persuade the West to lift sanctions imposed over Russian activity in Ukraine. He said the Kremlin tries to slander Poland because it is one of the hardliners on sanctions.

US soldiers were deployed to Poland and other parts of NATO's eastern flank after Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in 2014 and backed separatists in eastern Ukraine. The U.S. aim was to reassure the nervous region, and the arrival of American troops was welcomed by all major political groups in Poland.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
On 22 April 2020, Amazon Web Services (AWS) announced that its Cape Town region had gone live.

The region is named Africa (Cape Town) with the label af-south-1.

The launch of this local region is great news for South African developers and companies, which will be able to access low-latency links to AWS services and cloud-based applications.

MyBroadband spoke to Amazon Web Services about the applications enabled by the launch of the AWS Cape Town region.

POPIA compliance and low latency

The addition of the AWS infrastructure region means developers, enterprises, start-ups, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), education institutions, and governments can leverage the benefits of AWS to start their own businesses, drive innovation, build new products and services, and help citizens across Africa, AWS told MyBroadband.

Additionally, AWS infrastructure regions meet the highest levels of security, compliance, and data protection.

With the new region, customers with data residency requirements, and those looking to comply with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA), can now store their content in South Africa with the assurance that they retain complete ownership of their data and it will not move unless they choose to move it.

This will mitigate the data privacy headache faced by many companies as the effective enforcement of POPIA draws nearer, allowing them to store their data in the cloud using the AWS Cape Town region.

An AWS Region is a physical geographic location where we have a cluster of data centres, AWS told MyBroadband. Each region is made up of isolated locations known as Availability Zones.

By offering the three Availability Zones in South Africa, connected through low-latency links, customers can easily deploy high availability applications with even lower latency to their customers and end-users and keep their data inside their AWS Region.

Services offered

Amazon Web Services Region and Services Page details all the available services offered through each region around the world.

Below is a list of all the services offered by the AWS Cape Town region at the time of writing.

Cape Town Region  Services Offered Amazon API Gateway Amazon Aurora Amazon CloudWatch Amazon DynamoDB Amazon ECR Amazon ECS Amazon ElastiCache Amazon EBS Amazon EC2 Amazon Elastic MapReduce Amazon Elasticsearch Service Amazon Glacier Amazon Kinesis Video Streams Amazon Redshift Amazon Route 53 Private DNS Amazon SNS Amazon SQS Amazon S3 Amazon SWF AWS Artifact AWS Auto Scaling AWS Certificate Manager AWS CloudFormation AWS CloudTrail AWS CodeDeploy AWS Config AWS Database Migration Service AWS Direct Connect AWS Elastic Beanstalk AWS Key Management Service AWS Marketplace AWS Personal Health Dashboard AWS Server Migration Service AWS Shield Standard AWS Step Functions AWS Support AWS Systems Manager AWS Trusted Advisor AWS X-Ray Elastic Load Balancing VM Import/Export

Partner feedback

MyBroadband spoke to local technology companies which have partnered with AWS for the implementation of its Cape Town region about the potential applications of the expanded local presence.

Synthesis

Synthesis Head of Cloud Services Darryl Govender said that the launch of the AWS Cape Town region is a game-changer for local businesses.

Customers now have access to world-class cloud services, that meet the highest levels of security, compliance, and data protection; right in their backyard, Govender said.

Amazons investment into South Africa began well back in 2004 when they opened a Development Center in Cape Town.

Elastic Cloud Compute (EC2) was one of the major accomplishments of the team and the launch of the AWS SA region hails its triumphant return; EC2 has come home, he said.

Govender said by leveraging the power of the AWS cloud, customers can benefit from increased speed, heightened security, and superior reliability.

The primary advantages are the reduced latency afforded by the close geographic proximity to a local AWS region, as well as customers now benefiting from the ability to confidently store data in South Africa while retaining full control over all data movement; thereby complying with the upcoming Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA).

The region currently provides access to the full suite of foundational IaaS solutions offered by AWS, as well as a range of Platform as a Service (PaaS) solutions for customers to further benefit from the vast expertise of AWS in managing and operating platforms at scale, he said.

Additionally, customers will have access to the AWS Marketplace which provides a digital catalogue with thousands of software listings from independent software vendors.

He added that AWS will continue to grow these region service offerings over time, prioritizing new service launches in line with the demand from local customers.

Teraco

Teraco has been an AWS Direct Connect partner since 2017 and AWS Direct Connect is available in Teracos Johannesburg and Cape Town data centre facilities.

The AWS Direct Connect service allows clients to connect to their AWS resources in an AWS region directly.

Teraco CEO Jan Hnizdo said that the opening of AWS Africa in Cape Town is excellent news for South Africa and the whole continent.

AWS Africas presence will significantly impact Africa based enterprise and local cloud service providers enabling them to deliver better end-user experiences, Hnizdo said.

Lower latency and increased resilience will enhance the overall user experience and AWS in Africa will assist in meeting clients data locality and sovereignty requirements.

He added that Africa holds the promise of significant growth and immense user uptake over the next decade.

Of significance is the role of the Internet and cloud deployments within Africa, and how improved access and affordability will assist sectors such as agriculture, communications, education, and financial services to prosper and grow, he said.

Dimension Data

Dimension Data cloud general manager Grant Morgan said that the launch of AWSs Cape Town region will greatly boost the speed at which companies can launch products to market.

The launch further democratises IT so that even smaller businesses can benefit from advanced platform features and functionality, at an affordable cost, Morgan said.

Companies can experiment and innovate faster, rapidly testing proofs of concept and reducing their time to market.

The ability to deliver ultra-low latency through an African region optimises the performance of latency-sensitive applications for local businesses, he added.

This, together with high bandwidth direct connectivity to AWS, makes a compelling case for reducing the total cost of cloud ownership  reducing barriers and increasing accessibility. The net effect is that this encourages faster cloud adoption for more applications, by more customers.

Morgan noted that not all AWS platform functionality will be available on day one, however.

This is the same as Microsoft when Azure launched its local data centres. Only about a quarter of the full list of AWS platforms services are available right now in the Africa Region.

While those that are here are by far the majority of use cases, there will be some applications requiring special PaaS features only available overseas, he said.

With the AWS global backbone network, a hybrid between regions is then the answer.

Now read: How Dimension Data is dealing with massive spikes in traffic and remote working




The number of foreign arrivals in South Korea nose-dived nearly 95 percent last month due to the COVID-19 pandemic, government data showed Saturday.







According to the data from the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO), 83,497 foreign nationals visited the country in March, down 94.6 percent from the same period last year







The number of Chinese visitors, in particular, tumbled 96.6 percent year-on-year to 16,595, after Beijing issued a travel alert for 15 countries including South Korea as part of its COVID-19 preventive measures.







Also, just 8,347 Japanese came to Korea last month, down 97.8 percent from 2019, following a higher level travel warning from Tokyo.







The number of visitors from the rest of Asia and the Middle East slumped 93.7 percent, with a 99.4 percent drop in the number of Taiwanese tourists and a 99.4 percent fall in those traveling from Hong Kong.







The coronavirus pandemic also pushed down the number of tourists from America and Europe last month, with arrivals from the United States sliding 87.5 percent from a year earlier.







Meanwhile, outbound travelers from South Korea also plunged 93.9 percent year-on-year to 143,366 in March, according to the KTO data. (Yonhap)


The provincial labour board has ordered mandatory weekly health and safety inspections at three long-term-care homes where 92 residents and one front-line worker have died, following an emergency application alleging critical shortages of protective gear and understaffing.

The application filed earlier this week by the Service Employees International Union took aim at three nursing homes that have seen some of the deadliest consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic: Altamont Care Community, Anson Place and Eatonville Care Centre. The submissions described the facilities response as unlawfully inadequate to protect workers, and said employees often had little to no information about infections among residents or colleagues.

In a decision reached Friday following mediation, the Ontario Labour Relations Board (OLRB) has now ordered that weekly physical inspections be conducted by a Ministry of Labour officer for two months. The inspector will also attend the facilities joint health and safety meetings.

The decision by labour board vice-chair Matthew Wilson also mandates proper protective gear for all workers, instructs the three homes to update workers and their union daily about COVID-19 cases and deaths, and orders weekly staffing reports to address concerns about dire shortages.

While directly hired front-line workers with positions at multiple homes are already required to pick one workplace to limit the virus spread, Fridays ruling also orders the three facilities named in SEIUs application to limit any temporary agency staff to one home.

SEIU Healthcare president Sharleen Stewart said it was a stain on our province that it required filing these applications to have the provincial government and for-profit long-term care corporations do the right thing, especially in a time of crisis when people are getting sick and dying.

In addition to seeking a number of health and safety orders, the unions original application also sought to place the care homes under the direct control of the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, which the board did not instruct in its decision Friday.

Responsive Group Inc., the company that operates Anson Place and Eatonville, said it was pleased to have reached an agreement with SEIU and the OLRB.

We welcome the opportunity to work with them to formalize many protections for our hard working staff. We remain committed to ensuring we have the appropriate PPE available to all staff at all times.

PPE refers to personal protective equipment, such as masks.

Sienna Senior Living, which operates Altamont Care Community in Scarborough, said it was also pleased to have reached this agreement. It said the decision substantially reflects Altamonts current practices and protocols including the provision of and access to personal protective equipment, used in accordance with provincial directives.

We are stronger working co-operatively and focusing on our primary concern: the health and safety of residents and team members. Collaboration is of utmost importance, as we work with the common goal of fighting this crisis and supporting team members who are doing extraordinary work, its statement said.

It is the second victory this week for front-line workers demanding stricter safety measures. On Thursday, the Ontario Superior Court sided with the Ontario Nurses Association in an injunction seeking to allow nurses to choose what kind of protective gear to use in long-term-care homes coping with COVID-19.

Stewart said SEIU intends to share outbreak and staffing level information with family councils to assist with transparency at the facilities.

We call on all long-term-care companies to do the right thing and demonstrate that our families come before their profits, she said.
It is 15 months since a senior judge directed that Edmund Honohan, the Master of the High Court, should no longer deal with cases involving applications for debt judgments.

For years he was a thorn in the side of financial institutions and lawyers he believed were cutting corners in pursuit of debtors.

This earned him the status of a hero in certain quarters and an irritant in others.

High Court President Peter Kelly made the direction which means such applications must now go before a judge of that court.

Speculation centred on the fact some of Mr Honohan's decisions, including the striking out of debt summonses, had been criticised by judges and left lawyers and bankers pulling their hair out.

The Master had also assisted in the drafting of an affordable housing private member's bill and some wondered if it was appropriate for a quasi-judicial figure who deals with pre-trial applications to enter the political arena in this way.

Whatever the reason, the loss of these cases has not dampened Mr Honohan's appetite for seeking to influence government policies on housing and the economy.

In a wide-ranging interview with the Irish Independent, he insisted he was not bitter about what happened and was actually "quite happy" with how things have turned out.

He pointed to a number of recent court rulings, including one from Chief Justice Frank Clarke, which he said showed he had been right all along.

"The judges are beginning to make the points I used to make, which is quite amusing really," he said.

"It is not a vindication. It is an indication the work I was doing was not in any sense wrong or unlawful or proceeding on the basis of some misunderstanding of the law."

Mr Honohan outlined measures he believes the next government should adopt to tackle the housing and financial crises, including the requisition of land for housing and changes to the examinership process to give businesses a better chance of survival.

He was also adamant the professional firms who "cleaned up" after the last financial crisis should not be allowed to do so again.

"If the Government wants to set its own rock-hard principle in regard to what to do next, the principle should be that nobody should make a profit out of this," he said.

Mr Honohan likened the Covid-19 crisis to a war and said his proposal for the requisition of land was a "post-war measure" to "rebuild society".

He suggested that approved housing bodies (AHBs) be given the right to seek to develop lands they do not own.

AHBs are not-for-profits which provide affordable rented housing for people who cannot pay private sector rents or afford to buy.

He believes they should be given a statutory status to enable them to apply for planning permission for unused plots and then buy them.

"A body that was authorised or had as its objective the amelioration of a housing problem could be regarded as having a professional interest in coming to An Bord Pleanala and saying: 'This is a site that could be developed'," he said.

"I'm not only talking about greenfield sites. I am talking about brownfield, the empty factories and the empty shops and the run-down garages."

If they then get "indicative development approval" they should be given a "call option" to buy the site, with the price fixed by compulsory purchase order arbitration, he said.

"This is requisition. This is what you do after a war. You require the vacation of lands because you need to rebuild society," he said.

Mr Honohan said this was a logical step to take as other measures to promote building, such as the vacant site levy, have only had limited success.

"We have the land, the builders, the buyers and the finance. We have house building at a level which must be doubled immediately. Because the market is failing us, all we now need is new measures to join the dots," he said.

He also called for measures to "empower the next generation of builder developers". He said leaving the development of projects to "big business" was denying small builders the opportunity to reach the first rung of a career as viable developers.

Mr Honohan said AHB projects on requisitioned land should be given to smaller joint venture builders, particularly in the development of infill or brownfield sites in inner city and suburban areas on public transport routes.

He said this would provide a launch pad for skilled tradesmen and project managers and create jobs.

He also suggested the Government should rationalise the examinership process, under which companies seek court protection from creditors so they can restructure.

There is expected to be considerable use of the process in the coming months due to the impact of Covid-19.

Among his suggestions is that the Revenue Commissioners "drop off" as a creditor in such cases, allowing trade creditors to be first in line for payment.

He also suggested examiners could be given longer than the current 100-day maximum to come up with a scheme of arrangement for a business.

Mr Honohan said businesses should be "allowed the opportunity to emerge phoenix-like from the ashes, provided trade creditors are paid".

"That to me would seem to be a brilliant idea," he said.

The Master also called for the adoption of "social force majeure", a concept in Nordic consumer law.

This involves giving consumers the right to withdraw from burdensome contracts after unfavourable changes in their health, work, housing or family situation.
Traffic has picked up significantly since San Antonians first began staying home to slow down COVID-19 infections.

The major west-east thoroughfare on which I live leads downtown, and a lot of people are headed that way, no doubt to get on one of the citys major highways.

Theyre whizzing by with purpose, as if headed to important meetings, as if were not still in a pandemic without a vaccine or effective treatments.

Barren city streets once reflected our fears. But fear is fickle and can be overridden by a false sense of security.

Weve wiggled ourselves out of fear. A University of Texas/Texas Tribune poll this week found most Texans think COVID-19 will be contained in a few months.

You probably think Fiesta is going to happen in November.

So, youve started to feel that perhaps we overreacted as a nation by staying home, wearing masks in public and washing our hands and wiping surfaces umpteen times a day.

You may see social distancing as no longer necessary, so we can restart the economy and go back to work, restaurants and bars.

Researchers, however, say San Antonio has yet to reach its peak of COVID-19 cases. Thats expected within the next three weeks.

You likely dont know anyone who has been sick or has died. Youre lucky. You dont know Gilbert Casillas, a San Antonian who has been desperately trying to get off a ventilator. He worked at a funeral home before getting terribly sick, before funerals were drastically changed.

You may not know someone who works at an essential business and must interact with the public, like a doctor, nurse, a police officer or grocery-store clerk.

Youre probably going stir crazy and have realized teaching should be left to professionals.

So, youve gotten in your car.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott doesnt altogether disapprove. He eased restrictions on some retailers Friday allowing them to offer curbside pickup. He plans to recommend more loosening of constraints next week.

The rest of us are fearful that youre not scared anymore.

Anita Kurian, assistant director of Metro Health, where she oversees its communicable disease division, said Bexar County hasnt experienced a peak in infections yet.

Staying home has slowed the acceleration of cases, staggering their number over a longer span of time so as to not overwhelm hospitals.

Thats what flattening the curve means, Kurian said. Some of us have mistaken the now-common graphic as a reflection of COVID-19 death rates. Its not.

The graphs vertical line reflects the number of people seeking treatment. The X or horizontal line tracks the time period from the first infection. Together the lines reflect the ability of the healthcare system to treat people.

What we are doing is reducing the number of future cases that are active at any given time, which gives the medical system time to prepare without getting overwhelmed, Kurian said.

Without collective actions, such as stay-at-home restrictions and social distancing recommendations, the curve would be higher.

That would mean the healthcare system cant manage, and thats why health officials are worried youre getting in your car too soon and too often and going places you may not need to go.

Abbotts announcement next week is likely to preempt the work of local panels established by the mayor and county judge to plan how Bexar County should proceed to open up the economy.

Without massive testing and contact tracing, opening too much too soon is a risk. Until a vaccine is available, its all a risk.

Health officials tell us COVID-19 is the new normal.

It will make working from home normal, at least for some of us, and change the architecture of the workplace.

It will require continued tests that we dont yet have in large quantities, along with swabs and collection tubes. Theyre in short supply, too.

The COVID-19 normal will change the way we dine out, the way we are educated, and its likely to change Fiesta, whenever it happens again.

The COVID-19 hurricane hasnt landed. Its several weeks away. So, head out to get what you need to survive it, then brace for it.

After that is when government officials should begin to discuss when and how much to open up again.

eayala@express-news.net
More than 200 million Chinese students have been following primary and secondary school classes from home ever since the outbreak of the disease known as COVID-19 in China in January. Now, almost 53 million students in the United States and tens of millions more in Europe are following in their footsteps.

Chinas shift to online learning was hurried and bumpy. In just three weeks, the Chinese government converted primary and secondary school textbooks and recorded instruction videos for key subjects such as math, Chinese, and English into new formats that could be accessed by Wi-Fi or television.

About 71 percent of teachers say their biggest challenge is gauging how effective their teaching has been, according to a recent survey of about 3,500 teachers conducted by Tencent and Xinhuanet. But this is not for want of effort. Almost 40 percent of Chinas teachers spent at least six hours a day preparing for their next days lessons. Some sent 800 to 1,000 messages every day to the parents of typically 45 students in their classrooms.

One impact of the shift: A third of Chinas parents who used to be against online learning are now open to new possibilities, according to Oliver Wymans survey of 30 large and mid-sized national and regional online educational training providers.

Many parents in the United States and Europe could easily end up feeling the same, and the experience with home schooling and online courses could trigger longer-term demand for online learning. In addition, schools might decide to incorporate online tools into their programs in areas where this works, in particular as drills and exercises.

So what can educators and investors in the United States and Europe learn from online schooling in China? We share some of the biggest lessons below.

Lessons For Educators

Redesign your class. Chinese educators found that simply following the same school schedule online is impractical, especially for younger pupils. First, it doesnt hold students attention. Second, parents are forced to monitor their children for hours. So teachers redesigned their classes. Many shortened 40-minute pre-recorded video or live-streamed lessons to 20 minutes, which included class activities such as lectures, drills, quizzes and student presentations every five to 10 minutes. Some schools shortened their days from six classes to four and asked parents to lead the other two, such as physical education or housework. Others took a lesson from cram schools and jammed two days of curriculum into one day, to give families a one-day break and make it easier for parents to continue working. None of these designs was perfect. But they all made it easier for students to continue learning and for parents to juggle work and supervision of study2 Teach with parents in mind. Students  and parents  following livestreamed or recorded classes can become distracted. So its important to make expectations clear and stick to a schedule. All reference books and exercises need to be ready when the class starts. Parents should create an environment in which students can concentrate. And deadlines for homework must be clear. Grading can be harder for remote teachers, especially for handwritten  or hand-drawn  assignments. And it is more important than ever to keep parents up to date with students progress. Automated tools can help. In China, teachers relied heavily on tools such as artificial intelligence-driven learning apps and grading devices, which automatically generate reports, calculate grades, and then send the results immediately to parents. Expect a boom in extracurricular education. As it became clearer the pandemic would last for a while, Chinese students of all levels enrolled in extracurricular online education courses to gain an edge. Primary and secondary school students signed up for online tutoring in English and math. High-school students signed up for online preparatory classes for university admissions tests, which have now been postponed by one month for most students. And enrollments in vocational training courses soared.

To meet this heightened demand, online educators revamped their content and devised new ways to operate and demonstrate the benefits of their classes. They set up student profiles, frequently measured their progress, and provided more opportunities for students to demonstrate how much they were learning by sharing books that they had read or facts that they had mastered in order to pass tests after attending class outside of school for three months.

Education Industry Investors

Emergency homeschooling could accelerate the long-term adoption of new educational services, leading to opportunities to invest in the companies that provide these.

One-stop online education solution providers. China is seeing the birth of an industry of one-stop online education service providers. They support education-related government agencies, schools, and extracurricular institutions with smoothly moving instruction, lesson planning, assessments, and administrative tasks online. Before the coronavirus crisis, online smart-education platforms were only popular in some developed regions and didnt cover all the modules required. But now that they see more potential, many have helped the government to rapidly move standard textbooks and recorded classes online, along with tools to monitor student behavior and homework submissions. After the Chinese governments Herculean effort to provide homeschooling for all students during the crisis, a number of these online education services have gone further. They can provide any platform or support function to any school, teacher, or student from kindergarten through university. Ten times as many schools, teachers, and students now rely on these platforms than in 2019. Hybrid extracurricular education provider. Before this year, it was expected that as many as 10 percent of Chinas students would use extracurricular online education services by 2021. But now, it looks as though extracurricular online education services will become this popular much sooner and will be used by a much higher percentage of students. Leading extracurricular education service providers that were already offering both offline and online tutoring and training will benefit from this trend. But traditional offline players without online capabilities will find it difficult to crack the online extracurricular education market, which already has the attention of Chinas tech giants. To compete, they will have to make organizational changes, train teachers, upgrade their IT infrastructure, and establish new operational processes. A similar pattern could emerge in the United States and Europe. As demand for extracurricular educational services grows, existing players with an online presence could grow rapidly, as big tech firms expand their reach.

An Emergency Solution Becomes The New Normal?

When Chinese students return to their schools April and May, the nation will discover if the worlds biggest experiment in online schooling has managed to keep students on track. After two months of homeschooling, an overwhelming majority of parents  70 percent  say they cant wait for schools to return to normal. And it is expected that 90 percent of primary and secondary school teachers who have been resorting to online teaching modules will once again teach classes offline.

But the experience of online schooling will have a lasting impact. Chinas unprecedented experience will provide wider lessons about how best to structure remote learning. It has also awakened an interest in online learning in teachers, parents, and students, as well as in the countrys tech giants  Baidu, Alibaba, and Tencent.

A similar phenomenon could occur in the United States and Europe. In areas where remote schooling has proved effective, online solutions could easily be attractive in the longer term  to schools looking to supplement their staff and teaching materials; to parents who want to give their children an extra boost in some aspect of their education; and, possibly, to some children who enjoy learning outside the classroom.
Not all is negative about the lockdown aimed at curbing the spread of coronavirus, certainly not for India's largest IT service firm Tata Consultancy Services (TCS). The crisis has provided an opportunity to India's largest IT firm to discard its 20-year-old operating model and leapfrog into a new mode of work.

Running up to 2025, TCS will ask a vast majority of 75% of its 4.48 lakh employees globally (including 3.5 lakh in India) to work from home, up from the industry average of 20% today. The new model called 25/25 will require far less office space than occupied today. "We don't believe that we need more than 25% of our workforce at our facilities in order to be 100% productive," says TCS's chief operating officer NG Subramaniam.

Also read: Coronavirus India Live Updates: COVID-19 cases surge to 33,050; Maharashtra tops the tally with 9,915 cases

The decision came after TCS briskly moved 90% of its 4,48,000 employees post-lockdown to an operating model it calls Secure Borderless Work Spaces (SBWS). In a letter to employees TCS CEO and MD Rajesh Gopinathan wrote SBWS had seen 35,000 meetings, 406000 calls, and 340 lakh messages across TCS on the digital collaboration platform.TCS has invested in creating SBWS over the past few years. "We have come out stronger and our model is more proven than ever before," TCS's CEO and MD Rajesh Gopinathan says.

Also read: TCS expects first two quarters to mirror 2008-09 recession, Q3 to usher in recovery

Subramaniam adds that each employee should spend only 25% of working time in office. This will also imply that of all the team members, only 75% of a project team may be in a single location and the rest will be dispersed across geographies, he says.

But does 55% fewer employees mean 55% less need for office space? For firms the cost benefit will be huge but may not be directly proportional, says Ashutosh Limaye, Senior Director and Head, Strategic Advisory & Valuations, Anarock Consulting. The percentage reduction in workforce will not be equally proportionate to the decrease in office space. So, 25% less employees in office may reduce the need for office space by 15%. The reason is shared spaces in terms of common areas or facilities might not reduce as much.

TCS being the bellwether among India's IT services firms, other IT firms will have no choice but to follow. This would cause major changes in the entire operating model of IT firms. Experts say before the lockdown no more than 15-20% of employees ever worked from home among the Indian services firms. While IT services companies in India have the best HR practices in line with clients of the developed work, flexibility isn't one of them. They never really did offer work from home options to employees due to security requirement of customer projects (especially in sectors like defense, public sector, BFSI), unless of course anyone has a personal situation to be taken care of. IT product firms and MNCs such as IBM, Cisco, Microsoft have more work flexibility options for employees.

Also read: Tech giant TCS to hire 39,000 freshers in FY21

Ravi Gajendran, a business professor at Florida International University who focuses on telecommuting says that this move makes a lot of sense in India especially in metros with its long commutes and traffic. He says after TCS, incumbents like Infosys and Wipro are likely to follow, else they will lose competitive advantage in human capital.

"From a highly centralised model consisting of work spaces set in large delivery campuses capable of accommodating thousands of employees, we had to switch to an extreme form of distributed delivery in a matter of days," says Gopinathan.

TCS's CEO Gopinathan says it is not about moving the person out from the office and giving access to the laptop and desktop in the house to connect. It is much more than that. "It is about taking the entire element of the operating model and being able to deploy that into this kind of an extended environment we call SBWS." He says the firm has rejigged its cyber security posture, project management practices and systems to ensure proper work allocation, work monitoring and reporting to ensure quality and security of the projects was not compromised.

On productivity gains from this operating model, the firm's COO Subramaniam says, "We believe that we will be in a position to achieve about 25% improvement in velocity throughput productivity." Currently, he said, all customers' services projects are on track and none got hampered due to the sudden change in operating model.

But, will TCS go back to the current way of working post lockdown?

Gopinathan is clear that will not be the case. "We're not going to go back to where we were," he says.

Also read: BT Buzz: Debt fund closure by Franklin Templeton; should you be worried?

He says it is not just about productivity and work life balance for employees but decentralising work also has several organisational benefits. He said, "It helps organisations become more resilient, because the fully distributed nature of this model is inherently less risky and better suited for business continuity and agility."

Ashutosh Limaye, Senior Director and Head, Strategic Advisory & Valuations, Anarock Consulting says that while working from home is great in terms of its work life benefits benefits, Indian workforce might not have the tools and the space to make it productive in the long run. He explains: apart from the top leadership, houses of entry level colleagues or middle managers might not have separate study rooms. They would have to carve out spaces from the existing rooms. Such adjustments may or may not work in the long run. There might be network issues too. While IT infrastructure has improved but there is a need to augment it.

Also read: Coronavirus crisis: Finance commission to revise real GDP growth for FY20 after lockdown
Trump orders the navy to destroy Iranian vessels forcefully if they try to "harass" the ship. However, upon hearing this, Iran promises to creash U.S. navy forces.

Active U.S. navy ships might come under attack from Iranian gunboats. As Iran's Revolutionary Guard conducted a space launch that could improve their missile technology, America's vanguard is readying itself from harassing attacks.

Iran's ambitions in space

Iran has done illegal actions by launching a satellite in space, but there is no indication if it was successful or not. It was the first attempt for the Guard, which developed a secret space program and it could bolster the long-range ballistic missile program for Iran too. Iran is now accused of violating the UN resolution.

When Iran made the statement, U.S. President Trump wrote on Twitter,"I have instructed the United States Navy to shoot down and destroy any Iranian gunboats if they harass our ships at sea."

Dangerous overtures by Iranian gunboats

On Wednesday, a small flotilla of 11 naval gunboats was actively maneuvering and getting too close to American Navy and Coast Guard vessel in the Persian Gulf. The Navy used non-lethal means to shoo them away. Later the Iranian gunboats disengaged then left the vicinity. This kind of activity is common several years back, though actions like this are rare and not done by the Guard.

In an interview, President Trump explained and was quoted, "We don't want their gunboats surrounding our boats, and travelling around our boats and having a good time."

He added, "We're not going to stand for it. ... They'll shoot them out of the water." The U.S. president was referring to the provocation of the Iranian gunboat.

Also read: World War 3 Looms as Iran Rattles Sabers With the US in a Heated Row in the Middle East

But, Iran turned the blame and said the fault of the American Navy. They also accussed Trump of bullying, suggesting that he should focus on looking after U.S. service members who contracted coronavirus.

Beginnings of the escalation

Iran and the U.S. had a falling out after President Trump left the international nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers in 2018. Later sanctions were foisted on Iran with their violations of the agreement. In May, the US sent troops, military hardware, and an aircraft carrier to the Middle East. The reason, according to the American government, is that Iran is a threat to American interests, which is contrary to the common good.

Things spiked when U,S. forces assassinated the Iranian general, Qassem Soleimani, in January. Soon after Iran shot a ballistic missile into a U.S. base in western Iraq, where American troops were stationed. There were no Americans killed but they had mild brain injuries from the powerful blast.

The response of the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. John Hyten, agreed with the commander in chief, comparing the naval scuffle to the space launch, he added, "just another example of Iranian malign behavior."

For all intents, Iran fears that the US forces threaten its security.

President Trump did not single out a specific hostile action in his tweet. Most senior officials in the Pentagon were not sure if he had changes in his Iran policy too.

According to David Norquist, deputy secretary of defense, answer when asked a comment about the tweet, "What he was emphasizing is, all of our ships retain the right of self-defense."

Related article: 2 U.S. Soldiers, 1 Brit Die in Rocket Attack on Iraqi Base; Culprit Unknown

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Egypt and Algeria are relaxing their coronavirus restrictions as the Islamic holy month of Ramadan begins, joining other countries in the region in doing so.

On Thursday, Egyptian Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouly announced that shopping malls and businesses will be allowed to reopen on weekends, but they will need to close by 5 p.m. The nightly curfew has also been pushed back from 8 p.m. to start at 9 p.m., according to Reuters.

Egypts lockdown includes the closure of restaurants, schools and airports. Egyptians can only leave their homes for essential needs during the curfew. Before Thursday's easing, only supermarkets and pharmacies were allowed to operate, and only until 5 p.m. each day.

Algerian Prime Minister Abdelaziz Djerad announced on Thursday that the curfew in several provinces will be pushed back from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. until 7 a.m. A round-the-clock curfew in Blida province southwest of the capital Algiers will be reduced to 2 p.m. to 7 a.m. The other provinces will continue with a 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. curfew, according to Reuters.

Recent news pertaining to the virus in Egypt has not been positive, however. On Thursday, the country recorded its highest ever number of new coronavirus cases since the first one in February with 232, Reuters reported.

In Algeria, the mass anti-government Hirak movement has shifted to digital forms of protest to avoid spreading the disease.

Egypt currently has 3,891 confirmed coronavirus cases while Algeria has 3,007, Reuters reported on Friday.

Some in Egypt have challenged the official statistics. Al-Shorouk newspaper published higher figures than the government on April 3 and a government official confirmed to Al-Monitor that these numbers, and not the government's, were correct.

Egypt and Algeria join other Muslim countries in the region that have relaxed some of their anti-virus measures for Ramadan, when Muslims traditionally fast during the day then eat and worship together at night. Dubai in the United Arab Emirates partially lifted its strict lockdown, as did Iraq this week.
What's Happening at 2111 Packard?

A redevelopment plan is the works--but Bgreen Today is in no hurry to move

by Britain Woodman

From the April, 2020 issue

The four-tenant shopping center at 2111 Packard is looking at big changes. Over the decades, the site has been home to Century House, a small department store; Hollywood Video, a downright large video rental store; Jack's Hardware, which continues to serve campus a few blocks north; and a few different pizza shops, as well as a Dom Bakeries location. For the past decade it has hosted an eclectic retail mix, including an industrial supply store, a restaurant, and two education centers.



Mi Compadre Mexican Restaurant was first to close. In February, an employee suggested that the family-owned restaurant's taco truck, "Godfather," might roll again in the future, and a handwritten postscript at the bottom of the farewell note encourages customers to follow them on Facebook.



The site is currently under contract to be purchased by Jackson Dearborn Partners, and the new owners-to-be are sharing a vision of a mixed-use residential development with apartments upstairs and retail spaces at ground level. This might sound similar to The George, a few blocks down Packard, which opened in 2018 on the site of the former Georgetown Mall shopping center. Ryan Tobias, of Jackson Dearborn, differentiates his group's project through architecture, promising the finished structure will be smaller (seventy-two apartments vs. 247 in The George) and more traditional in design. One of the concept drawings shows an angled, Flatiron-ish northwest corner that leverages the diagonal shape of the lot.



BgreenToday, on the west side of the building, emphasizes sustainability and environmental consciousness in their inventory of construction and home-improvement materials, as well as food-service supplies. BgreenToday arrived in 2010, coming from a smaller site in Colonial Plaza on South Industrial, to fill Hollywood Video's former streetside space. Daniel Stephens, owner of BGreenToday, says multiple years remain on his lease and he recently made upgrades to the showroom, including a new model kitchen. All but one of Bgreen's employees live within walking distance of the store. "There's not much going on right now," Stephens says, "so calm down."



Jackson Dearborn hosted an informational meeting for neighbors and community members in January. A second meeting scheduled for mid-March was postponed as COVID-19 began to spread in the Midwest; as the Observer went to press, the company was planning to reschedule and conduct the meeting online.



[Originally published in April, 2020.]








The surveys also showed Republican senators in Arizona, Colorado, North Carolina and Maine trailing or locked in a dead heat with potential Democratic rivals  in part because their fate is linked to Mr. Trumps job performance. If incumbents in those states lose, and Republicans pick up only the Senate seat in Alabama, Democrats would take control of the chamber should Mr. Biden win the presidency.

Hes got to run very close for us to keep the Senate, Charles R. Black Jr., a veteran Republican consultant, said of Mr. Trump. Ive always thought we were favored to, but I cant say that now with all these cards up in the air.

Republicans were taken aback this past week by the results of a 17-state survey commissioned by the Republican National Committee. It found the president struggling in the Electoral College battlegrounds and likely to lose without signs of an economic rebound this fall, according to a party strategist outside the R.N.C. who is familiar with the polls results.

The Trump campaigns own surveys have also shown an erosion of support, according to four people familiar with the data, as the coronavirus remains the No. 1 issue worrying voters.

Polling this early is, of course, not determinative: In 2016 Hillary Clinton also enjoyed a wide advantage in many states well before November.

Yet Mr. Trumps best hope to win a state he lost in 2016, Minnesota, also seems increasingly challenging. A Democratic survey taken by Senator Tina Smith showed the president trailing by 10 percentage points there, according to a Democratic strategist who viewed the poll.

The private data of the two parties is largely mirrored by public surveys. Just last week, three Pennsylvania polls and two Michigan surveys were released showing Mr. Trump losing outside the margin of error. And a pair of Florida polls were released that showed Mr. Biden enjoying a slim advantage in a state that is all but essential for Republicans to retain the presidency.
A retired BSF officer, who feared of being vulnerable to coronavirus in jail due to his age and existing ailments, has been granted interim bail for 45 days by the Delhi High Court in a case of allegedly making casteist remarks to a neighbour over a property dispute.

Justice Brijesh Sethi, who conducted the hearing through video-conferencing, granted the relief to the 65-year-old man on furnishing a personal bond of Rs 15,000.

"Considering the above facts and circumstances of this case and in the interest of justice, while exercising the inherent powers under section 482, CrPC, the petitioner is granted interim bail for a period of 45 days. He be released on bail forthwith on furnishing a personal bond in the sum of Rs 15,000 to the satisfaction of the jail superintendent/duty metropolitan magistrate, if not required in any other case," the court said.

The man was accused in a case lodged at the Najafgarh police station for offences under the provisions of SC/ST Act and criminal trespass and criminal intimidation under the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The casteist remarks were allegedly made during a fight over an ongoing property dispute between the neighbours.

Advocates M K Ghosh and Tina Garg, representing the senior citizen, sought the relief on the ground that the dispute between the parties was civil in nature and the allegations against the petitioner were false. They said earlier in 2006, similar allegations were levelled against the petitioner.

The lawyers for the petitioner said their client was 65 years of age and suffering from hypertension, and he be released on interim bail in view of the COVID-19 pandemic as it was difficult to maintain social distancing in jail.

The prosecutor opposed the bail plea.

The judge noted in his order that the accused and the complainant were neighbours and the court finds that an earnest effort can be made by the parties to settle the dispute. The lawyers for the parties told the court that they were agreeable to the suggestion.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The lockdown has once again given us a glimpse of the good side of humanity. Of the many people coming forward to help those in need during the lockdown, there are those who are going beyond their means to help out in whatever way they can.

In Mangaluru, farm worker Abdurrahman Goodinabali had been saving his money for years to fulfill his dream of performing Haj at Mecca and Madina.

The 55-year-old was reportedly planning to make the trip next year but thought what better way to serve his God than to help those who lost their livelihood because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Facebook/Elyas Goodinabali

Like any devout Muslim, my father wished to go on Haj. He works as a labourer and my mother rolls bidis at home. He has been saving for many years to visit the holy places of Islam. But he felt holding on to the money at a time when people are going hungry would bring a curse upon him. So he decided to feed people with his savings, TOI quoted Elyas, Abdurrahmans son as saying.

According to the report, Abdurrahman has distributed rice and other essentials to 25 families in Goodinabali village of Bantwal taluk.

I felt sad seeing the plight of the poor who are not able to go out to make a living due to the lockdown. Hence, I decided to help them, he said.

The report quotes sources as saying that he has already spent Rs 80,000 on arranging provisions for the poor.

Representative Image/Anadolu Agency

Thanks to people like him, the needy are able to live through the lockdown.
WASHINGTON - The Food and Drug Administration warned Friday that doctors should not use the malaria drugs chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine to treat covid-19 patients outside a hospital or a clinical trial, citing reports of "serious heart rhythm problems."

The drugs have been aggressively promoted by President Donald Trump, who has called them a potential "game-changer," even though results from clinical trials have not yet shown the drugs to be effective for covid-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.

An increasing number of studies and reports have raised safety issues, making the drugs an example of how the president's embrace of unproven medical ideas has potentially endangered Americans' lives and put health agencies in a tough spot.

On Thursday, after a White House presentation that touched on disinfectants that can kill the novel coronavirus on surfaces and in the air, Trump pondered whether those chemicals could be used to fight the virus inside the human body, prompting health experts and the makers of Lysol to quickly warn against ingesting disinfectants.

The FDA, in its drug safety communication Friday, said hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine have been linked to abnormal heart rhythms such as QT interval prolongation, dangerously rapid heart rates called ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation, and in some cases, death. The agency said the medications should be used only in settings where patients can be closely watched for cardiac problems. QT prolongation refers to an extension of the split-second time required for the heart to recharge between beats.

Many of the reported side effects occurred in covid-19 patients treated with a combination of the malaria drugs and azithromycin, also known as Z-Pak, the FDA said. It added that the side-effects information came from the agency's adverse-events database, published literature and data from poison control centers.

"While clinical trials are ongoing to determine the safety and effectiveness of these drugs for COVID-19, there are known side effects of these medications that should be considered," FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn said in a statement. "We encourage health care professionals making individual patient decisions to closely screen and monitor those patients to help mitigate these risks."

The debate about the use of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine intensified earlier this week when Rick Bright, director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, was removed from his post and reassigned to a narrower role at the National Institutes of Health.

On Wednesday, Bright released a statement through his attorneys saying he was removed because of his resistance to pushing hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine as a panacea and his insistence the government invest billions of dollars appropriated by Congress into scientifically vetted solutions. He said that led to clashes with political leadership at the Department of Health and Human Services, which BARDA is under.

But a more complicated picture has emerged. Bright repeatedly clashed with his boss, Robert Kadlec, assistant secretary for preparedness and response at HHS, according to three current and former senior administration officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity to address a sensitive situation. Kadlec, who is also on the White House coronavirus task force, and top HHS officials had discussed Bright's departure for months because of dissatisfaction with his job performance, the current and former officials said. Yet a 2019 performance review obtained by The Washington Post showed Bright received glowing marks.

"I rightly resisted efforts to provide an unproven drug on demand to the American public," Bright said Wednesday. "I also resisted efforts to fund potentially dangerous drugs promoted by those with political connections."

Rep. Anna Eshoo, a California Democrat who is chairwoman of the House subcommittee on health, said she plans to have a hearing to find out why Bright was transferred to NIH from BARDA. "This man is a thoroughbred professional," she said. "Why would you do this in the middle of a pandemic? This deserves scrutiny."

Trump is livid about Bright's statement but HHS has urged the White House to stay quiet - and has not shared enough information in the view of some White House aides, according to two White House officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe internal thinking.

The FDA's safety message Friday came after weeks of warnings from experts about possible complications from hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine. The agency said doctors should conduct electrocardiograms and kidney and liver tests on patients receiving the medications. The drugs, in addition to posing heart risks, can affect insulin levels, increasing the risks of severe hypoglycemia, a condition in which blood sugar levels are low, the agency said.

The FDA warning came just days after a study showed hydroxychloroquine had no benefit and was linked to higher rates of death for Veterans Affairs patients hospitalized with the novel coronavirus, raising further questions about the safety and efficacy of a treatment widely used in the pandemic.

The drugs are not approved for covid-19, but once a drug is approved for any disease, doctors may prescribe it for any use. The FDA said it was "aware of an increased use of these medicines through outpatient prescriptions," and urged physicians and patients to be aware of the potential risks. Heart problems are a well-documented side effect among people given the drugs for malaria.

The FDA is allowing certain versions of hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine products donated to the Strategic National Stockpile to be distributed and used in limited circumstances for covid-19, including for patients in the hospital, under an Emergency Use Authorization.

That authorization did not cite evidence of benefit in covid-19 patients, and critics have argued the authorization - known as an EUA - was issued because of political pressure, which Hahn has denied.

"The agency's in a jam. It got badgered into the EUA in the first place, and now it's trying appropriately to warn people of the risks," said Peter Lurie, president of the consumer watchdog group Center for Science in the Public Interest and a former top FDA official. "It's unquestionable that the president, and the echo chamber of Fox News, created an atmosphere that fundamentally altered the way this product was considered.

"The overall problem is that this product, in all likelihood, will do more damage than good," he said.

But a New York internist who was an early adopter of the treatments and has publicly boosted their use, said Friday he will continue to prescribe them to patients who are not hospitalized, despite the FDA warning.

"I totally disagree with the FDA saying it should not be used outside of a clinical trial," said the doctor, Alexander Morden. "When the boat is sinking or the building is on fire, you can't wait for a study, six months later, to confirm what's going on. You have to do the best medicine you can."

Use of hydroxychloroquine has been widespread since the pandemic began, causing shortages for patients who use the medicine routinely to treat lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. Some doctors and experts, including Trump's defenders, have argued that the drug's safety profile in those patients meant it would be safe in covid-19 patients.

"They sort of committed a first-year medical student violation by equating a safety profile in that set of patients with the safety profile in a sick, covid-19 hospitalized patient," said Michael Ackerman, a genetic cardiologist and director of Mayo Clinic's Windland Smith Rice Sudden Death Genomics Laboratory. Ackerman and his colleagues published a warning about the risk of QT prolongation and sudden death three days before the FDA issued its emergency use authorization.

"Tragically, we've seen this already," Ackerman said. "I would not have predicted that we would see the signal of proof of the importance of this warning so quickly."

Survey data gathered by Sermo, a health-care data company, said about 60 percent of 1,400 physicians who were polled and who treat patients inside hospitals reported prescribing hydroxychloroquine for covid-19 patients. But the same survey said only 30 percent of doctors rated the drug highly effective, and just 35 percent rated it very safe.

The dispute between the former head of BARDA and other HHS officials exposed rifts within the department over the use of the malaria drugs for covid-19. Bright, the former BARDA head, is being represented by attorneys who represented Christine Blasey Ford, who alleged that Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her when they were teenagers. The attorneys declined to make Bright available for an interview.

Several senior administration officials expressed dismay that Bright had been removed from his post, especially in the middle of the government's coronavirus response, arguing it was disruptive and caused further turmoil at the health agency. Others, however, said BARDA was moving too slowly on covid-19 treatments and vaccines and that issues with the agency date back to long before the crisis began.

"There were substantial problems with the organization, and some will be relieved by his departure. They have a lot of opportunity to succeed," said an industry expert familiar with BARDA who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe the situation forthrightly.

HHS spokeswoman Caitlin Oakley said this week that Bright requested the emergency authorization from the FDA that made it possible for chloroquine to be donated to the Strategic National Stockpile and used for covid-19 patients.

Bright's statement, nevertheless, has made him a hero among some in the scientific community, who have expressed concern for weeks about the president's unfounded claims about hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine without evidence.

- - -

The Washington Post's Josh Dawsey contributed to this report.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Wednesday called for state governments facing mounting deficits linked to the coronavirus crisis to file for bankruptcy instead of receiving financial aid from the federal government.

Specifically targeting public sector workers pensions, the Kentucky Republican told right-wing radio host Hugh Hewitt: I think this whole business of additional assistance for state and local governments needs to be thoroughly evaluated. Theres not going to be any desire on the Republican side to bail out state pensions by borrowing money from future generations.

States currently have no legal right to declare bankruptcy, but McConnell suggested a law to permit it, saying, I would certainly be in favor of allowing states to use the bankruptcy route. He added, We have governors regardless of party who would love to have free money.

McConnells office on Wednesday released a statement titled Stopping [Democratic-led] Blue State Bailouts.

Declaring bankruptcy would allow state governments to override laws and even state constitutional provisions that guarantee the pension benefits of retired public workers. On Wednesday, Forbes published a commentary titled Kiss Your State Pension Goodbye. It noted: This is hardly the first time letting states file for bankruptcy to escape trillions of dollars in promised retirement benefits has been proposed.

The author cited a 2011 column by former Florida Governor Jeb Bush and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich in the Los Angeles Times calling for change in federal bankruptcy laws to allow states to reorganize their finances.

Neither McConnell nor the Democrats have any problem giving free moneyin unlimited amountsto Wall Street. The Senate majority leaders statement came one day after the Senate voted by unanimous consent for a new $484 billion bill that will funnel money disproportionately to large businesses, in the guise of aiding small businesses and their employees. The bipartisan bill was approved by the House of Representatives on Thursday, with only one dissenting Democratic vote, and signed into law Friday by President Donald Trump.

The new legislation includes an additional $310 billion for the so-called Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) enacted last month as part of the $2.2 trillion CARES Act corporate bailout. The Democrats dropped their demands that the new legislation include money to aid state and local governments and additional funding for food stamps. They claimed that aid to the states and localities facing collapsing tax revenues would be forthcoming in a new bailout bill to be negotiated with the White House and congressional Republicans.

Trump reiterated at his Thursday White House briefing that he was open to discussing aid to the states as part of the next bailout bill, but he added that a lot of people were sympathetic to McConnells position, and he singled out for attack blue states, naming Illinois. The White House is seeking to use the fiscal crisis of state and local governments and the possibility of federal aid as leverage to force them to reopen their economies more rapidly.

The Democrats voted to top up the PPP, which exhausted its $349 billion funding in less than two weeks, even though multiple reports had emerged that the vast majority of family-owned businesses had been shut out of the loan program while scores of large publicly traded companies had received millions of dollars in forgivable loans, and the Wall Street banks assigned to handle the Small Business Administration financing had made $10 billion in fees.

In saying it would be preferable to allow states and cities to go bankrupt rather than provide them with a small fraction of the trillions doled out by the Treasury and the Federal Reserve to corporations and banks, McConnell was expressing the outlook of the corporate-financial oligarchy that runs America. Working through both of its political parties, it has responded to the deadly pandemic by opposing any diversion of resources from its private wealth to save lives and contain the virus, and instead orchestrated the unlimited transfer of taxpayer money to prop up the stock market and make itself even richer.

Now it is moving to use the crisis to lay waste to what remains of social services and benefits on which hundreds of millions of working class people depend. This too is, in all essentials, a bipartisan policy.

The Democratic-aligned Washington Post, owned by Amazons billionaire CEO Jeff Bezos, published an editorial Friday that chastised McConnell and called for aid to states and cities. At the same time, it lined up behind McConnells attack on pensions, denouncing the call by the Illinois Senate president, a Democrat, for $10 billion in federal aid to stave off the collapse of the states pension system. It declared that the federal government should not aid pension systems whose problems are self-inflicted.

The National Governors Association has requested $500 billion in federal aid, a fraction of the trillions injected into the financial markets, to avert a collapse of basic social services, from education and health care to sanitation and firefighting, and the destruction of hundreds of thousands of public-sector jobs, as well as the wages and pensions of state and municipal workers.

State and local officials of both parties fear a social explosion as the ruling class demands that workers return to work without any protection from infection, unemployment reaches Depression-era levels, millions of laid off workers are blocked from applying for benefits as a result of antiquated and overwhelmed state benefit systems, and outrage grows over the callous indifference of the political establishment to massive human suffering and death.

McConnells statement has intensified tensions between the states and the federal government. Trump has rejected calls by governors for federal money and coordination to ramp up coronavirus testing. Last month he suggested that New York state be quarantined, provoking Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo to call it a civil war measure. Earlier this month Trump declared that he had absolute authority to force the states to reopen their economies on his timeline.

Democratic governors, in particular, have denounced McConnells proposal. On Thursday, Cuomo called the bankruptcy suggestion one of the saddest, really dumb comments of all time. On Friday he denounced it as un-American.

Some Republicans have joined in. New York Congressman Peter King called McConnells remarks shameful and indefensible, and dubbed him the Marie Antoinette of the Senate.

However, none of them have pointed to the contrast between the senators attitude to providing money to maintain social services and pensions and his avid support for bailing out Wall Street. That is because the Democratic Party, no less than the Republicans, supports the multi-trillion-dollar bailout of the oligarchy.

Even as Democratic governors and mayors criticize Trump and the Republicans for withholding federal aid, they are preparing massive budget cuts. Not one has even proposed raising taxes on corporations and the wealthy to avoid the destruction of vital services and the impoverishment of working class families.

Moodys Analytics has warned that states may face combined deficits of $158 billion to $203 billion through the 2021 fiscal year. More than 2,100 cities across the country expect budget deficits this year.

New Jerseys Democratic governor, Phil Murphy, has frozen more than $1 billion in spending and cut property tax rebates for homeowners. Responding to McConnells bankruptcy proposal, Murphy said Wednesday that without federal support his state would not go bankrupt. Instead, he declared, We will just cut, cut, cut and cut.

Virginia Governor Ralph Northam, a Democrat, is seeking to freeze $2.3 billion in new spending, scuttling a program for free tuition at community colleges and canceling an increase in the state minimum wage.

Washington state Governor Jay Inslee, also a Democrat, this month vetoed budget items projected to cost $445 million over three years, including a plan to hire 370 school guidance counselors.

New Yorks Democratic mayor, Bill de Blasio, announced last week that he would slash over $2 billion in city services over the next year. He plans to close public pools, reduce sanitation pickups, suspend the summer youth employment program and impose a hiring freeze.

Michigan may have a deficit as high as $7 billion over the next 18 months. Detroits Democratic mayor, Mike Duggan, has threatened to throw the city back into bankruptcy and bring in an emergency financial manager to impose new cuts in social services, pensions and jobs.

Whatever their policy differences, the two parties are united in ruling out any challenge to the capitalist profit system and the entrenched wealth of a parasitic ruling elite. They all agree that the full burden of the pandemic crisis must be borne by working people.
The Treasury is planning to 'get Britain back to work' in a matter of weeks with new health and safety rules to be enforced in offices, it has been reported.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has been looking at how to start allowing non-essential businesses to reopen in a 'safe and practical way', keeping coronavirus out of shared office spaces.

McDonald's, British Steel and construction firm Persimmon were among the first high-profile companies to announce their intention to reopen in May, as the daily number of new cases of coronavirus should be in the low thousands by then.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has been look at way to start allowing non-essential businesses to reopen in a 'safe and practical way', keeping coronavirus out of shared office spaces

Robert Jenrick, the Housing Secretary, said Persimmons decision to reopen sites was 'another big step forward for housing and construction'.

Car manufacturers Nissan, Aston Martin and Jaguar Land Rover have also said they will reopen their factories with strict safety measures in place following talks with the Government.

Government rules being drafted at the moment are believed to include forcing businesses to put up social distancing notices, close communal space and supply hand sanitising products.

If staff show any symptoms of coronavirus then they should to be told to go home.

Manufacturers BMW, Toyota, JCB and Caterpillar have also been involved in Government talks, with officials suggesting workers wear perspex shields on production lines as their own form of personal protective equipment.

It comes amid claims businesses are being advised by ministers on how to get employees back to work, as it is believed some firms reacted too strongly to the lockdown restrictions imposed in March.

There is growing concern over the extent of the economic impact of the lockdown if companies are not allowed to return in the next weeks.

UK retail sales fell by the most on record in March, according to Office for National Statistics figures. Clothing sales saw the biggest slump of over a third, and overall sales volumes plunged by 5.1 per cent in March from February.

A Downing Street source said: 'If people are within the rules and follow social distancing guidance, we are more than happy for businesses to resume on that basis.'

Scientific advisers have told ministers that Britain should be in a position to begin lifting the lockdown in the middle of May, according to the Telegraph.

The group from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) have created a report on the proposed plan of action for Boris Johnson, who is due back in Downing Street next week after recovering at Chequers.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said that Mr Johnson was 'raring to go', according to the Times, and whose return as the decision maker could mean a dramatic push forward in the government's choice of exit strategy from the lockdown.

Mr Johnson and Mr Hancock have however both been described as 'doves' for their cautiousness about bringing an end to the lockdown too quickly, to avoid the potential of a second wave of infections.

Business leaders are understood to have been told recently by one of Mr Johnsons most senior advisers, Sir Eddie Lister, that the government was examining the possibility of people returning to work under broad categories of type of industry, age and region.

But indications from recent press briefing suggest that the Government now wants a UK-wide approach.

Ministers are said to be sensitive to the need to 'take the public with us' when changing policy on the lockdown, which could indicate informally relaxing restrictions before bringing in a policy change to move in that direction.

Business Secretary Alok Sharma has been tasked with devising a strategy for each sector of the economy to get people back to work without putting public health at risk.

Mr Sharma and other ministers from his department are holding daily virtual meetings with business leaders to work out ways their staff can get back to factories, construction sites or offices without breaking social distancing rules.

The government is next legally obliged to review the lockdown restrictions on May 7.
Washington, April 25 : A Russian cargo ship carrying almost three tonnes of food, fuel and supplies for the Expedition 63 crew reached the International Space Station on Saturday, NASA has said.

Traveling about 418 kms over Northwestern China, south of the Mongolian border, the unpiloted Russian Progress 75 cargo ship docked at 1.12 am EDT to the Zvezda Service Module on the Russian segment of the complex, the US space agency said in a blog.

Progress 75 will remain docked at the station for more than seven months before departing in December for its deorbit in Earth's atmosphere.

Now in its 20th year of continuous human presence, the space station provides a platform for long-duration research in microgravity and for learning to live and work in space.

Experience gained on the orbiting lab supports Artemis, NASA's program to go forward to the Moon and on to Mars.

Among the investigations on which the space station crew performed work during the week of April 20 included "Food Acceptability" which examines the effect of repetitive consumption of the somewhat limited selection of foods available during spaceflight.

"Menu fatigue" resulting from this limited choice may, over time, contribute to the loss of body mass often experienced by crew members.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-25 10:33:32|Editor: huaxia

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UNITED NATIONS, April 24 (Xinhua) -- The Security Council on Friday voiced concern over the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Sudan, particularly on the socio-economic and humanitarian situation in the country.

In "press elements" issued after a virtual meeting, the members of the council expressed their solidarity with the people of Sudan and welcomed national and international efforts to stop the spread and mitigate the effects of the outbreak.

The council members reaffirmed their support for the Sudanese government's endeavors to seek a successful transition after the ouster of long-time ruler Omar al-Bashir in April 2019 and a grip of power by the military after that.

The council members welcomed the commitment of the Sudanese government and most of the armed groups to engage in peace talks, and encouraged all parties to engage constructively, immediately and without precondition to conclude negotiations on a comprehensive peace agreement.

They also welcomed the positive response by the government of Sudan and the armed movements to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' call for a global cease-fire.

They reaffirmed their intention to decide, by May 31, on the responsible drawdown and exit of the United Nations-African Union Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) and the establishment of a follow-on presence, in close cooperation with the Sudanese government.

The Security Council held a video conference on Friday to discuss UNAMID and received briefings by Undersecretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix and Undersecretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo. Enditem
In smoky, members-only cigar lounges and the bars of luxurious Beverly Hills hotels, Babak Broumand rubbed shoulders with organized crime figures and their corrupt associates in law enforcement, according to a 40-page affidavit signed by FBI Special Agent Michael Torbic. (Los Angeles Times)

An organized crime figure paid an FBI agent $10,000 a month in exchange for sensitive law enforcement information, according to court documents charging the agent, Babak Broumand, in a conspiracy to bribe a public official.

Broumand was arrested Friday at a market near his home in Lafayette, according to Laura Eimiller, a spokeswoman for the FBI. He retired in January 2019, one month after agents served search warrants at his home and businesses. Broumand worked at the bureau for 20 years, most recently in national security investigations for the FBI's San Francisco field office. It couldn't be determined Friday if he'd retained a lawyer.

In smoky, members-only cigar lounges and the bars of luxurious Beverly Hills hotels, Broumand rubbed shoulders with organized crime figures and their corrupt associates in law enforcement, according to a 40-page affidavit signed by FBI special agent Michael Torbic.

In September 2014, at the Grand Havana cigar lounge in Beverly Hills, Broumand met a lawyer who noticed the agent had expensive tastes. Seeing Broumand sporting a gold Rolex and a Gucci belt, the lawyer later told investigators he saw an opportunity to recruit the agent, the affidavit said.

The lawyer, who wasnt named in the affidavit, is described as an associate of Lev Aslan Dermen, a petroleum magnate convicted last month of conspiring to plunder a half-billion dollars in renewable energy credits from the U.S. Treasury. The lawyer is cooperating with investigators in hopes of receiving leniency for his crimes, which include bank fraud, making false statements and bribing two federal agents, according to Torbics affidavit.

His relationship with Broumand turned corrupt in 2015, when he talked with the agent about his salary and asked if he was willing to do something on the side, the affidavit said. In exchange for $10,000 a month, paid in $100 bills, Broumand queried the lawyers name and others in secret law enforcement databases, which can disclose subjects of investigations conducted by the FBI and other agencies, the affidavit said.

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In addition to this monthly retainer, the lawyer told investigators he also purchased for Broumand the services of an escort and feted him in Las Vegas, which they flew to by private jet. In all, Broumand accepted bribes and perquisites worth more than $200,000, according to investigators.

While these are disturbing allegations, we found no evidence to suggest this went beyond an isolated incident, Paul Delacourt, assistant director in charge of the FBIs Los Angeles office, said in a statement. The agents who investigated this case did so with professionalism and objectivity.

The lawyer told investigators he leveraged Broumands position as an FBI agent in incidents both trivial and with national security implications.

Pulled over in 2016, he told a Burbank police officer his black Escalade had no license plates because it was a law enforcement vehicle and flashed Broumands parking placard. He used the placard to park at a red curb outside his office, he told investigators.

The lawyer also asked Broumand to vet a member of the Qatari royal family, for whom he was planning to purchase a Lamborghini, a Porsche and opioid pain medications, according to the affidavit. The lawyer said he wanted to be sure the royal  unnamed in the affidavit  wasnt involved in terrorism and terrorist financing. After Broumand reported the royal was okay, the lawyer bought the agent a Ducati motorcycle, helmet and accessories for about $36,000, the affidavit said.

Broumand told the lawyer an FBI source was working with a Libyan general, who was trying to launder $1 billion to $2 billion in funds taken from Libya, according to the affidavit. Torbic, the affidavits author, said he has reviewed FBI reports showing a source told Broumand that Moammar Kadafi, the late leader of Libya, had directed $2.5 billion to be smuggled out of the country before the Arab Spring.

Broumand wanted to use the lawyers private jet for the operation and siphon some money off for themselves, the lawyer told investigators. After the FBI decided against the operation, which it deemed too risky, Broumand told the lawyer they could pull it off themselves with the jet and some armed security, the lawyer told investigators. In the end, the agent decided such a mission was too dangerous, the affidavit said.

In 2015, the lawyer arranged a meeting between Broumand and Dermen at the Ten Pound Bar in the Montage Beverly Hills hotel, the affidavit said. He had previously asked the agent to query Dermens name in law enforcement databases.

Dermen, previously named Levon Termendzhyan, has been investigated by an array of law enforcement agencies for decades, but until the guilty verdict last month in his tax fraud case, he had never been convicted of a felony.

The lawyer later told investigators Dermen was intimidated that hed corrupted an FBI agent, because despite Dermens history of suborning law enforcement officers, he did not have a FBI special agent on his payroll.

Mark Geragos, who has represented Dermen for more than a decade, said federal prosecutors had withheld information in Torbics affidavit throughout his clients two-month trial in the federal courthouse in Salt Lake City.

Its clear that the Main Justice lawyers were playing hide the ball, Geragos said, referring the the Department of Justice, which dispatched attorneys specializing in tax crimes to prosecute Dermen. All of this was kept from me, and Levon Termendzhyan is going to get a new trial.

Dermen was close with two law enforcement figures: John Saro Balian, a former Glendale narcotics detective, and Felix Cisneros Jr., a former Homeland Security Investigations agent. Both were convicted of public corruption charges and sentenced to 21 months and 12 months, respectively, in federal prison.

In 2016, Broumand queried an FBI database for Cisneros, who was under investigation at the time for helping Dermens business partner travel illegally between the United States and Mexico, the affidavit said.

Broumand told the case agent, Brian Adkins, hed run into Cisneros at a party at the Grand Havana cigar lounge for the lawyer, who was celebrating his admission to the California bar. He told Adkins hed queried Cisneros in the database out of a sixth sense, but Akins was suspicious.

After this encounter, the affidavit said, Cisneros turned cold toward Santiago Garcia Gutierrez, a business partner of Dermens and confidential human source for the FBI, who was secretly recording his conversations with the Homeland Security agent. In subsequent meetings with Garcia Gutierrez, Cisneros used counter-surveillance tactics and made false exculpatory statements, as if he knew he was being recorded, the affidavit said.

After the party at the cigar lounge, Broumand told the lawyer he could no longer collect cash payments because he was in trouble with the FBI, the affidavit said.
T wo men have been charged after a 3 million cocaine haul was uncovered in a purpose-built smuggling lorry in Dover.

Jason Bunce, 57, from Kingswood in Kent and Gary Sloan, 50, from Magheralin in Northern Ireland, will appear at Canterbury Magistrates Court on Saturday in connection with conspiracy to import Class A drugs.

A 40-year-old man from Dover, who was detained at a haulage yard, has been released under investigation.

At least 36 kilogrammes of cocaine was recovered by National Crime Agency investigators and Border Force officers in the operation on Thursday night.

The drugs had a street value of around 3 million / PA

Sloan was arrested after the discovery and Bunce was detained after being stopped near Dover.
Amid the Coronavirus pandemic in India, for the places where a cluster of COVID-19 patients are found, the area is quickly sealed off as a means of precaution.

Bollywood actor Vicky Kaushals building was recently partially sealed after an 11-year-old resident tested positive for the novel Coronavirus.

The actor took to Instagram to share a video that shows the residents welcoming a young girl and a woman in the compound with a huge round of applause.

It looks like the two have returned after getting better and getting a nod from the hospital.



The video shows the two entering the building compound with their suitcases. While sharing the video, Vicky wrote, Like a ray of sunshine on a gloomy day, our little warrior comes back Home! #WelcomeBackChamp.



Reportedly, the child is the daughter of a director who resides in the C-wing of the complex.

This society in Andheri, Mumbai has the likes of Bollywood actors including Vicky, Rajkummar, and Patralekhaa and Chitrangada Singh as residents.

The residents were asked to follow quarantine guidelines and take extra precautionary measures to contain the spread of the infection and follow social distancing norms during the applause for the young girl.

On the work front, Vicky will next be seen in the character of Udham Singh in Shoojit Sircars biopic on the revolutionary.

 Twitter/Vicky Kaushal

He will also be seen as Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in Karan Johars period drama Takht and Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw in Meghna Gulzars Sam.



He also has Aditya Dhars The Immortal Ashwatthama in his kitty. Looks like Vicky Kaushal is going to dominate 2021.
Face mask mandate

Regarding Harris County to require masks in public for 30 days, (A1, April 23): I would like to extend my gratitude to Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo. At a time when the leaders of our state are prioritizing economic concerns over the safety of all Texans, Judge Hidalgo has exhibited wisdom in the face of the ineptitude of Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. While they may feel that seniors and those with underlying medical conditions should sacrifice themselves for the benefit of the economy because there are more important things than living, Judge Hidalgo recognizes the importance of protecting every Texan so that we can once again return to the strong Texas we were before this pandemic.

While politicians advocate reopening to save the economy while failing to ensure the basic necessities such as PPE for our health care workers, adequate testing or even the ventilators to keep those affected alive, Judge Hidalgo has fought to lower the curve to ensure that Houston does not face this on the same level that New York City or other large cities are facing. Judge Hidalgo is a hero and the disgraceful backlash by those condemning her actions is more reminiscent of children throwing a temper tantrum when they are inconvenienced instead of rationale adults who understand the impact their actions have on ensuring this disease does not explode. They should sit down and quit bemoaning how they are so unhappy. Perhaps they can take a moment and think of the over 47,000 dead Americans.

Michael Noftzger, Houston

Over the last several days as I watch our city and county leaders parade on stage with daily COVID-19 news conferences, I cannot help but notice the display of colorful masks of all types. In consideration of Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgos order to wear masks while in public, one must wonder about the efficacy and logical reasoning behind such an order as I watch those on the stage with the mayor or county judge with a variety of homemade masks and scarfs around their faces continually adjusting and pulling the masks back up to cover their faces with hands that are certainly contaminated from all sorts of surfaces they have touched on the way to the news conference. Those leading are doing exactly what they are preaching against. One can only imagine how many times the general public will put their dirty hands on their faces to adjust homemade masks so they can comply with the judges mandated mask order.

Mark Myers, Houston

Local law enforcement seems to be wise enough to let Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgos uber-exuberance be ignored, but it will certainly damage the integrity of that office which has historically been a beacon of non-partisan public service. If there are any moderate voters left they will understand that progressives want to release criminals at the same time they want you and me to conform to their effort to control every aspect of our lives. I hope the voters remember who the adults are when they go to the polls in November.

Glen Risley, Houston
Iowas $26 million contracts to increase CCP virus testing was reached after the governor acted on a tip from actor Ashton Kutcher. This revelation increased skepticism about the no-bid deal on April 23.

Critics of Gov. Kim Reynolds said they were puzzled by the celebritys cameo in Iowas outbreak response, particularly when the state has been slow to tap some of its experts.

But the governor said Kutchers role gave her partnership with a slate of Utah companies an Iowa flavor. And Kutcher said he was using his connections to offer a creative solution that could help his native state.

The governor said the tip came when she called Kutcher to ask him to record a public service announcement urging residents to stay home.

Kutcher asked whether shed heard about TestUtah, a public-private partnership that had started CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus testing and looked very promising, the governor recalled.

Kutcher, in a statement, said he had a tech executive friend working on TestUtah and offered to arrange a meeting. Reynolds spoke with Kutchers associate, and her aides soon connected with the office of Utah Gov. Gary Herbert.

We were able to start that conversation and ramp it up relatively quickly, Reynolds said.

Last week, Iowa signed a $26 million contract with Nomi Health, a Utah startup that says its developing a modern payment system for healthcare.

Under the contract, Nomi Health will supply 540,000 CCP virus tests to Iowa over the next six months. Its partners include Utah-based Co-Diagnostics, which recently received federal approval to sell COVID-19 testing kits, and tech firms Qualtrics and Domo.

The companies will run the TestIowa website, where residents take voluntary assessments to determine whether they qualify for testing and arrange appointments.

Medical professionals from Childrens National Hospital administer a CCP virus test at a drive-thru testing site for young people age 22 and under at Trinity University in Washington on April 2, 2020. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Kutcher said he is good friends with Qualtrics CEO Ryan Smith, whose company is providing Iowas online assessment tool. He and Smith had discussed a technical approach to scale up rapid testing that got around the shortages in testing materials slowing them down elsewhere.

They were already proving it in Utah and getting folks tested at a rapid rate. They had also built a very smart specimen tracking system that I felt made it easy for people to do, Kutcher said.

Kutcher said Qualtrics idea was in line with one recommended by a company he has invested in, Radix Labs, which isnt part of Iowas contract. His publicist said Kutcher is not an investor in any of the companies involved in Iowas deal.

Kutcher said he had been talking to Reynolds, one of the few governors who hasnt issued a statewide stay-at-home order, about tightening social distancing rules because he saw data showing the CCP virus was spreading fast.

He said the governor jumped at the chance and moved fast to implement his testing pitch.

When the federal government is playing hunger games with the states during a pandemic, we have to get creative, Kutcher said.

Sample collection kits at an AllCare Family Medical Clinic, a site that conducts drive-thru testing for the CCP virus, in Washington, on April 6, 2020. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

In a Qualtrics news release, Reynolds said the companys product would save lives by helping Iowa monitor the CCP virus and determine where to put testing sites.

Reynolds launched a #TestIowaChallenge campaign on Twitter urging residents to complete the assessments, which ask for personal health and contact information. The governor challenged Kutcher, who recorded a promotional video. More than 80,000 people completed assessments in the first 24 hours.

The contract requires the companies to safeguard the confidential assessment data and either return or destroy it when the program is over.

The program aims to triple Iowas testing capacity by adding 3,000 tests per day, which will be conducted at mobile sites around the state. The first testing begins Saturday in Des Moines.

Reynolds revealed Kutchers role when asked why she didnt consider Iowa-based institutions or companies for the contract. The governor said the deal has an Iowa touch.

Kutcher grew up in Cedar Rapids, graduated from high school in Tiffin, and became a model while attending the University of Iowa. He hit it big on That 70s Show before starring in movies such as Valentines Day and No Strings Attached.

Critics questioned why the governor took input from Kutcher but doesnt appear to have consulted top Iowa experts on the contract.

Mr. Kutcher seems like a great guy but not sure what public health expertise he brings for advising our pandemic response, said Democratic Sen. Joe Bolkcom, who has faulted the governor for failing to protect workers during the pandemic. But if hes available, maybe he can go inspect the meatpacking plants.

By Ryan J. Foley

NTD staff contributed to this report.
Search teams looking for the bodies of four South Koreans killed in a Himalayas avalanche have found the frozen corpse of their Nepali guide, police said Saturday.

A wall of snow hit the trekkers at about 3,230 metres (10,600 feet) near the Annapurna base camp in Nepal on January 17. But avalanches and more snowfall since have made it too dangerous to launch a proper hunt.

Police returned to the area on Friday after thawing snow revealed a bag. "Our team then found the body as the snow melted," Kaski district police chief Dan Bahadur Karki, told AFP.

Karki said that no decision has been taken yet whether to resume a full search for the South Koreans.

"The snow is still very deep in the area where we suspect the bodies are. We are still discussing what to do next," he said.

Nepal has also been in a coronavirus lockdown for the past month with all trekking permits suspended.

Thousands of trekkers visit Nepal every year for its stunning views of the Himalayas and routes lined with picturesque villages.

The Annapurna region is particularly popular, with more than 170,000 visitors in 2018.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The organization, which started a month ago, has more than 150 members across the western suburbs and has made more than 6,500 masks for emergency personnel and health care workers, she said. Most of the supplies being used have been donated to the group. Elastic needed for masks is especially hard to find because its thin, about a quarter inch or narrower, she said.
Therapist Teresa Gallego hugs resident Trinidad Gilarranz during lockdown amid the COVID-19 pandemic at Oteruelo nursing home in Valverde del Majano, Spain. Reuters



By Amanda Price



It is often said that the coronavirus crisis is "unprecedented in our time," "in comparable to anything we've experienced," "unparalleled in the modern world" and "a once-in-a-lifetime event."



This, of course, is not true for millions of people who live in third world or war-torn countries. It is only true for those of us who live a more comfortable life.



Our average life span means that many in developed countries do not experience global calamities more than once or twice, and sometimes not at all. These calamities are "unparalleled" to us, but by no means to everyone.



For Velibor Bozovic, who lived through and survived the 1990s siege of Sarajevo, this current crisis is easily comparable to what he has already endured.



"It was the first winter that you realized that this (conflict) is going to last, this is your life," he said. "And somehow you live it. Just like people are adapting to the situation now."



Bozovic, now a professor in Montreal, was able to speak from first-hand experience.



"We are incredibly capable to adapt to any kind of situation," he said. "No matter how bad it is, you adapt. You live your life as best you can."



Bozovic points out that even though we adapt, we also change in other ways.



Near Bozovic's home was a street consistently targeted by snipers. Everyone avoided it during the conflict, and not surprisingly, long after the war was over and the danger was gone. Although it was very near his home, he said, "I don't think I walked that street for months. That lingers, that stays. And I'm sure it's going to be the same now."



These are minor changes, however, and are primarily instinctive. The change that survivors identify most often is their appreciation of the things they once took for granted  family, friends and simple moments enjoying simple pleasures.



"Scars are inevitable," one Holocaust survivor said, "but scars can heal, they don't need to remain open wounds. And with that healing you find beauty and joy in things that once were mundane, even lending sugar to your neighbor."



These reassuring words, however, belie the anxiety about the future that is becoming a new feature of this crisis.



Nostradamus-like prophets are springing up everywhere. Falling just shy of sug-gesting a zombie apocalypse, these prophets seemingly possess oracular insight. Some even feign omniscience.



With cutting clarity, they foresee a future for mankind that mankind will barely survive  economic catastrophe, social disintegration, rabid nationalism, the death of democracy and even the abolition of fun.



In ominous tones they prophesy that "nothing will ever be the same again," blindly ignoring the fact that nothing ever is.



We live on a revolving rock, not a sedentary globe. Even on a biological level, things are never the same as they were the day before.



Around the globe, things are in a constant state of progression, regression, evolution and flux. Surprising things happen and expected things do not.



Volcanoes transform into mountains, tectonic shifts rearrange continents, species disappear, the earth's crust opens and swallows whole towns, solar flares from 150 million miles away cause electrical storms that set the forests ablaze, and hundreds of new viruses are born every year.



Sameness is a feeling, not a fact.



Permanency is the bubble that we have created to make ourselves feel secure. Itis an illusion that steadies the financial markets, and lulls us into believing that we have control over a world that does not recognize our authority.



We are not masters of our own destiny, anymore than we are the masters of time and space. We all live one day at a time, one moment at a time. To do otherwise would defy the laws of physics, or perhaps rent a hole in the fabric of the time space continuum.



We do not live each day as it comes by choice; we do so because there is no other choice.



Dr. Dipaly Mukhopadhyay, a Columbia political scientist explained, "That's how people in Afghanistan live all the time."



They assume that you have no idea how things are going to be tomorrow, even if something terrible happened the day before. The result is that you live as we are only able to live, one moment at a time.



We are discovering that reality is dynamic and changing.



Dr. Tan Hwee Sim, a professor of psychiatry in Singapore said, "People feel torn between wanting to resist their new reality, or adapt to it. They may torment themselves trying to preserve normalcy, or counting down the day to its return  as many are now. Liberation, survivors say, comes only through accepting what some may find unthinkable in calmer times: you, as an individual, have little control over the forces upending, or at times threatening your life."



Still our high anxiety about what our future will look like, bizarrely leads most to believe the worst. And by virtue of that belief, assume their lives will have less purpose and freedom.



Pessimism has become the new wisdom, and it has skewed our perspective of what purpose and freedom mean to us, and to the world we live in.



This blinkered cynical perspective hinders us from seeing the world as it is  a world in need  shattered lives that need to be glued back together, broken families that need to grieve, impoverished neighbors who need to be rescued.



To respond to these needs we need to rethink the meaning of purpose.



Our new purpose in this always altering world can be to help others, not just in the aftermath of this crisis, but as a permanent change in society. Ironically, this crisis may provide us with that path to compassion.



But this change in thinking is more than moments of altruism.



Around us are numerous nations desperately hoping we will find the resilience to mobilize compassion, in ways that demand we rethink our priorities. A resilience that will shift our focus from ourselves to those who need us most.



We have seen failures in this respect, failures that reveal the dark side of humanity's instinct to survive.



Some developed European countries have done much more than close their borders as common-sense measures. Several well-stocked countries also closed their cupboards. Forbidding exports of life-saving medical goods to countries in urgent need, their moral compasses proved askew. Choosing to stockpile resources in anticipation, they stood by and watched aloof as people died and medical staff begged for help.



Ignoring the process of helping countries to recover so they could in turn assist others, these countries demonstrated to their fellow member states that solid arity was selective.



As a result of this lack of empathy, compassion and practical assistance, the w orld's second-largest union of states may find itself struggling to regain a sense of purpose.



Conversely, there have been successes that revealed the very best of humanity.



Healthcare workers have united globally to do what some governments failed to do. Sharing data and resources with colleagues around the world, doctors and nurses demonstrated what selflessness and compassion look like, even in the

heat of war.



Unquestionably the heroes of this crisis, these men and women lived out courage and compassion, and in doing so saved thousands of lives.



When this crisis passes, our attitude and treatment of healthcare workers will hopefully forever be changed. They have long deserved our respect and apprec-iation and may at last receive it in full.



If we do not learn anything from their example, then we have not learnt any thing at all. And learn we must if we are to understand the value of living out-side ourselves, and inside the world of those in need.



Although focusing our attention outwards is not exclusively for the sake of others.



Emily Green, as associate professor of Social Work?at Rutgers University, explained that caring for others helps us to "regulate" our own emotions and gain a realistic sense of control. This regulation of our own emotions through helping others, Green goes on to say, has been proven to mitigate the effects of stress.



Generosity, many crisis psychologists assert, is one of the best anti-anxiety medications.



Dr. Steven Southwick, professor emeritus at Yale School of Medicine wrote, "Small acts (of kindness) are important." Although focusing on the needs of others, and reminding them "this too shall pass", we reinforce those truths for ourselves and find both meaning and purpose in something bigger than our often insular lives.



I am not a prophet, nor do I have insight to know the future, but if we choose wisely, that future should look like you and I. Despite how cliche the saying has become, we are the change the world desperately needs.



Surprising things may happen, and the gloom that was predicted may be undone.



We may come to realize that borders are artificial, but people are real.



We may learn that the inter-connectedness that helped this virus spread, will also help us recover.



We may come to understand that the most vulnerable among us, the elderly, the ill, the very young and the under-privileged are equal stake holders. Our bias toward the robust, the powerful and the healthy may be corrected.



We may learn to accept that we are all vulnerable, that none of us can control the future; we can only attempt to prepare for whatever it chooses to bring.



And finally, realizing all this, we may become more humble, more grateful, more able to see the needs around us, and realize that through compassion, we each have the power to shape the future we so long to see.


Republican Senators asked their colleagues on Friday to require future funding of the World Health Organization be tied to the entitys cooperation with the Congressional inquiry into the handling of the CCP virus outbreak.

In a letter to Sens. Lyndsey Graham and Patrick Leahythe chairman and ranking member of the subcommittee which drafts the spending legislation covering the World Health Organization (WHO)five Republican senators requested that funding for the WHO be reduced in fiscal year 2021 if the organization fails to cooperate with the inquiry.

The world is facing an unprecedented public health crisis with the COVID-19 pandemic, and the solution requires the cooperation of all nations across the globe, the letter (pdf), signed by Sens. Rick Scott (Fla.), Ron Johnson (Minn.), Thom Tillis (N.C.), Steve Daines (Mont.), and Kevin Cramer (N.D.), states.

Unfortunately, the WHOs leadership seems to have failed their mission to protect the global community from COVID-19, because they appear to have uncritically accepted false and misleading information provided by the Chinese Communist Party.

The senators wrote that they support President Donald Trumps decision to withhold funding to the WHO while the administration reviews the organizations response to the outbreak of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) virus. Trump has said that in addition to apparent missteps in handling the outbreak, the WHO has become too close to China despite receiving the largest portion of its funding from the United States.

American taxpayers contributed $1.5 billion to the WHO since 2016, according to the letter. Congress appropriated the funds with faith that the WHO would focus on advancements in world health.

American taxpayers cannot continue to fund an organization that seems to have misled the world about this pandemic and continues to act beholden to the Chinese Communist Party, counter to the interests of global health security, the senators wrote.

These are gravely serious issues that must be addressed with complete transparency so that the American people and the world understand what the WHO did and did not do in response to the outbreak of COVID-19.

In the early stages of the outbreak, the WHO appears to have parroted the Communist regimes misinformation on the seriousness posed by the CCP virus and whether it is capable of human-to-human transmission. When Trump ordered a travel ban on China, the head of the WHO publicly opposed such measures.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told Fox News earlier this week that the United States may permanently cut funding to WHO.

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.

Sens. Graham and Leahy did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Zachary Stieber contributed to this report.

From The Epoch Times
A Dublin restaurant has opened a drive-through service during the coronavirus lockdown (Brian Lawless/PA)

A Dublin restaurant has opened a drive-through service during the coronavirus lockdown.

The Brock Inn is serving breakfast, lunch and dinner while socially distancing from customers.

Drivers pull up in their cars and a special gangway is used to send food down to the vehicle window and collect card payments.

Social media pictures showed long queues for the enterprise.

The menu included fried breakfast, soup and crispy chicken wings.

Expand Close The special gangway is used to send food down to the vehicle window (Brian Lawless/PA) PA / Facebook

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Irish health chiefs have expressed concern over complacency about restrictions designed to curb the spread of the infection.

Health Minister Simon Harris has been consulting with medical leaders via videolink at the Department of Health.

He said it was an important chance to engage with some leading experts in general practice, critical care and infectious diseases.

Chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan has said if the situation remained like this he would not be able to recommend the restrictions be relaxed.

Love brownies?



They're available on our Drive-Thru menu!



Drive thru service open from 9 am tomorrow and we're serving breakfast, lunch and dinner! pic.twitter.com/Vx0JAt82tz  The Brock Inn (@InnBrock) April 23, 2020

Irelands Covid-19 death toll has passed 1,000.

On Friday, health authorities said a further 37 people with laboratory-confirmed cases had died.

The Republic has imposed restrictions on movement-limiting journeys to essential errands like getting food.

A two-kilometre limit for exercise has been decreed.

Irish police have mounted checkpoints near holiday spots in a bid to encourage social distancing.

The restrictions are due to be reviewed by medical experts next week.
The representative of Pacific Land Vietnam granted gifts to the local people

Specifically, the company has donated 3,000 gifts to the most vulnerable to the COVID-19 pandemic, including families on benefits, families with meritorious services to the revolution, elderly people receiving social assistance, disadvantaged households, as well as social protection beneficiaries. They are currently living in 19 wards like Giang Vo (Ba Dinh district); Tay Tuu, Minh Khai, Co Nhue 2, Lien Mac, and Thuy Phuong (Northern Tu Liem)

Each package worth VND300,000 ($13) includes five kilogrammes of rice, a box of instant noodles, a bottle of cooking oil, a bottle of fish sauce, and 10 facial masks. The donations reflect Pacific Land Vietnams efforts to assist the community during the tough time of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nguyen Xuan Phu, representative of Pacific Land Vietnam said, The COVID-19 pandemic has caused great turmoil around the world, including Vietnam. Even though we are facing challenges from the crisis, we still implement corporate social responsibility activities to help the vulnerable to overcome the pandemic. With the spirit of 'Nobody left behind', we would like to share the difficulties of people to ride out the crisis.

Pham Thi Sanh, a resident in Minh Khai ward has encountered enormous difficulties since the COVID-19 outbreak. She is economically disadvantaged as she has to raise her mentally ill child alone with unstable employment.

The gift package will feed us for an entire week. I would like to express my gratitude to the sponsor and the local authorities for their attention and support during the crisis, she noted.

Meanwhile, war invalid Ha Van Ngo, living in Minh Khai ward, said, "We have experienced the war so we really appreciate the solidarity of Vietnamese and the whole society in these tough times. The sharing and support of the local authorities and sponsors will help the vulnerable like us both materially and spiritually."

Nguyen Thi Bich Hong, a party cell secretary, head of Dai Cat 3 residential area in Lien Mac ward, said that people are facing many challenges from the crisis so they are really grateful for the warm generosity of the sponsors. This reflects the solidarity of the community and businesses during the fight against COVID-19.

Doan Manh Hung, vice chairman of Lien Mac Ward People's Committee, on behalf of the local authorities and the recipients, expressed deep gratitude to Pacific Land Vietnam.

We are deeply touched and appreciate the voluntary spirit of the company. The gifts will help the policy families and disadvantaged people in the ward to sail through the pandemic. The company has made significant contributions to the COVID-19 fight, he stated.

Moving forward, Pacific Land Vietnam will make more donations those vulnerable to COVID-19 in other localities. This reflects its commitment to long-term investment in Vietnam and its corporate social responsibility efforts.

The gifts will help the most vulnerable to overcome the COVID-19
Shoppers buy food at a supermarket in Tokyo on March 28, 2020.

Kyodo News/Getty Images

Osaka Mayor Ichiro Matsui told reporters on Tuesday that men should be grocery shopping instead of women during the coronavirus pandemic.

He said that women "take a long time as they browse around and hesitate about this and that" while grocery shopping.

Men, Matsui said, "snap up things they are told (to buy) and go, so I think it's good that they go shopping, avoiding human contact."

His comments were met with criticism online.

Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

The mayor of Osaka, Japan, faced criticism this week after saying men should do household grocery shopping during the novel coronavirus pandemic because women are indecisive and "take a long time" at stores.

Osaka Mayor Ichiro Matsui told reporters on Tuesday that women "take a long time as they browse around and hesitate about this and that" while grocery shopping, AFP reported, citing Japan's Kyodo news agency.

"Men can snap up things they are told (to buy) and go, so I think it's good that they go shopping, avoiding human contact," he said.

In response to an uptick in coronavirus cases in recent weeks, Japan announced a state of emergency on April 17, and has increased its number of testing facilities across the country.

Japan has recorded more than 12,000 cases of COVID-19, and at least 328 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins.

Residents in Osaka have been told to stay inside and have only one person per household go shopping.

According to AFP and CNN, several people, including Japanese journalist Shoko Egawa tweeted criticism about Matsui's comments online, calling it "disrespectful" and "prejudice."

Japan is ranked 110 out of 149 countries in the World Economic Forum's latest global gender gap index, and ranks lowest in gender equality among G7 countries.

Read the original article on Insider
American refiners closed some of their production, leading to futures trade benchmarked to the West Texas Intermediate going negative.

The falling demand of crude oil in the US market will adversely impact investments made by Indian companies in the shale business there.

American refiners closed some of their production, leading to futures trade benchmarked to the West Texas Intermediate (WTI) going negative on Monday.

Though WTI recovered, investment in alternative fuels like shale has become unviable.

For RIL, its investment in US shale is providing it negative returns on equity.

The average realisation for RILs shale investment had fallen to $2.71 for a thousand cubic feet equivalent of shale production.

Besides RIL, GAIL, too, has invested in shale gas in the US.

When crude oil prices drop, production of alternative fuels like shale oil and gas becomes unviable.

RILs upstream joint ventures in US shale, include a 45 per cent working interest (WI) partnership with Ensign Natural Resources in the Eagle Ford shale play, and a 40 per cent WI partnership with Chevron.

According to industry sources, the company is unlikely to invest more in exploration in the US in a lower price regime.

Besides RIL, GAIL holds 20 per cent stake in Eagle Ford shale of Carrizo Oil & Gas.

In 2013, the company tied up to import 2.3 million tonnes (MT) of liquefied natural gas (LNG) for 20 years from Cove Point.

A similar contract for 3.5 MT was signed with Cheniere Energys Sabine Pass project in Louisiana.

In 2017, RIL sold one of its shale assets for $126 million, a third of the price it paid seven years earlier, amid a downturn in global oil prices.

Its share of shale production rose 20 per cent in the quarter ending December 2019 at 23.9 billion cubic feet equivalent and realisation improved12.5 per cent to $3.05/MCFe, over the quarter ending September 2019, with improved prices of natural gas liquids.

The realisations would fall further because of a lack of demand, leading to lower production.

According to Premasish Das, executive director of oil markets midstream and downstream at IHS Markit, exploration and production companies in the US will be under immense pressure to reduce spending and live within cash flow.

It could lead to many bankruptcies (among American companies).

"However, given the uncertainties from the pandemic and its fallout on oil demand and global economy, it is be unlikely to see many mergers and acquisitions, which would start once the market stabilises, said Das.

India has bought shale oil and gas parcels from the US in the past, but the logistics of shipping it does not help.

Companies often swap quantities in order to earn arbitrage out of the shipping cost.

Importing under terms where the exporter bears the shipping cost or cost and freight arrangement could, however, be beneficial, considering the low oil cost.

However, Indian demand has also shrunk because of the nationwide lockdown.

According to Das, the strategy of increasing crude oil imports from the US makes sense in terms of diversification of supply sources amid the restraint of Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPECs) members.

However, the availability of crude oils from the US could be challenging as US production will decline rapidly this year and next.

Photograph: Lucy Nicholson/Reuters
Pastor Jamal Bryant calls reopening of Georgias economy assault on minorities, 'contrary to Gods will

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Outspoken megachurch pastor Jamal Bryant of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church slammed the Georgia governor's decision to begin reopening the local economy by Friday as akin to an "assault on the minority community and contrary to Gods will amid the coronavirus pandemic.

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, he argued.

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 Georgia governors 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 also be allowed to reopen on Monday, April 27, with specific social distancing guidelines and sanitation mandates. Bars, nightclubs, amusement parks and live performance venues, however, will remain closed.

Bryant said he was banding with several other prominent black pastors across the state, including Raphael Warnock, E. Dewey Smith, and William Murphy, to keep their churches shuttered in a united show of resistance.

I am afraid and I am frightened that this is going to set an immoral precedent for other wayward governors across the South who believe that if he can do it, then it is in fact the new standard for death to happen to the black community. I stand with countless numbers of other clergy who have resolved within our heart, our spirit, and our mind and our ethical compass, that we cannot resume church as normal because nothing is normal, Bryant said.

Prior to making the call, Bryant pointed out that black and brown Americans are still disproportionately dying from the new coronavirus due to higher levels of underlying health conditions and lower access to healthcare. He also pointed to issues of lower levels of testing for the virus in minority communities.

New Birth will not be holding church because we understand that life is valuable and we cannot in fact go down this rabbit hole of a slippery slope. Where are the testing kits? And if were gonna deal with testing kits weve got to deal with the inequity of healthcare that is provided to black and brown people in this state, he said.

We keep hearing the flag being raised about pre-existing conditions, pre-existing conditions like hypertension, obesity, high blood pressure, and things of that magnitude and heart disease. Its because we have not addressed the fact that many people in our community are living in food deserts. Many people in our community do not have access to affordable healthcare. Many people in our community only end up seeing a doctor when they come through an emergency room, he said.

He 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.

Like many of you who are in the state of Georgia, Im extremely concerned about the governors plans and what his decisions will mean for the safety, health and lives of Georgia residents, King said Monday in a Facebook Live broadcast, in which she revealed she was considering resigning from Kemps task force.

I have a great working relationship with our governor, but I did not speak with him before he made this announcement, Lance Bottoms told CNN.

She further noted that she spoke with other mayors across the state who revealed Kemp had not consulted with them either before making the decision to reopen the state for business.

Ive spoken with several leaders across this state. So we really are at a loss, and I am concerned as a mother and as the mayor of our capital city, she said.

Im perplexed that we have opened up in this way. And again, I cant stress enough, I work very well with our governor, and I look forward to having a better understanding of what his reasoning is but 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, she said.

We really are at a loss, and I am concerned as a mother and as the mayor of our capital city.



Atlantas mayor says Georgias Republican governor did not consult her and other key state leaders before deciding to allow some businesses to reopen. pic.twitter.com/qSw2Kbe0gr  Cuomo Prime Time (@CuomoPrimeTime) April 21, 2020

As of Tuesday, the Georgia Department of Public Health reported a total of 20,166 individuals who tested positive for the coronavirus. Just over 800 persons have died from the virus and more than half of them are black.

Gov. Kemp, I am asking you in the next 48 hours, you already have two amazing conscientious committed black sisters on your task force in Bernice King and in our mayor, Keisha Lance Bottoms, I ask that you will meet with both of them immediately because I trust that they speak for our community and for the welfare of our people," Bryant said. "I pray for repentance over this governor and the legislators who support him, who believe that this is a good idea. Something is wrong with the moral fiber of our community, when we put commerce over the value of human life.
Dane DeHaan had just finished working on a paint-by-number picture of a giraffe, just one of the many ways he and his preschool-aged daughter have been occupying their time in a global pandemic-induced quarantine. DeHaan and actress Anna Wood, his wife, have been sheltering in place in upstate New York with their daughter and, come June, a new baby boy.

The Allentown-born DeHaan, a former Emmaus High School student, considers himself lucky to be taking all of this in from a relatively idyllic location. A nice house, plenty of land and only leaving to go to the store once a week. Theyve fallen into a rhythm, he said.

Its a pretty far cry from the life he lived working on his recently released project, Amazon Primes ZeroZeroZero.

The series, created by Stefano Sollima, focuses on the connection between buyer, seller and broker in the international drug trade business, and is a fictional, more narrative adaptation of Italian writer Roberto Savianos book of the same name.

DeHaans character in ZeroZeroZero, which was released on Amazon Prime on March 6, is Chris, the youngest member of the Lynwood family, powerful owners of a shipping company. The multi-lingual (about seven) show is a thrilling study of the drug trade, its power players and its widespread consequences through three central perspectives spanning four continents.

Chris Lynwoods involvement in his familys business had been limited until hes tasked with overseeing a shipment of $60 million worth of cocaine (which DeHaan says is the real star of the show) from the hands of a brutal crime organization in Monterrey, Mexico, to a just-as-brutal mafia in the Calabria region of Italy.

Chris journey took DeHaan across the map for about a year of his life between 2018 and 2019. Shooting for the series took place in the Lynwoods home city of New Orleans; multiple stops in Mexico, including Mexico City and the port town of Veracruz; Italys Calabria region; the Moroccan oasis town Erfoud in the Sahara Desert -- We were there for what seemed like forever, DeHaan said -- and Casablanca, Morocco before wrapping up in Dakar, Senegal.

The harsh locations and the intense, dark storyline were part of what attracted DeHaan to the role. The movies I love watching the most are probably the more gritty, realistic movies, he said. I generally strive for things to be as realistic as possible in my work. His track record backs that up, as his filmography is full of films with darker content, but this was also still a bit new for him.

Ive never done a crime drama, he said. If youre dealing with the subject matter were dealing with in the show, it should be super intense, it should be really violent. It should be all of those things if youre striving to tell a realistic story.

What DeHaan loved most about Chris is that while he was surrounded by violence, backstabbing, evading authorities and more, his biggest obstacle was much more personal.

Chris Lynwood suffers from Huntingtons disease, an incurable hereditary progressive neurodegenerative disorder that gradually breaks down brain cells. The show reveals that Chris and his older sister Emma (played by Andrea Riseborough) lost their mother to the disease, which the now-30-year-old Chris inherited from her. Symptoms typically start showing up in ones 30s and 40s, and he finds himself having to grapple with both the physical and mental strains of the illness.

To prepare to embody someone with the disease, DeHaan threw himself into his research. He read every book he could find on Huntingtons and got his hands on an unreleased documentary made by someone living with Huntingtons. He also spoke with others who were affected by it every day. I found a support group in New Orleans, and they were kind enough to meet with me and talk with me very openly about what its like to have it, the different ways that it manifests psychologically and physically," he said. It was just about exhausting every resource I could have in an effort to make it as realistic as possible and to honor the disease.

And while Chris biggest obstacle is Huntingtons, the show itself experienced some pretty big ones. Every day presented a huge logistical problem, DeHaan said, including 100-degree days, food poisoning, dust storms and, as Sollima told the Wall Street Journal, even political unrest.

Despite all the challenges, the creative team was there to make it all OK. They are what made it worth going to work in these extreme conditions, DeHaan said, and no matter what challenges we faced from a production side, we always knew that creatively, we were gonna have a great experience.

And hey, whats a little danger? The adventure of it was really exciting, he said.

Now, a year and change removed from shooting, DeHaan is at home with his family in a much more controlled setting, but still one rife with uncertainty due to the coronavirus. Even so, DeHaan is finding plenty to keep him busy.

DeHaan has been spending a lot of his time getting the house ready for when his and Woods son is born in June, but hes also trying to do something for himself each day. He is, of course, catching up on television while other people are watching him broker cocaine deals and escape from jihadists. Among other, more current series, DeHaan and Wood are pretty deep into season 2 of The West Wing, which is one of her favorite shows, but one he hadnt seen before. So far, hed recommend it. Thats a refreshing watch, for sure.

But if you want a bit of excitement and grimy, underworld dealings to take you out of your quarantine boredom, hed likely have a good suggestion.

ZeroZeroZero is available to stream on Amazon Prime.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to Lehighvalleylive.com.

Connor Lagore may be reached at clagore@njadvancemedia.com.
Researchers at Zscaler observed an increase of 30,000% in Coronavirus-themed attacks in March when compared to the beginning of 2020.

Researchers from Zscaler observed an increase of 30,000% in Coronavirus-themed attacks in March when compared to the beginning of 2020.

In January experts started observing first attacks using COVID-19-related lures and themes, just two months later in March they detected roughly 380,000 malicious attacks.

Since January, we have seen an increase of 30,000% in phishing, malicious websites, and malware targeting remote usersall related to COVID-19. In January, we saw (and blocked) 1,200 such attacks. How many did we see in March? 380,000!  reads the blog post published by Zscaler.

Zscaler detected an 85% increase in phishing attacks targeting remote enterprise users, a 25% increase in malicious sites and malware samples blocked, and a 17% increase in threats directed at enterprise users.

Since the beginning of the outbreak, experts detected more than 130,000 suspicious newly registered domains (NRDs) using keywords related to the Coronavirus pandemic (i.e. test, mask, Wuhan, kit, and more).

In February, Zscaler researchers saw 10,000 coronavirus-themed attacks.

Phishing attacks based around COVID-19 targeted corporations as well as consumers. On the corporate front, spear-phishing emails were designed to look as if they were coming from the recipients corporate IT team or payroll department. continues the report. On the consumer side, we saw malicious emails asking for personal information as a way to help individuals get their government stimulus money, and we saw those soliciting donations for COVID-19-based causes.

Zscaler researchers reported the case of weaponized PowerPoint document targets users in Brazil, in one case attackers used documents that supposedly contained a list of hotels that had been affected by COVID-19.

One of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic is an increase of online purchases, for this reason, e-skimmer gangs like Magecart remain active in the wild. Zscaler also observed Coronavirus-themed attacks across several different threat categories, including the infamous Nigerian 419 scam.

Below recommendations provided by Zscaler:

Stick with reputable sources for COVID-19 information

Be wary of requests for emergency funds via email (call the sender to confirm, even if it appears to be from a known contact)

Do not open links or attachments from unknown sources

Enable two-factor authentication

Patch operating systems and apply security updates

Activate SMS/email notifications for any financial transactions

A few days ago, Google announced to have blocked about 18 million phishing and malware COVID-19-themed attacks against Gmail users.

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  Coronavirus, hacking)

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Home > Archives (2006 on) > 2020 > Covid-19 has a grandma, grandpa and great grandpa. Where are (...)

April 21, 2020

The search for the genesis of Covid-19 is developing into an epic story. Thanks to the insinuations by the US President Donald Trump  China virus, Wuhan virus, etc.  that were explosive in their political and strategic content, Beijing is now more determined than ever to get to the bottom of the story.

Which is a good thing, because now that Beijing has been touched to the quick and is turbo-charged this story will appear in the public domain sooner rather than later.

In an unusual move last weekend, Chinas envoy to Moscow, Zhang Hanhui highlighted that the whole story about Covid-19 is only unfolding and there are surprises in store for the world community.

It is inconceivable that Ambassador Zhang spoke without the knowledge of Beijing. Significantly, the Chinese envoy chose the Russian state news agency Tass for making some startling disclosures. According to the ambassador,

Five top Chinese scientific organisations have collected the data 93 genome specimens of COVID-19 that have been published in a global database based on inputs from 12 countries on four different continents.

The research has shown that the Covid-19s earliest ancestor is a virus known as mv1, which subsequently evolved into haplotypes H13 and H38. (A haplotype is a group of genes within an organism that was inherited together from a single parent.)

In turn, H13 and H38 evolved into a second-generation haplotype  H3  which subsequently involved into H1 (Covid-19).

That is to say, in plain terms, Covid-19s father is H3; its grandparents are H13 and H38; and, its great grandfather is mv1.

Now, although the virus that was discovered in the Wuhan seafood market (Covid-19) was of the H1 variety alright, only its father H3 has been spotted in Wuhan  and that too, NOT in the seafood market.

Importantly, the Covid-19s grandparents  H13 and H38  have never been spotted in Wuhan.

This suggests that the H1 specimen was brought to the seafood market by some infected person, which sparked the epidemic. The gene sequence cannot lie. (Ambassador Zhang)

Suffice to say, the original source of Covid-19s spread is yet to be traced and the trail could lead to any direction. As of now, although Covid-19 was first discovered in Wuhan, its exact origin is yet to be determined.

Meanwhile, there are tell-tale signs. Thus, Ambassador Zhang recounted:

A married couple from Japan contracted Covid-19 while in Hawaii (where the US Pacific base is located) sometime between January 28 and February 3, although they had not visited China or had come into contact with any Chinese person. Notably, the husband had symptoms by February 3.

The media reported that Covid-19 has first appeared in Lombardy in northern Italy as early as January 1.

According to the renowned Italian medical specialist Giuseppe Remuzzi, the Covid-19 epidemic in Italy had begun spreading even before it started in China.

The well-known American virologist Robert Redfield  currently the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (the leading national public health institute of the US and a federal agency) and the Administrator of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (a a federal public health agency based in Atlanta, Georgia)  has speculated that the large number of flu deaths in the US could have in fact been caused by COVID-19, but the US did not test for it at that time. (An estimated 80,000 Americans died of flu and its complications last winter.)

Shockingly enough, Italy wanted to trace the first infection case of Covid-19 by conducting an exhumation in the US of so-called flu victims, by the US has flatly refused permission.

However, contemporary science and technology is well-equipped to trace the trail of Covid-19 and it is absolutely certain that sooner or later, the day will come when everything thats been concealed will be revealed. (Ambassador Zhang)

Interestingly, since the appearance of Ambassador Zhangs interview with the Tass, President Trump has calibrated his previous allegation of Chinese complicity and mala fide intentions. Whereas Trump had pointedly threatened Beijing with retribution, he has since moderated his stance and said on Saturday at a media briefing at the White House:

You know, the question was asked, Would you be angry at China? Well, the answer might very well be a very resounding yes, but it depends: Was it a mistake that got out of control or was it done deliberately? Okay? Thats a big difference between those two. In either event, they should have let us go in. You know, we asked to go in very early, and they didnt want us in. I think they were embarrassed. I think they knew it was something bad, and I think they were embarrassed.

Trump no longer alleges culpability on Chinas part. Its no longer an open and shut case, either. Presumably, its now negotiable. Trump spoke only two days after Ambassador Zhangs interview appeared.

Clearly, the Chinese diplomat hinted that the trail of Covid-19 can and will be scientifically traced. Trump will have a serious problem if it transpires that Covid-19s grandma, grandpa and great grandpa are actually domiciled in the US.
A new outbreak has been attributed to a Chinese student who came from New York, and infected 70 with an "imported" coronavirus. The Chinese city went red alert and initiated draconian quarantine measures as the outbreak began from a "foreign" coronavirus.

A major Chinese city has adopted draconian quarantine measures against the novel coronavirus after a new outbreak was detected there.

After 70 positive infections were detected, which is assumed to be from New York, but the most accepted is from Wuhan as state media declare in line with Beijing's directives.

Authorities have an iron grip on all airport and train stations, to screen those coming from elsewhere.

Harbin is now in the grips of the coronavirus that is housing one of the biggest outbreaks to date in mainland China.

Beijing is issuing order to stick to party directives of restrictions for locals, and keeping an eye on visitors or incoming traffic. Other than that, nothing is known as the government is keeping low key on relevant issues from the outside.

All citizens are controlled by a government-approved health app that proves they are not infected by the contagion. Their temperature is taken when wearing a face mask or they will not be allowed entry.

Social distancing is followed by everyone. Gatherings like weddings, funerals, public performances and conferences are not allowed during the pandemic.

Many of the confirmed, suspected, asymptomatic cases and their close contacts are shut into quarantine as policy. Even neighbour and people around stay at home, they are considered suspected carriers. These areas and individuals are under control and surveillance by authorities.

Also read: Coronavirus Effects: How it Harms Human Body Organs

Most feared are the asymptomatics who spread the virus, but exhibit no COVID-19 symptoms. That is a silent threat to the majority.

It gets more tenuous as those in-home quarantines should pass two DNA tests, one for the virus and one for anti-bodies, an indicator of exposure to COVID-19 before.

Harbin is enforcing forced isolation for outsiders and if they have been in Wuhan or any hotspot in China where the virus struck.

All quarantines in Harbin will be 28 days for outsiders, with bundled tests for coronavirus and anti-bodies that they need to pass.

Russia is now a suspect as carriers. Heilongjiang acts like the gap to check if Russians carry the coronavirus, this border is important to Chinese interests.

There are about 1,616 foreign cases, as many as 823 have recovered.

Mi Feng, from the Chinese Centre of Disease Prevention and Control, said to the press there are two serious patients in Wuhan left.

A second wave is coming and the source should be shut, and bring control to the epidemic to prevent the second wave, that promises more culling.

Chen, a 22-year old student from NYC has spread the virus by Tuesday. Out of the 78 people, 55 tested positive for infections, but 23 with positive results do not have symptoms.

She did not know that she had the coronavirus and it infected many people, authorities said, adding that she is the source of the coronavirs in their area.

In Heilongjiang on Tuesday, four patients were thought to have gotten the bug from Ms Chen.

Related article: Coronavirus Origin: Patient Zero of Wuhan Market Revealed?

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Over 200 shanties were gutted in



a major fire that broke out at a slum in Bhadrakali area of Nashik in Maharashtra on Saturday, police said.

The fire erupted around 9.30 am in Bheemwadi slum area. There was no report of any loss of life in the incident, police said.

However, some fire bridge personnel suffered minor injuries during the firefighting operation, a police official said.

"Over 200 shanties were gutted in the blaze. The fire spread quickly after some LPG cylinders exploded. The entire area was enveloped in thick black smoke for some time," the official said.

"Around 20 fire tenders were rushed to the spot. As several roads in city are barricaded due to the coronavirus lockdown, the vehicles took some time to reach the spot. The fire was brought under control within three hours," he said.

Local residents helped the police and the fire brigade personnel in the rescue operation.

"Although no loss of life was reported in the mishap, some fire brigade personnel suffered minor injuries," the official said.

Police said that the affected families from the slum have been shifted to a civic-run school.

The reason behind the blaze is being ascertained, they said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
British supercar manufacturer McLaren has received a 300million cash injection from its shareholders to keep the wheels turning during the coronavirus pandemic.

McLaren, based at a plush factory in Surrey designed by renowned British architect Norman Foster, is also talking to third parties about further boosting its working capital.

In addition, it is in discussions about altering the terms of its bank loans.

Dynasty: Driver Bruno Senna and mother Viviane, sister of legendary driver Ayrton, with the 211mph McLaren Senna

The privately owned company is controlled by Bahrains Mumtalakat sovereign wealth fund, which holds a stake of 57.7 per cent.

Its latest accounts state that to protect the long-term strength of the brand in the luxury automotive market it had previously planned to reduce production from 4,662 cars to 4,000 this year.

The firm secured 300million from its existing shareholders in February and March to cover the scaleback  but now that money has been diverted to prop up the organisation.

The accounts say: The new equity has been deployed to support the group during this period of unprecedented shutdown.

McLaren has temporarily furloughed employees and asked other staff to take a pay cut.

In the year ending December 31, 2019, McLaren revenue rose 18.2 per cent to 1.5 billion, driven by a rise in prize money and sponsorship at its Formula 1 team and an increase in sales of higher value cars, which sell for more than 750,000.
Welcome to the newest issue of the Caixin Insight newsletter, which provides more in-depth and incisive views each week on whats happening in the worlds second-biggest economy as it gets back on its feet after Covid-19. This issue was compiled on April 22.

There were few surprises, with Chinas quarterly GDP data coming in just as bad as expected, and the post-data release Politburo meeting confirming that an unprecedented crisis requires an exceptional response.

New infrastructure was finally defined by an NDRC official, and the ball is finally rolling on long-discussed foundational reforms of factor markets including land and labor. Regulators are also continuing to crack down on Covid-19 relief money going where it shouldnt, but may struggle to manage Chinese companies like Luckin with corporate structures overseas.

Macro update

China released its worst-ever quarterly growth figures on April 17, reporting that

 GDP shrank 6.8% year-on-year, or 9.8% quarter-on-quarter

 fixed-asset investment shrank 16.1% year-on-year, narrowing from a 24.5% drop in the first two months

 infrastructure investment fell 19.7% year-on-year, moderating from a 30.3% slump in the first two months

 value-added industrial output fell 1.1% year-on-year, after sinking 13.5% in the first two months

 retail sales dropped 15.8% year-on-year, easing from a 20.5% decline in the first two months

The last time China reported a drop in GDP was in 1976, before quarterly data began, when the economy contracted 1.6% for the full year. The March data, however, showed some signs of recovery, particularly in terms of retail sales, industrial output and fixed-asset investment.





The pickup in March data is a clear signal that Chinas economy is beginning to get back on track, helped by stimulus efforts which are both starting to take effect and accelerating, most recently with an announcement (link in Chinese) on April 20 from the Ministry of Finance that local governments would issue another 1 trillion yuan ($141.2 billion) of special-purpose bonds (SPBs) by the end of May. In a meeting for clients organized last week by Caixin Media and Caixin Global Intelligence, Peoples Bank of China Governor Yi Gang said that Chinas entire economy, in terms of recovery and resumption of production, has performed better than anticipated.

The central government has repeatedly said it will increase the local government SPB quota, and market expectations have also increased significantly, with some observers expecting issuance to exceed 4 trillion yuan. Their scope has also been significantly expanded, allowing the money to go towards renovation of older residential areas, public health and other municipal facilities, and especially towards new infrastructure, with a higher cap on the ratio of debt to capital spending, up from 20% to 25%.

Factor market reform: A hard nut to crack

Chinas Communist Party central committee and State Council issued a set of guiding opinions (link in Chinese) on setting up a better market-oriented production factor allocation mechanism on April 9, the first central committee document to address factor markets in a systematic, integrated way.

Factor markets have been on the back-burner for decades, and made a priority at the 19th national party congress in 2017, but little progress has been made. The documents release at this time illustrates that desperate times call for desperate measures, notes Zhong Zhengsheng, head of Caixin subsidiary CEBM Group.

The document calls to remove institutional barriers that hinder the free flow of factors, expand the role of the market in factor allocation, improve factor markets and promote their construction, and marketize the prices, flows and efficient, fair allocation of factors.

This is not an easy task, but conducting foundational reforms such as these can give Beijing more bang for its buck on direct fiscal stimulus, which is poised to expand in the months to come.

We dont have space here to fully unpack the document, which touches on everything from land, labor and capital to technology and data. Many aspects are not new, but bring together key points from disparate documents previously issued by an array of other ministries. The primary highlights, however, are land and labor reform:

- exploring and promoting conversion of different land use types in different industries, and increasing land supply for mixed-industry use

- exploring establishment of a national trade mechanism for construction land and supplementary agricultural land

- exploring and promoting mutual recognition of hukou in the Yangtze River Delta, Pearl River Delta and other city clusters

- relax hukou restrictions in all cities excluding several megacities and pilot household registration based on residence

Part of the reason land reform has progressed relatively slowly in comparison to other areas is that it is foundational to Chinas economic model  the transition from land-based development towards a new model of innovation-driven growth is the single most challenging aspect of Chinas economic transformation, argues preeminent land rights scholar Liu Shouying. The reform also plays into President Xis signature rural revitalization initiative, creating a more interactive relationship between cities and the countryside, and taking the pandemic as an opportunity to push through challenging reforms.

The hukou reforms accomplish a similar goal, tearing down restrictions on labor mobility between rural and urban areas, and addressing long standing inequalities in the allocation of public resources, which under the hukou system are mostly tied to ones place of birth rather than residence. Fully unrolling the system will take years, however, as it entails fine-grained, rolling changes in the division of responsibilities between central and local governments.

Oil futures crash not happening in China

The May WTI crude oil futures contract settled at -$37.63 on April 20, making history and falling below zero for the first time. Traders with long May WTI futures were forced to sell at a negative price to avoid storage costs, which are rising fast.

However, the historical crash is not likely to be replicated in China. Trading rules and storage capacities (and thus prices) are very different than in the U.S. Traders in China are able to store crude for prolonged periods at a flat rate, and face much lower risks of being forced to sell.

Moreover, Chinese trading ports have just enlarged storage dedicated to oil futures trading. On April 21, the Shanghai Futures Exchange approved 1 million cubic meters of new storage in Zhanjiang, home to a major Sinopec refinery, and Dalian, home to one of Chinas most important commodities exchanges. The addition brings newly approved Shanghai Futures Exchange storage to 2.05 million cubic meters since the beginning of April.

However, some Chinese investors have been affected nonetheless via crude futures trading tools hosted by Bank of China. These trading tools are very similar to actual crude trading, with traders buying and selling security notes pegged to actual crude futures held by Bank of China. Unfortunately for holders of the notes, Bank of Chinas WTI futures position was set to mature on April 20, and thus the bank had to sell at negative prices, resulting in huge losses passed on to investors.

Relief money not for real estate, Shenzhen banks warned

A recent surge in Shenzhen housing prices raised red flags for regulators, who have begun a probe into whether concessionary loans to small and micro businesses amid the Covid-19 pandemic ended up flowing into the property market there.

The loans have much lower financing costs than usual, as low as about 2% compared to 3.9% to 4.5% before subsidies. The Shenzhen branch of the central bank issued an internal notice on April 20 to commercial banks operating in the city, requesting them to check outstanding loans for possible exploitation, and the local bureau of the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission is coordinating to strengthen management.

Shenzhens housing price rally has been the strongest among tier-1 cities since March. New and resold condo prices rose 0.5% and 1.6% month-on-month in March respectively, three times the national average numbers for big cities, data from the National Bureau of Statistics show. However, the housing market is still tightly regulated and there are no signs of deregulation in the near term, as the April 17 Politburo meeting clearly indicated.

How companies like Luckin dodge regulation

Luckin is not the first overseas listed Chinese company to be plagued by scandals. In 2010, more than 20 Chinese companies delisted from U.S. stock markets, after multiple scandals surrounding Chinese companies listed in the U.S. However, many of the executives at those scandal-ridden companies continue to enjoy successful careers even after their companies delisted.

One reason is jurisdiction: these executives can often dodge their liabilities by staying in China and pay only a small amount for reconciliation. In the case of Luckin, Chinas securities regulator harshly criticized the company after its fraud disclosure and pledged to assist U.S. regulators in an investigation. But Chinese regulators enforcement powers over Luckin will be limited because its registered in the Cayman Islands and traded overseas, analysts said.

The other reasons are more complicated and inherent to cross-border listings. Besides the difference in regulatory frameworks, lack of cooperation and documentation sharing is also a key problem. U.S. regulators often fail to obtain crucial audit working papers needed to press charges, because they are stored in China and there are no existing mechanisms to share them.

The Luckin problem is about more than one company. It also reflects long-standing cracks in China-U.S. coordination of financial supervision that offer room for dodgy business practices. Overseas-listed Chinese companies will always be shadowed by investor skepticism until the issue is resolved, a foreign investment banker told Caixin.

Defining new infrastructure

New infrastructure has been a hot topic for a little while now but had not been formally defined until April 20, when the director of the National Development and Reform Commissions (NDRC) innovation and technology department set guidelines for the buzzword at a press conference (link in Chinese). Wu Hao said new infrastructure includes three broad categories:

- infrastructure based on next-gen IT (5G, industrial internet, satellites, data centers, etc.)

- integrated infrastructure (applications of the above, including smart city projects, smart grid, etc.)

- innovation infrastructure (including state-run or publicly beneficial labs, tech parks, R&D centers, etc.)

Wus definition differs somewhat from the previous market interpretation which was largely based on a March 2019 CCTV report, as it excludes ultra-high voltage electric grids, intercity high-speed rail, new energy vehicle charging piles, and other high-tech but less smart infrastructure. Zhu Baoliang, chief economist of the State Information Center, commented that the market understanding was biased, as these areas had not been described in official language on the term.

However, Wu noted that the connotations of new infrastructure are not immutable, and may expand along with technological development, adding that the NDRC will work to strengthen top-level design and issue further guidelines.

Weathervane

The April 17 Politburo meeting sent two strong signals, both anticipated in our April 15 brief.

First, it clearly acknowledged the severity of the impact of Covid-19, saying the first quarter was extremely unusual, with an unprecedented impact, and introducing six new guarantees on top of the standard six stability targets in place since August 2018. The six guarantees are a stark illustration of the depth of the crisis:

- basic operation of government

- basic livelihoods

- employment

- supply chain stability

- market entities

- food and energy security

Second, the meeting clearly called to strengthen stimulus, saying directly that the sense of urgency must be strengthened, and that a greater macro policy effort is needed to offset the impact of the pandemic. Employment is the primary concern, mentioned four times in the readout, and the only item in both the six stabilities and six guarantees. It is the central focus of the macroeconomic policy response as noted in our meeting on April 17 with Governor Yi, and much of the reason support has been targeted at small and midsize enterprises, which are by far Chinas biggest employers.

There was no mention of growth targets, which suggests there is a possibility that they may not be used at least in the short term. The readout concluded that real estate should not be used for speculation, an indication that it will not be used for stimulus, and noting that China should instead lose no time in promoting reform, specifically highlighting market-oriented allocation of production factors as discussed above.

Looking ahead

The National Peoples Congress Standing Committee will meet from April 26 to April 29, when it will likely

- approve additional local SPB quotas as procedurally required

- set the timing of this years Two Sessions, potentially as soon as mid-May
The lockdown to check the spread of coronavirus has put a squeeze on the donations for two of Keralas most famous temples with devotees yet to warm up to online contributions.

After the lockdown prevented people from travelling to the holy places resulting in severely dented coffers, major temples in the state including Guruvayur Sri Krishna temple and hill shrine Sabarimala had taken the e-route to ensure cash flow. But statistics show virtual offerings are yet to catch up with devotees.

Electronic offerings began with much fanfare at the Guruvayur temple on April 14 on the day of the Vishu festival. But in ten days e-collection was a paltry Rs 22,840, temple statistics show. An average monthly hundi (donation box) collection in Guruvayur is anywhere between Rs 4 crore and five crore. Besides currency it often gets gold, silver and at times diamonds too. The daily poojas (called sevas) also bring in steady money.

It seems devotees are yet to catch up with the virtual offering. We have to popularize it more. Many feel direct offerings after praying at the temple will do good. In changing times we have to do away with winding queues and crowding. In the given scenario virtual offering is the best alternative and it will pick up, said a senior official of the temple board. The temple was closed on March 21, three days before the countrywide lockdown began.

We used to visit Guruvayur temple every first day of the Malayalam calendar. In the changed scenario usual darshan is impossible. Since we are old fashioned people, virtual donation or online offering has failed to enthuse us. So we are waiting for these dark clouds to disappear for a real darshan, said Sulochana Nair, a retired teacher.

Though temple officials are in favour of altering traditional offerings, devotees like her arent amused and prefer real offering. Interestingly, the most sought after offering at Guruvayur Udayasthmana pooja (which literally means worship from sunrise to sunset), has been booked next 30 years, till 2050 and fresh bookings were closed for the time being.

In 2008, the temple discontinued the tradition of an elephant being offered to the presiding deity after the number of elephants numbers rose -- now the temple has 56 elephants, the largest collection of captive elephants.

In the hill temple of Sabarimala also virtual offerings have failed to pick up. The Travancore Devasom Board (TDB), which runs the temple, had tried to encourage online offerings from the first week of this month said skeleton employees will be deployed at the hilltop to perform these rituals. The temples collection has remained below Rs one lakh in the last ten days.

Sabarimalas revenue is usually used to fund smaller temples in south Kerala and for salaries of 3,500-odd employees of the TDB. True, online offerings are yet to pick up. It is just the beginning. We have to popularise it. We are planning a (advertising) campaign towards this, said TDB president N Vasu. For now though, the TDB has asked its employees to forgo one months salary.

The TDB had made an announcement on its website and is planning to launch advertisements in four southern states -- Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Telangana from where devotees throng the temple in large numbers. The temple was closed after monthly pooja on March 18.

Despite the government warning not to crowd the temple, at least 14,000 devotees trekked to the shrine after thermal screening and other formalities in March first week. This forced the TDB to do away with the ten-day temple festival in March end and Vishu festival on April 14.

For now, with thronging crowds only a memory, temples authorities want to encourage devotees to make their offerings online.

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NASA engineer Mike Buttigieg works on the Aerospace Valley Positive Pressure Helmet in an undated photograph. (NASA)

NASA Develops Ventilator, Helmet for COVID-19 Patients

NASA developed a new ventilator and a helmet for patients suffering from COVID-19, the disease caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, a novel coronavirus that emerged from mainland China last year.

Engineers at NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California designed the high-pressure ventilator, which is tailored specifically to treat patients with the new illness.

The machine helps patients breathe. Some people infected with the CCP virus require assistance breathing.

NASAs new ventilator is designed to treat patients with milder symptoms so the nations traditional ventilators are available for patients with more severe symptoms. VITAL, the space agencys ventilator, can be built faster and cheaper and maintained more easily than a normal ventilator.

The ventilator passed a test at Mount Sinai in New York on April 21 and is being reviewed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for emergency use authorization.

The helmet, developed by NASAs Armstrong Flight Research Center in California, functions like a continuous positive airway pressure machine to force oxygen into a patients low-functioning lungs.

The VITAL (Ventilator Intervention Technology Accessible Locally), left, developed by engineers at NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, and AMBUstat, small, portable device that decontaminates spaces, sit on a table in the White House on April 24, 2020. (Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images)

It also ensures patients arent shedding the CCP virus, protecting healthcare workers, NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine told President Donald Trump at the White House on Friday.

The Aerospace Valley Positive Pressure Helmet was tested by doctors at Antelope Valley Hospital and The Spaceship Company began producing 500 this week. The FDA received a request for emergency authorization.

NASA also developed a small device that decontaminates spaces such as ambulances in under an hour. The system was developed by engineers at the agencys Glenn Research Center in Ohio.

NASA previously used the technology to sterilize robots it sent to outer space, Bridenstine said.

Think of it as a fogger. It will fog the room and every surface in the room will then be sterilized. No Coronavirus, he said.

You just bring it in a room, set it down, let it fog and then every surface ends up being clean and and people can go back to work knowing that their workspace is clean and it doesnt leave a film on any of the surfaces. You dont have to wipe down the surface.

The device will be used for schools, prisons, and businesses.
The parents of a University of Portland freshman who was found dead in October are asking for students to come forward with any information that might shed more light on what happened to their son.

Dustin and Mary Klinger, the parents of Owen Klinger, submitted a letter to the schools student newspaper, the UP Beacon, on Friday. The letter spelled out some of the specifics of their sons disappearance and asked students for any help they can offer.

Owen Klinger, 18, was last seen Oct. 6, 2019, leaving his dorm room at the University of Portland shortly before 8 p.m. He was found Oct. 20 in the Willamette River near the St. Johns Bridge.

Klingers mother, Mary, told The Oregonian/OregonLive that this week had been especially difficult, as it marked six months since Klinger was found.

I think about him every day, she said. It seemed like a fitting time to remind everyone that we still do not have complete understanding of what happened with Owen.

In the weeks that Klinger was missing, family and friends organized search parties and combed the city for any sign of the missing teen, often gathering hundreds of volunteers.

Throughout the investigation and after Klinger was found, police said there was no sign of foul play in his disappearance or death. But Klingers parents said the Portland Police report into their sons disappearance has raised more questions than answers. The family also received the medical examiners report, which determined Klingers cause of death was drowning. The report states Klinger likely died by suicide, but finds that there are too many uncertainties to determine a manner of death.

The letter detailed several lines of questioning the family still has, from a potential Title IX violation that Klinger may have witnessed, to unaccounted items he had with him when he went missing, like a phone and $150.

His parents urged students who had any information to contact them, even if it seems minor or they didnt know Klinger well.

Mary Klinger said that before the school year ends and students shift their focus, the family hopes to reach students that might know anything that could help fill in the gaps about Klingers disappearance.

We are just not willing to let questions go unanswered if we have any chance of learning more, Klingers father Dustin said.

Anyone with information can contact the family at findowenk@gmail.com or text 503-522-7014.

Jayati Ramakrishnan; 503-221-4320; jramakrishnan@oregonian.com; @JRamakrishnanOR

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Only a month ago, the oil price started its sharp decline towards zero. At the onset of the price war between Saudi Arabia, Russia and the US, the tumbling price of oil was compounded by the pandemic that continues to spread throughout the world, killing more than 160,000 people.

Now, the price of oil has gone south of zero, with lockdown measures around the world drying up demand. Oil is quite literally not worth the barrel its stored in. And, with negative prices, fossil fuel companies are better off keeping oil in the ground. Not only do negative prices make the extraction of oil unprofitable, but these prices could also see oil companies paying buyers to take the resources off their hands.

Their business models undoubtedly will take a hammering and hundreds of thousands of jobs will be put at risk. But, as with every economic crisis, it will be the workers who bear the brunt, not oil executives. It is increasingly apparent that we can no longer hinge the prosperity of communities around the world on the price of oil and the fragility of an oil-fuelled economy.

Such low prices for oil could have very negative results, including disincentivising the investment shift we have seen into renewables over the past decade, locking in our reliance on extraction and emissions for years to come. Worse still, the oil majors could dump the oil on global markets, further destabilising the world economy.

Or we could use this opportunity to shift and diversify our economy away from fossil fuels, providing high-quality, unionised jobs in sectors that respect environmental boundaries and human health. We could remove fossil fuel subsidies too, which costs British taxpayers billions each year to prop up an industry that needs to become a relic of the past. If we are to think global, we could save an estimated $5tn from removing fossil fuel subsidies worldwide.

With oil producers in free-fall, governments could even take the step of bringing fossil fuel companies into public ownership, only to wind them down and ensure a fair transition for workers. A policy move like this not only makes economic sense but also has a symbolic edge: no longer will our governments support an industry that is systematically destroying our future.

If this is really oils swan song, then we need to use the full force of economic policy to ensure its fortunes never return. Sources of clean energy  namely wind and solar  are continuing to increase in cost competitiveness relative to fossil fuels and are proven to deliver, providing 37 per cent of the UKs electricity demand in 2019. With negative oil prices continuing to fracture the global economy, these technologies offer governments a cleaner, greener source of energy, at the heart of an economic stimulus.

When coronavirus passes, and we mourn the scale of life lost, talk will turn to an economic recovery. Clean renewable energy must be at the heart of this recovery plan, stimulating a section of the economy that will help us lead on our international commitments and bring us in line with our planetary boundaries. This recovery plan must also meet peoples immediate needs and provide a jobs guarantee, rent controls and support for the many workers, including those in the fossil fuel industry who are about to be left in the lurch, while oil executives will most likely retire with exorbitant pay-offs.

And when the fossil fuel industry calls for a public bailout, just like the airlines have done, we all ought to remember the untold harm on humanity and the planet that this industry has caused.

With the power and profits of the fossil fuel industry cast into doubt and the economy hurtling towards a deep recession, we have a unique opportunity to build a fairer, more just economy in its wake; an economy that protects its most vulnerable and cherishes its key workers.

We must stand steadfast in our opposition to more extraction and destruction. And we must make sure that this economic recovery is for the people and the planet, not the bankers and oil barons.

Fatima Ibrahim is the co-executive director of Green New Deal UK
If this life we are living now were a novel, it would be called Drop the Body or Land of Ham; if a memoir, Bunker Time: The Year of Motley Heavings. If it were a sandwich, the filling would be moths, jam and beef powder, and its leathery bread would be buttered on the outside.

I have been thinking of this since the great Sarah Polley pointed out on Twitter that if this were a movie, what a ham-fisted, overstuffed, simple-minded mess of a movie it would be.

So much heavy-handed foreshadowing, she wrote. The apocalyptic footage from Wuhan, the supervillain American president, the whistleblower dying, the Russia/China border closed while people still claimed it was just a flu, the warnings unheeded. Insulting to the audiences intelligence. And then  that most annoying of horror/disaster movie tropes  the hapless idiots walking into disaster after disaster, all of which the audience can see coming from a mile away.

It would be uncertain of its genre, she wrote  Horror movie? Political? Disaster? Screwball comedy?and it would have far too many protagonists while forgetting the most interesting one, that bat in China.

Polley is right. The movie would be the based on kind but who could believe the base?

We have never experienced such a non-stop blast of incoming bad news from such an array of implausible sources: Trump threatening Iran over gunboats in the Persian Gulf, oil so cheap that we siphon it into the car, a Nova Scotia denturist with a kill list, every surface shooting poison darts, death by ventilator, the American Deep South staying true to moronic form, plucky little Britain not waving but drowning, Italy the Sick Man of Europe, Hungary as Bloodlands Revisited, face masks being batted around the globe like badminton shuttlecocks, a clamour for flour, a climate Sturm und Drang summer approaching, elderly sex monsters hunted on their private islands, Amazon warehouse ant farms, the drawbacks of medical gear for men only, the death of privacy, Naomi Kleins shock doctrine nailing down the coffin lid, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as a daily brunch-time reason-over-passion relaxation app.

In what container does this fit? Certainly not a work of art, although Hieronymus Bosch had a go, but his horror is more or less flat-planed. Francis Bacons screaming popes are helpful, but their pain is internal.

In modern warfare, humans can count on the greatest danger coming from above, from drones and fighters sending missiles and dropping bombs. But this danger surrounds us. The threat comes from beneath, above, in the air, on every bit of matter from leaves to muslin to metal to hair, from inside the lung and up through the throat.

Ever since man first painted an antlered beast on the wall of a cave, he has tried to render the world around him. I dont know what form the portrait of 2020 could take. Maybe Polley is right and only very bad movies can even try to approach this immensity.

Humans like stories. Generally speaking, novels should tell a story and stories should have a point, but there is no point to what were living through, no angle. Stuff happened. More stuff happened.

The key is that it wont end. Again, I say Donald Trump is a test just as COVID-19 is a test. Mere rehearsals. The answer is to change the political and economic system in time for the genuine exam, which is climate change.

Just stay home is not the answer to global heating. It will be solved outside.

The American artist Gregory Crewdson has always created and photographed eerie stage sets of people alone in silent landscapes, standing outside houses, underwater, alone on dimly lit streets in small towns.

In the evenings, I am outside, walking distantly, with police cars slowly driving past, looking at Toronto mises en scene in the front windows of peoples houses. At those times, country music seems the most appropriate art, the best way to convey that feeling of lonesome hearts and lost souls.

What is happening, you may ask yourself. Artists answer, but who knows which one rings most true in this glass balloon time, so fragile, so frightening?

All I can say is that art might help you personally, so alone right now. Will Ferrell movies about child-men, Leni Reifenstahls horror films, audiobooks, caricatures, Louise Bourgeoiss stick-like anxiety figures, collage, found art to be lugged home and glued, twangy rockabilly, folk art, Easter Island monoliths, hyperrealistic Mary Pratt paintings of eggs in the carton lit up like bulbs and Newfoundland moose carcasses bled and hung.

The art of 2020 might well be marvellous or ugly, or tasteless, artless, a comic mess, a disaster, a waste of time, or nothing more than very bad art for very bad times.
My pooch sees me approaching with the lead and rolls onto his back in an exaggerated display of lethargy. He gazes at the ceiling. Hey, cmon dont you want to go for a w...? I peter out, hating the note of panic in my voice.

A typical autumn day in Stage-3 lockdown. Credit:Janie Barrett

I fumble getting the harness around his soft spoodle ears and curled limbs. He still doesnt move. I let go of the lead and open the door. At last he saunters over. But real cool. No wetting himself with excitement. His charcoal tail sashays haughtily.

Out in the park things only get worse. On the gravel path he throws himself flat, like a soldier ducking enemy fire. I scan his line of sight. There are people walking two-by-two, or paired in lycra doing push-ups on the grass. Dogs greeting each other with the usual unhygienic enthusiasm; owners with stiff smiles pulling away from each other. A typical autumn day in Stage-3 lockdown. Cmon. I tug at his collar. But he presses his belly into the gravel until Im forced to lift him up, his freshly washed coat mangled with dust.

Why this campaign of disobedience? Arent pets meant to be the big winners from the global pandemic? Living their best lives with everyone home and heaps of ... walks? In Paris the military patrols the near-deserted streets  France is at war against an invisible enemy, said President Emmanuel Macron last month  but there, as elsewhere, dog owners have licence to walk. Hopefully this means Parisians hankering for fresh air are no longer carting around their diminutive four-leggeds in zip-up bags. At last, for canines: la liberation!
The usual buzz that goes along with being a senior is generally felt around this time of year as the graduating class preps for prom and graduation, as well as one last hoorah with friends over the summer before heading off to college.

The Class of 2020 is unfortunately not experiencing that vibe.

The reality for hundreds of Harrisburg-area students is that the unknowns of the novel coronavirus continue to outweigh clarity. Some students savings accounts have been drained because they are helping to support their families, their part-time jobs have disappeared throughout the shutdown, and theres no end-in-sight as to when or if that work will return over the summer.

Thats why a group of Harrisburg residents decided to create a Facebook page, which resembles an online senior yearbook, for the Class of 2020, called "adopt-a-senior Harrisburg edition.

Gov. Tom Wolf closed schools indefinitely for the remainder of the 2019-20 school year. In most cases, students have been working remotely through online classes. The decision was made to protect students, administration, and staff, as a means to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

"The group is so important because most of our seniors are from areas of great poverty and have had to face more obstacles than we could ever imagine, said organizer Rasheeda Harris. "Yet, through all the ups and downs, trials, and tribulations, they made it, only to be told their prom and graduation have been postponed because of this pandemic.

Through the page, a sponsor is matched with a graduating senior. The adopted and the adoptee discuss the best option to support the graduate.

"The donation or gift can be anything from favorite snacks to gift cards and monetary gifts, said Harris. "Whatever the sponsor wants to give. Just a small token to lift their spirits and show them we see all their efforts and want to reward their hard work.

The rules are simple, Harris said. The parent of a senior or a senior from the East or West shore, graduating with the Class of 2020, posts a picture in the group along with a short bio of the students plans after high school.

A sponsor then claims them as adopted or I would like to adopt," which opens the conversation up between the sponsor and adopted student to find out what the student needs.

Recognition and acknowledgment go a long way, said Kia Hansard, who is helping to execute the project.

Never should we underestimate the power of doing those things or the impact it has, she said. These kids have worked hard and deserve to be celebrated. While many may count out our youth, we want to uplift them and support them in whatever way we can. Its important that we come together to ensure that happens.

In order to be sponsored, the student must be a senior graduating in 2020 and affected by the pandemic, according to the groups page.

Harris said she piggybacked the idea off of a friend from Michigan, who is also the parent of a senior.

"I told her I wanted to send her a few things for her senior, Harris said. "And, she told me about the group they have and the amazing things they are doing.

Grace Garcia, who has been managing the groups Facebook page, said she is seeing story after story of hard-working students being sponsored by someone who believes in helping the seniors to achieve their dreams.

"Doing this, we have run into seniors with all types of situations and circumstances, Garcia said. "You just never know what people are dealing with, especially at a time like now.

Even though there isnt a guarantee of a prom or graduation for each of these students participating in the group, the community can still come together to honor them and support their success, Garcia said.

"I have so much respect for Rasheeda because shes always been a go-getter and so intelligent, Garcia said. "I was honored to just be a part of this. The response in 48 hours has been nothing short of amazing! I just thank all the people who have sponsored or adopted a senior. They will never forget that even though we are in the midst of a crisis-their village came together for them.

The group will continue to honor requests of seniors as long as there are sponsors to support them, Harris said.

Gov. Tom Wolfs administration offers more details on reopening Pa.

Despite Pa.'s stay-at-home order, COVID-19 continues to spread. Why?
My husband (Mahesh Bhupati) says I had locked him down even before our Prime Minister Narendra Modi did, quips Lara Dutta, who is practising self quarantine by spending quality time with her family.

Lara is also keeping herself busy by enrolling in online courses. I have gone back to studying, something I wanted to do for a long time. I have signed up with Harvard University for two courses (Ancient Egypt and Pryamids of Giza, and Christianity Through its Scriptures). These were subjects that I always found fascinating but never had the time. I have an eight-year-old daughter and a husband working from home and also the entire house to look after so its been quite hectic, she shares.

The actor adds she has no complaints: It isnt as bad as it seems. We have been in lockdown for over a month. I feel life has just slowed down which is a great thing as it has given us time to indulge in things which we otherwise dont have the time for. Like, Mahesh had never entered the kitchen but our daughter (Saira) made him do it and cook her lunch. He also planted a few saplings earlier this week with her. We also exercise together, so its like spending quality time together. I cant say that I have been bored or have an urge to do anything.

Lara marks her digital debut in a series where she will be seen playing a cop. Talking about exploring the new medium she says, I have always been fascinated by the digital medium because of the variety of content that is available. The writing is far superior to the film medium. I wasnt actively looking for a role but when this came to me, it was an extremely layered and complex character which I havent been able to explore in my career so far. It was a great opportunity for me to do something new.
The Spanish government has decided in the end to exclude 14-year-olds from the coroanvirus lockdown rule modification that allows children to go for walks in the company of an adult from Sunday.

previous story Children can go out for walks from Sunday under new lockdown conditions

During the days leading up to the publication of the new rules, minister referred to children up to and including the age of 14. On Saturday, however, government sources confirmed to Europa Press that the new rules applied to the under-14s.

On the grounds that 14-year-olds and above do not need to be accompanied by adults when they go out, they are included in the general lockdown regulations that stipulate only essential outings, to the supermarket, for example.

Over the last week, since the government announced that children would be allowed to go out, there have been confusing messages coming from ministers and spokespeople.

Some spoke of children "under 14" while others use the expression "up to 14" and Health ministry sources aid earlier this week that 14-year-olds would be included.

Finally however the wording of the regulations published in the official state gazette (BOE) on Saturday was "under-14s".

The other conditions included in the new decree are as confirmed on Friday by ministers. An adult or member of the same household can accompany up to three children for an hour a day between 9am and 9pm. The walks must take place within a one kilometre radius of the child's home.
Seamless coordination ensured that there are just 38 local terrorists active in Kashmir

J&K: 50 terrorists killed in 2020, 18 during lockdown

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

Srinagar, Apr 25: Fifty terrorists, including several top commanders of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Tayiba were killed in counter-terrorism operations by security forces in Jammu and Kashmir this year so far, officials said on Friday.

Seventeen security forces personnel lost their lives while fighting the terrorists in the union territory, they said.

The militants also killed nine civilians in the last four months, the officials said.

Giving details, a senior official told PTI that the slain terrorists included top commanders of JeM, LeT and Hizbul Mujahideen.

Indias new headache: Coronavirus positive terrorists from Pakistan

He said of the 50 terrorists killed so far this year, 18 were eliminated during the ongoing lockdown imposed to contain the spread of coronavirus.

Four terrorists, including district commander of LeT Muzaffar Ahmed Bhat, were killed in an encounter with security forces in the Dialgam area of Anantnag district in south Kashmir on March 15, the official said, adding they belonged to LeT and Hizbul Mujahideen outfits

On January 25, three terrorists, including JeM self-styled Kashmir chief Qari Yasir, were killed while three soldiers were injured in an encounter between security forces and ultras in the Tral area of south Kashmir's Pulwama district, he said.

On January 23, another top militant commander Abu Saifullah alias Abu Qasim, an associate of Yasir, was killed in the Khrew area of Pulwama district, the official said.

On April 9, top Jaish-e-Mohammed commander Sajad Nawab Dar was killed by security forces in Sopore in Baramulla district in north Kashmir, he said.

A top Hizbul Mujahideen 'commander' Haroon Wani was killed in a fierce encounter with the security forces in the Gundana area of Doda in Jammu and Kashmir on January 15, he said.

Social distancing: How Indian Forces are disposing off terrorists with quiet funerals

Giving further details, the officer said 18 terrorists were killed during the lockdown in the union territory since March 14.

As many as nine civilians were killed by the terrorists during this year, he said.

Besides, seventeen security force personnel were killed during the same period, which includes 13 security personnel, three Special Police officers (SPOs) and one policeman, he added.

As many as 160 terrorists were killed and 102 arrested in Jammu and Kashmir in 2019, Director General of Police Dilbag Singh had said earlier.
The Mexican government said Friday it plans to reopen automotive factories in conjunction with the United States and Canada.

The Foreign Relations Department said in a statement that the details of the plan would be released in the coming days. The department said health safeguards would be in place to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus, which caused Mexico to order the closure of non-essential plants several weeks ago.

The Mexican government will be emphatic about health protection and will ensure that the reopening will be orderly, gradual and cautious, the statement said.

The announcement came three days after the U.S. government launched a campaign to get Mexico to reopen plants, suggesting the supply chain of the North American free trade zone could be permanently affected if they didn't resume production.

Mexico's border assembly plants are key to the U.S. supply chain, including defense contractors, and more employees at the facilities have staged walkouts and protests because of fears over the coronavirus.

Christopher Landau, the U.S. ambassador to Mexico, launched a Twitter campaign Tuesday urging efforts to keep supply chains intact.

He expressed concern about virus lockdowns damaging the flow of parts and goods that feed businesses in the United States, Mexico and Canada and warned that if we do not coordinate our response, these chains can evaporate.

There are risks everywhere, but we don't all stay at home for fear we are going to get in a car accident, Landau wrote.

The destruction of the economy is also a health threat. Ellen Lord, U.S. undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment, had voiced similar concerns Monday in Washington.

We are seeing impacts on the industrial base by several pockets of closure internationally. Particularly of note is Mexico, where we have a group of companies that are impacting many of our major primes, she said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
UN Security Council adopts China-sponsored resolution on peacekeepers' safety and security

PLA Daily

Source: China Military Online

Editor: Yang Tao

2020-04-24 21:36:27

By Liu Qiang

BEIJING, April 24 -- The UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 2518 (2020) on the safety and security of peacekeepers, which was initiated and submitted by China recently. The resolution was co-sponsored by 43 countries, including Russia, Vietnam, and Indonesia, which is a first of its kind on the safety and security of peacekeepers since the implementation of the UN peacekeeping operation in 1948. It aims to systematically respond to the growing traditional and non-traditional security threats faced by UN peacekeepers.

Almost all UN peacekeeping operations are carried out in post-conflict countries. Their tasks and functions have evolved from relatively single actions including monitoring of ceasefires, isolation of conflicts, and supervision of troops' withdrawal, to the subsequent multi-dimensional operations including supervision of elections, protection of civilians, and humanitarian assistance. Due to the unfavorable conditions, such as political instability, lack of resources, and poor security environment, the security issues faced by peacekeepers are also complicated. From 1948 when the UN dispatched the first batch of peacekeepers to last May, more than 3,800 peacekeepers have sacrificed their precious lives for the cause of world peace.

The resolution adopted by the Security Council on the safety and security of peacekeepers this time reflects the importance and concern showcased by the UN for the safety and security of its peacekeepers. This resolution is of important significance for improving the safety and peacekeeping efficiency of peacekeepers in the following four aspects.

First, it helps to raise the awareness of security risk prevention of UN peacekeepers and better prevent and avoid various security risks. The promulgation of this resolution can play a role in reminding peacekeeper-contributing countries and peacekeepers of security risks and strengthening their security awareness. Enhanced security awareness is a prerequisite for preventing and avoiding security risks.

Second, it encourages the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) and various peacekeeping mission areas to introduce more effective security precautions and build a more effective security precaution mechanism for peacekeepers. Although the security threats faced by UN peacekeepers are relatively similar, the security environment and threats vary in each mission area. The promulgation of the resolution can further encourage each mission area to adjust the original security measures and mechanisms based on the status quo and trends of local security threats, and formulate a differentiated and more practical peacekeeper security prevention mechanism under the guidance of DPKO to ensure the safety and security of peacekeepers.

Third, it is conducive to facilitating communication and coordination among the UN, regional organizations, peacekeeping mission areas, and host countries to better maintain and guarantee the safety and security of peacekeepers. This resolution covers many fields such as training, medical treatment, technology, and partnership. It can be used as a well-grounded guidance for peacekeeper-contributing countries to further improve the training system, equipment selection, and technological application. It is favorable for improving the quality of peacekeepers and the effectiveness of technical equipment.

Fourth, it can promote UN peacekeeping operations more vigorously and play a greater role in maintaining and promoting international peace and security. Although the resolution focuses on the safety and security of peacekeepers, its fundamental goal is to increase the efficiency of peacekeeping operations, thereby achieving the goals of UN peacekeeping operations. People are the first and foremost consideration for peacekeeping operations. The promulgation and implementation of the resolution will not only play an important role in protecting the safety and security of peacekeepers, but also improve the quality and effectiveness of peacekeeping operations, and ultimately play a constructive role in maintaining and promoting international peace and security.

(The author is with the Institute of Strategy and Security Studies of the College of International Relations of the PLA National University of Defense Technology)

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These creatures have provided fleeting glimpses of the gentler side of the worlds most powerful person. (OK, maybe not the alligator or the bear, but the others.) It is in those glimpses that we are reminded that the leader of the free world has a heart and that the decisions he makes have been guided, in at least some small measure, by the tenderness and grace of dogs. Also raccoons.

Much has been written about what might be generously described as Donald Trumps lack of interest in dogs, and as the election of 2020 slowly draws near, its a subject worth considering again. (For the record, I should note that former Vice President Joe Biden is the owner of a rescue dog named Major, a German shepherd who has been described as looking a lot like the dog version of himself.)

My colleague Frank Bruni has written, For Trump, all relationships are transactional and Gods creatures possess value only in accordance with their ability to elevate and enrich him. Indeed, our current presidents only apparent interest in dogs so far has been to use them as way to insult people he does not like. Donald Trump is, in fact, the first president since William McKinley not to have a dog.

Whats telling is not Mr. Trumps disdain for dogs, specifically  after all, plenty of people dont like dogs, or for that matter, cats or pygmy hippos. Its the reasons he gives for this contempt that are so depressing. How would I look, walking a dog on the White House lawn? he said at a rally in El Paso last year. I dont know, I dont feel good. It feels a little phony to me.

I wonder what he means by phony. It is that he believes the only reason a person would ever own a dog is for P.R. reasons?

Its true many presidential dogs have been used to help shape a politicians image  cue Richard Nixon and his Checkers speech, or Herbert Hoovers campaign photo of himself posing with his shepherd, King Tut. But surely the presence of an FDOTUS has other, less cynical effects. Is it so wrong to think that Donald Trumps character might have been changed  just the smallest bit  if there were a dog beneath his roof?

It almost happened. On Thanksgiving in 2016, Mr. Trumps friend Lois Pope told the president she wanted to give him a goldendoodle named Patton (after the general). Ms. Pope thought it might be sweet for Barron Trump, the presidents son, to have a dog in the White House. She showed the boy a photo of Patton, and she said later, This big smile came over his face, and it just brought tears to his eyes.
Getty Images

Stay-at-home orders have caused a sharp drop in violent crime across many of Americas cities, with some stark new modern records being set.

Police in Miami, Florida, have revealed that there have been no homicides for seven weeks - the longest run without one since 1957.

"We can say that it's due to our police high visibility, attributed with the pandemic and the Stay At Home order," a Miami Police Department spokesperson said.

The mayor, Francis Suarez, declared a state of emergency on March 12 to slow the spread of the virus, an order that has since been extended six times in week-long increments.

From February 17 until April 12 there were no homicides reported, making it the citys best run since 1957 when it went 9 weeks and 3 days without any reported homicides.

And while domestic violence and child abuse cases are also down, the police chief said hes concerned about underreporting of cases by people while theyre locked down in close proximity to each other.

Baltimore and New York have also seen clear drops in violent crime.

However robberies and shootings are up in Chicago.

"We're fighting the pandemic, and we're fighting the epidemic," said Chicagos Tony Raggs, from the Alliance of Local Service Organizations. "The epidemic being violence."

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Joe Biden said Thursday that he believes President Donald Trump will try and delay the November election.

Mark my words, I think he is going to try to kick back the election somehow, come up with some rationale why it cant be held, the former vice president and apparent Democratic presidential nominee said during an online fundraiser.

Imagine threatening not to fund the post office. Now, what in Gods name is that about? Other than trying to let the word out that hes going to do all he can to make it very hard for people to vote, Biden said. Thats the only way he thinks he can possibly win.

Trump has not made any comments about delaying the Nov. 3 election, and he does not have the power to do so unilaterally.

The Trump campaign issued a statement Friday, saying, Those are the incoherent, conspiracy theory ramblings of a lost candidate who is out of touch with reality. Perhaps he also missed the news that the infamous Steele Dossier, central to the Russian Collusion Hoax, was likely compiled with Russian disinformation. Thats the real Russian collusion.

An 1845 law sets the date for states to appoint presidential electors, which represents the date by which voters in every state must cast their ballot, and nothing in the Constitution or by Congress grants the president the power to postpone an election, according to the Congressional Research Service.

During previous episodes of war, pandemic, or other deadly crises in American history, the presidential election date has never been changed in response to an emergency, the research service said.

Some Democrats have been pushing for expanded mail-in voting for the election as a way to keep voters safe amid the coronavirus epidemic, but Trump has been critical of the idea.

Mail ballots  they cheat. OK? People cheat, the president said earlier this month, adding theres a lot of dishonesty going along with mail-in voting.

Trumps arguments that an election conducted via the postal service would be riddled with fraud is an allegation based on a number of false or misleading claims, as NBC News has reported.

An email to the Trump campaign seeking comment about Bidens remarks was not immediately returned early Friday.

Biden has in the past said that the election must not be postponed. Some states have postponed primary elections amid the coronavirus epidemic.

Other top Democrats have also stressed the importance of holding the election in November as scheduled.

We must. I know theres a danger and people are scared. But we must and we will. [Trump] has done so much to undermine our democracy, to undermine our rights, dishonoring the constitution, undermining the integrity of our voting process, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said in an interview with MSNBC on Friday.We cannot allow him to do that to our democracy. That will not happen.

Wisconsin held a controversial, in-person primary election this month after the state Supreme Court overturned the governors executive order to delay it. Voters donned masks and gloves and waited in lines to vote.

Wisconsin officials have said that at least seven people appeared to have contracted the virus through election-related activities.

Biden referenced the Wisconsin election and said that Congress needs to ensure funding for states to have more voting options for the general election.
KAMPALA  Thousands defy Covid-19 directives to attend burial of man who hoisted Uganda Flag at Independence

More than 1,500 people on Friday, April 24, descended on Omatenga Village in Kumi District to attend the burial of Maj (Rtd) Kanuti Akorimo.

Maj Akorimo, who hoisted the National Flag on Independence day, 1962 died on Wednesday at Atutur Hospital due to aspiration pneumonia, caused by stroke. He has been living a quiet life in Kumi after retiring from the army in August 1968.

Last month, President Museveni limited burials to family members and neighbours to avoid possible spread of the virus.

But this could not deter mourners from attending the burial.

At midday, when Helen Christine Amongin Aporu, the Chief Mourner and former Woman MP for Kumi district arrived, all the seats had been occupied by mourners. There was also a thin presence of security personnel.

As the biography of the late Akorimo was being read, the home was filled by mourners, prompting the Resident District Commissioner, Hussein Kato Matanda rush the program.

He says that controlling the mourners was quite difficult since Maj. Akorimo was a national figure. He, however, notes that much as mourners turned up in large numbers, they observed social distancing and hand washing services.

His third and only surviving wife, Ms Florence Agwang 62, told mourners that her husband, Akorimo died a destitute.

In most cases, I had to sell charcoal, cassava to meet the medication of my late husband, Ms Agwang, a mother of 6 children narrated.

Ms Agwang said, the family is cash strapped, and there is no food to partake of, all the little harvest has been used up in treating Akorimo in his death bed.

Education wise, she said, most of the children dropped out of primary school because of financial troubles, save for the children for the first 2 wives who died.

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A British author who has written a book about victim-blaming has spoken out about the abuse she has suffered at the hands of online trolls.

Dr Jessica Taylors book, Why Women are Blamed for Everything, examines the root cause of what leads people to place the blame on women when they have been abused, trafficked, or harassed by men.

But in the last week, Dr Taylor has been subjected to severe online harassment, receiving thousands of messages on her public Facebook page from alt-right trolls, many of whom align themselves with mens rights activism and incel subcultures. Her personal computer was also hacked.

We had three of us banning and blocking but it was impossible, she tells The Independent.

Sometimes it was up to a hundred comments every few minutes. The comments and messages were everything from telling me to die, kill myself, messages saying I will rape you, messages saying I am not a real psychologist, that Im fat, ugly, disgusting, infertile, and that I will die alone.

Such messages were also mixed in with this were overt sexual comments, such as people telling Dr Taylor to do porn.

This went on solidly on every post about my book for five days, Dr Taylor explains.

When we started banning and blocking, they really ramped it up and it became violent and abusive.

Dr Taylor and her partner Jaimi began reporting the users to Facebook and in total successfully blocked more than 2,000 users who had left abusive comments.

But after that, Dr Taylors personal computer was hacked  a police investigation regarding this is ongoing. On Tuesday, I was working on my laptop when my screen was remotely accessed. They had totally control of my keyboard and mouse. I tried to stop them.

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I pressed Ctrl Alt Delete to get to task manager so I could see a programme name but they kept shutting it down. After about 30 seconds of this, I realised how serious it was and I shut my laptop down and ran inside to turn my Wifi off and shut all other devices down.

Dr Taylor believes that the views expressed in the abusive messages she received are far more common than we realise.

Misogyny has always existed, it just shifts and changes through the years, cultures, languages and religions, she says.

We like to think that our society is so much more developed and progressive than it is in reality.

Unfortunately, the Internet has allowed such views to thrive in the darkest corners of the web, Dr Taylor adds.

Whether this is racists, homophobes or misogynists  the Internet creates a platform for thousands of people who hate groups of other people to talk about and attack people in coordinated ways.

These are issues Dr Taylor addresses in her book, given that they are a core part of what is fuelling victim-blaming of women and girls.

 Meghan Markle speaks to women from the Hubb Community Kitchen in Zoom call

The men who were attacking me were angry for many reasons: that I was writing a book, that I was vocal, that I was feminist, that I was lesbian, that I was educated, that I was being heard, that I had thousands of followers.

On Sunday 26 April, Dr Taylor is launching a new campaign, #iwasblamed on Twitter and Facebook to raise awareness of how many millions of women and girls have been affected by victim-blaming.

Women and girls who would like to take part can tweet #iwasblamed and then include what they were blamed for and why, she explains.

(Dr Jessica Taylor (Dr Jessica Taylor)

For example: #iwasblamed for being raped because I didnt report to the police fast enough.

Lets use the power of social media to demonstrate the masses of reasons women and girls have been blamed for being subjected to male violence.
STAMFORD  Stamford police are asking residents to check in with neighbors and friends during the period of general quarantine.

Isolation can have a deleterious effect on depression, said Margaret Watt, co-director of the Hub: Behavioral Health Action Organization for Southwest Connecticut based in Norwalk.

Coronavirus is different from any other man-made or natural disaster, she said. It is this kind of invisible enemy in the air around us, that has mental health impacts.

Police Chief Timothy Shaw said officers in general try to be aware of those in potential danger of self harm, but their abilities in that regard are even more limited than usual.

Thats why we are asking the community to see your neighbor, talk to you neighbor. Dont just check and see if he or she looks okay. Have a conversation. Everyone needs more interaction and it can be by phone, said behind a surgical mask, seated in police department's Community Room.

Shaw says the elderly have been especially hard hit by the lock down. The elderly are more susceptible than anybody because they have become more isolated than they normally are, Shaw said.

People cant mingle with family or friends and a lot of are out of work. A lot of people enjoy the social aspect of their employment, Capt. Richard Conklin said. All these things are coming into play.

Watt said if people are depressed, it may be hard for them to reach out to others.

That is when others should be reaching out to you, Watt said.

Conklin said police officers would be happy to stop by and speak to someone who might be struggling with the lockdown.

We are never too busy to swing by and speak to someone and if they need, we can get them transported to the hospital, Conklin said.

When officers go out on calls and discover someone struggling they will check back in with that person to see how they are doing, Shaw said.

What we tell our people is to practice what you preach. Its easy enough to say, Hey you should do this, but make the follow-up call. If you are on one of those calls, make sure we do some follow-ups, Shaw said behind. We are going out in the community. We want to follow up with them to make sure they are OK.

To ask Stamford police to check on someone, call 203-977-4444. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). The Crisis Text Line can be reached by testing HELLO to 741741.
The leader of a self-declared church that claims to have a miracle cure to eradicate 95 per cent of illnesses, including Covid-19, reportedly wrote to Donald Trump days before the president appeared to suggest that disinfectant could be used to cure coronavirus.

Mark Grenon, who identifies himself as the archbishop of a quasi-religious organisation called the Genesis II Church, said he wrote to the president to ask him to intervene with the Food and Drug Administrations (FDA) decision to put his churchs products on a list of fraudulent coronavirus products.

In a seminar shared online on 20 April, Mr Grenon read a letter he wrote and dispatched to Mr Trump and said the FDA was attacking his church by listing Miracle Mineral Solution (MMS) products  which he calls sacraments  as fraudulent. It is not known whether Mr Trump read the letter.

He said: [The sacraments] are sacred and holy to us, and we use them to keep out temples clean. In doing so, weve helped millions around the world. We have a lot of testimonies and evidence. It seems if you mention anything can rid the body of Covid-19 is not approved by the FDA, you get attacked.

Well, Mr President, they attacked the wrong church, the church of the Lord Jesus Christ, he added.

A few days later, Mr Trump stirred controversy when he repeatedly suggested disinfectant could be injected to cure coronavirus patients and claimed sunlight could kill the virus.

He said during his daily Covid-19 briefing: I see the disinfectant that knocks [the virus] out in a minute, one minute. And is there a way we can do something like that by injection inside or almost a cleaning.

You see, it gets in the lungs and it does a tremendous number, so it would be interesting to check that, he added. Were going to have to use medical doctors, but it seems interesting to me.

Mr Grenon reacted to news of the presidents suggestion on Facebook by sharing a video and adding: Trump has got the MMS and all the info!!! Things are happening folks! Lord help others to see the Truth!

In his letter, Mr Grenon warned the president that if the churchs products, which contain chlorine dioxide, continued to be attacked, Mr Trump would lose your election that I want you to win as churches will not tolerate their religious rights taken away.

He also implored the president to get rid of Dr [Antony] Fauci and [Bill] Gates influence in your administration.

Earlier this month, the FDA issued a warning letter to Mr Grenon, who runs the Genesis 2 Church, to stop selling its chlorine dioxide products marketed as Miracle Mineral Solution or MMS for the prevention and treatment of Covid-19.

The US Justice Department then announced last week that it filed a temporary injunction halting the sales of Genesis 2 Churchs MMS product.

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In a statement, assistant attorney general Jody Hunt said: The Department of Justice will take swift action to protect consumers from illegal and potentially harmful products being offered to treat Covid-19. We will continue to work closely alongside our partners at the FDA to quickly shut down those selling illegal products during this pandemic.

FDA Commissioner Stephen M Hahn said: Despite a previous warning, the Genesis 2 Church of Healing has continued to actively place consumers at risk by peddling potentially dangerous and unapproved chlorine dioxide products.

We will not stand for this, and the FDA remains fully committed to taking strong enforcement action against any sellers who place unsuspecting American consumers at risk by offering their unproven products to treat serious diseases.

The Independent has contacted the White House for comment.
Jerry Bishop, best known for his work as the announcer on the long-running syndicated program "Judge Judy," died from heart disease on Tuesday.

"Jerry Bishop has been the voice of our program for 24 years," Judge Judy Sheindlin said in a statement to TODAY. "Everybody loved him. He had a golden heart and generous spirit. I adored him and will miss him."

Jerry Bishop (Blume/Bishop family)

As the announcer of "Judge Judy," Bishop worked up until his final days. "His voice was powerful, soothing, and caring, which are three qualities he embodied so well," the statement continued.

Bishop earned his degree in broadcast journalism from Emerson College in the 1950s. His first job in radio was in Hartford, Connecticut at WDRC. Later, Bishop worked at KFI, KIIS and KLAC, among other stations in Los Angeles.

He established himself as a prominent morning radio host during the glory days of L.A. radio in the 1960s through the 1980s, interviewing stars like Frank Sinatra, Steve McQueen and Natalie Wood. Later, Bishop entered the voice-over world and worked on campaigns for companies like Miller Coors, Budweiser and Burger King. He voiced promos for NBC, ABC and more notably had a 15-year run as the voice of the Disney Channel.

In the last 30 years of his life, he passionately devoted himself to Judaism. He attended synagogue every day, observed shabbos weekly and immersed himself in Talmudic studies.

Jerry was far more than a client, he was a friend and the best friend that anybody could ever have. He was a prince and a mensch but he was truly family," Arlene Thornton, Bishop's agent of 35 years, told TODAY.

Bishop married his college sweetheart and the love of his life, Velma Leventhal, in 1956. She passed away in 2007. The couple raised three daughters  Karen, Michelle and Stephanie  who Bishop leaves behind.

He was 84 years old.
(UPDATE: Six suspects arraigned in fatal Gaines Township shooting)

FLINT, MI - Six people are charged with multiple felonies in connection with the shooting death of a man in Genesee Countys Gaines Township, with some facing charges of first-degree murder.

Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton announced the charges in a news release Friday, April 24.

Police previously said 49-year-old Swartz Creek resident David Lee Holmes was found with gunshot wounds to his head and chest early Monday, April 20, and was pronounced dead at the scene. Police received information about a Dodge Durango seen fleeing the scene in the 11000 block of Hill Road, between Nichols and Duffield roads, eventually leading to the suspects arrests.

Police said a dispute over money appeared to precede the crime, MLive previously reported. Holmes was killed after some of the suspects argued and fought with him inside the house where he was found, leading to guns being drawn, Leyton said in the release.

The suspects are five men and a woman from Flint between 18 and 25 years old. Four are charged with first-degree premeditated murder, which carries a mandatory sentence of life without parole in Michigan, as well as felony firearm and carrying concealed weapon charges.

Another is charged with being an accessory after the fact to a felony, as well as felony firearm and carrying a concealed weapon. The last is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm, carrying a concealed weapon and tampering with evidence.

The suspects are expected to be arraigned Saturday in the 67th District Court, said John Potburty, Genesee County Deputy Chief Assistant Prosecutor. Their names are being withheld pending arraignment.

- Reporter Roberto Acosta contributed to this report.

Read more:

Flint water crisis turns six with no new charges

Michigans unemployed say they fear for the future, struggle to receive loans

Michigan tops 3,000 coronavirus deaths as new case count grows again
After a long career of turning perceptions of the world upside down through stories and quirky drawings about ecology and peace, retired United Church minister Bob Haverluck now has a new audience for his creative endeavours.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 25/4/2020 (627 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

After a long career of turning perceptions of the world upside down through stories and quirky drawings about ecology and peace, retired United Church minister Bob Haverluck now has a new audience for his creative endeavours.

For the next three years, the Winnipeg artist, storyteller, community animator, creative thinker and theologian will share his unique perspectives with some of the countrys brightest and best doctoral students during his term as a mentor with the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation.

"Part of the excitement is the chance to have an ongoing engagement with youth who seek vital engagement with the world," explains the 75-year-old Wolseley resident, currently writing and illustrating a book based on his play The Court Case of the Creatures: The Famous Lake Winnipeg Trial.

Haverluck joins seven other mentors, including Beverley McLachlin, former chief justice of Canada, film director Patrice Sauve, and Denise Williams, CEO of First Nations Technology Council. The only Manitoban appointed in this cohort, Haverluck is likely also the first theologian to act in this capacity, says Tom Axworthy, former principal secretary to the late prime minster and a foundation member.

"Its a great honour and should be fulfilling for both sides," explains Axworthy, a native of Winnipeg who knows Haverluck from his environmental advocacy.

"What really impressed the foundation was his ability to use cartooning as a way to animate social issues."

Each year the Trudeau Foundation awards scholarships to 20 doctoral students and provides them with opportunities to develop leadership skills with the help of mentors from a variety of disciplines. The mentors and students meet several times a year for workshops, seminars and creative projects around a theme, which for this cohort is technology and ethics.

A self-taught artist, Haverluck undertook doctoral studies in cultural theory, comedy and social change at the University of Lancaster in England in the early 1970s but gave up academia to pursue an eclectic career of working at retreat centres, writing books and educational materials on peacemaking and environmental themes, and travelling across Canada and internationally as a workshop leader and artist in residence. He has exhibited his pen-and-ink drawings at the University of Chicago, Riding Mountain National Park, Kenora, Dauphin and several galleries in Winnipeg.

He started his professional art career by drawing political comics for publications such as Ploughshares Monitor, Canadian Dimension and the academic journal The Arts: The Arts in Religious and Theological Studies. More recently he has employed his creativity in a series of environmental and theological workshops called Renewing Our Peace Treaty with the Earth, presented along with Cree elder Stan McKay.

"You try to use as many ways of speaking and doing as you can and each yields a different way of seeing and saying but none are identical," Haverluck says of his approach to leading workshops and seminars.

He expects to use those artistic skills, as well as his pastoral abilities to encourage the Trudeau Foundation scholars to explore their values, vision, and sense of personhood in relation to the world.

"Thats part of pastoral care if you wish," he explains.

"The language will be different, but the personal, spiritual quest is shared."

Most of all, Haverluck welcomes the opportunity to interact with young scholars from a variety of disciplines and nudge them out of their comfort zones by telling stories and making art with them.

The Free Press is committed to covering faith in Manitoba. If you appreciate that coverage, help us do more! Your contribution of $10, $25 or more will allow us to deepen our reporting about faith in the province. Thanks! BECOME A FAITH JOURNALISM SUPPORTER Click here to learn more about the project.

He sees his role to encourage students to seek broader ways of seeking truth and understanding the world.

"Were learning to speak in different ways and learning to hear in different ways and learning to listen," he says of the creative process.

"The idea of the arts is to bring voices to society that are often left out and to amplify the quiet things and to enlarge things that are put out of sight and made small."

The foundation was established in 2001 by former Prime Minster Jean Chretien as a living memorial to Pierre Elliott Trudeau, the 16th prime minister of Canada, who died in 2000.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is not involved with the foundation in any capacity, but his brother Alexandre Trudeau represents his fathers estate on the foundations board of directors.

brenda@suderman.com
Photograph: Pilar Olivares/Reuters

In many ways, Washington Castro was a typical resident of Rocinha, the immense redbrick favela that towers over Rio de Janeiros Atlantic coast.

Industrious, God-fearing and the offspring of migrants from Brazils parched and impoverished north-east, he supported two young children by working two separate jobs and wore a suit and tie when attending his local church.

He was a marvellous boy. He worked Monday to Monday, his grief-stricken father, Jose Osmar Alves da Silva, remembered as he reflected on his sons death. Now theres this hole inside of me and I just cant make sense of anything.

Related: Brazil's super-rich and the exclusive club at the heart of a coronavirus hotspot

Castro died of suspected Covid-19 last Saturday at age 27  one of at least six Rocinha residents to lose their lives to the coronavirus as it begins what many fear could be a devastating march through some of Latin Americas most vulnerable communities.

He was a cutie  Whenever we met he was always wearing the same smile, said Cecilia Vasconcelos, a childhood friend who grew up with him in this sprawling hillside community of some 100,000 residents in southern Rio.

The coronavirus appears to have been brought into Brazil by members of the countrys middle and upper classes as they returned from February holidays in Europe or the United States.

In Rio and Sao Paulo, many of the early infections were concentrated in the richest neighbourhoods, such as Copacabana and Gavea, where Castro had worked as an assistant at an accountancy firm and a poolside waiter at a club for Brazils wealthy elites.

One of the most famous clusters was Rios Country Club, an ultra-exclusive enclave of privilege and power just three miles from Rocinha where at least 60 of the 850 members were infected.

But two months after Brazils first reported Covid-19 case the disease is making headway in the deprived, densely populated favelas of both cities, with potentially far-reaching political and humanitarian consequences.

Story continues

You can see that its moving towards the urban peripheries  gradually, but its getting there, said Paulo Lotufo, an epidemiologist at the University of Sao Paulo, warning that its proliferation in such places could exact a terrible human toll on residents lacking access to private healthcare or sometimes even basic sanitation.

I tend to believe that in some places were going to see something on the scale of Ecuador, where hospitals have been overwhelmed and bodies dumped in the streets, Lotufo warned.

Pedro Doria, a Rio-based writer, said he believed coronaviruss spread through the favelas could also carry a heavy political price for Brazils president, Jair Bolsonaro, who has called for containment measures to be relaxed in an apparent attempt to ingratiate himself with the poor.

Right now what is hurting people [in the favelas] is the economy. So right now Bolsonaro is making a lot of sense to them, Doria said. But he thought attitudes would change the moment people we love start dying around us.

Depending on how the pandemic goes  especially in the the urban peripheries and the favelas  Bolsonaro will lose a lot of his support, Doria predicted, speculating that it could even end his presidency through impeachment.

People will not forget that he said it was OK to go out on the streets.

So far at least 18 people have reportedly lost their lives to Covid-19 in Rios favelas, which house about 20% of the citys 6.7 million residents.

At least 140 cases have been detected, 54 in Rocinha, which is one of the communities closest to the citys affluent south zone.

Other deaths have taken place in some of Rios most deprived areas including Acari, Manguinhos and the City of God favela made famous by Fernando Meirelless film.

Wallace Pereira, a community leader in Rocinha, said he feared a lack of testing meant the true numbers were in fact far higher.

Were facing a public disaster here, he said, warning that the political skirmish between Rios governor, who has ordered residents to stay at home, and Bolsonaro, who has downplayed the pandemic, was leaving favela residents confused and exposed.

People are getting sick and they have nowhere to go, Pereira said. The situation is getting worse because many people are going around saying: This virus wont get me  which is a fantasy.

Across town in the portside Morro da Providencia, Rios oldest favela, Mauricio Rodrigues de Oliveira, 64, was found dead last Tuesday by neighbours who suspect Covid-19 was the cause.

Community leader William da Rocinha, wearing a protective face mask and gloves, delivers aid donations to a resident of the Rocinha favela in Rio de Janeiro this week. Photograph: Ricardo Moraes/Reuters

The day before he complained of a temperature and fainted in the street, said Ladelson Soares, a 41-year-old neighbour.

He was a wonderful person  a waiter in some of Rios most famous restaurants, said Soares, who claimed authorities had taken two days to collect his corpse.

The death has left many neighbours  already struggling with the economic impact of lockdown  in panic.

Today I got some money together to buy hand sanitiser because Ive got two kids at home. But I know that means we wont have the money to eat, said Claudene Carvalho, an unemployed local who found his body and has been begging community leaders for help.

Related: Lockdowns leave poor Latin Americans with impossible choice: stay home or feed families

For Castros family the tragedy began on the morning of 6 April when he set off for work on the number 539 bus.

Shortly after reaching the office Castro began feeling ill and went to a nearby public health clinic where he was admitted complaining of a headache and breathing difficulties.

By then, Covid-19 had already killed more than 500 Brazilians. On Friday the death toll hit 3,670. But  apparently relaxed about his situation  Castro sent his dad a WhatsApp photo in which he appeared wearing an oxygen mask. Nobody imagined what was to come.

Two days later Castro was rushed to a hospital for Covid-19 patients in western Rio where he was intubated on arrival. Wed go there  but we couldnt see him, his 56-year-old father remembered. We only talked to the doctors.

A cemetery worker stands before the coffin of a woman who is suspected to have died of Covid-19, at her burial in Rio de Janeiro. Photograph: Leo Correa/AP

After 10 days in intensive care  and, for relatives, 10 days of prayer  Castro was declared dead about 4.30am on 18 April, the death certificate listing severe acute respiratory syndrome as the official cause of death. He left two children, Maria Clara and Pierre, aged three and seven.

Not far from Castros former home in Rocinha, another family is also in mourning.

Antonio Edson Mariano, a 67-year-old street vendor who sold biscuits on the beach, died on 30 March  three days after first complaining of a stomach ache  and was the first of the favelas residents killed by the coronavirus.

On the day of his cremation, Marianos wife, Maria Lucia Moreira Mariano, was herself taken to hospital, where she was given the same diagnosis and informed of her partners death.

But as she fights for her own life, Maria has yet to be told of another fatality. One day after her admittance, the couples 45-year-old son, Alexandre, also lost his life to Covid-19.
At a time when hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) is being touted as a 'wonder drug' to treat critical Covid-19 patients, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Friday issued fresh guidelines, cautioning people against over-the-counter use of hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine for Covid-19 outside of the hospital setting or a clinical trial due to the risk of heart rhythm problems.

The FDA said it is aware of reports of serious heart rhythm problems in patients with Covid-19 treated with hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine, often in combination with azithromycin and other QT prolonging medicines.

"We are also aware of increased use of these medicines through outpatient prescriptions. Therefore, we would like to remind healthcare professionals and patients of the known risks associated with both hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine," the agency said in a statement.

Hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malarial drug termed potential "game changer" for Covid-19 by US President Donald Trump, has disappeared from medical stores globally, including in India, putting millions at risk of self-medicating themselves with the drug.

The FDA said that it will continue to investigate the risks associated with the use of hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine for Covid-19.

"Hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine have not been shown to be safe and effective for treating or preventing Covid-19. They are being studied in clinical trials for Covid-19, and we authorised their temporary use during the Covid-19 pandemic for treatment of the virus in hospitalised patients when clinical trials are not available, or participation is not feasible, through an Emergency Use Authorisation (EUA)," elaborated the FDA.

Hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine can cause abnormal heart rhythms such as QT interval prolongation and a dangerously rapid heart rate called ventricular tachycardia.

Hydroxychloroquine, alone or in combination with azithromycin, is being used in Covid-19 therapy based on anecdotal and limited observational evidence in several countries.

Despite limited and conflicting data on the use of hydroxychloroquine in patients with Covid-19, the US FDA has authorised the emergency use of this drug when clinical trials are unavailable or infeasible.

"The risks may increase when these medicines are combined with other medicines known to prolong the QT interval, including the antibiotic azithromycin, which is also being used in some Covid-19 patients without FDA approval for this condition," cautioned the agency.

"Patients who also have other health issues such as heart and kidney disease are likely to be at increased risk of these heart problems when receiving these medicines," it added.

Patients taking hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine for FDA-approved indications to treat malaria or autoimmune conditions should continue taking their medicine as prescribed.

"The benefits of these medicines outweigh the risks at the recommended doses for these conditions. Do not stop taking your medicine without first talking to your healthcare professional," warned the FDA statement.

Be aware that there are no proven treatments for Covid-19 and no vaccine, it said.

"Do not buy these medicines from online pharmacies without a prescription from your healthcare professional. Consumers should not take any form of chloroquine that has not been prescribed for them by a healthcare professional," the FDA noted.

Serious poisoning and death have been reported after mistaken use of a chloroquine product not intended to be taken by humans.
Abbott will deliver 50,000 COVID-19 tests per day to healthcare workers, starting Wednesday, using its modified ID NOW testing process, it said. Bringing rapid coronavirus testing capacity to the medical front lines is crucial in the battle to flatten the rising death and infection curve worldwide.

Abbott on Friday announced that the FDA issued emergency authorization for its point-of-care test for the detection of novel coronavirus, clearing the way for widespread use of the system, which provides positive results in just 5 minutes and negative results in 13 minutes.

The test will run on the companys existing ID NOW platform that provides rapid results in a wide range of healthcare settings, such as physicians offices, urgent care clinics and hospital emergency departments. The testing unit is the size of a small toaster and weighs 6.6 pounds.

President Donald Trump showcased the test kit during a Sunday press conference, noting that the Food and Drug Administration was able to approve the test in four weeks. The standard approval process takes 10 months.

Abbotts ID NOW uses molecular technology, which provides a high degree of accuracy, the company said. ID NOW is already the most widely available molecular point-of-care testing platform in the U.S. today.

The COVID-19 pandemic will be fought on multiple fronts, and a portable molecular test that offers results in minutes adds to the broad range of diagnostic solutions needed to combat this virus, said Abbott President Robert B. Ford. With rapid testing on ID NOW, healthcare providers can perform molecular point-of-care testing outside the traditional four walls of a hospital in outbreak hotspots.

Fast Results Promised

Abbott will make ID NOW COVID-19 tests available to healthcare providers in urgent care settings in the U.S., where the majority of ID NOW instruments are currently in use. The company is working with the Trump administration to deploy tests to areas where they can have the greatest impact.

The arrival of the Abbott ID NOW COVID-19 test comes a week after the company launched its Abbott m2000 RealTime SARS-CoV-2 EUA test, which runs on the m2000 RealTime System located in hospital and reference labs around the world. Between the two platforms, Abbott expects to produce about 5 million tests per month.

Testing is crucial for controlling the pandemic, the company said, and employing new technologies to help curb the infections spread is a top priority for public health officials and healthcare providers.

Flattening the Curve

Abbott introduced its ID NOW platform for molecular point-of-care testing for Influenza A & B, Strep A and RSV testing in the U.S. in 2014. It is a rapid, instrument-based, isothermal system for the qualitative detection of infectious diseases.

Its unique isothermal nucleic acid amplification technology provides molecular results in just minutes. Obtaining such fast results allows clinicians to make evidence-based clinical decisions during a patient visit.

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

The combination of its ID NOW and m2000 COVID-19 testing capabilities will supply about 5 million tests per month. Abbott also is working on a fast antibody test to identify patients infected with the coronavirus, according to reports.

Widespread testing is perhaps the most vital thing right now, noted Arle Lommel, senior analyst for CSA Research.

The number of people who actually have COVID-19 is unknown. Evidence keeps mounting that many people who have it are asymptomatic, he explained.

The challenge here is that the appropriate response will be very different depending on what percentage of the populace will require care, Lommel told TechNewsWorld.

On the flip side, if widespread testing reveals that asymptomatic carriers are less common than suspected, we will need to take even more aggressive measures. The fatality rate would be higher, and the size of the curve to be flattened would be bigger than expected, he added.

Another Potential New Weapon

A rapid antibody test is an encouraging possibility for defending against runaway contagion. Such a test, if widely available, could detect previously infected and recovered individuals and further increase our understanding of the disease spread, observed Pinar Keskinocak, president of the Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences and professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology.

These individuals are most likely to have partial immunity to the disease and could return to work, following certain precautionary guidelines, she told TechNewsWorld.

Even without the rapid antibody test, Abbotts rapid results testing platform for COVID-19 will be very significant in flattening the infection curve, Keskinocak added. It will enable speedy action for treatment as well as a better understanding about the location and magnitude of current infections. It also would improve the accuracy of predictions about how the disease is likely to spread geographically and over time.

We have been trying to put out a fire without seeing where the fire was, how big it was and how fast it has been spreading, said Keskinocak, who specializes in infectious disease modeling and evaluating intervention strategies.

That situation is like flying over a forest covered under a dense fog. Now the fog will lift, giving a much better visibility to mobilize resources and target response efforts, she said.

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

More Testing Horizons

Abbotts ID NOW platform will help take down the biggest barrier to testing success, which is turnaround time, asserted Erika Gray, Pharm.D., cofounder of Toolbox Genomics. Speed to diagnosis or confirmation of COVID-19 is critical.

Many hospitals do not know if a patient is positive for two or three days because of the testing backlog. As a result, the patient has to be treated as a high-risk patient with high resource needs until the test comes back, she told TechNewsWorld.

An even more critical element in the rapid testing processes is the ability to test potentially infected patients in the field, Gray suggested.

Im not sure if this is possible, but ambulance [staff] might be able to carry this test with them and test people in the field. EMTs can test glucose in the field, she noted.

Urgently Seeking Asymptomatic Patients

Abbotts rapid testing platform also will bring a new dimension of fast care to people who lack symptoms and remain at large to spread infection, Gray noted. Drive-through testing facilities and emergency rooms will be able to provide results swiftly, speeding up triage and medical care.

Cities need to be able to test their populations randomly, instead of limiting tests to people who have certain symptoms. Point-of-care testing could make that a reality.

We know the majority of people with the virus are asymptomatic, but only people with COVID-19 symptoms are being given access to the test, Gray said. Rapid point-of-care testing is critical.

What Needs Doing Now

Testing of asymptomatic people is essential, Gray emphasized. Asymptomatic people who test positive need follow-up testing two weeks later to confirm they no longer have the virus.

It may be worth doing serial re-testing to ensure people do not contract the virus again. We dont know how this virus behaves, as it is novel, and we dont know if people can be re-infected, she explained.

In the long run, both immunization programs and investigation into the best therapeutic care for victims are needed, urged Lommel. Even with widespread testing, it is likely that COVID-19 will continue to exist at very low levels in the background, hidden in the noise of flu-like illnesses, most of which are never identified.

Also, we need to know the accuracy of the Abbot ID NOW COVID-19 test, added Lommel. It needs a very low false negative rate. If it says that someone is disease free, we need to be reasonably sure that is true. Otherwise sick people would go on to infect others.
Not since 1942 had the first light of Anzac Day shone on so few faces at Melbournes Shrine of Remembrance.

Saturday morning offered no speeches, prayers or hymns. There was no master of ceremonies to direct a minute of silence or call upon the bearers of wreaths.

The Shrine Of Remembrance was mostly empty on Saturday. Credit:Getty Images

Other than the raising of flags about 7am, there was no live ceremony at all.

But still some came - a young family or two, couples, individuals, a man draped in a flag - defying the government's prohibition on public gatherings.
On Monday, April 13, Hearst Media ran an opinion piece by Chris Gagin headed A Republican case for vote-by-mail.

The passage that is excerpted in bold-face print and presented in a box within the column reads, Many conservatives believe vote-by-mail programs favor Democratic candidates by encouraging younger voters, minority voters, and lower income voters to vote. But there is little empirical evidence to support this. In the column itself, Gagin goes on to outline why he thinks that here in Connecticut vote-by-mail might benefit Republicans.

So this is where we are: A proposal to make voting easier, more convenient, and (for now) safer  and therefore more widespread  must apologize for itself. It must try to make promises about electoral outcomes. Seriously?

Just for the heck of it, heres the Civics 101 on this: The party that doesnt think it will do well with some group of voters isnt supposed to try to keep them from voting. They are supposed to change their policies or their image to try to appeal to those voters, or forge a strategy of simply winning without their support. There isnt supposed to be a strategy about who gets to vote. Honest!

Eric Kuhn

Middletown
By Easton Sanders Apr. 24, 2020 | 08:06 PM | WESTERN KENTUCKY





During his Thursday COVID-19 update, Beshear announced the reopening of a portion of Kentucky's economy. The first phase of the reopening will be parts of the health care sector, including chiropractic offices.





This doesn't come without some restrictions though. Some of those restrictions include limiting visitors, enhanced sanitizing, and all patients and workers must wear masks. You can see the full list of restrictions on our story at the link below.







West Kentucky Star recently spoke with Kandi Wommack from Marshall County Chiropractic about how her office will handle the changes.





Wommack says they are excited to get back to work.







"We get messages from the front line people, nurses, doctors, and ambulance workers that are having pain in their neck, or headaches and they can't focus on their job because they're hurting." Wommack continued, "I'm excited to get back to work to help as many people as we can so they can do their jobs."







"We're ready to get back to work because we feel like we're just as essential as other's in fighting this," She said.







According to Wommack, they have received instructions from the Kentucky Board of Chiropractic Examiners on how to move forward from here. Following the guidelines they have been provided, all Doctors and staff must wear gloves and masks, waiting rooms are still off-limits, extra cleaning and sanitizing will be required, as well as continued social distancing. She also wants to remind everyone that patients will be required to wear masks as well.







They will also be leaving more time in-between patients to allow for extra cleaning and sanitizing.







She said, "Be patient, we're having to reduce the number of people we see so that we can practice social distancing and sanitize."







Kelly Estes with Estes Chiropractic in Paducah says their office will be making similar changes. Patients will be required to wait in their vehicles, staff are required to wear gloves and masks, patients are required to wear masks, and a temperature scan and virus check will be required for patients, as well as extra sanitizing.







For the first two days after reopening, Estes Chiropractic will only be scheduling half of their normal capacity in an effort to leave time for extra sanitizing. Estes says they will make up for this by adjusting their hours to 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and taking a shorter lunch break.







You can learn more about Beshear's restrictions at the link below.

Governor Andy Beshear has announced that chiropractic offices can reopen beginning Monday.

On the Net:
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has disclosed that ten more Coronavirus patients have been discharged by the state.

This brings to 119, the total number of Coronavirus patients so far discharged by the State since the pandemic started.

However, Coronavirus patients discharged on Friday includes three females and seven males.

Among those discharged are three foreigners: two Indians and one Filipino.



Governor Sanwo-Olu who broke the news on Twitter said: Even with the number of cases rising, we are happy to celebrate our success stories because they show that a positive #COVID19 case isnt necessarily a case of doom and gloom.

Today, 10 patients; 3 females & 7 males including 3 foreigners have been discharged from our facilities.

We are encouraged by these discharged cases and the support we have received from the citizens of the state in the battle against #COVID19 but I urge us all not to relent because it is imperative that we win.

Remember to practice great personal hygiene and join our #MaskUpLagos campaign by using a facemask whenever you are in public.

Social distancing is still very key in stopping the spread and we must #StayHomeStaySafe to #SaveLives

Follow Us on Facebook  @LadunLiadi; Instagram  @LadunLiadi; Twitter  @LadunLiadi; Youtube  @LadunLiadiTV for updates
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A 74-year-old man in the south-central Vietnamese province of Phu Yen has been brutally assaulted by his own son and grandchild over a dispute arising from the selling of land to pay for his cancer treatment.

Phu Yen Police said on Friday that they are working on the case in An My Ward, Tuy An District and seeking to charge the assailants for "murder".

The victim, 74-year-old Doan Tam, was repeatedly battered in the head and face by his firstborn son D.C.T. and grandchild D.C.M. to the point where he had to be hospitalized with 17 facial lacerations.

Tam, who is now treated at Phu Yen General Hospital, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper he has been receiving treatment for a malignant neck tumor for four years and counting at a hospital in Ho Chi Minh City.

As money for his treatment dries out, Tam intended to give each of his five children a part of the land he owns and sell off the rest to pay hospital fees.

The plan faced harsh objection from T., who argued that his share of the land  already the biggest among his siblings  was not enough considering his status as the eldest son and heir to the family name.

As I disagreed, he tried to prevent me from selling [the land], even harassing potential buyers and hurling rebukes at me, Tam recalled.

The situation escalated at around 3:00 pm on Monday, when Tam visited T. to address the issue.

Tam said T. and M., one of his grandchildren, tied him up and brutally battered him in the head and face with kitchen knives until he passed out.

While fending off the perpetrators to rescue his dad, Tams youngest child Doan Huynh Tuong was also maimed on the head.

Phu Yen General Hospital said a total of 17 wounds on Tams head and one on his arm were counted, the largest of which measured eight centimeters long.

Tuong also received treatment for a large laceration on his head.

Police of Tuy An District have handed case files to Phu Yen Police to investigate the alleged "murder" attempt.

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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 24)  A viral video showing a uniformed officer shooting another civilian was only a documented training drill in Camarines Sur, the police clarified on Friday.

"It was determined that it was indeed a video documentation of a simulation exercise (SIMEX) on Defense Battle Drill," said Philippine National Police spokesman Police Brigadier General Bernard Banac in a statement.

Banac was referring to a video of a policeman at a quarantine checkpoint firing at a civilian who then dropped to the floor appearing dead. The video was shared on Facebook with the caption "A policeman killed a civilian on a covid-19 checkpoint."

The police arm of the national task force on COVID-19 also confirmed that the post was false.

"You are free to criticize or praise us but but please do not disrespect our uniform, our organization using fake news," said the Joint Task Force COVID-19 Shield.

This fake video came on the same day a Quezon City police officer was charged with homicide for gunning down a retired Army corporal who allegedly violated quarantine protocols.

The National Bureau of Investigation said it is also on the case while the Joint Task Force COVID Shield assured it will respect the court's decision on the matter.
New Delhi, April 25 : With the Union government's order allowing standalone shops to open, it is the states who have to take a final call to implement the order. Many states are yet to decide. In national capital where all districts have been categorized as hotspots, the government is expected to have a review meeting before taking the final call.

According to a senior Delhi government official, the state government will first 'study' the order and go through ground reports before taking a final decision.

"The situation is different here; all our districts are currently under the hotspot category and we don't want to take any decision hurriedly. The decision can be expected within a day or two," the official, who asked not to be named, told IANS.

In Maharashtra, which has recorded most number of COVID-19 cases and deaths, over 1.40 million shops and establishments are raring to get down to business after the Centre relaxed the norms, a top official said on Saturday. These 1.40 million include more than 20 per cent, or around 3,00,000 in Mumbai alone, with the rest spread across the state, said Federation of Retail Traders Welfare Association (FRTWA) President Viren Shah.

"Now that the Centre's directive has come, we are eagerly awaiting the State government's green light to resume businesses, though we are aware that Mumbai and certain other parts of Maharashtra are the coronavirus hotspots," Shah told IANS.

However, with the Centre's green light, it is the state and BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) authorities which are likely to make their stand clear later on Saturday after discussions at various levels.

However, Shah feels that those areas which are not much affected by COVID-19 in Mumbai and other cities in the state may be opened after taking into account all other aspects such as containment efforts or social distancing norms, as advised by the state health authorities.

In Gujarat too, the state government is yet to decide on the easing of restrictions. State Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel said on Saturday that after considering the notification, a decision will be taken by the Gujarat government shortly to grant permission for any relaxation.

The dilemma continues in Himachal Pradesh also as authorities in the state on Saturday said a decision is yet to be taken to reopen the shops providing non-essential goods and services across the state amid imposition of curfew as per the Ministry of Home Affairs' latest order.

The order needs review and clearance at a high level as the state is placed under curfew, an official said.

"The Chief Minister is holding a virtual meeting with all Deputy Commissioners and high-level health officials later in the day. Any decision as per the MHA order will be taken in that meeting," a government spokesperson told IANS.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Home Affairs on Saturday clarified that only standalone shops are allowed to open as per the Friday night directive and that the order does not apply to Covid-19 containment zones or liquor stores.

"In urban areas, all standalone/neighbourhood shops & shops in residential complexes are allowed to open. Shops in markets/market complexes & shopping malls are not allowed to open," the ministry clarified.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
The deadly pandemic is still with us and continues to wreak havoc the world over; emotionally, economically, psychologically etc. We have seen some brilliant leadership and we have seen some very confused/worse ones.

The world and Africa especially have had its fair share of epidemics but to become a pandemic has always been up to whether Leadership is proactive or reactionary. Based on the mode of transmission, the coronavirus was always going to be a pandemic but African countries were much better placed to manage and control it as this was supposedly a western/Chinese epidemic. However, we were all late in our response to the virus and so by the time African leaders decided to take action, the virus had already found its way into our continent.

South Africa, learning from the HIV/AIDS experience, has handled and/or managed the virus better. Ghana, my beloved country, was supposed to have handled it a lot better based on the leadership role we played during the Ebola crisis.

At the peak of Ebola, Ghana played a pivotal role in the efforts to fight it; efforts that won us plaudits the world over. That was regardless of the irresponsible and recklessness of the then opposition NPP leader NADAA ( who is the current Ghana President ) in setting the stage to score cheap political points if the disease had unfortunately found its way into the country. Ghanaians however, escaped unscathed due to the proactive leadership and the pivotal role played by John Mahama,(President of the Republic of Ghana at that time ) thereby ensuring that we were prepared in advance and far ahead of Ebola. We survived and so, we were all hopeful that with the lessons learnt, we would survive this coronavirus.

That was however not to be the case as Leadership has changed and the opposition during the Ebola crisis is now the party in government. Their handling of the coronavirus pandemic has been nothing short of shambolic and so the virus has been miles ahead of our response efforts. It was therefore expected that the current opposition NDC that was the government during the Ebola crisis would follow the lead of the NPP leader and politicize the Coronavirus; how wrong were we to think like this.

Hence, this article seeks to examine sharp leadership differences between these two political leaders in Ghana.

The NDC led by its Flagbearer, HE John Mahama has rallied all its members and resources to augment governments fight against the virus. Contrary to the unnecessary criticisms by the opposition leader during the Ebola crisis, John Mahama at any given opportunity during COVID-19 has demonstrated ;

Clear Vision and Wisdom Deeper understanding of National issues Credibility Collaborative skills Genuine concern Humility and above all, Political Maturity and statesmanship.

He has preferred several suggestions/recommendations or solutions aimed at mitigating the effects of the pandemic on the citizenry. That notwithstanding, he has made personal donations (his widows mite) to frontline health workers and facilities to aid their preparedness to fight the virus whiles going a step further to provide relief items for the poor and vulnerable in the society.

What amazes me is his personal commitment to educating and sensitizing the citizenry about preventive measures of the COVID-19 and demonstrating constant wearing of a nose mask, use of hand sanitizers and frequent washing of hands in public. The opposite is what we see from those who set the rules and practice otherwise.

The actions and statements of the NDCs leader John Mahama has made the fight against the COVID-19 a National one instead of the Politics, as usual, we have come to expect of opposition parties; a standard that was set and mastered by the then opposition NPP under the leadership of the current President.

John Mahama has however shown exemplary matured leadership that goes beyond our political differences, we are one people who are interdependent on one another. This is the kind of leadership we must demand of opposition parties and this is the kind of leadership worth our votes. I will use the opportunity to salute H. E John Mahama for raising the leadership bar as an opposition leader in a crisis time like this.

May God bless HE John Dramani Mahama for his exemplary and matured leadership and may we come out of this STRONGER and UNITED as nation.

Ramadan Mubarak...

Its yours truly,

Kwabreba Sawa,

Ahwiaa.
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Linkedin Ignas Kleden (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, April 25, 2020 09:28 627 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd4253be 3 Opinion Arief-Budiman,activist,democracy,Chinese-Indonesians,academics,obituary Free

Melbourne University sociologist Arief Budiman passed away on Thursday. He is known to have suffered from Parkinsons disease since 2014. At that time, he stopped reading newspapers and watching TV, which he had liked doing in years before.



He was admitted to a hospital for non-COVID-19 patients near the Central Java city of Salatiga, where Arief and his family live. With the approval of his family members, his funeral was conducted in accordance with the emergency protocol.



Metaphorically speaking, when he was 79 years old (1941 to 2020), Arief performed Samuel Becketts play Endgame.



The life of Arief Budiman can be divided into periods of academic activities and his engagement in social and political activism. In the mid-1960s he was very active in organizing antigovernment protests, and in 1971 he joined the opposition to the Indonesia Miniature Park project, which had been initiated by then-first lady Tien Soeharto.



Before the first general election ever held by the New Order government in 1971, Arief and his friends launched a national campaign to boycott voting, because the election would be conducted according to a prefabrication of the Soeharto regime and therefore it would offer no free choice to the people.



Arief and his followers were referred to as golput (white category), an Indonesian portmanteau referring to a movement of abstainers that distinguished itself from the three colors of political parties contesting the election: yellow for the New Orders Golkar Party, red for the nationalist-oriented Indonesian Democratic Party and green for Islamic parties.



From that year on until 1980, Ariefs political activities and his engagement in social movements declined, as he spent most of his time abroad to prepare for study. He spent one year in Paris, briefly returned to Indonesia and then moved to Harvard University. During this stint in America, he also spent a short period of time as an assistant to anthropologist Clifford Geertz at Princeton University, before completing his study at Harvard.



Upon arrival in Indonesia in 1981 he embarked upon serious regular lecturing at Satya Wacana University in Salatiga until 1995. However, during this period Arief could not restrain himself from engagement in social movements and political action.



There was no doubt about his dedication to academic obligation, but one could not help sensing his intense engagement in any form of social movement and political action of students. He was involved in the student activism through the Geni Foundation, which explored appropriate technology to help lower-income people make ends meet.



Arief was also involved in a movement against animal cruelty. In places around Salatiga, prior to the Islamic Day of Sacrifice, many people deliberately gave extra water to their cows so that they gained more weight and could be sold at higher prices. Satya Wacana University students, supported by Arief, organized a protest against the transgression of animal rights.



Some have noticed that Arief loved doing research as part of his academic responsibility, but he was also enthusiastic in joining any form of social movement and political action. During his full-time service as lecturer at Satya Wacana University, he was willing to take part in an experimental school, the School of Social Sciences in Jakarta, in the late 1980s.



Initiated by Sjahrir and supported by a number of intellectuals, the school tried to connect systematically theoretical understanding and social sensitivity. Unfortunately, the school was short-lived because the government believed it was a wild educational institution that ran counter to the national education policy.



In everyday life Arief was a sociable person. There was hardly any formality that would complicate social contact with him. Anyone who met him would have the feeling of talking to a man on an equal level. He never demonstrated a token of his academic status or his national or international reputation that would create a gap with people around him. It was always easy to start a discussion with him, though this does not mean that he would not be critical. Even when criticizing, he communicated it in a friendly manner, without any hint of condescendence.



Friends and colleagues have testified to his humility. However, I, for one, would rather be of the opinion, that his being humble was an expression of his deep-seated conviction of human egalite as propounded by the French revolutionaries in the 18th century. No standard of wealth, erudition, intelligence, descent, power or physical or moral supremacy could become a reason to view other people as superior or inferior.



To a certain extent this conviction can explain his sympathy with socialism as a political system, which surprisingly became his topic of everyday academic or political discussion in Indonesia after he left Harvard University.



Arief was married to Leila Chairani, an experienced practicing psychologist. They have one son and one daughter. Once I, my wife and my son had the opportunity to spend one night at their house in Salatiga. Since that time, my understanding of his academic and social-political behavior was also true for his family life.

***

Sociologist and chairman of Indonesian Community for Democracy

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post.
Disclaimer: Spoilers for Extraction ahead.

So, I'm guessing everyone has already watched Extraction by now, after all, we're not actually getting a lot of new releases and any new content is very much welcome.

The 'perfect action movie' is getting a lot of love from people and surprisingly, Randeep Hooda seems to have stolen the show, at least for desi people, more than Chris Hemsworth.

A movie about a mercenary with a mission to rescue the son of India's biggest drug lord who has been kidnapped by Bangladesh's biggest drug lord is not the most relatable thing out there.

But, turns out, Extraction applies to our current state of life way more than we expected.

 Netflix

At the beginning of the movie, Ovi could've actually avoided getting kidnapped if only he had not gone out with his friend that night.



Okay, I am not trying to blame the victim, but well, this little anecdote really shows us the importance of staying home, especially right now.

Turns out we all missed this really important message related to the pandemic, but thankfully, Randeep Hooda was kind enough to point it out.

In a hilarious tweet, he shared a picture of himself with Ovi, who is played by Rudhraksh Jaiswal, from the movie.

Yes please, don't step out!

So wholesome.

paji hollywood jaogey lockdown open hone do very good work  https://t.co/sfkuMLUPno  Ajaz Khan (@AjazkhanActor) April 25, 2020

Worth it?

Hahah! For this boy you killed entire neighbour army  Syed Maheboob (@Maheboobsyed092) April 25, 2020

Hmm.

Ouch.

Sach main isiki wajah se ye handsome chora bhi mara gaya  sangni (@sangni82) April 25, 2020

Yes, for sure.

Well said  Shreyansh Singh (@Shreyan13608157) April 25, 2020

Yep.

Cant agree more! And yes watch Extraction on Netflix. Very gripping movie I have seen in recent times #MustWatch https://t.co/m0jTvY7gu2  Rekha Kakkar #StayHome (@Rekhakakkar) April 25, 2020

Big spoiler ahead.
Merchants of death: Multibillion-dollar bailout for arms industry amid rising COVID-19 toll By Bill Van Auken April 24, 2020 " Information Clearing House " - 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. 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. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter 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. Copyright  1998-2020 World Socialist Web Site - All rights reserved - " Source " Do you agree or disagree? Post your comment here
A man who claimed he had coronavirus before spitting at a bus driver is west London has pleaded guilty to common assault.

William Cawley, 23, hurled phlegm when he was told to enter through the correct door at Uxbridge bus station on Monday, April 20, at 5pm.

Met Police chased the suspect and he was detained in Cocks Yard and arrested on suspicion of common assault.

After being taken into custody he spat at an officer and made threats of violence, including saying he had Covid-19.

He was further arrested on suspicion of common assault on an emergency worker.

Cawley, from Uxbridge, appeared at the towns Magistrates Court on Wednesday, where he pleaded guilty to two counts of common assault.

Detective Chief Inspector Fiona Martin, of Roads and Transport Policing, said: Spitting at someone is a disgusting thing to do in normal circumstances but, at this uncertain time of Covid-19, it is offensive, reprehensible and dangerous.

Key workers such as bus drivers are essential to keeping London moving and they are currently doing this under very difficult circumstances.

They, alongside our officers who are all working hard as ever to keep London safe, do not come to work to be spat at.

I hope the fact that Cawley has been remanded until sentencing shows that this kind of behaviour will not be tolerated and will be dealt with great severity at all times.
April 24, 2020

Amsterdam, the Netherlands  Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA), a global leader in health technology, announced today that its Emergency Care and Resuscitation (ECR) business is resuming manufacturing and shipping of external defibrillators for the US, following notification from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that the injunction prohibiting those activities has been lifted.

This business has been operating under a consent decree with the FDA since November 2017. Under the terms of the consent decree, Philips was required to suspend manufacture and distribution of its defibrillators from specific Philips facilities in the U.S., pending FDA certification via inspection of the facilities compliance with Quality System Regulation. However, in order to ensure uninterrupted availability of these life-saving devices in the US, the consent decree included exemptions for specific Philips Automated External Defribrillator (AED) models to continue to be manufactured and shipped, in addition to providing necessary device servicing, accessories and consumables.

Philips continues to comply with the terms of the consent decree, which remains in effect, and includes ongoing regulatory compliance monitoring and facility inspections of the ECR business and of Philips other patient care businesses by the FDA.

The injunction lift is an important milestone for Philips, as we have enhanced the regulatory compliance processes in our ECR business and throughout the company, said Frans van Houten, CEO of Royal Philips. Providing our customers with safe and reliable products and solutions remains our highest priority, and I am proud that our AEDs save lives daily, with their very high reliability record.

For further information, please contact:

Ben Zwirs

Philips Global Press Office

Tel.: +31 6 15213446

E-mail: ben.zwirs@philips.com



Leandro Mazzoni

Philips Investor Relations

Tel.: +31 20 59 77222

E-mail: leandro.mazzoni@philips.com



Story continues

About Royal Philips

Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) is a leading health technology company focused on improving people's health and enabling better outcomes across the health continuum from healthy living and prevention, to diagnosis, treatment and home care. Philips leverages advanced technology and deep clinical and consumer insights to deliver integrated solutions. Headquartered in the Netherlands, the company is a leader in diagnostic imaging, image-guided therapy, patient monitoring and health informatics, as well as in consumer health and home care. Philips generated 2019 sales of EUR 19.5 billion and employs approximately 81,000 employees with sales and services in more than 100 countries. News about Philips can be found at www.philips.com/newscenter .

Forward-looking statements

This release contains certain forward-looking statements with respect to the financial condition, results of operations and business of Philips and certain of the plans and objectives of Philips with respect to these items. Examples of forward-looking statements include statements made about the strategy, estimates of sales growth, future EBITA, future developments in Philips organic business and the completion of acquisitions and divestments. By their nature, these statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to future events and circumstances and there are many factors that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these statements.

This press release contains inside information within the meaning of Article 7(1) of the EU Market Abuse Regulation.


Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday (April 25) directed officers that no public gathering should be allowed in the state till June 30 amid the coronavirus outbreak. According to the Chief Minister's Office, CM Adityanath has instructed officials to ensure no public gathering takes place in the state till June 30.

The order will be reviewed depending on the situation, the CMO added amid speculations that the coronavirus lockdown may be extended further.

"Chief Minister has directed officers that no public gathering be allowed till 30th June. Further decision will be taken depending on the situation," read a statement by the UP CMO.

The Chief Minister held a meeting with chairpersons of 11 committees of the state over the COVID-19 situation.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced a 21-day nationwide lockdown starting from March 25. On the last day of the lockdown, he addressed the nation and extended the shutdown till May 3.

According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the number of COVID-19 cases has gone up to 1,621 in Uttar Pradesh with 25 deaths.
NUR-SULTAN (Reuters) - Kazakhstan's Tengri Bank has secured a loan from its biggest shareholder, India's Punjab National Bank, that will allow it to meet its obligations and replenish liquidity, the Kazakh lender said on Saturday.

Tengri, one of the smallest banks in the Central Asian nation, limited customer withdrawals this month as its liquidity fell, and the Kazakh financial regulator demanded that PNB step in to support its affiliate.

(Reporting by Tamara Vaal; Writing by Olzhas Auyezov; Editing by Gareth Jones)
MADI Apparel: A Local Clothing Line Giving Back To Domestic Violence Shelters In Need - In Kansas City Given that Earth Day was just a few days ago, we thought it only apropos to introduce you to MADI-one of the few-if not only-apparel brands in Kansas City to make ethical fashion. (Fun fact: 90 percent of MADI products are 100 percent biodegradable and compostable and created from fabrics like bamboo, Modal, Tencel, and organic...

Appropos for Earth Week, here's a really nice presser and compliments for one of Kansas City's most contentious retailers who helps the environment and diverse communities with her biz. Checkit:
New Delhi: The body of three Indians, including Kamlesh Bhatt, who arrived at the Delhi airport from Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has been returned. Kamlesh Bhatt's body reached Delhi airport on a Etihad Airways flight on Thursday night, but the body was returned to Abu Dhabi on Friday morning due to lack of coordination between ministries.

Railways: Chief Crew Controller made sanitizers and masks for 450 other personnels

Due to this, the family of Kamlesh Bhatt has yet to wait for the dead body. Kamlesh was working in the United Arab Emirates. He was killed at the time of lockdown. However, his death was not due to a coronavirus infection, but due to a heart attack. Even after the death of the coronavirus, the body of Kamlesh was returned from the Delhi airport to Abu Dhabi.

Good news in Corona crisis, women will get loan without interest

Kamlesh Bhatt's family is a resident of Tehri in Uttarakhand. Now the family has requested the Government of India to assist in bringing back the body of Kamlesh Bhatt. He died of a heart attack on 16 April. After getting all the clearances, Etihad Airways plane reached Delhi Airport carrying the bodies of three Indians including Kamlesh Bhatt on Thursday, but their bodies were again sent back on Friday morning from the same plane.

Two medical colleges of Bhopal seeks permission for plasma therapy trial from ICMR
Nguyen Tuan Hong Phuc - Partner Customer & Operations KPMG Vietnam

The rapid outbreak of the pandemic presents an alarming health crisis that the world is grappling with. There are significant commercial impacts being felt globally. In Vietnam, the number of businesses stopping their operations has hit a record number of nearly 35,000 in the first quarter. For the first time in decades, the number of businesses leaving the market is greater than the number of newly-established ones. Through this crisis, the way organisations engage and interact with their customers will be critical.

During these uncertain times, companies focusing on customer experience may stand the best chance of supporting their customers and protecting their business, while also laying the seeds for future growth. Our Six Pillars of Customer Experience provide the framework for outstanding customer satisfaction, and during the COVID-19 outbreak we see two of the pillars  integrity and empathy  playing an even more important role. By treating customers in the right way now, organisations are able to continue to nurture and likely retain them in the long-term.

Countries around the world are implementing different measures to slow the spread of the disease, including over a third of the global population being put under lockdown as of the end of March. This situation has forced businesses to find new ways to connect with their customers effectively.

This unprecedented situation calls for organisations to understand evolving consumer and community needs, and react to them rapidly. This means both reassuring their customers and also adapting quickly to provide the right products, services, and solutions.

Our pillars that can help businesses to better connect with customers and employees. In normal times, they are powerful tools for creating successful, sustainable, and ethical businesses. When faced with the current global threat, they provide an invaluable guide to corporate behavior in uncertain times. They are a set of simple principles that help to navigate challenges by taking a customer first approach.

As the global situation becomes more complex, how and when companies should lend support to their customers and colleagues is uncharted territory. Unlike disaster relief, there is no roadmap or recipe for company involvement. However, companies must continue to keep their employees trust, understand evolving consumer and community needs, and provide products, services, and resources where appropriate.

Six pillars

KPMGs Six Pillars of Customer Experience is a framework derived from 10 years of primary research across 3,000 brands in 25 countries. It shows the universal principles that govern all positive human experiences with both customers and employees: empathy, personalisation, time and effort, expectations, resolution, integrity. The organisations that master the pillars grow more quickly and manage costs better. Integrity and empathy are the two pillars that companies need to ensure they specifically address if they are to connect emotionally with their customers through these uncertain times.

Acting with integrity

Integrity is the foundation of trust and it is the cornerstone to every experience the customer has towards the company. In times of crisis, when anxiety is high, the way organisations survive and grow will decide its trustworthiness. While people always want to do business with companies that have integrity, those that act responsibly and ethically are likely to prosper and sustain their business beyond the end of the crisis. Organisations taking advantage of the situation by raising prices or miss-selling will quickly lose their customers trust.

In the face of COVID-19, many companies in Vietnam decided to act with integrity by doing things that benefit their customers, partners, and the community. For instance, retailers such as Vinmart or Saigon Co.op committed not to increase their prices. Meanwhile, Vietnam Airlines provided the air-bridge to bring Vietnamese home from infected areas, and Vingroup announced it would release an aid package worth VND300 billion ($13 million) to its partners in the shopping centre through discounting rents and issuing vouchers to consumers of Vincom. These are good examples of how an organisation chose to do the right things in these uncertain times.

However, trust cannot be built on a single action. In contrast, it requires companies to demonstrate consistent behaviours in prolonged periods and various situations. It is not until the moment of crisis should companies show they are acting ethically and responsibly. These are the courses of action they have to take consistently when publicly reacting to difficult circumstances. Doing this will help companies gain the public trust and drive long-term rapport with their customers.

Importance of empathy

At a time when all of us are worried for the safety of our loved ones, organisations that demonstrate empathy, put themselves in their customers shoes and then adapt the way they do business, thus are likely to ensure their loyalty.

Now is a time for all firms to show they care and reflect back to customers that they are understanding them. In industries that are hit hard like aviation or hospitality, many companies have shown a prompt reaction in response to the crisis and offered flexible rebooking, rerouting, and refund options for customers, as well as extensions of memberships.

During this time, along with focusing on their customers, companies must also show they understand the needs and concerns of their employees. Customer experience and employee engagement are a two-way street and there is a link between customer satisfaction and the engagement level of all front-line, back-office, and management employees.

With workers staying at home and businesses forced to close, 15 per cent of companies in Vietnam had to reduce their scale. As a result, the number of people applying for unemployed insurance in the first two months has increased by 70 per cent compared to last year.

Sharing the burden with employees is what businesses should do to ensure high staff engagement levels when the pandemic ends. For example, Grab Vietnam recently provided a supply aid with 80 tonnes of rice and thousands of instant noodle boxes to its drivers, helping them to overcome difficulties caused by the pandemic.

Responding to the situation

Across the world, COVID-19 is affecting different people in different ways  from those working from home for the first time, to parents entertaining and educating their children 24/7 or just saying goodbye to that much-needed holiday. Organisations in all sectors are innovating at pace to respond to the changing needs of their customers.

Listening to the changing needs of customers and responding with solutions that make peoples lives easier is very important. During the social distancing period in Vietnam, for example, ride-hailing company Grab has launched shopping services that allow customers to shop at home instead of going to the market. Also, many retailers have been promoting their sales on online channels to reduce the number of shoppers coming to the stores.

While empathy and integrity are necessary to survive in this global crisis, companies also need to focus on other pillars to deliver an outstanding customer experience. Doing this will require a lot of the companys effort, but its rewards are worthy.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-26 06:26:25|Editor: huaxia

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ALGIERS, April 25 (Xinhua) -- The Algerian government on Saturday decided to re-open more businesses, in a move to ease the adverse effect of the nationwide lockdown imposed to stem the spread of COVID-19, official APS news agency reported.

The executive order issued by Prime Minister Abdelaziz Djerad issued aims to "reduce the economic and social impact of this health crisis," according to a statement of the prime minister's office.

The re-opening decision concerns a number of businesses including bookshops, clothing and footwear stores, pastry, confectionery and traditional cake shops, hairdressers, household appliance stores, kitchen utensil shops, fabric and bedding material stores, haberdashery and hosiery stores, jewellery and watch stores, cosmetics and perfume shops, office furniture shops, as well as wholesale and retail markets dedicated to construction materials.

With regard to hairdressing, clothes and footwear stores, the government urged buyers and customers to "strictly comply with required social distancing and sanitary measures."

So far, only businesses that meet the necessary needs of people have been allowed to re-open, including pharmacies, bakeries, groceries, and fruit and vegetable markets.

Last month, the government allowed the reopening of some businesses, including mechanic workshops, spare-part stores, convenience shops, newsagent shops, cell phone and computer stores, as well as phone and computers repair shops.

Algeria has so far reported 3,256 COVID-19 cases and a death toll of 419.

In a bid to curb the spread of the deadly virus, the Alegrian authorities have imposed a partial nationwide lockdown until April 29. Enditem
Cathy Lester was near hysterical. Two residents of the assisted living center where her mom lives had passed away from COVID-19 the previous day, including one who lived just a few doors down, and the facility had yet to send out a notification.

I get that if shes positive, its very likely going to kill her, Lester wrote in an email to staff on March 29. I just wanted to know so that we can offer her support from out here. It may be that Ive hugged her, kissed her, and talked to her face-to-face for the last time. We deserve to know.

A day later, the Waterford at College Stations executive director emailed families, acknowledging they perhaps have heard some rumors floating around.

To date, we have both employees and residents who have tested positive for the virus, the administrator said, without mentioning the deaths or providing a number of cases.

A QUESTION OF CONSENT: Treatment of COVID-19 patients at Texas City nursing home draws ethical questions

It took almost three weeks for the Waterford to disclose the toll the virus took there: 32 of 47 residents were infected with COVID-19. By then, 11 had died and 14 had been hospitalized. Another 13 staff members also tested positive for the disease.

The local health department also refused to provide details, and state health officials do not share information about coronavirus infections by facility.

Lacking official sources of information, the families got creative: They made a group text message where they pieced together what was happening by sharing what theyd heard from staff and loved ones, and any details they received when they individually pressed management.

The more they learned about what the Waterford was doing, the angrier some became about what it was not doing  for example, after the first COVID-19 infection, some but not all residents were tested, and the facility wasnt completely disinfected until 10 days after the first resident died.

At least 7,000 COVID-19 deaths have been reported nationwide in nursing homes and assisted living facilities, accounting for a fifth of the countrys fatalities so far, according to a New York Times tally.

Texas long-term care advocates say a lack of transparency about outbreaks has been a recurring complaint  including at a San Antonio nursing home where administrators withheld information from the state about some fatalities until media reports prompted health officials to probe further.

Its the one thing we consistently see to be a challenge, a problem, that needs to be improved, said Brian Lee, executive director of the Austin-based nonprofit watchdog group Families For Better Care. Thats the first thing: that theres some kind of formal communication thats regularly occurring with the families to ensure that they are managing the problem effectively and that their loved ones are safe from potential additional community spread within the facility.

TEXAS TAKE: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox

Capital Senior Living, the Dallas-based publicly traded corporation that owns the Waterford and 125 other senior communities across the country, said in a statement that it was deeply saddened by the impact COVID-19 has had in our community and that safety and wellbeing of residents and employees is its top priority.

The Waterford said that it was unable to test all residents and staff at the beginning of the outbreak because test kits were not available. Instead, residents initially were not tested until being admitted to the hospital, another lapse that outraged families.

Later, we were provided with a limited number of test kits and instructed to test only based on potential exposure or symptoms, the statement read, adding that the Waterford later secured more for residents beyond those.

As for sanitizing and disinfecting, the facility said staff had already been following Centers for Disease Control guidelines prior to hiring a third-party company to address the building as a whole.

It quickly reviewed options that could be available locally  evaluating the safety and effectiveness of their materials, processes, as well as their ability to provide their services in a 24/7 environment with limited disruption to our residents, the statement read. Upon finding the appropriate partner based out of Austin, the community had to wait a few days, based on that companys ability to schedule a treatment in College Station.

In the March 30 email to residents, the company wrote that it is committed to open communication and keeping you aware of our current situation as it relates to coronavirus, our community and our response.

Yet family members of Waterford residents interviewed by Hearst Newspapers said their increasingly frantic requests for more information about the outbreak went without clear answers for weeks. Barred from visiting the home by the governors March 13 executive order, they were more dependent than ever on the Waterfords management for information.

We were left out in the cold, said Art Aguirre, who lives in Michigan and whose mother Estela was the second patient in the facility to die. We could not participate in taking care of our own loved ones.

While grateful for what she learned from the group chat, Cassie Schildknecht, whose grandfather Jack Bryant was the first resident killed by coronavirus, said it shouldnt have had to come to that.

Its sad; its pathetic, said Schildknecht, who lives in Washington state. You entrust people when you put your family members in these types of facilities. You expect transparency. You expect them to communicate with you on all levels, good or bad.

This is not stomach flu

Days before the first residents died, the Waterford told families in an email that there was a 24-48 (hour) stomach bug going around and that was why it was calling a lockdown, adding not a single resident has exhibited any symptoms of the COVID-19.

The Waterford said in a statement that was because gastrointestinal symptoms at the time werent commonly associated with the disease.

Once the first resident tested positive, the Waterford notified families by phone, though some, including Aguirre, said they never received such a call.

Family members said they believe the facility could have done more and sooner to address the outbreak, such as widespread testing and disinfecting the facility earlier, as well as providing families with data on infections and reports on caregiver checks on temperature and other health indicators.

An email obtained by Hearst Newspapers from the Waterford to families shows that rooms were not disinfected until April 7. Aguirre said he called repeatedly in early March trying to get information about what precautions the facility was taking, and it took days to get ahold of staff.

By the time his mother came down with a fever, she was rushed to the hospital and died less than 48 hours later. Aguirres brother David, who lives in town, had to wait in his car in the parking lot, as he was not allowed inside the hospital, which Art said still breaks my heart.

Theres really nothing I can do for my mom at this point, Aguirre said. My concern is really more as an advocate for people in my moms position  Transparency is paramount. Thats what Im advocating for now.

As of Wednesday, 252 nursing homes and 75 assisted living facilities in Texas had at least one COVID-19 positive resident or staff member, state data shows. The virus has killed 164 in nursing homes and 43 in assisted living facilities  making up more than a third of the states total deaths.

Longterm care facilities across the state have been similarly tight-lipped about disclosing outbreaks.

Southeast Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in San Antonio, where 74 tested positive for coronavirus and 18 have died, failed to report five fatalities until media reports caused local health officials to press administrators.

Families of residents at The Resort at Texas City, where 83 tested positive and one has died, have said the nursing home was slow to inform them about positive cases at the facility and many took issue with the medical director prescribing an unproven drug to treat the disease without asking for their consent.

Ann Criswell, a former Houston Chronicle food editor who lives at the Waterford, said she found out from her daughter, not from staff, that there had been a confirmed COVID-19 case there.

They kept saying it was stomach flu, stomach flu, stomach flu, Criswell said. After about four days, I thought you know, this is not stomach flu; this is coronavirus.

It drives me crazy because my whole career was about getting information, and Im a big believer in information and telling people the truth, she continued. We all guess whats going on and thats a lot worse than knowing. That bothered me a lot.

New federal rules dont affect ALFs

As federal officials have moved to address the communication gaps evident in the coronavirus response, their solutions so far dont cover assisted living facilities like the Waterford at College Station, which are subject to less oversight than nursing homes.

On April 19, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services said it will require nursing homes to notify residents, their families and representatives within 12 hours of a confirmed case of COVID-19 as well as when three or more individuals develop respiratory symptoms over a 72-hour period.

The new rules also require nursing homes to report COVID-19 cases to the CDC to help the federal government better track outbreaks and work to prevent them. The facilities were already required to report that data to state and local health officials.

Assisted living centers wont be subject to those rules, however, because unlike nursing homes, theyre not federally regulated and instead are overseen by the states.

Texas inspects assisted living facilities once every two years, whereas federal regulators inspect on an annual basis.

With in-person visits from the states long-term ombudsman on hold, fewer inspections from state regulators and families and other visitors barred from entering during the coronavirus pandemic, those extra eyes and ears on resident care are missing.

Its pretty much a free-for-all right now in nursing homes and assisted living centers, Lee said.

Meanwhile, nursing homes and other health care facilities have pushed for and received temporary immunity from civil lawsuits in several states , including Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey and New York.

Lawmakers in Texas have made no such proposal.

U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Nebraska, has proposed similar legislation at the federal level.

Keeping positive, and negative

After Lester pressed for a test for Criswell, who has several underlying illnesses, including diabetes, heart failure and high blood pressure, she tested negative in early April.

For now, all that Lester, Criswell and other families with residents remaining in the facility can do is hope for continued negative results. Criswell tries to occupy her mind by reading, lately a collection of Christmas stories, and spending time with her daughter during visits at her window.

Criswell attributes her good health so far to her choice to self-isolate in her room even before the facility called for residents to do so, but she said she still worries her luck could change.

I dont see how I have possibly escaped, Criswell said. But as long as Ive got a book, Im OK.

Criswell was tested again Monday. Still negative.
California may be able to begin lifting restrictions ahead of the projected schedule of Gov. Gavin Newsom. This is according to researchers. Without the exact reopening date, the governor is said to be "still looking to future data," specifically showing a peak middle of May.

Gov. Newsom is reportedly resisting the pressure to be ahead of the date. He is also resisting some of the actions the counties and cities have taken to reopen the state. Relatively, Cleve Morris, Placerville City manager said, they seem to be controlling virus's spread at this time.

Placerville to Reopen

Placerville is among the group of counties and cities in California enthusiastic about the reopening. Morris added, there have been no COVID-19 cases in the city for the past three or four weeks already. The manager also said he's like to work with Gov. Newsom on the lifting limitations.

More so, he said, the county is currently working on a strategy to set regulations. "We would like to work with him," he explained, so they could open up several places that can still work, keep many businesses open, and meet the regulations the governor setting.

What the Researchers Say

As of the middle of this week, the governor said there no timeline in sight to reopen the state. However, the University of Washington researchers have the best prediction to offer. Specifically, they say their frameworks provide a more optimistic viewpoint for California, which opens as early as May 17.

When asked about his estimated May-framework, the governor has not presented data showing that the state is still on track to tell a peak in the coming month. But the university researchers have said, California had already hit its peak in the past week.

Governor, in turn, directed the question to Dr. Mark Ghaly. Ghaly, on the other hand, said, they have in the past weeks, put out a discussion that shows how their model has runs until May 20. The doctor added, they talked about the recent weeks too, as they looked like their real and actual figures.

Experts' Warning

The press staff of the governor said the state uses a framework through the Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Ghaly elaborated, they keep on looking at the future models. However, experts caution against the use of such a model, which has significant uncertainty to come up with policy decisions.

Specifically, he said they are continuing to look at the mentioned models, although they are guided through the exact figures that they are currently seeing. More so, Dr. Ghaly shared, they are depending on the actual number of cases, as well as hospitalizations as they are planning for the date of the reopening.

Incidentally, Gov. Newsom recently said, an addition of more than 80 people died due to COVID-19 since his last public address on Tuesday afternoon. However, hospitalizations have seen a minimal 0.2-percent decrease, and ICU confinements fell by 1.8 percent.

Check these out!
German Defence Minister Reveals Reason to Buy US F-18 Jets - Reports

Sputnik News

Oleg Burunov. Sputnik International

09:29 GMT 24.04.2020(updated 09:39 GMT 24.04.2020)

Last year, Berlin scrapped plans to buy Lockheed Martin's F-35 stealth combat aircraft in order to replace the Tornado fighter-bombers that have been in service in the German Armed Forces since the early 1980s.

German Defence Ministry officials have referred to transatlantic ties as one of the reasons for the US F-18 fighter jet possibly becoming the Bundeswehr's warplane of choice to replace its aging fleet of Tornado fighter-bombers.

In a letter sent to lawmakers earlier this week and seen by Defence News, the officials pointed out that "the decision [on purchasing the F-18s] cements the transatlantic partnership, and it underpins our credibility within NATO".

The message came as German Defence Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer reportedly described the move as a mere proposal, adding during a press briefing on Wednesday that "we have not made a source selection [yet]".

The statement followed the press secretary of the German Defence Ministry saying on Tuesday that "there is still no formal decision on the successor to the Tornado jet".

The remarks flew in the face of reports that the German government had allegedly confirmed that the Tornados will be replaced by Eurofighters and F-18 jets from US-based Boeing.

German Defence Ministry spokesman Arne Collatz-Johannsen was earlier cited by AFP as saying on Monday that "we recommend a mixed solution which would keep the European defence industry running at capacity and what's more, concerning less than a third of the total, possibly come from non-European suppliers".

AFP also quoted an unnamed source as confirming previous reports that the government's plans stipulate purchasing 90 Airbus-made Eurofighters and 45 F-18 jets; 30 of the F-18s will be equipped to carry American nuclear bombs.

German magazine Der Spiegel, in turn, reported earlier in April that Kramp-Karrenbauer had allegedly confirmed in an e-mail to her US counterpart Mark Esper on 16 April that the Bundeswehr plans to buy 30 F/A-18 Super Hornets to replace the nuclear and electronic warfare capabilities of the Tornado warplanes.

During a visit to Washington in September 2019, the German Defence Minister reportedly said the warplane replacing the Tornado should "seamlessly" deal with a dual role that envisages the aircraft serving as a fighter-bomber in conventional warfare and maintaining the capability to carry US B61 nuclear gravity bombs.

A Sputnik

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Three Imams (Islamic clerics) in Maiduguri, Borno State, are to face disciplinary actions for defying the governments social distancing order which they did by hosting Friday congregational prayers.

Borno had on Thursday declared a total lockdown as a measure to curtail the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The lockdown involved complete restriction of movement and a ban on all kinds of social, commercial, and religious gatherings. In effect, no mosque or church would be allowed to open for prayers and service until the status quo is reviewed after 14 days.

While the restriction order was still in force, the three Imams of the weekly Friday mosques went ahead and encouraged worshippers to congregate for the Friday service.

The Borno committee on COVID-19 had while going round to access the situation found the three mosques performing their congregational services at three different locations of the town.

Babakura Abba-Jato, the Borno commissioner for home affairs, information, and culture, confirmed this at the daily briefing on COVID-19.

Mr Abba-Jato said the committee and government were disappointed by the action of these popular Imams.

He said the three scholars have been reported to the Shehu of Borno and the Chief Imam preparatory for other punitive measures to be adopted.

It is disheartening to tell you that three Islamic scholars today violated the total lockdown rules by conducting Jumaat prayers in their respective mosques in the metropolis, he announced.

The violators have been fished out and would definitely face the full wrath of the law.

The action of the Imams, despite the directive of the Jamaatul Nasirul Islamic, is an indication of the challenges being faced by many religious leaders in northern states while attempting to manage the COVID-19.

Speaking on the matter, Borno Deputy Governor of Borno, Umar Kadafur, who chairs the COVID-19 Committee, said, the errant Imams include Goni Isa of Flatari North, Goni Bashir CMC Lawan Bukar and Goni Gapchia, Imam of the University of Maiduguri.

They are aware of the lockdown order but went ahead to call for the Jummat congregational prayers, an action against the directive of the government to safeguard its people against COVID-19.

It is unfortunate that some people are taking the COVID-19 pandemic lightly, which explains why they were defying the lockdown order.

We shall send their names to the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Umar-Ibn Garbai who is the Chairman of the Borno State Traditional Rulers Association, to direct the Chief Imam of the state to suspend them from conducting further congregation, he said.

Ripples

The action of the three Imams and the response of the state government has attracted divided reactions and comments in social media.

Bashir Muhammad Bukar on Facebook said: Suspending Islamic Ulamas particularly in religious state of Borno is not a remedy to the problem, you should either call upon them to not repeat congressional prayers henceforth.

READ ALSO:

Bukar Petrol II said: Who will punish those that went to a funeral without observing Covid 19 safety protocols. Double standard I guess?

Wakil Muhammed Multe said: Please I suggest they should be issued with strong WARNING; If they repeat the action they should face disciplinary measure particularly those that are government employees.

Muhammed Zannah Wiroma said, Im not in support of what of the Imams did.. but then the committee should also arrest all the uninvited people that attended the funeral of Galadima Modu Sheriff. Including government officials and traditional title holders.

Also, Bukar Gaji said Nobody is above the law of the land. Government is doing this for the welfare of her people. It is good for the government to demonstrate its power by sanctioning the erring Imams.

Procedure

In Borno, the Shehu, being the foremost monarch has the powers of appointing Imams for the Eid and Friday mosques in his domain. It is presumed that he also has the powers of sacking or suspending any errant Imam.

Historically, it has been relayed that over 50 years years ago, a certain Imam Edain (Imam of Eid prayers) in Bama was removed by the then monarch of Bama. The sacked Imam migrated to Maiduguri where he got reappointed as the Imam Eidain of Maiduguri.

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About a hundred years ago, it was narrated that Imam Amsami was removed from his position by the then Shehu of Borno and replaced by Imam Ibrahim Ahmed who is the father of deceased Chief Imam Wupchama, and grandfather to the present Chief Imam of Borno,

It is not yet certain if the Shehu or the state government will suspend the three Imams, especially as one of them is a respected scholar and lecturer at the Department of Islamic Studies at the University of Maiduguri.
President Hassan Rouhani has called on Iran's armed forces to seek regional stability while maintaining vigilance against "provocations."

The comments on April 24 came after days of rising tensions between Iran and the United States centered on threats involving the two countries ships in the Persian Gulf.

Rouhani was quoted by state television as telling his defense minister that the country must carefully follow strategies ensuring the sustainable stability of the region while maintaining vigilance and authoritative presence in the area."

State television reported that Rouhani also spoke with the commander of Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), Major General Hossein Salami, referring to "provocative actions by foreigners in the region and the need to maintain vigilance against these moves."

Salami said on April 23 he had ordered his forces to target U.S. Navy ships if they jeopardize our commercial vessels, warning that they "will answer any action by a decisive, effective, and quick counteraction.

Early in his second term in 2017 Rouhani criticized the Revolutionary Guard for its interference in the country's politics and its extensive economic activities. However, under constant attacks by hardliners, Rouhani abandoned his criticism, showing more support for the hardliner military force.

President Donald Trump tweeted the day before that he had instructed the U.S. Navy to fire on any Iranian ships that harass its ships at sea.

Earlier this month, the U.S. military said 11 Revolutionary Guards naval vessels came close to U.S. ships in the Gulf, calling the moves dangerous and provocative. Tehran blamed the United States for the incident.

The reason for IRGC's naval moves is not clear, but the in recent months its image was tarnished among Iranians for the deaths of hundreds of protesters last November and the downing of a Ukrainian airliner after takeoff near Tehran in January.

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.

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said that the Swiss envoy was given a message to pass on to Washington that Iran will strongly defend its maritime rights in the Gulf and respond to any threats, according to the IRIB news agency.

Antagonism between Iran and the United States has sharpened since 2018, when Trump withdrew from a nuclear deal with six world powers and reimposed crippling sanctions.

In January top IRCG commander Qassem Soleimani was killed in a U.S. drone strike in Iraq, and Iran retaliated by firing missiles at bases in Iraq where U.S. troops were stationed.

The IRGC further stoked tensions on April 22 with the announcement of the launch of the country's first military satellite into orbit. The announcement drew protests from Washington, London, and Paris.
San Luis Obispo Mayor Heidi Harmon, left, and Tybee Island, Ga., Mayor Shirley Sessions differ with their governors over locking down their communities to fight COVID-19. (Timothi Jane Graham and City of Tybee Island )

Heidi Harmon, the mayor of San Luis Obispo, wants a limited reopening. Shirley Sessions, the mayor of Tybee Island, Ga., wants things to stay closed.

A continent apart, the two stand astride the latest fault line to emerge as the nation struggles with the greatest health and economic crisis it has faced in generations: a growing split between governors and local leaders on when to end the country's self-imposed shutdown.

Both are at odds with their state's governor.

"In the case of San Luis Obispo, we are unique," said Harmon, a sentiment that Sessions echoed 2,600 miles away.

"We know what's best for our communities," Sessions said.

Their contrasting goals reflect the tension that underlies the growing conflict, whether it's local officials calling for Democratic governors to ease up or mayors urging Republicans governors to clamp down. At bottom, the question is whether the fight against a deadly virus with no regard for physical or geographic lines can be waged with anything other than a one-size-fits-all approach.

Unlike the red-blue division that colors animosities between the White House and Congress, or the differences between the heads of Republican-led states and their Democratic counterparts, this disagreement doesn't necessarily cleave along the usual partisan lines. There are Republicans balking at the actions of Republicans, Democrats differing with Democrats, and local officials with no party affiliation taking issue with Democrat and Republican alike.

Harmon is a fan of Gov. Gavin Newsom, her fellow Democrat, and hastens to say she's not seeking to throw the doors wide open to her town and return to life as it was pre-pandemic.

"This is opening up in a way that has a lot of guardrails and guideposts to ensure people's health and safety, that both live here and may come through San Luis Obispo," Harmon said.

Sessions, a nonpartisan, knows her resort community is suffering economically, but worries that Republican Gov. Brian Kemp's back-to-business edict will flood her coastal haven with visitors importing COVID-19.

Story continues

"Normally we welcome tourists. But this is about safety," she said.

The conflict comes as leaders in statehouses and city halls across the country increasingly step in to fill the void left by a fractiously divided Congress and an erratic President Trump.

Part of the disagreement reflects the tensions between lawmakers who may represent people with very different ways of thinking, which, as UC Merceds Jessica Trounstine pointed out, is nothing new.

Those tensions exist in a lot of different policy areas, said Trounstine, an expert on urban politics. She noted, for instance, the divergence between lawmakers in Sacramento and some local officials over Californias sanctuary state law protecting immigrants without legal residency.

Now the stakes are even higher, given the grave peril the novel coronavirus poses to lives and livelihoods.

And, if anything, the chasm between governors and local lawmakers is growing as the country increasingly splits between cities and suburbs that lean Democratic and rural and exurban areas that tilt Republican.

"To the extent that both minority voters and highly educated professionals (health care workers) are ... increasingly Democratic voters, urban mayors have both a policy and a political incentive to emphasize the health implications of the crisis," Eric Heberlig, a University of North Carolina at Charlotte political scientist who has studied municipal issues, wrote in an email.

"Governors of states in which the plurality of [the vote] is not urban, minority or professional don't have as much incentive to weigh health concerns more heavily than economic concerns," he said.

Some of the friction  never mind the crises at hand  may also stem from tetchy personal relations.

In Oregon, where Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler pressured Gov. Kate Brown to take bolder action, the two Democrats are past political rivals. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo took issue when New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, a fellow Democrat and longtime antagonist, issued a stay-at-home order. Several days later, Cuomo locked down the entire state.

Hard feelings between Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman, a Democrat turned independent, and Nevada's Democratic Gov. Steve Sisolak date from his time on the Clark County Commission, which oversees the Strip. She has used a series of national TV interviews to call for the city's reopening, though it is questionable how much Goodman helped her cause by, in effect, offering up Las Vegas as test case for loosening the country's stay-at-home restrictions.

"We've survived the West Nile and SARS, bird flu, E. coli, swine flu, the Zika virus," she said on MSNBC, blithely suggesting businesses would be forced to close if enough people took ill.

Perhaps the main reason for the rift between state executives and city hall is the fact that governors represent a much larger area and broader, more diverse set of interests than mayors.

"We recognize 58 counties, 480 different parts of the state, impacted differently," Newsom, a former San Francisco mayor, said during one of his daily coronavirus briefings. "But also the fact that we are one state, and the impact and the collective responsibility we have to one another  neighboring counties, neighboring cities  also must be considered."

He has balked at loosening statewide restrictions he put in place more than a month ago.

Trounstine, for one, sides with the governor. While the country is grounded in the principle famously enunciated by Thomas Jefferson, "the government closest to the people serves the people best, she believes these times are different.

"In this particular situation the virus doesn't care who your mayor is, or where the boundaries of your city end," Trounstine said. "We can't make policy at such a local level right now because the problem crosses borders. For the public good, it makes sense to make policy at the highest level possible."

While much about the coronavirus remains unknown, one thing seems likely.

As the death toll and economic damage from the COVID-19 pandemic continue to mount, the debate over who can best respond  the governor or officials at the local level  will grow more acute.
The World Health Organization warned on Saturday that recovering from coronavirus might not protect people from reinfection as the death toll from the pandemic approached 200,000 around the globe.

Governments are struggling to limit the economic devastation unleashed by the virus, which has left half of humanity under some form of lockdown and reported infections approaching three million.

The United Nations has joined world leaders to speed up development of a vaccine, but effective treatments for COVID-19, the disease caused by coronavirus, are still far off.

But with signs the disease is peaking in the US and Europe, governments are starting to ease restrictions, weighing the need for economic recovery against cautions that lifting them too soon risks a second wave of infections.

The WHO warned on Saturday that there was still no evidence that people who test positive for the new coronavirus and recover are immunised and protected against reinfection.

The warning came as some governments study measures such as "immunity passports" or documents for those who have recovered as one way to get people back to work after weeks of economic shutdown.

"There is currently no evidence that people who have recovered from #COVID19 and have antibodies are protected from a second infection," WHO said in a statement.

"People who assume that they are immune to a second infection because they have received a positive test result may ignore public health advice," it said.

With more than four billion people still on lockdown or stay-at-home orders, governments are debating how to steadily lift curbs, reopen schools, restart businesses and reboot economies without causing a spike in virus cases.

Some of that discussion centres on new mobile phone apps to alert people to infections, mass antibody testing -- to determine who has had the virus and may be immune -- and the public use of facemasks to stop transmission.

"If I've already had corona then I'm not infectious," said Berlin resident Lothar Kopp, hoping to test positive for antibodies as it could allow him to visit his elderly mother.

Germany has carried out tens of thousands of tests and other countries are also working on determining what may be their so-called level of immunity.

But on Friday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for international organisations, world leaders and the private sector to join an unprecedented effort to speed up development and distribution of a vaccine.

"We face a global public enemy like no other," the UN chief told a virtual briefing.

"A world free of COVID-19 requires the most massive public health effort in history."



Any vaccine should be safe, affordable and available to all, Guterres said at the meeting, which was attended by the leaders of Germany and France.

Absent though were the leaders of China, where the virus first emerged late last year, and the United States, which has accused the WHO of not warning quickly enough about the original outbreak.

The daily death toll in Western countries seems to be falling, a sign hopeful epidemiologists had been looking for, but the WHO has warned that other nations are still in the early stages of the fight.

Global COVID-19 deaths have climbed past 197,000, according to an AFP tally, but new reported cases appear to have levelled off at about 80,000 a day.

The United States is the hardest-hit country by far in the pandemic, recording more than 51,500 deaths and over 890,000 detected infections.

In a sign of potential risks of reopening, Iranian health officials Saturday also raised fears of a "fresh outbreak" with another 76 fatalities declared, bringing Iran's official death toll to 5,650.

Iran has steadily allowed the restarting of businesses that were closed to stop the virus spread. But Alireza Zali, a health coordinator for the capital, criticised "hasty reopenings" that could "create new waves of sickness in Tehran".

The UN push for a quick vaccine came a day after US President Donald Trump prompted outcry and ridicule with his suggestion that disinfectants be used to treat coronavirus patients.

As experts -- and disinfectant manufacturers -- rushed to caution against any such dangerous experiment, the president tried to row back on his comments, saying he had been speaking "sarcastically".

The world's biggest economy has been hammered by the pandemic, with 26 million jobs lost since the crisis began, and US leaders are under pressure to find ways to ease social distancing measures.

The governor of Georgia allowed some businesses, including nail salons and bowling alleys, to reopen on Friday.

The mayor of the state's capital Atlanta condemned the "irresponsible" move, telling ABC News: "There is nothing essential about going to a bowling alley or giving a manicure in the middle of a pandemic."



The unprecedented situation has left the world staring at its worst downturn since the Great Depression, and beyond the US, other countries have already started loosening restrictions to get back to work.

Italy -- with the second highest virus death toll at nearly 30,000 -- announced plans Saturday to set price limits on face masks and ramp up antibody testing as it nears the end of the world's longest active national coronavirus lockdown.

Italians are awaiting a decision this weekend about which of its restrictions will be lifted and they will probably be allowed to leave their homes freely for the first time since March 9 by early May.

Some professional Italian cyclists like Umberto Marengo have already adapted to long lockdown by turning to making food deliveries on his bike across the northern city of Turin as a way to stay fit and help out.

"The customers are all amazed," Marengo said. "Especially since I always try to go up by the stairs to stay that little bit fitter." Sri Lanka said it would lift a nationwide curfew on Monday after more than five weeks, as Belgium joined other European nations to announce an easing from mid-May.

In France, which will be on lockdown until May 11, residents still confined to home have taken to praising health workers and protesting their frustrations with officials on painted banners hung outside their windows.

"Thank you to the caregivers, shame on the leaders" read one banner hanging outside a building in a Paris suburb.

On the other side of the world in Australia and New Zealand, people held vigils from the isolation of their own driveways to pay tribute to their war veterans on Anzac Day. Official memorials were behind closed doors.

Across the Muslim world, hundreds of millions of faithful also opened the Ramadan holy month under stay-at-home conditions, facing unprecedented bans on prayers in mosques and on the traditional large gatherings of families and friends to break the daily fast.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Amid the pandemic, times are tougher for people of low-income groups. Because of the ongoing lockdown, they're not just out of jobs but they're also out of funds. In this scenario, the situation is way tougher for women.

Considering how daily-wage workers have limited or no funds, how will they be able to afford sanitary napkins for themselves?

Raising this very point, former Miss World Mansuhi Chhillar has urged state governments to distribute sanitary pads along with daily ration to the underprivileged.

Getty Images

Manushi lauds the government's decision to include sanitary pads as essential commodities amid the COVID-19 crisis.

However, she explains that underprivileged women have become prone to severe risks due to a shortage of funds in the hands of daily wage earners because of SARS-CoV-2 -- the terminology now being used by the medical fraternity to describe the novel coronavirus globally.

"I'm hugely thankful that sanitary pads have been listed as an essential commodity by the government of India during the SARS-CoV-2 crisis. However, we need to focus on how women, especially from the economically handicapped strata, can get pads free of cost. I also urge the governments of various states to kindly look into distributing sanitary pads along with daily rations to the underprivileged," she said.

Manushi backs Project Shakti, a non-profit program, that has joined hands with local women across India and has empowered them to make a living by educating them to make biodegradable sanitary pads.

The initiative works towards raising awareness on menstrual hygiene among women in the local communities of these women.

Manushi/Agencies

"The issue is that due to the shortage of funds, particularly among the daily wage earners, most would be looking to spend their money on just food and women's sanitation might not be a top priority for many families. This would increase the health hazard for millions of women in India as sanitary pads come at a certain cost and the financial crisis is definitely going to push women to be at risk," she added.



Manushi said she has spoken to organizations who are working non-stop in ensuring pads are distributed free of cost.



Manushi/Instagram

"But it would be great if administration, from a district level to city to state-level comes forward to help the needy."

On the work front. Manushi is all set to make her Bollywood debut in the historical drama Prithviraj opposite Akshay Kumar but due to the lockdown, the film has been pushed.


Valmet to deliver a biomass-fired boiler plant to Tampereen Sahkolaitos

Illustration of the Tampereen Sahkolaitos Oys Naistenlahti power plant in Tampere, Finland

Illustration of the Tampereen Sahkolaitos Oys Naistenlahti power plant in Tampere, Finland

Valmet Oyjs press release on April 24, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. EET



Valmet will deliver a biomass-fired boiler plant to Tampereen Sahkolaitos Oys Naistenlahti power plant in Tampere, Finland. The new Naistenlahti 3 boiler will replace the Naistenlahti 2 boiler that has reached the end of its technical lifetime.

The order is included in Valmets orders received of the second quarter 2020. The value of the order is approximately EUR 70 million. The boiler plant will be handed over to the customer at the end of the year 2022.

Tampereen Sahkolaitos took a turn towards sustainable energy production in 2010 and started to systematically use more and more renewable energy sources and lower its CO 2 emissions. Our goal is a 95 percent decrease in emissions by the end of 2030. Thanks to the Naistenlahti 3 boiler plant, our CO 2 emissions will reduce significantly, and the share of renewable energy sources will increase, says Antti-Jussi Halminen, Director at Tampereen Sahkolaitos.

Sustainability is one of the cornerstones in Valmets operations, too, so we are delighted to be involved in the massive energy turnaround that Tampereen Sahkolaitos is carrying out. This delivery is a continuation of our long-standing cooperation. Earlier, Valmet has supplied equipment to the companys plants in Naistenlahti, Lielahti, Hervanta and Sarankulma. We have also delivered a flue gas cleaning system to the Tammervoima plant, which is a subsidiary of Tampereen Sahkolaitos, says Kai Janhunen, Vice President, Pulp and Energy business line, Energy business unit, Valmet.

The Naistenlahti 3 plant will be fueled mainly by renewable biomasses, while milled peat will remain as a secondary fuel. With a steam capacity of 191 megawatts, it will run as a base load plant for district heat production from September to June. The plant concept is based on combined heat and power (CHP) production, and it uses the existing old steam turbine and its auxiliary systems, such as the flue gas heat recovery system delivered by Valmet to the Naistenlahti 2 plant earlier. Thanks to the condensation of the water vapor in the flue gas, the total efficiency ratio of the new plant is about 112 percent based on the fuels effective heating value.

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The new boiler plant will be built between the Naistenlahti 2 boiler and Lake Nasijarvi. Special attention has been paid to its architecture. The facade facing the lake, for example, will feature aluminum profiles in diverse shapes.

Illustration of the Tampereen Sahkolaitos Oys Naistenlahti power plant in Tampere, Finland

Information about Valmets delivery

Valmets turnkey delivery includes a Valmet CFB boiler plant utilizing circulating fluidized bed (CFB) technology . The delivery extends from the boiler silos to the existing flue gas heat recovery system. Additionally, Valmet will construct a separate building for electrical appliances and deliver a bag house filter that will be installed on top of it.

Information about the customer Tampereen Sahkolaitos Oy

Tampereen Sahkolaitos is a modern energy group that produces renewable energy and actively develops future energy solutions in Finland. Through its systematic development work, the company lowers CO 2 emissions from its energy production and creates jobs for the surrounding area. In 2019, the groups net sales amounted to EUR 288 million, and it employed nearly 400 professionals.

VALMET

Corporate Communications

For further information, please contact:

Jari Niemela, Director, Boiler and gasification plants, Pulp and Energy business line, Valmet, tel. +358 50 317 8050

Valmet is the leading global developer and supplier of process technologies, automation and services for the pulp, paper and energy industries. We aim to become the global champion in serving our customers.

Valmet's strong technology offering includes pulp mills, tissue, board and paper production lines, as well as power plants for bioenergy production. Our advanced services and automation solutions improve the reliability and performance of our customers' processes and enhance the effective utilization of raw materials and energy.

Valmet's net sales in 2019 were approximately EUR 3.5 billion. Our more than 13,000 professionals around the world work close to our customers and are committed to moving our customers' performance forward  every day. Valmet's head office is in Espoo, Finland and its shares are listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki.

Read more www.valmet.com , www.twitter.com/valmetglobal

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-25 19:42:00|Editor: huaxia

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KUWAIT CITY, April 25 (Xinhua) -- Kuwait on Saturday reported 278 new cases of COVID-19 and four more deaths, bringing the total infections to 2,892 and death toll to 19, the health ministry said in a statement.

Among the new cases were 13 Kuwaiti citizens who returned from Britain and France, the statement said, adding that 252 new cases were contacts with infected patients.

The cause of the infection for the other 13 is still under investigation.

The new death cases were a 74-year-old Kuwaiti citizen, a 45-year-old Egyptian resident, a 64-year-old Bangladeshi resident and a 59-year-old Indian resident.

Currently, 2,217 patients are receiving treatment, including 58 in ICU, according to the statement.

Meanwhile, Kuwaiti Minister of Health Bassel Al-Sabah announced the recovery of 43 from the coronavirus, raising the total number of recoveries in the country to 656.

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 in an effort to curb the virus' spread. Enditem
DUE to her series of tirades versus President Rodrigo Duterte, the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Taichung has moved for the deportation of a Filipino caregiver based in Taiwan.

In a statement, POLO Taichung labor attache Fidel Macauyag said they have sought the deportation of caregiver Elanel Egot Ordidor, who is presently employed in Yunlin County, Taiwan.

We are constrained to act for the deportation of a Filipina working as caregiver in Taiwan for the crime of cyber libel for willful posting of nasty and malevolent materials against President Duterte on Facebook intended to cause hatred amidst the global health crisis brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic, said Macauyag.

He said the move for her deportation is based on the gravity of Ordidors offense under Philippine laws as sharing and posting of such videos are punishable under Cyber Libel under Republic Act No. 10175.

The POLO has already coordinated with her broker and employer on her deportation, related Macauyag.

According to the Philippine labor official in Taiwan, it was last April 20 when they went to her workplace to enlighten her that her actions amounted to a crime for which she might be prosecuted both in Taiwan and the Philippines.

He noted how Ordidor was cooperative and cordial at first and committed to delete all her uploaded videos against the President and promised not to do it again.

Macauyag said the OFW also promised to upload a video of her public apology to the President and to the people in the government at 9 p.m. of the same day.

However, hours after the visit, Macauyag said several posts were seen on the POLO Taichung Facebook page from several fake accounts assuring Ordidors cause and further giving her assurance of support.

Subsequently, Macauyag said it has come to their knowledge that Ordidor is using several social media accounts, among which are Lenale Elanel Egot, Mha Lan Dee, Linn Silawan, and Hampas Lupa, and has a group organized to discredit and malign the President and destabilize the government. (HDT/SunStar Philippines)
By Online Desk

The death toll due to COVID-19 rose to 826 and the number of cases climbed to 26,917 in India on Sunday, according to the Union health ministry.

The number of active COVID-19 cases stood at 20,177 while 5,913 people were cured and discharged, and one patient has migrated, the ministry said.

The total number of cases includes 111 foreign nationals.

In the wake of public protests against the burial of two doctors who died of COVID-19 in Chennai recently, Tamil Nadu govt has made blocking cremation of coronavirus victims a punishable offence and can attract up to 3-year jail term.
Hope Rising raises $1.6M for Samaritan's Purse; TD Jakes says people are uniting amid the crisis

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A benefit concert co-hosted by actors Kirk Cameron and his sister, Candace Cameron Bure, has raised over $1.6 million for Samaritans Purse which has been operating field hospitals in northern Italy and New York City during the COVID-19 crisis.

The siblings were joined by Bishop T.D. Jakes, Franklin Graham, and Gloria Gaynor among other well-known Christian artists and leaders for the online event on Sunday called Hope Rising that drew an estimated 10 million viewers, according to the events creator Ryan Higgins of The Tempus Collaborative.

Its important to know 100% of the money raised went to Samaritans Purse for their ongoing COVID-19 work, Higgins said in a statement shared with The Christian Post.

Amazingly we were able to do it entirely free, which has to have set some type of record. Weve heard that Hope Rising is now the largest streaming Christian concert of all time, a feat none of us thought was even possible just two weeks ago when the planning began, he added.

Hope Rising livestreamed on Facebook Sunday night to benefit Samaritan's Purse which set up field hospitals in both New York City and Cremona, Italy, to provide medical support to hospitals caring for patients during the COVID-19 outbreak.

The aim of the event was to uplift, strengthen and comfort those watching online through music and inspirational messages to combat the fear, hopelessness, and anxiety that some are feeling during the lockdown.

Other artists and speakers who participated in the hour-and-a-half event included: Casting Crowns, MercyMe, Newsboys, Natalie Grant, Matthew West, for King and Country, Kirk Franklin, Kari Jobe and Cody Carnes, Danny Gokey, and speakers Kristen Chenoweth, Lysa TerKeurst, and Priscilla Shirer, among others.

I am thankful for the many musicians and speakers who participated, for those who tuned in and were encouraged, for the generosity of so many who dug deep and gave to support this worthy cause. The commitment and dedication of my executive producers Kirk Cameron, Matt Hammitt, and Daniel Zapata were invaluable. And Im especially grateful to Samaritans Purse for choosing to be at the forefront when we cant, Higgins said.

During the event, Higgins introduced Bishop T.D. Jakes of The Potters House in Dallas, Texas, who offered a message of encouragement for those watching.

"COVID-19 has become a reality that no one could ignore, not the rich, not the famous, not the poor, not the homeless, not those that live in mansions to those that live in shelters. We have all been brought down to the same common denominator that we are all in some way vulnerable, black and white and red and brown, and rich and poor and large and small. It does not matter the distinctions, millennial or Boomer, we are all somewhat vulnerable," Jakes said of the common fears that people are feeling.

The megachurch pastor revealed that negativity is not the only effect the coronavirus has had on the world.

"There's also the awareness that it has brought us to a place of unity and togetherness and cohesiveness. That is, to me, the answer it is the serum, it is the magic elixir that we're all looking for," he said. "As strong as COVID-19 might be, unity in 2020 is stronger than anything COVID-19 can do. And I challenge you, if we stand together, we are better together than we are apart."

Jakes urged everyone to combine their talents and gifts and come out of this stronger than ever.

"If we live up to the tenants of our faith, then nothing out of the pits of Hell and nothing, no biological enemy, will ever be able to destroy what God has joined together, let no man put asunder, he declared.

He challenged everyone in the midst of the "terror and the pain and the grief and the loss and the uncertainty and the joblessness and the failing economy" to stand under the banner of Christ.

"Faith is the substance of the thing we hope for. And yes, it is evidence of things we have not seen. We will see it if we stand together, Jakes declared.
National Consultant Data Collection, Guinea Bissau

Organization: UNDP - United Nations Development Programme

Country: Guinea Bissau

City: Bissau, Guinea-Bissau

Office: le PNUD en Guinee-Bissau

Closing date: Friday, 15 May 2020

READVERTISED - National Consultant Data collection - OMVG (GUINEA_BISSAU)

Advertised on behalf of :

UNCDF

Location : GUINEA-BISSAU

Application Deadline : 15-May-20 (Midnight New York, USA)

Type of Contract : Individual Contract

Post Level : National Consultant

Languages Required : Portuguese

Background

UNCDF (UN Capital Development Fund) is a United Nations agency whose objective is to facilitate access to public and private capital for the poorest populations. Its expertise enables it to develop last mile financing models in regions where the supply of infrastructure, equipment or basic services, both financial and non-financial, tends to be lacking, in order to unblock public and private resources, particularly at the national level. The aim is to reduce poverty and encourage local economic development. UNCDF is based on two models of financing:

Financial inclusion, an approach based on savings and new technologies, which enables individuals, households and small enterprises to fully participate in the local economy by providing them with the financial tools and services they need to lift themselves out of poverty and manage their financial situation;

Local development finance - through fiscal decentralization, innovative municipal finance and structured project finance - contributes to public and private financing underpinning local economic growth and sustainable development.

OMVG (Organisation for the Development of the Gambia River) was established in 1978 by the Republic of Gambia and the Republic of Senegal. Guinea and Guinea-Bissau joined the Organization in 1981 and 1983 respectively. OMVG covers the following basins: Gambia Kolibal-corubal Kayanga-Geba. The surface area of the basins is 118,000 km2 and the population amounts to

42 million inhabitants. The OMVG is a tool for regional cooperation with a legal and institutional framework that enables it to carry out its mission of rational and harmonious exploitation of the common resources of the basins, the Gambia, Kayanga-Geba and Koliba-Corubal rivers, especially through the development of its basins. The organization has proved its capacity to mobilize its technical and financial partners to design and implement large-scale projects that none of the states, taken individually, could have carried out.

Projects Context

The challenge of financing for development: Despite the progress made, significant development financing needs remain. Accelerated action is needed to achieve the goals set out in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In order to achieve the SDGs, multiple resources are needed, as indicated in the Addis Ababa Programme of Action (Financing for Development process). At the same time, the sovereign financing space has shrunk in recent years.

The OMVG, as a supranational entity, does not have direct access to international capital markets. Therefore, there are currently no financial instruments available to obtain direct funding for river basin organizations, commensurate with their needs. Thus far, OMVGs financial resources to finance its projects are mainly derived from contributions from member states. The process is generally cumbersome and results in complex conditionalities and contracts.

Within this context, the development of financial mechanisms for mixed financing and risk reduction of projects represents a significant opportunity for financing projects of Basin Organizations.

Meeting the challenge through the Blue Peace funding mechanism: The Blue Peace funding mechanism is an innovative approach that supports OMVG Member States in the implementation of an Integrated Development Master Plan (PDDI), and a Joint Investment Plan (Master Plan), for the development of the Gambia River Basins, and to reap the shared benefits.

The approach is based on the development of joint cross-border and multi-sectoral investment plans, identified and managed by Member States. This portfolio approach allows for diversification and - possibly - subsidising of IDMP projects, thus enabling low-income projects to receive investment and thus be implemented, making OMVG financially efficient for its Member States. The Blue Peace Facility is also a mixed financing approach: the public sector, with the support of technical and financial development partners, takes on a significant part of the risk mitigation, thus allowing private investors to intervene at lower risk. The objective of the risk mitigation mechanism is to improve the risk/return profile of the investment, thereby attracting additional private investors. The insurance mechanism will also reduce the project-specific government burden. When OMVG borrows to invest in the river basin, instead of requiring a government guarantee from member countries, it will be able to use a commercial insurance scheme. The OMVG will continue to be owned by its member states, which will still have overall political responsibility. Once this mechanism has proved its worth to international investors, this approach will be easily replicable. The Blue Peace Bond can serve as a demonstrative example of innovative financing of future OMVG Master Plans (PDDI) and will provide a complementary source of funding to traditional sources.

The development of the Master Plan (PDDI) will be based on an inclusive process of stakeholder consultations at the local, national and regional levels. This process will be supported by technical experts in land use planning, particularly on water, agriculture and energy infrastructure.

The OMVG as a pioneer: Blue Peace partners propose to test the financing mechanism for the first time in the West African region, due to the innovative projects in transboundary river basin management undertaken by OMVS (Senegal River Development Office) and OMVG.

In addition, the OMVG has a legal framework for issuing debt and strong political support across its member states. These particularities make OMVG an organisation that focuses ambitions to explore with Blue Peace partners new financing mechanisms for basin management.

Duties and Responsibilities

The National Consultants role is part of the first diagnostic work within the framework of the development of the OMVGs PDDI.

One National Consultant will be recruited from each OMVG Member State, namely Senegal, Gambia, Guinea Bissau and Guinea Conakry. The National Consultant from Senegal will be responsible for ensuring the cohesion and coordination of the study projects carried out in each of the States.

The first activity of the National Consultant will be to propose a methodology as well as a list of data to be collected, which will then be validated during a meeting in Dakar bringing together all the National Consultants who will have been recruited for Senegal, Guinea, Guinea Bissau and the Gambia.

Under the control and supervision of the UNCDF Regional Coordinator, West and Central Africa and in consultation with OMVG, the National Consultant will collect data, documents and information covering all sectors of the economy (economic and financial, social, forestry and environmental, agricultural, energy, transport, mining, tourism, trade and industry, governance, to name a few). The data, documents and information will be structured around (but not limited to) :

National Development Plans;

Legal and institutional frameworks, policies, development plans and strategies, programmes and projects in the different sectors;

Any other relevant data, documents and information.

In addition, it should be noted that :

All data, documents and information collected by the National Consultant will serve as direct sources for the PDDIs development.

All data, documents and information collected by the National Consultant should be submitted in hard copy and electronic format (if available).

In addition to data collection, the National Consultant will assist in the organization of the workshops (national and regional).

Location: Bissau, Guinea-Bissau - possible travel in the sub-region, kick-off meeting in Dakar, Senegal during the first week.

Initial contract term: 60 days over 4 months - this term will be divided as follows : 3 months for data collection and 1 month to complete additional data after review by the regional consultant.

A final meeting will be organized in order to return the information collected by the National Consultants to the firm that will be in charge of establishing the PDDI.

Competencies

Ability to work in a team and initiative spirit developed;

Excellent writing, synthesis and oral communication skills;

Ability to identify program needs and find solutions proactively;

Ability and experience to work independently and deliver quality reports in a timely manner;

Good negotiation, interpersonal and communication skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Education

University degree in economics, engineering, planning, administration, management or a similar discipline

Experience

At least 10 years of professional experience in the public sector in a senior position;

Practical experience in the development and implementation of strategies, policies, projects and programmes;

A good understanding of OMVGs operations and activities;

Linguistic Requirements

Tags capital markets central africa data collection decentralization development finance development plans economic development economic growth financial inclusion financial instruments financial resources land use local development new technologies oral communication portuguese project finance public sector regional cooperation river basins sdgs small enterprises sustainable development sustainable development goals west africa

A perfect command of written and spoken Portuguese is crucial. A good command of English and/or French is desirable.

Application process

Interested individuals must submit the following in their submissions to demonstrate their qualifications: (NOTE: the system does not allow multiple uploads of documents. Applicants must ensure that they upload all documents in a single PDF file).

All applications must contain the following information :

Motivation letter with a summary of skills related to the mission,

Earliest availability and proposed schedule for consultation,

Confirmation of Interest and availability letter duly completed using the template provided by UNDP,

Personal CV, indicating all past experience on similar projects, as well as the candidates contact information (email and phone number) and at least three (3) professional references,

Financial proposal indicating the all-inclusive daily fee, accompanied by a breakdown of costs, in accordance with the model provided http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_file.cfm?doc_id=29916

Please ensure that you have provided all the requested documents.

Evaluation

Individual consultants will be evaluated on the basis of the following methodology :

Weighting the technical evaluation - 70% - of which :

50% on the basis of an analysis of their training, previous experience and management skills,

50 % based on the interview score.

Weighting of the financial assessment - 30%.

The Long-list will be drawn up on the basis of minimum education, professional experience and language requirements (proficiency in English and French).

Criterion A : 20 points.

University degree in economics, engineering, planning, administration, management or a similar discipline.

Criterion : 70 points.

At least 10 years of professional experience in the public sector in a senior position;

Practical experience in the development and implementation of strategies, policies, projects and programmes;

A good understanding of OMVGs operations and activities;

Ability and experience to work independently and deliver quality reports in a timely manner;

Good negotiation, interpersonal and communication skills.

Criterion D : 10 points

Linguistic requirements.

Short-listed candidates with a score of 70 % or more for the technical aspect of their profile and technical proposal will be invited for an interview. Only shortlisted candidates will be considered for financial evaluation.

Payments: Payments will be based on the submission and validation of deliverables presented with an invoice, as defined in the table below: Deliverable

Percentage

Estimated Date

Methodology and data list

20%

Between week 1 and 3

Mid-term report and presentation of the first data collected

30%

Between week 4 and 10

Final report

30%

Between week 11 and 16

Restitution of the results of the study to the firm recruited for the PDDI

20%

Date to be defined later - in the course of 2020

Travel : The consultant will be required to carry out numerous field missions. If requested, UNCDF will organize and cover the cost of travel in accordance with UNCDF rules and regulations.

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
A 25-year-old resident of Boothgarh village, Balachaur, tested positive for novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19) on Saturday, said Balachaur sub-divisional magistrate Jasbir Singh.

Health officials said the patient, a truck driver, had returned to his village from Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) on April 23. The patient reported to the flu-corner of the hospital with influenza-like symptoms and a tell-tale cough. His samples were collected on the same day, which came out to be positive.

As part of the containment drill, the district administration has sealed Boothgarh village while the parents of the patient have been quarantined in their house. Their samples are yet to be collected.

This is the first case to be reported from SBS Nagar in a month. On April 22, the administration had announced that there were no active cases in the district.

Twenty positive cases have been reported from the district so far, of which 18 people have recovered and one person succumbed to the infection.
Director General of the World Health Organization Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus speaks during a news conference on the situation of the coronavirus in Geneva, Switzerland, Febr. 28, 2020. Reuters




The Delhi Police on Saturday registered a case against one of their owna woman head constablefor allegedly violating home-quarantine norms after the technical analysis of her cellphone showed that she had been regularly stepping out of her home. Senior police officers said that the action against the policewoman would send a message among other police personnel, who are in quarantine after coming in contact with people infected with the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).

Deputy commissioner of police (outer) A Koan said that the woman head constable is posted to the west district but resides in Peeragarhi area, which is under the jurisdiction of Paschim Vihar police station.

On April 10, the DCP said they had received information that the woman head constable has been quarantined at home as per the doctors advice. Recently, an inspection was carried out and she was not found at home. Hence, a case has been registered at the Paschim Vihar police station for the home-quarantine violation, DCP Koan added.

A police officer associated with the case said that three visits were made at her home between April 16 and 19 but she was found absent on all three days. Her cellphone location was found to be Gurugram.

According to deputy commissioner of police (west) Deepak Purohit, the woman head constable had complained of cough and fever and had sought permission to quarantine herself at home.

She was allowed to quarantine herself at home. However, the visits to her home and the analysis of her cellphone locations suggests that she had been regularly stepping out. Accordingly, a case was registered against her, Purohit said.

The case has been registered under Section 3 of the Epidemic Disease Act, section 15 of Disaster Management Act and the Indian Penal Codes sections 188 (Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), 269 (Negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life), 270 (Malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life), and 271 (Disobedience to quarantine rule).

This action against our own staff is a message to other personnel that nobody is above the law. Everyone has to abide by the rules. Be it a public person or those who are the custodians of the law, Purohit added.

Till Saturday, 31 police personnel tested positive for the virus while as many as 500 personnel who came in contact with them are in isolation to prevent the spread of the virus. The 500 police personnel are quarantined in their homes or the different hotels booked by the Delhi Police. The police have registered at least 350 FIRs against different persons across the city for breaking home-quarantine rules.
Panaji, April 25 : A Goa woman was booked and arrested on charge of assaulting another woman, who was later identified as a Nepal national.

Police later said the accused was arrested but subsequently released on bail.

The action was taken after the National Commission for Women on Saturday tagged the state police on Twitter, urging them to probe the assault reported in North Goa district last week.

"The NCW has come across a Facebook post, wherein a few north-east girls were brutally attacked, abused by a lady and her daughters living at the police colony, Porvorim, Goa. Further alleged that the local police did not file any complaint, but instead threatened them to refrain from registering any complaint," the Commission tweeted.

While the incident occurred on April 17, it caught NCW attention only after the video clip of the assault went viral on the social media on Saturday.

In the clip, a woman is seen assaulting the victim in an open area in Porvorim, a Panaji suburb. A police official claimed that it was found that the victim was Nepalese and not from any north-eastern state.

"The accused was objecting to the victim going out on an evening walk, which led to the fight. There is no racist angle to this incident," a police official familiar with the investigation said.

The accused was booked under Sections 188 (disobeying public servant), 320 (grievous hurt), 506 (criminal intimidation), and 323 (causing hurt) of the Indian Penal Code.

Responding to the Commission's tweet, Goa Director General of Police Jaspal Singh on Saturday said on Twitter: "An FIR in the matter is already registered at PS Porvorim and the accused arrested. No allegations of racism have been adduced in the complaint made by the victim. Further investigation is on. Safety of women is our top priority."
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Linkedin Jonathan Tahir (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, April 25, 2020 11:56 627 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd42c7f3 3 Opinion malaria,malaria-elimination,malaria-vaccine,infectious-diseases,COVID-19,pandemic Free

Today is World Malaria Day, a day when we remind ourselves of a disease that has killed more people in history than any other.



As the world is focused on bringing the deadly COVID-19 pandemic under control, reflecting on the progress made in the fight against malaria gives us hope that we can solve the most difficult public health problems by working together.



Taking a closer look at the success and challenges of malaria elimination can also show us what needs to be done to beat COVID-19.



Like COVID-19, malaria once threatened communities across our entire nation. Our countrys size and remoteness put it in a position that few other nations face.



However, through smart investments in health systems, malaria testing and treatment, and community-level programs to prevent the spread of the disease, Indonesia has halved the number of malaria cases in ten years. It has been a team effort. Government, health organizations, funders, the private sector, and communities have all worked together to fight the disease.



While malaria is on the decline, it is still a deadly threat. In fact, Indonesia continues to have one of the highest malaria burdens in the region, with over 220,000 recorded malaria cases in 2018.



Eliminating malaria in Indonesia and across Asia by 2030 is achievable though, if we continue to fund and deliver the activities that have proven to be effective.



So how have we made so much progress in reducing malaria in Indonesia, and how are these strategies relevant to the fight against COVID-19?



First, we heavily invested in research and programs to make testing for malaria more accessible, faster, and more accurate. In controlling any communicable disease, it is vital to identify infected people and treat them to prevent further transmission. For malaria, this involves screening people in often remote areas where malaria is endemic.



Thankfully, wider efforts in the last decades to strengthen community-level health systems across Indonesia have greatly increased accessibility to low-cost malaria screening.



The fight against malaria has also been successful due to strong political resolve to eliminate the disease.



Our government has made malaria elimination a priority. In 2014, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo committed to eliminate malaria by 2030 alongside 17 other heads of government at the East Asia Summit.



Domestic funding for the disease has increased by 42 percent since 2012. This increase in resources, supported by international funders like the Global Fund, has paved way for the progress we see today. In a similar fashion, to beat COVID-19, we need to invest heavily. Not every country has the same means, so global solidarity has never been more important. Addressing the disease in every country is not only the right thing to do, its also the only way to suppress this global pandemic.



Finally, malaria elimination has been successful because communities are engaged and aware. Through local malaria programs, communities learn how to reduce malaria risk through actions like eliminating standing water and sleeping under bed-nets. Communities also learn about malaria symptoms and where to go to get tested and treated.



Efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic to teach people about handwashing, social distancing, and self-quarantine have been widespread, and it is up to all of us to be part of the solution.



So, as we observe World Malaria Day amidst the greatest pandemic of our lifetime, we can be optimistic that the challenges we face do have solutions.



However, greater investment in testing and treatment, continued government support, and the cooperation of everyday people are all needed to win against malaria and COVID-19. Beating these deadly diseases is possible if we all work together.

______

Co-chair of the Tahir Foundation, deputy chairman of Mayapada Group, chairman of Mayapada Healthcare, chairman of Forbes Indonesia and MYP Ltd. and an M2030 Champions Council member.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post.
Roberto Canessa survived a plane crash in the Andes and 72 days battling extreme weather, hunger and the fear of dying while stranded in a frozen mountain range. Now, the 67-year-old cardiologist has vowed to take on the coronavirus pandemic in his native Uruguay by building ventilators. In 1972, Canessa was one of 45 people on a plane traveling from Uruguay to Chile with a rugby team onboard when it crashed in the Argentine Andes. Some died on impact, others from their injuries and yet more from hunger. But 72 days later, 16 survivors were rescued. Alongside fellow rugby player Fernando Parrado, Canessa braved freezing conditions, terrifying wilderness, inhospitable terrain and a lack of suitable clothing, setting out on a journey to find help even though they had no idea which way the nearest town might be. The tragedy and their epic journey were made into a Hollywood feature film, "Alive," starring Ethan Hawke. Now, Canessa wants to save more lives. "When I saw that around the world people were dying from a lack of air, it reminded me of the mountain, when I saw my friends who couldn't breathe anymore, and I said: No, this can't happen to me again," Canessa told AFP, moments after testing the latest prototype of his ventilator. As the virus spread, he realized that although superpowers like the United States and China were going to be able to buy or make ventilators, "Uruguay wasn't." "That's something I also learned on the mountain: I was here, I needed to get out, I had to start walking, I didn't know how far I had to go, but with every step I would be closer" to a possible rescue, he said. Now, "I wanted to get closer to a ventilator." His fame as a miracle survivor of the Andean tragedy helped attract support for his cause. It took only a few days to produce a first model, which he christened "Charrua" -- naming it after an indigenous group from Uruguay and parts of neighbors Argentina and Brazil. The WhatsApp group Canessa created -- called "Respiradores" or Ventilators -- has 80 volunteers including pneumatic, electric and robotics engineers working on four models that they have designed and built. - 'If you need it, use it' - The aim is to make as many as possible. But first they need to be tested and calibrated, something that began on Wednesday in a Montevideo hospital. Compared to ventilators made by specialist companies, which cost around $20,000 each, these can be made for as little as $1,200. And so far, Uruguay has time on its side. In a country of 3.5 million people, there have been just 550 cases and 12 deaths. It's afforded the country time to build a "more sophisticated" ventilator, said Canessa. Fernanda Blasina, director of the neonatology department at the University of the Republic hospital in Montevideo, says intensive care tests are being carried out on a newborn piglet to "evaluate treatments and different equipment." And while Canessa acknowledges the government may be skeptical about ventilators made "in a garage" -- "when the people are desperate, the public health ministry will have to use it." "My obligation as a citizen is to say: I have this, if it's useful; if you need it, use it."
Dhaka: Bangladesh Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momin says that Bangladesh will not allow hundreds of Rohingya Muslims trapped in the sea on its southeastern coast, despite calls from the United Nations and human rights groups on granting refugees entry. Bangladesh Foreign Minister Momin while talking to a news channel said, "We have decided that now we will not allow Rohingya to come. "

US FDA gives statement on use of this drug for corona treatment

He further said that this has been done in view of the condition of coronavirus. We cannot accept any person in the areas we want to protect. He said that earlier also he had allowed a batch of Rohingya Muslims who were caught in the Bay of Bengal. After this, more boats are in the process of entering Bangladesh. Amnesty International reported that local fishermen spotted boats carrying around 500 refugees on Tuesday in the Bay of Bengal near Cox's Bazar district. On this, an area border-police commander had said that continuous patrolling was being done to keep an eye on the vehicles going towards the coast of the district.

America gets a little relief from Corona, records lowest of last three weeks

According to reports, about 500 Rohingya, including women, men and children, were spotted in the Bay of Bengal on Wednesday in two fishing boats after being chased by Malaysian authorities. A week earlier, on April 15, about 400 Rohingya refugees arrived in Bangladesh in another ferry. The Bangladesh government is reluctant to allow them to enter the country due to fear of coronavirus infection.

China's statement on 'Vet market', says "There is no such market here"
SPRINGFIELD  City officials say they are disappointed that a coronavirus testing program targeting the homeless has yet to begin despite having a tent triage area and testing kits.

Helen Caulton-Harris, the citys health commissioner, said about 10 homeless people with symptoms have been tested in the past week, but large-scale testing of homeless people is temporarily on hold.

The delay is due to a union issue, Caulton-Harris said, adding that she could not be more specific. She said she anticipates being able to reveal a testing plan on Monday.

I am disappointed that we have not been able to test the asymptomatic individuals who are homeless, Caulton-Harris said. A part of wanting to have the test kits is so that we could determine the penetration of the virus in the homeless community.

City councilors including Jesse Lederman and council President Justin Hurst said they are also disappointed and had hoped the testing would have begun much earlier. Both said there has been testing of homeless people in Boston and Worcester that has shown concerning rates of infection.

I definitely believe that we need to expedite widespread universal testing of the homeless population, Lederman said. We also need to give access to testing to shelter workers and volunteers."

Testing at a homeless shelter in Boston showed there was a large number of COVID-19-positive residents, described by one official as stunning.

Testing at the Pine Street Inn in Boston showed that 146 of the 397 people tested were positive but asymptomatic, WBUR reported.

Springfields three-tent triage area on Worthington Street, directly across the street from the Friends of the Homeless shelter and resource center, was erected at the beginning of April. It is intended for testing, treatment and services for the homeless, including isolation for those testing positive for COVID-19.

The maximum occupancy of the tents so far has been about a dozen homeless people, Caulton-Harris said. She said she was aware of one known COVID-19-positive case.

The city paid nearly $400,000 to construct and equip the tent triage area, and will be seeking federal disaster reimbursement, officials said.

Following delays, the city announced on April 15 that it had received 300 test kits for the homeless, aided by U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal. After those kits were received, the city was hoping to begin testing of the homeless this past week.

We can only understand the prevalence (of COVID-19) if we are able to test asymptomatic individuals, Caulton-Harris said.

Lederman said the homeless population is at greater risk because of the possibility of preexisting health conditions, and because they lack independent shelter and the ability to maintain safe distances from others at shelters.

Hurst said city councilors are extremely concerned that a testing program for the homeless has not yet begun.

Its incumbent upon us to ensure that our most vulnerable population who dont have the ability to socially distance themselves get tested, Hurst said. If Boston can do it and test 800, we should be able to do it as well and in a timely fashion.

The city has been working with multiple organizations to assist with the tent triage area and testing program, including Health Services for the Homeless. A representative for the Health Services organization could not be reached for comment Friday afternoon.
From travelogues to films and even webcams, Neil Simpson reveals how you can still explore the world from your own home during the lockdown.

Seeing the sights of Europe was a far more glamorous affair in the early 1960s, so take a step back into that golden age in the sun-drenched movie thriller The Two Faces Of January. A couple of wealthy American tourists, played by Viggo Mortensen and Kirsten Dunst, drift from one glorious setting to another, including the Acropolis in Athens, clifftop ruins in Crete, and the minarets and markets of Istanbul.

The 2014 film is based on a Patricia Highsmith novel, so theres darkness amid the sun. But like the adaptation of her better-known The Talented Mr Ripley, starring Matt Damon, Jude Law and Gwyneth Paltrow, the real stars here are the scenery and the sparkling sea.

Golden age: Viggo Mortensen and Kirsten Dunst tour Europe in The Two Faces Of January

For a travelogue with a much lighter touch, turn to a very different American author: Bill Bryson. His classic book Notes From A Big Country from the 1990s (first published as columns in The Mail on Sunday) still paints a perfect picture of his homeland.

His description of cheap American motels, where he says that it feels perfectly normal to be woken at 3am by a female voice screaming Honey, put down the gun and give me the baby, is a joy. Its now available as a paperback, e-book or audiobook.

Keep smiling as you explore the stunning landscapes and wide- open spaces of Finland online. The countrys tourist board sprinkles plenty of humour amid the glorious photographs that are on display at visitfinland.com.

The Find The Finn In You section generates your Finnish name (Im now Sampo Sammalkorpi) and tells you what the words mean. Scroll on to read all about Santa Claus, saunas and the six steps to be happy like a Finn before researching the perfect igloo, ice-hotel, treehouse or cottage for a future trip.

A desert island might feel like the ideal place to ride out the storm of lockdown  and the BBC Sounds app offers The Food Programme: Stranded! How To Eat On A Desert Island.

Research the perfect igloo, ice-hotel, treehouse or cottage to stay in for a future trip to Finland at VisitFinland.com

It reveals that we neednt go hungry while were there. From seaweed (natures original multi-vitamin) to sea kale, the show explains the restaurant is always open on the beach.

Apparently, there are just three ingredients are needed to recreate the spa experience of a five-star hotel at home. The group of MarBella Collection hotels in Greece has put together a series of simple (if potentially rather messy) face-mask recipes using some honey, bananas and orange juice. Find the recipes, alongside many other Mediterranean-inspired activities, by searching #Athomewithmarbella online.

If those beauty treatments have got you ready for a Zoom close-up with friends, you need to dress the part to stay in the holiday mood. Click on the fashion section of travel gift shop airportag.com for ideas. Its an American site but products can be priced in pounds and sent to the UK. Favourite slogans on T-shirts include Do I Look Like I Fly Economy? and Jet Lag Made Me Do It. Alternatively, pick a shirt that says what most travel-fans are thinking this spring: Id Rather Be Flying.
Since Trump released his Guidelines for Opening Up America Again last week, states have taken differing approaches to determining whether to ease stay-at-home orders and how closely to hew to the recommendations. But the president has also expressed disparate views about his own recommendations in his public remarks  calling for governors to LIBERATE their states one day, and urging continued social distancing the next.
Have Sheriff Offices in North Carolina, possibly even Beaufort County's Sheriff Office, become too political in the discharging of their sworn constitutional duties?

No, the sheriff is a constitutional officer.

Yes, the Sheriff Office, on strong occasion, often reverts back to political patronage in the dispensation of their sworn constitutional duties.
There are early signs that rapid measures to contain the coronavirus are working in four African countries that have imposed the most stringent restrictions on the continent.

Lockdowns in Uganda and Mauritius are flattening the curve, with the number of new infections rising slowly. South Africa and Ghana have recorded new infections amid widespread testing but say they're mitigating the spread of the disease.

"African countries have acted fast to contain the spread of this virus, and this has helped delay the course of the pandemic on the continent," McKinsey & Co. said in a report.

There are now 25,131 cases on the continent of 1.2 billion people, a number the World Health Organization considers a fair reflection of the underlying trend. Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation, has imposed strong containment measures in the commercial hub of Lagos and the capital, Abuja. Ethiopia, which ranks second in population, has declared a state of emergency without a strict lockdown.

"It's important to put in place mitigation measures from the very beginning," said Matshidiso Moeti, WHO regional director for Africa. "And in a number of countries, this is being done."

South Africa's response to the arrival of the coronavirus has kept the number of infections in check, and while it's unlikely the country will escape a surge in cases, scientists advising the government believe they have bought valuable time that will allow hospitals to get prepared. A travel ban came into force 13 days after the first infection was confirmed on March 5, and a lockdown was imposed on March 27. It now has 3,465 cases. Almost 127,000 tests have been conducted out of a population of 59 million.

"The trajectory in South Africa is different from anywhere else," said Salim Abdool Karim, chairman of the Ministerial Advisory Group on the outbreak, in a televised presentation. "We want to focus on the small flames so we never get to the raging flames."

Ghana was the first in sub-Saharan Africa to ban travelers from high-risk countries, on March 15. As cases continued to rise, the government on March 30 put the main cities under lockdown and ramped up screening. The West African nation has tested more than 80,000 people so far, the highest number in the region after South Africa, out of a population of 30 million. Testing includes people who don't show symptoms but are considered at risk.

With 1,024 confirmed cases, President Nana Akufo-Addo lifted the lockdown on Monday but warned it "does not mean we are out of the pandemic," saying stringent social-distancing policies will remain in place. As of Wednesday, 1,154 people had tested positive.

Ghana's presidential adviser on health, Anthony Nsiah-Asare, said at the start of the lockdown that the number of cases would climb.

"When we start testing a lot of people, you will realize that the figure of positives will likely go up," he said. "There is no cause for alarm. It means we're doing our work very well."

Uganda shut its borders and banned commercial flights from March 23, less than 48 hours after the East African country identified its first case. A 14-day lockdown ordered on March 30 has been extended to May 5. Uganda has 61 confirmed cases of the virus, including 45 recoveries, with a majority of people who tested positive having returned from abroad. More than 11,000 people have been tested.

"We shall defeat this virus by protecting our people from its rapid spread," President Yoweri Museveni said last week.

The Indian Ocean island nation of Mauritius confirmed its first three cases of the virus on March 18. A "sanitary lockdown" came into effect two days later, allowing banks, shops and supermarkets to continue operating. This was extended to a complete lockdown on March 25 that closed everything but essential services.

Supermarkets reopened on April 2, but people are only allowed to enter on specific days depending on their surnames and are limited to 30 minutes of shopping. The country has 329 cases, with more than 11,000 people tested out of a population of 1.27 million. 261 people have recovered. Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth says the lockdown may be eased on May 4.

"We have achieved to keep our real infection figures well below figures given to us by prediction models," the government said in an emailed response to questions.
This article offers a break from the endless stream of bad news with ideas on how to brighten up a dreary situation with a little neighborly goodwill.

This article was first published on Stacker
840 sailors on USS Theodore Roosevelt test positive for COVID-19: US Navy

Iran Press TV

Friday, 24 April 2020 5:15 PM

A total of 840 US sailors have tested positive for the coronavirus on the virus-stricken USS Theodore Roosevelt, according to the United States Navy.

In a month, the Navy has tested all of nearly 5,000 sailors. Some 4,098 have been tested negative for the COVID-16. A "small number" of results are still pending, the Navy said in a press release on Friday.

At least 88 sailors have recovered, up from the 63 reported on Thursday.

A total of 4,234 sailors have move from the ship to housing on Naval Base Guam and into hotels in Tamuning and Tumon, the Navy reported.

There were four sailors at the US Naval Hospital and none in the ICU on Friday.

One sailor from the Roosevelt died after testing positive for the virus since the ship pulled into Guam on March 27.

The coronavirus outbreak aboard the Roosevelt became public following the ship's former commander, Capt. Brett Crozier, implored the Navy for help with the epidemic.

Crozier was fired following the leakage of his by then-acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly. He also later on resigned himself.

In the letter, Crozier asked for permission to offload all but 10 percent of the ship's nearly 5,000-person crew.

The Navy said it conducted an investigation into the situation on the Roosevelt.

"My understanding is the Navy completed its investigation last week. They're coming to see me today, tomorrow, I believe, or the next day, and they will back-brief me on their findings, their recommendations," Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Wednesday night on Fox News.

"I'm sure the Navy is going to make the right recommendations, and I will have to assess those, and we'll move forward from there," he added.

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Like countless parents before her, LaTasha Webber worried about her 17-year-old after she signed an age waiver allowing him to enlist in the U.S. Marine Corps. Her son, Charlie Jennings, left for boot camp at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island in South Carolina on Feb. 24, following in the footsteps of his father, who was also a Marine.

The United States had already confirmed its first cases of the novel coronavirus, but President Trump had not yet declared the pandemic a national emergency. The virus didnt top Webbers list of concerns until last month when she heard reports of an outbreak at the base. I kind of freaked out, she said. Oh my gosh, why are they still sending people over there knowing it could start spreading once they send new recruits?

The outbreak prompted Parris Island to stop accepting new recruits on March 30, as it figured out how it was going to train future Marines under the limitations imposed by the coronavirus, which has infected more than 900,000 Americans to date. The problem is one faced by the entire military, which continues to grapple with maintaining a combat-ready force while also weighing the possibility of infection  a risk raised by the confined spaces and close contact that are standard for many units.

On Monday, Parris Island resumed its intake of new recruits as part of a retooled Marine-making system. Routines that are meant to place recruits under extreme duress  such as forcing recruits to quickly shower and eat meals in large groups  have been adjusted to follow social distancing rules. Some training events, like martial arts classes, have been moved to later in the training timeline, or about 30 days after recruits arrive at Parris Island, according to a spokesman, Capt. Bryan McDonnell. He said that while the Marine Corps is taking precautions to protect new arrivals, they will experience the same training all Marines before them have undergone.
Local YMCAs and childcare organizations are partnering with local schools to help continue education while also taking care of essential workers children.

In March, immediately following Gov. Browns Stay home, save lives executive order, our local YMCAs took the lead and worked as a part of a community-wide effort to create an emergency response program to provide childcare for essential workers.

Theres a site location in Phoenix-Talent school district, in Medford, Central Point and Eagle Point, said Brad Russell, Executive Director of Rogue Valley YMCA, thats in conjunction with the school districts, the medical organizations, with Kid Time Childrens Museum; its really a collaboration.

Every morning both staff and children in the program have their temperature taken upon arrival.

The first week, on average, we were only about 20 children and now, on average, theres about 60 or 70 spread over four different school districts, said Russell.

Children in the program are placed in small stable groups that include one staff member and up to 9 kids, there are no more than 10 people to a group.

Right now, YMCA is working through their partnership with local schools to help continue education.

We're helping them with their assignments and their teacher meetings so their parents that are in the medical field and are working 12-hour shifts don't have to then go home and spend 3 hours working on homework with their kids, said Kelsey Rittenhouse, Senior Program Director with the Ashland YMCA.

No child will be turned away from the program because they cant afford to pay. Parents will be asked where they are employed to ensure they are essential workers, as defined by Homeland Security.

If they can contribute to the cost of this expensive service then they do but if they cant then we are grateful for some of our partners, Asante and Providence, Leightman Maxey Foundation, United Way, Jackson Care Connect has been a huge help and contributor to close the gap on some of the funding, said Russell.

If someone does need assistance in any way, they just let us know what they can pay and we work it out with our scholarship fund, said Rittenhouse, we are currently applying for grants and small business loans and then we have redirected our United Way funding to our emergency childcare program.

While the emergency response program has been a success, Russell says theyre prepared with a plan in place as soon as Gov. Brown eases some of the current social distancing restrictions and gives the green light for businesses to open back up.

We are ready to deploy flexible drop-in childcare once the restrictions ease up, said Russell, Right now, its an emergency response and then there will be a drop-in childcare response and then well be able to return to our traditional programming which is the preschool after school camp, all the fun youth activities that people know the YMCA to provide.

Right now, were still hoping that our summer camps are going to start on June 8 and we have had registration open since the beginning of April, said Rittenhouse, When this order is lifted were going to continue with our small grouping and were going to continue taking temperatures for any children or staff in the program, we also have a series of questions that we ask.

Rittenhouse says another thing they plan to continue is their partnership with local schools to help bridge the gap in education.

What were focusing on working with the school district is incorporating more of a summer learning-loss program with our camps, said Rittenhouse, reading, math, different games that we can get the kids involved with during camp so that way it will still be the fun experience of camp but we do really want to help with the spring and summer learning-loss.

If you would like to donate to Rogue Valley YMCA click HERE.

If you would like to donate to Ashland YMCA click HERE.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-26 03:27:28|Editor: huaxia

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KHARTOUM, April 25 (Xinhua) -- Sudan on Saturday reported a record single-day increase of 39 COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number in the country to 213.

Meanwhile, one death from the coronavirus was also recorded, taking the death toll to 17, the health ministry said in a statement.

Among the new cases were 36 in Khartoum State, while the remaining three were registered in the states of Red Sea, Gezira and Central Darfur respectively, according to the statement.

The ministry also announced the recovery of five patients, bring the total number of recoveries to 19.

On April 18, the capital Khartoum imposed a full curfew as part of the measures to stem the virus spread. Enditem
Luke Sharrett /Bloomberg

Chevron, which has a long history of supporting communities, particularly in times of need, has donated $110,000 in fuel gift cards to first responders, food banks and kitchens and nonprofits in the Permian Basin.

Fuel gift card recipients include nonprofits such as Meals on Wheels, which are relying on their staff and volunteers to deliver essential meals to seniors in need. Other organizations include area food pantries such as the Ward County Greater Works Food Pantry, fire departments like the Greenwood Volunteer Fire Department in Midland County, and police and sheriff departments across the Permian.
Two teams of the Union government on Saturday met local officials in Ahmedabad and Surat districts of Gujarat where the number of coronavirus cases has risen sharply in the last few days.

Two inter-ministerial central teams (IMCT) headed by Additional Secretary-level officers visited Ahmedabad and Surat Saturday to assess the COVID-19 situation, officials said.

On Friday, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had said the situation in these two emerging hotspots in Gujarat as well as in Thane, Hyderabad and Chennai was "especially serious".

The central teams met the collector, municipal commissioner and police commissioner among other officials in Ahmedabad and Surat.

Ahmedabad Municipal Commissioner Vijay Nehra said the visiting officials expressed satisfaction over the AMC's response to the outbreak.

"We had a detailed discussion with the central team. They were given all the information. They expressed satisfaction, and said steps regarding active surveillance and aggressive testing adopted by AMC will be made exemplary so the central government could share it with other cities," he said.

The central team officials discussed measures taken in containment zones in central and south zones of the city, and later visited SVP Hospital where coronavirus patients are being treated.

In Surat, the team also visited a gymkhana where food is prepared for distribution to 30,000-35,000 people daily during lockdown.

The central team also visited the COVID-19 control room of the Surat Municipal Corporation, officials said.

Coronavirus cases in Ahmedabad crossed 2,000-mark to reach 2,003 on Saturday, while in Surat the number went up to 496, with 182 and 34 new cases, respectively.

The teams had been sent by the Union government to make on-the-spot assessment of the situation and issue necessary directions to state authorities and submit a report to the Centre.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
GRANTS PASS, Ore --- A Dutch Bros employee is the latest to test positive for the coronavirus according to a statement on the company's website.

Dutch Bros learned of the new case Friday night. The person works at the shop located on 7th street. They began to experience symptoms two days before testing positive.

The person worked several shifts prior, and the company has identified coworkers who have had direct contact with the individual. They are self-isolating and are on paid leave.

The shop will begin deep cleaning as a precaution, and are in contact with health officials. Anyone with questions or concerns is asked to contact the community wellness department on the company's website.
Developer Johnny Ronan has failed for a third time to secure planning permission for additional floors to Salesforce Tower in Dublin's docklands.

It has the capacity to deliver an additional 1,000 jobs to the 3,500 Salesforce has already earmarked for the development at Spencer Dock.

Construction work was continuing on Salesforce Tower until the Covid-19 restrictions shut down building sites.

Salesforce's 450,000sq ft EMEA HQ is the largest letting in the history of the State and there was an additional 100,000sq ft that Mr Ronan's RGRE Group was seeking planning for. Mr Ronan's planning battle for the additional floors, to bring one of the towers to 12 storeys, has been continuing since January of last year.

In response to the latest application, Dublin City Council found an additional three storeys above the permitted maximum heights for the area "would be unduly dominant and visually incongruous when viewed in the context of the existing quayscape on North Wall Quay".

However, Mr Ronan is not giving up in the battle as his RGRE group is understood to be considering lodging a fourth planning application.

It is understood the key to this is whether An Bord Pleanala decides to approve amendments to the Special Development Zone (SDZ) planning scheme for North Lotts and Grand Canal Dock. These were proposed by the council in May 2019, and would allow heights on the Salesforce site up to 12 storeys.

The third application was submitted on the basis the amendments would be made. However, the revised scheme has yet to be approved.

In planning documentation, RGRE stated "the increase in height is no different to already permitted developments in Dublin's Docklands".
WHO reports fivefold increase in cyber attacks

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 08:56, April 24, 2020

GENEVA, April 23 (Xinhua) -- The World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday warned that the number of cyber attacks against it is now more than five times of that directed at the organization in the same period last year.

Saying in a media statement issued Thursday, WHO said that this week, some 450 active WHO email addresses and passwords were leaked online along with thousands belonging to others working on the novel coronavirus response.

"The leaked credentials did not put WHO systems at risk because the data was not recent. However, the attack did impact an older extranet system, used by current and retired staff as well as partners," it said.

The organization said that it is now migrating affected systems to a more secure authentication system.

What's more, WHO said that scammers impersonating in its emails have also increasingly targeted the general public in order to channel donations to a fictitious fund and not the authentic COVID-19 Solidary Response Fund.

WHO asks the public to remain vigilant against fraudulent emails and recommends the use of reliable sources to obtain factual information about COVID-19 and other health issues.

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As the world is compelled to be under home arrest due to the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic, cases of domestic violence have increased globally. As many as 4,093 arrests pertaining to domestic abuse have been made in the United Kingdom's capital London since the start of the COVID-19 restrictions in the city in March with an average of nearly 100 calls a day. Also, reports of domestic violence in London have risen by a third in the last six weeks, police said on Friday speaking to international media.

4,093 arrests for domestic abuse offences

"In the six weeks up to April 19, officers across London had made 4,093 arrests for domestic abuse offences - nearly 100 a day on average - and domestic abuse calls have risen by around a third in the last six weeks," the Metropolitan Police of London (Met) said in a press release on Friday (local time).

"The number of recorded domestic abuse incidents has also seen a small year-on-year rise - there were 17,275 incidents recorded between March 9 and April 19; a 9 per cent increase on the same period in 2019," it added.

READ | UK Govt Pledges 2 Mn To Help Domestic Abuse Victims Amid COVID-19 Lockdown

READ | Chelsea Partner With Domestic Abuse Charity

Commander Sue Williams, the Met's lead for safeguarding, said, "The COVID-19 restrictions and 'stay at home' instruction is vital to managing this public health crisis, but unfortunately it has also left current and potential victims of domestic abuse even more vulnerable and isolated."

"I want to stress that the Met is still here for Londoners - no-one who is experiencing domestic abuse should feel that they have to suffer in silence," she added.

Sophie Linden, Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime talked about the increase of abuse-related call and said, "Evidence from around the world has shown that 'lockdown' restrictions have led to a rise in domestic abuse cases and we have seen an increase in calls to helplines across the UK."

READ | Australia Announces $100 Million To Tackle Coronavirus-related Domestic Abuse

READ | 'Please Report': Celebrities Join Fight Against Domestic Violence Amid Nationwide Lockdown

Countering domestic abuse in India

More than 50 helplines have been started across India to provide succour to women facing domestic violence during the ongoing lockdown. Anyone can call on these helplines to lodge complaints of domestic abuse against women anywhere in the country. While some of these helplines are active nationally, some are state-specific and others were set up at district level. The helplines are run by police, women welfare departments and NGOs working for the rights of women. There are two numbers to provide help to the women through psychologists -- 9000070839 and 0402760531. Several celebrities from the film fraternity like Dia Mirza, Vidya Balan, Farhan Akhtar, Madhuri Dixit Nene, Virat Kohli, Anushka Sharma stepped up and raised their voice against such acts. The celebrities had come up with a video clip conveying a message to all the men to stand up against this violence and encouraged the women that now is the time to break their silence.

United Nations calls for 'peace at home'

Earlier this month, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had called upon governments around the world to take steps in order to curb domestic violence cases that have witnessed a surge amid pandemic. The UN chief made an appeal for peace at home around the world emphasising that lockdowns and quarantines are necessary for suppressing the coronavirus, however, it can trap women with abusive partners. He added that there has been a horrifying global surge in domestic violence as economic and social pressures and fear have grown due to the pandemic.

(With inputs from agencies)
LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WFLI)At several Franciscan Health locations in Greater Lafayette people are giving thanks to health care workers through a gratitude wall.

Located in each of Franciscan Health hospitals notes, drawings, cards and more are on the wall to show appreciation. Items on the wall will be updated regularly and staff are encouraged to go to the wall for a moment of quiet, where they can recharge their batteries.

Frontline worker at Franciscan Health Amy Helms said it's really encouraging knowing that people care.

"I think just feeling that there's people on the outside thinking of us all the time just means a lot," said Helms.

Franciscan Health is asking the community to help fill the Gratitude Walls with notes and cards.

You can send your notes, cards and drawings for the Walls of Gratitude here:

For Franciscan Health Lafayette East, Crawsfordsville & Rennselaer Hospitals contact:

Sandy Howarth, Foundation- 1501 Hartford Street, Lafayette, IN, 47904

Items for the wall of gratitude can also be sent via email to: Sandra.Howarth@franciscanalliance.org

Families can also donate to Franciscan Health's preparedness and response fund by clicking here.
Two militants and a hardcore militant associate were killed in an encounter with security forces in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday, police said.

Security forces launched a cordon-and-search operation in the Goripora area of Awantipora in the south Kashmir district in the early hours of Saturday after receiving specific information about the presence of some militants there, a police official said.

The search operation turned into an encounter after the militants fired upon the forces, who retaliated, he said.

In the ensuing gunfight, two militants and one hardcore associate of the militants were killed, the official said.

He said searches were going on in the area and further details were awaited.

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Boeing announced Saturday it was pulling out of a $4.2 billion deal to acquire the commercial plane division of its Brazilian rival Embraer.

The companies had planned to form a joint venture in which Boeing would take an 80 percent stake in that division. The deal had been due to be finalized no later than Friday.

But Boeing said Saturday it was exercising its right to pull out of a preliminary deal reached in July 2018. It said in a statement, Embraer did not satisfy the necessary conditions.

Boeing has worked diligently over more than two years to finalize its transaction with Embraer, said Marc Allen, the Boeing executive who led the joint venture plan.

He said that over the past several months the companies held extensive talks on what he terms unsatisfied conditions in the initial accord.

We all aimed to resolve those by the initial termination date, but it didnt happen, Allen said, without explaining what the unresolved issues were.

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An extraordinary leaked document from the Spanish Labour Ministry, led by Podemos minister Yolanda Diaz, states that the Spanish government accepts that 70 percent of the population will become infected with COVID-19, with one third of employees infected at each workplace. That is, the Spanish government is basing its policies, including its forcing of millions of nonessential workers back to work, on its willingness to accept millions of infections and hundreds of thousands of deaths in Spain.

On Wednesday, the private Spanish wire serve Europa Press reported on a leaked contract from the Public State Employment Service, an agency of the Labour Ministry, with Quiron Prevencion, an occupational risk prevention company. The state service was hiring Quiron Prevencion to test its employees doing essential work related to COVID-19s economic impact, like processing unemployment claims and temporary redundancies. The department has experienced a number of sick leaves due to COVID-19 in the past month.

To justify applying for the emergency contract, the agency stated: [T]he experience accumulated in recent weeks shows that the appearance of a case among the staff who provide minimum services may indicate contagion to other workers. This makes it necessary to take measures to find out, on a voluntary basis, whether or not those in contact with our staff are infected or not in order to prevent their return to work, or to do so in a safe way so they dont transmit the virus.

It continued, stressing that COVID-19 testing is necessary given that almost all workplaces will present a case, the transmission ratio is approximately 1 to 3 and the health authorities forecast is that around 70 percent of the population will be infected in the coming months.

This is the first public acknowledgment of the infection forecasts being made by Spains Socialist Party (PSOE)-Podemos government. These estimates signify that around 70 percent of Spains population of 47 million, or 33 million people, will be infected. Based on the 3.4 percent case fatality rate for COVID-19 estimated by the World Health Organization (WHO), this means the PSOE and Podemos accept that around 1.1 million people would die.

By way of historical comparison, current estimates are that the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) led to approximately 500,000 deaths from all causes: deaths in combat, bombings and executions, as well as disease, famine and other causes. About 3.3 percent of the Spanish population died in the war, with another 7.5 percent being injured.

Such a massive and horrific death toll irrevocably marked the consciousness of the working class. Eighty years later, Spain still remembers the suffering provoked by the military-fascist coup that sparked the war. Countless paintings, statues, memorials and songs commemorate this historical event. It is estimated that 20,000 books have been written on the civil war.

Now, however, the Spanish government is acceptingin the fine print of a contract for an agency most Spaniards have never heard ofthat over twice the number of victims of the Spanish Civil War could die.

This response exposes the bankruptcy and criminality of the capitalist system. The key measures to halt the spread of the virus are lockdown, mass testing, and isolation and treatment of the sick. Workers in essential industries who must continue working need personal protective equipment like face protection (masks, goggles and face-shields), gloves, gowns or other clothing. However, the ruling class systematically pushes to run business as usual, risking millions of lives in order to railroad workers back to work to produce profits for the banks and major corporations.

In particular, the Labour Ministrys revelations about the PSOE-Podemos governments infection projections make clear the political criminality of the governments back-to-work order issued on April 13. Millions of construction workers, metalworkers, builders, cleaners, factory and shipyard workers, sanitation and security employees, autoworkers and other workers at nonessential jobs returned to work, after factories and construction sites had closed for a two-week shelter-at-home period.

This policy, advanced by the government in collaboration with the social-democratic General Union of Labour (UGT) and the Stalinist Workers Commissions (CCOO) unions, is needlessly and recklessly exposing millions to infection. Now it is clear that the government bases this policy on a staggering indifference to human life: it is willing to accept the deaths of hundreds of thousands of workers.

To a remarkable extent, this explosive story has been buried in Spanish media. There has been barely any coverage except for few right-wing newspapersLa Razon, El Confidencial and ABCwhich posted back-page coverage, buried amid their right-wing criticisms of the government over the pandemic. While these papers downplayed the story, pro-government papers like El Pais and eldiario.org kept silent, as they all support the governments back-to-work policy. All agree that workers must be forced back to work so profits can be extracted, placing profits over lives.

The fact that this policy is acknowledged by the Ministry of Labour, which is under a Podemos minister, underscores the vicious hostility of anti-Marxist populist parties to the working class. Podemos Greek ally, Syriza, took power and imposed billions of euros in cuts to spending on basic social programmes including pensions, health care and education, shredding basic labour rights and building concentration camps for refugees. Podemos, now that it is in government, is deliberately sending millions of workers to be infected by a deadly virus.

On Wednesday evening, the ministry said the percentage that it had cited in its contract was inaccurate and a misunderstanding. Trying to explain away the inaccuracy, it said that it did not have a forecast for the number of infections in Spain. Instead, transmission rates and also the incidence of cases in the Spanish population will be determined by Spanish health authorities as a result of epidemiological studies that they are realizing, and that are in fact slated to start on Monday.

This reply is astonishing and strains credulity. If one is to believe the Ministry of Labour, however, three months after the WHO mission to China reported human-to-human transmission, and seven weeks since the WHO declared COVID-19 a pandemic, one of the countries hardest hit by the virus, with over 22,000 deaths, has still made no forecast of how the pandemic would unfold. Such an argument beggars belief, and strongly suggests that top state officials are simply lying to the public.

If it were to be true, however, it would underscore that the governments back-to-work policy was not based on any scientific assessment or attempt to protect the workforcebut simply a blind demand for workers to go back to work and risk their lives to create profits for the capitalist class.
College students who left their campuses in droves as stay-at-home orders rolled in were often met with a whole new financial reality.

They had to relocate in a hurry, racking up unexpected travel and moving costs. Their rented apartments, dorm rooms and meal plans are now going unused. They may have lost a job or left one behind. They may need broadband access or even a new computer to complete the semester remotely.

To top it off, the home they go to may be facing financial straits of its own.

By week three of the coronavirus pandemic, half of college students and college-bound high school seniors said their familys finances had been affected, according to a survey of 1,000 students by SimpsonScarborough, a higher education marketing and research firm in Alexandria, Virginia. With millions losing their jobs each week, that number has only grown since.

Here are three ways those students can find some help.

Get a refund from your school

Those who had to move out of dorms early will likely get a refund for room and board  the coronavirus relief act allocated money to colleges specifically for this purpose. You can expect a prorated amount, not the full cost you paid for the semester. Your college financial aid office will have information on how to receive a refund.

The funds you get back can be used to pay for any education-, travel- or living-related expenses youve incurred as a result.

But if your room and board was paid through a student loan and you dont need the refund to make ends meet, consider returning it. Making a payment now prevents interest from accruing in the time before repayment officially begins. Contact your student loan servicer, the company that manages your loan, or private lender to make a payment with your refund.

Seek emergency aid from your college

The Department of Education is sending billions of dollars to colleges through the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund authorized by the coronavirus relief act. Approximately $6.28 billion is specifically intended for colleges to distribute to students in the form of emergency cash grants. The grants can be used to pay for education-related technology and supplies, housing, food, child care and health care, the Education Department says.

We are turning around applications very quickly, but its up to the schools how they choose to get the funding to their students, says an Education Department spokesperson in an email. So far about half of eligible schools have applied to receive the grant funding, according to the department.

You are eligible to receive an emergency grant whether or not you filed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Its unclear if schools will require the FAFSA from those who didnt complete it previously in order to receive the aid.

Some may do a more blanket approach for students who get need-based aid, like a Pell Grant, while others might require an application, says Ben Miller, vice president for postsecondary education at the Center for American Progress, a public policy research organization. I could see some doing a balance where some is automatic and some is held back for an application.

Most schools are still in the early stages of figuring out distribution, but some have a plan.

At Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, for example, students with previously identified financial need will receive $1,100 each from the $2.8 million the school will receive. About 20% of the population will qualify, Vanderbilt estimates.

At the University of Connecticut, students are being instructed to email the financial aid office, which triggers a review of their new financial need, according to Stephanie Reitz, university spokesperson and manager of media relations.

Your school may also have its own emergency fund established. These programs typically require students to apply.

At State University of New York at Cortland, a student emergency fund was created and funded by donor gifts. So far the school has received just under 200 applications and authorized around $36,500 in emergency assistance grants to students for food, rent and technology, says Frederic Pierce, director of communications at the college.

The type of emergency and size of awards will likely vary, says Miller, but the common thread will be an ability to demonstrate that need stems, in some way, from impacts of the coronavirus.

Only students eligible to receive federal financial aid can receive the funding, which leaves those in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program and international students unable to tap this resource.

Update your FAFSA form

Your familys finances may have looked a lot different when you submitted the FAFSA. But the form you submitted isnt permanent; you can make changes and receive aid retroactively, even if you already received your financial aid award.

To update the information reported, log in to FAFSA.gov and submit changes under Make FAFSA Corrections. Or you can contact your schools financial aid office and ask them to make changes for you, especially if there will be a significant change in your or your parents income this school year, or if there are any other family circumstances to report that the FAFSA form doesnt require.

The deadline to make updates is June 30 after the school year you need aid. For the 2019-20 school year, thats June 30, 2020.

If youre thinking about how youre going to pay for school next year and you already received a financial aid award, you can file an appeal. Make sure to include a specific amount youre asking for and reasoning for your request in your appeal.

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Anna Helhoski is a writer at NerdWallet. Email: anna@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @AnnaHelhoski.
Australian coronavirus victims won't get a cent from China for covering up the severity of the deadly disease because the nation is immune from litigation.

Multiple class action lawsuits have been launched in the U.S. for trillions of dollars involving thousands of victims in more than 40 countries.

However, they are doomed to fail because governments are immune from civil litigation under international treaties.

Australian National University law professor Donald Rothwell said as a result, the prospect of success in a lawsuit against China was close to nonexistent.

President Xi Jinping must answer tough questions over China's actions on Covid-19, as lawyers in the US prepare to sue the nation for 'trillions' of dollars over the coronavirus outbreak

'The Chinese Communist Party enjoys very broad immunity, as does any state, so getting around that would be exceptionally difficult,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

This has not stopped American lawyers launching massive class actions along with a separate lawsuit by the U.S. state of Missouri.

The class action, which involves thousands of claimants from 40 countries including Britain and the US, was filed in Florida last month.

A caller to 2GB radio on Wednesday night said he had signed up to the class action and the Australian Government should also go after China.

'How we look to paying for all of this after it's over, the first thing we should look to is going after Communist China and its companies here, because they clearly lied to the world,' he said.

'Think about it, $320 billion of our money and we don't know what the death toll is going to be or the health implications for those who recover.

'When the government says they want to increase my taxes, I'll say 'what are you going to recover from Communist China and its assets here?''

Australia has 6,660 coronavirus cases and 76 deaths so far, more than a million people have lost their jobs, and the economic hit will be many billions of dollars

Australia has 6,660 coronavirus cases and 76 deaths so far, more than a million people have lost their jobs, and the economic hit will be many billions of dollars.

A report by British think-tank the Henry Jackson Society claimed China could be used for $6.42 trillion by the G7 nations alone - $37 billion for Australia.

The U.S. legal claim was launched by Berman Law Group, a Miamibased firm that employs the brother of Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden as an adviser.

Chief strategist Jeremy Alters said: 'China's leaders must be held accountable for their actions. Our goal is to expose the truth.'

Three years ago, the firm won a US$1.2 billion case against China over the manufacture of defective building materials.

A second case launched this month on behalf of healthcare workers accuses China of hoarding life-saving medical supplies.

Another action is from an Israeli human rights lawyers that specialises in suing states for terrorism.

Lawyers argue that although nations have legal immunity, there are exceptions under U.S. law for personal or property damages and for actions abroad that impact on businesses in their own borders.

However, Yale University law professor and former U.S. Supreme Court clerk Stephen L Carter shot down this suggestion, along with any other loopholes, as the sovereign immunity provision is bulletproof.

'The government of China is protected by the doctrine of sovereign immunity, and the regime's undoubted misconduct does not constitute sufficient grounds for a waiver,' he wrote in a Bloomberg column.

A woman wearing a protective mask is seen past a portrait of Chinese President Xi Jinping on a street as the country is hit with fresh accusations

Prospects are far better for the more than 600 victims of the Ruby Princess debacle as the cruise operator could be accused of breaching its duty of care.

Professor Rothwell said the best bet was to sue Princess Cruises or its parent company Carnival in U.S. courts.

'American passengers have not only become infected but some have died,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

BRITS FEEL CHINA SHOULD PAY Nearly three-quarters of Britons think the UK should sue the Chinese Communist Party for compensation over its handling of Covid-19, a poll reveals. The survey also finds that only a quarter support the Government's plans to allow controversial Chinese tech giant Huawei a role in building Britain's 5G network. In the Survation poll of 1,001 people last week, 71 per cent said Britain should pursue China through the international courts. Calls for an international inquiry into China's handling of the outbreak were backed by 83 per cent, while 74 per cent blamed China for the pandemic. On a future role for Huawei, 40 per cent of those surveyed opposed the move, with just 23 per cent in favour. Advertisement

'So an international class action through the U.S. courts would be the most obvious way to go because they are sympathetic to these types of claims and the prospects of success are very strong.'

Professor Rothwell said Australians should be able to join them, provided they can prove a relevant connection and were able to travel to the U.S.

However, he said it would be difficult to prove claimants caught coronavirus from being on the ship as it stopped in New Zealand, and many passengers also travelled home interstate after disembarking in Sydney Harbour.

'A better question is what duty of care did Princess Cruises have towards passengers?' he said.

Chung Chen, 64, died on April 4 in Los Angeles after getting coronavirus during the cruise and his family has already filed a $1.6 million lawsuit in U.S. courts.

'If [the] plaintiffs had knowledge of the actual risk of exposure prior to boarding, they would have never boarded the ship, and they would've boarded the first flight out of Australia and returned home,' the lawsuit said.

Sydney couple Michael Dobrin, an 82-year-old Holocaust survivor, and his wife Rona, 75, both contracted coronavirus on board and said they wanted to sue.

Ms Dobrin said the crew never told passengers the virus might be on the ship even after swabbing 13 potential cases for testing in Sydney.

'We would have isolated ourselves in the cabin if we'd known. We're not spring chickens, we're high risk,' she told Daily Mail Australia.

Prospects are far better for the more than 600 victims of the Ruby Princess (pictured) debacle as the cruise operator could be accused of breaching its duty of care

Chung Chen, 64, died on April 4 in Los Angeles from COVID-19 after travelling on the Ruby Princess, which finished it's voyage in Sydney. Pictured with his wife and daughter

'People have been let off the ship, with no testing, flying all over the place without knowing they might have it.

'I'm seething with bloody rage. Princess Cruises has a lot to answer for. We should all start a class action lawsuit.'

China faces accusations that it suppressed data, blocked several outside teams of public health experts and silenced doctors trying to warn about the epidemic when it broke out late last year.

It has also not been established if the source of the virus was a market selling live exotic animals, as first claimed, or if it is linked to research laboratories in Wuhan.

Plaintiffs on the Florida class action include Olivier Babylone, 38, an estate agent from Croydon, South London, whose income has fallen by two-thirds and who was treated in hospital earlier this month for the virus.

Michael Dobrin, an 82-year-old Holocaust survivor, and his wife Rona, 75, caught coronavirus on the Ruby Princess and claim the cruise ship kept them in the dark about guests who had symptoms on board. They want to sue the cruise company in a class action

He said: 'I have been financially hurt, but many people have lost their lives so I was lucky, and the NHS was fantastic. We need to know who is responsible.'

Joining him in the class action is Lorraine Caggiano, an administrator from New York who caught the virus along with nine other family members after attending a wedding.

Her father and aunt both died last month. She said: 'I am not expecting money. It is a symbolic gesture that we are fighting back.

'I want to know how the world has been turned on its head, with people dying and companies going down the drain. We must make sure it never happens again.'

A second legal case is being prepared by Shurat HaDin, an Israeli law centre that has represented victims of terrorism around the world.

The centre's Aviel Leitner said it would also launch its legal action in the US since 'most other countries would be scared of China's economic weight and retribution'.

The lawyers will argue that Beijing's negligence and reckless behaviour was so bad that, as with terrorism, the state cannot hide behind sovereign immunity.

'China will fight it tooth and nail. If proved negligent, it would be catastrophe for them,' Mr Leitner said.

The state of Missouri also filed a lawsuit against the Chinese government over the coronavirus pandemic, claiming China's officials are to blame for the devastating outbreak that's sweeping the globe.

The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for Eastern Missouri on Tuesday, alleges Chinese officials are 'responsible for the enormous death, suffering, and economic losses they inflicted on the world, including Missourians.'

'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,' Attorney General Eric Schmitt's office said in a written statement. 'They must be held accountable for their actions.'

In Missouri there are over 6,000 cases and over 200 deaths in the the state and one estimate says that coronavirus lockdowns in the state have cost Missouri $44 billion.
With the coronavirus set to be around for some more time, masks could become part of the wellness range of products, as well as a fashion accessory, said entrepreneurs and a brand consultant.

In the hosiery town of Tiruppur several textile units have started making masks to cater to the increasing current demand as well as looking at the future export potential for global brands.

I see it become a part of lifestyle, Uma Prajapati, 50, an entrepreneur-cum-social activist, who built garment company Upasana Design Studio in Auroville in Tamil Nadu told IANS.

Upasana has launched reusable healing masks made of organic cotton fabric as a part of its Therapeutic Clothing line.

Prajapati said Upasana has launched neem infused masks and silver grid masks.

Neem is well known for its detoxifying, anti-allergenic and calming properties. While neems natural dye gives the masks organic hand-woven cotton its characteristic yellow colour, it also carries this amazing plants ayurvedic properties right into the masks fabric, Prajapati said.

She said since ancient times, silver has been used as an anti-pathogenic, cleansing and energising agent.

According to her, the mask made with a special textile woven with a grid of silver thread creates an energetic protection field around the wearers head. Through its air-ionizing action, the grid also reinforces the immune system by eliminating the positive charge of harmful free radicals in the air we breathe.

On the other hand Ami Sata, Founder, Amouve Bedding Private Ltd, looks at the masks made of organic cotton fabric becoming a fashion accessory.

Amouve Bedding is into organic bath towels and bedding products (pillow covers, bed sheets and others) and has donated through city based Agni Foundation 3,000 three layered face masks made of organic cotton.

We have the fabric and there was demand for masks and we made the masks. The good thing about these masks is that unlike any non-woven or poly ones, theyre free of any toxins and safe to breathe in. They are reusable, Sata said.

The company has also provided care packages to several daily wage workers who are struggling during the lockdown period.

Sata said the demand for masks will be there even after the lockdown is lifted and when people start going to office and other places, masks can be a fashion accessory.

Sata said in the coming days malls may not attract footfalls as before and online sales will increase.

According to her, the company will soon launch lower priced products under a sub-brand - Fu Casa- and also get into baby bedding products.

Concurring with the view that masks would become a fashion accessory brand expert Harish Bijoor told IANS: In the beginning the demand for masks will be by force/compulsion. Going forward while the focus on protection will continue to be there, masks will turn fashionable.

He said it will be the trend globally.

Many textile units in Tiruppur have started making masks targeting different segments in the domestic market. They are also looking at export markets, Bijoor said

Tiruppur is a major export hub for hosiery products.

(This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.)

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Active Covid-19 cases down to 45 as five more recover in Hanoi

Five people (front row) in Hanoi's Hospital of Tropical Diseases recover from Covid-19, April 25, 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Chi Le.

Five more Covid-19 patients being treated at Hanoi's National Hospital of Tropical Diseases, have recovered, doctors said Saturday.

The recovered cases bring the country's tally of active infections down to 45, including five relapse cases.

One of them, "Patient 167," is a 20-year-old Danish woman. She landed in Hanoi on March 8, then went on trips to several localities like Ha Giang Province, Hue Town, Da Nang City and Quang Nam Province. She was confirmed positive on March 28.

Two others, "Patient 176" and "Patient 195," are employees of the Truong Sinh company, which provides food and logistic services to several Hanoi hospitals, including the Bach Mai Hospital, which had become the nations top Covid-19 hotspot at one point.

"Patient 176" is a 38-year-old woman from the northern province of Thai Binh who was confirmed positive on March 29. "Patient 195" is a 41-year-old woman in Hanoi's Hoang Mai District. She was confirmed positive on March 30.

The other two, "Patient 253" and "Patient 258," are believed to have contracted the virus, directly or indirectly, from a 47-year-old male Covid-19 patient in Hanoi's Me Linh District, who visited Bach Mai Hospital on March 12. Both reside in Ha Loi Village in Hanoi's Me Linh District, another major Covid-19 hotspot.

"Patient 253" is a 41-year-old sister-in-law of the aforementioned 47-year-old man. She was confirmed positive on April 9.

"Patient 258" is a 47-year-old woman in Ha Loi. The aforementioned 47-year-old man, a friend of her husband, visited her home on March 20. She was confirmed positive on April 11.

As of Friday morning, Vietnam had gone eight straight days clear of new infections. On Friday evening, two new cases were confirmed, both students studying in Japan who returned to Vietnam on April 22. The country recorded no new case Saturday morning.

The Covid-19 pandemic has reached 210 countries and territories with a reported death toll of over 197,700.
Officials say they have contacted thousands of Hongkongers stranded in India under the world's biggest Covid-19 lockdown to pinpoint their locations as a community leader urged the citys chief executive to help bring them home.

With the South Asian nation in the grip of the health crisis, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has extended the drastic restrictions initially imposed in March for three weeks until at least May 3.

Hong Kongs Immigration Department said it was in touch with 2,900 Hong Kong residents trapped there and had collected personal information, including their whereabouts.

The department will continue to contact other residents requesting assistance and will follow up the matter, a spokesman for the authority said, adding it had also contacted 1,500 Hong Kong residents stuck in Pakistan.

Earlier, former president of the India Association Hong Kong, Mohan Chugani, said most of those stranded were Indian nationals, and that about 1,900 of them were permanent Hong Kong identity card holders, while nearly 220 had city passports.

Chugani said last week the Indian consul general told him he wanted to help but could only do so following an official request from the city government because of the Hong Kong status of those trapped in India.

I wrote to the chief executive [Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor] yesterday night, I believe she will reply to us, Chugani said on a radio programme on Friday, adding he heard the lockdown could be extended by another month as the country struggled to control the pandemic.

[People] would rather get infected in Hong Kong than in India to be honest, as the medical service in Hong Kong is many times better than in India.

As of Friday, India had recorded more than 700 coronavirus deaths and 21,000 infections.

Last month, the Hong Kong government issued a red outbound travel alert for all places worldwide  except mainland China, Macau and Taiwan  as the virus swept the globe.

Story continues

Members of the public are strongly encouraged to avoid any non-essential travel outside Hong Kong, with many countries imposing quarantine measures on arrivals.

Chugani said the Indian nationals went there to visit family or travel. The group was scattered around but mostly based in Mumbai and New Delhi.

Mohan Chugani, former president of the India Association Hong Kong. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

Some who were staying in hotels were starting to run out of money, while others needed medicine.

Hong Kongs lawmakers from across the political spectrum have also requested the government stepped in.

Chugani met with John Lee Ka-chiu last Thursday and said the security minister remained non-committal by citing the technical difficulties associated with the airlifts, including finding an airline willing to arrange a chartered flight, the paralysis affecting much of the countrys land transport and the health risk the returnees might pose to Hong Kong.

More from South China Morning Post:

This article Coronavirus: Hong Kong government contacts 2,900 residents stuck in India to pinpoint their locations amid pleas to airlift them home first appeared on South China Morning Post

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Navy Officer Recommends Reinstatement of Fired Carrier Captain

WASHINGTONThe top Navy officer has recommended the reinstatement of the aircraft carrier captain fired for sending a fraught email to commanders pleading for faster action to protect his crew from a CCP virus outbreak, officials familiar with the investigation said Friday.

Adm. Mike Gilday recommended that Navy Capt. Brett Crozier be returned to his ship, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the results of an investigation that have not yet been made public.

If approved, his recommendation would end a drama that has rocked the Navy leadership, sent thousands of USS Theodore Roosevelt crew members ashore in Guam for quarantine, and impacted the fleet across the Pacifica region critical to Americas national security interests.

Gilday met with Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, on Tuesday and with Defense Secretary Mark Esper on Friday morning to lay out his recommendations. An official says Esper has asked for a delay in any public announcement while he considers the recommendation.

Earlier in the day, Espers chief spokesman Jonathan Hoffman had suggested that Esper was going into the matter with an open mind, and said he is generally inclined to support Navy leadership in their decision.

Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.), chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, urged Esper to restore Crozier to command.

While Captain Croziers actions at the outset of the health crisis aboard the TR were drastic and imperfect, it is clear he only took such steps to protect his crew, Smith said in a statement.

Aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt leaves its San Diego, Calif., homeport on Jan. 17, 2020. (U.S. Navy via Getty Images)

The extraordinary episode has captivated a public already overwhelmed by the pandemic. And it has played out as the military copes with the CCP virus by reducing training, scaling back recruiting, and halting troop movements even as it deploys tens of thousands of National Guard and other troops to help civilian agencies deal with virus outbreaks across the country.

Crozier was abruptly removed earlier this month by acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly, who resigned days later.

As of Friday, 856 sailors on the USS Theodore Roosevelt have tested positive for the virus and four are hospitalized. One sailor, who was from Arkansas, has died, and more than 4,200 of the ships nearly 5,000 crew members have been moved onto the island for quarantine.

As that outbreak continues, a second Navy ship at sea is now also reporting a growing number of infections. Navy officials said at least 18 crew members on the USS Kidd naval destroyer have tested positive, and one sailor has been evacuated to the United States. The Kidd, with its crew of 350, is off the Pacific coast of Central America, where it has been operating as part of a U.S. counter-drug mission.

Clearing the aircraft carrier and its crew of the virus has proven to be difficult and complicated. Sailors who test negative after time in quarantine are suddenly showing symptoms a day or two later. The viruss bewildering behavior, which is challenging the broader international medical community, is making it harder to determine when the carrier might be able to return either to duty or head home.

Gildays recommendations were first reported by The New York Times.

Crozier was fired April 2 by Modly after sending an email to several naval officers warning about the growing virus outbreak and asking for permission to isolate the bulk of his crew members on shore.

We are not at war. Sailors do not need to die. If we do not act now, we are failing to properly take care of our most trusted asset, our sailors, Crozier said in the memo that was leaked to the public.

Modly complained that Crozier demonstrated extremely poor judgment in the middle of a crisis, saying the captain copied too many people on the memo, which quickly went public. Modly also asserted that Crozier had improperly allowed sensitive information about the ships condition to become public.

A few days later, Modly flew out to the ship and delivered a profanity-laced condemnation of Crozier over the loudspeaker to the crew. Crozier, he said, may have been too naive or too stupid to be commanding officer of the ship.

Just hours after his comments were widely reported, Modly apologized. But the next day, in the face of widespread criticism, he resigned. Esper initially defended Modlys firing of Crozier, saying he made a very tough decision. But other military leaders, including Gilday, internally opposed the firing, saying an investigation should be conducted first.

Modlys trip to the carrier cost him Espers support. Esper first demanded Modly apologize and a day later accepted his resignation.

President Donald Trump initially blasted Crozier, calling his memo terrible. But a short time later he softened his take, saying he didnt want to destroy someone who may just have had a bad day.

By Lolita C. Baldor And Robert Burns
MIAMI, April 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Cognitus Consulting, LLC (Cognitus) and Kymanox Corporation (Kymanox) have approved a strategic partnership to streamline FDA compliant SAP S/4 HANA solutions for Life Sciences organizations. The joint offering is being branded as "Gallop for Life Sciences  Powered by Kymanox" and will be visible in the SAP ecosystem. Cognitus is primarily responsible for SAP S/4HANA expertise, Integration, and Analytics while Kymanox is primarily responsible for Quality, Validation, and Compliance.

Cognitus Kymanox

Stephen M. Perry, CEO and Founder of Kymanox states, "we are very excited about what this partnership with Cognitus represents to our mutual family of clients and partners. Our industry requires support from competent teams that can lead the migration to compliant and intelligent enterprise environments and ultimately ensure patient safety along the journey."

This partnership leverages a best of breed combination. The feedback from stakeholders is that traditional integrators simply do not practically understand the complexities of working in a highly regulated environment. The Kymanox team lives in those environments every day whether helping with an FDA Warning Letter remediation or working to secure a company's first product approval and Pre-Approval Inspection (PAI).

Nitin Khanna, Senior Vice President and Partner at Cognitus states, "Cognitus is a leader in S/4HANA transformations also SAP Pinnacle Award finalist this year. Together with Kymanox, we will give the SAP Life Sciences community what it needs most, which is real subject matter expertise from a highly qualified team with practical understanding of the complexities our clients are facing."

About Cognitus

Cognitus is an SAP Gold partner that Sells, Services, builds apps in SAP eco-system and maintains SAP solutions. Cognitus provides SAP implementation services and software licenses through its global network of offices across North America, Asia, LATAM, and Europe. Cognitus is a leader in S/4HANA Movement with its Gallop portfolio focusing on S/4HANA assessments, Factory delivered migrations from legacy systems, and guided outcomes for specific business process improvements.

About Kymanox

Kymanox is a premier one-stop solutions provider supporting commercialization of vital medicines and treatments for people to live better, love longer, and GET MORE DONE. Leveraging our corporate DNA of Ideal Knowledge Transfer, our talented team partners with global clients to facilitate development and delivery of products with optimized safety, quality, efficacy, accessibility, and efficiency. As a true life science solutions partner, we operate in the Biotechnology, Pharmaceutical, and Medical Device, and Combination Product industries. We differentiate ourselves by offering a broad range of professional services with turnkey project delivery. We serve clients globally from our headquarters in Durham (RTP), North Carolina and operate branch offices across the US including the areas of Boston, Chicago, and New Jersey.

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China's first Mars exploration mission named Tianwen-1

Global Times

Source:Xinhua Published: 2020/4/24 10:17:52

China's first Mars exploration mission has been named Tianwen-1, announced the China National Space Administration (CNSA) on Friday, China's Space Day.

The name comes from the long poem "Tianwen," meaning Heavenly Questions or Questions to Heaven, written by Qu Yuan (about 340-278 BC), one of the greatest poets of ancient China.

In "Tianwen," Qu Yuan raised a series of questions in verse involving the sky, stars, natural phenomena, myths and the real world, showing his doubts about some traditional concepts and the spirit of seeking the truth.

CNSA said all of China's planetary exploration missions in the future will be named the Tianwen series, signifying the Chinese nation's perseverance in pursuing truth and science and exploring nature and the universe.

CNSA also unveiled the logo of China's planetary exploration missions, featuring the letter C, signifying China, international cooperation and capacity of entering space.

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 is 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.

Zhang Kejian, head of CNSA, said that over the past 50 years, Chinese space engineers and scientists have overcome various difficulties and achieved aerospace development through self-reliance and independent innovation.

He said CNSA is willing to work together with the international community to make new and greater contributions to exploring the mysteries of the universe and promoting human welfare on the basis of equality, mutual benefit, peaceful utilization and inclusive development.



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The coronavirus pandemic has escalated religious persecution against Christians and other minority groups abroad.

Before the coronavirus became a global health crisis, more than 60 countries were already rife with mass surveillance, forced marriages, and violent attacks targeting religious minorities. But while much of the world grinds to a halt during stay-at-home orders, religious persecution is escalating at an alarming pace. The coronavirus is becoming a catalyst for faith-based discrimination internationally.

Days before COVID-19 emerged in Wuhan, China; I was in that region on a fact-finding mission where I witnessed firsthand the outsized efforts of the Chinese regime to curtail the spread of religious ideas they deem threatening. Mass surveillance placed a target on the backs of minorities, including Christians and Uighur Muslims, by reducing their access to education and employment as punishment for their perceived disloyalty.

Christians in China were worshipping under government cameras long before the pandemic began, but now their resilience is tested further. One Wuhan pastor reports they are rising to the challenge of worship and community service under quarantine. A virus cant stop us, he said to Open Doors USA.

My research mission is one of many conducted by Open Doors USA to track religious persecution worldwide. The findings in China are consistent with those in North Korea, Iran, and Pakistan, where Christians are consistently treated as second-class citizens, traitors, and infidels. Now, as the coronavirus ravages the health and livelihoods of all people, Christians and other religious minorities in Asia are facing a new punishment: discriminatory distribution of emergency relief and medical care.

Asia isnt the only offending region. In another hostile country where our organization operates covertly due to religious violence, Christian nurses  who are seen as more expendable  are being assigned to the riskiest coronavirus cases.

We are dispensable, one Christian relief worker told Open Doors. It is very painful to see people neglected and ignored because of their faith. She goes on to explain how she is classified as one of the filthy people because she wears a cross necklace. Health care employees considered loyal to the state-sponsored religion, on the other hand, are assigned the less contagious patients in her facility.

In Somalia, an Islamic extremist group al-Shabaab said, as reported by the BBC, that COVID-19 spreads by the crusader forces who have invaded the country and the disbelieving countries that support them. Their message  that religious minorities are somehow responsible for the outbreak  incites violence toward anyone suspected of disbelief in Islam, in Somalia and surrounding countries.

Open Doors reports that economic discrimination is the second-most prevalent form of persecution toward men in the Middle East and North Africa. As a result, many Christians in the region are forced into low-paid jobs due to religious discrimination. Additionally, those who convert to Christianity from other faiths are often disowned by their families, leaving them without a financial safety net or support system.

Christians in India are under similar pressure. Many were day laborers before the 21-day lockdown, but now they are struggling to even feed their families. The coronavirus crisis has caused significant job loss, leaving many of them without income. The result is a large number of people in urgent need of food, shelter, and medical care.

In total, 25 of the countries currently reporting cases of COVID-19 are on Open Doors 2020 World Watch List, an annual ranking of the worlds worst persecutors of Christians. In each of these contexts, religious minorities face additional barriers  from health care discrimination to reduced access to social services  in battling COVID-19.

Theres no gentle way to say this: Religious persecution is multiplying exponentially in the wake of coronavirus. Yet its critically important to distinguish between religiously-motivated discrimination and the U.S. governmental restrictions to contain the virus.

While this unprecedented suspension of civil rights has businesses, religious leaders, and human rights advocates rightfully wary, the stay-at-home orders appear to be equally shared across all parts of society. For churches and Christians in the U.S., coronavirus isolation is an opportunity to look to persecuted people of faith as a model of how to respond.

The religious minorities that our organization seeks to protect rarely respond defensively, but rather strive to show compassion. They treat the sick, shelter those at risk, provide food to their neighbors, and offer spiritual encouragement to each other  in secret and from a distance  as they have always done.

Perhaps the faith-infused response is for American Christians to use this period of quarantine to remember the more than 200 million Christians worldwide who worship in isolation  before and after the coronavirus. To listen to their cries and learn from their stories. And most of all, to resolve support and advocacy for the beautiful souls who are doubly vulnerable in times of crisis and scarcity.
Orlando Bloom and a host of famous faces have appeared in a spoken word version of Dame Vera Lynne's iconic song We'll Meet Again.

The video, which also includes the likes of Ray Winstone, Gemma Arterton and Billy Connolly, is urging people to stay at home during lockdown to protect the NHS.

The touching clip sees celebrities join frontline workers, as they take it in turns to read out lines from the popular wartime tune.

Emotive: Orlando Bloom and a host of famous faces have appeared in a spoken word version of Dame Vera Lynne's iconic song We'll Meet Again

Other stars who appear in the video include Richard E Grant, Naomie Harris and Ralph Fiennes, as they offer a touching tribute to National Health Service workers.

During the song, London-based doctor Sarah fights back tears as she attempts to recite her line.

Acting legend Ray, 63, said: 'Never was so much owed by so many to so few. The NHS. National Hero Saviours.'

Sweet: The touching clip sees celebrities join frontline workers, as they take it in turns to read out lines from the popular wartime tune

Thank you: Billy Connolly showed support for the National Health Service by joining in the video

Famous faces: The video, which includes the likes of Ray Winstone, Gemma Arterton and Ralph Fiennes, is urging people to stay at home during lockdown to protect the NHS

Also making cameos in the video were, British rapper Nadia Rose, Thomas Doherty, Sheila Atim, Brian Cox and The Crown star Josh O'Connor.

The lyrics to the World War II song ring ever true in the current pandemic, as the stars said we will meet again, we just don't know when it will be.

It reads: 'We'll meet again/Don't know where/Don't know when/But I know we'll meet again some sunny day/Keep smiling through/Just like you always do/Till the blue skies drive the dark clouds far away.'

Joining in: Richard E Grant also got involved and supported the NHS by joining the show

We'll Meet Again: Naomie Harris was also on board with the campaign

As well as the celebrities who took the time to appear in the video, many key workers including nurses, paramedics, vets, care workers, post office workers and shop workers also took part.

Dr Costello, who was one of the frontline workers to appear in the video, had just finished a 12 hour shift in the Intensive Care Unit when he filmed.

According to the Sun, he said of the video: 'The message is simple, the ask is emotive, the reward is personal. By continuing to stay at home, we can continue to protect ourselves, those we love and our wonderful NHS. Please stay home now.'

Celeb appearances: The Crown's Josh Connolly was another star to appear
- Until his death, Barasa was an employee of SABC and died at his home in Syokimau, Nairobi due to cardiac arrest

- He was buried on Saturday, April 25, at his farm in Taito village in Trans Nzoia County

- He was eulogized as a bright journalist who loved his work and a great pillar who made sure his children received a good education

Legendary photojournalist, John Barasa was on Saturday, April 25, laid to rest in his farm at Taito village opposite former Moi University campus in Trans Nzoia County.

Barasa's untimely death was attended by 15 People following the government's guidelines on the fight against the spread of the Covid-19.

READ ALSO: Man narrates how he taught extremely feminist wife tough lessons by fully submitting to her

Barasa's death on Tuesday, April 21, was announced by his colleague and friend Sarah Kimani who penned a moving tribute. Photo: Sarah Kimani.

Source: Twitter

READ ALSO: Dandora MCA blames COVID-19 cases on dumpsite, waste from airports

In a mass that was closely supervised bt security team, every person who stood to eulogize Barasa described him as a bright journalist who loved his work.

"Barasa was very close to the family and ensured we got all we needed. Despite his strict schedule at work he always ensured he called home," said Mary Mumbi Barasa, widow.

The family described the late photojournalist as a great pillar who made sure his children received a good education and enjoyed a parental love.

Until his death, Barasa was an employee of South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) and died at his home in Syokimau, Nairobi due to cardiac arrest.

READ ALSO: Uhuru Kenyatta says he'll reopen economy if COVID-19 infections reduce

Barasa's untimely death was attended by 15 People following the government's guidelines. Photo: Sarah Kimani.

Source: UGC

His death on Tuesday, April 21, was announced by his colleague and friend Sarah Kimani who penned a moving tribute to the fallen veteran photojournalist.

In a series of tweets, Kimani honoured Barasa with memories they made together as colleagues and expressed her gratitude for contributing to both her career and personal growth.

"I joined the SABC in 2008 as a young mum to be, incidentally taking over from my mentor Linus Kaikai. He held my hand and together we continued telling the African story," she said.

Recounting the experience he had working with Barasa, Kimani said the first story they covered together was the post-election violence that erupted following a disputed presidential election.

READ ALSO: Kanye West reaches billionaire status, becomes richest man in hip-hop

"We watched and covered fellow Kenyans butcher each other over politics. The story lasted three months with the Annan brokered peace agreement,' she wrote

The two traversed the continent witnessing the beauty of the land but sometimes the despair of refugees across Africa and victims of civil war and bad politics.

Several times, they cheated death one of them being when suicide bombers set off the first explosive outside a hall they were attending a press conference.

"Gunfire followed I dived under the table. I do not know what he did but when I emerged from there he was filming," she said.

READ ALSO: 99-year-old Tom Moore recognised by Guinness World Records for smashing global fundraising record

The colleagues also had fun times together despite the fact that Kimani was younger than Barasa but that did not matter, What was important was them having fun while working.

"I made him do crazy things like bringing a whole blender to the office to make smoothies or take pictures with the Kenyan flag ahead of our country's big match," she wrote.

According to the journalist, she owned her first house thanks to her late friend and colleague who took her through the buying of land and building of her house.

Their friendship blossomed past the office and back at home, Kimani considered his six children hers and vice verse for Barasa whom she said valued education a lot.

READ ALSO: Eldoret man composes song to encourage brother hospitalised with COVID-19

"He valued education and maybe his greatest pride will be his six children all of whom are now university graduates," she wrote.

"Rest now my friend, father and mentor. Africa is richer because you were one of us. We will continue with your legacy...it is not easy but we must make you proud," she added.

Kimani finished her tribute by thanking everyone including the government who enabled the transportation of his body from Nairobi to Kitale despite movement restrictions.

The late Barasa has left behind a widow and six children. He was an accomplished journalist with years of experience.

He joined Kenya Institute of Mass Communication in 1979 before proceeding to Japan for further studies on JICA Scholarship.

Additional reporting by Davis Bwayo, TUKO.co.ke correspondent.

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
Eric Nurney: The Government Schools are grossly incompetent at actually educating. American students consistently rank around 25th in global testing, behind Third World countries like India. Lets tell the truth  Guilford County schools really are a free cafeteria and day care service.

Jamie Bailiff: We love the schools our grandkids attend. I am glad they closed for the safety of the kids and staff. Brooks Global Magnet has done a Great Job Keeping the online learning, assignment and help when they need it. They get started at 8:00 with homeroom Zoom, get to interact with their friends and get their assignments.They all miss one another. So I want to give them all a SHOUT OUT !!!

Tricia Hedrick: As a worker in Davidson County schools I think it is a smart decision. There was no way to social distance these kids from each other and if one of them would have had come into school having Corona, they all would have gotten it. It would have spread like wildfire in the schools among the kids and staff. This was the best decision to make at this time.
Week 17 in review: Motorola Edge and Edge+ are here, iPhone SE still makes waves Comments
A scene from the latest screen adaptation of The Field  featuring Martin McCarthy as The Bull; Aidan Galvin as Tadhg and Imelda Dowling Garvey as The Widow among other key cast and extras

Take a bow, cast, crew and cinematographers of the outstanding entry in the recent Listowel Celtic Oskars night that was The Field - for they have only gone and won yet another All-Ireland drama title for Listowel and North Kerry.

This time the title is that of the All Ireland Oskars 2020 event, won by The Field in a competitive field that saw over 300 similar films nationwide.

But by God then it takes some beating when you get North Kerry actors taking on John B Keane. Throw Kevin Rowe Events filmmakers in and you've got silver screen gold on your hands.

The Field was one of eight short films excerpted from famous movies, performed by local actors and filmed by Kevin Rowe and team locally in February. The screening night saw well over 800 pack into the Community Centre in one of the biggest fundraisers in Listowel in years.

Following the big event, the Field was selected for the All Ireland Oskars, with 300 entries whittled down to a shortlist of 30 in recent weeks.

News of their win this week led to delight among cast and crew, who now eagerly anticipate an awards night after the lifting of COVID restrictions.

All the cast and crew and those who supported the Oskars event on the night and, in recent weeks, those who voted for The Field over social media were thanked deeply this week on behalf of the community.

Leading the cast in the role of the Bull McCabe was Martin McCarthy - who is also now nominated for the Best Actor gong to be announced on Friday - with Aidan Galvin as Tadhg, Caroline Hughes as the Tinker's daughter; Dale O'Carroll as the barman; Dan Collins as The Bird; Imelda Dowling Garvey as The Widow; Marina Smith and Catrina Heffernan as the ceili women; Paddy Creedon as The Yank; Paddy Mulvihill as the Priest; Rebecca Chute as the McRoarty Girl and Shane O'Donoghue as Flanagan.

Starting rehearsals in January they rose to the challenge to bring it all together under the direction of Kevin Rowe in fantastic fashion in just a single day's filming.

For the Bull himself - aka Martin McCarthy - the success is down to the skills of the entire cast and crew, combined with the film-making. "This success has been down to the performance of the entire cast and crew, the many extras who came out in support for filming and, of course, the excellent direction and cinematography of Kevin Rowe and team, they are such a professional outfit." Martin thanked the Keane family in particular for giving them the opportunity to undertake the ambitious production. But was he daunted about taking on a character made famous internationally by Limerick's Richard Harris?

"Not really. I come from a similar rural background in West Cork and always understood where John B was coming from. Having spent a lot of years in another job (Martin had the rank of Garda Inspector on his retirement from the force), I can say that the ingrained love of land and property in the Irish people is still very much a part of our make-up and that John B Keane nailed that relationship, as well as the relationship between Church and State in The Field."
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 25)  The coronavirus-hit jail in Cebu City recorded 63 new infections on Saturday, bringing the total number of COVID-19 cases there at 207.

Cebu City Mayor Edgar Labella in a statement announced this surge in coronavirus infections, without disclosing if the new cases are inmates or staff of the jail facility in Barangay Kalunasan which houses 6,000 inmates.

Earlier, Labella said the Health Department has collected at least 345 test samples from the city jail.

The city government on Thursday reported that 114 inmates and 13 jail staff tested positive, a number that rose to 144 on Friday.

A male inmate in Mandaue City, another province in Cebu, also contracted the coronavirus disease.

Other detention and prison facilities in the country have reported coronavirus outbreaks, including the Quezon City Jail and the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong City. An inmate at the New Bilibid Prison succumbed to the viral illness.

The Department of Justice has approved simpler rules and faster processing of requests for parole and executive clemency as authorities rush to decongest jails amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Earlier this month, 22 prisoners with underlying medical conditions filed a petition before the Supreme Court, seeking temporary freedom amid the threat of COVID-19.

Nationwide, the number of COVID-19 cases rose to 7,192 on Friday with 477 deaths and 762 recoveries. The Department of Health has said the data it releases are not real-time since they have to conduct validation before reporting.
Hunter Biden is still all China'd up. Which is not a pretty picture given that he got his China connections in the first place by hanging onto papa Joe Biden's coattails, and has since continued to profit from the communist regime at a time while claiming he's not, when his father might just become the U.S. president.

According to Breitbart News:

Hunter Biden, Joe Bidens second son, still owns a ten-percent stake in Chinese company Bohai Harvest RST (BHR), an investment firm he co-founded with funding from the Bank of China, noted Peter Schweizer, president of the government accountability Institute, senior contributor to Breitbart News, and author of Profiles in Corruption: Abuse of Power by Americas Progressive Elite. In episode 17 of the Drill Down, entitled Hunter Bidens Chinese Fortune, Schweizer noted that Hunter Biden has not divested from BHR despite his fathers presidential campaign. The idea that Hunter could still profit off of the Chinese government if his father becomes president remains an incredible potential conflict [of interest], observed Schweizer. A conflict that seems all the more troubling when Joe Biden continues to dismiss China as a geopolitical threat.

Far from dispensing with his connections to China as House Biden and its media allies would have you think, he's still got his 10% stake in the Chinese investment firm, and that's worth big money, given that its investments amount to $2.5 billion.

According to Breitbart News, there has been an effort to make things look as though Biden has gotten out of the China business. Biden Junior had held an unpaid director's slot, which the investment firm, BHR, said he was no longer on. Supposedly, that was proof that Biden Junior no longer was involved.

Whoop-dee-do, anyone sitting on a director's seat in a full blown Chicom company is going to be there as window dressing for the real power, and we all know who calls the shots in communist-led firms. Giving that up wasn't exactly a sacrifice.

More problematic, according to Schweizer, is that he still owns a big stake in that Chinese company. The money part. If he owns a stake, he's either making money or else has something big to sell for money, and maybe both.

All this, while he's been playing painter in the Hollywood Hills and dodging an Arkansas judge who wanted his financial records for child support purposes, something he seems to have at least termporarily avoided handing over.

Sure, he's a ne'er do well, and a privileged junior living off daddy's political capital.

But the real problem is Joe Biden, whose son has a massive conflict of interest with the world's most unpopular country and is trying to dodge attention for it, while still enjoying the goodies. A new survey just out from Pew Research shows that a whopping two thirds (66%) of Americans now have a negative view of China, while 62% (and this number must include Democrats) believe that China's power and influence are a major threat.

And Hunter Biden is still doing business with them? Why isn't this a campaign issue? The Chicoms have Joe Biden's son on their string for money and he seems to like being on their string because he likes their money.

Which is great for him but terrible for U.S. interests. Where's the foreign policy establishment anger on that one? And who the heck would vote for a presidential candidate whose kid is making money off the nation that would like to topple it from what it calls its 'hegemony'?

The whole thing reeks of corruption. This ought to be a big campaign issue to force old Joe into answering some questions.

Image credit: Ben Stanfield, via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-26 01:08:12|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, April 25 (Xinhua) -- Chinese prosecutors have intensified crackdown on epidemic-related crimes of various types, including intellectual property right (IPR) infringement, according to the Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP) on Saturday.

The SPP said that procuratorial organs gave full play to their procuratorial functions to effectively protect the interests of IPR holders.

More than 85 percent of the epidemic-related IPR infringement cases involve counterfeit and substandard masks, said Zheng Xinjian, a prosecutor with the SPP.

Chinese authorities issued a guideline in February, making clear that the production and sale of fake products should be the focus of a national crackdown. Enditem
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."
Reuters reports that China dispatched medical experts to North Korea to "advise on leader Kim Jong-Un", suspected to be very ill after a heart operation.

The trip by the Chinese doctors and officials comes amid conflicting reports about the health of the North Korean leader. Reuters was unable to immediately determine what the trip by the Chinese team signalled in terms of Kims health. A delegation led by a senior member of the Chinese Communist Partys International Liaison Department left Beijing for North Korea on Thursday, two of the people said. The department is the main Chinese body dealing with neighbouring North Korea.

Japanese weekly Shukan Gendai claims Kim is in a "vegetative state" and unlikely to recover.
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra questioned the government on Saturday over the decision to freeze the dearness allowance (DA) of its employees and pensioners, and asked it to curtail wasteful expenditures.

She asked the BJP-led government what was the basis of freezing the DA of health workers and policemen, who were putting in extra hours at work in this time of crisis.

Gandhi also asked the government to stall the bullet train and new Parliament complex buildings instead.

"What is the logic of cutting the DA of government employees? While the pressure of work on them has increased manifold in these times, what is the rationale for cutting the DA of health workers and policemen serving day and night? The third and fourth class employees are pained by this. Why are people dependent on pension being hurt," the Congress general secretary said in a tweet in Hindi.

"Why do governments not stop their wasteful expenses? Why a 30 pc reduction in government expenditure is not being announced? Why is Rs 1.25-lakh bullet train project and Rs-20,000 crore new Parliament building project, which are unnecessary, not being stalled," she also asked.

The Congress has been making this demand to the government for some days now, while calling the decision to freeze the DA of employees and pensioners unjust.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
(L-R) Sequoia Partner Capital Alfred Lin and Sound Ventures Co-Founder Ashton Kutcher speak onstage during TechCrunch Disrupt San Francisco 2019 at Moscone Convention Center on October 04, 2019 in San Francisco, Calif. (Steve Jennings/Getty Images for TechCrunch)

Iowa Governor: Tip From Ashton Kutcher Led to Testing Deal

Iowa reached a $26 million contract to increase CCP virus testing after the governor acted on a tip from actor Ashton Kutcher. This revelation increased skepticism about a no-bid deal on April 23.

Critics of Gov. Kim Reynolds said they were puzzled by the celebritys cameo in Iowas outbreak response, particularly when the state has been slow to tap some of its experts.

But the governor said Kutchers role gave her a partnership to bring an Iowa flavor to a slate of Utah companies. Kutcher said he was using his connections to offer a creative solution that could help his native state.

The governor said the tip came when she called Kutcher to ask him to record a public service announcement urging residents to stay home.

The governor recalled that Kutcher had asked whether shed heard about TestUtah, a public-private partnership that looked very promising. TestUtah had started testing for the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as novel coronavirus

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds updates the states response to the CCP virus outbreak during a news conference at the State Emergency Operations Center, in Johnston, Iowa on April 23, 2020. (Charlie Neibergall/ pool/AP Photo)

Kutcher said that he had a tech executive friend working on TestUtah and offered to arrange a meeting. Reynolds spoke with Kutchers associate, and her aides soon connected with the office of Utah Gov. Gary Herbert.

We were able to start that conversation and ramp it up relatively quickly, Reynolds said.

Last week, Iowa signed a $26 million contract with Nomi Health, a Utah startup that says its developing a modern payment system for healthcare.

Under the contract, Nomi Health will supply 540,000 CCP virus tests to Iowa over the next six months. Its partners include Utah-based Co-Diagnostics, which recently received federal approval to sell COVID-19 testing kits, and tech firms Qualtrics and Domo.

The companies will run the TestIowa website, where residents take voluntary assessments to determine whether they qualify for testing and arrange appointments.

Medical professionals from Childrens National Hospital administer a CCP virus test at a drive-thru testing site for children age 22 and under at Trinity University in Washington on April 2, 2020. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Kutcher, in a statement, said he is good friends with Qualtrics CEO Ryan Smith, whose company is providing Iowas online assessment tool. He and Smith had discussed a technical approach to scale up rapid testing that got around the shortages in testing materials slowing them down elsewhere.

They were already proving it in Utah and getting folks tested at a rapid rate. They had also built a very smart specimen tracking system that I felt made it easy for people to do, Kutcher said.

Kutcher said Qualtrics idea was in line with one recommended by a company he has invested in, Radix Labs, which isnt part of Iowas contract. His publicist said Kutcher is not an investor in any of the companies involved in Iowas deal.

Kutcher said he had been talking to Reynolds, one of the few governors who hasnt issued a statewide stay-at-home order, about tightening social distancing rules because he saw data showing the CCP virus was spreading fast.

He said the governor jumped at the chance and moved fast to implement his testing pitch.

Sample collection kits at an AllCare Family Medical Clinic, a site that conducts drive-thru testing for the CCP virus in Washington on April 6, 2020. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

In a Qualtrics news release, Reynolds said the companys product would save lives by helping Iowa monitor the CCP virus and determine where to put testing sites.

Reynolds launched a #TestIowaChallenge campaign on Twitter urging residents to complete the assessments, which ask for personal health and contact information. The governor challenged Kutcher to take part and he recorded a promotional video to support the campaign. More than 80,000 people completed assessments in the first 24 hours.

The contract requires the companies to safeguard the confidential assessment data and either return or destroy it when the program is over.

The program aims to triple Iowas testing capacity by adding 3,000 tests per day, which will be conducted at mobile sites around the state. The first testing begins Saturday in Des Moines.

Reynolds revealed Kutchers role when asked why she didnt consider Iowa-based institutions or companies for the contract. The governor said the deal has an Iowa touch.

Kutcher grew up in Cedar Rapids, graduated from high school in Tiffin, and became a model while attending the University of Iowa. He hit it big on That 70s Show before starring in movies.

Critics questioned why the governor took input from Kutcher but doesnt appear to have consulted top Iowa experts on the contract.

Mr. Kutcher seems like a great guy but not sure what public health expertise he brings for advising our pandemic response, said Democratic Sen. Joe Bolkcom, who has faulted the governor for failing to protect workers during the pandemic. But if hes available, maybe he can go inspect the meatpacking plants.

By Ryan J. Foley

Epoch Times staff contributed to this report.
Lagos state government have reacted to plans by some private schools in the state to resume on Monday April 27, for the third term academic session through online teaching.

Lagos state is currently on lockdown and in a bid to keep the academic calender running without any disruption, some private schools have opted for online teaching. Interested schools have sent letters to parents informing them of plans to resume on Monday and asking them to pay the school fees of their wards which is either the normal rate or at a subsidized rate.

Reacting to this development, the state Commissioner for Education, Mrs Folashade Adefisayo in a statement released, stressed that schools have not resumed for third term in the state. She however acknowledged efforts by some schools to engage their students but appealed to such schools to consult extensively with parents and find a win-win solution that will be acceptable to all stakeholders.

Read the statement below
Mumbai, April 20 (IANS) Bollywood actor Varun Dhawan let off some steam against the novel coronavirus with an abusive rant on social media, and he says it helped him feel better. (File Photo: IANS) Image Source: IANS

Mumbai, April 25 : Varun Dhawan has donated money for five lakh daily wage workers of the film and television industry belonging to 32 different work profiles at a time when they are jobless due to the COVID 19 pandemic lockdown. The actor made the contribution on the occasion of his 33rd birthday, which happened on Friday.

Sharing a video message on Twitter, Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) chief advisor Ashoke Pandit thanked the actor for his gesture on his birthday yesterday.

In the video, Pandit says: "Federation of Western India Cine Employees would like to thank actor Varun Dhawan for donating towards the daily wage workers of the film and television industry. It's his birthday today and on behalf of five lakh daily wage workers of the film industry belonging to 32 crafts, I wish him a very happy birthday. God bless you Varun for coming forward and standing by the daily wage workers who really form a very important place in our industry." The actor has also provided free meals for doctors and healthcare staff who are leading the nation's fight against the COVID 19 pandemic.
Controversial activist Yassmin Abdel-Magied has alluded to the disrespectful Anzac Day post she made online three years ago by saying she should 'stay off Twitter.'

Ms Abdel-Magied left Australia in 2017 after being heavily criticised over an April 25 tweet where she wrote 'Lest. We. Forget. (Manus, Nauru, Syria, Palestine).

On Saturday morning, she took to social media and hinted at the controversial tweet she made on Anzac Day in April 2017, saying: 'Oh, it's that day I should stay off Twitter again'.

She followed up her initial tweet by saying: 'Fortunately, I was never one to pay attention to what I ''should'' be doing'.

On Saturday morning, Yassmin Abdel-Magied (pictured) took to social media and hinted at the controversial tweet she made on Anzac Day in April 2017.

In her first tweet, she said: 'Oh, it's that day I should stay off Twitter again.'

But she followed it up by saying 'I was never one to pay attention to what I ''should'' be doing.'

Ms Abdel-Magied, who was born in Sudan and grew up in Brisbane, provoked outrage in April 2017 when she used Anzac Day to make a political statement.

Towards the end of 2017, she likened the criticism she faced in Australia to 'dating an abusive guy'.

On Anzac Day in 2019, Ms Abdel-Magied followed up her controversial Anzac Day tweet with an extraordinary rant about online trolls and white privilege.

Her tirade began with her saying she had been tagged in a series of tweets about online Twitter abuse becoming 'worse than ever before' for journalists.

On Anzac Day in 2019, Ms Abdel-Magied followed up her controversial Anzac Day tweet with an extraordinary rant about online trolls and white privilege

Her tirade began with her saying she had been tagged in a series of tweets about online Twitter abuse becoming 'worse than ever before' for journalists.

''Huh', is my response, mostly cos I'm still waking up. I check the date - it's almost ANZAC Day,' she wrote

Ms Abdel-Magied said she used to 'like Anzac Day,' but doesn't know what to do on the day now that it has become synonymous with her Twitter controversy

''Huh', is my response, mostly cos I'm still waking up. I check the date - it's almost ANZAC Day,' she wrote.

'I am not quite sure of the appropriate way to process these bits of information,' she said before launching her confused diatribe.

In the rant over dozens of Tweets, Ms Abdel-Magied said social media abuse was worse for black people.

'Yes, online abuse on Twitter is a sh*tshow,' she wrote.

'But if you're a white middle class man, you're probably getting the easier end of it.

'If you're a BIPOC (black, indigenous, person of colour) in Australia, you've been accustomed to it.'

'If you're white in Australia, you've had a (relatively) comfortable time in the public eye. That's not to say it's been objectively fine, but in comparison to your BIPOC (and Muslim) colleagues, it's a walk in the park.'

In the rant over dozens of Tweets, Ms Abdel-Magied said social media abuse was worse for black people

She said white people on Twitter have had a more 'comfortable' time online and in the public eye

Ms Abdel-Magied went on to discuss how best to deal with internet trolls and claimed that technology is racist.

She wrote: 'Read algorithms of oppression or any other book about how technology is biased (or wait for my book on it!)'

In another tweet she wrote: 'I used to really like Anzac Day, you know? I'd go to a march, think about the banality of evil, smile and nod at veterans, have a cry'

'Now, I don't really know what to do. Well, I guess I'll still have a cry, hay? [sic]'

Despite coming under fire from politicians and being raked over the coals in the media, Ms Abdel-Magied won a free speech prize for the controversial tweet.

Liberty Victoria awarded her their Young Voltaire Award for 2018, saying she deserved recognition for weathering criticism from 'internet trolls, tabloid newspapers and even numerous members of parliament.'
T he Government was warned last year that it needed to plan for a potentially lethal pandemic, according to a leaked memo.

The document, seen by the Guardian, reportedly set out urgent capability requirements that ministers needed to draw up to prevent tens of thousands of lives being lost.

According to the paper, the 600-page 2019 National Security Risk Assessment (NSRA) - marked official, sensitive - was approved by the Governments chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance and an unnamed national security adviser to the Prime Minister.

It comes as the UKs hospital coronavirus death toll nears the grim milestone of 20,000, which medical chiefs warned last month the country would have done very well to stay below.

Sir Patrick Vallance (right) reportedly signed off on the document / Getty Images

The Cabinet office document reportedly urged ministers to stockpile vital personal protective equipment (PPE), set up advanced purchase orders for other essential items, establish contact tracing procedures and plan to repatriate Brits stuck abroad.

Number 10 has faced a barrage of criticism for being too slow to act on the crisis amid continued PPE shortfalls on the NHS frontline, a troubled testing programme, no lockdown exit strategy and unrecorded care home deaths.

Two doctors are currently suing the Government over PPE guidelines that they say fails to protect them. More than 70 healthcare workers have died after contracting Covid-19.

The memo also warned ministers of a coronavirus outbreak similar to Sars, adding: Pandemics significantly more serious than the reasonable worst case are possible.

It warned a pandemic would play out in up to three waves, each week lasting 15 weeks with peaks at six and seven weeks during each wave.

TODO: define component type apester

It added that a pandemic influenza would see 50 per cent of the population infected, a possible 65,000 deaths, an economic hit of 2.35tn, prolonged damage to the health and social care system and public outrage over the Governments response.

Rachel Reeves, the shadow Cabinet Office minister, said the revelations were alarming and raised serious questions about the governments planning and preparedness for a coronavirus-style pandemic," calling on her counterpart Michael Gove to make a statement to MPs on Monday.
Unlike the portrait whose name it bears, there is nothing mysterious about the Mona Lisa Touch. Advocates might claim her enigmatic smile is a smirk of satisfaction, but the name is just a coy marketing tool to differentiate it from competitors such as Fotona Smooth, whose promotional material promises to change gynaecology forever. Sydney vaginal laser specialist Dr Thierry Vancaillie prefers to call this treatment by its less romantic but more accurate scientific name: the fractional CO2 laser. The laser splits into thousands of microscopic beams that penetrate the cells in the tissue of the epidermis until they reach the capillaries in the vagina walls, he explains. That causes a micro-trauma, stimulating fresh blood vessels to grow and activates the production of collagen. The laser was used to treat acne scarring, sun damage and pigmentation until about five years ago, when the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery noted a surge in so-called vaginal rejuvenation using it. Vancaillie currently performs an average of four CO2 laser treatments a week at Sydneys Womens Health & Research Institute (WHRI), the first clinic to offer it in Australia. But there is a shortage of data on how widely the procedure is used, because it is being offered through various outlets, from general practices to cosmetic surgery salons, and cannot be tracked by a specific Medicare benefits schedule item number or claimed through private medical insurance.

As for those having the treatment, Vancaillie says, The average age of our clients is around 60. Most come to us with painful sex as their main complaint, followed by problems of vaginal dryness and itching. A less-common reason is an irritable urethra, due to a thinning of the membrane. This causes a sensation of having a full bladder all the time. Conducted under a topical anaesthetic, the procedure is so quick  between five and 10 minutes  that it can be performed during a lunch break. After that, abstaining from penetrative sex for up to two weeks is recommended. Loading One client who spoke to Sunday Life reported experiencing pain following the treatment and Vancaillie says the sensation is similar to soreness from sunburn. Maybe, but as a man, how would he know? Admittedly, he is a gynaecologist with a unique skill set, having taken time out from his profession to study laser engineering. But he is still a man, nonetheless. Would you like to see the equipment? Vancaillie offers, taking me into a suite where a machine is set up, ready to have a laser probe attached that looks much like the wand for an internal ultrasound. The probe comes in two sizes  either 16mm or 22mm in diameter and 126mm or 132mm in length. (The vagina is usually between 80mm and 150mm long, but like everything else about the body, they come in all sizes.)

Mona Lisas Italian manufacturer, Deka, reports leasing about 100 machines in Australia to date. Their biggest markets now are the UK, Brazil, Russia, Spain and, perhaps surprisingly, the United Arab Emirates and Iran. Most clients need a course of three treatments to notice an improvement in their symptoms and come back for a top-up treatment after 18 months. The best results occur when we combine the

CO2 laser with a course of the oestrogen hormone oestriol, which stimulates regrowth of the lining of the uterus in up to 99 per cent of cases, says Vancaillie. On its own, the efficacy of the laser drops to around 60 per cent. We have no idea about long-term impact or what the effect of this treatment will be in 10 years." Professor Susan Davis, professor of clinical epidemiology at Monash University and International Menopause Society president One woman treated by the institute, who spoke to Sunday Life anonymously, was recovering from breast cancer and on hormone-suppressing medication when she began to suffer from vaginal itching. The condition, a side-effect of the drugs she was taking combined with perimenopause, was misdiagnosed by three GPs, five gynaecologists and two dermatologists. I thought I had endless cases of thrush, she says. Eventually I talked to my oncologist, who mentioned Dr Vancaillie. Id never heard of vaginal atrophy or the Mona Lisa Touch, but Id had laser treatment for rosacea so I understood the principle and did not fear it. The sensation is not painful  it hurts more on the face  but it is slightly uncomfortable, a pulsing, intense vibration, and the machine is quite loud. I call it the jackhammer.

I needed four sessions to start off with, and a top-up every six months, but noticed the benefits after the first course. The itch disappeared and intercourse was much less painful. At WHRI, each session costs $500, making it a pricey remedy. And because of what Vancaillie describes as a turf war between cosmetic surgery providers and medical clinics, combined with the lack of regulation covering this therapy, the variation in fees is huge: some cosmetic salons are charging more than $1000 per session. Its advisable that women choose a medical facility over a cosmetic one  and for more than just price reasons. One useful indicator to help distinguish between them is that medical facilities are prohibited by law from posting testimonials or endorsements for therapies on their websites. Another way to assess the credentials of the provider is to look at what other services they offer. Consumers should avoid those that include unproven and unnecessary treatments such as G-spot enhancement and vaginal tightening. Loading The sudden proliferation of vaginal laser treatments has caught medical regulatory bodies and consumer watchdogs on the back foot here and overseas. In the US, the Food and Drug Administration has not given clearance for laser treatment of vaginal atrophy. In Australia, the Therapeutic Goods Administration acknowledges that the laser therapy includes a gynaecological application, but has not specifically listed it for this treatment.

To date, published data about the treatments effectiveness has been scant and inconclusive, but the Royal Hospital for Women in Sydney is conducting a randomised controlled trial of the use of the laser in both women who have had cancer and women who are cancer-free. Results will be published later this year. Meanwhile, many gynaecologists remain sceptical and advise caution. I would not touch it, says Professor Susan Davis, professor of clinical epidemiology at Monash University and International Menopause Society president. We have no idea about long-term impact or what the effect of this treatment will be in 10 years. The treatment is unproven and is a human experiment. The leading gynaecologists in the world do not have these machines in their clinics. She also highlights another significant variable that adds a further element of uncertainty to the mix: Evidence shows us that the placebo effect on mood, hot flushes and sexual function is as high as 50 per cent. The power of healing from a practitioner who is persuasive, charismatic, respectful, appealing, reassuring and optimistic is enormous. Any trials must include placebo controls. Observational studies are not enough.
The race is on to produce a vaccine against COVID-19 but it is not certain that one can be found, the head of the global vaccines alliance said Friday. Seth Berkley said the more competition the better in the scientific fightback against the new coronavirus pandemic, which has killed nearly 200,000 people since it emerged in December. The head of the Gavi Vaccine Alliance also said confidence in an eventual COVID-19 vaccine would be greatly boosted if political leaders were seen getting immunised, saying he was "quite disturbed" by highly-politicised campaigns against vaccination. "One of the challenges is we don't know if we can make a vaccine," Berkley said at a virtual press briefing in Geneva. "I'm quite optimistic, from what I know on the science -- but we have no proof of concept yet." While a vaccine might normally take 10 to 15 years to develop, Berkley said the first vaccines against COVID-19 might be available in 12 to 18 months "if we're really lucky". "You want initially the race for the vaccine. That competition is great," he said, explaining that rather than having dozens of vaccines being worked on that eventually were identical, it was better to have varied ones that acted differently. There are currently over 100, and possibly up to 150 different vaccines in various stages of development, he said. - Vaccine hesitancy - A growing anti-vaccine movement has helped spark measles outbreaks in many richer countries in recent years. The anti-vax phenomenon has adherents across Western countries but especially in the United States, where it has been fuelled by the spread on social media of medically baseless claims. "Vaccine hesitancy relates to the fact that vaccines are so effective that the diseases have disappeared" in countries where yellow fever, tetanus and the like are "never seen", Berkley said. The social media rumour mill is also churning away during the current pandemic, he said, adding that he was "quite disturbed about these very politicised campaigns". But the pandemic might lead to more people trusting vaccination, he said. Any vaccines that will emerge will be used globally, which would remove discussions about anyone being used as "guinea pigs", and sceptics may be made more comfortable "if political leaders across the world and others are getting it". He said the first group of people to be vaccinated should be healthcare workers, followed by those in at-risk groups, such as people with heart disease. The elderly are at the highest risk of death from the virus, but he warned that it was always harder to vaccinate them because their immune systems are not as responsive as youngsters. Gavi provides vaccines against a wide range of diseases for the 60 percent of the world's children who live in developing countries. There must be needs-based global access to an eventual COVID-19 vaccine, he said, to avoid the "risk of having the worried well gobble up all the vaccines". He also warned that another pandemic down the line was "evolutionarily certain".
The US Capitol building is seen in Washington D.C. April 19, 2020. Photo:Xinhua

Attack China playbook, early deaths hint at Washington cover-up

Washington owes the world an explanation as more evidence shows Republicans plotting a political farce called the "Attack China" campaign for the November elections. They are doing this to shift the blame onto China to cover up their own domestic and Republican Party failures in handling the coronavirus crisis - and even as the timeline of early outbreaks and reported cases in the US now need to be revised.

While the US has become the epicenter of the globe outbreaks and continued its disinformation campaign against China, hence casting a shadow over the joint efforts to combat the disease, Chinese experts have called for the World Health Organization (WHO) to start a scientific probe in the US to understand how the virus spread and why it became the country with the highest confirmed cases. This all happened amidst chaotic policies in the US that politicized the pandemic and made the US government the No.1 culprit for global coronavirus misery.

American news outlet Politico on Friday published an internal US National Republican Senatorial Committee 57-page memo written by political consulting firm Brett O'Donnell that openly "Attacks China" as a tactic for this November 3rd's general election.

Brett O'Donnell advises notorious hawks such as Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton, both of whom vehemently abuse China over COVID-19 with crack-pot conspiracy theories.

They now owe the world an explanation for this insidious smear campaign which covers up their own malfeasance in handling the coronavirus crisis and instead blames China, experts say.

This disgusting playbook of the National Republican Senatorial Committee outlines how Republican, or Grand Old Party (GOP), candidates should relentlessly use propaganda messaging of "Don't Defend Trump, attack China" over the coronavirus crisis.

The memo also stressed three main lines of anti-China assault messages: "China caused the virus by 'covering it up,'" "Democrats are 'soft on China,'" and "Republicans will push for sanctions on China for its role in spreading this pandemic."

"This is unbelievable that such a calculated plot could be openly announced, which also shows that GOP hawks don't even care about maintaining or fixing China-US relations, which have been worsening but were overall stable," Yuan Zheng, a research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), told the Global Times on Saturday.

The memo is part of a choreographed scheme of US Republicans in scapegoating and defaming China amid the outbreak. The purpose: everything is for November elections, and pass the buck to China so no one could blame them for the outbreaks in the US, observers said. Such inside messages for the GOP surfaced at the same time when US media reported that new autopsy results showed a Californian died from the COVID-19 three weeks before the previously known first US death caused by the virus back in February. This has sparked doubts over transparency inside the US government in dealing with the virus in early stages of the outbreak.

CNN reported on Wednesday that a 57-year-old woman died from COVID-19 in Santa Clara County in northern California on February 6, and a 69-year-old man died for the same reason at home in the same county on February 17 - but the US "officially" reported the country's first coronavirus death on February 29. New research from Northwestern University showed that the true number of people across New York, Chicago, Boston, San Francisco, and Seattle have reached 28,000 by March 1 when the official data only revealed 23 cases, according to media reports.

"California's latest report on deaths with no travel history to China is a piece of evidence to revise the whole timeline of the COVID-19 outbreak in the US. Also, the latest research from Northwestern University could help predict that the actual outbreaks in the country were earlier than reported at a certain scale," Song Qinghui, a Shenzhen-based economist who closely follows the situation from an economic statistic perspective, told the Global Times.

Cody said they presume that each of California's deaths caught the virus through community spread, the media report said. Yang Zhanqiu, a Wuhan-based virologist, said this shows there might be multiple places as origins of the virus.

Over the past three months, instead of responding to the outbreaks in a rational and collective way, the Trump administration has been constantly flip-flopping on its policies, ignoring advice from medical professionals and coming up with willful blindness, groundless accusations, xenophobia and racist comments. It has avoided culpability by scapegoating the WHO, China, and its own domestic political opponents. In so doing, it is turning a blind eye toward the global community, including WHO, medical doctors and experts who are calling for an end to the politicization of COVID-19.

Michael Caputo, the new spokesman for the US Department of Health and Human Services, made racist and derogatory comments about Chinese people in a series of now-deleted tweets, CNN reported on Thursday. Caputo tweeted that Chinese "suck the blood out of rabid bats as an appetizer and eat the ass out of anteaters." These were instantly considered crazy and unbelievable to social network users.

"The virus is our common enemy. I think it's necessary to call for a scientific probe inside the US to look into those unclear issues of its transmission," Jin Canrong, associate dean of Renmin University of China's School of International Studies in Beijing, told the Global Times on Saturday, rebutting those groundless and malicious accusations targeting China.

This is especially important to do since the US political ecosystem has been faltering with distorted facts in recent years, Jin said, noting that by contrast, the WHO conducted a probe in China for more than 10 days in February, coming up with a detailed report.

"The US, however, still has many questions unanswered."

Medical workers carry a patient into an ambulance in New York, the United States, April 6, 2020. (Photo by Michael Nagle/Xinhua)

Timeline to be revised

"It's not even strange that the GOP came up with such a memo, which is in line with their stances on China-related issues. Their purpose is clear: using China's handling of COVID-19 as a center topic for the upcoming elections and continuing to defame China to gain more votes," Li Haidong, a professor at the Institute of International Relations of the China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times on Saturday.

Contrary to the praise of China's handling of the outbreak by US President Donald Trump on January 24, GOP lawmaker Rick Scott from Florida called it a threat from China later. This was echoed by other senators like Cotton in February 2020, who came up with conspiracy theories that the virus escaped from a lab in Wuhan.

A rising tide of critics on social media slammed today's "Cold War" mentality inside certain circles of the US government as "insane," claiming that the US government is willing to let its own people die rather than be seen as being helped by China. Even China's generous donations of medical supplies to the US were attacked by some as propaganda in op-ed articles in the New York Times. This arrogance and negligence by select Washington elites reflects a rapid decline of decorum in American politics.

When US hawks continue attacking China for allegedly "causing pain to the world," they really must take responsible reflections of their own words and come clean - not reiterate lies that fall flat in the face of evidence.

However, they were also a slap in the face to US politicians like New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who pointed to research showing that strains of the novel coronavirus entered New York from Europe, not China. Gov. Cuomo also said that travel bans enacted by President Trump were too late to halt its spread, according to Reuters.

"For the timeline, it is connected to the earliest deaths of COVID-19 in the US, so it is not just Chinese scientists like myself who have questions about who was the real patient zero in the country," Zeng Guang, chief epidemiologist at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, told the Global Times.

"The US public and experts also hope that the US Federal government will provide a clear answer," he said.

Washington's passive handling of the outbreak, which has caused so far more than 900,000 cases in the US, also weighs on the global prospects of combating this major crisis.

"Why has the Fort Detrick laboratory that had been shut down not been reopened? What happened with the vaping-related lung illnesses in the US and their relations with the coronavirus? And also the influenza patients. Were they killed by influenza, or something different?" Jin asked.

Fort Detrick laboratory, which handled high-level diseases, such as Ebola, in Fredrick, Maryland, was shut after the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a cease and desist order to the organization in July 2019, according to local media.

The suspension was due to multiple causes, including failure to follow local procedures and a lack of periodic recertification training for workers in the bio-containment laboratories. The wastewater decontamination system of the lab also failed to meet standards set by the Federal Select Agent Program, which sparked doubts and calls for the US government to release information on the matter. So far, they have not.

Even before the outbreak in China occurred, seasonal influenza hit the US badly and killed many people in 2019. US CDC director Robert Redfield acknowledged in March that some flu patients might have been misdiagnosed, who actually contracted coronavirus, which Chinese experts deemed as the proof of US hypocrisy as the Trump administration keeps the American public in the dark over the pandemic.

US President Donald Trump discusses the pandemic at the White House's James Brady Press Briefing Room on Friday in Washington, DC. Photo: AP

'Turning up Cold War'

The US independent news site The Grayzone recently released an article showing how pro-Trump media mainstreamed the Chinese lab coronavirus conspiracy theory "by claiming the virus escaped from China's Wuhan Institute of Virology."

Max Blumenthal, an award-winning journalist and founder of The Grayzone, explained that one of the sources for this fake feed in a recent story was named Xiao Qiang. "He was quoted as a research scientist, but I thought that sounds funny. A research scientist, this is not a virologist, someone who studies viruses. This is not an epidemiologist who studies epidemics. I immediately assumed that this person was a Chinese dissident," he told the Global Times.

Xiao was found out to be supported by the National Endowment for Democracy, which was created by the CIA under the Reagan administration to support opposition movements, like the unrest in Hong Kong, Blumenthal said, giving an example of how the US media pushes anti-China narratives and relevant conspiracy theories as mainstream.

"Now it is a political campaign to turn up the new Cold War and to advance Donald Trump's national security doctrine that his defense secretary James Mattis introduced in 2018, where the Defense Department declared that the US was moving from the war on terror into a great power competition with China and Russia," he said.

Considering the US government's missteps and failure to handle the outbreak while passing the buck to China, more scientists urged a scientific probe into the US due to lack of transparency and efficiency inside Washington which also hinders the overall combat against the pandemic.

"We should call on scientists from WHO and other countries to join hands and focus on comprehensive investigations and comparisons of the severely affected areas, including the US and Italy, to determine the origin of the new coronavirus," Yang said.
Covid-19 stories - Do you have a Coronavirus-related story or photo that you would like to share with us? Then we would like to hear from you.

Over the next number of weeks, the Gorey Guardian will be highlighting how the Covid-19 crisis has impacted the lives of everyone in County Wexford.

We will be covering everything from travel disruptions, cancellations of medical procedures, cancellations of weddings and parties to the challenges we are facing working from home and issues with childcare, etc.

We would also like to hear about the many good-news stories out there as communities rally together to help the vulnerable in these unprecedented times and get creative as a means of keeping spirits up.

So, if you have a story to tell, or a photo to share, please get in touch with us via email on c.lee@peoplenews.ie.

Meals on Wheels

It's business as usual for Gorey Meals on Wheels.

The team appreciate the many offers of volunteering received in recent weeks. The level of community support shown to the team is just incredible and the team appreciate the ongoing support.

Guardian delivery

The Gorey Guardian offices will be closed until further notice in the interest of public safety.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

If you would like your Gorey Guardian to be delivered to your home, to start your subscription or for further details phone 053 9140140 or email front.office2@peoplenews.ie.

Council helpline

Wexford County Council is providing a Community Support Call Centre Helpline with help and advice on services and how to limit the spread of Covid-19. The number to call is 053 9196000. The lines are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week.

Community meals

Naomh Eanna GAA is teaming up with Gorey Rugby Club and local volunteers in delivering the meals to people who are in need.

One generous local business, the Ashdown Park Hotel and the Amber Springs Hotel, has put chefs to work to prepare and provide hot meals to those who are in need during these difficult times.

The team are prioritising the delivery of meals to those who are unable to cook for themselves or do not have family or friends around them.

If you know someone who may benefit from this offer, please call or text 087 9770497.

Methodist church

In accordance with government legislation, all services are cancelled at Gorey Methodist Church until further notice.

Church services continue to be accessed on the Gorey Methodist Church Community website and Friends Facebook page.

Event cancelled

North Wexford Hospice Nursing Trust was due to hold its annual barbecue after the success of last year's event at in the Amber Springs Hotel, Gorey on the Saturday, May 9.

Unfortunately, due to the outbreak and the current coronavirus pandemic restrictions, the event will be cancelled this year.

Organisers say that all going well, they will continue to hold the annual Hospice barbecue in the Amber Springs Hotel in May 2021.

The team ask you for your support at this time.

'Pendemic' contributions

An online community website has been set up which seeks to document our experience of Covid-19 in Ireland and across the world.

Set up by one Gorey woman in a team of three friends, the site is now accepting any forms of writing that capture the lived experience of this challenging time.

Submissions can be letters, poems, essay, fiction or creative non-fiction to name a few, with the overall aim of documenting for future generations.

To find out more and get in contact, visit www.pendemic.ie or fill out the contact form at www.pendemic.ie/contact-us/

GAA skills

Naomh Eanna GAA have been busy posting social media videos of county players showing off their skills from home and ask you to contribute your own videos, which can be done online.

The club would like to say a big thank you to all the young people who have gotten in touch and shown off their skills while practising social distancing.

Comedy Club

Gorey Comedy Club has cancelled a planned gig for April 25.

The decision was taken to postpone the event with regard to the coronavirus.

Organisers wish to respect the views of the audience and assure people that when the next act comes to Gorey, attendees can feel safe in the environment and enjoy the best that Irish comedy has to offer without having to worry about external factors.

Further updates to follow.

Food bank closure

Stop Gap food bank Gorey has taken the very hard decision to close the food bank at the Gorey Christian Assembly at Ramsgate Village until the Covid-19 situation eases.

Organisers feel this is the wise thing to do to support the national efforts to combat the virus, and they pray for friends who attend the bank to take care and keep in touch.

If you would like to chat with someone you know from the Food Bank, contact Matt in the first instance on 083 127 0026.

NWSPCA

With the current restrictions in place across the country on health grounds, North Wexford SPCA will be restricting public access to the cats and dogs in their care and will not be taking in any more animals.

They ask people to make an appointment to come up and see the animals, rather than just turn up, and ask that everyone stay safe.

The NWSPCA hotline will remain open for advice.

The team ask if you love cats and a challenge? They are looking for fosterers to help with the 'challenging' cats, who need a little more patience and TLC.

The team assure that this can be a very rewarding way to help pets get ready to be adopted.

Bridge club closure

Sean Og's Kilmuckridge Bridge Club have decided to suspend bridge playing at Upton Court hotel for the foreseeable future.

Everyone really needs to heed the advice and take things seriously for the greater good.

Players will be updated by text.

The committee thank you for understanding.

Gorey Musical Society

Gorey Musical Society has been very busy rehearsing for months in the run up to its production of 'Hairspray'.

The society have announced a new date for the musical, which will take place at Gorey Little Theatre from September 7 to September 12, 2020.

The committee ask that you save the date.

Historical Society

The next event of the North Wexford Historical Society and all other society events are cancelled until further notice and the society apologise for this development.

Obituaries

This newspaper offers tribute pieces to bereaved family members within the local community who have recently suffered the loss of a loved one.

The service is available free of charge, and will be completed in a manner that is sensitive to your own personal wishes and requests.

Please contact the journalist whose details are listed above if this is something that interests you or something you would like to do.

Active Retirement

All meetings and activities will stop until further notice and the committee hope that all members are keeping well and following the guidelines.

Members should ideally self-isolate as much as possible, order food online or phone and have it delivered. However, plan ahead as there are long delivery times in most supermarkets and pay by card if possible to avoid handling money.

Hopefully the end will not be too much longer, so continue what you are doing and you will be safe.

Due to continued Covid-19 activity and closure of venues the following events are cancelled.

Spring Break will be converted to an Autumn Break in September/October. Payments made will be carried forward to the Autumn Break.

National Concert Hall - a refund will be paid.

Tea Dance in Ashdown Park Hotel - a later date will be considered and notified if agreed.

All payments or refunds can be made At Loch Garman Arms when it reopens.

Gorey Library

All regular April events are postponed until further notice.

Local bingo

Ballycanew Ballyoughter Development Association is looking at this coming Thursday evening for a round of bingo using either Zoom or Facebook.

If this is something you'd be interested in, send an email to ballycanewbingo@gmail.com to receive your scanned book, and you will receive an email back with instructions on what to do next.

St Columbus closure

The St Columbus old folks club will close for the foreseeable to protect its members from the threat of Covid-19.

The closure will be reviewed at a later date.

Women's group

New to Gorey women's group had been welcoming new members and usually meet every Friday from 10.15 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. in Gorey Methodist Church on Market Square.

The club is now suspended due to the outbreak of coronavirus.

Updates will be provided at a later stage but the committee look forward to reopening.

Courtown RNLI Shop

The Courtown RNLI shop is now closed until further notice to protect customers.

Community Support

Gorey Community Support Group can help you or your family complete any jobs during this public health emergency, with no job too big or small for people in Gorey and the surrounding areas.

If you would like to help out or if you know someone who needs help, please contact Michael Dwyer on 087 9770497 or Deasun Maclean Griffin on 087 3236821. Alternatively, search for Gorey Community Support Group online.
North Cork has received welcome news on the jobs front this week with confirmation by German automotive electrical systems manufacturer, Kostal that it has re-opened its Mallow plant just over a month after temporarily laying off some 350 staff there because of the Covid 19 crisis.

Kostal management confirmed in a statement on Wednesday afternoon that it has begun a phased resumption of operations at its plant at Baltydaniel near Mallow and Abbeyfeale plant in West Limerick commencing Wednesday, 22nd April.

"This decision is in response to a gradual return of demand for our products in markets where Automotive Production has started to resume. We expect up to 10% of our staff back on site this week," said the company in a statement

"With the health and safety of our staff a priority, both sites in Abbeyfeale and Mallow will be implementing and strictly adhering to social distancing and other measures as per HSE guidelines," it added.

The company, which employs around 350 at the Mallow plant and almost 700 at its plant at Abbeyfeale, announced on March 24th that it was to close both plants for an initial period of around a month.

"Kostal has taken the decision to temporarily close its Abbeyfeale and Mallow plants with effect from 8am on Wednesday, 25th March," said the company in a statement issued from its Irish HQ in Abbeyfeale.

The company expressed regret but said the closure was necessary due to the Covid-19 pandemic which presented serious challenges in meeting public safety directives on social distancing, given the numbers of employees on site.

Kostal said at the time that the closure would be reviewed at the end of April depending on developments with Covid-19 but again stressed that the safety and welfare of its workforce was paramount.

The company also revealed in its statement in March that the Covid-19 pandemic had also had an impact on demand for its products from car manufacturers across Europe as they too had eased back on production

Kostal, which was set up by Leopold Kostal in 1912, is a leading supplier of automotive electrical systems with a turnover of 2,594 million in 2018 and operations at 46 locations in 21 countries, employing some 20,000 people.

The company, which is headquartered at Ludenscheid in North Rhine-Westphalia, opened its first Irish plant in Abbeyfeale in 1981 and 20 years later opened a second operation at Baltydaniel, just outside Mallow.

Among its customers for its automotive electrical systems are some of the world's best known car manufacturers such as Mercedes Benz, BMW, Volkswagen, General Motors, Ford, Volvo, Nissan and Toyota.
KAMPALA  Mr. Museveni and his government need to be alive to the fact that there are people in this country who are faced with starvation and if not immediately helped many more will waste away due to lack of food during the current lockdown.

From the cases found to have contracted COVID -19 in Uganda we have not registered deaths and recovery is getting closer by the day to 100%. Most of the new cases are imported from our neighbours due to failure in managing well truck drivers entry into the country.

Since Mr. Museveni is apparently the alpha and omega of the fight against the corona virus and has vested to himself power to do anything against Ugandans during this period including constitutional overthrow, he needs to take decisions for which he will be brought to account in the very near future.

There are two conflicting situations that Ugandan citizens are faced with:

1. A pandemic of unprecedented global scale caused by corona virus, that has caused many deaths in other counties but has to a certain extent spared Ugandans but created the necessity for a lockdown, and

2. Starvation caused by people being out of work because of the strict measures issued including a lockdown to stop the spread of COVID 19. This has already caused death before corona virus does.

Mr. Museveni embarked on a food distribution exercise to the vulnerable based mainly in the mid central part of the country ignoring the rest of the country.

This experimental adventure was clearly designed to diffuse a potential uprising from millions of people in the metropolitan Kampala area who live from hand to mouth. This was oblivious of the fact that the whole country is food stressed and deserves food relief.

My evaluation of the exercise is that it was hastily conceived to counter interventions by the opposition to help the suffering people and because it was never well planned, has flopped miserably.

Its choice was meant to eclipse the efforts of the other players especially opposition politicians. The FDC was right when they decided not to hand their support to a government we do not recognise and believe in, but also feared it would be mismanaged.

This is the reason we didnt fall prey to the follies of pausing for pictures with Minister Mary Karooro Okurut during any relief handover exercise, instead we quietly made our interventions through our own networks and channels.

The failure by Mr. Museveni to provide food supplies for the suffering citizens of this country at this challenging time has left citizens to choose between risking their lives to either starvation or COVID 19. To many the obvious choice for which they have control is not to accept to die in their houses of starvation.

If the lockdown has to be sustained and as for today we are counting 10 more days, then Mr. Museveni must distribute enough food (which he doesnt have) to the population or be prepared to deal with a defiant people who will force their way back to work before the mandatory end of the lockdown.

Patrick Oboi Amuriat is the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) Party President

Related
On April 18, Hong Kong police arrested 15 prominent activists and politicians associated with the citys pan-democrat political bloc. They have been charged with unlawful assembly in regard to their participation last year in demonstrations on August 18 and October 1 and 20, which were part of the broader mass protest movement sparked in June by a controversial extradition bill. Some have been released on bail and all are expected in court on May 18.

Those arrested include founder of the Democratic Party Martin Lee, a leader of the Labour Party Lee Cheuk-yan, businessman Jimmy Lai, and former lawmaker Margaret Ng. Leung Yiu-chung, the only currently sitting lawmaker in the Legislative Council, and Figo Chan, 24, one of the student leaders of the protest movement, were also arrested.

Beijing expressed resolute support for the arrests and accused those detained of being radicals, who ignore the intervention of external forces in the internal affairs of Hong Kong and even seek foreign countries to sanction Hong Kong.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo seized on the arrests to denounce China on Twitter last Saturday, saying, Arrests of pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong are deeply concerningpoliticized law enforcement is inconsistent with universal values of freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly.

In response, Chinas Foreign Ministry accused Washington of condoning evil acts and making a travesty of the rule of law by ignoring facts, distorting the Sino-British Joint Declaration, and trying to exonerate anti-China troublemakers in Hong Kong on the pretext of transparency, the rule of law and a high degree of autonomy.

The US is using the arrests to continue its campaign of ramping up tensions with Beijing across the board. Earlier this week, the US navy provocatively sent warships into the South China Sea, near territory claimed by Beijing. The Trump administration has unleashed a propaganda campaign blaming China for the COVID-19 pandemic to divert attention from its own criminal responsibility for the disaster at home.

As tens of thousands die, millions of Americans file for unemployment, and workers strike against unsafe and deadly conditions, the entire ruling elite in Washington has accused Beijing of covering up the spread of the virus and insinuated on the basis of no evidence that it originated in a Wuhan laboratory.

It is in this context that Beijing is deeply concerned that Washington may try to use unrest in Hong Kong or another part of China for its own benefit. The Trump administration has not the slightest concern for democratic rights in China or anywhere else. For all of Pompeos talk of universal values of freedom of expression, he is a leading official in a government that has carried out the persecution of journalists like Julian Assange and whistleblower Chelsea Manning for exposing crimes committed by the US state.

In addition to the recent arrests, Luo Huining, the head of Beijings Liaison Office in Hong Kong, on April 15 called for the passing of controversial national security legislation, shelved in 2003 due to mass protests. The law, known as Article 23 of Hong Kongs Basic Law, would allow the city government to enact laws on its own to prohibit any act of treason, secession, sedition, subversion against the Central Peoples Government, or theft of state secrets.

To justify the arrests, China exploited the close relations these politicians have with the US state. Martin Lee has long advocated a more accommodating stance towards Beijing while making open appeals to US imperialism. Last May, Lee, along with Lee Cheuk-yan and Margaret Ng, met with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and other senior US officials in Washington, shortly before the protests began.

Jimmy Lais longtime assistant Mark Simon is a former US naval intelligence officer with close ties to the CIA. He has aided Lai in securing meetings with leading US officials over the years including talks last July with Pompeo, as well as former National Security Advisor John Bolton and Vice President Mike Pence, among others. Lai has also supplied funds to several pan-democrat politicians in the past.

Last November, during the Halifax International Security Forum, which is held in Halifax, Canada, but based in Washington, Figo Chan, the student leader, accepted the John McCain Prize for Leadership in Public Service. Senior United States government officials used the 2019 forum to place additional military and economic pressure on China in pursuit of their goal of forcing Beijing to accept US imperialist domination.

These figures played various roles in last years protests that erupted in June as millions demonstrated against an extradition law that would allow political opponents of Beijing to be arrested and sent to the mainland.

Those arrested last Saturday, along with the entire pan-democrat bloc, worked to prevent the movement from orienting to the working class in Hong Kong, and also China, without which any struggle for democratic rights is impossible. As such, the pan-democrats created the conditions in which Beijing and the Hong Kong ruling class could recover and clamp down on the pro-democracy movement.

Beijing hopes that it can now silence and intimidate workers and students in Hong Kong to prevent a resurgence of protests, on the pretext that the opposition was purely the product of external forces. However, the movement maintained its intensity in large part because it was fueled by attacks on democratic rights and poor working and social conditions. Hong Kong is one of the most socially unequal cities in the world.

The underlying anger in Hong Kong has not disappeared, but in order to defend living conditions and democratic rights the protest movement needs a revolutionary leadership based in the working class on the principles of socialist internationalism. Only in this way can such a movement fight against the police-state measures of the Chinese regime while resisting the attempts of US imperialism to exploit the opposition for its own purposes.
Photo: (Photo : Screenshot from Jennifer Barnes YouTube account.)

Being in the frontlines during the pandemic is one thing for Dr. Jason Barnes, but bringing home the virus to his loved ones is another.

Dr. Barnes is an Emergency Room doctor who treated a patient who had symptoms of COVID-19. Later on, this patient tested positive. Dr. Barnes' wife, Jenna, said that he cannot go home yet. That is why the Barnes Family decided to ask Dr. Barnes to move out of the house and live next door, at the children's treehouse.

Instead of renting an RV, or staying in a room for rent, Dr. Barnes decided that it would be best to stay in their treehouse. Enough to be socially-distanced from his family, but not too far that he will not be able to see them.

Making the Decision

After knowing that he has treated a COVID-19 positive, Dr. Barnes had the biggest fear of bringing home the virus to his family; so did his wife, Jenna.

In an interview with TODAY, the 39-year-old ER Doctor shared that his decision was firm when he saw the fear in his wife's eyes. He also did not want his wife to be frightened.

For Jenna, this may sound funny to other people, but she believes that it is for the safety of their family.

The Treehouse Tour

In the video "Cribs: Quarantine Edition" ER Doc in Treehouse, which was initially shared by Jenna in her YouTube account, Dr. Barnes gave a tour of where he was staying. He entered through the trapdoor and showed where he was sleeping. Dr. Barnes then uses the bottom bunk in the double-decker as his bed while the top serves as his closet. He also showed his "refrigerator," which is the cool box storage. A small air conditioner has been installed in the treehouse.



Because of the mosquitoes and bugs in his temporary home, he is all prepared with bug spray and insect zapper.

Dr.Barnes also has a work station next to his bed, and a nice hammock for a good view of the neighbors and for relaxation.

When he needs something from the house, he has a quarantine bucket placed outside. His food, which was cooked by Mrs. Barnes, is being placed on a table outside their home where Dr. Barnes gets it.

According to Dr. Banes, the best part of his treehouse retreat is that every afternoon, he gets the chance to see his family even from afar.

Until when will be the treehouse quarantine?

In the Youtube video, Dr. Barnes imparted that it is only the quarantine that can help everyone during this pandemic. That is why, although it is not very comfortable in the treehouse, he will stay there in the foreseeable future. The family is checking the guidance from local health officials about the number of cases and the social distancing rules before deciding whether it is already safe for him to return home.

Aside from that, the family's decision, according to Dr. Barnes, will come from the family's CEO, who is his wife, Jenna.
This article by James Clark originally appeared on Task & Purpose, a digital news and culture publication dedicated to military and veterans issues.

A private first class in the Army National Guard allegedly impersonated a police officer and then followed one bad decision with an even worse one: pulling over an actual cop.

Phillipp Espique was driving through Southport, Indiana, near Indianapolis, in his white Ford Taurus, when he sped alongside a local off-duty lieutenant on March 1 and turned on a siren in attempt to get the vehicle to pull over, according to a statement from the Southport Police Department.

After the officer refused to pull over, Espique sped up and cut in front of his vehicle while he was in a left turn lane. Espique then exited the car, with a gun in his belt, to confront the officer  who was driving with his family.

The off-duty lieutenant did not identify himself as a police officer, however he did radio over to the department and called for other officers to come to the scene as he relayed Espique's plate number.

Espique fled the scene before they arrived, but was arrested on April 21. He is charged with impersonating an officer, intimidation, criminal confinement, and reckless driving.

The New York Post reported on Thursday that Espique is a member of the Indiana National Guard.

This isn't the first time he's been in the news, though the last time it was considerably more positive. In 2018 Espique was the focus of a local news story after he and another man rendered first aid to a woman suffering from an asthma attack on the highway.

Based on information the Southport Police Department gathered during their investigation, detectives said they believe that Espique may have pulled over other vehicles in the area, according to the department's statement.

This article originally appeared at Task & Purpose. Follow Task & Purpose on Twitter.

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Kolkata, April 25 : Alleging non-cooperation by the West Bengal government, the Inter Ministerial Central Teams (IMCT) on Saturday shot off three more letters to the state Chief Secretary Rajiva Sinha to know why its missives went unanswered and suggested immediate stricter enforcement of lockdown measures.

"The IMCT has been in Kolkata since 10 am on April 20. Four letters have been written by IMCT till today. No response has been received to any letters till date," IMCT leader Apurva Chandra said in his communication.

Chandra said the delegation has not received the hard copy of the presentation given by the state Health Secretary on Thursday.

Chandra, an Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Defence, in one of the missives referred to a purported remark by Sinha that "IMCT is free to visit anywhere and senior officers of the state government cannot waste time accompanying the IMCT." Chandra said Sinha's stand was in "violation of the Ministry of Home Affairs order" wherein the state was asked to provide logistic support and facilitate all field visits.

Chandra said the delegation has received complaints of patients unable to contact their family members and relatives, after the state government banned mobile phones in Covid hospitals.

He said many patients who had tested corona negative had to remain in hospital as they could not contact their relatives.

Meanwhile, the other IMCT on a tour to north Bengal suggested immediate stricter implementation of the ongoing lockdown and deployment of more field officers to avoid any further outbreak of coronavirus.

The IMCT team leader Vineet Joshi came up with the suggestions in a letter to Chief Secretary Rajiva Sinha after touring parts of Kalimpong and Darjeeling districts.

Joshi in his letter asked the Chief Secretary to furnish details about the measures taken by the state to combat Covid-19 in north Bengal. He also sought a meeting with the Siliguri Police Commissioner.

"As an immediate measure, it is suggested that stricter implementation of lockdown is absolutely necessary to avoid any further outbreak. A larger number of field officers are required to monitor and provide feedback about the effectiveness of various measures undertaken by the government," Joshi said in the letter.
NRPLUS MEMBER ARTICLE I read a story in the New York Times by Paul Theroux on the national lockdown, the one thats crashed the economy and thrown more than 26 million Americans out of work. This peculiarity we are now experiencing, he wrote, the nearest thing to a world war . . . is the essence of tragedy and an occasion for license or retribution.

Is this the nearest thing to a world war? We cant time travel to London during the Blitz, and dont we think life in the trenches at the Somme was by a magnitude or two worse than life during COVID-19? After we get a vaccine, I hope our scientists work on a perspective pill.

Ive heard the words unprecedented threat a million times, but, really, is much of anything unprecedented? Okay, Martians landing would be new. Oh, yes, a purpose-built Great Depression-by-choice is new. When Burke said, Theres no such thing as a good new idea, he might have had this in mind. Pandemics? In my lifetime, weve had a polio crisis, the 1957 and 1968 flu epidemics, AIDS, SARS, Ebola, MERS, the avian and swine flus  sorry, I guess Im swinist  and the Cold War and terrorism.

Since I write about art, I started to think about how artists have addressed plagues from the Black Death in 1347 to the time of Napoleon. The art of AIDS  worldwide, it killed 770,000 people in 2018  is poignant, rich, fascinating, and for another story. I picked a timeframe roughly commensurate with the art from Lombardy that I wrote about last week.

Plague art isnt common  the subjects a downer  but what we have focuses the mind and grabs the heart. The greatest plague picture is the biggest and grandest, Bonaparte Visiting the Victims of the Plague of Jaffa, from 1804, by Jean-Antoine Gros (17711835). The first worshipful hero opus of the Napoleonic era, its at the Louvre. At 25 feet in length, with warm colors, lots of chiaroscuro, and flamboyant gestures, its nothing less than operatic.

The Cairo Plague, which ran from 1799 to 1801, coincided with thenGeneral Bonapartes invasion of Egypt and Syria. Its considered the 40th and final outbreak of the second bubonic plague that started with the Black Death in 1347. For 450 years, the bubonic plague was part of life.

Story continues

The paintings set in 1799 in a pest house, or quarantined camp hospital, for sick French soldiers. Ignoring a doctor, Napoleon touches a soldiers bulbous, infected sore, a sign of bubonic plague. Lumps of sick humanity surround him, yet hes fearless as well as loyal to his troops. He literally feels their pain. He glows in a shaft of light from the heavens.

Its documentary since the events were supposed to have just happened, but the scenes probably a dash of make-believe. Its a political picture, primarily, commissioned shortly before Napoleon crowned himself emperor. Jesus healed lepers, and Napoleon  lion heart, soldier, and savior  was about to heal a strife-bedecked France, or so Napoleon and his boosters hoped.

The bubonic plague, caused by the Yersinia pestis bacteria, carried by fleas hitchhiking on rats and biting humans, is thought today to have appeared first as the Justinian Plague in a.d. 541. Lasting 200 years, it killed millions in Mediterranean Europe and Western Asia.

Plagues  real plagues  alter history. As that plague hit Constantinople, Justinians capital, he was planning to invade Italy and reunite the western and eastern halves of the old Roman Empire. The plague derailed his plan, creating the basis for the Ottoman Empire. It weakened armies and economies throughout Europe and forged an opening for the Goths to make merry.

Pages from Loimotomia, or The Pest Anatomized, 1666, by George Thomas. (

The Black Death, the second Yersinia pestis plague, began in 1347 and killed half of Europes population. It took centuries to exhaust itself, and while deaths from the Cairo outbreak were small, it had outsized importance. Dozens of scientists and doctors accompanied Napoleon on his rampage. Their exacting account of the plagues course from fancy-free rat to dead rat to happy, unsuspecting Egyptian to dead Egyptian, complete with demographics, is still a foundation of bubonic-plague studies. The third Yersinia pestis plague started in China in the 1850s and was deemed done in 1960.

Giovanni Boccaccios The Decameron, from 1353, is the earliest and best fiction about the Black Death. I listened to it over a week of hiking jaunts in Vermont last week. Daniel Defoes Journal of the Plague Year, from 1722, is very good. Its documentary fiction about the devastating 1665 iteration of the bubonic plague in London. Its Londons last plague. The fire the next year did many things, but the urban renewal that followed enhanced hygiene standards. The Betrothed, by Alessandro Mazoni, in three volumes published between 1840 and 1842 is a novel set in Milan during Italys 1629 plague. Next to The Divine Comedy, its Italys greatest fiction.

The Plague at Ashdod, 1629, by Nicolas Poussin. Oil on canvas

Plagues are as old as humanity  the worlds a germy, viral place, and we men, women, and non-binary types are prey  and as old as the earliest days described in the Old Testament. Nicolas Poussin (15941665) painted the engrossing Plague at Ashdod in 1629. Its the plague of groin and underarm tumors, or buboes, described in 1 Samuel:5, and sent by God to punish the Philistines for swiping the Ark of the Covenant. Its early Poussin, and it hangs in a Louvre gallery filled with superb French baroque and rococo art and thats almost always empty.

Its a panic scene. A crowds in chaos. A man in the foreground pulls a baby from his dead mothers breast. Rats scurry  by the 1600s it was well known that rats werent our friends  and the dead are carried off. Men and women cover their faces, either from the stench or a rudimentary understanding that plague infested the deads last breath. The Ark sits awkwardly between columns on the left, the crowd beneath it in a tangle. These guys arent sick  yet. Theyre arguing about whose bright idea it was to take the damn thing in the first place.

Its a history painting and a religious painting, but it was also about the here-and-now, or there-and-then. Poussin painted it at the height of the Plague of Milan, or the Italian Plague, the 1629-to-1631 iteration of the bubonic plague. It killed 25 percent of Italys people, about a million deaths, and put the final nail in Venices mercantile coffin.

God punished Ashdod with a plague, that tried-and-true arrow in the divine quiver. Earlier, it took ten God-delivered disasters to pry the enslaved Jews from the grasp of Pharaoh, though not all of them were diseases. I would have told Pharaoh to throw in the towel after the frogs, lice, boils, and locusts, but he was stubborn, waiting until the first-born sons died.

In 1630, the Roman scholar and writer Agostino Moscardi, a Poussin friend, reported on Italian cities exterminated by plague, emptied of inhabitants, filled with cadavers and fright, noting that commerce is poisoned, sleep is interrupted by death, nothing is seen except images of horror. Unlike today, when the New York Times and the government are using every trick known to arithmetic to inflate COVID-19 death numbers, it was obvious that the Plague of Milan was devastating.

It was bad, but by then, theories about what caused the plague were moving, glacially, from divine punishment alone to other sources, such as local, discernible pathogens. Distraught imaginations, experts believed, might make the plague worse. That is, thinking about it brought it on. Yet if God sent the plague, how did it spread? Poussins painting enacts one of the big medical debates of his time.

Poussin was no piker in plague studies. His principal patrons, the Romans Cardinal Francisco Barberini and Cassiano dal Pozzo, were amateur epidemiologists who gathered the best infectious-disease scholars, all essentially amateurs, in studying the plague. Poussins figures reflect how plague victims looked: ashen, enervated, and arms raised to evoke the pus-filled boils found under them. A packed crowd, decidedly undistanced, conveys the artists understanding that plague spreads from human contact. Its a sequential picture, too  the stages of plague unfold from a disputing crowd by the Ark to panic, sickness, and death.

Still, for Poussin and his contemporaries, plague comes when virtue is perverted. The theft of the Ark by the Philistines, a horrible crime, brings punishment. The dead mother in the foreground, spilling into our space, is the evil twin of the Lactating Virgin, an old Renaissance art trope. There, a beautiful, serene Mary nourishes the baby Jesus at her breast. In Ashdod, a Philistine mother, supine and ashen, punished by God, bearing only poisoned milk, leaves her baby now alone. Poussin was French, but he worked in Italy, where nothings worse than a bad mother.

Thucydides chronicled the Plague of Athens in 430 b.c. during the height of the Peloponnesian War. It killed half of Athens, including its visionary leader, Pericles. It then triggered a lawless, licentious time as survivors believed that they, too, would die  so why not live it up? The Antonine Plague between a.d. 165 and 180 killed millions in the Roman Empire, including half its army. The Justinian Plague, which started in 541, lasted a hundred years.

Nothing, though, exceeds the Black Death in death, horror, and disruption. It possibly entered Europe in 1347 via Caffa, a Black Sea settlement and Genoese trading outpost. Marauding Tatars carried the plague, which they got from Mongolia, to Caffa during their siege of the walled town. Fighting until they sickened, the invaders withdrew, saying bye-bye by catapulting their dead over the city walls into the local population. The dead carried both fleas and contagion. Weeks later, Genoese ships brought flea infested rats and sick sailors to Sicily, and from Sicily and Genoa issued a conflagration of indiscriminate, gruesome death.

Two hundred million deaths is a lot of death, but its a number. The Black Death strangled an emerging, vibrant capitalist economy. It hit all classes, and though many among the rich escaped to country houses, the plague was soon ubiquitous. If a rich family celebrated, say, New Years Day in 1349, a dozen later outbreaks over 50 years would likely have whacked many who escaped.

The Black Death scrambled fortunes. Second, third, and fourth sons became heirs and partied hardy. Heirless fortunes enriched churches, convents, monasteries, and the earliest European universities. Buyers and sellers, employers and labor, and entire communities were decimated. Labor shortages made a nascent union movement. Politics were scrambled.

Saint Sebastian Interceding for the Plague Stricken, c. 1497-1499, by Josse Lieferinxe. Oil on wood.

Artists documented the Black Death. Josse Lieferinxes St. Sebastian Interceding for the Plague-Stricken in Pavia, from around 1500, is pure reportage. A prostrate man wails, a bubo the size of an apple on his neck. People prayed to St. Sebastian, pierced with arrows, to protect them from plague. His arrows were seen as lightning rods absorbing the plague before it reached humanity. The trope of dancing skeletons, the dance macabre, started around the time of the Black Death.

The Belles Heures of Jean de Fance, duc de Berry, Bifolium: 73-74r  Great Litany Process  End of the Plague, c. 1405-1408, by The Limbourg Brothers.

The Belles Heures of Jean de France, Duke of Berry, is a magnificently decorated prayer book from 1404 owned by the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Its illustrated with scenes from the New Testament but also from contemporary life. There, amid a procession led by Pope Gregory, a man drops dead from plague as onlookers gape. On the next page, a reprise of the bubonic plague in 1403 ends only with the intervention of St. Michael the Archangel, but not before more death.

The Triumph of Death, c. 1562, by Pieter Bruegel the Elder. Oil on panel.

Among French and Italian baroque painters, Poussin is the most classicized, or order-driven. His Ashdod picture has passages of chaos, to be sure, but its controlled, paced chaos. Its filled with classical architecture. Pieter Bruegels The Triumph of Death, from 1562, is a melee of phantasmagorical proportions. The 1562 iteration of the Black Death had just started, but by then plague and mass, indiscriminate death were the norm. The pictures packed, but the central vignette is a slinky Grim Reaper on horseback, his scythe herding a frenzied mass into a simple big, box structure. Armies of skeletons fortify his work.

For peasants, nobles, and bishops alike, their times up. The landscapes barren, nuke-war barren. In the lower left corner, a king falls, and the skeleton pulling him holds an hourglass. In the lower right, a romancing young couple barely start the mood music  the mans still strumming, but his face is starting to decay. Above, death interrupts a fancy dinner party.

Did the Black Death  the bubonic plague of 1347 and 1348  change contemporary Italian art? Yes, no, and maybe are the answers we get from the tiny world of scholars of mid-14th-century Italian painting, all of whom are armed with magnifying glasses and strong opinions. Giotto (12671337), all agree, pioneered a new style marked by a sense of three-dimensional space, vibrant color, and narrative. Viewers could connect with Jesus and the saints because their look was our look, real people set in towns or countryside. Worshippers could imagine themselves walking with Jesus.

Lamentation (The Mourning of Christ), c. 1304-1306, by Giotto di Bondone. Fresco.

Giottos Lamentation, from the Scrovegni Chapel in Padua, painted in 1304, is an example. The supine Jesus has weight and form. Witnesses grieve, and Mary Magdalene caresses his feet. The scenes set against blue sky, rocks, and a tree, not a flat, gold background. The figures are alive. Theyre not flat, iconic spooks.

Strozzi Altarpiece, c. 1354-1357, by Orcagna. Tempera on wood.

Scholars have deployed the Strozzi altarpiece from Florence, done in 1355, to fashion the Black Deaths impact. Its the most impressive mid-century altarpiece in Italy, and its artist, Andrea di Cione, called Orcagna (13081368), was seen in Florence as Giottos successor in prominence and prowess. Gone in the Strozzi altarpiece are Giottos interest in expression and pathos, his sense of space, and his you-and-there narration. Replacing them are an aloof, stern, unforgiving Christ and a cadre of remote, ethereal saints. Its the art not of this world but the next, a look of pessimism, and a style so conservative that it would have looked comfortable a hundred years before.

Other scholars argue that Florence, shattered by the Black Death, might have embraced the retardataire, but Pisa and Padua didnt, maintaining the spirit of Giottos naturalism. So demolished was the art world, some think, that trends were interrupted and individual, with idiosyncratic styles privileged over established groupthink.

Some artists and patrons, depending on their individual psychology, saw the Black Death as Gods command to look soberly and mournfully to an abstract afterlife. Others were glass-half-full people, looking to the future as a pursuit of lifes joys rather than a reflection on deaths certainty. My take is that art heals. Its a measure of our sublime, unique creativity. Italians bounced con brio from a most profound adversity to the Renaissance, budding a generation later, and soon an explosive, enriching, modernizing force. Take that, plague.

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Ready or not, America is opening back up.

The process that began in recent days with back-in-business nail salons and unbarred sandy beaches in a scattering of states is poised to accelerate over the coming week across wide swaths of the country. After shutting down much of American life in March and keeping people home throughout April, governors are preparing to lift restrictions as the calendar turns to May - and cross their fingers that the novel coronavirus doesn't come roaring back.

In Tennessee, customers will be able to sit down for meals in restaurants starting Monday. In Missouri, the coming week will be the last before the state allows "almost every business" to reopen. And in Idaho, churches and other places of worship could be unlocking their doors by next weekend.

The easing will not be universal. In states such as New York, where covid-19 has exacted its heaviest toll, there is no letup to the rules in sight. And even in places where restrictions are being relaxed, governors have emphasized the need to proceed cautiously, lest they unleash a second wave.

"We simply cannot open everything all at once and reverse the good work we have done collectively over the past month to slow the spread of coronavirus," Idaho Gov. Brad Little, a Republican, said in a statement announcing his state's plans.

Yet even the most tentative steps have unnerved public health experts, big-city mayors and others who worry that with case numbers continuing to rise, it is too soon to reverse course on a virus that has killed more nearly 53,000 Americans.

More for you Experts worry 'quarantine fatigue' is starting

"We don't have the resources in place to do the level of testing and contact tracing we need to make sure we're monitoring this effectively," said Jeffrey Shaman, an epidemiologist at Columbia University. "We're flying blind."

The reopenings come at a time when stay-at-home rules still enjoy widespread support, despite acute economic pain. Polls show that majorities of Americans worry more about moving too quickly to get back to business than too slowly.

But the restrictions have increasingly come under assault, with business groups lobbying against them, protesters flocking to state capitols to demand their end and President Trump taking an ambivalent stand at best. He was sharply critical of Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, R, for reopening too quickly. But he also has prodded governors to open by May 1, and has tweeted that citizens should "liberate" states whose leaders have ordered people to stay home.

"The governor's getting pressure to reopen," said Steven Reed, the Democratic mayor of Montgomery, Alabama. "But we have to think of the long term. We can't do that and then risk the unintended consequences of setting us back on the progress that we've made."

Reed said far more testing capacity is needed to chart the virus's spread before he would be comfortable with seeing restrictions eased. The decision to reopen hair salons and other businesses in Georgia, just over an hour's drive down the highway from his city, was "reckless" in the absence of such capabilities, Reed said.

So far, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey has been a holdout as neighboring states have announced or gone ahead with plans to allow some semblance of normal life to return. But with her state's stay-at-home order expiring Thursday, the Republican governor faces a choice over whether to renew it.

Many others are in the same position and will likely be watching closely how the loosening plays out elsewhere.

States moving quickly to reopen are putting themselves in the unenviable position of being "natural experiments" for the rest of the country, Shaman said.

Many of the states that have eased their rules say they believe they are past the peak as new case numbers decline. But Shaman noted that those declines have come only because of sweeping social distancing rules, and that as the rules are relaxed, controlling transmission will become more difficult. How much more difficult remains to be seen. But Shaman warned that "a trial-and-error approach is less than ideal."

In addition to Georgia, Oklahoma was among the first states to ease up. Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt's Wednesday announcement that salons, barbers and pet groomers could reopen as of Friday came with little warning and set off an instant scramble for Teresa Bailey.

The owner of Creek County Choppers, along historic Route 66 in the Tulsa suburb of Sapulpa, hadn't cut her customers' hair since a state-mandated shutdown a month ago. But with masks, fresh capes and a lot of cleaning product, she believed a reopening could be pulled off safely.

"It is going to be like a Lysol bomb went off in that place for a while," she said. "I may not worry enough. I do think it'll be fine."

Not everyone is so sure. Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum, a Republican, on Friday said he would allow his city's shelter-in-place order to expire at the end of the month and businesses to reopen, despite deep concerns. Federal guidelines suggest no easing of restrictions until there has been a 14-day decline in new cases. In the Tulsa area, he noted, cases had been going up.

But the state's action, he said, had left him with little choice - and that could have dire consequences.

"Tulsa does not exist in a bubble," he said. "We should expect more people to come into contact with one another and we should expect the illness to spread. . . . Tulsa's cases will not go down. They will increase."

In other places, states and cities will have different rules - a reflection of demographic and political fault lines. In Missouri, for instance, Republican Gov. Mike Parson has said he would let the vast majority of businesses reopen May 4, after his statewide stay-at-home order expires.

But a local order remains in effect until May 15 in Kansas City, the state's most populous city, where the virus is disproportionately sickening the African American community.

"I'm not going to abandon my community just because the rest of society says we don't care anymore," said Quinton Lucas, who grew up on Kansas City's hardscrabble East Side and now serves as the city's Democratic mayor.

Leaders in St. Louis and the surrounding county are still weighing what to do when the state's order expires. Even as it does, more stringent rules will remain in effect until the end of May just across the Mississippi River, in Illinois.

In Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott is expected to release an order Monday detailing how the state will reopen - a process that started Friday when Texas retailers started offering to-go services and hospitals resumed elective surgeries. The Republican governor has said movie theaters and restaurant dining rooms could reopen shortly after Texas's stay-at-home order expires May 1.

But commissioners in Dallas County voted Tuesday to extend their stay-at-home order to May 15. The governor has indicated his coming order would supersede any local ordinance and any that violations would result in fines and jail time.

Massey Villarreal, who sits on the governor's task force, said Abbott's plan - to gradually open businesses that require minimal contact - is guided by scientific data and the advice of public health experts. Villarreal said waiting too long to reopen the tenth-largest economy in the world will destroy tens of thousands of jobs in the middle of an oil industry crisis.

"The question the governor and task force are asking ourselves is if in prescribing people rush back to work, are we going to kill anybody?" said Villarreal, CEO and president of Precision Task Group, a business management consultancy. "We don't want to just get back to doing things the old-fashioned way because there is no more old-fashioned way. This is a new normal. And we have to be very careful."

In Ohio, which led the nation in its aggressive approach to closures back in March, Gov. Mike DeWine, R, will announce on Monday details of a partial reopening that is due to kick in Friday.

Mark Weir, an epidemiologist at Ohio State University who has been advising the governor, said he is urging a methodical approach to reopening, along with preparation for the need to clamp down if new outbreaks emerge.

"The staged approach from the outside may look like it's too slow for some and may look too fast for others," Weir said. "It's designed to be in the middle of those two - slowly opening so we can monitor to see if another large-scale peak is likely to be occurring."

Above all, Weir emphasized, a transition is unfolding in large parts of the country - from directives that carry the force of law to a recognition of individual agency.

"There is a humongous amount of power in every individual citizen to be able to defeat this thing," he said. "Everything that we've been doing by way of social distancing is protecting our neighbors and therefore protecting ourselves. Each business owner can protect themselves, their staff and everyone who comes into their shop."

In other places, the reopening has been coupled with a doubling down on enforcement of the rules.

Several shoreline communities in Florida's Duval County - an area that includes Jacksonville - opted to open their beaches on a limited basis last week after Gov. Ron DeSantis, R, gave the go-ahead.

The move was not without controversy. For a moment in March, Florida beach communities were at the center of coronavirus ire after thousands of spring breakers partied by the ocean instead of socially distancing. Critics blasted DeSantis and local government leaders for allowing the beaches to stay open as the rest of the country was closing down.

When county leaders made their choice to open back up, #Floriduh and #FloridaMorons trended on Twitter.

But the mayors pointed out that, in many cases, their beaches are the largest swath of public land, and not dissimilar from parks. Charlie Latham, the Republican mayor of Jacksonville Beach, said he scoffed when he saw that New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, D, was among the critics - even as Central Park remained open in the nation's hardest-hit city.

Community leaders also pointed out that the rules against congregating have been strictly enforced. Beachgoers can't bring umbrellas and beach chairs - anything that would lead to crowding. Police on ATVs have even cracked down on children building sand castles.

"You've got to keep moving," said Elaine Brown, the mayor of Neptune Beach in Duval County. "If there's a situation where someone's brought out the suntan lotion, a book and chairs, we've got an officer that goes up to them almost immediately and says, 'That's not allowed now.' "

Hundreds of people flocked to Jacksonville Beach on Saturday morning, walking alone or in family groups along the shore and mostly heeding the admonishment to keep moving. With 22 miles of beaches in the Jacksonville area, there was plenty of room to socially distance and only the occasional scofflaw. Children dug plastic shovels into the sand, a group five of teenage surfers congregated by their board, fisherman sat on coolers, their lines bobbing in the waves.

Around 9:30, an officer in an ATV pulled up next to a bikini-clad woman sunbathing by the dock. After exchanging a few words she and the man she was with were on their way, walking with the other beachgoers.

Even with strict precautions, however, some activities will be difficult, if not impossible, to resume safely anytime soon. In Arizona, Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego said she couldn't help but wonder whether decisions in certain states to reopen bowling alleys and nail salons had been driven "more by politics than by good data."

Neither has been allowed to reopen in Arizona - at least not yet. But with Arizona's stay-at-home order expiring this coming week, Gov. Doug Ducey, a Republican, faces a choice on both, and much more.

Gallego, a Democrat, said she would urge Ducey to be cautious and to look at what happens when governments try to rush the process of returning to business as usual. Singapore, she pointed out, had once thought it had the crisis under control, only to see case numbers explode.

"I am as eager as anyone to return to normal life," Gallego said, noting she has a relative in the hospital whom she can't visit and a 3-year-old at home. "But we have to do it safely."

- - -

Wootson reported from Jacksonville Beach, Florida, and Eger reported from Tulsa, Oklahoma. Arelis R. Hernandez contributed to this report from San Antonio.
The Navrongo- Bolgatanga Diocesan Priests Association (NABODPA) as part of efforts to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, has donated personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to the Diocesan Health Directorate.



The items included hand sanitizers, hand gloves and face masks at a cost of GH8,000.00, to be distributed to ten health facilities in the Diocese.



Reverend Father James Aganiba Achaa, the President of NABODPA who handed over the items to the Bishop of Navrongo- Bolgatanga Diocese, Most Reverend Alfred Agyenta, at the Bishops Secretariat in Bolgatanga, said the items were procured by the priests in response to the call by the Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference (GCBC) to all Catholics, societies and groups in the various dioceses to support the fight against the pandemic.



Rev. Fr. Achaa expressed the hope that the items would help increase the confidence of health workers in their line of duty.



He thanked health staff and all those actively involved in the fight against the spread of the disease and assured them of their prayers.



He entreated everyone to observe the protocols, by using alcohol based hand sanitizers, wearing of face masks and above all staying at home unless it was absolutely necessary to go out.



Most Rev Agyenta who received the PPE expressed gratitude for the initiative taken by NABODPA and stressed that the effort was not only in response to GCBCs call, but to the Diocese that had laid down a programme of response to the crises through groups and partners within the Diocese.



The Bishop who was flanked by his staff, noted that the priests quick response was also a response to the liturgy, since the action takes place in the local churches and for recognizing the need to work together as pastoral collaborators to the Bishop.



We are going through difficult times especially where parishes have been locked down and as a result making resource mobilization a challenge, the Bishop said.



You are also front liners and have to take care of yourselves, therefore charity begins at home, he told the priests, adding that they were exposed in reaching out to people especially when they had to perform burial services.



The Bishop who in turn handed over the items to the Health Directorate said every parish and pastoral agents were key and therefore needed to be protected to carry out the work of God and challenged the directorate to ensure that the equipment and all that would follow, would be judiciously used.



Mr Bismark Akasoe, the Diocesan Health Director who received the items from the Bishop, gave an overview of the operations of the health facilities in the diocese and also allayed fears of all in the face of the pandemic, stating that one suspected case was registered in the area but tested negative.



He thanked the NABODPA for the kind gesture.



Following a call by the Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference (GCBC) to all Catholics, societies and groups in various Dioceses to support the fight against the pandemic, the National Union of Ghana Diocesan Priests Association (NUGPA) requested the Diocesan Associations to join in fund raising to support the action at the local and national level.

Source: GNA









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Anyone who flew an airplane in World War II had some Stearman time, Fox said.

His motivation for the flight came after a recent Las Vegas flyover by the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds flight demonstration team. The purpose of that April 11 flight was to show appreciation for that regions health care workers, first responders and other essential personnel working to combat COVID-19.

I thought, what have they got that we dont have, aside from jet airplanes? Fox said.

He took the idea and reached out to a neighbor, Dennis Tosh, whose son Eric Tosh is an emergency medicine physician at Mary Washington Hospital. Fox proposed that his group perform a similar flyover to thank medical personnel at Mary Washington and Stafford hospitals.

Dr. Tosh reached out to Lisa Henry, marketing director for Mary Washington Healthcare, and passed the idea on to her.

He said, Ive got this crazy thing. These guys want to show their appreciation to our health care workers, Henry said. Its pretty exciting, and were really grateful that the community is thinking of us and wants to bring some moments of happiness to our teams right now.
Tunis, Tunisia (PANA) - Tunisia Friday recorded four new confirmed cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic out of a sample of 438 virology tests, an official source told PANA here
Militarising and politicising Covid-19 Doublespeak By Gamini Weerakoon View(s): View(s):

After Covid-19, would Lanka be the same again? Only scientists and specialist medics are supposed to be qualified to tell us when or whether the virus will come to an end but they are non-committal. Only those of us who know next to nothing about Covid-19 predict with certainty about the future. And our predictions will be what we are hoping for what we want it to be.

The Covid virus is greater than those who claim to be the Greatest. Ask Donald Trump, Narendra Modi, Rodrigo Duterte or Recep Tayyip Erdogan who have all been humbled by this microbe. It has also visibly impacted potty little presidents looking forward to be Great. Covid has already devastated the best laid plans of lesser leaders right round the globe and it appears that Planet Earth would not be the same again as in ante-Covid times.

In Sri Lanka, there was militarisation of governance that has seeped into day-to-day life of citizens starting with the Military Police complementing the traffic cops in their duties and now we see on TV ex- military top brass projecting power through the only functional and devastatingly effective media, television, and to a lesser extent by radio. The Sri Lankan press  the Watchdog of the Nation  has been locked up for over a month and limited to a few online newspapers.

Medics, true enough, are given some time and occupy the centre stage briefly but the whole exercise is underpinned on well-known ex- military personalities  on and off on TV in their military splendour and at times in civvies  running an effective juggernaut under their supreme commander and president of the country, an ex-military man.

Military personnel have done a commendable job in keeping the spread of the virus under control as compared to some other countries. Sri Lanka was fortunate in having lesser number of returning expatriate workers and migrants and also being an island with few entry points  few sea ports and one main airport.

Even though, on TV, the military personalities do not effuse politics and appear to be apolitical, it was inevitable that these personalities and the Covid virus would become politicised for two reasons: These ex-military men fighting Covid are recognised loyalists of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and were appointed by him. The second reason is the general election which cannot be held on the scheduled date because of the Covid virus and political supporters of the Pohottuwa, the political party of the Rajapaksas, claiming in conversations, but not officially, that the success in the War Against the Virus is an achievement of President Rajapaksa and his team of ex-military men  a political achievement.

Pohottuwa wants a victory with a two-thirds majority in parliament to implement Gotabayas visionary manifesto: Visions of Prosperity and splendour  but the Opposition fears a two-thirds majority will turn out to be a big stick to establish a military styled autocratic regime which should be thwarted.

At the time of writing, there is a constitutional crisis in the making on the scheduled date for the election and summoning of parliament.

Much praise has been lavished on the Buddhi Angshaya (Intelligence Unit) for its success in trailing suspected virus carriers who have broken the rules of quarantine and spread it among those whom they have come into contact with, leading to subsequent quarantining contacts in groups and even entire neighbourhoods. Those used for this operation are said to be members of a special operations force known for their bravura and awesome nature, inspiring admiration and also fear among the public.

Some, particularly those of militant political bent, fear that if this kind of investigations or operations are regularised for detection of offences considered not inimical to the state but to political interests, it could lead to the drastic invasion of privacy and violations of human rights. However, it has to be stressed that those deployed in the detection of Covid virus carriers so far have not been accused of straying beyond their limited field of operations. But it is well known that, in highly security conscious developed and even developing countries, well established security agencies tend to spy on innocent citizens invading their rights to privacy and violating their political rights on behalf of those in power.

In history, even western liberal philosophers have advocated keeping watch on suspects without them being aware of being spied on.

Jeremy Bentham, English philosopher and jurist, who believed that exercise of power should be visible but unverifiable, tried for long years to make successive English governments adopt a proposal for the establishment of a jail with a Central Observation tower in a circle of surrounding towers with cells in which a guard from the central tower could see into surrounding cells and watch their inmates but the inmates couldnt see into the tower. This, prisoners would not know whether they are being watched or not. This system was called a Panopticon which Bentham failed with successive governments to accept despite his wealth and influence.

Michael Focault a 20th Century French philosopher and critic of Panopticon compared it to a medieval village under quarantine in order to stamp out the Plague. Focault used Panopticon as a metaphor in describing a modern disciplinary society in enforcing discipline. He argued: Discipline had replaced the pre-modern society of kings and that Panopticon should not be understood as a jail but as a mechanism of power and a diagram of political technology.

Whatever the results of the general election under consideration may be, post-Covid Sri Lanka will be determined on whether the militarisation of the administration  Military Police as traffic policemen, ex-military personnel heading key government institutions  will remain, disappear or expand. Can this all-important issue be decided on at the forthcoming general election held under high pressure with voters exercising their franchise at the risk of being infected by the deadly virus?

While Sri Lankan government officials and political supporters are backslapping one another on the success achieved so far in containing the spread of the pandemic, a threat with devastating potential could be developing just 22 miles away across the Palk strait in neighbouring India. The Covid-19 pandemic is stepping up each day in this nation of more than 1 billion people and has spread right across the sub-continent. If a devastating Covid virus bomb builds up in India and there is a near Covid vacuum in Sri Lanka, such a difference could unleash havoc here. This is a challenge that our Virus Warriors have to anticipate without basking in the glory of what has been achieved already.

There could also be political viruses that could precede the Covid. Last week, the Indian media reported that the Indian army is readying separate teams to be deployed in South Asian countries, including Sri Lanka, to help them boost their capabilities to deal with the coronavirus. Sri Lanka Defence Secretary Maj Gen.(Retd) Kamal Gunaratne the next day issued a statement that the Sri Lanka Defence Force and Police had already proved their capabilities in containing the spread of the virus. Sri Lanka has had enough experience of having an uninvited peace keeping force about three decades ago.

The arrival of a foreign force even for strictly humanitarian purposes at the time of the political crisis over conducting a general election would undoubtedly be an addition to the roiling political imbroglio.

Maintaining good relations with our neighbour at all times and particularly in times of crises like this is essential and the altruism of the Indian premier Narendra Modi in pledging USD 10 million to SAARC should be appreciated even though his actions that have paralysed SAARC is hard to comprehend.

(Gamini Weerakoo is aformer editor of The Sunday Island, The Island and Consulting Editor of the Sunday Leader.)
A top American Senator has urged President Donald Trump to reverse his executive order to suspend the issuance of green cards for 60 days and sought fast-tracking of the H-1B visas for foreign workers to meet the surging demand for healthcare professionals due to the coronavirus pandemic in the country.

On Wednesday, President Trump signed the executive order to suspend certain types of immigration into the US for 60 days to protect the jobs of Americans laid off due to the COVID-19 pandemic that has ravaged the country's economy.

The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise.

"The Trump administration's announcement of a temporary halt to immigration is the opposite of what is necessary for the health and safety of our country at this time, said Senator Michael Bennet in his first letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Department of Homeland Security Acting Secretary Chad Wolf.

"The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and (the Department of State) must immediately work to expedite the processing of visa petitions of healthcare professionals and provide them with more flexibility to practice in specialties or locations where they are most needed, Bennet, a Democrat, said.

COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine  one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show

In the second letter, Bennet called on Trump to reverse the executive order he issued on Wednesday suspending the issuance of new green cards to the United States for at least 60 days.

The temporary suspension of immigration will affect those who are legally seeking entry into the US for employment purposes but not the ones who are already living in the country, the order said.

Current regulations may force healthcare workers to suspend this work and even leave the country if their visa expires. Additionally, individuals who hold H-1B visas often cannot practice outside of specialties and locations designated by their sponsor.

Since the H-1B visa is tied with the specific speciality for which they are issued, a doctor with this visa cannot be roped in for any other public health programme or temporarily transferred or posted to another place.

Each of these regulations undermines the country's healthcare workforce when it is already under tremendous strain due to the pandemic, he said.

The use of a global public health crisis to promote an anti-immigration agendagoes against the immigrant tradition upon which this country was built, Bennet wrote in the second letter.

More than twenty-five per cent of all doctors and seventeen per cent of all healthcare workers are immigrants...instead of honouring our nation's proud immigrant heritage, the administration has placed countless lives at risk in the interest of amplifying its anti-immigration agenda, he wrote.

The executive order, he said, follows a broader set of anti-immigrant policies from the Trump administration.

Previously, the administration had suspended routine visa processing at US consulates and embassies abroad, closed the borders with Canada and Mexico to non-essential travel, and postponed court dates for migrants in the Migrant Protection Protocol programme.

Over the first two weeks of April, the US deported almost 3,000 individuals, even as the US continued to have the highest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases and deaths in the world, he said.

Requesting Trump to reverse the executive order, the Senator demanded that his administration must halt all anti-immigration policies that are harmful to public health and safety as the US struggles to fight against Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).

The use of a global public health crisis to promote an anti-immigration agenda is deeply problematic and goes against the immigrant tradition upon which this country was built.

It also won't undo the administration's failures to address the pandemic earlier and more aggressively. Further limitations on immigration will only bring insecurity to immigrant families resulting in greater uncertainty and economic harm to the US, he said.

Foreign-born individuals make up a large percentage of those who are on the front lines in this pandemic, he said adding that more than twenty-five percent of all doctors and seventeen percent of all health care workers are immigrants.

Nearly forty per cent of all medical/life scientists in this country, many of whom are researching the remedies to the very virus that has caused this pandemic, are foreign-born, he said.

Additionally, over thirty per cent of all agricultural workers, seventeen per cent of all grocery and supermarket workers, and over eighteen per cent of all food delivery workers are foreign-born. These individuals deserve our warmest praise and support, not policies that will incite fear and harm their families, friends, or communities. We shouldn't be making it harder for them to be with their loved ones during this difficult time, Bennet said.
A black man who said he was fed up with racism has been found guilty of killing four men in a race-related rampage in California.

Kori Ali Muhammad, 42, was convicted by a Fresno County jury Wednesday of first-degree murder, second-degree murder, attempted murder and other crimes.

On Friday, he withdrew a previous plea of not guilty by reason of insanity. In exchange, prosecutors announced that they would not seek the death penalty.

Muhammad is expected to be sentenced next month to life in prison without possibility of parole.

Muhammad, whose defense said he was mentally ill, was accused of a series of shooting attacks in April 2017 in Fresno, central California.

Kori Ali Muhammad, 42, was convicted by a Fresno County jury Wednesday of first-degree murder, second-degree murder, attempted murder and other crimes. He killed four white men during in racially-motivated attacks in April 2017

Muhammad began his rampage on April 13, 2017, shooting Motel 6 security guard Carl Williams II.

In a record confession to investigators that was played at his trial, Muhammad claimed he killed Williams because he felt he had been disrespected when he went to visit a friend.

A security camera recording showed Muhammad coming up behind Williams, 25, and shooting him.

'It starts taking its toll on you and you get fed up with the racism,' Muhammad said in the recordings. 'You get tired of letting things slide.'

After that shooting, Muhammad ran behind the Motel 6 and climbed onto the roof of a nearby 7-Eleven, where he hid through the night.

The next morning, he watched police officers investigate the crime scene and by evening he was in a ravine, where he told police he conducted voodoo rituals for three days. Muhammad says he is Muslim but prays to seven different gods.

Muhammad killed security guard Carl Williams III (pictured left) on April 13, 2017. Five days later, while on the run from police, he shot and killed Zachary Randalls (right)

Mark Gassett (left), 37, and David Jackson (right), 58, were also slain on April 18

After emerging from the ravine, he cut his braided hair and burned it, altering his appearance from the 'wanted' photos police would release while searching for him in the death of the security guard.

Then, on the run, Muhammad learned that he was wanted for Williams' killing. On the recording, Muhammad said that if he was 'going down for murder' the best thing was to 'kill as many white men' as he could.

On April 18, 2017, Muhammad drove through downtown shooting at white men, he said. He surrendered to police after, at one point, firing nearly 20 shots in less than a minute.

After his first murder, Muhammad cut his braided hair and burned it, altering his appearance from the 'wanted' photos police would release while searching for him in the death of the security guard.

Muhammad is pictured entering court in January 2018. He previously pleaded not guilty to the crimes on account that he was mentally insane

Zachary Randalls, 34, was shot in a Pacific Gas & Electric truck.

'When I walked up to the truck, I saw a Mexican driver and a white guy,' Muhammad said. 'I didn't want to target the driver because he was Mexican so I shot the white dude.'

He also was convicted of killing Mark Gassett, 37, and David Jackson, 58, and trying to shoot three other men.

Muhammad was convicted of first-degree murder for Jackson's slaying; second-degree murder for Williams, Randalls and Gassett; four counts of attempted murder; one count of shooting at an occupied vehicle and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

He will be sentenced on May 22.

Muhammad is expected to be sentenced to life in prison on May 22

In a previous interview from jail, Muhammad admitted to the killings and told KGPE: 'Someone has to fight for all the people who died at the hands of racist white men.

'I wasn't thinking like... I'm going to kill, kill, kill. All I knew was white supremacy has to die and the people who benefit from white supremacy... are white men.

'I gave my life for the freedom of my people, the ultimate freedom of my people.'
Vietnam Airlines has sold its shares in Angkor Air, Sin Chansereyvutha, a spokesman for Cambodias State Secretariat of Civil Aviation, confirmed to DealStreetAsia, though the deal size has not been disclosed.

In 2009, Vietnam Airlines purchased 49 per cent of Angkor Airs stakes, showing its interest in the Cambodian aviation market. The remainder was held by the local government.

Vietnam Airlines has made an exit from Cambodia's Angkor Air

The companys operation has been adversely impacted by the unpredictable development of the pandemic. The management has come up with short- and long-term solutions to cope with the uncertainties, Vietnam Airlines said in its 2019 financial statement.

Last October, Vietnam Airlines signalled that it was mulling over withdrawing or slashing its stake in Angkor Air due to intense competition in the sector. Earlier this month, the firm was also reported to be preparing the groundwork to divest 49 per cent stake in Cambodias Angkor Air.

In addition, escalating market turbulence caused by COVID-19 pandemic has rubbed salt into the wound of this Vietnams state-owned air carrier.

Vietnam Airlines is allegedly the hardest hit firm in the first quarter of 2020 with consolidated revenue falling by VND6.7 trillion ($291.3 million) from the same period last year to VND19.2 trillion ($834.78 million), thus hitting a loss of VND2.38 trillion ($103.48 million), according to the Commission for the Management of State Capital at Enterprises.

Its stock tumbled by approximately 50 per cent due to various draconian measures to contain the virus.

However, the Vietnamese government has just put an end to the lockdown campaign since April 23, since the country has gone nine straight days without detecting a new case.

Experts believe that Vietnam Airlines stocks (HSX: HVN) would rally from this situation when the travel ban within the country has been lifted.
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Linkedin Tri Indah Oktavianti (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, April 25 2020

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.

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Linkedin Marwa Rashad and Stephen Farrell (Reuters) Riyadh and Jerusalem  Sat, April 25, 2020 10:52 627 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd42b1a5 2 World Ramadan-2020,coronavirus,COVID-19 Free

The holy month of Ramadan began on Friday with Islam's holiest sites in Saudi Arabia and Jerusalem largely empty of worshipers as the coronavirus crisis forced authorities to impose unprecedented restrictions.

During Ramadan, Muslims the world over join their families to break the fast at sunset and go to mosques to pray. But the pandemic has changed priorities, with curbs on large gatherings for prayers and public iftars, or meals to break the fast.

In a rare occurrence in Islam's 1,400-year history, Mecca's Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque in Medina - the religion's two holiest locations - will be closed to the public during the fasting period.

Prayers from inside the mosque at Mecca on the first evening of Ramadan on Thursday were restricted to clerics, security staff and cleaners, in a ceremony broadcast live on television.

In comments marking the start of Ramadan, King Salman, who is the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, lamented the need for social distancing during the holy month.

"It pains me to welcome the glorious month of Ramadan under circumstances that forbid us from prayers in mosques," he said, according to the official Saudi Press Agency.

"It doesn't feel special this year, we don't feel any Ramadan vibes," said Sarah, a mother-of-two in Riyadh.

At a near-empty Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, an imam called out the first Friday prayers of Ramadan across a windswept plateau almost devoid of worshipers.

A handful of clerics in face masks knelt below the pulpit, keeping several feet apart to comply with coronavirus restrictions.

"We ask God to have mercy on us and all of humanity and to save us from this lethal pandemic," the imam said.

Ramadan typically draws tens of thousands of Muslims daily to the mosque and the adjoining Dome of the Rock. Worshipers will instead have to watch prayers on television.

Asian outbreaks

Governments in Asian countries with large Muslim populations urged people to keep their distance while observing Ramadan.

Early outbreaks in Asia, home to many of the world's 1.8 billion Muslims, were traced in some cases to pilgrims returning from Iran and Saudi Arabia to Afghanistan and Pakistan, or to gatherings of Islamic groups in India and Malaysia.

"Just like when we fast, we must struggle and fight against our desires," Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said in a televised address to his country, one of the hardest hit by the virus in Southeast Asia.

On Thursday, his government extended curbs on movement until May 12, cancelled popular evening bazaars and banned attendance at mosque prayers as well as travel back to people's hometowns.

In Indonesia, which has the world's biggest Muslim population and Asia's highest coronavirus toll outside China, President Joko Widodo urged people to work and pray at home.

On the island of Java, Tatan Agustustani, 52, and his family were clearing furniture to make way for prayer mats.

"It's the same in the mosque or at home," said Agustustani. "For me, no matter where we are, prayers must go on, even though we cannot pray in the mosque."

But that message appeared lost in Indonesia's sharia-ruled province of Aceh, as worshipers crowded into a mosque on the eve of Ramadan.

Some said their fate was not in their hands, although many wore masks as they lined up shoulder-to-shoulder to pray.

"In our belief, it is God who decides when we will die," said one devotee, Taufik Kelana. "But we will stay alert, like wearing a mask."

Read also: Pandemic forces Muslims to forgo Ramadan traditions

Some easing

In South Asia, Ramadan is expected to start on Saturday.

Leaders of India's 160 million Muslims have urged people to heed the nationwide lockdown throughout the month.

A large number of infections there were linked to a religious gathering of a Sunni missionary group. The Tablighi Jamaat event in mid-March drew participants from across India, neighboring Bangladesh and even Indonesia and Malaysia.

The All India Islamic Center of religious teaching will livestream recitations from the Koran, the Muslim holy book, every evening.

"This is the best way to pray to Allah and keep everyone safe," said its chairman, Khalid Rashid Firangi Mahali.

Doctors in Pakistan are worried by the government's decision to lift curbs on mosque congregations for Ramadan.

Bangladesh has ordered mosques to restrict Ramadan evening prayers to 12 people and banned iftar gatherings, while Sri Lanka has closed mosques.

In Algeria, authorities shortened a night curfew and lifted a full lockdown in a province near the capital Algiers to accommodate Ramadan worship.

The Nigerien capital Niamey was calm but police and military remained out in force following violent protests against a curfew and closing of mosques.

"I invite you to have more patience because patience is the feature of the Muslim believer," Prime Minister Brigi Rafini said in an address to the nation.
The Department of Treasury may set up a lending fund for oil companies, Secretary Steven Mnuchin told Bloomberg this week, adding that there was nothing final yet.

One of the components were looking at is providing a lending facility for the industry, Mnuchin said. Were looking at a lot of different options, and we have not made any conclusions.

Besides direct loanswhich the Federal Reserve would implementthe federal government may also buy stakes in some oil companies in addition to providing loans. It could also ask these companies to reduce production, according to a Bloomberg source.

The larger oil companies that hold an investment-grade rating would either have to fend for themselves on the debt market or take advantage of the loan program that the Fed has set up for small businesses, even if they are not exactly small businesses. The actual small businesses, in the meantime, are asking the Fed to adjust the rules of the loan program to allow them to use the funds to pay off existing debt.

Investment-grade companies have options. In addition to the main street business loan program, they can take part in the Feds bond-buying program. Those with lower ratings, however, would need other options that the Treasury is considering in discussions with banks, Mnuchin told Bloomberg. He added that the Fed lending to such higher-risk companies was not an option.

As Bloomberg notes, however, the oil price crash has seen many previously investment-grade companies suffer downgrades by rating agencies. The position of even some of the largest players in the U.S. shale patch, such as Occidental, is now more precarious in terms of financial aid. Exxon has also been downgraded, and while not in junk territory, Moodys has warned that further downgrades were on the way lest the company changed its financial plans.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Safehaven.com:
Amid rumours that he has died, a Japanese maganize has reported that North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un could be in a vegetative state following his heart surgery earlier this month. However, nothing was officially confirmed yet.

The weekly Shukan Gendai has been quoted by some prominent media that he could be in a vegitative state. Wall Street Journal (WSJ) Japan Editor Alastair Gale tweeted six hours ago: "Wild if true. Japanese magazine reports Kim Jong Un may be in a vegetative state after doctors struggled to insert stents in his arteries following a collapse. Source is one Chinese medical official."

According to Reuters, China has sent a team to North Korea including medical experts to check on Kim Jong-un, according to three people familiar with the situation.

A delegation led by a senior member of the Chinese Communist partys international liaison department left Beijing for North Korea on Thursday, two of the people told Reuters.

Reports last Tuesday said Kim Jong Un is in 'grave danger' after a surgery.

The US is monitoring intelligence that North Korea's leader, Kim Jong Un, is in grave danger after a surgery, according to a US official with direct knowledge, reported CNN on April 21.

Kim recently missed the celebration of his grandfather's birthday on April 15, which raised speculation about his well-being. He had been seen four days before that at a government meeting, reported the American news channel.

Daily NK, a South Korean internet news outlet specializing in North Korea news, reported that Kim Jong Un recently underwent heart surgery and continues to recuperate from the procedure at a villa outside of Pyongyang.

Reports from a Daily NK source in the country suggest that Kim underwent the surgery at the Hyangsan Hospital on Apr. 12. The hospital is located near Mount Myohyang, in North Pyongan Province, and is exclusively for the use of the Kim family.


Mumbai: Actor Irrfan Khan during the promotion of his upcoming film "Qarib Qarib Singlle" in Mumbai on Oct 25, 2017 .(Photo: IANS) Image Source: IANS News

Mumbai, April 25 : Bollywood actor Irrfan Khan lost his mother Saeda Begum on Saturday morning. She was 95 and a resident of Jaipur.

The actor is currently out of India and, owing to the ongoing COVID-19 lockdown, will not be able to fly back to the country for his mother's last rites, according to a report in SpotboyE.

"It's very sad. I have yet to talk to him, though. I will be calling him," filmmaker Shoojit Sircar, who worked with the actor in the 2015 film "Piku", told the website.

Irrfan's latest film is Homi Adajania's comedy "Angrezi Medium", the last-released Bollywood film before COVID-19 forced complete shutdown of cinema halls. "Angrezi Medium" ran in theatres for just a day before halls all over India were shut down. The film has eventually released in the OTT space.

"Angrezi Medium" marked Irrfan's return despite his ailing condition. The actor was diagnosed with neuroendocrine tumour, and has been under medical attention for the same.
Omjasvin By

Express News Service

CHENNAI: Shyamala G woke up to the sight of her street being shut down on April 18 morning. Police and corporation officials were installing massive metal sheets across the Kanni Kovil street in Old Washermenpet.

It was much later that Shyamala and her neighbours found out that their street had been declared a containment zone, and shut off. Two elderly residents there had tested positive.

About 100-odd families in the street were shut in, says the 56-year-old.

What hurt the most was the anxiety, and concern that they would run out of rations.

The cops were allowing only one or two persons to step out at a time to buy essential supplies. Getting medical help or ordering food is further challenging.

If the street is in a lower-income neighbourhood, most residents do not have rations for an entire month stocked up. They tend to buy supplies on a daily basis.

By the time our turn comes to step out and buy supplies, its blazing hot outside, says Yogeshwaran G of Tiruvottiyur.

It has become hard even to access our ration shop, at a time when our livelihoods have come to a standstill. It is not like there arent challenges in the upper-middle-class streets.

Especially for senior citizens living in high-rises, the containment has become an additional pain.

Thanks to home delivery apps, we are getting supplies. But, they do not come up four floors anymore. We have to walk down, not just to the ground floor but all way where barricades are placed, says Vaidhyanathan Mahalingam (65) of Anna Nagar.

My wife needs dialysis, and there is a hassle every single time we step out for her medical needs, adds Vaidhyanathan.

When we have to go beyond the barricades, cops ask us why we cant go in an ambulance. They also tell us to disinfect our cars once we return from outside. Many others feel like they are in prison.

Policemen are allowing mobile markets also only till the barricaded area only. And, they dont let more than three people come out at a time to buy, says septuagenarian Kumaraguru S, a resident of Thiru Vi Ka Nagar.

While the first few are purchasing, others waited with baited breath, hoping theres enough left for them.

The same thing happens when food is ordered online. We have to go all the way till the barricade to collect it.

Senior citizens say being cooped up inside their homes is affecting their mental health.

Not being able to go for an evening walk is stifling, says R Krishnamurthy (66), who lives in Teynampet.

Earlier we used to maintain distance, wear masks, and step out for a short walk within the street. Now, the police are keeping a strict vigil and stopping anyone from stepping out. While it may seem like a small price to pay for safety reasons, experts point out that staying indoors for prolonged periods could impact peoples mood, emotions, and mental health.

Our family members are just a few streets away, and we cannot see them anymore, says Kamala G, a resident of Pudumanai Kuppam 7th street in Kasimedu.

The narrow lanes of Kasimedu, packed with tiny houses, now wear a deserted look.

Our children used to run around happily, playing with their cousins. Now, we all feel stranded.

However, this is a small price to pay to avoid the virus, insist civic body officials, who suspect community transmission in certain areas.

A person in the nearby street-tested positive. Its suspected that he interacted with a family member of three persons who earlier tested positive. This shows how the virus spreads. It could be dangerous to relax the norms, a civic body official in Zone-4 explained.

The city currently has 112 containment zones. Of them, over 100 are barricaded. Corporation officials say there is no plan yet to ease down any restrictions.

We cant let the guard down at this crucial hour. Residents can venture out to purchase groceries and other essentials in batches from 6 am to 1 pm, and thats it, a top corporation official said.

The corporation also promised to arrange ambulances if there is any medical requirement in any of the containment areas.
WASHINGTON -- President Donald Trump signed a new spending package this week to replenish funding for small business loans.

The $484 billion package, called the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act, passed by House of Representatives with a 388-5 vote earlier this week. It allocates $250 billion for the program run by the Small Business Administration, which helps small businesses keep their workforce employed through the coronavirus pandemic.

It also provides $100 billion for hospitals and starting a nationwide testing program, $60 billion for the Small Business Administration's disaster aid program, and $60 billion for small banks alternative networks of community development banks in urban neighborhoods and rural areas.

The SBA has approved nearly 1.7 million loans worth over $342 billion since the program was set up, and has been unable to approve any more loans due to lack of appropriations funding.

Congressman Paul Mitchell, who represents Michigan's 10th Congressional District, spoke in support of the package's passage during debate on the house floor this week.

"It is good that Congress has finally, after 10 days of partisan games by Democrat Leadership, passed additional economic and health care relief for the American people," Mitchell said in a statement.

"Particularly important is the additional funding to the Paycheck Protection Program that helps our struggling small businesses, as well as the aid to healthcare providers and hospitals."

During his time speaking on the Congressional floor, Mitchell also brought up how this the first time the House passed any new relief bills since the CARES act passed in late March.

"Today we vote for one critical item and depart again," Mitchell said. "I will vote aye on this relief package, but I stress: Congress must get back to work here in the Capitol. We all must resume our full duties and obligations to the Constitution and most importantly to the American people. We took our oaths to preserve and protect both."

The measure was passed by the Senate earlier this week and was signed Friday by President Trump.
The Delhi government has decided to ask the Centre to clarify the kind of shops that can be allowed to open amid the ongoing national lockdown. The clarification will be raised by Chief Secretary Vijay Dev at a video conference convened by Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba that started a short while earlier.

We are going to seek clarifications from the central government on the order, the person mentioned above said on condition of anonymity. For one, the kind of shops that the Home Ministry wants to reopen.

Left to itself, the city government was reluctant to allow shops apart from those selling essential commodities to reopen at this point given the high number of Covid-19 cases in the national capital.

Delhi has reported a total of 2,514 Covid-19 patients till last night, 128 of them within the previous 24 hours. We need to get a grip on the situation first rather than fritter away the gains made, the functionary said.

Also Read: Covid-19 lockdown: Govt allows shops to reopen. Heres what will open and what wont

But the home ministrys midnight order caught them off-guard.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Lt Governor Anil Baijal also discussed the governments next steps on home ministry order.

Also read| Covid-19: What you need to know today

The consensus was that people have gone ahead to open their shops after accessing the home ministry order on the Internet and it was going to be impossible to get them to go home.

One Delhi government official upset at the home ministrys surprise move summarised the city administration dilemma, saying they couldnt send the police after shopkeepers shut the shops again.

Click here for the complete coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic

I think the Centre should have consulted the states at least given them a heads-up before putting out the orders, he said.

In a late night order on Friday, Union home secretary Ajay Bhalla had allowed neighbourhood shops, standalone shops and shops in residential complexes to open on the condition that they operate with half the strength and enforce social distancing norms.

Click here for the latest updates from the coronavirus outbreak

Bhalla issued the order in his capacity as chairperson of the National Executive Committee of the National Disaster Management Authority.

For the central orders to be implemented, each state authority has to issue a separate set of orders to departments under its charge such as the police and health departments.

On 19 April, the Delhi state executive committee led by chief secretary Vijay Dev had frozen the lockdown 2.0 ground rules and decided against any relaxation for additional activities till another comprehensive assessment on April 27 is carried out.

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The Accra Regional Police Command has impounded over 130 motorbikes whose riders breached the social distancing protocol as part of governments measures to curb the spread of coronavirus pandemic in the country.



Some motor riders stationed at various locations within the metropolis soliciting for passengers were also arrested.



The Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Mr Frank Adu Anim, who is the Greater Accra Regional Police Commander, made these known to the media in Accra on Thursday.



He said the riders were intercepted by the personnel at areas including Tudu, Kwame Nkrumah Circle, Ministries, UTC, Kinbu and Tema Station all in Accra.



The Regional Commander said, the Operation which was meant to enforce social distancing on motorbikes was part of measures to prevent the further spread of the Coronavirus.



"Motor riders are banned from picking a pillion rider in order to observe the social distancing Protocol," he said.



The exercise, DCOP Anim said, would be sustained as all Divisional and District commanders have been tasked to replicate same in their areas of responsibilities.

Source: GNA









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The Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) in the Nandom Municipality of the Upper West region has threatened to embark on a sit-down strike on Monday, April 27.

The action is to protest the alleged neglect of three of their members who were exposed to a confirmed COVID-19 case.

The Nandom Municipal Chairman of the Association, Yendornaa Kafunla John, in an interview with Citi News complained that three nurses and a doctor were exposed to the case but authorities in the municipality only quarantined the doctor.

I have reported everything to the region and it has given me the go-ahead that if nothing will be done and if all nurses at the OPD will not be quarantined starting from Monday there will a total sit-down strike and nothing is done we will extend it further, he said.

---citinewsroom
More than a month into the lockdown to arrest the spread of Covid-19, Maharashtras case count is nearing the 7,000-mark, the highest for any state in India.

Within the state, Mumbai and Pune have the highest number of cases. On Friday, Maharashtras count touched 6,817, with 394 new infections. The death toll rose to 301 after 18 deaths were recorded the same day.

Friday was also the 21st consecutive day the state saw a three-digit spike in cases. This is the reason 6,519 cases were registered in April alone. Of the new cases, 5,279 were in Mumbai Metropolitan Region.

In Mumbai also, the tally went up to 4,447 as 242 new cases were recorded. There were 11 deaths in the city, taking the total number of deaths to 178, according to state health department data.

On Friday, the number of cases in Dharavi, Indias largest slum cluster, rose to 220 with six new cases and the death of a 60-year-old woman. There was also a new case in Dadar, taking the total in the area to 29, and one case in Mahim, taking the total in that area to 25.

After the first case on March 9, Maharashtra took 30 days to cross 1,000 cases on April 7, and it crossed the 2,000-mark six days later. From 2,000 to 4,000 cases, it took another six days.

But from 4,000 to 6,000 cases, it took just four days. Though the numbers are high, senior officials said the state is yet to reach the community transmission stage  when the source of infections is not known  as there was no exponential growth.

The two 14-day cycles of incubation period of the infection were completed on April 20. It had begun from March 22, when international traffic was stopped. We will have to wait for another seven days to see the trend. If the rise continues and if the fresh cases rise by more than 50% (over the previous day) on a daily basis, then it can be called exponential growth. Only then we can say the stage of community transmission has arrived, said TP Lahane, director of the Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER).

The states mortality rate has dropped to 4.40% (283 cases till Thursday) from 7.41% (148 cases) on Monday. However, it was still higher than the national mortality rate of 3.11% on Thursday.

Infections have also been reported from more areas of the state. One more district  Nanded  was hit by the virus after a case was found on April 22. Only the three districts of Wardha, Bhandara and Gadchiroli have reported no cases.

The state health department has conducted 102,189 tests at public and private facilities. Of them, 94,485 people tested negative. A total of 957 patients were discharged from hospital after recovery.

The state has kept 8,814 suspected patients at government quarantine facilities, while 119,161 are home quarantined. The state also has 512 containment zones, and 7,702 survey teams have screened more than 2.8 million people.

The lockdown was imposed in the state at midnight on March 23 and partially lifted after 27 days on April 20. The relaxation was revoked the next day because of multiple violations of norms. The state has empowered several municipal corporations to allow activities that are essential.

The Maharashtra government is now ready to start clinical trials of plasma therapy as the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has given permission.

DMER director Lahane said: Once it is cleared by the ethics committee of the state, plasma therapy is going to be started in the next three to four days at Sassoon Hospital in Pune. It will also be started at JJ Hospital in Mumbai, Indira Gandhi Medical College in Nagpur and Solapur Medical College once permissions are in place.

State health minister Rajesh Tope said after a meeting with Union health minister Harsh Vardhan on Friday that Maharashtra has also got the nod from the Centre to start pool testing for Covid-19. The state will now begin pooled tests, where up to five samples are used in a single test.

Plasma therapy uses antibodies from the plasma of a recovered Covid-19 patient to treat others. The concept behind the therapy is that the plasma of a recovered patient contains antibodies with the specific ability to fight the Coronavirus.

The pool testing method involves putting multiple swabs together and testing them in a single real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test. If a batch tests positive, then everyone whose samples were a part of that batch will have to be tested separately.

Tope said the state has suggested the use of portable pulse oximeter and chest X-ray tests to help diagnose Coronavirus patients and to decrease the mortality rate. The state health department also said it had suggested that PPE kits be disinfected and used again, and this was appreciated in the meeting of the Union health minister and state health ministers. Tope also said the Centre is positive about allowing new testing facilities at six medical colleges in Maharashtra.

So far, the state government has provided counselling to more than 47,000 migrant workers who wanted to return home. This is being by psychiatrists and health staff, said Tope. More than 600,000 migrant workers are staying in 944 shelter homes prepared by the state government.

The state government has also directed Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to increase the number of beds in the citys hospitals to 7,000 from the current 2,000. This follows an official estimate that Covid-19 positive cases in Mumbai will rise to 70,000 by the middle or end of May.

Currently, 80% to 90% of patients are asymptomatic and dont need hospitalisation, and going by this trend about 7,000 people (10%) of the projected 70,000 are likely to need hospital beds.

In Mumbai, over the past 10 days, the number of people quarantined at home by BMC has doubled. As of April 15, there were 43,249 people quarantined at home for a fortnight, and the figure increased to 92,112 on Thursday. The number of people under institutional quarantine was 3,271 on April 15 and it rose to 6,000 on Thursday, officials said.

According to BMCs data, 10,968 people were under home quarantine on April 6 and this rose to 43,249 on April 15, and then to 57,700 on April 17 and 92,112 on April 23. Those home quarantined include high risk case, low risk contacts of positive patients, those with a travel history, and those identified from fever clinics. A majority of those advised to be home quarantined are low risk contacts followed by high risk contacts who are asymptomatic.

BMC has sanitised 47,829 premises, including government buildings. BMC has started pre-monsoon works on roads and desilting rivers with safety measures to ensure there is no flooding. It has allowed construction in private real estate projects, but only related to pre-monsoon works with several riders.

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Im supposed to be in New Orleans right now. Wed started planning my best friends bachelorette-party weekend in October with a string of late-night conference calls and Google spreadsheets to find the perfect house to accommodate 15-plus women for four days. The house we chose fit all our wish lists: room enough that only one of us would have to sleep in a bathtub and equipped with a second-story balcony for photos of our squad flanking our bride, Kayleigh, as we celebrated her happiness.

Wed planned gator boat tours, drag brunches and walking tours. We had detailed schedules and ideas for when to eat at the house and when to venture out. But mostly, wed do what I always do at bachelorette parties  stay up late dancing and singing, giggling about our silliest memories while making new ones.

The goal was to make all the little stuff so well-orchestrated that we could focus on the big thing: my very best friend was finally marrying the boy she started dating half a lifetime ago, when he won a date with her at a high school auction. We were 17 then. And that was 17 years ago.

This is not the celebratory summer wed planned.

MORE FROM MAGGIE GORDON: You don't have to write 'King Lear' during quarantine.

When Kayleigh had to cancel her bachelorette party, she did so via email: I have found leaning into gratitude is the best way to process everything, she wrote. How lucky are we, she asked, that we have such an amazing group of friends and family that wed ever even considered such a wild weekend in the first place?

In the time since Kayleigh sent that email, I have removed three bachelorette parties from my calendar  including, now, my own.

Im a bachelorette-party pro. Ive driven 665.8 miles with a plastic container filled with homemade, um  novelty-shaped  cookies delicately balanced on my passenger seat before an all-night icing session with co-conspiring bridesmaids. Ive spotted Cyndi Lauper at a nearby table during dinner, and tipsily begged her to photobomb our 17-person squad as we all yelled Girls just wanna have fun! Ive done the island excursion, the Vegas show, the New York night (and, yes, the weeks of blue-box macaroni-and-cheese dinners to bend my budget back into shape after). I have more photos of me in a black-dress, skinny-arm squat, flanking a bride in her $10 party veil than I have of my college graduation.

It is silly. And silly things are never supposed to break your heart. But in May, I was going to be the white dress in the middle of the photo  the girl in the veil. And then, like Kayleigh  and surely the thousands of other 2020 brides across the country  I had to cancel the one bachelorette party I wanted most: my moonshine-sipping Dollywood weekend in east Tennessee.

My friends are a tough group to gather. I spent most of my 20s moving around, settling into addresses in six different states. This means Ive lived much of my adult life in chapters: I have four bridesmaids; each lives in a different state, spanning three time zones. Kayleigh, who is my maid of honor, and my friend Sarah, who had to nix her Austin bachelorette party, are in similar situations  we dont get to see our favorite people often. These trips were going to be a once-in-a-lifetime chance to assemble the supergroups of our dreams.

But this is where I feel the ripples of gratitude come in  the little fringes of light that make me sigh and think of how lucky I am.

Last Friday, I was working at my home-office desk, which sits at a window facing my front porch. My fiance, John, was supposed to be on his bachelor party in Louisville, Ky., but was just a room away when I saw one of his groomsmen drop a package on our doorstep, spot me and put a finger to his lips. Shh, he mimed as he slipped away back to his car, before texting John to check the front door for a package.

Inside, carefully labeled, sat a flight of whiskey for John to taste the next day during a Zoom bachelor party his friends had set up for him. It was no Louisville, but its the closest they could get. And they took the time to give John the next-best thing.

I smiled.

Wed done something similar for Sarah  mailing her $10 veils and dropping her favorite queso at her doorstep with bottles of wine before a Friday-night Zoom session on what would have been the first night of her bachelorette party. It wasnt a slumber party. But its still a memory.

MORE FROM MAGGIE GORDON: Hello, House

This Friday, on what would have been the second night of Kayleighs New Orleans adventure, we surprised her with a scavenger hunt. More than a dozen women mailed her more than 20 items, which one of our co-conspirators hid around Kayleighs house as we watched her hunt them down. It required a couple of weeks of planning, a few spreadsheets and a helpful friend who lives near Kayleighs house in California, as well as her all-star fiance and the aid of my old rhyming dictionary from my high school cheerleading days.

But Kayleigh buzzed through her house chasing clues like the one I sent as a throwback to the days in college when wed order takeout and be insulted by the delivery persons estimation at the number of forks we needed:

Remember those nights, in upstate New York;

When Alto Cinco food shamed us, delivering food with four forks?

Wed eat it for dinner, leftovers the next afternoon;

Find this inside joke between your knives and your spoons.

This isnt the summer we planned. And we dont yet know if well have to make more cancellations, including our weddings.

But were making memories. We have each other.

And for that, Im grateful.

maggie.gordon@chron.com
In this handout released by the U.S. Navy, sailors transport a patient across the brow to be admitted aboard the hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) in Los Angeles on April 6, 2020. (Ryan Breeden/U.S. Navy via Getty Images)

Pentagon Evaluating How to Resume Normal Operations After Pandemic

The Department of Defense is trying to figure out how to resume normal operations after the COVID-19 pandemic subsides.

Were eager to fully resume normal operations and are putting plans in place for that transition, Jonathan Hoffman, assistant to Secretary of Defense Mark Esper, told reporters in Washington on April 24.

Officials are evaluating a number of areas, including training. They want to protect trainees but keep the number of recruits being moved through the system at appropriate levels.

Were continuing to look at that, and continuing to adopt and adapt so that we can pursue full training classes in the future, Hoffman said.

Esper in March ordered a halt on most personnel movement in early March, extending it later in the month to all troops and their families around the world.

Defense Secretary Mark Esper speaks during a briefing at the Pentagon in Washington on March 2, 2020. (Susan Walsh/AP Photo)

Espers order originally went into May but was extended to June 30.

Once the order is lifted, Hoffman said, top military officials will reevaluate the situation every 15 days, including looking at how to deal with the backlog of individuals that need to move throughout the world.

Its a complex issue, he said.

The military has been involved with clinical trials for possible treatments and vaccines for COVID-19, the disease caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, a novel coronavirus that emerged from mainland China last year. That work will continue, along with efforts to boost the number of tests the military has.

Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Janet Rosas tests blood samples aboard the Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) while the ship is in New York City to help respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, on April 6, 2020. (Sara Eshleman/US NAVY via Getty Images)

Officials are also looking at the militarys industrial suppliers, making sure the companies can continue to provide crucial equipment. The military will examine how to help the vendors for some of the most critical products.

The Pentagons stockpiles of such products, including personal protective equipment such as masks, was drawn down by the distribution of items to states through federal agencies.

Were looking at what do we need to do to not only rebuild that stockpile to where we have sufficient supplies for our own use, but where our stockpile needs to be for a future pandemic or future crisis for the department, and then additionally, just ensuring that we have the capability and that our vendors and suppliers can provide that, Hoffman said.

A final component is analyzing how to assist allies and partners around the world as they deal with the pandemic.

Some changes are in store. One example is potentially adding extra screening time before personnel deploy, such as isolating groups of sailors before they board ships and go to sea.
On Saturday afternoon, the City of Laredo formally reported the death of a local nurse aide at Laredo Medical Center, and a 14th death was confirmed Saturday.

Saturdays report confirmed the 13th COVID-19 death in Laredo was a woman in her 60s with underlying conditions who was an employee of the Laredo Medical Center. She passed on Friday, April 24. The report also confirmed 340 positive cases with 31 people hospitalized.

A 14th death occured after Saturdays briefing and was confirmed Saturday night in a press release. A man in his 70s with underlying health conditions who had tested positive for COVID-19 passed away Saturday at Laredo Medical Center.

The City and County want to express their most sincere condolences to the family and want them to know that our counselors, as well as our support, are available, the release said.

Laredo Medical Center issued a statement about the 14th death.

We are sad to confirm that one more patient has died from COVID-19. We appreciate the valiant work done by our caregiving team and we extend our deepest sympathies to the patients family and loved ones, the statement said. It is vitally important for all members of our community to practice hand hygiene and social distancing which are the best ways at this moment to slow the spread of the virus.

Laredo Medical Center also released a statement about its employee who became the 13th death in Laredo due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Laredo Medical Center family is tremendously saddened by the passing of one of our associates, the statement said. This person will be dearly missed by coworkers here in the hospital and by loved ones in their family and community. Throughout their longstanding tenure with the organization, this individual provided skilled, compassionate service to patients in direct patient care. Our hearts go out to the family and friends of this wonderful person and we pray for them during this tremendously difficult time.

After the death of a local healthcare worker, the city was probed to see if employees are routinely tested for the virus even if they do not show symptoms.

If healthcare workers are tested positive, they are isolated and removed from their work, and they have to test negative to return, said City of Laredo Public Information Officer Rafael Benavides. However, we did hear from (City of Laredo Health Department Director Dr. Hector F.) Gonzalez that these individuals can still test positive after 14 days; however, as long as they keep testing positive, they will be isolated and told to stay home.

For citizens going to the hospitals for conditions other than COVID-19, the city reported a decrease in the number of visits to area hospitals.

A 25% reduction of EMS calls for emergency situations  at this point, many of these hospitals have ample capacity to treat any of these cases, said City of Laredo Firefighter Chief Steve Landin.

According to Landin, this is mainly because many people have not opted to undergo any elective surgeries.

Lastly, the report focused on the issues of random testing being done by custom officials on the bridge. Gonzalez was in attendance coordinating with customs officials on how to the undertake the tests for COVID-19.

According to Landin, random testing will only be done for pedestrians travelling at the bridge as no vehicle flow will be stopped for testing. At the time of the media briefing, approximately 65 tests had already been performed at random in efforts to know how these tests will be performed once they begin to be practiced on Tuesday by customs officials for all travelers.

I dont believe there is any coordination with Nuevo Laredo as we are trying to get non-symptomatic patients tested, Landin said.

The new policy established by Tamaulipass Governor Francisco Javier Garcia Cabeza de Vaca to curve the number of infections was also discussed including how this would affect people from Laredo traveling to Nuevo Laredo and elsewhere in the Mexican state.

The state of Tamaulipas issued a policy using it to decrease the number of people travelling in the city, said Aileen Ramos, who is the director at the Laredo Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The double circulation policy applies to vehicles ending with numbers 0 and 1 to not travel at all in nay part of the neighboring state on Mondays, and people with license plates that end with the numbers 2 and 3 cannot travel on Tuesdays. Those that end in 4 and 5 cannot travel on Wednesdays, those that end with 6 and 7 cannot travel on Thursday and those that end with 8 and 9 cannot travel on Fridays.

Also, Ramos pointed out that people visiting the city should not find it weird that there might be several checkpoints established throughout the city in efforts to examine and check the people travelling as these checkpoints might be established throughout Nuevo Laredo.

In terms of law enforcement statistics in Laredo, Laredo Police Department spokesman Emmanuel Diaz said several citations were committed Friday night. The nine citations were mainly due to nonessential travelling after curfew hours, and another citation was made at a local business in which an individual was not wearing a facemask in the 1500 block of Gustavo.

As for the trails that have opened throughout the city, Diaz did not report any citations but that continued law enforcement will continue in the area in efforts to make sure everyone continues obeying the guidelines still in place.

Other important numbers reported in the briefing included the fact 1,945 have been tested for the virus, 1,278 of those tested have bene found negative and 93 have recovered.

The health department also announced the creation of a survey in efforts to get more information about COVID-19 and track it. The survcey will also allow peopleto take a look at the latest COVID-19 figures around town.

According to the survey, COVID-Tracking is a surveillance system that provides data concerning symptoms from across the City of Laredo and Webb County.

The City of Laredo would like to ask residents of the community to complete the quick survey once a week, Benavides said. One survey per household will be included into the data. Thank you for your time and commitment to public health.
Ladislas Lucas (28), a French national, who styled himself as Muni Om Baba and was living like an ascetic in Rishikesh for the past one year, spent his time in a cave near the Ganges meditating, cooking and mingling with other foreigners during the nationwide lockdown enforced since March 25 to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) outbreak.

His serene existence in a cave came to an abrupt end when Laksman Jhula police found him on April 18 along with five other foreigners. Lucas, who was earlier living in an adjoining forest, shifted to the cave a day before the lockdown came into effect on March 25, the police said.

Lucas and the other five foreigners, including a couple from Ukraine, an American, a Turkish and a Nepalese national, have been shifted to a quarantine facility after undergoing a medical examination as a precautionary measure against Covid-19, the police added.

Lucas has been at peace in Rishikesh and considers the Hindu sage Ramana Maharshi as his guru. Im familiar with the surroundings, as I have been living here for the past one year. Ive adopted the life of an ascetic in my quest for serenity and soul-searching, Lucas told HT over the phone.

When the police found us, I was living with a Nepali baba in the cave, who had returned from Kedarnath a few days ago. The other foreigners were living in the vicinity. We used to spend our time together, he said.

Lucas said even during the lockdown, he used to visit Lakshman Jhula daily along with the other foreigners to buy groceries, as most of the shops have been open. We used firewood to cook our meals in between doing meditation, yoga, and occasional writing, he added.

The French national claimed he did little work back home and has been on the move for the past five years. He visited several countries, including New Zealand, Spain, Portugal, Armenia, Georgia, Turkey, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Germany, Romania, Bulgaria, and Morocco before coming to India.

In India, I made Rishikesh my base. I have also visited Almora, Jammu & Kashmir, and Dharamshala. I wouldve visited other parts of the country, had it not been for Covid-19 pandemic, he said.

He is open about his future plans. Now, Ive chosen to live like an ascetic. It all depends on God and what he wants me to do. Im yet to make any plans for myself, he added.

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Uttarakhand authorities said that around 600 foreigners were stranded in Rishikesh because of the lockdown. The state health department officials are regularly screening the foreigners for SARS-CoV-2, which causes Covid-19, they added.

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New Delhi, April 25 : A plea has been moved in the Supreme Court raising concern over bodies of NRIs lying abandoned at foreign airports, after Indian Embassies in those countries started demanding a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the Ministry of Home Affairs, even for non-coronavirus deaths.

The plea has been moved by rights body Pravasi Legal Cell through advocate Jose Abraham.

"Indian Embassies, which were earlier issuing clearance certificates, are now insisting on production of a no objection certificate from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, even for those who have died in accidents or due to non-Covid-19 related ailment," said the petition.

The petitioner argued that bodies of Indian expatriates, especially from Gulf countries such as Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, the UAE and Saudi Arabia, who died due to non-Covid-19 ailments cannot be brought back to India. There was no issue in bringing back the mortal remains into India via cargo planes till April 21.

The petitioner contended that an instruction has been issued to individual airlines that "the immigration clearance for the bodies has been suspended alongside closing of immigration checkposts on March 23 at the airports".

The plea stated that even the airlines have been forced to approach the MHA for obtaining separate permission to carry the mortal remains into India.

"This is not only a cumbersome process, but would also lead to hesitation from the airlines to transport mortal remains in the near future," added the plea.

The plea cited the case of one Varghese Philip, who died on April 16 at the Kuwait Cancer Centre due to sudden cardiac arrest, and one Vinod M.V., who died at the Al-Adan Hospital in Kuwait due to bleeding in the brain owing to high blood pressure.

The cause of death in both the cases was registered by the Ministry of Public Health, Kuwait, and embalmment certificates of the bodies were also issued. However, the Embassy of India in Kuwait has not issued a 'clearance certificate' citing absence of a no-objection certificate from the MHA, the plea claimed.

The petitioner urged the top court to set aside these instructions issued to the Indian Embassies/High Commissions abroad, and also sought direction to permit cargo planes to bring back the mortal remains of Indian expatriates, who died due to other ailments without insisting on a no-objection certificate.
Millions of Muslims around the world are now abstaining from eating and drinking from dawn until sunset to mark the holy month of Ramadan, which concludes in late May.

The Islamic month of fasting is when Muslims believe the Koran was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad and is about togetherness. It is marked by joyful group "iftars," where the faithful break their all-day fasts by feasting with family and friends and go to evening prayers at mosques.

But this year, Ramadan will be significantly different due to lockdowns and social-distancing protocols aimed at slowing the deadly coronavirus pandemic that has resulted in the closure of mosques and religious centers around the world.

It will force Muslims to give up some of those cherished Ramadan rituals to prioritize their health and refrain from actions that could lead to a further spread of the deadly coronavirus, which has killed almost 200,000 people worldwide as of April 24.

Instead, worshipers will pray at home and break their fasts in small groups. Others will join online prayer groups and Koran recitations.

In a few countries, including Pakistan, many mosques will remain open and communal prayers will take place despite fears about spreading the pandemic.

Iran

In the Middle Eastern country hit hardest by the coronavirus, restrictive measures have been eased recently to salvage a struggling economy that is under pressure from crippling U.S. sanctions.

But Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has instructed citizens to avoid gatherings and create a Ramadan-like experience at home.

"Because of being deprived of public prayers, speeches, and so on during Ramadan, we should create the same sense in our homes," Khamenei said in an April 9 speech.

Despite some new allowances for greater freedom to travel and the opening of shops, Iranian authorities have extended an order to close shrines and other religious centers until May 4.

Ahead of Ramdan, which is expected to begin in Iran on April 25, some clerics and Friday Prayers leaders have called on their supporters to follow their speeches and sermons on social media, including the popular Instagram.

Speaking earlier this week, President Hassan Rohani told Iranians to celebrate Ramadan while bearing in mind the country's "special circumstances" due to the coronavirus outbreak, which has killed more than 5,500 and infected more than 88,000, according to official figures as of April 25. The real figures are believed to be significantly higher.

"There will be no communal iftars," Rohani said earlier this week.

In many cities and provinces, charity groups and the paramilitary Basij force have said they will distribute food packages to those in need, an important part of charity during Ramadan.

Meanwhile, some health officials have said there are no indications that fasting raises the risk of contracting the coronavirus. "There's no research proving that fasting results in an increased risk of COVID-19," Health Ministry nutrition expert Zahra Abdollahi told the government news agency IRNA on April 24.

But she added that those at greater risk of contracting the virus -- including diabetics and cancer patients as well those who think fasting could damage their health -- should refrain from performing it until the pandemic is over.

Afghanistan

In neighboring Afghanistan, where the coronavirus has spread to some 30 of the country's 34 provinces -- killing 47 people and infecting 1,463 as of April 25 -- the Hajj and Endowment Ministry said on the eve of Ramadan that in areas under a lockdown people should pray in their homes and refrain from going to mosques.

But Hajj and Religious Affairs Minister Abdul Hakim Munib said people who wanted to perform their prayers in mosques should follow official health guidelines. "Those who want to want to go to mosques and pray with their community wont be blocked," Munib said. Our advice is to sanitize the mosques, perform ablution at home, respect social distancing during prayers while also wearing masks, he added at a press conference on April 22.

He also said the elderly and sick who are at greatest risk of contracting the coronavirus do not need to fast during Ramadan, adding that they can perform their religious duty when the pandemic has ended.

Kabul resident Shir Shah told RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan on April 22 that he will be respecting the guidelines while urging his fellow citizens to do the same. "Id like to ask everyone to respect the [official] health advice," he said. "Its been said that if sick people go to the mosques the virus will spread further."

Pakistan

The government in Islamabad, under pressure from influential clerics, has loosened restrictions on communal prayers at mosques. The decision has led to concern among health-care workers who have called on the government to reverse its decision.

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan told journalists on April 22 that people want to go to mosques during Ramadan to be closer to God. "Do we forcefully tell [the people] not to go to mosques? And if they go, will the police put worshipers in jail? This does not happen in an independent society," he said.

The comments came as doctors with the Pakistani Medical Association told Khan and clerics that lockdowns were needed to slow the spread of the COVID-19 outbreak, which has so far killed more than 250 people and infected more than 11,000 in the country as of April 25. Many think the actual numbers are even higher.

"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 journalists.

Worshipers have been told to bring their own prayer mats to the mosques, respect social-distancing measures, and perform their ablutions at home.

Russia

In Russia, the country's top Muslim cleric has said that mosques will be temporarily closed during Ramadan and that group prayers will not be held.

Russian Grand Mufti Talgat Tadzhuddin added, however, that imams will be online to lead prayers and read the Koran. He said Muslims in Russia -- where there are millions of migrant workers from predominantly Islamic countries -- will have a "unique month of Ramadan," while adding that "I believe that blessed Ramadan will still be solemn for everyone."

Russia has so far reported a COVID-19 death toll of more than 600 people and more than 68,000 infections as of April 25. Some critics believe those figures to be significantly undercounted.

Central Asia

In some of the five countries that make up Central Asia, officials and clerics have called on the faithful to pray in their homes, even in Tajikistan, where authorities claim -- amid widespread skepticism -- that there are no coronavirus infections. (Officials in Turkmenistan have also not reported any infections.)

"People should pray at home with their family members. The reason is to prevent gatherings. It is fine for [people] to pray [the evening prayers of] Taraweeh at home," Jamoluddin Khomushi, from the Tajik Islamic Ulema Council, said this week.

For his part, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon urged Muslims to abstain from fasting, saying it makes people "vulnerable to infection from infectious diseases."

Tajikistan has for many years been criticized by the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom for restrictions and crackdowns on religion, which the government strictly controls.

Rahmon also urged farmers and manual workers to postpone the rituals. "Although this disease is not registered in our country, this does not mean that we should be careless and sit idle," he said on April 23.

In Kyrgyzstan, where many of those who have contracted COVID-19 are believed to be devout Muslims who traveled to Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and other countries for religious purposes, people have been urged to forego communal prayers and group fast-breaking ceremonies during Ramadan.

"This year the sacred month of Ramadan coincided with the coronavirus lockdown in our country, therefore Muslims must conduct all religious rituals -- prayers, Friday Prayers, and their iftar ceremony only at home," Kyrgyz Mufti Maksat Toktomushev said in a video statement on April 15. "Stay at home with your family members, follow quarantine rules until this is over."

Kyrgyzstan has reported 665 cases of coronavirus and eight deaths as of April 25.

In Kazakhstan, where 25 deaths and 2,482 coronavirus cases have been reported, Grand Mufti Nauryzbai Kazhy Taganuly has announced that Friday Prayers and special Ramadan prayers will not be performed at mosques due to the pandemic.

The mufti has said medical workers, police, and the military may postpone fasting this year, Inform.kz reported.

In Uzbekistan, where an increasingly stricter coronavirus lockdown has been imposed since first being announced in late March, the authorities have taken several measures that are designed to stop the spread of the virus and that will affect Ramadan.

Despite being hit relatively lightly by the pandemic thus far -- with 1,836 infections and just eight deaths as of April 24 -- Uzbekistan's mosques have been closed and will remain shuttered during the month of fasting.

Additionally, all special evening prayer events during the holiday have been canceled and large iftar parties forbidden.

The government also announced that special mobile food markets have been set up with subsidized prices to help the less fortunate buy goods.

With charity for the poor being a big part of Ramadan, officials have asked that all such donations be given to special centers instead of taking such charity to people's homes, to reduce person-to-person contact and thus the spread of the disease.

But should the worst occur to a Muslim worshiper, the official Uzbek Muslim board declared on April 13 that anyone who dies from the coronavirus will become a martyr.

Written by Golnaz Esfandiari based on reporting by RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service Director Venera Djumataeva, Uzbek Service Director Alisher Siddique, Tajik Service correspondent Tohir Safarov, and Radio Free Afghanistan's Abdolhamid Hakimi.
China's local governments may be mulling more coupon distribution programs, which have worked well in unlocking pent-up consumer demand, experts said on Friday.



Unlike stimulus checks or cash payments sent to households by authorities in the United States and Europe, coupons have been used by local governments in China to boost consumption more directly, buffering downside economic risks from the COVID-19 pandemic.

As of Friday, local authorities in most provincial-level regions on the mainland have started or announced coupon distribution programs for their residents, according to media reports.

The coupons, funded by local governments or enterprises and distributed online, typically have offered discounts of 10 to 50 percent in designated sectors like restaurants, tourism, automobiles and other retail sectors.

The amount distributed is to exceed 1 billion yuan ($141 million) in each of three provincesZhejiang and Guangdong, as well as Hubei, the hardest-hit mainland province.

Shanghai residents may see a record-setting amount in new coupons, as the local government announced on Thursday that the city will launch a shopping gala starting on May 5. Participating e-commerce giants Alibaba, Meituan and Suning reportedly have agreed to offer a total of 5.2 billion yuan in coupons.

"The coupon programs have been critical in buffering the sudden drop in demand," said Liu Xuezhi, a senior researcher at the Financial Research Center of the Bank of Communications.

Liu pointed out the dual roles of coupons in improving people's living standards and shoring up consumer purchases. They can encourage increased consumption even among those who still avoid going out even after the end of social distancing measures and those who have trimmed spending in anticipation of lower incomes, he said.

This drives up demand along the whole industrial chain and promotes resumption of production, he said.

"I used the 100 yuan coupon discount for each 400 yuan spent to have some seafood with my girlfriend. We would not have chosen seafood but something cheaper with-out the coupon," said an employee of a Shenzhen-based securities firm, 24, who sought anonymity.

In Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, coupons generated consumer spending of more than tenfold the face value of the coupons, officials said.

As of April 16, a total of 321 million yuan in government-funded coupons was used in the city, generating 3.4 billion yuan in consumer spending, said the local commerce authority.

Compared with cash payments, handing out coupons can more effectively shore up consumption, as Chinese people tend to save cash due to their strong saving habit, said Liu Xiangfeng, a researcher with the China Academy of Macroeconomic Research.

With coupons limited to certain uses, the programs also offer targeted support for sectors of the services industry that face difficulty in work resumption, she said.

More policy packages to boost domestic consumption, including coupons, are expected to come out soon, with the COVID-19 pandemic continuing to hammer external demand, she said.

Liu from the Bank of Communications said there currently is little chance that the central government will initiate coupon stimulus programs.

"If economic activities remained subdued into the third quarter, the central government might decide to launch large, nationwide coupon programs, but at least for now, the economy is gradually recovering," he said.

China's retail sales, the barometer for consumption, contracted by 20.5 percent on a yearly basis during the first two months of the year, but the contraction narrowed to 15.8 percent for March, the National Bureau of Statistics said.

The May Day holiday, coupled with the coupon programs, are expected to help boost consumption, analysts said. They also called for more participation from enterprises in the government-led programs to optimize coupon use designations and better match consumer demand, especially among young people.

Steps to strengthen social welfare and curb unemployment are also crucial, as the coupons are only a short-term stimulus. Long-term recovery in consumer spending depends on income growth, said Wu Chaoming, chief economist with Chasing Securities.
These are not good times for our universities with the latest research indicating that a majority of them will end up in the red next year.

A result in part of thousands of young people now wishing to defer their places for a year while coronavirus is being tackled  and most overseas students deciding to stay at home this autumn.

While university jobs are threatened  30,000 according to think-tank London Economics  it's those students who are currently having their academic journey interrupted that I feel for the most.

Many students have been asked to pay their final tranche of accommodation costs for the academic year, despite the fact that most have long left their student digs

Nearly all have been forced to return home to their parents and continue courses online, receiving the odd remote lecture in return for tutorial fees of up to 9,250 this academic year. Exams have been cancelled. For the time being, no more lessons in life, a key part of my university experience.

According to research just published by the National Union of Students, three quarters of students are now worried that the disruption to their academic lives caused by coronavirus will compromise the quality of degree they will end up with.

Just as disturbingly, 80 per cent state that they are worried about how they will financially muddle through the crisis  a result of their own part-time work opportunities decreasing and the Bank of Mum and Dad being hit by the parlous state of the economy.

Not a happy picture then for many of our sons and daughters, although you could argue it is no worse a situation than that faced by other sections of society blighted by lockdown. Certainly ageism is on the rise.

What firmly sticks in my craw with regards to students is the appalling treatment many of them are receiving from landlords. In the past few days, in response to the beginning of the summer term, many students have been asked to pay their final tranche of accommodation costs for the academic year.

This is despite the fact that most have long left their student digs for the comfort of their parents' home, understandable given the closure of academic institutions countrywide.

Unite Students, the country's biggest provider of student accommodation in the UK, waived third term fees for those 'surrendering' their rooms before April 10

While universities have waived accommodation costs for students scheduled to stay in their properties but now studying remotely, the same generosity of spirit does not extend to the private landlord sector.

Although Unite Students, the country's biggest provider of student accommodation in the UK, waived third term fees for those 'surrendering' their rooms before April 10, its big rival Global Student Accommodation  trading under the brand of The Student Housing Company  has not been so generous. Indeed, it has played hardball, demanding students pay up irrespective of the fact that most have long fled their university residences.

For those who have returned their keys, it has told them they are still liable for the 'full contracted rent' and that any remaining belongings will be disposed of when the tenancy comes to an end once the summer term has finished.

Emails sent by students to GSA have not been answered while students raising issues via Twitter with the company's executive of student wellbeing (Twitter handle Bobbi Wellbeing) have been blocked.

For the past seven days I have requested answers from GSA and TSHC. Emails were ignored while calls to GSA's London office were met with a message that its mailbox was full.

Finally, I tracked down GSA's chief executive Nicholas Porter who works out of Dubai (as its name implies, GSA is a global provider of student accommodation).

On Friday, he said: 'Our priority at TSHC is always the health and welfare of our students. We understand this is an extremely difficult time for them and we are working extremely hard to help them financially and with their possessions on-site.

'We are sorry our response has been slow; we are doing everything we can to speed up our process and we will be communicating with our students in the coming days.'

Then, yesterday, students currently living at home were told they would receive a 50 per cent discount for the rest of their tenancy agreement. Not as generous as Unite Students  the company that Porter founded before moving to set up GSA  that has already waived all fees. But a step in the right direction.
A record 1.61 million were temporarily out of work last month, and there are fears that many will become permanently unemployed even if the coronavirus crisis is contained.

Hana Tour, Korea's No. 1 travel agency, has placed 2,100 of its 2,500 staff on paid leave. "Travel demand is unlikely to recover within this year," a Hana Tour staffer said. "We hope to keep all our staff but don't know what to do once government support stops in September. Huge layoffs are possible if travel demand does not recover by then."

Some 219 small travel agencies have closed since the epidemic erupted, and the ones that remain open face an uncertain future.
The holy month of Ramzan began from April 24 and it will last for four weeks. The festival is celebrated in the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar and Muslims around the world observe fast from dawn to dusk.

The month-long festival is celebrated with friends and family. However, due to the outbreak of COVID-19, the government has urged people to avoid mass gatherings and offer prayers at home.

On the auspicious occasion of Ramzan, several Bollywood celebrities took to social media to wish their fans and friends.

Veteran actor Amitabh Bachchan shared an image of himself on social media account and wrote, "Ramadan Mubaarak .. wishes for peace and love ..and be safe."

Aisha actress Sonam Kapoor uploaded a monochrome picture of herself dressed in a traditional outfit. "Ramadan Kareem my brothers and sisters. Ramzan Mubarak," she wrote.

The Pataudi family also shared Ramzan wishes as Soha wrote on her Instagram, "Ramadan Mubarak from our family and from the House Of Pataudi. During this holy month, may your life be blessed with peace, positivity and good health."

Huma Qureshi, through her post on social media, urged her fans to stay indoors during the time of novel coronavirus. "They are saying Saturday is the first Roza!! Ramadan is almost here!! Praying for everyone in these difficult times Shared compassion, service, and support for one another is the need of the hour. May god bless us all! And a special dua for all those fighting for us at the frontlines of this pandemic. Everyone please stay at home and stay safe! Pray from Home ! prayer," wrote Huma.

Bigg Boss 13 contestant Himanshi Khurana wished her fans with a snap dressed in an orange-gold salwar suit.

Television actor Shaheer Sheikh shared a picture on Instagram and greeted her fans Ramadan Mubarak.

Anupam Kher tweeted, "RamadanMubarak !! Love and peace always."

#RamadanMubarak !! Love and peace always.  Anupam Kher (@AnupamPKher) April 24, 2020

Actor Ali Fazal also posted a video on Twitter and requested fans to stay indoors while celebrating the holy month of Ramazan.

Ramzaan Mubaarak! Be safe.                           Taking all safety measures even while stepping out. #Ramzaan pic.twitter.com/k7r3DXudvb  Ali Fazal M /    /  (@alifazal9) April 23, 2020

Bollywood actress Nora Fatehi uploaded an image on Instagram and urged her fans to maintain social distancing.

"Ramadan Mubarak to everyone.. may your fasting and prayers be accepted! May you stay safe and healthy at home ... please pray at home maintain social distancing," she wrote.
For more than a month, President Trump has promoted unproven treatments such as hydroxychloroquine for the novel coronavirus. The recklessness of these presidential prescriptions might have been obscured by their status as real medicines long in use for other illnesses.

But few subtleties are safe around Trump, who drifted still further into dangerous quackery this week by suggesting Americans might fight the virus by injecting or ingesting disinfectants.

Inspired by a Homeland Security officials report on the efficacy of sunlight and disinfectants in killing the virus on inanimate surfaces, Trump mused during a White House briefing Thursday that the findings could have medical uses. Could light be brought inside the body, he wondered, either through the skin or some other way? He added, And then I see the disinfectant where it knocks it out in a minute ... and is there a way we can do something like that by injection inside, or almost a cleaning?

Trump claimed Friday that he was making a joke at the expense of reporters, which would be a strange approach in the midst of a crisis that has killed more than 50,000 Americans. But the ensuing alarm was no media invention.

Maryland officials reported fielding more than 100 inquiries about disinfectants, prompting the states Emergency Management Agency to warn against internal use of household cleaners. The British company that makes Lysol issued a statement saying we must be clear that under no circumstance should our disinfectant products be administered into the human body (through injection, ingestion or any other route). Oakland-based Clorox warned, Bleach and other disinfectants are not suitable for consumption or injection.

Of course, most Americans possess the good sense not to take a swig of Formula 409 even if their leaders suggest its worth a shot. But not all do, and the risks of such presidential pronouncements amid general panic are not theoretical. An Arizona man died last month after drinking an aquarium cleaner containing a form of chloroquine, an antimalarial drug Trump promoted repeatedly as effective against the coronavirus based on a disputed French study and other unverified reports.

While the Food and Drug Administration broadly authorized emergency distribution and use of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine for hospitalized coronavirus patients last month, it issued a warning Friday that the drugs should be used only under close monitoring and can have cardiac side effects that have proved fatal. Officials in Nigeria have reported chloroquine overdoses, and a Brazilian study of the drug was halted over concerns about heart irregularities.

Meanwhile, Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Palo Alto, announced plans this week to hold hearings on the dismissal of Rick Bright, a federal vaccine scientist who says he was fired for criticizing the administrations promotion of unproven cures. As Bright noted, an additional danger of the focus on such treatments is mass distraction from safe and scientifically vetted solutions.

The notion that facts, knowledge and expertise dont matter has been a bedrock principle of this presidency. The current crisis is proving the opposite at great cost.

This commentary is from The Chronicles editorial board. We invite you to express your views in a letter to the editor. Please submit your letter via our online form: SFChronicle.com/letters.
OAKLAND (BCN)

A 57-year-old man who had been serving a lengthy sentence in Nevada for a sexual assault conviction was arraigned on Friday on special circumstances murder charges for the 1981 rape and murder of a 16-year-old girl in West Oakland.

Jewel Collins is charged with murder and the special circumstance of committing a murder during the rape for allegedly assaulting and killing the girl, who wasn't named in court documents, on Dec. 23 or Dec. 24 in 1981.

Oakland police and Alameda County prosecutors said the girl was found stabbed to death in a dirt lot next to Lowell Park on the morning of Dec. 24, 1981, and showed signs of having been sexually assaulted.

Authorities said biological evidence collected at the time of the murder was eventually matched to Collins when Nevada uploaded his DNA profile to the national database last year.

"The Oakland Police Department and the FBI never gave up on solving this tragic killing," Alameda County District Attorney Nancy O'Malley said in a statement.

"The young victim's family has had to endure decades of grief and we hope that this prosecution will provide at least a sense of closure and relief that justice will be served," O'Malley said.

The FBI helped the Oakland Police Department with the investigation as part of the FBI's cold case initiative in Oakland, according to O'Malley.

Collins, who formerly worked as a janitor according to jail records, was charged last Sept. 4 but wasn't arraigned until Friday because he wasn't extradited to Alameda County until last week.

Collins, who's now being held without bail at the Santa Rita Jail in Dublin, waived his right to a speedy trial and is scheduled to return to court on May 8 to enter a plea.

Oakland police Officer Phong Tran wrote in a probable cause statement that when investigators interviewed Collins he "provided conflicting evidence of the physical evidence" in the case.

Tran said, "Collins denied all knowledge of the victim or ever having any relationship or contact with the victim while she was alive in 1981."

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.
But how could he do that when, because of medical privacy laws, he did not know where the nine infected people lived? Its the specificity of the floor youd like to know, Mr. Nowicki said. Like, are the cases on the 7th floor or the 9th floor? Are all the infections on one floor? Or is it spread along all the floors? Youd like to know.

He is not the only one. Residents call Mr. Nowickis wife, Tracy, the citys director of elder services, demanding to know who in their building is positive, and she gently deters them.

They want to make sure they dont knock on their door, she said. I totally understand that. I totally understand why the residents that are still healthy want to stay that way.

As the virus spreads through American communities, many leaders will face the same stubborn challenge: How, in a country that values its citizens medical privacy and autonomy, can authorities separate the sick from the well?

The question is an urgent one if public life is to resume.

Chinese cities solved this problem by giving infected people no choice. In the city of Wuhan, authorities realized that social distancing was not enough to rapidly bring the virus's reproduction rate down to near zero, which they felt was necessary to reopen schools and businesses.
Harbor Springs school board authorizes May bond proposal

During Monday's meeting, the board unanimously adopted a resolution to authorize the bonding proposal, with the election scheduled for Tuesday, May 3.
Two more COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in Queensland overnight, increasing the state's total to 1026.

Of those 1026, Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young said 964 of the confirmed patients had recently travelled overseas or had close contact with a confirmed case, such as their partner or flatmate.

Queensland's Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk is happy with the low case numbers returning. Credit:AAP

Queensland Health was still carrying out contract tracing on some passengers who flew from Melbourne to Brisbane on VA341 on April 20.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk thanked Queenslanders for responding to restrictions and helping to flatten the curve.
The nationwide tally of coronavirus positive patients neared 25,000 on Saturday with fresh cases getting detected in Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh among other places, but the government said the daily growth rate has dipped to 6 per cent and some states began relaxing some lockdown conditions by allowing more shops to open.

At least 56 more deaths have been reported since Friday evening -- the highest so far in a span of 24 hours -- to take the death toll across the country to at least 779, according to the Union Health Ministry figures.

While an estimated 5.8 lakh tests have been conducted so far, the government has put on hold the use of rapid test kits procured from two Chinese firms to check their efficacy after some states including Rajasthan reported they were giving inaccurate results.

On a positive note, the Delhi government said it has seen encouraging results from the plasma therapy trial on more patients. Karnataka also began similar trials on Saturday, while Rajasthan said it was also ready to conduct these trials.

Some states, taking cue from a late Friday night order from the Union Home Ministry, said they are taking steps to open more categories of shops, including those selling garments, mobile phones, hardware and stationery items.

However, these relaxations would not be allowed for shops located in market places, malls and COVID-19 hotspots and containment zones. In rural areas, all shops barring those in malls have been allowed to open.

Liquor and cigarette shops would remain closed everywhere irrespective of their location, while sale of non-essential items through e-commerce platforms continue to remain shut. Restaurants, hair salons and barber shops will not be allowed to open as these render services and do not fall under the shop category.

The Delhi government said it will implement the Home Ministry order on opening of shops in the national capital, but Maharashtra ruled out any immediate relaxation saying the lockdown guidelines will remain unchanged in the state till May 3. Gujarat, on the other hand, decided to follow the directive, while Assam said it will take a decision on Monday.

A nationwide lockdown has been in place since March 25, which was first scheduled to end on April 14, but was extended till May 3 to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.

In its 5 PM update, the Union Health Ministry said 24,942 people have so far tested positive while more than 5,200 have recovered -- giving a recovery rate of over 20 per cent. It also said the rate of daily growth in new cases has fallen to 6 per cent, which is the lowest since the country crossed 100 cases.

In Andhra Pradesh, the tally crossed 1,000 and new positive cases included frontline healthcare professionals.

Maharasthra tops the tally with more than 6,800 cases, followed by over 2,800 in Gujarat and more than 2,500 in Delhi. Rajasthan has reported more than 2,000 cases, while Madhya Pradesh is also nearing this mark.

Of the total 779 COVID-19 deaths also, Maharashtra accounts for the highest number of 301 fatalities, followed by Gujarat (127), Madhya Pradesh (92), Delhi (53), Andhra Pradesh (31) and Rajasthan (27).

Uttar Pradesh, where at least 157 new cases emerged during the day to take the state's tally of COVID-19 patients to 1,778, began bringing back labourers from the state who have been stranded elsewhere. On the other hand, the state also announced a decision to ban all public gatherings till June 30.

West Bengal also reported 38 fresh COVID-19 cases, taking its total to 541. At least 18 people have died in the state, a health department bulletin said.

Special teams sent by the Centre, in the meantime, assessed ground situations in Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Telangana, but a political stand-off continued in West Bengal on this front.

The team visiting West Bengal alleged that non-cooperation on the part of the state government over providing logistical support and other relevant information, while the state's ruling party Trinamool Congress described it as "India's Most Callous Team" and accused it of trying to spread the political virus "shamelessly".

On the political front, Congress President Sonia Gandhi also wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking urgent steps to help the MSME sector, including a Rs 1 lakh crore 'Wage Protection' package. She said the MSME crisis has the potential of having a devastating and expansive ripple effect on our economy.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Actor Hina Khan has wished everyone Ramzan Mubarak with stunning photos on Instagram today. Sharing the photos on Instagram, Hina said that she is praying for protection and healing.

Amid the coronavirus lockdown, celebrations for the holy month of Ramzan have already begun. Instead of offering prayers in a mosque, the muslim community is offering their prayers from their houses while following the norms of social distancing. Hina Khan is one of the actors who has kept her first roza today and is celebrating the festival within the confines of her house. Wishing everyone Ramadan Mubarak, Hina has treated her fans with a couple of photos on her Instagram account in which she looks effortlessly beautiful.

Dressed in a yellow suit with dupatta wrapped around her face, Hina Khan is glowing from within as she flaunts a no-makeup look. Sharing the photo on her Instagram account, Hina offered her prayers to those who have been infected by coronavirus and asked for protection and healing from god. The actor also revealed that she has kept her first roza today.

Hina Khans photos are winning hearts of fans on social media. In just a few hours, her post has crossed 2 lakh likes on Instagram and the comment section is flooded with compliments. Celebrities like Aashka Goradia, Aamna Sharif, Arjun Bijlani, Rashami Desai and Monalisa have also wished Hina Khan Ramzan Mubarak in the comment section.

Also Read: Bigg Boss 13: Asim Riaz goes gaga over Himanshi Khuranas glamorous Ramadan look

During her time in lockdown, Hina Khan has not only been cooking, cleaning, working out, sharing informational videos and exploring her hidden talents, she has also become quite active on TikTok. She recently shared a hilarious TikTok on why she does not have a tattoo. On the professional front, Hina Khans short film SmartPhone released yesterday.

Also Read: Coronavirus India: Akshay Kumars Teri Mitti tribute to frontline healthcare workers makes it to top trends, watch here

Also Read: Coronavirus: Guddan Tumse Na Ho Paayegas shooting begins, actor Nishant Malkani says its a trial hoping for a smooth run

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Kiona Vineyards in Benton City, Washington, issued a peculiar sales pitch: buy wine someplace else. During a global pandemic, even wine marketing is turned upside down.

One more thing  if you are considering buying direct from a winery, I would recommend making selections from your favorite boutique/micro/family-run operations instead of Kiona, JJ Williams writes in the winerys blog.

Williams is the director of operations for Kiona Vineyards, a Yakima Valley winery located on Red Mountain. John Williams, JJs grandfather, helped plant the first vines there in 1975. JJs father, Scott Williams, manages the familys vineyards and works with Tyler, JJs brother, to make the wines. Their unofficial title of the first family of Red Mountain is well deserved.

Kionas vineyards have grown from 10.6 acres in 1975 to 272.2 acres in 2020. Annual case production is approximately 20,000 cases. Were a good size winery, but we are independently owned and operated. So I guess were a big-little winery, JJ Williams said in a telephone interview. And thats the point.

With a distribution network covering 42 states, Kionas wines are in a vast number of grocery stores. This is a considerable advantage when so many winery tasting rooms, restaurants and retail stores are closed because of the coronavirus. When people shop for toilet paper and hand sanitizer at a Zupans in Portland, they are going to walk by the wine section where we have five or six of our wines. Theres at least a chance our bottles can make it into their cart, Williams says.

As a result, Kiona Vineyards is surviving while others struggle. Our income has not dropped anywhere near zero, which is not the case for lots of these tiny wineries, Williams says.

Small wineries rarely have massive distribution channels at their disposal. Getting wines consistently placed on the shelves of grocery store chains can be challenging. As a result, they depend heavily on direct-to-consumer sales out of their tasting rooms as well as self-distributing to local restaurants and higher-end wine shops.

Williams concern for these wineries is supported by a recent analysis produced by Jon Moramarco of bw166, a company specializing in alcohol industry data collection and analysis.

Moramarcos analysis projects Americas wineries will lose $5.94 billion of revenue in 2020, with smaller wineries being hit hardest. According to Moramarco, wineries making 1,000-5,000 cases a year will lose 47.5% of their revenue in 2020 due to COVID-19 related events like tasting room and restaurant closures. Wineries producing fewer than 1,000 cases will see a 66% revenue drop in the bw166 model.

In a Wine Institute press release announcing his results, Moramarco put recent optimistic news reports about increased wine purchases in perspective. Despite recent news of consumers increasing wine purchases from grocery stores and other outlets, the impact of on-premise and tasting room closures plus projected declines in direct-to-consumer sales will offset any short-term sales gains when taking into account all sales channels.

Williams received quite a response to his small winery call to arms. Kiona customers asked where they should go shopping. Did Williams make any recommendations?

I came up with a list of small, independently owned wineries that are focused on direct-to-consumer sales, Williams says.

The top of Williams list included Red Mountain neighbors Frichette Winery and Fidelitas Wines, Syncline Wine Cellars in Lyle, Washington, and two urban wineries: Helioterra Wines in Portland and Bartholomew Winery out of Seattle and Kennewick.

Williams confesses his motives are not entirely altruistic: We are in an unusual situation of being a winery and selling fruit from our vineyards. These people are competitors, but they are also customers who buy our grapes. Their continued success is good for us.

I discovered Williams reverse-marketing strategy courtesy of an email from a Kiona customer. She was looking for recommendations for Oregon wineries that were small, independently owned and dependent on direct-to-consumer sales for their survival.

I told her it would be easy, but it would be a long list. According to the Oregon Wine Board, 70-75% of Oregons wineries are making 5,000 cases or less each year. I hope she bought a lot of wine because our small wineries will definitely need extra help this year.

-- Michael Alberty writes about wine for The Oregonian/OregonLive. He can be reached at malberty0@gmail.com. To read more of his coverage, go to oregonlive.com/wine.

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ANCHORAGE, Alaska - The owner of a downtown Anchorage gallery was accused of illegally purchasing and selling walrus tusk ivory and tax evasion stemming from 2017, federal prosecutors said.

Walter Earl, 75, faces up to five years in prison and multiple $250,000 fines after he was charged Thursday with four felonies in federal court, including three Lacey Act violations, Anchorage Daily News reported.

The Lacey Act was passed in 1990 and prohibits the sale of wildlife or wildlife products taken or possessed in violation of state or foreign law. It is legal to hunt walrus in Alaska, but only by Alaska Natives for subsistence and can only be sold to other Natives.

Earl owns The Antique Gallery, which has sold military antiques, estate jewelry, rare firearms, Alaska Native art and other historical curiosities for the last 30 years.

Prosecutors have accused Earl of illegally purchasing more than 50 walrus ivory tusks and selling walrus head mounts, which include the skull with ivory tusks, on three different occasions.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service removed what appeared to be massive whale vertebrae and walrus skull and tusks in November 2017 where the gallery is located, wildlife officials said.

At the time, Assistant U.S. Attorney Aunnie Steward confirmed a federal investigation was underway, but did not release any further details or information about the case.

Steward is now prosecuting the case against Earl.

Earl declined to comment on the charges against him when reached by phone.
By Julie Steenhuysen, Peter Eisler, Allison Martell and Stephanie Nebehay

(Reuters) - In the race to develop a vaccine to end the COVID-19 pandemic, governments, charities and Big Pharma firms are sinking billions of dollars into bets with extraordinarily low odds of success.

Theyre fast-tracking the testing and regulatory review of vaccines with no guarantee they will prove effective. Theyre building and re-tooling plants for vaccines with slim chances of being approved. Theyre placing orders for vaccines that, in the end, are unlikely to be produced.

Its the new pandemic paradigm, focused on speed and fraught with risks.

The crisis in the world is so big that each of us will have to take maximum risk now to put this disease to a stop," said Paul Stoffels, chief scientific officer at Johnson & Johnson <JNJ.N>, which has partnered with the U.S. government on a $1 billion investment to speed development and production of its still-unproven vaccine. If it fails, Stoffels told Reuters, it will be bad.

Historically, just 6% of vaccine candidates end up making it to market, often after a years-long process that doesnt draw big investments until testing shows a product is likely to work. But the traditional rules of drug and vaccine development are being tossed aside in the face of a virus that has infected 2.7 million people, killed more than 192,000 and devastated the global economy. With COVID-19, the goal is to have a vaccine identified, tested and available on a scale of hundreds of millions of doses in just 12 to 18 months.

Drug companies and the governments and investors that finance them are boosting their at-risk spending in unprecedented ways. The overriding consensus among more than 30 drug company executives, government health officials and pandemic-response experts interviewed by Reuters is that the risks are necessary to ensure not only that a vaccine for the new coronavirus is developed quickly, but that it is ready to distribute as soon as its approved.

Investments from governments, global health groups and philanthropies have been aimed primarily at the most promising of the more than 100 vaccine candidates in development worldwide. But only a handful of those have advanced to human trials, the real indicator of safety and efficacy - and the stage where most vaccines wash out.

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Even among the more encouraging prospects, very few are likely to succeed. Its possible more than one will work; its possible none will.

For companies in the race, there are some likely benefits: It's a proving ground for vaccine technologies and a chance to burnish reputations and boost shares. While some large companies, including Johnson & Johnson and GlaxoSmithKline Plc <GSK.L>, have said they plan to make the vaccine available at cost - at least at first - they may reap profits down the road if seasonal vaccination is needed and countries invest in stockpiles.

But finding a vaccine that works does little good without the ability to produce and distribute it. That means building manufacturing plants now.

"We want to make investments up front, at risk, even before we know the vaccines work, to be able to (immediately) manufacture them at a scale of tens or hundreds of millions of doses, said Richard Hatchett, a physician who managed U.S. pandemic flu policy under former President George W. Bush and returned to advise the Obama White House during the 2009 swine flu pandemic.

Hatchett now heads the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), a vaccine-development consortium supported by private donors as well as the United Kingdom, Canada, Belgium, Norway, Switzerland, Germany and the Netherlands. The organization has raised more than $915 million of the $2 billion it anticipates spending to accelerate testing and build specialized production plants for at least three coronavirus vaccine candidates.

In the United States, the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), a federal agency that funds disease-fighting technology, has announced investments of nearly $1 billion to support coronavirus vaccine development and the scale-up of manufacturing for promising candidates.

One underlying fear, shared by everyone Reuters interviewed, is that even if a vaccine does prove effective, there wont be enough to go around.

Having reserves ready worldwide to immediately inoculate critical populations - health care workers, the elderly, people made vulnerable by medical conditions - would stamp out the pandemic faster and reignite economies, Hatchett said. The alternative, he said, is a replay of past pandemics, including the H1N1 influenza outbreak of 2009, with wealthy countries hoarding the vaccines.

If that happens, pandemic experts warn, infection hot spots will continue to pop up, each with the potential to create a new wave of illness.

FULL SPEED AHEAD

The scale of the coronavirus vaccine race has no historical parallels. CEPI has identified at least 115 ongoing vaccine initiatives worldwide. And the race is shattering norms of speed and safety in drug and vaccine development.

Some developers are running safety and efficacy trials in tandem, instead of sequentially, as is typical, and short-cutting traditional testing protocols. Others are working with regulators in multiple countries simultaneously, looking for the quickest path to market.

The resulting uncertainty makes it especially risky to invest in manufacturing facilities for a given candidate, since different types of vaccines can require very distinct production lines.

Many of the candidates attracting the most investment rely on proven vaccine approaches being adapted by Big Pharma companies with regulatory and production acumen. Some funders are gambling on smaller biotech companies and academic labs, which may have promising technologies but little to no experience getting a drug or vaccine approved and produced at scale.

BARDA, the U.S. R&D agency, is one of the biggest vaccine funders, with some $5 billion to spend. The agency plans to invest in five vaccine candidates, focusing mostly on projects from experienced drug makers.

"Each is coming with a lot of prior experience, said Rick Bright, who until this month was BARDAs director. They all know how to scale up."

In one of its biggest bets, BARDA is pouring nearly $500 million into a J&J effort.

J&Js coronavirus vaccine candidate uses a cold virus, rendered harmless, to deliver genes derived from the spiky, crown-shaped proteins on the surface of the new coronavirus, prompting an immune response.

J&J is using the same technology to develop vaccines for other viruses, including Ebola. While none has completed testing and won full U.S. approval, trials so far in tens of thousands of people have produced data showing the basic approach is safe, which could speed regulatory approval for the new coronavirus vaccine. But its far from a sure bet: Animal test data, due this summer, will give the first hint of the vaccine's effectiveness and human trials will begin in September.

By end of the year, well know whether it protects humans, said Stoffels, J&Js chief science officer.

In China, CanSino Biologics Inc <6185.HK> has vaccine technology similar to the one being used by J&J. CanSino is further along with its testing, having announced this month that its candidate had cleared initial safety trials in humans and was set to advance to the next stage.

Sanofi SA <SASY.PA>, the worlds largest vaccine maker, has attracted BARDA money for another proven approach, based on its approved Flublok flu shot. Sanofi uses insect cells instead of the traditional chicken eggs to grow the genetically altered virus proteins used to spur an immune response.

Not all the vaccine projects getting attention have a Big Pharma pedigree.

Moderna Inc <MRNA.O>, a biotech firm based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, was the first in the United States to begin human trials when it began testing its vaccine last month. Working with the U.S. National Institutes of Health, the company received seed money from CEPI, and this month, BARDA kicked in $483 million to support the vaccines development and help scale up manufacturing. That includes hiring 150 skilled workers to eventually produce vaccine around the clock.

Modernas vaccine uses genetic material called messenger RNA (mRNA) to instruct cells in the body to make specific coronavirus proteins that then produce an immune response.

No mRNA vaccine has ever been approved for public use, but the technology is drawing interest, in part because it makes a vaccine easier to design and produce in vast quantities.

The end game is millions of doses," Tal Zaks, Moderna's chief medical officer, told Reuters. The company hopes to have an approved vaccine available as early as March 2021, and possibly before then for healthcare workers. German vaccine makers CureVac and BioNTech SE <22UAy.F> <BNTX.O>, which is partnering with Pfizer Inc <PFE.N>, are preparing to begin trials with similar mRNA-based vaccine candidates. So is Lexington, Massachusetts-based Translate Bio Inc <TBIO.O>, which is working with Sanofi.

EXTRAORDINARY SHORTCUTS

Even for vaccine hopefuls already in human tests, it will be months before theres conclusive evidence on safety and effectiveness - something funders are keenly aware of.

The rush has prompted scientists to consider previously unthinkable shortcuts.

Normally, vaccines would need to undergo clinical trials involving thousands of people before widespread inoculation is allowed. But after testing a prospective vaccine in a smaller group to ensure it is not toxic, Swiss researchers seek to immunize a lot of the Swiss population in the next six months and then produce for a world market, Dr Martin Bachmann, head of immunology at Inselspital, the University Hospital of Bern, said this week.

A spokesman for Swissmedic, the countrys drug regulator, said it was in contact with Bachmann's group and would not allow trials until the agency is assured that safety risks are addressed.

The Swiss vaccine employs virus-like particles to provoke an immune response, an approach that theoretically is considered safer because it does not directly expose people to the actual coronavirus. So far, it has only been tested in mice.

Dr. Gregory Poland, a vaccine researcher at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, is among those worried about the risks of injecting a large group of people with a vaccine that has only been through minimal testing in humans.

"I dont see how this is possible, he told Reuters, referring to Inselspitals plan.

LESSONS UNLEARNED?

The war on COVID-19 is haunted by lessons from the fight against another virus a decade ago.

In the spring of 2009, the H1N1 swine flu virus emerged in the United States and Mexico and spread worldwide. Within weeks, the World Health Organization(WHO) declared it the first pandemic since 1968.

Wealthier governments that had provisional contracts with vaccine makers immediately exercised them, effectively monopolizing the global vaccine supply," according to Hatchett and numerous official reports. The U.S. alone ordered 250 million doses, and Australia, Brazil, France, Italy, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland and Britain all had vaccine.

Under pressure from the WHO, those countries ultimately committed to share 10% of their stockpiles with poorer nations. But due to production and distribution snarls, only about 77 million doses were shipped  far less than needed  and only after the disease had peaked in many regions.

If an effective vaccine emerges for the new coronavirus, a replay is possible, experts in pandemic preparedness say. None of the global health authorities consulted by Reuters believes there will be sufficient supplies to satisfy the immediate demand. Governments will be under tremendous pressure to immunize their own citizenry and get life back to normal, so hoarding remains a serious risk.

Ronald St. John, a physician who has held government posts on infectious disease control in the United States and Canada, expects a similar scenario with vaccines.

There is going to be a lot of self-interest in terms of the production, he said.

BARDA explicitly gives preference to vaccine projects promising U.S. production capacity.

We're asking the American taxpayer to give a lot to the vaccine effort, so its important to ensure U.S. access to any successful vaccine, said Bright, BARDAs recent chief.

But he added that BARDA also is encouraging the companies it backs to build manufacturing capacity outside the United States, so we can have a global supply all at once.

Many governments are pouring money into vaccine initiatives with expectations that they will be first in line if a viable vaccine emerges.

Arcturus Therapeutics Holdings Inc <ARCT.O>, a San Diego biotech, is receiving up to $10 million from the Singapore government to develop its mRNA-based coronavirus vaccine candidate in partnership with the Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School. If the vaccine is approved, Singapore gets first access, said Arcturus CEO Joseph Payne. Everything after that, he said, goes to whoever pays for it.

Arcturus is not responsible for the ethics of distribution - governments are - but in order for governments to get the vaccine, they need to pay for it, Payne said. The country that will win is the country that stockpiles multiple vaccines at risk.

The company raised $80.5 million this week from a common stock public offering.

In China, a major global producer of vaccines, the government is backing several coronavirus vaccine projects, raising the prospect it will inoculate its 1.4 billion people first. One government-backed effort, by Sinovac Biotech Ltd. <SVA.O>, is already testing vaccine candidates in humans and awaiting initial data..

Sinovac got 60 million yuan ($8.4 million) in low-rate credit lines through a discount loan program supported by Chinas central bank. Government officials quickly made land available for the company to build production plants, including a factory meant to produce up to 100 million doses a year of its coronavirus vaccine.

Sinovac would not discuss how much public money is being invested. The relevant government agencies declined requests for comment.

On Friday, the World Health Organization announced a landmark collaboration across the international community to raise $8 billion to accelerate the coronavirus vaccine development and ensure equitable access worldwide to any successful vaccine. Countries across Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East and the Americas announced their participation, but the United States and China, two of the worlds biggest pharma forces, did not.

There will be no U.S. official participation, a spokesman for the U.S. mission in Geneva told Reuters, adding that the U.S. supports global cooperation to develop a vaccine.

Broader questions about U.S. policy on international vaccine distribution are still under consideration within the Trump administration, according to a member of the White House coronavirus task force who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity. The official noted that the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development are spending nearly $500 million to assist with the COVID-19 response internationally.

A WHO spokeswoman said Fridays announcement was the beginning of a global collaboration and we would welcome more countries coming on board. China did not respond to a request for comment.

People involved in the global vaccine race told Reuters that the greatest incentive for countries to promise to share coronavirus vaccines may be the uncertainty around which ones will work.

Since no country can be sure the candidates it backs will prove successful, committing to sharing with other nations can help assure theyll have an initial supply to inoculate health care workers and other critical populations.

"That's enlightened self-interest, as well as a global public good," said Jeremy Farrar, an infectious disease expert and director of the Wellcome Trust global health charity.

(Steenhuysen reported from Chicago, Eisler from Washington, Martell from Toronto and Nebehay from Geneva; additional reporting by Matthias Blamont in Paris, Alexandra Harney in Hong Kong, Roxanne Liu in Beijing, John Miller in Zurich and Kate Kelland in London. Editing by Michele Gershberg and Julie Marquis.)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-25 20:06:24|Editor: huaxia

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BRUSSELS, April 25 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese envoy to the European Union said on Friday that no matter what kind of labels are given to China's assistance efforts, the country will continue to help others fight the coronavirus and save as many lives as possible.

Zhang Ming, head of the Chinese Mission to the EU, said in a conversation with Friends of Europe, a Brussels-based think tank, that "COVID-19 is a human tragedy, not a playground for politics."

"As the WHO pointed out, we are fighting both the pandemic and the infodemic. Disinformation is an enemy for all of us and should be addressed by all of us. From the very beginning, China suffered a lot from disinformation," he said.

"In the most difficult moments in fighting the virus, China received kind assistance from Europe," he said, noting that it was widely covered by the Chinese media and spoken highly of by the Chinese people.

"No one said it's politics of generosity (or) something like that," he said.

"And China's help to Europe, like Europe's help to China, is a sign of solidarity, not political calculation," he said.

The Chinese envoy said that apart from Europe, China is also cooperating with Africa and other vulnerable regions. The EU is doing similar things, he said, adding that the actions of both sides are about serving the public good, not a geopolitical game.

At this difficult time, the Chinese envoy has called for solidarity instead of political calculation to jointly fight the epidemic.

"We'd better forget politics now; we are in a very special time. We're in a battle, a battle between the sapiens and the virus. We cannot just start another battle, a battle between a group of the sapiens and another. It's wrong."

"Anyway, no matter what kind of labels are put on China's efforts, we will continue to do the right thing -- that is, to extend a helping hand and save as many lives as possible," Zhang said. "This is what really matters." Enditem
Delhis health minister Satyendar Jain said on Saturday four patients of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), who were treated with plasma therapy, have almost recovered, news agency ANI reported.

Convalescent plasma therapy uses a blood component called plasma, which contains the virus-fighting antibodies, from people who have recovered from the infection to treat those who are severely ill with Covid-19. Plasma is the almost-clear liquid left behind after red and white blood cells and platelets are removed from the blood.

We have administered plasma therapy to six patients in Delhi, so far. Four patients were given the therapy four days back, Satyendar Jain was quoted as saying by ANI.

Those who were administered four days back have almost recovered. All of them were critical patients and results are very encouraging, he said.

Also read: Maharashtra to soon start clinical trials for plasma therapy, pool testing

Before this, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal had urged people who have recovered from Covid-19 in the city to donate plasma to treat people in hospital with severe forms of the infection.

The initial results are very promising and I would request those who have recovered from corona infection to come and donate their plasma, Kejriwal said during a press conference through video conference on Friday.

Also read: Tablighi Jamaat chief asks members to donate blood plasma to fight Covid-19

Lok Nayak Hospital is the first Delhi government hospital to administer the therapy.

Plasma therapy trials are also being conducted by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences in Delhi.

Privately-run Max Hospital in Saket also administered the therapy to a Covid-19 patient on ventilator support on compassionate grounds, who was later weaned off ventilator support and is improving.

Among other centres, the trials are underway at the Department of Biotechnologys Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology in Kerala, which was the first to start them, and King George Medical University, Lucknow, where they started on Friday.

Karnataka health minister B Sriramulu on Saturday initiated Phase I of the clinical trials to use plasma therapy for Covid-19 patients at Bengaluru-based BMC Victoria Hospital.

So far, 2514 people have been infected with Sars-Cov-2, the virus that causes the coronavirus disease, 857 people have been cured and 50 have died in Delhi.
Data published nationally shows that Wexford County Council's Covid-19 Community Support Helpline is among the best-performing and busiest in the country.

The data published by the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) looked at the figures over a sample four-day period from April 2 to 6. During that time, Wexford County Council's helpline logged a total of 522 calls - a figure only surpassed by Cork County Council who logged 569.

While the figures are massively encouraging, Wexford County Council was keen to stress that the reason the county's call numbers are so high is not because there are more people in need across the model county, rather that those manning the phone-lines are also actively calling people who they may know to be vulnerable or isolated to check in on them or offer them help.

On the next graph, the LGMA states that Wexford County Council responded with 609 activities, broken down by category. Over the sample four-day period, the council oversaw 90 deliveries of supplies to vulnerable people or people isolating. 357 calls were checking up on people in isolation. 18 were putting people in touch with services such as meals on wheels etc. Three calls sought the assistance of An Garda Siochana, 12 were listed as medical and 129 were listed under 'other'.

The Covid-19 helpline is said to be working extremely well as a result of the hard work of both council staff and voluntary bodies. It's open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. 7 days a week by calling 0539196000 and dialling 1. You can also email covidsupport@wexfordcoco.ie.
Michaela Strachan will be unable to present the new series of Springwatch in person as she is in lockdown in South Africa, the BBC has said.

The nature programme, which returns to TV screens next month, will be presented by the rest of the shows hosts from different locations across the country.

Chris Packham will present from the New Forest, Gillian Burke from Cornwall and Iolo Williams from Wales.

A statement from the BBC said: This year Michaela Strachan, who is locked down in South Africa, will be unable to join the team in person.

Expand Close Chris Packham said the new series would be like no other (Giles Anderson/PA) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Chris Packham said the new series would be like no other (Giles Anderson/PA)

However, she will send a message of support to the viewers and the series will revisit some of her favourite Springwatch highlights from past years.

Packham said the new series of Springwatch will be like no other.

He added: As the country experiences lockdown, the natural world offers solace to so many.

Im delighted that through the magic of modern technology the Springwatch team will be able to share the splendour of spring with the nation again this year.

Broadcasting live from the New Forest, Im looking forward to showing viewers some of the best British wildlife from my neck of the woods.

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Expand Close The new series airs on BBC Two next month (Jo Charlesworth/BBC/PA) / Facebook

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Whatsapp The new series airs on BBC Two next month (Jo Charlesworth/BBC/PA)

The series will showcase the diversity of wildlife species and habitats in the UK, as well as a number of nature films which were recorded just before the lockdown.

Burke said this spring is unique and one that has presented the whole nation with some really tough challenges.

She added: With so many of us stuck indoors, Springwatch will bring the bright energy and colour of a season that is the very symbol of hope and resilience itself.

I cant wait to share this spring with everyone.
Exodus, Neon Demon, Twelve Monkeys.

A time travel trilogy, two biblical epics and at least one of the best films youve never seen are all on today as TopFilmTip brings you the best films on TV for Saturday, 25 April.

Head-banging classic rock, nutty ex-GFs, geeky friends, puerile puns and guitar worship in catchphrase comedy rhapsody in Wayne's World 10:00am Comedy Central

Time-traveling Oedipus woos his own mum, brutalises bully, invents rock n roll and befriends man thrice is age in flaming 88mph fun Back to the Future 11:00am Film 4

Unwilling to compromise, duty bound sheriff hunts murderers to morally grey ground of obsession in deconstructionist western Lawman 12:45pm ITV4

Teenage time traveler breaks history, visits hoverboarding future, idealised past and dystopian present in flawless sequel Back to the Future Part II 13:20pm Film 4

Christopher Lloyd and Thomas F Wilson in a scene from the film 'Back to the Future Part III', 1990. (Photo by Universal Pictures/Getty Images)

Crazy kid emulates Eastwood while mad scientist runs riot in old west, steals train and womans heart in anachronistic fun Back to the Future Part III 3:30pm Film 4

Read more: The best 4K TV deals

Helen Mirren stars as the monarch suddenly despised by media and public alike before finding redemption in a metaphorical stag The Queen 4:55pm ITV3

Raised as royal brothers, siblings' close bond breaks as one realises his true origins and must lead his people to freedom in biblical musical The Prince of Egypt 5:30pm Sky 1

A poster for DreamWorks' 1998 animated film The Prince of Egypt. (DreamWorks)

Deity doubting Prince Of Egypt leads his enslaved people to freedom in Ridley Scott's lavish, sprawling epic Exodus: Gods and Kings 6:00pm Film 4

Snowbound hulk and alcoholi-dad stave off ruthless drug dealers cabin assault in fiery-axe-wielding toxophilic exhilarator Braven 9:00pm Sony Movies Action

Repeatedly scrubbed time tumbler seeks apocalypse averting insight in Terry Gilliam's cyclical Cassandra complex 12 Monkeys 9:00pm SyFy Universal

Captain handsome and crew overcomes existential ennui by battling WMD wielding lunatic with bikes, beats and shouting Star Trek Beyond 9:15pm Channel 4

Railroaded into stealing a McGuffin, hackers find themselves subject to alphabetifistful-spaghetti government agency witchhunt Sneakers 10:00pm Sky Living

Story continues

Pulling no punches, loquacious force-of-will personified blazes trail through haters and humanity alike: intricate, intimate pugilistic powerhouse biopic Ali 10:10pm ITV4

Brain munching zombie brainiac, sexually slandered vampire and virginal human put aside differences to battle alien onslaught in Werner Herzog teen-comedy curio Freaks of Nature 11:00pm Horror Channel

Innocent and callow natural beauty is consumed by rapacious jealousy of LAs modelling culture in Hypnotic phantasmagoria The Neon Demon 11:15pm Film 4

Intravenous venom abusing death distributer and pet hyena outsmart and butcher mercs and aliens alike in delightfully dark sci-fi Riddick 11:40pm Channel 4

Mel Gibson discovers vast conspiracy after his daughter is murdered. Kills lots of people and uncovers the truth Edge of Darkness 11:45pm BBC One

A bounty hunter tracks down a bunch of lowlifes in Steve McQueen's final feature The Hunter 1:00am Talking Pictures TV

Just out of prison The Rock evades drug-withdrawn cop and philosophical killer whilst making good on his personal kill-list Faster 1:10am Sony Movies

Everything new on streaming in April:

Netflix UK: Aprils new releases

Everything coming to Now TV in April

Amazon Prime Video UK: The biggest April releases

Everything coming to Disney+ in April

Follow TopFilmTip on Twitter for daily film recommendations.

Some films may require a Sky subscription.
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The Canadian Anti-fraud Centre (CAFC) is warning the public about an ongoing extortion scam targeting Canadians.

According to the CAFC, people across the country have been receiving threatening emails that claim someone has gained access to their computer. The message goes on to say the fraudster was able to install malware and record an explicit video of the individual.

The email sender threatens to send the video to the recipients contacts, if they do not pay money via bitcoin immediately, the bulletin from the anti-fraud centre reads. The fraudsters apply pressure on the recipient by setting a short time limit.

In an attempt to prove the legitimacy of the message, the fraudster will include a current or previous password the victims has used, which was collected through an earlier scam, like phishing.

Email phishing extortion scam

-email has recipient's email password

-email states sender is in possession of compromising or explicit photos and/or videos of recipient

-email requests $1900 (or other amount) in bitcoin or photos/video will be released to recipient's friends ^sm pic.twitter.com/Gct4YbQDPF  Toronto Police (@TorontoPolice) April 10, 2020

Earlier this month, Toronto police warned the public about extortion email scams, prompting people to share their personal experience with these fraudulent messages.

I've gotten these a few times... Last one wanted $75000 in bitcoin. Once I finally stopped laughing, I deleted it.  Jenn Campbell (@jmcampbell84) April 10, 2020

On Apr. 13 the Guelph Police Service said it had received several complaints about a similar email scam circulating among the citys residents. Each victim received an email from an anonymous person claiming to have personal information and pictures of the victim, attempting to extort the individual for money.

Story continues

How Canadians can protect themselves

The CAFC is advising Canadians to not open unsolicited emails and warning the public to not send any money or cryptocurrency under pressure.

In terms of password protection, everyone should use strong passwords at all times, creating a different one for each and every account. Personal information, including financial information, should never be shared.

Canadians should also make sure their computers operating system is updated regularly, including any anti-virus software.

Any scams in Canada can be reported online at www.antifraudcentre.ca or by phone at 1-888-495-8501.
FRONT PAGE

An article on Friday about how President Trump is spending his time in the White House misstated which position with the Federal Reserve that Mr. Trump had proposed for his outside economic adviser Stephen Moore. The president had chosen him to serve on the Federal Reserve Board, not to serve as its chairman.

TRACKING AN OUTBREAK

An article on Wednesday about women who are pregnant during the pandemic described incorrectly the legal status of home births in different states. Three-quarters of the countrys states allow licenses for midwives to practice out-of-hospital deliveries, including home births. Some states, like West Virginia and Georgia, do not offer licenses, making midwifery essentially illegal. Home births themselves are not illegal.

An article on Wednesday about unproven treatments for coronavirus patients mentioned by President Trump referred incorrectly to William N. Bryan. He is a science administrator in the federal government, not a scientist. It also misstated the substance consumed by a man and his wife in Arizona. They ingested a cleaning product that contained chloroquine, not a chemical found in the related compound hydroxychloroquine.

NATIONAL

A picture caption with an article on Wednesday about the environmental victories and failures of the past 50 years, because of incorrect information supplied by the photo agency, misstated the time period. The initial picture of the New York City skyline was from the 1930s or 40s, not 1973.
Mumbai, April 25 : Actress Raveena Tandon has come up with a social media campaign #JeetegaIndiaJeetengeHum to stop the spread of rumours amid the COVID-19 crisis, and also urge people not to attack the frontline workers.

Several healthcare workers in India have been attacked as they battle to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus. So, Raveena has made a special video in which she is seen appealing people to understand the severe health crisis and also appreciate the crucial role of doctors amid the COVID-19 outbreak.

"I feel it's extremely important for all of us to do our bit by encouraging the real heroes, our doctors and nurses who are stepping out everyday and fighting this deadly coronavirus. They haven't met their families to keep us and our families safe and that's why through my campaign -- #JeetegaIndiaJeetengeHum -- I request everyone to give these medical forces their due respect and at the same time not spread false rumours. I'm hopeful we will all see the light sooner together," she said.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Oregons craft distilleries got a boost Friday, when the Oregon Liquor Control Commission eased regulations and began allowing producers to take online or phone orders and ship directly to customers within the state.

Previously, customers had to place orders and pay in-person at the distilleries. But the change, which the OLCC called temporary, allows the companies to set remote-ordering systems, then deliver spirits themselves or use an authorized for-hire service.

Its not going to bring back the same revenue, but its a big change for us, Kelly Woodcock, a partner and vice president of consumer experiences for Portlands Westward Whiskey, told The Oregonian/OregonLive on Saturday. One of the biggest things we count on is continued relationships with people, and being able to ship to our club members is the way were going to make our business thrive.

Woodcock said the Westward team was meeting Saturday to set up an ordering system they hoped would be reading as soon as Monday.

Along with most of the broader hospitality industry, distilleries have struggled since COVID-19 restrictions closed many retailers doors in mid-March. Oregons distilleries have been allowed to sell to-go spirits from their retail locations since late March, but closed tasting rooms have slashed on-premise sales and in-person orders.

Additionally, consumers alcohol-purchasing habits have changed during the coronavirus crisis, industry observers say. Customers are looking for easier ways to obtain alcoholic beverages, relying primarily on grocery stores, and theyre buying cheaper brands, not top-shelf products like those made by Portlands Distillery Row group of craft producers.

Many of the Portland Oregon distilleries, which have mostly been sitting idle, switched to producing hand sanitizer on their systems to bring in some revenue and help provide a much-needed resource during the pandemic.

Coronavirus in Oregon: Latest news | Live map tracker |Text alerts | Newsletter

Theres been a lot of reports of how revenue in liquor stores is up, said Westward founder Christian Krogstad. But whats happening is people are not really shopping. Theyre getting in, quickly grabbing what they know and leaving. So, sales of out-of-state brands like Jack Daniels are way up.

Woodcock said the distillery industry has been pursuing such changes for years, and she thinks the crisis helped bring them about. The state was not only seeing significantly less tax revenue from the distilleries, she said, but also was likely looking for creative ways to help us survive.

On its order, the OLCC listed the change as a temporary amendment but gave no indication if it would eventually make the changes permanent. An email to the agency seeking clarification was not answered Saturday.

Westward has had a ton of people calling to support us, Woodcock said, but thats a lot easier for people who live near the distillery. This will make it much more possible to get our product out there.

-- Andre Meunier

Subscribe to Andres text service and get ongoing alerts about beer releases and news from the Portland and Oregon beer scene. And check out Andres beer reviews on Untappd, where hes andremeunier13, and follow him on Instagram, where hes @oregonianbeerguy.

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.

More beer coverage:
The International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD), has approved the disbursement of $20 million loan for Ghana.



Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, the Minister of Food and Agriculture, stated that the money was meant to boost Ghanas agriculture sector by providing support to farmers and increase the beneficiaries for the Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) programme.



The Minister said this in Accra; during question and answer time at the Meet the Press Series, which was organised by the Ministry of Information.



Dr Afriyie Akoto recounted that government made an emergency request to IFAD for $32 million to support the nations farmers to increase the beneficiaries for PFJ.



He said the Funds initial response was to give Ghana $20 million and then the rest of it, would subsequently follow.



Dr Afriyie Akoto said this was because the Fund realized that there was an opportunity to strengthen Ghanas food security basis by giving opportunity to more farmers to benefit from PFJ.



He said it was to ensure the nations food security and even that of West African; because Ghana was contributing by exporting foodsstuffs to the sub-region.



He said the Government through its exclusive budgetary allocation was able to grow the numbers of beneficiaries of the PFJ programme from the initial 200,002 in 2017 to 1.2 million farmers in 2019; stating that this year because of limits of the budget, we are keeping the beneficiaries at 1.2.



So, we need support from outside the Government budget to be able to expand our programme and this is why we are appealing to our development partners to come and assist us, the Minister said.



So, this money is meant to expand the programme beyond the pocket of the Government of Ghana to reach more farmers; so we can get more surpluses into this country.



PFJ is a Government of Ghana designed and implemented programme to promote growth in food production and create jobs across the country.



IFAD is an international financial institution and a specialised agency of the United Nations that works to address poverty and hunger in rural areas of developing countries.

Source: GNA









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
The police in Ogun State have reacted to a letter, purportedly written by a gang of hoodlums, identified as One Million Boys and alleg...





The police in Ogun State have reacted to a letter, purportedly written by a gang of hoodlums, identified as One Million Boys and allegedly sent to some communities in Abeokuta, the state capital.





The faceless group, in the said letter, informed the people of their coming to rob, warning residents to cooperate by letting go of their belongings.





But the police said they would not allow any hoodlums to fester or hibernate in the state.





The Ogun command warned that it is not perturbed by the mischievous letter because it has what it takes to deal decisively with any criminal gang who may want to infiltrate the state under any guise or nomenclature.





The Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, in a statement he made available on Friday, informed the State Commissioner of Police, CP Kenneth Ebrimson, has activated all the Commands tactical squads such as SARS, anti-kidnapping unit, anti-cultists unit, PMF as well as other conventional policemen and put them on red alert with the mandate to deal ruthlessly with anyone or group that may want to make life difficult for law-abiding citizens of the state.

Oyeyemi stressed that the command is not oblivious of the fact that since the commencement of the lockdown ordered by the Federal Government, some hoodlums may want to take advantage of the situation to perpetrate one crime or the other.





He said the police in Ogun would not have dignified the said letter with a response, saying, however, that the response became necessary for the purpose of allaying the fear of the people of the state.





The attention of Ogun state police command has been drawn to a letter purportedly written by a faceless group who called itself one million boys to the good people of Ogun State informing them of their intention to storm the state to carry out criminal activities.





The command wouldnt have dignified the said letter with a response, but for the purpose of allaying the fear of good people of the state, the response becomes necessary.





To start with, the Command is not perturbed by the mischievous letter because we have what it takes to deal decisively with any criminal gang who may want to infiltrate the state under any guise or nomenclature.





Since the commencement of the lockdown ordered by the Federal Government, the Command is not oblivious of the fact that some hoodlums may want to take advantage of the situation to perpetrate one crime or the other and that informed the decision of the Commissioner of police CP Kenneth Ebrimson to activate all the Commands tactical squads such as SARS, anti kidnapping unit, anti-cultists unit, PMF as well as other conventional policemen and put them on red alert with the mandate to deal ruthlessly with anyone or group that may want to make life difficult for law-abiding citizens of the state, Oyeyemi informed.





The police, therefore, assured the people of the Gateway State not to panic or be unnecessarily apprehensive.





Speaking further, the PPRO said, The command also wishes to warn those who are in the habit of sending fake news capable of causing fear in the minds of the people to desist from such a devilish act as the command will be tracing the source of such fake news with a view to dealing with the author in accordance with the existing law of the land.





Also, the commissioner of police is using this medium to send a note of warning to those who have formed the habit of taking laws into their hands by embarking on jungle justice to deal with suspected criminals, adding that anybody caught in such act will be seriously dealt with.





He explained that a case study at hand is that of four innocent young men that were mistaken for armed robbers who were arrested, beaten and tied both hands and leg by members of the public at Oke Ata area of Abeokuta on Thursday.





Oyeyemi disclosed that Save for the quick intervention of policemen attached to the state task force, the four young men would have been beaten to death, saying the Commissioner of police has ordered a full scale investigation into the circumstances surrounding the inhuman treatment meted on these young men, with a view to bringing those involved to justice.








Home > Archives (2006 on) > 2020 > Stalked by coronavirus, hounded by the state, losing jobs: Is nobody (...)

The post-pandemic media scene is grim, with fewer jobs and shrinking spaces to report without fear

by Kalpana Sharma

April 23, 2020

When journalists and journalism become the news, we need to be concerned.

In the course of the last 72 hours, three journalists in Kashmir have been slapped with cases, two under the draconian Unlawful Activities Prevention Act for posts on social media and the other for reporting "factually incorrect" news.

While such cases and intimidation by the police and the security forces are a daily hazard that journalists in Kashmir have had to contend with for decades, as this report in The Caravan documents, the FIR against one of the few women journalists in Kashmir is surely a first.

Masrat Zahra is an exceptionally talented young photojournalist whose work has appeared in Al Jazeera, The Washington Post, and elsewhere. She has broken new ground in a state where journalism has been almost exclusively a male domain. Today, apart from Zahra, there are several women journalists who stand out for their courage and for the quality of their work.

Charged under the UAPA for Facebook posts from 2008 and 2018, as reported by Scroll, and identified only as a "Facebook user" and not a journalist, the FIR against her is bizarre in more ways than one. Why she has been singled out, and that too for posts of photographs that have been published, will unravel in the days to come.

What is concerning, however, is the message that this sends out. By slapping cases on two experienced journalists apart from Zahra  Peerzada Ashiq from The Hindu and author and journalist Gowhar Geelani  are the powers-that-be in Kashmir, who take directions directly from New Delhi, reminding Kashmiri journalists that nothing has changed for them, even during this Covid-19 pandemic? That their freedom extends only as far as the rope that is held by the authorities, and that it can be yanked at any time without notice? Given this, journalists in mainland India need to respect, applaud and support their counterparts in Kashmir for continuing to report under these conditions.

The cases against Zahra, Ashiq and Geelani have reminded us of the ugly reality of Kashmir, a land of unfreedoms ruled by people who claim they are committed to democracy. There have been statements of support from the Editors Guild of India, Committee to Protect Journalists, Network of Women in Media, India, and others. Whether these will shift Delhis determination to keep the media in Kashmir on a tight leash remains to be seen.

Elsewhere, journalists have been in the news for another reason, getting infected by Covid-19 in the line of duty. When 53 out of 167 TV journalists in Mumbai tested positive for the virus, alarm bells rang in the journalist community. A pandemic cannot be reported working from home, or even from an office. It requires feet on the ground. And this is precisely what these journalists, many of them fairly young, and the cameramen from television channels were doing. But without proper advice on precautionary measures, directions that ought to have come from the seniors in their organisations, and the necessary equipment to stay safe, it was inevitable that some of them would pick up the infection.

What is tragic is the feeling amongst many of them that they lack support from their organisations. When one of the young journalists tested positive and informed her senior in the office, the message she got back was: Take care and dont step out for a few days, according to this report in The Wire.

Since the Mumbai testing of media professionals, other municipalities and governments, such as Delhi, have also made these provisions. But that is not good enough. Journalists need to know before they step out at such times the risks they face, and be informed of the support that will be available to them.

Indian media organisations generally lack any established protocols when their reporters are sent out in situations that could be hazardous for them, be it war, internal conflict, riots, or pandemics. Journalists are expected to wing it with no assurance that if they are affected physically, or psychologically, their organisations will step in.

An experienced reporter with a magazine wrote recently on social media, "While there is nothing new in the callousness shown by media houses for the well being of their reporters, this time, the consequences are going to be deadly. Despite my initial restlessness at not being allowed to go out to report, I am just so glad that my organisation stopped us from putting our lives at risk. We continue to write stories from our homes without compromising the quality or our health. Because lets face it: our organisations dont provide us with any safety gear, whether it be a war zone or health emergency." She adds, "Every time I have gone into unsafe terrain, it is another reporter or civil society contact who has had my back."

This should not be the case. If theres anything salutary that can emerge from this crisis, as far as the media is concerned, it ought to be the institution of safety protocols for journalists in all media organisations.

Organisations like the BBC, for instance, have safety protocols for journalists in dangerous situations and there is also mandatory training before a person is sent out. In the current crisis, according to a BBC staffer in London (who asked not to be named), "The intranet site has a Coronavirus help site prominently displayed and we have a whole Health and Safety and Risk management team who are involved." There is also a doctor on call.

While people have been given the option of working from home, many producers have to go to the office because they need to use technical equipment. "The producers, previously not entitled to take taxis into work...have been allowed to use taxis (which the company is paying for) to and from work and they have also secured free parking around the building in central London so that those who want to can drive. This keeps us safe from the crowds on trains and the underground...this is one of the best things they have done."

None of this is rocket science and is the very minimum that media houses can do for their employees who literally risk their lives to step out to record the news as it happens.

In the current economic crisis, given the precarious financial state of most media houses, perhaps asking even for this much is wishful thinking. In my last column, I noted the salary cuts that some journalists were being asked to take and predicted that job losses would follow. This has already begun to happen, with a slew of layoffs even in bigger media houses. The longer the pandemic persists, the more chances of job losses. This is happening not just in India, but also in other countries around the world, including Britain as this report by the BBC points out.

Meanwhile, journalism as we have known it will suffer. If the journalists who are eager and keen to go out and report are not assured that their interests will be looked after, or even that their jobs are secure, why would they take a chance? The problem for most journalists today is that quitting what they have in hand is not an option as there are few alternatives available. Freelancing remains precarious. It is poorly paid, and payments are slow to come if and when they do.

So, in a post-Covid future, what do we envisage? On the one hand, the state has tasted the power to make the media fall in line, either through direct intimidation as experienced by Kashmiri journalists for decades, or by putting pressure on owners to fall in line as we have seen in these last years in India.

India has fallen two places in the 2020 World Press Freedom Index, from 140 to 142 out of 180 countries. Perhaps, this means little to the ordinary reader or viewer. But it will become evident in the content they consume. As far as journalists are concerned, the post-Covid media scene is grim, with fewer jobs and shrinking spaces to report without fear.

(Courtesy: newslaundry.com)

Source URL: https://www.newslaundry.com/2020/04/23/stalked-by-coronavirus-hounded-by-the-state-losing-jobs-is-nobody-looking-out-for-indian-journalists
Groups and individuals are breaking the 2km Covid-19 restrictions in order to race quad bikes in the Wicklow Mountains.

The use of quad bikes or trail bikes is illegal within the Wicklow Mountains and can cause extensive damage to the environment.

The Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltact has warned that perpetrators will be prosecuted and any sightings of quad or trial bike use should be immediately reported to the Duty Ranger of Wicklow Mountains National Park.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the Department said that groups and individuals had been observed using quad and trial bikes in the Wicklow Mountains despite the current Covid-19 restrictions.

'They are travelling on fragile mountain habits, forest roads/tracks and on the public road. There is evidence that some have travelled some distance to get there. Many of these vehicles are travelling at speed, causing a safety concern to landowners, other road users and people taking exercise within their 2km radius from home,' the Department said.

The use of such vehicles within the Wicklow Mountains National Park and Special Area of Conservation is an illegal activity and extremely damaging to the fragile landscapes.

The Department added: 'These illegal activities cause the loss of vegetation and erosion which leads to gullying, scaring of the landscape and eventual landslides. The unregulated use of these vehicles is also a concern for wildlife and livestock, interfering with breeding ground nesting birds, and disturbing groups of animals and interfering with their natural behaviour. We remind all users of the Wicklow Mountains that the use of recreational off-road vehicles within the Special Area of Conservation is illegal under the European Communities Birds and Natural Habitats Directive and ask people to report such behaviour to the Duty Ranger of Wicklow Mountains National Park or the Gardai. This activity is a scourge to upland habitats. Reports will be followed up on and perpetrators prosecuted where possible. Given the current national crisis, we would hope that the precious resources of the State are not required to deal with such avoidable behaviour.'

The Duty Ranger of Wicklow Mountains National Park can be contacted at 087 980 3899.

Wicklow Uplands Council have added their voice to the criticism of the irresponsible use of quads and scramblers.

Brian Dunne, Coordinator of Wicklow Uplands Council, commented: 'These illegal activities can cause immense damage to the uplands' fragile ecosystem by destroying vegetation and the underlying peat leading to long-lasting environmental damage. Landowners can use quads to access hills for agricultural purposes but the recreational use of off-road vehicles is illegal. There are also organised trials events which are permitted but these are not taking place at present due to the Covid restrictions.'
- New York has been hit hard with COVID-19 pandemic, having recorded 277,445 infections and death toll standing at 21, 291

- Governor Cuomo has desperately been striving to combat the virus with no much success

- An old farmer from northeastern Kansas in New York wrote a letter of encouragement to the city governor and donate one N95 mask

- Cuomo was overwhelmed by the small donation, yet priceless, describing it as "humanity at its best"

Desperate times not always call for desperate moves but showcase rare humanity acts harbored in the hearts of the people.

This was clear when New York Governor Andrew Cuomo shared a heartwarming letter and donation he received from an old farmer in northeast Kansas.

READ ALSO: 23 people still missing: Senator Murkomen claims govt abandoned Chesogon rescue mission midway

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. Photo: Forbes.

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Mutahi Ngunyi amtambua Itumbi baada ya kupata jumbe zake za simu

According to a post by the governor, an aging man who is troubled with the sickly condition of his wife wrote to him and encouraged him to continue providing good leadership even as coronavirus pandemic continues to push the citizens to the corner.

More touching was the old man's donation of an N95 face mask which was attached to the letter delivered to Cuomo.

The octogenarian asked the governor to give the face mask to one nurse or a doctor involved in fighting the virus that has hit New York City very hard.

Governor Andrew Cuomo of New York City received a donation of one mask from an aging man with a sickly wife in northeastern Kansas.

Source: UGC

Cuomo was overwhelmed by the small donation, yet priceless describing it as "humanity at its best".

I received this letter from a farmer in northeast Kansas. His wife is ill and he is aging. He sent me 1 of 5 N95 masks he has from farming to pass on to a doctor or nurse in New York.

This is humanity at its best. I share his letter as inspiration," said the New York governor.

In the United States, New York city the hardest-hit with COVID-19 cases soaring to about 277,445 and death toll standing at 21, 291, according to the latest updates.

Overall, the US has 925,232 confirmed cases and 52,193 fatalities.

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GREENWICH  Firefighters quickly freed a driver trapped in a vehicle after it crashed down an embankment and into the water, officials said.

About 6:10 p.m., firefighters were dispatched to Glenville Road for a report of a car down an embankment with an occupant trapped inside.
Nagpur: Union minister Nitin Gadkari underwent angioplasty recently, a close aide told PTI on Saturday (April 25).

The Transport Minister underwent the procedure at a private hospital here on Monday (April 20), the aide said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP president J P Nadda were among those who called Gadkari and inquired about his health, he said.
24.04.2020 LISTEN

There appears to be An animal farm syndrome sinking and tight-embroiling the Akuffo Addos government as far as the political fight against the spread of the novel coronavirus is a concern. At a time the Akuffo-Addo government seems to be leaving no stone unturned in ensuring that social distancing, as well as a ban on public gatherings, are religiously followed as part of measures in fighting the global dreaded novel Coronavirus, some senior government officials are defying these directives with impunity.

Deputy Attorney General and Member of Parliament for Tempane, Joseph Dindiok Kpemka, yesterday defied this presidential directive and held a mini political rally at Bugri, a farming community in his constituency of the Upper East Region.

A video in a possession of this outlet captures the state Lawyer vigorously campaigning and explaining to party members of his efforts as a senior government official. It will be recalled that the government has placed and is seriously restricting public gatherings and vehemently advocating for social distancing to curb the spread of Covid-19. But the Deputy Attorney General who is seen as a big fish as far as the enactment of this presidential directive is concerned, boldly threw away his own sword to the dogs and engaged his party youth despite chances of spreading the dreaded viral disease.

The video revealed how badly the social distancing law was ignored as the participants are seen packed close to each other as the eloquent politician dazzles his political importance.

The over four minutes video equally captures the MP expressing fears of losing his seat as he is heard profusely trying his blood out to prove his importance as far as the New Patriotic Party is concerned.

Mr. Kpemka in a telephone interview with this reporter, however, stated that he was in the community to educate the youth on covid-19. He, however, could not tell if the gathering exceeded the 25 figures issued by the government.

A participant at the rally told this reporter that they met the MP to discuss urgent issues.

Interestingly, police in the district are seriously enforcing social distancing in public commercial vehicles as well as one motorbike, one rider policies.

Ghanas covid-19 total infections count stands at 1,279, with 10 deaths.
Three years ago, our community came together to seek and implement solutions to the multitude of problems associated with harmful plastic pollution in our environment.

Together with local leaders, including Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg, we joined plastics experts, public policy advisers and innovative entrepreneurs from around the world at an engaging summit, Breaking Down Plastic, held at the Charleston Gaillard Center. Our goal wasnt to discuss plastic pollution research but rather to demonstrate thought leadership in enacting collaborative solutions to the issues we were seeing and experiencing in the Lowcountry.

Today, we have so much to celebrate. In just three short years, more than 787,000 pieces of litter have been removed from South Carolinas beaches, forests and human habitats by nearly 1,200 individuals and organizations. These statistics stem from the Litter-free Digital Journal, a project in the South Carolina Aquarium Citizen Science app that was launched during Breaking Down Plastic.

Data from the Litter-free Digital Journal have already been shared by citizens and businesses to inform many of the 19 litter-reducing municipal ordinances throughout our state, including the new regulation regarding single-use plastics that recently went into effect for the city of Charleston. These community-driven local actions directly improve human and environmental health and help save the beloved wildlife native to our state. The journal has been leveraged by people to drive purposeful change in our communities, a true testament to the power of citizen science.

On this third anniversary of Breaking Down Plastic, our community is also celebrating the S.C. Aquariums 20th anniversary, the 50th anniversary of Earth Day and the 350th anniversary of the city of Charleston. Let us commemorate these worthy milestones by innovatively engaging in conservation action together in a way that respects our need to maintain a safe and socially responsible distance from others.

In honor of our commitment to ensure a healthy future for our state, the aquarium is thrilled to be on the march to a million in the Litter-free Digital Journal. As citizen scientists engaging in solo sweeps to respect quarantine protocols, we aim to document and remove the 1 millionth piece of litter from South Carolinas environment in 2020, an honorable feat we envision celebrating at a later date.

Local efforts have already contributed to our most productive February ever, with nearly 92,000 pieces of debris logged and properly disposed of. Although we are well on our way to recording the millionth debris item, we need the publics help to achieve this goal.

Conservation goes hand-in-hand with community and camaraderie, but we must now be creative and connect with each other in unconventional ways. As we practice social distancing in light of the COVID-19 outbreak, we are enlisting everyone to join our powerful digital community of citizen scientists in conserving South Carolinas waters, wildlife and wild places by embarking on Solo Sweeps during the month of April, in recognition of Earth Day.

Our hope is that Lowcountry residents will consider participating in a litter sweep as individuals (what were dubbing solo sweeps) and log their observations in our open-source digital database as part of our Earth Day initiative Solo Sweep project. Collectively, our efforts will continue to drive actionable solutions, and we will complete our march to a million by being #solotogether.

Download the South Carolina Aquarium Citizen Science app (in the App Store or Google Play) and become a member of our Litter-free Digital Journal project.

Whether participants incorporate this action as a solo sweep in home school or health routine while safely enjoying nature, or simply pick up and record a single item of litter while walking through the neighborhood, volunteers will be driving positive change for the benefit of everyone in our community.

As journalist Chai Jing stated, The strongest governments on Earth cannot clean up pollution by themselves. They must rely on each ordinary person, like you and me, on our choices, and on our will.

Together, the solution is in our hands.

Christi Hughes is conservation research program administrator at the South Carolina Aquarium in Charleston.
New Delhi: The strategically located Rohtang Pass, linking Lahaul and Spiti valleys in Himachal Pradesh, was thrown open to traffic by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) on Saturday, three weeks ahead of schedule, Army officials said.

The pass, located at an altitude of 13,500 ft on the eastern Pir Panjal Range of the Himalayas, was opened for traffic primarily to facilitate transportation of essential supplies to the remote areas in the region, they said.

The mountain pass connects the Kullu Valley with the Lahaul and Spiti valleys of Himachal Pradesh. The areas in and around Lahaul and Spiti valleys were facing shortage of essential commodities due to the ongoing nation-wide lockdown.

The snow clearance operation for the opening of Rohtang Pass is carried out every year as it remains snow-capped from mid November to mid May, isolating Lahaul and Spiti valley from rest of the country.

On April 11, the Himachal Pradesh approached the Border Roads Organisation to expedite the snow clearance to facilitate transportation of essential supplies to Lahaul Valley in wake of COVID-19.

"A convoy of vehicles carrying essential supplies and around 150 farmers went to Lahual valley on Saturday guided by BRO, marking opening of the Rohtang pass this year," the Army said in a statement.

"The news of Rohtang Pass being opened for traffic three weeks in advance as compared to previous year has brought relief amongst the local population. It will facilitate the central and state governments to bring much needed relief material and medical supplies for the local population," it said.

The BRO, which functions under administrative control of the Defence Ministry, maintains all strategic roads in the border areas across the country.

"The BRO inducted hi-tech machinery from both Manali and Khoksar side. Snow blizzards, freezing temperatures and frequent avalanches at Rahala Fall, Beas Nallah and Rani Nallah did delay the operations but the snow clearance teams kept on working relentlessly day and night with all COVID-19 precautions to provide relief to the residents of Lahaul valley," the Army said.
Empty freeways caused by the coronavirus economic slowdown have coincided with a sustained period of unusually clean air in Los Angeles. (Los Angeles Times)

To the editor: I am a high school junior in Los Angeles. Every school I have attended since kindergarten has celebrated Earth Day. My generation has grown up with a constant awareness of the imminent threat of climate change. We're used to asking for straws and paying for grocery bags. We've missed school on Fridays to protest at City Hall. ("Happy 50th birthday, Earth Day," editorial, April 22)

Right now, at a time when we cannot protest or bring our metal straws to brunch, we've seen the most dramatic change in our environment. We're all stuck in our homes, unable to spend our weekends crawling to the beach on the 405 Freeway, polluting the air on the way to polluting the ocean. Instead we entertain ourselves with neighborhood walks and by engaging with nature.

This Earth Day, with the planet's human inhabitants living in frustration and uncertainty, for once the Earth itself was at peace.

COVID-19 will not last forever, but we must ensure our planet will. Always remember the clear skies over Los Angeles in April 2020 and let it guide how we act when we start returning to normal. Remember the walks we took when there was nothing else to do. Remember the government's ability to spend on a large scale and hold lawmakers accountable the next time we ask for action on climate change.

We must never forget the disaster that COVID-19 has caused, but we must always remember how beautiful the sky looked and how clean the air was to breathe. We must remind our lawmakers of nature's unceasing role in our lives, with or without the threat of a pandemic.

Alexandra Cohen, Encino

..

To the editor: Fifty years ago, I was in high school studying "ecology" in Los Angeles. Air quality was a lot worse, but there was a lot of optimism that we could make things better. Today, not so much.

Sadly, the outrage over the horrendous damage done by pollution has reached equilibrium with the resistance to the "inconvenience" of preventing it. I think that will soon change.

Story continues

The disastrous consequences of climate change are increasing fast; I have faith that humans will rise to the challenge once enough pain and damage has occurred. That's why I now devote my energy to lobbying Congress, as a citizen, to take action.

Personally, I think that our best chance is to adopt a carbon fee-and-dividend program. With so many problems confronting our leaders, we must tell them that climate change is at the top of the list.

Carol Parker, Long Beach

..

To the editor: Thank you for the reminder the environment need not be a partisan issue. A Republican president created the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and signed into law the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act, and another Republican signed the 1990 update of the Clean Air Act into law.

I remember the fear we felt about acid rain and the ozone layer, and then the thrill as we watched the Earth heal after aerosols were banned. We are at a similar crossroads today.

As we glimpse the catastrophic future that we will have if we choose not to avert climate change, we would do well to remember the ozone crisis: how it seemed impossible to fix until it was not, and how it was solved not by personal actions of individuals but by legislation.

It did not destroy our economy, and it kept us from destroying this beautiful, fragile yet resilient planet.

Kelly Peterson, Los Angeles
RACINE  After six days of counting, recounting and retabulating those counts, the recount of the April 7 Racine Unified School District referendum concluded Friday afternoon: The referendum passed by just four votes.

The recount results show that the referendum passed with 16,715 votes in support of the measure and 16,711 votes in opposition.

The results are technically still unofficial until formally announced Saturday by the districts Board of Canvassers. But by the end of day Friday, district officials were celebrating the results.

We are pleased that the recount confirmed election day results, Superintendent Eric Gallien said in an emailed statement. I want to sincerely thank our community for your support. We are ready to get to work and put our long-range facilities plan into action. This plan will transform Racine Unified and impact every school and every student for years to come. Our teachers will finally be able to teach in 21st century learning environments with the tools necessary to support student success.

The April 7 referendum asked voters to allow the district to collect $1 billion beyond its revenue limit over the next 30 years. The initial results, announced April 13, showed the referendum passing by five votes, 16,748 in favor and 16,743 opposed. A recount, triggered by citizen petitions, commenced Saturday at Festival Hall.

Over the course of this week during the recount held at Festival Hall, some ballots cast on April 7 were discarded for not meeting Wisconsin Elections Commission criteria.

Its a relief. Its a big relief, RUSD Board President Brian OConnell said Friday at Festival Hall after the recount. I can only praise the people who put in the time to do in this recount. This is a big victory for the children of Racine Unified School District.

Board member John Heckenlively praised the work of Shannon Gordon, the districts chief operating officer, who worked to keep the recount as safe as possible and the tabulators who, put in a tremendous amount of work.

Petitioners who sought the recount quickly left Festival Hall without comment Friday.

A long day

The frustration was palpable on Friday at Festival Hall as the recount results were held up by the last two wards in the City of Racine, which took all day to rectify.

At the end of the day Thursday, the new count was 16,331 in favor of the referendum, compared to 16,414 against, with only Racine Wards 11 and 15 left to count. Both wards voted heavily in favor of the referendum so the results could not be called until they were recounted.

Unfortunately the total votes cast in the recount did not match the total number of votes recorded on April 13: Ward 15 was over by 11 votes and Ward 11 was under by 11 votes. Since the two wards voted at the same location, election officials believed some votes were accidentally moved between the two. The tabulation machines for those wards were brought in at about 11:30 a.m. to recount the ballots, sort out any rejected ballots that may have been accidentally added to the overall pile and reconcile the two counts.

Election officials believe the overcount in Ward 15 was due to some originals that were rejected by the machines, and thus had to be remade, were in the stack of recounted ballots along with their remakes. After running groups of ballots through the tabulation machine, the 11 extra ballots were identified and the count was reconciled.

In Ward 11, the hand count was short 11 ballots. The individual who conducted the hand count noticed that only one ballot with a write-in candidate was found when the original count on election day had had 12. That led election officials to assume the missing ballots may have been write-ins that were separated from the group.

Tabulation machines take digital scans of the fronts and backs of ballots whenever they are run through, so election officials combed through those scans to find the write-in ballots. The Wisconsin Election Commission advised that the write-ins should be included if they match the number of missing ballots.

Group advocates for calling off referendum

Midway through Fridays proceedings, representatives from Honest, Open, Transparent Government, which filed the petition for the recount, submitted a request that RUSD halt the recount and abandon the referendum altogether.

There have been far too many irregularities that have been imposed in response to the initial disruptive effect of the response to the Corona virus (sic) pandemic and an accurate representation of the will of the voters has become impossible, the email from HOT Government member Ken Yorgan read. This is a billion-dollar commitment that is being imposed on the RUSD public and taxpayers that is far too meaningful to simply be allowed to chance. The citizens of this region have a clear right to be truthfully informed and to have confidence in the voting process and the count. The current process, whether managed in good faith or not, simply offers no possibility for that to have happened.

RUSD spokesperson Stacy Tapp said that was not a legal option for the district at this point.

We are statutorily required to complete the recount process they requested, Tapp said.

Caitlin Sievers contributed to this report.

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Jeremy Clarkson has revealed the upcoming Grand Tour Madagascar special has been delayed after the shows executive producer contracted coronavirus.

Clarkson held a livestream with Andy Wilman to explain why the latest instalment of the Amazon Prime Video motoring show had not yet arrived.

The Madagascar special was filmed six months ago, Wilman said, and it will be several weeks before the episode is handed over to the streaming giant.

A message for Grand Tour enthusiasts pic.twitter.com/Yt4UWepmpY  Jeremy Clarkson (@JeremyClarkson) April 24, 2020

Wilman, who worked with Clarkson and his co-hosts Richard Hammond and James May on Top Gear, revealed he had been seriously ill with coronavirus, describing it as the worst thing I have ever had, ever.

He added: I was out for 10 days. The pair then discussed how much work goes into editing the final programme before giving it to Amazon.

Wilman said the special episodes require whittling 1,000 hours of filming down to the 90-minute finished product viewers see.

In our defence, most of that 1000 hours is you three talking, going on and on, Wilman said.

It takes about five weeks for all of that to process before the editor can even access it.

Then there are three more months of shaping it and then theres all the back and forth and thats even before Amazon get it and they have it for five weeks.

Clarkson asked when the episode would be ready, with Wilman saying they are in the final strokes of work on the episode and could be two to three weeks from giving it to Amazon.

Clarkson replied: Give it to Amazon in three weeks, so if you want to know when the next instalment of The Grand Tour is coming up, ask Amazon, not us.

It was announced last year The Grand Tour would focus on sweeping specials rather than being based in a studio.

The presenting trio visited Cambodia and Vietnam for the most recent episode, which began streaming in December.
The number of Pakistani doctors infected with the coronavirus has reached 160 with three deaths even as the protest by the medics against the lack of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) entered the ninth day on Saturday. Dr Muhammad Javed Iqbal, who contracted the virus over a week ago, died in Peshwar. Earlier, one doctor each from Gilgit-Biltistan and Karachi lost their lives due to COVID-19.

According to the Pakistan Medical Association, some 250 medics including 160 doctors have been infected with the coronavirus so far. The Grand Health Alliance of doctors and nurses' hunger camp outside the Punjab health department entered the ninth day for paying no attention to the medics falling victim to the deadly virus due to the non-availability of adequate protective medical kits.

We will continue holding the protest till the government meets our legitimate demands, Grand Health Alliance chairman Dr Salman Haseeb told PTI. Primarily, the alliance wants the government to take care of the doctors and other staff serving in the testing time of COVID-19 and provide them with a complete protective gear, he said, adding that the protest would continue throughout the month of Ramzan.

Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid alleged that the doctors and nurses under the banner of the Grand Health Alliance demand hefty financial incentives for the health practitioners irrespective of their duties. "The doctors who died of coronavirus in the line of duty should be given the status of Shaheed (martyred) and their families given financial benefit, Dr Haseeb said, adding that the alliance wants complete isolation of the infected doctors in either private hospitals or five-star hotels.

We also demand that the health department complete the screening of all doctors who are discharging duties for seven days at hospitals as a preventive measure during the epidemic, he added. On Saturday, the coronavirus cases crossed the 12,500 mark with 261 deaths in the country.
Prisoners set fire to mattresses and seized several floors of building

Prisoners staged a massive protest in an Argentinian prison in Buenos Aires, as the Reuters reports.

The riots initially began late on Thursday after prisoners learned that several people in the facility were infected with the virus. They demanded the release of prisoners with an increased risk of coronavirus infection.

The prisoners set fire to the mattresses and captured several floors of the building. About a dozen people climbed onto the roof demanding to save them from death.

We refuse to die in prison, read one poster hanging from the prison wall. On the other, the judges were charged with genocide and silence.

A witness quoted by Reuters heard sounds like gunshots and saw police helicopters flying over the prison, which, according to the Federal Penitentiary Service, can accommodate up to 1,683 prisoners.

According to the latest official data, 3,435 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 167 deaths were recorded in Argentina, which imposed strict quarantine in mid-March.

As we reported before, as of the morning of April 25, 8,125 people were infected with the coronavirus in Ukraine. Over the past day, 478 new cases of infection were recorded.
Representative image

Since March 25 all India's 228 national highways have been wearing a deserted look following the call to lockdown the nation to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Other state highways and arterial roads have also remained shut. This never-before phenomenon might have just helped India improve its forgettable record on road safety.

More on this later in the article but first here is a complete look on all the major news breaks in the automotive space during the week.

Lockdown may wipeout small players

While the Centres call for a nationwide lockdown is punching a hole of Rs 1,200 crore per day in the coffers of the auto component industry, smaller establishments are staring at a wipeout situation with every passing day.

Suppliers of raw materials such as plastic or metal from Tier 3 companies are worst hit due to the shutdown. This is a highly-fragmented segment involving several small players who are engaged in assembly parts.

Electric vehicle sales surge 20% in FY20

Electric vehicle sales in FY20 rose 20 percent to 1,56,000 units as demand for vehicles powered by conventional fuels nosedived.

According to data by Society of Electric Vehicle Manufacturers (SMEV), 1,52,000 electric two-wheelers, 3,400 electric passenger vehicles (ePVs) and 600 electric buses were sold during 2019-20.

BMW India head passes away

BMW Group India head Rudratej Singh breathed his last on April 20 after suffering a cardiac arrest.

Singh, 46, who was affectionately called 'Rudy', joined BMW in August 2019 after spending four years with Royal Enfield, rising to the post of global president.

Jaguar Land Rover to resume production from May 18

Tata Motors owned Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) on Thursday said it plans to gradually resume production from May 18, starting with manufacturing 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," JLR said in a statement.

Triumph launches Street Triple RS at Rs 11.13 lakh

Triumph Motorcycles India has finally launched the 2020 Street Triple RS in India. Due to the COVID-19 lockdown, the launch took place on the companys twitter handle in a series of posts.

The Street Triple RS was first unveiled in the UK last year. The 2020 Street Triple RS is not just a refresher. It got upgrades right from the engine, all the way through aesthetics and up to the electronics.

Auto dealers stare at uncertain times

Its been a month since more than 25,000 auto dealerships across the countrys downed shutters following a call for a lockdown made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the hope of arresting the spread of coronavirus.

Dealerships selling two-wheelers, cars and heavy trucks were barred from engaging in sales activities virtually overnight, bringing all physical activities such as buyers visit to the dealership or taking delivery of the vehicle, to a standstill.

Lockdown may have improved Indias abysmal record in road accidents

In 2018 a speeding tourist bus on the highway near the Chhatissgarh-Andhra Pradesh border overturned killing eight people and injuring 10. In February this year nine people lost their lives and 27 other were injured after the driver of a bus failed to negotiate a curve in the Udupi district of Karnataka leading at an accident.

At 1.51 lakh a year India recorded the highest number of deaths by any country caused due to road accidents in 2018, as per data shared by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. Indias share stood at 11 percent in the global statistic of 1.35 million in 2018.

While the Ministry is yet to share data for 2019, the data for 2020 must look dramatically different altogether. Following the nationwide lockdown which started on March 25 (March 22 in Maharashtra) there has been negligible vehicular movement across the country.

Buses, private vehicles, commercial cars, two and three-wheelers and trucks have been barred from coming onto the roads without sufficient reason. Expressways, national and state highways wear a deserted look at a time when they traditionally begin to get busy.

In several Tier 2 towns the district administration even stopped sales of petrol, diesel and CNG to vehicles that are not defined essential.

Factories, offices, construction work, services industry have remained shut for more than a month.

A back of the hand calculation suggests that by May 3 (when the lockdown is assumed to be lifted) India might see 16,500 fewer road accident-related deaths, which could be the biggest drop in a single year.

Since 2014 when 139,671 deaths were reported due to road accidents Indias poor road safety record has seen a steady climb.

The lockdown has coincided with the annual summer holidays (of April and May) when schools are shut and people generally prepare to visit a tourist place or their native village. As per the ministrys 2018 findings the month of May recorded the highest number of road accidents followed by January.

2019 witnessed a consolidation of the Ministry's efforts in the field of Road Safety as the Motor vehicle Amendment Bill 2019, amending the Motor Vehicle Act 1988, was eventually passed by both houses of Parliament in August.

The Motor Vehicle Amendment Act 2019 focuses on road safety and includes, among other things, stiff hike in penalties for traffic violations and electronic monitoring of the same, enhanced penalties for juvenile driving, cashless treatment during the golden hour, computerisation/automation of vehicle fitness and driving tests, recall of defective vehicles.

Not all the laws in the said Act have been implemented by all states with the chief being the penalties on traffic rule violation which many states say is very steep. The dilution of the MV Act has thus not arrested the statistic of road accidents in 2019 to the extent it was expected to.
China has dispatched a team to North Korea including medical experts to advise on North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, according to three people familiar with the situation.

The trip by the Chinese doctors and officials comes amid conflicting reports about the health of the North Korean leader. Reuters was unable to immediately determine what the trip by the Chinese team signaled in terms of Kims health.

A delegation led by a senior member of the Chinese Communist Partys International Liaison Department left Beijing for North Korea on Thursday, two of the people said. The department is the main Chinese body dealing with neighbouring North Korea.

Also Read: Kim Jong-uns heart care centre has imported machines, doctors trained abroad

The sources declined to be identified given the sensitivity of the matter.

The Liaison Department could not be reached by Reuters for comment late on Friday. Chinas foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment late on Friday.

Daily NK, a Seoul-based website, reported earlier this week that Kim was recovering after undergoing a cardiovascular procedure on April 12. It cited one unnamed source in North Korea.

Click here for the complete coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic

South Korean government officials and a Chinese official with the Liaison Department challenged subsequent reports suggesting that Kim was in grave danger after surgery. South Korean officials said they had detected no signs of unusual activity in North Korea.

On Thursday, US President Donald Trump also downplayed earlier reports that Kim was gravely ill. I think the report was incorrect, Trump told reporters, but he declined to say if he had been in touch with North Korean officials.

Also Read: Trump rejects incorrect reports on North Korean leader Kim Jong Uns health

On Friday, a South Korean source told Reuters their intelligence was that Kim was alive and would likely make an appearance soon. The person said he did not have any comment on Kims current condition or any Chinese involvement.

An official familiar with U.S. intelligence said that Kim was known to have health problems but they had no reason to conclude he was seriously ill or unable eventually to reappear in public.

A U.S. State department spokeswoman had no comment. U.S. Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, when asked about Kims health on Fox News after Trump spoke said, I dont have anything I can share with you tonight, but the American people should know were watching the situation very keenly.

North Korea is one of the worlds most isolated and secretive countries, and the health of its leaders is treated as a matter of state security. Reuters has not been able to independently confirm any details on Kims whereabouts or condition.

North Koreas state media last reported on Kims whereabouts when he presided over a meeting on April 11. State media did not report that he was in attendance at an event to mark the birthday of his grandfather, Kim Il Sung, on April 15, an important anniversary in North Korea.

Kim, believed to be 36, has disappeared from coverage in North Korean state media before. In 2014, he vanished for more than a month and North Korean state TV later showed him walking with a limp. Speculation about his health has been fanned by his heavy smoking, apparent weight gain since taking power and family history of cardiovascular problems.

When Kim Jong Uns father, Kim Jong Il, suffered a stroke in 2008, South Korean media reported at the time that Chinese doctors were involved in his treatment along with French physicians.

Last year, Chinese President Xi Jinping made the first state visit in 14 years by a Chinese leader to North Korea, an impoverished state that depends on Beijing for economic and diplomatic support.

China is North Koreas chief ally and the economic lifeline for a country hard-hit by U.N. sanctions, and has a keen interest in the stability of the country with which it shares a long, porous border.

Kim is a third-generation hereditary leader who came to power after his father Kim Jong Il died in 2011 from a heart attack. He has visited China four times since 2018.

Trump held unprecedented summits with Kim in 2018 and 2019 as part of a bid to persuade him to give up North Koreas nuclear arsenal.
She needed years of therapy to cope with the abandonment issues she suffered after her father walked out on her as a child.

But now Friends star Jennifer Aniston has reconciled with her dad John because of the coronavirus pandemic.

A source close to the 86-year-old, who is a veteran US soap star, told The Mail on Sunday: 'Jen forgave her father for walking out a long time ago. But their relationship has had its ups and downs.

'Jennifer didn't speak to him for ages. But since the coronavirus crisis she has been on the phone almost every day. And not just brief conversations. It's like she has realised life is very short and she wants her relationship with John to be the best it can be. He's thrilled that they have reconciled.'

Actress Jennifer Aniston with her father John Aniston at Jennifer Aniston Honored With Star On The Hollywood Walk Of Fame on February 22, 2012 in Hollywood, California

The rapprochement is particularly welcome as Jennifer  who is about to earn 2million from a Friends reunion  also had a strained relationship with her mother, Nancy, refusing to speak to her for 15 years after she published a tell-all book.

Greek-born John walked out on Nancy, a model, in November 1979, after 11 years of marriage. At the time their daughter was ten.

Jennifer, now 51, recalled: 'I went to a birthday party, and when I came back, my mother said, 'Your father's not going to be around here for a little while.'

'She didn't say he was gone for ever. I don't know if I blocked it, but I just remember sitting there, crying, not understanding that he was gone. I don't know what I did later that night or the next day. I don't remember anything other than it being odd that all of a sudden my father wasn't there. And he was gone for a while, about a year.'

Then he suddenly got back in touch. Jennifer recalled: 'He just called one day and said, 'Let's go see The Fantasticks.'

'So we had a little dinner and saw the show. After that, I started seeing him on weekends, and this new way of life unfolded.'

Jennifer added that her father 'was not a good communicator... but, as best he could, he explained and apologised, and it's enough. We've made up. There's still parts that are hard for me, but I'm an adult. I can't blame my parents any more.'

Jennifer famously fell out with her mother for writing a cash-in book shortly after she became a superstar in Friends.

Jennifer Aniston posted this image on her Instagram page of herself and father John

The actress refused to speak to her mother for 15 years and didn't even invite her to her 2000 marriage to Brad Pitt.

The pair had reconciled by the time of Nancy's death in 2016, but Jennifer recalled: 'She was a model and it was all about presentation and what she looked like and what I looked like.

'I did not [become] the model child she'd hoped for. This little girl just wanted to be loved by a mum who was too occupied with things that didn't quite matter. She was very critical of me.'

The source said Aniston's relationship with her father has been equally fraught: 'They have gone through long periods where Jen didn't talk to him. John's a proud man but not emotional. He's never understood how volatile Jen's emotions have been.

Nancy Aniston, estranged mother of Jennifer Aniston. Nancy is the author of "From Mother And Daughter To Friends: A Memoir" about her troubled relationship with Jennifer

'But since the coronavirus crisis she's been an amazing daughter. He says she's calling constantly to check on him. They obviously can't see each other but they have spoken more in the past few weeks than they ever have.'

John has starred on Days Of Our Lives since 1985  the same daytime soap opera that was incorporated into the plot of Friends.

The main cast members of the hit 1990s sitcom are to get back for a one-off, big-money televised celebration of their show once social distancing rules are relaxed.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Its been 56 long days, said Gov. Andrew Cuomo at his Saturday press conference.

But he said World War I went on for four years, and the Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918 for two years, so New Yorkers have to try to cope with the coronavirus mandates a bit longer.

I get it. Today is day 56," said Cuomo. Generations are called upon to deal with high levels of difficulty. We are called upon to deal with this crisis. The 1918 pandemic went on for two years; World War I went on for four years.

The statements were in reaction to the governor having been approached by people, including his daughter, who have said they cant take all the coronavirus (COVID-19) mandates that have forced people to stay home.

The Great Depression went on for four years. You want to talk about economic anxiety. You want to talk about people losing homes, [and] not being able to feed themselves. People living in camps. People living in cars, said Cuomo.

I get that 56 days is a long time, and I get that its the worst thing we have experienced in modern history. I get that. But just a little perspective ... Yes, in life things happen on an individual level and societal level. Things happen, and you have to deal with it. And its hard. But it makes us who we are, he added.

He said the 56 days of sheltering in place have likely lessened the amount of serious coronavirus infections by 100,000, which many studies predicted would be the case by now.

This is a terrible experience to go through, said Cuomo. Think of it this way, what you are doing is actually saving lives.

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

NEW TESTING CAPACITY

As New York coronavirus hospitalizations and deaths continued to decrease on Saturday, the governor said the state would dramatically increase testing capacity by utilizing approximately 5,000 independent pharmacies to collect samples.

The pharmacies will be responsible for collecting samples for diagnostic  not antibody  testing, Cuomo said at Saturdays press conference, adding that those samples will be sent to labs throughout the state to retrieve results.

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A newly elected Iranian lawmaker has denied his university degree is fake, admitting that the electoral commission in his province has expressed uncertainty about his diploma.

Sina Kamalkhani was elected to parliament in February and will represent Tafresh, in Irans Central Province, when the new legislature is sworn in within weeks.

Local news website Khabar Online says Kamalkhani has not explained what sort of uncertainty surrounds his educational background but has said he is in correspondence with the Guardian Council, a watchdog which vets all election candidates in the Islamic Republic.

A provincial official had earlier said the Guardian Council has found a problem with Kamalkhanis educational degree and officials are awaiting the watchdogs final decision on the issue.

An electoral commission official has also disclosed that the Education Ministry sent a letter attesting to the invalidity of his diploma.

Kamalkhani who is 32 years old is one of many younger candidates who swept into victory in the elections after the hardliner Guardian Council disqualified hundreds of other candidates.

He claims to have an MA degree in sociology.

In years past the issue of Islamic Republic officials using fake degrees or claiming to have diplomas they never received has periodically ignited scandals.

During the presidency of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad his interior minister Ali Kordan was impeached (2008) by parliament for presenting a fake degree.
It has been a month since India was put under lockdown to curb the spread of the coronavirus. Now, the country is under the second phase of the lockdown till May 3. India's tally of positive cases has crossed the 24,000-mark. As India's toll rises above 750, states have ramped up testing even though a mass shortage of testing kits still prevails. Migrant workers still face a shortage of money, food and struggle to survive even as they try to make their way home. Others are scrambling to get essential supplies. Here's how the country fared the lockdown, in pictures.
A 60-year-old man has been jailed for four months for 'weaponised coughing' in a shopper's face.

Gary Saunders, of Southsea, Hampshire, was arrested after the incident inside the Cornucopia corner shop near his home on April 14.

He was sentenced at Portsmouth Magistrates' Court after pleading guilty to common assault.

Gary Saunders, pictured, admitted 'weaponising' a cough during a row at his local corner shop in Southsea, Hampshire. Saunders, 60, was jailed for four months yesterday at Portsmouth Magistrates' Court

The incident took place at the Cornucopia store in Southsea, Hampshire on April 14

A Hampshire police spokesman said: 'The 60-year-old entered the store, initially queuing two metres behind his victim, who was being served at the till.

'Saunders then stepped closer, with the man in front of him asking him to move back again.

'Saunders became abusive towards the man, threatening him before deliberately aiming an exaggerated cough at his face.'

Pc Mark Pilsworth said: 'Coughing in anyone's face is disgusting, but to weaponise coughing at a time like this is thoroughly despicable and will not be tolerated.

'Saunders' actions caused unnecessary concern for his victim, when he had simply been asked to ensure he was not getting too close.

'I hope this sentence serves as a warning to everyone that we will take action if you choose to behave in this manner.'

Meanwhile, a 23-year-old man who said he had coronavirus after spitting at a police officer has pleaded guilty to common assault.

William Cawley, 23, from Uxbridge, west London is awaiting sentence after he admitted spitting at a bus driver and a police officer on April 20

William Cawley spat at a bus driver when he was told to enter through the correct door at Uxbridge bus station in west London at 5pm on Monday April 20, the Metropolitan Police said.

Police gave chase and he was detained in Cocks Yard, arrested on suspicion of common assault and taken into custody, where he spat at an officer and made threats of violence, including saying he had Covid-19.

He was further arrested on suspicion of common assault on an emergency worker.

Cawley, from Uxbridge, appeared at the town's Magistrates' Court on Wednesday, where he pleaded guilty to two counts of common assault.

Detective Chief Inspector Fiona Martin, of Roads and Transport Policing, said: 'Spitting at someone is a disgusting thing to do in normal circumstances but, at this uncertain time of Covid-19, it is offensive, reprehensible and dangerous.

'Key workers such as bus drivers are essential to keeping London moving and they are currently doing this under very difficult circumstances.

'They, alongside our officers who are all working hard as ever to keep London safe, do not come to work to be spat at.

'I hope the fact that Cawley has been remanded until sentencing shows that this kind of behaviour will not be tolerated and will be dealt with great severity at all times.'

Cawley was remanded to appear at the same court for sentencing on Wednesday April 29.
April 25 : Actor Vicky Kaushal on Thursday slammed reports that he was caught by the city police after he allegedly broke the lockdown and stepped out of his house.

There were rumours that the "Uri: The Surgical Strike" star left his house to meet another Bollywood actor but was pulled over by the cops and fined.

Tagging Mumbai Police, Vicky took to Twitter and urged people not to pay attention to hearsay.

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

"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," the actor wrote.

Since March 25, India has been under lockdown with around 1.3 billion people asked to stay home in view of the coronavirus outbreak, which has infected over 21,000 people and claimed 686 lives in the country.

Vicky Kaushals building was recently partially sealed after an 11-year-old resident tested positive for the novel coronavirus. The actor has now shared a video which shows the residents welcoming a young girl and a woman in the compound with a huge round of applause. It seems the two have returned after winning their battle against the virus.

The video shows the two entering the building compound with their suitcases and look surprised to see people clapping for them. Sharing the video, Vicky wrote, Like a ray of sunshine on a gloomy day, our little warrior comes back Home! #WelcomeBackChamp.

Meanwhile on the work front, Kaushal will next portray the freedom fighter Udham Singh, who assassinated Michael O'Dwyer, in a biopic directed by Shoojit Sircar, after which he will star as the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in Takht, a historical drama directed by Johar. He has also committed to Ashwatthama and a biopic of the army officer Sam Manekshaw.
Diane Kruger and boyfriend Norman Reedus, 51, have been making the most of their time in lockdown in Los Angeles with their one-year-old daughter.

But the 43-year-old actress happily escaped the confines of her home on Friday afternoon to go on a frozen yogurt run with Reedus.

Kruger donned a blue face mask as she scurried back to the couple's parked vehicle with two servings of yogurt in hand.

Yogurt run: Diane Kruger happily escaped the confines of her home on Friday afternoon to go on a frozen yogurt run with boyfriend Norman Reedus

She concealed her icy blue peepers behind a pair of cateye sunglasses and pulled her blonde tresses back into a half-up, half-down hairdo.

Diane - who welcomed her daughter in November of 2018 - flaunted her slender frame in a simple white tee tucked into a pair of flaming red high waisted shorts.

The National Treasure star rounded out her ensemble by slipping her manicured feet into a pair of white sandals with rivet detailing on the straps.

Though Norman was not pictured with Kruger during the couple's confectionery pit stop, Diane has shared plenty of pictures of herself and her boyfriend of nearly four-years on Instagram.

On Monday, she posted a funny snap in which she is seen with her head in the jaws of a fake shark as Reedus, mouth open in imitation of the shark, is poised to take a chunk out of the side of her head.

Safety first: Kruger donned a blue face mask as she scurried back to the couple's parked vehicle with two servings of yogurt in hand

'That shark is NOT social distancing but I DO like getting nibbled at from my  @bigbaldhead,' captioned Kruger.

Diane flaunted the pair's affinity for ice cream last week, when she posted a cheeky picture of herself and Reedus enjoying some cones.

'Latex ice cream car day date,' joked Troy actress, who held onto her cone with a purple disposable glove, while Norman covered his mouth with his.

The couple - who have been together since 2016 - welcomed their daughter in November of 2018 and have yet to publicly disclose her name.

Playful: On Monday, she posted a funny snap in which she is seen with her head in the jaws of a fake shark as Reedus, mouth open in imitation of the shark, is poised to take a chunk out of the side of her head

Making it work: 'Latex ice cream car day date,' joked Troy actress, who held onto her cone with a purple disposable glove, while Norman covered his mouth with his; the pair pictured on Diane's Instagram on April 15

Even though Kruger is fiercely protective over the little girl, that did not prevent the mommy-daughter duo from venturing out into the sunlight on Thursday afternoon.

Diane and her daughter enjoyed themselves - despite the day's blistering heat - and remained socially distanced from fellow patrons present at the park.

Earlier this month, Kruger gave fans a glimpse of her baby girl's back in a snapshot uploaded to her Instagram.

The photo showed Diane bending down next to the child as they marveled at a myriad of blossoming purple and pink flowers.

Reflecting: 'Even in times like this I must show her to stop and smell the roses (I mean obviously not a rose but whatever this is, ha) ,' wrote the actress, in reference to the stress caused by COVID-19; photo of Diane and her daughter shared to Instagram on April 3

'Even in times like this I must show her to stop and smell the roses (I mean obviously not a rose but whatever this is, ha) ,' wrote the actress, in reference to the stress caused by COVID-19.

Diane recently spoke about her prior indifference towards motherhood during an interview with French magazine Madame Figaro in March.

'For a long time, the desire for a child didnt preoccupy me,' she said. 'I had my ways. I was fine without one. In short, I didnt feel absolutely ready.'

'Life ensured my daughter arrived at the right time. It was a surprise, and she is beautiful.'

Strong love: Diane and Norman met back in 2015 during the filming of their drama film Sky. They would go public with their relationship in 2016; the pair pictured in April of 2016

Diane and Norman met back in 2015 during the filming of their drama film Sky. They would go public with their relationship in 2016.

Diane was previously married to French actor Guillaume Canet, 47, who is now husband to Academy Award-winning actress Marion Cotillard, 44.

Norman has a 20-year-old son named Mingus, 20, from his relationship with supermodel Helena Christensen, 51.
Anna Payne, 32, ran in 2018 for the position of auditor in Middletown Township, Bucks County. She now serves as executive assistant to the Bucks County Commissioners and a Middletown Township supervisor. Read more

When whispers of the COVID-19 crisis began to circulate in Philadelphia in late February and early March, widespread fear gripped the local cystic fibrosis (CF) community. Born with a genetic defect that doesnt allow appropriate regulation of salt and water, they are burdened with extra mucus, fibrosis and chronic bacteria in their lungs.

These patients are familiar with brutal lung infections and long hospitalizations. With underlying lung disease, coronavirus was thought to potentially be a death sentence for many of the 30,000 patients in the United States. Few believed the community would get through this unscathed.

Now, as we approach the peak in cases in many parts of the country, we have gotten a sense for the impact this virus has had, and to the amazement of many providers, the effect on this community has been minimal. Michael Boyle, head of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, noted on April 16 that there were only 14 known cases in CF patients in the country, few hospitalizations, and only one death. He also said that two patients with very low lung function, less than 25%, survived their COVID-19 illness with a full recover.

Locally, in Philadelphia, there has not been a single positive case in a patient with CF at the two centers, at Jefferson/St. Christophers and the University of Pennsylvania.

 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.

Some may have had the infection and not been tested, yes, but these early statistics point to a vast success on behalf of this community. Most of the credit, likely, belongs to the patients. They did not have the attitude of If I get corona, I get corona, as one young defiant party-goer in Florida declared. These patients are used to very strict isolation measures, so many self-isolated early in the pandemic, way ahead of any official recommendations. They are also used to fastidious hand-washing, and wearing a mask is nothing new.

One of these CF patients is Anna Payne, executive assistant to the Bucks County Commissioners and a Middletown Township supervisor. She said, I know people are struggling with social distancing, but hopefully they can look to the CF community for hope and inspiration. We know its not easy or comfortable, but if we can make it through we can save lives.

The self-isolation certainly helped, but the vast success of this population in avoiding this lethal virus may not be just from distancing measures. Other things may have played a part, such as their generally younger age, their focus on hydration and appropriate sleep, or their extremely low rates of tobacco use. At the immune level, the chronic bacteria that live in their lungs may actually be protective, guarding its territory and not letting other pathogens in. Because they have been exposed to many bacteria and viruses throughout their lifetime, the antibodies and other white blood cells they built up in the blood over many years may be helpful in this case.

Now, having isolated themselves for several weeks longer than the general population, the question they are asking is when it will be safe for them to return to society, to work, to a normal life. Ron Rubenstein, professor of pediatrics and director of the CHOP/UPenn CF Center, said there are just too many unknowns now to give an accurate answer. The infection rate of the general population is just not known; neither is the antibody status. A vaccine would be the best, but those have to be proven to be both effective and safe, which is going to take time.

Until then, CF patients such as Anna Payne are making the best of it. Payne said, Infection control will continue to be a part of my life long after this is over, but, hopefully, as a society that wont have to be the case.

Michael J. Stephen is an associate professor of medicine and director of the Adult Cystic Fibrosis Center at Jefferson Health.
Photo: (Photo : pixabay.com)

Three individuals, including parents, face charges following the shooting death of the 4-year-old Kastari "Star" Nunez on Thursday, Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner announced.

At the time of the shooting

According to authorities, Star was shot inside a home along 2900 block of Secane Drive. Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small also said that when officers arrived at the home, they found a blood trail near the front door of the home.

The child was brought by family members to Jefferson-Torresdale Hospital with a gunshot wound in the abdomen, late Monday night. However, the child was pronounced dead, early Tuesday, just minutes after arriving in the hospital.

It was the hospital that called 911 regarding what happened to the child.

After the shooting, investigators revealed that there are four individuals, including the child's parents, who were in the home at the time of the shooting. During an inspection, a .357 revolver was recovered from the living room with five live rounds and one spent cartridge casing.

Facing multiple charges

In a statement, Krasner said that his office charged both parents, along with a third individual, in the completely preventable death of the child.

Star's parents, Alhakim Nunez and Iris Rodriguez, both 29, were charged with involuntary manslaughter, endangering the welfare of a child, corruption of minors, and obstruction of Justice. Nunez also faces additional charges including possession of a weapon by a convicted felony.

Both parents remained jailed on Thursday - Nunez on $1,000,000, while Rodriguez on $500,000 bail.

Another individual, by the name of Ashley Gushue, 31, was held on $100,000 bail and was charged with unsworn falsification to authorities, tampering with evidence, and obstruction of justice.

During further inspection

Police investigations uncovered that at the time of the shooting, Nunez was conducting a drug deal upstairs, while Gushue was in the room with the child.

During preliminary investigation, authorities determined that it was very unlikely that the child shot herself. As of now, the police are still trying to find out who pulled the trigger.

The Homicide Unit of the Philadelphia Police is leading the investigation to Star's case.

Justice for the young girl

Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw expressed his regret towards Star's life, mentioning that the mishandling of a gun had led to the child's death.

"The loss of young life is especially tragic, particularly when it is the result of the irresponsible handling of a firearm," Outlaw added.

Krasner also expressed his gratitude to the people working behind the vigorous and active investigations of the horrendous incident.

Krasner said in a statement that they too are working to make sure that justice will be served in memory of a child who was lost too soon. The DA's office has also stated that they are working hard to know all the facts surrounding the case. He also extended his thanks to all of the dedicated officers who worked in investigating the case.

An angel statue and a flower were placed outside the family's home, in memory of the young girl.
By Douglas Busvine

BERLIN (Reuters) - A European technology platform to support smartphone apps that can help trace people at risk of infection by the new coronavirus is gaining support from governments, one of its prime movers said on Friday.

Seven countries have either formally supported the Pan-European Privacy Preserving Proximity Tracing (PEPP-PT https://www.pepp-pt.org) initiative or tasked one of its members with developing a national app, German tech entrepreneur Chris Boos told Reuters.

PEPP-PT has emerged as a leading proponent of the use of Bluetooth short-range communications between personal devices as a proxy for measuring the risk that a person infected with coronavirus can pass it on.

"A lot of larger countries have dedicated their app teams to build on top of what we're supplying," Boos, a co-initiator of PEPP-PT and founder of business automation startup Arago, said in an interview.

He listed Austria, Germany, France, Italy, Malta, Spain and Switzerland, adding that another 40 countries had registered and were in the process of being brought onboard.

More than 200 scientists and technologists are collaborating on PEPP-PT, conceived as the backbone for national apps that would comply with Europe's strict privacy rules and be able to "talk" to each other across borders.

Technologists are rushing to devise digital methods to fight a disease that has infected more than 2 million people worldwide, 150,000 of whom have died.

Automating the assessment of who is at risk and telling them to see a doctor, get tested or self isolate, is seen by advocates as a way to speed up a painstaking task that typically entails phone calls and door knocks.

DATA PRIVACY

The approach is based on work https://science.sciencemag.org/content/early/2020/04/09/science.abb6936 by researchers at Oxford University's Big Data Institute who argue that if 60% of a population uses such an app that would be enough to suppress the pandemic.

Story continues

This would be tough to reach if apps are voluntary. But even with lower takeup one infection can be prevented by every 1 or 2 people using an app, Oxford's Christophe Fraser told a separate video briefing.

A schism has however opened up among technologists around issues of data privacy, with some favouring decentralized approaches that do not host sensitive data on a main server over more centralized systems.

Boos said PEPP-PT could work in either setting. "Both models have their pros and cons ... A country has to pick which system it needs."

Italy has backed a contact tracing app developed by Milan startup Bending Spoons, a member of PEPP-PT, while Germany plans to roll out an app under development by the Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute, another participant.

In France, the INRIA digital research institute is also working to develop an app based on PEPP-PT. "We are fully committed to make this pan-European initiative a success," said INRIA head Bruno Sportisse.

PEPP-PT has faced criticism from supporters of a decentralized protocol called DP-3T https://github.com/DP-3T/documents/blob/master/DP3T%20White%20Paper.pdf, with early backer Marcel Salathe of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne publicly dissociating himself from it on Friday.

Boos said DP-3T still had a role to play. He also responded to criticism that PEPP-PT was too secretive, promising to publish its documentation for public review on Friday.

Friday's briefing on video conferencing app Zoom was hacked by someone who posted racist comments. The case of so-called Zoom-bombing, Boos conceded, was a reminder of the need to make sure the PEPP-PT platform safe and secure.

(Reporting by Douglas Busvine; Editing by David Holmes)
Bhadarwah: Security forces have busted a terrorist hideout in Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir and recovered a huge cache of arms and ammunition, a senior police officer said.

Doda Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP)Mumtaz Ahmed said that the hideout in Gouria-Gundana forest in Doda area was unearthed on Friday evening during a joint search operation carried out by District Police and troops of 10 Rashtriya Rifles on a specific information.

The seized arms and ammunition included two AK-47 assault guns, 2 AK Magazines, 1 Chinese pistol, 580 AK rounds, 3 Chinese hand grenades and one pistol magazine, SSP added.

The police has registered a case under 13 Unlawful Activities Act and Arms Act at Police Station Doda.




The Canadian government said Friday that one million KN95 masks imported from China did not meet its strict standards and so could not be distributed to frontline health workers amid the coronavirus pandemic.







The Public Health Agency of Canada "has identified approximately 1 million KN95 masks as non-compliant with specifications for healthcare settings," a spokesman told AFP.







"These items were not distributed to provinces and territories for frontline health care response, and are being subsequently assessed for use in non-healthcare settings," he said.







Chinese model KN95 masks are similar to N95 masks, as well as the FFP2 model used in Europe.







"Much of the world's supply is manufactured in China and moving materials out of that country is highly complex," said Public Services and Procurement Minister Anita Anand.







The relationship between Ottawa and Beijing has been on the rocks ever since the arrest of Meng Wanzhou, an executive of Chinese telecoms giant Huawei, in December 2018 in Vancouver.







Millions of other respirators and N95 masks are currently being scrutinized by the agency, Anand said.







Meanwhile domestic production of masks and other medical supplies "is ramping up," with contracts signed with three more Canadian companies this week to produce 16 million "medical face shields."







General Motors said in a statement it would start producing one million masks per month for the Canadian government at its Oshawa assembly plant, which was shuttered in December 2019.







The head of the union there, Jerry Dias, said he was "thrilled" that 50 employees "will be recalled" to make the masks. Some 2,000 auto workers lost their jobs when the plant was closed.







In early April, Canada received deliveries of more than 10 million masks and announced total orders for more than 60 million more N95 masks. (AFP)


A man in his 30s is in hospital with serious injuries injuries after being assaulted in Carrickfergus on Friday night.

The incident took place in the Blackthorn Park area and was reported to police shortly before 10.25pm.

It was reported that a man in his 30s had been assaulted in the area and he was taken to hospital for his injuries that are described as serious.

Detective Sergeant Crothers appealed for anyone with information to come forward.

Enquiries are continuing and we would appeal to anyone who witnessed the assault or has any information in relation to the incident, to contact detectives on 101 quoting reference number 2206 24/04/20," he said.

"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.
Thiruvananthapuram, April 25 : Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday advised all shops and establishments that have now been allowed to open that they should first clean and disinfect the place before opening them to the public.

Vijayan's response came after he chaired the daily Covid-19 round-up meeting today. Responding to the new Central guidelines that came late last night, the Chief Minister said whenever the state comes out with its order, "there will be no ambiguity, though the Central guidelines are very clear".

"My suggestion is maybe on the first and second day, all such shops and their vicinity should be cleaned and disinfectant. Once that's done, it would be best to restart normal business," said Vijayan.

"Kerala's position is slightly different from other states as there is practically no divide between villages and cities here. So, shops and establishments, barring single and multi-brand malls can open. But all the guidelines and protocols such as wearing masks and maintaining social distancing have to be maintained. The staff strength should be 50 per cent of the normal times," said Vijayan.

Earlier in the day, Kerala welcomed the fresh relaxation of lockdown guidelines by the Centre that will allow the opening of neighbourhood shops. State Minister for Industries E.P. Jayarajan said the state will do everything required to not let the coronavirus outbreak spread.

"We welcome this new guideline, but we will come out with how this will be made applicable in our state. We just cannot afford to relax," said Jayarajan.

According to the new order by the Centre, only those shops will be opened that are registered under the Shops and Establishment Act of the respective states and UTs, including shops in residential complexes and market complexes, except shops in multi-brand and single brand malls.

Kerala at present is divided into red and orange zones, with four districts -- Kannur, Kasargode, Kozhikode and Malappuram -- in the red zone, where strict controls are in place and the remaining 10 districts coming under the orange zones.

In Kerala there are over 80 hotspots and the new guidelines rule out any relaxation there, said Vijayan.
Kenya's living in major cities in the countries are living in fears of a total lockdown following the daily surging numbers of corona virus pandemic that has had dire effects globally.

Counties of Nairobi, tourism hub Mombasa, kilifi and Kwale are currently under movement cessation after recording more cases of covid 19.

Currently Nairobi County is leading with more cases followed by Mombasa County; locals are in fears of a possible total lockdown as government put more strict measure to curb further spread of the deadly virus.

Alexander Nguma a resident of Nyali area of Mombasa which is among affected areas, he says imported cases of infection in to the country has brought about this disaster and his life in the society has changed drastically as he struggles to make ends meet every day.

He says he is aware that the virus moves within people he interacts with every day which is very dangerous as the disease is invisible unless someone get tested.

this disease is a threat to our lives, if only the government can follow up identify those people who traveled into the country for the past three months, test them and isolate them together with there family that's could really help, we are on a dusk to dawn curfew but that's seem not to be successful because we work during the day and we are not sure if the take the virus home during night hours, we are not safe at all.' Said Alexander.

He said government's directives of compulsory wearing facemasks and keeping one meter social distance is effective but few individuals violating it could be the reason of the surging cases, which could make government impose a total lockdown into the county.

I think those officials tasked to carry out testing are lagging behind, we have not seen them in this area as it was announced with more cases, if the lockdown is announced we don't know what to do, we have families depend on us, we have house rent to pay, where will we get the money, he added.

Bernard Luwali a motorcycle rider, a business famously known as bodaboda in Kenya, says he no longer gets more passengers as usual due to fears of contracting the virus.

Bernard said if government will reach a point of imposing a total lockdown in the county, then it should also put up strategies of distributing relief food to the needy families first.

I will not oppose a total lockdown even if it is for four months, but government should give us enough food, we are no longer afraid of corona virus but what we fear most is hunger, our business is affected, we don't get much money like before.'' Said Bernerd.

Government has started mass testing in targeted areas including at the Kenya ports authorities in Mombasa, where results shows 24 staff infected with the disease, and as from 23rd April Mombasa county had 79 positive cases, Kenya's capital Nairobi with 207.

Bernard says, there are likelihood that some of the workers at the Mombasa port which is now the countries covid 19 hot spot, could have aided in spread of the disease before actions were taken.

we suspect those truck drivers working at the Kenya port authority to be spreading this disease, some of them are staying within us and we are even afraid of getting close and socialize with them, some were chased away when were chewing khart at a certain shop nearby,'' added Bernard.

But as the number of infection in the count rose, spotlight has been cast in the tourism hub city of Mombasa as Mombasa county governor Ali Hassan Joho called on the government to impose more stringiest measures to contain the spread of the virus that is seen to endanger more lives of locals is actions not take on time.

it is high time we need to discus lockdown, there is no two ways, people are complaining about economic challenges but am worried on matters of health, we will not be able to recover my friend, you can renegotiate you loan terms, your mortgage terms, and everybody in the world understand the situation today, but we need you to be alive and well, to be able to come back to life and work for what you have lost over a short period of time,'' said governor Joho.

Kenya's interior principal secretary Karanja Kibicho outlined heavier penalty for the affected areas if residents continue flouting government directives stipulated to curb corona virus pandemic.

He further said the directives set by president Uhuru Kenyatta on cessation of movement and curfew were being closely monitored and government was particularly concerned about how big number of people blatantly breaking rules.

we are mapping out hotspots estates where we are thinking of imposing total lockdown so that we isolate them from areas where the situation is not bad, if we continue to behave recklessly as it has been the case in the last two weeks the government will have no option but to ban all movements in the affected areas he said Kibicho.

The cessation of movement within counties most affected with the disease and dusk to dawn curfew imposed by government, has been crippled with a lot of challenges as locals say some police officers have been receiving bribes from residents so as to allow then cross over to other counties thus aid in the spread of the virus.

Mombasa county commander Gilbert Kitiyo said locals have been using shortcuts and endangering their lives but more measures will work to contain this disease.

the curfew we are seeing or the cessation of movement which is in place is not a security one, the security one you can afford by sneaking, but this one of a pandemic you will be endangering yourself, your family and everybody else, that's why we must take it up on our selves that we should not allow afew people to jeopardize our health,'' Said Kitiyo.

Julius Musyimi a health officer at North shore medical center in Mombasa Kenya, said there is a big challenge from locals who are not adhering to ministry of health directives such as maintaining personal hygiene, keeping one meter social distance and wearing of face mask, thus aid in spread of covid 19.

Musyimi further warned on the misinformation from the public that the disease can be treated by locally, which he says is very dangerous.

the public need to understand that government advisories are done by professionals and people who have gone through the systems to advice the masses, and when they give out the advisories it's important people adhere to these advisories, especially when they say you stay at home, you stay at home and stay safe, some of the information spread in the social media about treatment is misleading,'' said doctor Julius.

For now locals are waiting to see if government will announce other tough measures to curb spread of the disease as positive cases keep on rising daily in the country and for those flouting government directives are for now put on 14 days mandatory quarantine at their own cost if nabbed on the wrong side.

Up to 25th April Kenya had recorded 336 corona virus cases, 14 deaths and 94 cases of recoveries.
By Express News Service

CHENNAI: All active and effective steps have been taken to curb domestic violence against women during the lockdown imposed in view of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Tamil Nadu government on Friday told a special bench of the Madras High Court.

When the writ miscellaneous petition from advocate Sudha Ramalingam came up for further hearing on Friday, the Health Department told the bench of Justices M Sathyanarayanan and M Nirmal Kumar that, to rescue women in distress due to domestic abuse, a response system had recently been put in place. As per this system, Anganwadi workers were placed as co-ordinators to receive and escalate calls of domestic abuse to their immediate superior officials.

They were closely working with the women in the community at grass root-level and had been provided with smartphones (numbers are available on the ICDS website www.icds.in.nic.in).

As many as 111 counsellors had been temporarily designated as protection officers to address cases of violence expeditiously. The mobile numbers of all such officers (one in every district) had been made publicly available. The contact details of the one-stop centres at every district had also been made publicly available.

Immediate arrangement for the transport of the protection officers and other officials to respond to complaints of domestic violence has been made and women in distress can be rescued on time and be shifted to shelters when necessary, the counter affidavit filed in this connection said.

According to the counter affidavit, 65 cases of women in distress had been handled by one-stop centres across the State since March 25, 2020. As of April 21, 2020, protection officers had rendered service in 92 cases. In most of these cases, the women-only wanted the protection officer to warn the abuser of the legal consequences of their actions, seeking counselling for the abuser and themselves.

None opted for immediate remedy through the courts due to the lockdown, fear of infection and mobility issues. During the lockdown, up to April 9, as many as 1,409 calls had been received on the 181 womens helpline. A majority of these calls were blank calls or related to general matters that did not require the departments intervention, the counter added.

The counter added that the police department has set up tele-counselling centres with the help of 10 psycho-social counsellors to render all types of counselling to women and children in the jurisdiction of the Greater Chennai Police range.

The emergency call number 112 has been linked to the KAVALAN SOS APP and call centres with police helpline number 100 are functioning effectively in the State Police Master Control Room and the complaints are attended to promptly, nodal officers for Chennai city, in the rank of inspectors, have been appointed by the police department to deal with the cases.

District rescue teams have been formed to address the issues of violence against women, the counter added.
A 30-year-old man tested positive for coronavirus in Chandigarh on Saturday, days after hosting a party at his home here, forcing UT Administrator V P Singh Badnore to direct police to initiate criminal proceedings against him.

The patient is an employee of the government medical college and hospital here, a medical bulletin said, adding that the total number of cases in the Union territory now stands at 28.

The UT administrator expressed deep concerns over the new case reported from the Bapu Dham colony, an official statement said.

He directed the principal secretary (Health) to ensure that all contacts of the patients are traced and quarantined.

Badnore also directed Director General of Police Sanjay Beniwal to initiate criminal proceedings against the patient for hosting a party at his house a few days back in violation of both curfew orders and social distancing norms, the statement said.

Earlier, Chandigarh Adviser Manoj Parida tweeted, "Criminal proceedings will be initiated against Bapudham patient who had a celebratory party in his colony a few days back, violating social distance and curfew orders. God knows how many he infected."



Arun Kumar Gupta, Principal Secretary (Health), informed that 130 contacts of the patient had been identified and necessary steps were being taken to quarantine them.

Meanwhile, Parida said non-essential shops and commercial establishments would not be allowed to open in Chandigarh as the city had been declared a containment zone.

Since entire Chandigarh has been declared as a containment zone, the exemptions available in other states could not be given to local residents, he said in a statement.

"Please note that Chandigarh being a containment zone, neighbourhood non-essential shops opening will not happen till 3rd May," Parida earlier tweeted.

The adviser said factories and plants could not be permitted in containment zones as per the central government guidelines.

He added that the Centre would review the situation on May 3 and convey appropriate directions to the UT regarding relaxations, if any.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Remembering the past: Fergus Whelan at the grave of William Drennan

At a time when life is curtailed by the necessity of social distancing and our immediate future viewed with anxiety, there is perhaps an opportunity to find some solace in our past.

Looking backwards has often been considered a dangerous occupation in this contested place, but with more time to read, the publication of two new books provides an opportunity for us to learn about a fascinating period in our history.

As the 1790s dawned, Belfast was a thriving commercial centre, bursting with political excitement.

The heady enthusiasm for the principles of the American and French revolutions was felt powerfully in Belfast, a largely Presbyterian town, whose prosperous citizens found themselves disempowered by a political and legal system designed to preserve a privileged Anglican elite.

Grievances were articulated by Volunteer companies and, from 1791, by the Society of United Irishmen, an organisation midwived in Belfast.

Two of the figures associated with the decade of the United Irishmen, both Presbyterians, are the subjects of new publications which should attract considerable interest here.

William Drennan (1754-1820) receives timely biographical treatment from the respected Dublin author Fergus Whelan.

Born to the Rev Thomas Drennan, the minister of the First Presbyterian Church in Rosemary Lane, and his wife, Anne Lennox, Drennan was one of the most influential radicals of the time.

It is Drennan who is often credited with the notion of establishing the United Irishmen, a society aimed at removing sectarian divisions and promoting national independence.

His writings criticised the governance of Ireland, espoused the cause of national unity and, later, opposed the principle of a political union between Britain and Ireland in the aftermath of the Great Rebellion of 1798.

While not a participant in the rebellion, Drennan was a consistent advocate for change and his enlightened ideas continued into the new century.

Returning to Belfast, he was a founder of the Academical Institution (Inst), which opened in 1814 with a liberal and enlightened ethos.

A political thinker, poet and polymath, Drennan's funeral in 1820 saw his remains being carried by six Protestants and six Catholics.

Whelan's study of Drennan relies heavily, as it should do, on the letters that Drennan wrote to - and received from - his sister, Martha McTier and others.

The letters were transcribed a number of years ago through the monumental efforts of Jean Agnew and Maria Luddy from the Women's History Project and the Irish Manuscripts Commission.

Whelan's engaging account analyses Drennan's intellectual influence and political agency and is a timely addition to our understanding of the United Irishmen.

If the name William Drennan is familiar to many, that of Henry Joy McCracken is probably more recognisable. Born in 1767, he was the third son of Captain John McCracken and his wife, Ann Joy, whose father had launched the Belfast News-Letter in 1737.

Like Drennan, Henry Joy McCracken had a formidable sister, Mary Ann, to whom he was devoted.

Despite his fame and martyrdom, it is arguably the case that Mary Ann's imprint on her hometown is even greater than that of her brother.

Apprenticed in the textile industry, McCracken was passionate about the need for political change, but while Drennan was the wordsmith of the United Irishmen, Harry McCracken was the activist.

Associated with leading figures in the United Irishmen from the outset, McCracken would become a charismatic and dashing young radical, developing the society into an insurrectionary movement and leading the attempts to combine the largely Presbyterian United Irishmen of Ulster with their potential allies in the Catholic Defenders.

McCracken was arrested in October 1796 and conveyed to Kilmainham Gaol in Dublin. Released the following year in ill-health, he re-engaged with revolution and led an effective coup against Robert Simms, the reluctant commander of the United Irish military machine in Co Antrim.

When Ulster rose - somewhat belatedly - in rebellion in June 1798, Henry Joy McCracken marched at the head of the insurgents at the Battle of Antrim.

McCracken was apprehended as he sought to escape the country.

Declining the opportunity to save himself, he faced a court martial just yards away from the family home and was hanged in Cornmarket on July 17, 1798.

Jim Smyth, Emeritus Professor of History at the University of Notre Dame, is perfectly placed to write this short, but excellent biography of McCracken, part of the Life and Times New Series published by UCD Press.

Smyth's readable account also acknowledges how McCracken has been remembered - and disremembered - in Ulster, a process detailed by the Israeli historian Guy Beiner in his recent, ground-breaking study of the vernacular history of the 1798 "Turnout".

Our collective understanding of this exciting period in our history has been enhanced by these two welcome biographies, which are thoroughly recommended at a time when the past is a safe point of refuge.

These are, indeed, the times that try men's souls.

Kenneth L Dawson is the author of The Belfast Jacobin: Samuel Neilson and the United Irishmen (Irish Academic Press, 2017)
File Photo: Philippine jail. (Source: AFP)

MANILA (Reuters) - A prison in the Philippines is suffering from a major outbreak of the new coronavirus with 123 infected inmates, officials said on Wednesday, adding to concerns among activists about contagion risks in some of the world's most overcrowded jails.

The mayor of Cebu City said a new building in the prison capable of handling 3,000 people would be used as an isolation facility to contain an outbreak that accounts for 40% of cases in the Philippines' second biggest city.

There were no details about the possible source of the outbreak. Eighteen cases have been found at a jail in Manila's Quezon City, among them nine members of staff, and media has reported infections at other facilities.

New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) was among several groups that called for inmates held for minor, non-violent offences, or those with health conditions, to be freed from Philippine prisons to create more space.

Activists globally have been urging governments to free political prisoners.

HRW this month warned of the likelihood of a serious coronavirus outbreak in the Philippines "threatening the lives of prisoners whose health the authorities have a duty to protect".

The Cebu jail outbreak is among the biggest known coronavirus clusters in the Philippines, which as of Wednesday had 6,710 infections and 446 deaths. About 70% of cases are in the capital, Manila.

Philippine prisons are notoriously overcrowded due to a combination of poverty, high crime rates and a judicial system unable to cope with a huge case volume.

A shortage of public defenders, overwhelmed judges and insufficient funds to post bail means suspects typically spend long periods - sometimes years - in detention awaiting court hearings that often end up with acquittals.

As of December, nearly 90,000 people in the Philippines were detained awaiting trial, corrections bureau data showed.

President Rodrigo Duterte's war on drugs has exacerbated the problem, each year adding tens of thousands to jails, with 71% of inmates held on drugs-related charges. (https://reut.rs/2NUfPcl)

The Supreme Court ruled on Monday that due to concerns about the coronavirus, judges should urgently free prisoners eligible for temporary or early release.

(Reporting by Neil Jerome Morales and Martin Petty; Editing by Robert Birsel)
Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem, and Madness uncovers the hidden realities of the exotic animal world. Doc Bhagavan Antle is one facility owner featured. His safari park in Myrtle Beach attracts hundreds of visitors a year and some of Antles animals have appeared in over 500 film and TV projects. What is Antles net worth and how much does it really take to feed all those animals every year?

A visit to Doc Antles Myrtle Beach park will cost you

Doc Antle  Tiger King | Netflix

Though Netflixs Tiger King spent most of its time following former Greater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park owner, Joseph Maldonado-Passage (aka Joe Exotic), Doc Bhagavan Antles story cuts in throughout the episodes.

Antle owns and runs The Institute for Greatly Endangered and Rare Species (T.I.G.E.R.S.) in Myrtle Beach. Before Tiger King fame, Antle already made the rounds in Hollywood. The website boasts that his animals have over 500 film and TV credits, including pop sensation Britney Spears.

Doc Antle is also the man behind the Rare Species Fund (RSF) which, provides financial support and practical training to wildlife conservation initiatives in situ, according to the website.

Anyone wishing to visit the safari park should expect to pay a pretty penny. The most basic entrance tickets run in the $339 per person range. The packages only go up from there. The most expensive option, which is a 10-day African safari, requires a hefty deposit of $2,000 per person and totals around $10,908 to $13,988.

What is Antles net worth?

Considering Antles been in the business for decades, itd be surprising if his net worth werent up to par. With the basic safari ticket price at $339 per person, plus photos you can only purchase through the park with the strict no photos policy, each person who visits easily pulls in $500.

The Cinemaholic reported that Antles safari tours run 26 weeks per year with up to 45 people on each tour. That alone is a nice paycheck. If you add in Antles other locations in which he offers big cat shows and photos with cubs, hes doing OK.

In 2015, Rolling Stone reported that Antles park brought in an estimated $1.3 million annually. This includes ticket fees, photos, packages, and everything in between.

Antle exact net worth isnt known, but its estimated at close to $10 million according to multiple outlets. With his experience, this number seems reasonable, if not on the low end.

How much does it cost to feed the animals?

While Antle brings in a nice amount of money annually, it also costs a lot to keep his operations going. Expenses for employee labor is one thing but the amount it takes to feed around 70 adult tigers, plus other animals, is high.

The cost of feeding that many big cats can run anywhere between $5,000 to $10,000 a year. Antle also stated that he gives 10% of his revenue to RSF, as well as other conservation organizations.

The good Doc may not live like Brad Pitt, but hes certainly doing alright for himself.
Prominent Saudi Arabian rights activist Abdullah al-Hamid, imprisoned since 2013, died on Thursday, activists and a source close to him told Reuters.

Hamid, 69, died in the King Saud Medical City in Riyadh, having suffered a stroke on April 9 in prison, London-based Saudi rights group ALQST told Reuters. The news was confirmed by a close friend of Hamid's who asked to remain anonymous owing to the sensitivity of the matter.

Hamid was one of the 11 founding members of the Saudi Civil and Political Rights Association (ACPRA), a group that documented human rights abuses and called for a constitutional monarchy. The group was disbanded in 2013 and all of its members eventually sentenced by Saudi courts on charges relating to its activities.

Hamid was arrested seven times, the last time in 2013, along with another founding member of ACPRA. He was sentenced in 2013 to 11 years in prison on charges including breaking allegiance to the ruler, questioning the integrity of officials, seeking to disrupt security and inciting disorder by calling for demonstrations, and instigating international organizations against the Kingdom.

The Saudi government media office did not immediately respond to a detailed written request for comment.

Hamid was often referred to by intellectuals and opposition figures as the father of the kingdom's reformists.

"He was one of the first Saudi intellectuals that called for a constitution and democracy in the country, and he struggled with conservative clerics who declared him apostate," ALQST's Yahya Assiri said.

Sweden-based Right Livelihood Foundation condemned Saudi authorities "in the strongest terms for al-Hamids unlawful imprisonment and inhumane treatment that led to his death".

The foundation in 2018 awarded him the Right Livelihood Award, also known as the alternative Nobel Prize, along with fellow activists Mohammad Fahad al-Qahtani and Waleed Abu al-Khair, for efforts to reform Saudi Arabia's political system.

Hamid had a heart attack earlier this year while in al-Ha'ir prison, known for holding political dissidents and Islamic State militants. He was brought back to prison from hospital without having the surgery doctors said was necessary to treat his heart, the sources said, and his health continued to worsen.

He had a stroke on April 9 in prison and had been comatose in a Riyadh hospital since then.

The friend and Assiri told Reuters Hamid had not been allowed visits from family since his heart attack. Two of his brothers, Issa and Abdulrahman, also ACPRA members, remain in prison.

Hamid was buried in his home village of al-Qasayah in the central Qassim region -- one of the most conservative parts of the country -- on Friday, the first day of Ramadan.
Brunswick Church was founded in a Farm-to-Market Road barn in 1809 and grew to be a friendly congregation so diverse, it has ministries to motorcyclists and the Albany Pakistani Fellowship (with services in Hindi and Urdu). Church members enjoy socializing. The Easter sunrise service last year drew a robust crowd that stayed for breakfast.

When the pandemic made church gatherings impossible, Pastor Henry Kim filmed and posted his sermons on YouTube and Facebook.

"But it's not the same for my congregation; they really missed the social aspect of churchgoing," Kim said. "For our community, gathering to worship is foundational."

Luckily, Brunswick congregants Frank and Laurie Fisher own Averill Park's Hollywood Drive-In movie theater. At 3 p.m. Sunday, the congregants can drive there to see and hear Kim through their car's radio speakers. And there will be live music.

"My pulpit will be on the rooftop of the facility, but the snack bar and restrooms won't be open," he said.

The Fishers and the church consulted the county health department for safety guidelines. The drive-in lot was measured and marked so church ushers could direct cars to park with the required 6 feet of social distance between vehicles.

Kim said the drive-in service can accommodate 50 vehicles under the county guidelines. (As always, a video of his sermon will also be posted).

While the pandemic continues to unfold, it won't be possible for the Presbyterian congregants to leave their cars but they can wave to each other and talk with people from their vehicles.

Kim took a unique path to his lively church. He had a career in the U.S. Army before becoming a pastor like his mom and dad. They immigrated to America from South Korea when he was 4 years old. His dad founded First Korean Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia. As a college student majoring in political science, Kim traveled through a grim, decrepit East Germany before the Berlin Wall fell.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

After graduation, eager to see how the world would take shape, Kim joined the military and served in Iraq.

His sermon Sunday will be based on Psalm 23, which begins: "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters."

The psalmist walks through the "valley of the shadow of death" and meets his enemies face-to-face. Yet he fears no evil. God has prepared him. Kim's sermon will focus on healthy vs. destructive fear. He sees healthy fear as prompting pragmatic responses, like wearing a protective mask and often washing one's hands during a pandemic. He views unhealthy fear as obsessive, often threaded with hate.

"If a life is driven by fear, it consumes a person's emotions, destroys creativity," Kim said. "A people overwhelmed by fear can't achieve greatness. ...They can't be who they were meant to be."
"I'm quite okay, but a lot of my colleagues are bummed," a Norwegian crew member told Business Insider.

Jean-Paul Pelissier/Reuters

Cruise industry giants currently have plans in the works to repatriate some crew members.

A number of Norwegian Cruise Line ships will converge on the company's private Bahamanian island, Great Stirrup Cay, tomorrow.

A crew member onboard the Norwegian Epic told Business Insider that a plan to potentially consolidate crew on fewer ships may be under way, with the goal of facilitating crew repatriation.

Meanwhile, Carnival Cruise Line has sent the Carnival Panorama to Asia to drop off certain crew members.

A Carnival spokesperson told Business Insider that the company has so far selected several vessels "to travel to ports in Asia, Europe, and Latin America."

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Cruise lines are currently sailing ships around the world in a bid to return long-stranded crew members home, as the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continues to restrict regarding the movement of cruise personnel.

Norwegian Cruise Lines and Carnival Cruise Lines have both recently adopted different strategies regarding the repatriation of crew members. A crew member onboard the Norwegian Epic told Business Insider that a handful of the line's ships are sailing from Florida to Great Stirrup Cay, the company's private island in the Bahamas. A Carnival spokesperson told Business Insider that the company is planning to dispatch ships docked off North America to return crew to "ports in Asia, Europe, and Latin America."

These separate moves come about as cruise ship crew members around the world continue to endure weeks of isolation onboard ships. The coronavirus pandemic has roiled the cruise ship industry, and left crews stuck on different vessels facing ship-wide COVID-19 outbreaks, cut pay, and uncertain professional futures.

The Norwegian crew member said that by sailing to Great Stirrup Cay, Norwegian could potentially facilitate ship-to-ship transfers without incurring the ire of the CDC.

Story continues

In an April 9 update to its March 14 "no-sail order," CDC director Robert Redfield reiterated: "Cruise ship operators shall not be allowed to disembark passengers and crew members at ports or stations, except as directed by the USCG, in consultation with HHS/CDC personnel and, as appropriate, as coordinated with Federal, State, and local authorities."

In leaked audio obtained by Business Insider, the Epic's captain announced that Norwegian has a plan in the works to potentially consolidate or move around crew from different ships outside of US waters. Norwegian Cruise Lines did not respond to Business Insider's request for comment. But cruise ship tracking website VesselFinder.com currently lists the Norwegian Epic, the Norwegian Bliss, the Norwegian Encore, and the Norwegian Star as en route to the Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas. The ships are all slated to arrive tomorrow afternoon.

Business Insider also listened to audio leaked from the Epic in which the ship's captain discussed the CDC's order barring "vessel-to-vessel" and "vessel-to-shore" transfers of crew during the pandemic.

"We are looking at any alternate way possible to get you home," the captain said in a Thursday announcement that a crew member leaked to Business Insider.

On Tuesday April 21, the captain of the Norwegian Epic made a ship-wide announcement discussing the CDC's new rules regarding the movement of crew on and off ships during the coronavirus pandemic.

"The CDC have announced that all movements in the US are temporarily suspended, including vessel-to-vessel or vessel-to-shore, until further notice," the captain said, in a ship-wide announcement leaked to Business Insider. "It looks like, looking at the news and everything, that things are starting to loosen up. I do not foresee this to be a lengthy suspension."

A Norwegian crew member told Business Insider that the cruise line had set up charter flights to take certain crew members home, but those were cancelled as a result of CDC restrictions.

"I'm quite okay, but a lot of my colleagues are bummed," the Norwegian crew member told Business Insider. "Understandably so."

Meanwhile, Carnival Cruise Line has dispatched its Carnival Panorama cruise ship to Asian "to return crew members to that region," according to a statement from a company spokesperson. Cruise industry blog CruiseRadio.net reported on April 19 that the cruise giant has been sending its ships around the world to repatriate stranded crews. Since mid-March, the line's fleet of 27 ships "have been docked at home ports or anchored at sea" with only crew members aboard, a company spokesperson told Business Insider.

"As the company moves to safe operational manning levels during our pause in operations, we have begun the process of returning healthy crew members to their home countries throughout the world utilizing some of our fleet as transport given the limited number of commercial flights and charter options," the line's spokesperson said.

The Carnival spokesperson told Business Insider that the company has so far singled out "a number of ships" at ports in North America "to travel to ports in Asia, Europe, and Latin America." Carnival will only allow crew members who "have been cleared by our medical team and by immigration authorities in their home countries" to transfer vessels, and all such crew members will receive daily temperature checks.

"In certain instances, crew members will be taken from their current ship to their assigned ship via chartered air and/or bus," the spokesperson said. "Crew members have been provided masks to wear on the transfer to their assigned ship, consistent with the advice of the CDC."

Read the full statement from Carnival:

Carnival Cruise Line is committed to taking care our team members and getting them home to their families.

As the company moves to safe operational manning levels during our pause in operations, we have begun the process of returning healthy crew members to their home countries throughout the world utilizing some of our fleet as transport given the limited number of commercial flights and charter options.

We have currently identified a number of ships from our North American home ports to travel to ports in Asia, Europe, and Latin America.

Crew members who will be transferring vessels have been cleared by our medical team and by immigration authorities in their home countries. All crew members have had their temperature taken daily while on board and will so again during the debarkation process as they move to join the ship that will transport them home.

In certain instances, crew members will be taken from their current ship to their assigned ship via chartered air and/or bus. Crew members have been provided masks to wear on the transfer to their assigned ship, consistent with the advice of the CDC.

As always, we will continue to maintain social distancing and other protocols that have proven effective to promote the health and safety of our crew.

All Carnival Cruise Line's 27 ships have been docked at home ports or anchored at sea since mid-March with no guests on board, only crew members.

We would like to thank our crew members for their hard work, patience and understanding during this unprecedented pause in our operations.

Read the original article on Business Insider
A pandemic of the novel coronavirus has now killed over 200,000 people worldwide.

More than 2.89 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 country, with more than 939,000 diagnosed cases and at least 53,789 deaths.

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.

Today's biggest developments:

US cases top 900,000 Global death toll nears 200,000 Dozens of inmates test positive in Colorado

Here's how the news developed Saturday. All times Eastern.

9:33 p.m.: Hawaii extends quarantine for travelers

Hawaii Gov. David Ige announced he was extending the mandatory 14-day quarantine for travelers into the state until May 31. He is also extending the stay-at-home order until the same date.

He said he was continuing to keep the quarantine in place for travelers since 100 people were still arriving every day.

Tim Sakahara, spokesperson for the Hawaii Department of Transportation, said passenger arrivals are down 99% from this time last year. The only flights coming in are from San Francisco, Oakland, Seattle, Los Angeles and Guam.

There have been 604 cases and 14 deaths, including two in the past day, in Hawaii. Wyoming, Montana and Alaska are the only states with fewer cases.

7:40 p.m.: More cases tied to Wisconsin election

At least 40 new cases of coronavirus in just Milwaukee County are tied to the Wisconsin election on April 7, according to the most recent data provided by the Milwaukee health commissioner.

Story continues

"So the data we have now, you know the last time we talked about this I said we have seven, but now there's 40 people," Milwaukee Health Commissioner Dr. Jeanette Kowalik said. "I'm not going to go into detail because that data is still being finalized."

"We hope to have that data ready by Friday," she said, referring to May 1 for the date of the final report.

As of today, Milwaukee County has 2,612 confirmed cases of the virus, and 149 deaths.

6:08 p.m.: Trump says he'll scale back briefings

President Donald Trump said on Twitter he will be scaling back the daily coronavirus task force briefings.

In a tweet, he asked what is the purpose of having them "when the Lamestream Media asks nothing but hostile questions, & then refuses to report the truth or facts accurately."

What is the purpose of having White House News Conferences when the Lamestream Media asks nothing but hostile questions, & then refuses to report the truth or facts accurately. They get record ratings, & the American people get nothing but Fake News. Not worth the time & effort!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 25, 2020

The comments came just one tweet after he incorrectly asserted he was talking to William Bryan, the head of science and technology directorate at the Department of Homeland Security, and not Dr. Debroah Birx when he discussed using UV light to kill the virus inside people at Thursday's briefing. He claimed on Friday he was being sarcastic.

Was just informed that the Fake News from the Thursday White House Press Conference had me speaking & asking questions of Dr. Deborah Birx. Wrong, I was speaking to our Laboratory expert, not Deborah, about sunlight etc. & the CoronaVirus. The Lamestream Media is corrupt & sick!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 25, 2020

He actually specifically referred the question to Birx, though. The White House's official transcript even notes he spoke to her.

He asked, "Deborah, have you ever heard of that? The heat and the light, relative to certain viruses, yes, but relative to this virus?"

"Not as a treatment," she replied.

5:44 p.m.: Boris heads back to work

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will be back at work on Monday morning telling members of his government he is "raring to go" in the fight against coronavirus, according to Downing Street.

Johnson was hospitalized for a week after catching COVID-19 himself, spending three days in intensive care and two weeks recuperating at his official country residence after his release.

Downing Street said he will be "back to his normal schedule" on Monday.

3:55 p.m.: Spanish families will be allowed outside, solo outdoor sports

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced that starting on May 2 residents will be able to walk outside with people they live with and individual outdoor sports will be allowed.

"This de-escalation will be extended until we find a vaccine stopping the propagation of the virus," said Sanchez.

As of Saturday, there have been 223,759 confirmed coronavirus cases and 22,902 deaths in the country, according to the country's health ministry.

The de-escalation will be gradual and asymmetric, but coordinated, said Sanchez.

PHOTO: Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez leaves after a session at the Lower Chamber of the Spanish Parliament in Madrid on April 22, 2020. (Sebastian Mariscal/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Starting on Sunday one parent will be able to take up to three children, up to age 14, outside for one hour.

"We started together and we will end this together," said Sanchez.

Nevertheless, Sanchez admitted that this de-escalation will also depend on the different territories, not only between autonomous communities, but on cities and provinces.

Spain's Congress of Deputies voted this week to extend the state of alarm to Sept. 5.

The Director of Center for Coordination of Heath Alerts and Emergency Fernando Simon said at a daily press conference that it will be very hard to get a vaccine before the end of the year.

3:44 p.m.: Illinois Smithfield Foods plant ordered to temporarily shutdown by health department

A Smithfield Foods Inc. meat processing plant in St. Charles received an order from the Kane County Health Department to temporarily shutdown on Friday over concerns of the coronavirus.

The order temporarily closes the facility so that the health department can work with the company in mitigation efforts as well as providing education relative to social distancing and employee safety relative to personal protective equipment (PPEs).

A Smithfield plant in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, was shut down until further notice after more than 800 plant workers tested positive for COVID-19. Another Smithfield plant was closed in Monmouth, Illinois, on Friday after a "small portion" of the 1,700 employees there tested positive for COVID-19.

Employees from a Milan, Missouri, location filed a lawsuit against the company on Wednesday seeking the courts to order their employer to change their policies to prevent the spread of the virus.

2:08 p.m.: Over 200,000 people around the world have died from the coronavirus

As of Saturday, 200,698 people have died from COVID-19 worldwide, according to the Johns Hopkins University tally.

The coronavirus, formally known as COVID-19, was first reported in Wuhan, China, on Dec. 31.

Over 2.8 million people around the world have tested positive for the virus and over 810,000 have recovered.

1:53 p.m.: President Trump offers additional assistance for Ethiopias COVID-19 response efforts

On a call with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali about the global efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, President Trump offered additional assistance for Ethiopias response efforts, the White House said.

"President Trump offered additional assistance for Ethiopias response efforts, including the provision of US-made ventilators to Ethiopia, and reaffirmed the longstanding support of the United States for the Ethiopian people," a readout from the White House read.

President Trump and Prime Minister Abiy agreed that continued cooperation between their countries would be necessary to defeat the COVID-19 pandemic as well as other challenges faced by the region, including the locust threat in East Africa, the White House statement continued.

1:45 p.m.: Florida pharmacists to administer coronavirus test

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced that pharmacists will be allowed to administer COVID-19 tests to the general public as a way of expanding the testing locations.

However, DeSantis did not elaborate or say on Saturday when this kind of testing might be rolled out.

DeSantis said that the state has ran 37,000 COVID-19 tests in the past two days at seven drive-thru testing sites.

12:49 p.m.: Active coronavirus cases in Italy are decreasing

The number of active positive coronavirus cases in Italy are down 680 patients, according to The Protezione Civile.

Although there were 2,357 new cases reported on Saturday, this is an increase of 1.2% from the previous day and is the lowest percentage for an increase in total cases the country has had.

There were 415 new deaths reported for a total of 26,384 total deaths.

Italy has had 195,351 total active, deceased and cured cases since first reports on January 31.

The number of hospitalizations continues to decline.

The total number of hospital patients dropped by 606. There were 71 fewer ICU patients and 535 fewer in regular hospital care.

12:27 p.m.: NY hospitalization rate down again, pharmacies to become test collection sites

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said that the rate of new hospitalizations for COVID-19 was down to the same place it was 21 days ago.

"Twenty-one days of hell, but we're back to where we were," Cuomo said of the 1,100 new hospitalizations. He added that the important question now becomes when the hospitalization rates can dwindle to hundreds per day.

Testing for both the virus and antibodies remained the governor's focus.

Cuomo said that he has authorized independent pharmacies to become collection sites for diagnostic testing. People will be able to get a test at a pharmacy, the pharmacy will then collect a sample and send it to a lab which produces the results, according to Cuomo.

This is expected to add an additional 5,000 collection sites for diagnostic testing, the governor said. Currently, the state of New York is conducting about 20,000 tests per day.

The number of deaths in the state continued on a mostly flattened, but astonishing rate.

There were 437 deaths in the last 24 hours, a figure Cuomo called "terrible, terrible horrific news." It was also a slight uptick from the 422 number reported yesterday.

A decision on whether the New York On Pause order will be extended is expected in the coming week. Cuomo said that while he is taking a tri-state regional approach, he will also work with certain localities in the state of New York for possible individualized plans.

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)

10:37 a.m.: UK death toll surpasses 20,000

The death toll in the United Kingdom has reached 20,319, according to the National Health Service (NHS). That number includes the 813 new daily deaths reported in the country.

The country is now the fifth in the world to surpass 20,000 fatalities, behind the United States, Italy, Spain and France.

The number of confirmed positive cases in the U.K. has reached 148,377, out of the 517,836 people who have been tested, according to the NHS.

PHOTO: A man wearing a face mask crosses Millennium Bridge, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues, in London, Britain, April 25, 2020. (Simon Dawson/Reuters)

9:59 a.m.: DHS warns of 'opportunity' for criminal activity created by online learning

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) warned officials in law enforcement and school systems of the security risks posed by cybercriminals and cyber-actors who might want to exploit what has become the new normal of online learning under COVID-19, according to the notice reviewed by ABC News.

We assess cybercriminals likely view schools greater reliance on eLearning tools due to the pandemic as an opportunity to conduct a range of criminal activity against educational institutions, faculty and students who use these tools, the April 24 document says.

The risks outlined include theft of login information, identify theft, the ability of cybercriminals to obtain discarded computers that still had cached data on their drives, extortion by using confidential student or employee data to blackmail either the educational institution or an individual, or denial-of-service attacks in exchange for ransom payments.

PHOTO: Lauryn Morley, a lower school substitute teacher for the Washington Waldorf School in Bethesda, Maryland, works from her home due to the coronavirus outbreak, on April 1, 2020 in Arlington, Via. (Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images)

The notice warned that the theft of login information could be used for either profit or by foreign governments, like Iran, to gain access to data they could not otherwise view. The theft of one's identity could also be used for profit or by foreign governments like Russia, whose intelligence services have previously bought online ID info for spying and intel-gathering operations, according to the notice.

Cyber experts at the DHS said that these threats are not hypothetical, every type of attack has been seen.

They are warning employees who work on security and defense of IT systems to take proper precautions.

6:33 a.m.: WHO warns against 'immunity passports'

In response to some governments suggesting that detection of COVID-19 antibodies could serve as the basis of an "immunity passport" that would allow people to travel or return to work assuming they are protected from contracting again or spreading the coronavirus, the World Health Organization issued a warning that said such a program is not backed up by scientific evidence.

"There is currently no evidence that people who have recovered from COVID-19 and have antibodies are protected from a second infection," the WHO said in a statement Friday.

No study, as of April 24, has evaluated whether the presence of antibodies guarantees immunity to subsequent infection of COVID-19 in humans, the organization said.

The WHO said people who have tested positive might be prone to ignore public health advice and "increase the risks of continued transmission" to other people.

The warning comes as some states in the U.S. look to ease social distancing restrictions and to let some nonessential businesses reopen.

States like Texas, Georgia, Oklahoma, while all taking a different approach, are now reopening businesses to jumpstart their economies. Georgia, despite criticism from President Donald Trump, will allow many businesses to reopen this week, including tattoo parlors, movie theaters, bowling alleys and more.

5:20 a.m.: 138 inmates in Colorado prison test positive

At least 138 inmates at the Sterling Correctional Facility in Colorado have tested positive for COVID-19, according to the Department of Corrections, and that number will likely rise soon.

Given the insidious nature of this virus, we had suspected that despite seeing a relatively low number of inmates with symptoms, the number of positives was potentially much higher, Department of Corrections Executive Director Dean Williams said in a statement Friday. That is exactly why we conducted this large scale testing, so that we can continue to isolate, monitor and treat any inmates who were positive and try to mitigate the spread to others inside the facility.

At least 473 symptomatic and asymptomatic inmates were tested for the novel coronavirus last week. Of those, only 255 results have been returned; 138 were positive, 104 were negative, 12 were inconclusive and one was unsatisfactory. The state is still waiting for the results of 218 inmate tests.

MORE: ACLU study linked to jails projects coronavirus deaths double US government estimates

Inside the prison, inmates are largely kept in their cells to help slow the spread of the virus, the state said. Outside of showering or using the restroom, they remain in their cells. All meals and medications are delivered to inmates during the quarantine.

The facility previously had eight inmates that tested positive.

Prisons across the U.S. are struggling to contain the spread of COVID-19 inside their walls. At the Rikers Island jail in New York City, 367 inmates have tested positive for the virus while 235 detainees in custody at Cook County Jail in Illinois are currently positive for COVID-19.

PHOTO: Medical staff takes a sample to test people for coronavirus antibodies in Prague, Czech Republic, April 23, 2020. (Martin Divisek/EPA via Shutterstock)

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

ABC News' Timmy Truong, Josh Margolin and Mike Trew contributed to this report.

Over 200,000 now dead worldwide from COVID-19 originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Three US states have allowed some businesses to reopen under the watchful eye of the rest of the country and other governors weigh options as the coronavirus epidemic crossed another grime milestone with fatalities going past the 50,000 mark and infections inching up to a million.

The Trump White House continued Friday to deal with the outrage triggered by President Donald Trumps suggestion to use household disinfectants to kill the virus inside human bodies as it does outside on surfaces. He himself tried to walk it back as a sarcastic question for reporters, which it was not.

Though the spread of the virus has slowed with a drop in new cases, hospitalization, the number of infections and deaths continued to climb. Reported confirmed infections went up to 905,364 with 36,188 more over the past 24 hours and fatalities to 51,956 with 1,995 more, which is the lowest in weeks.

As the situation has improved frustration has grown about the lockdowns and states are under increasing pressure to begin removing restrictions, either partially or fully. And calls growing more intense as the lockdown or variations of it are set to expire end of the month, on or around April 30.

Georgia, Alaska and Oklahoma allowed the resumption of some business activities Friday, under strict obligation to abide by social-distancing rules. South Carolina reopened department stores and flea markets earlier in the week, and, Tennessee has announced it doe they do not plan to extend the lockdown.

Hair and nail salons, spa, bowling alleys, gyms and tattoo parlors were allowed to reopen Friday and restaurants are set to reopen for in-dining next week in Georgia. Oklahoma has allowed salons, barbers and pet groomers. And Alaska has eased restriction on restaurants, retail stores and nonessential businesses, including hair and nail salons.

Georgia is being seen as a test case by many other states who are eager to open too but are being careful to not trigger a resurgence. Governor Brian Kemp, a Republican, is being seen as rash and was publicly scolded by Trump for rushing into it, in defiance of the three-phase federal reopening guidelines.

New York, the epicenter of the American epidemic, California and Illinois remain under strict lockdown orders with their governors saying they intend to keep them in place.

New York is improving. Governor Andrew Cuomo has said deaths have declined, with 422 of single-day toll on Friday being the lowest since the start of the month. Toll for the state rose to 21,411 Saturday; with 16,646 in New York city alone.

Citing new research, the governor said Friday that the virus came to New York from Italy, which runs counter to President Trump and his administrations efforts to blame China for the epidemic and that he may have prevented a larger spread in the US by banning travelers from China in early February.
With the whole world trying to tackle the coronavirus pandemic, India too is looking for different ways and means to defeat the disease.

The nationwide lockdown in India is proving to be an effective measure to control the spread of coronavirus. The whole country is trying to follow the lockdown measures in accordance with the directions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

People are cooperating in the implementation of the lockdown by remaining indoor. The state and local authorities are also cooperating by doing their jobs with alertness.

It is because of such cooperation that the number of coronavirus cases in India has not reached frightening proportions, as has been the case in many other countries.

Even as India has managed to control the number of coronavirus infections, it is becoming increasingly difficult to run the country in a normal way. While the Indian economy has been adversely affected by the lockdown, the daily lives of the masses is increasingly becoming problematic with each passing day.

One positive aspect that has emerged amid the bleak scenario is the importance of the Indian farmers as a 'provider' or 'benefactor".

Each and every Indian has understood that the country's farmer is no less than a superhero for us since he is trying to provide us wheat, milk, fruits and vegetables to our houses at normal prices amid the lockdown.

Everyone, from the common man to the rich businessman, has understood that whatever they gathered in life through hard work, which they thought were irreplaceable, pales in significance before our need for food.

Nowadays, ensuring two meals made up of wheat, milk, vegetables, and fruits has become the biggest need of us all. All this has been possible due to the country's farmer, who did not get any importance or respect.

The importance of going out, eating sumptuous food, wearing expensive clothes, mobile phones, owning expensive cars and houses fade away when compared with a handful of wheat grown by the country's farmer. We can live without luxuries, but can't live without food. And that food is grown by our farmers who sweat and toil in their fields.

India is primarily an agricultural country, with farmers making 70 per cent of its population. Despite this, the country's farmer is not capable of ensuring the basic necessities of life for himself or his family. Neither is he well-off.

The main reason for this situation is that farming and farmers have been considered less significant to other professions and activities. Since Independence, many schemes have been made for the welfare of farmers. But now is the time to ponder whether these measures have actually benefitted the farmers. The situation is such that farmers ensure food for their countrymen but themselves find it difficult to ensure two meals a day for their families.

Had stress been given to strengthen agriculture and animal husbandry since independence, the country's situation would have been totally different. Farmers would not have been forced to give up farming in his own village and look for other means of livelihood in far-off urban areas in the country.

Despite the fact that India is primarily and agricultural state, education was not in any way connected to farming, with the result that no educated person nowadays is willing to take up farming as a means of livelihood.

There are many factors which have contributed to the bad situation in which the Indian farmer finds himself in - natural calamities, shortage of water for irrigation, lack of agricultural resources, illiteracy, lack of information on high yielding crops, lack of information on methods to earn more with lesser agricultural inputs etc.

Though many schemes were formulated to ameliorate the condition of Indian farmers, their lot could not be improved during the terms of earlier Congress and Congress-supported governments due to illiteracy of farmers, non-communication of benefits of various schemes to intended beneficiaries in proper form and corruption in the distribution of relief packages to farmers in case of natural calamities etc.

When the Narendra Modi government came to power in 2014, it began by taking the good step of opening zero-balance Jan Dhan accounts. This is enabling direct benefit transfers to the accounts of intended beneficiaries like farmers, labourers and other intended beneficiaries.

The government also launched various schemes for the benefit of farmers, under which the compensation money is directly transferred to the accounts of farmers in case of any crop loss due to natural calamity.

The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana is also proving to be quite beneficial to farmers, who now get Rs 6,000 each per annum. So far, each of the 7.92 crore farmers has been provided this amount by the Centre.

The Krishi Mobile Rath app has been launched to resolve problems of transport of agricultural produce from one place to another. Any farmer can contact authorities on the helpline number and get his problems related to transport resolved.

It is the constant endeavour of the government to ensure benefits of various schemes to more and more farmers, such efforts are not going to permanently resolve the problems faced by the agricultural sector, including farmers.

If we are to ensure a prosperous farmer in the country, we have to find permanent solutions to various problems of agricultural sector. In order to ensure that India comes on top in agricultural sector, educated youths have to come forward and adopt farming as a viable profession.

The farmers have to be educated about high-yielding crops, productive soil, production of high quality seeds, scientific methods of crop storage and transport, methods to ensure good crops with minimum irrigation, etc.

If farmers are ensured remunerative prices of their produce in markets, more and more people will come forward to adopt agriculture as a profession.

This situation will in turn help in redressing the problem of unemployment faced by the country.

When the country's farmer becomes self-dependent and prosperous, India's economy will benefit.

(The writer is Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmer Welfare. The views expressed are personal)
Business news and notes from around The Woodlands, compiled from press releases and other sources.

Due to the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and various restrictions on social distancing and essential worker designations, The Woodlands Township Development Standards Committee has temporarily suspended in-person investigations and inspections.

Residents can file covenant violations to the DSC but no physical, on-site inspections will occur, said DSC Chairman Walter Lisiewski. There is no date set for resumption of the inspections, which often include photographs of a site and inspectors going onto property.

Hennie van Rensburg, director of covenant administration for The Woodlands, said enforcement of township covenants is, not considered a critical infrastructure function. Therefore, to comply with the (county) declarations, we are not able to have our covenant enforcement staff out in the public.

According to van Rensburg, the DSC unanimously approved allowing recreational vehicles to remain on a property for an extended duration due to isolation of at home requirements; allowing tents and temporary signage for restaurants, provided the signs are in good keeping; allowing directional and informational signage related to medical care and testing; and set guidelines for, any enforcement matters not represented in this list but require action prior to an upcoming meeting.

Other paperwork for the DSCs various services is still being accepted via email or postal service mail including applications for home renovations such as tear-downs, rebuilds and additions. Residents can also file applications electronically for short term rental permits.

TWFG purchases insurance company

The

Woodlands Financial Group

, owned by township board chairman Gordy Bunch, has purchased Panoptic Insurances personal and commercial insurance business. The acquisition was effective April 17, company officials stated in a press release.

The release described the company as a, full service, national retail insurance agency with over 386 locations in 18. In the release, Bunch, who is the founder and president of TWFG commented, stated This is an exciting opportunity for us. This acquisition increases the value we can deliver to our agency partners, strengthens our well-defined business model, and adds thousands of customers to the TWFG family.

According to another release, the TWFG Insurance company has teamed up withthe Safe 2 Save App in a program that will benefit the Feeding The Frontline Foundation in Montgomery County.

The Safe 2 Save is described as, a mobile app loyalty program that rewards you with points for undistracted driving that you can then redeem with local partners for free and discounted food or services.

For every 1,000 points redeemed, TWFG Insurance will contribute $2 to Feeding The Frontline, up to $2,500. The app is available in the iTunes store from Apple and the Google Play Store  search for TWFG to contribute.

Benihana The Woodlands lays off 39 staff

According to a Texas WARN notice, which is a database of companies that have laid off staff, Benihana of The Woodlands has laid off 39 staff members.

The popular restaurant, located at 1720 Lake Woodlands Drive, is still open during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic, but only for deliveries, to-go and curbside pick-up.

jeff.forward@chron.com
SAGINAW, MI - A shooting in Saginaw early Saturday morning left two people injured.

Michigan State Polices Major Crimes Unit is investigating the incident, said MSP Special 1st Lt. David Kaiser, a spokesman for the department.

At about 3:35 a.m. Saturday, April 25, Michigan State Police and Saginaw Police responded to a call in the 3300 block of Fulton Street, Kaiser said. Thats on the citys southeast side.

An 18-year-old woman was taken to a local hospital with a gunshot wound, and a 26-year-old man also wounded in the incident arrived at a hospital in a car. Both had non life-threatening injuries and are expected to survive, he said.

Kaiser said no one is in custody currently in connection with the shooting.

No further details were released, and the incident remains under investigation, Kaiser said.

Read more:

Man charged with stabbing wife to death in Saginaw Township

Woman was stabbed several times after car crash in Saginaw Township, police say

Saturday, April 25: Latest developments on coronavirus in Michigan
Japan's economy minister has called off his public appearances to work from home after it was found that he was in contact with a staffer infected with the coronavirus. Elaborating further, the country's Cabinet office reportedly said that Yasutoshi Nishimura, visited a hospital last week with an office staff who later tested positive for the COVID-19. According to reports, Nishimura had become the face of Japans economic efforts to deal with the pandemic over the last few weeks.

Neither the minister nor the staffer who tested positive for the virus has shown any symptoms, but as a precaution, the minister will remain at home until he receives further notice on his condition from health authorities, the Cabinet office said in a statement.

Remote appearances

According to reports, the Japanese lawmaker cancelled a media briefing scheduled for 5 pm GMT on April 25 as well as a separate meeting planned to take place later in the day. However, he would make an appearance on a Japanese public broadcaster but not in person. As of now, Japan has reported 12,829 infections and 345 deaths due to coronavirus. In a bid to curb the spread, the Shinzo Abe led government has imposed a nationwide state of emergency since April 7 and closed all non-essential businesses.

Read: Japan's Mitsubishi Motors Predicts Losses Over Pandemic

Read: Japan Official On Shortage Of PPE For Medical Workers

Meanwhile, Japan's emergency medicine organisations said emergency medical care in the nation has begun to collapse, with many hospitals turning away patients who have a fever or other symptoms indicative of Coronavirus and putting excessive burden on the limited number of critical emergency centres.

The Japanese Association of Acute Medicine and the Japanese Society for Emergency Medicine held an online news briefing and representatives called for increased testing to facilitate the transfer of patients to appropriate medical facilities so that emergency rooms would be able to treat patients in critical condition for causes other than the coronavirus.

Read: Osaka Mayor Suggests Men To Go Shopping As Women Take More Time, Gets Slammed

Read: UK: Robots Deliver Shopping To Residents In Milton Keynes Amid COVID-19 Lockown

(Image credits: AP)
Proposals: Builders may face a very different working environment on their return to sites. Photo: Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg

Construction firms that want to resume work while keeping staff safe from Covid-19 may need to stagger shifts from 7am to midnight.

A Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI) report proposes sweeping changes for managing risks as sites reopen in coming weeks.

The Government last month ordered work halted on any construction not connected to virus-fighting efforts. The Housing Agency this week said work on a few nearly finished social housing developments could resume, but most sites remain shuttered.

The RIAI said firms would need to supply workers with hazardous materials suits and rigid social distancing protocols; use more prefabricated materials assembled off-site; and stagger shifts from 7am to midnight, with breaks for work areas to be sterilised.

The umbrella body for Ireland's architects said its proposals should be enforced by Health and Safety Authority inspectors, and any site found to be flouting the guidelines should be shut down.

"For every construction contract there will be different levels of risk and it will be critical to evaluate the specific risks of each individual project," said report co-author David Browne, director of the architecture firm RKD.

The report said firms may run morning shifts from 7am to 3pm, followed by an hour of workplace sterilisation, then a night shift running from 4pm to midnight.

Local authorities' restrictions on early morning and late-night construction work would need to be suspended. Firms' use of 'buddy systems', in which construction workers operate in small, flexible teams, would be restricted to "permanent" pairs.

They would wear 'hazmat' suits costing 3 to 5 each with elastic wrists and ankles, gloves and ankle straps.

These "should be disposed of after every use, which means after every meal break in canteen and after every shift".

The Construction Industry Federation, which published its own plans last week, declined to comment on the proposals.
There is a crisis in our house.

There is no chocolate. I must act.

I had been sheltering in place for four weeks. The only time I had been outside was to run.

I don a never-used mask. It fits uncomfortably on my face. Three things  the elastic bands of the mask, my glasses and my hearing aids  are all fighting for the same centimeter on my ears. My wife shows me how to place the bands higher up on the back of my head. Problem solved.

I drive down the street. It seems eerie. Parking lots are empty. Gas station signs post $1.05 per gallon. Is this real? Now my glasses are fogging over. I pull over and adjust my mask.

I arrive at Walgreens. There are only two cars in the lot. Why are those people sitting in their cars? I pull on the door. Now I understand why those people are still in their cars. The doors are locked. How can this be? Walgreens is always open. But it isnt. I finally read the sign. Their hours now are from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. I join the others waiting in their cars.

My mind drifts to a quote I have been thinking about lately. It is from a 17th century mathematician, Blaise Pascal. He writes, All of humanitys problems stem from mans inability to sit quietly in a room alone.

It is hard for many of us to sit in silence with our feelings. Instead, we often choose aimless distractions or false comforts of the mind. Worse still, some act out in destructive ways. Pascal says all our problems stem from an inability to sit silently alone. Perhaps a bit of an exaggeration. Yet it points to a profound truth.

How am I doing in this pandemic?

I gauge where I am between two extremes in my life. The first is my worst time to sit quietly in my room. In January 1987, I was in a psychiatric unit for depression. I was driven by an awful restlessness. I purposely stayed out of my room except when staff made me go there at night.

Patients had two rooms where we could go during free time  one was for smoking; the other, non-smoking. At first, I went to the non-smoking room. Only one other person was there, and she did not want to talk.

So I spent the rest of the time in the smoking room  choking periodically in the smoke that made the smog of San Francisco seem pleasant. Yet it felt better than sitting silently in my room alone.

The best time I had sitting in my room alone was on a 30-day retreat in May 1991 in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. The first week of the retreat focused on meditating on Gods unconditional love for me. Since God loved all of me even the negative shadow part  I moved toward loving all of me.

In this loving context, I could, at last, not run from my feelings. These feelings were neither good nor bad. They just were. They did not need to be denied or discounted. They were signals; ones worth paying attention to.

They wanted to give me a lot of information about myself. As different feelings surfaced, my response became Isnt that interesting? I wonder what this feeling wants to tell me.

I can understand why people find this time of isolation difficult. Not many have had the blessing of 30 days to sit with, pray about and process their feelings in silence.

Many have great anxieties about feeding their families, keeping a job, and paying their bills. Even the little control they thought they had is gone. Still, I would encourage people to find at least 10 minutes of quiet time to be lovingly with themselves. Or perhaps watch a robin build a nest or take a solitary walk in a park. Since 1991, I have traveled the continuum between the anxiety of the smoking room and the peace of the silent retreat. I have been blessed that these past 30 days have been more like a retreat. My hardest feeling has been a deep sadness for those who have died alone, and their families who could not be with them. As I looked up, I saw a woman unlocking the doors. I hurried to the candy section and grabbed a large bag of Dove dark chocolates.

Entering our back door, I announced to my wife that the crisis was over. We had enough dark chocolate to survive another 30 days.

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A woman carries an infant out of South Central Family Health Center. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

On a typical day, the line starts forming outside South Central Family Health Center before sunrise.

For thousands of patients, this clinic run by a devoted team of doctors in Central-Alameda has become a one-stop shop for all their aches and pains and chronic woes.

Now, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, much of the crucial work this health center and other community clinics do to help Los Angeles' most vulnerable populations is at risk as many people have stopped leaving their home to see their doctor.

"We were already dealing with a delicate situation," said David Roman, spokesman for the South Central Family Health Center, which has been operating for nearly 40 years. "Now we have an underserved population with diabetes, asthma, hypertension that is avoiding their routine. They're having to make a choice. Do they come in and stay healthy or do they stay home and get sicker?"

During the coroniavirus pandemic Wendy Urquiza, right, medical assistant talks with people and checks their temperature at the entrance to South Central Family Health Center (SCFHC) on Wednesday, April 8, 2020 in Los Angeles. (Francine Orr/Los Angeles Times)

Since stay-at-home orders went into effect in mid-March, patient visits have fallen by 25% at South Central, costing the nonprofit clinic an unprecedented loss of about $310,000.

Other clinics run by community health center organizations across Los Angeles County are also struggling.

The coronavirus outbreak forced many of the county's 350 clinics to take drastic measures such as closures, furloughs, layoffs and job reassignments, said Louise McCarthy, president and chief executive of the Community Clinic Assn. of Los Angeles County. Collectively, she estimates, centers are losing an average of about $6 million per week. Some clinics have lost 30% to 70% of their patient visits.

"This pandemic has eclipsed all other crises we've experienced to date and we're still in the relief phase," McCarthy said. "We don't know yet what our new reality is going to be, but nothing will be the same again."

At risk is the health of a vast Latino and black population the clinics serve, a community that's already been disproportionately hit by COVID-19. Countywide, 60% of those who rely on local clinics live below the poverty level, about $26,000 per year for a household of four. An additional 20% of households that rely on clinics make less than $52,000 per year.

Story continues

For these families, community clinics provide a vital safety net. Without these services, many people are likely to end up in hospital emergency rooms, putting further strain on the healthcare network.

At South Central Family Health Center, patients come from immigrant communities. About 92% are Latino. They labor in construction, hotels, factories and restaurants. Those in dire need often turn to the clinic for food donations, help with evictions and immigration resources.

Over the years, they've come to trust the medical team. Some physicians, such as Dr. Jose Luis Perez, as well as several staff members, grew up in South L.A. Perez attended high school just a mile from the clinic.

"Working here for me is really personal," said Perez, a native of Nicaragua who is also the center's chief medical officer. "Most of my patients look like my grandma or my cousins. I understand their lives because I've lived a lot of it myself."

In recent days, Perez has found himself worrying about patients who have not been coming in  those with diabetes, high blood pressure, terminal cancer.

Despite concern from medical staff, the clinic has cut services, closing four of its nine sites and stopping construction of a new vision care center. It also has furloughed dozens of workers and reduced their hours.

Federal stimulus funds this month provided temporary relief for a number of clinics. South Central received $1.1 million. That's enough to support services until the first week of May, Roman said.

"We've taken some extraordinary measures in order to save cash," he said. "Legislators really need to understand the impact this pandemic has had in the community, on the fragile balance of this safety net."

Community clinics have also had to battle to get personal protective gear and testing. Officials say that while much of the national focus has been on hospital shortages, the needs of community clinics have been largely overlooked.

South Central had only 20 coronavirus tests available for patients in early April. When it was unable to get more, a testing lab advised the clinic to use gonorrhea collection kits it had in storage. The kits are processed like other coronavirus tests and deliver solid results, Roman said.

Another clinic network, St. John's Well Child & Family Center, has been facing its own challenges. Jim Mangia had to put a half-dozen employees to work full-time hunting down masks for his 18 centers, which serve a total of about 100,000 patients. They managed to patch together a stockpile with help from donations, local leaders and one center worker who had connections to a factory in China.

"It was so touch and go, we were literally about to run out when an order came in," said Mangia, chief executive of St. John's, which operates centers across South L.A., Mid-City and northeast Los Angeles.

Now, Mangia said, his clinics are pushing to meet a tremendous demand for tests. Last week, medical staff opened 13 testing sites. They administered more than 1,300 tests in one week, using up their supply.

"We keep fighting, but it's like trying to fight with both your hands tied behind your back," Mangia said. "We're on the front lines, too, and we're seeing all the health disparities and inequities people here experience every day magnified tenfold because of this pandemic."

One positive note is that community clinics in California are now allowed to charge insurance providers for treating patients via Telehealth  by phone and video. Until now, that service was off-limits because of federal regulations. It was permitted only in rural areas or among more well-to-do patients with private insurance.

In South L.A., some clinics are now treating up to half of their patients by phone. They've seen far fewer appointment cancellations this way.

"For so many years, people have had to take three or four buses to visit the doctor because we're not removing these socioeconomic barriers," said Adel Syed, chief executive of the University Muslim Medical Assn., a center that serves about 8,000 patients in South L.A., most of them working-poor Latinos.

There's no indication so far that clinics will be allowed to continue billing for Telehealth appointments after the pandemic, but the Community Clinic Assn. of Los Angeles County plans to fight for it, McCarthy said.

Back at South Central Family Health Center on a recent afternoon, patients wearing masks trickled in, forming a line outside the front door. A medical assistant checked their temperatures, screening for coughs and fevers before allowing them inside. A few patients had just been released from the hospital after battling COVID-19.

Emilia Flores, 67, a first-time patient, sat in the lobby feeling jittery about having left her house, just a few blocks away. But she had run out of depression medication and her usual clinic in San Pedro had shut down.

"I was so afraid to come and was really trying to push through on my own, but I can't live without my medicine," said Flores, who has struggled ever since her son-in-law and two grandchildren died in a fiery car crash two years ago.

Her husband, fortunately, has a secure job that provides health insurance. He works at a factory that makes medical supplies. Their family has always counted on community clinics for all their health needs.

"I wouldn't know where else to go," Flores said.

A few days after her visit to the clinic, she was stressed about the pandemic and still struggling with her ongoing grief, but she felt at ease knowing there was a health center standing by to help, so close to her home.

"This place took really good care of me," she said.
The legal dispute between Facebook and NSO group continues even after the Israeli surveillance firm filed a motion to dismiss the case earlier this month.

Facebook advocates have challenged a plea from spyware maker NSO Group to dismiss the legal dispute over the hacking accusations, arguing it has immunity from prosecution.

Now both companies are providing technical details requested by the cyber-security experts. according to court documents shared by ZdNet, Facebook linked at least 720 attacks against WhatsApp users to one single IP address.

The surveillance implant used by the NSO group used an exploit for a vulnerability, tracked as CVE-2019-3568, in the WhatsApp VoIP feature.

The attacks took place in the spring of 2019, Facebook states that more than 1,400 users were targeted with the NSO Pegasus spyware, including, journalists, human rights activists, political dissidents, diplomats, attorneys, and government officials.

I have reviewed the malicious code sent during the attack described in the Complaint. That malicious code was designed to cause a WhatsApp users mobile device to connect to a remote server not associated with WhatsApp. The IP address of the remote server was included in the malicious code, explained Claudiu Gheorghe, a software engineering for WhatsApp.

In 720 instances of the attack, the remote servers IP address was 104.223.76.220. In 3 instances of the attack, the remote servers IP address was 54.93.81.200,

In April, attorneys for the NSO Group filed a motion to dismiss the hacking case, among the observations raised by the advocates there was the lack of jurisdiction of a California court to preside over the case, but investigators pointed out that the IP address 104.223.76.220 belongs to QuadraNet Enterprises LLC, a data center provider in Los Angeles.

Facebook attorneys also remarked that the NSO group is also financed by a California private equity firm.

To execute its scheme and install its spyware on WhatsApp users devices, NSO separately entered into a contract with a California-based technology company, QuadraNet, that included a California choice-of-law clause, Facebook said.

The NSO attorneys always remarked that the surveillance firm should be immune to prosecution because it was contracted by a foreign government, but the Facebook legal team refused this justification, there is no immunity granted to organizations involved in surveillance activities committed by foreign states.

Please give me your vote for European Cybersecurity Blogger Awards  VOTE FOR YOUR WINNERS

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Pierluigi Paganini

(SecurityAffairs  Facebook, NSO Group)

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New York, April 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Global Ultra High Temperature Processing Market - Premium Insight, Competitive News Feed Analysis, Company Usability Profiles, Market Sizing & Forecasts to 2025" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p05871569/?utm_source=GNW





The report deeply explores the recent significant developments by the leading vendors and innovation profiles in the Global Ultra High Temperature Processing Market including are MicroThermics, REDA S.p.A, Shanghai Jimei Food Machinery Limited Company, Stephan Machinery GmbH, TESSA I.E.C. GROUP LTD., Alfa Laval AB, Elecster Oyj, GEA Group AG, Shanghai Triowin Automation Machinery Co., Ltd., and SPX FLOW.



On the basis of Type, the Global Ultra High Temperature Processing Market is studied across Aseptic Packaging, Flash Cooling, Heaters, and Homogenizers.



On the basis of Operation, the Global Ultra High Temperature Processing Market is studied across Direct UHT Processing and Indirect UHT Processing.



On the basis of Product Form, the Global Ultra High Temperature Processing Market is studied across Liquid and Semi-liquid.



On the basis of Application, the Global Ultra High Temperature Processing Market is studied across Dairy Desserts, Juices, Milk, and Soups.



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 Ultra High Temperature Processing Market

2. Product Development & Innovation: Provides intelligent insights on future technologies, R&D activities, and new product developments in the Global Ultra High Temperature Processing Market

3. Market Development: Provides in-depth information about lucrative emerging markets and analyzes the markets for the Global Ultra High Temperature Processing Market

4. Market Diversification: Provides detailed information about new products launches, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments in the Global Ultra High Temperature Processing Market

5. Competitive Assessment & Intelligence: Provides an exhaustive assessment of market shares, strategies, products, and manufacturing capabilities of the leading players in the Global Ultra High Temperature Processing Market



The report answers questions such as:

1. What is the market size of Ultra High Temperature Processing market in the Global?

2. What are the factors that affect the growth in the Global Ultra High Temperature Processing Market over the forecast period?

3. What is the competitive position in the Global Ultra High Temperature Processing Market?

4. Which are the best product areas to be invested in over the forecast period in the Global Ultra High Temperature Processing Market?

5. What are the opportunities in the Global Ultra High Temperature Processing Market?

6. What are the modes of entering the Global Ultra High Temperature Processing Market?

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05871569/?utm_source=GNW



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They are survivors of severe cases of the coronavirus, most of them had been hospitalized, some of them hooked up to ventilators for several days and none of them ever wanting to experience the misery, uncertainty and loneliness of the illness ever again.

"It really makes you not take anything for granted anymore, even the small things," Leah Blomberg, 35, of Muskego, Wisconsin, said Thursday during a Facebook Live hangout. "Every moment I get with my husband, I cherish it."

NBC News spoke with Blomberg and four others who tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, to find out what it was like to have extreme cases and how they've recovered in recent weeks. While the number of infections and deaths continue to grow daily, most people do get better and some may have no symptoms at all.

Health & Wellness

But for those who have been hospitalized in intensive care units, the experience can be terrifying -- if they even remember it.

Blomberg said she was put on a ventilator for a total of nine days, leaving her in a medically induced coma.

"It really is a humbling experience," she said of her time in the hospital.

She added that she was grateful she didn't know beforehand the grim statistics associated with being on a ventilator. One study in the Journal of the American Medical Association that looked at 5,700 coronavirus patients at 12 hospitals in New York City and Long Island found that about 21 percent of patients died, but for the 12 percent who were deemed extremely sick and in need of ventilators, the death rate was 88 percent.

Andrew Coffield, 29, of Aurora, Illinois, said he was on a ventilator for seven days during his 13-day hospitalization. He was told he was unconscious for about five days, and his 2-year-old son would FaceTime with him, saying, "Daddy, wake up. Daddy, wake up."

But as his situation deteriorated, with his vitals dropping and his fever spiking again, he had a sudden turnaround two days after coming off the ventilator, he said.

Story continues

"I truly believe that God healed me," Coffield said, adding, "The doctors and the nurses couldn't explain it. ... They just kept coming in and said, 'You're a miracle.'"

Being in the hospital away from his family and then recovering at home without touching them were among the loneliest moments of his life, he added.

Another survivor, Jess Marchbank, 32, of North Devon, England, could relate.

She said she longed to touch her children, ages 2 and 4, even after she returned home from the hospital, but could not until she was completely virus-free.

Jess Marchbank of North Devon, U.K., reunited with her children at home after her release from the hospital. (Jess Marchbank)

"It's the most loneliest experience I think I will ever go through," she said. "You don't get that contact, that touch, that love and nurture that we need to mentally get better, as well as physically."

But once she was able to hold her family, she said, it was "so much better than Christmas morning."

All of the survivors say they still feel sapped of energy and wiped out.

Although he wasn't hospitalized, Dwight Everett, 65, of Ventura County, California, said he decided to donate plasma after fully recovering as a way to help others afflicted by the disease.

As a possible treatment for very sick coronavirus patients, some hospitals are testing the injection of a "convalescent serum" based on the blood plasma of people who have recovered.

Everett's plasma is going to people like the wife of Luis Meza, of Santa Maria, California. Meza said his wife is in a Los Angeles hospital after contracting the coronavirus from him.

She remains on a ventilator after 26 days in the hospital, he added.

"I would do anything to save my wife," Meza said of the plasma treatments. "I'll sell anything I own to save my wife."

He said she has been slowly getting better, but must learn to move her hands and her legs again after the virus ravaged her body.

The idea that some people still don't take the coronavirus seriously or aren't following social distancing guidelines and stay-at-home orders is upsetting for him and the other survivors.

Blomberg added that protesters have the right to demonstrate, but they're putting others at risk.

"A lot of the reasons that people are protesting are so shallow. 'I want a haircut. I want to get my nails done.' Really?" Blomberg said. "I can understand the small-business owners are hurting. But I'm sure that when the medical community has cleared things and say we're OK to go back to begin opening things up again, I'm sure our communities will rally around their small businesses and help bring them back."
There are more than 70 trials for treatments for coronavirus happening in the US, and the race for a therapeutic leave labs shorthanded of researchers, a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) official has said.

'Although we may not run out of patients, unfortunately, we may run out of research personnel and time availability to do that in this way of having separate development programs,' said Dr Janet woodcock during a webinar attended by Business Insider.

In addition to the trials of these 72 potential treatments, she said that there are hundreds more being planned, and nearly another thousand requests for COVID-19 treatment research for the FDA to wade through and approve (or reject), Business Insider reported.

Meanwhile, some of the frontrunners in the race for a treatment are beginning to report results - and it's not all positive, including damning early reports from hydroxychloroquine trials.

An FDA official warned Thursday that the many ongoing and upcoming trials of coronavirus drugs may deplete a crucial research resource: scientists and healthcare workers to oversee the studies (file)

In the US and around the world, hydroxychloroquine and remdesivir have garnered the most attention.

A combination of two HIV drugs - lopinavir and ritonavir - that was an early favorite for treating coronavirus has yielded disappointing results, but some clinical trials for them are still ongoing.

Other studies are investigating whether everything from convalescent plasma from recovered coronavirus patients to experimental cancer drugs and arthritis medications can combat the virus's devastating effects.

Biotech research and development were slated to get more than $720 million in funding from the US as of earlier this month, according to USASpending.gov.

But even that investment from the government and the capital Big Pharma companies like Johnson & Johnson, Gilead, and Novartis are pouring into treatment studies won't on its own fill an essential need in the research: scientists.

Running a clinical trial requires a lot of people - both patients and researchers.

A Veteran Affairs trial of hydroxychloroquine is among the many studies ongoing to investigate potential coronavirus treatments (pictured), but early results recently found that more patients taking the drug had died than had patients given only supportive care (file)

Among the 72 ongoing studies are those investigating the use of plasma from the blood of recovered coronavirus patients to treat those still battling the disease (file)

Remdesivir is one of the most highly-anticipated possible coronavirus treatments being studied by multiple groups across the US. Results thus far are mixed

A clinical trial can be run by one person, but the larger the trial and more closely the involved patients need to be monitored, the more people have to be involved.

For example, a single trial could be run across multiple hospitals in various states, requiring a large team of scientists to oversee patients.

And the most robust, reliable trials are the largest ones. Phase III trials commonly involve thousands of patients.

So far, more than 890,000 Americans have contracted coronavirus, so the patient pool is certainly large enough to recruit from, but not all trials have the same criteria and these patients are spread across the states.

In addition to the 72 trials that the FDA has signed off on, Dr Woodcock said that there were another 211 gearing up to begin testing their drugs, and more than 900 requests and proposals for testing coronavirus drugs have been sent to the agency.

'That's a rather overwhelming amount in such a short time,' said Dr Woodcock.

'You can see that this is a massive effort.'

But investigating each of these treatments individually could stretch the needed human resources even further.

So Dr Woodcock, who oversees the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, is advocating for an 'adaptive' approach to studies.

This model has researchers test several potential treatments as part of one trial protocol, comparing the results of multiple different treatments to a single control group.

It's already being done in the UK, as well as being applied to at least one National Institutes of Health (NIH) trial that focuses most prominently on remdesivir.

Dr Woodcock also said that the potential shortage of researchers to staff coronavirus treatment trials and general difficulty of finding therapeutics underscores broader issues in how research is conducted in the US.

'This crisis underlies and points out the need to have better clinical trial infrastructure in place,' she said in the webinar.
THE HSE will be able to carry out 100,000 tests for Covid-19 every week under a plan to be published in the coming days, Health Minister Simon Harris has said.

Mr Harris said the executive will publish a plan to ramp up testing and arrive at a point where we would have the capacity to do up to 100,000 tests a week should that need arise.

He said at present the HSE has the capacity to process up to 10,000 tests a day, but said this does not mean that that number of tests is being carried out. HSE chief executive Paul Reid and senior management will map out how over the next couple of weeks, you ramp that up to maybe 12,000 and 13,000 and then 15,000, the minister said.

Read More

It comes as the criteria for testing is likely to change in the coming weeks meaning more people will be eligible to be tested for the disease.

Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan said on Friday that anyone with one of the major symptoms of the disease - fever, cough or shortness of breath - will be able to be tested.

Dr Holohan said people in vulnerable and at risk groups, as well as healthcare workers, would continue to be prioritised under the plan.

Mr Harris denied reports of tensions between the HSE and the Department of Health over the plan to ramp up testing.

He pointed out that HSE officials sit on the National Public Emergency Team which made the 100,000 tests per week recommendation.

I've seen lots of tense moments between the HSE and the Department of Health lots of times. I've never seen such a level of collaboration. People are just working every day of the week and everybody is pulling in the same direction, he said.

Mr Harris was speaking after a meeting of medical experts from around the country on Saturday where they discussed the national response to the Covid-19 emergency.

The Fine Gael TD pointed out there were 118 people with the disease in intensive care units compared to 160 earlier this month.

Mr Harris said progress is fragile but Ireland has avoided the scenarios predicted in modelling a number of weeks ago that 2,000 people would be in ICU today and as many as 12,000 people would die from Covid-19 in May.

We're sitting here today with 118 people in ICU - thats the progress the Irish people have made, but it is fragile, and it can go in reverse if people don't follow the public health advice.

Amid growing public expectation that lockdown measures will be lifted after May 5, Mr Harris said if the CMO had to make a decision today on easing restrictions he would advise against it.

Mr Harris said there is not going to a big bang moment in terms of the lifting the restrictions but said the Government hoped to set out a plan next week for reopening the country with the initial easing of one or two restrictions after May 5.

Meanwhile, the Government is finalising plans to redeploy some home help workers to private nursing homes to tackle the spread of Covid-19 in addition to the 120 HSE staff who have already been redeployed there in recent days.

We know that there are some people who perhaps because their family are around more at the moment, or perhaps because there is more community supports in place at the moment through the local authorities and the likes, may not be reliant on home help as they were and weve put a protocol in place whereby if public health nurse views that to be the case then home help personnel can be redeployed into nursing homes.

Mr Harris said those working in the area of home help had been cooperative and obliging and there was some work ongoing to bottom out issues with contract and insurance cover to allow these workers into private nursing homes.

He said that he hoped to be able to finalise the new arrangements ahead of a meeting with Nursing Homes Ireland, the body which represents private nursing homes, on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the HSE has confirmed that 21 people have died from Covid-19 in a single Dublin nursing home.

The agency confirmed the death toll at St Marys Hospital in the Phoenix Park, one of the countrys largest public care centres for the elderly, on Saturday.

Eleven people died of Covid-19 at the home between 2 and 17 April and a further 10 deaths have now been confirmed.

Health Minister Simon Harris extended his sympathies to the families of those who passed away and staff working at the home. I know there's a lot of supports being looked at in relation to St. Mary's, he said at a press conference in the Department of Health.

I understand that the HSE has given this a lot of attention. I spoke to David Walsh yesterday, the National Director for Community Services, in relation to the support. I understand that included things like the redeployment of staff from other areas of the HSE.
KAMPALA/ARUA  Efforts to turn the West Nile sub-region into the potential food basket of Uganda and the entire Upper Nile region this week gained momentum when a team of the senior management of Muni University in Arua met with the National Coordinator Operation Wealth Creation, Gen Caleb Akandwanaho, aka Salim Saleh.

The meeting that was attended by Dr Robert Mwesigwa Rukaari, the national chairman of the ruling NRM Entrepreneurs League, who is also the President of the Uganda National Chamber of Trade and Investment, discussed areas of food security in Uganda and Africa.

Attended by Muni University Vice Chancellor Prof Christine Dranzoa, the University Secretary, Rev Fr Dr Odubuker Picho Epiphany and other top management officials comes months after the first West Nile Investment Symposium that happened in August 2019.

Private investors, investment arms of governments and officials from South Sudan and DR Congo met at Muni University, hosted by Gen Saleh to discuss potential areas of investment in the West Nile region and the Upper Nile Valley, which includes the West Nile, South Sudan, North DR Congo and Central Africa Republic.

The meeting that was attended by President Museveni discussed how to break the narrative that the West Nile was an area known for war and poverty.

Investor were exposed to the region as a potential area of investment, with key highlights on the regions vast and untapped fertile land. Its huge tourism potential as well as its potential as a trade link between East African countries and bordering countries of DR Congo, South Sudan and CAR.

Related
Workers clearing woods and hedgerows to make way for HS2 have been accused of destroying birds nests at a time of year when breeding pairs are laying eggs.

Contractors for the new high-speed rail line have also faced claims they are failing maintain social distancing while pulling down trees during the coronavirus crisis.

HS2 staff in Warwickshire have come under intense scrutiny since receiving the go-ahead for work last week, despite the UKs nationwide lockdown.

Opponents of the scheme have filmed the felling of large trees which they claimed had active nests in.

Lizzy Williams, one of the founders of campaign group Stop HS2, accused workers last week of moving fencing to prevent protesters filming the clearing of trees used by blue tits, woodpeckers and tree creepers.

Commenters described the alleged destruction of nests as illegal and heartbreaking, questioning why the railway scheme was going ahead during breeding season.

HS2 said it had complied with the law and that when nesting birds were discovered a temporary exclusion zone was put in place until the chicks have fledged.

The RSPB has urged people to report any illegal destruction of birds nests by HS2 to the police.

People monitoring the work just starting have also filmed contractors standing and working less than the recommended two metres from each other, accusing them of risking spreading coronavirus.

The footage has outraged campaigners opposed to the rail link, which will connect London, Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds. One accused the company of a total lack of consideration for [the] impact on wildlife or local people.

In one clip, a large number of workers are seen moving fences as an oak tree is removed.

On Friday, HS2 was also accused of disturbing a family of badgers, leaving the cubs panicking.

Kate Macrae, a wildlife enthusiast, said her sister said she had seen woods being destroyed, and small badger cubs out in the road.

She later said no obvious setts had been destroyed but told The Independent: I cant think why cubs would be put on a lane in broad daylight unless disturbed.

Boris Johnson gave the final green light to HS2 in February, with plans for the project over budget and behind schedule. The estimated price tag for HS2 in 2015 was just under 56bn but Europes largest infrastructure project is now thought likely to cost 106bn.

Last month the High Court granted an injunction to prevent protesters trespassing on several HS2 sites in Warwickshire.

On nesting birds, an HS2 spokesperson said contractors were keenly aware of the law, and during nesting season ecologists were present during all habitat clearance work to stop work where necessary.

They added: Felling trees during the nesting season is legal as long as nesting birds are not harmed. When nesting birds are discovered, our team puts a temporary exclusion zone in place until the chicks have fledged.

HS2 said this week it had launched investigations into alleged social-distancing breaches among workers.

The spokesperson added: Our contractors are continuously reviewing their ability to work within Public Health Englands and the Construction Leadership Councils guidelines to ensure the health, safety and wellbeing of our workforce and the communities in which we are working.

They added: Those sites still working are doing so because they are confident they are operating within Public Health England (PHE) guidelines, and will be monitored and remain under constant review.

HS2 said any badger sett directly affected by the project had been closed under licence as agreed with Natural England.

Other badger setts in the woodland that are not directly in the HS2 works area have been surveyed, identified and have exclusion zones around them", its statement said.

We have professionally qualified environmental staff on site during the works operations, and have consent from the authorised bodies, including Natural England, for all planned work.

Some information posted on social media by anti-HS2 groups was wrong and misleading, the spokesperson said
Budget airline Wizz Air has become the first to restore flights from London to Europe, with planes scheduled to take off as early as next week.

Flights will be leaving London Luton for Tenerife, Lisbon, Budapest and other major cities from May 1. Seats are priced from 16.99 but many of the countries they are flying to will refuse entry to foreign nationals.

The continent-wide coronavirus lockdown has seen European air traffic plummet by at least 90 per cent, according to IATA, as countries battle outbreaks.

The chief executive of Gatwick, Britain's second busiest airport, today called on ministers to introduce regulations requiring passengers to be tested for Covid-19 at least 48 hours before travel.

Wizz Air will restart flights from London Luton on May 1 to cities in Europe and Israel

Wizz Air will start flying to these destinations from London Luton. Flights start on May 1

Cabin crew will be required to wear face masks and gloves on planes and passengers will be asked to use hand sanitiser. Planes will be disinfected overnight

Wizz Air has announced a raft of protective measures for passengers and staff.

Cabin crew will be required to wear masks and gloves throughout trips and sanitising wipes will be distributed to passengers, the airline said.

Aircraft will also be disinfected overnight if they have been used for flights.

The airline has not said there will be a requirement for passengers to wear face masks on flights, although many already do.

It is expected flights will be taking off a third empty to allow for space between passengers on board, after chief executive Jozsef Varadi announced they were planning to make the changes earlier this month.

Other low-cost airlines are yet to announce plans to get their fleets moving.

Major rival Ryanair has kept 99 pet cent of its fleet on the ground while flying a few scheduled flights until April 30. EasyJet is taking bookings for flights from May 18.

Wizz Air aircraft pictured delivering a shipment of protective gear from China to Hungary

The boss of Britain's second busiest airport also called for travellers to be required to carry 'health passports' when travelling on international flights. Pictured: Gatwick airport

Wizz Air is offering flights to Spain, Portugal and Hungary as well as eight cities in Romania, Belgrade in Serbia, Bratislava in Slovakia, and Tel Aviv in Israel.

Spain, Serbia and Slovakia are refusing entry to all foreign nationals, according to the Foreign Office, and will only accept their own citizens or those travelling for essential reasons.

Romania requires all travellers from the UK to undergo 14 day quarantine.

Hungary and Portugal are forcing all travellers to go through medical checks. Anyone arriving in Hungary showing symptoms will be quarantined for 14 days. In Portugal, anyone with symptoms will be referred to the health authorities.

The lockdown has swept income from airlines causing several to teeter on the brink of collapse. Virgin Atlantic has already called for a 500million state bailout.

The chief executive of Gatwick, Stewart Wingate, has called on ministers to establish a framework to get planes back into the air.

He said passengers should be required to have compulsory tests for the virus 48 hours before travel and carry 'health passports' certifying their non-infected status.

He added they should wear face masks on flights, although noted that many are already are taking this precaution.

The Department for Transport has set up a working group with the aviation industry to begin discussions for how to get the industry moving again as Britain emerges from lockdown.

The European Union's commission president Ursula von der Leyen has indicated the bloc will find 'smart solutions' to allow air travel to re-commence in time for the summer holidays.

She told Portuguese publication Expresso Sunday vacations may be a 'little different, with other hygiene measures, with a little more social distance,' but that solutions will be found.

But she has warned that no reliable forecasts can be made for trips in July and August.

Stewart Wingate, chief executive of Gatwick, (left) has called for the government to enact measures to get flights in the air again. The Department of Transport, led by Grant Shapps (right) has set up a working group to discuss options

Passenger numbers have plummeted since the Foreign Office advised against all except essential travel.

It is estimated that 140million fewer passengers will take to the air this year, hitting the sector with an estimated 21.1billion in lost revenue.

From May 1 Wizz Air will start flying to Budapest, eight destinations in Romania, Lisbon, Tenerife, Belgrade, Bratislava, and Tel Aviv in Israel subject to no further restrictions.

Managing Director of Wizz Air, Owain Jones, said: 'As we restart selected Luton flights to provide an essential service to passengers who need to travel, our primary concern is the health, safety and well-being of our customers and crew.

'The protective measures that we are implementing will ensure the most sanitary conditions possible.

'We encourage our customers to watch our new video on how to stay safe when travelling, as well as for more details on our new health and safety measures.'
UK Government Faces Criticism as COVID-19 Deaths Pass 20,000

LONDONBritains government on April 25 defended the independence of the scientists advising it on the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus after it emerged that Prime Minister Boris Johnsons chief aide had attended the groups meetings.

The government said April 27 that 20,319 people with COVID-19 have died in British hospitals, an increase of 813 from the death toll reported the day before. The figure doesnt include deaths in nursing homes, which are likely to number in the thousands.

Scientists say the UK has reached the peak of the pandemic but isnt yet out of danger. The number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 is declining, and the number of daily deaths peaked on April 8.

After a report in The Guardian, the government confirmed that Johnson adviser Dominic Cummings had attended several meetings of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies, or SAGE, and listened to discussions. But it denied the Guardians claim that Cummingswho is not a scientistwas a member of the group.

Two pedestrians in face masks cross the river Thames on a pedestrian bridge on what would normally be a busy afternoon in London, on April 24, 2020. (Frank Augstein/AP Photo)

Cummings was appointed to a key role by Johnson after masterminding the victorious leave campaign during Britains 2016 referendum on European Union membership.

The government said: SAGE provides independent scientific advice to the government. Political advisers have no role in this.

SAGE is a usually little-known group headed by Chief Scientific Adviser Patrick Vallance and Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty. The government has declined to publish its full membership, saying that it could leave the scientists open to lobbying or other pressure.

The main opposition Labor Party said Cummings attendance raised questions about the credibility of government decision-making.

The best way to clear all of this up is for the government to be completely transparent with us and publish the minutes of the SAGE committee, said Labor health spokesman Jonathan Ashworth.

Conservative Party lawmaker David Davis backed the call for greater transparency.

We should publish the membership of SAGE, remove any non-scientist members, publish their advice in full, and publish dissenting opinions with the advice, he tweeted.

The government says its response to the pandemic has been guided by scientific advice. That advice is under increasing scrutiny by critics who accuse the government of being slow to respond to the outbreak. Britain imposed a nationwide lockdown on March 23, later than in many other European countries. The measuresincluding the closure of schools, pubs, and non-essential shopshave been extended until at least May 7.

There are indications some people are growing impatient with the restrictions, which have brought much of the British economy and routines of daily life to a halt. Road traffic has begun to creep up after plummeting when the lockdown first was imposed.

Some businesses are making plans to reopen after implementing social-distancing measures. Several automakers say they plan to restart production in May. Budget airline Wizz Air said it will resume flights May 1 between Londons Luton Airport and several European destinations.

Meanwhile, health authorities urged Britons not to ignore symptoms of conditions other than the CCP virus, amid fears that cancer and other illnesses are going untreated.

Public Health England said visits to hospital emergency departments have fallen by almost 50 percent in April from the same month last year. The charity Cancer Research UK estimated that 2,250 new cases of the disease could be going undetected each week, partly because people are reluctant to go to hospitals for fear of catching the virus or overburdening the system.

The National Health Service (NHS) encouraged people to seek urgent help if needed and to continue to attend services such as cancer screening and maternity appointments.

NHS Chief Executive Simon Stevens said, ignoring problems can have serious consequencesnow or in the future.

By Jill Lawless

Epoch Times staff contributed to this report.
From May 1, anybody who goes out without wearing a face mask will be arrested by the government of Ogun State, Gov Dapo Abiodun has said...

From May 1, anybody who goes out without wearing a face mask will be arrested by the government of Ogun State, Gov Dapo Abiodun has said.





Gov Abiodun said the violators will be quarantined for 14 days and be made to undergo compulsory community services for attempting to spread Coronavirus in the State.





This was disclosed on Friday, by Governor Dapo Abiodun, during a press conference at his Iperu residence.





Abiodun said his government had always encouraged the use of face mask, stressing that with the reality facing Ogun, the use of face mask in public by all individuals in Ogun is now compulsory as from Friday, 1st May, 2020.





According to him, the state will start the distribution of face masks to millions of residents, who may not have the financial strength to afford same.





This, he said, was in addition to other materials to vulnerable groups across the State.





He said that efforts of the government towards fighting the COVID-19 pandemic to a stand-still was achieving desired results, and the State cannot relent.




Editorials represent the institutional view of the newspaper. They are written and edited by the editorial staff, which operates separately from the news department. Editorial writers are not involved in newsroom operations.
The Nagaland government on Saturday allowed partial relaxation in the opening of shops in residential complexes with immediate effect, an official said.

Nagaland has no COVID-19 positive case so far.

An order issued by Nagaland Chief Secretary Temjen Toy on Saturday said in pursuance to Ministry of Home Affairs order dated April 15 and 24, all shops including shops in residential complexes and market complexes, except shops in multi-brand and single brand malls outside the limits of municipalities and town councils will be permitted to carry on activities with immediate effect.

All shops, including neighbourhood shops and stand alone shops, shops in residential complexes within the limits of municipalities and town councils, except shops in market complexes and multi-brand and single brand malls have been granted permission, he said.

The order said that shops will function with 50 per cent workers strength, while wearing of masks and social distancing will be mandatory.

The chief secretary said that shops located in crowded areas which offer no scope for enforcing satisfactory social distancing like the Hongkong Market and New Market in Dimapur Town and BOC Market in Kohima would remain closed except those shops and outlets dealing with food grains, vegetables, food items, medicines and other essential items and goods.

The respective district deputy commissioners have been asked to make assessment of such locations and issue suitable orders.

Shops for truck repairs along the highways with stipulated minimum distancing will be allowed to open, he said.

The chief secretary reiterated that salons, dine-in restaurants, eateries and departmental stores would continue to remain closed.

However, home deliveries from dine-in restaurants, food outlets and delivery of online orders of essential commodities shall be permitted, he said.

The proprietors of the shops and establishments which are allowed to open will make arrangements for keeping hand sanitizers or provide facilities for hand washing with soap and water for the public as well as for their own staff and workers, he said.

The proprietors of the shops and establishments should also get the door handles, surfaces and other objects which are frequently touched by people regularly cleaned and disinfected, he said.

The chief secretary reminded that as specified in the lockdown measures, national COVID-19 directives and standard operating procedure, protocol for social distancing must be ensured.

Meanwhile, the Nagaland Health department said that a man from Dimapur, who tested positive while undergoing treatment in Guwahati, is added in Assam's total number of positive cases.

The patient is admitted at Guwahati Medical College Hospital, the Health Department said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)






WASHINGTON  AutoNation, the largest U.S. auto dealership chain, said on Friday it will return $77 million it received in forgivable loans from the U.S. Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) meant to help struggling small businesses and employees during the coronavirus outbreak.

Marc Cannon, a spokesman for the company, told Reuters that AutoNation was "clearly eligible and applied on behalf of the 7,000 employees furloughed caused by the COVID-19 crisis."

He said the company "intended to rehire all 7,000 associates under the PPP program as encouraged by the government and designed to get individuals back to work."

AutoNation has implemented cost-cutting measures, including temporary pay cuts for staff, curtailing of advertising expenses and postponing over $50 million of capital expenditures through the second quarter of 2020.

On Thursday, the Small Business Administration issued new guidelines on the program and soon after AutoNation called a board meeting "and decided to cancel all PPP applications and return all PPP funds" by May 7.

The loans are forgivable if companies use at least 75% on payroll expenses. AutoNation said it had planned to use all of the funds on payroll.

Cannon confirmed a Washington Post report that said AutoNation had used separate tax identification numbers to apply for at least $266 million in funds for separate dealerships. Cannon emphasized the company had followed the program rules.

Auto dealers have been hard hit by the coronavirus pandemic, with some states temporarily barring new vehicle sales. Sales have plummeted amid stay-at-home orders aimed at curbing the spread of the highly contagious virus.

CarMax, the nation's largest used-car dealer, had said effective April 18 it was furloughing 15,500 employees, but some have been called back as stores reopen. About 60% of its locations are now fully open. CarMax said on Friday it did not apply for a payroll protection loan.

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On Thursday, U.S. companies began refusing government loans they were just awarded, after the Treasury Department said that publicly traded firms would have a hard time proving they really needed the coronavirus relief funds.

Some large well-funded companies were granted millions of dollars from the $350 billion pool of funding, while many small, mom-and-pop shops were unable to access any funding at all, sparking public outrage.

The initial PPP funding was snapped up in less than two weeks. Congress has now approved an additional $310 billion and new loans will be issued again starting next week. (Reporting by David Shepardson Editing by Bill Berkrot)

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Fifteen medical and engineering students at Kenyas Kenyatta University have made history by making the country's first homegrown ventilator to help treat patients severely affected by the coronavirus.

As of Saturday 25 April, confirmed cases of coronavirus in Kenya stood at 343 with 14 deaths. But officials are taking no chances with the highly contagious Covid-19 disease and have placed the country under lockdown with a strict dusk-to-dawn curfew.

Should there be a spike in new cases, the country's health network only has 259 functional ventilators, according to Dr Idris Nzao Chikophe, Secretary-General of the Kenya Critical Care Society.

That's where the Kenyatta University students step in.

Leader of the group, Fidel Makatia, says his team is set to produce fifty ventilators within two weeks  an output they are capable of maintaining.

This ventilator detects oxygen and normal air then it gives it enough pressure and volume required to ventilate a patient, Makatia tells RFI, explaining the newly-made device. Then passes it through a humidifier to give it enough humidity and temperature required for the human body.

Mechanical ventilators take over the bodys breathing process. This is normally caused by a failure in the normal performance of the lung.

A sick person also needs a higher percentage of oxygen than normal. We are breathing 21 percent of oxygen because we are normal. But patients may require a higher percentage  thirty, forty, up to maybe eighty percent.

Highest standards

The students are not working alone. Kenyatta University provided mentors and also the work space that led to this innovation  the Chandaria Business Incubation and Innovation Centre, named after Manu Chandaria, one of Kenyas prominent business magnates.

The centre is a stones throw from the university entrance and the modern main road from Nairobi, to the central region of the country.

The centre made it easier for the students to meet high standards such as those set by the International Standards Organization, or ISO.

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Mass production

This equipment was made according to ISO standards, the Kenya Bureau of Standards and Pharmacy and Poisons Boards standards, says Professor Nicholas Kamindu Gikonyo from the universitys School of Pharmacy. The express purpose of the students is to fill the Covid-19-related ventilator shortage in Kenyan hospitals.

We have always taught them about the practical applications of whatever they learn. And to see them transforming that into an idea, and then into a product, was very exciting.

Doctor Shadrack Maina Mambo, Dean of School of Engineering and Technology at the university, says the team hoped to fill not just the domestic shortage.

We are making ventilators to mitigate the shortage experienced in the country and the African continent as a whole, Mambo tells RFI. We have a team of professionals who will oversee mass production of ventilators.

Africa on the move

This prototype has been tested and it has been shown to meet all the parameters that are required in helping a patient to breath.

The team from Kenyatta University joins fellow students in Ghana and Uganda, who have taken the lead in producing homegrown ventilators.

In a time of Covid-19 crisis, Africa is showing itself to be a continent on the move.
Migrant labour agents urge Govt. to consider their proposals View(s):

The Association of Licensed Foreign Employment Agencies in Sri Lanka (ALFEA) has urged the government to consider its proposals to revive the foreign employment sector.

In a statement it said that the association has submitted short term and long term proposals to the SL Foreign Employment Bureau and the subject minister, adding that such proposals require the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers. It did not give details about the proposals.

If the government intervenes in this matter, we would like to state that we will be committed to obtaining a large amount of foreign exchange during the year, by recreating the foreign employment sector and providing a secure migration service, the statement said.

ALFEA said its financial contribution to the country is far greater than the US$8 billion in workers remittances since association members provide an additional $3 billion per year in services charges which is not taken into account when references are made about the contributions of migrant worker remittances.

During the 30-year conflict, the foreign employment sector was the main lifeline of the economy. There are currency 1.7 million overseas Sri Lankan workers and five million dependents. At least 90 per cent of those working abroad were send by ALFEA members.

Our business has been completely stalled due to COVID-19. We have identified that the main reason for the depreciation of the rupee is the decrease in labour and labour services remittances, the statement said, adding: We recognise that our sector is the only sector that can recover foreign exchange without any investment in the immediate aftermath of the pandemic.
Debjani Dutta By

Express News Service

PUDUCHERRY: Even as the Lt Governor Kiran Bedi and Chief Minister V Narayanasamy fault each other over free rice scheme, the union government has approved free rice for APL cardholders (except government employees and Income Taxpayers) proposed by Puducherry government as COVID-19 relief, Chief Minister V Narayanasamy said.

The Chief Secretary Ashwani Kumar received a communication in this regard from the Ministry of Home Affairs(MHA), said the Chief Minister.

He said that the condition put by Lt Governor Kiran Bedi to get MHAs approval has been fulfilled. The rice would be procured from Food Corporation of India (FCI) under food security scheme, he said adding that he had discussed the matter with Union Minister for Food and Public Distribution Ram Vilas Paswan.

The scheme providing free rice to APL card holders for three months involves a financial implication of Rs 11 crores. Puducherry government has put up a request with the Food and Public distribution ministry that Puducherry government would be settling the bill in instalments, due to paucity of funds, said the Chief minister.

He expects that it would be approved as per the discussion with Ram Vilas Paswan adding that soon arrangements would be made for providing free rice to APL cardholders.

Further, the Chief Minister said that as per the MHA order, non-essential item shops would be opened in Puducherry, except liquor. However District Collector would give permission only after ascertaining that all the guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19 are adhered by the shops by making necessary arrangements, he said.

Responding to Lt Governor Kiran Bedi's statement on Central assistance, he said that the schemes listed by Bedi are common to all states, but unlike other states, no specific assistance for COVID-19 has been given to Puducherry. Narayanasamy said that he had already spoken to Union Home Minister in this regard and is hopeful of the release of funds soon.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-26 05:54:25|Editor: huaxia

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LONDON, April 25 (Xinhua) -- British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will be back at work in Downing Street on Monday, about two weeks after leaving a London hospital in his fight against the novel coronavirus, British media reported Saturday night.

Johnson told his cabinet colleagues that he will be back to his normal schedule following his treatment in St. Thomas' Hospital in London for COVID-19.

Depending on doctors' advice, Johnson may host Monday's daily Downing Street news conference and possibly take on the new Labour leader Keir Starmer at Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday, Sky News reported.

"He is 'raring to go' and will be back Monday," Sky News noted, citing a Downing Street source.

Johnson said on April 12 that he had left the hospital "after a week in which the NHS has saved my life, no question."

Johnson, who spent three nights in intensive care in the hospital, spent a week in Chequers, the prime minister's country house after leaving hospital.

"He had a Chequers meeting with advisers on Friday and he will be meeting the (British) health secretary, Matt Hancock, and getting back to his normal schedule," Sky News reported.

British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, who is also the first secretary of state, had been deputized by Johnson to carry out his duties during his illness.

Earlier in the day, the British Department of Health said that a further 813 people had died of COVID-19 as of 1600 GMT on Friday, bringing the death toll to 20,319 and making UK the fifth nation globally to pass the grim milestone of 20,000 deaths, after the United States, Italy, Spain and France.

Care home deaths and those in the community are still excluded from the British tally.

The UK-wide figure has doubled in less than two weeks. A total of 148,377 people have now tested positive for the virus in the country, a jump of 4,913 in 24 hours. Enditem
In Superpower Showdown (Harper Business, June), Wall Street Journal reporters Bob Davis and Lingling Wei examine how U.S.-China relations deteriorated to the point of impasse just as cooperation between the worlds two largest economies has become more urgent than ever. PW discussed the book with Davis; Wei, who until recently worked out of the Journals Beijing bureau, was unavailable.

When did China become a nation youd describe as a superpower?

After the Soviet Union collapsed, the United States was seen as the sole superpower. Then President Clinton gets China into the World Trade Organization. It brings China into the Western trading system, and within 15 years theyre the factory floor of the world. It was an astonishing rise in a very, very short time. By 20082009, the American model doesnt look as potent as it once did and the Chinese government becomes less likely to look at the U.S. as the leader of everything. Thats when the idea of the dual super- powers starts to emerge.

Why do you and Lingling Wei see the relationship, as you say in the subtitle, heading toward a Cold War?

We started reporting on the Xi-Trump trade battle in 2017. As relations deteriorated, it became clear that they were on the path to a hostile separation. A Cold War was the best analogy, although one that is very different from the one with the Soviet Union. This one is mainly defined by economics and technology. Both, though, have deep elements of ideological competition.

How are the countries dependent on each other even during a time of hostilities?

A lot of the stuff we buy and sell in the U.S. is made in China and will continue to be. Were dependent on their production capabilities, the skill of their workers, and also, remember, they own a trillion dollars of U.S. government securities. Theyre financing the U.S. debt, which is about to get quite a bit larger. So were enormously dependent on China. And theyre just as dependent on the U.S., especially for technological leadership.

What was the biggest challenge in putting this book together?

Writing a book when we had no idea how it all would end. We started writing in earnest in April 2019 with a December deadline. When we got the preliminary book deal we figured that the fight would be over in the summer of 2019. Instead, the fight got worse through the summer. We attended a G-20 meeting in Osaka in June and came away thinking there was no way the two were going to get a deal. We reported and wrote a 6,000-word chapter every two weeks while also reserving time to report on current events. That was very tough.

Where do you see U.S. and China relations now?

Its like two tectonic plates crashing into each other and separating. The relationship is so bad, President Trump and President Xi Jinping went seven weeks [in February and March] without talking to each other in a time of global crisis. Compare that with the financial crisis where Bush was calling [thenChinese president] Hu Jintao every day. The two worked together in a very coordinated way to bring the world out of a recession. Its a different sort of crisis this time, but theres still an enormous need for coordination on both the economic and the health front.

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